TechRadar News

• Purchasing V-Bucks using Epic Games' payment service on PC or mobile now grants a 20% Epic Rewards rate
• This gives you 20% back as credit for each transaction
• The company has also announced a limited-time 20% Epic Rewards rate for Epic Games Store purchases

Epic Games has revealed that those purchasing Fortnite in-game currency using the publisher's own payment service on PC or mobile will now benefit from a 20% Epic Rewards rate.

This gives you 20% back on every purchase, which you could then save to spend on even more V-Bucks in the future, letting you get your most wanted skins for less.

To give you a practical example of what this means, buying 2,800 V-Bucks for $22.99 using the Epic Games Store payment system will give you $4.60 back in Epic Rewards. Do that twice and you can get 1,000 extra V-Bucks (normally $8.99) effectively for free.

This is absolutely fantastic and one of the most generous reward systems that I've seen in gaming yet. It's no coincidence, however, that this announcement comes ahead of the expected return of Fortnite to the US iOS App Store.

It follows a landmark ruling that allows app developers to link to payments in external app stores, without giving any commission to Apple. The lack of commission, which is usually 30%, means that Epic Games is able to pass on some of the savings to consumers through this program while still increasing the revenue it receives from each transaction.

Aside from Fortnite, that 20% rate will apply to purchases in other Epic Games titles such as Rocket League and Fall Guys.

The company has also announced that purchases on the Epic Games Store using Epic's payment system will receive a boosted 20% Epic Rewards (up from the usual 5%) for a limited time. This is in place until August 31 and includes games from companies distributed via the store.

If you've been waiting for the chance to add the likes of Alan Wake 2 to your PC games library, then this limited offer period could be the time to strike.

You might also like...

• I spent 18 hours ripping and tearing through Doom: The Dark Ages and it left me yearning for a return to Eternal’s movement
• Marvel Rivals tier list: my picks for the best characters to use in Season 2 after playing hundreds of hours of the game
• If you want to pre-order the Death Stranding 2 Limited Edition DualSense when it goes live, I've got all the information and the best links to bookmark right now

• Rumors from supply chain suggest Nvidia’s hiked pricing for GeForce GPUs
• Blackwell gaming GPUs could be set for 5% to 10% price increases
• Trump’s new deal with China over tariffs has just happened, but the rumored hikes could already be in the pipeline

A gloomy cloud of potential price hikes is hovering over Nvidia’s GeForce graphics cards, despite the news that there’s been a climbdown with Trump’s tariffs, which have been a major worry regarding the pricing of those (and other) GPUs.

Tom’s Hardware highlighted a report from DigiTimes (the Taiwanese site – so bear in mind translation issues from Chinese) which contends that Nvidia recently raised its prices for “almost all of its products,” with partners hiking their own prices simultaneously.

The report claims to have info from the supply chain over in Asia that indicates this is the case, and that Nvidia is facing “multiple crises” in terms of its overall business, with gaming graphics cards (GeForce models) affected as well as AI products.

DigiTimes gives an example of an Asus RTX 5090 model which has just risen in price by 10%, while some of Nvidia’s other graphics cards are facing price hikes of between 5% to 10%. The serious business of AI GPUs is hit worse, with up to 15% price increases, we’re told (obviously sprinkle plenty of seasoning with all this).

The causes of this trouble include the direct ban on AI GPUs being sold to China (which includes the RTX 5090, even though that’s a top-end consumer board, it’s also great for AI tasks), as well as the new trade tariffs of recent times. On top of that, another point to bear in mind is that Nvidia has moved the production of Blackwell (RTX 5000) chips to TSMC’s US factory, which has also inflated costs.

Analysis: Uncertain and turbulent times

(Image credit: Shutterstock / Dean Drobot)

That’s an unfortunate combination of factors, although as noted at the outset, there has just been a development in terms of Trump’s tariffs imposed on China (and vice versa) in the form of a 90-day pause (and reduction by 115% for imports in both markets).

However, if the above chatter from the supply chain is true, these price hikes are already in the system. In other words, they’ll still potentially be coming through to increase prices on gaming graphics cards anyway. There’s still a lot of uncertainty around where these trade wars are going in the near future, too, despite this undoubted positive bit of relief to the situation.

Besides, the tariffs aren’t the only element in this pricing equation, because there’s also the cost of Nvidia rejigging its production plans for Blackwell GPUs. More broadly, Nvidia’s graphics cards remain difficult to find – at least anywhere near their recommended prices – and it doesn’t feel like that situation is going to turn around anytime soon.

We do have some hope for the future, though. When production disruption settles, and if the trade tariffs are addressed with longer-term positive policies to resolve the battle between the US and China, we should start to see GPU pricing improve. There’s still some way to go before I start feeling more optimistic about this, though.

Meanwhile, AMD will hopefully attack with competitive pricing when its rumored RX 9060 XT graphics cards pitch up in (theoretically) just over a week. However, there’s speculation that Team Red may not go as low as I’d ideally like with those RDNA 4 GPUs. What with Nvidia’s current pricing, there isn’t a lot of pressure to drive AMD to be thinking about more affordable price tags itself, of course. (We’re not short of rumors to that effect, sadly – but we’d take them with a fistful of salt, to be fair).

You might also like...

• AMD Radeon RX 9070 review: a great choice if the RX 9070 XT and RTX 5070 are out of reach
• Microsoft is digging its own grave with Windows 11, and it has to stop
• Here's one of the strangest ways gamers are trying to buy an RTX 5090 or RTX 5080 - unsurprisingly, it's not working

• North Korean hackers have been impersonating job applicants
• These applicants gain employment in western firms
• New research suggests these campaigns have been going on since 2016

North Korean hackers have been making the headlines recently by fraudulently gaining employment in western firms. Research from Sophos’s Counter Threat Unit (CTU) has been tracking this as the Nickel Tapestry campaign, identifying infrastructure links that suggest money-making schemes have been operating since 2016.

The research shows that the campaign is increasingly targeting European and Japanese organizations - probably thanks to increased awareness amongst American companies. These fraudulent job applicants have been observed impersonating Japanese, Vietnamese, and Singaporean professionals, as well as American personas.

Previous research has shown that North Korean hackers are posing as software development recruiters to target freelancers, spreading malware through the recruitment scams and stealing cryptocurrency from victims.

Save up to 68% for TechRadar readers!

TechRadar editors praise Aura's upfront pricing and simplicity. Aura also includes a password manager, VPN, and antivirus to make its security solution an even more compelling deal.

Preferred partner (What does this mean?)View Deal

Dual objectives

The salaries earned by the hackers seem to help fund the government interests of the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea - and record breaking crypto scams have also successfully earned the Lazarus hacking group $1.5 billion. Around $300 million of this was successfully converted by the group into unrecoverable funds from this one incident alone, so these campaigns are lucrative for the state.

That’s not all though, as the fraudulent workers have also been observed stealing credentials and exfiltrating data, as well as deliberately gaining employment in industries with sensitive data, like defense, aerospace, and cybersecurity.

These roles allow the workers to use remote access software and AI generated writing, CV building, image editing, and video enhancing tools to impersonate legitimate workers and circumvent default systems.

Organizations are urged to remain vigilant and to check candidate identities thoroughly, and review their CVs and addresses thoroughly, even suggesting in-person interviews where possible.

As remote positions become increasingly popular, companies should “monitor for traditional insider threat activity, suspicious usage of legitimate tools, and impossible travel alerts to detect activity often associated with fraudulent workers” Sophos confirms.

You might also like

• Take a look at our picks for the best malware removal software around
• Check out our choice for best antivirus software
• PowerSchool hit by cyberattack which saw student and teacher data stolen

• Freepik unveils new AI plan for enterprise users
• Unlimited users and legal protections among benefits
• It seems to me, the company's trying to take on Adobe's own "commercially-safe" AI generation

Freepik, the creative design suite, has unveiled a new plan aimed at attracting large B2B teams to its platform - and comparisons to Adobe’s own approach to AI tools for business users is hard to miss.

Dubbed Freepik Enterprise, the plan offers a range of benefits to business users, including rights over their AI-created assets, third-party integrations with the likes of Slack, Microsoft Teams, and Adobe Creative Cloud, and that all important legal indemnity.

On the face of it, this looks to me like the company is starting to park its tanks on Adobe’s lawn. As adoption of Adobe Firefly rises, Freepik will be keen to move some of its 64 million users over to the new enterprise plan with a host of business-centric features and benefits.

What can users expect from Freepik’s enterprise plan?

According to Freepik, this new tier is designed for those who need “secure, scalable creative tools,” with the company aiming to attract teams across media, marketing, and technology who want to integrate AI into the wider workflow.

With this in mind, users are being offered, among other things, free reign to create on-brand assets, training AI with internal assets, single sign-on (SSO), and greater legal protections. Centralised management is also part of the package, with the company claiming this will help streamline account and asset administration.

Arguably, the most attractive benefit is the unlimited aspects, where users will have full access to the AI suite for generating images, video, and content. Expect no user limits here, as Freepik states this plan is “built for real teams.” Firms will also own the rights over AI-generated content, with the option to use and modify what they create across the board, covered by legal indemnity, protecting users against possible lawsuits when deploying them in a commercial setting. What I especially like is the guarantee that neither Freepik, nor its third-party providers, will re-use enterprise subscribers’ AI-generated assets or data for future AI training.

Support forms a large part of the offering. The company says it intends to deliver guidance, training, and legal assistance around IP and copyright - one of the chief concerns around AI usage in the workplace.

Given this is targeting corporations, security and compliance are also topping the bill, where GDPR, ISO/IEC 27001 and 27002, SOC 2 Type II are built into the service.

Speaking about the new plan, José Florido, Chief Market Development Officer at Freepik, said: “It’s no longer just about downloading visual assets. Large companies are looking for solutions that help them integrate AI across all their processes, offering scalability, legal compliance, and deep customization of their resources. Freepik Enterprise directly addresses that need.”

You can check out Freepik Enterprise by clicking here, and the company is currently giving users a three-month trial before an annual subscription is required.

You might also like

• Get ahead with the best business laptops we've reviewed
• ‘It's like magic and everything just works’: We spoke to Adobe’s AI maestro to find out what’s new with Firefly and how it levels up creativity for all
• We've rounded up the best AI image generators tools.

• MSI has a new Claw 8 AI+ model ready to ship for consumers on July 15
• The Polar Tempest Edition features a new snow-white color scheme, and an optional 2TB of storage
• It will be available at $999 / around £990 / AU$1,890

MSI has quietly revealed a new model of its recent handheld on its main site, which features more powerful and beneficial specifications over the Nintendo Switch 2 - and it's coming shortly after the console's launch on June 5.

As highlighted by VideoCardz, the new MSI Claw 8 AI+ Polar Tempest Edition features a new snow-white color scheme and an optional 2TB of storage available at $999 (around £990 / AU$1,890). It will reportedly ship to consumers on July 15.

The base model starts at $900 / £899 / AU$1,799, and provides fantastic performance across several games using Intel's Core Ultra 7 258V processor. It's also worth noting that battery life is key with the Claw 8 AI+; it uses an 80 WHr battery and can still yield high frame rates at only 17W power usage.

This could likely be significantly better than the Switch 2's 5220mAh battery, which should be roughly around 20 WHr. While the Claw 8 AI+ is undoubtedly the more expensive option, it's likely going to outperform the Switch 2 in every region in terms of hardware and game performance.

In a world of inflated GPU prices, consumers looking to dive into PC gaming could potentially be spending over $1,000 for hardware parts alone - and that's without mentioning the cost of a pre-built system - and MSI's handheld seems to be in a league of its own versus competitors like the Steam Deck and Asus ROG Ally X.

The only issue is that the base model already seems scarce in terms of availability in the US, and there's a chance the same could happen to this new Polar Tempest Edition. Even worse, it could see a major price jump due to US tariffs.

(Image credit: Future / John Loeffler) If US tariffs affect the MSI Claw 8 AI+ price, then I'll take back everything I've said

Without sugarcoating it, the MSI Claw 8 AI+ is a very expensive piece of hardware - and it's quite possibly the only reason I wouldn't recommend it for most gamers. It's potentially only going to get worse if US tariffs impact its price; the 90-day pause on tariffs is keeping things steady for now, but if this changes, I'll eat my words.

However, compared to buying parts for a desktop gaming PC, it's much cheaper, and its $450 (or more, depending on the configuration) higher cost over the Switch 2 is worth it considering the greater gaming performance capabilities. Traditionally, PC games are also cheaper to buy (especially since Nintendo revealed Switch 2 games could cost as much as $70), so if you want a large library, it could save you money in the long run (though, of course, you’ll be missing out on Nintendo’s first party exclusives, which could be a deal breaker).

The Switch 2 is using Nvidia's T239 chip, which will give users access to DLSS upscaling, but it's hard to see this being enough to power demanding games like Cyberpunk 2077, let alone compete with other handheld gaming PCs.

I won't pretend that $900 / $899 / AU$1,799 isn't much, especially for most gamers on a budget, but if I had the choice of buying a Switch 2 or saving for an MSI Claw 8 AI+, I'm picking the latter.

You may also like...

• Nintendo Switch 2 pre-orders live: stock is live at Currys in the UK, while invites to buy are out in the US
• Nintendo Switch 2 vs Nintendo Switch: comparing price, specs, design, features and more
• I wanted Nintendo to wow me with the Switch 2 – instead it’s made me hug my ROG Ally X handheld even closer

Prime Video has no shortage of notable films and shows, but not all of them are free with your subscription. Some of these movies sometimes even disappear without warning, so the best Prime Video movies might not even be safe.

It's hard to tell exactly what's leaving Prime Video because there isn't a dedicated filter that neatly lists expiring titles, including the best Prime Video shows. So, we've taken the time to comb through the library for the best movies you should watch before they leave the library.

Rotten Tomatoes ratings are one of the most 'objective' ways to determine a film's critical reception. If it has a 'Certified Fresh' rating, it generally means critics liked it, even if the score isn't 90 or above. Here are three 'Certified Fresh' movies on Rotten Tomatoes that you should watch before they leave Prime Video.

Forrest Gump (1994)

• RT score: 75%
• Directors: Robert Zemeckis
• Age Rating: PG-13
• Length: 2 hr 22 min
• Leaving on: TBA

Forrest Gump only has a 75% on Rotten Tomatoes, but it's a fan-favorite film that's got more cultural appeal than most. It follows the life of Forrest Gump and his romance with his childhood friend, Jenny.

Tom Hanks stars as the innocent yet simple Forrest Gump, who is bullied in his youth for a physical disability and below average intelligence. When his leg braces come off, folks realize he's an exceptionally fast runner, which helps him throughout his life in many situations like playing football, serving in the army, and running marathons. Thus, the iconic quote, "Run, Forest, run!".

Unlike the usual 'Leaving Prime in XX days' label, it only has a caption that reads 'Limited time offer. Terms apply'. These types of promotions are unpredictable and may disappear at any time between the next few days to the next few weeks. Since we can't go back in time to confirm when it became a limited-time offer, I'd suggest watching it ASAP!

Popstar: Never Stop Never Stopping (2016)

• RT score: 79%
• Directors: Akiva Schaffer, Jorma Taccone
• Age Rating: R
• Length: 1 hr 26 min
• Leaving on: May 16

Popstar: Never Stop Never Stopping is a comedy mockumentary musical directed, produced, and starring the members of the The Lonely Island comedy group: Akiva Schaffer, Jorma Taccone, and Andy Samberg. It stars the fictional rap star Connor Friel (played by Samberg) and follows his rise to fame, starting from his days as part of a rap group with his childhood friends to his lessons and struggles with stardom after his solo debut.

While it received positive reviews from critics, it never quite reached the same popularity with viewers. If you want to see where you stand on the matter, you can watch (and hopefully laugh at) Popstar before it leaves Prime Video.

A Royal Affair (2017)

• RT score: 90%
• Directors: Nikolaj Arcel
• Age Rating: R
• Length: 2 hr 17 min
• Leaving on: May 12

A Royal Affair is what it sounds like – a story about the relationship between Caroline Matilda of Great Britain and German doctor Johann Friedrich Struensee, who is the royal physician to Christian VII of Denmark.

It not only follows the affair between the queen and the physician, but also the complications of politics within the Danish court. I'd especially recommend it for folks who enjoy dramatic romances and historical fiction.

It received two Silver Bears (second highest honor) at the Berlin International Film Festival and multiple nominations as an international film. Just a heads up: You'll probably have to read, unless you know Danish. A Royal Affair is dubbed in Danish with English subtitles.

You might also like

• 5 environmental movies with over 93% on Rotten Tomatoes
• The Wheel of Time cast hasn't given up hope the show's renewal
• G20 is Prime Video's #2 movie but critics are calling it chaotic

• IoT in the enterprise is a major liability, the UK government claims
• Most organizations are running old and outdated software
• They are also not adhering to security standards

Internet of Things (IoT) devices in the enterprise are a major security liability. This is according to a new report from the cybersecurity professionals NCC Group, on behalf of the UK’s government.

“The government is concerned about the security of these products as vulnerable devices can provide a route for hostile actors to attack the IT systems used by businesses,” the UK government said in an announcement for the report. “As part of the government’s work to address this issue and improve cyber resilience across the UK economy, the government commissioned NCC Group to conduct a vulnerability assessment of some commonly-used enterprise connected devices.”

The results have shown that UK businesses have plenty of reasons to be concerned. Apparently, NCC Group found a “number” of software and hardware vulnerabilities that could lead to remote code execution (RCE) attacks, granting threat actors full control of a device, over the network.

Outdated software

One of the bigger problems was outdated software. The report states that unpatched solutions were “prevalent across devices”, also stating that one of the analyzed devices ran a 15-year-old bootloader.

The UK government also said that in “most cases”, an attacker with physical access to a device would be able to fully compromise it, installing a persistent backdoor to be used in future attacks. The majority of the tested devices ran all of their processes as the highly privileged “root” user, which means there’s no access granulation and the consequences of a breach could be dire.

There is nothing particularly unique about these IoT devices, or the vulnerabilities they carried. The UK government said they were “generally insecure”, especially when it comes to configuration of services, applications, or features. It also warned that adherence to the NCSC’s Device Security Principles, and the ETSI EN 303 465 standard was “mixed”.

You might also like

• The hidden risks of IoT: Why businesses need to modernize mobile security
• Take a look at our guide to the best authenticator app
• We've rounded up the best password managers

• Cisco surveyed 8,000 security and business leaders for a new report
• Most firms suffered an AI-powered attack last year
• Filling cybersecurity roles seems to be a major challenge

Most businesses cannot fill vacant roles for cybersecurity professionals, leaving huge gaps in their defenses which threat actors can easily exploit. These are some of the findings echoed in the 2025 Cybersecurity Readiness Index, a report recently published by networking giants Cisco.

The paper was drafted based on a double-blind survey of 8,000 private sector security and business leaders in 30 global markets. In it, Cisco said that almost nine in ten (86%) of the respondents identified the shortage of skilled cybersecurity professionals as a “major challenge”. Furthermore, it was said that more than half of the respondents reported having more than ten vacant positions.

The shortage of skilled staff is not a new issue - TechRadar Pro has been reporting on it for years now. Even three years ago, Harvey Nash Group claimed that there is a shortfall of 10,000 people a year in the UK’s cybersecurity talent pool, alone. To make matters worse, those who remain in the industry are overwhelmed with work and often burnt out, resulting in health problems, as well.

Save up to 68% for Techradar readers

TechRadar editors praise Aura's upfront pricing and simplicity. Aura also includes a password manager, VPN, and antivirus to make its security solution an even more compelling deal.

Preferred partner (What does this mean?)View Deal

Investing in AI

To address the problem, Cisco’s new paper argues that businesses should “invest in AI-driven solutions, simplify security infrastructures, and enhance AI threat awareness.”

“Prioritizing AI for threat detection, response, and recovery is essential, as is addressing talent shortages,” the company concluded.

Artificial Intelligence seems to be the underlying theme of the entire paper. Cisco said the technology is both “revolutionizing security” and “escalating threat levels” adding that 86% of the respondents faced AI-related security incidents last year, and half (49%) were confident their employees are aware of the threat.

Finally, Cisco warned that just 4% of organizations worldwide can be considered “mature” when it comes to the level of readiness needed to effectively withstand today’s cybersecurity threats.

"As AI transforms the enterprise, we are dealing with an entirely new class of risks at unprecedented scale - putting even more pressure on our infrastructure and those who defend it," said Cisco Chief Product Officer Jeetu Patel.

You might also like

• Overcoming acute skills shortages in the cybersecurity sector
• Take a look at our guide to the best authenticator app
• We've rounded up the best password managers

• Windows 11 is getting more Copilot functionality
• An ‘Ask Copilot’ option is arriving for the right-click menu on the desktop
• Copilot is also being deployed in the Microsoft Store to provide buying advice (in testing)

If you’re expecting to see more AI in Windows 11, well, you’d be bang on the money there, as it seems Copilot is creeping into another couple of places in Microsoft’s desktop OS.

Neowin noticed that the latest version of the Copilot app (1.25044.93.0) has planted a new choice to invoke Copilot when working with certain files on your Windows 11 desktop.

So, if you right-click on a compatible file, it’ll offer an ‘Ask Copilot’ option in the context menu (which contains common actions you might like to pursue with any given file).

If you select that Copilot choice, it’ll fire up the app for the AI assistant with relevant options available (for example, if it’s a document, you’ll get the ability to summarize it there and then).

You may have seen that Microsoft recently revealed it’s set to introduce AI actions to File Explorer (the app which displays the contents of the folders on your PC). So, this move appears to be happening now.

Elsewhere, Microsoft is also planning to bring Copilot into the Microsoft Store to advise those browsing through its various wares.

The move – which is still in testing, according to Windows Latest – consists of adding a Copilot button to product pages in the store.

Clicking on that button pops up a small dialog box allowing you to ‘Ask Copilot about this product’ with suggested questions you might want to use, and a ‘compare’ button that allows you to see how the app (or game) stacks up to a rival piece of software.

However, the catch is that this integration in the Microsoft Store is hardly seamless, as all the store does is just throw your query to the Copilot app.

Analysis: Clever or clutter?

(Image credit: Future / Jasmine Mannan)

With the latter change, the idea is to help spur sales in the Microsoft Store with Copilot, although the integration being so basic isn’t going to help there.

It doesn’t feel very advanced to ask for a comparison of two apps, and to then be simply presented with a query of the differences between them in the Copilot app. Yes, it’s still a convenience, but it feels clunkier than the way it works now – but perhaps Microsoft is thinking of improving it down the line. Remember, this is still in testing for now.

Furthermore, not that many folks ever tread the virtual aisles of the Microsoft Store anyway, and the bigger move here is the wider deployment of Copilot as a right-click, context-sensitive option in Windows 11.

With that concept – which wasn’t unexpected, given Microsoft previously announced that this is the course it’s taking – the problem is it’s going to be a love or hate thing.

Those people who use Copilot will appreciate the convenience of added ways in which to easily access the AI direct from files on the desktop. However, those who don’t care about Copilot aren’t going to want an extra line of space taken up in their right-click menu, and will just regard this as additional clutter.

That said, those haters have choices. Neowin points out that you can perform a Registry edit to remove this new functionality from the right-click menu, but I really wouldn’t recommend that. Not unless you’re tech-savvy, and you want to keep the Copilot app, but not this extra option. (And even then, I should warn that messing with the Registry could cause trouble with your system if not immediately, then potentially down the line).

Rather, if you’re getting fed up with the various tendrils of Copilot extending too far into the interface of Windows 11, just uninstall the Copilot app completely. That’ll remove the AI from your context-sensitive menus (and taskbar, and everywhere else). Just find the app in the Start menu, right click it and choose the uninstall option to banish Copilot. Of course, you won’t be able to use the app at all then, so that’s not a good road to travel for those who might want to occasionally fire up the AI.

Not everything is bad about AI in Windows 11 by any means, and I should note that there’s a smart ability inbound, namely additional powers to be able to find and change settings in the OS (something that was promised from the outset by Microsoft, but never delivered until now). I say delivered now, but this hasn’t gone into testing just yet, and it’s only for Copilot+ PCs sadly (as is the case for another really useful AI-related tweak, better Windows search).

So, that’s another rather unfortunate theme for some folks, as well as AI spreading across more of Windows 11 – all of the best functionality is reserved for Copilot+ PCs. This is because some features require the NPU they have on-board for processing AI workloads on the actual device, rather than via the cloud.

You might also like...

• Been hiding from Windows 11 24H2 due to the fuss about all the bugs? There’s nowhere to run now as Microsoft’s made the update compulsory
• Microsoft could be working on the next update for Windows 11 – but 25H2 could end up being a disappointment
• Windows 11 fully streamlined in just two clicks? Talon utility promises to rip all the bloatware out of Microsoft’s OS in a hassle-free way

Suits LA, the West Coast-set spin-off from the hugely successful show Suits, won't be getting a second season. That makes it the second Suits spin-off to be canceled given that Pearson was canceled last year.

The original Suits was a huge success and introduced us to Meghan Markle, becoming the must-watched show of 2023 when it moved from broadcast TV to Netflix. It was the number one streaming show for 12 consecutive weeks. But Netflix chose not to buy this spin-off, so it wasn't exposed to the same huge potential audience as the original show.

Why Suits' spin-offs don't last

While The Hollywood Reporter shared the news of Suits LA's cancellation, it didn't go into the reasons why. But like its fellow spin-off Pearson, the reason is almost certainly poor viewing figures.

As TVLine reported last year, Pearson only averaged 513,000 viewers – half the viewership of Suits Season 9, and lower than all but one USA Network drama at the time (the exception was the final season of Mr Robot, which had 360,000 viewers on average). While 1.07 million people watched the pilot, the finale was watched by 490,000 people – just over half the audience for the Suits finale.

Pearson struggled to find viewers even though it got decent reviews. I suspect Suits LA struggled even more, because its reviews have often been terrible.

The show is currently sitting with just 39% from the critics on Rotten Tomatoes, and just 54% from the audience. As the AV Club put it: "There’s no way to sugarcoat it: Suits LA is a disaster. In every conceivable way, this offshoot fails to capture the original’s breezy allure."

The first and only season of Suits LA is currently streaming on Peacock in the US. While it's not currently streaming in the UK, those in Australia can catch it on 7plus.

You may also like

• Watch The Rehearsal season 2: stream the groundbreaking comedy from anywhere
• The 27 best Prime Video movies to stream in May 2025
• 7 new movies and TV shows to stream on Netflix, Prime Video, Hulu, and more this week

• Nintendo has updated its user agreement in both the US and the UK
• In the US, it now states Nintendo could brick your console due to unauthorised use
• In the UK, your digital software could be disabled

Nintendo has updated its user agreement, toughening its stance on those who pirate games, attempt to emulate titles, or otherwise modify their consoles.

The changes were announced in an email distributed to users in the US and applies to all existing and new Nintendo accounts. Game File reports that the agreement received a little over 100 edits.

Some of the most interesting edits include a massive expansion of a portion that used to state that players "are not allowed to lease, rent, sublicense, publish, copy, modify, adapt, translate, reverse engineer, decompile or disassemble all or any portion of the Nintendo Account Services without Nintendo's written consent, or unless otherwise expressly permitted by applicable law."

Now, it says that: "Without limitation, you agree that you may not (a) publish, copy, modify, reverse engineer, lease, rent, decompile, disassemble, distribute, offer for sale, or create derivative works of any portion of the Nintendo Account Services; (b) bypass, modify, decrypt, defeat, tamper with, or otherwise circumvent any of the functions or protections of the Nintendo Account Services, including through the use of any hardware or software that would cause the Nintendo Account Services to operate other than in accordance with its documentation and intended use; (c) obtain, install or use any unauthorized copies of Nintendo Account Services; or (d) exploit the Nintendo Account Services in any manner other than to use them in accordance with the applicable documentation and intended use, in each case, without Nintendo’s written consent or express authorization, or unless otherwise expressly permitted by applicable law."

Nintendo is effectively now spelling exactly what you're not allowed to do. Being forbidden to "bypass, modify, decrypt, defeat, tamper" with parts of the system completely rules out activities like installing your own homebrew apps. The fact that you are not able to "obtain, install or use any unauthorized copies of Nintendo Account Services" also more strongly emphasizes that any kind of software piracy is not allowed.

As for what could happen if you break these rules, the agreement now states that: "You acknowledge that if you fail to comply with the foregoing restrictions Nintendo may render the Nintendo Account Services and/or the applicable Nintendo device permanently unusable in whole or in part."

This outlines Nintendo's ability to brick your device (render it "permanently unusable in whole") if you don't adhere to the agreement. The company could also potentially disable certain functions (render it unusable "in part") which might, for example, mean preventing cheaters from being able to access online services in games.

The agreement has also been updated in the UK, though the new wording is less drastic. Players in the region now accept that: "Any Digital Products registered to your Nintendo Account and any updates of such Digital Products are licensed only for personal and non-commercial use on a User Device."

"Digital Products must not be used for any other purpose. In particular, without NOE's written consent, you must neither lease nor rent Digital Products nor sublicense, publish, copy, modify, adapt, translate, reverse engineer, decompile or disassemble any portion of Digital Products other than as expressly permitted by applicable law," it continues. "Such unauthorised use of a Digital Product may result in the Digital Product becoming unusable."

These agreements currently apply to the Nintendo Switch, but, unless changed ahead of launch, would also presumably govern your use of the upcoming Nintendo Switch 2. With this in mind, it would be wise to read the new terms carefully and ensure that you don't end up

You might also like...

• Nintendo Switch 2 pre-orders live: stock is live at Currys in the UK, while invites to buy are out in the US
• I spent four hours with Nintendo Switch 2, and it hasn't just exceeded my expectations – it's blown them away
• Going hands-on with the Nintendo Switch 2 Pro Controller feels like a fantastic upgrade, but I have just one small concern

• The Bluetooth 6.1 update has just been announced
• It should improve device privacy and battery life
• It might come to iPhones and Android devices as soon as this year

Your next phone could come with a new Bluetooth feature that could make it harder to track you and boost your battery life at the same time, in a double win for any of the best phones that incorporate it. And while we don’t know its exact release date, there’s a chance we could even see it this year.

The feature in question from the new Bluetooth 6.1 protocol is called Randomized RPA Updates, and it’s just been announced as part of the Bluetooth upgrade. In this instance, RPA stands for resolvable private address, and it’s this part that will have an impact on your privacy.

That’s because under Bluetooth 6.0, devices will change their identifier addresses on a set timer, and this predictable process makes them easier to track. With Bluetooth 6.1’s Randomized RPA Updates feature, those address changes will happen randomly, with an interval of between eight and 15 minutes (although this can be customized anywhere from every second to every hour). That eliminates the update pattern, making your device far harder to track and exploit.

This change also affects battery life, as the process can be handled by your phone’s Bluetooth chip rather than its CPU. Lower load on your device’s processor should translate to better efficiency, which in turn means slower battery drain.

When will we see these changes?

(Image credit: Brett Jordan / Pexels)

Bluetooth 6.1 has only just been revealed as part of the protocol's new bi-annual release schedule, but there’s a chance we might see it in new devices as soon as this year.

Apple, for example, has a decent record for adopting new technologies in its products, so there’s a possibility we could see Bluetooth 6.0 – or perhaps even Bluetooth 6.1 – in its iPhone 17 range.

Still, 2026 feels like a more likely date for Bluetooth 6.1 to debut in phones, both of the Apple and Android variety. Usually with new Bluetooth tech, it’s better not to expect it too soon.

When it does arrive, though, it should bring benefits to both your privacy and your phone’s battery life – and that’s a double bonus for us to look forward to.

You might also like

• Bluetooth 6.0 has officially launched – here's what the upgraded standard can do
• The best phone 2025: we've tested and ranked the top phones you can buy in the US
• I can't wait for Bluetooth 6.0 to bring Apple TV 4K's best feature to other TVs

• A new listing on a Swiss retailer shows Acer's Radeon RX 9060 XT 8GB GPU at $566 based on currency conversions
• AMD is expected to unveil the Radeon RX 9060 series at Computex alongside partner cards
• The price may be a placeholder, but GPU price inflation may see the price become a reality

The current GPU market is filled with inflated prices for both Nvidia and AMD cards, which may spell bad news for the potential success of upcoming 8GB GPUs — and it looks like that might soon be the case for Team Red.

As reported by Wccftech, the Acer Nitro Radeon RX 9060 XT 8GB GPU has been listed on a Swiss retailer at $566 (around £430 / AU$880), converted from Swiss Franc. This comes alongside the 16GB model listed at $620, and both GPUs are expected to be unveiled at Computex 2025, which starts on May 20.

It's important to highlight the strong possibility that these prices are placeholders; this previously happened with the launch of the Radeon RX 9070 XT, which revealed a $699 launch price via Micro Center. Fortunately, that was indeed a placeholder, as it launched at $599, but that didn't last very long due to retailers raising prices significantly.

However, if the $566 price for the 8GB model is legitimate (or at least close to this figure), AMD and its partners could be in for an uphill struggle to convince consumers that this is a GPU that’s worth buying in 2025. These days, 8GB GPUs are simply not powerful enough to tackle demanding triple-A games, and PC gamers have voiced those frustrations with Nvidia's recent RTX 5060 Ti 8GB variant.

It's worth noting that Wccftech highlights that these prices are most likely placeholders, since they also include listings for RX 9070 XT GPUs above the retail price. Regardless, the current state of the GPU market will likely push prices up to absurd levels, and Best Buy’s GPU listings are a prime example of this.

(Image credit: Acer) If the retail price for the 8GB GPU is anywhere close to $500, it will be dead on arrival

I don't need to stress how underpowered 8GB GPUs are in 2025, as the negative consensus surrounding Nvidia's RTX 5060 Ti makes that clear. These GPUs don't pack enough VRAM to handle the heavy load that comes from games today, and I don't think anyone will be willing to overpay for a GPU that underperforms.

I'm confident that the $566 purported price (based on price conversions) is a placeholder, but that doesn't make me feel much more confident - that's because the trend of partner cards and their prices indicates that it may possibly cost much more after launch.

This happened with the Radeon RX 9070 XT, which you’ll now struggle to find at its $599 retail price. While nobody should be paying over $599 for a GPU that's supposed to be mid-range, the RX 9070 XT is at least a worthwhile GPU. Potentially, the same may not be said about the RX 9060 XT 8GB GPU, but I’m hoping it performs well.

This should be a warning for AMD and its partners; do not price any upcoming 8GB GPUs anywhere close to these prices, because I can almost guarantee that they will be dead on arrival...

You may also like...

• As Nvidia struggles with RTX 5060 Ti stock, AMD’s RX 9060 XT GPU could sweep in and score a mid-range win with plentiful supply
• Nvidia confirms on-sale date for RTX 5060 GPU, setting up a possible showdown with AMD’s rumored RX 9060 XT
• Nvidia’s RTX 5060 GPU looks to be imminent, but it could get a very frosty reception

It's official: Peacemaker season 2 will be streaming on Max from Thursday, August 21 at 9.00pm ET/PT. John Cena will be back as the titular hero, and many villains' butts will be kicked.

The official synopsis says: "The new season follows Christopher 'Chris' Smith, aka Peacemaker, the vigilante Super Hero as he struggles to reconcile his past with his newfound sense of purpose while continuing to kick righteous evil-doer butt in his misguided quest for peace at any cost."

Season 1 stars John Cena, Danielle Brooks, Jennifer Holland, Freddie Stroma, Steve Agee and Robert Patrick are all back, and this time around they're joined by a new cast that includes by Frank Grillo, David Denman, Sol Rodriguez, and Tim Meadows.

As you'll see from the trailer below, the second season looks set to deliver one of the best Max show's trademark mix of whip-cracking action and whip-smart wisecracking. Here's what you need to know.

1. It's solved the DC Universe problem

One of the problems facing Season 2 is that it's in a different universe to season 1: James Gunn set Peacemaker season 1 in the DC Extended Universe, which is now gone, so season 2 takes place in the DCU. That raises lots of questions, which we've explained in our in-depth hub (linked above).

It looks like at least part of the answer is at the end of the trailer, which shows not only Peacemaker but also... Peacemaker. If they aren't the DCU Peacemaker and the DCEU Peacemaker then we'll be amazed.

2. The Justice League are much more fun

In the trailer we see Peacemaker auditioning very uncomfortably for Maxwell Lord's Justice League, while Guy Gardner and Hawkgirl look on. Presumably this was filmed during production of Superman, which means we shouldn't expect them to play a huge part in season 2.

But it's interesting because this Justice League is much more fun than the DCEU one, especially in its portrayal of Hawkgirl.

Rick Flagg is the bad guy

It looks like Flagg Sr. is going to be a key character in season 2 after his starring role in the Creature Commandos animated series, and he's got very good reasons to go after Peacemaker: in The Suicide Squad (spoiler alert!), Peacemaker killed his son. That makes him more nuanced than the usual superhero show villain: he's not a monster; he's a grieving parent.

Going by this new trailer there's lots to be excited about, so August can't come soon enough. Season 2 of Peacemaker will be streaming on Max from August 21 and will see Rick Flag Sr "on a mission" for justice.

The first season of Peacemaker is streaming on Max in the US and Now in the UK.

You may also like

• Peacemaker season 2 release date finally confirmed as new footage of popular HBO TV show revealed in Max sizzle reel trailer
• What is the release date and time for The Last of Us season 2 episode 5?
• Max’s password sharing crackdown will take a while before it goes ‘full steam’, WBD says

• The Samsung Galaxy Buds Core have leaked again
• It looks as though a battery life upgrade is incoming
• We might see the earbuds appear in the coming months

Our best wireless earbuds list never stays unchanged for long, and the next pair of earbuds to make a claim for inclusion could well come from Samsung – with a new leak suggesting a key battery life upgrade will be included along the way.

This comes from a regulatory filing spotted by 91mobiles, supposedly for the Samsung Galaxy Buds Core. The indications are that the Galaxy Buds Core is the new name for the next-gen earbuds previously known as the Samsung Galaxy Buds FE.

The Galaxy Buds FE have a battery capacity of 60mAh for each earbud and 479mAh for the case, whereas this new filing suggests their successors are going to have a capacity of 100mAh for each earbud, and 500mAh for the case.

Add in some chipset efficiency improvements, and we should see a substantial boost in battery life. The Galaxy Buds FE launched in October 2023, and last around six hours between charges with active noise cancellation turned on.

Coming soon

The Galaxy Buds FE charging case (Image credit: Future)

This isn't the first time these earbuds have been sighted: earlier regulatory filings that emerged last month also pointed towards the Galaxy Buds Core name, and the same battery boost suggested in the most recent link.

There have also been rumors that these earbuds could come with direct Wi-Fi support, matching buds like the Xiaomi Buds 5 Pro Wi-Fi – though that feature would most probably bump up the price of these low-cost earbuds.

The Samsung Galaxy Buds FE came with a launch price of $99 / £99 / AU$149, and we're expecting the Samsung Galaxy Buds Core to cost around the same, although the upgrades we've mentioned could bump that price up.

As for a launch date, it shouldn't be too long before these earbuds are officially unveiled. The Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 7 and the Samsung Galaxy Z Flip 7 are due to show up sometime in July, and the Galaxy Buds Core may well appear at the same event.

You might also like

• Two super-cheap noise cancelling buds just launched
• The best budget wireless earbuds you can buy
• Sony confirms launch date for flagship WH-1000XM6 headphones

• Enhanced Meeting Protection will block you from taking unwarranted screenshots
• It'll turn the screen black if you dare to attempt to take a capture of the screen
• Most platforms are supported, but some may have to join audio-only

Microsoft has alluded to an upcoming feature for Teams designed to prevent users from taking unwarranted screenshots during calls in a bid to protect sensitive company information.

A new addition to Redmond's roadmap adds Enhanced Meeting Protection to Teams, which Microsoft says will prevent screen capture. Added last week, it's on track to roll out from July 2025.

The feature will become available across desktop client versions on Windows and Mac, as well as iOS and Android apps, making it virtually impossible for users to take snippets of potentially sensitive information.

Microsoft Teams will let you block screenshots soon

"To address the issue of unauthorized screen captures during meetings, the Prevent Screen Capture feature ensures that if a user attempts to take a screen capture, the meeting window will turn black, thereby protecting sensitive information," Microsoft explained.

Although most common platforms are supported, users joining a Teams call with Enhanced Meeting Protection enabled will be restricted to audio-only to prevent content exposure.

Because the roadmap entry only shares basic details about the upcoming feature, it's unclear whether it will be enabled by default or toggled on via admin controls.

In the hope that enhanced protections will give companies access to more secure video conferencing, the company will also be rolling out its new Migration Tool for Teams in July.

"Customers will now be able to move content seamlessly from public and private channels in a third-party solution to Teams standard channels," the roadmap entry reads.

Enhanced Meeting Protection is currently in the 'in development' stage – the first of three, preceding 'launched' and 'rolling out'. Microsoft doesn't share details about how far along the development journey it is, and whether it's on track for the intended July release.

However, while the feature might be welcomed by many, it still leaves a considerable gap and, in many cases, does nothing to protect sensitive data on screens at all – there's no system in place to prevent users from taking photos of their screens with their smartphones, and such a tool would be almost impossible to implement.

You might also like

• We've listed the best video conferencing software
• Look your best by using one of the best business webcams
• Finally, Microsoft Teams is fixing one of my biggest everyday woork issues, and I couldn't be happier

• iOS 19 could make it easier to connect multiple devices to public Wi-Fi
• Ahead of that, we're expecting iOS 18.5 to land in the next few days
• iOS 18.5 is a smaller update, but with some new features and tweaks

iOS 19 is likely to be a major update for Apple’s smartphone operating system. We’ve already heard for example that it could include an overhauled interface and support for new AI integrations such as Google Gemini, but now we’re hearing about a smaller but potentially very useful feature that could also be added.

According to Apple watcher Mark Gurman, writing in his Bloomberg newsletter (via 9to5Mac), iOS 19 will take some of the pain out of joining public Wi-Fi networks.

If you’ve ever connected to public Wi-Fi, you’ll know this often involves filling out a web form, which is a minor inconvenience. But if you want to connect multiple devices, then you have to fill out that form on all of them, adding to the level of inconvenience. With iOS 19 though, you might only have to fill it out once.

According to Gurman, once you fill out the form on one device, that registration will sync to all your other Apple devices, making it a bit faster to get them online.

Of course, as with any unannounced feature we’d take this with a pinch of salt, but Gurman has a superb track record for Apple information. We may find out for sure whether this feature is set for inclusion in June, as that’s when iOS 19 will probably be announced – though the finished version of iOS 19 probably won’t roll out until September.

The iPhone 16 Pro (Image credit: Future / Lance Ulanoff) iOS 19 isn't the next update

You don’t have to wait that long for new software though, as iOS 18.5 is expected to launch imminently.

There’s no confirmed date yet, but the iOS 18.5 RC (Release Candidate) was rolled out to beta users on May 6, which based on past form means we could well see the finished version in the next day or two.

This isn’t going to be a massive overhaul of iOS, but it does contain a few new features, including a new Screen Time feature, which alerts parents if the Screen Time passcode has been successfully entered on a child’s device. Since Screen Time contains various parental controls, this alert ensure parents will know if the restrictions have somehow been bypassed.

iOS 18.5 also includes tweaks to the Mail app and the Settings screen, among other things, and of course it’s sure to contain various bug fixes. So it’s definitely worth downloading when it lands.

You might also like

• iOS 19: new features, a new design, and everything you need to know
• iOS 18.5 will soon deliver a handy Screen Time upgrade for parents – plus 4 other useful features
• Some of Siri's delayed Apple Intelligence features are tipped to arrive with iOS 19

CTOs are facing a paradox of unprecedented technological opportunity and macroeconomic volatility. And those in retail and commerce are feeling it the most.

Consumers expect personalized experiences, seamless buying journeys and interactions across all channels—both online and in-store. Meanwhile, the geopolitical crises and ongoing price increases are making it harder for CTOs to successfully marry budget management with innovation.

In short, it means the ‘traditional’ way of working for CTOs in commerce doesn’t work anymore. Just keeping the lights on is not good enough.

The emerging breed of CTOs are thinking differently. They are no longer just engineers and tech experts. They’re strategic decision-makers, team shapers and transformation catalysts.

And while every business is different, the most innovative ones have one thing in common: they are disruptive.

The innovation mindset

There’s no single way to be innovative—but there are powerful frameworks that can shape how to approach problems and opportunities. Here are five that we see consistently driving impact for commerce CTOs.

1. First Principles Thinking

Instead of starting with existing processes or looking at what competitors are doing, first principles thinking means going back to the fundamentals. It’s about stripping problems down to their core truths—then rebuilding with clarity.

This approach pushes teams to avoid following hype or assuming the status quo is the best path forward. Instead of asking, “How do we make this work with our current tech?”, the better question becomes: “If we were building this from scratch, what’s the best way to solve it?”

It’s a mindset that leads to more focused investments, smarter tech choices and long-term, high-impact solutions.

2. The Dialectical Method

Too often, tech decisions are framed as binary choices. Build or buy? Monolith or microservices? Headless or full-stack? The dialectal method takes a different approach, embracing nuance to create the best of both.

Innovation-first CTOs move past those either/or debates. They look at both sides of the equation and ask: how can we take the best of each and build something better?

This kind of thinking leads to more flexible, extensible architectures—ones that blend speed and control, scale and simplicity. It’s not about finding a perfect model. It’s about finding the right model for the business, and building with the confidence that it can evolve over time.

3. Creative Destruction

Austrian political economist Joseph Schumpeter formulated the concept of creative destruction to describe how innovation fuels economic growth and development. He saw the key drivers of this process as entrepreneurs—those who were willing to disrupt the status quo and forward radical ideas.

In the realm of commerce, that can be the CTO.

This means actively rethinking legacy systems, experimenting with new experiences, and challenging internal norms. Whether it’s using AI tools to rethink customer support, shifting from monolithic systems to modular platforms, or redesigning checkout flows to match real-world behavior—the best ideas often come when questioning what has been accepted as standard.

Creative destruction doesn’t mean breaking things for the sake of it. It means asking: “What’s no longer serving us?” and having the confidence to change it before being forced to by internal and external forces.

4. Greedy Algorithms

Not every decision needs a five-year roadmap. Sometimes, the smartest move is the next right one.

Greedy algorithm thinking is about identifying the highest-impact next step—quickly—and acting on it. It’s how high-performing tech teams avoid getting stuck in endless planning cycles. They move, test, learn and iterate.

This approach is especially powerful in transformation programs, where complexity can become a blocker. Instead of aiming for a perfect rollout, teams focus on momentum—launching one product, replatforming one category, optimizing one part of the customer journey. Small wins compound fast.

5. Metcalfe’s Law

Originally formulated by Robert Metcalfe, the co-inventor of Ethernet, Metcalfe’s law says the value of a network increases exponentially as it grows. In commerce, that translates to this: the right ecosystem makes everything better.

Innovation-first CTOs prioritize open platforms, extensible architectures, and communities that allow teams to plug in new capabilities as they need them. Rather than building every tool from scratch or assembling dozens of disconnected point solutions, they invest in systems designed to scale value with every new integration.

The smartest platforms don’t just offer tools—they provide leverage.

Building Innovation into the Culture

Adopting these ways of thinking isn’t just for those in leadership positions, it requires root and branch cultural change. It means creating environments where experimentation is normal, where assumptions are challenged, and where teams are encouraged to think beyond “what’s worked before.”

For many organizations, that’s a big shift. But it’s one worth making. It does mean adjusting project and business performance measures though.

Instead of chasing exhaustive requirements lists or polished perfection, more teams need to work with defined minimum viable products, testing fast, and letting real data shape next steps. It means aligning around impact, not just output.

A Different Kind of CTO for a Different Kind of Future

The commerce leaders winning right now do not just deliver digital experiences. They design the operating models, teams and platforms that will define the next decade of growth and more.

That takes courage. It takes clarity. And most of all, it takes a mindset built for change.

Whether navigating a replatforming effort, exploring AI, or simply trying to move faster—you need to start with the right mindset to unlock better outcomes.

This is a moment of massive opportunity. The future belongs to the CTOs willing to shape it.

We've compiled a list of the best data visualization tools.

This article was produced as part of TechRadarPro's Expert Insights channel where we feature the best and brightest minds in the technology industry today. The views expressed here are those of the author and are not necessarily those of TechRadarPro or Future plc. If you are interested in contributing find out more here: https://www.techradar.com/news/submit-your-story-to-techradar-pro

The harsh reality of modern software development and delivery is that many organizations compromise on software quality to prioritize speed.

We’ve witnessed the disastrous consequences of poor quality assurance time after time. Last year’s $5.5bn CrowdStrike outage demonstrated just how crippling the effect that failing to prioritize testing can have. And with the European Union preparing to enforce its updated Product Liability Directive (PLD) in late 2026, there are many new rules and responsibilities that software makers need to be aware of in order to minimize any associated liability risks.

The PLD update introduces major changes for software producers that emphasize safety and accountability in the face of complex software systems. Designed to protect consumers in a world increasingly dependent on software, it means that software makers will automatically be responsible if their product has safety issues.

They will be on the hook for problems and defects that show up post-release, as well as issues caused by third-party add-ons and even changes made by AI that make the software unsafe. There is no need to prove negligence; the fact that the software caused harm is enough to hold them liable. In this new world, testing will play an even more critical role in identifying safety threats and taking preventative measures.

A broader liability net

Under the new directive, software producers will be held liable for safety defects leading to personal injury, property damage, or material loss, regardless of negligence or intent. This applies whether the software is embedded in hardware, provided as a cloud service, or installed on a device. Injured parties will have to demonstrate harm and a causal link to a defect but are not required to prove misconduct by the producer.

Liability isn’t just limited to software production, either. Post-release updates introduce an added layer of accountability, with defects emerging from authorized software updates, evolving AI behavior, or the failure to provide necessary security patches all representing areas of responsibility. An everyday example could be a GPS navigation app providing incorrect and potentially unsafe directions due to a faulty update. This type of error highlights how seemingly minor software updates, if left unchecked, can pose safety risks, reinforcing the need for rigorous testing and quality control in software development and maintenance.

Software providers are also responsible if third-party components have safety issues, so due diligence must be given to the integration of external elements. For example, if third-party software integrated by a medical device manufacturer for a heart rate monitor has a bug that causes inaccurate readings, patients could be misdiagnosed or not receive critical medical attention. Even though the defect originated in an external component, the heart rate monitor manufacturer could still be held accountable under the updated PLD. Thorough supplier oversight and integration testing are, therefore, key.

One further key inclusion to the update is liability for digital manufacturing files - software that provides instructions for automated production. If a faulty design file causes the production of unsafe physical products, the software provider could face legal consequences. These provisions emphasize the need for meticulous oversight in software deployment, updates, and integrations.

Steps to help minimize liability risks

With compliance taking full effect in December 2026, organizations have a critical window to align their processes and products with the new PLD requirements to minimize potential liability exposure. Software producers must prioritize safety at every stage of development and maintenance, acknowledging that an effective product is not necessarily a safe product.

They must go beyond functional testing to evaluate safety risks comprehensively. While testing for every foreseeable use and misuse scenario may not be feasible, they can continuously reassess and reprioritize risks based on current knowledge and emerging threats as their products evolve.

Implementing continuous safety-focused risk assessments and testing throughout the product lifecycle will be crucial in detecting and addressing potential hazards before they escalate. Designing software to perform safely even when users act negligently is essential, and incorporating diverse perspectives in development teams can help identify overlooked risks.

Conducting safety-related regression testing and benchmarking will help detect the introduction of unsafe behavior over time, while interactive, problem-seeking exploratory testing will be essential in uncovering previously unknown safety issues. Frequent safety assessments are also necessary to ensure that evolving software remains within safety parameters, particularly as AI-driven adaptations and post-release updates introduce new variables.

AI tools and machine learning systems must be continuously tested and monitored to detect and prevent unsafe behaviors evolving from learning processes. Safeguards and benchmarks should be in place to detect and correct these risks before they pose harm, with rapid response protocols developed to restore systems if safety is compromised.

Managing third-party components is another key consideration. Thorough integration testing and robust oversight of external software elements can reduce liability exposure. Establishing clear contractual agreements with third-party providers will help define safety responsibilities.

Ensuring effective updates and cybersecurity measures is also critical. Regular patches should enhance safety without introducing new vulnerabilities, and cybersecurity strategies must proactively counter emerging threats. Users should also be educated on the importance of updates to maintain security and compliance.

Last but not least, companies need to be prepared for regulatory scrutiny. Comprehensive documentation of safety measures and testing will be required to demonstrate compliance while balancing transparency with intellectual property protection.

Planning ahead

The EU’s updated Product Liability Directive signals a new era of accountability for software producers. The heightened focus on consumer protection demands proactive safety measures, thorough risk assessment, and continuous monitoring.

Software producers can mitigate liability risks and build trust in an increasingly software-driven world by prioritizing safety, reinforcing cybersecurity, and adopting rigorous testing methodologies. The evolving regulatory landscape underscores that software safety and accountability are no longer optional but an obligation that must be integrated into every stage of software development and deployment.

We've compiled a list of the best patch management software.

This article was produced as part of TechRadarPro's Expert Insights channel where we feature the best and brightest minds in the technology industry today. The views expressed here are those of the author and are not necessarily those of TechRadarPro or Future plc. If you are interested in contributing find out more here: https://www.techradar.com/news/submit-your-story-to-techradar-pro

• Panasonic unveils its full 2025 TV range, with OLED, mini-LED and LED models
• The lineup is led by the Panasonic Z95B OLED TV
• The Z95B could be the brand's best OLED TV yet

Panasonic has revealed its 2025 TV lineup, which features several OLEDs and a wide range of LED models, including a mini-LED TV.

The latest OLED lineup has been trimmed down from last year for both the US and UK markets. It consists of the flagship Panasonic Z95B, successor to the Panasonic Z95A, one of the best TVs of 2024; the Panasonic Z90B, a mid-range model; and the entry-level Panasonic Z80B.

The LED lineup consists of the Panasonic W95B, a flagship mini-LED model; the Panasonic W85B, a model with premium features; the Panasonic W80A, a QLED set; the Panasonic W70A, an LED model; and the entry-level Panasonic W61A 4K LED TV.

The US lineup consists of the flagship Panasonic Z95B OLED, the flagship Panasonic W95B mini-LED, and the entry-level Panasonic W70A LED, which is exclusive to the US and sits between the W80A and W61A.

There are currently no confirmed prices or release dates for any of the above TVs, but once we have this information, we’ll be sure to let you know.

Most of Panasonic’s new TVs will use the Fire TV smart TV platform, except for the entry-level models, which will use TiVo. The Panasonic Z95B and Z90B OLEDs and the W95B mini-LED will support a new Prime Video Calibrated Mode, which was first introduced in Sony’s 2024 TVs and also appeared in last year’s Panasonic Z95A.

Another exciting new feature in the Panasonic Z95B and W95B TVs is Calman Ready, which allows users to easily calibrate their screens using Calman’s new AutoCal feature (set to arrive in a software update to the Calman Color Calibration software during the Summer).

OLED TVs Panasonic Z95B

(Image credit: Future)

Available in 55, 65 and 77-inch sizes, the Panasonic Z95B features the same Primary Tandem RGB, or ‘four-stack’, OLED panel used in the LG G5, one of this year’s best OLED TVs. It also uses a new ThermalFlow cooling system that Panasonic says increases panel efficiency, resulting in higher brightness and better overall picture quality. The Z95B will support Dolby Vision and HDR10+ high dynamic range formats and use the HCX AI Processor MKII.

Similar to its predecessor, the Panasonic Z95A, one of the best TVs for sound, the Z95B has a 5.1.2-channel speaker array. Panasonic has upgraded this sound system, however, moving the virtual positioning of the rear channels and boosting the size of the side and up-firing speakers.

Elsewhere, the Z95B is packed with gaming features including 4K 144Hz, VRR (AMD FreeSync Premium and Nvidia G-Sync supported), ALLM and Dolby Vision gaming. Its game control board (part of Game Master Extreme) has also received new features, including a 60Hz refresh mode designed for older consoles. There will still only be two HDMI 2.1 ports.

Finally, the Z95B gets a design update via a fabric material for the front speaker array and surround frame. The corners have also been rounded to give it a more uniform appearance compared to previous generations.

Panasonic Z90B & Z80B Image 1 of 2

Panasonic Z90B OLED TV (Image credit: Future)Image 2 of 2

Panasonic Z80B OLED TV (Image credit: Future)

The Panasonic Z90B will be available in 42, 48, 55, 65 and 77-inch sizes. It will support Dolby Vision and HDR10+ high dynamic range and provide many of the same features as the flagship Panasonic Z95B, including the same HCX AI Processor MKII.

Audio features include Dynamic Theater Sound Pro with a built-in 30W subwoofer and Dolby Atmos support . The Z90 B is also well equipped for gaming, with 4K 144Hz, AMD FreeSync and Nvidia G-Sync VRR and ALLM, as well as Panasonic’s Game Control Board. Once again, there will only be two HDMI 2.1 ports.

Finally, the Panasonic Z80B is the entry-level model in the OLED lineup, and will be available in 48, 55 and 65-inch sizes. It will support both Dolby Vision and HDR10+ and use the step-down HCX Processor. It has Panasonic Surround Sound Pro and Dolby Atmos audio, and for gaming supports 4K 120Hz, VRR (AMD FreeSync Premium) and ALLM.

Mini-LED and LED TVs Panasonic W95B

(Image credit: Future)

The Panasonic W95B is Panasonic’s only mini-LED TV for 2025 and will be available in 55, 65, and 75-inch sizes, plus a new 85-inch size. It will use the same HCX AI Processor MKII as the OLED TVs and support Dolby Vision and HDR10+, along with improved Hybrid Tone Mapping for better backlight control over its predecessor, the Panasonic W95A.

For audio, the W95B will support Dynamic Theater Surround and Dolby Atmos. Gaming features include 4K 144Hz, VRR (AMD FreeSync Premium included), and ALLM, as well as Panasonic’s Game Control Board.

Panasonic W85B, W80A, W70A and W61A

The W85B is a QLED TV that will be available in 43, 50, 55 and 65-inch sizes and use the HCX Processor. It will support Dolby Vision and HDR10+, Surround Sound Pro for audio and, 4K 120Hz, VRR and ALLM as well as Game Mode Extreme for gaming.

The Panasonic W80A and W70A carry over from 2024. The W80A uses a QLED panel, is available in 43, 50, 55 and 65-inch sizes, and supports Dolby Vision, HDR10+ and Dolby Atmos. Gaming features include 4K 120Hz, VRR, ALLM, and Game Mode Plus.

The W70 is an LED model available in 43, 50, 55 and 65-inch sizes. It supports Dolby Vision and HDR10+ and 4K 60Hz, VRR, and ALLM for gaming.

Finally, the entry-level W61A LED TV will be available in 43, 50, 55 and 65-inch sizes. It will use TiVo as its smart TV platform and support 4K 60Hz and ALLM for gaming.

Panasonic Z95B: a potential TV of the year?

(Image credit: Future)

The Panasonic Z95A was an impressive TV when we reviewed it in 2024, thanks to its dynamic sound, gorgeous picture quality, and improved smart TV platform. Its successor, the Z95B, looks set to be even more impressive.

It will use the new Primary Tandem RGB OLED panel for higher brightness and bolder colors, and has a fine-tuned speaker system and new cooling system to improve peak brightness. Plus, it has a sleeker and more uniform design, which I found to be more visually appealing when I saw it in person.

The flagship OLED market will be a real battleground in 2025, with the excellent, five-star LG G5 currently setting the bar. But both the Samsung S95F and Sony Bravia 8 II also looked to be real contenders when we saw them earlier this year. The Panasonic Z95B is set to take the fight to all of these TVs, and if the price is right, it could be a TV of the Year candidate.

You might also like

• I tried Panasonic’s new Z95B OLED TV, and it takes OLED picture quality to an even higher level
• I compared the LG G5 to one of the best mid-range OLED TVs, and the results surprised me
• Panasonic Z85A review - here's what we thought of Panasonic's 2024 mid-range OLED