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‘The Beatles Anthology’ Gets a New Ending: Director Oliver Murray on How Episode 9 Finally Put a Sweeter Cap on the Group’s Historic Docuseries

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The newly refurbished version of *The Beatles Anthology* has been rolling out on Disney+ over several days this week, culminating with a newly commissioned Episode 9 premiering Friday night. This updated edition offers more than just a fresh edit and polish—it delivers an all-new finale that feels sweeter and more uplifting than the original series’ gradual fade-out, which ended with the break-up of the most popular band of all time.

Fans are unlikely to mind the extra hour of added context and sentiment. As the new episode premiered, its director, Oliver Murray, shared with *Variety* the intentions behind this fresh finale. Murray is the same filmmaker whom Apple Corps enlisted two years ago to direct a short film about the “final Beatles single,” *Now and Then*. Although he wasn’t yet a teenager when the original *Beatles Anthology* first aired in prime time 30 years ago, Murray was chosen to weave together archival footage alongside Paul McCartney, George Harrison, and Ringo Starr.

Back in the ’90s, the three surviving Beatles reactivated as a group, working on old John Lennon home demos to create new songs such as “Free as a Bird” and “Real Love.” These tracks were added to the *Anthology* albums released in 1995. They also briefly attempted “Now and Then,” which wasn’t completed until 2023 and is foreshadowed in the new Episode 9.

The British filmmaker says he set out to humanize the trio as they reassessed their legacy in the ’90s, while also acknowledging that their story is “modern, 20th century folklore that doesn’t age,” much like *The Lord of the Rings*.

—

**The Interview**

*The Apple team clearly appreciated your work on the “Now and Then” short film, leading to this new *Anthology* episode. Did the commission come after finishing that project?*

“I was in L.A. doing press for the *Now and Then* short with Jonathan Clyde, Apple Corps’ director of production. On the last day, I was called into an office in Santa Monica and asked if I’d consider developing an extra episode for the *Anthology* re-release, with time over Christmas to review materials, talk to archivists, watch footage, and come back with a treatment.”

“Between Christmas dinners and family visits, I jotted down ideas. The brief was loose but emphasized including more from the ’90s sessions featured in *Now and Then*. We had only scratched the surface of the ‘Free as a Bird’ and ‘Real Love’ material, so I knew that could be a focus.”

—

*How did you approach Episode 9 compared to the previous eight episodes?*

“Episode 9 was a gift—it allowed us to step outside the strict chronology of Episodes 1-8, which are a faithful reconstruction of the original series. I wanted to bring a contemporary sensibility and focus on *how* the band felt to be Beatles—the ‘north star’ of this episode.”

“I also liked making the *Anthology* feel cyclical. Themes of brotherhood from Episode 1, where they find each other, echo in Episode 9 as they rebuild their friendship. Instead of ending with their breakup in 1970, the finale lifts the heavy fog of their final years and finishes on a more positive note.”

—

*Episode 9 ends in the mid-’90s with footage of the band making “Free as a Bird” and “Real Love” and promotional interviews. There are no contemporary interviews or references after that. It stops in time much like the original series stopped in 1970. Was that a deliberate choice?*

“Absolutely. Every time I finished editing, I imagined saying, ‘Right, it’s 1995.’ I could have interviewed Ringo or Paul today, but I didn’t want to juxtapose 2025 perspectives talking about 1965 events. It felt nebulous.”

“Given the *Anthology* is a revered artifact you have to treat carefully, I wanted to take the gloves off and create something with modern rhythms while still tethered to a 30-year-old foundation. Thematically, we could wander through memories, brotherhood, and the unique existence the Beatles lived.”

“I also aimed to follow the old filmmaking mantra: ‘arrive late, leave early’—to focus on the essential, poignant moments. Interestingly, *Now and Then* as a short film could almost serve as an ‘Episode 9.5’ since all of this material ties together.”

—

*You included rare footage of McCartney, Harrison, and Starr interviewed together in Studio Two at Abbey Road, which fans have never seen before. How rare was that?*

“I couldn’t believe that joint interview was unseen until now. While Episodes 1-8 show them mostly individually, Episode 9 reveals them engaging together, having seen each other’s interviews, realizing they each see the story differently.”

“Ringo comments, ‘This isn’t my *Anthology,* it’s our *Anthology.*’ Even the Beatles themselves can’t fully grasp their own legacy—it’s sprawling, evolving modern folklore.”

—

*How much of Episode 9’s material had been seen before?*

“It’s roughly a 50/50 split between unseen and previously released material. What can’t be overstated is the restoration work done by Park Road Post, Peter Jackson’s company. While DVD rips and leaks exist, this new version has been meticulously scrubbed up—viewers are seeing the footage as it was meant to be seen.”

“Moments like the three Beatles casually singing ‘Thinking of Linking,’ one of their earliest original songs, first appeared in DVD extras but never curated into a linear story. Now it’s properly presented on a premium streamer like Disney+, allowing deeper appreciation.”

—

*You mentioned aiming to appeal both to lifelong Beatles fans and younger audiences new to the band. How did you balance that?*

“I wanted Episode 9 to be accessible for newcomers who might use it as an entry point, outside the strict chronology. There are stories about the band’s haircuts, boots, and inventive studio work that capture their essence.”

“At the same time, it’s rich with meaningful details for hardcore fans. The trick was avoiding the middle ground where it wouldn’t fully satisfy either group.”

—

*Throughout the episode, how do the Beatles express their feelings about their legacy?*

“The episode’s core is about how they felt being Beatles. There are proud, joyful moments, alongside melancholy—especially for George, who wrestled with being forever labeled ‘George Harrison: Beatle,’ a badge he couldn’t remove.”

“We see different facets of their personalities and how they experienced that legacy. Without John—who’d passed in 1980—George comes across as the most skeptical, sometimes an outsider, but still a willing participant. Watching this reconciliation is satisfying, especially for fans familiar with documentaries like *Get Back* or *Let It Be,* which painted a more complicated picture of their final years.”

—

*It’s remarkable that decades after years apart, the relational dynamics among Paul, George, and Ringo still surface when they reunited in the ’90s. What did you notice about their chemistry?*

“It’s amazing. After decades of little contact, when they gathered in Abbey Road’s Studio Two, the old dynamics were still there, dormant but alive.”

“Paul was energetic, racing ahead with ideas, full of exuberance. George somewhat filled the Lennon role, bringing thoughtful input. Ringo was quiet, weighing in sparingly but delivering poignant or humorous ‘cherries on the cake.’ Their interplay, forged in their youth, came full circle.”

—

*That final scene of them sitting on the grass at George’s estate playing a tune—how fitting is that as an ending to their story?*

“It’s a lovely, intimate way to close this definitive Beatles saga, much truer to their legacy than simply fading out at 1970. That footage now feels timeless; we’re 30 years on from when it was shot—further than the 25 years from 1970 to 1995.”

“For many, it’s a time warp. In 1995, the Beatles seemed distant and aged, but the footage reveals comparatively youthful men—not just middle-aged icons reminiscing but creators reconnecting.”

—

*What was your personal experience with *The Beatles Anthology* growing up?*

“I was 10 when the original *Anthology* aired. My family had just moved, surrounded by boxes, and the TV was on a makeshift stand of stacked boxes. My parents declared, ‘This is what we’re watching,’ and, although I was skeptical, the story of four working-class kids with a dream mesmerized me.”

“For me, and globally, the Beatles’ story is modern 20th-century folklore. It doesn’t age like filmmaking techniques might, similar to how *The Lord of the Rings* holds up. I wanted to humanize them—as young men having fun making music together again, not as curmudgeons reflecting on the past.”

—

*Any final thoughts on the Beatles’ enduring legacy?*

“They remain astounding—George was 24 when he made *Sgt. Pepper’s Lonely Hearts Club Band.* At that age, I was doing silly things like making bongos out of potatoes! The Beatles’ music and story have become a cultural language passed down through generations. For those who weren’t there the first time, it never gets old—like classic literature or Shakespeare.”

“It’s an honor to help bring their story to new audiences, ensuring it continues to resonate and inspire.”

—

*The Beatles Anthology*, now streaming on Disney+, with Episode 9 offering a fresh, heartfelt close to an iconic chapter in music history.
https://variety.com/2025/music/news/beatles-anthology-episode-9-director-oliver-murray-interview-1236595076/

Orchard Lake council seat election hinged on a coin toss

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Sean O’Bryan was unlucky in his first political campaign for Orchard Lake city council. Tied with one of two opponents for the seat, his bid ended with an historic tie-breaking coin toss.. “I had this overwhelming feeling of joy for the whole process,” he said. “Although I didn’t win, I’m extremely grateful.” O’Bryan, 38, campaigned for one of two council seats, along with incumbent Kevin Kroger and former councilwoman DuAnne Sonneville. Unofficial election results after the polls closed on Nov. 4 showed Kroger received 314 votes and Sonneville finished second with 238 votes, ahead of O’Bryan’s 235. When the county’s bipartisan board of canvassers met on Nov. 5 to certify results votes from the single precinct, votes from mailed-in ballots and validated write-in votes, both Sonneville and O’Bryan were tied with 239 votes each. “This was the only known election tie in the history of Orchard Lake,” said Sonneville, 77, who served two three-year terms on the council before she was term-limited and had to wait for another run at a non-partisan council seat. She is also a volunteer for the Greater West Bloomfield Historical Society. County election officials rarely see tie votes. In 1955, the state standardized how tied elections are decided: • A coin toss determines which candidate is the first to draw a folded piece of paper from a closed cardboard box. • Candidates wait for the county clerk’s permission to open their papers simultaneously to see if the message inside says “elected” or “not elected.” According to the 2010 Census, Orchard Lake Village has an estimated 2, 375 residents in 802 households. Sonneville, O’Bryan and Kroger stood together on election day greeting voters at the city hall voting precinct. One voter asked the three candidates who won the 2020 presidential election, Sonneville said. “If you have any doubts about elections, do the poll worker training,” she replied. “I worked elections for years. Michigan has backups on its backups.” O’Bryan called the experience “very refreshing, politically speaking. We all got along great. We greeted the voters as a unit rather than shouldering each other out of the way,” After the polls closed, the three sat together inside city hall to await results. Sonneville said she wasn’t worried about who won because each candidate wanted to help the city. “I spent all day with Sean and found him to be a very good candidate,” she said. “I thought if I didn’t win it was fine, because at least we’ll be sure that someone got elected who cares about the city.” They appeared at the tiebreaking event at the county clerk’s Pontiac office with family in tow. County election officials and some city officials were also there. County Clerk Lisa Brown read the 1955 state statute aloud to those assembled and said it was too late for either candidate to withdraw or concede. “They showed us a quarter and randomly assigned me ‘tails’ and Sean ‘heads,’” Sonneville said, adding that Brown folded the papers in an identical shape and put them in the box held by Joe Rozell, the county’s director of elections. After the candidates selected and unfolded their papers, onlookers clapped and O’Bryan shook Sonneville’s hand. “Constituents know we’ve been elected to serve them,” Sonneville said. “We’ve been lucky to get good candidates who have always stepped up.” After posing for photos and accepting an election certificate from Brown, Sonneville asked O’Bryan if he would join her in donating their unfolded papers to the Orchard Lake Museum. He agreed. “I wish we’d asked the county for the quarter,” he told The Oakland Press. Sonneville is glad the election is getting some attention. “It’s a good lesson that every vote counts,” she said. O’Bryan said the election was handled by City Clerk/Treasurer Nancy Morogi and staff “with absolute transparency and professionalism” and Brown and Rozell handled the tiebreaking procedure “in a very fair, transparent and efficient way.” O’Bryan plans to run for office again and appreciated the community’s support at the polls. But for the next few months, he’ll concentrate on opening his law office in Waterford Township. Sonneville said she would attend council meetings even if she hadn’t won the election, because it’s a way to give back to the community. “It doesn’t matter which side of the desk I’m on, this is my community,” she said. “I’ve never turned into my subdivision without thinking how lucky I am to live here.”.
https://www.theoaklandpress.com/2025/11/24/orchard-lake-council-seat-election-hinged-on-a-coin-toss/

Make merry for a good cause at Central Arkansas Harm Reduction’s Winter Gala

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You’d be hard-pressed to find a local organization that embodies the phrase “meet people where they are” more wholly than Central Arkansas Harm Reduction. Since 2017, they’ve been on the absolute front lines of addressing the opioid epidemic in the Little Rock area, getting life-saving supplies like naloxone into the hands of Arkansans, teaching them how to use it to reverse an overdose and, quite frankly, interacting with people in ways (and zip codes) other treatment organizations would rather avoid. And in a state like ours, where so many drug treatment programs have major strings attached zero-tolerance abstinence, for one, a bar so high it behaves as a barrier to many people who want to get clean having a team of volunteers devoted to meeting drug users where they’re at, no questions asked, is vital and important work. It’s also not all they do. The grassroots organization also helps people sign up for Medicaid. They distribute condoms, fentanyl test strips and one-minute HIV tests. They provide access to sterile syringes, which decrease the spread of HIV and Hepatitis-C. And, for the first time, they’re throwing a winter gala for the good of the cause, a celebration of the impact they’ve had in their near-decade of existence and a memorial to the many Arkansans lost to opioid overdoses. That’s at 6 p. m. on Wednesday, Dec. 10 at The Hall (721 W. Ninth St.) in Little Rock. If, like me, you’re a person who’s struggling to reconcile the cognitive dissonance of holiday merry-making with the real-time dystopia of America circa 2025, the Central Arkansas Harm Reduction Winter Gala is a perfect way to go out on the town and simultaneously give a damn. Your $35 ticket supports the mission and gets you into a cute venue where there will be music, art, raffles, auctions, a memorial display, overdose response training and more. Note: While Central Arkansas Harm Reduction can happily accept your cash donations, The Hall is a cashless venue, so bring your card along.
https://arktimes.com/arkansas-blog/2025/11/20/make-merry-for-a-good-cause-at-central-arkansas-harm-reductions-winter-gala

(Guest opinion) Carol Hawkins: It’s time to transition off fossil fuels

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Colorado faces a difficult choice, transition off fossil fuels to renewable sources of energy or continue to jeopardize our environment and health. Transition, will cause economic and social disruption for workers and communities. Consequently, any “just transition” requires solutions that mitigate the negative consequences while simultaneously eliminating the deadly pollution caused by burning fossil fuels. I have lived in Weld County since purchasing my house in 2017. I lived in Maine at the time, near the end of an ”unexpected journey” watching my partner die from Alzheimer’s. I decided to move back to Colorado where I had family and a history of living in the state since the early 1970s. I wanted familiar surroundings. I searched online and found the perfect bungalow, my retirement home, in Ault, a rural town in a good location between Greeley and Fort Collins. I had no idea of the influx of fracking about to come. Shortly after moving, I received a forced pooling notice. I went from grief and PTSD to a sense of doom. Fracking! What did this mean for my quiet life and my health? The facts about fracking and the impacts were easy to find, but fighting the frack hasn’t been easy. Weld County, otherwise known as “Welled” County, remains the most polluted and fracked in the state. My neighbors, many who work in oil and gas, are mostly working class, and others are first-time home owners looking for affordable housing or long-time residents. Local government is staffed by those who appear unaffected by fracking. When wells were drilled next to the Highland School campus, located in the middle of town, I called the Ault Town Office and Weld County Oil and Gas to question why the drilling was so close to the school when SB 181 called for 2, 000-foot setbacks. The Ault Town Office said that they had no knowledge of drilling near the school, although it was happening just down the street, and the Weld County Oil and Gas Office laughed off my reference to SB 181 with the comment “those rules are easy to get around.” And I’ve come to learn that he is right. All you have to do is look at the loopholes. One is home rule, the other is reverese setbacks. I then turned to the state and began to protest permits, but soon learned that state regulators and the governor support the fossil fuel industry. However, outside of Colorado, a global consensus calls for a “just transition” away from fossil fuels. The planet is heating, driven by greenhouse gases from extracting and burning fossil fuels like oil and fracked gas. Agreements from COP28 called for net-zero emissions by 2050. Current research, developed by analyzing efforts toward a “just transition” around the world, provides principles that guide policy development: governmental support, dedicated funding streams, strong and diverse coalitions, and economic diversification to address the short-term impacts and long-term needs that workers and communities. Colorado must come together around this framework of principles for a “just transition,” but the transition from fossil fuels to renewables will still disrupt existing economies, and some communities may face economic hardship due to the loss of jobs and tax revenue from the fossil fuel industry. However, we must make the hard choice to experience the gains from a clean energy economy and healthy environment. Colorado’s current environmental damage and health impacts are not sustainable and challenge communities reliant on oil and gas to make the hard choice we need a “just transition” off of fossil fuels. Stop the permits and clean up the mess while supporting displaced workers and disproportionately impacted communities, like Ault. Carol Hawkins is a retired English professor who moved back to Colorado from Maine in 2017. She was served a forced pooling notice in 2018 and has been part of the resistance to fracking ever since. Her focus centers on health impacts and damage to our environment, with a particular interest in health care and job training for displaced oil and gas workers, along with support for disproportionately impacted communities like hers in Ault.
https://www.timescall.com/2025/11/19/guest-opinion-carol-hawkins-its-time-to-transition-off-fossil-fuels/

Harvard Makes Major Move in Bitcoin ETF Holdings

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Harvard Endowment Increases Bitcoin ETF Stake by 257%, Signals Shift Toward Alternative Assets

Harvard University’s endowment has significantly boosted its investment in the iShares Bitcoin Trust (IBIT), increasing its stake by 257% to approximately $442.8 million in the third quarter. This notable rise reflects the purchase of about 6.81 million shares of IBIT as of September 30, up from 1.9 million shares at the end of June. The move elevates IBIT to Harvard’s largest disclosed position in its recent 13F filing, surpassing major tech holdings within its portfolio.

At the same time, Harvard nearly doubled its investment in the SPDR Gold Shares ETF (GLD), acquiring 661,391 shares valued at roughly $235 million—a 99% increase from 333,000 shares reported in June. This concurrent growth in both Bitcoin- and gold-linked ETFs highlights a clear institutional shift toward diversifying into non-traditional assets.

**A Strategic Asset Allocation Shift**

Despite ongoing volatility in the cryptocurrency market and recent outflows from spot Bitcoin ETFs, Harvard’s increased exposure to Bitcoin through IBIT signals a strong vote of confidence in digital assets. The endowment’s dual expansion into both Bitcoin and gold suggests a strategic balance between pursuing growth opportunities and hedging against macroeconomic risks such as inflation.

The nearly 100% surge in gold holdings reflects a defensive tilt in the portfolio, positioning the endowment to mitigate potential market uncertainties. Meanwhile, the substantial increase in Bitcoin ETF shares underscores Harvard’s belief in the long-term structural potential of digital asset infrastructure.

**Implications for the Crypto Market and Institutional Investors**

Harvard’s sizeable commitment to Bitcoin ETFs provides a notable data point for investors and asset managers tracking institutional flows into crypto-linked instruments. Historically, university endowments have approached digital assets with caution, making Harvard’s decision to deploy hundreds of millions of dollars into IBIT especially significant.

This development may influence the broader asset management community’s attitude toward Bitcoin and crypto ETFs, potentially accelerating institutional adoption. By reinforcing exposure to both Bitcoin and gold, Harvard is charting a path that blends innovation with prudence—balancing emerging digital asset opportunities with traditional safe-haven investments.

In summary, Harvard’s Q3 filings reveal a deliberate and substantial repositioning of its portfolio, embracing alternative assets amid a complex macroeconomic landscape. This evolving strategy could signal a broader trend of institutional diversification into cryptocurrency-linked products alongside time-tested hedges like gold.
https://blockonomi.com/harvard-makes-major-move-in-bitcoin-etf-holdings/

AlphaPepe and Lyno AI Sell the Dream, Zero Knowledge Proof Spends $100M To Build It

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Recent updates on AlphaPepe and Lyno AI have stirred attention for different reasons. The former has drawn meme-coin enthusiasts with its staking pools and daily reward claims, while the latter has framed itself as an AI-driven arbitrage network promising algorithmic efficiency across chains. Both reflect the current mood of crypto presales in 2025: restless, experimental, and eager to turn narrative into momentum.

Yet they also hint at a question investors keep circling: what happens when utility, infrastructure, and fairness replace marketing theatrics? That question leads naturally to Zero Knowledge Proof, a project that upends the order of development itself. Instead of raising funds on promises, it built a $100 million network first, proving that privacy-driven computation can become the next functional standard for blockchain utility.

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### Zero Knowledge Proof: The Privacy Breakthrough

Zero Knowledge Proof delivers what traditional blockchains have long promised but failed to achieve: complete privacy without sacrificing verification. It created a system where institutions can validate every transaction without revealing any underlying data.

Over $100 million has already been invested—not to build later, but to operate now. $20 million worth of infrastructure will process encrypted transactions, allowing finance, healthcare, and enterprise users to handle confidential information securely.

Only a few crypto projects in 2025 can demonstrate systems built to operate at this scale before their presale auction even goes live.

At the center of this ecosystem are **Proof Pods**, hardware devices that turn cryptographic validation into real daily earnings. $17 million is invested in manufacturing the Proof Pods, which will be delivered in five days once the presale goes live.

Each unit, priced at $249, connects to the operational network and starts earning automatically, with levels scaling up to roughly $300 in daily rewards. Instead of speculative mining, users contribute real compute power that supports AI and blockchain verification simultaneously, creating value grounded in productivity.

Fairness defines the presale. Every 24 hours, exactly 200 million Zero Knowledge Proof coins will be distributed through transparent on-chain auctions. Contributions from ETH, USDC, USDT, BNB, and 24 other currencies determine proportional shares from the ninety-billion-coin allocation.

For participants evaluating crypto presales in 2025, this model stands out: equal access, verifiable distribution, and a network that’s already running before a single promise is made.

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### AlphaPepe: Meme Culture with Measurable Utility

AlphaPepe has built a following by mixing meme culture with actual mechanics that give holders something to do beyond watching charts. Its presale on the BNB Chain is priced near $0.00722 per token, with over 3,200 holders and close to $400,000 raised.

Smart contract audits score it a perfect 10/10 from BlockSAFU, and liquidity is locked to reduce early exit risks. The project also delivers tokens instantly after purchase—an uncommon step toward transparency.

A USDT reward pool worth over $2,000 and flexible staking options have turned it into a meme coin that functions more like a community protocol than a quick trend.

Analysts suggest a potential listing price of around $0.05, reflecting growing confidence in presales with real mechanics.

Every indicator shows AlphaPepe positioning itself not through hype, but through systems that keep users engaged daily: staking, rewards, and transparent distribution.

Meme coins rarely combine humor and structure well, but this one is attempting it with measurable progress. For investors watching the lighter side of blockchain experiments, AlphaPepe represents how entertainment value and basic utility can share the same network without conflict.

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### Lyno AI: Automation Meets Blockchain Arbitrage

Lyno AI takes a different path, focusing on algorithmic cross-chain arbitrage instead of culture-driven momentum. Its pitch centers on using AI to scan multiple blockchains, identify pricing gaps, and automate trades that would normally require speed, expertise, and capital.

The presale price sits near $0.050 with over 869,000 tokens sold and approximately $43,000 raised so far. Contributions are supported by audits reportedly conducted by Cyberscope, and early buyers gain access to fee-sharing from arbitrage activity—30% routed toward stakers if the model executes as planned.

This is an idea built for users curious about automated strategies rather than meme-style community rallies.

Market commentary has thrown out aggressive upside projections for Lyno AI, sometimes citing quadruple-digit percentage targets, but the more grounded appeal lies in its attempt to simplify a process that usually benefits only professionals.

AI-driven arbitrage is ambitious, requiring consistent execution under real market stress, cross-chain coordination, and regulatory attention around automated trading systems. Still, the early structure, staged pricing, and functional narrative give it a clear identity.

For those watching AI intersect with blockchain utility, this presale explores whether automation can be packaged into something everyday traders can access, rather than merely admire from a distance.

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### Key Takeaways

Both AlphaPepe and Lyno AI show how experimentation defines crypto presales in 2025. One blends meme-driven energy with structure—audited contracts, staking pools, and a live community around low-cost entry points. The other applies automation to trading itself, aiming to compress arbitrage decisions into seconds through AI.

Each reflects a different instinct in crypto culture: AlphaPepe turns participation into play, while Lyno AI transforms complexity into code.

Yet the project that truly redefines readiness is Zero Knowledge Proof. It built its $100 million network before asking for a dollar, merging institutional privacy with public verifiability. Its infrastructure, auction framework, and Proof Pod system are fully developed and prepared to go live—not theoretical plans.

Among crypto presales in 2025, Zero Knowledge Proof represents something rarer: technology completed before the presale even begins.

—

### Find Out More At:
[Insert relevant links and calls to action here.]
https://bitcoinethereumnews.com/tech/alphapepe-and-lyno-ai-sell-the-dream-zero-knowledge-proof-spends-100m-to-build-it/

Is Where Winds Meet an MMO?

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NetEase has never advertised *Where Winds Meet* as an MMO, but it certainly features a lot of MMO elements. The marketing primarily highlights its wuxia-inspired action combat, freeform open world, and optional 4-player co-op. However, beyond the co-op, there is actually a much more expansive MMO-like “Online Mode” embedded within the game.

After examining features across the global betas and the existing Chinese client of *Where Winds Meet* (released in December 2024), it appears that the game segments its MMO staples into separate modes. In this way, *Where Winds Meet* both is and isn’t an MMO.

### Lone Wanderer Mode: The 150-Hour Campaign

At its core, *Where Winds Meet* offers a 150-hour campaign that takes place in the Lone Wanderer Mode. This encompasses all open-world activities, side-quests, the main storyline, and various collectathon elements scattered throughout the game.

Campaign bosses and side-quests can also be tackled in a co-op session with up to three friends. However, this mode is primarily centered around the single-player host. Most bosses grant game progress exclusively to the host, while co-op participants receive an exclusive in-game currency as a reward for their efforts.

### Co-op Mode vs. MMO Online Mode

When asking whether *Where Winds Meet* is an MMO, it is important to clarify a major point many players misunderstand due to the game’s subtle marketing: the co-op mode is not the same as the Online Mode.

The co-op mode functions similarly to co-op gameplay in games like *Elden Ring* or other Soulsborne titles. You are invited as a “muscle for hire” into the host’s world, and experience several gameplay limitations while there.

In contrast, the Online Mode is a completely separate experience. You can think of the solo/co-op mode as a private server belonging to you, whereas the Online Mode operates as a persistent server in an MMO environment where dozens of players may interact in the same world simultaneously.

The exact number of players supported concurrently in a single session or shard in the global release remains unknown. This setup is somewhat comparable to the MMO components in *Once Human*, another game by NetEase. However, *Once Human* is more of an MMO than *Where Winds Meet*, despite *Where Winds Meet* having potentially more social aspects within its Online Mode.

### MMO Mode Activities

In *Where Winds Meet*, playing campaign quests or much of the side content in the Online Mode is not possible. Instead, this “MMO mode” (although not officially labeled as such) contains traditional MMO activities organized into separate game modes:

– **PvP Arena** — Includes 1v1, 2v2, 5v5 battles, and large-scale 30v30 Guild vs. Guild (GvG) fights (based on the Chinese client).
– **PvPvE Battle-Royale Extraction Mode** — Start with zero gear and fight to be the last player or team standing.
– **10-Player PvE Raids** — Classic MMO raids adopting a soft tank-healer-DPS class structure.
– **5-Player Boss Parties** — A scaled-down, non-endgame version of raids with dedicated tanks, healers, and boss aggro mechanics.
– **Combat Trials** — Multi-enemy PvE challenges with their own seasonal leaderboards.
– **PvP Bounties** — Take contracts to hunt down and eliminate other players.

The Bounties system is a particularly important social MMO feature. Depending on a player’s actions—such as killing others or committing crimes—you can take on the role of a bounty hunter by accepting contracts to kill targets. Much like invasions in Soulsborne games, contracts can also be fulfilled by invading a bounty target’s solo world.

### Interaction Between Online and Solo Modes

Online and solo modes sometimes interact in intriguing ways. One example is the disease system: players can contract diseases that progress through several stages. To cure these, a player may enlist the help of another with expertise in life skills such as healing. The healer actually visits the afflicted player’s solo world and plays a mini-game to purge the disease.

These social elements make *Where Winds Meet* a middle ground between a live-service action RPG and a traditional MMORPG.

### Why Isn’t *Where Winds Meet* Called an MMO?

Despite its many MMO-like features, there’s one significant aspect where *Where Winds Meet* falls short as a full MMO: open-world sandboxing.

In the Online Mode, almost everything besides resource-gathering in the wilds is removed from the open world. Instead, PvE and PvP content exclusive to this mode is accessed through menu interactions and separate instances.

This design choice limits the potential for the Online Mode to offer a downscaled MMO open-world experience akin to that found in *Once Human*.

### Conclusion

*Where Winds Meet* offers a unique hybrid experience. Its substantial single-player campaign, coupled with isolated co-op play, exists alongside a separate Online Mode packed with MMO-inspired features. While the Online Mode lacks the full open-world sandbox nature of a typical MMO, it still provides engaging social and multiplayer content.

Stay tuned for more news and detailed guides about *Where Winds Meet* here on Sportskeeda.
https://www.sportskeeda.com/esports/where-winds-meet-mmo-mode

LPGA TOTO Japan Classic 2025 round 2 tee times and pairing explored

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Nasa Hataoka and Miyu Yamashita took the early lead at the LPGA Toto Japan Classic 2025 after shooting an impressive 7-under 65. Following Thursday’s action, the duo held a one-stroke lead over Jiyai Shin.

The second round of the LPGA Toto Japan Classic 2025 is set to begin on Friday, November 7, at 8:00 AM local time. Miranda Wang, Kana Nagai, and Lucy Li will start from the first tee, while Benedetta Moresco, Mitsuki Kobayashi, and Kotone Hori will tee off simultaneously from the tenth hole.

### TOTO Japan Classic 2025 – Round 2 Tee Times

Here’s a detailed look at the Round 2 tee times for the TOTO Japan Classic 2025:

#### Hole 1 Tee Times
– 8:00 AM: Miranda Wang (CHN), Kana Nagai (JPN), Lucy Li (USA)
– 8:11 AM: Saki Baba (JPN), Aihi Takano (JPN), Seonwoo Bae (KOR)
– 8:22 AM: Kano Nakamura (JPN), Nanako Inagaki (JPN), Yuna Araki (JPN)
– 8:33 AM: Saki Nagamine (JPN), Chia Yen Wu (TPE), Aline Krauter (GER)
– 8:44 AM: Asuka Kashiwabara (JPN), Yuka Yasuda (JPN), Arpichaya Yubol (THA)
– 8:55 AM: Paula Reto (RSA), Mi Jeong Jeon (KOR), Shuri Sakuma (JPN)
– 9:06 AM: Jeongeun Lee5 (KOR), Emily Kristine Pedersen (DEN), Nataliya Guseva (UNA)
– 9:17 AM: Shina Kanazawa (JPN), Kumkang Park (KOR), Dewi Weber (NED)
– 9:28 AM: Minjee Lee (AUS), Karen Tsuruoka (JPN), Saiki Fujita (JPN)
– 9:39 AM: Sayaka Takahashi (JPN), Patty Tavatanakit (THA), Ai Suzuki (JPN)
– 9:50 AM: Ayaka Watanabe (JPN), Nana Suganuma (JPN), Weiwei Zhang (CHN)
– 10:01 AM: Chisato Iwai (JPN), Akie Iwai (JPN), Minami Katsu (JPN)
– 10:12 AM: Nasa Hataoka (JPN), Miyu Yamashita (JPN), Jiyai Shin (KOR)

#### Hole 10 Tee Times
– 8:00 AM: Benedetta Moresco (ITA), Mitsuki Kobayashi (JPN), Kotone Hori (JPN)
– 8:11 AM: Robyn Choi (AUS), MinYoung Lee (KOR), Aditi Ashok (IND)
– 8:22 AM: Shiho Kuwaki (JPN), Eri Okayama (JPN), Julia Lopez Ramirez (ESP)
– 8:33 AM: Pajaree Anannarukarn (THA), Ayaka Furue (JPN), Somi Lee (KOR)
– 8:44 AM: Yuri Yoshida (JPN), Manon De Roey (BEL), Fuka Suga (JPN)
– 8:55 AM: Mary Liu (CHN), Yui Kawamoto (JPN), Haeji Kang (KOR)
– 9:06 AM: Ina Yoon (KOR), Gemma Dryburgh (SCO), Hibiki Iriya (JPN)
– 9:17 AM: Lala Anai (JPN), Celine Borge (NOR), Karis Davidson (AUS)
– 9:28 AM: Wei-Ling Hsu (TPE), Rio Takeda (JPN), Sora Kamiya (JPN)
– 9:39 AM: Gurleen Kaur (USA), Nana Yamashiro (JPN)
– 9:50 AM: Miyu Sato (JPN), Kristen Gillman (USA), Ayako Kimura (JPN)
– 10:01 AM: Serena Aoki (JPN), Pauline Roussin-Bouchard (FRA), Chanettee Wannasaen (THA)
– 10:12 AM: Ilhee Lee (KOR), Kotoko Uchida (JPN)

Stay tuned for more updates as the tournament progresses!
https://www.sportskeeda.com/golf/news-lpga-toto-japan-classic-2025-round-2-tee-times-pairing-explored

The Outer Worlds 2’s weirdest weapon is a flashing rainbow sword that turns combat into a rhythm game I’m terrible at

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It’s fair to say that *The Outer Worlds 2* loves its weird weapons. From the first moment you step foot on Paradise Island, you’ll start discovering all sorts of strange murder contraptions. These range from a sniper rifle that fires sneaky explosive bolts you detonate when you reload, to a pistol that infects enemies with a contagious disease they can spread.

The strangest weapon by far that I’ve discovered in my travels through Arcadia, though, is a sword that turns combat into a rhythm game. Yes, you read that correctly—if you don’t slash and slice to the old-timey beat, you won’t gain its bonus. This sword might seem like a bit of a meme at first, but when fully powered up, I’m convinced it might be the best melee weapon in the game.

### The Spectrum Dance Saber

The weapon is called the Spectrum Dance Saber, and it’s quite hard to get. You’ll first have to complete an elaborate collectible quest to unlock it, and even then, it’ll set you back 16,500 bits, making it by far the most expensive weapon I’ve found in the game. Even after unscrupulously looting my way across the first few regions, this still put a serious dent in my hoard of bits.

Its perk reads:
**Dance Mode:** Perform the prompted dance action to keep the beat alive!

Here’s how it actually works: when you enter combat, a new UI appears in the center of the screen, the music starts, and two arrows come in from either side. All you have to do is swing the sword at the right time to power it up a little. Each swing changes the color of the sword and fills the note in the UI.

### Effects and Gameplay

This is where it starts to get a bit busted. The Spectrum Dance Saber applies effects to enemies based on the color it is when you hit them. For example:

– If the note is **white**, it will freeze enemies.
– If it’s **red**, they’ll detonate in a fiery explosion.

Once you’ve successfully hit enough beats and the note is full of all the colors, the sword enters its super state, flashing a rainbow as it cycles through them at speed.

In this super state, every slash applies a different effect to enemies based on sword color. The results are pretty chaotic as enemies simultaneously freeze, explode, corrode, and more, stacking multiple conditions on them.

Even better, you no longer have to keep the beat in this turbo-state, meaning you can attack at will. When the super state ends, the sword starts the minigame again.

### Tips for Using the Spectrum Dance Saber

Although the beat is very consistent, it’s challenging to match your attacks with enemies while also blocking, evading, and just generally staying alive. However, there’s a useful quirk: your timed swings don’t actually have to hit enemies to count. This means you can power up your sword with regular swings from cover and then rush into combat when it reaches its turbo-state.

Admittedly, this might be a bug that gets patched out later, but for now, it works.

### How to Obtain the Spectrum Dance Saber

You can get the Spectrum Dance Saber once you complete Paradise Island and unlock Free Market Station. Head to the bazaar and go upstairs in *The 2nd Choice Tavern* to find Fionna F. Walker.

If you can collect 25 Tossball/Pitchball cards (to beat her collection), this Sub Rosa merchant will let you access her special inventory, including the rhythm sword.

While 25 cards might seem like a lot, I managed to gather most of them from Paradise Island and Free Market Station, with the last few coming from Golden Ridge.

When the game fully releases, I’ll be publishing a guide with all of the Tossball/Pitchball card locations, so I’ll be sure to link it here. Stay tuned!
https://www.pcgamer.com/games/outer-worlds-2-spectrum-dance-saber/

‘Surprise!’ Abby comes out to her 90-year-old grandfather

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Abby Fink has always been close to her 90-year-old grandpa. As she began to get older, he started to become a bit more inquisitive about her personal life, which made things slightly uncomfortable since she wasn’t out to him.

Abby recalls,
“I’m pretty close with him. I call him every couple of weeks. Usually, we have a phone conversation and he asks how New York is, or school, or wherever we are. And in every single conversation he’s like, ‘Do you have a boyfriend? Do you have a boyfriend yet? Where’s your boyfriend?’”

Over Labor Day weekend, Abby took her girlfriend home to Minneapolis. At the insistence of her father, her girlfriend joined them for the family lunch with Grandpa.

After an awkward beginning, with Grandpa not knowing who Abby’s surprise guest was, Abby’s dad stepped in and began the conversation:
“[M]y dad is like, ‘This is actually Abby’s girlfriend.’ And she and I kind of both made eye contact at the same time, and we’re both like, ‘Surprise!’ at the same time, like, simultaneously. And everyone kind of chuckled, and then there was this long pause. We were all kind of, like, waiting for him to respond. And he just goes, ‘I love it!’”

And that was that.

—

This is Abby’s true LGBTQ story.

*“I’m from Driftwood,”* a collection of “lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender and queer stories from all over the world,” appears weekends on LGBTQ Nation. For more true LGBT stories, or to share your own, visit *I’m from Driftwood.*
https://www.lgbtqnation.com/2025/10/surprise-abby-comes-out-to-her-90-year-old-grandfather-2/