The Casa Azul Project / extrastudio is part of a series of three residences called 'poor houses'. These homes were developed during a period marked by uncertainty but maintained their original scale.
The conception of these houses focused on reduction to the essential, resulting in a character that appears unexpected, raw, and intense.
Blizzard Entertainment, the developer of Overwatch, has announced a series of experiments aimed at reforming the match format. Concurrently, the company has decided to halt updates for Stage mode, which was introduced in April 2025.
In a statement released on the official website, game director Aaron Keller presented two temporary modes to test alternatives to the conventional 5v5 (Role Queue) and 6v6 (Open Queue) formats. These modes are called Flex Queue and Dynamic Queue.
The first test, Flex Queue, will run from July 16 to 19. In this mode, matches will be played in a 6v6 format, but with a mixed structure: each team must have one tank and two fixed supports, supplemented by three damage dealers. These damage dealers will have the option to switch to the tank role at any time, provided it is only one at a time. This allows teams to play with varied compositions, such as 1 tank and 3 DPS, or 2 tanks and 2 DPS, depending on the needs of the game.
The second experiment, Dynamic Queue, is scheduled to run from July 30 to August 2. This mode seeks to harmonize the two previous approaches. The matchmaking system will prioritize traditional 2-2-2 format matches but will use the Flex Queue scheme as a contingency if there is a shortage of players willing to play the tank role, which is currently the scarcest role in the queues.
According to Keller, the current flex role tends to assign most players as tanks due to how players are distributed in the queue. The tests aim to solve persistent issues in the games, such as the disproportionate weight of the tank on match outcomes, queue wait times, and instability in 5v5 confrontations. However, he emphasized that the results obtained do not automatically imply changes to the main game format; they may instead serve as inspiration for adjustments to existing modes or for the creation of new options in Arcade. Keller concluded that, like any successful experiment, the results will only be known after all phases are completed.
The announcement also confirmed that Blizzard will cease updates for Stage mode. This mode, launched in April 2025 during Overwatch 2 Season 16 (before the shift to Overwatch), offers a more dynamic experience, allowing players to customize their heroes with items and powers that alter their abilities.
Player data from June 28 presented by Keller indicates that only 6% of players opt for Stage mode (with 3% in casual matches and 3% in ranked). This participation is significantly lower compared to traditional 5v5 (54% in casual mode), 5v5 Competitive (37%), and even Open Queue 6v6 (19%). Given this low engagement, Keller stated that the team will no longer expand Stage with new maps or heroes. Despite this, the mode will not be eliminated, as it will continue to receive balancing updates, rank resets, and seasonal rewards, although the dedicated project team will be reassigned to other initiatives within the game.
The decision generated divided opinions in the community. On threads in the official forum, a topic titled “Save Stadium” characterized the change as a “hard blow” for players who invested a large part of their time in this mode. On platforms like ResetEra, the response was mixed: some lamented the end of updates, citing Stage as their preferred mode, while others considered the measure expected given the low adoption rate and internal competition.
Google announced two new features for Google Vids, its video creation platform integrated into Google Workspace, on Thursday (16). These additions enable content generation using artificial intelligence from texts and images, in addition to offering the ability to create custom digital avatars.
The new tools were designed to streamline audiovisual production, allowing users to edit, adjust, and personalize their videos without needing conventional filming or extremely complicated editing processes. This feature is available to subscribers of the Google AI Pro and Ultra plans, as well as to Workspace business clients.
This update elevates Google Vids beyond its original function as a mere corporate presentation tool, aligning it with specialized AI-generated video platforms. The system utilizes the Gemini Omni model, a multimodal artificial intelligence model, combining it with sound and visual personalization features.
The main innovation lies in the integration of Gemini Omni, which allows for the creation of videos from textual descriptions and reference images. The user can input an idea in natural language and supplement it with visual elements, such as sketches or photographs, to guide the final result. Furthermore, the technology supports continuous modifications to the generated material; through written commands, it is possible to request specific changes, such as changing scenes or improving the lighting of a video shot with a cell phone, without having to restart the entire project.
According to Google, this functionality aims to simplify editing, as adjustments can be made sequentially. The company assures that this operating method applies to both videos created by the AI itself and content captured by users.
Another significant advancement is the ability to develop personal avatars that digitally represent the individual. To generate this virtual character, the user must provide a facial photo (selfie) and a brief voice recording. After that, they simply type the desired message for the avatar to present, eliminating the need for a new recording. Google clarified that these avatars are linked to the user's account and can only represent that specific person. There are access restrictions, as the tool is only available to those over 18 years old in certain locations.
Finally, the company announced that all videos produced with the aid of artificial intelligence will receive an invisible digital watermark, created by SynthID. This mechanism serves to identify AI-generated content and increase transparency regarding the origin of these materials.
The Epic Games Store makes at least one free title available for download weekly. This week, the focus is on supernatural and horror themes with the games Echo Generation: Midnight Edition and Luto, both accessible between July 16 and 23.
This game is a turn-based RPG that evokes the aesthetic of the 90s, presenting visual inspirations from works like Stranger Things. Its gameplay and graphics use a 'polygonal pixel art' style characteristic of that decade, although it incorporates modern elements, such as time mechanics to increase damage, mini-games, and special attacks from characters and bosses.
In addition to combat, the title follows the tradition of exploring old RPGs, allowing interaction with the environment and dialogues with NPCs, who are presented only through text, without spoken dialogue. The player must unravel a big mystery after an accident while unusual events occur in the city. Despite the simple graphics, the settings are detailed and charming, and there is a good variety of enemies and characters.
However, there are negative points in its nostalgic mechanics. Interaction with various environmental elements is considered unnecessary, as clicking on a sign only results in a text box with information already visible. Additionally, when defeated by a boss, softlocks may occur due to returning without the items used during the battle.
Echo Generation: Midnight Edition is recommended for those who appreciate titles inspired by 90s RPGs or fans of Stranger Things and indie games.
Luto is a first-person psychological horror experience available on Epic Games. The player takes on the role of someone who cannot leave their house, having to explore, search for clues, and solve puzzles, where each attempt to escape leads them deeper into the unknown.
The game has a remarkable atmosphere. Elements such as white sheep and people covered with sheets manage to sustain tension and the feeling of continuous pursuit. Frights are generated by jump scares and chilling moments, while the soundtrack and sound effects build an environment of despair, emptiness, and uncertainty.
Although it takes place entirely within a residence, Luto presents quite varied and highly abstract settings. The environments are constantly transforming, shifting from a sunny dawn to a basement with a staircase descending into something resembling the viscera of a giant creature. This succession of situations reflects the character's mental instability, where nightmares mix with reality, maintaining a threatening aura.
The plot of Luto lacks clarity, as events often occur without an apparent explanation. However, this lack of answers stimulates the player's curiosity to understand the meaning of everything. On the other hand, the excess of abstraction and allegory can hinder progress, especially in solving poorly defined puzzles.
For those looking for a mysterious, dark, and atmospheric horror game, Luto is a free option this week on Epic Games, interesting for those who enjoy reflective games that address past traumas and surrealism.
