Technology

Don't miss the latest on Netflix, Hulu and other platforms. Here's what you should binge this weekend.

Lucy's hacking fighting style fits well within the Guilty Gear universe.

• Raspberry Pi shrinks the size of its touchscreen while keeping the same resolution
• It's cheaper and smaller, but it does not introduce new capabilities
• Retailers are already listing the new screen at higher prices

Raspberry Pi has announced a new addition to its display range, a 5-inch version of the Touch Display 2.

The company saysits new offering is a compact, low-cost option for hobbyists and developers who want to embed touch interfaces into projects.

At $40, it undercuts the 7-inch Raspberry Pi model which launched in 2024, although both share the same 720x1280 resolution.

A smaller screen for Pi projects

Apart from its reduced size, the 5-inch variant carries essentially the same specifications as the larger display.

It supports multi-touch input, connects via the DSI port, and draws power directly from the Raspberry Pi board.

Integration with Raspberry Pi OS is designed to be smooth, with no calibration steps or third-party drivers needed.

"Its capacitive touch screen works out of the box with full Linux driver support, no manual calibration required, no hunting through device trees, and no wrestling with incompatible touch controllers," said Gordon Hollingworth, CTO of Raspberry Pi software.

For users already accustomed to working with RPi distros, the device should feel straightforward to set up.

To illustrate the display’s capabilities, Raspberry Pi’s Gordon Hollingworth demonstrated a slideshow application built with the assistance of AI.

The process highlighted how AI can speed up development and provide a foundation for interactive coding, with multi-touch support ultimately working smoothly after fine-tuning.

The screen is being presented as a good fit for compact smart home controls, portable kiosks, or integrated dashboards.

In theory, mounting a Pi board on the back of the display offers an all-in-one system without external peripherals.

For casual projects, this could reduce clutter compared to juggling keyboards, monitors, and portable HDD storage devices.

Yet the hardware itself does not represent a leap forward, as resolution remains fixed at 720p, and touch responsiveness still depends heavily on software layers that may introduce quirks.

As with many Raspberry Pi peripherals, the new display will find an audience among tinkerers eager to explore interactive projects.

However, it is worth noting that the announcement reflects refinement rather than revolution, as the product is cheaper and smaller, but it does not introduce new capabilities.

For those already invested in the Raspberry Pi ecosystem, it may be another piece of the puzzle - but for others, it risks being just another component destined to sit in a drawer after the initial excitement fades.

This device is now available from several Pi retailers. PiShop and CanaKit list it at $50.95, while Vilros is selling it for the MSRP.

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A robot vacuum with an arm that picks up your socks may cost thousands now, but its maker Roborock is working on a mass-market version that will cost just hundreds.

• GPD Win 5 is an unusual gaming handheld and ultra mobile workstation hybrid
• It's powered by AMD's Ryzen AI Max+ 395 APU with 16 cores and Radeon 8060S
• Compact 565g device includes 7-inch 120Hz touchscreen and dual-fan cooling system

GPD has unveiled the Win 5, a handheld PC that straddles the line between portable gaming console and mobile workstation.

With its compact form factor, the device is powered by AMD’s powerful Ryzen AI Max+ 395 APU (Strix Halo), a processor that so far has mostly appeared in mini PCs and only a handful of laptops, including HP’s ZBook Ultra 14 G1a, Asus’s ROG Flow Z13 and Emdoor’s EM-959-NM16ASH-1.

While the Win 5 looks good and packs a lot of power, its expected price tag - around $2000 - will put it firmly in enthusiast territory.

Dual-fan cooling

The Ryzen AI Max+ 395 is built on TSMC’s 4nm process and features 16 Zen 5 CPU cores and 32 threads, clocking up to 5.1GHz. There’s a Radeon 8060S GPU with 40 compute units running at 2.9GHz.

The chip also offers AI acceleration, with 16 TOPS from its NPU and 38 TOPS combined with CPU performance.

To keep that hardware under control, the Win 5 uses a dual-fan cooling system, which delivers consistent thermal management even under heavy loads, which would otherwise be a concern for a device this small.

The handheld supports up to 128GB of LPDDR5X RAM at 8000MHz and NVMe PCIe 4.0 SSD storage options ranging from 1TB to 4TB.

Storage can be swapped from the rear panel, and microSD plus mini SSD expansion slots are included.

The display is a 7-inch H-IPS touchscreen at 1920x1080 resolution with a 120Hz refresh rate and FreeSync Premium support.

Wireless connectivity includes WiFi 6E and Bluetooth 5.3. Ports include two USB-C (one at USB 3.2 speeds and another at USB 4 with support for external GPUs), a 3.5mm audio jack, and card slots.

Despite its undoubted power, the device weighs just 565 grams and measures 267 x 111mm, making it smaller than a Steam Deck.

The 80Wh battery supports fast charging up to 180W.

The Win 5 looks like a standard handheld games system, with dual analog sticks, a D-Pad, triggers, and action buttons, but includes extras like a fingerprint reader.

GPD Win 5 mobile workstation PC will be available to buy globally from October 17 2025.

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Luis Enrique's men continue the defense of their title as they host Les Scoïstes.

You've no doubt heard of supermoons, blue moons, mini moons and blood moons, but have you ever heard of a black moon?

It's a blockbuster opening to the 2025-26 season at the Allianz Arena.

• Max, a Russia-developed messaging app, must be pre-installed on every new device from September 1
• The domestic RuStore app store is also to be forced onto Apple devices, after already being mandatory on Android
• Authorities are reportedly considering blocking WhatsApp, today's most popular messaging app in Russia

A Russia-developed messaging app must be pre-installed on every new smartphone and tablet sold in Russia starting from September 1, 2025 – the government confirmed on Thursday, August 21.

So-called Max, the WhatsApp rival, is also integrated with government services and has already reached 18 million registered users, according to Interfax.

Privacy experts have been raising the alarm, arguing that Max could spy on its users. Something that the Kremlin strongly denies, arguing that "it has fewer permissions to access user data than rivals WhatsApp and Telegram," Reuters reported.

As per the government announcement, on September 1, the domestic RuStore app store will also become mandatory on all Apple devices, having been forced only on Android gadgets so far.

Can people in Russia still use WhatsApp?

(Image credit: Shutterstock / Tada Images )

WhatsApp is currently the most popular messaging service across Russia, and the only Meta-owned app not blocked in the country.

This could soon change, however, as authorities have recently confirmed their intention to ban WhatsApp in Russia.

Talking to Reuters on Friday, July 18, Deputy Head of the Russian parliament's Information Technology Committee, Anton Gorelkin, said that "it's time for WhatsApp to prepare to leave the Russian market," while reminding that Meta has been designated as an extremist organization in Russia.

Two more government sources have then confirmed to Meduza, a Russian Independent media outlet, that "there’s a 99-percent chance" the WhatsApp block will happen.

Fast-forward to August 13, Interfax confirmed that authorities partially restrict calls on both Telegram and WhatsApp, allegedly as a measure to combat criminal and terrorist activities.

The looming WhatsApp ban comes as the Kremlin also recently passed a law to punish online searches for so-called 'extremist' content, while adding new penalties to those using VPN services.

This means that using one of the best VPN services to bypass a potential ban on WhatsApp, or any other app for that matter, has suddenly become ever more challenging.

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• Max, a Russia-developed messaging app, must be pre-installed on every new device from September 1
• The domestic RuStore app store is also to be forced onto Apple devices, after already being mandatory on Android
• Authorities are reportedly considering blocking WhatsApp, today's most popular messaging app in Russia

A Russia-developed messaging app must be pre-installed on every new smartphone and tablet sold in Russia starting from September 1, 2025 – the government confirmed on Thursday, August 21.

So-called Max, the WhatsApp rival, is also integrated with government services and has already reached 18 million registered users, according to Interfax.

Privacy experts have been raising the alarm, arguing that Max could spy on its users. Something that the Kremlin strongly denies, arguing that "it has fewer permissions to access user data than rivals WhatsApp and Telegram," Reuters reported.

As per the government announcement, on September 1, the domestic RuStore app store will also become mandatory on all Apple devices, having been forced only on Android gadgets so far.

Can people in Russia still use WhatsApp?

(Image credit: Shutterstock / Tada Images )

WhatsApp is currently the most popular messaging service across Russia, and the only Meta-owned app not blocked in the country.

This could soon change, however, as authorities have recently confirmed their intention to ban WhatsApp in Russia.

Talking to Reuters on Friday, July 18, Deputy Head of the Russian parliament's Information Technology Committee, Anton Gorelkin, said that "it's time for WhatsApp to prepare to leave the Russian market," while reminding that Meta has been designated as an extremist organization in Russia.

Two more government sources have then confirmed to Meduza, a Russian Independent media outlet, that "there’s a 99-percent chance" the WhatsApp block will happen.

Fast-forward to August 13, Interfax confirmed that authorities partially restrict calls on both Telegram and WhatsApp, allegedly as a measure to combat criminal and terrorist activities.

The looming WhatsApp ban comes as the Kremlin also recently passed a law to punish online searches for so-called 'extremist' content, while adding new penalties to those using VPN services.

This means that using one of the best VPN services to bypass a potential ban on WhatsApp, or any other app for that matter, has suddenly become ever more challenging.

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• One of Final Fantasy 14's most popular mods, Mare Synchronos, has shut down
• The plug-in's creator blamed a "legal enquiry"
• The game has since been review-bombed on Steam

Following a "legal enquiry", a popular third-party tool used for Final Fantasy 14 has shut down and now players are furious.

The tool, Mare Synchronos, was a plug-in that allowed users to sync and view other players' mods in-game, such as character customization, hair, clothing, and more, and had over 20,000 users.

Modding in Final Fantasy 14 has always been against the game's terms of service, though it is well-known in the community that it's best not to advertise the use of them if you want to avoid the ban hammer.

Unfortunately, it seems one of the most popular mods wasn't able to escape Square Enix's legal team.

The mod's creator announced the shutdown on their Discord (in a message that was posted to Reddit), saying, "See the sun set, the day is ending. With a heavy heart, I have to announce the end of Mare Synchronos as you know it. I've received a legal inquiry concerning the project. After reviewing my options with counsel, I'm winding down" (via GamesRadar).

The modder has explained that, effective immediately, registration to download the mod will be closed and bot services will be shut down, repositories for client, server, and api will be removed, and all Patreon/Ko-Fi memberships will be removed.

Since Mare was used by many players who mod the game, particularly those in the role-playing community, the announcement hasn't gone down well.

"Square Enix messing with their freaky fanbase is a bold strategy, let's see if it pays off," said one user in the Reddit thread.

"More reasons to never come back," another wrote. "People say mare was just for the ERPers, which sure lotsa people used it for that. But lemme say this... mare legit made it so I could get my character to actually present how I wanted him for my friends to see... warmer more diverse skin tones, hair editing, better hair colors, personally altering face bones and height etc and having that show up."

Mare's shut down has also resulted in Final Fantasy 14 being review-bombed on Steam. As of writing, the game is now sitting at "Mixed" reviews, with plenty of angry posts relating to the mod's takedown.

"I never messed with mods, but i had no issue with people using them because people really enjoyed their character creation mod options," one player said. "Square never had a problem with it before and now suddenly they rip this away from people. wont be coming back. if square wants to burn their game to the ground then let them."

"RIP Moon [Mare Synchronos], canceled my sub I've been paying for," said another. "Without Moon, it's not worth it for me personally."

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• One of Final Fantasy 14's most popular mods, Mare Synchronos, has shut down
• The plug-in's creator blamed a "legal enquiry"
• The game has since been review-bombed on Steam

Following a "legal enquiry", a popular third-party tool used for Final Fantasy 14 has shut down and now players are furious.

The tool, Mare Synchronos, was a plug-in that allowed users to sync and view other players' mods in-game, such as character customization, hair, clothing, and more, and had over 20,000 users.

Modding in Final Fantasy 14 has always been against the game's terms of service, though it is well-known in the community that it's best not to advertise the use of them if you want to avoid the ban hammer.

Unfortunately, it seems one of the most popular mods wasn't able to escape Square Enix's legal team.

The mod's creator announced the shutdown on their Discord (in a message that was posted to Reddit), saying, "See the sun set, the day is ending. With a heavy heart, I have to announce the end of Mare Synchronos as you know it. I've received a legal inquiry concerning the project. After reviewing my options with counsel, I'm winding down" (via GamesRadar).

The modder has explained that, effective immediately, registration to download the mod will be closed and bot services will be shut down, repositories for client, server, and api will be removed, and all Patreon/Ko-Fi memberships will be removed.

Since Mare was used by many players who mod the game, particularly those in the role-playing community, the announcement hasn't gone down well.

"Square Enix messing with their freaky fanbase is a bold strategy, let's see if it pays off," said one user in the Reddit thread.

"More reasons to never come back," another wrote. "People say mare was just for the ERPers, which sure lotsa people used it for that. But lemme say this... mare legit made it so I could get my character to actually present how I wanted him for my friends to see... warmer more diverse skin tones, hair editing, better hair colors, personally altering face bones and height etc and having that show up."

Mare's shut down has also resulted in Final Fantasy 14 being review-bombed on Steam. As of writing, the game is now sitting at "Mixed" reviews, with plenty of angry posts relating to the mod's takedown.

"I never messed with mods, but i had no issue with people using them because people really enjoyed their character creation mod options," one player said. "Square never had a problem with it before and now suddenly they rip this away from people. wont be coming back. if square wants to burn their game to the ground then let them."

"RIP Moon [Mare Synchronos], canceled my sub I've been paying for," said another. "Without Moon, it's not worth it for me personally."

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• Australian CommBank announced 45 workers would be replaced with AI
• However the decision has now been reversed after the AI failed to live up to humans
• Workers have received an apology from CommBank

Australia’s Commonwealth Bank has provided a useful example of how not to introduce AI tools after being forced into an embarassing clim-down.

The bank had recently announced 45 customer service workers would be cut and replaced with an AI-powered 'voice bot' in an effort to reduce call volumes and automate less complex replies - leaving a small number of employees to handle the remaining more complex enquiries.

As it turns out, these bots were not capable of handling the tasks that the workers could - and now, those cut employees will now be rehired.

The ‘backflip’

The bank claimed the ‘voice-bot’ led to a reduction in calls, but Australia's Finance Sector Union disputes this claim, noting, “Members told us this was an outright lie and did not reflect the reality of what was happening in Direct Banking. Call volumes were in fact increasing and CBA was scrambling to manage the situation by offering staff overtime and directing Team Leaders to answer calls."

The bank issued an apology to the staff who were affected by the proposed job cuts and reversed the decision. A spokesperson from the bank told TechRadar Pro that it's initial assessment 'did not adequately consider all relevant business considerations and this error meant the roles were not redundant.'

"We have apologised to the employees concerned and acknowledge we should have been more thorough in our assessment of the roles required. We are currently supporting affected employees and have provided them with choice regarding continuing in their current roles, pursuing redeployment within CBA or to proceed with leaving the organisation."

That being said, CommBank is not denouncing the tech entirely, having recently announced a partnership with OpenAI to develop scam and fraud detection solutions, as well as ‘deliver more personalized services’ for its customers.

For months, concerns about job losses at the hands of AI were dismissed, with companies assuring that only the most basic and mundane admin tasks would be handled by bots, leaving workers to focus on the more creative aspects of their roles.

Those in administrative positions who handle almost exclusively mundane tasks have warned that these models, although sometimes useful, cannot replace human experience and understanding.

It’s undeniable that AI is replacing workers, with hundreds of jobs at firms like IBM and Crowdstrike disappearing as humans have been made more dispensable thanks to the tech.

But, not all of these cost-cutting decisions are working out. In the UK, over half of all businesses who replaced workers with AI already regret their decision, and are not less likely to believe that AI will replace human workers.

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• Australian CommBank announced 45 workers would be replaced with AI
• However the decision has now been reversed after the AI failed to live up to humans
• Workers have received an apology from CommBank

Australia’s Commonwealth Bank has provided a useful example of how not to introduce AI tools after being forced into an embarassing clim-down.

The bank had recently announced 45 customer service workers would be cut and replaced with an AI-powered 'voice bot' in an effort to reduce call volumes and automate less complex replies - leaving a small number of employees to handle the remaining more complex enquiries.

As it turns out, these bots were not capable of handling the tasks that the workers could - and now, those cut employees will now be rehired.

The ‘backflip’

The bank claimed the ‘voice-bot’ led to a reduction in calls, but Australia's Finance Sector Union disputes this claim, noting, “Members told us this was an outright lie and did not reflect the reality of what was happening in Direct Banking. Call volumes were in fact increasing and CBA was scrambling to manage the situation by offering staff overtime and directing Team Leaders to answer calls."

The bank issued an apology to the staff who were affected by the proposed job cuts and reversed the decision. A spokesperson from the bank told TechRadar Pro that it's initial assessment 'did not adequately consider all relevant business considerations and this error meant the roles were not redundant.'

"We have apologised to the employees concerned and acknowledge we should have been more thorough in our assessment of the roles required. We are currently supporting affected employees and have provided them with choice regarding continuing in their current roles, pursuing redeployment within CBA or to proceed with leaving the organisation."

That being said, CommBank is not denouncing the tech entirely, having recently announced a partnership with OpenAI to develop scam and fraud detection solutions, as well as ‘deliver more personalized services’ for its customers.

For months, concerns about job losses at the hands of AI were dismissed, with companies assuring that only the most basic and mundane admin tasks would be handled by bots, leaving workers to focus on the more creative aspects of their roles.

Those in administrative positions who handle almost exclusively mundane tasks have warned that these models, although sometimes useful, cannot replace human experience and understanding.

It’s undeniable that AI is replacing workers, with hundreds of jobs at firms like IBM and Crowdstrike disappearing as humans have been made more dispensable thanks to the tech.

But, not all of these cost-cutting decisions are working out. In the UK, over half of all businesses who replaced workers with AI already regret their decision, and are not less likely to believe that AI will replace human workers.

You might also like

• Almost all GenAI pilots companies deploy are failing - so are they really worth the hype?
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• 70% of people are sick of talking to AI – where did all the humans go?

The Blues look to turn up the heat on Graham Potter's under-pressure Hammers.

It's been three and a half years since Peacemaker took the world by storm.

The Suicide Squad spin-off series, which saw John Cena reprise his role as the jingoistic anti-hero from that 2021 flick in the character's self-titled TV show, was a big hit. Armed with the usual trappings of a James Gunn project, the arrival of the season 1 finale in February 2022 broke the at-the-time record for the highest single day viewership of an HBO Max original episode. Not bad going for a show starring a C-list tier metahuman from DC Comics.

But Peacemaker's first season had a trick up its sleeve that supercharged its success weeks prior to the launch of its last episode: a dance number-inspired title sequence. The 80-second long intro, which saw its full cast amusingly perform a highly-polished, choreographed routine set to Wig Wam track 'Do You Wanna Taste It?', was surprising as it was delightful. Four billion views on TikTok later, and writer/director James Gunn, Cena, and company had an unexpected viral sensation on their hands.

With a second season – one set in the rebooted DC Universe (DCU) overseen by Gunn and fellow DC Studios co-CEO Peter Safran, rather than the now-defunct DC Extended Universe (DCEU) – greenlit not long after its forebear's finale, one question dominated fans' minds. Well, the one that has nothing to do with whether events from Peacemaker season 1 would be deemed canon in season 2 and the wider DCU, anyway: would the show's sophomore outing have its own similarly dance-infused intro?

The short answer is: yes. And, with the first episode of Peacemaker season 2, titled 'The Ties That Grind' out now, viewers can finally watch it in all of its glory.

What many fans won't realize and/or potentially underappreciate, though, is the amount of time, effort, and energy that went into this season's more intricate and more ambitious opener. And, after three gruelling years of putting said sequence together, Gunn and the show's ensemble are finally ready to reveal all.

'Julian, it's a hungry world...'

John Cena and company dance along to 'Oh Lord' by Foxy Shazam during this season's intro sequence (Image credit: HBO Max)

Last season's intro owed much to Gunn's uncanny knack – nay, superpower – to select the right track for any given scene or sequence in projects he writes, directs, and/or produces. A self-confessed music nerd, almost every one of Gunn's works, such as the Guardians of the Galaxy film trilogy he wrote and directed for Marvel, are full of catchy yet underrated songs who've become part of the cultural zeitgeist following their use in said productions.

The pressure to select the perfect ditty to set season 2's dance opener to, then, was certainly on. And, while Gunn tells me this season's song of choice – 'Oh Lord' by glam-rock outfit Foxy Shazam – was eventually settled on because its lyrics tie into the themes of season 2, it wasn't the only option he umm-ed and arr-ed about.

"I don't know if any other songs came close [to being chosen]," Gunn admits. "[But] there were a couple of others I considered. There was another Foxy Shazam track and I also thought about using 'Do You Wanna Taste It?' again. But, at the end of the day, I picked 'Oh Lord' because it was the best fit for this season's tone, much like 'Do You Wanna Taste It?' was the right fit for season 1."

"You think hearing the same song over and over for 10 hours straight would get old, but it never did for me," Steve Agee, who plays John Economos, reveals with a laugh. "I really like the song, and some of the guys from Foxy Shazam came over while we were shooting the actual thing, so it was a lot of fun."

Going again from the top

The show's cast spent weeks preparing to film this season's opening sequence (Image credit: HBO Max)

With its title track locked in, work soon began on the actual dance that the cast would need to perform on the day (or, as you'll learn later, days).

Just as he did for one of the best HBO Max shows' first season, Gunn teamed up with Charissa Barton to create a completely new, multi-tiered sequence. Workshopping it with her husband Alan Tudyk, who's voiced various characters in the first two DCU Chapter One projects Superman and Creature Commandos, Barton soon settled on the movements that this season's near-20-strong cast would need to master.

An incredible amount of effort was put into the opening dance sequence of #Peacemaker this season. They made everyone, even Frank Grillo, look great. pic.twitter.com/oAAdye7rTwAugust 22, 2025

"Charissa worked it out ahead of time before getting approval from James," Agee explains. "Then, she meets with us one-on-one, or in groups of two or three, because there are sections to the dance. So, we'd go in with her to rehearse it, she'd record it, and then send the file to you so you can practise at home."

"We had a lot of individual and group rehearsal," Frank Grillo, who reprises his role as Rick Flag Sr from Gunn's Superman movie and Creature Commandos season 1, adds. "We were given plenty of homework to do, and I'm glad I got to work on it at home because the idea of being on stage with so many people, and being in sync, was something I didn't think I'd be comfortable with."

I've had the time of my liiiiiife! (Image credit: HBO Max)

Peacemaker 2's opening credits are certainly more complex than its predecessor's. Indeed, more people are involved this time around and, with the first season's dance sequence being so well received, there's an inevitable demand to make it bigger, bolder, and better than what's come before.

For Jennifer Holland, the gymnast-turned-actor who returns to play Emilia Harcourt, season 2's routine provided some particularly tricky moves for her to get right. Indeed, with this season further examining Harcourt and the titular character's 'will they, won't they' dynamic, Barton felt it was crucial to lean into this aspect of the story with a Dirty Dancing-inspired lift.

"There's a piece where I get to go on wires and do this little spin in the air, which was like a little Cirque du Soleil moment," Holland tells me, "But that lift was the most challenging thing I had to do. I didn't get to rehearse that much with John because he's so busy – you never know if you'll get to practise with him from one day to the next! But, his stunt double, Spencer Thomas, was so amazing. He made sure I was prepared so, by the time I got on set with John, I knew exactly what was expected of me."

Dance like everybody's watching

Peacemaker season 2's dance routine asked a lot of some of its cast (Image credit: HBO Max)

That prep work – "we rehearsed for weeks", Sol Rodríguez, who plays Sasha Bordeaux, admits – was, as the cast alludes to, was critical when it came to shooting the actual thing.

Unlike last season's single day shoot, the cast and crew were given two full days to get the new title sequence in the can. However, even with the extra time afforded to them, everyone involved faced some sort of challenge.

"We have many more bad dancers this season," Gunn says with a laugh. "Robert Patrick [who plays Auggie Smith] was the only one we had last time, so shout out to Frank, Tim Meadows [who plays Langston Fleury], and Michael Rooker [who portrays Red St. Wild] for stepping up and doing their best!"

"I had to dance in the Captain Triumph costume," David Denman, who plays Keith Smith, reveals. "That was a big challenge, but thankfully I didn't have to do much in it, especially with the helmet on."

"Dancing in a mask is trickier than you think," Freddie Stroma, who reprises his role as Adrian Chase/Vigilante, adds. "You can't really see, so most of the time you're worried you'll bump into someone or, if you're about to head off stage where it's really dark, you're trying to figure out where the edge is so you don't fall off.

The saying goes that "practise makes perfect", though, and it certainly pays off here. Well, unless you're Rooker, Gunn says a grin. "Re-watch it enough and you'll see what I mean," he teases.

Rooker's issues with staying in sync with his fellow actors aside, there's little doubt that season 2's title sequence is as wonderfully entertaining as last season's was – indeed, I said as much in my Peacemaker season 2 review. Despite its cast having to wear serious looks on their faces as part of the routine, it's evident they all enjoyed themselves, too.

"It was my last two days on set," Stroma explains. "I didn't get to do it last season, either, so I had nothing to compare it to. But, it was really fun to drop the accent I use in the show, relax, and just have a great time dancing."

"The whole shoot was amazing," Rodríguez says. "Having the full cast and James there, and all of these big personalities who love having a laugh, filming on a big soundstage and having music blasting away – I've never experienced anything like it."

"It's a full production," Danielle Brooks, who plays Leota Adebayo, adds. "James takes it all very seriously, but we had a blast. I can't wait to see all of our fans learning it."

Peacemaker season 2 episode 1 is out now on HBO Max and more of the world's best streaming services. Read my Peacemaker season 2 release schedule guide to see when new episodes will air.

It's been three and a half years since Peacemaker took the world by storm.

The Suicide Squad spin-off series, which saw John Cena reprise his role as the jingoistic anti-hero from that 2021 flick in the character's self-titled TV show, was a big hit. Armed with the usual trappings of a James Gunn project, the arrival of the season 1 finale in February 2022 broke the at-the-time record for the highest single day viewership of an HBO Max original episode. Not bad going for a show starring a C-list tier metahuman from DC Comics.

But Peacemaker's first season had a trick up its sleeve that supercharged its success weeks prior to the launch of its last episode: a dance number-inspired title sequence. The 80-second long intro, which saw its full cast amusingly perform a highly-polished, choreographed routine set to Wig Wam track 'Do You Wanna Taste It?', was surprising as it was delightful. Four billion views on TikTok later, and writer/director James Gunn, Cena, and company had an unexpected viral sensation on their hands.

With a second season – one set in the rebooted DC Universe (DCU) overseen by Gunn and fellow DC Studios co-CEO Peter Safran, rather than the now-defunct DC Extended Universe (DCEU) – greenlit not long after its forebear's finale, one question dominated fans' minds. Well, the one that has nothing to do with whether events from Peacemaker season 1 would be deemed canon in season 2 and the wider DCU, anyway: would the show's sophomore outing have its own similarly dance-infused intro?

The short answer is: yes. And, with the first episode of Peacemaker season 2, titled 'The Ties That Grind' out now, viewers can finally watch it in all of its glory.

What many fans won't realize and/or potentially underappreciate, though, is the amount of time, effort, and energy that went into this season's more intricate and more ambitious opener. And, after three gruelling years of putting said sequence together, Gunn and the show's ensemble are finally ready to reveal all.

'Julian, it's a hungry world...'

John Cena and company dance along to 'Oh Lord' by Foxy Shazam during this season's intro sequence (Image credit: HBO Max)

Last season's intro owed much to Gunn's uncanny knack – nay, superpower – to select the right track for any given scene or sequence in projects he writes, directs, and/or produces. A self-confessed music nerd, almost every one of Gunn's works, such as the Guardians of the Galaxy film trilogy he wrote and directed for Marvel, are full of catchy yet underrated songs who've become part of the cultural zeitgeist following their use in said productions.

The pressure to select the perfect ditty to set season 2's dance opener to, then, was certainly on. And, while Gunn tells me this season's song of choice – 'Oh Lord' by glam-rock outfit Foxy Shazam – was eventually settled on because its lyrics tie into the themes of season 2, it wasn't the only option he umm-ed and arr-ed about.

"I don't know if any other songs came close [to being chosen]," Gunn admits. "[But] there were a couple of others I considered. There was another Foxy Shazam track and I also thought about using 'Do You Wanna Taste It?' again. But, at the end of the day, I picked 'Oh Lord' because it was the best fit for this season's tone, much like 'Do You Wanna Taste It?' was the right fit for season 1."

"You think hearing the same song over and over for 10 hours straight would get old, but it never did for me," Steve Agee, who plays John Economos, reveals with a laugh. "I really like the song, and some of the guys from Foxy Shazam came over while we were shooting the actual thing, so it was a lot of fun."

Going again from the top

The show's cast spent weeks preparing to film this season's opening sequence (Image credit: HBO Max)

With its title track locked in, work soon began on the actual dance that the cast would need to perform on the day (or, as you'll learn later, days).

Just as he did for one of the best HBO Max shows' first season, Gunn teamed up with Charissa Barton to create a completely new, multi-tiered sequence. Workshopping it with her husband Alan Tudyk, who's voiced various characters in the first two DCU Chapter One projects Superman and Creature Commandos, Barton soon settled on the movements that this season's near-20-strong cast would need to master.

An incredible amount of effort was put into the opening dance sequence of #Peacemaker this season. They made everyone, even Frank Grillo, look great. pic.twitter.com/oAAdye7rTwAugust 22, 2025

"Charissa worked it out ahead of time before getting approval from James," Agee explains. "Then, she meets with us one-on-one, or in groups of two or three, because there are sections to the dance. So, we'd go in with her to rehearse it, she'd record it, and then send the file to you so you can practise at home."

"We had a lot of individual and group rehearsal," Frank Grillo, who reprises his role as Rick Flag Sr from Gunn's Superman movie and Creature Commandos season 1, adds. "We were given plenty of homework to do, and I'm glad I got to work on it at home because the idea of being on stage with so many people, and being in sync, was something I didn't think I'd be comfortable with."

I've had the time of my liiiiiife! (Image credit: HBO Max)

Peacemaker 2's opening credits are certainly more complex than its predecessor's. Indeed, more people are involved this time around and, with the first season's dance sequence being so well received, there's an inevitable demand to make it bigger, bolder, and better than what's come before.

For Jennifer Holland, the gymnast-turned-actor who returns to play Emilia Harcourt, season 2's routine provided some particularly tricky moves for her to get right. Indeed, with this season further examining Harcourt and the titular character's 'will they, won't they' dynamic, Barton felt it was crucial to lean into this aspect of the story with a Dirty Dancing-inspired lift.

"There's a piece where I get to go on wires and do this little spin in the air, which was like a little Cirque du Soleil moment," Holland tells me, "But that lift was the most challenging thing I had to do. I didn't get to rehearse that much with John because he's so busy – you never know if you'll get to practise with him from one day to the next! But, his stunt double, Spencer Thomas, was so amazing. He made sure I was prepared so, by the time I got on set with John, I knew exactly what was expected of me."

Dance like everybody's watching

Peacemaker season 2's dance routine asked a lot of some of its cast (Image credit: HBO Max)

That prep work – "we rehearsed for weeks", Sol Rodríguez, who plays Sasha Bordeaux, admits – was, as the cast alludes to, was critical when it came to shooting the actual thing.

Unlike last season's single day shoot, the cast and crew were given two full days to get the new title sequence in the can. However, even with the extra time afforded to them, everyone involved faced some sort of challenge.

"We have many more bad dancers this season," Gunn says with a laugh. "Robert Patrick [who plays Auggie Smith] was the only one we had last time, so shout out to Frank, Tim Meadows [who plays Langston Fleury], and Michael Rooker [who portrays Red St. Wild] for stepping up and doing their best!"

"I had to dance in the Captain Triumph costume," David Denman, who plays Keith Smith, reveals. "That was a big challenge, but thankfully I didn't have to do much in it, especially with the helmet on."

"Dancing in a mask is trickier than you think," Freddie Stroma, who reprises his role as Adrian Chase/Vigilante, adds. "You can't really see, so most of the time you're worried you'll bump into someone or, if you're about to head off stage where it's really dark, you're trying to figure out where the edge is so you don't fall off.

The saying goes that "practise makes perfect", though, and it certainly pays off here. Well, unless you're Rooker, Gunn says a grin. "Re-watch it enough and you'll see what I mean," he teases.

Rooker's issues with staying in sync with his fellow actors aside, there's little doubt that season 2's title sequence is as wonderfully entertaining as last season's was – indeed, I said as much in my Peacemaker season 2 review. Despite its cast having to wear serious looks on their faces as part of the routine, it's evident they all enjoyed themselves, too.

"It was my last two days on set," Stroma explains. "I didn't get to do it last season, either, so I had nothing to compare it to. But, it was really fun to drop the accent I use in the show, relax, and just have a great time dancing."

"The whole shoot was amazing," Rodríguez says. "Having the full cast and James there, and all of these big personalities who love having a laugh, filming on a big soundstage and having music blasting away – I've never experienced anything like it."

"It's a full production," Danielle Brooks, who plays Leota Adebayo, adds. "James takes it all very seriously, but we had a blast. I can't wait to see all of our fans learning it."

Peacemaker season 2 episode 1 is out now on HBO Max and more of the world's best streaming services. Read my Peacemaker season 2 release schedule guide to see when new episodes will air.

• Gamescom congress broke its attendance record this year
• The conference featured over 1000 guests and over 180 expert speakers
• This year's event focused on three topics: Games and WellBeing, The Next Level of Immersion, and Games and Responsibility

Gamescom congress, Europe's leading conference on the potential of computer and video games for society and the economy, has broken its attendance record this year.

Gamescom 2025 is almost at an end and was filled with plenty of new game announcements, trailers, and updates. Meanwhile, the annual Gamescom congress conference has broken record attendance with over 1,000 guests and featuring over 180 experts in business, science, politics, and media who gave talks and panel discussions on how games promote social and technological progress.

This year's conference focused on three topics: Games and WellBeing, The Next Level of Immersion, and Games and Responsibility. To highlight these subjects, Gamescom congress 2025 offered a diverse program of talks and panel discussions on the role of games across the entire social spectrum.

Renowned names such as the founder and former CEO of Unity and climate activist David Helgason, CEO of ThrivePal Y-Lan Boureau, Celia Hodent, PhD in game UX, Soihtu DTx CEO Jukka Laakso, and others revealed the potential of computer and video games in a wide variety of areas, such as serving as technological and economic drivers, educating people about migration and democracy, enhancing well-being, and promoting environmental and climate protection.

"Games are perfect entertainment, and it is precisely thanks to this unique power that they also have a positive impact in numerous other areas – whether in political education, medicine, industry, or science," said Felix Falk, managing director of game – the German games industry association, co-organizer of the Gamescom congress.

"With record participation among speakers and visitors, as well as numerous high-profile keynotes and panels, the Gamescom congress once again impressively highlighted the strength of games with international appeal."

In addition, a panel called "Get ready, get set, go! How Germany wants to compete at the top worldwide" was also held in an effort to debate how Germany can benefit from games.

"The Gamescom congress definitely demonstrated how diverse and socially relevant the debates surrounding games are," said Gerald Böse, CEO of Koelnmesse GmbH. "It brings together players from a wide variety of fields and makes Cologne an international meeting place for forward-looking ideas in computer and video games. The congress has once again proven its role as a bridge between industry, business, and society."

You might also like...

• Here are the three biggest things we learned from the Hollow Knight: Silksong release date trailer
• Everything announced at Gamescom Opening Night Live 2025 from the Sekiro anime to the new Ghost of Yotei mode
• New Resident Evil Requiem gameplay teaser solidifies it as my most anticipated game of 2026 so far

• Gamescom congress broke its attendance record this year
• The conference featured over 1000 guests and over 180 expert speakers
• This year's event focused on three topics: Games and WellBeing, The Next Level of Immersion, and Games and Responsibility

Gamescom congress, Europe's leading conference on the potential of computer and video games for society and the economy, has broken its attendance record this year.

Gamescom 2025 is almost at an end and was filled with plenty of new game announcements, trailers, and updates. Meanwhile, the annual Gamescom congress conference has broken record attendance with over 1,000 guests and featuring over 180 experts in business, science, politics, and media who gave talks and panel discussions on how games promote social and technological progress.

This year's conference focused on three topics: Games and WellBeing, The Next Level of Immersion, and Games and Responsibility. To highlight these subjects, Gamescom congress 2025 offered a diverse program of talks and panel discussions on the role of games across the entire social spectrum.

Renowned names such as the founder and former CEO of Unity and climate activist David Helgason, CEO of ThrivePal Y-Lan Boureau, Celia Hodent, PhD in game UX, Soihtu DTx CEO Jukka Laakso, and others revealed the potential of computer and video games in a wide variety of areas, such as serving as technological and economic drivers, educating people about migration and democracy, enhancing well-being, and promoting environmental and climate protection.

"Games are perfect entertainment, and it is precisely thanks to this unique power that they also have a positive impact in numerous other areas – whether in political education, medicine, industry, or science," said Felix Falk, managing director of game – the German games industry association, co-organizer of the Gamescom congress.

"With record participation among speakers and visitors, as well as numerous high-profile keynotes and panels, the Gamescom congress once again impressively highlighted the strength of games with international appeal."

In addition, a panel called "Get ready, get set, go! How Germany wants to compete at the top worldwide" was also held in an effort to debate how Germany can benefit from games.

"The Gamescom congress definitely demonstrated how diverse and socially relevant the debates surrounding games are," said Gerald Böse, CEO of Koelnmesse GmbH. "It brings together players from a wide variety of fields and makes Cologne an international meeting place for forward-looking ideas in computer and video games. The congress has once again proven its role as a bridge between industry, business, and society."

You might also like...

• Here are the three biggest things we learned from the Hollow Knight: Silksong release date trailer
• Everything announced at Gamescom Opening Night Live 2025 from the Sekiro anime to the new Ghost of Yotei mode
• New Resident Evil Requiem gameplay teaser solidifies it as my most anticipated game of 2026 so far

• Post-launch DLC is planned for Hollow Knight: Silksong
• Now that Silksong has a release date, Team Cherry said it's planning on adding new content, some of which is "ambitious"
• Silksong releases on September 4 this year

Team Cherry has confirmed it has plans to add new content to Hollow Knight: Silksong post-launch.

Speaking in an interview with Bloomberg following the long-awaited release date announcement, studio co-founders Ari Gibson and William Pellen teased plans to release downloadable content (DLC) in the months and years ahead.

"Launching it is obviously quite exciting," said Pellen. "What comes after for us is equally as exciting."

Gibson added, "The most interesting thing now is what can we add to it next. We got a plan. Admittedly, some of the plans for that stuff are kind of ambitious as well, but hopefully we can achieve some of it."

The first Hollow Knight also received a number of post-launch updates in the form of four free DLC packs, Hidden Dreams, The Grimm Troupe, Lifeblood, and Godmaster, so hopefully, Silksong is in for the same treatment.

In case you missed it, Hollow Knight: Silksong will officially launch on September 4, 2025, for PlayStation 5, PlayStation 4, Xbox Series X and Series S, Xbox One, Nintendo Switch, PC, the Asus ROG Xbox Ally, and ROG Xbox Ally X.

The announcement was made during a special broadcast where Team Cherry also released a full-length gameplay trailer showcasing all-new features, like a crafting system, and confirmed that the game will have over 40 legendary boss encounters.

You might also like...

• Here are the three biggest things we learned from the Hollow Knight: Silksong release date trailer
• Everything announced at Gamescom Opening Night Live 2025 from the Sekiro anime to the new Ghost of Yotei mode
• New Resident Evil Requiem gameplay teaser solidifies it as my most anticipated game of 2026 so far