News
- EDRKillShifter is getting a dangerous upgrade
- The new malware can disable AV and EDR from reputable vendors
- Sophos, Bitdefender, and Kaspersky among the tools being targeted
Cybercriminals appear to have improved their antivirus-killing capabilities, as recent research suggest a new tool being shared within the underground community.
In a new report, security researchers from Sophos said multiple ransomware groups are successfully disabling endpoint detection and response (EDR) systems before deploying the encryptor.
Originally, the group known as RansomHub developed a tool called EDRKillShifter, which Sophos says is now made obsolete thanks to this new and improved variant. The new tool can disable security software from multiple high-end vendors such as Sophos, Bitdefender, and Kaspersky.
Shifting strategiesThe malware is often packed using a service called HeartCrypt, which obfuscates the code to evade detection.
Sophos found the attackers are using all sorts of obfuscation and anti-analysis techniques to protect their tools from security defenders, and in some cases, they’re even using signed drivers (either stolen or compromised).
In one case, the malicious code was embedded inside a legitimate utility, Beyond Compare’s Clipboard Compare tool, the researchers explained.
Sophos also said that multiple ransomware groups are using this new EDR-killing tool, suggesting a high level of collaboration between players.
EDRKillShifter was first spotted in mid-2024, after a failed attempt to disable an antivirus and deploy ransomware.
Sophos then uncovered that the malware dropped a legitimate, but vulnerable driver.
Now, it seems there is a new method - taking an already legitimate executable and modifying it locally by inserting malicious code and payload resources (as was the case with Beyond Compare’s tool). This is often done after the attacker has access to a victim’s machine, or when creating a malicious package that pretends to be legitimate.
To defend against this threat, Sophos suggests users check whether their endpoint protection security products implement, and enable, tamper protection.
Furthermore, businesses should practice “strong hygiene” for Windows security roles, since the attack is only possible if the attacker escalates privileges they control, or if they can obtain admin rights.
Finally, businesses should keep their systems updated, as Microsoft recently started de-certifying old signed drivers.
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- Elon Musk claims that Apple’s App Store is biased against Grok
- Sam Altman responds, accusing Elon of manipulating X in Grok’s favor
- Apple has not responded to either claim
Elon Musk, CEO of XAI, the company behind the Grok AI chatbot, has accused Apple’s App Store of favoritism towards OpenAI in a tersely written post on X that threatens legal action over antitrust issues.
In the post, Musk writes, “Apple is behaving in a manner that makes it impossible for any AI company besides OpenAI to reach #1 in the App Store, which is an unequivocal antitrust violation. xAI will take immediate legal action.”
Apple is behaving in a manner that makes it impossible for any AI company besides OpenAI to reach #1 in the App Store, which is an unequivocal antitrust violation. xAI will take immediate legal action.August 12, 2025
Further posts from Musk clarify his grievances, including a post pinned to the top of his X.com account which reads, “Hey @Apple App Store, why do you refuse to put either X or Grok in your 'Must Have' section when X is the #1 news app in the world and Grok is #5 among all apps? Are you playing politics? What gives? Inquiring minds want to know.”
Musk also gave examples of screenshots showing how Grok is not mentioned in the various roundups of AI apps found on the App Store, while competitors like Copilot and Google Gemini are mentioned.
Altman strikes backSam Altman, the CEO of OpenAI, was quick to clap back on X, stating: “This is a remarkable claim given what I have heard alleged that Elon does to manipulate X to benefit himself and his own companies and harm his competitors and people he doesn't like.”
This is a remarkable claim given what I have heard alleged that Elon does to manipulate X to benefit himself and his own companies and harm his competitors and people he doesn't like. https://t.co/HlgzO4c2iCAugust 12, 2025
Altman links to an article on Platformer that alleges Musk created a team to modify the X algorithm to benefit his own tweets. This claim is based on a comparison between his Super Bowl tweet, which expressed support for the Philadelphia Eagles, and a similar one by then-President Joe Biden.
Apple’s legal issues with the App Store have already caused a very public spat with Fortnite developer Epic Games over the past few years. Much of the disagreement has centered on the fees that Apple charges apps for running on its platforms. Epic Games has recently won a court battle in Australia with the ruling that Apple and Google have engaged in anti-competitive conduct regarding the dominance of the app market. Epic has recently confirmed Fortnite will soon return to Apple devices in Australia.
Apple and OpenAI entered into an agreement in 2024, which saw Apple integrate ChatGPT into Apple Intelligence, allowing Siri to hand off to ChatGPT if a query proved too complex.
Musk’s grievance with Apple is more to do with the way the App Store promotes some apps over others. In another post on X, Musk says, “Apple is the gateway to the Internet for half of America. They are making it impossible for any other AI company to succeed by relentlessly promoting OpenAI in every way possible!”
However, as many people have pointed out on X, in January 2025, the DeepSeek app reached #1 overall on the App Store, and Perplexity reached #1 overall in India’s App Store. Both these occurred after the OpenAI and Apple partnership was announced in June 2024.
TechRadar has reached out to Apple for comment on this story and will update with any further information if the company responds.
You might also likeWhile United Airlines isn’t rolling out a ‘music dance’ in-flight experience, it’s sort of doing the next best thing. Thanks to a fresh partnership with Apple TV+ – one of the best streaming services around – you’ll be able to watch Severance, among other shows, while flying at 30,000 or so feet.
Joining the ever-expanding in-flight entertainment experience on United Airlines aircraft is a quartet of Apple TV+ Originals, and that number will grow again next month, in September. At launch, you can access episodes from the first season of Severance, Shrinking, Ted Lasso, Slow Horses and Silo on the screen in front of your chair or via the United app while in-flight.
Next month, September of 2025, United will add the first season of The Morning Show and Bad Sisters. United operates a broad range of aircraft and somewhere around 130,000 screens built into backs of seats. Even though that’s a massive number and newer aircraft will expand that, it’s nice to see United also offer this fresh Apple TV+ content via the app.
(Image credit: United Airlines)Folks potentially traveling on planes without screens but with Wi-Fi connectivity will have the same access to the library of content. While this isn’t the first time that Apple TV+ has taken to the sky – some of its originals are available on American Airlines and Air Canada – the addition is a big deal for United Airlines, and it's the first time full seasons from the service have been made available. Frequent flyers of United will appreciate that.
The airline has promised to add new episodes and expand to other shows, movies, and documentaries on a monthly basis. The Apple TV+ originals join an array of other content and even access to popular podcasts, audiobooks, and playlists available on Spotify.
Adding shows like Severance makes a heck of a lot of sense, though, as Apple TV+ is having an incredibly strong year and the streaming service has secured a record 81 Emmy Award nominations. So if you haven’t yet seen Severance and have a few hours you need to fill while on a United flight, you can now binge the first season – or rewatch it – from the comfort of your seat.
It’ll be interesting to see if United Airlines can strike a similar deal with any other streaming services or if other airlines opt to add Apple TV+. Recently, Delta Airlines announced a collaboration with Crunchyroll to stream select anime while in-flight.
This expansion for United Airlines comes at a time with a heavier focus on the in-flight experience – the airline is also in the process of installing Starlink-powered, faster, and completely free Wi-Fi for MileagePlus members aboard its airplanes. It’s a longer rollout, but the promise is much faster speeds, allowing passengers to stream their own content, and further improvements to the in-flight experience.
We’re still waiting to see the entire vision for the latter, but the expansion to include popular Apple TV+ originals is certainly a step in the right direction. At the minimum, you innie will appreciate the expansion and your outtie will like the destination … or vice versa.
You Might Also Like- President Trump has apparently positive meeting with Intel CEO Lip Bu-Tan
- The President had previously called for Tan's resignation
- A former Intel leader has suggested customers invest cash into the company
Embattled Intel CEO Lip Bu-Tan has paid a visit to the White House for a meeting with President Trump which the latter has described as ‘very interesting’.
This comes just days after the President demanded Tan resign from his position of CEO at Intel, calling him ‘highly conflicted’ - going as far as to say there is ‘no other solution to this problem’.
However following the meeting, Trump praised Tan for his success and ‘amazing’ rise to the top, using his social media site Truth Social to confirm cabinet members will now also meet with Tan to continue discussions.
Strong leadershipThe details of the meeting haven’t been released, but Intel did release a statement thanking the President for a ‘candid and constructive discussion on Intel’s commitment to strengthening U.S. technology and manufacturing leadership’.
“We appreciate the President’s strong leadership to advance these critical priorities and look forward to working closely with him and his Administration as we restore this great American company” the statement confirmed.
The meeting followed a letter written to the Intel board of directors from Republican Senator Tom Cotton, in which he raises concerns over Tan’s alleged ties to China through his role as CEO of Cadance Design Systems, a firm which recently plead guilty to illegally selling export-controlled tech to organisations with connections to the Chinese military.
The recent turbulence between Intel and the US Government most likely stems from the President’s ambitions to build a domestic manufacturing industry to rival Chinese tech imports, with Intel perhaps the only US company positioned to take a leading role in semiconductor production.
Intel seems to be moving away from US manufacturing though, with the organisation making significant reductions to its workforce - terminating between 15-20% of its factory workers amongst the 25,000 Intel positions affected by the redundancies.
Former Intel CEO Craig Barett called for a customer-cash injection of around $40 billion to soothe financial difficulties and ensure a semiconductor source within the US, especially given geo-political tensions and the very low likelihood of TSMC or Samsung bringing manufacturing to the states.
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Do some gadgets leave you cold because they're all tech and no soul? Then you're going to love Pure's personality-packed home and outdoor radios and speakers. That's because Pure's speakers and sleep companions are built to bring you pure joy: they're beautifully simple, they're superbly stylish and they're designed to delight.
Pure products are all about the human touch, and they combine thoughtful design touches with serious style and superb sound to bring you vibes as well as volume.
The Classic Aura Bluetooth Speaker has completely customisable mood lighting (Image credit: Pure Ltd)Take the brand new Pure Classic Aura. The first thing you'll notice isn't its sensational sound, cutting-edge connectivity or its long-lasting battery. It's the beautiful built-in ambient lighting system that turns any audio into a full sensory experience.
The Classic Aura combines retro design with Pure's powerful audio performance and ten different light settings, each of which delivers a completely different kind of mood. From warm ambient atmospheres and subtle glows to dynamic light shows and even disco beats, the Classic Aura doesn't just play your music. It feels it.
The Classic Aura's retro styling is gorgeous, and it's as practical as it is pretty: its IPX2 waterproof rating and 30 hours of play time makes it a brilliant go-anywhere speaker. Whether you're relaxing solo, listening to your favourite podcast or having fun with friends or family it's the perfect blend of style, sound and ambience.
The Pure Aura is an excellent option for entertaining and exercising too: its 40W speaker and sensational sound quality make it ideal for soundtracking the spilling of tea or your downward dog. It's also brilliant for when you want to really get those muscles moving: simply tune in to your favourite motivational music or stream your workout playlist from your phone.
A more joyful way to start your dayRelaxing with the Pure Moment Charge Sleep Companion (Image credit: Pure Ltd)Many of us aren't getting enough sleep: recent research from WALR with more than 3,000 respondents has found that 54% of Brits are spending time scrolling when they could be sleeping, with 75% of 18 to 24-year-olds admitting that they prioritise screen time over bed time. Pure's Moment Series can help with that, and help you start the day more joyfully too.
The Moment Series are stylish sleep companions that use a combination of natural sounds and ambient lights to help you doze off for a better, longer sleep and to deliver a gentler, more joyful start to your days.
There are two models to choose from: the Moment is ideal if you want to banish phones from the bedroom altogether, while the Moment Charge has an integrated wireless charging pad and a USB phone charger too. A DAB+/FM radio, BT and even an emergency battery to overcome any power outage, are included as well.
In addition to helping you sleep more happily, the Moment's ambient sounds are also fantastic for helping you relax, or to focus on work or studying, or just to create a soothing soundtrack while you read, write or draw.
Put a Classic in your kitchen with the brilliant Pure Classic H4i Internet Radio (Image credit: Pure Ltd)Joyful sounds wherever you may roamPure's go-anywhere speakers make it easy to bring a joyful soundtrack wherever you go, indoors or out.
The Pure Classic H4i is a charmingly compact internet radio that's brilliant for kitchens, playing DAB+, FM or your favourite internet radio stations. It's the ideal soundtrack for every culinary creation, serving up the tastiest tunes to go with your smoothie, stir-fry or sushi. And if you want something great outdoors, the Pure Woodland waterproof outdoor radio and speaker has Bluetooth, FM and DAB+ for a perfectly portable audio experience.
The Pure Woodland Outdoor Radio is great outdoors (Image credit: Pure Ltd)Whether you're looking to relax, focus, chill out or work out, Pure's products are designed to make your days more joyful: they combine beautiful design and exceptional audio quality with clever features designed to brighten up every day. And if you sign up for Pure's newsletter there's a chance to win something special: an exclusive Aura reading and Yoga lesson with a renowned teacher this September.
Benefit from our summer specials and great deals now. Click here to find the perfect Pure for you.
Here’s an inconvenient truth: unless you listen with headphones or earbuds, most of the time you’re not experiencing stereo sound as it was intended by the artist.
It’s not your fault (probably). As humans, we tend to move around a lot. Meanwhile, our speakers tend to stay put. And that means we are forever moving in and out of the stereo sweet spot – that place where you are perfectly situated between left and right speakers, at the apex of an equilateral triangle.
This relatively tiny zone is the only place where we can hear true stereo imaging, that magical side effect of having two ears and one brain. It’s a psychoacoustic sleight of hand that lets us perceive sounds not as individual elements coming from each speaker, but from various points in space within a 180-degree arc in front of us.
If you’ve ever experienced a voice or instrument that you’d swear was located dead center, between your speakers, where no physical sound source exists, that’s known as a phantom center, and it’s a sign you’re sitting in the sweet spot.
(Image credit: Future)And now, my rideWhat does any of this have to do with motorcycles? Plenty.
Most touring-class motorcycles (those two-wheel monstrosities that can weigh as much as an average horse) have built-in sound systems with stereo speakers. If you’ve been the unfortunate victim of a drive-by listening session as one of these bikes thundered down your street, you’d be well within your rights to write them off as unnecessarily loud, obnoxious, and not particularly “hi-fi.”
However, as the rider, your head is likely in the perfect spot to get great stereo sound.
I discovered this for myself shortly after taking delivery of my 2023 Honda Goldwing. The Goldwing isn’t the first bike I’ve owned with a sound system, but it is the first one with Apple CarPlay. Needless to say, I was eager to try streaming Apple Music, Qobuz, and Tidal.
At first, I messed around with the various controls while standing beside the bike in my garage. At that point, my only reaction was “Wow, that’s, um… LOUD.”
But then I swung a leg over, took a seat, grabbed the handlebars, and uttered an expletive.
(Image credit: Future)A phantom center on the roadLenny Kravitz’s Black Velveteen suddenly went from two dimensions to three. The song’s rippling techno-rock rhythm expanded well beyond the edges of the windscreen, and Lenny’s voice beckoned from the dash’s central display – a textbook phantom center.
I hadn’t experienced this degree of stereo immersion on my last bike – even though its speakers were in roughly the same position. When I looked closer at the Goldwing’s speakers, I realized why: toe-in.
Toe-in is the secret sauce that takes a perfect equilateral stereo triangle from good to great. By turning your speakers slightly inward so that if you drew an imaginary line straight through the middle of the speaker, it would intersect with your nose, you focus the sound waves so they converge on your head, instead of overlapping near your head.
If the Goldwing's speakers projected lasers instead of sound, I'd have a red dot on my forehead
The Goldwing’s speakers are toed-in and angled upward. If they projected lasers instead of sound, I’d have a red dot on my forehead.
Sadly, not everyone who climbs aboard a Honda Goldwing will hear what I hear. My particular combo of torso height and arm length seems to be tailor-made for the bike’s setup. Someone who’s taller, shorter, or can lean back thanks to longer arms will still enjoy the sound, but it won’t be stereo perfection.
Of course, if I’m being honest, I don’t really get stereo perfection either. I ride with earplugs and a full-face helmet. The Goldwing’s engine, while whisper quiet compared to many other bikes, nonetheless creates a dull roar at highway speeds. Then there’s the ever-present wind.
All of these factors rob my tunes of detail and can hinder certain frequencies -- especially bass. However, the actual stereo imaging remains unchanged because my head’s relationship to the speakers remains (mostly) static. In theory, if I could tame those other forces, the sound would be as good at 110 km/h as it is when standing stock still.
(Image credit: Future)On your bike, palAm I encouraging you to run out and spend a small fortune on a touring bike? No. (Well, yes, it’s heaps of fun, but an otherwise completely irresponsible use of money). I am, however, encouraging you to think about how you listen to music.
If you own a stereo system with independent speakers that you can move, try to create that equilateral triangle of sound. Keep the speakers facing straight ahead, then toe them in and see if you can hear a difference.
Even if you use a soundbar or – perish the thought – the speakers already built into your TV, you may still be able to finagle better sound by moving your listening position. It’s definitely worth a try – and our guide on how to set up your speakers for the best possible sound can help.
You may also like- Messages obtained from a cracked E2EE service used to take down a criminal gang
- Sky ECC service is still providing information, four years after being shut down
- A hotel, property, cash, and vehicles were seized in the operation
Europol has conducted several raids against a prolific organized crime network involved in the trafficking of cocaine and laundered money.
The raids led to the arrest of 10 suspects and the seizure of an entire tourist hotel, as well as numerous other real estate sites and over €100,000 ($116,106) in cash.
But the secret to the success of the operation stemmed from analyzing encrypted communications from a chat network that shut down over four years ago.
Communication network analysisThe encrypted communications network in question is the Sky ECC network operated by Sky Global.
The network was shut down by law enforcement in 2021 due to the platform’s use by international criminal organizations to facilitate drug trafficking. Indictments and arrest warrants were issued to Sky Global’s CEO, Jean-François Eap, and a former distributor, Thomas Herdman.
Alongside the seizure of the website, law enforcement also confiscated a trove of hundreds of millions of messages sent between thousands of criminals using the Sky ECC app, which protected its messages with 512-bit elliptic-curve cryptography. It is these messages that are still being used by Europol in Operation Sky ECC, and Operational Task Force LIMIT.
Europol has launched numerous subsequent crackdowns on criminal organizations across Europe using metadata analysis from the message trove.
In this particular Europol operation, led by the Albanian SPAK, investigators from Albania, Belgium, France, and the Netherlands used communication data to identify the location of multi-ton deliveries of cocaine from South America to ports in the EU, for which one target of the operation received upwards of $40 million. The delivery ports included major hubs such as Antwerp and Rotterdam.
Included in the suspects arrested was the leader of the criminal organization, who was also wanted in Italy for murder, deprivation of liberty, attempted hiding of a corpse, threats, illegal possession of explosives and ammunition as well as obstruction of justice.
This operation, and the case of Sky ECC, highlights the thin line between using encrypted communications to ensure data privacy and prevent corporate or governmental overreach, and abusing data privacy to operate an international criminal ring responsible for drugs trafficking and laundering hundreds of millions of euros.
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- Connex Credit Union confirm suffering major data breach
- Customer data stolen, and the attackers have not been identified
- Users are warned to be wary of suspicious incoming emails
Financial cooperative Connex Credit Union has revealed it suffered a cyberattack in which it lost sensitive data on around 172,000 customers.
The company confirmed the news in a new filing with the Office of the Maine Attorney General, as well as via data breach notification letters it sent to affected individuals.
In the letter, the company said it experienced “unusual activity” on its network on June 3, 2025, and after an investigation concluded that an unauthorized third party stole sensitive files the day before. After almost a month of investigating, Connex determined that the threat actors stole people’s names, account numbers, debit card information, Social Security numbers (SSN), and other government identification information needed to open an individual’s account with the company.
Shifting strategies“Connex has no reason to believe the incident involved unauthorized access to member accounts or funds,” it was said in the letter.
The letter then goes on to say the usual - that the company is further strengthening its cybersecurity posture, and that it is offering 12 months of free credit and identity theft protection services. It picked Cyberscout as the service provider in this case.
Connex Credit Union is a well-established, member-owned financial cooperative based in Connecticut. It is one of the largest credit unions in Connecticut, with more than 70,000 members and over $1 billion in assets.
At the same time, a San Francisco law firm - Schubert Jonckheer & Kolbe, is said to be investigating this data breach under the suspicion the company took too long to notify its customers of the incident.
In a press release, the law firm said the breach occurred in June 2025, but Connex “did not begin notifying affected individuals until or around August 7, 2025, which may have violated state and federal laws.”
In the State of Connecticut, the deadline for notification is “without reasonable delay, but no later than 60 days after discovery of the breach”. That is, unless shorter time is required by federal law.
How to stay safeThere are numerous ways cybercriminals can abuse the stolen files.
They can create accounts with different financial and government institutions, running wire fraud and tax evasion schemes.
They can also engage in spear-phishing attacks to deploy malware, or even ransomware, against the victims.
To stay safe, users should be careful when opening unsolicited communications, and should keep a close eye on their bank statements.
Via BleepingComputer
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The next PS5 exclusive planned for a 2025 release is Lost Soul Aside, which launches August 29, 2025. Then there's Ghost of Yotei, the sequel to Ghost of Tsushima. Those are the two big exclusives for this year, with Saros, Intergalactic: The Heretic Prophet, and Marvel's Wolverine still not having release windows.
Upcoming PS5 exclusives include AAA first-party games, as well as Sony's future slate of multiplayer titles, something slightly newer that the publisher seems to be pushing quite hard. Regardless of what kind of games you like to play, there are plenty of exclusives coming to PS5, many of which already have release dates or broad release windows.
In terms of upcoming games, the next year or so of PS5 exclusives look set to be an extremely strong lineup. That's before you consider the juggernaut that is Ghost of Yōtei, as well as unannounced games that's sure to follow towards the end of the year. Many of these will be further enhanced on Sony's newest console too, so be sure to check out our best PS5 Pro games list to see what's worth playing.
Here are the upcoming PS5 exclusives to look forward to in 2025 and beyond. We'll only be covering games that have been officially confirmed for release, many of which already have solid release dates locked in. In terms of what games we've chosen to include here, these are either only coming to PS5, or are console exclusives, meaning they are also set to launch on PC. We'll indicate where each game sits with regard to these release platforms as we go.
Upcoming PS5 exclusives(Image credit: Housemarque / PlayStation Studios)There are currently quite a few major PS5 exclusives planned and confirmed for future release on the PlayStation 5 console. We've listed them below, alongside their release dates where available.
In terms of what games we've chosen to include here, these are either only coming to PS5, or are console exclusives; the latter meaning they are also set to launch on PC. We'll make that clear with each entry below too so you have a clear picture of what's what.
- Sword of the Sea - August 19, 2025
- Lost Soul Aside - August 29, 2025
- Ghost of Yotei - October 2, 2025
- Ballad of Antara - TBC 2025
- Where Winds Meet - TBC 2025
- Phantom Blade 0 - TBC
- Saros - 2026
- Marvel's Wolverine - TBC
- Fairgame$ - TBC
- Intergalactic: The Heretic Prophet - TBC
Lost Soul Aside is a brand new action RPG that'lll launch on PS5 and PC. You’ll traverse landscapes that feel alive: sunlit plains, mysterious ancient ruins, and alternate dimensions that buzz with energy. This world is filled with secrets, monsters, and unpredictable events that keep you interested. Beneath the flashy moves, there’s depth for players who love to experiment. You can customize loadouts, chain synergistic combos, and strategize with Arena, Kaser’s dragon-like companion.
Lost Soul Aside launches August 29, 2025 for PS5 and PC, following a delay.
Ghost of Yotei(Image credit: Sucker Punch)Ghost of Yōtei is the latest game from Sucker Punch, and follows Ghost of Tsushima. Protagonist Atsu’s journey takes place in 1603, more than 300 years after the events of Ghost of Tsushima. While we don't know how the two are connected, if at all, expect the same mix of stealth and sword-fighting as you make your way across a gorgeous Feudal Japan setting. So far, we've received two trailers, and it's looking very pretty indeed.
Ghost of Yōtei will launch October 2, 2025, exclusively for PS5.
Saros(Image credit: Housemarque)Saros was revealed during a State of Play event that aired in February 2025. It's the latest from Housemarque, and is being described as a game that builds upon the third-person action systems showcased in Returnal. A key gameplay distinction between Saros and Returnal is permanent resources and progression making every death valuable. After every death you will face a changed world, but in Saros you will be able to choose and permanently upgrade your loadout from an evolving set of weapons and suit upgrades to “come back stronger” to overcome the challenges you face on Carcosa.
Saros will launch on PS5 in 2026.
Ballad of Antara(Image credit: Infoldgames)Ballad of Antara is an action-RPG with multiple playable characters. These characters possess the power to traverse the two worlds of normalcy and unimaginable. The devs are calling them “Emissaries”. Each Emissary has their own unique class, gameplay capabilities, and their own enticing, mysterious stories. So far, we have seen a lengthy trailer, which you can check out as part of this blog post.
Ballad of Antara is currently slated for release sometime in 2025. At present, it's only confirmed for PS5.
Where Winds Meet(Image credit: Everstone Studio)Where Winds Meet is an epic Wuxia open-world action-adventure RPG game, that was recently confirmed to be launching on PS5. At first, we only knew about a PC release, but after a State of Play event last May, we know it's coming to PlayStation. For now, it's only got a release window of 2025, so stay tuned for more info on a specific release date. If you'd like to read more about the game, check out the PlayStation blog.
Marvel's Wolverine(Image credit: Sony)Marvel's Wolverine is coming from the folks over at Insomniac, the team responsible for the Spider-Man PS4 and PS5 games. As such, expectations are very high indeed, and because we've not seen much on it so far, things are still very much up in the air. Only a brief cinematic trailer has been revealed so far, showing Logan sitting at a bar after what looks to have been a very bloody brawl.
At present, Wolverine is only slated for a PS5 release.
Fairgame$Fairgame$ is a competitive heist game where you join an underground movement to rob the ultra-rich and rebalance the scales. We've not seen any gameplay yet, nor do we have a release window or release date.
What we do know is that it'll launch on PS5 and PC.
Phantom Blade Zero(Image credit: S-Game)Phantom Blade Zero was revealed during a PlayStation Showcase event in 2023. It looks set to blend fast-paced action with cinematic quick-time gameplay. There are epic boss battles, and plenty of parrying as you make your way across a fractured land, looking to seek revenge on those that have mortally wounded you.
Phantom Blade Zero has been confirmed to be in development for PS5 and PC, and it currently has no release date. You can check out our hands-on Phantom Blade Zero preview to read what we thought of the upcoming game.
Sword of the Sea(Image credit: Giant Squid)Sword of the Sea takes place in an abandoned realm where the terrain flows in waves. You'll make use of a traversal vehicle called the Hoversword. The Hoversword controls like a snowboard, skateboard, and hoverboard all in one. Build momentum to achieve great speeds and catch big air as you explore skatepark-like ruins, uncovering an ancient mystery as you go.
At present, Sword of the Sea is announced for PS5 and PC, and it'll launch August 19, 2025..
Intergalactic: The Heretic Prophet(Image credit: Naughty Dog/Sony)Intergalactic: The Heretic Prophet was a surprise reveal that closed out The Game Awards 2024. It's the new game from Naughty Dog, and looks to be a sci-fi epic, with a retro-futuristic vibe. We don't know too much about the game yet, except that it's being developed exclusively for PS5 consoles. From the official announcement blog post:
"Intergalactic stars our newest protagonist, Jordan A. Mun, a dangerous bounty hunter who ends up stranded on Sempiria – a distant planet whose communication with the outside universe went dark hundreds of years ago. In fact, anyone who’s flown to it hoping to unravel its mysterious past was never heard from again. Jordan will have to use all her skills and wits if she hopes to be the first person in over 600 years to leave its orbit."
At present, we have no release window for Intergalactic: The Heretic Prophet, so we'll mark it down as TBC.
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- Diablo franchise head Rod Fergusson is leaving Blizzard
- Fergusson said he's "stepping away" after five years at the company, but didn't announce where he's going next
- He also said that there is "an exciting slate of releases ahead" after he leaves
Diablo general manager Rod Fergusson has announced that he is leaving Blizzard Entertainment after five years.
In a post shared on X / Twitter, Fegusson said that he is "stepping away" from the company after working on the Diablo franchise for five years and releasing four games, although he didn't indicate where he is heading next.
"After five years of driving the Diablo franchise forward with four big launches, it's time for me to step away from Blizzard/Microsoft, sword in hand, and see what's next," Fegusson said.
"The teams are set up for success, with an exciting slate of releases ahead. I'm incredibly proud of what we've built together and looking forward to what comes next for Diablo, and for me."
After five years of driving the Diablo franchise forward with four big launches, it's time for me to step away from Blizzard/Microsoft, sword in hand, and see what's next. The teams are set up for success, with an exciting slate of releases ahead. I'm incredibly proud of what… pic.twitter.com/Fsh4gjmgVlAugust 8, 2025
Blizzard president Johanna Faries also commented on the announcement, saying: "Guiding a franchise like Diablo takes rare talent, vision, and collaboration. Thank you, Rod, for bringing all of those in spades. Sanctuary’s future is brighter because of the impact you’ve had!"
Xbox boss Phil Spencer also had some words for Fergusson's departure, saying on BlueSky, "You brought strength, hellfire, and vision to one of gaming’s most iconic franchises. Playing Diablo IV with you was a blast—thanks for everything you gave to the game and the community."
Fergusson is also known for his time as head at The Coalition, where he worked on every Gears of War game across his time at both Microsoft and Epic Games, since the franchise kicked off in 2006.
After 15 years, he went on to join Blizzard in 2020 as the head of the Diablo series, after Diablo 4's announcement in 2019.
Blizzard has since confirmed the news of Fergussion's departure to IGN, but didn't offer any further comment or reason why. There's also no word on who will take over as the head of the Diablo franchise at this time.
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- A leaker claims the iPhone 17 Pro will have a new antenna design
- This will apparently improve performance in congested areas
- It might also result in a sleeker, less interrupted phone design
How many times have you struggled to make a phone call or send a text message on your iPhone when you’re in a crowded area? Even if your phone shows that you should have several bars of signal, actually connecting is often impossible due to the sheer number of devices clogging up the airwaves.
That might change in this year’s iPhone 17 Pro, though, according to a new report from a well-known leaker. If they are to be believed, Apple is working on a new system to reduce signal congestion and improve iPhone connectivity, and it’s apparently taken its inspiration from the Apple Watch.
The report comes from Majin Bu, a leaker with a somewhat mixed track record when it comes to Apple rumors. On their website, the tipster suggests that the iPhone 17 Pro will “introduce a significant structural change” that involves repositioning the phone’s antennas to the rear camera module.
Majin Bu says that Apple has taken inspiration from the Apple Watch here, as this device “integrates antennas near structural and functional elements of its chassis” in a similar manner. That’s a change from the iPhone’s current situation, where the antennas are located around the edges of the chassis. You can see that in the small lines near the bottom of an iPhone, and Majin Bu says the new design will result in a “Cleaner side-frame design with fewer visible breaks.”
Pushing performance(Image credit: Freestocks / Unsplash)But this update is not just about appearances – Majin Bu believes it will bring practical benefits too. In particular, the leaker says repositioning the antennas to the camera module will “reduce interference from chassis materials and enhance 5G and Wi-Fi 7 connectivity” because this area is “less prone to shielding and interference.” That’s presumably because it’s further away from your hand, which can cause problems with connectivity (just think back to the iPhone 4’s “Antennagate” for an example).
Majin Bu lists a host of other potential advantages, including reduced latency, “higher efficiency” in busy areas, enhanced radio performance (especially for 5G mmWave and Wi-Fi), optimized internal space, and more.
There are only a few weeks until Apple is set to unveil the iPhone 17 Pro, so we won’t have long to wait to see if these predictions are on the money. If they are, you might find it a little easier to push through that phone call or text message when you find yourself in a crowded area.
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- They always envisioned it as a show rather than a movie
- Every other live-action Alien project has been made for the big screen
Alien: Earth's creative team has opened up on the decision to tell its story on the small screen.
Until now, every single project set in the Alien universe has been a movie. Indeed, from the 1979 Sigourney Weaver-starring original to 2024's pseudo-sequel Alien: Romulus, the sci-fi horror franchise's various tales have been told in film format.
That's changed with FX TV Original in Alien: Earth, which will air on Hulu (US) and Disney+ (internationally). Created by frequent FX collaborator Noah Hawley, who also developed Fargo and Legion for the US TV network, Earth breaks the near-50-year cycle of Alien stories being released exclusively in theaters.
Bringing the Xenomorph-led property to the small screen wouldn't have been possible until a few years ago. Many of the world's best streaming services, including Disney+, didn't exist. Furthermore, production budgets for TV shows had lagged behind their silver screen counterparts for decades. However, a sea change largely brought about by the rise of the streaming industry has reshaped the landscape and led to the purse strings being loosened by TV executives, thereby allowing creators to make shows with budgets similar to those of their movie siblings.
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It's the end to such financial restrictions that enabled Hawley, producer David W. Zucker, and the rest of Alien: Earth's cast and crew to craft an eight-part series with a scope to rival any of the franchise's previous projects. However, speaking to me ahead of the show's release, Hawley and Zucker revealed there are other reasons why an Alien TV show hasn't been attempted before – and what made them settle on telling Earth's story via the television medium.
"A two-hour Alien movie is a survival story, right?" Hawley said. "Other than how expensive it would be, the obstacle of bringing the franchise to television is 'well, what other story could we tell?'.
"It [an Alien film] is about monsters and people running for their lives," Hawley continued. "That's not a TV show with any staying power. Part of the reason why it [Alien: Earth] worked is because I use the IP [intellectual property] as a starting point to explore my own themes and issues, and build a story within the Alien world. The are challenges with the scale of this show, balancing the drama, horror, and action, etcetera, but I think we accomplished all of that."
"The truth is, corporately, the franchise has been owned by the film division [20th Century Studios]," Zucker added. "It only became possible when we were given access to it [the Alien franchise] and then tried to find a place, such as FX, that would support this kind of vision. Fortunately, the long relationship they have with Noah, that's become a dream pairing for us and is the only conceivable way this could've worked."
Alien: Earth launches with a two-episode premiere on August 12 (North and South America) and August 13 (everywhere else). Read my dedicated guide to Alien: Earth, as well as my Alien: Earth review, before it arrives.
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2024 was a strange year for phones. Software packages like Galaxy AI, Google Gemini, and Apple Intelligence dominated keynotes and marketing campaigns, while hardware innovations were, for the most part, relegated to the sidelines.
On the outside, the best phones of 2024 were largely indistinguishable from their predecessors, with the exception of the Google Pixel 9 Pro, which felt properly different from the Pixel 8 Pro before it. Google refreshed its tired Pixel lineup with a more grown-up, modern-looking phone, and the Pixel 9 Pro also boasted the cleanest implementation of AI we’d seen at the time (Samsung’s Galaxy AI has arguably caught up since then).
For those reasons, the Pixel 9 Pro earned our Phone of the Year award for 2024. But judging by what I’ve seen so far of the Pixel 10 Pro, I don’t see Google’s next flagship repeating the feat in 2025.
The Pixel 10 Pro is set to debut at this year’s Made by Google showcase on August 20, but it’s already been semi-unveiled in an official teaser video, and countless leaks and rumors have given us an almost nailed-on idea of what to expect.
An official image of a phone believed to be the Pixel 10 Pro in Moonstone (Image credit: Google)It’ll reportedly look almost identical to the Pixel 9 Pro, use a more powerful Tensor G5 chipset, and its battery will be marginally larger. We’ll also, of course, get some new colors, including a fetching ‘Moonstone’ shade.
On the software side, the Pixel 10 Pro is rumored to launch with a new photography feature called Camera Coach, which will use AI to analyse images fed through the camera and offer contextual suggestions.
And that’s pretty much it.
Where the Pixel 9 Pro represented a major generational leap over the Pixel 8 Pro, the Pixel 10 Pro will seemingly be an iterative upgrade over the Pixel 9 Pro. It won’t have the same feeling of newness or innovation, and as a result, I’m not expecting it to scoop this year’s Phone of the Year award on that basis alone.
The Google Pixel 9 Pro was our Phone of the Year in 2024 (Image credit: Blue Pixl Media)Weirdly, though, I don’t see this as a bad thing. In all areas except raw power, the Pixel line has caught up to the best iPhones and best Samsung phones, and now Google can afford to do what both Apple and Samsung do so often: innovate iteratively.
I know that sounds strange – don’t we, as tech fans, hate iterative upgrades? – but we can’t shower the Pixel 9 Pro with praise and then expect (or want) Google to bring an entirely new product to the table the very next year. It got so much right with the Pixel 9 Pro, and it’s unrealistic to expect its successor to bowl us over in quite the same way.
If I were a Pixel fan, I’d be OK with that. Heck, as an iPhone user, I’ve already written about how the Pixel 10 Pro in Moonstone will test my loyalty to Apple. I think the phone looks great – it just doesn’t look particularly new.
Who knows? Maybe those aforementioned upgrades will be enough to see the Pixel 10 Pro scoop our Phone of the Year award in 2025. I’m simply suggesting that Google has made a rod for its own back with the success of the Pixel 9 Pro.
Are you looking forward to the Pixel 10 Pro? Let us know in the comments below.
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