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Senua’s Saga: Hellblade 2 Enhanced is the version of the game I’ve been wanting to play ever since I completed the original release of the third-person narrative game last year on Xbox Series X.

Review info

Platform reviewed: PS5 (and PS5 Pro)
Available on: PS5, Xbox Series X|S, PC
Release date: August 12, 2025

Developer Ninja Theory’s sequel to the powerful Hellblade: Senua’s Sacrifice from 2017 has been enhanced and added to for this release, and the game shines on PlayStation 5 and PlayStation 5 Pro, feeling right at home on Sony’s console.

The adventure is, of course, identical to the original release, and my main gripes with the game remain on the whole, but the upgrade in graphics in particular means this is a game worthy of revisiting, and one that excels technically.

It’s a miserable and bleak exploration of the human psyche once again, but it’s a powerful one that features exquisite performances, an intriguing story, and a level of immersion that wasn’t quite there on the first release.

(Image credit: Ninja Theory)A familiar journey

For those unfamiliar with the Senua's Saga: Hellblade 2 game, you play as Senua, an Orkney warrior who allows herself to be captured by Icelandic slavers in order to confront them and put an end to the abduction of her people. However, things soon take a turn, and a grim and bleak story unfolds.

I once again found the narrative of giants, misery, and mystery a deeply compelling one, with an overarching storyline that constantly intrigues, while each particular beat provides memorable moments and background context.

The voice acting, motion performances, and realism of the people in the game further invest you in the story once again, and the character models have never looked better, with each expression captured in beautiful detail, and every line delivered with power.

One of my absolute favorite parts of the initial release remains, as good as ever, and perhaps even more so given the graphics boost. The world of Viking Iceland is one of the best of recent times in games - it’s a true spectacle, and I’ve not been able to stop taking screenshots and exploring the beefy photo mode to capture my favorite vistas.

Each topography and landscape is captured beautifully, and, from the miserable rain-soaked coast at the beginning, right through to the open, lush-green vistas, carved through by rivers and waterfalls, everything is brilliantly represented.

(Image credit: Ninja Theory)

Also, while some places in the game are overly empty and quiet, the landscapes and vistas never fail to wow and absorb; exploring every nook and cranny to find new views, and indeed the game’s lore in the form of faces in rocks, and the totems and trees which tell their own stories bit by bit, is a joy.

The above factors combine successfully, once again, to make a setting that is rich in atmosphere and sense of place, and one that brings its own power and character to the game.

Familiar grievances remain, however; after all, in terms of gameplay and content, it is the same game. Combat is still the same simplistic set of repeated moves (though I feel I was less bored with enemies and their variety this time around), and some of those aforementioned places in the landscape, and thus, the story, really are a bit too empty, too.

(Image credit: Ninja Theory/Xbox)

A new minor issue, however, is the vibration in the DualSense when Senua focuses on one of the trees or totems. It’s far too intense and harms the immersion, sadly. This is especially the case when revisiting the first game, as there, the vibration is more measured, and ties into Senua’s feeling of concentration more.

(Image credit: Ninja Theory)A new take

Familiarity aside, this is still a re-release, so what of the new stuff?

In brief, I'd say that this is the kind of re-release that hits all the right notes. The boost to the game’s graphics is certainly worthwhile, the extra play modes add depth and new experiences, the developer commentary enriches your knowledge of the game and its creation, and the wonderful photo mode and update to the first game (if you get the deluxe version) are all sterling.

I particularly enjoyed the excellent graphical updates to the game and playing it at 60 frames per second in the new performance mode. Said mode is also - and I tested this repeatedly, over and over in different places - near identical to the quality or resolution mode. Upon each inspection and comparison, the sacrifice on particles, light, and reflections in the performance mode compared to the quality mode, on both PS5 Pro and PS5 Slim, was negligible.

The update to the first game’s graphics (included in the Deluxe Edition or free for existing owners) is also incredibly well executed. Hellblade: Senua’s Sacrifice now has three graphics modes - performance, resolution, and enriched - all of which are extremely close in terms of quality - and ran identically at 60 frames per second on my Samsung Q6F QLED TV. The enriched mode looks extra fantastic, mind, and has definitely earned a replay of the first game, a place in my 2025 to-play plans.

Elsewhere, the developer commentary is deeply interesting, and the aforementioned photo mode offers an awful lot of features too that are worth getting stuck into if you’re keen on digital photography.

Best Bit

(Image credit: Ninja Theory)

Reliving the awesome fire and lava section tied to one of the game’s giants was a particular standout moment and joy on PS5 Pro, and the superb nature of the game’s Performance mode made it all the smoother and immersive.

The Dark Rot Challenge Mode is a very on-brand and perfectly fitting inclusion, however. Introduced in Senua’s first adventure, this mode has its own level of high difficulty and offers a permadeath challenge for players looking for the most punishing test. Simply put, with each death, a dark rot will make its way up Senua’s arm, and if you die too many times, all your progress will be lost. It’s such a Hellblade game mode that it makes sense that it’s there, but I am sad that the PS5 platinum trophy is locked behind it.

(Image credit: Ninja Theory)

All in all, Senua’s Saga: Hellblade 2 Enhanced, as a game, is still just as powerful, gripping, and harrowing as I remember. It is, perhaps even more so than ever, a video game demonstration of excellence in misery, bleakness, and sorrow.

Much like parts of Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 and its somber storytelling or The Last of Us Part 2 and that game’s exploration of hatred and the cycle of violence, for me, the heavy themes and bleakness of Senua’s Saga: Hellblade 2 Enhanced are done so well that it’s constantly engrossing and creates something truly memorable, and one of the best PS5 Pro games you can play now.

Should you play Senua's Saga: Hellblade 2 Enhanced?Play it if...

You’re a fan of the game and series, eager to replay an enhanced version of the game
It’s an easy answer to give, but if you’re a huge fan like me and were looking for a reason to dive back in, then this is the perfect way to do so. The game is the same powerful experience, and the new experiences

You want to play one of the technically best games on PS5 Pro
Technically, in its audio and visual presentation, Senua’s Saga: Hellblade 2 Enhanced on PS5 and PS5 Pro feels like the definitive way to play the game, offering a brilliant, beautiful, and immersive audio-visual experience, augmented by the new graphics modes available. This then also extends to the first game’s upgrades, too, which you’ll get with the Deluxe version of Hellblade 2.

You want to embrace the misery and immerse yourself in one of the best game worlds of recent years
As I’ve said above, there is a distinct attraction in sombre games such as Senua’s Saga: Hellblade 2 Enhanced, and if bleakness and darkness are your thing, as well as an incredibly powerful sense of place, then you’ll be right at home here.

Don't play it if...

You value speed and dynamism in your action and combat
One of my small criticisms of the original release was some pacing in the game where it’s very quiet and limited, as well as the simple combat. Both are present in this version of the game again, and while they broadly feel at home for this particular game, if you desire multi-faceted action from your games, then you still won’t find it here.

You rarely revisit games you’ve already finished
As much as I personally loved revisiting this game, for those who have strong memories of the original release, you won’t find much new here aside from the Dark Rot mode and the upgraded visuals.

You’re looking for a cheery or chill game
Relaxing, happy, and cheerful, this is very much not - arguably even more so now with the graphical enhancements on show that give its violence in particular another edge. Elsewhere, it is still the same harrowing, bleak, miserable - yet incredibly engrossing and absorbing tale - that touches on many dark and deep themes of the human psyche.

Accessibility

The same bank of accessibility features in the original release remain present in Senua's Saga: Hellblade 2 Enhanced. These include three color blind modes - Deuteranope, Protanope, and Tritanope - as well as other graphical features such as motion blur and camera bob. In audio, you can alter menu narration settings, make adjustments to the audio presentation and device you’re using, while you can once again change text size, some animations, and UI color schemes.

The excellent gameplay accessibility options remain, too, with settings enabling you to change overall combat difficulty, as well as initiate auto-input for Senua’s offensive and/or defensive combat actions.

How I reviewed Senua's Saga: Hellblade 2 Enhanced

I played Senua's Saga: Hellblade 2 Enhanced for roughly 10 hours, replaying the entire main story, finding each and every collectible, and watching each and every absorbing cutscene. I played the game on my PS5 Pro on a Samsung Q6F 4K QLED TV using a Samsung sound bar and a Drop + EPOS PC38X and Sound BlasterX G6 sound card for audio. I was also able to briefly test the game on my PS5 Slim and Acer Predator X32QFS 4K gaming monitor, using a DualSense controller, and my Sennheiser HD 550 headphones, and Creative Sound Blast X4 sound card.

I spent several minutes in almost every chapter checking the differences between the game’s quality and performance modes, and I also tested all the game’s various extras and modes, ensuring I explored all of what this release of the game has to offer. I tried to engage in the enhanced version of the first one that is included in the deluxe edition of the game, but, unfortunately, I could not get this to work or even find it at the time of writing.

First reviewed August 2025

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• Epic has made its Easy Anti-Cheat tool compatible with Windows on Arm
• This means online games that use the tool work with Arm-based laptops
• That includes Fortnite, which is going to be one of the first games to implement this support for Snapdragon X (Arm) chips

If you've got a Copilot+ laptop with a Qualcomm Snapdragon X (Arm) processor that you also use for gaming duties, here's some great news: one of the biggest stumbling blocks for gamers on Arm has now been banished.

As Thurrott.com reports, Epic has made good on its promise to make its Easy Anti-Cheat (EAC) tool compatible with Windows on Arm (the version of Microsoft's OS that's installed on Copilot+ PCs with Arm chips, as opposed to AMD or Intel silicon).

The move comes with the new version of the Epic Online Services SDK (for game developers) which now boasts EAC compatibility to offer "secure multiplayer experiences on Arm-based Windows 11 devices", as Epic notes.

EAC is used by some big-name online games to weed out problem players who are using various shady tricks or exploits, and the lack of compatibility with the anti-cheat system meant that those games didn't work at all on Arm-based laptops.

Said games include Epic's Fortnite among other online shooters (Apex Legends, PUBG, and more), as well as the likes of Elden Ring.

Analysis: the ball is now in the developers' court

(Image credit: Epic Games)

Epic previously promised that it was going to make EAC work with Windows on Arm back in March 2025, and what we see here is the necessary work being implemented in the mentioned SDK (software development kit).

However, that isn't the end of this story – not quite. It's now up to game developers to incorporate the support in their titles, and Epic is going to be on the ball itself in that respect when it comes to bringing support to Fortnite.

A Qualcomm spokesperson told Thurrott.com: "Fortnite will be among the first titles to take advantage of this compatibility, bringing one of the world's most popular games to Snapdragon-powered laptops."

At any rate, support is going to filter through gradually to a number of games – hopefully quite swiftly – and this will remove one of the black marks in the 'against' column for Arm-based laptops.

Those devices running Snapdragon X chips can make a good enough effort at running even more demanding games – recall the early days of being impressed at these notebooks running Baldur's Gate 3 in 4K.

Being unable to play Easy Anti-Cheat games on these machines was a notable weakness, and particularly with Fortnite, given that this is a popular choice for laptop gamers (and not a demanding title), it was a shame to see it out of the grasp of those with Arm-based Copilot+ PCs – but that won't be the case for much longer.

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• Cybercriminals leaked stolen data in a Telegram channel
• Almost 3 million records from more than a million people were leaked
• There are ways to mitigate the risk

Experts have warned the data stolen in the recent Allianz Life ransomware attack has been leaked to the open internet, and have urged affected users to be on their guard.

Sensitive information on the “majority” of the insurance company’s 1.4 million customers, including people’s names, addresses, phone numbers, dates of birth, Tax Identification Numbers, and even social security numbers, was published in a Telegram group created by ShinyHunters, Scattered Spider, and Lapsu$ threat actors.

In total, 2.8 million data records for both individual customers and business partners were grabbed as part of a wider attack on Salesforce instances. Besides Allianz Life, the group also took credit for a number of other, high-profile incidents, including the attack on Internet Archive, Pearson, and Coinbase.

Stay protected

Usually, cybercriminals would demand a ransom payment in exchange for deleting the stolen files and not leaking it on the internet.

So, if these files were published, it is safe to assume Allianz Life has decided not to pay (or the negotiations broke down for other reasons). There is always the possibility that the crooks leaked the files even after getting paid because these are, after all, cybercriminals.

There are numerous ways hackers can abuse sensitive files. They can impersonate their victims, potentially opening bank accounts in their name, apply for loans and credit cards, or rack up debt. They can also commit fake tax returns, gain access to medical treatment or prescription drugs, and even get a job illegally, which might cause problems for the victims during background checks.

Criminals might also use social security numbers to apply for various Social Security benefits, unemployment compensation, or welfare.

The attack is particularly concerning as such records could contain more than enough of sensitive information for hackers to launch highly personalized, successful phishing campaigns, leading to identity theft, wire fraud, and even ransomware attacks.

How to stay safe

If you're concerned you may have been caught up in the incident, don't worry - there are a number of methods to find out. HaveIBeenPwned? is probably the best resource only to check if your details have been affected, offering a run-down of every big cyber incident of the past few years.

And if you save passwords to a Google account, you can use Google's Password Checkup tool to see if any have been compromised, or sign up for one of the password manager options we've rounded up to make sure your logins are protected.

Via BleepingComputer

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The Champions League winner takes on the Europa League holder in Italy.

Annual sports game releases tend to get their fair share of stick across all platforms, and wrestling game series WWE 2K is no exception. Just a few years ago, the response to the buggy mess that was WWE 2K20 was so bad, the team behind the franchise went back to the drawing board and skipped 2021’s release altogether.

Review info

Platform reviewed: Nintendo Switch 2
Available on: PS5, PS4, Xbox Series X|S, Xbox One, Nintendo Switch 2, PC
Release date: July 23, 2025

Since then, the WWE 2K franchise has gone from strength to strength with just enough polishing every year to warrant an annual release. This year is no different, with my colleague Scott McCrae calling WWE 2K25 “the best wrestling game of the modern era.”

Now, if you’re reading this review, it’s likely that you’ve not only been burnt by the annual sports title release in the past (2K isn’t the only culprit, EA’s sports franchises like FC suffer a similar fate), but you’ve also been burnt by continuously poor ports of sports games to Nintendo platforms.

It brings me great joy to write that WWE 2K25 is the wrestling experience Nintendo fans have wanted for a very long time, offering an almost identical experience to WWE 2K25 on PS5 and Xbox Series X, albeit with some small caveats.

In this review, I’m going to focus on the core experience of playing WWE 2K25 on Nintendo Switch 2. While I’ll be discussing aspects of the game, I’d also advise you to read TechRadar Gaming’s full WWE 2K25 review from earlier this year, as I’m going to touch less on gameplay mechanics and modes than the original write-up.

Time to play the game

In our original review, we praised the improvements to the core gameplay mechanics, such as chain wrestling, as well as the long-anticipated addition of intergender wrestling matches. Some of the Game modes have received lots of love this year, such as the best 2K Showcase to date, based on the Samoan wrestling dynasty, The Bloodline. For fans of Roman Reigns and co, the documentary-style game mode is a genuine blast to play, giving you a history lesson in wrestling while offering fans the chance to relive the moments themselves.

(Image credit: 2K/WWE)

Universe mode, which lets you direct a wrestling show from start to finish, now has in-ring promos, and while still fairly limited, it adds much-needed depth to what I think is the best game mode for a handheld device. Being able to take your fantasy-booked show on the go adds a whole new dimension to the way fans can experience WWE 2K25, and because of it, this Nintendo Switch 2 version of the game might just be my favorite way to play.

You see, while the negatives mentioned in our original review still stand, such as a heavy focus on trying to get players to spend more of their hard-earned cash on unlockable items in the brand new online mode, The Island. Or buying downloadable content (DLC) to access wrestlers that probably should’ve been in the roster to begin with, the Nintendo Switch 2 version of WWE 2K25 unlocks the ability to take a fully-fledged wrestling game on your next vacation, on your next long-haul flight, or even just to the couch while your significant other watches TV.

(Image credit: 2K/WWE)

In terms of the game itself, the best praise I can give it is that it’s essentially identical in content and gameplay to the PS5 and Xbox Series X releases of the game, and that’s not been something sports fans have been able to say about Nintendo ports for a very long time.

Where the Nintendo Switch 2 version does fall short, however, is in graphical fidelity. WWE 2K25 looks like a PS4 game, and while that’s impressive on the go, it feels like you’ve gone back in time when you try to play in docked mode. Considering just how gorgeous WWE 2K25 is on home consoles, the Nintendo Switch 2 version feels a bit lifeless, lacking textures, and in general just not up to par graphically with the game wrestling fans have been enjoying since March.

Pocket combat

If docked mode on Nintendo Switch 2 is your preferred way of playing, and you have access to another current-gen console, I’d advise you to buy this game elsewhere. If, however, you only have access to the Nintendo Switch 2 or you want to take Wrestlemania on the go, WWE 2K25 hits all the right notes.

I’ve been waiting since the Stone Cold Steve Austin glory days for a wrestling game that’s as good in handheld as it is on a big screen, and with WWE 2K25, developers Visual Concepts have nailed it.

Best bit

(Image credit: 2K)

Handheld mode shines, giving wrestling fans the portable fighting game they've always dreamed of. Universe mode is the perfect way to delve into the ring, allowing you to fantasy book shows on the go.

There’s something quite magical about being able to take a sports video game on the go, and I hope WWE 2K25 is a sign of the future for Nintendo Switch 2. While it might not be on par graphically with the competition, it is gameplay-wise, and ultimately, that’s the most important thing for fans of any gaming series.

With EA FC 26 set to release in the coming months, Madden 2026 already available on the Nintendo eShop, and more annual release sports games coming to the Switch 2, I really hope these other developers have taken a page out of WWE 2K25’s book. Give me the same game with less graphical fidelity for small bursts of action while travelling, and the Nintendo Switch 2 might just become my favorite console of all time. Please, developers, don’t let WWE 2K25 be the outlier.

Should you play WWE 2K25?Play it if...

You want to immerse yourself in wrestling
WWE 2K25 is the best wrestling game I've played in years, and despite some game modes being cash grabs, you can opt to focus on the complete experiences, such as 2K Showcase, MyRise, and Universe mode.

You want to play on the go
The game really shines in handheld mode, where it gives players the opportunity to take the full WWE 2K25 with them wherever they go. It's just as good on the Nintendo Switch 2's 7.9-inch LCD panel as it is on a 60-inch OLED TV.

Don't play it if...

You care about graphics
If you're looking for the best-looking wrestling game, then you should look elsewhere, as WWE 2K25 on Nintendo Switch 2 doesn't come close to the fidelity of other consoles on the market. Ultimately, the trade-off is worth it for handheld gameplay, but the flat textures can take away from the experience in docked mode.

How I reviewed WWE 2K25

I played 25 hours of WWE 2K25 between handheld and docked modes on Nintendo Switch 2. Around 15 hours were spent playing the game on the go during a week of travelling across Europe, connected to my SteelSeries Arctis GameBuds.

During this time, I played all of the game modes on offer, comparing them to my experience of playing WWE 2K25 on PS5 Pro. On the PS5 Pro, I have over 100 hours on the game this year with my Samsung S90D, one of the best OLED TVs on the market. With over 125 hours played of WWE 2K25 combined between Nintendo Switch 2 and PS5 Pro, I have a deep understanding of how the Nintendo Switch 2 version compares to the other consoles on the market.

First reviewed August 2025

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It's the 40th anniversary of the superstar concert to raise money for an Ethiopian famine — and of the creation of a U.S. program called FEWS NET to prevent future famines.

(Image credit: Daily Mirror/Mirrorpix)

• The US Federal Court Filing System recently suffered a cyberattack
• Initial reports claim Russia is at least partially to blame
• The attack targeted sealed court files

Russia has allegedly been linked to a worrying recent cyberattack against the US Federal Court Filing System.

Reporting from the New York Times (NYT), which said it spoke to people familiar with the matter, claims there is evidence Russia is at least partially responsible for the attack, which has been a “yearslong” effort to breach the system.

The reports added the searches, “included midlevel criminal cases in the New York City area and several other jurisdictions, with some cases involving people with Russian and Eastern European surnames.”

Hacking sealed files

A cyberattack against the system was most recently confirmed on August 7 by the Administrative Office of the US Courts. However, Politico reported that the system had been under attack by an unknown threat actor since early July.

Furthermore, across the US, chief judges of district courts were told to move cases with overseas ties off the regular document-management system.

An internal memo, seen by NYT and issued to Justice Department officials, clerks and chief judges in federal courts by administrators with the court system stated that, “persistent and sophisticated cyber threat actors have recently compromised sealed records,” continuing with, “This remains an URGENT MATTER that requires immediate action.”

The Federal Court Filing System, like many filing systems, is a sprawling network that is continuously used and updated with new records, and was built on a system first developed in 1996.

As a result, the system is considered to have several serious vulnerabilities, with the system previously being breached in 2020.

There is still currently no known motive for the attack, but it is possible that if Russian intelligence services are involved they could be gathering intelligence on the potential compromise of assets in the US.

The same has been theorized about the telecoms breaches that hit the US in 2024, which were attributed to China. In these attacks, threat actors breached a backdoor used by law enforcement to pursue court-ordered wiretaps.

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• Kodak might not be able to pay down its debt and survive
• The 137-year-old company has been struggling for years
• It's had a huge impact on photography – and on this author

Travel five hours north of New York City and you can visit the home of Kodak; or more properly, George Eastman's estate in Rochester, the birthplace of Kodak – and what's increasingly looking like its final resting place.

The iconic 137-year-old photography company is now in real danger of shutting down for good – although you'd be forgiven if you thought that happened more than a decade ago when the struggling firm first filed for bankruptcy protection.

As a longtime photographer who got his start shooting on Kodak standard and Kodak Ektachrome film, I considered a trek to the Eastman House akin to the journey to Cooperstown for a baseball fanatic.

George Eastman (left) and Thomas Edison (right). Kodak had a long history of supplying film for movie shoots (Image credit: Lance Ulanoff)

Kodak, some would argue, single-handedly brought photography to the masses, producing simplified box cameras that asked little more of early amateurs other than "You press the button, we do the rest." That campaign helped spark a revolution that was arguably as transformative as the more recent one in smartphone photography.

In the early part of the 20th century, Kodak had numerous popular camera series, including the classic and very boxy Brownie, but it was probably the 70-million-unit-selling Instamatic that put a camera in almost everyone's hands.

(Image credit: Getty Images)

Kodak achieved a 1973 version of a meme when its popular film stock, Kodachrome, inspired a 1973 top-10 hit by Paul Simon, one that seemed to extol the film's virtues:

"Kodachrome
They give us those nice bright colors
Give us the greens of summers
Makes you think all the world's a sunny day, oh yeah".

(Image credit: Shutterstock)

I missed much of Kodak's early history (geez, I'm not that old), but I grew up with a photographer dad who bought Kodak film and paper in bulk and built a darkroom in our Queens, NY, apartment's walk-in closet.

Naturally, I caught the bug, and by college I was building my own bedroom darkroom and buying Kodak film in giant rolls that let me spin my own 35mm canisters (and save on what was typically the $5 cost of a single roll of Kodak film).

Honestly, I think Kodak first stumbled when it failed to respond to Polaroid. The latter company first made its name in the 1960s with instant photography, producing the Land camera line that let you pull out the finished print (you just had to apply a thin coat of polymer to essentially fix and protect the image).

After the Polaroid SX-70 arrived (the first single-lens reflex instant camera), Kodak belatedly delivered its own instant cameras, but they never sold as well. Polaroid, meanwhile, has gone through travails of its own, including bankruptcy in 2001 and resurrection in 2020 with a whole new line of instant cameras.

Kodak's first digital camera (Image credit: Lance Ulanoff)

It's been more than 30 years since the dawn of consumer-grade digital photography, but neither company had much of a response to its arrival, perhaps believing – as many pro photographers did – that digital would never be as good a film.

By the time I visited The George Eastman Museum, Kodak's glory days were long gone. Consumers, the people who drove Kodak's original business, had moved on to the next easy photographic platform: their smartphones. Few people these days travel with dedicated cameras, let alone film-based ones; as photographers like to say, "the best camera is the one you have with you", and more often than not that's your phone

Perhaps Kodak can take comfort in the fact that today there's an even easier way to create lasting memories that requires neither film nor a lens: AI. Instead of aiming a camera at a person or scene, you simply dream up a prompt or feed in an image, press a button, and the AI does the rest.

(Image credit: Getty Images)

Ironically, Kodak's possible demise comes just as Gen Z is showing a fascination with analog film photography, although most acknowledge that this flirtation will be short-lived. There are no one-hour photos around these days, and if you want a roll of film developed you might have to drive an hour away or mail it somewhere. Plus, there's the cost: a roll of Kodak 200 film could run you $10, and developing it might cost an additional $25.

I wish that the reason some people were embracing film again was due to an appreciation of Kodak and what it's done for the art of photography, but something else is at work here, and it mostly has to do with a return to the joy of anticipation (waiting a week to see how your photos turned out) and the simplicity of analog sharing (taking out a stack of photos and sharing them with one friend who can only comment to your face about that outfit).

Kodak might survive this latest round of fiscal bad news, but it's clear that we're never going back to when film was dominant and everyone who sang Kodachrome knew what Paul Simon was talking about.

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• Proxy service Decodo has seen a notable rise in proxy usage from the UK
• Brits are increasingly turning to VPNs and proxies to sidestep age verification checks
• User data may be at risk due to an absence of encryption from proxies

Proxy usage in the UK is on the rise amid the country’s controversial age verification checks. Research from proxy service Decodo shows a significant increase in proxy users coming from the UK, as Brits look to bypass invasive age verification requirements and protect their privacy.

Like a Virtual Private Network (VPN), a proxy acts as an intermediary between a user’s device and the internet. Both VPNs and proxies route a user’s internet traffic through an external server and hide their original IP address, helping access restricted content and retain online anonymity.

Proxies are undoubtedly a useful tool, particularly for businesses looking to carry out market research. Yet, the average internet user may not be fully aware of the differences between the best VPN and a proxy services, and how using a proxy could be putting their data at risk.

An 88% increase in proxy traffic from the UK

(Image credit: Decodo)

The UK’s age verification requirements fall under the Online Safety Act and have impacted not only adult sites but even social media platforms, including Reddit, X, and Bluesky.

Websites and platforms must now have age verification measures in place to prevent minors from accessing potentially harmful content. Age verification methods include facial age estimation, credit card age checks, and photo-ID matching.

Age verification is not without concerns, however, particularly for its impact on data security and user privacy. Indeed, a petition to repeal the Online Safety Act has attracted over half a million signatures to date.

Decodo, the best proxy site we’ve reviewed, has revealed a 65% increase in proxy users coming from the UK, as well as an 88% increase in proxy traffic from the country.

"More organizations in the UK are investing time in understanding the tools that power secure and efficient online operations," said Gabriele Verbickaitė, Product Marketing Manager at Decodo. "Most companies test out different solutions, providers, and do their research on proxies and VPNs, and they’re also making more informed, strategic choices."

Unlike VPNs, proxies aren’t primarily for privacy

Though proxies can be an invaluable tool for businesses and individuals alike, it’s important to understand how they differ from VPNs, particularly as it relates to privacy.

The primary concern with proxies concerning the UK’s age verification checks is that, unlike VPNs, they don’t encrypt your internet traffic. This means that your data – including the websites you visit – can still be seen by snoopers, including your ISP.

Privacy advocates have serious doubts as to whether the websites and services implementing the new measures can properly secure customer data from breaches. It appears to be a valid concern considering the numerous high-profile data breaches in recent months.

VPNs reroute your internet traffic through a secure end-to-end encrypted tunnel that connects your device to a VPN server. (Image credit: Shutterstock)

The most secure VPN providers route all of your outgoing and incoming internet traffic through an encrypted tunnel, preventing it from being seen by prying eyes. This makes a VPN the safest choice for the average user looking to browse the internet privately.

Thanks to encryption and the way they reroute traffic, VPNs are also more difficult to detect and block than proxies, making them a superior option for navigating geographic restrictions and internet censorship.

The UK body regulator Ofcom has, however, discouraged their use to avoid age verification requirements.

Despite this, there’s been a significant spike in VPN signups in recent weeks. It’s then clear that proxies are also benefiting from the UK’s increased desire for online privacy.

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• Windows 11's August update is now available
• It comes with a new feature aiming to recover a PC that won't boot
• There's also an important fix to iron out stability problems gamers are having with Windows 11 24H2

Windows 11 has a new update available that makes some smart introductions, including a fresh PC recovery ability and a vital fix for gamers.

The August patch for Windows 11 24H2 (known as KB5063878) brings in a new Quick Machine Recovery (QMR) feature that's a very welcome addition, but it's something I profoundly hope that I'll never have to actually see.

That's because this functionality – which is inbound for all Windows 11 users, as highlighted by Windows Latest – is designed to help recover your PC from a boot failure. That's the most awful of computing scenarios where you can't even get to the desktop, and obviously, that makes it difficult to troubleshoot whatever's gone wrong with your system.

In these cases, QMR represents a new choice in the Windows Recovery Environment (which can be accessed to attempt to recover a non-booting PC), whereby Windows 11 uses a local network connection to send diagnostic data regarding the system-halting problem to Microsoft. The idea is that this data can (hopefully) be used to find a solution, and that this cure can be automatically patched through.

In short, your PC will fix itself, which is a great idea, obviously, although as I already said, I hope to never use this functionality, because I'd rather not encounter a boot failure in the first place. (These are rare incidents, thankfully.)

There's also a big addition for Copilot+ PCs with the August patch, which is the deployment of the first-ever AI agent in Windows 11. This 'Windows Agent' resides in the Settings app and offers a way of finding the options that you need with a minimum of fuss. Essentially, it's an AI-powered search that uses natural language - so you can ask questions in a conversational manner, and it'll also suggest recommended settings for whatever you're looking for.

While that change is for Copilot+ laptops only, there's also a tweak that traditional Windows 11 PCs are getting, whereby the search box in Settings has been moved to a better, more visible position, centred at the top of the panel.

This latest patch also makes the Black Screen of Death – a more streamlined version of the old Blue Screen – official, though I have my doubts about whether this is an improvement.

The August update for Windows 11 also fixes the various game-related stability issues that have been present in version 24H2, which is a huge boon for gamers - and there's a new gamepad layout for the virtual keyboard of the OS, too.

For further details on this patch, see my breakdown of the preview release that came out late in July, which is essentially the same update (when it was still in testing as an optional upgrade).

Analysis: Slick quick fix trick?

(Image credit: fizkes / Shutterstock)

The highlight here, at least in terms of the features coming to all Windows 11 PCs (not just Copilot+ devices), is Quick Machine Recovery (QMR). This feature will live or die on whether it works well, and how useful it proves in resolving boot failures – although that said, any chance of some extra help in getting your PC to actually reach the desktop will be handy.

The good news is that Windows Latest has tried out QMR and observed that it's been implemented well enough (albeit the tech site didn't get to test it with an actual boot-halting issue).

It's worth noting that when Microsoft previously tested QMR in preview builds, the company said that it would be switched on by default for all Windows 11 Home users. That makes sense, as there's really no reason not to turn on this functionality for everyday folks (business users will have the decision made by their IT admins).

Okay, so maybe some home users won't like the idea of sending any data via the cloud to Microsoft, but when it's diagnostic info that could cure your PC so it boots, saving you a major headache in the process, I think even the more paranoid would concede this is a more than worthwhile trade-off. And if Microsoft doesn't have QMR on by default, the average user may never be aware of the feature, or benefit from it should their PC hit a showstopping bug that prevents it from booting up.

Aside from that, the gaming fix is a big one too. Some gamers running Windows 11 24H2 have been seriously frustrated by crashes in the likes of Fortnite, so hopefully this will bring down the curtain on that sorry episode. (24H2 has been very problematic for PC gamers, as you may recall.)

The AI agent is a great addition for Copilot+ PCs, and using AI to bolster search is a theme Microsoft is pushing ahead with – it's an obvious way to give more depth to a commonly used ability in different areas of Windows. Previously, Microsoft pepped up Windows 11's main search (via the box in the taskbar) with AI, which was good to see. Furthermore, Recall is another such trick for Copilot+ PCs, albeit one I remain unconvinced about.

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• Peal Abyss' Crimson Desert has been delayed to Q1 2026
• It was previously slated for late 2025
• The delay is due to voice-over work and console certification

Gamescom 2025 is shaping up to be one of the best in years, with plenty of games from developers like Capcom and Microsoft's Activision likely to be on show for fans as playable demos. Unfortunately, one ambitious title from Pearly Abyss that I'm pumped for has give us an early update – and, spoiler alert, it's not exactly great news.

As reported by Gematsu, Pearl Abyss' Crimson Desert has been delayed to Q1 2026, as revealed during a Q2 earnings conference call. While the open-world RPG has never had an official release date, it was slated to launch in late 2025. This delay is due to the ongoing process of 'voice-overs' and 'console certification' leading up to release.

Crimson Desert will join the likes of Capcom's Resident Evil Requiem with playable demos available for fans attending Gamescom and PAX West in August, with bigger updates on both games expected for Opening Night Live with Geoff Keighley.

To say I'm bummed about Crimson Desert's delay is an understatement, as it's my most anticipated title between 2025 and 2026 – and yes, that means more so than GTA 6.

While the wait for Rockstar Games' next entry in the GTA franchise has been an agonizing one for just over a decade, Crimson Desert looks set to be a big surprise and become a goliath within the action-adventure genre.

I think it's safe to say that we know GTA 6 will be an instant hit in sales and will likely have the most immersive and realistic open-world in gaming. However, a significant number of gamers still believe Crimson Desert's open-world realism is too good to be true. So, the element of surprise that could come from Crimson Desert's potential major success is something I'm very much looking forward to.

Analysis: A delay hurts, but if it means more polish, then that's fine by me

While nobody wants to hear that an exciting title has been delayed, it's not all bad. The performance and optimization of games on consoles and especially PC is the worst I've seen in all my years of gaming, with plenty of developers seemingly relying on Nvidia, AMD, and Intel upscaling methods and frame generation technology.

We know that voice-over work and console certification are suggested to be significant factors in the delay, but I would not be surprised if better optimization before launch is a target for Pearl Abyss.

The same applies to GTA 6, which was also slated to launch in late 2025, but is now set for May 26, 2026. One of the worst things that could happen for any highly-anticipated title is bad performance; Respawn Entertainment's Star Wars Jedi: Survivor is a prime example, as it's a great sequel to Fallen Order, but is ruined by consistent stuttering on console and PC.

In this case, Pearl Abyss should take all the time it needs to polish and refine Crimson Desert, to help it live up to the huge expectations that it's set.

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Logitech G522 Lightspeed: Two-minute review

The Logitech G522 Lightspeed is a very strong contender in the mid-range price bracket, delivering impressive audio performance.

Sound is crisp and clear, which makes it a good fit for everything from competitive shooters like Marvel Rivals and Counter-Strike 2 to more immersive single-player experiences à la The Last of Us Part 1. The headphones also support DTX Headphone:X on PC, provided you install the separate DTS Sound Unbound app, which offers very strong spatial audio.

My one complaint is that the bass is quite flat out of the box. It’s not bad by any means, but makes punchier music sound a little lifeless. Luckily, this is easily fixed with a quick trip to the expansive Logitech G Hub software which offers in-depth EQ customization with the option to select from a number of preset profiles, download settings from the community, or create your own.

The removable microphone is also no slouch, with high-quality sound to rival some of the best microphones for streaming. Whether you’re chatting with friends, communicating with your online team, or sending a quick voice message, it offers pristine, professional recordings that mean you won’t ever struggle to come through clearly.

It’s all wrapped up in a stylish design with a soft, adjustable headband and comfortable memory foam earcups. There are even two attractive RGB lighting zones on the outside of each earcup, both offering four LEDs that can be adjusted with a wide range of colors and animations. The headset feels good to wear, but does tend to look quite big and bulky on camera - and might be a poor fit if you have a particularly small head.

In spite of this, it’s easy to recommend the Logitech G522 Lightspeed. It manages to rival some of the best PC gaming headsets right now and, thanks to its PlayStation compatibility, is up there with the best PS5 headsets too.

(Image credit: Future)Logitech G522 Lightspeed: Price and availability

• Costs $159.99 / £139.99 / AU$229
• Available via Logitech
• Also at Amazon and other retailers

The Logitech G522 Lightspeed costs $159.99 / £139.99 and is available via Logitech. It can also be purchased from a wide range of retailers including Amazon and Best Buy in the US and Amazon, Currys and Argos in the UK. In Australia, it can be purchased at Amazon.

At this mid-range price point it comes in significantly cheaper than more premium wireless models like the Astro A50 X or Turtle Beach Stealth Pro, but more expensive than budget wired options such as the SteelSeries Arctis Nova 1.

Its biggest competitors are the likes of the Razer BlackShark V3 or SteelSeries Arctis Nova 5 Wireless - which both deliver similarly good audio performance. The stronger microphone and unique look of the Logitech G522 Lightspeed make it a good alternative, however, and give you a compelling reason to choose it instead.

Logitech G522 Lightspeed: Specs

Price

$159.99 / £139.99 / AU$229

Weight

10.23oz / 290g

Compatibility

PC, PS5, PS4, Nintendo Switch, Nintendo Switch 2, Android, iOS

Connection type

Bluetooth, Lightspeed Wireless, Wired USB-C

Battery life

40 hrs (default lighting), 90hrs (RGB off)

Features

Detachable 48kHz / 16 bit omni microphone, Lightsync RGB

Software

Logitech G Hub (PC) / Logitech G app (mobile)

Logitech G522 Lightspeed: Design and features

• Attractive white or black colorways
• Comfortable, soft earcups
• Looks a bit bulky

Like other Logitech G headsets, the Logitech G522 Lightspeed is primarily constructed from plastic.

Despite this it doesn’t seem particularly cheap in the hands, though alternatives like the SteelSeries Arctis Nova 5 do feel slightly more premium thanks to the incorporation of metal elements.

It’s not the lightest headset around at 10.23oz / 290g, but still manages to be extremely comfortable thanks to its large, cushioned over-ear earcups and adjustable cloth headband.

All of the expected controls are present, which is to say a power switch (accompanied by a small LED indicator), Bluetooth pairing button, a volume rocker, and microphone mute switch. I really appreciate the simplicity of this setup in a world of gaming headsets filled with extraneous features.

They’re all in one convenient location on the outside of the left earcup and the buttons are well spaced out with a variety of different tactile feels, like ridges on the microphone mute button, that make the controls easy to operate without looking.

There’s also a standard USB Type-C port for both charging and wired play, plus a small 3.5mm to attach the removable microphone. It’s made of a flexible, rubbery material that can be twisted into your desired position and even features a small red LED on its tip that illuminates when the microphone is muted - a convenient way to check its status at a glance

(Image credit: Future)

The headset offers Bluetooth connectivity, ideal if you want to use it with your phone or a Nintendo Switch or Nintendo Switch 2, and comes with a USB dongle to enable Logitech’s proprietary Lightspeed wireless connectivity.

The headset is available in both white and black colorways. Each offers customizable RGB lighting on the outside of the earcup, with a total of eight light zones that you can tweak. It’s a great looking headset on the whole, but definitely on the larger and more bulky side when worn.

It looks massive on my head, which is fine for gaming but makes it a bit awkward to wear to video meetings. Thankfully this doesn't affect the comfort.

(Image credit: Future)Logitech G522 Lightspeed: Performance

The Logitech G522 Lightspeed offers good performance out of the box, whether you’re playing on PC or PS5. It’s quick and easy to set up and delivers clear and crisp sound with an impressive level of depth. My only real complaint is that the bass is on the flatter side, but this is only really noticeable when you’re listening to music or playing a game with a particularly punchy soundtrack.

Thankfully, this is easy to remedy in the compatible Logitech G Hub software as it offers an impressive number of customization options including the ability to create your own detailed equaliser (EQ) setting. I’d personally recommend cranking the low frequencies (20Hz, 50Hz and 125Hz) up by 3dB, 2dB, and 1dB respectively then adding 0.5dB at the higher end for a well-rounded sound profile that excels no matter what you throw at it.

There are also a number of presets available, including a bass boost mode, gaming mode, dedicated FPS mode, and a media mode, plus the option to browse and download a number of community creations. You can save up to three profiles directly on the headset too, so once you’ve found your favorite setup you can carry it across to any platform with ease.

The headset is also fully compatible with DTS Headphone:X spatial audio, which is turned on through the separate DTS Sound Unbound PC app. Turning it on leads to a slightly sharper and louder sound, but the trade-off is accompanied by a much more immersive sense of depth that’s ideal for atmospheric, single-player gaming.

This level of fine tuning also extends to the microphone, which is an impressively high-fidelity 48kHz beast. It picks up your voice clearly and cleanly, though tends to let in background noise. Enabling the noise reduction features in the Logitech G Hub software cleans this up tremendously though, and leaves you with stellar results suitable for chatting on a call or even streaming.

(Image credit: Logitech)

In terms of battery life, the Logitech G522 Lightspeed isn’t shabby but certainly not as strong as market leaders like the absurd 300+ hour battery of the HyperX Cloud Alpha Wireless. Logitech promises up to 90 hours with RGB disabled, or 40 hours with it on, but these estimates seem on the conservative side.

I generally managed well over 40 hours of use (with RGB enabled) which is going to be more than enough for most. I’ve only needed to charge this headset a few times in the multiple months that I’ve been using it, so I’ve got no complaints here.

Should I buy the Logitech G522 Lightspeed?

(Image credit: Future)Buy it if...

You want a strong performer
With clear and crisp sound right out of the box, the Logitech G522 Lightspeed is an excellent choice if you’re after great performance. A few tweaks to its audio profile in the compatible software makes it sound even better, too.

You need a killer mic
The microphone delivers fantastic, high-fidelity recordings. It’s really excellent, especially at this price, and would be a good fit for those that love chatting with friends or streaming.

You crave the spatial audio
The Logitech G522 Lightspeed is fully compatible with DTX Headphone:X spatial audio so is worth getting if you’re keen to get into the immersive world of spatial sound.

Don't buy it if...

You’re after more features
The Logitech G522 Lightspeed has a no-nonsense feature set, but if you’re after something more adventurous or the likes of active noise cancellation (ANC), you need to look at other options such as the more expensive Razer BlackShark V3 Pro.

Also consider...

Not sold on the Logitech G522 Lightspeed? Here are two other options to weigh up.

Logitech G522 Lightspeed

Razer BlackShark V3 Pro

SteelSeries Arctis Nova 5

Price

$159.99 / £139.99 / AU$229

$249.99 / £249.99 / around AU$510

$129.99 / £129.99 / AU$139.95

Weight

0.63lbs / 290g

0.81lbs / 367g

9.5oz / 266g

Compatibility

PC, PS5, PS4, Nintendo Switch, Nintendo Switch 2, Android, iOS

PC, Xbox Series X, PS5 (Xbox version), PC and PS5 (PC/PS5 version), iOS, Android

Xbox Series X|S, Xbox One, PS5, PS4, Nintendo Switch, PC, Mac, Mobile

Connection type

Bluetooth, Lightspeed Wireless, Wired USB-C

Bluetooth, 2.4GHz wireless (HyperSpeed dongle)

Wireless (2.4GHz via dongle), Wired (USB-C), Bluetooth 5.3

Battery life

40 hrs (default lighting), 90hrs (RGB off)

70 hours

Up to 60 hours

Features

Detachable 48kHz / 16 bit omni microphone, Lightsync RGB

Detachable microphone, hybrid active noise cancellation

360-degree spatial audio, retractable ClearCast 2.X mic

Software

Logitech G Hub (PC) / Logitech G app (mobile)

Razer Synapse

SteelSeries Arctis Nova 5 Companion App (mobile), SteelSeries GG

Razer BlackShark V3 Pro
The Razer BlackShark V3 Pro is more expensive than the Logitech G522 Lightspeed, but offers Active Noise Cancellation. There’s also a dedicated Xbox version, which is compatible with every major platform.

For more information, check out our full Razer BlackShark V3 Pro review

SteelSeries Arctis Nova 5
Coming in at roughly the same price as the Logitech G522 Lightspeed, the SteelSeries Arctis Nova 5 is the mid-range headset to beat. The G522 has a better microphone, but the Nova 5 is more widely compatible and lighter.

For more information, check out our full SteelSeries Arctis Nova 5 review

How I tested the Logitech G522 Lightspeed

• Used for multiple months
• Tested with PC and PS5
• Tried the Logitech G Hub software

I tested the Logitech G522 for multiple months, using a sample provided by Logitech at a pre-reveal product briefing. I tested the headset extensively with both PC and PS5, using it for the vast majority of my gaming. Most recently this included my full playthrough of Mafia: The Old Country, plenty of Call of Duty: Black Ops 6, and more.

Throughout my time with the headset, I compared my experience to that of my hands-on testing of a wide range of other audio products. This included similarly priced options like the SteelSeries Arctis Nova 5, plus more expensive alternatives such as the Razer BlackShark V3 Pro and Astro A50 X.

I took full advantage of the compatible Logitech G Hub software, experimenting with all of the available settings and customization options in order to assess their performance.

Read more about how we test

First reviewed August 2025

In the early days of phishing, the signs were easier to spot: typos, odd phrasing, and clunky formatting that made emails feel off. But times have changed. AI has lowered the barrier to entry for cybercriminals, making it easy to craft emails with flawless grammar and tone.

It’s also allowed attackers to get smarter, using social engineering tactics that mimic the language and behavior of real people, tricking even the most vigilant recipients. Just last month, M&S reportedly fell victim to a social engineering scam so convincing it could wipe out up to £300 million of its operating profit this year.

Against this backdrop, EasyDMARC recently analyzed 1.8 million of the world’s leading email domains. Alarmingly, we found that only 7.7% have the highest level of phishing protection in place. On top of that, more than half haven’t even taken the first step in deploying the most basic level of email security.

That means the vast majority of organizations are still leaving the door wide open to impersonation attacks at a time when phishing is harder than ever to spot.

Why email is the weakest link

I’ve lost count of how many times I’ve heard companies say, “we’ve done the training, so we’re covered.” But the truth is that training your staff to spot malicious emails won’t stop phishing. Not when the email looks like it came from your own domain, signed off by your CEO, and sent at just the right time.

Email is still the backbone of business communication. It’s the channel through which sensitive information flows and core processes are initiated and approved. Its ubiquity, and the trust placed in it, makes it an ideal target for attackers.

The problem is that email was never designed with built-in identity verification.

What DMARC actually does

DMARC (Domain-based Message Authentication, Reporting and Conformance) is an authentication protocol designed to stop attackers from sending emails that appear to come from your domain. It works by verifying whether the sender is authorized, using underlying standards like SPF and DKIM, and then tells receiving email servers how to handle messages that fail those checks.

A helpful way to think about DMARC is like border control for your organization's email. SPF and DKIM check the credentials; DMARC is the policy that decides what happens next. Do you let the message through, detain it for inspection, or turn it away entirely?

The DMARC enforcement gap

The problem is that most organizations treat DMARC as something that only needs to be set up, not maintained. They configure it once, leave it on the weakest policy setting, ‘p=none’, which simply logs suspicious activity without taking action, and assume that’s enough. But without proper enforcement, DMARC doesn’t stop phishing; it simply watches it happen.

Our latest research shows just how common this enforcement gap really is. Out of the world’s top 1.8 million domains, only 7.7% have set their DMARC policy to ‘p=reject’, the strongest level of enforcement that actively blocks unauthorized emails from being delivered.

We’ve seen the difference enforcement makes. In countries like the United States, where regulation and provider policies have pushed for stronger DMARC enforcement, the impact has been dramatic. Phishing email acceptance dropped from 68.8% in 2023 to just 14.2% in 2025.

Until more organizations take that final step to enforce DMARC properly, email will remain one of the easiest attack vectors for cybercriminals.

The landscape is shifting

Recent moves by major email providers like Google, Yahoo, and Microsoft to enforce DMARC, SPF, and DKIM protocols for bulk senders mark a pivotal moment in email security. Importantly, these changes are not the result of government mandates or new legislation; they’re being driven entirely by the email providers themselves.

That level of unilateral enforcement reflects a high degree of confidence in these protocols, particularly DMARC, as the best form of defense against phishing.

But while email providers are embedding authentication into the heart of communication, many organizations are lagging behind. For most, the response has been compliance-driven; focused on avoiding deliverability issues rather than strengthening overall security posture.

As the threat landscape evolves, the disconnect between regulatory inaction, provider-led standards, and enterprise readiness is becoming more pronounced.

Closing the gap: from compliance to commitment

In May , attackers impersonating HMRC stole £47 million. Attackers didn’t bypass complex zero-day defenses. They simply walked through the front door by spoofing trusted domains.

Enforcement is what turns visibility into action. As email providers lead the charge, it’s time for businesses to catch up, not out of obligation, but out of self-preservation. Because in a world where cybercriminals are better resourced than ever, doing the bare minimum is no longer good enough.

We've featured the best online cybersecurity course.

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

Wanbo has revealed its Vali 1 portable projector, which promises 900 ANSI lumens and costs just $319 / £269 / AU$499.

The Vali 1 is a 1080p smart portable projector that has Android TV 11 built-in for streaming and can display pictures up to 130 inches. It has two 6W speakers for audio and has a flexible stand that rotates up to 200°. It also supports auto keystone correction, auto focus and auto screen fit for setup.

On paper, the Vali 1 carries a lot of the features found in some of the other best portable projectors, so why does this one stand out in particular?

Well, other than its low price, it's the claimed 900 ANSI lumens. That is double the amount claimed by some of its most high-profile rivals.

The Samsung Freestyle Gen 2, currently number one on our best portable projectors list, only has 230 specified lumens and the Xgimi MoGo 3 Pro only has 450 ISO lumens. Even the LG CineBeam Q, one of the best 4K projectors, claims 500 ANSI lumens.

If the Vali 1 could hit this number, it would be a truly remarkable feat, especially given its ultra-low price. The above projectors cost significantly more, so is there a catch?

Bold brightness claims

The 900 ANSI lumens claimed by Wanbo is certainly eye-catching and sounds almost too good to be true. Well, it turns out, it actually could be.

Projector Central tested and reviewed the Wanbo Vali 1 and discovered that it hit 422 lumens, with an absolute peak of 529 lumens in the bottom sector. That 422 lumens is 52% under Wanbo's claimed brightness of 900 lumens, a significant discrepancy and one that could undermine the Vali 1's value.

It's worth noting that 422 lumens is a typical if not respectable number for a projector of this size and price, and is in line with its rivals mentioned above.

We haven't seen or tested the Vali 1 ourselves yet, so we can't give a verdict on it. Still, this brightness gap uncovered by Projector Central is something to bear in mind.

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Having been in the corporate communications industry for the past 25 years and for the past decade in communications technology, my career calling has been to bridge the gap that exists in so many organizations between those professionals working in IT and those in Communications.

My point of view – IT and Communications professionals have unique and important skill sets that are each critical to the success of the companies they work for. Nevertheless, a need for greater collaboration and mutual respect between the two is required for the sake of one – the employee.

One area where this partnership is especially critical is in the decision-making around a company’s corporate intranet. This digital hub is the technological glue that binds an organization whether it be a few hundred or hundreds of thousands of employees. It is the first thing employees see each day—a launchpad to news, tools, resources, collaboration spaces, and more.

When done well, it reinforces culture and streamlines work. When done poorly, it becomes a graveyard of outdated documents, unread announcements and broken links.

Let the conversation begin . . .

Traditionally, intranets have “lived” under IT and have been paid for through IT budgets. This makes sense from a technical standpoint. Intranets require software, servers, authentication, security and support. But the intranet is no longer just a technical utility—it’s a strategic communications platform.

There are various vendors offering modern intranet solutions. Some focus exclusively on the mobile experience and employee apps; others are desktop-only. Some offer integrated communications platforms that unify desktop, mobile, email, digital signage, SMS, etc. and are designed to reduce redundancy, improve content delivery across channels and save money.

This begs the question – who should make the intranet software buying decision? Communications professionals are often more familiar with the emerging tools that impacts the work they do, especially when it comes to creating and managing a meaningful employee experience. Since the employee is at the core of the work that both IT and Communications do, this is why the relationship between the two is so important.

SharePoint and ServiceNow: familiar, but not always a fit

In many organizations, IT controls enterprise licenses for platforms like Microsoft SharePoint and ServiceNow. As a result, there’s often pressure to maximize these investments—even if that means stretching their original use cases and purpose. Over the last decade, I’ve consulted with some of the world’s largest companies on how they manage their employee communications infrastructure. One common theme is the use of SharePoint and ServiceNow as makeshift intranets or communication platforms.

SharePoint was built for document management and team collaboration—not communications. But many organizations have expanded its scope to become their default intranet. Without strong governance, this often results in a proliferation of disjointed SharePoint sites. Content becomes duplicated and outdated. Employees searching for HR policies or benefit documents encounter multiple, conflicting versions. The user experience becomes confusing and inefficient.

Similarly, while ServiceNow excels at workflow automation and IT service management, its interface and capabilities aren’t optimized for communication or content engagement. Yet, due to its cost and enterprise footprint, some companies try to retrofit it for these purposes—with mixed results.

This isn’t to say that SharePoint or ServiceNow can’t work for some organizations in their communications. But for those where employee communications and experience are high priorities, it’s worth taking a closer look at purpose-built intranet platforms that were designed with communications in mind.

The day after: who owns the experience?

• What happens the day after we launch?
• Who’s going to be responsible for the content and keeping the homepage up to date and fresh?
• Who will track employee engagement and usability?
• Who will ensure that the intranet evolves with the needs of employees?

The answer? Communications of course.

Once the intranet becomes a daily ritual for employees, Communications professionals will be the ones responsible for publishing content, organizing information, and driving adoption. It is for this reason that they must have a meaningful role in choosing the platform they’ll be expected to lead.

Shared ownership, shared success

To be clear, this doesn’t mean IT’s role ends at this point. Ongoing collaboration will be essential to ensuring the intranet remains secure, stable, and scalable. But once it is in place, Communications will be on the frontline. They’re the ones who will be expected to bring it to life, every single day.

That’s why intranet buying decisions cannot be made in isolation. The Corporate intranet isn’t just software—it’s an employee communications, engagement and experience strategy. If IT builds it, Comms will be expected to fill it. But both will have the ongoing responsibility for shaping it.

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