News

• Final Fantasy 14's director, Naoki Yoshida, has shared a statement regarding mods that may "infringe" on other players' enjoyment and the core game
• Yoshida says he has no issue with mods but wants players to be aware of the rules
• He also said sharing the use of NSFW mods online could lead to the game being subject to legal measures by regulators in certain countries

Final Fantasy 14's director, Naoki Yoshida, has issued a warning about the continued use of mods that may "infringe" on other players and also lead to legal troubles.

Last week, it was reported that one of Final Fantasy 14's most popular mods was shut down due to a "legal enquiry". The mod, named Mare Synchronos, was a plug-in that allowed users to sync and view other players' mods in-game, like character customization add-ons.

News of the mod's takedown wasn't received well by users, which later led to the game being review-bombed on Steam.

Now, in a new Final Fantasy 14 blog post, Yoshida has responded to the overall matter of mods, stating that though he "tolerates" the personal use of them and understands that modding culture is "rooted in good intentions", he wants players to be aware of the importance of the game's user agreement.

"In the past twenty or so years, I've seen numerous positive examples of games with fan-made mods that expand upon existing gameplay," Yoshida said. "However, these mods are generally created with a vital premise in mind: they are for personal use only, and the individual player is responsible for the mods they use.

"Furthermore, the mods must not impact the core game, its services, or the intended game design in a negative manner. I personally feel that these rules should be followed by all mod creators and users."

The director adds that if players continue to uphold these rules to enhance their personal enjoyment of the game, he personally sees no reason to track them down or investigate gamers for their use of mods.

He also stressed the importance of two rules in particular: that the mods don't "infringe upon others" and they "do not negatively impact the core game, its services, or intended game design, as mentioned above."

Yoshida continued by offering a lengthy list of examples where mods may infringe on others and impact intended game design, including a scenario where a player may use mods to bypass certain conditions to obtain in-game items, like Ultimate Raid loot.

The director explained that this wouldn't be an issue if it were for personal enjoyment; however, showcasing the loot that wasn't earned through participation to other players in-game would be against the rules and would result in the mod's take down.

"In response, our only options would be to ask that players cease using the mod, or to request that the mod creator removes the functionality causing the problem," Yoshida said. "Of course, we could also implement preventative measures in-game, but this would divert programming resources from other areas, potentially damaging the enjoyment of other players in the long run."

Similarly, Yoshida said that this would also apply to FFXIV Online Store items that have not been purchased but modded, suggesting it would be unfair to players who have spent real money.

"Some may say that Square Enix is to blame for trying to make money by demanding that players spend extra on optional items," he said. "We operate our servers and data centers twenty-four hours a day, three-hundred-sixty-five days a year with the hope that our players can enjoy a reliable gaming experience. Currently, global inflation is taking its toll at a rapid pace, driving up server electricity costs, the cost of land, and even the price of servers themselves.

"We do not want to increase subscription fees for players, if at all possible--but keeping our game running requires sufficient income. If we start creating a deficit, FFXIV may no longer be able to operate. This is an example of damage dealt to the services we provide."

Finally, Yoshida touched on the matter of NSFW mods, reiterating that if a player decides to mod their character to appear naked, it might fall into the category of personal use and responsibility, but if the user shares screenshots online, "FFXIV itself may be subject to legal measures by regulators in certain countries."

"Laws that regulate the content of video games grow stricter by the year," he said. "These laws are there to protect minors and for a variety of other reasons, but the fact remains that they are tangibly becoming stricter. We have a duty to provide our services in adherence to the laws of all countries where FFXIV is available, and if we are unable to do so, the distribution of our game can be prohibited. This is another example of damage dealt to our services."

The director added that he does not intend for his examples to be a censure on mod users or creators, but asks that players respect the game by enjoying it within the confines of basic rules.

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• Xbox Insider Program members with an Xbox Game Pass Core or Standard subscription can now access Cloud Gaming at no extra cost
• This includes the ability to play a number of games included with the subscription service
• Users can also access select games that they already own

Members of the Xbox Insider program with an Xbox Game Pass Core or Standard membership can now try Xbox Cloud Gaming at no extra cost.

This includes access to a number of titles that are already included with those tiers of the subscription service, plus select games that they already own.

The list of supported games spans massive recent releases like Assassin's Creed Shadows and Black Myth: Wukong to indie favorites such as Dredge and Darkest Dungeon. There's a good range, and more ways to play the titles that you already own can only be a good thing.

In order to access the games, you simply need to sign in to Xbox Cloud Gaming on a supported device and select the title that you want to play.

Of course, you will need an active Xbox Game Pass Core or Standard subscription, and be part of the Xbox Insider Program.

If you're not yet part of the Xbox Insider Program, you can get started by downloading the Xbox Insider Hub app on your Xbox console or PC.

We expect these Xbox Insider features to start rolling out to other users in the coming months.

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- Slated for release on Apple TV+ in 2026

- Adapted from William Gibson's 1984 cyberpunk novel

- Created for TV by Graham Roland and JD Dillard

- Comprised of 10 episodes

- No trailer yet, only a brief teaser announcing production start

The Neuromancer TV series is finally surging onto the small screen courtesy of those sci-fi loving folks at Apple TV+ and we're all amped!

Based on the Hugo and Nebula Award-winning sci-fi legend Willian Gibson's 1984 cyberpunk novel, Neuromancer, Apple TV+ is adding another jewel in its enviable crown of science fiction shows that includes Foundation, Silo, Invasion, Murderbot, Dark Matter, and For All Mankind.

Originally announced back in February of 2024 as an episodic series greenlit for pre-production development, Neuromancer is a seminal work of remarkable imagination that launched the sub-genre of cyberpunk and coined modern computer slang like "hacker" and “jacked in.” It’s been copied, imitated, and cannibalized over the decades as filmmakers tried in vain to adapt the novel for film or TV and rescue it from development hell.

Now it seems that Apple TV+ has found just the right formula and the show has entered full production as of this summer. So what's all the fuss about Neuromancer, what’s it about, and why does it remain one of the five most influential sci-fi books of the late 20th century? Let’s dodge the ICE, cowboy, and dissect this upcoming computer-driven dystopian series!

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Apple TV+’s Neuromancer is expected to air sometime in late 2026. The show was officially announced to be in full production beginning on July 1, 2025, which was the 41st anniversary of the publication of Gibson's book. Filming is already underway in Tokyo, Los Angeles, Istanbul, Canada, and London and is expected to wrap around the end of the year if all goes well.

That sets up Neuromancer for a potential fall or winter release next year!

At this time there's really only been one slightly cryptic teaser announcing the start of filming in July, which we must say is rather fitting for cult fans of the super-slick novel. In the video, a shadowy bar comes to life, with lights buzzing and pinball machines dinging as a blue-and-orange neon sign blinks awake spelling out Bar Chatsubo, the Chiba City lounge familiar to readers. It then announces that the series is now officially in production.

Neuromancer will be created for TV by Graham Roland (Tom Clancy’s Jack Ryan, Dark Winds) and JD Dillard (Devotion, The Outsider, Sleight). It’s a 10-episode co-production inked in a collaboration between Skydance Television and Anonymous Content that will also be produced by Drake's own production shingle, DreamCrew Entertainment, with Roland acting as showrunner and Dillard aboard to direct at least the pilot episode.

"We're incredibly excited to be bringing this iconic property to Apple TV+," creators and executive producers Roland and Dillard announced in a statement. "Since we became friends nearly 10 years ago, we've looked for something to team up on, so this collaboration marks a dream come true. Neuromancer has inspired so much of the science fiction that's come after it and we’re looking forward to bringing television audiences into Gibson’s definitive 'cyberpunk' world."

So far, the following actors have been reportedly cast in the Neuromancer series:

• Callum Turner as Case
• Brianna Middleton as Molly
• Mark Strong as Armitage
• Joseph Lee as Hideo
• Clémence Poésy as Marie-France Tessier
• Peter Sarsgaard as John Ashpool
• Emma Laird as Linda Lee
• Max Irons as Jean Tessier-Ashpool
• Dane DeHaan as Peter Riviera

First off, be warned. Neuromancer is no casual beach read while sipping a White Claw and requires a certain level of concentration, memory, and ability to absorb rapid-fire, machine-gun waves of slang terms and hacker jargon. There’s a definite lack of satisfying explanations for some events, and the narrative demands your rapt attention. But the tone and pacing is totally exhilarating and takes your breath away if you can hang on!

Secondly, up until now nearly every film attempting to dip into this futuristic world of neon drenched streets, gleaming glass towers and digital tech conspiracies has not performed well at the box office. And that not only includes Ridley Scott’s Blade Runner, but also the James Cameron co-written Strange Days, and Johnny Mnemonic, which actually had its screenplay penned by William Gibson. It wasn’t until The Wachowskis helmed The Matrix in 1999 that folks got serious about cyberpunk again.

According to Apple TV+, the series will follow a burnt-out, psychologically damaged, elite super-hacker named Case who is reluctantly shoved into a tangled web of digital espionage and high stakes crime with his partner Molly after embezzling cash from a boss. She’s a cybernetically-enhanced "razor-girl" assassin with mirrored eyes dreaming of pulling off a daring heist on a dangerous corporate dynasty harboring secrets and she needs Case to join the gig.

Her client is Armitage, a clandestine former military agent with more than a few skeletons in his closet. Their target is a sophisticated AI called Wintermute, but things go sideways and the pair soon find themselves scrambling for their lives before they encounter its mysterious AI counterpart, Neuromancer. It’s set in a dark depressing world of corporate globalization and a data-frenzied society not unlike today.

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• Demo units of the Nothing Phone 3 were found to be passing off stock photos as camera sample images
• Nothing has explained that this was an "unfortunate oversight"
• Actual camera samples from the Nothing Phone 3 are impressive anyway

Nothing has found itself in a surprising situation, as demo units of the Nothing Phone 3 have been displaying stock photos – taken with professional cameras – and listing them as shot by the Phone 3 itself.

A photographer behind one of these images confirmed this to The Verge, but while you could easily jump to the conclusion that this was intentional deceit from Nothing, it seems more likely that it was an accident.

Speaking about the incident on X, Nothing co-founder Akis Evangelidis has said that this situation was an “unfortunate oversight” and that there was “no ill intent”.

Re the Phone (3) live demo units (LDU) in some stores using stock imagery - let me explain. An initial version of the LDU needs to be submitted with placeholders around 4 months before launch, to be implemented and tested as we ramp up towards mass production. Once we enter mass…August 27, 2025

They explained that an initial version of the Nothing Phone 3 demo units needed to be submitted with placeholder images around four months before launch, so that the demo units could be implemented and tested in time.

The intention was then to replace the placeholder images with photo samples once the Nothing Phone 3 entered mass production, but for whatever reason that step didn’t happen with some demo units.

Evangelidis additionally said that the company is “investigating internally to make sure such an issue doesn’t happen again.”

We’re inclined to believe this explanation, not least because the Nothing Phone 3 seems perfectly capable of taking impressive photos.

While we haven’t put it through a full review yet, some samples posted on X certainly look eye-catching. So there should have been no real need to attempt deception, especially with the risk of getting caught.

So hopefully this situation won’t hamper impressions of what looks to be a very interesting phone, with a design unlike any other.

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• Microsoft Copilot is coming to many 2025 Samsung TVs and monitors
• Voice-powered interface and "friendly" on-screen character
• Integration with Tizen OS Home and Samsung Daily+

Samsung is bringing Microsoft Copilot to its TVs and monitors this year "for smarter on-screen experiences". The news comes via Samsung's Dutch website and Microsoft's Generative AI blog, which says that the combination of Copilot and Bixby "creates a richer, more contextual smart display experience."

According to Samsung, the new Copilot integration will be accessible through the Tizen OS Home and Samsung Daily+. Copilot will provide "personalized recommendations, relevant information, and interactive learning experiences."

Copilot will respond to questions "instantly to share quick facts about actors or athletes, summarize plots, support foreign language learning, or help break down complex concepts – all from the biggest screen in the home."

While Samsung's press release is pretty light on detail, Microsoft gives five specific scenarios for Copilot on TV. They are:

• Custom, spoiler-free recaps: “I want to get back into The Crown, I left off at Season 3, Episode 4. What happened up until then?”
• Ultra-specific recommendations: “Like The Queen’s Gambit, but about cooking instead of chess, and under two hours.”
• Group-friendly picks: “Hannah likes rom-coms, David likes sci-fi, Mark likes thrillers. What’s something we’ll all like?” Perfect for when everyone’s gathered in the living room and you want to decide together.
• Post-watch deep dives: “Who was the voice actor for that character?” or “What else has the director done?”
• Everyday help: “Will Saturday in Seattle be good conditions for hiking?” or “Cheer me up after a breakup.”

The Microsoft blog also shows a video of Copilot in action, its weird blobby face pulsing on the screen with its lips synched to its speech.

Copilot will be coming to some of the best Samsung TVs and monitors in "select markets", and we've put a call in to Samsung to find out which ones.

Microsoft says Copilot will be coming to 2025 models including "Micro RGB, Neo QLED, OLED, The Frame Pro, The Frame, as well as the M7, M8, and M9 Smart Monitors."

That list includes some of the best TVs of this year – though there's no word yet on whether this will come to older TVs as part of Samsung's commitment to seven years of software updates for its TVs.

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The Gilded Age season 4 is nowhere near being released yet, but I already feel incredibly sorry for Bertha (Carrie Coon). Granted, she hasn't been my favorite person during the last three seasons of the hit HBO Max show, nor is she usually the most agreeable.

However, she's got the weight of the world on her shoulders after the shocking last moments in the season 3 finale.

Let's rewind for a second. In episode 7, Bertha's husband George (Morgan Spector) was left on death’s door after being shot by a 19th century hitman disguised as a courier. We learn in episode 8 that he (just about) pulls through, but later uses his brush with death to tell Bertha he doesn't love her.

Well, at least he's no longer sure if he does. While he mulls it over, George leaves for New York without so much as an amicable thought between them. Meanwhile, Gladys (Taissa Farmiga) has got hitched to the Duke of Buckingham, announcing her pregnancy in the season's final moments.

In short, this all means Bertha's living her dream life vicariously through her daughter, sans husband. The Gilded Age season 4 will surely be her redemption arc, but I think there are two other potential foes in her way that we've not even considered.

Instead of Bertha peacefully trying to assimilate into the British Royal family, she's potentially got two other fights on her hands: with longstanding rival Enid (Kelley Curran) and a new potential sparring partner in Agnes (Christine Baranski).

Let's start with Agnes first. By the time the season 3 finale rolled around, niece Marian (Louisa Jacobson) and Larry Russell (Harry Richardson) hadn't officially got their engagement back on track, though both have said they want to do so. This is a nightmare for Agnes because up until now, she's merely tolerated the new money that the Russell family represent.

If the marriage goes ahead, there's sure to be arguments galore as the two families try to blend into one. Bertha had Agnes' approval after winning the season 2 opera war against Mrs. Astor (Donna Murphy), but that tolerance can be taken away in an instance.

This is where Enid comes in. Agnes’ son, Oscar (Blake Ritson) has potential nuptials on the cards with Enid, the woman who was fired from being Bertha's maid by sexually propositioning George. Oops.

Once again, she's new money, and after Oscar was scammed out of all of the family's money (that came up again in the season 3 Haymarket double-cross), that's bad news. Larry and Marian marrying would make Enid essentially a part of the Russell family, so there are more issues to stoke the potential fire of feud.

We've currently got no idea if George is coming back for The Gilded Age season 4, but again, this could cause further problems. Bertha would have to welcome Enid back into the family if the nuptials go ahead, and that's set to open old wounds if George is still kicking around (and worse, if he decides he no longer wants to be with Bertha).

Is any of this what Bertha needs in The Gilded Age season 4? Absolutely not. Are the potential new rivalries going to make new episodes even juicier for us? You can count on it.

All three seasons of The Gilded Age are streaming on HBO Max in the US, NOW TV in the UK and Paramount+ in Australia.

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