Mobile World Congress 2025 is nearly upon us, and were heading to Barcelona to see what the worlds smartphone manufacturers have to offer as they launch new devices, tease new features, and talk incessantly about AI. The show officially kicks off on March 3rd and runs to March 6th, but the first announcements should arrive on March 2nd, when Xiaomi, HMD, and Honor all have press conferences scheduled.MWC may be a long way from its glory days when the likes of Samsung and Sony used it as the launchpad for that years flagship phones, but there are still some major players expected to unveil new hardware next week most notably, Xiaomi bringing its flagship 15 series to Europe. Nothing, HMD, and Realme are among the other companies we already know are planning to launch new phones.Heres what to expect from the companies we know will have news.XiaomiImage: XiaomiIts already been confirmed that Xiaomi is launching the 15 series on March 2nd, with the regular 15 and 15 Ultra expected to appear. The base model has been available in China since October, while the 15 Ultra was only officially revealed on February 27th.The 15 Ultra is another photography-focused flagship, with Leica branding and one version with a two-tone finish that mimics that companys cameras. Its quadruple-rear camera includes a new 200-megapixel periscope lens alongside a trio of 50-megapixel sensors. If its any sort of upgrade on last years 14 Ultra, then it could have a good claim to being the best phone camera in the world.NothingNothing has been busy teasing its 3A series, which will launch on March 4th. The company has confirmed that its introducing its first triple camera, with a 3x optical zoom periscope lens, and its confident enough to have shown off some snaps alongside results from an iPhone 16 Pro Max.Leaks have told us even more. Unfortunately for Nothing, the design and specs of both phones leaked in full last week, revealing that the 3A and 3A Pro will have similar designs, but differ around the cameras. More intriguingly, leaked promo videos show off a new side button that appears to enable an AI assistant and something called the Essential Space. SamsungThis is as close as we could get to the S25 Edge when it was announced. Photo by Vjeran Pavic / The VergeIts been a good few years since Samsung regularly launched its S-series flagships at MWC, and were not expecting any announcements on that scale this year. In fact, were not expecting any announcements at all, but there may be one big tease: the Galaxy S25 Edge.First revealed as the one more thing at the end of Januarys S25 keynote, the Edge is an extra-thin entry in the companys flagship line. Last year, Samsung used that slot to tease its Galaxy Ring wearable before letting us go hands-on with one at MWC, so theres every chance well get a better look at the Edge this time around.GoogleGoogle is another company thats unlikely to make any major hardware announcements at the show it never really does at MWC.Still, it likes to start the show with a slew of Android updates last years big one was the integration of Gemini into the Messages app. Wed expect some similar small announcements this year, likely still centered around the Gemini AI assistant.HMDHMD is one of a few companies that has confirmed a press conference for March 2nd, issuing teasers that promise Two icons. One device, and show off both the iconic Nokia game Snake and HMDs sponsorship of FC Barcelona. Its event is even being held at the soccer teams Camp Nou stadium.Were not sure what that all means, though. Last year HMD long the manufacturer of modern Nokia phones under license used MWC to reveal the first smartphones under its own name, along with a Barbie-branded flip phone. At the time, it promised more collaborations to come, so perhaps the first Barcelona-branded handset is on the way?LenovoLeaker Evan Blass claims the ThinkBook Flip is launching at MWC. Image: EvleaksLenovo hasnt announced anything about its MWC plans, but leaker Evan Blass has stepped up to do the job for it. Blass has shared images across two X threads of an array of laptops, tablets, and other gadgets that he says Lenovo will drop in Barcelona next week. Most interesting by far is the ThinkBook Flip, a laptop with a foldable screen that lifts up to give you double the display or folds back out of the way when you dont need it.HonorHonor has also announced a press conference on March 2nd, but it sounds a little odd. The company hasnt teased new hardware, instead promising that it will unveil a new corporate vision it has branded the Alpha Plan.The company only unveiled its Magic 7 Pro flagship line last month, so its no real surprise that it doesnt have new phones ready for MWC. It has, however, teased an announcement related to cross-system connectivity with iOS devices, so it wont all be dry business stuff.RealmeThe Realme 14 Pro changes color in the cold. Credit: RealmeRealme has teased two major announcements for MWC 2025. The first is the global (read: European) launch of the 14 Pro series, which went on sale in India last month. The exciting element here is the color-changing finish, which shifts from a pearlescent white to a silvery blue when the temperature drops below 16 degrees Celsius (about 61 degrees Fahrenheit).The bigger surprise is the tease of an all-new phone that Realme says has an ultra-large sensor and DSLR-inspired hardware. Realme has steered clear of the flagship space so far, so the big question right now is whether this will be a truly premium rival to the likes of the Galaxy S25 Ultra or something cheaper that seeks to undercut the competition on price.TecnoTecno has already teased a variety of announcements for MWC, centered around the launch of the Camon 40 series of phones. These will feature updated camera software that the company says can more accurately capture a diverse range of skin tones, echoing Googles own work in the same space since 2021.The company has also teased that it will show off practical AI whatever that means and has hinted that it will be bringing smart glasses, an AI-enabled laptop, and perhaps a prototype of its Phantom Ultimate 2 trifold phone, too.TCLEvery year, TCL turns up to MWC with a load of new phones using its Nxtpaper E Ink-esque displays, and we see no reason to expect anything different this time around.See More:

Diablo general manager Rod Fergusson opens his talk at DICE Summit 2025 by talking not about success, but about one of Diablos most high-profile failures: Error 37.Error 37 was an error that appeared to players at the launch of Diablo 3, preventing them from accessing the game due to extremely high numbers of players all trying to join at once. The issue, which impacted massive amounts of players, resulted in widespread criticism of Blizzards handling of the launch, and even became meme-ified. Blizzard eventually fixed the error and Diablo 3 was ultimately (with a lot of time and work) a success.But understandably, Blizzard and Fergusson have been eager to avoid anything like that ever happening again, especially as Diablo evolves into a more complex live service endeavor than its ever been before, with frequent small updates, ongoing seasons, and major expansions planned at regular intervals. Diablo 4, moreso than any of its numbered predecessors, has embraced live service.Another Error 37, or something like it, would be catastrophic. Especially if Blizzard wants Diablo 4 to persist beyond its major content releases: a true live service juggernaut.Diablo, ImmortalAt DICE Summit 2025 in Las Vegas, I spoke with series general manager Rod Fergusson following his talk entitled: Evolving Sanctuary: Building a Resilient Live-Service Game in Diablo IV. On stage, Fergusson covered four key components to ensuring the resilience of Diablo 4: successfully scaling the game, keeping the content flowing, not getting too attached to purity of design, and keeping players updated on whats coming at the expense of surprising them. Throughout his talk, Fergusson reiterated the teams goals of keeping players around regularly, consistently, and for the long haul. His descriptions of content roadmaps and seasons-ahead planning is a stark contrast to past numbered Diablo games - while the series is certainly no stranger to expansions and updates, Diablo appears to be committing to a live service trend thats seeing massive AAA games stick around for much longer and change more rapidly and significantly than they ever have before, rather than leaning on new, numbered releases every few years.PlaySo I asked him what the plan was: is Diablo 4 eternal, or rather, immortal? Is there a marker Fergusson is looking for to know when its time to move on to Diablo 5, or will Diablo 4 simply be the Diablo forever, similar to Blizzards endlessly popular MMO World of Warcraft?Maybe not forever, Fergusson replied. But certainly for a very long time, if he has his way.We want it to be around for years, he said. I don't know if it's eternal. I think Destiny tried and did that like, This is a ten-year game, and then they quickly were not. We want people to see the road ahead, because we know that, to play a Diablo game, you're probably putting hundreds of hours in and we want people to know that we're respecting their time and that we're not just here and gone.Fergusson reminds me that there was over a decade between the release of Diablo 2 and 3, and another decade between Diablo 3 and 4. Granted, neither of these games had anything near the aggressive update cadence that Diablo 4 is planning. But they also didnt have Fergusson at the helm, as he joined in 2020 after years of leading the Gears franchise. And Fergusson, for his part, believes in looking aheadbut not too far ahead.I learned my lesson about calling the shot too early.For instance, Fergusson announced in that same DICE Summit talk that Diablo 4s second expansion would not be arriving until 2026. Despite originally planning for an expansion a year, the teams timeline for Vessel of Hatred was extended when they moved staff working on the expansion onto necessary, immediate updates to the live game when Diablo 4 launched, and again when the first season dropped. There were 18 months between the launch of Diablo 4 and Vessel of Hatred, not 12 as planned. But when I ask Fergusson if 18 months is the new normal for expansions, hes not willing to commit to a specific time frame. He knows better now.I learned my lesson about calling the shot too early. So I think giving, Hey, you can relax for the next 11 months, is about as far as I want to go in this right nowWe're not at a place where we want to put a stake in the ground and call it. Because we're still building it and learning from itOur process is generally that we get internally to a place where we have the certainty to make a call, and then you get to a place where you publicly want to make that call. We're not at the public part yet.Ruining the Surpriseon PurposeFergussons caution is warranted here, especially as his team prepares to be more transparent than ever before about their future plans. Part of that is the aforementioned content roadmap, due to be shown off in April. Another element is the Public Test Realm, or PTR, where players who opt in can play through a version of upcoming patches before its pushed live to the wider public. Fergusson says in his talk that the team initially struggled with the decision to use features like a PTR or content roadmaps, for fear of spoiling the surprise for players. But hes overcome that fear.You just realize that it's better to ruin the surprise for 10,000 people so that millions of people have a great season, he said during his talk. And even if you mess up PTR, even if whatever you're offering to them in the mechanics is bad, I would much rather have a bad week of a PTR than a bad three months trying to recover from putting in something that we were surprising players with and it turned out to be wrong.You can get really spun up on it, he added to me later in our conversation. And we've had it in the early days. We're like, Oh, this got data mined, people know this. Okay, how many people saw it? And its on this Reddit thread, and theres probably 8,000 people there. But we are going to have millions of people. So at the end of the day, its okay. We havent ruined the surprise for everybody.It's better to ruin the surprise for 10,000 people so that millions of people have a great season.One challenge Fergussons facing now is that he wants to offer the PTR to more people, via consoles. Right now, players can only access the PTR via Battle.net on PC, which Fergusson says is due to certification challenges and the general difficulty of releasing new builds on consoles. But he says its something Blizzard is investing in, now with the support of parent company Xbox.Another perk of Xbox, he says, is Diablo 4s presence on Game Pass. Put simply, it lets Diablo amass as many players as possible. He compares it to why Blizzard decided to release Diablo 4 on Steam in addition to Battle.net - it was simply a matter of reaching more people.One of the things that's different from when you think of a live service that's behind a pay gate, like a premium live server, which is what Diablo is, versus a free-to-play live service like Diablo Immortal is, there's an opportunity easier to grow Immortal because there's no barriers to entry, right? Whereas, buying the boxed product or buying the main game is a barrier for some. So that's what Game Pass gets rid of, that barrier. You have this opportunity where you can see new Game Pass players coming in all the time, because they're just like, Oh, I just got Game Pass. Oh, cool, that's in there? And off they go. So it is interesting in terms of sustaining continued new players.All Hours DiabloAs we wrap up our conversation, I ask Fergusson about what hes been playing lately, in hopes of getting a grip on what hes inspired by. I ask if hes picked up Path of Exile 2, and how he feels about people comparing it to Diablo 4. Fergusson disagrees with the comparison. Theyre very different games, he says.But hes still trying to keep folks who love both games in mind for future updates. A lot of people actually tell us, do what you're going to do, but just do us a favor and don't line up your seasons over top of each other. Let me play one season for three weeks and let me play another season for three weeks. Don't make me have to pick and choose. So I get that. As a person who plays lots of games, I totally understand that.PlaySo what is Fergusson playing right now? He tells me his top three games of 2024 by playtime. In third place, NHL 24. In second, Destiny 2.And in first, no surprises here, its Diablo 4. He has 650 hours of Diablo 4 playtime on his home retail account alone, not counting work time. He tells me hes currently playing Companion Druid, but he also just rolled a Dance of Knives Rogue. He just loves Diablo that much. Always has.It's something about the habit of the game, he says. I get interrupted from- I'm halfway through Cyberpunk, I'm halfway through Witcher 3, I'm halfway through Space Marines 2000. I get to these points where I am into a non-service game, then I get distracted by something shiny. But I have this habit of, I got to go do my daily in NHL to go open my free pack of cards, and I have to go play with my brother in Destiny 2 because this is what the game we play together on. And then I just...The reason I came to Diablo five years ago was because it was my favorite game to play. So just because I work and I work doesn't stop me from going home and playing it for hours and hours too.Rebekah Valentine is a senior reporter for IGN. You can find her posting on BlueSky @duckvalentine.bsky.social. Got a story tip? Send it to rvalentine@ign.com.

Looking for a new board game to bring to game night? Amazon's offering a great discount right now on strategy game Red Rising, based on the books by Pierce Brown, that's worth picking up for your collection. It's currently on sale for just $10.99, 54% off its list price of $24. That's only a couple dollars more than its lowest price that it hit over the holiday period last year, according to price tracker camelcamelcamel, so if you've had your eye on it now's a great time to scoop it up.Stonemaier Games: Red Rising Board Game for $10.99Stonemaier Games: Red RisingMSRP: $24.00Ages: 14+Players: 1-6Play Time: 45-60 minutesIn the Red Rising board game, you represent a house that's trying to rise to power. It can be played with up to six players and takes around 45-60 minutes to get through, making it a great pick for your next game night. Amazon also notes on the deal page that if you've read the books it'll add to the fun, as there are plenty of easter eggs to check out, but reading them is not necessary to enjoy it. This isn't the only board game deal that's been floating around, either. Camel Up is also discounted at Amazon for a limited time right now, and you can save on a selection of Uno card games at the moment at Target.If you're curious to see our top picks for board games, we have plenty of recommendations for those as well. Have a look at our roundups of the best strategy board games to play and the best board games for parties and large groups to see even more options in a similar vein to Red Rising. Or, for an overall look at our absolute favorites, check out our breakdown of the best board games to play in 2025.More Board Game DealsTaco Cat Goat Cheese PizzaSee it at AmazonExploding KittensSee it at AmazonPhase 10See it at AmazonMonopoly DealSee it at AmazonWhat Do You Meme? [Family Edition]See it at AmazonCover Your AssetsSee it at AmazonHannah Hoolihan is a freelancer who writes with the guides and commerce teams here at IGN.

Welcome to Next Week on Xbox! In this weekly feature we cover all the games coming soon to Xbox Series X|S, Xbox One, the Xbox App on Windows PC, and Game Pass! Get more details on these upcoming games below and click their profiles for further info (release dates subject to change). Lets jump in!Carmen SandiegoGameloft$29.99Pre-orderCarmen Sandiego March 4Optimized for Xbox Series X|S / Smart Delivery / Xbox Play AnywhereVILE is back on the scene, and for once, ACME and Carmen Sandiego have a common enemy. In a rare and temporary alliance, the worlds greatest thief must track down the syndicate before they can pull off their next big heist. Rookie gumshoes and seasoned detectives are invited to put their sleuthing skills to the test whether its in the narrative driven main campaign or the classic mode The Acme Files.Marshmallow Marvin: GreenwoodJolly Lobster InteractiveGet it nowMarshmallow Marvin: Greenwood March 4Optimized for Xbox Series X|SEmbark on a delightful new adventure with Marshmallow Marvin in Greenwood! Journey through a magical forest brimming with colorful mysteries, eccentric creatures, and hidden secrets. Explore every nook and cranny, where each step unveils fresh challenges and surprises for our squishy hero. Get ready for an unforgettable adventure in a world full of sweetness and wonder!SugarboundSynnergy Circle GamesGet it nowSugarbound March 4Optimized for Xbox Series X|S / Smart DeliveryThe human kingdom is facing a food shortage crisis and the only option to survive is defeating the monsters from a mythical land called Sugarbound, but only a master patisserie can transform the defeated monsters into edible food! Chlo Fondant is the only hope humanity must survive (and eat delicious cakes).Two Point MuseumSEGA$29.99Pre-orderTwo Point Museum March 4Optimized for Xbox Series X|STwo Point Countys most daring adventurers have travelled to the far reaches of the known map and returned with unique artefacts to host in your museum, along with the coordinates of a new expedition location, home to an exclusive special exhibit and events! Pre-order now for exclusive Sonic themed items to decorate your museum and entertain your guests with! Or you can also start playing today by picking up Two Point Museum: Explorer Edition version of the game.War Robots: FrontiersMY.GAMESGet it nowWar Robots: Frontiers March 4Optimized for Xbox Series X|S / Smart DeliveryGear up for tactical mech action in War Robots: Frontiers, a free-to-play multiplayer mech shooter. Construct and customize your War Robots, squad up with other Pilots online, and fire up your engines in massive battles across the stars. Using tight team coordination and tactical gambits to edge out rivals in a variety of PvP modes: Push for all-out destruction in Team Deathmatch, fight for survival in Last Robot Standing, control points in Warp Rush, and rank up in Leagues.Beautiful Sakura: Racing ClubCropwareGet it nowBeautiful Sakura: Racing Club March 5Optimized for Xbox Series X|S / Smart DeliveryBeautiful Sakura: Racing Club is a captivating visual novel about Kaito, a young dreamer determined to become a professional racing driver. With passion in his heart and the support of his friends, he must navigate through thrilling challenges, tough decisions, and emotional moments to chase his dream. Will you guide Kaito to victory on the racetrack and in life? The journey is yours to unfold!Cat President: A More Purrfect UnionPenguin Pop GamesGet it nowCat President: A More Purrfect Union March 5Optimized for Xbox Series X|S / Smart DeliveryYoure just an ordinary teen girl looking for work after your college dreams didnt quite pan out. But when you get lost backstage during a national debate, you find so much more: a bunch of talking cats who are running for President. And thats not even the weird part they all want to hire you as a campaign manager!Cats and Seek : Dino ParkSilesia Games Sp. z o.o.Get it nowCats and Seek: Dino Park March 5A trip to the Dino Park may sound awesome, and it is, but what if that trip was also full of cats to find and pet? If you have a penchant for seeking cats, the Dino Park would be thankful for your help with spotting them all! The game features 500 cats to find, along with many special cats to collect. It offers five levels dense with friendly-looking, handmade drawings, three adorable music tracks to make your game nice and cozy.O.W.L Projekt 2Eastasiasoft LimitedGet it nowO.W.L Projekt 2 March 5Optimized for Xbox Series X|S / Smart DeliveryGet ready for another enigmatic and challenging adventure with O.W.L Projekt 2, a 3D isometric puzzle game that will test your mind and logic skills. Once again controlling Elysion, a young being created in a mysterious experiment, you will face the enigmatic Watchers in a journey to escape and uncover secrets.Solid Void Nature PuzzlesInfinite Zone$4.99Pre-orderXbox One X EnhancedSolid Void Nature Puzzles March 5Xbox One X EnhancedImmerse yourself in Solid Void, a unique puzzle experience that merges two classic puzzle styles into one addictive journey. Start by solving intricate nonogram puzzles to complete the grid. Once your grid is complete, take the challenge to the next level by placing pentomino-like blocks to complete beautiful designs.Care Bears: To The RescueForever Entertainment S. A.Get it nowCare Bears: To The Rescue March 6Optimized for Xbox Series X|S / Smart DeliveryFunshine Bear, Grumpy Bear, Share Bear, Cheer Bear and Good Luck Bear are on a mission to save the Silver Lining from Blusters most devious and daring plan so far! A ginormous, uncontrollable Bad Seed is wreaking havoc across the Silver Lining. If it isnt stopped soon, the entire land and its inhabitants will be in big trouble!ELDRADOR CREATURES SHADOWFALLWild River Games GmbH$33.49Pre-orderEldrador Creatures: Shadowfall March 6Optimized for Xbox Series X|SThe adventure-filled worlds of Eldrador are in danger! Lead battle-ready creatures in turn-based strategic combat to defeat a mysterious shadowy menace. Utilize a range of accessible tactics to outsmart your opponent.FragPunk Pioneer BundleNetEaseGames_Global$9.99Pre-orderFragPunk (Pioneer Bundle) March 6Kick off your FragPunk fights by bending the rules in style! Purchase the FragPunk pre-order bundle to get platform-exclusive skins, stickers, and a charm as well as the first seasons premium battle pass at an exceptional value! FragPunk will be free-to-play when it releases on March 6, 2025 this exclusive bundle will be permanently removed from the store after the pre-order period ends.Morkull Ragast's RageSelecta Play$17.99Pre-orderMorkull Ragasts Rage March 6Optimized for Xbox Series X|SA 2D video game that combines platforming and action with a touch of exploration, control Morkull, God of Death and Darkness and Lord of the Ragast. His main mechanic breaking the fourth wall, which allows him to communicate with you in a multitude of ways. Your objective? Help Morkull escape from the Ragast so he can rule the world and carry out his evil plans.Sorry We're ClosedAkupara Games$24.99Pre-orderSorry Were Closed March 6Optimized for Xbox Series X|S / Smart DeliveryAn eccentric story-driven survival horror game about angels and demons that mixes fixed-camera exploration and arcade-style shooting. Michelle must use her Third Eye to see between worlds and uncover secrets. Follow her final days as she battles to break the curse placed on her by a powerful archdemon looking for love. Help (or hinder!) the lives of curious residents in Michelles bustling London borough as she pursues freedom from her own untimely demise.Split FictionElectronic Arts14$49.99$44.99Pre-orderSplit Fiction March 6Optimized for Xbox Series X|SEmbrace mind-blowing moments as youre pulled deep into the many worlds of Split Fiction, a boundary-pushing co-op action adventure from the studio behind It Takes Two. Mio and Zoe are contrasting writers one writes sci-fi and the other writes fantasy who become trapped in their own stories after being hooked up to a machine designed to steal their creative ideas. Theyll have to rely on each other to break free with their memories in-tact, working together to master a variety of abilities and overcome diverse challenges while jumping between sci-fi and fantasy worlds in this unexpected tale of friendship.Suikoden I&II HD Remaster Gate Rune and Dunan Unification Wars + Pre-Order BonusKONAMI$49.99Pre-orderSuikoden I & II HD Remaster Gate Rune and Dunan Unification Wars March 6Optimized for Xbox Series X|S / Smart Delivery / Xbox Play AnywhereThe legendary Konami JRPGs, Suikoden I and Suikoden II, have now been remastered in HD, bringing upgraded background illustrations, updated effects that breathe new life into the pixel art animation, and new environmental sound effects for an immersive experience.Aery Dream LandEpiXR Games$9.99Pre-orderAery Dream Land March 7Optimized for Xbox Series X|S / Smart DeliveryIn this interactive game experience, you step into the role of a small bird, soaring through breathtaking landscapes while collecting magical crystals that mark certain locations. The game is not about defeating enemies or overcoming dangerous obstacles, but rather about immersing yourself in a peaceful and tranquil environment. It is designed to relax your mind and soul, providing a soothing escape from the stresses of everyday life.Alter AgeKEMCO$19.99Pre-orderAlter Age March 7Optimized for Xbox Series X|S / Smart Delivery / Xbox Play AnywhereArga trains daily to measure his strength against his father, known as the worlds strongest. He learns Soul Alter, enabling him and his companions to switch between adult and preteen forms. Facing many challenges, they alternate roles in turn-based battles, using various skills and strategies to win. Explore a vast pixel world with puzzle dungeons, gather ingredients, complete quests, and uncover all of Alter Age!Camping Simulator: The SquadCubeCube Sports LTD.Get it nowCamping Simulator: The Squad March 7Optimized for Xbox Series X|S / Smart DeliveryExperience nature, your way. Immerse yourself in the beauty and challenges of the great outdoors with Camping Simulator. Whether youre looking for a peaceful escape or a test of survival skills, this game offers a dynamic camping experience tailored to your style.Material EvidenceRatalaika Games S.L.Get it nowMaterial Evidence March 7Optimized for Xbox Series X|S / Smart DeliveryYoull need strategy and precision to clear each level full of malicious hoodlums toting bats, knives, guns, and other arms. Pick up the weapons of fallen enemies and use them to your advantage. Investigate a dangerous gang hideout, shut down an insidious drug-selling operation, and get your revenge against the notorious criminals responsible. Can you take on this challenge and defeat all your enemies?SteampunchAfil GamesGet it nowSteampunch March 7Optimized for Xbox Series X|SGet ready for the electrifying journey of Steampunch, a casual and challenging 2D platformer! Overcome enemies, traps, and obstacles to reach the elevator that takes you to the next level. Run, jump, and wall-slide with precision. Use double jumps and air dashes to reach secret areas and overcome challenges!

Maximalism is still in the spotlight when it comes to interior design trends for 2025. Between intentional clutter, castlecore, and mismatched furniture, stuff-centric decor is all the rage as people start moving away from minimalist Millennial looks and toward decorating for joy. While most design lovers are familiar with the touchstones that come with maximalist decorating trends, like gallery walls, bold colors, and riding that fine line between having too much stuff and displaying just the right amount of tchotchkes, for example, the micro trends that are popping up for this aesthetic for 2025 are still super freshand extremely playful.We reached out to two trusted designers with experience in (and a love for) maximalist design and asked them to share the top micro trends they predict for 2025 in this over-the-top aesthetic. Keep reading to see what five design shifts they're expecting to see for maximalist decorating trends in the next year.Related StoriesPattern DrenchingKEVIN MIYAZAKIDesigned by Isabel Ladd Interiors.Isabel Ladd, founder of her eponymous design firm, sees the maximalist decorating trend of pattern drenching popping off in 2025with a twist. "This micro trend has shown up in the past when the same pattern has been repeated throughout various surfaces within a room," Ladd tells House Beautiful. "But the fresh take on this trend is drenching the room in a kaleidoscope of varying patterns."Try a multitude of scales and motifs when you're experimenting with pattern drenching, as Ladd did in this bathroom, to keep the room from feeling chaotic. Juxtaposition is key, as she points out, when playing with this micro trend, so you'll want to choose a grounding pattern to coexist with your main one. "The strong geometric floor grounds the bounty of florals, large blooms coexist with petite petals, lush tropical foliage (on the shower curtain) contrasts with a structured floral (seen on the window shade)," she adds. Related StoryLayered RugsHeather TalbertDesigned by Isabel Ladd Interiors.Another repeat from the trend cycle, layered rugs are going to gain some traction in the maximalist design community for 2025. Ladd explains that while this trend has popped up in the past, today's maximalists are being much more intentional with their design decisions. "Layering geometrics with patterns, old with new, and flat textures with fluffy ones are inspiring ways to bring this micro trend to a maximalist space," she says. Related StoryLittle Borders EverywhereHeather TalbertDesigned by Isabel Ladd Interiors."You may hear 'wallpaper border' and flashback to the '90s where wallpaper borders were all the rage," Ladd says. However, love them or hate them, they are indeed back, "sans delightful little geese with delightful little bows," as she puts it. Borders can be put on a multitude of surfaces, pulling the eye from one pattern to another, one detail to another, adding a splash of surprise and delight to the space. In the corner pictured here, Ladd managed to add a wallpaper border to the ceiling and the baseboard, along with a fabric border to the rug. Mixing Architectural DetailsDouglas FriedmanDesigned by Doniphan Moore Interiors.On top of your actual maximalist decor, architectural design trends are emerging too, according to Julee Wray of Truss Interiors. "Playing with architectural elements and using multiples within a single space can offer a feeling of luxury and interest," Wray says. "Some may argue it's too much, I say, you can never have enough." Though it might be a maximalist micro trend right now, we can see this one staying for the long run. Color DrenchingKEVIN J. MIYAZAKIDesigned by Isabel Ladd Interiors.Similar to pattern drenching, color drenching is another maximalist decorating trend that is coming back with a vengeance in 2025. "Going big with the maximalist approach of color on ceilings, walls, and trim can be a commitment, but one totally worth the risk to take," Wray says. You might as well find a hue you love and stick with it, but be sure to break up the empty space with other pieces of decor where you can. Related StoryFollow House Beautiful on Instagram and TikTok.

President Trump has chimed in on the UKs attempt to force Apple to add a global backdoor to iCloud, likening the demand to something that you hear about with China. Trump met with UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer at The White House yesterday for a wide-ranging conversation on world politics, tariffs, free speech, and more. It marked Starmers first visit to Washington, D.C., since Trump took office last month. In an interview with British news outlet The Spectator yesterday, Trump was asked about the UKs anti-encryption legislation. Trump said that he told Starmer that the UK cant do this. We told them you cant do this. We actually told him [Starmer] thats incredible. Thats something, you know, that you hear about with China. Trumps comments came after his Director of National Security, Tulsi Gabbard, suggested that the UK may have broken a bilateral agreement when secretly demanding Apple to build a global backdoor into iCloud. Gabbard said she has grave concern about the serious implications of the United Kingdom, or any foreign country, requiring Apple or any company to create a backdoor that would allow access to Americans personal encrypted data. In response to the UKs request, Apple pulled Advanced Data Protection from the UK market. In a statement, the company said, we have never built a backdoor or master key to any of our products or services and we never will. Other categories of iCloud data, such as passwords, health data, and Messages in iCloud, remain encrypted in the UK. An interesting aside: Advanced Data Protection is available in China, so users in China actually have access to an encryption feature that users in the UK do not have. Follow Chance:Threads,Bluesky,Instagram, andMastodon.Add 9to5Mac to your Google News feed. FTC: We use income earning auto affiliate links. More.Youre reading 9to5Mac experts who break news about Apple and its surrounding ecosystem, day after day. Be sure to check out our homepage for all the latest news, and follow 9to5Mac on Twitter, Facebook, and LinkedIn to stay in the loop. Dont know where to start? Check out our exclusive stories, reviews, how-tos, and subscribe to our YouTube channel

The biggest Apple series yet, Severance, will wrap up its second season in the weeks ahead. But Apple TV+ has several buzzy new March releases planned to keep subscribers around: Dope Thief will join the streamers growing slate of crime thrillers, Seth Rogens The Studio looks hilarious, and the new Mythic Quest spin-off Side Quest debuts. Heres everything coming to Apple TV+ in March.Dope ThiefWhen: March 14What:TV ShowGenre: Crime ThrillerBased on Dennis Tafoyas book, Dope Thief follows long-time Philly friends and delinquents who pose as DEA agents to rob an unknown house in the countryside, only to have their small-time grift become a life-and-death enterprise, as they unwittingly reveal and unravel the biggest hidden narcotics corridor on the Eastern Seaboard.BE@RBRICKWhen: March 21What:TV ShowGenre: Kids & FamilyBE@RBRICK follows Jasmine and her bandmates as they pursue their dreams and inspire others to do the same. But it wont be easy to do when living in a world where everyones role is chosen for them and where the painted-on look you receive when you graduate from high school determines who youll be for the rest of your life. Jasmine realizes that in order for her world to change, she and her friends may have to make it happen themselves.The StudioWhen: March 26What: TV ShowGenre: ComedyIn The Studio, Seth Rogen stars as Matt Remick, the newly appointed head of embattled Continental Studios. As movies struggle to stay alive and relevant, Matt and his core team of infighting executives battle their insecurities as they wrangle narcissistic artists and craven corporate overlords in the ever-elusive pursuit of making great films. With their power suits masking their never-ending sense of panic, every party, set visit, casting decision, marketing meeting and award show presents them with an opportunity for glittering success or career-ending catastrophe. As someone who eats, sleeps and breathes movies, its the job Matts been pursuing his whole life, and it may very well destroy him.Side QuestWhen: March 26What:Anthology Mini-seriesGenre: ComedyAn expansion of the Mythic Quest universe, Side Quest explores the stories of employees, players and fans who are impacted by the game in an anthology format. Across four episodes, follow the lives of players, comic book shop owners, touring orchestra musicians, and members of the art department as they search for community, success, and love.Number One on the Call SheetWhen: March 28What:Two-Part DocumentaryGenre: Interview DocWith unprecedented access and candid interviews, Number One on the Call Sheet takes us on an intimate journey with some of Hollywoods most extraordinary leading Black men and women as they shine a light on the joys and challenges of being a Black actor, share breakthrough moments, discuss blueprints for success and honor legends, while recognizing the next generations enormous potential.Availability and pricing for Apple TV+Apple TV+ is available for $9.99 per month and can be watched via the Apple TV app using various smart TVs, and also iPhone, Android, iPad, Mac, and more. It contains hit TV shows and movies like Ted Lasso, Severance, The Morning Show, Silo, and Shrinking.Which of these Apple TV+ March releases are you most excited about? Let us know in the comments.Best Apple TV and Home accessoriesAdd 9to5Mac to your Google News feed. FTC: We use income earning auto affiliate links. More.Youre reading 9to5Mac experts who break news about Apple and its surrounding ecosystem, day after day. Be sure to check out our homepage for all the latest news, and follow 9to5Mac on Twitter, Facebook, and LinkedIn to stay in the loop. Dont know where to start? Check out our exclusive stories, reviews, how-tos, and subscribe to our YouTube channel

OpenAI CEO Sam Altman has unveiled the company's latest large language model, GPT-4.5.The AI model isn't just powerful; it's extremely expensive for users. OpenAI is charging a whopping $75 per million tokens, which is equivalent to the input of around 750,000 words a staggering 30 times as much as OpenAI's preceding GPT-4o reasoning model, as TechCrunch reports.There's a good reason for that: the new model is so resource intensive that Altman claimed in a recent tweet the company has run "out of GPUs" the graphics processing units that are conventionally used to power AI models forcing OpenAI to stagger the its rollout."We will add tens of thousands of GPUs next week and roll it out to the plus tier then," he promised. "This isn't how we want to operate, but it's hard to perfectly predict growth surges that lead to GPU shortages."It's a notable admission, highlighting just how hardware-reliant the technology is. AI industry leaders are racing to build out data centers to keep their increasingly unwieldy AI models running and are ready to put up hundreds of billions of dollars for the cause.Companies are practically tripping over themselves to secure hardware, especially AI cardsfrom leading chipmaker NVIDIA. The Jensen Huang-led firm announced on Wednesday that it had sold $11 billion of its next-gen AI chips, dubbed Blackwell, with CFO Collette Kress describing it as the "fastest product ramp in our companys history."The payoff from all of this investment, however, has remained somewhat muted, as AI companies are still struggling to meaningfully address some of the tech's glaring shortcomings, from widespread "hallucinations" to considerable cybersecurity concerns.Despite the sky-high price the company's charging for GPT-4.5, Altman attempted to manage expectations, tweeting in his announcement that "this isnt a reasoning model and wont crush benchmarks.""Its a different kind of intelligence and theres a magic to it I havent felt before," he added, without elaborating on what he meant. "Reallyexcited for people to try it!""What sets the model apart is its ability to engage in warm, intuitive, naturally flowing conversations, and we think it has a stronger understanding of what users mean when they ask for something," OpenAI VP of research Mia Glaese told the New York Times.Altman has previously complained that shortages in computing power have forced OpenAI to delay shipping new products.Ironically, GPT-4.5 was designed to lower the amount of compute required. In its "system card" detailing the model's capabilities, OpenAI revealed that "GPT-4.5 is not a frontier model, but it is OpenAIs largest LLM, improving on GPT-4s computational efficiency by more than 10x."That's despite Altman describing the model as being "giant" and "expensive."According to the document, the model's "performance is below that of o1, o3-mini, and deep research on most preparedness evaluations."Interestingly, as The Verge points out, a new version of the document no longer includes that last quote, suggesting the company is still trying to figure out how to sell its underwhelming new AI.OpenAI is still looking to follow up on GPT-4.5 with GPT-5, which Altman has described as a "system that integrates a lot of our technology."But whether it'll live up to expectations, let alone bring the company closer to its purported goal of realizing what it refers to as artificial general intelligence, remains to be seen.Share This Article

NASA's Europa Clipper is about to use Mars' gravitational pull to slingshot itself as it makes its way to Jupiter's fourth-largest moon later this week.The craft launched from the agency's Kennedy Space Center in October 2024, embarking on a 1.8-billion-mile journey to the gas giant.The goal is to reach Europa, the smallest of the planet's four Galilean moons, in April 2030, as part of the first mission specifically designed to study the under 2,000-mile-across space rock.The mission's main objective is to investigate whether the moon is habitable. Its icy surface has long intrigued scientists, with evidence suggesting it's covered in a massive, salty subsurface ocean, which could harbor extraterrestrial life.Experts have previously described it as one of the best places to look for alien life.But getting there is no easy feat. Clipper's journey will involve the "gravity assist" maneuver around Mars later this week, and the Earth again next year a circuitous path that not only saves plenty of fuel, but will be much faster than traveling straight to Jupiter.Gravity assists have become common practice for spacecraft venturing to the far reaches of our solar system. For instance, last year, the European Space Agency's Jupiter Icy Moon Explorer (JUICE) which will also be exploring Europa, in addition to its larger cousins Ganymede and Callisto performed a daring "first-ever double gravity assist maneuver" around the Earth to speed up on its way to Jupiter. (JUICE's anticipated arrival at Jupiter is July 2031, roughly a year after Clipper.)Europa Clipper's flyby of Mars on March 1 will bring it within just 550 miles above the Martian surface, allowing scientists to study the planet's surface using Clipper's radar and thermal imager, according to NASA.Credit: NASADuring its approach, the 12,750-pound spacecraft will be traveling at roughly 15.2 miles per second. Counterintuitively, instead of speeding up, it's aiming to pump its brakes to around 14 miles per second during its Martian gravity assist.But during its next flyby of Earth in late 2026, it will use our planet's gravitational forces to boost its velocity to finally beeline it to Jupiter's orbit."We come in very fast, and the gravity from Mars acts on the spacecraft to bend its path," said NASA's Jet Propulsion Laboratory mission systems engineer Brett Smith in a statement. "Meanwhile, we're exchanging a small amount of energy with the planet, so we leave on a path that will bring us back past Earth."Besides saving fuel and traveling vast distances much faster, gravity assists also allow scientists to do some bonus research. Scientists at NASA are already looking forward to getting a close-up look of the Red Planet with the spacecraft's radar and thermal imaging sensors a cherry on top of an already exciting deep space mission.Share This Article

Feb 28, 2025The Hacker NewsNetwork Security / Endpoint SecurityRemote Desktop Protocol (RDP) is an amazing technology developed by Microsoft that lets you access and control another computer over a network. It's like having your office computer with you wherever you go. For businesses, this means IT staff can manage systems remotely, and employees can work from home or anywhere, making RDP a true game-changer in today's work environment.But here's the catch: because RDP is accessible over the internet, it's also a prime target for unethical hackers. If someone gains unauthorized access, they could potentially take over your system. That's why it's so important to secure RDP properly.Why IT Teams Depend on RDP, Despite the RisksMore than 50 percent of Kaseya's small and medium-sized businesses (SMBs) and Managed Service Providers (MSPs) customers use RDP for daily operations due to its efficiency and flexibility:Reduces Costs and Downtime IT teams can resolve technical issues remotely, eliminating travel expenses and delays.Supports Business Continuity Employees and administrators can securely access company systems from any location.Enables Scalable IT Management MSPs can oversee multiple client networks from a single interface.Despite its benefits, RDP's widespread use makes it an attractive attack vector, requiring constant vigilance to secure properly.New Concerns: The Rise of Port 1098 ScansTypically, RDP communicates over port 3389. However, recent security reports - like one from the Shadowserver Foundation in December 2024 - have highlighted a worrying trend. Hackers are now scanning port 1098, an alternative route that many aren't as familiar with, to find vulnerable RDP systems.To put this into perspective, honeypot sensors have observed up to 740,000 different IP addresses scanning for RDP services every day, with a significant number of these scans coming from a single country. Attackers use these scans to locate systems that may be misconfigured, weak, or unprotected, and then they can try to force their way in by guessing passwords or exploiting other weaknesses.For businesses, especially SMBs and MSPs, this means a higher risk of serious issues like data breaches, ransomware infections, or unexpected downtime.Keeping Up with Security PatchesMicrosoft is aware of these risks and regularly releases updates to fix security vulnerabilities. In December 2024, for example, Microsoft addressed nine major vulnerabilities related to Windows Remote Desktop Services. These fixes targeted a range of issues identified by security experts, ensuring that known weaknesses couldn't be easily exploited.Then, in January's update, two additional critical vulnerabilities (labeled CVE-2025-21309 and CVE-2025-21297) were patched. Both of these vulnerabilities, if left unaddressed, could allow attackers to remotely execute harmful code on a system without the need for passwords.How Kaseya's vPenTest Proactively Helps Secure RDP & MoreRDP exposed to the internet is more often a misconfiguration than an intended configuration. In the last 28,729 external network pentests we have performed, we were able to find 368 instances of RDP exposed to the public internet. On internal networks we have found 490 instances of Bluekeep.For organizations looking for a proactive method to protect their external and internal networks, tools like vPenTest are invaluable. vPenTest offers:Automated Network Pentesting: The platform will perform both external and internal network pentests. IT Professionals are now able to perform the same attacks as an attacker against the networks they manage to proactively protect them and test security controls.Multi-Tenant: The platform is purpose built for the multi-functional IT Team juggling multiple tasks. IT Professionals are able to manage all pentest engagements for multiple companies within the platform.Detailed Reporting and Dashboard: vPenTest will generate a set of reports including an Executive Summary and a very detailed Technical Report. The platform also has a dashboard for each assessment so IT Professionals can quickly review findings, recommendations and affected systems.For the first time in tech history, IT Professionals are now able to execute a real network pentest against the organizations they manage at scale and on a more frequent basis. How Datto EDR Helps Secure RDPFor organizations looking for an extra layer of protection, tools like Datto Endpoint Detection and Response (EDR) are invaluable. Datto EDR offers:Real-Time Threat Detection: It monitors RDP traffic for unusual behaviorlike unexpected access attempts or strange port usageand raises alerts if something seems off.Automated Responses: When suspicious activity is detected, the system can automatically block or isolate the threat, stopping potential breaches in their tracks.Detailed Reporting: Comprehensive logs and reports help administrators understand what happened during an incident, so they can strengthen their defenses for the future.This means that with Datto EDR, businesses can enjoy the benefits of RDP while keeping their systems safer from modern threats.Practical Tips to Lock Down RDPHere are some straightforward tips to help secure your RDP setup:Timely Patching: Always install updates as soon as they're available. Vendors frequently release patches to address new vulnerabilities.Limit Exposure: Restrict RDP access to trusted personnel only and consider changing the default port (3389) to something less predictable.Use Multi-Factor Authentication: Adding extra steps for verification (like MFA and Network Level Authentication) makes it much harder for attackers to gain access.Enforce Strong Passwords: Ensure that passwords are complex and meet a minimum length requirement to help thwart brute-force attacks.By taking these steps, you can significantly reduce the risk of your RDP services becoming an entry point for cyberattacks.RDP Isn't Going AwayBut Security Needs to ImproveRDP is an essential tool that has transformed how businesses operate, enabling remote work and efficient system management. However, as with any powerful tool, it comes with its own set of risks. With attackers now exploring new avenues like port 1098 and continuously finding ways to exploit vulnerabilities, it's crucial to stay on top of security updates and best practices.By keeping your systems patched, limiting access, using multi-factor authentication, and employing advanced security solutions like Datto EDR, you can enjoy the flexibility of RDP without compromising your organization's security.Stay safe and stay updated!Found this article interesting? This article is a contributed piece from one of our valued partners. Follow us on Twitter and LinkedIn to read more exclusive content we post.SHARE