News
- Ubisoft's annual financial report claims microtransactions makes game experiences "more fun"
- It comes after years of criticism regarding microtransactions, particularly in single-player games
- It calls for a change, especially considering the increased price standard for games
After the release of Ubisoft's recent Assassin's Creed Shadows, the French video game publisher is in the spotlight yet again – but this time, it's not particularly for the best reasons for gamers.
As reported by Notebookcheck, Ubisoft's annual financial report claims its microtransactions and monetization in premium games "makes the player experience more fun". It's a bold statement in the wake of titles like Star Wars Outlaws, Skull and Bones, and Assassin's Creed Shadows, all of which have microtransactions for boosters, skins and other cosmetics in-game.
It's not a good look for Ubisoft in the eyes of gamers; most AAA games cost $70 / £60 or more, whether single-player or multiplayer, and the addition of monetization doesn't make matters any better – especially when microtransactions have a significant presence in single-player titles.
It's a very similar rhetoric to complaints from gamers (and myself) regarding microtransactions dominating the Call of Duty franchise, with a plethora of cosmetics costing $16 or more, despite the $70 standard edition cost. As for single-player, similar complaints were widespread for Capcom's Dragon's Dogma 2, with character editing and fast travel items having microtransaction options, albeit to an admittedly less egregious degree.
Ubisoft also stresses in the report that monetized cosmetics are optional, but gamers will be aware that some titles are created to encourage players to make in-game purchases – and that's either for faster progression, or for better character customization.
(Image credit: Shutterstock / pathdoc)Analysis: Microtransactions have no place in non-free-to-play games, so make it stopStatements such as these from Ubisoft are nothing but an attempt to defend microtransactions against their deserved criticisms in the past few years. I've held the same thoughts about EA when it introduced microtransactions to older FIFA titles, and it's simple. Monetization should only be present in free-to-play games and out of full-priced single-player games, entirely.
From a business standpoint, Ubisoft and many other publishers have zero qualms about implementing microtransactions, which shouldn't come as a surprise. However, for consumers, it serves very little benefit to pay extra for cosmetics, which will likely lose their value in quick succession.
It's evident in Activision's Call of Duty games; while recent titles have allowed players to carry over cosmetics from previous iterations to new titles, this only lasts for about a year or so. I'd argue that these in-game purchases hold even less value in single-player games, where the same cosmetics can often be unlocked from normal game progression.
The sudden rise in game prices is already bad enough, but I fear that if these video game monetization models continue, it will only make publishers more comfortable to pull egregious pricing practices.
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- Monitor Audio launches new Bronze Series 7G speaker range
- New drivers and tweeters plus a new crossover design
- Hi-fi, home theater and a new wall-mounted speaker option
Monitor Audio has unveiled the seventh generation of its highly acclaimed Bronze Series speakers, and in addition to improving each model it's added a brand new wall-mounted speaker too.
There are five different speakers in the range: the Bronze 300 7G floorstanders, the Bronze 50 7G bookshelf speakers, the Bronze AMS 7G Dolby Atmos speakers, the Bronze Center 7G and the new Bronze On-Wall speaker.
Previous generations of the Bronze Series attracted rave reviews, so for example when we reviewed the Bronze BX5 way back in 2011 we praised its "fast, engaging sound": it was an "engaging and entertaining performer". And now the latest generation promises a significant audio upgrade.
There's a brand new wall-mounted speaker, a first for the Bronze Series (Image credit: Monitor Audio)Monitor Audio Bronze Series 7G: what's new and what they costMonitor Audio says that everything from the drivers and crossovers to the cabinets has been improved in this new generation. There are new ceramic-coated aluminum magnesium C-CAM bass and bass/mid drivers and a new C-CAM gold dome tweeter, a new crossover design, and a mix of real wood and plywood front baffles for strength and rigidity.
There are no subwoofers in the range, but the Bronze Series were developed alongside and tuned together with Monitor's 10, 12 and 15-inch subwoofers, the W10, W12 and W15.
There are three finishes available across the range: satin black, white and walnut – although there's not a matching Vestra for the walnut option, as those subs only currently come in a choice of black or white.
The new Monitor Audio Series 7G is available now and the prices are below.
- Bronze 300 7G: £1,000 / €1,250 / $1,400 (about AU$2,065 ) per pair
- Bronze 50 7G: £500 / €600 / $700 (about AU$1,032) per pair
- Bronze Centre 7G: £400 / €500 / $550 (about AU$825) per piece
- Bronze On-Wall 7G: £300 / €350 / $400 (about AU$619) per piece
- Bronze AMS 7G: £450 / €575 / $625 (about AU$929) per pair
- Matt Shakman has said whether Doctor Doom was ever going to be The Fantastic Four: First Steps' main villain
- Robert Downey Jr will play the group's iconic adversary in 2026's Avengers: Doomsday film
- Galactus was ultimately chosen to be First Steps' primary antagonist
The Fantastic Four: First Steps director has explained why Galactus and not Doctor Doom is the film's Big Bad – and it's got nothing to do with Avengers: Doomsday.
Chatting to TechRadar, Matt Shakman outlined two major reasons for picking the immortal, planet-devouring space-god over The Fantastic Four's most notorious villain for their latest big-screen reboot. Interestingly, Marvel's revised plan for The Multiverse Saga, which belatedly saw Robert Downey Jr return to the Marvel Cinematic Universe (MCU) to portray Victor von Doom in the next two Avengers movies, wasn't one of them.
"We didn't consider making Doom the villain," the Marvel movie's filmmaker told me. "Mostly, because he's been the villain of every other Fantastic Four film. He takes up a lot of space and he's a wonderful character, but I wanted to be able to focus on this family [and] these four characters [over him].
"Obviously, I picked a very big villain, literally," Shakman continued. "But, Galactus is also The Fantastic Four's second most famous villain, so it made sense to to bring him in. We considered a lot of other potential villains along the way, but eventually settled on Galactus and and I'm glad that we did."
Marvel has teased Galactus throughout the film's marketing campaign, but hasn't shown him in his full glory yet (Image credit: Marvel Studios)It's fascinating to learn that Doom was never discussed as the Marvel Phase 6 film's primary foe.
Initially announced in July 2019, First Steps predates Marvel's pivot away from Kang the Conqueror – The Multiverse Saga's first overarching bad guy – to Doctor Doom by five years. Indeed, Downey Jr wasn't announced as Latveria's most famous son until 2024's San Diego Comic-Con, with Doom confirmed to be replacing Kang following Jonathan Majors' firing by Marvel in the wake of numerous assault allegations made against him.
Of equal intrigue is Shakman wasn't Marvel's first choice to be the director of one of the most anticipated new movies of 2025.
Originally, Jon Watts, who helmed Tom Holland's first Spider-Man film trilogy in the MCU, was tapped to direct in December 2020. However, Watts dropped out in April 2022 and, despite a bizarre rumor that legendary filmmaker Stephen Spielberg had been asked to replace Watts, it was Shakman who boarded the project in August of that year. It's possible, then, that Doom could've been discussed as the primary antagonist of The Fantastic Four's latest cinematic adventure prior to Shakman's hiring.
Downey Jr is currently filming Avengers: Doomsday at Pinewood studios in the UK (Image credit: Robert Downey Jr's Instagram)Regardless, as he has throughout First Steps' press tour, Shakman declined to comment on the prospect of Downey Jr's Doom appearing in 2025's final MCU. With Marvel's First Family taking their, well, first steps into the MCU this Friday (July 25), we don't have long to wait until we have a definitive answer.
In the meantime, get the lowdown on the movie via my ultimate guide on The Fantastic Four: First Steps. Additionally, check out my Avengers: Doomsday hub for the latest and biggest news about that film. Then, read on for more exclusive coverage of First Steps.
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Once the bargain alternative to pricey cable and satellite packages, the streaming landscape continues to grow in size – and cost. While some of the best streaming services continue to hike their prices, we’ve got your back, giving you the latest scoop on which service you can expect to pay more for in future.
Read below to find out which streamers are charging more in 2025 so far. And while it may seem like keeping up with your favorite shows is getting increasingly costly, you could always check out the best free streaming services out there, which will offer you a wealth of content for nada. Make sure to also check the best streaming deals in 2025 to save on your next subscription bill.
Is anyone else getting déjà vu? In July 2024, Peacock's second ever price increase took effect and just over a year later we're getting another. NBCUniversal's streaming service has announced that its biggest price hike ever will begin on July 23 for new and returning customers (meanwhile, existing subscribers can expect to see an increase in their bill from August 23 or their next billing date).
The price hike sees Peacock's 'Premium' (with ads) and 'Premium Plus' (limited ads) plans rise by $3 each to $10.99 and $16.99 per month, respectively. As some subscribers look to cancel their subscriptions ahead of the change, Peacock is looking to offer more affordable options by testing a new 'Select' tier that will cost the same as its ad-supported plan was priced before the most recent price hike.
We had almost gotten through March without seeing a streaming price hike announcement for video on-demand services until Plex decided to break that streak by raising its prices. This is the first price hike its made in a decade and will apply to each of its plans. That means that the monthly price for Plex Pass will go from $4.99 to $6.99, the annual price will rise from $39.99 to $69.99 and the Plex Lifetime Pass will more than double from $119.99 to an eye-watering $249.99.
The changes will take effect on April 29, 2025, which means that if you're already signed up to the Lifetime Pass you'll be able to stick to the old rate, which is prompting many users to consider signing up for it before the rise. In an even bigger blow, Plex is making the ability to stream your favorite streaming subscriptions between two separate networks no longer free. Instead, users will have to sign up to a Remote Watch Pass for $1.99 a month or $19.99 to have the remote streaming feature.
The live TV streamer has announced that all packages are set to creep up in price. Coming into effect for new subscribers on January 23, existing customers should look for the increase in their bill on, or after, February 10. Citing “rising costs from our production partners,” the service is adding $5 per month to all of its streaming plans. This will be particularly galling news for subscribers to the platform’s Essentials tier, which was only launched in September and replaced the bargain Starter option.
The new prices mean that both the Essential and Pro now cost $85.99 per month, while the Elite option is $94.99 ($104.99 w/ Sports Plus). Customers already using the Deluxe, Premier and Ultimate tiers are also looking at five bucks more, although these options are no longer available to new subscribers. There is good news for new customers though, as after a seven-day free trial, you get your first month $20 off. And if the price increase has you doubting your loyalty, you might want to look in to other live TV streaming services, such as Hulu or Sling.
The biggest streamer to announce things were getting pricier in 2025 was Netflix. The streaming giant announced on January 22 that it was raising prices, with the company stating: “As we continue to invest in programming and deliver more value for our members, we will occasionally ask our members to pay a little more so that we can re-invest to further improve Netflix.” It should be noted, at time of writing, the price increases only apply to subscribers in Argentina, Portugal and North America.
This means that in the US, the standard ad-supported plan will now cost subscribers $7.99, $1 more than it did previously. Standard without ads is up a buck and a half, now costing $17.99 while the premium tier is now $24.99, a $2 increase. If the price increase has you debating whether to keep the service, our list of the best Netflix movies and best Netflix shows might help your decision.
The other streamer already increasing its prices this year is Discovery Plus, with things set to get a little bit more expensive for US subscribers. The hike went into effect on January 7 for news subscribers, with Discovery saying it would renew at the new rates for existing customers “on your first billing date on or after February 7, 2025.”
Discovery Plus currently offers two tiers, both of which have increased by $1, with the ad-supported plan now $5.99, while it’s $9.99 to go ad-free. Of course, most of Discovery Plus’ content can also be accessed through Warner Bros. Discovery’s flagship streamer Max – which is due to receive a global rollout in 2025 – and with plenty of new content arriving on Max in February, consumers may begin wondering whether to keep the stand alone streamer at all.
You might also like- HPE patched CVE-2025-37103 and CVE-2025-37102
- The former is a case of hardcoded credentials for an admin account
- The latter allows the execution of arbitrary commands as an admin
HPE has patched a critical-severity vulnerability in its Aruba Instant On Access Points which could have allowed threat actors to access the devices as an admin, change settings, deploy malware, and wreak havoc as they see fit.
Aruba Instant On Access Points are Wi-Fi devices designed for small businesses. They are advertised as easy-to-deploy devices offering fast, secure, and reliable wireless connectivity.
In a security advisory, HPE said it found hardcoded credentials in the device’s firmware, “allowing anyone with knowledge of it to bypass normal device authentication.”
No workarounds“Successful exploitation could allow a remote attacker to gain administrative access to the system,” the company added.
Now, the bug is tracked as CVE-2025-37103. It has a severity score of 9.8/10 (critical) and is apparently simple to find and exploit, especially for a skilled threat actor.
Unfortunately, hardcoded credentials are a common occurrence in modern software. Usually, during the production phase, software developers would add an admin account this way, for easy and convenient access.
However, these credentials should be removed before the product is shipped to the market, and when the DevSecOps team or the Application Security team fails, vulnerabilities like this one happen.
There are no workarounds to mitigate the problem, patching it is the only way to secure the access points, and thus the wider network, from attacks.
In the same advisory, HPE said it patched a second bug, an authenticated command injection vulnerability in instant on command line interface. This bug, tracked as CVE-2025-37102, allows remote threat actors with elevated privileges to execute arbitrary commands on the underlying operating system as a highly privileged user. It was assigned a severity score of 7.2/10 (high).
For this vulnerability, too, there are no workarounds, and HPE advises users to apply the patch as soon as possible.
Via BleepingComputer
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