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Grand Theft Auto 6 is a white whale of the video game community. After going an entire console generation without a new GTA game, fans everywhere are starting to get angsty about when a new title could be on the way. We know one is in development, that was essentially confirmed by Bloomberg’s Jason Schreier back in April, but rumors of the game being in development have been persisting since 2016.

Those rumors had a new fire lite under them on Tuesday when a potential release date was reportedly leaked. The downside: The date in question is 2025. Yes, that is a laughably long time, but if there’s one thing we know about Rockstar, it’s that they like to be ambitious with the games they create. That ambition is how they’re able to make such large and expansive worlds, and it also is why they don’t typically pump out GTA games as fast as, say, Call of Duty‘s yearly releases.

While 2025 is the rumored release date, that is so far in the future that it’s impossible to be a time that anyone at Rockstar can actually commit to. If the rumor is true then it is likely an internal goal that has been set by the development team. However, anyone that’s worked in game development knows that dates change and goals shift. Making a video game is hard and it’s impossible to predict what kind of roadblocks could get in the way of development. For example, if this game really did start development in 2016 like the earliest rumors suggest, then that means they have probably already scrapped whatever they were working on to start over once or twice now. Those are the kinds of challenges that video game developers go through and it’s why we can’t actually put any weight behind a 2025 release date rumor, it’s just too far in the future.

Now, some people may be wondering why it takes a video game that long to be made, especially one that is rumored to already be in development. Well, for starters, Rockstar has not given up on the cash cow that is GTA Online, not by a longshot. Grand Theft Auto V’s online mode is one of the most lucrative pieces of media ever created and so popular that it is now available on three different generations of consoles. They still have plenty of their current development staff working on and supporting GTA Online.

The other reason a game like GTA 6 is going to take such an extended period of development time is a mix of the worlds that Rockstar likes to create, as well as a shift in company culture. We’ve always known Rockstar to make huge worlds — GTA has practically defined the sandbox genre, while their most recent release in Red Dead Redemption 2 was maybe their most ambitious ever. Creating a world like that takes the kind of time that has traditionally forced companies into unhealthy crunch culture, one that they have reportedly been making efforts to work on and fix.

Of course, the heaviest amount of crunch doesn’t usually take place until the last year or two of a game’s development, but it’s possible that the reason these rumors of Rockstar giving themselves so much time to make GTA 6 is to ensure crunch doesn’t happen again. Red Dead Redemption 2 had employees working 55 to 60 hour weeks. To make sure that doesn’t happen again, and to keep employees healthy, it’s possible that Rockstar is planning out with development headaches in mind.

With all this considered, a 2025 release date sounds reasonable, but it’s just way too far off in the future to actually say it’s a sure thing. Maybe we’re lucky and every deadline is hit on time and the game comes out perfect in 2025, just as the developer reportedly wants, but that rarely happens in video games. We will just have to wait until development is farther along to know for certain when GTA 6 is coming out.

The Atlanta Hawks face a major issue heading into Game 4 of the Eastern Conference Finals. Due to a foot injury he suffered in the third quarter of the previous game, Trae Young will not be able to take the floor, meaning Atlanta faces a serious risk of falling down 3-1 to the Milwaukee Bucks.

The question exists regarding who will start in his place, and while the obvious answer is to put Lou Williams in the lineup, Inside the NBA analyst Charles Barkley has a slightly unconventional answer.

“I wouldn’t do that,” Barkley said about potentially letting Lou Will cook with the rest of the starters. “I would start Jeff Teague, because if you start Lou Williams, I don’t see…”

It was at this point that Barkley felt the need to stress, “yeah, Jeff Teague, I would start him.” This led to Ernie Johnson pointing out that Teague — who, in fairness, used to play for the Hawks from 2009-16 and for 25 games last season — is in this series, just for the other team.

“Wait, who is the other guy?” Barkley asked.

“He’s on the Bucks,” said Kenny Smith, in a very measured way.

“Big dummy!” Shaquille O’Neal proceeded to joyously say.

Thank you for tuning into this special Eastern Conference Finals edition of “Who He Play For?” We’ll see you next time.

A number of artists have advocated for mental health awareness. Ariana Grande is among them. Back in May in an Instagram post about Mental Health Awareness Month, the singer shared her goal of “ending the stigma around mental health and normalizing asking for help.” Now she’s taking the steps to help with a brand new partnership.

Grande is teaming up with the mental health organization, Better Help, to give away $1 million in therapy. The partnership will pair people seeking therapy with a licensed therapist. Those who sign up will receive one month of free therapy with the option to renew it with a discount of 15 percent for the second month.

“Thrilled to be working with @betterhelp to give away $1,000,000 of free therapy,” Grande wrote in an Instagram post. “While acknowledging that therapy should not be for a privileged few but something everyone has access to, and acknowledging that this doesn’t fix that issue in the long run, i really wanted to do this anyway in hopes of inspiring you to dip a toe in, to feel okay asking for help, and to hopefully rid your minds of any sort of self judgement in doing so!”

She added that her hope is that the offer becomes a “helpful starting point” that allows people to “build space for this in your lives and continue.”

The Atlanta Hawks’ hopes of evening up their Eastern Conference Finals series against the Milwaukee Bucks took a major hit just before tip on Tuesday evening. According to Malika Andrews and Adrian Wojnarowski of ESPN, star guard Trae Young will not be able to take the floor due to a foot injury he suffered in Game 3.

The Hawks announced the news shortly after.

Young suffered the injury in the third quarter of the previous game. Originally thought to be an ankle injury, Young attempted to throw a pass that was picked off by the Bucks, and as he turned to make his way back onto the defensive end of the floor, he accidentally stepped on a referee’s foot and fell to the floor. While he was able to return to the game after getting examined in the back, he was obviously a bit gimpy and was ultimately listed as questionable to play on Tuesday.

The Hawks certainly have enough talent to pick up a win and tie the series up at 2-2, Young has been the breakout star of the 2021 postseason, and losing his ability to hit shots, make plays, and provide an emotional lift will be a gigantic hurdle to overcome. So far this postseason, Young has averaged 29.8 points and 9.5 assists in 37.9 minutes per game.

The legal troubles are mounting for Pooh Shiesty. The Memphis native, who was previously arrested for aggravated battery after a shooting at a Miami club, received another indictment for a separate incident that also occurred in the same town. On Tuesday, Shiesty was hit with charges in connection to an armed robbery, according to the Miami Herald. In October 2020, he and two friends, Bobby Brown and Jayden Darosa, were set to purchase marijuana and high-end sneakers in Bay Harbor Islands, Florida. Things went left and Shiesty and Brown allegedly shot two men in the butt and hip.

During the investigation, federal agents were able to connect the rapper to the crime thanks to a photo he posted on Instagram. A Louis Vuitton bag filled with $40,912 dollars that fell out of a Lamborghini McLaren that Shiesty was driving was discovered by investigators. They were able to confirm it was the rapper’s after the agents matched the serial number on the bills to the same wad of cash that Shiesty flaunted in the photo.

In addition to that, after a search of Darosa’s Instagram, investigators found him brandishing the same Draco that was used in the robbery. In the end, Shiesty was charged with discharging a firearm during a violent crime, conspiracy, and robbery under a law regulating commerce.

The new indictment comes after a judge denied his bond for the Miami club shooting despite the alleged victim’s decision to recant their prior statement.

Pooh Shiesty is a Warner Music artist. Uproxx is an independent subsidiary of Warner Music Group.

Scarlett Johansson and Colin Jost really seem like a couple who’s genuinely crazy for each other, but there’s one thing he, at least, won’t do. While promoting Black Widow on SiriusXM’s The Jess Cagle Podcast (as caught by People), the actress says her SNL anchor husband did not want to help her with her lines on her long-delayed Marvel solo outing, because he, like many, wanted to see the movie fresh.

“He doesn’t like any spoilers, though, so I can’t tell him anything. And he doesn’t even pry,” Johansson said. “When we were shooting this film in London, Colin was also there shooting Tom & Jerry – which worked out great ’cause we were together in the same city for a long time, which is rare.”

But he, at least, didn’t want her to talk too much about how her day went. “I was in the middle of a big action set piece or sequence or whatever,” she said. “He was just not wanting to hear anything about it.”

It’s the hazard of a very unusual job, sounds like: If your significant other is involved in one of the most beloved franchises in the pictures, you may be reluctant for them to tell you all about it. But hey, at least they got to see each other a little more than usual, so maybe it all evens out.

(Via People)

Not only can you catch everyone’s favorite God of Mischief causing problems over on his very own Disney+ series, Loki is officially joining the ever-expanding Fortnite roster. According to the official trailer, Loki is “headed to the Island” this July, where he’ll join Thanos and several other members of the MCU on the Battle Bus. However, per usual, there is a catch to recruiting the slippery fellow: rather than being able to purchase him in the regular item shop, Loki will only be accessible for Fortnite Crew subscribers.

For those unfamiliar with it, Fortnite Crew is a $12-per-month subscription service added to the game last year that gives players an allowance of V-bucks, the current season’s battle pass, and access to exclusive items that “will never be sold to non-Crew members or given away to non-Crew members.” So, all this being said, if you are interesting in playing as Loki, the time to sign up is now.

For those not so eager to subscribe, rest assured there are plenty of other Marvel characters already in Fortnite. In fact, Fortnite’s entire fourth season was Marvel-themed, and featured Iron Man, Thor, Storm, Groot, She-Hulk, Mystique, Doctor Doom, and countless others taking on Galactus.

You can watch the teaser trailer Loki below:

Last Saturday, Donald J. Trump staged his latest comeback. The former president had failed as a blogger (and as a wedding guest), but he returned to the thing he was best at: holding endless rallies, where he regales his multitudes with steady streams of misinformation and petty grievances. It didn’t go that well. The crowds present may have enjoyed it, but no major news network aired it. And there was no breakout viral moment from his epic address. He was upstaged by Marjorie Taylor Greene talking not about him but about AOC. (And even she was upstaged by AOC’s clap back.)

So this one’s gotta hurt: According to NBC15, Trump had planned a big rally on July 4. It was called “Save America.” At it was to be held in the heart of Trump country, at USS Alabama Battleship Memorial Park. And now it’s been canceled because his permit was denied, because they were all but sure that the 45th president would turn it into a “partisan political event,” not “just a patriotic” one.

For whatever it’s worth, Trump did improbably manage to be on his best behavior in 2019, when he organized a more or less non-partisan (albeit comically kitschy) patriotic July 4 celebration, which he dubbed “Salute to America.” But it’s highly unlikely the Trump of two years later — the Trump who talks so much about 2020 election lies that even Ivanka and Jared reportedly are sick of hearing it — would do so now.

Trump has yet to send out some un-copy edited “press release” excoriating the commission that denied him a permit, all while confirming their worst predictions. But upon hearing the good news, people felt that it made them question their religious beliefs.

Some pointed out he has a history of stiffing people with huge bills anyway.

And there were jokes.

Meanwhile, if Trump really wants someone to blame, he can blame Rick Santorum. The onetime Republican presidential candidate and former CNN employee used the same space for a rally back in 2012, which the park’s commissioner described as “the straw that broke the camel’s back,” deeming the place was no longer available to “partisan politics.” Way to go, Rick.

(Via NBC15)

If Final Fantasy 7 Remake left you wanting to take the plunge and work your way through every last entry of the 34-year-old franchise, you better pick up V and VI quick. Starting July 27, neither game will be available for purchase through popular game client Steam. As of earlier today, a notice has been added to the Steam pages for both games, reading:

“This game will no longer be available for purchase after July 27, 2021. Instead, please purchase the pixelated remaster version of “FINAL FANTASY V/FINAL FANTASY VI,” coming soon.”

While this news might be frustrating to some, it’s not particularly shocking. The current Steam versions of both Final Fantasy V and Final Fantasy VI were widely considered poor ports that lacked the artistry of the original games, so an upgraded version of both titles has been in demand for quite some time. However, as of now there is no telling just how soon “soon” is, meaning players will have to wait indefinitely to purchase them up if they don’t do so before they leave the shop.

The upcoming Pixel Remaster series that ultimately will replace Steam’s current versions of the games was revealed earlier this month at Square Enix’s E3 presentation. The series contains the first Final Fantasy games re-released in a traditional 2D pixel art style and will be available on Steam as well as Apple and Android devices sometime in the (hopefully near) future. However, the trailer shown at the event was an extremely brief 30 seconds long, leading fans to wonder just what updates and improvements will be made to the series. Additionally, there has been no news on if folks who already own the games will get free upgrades. Here’s hoping we have some answers to these questions — and a release date — soon.

The world is getting older, and it’s getting older quickly. In 2019, there were approximately 700 million people aged 65 and older. The UN predicts that the number will more than double by 2050.

Helping the aging population live their later years with as much comfort and dignity as possible is a growing concern. And one German town is serving as an example of how to create a community where the elderly can thrive.

According to Reasons to be Cheerful, it all started in 1995 with a survey of 28,000 people aged 50+, exploring their wishes and expectations for their latter years. What the city of Arnsberg discovered was that aging residents wanted to participate in social life, actively contribute to society, continue learning, and—most importantly—not live alone.

Previously, Arnsberg had taken a “deficit-oriented” approach to its elderly population, focusing on what they couldn’t do instead of what they had to offer.

Today, the city sees its aging residents totally differently, in large part thanks to its Department of Future Aging (DFA). That’s right. In 2004, the town created an entire (albeit tiny) department dedicated to making sure elderly residents can live full, fulfilling lives as part of Arnsberg community.

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“It is about strengthening resources and capacities, empowering, and enabling elderly people to stay or become active citizens,” Martin Polenz, who leads the DFA, told Priti Salian.

Arnsberg is a city of approximately 74,000 residents, around 17,000 of whom are 65 and older.Wikimedia Commons

The DFA is tiny but mighty, leading more than 200 projects with a staff of two and a budget equivalent to approximately USD$24,000. They work closely with the Department of Citizens Involvement and the Department of Planning and Building to make sure the needs and desires of the elderly are woven into both the social fabric and physical design of the city.

Her are some examples of what that looks like:

– Numbered benches every 200 meters in some markets and on the promenade along the River Ruhr for rest and for people experiencing dementia. “If someone is lost, they can call for assistance quoting the bench number,” Polenz told Salian.

– Volunteers who travel with older people as bus companions on shopping days, allowing seniors to shop for themselves but providing assistance with heavy bags and a sense of security

– Housing complexes that are both affordable and accessible, allowing seniors to live independently for longer

– The Dementia Learning Lab, introduced in 2008 by the DFA, which explores and implements solutions for meeting the needs of people with dementia and their families

– A quarterly magazine, SICHT, printed by the city and run by seniors for seniors

– A senior citizens’ advisory council, which new residents are put in touch with

– Intergenerational initiatives, such as Café Zeitlos (“Timeless Cafe”), which aims to provide an inclusive place for people with dementia and their caregivers to hang out with people of all ages and create art together

And that’s just a sampling. The DFA serves to advise, direct, train, develop, network, and collaborate to raise funds for programs, and they’ve been remarkabely successful at it.

“In Germany, most local administrations provide only information and counseling services to help older persons and persons with dementia find points of support in their city,” Anne-Sophie Parent, Secretary General of the European Covenant on Demographic Change and 28-year veteran of working on aging population issues, told Silian.

“Arnsberg’s co-production approach is innovative because the city involves older persons and persons with dementia as key actors in the solutions that are developed for them. It makes them feel heard, a key element for them to feel valued and included in the life of their city.”

Parent also called Arnsberg’s work “exemplary and replicable in other European cities with similar demographic profile and population size.”

Even if individual programs won’t work everywhere, seeing people in their twilight years as active agents in their own lives and communities is an approach all municipalities can take as they prepare for a growing aging population.