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The Initiative, the Xbox studio developing a modern reimagining of Perfect Dark, is being shut down, and development of the game is ending. As first reported by Windows Central, the studio's closure is part of major cuts Microsoft is making across its business, affecting around four percent of the company's global workforce.

Based on a memo from Xbox Game Studios head Matt Booty obtained by Windows Central, which Microsoft has confirmed is genuine, the decision to close The Initiative was born out of the cancellation of Perfect Dark, rather than the other way around. "We have made the decision to stop development of Perfect Dark and Everwild as well as wind down several unannounced projects across our portfolio," Booty wrote. "As part of this, we are closing one of our studios, The Initiative."

Rare's Everwild was previously reported to be one of the projects impacted by Microsoft's layoffs. The game was announced in 2019 but has had a troubled development, even starting from scratch in 2021. Perfect Dark, based on the older Rare game of the same name, was supposed to be The Initiative's first project. The game was being co-developed in partnership with Crystal Dynamics. The first gameplay footage of the Perfect Dark reboot was shown in 2024.

While cancelled games are the most visible impact of Microsoft's layoffs, it increasingly sounds like countless studios will end up being affected in one way or another. Bloomberg's Jason Schreier writes that Call of Duty studio Raven is also facing cuts, and Forza Motorsport developer Turn 10 could end up losing around 50 percent of its staff.This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/gaming/xbox/microsoft-is-closing-the-studio-developing-the-perfect-dark-reboot-and-cancelling-the-game-182257902.html?src=rss

Neil Druckmann, head of the PlayStation studio Naughty Dog and co-creator of The Last of Us, is stepping away from the HBO show based on the 2013 game and its 2020 sequel to focus his work on Naughty Dog's next game. On Instagram, the studio published the following statement from Druckmann:

"I've made the difficult decision to step away from my involvement in The Last of Us on HBO. With work completed on season 2 and before any meaningful work starts on season 3, now is the right time for me to transition my complete focus to Naughty Dog and its future projects, including writing and directing our exciting next game, Intergalactic: The Heretic Prophet, along with my responsibilities as Studio Head and Head of Creative."

He went on to thanks showrunner Craig Mazin (on the left in the above photo) as well as the cast and crew he worked with on the first two seasons and called working on the show a "career highlight" Druckmann was credited as executive producer and co-creator of the show and he directed one episode in each of the show's two seasons as well as contributing writing to several others. The bulk of the show itself was written by Mazin.

View this post on Instagram A post shared by Neil Druckmann (@druckmann)

This comes after a fairly rocky reception for The Last of Us season two. The challenge of adapting the story of the second video game led to some decisions that didn't sit well with both fans of the games as well as those who were new to the world via the show. And, perhaps unsurprisingly, there was also an inordinate amount of online vitriol directed towards Druckmann and Mazin for some of the changes they made to adapt the game into a TV series.

For my part, I thought season two was well-done, with continued excellent acting but issues with pace due in part to it only being seven episodes long. But I can also agree there are a number of fair criticisms to make about how the show was plotted — it probably stuck too closely to the timeline of the game, and the finale left things up in the air to what must be a frustrating degree for people who don't know the storyline from playing the games.

As such, this is probably the right time for the show's creative team to get shaken up. Mazin still obviously has the rest of The Last of Us Part II to base the next season of the show on, and it's entirely possible he'll be working with Halley Gross on season three as well. She co-wrote several episodes of season two after co-writing the second game with Druckmann.

That said, Druckmann co-wrote and directed one of the best episodes of the entire series (season two's "The Price") and did solid behind-the-camera work in season one's "Infected" as well. Not to mention the fact that he knows these characters better than basically anyone alive — it's plausible to wonder just how things will change without his influence going forward. On the other hand, this change might re-focus the show's creative team and help correct parts of season two where things just didn't land as fans had hoped. It's far too early to tell, but it'll be worth seeing if Mazin brings on anyone else to back him up — and if he does, if that person has experience with the game or is focused solely on the TV world. Someone with some distance from how the story was told in the games might be the right choice to help the show stand on its own.

Regardless of what happens, it'll be a while before we find out how this all shakes out — as Druckmann said, there's no "meaningful work" done on season 3 yet, so we will probably have to wait until 2027 to see how these changes impact the show.This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/entertainment/tv-movies/the-last-of-us-co-creator-neil-druckmann-is-stepping-away-from-the-show-to-focus-on-future-games-182136370.html?src=rss

Anthropic's MCP Inspector project carried a flaw that allowed miscreants to steal sensitive data, drop malwareTo abuse it, hackers need to chain it with a decades-old browser bugThe flaw was fixed in mid-June 2025, but users should still be on their guardThe Anthropic Model Context Protocol (MCP) Inspector project carried a critical-severity vulnerability which could have allowed threat actors to mount remote code execution (RCE) attacks against host devices, experts have warned.Best known for its Claude conversational AI model, Anthropic developed MCP, an open source standard that facilitates secure, two-way communication between AI systems and external data sources. It also built Inspector, a separate open source tool that allows developers to test and debug MCP servers.Now, it was reported that a flaw in Inspector could have been used to steal sensitive data, drop malware, and move laterally across target networks.Get 55% off Incogni's Data Removal service with code TECHRADAR Wipe your personal data off the internet with the Incogni data removal service. Stop identity thievesand protect your privacy from unwanted spam and scam calls.View DealPatching the flawApparently, this is the first critical-level vulnerability in Anthropic’s MCP ecosystem, and one that opens up an entire new class of attacks.The flaw is tracked as CVE-2025-49596, and has a severity score of 9.4/10 - critical."This is one of the first critical RCEs in Anthropic's MCP ecosystem, exposing a new class of browser-based attacks against AI developer tools," Avi Lumelsky from Oligo Security explained."With code execution on a developer's machine, attackers can steal data, install backdoors, and move laterally across networks - highlighting serious risks for AI teams, open-source projects, and enterprise adopters relying on MCP."To abuse this flaw, attackers need to chain it with “0.0.0.0. Day”, a two-decade-old vulnerability in web browsers that enable malicious websites to breach local networks, The Hacker News explains, citing Lumelsky.By creating a malicious website, and then sending a request to localhost services running on an MCP server, attackers could run arbitrary commands on a developer’s machine.Anthropic was notified about the flaw in April this year, and came back with a patch on June 13, pushing the tool to version 0.14.1. Now, a session token is added to the proxy server, as well as origin validation, rendering the attacks moot.You might also likeMajor US healthcare data provider hit by data breach - over 5 million patients affected, here's what we knowTake a look at our guide to the best authenticator appWe've rounded up the best password managers

French video game giant Ubisoft has been embroiled in a multiyear saga regarding a toxic company culture, multiple sexual harassment investigations and harassment suits filed by former employees. In 2023, five former Ubisoft executives were arrested on various charges related to these investigations. On Wednesday, a French court sentenced three of them to suspended sentences for enabling a culture rife with sexual and psychological harassment.

Former editorial vice president Thomas Francois was convicted on additional charges of attempted sexual assault and received a suspended three-year term. Francois was alleged to have perpetrated a bevy of sexual assaults at the workplace and held a pattern of egregious sexual harassment.

Various other executives, including former chief creative officer Serge Hascoet and former games director Guillaume Patrux, were sentenced to shorter suspended sentences. They also faced fines of up to $35,000. These convictions come years after anonymous reports of a toxic work culture at Ubisoft began spreading online, and the company launched an internal investigation.

Maude Beckers, an attorney for the plaintiffs, celebrated the convictions as a victory against workplace harassment, saying, "This is a very good decision today and for the future." She added, "For all companies, it means that when there is toxic management, managers must be held accountable and employers can no longer let it slide."This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/gaming/former-ubisoft-executives-convicted-in-france-184919411.html?src=rss

In a mad, mad world, speedruns for charity can be a calm oasis. Summer Games Done Quick (SGDQ) has your fix with the 2025 edition of the marathon. You can tune in starting on Sunday, July 6. As usual, the lineup includes loads of fun games and bonkers challenges.

It's fitting that this year's lineup includes a Switch 2 game. On the event's last day, the speedrunner Peas will take on Mario Kart World on the new console.

Nintendo

Perhaps to commemorate the new console's launch, Nintendo is everywhere at this event. There are three Zelda games on tap: Majora's Mask, Phantom Hourglass and Link's Awakening. The company's plumber mascot is peppered all over the place, too. You'll find Mario Kart: Super Circuit, Super Mario Odyssey, Mario Paint and the Super Mario World hack, Sayonara Mario World 2. (Not done yet!) There's also Super Mario Maker 2, Super Mario Bros. 3 and Super Mario 64.

There's plenty of non-Nintendo stuff, too. The week kicks off with an "All Emeralds Glitched" run of Sonic the Hedgehog 2. One of Engadget's all-time favorites, Balatro, has a run scheduled on July 11. Indiana Jones and the Great Circle makes an appearance. And two speedrunning legends will try to beat Cuphead during an allotted 35 minutes. (Say what??!) Anyone who can finish that bloodbath in less than that should be named the leader of the free world.

Andy "j0kerr" Sturm / Games Done Quick

The event will raise funds for Doctors Without Borders. The humanitarian nonprofit has a legion of nearly 63,000 medical personnel. It offers medical and humanitarian care in over 70 countries. Last summer's event raised $2.5 million. To date, Games Done Quick events have raised over $50 million for charity.

SGDQ 2025 runs from July 6 to 13. If you're in or near Minneapolis, you can register to attend in person. Otherwise, you can stream the festivities on the SGDQ Twitch channel, which is also embedded below.

This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/gaming/how-to-watch-summer-games-done-quick-2025-184618273.html?src=rss

Huawei has filed for patents for a sulfide-based, all-solid-state batteryThe company theorizes it could unlock up to 3,000km (1,864 miles) of rangeUltra-fast charging could top the battery up in under five minutesHuawei is the latest in a growing list of automakers and tech companies that are exploring the possible benefits of fitting an EV with solid-state batteries, with the likes of BMW, Mercedes-Benz, VW, BYD and Stellantis all publicly touting the tech.Car News China reports that the tech giant has filed a patent that outlines a solid-state battery architecture with energy densities between 400 and 500 Wh/kg, which is two or three times that of the current EV battery landscape.Currently, Huawei doesn't manufacture its own branded vehicles in China, but instead works with various automakers to apply some of its existing technologies to vehicles.According to the patent application, its batteries use a method that ‘dopes’ sulfide electrolytes with nitrogen to address side reactions at the lithium interface. However, it is keeping the remainder of its technology close to its chest, as the race to mass-produce solid-state battery technology safely and at scale is well and truly on.What’s more, the company theorizes that it is able to eke some 1,864 miles of range from its battery technology, as well as complete the industry standard 10-80% charge in less than five minutes.However, some industry experts are skeptical of those bold claims, pointing out that it is a leap of more than three times the current range abilities of the most impressive electric vehicles on sale today.Speaking to Electrek, Yang Min-ho, professor of energy engineering at Dankook University, said that such performance "might be possible in lab conditions" but went on to explain that reproducing the results in the real world, where energy loss and thermal management play a key role, would be "extremely difficult".The professor was also quick to point out that the nitrogen doping method is a "standard technique" that, again, can be applied in a laboratory environment but is currently difficult to scale to a point where it can be mass produced to meet the demands of global automakers.Analysis: big headlines, small steps(Image credit: Porsche)Understandably, China is basking in its EV dominance at the moment and it isn’t afraid to publicize innovations that have the potential to change the game.MegaWatt charging is one of the more recent topics, but solid-state batteries have also been bubbling sway under the surface for some time. Undoubtedly, China will be the first to this technology, but it likely won’t be as soon as many domestic companies make out, nor as impressive.What’s more, the 1,800-mile figures seem largely pointless, as it would require a huge battery pack that is going to add excess weight and blunt driving dynamics in a vain attempt to dispel notions of range anxiety.Should Huawei be able to nail energy densities between 400 and 500 Wh/kg, it would be far better placed producing smaller packs that can still offer an impressive range without the need for enormous, expensive batteries.When an EV can easily cover 600 miles on a single charge, range anxiety largely becomes obsolete, as there are so few drivers that want to sit for hours on end without a break. Plus, with the public charging network expanding and improving year-on-year, it is now arguably easier than ever to find a spot to plug in and stretch the legs.You might also like'We really believe that Lidar is mission critical': Ford CEO says Waymo's self-driving car tech makes more sense Tesla'sMeet the next electric hypercar – Mercedes-AMG just got its mojo back with a 1,360hp concept that will soon take on the Porsche TaycanThe world's first range-extending hybrid car with swappable battery packs has landed – here's why it could be the future

You can add Perplexity to the growing list of AI companies offering $200+ per month subscription plans to users who want unlimited access to their most advanced products and tools. As of today, Perplexity Max is available on iOS and the web.

The subscription comes with unlimited monthly usage of Labs, the agentic creation tool Perplexity released this past May. People can use Labs to generate spreadsheets, presentations, web applications and more. Perplexity is also promising early access to new features, including Comet, a new web browser the company claims will be a "powerful thought partner for everything you do on the web." The company adds Max subscribers will receive priority customer support, as well as access to top frontier models from partners like Anthropic and OpenAI.

Perplexity will continue to offer its existing Pro plan, which remains $20 per month. Admittedly, the company is courting a small demographic with the new subscription, noting it's primarily designed for content designers, business strategists and academic research.

OpenAI was the first to open the floodgates of very expensive AI subscriptions when it began offering its ChatGPT Pro plan at the end of last year. Since then, Anthropic, Google have followed suit. This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/ai/perplexity-joins-anthropic-and-openai-in-offering-a-200-per-month-subscription-191715149.html?src=rss

OWC's hardware-level encryption activates instantly without dragging your computer’s performance down during transfersRandomized touchscreen keypad helps block spying eyes and shoulder-surfers trying to steal passwordsEncrypted or not, OWS Guardian SSD’s 1000MB/s speed is fast enough for 4K video editingOWC has announced Guardian, a compact portable SSD focused on delivering strong hardware encryption and fast transfer speeds.The OWC Guardian connects via USB 3.2 Gen 2 (10Gbps) and delivers up to 1000MB/s in real-world read and write speeds, making it capable of handling 4K video files, media archives, and quick backups.Designed with 256-bit AES OPAL hardware encryption, the Guardian handles data protection at the hardware level.Seamless encryption without system slowdownThe encryption process starts automatically when data is written and is reversed (decrypted) when accessed by an authorized user.This avoids reliance on host system resources, preserving performance even during large data transfers.It's one of the few devices in its price range that combines both speed and encryption without demanding software installation, which may place it among the best secure drives for routine professional use.OWC says the device is compatible with macOS, Windows, Linux, and even iPadOS.It includes a touchscreen interface, which serves as the primary method for user authentication through PIN or passphrase, but also allows access to additional features such as multi-user profiles, read-only mode, auto-timeout, secure erase, and a randomized keypad layout.Physically, the drive is housed in anodized aluminum for improved heat dissipation and general durability.However, unlike some of the best rugged hard drives, the Guardian lacks an IP rating for dust or water resistance.This may limit its reliability in field conditions or outdoor environments, where environmental protection is a priority.The Guardian comes with a 1TB OWC Aura Pro IV NVMe SSD (960GB usable) but is also available in higher capacities, including a 4TB version.The internal firmware reserves a portion of space for data correction and redundancy.It’s formatted in APFS for Apple devices by default, but can be reformatted for Windows or Android using OWC's Drive Guide utility.However, full cross-platform read/write access requires separate software like MacDrive.“We designed the OWC Guardian for anyone who needs simple, reliable data protection on the go, but without the typical hassles,” said Larry O’Connor, CEO and Founder, Other World Computing (OWC).“Whether you're transferring a huge file in the boardroom, backing up data at the local coffee shop, or editing a 4K video for your latest content drop, you shouldn’t have to choose between security, speed, and ease of use. The OWC Guardian delivers all three, in a rugged, intuitive design built to travel.”Pricing starts at $219.99 for the 1.0TB model while the 2.0TB and 4.0TB models cost $329.99 and $529.99, respectively.You might also likeWe've rounded up the best monitors for photo editing on the market todayAnd here are the best monitors for programming we've foundThis Lenovo Chromebook uses a CPU not found in any other laptops