Epic Games acquires Loci to introduce automated 3D tagging
Epic Games announced on Wednesday the acquisition of Loci, an AI platform for automated tagging 3D assets. The deal will help creators with the labor-intensive process of tagging as well as to help detect potential intellectual property (IP) violations.
Loci, which uses computer vision models to understand 3D content, automatically tags 3D assets, making content easier to search, share, and discover. Due to the large number of assets that creators often need to manage, the new integration is likely to be very helpful, as the process can be very time-consuming.
Not only will Loci's technology address the challenges associated with manual tagging, but it'll also help identify possible IP infringements. Fortnite has encountered issues before where numerous players brought in elements from popular IPs, including Mario Kart and Shrek.
The AI technology will be integrated across the Epic ecosystem, including in Unreal Editor for Fortnite (UEFN) and Fab, the marketplace for selling and buying digital assets.
Deal terms were not disclosed.

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Engadget
6 hours ago
- Engadget
How to buy the Nintendo Switch 2: Latest stock updates at Target, Best Buy, Walmart and more
The Nintendo Switch 2 has been available in the US for more than two weeks — but good luck finding one. While millions of people have been able to snag the $450 console since it officially went up for sale on June 5, online inventory dried up fairly quickly at most stores soon after launch and remains difficult to find today. Target and Best Buy restocked shortly after launch, but those didn't last long, and the latter required in-store pickup. You may also be able to grab a bundle at Costco if you're a member there. Otherwise, it's been slim pickings. As of today, we're not seeing any availability — though you may have different luck in your locality when checking inventory, online or in person. To that latter point, people had a bit more luck on launch week by venturing to a physical retail store. We can't guarantee you'll still be able to snag a Switch 2 the old-fashioned way, but it's worth checking if a local Target, Best Buy, Walmart or GameStop — the four official retailers Nintendo lists on its store page — still has consoles in stock. For now, you can skip Amazon, though: For whatever reason, the biggest online retailer doesn't even have a product page for the Switch 2 (but it does seem to be selling games and accessories). All that said, if you're still on the hunt, we've rounded up all of the latest information we could find on how to buy the Nintendo Switch 2 and where you can pick one up. Walmart began online purchases at midnight ET on June 5. Currently, both the Mario Kart World bundle and the standalone console are "available" via third-party retailers, but listed for much higher than their standard $500 and $450 price tags — with limited quantities available. We wouldn't recommend buying these; instead, wait for the console to be listed at its regular MSRP. Naturally, the world's largest retailer is also selling the console at its brick-and-mortar locations, though the company has noted that quantities are limited and inventory will vary by location. Best Buy started selling the Switch 2 at its retail locations on June 5. It previously said it wouldn't sell the handheld at its online store during launch week, but it made additional consoles available on June 11 around 12PM ET. That restock lasted for the better part of an hour and required in-store pickup, but the device is now sold out again. Target had the Switch 2 in stores on June 5 and restocked its online inventory for at least a couple of hours starting around 3:30AM ET on June 6. It then had another restock on June 12 around 2:30PM ET, but that appears to have died out in less than an hour. It still looks to be fully sold out as we write this, but you should see if there's any stock at the stores closest to you just to be safe. GameStop has advertised in-store availability, though exactly how much stock your local store may have will vary by location. Online, the device has been unavailable for the past week, with the listings for the base console and Mario Kart bundle now pointing to a "Find a Store" page. We saw a $625 bundle that includes Mario Kart World , a microSD Express card and a few other accessories pop up a bit more frequently than the standard SKUs, but it's no longer listed (and it was kind of a raw deal anyway). You may still have some luck at certain membership-based retailers. A Mario Kart World bundle at Costco that includes a 12-month Switch Online subscription has gone in and out of stock since launch day. Sam's Club has had a bundle without the Switch Online sub as well, though it's out of stock now. We also saw the console at BJ's early on June 5, but it's no longer live there. Verizon briefly had the Switch 2 available on launch day, but that's dried up, and only those with Verizon service were able to order. Amazon hasn't had any form of Switch 2 listing on its website, nor has it listed Mario Kart World . The company didn't take pre-orders for the Switch 2 either, so it's unclear if and when it will sell the device. You can, however, find some Switch 2 games. Newegg has listed the Switch 2 on its site for several weeks, but it's given no indication as to when it'll begin sales. It previous showed a couple listings from a third-party seller, but at massively inflated prices. With all of these stores, we've seen the Mario Kart World bundle available in greater quantities online than the base console, which costs $50 less. But given that Mario Kart is the Switch 2's biggest launch game and retails for $80 on its own, that may not be the worst thing. Nintendo, meanwhile, is only offering the Switch 2 via an invite system. This requires you to have been a Switch Online member for at least 12 months and logged at least 50 hours of Switch 1 playtime as of April 2. It can't hurt to sign up if you meet the criteria, but don't expect it to bear fruit immediately — it's taken weeks for many people who registered in April to receive their invite. You can find a list of every Switch 2 retail listing we could find below. Just be aware that this is meant to be a reference, not a rundown of everywhere the device is available right this second. Where to buy Switch 2 + Mario Kart World bundle: Where to buy Switch 2: Nintendo is selling a number of Switch 2 accessories alongside the console, from its (pricey) Pro Controller to cases to cameras for the new GameChat feature. Most of these became available on June 5. The same goes for games like Mario Kart World and the Switch 2 version of The Legend of Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom . Another big Switch 2 release, Donkey Kong Bananza , won't be available until mid-July but is still up for pre-order now. As of this publication, just about all Switch 2 games are broadly available. Stock for the accessories remains a little spottier, but most devices are still available at multiple retailers. Nintendo's official Switch 2 carrying cases have been the main exceptions, so you may need to look to third-party alternatives if you want some protection for your console right away. Mario Kart World ($80) Nintendo Walmart GameStop Best Buy Target Donkey Kong Bananza ($70) Nintendo Amazon Walmart GameStop Best Buy Target Costco (membership required) Additional Switch 2 games Nintendo Amazon Walmart GameStop Best Buy Target Samsung microSD Express Card (256GB) for Nintendo Switch 2 ($60) Nintendo Walmart GameStop Best Buy Target Amazon Joy-Con 2 bundle ($95) Nintendo Walmart GameStop Best Buy Target Switch 2 Pro Controller ($85) Switch 2 Camera ($55) Nintendo Walmart GameStop Best Buy Target Hori Nintendo Switch 2 Piranha Plant Camera ($60) Joy-Con 2 Charging Grip ($40) Nintendo Walmart GameStop Best Buy Target Joy-Con 2 Wheels (set of 2) ($25) Nintendo Walmart GameStop Best Buy Target Switch 2 All-in-One Carrying Case ($85) Nintendo Walmart GameStop Best Buy Target Switch 2 Carrying Case and Screen Protector ($40) Nintendo (invite required) Walmart GameStop Best Buy Target Nintendo Switch 2 Dock Set ($120) Nintendo GameCube Controller for Switch 2 ($65) Nintendo (Switch Online required)


Buzz Feed
10 hours ago
- Buzz Feed
Guys Are Sharing Green Flags In Girls
When it comes to dating and relationships, everyone has something they consider undeniably attractive. Reddit user m_i_ndinmotion recently asked, "What is a green flag in a girl according to guys?" Here's what these dudes get heart eyes for: "A girl who listens and remembers the little stuff you mention, like your favorite snack or a random story, is gold. It shows she cares enough to pay attention, not just nod along." "She doesn't sweat the small stuff." "She's not glued to her phone." "Makes an effort to keep a conversation going." "Someone who can hold her own in a game of Mario Kart." "No obsession over social media presence." "When she has her own stuff going on, and doesn't need to cling to me for validation 24/7." "Being good to the staff at any restaurant." "She reads books." "Goals and healthy boundaries." "Open and honest communication." "She's kind and doesn't talk down to others." "When she's funnier than I am. Got my knees trembling." "Actually telling me what's wrong." "When she says, 'I ordered fries, but I knew you'd steal some so I got a large.' That's not a green flag. That's a green wedding invitation." "She knows what she wants and doesn't like wasting time." "If they can make you feel comfortable enough to be vulnerable with them." "Not just for dating but for anyone, a big green flag to me is the ability to stop and take a moment to see if you are right about something and admit it if you aren't." "When she's your peace, not your pressure. Someone you can sit in silence with and still feel understood." What's a dating green flag? Share your thoughts in the comments or using the anonymous form below. Note: Some responses have been edited for length and/or clarity.


The Verge
a day ago
- The Verge
The Nintendo Switch 2 is an awesome upgrade for parents like me
I wouldn't have preordered a Nintendo Switch 2 just for myself. The price is high, there's no new Smash Bros. or Metroid Prime (yet), and I've got a perfectly good original Nintendo Switch and Steam Deck that keep me plenty busy. At first, I could only justify the $450 because I write about gaming tech for The Verge. But two weeks in, I can almost justify the cost one additional way: the Switch 2 is turning out to be an upgrade for my whole family. I'm not primarily talking about hand-me-downs, though yes, you could absolutely hand your original Switch down to a kid while basking in the glory of the Switch 2's larger, faster screen. Mom and dad always get the best seats in the house, right? But no: I'm talking about how Nintendo's new features are helping me share the delight of gaming with my 8-year-old kid like never before. We bought my daughter a Switch Lite last Christmas, with Animal Crossing and Let's Go Pikachu, and that's pretty much all she played. All other gaming monopolized the living room TV, where she and her younger sister often clash over what to watch next. But two weeks ago, my eldest suddenly realized that we could now magically beam any of my old purchased digital games from my Switch 2 to her Switch Lite, lending them out like a library for two weeks at a time. While I played Mario Kart World for the Switch 2, she practiced her skills in my old copy of Mario Kart 8 Deluxe; soon, I'll play the gruesome Cyberpunk 2077 while she tries Stardew Valley. And in both cases, I don't need to worry whether she'll lose a cartridge. Then we found GameShare, a feature that lets a Switch 2 beam its entire screen and controls to a second Switch, giving a second person their own screen and control for a selection of multiplayer games. We began playing Super Mario Odyssey as daughter and dad, alternating between who controlled Mario and who controlled his sentient flying hat, Cappy. Since each of us effectively had our own portable TV, she didn't shove her head between me and the screen like she sometimes does when we're reading bedtime books. And since neither of us was monopolizing the TV, the younger kid got to keep on watching her YouTube videos of intricately animated stop-motion Lego food factories. When it was time for me to fly across the country last week, my eldest begged me to let her keep playing Mario Odyssey while I was gone. Virtual game cards came through once again: five quick taps, and a game download magically appeared on her Switch. She did have to start the game from scratch, since I couldn't find a way to sync a save game between two different consoles with two different Nintendo accounts… but it turns out that was her plan all along. Apparently 8-year-olds enjoy repetition much more than us adults! Don't get me wrong, I'm still a fan of physical media, and I especially worry that Nintendo will pull the rug out from under our digital purchases given its track record of closing eShops. I think Nintendo could do a lot more to make the Switch and Switch 2 better for parents, too. For one, I wish the company hadn't arbitrarily locked its webcam-enabled GameChat to the new Nintendo Switch 2, as I would have loved to play Mario Kart with my daughter during my business trip. The original Switch and Switch Lite might not have the horsepower for simultaneous four-player screen sharing and video chat like the Switch 2, but surely they have enough for the webcams alone? It's also awkward that there's still no obvious way to merge the save games from the offline 'kid' profile on my original Switch to my daughter's Nintendo account. But most of all, I fear the two-screens-for-one-game GameShare may not get the attention or adoption it deserves. It's such a clever way of repurposing cloud gaming technology, but the initial list of GameShare-compatible games is vanishingly short and doesn't yet include obvious wins like Mario Kart World or Super Mario Bros. Wonder, the newest mainline entry in the series and one that's great to play with kids. It's been nearly 25 years since Mario Kart: Super Circuit for the Game Boy Advance let you hook up four portable consoles to play limited multiplayer, even if only a single person had a copy of the game. Mario Kart DS did the same thing 20 years ago over Wi-Fi, again offering single cartridge multiplayer, with 'DS Download Play.' But it required conscious effort from game developers to create new single cart mulitplayer modes for their GBA and DS titles, and not every deserving game had one. GameShare shouldn't have that problem: since it's just streaming a screen and controller inputs, it should theoretically work on any game you'd play on a single screen today. And yet for some reason, Nintendo hasn't turned it on for many games at once. If Nintendo can make GameShare standard for the Switch's many fabulous third-party couch games, like Overcooked 2, TMNT: Shredder's Revenge, and Lego Star Wars, while enabling its own titles, like Kirby and the Forgotten Land, Super Smash Bros. Ultimate, Donkey Kong Country, and Luigi's Mansion 3, it could make the Switch 2 an easier choice for parents who want to play together with their kids. And that would play right into Nintendo's end goal for the past seven years. As Mario and Zelda creator Shigeru Miyamoto laid out in 2018: 'Our ultimate ambition is for a Nintendo Switch to be owned not just by every family, but by every single person.' Personally, I now have a Switch 2, a Switch, and a Switch Lite in our house. We are almost Nintendo's dream family.