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Tag: Bethesda

  • Tre’ Johnson, former Washington lineman and beloved Bethesda teacher, remembered for his care for students – WTOP News

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    Former Washington lineman and longtime Landon School teacher Tre’ Johnson has died at 54. Colleagues remember him as a devoted educator and mentor.

    Friends and colleagues of former Washington football lineman turned history teacher Tre’ Johnson are remembering him warmly.

    Johnson died Sunday. He was 54.

    Johnson taught history for more than 20 years at the Landon School in Bethesda, Maryland.

    The school said he had been on medical leave in recent months and died of complications from ongoing health issues, according to a statement from head of school Jim Neill.

    Johnson’s widow, Irene, announced his passing in a Facebook post, saying he died while they were on a short family trip. He leaves behind four children.

    “If you know Tre’ you know what a devoted and loving father, he was to his children. Tre’ lived for his kid’s sports activities and supported them through every practice and game until he took his last breath,” Irene wrote in the post. “His recent battles with health issues forced him to take a leave of absence.”

    John Bellaschi, director of ethics, service and leadership at Landon, worked with Johnson and said he was a true renaissance man.

    “Tre’ Johnson was a lot more than a one-dimensional football player. He was an incredibly complex beautiful human being with lots of layers,” Bellaschi said in an interview with WTOP contributor Joe Yasharoff.

    Tre’ Johnson taught history for more than 20 years at the Landon School in Bethesda, Maryland. (Courtesy Landon School)

    In its statement, the Landon School described Johnson as “a man of great intellect and curiosity; a person of forthrightness, honesty, and moral courage; and a teacher who cared very deeply about his students and matters of justice.”

    “He struck me as being brilliant, intellectually curious, very free, independent, deep thinker, and with those qualities, he was really able to engage with young people,” Bellaschi said.

    Johnson was a starter at Temple University, then was drafted by Washington with the 31t pick in the second round of the 1994 draft. He played for Washington through 2000, spent 2001 with the Cleveland Browns and returned to Washington for a final year in 2002. He was a Pro Bowl selection in 1999.

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    © 2026 WTOP. All Rights Reserved. This website is not intended for users located within the European Economic Area.

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    Kyle Cooper

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  • Tre’ Johnson, the former NFL offensive lineman who became a high school history teacher, dies at 54 – WTOP News

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    After starring at Temple, Johnson was drafted by Washington 31st overall in 1994. He played for Washington through 2000, spent 2001 with Cleveland and returned to Washington for a final year in 2002.

    Washington lineman Tre Johnson stands on the sidelines during a game against the Jacksonville Jaguars on Nov. 10, 2002, at Alltel Stadium in Jacksonville, Florida. Tre’ Johnson, the former standout Washington offensive lineman who went on to become a Maryland high school history teacher, died Sunday. He was 54. (Jamie Squire/Getty Images)(Getty Images/Jamie Squire)

    WASHINGTON (AP) — Tre’ Johnson, the former standout Washington offensive lineman who went on to become a Maryland high school history teacher, died Sunday. He was 54.

    Johnson’s wife, Irene, announced the death in a Facebook post, saying he died during a short family trip.

    “It is with a heavy heart that I inform you that my husband, Tre’ Johnson, passed away suddenly and unexpectedly … during a brief family trip,” she wrote. “His four children, Chloe, EJ, EZ and Eden, extended family, friends, and I are devastated and in shock.”

    After starring at Temple, Johnson was drafted by Washington 31st overall in 1994. He played for Washington through 2000, spent 2001 with Cleveland and returned to Washington for a final year in 2002. The 6-foot-2, 328-pound guard was a Pro Bowl selection in 1999.

    After football, he became a history teacher at the Landon School in Bethesda, Maryland. His wife said recent health issues had forced him to take a leave of absence.

    ___

    AP NFL: https://apnews.com/hub/nfl

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    © 2026 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, written or redistributed.

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    WTOP Staff

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  • Montgomery Co. leaders condemn Islamophobic graffiti at Bethesda high school – WTOP News

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    Police are investigating an incident in which Islamophobic and anti-Palestinian graffiti was discovered on a wall of Walt Whitman High School in Bethesda, Maryland.

    Police are investigating an incident in which Islamophobic and anti-Palestinian graffiti was discovered on a wall of Walt Whitman High School in Bethesda, Maryland.

    The message, which contained hateful rhetoric directed at Muslim and Palestinian communities, was discovered early Friday morning.

    Hate speech toward Muslim and Palestinian communities found Friday, Jan. 16, 2026, on a wall at Walt Whitman High School in Bethesda, Maryland. (Credit CAIR)

    In a letter home to the school community, Whitman Principal Gregory Miller said the graffiti was “profoundly offensive” and that type of “hate speech is completely unacceptable, hurtful, and will not be tolerated at Walt Whitman High School or any school in Montgomery County.”

    Miller added that school officials are working with police to review security camera footage and meet with students.

    Montgomery County Executive Marc Elrich said in a statement that the hateful act “does not reflect who we are as a County and will not be tolerated,” adding that the county police department is working with the school system to “find the perpetrators.”

    At-Large Council member Will Jawando said in a post on social media the message is a “direct threat to the safety and well-being of our students.”

    “As a parent of MCPS students and as Chair of the Education and Culture Committee, I find it unacceptable for any child to walk into a place of learning and be met with calls for the obliteration of their people or their faith,” Jawando said.

    He added that his team is working with MCPS and local law enforcement to monitor the situation.

    “It’s on each of us in Montgomery County to ensure that hate has no place here,” Council member Andrew Friedson added in a post.

    The graffiti was quickly painted over Friday morning.

    It’s not the first time hate speech has defaced the walls of the Bethesda high school. In 2022, antisemitic graffiti was spray painted onto the school’s entrance sign.

    Anyone with information in the case is asked to contact the school administration, the police non-emergency line at 301-279-8000, or anonymously through the Maryland Safe Schools Tip-Line at 1-833-632-7233.

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    © 2026 WTOP. All Rights Reserved. This website is not intended for users located within the European Economic Area.

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    Ciara Wells

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  • Every Time Todd Howard Has Talked About Fallout 5

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    For years now, Fallout fans have been wondering when the next mainline sequel will arrive. Hype for the game most assume will be called Fallout 5 grew even larger last year after Amazon’s TV show made the post-apocalyptic franchise bigger than ever. And while Bethesda hasn’t formally announced Fallout 5, that hasn’t stopped the studio’s creative director, Todd Howard, from talking about it over the years.

    Fallout 4 arrived on consoles and PC in 2015. Not long after its launch, people began wondering about Fallout 5. As a result, whenever Howard sits down for an interview, it’s not unusual for someone to ask him about Fallout 5 and the future of the franchise. Here’s nearly every time Howard has talked about Fallout 5, presented in chronological order. One thing to keep in mind before scrolling down is that Howard is very careful when talking about Fallout 5, so be prepared for comments that give you plenty to infer and speculate about, but little in the way of cold hard facts.

    June 2018 – Fallout 5 will be a single-player video game

    Technically, during a 2018 interview with German outlet GameStar, Howard didn’t say anything specific about a new Fallout game. However, when asked if all upcoming Bethesda games would feature multiplayer like Fallout 76, he replied that no, future games from the studio would still be single-player adventures.

    November 2021 – Bethesda has a Fallout 5 “one-pager”

    A few years later, during an interview with IGN, Howard spilled a bit more about the next Fallout sequel. He told the outlet that Bethesda has a “one-pager on Fallout 5, what we want to do,” but made it clear that the plan at the time was Starfield and then Elder Scrolls VI, seemingly confirming that Fallout 5 remained many, many years away.

    June 2022 – Fallout 5 is next after The Elder Scrolls VI

    The following year, in another interview with IGN, Howard said this about Bethesda’s future:

    “Yes, Elder Scrolls 6 is in pre-production and, you know, we’re going to be doing Fallout 5 after that, so our slate’s pretty full going forward for a while. We have some other projects that we look at from time to time as well.”

    June 2023 – Fallout 5 might not be Bethesda’s next game after Elder Scrolls 6

    A year after saying Fallout 5 would be Bethesda’s next project after shipping Elder Scrolls VI, Howard backtracked a bit and clarified that he simply meant that Fallout 5 would arrive after The Elder Scrolls 6, not that he wanted to confirm it as the next game. This confusing backtrack worried fans who now wondered if Bethesda had a different project in the works that could further delay Fallout 5. In this same interview, he argued that long gaps between sequels, while annoying for fans, have rarely hurt a game’s success or quality.

    March 2024 – Fallout TV showrunners were told to avoid certain details that will be in Fallout 5

    After causing a ruckus online by claiming that the Fallout TV show was “basically Fallout 5,” showrunner Johnathan Nolan clarified that he just meant this is the next story in the universe and not a replacement for an upcoming game. In fact, the show is actively avoiding some parts of the franchise because it would cause problems for Fallout 5.

    “Well, there were some things where I said, ‘Don’t do this because we are going to do that in Fallout 5,’” Howard told Den of Geek.

    April 2024 – Todd Howard dodges a question about Fallout 5‘s release after The Elder Scrolls VI

    When talking to IGN, Howard was yet again asked about Fallout 5 launching after The Elder Scrolls 6. This time, he straight-up dodged the question, but did confirm that Bethesda is working on different projects. “I’m going to avoid putting dates on anything, I’ve learned that the hard way,” said Howard. “So, obviously, you know, our focus as far as new development right now is Elder Scrolls 6, but that doesn’t mean that we’re not making plans for other things.”

    June 2024 – Bethesda is not in a rush to release a new Fallout game

    During a 2024 interview with YouTuber MrMattyPlays, Howard said that Bethesda didn’t feel the need to “rush out” a new Fallout sequel or spin-off, though he also acknowledged that the wait between Fallout 4 and Fallout 5 is growing longer and longer.

    “Totally get the desire for a new kind of mainline single-player game. And look, those things take time. I don’t think it’s bad for people to miss things. We just want to get it right and make sure that everything we’re doing in a franchise, whether it’s Elder ScrollsFallout, or now Starfield, that those become meaningful moments for everybody who loved these franchises as much as we do.”

    October 2025 – Howard ends Fallout Day stream with a promise that more is being worked on

    To celebrate Fallout Day, the day the bombs fell in-universe and destroyed the Earth, Bethesda held a digital showcase to announce a Fallout 4 update, reveal some Fallout 76 news, and not much else. Seemingly aware that this presentation would be disappointing to fans longing for Fallout 5, Howard appeared at the end to offer some hope, telling fans that the studio is “working on even more” and that Bethesda is “looking forward to the day” when all is revealed.

    December 2025 – Howard confirms Fallout 5 won’t ignore the TV show

    In an interview with the BBC, Howard was asked if the events of the Fallout show are being considered by the devs while making Fallout 5. Would the show and the game really exist in one world?

    “In short, yes,” Howard told the outlet. “Fallout 5 will be existing in a world where the stories and events of the show happened or are happening. We are taking that into account.”

    December 2025 –  Bethesda is still working hard on more Fallout 

    Speaking to Game Informer, Howard made it clear that Fallout is a very important franchise for Bethesda and that it has been working on projects related to the post-apocalyptic world for a long time.

    “I will say, first, looking at 76, we’ve never stopped developing Fallout. We’ve had a full team on Fallout for a long time. So Fallout, as a franchise, is the one we’re still doing the most work in above anything. Now, the majority of our internal studio is on Elder Scrolls VI. We are doing other things with Fallout that we haven’t announced, and you know, there’ll come a time for that. I get the sort of anxiety from fans, like, ‘Well, what else? What else? Feed me!’ But, look, we’re working on stuff, and we do like to wait. And so, I think there’ll be a moment to talk about that, and we want to make those special moments for our fans.”

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    Zack Zwiezen

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  • House fire caused by Christmas tree leaves 5 injured in Bethesda – WTOP News

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    Five people are in the hospital after a Christmas tree caught on fire in a Bethesda, Maryland, home on Christmas Day, causing significant damage.

    A large house fire in Bethesda, Maryland, on Dec. 25, 2025, left five people injured.
    (Courtesy Pete Piringer)

    Courtesy Pete Piringer

    Bethesda house fire
    The single-fmaily home in Bethesda, Maryland, where the fire took place on Dec. 25, 2025.
    (Courtesy Pete Piringer)

    Courtesy Pete Piringer

    Bethesda house fire
    The fire was likely a result of an electrical issue in and around a Christmas tree in the living room, according to Pete Piringer.
    (Courtesy Pete Piringer)

    Courtesy Pete Piringer

    Bethesda house fire
    About 65 firefighters responded to the scene and quickly extinguished the fire.
    (Courtesy Pete Piringer)

    Courtesy Pete Piringer

    Dog rescued from Bethesda house fire
    A dog was also resuscitated following the house fire in Bethesda, Maryland, on Dec. 25, 2025.
    (Courtesy Pete Piringer)

    Courtesy Pete Piringer

    Five people are in the hospital after a Christmas tree caught on fire in a Bethesda, Maryland, home on Christmas Day, causing significant damage.

    Authorities said it happened around 4:45 p.m. at a single-family house in the 10300 block of Fleming Avenue.

    Fire officials said the victims have fairly serious injuries like burns and smoke inhalation.

    Montgomery County Fire and Rescue spokesperson Pete Piringer said in a statement on X that it all started in the living room when a power strip near the Christmas tree made a loud noise.

    “Residents indicate that they heard a pop. … even before the spoke alarm was activated, they discovered the fire apparently went to get a spoke alarm, and in that short period of time, the fire extended very rapidly. Everybody got out,” Piringer said.

    Fire officials believe there was an electrical issue with the power strip that ignited the tree.

    By the time firefighters arrived, the flames had spread throughout the first floor, leaving significant structural damage.

    About 65 firefighters responded to the scene and quickly extinguished the fire. A dog was also found and resuscitated.

    Below is a map of where the fire took place:

    Map of Bethesda house fire
    (Courtesy Google Maps)

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    © 2025 WTOP. All Rights Reserved. This website is not intended for users located within the European Economic Area.

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    Kay Perkins

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  • From Our Worlds to Yours: Thank You for an Incredible 2025 – Xbox Wire

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    What would you like to say to your players after releasing Ninja Gaiden 4 this year?

    Our deepest thanks to everyone who has played the game, from the Master Ninjas who have been supporting the series for a long time, to those who are playing the series for the first time! Our days were spent developing the game so that players can enjoy the series’ signature intensity and a variety of actions to overcome difficult situations, so I’m happy if you experienced even a bit of the game! I think the flavor of the action really comes through the more you play it, so please continue to enjoy the different characteristics of the two Master Ninjas, Yakumo and Ryu! – Hirayama

    To everyone who has supported Ninja Gaiden over the years, and to those how have started playing the series from this entry, thank you for playing the game. I enjoy watching your gameplay videos and comments on social media every day. In this game, we aimed for the revival of pure action that transcends time, and the three companies put everything into developing it. The action is really exciting and it’s a stoically made game, so those of you who have played the game please continue to thoroughly study it… and those who haven’t played it yet, I’ll be thrilled if you give this feel good slash action a try! – Nakao

    How does it feel to have the game out there after development?

    First of all, to be able to deliver a new numbered title in the series after 13 years is something that our entire team is truly happy about. We continuously debated and adjusted the game towards its launch, and once it was released it felt like it passed in an instant so I didn’t feel anything immediately, but as I saw social posts and videos being posted every day, little by little I began to feel joy. – Hirayama

    For our development team, there are many members who, during the golden age of slash action games, were players or were involved as developers. So, while we had confidence in the game itself, I felt more nervous and excited than I have ever been before. And my current feeling is of relief, since the action has been well received. – Nakao

    Are there any stories about how players have engaged with your game that you’d like to reflect on?

    For a long time, we were in the dark while developing this game but seeing everyone playing and reacting to it at gaming events was a big driving force in development, and we made use of it in the final adjustments towards launch. Thank you again for your support! Post-launch, we are checking every single piece of feedback, so please look forward to future in-game updates! – Hirayama

    Although I’ve mentioned it several times, we’ve been receiving a lot of feedback that, “the action definitely feels good!”, and it’s the part we’ve put our most effort into, so I am extremely happy that everyone is pleased with it. In this game we’ve taken the big challenge of mixing the best parts of Ninja Gaiden with the best parts of PlatinumGames’ action, so nothing makes me happier than hearing everyone enjoying the action. – Nakao

    What is your studio most looking forward to in 2026?

    We are really looking forward to everyone playing “The Two Masters,” the additional content currently in development! In addition to new weapons for Yakumo and Ryu, we are planning on an additional story and other replayable content. We’re working hard to deliver it as soon as we can, so please wait a little bit longer! – Hirayama

    There are many games coming out next year, and as always, several action games will be released, so as an action game maker we are looking forward to seeing these games. For us, in 2026 we are planning to release additional content for Ninja Gaiden 4, “The Two Masters,” which we are currently hard at work developing. Not only is there content such as a new story, but above all the new weapons for each character will provide a new play experience unlike any of the previous weapons, so we hope you look forward to it! – Nakao

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    The definitive ninja hack & slash franchise returns with NINJA GAIDEN 4! Embark on a cutting-edge adventure where legacy meets innovation in this high-octane blend of style and no-holds-barred combat.

    Return of the Legend
    Experience a return to the intense, high-speed combat that established NINJA GAIDEN as a premier action game series. Prepare for a legacy reborn with captivating style for a new generation of players.

    Epic Hack and Slash Combat, Evolved
    NINJA GAIDEN 4 fuses Team NINJA’s tempered combat philosophy with the stylish, dynamic action gameplay of PlatinumGames. Engage in visually stunning combat that rewards precision and strategy. Use Bloodbind Ninjutsu to transform your weapons and unleash devastation upon your enemies, alongside legacy techniques like the Izuna Drop and Flying Swallow. The legendary Ryu Hayabusa also returns with a revamped yet familiar set of tools to master. With a customizable player experience, NINJA GAIDEN 4 will push action game veterans to their limits while allowing newcomers to enjoy a heart-pounding adventure full of twists and turns.

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    An endless rain of miasma hangs over a near-future Tokyo in the wake of an ancient enemy’s resurrection. The fate of the city lies in the hands of young ninja prodigy, Yakumo. Fighting his way through cybernetic ninja soldiers and otherworldly creatures, Yakumo must reconcile a destiny he shares with the legendary Ryu Hayabusa himself and free Tokyo from the ancient curse that brought the city to its knees.

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    Joe Skrebels, Xbox Wire Editor-in-Chief

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  • Daughter of ex-intelligence official found guilty in retrial for 2020 stabbing death of friend – WTOP News

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    A D.C. woman was again found guilty of second-degree murder on Thursday in connection to the fatal stabbing of a 24-year-old Bethesda man in 2020.

    A D.C. woman was again found guilty of second-degree murder on Thursday in connection to the fatal stabbing of a 24-year-old Bethesda man in 2020.

    In Montgomery County Circuit Court on Thursday, 32-year-old Sophia Negroponte, the daughter of former director of national intelligence John Negroponte, was found guilty in a retrial.

    In January 2024, the Maryland appeals court tossed out Negroponte’s conviction and ordered a new trial. Three judges with the Appellate Court of Maryland said the trial court made a mistake in letting the jury hear “contested portions of the video interrogation” and allowing a prosecution’s expert to weigh in on Negroponte’s credibility.

    The case began in February 2020, when first responders arrived at a home in the 400 block of West Montgomery Avenue after a report of a stabbing. Inside, they found 24-year-old Yousuf Rasmussen, of Bethesda, fatally stabbed in the neck.

    According to court documents, Negroponte and Rasmussen got into a physical altercation during an “alcoholic rage” after a night of heavy drinking. During this time, court documents state that Negroponte stabbed Rasmussen.

    Negroponte and Rasmussen were longtime friends, with Negroponte even describing Rasmussen as her best friend in interviews with police.

    In 2024, experts for the defense testified Negroponte and Rasmussen’s blood alcohol levels were higher than 0.08.

    “We look forward to Negroponte finally being held accountable for her actions,” Montgomery County State’s Attorney John McCarthy said.

    In a written statement from 2023, the Rasmussen family remembered Yousuf as “a kind and gentle soul,” and thanked officials and the community for their support through their grief.

    Negroponte faces up to 35 years in prison and is scheduled for sentencing on Feb. 19.

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    © 2025 WTOP. All Rights Reserved. This website is not intended for users located within the European Economic Area.

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    Ciara Wells

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  • Man found guilty in 2010 murder of American University professor – WTOP News

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    Jorge Rueda Landeros was found guilty Thursday for the murder of American University accounting professor Sue Marcum in 2010.

    Jorge Rueda Landeros was found guilty Thursday for the murder of American University accounting professor Sue Marcum in 2010.

    Montgomery County prosecutors said a jury returned the guilty verdict after an eight-day trial. 

    Rueda Landeros, now 55, was Marcum’s Spanish and yoga teacher. It’s unclear to this day if the two were in a romantic relationship, though they did share a joint investment account. Rueda Landeros was also the sole beneficiary of a $500,000 life insurance policy that Marcum had taken out.

    “They made investments using Marcum’s funds and over the course of approximately two years, Marcum lost $312,000 while Rueda Landeros gained a total of $252,000 from her,” the Montgomery County State’s Attorney’s Office said in a news release.

    Marcum, 52, was found dead in her Bethesda home on Oct. 25, 2010.

    Prosecutors said Rueda Landeros attacked Marcum after a confrontation, then staged the scene to look like a burglary. The defense argued the crime was a botched burglary.

    Investigators ruled Marcum’s cause of death to be blunt force trauma and asphyxiation.

    After she was found inside her home, Rueda Landeros fled the country to Mexico, where he holds dual citizenship. He worked in Guadalajara as a yoga teacher and changed his name to Leon Ferrara.

    He was arrested and extradited back to the U.S. in December 2022.

    After spending 12 years on the run and on the FBI’s “Most Wanted List,” Rueda Landeros maintained his innocence during his first appearances in court. However, investigators were able to link him to the murder through a DNA match.

    Before opening statements, Circuit Court Judge Rachel McGuckian ruled jurors could not be told that between 2010, when prosecutors got an arrest warrant charging Rueda Landeros with first-degree murder, and 2022, when a tip led to his arrest in Juarez, Mexico, that he was on the FBI’s “Most Wanted List.”

    Montgomery County prosecutors said Rueda Landeros used and manipulated Marcum for her money, and when it dried up, he killed her.

    Rueda Landeros faces up to 30 years in prison for the second-degree murder charge. He’s scheduled to return to court for sentencing Feb. 6.

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    © 2025 WTOP. All Rights Reserved. This website is not intended for users located within the European Economic Area.

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    Ciara Wells

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  • ‘Fallout’ Is Getting a Full-Blown Museum Exhibit Next Month

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    If you’ve got Fallout fever ahead of the show’s second season, Las Vegas has a museum exhibit you’re going to love.

    Beginning November 14 and lasting through 2026, the city’s National Atomic Testing Museum will have a limited-time “World of Fallout” exhibition backed by franchise owner Bethesda. The exhibition will explore the cultural legacy of atomic history as it relates to the video game franchise and will feature “carefully selected objects and interpretive displays.” That includes “screen-worn Vault suits and memorabilia alongside graphic panels that explore the recurring elements of the franchise, along with the key Cold War themes that influenced the world and its lore.”

    Joseph Kent, the curator and chief community officer for the museum, called this “a chance for gamers and history buffs alike to see just how closely the two worlds connect.”

    The year 2025 is significant for Fallout: along with the show, it marks the respective 15- and 10-year anniversaries of Obsidian’s Fallout: New Vegas (released October 19, 2010) and Bethesda’s Fallout 4 (November 10, 2015). On Thursday, October 23, Bethesda is holding a livestream celebrating the franchise, which may potentially contain a look at Fallout 76’s next big update that’ll bring over Walton Goggins’ Ghoul from the show into the game. It may also have a new look at the Prime Video series before its return on December 17.

    [via IGN]

    Want more io9 news? Check out when to expect the latest Marvel, Star Wars, and Star Trek releases, what’s next for the DC Universe on film and TV, and everything you need to know about the future of Doctor Who.

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    Justin Carter

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  • What started with a friend group volunteering at Ronald McDonald House of Md. has grown to include a dozen schools – WTOP News

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    In elementary school, a group of friends in Montgomery County, Maryland, decided they wanted to volunteer to help kids with childhood cancer. Now, they’re seniors in high school and they’ve recruited a large group across many local schools.

    A group of friends from Montgomery County volunteers at the Ronald McDonald House in Baltimore with their families.
    (Courtesy Grace Xiao)

    Courtesy Grace Xiao

    The group puts on performances for the families staying at the Ronald McDonald House.
    (Courtesy Grace Xiao)

    Courtesy Grace Xiao

    A group of friends from Montgomery County volunteers at the Ronald McDonald House in Baltimore with their families.
    (Courtesy Grace Xiao)

    Courtesy Grace Xiao

    In elementary school, a group of friends in Montgomery County, Maryland, decided they wanted to volunteer to help kids with childhood cancer.

    Now, they’re seniors in high school and they’ve recruited a large group across many schools.

    “I just think that like volunteering gives so much growth,” said 17-year-old Grace Xiao, a senior at Holton-Arms School in Bethesda.

    Xiao said it started years ago, when the group was in fifth grade; the kids got together to help with a gift drive for the Super Joey Foundation. The foundation provides free gifts for children to pass the time in the hospital.

    “We actually ended up getting a ton of donations,” Xiao said. “They put these cardboard boxes at the library, and they actually ended up being kind of like overflowing by the end of the week.”

    Then they asked what they could do next.

    “We were like, ‘What can we do to help besides just this gift drive that we’ve just done?’ And they were like, ‘Well, you can come and serve dinner,’” Xiao said.

    So they gave it a try and got hooked.

    “It was us, and maybe two of our parents in the kitchen, kind of like making some food we had, I think, pasta and like pizza, just like all the main courses, and we ended up serving it,” Xiao said. “We found it was honestly incredible to see all of those people, face to face, and they were all so, so positive.”

    She said the beginning group of friends that have been volunteering since fifth grade includes Ethan Liu, 17, a senior at Montgomery Blair High School, and Kelly Wang, 17, a rising senior at Winston Churchill High School.

    Now, the group of friends has grown to more than 60 student volunteers across 14 Montgomery County schools. They volunteer monthly at Ronald McDonald House of Maryland in Baltimore by making and delivering meals to the families staying there.

    They now make it an event and go monthly, and there’s even a wait list. They also use their talents and sing and perform for the people there to give them a break in their day.

    “It’s crazy to me that I have so many volunteers working toward the same cause, but I’m really proud of how we’ve grown, and I think that the Ronald McDonald, it’s just like a very unique event in the way it draws people in,” she said.

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    © 2025 WTOP. All Rights Reserved. This website is not intended for users located within the European Economic Area.

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    Valerie Bonk

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  • Marriott brings City Express brand to the US – WTOP News

    Marriott brings City Express brand to the US – WTOP News

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    Bethesda, Maryland-based Marriott International, whose hotel brands include high-end properties like The Ritz-Carlton, St. Regis, and W Hotels, is bringing a more affordable hotel brand to the U.S. and Canada with the launch of City Express.

    Bethesda, Maryland-based Marriott International is bringing a more affordable hotel brand to the U.S. and Canada with the launch of City Express.(Courtesy Marriott International)

    Bethesda, Maryland-based Marriott International, whose hotel brands include high-end properties like The Ritz-Carlton, St. Regis, and W Hotels, is bringing a more affordable hotel brand to the U.S. and Canada with the launch of City Express.

    Marriott acquired the City Express hotel brand in late 2022 from Mexico City-based Hoteles City Express for $100 million, becoming Marriott’s 31st hotel brand and gaining 512 locations in 75 cities across Mexico, Costa Rica, Colombia and Chile.

    By bringing City Express by Marriott to the U.S. and Canada, Marriott marks the company’s entry into the affordable midscale segment in the region.

    “With this announcement, Marriott is excited to continue our growth in the affordable midscale segment and provide a new welcoming, affordable and reliable option for value-conscious travelers in the U.S. and Canada,” said Diana Plazas-Trowbridge, senior vice president of select brands.

    Since acquiring City Express, Marriott has expanded it to other markets, including Bolivia and Nicaragua — and will expand next to Brazil.

    The City Express brand appeals to owners because it is designed to be conversion-friendly from existing buildings. It said it has already received inquiries from owners and franchisees and expects to begin opening the brand in the U.S. and Canada over the next few months.

    Marriott now has 9,000 hotels in 141 countries and territories, including vacation ownership resorts. The company is expected to reach more than $25 billion in annual revenue this year.

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    © 2024 WTOP. All Rights Reserved. This website is not intended for users located within the European Economic Area.

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    Jeff Clabaugh

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  • Maryland researcher’s insight into regenerating tissue leads to TIME innovator list – WTOP News

    Maryland researcher’s insight into regenerating tissue leads to TIME innovator list – WTOP News

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    Research into the immune system’s ability to encourage severely injured tissue to regenerate has landed a Maryland researcher on a TIME list of 2024 innovators.

    NIH researcher Kaitlyn Sadtler in her Bethesda, Md. lab.(WTOP/Neal Augenstein)

    Research into harnessing the ability of the body’s immune system to encourage severely injured tissue to regenerate has landed a Maryland researcher on a TIME magazine list of 2024 innovators.

    The TIME100 Next list recognizes today’s most influential and innovative leaders.

    During a WTOP visit to the laboratory she leads at the National Institute of Biomedical Imaging and Bioengineering, researcher Kaitlyn Sadtler, explained its goal is to understand the immune system’s role in wound healing and how it could be leveraged by medical technology to regenerate tissue.

    “Our laboratory works on traumatic injury and the intersection of trying to build those broken tissues back,” said Sadtler, who grew up in Frederick — 40 miles from the National Institutes of Health campus where she works in Bethesda.

    Researchers are still trying to fully understand and predict how the immune system will react. Currently, introducing medical devices, including pacemakers, knee replacements as well as chin and breast implants can elicit hostile immune responses.

    However, in other cases immune responses can stimulate healing.

    Sadtler said her lab’s research is “not just preventing the infection that might occur, but actually building those tissues.”

    As an example, she said after a car crash, understanding the immune system could help regenerate skeletal muscles. Her research includes “learning the different materials that surgeons use to help reconstruct and regrow those tissues and organ, and how we can make better materials, to help us regenerate.”

    Sadtler said the current standard of care for people with soft tissue injuries, including skin and muscle injuries, is to use grafts and transfers. That treatment requires surgeons to cause another injury, while trying to treat the larger one.

    “The general goal with biomaterials and bioengineering is to be able to avoid stuff like that, and put in materials that will help use our immune cells to grow the tissue back, without having to take it from somewhere else on your body,” she said.

    The lab’s research includes finding ways to complete a repair, while steering the immune system toward stimulating reparative processes.

    As an example, Sadtler displayed a small container of polyethylene, a plastic used to make orthopedic implants that can trigger long-term inflammation and scarring as small pieces of it are shed into surrounding tissues. Often those implants need to be removed and replaced.

    Another small bottle contained decellularized small intestinal submucosa — pig tissue that has been stripped of its cells, leaving behind mostly collagen. While natural biomaterials might not be suitable for all medical applications, she said researchers are learning about the possibilities.

    “If we can design materials that our immune system likes, won’t reject and will accept into body, we can avoid those issues” of inflammation and scarring.

    Sadtler said the study of the immune system’s role in regenerating tissue is ongoing from the lab setting, ranging from a Petri dish to preclinical trials, including Sadtler’s group study on stimulating the regeneration of leg muscles in mice, published last year in the journal Nature Materials.

    “We want to make therapies for humans,” said Sadtler. “There have been clinical products that have been put into people, and these are used in hospital around the globe that are growing those tissues back.”

    With her lab’s current research on the body’s immune system, “we’re trying to improve on those materials, and learn from the ones that work and get them to work better.”

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    © 2024 WTOP. All Rights Reserved. This website is not intended for users located within the European Economic Area.

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    Neal Augenstein

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  • Marriott opens 9,000th hotel. It’s $1,200 a night – WTOP News

    Marriott opens 9,000th hotel. It’s $1,200 a night – WTOP News

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    Bethesda, Maryland-based Marriott International has opened its 9,000th hotel property with the St. Regis Longboat Key Resort in Florida.

    The St. Regis Longboat Key Resort in Florida is Marriott International’s 9,000th hotel property.
    (Courtesy St. Regis Longboat Key Resort)

    Courtesy St. Regis Longboat Key Resort

    A hotel room
    The resort, overlooking the Gulf of Mexico, has nightly room rates that average $1,200.
    (Courtesy St. Regis Longboat Key Resort)

    Courtesy St. Regis Longboat Key Resort

    A wide shot of the resort
    The St. Regis Longboat Key Resort sits on 800 feet of white sand beach, and has multiple swimming pools with cabanas.
    (Courtesy St. Regis Longboat Key Resort)

    Courtesy St. Regis Longboat Key Resort

    Hotel spa with pool
    There’s a 21,000-square-foot oceanfront spa and fitness center, and 34,000-square-feet of meeting and event space.
    (Courtesy St. Regis Longboat Key Resort)

    Courtesy St. Regis Longboat Key Resort

    There are seven dining venues, including the signature steak and seafood restaurant CW Prime, an Italian restaurant, an open-air pool grill and a tiki bar.
    (Courtesy St. Regis Longboat Key Resort)

    Courtesy St. Regis Longboat Key Resort

    Bethesda, Maryland-based Marriott International has opened its 9,000th hotel property with the St. Regis Longboat Key Resort in Florida.

    The 18-acre property is on Longboat Key, off the coast of Sarasota. The 168-room property includes 26 suites with terraces, as well as 69 residences, all of which sold out in less than a year, according to Marriott.

    The resort, overlooking the Gulf of Mexico, has nightly room rates that average $1,200.

    For that price, guests get a lot of resort. It sits on 800 feet of white sand beach, and has multiple swimming pools with cabanas. There is a 475-foot long winding river with waterfalls, and an “under the sea” lagoon wildlife reserve. The 350,000-gallon lagoon has stingrays, plus 2,800 local reef fish and tortoises. A Reef Rangers Children’s Club has educational events for kids.

    There are seven dining venues, including the signature steak and seafood restaurant CW Prime, an Italian restaurant, an open-air pool grill and a tiki bar. There’s also a 21,000-square-foot oceanfront spa and fitness center, as well as 34,000-square-feet of meeting and event space.

    “This is not just another hotel opening; it represents a new era in luxury travel to the Gulf Coast,” said Winfred van Workum, general manager at The St. Regis Longboat Key Resort. “Longboat Key is a rare beach locale that boasts an understated elegance, unparalleled natural beauty and rich cultural heritage all in one place.”

    The resort is a 20-minute drive from Sarasota Bradenton International Airport.

    The resort was developed by Florida-based Unicorp National Developments and is the largest development on the island in more than 50 years.

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    © 2024 WTOP. All Rights Reserved. This website is not intended for users located within the European Economic Area.

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    Jeff Clabaugh

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  • Montgomery Co. police expand drone program to Bethesda, where crime is down – WTOP News

    Montgomery Co. police expand drone program to Bethesda, where crime is down – WTOP News

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    The Montgomery County Police Department is expanding the use of “drones as first responders” to Bethesda, Maryland, at a time when crime there is down.

    An example of the drones that would be used in the Montgomery County Police Department’s “Drone as First Responder” program. (WTOP/Mike Murillo)

    The Montgomery County Police Department is expanding the use of “drones as first responders” to Bethesda, Maryland, at a time when crime there is down.

    During a town hall meeting at Bethesda-Chevy Chase High School, Montgomery County police 2nd District Cmdr. Amy Daum told the audience, “There’s a perception that crime is very, very high” in downtown Bethesda.

    But Daum continued, “I’m here to tell you that when we compare the last quarter of 2024 to the last quarter of crime in 2023 — so a same-time, same-time comparison — crime across all matrices is down about 18% in Bethesda. That’s incredible.”

    Yet, the department is moving ahead with the deployment of a third drone unit designed to help officers respond to 911 calls.

    “We have a staffing shortage, it’s no secret,” said Capt. Jason Cokinos, who led the operations of the Drone as First Responder program. “We have seen increased response times. We’ve seen calls holding. And so we need to be innovative, we need to leverage technology.”

    At previous meetings when introducing the drone program in downtown Silver Spring and Wheaton, police faced skepticism over how the units would be deployed. At the meeting Wednesday night in Bethesda, there were some suggestions about how it could be done, including tracking groups of drivers who gather and then speed along the Intercounty Connector.

    Cokinos said there are limitations to the use of the drones. In the case of the ICC, Cokinos said the Maryland Department of Transportation has jurisdiction.

    Aside from the jurisdictional question, Cokinos said drones are “limited by battery life and speed.” In Prince George’s County, for example, he said helicopters can be used to track cases of reckless driving.

    “That’s a resource that we lack in Montgomery County,” Cokinos said, adding that drones are “rapidly evolving,” and there are some drones that can reach speeds of 100 mph.

    Once deployed in Bethesda, Cokinos said the range of the drone would be limited to a 1.2-nautical-mile radius around downtown. That’s because the airspace is restricted, and police are required to keep a visual line of sight on the drone at all times, Cokinos said.

    Cokinos said the drone program has been especially useful in particular crimes, including “cars being actively broken into, people that are actively fighting, people that are actively stealing from our businesses,” he said.

    The placement of the drone unit for Bethesda is still being worked out, police said.

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    © 2024 WTOP. All Rights Reserved. This website is not intended for users located within the European Economic Area.

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    Kate Ryan

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  • ‘A Fucking Gut Stab’: Game Industry Reacts To Shocking New Studio Closures

    ‘A Fucking Gut Stab’: Game Industry Reacts To Shocking New Studio Closures

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    One of the worst years for cancellations, cuts, and closures in the history of the video game industry has just claimed its next victims, including Arkane Austin and Tango Gameworks. Developers and fans alike are in disbelief. “Great teams are sunsetting before our eyes again, and it’s a fucking gut stab,” wrote Dinga Bakaba, director at Arkane Austin sister-studio, Arkane Lyon.

    Set up in 2006, Arkane Austin helped develop the acclaimed 2012 whale-oil-punk immersive sim Dishonored, before leading development on 2017’s haunting sci-fi shooter Prey. Tango Gameworks, meanwhile, was founded in 2010 and is best known for making the Evil Within series of survival horror games, before bestowing a collective breath of fresh air on the video game industry last year with the colorful rhythm hack and slash platformer Hi-Fi Rush. Microsoft shut down both studios today, as well as other Bethesda subsidiaries Roundhouse Games and Alpha Dog Games, citing a need to focus on “high-impact” “priority games.”

    “This is absolutely terrible,” tweeted Bakaba, co-creative director at the remaining Arkane studio, in the wake of the news. “Permission to be human: to any executive reading this, friendly reminder that video games are an entertainment/cultural industry, and your business as a corporation is to take care of your artists/entertainers and help them create value for you.”

    The Deathloop co-director at the Microsoft-owned studio continued:

    Don’t throw us into gold fever gambits, don’t use us as strawmen for miscalculations/blind spots, don’t make our work environments darwinist jungles. You say we make you proud when we make a good game. Make us proud when times are tough. We know you can, we seen it before.

    For now, great teams are sunsetting before our eyes again, and it’s a fucking gut stab. Lyon is safe, but please be tactful and discerning about all this, and respect affected folks’ voice and leave it room to be heard, it’s their story to tell, their feelings to express.

    Inside baseball, but if I read ‘immersive sim curse’ from the community, especially from a fellow dev, I swear to God… Please, let’s talk about the *real* challenges instead of rehashing irrational anxieties of the past. Even more inside baseball, but with a very, very wide range, as a wise and sorely missed man said: “Please Stop.”

    Harvey Smith, co-director on Redfall at Arkane Austin, called today’s new “terrible,” adding that the team there had been through a lot together. Bloomberg previously reported that the vampire shooter’s troubled development grew out of a push by top Bethesda leadership to make a live-service game, a decision that ultimately led to sky-high attrition and multiple delays. “Your talent will lift you up, and I will do anything I can to help,” tweeted Smith. John Johanas, game director at Tango Gameworks, was also at a loss. “So this is how it ends…” he wrote. “Unfortunately I don’t quite have the words…But at least thank you to everyone who supported us.”

    Back when Microsoft acquired Bethesda in 2021, its burgeoning Game Pass model seemed like a potentially great fit for Arkane Studios, whose creatively ambitious projects didn’t always seem to find the audiences they deserved. If Bethesda would never greenlight a Prey 2, maybe a deep-pocketed tech giant would see it as as a worthwhile addition to its Netflix-like subscription gaming library. If nothing else, the newly acquired teams would have no shortage of other holes to fill in Xbox’s struggling first-party lineup.

    Adam Boyes, co-CEO at Iron Galaxy Studios, juxtaposed today’s carnage with Microsoft’s bottom line in a tweet screencapping the company’s recently announced quarterly profits of roughly $20 billion. “It hurts dude… it hurts,” wrote back Rich Lambert, head of ZeniMax Online Studios. “Angry. Frustrated. Shocked. Furious. Speechless. Dumbfounded. Perplexed,” wrote Alistair Hatch, another long-time veteran of Bethesda. “I have so much love for the studios affected. The people that made those teams were incredible, hard working, dedicated, and talented.”

    People from other Microsoft-owned studios and outside the company have also been horrified by the news. “We took a lot of inspiration from both Evil Within and Evil Within 2 when developing Alan Wake 2,” tweeted Remedy Entertainment game director Kyle Rowley. “They are both excellent horror games and I’m very sad we will not get to see a continuation of the franchise from Tango Gameworks. “Why do I still do this?” tweeted Obsidian Entertainment communications director Mikey Dowling.

    “Arkane did solid work and had a highly talented and motivated staff,” Mike Wikan, the former Retro Studios developer who led design on Metroid Prime, wrote on LinkedIn. “Companies need to understand that burning your Creative Production Studios to the ground is NOT the path to profitability.”

             

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    Ethan Gach

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  • Concrete debris falls off Outer Loop bridge onto I-270 in Bethesda – WTOP News

    Concrete debris falls off Outer Loop bridge onto I-270 in Bethesda – WTOP News

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    Chunks of debris fell onto the should of Interstate 270 in Bethesda, Maryland, on Sunday, WTOP Traffic reports. 

    Listen to WTOP Traffic for the latest on conditions. 

    Chunks of concrete debris from the Outer Loop bridge fell below onto the Interstate 270 spur in Bethesda, Maryland, on Sunday, WTOP Traffic reports.

    Maryland State Highway arrived on the scene in Montgomery County around 10 a.m. and traffic is partially blocked on I-270 is closed as officials investigate.

    Debris from a portion of Outer Loop bridge on the big curve landed on the right shoulder of I-270 spur southbound.

    The Outer Loop bridge in that area remains open.

    Maryland State Highway is looking into what caused the damage, a spokesperson said.

    This is a developing story. Stick with WTOP for the latest.

    WTOP’s Steve Dresner contributed to this report.

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    © 2024 WTOP. All Rights Reserved. This website is not intended for users located within the European Economic Area.

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    Mike Murillo

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  • Redfall’s two DLC heroes are still MIA a year later

    Redfall’s two DLC heroes are still MIA a year later

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    As Microsoft tries to beef up its in-house Xbox studios, it may want to be more careful about leaving a trail of broken promises when things don’t go as planned. A year after the hyped vampire shooter Redfall landed with a thud, a Kotaku report highlights how players are still waiting for the advertised post-launch DLC they already paid for.

    Redfall’s Bite Back Edition is a $100 collector’s variant (or $30 add-on) that includes, among other content, a pass for “two future heroes” to complement the game’s original four. As you may have guessed, the new playable characters still haven’t materialized.

    In addition, Microsoft-owned Bethesda has gone silent on the new protagonists’ absence since November. “We’re continuing development of The Hero Pass and we’re excited to share more about Redfall’s new heroes and other updates later next year,” developer Arkane Austin wrote late last year.

    At the very least, it seems customers are owed clear communication — or refunds if Bethesda has noped out of further development. Engadget has reached out for comment, and we’ll update this story if we hear back. In the meantime, Kotaku’s reporting on the maddening saga is worth a read.

    This article contains affiliate links; if you click such a link and make a purchase, we may earn a commission.

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    Will Shanklin

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  • Todd Howard On Fallout 76 Crossplay And Cross-Progression

    Todd Howard On Fallout 76 Crossplay And Cross-Progression

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    Fallout 76, Bethesda’s MMORPG set in the Fallout universe, is probably more popular today than ever thanks to Amazon’s new TV series. So it makes sense that in a recent interview, Bethesda executive producer Todd Howard was asked about Fallout 76 and crossplay. And while the ability for PC and console players to mingle sounds off the table, Howard at least seemed more positive about cross-progression.

    Since the launch of the Fallout TV show earlier this month, all of the Fallout games have exploded in popularity. This includes the black sheep of the family, Fallout 76. The online-only spin-off is seeing more players than ever across all platforms. And as thousands of new players rush into the open-world post-apocalyptic MMORPG, they might expect—like most games in 2024—that Fallout 76 would support crossplay or, at least, cross-progression. However, if you play on Xbox you can’t play with PC players or PlayStation gamers, and all your progress is tied to that platform, too. And while crossplay seems unlikely, Todd Howard seems more open to a future where cross-progression is a thing in Fallout 76.

    Kinda Funny

    On the April 29 episode of Kinda Funny’s Gamecast, Howard talked about the Fallout franchise and the future of crossplay in Fallout 76.

    “We keep looking into it, but [Fallout 76] wasn’t designed that way from the beginning. So obviously we get into server and database silos,” said Howard.

    When asked about crossplay or cross-progression, he offered Bethesda’s opinions on the features that have become standard in 2024.

    “Here’s what I would say, which is for us the the more the important thing is cross-progression than cross-play—and we do separate them—we’d love to have it all, sure. It’s something we are looking at but I will say it’s quite—the way that [Fallout 76] architected from the beginning—a technical lift. Not saying we are or aren’t doing anything, we are looking at it and seeing where that’s going to impact people.”

    He continued: “I think going forward in the world we want to be in, I think it’s it’s very important and something that you know in our future games that we’re going to be really, really mindful about to make sure—in particular the progression—that where you pick up a game you’re able no matter what screen you’re on you’re able to just keep going with your character and what you were doing.”

    Funnily enough, Howard did suggest that if employees are annoyed by something in their games—like no crossplay—it becomes a higher priority for them and they fix it.

    “When we can’t pick it up and [make progression,] it does move it up the stack internally.”

    So we just need some folks at Bethesda to get annoyed about Fallout 76‘s lack of cross-saves, I guess!

    .

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    Zack Zwiezen

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  • Choice Hotels scraps ‘hostile’ $8 billion Wyndham takeover bid – WTOP News

    Choice Hotels scraps ‘hostile’ $8 billion Wyndham takeover bid – WTOP News

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    North Bethesda, Maryland-based Choice Hotels International has ended its nearly yearlong attempt to acquire Wyndham Hotels & Resorts for nearly $8 billion.

    North Bethesda, Maryland-based Choice Hotels International has ended its nearly yearlong attempt to acquire Wyndham Hotels & Resorts for nearly $8 billion.

    Choice has also withdrawn its nominations for Wyndham’s board of directors.

    Wyndham’s board had rejected the acquisition bid repeatedly. In December, Choice took its offer directly to Wyndham shareholders.

    “The Wyndham Board is pleased that Choice has ended its hostile pursuit and proxy contest, following the expiration of its unsolicited exchange offer,” said Wyndham board chair Stephen Holmes.

    “We are confident in Wyndham’s stand-alone strategy and growth prospects under the leadership of our proven management team.”

    Choice, which acquired Radisson Hotels in 2022, also said it would focus on its stand-alone strategy.

    “While support from Wyndham stockholders tendering in the exchange offer was significant considering the number of investors structurally prevented from participating at this stage, it was not sufficient for Choice to conclude, particularly when taking into account the Wyndham board’s obvious continuing disinterest in a combination, that a path toward a transaction is available at this time,” Choice said in a statement.

    In repeatedly rebuffing Choice’s offer, Wyndham said it faced uncertain regulatory approval and it undervalued the company.

    The merger would have brought together some of the best-known hotel brands in the budget category. Wyndham has 21 franchise brands, including Super 8, Days Inn, Howard Johnson and Ramada. Choice has 22 brands, including Comfort, Quality Inn, Rodeway Inn and EconoLodge.

    Choice Hotels relocated from its longtime Rockville headquarters to its new corporate headquarters in North Bethesda’s Pike & Rose in December, where it has roughly 400 employees.

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    © 2024 WTOP. All Rights Reserved. This website is not intended for users located within the European Economic Area.

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    Jeff Clabaugh

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  • Arkane Lyon Celebrates Blade's 50th Anniversary By Announcing a New Blade Game

    Arkane Lyon Celebrates Blade's 50th Anniversary By Announcing a New Blade Game

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    Marvel is immovable, unflinching, it’s not going anywhere as far as the cultural zeitgeist is concerned. And while the video game scene for Marvel has been a little hit or miss in the past few years, this new announcement from Arkane Lyon and Bethesda has us excited. At The Game Awards this week, Arkane Lyon announced that they were currently working on a brand new Blade game.

    Check out the trailer for yourself down below:

    It was just a cinematic trailer, but it was enough to get us hyped up. We got a short glimpse of Blade at the barber shop, and the developers mentioned that the game would be set in the heart of Paris. It’s a third-person action-adventure game where players will get to play as the vampire slayer, hunting down monsters in France.

    Blade is still too early in its development cycle to have a release date or window just yet, but we’ll keep you updated as more info comes our way.

    About the author

    Zhiqing Wan

    Zhiqing is the Reviews Editor for Twinfinite, and a History graduate from Singapore. She’s been in the games media industry for nine years, trawling through showfloors, conferences, and spending a ridiculous amount of time making in-depth spreadsheets for min-max-y RPGs. When she’s not singing the praises of Amazon’s Kindle as the greatest technological invention of the past two decades, you can probably find her in a FromSoft rabbit hole.

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    Zhiqing Wan

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