News

Sony has expanded its PlayStation Studios roster with teamLFG, which spun out from Bungie and is working on an "ambitious" incubation project. The studio is based in Bellevue, Washington (where Bungie's HQ is), though some team members work remotely elsewhere in the US and Canada. The crew includes a mix of industry newcomers and veterans who have worked on the likes of Destiny, Halo, League of Legends, Fortnite and Roblox.

The focus of teamLFG will be on immersive multiplayer games. That's perhaps not too much of a surprise given the veterans' experience and that "LFG" stands for "looking for group," a phrase used by players who are seeking teammates for multiplayer games.

Its first project takes place in "a lighthearted, comedic world set in [a] brand new mythic, science-fantasy universe." The studio is taking inspiration from platformers, MOBAs, life sims, fighting games and elsewhere for its team-based action title. Since it's an incubation project, the game is likely quite some time away from seeing the light of day.

Bungie went through a restructuring process last summer, which included 220 people being laid off as it narrowed its focus on Destiny and Marathon. To that end, the company spun out an incubation project to be housed under Sony's umbrella, which turned out to be this.

The new studio aims to make "action games that players can learn, play and master for countless hours." That certainly sounds like a live-service game, an area where Sony hasn't had much luck over the last few years despite trying to focus on such titles. The company has canned several live-service games that were in development, including The Last of Us Online. And then there was the whole Concord disaster. Here's hoping, for the sake of the workers at teamLFG, things go more smoothly this time around.This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/gaming/playstation/new-playstation-studio-teamlfg-is-working-on-a-multiplayer-action-game-143020198.html?src=rss

Netflix has been gradually culling its library of interactive content for a while now, but Black Mirror’s Emmy award winning Bandersnatch was one of the few survivors. Until now. As spotted by What’s on Netflix, the choose-your-own-adventure film set in a fictional game development studio will be leaving the service globally on May 12.

At the beginning of December 2024, only four of Netflix’s “Interactive Specials” remained, of which Bandersnatch was one. As of today there are only two left. The other is Unbreakable Kimmy Schmidt: Kimmy vs. The Reverend, which first debuted back in 2020 and is also being removed imminently.

Netflix’s first interactive effort was 2017’s Puss in Book: Trapped in an Epic Tale, but Bandersnatch, which arrived the following year, was the first to be targeted at an adult audience, and arguably the company’s most successful of these experiments. Set in the UK in the mid-80s, it follows a young programmer who sets out to adapt a dark fantasy novel into a story-driven video game, before things inevitably take a dark turn. The film featured multiple endings and branching paths based on the decisions you made, and went on to win two Primetime Emmy Awards.

Which probably leaves you wondering why Netflix is getting rid of it. Back in December, company spokesperson Chrissy Kelleher told The Verge that the technology had “served its purpose, but is now limiting as we focus on technological efforts in other areas.”

Actual video games still feature prominently in the overhauled Netflix TV app, which the company has been working on since last year and will roll out over the coming weeks and months. It is also experimenting with a vertical video feature on mobile that will include clips and trailers, presumably to appeal more to the native TikTok audience. Just don’t expect to see Bandersnatch in there.This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/entertainment/tv-movies/black-mirrors-bandersnatch-is-leaving-netflix-for-good-144518207.html?src=rss

Google Fi VPN has been replaced by VPN by GoogleIt becomes the latest service to make the switch after Pixel devices converted throughout 2024The rebrand promises no technical or functional changes to the service for users

Google Fi VPN has become the latest Google VPN service to undergo a rebrand in favor of uniformity across devices.As reported by 9to5Google on May 6, 2025, Google Fi VPN is now VPN by Google, aligning with the naming adopted by the VPN on Pixel devices in 2024.VPN by Google is a built-in service released in 2024 for Pixel 7 and newer devices, after Google One VPN was disconnected. Google claims the change comes to ensure consistent branding, and no technical or functional changes will occur for both Android and iOS users.

Google VPN rebranding

While Google decided to kill its Google One VPN last year due to a lack of users, the Big Tech firm wanted to keep offering a virtual private network (VPN) tool for Pixel users.Pixel VPN was then released in beta at the beginning of June 2024. The company, however, decided to change the name to VPN by Google right before the full launch at the end of the month.The rebrand of Google Fi VPN comes as the latest step in the company's rebranding of its VPN product.Originally an exclusive feature for Pixel 8 models, the built-in VPN by Google has been extended to Pixel 7 series, 7a, and Fold owners. The service is available in 25 countries at the time of writing, including Australia, Canada, some EU countries (France, Germany, Italy, Spain, and more), Japan, the UK, and the US. You can find the full list on Google's support site.

(Image credit: 9to5Google)

If you are a Fi subscriber and using a Pixel 7 or newer model, you can directly head to the Fi app to have more information.As reported by 9to5Google, the app explains that "Beginning May 22, VPN controls are moving to Settings. To make sure your online activity is protected, turn on VPN by Google now."Once you turn on the new VPN, you'll be able to enable or disable the service by tapping on the "Manage VPN Settings" bar.While access to VPN by Google is included with any Google Fi plan, "Use of VPN by Google may increase data costs depending on your plan," notes the provider.In case you're on the hunt for a valid alternative, I recommend looking into some of the best VPN services on the market right now, as these can offer extra features like ad/tracker blocker and more.NordVPN is currently topping our rankings thanks to great performance, tons of security features, and easy-to-use apps. Proton VPN is then a great pick if you don't want to invest any extra cash as it comes with an unlimited free VPN plan.

TechRadar needs you! We want to know what you think about the world of VPNs. Whether you're a novice or a VPN pro, we want to hear your thoughts. Don't worry, though, your responses are completely anonymous, and it takes less than a minute to complete!To take part, click the link below: https://futurenet.questionpro.eu/tr-vpn

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Apple’s latest diminutive desktop, the M4 Mac mini, is on sale via Amazon for more than $100 off. That brings the price of the entry-level model down to just $495. This version includes 16GB of RAM and a 256GB SSD. The 16GB/512GB model costs $743 and the 24GB/512GB model is down to $906. Even some of the versions with the slightly more powerful M4 Max chip are on sale.

The M4 Mac mini is a nice little upgrade. We called it "shockingly small" and "incredibly powerful" in our official review of the Pro model. Both of those descriptors stand. The mini is still cute and teensy and the M4 chip is still more than enough for everyday computing tasks and fully capable of more intensive applications.

There are some front-facing USB-C ports, which is always handy with a desktop, and support for up to three external displays. Even the entry-level version offers 16GB of RAM, which is great. The chip is faster than ever, making this an extremely budget-friendly way to get in on the Apple Silicon party.

There are a few more USB-C ports on the back, which is useful, but this unit offers no USB-A ports. The 256GB of storage offered by the base model could get a bit tight, but it's certainly doable for more casual users. Plus, those ports are always available for an external SSD.

One curious design choice here is that the power button is along the bottom of the rear end. This can lead to some awkward movements when trying to turn it on, as it basically has to be tipped over. Otherwise, this is a great device.

Check out our coverage of the best Apple deals for more discounts, and follow @EngadgetDeals on X for the latest tech deals and buying advice.This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/computing/apples-m4-mac-mini-is-more-than-100-off-at-amazon-151509626.html?src=rss

iHeart confirms "several" radio stations were hit with a data breachCrooks took names, health, and payment data, from an undisclosed number of peopleThe company notified the government and law enforcement

Multiple iHeartMedia radio stations suffered a cyberattack in which crooks stole sensitive customer data, the company has confirmed in a data breach notification letter sent to affected individuals, as well as filings with multiple US state attorney generals.The Record spotted iHeartMedia reporting the breach to Maine, Massachusetts and California, but noted the company left out the field on the total number of affected individuals, so it isn't known how many people had their data stolen.In the notification letter it’s been sending out, the company said that between December 24 and December 27, 2024, an unauthorized actor “viewed and obtained” files stored on systems “at a small number of our local stations.”

Get Keeper Personal for just $1.67/month, Keeper Family for just $3.54/month, and Keeper Business for just $7/month​Keeper is a cybersecurity platform primarily known for its password manager and digital vault, designed to help individuals, families, and businesses securely store and manage passwords, sensitive files, and other private data. It uses zero-knowledge encryption and offers features like two-factor authentication, dark web monitoring, secure file storage, and breach alerts to protect against cyber threats.Preferred partner (What does this mean?)View Deal

Millions of messages

So, several radio stations appear to have been hit, but the company did not say how many.iHeart is the largest audio-focused media company in the US, with 870 radio stations and a quarter of a billion listeners every month.No threat actors have yet assumed responsibility for the attack, however, iHeart said that whoever it was, they managed to steal people’s full names, passport numbers and other governmental identification numbers, dates of birth, financial account information, payment card information, health information, and/or health insurance information.The threat actors struck gold with this database. With names, birth dates, and health and insurance information, they can target people with tailored phishing attacks, and with passport numbers they can engage in identity theft.Financial account information - particularly payment card information - can be used in wire fraud. The data hasn’t yet emerged for sale on the dark web either.To tackle the threat, iHeart is giving out a year of identity theft protection services to affected individuals. It also set up a dedicated phone number for people with inquiries.Via The Record

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Wix announced Wix Model Context Protocol (MCP) ServerThe tool allows devs to generate code fasterIt is now available at no extra cost

Wix, one of the best website builders around, just announced a new artificial intelligence-powered tool to help both developers and website managers. It is called the Wix Model Context Protocol (MCP) Server, and enables users to generate code through AI assistants such as Claude, Cursor, and Windsurf.With MCP Server, Wix users can simply talk to an AI assistant to get things done, instead of having to write code themselves. For example, users could ask the AI to add a product to the Wix store, and the AI will send the request to the Wix MCP Server. The tool will then connect to the right tools (for example inventory, checkout, CRM, or something different), and come back with either a confirmation message, a code snippet, or similar.In a press release shared with TechRadar Pro earlier this week, Wix added that no manual coding, or additional setting up, is needed, and that the tool works in IDEs for developers and in chat interfaces for non-tech users.

Boosting productivity through AI

The tool is now available, at no additional cost, with an option to upgrade to a Premium Plan for extended functionalities, such as accepting online payments. Those interested in the new offering can check out more details on this link.“This framework not only enhances productivity but also provides access to a wide variety of APIs and services, enabling the creation of seamless, cross-vertical solutions such as integrated commerce, blogs, scheduling, and events,” said Yaniv Even Haim, CTO at Wix. “As we step into the world of LLM-powered code generation, the quality and completeness of our APIs become one of our most important assets.”Over the past year, Wix has significantly expanded its suite of AI-powered tools, introducing more than 30 new features, such as the AI website builder, AI Image Creator, AI Product Descriptions, SEO Meta Tags Generator, and many more.

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Nintendo Switch 2 pre-orders are technically open, but you may have trouble grabbing the console before its June 5 release date if you haven't secured an order already. As of our latest sweep, the device is still completely out of stock at Walmart, GameStop, Best Buy, Target and other retailers. This has (mostly) been the case in the US since the Switch 2 first went up for sale on April 24, and it remains unclear when it'll change.

Your best hope right now might be ordering through Nintendo itself, as the console maker will start accepting pre-orders at its My Nintendo Store tomorrow, May 8. However, the company is only offering the Switch 2 through an invite system. It's been accepting registrations for that since April 2, and it's prioritizing invites for past Switch players and Switch Online subscribers before anyone else. So if you're just registering now, don't be surprised if your invite doesn't arrive for some time after the initial batch. Nintendo even updated the language on its pre-order page last month to note that some invite emails may not arrive until after the console has been released.

Nevertheless, we're keeping an eye out for any surprise restocks that may pop up. If you're still hoping to get your hands on the device early, we've rounded up all the Switch 2 pre-order listings we could find for easy access and broken down what you should know about buying the console below.

How to pre-order the Nintendo Switch 2

After a two-week delay, Nintendo finally kicked off Switch 2 pre-orders in the US and Canada at midnight ET on April 24. A couple of (headache-inducing) hours later, stock at third-party retailers such as Walmart, Target and Best Buy promptly sold out. GameStop began taking pre-orders at 11am ET that morning but quickly met the same fate. Some eagle-eyed buyers were reportedly able to pre-order through Walmart as recently as April 26, but as of this writing, the console remains sold out at all of the stores above.

Other membership-based retailers like Costco and Sam's Club have Switch 2 listings as well, but we haven't seen anything to suggest they will accept pre-orders. Newegg also has a Switch 2 page but hasn't provided an option to buy just yet. As for Amazon, we assume the Switch 2 will eventually be available there, but it's not today, and there's been no indication as to when that might change. (Even before the Switch 2 was unveiled, stock of the original Nintendo Switch and first-party Switch games had been limited at Amazon US for several months.)

As noted above, we recommend signing up via Nintendo's website if you haven't already. It's free to register and you'll eventually get an email that lets you order the console, even if you have to wait until after the June 5 launch. Just be aware that Nintendo is prioritizing invites "on a first-come, first-served basis" to those who've paid for its Switch Online service for at least 12 months and logged at least 50 hours of total Switch play time as of April 2, 2025. (For the latter, you'll need to have opted into sharing gameplay data with Nintendo, which you can confirm in your account's privacy settings.) Nintendo says it'll send invites to other registrants after those who meet this "priority criteria" receive their emails. Whenever you do get an invite, you'll have 72 hours to make your purchase.

If you're desperate to catch a restock, it's a good idea to create a free account with the retailers above and ensure all of your shipping and billing info is up to date with each. Downloading each store's mobile app and signing up for notifications may help too, though that could get annoying fairly quickly.

Pre-order Nintendo Switch 2

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Pre-order Nintendo Switch 2 + Mario Kart World bundle

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*As of 11:40am ET on Wednesday, May 7, Amazon has not listed either Switch 2 console package for sale. We will update this article with direct links if they arrive; until then, we're linking to the site's Nintendo-focused hub.

How to pre-order Switch 2 accessories and games

Naturally, there are numerous accessories and games up for pre-order alongside the Switch 2 itself. While Nintendo hasn't changed the console's price since delaying its initial pre-order date, it has hiked the cost of several accessories due to "changes in market conditions" (read: tariffs). The new Switch 2 camera, for instance, now costs $55 instead of its original $50, while the Switch 2 Pro Controller leapt from $80 to $85. An extra set of Joy-Con 2 controllers is up to $95 from $90, and the official Joy-Con Charging Grip costs $40 instead of $35.

Most (but not all) of Nintendo's official Switch 2 accessories are still up for grabs at one or two retailers at a minimum, but stock has become spottier since they first went up for sale. Upcoming Switch 2 games like Mario Kart World and Donkey Kong Bananza, meanwhile, remain widely available.

Mario Kart World for $80

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Donkey Kong Bananza for $70

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Additional Switch 2 games

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Samsung microSD Express Card (256GB) for Nintendo Switch 2 for $60

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Joy-Con 2 bundle for $95

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Switch 2 Pro Controller for $85

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Switch 2 Camera for $55

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Hori Nintendo Switch 2 Piranha Plant Camera for $60

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Joy-Con 2 Charging Grip for $40

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Joy-Con 2 Wheels (set of 2) for $25

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Switch 2 All-in-One Carrying Case for $85

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Switch 2 Carrying Case and Screen Protector for $40

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*As of 11:40am ET on Wednesday, May 7, Amazon has not listed any first-party Switch 2 accessories or games for sale. (Some third-party devices and games are listed, however.) We'll update this article with direct links if they arrive; until then, we're linking to the site's Nintendo-focused hub.

More Switch 2 details

We knew from its initial teaser trailer that the Switch 2 would be bigger than its predecessor and take a new approach to its detachable Joy-Cons. The Joy-Con 2s, as they're called, now attach magnetically and include a C button, mouse controls and a built-in gyroscope for tilt control. The console itself is indeed larger, with a 7.9-inch LCD screen that supports a 1080p resolution, a variable refresh rate up to 120Hz and HDR10. The hardware also has a built-in mic to support a new feature called GameChat that'll let you communicate with friends in-game. (This is what that C button is for.) Nintendo says this service will be free to all Switch 2 users until March 31, 2026, at which point it'll require a Switch Online membership.

When docked, you'll be able to play up to 4K on your TV. Nintendo says it's improved the consoles internal speakers as well. The updated dock has a built-in fan to keep the console cool and help maintain performance during long play sessions. Though we won't know exactly how much of a power upgrade the Switch 2 is over to the first Switch until it's released, it looks to be fairly significant leap, given that it'll have ports of relatively demanding games like Elden Ring and Cyberpunk 2077.

Elsewhere, the Switch 2 has dual USB-C ports for charging, while the internal storage amount has jumped from 32GB to 256GB. That storage is still expandable, but the device will only work with newer (and more expensive) microSD Express cards. As seen in the recent 20.0.0 update for the original Switch, the upcoming console will also utilize Nintendo's new Virtual Game Card system for lending digital games across systems, as well as a GameShare feature that lets you share select titles locally with just one copy of a game.

Tariffs and the Nintendo Switch 2

During its most recent Direct presentation at the start of April, Nintendo showed off more of the Switch 2 than it ever had before. That included the reveal of the April 9 pre-order opening date, in addition to the original $450 starting price. Shortly after, President Trump announced sweeping tariffs on China and other countries, prompting Nintendo to delay pre-orders in the US and Canada.

In a reversal, President Trump later announced a 90-day pause on steep tariffs affecting 75 countries, but also announced that the tariff imposed on China will go up even further (right now, it sits at 145 percent).

We now know that the original $450 price for the Switch 2 will remain the same in the US and Canada, but based on its official statement, it appears Nintendo is leaving the door open for potential future price increases.

We also know that Nintendo started moving some of its Switch console manufacturing to Vietnam in 2019. The increased tariff for Vietnam was set to be 46 percent, but that's temporarily on hold in favor of a 10 percent tariff that’s in effect for the 90-day pause period.

It has been speculated that Nintendo will boost production of Switch 2 consoles in Vietnam so it can stay on schedule, even if it sells the console at a loss in the short term. It appears the company will have to seriously ramp up production to keep up with Switch 2 demand: According to Nintendo, 2.2 million people entered the pre-order lottery in Japan alone, which is far more devices than it is expected to deliver in that region on launch day.

This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/gaming/nintendo/nintendo-switch-2-pre-orders-updates-on-restocks-from-walmart-gamestop-target-best-buy-and-other-retailers-140931360.html?src=rss

Pakistan restored access to X across the country on May 7, 2025 Since February 2024, people in Pakistan haven't had access to X without a VPN serviceThe ban was enforced after it was "used to draw attention to instances of alleged election fraud."

Pakistan has restored access to X across the country after a 15-month-long ban.Restored on Wednesday, May 7, 2025, authorities blocked access to the popular social media platform back in February 2024. The blockage forced citizens to turn to the best VPN service to keep accessing the app.

No more need for Pakistan VPN to use X

"Metrics show access to X (formerly Twitter) has been restored in Pakistan," confirmed internet watchdog NetBlocks on Wednesday.Pakistan authorities began blocking the popular social media platform on February 17, 2024. The block came about a week after completely restricting the internet before and during election day as an alleged "security measure."Yet, according to NetBlocks, "The platform was restricted by authorities in February 2024 after it was used to draw attention to instances of alleged election fraud."Furthermore, while the large-scale disruptions to the internet connection lasted just a few days, the X ban persisted for almost 15 months.Now, people in Pakistan can finally access X without connecting to a virtual private network (VPN) to spoof their real IP address location.

ℹ️ Confirmed: Metrics show access to X (formerly Twitter) has been restored in #Pakistan as conflict breaks out with neigbouring India. The platform was restricted by authories in February 2024 after it was used to draw attention to instances of alleged election fraud pic.twitter.com/nvwgpfja8OMay 7, 2025

X hasn't been the only victim of Pakistan's internet censors, though.The likes of Facebook, Instagram, WhatsApp, and even Bluesky have also been briefly restricted in the past. While all these platforms are now accessible without a VPN, NetBlocks confirmed to TechRadar that Telegram is still blocked in the country at the time of writing.What's certain is that VPN services remain a crucial tool for Pakistanis.According to Access Now data, in fact, Pakistan imposed 21 shutdowns in 2024. This is the highest number ever for the country.Recent reports also suggest that China is helping Pakistan build a Great Firewall-like internet censorship system. This project is expected to considerably increase both authorities' blocking and surveillance capabilities.At the same time, a new licensing category for VPN providers was introduced in December as the latest bid to regulate Pakistan VPN usage.

TechRadar needs you! We want to know what you think about the world of VPNs. Whether you're a novice or a VPN pro, we want to hear your thoughts. Don't worry, though, your responses are completely anonymous, and it takes less than a minute to complete!To take part, click the link below: https://futurenet.questionpro.eu/tr-vpn

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The Golden Globes is expanding beyond film and TV with a new category. It will dole out an award for the best podcast of the year starting at next January's ceremony. Organizers told Variety that the idea was to recognize the influence and reach of podcasts within the spectrum of entertainment.

Six finalists will be selected from the 25 most popular podcasts across audio and video formats (sorry, middle-aged dads who spent hundreds of dollars on recording gear to grouse about their team in their basement studios). So it's likely that more celebrities could appear on the show.

Amy Poehler and Trevor Noah have podcasts that are among the 25 largest in the US on Spotify. SmartLess — the show hosted by actors Jason Bateman, Will Arnett and Sean Hayes — is on the list too. As such, the best podcast award feels like a ploy by the Golden Globes to get more stars on the show, which would make it quite funny if, say, The Daily won instead.

It feels like an odd move for the Golden Globes (which started handing out an award for Cinematic and Box Office Achievement last year) to wade into the podcasting world. Still, it's nice to see a mainstream awards ceremony shining a spotlight on podcasts. There are dedicated awards shows for podcasts, but the Golden Globes is putting them on a bigger stage.

Other awards shows have been refining their category lineups. We'll soon start seeing a long-overdue category for stunt work at the Oscars. On the other hand, it was a little disappointing to see the Emmy for short-form animated program being cut last year due to a drop in submissions.This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/entertainment/the-golden-globes-will-start-giving-an-award-to-the-best-podcast-of-the-year-154905589.html?src=rss

Electronic Arts has confirmed that the next Battlefield game will be revealed this summer, ahead of a launch date some time before April 2026. The news was shared in the company’s Q4 and and financial year 2025 results, published this week.

EA CEO Andrew Wilson called the latest installment in the long-running first-person shooter series a “pivotal step in delivering on our next generation of blockbuster entertainment” and recommitted to a previously announced FY26 release window for the currently untitled game. That means it can’t launch any later than March 2026, when EA's fiscal year ends.

A launch date before April next year would mean the new Battlefield game will get a bit of room to breathe before the recently delayed Grand Theft Auto 6, which is supposed to arrive on May 26, 2026. Like every other publisher on the planet, EA has likely factored GTA 6 into its own upcoming launch plans for a number of titles. Eurogamer reported earlier this year that Wilson had admitted a willingness to delay games in order to get out of the way of the (unnamed, but heavily implied) competition.

The most recent Battlefield game was 2021’s Battlefield 2042, to which EA has steadily added new content. Back in February, EA launched Battlefield Labs, a community testing initiative that allows registered fans to playtest and give feedback on series fundamentals such as combat, destruction, vehicles and map designs.

EA also confirmed in an investor call that it currently has no plans to increase the price of its games, following the recent Xbox price hike and Nintendo making the decision to charge a whopping $80 for Mario Kart World on its upcoming Switch 2.This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/gaming/the-next-battlefield-game-will-launch-sometime-before-april-2026-161521602.html?src=rss

LG’s innovative display has been designed for automotive useCompany says a display and buttons can merge seamlessly into oneThe tech is just a concept, but we could see it in cars soon

The argument surrounding physical buttons in modern vehicles continues to rage, with some vocal sectors (arguably led by journalists) calling for a reduction in potentially distracting touchscreens and more easily locatable switches when driving.But LG may have come up with an intriguing solution, as it's revealed a Stretchable automotive display ahead of SID Display Week in California – arguably the CES of the screen world.The company says that its unique display, which sees a curved touchscreen miraculously come to life with a physical dial and buttons, has been designed to turn every interior space into a display… but one with physical buttons built into it.There’s scant information about the inner workings of the innovation, but LG claims the display can expand by up to 50% while maintaining a high resolution of 100 ppi (pixels per inch) and full RGB color, comparable to that of a standard monitor.In a video demo (below), the company shows how a dial rises out of the touchscreen surface when activated, allowing the user to increase or decrease volume or other settings with a twirl of a finger.

(Image credit: LG)

Similarly, a further two buttons rise out of the display below the main dial, which allow the user to more easily navigate menu screens.LG points out that a conventional automotive fascia requires a separate automotive display and physical buttons, whereas this doesn't. Although it seems to have ignored the fact that many automakers tend to remove the physical buttons entirely, anyway.As a result, LG thinks its expandable display, complete with protruding touch buttons, offers the best of both worlds that is "easy to operate even while driving".Alongside the Stretchable display, the South Korean tech giant is also showcasing the world’s largest pillar-to-pillar 57-inch automotive display, as well as an 18-inch Slidable OLED display that can be rolled up and hidden in a vehicle’s interior headliner.

Analysis: One touch too many

(Image credit: LG)

While LG’s display technology is mightily impressive, looking like something hailing directly from an alien aircraft, it doesn’t really solve the issue of driver distraction when behind the wheel.The beauty of physical buttons is that they remain static, easy to locate and the sort of thing drivers can operate with muscle memory alone, negating the need to take eyes off the road.LG’s demonstration reveals that the unit has to be tapped a number of times before the physical buttons appear, often via very small and possibly quite fiddly parts of the screen.It’s almost like a futuristic BMW iDrive system, but with additional steps required to reveal the physical dials and buttons that made the German marque’s system so easy to use... although the new version has controversially dispatched of buttons.While a stretchable display might not be the best solution for drivers, it could be an ultra-luxurious system for those traveling in the rear – allowing designers the freedom to keep spaces looking clean and minimal, while offering a bit of drama when occupants decide they want to enjoy some Netflix on the 18-inch Slidable OLED display that’s tucked away in the roof.

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It’s earnings season, and automakers are warning investors about the impact tariffs will have on vehicle pricing. As first reported by Reuters, the cost of Ford's Mustang Mach-E, Ford’s electric SUV, could rise by as much as $2,000 on some models.

Ford manufactures the Mach-E as well as other non-electric models in Mexico, which are now tariffed when sold in the United States. Aside from the Mach-E, Ford estimates that it will take a $1.5 billion hit from current tariff policy.

The Trump administration has long insisted that tariffs are not paid for by the American consumer, and while the company made clear it was absorbing some of the increased cost, it could not absorb all of it.A Ford spokesperson told Reuters that the price increase is partly due to typical mid-year repricing "combined with some tariffs we are facing. We have not passed on the full cost of tariffs to our customers."

Despite the administration's partial acquiescence to automakers last week in softening the blow on auto tariffs, EV makers Rivian and Lucid have said higher costs are coming. Rivian’s CEO shared that he expects vehicle pricing to rise by "a couple of thousand dollars," while Lucid’s interim CEO said the company was expecting an 8 to 15 percent increase in overall costs due to tariffs.

While EVs have not specifically been the target of these tariffs, this administration has been unusually hostile towards them, and has worked to reverse government-funded EV initiatives, like subsidized expansions to charging infrastructure. Making matters worse, Speaker of the House Brian Johnson all but confirmed to Bloomberg recently that Congress is likely to end the EV tax credit saying, “I think there is a better chance we kill it than save it, but we’ll see how it comes out.”

It’s been posited by industry analysts that Tesla may have the least to lose (and could perhaps even gain) from the current administration's anti-EV stance, with Elon Musk even saying as such. This is in part due to the outsized effect tariffs will have on competing EV manufacturers like Ford, while Tesla’s substantial domestic production keeps the company mostly insulated.This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/transportation/evs/ford-will-raise-mustang-mach-e-prices-in-part-due-to-tariffs-164323546.html?src=rss

A four-pack of Samsung SmartTag 2 Bluetooth trackers is available for just $52 at Woot. That's a record low price and a discount of 38 percent. This pack includes two white and two black trackers. There’s a limit of two packs per customer.

This particular model made our list of the best Bluetooth trackers, and this is particularly true for those already tied into the Samsung ecosystem. We love the design. It’s an oblong fob with a big hole for attaching directly to keys and the like. This is something that Apple AirTags don’t offer out of the box, as you need a case for the purposes of attaching.

These Samsung trackers are also louder when pinged than the AirTag or the Tile Pro. This makes it a bit easier to find something when the time comes. You can also change the tag’s ringtone or double squeeze it to ring the handset, both things that aren’t possible with AirTags.

Setup is simple and we came away impressed with how easy it was to locate lost items out in the wild. The companion app, SmartThings Find, offers an intuitive Google Maps-based interface. We found that alerts triggered reliably when we got around three to eight blocks away from the lost item.

These may be the best trackers for Samsung users, but they are also exclusively tied to the company’s ecosystem. Don’t buy these if you use an iPhone. The finding network isn’t as vast as Google’s Find My Device or Apple’s Find My, but it gets the job done.

Follow @EngadgetDeals on X for the latest tech deals and buying advice.This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/deals/a-four-pack-of-samsung-smarttag-2-bluetooth-trackers-is-down-to-52-at-woot-164134673.html?src=rss

New earbuds have 11mm dynamic drivers in a super-light open designThey offer up to 28 hours of battery life and quick-charging from flatAccentum Open cost $130 / £70 (or about AU$145)

It's official: as we reported last month, Sennheiser has a new set of open earbuds called the Accentum Open – and they're cheaper than previous reports predicted, unless you live in the US.The new Accentum Open are available in a choice of cream and black with a recommended retail price of £69.99 / €89.90 / or about AU$145. Unfortunately, US pricing is somewhat steeper at $129.95. Ouch.If you're not familiar with open-style earbud designs, this means you're not plugging a tip into your ear canal and sealing yourself from the outside world. Unlike many of the best open earbuds, the Accentum Opens are similar to the AirPods 4 in offering a stem-like design that sits outside your ear canal.And despite lacking ANC (active noise cancellation), they could be a fine alternative to the AirPods 4 (which cost $129 / £129 / AU$219), depending on where you live...

Sennheiser Open earbuds: key features

(Image credit: Sennheiser)

The Sennheiser Open look very like the AirPods 4, with a long stem containing touch controls and a fairly AirPods-esque charging case. Each bud is just 4.4g, roughly the same as a single playing card, and battery life is 6.5 hours per bud and 28 hours with the charging case. Ten minutes of USB charging delivers up to 1.5 hours of listening time.Inside each earbud there's an 11mm dynamic transducer that sits just outside your ear canal, enabling you to listen to music and podcasts in comfort without blocking out the outside world.Sennheiser didn't go into more details, but the product listing on the Thomann retail site says the frequency range is 25Hz to 15,000Hz and that the supported codecs are SBC and AAC.The earbuds have Bluetooth 5.3 with multipoint and there are dual beamforming microphones for clear calling. Overall, a compelling bundle then, particularly if they match the rest of the Accentum line during our testing – though that US price could make them less enticing if you live there.

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Huawei is preparing to test its most advanced AI chip to date Reports says Ascend 910D aims to challenge Nvidia H100 in AI performanceAnalysts are skeptical, due to software gaps and ecosystem disadvantages

Huawei has been stepping up its ambitions to be seen as the Chinese rival to Nvidia in recent weeks - first, launching a new AI infrastructure architecture set, the CloudMatrix 384 Supernode, to rival the U.S. chip giant’s NVL72 system.Then, a day after the United States announced plans to further tighten restrictions on AI chip exports to China - including Nvidia's H20 processor - Huawei revealed the Ascend 920, its next-generation AI chip, set to enter mass production in the second half of 2025.Now, a report in The Wall Street Journal claims Huawei is preparing to test its most advanced AI chip to date, the Ascend 910D, and has approached several Chinese tech companies to begin technical evaluations. Sample batches are expected to be available as soon as late May 2025.

Sights set on Nvidia's H100

The Ascend 910D is the latest iteration of Huawei's AI processors, building on the existing 910B and 910C models. While the chip is not yet commercially available, Huawei reportedly hopes it can match - or even exceed - the performance of Nvidia's H100.Independent analysts are, naturally, skeptical that Huawei will be able to close the performance and ecosystem gap between itself and Nvidia anytime soon.HPCwire reports Neil Shah, VP at Counterpoint Research, as saying: “From an overall system-level design - compute, memory integration, networking scalability, and, crucially, software orchestration - Nvidia remains three generations ahead.”That gap is partly due to Nvidia’s established software stack, notably CUDA, which plays a major role in accelerating and managing AI workloads. Huawei, by contrast, lacks a similarly mature software platform, making it harder to optimize across GPUs or scale across complex AI infrastructures.Despite these hurdles, Huawei continues to ship its 910C chips in volume to Chinese data centers and research labs and the move to test the 910D suggests the company is doubling down on efforts to build a self-sufficient AI hardware ecosystem.Whether the 910D becomes a true rival to Nvidia's H100, or remains a “good enough” option for domestic use, it signals a continuing shift in global AI hardware competition.

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"We welcome the addition of body-worn cameras and appreciate the enhanced transparency and assurance they provide," a then-DEA official wrote in a 2021 press release. So much for that. ProPublica published an investigative report on Tuesday that details how the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) under the Trump administration has abandoned its bodycam program.

The DEA announced the change internally through an email, viewed by ProPublica. However, the agency never made a formal announcement or any public acknowledgment of its about-face.

The DEA's email said it made the change to be "consistent" with Trump's "Initial Rescissions Of Harmful Executive Orders And Actions" order, signed on Inauguration Day. The action rescinded 78 Biden-era executive orders, including the one that expanded federal law enforcement's use of body cameras.

ProPublica notes that the "consistent" rationale for bailing on the program is questionable. Although Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) beat the DEA to the punch in abandoning bodycams — shocker! — other DOJ agencies still use them. These include the US Marshals Service and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives (ATF).

Axon

The common sentiment is that bodycams' sole purpose is to keep law enforcement officers from abusing power. But that's only part of the equation. It also protects them. "The vast majority of times I viewed body camera footage is based on allegations from a defense attorney about what a cop did," David DeVillers, a former US attorney for the Southern District of Ohio, told ProPublica. "And I would say 95 percent of the time it absolves the cop of wrongdoing."

Studies have consistently found that body cameras correlate with reduced complaints against officers. However, it isn't clear whether that's from people filing fewer frivolous complaints or because officers with cameras behave better. Regardless, the DEA's positive framing of the devices from four years ago is backed by data.

The DOJ began requiring federal agents to wear bodycams in 2021. At that time, George Floyd's murder and the resulting protests were still fresh on people's minds. "Law enforcement is at its most effective when there is accountability and trust between law enforcement and the community," then-Attorney General Merrick Garland wrote that September.

Meanwhile, a lucrative contract suggests the DEA's abandonment flies in the face of one of the Trump administration's stated priorities. In 2021, the DOJ inked a $30.4 million deal with Axon to use its cameras and software for the federal program. Axon says the contract is still active, and around five-sixths of the sum is still due. Funny how selective one can be in pursuing "government efficiency."This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/cameras/the-dea-abandons-bodycams-after-only-four-years-172843162.html?src=rss

AI services like Perplexity or OpenAI's SearchGPT could be search engine options in a future version of Safari, Bloomberg reports. The tentative plans were shared by Eddy Cue, Apple's senior vice president of services, while on the stand for Google's ongoing search antitrust case. Cue was called to testify because of the deal Google and Apple have to keep Google Search as the default search engine on the iPhone.

Cue claims Apple has discussed a possible Safari-integration with Perplexity, but didn't share any definitive plans during his testimony. It's clear that he believes AI assistants will inevitably supplant traditional search engines, though. "Prior to AI, my feeling around this was, none of the others were valid choices," Cue said. "I think today there is much greater potential because there are new entrants attacking the problem in a different way."

Whatever AI search Apple ultimately adds likely won't be the default at first, according to Cue, but "there’s enough money now, enough large players, that I don’t see how it doesn’t happen." There's some evidence to back up the idea that things are changing, too. According to The Verge, Cue shared that the number of Google searches in Safari fell for the first time last month, something "that has never happened in 22 years." It's entirely possible those missing searches went to ChatGPT or Gemini.

Google pays Apple $18 billion or more a year to keep Google Search as the default, possibly on top of other financial incentives. Cue's threading a very fine needle acknowledging the popularity of AI without suggesting that Google's deals have gotten in the way of other search options growing. Clearly, both companies would like their mutually beneficial relationship to stay the same.

Of course, Apple's also had its own public issues with AI in the last few months. After presenting big plans for how Apple Intelligence would work in 2024, Apple had to delay its updated Siri, the centerpiece of its pitch, until later this year. The company ultimately made the decision to work with third-party AI models because its systems weren't up to snuff. That change could be how conversations about adding AI search engines to Safari came about in the first place.This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/ai/apple-is-considering-adding-ai-search-engines-to-safari-180502229.html?src=rss

Google's Android 16 beta includes new battery health toolsIt has seemingly confimed they'll be exclusive to Pixel 8 and newer devicesWe might learn more at Google I/O on May 20, 2025

One of the most useful features coming to devices with Android 16 will be new battery health tools found in your Pixel phone’s settings app – and we now know which devices will get them when they launch for everyone.Android 16 will likely get detailed at Google I/O, but before then some software betas are cluing us into some of its features.This includes new battery health capabilities.The main tool is a stat at the top of the battery health page, which represents your phone’s current max battery capacity as a percentage of what a new standard battery’s capacity would be. For example, if it reads 93% that’s Google saying that your phone’s 100% charge is equivalent to a new battery (that is otherwise identical) being 93% charged.It also highlights if your phone’s battery health is normal or not – all batteries degrade over time, but you’ll know if it’s degrading faster than it should be – as well as links to articles which could improve your battery health.

Better battery, better life

Android 16 should be detailed soon (Image credit: Google / Future)

It doesn’t necessarily add new protective measures – like the Google Pixel 9a’s Battery Health assistance – but it should nevertheless be a handy tool for contextualising why battery health measures are useful, and offer you useful tips if you are struggling to look after your phone’s battery.So it’s a shame to discover that, according to Google in an Android 16 beta bug report (via, the feature which is currently “supported in Beta 3 on Pixel 8a and Pixel 9 products including 9 Pro Fold” won’t be coming to older Pixel devices due to “product limitations.”Google’s phrasing strongly suggests only Pixel 8 phones and newer will get the latest battery health tools – it does leave open the door for it to come to older devices when Android 16 launches in full, though we aren’t holding our breath.

(Image credit: Peter Hoffmann)

Battery health is one of the least flashy but most useful tools software updates can provide.Whether you replace your phone every two years or every five, knowing your device will be as reliable as possible for as long as possible is something we all appreciate. Afterall, no one likes those moments of terror as your phone’s battery ticks down at the worst possible time.Alongside battery changes Android 16 will include a major visual refresh, a new and improved desktop mode, and USB hack protections.

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