Kingdom Come: Deliverance 2 is shaping up well on PlayStation and Xbox consolesImpressive 30fps and 60fps options with the best of both worlds on PS5 Pro.Image credit: Warhorse Studios Face-off by Thomas Morgan Senior Staff Writer, Digital Foundry Published on Feb. 1, 2025 Developer Warhorse Studios returns imminently with Kingdom Come: Deliverance 2, the next chapter in its historical RPG built on CryEngine technology. This time around, we're looking at a purely current-gen release on Xbox Series X, Series S, PlayStation 5, and of course PS5 Pro. In putting the last-gen PS4 and Xbox One systems aside, the team is able to focus its efforts on optimising for a beautiful recreation of an early 15th century Czech Republic on these four platforms and PC, of course. First impressions from the area of the game set aside for the preview period certainly impress - and it was a genuine surprise to see a 60fps performance mode added to the mix, bearing in mind how CPU-intensive the first game was.The ambition of KCD2 is unlike most games and it's certainly unusual in the portfolio of CryEngine titles. Following directly on from the original, it once again puts us in the shoes of Henry, a former blacksmith apprentice who navigates the political turmoil across the Kingdom of Bohemia. Kicking off with an ill-fated mission to deliver a peace letter, you're faced with branching dialogue trees, during which the success of each interaction is dictated by your stats. Stealth, combat, or the full charm offensive are all viable ways to push the story forward here. Also, en route you are encouraged to play out the realities of 15th century living, including transporting sacks of food for coin, blacksmithing, and even brewing your own potions. The first person duelling system returns, but it's not a high-octane, action thrill-ride, nor is it meant to be. There's a slower, more considered pace to KCD2 that pushes it more-so into immersive sim territory than most RPGs going today. Fatigue, hunger, your wounds are all simulated as you travel the map, and added to that, your attire, plus your stats dictate the outcome of a discussion.On a tech level, the highlights of the first Kingdom Come: Deliverance are only amplified in scale this time around. Above all else, the rendering of huge, dense woodland areas is the standout point; from PS5 Pro to Xbox Series S, every console is able to realise these broad, sweeping landscapes - backed by dynamic weather and time of day systems. It truly grounds it in its historical premise, and also the often methodical, sim-based nature of its gameplay. Grass and tree pop-in are in view, sadly, but what Warhorse Studio achieves on CryEngine takes on a suitably photo-realistic look otherwise - largely thanks to the use of physically based materials. Everything from the metals on armour to the cloth on horse saddles reacts convincingly to the overcast midday lighting outdoors. And meanwhile, the use of the CryEngine's sparse voxel octree global illumination (SVOGI) allows for convincing indirect light bounce, notably around interiors lit by torches.A video breakdown of our preview impressions of Kingdom Come: Deliverance 2, ahead of its release next week.Watch on YouTubeThe standard PS5 and Xbox Series X offer two modes: a 30 frames per second fidelity mode that renders at 1440p, and also a 60fps performance mode that renders at 1080p. Each uses AMD's FSR 2.1.2 technology (with FSR 3.1 on PC) to scale to a higher 4K image. Meanwhile, Xbox Series S runs at 1080p and 30fps out of the box, with no alternative 60fps option available. And finally, PS5 Pro also removes the mode toggle in the menus, instead opting to offer a single way to play at 60fps - rendering internally at 1296p with a PSSR upscale to 4K.On PS5 and Series X, the fidelity mode boosts foliage and shadow draw across terrain over the performance mode. Outdoor scenes are more fully fleshed out on the 30fps fidelity mode as a result, which also reduces the visibility of pop-in. Added to that, the fidelity mode improves the quality of ambient occlusion, notably around interior details like hanging plants - while the object geometry setting is boosted as well. Factoring in its superior image quality, via a 1440p base resolution, there's a trade-off to consider when using the 30fps mode on PS5, and Series X.So what's the PS5 Pro advantage? The good news is that all of these fidelity mode extras engage by default: there are improved tree and shadow LODs, ambient occlusion and object quality - and it all runs at 60fps rather than 30fps, essentially living up to Mark Cerny's original pitch for the PS5 Pro, in removing the burden of choice between two modes to give one singular option that does it all. Compared to the base PS5's performance mode, PS5 Pro's use of PSSR - using 1296p as a base resolution - also boosts image quality all round. The result is sharper, often better defining the fine detail on distant grass ahead, or even the individual strands of the horse's mane. Even compared to the fidelity mode it holds up well: the only catch being that there is a slight increase in temporal flicker compared to the base PS5's FSR approach. Otherwise, the move to the more expensive PSSR pays off in generating a convincing enough 4K image, while also keeping 60fps and all those fidelity mode extras in view.To see this content please enable targeting cookies. Meanwhile, Xbox Series S only runs at 30fps and at a native 1080p that does not rely on any variation of FSR to upscale it. In effect, this means the game renders at 1080p on Series S, with a conventional upscale if you're outputting to a 4K display. It's disappointing, and the result is blurrier than, for example, the 1080p 60fps performance modes on PS5 and Series X - and certainly a step down next to their 1440p 30fps fidelity modes in clarity. A few other downgrades bear mention too: firstly Series S runs with lower quality shadows, while textures take a hit in quality up close. Likewise, alpha effects - like fire - drop a setting while in outdoor scenes, while there's more abundant tree and shadow pop-in on the 4TF machine.The PS5 and Series X fidelity modes aren't problem-free by any means by comparison: all share a similar 15fps refresh on shadows past a certain range - notably beneath the horses ahead of the player on an early route to Trosky castle. Also, Series X's fidelity mode suffers from what appears to be a settings bug, causing foliage draw to run at a notch below PS5, and even Series S. Ideally, this would be addressed by release, but fundamentally, the Series S version has the deepest cutbacks in its shadows, textures and pop in.Switching to frame-rate testing, PS5 and Xbox Series X's performance modes each hit the target 60fps a majority of the time. It's not a faultless delivery, but the drop to 1080p for this mode does pay off in a convincingly robust experience. It's good news, too, that PS5 Pro hands in a broadly equivalent experience in hitting that 60fps line on its default mode. Xbox Series X typically runs on par with PS5 but later stress points do reveal the Microsoft machine suffering greater and more consistent drops under 60fps by comparison. An early stealth segment in the swamps, for example, has Series X drop into the 50-60fps range, while base PS5 and PS5 Pro tend to keep their heads above water at 60fps. Perhaps more tellingly, a dream sequence puts all three consoles through their paces, where again Series X takes the biggest drops to the 50fps line. Base PS5 comes out with the smoother, closer lock at 60fps, while PS5 Pro falls in between the two.Xbox Series SPS5/Series X FidelityPS5/Series X PerformancePS5 ProNative Resolution1920x10802560x14401920x10802304x1296Frame-Rate Target30FPS30FPS60FPS (VRR Unlocked)60FPS (VRR Unlocked)UpscalerN/AFSR 2.1.2 to 4KAMD FSR 2.1.2 to 1440pPSSR to 4KAs a nice value-added feature, those playing on 120Hz displays with VRR enabled have access to an entirely unlocked frame-rate in KCD2. Simply select the performance mode, and PS5, PS5 Pro and Series X all rise above the 60fps line where GPU headroom allows it. In effect, this allows us to better split the three in performance, where the 60fps cap would hide the differential otherwise. Base PS5 produces the best frame-rate overall, with a margin of +5-8fps over the PS5 Pro in matching scenes, which in itself hovers at around a frame on average above Series X. This advantage over Pro hardware might seem surprising on first glance, but it's not a precise match in rendering load between them. The newer PS5 model is pushing visuals equivalent to the fidelity mode settings in draw distances, AO and object quality, while crucially deploying the more expensive PSSR upscaling to 4K. I'd suggest PS5 Pro users are still getting a reasonable balance between visuals and frame-rate here - especially in using VRR - even if there's a performance deficit next to the base PS5.The easy recommendation is to use the 60fps performance mode on all three consoles, though the 30fps fidelity mode is a welcome extra option. PS5 hits the 30fps line with little issue this way, giving us a stable line despite the jump to 1440p, while those boosted settings help sweeten the deal. The biggest drawback is the loss in input responsiveness, with an obvious delay in every action while running at 30fps. As far as PS5 is concerned otherwise, it is stable - and once again, often more-so than the Xbox consoles. By comparison, Series X often runs perfectly with 30fps as the target, though there are instances, like an early spot while foraging for herbs, where it lurches into the mid-20s. It's another sign that Series X is currently lagging behind in optimisation, but again, most of play hits the mark. Meanwhile, Series S has more frequent drops to the 20s. Typically it still holds at 30fps a majority of the time, but the regularity of drops when facing dense jungle spots is higher. It's a shame given the cutbacks elsewhere on Series S - and that there's no alternative mode to switch to which could improve matters.Seven years on since the original game, our first look at Kingdom Come: Deliverance 2 suggests that its ambition fits the capabilities of each modern console well. Perhaps its greatest success is in offering a viable 60 frames per second option on PS5, PS5 Pro and Series X - while also letting us go above that on supporting VRR displays. It's also heartening to see that PS5 Pro's extra horsepower, plus PSSR upscaling technology, are well utilised in this case. The result for Pro users is a smart fusion of PS5s performance and fidelity modes, combining 60fps gameplay and higher visual settings. It gives us a hassle-free way to enjoy the game with no need to trial two graphics options first. On the flipside, Xbox Series S is facing more obvious cutbacks: the fixed 30fps is a disappointment, as are the dropped visual settings. In the run-up to the game's 4th February release, it's the only platform where I'm hoping to see improvement, where the other three consoles hand in a much more worthy take on Warhorse Studio's long-gestating sequel.

Meet Absurdaverse, GTA 5 writer Dan Houser's next big project"Prepare to meet some new kinds of heroes (and watch them suffer)."Image credit: Absurd Ventures News by Vikki Blake Contributor Published on Feb. 1, 2025 Rockstar Games co-founder and GTA 5 writer Dan Houser has lifted the lid on his latest project: Absurdaverse.Whilst we already knew that Absurd Ventures, the media company established by Houser following his departure from the Grand Theft Auto developer in 2020, was working on an "open world action-adventure", this is the first time we get a look at "just a few characters" coming to a "story-driven action-comedy adventure game set in the Absurdaverse".To see this content please enable targeting cookies. Xbox Developer Direct - four promising games also coming to PlayStation.Watch on YouTube"A very first look at just a few characters from the Absurdaverse. Prepare to meet some new kinds of heroes (and watch them suffer)," the team teased."More information to come this year about the first animation projects and about our original story-driven action-comedy adventure game set in the Absurdaverse, now in development at Absurd Ventures."That's not all, either. We'll also learn more about two other "storytelling universes" - Better Paradise and American Caper - later this year. The latter is described as a "new crime fiction universe".We recently learned that following a difficult year for Immortals of Aveum developer Ascendant Studios, a "core team" of around 20 employees has now decamped to Absurd Ventures, establishing a new studio that'll be known as Absurd Marin.

You can trust VideoGamer. Our team of gaming experts spend hours testing and reviewing the latest games, to ensure you're reading the most comprehensive guide possible. Rest assured, all imagery and advice is unique and original. Check out how we test and review games hereIn Marvel Rivals players are always devising strategies to conquer the vast array of heroes, each boasting distinct abilities that can dramatically shift the momentum in team-centric skirmishes. The game has now evolved into a fierce arena where mastering and countering character abilities is crucial for achieving victory. Mantiss Spore Slumber has stirred quite the debate among players, frequently labeled as an overpowered ability. Its ability to immobilize and stun opponents can swing the tide of battle, providing teams with a substantial edge in those pivotal moments of gameplay.After extensive testing and collaboration within the community, players seem to have found a solid counter to Mantiss Spore Slumber, which could very well alter the games meta. Heres how it works.Marvel Rivals players reveal how teammates can break the Mantis Spore Slumber effectMarvel Rivals players on Reddit have shared their discoveries of how any player can break Mantiss Spore Slumber ability effect from their teammate. The player wrote, Today on stuff I learned just now: you can shoot Mantis purple ghost to wake up your teammates. It only has 100 HP.The Spore Slumber ability projects a ghost behind the enemy that can be damaged by their teammates. Captured by VideoGamer.The Spore Slumber ability from Mantis sedates the nearest enemy when a spore is thrown at them. The sedation duration is 3.5 seconds and also deals 10 damage to enemies. Furthermore, a Mantis illusion will manifest beside the sedated heroes. This ability when thrown at you can be quite frustrating and the enemy team can easily eliminate you.However, with the discovered counter, allies can attack this illusion to awaken the affected hero in a Marvel Rivals match. Just shoot at the purple ghost illusion to wake up your teammate which will quickly allow them to return to the battlefield. Must-Listen: Publishing Manor Lords w/ Joe Robinson VideoGamer Podcast Listen Now While the counter to this ability is also mentioned on the official Hero abilities page on the Marvel Rivals website, its quite easy to overlook during gameplay if you dont play as Mantis or havent figured it out yet. But if youre looking to win matches with your team, check out the best team comps in Marvel Rivals you can play.Marvel RivalsPlatform(s):macOS, PC, PlayStation 5, Xbox Series S, Xbox Series XGenre(s):Fighting, ShooterRelated TopicsMarvel Rivals Subscribe to our newsletters!By subscribing, you agree to our Privacy Policy and may receive occasional deal communications; you can unsubscribe anytime.Share

By Ira BasenJune 28, 2021On Oct. 13, 1940, a Regina chiropractor named Joshua Haldeman appeared in city court to face two charges under the Defence of Canada Act.His alleged offence was belonging to Technocracy Incorporated, an organization that had been banned by the Canadian government several months earlier as part of a larger sweep of groups it considered subversive to the war effort. Technocracy Incorporated was not a political movement in fact, politicians or members of political parties were not allowed to join. It was founded in New York City in 1933 as an educational and research organization promoting a radical restructuring of political, social and economic life in Canada and the United States, with science as its central operating principle. There would be no politicians, business people, money or income inequality. Those were all features of what Technocracy called the price system, and it would have to go. There would be no countries called Canada or the United States, either just one giant continental land mass called the Technate, a techno-utopia run by engineers and other experts in their fields. In the Technate, everyone would be well-housed and fed. All material needs would be taken care of, whether you had a job or not.Joshua Haldeman was a leader of Technocracy Incorporated in Canada from 1936 to 1941, but eventually became disillusioned with both the organization and the country, and packed up his young family to start life anew in South Africa. In June 1971, Haldemans daughter Maeve gave birth to his first grandson. His name is Elon Musk. In 2019, Musk tweeted, accelerating Starship development to build the Martian Technocracy.Musks estimated net worth today is more than $150 billion US. Hes clearly done very well inside the price system his grandfather would have railed against. But Musk has not completely abandoned his Technocracy roots. Musk doesnt talk about a Technate on Earth, but he has invested billions developing rockets to send people to Mars, with the intent to colonize it. He wants to see a city of a million people there by 2050. In 2019, Musk tweeted, accelerating Starship development to build the Martian Technocracy.Most of Technocracy Incorporateds ideas for the Technate were neither practical nor achievable. But they raised at least two important questions that were still grappling with today: How should governments respond when large numbers of people lose their jobs to automation and how can representative democracy, with all its obvious imperfections, function effectively in a world where science and technology play an ever more dominant role?A clash between obsolescence and modernityIn a speech to an American audience in 1963, Howard Scott, the founder and leader of Technocracy Incorporated, declared that as far as Technocracys ideas are concerned, were so far left that we make communism look bourgeois.That may not have been the most effective recruiting slogan at the height of the Cold War, but Scott wasnt entirely wrong. Technocracy was far from the only protest movement to emerge from the economic collapse of the 1930s. Social Credit in Alberta and the Co-operative Commonwealth Federation in Saskatchewan, the forerunner of the NDP, also attracted a lot of support. Some groups across the political spectrum had ties to European political movements. Some had charismatic leaders, like Huey Long and Father Charles Coughlin in the United States. But Technocracy was a uniquely North American movement that may have been the most radical of them all. And in the depths of the Great Depression, hundreds of thousands of Canadians and Americans were prepared to embrace it.Howard Scott founded Technocracy Inc. in 1933. He led the organization until his death in 1970. (Technocracyinc.org)Technocracys ideology defies easy characterization. It was anti-capitalist and anti-democratic, but not fascist. It was anti-government, but not libertarian. It believed in a radical form of social and economic equality, but it was not Marxist.It rejected all those ideologies because none of them accepted the idea that science and technology were transforming North American life, and that only highly trained engineers and experts were capable of building a new North America. While other political parties and protest groups were touting plans for putting people back to work, Technocracy response was: dont even bother. The world had changed, and the jobs destroyed by machines were not coming back. Before the Industrial Revolution, most manufacturing was done by hand, and there were never enough goods to go around; it was an economy based on scarcity. Now, machines could produce more than enough of everything for everybody with significantly less human labour. But this industrial system capable of producing abundance was being stymied by the price system, a pre-industrial, scarcity-based construct ill-suited to a world where machines were replacing humans in the workplace. At the heart of the price system was money. It was what forced people to go into debt, break the law, become greedy and engage in all kinds of other bad behaviours. But help was on the way. The march of technology, with its increasing abundance, will destroy every value of the price system, Scott declared in a speech in Sylvan Lake, Alta., during a western Canadian speaking tour in September 1939. It is a clash between obsolescence and modernity, between technology and value, between science and chaos. If this all sounds familiar, its because doomsday scenarios about massive unemployment and social unrest caused by technological change have been around since at least the Industrial Revolution.A Technocracy sign is seen in Josephine County, Ore., in August 1939. (Technocracyinc.org)In the 1770s, when the use of the spinning jenny became widespread, many weavers who had been spinning cloth by hand from their homes lost their jobs. But the spinning jenny made it cheaper to produce cloth, which meant more people could afford to buy clothes, which meant many more of them were needed to work in the factories where the cloth was now being produced.This has been the story of technological change up to now: The jobs that machines have taken they have invariably given back in even greater numbers. The price system has proven to be much more resilient and adaptable than doomsayers like Howard Scott had imagined.But today, as robots and artificial intelligence make ever deeper inroads into our offices and factories, the doomsayers are back, predicting a tsunami of unemployment that will crash into workplaces like banks and law offices, which until now have largely resisted automation. They fear this time, the story will in fact be different.According to a 2019 report by the U.K. research group Oxford Economics, around 1.7 million jobs have already been lost to robots globally since 2000. Even the people who have helped engineer the tsunami are worried.We are experiencing the greatest economic and technological shift in human history, declared Silicon Valley entrepreneur Andrew Yang during his unlikely run for the Democratic presidential nomination in 2020. We need a way to help millions of Americans transition through this period.Yangs solution was a $1,000 US-a-month universal basic income. Its an idea that has gained considerable traction among Silicon Valley engineers and entrepreneurs in recent years even among those who are usually opposed to any kind of expansion of government.Silicon Valley entrepreneur Andrew Yang sought the Democratic nomination for U.S. president in 2020, campaigning in part on a promise of a $1,000-a-month universal basic income. (Joe Raedle/Getty Images)At the World Government Summit in Dubai in 2017, Elon Musk who constantly wages war with agencies trying to regulate his cars and rockets, and whose plan for fully autonomous vehicles could cost millions of jobs expressed his support for a guaranteed basic income.Mass unemployment will be a massive social challenge, Musk warned. Echoing words that his grandfather likely uttered many times, Musk concluded, There will be fewer and fewer jobs that a robot cannot do better. With automation will come abundance.You can only patch up the symptoms so farFor Technocracy, schemes like a universal basic income simply postpone the inevitable day of reckoning for the price system.You cant fumble along with the system and just patch up the symptoms, explained Tom Mason in a recent phone interview from his home in Tampa Bay, Fla. Mason is 99 years old and has been involved with Technocracy since the 1940s.Politicians today dont want to address the disease. They just want to treat the symptoms and you can only patch up the symptoms so far.Tom Mason, who is 99 and lives in Tampa Bay, Fla., has been involved with Technocracy Inc. since the 1940s. (Kathryn Mason)For Technocracy, addressing the disease meant doing away with the price system and the political infrastructure that supported it. They could provide citizens with far more security than any kind of guaranteed basic income.Under the Technate, we will be responsible for the health and well-being of every human being, Howard Scott declared. That is more than any political government ever did. Technocracys plan was to replace the price system with a system based on energy. In the 1920s, Scott and his colleagues began a hugely ambitious program called the Energy Survey of North America. The idea was to establish a value for all the goods and services produced on the continent, not by measuring how much labour was expended or how much money was spent, but on the amount of energy used to produce them. They would then divide the total amount of energy used by the number of citizens in the Technate over the age of 25, and issue each of those citizens an equal number of Energy Certificates, whether they were employed or not. These certificates would be the Technates currency.The Technate was meant to encompass the entire American continent, from Panama to the North Pole. (Technocracyinc.org)Every time you bought something, some of your energy credits would be deducted, and because the certificates would be issued directly to the owner, they couldnt be bought, sold, traded or stolen. No one would be able to accumulate more than anyone else. It was a prescription for a radically egalitarian state that might have made a Bolshevik blush.In the Technate, your work life wouldnt begin until age 25. Once you joined the labour force, youd work 16 hours a week, youd get about 78 days of vacation a year and youd retire when youre 45.Only a small percentage of adults in the Technate would have jobs, and Scott thought that should be a cause for celebration. Most of those hand tool jobs were not very good to begin with, so why weep if they could now be done by a machine? People who clung to old-fashioned ideas about the value of work were suckers.If you want to know what work has done for you, go home and look in the mirror and see what a mess you are.One of the lowest social diseases is the belief in the morality of work, he told an audience in Calgary. If you want to know what work has done for you, go home and look in the mirror and see what a mess you are.Scott believed that people, freed from having to work for a living and secure in the knowledge that all their material needs would be taken care of, would be able to fulfill themselves through the arts, recreation, religion or education, all of which would thrive in the Technate.This idea that people longed to be relieved of the burden of their labour has been a staple of utopian literature since the 19th century, but it ignores some deeper realities.Speaking to the World Government Summit in 2017, Musk acknowledged that a guaranteed basic income would address only one part of the problem caused by technological unemployment. The much harder challenge is, how are people going to have meaning? Musk asked. A lot of people derive their meaning from their employment. So if theres no need for your labour, whats your meaning? Do you feel useless? Thats a much harder problem to deal with.Elon Musk's grandfather, Joshua Haldeman, was a Technocracy leader in Saskatchewan between 1936 and 1941. Musk says he wants to build a 'Martian Technocracy.' (Britta Pedersen/Pool/AFP via Getty Images)On a different plane than regular peopleHoward Scott was a tireless worker on behalf of Technocracy Incorporated, an organization he founded and led until his death in 1970. He spent most of those years travelling across North America preaching his path to a better world. A book called Words and Wisdom of Howard Scott, prepared by a Technocracy chapter after his death, runs to more than 2,000 pages.Scott was a polarizing figure. For better or for worse, he was always the public face of Technocracy. At six foot five, Scott was an imposing figure with a deep, resonant voice aided by a lifetime of chain-smoking cigarettes. In his public interactions, he often came across as arrogant and condescending, but most Technocracy members were captured by his intelligence, charisma and ability to reel off facts and figures about global industrial production. He was on a different plane than regular people, recalls longtime Technocracy member Ed Blechschmidt, in a recent interview from his home in Pennsylvania. Blechschmidt said Scott, who he first met in the 60s, would talk and explain things and smile and be friendly. But if you asked him a question, he immediately would spout off twenty minutes of something you couldn't even understand.Howard Scott addresses a Technocracy Inc. rally at the Hollywood Bowl in Los Angeles in 1941. (Technocracyinc.org)Scott was also a savvy marketer with a flair for the dramatic. He liked to stage what he called symbolizations. These were spectacles designed to show the wider world that Technocracy was a force to be reckoned with.The largest symbolization took place in June 1947. It was called Operation Columbia and involved a motorcade of hundreds of cars that proceeded up the west coast of the U.S. into British Columbia, where Scott delivered a speech to a capacity crowd of 5,000 people at the Vancouver Forum.In its public outings, Technocracy Incorporated had an oddly militaristic look. Its members, both men and women, wore tailored grey suits and drove cars that they also painted grey. They greeted each other with salutes.To Scotts critics which included many of his former allies the uniforms and salutes were evidence of a penchant towards authoritarianism. They considered him to be an egotistical blowhard. In fact, he appears to have seriously inflated his resume, falsely claiming to have an academic degree and work experience as an engineer. That last point mattered, because in the Technate, engineers and other experts would be in charge.The images above are stills from a documentary film produced by Technocracy Inc. in the 1940s. In the top photo, a Technocracy Inc. motorcade prepares to cross the border into B.C. during Operation Columbia on July 1, 1947. The second photo is a sign promoting Technocracy outside their Victoria, B.C., headquarters in 1942. (Technocracyinc.org)Technocracy believed that in a world that revolved around science and technology, only people with proven expertise in those areas should be responsible for its governance. That excluded all the usual suspects business people, lawyers, bankers, academics none of whom had the practical skills the modern age demanded.Those who create a civilization will eventually dominate it, Scott proclaimed in a speech in Winnipeg. The engineers and mechanics created this civilization, and will eventually dominate it. Technocracy was building a technological army of the functionally competent. This meant there would be no room and no need for democracy. All the normal functions of government education, health, sanitation, public safety would be run by experts chosen by their peers. Doctors would vote for the person in charge of the health-care system, teachers for the person whod run the schools and so on. There would be a cabinet made up of about a hundred of these experts, and they would select a continental director to oversee the whole thing. This was how Technocracy planned to overcome its core complaint with democracy: that it led to too many incompetent people being in charge, or that too many people made bad decisions because they lacked the necessary expertise or were motivated by profit, ambition or something else that would lead them astray.In the Technate, all the normal functions of government would be run by experts chosen by their peers. They would select a cabinet called the Continental Board, which would then choose a continental director. (Technocracyinc.org)You are not welcome among usThis idea was not new. Plato believed society functioned best when it was run by experts. Technocracys focus on engineers was rooted in the conviction that there was a technological fix to almost all of societys problems.Today, the idea that governments are too slow, too inefficient, too lacking in expertise to solve hard problems is widely shared among the engineers and entrepreneurs of Silicon Valley. This libertarian impulse has always been part of the ethos of Silicon Valley. One of its first and most forceful expressions came in 1995, when tech pioneer John Perry Barlow delivered his Declaration of the Independence of Cyberspace to the World Economic Forum in Davos, Switzerland. Governments of the Industrial World, you weary giants of flesh and steel, the Declaration began. I come from Cyberspace, the new home of Mind. On behalf of the future, I ask you of the past to leave us alone. You are not welcome among us. You have no sovereignty where we gather. Silicon Valleys attitude towards government has become more accommodating since Barlow delivered his declaration, both out of choice and necessity. But there remains a conviction that, left to their own devices, tech companies are better able to solve problems in areas like transportation, education and health care, where decades of government regulation have put a break on innovation. Theres a lack of focus on efficiency, lamented former Google executive chairman Eric Schmidt on a panel about government and technology in 2019. The reason there's no innovation in government is there's no bonuses for innovation. In fact, if you take a risk and it fails, your career is over. A system where problems can be identified through evidence, facts, reason, rather than ideological beliefs ... I think that a lot of people find that appealing.This is the kind of overblown rhetoric weve come to expect from engineers and entrepreneurs in Silicon Valley, and their insistence that governments should step aside in favour of true problem-solvers is clearly self-serving. But the idea that we should be looking to experts rather than politicians for solutions to massively complex problems like a deadly pandemic or a climate emergency is gaining traction everywhere. The idea of an apolitical world is appealing more and more to people, argues Eri Bertsou, a senior researcher at the University of Zurich and co-editor of a 2020 book called The Technocratic Challenge to Government. People are tired, and they are put off by the commotion and the disagreement of representative politics, Bertsou said. So it's this appeal of an efficient machine-like system where problems can be identified through evidence, facts, reason, rather than ideological beliefs. I think that a lot of people find that appealing. Bertsou has been studying the rise of technocratic governments around the world, especially in Europe. In February 2021, Mario Draghi, an economist and former president of the European Central Bank who had never held political office, was named Italian prime minister to help manage the countrys post-pandemic economic recovery. Draghi is a technocrat, chosen for the specific experience he brings to the job. Italians are fond of technocrats, especially when times are tough, and Draghi is the fourth technocrat prime minister there since 1993. You can also find cabinet-level technocrats in Greece, France and Lebanon, among other countries. But none of them would be embraced by Technocracy, because they are still operating within the price system, still treating symptoms, not the disease.Mario Draghi, an economist and former president of the European Central Bank, is Italy's fourth technocrat prime minister since 1993. (Photo by Alberto Pizzoli/AFP via Getty Images)While the number of technocrats in government is on the rise, so, too, is the number of populist politicians who wear their lack of expertise like a badge of honour.During the 2020 U.S. presidential campaign, U.S. President Donald Trump mocked his opponent, Joe Biden, for saying he would listen to the scientists when it came to managing COVID-19. If I listened totally to the scientists, Trump proclaimed, wed have a country right now that would be in a massive depression.But theres been a price for not listening to the experts. Countries run by populist leaders of various shades particularly the U.S., Brazil and the U.K. have recorded among the highest COVID-19 death rates.For longtime Technocracy Incorporated supporters like Ed Blechschmidt, the idea that anyone would question the science around the pandemic, or anything else, is mystifying.You cant argue with science and technology, he insisted. Science exists and scientific fact is fact. You cant have a political position about it. You have to recognize it and implement science.But as weve discovered during the pandemic, science can sometimes speak with many voices, and by definition, representative democracy requires a constant balancing act among competing interests. Governments have to listen to the scientists but also to business people, parents and others.Bertsou believes that by insisting on finding the one correct solution to every problem, Technocracy has presented a false dichotomy. There is not one type of scientific knowledge, and no one way of governing social problems.Technocracy Incorporated began nearly a hundred years ago by seeking answers to two important questions: Why on a continent so rich in natural resources, energy and industrial capacity, were so many people suffering? And how could democracy, with all its obvious imperfections, continue to function effectively in a world where science and technology played an ever more dominant role?Technocracys answers to both those questions were bold, radical, overly complicated and wildly impractical. Today, no one is talking about a North American Technate or a 16-hour work week or replacing money with energy certificates. But it would be wrong to dismiss Technocracy Incorporated as just another failed utopian scheme not while the answers to those two questions remains so elusive.

Felyne DaysAs Monster Hunter Wilds promises further streamlining of the series' compelling formula, I'm surprised a Stardew Valley-like spinoff hasn't happened yetI want to farm and grind a ranch again... with proper systems and mechanics.Image credit: Capcom Article by Fran Ruiz Contributor Published on Feb. 1, 2025 Back in the PSP days of Monster Hunter, I was quite annoyed by the need to grind and farm the farms to really maximize progression between one hunt and the next. More than 15 years later, I want them back... elsewhere.The idea of entirely different town areas which you had to micromanage and were cozy first and foremost survived until the 3DS entries of the series, but it's something that's been gradually pushed aside in favor of more streamlined hunting experiences with little to no fat. As Monster Hunter Wilds prepares to pounce on us in late February with more tools of killing and ways to navigate the wilds seamlessly, one has to wonder how long it'll be before the concept of a permanent town/village is dropped altogether or reduced to a really short downtime.To see this content please enable targeting cookies. Disclaimer: I don't mind Monster Hunter's massive recent steps towards becoming more accessible. The developers have actually excelled at making the series more palatable during the first 20 hours or so with World and Rise, and the new entry is doubling down on such additions and QoL changes. It's a good thing as long as it doesn't dilute what makes the core games so unique.This approach, however, directly collides with the aforementioned 'farming' side elements of older games. Monster Hunter has always been about mankind's relationship with nature and the frictions born out of it even if it takes place in an entirely different world that's not impacted by rampant industrialization (yet). Even if the actual farming elements were a bit of a slog, especially after dozens of hours of playtime, they had a place within the series' voice and very soul. While my 'gamer brain' appreciates having less busywork so I can spend more time smacking wyverns on the head with massive weapons, my more thoughtful side is sorta bummed out by the lack of farmsteads in the more recent installments. Image credit: Capcom, RedditA potential solution? Putting a small town sim spinoff in development. It's a genre that's been booming for quite a while but very often lacks an identity beyond 'look at the cute art style' and riffing on Stardew Valley with small twists. Monster Hunter, on the other hand, seems like the perfect fit for the basic premise of cozy life sims. The worldbuilding and philosophy are already there, and we've played a basic version of that potential game before. Several times, actually. Let my Felyne work more jobs than administration, hunting, and cooking again!The Monster Hunter IP is no stranger to off-beat spinoffs either. Monster Hunter Now appears to be thriving on mobile; Monster Hunter Puzzles is a nice little experiment; and Monster Hunter Stories has already become a respectable RPG subseries of its own. At this point, a town sim doesn't sound like a distant possibility. Instead, it's the sort of project that should be imminent if Capcom is paying attention to the right trends. Image credit: CapcomThis is when the Monkey's Paw curls and we do get a MH town sim... just for mobile. Nah, I want a fully featured, premium game. Give it a distinct art style, work hard on the visual presentation, come up with an enticing loop that makes the most of the universe's uniqueness and wackier side. Hunting doesn't even need to be left out of the formula. What about hiring some veteran hunters to protect the town from wyverns and other monsters? Let us improve and customize gathering halls! There are so many possibilities beyond farming, mining, fishing, bug gathering, beekeeping, and whatnot as presented in the classic titles.Rejection of mobile phones as target platforms and gacha-like elements aside, it's the sort of pitch that would be killer for portable hardware, yes. With the mainline Monster Hunter entries now focusing on the 'strong hardware' Xbox-PS-PC trio, could such a game be a fantastic third-party Nintendo exclusive? Animal Crossing's popularity is at an all-time high after New Horizons, and I've no doubt we'll see another entry for the Switch 2 sooner rather than later, but that doesn't mean there's no space for another winner. Image credit: CapcomI might be wading into 'armchair developer' territory here, sure, but hear me out: I'm just an excited fan who's not just thinking about what's in front of them, but also about the possible futures of a franchise that's given them nothing but happiness. I love Monster Hunter and would love to see it grow not just as an action-RPG series. It's certainly in the right path to becoming bigger and more appetizing for all, and the preceding spinoffs mentioned here prove that as well as my main point.Or perhaps I'm just completely misreading the franchise's current status and the actual impact its spinoffs have had on the general sentiment. Maybe folks would rather stick to killing mighty beasts and oversized pests. But it's a bit of a depressing thought. I believe Monster Hunter is much more than that, and I'll be first in line and ready to bat for more peaceful attempts to expand its world and lore.

Image: Fellow TravellerAfterlove EP, a 'mix-tape visual novel' from the studio behind Coffee Talk, was announced back in 2021, but just one year after its reveal, the team went through something no developer should have to deal with: the sudden and unexpected death of studio founder Mohammad Fahmi.Fahmi had assembled the team at Indonesian indie studio Pikselnesia with the sole intention of making Afterlove EP and so, after his passing, the team decided to complete development on the game and bring its creator's vision to life.Subscribe to Nintendo Life on YouTube795kWatch on YouTube With just two weeks to go until the game's release, we sat down with Pikselnesia producer Ivor Dwitomo to talk about how the studio is honouring Fahmi's legacy with Afterlove EP. Our conversation covered the process of grieving through development, translating Jakarta to the small screen, music and much more. "He was kind, respectful, and a positive influence to so many"Nintendo Life: To start, we were deeply saddened to hear of Mohammad Fahmis tragic passing in 2022. Can you tell us about his imprint on the game and how the team at Pikselnesia has worked to bring his vision to life?Ivor Dwitomo, Pikselnesia: Fahmi is not only the team's great leader, he also had great vision. He knew what he was doing, and he knew the initial and final state of Afterlove EP, front to back. Everything that he knew and shared with the team about Afterlove EP was already written out in the Game Development Documents before he passed away.As a producer, every time Fahmi and I had a discussion with the team, I wrote it down and shared it back [to them]. We worked very well together. His vision was clear. When he passed away, we were super struggling because most of the script was still in outline, but we held [onto] his vision. It took a lot of time and a lot of support [from the writers] to break it down into the dialogue. The dialogue was under Narrative Lead Sasha's supervision, who was working very closely with Fahmi as his Narrative Designer for Afterlove EP.Now, it's done. It took almost 4 years [with] 2 years of development planning.Image: Fellow TravellerThe game itself is full of heavy topics like love, grief and moving on. Does it take a toll on you, as a dev, to work with such big emotions on a daily basis, and how have you ensured that the themes are correctly handled in the game?Emotion takes up a big part of your life on a daily basis, especially while developing this game, but weve gotten used to it. Love, grief, happiness, sadness, anger, moving on, etc. is part of it. We stay clear to seeing Fahmis vision through.To ensure that the themes are correctly handled in the game, Fahmi and Sasha worked together on the outline for Afterlove EP. Sasha knows where Fahmi wanted to go with it. Before Fahmi passed away, the outline (the initial state) was already prepared and documented very well, and again, we trust his vision and Sashas understanding of it because they worked so closely together.Afterlove EPs gameplay is split across several different genres, from visual novels to rhythm games. What was the biggest challenge in combining these styles into one cohesive experience?Fahmi thought it would be great if we could bring a real band into the game to collaborateRama, the main character in this game, is a young, talented musician, so of course the story will have music [in it] as well. It was the most important theme. The biggest challenge, in my opinion, is to work together with real musicians, a real band, Lalphalpha, to write the song lyrics that relate to the game story.This is a new experience [for me] and the team as well. [It was a] new experience for the band also, to blend the music to the different aspects of the game.The game borrows a lot of real-world locations from its Jakarta setting. Would you say that the city itself is a character in the game? And how important was it to show the rest of the world what Jakarta is like?Yes, Jakarta is not just the setting of the game, but in many ways, it feels like a character itself. We've focused mainly on South Jakarta, showcasing its unique blend of modernity and tradition. From the Blok M (we called it 'Blok W' in Afterlove EP), MBloc, to the small stalls of Warung. By bringing Jakarta to life in the game, we hope players from around the globe can connect with the city and feel its authenticity.Image: Fellow TravellerMusic plays an integral part in the games story, and its Lalphalphas original tracks that have brought it to life. What was it about the bands work that made them the right fit for this project, and can you tell us a bit about the collaboration process?Rama is a young musician [and has] a band called Sigmund Feud. Fahmi thought it would be great if we could bring a real band into the game to collaborate.LAlphalpha is an indie band from Jakarta, and Pikselnesia had already collaborated with them in What Comes After. [For] our collaboration with LAlphalpha here, they made us seven songs that related to the game. Like I said before, music is a very important part of Afterlove EP.Were big fans of Soyatus art for the game. How did you approach them about working on Afterlove EP, and how did their experience with music and art influence or help development?We at Pikselnesia are big fans of Soyatu, even more now that weve worked with them.sometimes you will get a good end in a relationship and sometimes it's badHere is an interesting story [about] Soyatu: Fahmi and Soyatu first [met] at Haro, one of the places you can find in Afterlove EP. Fahmi [approached] Soyatu and told him that he [wanted] to make a game with his art style, but, at first, Soyatu [rejected] Fahmi's offer because he didn't have experience in game development. But it's not Fahmi if he cannot get what he wants! He was very convincing. By the end of the conversation, Fahmi said, "it will be a great game, just leave it to me", and that is how Soyatu joined Pikselnesia.Fun fact: Soyatu is also a guitarist in a band.Image: Fellow TravellerHow does it feel to offer players multiple endings? Are there certain ones that you get attached to, or are you happy to see every outcome?It feels like in real life, to be honest, sometimes you will get a good end in a relationship and sometimes it's bad. This is a very tricky question! This is only my personal opinion, [but] Im happy with every outcome. Sometimes moving on from your ex is good, but on the other hand, you dont want to move on because you want to cherish the memories. Sometimes, breaking up is a good way in a relationship. Love never diesThis interview has been edited for clarity.Thank you to Ivor for taking the time to answer our questions and to Jasmine at DoubleJump Communications for setting it up. Afterlove EP launches on the Switch eShop on 14th February.Subscribe to Nintendo Life on YouTube795kRelated GamesSee AlsoShare:00 Jim came to Nintendo Life in 2022 and, despite his insistence that The Minish Cap is the best Zelda game and his unwavering love for the Star Wars prequels (yes, really), he has continued to write news and features on the site ever since. Hold on there, you need to login to post a comment...Related Articles69 Games You Should Pick Up In Nintendo's 'Supercharge' eShop Sale (North America)Every game we scored 9/10 or higherReview: ENDER MAGNOLIA: Bloom In The Mist (Switch) - An Incredibly Polished, Downbeat MetroidvaniaOne that shouldn't be mistJapan's Switch eShop Will Soon No Longer Accept Overseas Payment MethodsChange will come into effect in March Title:Afterlove EPSystem:Switch eShopAlso Available For:Xbox Series X|S, PS5Publisher:Fellow TravellerDeveloper:PikselnesiaGenre:Adventure, MusicPlayers:1Release Date:Switch eShop 14th Feb 2025 14th Feb 2025, 17.99Official Site:nintendo.comWhere to buy:Buy on Nintendo eShop Buy eShop Credit:

Based on the pink puff's 3DS adventure.The pink puff Kirby has welcomed in the new year this week - with the 'Good Smile Company' announcing it's reviving select Nendoroid Kirby figures.Read the full article on nintendolife.com

When accounting startup Bench abruptly failed last month, the shutdown was forced when the companys lenders called in the startups loan. In late 2023, the digital freight company Convoy faced financial challenges, leading venture lending firm Hercules Capital to assume control of the company to recover its investments.Divvy Homes, which sold for about $1 billion to Brookfield Properties last week, has left some of the company shareholders without any payout, TechCrunch reported last week. Although the specific role of Divvys lenders in the sale is unclear, the company borrowed $735 million from Barclays, Goldman Sachs, Cross River Bank, and others in 2021.After so many weak startups were funded in 2020 and 2021 with famously lax diligence, many of the weakest startups have already failed. But data suggests we havent hit bottom yet, and many more will die in 2025. And venture debt will play a role after investing $41 billion across 2,339 deals, a record for the time in 2021, according to Silicon Valley bank.Were getting to the end of the rope for a lot of companies, said David Spreng, founder and CEO of venture debt provider Runway Growth Capital.Concerned about the future of their investments, lenders are increasingly pushing startups to sell themselves to minimize potential losses, Spreng believes.Nearly every lender has troubled companies in their portfolio now, estimates John Markell, a managing partner at venture debt advisory firm Armentum Partners.While debt can help fast-growing startups meet their cash needs without selling off chunks of the company to VCs, it also increases the risk of negative outcomes. Too much debt compared to a startups income or cash reserves can result in a forced fire sale, where a company is sold for a fraction of its previous value. Or lenders may resort to foreclosure, so they can claim any underlying assets used to secure the loan, to recover at least some of their investment.If startups can convince new or existing VCs to inject more cash by buying more equity, they can avoid a lender taking action should they fall behind in payments or other aspects of their agreements. For instance, some venture debt agreements have liquidity and working capital ratio requirements. If a startups cash falls too low, a lender could take action.But investors are reluctant to keep funding startups that are growing too slowly to justify the sky-high valuations they achieved in 2020 and 2021.Right now, theres so many troubled companies, Markell said. A lot of unicorns are not going to be in business soon.Spreng also predicts that many startups will have no choice but to sell for a low price or shut down this year. But for now, most lenders still hope these startups can find a home through a sale, even a fire sale.In situations where lenders are forcing an acquisition, equity investors are generally not getting much of the money being paid, and often not even making their money back, said Markell. Losses on investments into startups are risks venture capitalists know will occur.When a sale does happen, Spreng says many of those transactions remain undisclosed due to unfavorable outcomes for venture investors. No one wants to take a victory lap when they lose money on a sale.However, since debt holders have priority in repayment, venture lenders are less likely to lose all of their capital.But the risks associated with venture debt havent slowed its appeal. In 2024, new venture debt issuance reached a 10-year high of $53.3 billion, according to PitchBook data. A significant portion of that capital was directed toward AI companies, with notable examples, including CoreWeave, which secured $7.5 billion in debt financing, and OpenAI, which obtained a $4 billion line of credit.

TikToks potential U.S. ban has sparked a flurry of development within the open social web community. Several new applications are being built that could one day serve as a TikTok replacement for those who favor the open source, decentralized social network Bluesky and the technology that powers it, the AT Protocol.Though the TikTok ban is currently on pause after President Trump gave parent company ByteDance a 75-day extension to negotiate a deal, the fact that the government was able to take down TikTok in the first place has users worried about its future. Meanwhile, creators and small businesses are stressed over how the loss of TikTok could affect their income.Building a TikTok for BlueskyOne solution emerging to address the problem is Bluesky, a decentralized, open source social network where you can choose your own server and algorithm and adjust your moderation controls to your own needs. Plus, if you ever decide to change servers, you can move your account easily without losing your username, friends, or posts. You can even run your own Bluesky by setting up a personal data server or relay.Designed for a future web, Bluesky allows people to take back control over their personal data and social activity from Big Tech an effort also supported by the open social ecosystem called the fediverse, which runs on a different protocol and includes apps like Mastodon and others.There are now several new projects underway to bring a video experience to Bluesky, whether thats as a video-first Bluesky client or as an entirely new app built on the same AT Protocol that Bluesky uses.Below are a few of the video apps in various stages of development that are focused on catering to Bluesky users. BluescreenBuilt by Berlin developer Sebastian Vogelsang, who previously launched the Bluesky client app Skeets, Bluescreen is an upcoming app that will focus on videos posted to the Bluesky social network. Similar to his Instagram alternative Flashes, which is also in the works, Bluescreen is being built quickly thanks to Vogelsangs ability to reuse some of the same code from Skeets.Image Credits:Bluescreen (screenshot)Like Flashes, Bluescreen would offer a video-first Bluesky experience, as it filters your current Bluesky feeds and lists for video content, while also allowing uploads. Because its built on Blueskys network, your videos will also appear on your profile on the official Bluesky app, and peoples comments and other engagement with those videos will show up in the Bluescreen app.Vogelsang built his first prototype of Bluesky in just under two hours, he says, and has since been posting sneak peeks of the app on the Bluescreen account on Bluesky as its further refined.The app features a set of interaction buttons similar to what TikTok has, including Likes, Comments, Saves/Bookmarks, and more. ReeloReelo represents a larger effort at building a TikTok-like app that appeals to Bluesky users, but unlike other efforts, its not just a layer or filter on top of Blueskys existing social network. Instead, Reelo is developing its own stand-alone app on the AT Protocol. That means Reelo will benefit from the same sort of transparency and control over your data as on Bluesky, but it will be free of the limitations of building on top of Bluesky directly.Image Credits:ReeloThis allows Reelo to support more features, including longer videos of up to three minutes, special effects, a music and sounds library, and later, livestreaming. Users will be able to directly post their video content on the app. As the company explains in a post on Bluesky, this makes for a richer, more tailored video experience compared with other apps built on Bluesky, like rival Skylight, for example.However, building its own app on AT Protocol instead of creating an app thats just a layer on Bluesky itself means a longer development timeline. Reelo expects to have the front end and back end completed by the end of February with a launch on March 20, after an initial testing period.Image Credits:ReeloLike most of the apps in development, Reelo also looks a lot like TikTok, with a vertical video feed and ways to like, comment, and share on the right-hand side of the screen.SkylightThe team behind Skylight has been working to build a TikTok alternative after Mark Cuban said he was interested in backing potential startups in this space.The team behind the app includes Seattle-based co-founders Victoria (Tori) White, who has a background in building custom websites and apps, and React developer Reed Harmeyer. The founders are marketing Skylight as an AT Protocol TikTok, which is technically correct because Bluesky itself runs on AT Protocol.However, by building Skylight as a layer on top of the existing Bluesky platform, the app runs into limitations. @buildwithtori At Protocol TikTok update! Well try and keep everyone updated! Youre ideas and comments have been so helpful already! #tiktok #tiktokban #atprotocol #bluesky #tiktokrefugee #socialmedia #atproto original sound BuildWithTori Blueskys social network limits videos to up to 60 seconds in length and 50MB in size. In other words, if Skylight wants to add support for longer videos or other features, it would need to wait for Bluesky to change its own guidelines or develop its own dedicated app built on AT Protocol. (Skylights founders declined an interview, so its not clear what their long-term roadmap looks like.)Skylight does have an advantage of sorts, as its video-focused app is already in beta testing on iOS and Android, allowing early adopters to try it out ahead of its public release. App features include likes, follows, comments, and profile pages. Video uploads are still in the works.Videos for BlueskyRecently launched on the App Store, the generically named Videos for Bluesky is another app built on top of Bluesky itself. This new app comes courtesy of MszPro, aka Hoshida Takiyoshi, an indie Japanese developer.Takiyoshi has always loved experimenting, having built around 60 apps to date, including the SoraSNS app offering combined access to decentralized networks Mastodon, Bluesky, Misskey, and Firefish.Like some of the others, Videos for Bluesky lets you browse videos posted to the Bluesky social network by vertically scrolling in a TikTok-like user interface with familiar Like, Repost, and Reply buttons.The app also features user profiles, built-in search, follow buttons, and its own local For You timeline featuring trending videos as well as ways to view other videos from people you follow or any custom feeds. In addition, the app is designed with an algorithm that will learn your interests over time, the developer says.Its recent updates have added support for other features like notifications and a new post composer focused on video uploads, among other things.With a one-time Pro unlock in-app purchase, users can access post analysis information and watch videos from a custom timeline. Soon, it will add NSFW filtering, a video recorder, style filters, downloads, bookmarks, and more.The Videos for Bluesky app is iOS-only, but if theres enough user demand, the developer will consider building an Android version.Bluesky is still a relatively new platform, but its well-documented protocol makes it easy for indie developers like myself to integrate new features, Hoshida notes. Unlike centralized social media, Blueskys API doesnt require app makers to register for a developer account, which helps more people jump in and start building right away. And of course, since it is open source, developers can easily look into the code to see how to interact with various API features.Later, the developer plans to work on other social apps, including one for Bluesky focused on photos and a news reader for the fediverse.Flipboards SurfWhile Flipboards newest app Surf is more than just a video aggregator, the app recently added a video feed of its own after Bluesky added its custom video feed.Surf initially focused on video posts from Blueskys trending video feed and others that included the hashtag #SkyTok, but it aims to soon personalize the feed to the end user in future developments. The latter would differentiate it from Blueskys video feed and make it more interesting to each individual user.Blueskys video feed is available in the Surf app, where people can also build their own custom feeds to track all sorts of posts across the open social web, including Bluesky, Mastodon, RSS, and more.Surf is still in private beta testing, but a signup list is available for people who are interested.Surfs BookTok feed.Image Credits:Surf (screenshot)BlueSky ReelsBlueSky Reels (its website is not yet live) is another project that sees the potential for a TikTok replacement in the market. Developed by Craig Merry, the client will support video only, as well as basic user interactions. Over time, support for other personal data servers besides Blueskys own could be included.The apps content comes from Bluesky itself, though the goal is to add more features that Bluesky doesnt have. My main goal is to build an easy way for people to create curated feeds with content that can be moderated directly much like moderation in Reddit, Merry explains.The app is soon launching in beta on iOS, Android, and the web.

close Create custom visuals on your iPhone with Image Playground in iOS 18.2 Tool transforms simple text prompts into images or animations in seconds. Generally, iPhones are considered more secure than Android devices.Apples closed ecosystem and strict App Store policies limit the risk of malware, and its centralized software updates ensure better security. In contrast, Androids openness allows users to install apps from various sources, and updates are often rolled out at different times, making it more vulnerable to attacks.However, iPhones arent immune to security flaws. Hackers occasionally find ways to exploit them, as seen in Apples latest advisory. The company recently discovered that a vulnerability in iOS had been exploited for over a year. While a fix has now been released, reports suggest that hackers may have already targeted high-value individuals. A woman on her iPhone. (Kurt "CyberGuy" Knutsson)What you need to knowApple hasuncovered hackers exploiting a vulnerability in iOS that appears to have been lingering for more than a year. The vulnerability is a "zero-day" flaw, meaning criminals may have already exploited it, according to the latest security advisory from the company. Zero-day flaws like this are especially dangerous because they are exploited before developers can issue fixes. Apple confirmed this marks its first zero-day patch of 2025. The vulnerability affects iPhones dating back to 2018s XS model, as well as newer iPads, Macs, and even the Vision Pro headset.The vulnerability, tracked as CVE-2025-24085, resides in Apples Core Media framework, a software layer responsible for processing multimedia files. A "use after free" memory corruption error enabled hackers to manipulate the system into executing unstable code, granting them elevated privileges to bypass security protocols. Apples advisory suggests hackers weaponized the flaw through malicious apps disguised as legitimate media players. These apps likely abused the Core Media framework by triggering corrupted files, enabling attackers to infiltrate devices.The attacks reportedly targeted iOS versions predating 17.2, released in December 2023, meaning the vulnerability may have been active since late 2022. Security experts speculate that hackers focused on high-value individuals such as activists, executives or journalists to avoid detection. The prolonged stealth of the campaign underscores the challenges of identifying sophisticated, narrowly tailored exploits.This underscores the critical need for you to update your devices to iOS 17.2 or later, as these versions include essential fixes to safeguard against this actively exploited vulnerability. Apple's iOS 17.2 update included patches for several vulnerabilities. (Kurt "CyberGuy" Knutsson)Apples response to the vulnerabilityIn response, Apple has released fixes across its ecosystem, including iOS 18.3, macOS Sequoia, watchOS, tvOS and VisionOS. You should update your devices as soon as possible to stay protected. To install the update on your iPhone or iPad:Go toSettings.TapGeneral.ClickSoftware Update.ClickUpdate Now or Update Tonight.Pro Tip: I recommend you clickUpdate Now and also turn onAutomatic Updates to stay covered in the future.WHAT IS ARTIFICIAL INTELLIGENCE (AI)? Steps to update software on an iPhone. (Kurt "CyberGuy" Knutsson)While Apple has patched this issue, its a reminder that staying on top of updates is key. Hackers are always looking for security gaps, so keeping your software up to date is one of the best ways to stay safe.7 ways to keep your iPhone safeProtecting your iPhone requires proactive security measures. By following these seven essential steps, you can significantly reduce the risk of cyber threats and keep your personal information secure.1. Keep your iPhone updated:I cant say this enough.Updating your iPhone regularly is one of the most effective ways to protect it from security threats. Apple frequently releases updates that fix vulnerabilities, including critical zero-day flaws.2. Download apps only from the App Store: To minimize the risk of installing malware, only download apps from the official App Store. Apples strict app review process helps prevent malicious apps from being published, but some threats can still slip through. Always verify app details, check reviews and be cautious about app permissions before installation.3. Enable lockdown mode for extra protection: For those of you who may be at higher risk, such as journalists or executives,Lockdown Mode provides an additional layer of security. This feature limits certain device functionalities to prevent sophisticated cyberattacks. It can be turned on viaSettings >Privacy & Security >Lockdown Mode and is especially useful for those concerned about targeted threats.4. Enable message filtering: Use your device's built-in filtering options to sort messages from unknown senders. This feature allows you to automatically sort messages from unknown senders, easily filter unread messagesand manage your message inbox more efficiently. Here are steps:OpenSettings.Scroll down and clickApps.TapMessages.Turn onFilter Unknown SendersGET FOX BUSINESS ON THE GO BY CLICKING HERE5. Stay cautious of phishing attacks and install strong antivirus software:Phishing remains one of the most common tactics used by hackers. Be cautious when receiving unsolicited messages or emails on your iPhone, especially those with suspicious links or attachments. Always verify the sender before opening anything. The best way to safeguard yourself from malicious links that install malware, potentially accessing your private information, is to have antivirus software installed on all your devices. This protection can also alert you to phishing emails and ransomware scams, keeping your personal information and digital assets safe.Get my picks for the best 2025 antivirus protection winners for your Windows, Mac, Android and iOS devices.6. Review your security and privacy settings: Regularly reviewing your iPhones security settings can help you maintain strong protection. You should also review app permissions inSettings > Privacy & Security to restrict access to sensitive data, such as location or contacts. EnableFace ID or Touch ID for secure access and turn on two-factor authentication (2FA) for Apple ID and other accounts.2FA adds an extra layer of security to your accounts by requiring a second form of verification, such as a text message or authentication app, in addition to your password. This significantly reduces the risk of unauthorized access, even if your password is compromised.7. Invest in personal data removal services: By reducing your online footprint, you make it harder for cybercriminals to obtain your contact information, potentially preventing them from sending you deceptive phishing texts and emails in the first place. While no service promises to remove all your data from the internet, having a removal service is great if you want to constantly monitor and automate the process of removing your information from hundreds of sites continuously over a longer period of time.Check out my top picks for data removal services here.Kurts key takeawayThis iOS vulnerability is a serious reminder of the importance of staying up to date with software updates. If youre using an iPhone from 2018 or later, make sure youve updated to iOS 17.2 or later as soon as possible. Hackers exploited a hidden flaw for over a year, using fake media apps to gain access to devices. While Apple has now patched the issue, the fact that it remained undetected for so long is concerning.CLICK HERE TO GET THE FOX NEWS APPDo you think companies like Apple are doing enough to protect you from cyber threats? Let us know by writing us atCyberguy.com/ContactFor more of my tech tips and security alerts, subscribe to my free CyberGuy Report Newsletter by heading toCyberguy.com/NewsletterFollow Kurt on his social channels:Answers to the most asked CyberGuy questions:New from Kurt:Copyright 2025 CyberGuy.com.All rights reserved. Kurt "CyberGuy" Knutsson is an award-winning tech journalist who has a deep love of technology, gear and gadgets that make life better with his contributions for Fox News & FOX Business beginning mornings on "FOX & Friends." Got a tech question? Get Kurts free CyberGuy Newsletter, share your voice, a story idea or comment at CyberGuy.com.