Lisa Morgan, Freelance WriterJanuary 10, 20258 Min Readdesigner491 via Alamy StockSometimes, it may seem that customers are never satisfied. They abuse call center staff, rage online or worse, abandon the brand. Functional gaps within organizations, siloed technology, a lack of accountability, and erroneous assumptions are the main reasons companies don't understand how customers really feel.Not looking at customer journeys holistically means broken journeys. Theres a lot of focus on initial interactions such as initial calls into the contact center, but many times theres a lack of focus on the fulfilling of customers intent, says Jay Patel, SVP and GM, Webex Customer Experience Solutions atCisco. Additionally, a lack of data-driven insights leads to many businesses failing to tailor their services to meet individual customer needs. Disconnected communication channels often lead to inconsistent experiences, as customers may receive varying levels of service depending on the platform they use.Many companies rely on legacy systems that are unable to support the dynamic needs of modern consumers. Additionally, the lack of a unified data strategy hampers a companys ability to gain a holistic view of the customer journey, resulting in fragmented interactions. Similarly, siloed organizations have led to disparate and separate decision making, processes, technology, and more across IT and lines of business. And because call centers are swamped, improving customer experience starts with improving employee experience, Patel says.Related:To deliver exceptional customer experiences, organizations must recognize the direct connection between employee satisfaction and customer satisfaction. A positive employee experience translates into better customer interactions, says Patel. Striking the right balance between automation and human touch is also critical. While virtual agents can handle routine tasks, customers should always have access to human support when needed. Leveraging data analytics to understand customer preferences and behaviors enables more personalized and effective service. This data can also be used to map customer journeys end-to-end to ensure seamless and consistent experiences across all channels where they are engaged.Additionally, implementing AI should be approached with intention, focusing on enhancing customer service without compromising the personalized, human-centric elements that drive loyalty and trust.Jay Patel, CiscoIts important to have a strategy and roadmap for transforming CX. Over time, itll be important to innovate and adapt -- making this not a one-time activity, says Patel. Continuous measurement and reviews are needed to ensure the organization continues to innovate and improve experiences.Related:Customer Satisfaction Less Important Than Cost?Melissa Copeland, founder and principal at customer experience consultancy Blue Orbit Consulting, says customer experience design should include three different perspectives: the customer, the company, and the employee.From a customer perspective, its helpful to understand what they expect, why they call, and the outcome they anticipate. From a company perspective, consider how to deliver a consistent brand image, drive loyalty and maintain or grow revenue in a manner that improves share of wallet. Then, from an employee perspective, understand how they receive the customer, what they are incented to do and how much support they have.The magic is when all three [perspectives] are knit together in an ecosystem supported by processes and technology that make all these things happen quickly and synchronized, says Copeland. Savvy organizations start with an understanding of the customer and sample personas or profiles. From there, an organization can create desired customer experience and build the systems and processes to deliver that experience. The best experiences are often driven by looking at things from a customer perspective.Related:Customer experience is a choice companies make. For example, have they gone overboard with automation or do they want to make it easy for the customer to reach a human? Is cost more important than customer satisfaction?When a company creates [an experience] based on what is cost effective or easy for the company rather than the customer, we get into a mismatch [of] expectations, language and often outcomes, says Copeland. The other common challenge is [technology implementation]. Often self-service or chatbots [are built], without spending the time and resources to be sure they line up with that desired customer experience.John Rossman, founder and managing partner at strategy and management advisory firm Rossman Partners, says a lack of clear metrics, an absence of accountability, and short-term optimization over long-term loyalty are issues.The Right Things Arent Being MeasuredMany organizations fail to establish insightful, actionable metrics that truly reflect the customer experience. Without clarity on what defines excellence, its nearly impossible to achieve it. Metrics must measure what matters most to customers, not just whats easy to track, says Rossman. Turning these metrics into service level agreements (SLAs) that hold teams accountable for delivering an exceptional customer experience is another gap. SLAs are a commitment to excellence -- a pledge that customers can count on and that serve as a forcing function for accountability and improvement.The real reason, however, lies in prioritizing short-term financial results at the expense of long-term customer loyalty. Organizations often sacrifice sustainable growth, which is built on trust and exceptional experiences, for immediate financial returns.Transforming customer experiences isnt just about reacting to complaints or tweaking processes. Its about creating clarity, aligning teams on a bold vision of customer delight and maintaining velocity in execution, says Rossman. Organizations that prioritize customer loyalty, deeply understand customer pain points and apply resources to fix the root causes are the ones that thrive. This is Amazon's approach.Customer Data Is a MessBrands have a hard time meeting this expectation mostly because they lack a full, detailed understanding of their customers. With data siloed across channels and processes, one functional team might know what the customer is doing on one channel, but not another. The customer might receive what the brand considers an exceptional CX on that one channel, but from the customers perspective it is an uneven experience because it does not consider or reflect the entirety of the customers journey with the brand.[W]hile breaking down siloes is a great starting point, many brands fail to prioritize data quality. To truly understand a customer, all incoming data must be cleansed, normalized, enriched, and precisely matched so that brands can accurately distinguish one customer from another, and even understand a customer in the dynamics of various relationships, such as in the context of a household or business, says John Nash, chief marketing and strategy officer at strategy and management advisory firm Redpoint Global. It is impossible to deliver a real-time, personalized experience when the company is still trying to figure out which customer is visiting the website, dialing the call center, engaging with a chatbot, etc.John Nash, Redpoint GlobalOrganizations should have unified customer profiles and make those profiles available and accessible across the enterprise. A unified profile should ingest customer data from all possible sources, continuously perform data quality processes as data is ingested, and apply advanced identity resolution functionality to accurately distinguish one customer from another.Watch Out for Confirmation BiasDennis Lenard, CEO at Creative Navy UX Agency, says hes observed that confirmation bias can undermine the creation of truly exceptional customer experiences. Many subpar experiences persist not because teams lack skills or resources but because theyre unknowingly trapped in patterns of organizational blindness. This happens when the very structures creating the problems prevent teams from identifying and addressing those issues objectively. Cognitive dissonance often compounds the issue, as individuals struggle to reconcile conflicting information that challenges their existing beliefs or assumptions.One of the biggest challenges Ive observed is how flawed thinking can skew the problem-solving process. For instance, teams often claim they are validating solutions internally. However, this approach is inherently flawed, says Lenard. Based on how learning processes and logical reasoning work, we can only invalidate assumptions through testing and experimentation. Confirmation bias makes it tempting to interpret any evidence as supporting a hypothesis, even when it doesnt.Joe Crawford, global head of technology at AI-fueled customer intelligence solutions provider Glassbox, agrees.Too often, companies assume they know what customers want and then pour their resources into those ideas. [W]hen you consider all the sources that suggest customers think CX has gotten worse in recent years, it highlights an obvious misunderstanding between what customers want versus what organizations think customers want.Customer Experience Is Everyones JobToya Del Valle, chief customer officer at workforce agility platform Cornerstone OnDemand, says poor customer experiences are caused misalignment across business functions and customer expectations.When customer perspectives are not incorporated into all business processes, it heightens the risk of a substandard experience substantially. To ensure customer satisfaction, customer success goals must be reflected across the entire company, not just those directly engaging with customers, says Del Valle.For example, if chief customer officers partner with HR, they can introduce shared metrics that tie employee engagement to customer satisfaction and find a rhythm to engage employees with training, support and metric tracking against this shared goal. That said, all business leaders must drive experience within their organizations.Ultimately, delivering exceptional customer experiences should be a company-wide priority driven by executive leadership. However, if a unified company-wide focus is not yet achievable, it is crucial to ensure strong collaboration between marketing, IT, and customer success teams, says Glassboxs Crawford. [M]arketing and customer success teams are on the ground thinking of new ways to reach current and prospective customers daily [but], IT has the clearest view into online behavior, [such as] what areas of a website customers are interacting with, points of customer friction, and the data behind the behavior.Bottom LineCustomer experiences continue to suffer because organizations arent prioritizing, measuring, or doing the right things. With all the internal and technological disconnects, coupled with the need to deliver omnichannel experiences the way customers want them, its a difficult problem to solve.The worst part about it is that companies dont understand their customers well enough to design the right kind of experiences in the first place. Moreover, delivering a great customer experience is a moving target and therefore a journey, not an event. Its also everyones responsibility. And ultimately, companies need to run their operations with a customer-first mentality.About the AuthorLisa MorganFreelance WriterLisa Morgan is a freelance writer who covers business and IT strategy and emergingtechnology for InformationWeek. She has contributed articles, reports, and other types of content to many technology, business, and mainstream publications and sites including tech pubs, The Washington Post and The Economist Intelligence Unit. Frequent areas of coverage include AI, analytics, cloud, cybersecurity, mobility, software development, and emerging cultural issues affecting the C-suite.See more from Lisa MorganNever Miss a Beat: Get a snapshot of the issues affecting the IT industry straight to your inbox.SIGN-UPYou May Also LikeWebinarsMore WebinarsReportsMore Reports

3D-printed lenses make this microscope far less costly than traditional onesDr Liam M. Rooney/University of StrathclydeThe worlds first fully 3D-printed microscope can be made in a few hours and for a fraction of the cost of traditional ones.Its not just enabling, its empowering, says Gail McConnell at the University of Strathclyde in the UK. She and her colleagues previously worked out how to 3D-print lenses like those used in microscopes, which led to the breakthrough.For the body of the

Ive combed the internet to find you todays most fun/important/scary/fascinating stories about technology. 1 Metas new speech policies allow the denigration of trans people The revamped guidelines now permit previously-forbidden insults and allegations. (Platformer $)+ The changes have left Metas employees feeling embarrassed and ashamed. (404 Media)+ Axed fact-checkers held an emergency meeting after Meta said it no longer required their services. (Insider $)2 The US Supreme Court will hear TikToks final plea Justices are likely to make their decision before the end of next week. (The Guardian)+ If the ban is enacted, you can probably still access TikTok via a VPN. (NYT $)+ ByteDances founder could be TikToks secret weapon. (The Information $)3 Those pictures of the Hollywood sign burning are AI-generatedAI slop is making the Los Angeles fires appear even worse than they are. (404 Media)+ Elon Musk and Donald Trump arent helping matters by spreading disinformation. (The Verge)+ AI cameras are keeping tabs on the spreading destruction in Californias hills. (Insider $)+ The scale of the destruction is truly horrifying. (NY Mag $)4 Last year was officially the hottest ever recorded The average global temperature exceeded 1.5C above the pre-industrial baseline for the first time. (New Scientist $)+ Consequently, were edging closer to breaching the Paris Agreement. (Politico)5 How to prevent another zoonotic pandemic It all hinges on early detection. (FT $)6 Foxconn has stopped sending Chinese workers to Indian iPhone factoriesIts bad news for Apple, as its likely to disrupt production. (Rest of World) 7 This new cell could change plastic surgery as we know it Lipochondrocytes have the rigidity of cartilage and the squishiness of fat. (Wired $)+ Cosmetic surgery is booming in middle-income countries. (Economist $)8 Yandexs co-founder is shaking off Putin Arkady Volozh has condemned Russias actions in the war with Ukraine, and started a new company. (Bloomberg $)+ How Russia killed its tech industry. (MIT Technology Review)

I thought Gen Z would love my company because I built a fun, inviting culture.However, my first Gen Z intern wanted to explore departments outside her internship.She "quiet quit" and then left the company four months later because I treated her poorly.For years, I dreamed of working for a company like Google. After all, who wouldn't want to head into the office on Monday morning and be greeted by sleeping pods, VR summits, or Quidditch matches? The entire place was a millennial wonderland with a never-ending supply of cereal bars and gluten-free baked goods.The early 2000s was the genesis of open office spaces, open-door policies, and open-mindedness. When I started my own business, I copied and pasted this format and waited for Gen Z to knock down my door, begging to work for me.But my neon signage, proclaiming a fun and diversified environment with greatcompany culture,only caught the interest of one Gen Z applicant.Thankfully, she seemed like the perfect fit for our internship. Her values aligned with my company, and her education and experience fit our exact needs. But after multiple Zoom meetings, I felt like I was trying to fit a square peg in a round hole.She clearly decided to "quiet quit" after a week and didn't stay after her internship. Instead of looking at myself and my own company, I blamed the new hire.My intern had goals I didn't expectWhen I set out to bring in my first intern, I presented my company as a place where everyone belongs and can bring their entire self to the table. Well, I didn't exactly honor that goal. Instead of taking the time to ask my intern questions and find out what her goals were, I saw her as a solution to my needs.I hated creating social media campaigns. So, when my intern's rsum boasted her experience and educational background in digital communication, I leaped at the chance to bring her onto the team and use her skills.But in one of our first meetings, she told me she wanted to explore different departments and figure out if this industry was right for her.I panicked. I hoped she'd focus solely on my need for social media, but she was interested in branching out beyond that.My cool office culture didn't seem to appease her or her curiosity to learn more. She lost interest in the company quickly, and I noticed her "quiet quitting." After four months, she left the company for good.I quickly learned Gen Z is different in the workplaceAs a geriatric millennial, I wasn't raised to see my degree separate from my future career plans. I picked classes that made sense for my aspirational goals and chose internships that aligned with my education and background.But that's not what Generation Z is about. They're interested in exploring and learning especially during internships. They want a full experience, and that includes trying on different hats to see what fits.My intern wanted to experience what it was like to live in my shoes, to see the good, the bad, and the ugly.I wish I could tell you that I adapted and was the best boss ever, but I'd be lying. I lost my intern because I couldn't figure out what to do with her. I ignored her and gave her menial tasks to fill her schedule.I wish I had done so many things differently Firstly, I would have broken away from my interview script and gotten to know her. I would have asked her about her five-year plan, what her hobbies were, and how I could help her reach her goals.As much as I wish I had changed sooner, there's a huge part of me that's so grateful for this failure. It taught me to break a lot of my own biases and think in broader terms of creating a place of belonging.Even though I wasn't able to retain my first intern, I retained all the lessons she taught me. I will forever be grateful for that.

The Venice Simplon-Orient-Express grand suites are the epitome of European luxury train travel.The Venice Simplon-Orient-Express train operates in 17 cities. Joey Hadden/Business Insider Red carpets welcome all guests on their overnight journeys, complete with lavishly decorated vintage carriages, fine-dining restaurants, and jaw-dropping views of passing scenery.However, only the grand suites offer guests luxurious amenities such as private showers and around-the-clock butler services. It's worth it to many the accommodations are "definitely a rich and famous-type bucket list item," Julie Durso, a Scott Dunn Private travel manager, told Business Insider in November.The grand suites are the top-tier accommodations on the Venice Simplon-Orient-Express. Joey Hadden/Business Insider Over the past few years, Belmond has seen a spike in demand for its trains. Franklin told BI that the Venice Simplon-Orient-Express has become especially popular, with bookings growing 10% from 2023 to 2024.The train's flashy grand suites have concurrently piqued the interest of wealthy travelers according to Franklin, they're often the first accommodations to be booked. And for good reason. The train has 54 cabins, six of which are in the highest-end grand suites category.The Venice-themed grand suite's navy-blue velvets evoke the train's exterior. Joey Hadden/Business Insider The accommodations, first introduced in 2018, each have a unique design inspired by a city on the train's routes.For example, the Venice, Italy-themed suite fuses Italian Baroque and Renaissance designs. Venetian furniture, vintage glass light fixtures, and a marriage of silk and woven fabrics fill the room with a historic Italian ambiance. The headboard combines arches and sharp edges, a nod to the country's Renaissance castles.Similarly, the Budapest suite features Gothic and Ottoman architectural styles, with ornate marquetry and embroidered silk-patterned furniture. The tall, curved headboard recalls the cathedrals and mosques of the Ottoman Empire. No matter the decor, all suites include a couch, closet, double bed, dining area, and en-suite bathroom.A peek inside the bathroom in one of the grand suites. Joey Hadden/Business Insider Most of the Venice Simplon-Orient-Express accommodations have shared restrooms without access to a shower.But there's no need to share in the grand suites the private bathrooms all have a rainfall showerhead, a glass-blown sink, and heated marble flooring. The living room then separates the bathroom from the bedroom.The double bed can be converted into two twin beds. Joey Hadden/Business Insider The train has three restaurant cars. Guests staying in these high-end accommodations can instead dine in the privacy of their suite and unwind.Staying in the luxurious moving hotel room also includes welcome caviar, 24-hour butler service, and bottomless Champagne. It's a good time to be in the luxury travel business.Each grand suite is uniquely decorated. Joey Hadden/Business Insider Travelers are increasingly spending big for unique, high-end vacations.To capitalize on this, Belmond added two grand suites to its Scottish train, the Royal Scotsman, in 2024.The new accommodations were "exceptionally well-received," Franklin said so much so that the company is now building more to debut in 2025.

Short ribs become extra tender when slow cooked.Braised short ribs. Brent Hofacker/Shutterstock Short ribs are one of cookbook author Kim Laidlaw's favorite things to make in a Crock-Pot, and they're a go-to on a chilly winter day.In her cookbook, "Everyday Slow Cooking: Modern Recipes for Delicious Meals," Laidlaw gives multiple different recipes for short ribs, and she recommends trying them for a meal featuring other sides."If you do them in a slow cooker, then the meat is out of the way," she told Business Insider. "Then, you can focus on other side dishes like polenta or risotto." Stew is one of those slow-cooker meals where you can practically toss in the ingredients and walk away.Beef stew. Erin McDowell/Business Insider Beef, turkey, or chicken stew is a perfect stick-to-your-bones meal during the cold winter and fall months."Beef stew is really nice in the slow cooker," Laidlaw said. "That's something I grew up on with the slow cooker, and it's just as good today."But stew is also hassle-free."Slow cookers are perfect in the winter for soups and stews," Laidlaw said. "The best part is that you can set it in the morning and walk away." Corn chowder is another simple meal you can make with a few inexpensive ingredients.Corn chowder soup with bacon. Anna Puzatykh/Shutterstock If you make this chowder in the fall, you can use in-season fresh corn as is suggested in this celebrity chef-approved Martha Stewart recipe, found on the chef's website.However, you can also take the easy route by choosing canned corn from the store. The chowder is flavorful yet light and uses heartwarming ingredients like heavy cream, bacon, and baby red potatoes. Brisket is another meat that becomes super tender in a slow cooker.Brisket. iStock / Getty Images Plus Laidlaw's recipe for slow-cooked braised brisket includes garlic, onion, dry red wine, carrot, and chicken or beef stock, with a chimichurri sauce."Brisket is a natural partner for the slow cooker, as a gentle braise renders it meltingly tender," Laidlaw writes in "Everyday Slow Cooking." Ribs can also be made in a Crock-Pot.Barbecue ribs. David P. Smith/Shutterstock "Ribs do really well in the slow cooker, and you can always stick them under the broiler in the end to crisp them up," Laidlaw said.Bolognese sauce is another great way to utilize your Crock-Pot.Bolognese. Piyato/Getty Images "Bolognese is great because you can cook it for a long time," Laidlaw said. "You just have to remember that the sauce doesn't evaporate the same as it would if you were doing it on the stove. You definitely need to compensate and put less liquid in the pot if you're using a slow cooker." You can also make mac and cheese in a slow cooker.Martha Stewart slow cooker mac and cheese. Erin McDowell/Business Insider Celebrity chef Martha Stewart's recipe for slow-cooker mac and cheese is not only easy to make but super delicious and perfect for the fall and winter seasons."It is important to use pungent cheeses, such as sharp cheddar, mixed with a little Gruyere or pecorino Romano for extra bite, since the white sauce and pasta will absorb a lot of flavor," Stewart writes. Chicken stock and broth are two kitchen staples you can make in a Crock-Pot.Chicken broth. Andrew Thomas Lee/Clarkson Potter Publishers Hugh Acheson's slow-cooker chicken broth is pretty simple all you'll need is a whole chicken, salt, garlic cloves, white onions, carrots, celery, and a few seasonings to taste.You can find the full recipe for Acheson's chicken broth in his book, "The Chef and the Slow Cooker." You can also make chicken soup in a slow cooker.Thai chicken soup. Andrew Thomas Lee/Clarkson Potter Publishers "A simple soup with Thai chilis, coconut milk, and lime is just wickedly good," Acheson said.The recipe for Acheson's slow cooker chicken soup with chiles, coconut milk, and lime can be found here on Garden & Gun. Or, if you're feeling a little more adventurous, Acheson also said a slow cooker is a perfect way to make delicious chicken and dumplings. Meatballs are another warming meal to make in a slow cooker.Meatballs. anewlifephotostudio/Getty Images Acheson points out that not only are meatballs, like the veal meatballs he includes in his book, easy and delicious to make, but they're a comforting, kid-friendly option you can make in a slow cooker."Slow cookers are not necessarily the best tool for cooking for one they work so much better for nourishing an entire family," he said. Acheson said his go-to slow-cooker meal on a winter's day is lentil soup with a little sour cream.Lentil soup. Andrew Thomas Lee/Clarkson Potter Publishers "I usually go for something that won't take too long," Acheson said. "Usually, I go for a lentil soup with Tuscan kale and a little sour cream and herbs on top. To me, that's the type of food you want as you're watching the snow fall down."The recipe for Acheson's lentil soup with Tuscan kale can be found here on Cup of Jo.Acheson also points out that large batches of soup are great for the next day. Braised and pulled chicken is another great way to use your Crock-Pot.Chicken cheese sliders roll made with pulled chicken, tomato sauce, and Mozzarella. AS Foodstudio/Shutterstock One of the benefits of using a slow cooker is starting with a basic protein and jazzing it up.From Mexican food-inspired spices to Indian simmer sauces, there are tons of ways to transform simple braised or pulled chicken dishes into something show-stopping.This recipe from Delish tells you how to make slow-cooker barbecue pulled chicken. Pork shoulder is a slow-cooker staple you can use in a number of dishes.Ingredients for pulled pork in a slow cooker. corners74/Shutterstock "One dish I think is so versatile is pork shoulder in a slow cooker with broth and a little salt and pepper," Laidlaw said. "I just braise that and then you can turn into so many different things."Laidlaw explained that using a pork shoulder, you can make everything from pulled-pork sliders to carnitas tacos or burritos. You can also prepare a leg of lamb in the slow cooker, but you might want to sear it first.Leg of lamb. SteAck/Shutterstock "Leg of lamb is so good as it breaks down in the slow cooker," Acheson said. "Cooking in the slow cooker and then finishing another way is going to make sure your meat is at its best. Whether that means re-searing the meat or throwing it under the broiler, you might want to think about other steps to really finish off your meal."Laidlaw added, "Recipes that have you throw everything in without any prep ahead are not nearly as good or as flavorful as the ones that do. Taking ten minutes to brown the meat before you put it in or getting the onions started goes a long way to making your meals more delicious." You can also make poached or braised fish in the slow cooker.Poached salmon with fennel and lemon. Candice Bell/Shutterstock "It's really about rethinking recipes and figuring out how to do it in the slow cooker," Acheson said.One of the "best recipes" Acheson said he uses from his book is one for a braised catfish stew, the recipe for which can be found on Garden & Gun."It's got this long-cooking, beautiful broth that's just a vision at the end," he told Business Insider. "It's got chilies, peppers, and mace big flavors. It just works perfectly. When slow cooking, you really want to choose a dish that works well simmering potentially all day."Goat shoulder is another delicious meal you can make in a Crock-Pot.Goat shoulder. Andrew Thomas Lee/Clarkson Potter Publishers "These days, goat shoulder doesn't have that gamey taste it might have had before," Acheson said. "When you're talking about cooking a large piece of meat, a slow cooker is a great place to start." You can even make a comforting dessert like cheesecake in a Crock-Pot.Cheesecake. John Kernick/Williams Sonoma One of the desserts Laidlaw includes in her book "Everyday Slow Cooking"

Black Ops 6 and Warzone's Season 2 update is coming soon for Call of Duty fans as Activision snuck in a mention into its latest patch notes here's when it launchesTech12:02, 10 Jan 2025Season 1 was packed, so here's hoping for more of the same(Image: Activision)While we think Call of Duty player counts dropping might not be too much of a concern for Activision, the long-awaited Season 2 update has finally been given a release date.While we expected the update to arrive at some point this month given Season 1 has been rumbling on for a while, we weren't quite expecting Activision to bury the date in its latest patch notes piece.Nonetheless, now we know when we'll get our next taste of fresh Call of Duty content for Black Ops 6, and the date the Squid Games collaboration will likely finish.Call of Duty Black Ops 6 is the best CoD in years(Image: Activision)In the latest January 9 patch notes, Activision makes its first mention of Season 2 in a section focused on 'Stability'."Sometimes bugs appear fixed in testing but turn out to still be an issue in the live game after the patch goes out. This sucks for everyone involved, and it can lead to inaccurate patch notes, which we never want," the post explains."The Vermin double-attack bug is one of these, and like the Terminus speedrun fix, the proper solution for it unfortunately cant be implemented as quickly as some of the other items listed above. Look for both of those fixes when Season 02 launches on Jan. 28."So, the bad news is that some bugs will persist until Season 2, but the good news is we're just a couple of weeks from the update.As for what will be included, it's hard to say until Activision says more. There's a good chance, however, it'll follow the same template that's been around since Modern Warfare 2019's release.That means Black Ops 6 players can expect new maps, weapons, skins, and limited-time modes, all bundled together. Warzone players can look forward to much of the same, and then a few weeks later, we'd hope for a 'Reloaded' update with additional things added.It's a cadence that's worked well for the series in recent years, but we'll have the full Season 2 roadmap as soon as it's revealed.Article continues belowFor the latest breaking news and stories from across the globe from the Daily Star, sign up for our newsletters.RECOMMENDED

GTA 6 fans are still braced for a delay, but we now know when we'll likely find out for sure as Take-Two books in its earnings call will we be looking at a 2025 release?Tech11:51, 10 Jan 2025GTA 6 is finally getting closer(Image: Rockstar Games)GTA 6 fans have been speculating about when we'll see the game's second trailer, but video aside, we're still not entirely sure when the game will launch.Likely to be the biggest game ever and expected to pull in billions of dollars when it does launch, there have been suggestions it'll slip to 2026 but one analyst is convinced it'll hit its late 2025 window.Now, with Take-Two (Rockstar's parent company) announcing its earnings call, we know when we'll find out about any potential delay.As posted on the GTA 6 subreddit (which has 1.2 million members, by the way, despite the game not being out yet), the next Take-Two Interactive earnings conference call is expected on February 6.It's likely to be the most 'hotly anticipated' earnings call (if that really is a thing), and could be the first chance we get to hear about an updated release timeline for the game.It's worth stressing that, while the call may insist that GTA 6 is still on track for 2025, we're still early in the year and delays could happen as we approach its 'Fall 2025' release period.Given Take-Two CEO Strauss Zelnick has hardly shied away from building hype for the title, it's also possible he'll be particularly chatty about it again. He's already described it as "extraordinary", and has promised Rockstar will "deliver something phenomenal".One question fans have is whether the earnings report could coincide with a fresh trailer, particularly to soften the blow of a potential delay.Rockstar revealed the first GTA 6 trailer in December 2023, meaning we've gone 13 months without a peek at the game, breaking a surprising record for the studio.Given we've had leaks from a voice actor and even a 'janitor', here's hoping it won't be long until we hear about the project or see it for ourselves.Article continues belowFor the latest breaking news and stories from across the globe from the Daily Star, sign up for our newsletters.RECOMMENDED

Is Red Dead Redemption 2 gunning for the Switch 2? (Take-Two Interactive)Bandai Namco, EA and Bethesda are among the publishers who have games planned for Nintendos next console, according to a new leak.Theres been much speculation around the games Nintendo has planned for its follow-up to the Switch, but the systems success might hinge just as much on its third party support.The Switchs launch line-up was very limited, beyond Zelda: Breath Of The Wild, with Ubisofts Just Dance 2017, Skylanders: Imaginators from Activision, and Konamis Super Bomberman R being the key third party titles.If game publishers were hesitant to support the original Switch, following the failure of the Wii U, the Switch 2 looks to be a very different story especially given a new leak which appears to list several companies that have games planned for the system.The leak stems from French retailer Fnac, which has several pre-made product pages listed on its website. After online sleuths discovered pages alluding to a new Nintendo console and various bundles, other pages have been found that are related to third party publishers.As listed on Reddit, there are pre-made listings referring to publishers EA, Square Enix, Bandai Namco, Bethesda, Take-Two, and Warner Bros. There are multiple listings for each publisher too, which suggests either various editions of one game or multiple titles from the same publisher.No games are mentioned by name so, as you would expect, this has prompted a guessing game in online circles. One X user, Bouboune0, has narrowed down what certain titles could be, based on similarities in the EAN barcode numbers, suggesting Tekken 8, FIFA (they presumably mean EA Sports FC), and Red Dead Redemption 1 or 2 (the sequel has already been rumoured as coming to Switch 2).These all sound perfectly possible, especially as the original Red Dead Redemption recently came to the Switch. Meanwhile, Tekken Tag Tournament 2 was released on Wii U and EA Sports FC 25 is already on the current Switch.If we were to throw in our own speculation, wed be very surprised if Elden Ring isnt on the way from Bandai Namco, Bethesda could be related to those reports of a Hi-Fi Rush port, while Square Enix might be planning to bring Final Fantasy 7 Remake which was originally a PlayStation 4 game to the new format.The Warner Bros. listing, meanwhile, might relate to a previous leak hinting at Gotham Knights. There are prices listed too (79.99), but its very likely these are just placeholders.While theres a chance this retailer has simply been overzealous in its preparation, its very likely the Switch 2 will have considerable third party support at launch. considering how successful the original console has been.As for ports of existing games, reliable leaker John Harker has said theres a movement to get scaled [Xbox] Series S versions on the Switch 2. This would track with a recent report which estimated the consoles power would be equivalent to a base PlayStation 4, but that it will be able to run Xbox Series X/S and PlayStation 5 games, albeit not quite as well.Nintendo has not confirmed anything about the Switch 2, aside from it being backwards compatible. The company did recently acknowledge leaks around the console, with many insiders expecting a reveal in late January.More TrendingAs for when the console could possibly launch, accessory manufacturer Genki recently touted April as the likely release window. The alpacas might not be quite as fluffy on Switch 2 (Bandai Namco)Emailgamecentral@metro.co.uk, leave a comment below,follow us on Twitter, andsign-up to our newsletter.To submit Inbox letters and Readers Features more easily, without the need to send an email, just use ourSubmit Stuff page here.For more stories like this,check our Gaming page.GameCentralExclusive analysis, latest releases, and bonus community content.This site is protected by reCAPTCHA and the Google Privacy Policy and Terms of Service apply. Your information will be used in line with our Privacy Policy

Govees great indoor lighting effects have been among our favorites for a long time, as have their holiday-themed outdoor lighting shows that bring an awesome festive look to your home without you having to climb a ladder. So we werent surprised just excited when we found Govee also makes great wall lights for your porch or other exterior walls, and that theyre on sale for a limited time at Amazon for 41% off.See at AmazonA 2-pack of Govee Outdoor Wall Lights are just $100 right now, and theyre an amazingly versatile addition to your smart home setup. Whether youre using them as home safety enhancements by deploying their high-brightness white light, or using their vast range of DIY and pre-programmed colorful light shows to give your home a unique appeal, this 2-pack for just $100 is a great and economic home enhancement from a company with a proven track record.Let Alexa Do ItThe Govee Outdoor Wall Lights are easily controlled via Alexa, or Google voice assistants or other smart-home systems via the sold-separately Matter smart-home device. The Govee Home app is also an easy and effective way to power your outdoor lights on or off, change the light show, or set timers.Theyre also built for the outdoors, regardless of where you live. The Govee Outdoor Wall lights are housed in a rugged aluminum housing thats rated IP65 for water resistance, and theyre good go to in temperatures ranging from -4 degrees Fahrenheit all the way up to 113 degrees.As such, these arent DIY-installed lights unless youre a licensed electrician. They need to be hardwired to a junction box, and installed on a flat surface with a waterproof sealant or caulk around the light to keep water away from the wiring. Best to call in a pro for this job.Beauty, Fun, and SafetyGovees reputation for unique, amazing, colorful light shows comes through loud and clear with these outdoor lights. With easy customization you can set them to virtually any color combination you like, and they even come with a Dynamic Music Mode thats perfect for patio parties or other outdoor entertaining. And when you add the Govee Outdoor Motion Sensor (sold separately), they become motion-activated for home security.A single Govee Outdoor Wall Light can be had for 33% off at Amazon during this limited-time deal just $60. But the big savings truly come with the 2-pack, where the discount leaps to 41% off and you get two of these great outdoor lights for just $100 a $70 markdown from the regular price.See at Amazon