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Europol’s 2025 Internet Organized Crime Threat Assessment (IOCTA) indicates E2EE (end-to-end encrypted) apps as an obstacle to investigationsThe report also calls for better rules on metadata collection and trackingThis comes as the EU Commission has unveiled a new plan to create a roadmap for lawful and effective access to data for law enforcementCriminals are increasingly exploiting end-to-end encrypted apps to impede police investigations, according to Europol’s 2025 Internet Organized Crime Threat Assessment (IOCTA).The report also warns that current metadata collection practices are too limited, further complicating the work of law enforcement. This is why Europol highlights the need to establish lawful access by design to encrypted communications, alongside EU standards for the targeted retention and access to metadata.Europol's recommendations echo the EU Commission's plan for creating an encryption backdoor for law enforcement – something experts are said to be "deeply concerned" about.The encryption conundrumOnline services, like the best VPN, email, messaging apps, and other apps, employ end-to-end encryption (E2EE) to guarantee your communications remain private between the sender and the receiver – end-to-end."Technically, E2EE blocks service providers from accessing communication content, rendering warrants for lawful access unserviceable within the EU. This creates a lack of visibility of, and ability to investigate, criminal activity," reads Europol's IOCTA report.Encryption is the tech responsible for scrambling the content of internet connections into an unreadable form to prevent unauthorized access. (Image credit: Getty Images)This isn't the first time that Europol has expressed its concerns about the use of encrypted technologies. Talking to the Financial Times in January, the group's chief, Catherine De Bolle, said that anonymity isn't a fundamental right and law enforcement should be able to decrypt encrypted messages to fight back crime.Technologists, cryptographers, and other experts, however, have long argued against the risks of undermining encryption protections. According to the industry, an encryption backdoor for law enforcement will inevitably compromise the security of all.Recent cyberattacks have demonstrated the need for strong encryption protections. For example, last year's Salt Typhoon incident targeting all major US telecoms led to US authorities warning all citizens to switch to encryption.This may be one of the reasons why proposed legislations that seek to undermine encryption keep failing. Most recently, France rejected a new encryption backdoor provision in March, with Florida doing the same in May. EU lawmakers keep disagreeing on the Chat Control proposal, too, after three years of trying.The new target, metadata"When content is blocked by E2EE, metadata becomes essential for mapping networks and identifying suspects. However, the current legislative landscape lacks harmonized rules, and this results in fragmented national policies," reads Europol's IOCTA report.Metadata refers to all pieces of information that aren't the content. This includes IP addresses, location, phone numbers, who you have spoken with, and when, but also the size of your data packets, the patterns they move to, timestamps, and so on.Thanks also to AI-powered tools, metadata tracking is enabling law enforcement (or any other third party with the necessary skills) to get a pretty accurate picture of people's online behaviors even without accessing the encrypted content.Authorities know that, and that's why they are pushing for new data retention obligations to be enforced. "Crucial metadata, such as subscriber information or IP logs, is often subject to short or inconsistent retention periods," said the Europol assessment, advocating for clear standards "for the targeted retention and/or expedited access to essential metadata."Again, that's something technologists have long warned against, and that could make the work of no-log VPN and other privacy software impossible.Law enforcement has begun realizing what the industry known for a while – metadata privacy matters (Image credit: J Studios/via Getty Images)As mentioned, Europol isn't the only group pushing for greater access to users' encrypted data and their identities.The EU is also working on lawful and effective access to data for law enforcement – the so-called ProtectEU strategy, which seems to follow recommendations collected as part of the EU Going Dark initiative.The plan includes a roadmap to encryption alongside an evaluation to expand data retention obligations for service providers, as well. Experts have so far criticized such a plan and have asked to play a key role in this debate.While taking a different approach against encryption backdoors, Switzerland is also considering amending its surveillance law to force online service providers to retain certain users' metadata. This has opened up a debate in the country over the need for online anonymity, with the likes of Proton and NymVPN vowing to leave Switzerland if the new rules pass.You might also like"A war against online anonymity" – why Switzerland wants to change its surveillance law and what's at stakeIs it possible that quantum computing ends up saving encryption? Here's how it could happen"We will not walk back" – Signal would rather leave the UK and Sweden than remove encryption protections

The next Nintendo Direct has been confirmed for June 18The June showcase will be focused on the Switch 2 exclusive Donkey Kong BananzaThe livestream will be 15 minutes long and offer new information about the gameNintendo has announced that a new Nintendo Direct showcase will air this week, highlighting the Switch 2's Donkey Kong Bananza.Revealed on the Nintendo Today app, the June 'Donkey Kong Bananza Direct' is scheduled to broadcast on Wednesday, June 18 at 6am PT / 12pm CEST / 2pm BST.As usual, fans will be able to tune in to watch the showcase on Nintendo's official YouTube and Twitch channels.The company confirmed via the livestream's YouTube description that the presentation will be "roughly 15 minutes" long and feature new information about the upcoming Switch 2 game.No more information was shared, but we'll likely receive an extended gameplay look for Donkey Kong Bananza for the first time since the game was revealed during the Nintendo Switch 2 Direct in April.Donkey Kong Bananza is a Switch 2 exclusive title and is set to arrive one month from now, on July 17.This new entry will be a 3D Donkey Kong experience, featuring some 2D side-scrolling elements, as well as an explorable, semi-open world filled with unique biomes and featuring numerous boss fights to encounter."Explore a vast underground world - by smashing your way through it! Bash, throw, and climb through just about anything in DK’s brand-new 3D platforming action-adventure game!" Nintendo said.The Nintendo Switch 2 is finally here, and if you're looking to get your hands on the new console, you can check out our live coverage of Nintendo Switch 2 restocks for the US and UK.You might also like...Here are the Nintendo Switch 2 launch games that arrived alongside the new consoleI’ve spent 150 hours with The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild, and the Switch 2 Edition is an incredible upgrade'I don't even know if I wanna play anymore' - Pokémon player left devastated after Nintendo Switch 2 system transfer lost over 1,000 hours of gameplay and 20 years of data

Max is getting its own AI-assisted homepage redesignThe streamer's landing page update will start rolling out in the US this weekIts overhaul comes amid Netflix's latest layout being slammed by usersListen up, Max users, because it's the latest streaming service to receive a major overhaul of its homepage.Just weeks after Netflix unveiled its own user interface (UI) redesign – one that rage-filled Netflix subscribers have described as "dreadful" – one of its biggest rivals is also getting a landing page update. But, don't worry, Max fans, it won't be as frustrating to use as Netflix's latest redesign is.In a Warner Bros. Discovery press release, Max's parent company confirmed an "enhanced browsing experience" would start rolling out in the US this week (June 16 to 22). It's unclear when people in other countries where Max is available, such as Australia, New Zealand, and Singapore, will receive the homepage refresh.What is clear, though, is Max has taken a page out of the Netflix playbook and actually redesigned its landing page to mirror that of the best streaming service's old layout. Here's what Max's current homepage looks like:Max's old homepage layout featured vertical tiles and its sections bar at the top of the page (Image credit: Max)And here's how Max's redesigned landing page will look once it's distributed to its worldwide userbase:Max's new layout reminds me of how Netflix used to look (Image credit: Warner Bros. Discovery/Max)As you can see above, version 2.0 of Max's UI looks much cleaner than its forebear did. For one, the icon bar has been moved to the left-hand side of the page. Meanwhile, its movie and TV shows are laid out in rectangular tile form, rather than the vertical aesthetic that the previous homepage had.If this format looks familiar, it's because it's a near-identical design to the Netflix app's homepage before its recent overhaul. I'm sure those of us who detest Netflix's new UI will be a little jealous with Max 2.0's layout, then.There's more to this update, too. When Max users hover over a tile, a corresponding preview video will automatically play after a couple of seconds. Per Warner Bros. Discovery (WBD), it "builds on the success of Max’s previous feature launch, which delivered video previews with audio on the homepage’s hero carousel earlier this year."WBD is well aware that such a feature can be quite intrusive for users who are flicking through its library of the best Max movies and best Max shows. To combat this, the entertainment behemoth will allow customers to toggle this feature on or off in the settings and playback menu. So, if you don't want the automated video to play while hovering over a specific film or program, you can switch it off and never have to think about it again.Max's new AI tool will help to identify must-see video preview moments from its most popular shows, including The Last of Us (Image credit: Liane Hentscher/HBO)Perhaps unsurprisingly, Max will soon support artificial intelligence (AI) as part of its user experience, too.According to WBD, an in-house AI-assisted tool will also launch on the platform in the weeks ahead. It'll be used to "identify and suggest 'Drop-In Moments', aka recognizable scenes from specific movies and shows. This will be used as part of each production's cyclical video previews, with the AI tool highlighting – to the Max team – which previews most enticed viewers to click on a movie or TV series. These recommended sequences will be used more often on the homepage to further lure in more users looking for something new to stream.What do you think of Max's forthcoming homepage redesign? Will it convince you to cancel your Netflix account and sign up to WBD's super streamer instead, which will be renamed HBO Max sometime in the next few months? Let me know in the comments.You might also likeHere are all of the new Max movies that joined the service in June 2025Paging medical drama fans: HBO Max is officially making The Pitt season 2, and my blood pressure has gone into orbit'I think I have a way in': James Gunn gives exciting update on the DCU's Batman movie, but I want clarity about The Dark Knight's next film as well

Earlier this year, the 12-foot tall, 560-pound Twitter logo that used to sit atop the company's San Francisco headquarters was auctioned off for $34,000. Now, we know who bought it and what became of the sign: it was blown up in the Nevada desert as part of an elaborate stunt to promote an online marketplace app.

In some ways, "Larry," as the blue Twitter bird was known to former employees, met an end that mirrors the death of the social media platform it once represented: an explosive, expensive spectacle that leaves you wondering what, exactly, was the point of it all.

For Ditchit, a startup hoping to compete with services like Facebook Marketplace and OfferUp, the chance to own — and then blow up — a piece of social media history was a unique opportunity. In the video posted to YouTube, Ditchit attempts to draw some parallels between Elon Musk's takeover of Twitter and its own startup ambitions.

"Elon Musk rebranded Twitter to X to support free expression," the video says. "We're doing the same for local marketplaces." The connection seems tenuous at best, but James Deluca, who oversees Ditchit's PR efforts, says the company's mainstream competitors like OfferUp are "prioritizing profits over the user experience," pointing to high seller fees and other policies that prioritize listings from businesses rather than the "average person who wants to sell in their garage."

Deluca claims the decision to actually blow up the enormous Twitter sign "emerged organically" sometime after Ditchit placed the winning bid. "The initial thought of purchasing the sign was driven by nostalgia," he told Engadget. "Everyone in the office is a tech enthusiast, and we thought it would be cool to own a piece of history."

But any sentimental attachment the company's employees had apparently didn't last long. After paying to move the 12-foot sign from San Francisco to Ditchit's office in Orange County, California, it moved the sign another 250 miles to the desert outside of Las Vegas, Nevada. The company arranged for the controlled explosion to happen at an outdoor "adventure park" that allows visitors to shoot machine guns and drive monster trucks.

Deluca didn't disclose how much the startup spent on the stunt, but said it was "a considerable investment" for the company that launched its app less than a year ago. As part of the effort, Ditchit also rented four Tesla Cybertrucks and hired a 15-person production team to capture the moment from all possible angles. The explosion itself was engineered by a pyrotechnics expert who typically works on film sets. "We wanted to really make a statement and make the scene as dramatic as possible," Deluca said.

Somehow, the explosion isn't quite the end of Larry's story, though. Ditchit says it's selling fragments of the sign it retrieved after the explosion and will list them on its app in a sealed-bid auction beginning today. Proceeds from the sale will be donated to the Center for American Entrepreneurship, a nonprofit that advocates for startups and lists Meta, Amazon and Google as members of its corporate advisory council.This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/social-media/the-560-pound-twitter-sign-met-a-fiery-end-in-a-nevada-desert-140032860.html?src=rss

Looking for a different day?A new NYT Strands puzzle appears at midnight each day for your time zone – which means that some people are always playing 'today's game' while others are playing 'yesterday's'. If you're looking for Tuesday's puzzle instead then click here: NYT Strands hints and answers for Tuesday, June 17 (game #471).Strands is the NYT's latest word game after the likes of Wordle, Spelling Bee and Connections – and it's great fun. It can be difficult, though, so read on for my Strands hints.Want more word-based fun? Then check out my NYT Connections today and Quordle today pages for hints and answers for those games, and Marc's Wordle today page for the original viral word game.SPOILER WARNING: Information about NYT Strands today is below, so don't read on if you don't want to know the answers.NYT Strands today (game #472) - hint #1 - today's themeWhat is the theme of today's NYT Strands?• Today's NYT Strands theme is… Down timeNYT Strands today (game #472) - hint #2 - clue wordsPlay any of these words to unlock the in-game hints system.CHOWBOWLHOWLELBOWLOOMGLOOMNYT Strands today (game #472) - hint #3 - spangram lettersHow many letters are in today's spangram?• Spangram has 7 lettersNYT Strands today (game #472) - hint #4 - spangram positionWhat are two sides of the board that today's spangram touches?First side: left, 5th rowLast side: right, 5th rowRight, the answers are below, so DO NOT SCROLL ANY FURTHER IF YOU DON'T WANT TO SEE THEM.NYT Strands today (game #472) - the answers(Image credit: New York Times)The answers to today's Strands, game #472, are…BLUEGLOOMYTEARYDOLEFULWOEBEGONEMELANCHOLYSPANGRAM: SADNESSMy rating: ModerateMy score: 2 hintsHi all, it's Marc here, back for a few days while Johnny takes a well-earned break.Everyone experiences a bit of SADNESS from time to time, and in my case it really hit me during the Covid pandemic in 2020. I suspect I'm far from alone in that respect, and went through most of the emotions in today's Strands, from BLUE to GLOOMY to MELANCHOLY. That didn't make it any easier to solve the puzzle, admittedly; this was a tricky one from start to finish. I needed a hint to get the first one, BLUE, then together with the theme clue of 'Down time' was able to establish what the concept was. SADNESS, the spangram, was an easy spot but after that I had to work for every word, and needed another hint for the impossibly complicated WOEBEGONE.How did you do today? Let me know in the comments below.Yesterday's NYT Strands answers (Tuesday, June 17, game #471)FINAGLEFINESSECONTRIVEENGINEERNEGOTIATESPANGRAM: FIGURE OUTWhat is NYT Strands?Strands is the NYT's not-so-new-any-more word game, following Wordle and Connections. It's now a fully fledged member of the NYT's games stable that has been running for a year and which can be played on the NYT Games site on desktop or mobile.I've got a full guide to how to play NYT Strands, complete with tips for solving it, so check that out if you're struggling to beat it each day.

Looking for a different day?A new NYT Connections puzzle appears at midnight each day for your time zone – which means that some people are always playing 'today's game' while others are playing 'yesterday's'. If you're looking for Tuesday's puzzle instead then click here: NYT Connections hints and answers for Tuesday, June 17 (game #737).Good morning! Let's play Connections, the NYT's clever word game that challenges you to group answers in various categories. It can be tough, so read on if you need Connections hints.What should you do once you've finished? Why, play some more word games of course. I've also got daily Strands hints and answers and Quordle hints and answers articles if you need help for those too, while Marc's Wordle today page covers the original viral word game.SPOILER WARNING: Information about NYT Connections today is below, so don't read on if you don't want to know the answers.NYT Connections today (game #738) - today's words(Image credit: New York Times)Today's NYT Connections words are…SMACKBARMPEAWETRANKLEASTRONAUTGRAYWHALECOLDCOFFEERIGHTSHIPEXACTLYWINDYLEARDEADNYT Connections today (game #738) - hint #1 - group hintsWhat are some clues for today's NYT Connections groups?YELLOW: Got an umbrella?GREEN: Completely trueBLUE: Found within or formed from a specific wordPURPLE: 'Slip' could be anotherNeed more clues?We're firmly in spoiler territory now, but read on if you want to know what the four theme answers are for today's NYT Connections puzzles…NYT Connections today (game #738) - hint #2 - group answersWhat are the answers for today's NYT Connections groups?YELLOW: QUALITIES OF A RAINY DAYGREEN: SQUARELYBLUE: CONTENTS OF A PODPURPLE: BODY PART PLUS A STARTING LETTERRight, the answers are below, so DO NOT SCROLL ANY FURTHER IF YOU DON'T WANT TO SEE THEM.NYT Connections today (game #738) - the answers(Image credit: New York Times)The answers to today's Connections, game #738, are…YELLOW: QUALITIES OF A RAINY DAY COLD, GRAY, WET, WINDYGREEN: SQUARELY DEAD, EXACTLY, RIGHT, SMACKBLUE: CONTENTS OF A POD ASTRONAUT, COFFEE, PEA, WHALEPURPLE: BODY PART PLUS A STARTING LETTER BARM, LEAR, RANKLE, SHIPMy rating: ModerateMy score: PerfectHi all, it's Marc on Connections duty today, back for a few days while Johnny goes on a well-earned vacation.I stared at the board for at least five minutes before finding anything today; there was simply nothing that appeared to go together. Well, that's not entirely true – there were several options that had two or three words, for instance WINDY, WET and COLD for 'weather types' or EXACTLY and RIGHT for 'Correct'.Eventually, I tried to let my mind think a little more freely, and placed DEAD and SMACK with EXACTLY and RIGHT in order to make a group that ended up being SQUARELY.With green done, I looked again and tried to think in a devious NYT way. SHIP contained the word 'hip' within in and BARM the word 'arm', so that seemed plausible. A few seconds later I'd added RANKLE ('ankle') and LEAR ('ear') and was delighted when that turned purple.That only left two groups, including the supposedly easiest yellow. I returned to that weather group, all three of which were still left on the board, and this time added GRAY to make my final group. Blue, which was unsolved by me, ended up being CONTENTS OF A POD, which I'm not sure I would ever have got.How did you do today? Let me know in the comments below.Yesterday's NYT Connections answers (Tuesday, June 17, game #737)YELLOW: THINGS TO BOOK FOR A VACATION CAR, FLIGHT, HOTEL, TOURGREEN: METTLE FIGHT, GRIT, RESOLVE, SPIRITBLUE: BAD THINGS FOR A WEBSITE TO DO FREEZE, GLITCH, QUIT, TIMEOUTPURPLE: FIGURES IN CLASSIC DISNEY ANIMATED FILMS ELEPHANT, FAWN, MARIONETTE, MOUSEWhat is NYT Connections?NYT Connections is one of several increasingly popular word games made by the New York Times. It challenges you to find groups of four items that share something in common, and each group has a different difficulty level: green is easy, yellow a little harder, blue often quite tough and purple usually very difficult.On the plus side, you don't technically need to solve the final one, as you'll be able to answer that one by a process of elimination. What's more, you can make up to four mistakes, which gives you a little bit of breathing room.It's a little more involved than something like Wordle, however, and there are plenty of opportunities for the game to trip you up with tricks. For instance, watch out for homophones and other word games that could disguise the answers.It's playable for free via the NYT Games site on desktop or mobile.

Looking for a different day?A new Quordle puzzle appears at midnight each day for your time zone – which means that some people are always playing 'today's game' while others are playing 'yesterday's'. If you're looking for Tuesday's puzzle instead then click here: Quordle hints and answers for Tuesday, June 17 (game #1240).Quordle was one of the original Wordle alternatives and is still going strong now more than 1,100 games later. It offers a genuine challenge, though, so read on if you need some Quordle hints today – or scroll down further for the answers.Enjoy playing word games? You can also check out my NYT Connections today and NYT Strands today pages for hints and answers for those puzzles, while Marc's Wordle today column covers the original viral word game.SPOILER WARNING: Information about Quordle today is below, so don't read on if you don't want to know the answers.Quordle today (game #1241) - hint #1 - VowelsHow many different vowels are in Quordle today?• The number of different vowels in Quordle today is 5*.* Note that by vowel we mean the five standard vowels (A, E, I, O, U), not Y (which is sometimes counted as a vowel too). Quordle today (game #1241) - hint #2 - repeated lettersDo any of today's Quordle answers contain repeated letters?• The number of Quordle answers containing a repeated letter today is 1.Quordle today (game #1241) - hint #3 - uncommon lettersDo the letters Q, Z, X or J appear in Quordle today?• No. None of Q, Z, X or J appears among today's Quordle answers.Quordle today (game #1241) - hint #4 - starting letters (1)Do any of today's Quordle puzzles start with the same letter?• The number of today's Quordle answers starting with the same letter is 2.If you just want to know the answers at this stage, simply scroll down. If you're not ready yet then here's one more clue to make things a lot easier:Quordle today (game #1241) - hint #5 - starting letters (2)What letters do today's Quordle answers start with?• M• S• G• MRight, the answers are below, so DO NOT SCROLL ANY FURTHER IF YOU DON'T WANT TO SEE THEM.Quordle today (game #1241) - the answers(Image credit: Merriam-Webster)The answers to today's Quordle, game #1241, are…MEDIASHARKGUPPYMOURNHi all, it's Marc here, back for a few days while Johnny takes a well-earned break.The three-start-word method rarely lets me down in Quordle, and I've long played STARE, DOILY and PUNCH in the main classic game. Today it worked brilliantly, giving me four letters for MEDIA, SHARK and MOURN, all of which I ticked off quickly.GUPPY needed a little more thought, but by the time I got to it there were seemingly no other options.How did you do today? Let me know in the comments below.Daily Sequence today (game #1241) - the answers(Image credit: Merriam-Webster)The answers to today's Quordle Daily Sequence, game #1241, are…LARGEDROOPPARERJAUNTQuordle answers: The past 20Quordle #1240, Tuesday, 17 June: LEAPT, PRISM, ADMIN, WHINEQuordle #1239, Monday, 16 June: RETRY, SCALD, DINGO, FEIGNQuordle #1238, Sunday, 15 June: SHOCK, STEIN, BROIL, COVENQuordle #1237, Saturday, 14 June: STICK, FERRY, THESE, IONICQuordle #1236, Friday, 13 June: REPEL, LARGE, SNIDE, CARRYQuordle #1235, Thursday, 12 June: SCANT, BATCH, UNDER, PARSEQuordle #1234, Wednesday, 11 June: CRAVE, ROOST, ANGLE, FLOODQuordle #1233, Tuesday, 10 June: DECRY, CHEEK, FILET, EASELQuordle #1232, Monday, 9 June: DERBY, LEMON, WRITE, HOVELQuordle #1231, Sunday, 8 June: REBAR, ALERT, PAYEE, FLUMEQuordle #1230, Saturday, 7 June: FLUNK, ESTER, SPITE, CHEAPQuordle #1229, Friday, 6 June: ELUDE, KHAKI, VISTA, SMOKYQuordle #1228, Thursday, 5 June: CHIDE, RABBI, GUSTY, LANCEQuordle #1227, Wednesday, 4 June: BANAL, STOUT, SEDAN, HIPPOQuordle #1226, Tuesday, 3 June: FUGUE, SYRUP, FLACK, WORSTQuordle #1225, Monday, 2 June: THINK, BELLE, CRONE, BOULEQuordle #1224, Sunday, 1 June: POINT, MERIT, WHOOP, APHIDQuordle #1223, Saturday, 31 May: CRUMB, ELFIN, DRIER, QUITEQuordle #1222, Friday, 30 May: RAJAH, CAUSE, BLACK, ETUDEQuordle #1221, Thursday, 29 May: CRIER, DRAPE, STRUT, NEIGH

You’d assume that the latest game from the studio that made Little Nightmares 2 is going to be a bit spooky and dark, and Section 9’s End of Abyss is that. However, it's also a little easier to describe and explain: an atmospheric sci-fi shooter with Metroidvania-style exploration.

While there's no shortage of Metroidvanias to draw inspiration from, when I played a demo at SGF 2025, all I could think of was Alien. It might be the scanner, which the protagonist can use to glean information, spot hidden items and tag room details for further exploration once you’ve got new skills or weapons. Mattias Ottvall, co-creator of the game, praised my tendency to scan everything, which netted me several secret item caches during my demo playthrough.

You’ll have to tag between the scanner and your gun pretty often, too, as biped monsters, spidery little parasites and beefier foes swing their literal heads at you. Fortunately, End of Abyss’ isometric layout is paired with the ability to move and shoot with each analog stick. If things get a little too dicey, your character also has a very forgiving dive roll.

After some early teething issues (scanning an alien zombie instead of shooting it down), the control setup eventually became second nature, and I was tumbling out of the way of an alien golem boss, firing shotgun rounds into its flank. The shotgun, unfortunately, has finite ammo (which you can both craft and find in the world), so I resorted to chipping away with my pistol at a distance.

The brief demo (and teaser trailer) suggest a dark and shady atmosphere similar to the studio’s previous games. Naturally, there’s the occasional scare as you explore this rundown facility.

If you do get overwhelmed, the character gets respawned back into the world — as do the monsters — but any doors unlocked and skills gained are saved. Even better, with a game that centers on exploration, when you come across something that you can’t yet interact with (for example, a weakened wall that could be demolished or a security door that requires a key), scanning it in-game will ‘tag’ the feature on the menu map, making it easier to circle back once you have what you need to progress. During the demo, I unlocked explosives for tackling the weakened walls that were tagged, but I also spotted grapple hook fixtures, presumably for a later point in the game.

The tagging is a nice touch for anyone who struggles to keep track of their path in sprawling Metroidvania games, although this is contingent on how expansive Into the Abyss turns out to be. The original Little Nightmares turned out to be a short, but sweet escape – how deep will the abyss go?

Into the Abyss is coming to PS5, Xbox Series X|S and PC.This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/gaming/end-of-abyss-is-when-metroidvania-meets-space-horror-140049187.html?src=rss

Enough is never enough. Chevrolet has only just released the Corvette ZR1, which at 1,064 horsepower is the fastest, quickest and most outrageous production car ever to wear a bowtie on the hood.

It can keep the neckwear, but its performance crown has already found a new home. Meet the new ZR1X, an even higher-performance Corvette that will take America's sports car to new heights. It has 1,250HP, all-wheel drive and accelerates to 60MPH in less than two seconds.

Oh, and yes, it's a hybrid. I got an early look at the thing at a private debut recently, and here's everything you need to know about America's new hypercar.

E-Ray Maximus

Tim Stevens for Engadget

The ZR1X joins an increasingly busy lineup of Corvette models that ensures buyers with budgets ranging from generous to extreme all have something to covet. The Stingray is still the base model, with a starting price of just over $70,000 and 490HP.

From a financial standpoint, next up is the Corvette E-Ray, the hybrid model introduced in 2023. It adds a 160HP electric motor to the proceedings, resulting in a total output of 655HP. The E-Ray is positioned as something of a grand tourer: really fast but with a somewhat relaxed attitude. That also starts at a little over $100,000.

From there, you can step up to the higher-performance, more track-focused Z06 model, which, unsurprisingly, is also higher priced. It has a much racier 5.5-liter V8 engine making 670HP and a spendier starting price of just over $110,000.

Those were recently joined by the new ZR1, which adds turbochargers plus numerous engine updates to deliver that whopping 1,064HP and a wild 233MPH top speed. Its asking price is also wild, starting at around $175,000. That already makes it the most expensive Corvette ever, but things are about to get more extreme.

The ZR1X is something of a melding of the ZR1 and the hybrid E-Ray. It borrows the electrical layout from the E-Ray and mounts it inside a ZR1, including that car's turbocharged V8 and wild aerodynamic appendages. Layer on some tasty upgrades to both the electric drive system and other aspects of the car, and you have the new 1,250HP ZR1X.

Extra upgrades

Tim Stevens for Engadget

Combining the ZR1 and E-Ray gets you a good way towards creating the ZR1X, but there is a lot more to it than that. The ZR1X uses a battery pack with a revised internal construction, resulting in a capacity increase of 26 percent. But keep in mind this isn't a plug-in hybrid. You're still talking about something with a battery capacity of less than three kWh. You won't be driving in your ZR1X emissions-free.

The hybrid system is there for more performance, and to that end, the car has a few new drive modes to help optimize the delivery of energy from that new pack. First is Endurance Mode, where the ZR1X will provide full power to the front motor but not tax the battery so much that you have to worry about running out of charge mid-session.

Then there's Qualifying Mode. Select this, and the ZR1X will dump all the energy it can through the front motor to give you the outright maximum single-lap pace. There's also a "Push to Pass" button, providing a brief period of maximum acceleration for those times when you absolutely need to get past that lollygagger ahead who's costing you precious seconds on your commute.

All that extra speed necessitated some upgrades in the stopping department. The ZR1X wears a set of massive carbon brakes from Alcon, the company that makes these parts for some of Chevrolet's racing machines. The 16.5-inch discs at the front equate to 1.9G of braking force. Installing a race harness might be a good idea so that you don't go flying out of the chair the first time you hit that left pedal.

Despite the extra power at the front axle from that electric motor, the ZR1X rolls on the same size tires as the less-powerful, rear-driven ZR1. "We were tempted to go wider," the Corvette's chief engineer Josh Holder told me. "That's a delicate balance between unsprung mass and driving dynamics off-power, and we believe we've made the right choice."

Holder said it came down to working with Michelin on tire development plus some tweaks to the car's traction management software. "That's one of the things that we had to tune very carefully, given the power output now in ZR1X, just to make sure that we're not spinning up the front axle when you're at a high lateral load," he said.

Familiar dynamics

Tim Stevens for Engadget

Keith Badgley, development engineer on the ZR1X, said that, despite the extra power and everything else, the ZR1X will still have the same accessible performance feel that defines the Corvette line: "We designed this to be as composed as the Stingray with but with two and a half times the power. We wanted ultimate traction, maximum acceleration."

"I would say it doesn't drive differently, in terms of being able to claw out over the corner, being able to balance the car with power delivery from the front axle," Holder said. "You can do things in the E-Ray and the ZR1X that, if you did in the rear-drive car, would not work out so well for you... But that balance and dynamics, they behave similarly to the ZR1X has more capability."

But what it probably won't offer is the same level of attainability that the Corvette has historically been known for. Chevrolet isn't saying how much the ZR1X will cost when it goes on sale later this year. But it surely won't be cheap.

Again, the ZR1 starts at about $175,000. The E-Ray carries a price that's roughly $30,000 over the base Stingray. If we apply the same premium here, we're in the ballpark of $200,000. Add on the other upgrades, like the fancy Alcon brakes and better battery pack, and it's easy to assume that this thing will be priced within reach of some European exotics.

Will it be worth it? We'll have to wait and see until we get a go behind the wheel, but Chevrolet has already been testing the thing extensively around the Nurburgring, covering over 600 miles at the greatest vehicular performance playground on the planet. Hopefully, it does just as well on the streets and circuits closer to home.This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/transportation/meet-the-corvette-zr1x-americas-1250-horsepower-hybrid-hypercar-140018897.html?src=rss

After 15+ years in AI and telecom, launching startups, building platforms and advising businesses of all sizes, I’ve seen one constant: missed calls cost money. For small and medium-sized businesses (SMBs), every unanswered call represents lost revenue, wasted marketing spend, and a missed chance to deliver great service.AI voice agents are now solving that problem at scale. These agents don’t just answer phones, they engage customers conversationally, route inquiries intelligently, and ensure no opportunity slips through the cracks. What used to require large call centers can now be handled by cloud-based voice AI with minimal setup.We surveyed SMB owners and managers nationwide. The impact was clear: 97% of businesses using AI voice agents saw revenue growth, and 82% saw improved customer engagement. But here’s the surprising part: only 22% have adopted the technology. Nearly one-third of SMBs plan to invest in AI voice agents within the next 12 to 24 months - a clear sign that momentum is building even as hesitation remains.The AI gapSo, what's holding others back? From what I’ve seen, it’s rarely a lack of interest. It’s inertia, often fueled by outdated assumptions. Some business owners worry their customers won’t engage with AI, others believe the technology is too expensive or too complicated to implement. But the data tells a different story.Businesses that have embraced AI voice agents aren’t just overcoming these concerns, they’re gaining a competitive edge. Nearly half of adopters already self-identify as “industry leaders”, and that’s no coincidence. Many have fully integrated voice AI into daily workflows, particularly in customer support and sales, where responsiveness is critical. By contrast, only a small percentage of businesses that see themselves as just “competitive” have taken similar steps, highlighting a growing gap between early adopters and those still on the sidelines.That gap doesn’t exist by accident. It reflects a deeper issue: confidence. Many business owners say they’re keeping up with tech trends, but few are acting on it. In fact, 60% admit they don’t feel confident implementing or integrating new technology. Yet those who have adopted AI voice agents are seeing measurable impact - particularly in high-volume, low-complexity areas like inbound sales and FAQs. The takeaway? Adoption doesn’t need to be all-or-nothing. Starting with a focused use case can unlock immediate value and build momentum.Solutions that are fast and flexibleBeyond customer-facing results, voice AI reduces strain on internal teams. Instead of chasing down missed calls or manually responding to basic inquiries, staff can focus on higher-impact work. For small teams juggling multiple roles, offloading routine communication isn’t just efficient, it’s a morale booster. The time savings alone can meaningfully shift how resources are allocated and how teams perform.Unlike large enterprises, where AI deployments often require dedicated teams and long lead times, SMBs need solutions that are fast, flexible, and easy to implement. The most effective voice AI platforms are built with this reality in mind, combining enterprise-grade performance with cloud-based delivery, simple integrations, and pricing models designed to scale with smaller operations.As real-time responsiveness becomes the standard, these solutions not only help businesses meet rising customer expectations, they also unlock deeper operational insights. With built-in analytics and voice data intelligence, they turn everyday interactions into opportunities for smarter decisions and better service.SolutionsThe hesitation to adopt AI often comes down to what I call the three C’s: customer resistance, cost, and complexity. But let’s look closer:- Customer resistance: Half of SMBs aren’t using or even considering AI voice agents, but among those who are, the vast majority say they have felt the impact of missed calls in the past. These business owners aren’t just guessing. They’ve seen opportunities slip away when no one picks up the phone. And it turns out, most customers don’t mind speaking to an AI voice agent if it solves their issues quickly and sounds and feels natural.- Cost: Many businesses assume AI technology is expensive and out of their reach. But missed revenue adds up fast. Most SMBs estimate they lose $500 or more a month from missed calls, but considering call volumes, the actual figure is likely much higher. And like most technologies, AI voice agents are becoming more affordable and scalable.- Complexity: This was once a fair concern, but today’s AI voice agents are built for non-technical users. They require minimal setup, are easy to use and simple to maintain.Here’s what I usually tell people who are unsure about taking the first step:- You’re not replacing people. AI voice agents are there to support your team, especially after hours or during high call volume. They help absorb routine inquiries so your staff can focus on more strategic tasks.- Start with one clear use case. Whether it’s scheduling appointments, answering common questions, or covering evenings and weekends, choose one area to improve and start there. You don’t need to commit to a full transformation.- Let the data guide you. Voice agents can reveal how many calls you’re missing, what customers are asking, and when they’re most active. This visibility helps shape better decisions.AI Voice Agents are practical toolsAt the end of the day, it’s about time and attention – two things every business is short on. If your team is spending both just trying to stay on top of missed calls, you’re already losing ground. Especially in today’s uncertain economy, it’s critical to invest in solutions that deliver results fast. That means technology that’s easy to implement, runs independently and proves its value quickly.AI voice agents aren’t distant concepts, they’re practical tools solving real, everyday challenges. The businesses using them are more responsive, more efficient and often more profitable. If your goal is to lead, not just keep up, this is one upgrade that delivers immediate impact. And in today’s landscape, hesitation doesn’t just cost time. It costs growth.We've featured the best AI chatbot for business.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