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It’s fair to say that Nintendo’s slate of Nintendo Switch 2 Editions has been a mixed bag, both in terms of what the company offers in each, how much it’s charging, and how the reception has been.

Review information

Platform reviewed: Nintendo Switch 2
Available on: Nintendo Switch 2
Release date: August 18, 2025

The Switch's Zelda titles getting a frame rate and resolution boost for a few bucks each was very welcome but many were left decidedly out of the party mood when it came to Super Mario Party Jamboree’s Jamboree TV add-on.

In many ways, that makes the hilariously titled Kirby and the Forgotten Land - Nintendo Switch 2 Edition + Star-Crossed World an outlier, and not just because it’s got possibly the longest name on the platform.

It meshes a modest visual improvement with additional content that’s easy to recommend, and takes a fantastic platformer to new heights, not unlike its protagonist floating on the breeze. It’s not perfect, but it’s still a great stand-in as the wait for a new open-world Mario game goes on.

Rescue mission

(Image credit: Nintendo)

It sounds odd, but I’ve always likened Kirby and the Forgotten Land to the early Astro Bot games, before Sony’s cute mascot went and became a platforming megastar. Its levels feel diorama-like - they’re 3D, but with minimal camera panning, and you’re tasked with searching in every nook and cranny to find a Waddle Dee.

Best bit

(Image credit: Nintendo)

The best part of Star-Crossed World is how it expands on areas from the base game in surprising new ways, with one highlight being a new ‘train track’ style area that begins at ground level before climbing ever higher, with the original level stretched out below it.

If you’re coming to this new version, wondering if anything has changed in that regard, the answer is yes, but only insofar as you’ll be hunting down Starries this time around. While I must admit I had been expecting a separate menu icon a la Jamboree TV Switch 2 upgrade, or even Super Mario 3D World + Bowser’s Fury, I was surprised to jump into my old save and see that everything happens in the same world map.

Star-Crossed World's story is as simple as a mystery meteor landing and turning various older areas into more colorful, crystal-tinted versions, while even giving some of Kirby’s (admittedly adorable) foes a crystalline makeover, too.

Your pink blob’s mission is simple: rescue Starries in each level, while also ticking off some side objectives that might require a little more exploration.

What’s old is new

(Image credit: Nintendo)

While there’s an argument that for around $20 / £16.99, fans should be able to expect wholly new levels, that’s not what’s happened here. In fact, it’s much cleverer than that. Kirby is tasked with reclaiming Starries (not as cute as Waddle Dees, for my money) by finding them in existing levels, but each becomes a much more expansive quest.

As an example, one area sees Kirby travel through an existing level, only to essentially part the sea midway through and explore a whole new region under what would have been the water. In another (and a personal favorite), our puffy pink protagonist hits the gem to open a new path, only for it to begin a railway track or rollercoaster of sorts that they need to fight and platform their way along.

Given a big differentiator of the base game from the rest of Kirby canon was having our hero wander through a sort of post-apocalyptic, recognizable world, some took umbrage with the more restrictive creativity brought upon by a new setting. That’s almost entirely jettisoned here, like Nintendo is letting its hair down somewhat.

In fact, if you’re jumping in for the first time, the meteor hits right after the first set of levels is completed, so you don’t have to reach the end credits to experience everything new.

All you can eat

(Image credit: Nintendo)

The Mouthful mode returns in Star-Crossed World, and the same criticisms from the original TechRadar Gaming review apply - namely that, as funny as it is to see Kirby become a vending machine or a traffic cone, its implementation is all very linear.

This time around, there’s a Spring for jumping high and crashing down on foes, as well as a Sign that turns Kirby into a sort of flat shape for downhill sliding sections. The highlight, however, is the Gear Mouth, which allows Kirby to roll around on floors, walls, and ceilings, adding a literal new dimension to platforming.

That brings us to the platforming, and while it’s mechanically great to play, it’s just lacking the challenge of, say, a Super Mario Odyssey or even some of Donkey Kong Bananza’s trickier sections. I should stress that this doesn’t make all of the game’s imaginative ideas moot, but it does mean it’s easier to blow through in a weekend than some of its genre peers.

Another holdover from the base game is that boss fights are a little formulaic. While I appreciate that there are usually a handful of approaches to take with a few different upgrades available before the start of each skirmish, it does tend to devolve into dodging as much as you can and then spamming whichever attack you have to hand.

There’s a new Ultimate Cup Z EX boss rush that’s been added to the Coliseum for those looking for more of a challenge, though, which is a nice touch and helps scratch that trickier itch similarly to the Forgo areas of the 2022 original.

Not quite 4K(irby)

(Image credit: Nintendo)

Although the original game was hardly a slouch in terms of visuals, the bump in resolution on Nintendo Switch 2 is welcome.

Both The Forgotten Land and its Star-Crossed World additions run at what appears to be 1440p while docked, meaning it’s not quite as sharp as the Switch 2 upgrades of Tears of the Kingdom or Breath of the Wild, but it does run at a crisp 1080p in handheld.

The real relief is that it’s now running at 60fps across the board, which makes replaying even old levels feel just a little fresher thanks to the smoothness on offer. Load times have been improved, too.

Still, I do feel like Nintendo could have divorced the new content and the visual upgrade when it comes to what’s on offer.

(Image credit: Nintendo)

Is the company really going to be any worse off for giving away the visual upgrade for free and charging just for the extra content? It’s hard to say, but if you’ve been waiting to play Kirby and the Forgotten Land on Switch 2, you won’t get any visual improvements without paying.

All in all, then, Kirby and the Forgotten Land - Nintendo Switch 2 Edition + Star-Crossed World is one of the easiest ‘upgrade packs’ to recommend at the time of writing for Nintendo’s nascent console.

While I wish the visual upgrade had been free to anyone with a Switch 2 and a copy of the base game, the added areas in Star Crossed World are some of the best yet, and I’d wager playing the game without them would now make the game feel incomplete in some ways.

Should you play Kirby and the Forgotten Land Nintendo Switch 2 Edition + Star-Crossed WorldPlay it if...

You want a meaty adventure
There’s so much here to keep you busy, from finding Waddle-Dees and Starries to completing additional objectives across new and older areas alike, that you could be playing for a while to earn 100%.

You’re looking for a platformer post-Donkey Kong
Bananza’s destruction-based platforming wasn’t for everyone, and if you’re looking for something more traditional, Kirby and the Forgotten Land + Star Crossed World will fill that gap.

You want a Switch 2 upgrade that’s actually worth the money
While Super Mario Party Jamboree’s Switch 2 upgrade pack was less comprehensive, it’s hard to argue that what’s on offer in this Switch 2 upgrade is worth the money, between the visual improvements and additional content.View Deal

Don't play it if...

You’re looking for a challenge
While the new content is a tad more challenging than the base game, it’s a low bar to clear. It’s simply not the game for anyone looking for a real challenge, but that does make it pretty approachable for almost everyone.

Accessibility

Sadly, there aren’t a huge number of accessibility features here. There are two difficulty modes, Wild Mode and Spring-Breeze Mode, which offer additional difficulty for more coins, or additional health, respectively.

There’s no button remapping outside of swapping between a pair of preset options, either.

How I reviewed Kirby and the Forgotten Land Nintendo Switch 2 Edition + Star-Crossed World

I spent the last couple of weeks playing the new content, immediately after replaying the entirety of the base game to give me a better perspective on how things differ and what’s new.

I played both in docked and handheld, with the former being on a Sky Glass TV while the latter made use of AirPods Max for listening to those oh-so-satisfying sound effects that had me itching to play Super Smash Bros. Ultimate again.

First reviewed August 2025

• Bluesound launches the big Pulse Cinema Dolby Atmos soundbar
• And also the much more compact Pulse Cinema Mini
• Pulse Cinema: $1,499 / £1,149 | Pulse Cinema Mini: $999 / £799

Bluesound has announced two serious soundbars in a choice of sizes. The flagship Pulse Cinema is a 47-inch-wide model, making it suitable for TVs of 55 inches and up, and the Pulse Cinema Mini is a more compact 33 inches, so should work for TVs of 40 inches and up.

Both models are pretty powerful, with Dolby Atmos support, hi-res audio and MQA support, and Bluesound's BluOS multi-room audio platform.

BluOS works with over 20 streaming services including TIDAL, Qobuz, Spotify, Amazon Music, Pandora and Deezer, and it supports hi-res audio up to 24-bit/192kHz. And the speakers can be teamed up with other Bluesound speakers to create a larger, multi-channel surround system.

Both soundbars are compatible with home systems from the likes of Control4, Crestron, RTI and others.

(Image credit: Bluesound)Bluesound Pulse Cinema and Pulse Cinema Mini: key features and pricing

The Pulse Cinema is the star here, with 500 watts of power driving 16 drivers including a center channel, dual four-inch woofers and dedicated upfiring speakers. There's on-board digital signal processing to adjust the audio depending on placement – the soundbar can be wall-mounted as well as sat on a unit – and there's HDMI eARC, optical input, analog RCA inputs, Bluetooth in and out and AirPlay 2. There's also a subwoofer output.

This makes it an interestingly expandable competitor to the Sonos Arc Ultra – it adds more analogue inputs, and the subwoofer output means you can connect whatever kind of low-end driver you want, similar to the Marshall Heston 120.

But it also costs more than the Sonos Arc Ultra, so that power will have to really come through in the real-world.

The Pulse Cinema Mini is smaller but it still packs a punch: it has 280W of power. There aren't any up-firing Atmos speakers here but there are angled drivers and Atmos 2.1-channel virtualization. Once again there's a subwoofer out, optical and RCA inputs, Bluetooth and AirPlay 2 – and again, this makes it more versatile in some ways than the Sonos Beam 2, but also more expensive.

The Pulse Cinema and Pulse Cinema Mini will be available for pre-order on 24 September 2025 with shipping starting on October 24. The prices are:

• Pulse Cinema $1,499 / £1,149 / €1,299 (about AU$2,315)
• Pulse Cinema Mini $999 / £799 / €899 (about AU$1,543)

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Think you have what it takes to successfully manipulate the market and build a domestic industry from the ground up? If so, these eight questions stand between you and your Summer School diploma in Political Economy.

• Framework and Nvidia have teamed up to introduce swappable laptop GPUs, starting with a new RTX 5070 module
• The Framework Laptop 16 with RTX 5070 is now available for pre-order, and the GPU module will soon be sold separately for upgrades
• This idea is an improvement from the swappable MXM laptop GPUs of the past

Upgrading a gaming notebook to get better performance usually means buying an entirely new system - maybe one of the best gaming laptops out there - but one laptop manufacturer, Framework, and Nvidia are hoping to change all that.

As reported by The Verge, the Framework Laptop 16 features an upgradable Nvidia RTX 5070 graphics module, allowing gamers to swap the existing GPU with a new and more powerful one. This Framework Laptop 16 packing the RTX 5070 module is now available for pre-order, with the first batch shipping in November.

Framework claims the installation of the Blackwell graphics module takes 'under five minutes' using the tools provided, and by the looks of it, installation should be a simple slot-and-screw process after removing the existing GPU.

While there's no option to buy it yet, Framework will be selling the Nvidia RTX 5070 graphics module individually.

Essentially, this is bringing the advantage of a desktop gaming PC to the laptop world, making easy GPU upgrades possible. Of course, the RTX 5070 mobile graphics card isn't as powerful as its desktop counterpart, but it still offers plenty of grunt for a notebook. And it's clearly a huge upgrade from the Framework Laptop 16's previous AMD Radeon RX 7700S GPU.

Now, it's worth noting that this isn't the first swappable laptop GPU. MXM GPUs allowed gamers to perform this same trick of switching out an old laptop graphics card for a new model.

However, these pretty much vanished in the last decade (at least for gaming or mainstream laptops), and besides, they weren't the best option for non-tech-savvy gamers anyway. Installation required deeper disassembly and complications including reapplying thermal paste.

In contrast, with Framework and Nvidia's new GPU module, it's claimed to only take a few minutes to install via a simple unscrewing and replacing process. The end result is a more than capable Blackwell GPU with tools like DLSS 4 Multi Frame Generation at its disposal. There's also a USB-C output on the module that can transmit to an external monitor and charge the system simultaneously.

Graphics module removal may be easier than you think... (Image credit: Framework)Analysis: could we see something similar for handhelds in the future?

Swappable chips in handhelds might sound far-fetched right now, but what could we possibly write off at this point?

Swappable laptop GPUs aren't entirely unheard of, as already noted, but in contemporary times, they may have sounded like a myth to many – but now they are again a reality.

We're already seeing mind-blowing designs like a DIY RTX 4090-powered handheld, and the GPD Win 5 with detachable battery functionality (which may be a negative for some) while using AMD's most powerful APU, the Ryzen AI Max+ 395.

If that's not a strong sign that things are only heading upwards from here in terms of portable gaming PC hardware, then I'm not sure what is – and I won't be surprised if we see something similar to what Framework and Nvidia have cooked up here in future handhelds.

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• The ROG Xbox Ally's official release date has been announced, but pricing is still a mystery
• I think the Asus ROG Zephyrus G14 is the only gaming laptop I'd spend money on – and it's all thanks to Nvidia's powerful RTX 5070 Ti

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• The Federal Trade Commission (FTC) Chair wrote a letter to 13 US tech giants, calling on them to resist foreign demands to weaken encryption or censor content
• FTC Chair Andrew Ferguson specifically mentions the EU Digital Service Act, UK Online Safety Act, and UK Investigatory Powers Act as problematic
• The pledge comes days after the US managed to get the UK to drop the encryption backdoor demand against Apple

The Federal Trade Commission (FTC) is calling on US tech giants to resist foreign demands to either weaken the security of their users by breaking encryption protections or impose censorship on their platforms.

On Thursday, August 21, 2025, FTC Chair Andrew Ferguson wrote a letter to 13 tech companies, including Apple, Alphabet (parent firm behind Google), Meta, Microsoft, and Amazon.

Ferguson specifically mentions the EU Digital Service Act, UK Online Safety Act, and UK Investigatory Powers Act as attempts to "censor content or degrade security for users." These actions, he warns, could also violate Section 5 of the Federal Trade Commission Act that prohibits unfair or deceptive acts, while eroding Americans' freedoms and online security.

"Foreign governments seeking to limit free expression or weaken data security in the United States might count on the fact that companies have an incentive to simplify their operations and legal compliance measures by applying uniform policies across jurisdictions," wrote Ferguson.

This pledge comes only days after the US officials managed to score a win and made the UK agree to drop its encryption backdoor request against Apple, which was issued back in February via a Technical Capability Notice (TCN) under the 2016 Investigatory Powers Act.

A greater push for control

(Image credit: Photo Illustration by Idrees Abbas/SOPA Images/LightRocket via Getty Images)

The UK and the EU have pushed for greater control over the internet in the name of safety over the last few years, crafting legislation that often requires US tech providers to adjust their services.

There are two main areas of contention: encryption and harmful, but legal, content.

Encryption refers to the technology used by security software like the best VPN apps, secure email, and encrypted messaging apps to keep online communications private between you and the receiver.

While that's a crucial protection – especially as major cyberattacks like Salt Typhoon become the norm – authorities see this as an obstacle to criminal investigation and are pushing for the creation of backdoors into encrypted software.

The likes of Signal and WhatsApp have already voiced their concerns against laws and proposals such as the UK Online Safety Act and EU Chat Control.

US tech firms and officials alike have also been raising concerns about new UK and EU requirements to mitigate online dangers by halting the spread of misinformation and content that could harm minors.

These frictions led the Trump administration to consider imposing sanctions on the EU for censoring Americans and imposing higher costs on US tech firms under its Digital Service Act – Reuters reported on Monday, August 26.

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• The ROG Xbox Ally X's early benchmark indicates strengths in power efficiency and cooling
• Gaming at 18W TDP with frame generation yields high frame-rates in Doom: The Dark Ages with low temperatures
• Pricing is still not confirmed ahead of its October 16 launch

The Asus ROG Xbox Ally X launch isn't too far away, with the handheld landing on October 16 to challenge the best handheld gaming PCs on the market. However, early benchmarks have given us an insight into what we should expect performance-wise – and I'm not convinced just yet.

As highlighted by Windows Report, the ROG Xbox Ally X excels at power efficiency and cooling, based on early benchmarks by Cary Golomb on X. At 18W TDP (Thermal Power Design or, essentially, power consumption) with FSR upscaling, ray tracing, and frame generation enabled, it hit 70fps in intensive sequences in Doom: The Dark Ages.

This was achieved while using AMD's Ryzen Z2 AI Extreme processor, with the GPU load at 97%, and the temperature remaining stable at 57C. Gamers will be able to save plenty of battery life while using the Xbox Ally X on the go, thanks to its 80Wh battery, and this early benchmark is a clear indication of that.

ROG Xbox ALLY X Doom the Dark Ages1080p upscaled (FSR 50% 540p base res)Ray Tracing enabledCustom low-medium settingsFSR Frame-gen enabled.~70fps in this scene.~26w total (~18w TDP) but good news is we see the system self balancing power.My YouTube video tomorrow. pic.twitter.com/v6gh6uhpkhAugust 22, 2025

However, without the use of frame gen in this early benchmark, the frame rate would likely fall between 35 to 40fps, which isn't that much better than you would get with the Z2 Extreme's predecessor, the Z1 Extreme.

It's unclear whether the Ryzen AI Z2 Extreme processor used in the ROG Xbox Ally will show significant performance differences over the standard Z2 Extreme. One thing that's clear to me (based on early showcases), though, is that this handheld isn't impressive enough to warrant a high price tag.

Analysis: A minor improvement from the Ryzen Z1 Extreme isn't worth the cost

Now, I must reiterate that the price for the ROG Xbox Ally X isn't confirmed and is due to be announced later in September once pre-orders become available. However, all the signs from rumors and leaks point towards the device costing €899 – that would work out to around $1,050 (about £775 / AU$1,600) or potentially more. If that's the case, then its future success could be in the balance.

It's worth noting that the ROG Xbox Ally will be the cheaper and less powerful alternative, reportedly costing €599 (which should be around $700, or about £520 / AU$1,070), but its Ryzen Z2A with RDNA 2 architecture is highly unlikely to challenge the Ryzen Z1 Extreme.

Based on benchmarks between the Ryzen Z2 Extreme and the Ryzen Z1 Extreme, the performance jump does not appear to be significant enough to warrant paying $1,000; the original Asus ROG Ally and Lenovo Legion Go handhelds can be found much cheaper on sale.

As I've said before, I've got my eye on the Lenovo Legion Go S using the Z1 Extreme, since it's the only reasonable upgrade for me with 32GB of RAM and an 8-inch screen. Any other handheld is priced too high, and unfortunately, it looks like the ROG Xbox Ally X is joining that list, too.

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• Square Enix has announced the dates for Final Fantasy 14 Fan Festival 2026
• The three events take place next year across the US, Europe, and Japan
• We can likely expect the first details of the game's next expansion to be revealed

Great news, fellow Warriors of Light: Square Enix has just announced the official dates for Final Fantasy 14's Fan Festival 2026.

In case you're new to the popular MMORPG, or are generally unfamiliar, Fan Festival (usually shortened to 'Fan Fest') is a bi-annual in-person convention meant to celebrate everything Final Fantasy 14. You can usually expect game-related challenges, musical performances, cosplay contests and the like.

More importantly, though, is that developer Creative Studio 3 - including game director Naoki Yoshida - typically reveals the first details of Final Fantasy 14's next expansion at Fan Fest. So whether you're going in-person or not, you'll certainly want to tune in if you're a fan of the game.

The first of next year's Fan Fest events is to take place at Anaheim Convention Center in Anaheim, California, US, on April 24, 2026. The second is three months later at Messe Berlin, Germany, on July 25. Finally, Tokyo's Makuhari Messe will host the last of three Fan Fests on October 31. Spooky!

Typically a two-day event, each Fan Fest gradually reveals more information about Final Fantasy 14's upcoming expansion. If next year's events follow similar patterns, we can expect preliminary info and a title drop at the US convention. More detailed info, including new areas, jobs (read: classes), extended trailers and release date will then be revealed at the European and Japanese-based events.

While we won't know the next expansion's official release date for a while, we can speculate based off of Tokyo's Dawntrail Fan Fest, for the game's current major expansion. That took place on January 7, 2024, with the expansion launching roughly six months later on July 2.

With the next Tokyo Fan Fest airing on October 31 - November 1, there are some concerns among the fanbase that we may not get to play Final Fantasy 14's next expansion until mid-2027. That would be an awful long time to wait, so hopefully, we can expect to play it a little earlier than what we might think.

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• Report find CISOs are less confident in their staff protecting their companies
• Nearly twice as many experienced a material data loss this year
• Many are worried about AI’s risks, some are set to use it to their benefits

Barely more than half (57%) of Chief Information Security Officers (CISOs) believe staff understand their role in protecting the company, new research from Proofpoint has claimed.

The figure is down from 84% in 2024, and comes alongside a finding that despite their best efforts and investments in preventative measures, human error remains the top vulnerability, cited by around three in five CISOs.

This comes as three in four (74%) UK CISOs experienced material data loss in the past year – nearly double the 39% in 2024.

UK CISOs are worried that workers are risking their companies

Proofpoint's research added 86% of the material data loss instances involved departing employees, yet despite awareness programs, 30% of organizations still lack insider risk resources.

Looking ahead, nearly two-thirds (63%) are expecting a material cyberattack in the next 12 months, and yet nearly as many (61%) admit their organization is unprepared to respond with 57% prepared to pay a ransom to quickly restore systems or prevent data leaks.

Cybercriminals aside (as AI tools have lowered the entry barrier while simultaneously boosting attack sophistication), CISOs are also worried about AI use within their companies. Two in three (66%) restrict employee GenAI use altogether, with only 60% boasting GenAI usage guidelines.

“As GenAI adoption accelerates both opportunity and threat, CISOs are being asked to do more with less, navigate unprecedented complexity, and still safeguard what matters most,” Proofpoint Global Resident CISO Patrick Joyce noted.

Still, more than half (55%) are exploring AI-enhanced defenses moving forward, with 72% prioritizing safe GenAI use over the next two years.

“CISOs now face a dual responsibility: harnessing AI to strengthen their security posture while ensuring its ethical and responsible use,” Proofpoint Chief Strategy Officer Ryan Kalember added.

However, all of this has resulted in increased pressure on CISOs – 67% report excessive expectations (up from 62% last year), and 58% have either experienced or witnessed burnout in the past year.

Kalember noted that CISOs have now become central to company decision-making, however Proofpoint’s research revealed boardroom alignment with UK CISOs has declined from 84% in 2024 to 57% in 2025, suggesting they’re not getting the support they need.

Looking ahead, companies can make subtle changes to close the insider risk gap and to enhance data loss protection while also establishing CISO role clarity in the AI era.

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The browser wars are back — only this time, the battleground isn’t tabs or load times. It’s intelligence.

A new wave of AI-powered browsers promises to transform how we interact with the web, turning passive pages into active assistants that summarize, search, automate, and act on your behalf. But while the tech may feel novel, the business model behind it isn’t. These browsers don’t just offer smarter tools — they risk ushering in a new era of data extraction, baked into the very architecture of how we browse.

On 9 July, Perplexity launched Comet — a slick new browser that promises to revolutionize how we interact with the web using embedded AI assistants. Soon, OpenAI is expected to follow, reportedly designing its browser to take on Google Chrome by baking agentic AI models directly into the browsing experience. These models won’t just help you navigate the web — they’ll act on your behalf, making decisions, summarizing content, and even initiating tasks.

For all the talk of innovation, though, there’s an uncomfortable sense of déjà vu. Because while the front end may be changing, the business model behind it all feels eerily familiar — surveillance, packaged as convenience.

Privacy failures

We’ve been down this road before. For anyone who remembers Cambridge Analytica or Google’s $5 billion Incognito tracking lawsuit, the idea that tech companies might exploit user data in the name of progress shouldn’t come as a surprise.

What is surprising, though, is how quickly AI companies are embracing the very same privacy failures that landed their Web 2.0 predecessors in hot water. Comet, for instance, reportedly tracks “everything users do online” to build hyper-personalized ad profiles — a move straight out of the early-2000s Google playbook.

But this isn’t just a repeat of the past. The stakes are much higher now. AI systems don’t simply store information — they learn from it. They don’t just record your browsing history — they analyze it, infer your intent, predict your preferences, and adapt to your behavior. This isn’t passive tracking. It’s predictive, persuasive, and increasingly invisible.

Invisibility

And that invisibility is part of the problem. When a browser starts finishing your sentences, anticipating your questions, and helping with your emails, it feels like magic. But behind that seamless experience is a complex black box trained on your digital life. And unlike cookies or ad IDs, this kind of data isn’t easily wiped.

Once an AI model ingests your personal information, there’s no reliable way to make it forget. What goes in becomes part of the model’s DNA — shaping its outputs long after you’ve closed the tab.

Some argue that users understand this trade-off — that people are willingly giving up privacy for smarter tools. But let’s not pretend “I agree” on a 12,000-word terms of service means informed consent.

Most users don’t know what they’re giving away, let alone how it might be used months or years down the line. We’ve normalized this kind of ambient data collection to the point that it barely registers as a privacy issue anymore. That doesn’t make it harmless. It just makes it harder to spot.

Building user trust

As the founder of Aloha Browser, I’ve spent years watching the industry flirt with these trade-offs. I understand the temptation to lean into data-driven personalization. But I also know that building user trust requires restraint, not reach. Respecting people’s boundaries shouldn’t be considered radical — it should be the baseline.

The urgency of this moment isn’t just technical — it’s also regulatory. Earlier this month, the European Commission released a voluntary Code of Practice for general-purpose AI models, marking the first major milestone in the rollout of the EU’s AI Act.

Full compliance will become mandatory by August 2026, but these early guidelines already signal the direction of travel — transparency, documentation, and accountability. Europe now has the chance to lead by example — to show that it’s possible to build transformative AI products without reverting to the surveillance capitalism model that defined the last digital era.

Invisible surveillance

But regulation moves slowly, and the industry doesn’t wait. The AI browsers launching now will set precedents — technical, legal, and cultural — that could shape the next decade of digital life.

If we let these tools define “normal” before the rules catch up, we may find ourselves trapped in an architecture of invisible surveillance that’s far more entrenched than anything we faced in Web 2.0. If we’re not careful, today’s AI browsers could usher in a form of surveillance even more pervasive — and less visible — than anything we saw with Cambridge Analytica.

We don’t have to accept that outcome. If we don’t fight for privacy now, we’ll lose it — not with a bang, but with an instant, frictionless click.

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This article was produced as part of TechRadarPro's Expert Insights channel where we feature the best and brightest minds in the technology industry today. The views expressed here are those of the author and are not necessarily those of TechRadarPro or Future plc. If you are interested in contributing find out more here: https://www.techradar.com/news/submit-your-story-to-techradar-pro

Financial services firms are no strangers to cyberattacks, often facing some of the most expensive consequences. In 2024, the average cost of a data breach in the financial industry worldwide was $6.08 million, while the global average cost of a data breach across all studied industries was $4.88 million.

The growth of Ransomware-as-a-Service (RaaS) has amplified this threat. Today’s attackers often operate within organized networks that leverage AI-driven technologies for target selection, breach execution, and extortion. This is a particular challenge for financial services, already a key target by cybercriminals thanks to the sector’s lucrative assets and sensitive data.

To counteract this rising tide, the EU introduced the Digital Operational Resilience Act (DORA) earlier this year - a sweeping regulation that mandates enhanced risk management, incident reporting, and third-party oversight in the financial sector. For financial institutions, compliance with DORA is more than a tick-box exercise, it’s a strategic imperative for operational survival.

A structured path to resilience

DORA’s framework provides financial institutions with a structured path to resilience by requiring institutions to develop comprehensive strategies for identifying, reporting, and mitigating information and communications technology (ICT)-related incidents. In the context of ransomware, the regulation emphasizes the importance of early detection, accurate reporting, and verified data integrity.

When a ransomware attack occurs, the initial response window, often within the first hour, is critical. Swift, coordinated actions can mean the difference between a controlled incident and a full-scale operational crisis. As a result, DORA compels financial organizations to establish and regularly test detailed response plans, ensuring staff are trained and roles are clearly defined.

One of the cornerstones of compliance is the ICT risk management audit, which involves identifying all types, locations, and classifications of data and storage infrastructure. To do this effectively, organizations must adopt tools that provide full visibility into their data environments, as this allows for rapid and accurate reporting when incidents occur. These tools can link isolated datasets and apply uniform security policies across hybrid and multi-cloud environments, saving a business large amounts in downtime damages.

Ensuring data visibility and control

cybercriminals increasingly targeting critical data sites, IT teams are now required to continuously monitor for infrastructure anomalies. This is particularly important in cell-level data corruption, a stealthy form of attack where malicious code is embedded deep within databases, lying dormant until it’s triggered to corrupt vital assets. These attacks are difficult to detect and can undermine trust in the integrity of the entire dataset.

The key effective countermeasure is to maintain secure, immutable backups that are regularly tested for integrity and can be restored rapidly if needed.

AI plays a vital role here. Modern AI tools can detect anomalies in user behavior, flag potential compromises, and automate the process of isolating malware-infected backups. By continuously scanning for subtle changes in data patterns, these systems serve as an early warning mechanism, triggering immediate recovery and minimizing disruption.

To be effective, backup systems must also be resilient themselves. This means ensuring that storage locations are physically secure, regularly tested, and not connected to the network in a way that would allow them to be compromised during an attack. Immutable storage is increasingly seen as a best practice, as it ensures data cannot be altered once written.

Speed matters: responding to an active threat

Once a ransomware attack is detected, a fast response is required . IT teams must act swiftly to isolate affected systems and end-users, minimizing the potential spread of malware. Data management tools enable teams to quickly identify which datasets have been accessed or altered, allowing for precise damage assessment and targeted recovery.

If backups have been properly maintained, organizations can restore data without paying a ransom. However, in order to avoid fines for non-compliance and to assist regulatory investigations, institutions must also be able to accurately report the specifics of the attack, including the strain of ransomware involved and its impact on operations.

Building a culture of preparedness

True cyber resilience doesn’t begin in the moment of attack, it starts with preparation. DORA mandates that financial services providers not only implement technical defenses but also cultivate a culture of readiness and transparency. This includes having a clearly communicated, continually updated ransomware response strategy that extends to third-party service providers.

Failure to comply with DORA can result in substantial penalties, including fines of up to 2% of global annual turnover. Beyond avoiding financial harm, compliance also offers a strategic advantage; it demonstrates to customers and partners that an institution can be trusted to safeguard sensitive data and maintain operational continuity in the face of threats.

The future of data protection

As ransomware threats continue to evolve, financial institutions must shift from reactive defense to proactive resilience. Regulatory frameworks like DORA offer not only a roadmap for compliance but an opportunity to strengthen operational integrity and customer trust. By investing in visibility, rapid response capabilities, and a culture of preparedness, organizations can not only meet regulatory expectations—but emerge stronger, more secure, and more competitive in an increasingly high-risk digital environment.

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This article was produced as part of TechRadarPro's Expert Insights channel where we feature the best and brightest minds in the technology industry today. The views expressed here are those of the author and are not necessarily those of TechRadarPro or Future plc. If you are interested in contributing find out more here: https://www.techradar.com/news/submit-your-story-to-techradar-pro

While many boardrooms buzz with excitement about AI, cloud migration, and digital transformation, the reality on the ground tells us a different story. The gap between strategic vision and technical execution is widening, creating what we call the "last mile problem”, where promising technologies fail when they meet the messy reality of legacy systems, data governance, and real-world constraints.

Digital transformation isn’t just a matter of buying the right tools, the right computer, and getting rid of legacy tech. But anyone who has actually tried to implement these technologies on a scale knows the reality is messy and complicated.

As businesses scramble to capitalize on AI, green software, cloud, there is a growing disconnect between technical reality, and grand strategic vision. We call it the ‘Devil’s in the Detail’ approach: a philosophy that embraces the often uncomfortable, technical realities of deploying innovation, where real, lasting transformation occurs.

Many initiatives fail in the ‘last mile’ - we’ve seen this from self-driving cars to retailers implementing new payment systems. Often, the grand vision survives until it meets the messy reality of legacy systems, data governance, and cross-border compliance.

Understanding what sounds good in a boardroom presentation versus what works in real life

What sets builders apart from talkers isn’t always just the technical expertise - it's understanding that implementation is strategy. Consider the challenge of AI bias mitigation, a priority that generates significant attention across every industry, from automotive giants to the NHS and schools across the UK.

The technical reality is often more complex than typical policy discussions suggest. Everyone agrees AI bias is bad, but practically speaking, it’s extremely difficult to get your hands on digitized data in certain languages or from underrepresented groups to actually train the bias out of an LLM model - what you put in, you get out. Even if you could, there are often substantial compliance issues when it comes to moving sensitive data across borders.

More fundamentally, addressing AI bias requires understanding the full data lifecycle, from collection and preprocessing through model training and deployment. Each stage introduces potential bias amplification that technical teams must identify and mitigate. This requires expertise that spans machine learning, data engineering, regulatory compliance, and domain-specific knowledge about the business processes being automated.

This represents the operational reality that technology consultancies must navigate. Bridging the gap between strategic intent and technical execution. The approach requires organisations to maintain rigorous standards while managing client expectations around feasibility and timelines. A practical step may also be an ‘AI/Data Officer’ in the room when discussing plans for tech strategy. It’s something we use to make sure that the goals being shared will match technical execution.

Making new tech ready for prime time

How can organizations make new tech ready for prime time? It’s about making sure the approach works in the real world, not just in word documents. This approach is particularly crucial in retail, where the gap between digital transformation promises and delivery reality can make or break customer experiences. A checkout system that works beautifully in testing but crashes under Black Friday traffic volumes isn't just a technical failure; it's a business catastrophe.

The organizations that thrive in digital transformation recognize that implementation complexity is not a barrier to overcome but a competitive advantage to master. The technical depth required to navigate these challenges becomes a differentiating capability in markets where strategic vision alone is insufficient.

As media narratives elevate hype over practicality, the businesses that succeed will be those who can decode the messy middle, not just theorise from the top. The devil, as they say, is in the detail, and that's exactly where real transformation happens.

Technical expertise becomes a strategic asset when organizations understand that successful digital transformation requires mastery of implementation complexity rather than just conceptual innovation. Companies that invest in deep technical capabilities, understanding distributed systems, data governance, and integration patterns, create sustainable competitive advantages that can't be easily replicated through strategic planning alone.

Decoding the messy middle

The broader lesson here is that enterprise technology transformation isn't just about adopting new tools or the shiniest new product. It's about understanding how those tools actually work in complex, real-world environments. As media narratives elevate hype over practicality, the businesses that succeed will be those who can decode the messy middle, not just theorize from the top.

Lots of people have lofty points of view on AI, cloud, and responsible tech. But these technologies are usually much more complicated when you lift up the hood. Untangling this complexity is hard and important. It's a reminder that in an industry obsessed with the next big thing, sometimes the most valuable skill is knowing how to make the current big thing work. The devil, as they say, is in the detail. And that's exactly where real transformation happens.

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This article was produced as part of TechRadarPro's Expert Insights channel where we feature the best and brightest minds in the technology industry today. The views expressed here are those of the author and are not necessarily those of TechRadarPro or Future plc. If you are interested in contributing find out more here: https://www.techradar.com/news/submit-your-story-to-techradar-pro

A Fortnite Megazord skin is set to launch next month, adding in the iconic Power Rangers battle robot, as well as additional items to earn. This all ties in with the ongoing Power Rangers collaboration as part of Chapter 6 Season 4 (Shock 'N Awesome).

What's new in Fortnite?

(Image credit: Epic Games)

Fortnite just launched a One Punch Man collaboration. This adds a new mythic which powers up your Harvesting Tool. You'll be able to take enemies down with one hit of the pickaxe. There's additional One Punch Man skins to take a look at in the store too, as well as new items on the Island Map.

Now that a brand new season of Fortnite has launched. There's a completely fresh map to try out, and the addition of a bug-fighting ranking system. There are ranks to rise through in each match, giving you access to progressively more powerful gear.

We've got a while until the next season of Fortnite arrives, but there's plenty to keep us busy until then. It's regular updates like these that continue to keep Fortnite ranked highly in our best free games list.

Here's everything you need to know about the Fortnite Dino Megazord skin, including when it's coming to the game and details on how to unlock it once it's here. As new info is revealed closer to launch, we'll be sure to update this page.

Fortnite Megazord release date

(Image credit: Epic Games)

Fortnite's Megazord skin will release on September 16, 2025. This can be seen in the in-game calendar that's on the main menu screen before loading into a match. Battle Pass owners will be able to complete Quests to unlock the Dino Megazord skin and associated cosmetics. The Megazord Quests will be available to progress until November 1, 2025.

The best place to keep up on specific updates closer to the launch of the new season is the Fortnite Status Twitter account. We'll be sure to keep this page up to date as well.

How to unlock the Fortnite Megazord skin

(Image credit: Epic Games)

You'll be able to start completing Quests on September 16, 2025 that progress towards the Fortnite Dino Megazord skin. As with previous special skins like Superman, earning XP will slowly unlock more and more rewards. We'll have to wait until closer to launch to know exactly what these quests are, but expect them to revolve around Power Rangers items, weapons and NPCs.

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• Project Moohan could launch on September 29, according to a new leak
• It will be Samsung's first Android XR headset
• Pricing may be cheaper than the Apple Vision Pro

We've been waiting a long time for Project Moohan, Samsung's first XR (extended reality) headset developed in partnership with Google. It was announced back in December, but thanks to a new leak we may now have a release date and a price for the device.

According to Newsworks (via GSMArena), Samsung is plotting another Unpacked event for Monday, September 29, to announce the Android XR headset. Sales will then follow on October 13, beginning in Samsung's home country of South Korea.

Samsung has already said the headset will be launching in the second half of 2025, so the new information fits with that. Project Moohan is just a codename though ("moohan" means "infinity" in Korean), so we're still not sure exactly what it's going to be called.

The report mentions pricing too: between 2.5 and 4 million won. Samsung won't use a direct currency conversion internationally, but for reference that's a starting price of $1,790 / £1,330 / AU$2,765 at today's rates.

Choose your reality

We've already given the headset a try (Image credit: Jacob Krol/Future)

This is Samsung's first XR headset: the XR term encompasses both augmented reality (digital elements on top of the real world), virtual reality (completely enclosed digital worlds), and mixed reality (digital elements interacting with the real world).

In other words, XR = AR + VR + MR, so this sounds like a true all-rounder. The Meta Quest 3 is marketed as a mixed reality headset, and based on the time we've spent with Project Moohan prototypes, this new device will work in a similar way.

Apple completely ignores these terms for the Vision Pro, which it calls a "spatial computer", but it's the same sort of thing really. In our testing, we found Project Moohan to be a less premium, more lightweight take on the Apple Vision Pro approach.

We'll be able to try out the finished version of the product in the near future. It looks as though there'll be a Snapdragon XR2+ Gen 2 processor fitted inside, together with 16GB of RAM, and Gemini AI will of course be available on board.

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National Grandparents Day is Sep. 7. NPR wants to hear from new grandparents about how your life has changed.

(Image credit: Elise Amendola)

Spoilers for The Summer I Turned Pretty season 3 episode 8 ahead.

Can you hear the sound of Prime Video fans sighing with relief? The Summer I Turned Pretty season 3 episode 8 has finally stopped the wedding that should never be happening, though Belly (Lola Tung) currently isn't in a position to see that as a good thing. Since the very first season of the hit show, she's been torn between brothers Conrad (Christopher Briney) and Jeremiah (Gavin Casalegno), yet chooses to marry Jeremiah after a haphazard proposal at the end of season 3 episode 1.

However, as we saw from the bachelorette party in season 7, it's all a bit more complicated than that. Conrad and Belly both still have feelings for each other, with Belly refusing to acknowledge how she really feels while Conrad makes a brave declaration of his love. After finding out Jeremiah has cheated on her (twice), Conrad begs Belly to leave him and be with her, prompting Belly to respond that they "never meant anything." Ouch.

Obviously, we know this is a complete lie, as Belly dances around the club picturing Conrad as the future she wants. She's been making bad decision after bad decision as she's intent on marrying someone who doesn't even respect her, pushing everybody else away in the process. But something beautiful happens in The Summer I Turned Pretty season 3 episode 8, and it involves absolutely no boys at all (almost).

Belly finally chooses herself in The Summer I Turned Pretty season 3 episode 8

Lola Tung (Belly) in The Summer I Turned Pretty. (Image credit: Amazon Prime Video)

Jeremiah seemingly got the boot in episode 6, but season 3 episode 8 has officially broken off their engagement on the morning of the wedding. In the penultimate scene, Jeremiah claims that he's been waiting for Belly to admit she still has feelings for Conrad, saying that he's known through the entire engagement that the pair have a bond that goes beyond the superficial romance Belly and Jeremiah have. He sees the way Belly looks at Conrad, stating (rightly, for once) that Belly can't marry Jeremiah simply to bury the feelings she has for Conrad.

As we hear from Belly's voiceover, she can't bring herself to go through with the wedding either, breaking off their hand-holding as Jeremiah leaves the room. However, her screen time tells us a different story, practically begging Jeremiah to marry her while claiming what they have is special, and Conrad is nothing in comparison. Absolutely nobody is buying this, though, and I for one could have punched the screen I was so overjoyed.

We've been waiting for Belly to have her head screwed on and properly start thinking about what's best for her, rather than just chasing who happens to have her heart at the moment. By catching a flight to Paris (where else?), she's giving herself the time and space she needs to think things through, recuperate while hopefully finding herself in the process. No boys means no drama, and The Summer I Turned Pretty should reflect that as the healthiest choice... but it won't.

How do I know this? Because as Belly arrives at the airport terminal, she spots Conrad sitting across from her, clearly waiting to go somewhere too. The screen cuts to black before we see Belly's full reaction to him sitting there, but either The Summer I Turned Pretty season 3 is heading straight back to its old tricks, or Belly's seeing someone that isn't actually there. I've no doubt we'll be seeing more where the peach stand scene came from, but let me have my man-free victory in peace for more than just a week, Amazon.

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• Salesloft was breached when OAuth tokens from SalesDrift were stolen
• Google tracked the threat actors as UNC6395
• ShinyHunters claimed responsibility for the attack

Revenue workflow platform Salesloft suffered a cyberattack which saw threat actors break in through a third-party and steal sensitive information.

The company is using Drift, a conversational marketing and sales platform that uses live chat, chatbots, and AI, to engage visitors in real time, alongside its own SalesDrift, a third-party platform which links Drift’s AI chat functionality to Salesforce, syncing conversations, leads, and cases, into the CRM via the Salesloft ecosystem.

Starting around August 8, and lasting for about ten days, adversaries managed to steal OAuth and refresh tokens from SalesDrift, pivoting to customer environments, and successfully exfiltrating sensitive data.

Attack attribution

"Initial findings have shown that the actor's primary objective was to steal credentials, specifically focusing on sensitive information like AWS access keys, passwords, and Snowflake-related access tokens," Salesloft said in an advisory.

"We have determined that this incident did not impact customers who do not use our Drift-Salesforce integration. Based on our ongoing investigation, we do not see evidence of ongoing malicious activity related to this incident."

In its write-up, Google’s Threat Intelligence Group (GTIG) said the attack was conducted by a threat actor known as UNC6395.

“After the data was exfiltrated, the actor searched through the data to look for secrets that could be potentially used to compromise victim environments,” the researchers said.

“GTIG observed UNC6395 targeting sensitive credentials such as Amazon Web Services (AWS) access keys (AKIA), passwords, and Snowflake-related access tokens. UNC6395 demonstrated operational security awareness by deleting query jobs, however logs were not impacted and organizations should still review relevant logs for evidence of data exposure.”

Google seems to believe this is a unique threat actor, which is why it gave it a unique moniker UNC6395.

However, hackers known as ShinyHunters told BleepingComputer the attack was actually their doing - although Google begs to differ, telling the site, "We've not seen any compelling evidence connecting them at this time."

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