Technology

The smart camera system includes two 2K resolution cameras for a complete view of the outside of your home.

Few will forget the tumultuous few weeks during 2023 when OpenAI co-founder and CEO Sam Altman was fired and then returned to his position at the pioneering Artificial Intelligence company. Perhaps it's no surprise that such a startling turn of events is now fodder for a major motion picture.

Little is known about the Amazon Studios/MGM production beyond a smattering of casting news and rumors. What we do know is that Andrew Garfield (star of The Social Network) is cast as Sam Altman, and Monica Barbaro is playing former Interim OpenAI CEO Mira Murati. Beyond that, we have a handful of stars, including Cooper Hoffman, Jason Schwartzman, and Billie Lourd, who remain unassigned to roles (none of them seem a good fit for Microsoft CEO Satya Nadella). On Tuesday, Chris O'Dowd (Black Mirror, The IT Crowd) joined the list, but without any details on who the Irish actor would be playing.

No doubt, the film is full of high drama, some absurdity, and juicy roles, but perhaps none will blend it all like the casting of X owner and Tesla CEO Elon Musk.

Musk, who co-founded OpenAI in 2015 with Altman before walking away in 2018, has been a thorn in Altman's side for almost a decade – even during the Altman firing turmoil. Musk inserted himself, highlighting an unsigned letter full of accusations against Altman.

Things between the two men haven't improved. In recent days, Altman and Musk have tussled over ChatGPT's position in the Apple Store. Musk contends Apple is unfairly highlighting and promoting its AI partner over X's AI offering, the freshly updated Grok.

Sparks are flying

Musk tweeted this week: "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.”

To which Altman replied: "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.”

Clearly, an on-screen depiction of their toxic relationship could be cinematic gold. But who will play Musk opposite Garfield's Altman?

Ike Barinholtz (The Studio) has been rumored, but nothing is confirmed. Could O'Dowd be the true "Musk" in waiting?

From our perspective, though, there's no question which of the two should play Musk. Anyone who's spent any time around him knows Musk has an odd, quirky, and off-kilter energy. O'Dowd is too low-key key but Barinholtz? If you watched any part of Apple TV+'s Emmy-nominated The Studio, you know Bariholtz, who plays studio exec Sal Saperstein, has just the right blend of kinetic energy, unpredictability, and odd pathos to pull it off.

At least that's our hope. A movie called Artificial about the darkest days of OpenAI's history won't be worth watching unless it gets very, very real.

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When Apple announced a big overhaul of the iPhone's Camera app in iOS 26 back in June, I was very happy indeed. The current app in iOS 18 is a confusing mess, so a redesign was long overdue – and I've recently been test-driving the new Camera app in the iOS 26 public beta.

As TechRadar's former cameras editor, I've experienced more than my fair share of annoying interfaces. And while Apple's current Camera app is far from the worst offender, it does very much feel like my garden shed – with several years of clutter combined with no real attempt at organization.

Well, the good news is that Apple's definitely rolled up its sleeves and attacked this redesign with relish. The Camera app looks very different, so much so that you'll initially wonder where it's tidied everything to. Overall, I'd call it a success so far, but with a few reservations...

The likes1. The clean minimalism

The iOS Camera app (left) is a lot busier than the new iOS 26 one (right) (Image credit: Apple)

First, the good news – the new Camera app in iOS 26 is much cleaner and simpler than the old one in iOS 18.

There are now fewer buttons to accidentally press, and the consistency of the Liquid Glass redesign makes everything feel more cohesive and less confusing.

To help reduce accidental taps, Apple has opened up more space around the shutter button. Fortunately, the shutter still supports its usual shortcuts – hold and swipe right to shoot video, or hold and swipe left for burst mode. Fun fact: did you know the latter is called QuickTake, after Apple's forgotten digital camera?

But perhaps the biggest improvement over the old Camera app are the new Liquid Glass menus...

2. The pop-up menus

(Image credit: Apple)

My least favorite feature of the current Camera app is its Camera Control menu. That's the one you open by tapping the confusing shortcut arrow at the top of the screen, or by swiping up anywhere in the viewfinder.

Fortunately, Apple has given this a complete overhaul. Gone is the little horizontal row of hieroglyphics for features like Photographic Styles and Night Mode.

Now, when you swipe up from the bottom of the screen to reveal a much clearer grid of options (housed inside Liquid Glass, naturally), with labels for each. Simply, it's much better.

Unfortunately, the other big minimalist change – the simple Photo and Video tabs – is slightly less successful, but more on that in the dislikes...

3. The improved video menu

(Image credit: Apple)

I tend to shoot more photos than video on my iPhone, but I've always been frustrated by the fiddly video settings menu in the iOS Camera app.

Luckily, that's now been fixed in iOS 26. Rather than having to tap the resolution or frame rate several times to scroll through various options, you now get the improved Liquid Glass panel above.

Like in Photo mode, you can swipe up to access separate video options (flash, exposure, and action mode), which are now easier to understand at a glance. The Video experience is still straightforward overall compared to Apple's Final Cut Camera app, but that makes sense for a point-and-shoot experience.

The dislikes1. The new nav bar

(Image credit: Apple)

In theory, I love the simplicity of the new navigation bar at the bottom of the iOS 26 Camera app. It starts with just Video and Photo options visible. To reveal the other modes – Timelapse, Slo-Mo, Cinematic, Portrait, and Pano, to name all of them – you just swipe left or right.

But a couple of niggles have given it a bit of a learning curve. Firstly, the default scrolling setting sees both the Liquid Glass toggle and the navigation bar behind it moving simultaneously, which is a little disorientating. It also makes it difficult to see the options underneath your thumb.

(Image credit: Apple)

Fortunately, in more recent betas, Apple has added a new option in the Camera Settings in a section called Mode Switching, where you'll find a toggle for 'Classic Mode Switching'. This makes it behave more like the previous Camera app, where you're directly swiping the wheel underneath, while the toggle stays central.

Hopefully, this makes it to the final version of the Camera app. I initially also found it tricky to see the navigation bar options underneath my thumb, but then discovered you can still scroll through them by swiping the screen instead. While minimalism is an improvement overall, I think some will be initially flummoxed and find it trickier to choose some of the photo and video modes.

2. The lack of a Pro mode

(Image credit: Apple)

I've been hoping to see a Pro camera mode come to iPhones for a few years now, but iOS 26 has gone firmly in the other direction. Does that potentially open the door for a photo equivalent of Apple's free Final Cut Camera app for video? Maybe, but there's no sign of one of those either.

To be fair, some of the best camera apps like Halide, ProCamera, and Camera Obscura more than adequately fill that gap, and Apple is perhaps wary of Sherlocking them, which is when Apple kills a popular app by building the functionality into its own software.

But if we have a simple Liquid Glass toggle for Video and Photo, why can't there also be one for Basic and Pro photo modes? That would be a lot easier than switching apps for something like manual focusing, and would turn the iPhone into an even better rival to the best compact cameras.

That still doesn't look likely, so for now to the best alternative is to set up your iPhone Camera app with some of the useful tools hidden in the settings menu. I typically turn on the Grid and Level, select Apple ProRaw in the Formats section, and then go to Preserve Settings to enable Camera Mode and Exposure Adjustment, making my iPhone behave more like a camera.

But for more tweaks, check out my guide on how to set up your iPhone 16 (or older model) to take great photos.

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• A hacker has stolen sensitive Kimsuky files and logs
• They claim the group is "morally perverted", and hacks for "all the wrong reasons"
• But the leak will not dismantle the group, some argue

Kimsuky, a notorious North Korean state-sponsored threat actor, has been hacked by someone who claims not to be a cybercriminal but rather - an "artist".

The database is 8.9GB in size, and can be found on the “Distributed Denial of Secrets” website, containing logs, tools, and infrastructure used by the group, exposing their tactics, techniques, and procedures.

The haul contains phishing logs showing an attack against The Defense Counterintelligence Command (South Korean military intelligence security agency), different targeted domains, archives with the complete source code of South Korea’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs email platform (including webmail, admin, and other modules), a list of South Korean university professors, a toolkit for building phishing sites, Cobalt Strike loaders, and more.

Driven by greed

Kimsuky is notorious for its cyber-espionage campaigns. The group’s earliest sightings were back in 2012, and since then, it was credited with numerous attacks against government agencies, think tanks, research institutions, and media outlets. It is particularly focused on Korean Peninsula affairs, nuclear policy, and foreign relations.

The hacker, going by Saber / cyb0rg, slammed Kimsuky for advancing state agendas:

“Kimsuky, you are not a hacker. You are driven by financial greed, to enrich your leaders, and to fulfill their political agenda,” a letter accompanying the dump reads. “You steal from others and favor your own. You value yourself above the others: You are morally perverted.”

“You hack for all the wrong reasons,” the letter concluded.

Although a commendable effort, this leak will probably not completely stop Kimsuky, a state-sponsored actor with formidable resources.

However, since many tools and methods have been “burned”, it could slow the group down, expose current campaigns, and force it to start from scratch in some cases.

Via BleepingComputer

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Reports based on a developer beta version of iOS 26 seem to confirm Apple is working on this feature.

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• Android TV 14 is finally hitting some Sony TVs, according to reports
• Models receiving the update appear to use Realtek chipsets
• Android TV 14 launched in mid-2024

Some Sony TVs have started to reportedly receive Android TV 14 in a recent software update, nearly a year on from its launch in mid-2024.

Initially launched on Google's own streamer devices and Onn streamers, it appears we're seeing a major rollout of Android TV 14 onto a host of Sony TVs.

According to Android Authority, the models included aren't what you'd expect, as a vast majority are entry-level to mid-range LED TVs. The rollout was first spotted by Reddit user Proshis_Saha_Swoopna, whose own TV updated from Android TV 11 to 14.

Some of the models included are the Sony X77L, Sony Bravia 2, Sony X75L, X74L, X75K, X74K, X70L, X64L and more, some of which go as far back as 2022.

Interestingly, the sets all listed in the update are those with Realtek chipsets and not Mediatek, the latter of which is included on more premium Sony TVs such as the Sony A95L and Sony X90L, two of the best TVs in recent years.

It's not clear yet what updates these Sony TVs will receive from Android TV 14, but some of its features include a Low Energy and Optimized Energy mode, a picture-in-picture feature and a performance upgrade on devices with low RAM.

One thing worth noting is that although major OS updates may not be arriving for some TVs, there are still regular bug and security updates happening for Google TV devices. My own Philips OLED and Sony LED TV both received updates this year.

Below is the full list of Sony TVs set to receive the Android TV 14 update:

• K-43S20
• K-43S20B
• K-43S25
• K-50S20
• K-50S20B
• K-50S25
• K-55S25
• K-55S25B
• K-65S25
• K-65S25B
• KD-32W825
• KD-32W835
• KD-32W830L
• KD-43X64L
• KD-43X70L
• KD-43X75L
• KD-50X64L
• KD-50X70L
• KD-50X75L
• KD-55X74L
• KD-55X75L
• KD-65X74L
• KD-65X75L
• KD-43X77L
• KD-50X77L
• KD-55X77L
• KD-65X77L
• KD-75X77L
• KD-32W820K
• KD-32W830K
• KD-43W880K
• KD-43X74K
• KD-43X75K
• KD-50X74K
• KD-50X75K
• KD-55X74K
• KD-55X75K
• KD-65X74K
• KD-65X75K

When will the full rollout take place?

Sony's 2025 flagship OLED TV the Bravia 8 II is still at Android TV 12. (Image credit: Future)

It's been a long time coming, but it's finally good to see some progress with Android TV 14. In almost a year since its launch, it has only made it to specific Google and Onn streamers while some TVs with the Google TV platform are still stuck at Android 10, 11 and 12.

Earlier this year, Android announced Android TV 16, but there are no clear plans for a rollout or even a release date, though there is belief it may not be until 2026 as Android has seemingly moved to a bi-annual update cycle. It seems like it will be a while however as the rollout for 14 has only really just begun.

While it's great that the rollout has begun for Sony, it seems odd that it's only on specific models with the Realtek chipset. That's great news for those LED TV owners, but not such great news for those who own more premium Sony TVs.

We'll just have to hope that Android TV 14 will soon be able to make its way out across a wider range of devices. We'll be sure to keep an eye out for any more information.

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If you're wondering what the best Dell XPS deals are or where to find the cheapest prices you've come to the right place. No matter what size or configuration of this incredible Ultrabook you're after, you'll find options here from all the big retailers as well as our top tips for scoring a good deal right here.

It's an interesting time to be checking in as Dell has recently announced that it will be renaming its entire XPS line to 'Dell Premium' for 2025 and onward. Right now, however, there are no newly renamed or refreshed models on the market so the XPS 14, 16, 15, and 13 are still widely available and stocked - often with healthy discounts.

Alongside the latest models, you'll also find some older choices too. Don't discount these machines just because they're a little older - they might not pack the latest components, but they're still fantastic laptops all around. Because of their age, finding decent laptop deals on these models also tends to be easier overall - especially around big retail events like Black Friday and Cyber Monday or from Dell's own website using an available Dell coupon code.

If you're undecided on which Dell XPS deal is for you, don't worry, we've got a direct comparison just down below. Scroll down to see a full list of available specs, as well as a price comparison.

Dell XPS 13 & 15 deals: latest models

(Image credit: Dell)Dell XPS 13 9345 (2024)

Now with a new ARM-based chipset

CPU: Snapdragon X Elite | Graphics: Qualcomm Adreno | RAM: 16GB - 64GB | Screen: 13.4-inch FHD (1,920 x 1,200), QHD+ (2560 x 1600), QLED 3K (2880 x 1800) | Storage: 512GB – 2TB SSD

Excellent battery lifeImproved thermal performancePriciest 13-inchStill a few minor software quibbles

For the first time ever, the latest Dell XPS 13 has the option for a non-Intel processor. New or 2024 is the Dell XPS 13 with the ARM-based Snapdragon X Elite chipset; which is more akin to the processors used in the latest MacBooks than the traditional Intel components in previous iterations.

In layman's terms, this means that the Dell XPS 13 9345 (this model's official designation) is not just an extremely capable machine, but it also features exceptional battery life (up to 20 hours in our testing), and greatly improved thermal management. Basically, it runs cooler for longer, while still having plenty of power for all your daily tasks.

All these points mean that the Dell XPS 13 9345 is a strong contender if you're looking for the absolute best Dell XPS 13 on the market right now. Note, however, that having such radically different components can mean compatibility issues with certain programs - in particular games, which are nearly all optimized to run on the old Intel and AMD-based architecture.

Check out our Dell XPS 13 9345 review for more information on this model.

(Image credit: Dell)Dell XPS 13 9340 (2024)

The Intel version of the latest device

CPU: Intel Core Ultra 7 | Graphics: Intel Arc | RAM: 16GB - 64GB | Screen: 13.4-inch FHD (1,920 x 1,200) – QHD+ (2560 x 1600) | Storage: 512GB – 2TB SSD

Inherits the 13 Plus designNew Ultra 7 chipsetsFewer lower-end optionsHigher starting price

The newest addition to Dell's XPS 13 and 15-inch roster is a refreshed 13-inch model. While the older iterations are still readily available, this Dell XPS 13 2024 features the latest design and components - bringing it into line with the other new models from Dell (there's a 14-inch and 16-inch model now).

Externally, the Dell XPS 13 2024 features many of the same design features as the 2023 Dell XPS 13 Plus - namely the seamless trackpad, zero-lattice keyboard, and a row of touch-key functions just below the display. These modern touches give this model a more premium feel overall, although the older models are still superbly high-end laptops in their own right.

One of the more interesting changes for the Dell XPS 13 2024 is the inclusion of a brand new Intel Ultra series chipset. These are new processors from Intel that include an NPU or 'neural processing unit', which aims to super-charge AI-assisted tasks. Otherwise, however, they are mostly an iterative improvement to overall performance and power efficiency.

Value-wise, we wouldn't rank the latest Dell XPS 13 as the best option currently due to its relatively high starting price of $1,399. In comparison, we've seen the slightly older XPS 13 Plus go for as little as $999 previously - and that's a model that's outwardly very similar to the latest model. The older XPS 13 models are also still readily available right now and have gone for as little as $599 for the baseline Core i5 model.

(Image credit: Dell)Dell XPS 13 Plus deals

Last year's premium model is a great buy

CPU: Intel Core i5 – i7 (13th gen) | Graphics: Intel Iris Xe | RAM: 8GB – 32GB | Screen: 13.4-inch FHD (1,920 x 1,200) – 4K OLED (3840 x 2400) | Storage: 512GB – 2TB SSD

The lightest XPS yetHaptic touchpadMinor improvementsSuper pricey

The Dell XPS 13 Plus is a standalone premium version of the XPS 13, initially released in 2023. It's been superseded by the latest 2024 XPS model, which has inherited its design, but it's still readily available at the official Dell site - and often with discounts.

Outwardly, this model is almost identical to the new baseline XPS 13, with its seamless haptic keyboard and redesigned keyboard. It does, however, feature slightly older components under the hood. You're not getting the latest 'Ultra' series of processors, instead getting the standard Intel Core i7 chipsets - which are still plenty powerful for zipping through everyday tasks.

Generally speaking, we still recommend the Dell XPS 13 Plus if you can get it at a decent price. We've recently seen Dell offer the XPS 13 Plus for as little as $999 / £898, which is a fantastic price considering it's only a year old at the time of writing. It's likely to be the cheaper option versus the standard 2024 XPS 13 for a while yet, making it a decent alternative if you're happy to forgo the latest chipsets.

(Image credit: Dell)Dell XPS 13 (2022) deals

We still recommend this one - if you can find it

CPU: Intel Core i5 – i7 (12th gen) | Graphics: Intel Iris Xe | RAM: 8GB – 32GB | Screen: 13.4-inch FHD (1,920 x 1,200), 13.4-inch FHD Touchscreen | Storage: 512GB – 1TB SSD

Extremely affordableStill a premium designOlder components now

The older Dell XPS 13 from 2022 was readily available at most stores up until recently as the unofficial 'budget' model. Unfortunately, it's getting harder to find now as of mid 2024. While it lacks some of the latest design features - like the fancy keyboard or trackpad-less design - it's still a fantastic ultrabook and a great all-around choice. Even if it is officially discontinued now.

The 2022 XPS 13 model comes with 12th-generation Intel Core chipsets, which are still good if you're not looking for the cutting edge of performance. The Core i5 model, for example, could be a good choice if you simply want a premium laptop for writing emails or watching videos on the go. We've seen this baseline model go for as little as $599 / £799, which is a great value.

If you need more performance, however, then you'll likely want to set your sites on the Core i7 model - which also features a more spacious 512GB SSD. This particular model has been as low as $799 in the US, which we think is an outstanding price considering it's still an extremely capable laptop.

(Image credit: Dell)Dell XPS 15 (2023)

An incredible performer with a slightly older design

CPU: Intel Core i9-13900H | Graphics: Intel Arc A370M - RTX 4070 | RAM: 16GB – 64GB | Screen: 15.6" FHD+ (1920 x 1200), 15.6" OLED 3.5K (3456x2160) | Storage: 1TB – 8TB SSD

Option for an OLED displaySuperb high-end specsDesign hasn't been refreshed yet

This is the latest Dell XPS 15 on the market currently, as the 15-inch model hasn't received a 2024 refresh like the 13-inch variant. Even though it's not the latest model on the market (there's an XPS 16 now), it's still a great option right now if you want a powerful laptop that's capable of taking on the heaviest workloads.

Alongside up-to-date components from Intel and Nvidia, the latest Dell XPS 15 2023 also includes the option to configure your machine all the way up to 64GB RAM and 4TB SSD, plus the option for a lavish 3.5K OLED display. As you'd imagine, these specs come with an incredibly high price tag but we are now starting to see better deals on this 15-inch now it's no longer the latest model in the range.

(Image credit: Dell)Dell XPS 15 (2022) deals

Only worth it if you can snag a good deal

CPU: Intel Core i5 – i7 (12th gen) | Graphics: Intel UHD - RTX 3050 Ti | RAM: 8GB – 64GB | Screen: 15.6-inch FHD (1,920 x 1,200) – 4k (3840 x 2160) | Storage: 512GB – 2TB SSD

RTX 3050 graphics cards12th gen Intel Core processorsStill not a gaming laptop

As of writing, the 2022 Dell XPS 15 model is still available at a few retailers but it's getting increasingly difficult to find stock now as Dell has officially discontinued it in favor of the 2023 model. If you can find it for cheaper, however, it's still a great buy with its 12th gen Intel Core chipsets and RTX 3000 series graphics cards.

Neither of these components are cutting-edge or up-to-date now but they will suffice nicely for high-performance everyday tasks. This model can even handle some light gaming, although hardcore gamers will want to look elsewhere if they're specifically aiming for a gaming laptop (there are better value options out there right now).

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• LinkedIn Premium subscribers can get a 3-month free trial of ExpressVPN
• Premium Perks is exclusive to paid subscribers of LinkedIn, typically offering long-term trials and discounts
• If a trial converts into a 12 or 24-month subscription, a further 4 free months are added

ExpressVPN has teamed up with LinkedIn to offer paid subscribers of the business-focused social network a free three-month trial for the entire month of August, 2025.

At a time when VPN use is growing, and business expenses are under greater scrutiny, this offer means you'll be able to enjoy the protection of one of the best VPN services on the market without spending a penny.

The perks do not end with a free trial of ExpressVPN, either. Anyone signing up for a 12 or 24-month subscription will also get an additional four months free on top of their selected plans, which will began once the three-month trial ends.

Announced by the GM of Global Partnerships at ExpressVPN, Zac Eller, on LinkedIn, the deal is only accessible via the Premium Perks page.

"We’re excited to partner with LinkedIn to bring ExpressVPN to even more professionals around the world," says Eller. "In today’s world, whether you're working remotely, traveling, or browsing online, it’s essential to make sure that your privacy and security are protected.”

It's worth noting that the deal is not available in territories with VPN restrictions, including Crimea, Iran, North Korea, and the contested regions in Ukraine.

This is a time-limited offer that is set to expire on August 31, 2025.

Is this ExpressVPN deal as good as it sounds?

Signing up for this free ExpressVPN 3-month trial gives 90 days of premium VPN access without commitment. That alone makes this deal worth trying if you have LinkedIn Premium. With anyone signing up getting an extra four free months on top of a 12- or 24-month plan, it’s tough to say no to this offer.

But is ExpressVPN any good? Well, it has servers in 105 countries, apps for Windows, macOS, Linux, Android, iPhone, streaming sticks, and routers, and is suitable for maintaining online privacy whether browsing, gaming, or streaming. It’s also fast and can be used on up to eight devices simultaneously.

Most importantly, ExpressVPN uses AES-256 encryption, runs on driveless Trusted Servers, and retains no logs. As it is based in the British Virgin Islands, ExpressVPN cannot be legally compelled to share data with any of the "14 eyes" nations – a data sharing collaboration between several NATO countries and allies.

With ExpressVPN having long stood as one of the top VPN providers around, according to TechRadar's independent testing, this is potentially the deal of the year if you have a LinkedIn Premium subscription. Any savings could help justify paying for LinkedIn Premium.

However, it is worth highlighting that the additional months are often available to standard signups on the two-year plan – the only thing that the Premium Perk adds to ExpressVPN is the free 3-month trial.

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• BioWare pitched EA a remaster of the first three Dragon Age games, but the concept was turned down
• Former Dragon Age executive producer Mark Darrah said the remastered games would have been called the Champions Trilogy
• He also said that "EA wants mainstream success" and is "against remasters"

A remaster of the first three Dragon Age games was pitched by BioWare to EA, but turned down because the publisher is "against remasters".

Speaking in an interview with the YouTube channel MrMattyPlays, former Dragon Age executive producer Mark Darrah discussed the last year's latest entry in the series, Dragon Age: The Veilguard, and the mixed reception it received.

Now that BioWare has shifted its entire focus to Mass Effect 5, Darrah said that he doesn't know how a new Dragon Age game can be made and thinks the studio should remake the first three games, starting with Origins.

The former franchise lead went on to reveal that this concept was pitched to EA as the Champions Trilogy, but was turned down.

"I honestly think they should do — I don't think they will, but they should do — a remaster of the first three [Dragon Age games]," Darrah said (thanks, IGN). "One of the things we pitched at one point — pretty softly, so pitched is a massive overstatement — was to retroactively rebrand the first games as if they were a trilogy, call it the Champions Trilogy, so you have these larger-than-life heroes... maybe you do that as a first step.

"You shine them up, you re-release them — probably remaster, probably not a remake — see what happens and maybe go from there. I'm very curious to see... in a weird, twisted way, the Mass Effect franchise and the Dragon Age franchise are in similar states.

"They have a trilogy of games that are pretty well received, and then a fourth game that's less well received. I'll be curious to see what Mass Effect does with Mass [Effect] 5 — how does Andromeda fit in there?"

Although EA wasn't inclined to remaster the Dragon Age games, it did release the Mass Effect Legendary Edition in 2021, which combined the first three games in the series.

According to Darrah, EA favors Mass Effect over Dragon Age because it wants "mainstream success".

"The problem Dragon Age has had, charitably I guess, would be to say that EA wants mainstream success and it's hard - or at least it has historically been hard - for corporate people, people who come from the sports side of the organization to look at a game like Dragon Age: Origins, which is super nerdy, not very attractive looking, and say 'this is a mainstream game'," said Darrah.

"They don't see it [with Dragon Age]. They look at Mass Effect, they can see it… there's just been a lot of difficulty with them, there's always been a push for [Dragon Age] to be more mainstream, more accessible. So it's always had this either pressure to be something different, or more - in the case of something like Inquisition - a reaction to that."

Darrah added: "EA's historically been — and I don't know why, but they've even said this publicly — they're kind of against remasters. I don't really know why, and it's strange for a publicly-traded company to seemingly be against free money but they seem to be against it. So that's part of it."

(Image credit: Electronic Arts)

Darrah continued, saying that another problem is that a Dragon Age remaster is "to some degree unknowably harder" to make than Mass Effect, since the three games were all made using different engines.

He explained that the plan for the initial version of Dragon Age 4, before its multiplayer reboot and before it became Veilguard, was to use the Frostbite engine again, find a mod house, and then "pay them to do a remake of Dragon Age: Origins."

"There were lots of pitches around, is there a way to bring Dragon Age: Origins forward? And depending what you do, a remaster you kind of get Dragon Age 2 for free, a remake you don't."

Unfortunately, working with an older engine would have been a difficult task, with Darrah explaining that BioWare would have had to remaster Dragon Age internally.

"The studios run their own financials within themselves, and to some degree EA's stance was probably 'sure, go ahead and do it, but do it with the money you already have'," Darrah said. "And it was like, we can't do it with the money we already have because we're doing all these other things."

In January, BioWare announced that it was downsizing the studio and moving an unspecified number of developers to other teams within EA, while others will be focused entirely on the next Mass Effect game.

Currently, a core team at BioWare is developing Mass Effect 5. As a result of the changes, several, long-time BioWare and Dragon Age veterans were also laid off.

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• US government seizes servers and domains belonging to BlackSuit
• More than $1 million reportedly retrieved as a result
• BlackSuit stole more than $370 million over the past three years

As the US government continues to dismantle the infamous BlackSuit (Royal) ransomware group, new information has claimed more than $1 million in cryptocurrency was confiscated from the threat actors.

Multiple US law enforcement agencies, including the Secret Service and the Department of Homeland Security are involved in the dismantling of BlackSuit, a Russian ransomware group which has allegedly attacked more than 450 US-based firms and stole more than $370 million in cryptocurrency since 2022.

The US government has said its operation resulted in the seizures of servers, domains and digital assets used to deploy ransomware, extort victims, and launder proceeds - among which is $1,091,453 worth of coins, valued at the time of the theft.

How much was really confiscated?

“Royal victims are typically required to pay ransoms in BTC by accessing a darknet website. On or about April 4, 2023, a victim paid a ransom of 49.3120227 Bitcoin to decrypt their data,” the announcement reads.

“This ransom was worth $1,445,454.86 at the time of the transaction. A portion of those proceeds ($1,091,453) was repeatedly deposited and withdrawn into a virtual currency exchange account until the funds were frozen by that exchange on or about Jan. 9, 2024.”

A million dollars’ worth of crypto would mean the crooks tried to launder 38.7 bitcoin at the time. When it was frozen, on January 9, 2024, it was already worth $1.78 million, and at press time, the same amount of bitcoin equals $4.6 million.

Given the decentralized and immutable nature of cryptocurrency, retrieving any amount is commendable. However, for BlackSuit, who stole hundreds of millions, this is but a drop in the sea.

Furthermore, since no arrests have been made, it is only a matter of time before BlackSuit restores its infrastructure and continues wreaking havoc throughout the corporate world.

Via TechCrunch

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