Over a ton of ancient iron ingots discovered in Austria, dating back more than 2000 years

The science fiction film 'Raka,' starring Allu Arjun and Deepika Padukone and directed by Atli, has set a Guinness World Record for the number of people captured in real-time motion capture. This record was achieved through the production company Sun Pictures, which was produced by Kalanidhi Maran.

This record was established during the filming process in February 2026, when the movements of 37 actors were captured simultaneously. This achievement is considered a significant technical breakthrough for Indian cinema. Official confirmation of this record was received on September 15.

Guinness World Records Senator Supnil Dangrikar presented the certificate to lead actor Allu Arjun and director Atli at a ceremony attended by the main cast and the film crew.

Expressing his admiration for this achievement, actor Allu Arjun noted: 'We are very proud of this wonderful success, which expands the boundaries of cinema and sets a new global benchmark. This is a moment of pride for the entire team, and we thank Guinness World Records for officially recognizing our efforts. This success was made possible by the vision and direction of my director, Mr. Atli, and the brilliant work of the entire team. I also want to thank Sun Pictures for their constant support and for backing such a large and ambitious project. This is truly a special moment for all of us.'

Director Atli shared his impressions, saying: 'When I grew up, I always listened with great interest to Guinness World Records, and I never thought that one day we would have the opportunity to set such a record. Receiving this recognition for simultaneously capturing 37 motion capture datasets in one shoot is incredible and humbling. For me, it is a reminder that when we set big goals and work together with full confidence, the impossible becomes possible. By God's grace, I am very grateful to my entire team who believed in this dream and made this moment possible for us.'

During the shoot, 37 actors, including elderly individuals aged up to 70 and young children aged four, were captured in real-time in one capture area. The main technical challenge was tracking the movement data of each actor simultaneously without signal loss or special distortions. To achieve this record, the visual effects team developed a specialized motion capture pipeline that met the production's technical requirements.

This setup utilized 92 optical motion capture cameras, and facial tracking technology was also employed to control the synchronized witness strip and calibrate the data stream in real time using Unreal Engine for real-time visualization.

Essentially, this is a rather complex camera rig. It uses anywhere from two to 100 cameras that film you from different angles. Expressions and human movements are recorded using sensors. This movement is then integrated into the film's 3D digital character using a computer, causing the character to display expressions indistinguishable from a real person. This technique has already been used in global blockbusters such as 'Avatar' and 'The Lord of the Rings.'

Sony's decision to halt the development of Physint surprised not only players but also Hideo Kojima, who did not expect the end of a thirty-year collaboration with the company. In his first interview since the project found a new home on Xbox, Kojima reported receiving the news during a Zoom conversation with Sony representatives.

Until that moment, the developer believed that Physint was immune to the wave of cancellations affecting the gaming industry recently. Kojima shared with IGN: 'They said they could no longer fund the development of Physint. I was shocked and asked, 'What did you say?'.'

For the developer, the initial concern was not about the game's fate but about the studio itself. Kojima acknowledged being aware of the difficult situation in the sector, characterized by layoffs, studio closures, and project cancellations. Despite this, he thought Physint was safe.

Thus, Sony's decision generated an immediate new dilemma: what would happen to the collaborators already involved in the project? 'My first thought was: 'What am I going to do with my studio?',' declared Kojima. Kojima Productions had two major projects underway, Physint and OD. Without financial support from one of them, Kojima considered the possibility of having to lay off production staff.

The developer also mentioned having bank loans used to finance Kojima Productions. He warned that the suspension of a project could lead the studio into a financial crisis due to cash flow.

This concern echoed a known precedent in his career. Kojima stressed that he did not want to replicate a situation similar to P.T., a demo released in 2014 as a preview for Silent Hills, a project that was canceled after his departure from Konami.

Kojima assured that he held no resentment towards Sony, emphasizing the long relationship with the company. He worked close to the PlayStation ecosystem for about 30 years and maintained close ties with former executives such as Ken Kutaragi and Kaz Hirai. However, he observed that many contacts within the company had left their positions or retired over the years.

'I love Sony and have no bad feelings toward them,' stated Kojima, although he admitted that nothing could have prepared him for the announcement of Physint's abandonment.

The exact reason for the split was not clarified by Kojima in the interview. Previous reports indicated issues related to the project's budget and schedule, as well as the commercial performance of previous Kojima Productions titles.

With Sony gone, a search began for another entity willing to fund the title. Kojima dedicated about three months to presenting Physint to potential partners. However, his strategy was different: he did not intend just to sell the idea of a game, but rather to present Physint as intellectual property with potential for expansion across various media, including film, television, anime, comics, and music.

Several companies showed positive interest in the proposal. The choice of Microsoft was facilitated by a pre-existing relationship. Kojima Productions and Xbox are already collaborating on the horror project OD. Furthermore, Kojima highlighted Microsoft's capacity to provide technological support for his plans.

Xbox's initial reaction to the presentation of Physint was reportedly extremely favorable, according to Kojima, with company representatives commenting: 'This presentation was fantastic. We have never seen a presentation like this.'

Microsoft ultimately took over the publishing of the project, and Physint is already taking shape in this new phase. During the Tokyo Game Show 2026, Kojima announced that Bill Skarsgård would be the protagonist, appearing in a new poster alongside Charlee Fraser. After almost losing funding and putting the future of part of Kojima Productions in jeopardy, Physint remains active, now with Xbox highlighting the developer's next major espionage project, after decades of association with PlayStation.

The 'Silk Road' route has served as a link between East and West for centuries, facilitating the exchange not only of goods but also of science, art, and culture. Today, the historical spirit of this route continues in modern cinema.

The XIII International 'Silk Road' Film Festival, which launched in the city of Xi'an, China, is a contemporary embodiment of this ancient tradition and has brought together filmmakers from different countries.