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• A hack on school software provider PowerSchool has put staff and students at risk
• Individual schools are now being targeted using the same data
• PowerSchool did pay the ransom, but the data was not wiped

The hackers which struck PowerSchool in 2024 are now reportedly targeting individual schools and extorting them for ransom, threatening to release previously stolen student and staff information.

“PowerSchool is aware that a threat actor has reached out to multiple school district customers in an attempt to extort them using data from the previously reported December 2024 incident,” the organization confirmed.

PowerSchool is a top education software platform with over 17,000 customers spanning 90 countries, and supporting over 50 million students. A cyberattack in December of 2024 led to the personal data of 62 million students and 9 million teachers exfiltrated by attackers, with over 6,500 school districts in the US and Canada affected.

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Students at risk

PowerSchool paid the ransom to the cybercriminals in hopes they would wipe the data stolen, but since these recent incidents are using information matching that which was stolen in the December hack, it seems quite clear that this was not the case.

“It was a difficult decision, and one which our leadership team did not make lightly," the company said.

"But we thought it was the best option for preventing the data from being made public, and we felt it was our duty to take that action. As is always the case with these situations, there was a risk that the bad actors would not delete the data they stole, despite assurances and evidence that were provided to us.”

The exfiltrated data includes personally identifiable information like Social Security Numbers, names, addresses, and even medical information.

As such, the firm recommends anyone affected take advantage of the two years of free credit monitoring and identity theft protection software to mitigate the risks posed by the stolen information.

PowerSchool apologized for the threats posed by the breach, and has confirmed it will continue to work with law enforcement agencies to mitigate the damages and respond to the extortion attempts.

Via BleepingComputer

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• Take-Two Interactive and 2K Games have announced a $49.99 price tag and August release date for Mafia: The Old Country
• It comes amid Nintendo and Microsoft's moves towards $80 games
• This raises questions over Grand Theft Auto 6's price when it launches in 2026

While Rockstar Games' highly anticipated title, Grand Theft Auto 6, is on the radar of most gamers with its recent delay announcement and trailer release, another title that is also under Take-Two Interactive's umbrella finally has a release date - and its more affordable price tag may come as a surprise.

It has been revealed that Mafia: The Old Country will launch on August 8, 2025, and is coming to PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X and Series S, and PC. It will launch with a Standard Edition that comes in at $49.99 and a Deluxe Edition for $59.99, both of which are available for pre-order now.

This comes after Nintendo and Microsoft began raising the prices of some games to the $80 mark. It's worth noting that the new game prices for Microsoft won't come into effect until the start of this Holiday season, and we're still waiting to see whether Sony follows suit.

However, the $49.99 price tag for Mafia: The Old Country appears to be much less about Take-Two Interactive and 2K Games not following the $80 trend, and more about the game's shorter length and linear presentation. 2K president David Ismailer, said: "We think there's a large audience for compelling stories that don't require massive time commitments," which hints at The Old Country having a short runtime.

Borderlands 4 also launches a month after, on September 12, but there isn't any pre-order or price information on that title yet. There's no doubt that the upcoming Mafia game's price will have gamers wondering what this means for the looter-shooter and GTA 6.

(Image credit: 2K Games) Take-Two Interactive has the opportunity to embarass Nintendo, Microsoft, and any other company charging $80, but I don't think it will...

To say I detest $80, even $70 game prices, is an understatement and it's been sad to see Nintendo and Microsoft kickstart the trend. It's only a matter of time until Sony joins the party and for the large majority of game publishers to follow.

I'm desperately hoping Take-Two Interactive don't budge but it seems unlikely. Gamers have been waiting for GTA 6 for twelve years, going on thirteen now due to its 2026 delay - and it's safe to say that a large majority of gamers are willing to pay over $80 for it.

Considering the rumors of the game's $2 billion budget, a higher price tag might be justified but if Take-Two Interactive were to charge $70 (or even lower) for the highly anticipated title, it would reflect poorly on Microsoft and Nintendo and help it fly off the shelves and smash even more records than it already likely will.

The reasoning is simple - it's GTA 6, arguably the most anticipated game of all-time. Rockstar Games is in a league of its own when it comes to size, scope, and attention to detail and if I were going to choose between Mario Kart World at $80 and GTA 6 with the latter being cheaper, it's an easy decision.

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• Cisco has patched a 10/10 flaw in IOS XE Software for Wireless LAN Controllers
• The flaw was due to hardcoded tokens
• There is no evidence of abuse in the wild (yet)

Cisco has released a patch for a maximum-severity flaw found in its IOS XE Software for Wireless LAN Controllers which could have allowed threat actors to take over vulnerable endpoints.

The flaw is yet another case of hardcoded credentials, this time in the form of a JSON Web Token (JWT). “An attacker could exploit this vulnerability by sending crafted HTTPS requests to the AP image download interface,” it is explained in the NVD website. “A successful exploit could allow the attacker to upload files, perform path traversal, and execute arbitrary commands with root privileges.”

The vulnerability is now tracked as CVE-2025-20188, and has the maximum security score - 10/10 (critical).

No mitigations

It was also noted that the vulnerability can only be exploited on devices that have the Out-of-Band Image Download feature enabled which, on default settings, is not the case.

According to BleepingComputer, this is a feature that allows access points to download OS images via HTTPS instead of CAPWAP, which is a somewhat more flexible and direct way of getting firmware onto access points.

The publication says that while it’s off by default, some large-scale or automated enterprise deployments have turned it on.

Unfortunately, there are no mitigations for the flaw. The best way to minimize the risk of exposure is to deploy the patch. A possible workaround is to disable the Out-of-Band Image Download feature, which could work well if the enterprise isn’t actually using it.

Cisco said it hasn’t seen evidence of in-the-wild abuse just yet, but users should still be on their guard.

Here is a list of vulnerable devices:

Catalyst 9800-CL Wireless Controllers for Cloud
Catalyst 9800 Embedded Wireless Controller for Catalyst 9300, 9400, and 9500 Series Switches
Catalyst 9800 Series Wireless Controllers
Embedded Wireless Controller on Catalyst APs

And here is a list of devices that are safe to use:

Cisco IOS (non-XE)
Cisco IOS XR
Cisco Meraki products
Cisco NX-OS
Cisco AireOS-based WLCs

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The U.S. Postal Service's governing board has named David Steiner, a board member of USPS competitor FedEx, to be the next postmaster general following the controversial term of Louis DeJoy.

(Image credit: Joshua Roberts)

Prosecutors say that as news of the crime spread, the two men exchanged messages relishing the outrage and sadness they caused. The tree in northern England was believed to be about 200 years old.

(Image credit: Oli Scarff)

Despite this enthusiasm, hurdles such as unstructured data, uncertain model accuracy, and gaps in governance are preventing many organizations from getting the full benefit of AI tools.

Firms that rely on large-scale, around-the-clock operations know the stakes are high. A system outage or an unforeseen failure can cost millions, disrupt the supply chain, and harm overall competitiveness. A study by Aberdeen Research found unplanned downtime in manufacturing can cost up to US$260,000 per hour.

Against this backdrop, AI can predict issues before they occur, helping companies repair equipment proactively and keep downtime to a minimum. Yet concerns linger around data reliability, potential algorithmic bias, and whether AI’s recommendations are truly explainable and safe. A carefully planned approach is key to overcoming these challenges, so that AI becomes a true value driver.

Identifying key risks and overcoming them

When setting up a new asset to work in the field, organizations will necessarily have no data to draw on. That’s where they can access learning from first principles models, coupled with simulation models to ensure a balanced set of data, availability of unlikely scenarios, and therefore enable extrapolation to new regimes of operation.

Data from the field can then be used to refine the model (close the simulation reality gap), or to predict future outcomes based on historical observations. With predictive maintenance technology, it is also possible to identify abnormalities by building models from normal modes of operation.

To enable this, companies need strong governance policies, as well as processes for labelling, storing, and updating data. While a sizable upfront investment may be needed, the payoff is significant: well-organized data fuels accurate models that deliver meaningful results.

Another challenge involves explainability. Some AI-generated recommendations can seem like a “black box” e.g., when models rely on complex neural networks. For day-to-day industrial operations, trust is crucial, as operators must be able to understand how and why decisions are made.

Including interpretable features and highlighting key decision drivers helps build that trust. When people know the rationale behind AI findings, they become more willing to follow them, improving adoption rates.

Well-designed dashboards that map input factors to recommend outputs have their part to play here. However, they will be not sufficient in themselves in achieving trust. Organizations should ensure that they select the right tool for the job in hand.

A complex model can be necessary for complex nonlinear behavior. However, while a complex model can address simple use cases, this comes at a cost, for example explainability, challenges with extrapolation, risk of overfitting, large data requirements etc. It is therefore important to select the right tool for the job. Generally, the simplest approach that solves the problem is preferable.

Trust can be further assured by the use of first principles guardrails that provide peace of mind and highlight that a provider has a thoughtful approach to AI.

In addition, there is the question of bias. Historical data sometimes reflects outdated practices or inconsistent recording methods, and if this data is used without scrutiny, algorithms may carry forward biases into their predictions.

Regular auditing of model performance, along with diverse data sets and ongoing feedback from subject matter experts, can mitigate these risks. Proactively revisiting the data strategy and staying aware of evolving regulations also helps organizations stay one step ahead.

Finally, AI’s integration with existing workflows demands attention. Even the most advanced algorithms will struggle if they fail to mesh with established processes. For instance, if plant operators need to switch between multiple tools or can’t easily act on an AI-driven alert, the system’s value quickly diminishes. Seamless product integration, visualizing AI insights, training operators on new procedures, and ensuring IT infrastructure can handle added data loads are often a make-or-break factor for success.

Practical steps to harness industrial AI

A strategic roadmap for AI adoption starts with identifying use cases that promise strong returns. Many companies find early success in areas like predictive maintenance, where AI models spot signals of potential future breakdowns and enable timely fixes. Another example are hybrid models that allow the creation and sustainment of models from data in the field.

This accelerates the model building for complex processes and improves the representation for design optimization or control, thus supporting efficiency and sustainability improvements. Another best practice is merging automation with human expertise. While AI excels at e.g., sorting through large data sets to pinpoint trends or anomalies, seasoned operators understand the practical nuances of running a plant.

Collaboration between people and technology ensures that strategic decisions blend intuitive knowledge with data-driven recommendations. By keeping humans in the loop, organizations lessen the odds of unexpected failures and maintain trust among the workforce.

To secure buy-in across management levels, pilot programs need to show quick, tangible benefits. If a narrow project using AI for quality checks significantly reduces scrap in a factory, the cost savings and improved customer satisfaction help support broader initiatives. Documenting these early gains and calculating the return on investment helps justify scaling AI across multiple sites, which often involves more complex budgeting and approvals.

As expansion proceeds, robust model governance becomes essential. Models must be monitored for “drift,” when real-world conditions change. Deploying self-adapting AI technology or regular checkpoints with engineering and data science teams helps ensure the technology performs as expected.

Enterprises can also set up review boards or specialized groups to vet new AI solutions, confirm compliance with regulations, and measure alignment with corporate targets such as safety or sustainability.

Lastly, organizations should build long-term expertise within their teams. Successful AI adoption isn’t a one-time event; it’s a continuous journey of refinement, learning, and adaptation. Training employees to understand AI fundamentals, interpret analytics, and collaborate with data scientists goes a long way toward embedding AI into the corporate culture. This level of internal capability also positions companies to pivot faster as new technologies emerge.

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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

• India has ordered X to block over 8,000 accounts, the social media company said on May 8, 2025
• X deemed India's orders as censorship and urged account holders to legally challenge the blocks
• Both India and Pakistan have intensified internet censorship as the conflict between the two countries continues to escalate

India has issued executive orders to X, asking the social media company to block over 8,000 accounts across the country. The targets, X explains, include accounts belonging to international news organizations and prominent X users.

X's Global Government Affairs team disclosed the details in a lengthy tweet on Thursday, May 8, 2025, deeming these requests as "censorship" and urging account holders based in India to legally challenge the blocks.

"Blocking entire accounts is not only unnecessary, it amounts to censorship of existing and future content, and is contrary to the fundamental right of free speech," wrote X.

X disagrees but it's "restricted by Indian law"

"To comply with the orders, we will withhold the specified accounts in India alone. We have begun that process," wrote X, adding that the company disagrees with the Indian government’s demands.

This means, however, that blocked account holders may be able to keep accessing the platform by using one of the best VPN services to spoof their IP address location.

"X is exploring all possible legal avenues available to the company. Unlike users located in India, X is restricted by Indian law in its ability to bring legal challenges against these executive orders," the company added, while encouraging all users impacted to seek appropriate relief from the courts.

The social media company even shared a list of legal aid organizations that could help people challenging these blocking orders, and asserted that it had notified those impacted by these actions.

X's Global Government Affairs account was temporarily withheld in India, as reported by Indian technology journalist Adit Agrawal on her LinkedIn account.

The account was restored on Friday morning. According to a person aware of the matter, Agrawal reported, X blocked the account without an official order after authorities asked the company about the tweet.

"Now MeitY has issued an order to X to NOT block it, as per this person," wrote Agrawal.

India/Pakistan information crackdown

X's blocking orders coincide with a spike in internet censorship across the country as the conflict with the neighboring Pakistan intensifies.

On Wednesday, May 7, Meta also blocked a major Muslim news page on Instagram at the authorities' request, as reported by The Guardian.

On Thursday, India’s Ministry of Information and Broadcasting also issued an advisory urging all media companies, streaming services, and online platforms to block all content originating from Pakistan.

On his side, Pakistan has resumed access to X on Wednesday after a 15-month-long ban.

The Pakistan Telecommunication Authority (PTA) also blocked access to at least 16 YouTube news channels and 32 websites from India on the same day, for allegedly spreading misinformation and anti-Pakistan propaganda.

As reported by the BBC, India and Pakistan blame each other for escalating military tensions and have both been launching a series of missiles and drone strikes since Wednesday. This represents a major escalation of existing tensions over the disputed area of Kashmir between the two nuclear-armed countries.

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• Adobe will discount certain software subscriptions by 70% for the US Government
• Eliminating paper-based processes could significantly boost productivity
• Savings available for several months

Adobe is preparing to offer its software to the US Government at a whopping 70% discount, with the considerable savings available on contract signups until November 2025.

The partnership was confirmed in a statement by the US General Services Administration, which noted, "Adobe will offer a comprehensive Paperless Government Solution at a 70% discount off the current GSA list price through November 30, 2025."

Not only does the discount address the US Government's ongoing cost-cutting efforts, driven by Elon Musk's DOGE, but it's also designed to streamline operations between departments by cutting out legacy systems and physical copies in favor of online versions.

US government Adobe discount

"This agreement with Adobe is another example of GSA leading a transformative change in how the federal government buys goods and services, with a focus on commercial products. We’re moving away from outdated and fragmented agency-by-agency purchasing, towards strategic procurement decisions," GSA Acting Administrator Stephen Ehikian explained.

Adobe's Chief Revenue Officer, Stephen Frieder, added: “This agreement reflects our shared commitment with GSA to streamline procurement and support digitization efforts to help the government best serve the American people."

Among the bundles on offer at a 70% discount are Acrobat Premium for Enterprise, Acrobat Sign for Enterprise and Adobe Express for Enterprise.

In a separate announcement, Adobe added: "Today's announcement marks an opportunity for federal agencies to take meaningful strides in sustainable digital modernization."

The company stressed how its plans to support the US Government eliminate paper-based processes will boost productivity by eliminating the inefficiencies created by manual processes, increase responsiveness with user-friendly applications and speed up content creation.

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With the vast amount of data that enterprises are generating and storing, leaders are continually reminded to get their data in order so they can generate business insight and prepare for AI initiatives. However, there is a reason why a majority of the enterprise’s human intelligence cannot be utilized to inform the business decisions being made today.

The main issue is that computers are unable to determine the meaning and context of unstructured text—and there is simply too much of it for humans to process. With the global market for AI technologies expected to grow to over 1.8 trillion U.S. dollars by 2030, there is a clear business need for computers to understand the human language, or business leaders will fail to make the most of their AI investments.

However, there is a solution. In using semantic analysis, which has automated and assisted text classification and fact extraction processes, a business can use AI to understand the meaning of its enterprise data with accurate, consistent and transparent outcomes. With this meaning, they are able to unlock valuable insights, enhance user experience and drive smarter decisions.

The meaning of semantic analysis

Semantic analysis builds upon natural language processing (NLP) and focuses on understanding and processing the meaning of words and phrases that have multiple meanings. It works by using methods and tools that can efficiently categorize and process data, whilst seeing relationships within data sets. In so doing, computers can finally comprehend the human intent behind words, phrases and sentences.

Semantic analysis can answer questions like: “What does this text mean?”, and “How do these concepts relate to each another?” It also can extract specific information in the data like the age of a patient or the directors of a company. By revealing and encoding what the text really means, semantic analysis enables the most accurate information retrieval and improves communication between machines and humans. Put simply, it can understand business data to generate meaningful insights.

By interpreting communications with customers and gaining insights into habits and preferences, semantic analysis can enable businesses to power chatbots and deliver a new level of agility to the organization. By deriving new insight from communications with customers—helping train chatbots, for example—Semantic analysis can add a new level of agility to the organization.

Getting deeper meaning with text classification and fact extraction

Depending on what an organization is looking to achieve, semantic analysis can use two methods to extract information from text. These methods are text classification and fact extraction.

Text Classification

With this method, text is labelled based on insights you want to gain from the textual data. For example, Topic Classification can organize text within a particular category, for instance putting a school assignment into math, chemistry or physics. Intent Classification assesses the sender’s intent for a message, which can help the organization respond in the best way.

Fact Extraction

With Fact Extraction, organizations can identify and extract facts and relationships in their content to aid in the discovery of latent patterns and knowledge not previously known to their business. If organizations can make information easier to find within their content, it brings efficiency to the organization as it can reuse text for various use cases and audit it.

The Text Re-use feature can help leverage content in different contexts quickly and for different use cases. Text Auditing helps you stay ahead of your competition and fully access the volume of knowledge in your content. Text Creation allows teams to focus resources on creating missing content that fills gaps rather than recreating content that already exists.

Examples of semantic analysis

Here are six ways semantic analysis can add value and agility to an organization:

Intelligent search experience - It can help search engines understand the meaning of text to position it appropriately in results. It goes beyond repetition, improving the results through the richness of the semantic field. This results in an intelligent search experience that can understand user intent and context for better outcomes.

Customer feedback – Since it can understand the positive, negative or neutral context, semantic analysis can help machines better understand customer feedback from social networks, reviews and forums by detecting elements that denote dissatisfaction, discontent or impatience. Trends insight – Semantic analysis can help marketers get closer to their customers and keep on top of market trends by processing large volumes of textual data.

Customer experience – The overall elevated digital experience helps customers to find more relevant information faster and offsets problems before they can escalate.

Regulatory compliance - Semantic analysis can help an organization meet regulatory needs, mitigate risk and streamline processes. It helps apply metadata that organizations can use to implement information governance best practices.

Making your data AI ready – data agility is vital for successful AI applications. Semantic data analysis allows for efficient data integration, classification and contextualization, which will enable organizations to build more adaptable and responsive AI systems.

Benefits of semantic analysis

A well-executed semantic analysis methodology will bolster competitive advantage by elevating the customer experience and company performance, improving search relevance and providing valuable insights for new business initiatives. Some key advantages of semantic analysis include:

Build a customer-centric strategy: Semantic analysis contributes to the deployment of a customer-centric strategy, where each business decision is centered on the customer’s needs, boosting customer loyalty and retention.

Improve company performance: By automating data analysis, semantic analysis offers considerable time savings for teams across the organization, channeling resources to prioritize business-critical functions and improve the bottom line.

Enhance your SEO strategy: Semantic analysis can help uncover a user’s intent during the search process, enabling the organization to serve up more relevant content.

Bolster customer self-service solutions: Semantic analysis allows machines to detect human emotions to extract valuable information from unstructured data so more effective self-service options can be created. Support AI Strategy: When it comes to machine learning and AI, semantic analysis supports feature extraction and understanding relationships in data.

Smarter business decisions: Ultimately, semantic analysis extracts the meaningful information companies need to drive informed business decisions. Enable 360s: By providing a comprehensive view of all data, semantic analysis allows organizations to aggregate information effectively, enabling them to conduct more informed 360 reviews of products.

The value of data Is achieved through its analysis

With the advancement of AI and the rise of unstructured data, semantic analysis is essential for organizations in all sectors who are looking to embrace AI agents and data driven decisioning.

The introduction of semantic analysis marks a significant leap forward for machines to become not only viable but trusted in the business landscape. By harnessing the power of meaning, businesses can unlock valuable insights, enhance user experience and drive smarter decisions.

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Guns and heavy metal weren't enough this time around.

The Dark Ages switches up some of the fundamental mechanics from Doom 2016 and Doom Eternal. Here's how to get your footing in the latest installment.

Id Software’s Doom series made a hell of a comeback in Doom (2016) with one of the best FPS campaigns of all time. This was followed up by 2020’s Doom Eternal, which turned every element of the series to an extreme level with a faster pace, enhanced weapons, and some of the most satisfying movement in any shooter; it was Doom by way of Devil May Cry. However, rather than go even more extreme, Doom: The Dark Ages takes on a medieval theme where instead of a Formula One killing machine, you’re a tank.

Review info

Platform reviewed: PS5
Available on: PS5, PC, Xbox Series X, Xbox Series S
Release date: May 15, 2025 (early access May 13

The Slayer (or, to give him his full name, Doom Slayer) is far slower than usual; there’s a sprint button as opposed to him just being naturally fast, and there’s nary a double jump or dash in sight. You’re heavy, you’re bulky, and you’re blocking all manner of attacks.

A shield is introduced very early on in Doom: The Dark Ages. Enemies will throw out attacks that glow green, meaning they can be parried, which you will soon realise is the central mechanic of the game.

(Image credit: Bethesda) The only thing they fear is you

The Slayer is built around defense, which is a far cry from the previous two entries and results in the stylish combat feeling a bit more barebones. The right move often feels like sitting back and having the enemy come to you, as opposed to you being the final boss tearing through every environment.

That doesn’t mean the combat doesn’t have its moments, though; the chainsaw shield throw is a bit of kit that feels incredibly satisfying from the moment you get it until the finale.

Throwing the shield into a large demon results in it getting lodged inside of it, which – with an upgrade – will let you shoot at it to create a ricocheting death machine. There are flashes of Doom’s trademark style, but it doesn’t quite have the sauce that was found in previous entries.

(Image credit: Bethesda)

That being said, the actual shooting still feels fantastic. The Super Shotgun continues to be the greatest gun known to man. Meanwhile, the new Ravager weapon – which grinds up skulls and shoots out bone shrapnel – is a brilliant concept, and the ball and chain launching chainshot is so satisfying to charge up and blast off the skull of a demon with. Even if the Slayer doesn’t feel as good to control, his guns sure do.

Difficulty-wise the game strikes the perfect balance. I played on Ultra-Violence (hard), and it felt like the right amount of tough; countless adrenaline-filled moments of near death, where you’re parrying for your life, make for some of combat's highlights.

The combat is also extremely customizable, with the likes of parry windows and damage sliders being adjustable. Although there is nothing quite as terrifying as the Marauder battles from Doom Eternal, which would push you to your limit constantly.

The graphics look incredibly crisp – especially on PlayStation 5 Pro – even with all the gore and particles on screen, I never noticed any framerate drops on both the base PS5 or the Pro. The game does have some DualSense Wireless Controller features like adaptive triggers for the guns and use of the controller speaker (although the latter borders on the obnoxious as sound effects get doubled).

(Image credit: Bethesda) BFG Division

The levels found in Doom: The Dark Ages are a mixture of classic Doom and some new ideas. While the dense, secret-filled gauntlets are still present and accounted for, id experiments with a semi-open world formula for some of the new levels.

These levels will plop you into a domain and let you run free, taking on objectives in any order you please, and allow you to explore all corners of the map looking for upgrades and secrets. While some don’t feel quite as clean as the more focused levels, it's a nice way to change things up.

The other two additions are Mech and Dragon stages. These are used as nice distractions to break up the pace and are undoubtedly cool set piece moments; however, it becomes clear once you reach the second one of each that there’s no real progression between them.

Both revolve around a dodge-then-attack format, with the dragon having some aerial chases to segue between areas, but they feel pretty identical the whole way through and are a little half-baked.

Best bit

(Image credit: Bethesda)

During the final act the story goes into overdrive and you’re faced with a number of great boss fights and set piece moments that round things off with a bang.

Another thing I didn’t think the developers went far enough with was the dark ages concept itself. While there’s fantasy iconography with the Slayer’s sick fur pelt cape and the melee weapons, there’s really not much that separates this from regular Doom.

It’s still fused with sci-fi, so there are still energy weapons; in fact, only the Ravager and Chainshot feel uniquely dark ages. The environments are pretty different at least, swapping Mars and destroyed Earth cities for large battlefields.

The roster of enemies have all gotten redesigns to fit the theme, but some are a massive step down. The Cacodemon – which is typically a pretty goofy-looking monster, bordering on cartoonish – looks unrecognisable as the team goes for a more realistic style. However, the majority of these are fantastic, with the Imps and Mancubus being the highlights.

(Image credit: Bethesda) Hell on Earth

Story is a big part of Doom: The Dark Ages, which means even more cutscenes. It centres on The Slayer being a tool in a war between Sentinels and the forces of hell.

The game introduces a ton of new characters who are new to the series, but outside of the Kreed Makyr and main villain Ahzrak, there’s not much to write home about. There’s a cast of human characters with their own plight, but it wasn’t engaging, and whenever they were on screen, I just found myself wishing I was playing or watching the Slayer do something.

The Slayer is still great, though. Right from the beginning it’s still established that he is that guy. Everyone talks about him with hushed tones; he’s treated like a bogeyman by the denizens of hell, and the moment he steps foot on the battlefield, the entire aura changes. It’s full of him doing superhuman feats that border on silly in how over the top they get, and despite my lack of interest in the overall plot, id Software nails it when he is on screen.

The previous two entries in the Doom series were all-time great FPS campaigns, but they were also top-tier albums, as Mick Gordon’s soundtrack work on them was incredible. However, after controversy with the Doom Eternal soundtrack, Gordon hasn’t returned for this. One of the best things about his soundtracks was the blend of metal riffs with excellent synth work, over just being straight metal. However, sadly, The Dark Ages goes for the straight metal approach. and it just doesn’t hit the same. None of the music is bad, but it’s not entirely memorable either.

Doom: The Dark Ages features an excellent FPS campaign with satisfying gameplay, best-in-class shooting, and great set-piece moments. At the end of the day, its biggest sin is that it doesn’t live up to what came before.

The decision to slow combat down and scale back the Slayer’s movement makes things feel like a step back and takes away some of the flashy style. I wish it did more with the medieval setting, but it’s still a great shooter campaign that continues to prove why id Software is at the top of the FPS mountain.

(Image credit: Bethesda) Should you play Doom: The Dark Ages? Play it if...

You want a nice, long single-player campaign
Doom: The Dark Ages’ campaign clocks in at about 15-20 hours, with each level being packed with collectables and secrets to find. There’s also challenge modes available like Ultra Nightmare, for those who really want to test their limits.

You like satisfying shooting and parries
Doom remains second-to-none when it comes to satisfying gunplay, each shotgun blast feels devastating thanks to great visual and sound design. While the new weapons are unique and welcome additions to The Slayer’s arsenal and the parries are plentiful and impactful.

Don't play it if...

You want a multiplayer shooter
While Doom (2016) and Doom Eternal both had in-depth multiplayer modes, Doom: The Dark Ages has skipped it entirely, the single-player campaign is all you’re getting this time around.

Accessibility

Doom: The Dark Ages has one of the strongest accessibility suites I've seen recently.

All the controls are able to be remapped, plus you’re able to freely tune each difficulty to your own standards (such as changing damage values, parry windows and game speed).

The game features subtitles, font and HUD scaling on the UI, as well as customisable colours for effects such as parries. There’s also colourblind modes although these are found in the ‘Video’ options menu rather than the ‘Accessibility’ menu.

How I reviewed Doom: The Dark Ages

I played 30 hours of Doom: The Dark Ages between a PS5 Pro on a Samsung Q60D TV and a Samsung HW-T450 soundbar. I also played on a PS5 on a Samsung Odyssey G5 gaming monitor with a PlayStation Pulse 3D Headset.

During this time I completed the game on Ultra-Violence difficulty, with no difficulty modifiers turned on. I didn’t use the Life Sigils for an instant revive during combat, only during segments where I was exploring. I got 100% completion in all but two levels (having replayed a few levels to nail down those last few secrets).

First reviewed March 2025

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, May 9 (game #432).

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 #433) - hint #1 - today's theme What is the theme of today's NYT Strands?

• Today's NYT Strands theme is… Find the missing links

NYT Strands today (game #433) - hint #2 - clue words

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

• VILE
• LUDE
• SIZES
• DELI
• SALE
• RAGE

NYT Strands today (game #433) - hint #3 - spangram letters How many letters are in today's spangram?

• Spangram has 8 letters

NYT Strands today (game #433) - hint #4 - spangram position What are two sides of the board that today's spangram touches?

First side: left, 4th row

Last side: right, 4th row

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

NYT Strands today (game #433) - the answers

(Image credit: New York Times)

The answers to today's Strands, game #433, are…

• CHORIZO
• SALAMI
• LIVERWURST
• KIELBASA
• ANDOUILLE
• SPANGRAM: SAUSAGES

• My rating: Easy
• My score: Perfect

I saw the Spangram first today and then grabbed the three most obvious SAUSAGES: CHORIZO, SALAMI, and LIVERWURST. The other two I had never heard of, but being a major consumer of processed pork, I’m pretty sure I’ve eaten them.

The most difficult thing today was tapping out KIELBASA and ANDOUILLE in the correct letter order, but I guess they had to give us something to chew on. Top marks, by the way, to Strands HQ for today’s top punning theme.

All of these meat treats are what we’d call slicing sausages in the UK as we wouldn’t want to confuse them with actual sausages – or hot dogs – which we like frying whole and consuming with chips or mashed potato or with even more meat products for our award-winning artery-clogging breakfasts.

How did you do today? Let me know in the comments below.

Yesterday's NYT Strands answers (Friday, May 9, game #432)

• BACKPACK
• TENT
• GRILL
• COOLER
• LANTERN
• THERMOS
• SPANGRAM: CAMPING GEAR

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.

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, May 9 (game #698).

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 #699) - today's words

(Image credit: New York Times)

Today's NYT Connections words are…

• BEANS
• MINUS
• LOVE
• ENERGY
• ZIP
• BEST
• COMIC
• SANS
• SINCERELY
• WANTING
• BACON
• SUNSET
• ABSENT
• LANDING
• CHEERS
• PEP

NYT Connections today (game #699) - hint #1 - group hints

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

• YELLOW: Dear endings
• GREEN: Missing something
• BLUE: Full of it 
• PURPLE: Add a word that rhymes with “grip”

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 #699) - hint #2 - group answers

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

• YELLOW: LETTER SIGN-OFFS
• GREEN: WITHOUT 
• BLUE: VIGOR 
• PURPLE: __ STRIP 

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

NYT Connections today (game #699) - the answers

(Image credit: New York Times)

The answers to today's Connections, game #699, are…

• YELLOW: LETTER SIGN-OFFS BEST, CHEERS, LOVE, SINCERELY
• GREEN: WITHOUT ABSENT, MINUS, SANS, WANTING
• BLUE: VIGOR BEANS, ENERGY, PEP, ZIP
• PURPLE: __ STRIP BACON, COMIC, LANDING, SUNSET

• My rating: Easy
• My score: Perfect

I had cooked breakfast on my mind today, so I’m annoyed that i didn’t get the purple group and particularly BACON STRIP.

That said, this was quite a straightforward game, missing any of the normal traps. Indeed you could say it was ABSENT, MINUS, SANS and WANTING of its usual trickery, with Comic Sans the only gag pairing (unless I missed one).

Out of the four groups, the one that was ranked easiest – LETTER SIGN-OFFS – had the potential to be the trickiest considering how old-fashioned ending a letter SINCERELY is.

It doesn’t seem that long ago that I’d wrestle over writing that or faithfully at the end of job applications. Now, BEST is the only way to go – or whatever our AI pals think.

How did you do today? Let me know in the comments below.

Yesterday's NYT Connections answers (Friday, May 9, game #698)

• YELLOW: TV DISPLAY SETTINGS BRIGHTNESS, COLOR, CONTRAST, TINT
• GREEN: FUZZY, AS A MEMORY DIM, FAINT, REMOTE, VAGUE
• BLUE: RESULTS OF SOME ARITHMETIC DIFFERENCE, PRODUCT, QUOTIENT, SUM
• PURPLE: WINDOW TREATMENTS IN THE SINGULAR BLIND, DRAPE, SHADE, SHUTTER

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.

There's a real mix of new movies and shows to explore on the best streaming services this Mother's Day weekend for those in the US and Australia, and Netflix is leading the charge with its slate of new releases.

We've picked out a romantic slasher, feel-good comedy and dark fantasy animation out of everything new on Netflix, but there's also the new teen drama series inspired by Judy Blume's Forever novel from 1975 that's worth a watch from what we hear.

Remote at the ready? Great, because here's our top streaming picks out of all the latest new releases. – Amelia Schwanke, senior entertainment editor.

Heart Eyes (Netflix)

Recently, I described Heart Eyes as the best horror-romance movie of the year and I’m so excited that it’s available to stream on Netflix this weekend. If you’re looking for the right amount of romance, comedy and horror, this movie blends it all perfectly and has an impressive 81% Rotten Tomatoes critical rating, making it just as worthy of some of the best horror movies.

While it was originally released in time for Valentine’s Day, I think it’s perfect horror viewing any time of year! With some great gory moments and a mystery at the heart of the plot, it’s a gripping watch and thoroughly entertaining. Netflix horror movies can be quite hit and miss but this is one of the best ones on there.

Need more horror recommendations this month? Check out eight new horror movies on Netflix, Shudder, Max and more in May 2025. – Lucy Buglass, senior entertainment writer

• Watch Heart Eyes on Netflix now

Poker Face season 2 (Peacock)

This tale of a casino worker turned human lie detector performed incredibly well after season one Poker Face, which has a near-perfect 99% Rotten Tomatoes critical rating. After loving her work in Netflix’s Russian Doll and Orange is the New Black, Natasha Lyonne impressed me here too and I’m so excited to see what the second season of this mystery-a-week show brings.

Season 2 picks up with Charlie hitting the road once again after receiving a call from crime boss Beatrix Halp. She’s back on the road and there’s some amazing guest stars such as Wicked’s Cynthia Eviro and The Office star BJ Novak, so the cast just keeps getting bigger and better.

In Rian Johnson we trust. We'll have to wait and see if it returns for season three but for now, you've got the second installment to dive into. – LB

• Watch Pokerface season 2 on Peacock

Octopus (Prime Video)

This week's first documentary pick is a nature series that delves into the lives of octopuses. That might not sound instantly thrilling but with Phoebe Waller-Bridge (Fleabag; Indiana Jones and the Dial of Destiny) narrating the series, we're expecting her signature humor to keep the pacing lively.

Octopus! is a two-part series that sees an eclectic mix of characters, including scientists, explorers and enthusiasts, share their connections with the eight-limbed sea creatures that could easily become one of the best Prime Video shows.

I loved Netflix's My Octopus Teacher and National Geographic's Secrets of the Octopus on Disney+, both of which scored highly with critics, so I wouldn't be surprised if this becomes an instant hit. – AS

• Watch Octopus! on Prime Video now

Nonnas (Netflix)

Looking for a good comedy movie? Nonnas should whet your appetite, perhaps literally, as it follows a man who opens an Italian restaurant with actual nonnas aka grandmothers as the chefs.

Feast your eyes on this great cast too: Vince Vaughn leads a great line-up, including stars like Susan Sarandon, Stanley Tucci, Joe Manganiello and Linda Cardellini. This has all the key ingredients to become one of the best Netflix movies, indeed.

It's based on a true story, inspired by the life of Joe Scaravella, the owner of the Staten Island restaurant Enoteca Maria, where grandmothers are invited to work as chefs. This one should be a great watch. – LB

• Watch Nonnas on Netflix

Blood of Zeus season 3 (Netflix)

The third and final season of Blood of Zeus, aka one of the best Netflix shows, is here, so you're sorted if you need your adult animation fix this weekend. It's an action-packed one, focusing mainly on two storylines.

This time around, expect to see Cronos and Typhon’s rampage across Greece, as well as Heron helping Seraphim to get his lover, Priestess Gorgo, into the Elysian Fields. So there's a lot going on and plenty to wrap up before the season finale.

This mythical ancient Greece inspired series has had a good run, but it doesn't look like it'll be returning any time soon. If you need more animation in your life, check out these Adult Swim shows including one with 100% on Rotten Tomatoes. – LB

• Watch Blood of Zeus season 3 on Netflix now

Long Way Home (Apple TV+)

Broom broom, motorheads! It's finally time to watch Ewan McGregor's and Charley Boorman's latest biking adventure on Apple TV+, Long Way Home.

This new Apple TV+ adventure series is an awe-inspiring ride that will see the best friends reunite for a fourth season to travel across 17 European countries on customized classic motorcycles.

As one of the best Apple TV+ shows, I'm excited to saddle up for the first four episodes of this 10-part travel documentary series. Trust me, it's a lighthearted watch that's sure to delight. – AS

• Watch Long Way Home on Apple TV+

Summer of 69 (Hulu)

The latest new Hulu movie to grace our screens is Summer of 69. The film's premise might make it sound like another raunchy teen comedy akin to the likes of Superbad and Bottoms, but this coming-of-age story is said to be much more heartfelt.

What starts of as a story about an awkward teenager called Abby (Sam Morelos) enlisting the help of a stripper (Chloe Fineman) to teach her how to have sex soon becomes a lesson in confidence.

Early reviews look promising for Jillian Bell's directorial debut, but we'll have to wait and see if it becomes one of the best Hulu movies. – AS

• Watch Summer of 69 on Hulu now

For more streaming recommendations, read our guides on best Prime Video movies, best Paramount+ movies and best Max movies.

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, May 9 (game #1201).

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 #1202) - hint #1 - Vowels How many different vowels are in Quordle today?

• The number of different vowels in Quordle today is 3*.

* 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 #1202) - hint #2 - repeated letters Do any of today's Quordle answers contain repeated letters?

• The number of Quordle answers containing a repeated letter today is 0.

Quordle today (game #1202) - hint #3 - uncommon letters Do the letters Q, Z, X or J appear in Quordle today?

• No. None of Q, Z, X or J appear among today's Quordle answers.

Quordle today (game #1202) - 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 #1202) - hint #5 - starting letters (2) What letters do today's Quordle answers start with?

• R

• B

• C

• S

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

Quordle today (game #1202) - the answers

(Image credit: Merriam-Webster)

The answers to today's Quordle, game #1202, are…

• RELIC
• BADGE
• CHAMP
• SATIN

Back when I started playing Quordle it would take me at least 10 minutes to crack. These days, when all the stars align and there’s no rogue words or rare letters, it often takes me less than 90 seconds.

I say this not to brag, but out of embarrassment that it took me so long to realise how much easier this game is once you use three start words with 15 different letters.

Meanwhile, as Quordle gets easier the Daily Sequence seems to get harder to crack. Why is that?

How did you do today? Let me know in the comments below.

Daily Sequence today (game #1202) - the answers

(Image credit: Merriam-Webster)

The answers to today's Quordle Daily Sequence, game #1202, are…

• DIRGE
• WATER
• VAULT
• REBEL

Quordle answers: The past 20

• Quordle #1201, Friday, 9 May: MINUS, CRIME, NOSEY, SLAIN
• Quordle #1200, Thursday, 8 May: ELUDE, GREET, POPPY, ELITE
• Quordle #1199, Wednesday, 7 May: QUOTH, TRUNK, BESET, NAIVE
• Quordle #1198, Tuesday, 6 May: UNITE, SOGGY, FILET, PORCH
• Quordle #1197, Monday, 5 May: WREAK, COWER, STEAD, QUEUE
• Quordle #1196, Sunday, 4 May: PINCH, SMOKE, SCARY, CANNY
• Quordle #1195, Saturday, 3 May: PLUSH, VERGE, WROTE, CONDO
• Quordle #1194, Friday, 2 May: CAUSE, RISEN, MACAW, SMELT
• Quordle #1193, Thursday, 1 May: IDIOM, EXILE, SPOOF, DRAPE
• Quordle #1192, Wednesday, 30 April: BATON, TORSO, ANNEX, DROWN
• Quordle #1191, Tuesday, 29 April: HOVER, HENCE, OCTAL, COPSE
• Quordle #1190, Monday, 28 April: JAUNT, ALLOW, FRUIT, BURNT
• Quordle #1189, Sunday, 27 April: PRIOR, YOUTH, CREDO, CHIDE
• Quordle #1188, Saturday, 26 April: LINGO, LOCUS, THROW, CLICK
• Quordle #1187, Friday, 25 April: SHALT, WRATH, MAMBO, HUMPH
• Quordle #1186, Thursday, 24 April: CHOKE, COLOR, FRAME, CAIRN
• Quordle #1185, Wednesday, 23 April: VALET, PUPAL, CREEP, DRIFT
• Quordle #1184, Tuesday, 22 April: POUTY, CHEST, BROOM, TEPEE
• Quordle #1183, Monday, 21 April: SHARD, PRINT, SUMAC, LEACH
• Quordle #1182, Sunday, 20 April: DINER, HORDE, SHONE, FUGUE

• Honkai: Star Rail Version 3.3 launches on May 21
• The update expands the game's story, and introduces new characters Hyacine and Cipher
• New events and relics revealed, too, as well as a major expansion to the Divergent Universe game mode

The time has rolled around again for Hoyoverse to reveal exactly what's coming up in the Version 3.3 update for Honkai: Star Rail.

'The Fall at Dawn's Rise', which launches later this month on May 21, will introduce two new five-star characters to the game, a new story chapter, several new events, new relics, an expansion to the Divergent Universe game mode, and more optimizations to the ever-growing RPG.

The first of the two new characters is Hyacine: a five-star Wind character on the Rememberance path. Based on the footage from the recent livestream, she looks like a strong support unit who can restore HP and increase the maximum HP of your party members with help from her summon, Little Ica.

With all the HP scaling characters we've got in the game in the last couple of patches, it seems she will be a natural fit alongside Castorice and Tribbie – and a worthwhile upgrade to those teams currently running Luocha or Gallagher in the sustain role.

The second playable five-star in Cipher. She is on the Quantum element and follows the Path of Nihility. Her gimmick is all based around marking a single high HP opponent on the battlefield, performing follow-up attacks when allies damage that target, and using her ultimate to unleash a devastating amount of damage based on the total recorded damage the target has received.

Image 1 of 3

Hyacine pairs up with her memosprite Little Ica to heal allies (Image credit: Hoyoverse)Image 2 of 3

Cipher applies a mark to targets and unleashes a huge amount of damage based on ally attacks (Image credit: Hoyoverse)Image 3 of 3

A Mario Kart-style racing game is one of the events coming in Version 3.3 (Image credit: Hoyoverse)

It's a kit that makes a lot more sense in practice, with Hoyo showing off her effectiveness in combat with Acheron and Jiaoqiu in one party, and Castorice in another.

I had no plans to pull her for my account, but now I could be tempted. However, anyone thinking of going for new characters will also have to consider that The Herta and Aglaea will also re-run during Phase 1 and Phase 2 of the patch, respectively.

While the new characters are the main draw, Version 3.3 will also introduce the next chapter in the game's story that builds towards the final battle of the Flame-Chase Journey. That will be a confrontation with the Sky Titan, a hundred-eyed giant bird named Aquila, who will also serve as a new end-game boss.

Other new additions include a bizarre-looking racing event, the return of a combat event that looks to take inspiration from the item evolutions of Vampire Survivors, new relics to farm, and an expansion to the roguelite Divergent Universe mode that adds more buffs, rewards and mechanics.

Honkai: Star Rail Version 3.3 launches on May 21. The free-to-play RPG is available now on PC, mobile and PlayStation 5.

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Apple TV+ has unveiled the first trailer for new golfing comedy Stick and it looks like just the thing to scratch the sports comedy itch while we await Ted Lasso season 4.

A coach pinning success on a lower league star while going through a divorce, accompanied by a grumpy, beared sidekick? Stick sounds an awful lot like the streamer’s soccer sitcom, but Apple TV+ latest feel-good comedy switches things up with an entirely different kind of club.

The new show sees Owen Wilson starring as “Pryce Cahill, an over-the-hill, ex-pro golfer whose career was derailed prematurely 20 years ago. After the collapse of his marriage and getting fired from his job at an Indiana sporting goods store, Pryce hedges his bets, and future, entirely on a troubled 17-year-old golf phenom named Santi (Peter Dager). Stick is a heartfelt, feel-good sports comedy about a found family and their relationships set within the world of golf as it has never been shown before.”

As you can see from the trailer below, the 10-episode series looks to be another example of the type of hilarious and heartfelt comedy one of the best streaming services have become masters of. With Wilson pitch perfect as the down and out Cahill looking for one last chance at glory, and with Peter Dager nailing the role of would-be golfing sensation Santi Wheeler, it’s like Ted Lasso coaching Happy Gilmore.

Also stepping out on to the green are Judy Greer as Pryce’s soon-to-be ex-wife Amber-Linn and Timothy Olyphant as his former rival while Marc Maron returns to the world of sports-com after Netflix’s GLOW, playing Cahill’s sardonic pal Mitts.

The new trailer comes amid plenty of exciting updates for fans of Apple TV+ comedic output. While the streamer was once considered the home of big budget sci-fi with the likes of Foundation and For All Mankind, it’s quietly been making a name for itself as the home of hilarious, emotional character driven comedy.

While Rob McElhenney’s Mythic Quest was cancelled after four seasons, Stick arrives on the heels of hit movie making satire The Studio, which has just been renewed for a second season, while it’s also been confirmed that parenting sitcom Trying will be back for a fifth season. Meanwhile, the streamer's OG comedy hit Ted Lasso is also set to make a return.

Is Ted Lasso still returning?

(Image credit: Apple TV Plus)

While many assumed we’d said goodbye to Jason Sudekis’ soccer coach at the close of season three, back in March, Apple TV+ confirmed one of the best Apple TV+ shows would be returning for a fourth outing. Sudeikis is confirmed to be back, alongside Hannah Waddingham, Brett Goldstein and Jeremy Swift. The rest of the cast are yet to be announced, but we’d imagine we’ll see more familiar faces re-signed to AFC Richmond.

Plot details are thin on the ground at the moment, but it’s heavily rumored that Ted will return to London to coach the Richmond women’s team announced in the season three finale. In the season four announcement, Sudeikis teased: “As we all continue to live in a world where so many factors have conditioned us to ‘look before we leap,’ in season four, the folks at AFC Richmond learn to LEAP BEFORE THEY LOOK, discovering that wherever they land, it’s exactly where they’re meant to be.” For more on Ted's comeback, you can check out everything we know so far about the return of the hit Apple TV+ show.

In the meantime, Stick looks like a show Ted Lasso fans are going to love, and if you’re missing the antics at the soccer club, well this should go a fair way to filling that hole.

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In 1998, a handful of companies focused on wire replacement for mobile voice and data came together to form the Bluetooth Special Interest Group (SIG), an entity that would grow to include tens of thousands of members who would spend the next two and half decades working to create a better world through connection.

However, 15 years before Bluetooth® technology began helping to create a healthier, smarter, more productive, and more sustainable world, the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) approved the use of unlicensed spectrum in the 2.4 GHz band, laying the foundation for Bluetooth, Wi-Fi, and other short-range wireless technologies to come into being.

“The FCC’s decision to open up the 2.4 GHz band for unlicensed use sparked four decades of wireless innovation, powering technologies like Bluetooth® and Wi-Fi that have transformed how we connect, work, and live,” said Andrew Zignani, senior research director for ABI Research. “As we look to the future, the continued evolution of these technologies will be essential in driving digital transformation, enriching user experiences, and delivering impactful services across consumer, enterprise, and industrial sectors — all while helping create a better, more connected world.”

Deregulating the 2.4 GHz band

On 9 May 1985, the FCC opened up the 2.4 GHz spectrum for public innovation without needing a license. The deregulation of the 2.4 GHz band meant that anyone could develop wireless technologies in that band. This created an environment that allowed for a 1W power limit that was greater than previous unlicensed limits.

“The proposed policy was new — radio systems operating at the relatively high-power level of 1 watt could be brought to the market without an FCC rulemaking or the grant of an FCC license,” said Mark Fowler, FCC chair in 1985. “Looking back, it is clear that adoption of these rules was one of the significant achievements of the…FCC.”

The impact on Bluetooth connectivity

This decision made in 1985 to deregulate the 2.4 GHz band directly enabled the creation and global adoption of Bluetooth technology in 1998, and it is considered to be a turning point in wireless communication history.

“40 years ago, the FCC made a great decision to open up the 2.4 GHz band,” said Eric A. McLaughlin, VP/GM connectivity solutions group at Intel Corporation. “As one of the pioneering companies of the Bluetooth® SIG, Intel is happy to have been able to contribute to the standard’s evolution, which helped propel this technology to near ubiquity across numerous new device categories and industries, and we look forward to the continued Bluetooth® innovations that will further enhance user experiences in the years to come.”

"The FCC's 1985 decision to allow public access to the 2.4 GHz spectrum without a license marked a significant milestone in wireless communication,” said Daniel Cooley, CTO and SVP of technology and product development for Silicon Labs. “This pivotal move led to the development of Bluetooth and has fueled decades of innovation at Silicon Labs. As we look to the future, this historic ruling continues to drive advancements in wireless technology, heralding even more connectivity and innovation."

This FCC decision:

• Enabled affordable innovation: Without licensing costs or complex regulatory hurdles, companies could experiment freely with wireless communication, making Bluetooth connectivity economically feasible to develop as a low-cost, short-range wireless technology
• Defined technical direction: Because devices sharing the 2.4 GHz band had to minimize interference (due to multiple users), early Bluetooth specifications adopted a unique frequency hopping spread spectrum (FHSS) technique allowing a Bluetooth connection to rapidly switch frequencies hundreds of times per second and making connections robust even in the crowded 2.4 GHz environment
• Created global potential: The 2.4 GHz band was deregulated (or lightly regulated) in many other countries, not just the US — which meant that Bluetooth technology could be designed as a single global standard rather than having different versions for different regions
• Stimulated a broader ecosystem: Other important wireless technologies, such as Wi-Fi and cordless phones, also emerged in the 2.4 GHz band, pushing companies to standardize and optimize co-existence mechanisms — boosting the development of Bluetooth technology through industry collaboration

“The FCC’s decision to open the 2.4 GHz band was the spark that set wireless innovation in motion,” said Oyvind Strom, EVP short-range at Nordic Semiconductor. “Bluetooth rose from that moment, and, ever since, Nordic Semiconductor has helped drive ultra-low-power wireless technology, making it easier than ever for developers to innovate. We continue to push boundaries with Bluetooth® LE, delivering higher performance and greater power efficiency for a sustainable world. Happy Anniversary!”

Shaping a wireless future

That day, 40 years ago, when FCC Chairman Fowler and the FCC/OET team deregulated the 2.4 GHz band, changed the world. Wireless audio made us more productive, made our roads safer, and forever changed the way we experience music and media. Wearables help us take better care of ourselves and each other. Tags and trackers make sure what’s lost can always be found. And billions of other incredible Bluetooth innovations simplify our lives, freeing us to focus on what matters.

And Bluetooth® expanded beyond the personal, powering commercial and industrial solutions that cut energy costs, reduce factory downtime, and minimize waste — helping businesses and industries work smarter and more efficiently. From smartphones to headphones, fitness trackers to asset trackers, the industrial IoT to the Ambient IoT, Bluetooth technology is the most widely used wireless standard in the world — connecting people to who and what they love, businesses to new opportunities, and industries to greater possibilities.

"Collaborating with Bluetooth SIG has been an incredible journey, and, as we celebrate the 40th anniversary of the FCC's ground-breaking decision, we reflect on its significant impact on wireless communication,” said Dino Bekis, VP/GM of wearables and mixed-signal solutions at Qualcomm Technologies, Inc. “This not only paved the way for the development of Bluetooth® technology but also played a crucial role in shaping a future where wireless connectivity is seamless, reliable, and ubiquitous."

The FCC’s decision created an environment where Bluetooth technology could be invented, thrive globally, and evolve competitively — giving our community the tools it needed to create a better world through connection.

We've listed the best Bluetooth headsets.

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