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The best Assassin's Creed Shadows graphics settings for PS5 and Xbox will make a huge difference on how good the huge open world looks and runs. Thanks to new dynamic seasons, the game really sings if you get it looking right, which is where we come in having played the game collectively for hours and hours.

On most platforms, players will need to choose between three main modes, before further tweaks can be made to clean things up. I personally am still fairly early in Assassin's Creed Shadows, but I've already been floored by how good the coastal towns of Sakai look, with the PS5 Pro really offering a boost to all the puddles and beaches found in the area, and Rob, our managing editor is more than 60 hours in now.

Assassin's Creed Shadows is a real step forward for the franchise, offering up the best open-world yet, as well as some truly excellent action and stealth mechanics. You can read what we thought of the full game in our Assassin's Creed Shadows review, but needless to say, we hugely enjoyed it, and it's now ranked highly in our best Assassin's Creed games list. Personally, I've been particularly enjoying the exploration, which is bolstered by just how great the graphics are.

Here are the best Assassin's Creed Shadows graphics settings for PS5, PS5 Pro, and Xbox Series X|S. I'll cover whether to choose the Fidelity or Performance mode or if it's worth selecting the Balanced Mode.

Then, you'll find some specific settings that can be tweaked to clean up the image a bit, though the game definitely looks great by default anyway.

Assassin's Creed Shadows best graphics settings for PS5

(Image credit: Ubisoft)

On PS5, you'll have the choice between three main graphics modes in Assassin's Creed Shadows. You can see the key info on each in the table below:

Assassin's Creed Shadows is an action-stealth game. As such, I'd recommend playing it in Performance Mode on PS5, given that you'll get 60fps (frames per second). Generally, you'll need to have quick reaction times to stay out of sight, and take down any enemies that are about to spot you. Higher frame rates definitely help with this, and in fighting multiple enemies at once, as well. The cutscenes and Hideout section are all at 30fps anyway, but the gameplay will be silky smooth, making stealth a lot easier.

If you do have a display that supports HDMI 2.1 and is either 120hz or 240hz however, we think you should go for Balanced Mode. You'll get access to standard Raytracing, at 40fps. This keeps the game looking beautiful while giving you some extra performance required for action.

Assassin's Creed Shadows best graphics settings for PS5 Pro

(Image credit: Sony)

Now onto PS5 Pro, which, in terms of graphics settings at least, is the best place to play Assassin's Creed Shadows on console.

In fact, it offers a massive upgrade when compared to the base console. As before, there are three settings to choose from:

If you're playing Assassin's Creed Shadows on PS5 Pro, and have access to a 120hz/240Hz display then you have what we think is the best way to play the game: Balanced Mode on Sony's enhanced PS5.

This setting allows for a decent frame rate, and thanks to the Pro's extra power, you'll get to enjoy the game's Standard Ray Tracing features. The reason to go with the Balanced Mode is additional visual fidelity, like a strand-based hair system. This is the mode I've played most on so far, and find it to be the best of the three.

If you find that you'd rather have a higher framerate, then you can switch to Performance Mode - you'll still get to enjoy the standard Ray Tracing features there - and while the Fidelity mode looks incredibly beautiful, it being locked to 30fps has us going for the Balanced mode all day long.

Assassin's Creed Shadows best graphics settings for Xbox Series X and Xbox Series S

(Image credit: Future)

Finally, let's take a look at the best Assassin's Creed Shadows graphics settings for Xbox Series X and Xbox Series S:

As you can see, the Xbox Series X is in line with the PS5 settings for Assassin's Creed Shadows. As such, I recommend the Performance Mode. There's only selective Ray Tracing to take advantage of here, but the 60fps really improves the gameplay.

Just like with the PS5, there's also a Balanced Mode, which is great for those using a compatible display.

For those with an Xbox Series S, there are no modes to choose from, with the game locked at 1620p upscaled and 30fps. There are some selective Ray Tracing features however, which is a nice touch.

Other graphics settings to change for Assassin's Creed Shadows

(Image credit: Ubisoft)

Aside from the main graphics setting in Assassin's Creed Shadows, I recommend switching off Motion Blur and Chromatic Aberration for a cleaner image. In addition, HDR should be tuned for your display. Try to bring the Exposure slide down a bit and see how it looks, as some areas of the open world have very intense lighting and bloom effects.

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• Marvel Studios is currently making a big announcement about the MCU
• A live feed appeared on the comic titan's YouTube page at 11AM ET today (March 26)
• It's all but confirmed that a full cast reveal for the next two Avengers movies is taking place

Editor's note: this is a developing story. New updates will appear further down the page!

Marvel is making a huge announcement about the Marvel Cinematic Universe (MCU), according to a live feed that's, well, gone live on its social media platforms.

Yesterday (March 25), there were tentative rumors that the comic book giant would make a big announcement today (March 26) at 11AM ET / 3PM GMT. And, as if by magic, a live video appeared on the studio's YouTube channel, as well as the likes of X/Twitter, at that exact time.

The live feed began with an out-of-focus individual (Marvel chief Kevin Feige, is that you?) walking into frame to place a chair bearing Chris Hemsworth's name on it. Unsurprisingly, that sent MCU fans into a frenzy over a possible Thor 5 reveal.

Fun though it would be to get confirmation that another Thor movie is on the way, though, that's not the big announcement I'd expect Marvel to make, especially one that's devoting an entire live feed to.

18 minutes later, another chair bearing the name of Vanessa Kirby, who'll play Sue Storm/The Invisible Woman in The Fantastic Four: First Steps, was placed next to Hemsworth's. Moments later, a piece of music slowly started to kick in and, 23 minutes into the live feed, the Avengers' iconic MCU theme began to play, and it's been rising and falling ever since.

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Update 1: More chairs are being periodically added, too. One minute after the Avengers musical score began, a third chair adorned with Anthony Mackie, aka the latest actor to play Captain America, was brought in. At the 40-minute mark, Sebastian Stan's (i.e. Bucky Barnes/The Winter Soldier) seat was added to the mix.

Update 2: At 11:50AM ET, 12:05PM ET, and 12:15PM ET respectively, current Black Panther star Letitia Wright, whose character Shuri assumed the mantle in Black Panther: Wakanda Forever, Paul Rudd's Scott Lang/Ant-Man, and Wyatt Russell's John Walker/US Agent, who'll next appear in Thunderbolts* in early May, joined the aforementioned quartet on the confirmed cast roster.

Update 3: In perhaps the most surprising cast reveal so far, Tenoch Huerta Meija's anti-hero Namor was confirmed to feature at 12:30PM ET. He was last seen licking his wounds after getting a severe whopping from Wright's Shuri in Black Panther 2. Then, at 12:40PM ET, Ebon Moss-Bachrach's The Thing was also added to the roster. Next, at 12:52PM ET, Simu Liu's Shang-Chi – yes, he's finally in another MCU project – was revealed to be part of the cast.

Update 4: Two hours in, and the reveals keep coming. This time (i.e. 1:05PM ET), Florence Pugh's Yelena Belova was added to the roster. At 1:18PM ET, Kelsey Grammer's Beast – yes, he of X-Men fame who was last seen in The Marvels' mid-credits scene – was announced, so there'll be at least one mutant in Doomsday!

2019's Avengers: Endgame was the last time that Earth's Mightiest Heroes assembled on the big screen (Image credit: Marvel Studios)

That, my friends, means one thing: we're getting a full cast reveal for the next two Avengers movies – those being Avengers: Doomsday and Avengers: Secret Wars.

It's in Marvel's best interests to take control of the cast roster narrative. With filming expected to start on Doomsday and Secret Wars in April, there has been, and would've continued to be, plenty of speculation about which heroes might appear in either or both films. This is Marvel's way of getting ahead of any industry leaks or rumored appearances before principal photography begins.

More cast reveals are going to be made about the aforementioned Marvel Phase 6 projects in the coming minutes and hours. So, stay tuned to TechRadar for more details as and when I have it!

In the meantime, read on for some exclusive coverage from my recent chat with Doomsday and Secret Wars directors Joe and Anthony Russo, plus the latest actors linked with roles in the films. Alternatively, tell me in the comments who you want to see in the Multiverse Saga's movie duo capper.

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• Third-party cybersecurity risks are a growing threat, report claims
• More than a third of all breaches in 2024 were related to third parties
• Retail and hospitality were most heavily hit

Third-party security issues are probably the biggest threat your business is facing, new research has claimed.

The new 2025 Global Third-Party Breach Report from SecurityScorecard analyzed 1,000 breaches across different industries and regions, and concluded that more than a third (35.5%) of all breaches in 2024 were related to third parties.

To make matters even worse, this figure is “likely conservative,” the company said, due to underreporting and misclassification.

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Retail and hospitality

The report further states that there has been a significant diversification of attack surfaces in 2025, compared to the year before, since less than half (46.75%) of third-party breaches involved technology products and services (down from 75% the year prior).

Looking at specific industries, SecurityScorecard found retail and hospitality to have suffered the highest third-party breach rate (52.4%), followed by the technology industry (47.3%), and the energy and utilities industry (46.7%).

Even though it had a below-average rate of 32.2%, the healthcare industry suffered the most third-party breaches in absolute numbers (78).

Geographically, Singapore fared worst (71.4%), followed by the Netherlands (70.4%), and Japan (60%).

SecurityScorecard also warned about the dangers of ransomware through third-party risk. More than two in five (41.4%) of all ransomware attacks now start through third parties, with the infamous Cl0p group leading the charge.

“Threat actors are prioritizing third-party access for its scalability. Our research shows ransomware groups and state-sponsored attackers increasingly leveraging supply chains as entry points. To stay ahead of these threats, security leaders must move from periodic vendor reviews to real-time monitoring to contain these risks before they escalate throughout their supply chain,” said Ryan Sherstobitoff, SVP of SecurityScorecard’s STRIKE Threat Research and Intelligence.

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The Malcolm in the Middle revival continues to gather steam over at Disney+, with more new cast members announced.

The four-episode arc comes from original show creator Linwood Boomer and will pick up with Malcolm and the rest of the family some twenty years since they last appeared on our screens.

For the uninitiated, Malcolm in the Middle, which originally ran for seven seasons – 151 episodes – on Fox in the US from 2000 to 2006, followed child prodigy Malcolm (Frankie Muniz) and his often dysfunctional, always loving, working class family, including parents Lois (Jane Kaczmarek) and Hal (Bryan Cranston). As the family made one pratfall after another, Malcolm would often break the fourth wall to make sarcastic asides to the audience.

The new mini-season sees “Malcolm and his daughter drawn into the family’s chaos when Hal and Lois demand his presence for their 40th wedding anniversary party.” It sounds like a perfect hook for a short but hopefully sweet, return to Malcolm’s universe, especially as the heart of the original show was the titular character’s relationship with Cranston’s long-suffering Hal, so it’ll be interesting to see Muniz character in the reverse of that dynamic, grappling with fatherhood himself.

Who is returning to Malcolm in the Middle?

Of the original cast, Frankie Muniz, Bryan Cranston, and Jane Kaczmarek were confirmed to be returning to their respective roles when the revival was announced, and Variety has now confirmed that more familiar faces will be rejoining the cast with Christopher Masterson and Justin Berfield set to be reprising their roles as Malcolm’s older brothers Francis and Reese.

However, Malcolm’s younger siblings, Dewey and Jamie, have been recast with Caleb Ellsworth-Clark and Anthony Timpano taking on the roles. Neither replacement comes as a huge surprise mind you, with original Dewey star Erik Per Sullivan having quit acting after the show’s conclusion, and Jamie – introduced in season four – still a toddler when the show ended.

Meanwhile, the revival will introduce a fifth sibling for Malcolm to contend with with confirmation that post-series, Lois and Hal finally gave birth to a daughter, Kelly, played in the new episodes by Vaughn Murrae. Additional casting news sees Keeley Karsten take on the role of Malcolm’s daughter Leah, while Kiana Madeira will play his girlfriend, Tristan.

We can’t wait to check back in with Malcolm and the gang, and confirmation that a whole host of familiar faces will be returning has got us very excited for the return of Malcolm in the Middle on one of the best streaming services. If you're in the US, make sure to check out the below Disney+ bundle deal before it expires to save on your next subscription.

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• Windows 11 has a new update, although it’s optional (in preview) for now
• It brings in some really handy features, including an important accessibility tweak for a core part of the Windows 11 interface
• New PC spec cards in the Settings app are a surprise addition, coming through testing very swiftly – albeit without the key FAQ feature

Microsoft just released a new update for Windows 11, albeit an optional one (still in preview), and it delivers some useful work – not to mention a surprise.

Windows Latest flagged up the changes that are part of the March preview update for Windows 11 23H2 (known as KB5053657). They include a smoothing over of accessibility wrinkles in File Explorer, and the addition of PC spec info cards that have previously been seen in testing.

Regarding File Explorer – which is the app that powers the windows that show your folders, and files within them, on the desktop – those of you who use larger text sizes for better visibility in this part of the interface have doubtless noticed that text scaling isn’t uniform here.

In other words, only some parts of File Explorer have the user’s specified text scaling applied, and some text, or indeed parts of the interface like buttons, remains overly small (with no scaling).

Obviously, that’s awkward and unhelpful, plus it just looks messy, but thankfully, Microsoft has fixed this so the scaling is correctly applied across all elements of File Explorer, as per testing conducted by Windows Latest.

Moving onto the new spec cards, these were spotted in testing early in 2025, but seem to have been put in place very quickly, shuttling through testing and into this new optional update. That’s a pleasant surprise indeed, and these cards provide at-a-glance info on your CPU, RAM, storage, and graphics card – although it doesn’t look like the FAQ element has been implemented yet.

Another significant change with KB5053657 is the new gamepad keyboard layout, which allows you to type using Windows 11’s virtual keyboard with an Xbox controller (including button shortcuts for spacebar, delete, and so on).

Finally, there’s a new emoji button on the taskbar, which pulls up the combined emoji, GIF, and clipboard panel. It’s an optional feature, so you can turn off the icon in Settings if you’ll never use it. Oh, and the Voice Access functionality in Windows 11 now has support for the Chinese language (for both Simplified and Traditional Chinese).

Remember, this is for Windows 11 23H2, and we haven’t yet seen the release of the new update for 24H2 (though it’s likely imminent, and it’ll probably turn up later today). It should carry these same changes, and perhaps more besides.

(Image credit: Future / Jasmine Mannan) Analysis: Caution > Valor with preview updates, especially as the wait for full release won’t be long

This is a very worthwhile update, then, given its accessibility improvements and that gamepad keyboard. The latter is going to be very handy for those running Windows 11 on a gaming handheld (and it’s a sign that Microsoft is still perhaps thinking about that full-on handheld mode for Windows 11, which has been rumored for some time).

It’s also good to have the spec cards present, and I can’t believe how quickly these have transformed from a hidden feature not even visible in testing to going through into an optional update. I guess it’s a relatively easy piece of work to implement (it must’ve been), although the FAQ section – providing tailored advice, which as noted, isn’t present yet – is going to be the key element (as I recently discussed). With any luck, that extra feature will be incorporated here before too long.

If you’re keen to see this shiny new stuff, I should caution you that installing a preview update isn’t without potential perils. These features remain in testing, and could still be wonky, even if it is the very last stage of testing, and nothing’s too likely to be seriously awry (those could be famous last words, of course).

Generally, unless you’re super-stoked for one of the above features, I’d wait until next month for the full release. That’s when this preview update will become the April cumulative update for Windows 11, and that’s not far off now (it’ll be April 8, so it’s an early debut for the upgrade next month).

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• Upcoming life sim game inZOI has hit the top of the Steam wishlist charts
• It's currently ahead of Hollow Knight: Silksong and Deadlock
• It comes to PC in early access on March 28

The excitement around the upcoming life sim game inZOI seems to know no bounds as it shoots to the top of the Steam wishlist charts.

According to publisher Krafton, the game amassed more than 50,000 new followers in a single week - a seriously impressive figure that would suggest the game is on track to become one of the biggest releases of the year.

This certainly goes to show that there is a lot of pent up demand in the life sim market, which has been almost entirely dominated by the The Sims series from Electronic Arts (EA) for two decades.

The latest major instalment in that franchise, The Sims 4, launched all the way back in 2014. Although it has received a steady stream of free updates an countless paid downloadable content (DLC) packs over the years, many players now want a full-on sequel with more modern features but there is no indication that this is in the works at EA.

If you head over to the Steam Top Wishlists page, you can see that inZOI is currently sitting just ahead of hugely anticipated titles including the long-awaited indie sequel Hollow Knight: Silksong, Valve's own Deadlock, and Elden Ring Nightreign. It's also substantially ahead of the likes of Doom: The Dark Ages, Dying Light: The Beast, Metal Gear Solid Delta: Snake Eater, and much more.

inZOI is set to release in early access on March 28, 2025. Developer Inzoi Studio has confirmed that it will cost $39.99 throughout the early access period, which is expected to last for over a year. The game will then come to PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X, and Xbox Series S.

Is it worth getting excited for?

On paper, inZOI looks like a perfect successor to The Sims, with almost photorealistic visuals and loads of customization options. Many fellow life sim fans seem to be looking forward to it a great deal, though I would personally suggest tempering your expectations somewhat.

I've had to opportunity to play an early build throughout the last couple of weeks and I was ultimately quite disappointed with it. Everything here would be a great foundation, especially the pretty visuals and superb character creation plus building mechanics, but there's not much proper meat to keep you entertained during day-to-day life.

Throw in some annoying glitches and you have a game that would likely be a lot more enjoyable after a substantial patch or two. Of course, this isn't too unusual when it comes to early access products, and I'm optimistic that inZOI will improve a great deal over the coming weeks and months.

Just don't expect anything too ground-breaking if you plan to dive in on day one.

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• Google Chrome has patched its first zero-day flaw of the year
• The bug allowed cyber-espionage, primarily against targets in Russia
• Kaspersky researchers thanked for finding bug, and users told to update now

Google has fixed a high-severity zero-day vulnerability in its Chrome browser that was being exploited in the wild.

In a security advisory, the company described the bug as an “incorrect handle provided in unspecified circumstances in Mojo on Windows”.

The flaw is tracked as CVE-2’25-2783, and it’s yet to be given a severity score. Google just lists it as “high” in its advisory. It was fixed with version 134.0.6998.178 that already rolled out, so make sure to double-check if you’ve already received it.

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Operation ForumTroll

The company did not detail who the attackers, or the victims, are, and just said it will restrict access to bug details and links until the majority of users update their browsers. It did, however, thank two Kaspersky researchers - Boris Larin and Igor Kuznetsov, for uncovering the flaw.

In a separate report, Kaspersky said the vulnerability was being used to escape the browser’s sandbox and deploy malware against targets in Russia.

The researchers spotted it while investigating a "spike in infections" from a previously unknown malware strain, Cyberinsider reported.

The campaign involves phishing, redirecting victims to primakovreadings[dot]info. The entire campaign was dubbed Operation ForumTroll and apparently, the goal is to conduct cyber-espionage.

Kaspersky also said Operation ForumTroll attackers also used a separate vulnerability to enable remote code execution on compromised endpoints. However, patching the Chrome flaw breaks the entire infection chain.

​"While research is still ongoing, but judging by the functionality of the sophisticated malware used in the attack, Kaspersky says the attackers' goal was likely espionage," Kaspersky said.

"The malicious emails contained invitations supposedly from the organizers of a scientific and expert forum, 'Primakov Readings,' targeting media outlets, educational institutions and government organizations in Russia. Based on the content of the emails, we dubbed the campaign Operation ForumTroll."

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• Xbox is testing a new feature known as Game Hubs
• It displays a one-stop dashboard for your game when you attempt to launch it
• Game Hubs are currently available to just a small number of Xbox Insiders

If you're part of the Xbox Insider program on Xbox Series X|S consoles, you might have been rolled into the testing of a new feature known as Game Hubs.

As reported by VGC, Game Hubs are appearing for Insiders when choosing a game to launch. Game Hubs are unique to the game you're choosing to play, and appear as a sort of dashboard before launching the game.

The hub displays information including total play time and achievements earned for each individual game. There are also tabs for quick access to DLC purchases and any screenshots you've captured.

According to VGC, some Hubs - like one for Disney Dreamlight Valley - may also show an 'Events' section which will detail upcoming or current in-game events. Presumably, such sections will show up in popular live service titles like Monster Hunter Wilds or Fortnite.

At present, the feature is only available to a select number of Xbox Insiders, and it's not yet known if or when it'll roll out to the wider Xbox user base.

Personally, it's a feature I've got mixed feelings on. It's certainly handy to have a one-stop dashboard for each game - PS5 games have a similar layout on the home dashboard.

However, I feel the PS5 implementation is less intrusive, as all this information is presented without opening up a separate menu. I'm also not a huge fan of having a good portion of the Game Hub dashboard dedicated to the display of downloadable content.

This will seemingly be on a game-by-game basis of course, and Game Hubs appear to default to the 'Play' button without exception. So at least you can still jump right into a game when they're implemented.

And with the way the Xbox dashboard is designed, this was probably the best way to add such a feature without doing a total user interface overhaul. For now, I'll reserve judgment until I get to try out Game Hubs for myself.

But I can't shake the feeling that it'll be a feature that I'll want to disable fairly swiftly.

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• A new early benchmark reveals that the RTX 5090 laptop GPU outperforms the RTX 4090 variant
• It performs 65% faster in Hogwarts Legacy on DLSS balanced at maximum graphics settings
• With Multi-Frame Generation frame rates are above and beyond what is provided by the RTX 4090 laptop GPU

Nvidia's RTX 5000 series GPU lineup still has more to offer, with new desktop and laptop GPUs in the pipeline. Fortunately, some early benchmarks on the upcoming flagship laptop variant are already here. Spoiler alert: they're very promising.

As reported by YouTuber Dave2D in a new video, the RTX 5090 laptop GPU outperforms its RTX 4090 predecessor across several different demanding titles, using DLSS upscaling in early benchmarks. This was in the new Razer Blade 16, utilizing an OLED 2560x1600 display, and it's currently available for pre-order.

The RTX 5090 features 24GB of GDDR7 VRAM over the previous 16GB GDDR6 seen in the 4090, likely playing a significant part in the performance uplifts. One of the examples in Dave2D’s video is Hogwarts Legacy: with ray tracing and DLSS on 'balanced' mode at ultra graphics settings, the RTX 5090 is 65% faster than the RTX 4090, a significant boost over the last-gen flagship laptop GPU.

In another demanding title, Black Myth: Wukong, the RTX 5090 runs 33% faster on the highest graphics preset, 'Cinematic', with DLSS set to balanced mode - and considering how heavy the title is even on desktop GPUs, that's definitely a significant boost.

It's also worth noting that the RTX 5090 also has a major advantage in Multi-Frame Generation, as it introduces up to three additional generated frames (per each rendered frame) compared to the original Frame Generation's one generated frame.

With MFG, an RTX 5000 series desktop or laptop GPU is a no-brainer

It's evident that Frame Generation is still frowned upon among some PC gamers: I'm aware of the 'fake frames' nickname, and while that may be true to an extent since the frames are AI-generated, it's not necessarily a bad thing if it provides a strong performance uptick with minimal downsides.

If gamers are lucky enough to own an RTX 5000 series desktop GPU or laptop, then it's fair to suggest that performance in most games will be at acceptable standards. Achieving at least 60fps (frames per second) with the likes of an RTX 5070 isn't difficult (even with the recent awful PC ports), and features like MFG take performance up another notch.

With a base frame rate of 30fps or slightly below, enabling Frame Generation will indeed increase frame rates, but it comes at the cost of significant input lag and ghosting in-game. However, when the base frame rate is already close to or above 60fps, input lag is reduced, and games feel smooth. Fortunately, the upcoming Reflex 2 feature from Nvidia intends to tackle latency issues.

While it's hard to obtain any RTX 5000 series hardware right now due to low availability and inflated prices (and I wouldn't advise it yet until all major issues are addressed), MFG makes it worthwhile, especially in non-competitive titles. And with new laptops on the way, there will soon be a new avenue for gamers to get their hands on Nvidia’s latest tech.

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• The Nespresso Vertuo Pop is available in a new color called Candy Pink
• It's the smallest and most affordable Nespresso machine around
• Nespresso has also launched two new flavored coffee capsules

The Nespresso Vertuo Pop is one of the best Nespresso machines you can buy, and now it has a fresh new look with a makeover in a pastel shade called Candy Pink.

It's available direct from Nespresso for $99.99 in the US (reduced from $129.99), £99 in the UK, and $229 in Australia.

The Vertuo Pop is the smallest Nespresso machine currently available, as well as the cheapest, but it doesn't skimp on performance. In fact, it's the machine I have in my own kitchen, which I use when I want one of my favorite Nespresso Coffee+ Ginseng Delight capsules, which launched earlier this year.

This energy-boosting brew is a blend of robusta and arabica beans with a hint of caramel to take off the bitter edge of the higher caffeine robusta. I find it works particularly well as a latte with oat or dairy milk.

(Image credit: Nespresso)

I'm not the only fan, either. Our reviewer Jennifer Olson called the Vertuo Pop "a fabulous entry-level coffee maker" and awarded it a full five stars. She particularly appreciated its compact design and ability to brew four different drink sizes: espresso, double espresso, gran lungo, and mug.

New brews

It's an exciting time for Nespresso fans. Last week, the company released two new capsules to try in your machine: limited-edition Barista Creations White Chocolate and Strawberry, with a 100% arabica base for a fruity flavor, and Coffee+ Active, with biscuit and vanilla notes and added vitamin B6. I've got my hands on both new flavors and will bring you my full tasting notes very soon.

Thinking about picking up a Nespresso Vertuo Pop machine? Take a look at our full review, and check out today's best prices below.

If you prefer to make your coffee the traditional way, our list of the best coffee makers will steer you in the right direction, whether you prefer espresso, filter, or capsules.

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• Broadcom was recently tipped off about an authentication bypass flaw in VMware Tools
• The 7.8 bug was quickly fixed, but no workarounds are available
• The bug affects Windows users, while Linux and macOS users are safe

Broadcom has warned its users of a high-severity vulnerability recently discovered in VMware Tools, a toolset for virtual machines (VM) running on VMware platforms.

In a security advisory, the company said it released a fix for the flaw, suggesting users apply it as soon as possible.

VMware Tools is a set of utilities that enhances the performance, usability, and management of VMs running on VMware platforms. It improves graphics, enables seamless mouse movement, synchronizes time between host and VM, and allows for better integration between the guest OS and the host system.

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Performing "high-privilege operations"

Broadcom, the owner of VMware, said it was recently tipped off about an authentication bypass vulnerability by security researcher Sergey Bliznyuk of Positive Technologies.

The flaw is now being tracked as CVE-2025-22230, and was given a severity score of 7.8/10 (high).

“A malicious actor with non-administrative privileges on a Windows guest VM may gain the ability to perform certain high-privilege operations within that VM,” Broadcom said in the advisory, without mentioning if there is any evidence of abuse in the wild.

The company stressed there were no workarounds for this issue, suggesting applying the patch is the only way to mitigate the risk.

The bug was only found on the Windows platform, with Linux and macOS being safe.

“VMware Tools 12.4.6 which is part of VMware Tools 12.5.1 addresses the issue for Windows 32-bit,” Broadcom concluded.

Ransomware gangs and state-sponsored hackers “frequently target” VMware vulnerabilities, BleepingComputer reported, stating that VMware products were “widely used in enterprise operations” to store or transfer sensitive corporate data.

In late January 2025, for example, TechRadar Pro reported cybercriminals were using SSH tunneling functionality on VMware’s ESXi bare metal hypervisors for stealthy persistence, to help them deploy ransomware on target endpoints.

Via BleepingComputer

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• Apple Music Classical gets Listening Guides, Personalized Recommendations and Editorial Playlists
• These updates are app-only, and not for the web browser
• Apple Music Classical remains free for all Apple Music subscribers

If you're an Apple Music subscriber who's never thought to get into its dedicated and available-for-no-extra-cost Apple Music Classical app, now would be a good time to hit the download button.

Why? Because Apple Music Classical, the place where Apple Music has housed its massive classical music catalog since its launch in March 2023, (much of it in Dolby Atmos), just added three excellent new features: Listening Guides, Personalized Recommendations and – my favorite – Editorial Stations.

The trio of new perks are exclusive to the app (which is a shame, since just this month Apple Music Classical became available on the web), but Listening Guides is available in over 100 works from launch. It's described by Apple as "a groundbreaking new feature that takes users inside a notable work of music as they listen, highlighting details and explaining a work in real time as it unfolds phrase by musical phrase."

Every day is a learning day

I tried it while streaming Wolfie M's as no one calls the hugely prolific composer, who died tragically young) Clarinet Concerto in A Major, and it's like getting CliffsNotes in real time as you stream. Text appears happily on my iPhone, mentioning florid arpeggio runs, intense high trills, and smooth interchanges from the string section to guide us back to the major scale.

It's delightful – I even now know that in 1791 the clarinet was still a relatively new instrument, and that Mozart actually wrote this concerto for the bass clarinet. Every day is a learning day.

Right now, Listening Guides is available in English, French, German, Japanese, Korean, and Simplified Chinese. But Apple says more languages and works will be added – and won't those writers have their good work cut out for them? I look forward to it.

Personalized Recommendations, meanwhile, does what the name suggests, using your listening history to suggest related offerings, as well as new recordings of works you previously listened to.

Both of these perks are hugely welcome in a genre that has felt a little stoic to me thus far (it often feels like discovery across streaming sites is a little stilted when it comes to classical – you're expected to know what you like), but Editorial Stations is by far my favorite.

As you've probably guessed, it's a selection of continually playing playlists (like radio stations but without the DJ or ads) arranged by instrument, composer, period, or genre, curated by Apple Music Classical’s editors. I'm currently listening to one titled Opera, and Bizet's Carmen is all around me in Dolby Atmos.

Added to yesterday's launch of DJ in Apple Music to help budding disc jockeys build epic sets, plus the unavoidable fact that Apple Music Replay walked all over Spotify Wrapped at the end of last year, you can say this for Apple Music and its free-to-users Apple Music Classical sibling: it's good. It's one of the best music streaming services out there, and then some.

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• Got your music sorted, just need listening gear? These are the best earbuds you can buy right now

• Pixel Buds Pro 2's design means a vent can get blocked
• This can actually affect sound quality
• You'll need micellar water and a soft toothbrush

One of the downsides of the best earbuds is that over time, they get dirty: in addition to external debris such as dust and dirt, there's also ear wax to get in the way of your listening pleasure. And it seems that the design of the Pixel Buds Pro 2 makes them not only prone to getting gummed up with unwanted additions, but these can affect the sound more than you might expect.

That's why Google has published a published a guide to safely cleaning your Pixel Buds Pro 2 (via 9to5Google for spotting it). According to Google, the rear vents and small openings on the outside of the buds can get blocked, and that can "greatly affect" the audio quality.

The good news is that it's simple to solve. All you need is micellar water – you'll usually find it with the skincare and beauty products in a store – plus a paper towel and an extra soft toothbrush. Google advises against using detergent, sprays or alcohol.

The advice here is specifically for Google's earbuds. We've got our own guide to earbud cleaning, including AirPods, right here.

These vents need to be kept clear. (Image credit: Google) How to safely clean Pixel Buds Pro 2

The star here is the micellar water, which is used by many of us to get rid of makeup without feeling like we've sanded half our face off. It's very good at shifting things, and that makes it ideal for your Pixel Buds too.

Google recommends pouring normal water into a cup and micellar water into another, and then swirling the toothbrush in the micellar water. Once you've done that, hold your bunged-up bud in one hand and use the toothbrush to brush the mesh in "deep circular motions" for 15 seconds.

Google recommends blotting the earbud on the paper towel and repeating the brushing two more times before rinsing the brush in the regular water. Once you've done that, it's time for one more brush – this time without the micellar water.

Once you've done both buds you'll need to let them air dry. Google recommends at least two hours, or longer if they need it.

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• Sid Meier's Civilization 7 update 1.1.1 has landed on all platforms except Nintendo Switch
• It adds loads of free quality of life features, plus a new natural wonder
• Paid content spans a new leader and two new Civs

The latest update for strategy game Sid Meier's Civilization 7, update 1.1.1, is here and includes a healthy mix of both free and paid content for players.

In my eyes, the most significant addition here is the reintroduction of Quick Move. This setting disables movement animations for your units and has been a staple of Civilization games for the last few years. I personally love the detailed animations in Civilization 7 but, when you're playing lots of back to back matches then turning them off is a massive time saver that increases the pace noticeably.

Map generation has been tweaked, with the introduction of a whole new default start position option aptly known as 'Standard'. This will feel familiar to Civilization 6 veterans, as it offers randomization and a lesser focus on more predictable continents.

The previous default setting has been renamed 'Balanced' and can be selected in Advanced Options. It will also remain the default option in multiplayer. Developer Firaxis Games also has reassured fans that more map variety, generation, and new, larger maps, are still in the works.

You are now able to rename both settlements and commander units freely too, allowing for more freedom and customization.

Some general UI improvements have been implemented, mainly focusing on increasing the visibility of important information like your current age progress or unit health. You will also find a new 'Restart' button on the main menu, which lets you restart your current game with the same settings in the first few turns.

Finally, a new natural wonder, Mount Everest, has been added. It offers useful tile bonuses and reveals all mountain tiles on your continent when it's first discovered.

Moving over to the realm of paid content, update 1.1.1 rounds off the premium Crossroads of the World Collection with the addition of a new leader and two new Civs. The new leader is Simón Bolívar, who specializes in Expansion, Militaristic play with multiple buffs geared towards maintaining war support and rewarding successful conflicts.

The new Civs are Bulgaria and Nepal, which both come with their own unique ability, civilian unit, and military unit. You learn more about them by visiting the full patch notes on the game's official website.

Although the update is available now for Sid Meier's Civilization 7 on PC, PlayStation 5, PlayStation 4, Xbox Series X, Xbox Series S, and Xbox One, it will come to Nintendo Switch at a later date.

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Thanks to a recent Monster Hunter Wilds Showcase event, many fans have been left clamoring for more information on a certain sea monster. But is Lagiacrus coming to Monster Hunter Wilds later this year?

Monster Hunter Wilds is another step forward for the long-running co-op action franchise. For one, its huge open world is more seamless, and more alive than ever before, with distinct seasons that promise to mix up hunts in interesting ways. Now that we've published our Monster Hunter Wilds review, the game has landed on our list of best multiplayer PC games.

Furthermore, Capcom has now detailed the next few months of post-launch updates, which you can read about in our Monster Hunter Wilds Roadmap. New monsters are the headline additions set to arrive, including Mizutsune and a new Ray Dau variant.

Here's everything you need to know about Lagiacrus being added to Monster Hunter Wilds. As more info is revealed, we'll be sure to update this page. For now, let's break down the recent teaser trailer, and look at when the fan-favorite monster last appeared in the series.

Is Lagiacrus coming to Monster Hunter Wilds?

Capcom has teased the return of Lagiacrus, showing the sea serpent at the end of a recent showcase event for Monster Hunter Wilds. Given this, I'm confident in saying that yes, Lagiacrus will come to Monster Hunter Wilds in the future.

The only caveat here is that while Lagiacrus is indeed shown in the teaser, Capcom is yet to actually confirm that the monster shown is Lagiacrus, or the details on when they could arrive. As such, keep an eye on this page for updates once we get them.

The reason I'm confident that Lagiacrus is coming to Monster Hunter Wilds is that the brief tease showed a green-scaled monster, with plenty of underwater sound effects. Lagiacrus debuted in Monster Hunter Tri, notably featured in a hunt that made use of the game's underwater combat. Hopefully this style of hunt returns for Wilds.

This is all great news for Monster Hunter fans, who voted Lagiacrus the overall third favorite monster from the series in an official 2023 poll.

When could Lagiacrus arrive in Monster Hunter Wilds?

(Image credit: Capcom)

We don't know exactly when Lagiacrus will launch in Monster Hunter Wilds. What we do know is that the Lagiacrus teaser mentioned previously was paired with the text "Second Title Update".

This is likely Title Update 2, which is set for Summer 2025. As you can see in the image above, the roadmap for Monster Hunter Wilds extends into the end of May, before things get a bit murky. I expect Capcom to air another Monster Hunter Showcase in June that'll detail Title Update 2, and hopefully give some more info on what to expect from Lagiacrus.

Monster Hunter Wilds Lagiacrus FAQ

(Image credit: Monster Hunter Wilds) Is Lagiacrus in Monster Hunter World?

Lagiacrus never appeared in Monster Hunter World. They were also absent from the Monster Hunter World: Iceborne expansion.

What games is Lagiacrus in?

Lagiacrus first appeared in Monster Hunter Tri, as the game's flagship monster. It then came to Monster Hunter Generations, though only on land, providing a very different fight when compared to the underwater action in Tri. In terms of spin-offs, Lagiacrus also notably featured in Monster Hunter Stories and Monster Hunter Stories 2.

Is Lagiacrus in Monster Hunter Wilds?

No, Lagiacrus is not currently in Monster Hunter Wilds. It has been teased however, and will likely arrive in Summer 2025, though we're still waiting on confirmation.

Is Lagiacrus in Monster Hunter Rise?

Lagiacrus was never added to Monster Hunter Rise, despite being much-requested by fans. In an interview with IGN, Monster Hunter producer Ryozo Tsujimoto explained why:

"Unfortunately Lagiacrus is just a very technological…difficult monster to implement. It's very snake-like, its parts are all kind of touching the ground at different moments,” Tsujimoto explained. “So it's very like a writhing sort of ground-based monster.”

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• Google announces Gemini 2.5
• Gemini 2.5 Pro Experimental is available for paid subscribers right now
• Tops Humanity's Last Exam, the most difficult AI benchmark

Google just announced Gemini 2.5, and it's a major upgrade to Gemini that the company is calling its "most intelligent AI model" yet.

Announced on the company's blog, Google revealed the experimental version of 2.5 Pro, which is available today for all Gemini Advanced subscribers. More 2.5 models will arrive in the future.

Google's Gemini 2.5 models are a new generation of thinking models that are able to reach "a new level of performance by combining a significantly enhanced base model with improved post-training."

2.5's thinking capabilities will be implemented into all future Google AI models, which the company says will allow them to "handle more complex problems and support even more capable, context-aware agents."

So what does this mean? Well, Google is doubling down on its impressively frequent AI updates, and this time we're getting better reasoning capabilities than ever before.

Available right now, you can access Gemini 2.5 Pro Experimental simply by selecting the model in the Gemini app or directly in Google's AI Studio. You'll need a Gemini Advanced subscription to see this as an option.

Pricing for the improved model (for those who want to use it for scaled production use) will be announced in the coming weeks, and more 2.5 models are expected to launch in due course.

Gemini 2.5 Pro is impressive

(Image credit: Google)

Google shared some benchmark results for Gemini 2.5 Pro Experimental and the results are seriously impressive.

The new AI model scores 18.8% on Humanity's Last Exam compared to 14% for ChatGPT's o3-mini and 8.6% for DeepSeek R1. Humanity's Last Exam is the most thorough and difficult AI benchmark, so to score substantially higher than its competitors is no mean feat.

18.8% is the highest score we've ever seen on Humanity's Last Exam (without tool use). Google is calling Gemini 2.5 Pro's reasoning capabilities "state-of-the-art" and it's clear to see why.

Google continues to drive forward with its AI development at a rapid pace. Just last week the company made Gemini Deep Research free for all and followed that up with improvements to its impressive AI podcasting tool, NotebookLM.

We'll be testing Gemini 2.5 Pro and putting the new Experimental model through its paces, so stay tuned to TechRadar for further Google AI coverage.

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Google has finally added humans to the long list of things Pixel Studio on its Pixel phones can generate AI images of. The technology, however, still seems to be in its infancy because the results are, shall we say… variable, verging on terrifying?

For instance, I asked Pixel Studio to generate an image of “an athlete” and it showed me an image of a man without any skin at all! (See the image above.) Not only was the image quite shocking, it wasn’t anywhere near what I’d asked for.

To be fair to Google, it does say “This feature is being fine-tuned, so you might get unexpected results of blocked images” when you open Pixel Studio, but I didn't think that would mean showing me somebody without any skin!

Pixel Studio also did a far better job at generating images of people in other professions than “athlete”, although it does seem to default to males when I asked to see things like a doctor, a paramedic, or a police officer.

Here's what I got from Pixel Studio when I asked for "a doctor". Why the long face? (Image credit: Google) Pixel 9-only

Pixel Studio is Google's on-board AI image generation app included on Pixel 9 phones - it won’t work on earlier models or other phones. The announcement about people being added to Pixel Studio was made a couple of weeks ago but has only just rolled out.

As you’d expect for an AI image generator, it works from a text prompt. You simply type in what you want to see and Pixel Studio generates an image for you. For comparison, Apple’s Image Playground does a similar job, but on the iPhone.

Compared to Image Playground, which seems to only be able to produce cutesy, cartoon-like images, Pixel Studio can produce much more realistic images.

By enabling proper photo-realistic human AI character generation, Google is treating the Pixel Studio app more like the best AI image generators, like say Midjourney or Imagen 3.

Of course, Pixel Studio can make cartoon images too, if you ask it to. It defaults to photo-realistic for images, but you can ask for things to be generated “in a cartoon style” or “in a watercolor painting style”, etc.

Here's what Pixel Studio showed for "a paramedic". (Image credit: Google) Rolling out

Things have improved for AI image generation recently. Google has just added native image generation and editing to its Gemini AI, however, it’s currently only available inside Google AI Studio, its developer tool, which is free to access, but not as easy to use as the main Gemini app.

ChatGPT has also just added native image generation to its 4o model, and Grok 3 can now also edit images. We'll be testing all of these new image generation upgrades and pitting the tools against each other. Stay tuned to TechRadar to make sure you don't miss our future comparisons.

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• Windows 11 looks like it’ll get an AI-supercharged search for Copilot+ PCs
• This will allow natural language queries and leverage the on-board NPU to process them
• The feature is progressing through testing nicely, and so might be released soon enough

Windows 11 looks like it’ll get its basic search functionality seriously bolstered, with a natural language searching feature progressing nicely through testing – but it’s only for those with Copilot+ PCs.

These ‘local semantic search’ powers have arrived in the latest preview release in the Beta channel (build 26120.3585, as noticed by Neowin), for Copilot+ laptops with AMD or Intel processors. Furthermore, they’ve also turned up in Release Preview for Snapdragon (Arm-powered) Copilot+ PCs.

The move means you can use natural language for a search query in Windows, such as “find photos of me with my dog” or “find that document which is my holiday packing checklist,” rather than having to remember any exact file names.

This doesn’t just work in terms of searching your files and folders (meaning File Explorer), but also with searches in the Settings app – so you can perform queries such as “show me the Bluetooth devices connected to my PC” to pick out another example.

All of this leverages the power of the NPU of the Copilot+ PC. All the processing is done locally, with no data sent to the cloud, which obviously means that you don’t have to be connected to the internet.

Also worked into this particular piece of functionality is the ability to use this AI-enhanced search to find photos in the cloud, should you wish.

Microsoft explains: “In addition to photos stored locally on your Copilot+ PC, photos from the cloud will now show up in the search results together. In addition to searching for photos, exact matches for your keywords within the text of your cloud files will show in the search results.”

This is for OneDrive only for now, but Microsoft says it’s working to bring support to third-party cloud storage services.

As for caveats, right now, searching for Windows settings will only work within the Settings app itself, but the eventual aim is to have these results flagged from the search box on the desktop taskbar (as is the case with the normal search function).

It’s worth noting that if you are a Windows tester in the Beta channel, this feature is only gradually rolling out, so you may not see it for a while yet (and you may need a couple of reboots of your Copilot+ PC to fully trigger the AI-bolstered search when it does turn up).

(Image credit: Future) Analysis: A golden gift for Copilot+ PCs

A natural language search is a nifty ability for Windows 11 search, and a good use of that NPU. Windows 11’s search powers have always been rather sluggish and lacking, often proving not just slow, but failing to find anything useful, and flagging up weird results (or pointless web content). It’s been a long-complained-about area of Windows (the same is true of Windows 10), so hopefully this will go some way towards pepping up the overall experience, as well as making the functionality a lot more convenient.

Of course, with semantic indexing, Microsoft’s AI is effectively cataloguing (read: rifling through) all your files in order to have the search work in a more timely and responsive manner. Hence the reason why the company clarifies that all processing and data is stored locally, and doesn’t leave your PC – due to the potential privacy implications otherwise. This is especially important because as Microsoft notes elsewhere: “Semantic indexing is enabled by default on Copilot+ PCs.”

You can turn it off, mind, or you can selectively exclude certain files or folders (or drives). All these options are housed in the Settings app, in Privacy & Security > Searching Windows > Advanced indexing options.

This AI-driven search feature was seen in the Dev channel a while ago, so the fact that it has progressed to Beta (and Release Preview for Snapdragon-powered Copilot+ PCs) suggests it’s close to arriving in the finished version of Windows 11 for these devices.

Still, we can never be sure any feature in testing will see the light of day, but it seems very likely in this case. As it’s a complex piece of functionality, though, Microsoft could still have some tweaking and debugging on its plate. This is something Microsoft really needs to nail for release, as it’ll show off a considerable advantage of a Copilot+ PC if it turns out well – which will be a much-needed addition to the list of selling points for these computers.

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Consumers might not realize it, but their internet experience is highly dependent on networks of servers called CDNs, or Content Delivery Networks. CDN servers consist of a network connected to different Points of Presence (PoPs) around the world, and—as their name suggests—are designed to deliver content to end users as quickly as possible. They function by minimizing the distance that data needs to travel to best distribute a user’s traffic quickly and efficiently, according to their request.

Historically, the best CDN providers have been focused on specific geographic regions, like Western Europe or the United States. Today, however, more companies are beginning to take a multi-CDN approach.

At a basic level, multi-CDNs are two or more CDNs aggregated into a single system. When a request comes in from an end user, a multi-CDN system can automatically determine which of its CDNs provides the fastest route—broadening coverage areas while reducing overhead. The result is a more robust, better-optimized content delivery system, which many businesses are finding indispensable for their increasingly globalized customer base.

Single-CDN vs. Multi-CDN

For businesses contemplating whether to choose a single-CDN vs. multi-CDN approach, their decision will potentially come down to the type of content they are trying to deliver. The key concept at play here is static versus dynamic.

Dynamic content—for instance, fluctuating ecommerce or live-streaming platform offerings—can typically be effectively delivered through single-CDN approaches. Some multi-CDN providers have a switching layer that continuously switches between the CDNs in their mix. Decisions are then made based on performance to change content delivery providers for a better result for the client. Although this can occasionally create issues for an end user watching a live stream, in most cases it does not.

Nevertheless, as the digital landscape shifts toward more dynamic content, vast swathes of internet content remain static. Static content (e.g. images, CSS files, data objects, JavaScript, and prerecorded videos) change infrequently, making it perfectly suited for high-performance multi-CDN distribution. For example, the AdTech and MarTech industries often depend on multi-CDNs for banners and other pre-rendered content that remains consistent for all end users.

Since the content doesn’t change, it simplifies delivery and allows it to load faster from any geographic caching point. Additionally, many streaming platforms offer static, “on-demand videos”, which can also benefit from multi-CDNs. By caching content across multiple CDNs in a coordinated way, multi-CDNs reduce the number of requests that need to be made to the media’s origin server, reducing traffic costs from both an ingress and egress perspective.

In all these cases, multi-CDNs can route traffic to the best-performing CDN, based on their region and request, to reduce latency and improve the user experience. In comparison to a single-CDN, global providers who offer multi-CDN solutions can all but guarantee uptime, availability, and reliability—if one CDN has an outage or has performance issues, another can take over to ensure continuous availability.

For organizations with a global customer base, multi-CDNs offer a better experience for end users, delivering content quickly from the geographically closest node, providing the most efficient path – especially when compared to a region with some hyperscalers’ – irrelevant of their location. Moreover, for organizations aiming to futureproof and remain competitive, prioritizing speed and efficiency has become essential—particularly as the world becomes driven by AI technologies.

Multi-CDNs in an AI World

AI has been integrated into almost every application. This has, inevitably, created a demand for high availability—one that multi-CDN strategies are uniquely well-equipped to meet.

AI solutions depend on high-quality data and content to succeed. These foundational elements provide the context necessary for AI to generate accurate and relevant outputs. While not dependent on multi-CDNs, AI models leverage them to retrieve data more quickly from the nearest server, delivering dynamic content with high speeds and low latency.

It is important to note that AI has also raised users’ digital expectations. Consumers now require faster, more accurate, and more relevant results across their digital experience. Thus, any solution within one's portfolio must match the speed and capabilities of AI technology. Multi-CDNs are also able to rise to this challenge by delivering dynamic content with higher speeds and lower latency, ultimately expanding global reach, and enhancing the user experience.

In addition to being delivered faster, content is also delivered more reliably. Most organizations that deploy single-CDN technology, of course, have a back-up provider in place in case the first one goes down. However, spinning up that second provider can take a long time—potentially frustrating customers and damaging business operations. However, there are various types of Multi-CDNs, including configurations of multiple single CDNs.

In some cases, a valuable switching layer is added, enabling real-time delivery optimization by dynamically switching between CDNs every second based on performance. This approach is particularly beneficial in environments where it eliminates the spin-up time required for a secondary CDN, while ensuring seamless and uninterrupted content delivery. Meanwhile, additional content caching can be accomplished, further reducing the cost of traffic both to and from its origin.

While AI does not rely directly on using multiple CDNs, the infrastructure that supports AI services—such as content delivery, data storage, and real-time inference—works better with a multi-CDN approach. By pooling the strengths of multiple individual CDN providers into one optimized system, it ensures a level of redundancy and reliability that no single CDN could possibly offer on its own.

Choosing a Multi-CDN Provider

Over the years, many organizations have turned to hyperscalers for their computing and storage needs. While these companies offer a wide array of resources, they have a dominant status in the market; and therefore, have been able to charge what some would argue are excessively high fees.

These providers will usually offer credits to welcome new buyers to their platforms, but they often do not extend a tiered or competitive price point once those credits expire, leaving organizations in a tight financial bind. The result is that companies will jump from provider to provider using up free credits, before seeking out a more cost-effective option. Additionally, hyperscalers often deploy multiple single-CDNs instead of a multi-CDN, leaving their users vulnerable to down-time and lost revenue.

As strategies shifted, enterprise to SMB organizations have begun to implement their own solutions involving multiple single-CDN providers. However, the challenges involved with this are often significant, thus creating a need for multi-CDN providers. Leading multi-CDN providers emerge as significant disruptors in this space by offering CDN services that compete with the hyperscalers’ – at a lower cost and with improved performance and reliability.

Where to Go from Here

CDNs are designed to deliver content as quickly as possible. With the modern internet user, there are more dynamic expectations of the digital experience that multi-CDNs are better equipped to handle, especially with AI-based services and performance.

Organizations should strongly consider integrating a multi-CDN approach with a provider who can increase efficiency, uptime, availability, and speed with a global network. While a multi-CDN approach will not fit every scenario, more businesses are finding that the ease, flexibility, and scale vastly exceed those of traditional single-CDNs for a wide variety of use cases and workloads.

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• Google Maps has tweaked its route info panel
• There's also faster access to Gemini AI
• These changes aren't available to everyone yet

Google Maps is one of the apps that gets the most love from Google in terms of regular updates, and we've spotted another couple of upgrades rolling out to the mapping app in recent days – upgrades to add some extra convenience to your travels.

Firstly, the app is changing up how it displays route overviews. As Android Police has noted, the info card you see when you select any place on the map on Android now shows you more details about parking availability and any applicable toll fees.

This information was previously available in Google Maps, but you had to dig around a little bit to find it – now it's included on the main route overview pop-up, alongside the estimated travel time and the current traffic conditions.

It's a small tweak but one that's potentially very useful. It brings together more of the data Google Maps has in the same place, which means you're more clued up about your journeys and you can get moving more quickly. It doesn't look as though the update is live for everyone yet, but it should be eventually.

More AI in Google Maps

Gemini is starting to let you ask about places you view on Google MapsGemini's 'Ask about place' chip for Google Maps has started showing up.✅ Details - https://t.co/wAU6mY4VJQ pic.twitter.com/q6ne9kbxbwMarch 25, 2025

Our second new feature concerns Google's favorite tech of the moment: AI. As spotted by Android Authority, if you select a place on the map in Google Maps for Android, then activate Gemini (with a long press on the power button for example), you get a new Ask about place chip you can tap.

Gemini being able to tell you about places isn't new, but the addition of a specific shortcut means you can get some AI-generated information about a location much more quickly from Google Maps. Just watch out for hallucinations, as always.

For example, you could ask when a certain place opens or closes, or ask if it's suitable for kids. The responses will then be displayed in a Gemini overlay on top of the screen, as usual, and you can ask follow-up questions if needed.

We can expect much more in the way of Gemini integration in Google Maps and Google's other apps in the future, too. Google has been busy pushing the AI bot into as many apps as it can, while it continues to work on retiring Google Assistant.

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