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Commentary: It doesn't matter if Apple drops more AI at WWDC next week. I'm never turning my camera control button back on, and you should join me.

Anthropic has started a new blog called Claude Explains, discussing the capabilities of its AI models and written by that self-same AI model. The educational posts are “written” by Claude to explain how to use Claude. It's like an AI's personal diary, but with debugging tips instead of romantic exploits.

The blog is pitched as a “corner of the Anthropic universe where Claude is writing on every topic under the sun,” but that's not quite accurate. Claude may draft the pieces, but a team of human experts and editors sand and polish the rough outline to make sure they are readable and accurate, or as Anthropic calls it, a “collaborative approach."

Now, this idea isn't terrible on its face. This kind of AI-human tag team makes a lot of sense, at least when the AI is writing about itself. An article about how Claude can design a website or organize a financial report is well within Claude's wheelhouse. It's just explaining its own abilities. But a technically reasonable explanation and a few useful examples aren't a full blog post. Claude’s best work still won't always result in a coherent article, or one that a real person would want to read.

Anthropic is honest about how humans are part of the process throughout blog post production. Claude may start the car, but humans are at the wheel and navigating, lest it drive the article right into a ditch full of hallucinations and mixed metaphors. Anyone who’s used AI without guardrails knows this scenario isn’t far-fetched. AI is excellent at saying things that sound right until you try to actually apply them.

(Image credit: Anthropic)AI ghostwriting

Collaboration is certainly an efficient approach. Claude can crank out thousands of words without breaking a sweat, and if you’re using it to explain the same concepts it was trained on, it’s got a decent shot at getting things mostly right. Problems arise much more quickly when AI writers are left unsupervised, especially on subjects outside of the AI model's abilities.

The blog doesn’t proclaim the human element, so a casual reader might assume Claude is doing all the writing. That’s a branding choice, and not a neutral one. It creates a kind of halo effect, subtly bragging about how the AI breaks down data analysis and sounds like a real writer. Except it isn’t human. It’s a word blender that gets better results when someone else chooses the ingredients and adjusts the settings. And that distinction matters, especially as more people begin to trust AI-generated information in contexts far beyond technical blogs.

There's a steady stream of stories about media outlets embarrassing themselves by believing AI can replace entire content teams. The Chicago Sun-Times published AI-generated book recommendations for titles that didn’t exist, and multiple outlets have published AI-written features full of errors. And that's not even counting Apple's attempts at news summary headlines.

Claude Explains feels downright reasonable by comparison. If you’re going to use AI to produce content for public consumption, maybe keep to what it knows best. And don't leave out the humans.

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• Intel's Nova Lake S desktop processors are rumored to utilize two separate iGPU architectures
• Xe3 will reportedly be used for graphic workloads, while Xe4 will be used for media-related tasks
• It could be another sign of processors with powerful iGPUs replacing budget discrete GPUs

AMD and Intel are on the frontlines battling it out in the CPU market for mobile and desktop platforms, and Team Blue's upcoming Nova Lake processors may offer a unique and rare architecture setup.

As reported by Wccftech, Intel's Nova Lake S desktop processors will reportedly feature a hybrid iGPU architecture, using Xe3 for graphics and Xe4 for display and media-related tasks, according to the reliable leaker @jaykihn0 on X. The rumor suggests that Intel intends to utilize Xe3's full potential in graphical workloads, while Xe4 could be essential for power efficiency.

It will be interesting to see whether the Nova Lake S processors will have the same effect as AMD's Ryzen AI Max processors (which are actively making their way to desktop systems), in terms of their iGPU capabilities. Notably, the Ryzen AI Max+ 395 provides great performance at both 1080p and 1440p in games like Cyberpunk 2077.

Regardless, if this rumor is legitimate, it looks like Team Blue is taking a big stride with GPU power across the board, especially with rumors of a new Arc B770 16GB GPU. It also raises the question once again; if Nova Lake S and Panther Lake both provide great iGPU performance for desktop and mobile platforms, respectively, could we be seeing the beginning of the end for discrete GPUs?

Analysis: Maybe it's almost the end for budget discrete GPUs...

(Image credit: Intel)

Now, let's pump the brakes a little here. There's almost no way any SoC or iGPU will be able to match high-end GPUs like the RTX 4090 or RTX 5080, at least not any time soon.

However, we've already got AMD's strongest APU that has surpassed the likes of the RTX 4060 and even the RTX 4070 in some gaming scenarios – so at the very least, I think budget low-end discrete GPUs are in danger.

Perhaps the only factor saving them is that they are indeed budget GPUs, but the proposition of a PC without a discrete GPU taking up space may be a tempting one for gamers.

It's worth noting that Strix Halo APUs were reserved for laptops and other mobile platforms, but have gradually made their way to desktops, specifically present in mini-PC builds.

It's also no secret that some of the budget GPUs like the RTX 5060 (based on reviews), aren't good enough for consumers with their 8GB configurations – so if desktop processors, SoCs, or AMD's APUs can continue to match or outperform them, I wouldn't be surprised to see a decent portion of low-end discrete GPUs fade away...

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• OM System OM-5 II rumored to land this month
• It could become the cheapest mirrorless camera with a stacked sensor
• Other details are scant, but expect USB-C in a new model

Rumors courtesy of 43rumors suggest that the OM System OM-5 II could be unveiled later this month, coinciding with the Bild Expo in New York, which takes place on June 17-18.

Such a model would succeed the OM-5, which remains in top spot of our best travel cameras guide, despite being almost three years old. That's thanks to its compact body, retro styling, superb lens choice, and competitive price.

OM-5 II details are scant at this stage, which leaves me skeptical about such an imminent announcement. However, there's one potential tasty upgrade being touted for the second-gen model – a stacked sensor.

Recent OM-System cameras have tended to be minor upgrades, but a stacked sensor would represent a huge boost in performance from the original model.

The likely downside is a big price hike. That's because stacked sensors are much pricier than the regular kind, as used in the OM-5.

Currently, the OM System OM-3 is the cheapest mirrorless camera available with a stacked sensor, but it still costs a lot more than the OM-5.

A potential OM-5 II needs a sensible price gap from the OM-3, and if it materializes with a stacked sensor for less, it could be a bargain, cementing the OM-5 series' position as a top pick for travel.

That said, the competitive price of the OM-5 is a key factor for its top position in our best travel cameras guide, and utilizing a stacked sensor will inevitably push up the price.

Could an OM-5 II inherit the same stacked sensor as found in the stylish OM-3? (Image credit: Tim Coleman)

Beyond potentially inheriting a stacked sensor, we know precious little about the potentially forthcoming OM-5 II.

One update I can be sure of, should the OM-5 II land, is USB-C charging. After all, the EU's new common charger directive mandates USB-C as the universal charging port standard, and the current model was one of the last cameras to launch with micro USB connectivity.

What do you think, is a stacked sensor a good idea for an OM-5 successor? What new features would you like to see? Let us know in the comments below.

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• The Sennheiser BTD 700 is a USB-C wireless dongle
• Bluetooth 5.4 with aptX Adaptive and Auracast, and a USB-A adapter
• £44.99 / $59.95 / €49.90 (about AU$94)

If the Bluetooth audio from your computer or device is disappointing or laggy, or if you want to use aptX Adaptive headphones with Apple gear, Sennheiser has just the thing for you.

Its new BTD 700 Bluetooth dongle brings high quality wireless streaming at up to 24-bit/96kHz as well as a low-latency mode for gamers. It’s a tiny dongle that delivers a big audio upgrade to a wide range of devices when connecting to the best wireless headphones and best wireless earbuds.

The dongle is extremely small and extremely light, and it has USB-C for wide compatibility. There's an equally small USB-C to USB-A adapter included for older hardware.

(Image credit: Sennheiser)Sennheiser BTD 700: key features and pricing

The BTD 700 is Bluetooth 5.4 with Auracast transmission, aptX Adaptive and aptX Lossless. It's a class-compliant USB audio device that should work happily with a huge variety of hardware.

The dongle can't upgrade your accessories – if your headphones don't support aptX Lossless or aptX Adaptive, it can't stream to them with those codecs.

The presence of Auracast is really useful, because that enables you to stream to multiple devices simultaneously (provided they're Auracast-compatible, of course). That means your laptop or other device can become a home streaming hub, streaming to multiple compatible speakers or headphones.

It's particularly interesting for Apple owners: Apple hardware such as iPhones and iPads don't support aptX Adaptive or Lossless, so you can't get the best wireless audio quality from them and your high-quality Apple Music subscription. With the BTD 700, you can.

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• macOS 16 (or macOS 26) could drop support for some Intel Macs
• Rumors suggest these will include my 2018 MacBook Pro
• But it likely won't be the end of the road for all Intel-powered Macs yet

My trusty 2018 MacBook Pro has served me well over the years, processing thousands of photos and more without complaint – but the latest macOS 16 rumors suggest its days are, like most Intel-powered Macs, very much numbered.

WWDC 2025 is now just days away and, according to a report from Apple Insider, macOS 16 – or macOS 26 Tahoe, as it seems likely to be named – will drop support for many Intel Mac models, including (sniff) mine.

Apple Insider says that "people familiar with the matter" have told it that only the Macs listed below will be able to run macOS 16. Notable by their absence are the 2018 MacBook Pro, 2020 Intel-based MacBook Air, 2017 iMac Pro, and 2018 Mac mini, all of which currently support the current macOS Sequoia.

• Rumored macOS 26 compatibility list
• MacBook Pro 2019 or later
• MacBook Air M1 or later
• iMac 2020 or later
• Mac Pro 2019 or later
• Mac mini M1 or later
• Mac Studio

There are two other things to note about this list. One is that, if it is indeed accurate when Apple announces macOS 26 on June 9, it wouldn't yet mark a significant end for all Intel-powered Macs.

The 2019 MacBook Pro, 2020 5K iMac, and 2019 Mac Pro would all soldier on until 2026. Next year, macOS 27 may presumably then become the first desktop OS to exclusively support Apple Silicon-powered Macs, which would be a big moment if so.

Secondly, those four Intel-powered Macs that are seemingly on the chopping block for macOS 26 wouldn't necessarily be obsolete. Apple typically continues to provide another two years of security-only updates for machines in that position, so I wouldn't necessarily have to wave goodbye to my 2018 MacBook Pro.

And yet, macOS 26 will likely be the excuse I've been looking for to do just that...

My next MacBook

We're expect to see Craig Federighi (above) present macOS 16 to us at WWDC 2025 on June 9, though it may well be called macOS 26 (Image credit: Apple)

Moving to an Apple Silicon MacBook has been on my wishlist for a few years now, but buying one isn't exactly a $20 challenge. Still, if Apple does announce on June 9 that my 2018 MacBook Pro isn't invited to the Tahoe party, it'll likely be the nudge I need to make the leap – the other being that my MacBook is now very much showing its age.

There's all the usual seven-year-old laptop signs, like needing to be constantly connected to a charger and the fan going into overdrive at the merest hint of anything more taxing than three Chrome tabs. And yes, it does also have the much-maligned Touch Bar, which I've grown to like despite it being largely useless.

But it's really photo and video editing where my MacBook Pro is showing its advancing years. Adobe Lightroom's AI-powered noise reduction, for example, is very impressive, but applying it to one photo can take several minutes and makes the base of my laptop feel hot enough for cooking a steak dinner.

The question for me will likely be whether to get a MacBook Air 13-inch M4 or wait for the M5 MacBook Pro, which is expected to land later this year alongside M5 chips (possibly in "the fall" of 2025, according to Bloomberg's Mark Gurman).

With the former sitting at the top of our best laptops guide and likely offering everything I'll need (Liquid Retina display with P3 color gamut, 10-core Apple M4 chip and all-day battery life), I'm leaning towards that – particularly as it starts at a pretty reasonable $999 / £999 / AU$1,699. Which will somehow double when I add more RAM and storage.

There are also the rumors that this year's MacBook Pro M5 might be a slightly disappointing upgrade. The real fireworks are likely coming with a redesigned MacBook Pro M6 that's been tipped to land in 2026 with an OLED display, according to rumors at least.

So while my tired 2018 MacBook Pro isn't completely obsolete yet, the switch to an M4-powered MacBook would likely feel like a night-and-day difference – and those are now pretty rare.

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• Eufy has launched its first lawnbots: the Eufy E15 and (US-only) E18
• They're visual full self-driving bots, which use cameras and AI algorithms to navigate
• They don't need to use boundary wires or RTK receivers

Robotic lawn mowers have come a long way in recent years. Boundary wires are gradually becoming a thing of the past, with most modern lawnbots using RTK receivers to navigate neatly and accurately using satellite signals. But Eufy's new models take things a step further, and operate without either of those.

The new Eufy E15 and E18 are V-FSD (visual full self-driving) robot lawn mowers, and find their way around using a combination of binocular cameras and AI algorithms – it's a similar system to what you'd find in a self-driving car.

Aside from not having to deal with the extra hassle of setting up a separate RTK receiver, this could be an ideal solution for those who have a lot of overhead obstacles in their garden – satellite navigation relies on a direct line of sight to multiple satellites in the sky.

(Image credit: Eufy)

These are Eufy's first ever lawnbots – the brand is better known for its robot vacuums, smart locks and security cameras. Given that a Eufy model is currently sitting at the top of TechRadar's best robot vacuum ranking, I'm intrigued to see if it can take some of that indoor magic outside.

Eufy promises an effort-free setup process: simply connect the bot up to your Wi-Fi, pop it on your lawn, and it'll automatically map the area. The V-FSD 1.0 tech is designed to accurately identify lawn edges and paths, as well as spotting any obstacles to avoid. There's the option to add no-go zones (via the app, without having to drive the lawnbot over as you would usually have to) and to map multiple lawn zones.

The system might sound a little too good to be true, but based on our early tests things are looking very promising. So far, our reviewer has been impressed by his E15's navigation, reporting largely accurate auto-mapping and reliable object avoidance for anything the size of a tennis ball or larger. We'll get a full review live as soon as we've had a chance to put it through its paces properly.

(Image credit: Eufy)

The Eufy E15 is available in the US and UK, and is designed for yards up to 0.2 acres / 800m², while the E18 is currently US-only, and can tackle larger spaces up to 0.3 acres / 1,200m².

Like a satellite-based lawnbot, both of these V-FSD models can cut in uniform lines. You can adjust desired cutting height between 1-3in / 2.5-7.5cm, and there's also a 'Ride On Edge' feature where the bot will straddle the perimeter of paths so you don't need to bother trimming the edges manually.

The bots come equipped with a GPS+4G anti-theft system, backed up with the option of remote visual camera viewing.

In the US, the E15 and E18 are available to buy now direct from Eufy US, at a list price of $1,799.99 and $1,999.99 respectively. In the UK, the E15 is available direct from Eufy UK for £1,499.

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• An official Wicked: For Good trailer has dropped
• The movie's release date is November 21, 2025
• The first Wicked is available to stream on Peacock in the US

Wicked: For Good has a magical new trailer and it's made me want to relive the Oscar-winning first movie all over again. Thankfully I can, as Wicked is now available on Peacock, one of the best streaming services.

Wicked, one of the 2025 Best Picture nominees, ended up walking away with two Academy Awards – Best Costume Design and Best Production Design – and if this new trailer is anything to go by, Wicked: For Good could sweep even more awards in the future.

According to Universal, Wicked became "the most successful Broadway film adaptation of all time", so it's no surprise fans have flocked to watch the new trailer which is trending at #1 on YouTube at the time of writing.

Take a look at the trailer everyone's talking about below, ahead of its global release on November 21, 2025.

What is the plot of Wicked: For Good?

(Image credit: Universal Pictures)

Expanding on the first movie, Wicked: For Good's juicy story makes it one of my most anticipated new movies of 2025.

Wicked: For Good will follow Elphaba (Cynthia Erivo) and Glinda (Ariana Grande) as they "grapple with the consequences of their choices and the events of the Wizard of Oz", once again told from the perspective of the witches.

Their friendship is put to the test as Elphaba is now demonized as "The Wicked Witch of the West", while the other is hailed as "Glinda the Good". The movie switches focus, depicting the land of Oz both before and after the arrival of Dorothy Gale.

Many of Wicked's original cast reprise their roles alongside Erivo and Grande, including Jonathan Bailey, Ethan Slater, Bowen Yang, Michelle Yeoh and Jeff Goldblum.

Will Wicked: For Good defy gravity and soar to even greater heights than the first installment? We'll have to wait to find out, but at least this trailer will keep you going in the meantime.

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• Windows 11 has a new power-saving feature in testing
• It kicks in when you leave your laptop for a period of time
• While you’re away, power management settings ensure a minimal amount of battery is used – and when you return, things instantly return to normal

Windows 11 is set to receive fresh capabilities to preserve the battery life of your laptop with the introduction of a new feature in testing recently.

Windows Latest picked up on this one, with the power-management feature being revealed in a preview build from a couple of weeks back (which the site missed at the time, and I did, too).

Microsoft rather clunkily calls this functionality ‘User Interaction-Aware CPU Power Management’ but to be fair, that does describe how it works.

The idea is that when you leave your laptop to go and do something else, and maybe get distracted, Windows 11 will notice that you’ve gone and are no longer interacting with the device.

In these cases, after a set period of time Windows will apply power-consumption reduction measures to extend battery life, because while you’re not using the laptop, you’re not going to be worried about what that might do to performance (obviously).

When you return to your device and start using it again, Microsoft promises that “full performance [is] instantly restored” as you’d hope.

Analysis: promises and caveats

(Image credit: Shutterstock/Ham patipak)

There’s no downside here, then, at least if what Microsoft is maintaining here is true – that as soon as you come back to use your device, full performance is instantly back at your fingertips. If there’s a bit of lag in terms of responsiveness returning, that might be annoying, depending on how much – but we’ll take Microsoft’s word at face value that this won’t be an issue.

The company does mention one caveat, though, which is that the power savings Windows 11 users benefit from will vary. They’ll depend on the power plan chosen in the OS, and whether your laptop is plugged in, and also processor power-management settings as defined by the manufacturer.

In the latter case, this means there may be factors that the laptop maker has implemented that affect how much battery life the feature can preserve.

If you don’t want this functionality there will seemingly be a way to turn it off, presumably under Windows 11’s power management settings. I can’t see why you wouldn’t want extra battery savings to happen in this way, though, providing the feature works as seamlessly as Microsoft is suggesting.

With this new power-management trickery in testing now, it seems like there’s a good chance it’ll arrive with Windows 11 25H2 later this year. This is an area Microsoft has been working on quite a lot recently, including bringing in the revamped Energy Saver with Windows 11 24H2.

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The bodies of Judy Weinstein Haggai, 70, an Israeli who held U.S. and Canadian citizenship, and her husband, Gad Haggai, 72, a dual U.S.-Israeli citizen, were recovered, the country's military said.

(Image credit: Ariel Schalit)

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• New Gemini Catch Me Up tool can highlight changes to Google Drive files
• Google Docs, Sheets and Slides are all included
• Users can pick a specific file to analyze, or their whole Google Drive

Keeping up to date with any changes made to key Google Workspace work or business files should soon be a lot easier thanks to a new "Catch me up" feature powered by Gemini.

The tool is able to scan through your Google Drive space and quickly identify which files have been recently edited, providing a full recap of the changes in a brief overview.

Although Google cautions that these reports are not meant to be entirely comprehensive, the tool will cover the likes of file edits on Docs, and file comments on Docs, Sheets, and Slides.

Gemini "catch me up"

(Image credit: Google Workspace)

""Catch me up" provides a high-level overview of important changes across documents from your Drive, or a synopsis of the main changes and comments in a particular file since it was last opened to ensure users are always up to date," a Google Workspace Updates blog post announcing the changes explained.

The tool will be able to provide several types of update - a high-level Catch Me Up report can be found by selecting the “Catch me up” nudge at the top of the Google Drive home page, with the response shown in the Gemini side panel.

For a specific file or doc, the tool can show if there have been changes to that file since you last viewed it and provide an overview of what changed, with a specific Catch Me Up activity indicator displayed next to the file name in Google Drive.

Users will need to have smart features and personalization turned on for Google Workspace in order to access Catch Me Up, which is rolling out now.

It will be available across the following Google Workspace tiers; Business Standard and Plus, Enterprise Standard and Plus, Customers with the Gemini Education or Gemini Education Premium add-on, and Google One AI Premium - with any users who have previously purchased the Gemini Business or Gemini Enterprise add-ons also set to receive the feature.

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• A list of iPhones supporting iOS 19 – which might be called iOS 26 – has leaked
• The iPhone XR, iPhone XS, and iPhone XS Max may miss out
• Apple will unveil the software next week

Apple is scheduled to tell us all about its grand plans for iOS 19 – which may be rebranded as iOS 26 – next week, and a new rumor suggests that this year's software update is going to leave some iPhone models behind.

According to a "very reliable" source in contact with MacRumors, the oldest handsets that will support iOS 19 are the iPhone 11 models and the iPhone SE 2. Those phones launched in September 2019 and April 2020 respectively.

In terms of phones that can run iOS 18 but apparently won't be able to run its successor, we're saying goodbye to the iPhone XR, the iPhone XS, and the iPhone XS Max. Those three iPhones were all announced by Apple in September 2018.

Bear in mind that none of this is confirmed by Apple yet. It's also worth noting that even if those older phones miss out on iOS 26, they may still get security updates for some time – the iPhone 8 most recently got an update in March 2025, for example.

Here's what's coming

The iPhone 16 will no doubt get iOS 26 (Image credit: Apple)

Besides the rebrand from iOS 19 to iOS 26, we've heard quite a few rumors about the next software update for the iPhone. The interface is apparently going to be given quite an overhaul, which has actually been hinted at in Apple's own WWDC 2025 invites.

A slew of new features are expected to make an appearance across Messages, Music, and Notes, including automatic translations for messages in a foreign language, and animated album art for your playlists that shows up on the lock screen.

There have also been leaks about a dedicated gaming hub that runs across iPhones and other Apple devices, as well as the introduction of more AI voice assistants that work with iOS – including, perhaps, Google Gemini.

All will be revealed next Monday, June 9, at Apple's Worldwide Developer Conference (WWDC): the annual software showcase for iOS, macOS, iPadOS, and more. We'll be covering the event and all the announcements live, and if you want to follow along then check out our guide on how to watch the event.

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Trump has signed a proclamation banning travelers from a dozen countries starting on Monday. And, Elon Musk's criticism of the budget bill is raising GOP concerns.

(Image credit: Anna Moneymaker)

• Nioh 3 has been officially revealed with a 2026 launch window
• The game is coming to PS5 and PC, but PS5 players can try out a free demo today until June 18
• The new open-world Nioh entry will offer two playstyles, Samurai and Ninja

Koei Tecmo has officially announced Nioh 3 at PlayStation's June State of Play showcase.

Revealed alongside a story trailer, the studio confirmed that its new open-world Nioh game will be set in Japan's Sengoku period and will be released for PlayStation 5 and PC via Steam in 2026.

Although the soulslike game is one year away, fans can check out the Nioh 3 Alpha Demo, which is available exclusively on PS5 until June 18. The demo offers an early look at the game, featuring an in-progress character creation system.

After players complete the demo, they can provide feedback, including thoughts on the new battle styles and open field exploration. They'll also receive a special helmet for use in Nioh 3's full game.

"In Nioh 3, fans take on the role of a young warrior poised to become the next Shogun during Japan’s turbulent Sengoku period. Players will be able to enjoy a unique open-field experience that combines the freedom of exploration with the tension and intensity of action characteristics that encompasses all Nioh titles," Koei Tecmo said.

"From fighting monstruous yokai and exploring villages where suspicious beings lurk, to tackling the daunting challenges of the Crucible, players will enjoy thrilling and hostile new environments as they fight to survive in this cursed kingdom."

The latest Nioh entry will introduce two distinct fighting styles: samurai and ninja. Samurai will offer a similar gameplay experience to previous Nioh titles, while also introducing new actions such as enhancing the power of martial arts with the 'Arts Proficiency' action, or the ability to block enemy attacks with the 'Deflect'.

The Ninja playstyle offers a faster gameplay experience, allowing players to perform aerial actions and dodges, and attack enemies outside of their range.

Ninja players will also be able to outmaneuver enemies and deliver devastating speed attacks from behind using a variety of Ninjitsu techniques, such as 'Mist', which leaves a clone after attacking, and 'Evade', which allows them to narrowly avoid enemy strikes.

There's no need to decide between just one playstyle, as Koei Tecmo has explained that the game allows players to instantaneously switch from one combat style to another during battle, or choose to continuously use only one style.

Nioh 3 is available to wishlist now on Steam. The game will also be available in Japanese and English voices with English, French. Italian, German, and Spanish subtitles.

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• Microsoft offers new European Security Program to governments
• The initiative is free of charge, and offers new investment and collaboration
• Microsoft hopes to increase response times against AI threats

Microsoft is expanding its security umbrella to cover European governments in a bid to reduce the threats posed by AI and state-sponsored attacks from the likes of Russia, China, Iran and North Korea.

Russian state-sponsored hackers have been targeting European governments using zero day vulnerabilities, China has been hiding its spying activities using open-source VPNs, and North Korea has been infiltrating Western organizations through job interviews - to name just a few recent campaigns.

The new European Security Program will provide additional threat intelligence sharing, especially for AI threats, alongside added cybersecurity investment and partnerships - provided to European governments free of charge.

Free cybersecurity for Europe

Microsoft says the program will provide rapid cutting edge AI insights and analysis into cyber threats, helping governments defend faster and more effectively against state-sponsored attacks.

Additional intelligence sharing and collaboration between governments and Microsoft will also help enhance response rates and coordination when responding to threats that target multiple nations at once.

Microsoft will also advise governments on the latest vulnerabilities and exploited zero-days through initiatives including the Threat Microsoft Security Update Guide, Vulnerability Reporting process, and Microsoft Defender Vulnerability Management.

The Microsoft Threat Analysis Center (MTAC) will also provide information on foreign-influence and disinformation campaigns, especially those that utilize AI, with added focus on the tactics used in each campaign and their methods of distribution.

The program will be available to all EU member states, as well as EU accession countries, European Free Trade Association (EFTA) members, plus the UK, Monaco, and the Vatican.

“This new program expands the geographic reach of our existing work and adds new elements that will become critical to Europe’s protection. It puts AI at the center of our work as a tool to protect traditional cybersecurity needs and strengthens our protection of digital and AI infrastructure,” Microsoft explained in a statement.

“Together, these efforts reflect Microsoft’s long-term commitment to defending Europe’s digital ecosystem—ensuring that, no matter how the threat landscape evolves, we will remain a trusted and steadfast partner to Europe in securing its digital future,” Microsoft said.

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(Image credit: Noah Berger)