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Looking for a different day?

A new NYT Connections puzzle appears at midnight each day for your time zone – which means that some people are always playing 'today's game' while others are playing 'yesterday's'. If you're looking for Friday's puzzle instead then click here: NYT Connections hints and answers for Friday, August 15 (game #796).

Good morning! Let's play Connections, the NYT's clever word game that challenges you to group answers in various categories. It can be tough, so read on if you need Connections hints.

What should you do once you've finished? Why, play some more word games of course. I've also got daily Strands hints and answers and Quordle hints and answers articles if you need help for those too, while Marc's Wordle today page covers the original viral word game.

SPOILER WARNING: Information about NYT Connections today is below, so don't read on if you don't want to know the answers.

NYT Connections today (game #797) - today's words

(Image credit: New York Times)

Today's NYT Connections words are…

• TISSUE
• WORK
• PLUCK
• CONSTRUCTION
• CRUSH
• CREPE
• CREAM
• RESOLVE
• ROLLING
• REPAIRS
• SHELLAC
• TOILET
• GRIT
• ROUT
• UPGRADES
• FORTITUDE

NYT Connections today (game #797) - hint #1 - group hints

What are some clues for today's NYT Connections groups?

• YELLOW: Unwavering perseverance 
• GREEN: Home improvements
• BLUE: To deliver a heavy defeat
• PURPLE: Pulp friction

Need more clues?

We're firmly in spoiler territory now, but read on if you want to know what the four theme answers are for today's NYT Connections puzzles…

NYT Connections today (game #797) - hint #2 - group answers

What are the answers for today's NYT Connections groups?

• YELLOW: INTREPIDITY 
• GREEN: RENOVATIONS
• BLUE: TROUNCE
• PURPLE: KINDS OF SOFT/LIGHTWEIGHT PAPER

Right, the answers are below, so DO NOT SCROLL ANY FURTHER IF YOU DON'T WANT TO SEE THEM.

NYT Connections today (game #797) - the answers

(Image credit: New York Times)

The answers to today's Connections, game #797, are…

• YELLOW: INTREPIDITY FORTITUDE, GRIT, PLUCK, RESOLVE
• GREEN: RENOVATIONS CONSTRUCTION, REPAIRS, UPGRADES, WORK
• BLUE: TROUNCE CREAM, CRUSH, ROUT, SHELLAC
• PURPLE: KINDS OF SOFT/LIGHTWEIGHT PAPER CREPE, ROLLING, TISSUE, TOILET

• My rating: Hard
• My score: Perfect

A great puzzle today which got me pondering how we use TOILET paper to sneeze into, blow our noses, or dab them.

TOILET paper works perfectly well for this function because it’s essentially the same product as facial tissue, just in a different format. Yet, despite this, we’d never think of using facial tissue in place of toilet paper. Why is that? We might even use less and save money if we did.

The INTREPIDITY group contained four incredible qualities we should all strive to possess and I suspect those that do possess them don’t have time to ponder the differences between KINDS OF SOFT/LIGHTWEIGHT PAPER.

Yesterday's NYT Connections answers (Friday, August 15, game #796)

• YELLOW: POULTRY CUTS BREAST, TENDER, THIGH, WING
• GREEN: HANDLE, AS A BILL FOOT, PAY, SETTLE, TAKE CARE OF
• BLUE: SPLENDID BRILLIANT, CAPITAL, FINE, GRAND
• PURPLE: STARTS OF CULINARY NUTS CASH, HAZE, MAC, PEC

What is NYT Connections?

NYT Connections is one of several increasingly popular word games made by the New York Times. It challenges you to find groups of four items that share something in common, and each group has a different difficulty level: green is easy, yellow a little harder, blue often quite tough and purple usually very difficult.

On the plus side, you don't technically need to solve the final one, as you'll be able to answer that one by a process of elimination. What's more, you can make up to four mistakes, which gives you a little bit of breathing room.

It's a little more involved than something like Wordle, however, and there are plenty of opportunities for the game to trip you up with tricks. For instance, watch out for homophones and other word games that could disguise the answers.

It's playable for free via the NYT Games site on desktop or mobile.

Looking for a different day?

A new Quordle puzzle appears at midnight each day for your time zone – which means that some people are always playing 'today's game' while others are playing 'yesterday's'. If you're looking for Friday's puzzle instead then click here: Quordle hints and answers for Friday, August 15 (game #1299).

Quordle was one of the original Wordle alternatives and is still going strong now more than 1,100 games later. It offers a genuine challenge, though, so read on if you need some Quordle hints today – or scroll down further for the answers.

Enjoy playing word games? You can also check out my NYT Connections today and NYT Strands today pages for hints and answers for those puzzles, while Marc's Wordle today column covers the original viral word game.

SPOILER WARNING: Information about Quordle today is below, so don't read on if you don't want to know the answers.

Quordle today (game #1300) - hint #1 - VowelsHow many different vowels are in Quordle today?

• The number of different vowels in Quordle today is 5*.

* Note that by vowel we mean the five standard vowels (A, E, I, O, U), not Y (which is sometimes counted as a vowel too).

Quordle today (game #1300) - hint #2 - repeated lettersDo any of today's Quordle answers contain repeated letters?

• The number of Quordle answers containing a repeated letter today is 1.

Quordle today (game #1300) - hint #3 - uncommon lettersDo the letters Q, Z, X or J appear in Quordle today?

• Yes. One of Q, Z, X or J appears among today's Quordle answers.

Quordle today (game #1300) - hint #4 - starting letters (1)Do any of today's Quordle puzzles start with the same letter?

• The number of today's Quordle answers starting with the same letter is 0.

If you just want to know the answers at this stage, simply scroll down. If you're not ready yet then here's one more clue to make things a lot easier:

Quordle today (game #1300) - hint #5 - starting letters (2)What letters do today's Quordle answers start with?

• O

• Q

• S

• E

Right, the answers are below, so DO NOT SCROLL ANY FURTHER IF YOU DON'T WANT TO SEE THEM.

Quordle today (game #1300) - the answers

(Image credit: Merriam-Webster)

The answers to today's Quordle, game #1300, are…

• OWING
• QUAKE
• SLIDE
• ELITE

A very tricky round that could have easily gone sideways.

It took me quite a while before I found a letter containing A,U and E from the letters I had left. I could think of plenty using unavailable letters and came close to entering "usage" just to end the misery. Then I thought of QUAKE and the sweet relief of reaching the end.

Daily Sequence today (game #1300) - the answers

(Image credit: Merriam-Webster)

The answers to today's Quordle Daily Sequence, game #1300, are…

• SPEAK
• MORAL
• WIMPY
• SMACK

Quordle answers: The past 20

• Quordle #1299, Friday, 15 August: WHALE, PRISM, DRAKE, TEPEE
• Quordle #1298, Thursday, 14 August: LAPEL, IDIOM, RENEW, LIVER
• Quordle #1297, Wednesday, 13 August: CACTI, HOMER, EMAIL, ALBUM
• Quordle #1296, Tuesday, 12 August: SPOOL, TITLE, JAUNT, OVINE
• Quordle #1295, Monday, 11 August: ADULT, BROOM, PURER, CRUEL
• Quordle #1294, Sunday, 10 August: SCRUM, PIPER, TROLL, SPORE
• Quordle #1293, Saturday, 9 August: NOOSE, INLET, ELEGY, VIRUS
• Quordle #1292, Friday, 8 August: KNEEL, KINKY, RALPH, BOOZY
• Quordle #1291, Thursday, 7 August: PLUNK, PROXY, CURVY, PEARL
• Quordle #1290, Wednesday, 6 August: RISKY, APART, FAUNA, HANDY
• Quordle #1289, Tuesday, 5 August: ROAST, SLICK, AUDIT, BILLY
• Quordle #1288, Monday, 4 August: MACAW, SINCE, COLON, CHIRP
• Quordle #1287, Sunday, 3 August: MOTIF, LEERY, LOFTY, BURST
• Quordle #1286, Saturday, 2 August: WARTY, PUPAL, CLEAR, SLICE
• Quordle #1285, Friday, 1 August: ACTOR, MEALY, WIDTH, ADOBE
• Quordle #1284, Thursday, 31 July: STYLE, VALET, AGONY, ALLOY
• Quordle #1283, Wednesday, 30 July: DEBAR, ADMIN, FOLIO, USAGE
• Quordle #1282, Tuesday, 29 July: BATCH, TOPIC, MURKY, BUNCH
• Quordle #1281, Monday, 28 July: CANDY, TRYST, SHIRT, FORGO

Looking for a different day?

A new NYT Strands puzzle appears at midnight each day for your time zone – which means that some people are always playing 'today's game' while others are playing 'yesterday's'. If you're looking for Friday's puzzle instead then click here: NYT Strands hints and answers for Friday, August 15 (game #530).

Strands is the NYT's latest word game after the likes of Wordle, Spelling Bee and Connections – and it's great fun. It can be difficult, though, so read on for my Strands hints.

Want more word-based fun? Then check out my NYT Connections today and Quordle today pages for hints and answers for those games, and Marc's Wordle today page for the original viral word game.

SPOILER WARNING: Information about NYT Strands today is below, so don't read on if you don't want to know the answers.

NYT Strands today (game #531) - hint #1 - today's themeWhat is the theme of today's NYT Strands?

• Today's NYT Strands theme is… Think on it!

NYT Strands today (game #531) - hint #2 - clue words

Play any of these words to unlock the in-game hints system.

• LEGAL
• BANGER
• GAURD
• SNUB
• NOSE
• FATAL

NYT Strands today (game #531) - hint #3 - spangram lettersHow many letters are in today's spangram?

• Spangram has 9 letters

NYT Strands today (game #531) - hint #4 - spangram positionWhat are two sides of the board that today's spangram touches?

First side: top, 2nd column

Last side: bottom, 1st column

Right, the answers are below, so DO NOT SCROLL ANY FURTHER IF YOU DON'T WANT TO SEE THEM.

NYT Strands today (game #531) - the answers

(Image credit: New York Times)

The answers to today's Strands, game #531, are…

• LOGIC
• ANALYSIS
• LANGUAGE
• NUMBERS
• ORDER 
• REASON
• SPANGRAM: LEFT BRAIN

• My rating: Hard
• My score: 1 hint

The theme “Think on it!” could mean anything at all, so I went hunting for non-game words to earn a hint.

I got the word LEFT but completely missed seeing BRAIN, which probably says something about my lack of LOGIC and LEFT BRAIN dexterity.

Anyway, with logic gifted to me I was able to spot the other thinking words including a corkscrewing ANALYSIS and backwards REASON.

A nice work out for the brain, then, but not so taxing an exercise that I actually had to do any proper thinking.

Yesterday's NYT Strands answers (Friday, August 15, game #530)

• DISHES
• GARBAGE
• GROCERIES
• LAUNDRY
• VACUUMING
• SPANGRAM: WHAT A CHORE

What is NYT Strands?

Strands is the NYT's not-so-new-any-more word game, following Wordle and Connections. It's now a fully fledged member of the NYT's games stable that has been running for a year and which can be played on the NYT Games site on desktop or mobile.

I've got a full guide to how to play NYT Strands, complete with tips for solving it, so check that out if you're struggling to beat it each day.

• President Trump and Intel CEO Lip-Bu Tan could be in discussions about a deal
• Intel shares rose 7% following the report
• The company's $28 billion Ohio One campus could benefit from such investment

The Trump administration is reportedly in talks over taking a stake in beleagured chipmaker Intel in its latest bid to boost US manufacturing,

Reports from Bloomberg claim after the recent meeting between President Trump and Intel CEO Lip-Bu Tan – a relationship that's been threatened after the President called for Tan to resign over alleged ties to China, talks have reportedly been held over a deal.

A potential government investment could include equity stakes, guaranteed purchases, loans and private financing, similar to the Pentagon's recent $400 million stake in MP Materials which recently brought on the provision of a $150 million loan.

US Government could buy a stake in Intel

The news comes after a long period of uncertainty for Intel with multiple quarters of revenue decline.

Things have already slowly started to turn around, though, with Intel seeing flat year-over-year revenue in its last quarter under the guidance of new CEO Lip-Bu Tan.

"We are laser-focused on strengthening our core product portfolio and our AI roadmap to better serve customers. We are also taking the actions needed to build a more financially disciplined foundry," he said.

Intel shares rose more than 7% following the report that the US Government could get involved in Intel's operations, however the deal remains unconfirmed with no agreement reached as yet.

The White House explained, "discussion about hypothetical deals should be regarded as speculation unless officially announced by the administration."

Intel had already signed a deal with AWS in September 2024 to accelerate the development of chip manufacturing in Ohio, but progress has remained slow.

As part of the deal, AWS was going to add $7.8 billion to expand its own data center operations in Central Ohio.

In February 2025, EVP, Chief Global Operations Officer and GM for Intel Foundry Manufacturing, Naga Chandrasekaran, said Intel expects the first of its two Ohio fabs to begin operations between 2030 and 2031, with the second coming online around a year later.

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• A collaboration between Sony and cult fashion favorite Chopova Lowena
• Made specifically for the WH-1000XM6
• £800 (about $1,085 / AU$1,665) including headphones

Sony has teamed up with cult British/Bulgarian fashion brand Chopova Lowena to create a bag for the WH-1000XM6 headphones that "seamlessly blends Chopova Lowena’s distinctive aesthetic with Sony’s cutting-edge technology and functionality".

The Alto bag, available now for £800 (about $1,085 / AU$1,665) including a set of black WH-1000XM6 headphones, is exclusive to Dover Street Market London and doverstreetmarket.com.

Maybe it's because I'm just back from the Edinburgh Festival and its streets of shops selling tourist tat, but looking at the photos of the alto it reminds me very much of the "see you Jimmy" comedy hats available everywhere (and that I've included for illustrative purposes in the gallery below, if you scroll right), or a squashed set of bagpipes. Or maybe a wild haggis that's been smashed with hammers? I don't think that's the intention here, but it's what I see.

Clearly middle-aged sarcastic me isn't the target demographic here, and Sony is very excited about the collaboration, which delivered on their brief to "create something fun, distinctly original and fashion forward."

Image 1 of 2

(Image credit: Sony / Chopova Lowena )Image 2 of 2

(Image credit: Dover Street Market / Temu)A bag for the Edinburgh Fringe Festival, for sure

Chopova Lowena are Emma Chopova and Laura Lowena, and according to the press release they're a woman-centered, ethical employer creating "job opportunities for women passionate about rejuvenating cultural heritage through the preservation of traditional techniques. The objective of their design and production of distinctive garments is to usher in a system of ethical consumption with a focus on appreciating skill, craft, time and consideration for impact on the environment."

The duo "see music and fashion as deeply intertwined forms of expression that immerse individuals in their own worlds." The Alto bag is inspired by their own Sofia bag and also incorporates elements of their AW23 Pow Pow bag, creating what Sony says is "a totally unique accessory meant for the music-obsessed".

According to Chopova Lowena: "The Alto bag is here for every mood, every genre, and every tear wept to a playlist listened through your Sony headphones. You’re part of the Sony x Chopova Lowena family so no matter how you’re feeling, you’re never going through it alone.”

The Alto bag is available now. Of course, you can buy the headphones on their own (ie. without this bag) and you'd be making a great purchase if you did, since the WH-1000XM6 are some of the best over-ear headphones we've tested. Yes, we still recommend their older siblings (the excellent WH-1000XM4) as the best pick for most people owing to their incredible value and the excellent sound and feature-set, but if your budget stretches a little bit further, the XM6 are an excellent set of 2025 headphones.

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• GPT-5 completed Pokémon Red in just 6,470 steps
• That's almost a third of the time it took ChatGPT-o3
• AI is going to try and complete the sequel, Pokémon Crystal next

There's a new champion – for now – in the contest to be the fastest AI to complete the original Pokémon Red video game, with ChatGPT-5 completely eclipsing its rivals.

GPT-5, the latest model from OpenAI, took just 6,470 steps to complete the 1998 Game Boy classic, eclipsing the previous record of 18,184 steps by ChatGPT-o3.

If it's hard to comprehend how many steps the main character, Red, had to make to defeat the Elite Four – 6,470 equates to around seven days of gameplay, compared to over 15 days for o3, the next best Pokémon model.

It's a stark contrast to earlier this year, when Gemini 2.5 and Claude 3.7 Sonnet were in a race to even get to the end of the game, let alone do so in a fast time.

Anthropic used Pokémon as a benchmark to showcase the prowess of its latest Claude model, combining it with a YouTube video in which developers discussed why GameFreak's iconic franchise was the perfect way to assess an AI model's problem-solving capabilities.

Now, just a few months later, AI models are able to complete these classic games faster and faster – and they're only going to improve.

All of AI's attempts to complete Pokémon have been livestreamed on platforms like Twitch, where channels like GPT_Plays_Pokemon have regular viewers and subscribers.

Having destroyed the previous record time for completing Pokémon Red, GPT-5 is now going to take on the sequel, Pokémon Crystal. The game, which was released in 2000, has double the amount of content to conquer, as you can venture back to the world of Kanto following your adventure in the Johto region.

GPT-5 Just Finished Pokemon Red! from r/singularityGotta train 'em all!

(Image credit: Nintendo)

GPT-5's Pokémon Red journey highlights a tactic young kids have used in the game for years: leveling up one Pokémon and neglecting the other five creatures in your party.

In the Reddit thread highlighting the AI model's accomplishment, the top comment from u/Ok_Business84 reads, "Learned that sticking to one Pokémon and hard tanking everybody is the easier way."

After nearly 30 years, I finally feel like my younger self has been validated. Back in 1999, I completed Pokémon Yellow with an overpowered Pikachu, and nothing else to show for it.

It would be cool to see GPT-5 play Pokémon less like 6-year-old me, and more like an accomplished player, building a varied team of creatures that can take on any battle in the game. This run feels like the AI brute-forced its way to victory, and while it achieved the goal it set out to achieve, it's not entirely viable in a regular playthrough.

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• ChatGPT might not be ad-free forever
• Head of ChatGPT Nick Turley says ads could be implemented in the future in some OpenAI products
• ChatGPT could remain ad-free, but at what cost?

The head of ChatGPT says OpenAI could implement ads on its products in the future, but only if they are "thoughtful and tasteful."

Speaking to The Verge, Nick Turley, the head of ChatGPT, was quizzed on the possibility of the AI chatbot getting ads in the future. While reluctant to respond, he did give an insight into how he views advertising for ChatGPT, and couldn't rule it out completely.

Turley said, "Look, since you’re really trying to get me to comment on ads, I have become humble enough not to make crazy, extreme, long-term statements on a question like that, because maybe there is a certain market where people aren’t willing to pay us, yet we want to offer the best, latest, and greatest. Maybe that would be a place to consider other indirect forms of monetization."

He added that if the company were to ever implement ads, they would need to do so in a "very, very careful and deliberate because I really think that the thing that makes ChatGPT magical is the fact that you get the best answer for you, and there’s no other stakeholder in the middle."

While that sounds pretty positive for the future of an ad-free ChatGPT experience, Turley couldn't rule it out altogether, instead opting for a more diplomatic approach. He said, "I’m humble enough not to rule it out categorically, but we’d have to be very thoughtful and tasteful about it."

Maybe more positive, however, is that he seems to think that if ads were to appear on OpenAI products, then it's likely to be on other offerings from the company, not the world's most popular AI chatbot with over 700 million weekly users.

He said, "We will build other products, and those other products can have different dimensions to them, and maybe ChatGPT just isn’t an ads-y product because it’s just so deeply accountable to your goals."

ChatGPT is ad free, but subscriptions will likely ramp up

While Nick Turley's comments leave me feeling hopeful for an ad-free ChatGPT experience for the foreseeable future, I feel less positive about an even more heavily tiered platform that paywalls its best features.

Just yesterday, ChatGPT started to roll out Gmail connectivity, but its best capabilities are paywalled behind ChatGPT Pro, a $200 / £200 a month subscription.

As a ChatGPT Plus subscriber who pays $20 / £20 a month, I've noticed the sheer difference in capabilities between the paid version and the free one, and while I understand OpenAI needs to make money as a business, $240 / £240 a year feels like a steep ask.

I'm worried about the future of AI being paywalled behind premium subscriptions, and I think it's the direction we're heading in. Even companies like Google have offered premium AI subscriptions with the best Pixel smartphones for a year; however, following that initial period, the same Gemini AI capabilities become paid.

If subscriptions and basic free tiers are the way AI companies justify ad-free chatbots, then I'm more pro-ads than I ever thought I'd be. In fact, give me an ad-riddled ChatGPT with full access to the same as a Plus account for free; I'd take that over forking out a hefty amount of money every single month.

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• Code in macOS Tahoe hints that a 5G MacBook could be on the way
• Apple is apparently testing it in a MacBook with M5 Pro chip
• There’s no guarantee a 5G MacBook will ever launch, though

Apple’s best iPhones and iPads have all been imbued with 5G goodness, but MacBooks remain left out in the cold. There are hints now, though, that that could soon change, and I think this could bring with it some serious benefits.

The idea of a 5G MacBook hasn’t been put forward by a dodgy leaker or an industry analyst – no, it comes from Apple itself. According to Macworld, Apple’s macOS Tahoe code contains references to an unreleased Mac codenamed “t6050” that will feature an M5 Pro chip, indicating that it’s going to be part of the next generation of MacBook Pro laptops.

Crucially, the code suggests that this MacBook will come with a “Centauri” chip, Macworld claims. Centauri is the codename for Apple’s 5G modem, which found its way into the iPhone 16e under the C1 name. If Macworld’s report is accurate, that would make the MacBook Pro with M5 Pro chip the first Apple laptop to feature 5G connectivity.

The timing makes sense, as Apple outfitted its iPhone 16e with its first in-house 5G modem last year. With more control over the chip’s features and manufacturing process, Apple might feel that the time is right to bring 5G capabilities to its laptop range.

And with the efficiency of Apple silicon added to the mix, there would be less concern over the chip unduly draining your laptop’s battery.

Connectivity off the grid

(Image credit: Apple)

On the face of it, adding 5G to a MacBook might seem like a strange idea. After all, no one is about to hold a clunky laptop up to their ear to make a phone call. And when I first heard this rumor, I was pretty unconvinced.

But the idea has been growing on me over the past few months. Far from being an anachronism, 5G could actually bring some pretty upsides to your Apple laptop, both in terms of connectivity and security.

For instance, it could help you stay connected to the internet in places where Wi-Fi is unavailable, such as when you’re traveling or off the grid. As well as that, it would mean you wouldn’t need to connect to free Wi-Fi in bars and restaurants, avoiding what can be a serious security risk to your laptop.

Still, there’s no guarantee that Apple will ever actually release a 5G MacBook. While it has been rumored for many months now, the company could simply be testing the device and ultimately decide not to launch it.

But with the M5-series MacBooks expected to arrive in either late 2025 or early 2026, we might find out relatively soon.

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• Windows 11 just got a new test build in the Release Preview channel
• It comes with a fair chunk of AI features, but only one I actually want
• That's the AI agent in Settings, which is rolling out to more people - but sadly, I won't get this, as it's for Copilot+ PCs only

Windows 11 just got a new preview release, and there's quite a bit of work with AI here, including a new home page for the Recall ability and a wider deployment of the AI agent in the Settings app.

This is preview build 26100.506,1, which has been pushed out to testers in the Release Preview channel, and as you might guess, much of the fresh introductions on the AI front are for Copilot+ PCs only.

One of the most important moves is that the AI agent in Settings - which works as a natural language search to find the options you want easily - is now rolling out to Copilot+ laptops with AMD and Intel processors.

Previously, this ability was only available to Copilot+ PCs with Snapdragon X (Arm) CPUs, but it's now functioning with all of these devices (though the feature still only works when your primary language is set to English in Windows 11). Sadly, I don't have a Copilot+ device, so I'm more than a bit jealous, as I feel like this is very much an AI feature worth having - and those are a rarity.

Speaking of which, still in Copilot+ PCs territory, the Recall feature - for those who've turned it on, and that won't be everyone, even though it's a core pillar of Microsoft's drive with AI - now has a new home page which is based on your recent activity.

So, this surfaces your most-used apps and websites, and will also present you with the latest snapshots taken so you can quickly get back into tasks you were previously engaged in (assuming you have snapshots set to be saved in Recall, of course). Essentially, it's a bank of useful and personalized shortcuts to get back into what you were doing in a swifter manner.

Along with this, Click to Do (AI-powered context-sensitive suggestions) now comes with a short tutorial (an interactive one, apparently). This shows how it works to offer shortcuts with images or text, a useful touch for those new to the idea.

All of this is for Copilot+ PCs, but there are some fresh AI additions coming to all Windows 11 systems. That includes AI actions in File Explorer, which are shortcuts in a similar vein to Click to Do, based around editing images or summarizing documents.

With images (JPG and PNG formats) in File Explorer - which is the app that displays the folders on your desktop - there are now four AI-related actions. That includes a Visual Search (image search on the web), and the Erase Objects ability, which is AI-powered object removal in the Photos app - plus there's the self-explanatory Blur Background option in that app, too. On top of that, Remove Background will do just that with an image in the Paint app.

In the case of summarizing documents, however, this functionality is restricted - you need a Microsoft 365 subscription to benefit from AI actions here.

Away from AI, there are quite a few other changes with this new preview build, and a whole host of minor tweaks all over the place - check out Microsoft's extensive blog post for the full details.

Other nifty non-AI changes worth noting include Windows 11 users outside of Europe getting the ability to fully customize which widgets appear on the lock screen (previously this was exclusive to the European Economic Area).

Windows Hello - the secure login system - now has a revamped interface, and a bug where facial recognition failed has been fixed (plus fingerprint login now works better after the PC wakes from sleep).

(Image credit: Foxy burrow / Shutterstock / Microsoft)Analysis: The importance of being artificially intelligent

The agent for changing Windows 11 settings is one of the more useful applications for AI that I've seen introduced by Microsoft, so while it's good to see it coming to Copilot+ PCs that don't have an Arm processor, I'm still jealous that I'm missing out. Yes, I get it - you need that powerful NPU to make it work - but still, it doesn't feel great to not be receiving one of the genuinely laudable AI concepts that Microsoft has on the boil.

At any rate, as this is the Release Preview channel, this means the AI agent should hit the finished version of Windows 11 soon enough for those with the necessary hardware.

The rest of us can feel like we're missing out, or maybe you won't even care about this - or the other steps forward Microsoft has taken with AI here. Okay, so it's not that there wasn't anything else for normal (non-Copilot+) Windows 11 machines in this preview, but a fair chunk of the major moves were to do with AI.

And it's likely that the focus on AI features here might elicit some groans from quite a few folks - but despite that, and the relatively niche appeal of Copilot+ devices still, we can expect a lot more of Microsoft pushing this kind of tech.

Recent visions of the future of Windows from a couple of Microsoft executives have underlined the importance of AI (as well as the cloud and voice commands for input), so it's clear that this is a path Microsoft is going to be forging down with even more vigor in the coming years. In short: you'd best get used to this.

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• The Pixel 10 Pro Fold is again tipped to be IP68 rated
• It would be the first foldable to reach the standard
• The Pixel 10 phones are getting unveiled on August 20

We're patiently counting down the days until the big Google Pixel 10 showcase on August 20, and ahead of the launch event there's a rumor that the Pixel 10 Pro Fold will be the first foldable to launch with an IP68 rating for dust and water protection.

This comes from WinFuture, in an article where most of the handset's technical details are presented, and it's the IP68 rating that really stands out. No other foldable on the market can match it, not even the IP48-rated Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 7.

An IP68 phone is completely protected against dust getting in, and is watertight too: the exact definition depends on the phone and the manufacturer, but being able to survive for 30 minutes in water at a depth of 1.5 meters (nearly five feet) is typical.

The Google Pixel 9 Pro Fold offers IPX8 protection, like foldables such as the Motorola Razr 50 Ultra: this means a high level of waterproofing, but no guarantee that specks of dust and dirt aren't going to find their way into the housing.

A repeating rumor

Of course, a foldable phone with a flexible screen and a hinge presents some very specific challenges when it comes to keeping out dust and water, and it will be quite the feat if Google has managed to get the Pixel 10 Pro Fold up to the required standard.

Given that we heard the same rumor from separate sources in June and in July, it's looking more and more likely that Google has indeed pulled off that feat – and it's going to be one of the major selling points of the handset, on top of whatever other upgrades we get treated to.

Another interesting tidbit from this report is that the storage will be upgraded from UFS 3.1 to UFS 4.0. It won't make a huge difference, but it will mean a speed increase, and should make the foldable phone feel snappier overall.

We will of course be covering the launch of the Pixel 10 Pro Fold and the other handsets in the series live on August 20, and we're expecting Google to provide a livestream of some description, so you'll be able to watch along wherever you are in the world.

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• A threat actor is selling a huge database on the dark web
• They claim it was taken from multiple hotels in Italy
• The country's digital transformation agency confirmed the breach

A cybercriminal has managed to break into the booking system used by numerous hotels in Italy and steal highly sensitive information on thousands of guests, experts have warned.

Recently, a threat actor with the alias mydocs took to underground hacking forums to advertise the sale of roughly 100,000 individual identity documents, including passport scans, ID cards, and more, which they claimed to have stolen it from multiple hotels across Italy.

At first, the claims were met with skepticism from the wider cybersecurity industry, however Italy’s technical agency for digital transformation, AGID, has now confirmed the authenticity of the breach.

Abusing stolen data

At least ten hotels were struck, with the number possibly increasing in the coming weeks, AGID said, hinting it had “intercepted” an illegal sale of the documents.

"This data, once stolen, can be used for fraudulent purposes: from the creation of false documents to the opening of bank accounts, up to social engineering attacks and digital identity theft, with consequences for victims that can also be serious, both from an economic and legal point of view,” AGID said in a press release (machine translated) posted on its website.

It is possible that mydocs either inflated the numbers, or managed to steal years’ worth of sensitive data, since some of the hotels compromised have just a few dozen rooms. In any case, an official investigation is now under way.

The hospitality industry, given that it handles highly sensitive data, continues to be among the most targeted ones out there. Hotels and lodging, restaurants, event planning agencies, and tourism companies, are frequent victims of ransomware, impersonation, and data theft.

Victims are urged to remain vigilant with incoming communications, especially emails claiming to be coming from Italian hotels.

Via The Register

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• HBO Max has released one final trailer for Peacemaker season 2
• The latest teaser is full of gory and raunchy moments
• It includes a clip that appears to spoil a key story moment

Peacemaker season 2 is less than a week from premiering on our screens and, to celebrate its impending release, HBO Max has unveiled one final trailer that's definitely not suitable to watch in public.

Released yesterday (August 14), the red band trailer is full of the gruesome action and raunchy humor we've come to expect from R-rated projects with DC Studios co-CEO James Gunn at the helm. Indeed, from mutilated bodies and numerous swear words, to an orgy that looks like it'll rival The Boys season 3's 'Herogasm' episode for the amount of nudity on show, it's a sizzle reel that's best seen in private. (Warning: viewer discretion is advised).

With Peacemaker season 2 set to arrive on August 21 (North and South America) and August 22 (everywhere else), this is the last piece of footage-based promotional material we're likely to see.

It's full of interesting clips, too. The returning hit show's first two teasers put this season's multiversal elements at the forefront – and, in the process, did little to address DC fans' concerns over its place in Gunn and Peter Safran's rebooted DC Universe (DCU). The adult-oriented TV Original's final trailer doesn't ignore those aspects, either, but it emphasises Rick Flag Sr's pursuit of the titular character – real name Chris Smith – who, spoiler, killed Flag Sr's son in 2021's The Suicide Squad.

References to Gunn's Superman movie, such as Lex Luthor's near-world-ending plan and the threat that metahumans (read: superpowered beings) pose, are also placed front and center. It seems, then, that the plot of Peacemaker's second season will split its time between the dimension known as the DCU and whatever parallel realities its cast discover via the Quantum Unfolding Chamber (QUC) – i.e. the interdimensional storage unit found in the home of Smith's dead father.

Does Peacemaker season 2's final trailer ruin a major plot point ahead of the show's return?

Well, this doesn't look good... (Image credit: HBO Max/DC Studios)

All in all, the third DCU Chapter One project's final round of footage is getting a lot of love from viewers. However, I think a lot of people have skipped over the fact that Peacemaker 2's latest teaser appears to spoil a huge moment that could have a major impact on its story.

Potentially big spoilers follow for Peacemaker season 2.

The trailer's final clip begins with a four-eyed alien, which appears to be carrying a dead, hairless cast, opening its own interdimensional door to the QUC. As it enters this seemingly infinite realm, it sees Smith and his self-installed bestie Adrian Chase/Vigilante burning... something. Long story short: Smith crudely tells the alien to leave, which sparks a somewhat amusing conversation between Smith and Chase.

...this isn't what it looks like, promise! (Image credit: HBO Max/DC Studios)

Now, we don't know what the pair are doing, but I don't think they're having an interdimensional barbeque. In fact, I believe they're destroying evidence that could implicate them in someone's murder.

Think about it. The duo are wearing aprons and hazmat-style gloves covered in blood. As we learned time and again in season 1, Smith only asks for Chase's help when there's some form of dirty work to be done. Furthermore, the official trailer for Peacemaker season 2 showed Smith leading Chase through the QUC as the latter carried equipment that's usually reserved for cleaning, as well as a tense showdown with an alternate reality's Peacemaker.

To me, all of this evidence suggests Smith has accidentally killed someone. My belief is it's not just an ordinary person, either – indeed, I think it's the aforementioned Peacemaker.

Am I reading too much into this single clip? Perhaps but, before you dismiss the idea completely, let me show you part of the official logline for one of the best HBO Max shows' next entry: "In season 2, Peacemaker discovers an alternate world where life is everything he wishes it could be."

As it's implied, this other Smith/Peacemaker's life is markedly better than the DCU's version. The Smith we know could get jealous and, whether accidental or not, kill his multiversal variant, thereby allowing him to take the place of this parallel world's Smith, which is what season 2's various trailers have hinted at.

I guess we'll find out for sure once Peacemaker 2 launches with a two-episode premiere on HBO Max and more of the world's best streaming services in the near future. For now, get the lowdown on the series' return via my dedicated guide to Peacemaker season 2.

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A single missile can cost millions of dollars and only hit a single critical target. A low-equity, AI-powered cyberattack costs next to nothing and can disrupt entire economies, degrading national power and eroding strategic advantage.

The rules have changed: the future of warfare is a series of asynchronous, covert cyber operations carried out below the threshold of kinetic conflict. Battles will still be fought over land, sea, and sky, but what happens in the cyber domain could have a greater bearing on their outcome than how troops maneuver on the battlefield.

We were always heading in this direction, but AI has proven a dangerous accelerant. The entire military industrial base must become fortified against these risks, and that starts with continuous, autonomous validation of its cyber security defenses.

Today’s adversaries, whether state-sponsored actors or independent cybercrime syndicates, are deploying AI-driven agents to handicap critical systems across the entire military supply chain.

Stop them with our cybersecurity tools now.

The Case for Autonomous Resilience

Today’s adversaries, whether state-sponsored actors or independent cybercrime syndicates, are deploying AI-driven agents to handicap critical systems across the entire military supply chain. These attackers aren’t focused on headline-making digital bombs, but a slow attrition, applying continuous pressure to degrade functionality over time. They’re also working anonymously: AI-enabled cyberattacks are executed by autonomous agents or proxies, making attribution slow or impossible.

Consider a hypothetical attack on the U.S. Navy. The Navy depends on a vast, decentralized web of small and mid-sized suppliers for everything from propulsion components to shipboard software systems. While these systems and suppliers may coalesce into the most technologically advanced Navy in the world, their interdependence is almost akin to human biology, in the way that a hit to one system can thoroughly destabilize another.

An adversary doesn’t need to breach the Navy directly. Instead, they can launch persistent cyberattacks on the long tail of maritime subcontractors, degrading national capability over time instead of in one massive, headline-making blow.

Third-party vendors, which often lack the financial resources to properly patch vulnerabilities, may be riddled with unsewn wounds that attackers can use as an entry point. But major security vulnerabilities aren’t the only way in. AI-driven agents can autonomously compromise outdated email systems, misconfigured cloud services, or exposed remote access portals across hundreds of these suppliers.

The impacts of these attacks can look like “normal” disruptions, the result of human error or some missing piece of code: delayed component deliveries, corrupted design files, and general operational uncertainty. However, the ill effects accumulate over time, delaying shipbuilding schedules and weakening overall fleet readiness.

Emerging threats

That’s not even accounting for sanctions. If equipment is damaged, and replacement parts or skilled maintenance teams are restricted, one attack has just crippled a nation’s chip manufacturing capacity—potentially for months or years.

These attacks also get smarter over time. AI agents are designed for continuous improvement, and as they sink deeper into a system, they become more adept at uncovering and exploiting weaknesses. The cascading damage limits recovery efforts, further delaying defense production timelines and dragging entire economies backwards.

Despite these emerging threats, most defense and industrial organizations still rely on traditional concepts of deterrents, built around visible threats and proportional response: think static defenses, annual audits, and reactive incident response. Meanwhile, adversaries are running autonomous campaigns that learn, adapt, and evolve faster than human defenders can respond. You cannot deter what you cannot detect, and you cannot retaliate against what you cannot attribute.

Facing such dire stakes, defense contractors must exploit their own environments before attackers do. That means deploying AI-powered agents across critical infrastructure—breaking in, chaining weaknesses, and fixing them—to achieve true resilience. If the window for exploitation narrows, and the cost of action rises. “Low equity” means little against a high chance of failure.

Leveraging AI in Proactive Defense

Fighting fire with fire sounds simple enough, but there are serious risks involved. The same AI tools that bolster organizations’ defenses against smarter, more covert attacks can also create new vulnerabilities. Large language models (LLMs) may cache critical weaknesses in their model architecture, and third-party components that contribute to the models’ effectiveness can also introduce new vulnerabilities.

Any AI-powered security tools should undergo a comprehensive vetting process to identify potential risks and weaknesses. Model architecture and history, data pipeline hygiene, and infrastructural requirements–such as digital sovereignty compliance–are all factors to consider when augmenting security with AI-enabled tools.

Even the cleanest, most secure AI program is not a failsafe. Defenders that rely too heavily on AI will find themselves facing many of the same problems that plague their counterparts who use outdated scanners.

A mix of false confidence and alert fatigue from automated risk notifications can lead to missed critical vulnerabilities. In a national security scenario, that can lose a battle. That can lose a war. Real, attack-driven testing makes up for where AI lacks, and when used in tandem with it, creates an ironclad shield against AI-enabled adversaries.

Artificial intelligence is a boon for society and industry—but it is also a weapon, and a dangerous one at that. Fortunately, it’s one that we can wield for ourselves.

• Microsoft Teams adding new Chat Notes feature
• New addition should help users collaborate better
• Only desktop Microsoft Teams users will initially get the new tool

Your workplace Microsoft Teams chats could soon actually be productive, thanks to a new service coming to the video conferencing platform.

The company has announced Chat notes, a "new collaborative space" where users will be able to share ideas and collaborate on work without having to leave Microsoft Teams.

Microsoft says the new feature will allow not just real-time online collaboration, but also will help keep your communications in check, and increase productivity across the board.

Microsoft Teams Chat Notes

In a Microsoft 365 roadmap post announcing the news, the company says Chat Notes will be all about, "enabling real-time collaboration, organization of key information, and streamlined communications."

The tool will be available in group chats along with 1:1 conversations, with the ability to add in extra team members when required.

The update post does not go into a whole lot of detail about what Chat Notes will look like, but does mention a few features, including the ability to add images, format text, share Loop components, and mention chat members when you require their attention.

Chat Notes is still listed as being in development for now, but has an expected release date of September 2025, so users should not have too long to wait to super-charge their productivity tools.

Upon release, Microsoft says Chat Notes will be available for Teams users on Desktop to begin with, with users across the world able to access it.

The launch will be the latest in a series of recent releases aimed at making Microsoft Teams users more productive when using the service.

This includes adding the ability for users to save messages in their conversations and chats, meaning users no longer have to trawl back manually through long conversations to find the message they need.

The company also revealed configurable keyboard shortcuts are finally coming to Microsoft Teams soon, giving users quick and easy access the symbols, icons, and others they may use regularly on a daily basis, but sometime are not close at hand when typing in a work environment.

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Outlander: Blood of my Blood has burst onto Starz and Amazon MGM+ with all the vim and vigor of its predecessor Outlander, and we’ve only seen three out of 10 episodes. If you haven’t caught up yet, Blood of my Blood acts as a prequel to the main series, following Claire (Caitriona Balfe) and Jamie’s (Sam Heughan) parents, from World War I to the rugged Highlands of 18th century Scotland. They’re separate yet connected, in even more ways than we’re currently aware of.

As it stands, we’ve seen both pairs fall in love and l into their respective time travel journeys, but it’s Claire’s parents that I’m the most interested in. Henry (Jeremy Irvine) and Julia (Hermione Corfield) have fallen in love through a beautiful written correspondence before being brutally thrown back in time. They’ve been split up from one another along the way, finding their way back to each other while talking themselves into rewriting history in the process.

While I’m enjoying the hunt for Outlander Easter eggs (and there are a lot of those), I just can’t predict what we’re about to see in the next episode, let alone how the season will wrap up. But keeping one eye on the season 1 finale is exactly how my mind works, so I had to ask Irvine and Corfield about it when I had the chance. So, imagine my surprise when they told me they also have no idea what’s coming, and frankly, the reason why is an incredibly smart move from the producers.

Out of four potential endings, we have no idea which will air in the Outlander: Blood of My Blood season 1 finale

“We get given our scripts while we're filming the block before,” Corfield tells me, fresh from the set of Outlander: Blood of My Blood season 2. “We're currently doing block one and two [of season 2], and we won’t start to see scripts for block three until we're nearly done with block two, so you're constantly learning where your character is going as well. We actually have no clue what’s really coming.”

Irvine adds the punch: “We filmed about four different endings for season one, so we still haven't seen which one they've gone for in the final edit.” It’s the sort of thing RuPaul’s Drag Race would do to keep a season’s eventual winner a secret, filming every queen sobbing on the runway with a crown a sceptre.

This means that outside of the editing room, absolutely nobody knows how season 1 will end, and that’s refreshing. Alongside my fellow press chums, I’ve been lucky enough to have advanced Outlander: Blood of My Blood access, but that left us about four episodes short. In a time when we’re desperate to work out what’s coming, have all information at our fingertips and uncover leaks and spoilers before they hit the small screen, a move like this is now the only foolproof way to keep us in suspense, providing the watercooler moment that’s working so well for weekly releases. And for that, I tip my hat in respect to Starz.

Obviously, we can try to work out what’s coming thanks to the seven existing seasons of Outlander, clearly having to directly intersect with Outlander: Blood of My Blood at some point (especially if Claire is as close in time to her parents as we think). But Irvine didn’t realize the level of pressure that would come with that until season 1 started airing.

“Not until we started doing press,” he tells me about the comparison pressure. “We film it in this little bubble in Scotland, so it's very easy to forget that anyone's ever going to watch it. Now that we're promoting it, and we're filming season two, I'm looking at my scripts for season two going ‘Geez, gotta make sure I do a good job of that,’ because of the fan base.”

So, will there be any real clues to hang onto following the ending of Outlander: Blood of My Blood until we’re into the second season? Only time (travel) will tell.

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What's the next Nintendo Switch 2 exclusive planned for 2025?

(Image credit: Nintendo)

The next Nintendo Switch 2 exclusive planned for a 2025 release is Kirby and the Forgotten Land Nintendo Switch 2 Edition + Star-Crossed World. Now that the console is out, you can check out our Switch 2 restock guide for info on where to pick one up. Elsewhere, there's TechRadar Gaming's Switch 2 review, where you'll find our final verdict on the new screen, controllers, mouse mode, and battery life.

Upcoming Nintendo Switch 2 exclusives will start to arrive thick over the next few months, with Kirby and the Forgotten Land Nintendo Switch 2 Edition + Star-Crossed World kicking things off in style now that the Switch 2 is out. Nintendo fans will have plenty to keep them busy for the rest of the year as well, with everything from a new Metroid Prime game, to a new Pokémon set to come out.

In terms of upcoming Switch 2 titles and Switch 2 launch games the next couple of months are absolutely stacked with Nintendo Switch 2 games. Some are exclusives like Kirby Air Riders, while others are new versions of old games like Elden Ring: Tarnished Edition. One thing's for sure, there will likely be some new contenders for our best Nintendo Switch 2 games list by the end of the year.

Here are the upcoming Nintendo Switch 2 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 Nintendo Switch 2, new versions of Nintendo Switch games, or Nintendo Switch 2 versions of upcoming games. We'll indicate where each game sits with regard to these release platforms as we go.

Upcoming Nintendo Switch 2 exclusives

(Image credit: Nintendo)

There are currently quite a few Nintendo Switch 2 exclusives planned and confirmed for future release on the upcoming console. We've listed them below, alongside their release dates where available.

The games below include those only coming to Nintendo Switch 2, new versions of Nintendo Switch games, or Nintendo Switch 2 versions of upcoming games. We'll indicate where each game sits with regard to these release platforms as we go.

• Kirby and the Forgotten Land - August 28, 2025 (Nintendo Switch 2 edition)
• Story of Seasons: Grand Bazaar - August 28, 2025 (Nintendo Switch 2 edition)
• Kirby Air Riders - TBC 2025 (Nintendo Switch 2 exclusive)
• Hyrule Warriors: Age of Imprisonment - Winter 2025 (Nintendo Switch 2 exclusive)
• The Duskbloods - TBC 2026 (Nintendo Switch 2 exclusive)
• Hades 2 - TBC (Nintendo Switch 2, Nintendo Switch exclusive)
• Splatoon Raiders - TBC (Nintendo Switch 2 exclusive)

(Image credit: FromSoftware)The Duskbloods - TBC 2026

New blood

Let's kick off this list of Nintendo Switch 2 exclusives with perhaps the most surprising reveal of the latest Nintendo Direct. The Duskbloods is a brand new game from Bloodborne and Dark Souls developer FromSoftware. It's a Nintendo Switch 2 exclusive, and it'll launch sometime in 2026. Beyond that, we don't know too much about it, other than it. being described as a PvPvE multiplayer game. Whether this will be similar to how things work in Elden Ring, with players invading your game, or more akin to what Elden Ring: Nightreign is going for remains to be seen.

(Image credit: Nintendo)Hyrule Warriors: Age of Imprisonment - Winter 2025

Back to where it all began

Hyrule Warriors: Age of Imprisonment is a third-person action game that serves as a prequel to The Legend of Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom. It all plays out in that classic Dynasty Warriors style, with the story set around the Imprisoning War that kicks off Link's journey to save Hyrule with the help of the Zonai. From the looks of things, we'll be able to fight as Princess Zelda against large groups of Ganon's army. There's other playable characters too, like the masked champions from Tears of the Kingdom.

This one doesn't have a release date yet, only that it'll launch sometime in Winter 2025, exclusively for Nintendo Switch 2.

(Image credit: Nintendo)Kirby Air Riders - TBC 2025

The sequel to a GameCube hidden gem

Kirby Air Riders, a brand new title originated from the Nintendo GameCube classic racing-action game Kirby Air Ride, is coming to Nintendo Switch 2 this year – directed by Masahiro Sakurai. We don't know much about it yet, though it'll be a flying racing game starring Kirby and his pals for sure. The original featured items that transformed Kirby, giving him abilities like Link's sword. Hopefully this mechanic returns when the game launches some time in 2025.

(Image credit: Nintendo)Splatoon Raiders

Spin-off

Nintendo announced Splatoon Raiders via the Nintendo Today App, revealing a short trailer, as well as the fact that it'll be exclusive to Switch 2. Beyond that, we don't know much about it, other than it looks set to be a Splatoon spin-off, possibly with a cooperative survival game focus. We'll have to wait for more details on this one, as currently, it doesn't even have a release window.

(Image credit: Supergiant Games)Hades 2

Titan of Time

Finally, we have Hades 2, which will launch as a console exclusive on Nintendo Switch 2 and Nintendo Switch. Of course, it's already in early access on PC, but its full version will land first on Nintendo platforms. Aside from that we don't have a launch date, but we've certainly spent a lot of time with the early access version of Hades 2 already, and definitely vouch for it.

Nintendo Switch 2 exclusives - new versions of Switch games

(Image credit: Nintendo)

In addition to the Nintendo Switch 2 exclusives listed above, there's also Switch 2 versions of existing and upcoming Switch games to contend with. Here are the games being upgraded and receiving separate Switch 2 editions:

• Kirby and the Forgotten Land + Star-Crossed World - August 28, 2025 (Nintendo Switch 2 edition)
• Story of Seasons: Grand Bazaar - August 28, 2025 (Nintendo Switch 2 edition)
• Pokémon Legends Z-A - October 16, 2025 (Nintendo Switch 2 edition)
• Metroid Prime 4: Beyond - TBC 2025 (Nintendo Switch 2 edition)

With regards to Switch 2 versions of Switch games, TechRadar had access to Breath of the Wild and Tears of the Kingdom a month or so ago, as part of a wider Nintendo Switch 2 preview. Our Hardware Editor Rhys Wood had this to say:

"Playing it (Breath of the Wild) and Tears of the Kingdom at a rock-solid 4K 60fps on console feels like it’s not real. But it is on Switch 2. Both games also have drastically sharper image quality, meaning they’re absolutely the definitive version of each release."

Nintendo Switch 2 exclusives FAQ

(Image credit: Nintendo)Is The Duskbloods only on Nintendo Switch 2?

The Duskbloods is only planned for Nintendo Switch 2 as things stand. This means that it's not likely to arrive on any other platforms, even Nintendo Switch. By the looks of things, this is a collaboration between FromSoftware and Nintendo, so you'll need to pick up the new console to play it in 2026.

Will all new Nintendo games be Switch 2 exclusive?

While some new Nintendo games like Mario Kart World are indeed Nintendo Switch 2 only, there are still games coming to Nintendo Switch. Namely, Metroid Prime 4, and Pokémon Legends Z-A will release on both.

This will likely continue for a while, until eventually, things will move to be Switch 2 only. Even with a new console out now, you'll likely be able to play new games on your old Switch for a while yet, though you will miss out on the bigger titles like Donkey Kong: Bananza, and The Duskbloods.

Will Pokemon Z-A be Switch 2 exclusive?

Pokémon Legends Z-A is not a Nintendo Switch 2 exclusive. At launch, there will be separate versions for both Nintendo Switch, and Nintendo Switch 2. On the new console, it'll run at a better frame rate, and have improved visuals, but the game will be functionally the same on both devices. We now know it's coming out on October 16, 2025. Not long to wait!

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• New Moss Green and Sand Shell colors for both wired and wireless ranges
• Also limited-run special edition colors
• From $1,599 / £1,299

When we reviewed (and awarded five sweets stars to) the KEF LS50 Wireless II speakers, we said they were "truly phenomenal" – in fact both the Wireless II and their passive, wired LS50 Meta siblings have garnered a plethora of five-star reviews for their spectacular sound. And now KEF has introduced two new colors for both models, thereby expanding the standard color options to five.

The new hues look quite autumnal to me: Moss Green makes me think of green glass desk lamps, leather chairs and a book-lined study while Sand Shell is more of an open-plan space on a crisp and sunny morning. Both are quite beautiful.

These new colors join the existing range of Carbon Black, Titanium Gray and Mineral White. And KEF also does limited-run special editions in other colors; at the moment that means the bold Crimson Red for the Wireless II and a sober Royal Blue for the LS50 Meta.

(Image credit: KEF)KEF LS50 Wireless II and LS50 Meta: key features

The two models have the same curved baffle and clever mid/bass driver with integrated tweeter, but the Wireless II adds built-in amplification, connectivity for TVs and consoles, plus wireless connectivity between the two speakers. That delivers up to 24-bit/96kHz resolution, and if you need even higher performance you can always connect them with the supplied cable to get 24-bit/192kHz.

Each tweeter in the LS50 Wireless II is powered by a 100W class A/B amplifier, which is designed to deliver a “smooth, incredibly detailed treble performance”, while the mid and bass drivers are driven by dedicated 280W class D amplifiers.

As we said in our KEF LS50 Wireless II review, "the LS50 Wireless II stereo speakers continue to provide the phenomenal audio quality offered by their predecessors – and then some."

Prices for the new colors are the same as for the rest of the ranges. For the LS50 Meta that means an RRP of $1,599 / £1,299 (about AU$2,700) per pair, and the LS50 Wireless II have an RRP of $2,999 / £2,199 (about AU$4,575).

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• Oracle is adding Gemini to OCI, starting with Gemini 2.5
• Further models, including specialized ones like MedLM, will also be added
• OCI recently signed a similar deal to add xAI's Grok, too

Oracle and Google Cloud have announced a deal to make Google's Gemini models available via Oracle Cloud Infrastructure's (OCI) Generative AI service.

Oracle confirmed the service would kick off offering Gemini 2.5, but the company would continue to add further models for text, image, video, speech and music generation as well as specialized models like MedLM for healthcare.

The company explained customers would now be able to use Gemini models – among others – to help them build their own AI agents for coding, automation, research and more.

Oracle Cloud now offers Gemini models

"Oracle plans to make Google’s entire range of Gemini models available via OCI Generative AI service through new integrations with Vertex AI," Oracle added.

Although the models will continue to run on Google's servers, they can be accessed through Oracle's cloud platform with customers paying with Oracle Universal Credits, but the benefits of this partnership will be twofold.

For Oracle, it means the company can expand its offering of models, including third-party options, rather than pushing its own in-house models, making it more attractive for broader audiences. With the deal, Google can also expand its enterprise reach, getting Gemini models into more hands.

"Oracle has been intentional in offering model choice curated for the enterprise, spanning open and proprietary models,” OCI President Clay Magouyrk explained.

The news comes around two months after Oracle struck a similar deal to make xAI's Grok models available to customers, and while many hyperscale cloud providers are battling it out to secure exclusive or preferential AI model partnerships (like Microsoft with OpenAI and AWS with Anthropic), Oracle's multi-vendor strategy could give it a more stable position in the future.

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• Amazon has released the first official poster for Fallout season 2
• It confirms the Prime Video show's next entry will feature a key location from the games
• The series' next trailer and official launch date could be revealed very soon, too

We're less than four months away from Fallout season 2, but Prime Video has already started promoting the return of its hit TV series.

Fallout season 2 won't make its debut until December, but Amazon MGM Studios is kicking off its marketing campaign early with the unveiling of its first official poster.

A post shared by FALLOUT ⚡️ (@falloutonprime)

A photo posted by on

The artwork doesn't provide any new information about the hugely successful Prime Video show's return.

Sure, it confirms the show's lead trio in Ella Purnell's Lucy, Aaron Moten's Maximus, and Walton Goggins' The Ghoul – the last of that trio being accompanied by his trusty canine companion Dogmeat – will be back for more Wasteland-based adventures. The poster also reconfirms New Vegas, which was teased in the mid-credits scene of last season's finale and is the setting of its Fallout video game namesake's most beloved entry, aka Fallout: New Vegas, will be a key location in season 2. Those details aside, though, we know relatively little else about one of the best Prime Video shows' next chapter.

Well, for the time being, because I believe we're about to get some huge news about the Fallout TV show's forthcoming installment in the days ahead.

When could Fallout season 2's release date and first trailer be revealed?

Please don't make us wait much longer for more news on Fallout season 2, Amazon... (Image credit: JoJo Whilden/Prime Video)

I'll preface this section by saying I have no insider knowledge on these matters, so read whatever you want into what I outline below.

With that little bit of housekeeping out of the way, I'm convinced Fallout season 2's first trailer and official launch date will be unveiled on Tuesday, August 19.

There's evidence to back up my claim – the main piece being that the above Instagram post confirms season 2 will be part of Opening Night Live at gamescom 2025.

Europe's biggest video game convention runs from August 20 to 24 this year. However, with Opening Night Live set to take place on August 19, I'm expecting any members of the series' cast and/or crew invited onto the stage to announce an actual release date and, at the very least, drop some form of video teaser to whet our appetite for Fallout's return.

It makes perfect sense for a big announcement or two to be made at Gamescom. Microsoft, which owns Bethesda, aka the studio behind the Fallout game franchise, always has a major presence at Gamescom. Considering how well Fallout's first season was received, it's in Microsoft and Bethesda's best interests, as much as it is Prime Video's, to start ramping up excitement for its sophomore season. What better way to do that than at the last big gaming convention of the year?

But, what do you think? Will we get a launch date confirmation and trailer reveal next Tuesday? Or am I jumping the gun? Let me know in the comments. Then, read my dedicated guide for Fallout season 2 and check out the below section for more coverage of the incredibly popular Amazon TV Original.

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2025 has been an awesome year for movies. In the last month alone, we’ve been blessed with huge hits like Superman and The Naked Gun, alongside high-quality smaller fare in a range of genres like Nobody 2 (action/comedy), Eddington (comedy/western) and A Big Bold Beautiful Journey (fantasy/romance).

Prime Video's War of the Worlds aside, where 2025 has really shone, though, is in horror.

I'm often more lenient when judging horror films compared to other genres. As long as I get goosebumps and it isn't a complete mess, I'll generally have a good time.

Plenty of this year's horrors fit that description, from genuinely good flicks like Companion, Dangerous Animals and Final Destination: Bloodlines, to good-bad movies that I still had fun with like Clown in a Cornfield and Wolf Man.

Since the beginning of the year, however, there’d been one horror movie I'd been counting down the days to release – Weapons.

The new film is the first after director Zach Cregger's 2022 debut, Barbarian, which was one of my favorite movies of that year – and one of the best horror films in recent memory. So, when Creggers said Weapons "is more – and in a good way" it immediately shot to the top of my must-see list.

Finally hitting theaters last week, it didn't disappoint. Weapons is thoughtful, sad, and downright creepy. As opposed to many other good horrors, it's also a great movie in its own right.

While I didn't quite think it hit the heights that my colleague Lucy Buglass did – who awarded it five stars in our Weapons review and called it her favorite movie of the year – it’s undeniably one of the year’s most impactful films.

Another 2025 horror that's winning deserved praise is Together – and I absolutely agree that it’s a body horror flick that shouldn't be missed.

Only catching the trailer a few weeks earlier when watching I Know What You Did Last Summer (which I actually fell asleep during), I went into Together mostly blind – and had an absolute blast. It's one of those movies that makes you want to look away while not being able to, and the weirdly heartfelt ending was a pleasant surprise.

While I really enjoyed Weapons and Together and believe they both deserve the accolades they're receiving, they're far from my favorite scary movies of the year.

In fact, there are three horrors from 2025 that I liked more: my favorite movie of the year, my favorite horror of the year (yes, they're different!) and another that was just a darn good time.

The best part is you can avoid a bad audience that laughs at the wrong time or brings in noisy food and stream all three from the comfort of your home.

"You keep dancing with the devil... one day he's gonna follow you home"

(Image credit: Warner Bros. Pictures)

Without a shadow of a doubt, Sinners is my favorite movie of 2025 (so far). And, thankfully, its classification as a horror flick lets me include it here and talk about it.

I just watched it for the third time and loved it just as much as I did the first, if not more. Let's make this clear, though: this vampire flick isn't 30 Days of Night.

Directed by Ryan Coogler, who has sat at the top of my 'watch everything this person directs' list since Fruitvale Station, Sinners stars Michael B. Jordan as the Smokestack Twins – playing both Smoke and Stack.

At its face, the premise is simple. Set in the American South in the early 1930s, the two brothers arrive back in their hometown after years of war, adventure and making both money and trouble – and looking to hide from that trouble by opening up a 'juke joint', headlined by their younger cousin and gifted musician Sammie.

Only to find evil waiting for them.

Beyond its simple premise, Sinners is also a deliberate exploration of folklore, America's racial history, ancestry, and the liberating power of music.

While I question its status as a horror because I personally didn't find it that scary, a lack of spooks isn't a bad thing. For those after a gory vampiric slasher, you will get a hefty dose of gnarly horror action – but personally, my favorite moments in the film are found in the quiet, world-building first hour.

It's the banter between Smoke and Stack as they recruit their staff, how they treat their Sammie, any moment Delta Slim (Delroy Lindo) is on-screen and the music that I fell in love with.

Arguably worth watching just to hear Sammie sing – and to bask in Mike B's coolness – Sinners is available to stream on HBO Max, but you can also rent or purchase it on Apple TV or Prime Video, depending on your location.

"Some people believe the spirit stays in the body for months after death"

(Image credit: A24 / TCD/Prod.DB / Alamy Stock Photo)

Beating out Weapons, Sinners and Together for my number one horror of 2025 is Bring Her Back and, frankly, it isn't even close.

While the Philippou brothers' first film, Talk To Me, was a genuinely freaky, fun, and original take on possession, Bring Her Back invokes dread right from its opening scene, with no let-up for its 99-minute runtime.

The Australian film follows Andy and his blind younger step-sister, Piper, after the recent death of their father, whose body Andy discovered. The two siblings are incredibly close, but Andy can't become her legal guardian because he's only 17. So, after much convincing because of Andy's troubled past, they are placed into foster care together.

What follows is the foster mother's deep manipulation of Andy against Piper, as her sinister plot slowly unfolds.

It features some of the most cringe-inducing body horror I've ever seen, along with jumpscares, a supernatural element, and maddeningly real manipulation by a person in power.

Yes, I’ll admit it – it gets a few brownie points from me being a fellow Aussie, but if it's actual horror you're after, nobody is currently doing it better than the Philippou brothers.

Bring Her Back should be available on HBO Max in the coming weeks, but it's available to rent or buy on Apple TV and Prime Video right now.

"The more you kill, the easier it gets"

(Image credit: Sony Pictures Releasing)

On the other end of the spectrum from Bring Her Back, 28 Years Later is just a good, zombie-killing time. (And, yes, I know they aren't zombies.)

I should make it clear that I'm not a fan of the series. In fact, I made it through two-thirds of 28 Days Later before I decided I didn't want to waste a Friday night with a movie I wasn't enjoying, and I haven't seen 28 Weeks Later.

So, when my sister dragged me to see 28 Years Later starring Aaron Taylor-Johnson off the back of his Oscar-worthy performance in Kraven the Hunter, I didn't exactly have high hopes.

I don't love the over-the-top blood, the slow-mo kills, or the chaotic editing during action scenes. But I still thoroughly enjoyed the near-two-hour journey.

It follows a small village of survivors who live comfortably on a small island away from the mainland, focusing on Spike (Alfie Williams), his father Jamie (Taylor-Johnson) and his mum Isla (Jodie Comer), who has fallen ill.

While I loved the film for its fun action and any scene involving Ralph Fiennes (which I won't dare spoil), the story is also about a young boy braving unknown horrors to save his mother.

Still, in terms of zombie flicks that will have you watching the screen between your fingers, crying and cheering for the heroes at different times, 28 Years Later is an easy recommendation, and I'm looking forward to whatever this new trilogy may hold.

28 Years Later is available to rent or purchase on Apple TV and Prime Video. Sony Pictures films usually come to Netflix, so you can expect 28 Years Later on the red streamer at some point soon in the US, UK and Australia. I suspect it might come to Binge Down Under, too.

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