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Have Gaussian Splats Arrived in the Standardization Sweet Spot?

Metaverse

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March 13, 2025

Have Gaussian Splats Arrived in the Standardization Sweet Spot?

On Tuesday, January 22, the Metaverse Standards Forum (MSF) hosted a virtual town hall to explore a pressing question: Are Gaussian Splats (GS) ready for standardization? The event drew hundreds of participants and sparked a lively debate. The conversation has since continued at the “Gaussian Splats Town Hall Part 2” that was held on March 5, 2025, where Niantic, Cesium and Meta shared more details on their Gaussian Spat pipelines.

Gaussian Splats are an innovative method for representing 3D scenes using points (or “splats”) with attributes like color, opacity, and size. This technique enables highly realistic renderings with fewer data constraints compared to traditional mesh models.

The Forum’s Gaussian Splats Town Hall, co-hosted by MSF 3D Formats Interoperability Working Group co-chair Patrick Cozzi of Bentley Systems and Alexey Medvedev of Meta, who also serves as Khronos 3D Formats Working Group chair, was a dynamic, three-and-a-half-hour event that featured impressive demonstrations and persuasive arguments for GS’s future in 3D content creation and delivery. Notable contributors included Radiance Fields, The New York Times, Niantic, Meta, NVIDIA, PlayCanvas, Microsoft, Arrival.space, Waldek Technologies, Bentley Systems, Cesium, Hexagon, Esri, EARTHBRAIN, and JDULTRA.

The recording of Part 1 is now available, complete with bookmarks for easy navigation. As GS gains momentum, we also want to elevate the standardization discussion that emerged from the town hall and bring glTF stakeholders rapidly up to speed before the next event.What Does “Standardization Ready” mean?

How standards proliferate. Situation: There are 14 competing standards. Person 1: 14?! Ridiculous! We need to develop one universal standard that covers everyone's use cases. Person 2: Yeah! Situation: There are 15 competing standards

Permanent link to this comic: https://xkcd.com/927/

Timing is everything in standardization. Premature efforts risk stifling innovation, while waiting too long can lead to fragmented proprietary technologies. The sweet spot is when a technology’s utility is proven, and the absence of standards starts to hinder growth.

Optimal Standardization Window

This town hall focused on determining where Gaussian Splatting stands on this spectrum. Are we still in the early days of experimentation, or is the technology mature enough to benefit from standardization? And if it’s time, what should that process look like?

Growing Momentum for Gaussian Splatting

pictures generated from Gaussian splatting

Presenters highlighted a rapid surge in GS adoption across industries, demonstrating its versatility and accelerating momentum. AJ Chavar from The New York Times illustrated how Gaussian Splats are enabling immersive, interactive storytelling with rich visual fidelity while maintaining minimal data overhead, crucial for fast-loading online content.

Nicholas Butko from Niantic showcased GS’s efficient rendering capabilities on mobile devices, emphasizing its ability to deliver smooth augmented reality experiences even on resource-constrained hardware. He also discussed Niantic’s Scaniverse app, a free and open-source tool that has significantly contributed to the growing adoption of GS. By enabling users to easily capture high-quality 3D scans using a mobile device and convert them into GS-based representations, Scaniverse has lowered the barrier to entry for creators and developers looking to experiment with and implement Gaussian Splats in their projects. Butko highlighted how Scaniverse’s streamlined workflow and intuitive interface have helped accelerate GS adoption across various industries, particularly in augmented reality applications.

Additionally, Michael Rubloff from Radiance Fields discussed how radiance field assets align with game engine physics, demonstrating integration with platforms like Unity and Unreal Engine. Nemanja Bartolovic and Ashish Singh from Meta (Cloud-AI, RL) highlighted their work optimizing GS for mobile GPU architectures, focusing on techniques to reduce memory bandwidth usage and enhance performance in resource-constrained environments like the Meta Quest. Nicolas Moenne-Loccoz from NVIDIA presented strategies for decoupling 3D Gaussians from specific rendering techniques, allowing for greater flexibility in how splats are visualized across different platforms and devices.These examples underscored GS’s ability to support high-quality visuals, efficient rendering across platforms, and adaptability for various industries, including journalism, augmented reality, and digital entertainment.

GS on the Web

3D image of inside of a church

The town hall also dove deep into GS web applications, highlighting its versatility for real-time use cases. Will Eastcott from PlayCanvas demonstrated how GS enhances real-time collaboration by enabling dynamic virtual spaces for education and remote work, where users can interact seamlessly within rich, interactive 3D environments. Cedric Guillemet from Microsoft showcased how GS improves the efficiency of rendering complex web-based scenes, making it possible to achieve high levels of detail without compromising performance. Thomas Richter-Trummer from Arrival.Space presented real-world applications where GS allowed for the scalable display of large 3D datasets directly in browsers, significantly reducing load times. Yoshiharu Sato from Waldek Technologies explored how GS supports immersive web applications, focusing on its ability to handle intricate data structures while maintaining smooth user experiences.

Despite these advancements, the presenters acknowledged challenges such as optimizing data compression techniques and ensuring consistent performance across different browsers. Ongoing collaboration within the community aims to address these hurdles and refine GS’s integration with web technologies.

Geospatial and Digital Twins

In geospatial and digital twin contexts, GS supports precise, high-resolution mapping, allowing for detailed representations of physical environments. Renaud Keriven from Bentley Systems demonstrated how GS could accurately capture and visualize complex infrastructure projects, including fine details like power lines, wires, or telecom towers, reducing the time needed for site assessments. The acquisition and processing of GS are more flexible than traditional photogrammetry. Data can be captured using anything from a simple smartphone video to georeferenced drone or aerial imagery. Processing ranges from a quick draft reconstruction to a more computationally expensive but high-quality, large-scale reconstruction.

3D models of electrical tower and power station made from Gaussian splatting

Jason Sobotka from Cesium illustrated its capability in managing large-scale geospatial datasets, showcasing a real-time urban environment visualization that integrated dynamic traffic data seamlessly. This efficiency in data visualization makes it easier to interpret complex datasets, particularly in industries like urban planning and environmental monitoring.

Ladislav Horký from Hexagon discussed how meshes and point clouds could be used together, taking advantage of both the visual fidelity of a mesh and the fine structural details of a point cloud. His presentation demonstrated how point clouds can enable smoother performance and real-time data integration to enhance the responsiveness of digital twins.

3D image of large residential building using Gaussian splats

Despite these benefits, challenges persist. Konrad Wenzel from Esri noted difficulties in standardizing coordinate systems across different platforms, while Jean-Philippe Pons pointed out the complexities in managing the vast amounts of data generated, both of which require further exploration and innovative solutions.

Are Gaussian Splats Standardization Ready?

The town hall revealed diverse perspectives on whether the industry is ready for GS standards. Pro-standardization voices advocated for leveraging existing frameworks like glTF to streamline GS adoption while maintaining flexibility. For instance, presenters from Cesium and NVIDIA highlighted how integrating GS with glTF could simplify workflows for digital twins and 3D mapping applications, enabling seamless data exchange across platforms.

Scott Simons from OGC offered a guiding principle during the global Q&A session: “The best way to standardize problems is really to find discrete pieces of those problems and solve them as those need to be solved.” In other words, stay niche. Simons suggested leveraging existing standards such as glTF that already address core aspects of GS use cases and building out extensions to address tailored user needs. This insight set the stage for a discussion on the right way to implement standards without overreaching.

Many participants suggested that glTF could play a pivotal role in future GS standardization efforts, potentially serving as a container or extension framework. Several speakers highlighted how 3D Tiles, a spatial data structure built on glTF, could enable streaming of massive GS-based scenes. Jason Sobotka from Cesium illustrated how 3D Tiles efficiently manages large-scale geospatial datasets, ensuring optimized delivery of high-resolution data in real-time applications. Konrad Wenzel from Esri reinforced this perspective, explaining how 3D Tiles’ hierarchical level-of-detail system allows GS to be integrated seamlessly into existing geospatial pipelines. Arrival.space also demonstrated how GS assets could be embedded within glTF files to enhance web-based 3D experiences without sacrificing performance or flexibility. These discussions further indicate that glTF, through its connection with 3D Tiles, may serve as a strong foundation for GS standardization, enabling interoperability and scalability across industries.

In addition, Niantic’s presentation introduced their open-source SPZ format for GS and proposed that SPZ could potentially become a glTF extension, following a path similar to Google’s Draco compression. They explained that SPZ is designed to efficiently store and transmit Gaussian Splats, making it a strong candidate for standardization. By leveraging glTF as an extension framework, Niantic suggested that SPZ could achieve rendering efficiencies, overcome challenges with interactivity, and build out metadata like view ranges to improve usability. Their proposal highlights how targeted extensions within established standards can provide practical solutions without overcomplicating the broader ecosystem.

Introducing .spz

Niantic's proposal

Still, cautionary viewpoints emphasized the risk of stifling innovation if standards are imposed prematurely. Experts from Meta and PlayCanvas cautioned that GS is still evolving rapidly, with diverse experimental implementations that could be restricted by premature standardization.

Back on the pro-standardization camp, one should note that standards development is not a fast process. Getting started might not be such a bad idea and new technologies, which will inevitably arise, can always be incorporated.

Join the GS Conversation

The town hall demonstrated that the conversation around GS is far from over. Indeed, discussion continues on the event’s dedicated Discord, and the town hall will reconvene on March 5 at 9:30 AM PST.

If you’re interested in following the debate and weighing in, join the dedicated conversation on the Metaverse Standards Forum Discord. Members and non-members are welcome: by adding your voice, you can help ensure the industry hits the standardization sweet spot for this critical emerging technology.

Metaverse Standards Forum Gaussian Splats Town Hall Part 1 Speakers:

Hosts

Patrick Cozzi, Chief Platform Officer, Bentley SystemsAlexey Medvedev, AR Tech Lead at Meta and Chair of the Khronos 3D Formats Working Group

Presenters

Foundations

Michael Rubloff, Founder and Managing Editor, Radiance Fields
Aras Pranckevičius, Programmer
A.J. Chavar, Creative Strategist & Nick Bartzokas, Senior Software Engineer – R&D The New York Times

Momentum

Nicholas Butko, Senior Director, Engineering, Niantic, Inc.
Nemanja Bartolovic, Software Engineer & Ashish Singh, Product Management, Cloud-AI, RL-Meta
Nicolas Moenne-Loccoz, Principal Research Engineer, ADLR, NVIDIA

Web

Will Eastcott, CEO & Co-founder, PlayCanvas
Cedric Guillemet, Senior Software Development Engineer, Microsoft
Thomas Richter-Trummer, Co-Founder & CTO, Arrival.Space
Yoshiharu Sato, Founder & CTO, Waldek Technologies

Geospatial & Digital Twins

Renaud Keriven, Distinguished Engineer, Bentley Systems
Jason Sobotka, Software Engineer, Cesium
Ladislav Horký, CTO at Melown Technologies, Hexagon
Konrad Wenzel, Director, Stuttgart R&D Center and Jean-Philippe Pons, Sr. Principal Software Development Engineer, Esri
Takayuki Murayama, Senior Director & Talha Khalid, Global Development Manager, EARTHBRAIN
Emeric Beaufays, Geospatial and 3D Specialist, Founder & Software Engineer, JDULTRA

How Gladiator 2 Almost Brought Back Russell Crowe’s Maximus – SlashFilm

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March 12, 2025

How Gladiator 2 Almost Brought Back Russell Crowe’s Maximus – SlashFilm

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Paramount Pictures

We waited a long, long time for director Ridley Scott to make a sequel to his beloved 2000 Best Picture-winning classic, “Gladiator.” That sequel arrived in late 2024 in the form of “Gladiator II.” Though not nearly as roundly praised as its predecessor, the sequel did finish as one of the highest-grossing movies of the year, and it did so without bringing back its previous star, Oscar-winner Russell Crowe as Maximus Decimus Meridius. That’s because Maximus died in the first one … but that didn’t prevent the writers from trying to bring him back anyway.

In a recent interview with The Direct, screenwriter Peter Craig revealed that there was, at one point, a scene that would have brought back Crowe as Maximus. This would have taken place towards the end of the film and it would have happened via a flashback with Paul Mescal’s Lucius, who (spoiler alert) is actually Maximus’ son. Here’s what Craig had to say about it:

“There was an idea that the Romans had that you could talk to your ancestors, and they have these underground catacombs where people’s urns and ashes and bones were all buried beneath the city. There had been a scene where once Lucius finds out that it’s his father, he goes down there and he finds his grave. And there was just going to be a really brief flashback with Russell.”

For what it’s worth, only two actors from the first “Gladiator” returned in the sequel: Connie Nielsen (Lucilla) and Derek Jacobi (Senator Gracchus). So it’s not as though Crowe was missing out on some big reunion. Still, it’s easy to see why Craig and Scott at least considered this option.

Gladiator II was probably better off without Russell Crowe

Paul Mescal as Lucius rubbing dirt in his hands in Gladiator II

Paramount Pictures

For better or worse, Maximus cast a very large shadow over the sequel, even though Crowe doesn’t actually appear in the film. There were different versions of the sequel floated over the years, but Scott finally felt like it was the right time to make “Gladiator II.” Doing so without the people that made the original such a big hit was a tall order.

Several other writers, along with Scott, ultimately crafted the story that we saw unfold in the sequel. The director ended up being a big fan of how it turned out, as he’s already announced plans for a potential “Gladiator 3” with Paul Mescal returning. Craig, for his part, feels they made the right call in leaving this flashback scene out of the movie:

“I think they probably made the right decision not using it. But I was on that with Ridley [Scott] for a while … I sort of gave them a big menu of stuff, and they selected some things from it, and I think they left a lot of the right stuff off of it.”

Whether or not the sequel was a satisfying follow-up is largely a matter of individual taste. A cameo from Crowe probably wouldn’t have moved the needle too much either way, but it might have felt a bit forced. “Gladiator II” has been criticized for its lack of historical accuracy, but again, Scott isn’t setting out to make an accurate historical epic. Are you not entertained, he might ask?

You can grab “Gladiator II” on 4K, Blu-ray, or DVD from Amazon.

Trump’s Crypto Summit Recap: Key Moments, Reactions, and Expert Opinions

Metaverse

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March 12, 2025

Trump’s Crypto Summit Recap: Key Moments, Reactions, and Expert Opinions

by
Victoria d’Este

Published: March 12, 2025 at 5:10 pm Updated: March 12, 2025 at 5:10 pm

by Ana

Edited and fact-checked:
March 12, 2025 at 5:10 pm

In Brief

Trump’s Crypto Summit unveiled plans for a Strategic Bitcoin Reserve, signaled a shift in U.S. crypto policy, and garnered mixed reactions from industry leaders regarding the inclusion of multiple cryptocurrencies and concerns over its long-term impact.

In a landmark move for the crypto industry, former President Donald Trump hosted a high-profile summit with digital asset leaders, signaling a shift in U.S. policy. The event underscored his administration’s intention to undo many of the regulatory measures introduced under President Biden.

Trump used the meeting to underline his dedication to make the U.S. “the crypto capital of the world” and undoing the Biden government’s tight rules on the industry as crypto companies become a major influence in political contributions for the 2024 election.

Establishing the Bitcoin Reserve

Through an executive order on Thursday, just before convening a crypto meeting at the White House, President Donald Trump created a Strategic Bitcoin Reserve and a cache of other digital assets.

President Donald Trump established a Strategic Bitcoin Reserve via an executive order released on Thursday, therefore signifying a significant legislative change towards digital assets. The Treasury Department will oversee the reserve, which will be funded with Bitcoin (BTC) seized in criminal and civil forfeiture cases.

The order highlighted Bitcoin’s status as the “original cryptocurrency” and emphasized the “strategic advantage” of accumulating BTC due to its fixed supply. Additionally, a U.S. Digital Asset Stockpile was established to manage other tokens.

However, Trump’s social media post revealing plans to stockpile Bitcoin, Ethereum, and three other tokens sparked backlash from the crypto community.

Crypto Leaders at The Digital Asset Summit

Trump’s summit brought together key industry figures, including Michael Saylor (MicroStrategy), Brian Armstrong (Coinbase), Cameron and Tyler Winklevoss, and David Bailey.

Also in attendance was Zach Witkoff, co-founder of Trump’s own crypto venture, World Liberty Financial. The event featured top officials, lawmakers, and influential investors in the sector.

What Went on at The Digital Asset Summit

Former President Trump swept the elite of the crypto sector at the innovative Digital Asset Summit, presenting his ideas for a government-backed digital assets stockpile.

A key highlight was Trump’s push for a strategic reserve of Bitcoin, formalized through an executive order issued just before the summit. The order also outlined plans for a broader reserve of other digital assets.

Trump underlined that Bitcoin obtained via criminal and civil asset forfeitures will back the reserve, therefore guaranteeing no expense on to taxpayers.

“We don’t want any cost to the taxpayers,” he stated, reinforcing his stance on minimizing government expenses.

White House crypto czar David Sacks also expressed a similar opinion, verifying that budget-neutral approaches will be used throughout reserve building. But his comments let down some market players who had anticipated a more definite strategy for acquiring fresh tokens.

The effect of the meeting was evident in the market because the price of Bitcoin dropped to $85,521 after the announcement. Though specifics on how the reserve would run are lacking, the event highlighted Trump’s continuous support of the digital asset sector and its expansion forward.

Many at the event, including legislators and business executives, commended the government for encouraging creativity and opening legal routes for cryptocurrency.

Mixed Reactions from Industry Leaders

Leaders in the sector expressed gratitude for the meeting and complimented Trump and his staff for fostering a more cooperative climate. Many believed that the government’s transparency was an important shift after years of being “under attack” for concerns of security and consumer protection.

Following the meeting, the Office of the Comptroller of the Currency confirmed that U.S. banks would no longer have to obtain particular regulatory clearance to participate in certain crypto-related activities, therefore facilitating the adoption of digital assets by the financial industry.

However, some concerns emerged. JP Richardson, CEO of Exodus, pointed out that the proposed strategic reserve could be a “big point of contention,” particularly regarding the inclusion of coins other than Bitcoin.

Although he owns some of the suggested tokens, Richardson argued they did not belong in the reserve, as they posed a higher risk and operated in a “very different way.”

Les Borsai, co-founder of Wave Digital Assets, noted that for the first time, many industry leaders felt they were entering a “collaborative discussion” despite not being invited.

The Reserve Expanding Beyond Bitcoin

Ripple CEO Brad Garlinghouse commended Trump for recognizing that the scope of cryptocurrencies goes beyond just Bitcoin. Linked to Ripple, XRP is one of the four other cryptocurrencies Trump said may be included into the proposed reserve.

While JP Richardson highlighted that the crypto industry is still “relatively nascent,” he expressed concerns about adding smaller coins that might pose more “risk.”

Brian Armstrong, CEO of Coinbase, agreed that a Bitcoin-only reserve was likely “the best option.” Both Richardson and Armstrong were present at the summit, where these differing viewpoints emerged.

Ending The War on Crypto

Scott Bessent, Treasury Secretary, stated that the Trump administration would put an end to the “regulatory weaponization” against digital assets.

He emphasized that the U.S. must lead in digital asset strategy to stay ahead in the global digital economy.

Bessent also reassured that, with stablecoins serving a supporting function, the U.S. dollar would remain the principal reserve currency used worldwide.

Trump has fundamentally changed federal crypto policy since becoming office; the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) has reversed the strict laws of the previous government, including dropping investigations and lawsuits against big companies like Coinbase and Kraken.

Some Causes for Concern

While the summit highlighted a new approach to crypto, some investors were left wanting more. After the meeting, bitcoin saw a 4% drop, ending the week down 8%. The main source of unease was David Sacks, the White House’s crypto czar, declaring the establishment of a “strategic bitcoin reserve,” but with no imminent intentions for more crypto purchases.

The decisions Trump made about which cryptocurrencies to include—Bitcoin, Ethereum, and others—generated controversy within the community. Concerns about the government ending up “picking winners and losers” among cryptocurrencies arose.

Jeff Park, from the investment group Bitwise, echoed this sentiment, labeling the executive order as an “imperfect outcome.” He pointed out that an executive order, without broader legislative support, might not have the lasting impact many in the industry hoped for. As he pointed out, without the backing of collective legislation, such orders are unlikely to spark the transformative changes that many investors anticipated.

Can Crypto Give the U.S. Financial Leadership Worldwide?

For Sergey Nazarov, co-founder of Chainlink, the critical issue is how the U.S. can leverage blockchain technology to maintain its global financial dominance. Nazarov emphasized that global leadership in finance is defined by “assets,” particularly those that the U.S. generates and can be repackaged for others.

He argued that tokenizing major financial markets, such as treasuries, investment funds, and real estate, is essential. Nazarov views this as the next significant financial shift, comparable to the transition from paper-based markets to internet-based financial products, and believes it will shape the next 50 years of finance.

Disclaimer

In line with the Trust Project guidelines, please note that the information provided on this page is not intended to be and should not be interpreted as legal, tax, investment, financial, or any other form of advice. It is important to only invest what you can afford to lose and to seek independent financial advice if you have any doubts. For further information, we suggest referring to the terms and conditions as well as the help and support pages provided by the issuer or advertiser. MetaversePost is committed to accurate, unbiased reporting, but market conditions are subject to change without notice.

About The Author

Victoria is a writer on a variety of technology topics including Web3.0, AI and cryptocurrencies. Her extensive experience allows her to write insightful articles for the wider audience.

Head Over Heels Deluxe – Top quality remake of an isometric retro classic is well worth checking out on Steam!

Gaming

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March 12, 2025

Head Over Heels Deluxe – Top quality remake of an isometric retro classic is well worth checking out on Steam!

Head Over Heels was first released in 1987 for several 8-bit home computers such as the Amstrad, C64 and ZX Spectrum, but this faithful remake and deluxe edition, which was only recently released on Steam and has just got a new update, is based on the Spectrum version with all new gorgeous graphics and new features. Although originally designed by Jon Ritman, Bernie Drummond and developed by Ocean Software, this remake of Head Over Heels designed by Rusty Pixels, Ogre Games Ltd is well worth checking out indeed.

Here’s the latest! “Get ready to dive into a timeless puzzle-platforming adventure that captivated gamers in the golden age of the 8-bit era, now reborn with colourful modern visuals and refined gameplay! Head Over Heels is back and better than ever, delivering the perfect fusion of vintage charm with fresh new challenges. Whether you’re a long time fan or a brand-new adventurer, this award-winning remake originally made for the ZX Spectrum Next will capture your heart and test your wits!”

Main Features :

Over 500 majestic locationsMultiple save points (trust us, you’ll need them)Wonderful music throughout by Space FractalChickens! (Yes, these weren’t in the original… Blame Mike ‘Flash’ Ware for them)A complete new world (because more is better)Three difficulty levelsNew enemies and objects (there’s a new world after all…)Selectable play speedDid we mention the stunning graphics by Simon Butler? Oh yes, we did. Sorry.

Extra Notes : “Don’t miss your chance to experience one of gaming’s most beloved titles, lovingly reimagined and bursting with playful innovation. Bring Head and Heels together, overthrow the Emperor, and secure your place in puzzle-platformer history. It’s time to turn the world Head Over Heels – and don’t forget the chickens!”

Links :1) Source

EastEnders follow-up: As Nicola reveals Teddy Mitchell’s ‘killer’ secret, is Zack next on his list?

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March 12, 2025

EastEnders follow-up: As Nicola reveals Teddy Mitchell’s ‘killer’ secret, is Zack next on his list?

In tonight’s episode of EastEnders (Wednesday, March 12), Nicola tried to scare off Zack by revealing Teddy Mitchell’s big secret.

She told Zack about Harry’s ex-girlfriend Shireen who disappeared four years ago. And, how Teddy had killed her.

But, as Nicola warns Zack that Teddy is dangerous, could he kill him next?

Nicola told Zack and Sharon that Teddy’s a killer (Credit: BBC)

EastEnders: Teddy Mitchell’s ‘killer’ secret

After Barney dropped Sharon’s secret that she slept with Grant to Teddy, he lashed out and started to beat Zack up once he tried to intervene.

Barney then saw Teddy attacking Zack and begged him to stop. And, Teddy actually listened to ‘his son’ and stopped with the punches.

Later on, the truth about Teddy’s true dangerous side came out as Nicola warned Zack to keep quiet about Barney actually being his son.

Sharon then warned Zack that things could get ‘a whole lot worse’ if Teddy found out the truth about Zack being Barney’s dad.

Nearer the end of the episode, Nicola asked Zack if he knew about Shireen – Harry’s ex-girlfriend.

She then warned Zack that Teddy could kill him, like he did Shireen. It was in his best interest to stay quiet about his paternity secret.

Will Teddy kill Zack in EastEnders?

Teddy’s proved that he has a violent streak (he is a Mitchell, after all), and now Nicola’s dropped a huge bombshell that he’s actually a killer.

Of course, this could’ve just been a story to scare Zack into staying quiet about Barney. But, something happened to Shireen and she’s adamant Teddy finished her off.

Secrets never stay secrets for long in Soapland though, meaning that Zack could be in real trouble when Teddy inevitably finds out that ‘his boy’ isn’t actually is. But, could Zack be Teddy’s next victim and end up murdered? Does he need to watch his back?

Read more: EastEnders spoilers for next week: First look as Harvey cheats on Jean

4 dramatic EastEnders spoilers for next week (March 17th-21st)

EastEnders usually airs Monday to Thursday at 7.30pm on BBC One.

Leave us a comment on our Facebook page @EntertainmentDailyFix and let us know what you think.

Michelle Keegan and Mark Wright in huge win following birth of baby girl: “Giving the Beckhams a run for their money”

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March 12, 2025

Michelle Keegan and Mark Wright in huge win following birth of baby girl: “Giving the Beckhams a run for their money”

Michelle Keegan and Mark Wright will be become even stronger following the birth of their first baby, one expert has exclusively told ED!.

The couple revealed that they’ve welcomed a baby girl earlier today (March 12). Baby Palma was born last week, with the pair staying in their baby bubble for almost a week as they adjusted to parenthood.

Announcing their joyous news, Michelle and Mark shared a picture of their little girl and said: “Together we have a new love to share… Our little girl. Palma Elizabeth Wright.” They also shared that she was born on March 6.

So how will the baby change Mark and Michelle’s relationship, and what does it mean for her career? Brand and culture expert Nick Ede has given ED! the lowdown…

The future’s gorgeous for baby Palma

Mark and Michelle are two of the most gorgeous faces in showbiz, so baby Palma will doubtless inherit their beautiful genes. As well as that, Nick reckons the tot will be something of a trendsetter.

He told us: “I’m sure she will be the most stylish child we’ve ever seen. Michelle is a style icon with her own fashion collections and her sisters-in-law are the Wrights who are known for their stylish looks. So I’m sure the new baby will be head-to-toe in on-trend childrenswear.”

New mum Michelle won’t be off our screens for long, despite taking a career break (Credit: SplashNews)

‘The baby will bring them closer’

As for the impact it’ll have on Mark and Michelle’s romance, Nick reckons it’ll only make them a stronger couple.

“They are a very solid family and it’s clear they dote on each other. So I am sure this wonderful new addition will only bring them even closer together,” he said.

Michelle Keegan and Mark Wright standing next to each other — Mark Wright and Michelle Keegan will only be brought closer by the birth of baby Palma (Credit: Splash News)

Michelle Keegan’s career break

When it comes to Michelle’s career, Nick reckons it won’t really seem like she’s off screen, given Ten Pound Poms is airing now and filming on the final series of Brassic was underway long before Michelle’s maternity leave.

“Michelle’s career is golden as we know. She’s on TV at the moment on Ten Pound Poms so, once the new series of Brassic starts, it’ll feel like she won’t have left our screens at all,” he said.

“She’s such a popular star and the two of them are so photogenic that I think they will become the UK’s hottest parents – giving the Beckhams a run for their money. Michelle is focussed on her acting so, even though she’s said she’s taking a career break, I’m sure it won’t be long until a new role is revealed.”

Read more: Meaning behind Mark Wright and Michelle Keegan’s baby name revealed

Share your congratulations on our Facebook page @EntertainmentDailyFix.

General Hospital Early Spoilers March 17-21: Carly’s Rage, Portia’s Panic & Jason’s Vibes

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March 12, 2025

General Hospital Early Spoilers March 17-21: Carly’s Rage, Portia’s Panic & Jason’s Vibes

General Hospital spoilers show that Carly Corinthos Spencer (Laura Wright) is going to strike, Portia Robinson (Brook Kerr) is panicking, and Jason Morgan (Steve Burton) is tempted. As we always do on early edition day, we start with what’s coming the rest of the week.

General Hospital Spoilers: Chase and Dante’s Steam Room Talk

So, on Wednesday, March 12th, we’ve got Harrison Chase (Josh Swickard) and Dante Falconeri (Dominic Zamprogna) hanging out in the steam room. And Chase is wondering what happened that has Dante cutting Lulu Spencer (Alexa Havins Bruening) some slack.

He was just telling Chase and has told some other people that he’s having a hard time just dealing with losing Sam McCall (Kelly Monaco). Plus, some frustration with Lulu. But they had a really good talk. And she stopped short of telling him about the baby, so that may shift things.

Ava’s Favor, Laura’s Applause, and Carly’s Ire

Ava Jerome (Maura West) heads over to the Crimson offices and wants a favor from Nina Reeves (Cynthia Watros), so that should be interesting. And Laura Spencer (Genie Francis) is absolutely applauding Curtis Ashford (Donnell Turner).

Aurora media exposed Drew Cain Quartermaine (Cameron Mathison) abusing the power of his political office for a personal vendetta. And Laura is happy he was blasted. But, you know, who’s not applauding is Portia because she is very worried.

Carly Spencer lashes out at Drew on Wednesday, probably about him pushing for Willow Tait (Katelyn MacMullen) to move in. And Carly also goes to see Nina. She tells her they have got to put their plan in motion now before it is too late and Willow and the kids are already moved in. Then, it would be so much harder to get them out.

Drew’s Hospital Visit and Liz & Lucky’s Rekindled Romance

Meanwhile, Drew heads over to General Hospital to check with Willow, wondering if she’s embarrassed to be seen with him after the unflattering news report. And I’m sure she’s going to just take his side and blah blah, you know, fully gas lit.

That’s what happens when you grow up in a cult, your mind goes weak. And then Drew gets a hold of you, right? Things heat up with Elizabeth Webber (Rebecca Herbst) and Lucky Spencer (Jonathan Jackson) now that he’s out of the hospital. And they already had, you know, a couple of moments. So they puck up where they left off.

Alexis, Curtis, and Portia’s Panic

Alexis Davis (Nancy Lee Grahn) is ranting to Kristina. Then, she needs to talk to Curtis, probably on the topic of Drew, everybody’s least favorite person right now. Portia is absolutely horrified to get bad news from Ric.

He was supposed to be looking into what could happen if Drew exposes her for test hampering. And unfortunately, Portia is quite upset when Ric says it is even worse than she thought.

Golden Bachelorette Guest and Nina’s Curiosity

And we’ve also got the second place runner up from the Golden Bachelorette guesting as a wildlife journalist, and Nina wants to know if he’s single. I wonder if he’s going to go over and weigh in on the protected land by the crypt, it’d be kind of funny if he ruined Drew’s little scheme.

Anna Seeks Brennan’s Help and Portia’s Desperation

On Thursday, March 13th, Anna Devane (Finola Hughes) asks Brennan (Chris McKenna) for some help. I wonder if she’s going to ask him to pull back the kill order on Valentin Cassadine (James Patrick Stuart). And just to leave Charlotte Cassadine (Scarlett Fernandez) alone now that she’s back in town.

Because, you know, Charlotte Cassadine could be used as bait to get Valentin, and maybe she wants to preclude that. Lucky and Elizabeth have plans, but they are interrupted. Wonder if it’s a date night or a romantic evening. Meanwhile, Portia is desperate to cover her tracks.

Maybe she’s trying to figure out a way to get rid of the test hampering evidence on the GH servers, or maybe just trying to figure out how to stop Curtis from finding out that Drew was blackmailing her and that she actually agreed.

Carly’s Uncertainty and Lucas’s New Love Interest

Carly finds herself a little unsure about her feelings. Wonder if she is regretting telling Brennan to take a hike. And Lucas Jones (Van Hansis) has a run-in.

This should be with the new guy who is supposed to be his new love interest, and I am really curious who it is. Still really wondering if it might be Sidwell, because that would just be unusual.

General Hospital - Carly, Portia and Jason — General Hospital – Carly, Portia and Jason

General Hospital Spoilers: Trina’s Surprise, Sonny’s Confession, and Gloria’s Secret

Then we’re going to wrap up this week with Friday, March 14th. Trina Robinson (Tabyana Ali) gets a really big surprise for her birthday. I’m sure Kai (Jens Austin Astrup) wants to celebrate with her. We’ll see if the surprise is from him. Kristina wants some answers, and Sonny Corinthos (Maurice Benard) comes clean on Friday.

Now, these are two separate spoilers, but they sound like they belong together. So if they do, she may press him about his strange behavior lately, and, you know, his confession could be made to someone else, or it could be to her. He’s got to start telling people about his heart condition because he’s got to have surgery very soon.

And, you know, Kristina’s probably not the best person to start with, but if she’s pushing, maybe it’ll go that way. Gloria Cerullo (Ellen Travolta) reassures Lois Cerullo (Rena Sofer) about what they have done and pushes on her to keep Gio’s paternity and maternity a secret. But Lois doesn’t know if she can keep it in.

And let’s be clear, Gloria is wrong. I think Gio needs a mom in his life. BLQ (Brook Lynn Quartermaine) needs her son, and Gio’s never had a dad, and even though he’s grown, you know, he’d be great with the idea that Dante is his father. The real only issue is the fact that Gio never knew he was adopted. But because his adopted mom is dead, why not give him the gift of family?

Dante Opens Up and Jason’s Temptation on General Hospital

Dante opens up to Chase on Friday, and I wonder if by then Lulu has gone back on her word and blabbed to him about the baby. At this point it doesn’t seem like Brook Lynn would, but we’ll see. Going into the following week, March 17th through the 21st, fans are wondering if Jason and Anna are about to kiss again.

There was a whole vibe happening after they got Charlotte settled into the hotel, and they’re close again, you know, is this happening? Is Jason tempted because he still has not had a love interest since he’s been back on the show, which is just weird.

Sasha’s Lies, Drew and Tracy’s Battle, and Gloria’s Pressure

Sasha Gilmore (Sofia Mattsson) is playing with fire, lying to Carly’s face about Jason being her baby daddy. And playing with fire twice over for taking a payout from the dangerous new guy in town, Jenz Sidwell (Carlo Rota). And when Jason finds out Sasha took money from Sidwell, he is going to lose it.

Drew and Tracy Quartermaine (Jane Elliot) battle is far from over. Can Willow convince Drew to let the Q Vendetta go and just focus on their future? Is he even capable of doing that? If Willow asks nicely, maybe as a condition of moving in with the kids.

Gloria keeps pressing Lois to keep her mouth shut, but as we know, that’s not something Lois is great at. And I’m just wondering if BLQ is going to overhear Lois and Gloria bickering and find out more than they intended her to hear.

And, you know, bottom line, I don’t think Lois or Gloria either one are going to come out of this looking great. They might both have to pack off to Benson Hurst.

Drew’s Front-Page News and Carly & Nina’s Plotting on General Hospital

Drew has made himself front page news by trying to have his family’s Crypt condemned when he should have been in DC serving his constituents. I’m waiting to see if it’s going to be Tracy or Emma or somebody else who starts a petition to have him recalled.

And maybe get him ousted by the voters that put him in. Carly and Nina intensify their plotting to keep Willow out of Drew’s house, and Nina is still clutching tightly to that one card she can play that she slept with Drew multiple times.

Jack, Josslyn, and Lucas’s Love Life

Jack Brennan (Chris McKenna) is thrilled with Josslyn Jacks (Eden McCoy) as a future agent. He’s a little less thrilled with Carly, but being involved with her complicated him using Joss as an agent. So, it may be for the best.

But I suspect Carly’s going to circle back around and their situationship is back on. And they hit sheets before Joss is back. Lucas’s new love interest is quite the storyline, and we know Brad Cooper (Parry Shen) won’t take it well. But it’s his own fault for being sketchy as usual.

Portia’s Time Runs Out

And Portia, poor Portia, knows time is running out and Drew is going to come for her after Curtis ran that expose on his deeds at the crib.

Cat President: A More Purrfect Union Switch Review

Gaming

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March 12, 2025

Cat President: A More Purrfect Union Switch Review

I’m torn on Cat President: A More Purrfect Union. On one hand, a lot of work has gone into it, you have six different paths, with 3 different endings each. The paths takes about a hour, so you get a decent length game. On the other hand, the game has the political maturity of “Look at Drumph Cat, isn’t he so evil?” The entire game is nonsense and frankly did not elicit a laugh out of me. Not even the groan inducing cat place puns(Clawshington, Meowa). I sat through it once, and once is enough for me.

Look, a birther reference… cause its Trump Cat! Get it?…

Cat President takes place in an America where the supreme court said humans couldn’t be president, so now we’re ruled over by cats. You’re an average human woman(you can name yourself) who gets fought over by five cats and a dog playing a cat. They all want you to be their campaign manager. You can pick any one of the six. I picked the Trump stand-in, Thunderclaws an orange cat(get it) with amazing hair(get it) who is a billionaire bully. He has also has a twin cat named Banders and a secretly sad past. If you choose the right responses, he’ll become your catfriend and happily ever after.

Cat President is really stupid. I mean really, really stupid. The game is garbled nonsense, do not think through any of this. It tries to be both serious at times, and goofy at others and I simply don’t feel it works. Either go all in on the serious, or all in on goofy satire, but trying to straddle both lines, the visual novel fails. While a lot of work went into the this, I feel Cat President simply isn’t worth the nine dollars. I mean you get a lot of visual novel here, but it isn’t very good, and the novelty of cat presidents wears off quickly. I give this a Not Recommended with a five back-end score.

Overall: Cat President has a cute premise, the issue is the actual visual novel fails at nearly everything it tries to do.

Verdict: Not Recommended

eShop Page

Release Date3/5/25Cost$8.99PublisherPenguin Pop GamesESRB RatingT

P.S. For a completely different Visual novel, try Since Memories.

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Building Smarter DApps: The Vara Network Advantage

Metaverse

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March 12, 2025