For people who use hearing aids, the inability to stream directly to hearing devices can leave people out or create barriers to important information, whether it’s in a classroom, train station or concert.
Now, Android supports Auracast, a new Bluetooth technology that uses your phone to enable a direct connection from hearing aids to audio broadcasts from crowded and public venues. This also means hearing aid presets, available within your phone settings, can be conveniently applied to broadcasts to personalize streams to your hearing. And expanding on our work with Bluetooth SIG to use the latest LE Audio technology, we’re bringing to Pixel 9 devices the ability to connect to broadcasts through QR codes – removing the need to go into your settings.
To use Auracast, pair LE Audio compatible hearing aids from companies like GN Hearing and Starkey with your Samsung Galaxy devices with One UI 7 and Android 15 or Pixel 9 devices running the Android 16 beta and tune into Auracast broadcasts from compatible TV streamers or public venues.
Google Play Games on PC was designed to give you more flexibility for how you play your favorite games. Whether you’re a mobile gamer who’s always wanted to try out a popular PC title, or a PC enthusiast wanting to experience your favorite Android games on your desktop, there’s something exciting for everyone. Google Play Games on PC will be moving into general availability later this year, so be on the lookout for even more multiplatform games and upgrades.
Enjoy smooth and improved gameplay powered by Android
We know a key piece of a great gaming experience is how well a game performs. We’re equipping developers with a modern graphics API called Vulkan and enhancing the Android Dynamic Performance Framework (ADPF). Vulkan allows games to make better use of a device’s graphics for smoother frame rates and more realistic visuals. And ADPF will help game developers optimize the device performance so that you can have a more stable and responsive gaming experience.
Earlier this month, young creators gathered at the Sport Ireland Campus National Indoor Training Centre in Dublin for Coolest Projects Ireland 2025, an inspiring showcase of creativity, coding, and problem solving. With more than 80 participants sharing over 60 incredible projects, this year’s event highlighted the passion and innovation of young creators from across Northern Ireland and the Republic of Ireland.
The day offered the chance for young people to share their digital projects, engage with a like-minded community, chat with VIP judges, and take part in exciting coding activities like Astro Pi Mission Zero. The event was once again supported by Meta, who sponsored the new AI category, continuing their commitment to promoting the importance of digital skills to young people.
Celebrating creativity
Coolest Projects is a space for all digital projects, across all levels and categories, from hardware inventions to AI to Scratch. The event celebrates not just the finished products, but also the learning journeys of young creators and skills such as problems solving and creativity.
Helen Gardner, Programme Manager at the Raspberry Pi Foundation, shared her enthusiasm about this year’s showcase:
“Returning to Dublin for Coolest Projects is always such a joy! It’s incredible to see the enthusiasm, creativity, and talent of young creators as they bring their ideas to life. This event is all about celebrating the community and inspiring the next generation of problem-solvers. It’s always so inspiring to witness their amazing projects and the energy they bring to the day!”
Participants at Coolest Projects Ireland included young people from schools, coding clubs such as Code Club and CoderDojo, and independent makers. Many were returning participants, excited to showcase their latest projects and connect with fellow creators. The sense of community and encouragement was felt throughout the event, with mentors, parents, and judges offering valuable support and feedback to support growth and celebrate achievements.
Spotlight on the judges favourites
This year, judges were particularly impressed with the originality and impact of the projects. We caught up with four of the creators to find out why being involved in Coolest Projects Ireland was important to them.
Sister duo, Riddhiba and Aarushiba, created Innovaid, a project that uses technology to improve safety at events.
“We wanted to solve a problem that was affecting a large number of people. Having read news articles, and having talked to people who have had bad experiences at concerts and large events, we wanted to solve this problem that has been ongoing for many years. Although technology has advanced rapidly in the past years, there are still flaws in large event management leading to incidents and deaths. We wanted to incorporate safety, medical aid, crowd management, and inclusivity.”
“Coolest Projects Ireland was an amazing experience for both of us, we got the opportunity to meet with so many people that were so passionate about technology and coding. We met many people who also wanted to make a change in society, or wanted to solve problems.”
Coolest Projects also welcomed an AI category, supported by Meta, for the first time, which included Kirsty’s entry, A haon, dó, trí – Learn with me. Kirsty’s entry used machine learning to help learners master the Irish language in an engaging and interactive way. Kirsty shared a little about her journey with the project
“I really enjoyed some of the machine learning with Scratch projects on the Raspberry Pi site. While doing the ‘Alien language’ project, it occurred to me that I could use a similar approach to build a game to help young kids learn Irish.”
“I had to build my own Irish language training data set so I recorded lots of speech samples from my school friends. However, I go to an all-girls school, which would have meant my training data would have been very limited! So I recorded some boys’ voices at my CoderDojo to make my data set more varied and balanced.”
In the Games category, Timi received acknowledgement for his project, Stakes & Laughters Maximus.
“I got the idea from a story my dad told me about when I was younger. I apparently got really upset when I lost a game of Snakes and Ladders. So, I wanted to make a Snakes and Ladders game that wasn’t just about luck. I wanted players to have to think strategically about how to use their luck.”
“There were many challenges! Everything from the character movement to the turn system and the items presented roadblocks. But I broke through them by carefully thinking about what I wanted to achieve and then using code to create the logic for it.”
Get involved
The Coolest Projects online showcase is open for entries, providing young people worldwide the opportunity to share their digital creations.
We also have upcoming in-person events in the US, UK, and around the world thanks to our partner organisations. You can find out more and get involved with these through the Coolest Projects website.
Finally, we want to say a huge thank you to everyone who made Coolest Projects Ireland 2025 such a fantastic experience! We can’t wait to see what young innovators create next year.
Guinness is one of those beers (specifically, a stout) that people take seriously and the Guinness brand has taken full advantage of that in their marketing. They even sell a glass designed specifically for enjoying their flagship creation, which has led to a trend that the company surely appreciates: “splitting the G.” But that’s difficult for many to pull off, so Eamon Magd built this device that makes the trick easy to master.
“Splitting the G” refers to taking the initial gulp of stout in precisely the right amount to leave the line between liquid and foam in the middle of the “G” on the Guinness logo on a standard Guinness pint glass. Not too difficult for frequent imbibers, but Magd doesn’t usually drink and hasn’t had the practice.
This device solves that problem by vibrating when Magd sips just enough Guinness to result in a split G. It does that with an Arduino UNO Rev3 that monitors the stout in the glass with a non-contact liquid level sensor.
Traditional liquid level sensors, like floats, require physical contact with the contents of the vessel, which can be unsanitary. The sensor chosen by Magd doesn’t, as it relies on capacitive measurements. It attaches to the outside of the glass and can tell if liquid inside the glass is above or below its level.
Magd just had to find the right spot on the glass to attach that sensor and then programmed an Arduino sketch to run the vibration motor when the sensor fails to detect liquid. Magd even plans to put that to the test at the Guinness Storehouse in Ireland.
We’re gearing up for Embedded World, the leading event for embedded systems, industrial automation, and IoT technology, taking place March 11th-13th in Nuremberg. Visit us in Hall 3A, Booth 313 to explore our latest innovations and experience more live demos than ever, thanks to key collaborations across the industrial landscape. This year, we’re demonstrating just how far Arduino has come in bridging the gap between prototyping and industrial deployment.
Explore the forefront of innovation with us
At this year’s Arduino booth, we’re turning ideas into reality with groundbreaking solutions for smart industries, automotive prototyping, and next-gen IoT applications. Here’s a glimpse of what you’ll find when you visit:
The future of automotive – Learn about the E/E Starter Kit, developed as part of our partnership with Bosch for the digital.auto initiative. This cutting-edge platform empowers developers, startups, and universities to prototype software-defined vehicles (SDVs) with real-world applications in mind.
Ultra-wideband (UWB) technology in action – We’re unveiling two new UWB-powered products, developed with Truesense, to enable next-level precision tracking, seamless connectivity with cloud platforms, and secure data transmission.
Game-changing product launches – Be among the first to see our newest hardware innovations, designed to streamline industrial development and accelerate time to market.
AI-powered warehouse and logistics automation – See how computer vision and edge computing can revolutionize inventory management, predictive maintenance, and smart logistics thanks to an Arduino-based solution by our partner System Electronics.
Advanced robotics & AGVs – Get hands-on with the Portenta AGV Kit, developed with Analog Devices, Inc., to explore automated guided vehicles (AGVs) with real-time location tracking, motor control, and 3D mapping – perfect for factory automation, research, and education.
Single Pair Ethernet (SPE) solutions – Discover how next-gen industrial connectivity is simplifying communication for automation and sensor networks.
Environmental monitoring & motion-based control – Check out live demos that showcase intelligent sensing solutions for industrial environments, smart buildings, and more.
Embedded World 2025 is your chance to experience Arduino Pro’s industrial-grade solutions up close and see how our open-source ecosystem is shaping the future of embedded technology.
Celebrate our 20th with a free ticket!
Arduino is turning 20 this year, and we’re excited to kick off the celebrations at Embedded World!
While Arduino Day 2025 (March 21st-22nd) will be the main event, we want to start the party early – so we’re giving you a free ticket! Just register for Embedded World using our voucher code ew25542980.
Visit Hall 3A, Booth 313 to say check out our latest technology and meet the team. See you in Nuremberg!
Generative AI (GenAI) tools like GitHub Copilot and ChatGPT are rapidly changing how programming is taught and learnt. These tools can solve assignments with remarkable accuracy. GPT-4, for example, scored an impressive 99.5% on an undergraduate computer science exam, compared to Codex’s 78% just two years earlier. With such capabilities, researchers are shifting from asking, “Should we teach with AI?” to “How do we teach with AI?”
Leo Porter from UC San Diego
Daniel Zingaro from the University of Toronto
Leo Porter and Daniel Zingaro have spearheaded this transformation through their groundbreaking undergraduate programming course. Their innovative curriculum integrates GenAI tools to help students tackle complex programming tasks while developing critical thinking and problem-solving skills.
Leo and Daniel presented their work at the Raspberry Pi Foundation research seminar in December 2024. During the seminar, it became clear that much could be learnt from their work, with their insights having particular relevance for teachers in secondary education thinking about using GenAI in their programming classes
Practical applications in the classroom
In 2023, Leo and Daniel introduced GitHub Copilot in their introductory programming CS1-LLM course at UC San Diego with 550 students. The course included creative, open-ended projects that allowed students to explore their interests while applying the skills they’d learnt. The projects covered the following areas:
Data science: Students used Kaggle datasets to explore questions related to their fields of study — for example, neuroscience majors analysed stroke data. The projects encouraged interdisciplinary thinking and practical applications of programming.
Image manipulation: Students worked with the Python Imaging Library (PIL) to create collages and apply filters to images, showcasing their creativity and technical skills.
Game development: A project focused on designing text-based games encouraged students to break down problems into manageable components while using AI tools to generate and debug code.
Students consistently reported that these projects were not only enjoyable but also responsible for deepening their understanding of programming concepts. A majority (74%) found the projects helpful or extremely helpful for their learning. One student noted that.
“Programming projects were fun and the amount of freedom that was given added to that. The projects also helped me understand how to put everything that we have learned so far into a project that I could be proud of.“
Core skills for programming with Generative AI
Leo and Daniel emphasised that teaching programming with GenAI involves fostering a mix of traditional and AI-specific skills.
Writing software with GenAI applications, such as Copilot, needs to be approached differently to traditional programming tasks
Their approach centres on six core competencies:
Prompting and function design: Students learn to articulate precise prompts for AI tools, honing their ability to describe a function’s purpose, inputs, and outputs, for instance. This clarity improves the output from the AI tool and reinforces students’ understanding of task requirements.
Code reading and selection: AI tools can produce any number of solutions, and each will be different, requiring students to evaluate the options critically. Students are taught to identify which solution is most likely to solve their problem effectively.
Code testing and debugging: Students practise open- and closed-box testing, learning to identify edge cases and debug code using tools like doctest and the VS Code debugger.
Problem decomposition: Breaking down large projects into smaller functions is essential. For instance, when designing a text-based game, students might separate tasks into input handling, game state updates, and rendering functions.
Leveraging modules: Students explore new programming domains and identify useful libraries through interactions with Copilot. This prepares them to solve problems efficiently and creatively.
Ethical and metacognitive skills: Students engage in discussions about responsible AI use and reflect on the decisions they make when collaborating with AI tools.
Adapting assessments for the AI era
The rise of GenAI has prompted educators to rethink how they assess programming skills. In the CS1-LLM course, traditional take-home assignments were de-emphasised in favour of assessments that focused on process and understanding.
Leo and Daniel chose several types of assessments — some involved having to complete programming tasks with the help of GenAI tools, while others had to be completed without.
Quizzes and exams: Students were evaluated on their ability to read, test, and debug code — skills critical for working effectively with AI tools. Final exams included both tasks that required independent coding and tasks that required use of Copilot.
Creative projects: Students submitted projects alongside a video explanation of their process, emphasising problem decomposition and testing. This approach highlighted the importance of critical thinking over rote memorisation.
Challenges and lessons learnt
While Leo and Daniel reported that the integration of AI tools into their course has been largely successful, it has also introduced challenges. Surveys revealed that some students felt overly dependent on AI tools, expressing concerns about their ability to code independently. Addressing this will require striking a balance between leveraging AI tools and reinforcing foundational skills.
Additionally, ethical concerns around AI use, such as plagiarism and intellectual property, must be addressed. Leo and Daniel incorporated discussions about these issues into their curriculum to ensure students understand the broader implications of working with AI technologies.
A future-oriented approach
Leo and Daniel’s work demonstrates that GenAI can transform programming education, making it more inclusive, engaging, and relevant. Their course attracted a diverse cohort of students, as well as students traditionally underrepresented in computer science — 52% of the students were female and 66% were not majoring in computer science — highlighting the potential of AI-powered learning to broaden participation in computer science.
By embracing this shift, educators can prepare students not just to write code but to also think critically, solve real-world problems, and effectively harness the AI innovations shaping the future of technology.
If you’re an educator interested in using GenAI in your teaching, we recommend checking out Leo and Daniel’s book, Learn AI-Assisted Python Programming, as well as their course resources on GitHub. You may also be interested in our own Experience AI resources, which are designed to help educators navigate the fast-moving world of AI and machine learning technologies.
Join us at our next online seminar on 11 March
Our 2025 seminar series is exploring how we can teach young people about AI technologies and data science. At our next seminar on Tuesday, 11 March at 17:00–18:00 GMT, we’ll hear from Lukas Höper and Carsten Schulte from Paderborn University. They’ll be discussing how to teach school students about data-driven technologies and how to increase students’ awareness of how data is used in their daily lives.
To sign up and take part in the seminar, click the button below — we’ll then send you information about joining. We hope to see you there.
Park, play and stay entertained with more gaming apps available on Android Auto. Whether you’re looking for a quick puzzle or an adrenaline-pumping race, you can now use your car’s screen while you’re parked to play games like Farm Heroes Saga, Candy Crush Soda Saga, Angry Birds 2 and Beach Buggy Racing. Simply download a game to your mobile device to access it in Android Auto while you’re waiting in the car, and level up in your downtime.
Home file servers can be very useful for people who work across multiple devices and want easy access to their documents. And there are a lot of DIY build guides out there. But most of them are full-fledged NAS (network-attached storage) devices and they tend to rely on single-board computers. Those take a long time to boot and consume quite a lot of power. This lightweight file server by Zombieschannel is different, because it runs entirely on an Arduino.
An ESP32 is a microcontroller with built-in connectivity (Wi-Fi and Bluetooth). Like all MCUs, it can “boot” and start running its firmware almost instantly. And while it runs, it will consume much less power than a conventional PC or a single-board computer. Zombieschannel’s project proves that the Arduino Nano ESP32 is suitable for a file server — if your expectations are modest.
The hardware for this project consists of a Nano ESP32, an SD card reader module, and a small monochrome OLED screen. The SD card provides file storage and the OLED shows status information.
Most of the work went into writing the firmware, which Zombieschannel did with assistance from ChatGPT. That has the Arduino hosting a basic web interface that local users can access to upload or download files. Zombieschannel also created a command line interface that provides more comprehensive access via a serial connection.
This does have limitations and the transfer speeds are quite slow by modern standards. But the file server seems useful for small files, like text documents. Zombieschannel plans to design an enclosure for the device and it should tuck unobtrusively into a corner, where it can run without drawing much power.
If you hear the term “generative art” today, you probably subconsciously add “AI” to the beginning without even thinking about it. But generative art techniques existed long before modern AI came along — they even predate digital computing altogether. Despite that long history, generative art remains interesting as consumers attempt to identify patterns in the underlying algorithms. And thanks to the “Generative Art 1€” vending machine built by Niklas Roy, you can experience that for yourself by spending a single euro.
Roy built this vending machine to display at the “Intelligence, it’s automatic” exhibit, hosted at Zebrastraat in Belgium. Rather than AI, Roy gave the machine more traditional algorithms to generate abstract pieces of line art. Each piece uses the current time as the “seed” for the algorithms, so it will be unique and an identical piece will never appear again. And the current piece, shown on a screen in the machine, always evolves as time passes. If a viewer sees something they like, they’ll need to insert a euro coin immediately or risk losing the opportunity to secure the art.
Once paid, the machine will use a built-in pen plotter to draw the line on a piece of paper. It will also label the art with a unique identifier: the seed number. Then, it will stamp the paper for authenticity. Finally, it will cut that piece from the roll of paper and dispense the art through a chute at the bottom.
That all happens under the direction of an Arduino Mega 2560 board. It controls the pen plotter, which is a repurposed model called Artima Colorgraf. The coin-op mechanism is an off-the-shelf unit and a Python script, running on a connected laptop, performs the art generation. What message is this vending machine meant to convey? Maybe that art is ethereal or that it has little value — just a euro — to modern society. Whatever the case, it is a work of art in its own right.
This week at MWC in Barcelona, we’re showing how AI on Android can help you day-to-day with fun, interactive demos for attendees. You can learn how Gemini Live can help you with complex topics (in multiple languages!), use Circle to Search to translate a menu and check how the latest partner devices from Android are bringing these experiences to life. We’re also showing new live video and screen-sharing capabilities in Gemini Live, which will start rolling out to Gemini Advanced subscribers as part of the Google One AI Premium plan on Android devices later this month.
If you’re on the ground, come visit Android Avenue between Halls 2 and 3 and try out these demos, and explore the show floor to collect our special edition Android pins at our partners’ booths!
A small startup called K-Scale Labs is in the process of developing an affordable, open-source humanoid robot and Mike Rigsby wanted to build a compatible hand. This three-fingered robot hand is the result, and it makes use of serial bus servos from Waveshare.
Most Arduino users are familiar with full-duplex serial communication, which requires two data lines. The first carries data in one direction, while the second carries data in the other. As such, devices can send and receive data at the same time — they don’t have to wait to until the line is “free” to send data.
But half-duplex serial communication is also possible. Each device just has to wait its turn to send data. That is less common, but it does have some benefits. In this case, Rigsby used Waveshare servo motors that communicate via a half-duplex serial bus. The benefit is that users can daisy-chain multiple servos together, connecting to a single serial pin on the host device. These particular servo motors also have magnetic encoders instead of potentiometers, which are more reliable.
Five of those servos actuate the 3D-printed fingers on Rigsby’s robot hand (the top two fingers have two joints each). He used an Arduino UNO Rev3 board to control them, but couldn’t use the typical RX and TX (0 and 1) pins for communication over the serial bus. For that reason, he included a serial bus module meant specifically for driving servos like these.
This seems to work pretty well and the motors move smoothly — though they currently lack sensors that would enable force/pressure control.
Arduino and System Electronics are joining forces to create cutting-edge solutions for industrial and building automation, focusing specifically on edge computing to deliver real-time processing, predictive analytics, and seamless integration for AI-driven inventory management and logistics.
System Electronics – as an “Innovation accelerators for over 50 years” – brings to the table the electronics and mechatronics expertise to facilitate innovation and make a decisive contribution to their clients’ competitive edge. “Our collaboration with System Electronics merges their deep industrial expertise with Arduino’s focus on edge computing, enabling businesses to deploy intelligent, scalable automation solutions faster than ever. From AI-driven inventory management to predictive maintenance and real-time quality control, this partnership empowers industrial players to optimize operations, reduce downtime, and drive efficiency with cutting-edge technology,” our CEO Fabio Violante announced. “This is another step toward making advanced AI and automation accessible to industries of all sizes, accelerating the transformation of smart manufacturing and logistics.”
Andrea Gozzi, General Manager of System Electronics added, “At System Electronics, we believe in developing solutions that bring real value to industrial automation. By partnering with Arduino, we’ll create powerful and flexible AI-driven solutions that meet the needs of modern manufacturing, robotics, and smart infrastructure: innovations built for reliability, scalability, and performance.”
The benefits of a partnership for innovation
AI-driven inventory and warehouse management leverage computer vision and automation to make predictive maintenance and autonomous decision-making faster and more efficient than ever.
To fully explore these opportunities, Arduino and System Electronics are integrating acceleration technology from Hailo, a leader in Edge AI processors. By combining Hailo’s AI acceleration, Arduino’s open ecosystem, and System Electronics’ industrial-grade expertise, this collaboration aims to deliver real-time, high-performance automation solutions with enhanced precision and speed – bringing intelligence directly to where it’s needed most.
Why explore smart inventory and logistics
Smart factories and connected warehouses leverage powerful, real-time AI computing at the edge to improve efficiency and quality standards.
For example, computer vision can be employed at the edge to detect defects and irregularities, as well as to automate warehouse logistics with precise item tracking and storage optimization; sensor data can be analyzed to implement predictive maintenance and tackle anomalies before failures occur, reducing downtime; motion planning and obstacle avoidance can be optimized for AGVs and robotic arms thanks to intelligent control based on data and AI.
See the demo in action at Embedded World
Within their collaboration, Arduino and System Electronics have developed an innovative solution for Modula, leaders in warehouse automation: “We are committed to revolutionizing intralogistics through automation and smart technology that make processes easier. Harnessing the power of AI-driven intelligence allows us to enhance efficiency, optimize workflows, and deliver even greater value to our customers without adding complexities for them,” said Franco Stefani, founder of Modula.
This demo for a smart inventory solution will debut at Embedded World 2025 (Nuremberg, March 11th-13th): visit Arduino in Hall 3A, Booth #313, to see it in action and connect with the experts behind its development.
This April, the Horizon Festival evolves with Horizon Realms.
This brand-new feature will let players dig into Forza Horizon 5’s history of Evolving World updates. Explore 12 fantastic Evolving World locations: 11 of the best previously limited-time locations and the premiering Stadium Track.
Collect new Horizon Realms-exclusive accolades to unlock four new-to-Horizon reward cars.
Revisit your favorite environments, or discover them for the first time, in Horizon Realms available for every platform on April 25!
A Selection of the Best Evolving Worlds
Horizon Realms gives players the chance to explore a hand-picked collection of some of the community’s favorite previously released Evolving World updates.
Get ready to (re-)discover and adventure though these beloved locations while behind the wheel of your favorite cars:
Stunt Park
Ice Rink
Oval Track
Summer Party
Neon Airstrip
Día de Muertos
Winter Wonderland
Lunar Drift Arena
Retrowave Highway
Cars and Coffee
Stadium Maze
Along with these 11 returning environments, we are bringing the brand-new Stadium Track!
You can also race around this Evolving World with the new permanent race route coming to the game, the Horizon Stadium Circuit. You can find details further into this post.
New Dedicated Accolade Tab
A new Accolade Tab exclusive to Horizon Realms will be added to the game featuring 60+ accolades. While most of them are new to this update, you will also be able to unlock previously released accolades tied to the returning Evolving Worlds that are now accessible with Horizon Realms.
Each of the Evolving World locations featured in Horizon Realms includes 5 new accolades to unlock! Find them under the Horizon Realms Accolades tab. You can also find an Accolade for the Horizon Stadium Circuit under the Road Racing tab.
Complete Horizon Realms Accolades to acquire 12 new badges coming to the game. Plus, for the first time ever, unlocking an accolade will reward the player with #Forzathon Points! Go for a 100% in every Realm and unlock rewards with your newly acquired Points.
Earning accolades will also score new cars for your garage. Complete unique challenges featured on every Realm to unlock four new-to-Horizon reward cars:
Lamborghini’s take on a hyper hybrid, the 2024 Lamborghini Revuelto
Stomp the off-road scene with the 2023 Lamborghini Huracán Sterrato
The mightiest version of the Exige, the 2018 Lotus Exige Cup 430
Ride the king of the Ice Age with the 2022 Hennessey Mammoth 6×6
Two Ways to Dive into Horizon Realms
There will be two different ways to experience Horizon Realms:
Skill Mode
Choose one of the Horizon Realms to enter and try to bank as much Skill Score as possible. Each Evolving World has its own separate Skill Score leaderboard, and there will also be a total Skill Score Leaderboard tallying up all points banked on each Realm – so try to take the top spot in all of them!
Earning enough Skill Score will also unlock new player Badges unique to Horizon Realms!
Free Mode
This mode puts the leaderboards to the side and focuses on players having a good time in their favorite Realms.
Enter on your own or with your friends in a Convoy to explore your favorite Realms, obtain Badges tied to previous content updates, unlock accolades to earn #Forzathon Points, and more!
Start Your Engines at the New Horizon Stadium Circuit
Line up at the starting line of a brand-new race route: the Horizon Stadium Circuit! Featuring corners, bends, and racing decorations, this new track will become a permanent race route in the game – complete with its own event icon on the map and Rivals leaderboard!
Score your best time on this new race route in Rivals and Horizon Open and explore the Stadium Track Realm in Horizon Realms‘ Free Mode and Skill Mode.
Explore Nissan’s Heritage with a New Car Pack
Four new cars from throughout Nissan’s automotive history will become available for purchase as Forza Horizon 5 releases for PlayStation 5 with the Nissan Retro Rides Car Pack.
This new DLC pack includes the 1989 Nissan Pao, 1991 Nissan Figaro, 1989 Nissan Scargo, and the 1987 Nissan Be-1.
Add these cars to your collection and customize them how you want!
The Nissan Retro Rides Car Pack will be available starting April 25 for $4.99/€4.99/£3.99. Players who bought the Ultimate Car Pack Collection will receive this Car Pack at no additional cost.
Pre-order Forza Horizon 5 on PlayStation 5 Today!
Forza Horizon 5 is now available for pre-order ahead of its PS5 release on April 29! Visit the PlayStation Store to pre-purchase one of Forza Horizon 5’s different editions.
Standard Edition comes with the complete base game and its free content and features like Horizon Realms.
Get access to an extra 42 cars added with Car Pass by purchasing the Deluxe Edition of Forza Horizon 5.
Upgrade your adventure to the fullest with the Premium Edition. This edition comes with both Forza Horizon 5 expansions (Rally Adventure and Hot Wheels), 42 additional cars from Car Pass, VIP Membership, and extra perks that are included in the Welcome Pack.
Pre-ordering Premium Edition also grants you Early Access to the game, starting April 25, 2025!
No matter which version of the game you choose to pre-order, you will get a special bundle completely free of charge with your purchase including:
Forza Horizon 5’s cover car: the 2021 Mercedes-AMG Mercedes-AMG ONE
5,000 #Forzathon Points which can be used to buy cars and cosmetics
5 Backstage Passes which can be used to unlock any hard-to-find car available in the Backstage Shop
If you’re already playing Forza Horizon 5, be sure to share the news with your PS5 friends and invite them to join us at the Horizon Festival as cross-play will be available between all platforms!
PlayStation 5 Graphics Modes
Forza Horizon 5 on PS5 features two rendering modes to choose from: Performance (60fps) and Quality (30fps).
On PS5 Pro, the Performance mode receives increased visual fidelity, while Quality mode adds ray traced car reflections to Races and Free Roam.
We hope you are looking forward to exploring Forza Horizon 5’s vast open world and features with Horizon Realms across all platforms the game is available on. Remember that you can pre-order any version of Forza Horizon 5 starting today on the PlayStation Store to receive a special bundle; pre-purchasing Premium Edition will grant you Early Access on April 25.
In April 2023, we launched our first Experience AI resources, developed in partnership with Google DeepMind to support educators to engage their students in learning about the topic of AI. Since then, the Experience AI programme has grown rapidly, reaching thousands of educators all over the world. Read on to find out more about the impact of our resources, and what we are learning.
The Experience AI resources
The Experience AI resources are designed to help educators introduce AI and AI safety to 11- to 14-year-olds. They consist of:
Foundations of AI: a comprehensive unit of six lessons including lesson plans, slide decks, activities, videos, and more to support educators to introduce AI and machine learning to young people
Large language models (LLMs): a lesson designed to help young people discover how large language models work, their benefits, and why their outputs are not always reliable
Ecosystems and AI — Biology: a lesson providing an opportunity for young people to explore how AI applications are supporting animal conservation
AI safety:a set of resources with a flexible design to support educators in a range of settings to equip young people with the knowledge and skills to responsibly and safely navigate the challenges associated with AI
The launch of Experience AI came at an important time: AI technologies are playing an ever-growing role in our everyday lives, so it is crucial for young people to gain the understanding and skills they need to critically engage with these technologies. While the resources were initially designed for use by educators in the UK, they immediately attracted interest from educators across the world, as well as individuals wanting to learn about AI. The resources have now been downloaded over 325,000 times by people from over 160 countries. This includes downloads from over 7000 educators worldwide, who will collectively reach an estimated 1.2 million young people.
Thanks to funding from Google DeepMind and Google.org, we have also been working with partners from across the globe to localise and translate the resources for learners and educators in their countries, and provide training to support local educators to deliver the lessons. The educational resources are now available in up to 15 languages, and to date, we have trained over 100 representatives from 20 international partner organisations, who will go on to train local educators. Five of these organisations have begun onward training already, collectively training over 1500 local educators so far.
The impact of Experience AI
The Experience AI resources have been well received by students and educators. Based on responses to our follow-up surveys, in countries where we have partners:
95% of educators agreed that the Experience AI sessions have increased their students’ knowledge of AI concepts
90% of young people (including young people in formal and non-formal education settings and learning independently) indicated that they better understand what AI and machine learning are
This is backed up by qualitative feedback from surveys and interviews.
“Students’ perception and understanding of AI has improved and corrected. They realised they can contribute and be a part of the [development], instead of only users.” – Noorlaila, educator, SMK Cyberjaya, Malaysia
“[Students] found it interesting in the sense that it’s relevant information and they didn’t know what information was used for training models.” – Teacher, Liceul Tehnologic “Crisan” Criscior, Romania
“Based on my knowledge and learning about AI, I now appreciate the definition of AI as well as its implementation.” – Student, Changamwe JSS, Kenya
The training and resources also support educators to feel more confident to teach about AI:
93% of international partner representatives who participated in our training agreed that the training increased their knowledge of AI concepts
88% of educators receiving onward training by our international partners agreed that the training increased their confidence to teach AI concepts
87% of educator respondents from our ‘Understanding AI for educators’ online course agreed that the course was useful for supporting young people
“It was a wonderful experience for me to join this workshop. Truly I was able to learn a lot about AI and I feel more confident now to teach the kids back at school about this new knowledge.” – Nur, educator, SMK Bandar Tasek Mutiara, trained by our partner Penang Science Cluster, Malaysia
“This was one of the best information sessions I’ve been to! So, so helpful!” – Meagan, educator, University of Alberta, trained by our partner Digital Moment, Canada
“The layout of the course in terms of content structuring is amazing. I love the discussion forum and the insightful yet empathetic responses by the course moderators on the discussion board. Honestly, I am really glad I started my AI in education journey with you.” – Priyanka, head teacher (primary level), United Arab Emirates, online course participant
What are we learning?
We are committed to continually improving our resources based on feedback from users. A recent review of feedback from educators highlighted key aspects of the resources that educators value most, as well as some challenges educators are facing and possible areas for improvement. For example, educators particularly like the interactive aspects, the clear structure and explanations, and the videos featuring professionals from the AI industry. We are continuing to look for ways we can better support educators to adapt the content and language to better support students in their context, fit Experience AI into their school timetables, and overcome technical barriers.
If you would like to try out our Experience AI resources, head to experience-ai.org, where you can find our free resources and online course, as well as information about local partners in your area.
We’re hugely proud of the new magazine. It’s got all the amazing features that made The MagPi such a success, but with a new design that’s easier to read, better at displaying code, and more in sync with Raspberry Pi’s amazing documentation and tutorials.
Thank you again to everybody who supports us by subscribing to the magazine or contributing to our endeavour. We really can’t do it without you.
We’ve worked incredibly hard to make this issue one to remember. Inside the inaugural Raspberry Pi Official Magazine, you will discover…
Raspberry Pi problem solving
Our lead feature this month is a huge analysis of Raspberry Pi troubleshooting. We’ve gathered a vast amount of documentation on power requirements, SD card performance, Raspberry Pi OS customisation, boot problems, audio and video fixes, and hardware enhancements.
The maker toolset
It’s incredibly important to make things. Making is rewarding, fun, and practical. In this month’s magazine, you’ll discover everything you need to set up your makerspace. Our maker toolset has the full range from simple circuits and humble sewing up to 3D printing and metalwork.
HexBoard
Raspberry Pi Official Magazine is packed with all the best projects from around the globe. Jared DeCook shares his incredible HexBoard musical instrument with us. Instead of piano-style keys, it features hexagonal buttons and RGB LEDs, all controlled by Raspberry Pi RP2040.
Raspberry Pi Chess Board
Imagine playing chess against a robot. That’s what high school student Tamerlan Goglichidze has created. With a stepper motor and magnets it moves the chess pieces around.
Sense HAT V2
Sense HAT is a great way to discover coding and data gathering. In this tutorial we’ll show you how to attach a Sense HAT to your Raspberry Pi and start controlling the LED display.
Custom CNC Machine
Jo Hinchliffe brings together various parts for a custom CNC machine that acts as a carbon filament winding machine for making custom carbon-fibre tubes.
10 Amazing Accessories
Power up your Raspberry Pi 5 with these incredible add-ons that enable extra functionality. We’ve got everything from USB sound cards to overpowered cooling systems.
You’ll find all this and much more in the latest edition of Raspberry Pi Official Magazine. Pick up your copy today from our store, or subscribe to get every issue delivered to your door.
One of the lead developers for Undermine(d) joins us to talk about the latest chapter for World of Warcraft.
This new city is unlike any we’ve seen before in Azeroth, bustling with life, with streets made for speed!
Find out more about how you’ll drive and drift around city streets in brand new hot rods.
Imagine taking New York and smashing it into a steampunk vibe where safety doesn’t matter. That’s the feeling you get when you step into Undermine, the new zone that went live this week in World of Warcraft. I had the pleasure of leading this zone’s design alongside my super talented teammates on the WoW team – and I’d love to tell you more about this never-before-seen goblin city… and its wild, driveable vehicles.
Deep Dive, Then D.R.I.V.E.
Adding a dynamic twist to the World of Warcraft experience, this new update introduces the D.R.I.V.E. feature, also known as our Dynamic and Revolutionary Improvement to Vehicular Experiences (we took that acronym and manifested it into that mouthful, you’re welcome! It’s sick).
This new feature allows players to travel on the ground with a mechanically intriguing G-99 Breakneck – otherwise known as WoW’s take on a hot rod. You will unlock this car pretty early while questing – complete “Eyes from Above” in the main campaign, then accept “No More Walkin’ Here” and progress through the Breakneck’s tutorial.
The design philosophy behind these vehicles is rooted in the art style of World of Warcraft goblins, where everything looks cobbled together yet oddly ingenious. The G-99 Breakneck has exaggerated features—like massive flames shooting from the scoop—which fit perfectly within the chaotic streets of Undermine.
One of the key aspects we wanted to bring to this feature was the ability to drift, which is a classic mechanic in older racing games. Bringing this to World of Warcraft was a challenge, but it ignited excitement across the team. Our goal was to capture that feeling of freedom and control, akin to the sensation of getting your first car and the newfound access it brings.
The car isn’t just for getting around; it’s also a passenger mount, allowing friends to join in and explore the streets of Undermine together. Players can participate in races, testing their skills on both regular and reverse courses. For those who might get motion sick or find the speed too much, we’ve ensured that the experience is accessible, offering options to customize with a lower top-speed engine immediately after unlocking the car, or to use regular ground mounts instead—whichever you prefer.
Take to the Streets
But your new car would be nothing without somewhere interesting to drive it. In Undermine, you’ll see these cars racing around you, providing both a vibrant backdrop to your adventures and an invitation to join in the chaos. Tasks like delivering hot towels, or fighting a ghostly tiger that is rudely scaring children, allow you to become a true part of the fabric of the city.
As you can probably tell, Undermine is full of life. As you drift your car around the streets (above sewers with fighting rings in them!), you will encounter pirates, mobsters, people who want to break your ankles, the best cooks you’ve ever met, and so much more.
Beneath Undermine’s false sky is a city that bustles with energy, a hub of commerce and culture for goblins. This diverges from the usual city landscapes you’d see in World of Warcraft—this is a densely populated city that’s very much lived in, bustling with life as people go about their day-to-day business.
The zone itself is a testament to the possibility of more. With features like Slam Central Station, which can take you anywhere your imagination permits, Undermine stands as a beacon of goblin ingenuity and ambition. The city is filled with cleverly named landmarks like the Incontinental Hotel and the Gallagio, reflecting a unique society driven by growth.
The narrative of Undermine is all about bettering one’s circumstances. It ties into the main storyline of The War Within, with characters like Orweyna introducing players to the Ringing Deeps and the initial chapters of the story. You’ll meet (or be reintroduced to, if you’ve played in the past) characters like Renzik and Gazlowe, who provide a window into the lives of those who call Undermine home. While some characters, like Gazlowe, left to find something different, others see Undermine as their home—for some, there’s anywhere but home. For others, there’s no place like home.
As the story unfolds, Gazlowe undergoes a change of heart, leading to a revolution where players can take down dictators and liberate the streets. This narrative of reclaiming the city highlights the power of the people over oppressive forces.
Join us in Undermine, a city of fast wheels and dark deals. It doesn’t matter if you drift an inch or a yard, drifting’s drifting!
The Undermine(d) update is live now in World of Warcraft, available on PC via Battle.net. To learn more, visit WorldOfWarcraft.com.
This February, let the ID@Xbox team set the vibe. In this, the month of Valentine’s Day, indie game developers are competing to be your next love – but don’t stress, because our team of wingmen and wingwomen have handpicked six Indie Selects that can meet what anyone’s heart desires.
If you’re looking for some tasty food for the soul, satisfying beats that really pop, dangerous exploits to get the heart pumping, and unbelievable deliveries that really soar, February Selects had you at hello. Here’s what we’ve got for you this month (in no particular order):
This game answers the question,” What if you had to earn your meal by engaging it in a fight to the death?”. Cuisineer is the first food-focused action roguelite that I’ve ever played and I am very much obsessed. I’ve spent an embarrassing amount of time bashing cute (but hostile) creatures in its dungeons to restock my fridge back in my character’s hometown. The demand for more wood, more types of stone, and various grades of meat never ends and the loop of “spend a day cooking for fussy customers, then return to a dungeon, then come back and upgrade your tools, etc.” is constant. It’s a hustle that I’m hooked on, to be honest, and Cuisineer delivers up this cycle in a way that’s both cozy and challenging.
Those monsters in the various dungeons aren’t joking around and you’ll be battling through multiple floors and bosses to get to the end of each gauntlet (though there are options to exit early). You’ll also be plunking down hard-earned gold (from your restaurant’s till) to upgrade your backpack and eatery capacity to continue growing and progressing through the game. It’s a soothing, dopamine-hit formula that Cuisineer does incredibly (and adorably) well, but it’s not absent of difficulty and learning curve. So, think of it as equipping cutesy cat ears while prepping for a lengthy workout. Give yourself some time to onboard and you’ll be harvesting fuzzy little fluffballs for “fatty meat” in no time.
Cuisineer
XSEED Games
☆☆☆☆☆25
★★★★★
$29.99
Upon receiving a startling letter from her parents, the independent adventurer Pom swiftly returns home to Paell, only to find her parents gone and their beloved restaurant abandoned. Now left with mounting debts and a village in dire need of some fine cooking, Pom will have to delve into the deepest dungeons for the scarcest spices, rarest meats, and the most valuable vegetables she can find to keep her parents’ dream alive. Dive into dungeons and cook up a storm as Pom, an adventurer-turned-restaurateur! Cuisineer‘s food-focused action challenges you to build your dinner the hard way: by dungeon-diving for materials and ingredients. Wield your cooking utensils against giant chickens, artillery shrimps, fire-breathing peppers, and other pesky perils, sipping boba tea along the way. Work with local artisans to customize your kitchen, and tailor your dining hall to the needs of loyal patrons eager to experience the rare recipes you’ve cooked up. The Xbox Series X/S and Windows Store release of Cuisineer plates its enticing gameplay with fresh ingredients like new weapons, year-round festivals, a wardrobe feature, and more tasty inclusions that are sure to spice things up. A Smorgasbord of Dungeons
Explore procedurally generated biomes such as the Green Ruins, Frozen Fjord, and Konpeito Swamps that change their size, shape, and resources every time you visit. Craft Your Own Culinary Experience Cook over 100 different recipes from around the world, from crunchy Popiah rolls to rich Kaya jam, from double-fried crispy chicken with zesty lemon, to sweet treats piled high with berries. Get the right dishes to the right customers and customize your kitchen and dining hall with the help of local artisans. Master the Flavors of Fighting
Knock out monsters and rivals with Salty, Sour, Sweet, Bitter, Umami, Frosty and Toasty powers that unleash flame, poison, chain lightning, and other fantastic effects. You can also fight with unique utensils and gourmet gear, like Spatula, Smackerel, Swordfish, and the newly added Konpeito Fist weapons! Take Quests to Go
From Naicha the Bubble Tea seller to Alder the big friendly carpenter, Paell is full of sweet and spicy townsfolk to befriend. While you’re dungeon diving, be on the lookout for items the townsfolk need. You’ll be rewarded with gold, new items, and even more recipes to take your cooking and adventuring to new heights.
Turbo Overkill is an FPS game that invokes the spirit of ’80s cyberpunk media and classic shooters such as Quake & Doom. By modern definition, you might categorize it as a “boomer shooter” – a game that either IS a retro FPS or a newer title that’s designed to create a similar feeling. Yes, this is a real thing, and no, we didn’t make it up, but we can agree that it’s fitting! As much as I love modern FPS games, I’m a huge fan of the classics, and Turbo Overkill does this subgenre justice in as many ways that it can.
Taking place in a futuristic, cyberpunk city called Paradise, players control a cybernetic bounty hunter by the name of Johnny Turbo who, paired with his trusty chainsaw leg and large arsenal of weapons, is set to take down rogue AI, Syn, and their augmented minions. The gameplay revolves around fighting various enemies and bosses, exploration, puzzle solving, upgrading Johnny and his weapons, and platforming. But what I love most is its pacing and combat flow. Players can leverage Johnny’s chainsaw leg by crouch sliding (a staple in most modern FPS games) to not only maneuver but also take down most enemies in one hit. Pairing this movement with jumps, air dashes and cycling through the various familiar weapons, makes the game feel like a classic arena shooter on top of its retro heritage.
In homage to the classics, Turbo Overkill features a single player campaign with several difficulties to choose from, secret levels to find, and unlockables to keep you busy. There’s also two additional modes, Endless Mode and Arcade Mode, both of which add a medal and scoring system for additional replayability. If you’re a fan of FPS games, whether modern or classic, then you must check this one out!
Turbo Overkill
Apogee Entertainment
☆☆☆☆☆45
★★★★★
$19.99
Turbo Overkill is the most savage FPS ever released by Apogee. You play as Johnny Turbo, augmented with hidden arm rockets and a chainsaw that extends from your lower leg allowing you to slide-slice enemies wide open. Johnny returns to his hometown of Paradise and finds its entire population possessed by Syn, a rogue AI, and its army of augmented minions. Desperate for enough money to outrun his past mistakes, Johnny takes on the impossible job of destroying the greatest AI ever created. Rival bounty hunters want to claim the prize first. Nothing is easy in paradise. TURBO TIME, WALL-RUNNING, DASHING AND GRAPPLING HOOKS, OH MY
Turbo Overkill takes over-the-top to never-before-reached heights. Activate Turbo Time(™), a new form of slow motion with a twist. Build incredible speed by wall-running and dashing. Slide on your chainsaw leg, eviscerating foes and opening up bosses for critical damage, and go car-surfing on the hoods of flying cars. Blast away with the Twin Magnums, which lock-on and instagib several foes, the Boomer Shotgun and its attached grenade launcher, or the Telefragger sniper rifle, which teleports Johnny inside an enemy before they explode from within. Race through two dozen stages packed with secrets, bonus arena stages, and white-knuckle combat puzzles. Find game-changing collectibles to unlock punishing modifiers like triple-monster-speed and insta-kill. Combine all of Johnny’s weapons and powers to outsmart, outgun and outrun the corrupted legions.
Tails of Iron 2 is a gritty and challenging 2D action-RPG that mixes Soulslike combat with Metroidvania elements. I’ve been interested in this series since the first entry, but I never picked it up – my backlog is infinite! After playing this one though, I feel like I owe it to myself to try it out! It helps that, while the new story shares the same world, the sequel features a new protagonist, Arlo meaning you don’t need to play its predecessor to catch up. As the heir to the Warden of the Wastes, Arlo must avenge his father’s death, taking on threats like the merciless Dark Wing Bats and other creatures as he fights to restore his homeland. Oh… and Arlo’s a rat.
I won’t get too deep into the gore, but all I’ll say is, don’t let this game’s storybook-like appearance fool you – the themes in this game are grim. The hand-drawn visuals remind me of a hidden gem you’d find digging through the Xbox Live Arcade library, in all the best ways. It has that nostalgic charm that makes it feel familiar, yet ultimately fresh and unique. And the world? Absolutely awesome. Viking themes aren’t new, but Viking rats? They’re adorable, and at the same time, so metal.
After spending hours fighting bosses, I can confirm this game is challenging. You’ll have to backtrack, platform, upgrade your gear, and parry and roll… a lot. You’ll need patience, and if you’re anything like me, you’ll probably die more than you survive—unless you switch to Fairy Tale mode, where enemies have less health and do less damage.
If you’re a fan of Metroidvanias, Soulslikes, or just really love the idea of rats in Viking armor, I recommend giving this a shot. Oh, and they got Doug Cockle (Geralt from The Witcher game series) to narrate the story, which only adds to the appeal.
Tails of Iron 2: Whiskers of Winter
United Label
☆☆☆☆☆74
★★★★★
$24.99
Just as the Rats of the South start to piece their lives together, following the great war between Rodent and Frog, an old and unspeakable evil stirs in the North; wings black as death; fangs sharp as steel; and a thirst for blood rivalled only by their insatiable hunger… for vengeance. As Arlo, young heir to the Warden of the Wastes, journey through the vast, snow-ravaged lands of the North in an epic quest to overcome the Dark Wings once and for all. Hunt down giant beasts. Unite disparate clans. Upgrade your settlement. And discover a terrible secret of blood and crown… The time for heroes is over. For the Kingdom needs a warrior; forged of the North and as cold as the snow that shrouds these lands. A rat… carved from iron. And so, a new tail begins. Explore a Vast, Wintry Kingdom
Fully narrated by RPG-legend, Doug Cockle, prepare to embark on an epic adventure across the northern realms of the Ratdom; an expansive, frost-bitten land on the brink of all-out war. Hunt down Giant Beasts
Track down and defeat the legendary monsters of this realm, and be rewarded with rare resources with which to craft devastating equipment. But be warned, these colossal creatures won’t go down without a fight… and then some. Master Brutal Combat
The lands of the North are a perilous place, so you’ll need to master the fast, challenging combat for any chance of survival. Evade attacks with a dodge roll, nail split-second parry bashes, and unleash an array of gruesome executions. Customise your Attack
Craft your own extensive arsenal of upgradeable weaponry, ready to fight as you see fit; strike quick with a spear, afar with a bow, or go claw-to-claw with a heavy-hitting mace. Alternativity, gain a tactical advantage with a range of new, deadly traps… Upgrade your Settlement
As Warden of the Wastes, defending your lands is only half the battle. Construct and upgrade your settlement with hard-earned gold to gain access to more powerful items from the Smithy, tastier meals at the Kitchen, a wider range of powerful traps from the shoppe, and more! Unleash All-New Sorceries
Unlock the devastating ‘Elementa’ sorceries of Electric, Poison, Fire, and Ice in an all-new magic system. Bestowed upon you by the gods themselves, these arena-devastating powers can quickly turn the tides in battles.
Rhythm games are back, baby! Robobeat is (deep breath) an innovative, fast-paced, futuristic, roguelite rhythm boomer shooter. To say this game is in a league of its own is putting it mildly. There are not many games that combine slick combat mechanics with music-centric gameplay in procedurally generated environments, and I would say even fewer that do it well. You play as Ace, a famous bounty hunter, chasing after an eccentric cyborg named Frazzer. However, in order to stop Frazzer in his tracks, you’ll have to make your way through his distorted techno playground, which is comprised of five randomly generated “pathways” where you will need to shoot, wall-run, slide and bunny hop, all in sync with the beat of the soundtrack.
The most unique part of Robobeat, and probably my favorite part, is the ability to change songs as you play. Switching between energetic metal, jazz-like grooves, and frantic EDM allows you to set the pace of your run. Sometimes a slower pace is needed in order to get the hang of the next stage. The enemies become tougher and the hordes become more intense the further you go, and throughout your runs you’ll collect blueprints that can be unlocked using currency – however if you die before cashing in your blueprints, you’ll have to reacquire them. Once a weapon or ability is unlocked, it can appear in any future run.
The tunes are great, the gunplay is manically intense, and roguelite mechanics set Robobeat apart from its peers across several genres. This was a bold bet that paid off.
ROBOBEAT
Kwalee
☆☆☆☆☆7
★★★★★
$19.99
Beat. The. Bot. You’re Ace – a famous bounty hunter after your latest target, the eccentric robot-showman Frazzer. To find your way through his twisted techno-playground, you’ll have to master the art of shooting, wall-running, sliding, and bunny hopping, all in sync with the beat! Get ready to dance till you’re dead and then suit up for the remix in rogue-like rhythm shooter ROBOBEAT. Move to the Music
You’ll want some slick moves to go with those slick new weapons. Your enemies aren’t going to wait around for you to take a dance break, so you’ve got to keep moving if you want to survive. Wall run, slide, double jump, bunny hop, and grapple hook your way through technicolour levels to give your enemies the runaround. Keep it fluid, keep it funky, and keep it moving. Rewind, Remix, Replay
ROBOBEAT is a rogue-like remix. Fast forward through procedurally generated levels, equip an arsenal of finely-tuned weapons, and accompany your arsenal with a symphony of modifications. Your playstyle is on continuous shuffle, so you never know what each new run is going to bring! Will you have what it takes to break the infinite loop and stop Frazzer in his tracks?
Mexico, 1921: A Deep Slumber is a narrative adventure game inspired by true events. You’ll step into the shoes of Juan Aguirre, a photojournalist in post-revolutionary Mexico City. The game not only entertains but educates players by involving historians and cultural institutions in its creation. This collaboration transforms the game into an interactive archive of Mexican history. I was absolutely fascinated as the game transported me to a tumultuous period in Mexican history, allowing me to uncover the truth behind President Álvaro Obregón’s assassination.
You’ll navigate through Mexico City, interviewing and photographing subjects, which I found created a deep feeling of involvement in the storyline and historical events. It’s a layer of authenticity only added to by the photography mechanic, which requires you to master early 20th Century photographic techniques. The game follows a classic point-and-click adventure style, where you examine objects, gather clues, and engage in conversations with various characters, and I was deeply captivated by the connection to the historical events and cultural aspects of post-revolutionary Mexico. is a compelling and emotionally engaging game.
Mexico,1921: A Deep Slumber
Mácula Interactive
☆☆☆☆☆4
★★★★★
$19.99
Mexico, 1921. A deep slumber is an intriguing narrative adventure where you try to solve a hundred-year-old mystery: who planned the assassination of President Álvaro Obregón? You play as Juan Aguirre, a photojournalist who will interview and photograph subjects, collect historical data and report the news that will shape Mexican history. Join Juan in post-revolutionary Mexico City to discover why Mexico ain’t no place for the weak. Developed hand in hand with the National Newspaper Library and the Popular Arts Museum, this game will be an interactive archive of Mexican post-revolutionary history.
Mika and the Witch’s Mountain is a charming E-rated adventure game. You play the role of aspiring young witch Mika, who is declined admittance to witch school and has to take a job delivering packages to fund her broom repairs. The game takes place in a small open world, the Island of Winds, asking you to fly from point to point by way of broomstick– opening more of the world as you unlock additional traversal abilities for your broom.
With a Studio Ghibli-inspired art style, the charm of this island location and its many inhabitants is infectious. There are dozens of residents that you get to know and help on your journey to ascend the mountain to witch school. The main story does not overstay its welcome, but there are additional puzzles, races, and secrets to extend your time on the island. The simplified control scheme and cute aesthetic means this is suitable for all ages and skill levels of gamers. The art style, the characters and the music elevate a game that is almost exclusively a series of fetch quests into an endearing, relaxing and memorable adventure.
Mika and The Witch’s Mountain
Chibig
☆☆☆☆☆10
★★★★★
$19.99
Mika and the Witch’s Mountain is a fantasy adventure about an aspiring witch who delivers packages to the townspeople of a small island. Explore every cranny and soar through the sky with your magic broom.
Ever been in a hotel or AirBnB with rubbish WiFi? Make it better by using a Raspberry Pi with PiFi, a powerful dongle that let’s you create a secure wireless router with a Raspberry Pi – including VPN capabilities. We have five to give away, and you can enter below…
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AI has become a pervasive term that is heard with trepidation, excitement, and often a furrowed brow in school staffrooms. For educators, there is pressure to use AI applications for productivity — to save time, to help create lesson plans, to write reports, to answer emails, etc. There is also a lot of interest in using AI tools in the classroom, for example, to personalise or augment teaching and learning. However, without understanding AI technology, neither productivity nor personalisation are likely to be successful as teachers and students alike must be critical consumers of these new ways of working to be able to use them productively.
Fifty teachers and researchers share knowledge about teaching about AI.
In both England and globally, there are few new AI-based curricula being introduced and the drive for teachers and students to learn about AI in schools is lagging, with limited initiatives supporting teachers in what to teach and how to teach it. At the Raspberry Pi Foundation and Raspberry Pi Computing Education Research Centre, we decided it was time to investigate this missing link of teaching about AI, and specifically to discover what the teachers who are leading the way in this topic are doing in their classrooms.
A day of sharing and activities in Cambridge
We organised a day-long, face-to-face symposium with educators who have already started to think deeply about teaching about AI, have started to create teaching resources, and are starting to teach about AI in their classrooms. The event was held in Cambridge, England, on 1 February 2025, at the head office of the Raspberry Pi Foundation.
Teachers collaborated and shared their knowledge about teaching about AI.
Over 150 educators and researchers applied to take part in the symposium. With only 50 places available, we followed a detailed protocol, whereby those who had the most experience teaching about AI in schools were selected. We also made sure that educators and researchers from different teaching contexts were selected so that there was a good mix of primary to further education phases represented. Educators and researchers from England, Scotland, and the Republic of Ireland were invited and gathered to share about their experiences. One of our main aims was to build a community of early adopters who have started along the road of classroom-based AI curriculum design and delivery.
Inspiration, examples, and expertise
To inspire the attendees with an international perspective of the topics being discussed, Professor Matti Tedre, a visiting academic from Finland, gave a brief overview of the approach to teaching about AI and resources that his research team have developed. In Finland, there is no compulsory distinct computing topic taught, so AI is taught about in other subjects, such as history. Matti showcased tools and approaches developed from the Generation AI research programme in Finland. You can read about the Finnish research programme and Matti’s two month visit to the Raspberry Pi Computing Education Research Centre in our blog.
A Finnish perspective to teaching about AI.
Attendees were asked to talk about, share, and analyse their teaching materials. To model how to analyse resources, Ben Garside from the Raspberry Pi Foundation modelled how to complete the activities using the Experience AI resources as an example. The Experience AI materials have been co-created with Google DeepMind and are a suite of free classroom resources, teacher professional development, and hands-on activities designed to help teachers confidently deliver AI lessons. Aimed at learners aged 11 to 14, the materials are informed by the AI education framework developed at the Raspberry Pi Computing Education Research Centre and are grounded in real-world contexts. We’ve recently released new lessons on AI safety, and we’ve localised the resources for use in many countries including Africa, Asia, Europe, and North America.
In the morning session, Ben exemplified how to talk about and share learning objectives, concepts, and research underpinning materials using the Experience AI resources and in the afternoon he discussed how he had mapped the Experience AI materials to the UNESCO AI competency framework for students.
UNESCO provide important expertise.
Kelly Shiohira, from UNESCO, kindly attended our session, and gave an invaluable insight into the UNESCO AI competency framework for students. Kelly is one of the framework’s authors and her presentation helped teachers understand how the materials had been developed. The attendees then used the framework to analyse their resources, to identify gaps and to explore what progression might look like in the teaching of AI.
Teachers shared their knowledge about teaching about AI.
Throughout the day, the teachers worked together to share their experience of teaching about AI. They considered the concepts and learning objectives taught, what progression might look like, what the challenges and opportunities were of teaching about AI, what research informed the resources and what research needs to be done to help improve the teaching and learning of AI.
What next?
We are now analysing the vast amount of data that we gathered from the day and we will share this with the symposium participants before we share it with a wider audience. What is clear from our symposium is that teachers have crucial insights into what should be taught to students about AI, and how, and we are greatly looking forward to continuing this journey with them.
As well as the symposium, we are also conducting academic research in this area, you can read more about this in our Annual Report and on our research webpages. We will also be consulting with teachers and AI experts. If you’d like to ensure you are sent links to these blog posts, then sign up to our newsletter. If you’d like to take part in our research and potentially be interviewed about your perspectives on curriculum in AI, then contact us at: rpcerc-enquiries@cst.cam.ac.uk
We also are sharing the research being done by ourselves and other researchers in the field at our research seminars. This year, our seminar series is on teaching about AI and data science in schools. Please do sign up and come along, or watch some of the presentations that have already been delivered by the amazing research teams who are endeavouring to discover what we should be teaching about AI and how in schools
Blue Prince arrives for Xbox Series X|S, Windows PC and Game Pass on April 10.
Embark on a genre-defying experience in an ever-changing house.
Draft rooms, unravel mysteries, solve puzzles, and develop architectural strategies as you try to track down the mysterious “Room 46”.
We are happy to announce that our genre-defying puzzle adventure, Blue Prince is coming to Xbox Series X|S and Windows PC on April 10 – and will be available day one with Game Pass.
Blue Prince is a difficult game to define, so we thought you might like a primer in exactly why and how you’ll find yourself exploring the shifting halls of the Mount Holly manor.
Beginning the Mystery
It’s not every day you inherit a sprawling manor, let alone one that is rumored to have a different floor plan each day. But that is exactly what has happened in Blue Prince, a first-person architectural adventure in which your recently deceased great-uncle has challenged you to find the hidden 46th room of the house. It’s an especially curious task given the mansion only contains… 45 rooms.
Drafting Your Journey
Upon entering the manor, the path you choose to take is up to you. When approaching a closed door, you are shown three different rooms and are given a choice. After your selection, the door opens and the room appears before you. In a way, you are building the house as you explore it, and each new room you create adds another layer of mystery, puzzles, and strategy to your estate. But tread carefully, for at the start of each dawn the manor will reset, and the rooms you saw today might not be the same rooms you find tomorrow.
Treasured Trinkets
The progress you make each day is shaped not only by which rooms you draft but also by what tools and secrets you find within them. You will discover many items that can be used in many creative ways to further your exploration and progress. Among them, you will discover keys to unlock hidden rooms, shovels to dig up treasure, compasses to guide your path, and magnifying glasses to look closer at clues. But the greatest tool is the knowledge you gain each day.
Living Wills and Dead Ends
As you explore this puzzling manor, your journey will take you further into Mount Holly’s depths, where you will begin to discover that there is more to the story than just a mysterious missing room. Unravel a history woven with political intrigue, blackmail, and the strange disappearance of a beloved children’s book author. The deeper you venture into the house, the more you’ll discover.
The game’s special blend of strategy, puzzle, mystery, and repeatability, wrapped into the fabric of Mount Holly’s atmospheric and aesthetically eclectic rooms creates a wholly unique experience that will leave you pondering what lies ahead. Play Blue Prince on Xbox Series X|S, Windows PC, and Game Pass Day One on April 10. We look forward to your arrival.
IGN kicked off its annual Fan Fest event today with an exciting new ID@Xbox Showcase, bringing world premieres, Game Pass announcements, release dates, new gameplay and much more from the incredible slate of indie developers working on games for Xbox platforms right now.
From action-roguelikes, to card games, to cozy adventures, to game genres that don’t even have a name yet, this Showcase revealed how wild and wonderful the indie space can be – it’s a celebration of what’s next for gaming.
Read on for every single bit of news you might have missed.
33 Immortals – Launching March 18
We first saw 33 Immortals during 2023’s Xbox Game Showcase, and this long-awaited co-op action roguelike will arrive on March 18. Pitting up to 33 players against hordes of monsters and gigantic bosses, 33 Immortals captures the joy of MMO raids in a more ‘pick up and play’ context. The release date trailer showed us some of its dark cartoon looks, frenetic gameplay, and huge party sizes.
Balatro – Out Today on Game Pass!
This award-winning roguelike poker sensation gets a surprise Game Pass release today, but that was far from the only announcement we got. Balatro is also headed to Windows PC, and we got the fourth Friends of Jimbo collaboration update, bringing themed cards based on (deep breath) Fallout, Assassin’s Creed, Civilization VII, Rust, Slay the Princess, Bugsnax, Dead By Daylight, and YouTube channel Critical Role.
Blue Prince – Launching With Game Pass on April 10
A truly unique experience, Blue Prince combines exploration, puzzles, mapmaking, and card game systems to create a game we’ve truly never seen before. Solve the mysteries of Mount Holly manor by literally piecing its rooms together, and solving mysteries hidden throughout the house you build as a result. Discover its secrets when the game launches on April 10, coming to Xbox Series X|S, Windows PC, and launching day one with Game Pass.
Buckshot Roulette – Coming to Xbox and Game Pass
This haunting experience makes “gambling with your life” a very literal concept, and has already captivated and horrified PC players. Transforming the (already unpleasant) game of Russian Roulette by introducing a shotgun and some dastardly extra rules, this is a true tabletop strategy game with a grim twist. In today’s show, we learned that Buckshot Roulette is on its way to Xbox and Game Pass – prepare yourself.
Descenders Next – Launching April 9
This sequel to the downhill biking Game Pass sensation, Descenders Next broadens its scope to include multiple ways to go really, really fast down a mountain. Promising to be the ultimate extreme sports game, tackle multiple biomes on snowboards and mountainboards when it arrives on April 9 with Game Pass.
Echo Weaver – Coming to Xbox and Game Pass
This beautifully rendered “Metroidbrainia” draws from classic adventure platformers and the likes of Outer Wilds to create a time looping world where knowledge is your greatest weapon. The trailer offered clues as to how, across multiple loops, you’ll piece together the story and shape of a collapsed utopia and escape the temporal prison you’re trapped within. Echo Weaver is coming to Xbox, with Game Pass.
Herdling – Coming to Xbox and Windows PC
Developer Okomotive created two of the most exciting, mechanic-packed adventures of recent years in the form of Far: Lone Sails and Far: Changing Tides, so you can count us very excited for their first fully 3D outing, Herdling. In a new trailer, we saw much more of how you’ll guide a herd of curious cattle across a ruined world (and the dangers you’ll face along the way) – and learned that it’ll be coming to Xbox Series X|S and Windows PC when it launches this summer.
Hotel Barcelona – Launching 2025
This long awaited collaboration between legendary designers Suda51 and Swery is almost upon us. This 2.5D action-platformer pits you against the horror-inspired denizens of the titular hotel, and the new trailer dives deeper into the Slasher Phantom, a brutal game mechanic that summons echoes of the player’s past runs to aid them in battle. We also saw some of the game’s arsenal of deadly weapons and abilities, each designed to turn the tide of battle in the most gruesome ways possible.
Jump Ship – Coming to Xbox Game Preview
Developed by Hazelight (It Takes Two) and Mojang (Minecraft) alumni, this 1-4 player FPS puts you in charge of a spaceship and asks you to take on on-foot combat sections, seamlessly transitioning between the two. The new trailer gives us a taste of how you’ll have to work together to survive, not to mention its tongue-in-cheek approach to bombastic action – plus we learned that it’ll be available in early access through Xbox Game Preview this summer.
Lies of P: Overture – New Story Trailer
We got a closer look at the newly announced DLC for acclaimed Soulslike, Lies of P. The Overture expansion will see Geppetto’s Puppet encounter a mysterious artifact that transports him back in time to the world of Krat in its final days of grandeur. The trailer gives us a melancholy look at Lea, the Legendary Stalker, on her relentless path of vengeance.
The Lonesome Guild – World Premiere
We got a world-first look at the new game from Don’t Nod (Life Is Strange, Jusant), a whimsical action-RPG full of heart, battles, and bonds that change everything. Embark on a heroic adventure as Ghost, a spirit who wakes to find they hold no memories. Build your dream team, switch seamlessly between them to solve puzzles and fight your way through the collapsing world of Etere. The Lonesome Guild arrives for Xbox Series X|S this fall.
Moonlighter 2: The Endless Vault – Coming to Game Pass
The sequel to the beloved action-RPG that answers the question, “where do RPG merchants get their stock”, Moonlighter 2 takes on a brand new full-3D, isometric look – offering new challenges and rewards as a result. The new trailer shows both your new hometown and shop, and the adventures in store as you adventure to keep your stock flowing. Moonlighter 2: The Endless Vault is coming to Xbox Series X|S, Windows PC and Game Pass in 2025.
Outbound – Coming to Xbox in 2026
This gorgeous open-world exploration game sets you off with an empty camper van and sees you turn it into the home of your dreams – alone or together with your friends. Build and explore at your own pace. Scavenge materials, craft, and build in and on top of your vehicle with modular parts. Advance in technology and efficiently use energy to power your home, while adjusting your playstyle to adapt to new landscapes and changing environmental conditions. Outbound is coming to Xbox Series X|S in 2026.
Ratatan – Coming to Xbox
A new game from the creators of the beloved Patapon, Ratatan is a rhythm strategy roguelike that sees you taking increasingly huge groups of minions through a world in which you need to literally conduct your attacks – hit the rhythm and you’ll stay alive. Mix in up to four-player co-op, and you can have over 100 characters onscreen in a single fight. Ratatan comes to Xbox this year.
Revenge of the Savage Planet – Coming to Game Pass on May 8
We got a new look at this co-op exploration adventure by way of an in-universe commercial for the Kindred Catalog – Revenge of the Savage Planet features dozens of fresh and funny upgrades such as the goo cannon, which allows players to create slippery, sticky or flammable surfaces in the world! Or a whip to keep creatures from eating your face! Or a grapple to swing from point to point! Or a lasso to capture creatures and send them back to your Habitat for research. So many tools, so many options, so many ways to play. We don’t have long to wait to try all of this out – Revenge of the Savage Planet arrives for Xbox on May 8, and will be available day one with Game Pass.
Rockbeasts – World Premiere
We got another world-first look at Rockbeasts, a “rock and roll band manager” game in which you playthe manager of a legendary ‘90s band (who just happen to be animals). Lead a band of misfits on a roller-coaster ride to stardom in the age of MTV, rock anthems, and bad haircuts. Rockbeasts is a story-driven, role-playing management game that puts you in the shoes of a manager of an up-and-coming rock band. Your job – take them to the top. It arrives for Xbox Series X|S this year.
Tanuki: Pon’s Summer – Coming to Game Pass
We got another look at this adorable courier life sim after its debut at Tokyo Game Show. The new trailer showed us how we’ll be performing stunt-filled delivery missions alongside relaxing in its bucolic town – from baseball, to sumo practice, to drumming. Tanuki: Pon’s Summer arrives in late 2025, and it’s coming to Game Pass.
Tempopo – Coming to Game Pass on April 17
The newest title from the award-winning team behind Unpacking, Tempopo is a puzzle adventure bursting with music. Playing as Hana, you enter a fantasy world in which you need to conduct the titular Tempopo creatures to solve puzzles scattered across the world’s sky islands – before heading back home and cultivating her garden. The new trailer showed off new gameplay, and revealed that the game will come to Xbox Series X|S and Xbox One on April 17, and will launch into Game Pass day one.
Tron: Catalyst – Launching June 17
From Disney, publisher BigFan, and the development team at Bithell Games, the new trailer for Tron: Catalyst gave us a closer look at our game’s protagonist, Exo, who is fighting for her survival in the arena. An explosive event has gifted Exo the ability to perceive the glitch tearing apart her home, the Arq Grid, and given her the unique ability to loop time itself. This thrilling isometric action our game offers combat, conversation, and Light Cycle exploration in the city of Vertical Slice. Tron: Catalyst comes to Xbox Series X|S on June 17.
Ultimate Sheep Racoon – Coming to Game Pass
This chaotic side-scrolling, bike riding party game got a new trailer announcing that it’ll come to Game Pass upon release – and then we saw the IGN team playing the game’s 8-player mode. They showed off a variety of different blocks that can hinder your movement or launch you ahead of the competition, two different levels with varying difficulty, and showed how the different power-ups can really make a difference in the race.
Wax Heads – Launching Summer 2026
We got a new look at this slice-of-life narrative game set around running a struggling record store. Showing off its gorgeous hand-drawn looks, the trailer shows more of how you’ll chat to quirky customers with unique tastes, explore a handcrafted record collection, fall in love with bands (and their drama!), or just slack off with your colleagues – whatever gets everyone’s groove back! Wax Heads will come to Xbox Series X|S in summer 2026.
Woodo – Coming to Xbox
This cozy, story-driven game showed off more of its beautiful art style and pieced-together 3D puzzles. The trailer revealed how you’ll build the story by literally building the world, pulling 3D objects from your menus to fill a scene, revealing more of the tale of main characters Foxy and Ben as you go. Woodo is on its way to Xbox Series X|S.
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