The old school action movie hero, like the old school movie star, is a dying breed. Tom Cruise is acutely aware of this since pretty much all of his franchised efforts in the 2020s have been about the glories of the fading old days and ways. Top Gun: Maverick, for example, explained why we still needed Cruise up on that wall, protecting us with one piece of superb blockbuster cinema at a time. But in the interim between Mission: Impossible – Dead Reckoning and this month’s long anticipated Mission: Impossible – The Final Reckoning, even the rare company he keeps on those ramparts has shrunk. Indiana Jones is again retired (and presumably for good after the box office receipts for Dial of Destiny came in); and not only has James Bond died onscreen with the last of the Daniel Craig movies, but perhaps off as well since the franchise’s “one at a time” bespoke family business model was consigned to the dustbin of movie history. Still, there remains Cruise and his handful of beloved onscreen personas, who are only too cognizant of how lonely they are high up on their barricade against the rising tide. And it appears to at last be getting to them in Final Reckoning, the allegedly last Mission: Impossible movie that feels the weight of the world on its shoulders, and a lot less of the deft spontaneity that previously made this franchise among the best in the Hollywood canon. Just to clear, there is yet quite a bit to enjoy in Mission: Impossible – The Final Reckoning, our eighth and most interconnected adventure with Cruise’s Ethan Hunt to date. Ever since filmmaker Christopher McQuarrie took over the directorial duties of the franchise beginning in 2015’s Rogue Nation, and even beforehand as a writer via Ghost Protocol, the series has widely been recognized for its creative ingenuity, emotional intelligence, and of course eye-popping spectacle and stunt work wherein Cruise channels his inner Buster Keaton or Douglas Fairbanks by putting his life on the line for our amusement. Those elements stay at play in Final Reckoning, but there is just a lot less playfulness to it in a film that ostensibly asks us to treat its story as a grand finale to Ethan Hunt’s impact on cinema—even as the film simultaneously and awkwardly resists that impulse. Less of a full-stop for the series than a trailing off question mark, Final Reckoning fights against itself and the notion of closing the book or bidding farewell to almost anything, especially Cruise, which makes its ever-growing bombast as much of a hindrance as help in this reluctant swan song. From the opening recap of his assignment, wherein Ethan receives the choice to accept or decline his mission via an appropriately ‘90s VHS cassette tape, Final Reckoning is intent on celebrating the past while turning the screws of self-importance in the present. Consider that this time Ethan’s mission brief is delivered not only by a familiar voice, but the newly elected President of the United States (Angela Bassett’s welcome return as Erika Sloane). The former CIA director turned commander-in-chief is heard pleading with Ethan to come in and deliver the cruciform key from the last movie, which is the secret to unlocking the source code to a world-ending AI threat called the Entity. Yes, despite the title change, Final Reckoning is very much Dead Reckoning Part 2, albeit now with the stakes clearly having been tinkered with off-screen. In the last movie, the Entity represented the abstract but insidious threat of AI and the internet itself, with a sentient algorithm commandeering the power to shape truth and our perceptions of reality. Well, in Final Reckoning, it has apparently decided to go full Skynet. President Sloane reveals the evil AI has corrupted the hydrogen bomb capabilities of most of the nuclear powers in the world, and within three days will have the ability to destroy all life on Earth for no discernible reason. However, should Ethan go rogue and attempt to turn off the Entity without surrendering control over the AI’s source code back to the American government, it could kill the internet and plummet the world into an economic dark age. It’s grim, technologically complex stuff, but in practice is actually incredibly simple. The world will literally end if either the Entity or any government gets its way. So it is all up to Ethan Hunt and his beloved team—which consists here of Luther (Ving Rhames), Benji (Simon Pegg), and recent additions Grace (Hayley Atwell) and Paris (Pom Klementieff)—to save the world via some spectacularly unsafe looking stunts and poker-faced brinksmanship. Ethan indeed has to enter into multiple staring contests with various admirals, generals, and presidents when they dare question whether he really is the smartest guy in the room. The fools. However, for all the press about this being the most expensive Mission ever made, Final Reckoning is arguably more intimate in scale than the last couple of entries. There is plenty of globe-trotting, but other than a jaw-dropping climax involving two biplanes that wouldn’t have looked out of place in 1933’s Flying Down to Rio, and the long teased underwater sequence in which Ethan discovers the wrecked SevastopolTop Gun territory. As in Maverick, Cruise once again has steely tete-a-tetes with various naval officers on what appears to be the real frigid waters of the Bering Sea. This unfortunately undercuts a bit of the travelogue fun of so many spy movies, including the previous Dead Reckoning which was at its best when Cruise and Atwell got to flirt in Rome while smashing a banana-colored Fiat along the Spanish Steps, or Cruise and the missed-but-not-forgotten Rebecca Ferguson simply smoldered in the Arabian deserts outside Dubai while trashing an army of NPCs. In an attempt to reach for the rhapsody of other blockbuster swan songs like The Dark Knight Rises or No Time to Die, Final Reckoning foregoes the lighter touch and mischievousness that made Fallout and Rogue Nation such all-time crowdpleasers. Yet McQuarrie’s play-it-by-ear looseness and story structure clashes with the dour-faced histrionics of Final Reckoning’s setup, particularly during the film’s multiple exposition dumps where characters spew utter nonsense about what the Entity wants at each other, or what to do about what remains one of the worst villains in the franchise, Esai Morales’ exhausting Gabriel. He’s back, and his cackling dastardliness is louder than ever. It also still feels beneath the amount of emotional trauma the film wishes to credit him with inflicting on Ethan. Join our mailing list Get the best of Den of Geek delivered right to your inbox! Still, it would be a disservice to what is ultimately an entertaining popcorn flick to dwell only on the shortcomings. This remains a Tom Cruise stunt spectacular that for the most part maintains McQuarrie’s uncanny ear for sharp, knowingly grandiloquent dialogue and clever shorthand characterization. When Cruise and McQ are focused on the smaller beats, like the interplay between Ethan and a team of deep sea divers, or the endlessly endearing bickering between teammates like Benji and Luther, it never ceases to charm. Grace and Paris likewise prove worthy permanent additions to the team. The chemistry between Atwell and Cruise during one arctic sequence is particularly giddy. Furthermore, there is a wonderful callback to the first Mission: Impossible that I will not spoil here, but it’s better than any simple cameo or easter egg. It retroactively adds McQuarrie’s humanist optimism from these later movies to De Palma’s ‘90s era cheeky chic. And did I mention that IMAX biplane sequence that’s all over the trailers and posters? It really cannot be oversold. It’s only when the sum of these sequences are compared to the taller heights the franchise has recently scaled, particularly in Fallout, which Final Reckoning not so covertly attempts to remake during the third act, that it’s left a little wanting. The film might be marketed as the final Mission: Impossible Mission: Impossible: The Final Reckoning opens on Friday, May 23. Learn more about Den of Geek’s review process and why you can trust our recommendations here.

Bryant Francis, Senior EditorMay 14, 20253 Min ReadImage via Square EnixAt a GlanceSquare Enix is announcing notable changes to its business strategy following a weak earnings report.These plans notably do not mention the company's trumpeted investments in blockchain and NFTs.Square Enix is making major changes to its business operations to revamp its output after a year-on-year sales slump. In annual financial results posted today, the Final Fantasy and Dragon Quest developer reported an 8 percent decrease in net sales for the fiscal year ending March 31, 2025, diving from ¥356 billion (about $2.5 billion) billion to ¥324 billion (about $2.2 billion).Operating income decreased accordingly, dropping from ¥40 billion to ¥32 billion.These changes—and a steady stream of sagging quarterly financial results over the last year—prompted the company to announce a 3-year business plan promising a "reboot for long-term growth." Its strategy centers around reorganizing its development studios to operate under one management group, expanding revenue opportunities by "strengthening customer contact points," and other corporate initiatives.This plan began taking shape in 2024 with the shuffling of its internal studios under one "franchise management division." This means all Square Enix developers working on online games, "HD games," and "SD games" are in one business unit. Its AI and engine development divisions, as well as its audio, QA, and other "development-related specialized organizations" now sit outside these studios. The company says this shuffling led to "discontinued development" of some games (including a Kingdom Hearts mobile spin-off), and increased investment in titles that "require refinement."Related:This reorg has already led to decreased spending on advertising and promotion for its portfolio of free-to-play mobile games like Dragon Quest Tact. Its plan to "strengthen customer contact points" includes a plan to expand into the Chinese market and roll out new retail initiatives like "pop-up stores" and other merchandising promotion.The success of these plans will be judged by Square Enix's ability to hit three financial goals: a 15 percent consolidated operating margin in the fiscal year ending on March 31, 2027, an allocation of ¥100 billion over the next three years, and a target return on equity of at least 10 percent.The nitty gritty of Square Enix's studio structure is interesting—but it's what's not mentioned in this business revamp that makes the leadership strategy of the last few years all the more glaring.NFTs are nowhere to be seen in Square Enix's plan for the futureSearch any of Square Enix's financial documents released today and you'll notice two words are notably missing: "NFT" and "blockchain."Under normal circumstances, that wouldn't be unusual—NFTs have sputtered in the broader video game industry and blockchain game technology hasn't clicked with mainstream audiences. But Square Enix spent the last three years boasting that NFTs and blockchain tech would be a big business opportunity for the company. This was an especially big gamble coming out of the COVID-19 lockdown era, where player spending rocketed to unprecedented highs, creating a ripe opportunity for companies that could capitalize on the newfound cash.Related:It seems that was a misplaced bet. Few other companies followed in Square Enix's footsteps, and those that did like Sega have publicly reversed course with their enthusiasm. (Ubisoft is still sitting at that particular blackjack table, yelling "hit me" as other players slip away).The hot technology that followed the blockchain craze, generative AI, is still a part of Square Enix's future. Its R&D studios will invest in the technology to help create "new kinds of experiences." But so far, the most we know of these experiences is an (intriguing!) fictional language system the company showed off at the 2024 Game Developers Conference.Game Developer and Game Developers Conference are sibling organizations under Informa.Read more about:Square EnixTop StoriesFinancialsAbout the AuthorBryant FrancisSenior Editor, GameDeveloper.comBryant Francis is a writer, journalist, and narrative designer based in Boston, MA. He currently writes for Game Developer, a leading B2B publication for the video game industry. His credits include Proxy Studios' upcoming 4X strategy game Zephon and Amplitude Studio's 2017 game Endless Space 2.Follow Bryant Francis, Senior Editor, on Bluesky or LinkedIn.See more from Bryant FrancisDaily news, dev blogs, and stories from Game Developer straight to your inboxStay UpdatedYou May Also Like

Birds Are Dying Mysterious, Violent Deaths in This Northern California Neighborhood—and No One Can Explain Why Residents of Richmond, a city in the Bay Area, say they have watched dozens of birds drop dead in recent months Mourning doves, European starlings, crows and other common backyard species have been found dead on a residential street in Richmond, California, in recent months. Pixabay Residents of a Northern California neighborhood are growing increasingly concerned about a string of mysterious—and often violent—bird deaths that seem to have no obvious explanation. In recent months, at least 50 birds have died along a residential street in Richmond, a city on the east side of San Francisco Bay. The deaths all seem to follow a similar pattern: After a bird lands on a specific stretch of power line, residents hear a loud popping sound, akin to a firecracker, reports KGO-TV’s Dion Lim. Then, they see the creature’s body fall to the pavement. A doorbell camera captured one of the strange fatalities on video, too. The inexplicable incidents have killed mourning doves, European starlings, crows and other common backyard species. “It’s pretty freaky and disturbing and very sad,” says Mark Hoehner, a 64-year-old marketing designer who lives in the neighborhood, to the San Francisco Chronicle’s Sarah Ravani. Officials with the Pacific Gas and Electric Company (PG&E), which is responsible for the power lines in the neighborhood, say the birds are not being electrocuted and that they haven’t found any issues with the electrical equipment. Inspectors found the neighborhood’s power equipment to be “in good condition,” according to a statement from Tamar Sarkissian, a spokesperson for PG&E, as reported by the San Francisco Chronicle. “The pole at issue is compliant with avian safe guidance,” established by the Avian Power Line Interaction Committee, Sarkissian says in the statement. Birds dying at alarming rate in Bay Area neighborhood Watch on PG&E sent two bird bodies to the California Department of Fish and Wildlife for closer study. After conducting necropsies, department officials say they found no evidence that the birds had been electrocuted, per ABC News’ Bill Hutchinson. Instead, the birds’ injuries appear to have been caused by a pellet gun, BB gun or a slingshot. Photos of other dead birds found in the neighborhood also showed injuries consistent with trauma. The department also noted, however, that “the exact cause of the trauma to all of these birds could not be determined.” The idea that the birds are dropping dead from foul play doesn’t sit right with some residents. “I can’t fathom somebody could be that accurate all the time,” Jan Solomon tells KGO-TV. The California Department of Fish and Wildlife says its wildlife officers are continuing to investigate. John Gioia, an elected official who represents the city of Richmond on the Contra Costa Board of Supervisors, tells the San Francisco Chronicle his office also plans to send public works staffers to the neighborhood. “We just want it solved at the end of the day,” resident Maximilian Bolling tells KGO-TV. Get the latest stories in your inbox every weekday.

It already feels like BEYOND Expo 2024 wrapped just yesterday – with its sprawling exhibition halls, a kaleidoscope of cutting-edge tech, and buzzwords ricocheting off every panel discussion. But here we are again, prepping for the return of Asia’s premier tech pilgrimage. BEYOND Expo 2025 is officially on the calendar: May 21 to 24, 2025, hosted once more at the Venetian Macao Cotai Expo. The theme? “Unveiling Possibilities”, a theme that’s perfect for today’s fast-paced world. In the face of uncertainties, BEYOND Expo aims to unveil possibilities – for progress, innovation, and trade. BEYOND has earned its stripes as the central node for startups, unicorns, Fortune 500s, and future-first thinkers who know how to speak fluent AI, blockchain, biotech, and green tech without breaking a sweat. The numbers speak volumes – 2024 clocked in with 820 companies and 20,000+ attendees, including 35% international guests and a surprisingly welcome 30% female participation. For 2025, organizers are aiming for a 40% international exhibitor share out of 1,200 participating companies. Click Here to know more about the BEYOND Expo 2025 At the core of the event are its signature exhibition areas: ConsumerTech, ClimateTech, and Healthcare. Each zone is a hands-on, immersion-heavy playground. Think smart wearables alongside AI-driven diagnostics. Carbon-neutral power systems sharing floor space with next-gen mobility. Everything here feels like it was prototyped in the year 2030. You’ll find familiar titles like the Global Investment Summit, where deal-making isn’t whispered in back rooms but happens in pitch sessions like “FUND AT FIRST PITCH,” which matched 150 startups with 100 VCs in 2024. ConsumerTech, ClimateTech, and Healthcare Summits bring vertical-specific depth, while the Asia-Latam, Asia-Euro, and ORIGIN: Asia forums spotlight the unique tech tensions and opportunities across regional ecosystems. Even the SheTech Summit returns to amplify global female innovation, alongside the wealth-centric BEYOND Wealth Summit and founder-focused Founder Forum. The opening day is expected to pull heavyweight speakers offering deep industry insight, while the closing event is a hybrid of TED Talk and cultural carnival. Expect keynote wisdom, the BEYOND Awards spotlighting future-forward solutions across four categories, and yes, the kind of nightlife Macao’s reputation thrives on – food markets, yoga pop-ups, eSports showdowns, and likely another charity poker faceoff. This year’s narrative, “Unveiling Possibilities,” signals a commitment to embracing chaos, using innovation as a counterweight to uncertainty. BEYOND 2025 sees volatility as a resource, not a risk. And in an age where tech cycles shift faster than government policies, that mindset feels appropriately radical. The backdrop of Macao – cosmopolitan, cross-cultural, and geographically strategic – makes it the ideal launchpad for ideas that refuse to stay regional. If you’re a founder, investor, engineer, or just someone who geeks out at the thought of tech’s bleeding edge, blocking those dates now might be the smartest calendar move you’ll make in 2025. Registration links for Super Early Bird passes are already live. Exhibition slots are filling. Whether you’re showcasing a product or seeking the next one to bet on, BEYOND Expo 2025 promises both visibility as well as momentum.The post BEYOND Expo 2025 Wants to Transform Uncertainty Into A Trigger for Innovation first appeared on Yanko Design.

In 1901, a kid from Ohio named Harry Gerstner had had enough of high school and dropped out. He then started a four-year woodworking apprenticeship and trained to become a patternmaker.About a year into his patternmaking job, Gerstner became dissatisfied with the then-current state of tool storage. Tool chests existed, but they were exactly that—literal chests, which were large, heavy, and needed to be fished through to find the tool you wanted. During his evenings and weekends, Gerstner began developing a solution that would better suit him.He came up with a small chest of drawers that was much better-suited to hold the smaller, delicate tools used by patternmakers. Wrapped in leather, with brass fittings to protect the corners and a handle on top, it was durable and easy to move around the benchtop. The small drawers of gradated size made it easy to store and retrieve hand tools.Gerstner's co-workers took note of his invention, and he soon realized there was nothing else like it on the market. He shortly stopped working as a patternmaker and was soon running H. Gerstner & Sons, a business developed to manufacture and sell his toolchests. (Fun fact and early marketing spin: Gerstner had no sons, but three daughters. He named his new company to provide the illusion of history.)Gerstner's chests proved popular, and the design eventually evolved into what we today call a machinist's chest. Machinists became the de facto target market, as the chests were perfect for storing their calipers, gauge blocks and precision tools. The front of the case has a protective cover that slides down to reveal a felt-lined surface on which to temporarily place small parts or tools. Drawers can be pulled out and carried to the work. The diamond-shaped mirror is a bit of a curiosity; I'd heard that they were supposedly included in case the machinist got something stuck in their eye, while others have dismissed that as hogwash. This forum poster claims he reached out to the company (which still exists today) to inquire about the mirror's purpose, and received the following response:"The mirror was first installed in the early 1900's on some of the very earliest Gerstner chest designs. In those days, very few manufacturing and/or tool & die companies had indoor plumbing. In other words, there were few companies with lavatories (with wash basins and mirrors) for toolmakers and other factory workers to use to clean up at the end of the day."The 'mirror' mounted inside a Gerstner tool chest provided the wherewithal for the chest owner to check his appearance and comb his hair before heading home (or, perhaps, going in to ask the boss for a raise). At various times over the years, we have introduced a few tool chests without including a mirror. Interestingly enough, the feedback from customers has been, 'Without a mirror, the chest doesn't look like a Gerstner.' So . . .you may notice that virtually all new model Gerstners feature a 'mirror' inside the tip lid."That explanation sounds fishy as hell to me—and why is "mirror" occasionally placed in quotes?—but what do I know, I'm not a detective.In any case Gerstner had found an untapped market, and multiple competitors cropped up; by the end of the 1910s, there were about 15 companies making a similar chest. H. Gerstner & Sons outlasted them throughout the century, and had no competitors left by the mid-1960s.Since their launch in 1906, Gerstner priced the chests at roughly a week's wages for a skilled tradesperson ($6 in 1906) and kept that ratio steady throughout the 20th century. Today, they still sell a model, the Classic Chest, that is remarkably close to the 20th-century design. (The most notable difference is that the single top handle has been replaced by two side handles.) It's available in the original Oak as well as fancier woods like Walnut and Cherry. However, the prices of the Classic today is $1,695. The Bureau of Labor Statistics has the median salary of a machinist today at $56,150, which would make a week's wages about $1,080. That doesn't place the chest completely out of reach of a machinist, but I'm guessing today's customers are more likely filling the drawers with knife collections and RC car parts.

The full reveal of the Nintendo Switch 2 was largely focused on all the new games you can play. The hardware specs weren’t the focus, but Nintendo dropped a detailed list of what’s inside the Switch 2 on its website, and later provided even more detailed tech specs. Most of what we knew from the original announcement video and some leaks turned out to be true: It’s a bigger, better handheld console with a full slate of upgraded hardware. Here’s what we now know, specs-wise, about the Nintendo Switch 2. System size The original base model of the Nintendo Switch is approximately 4 inches high and 9.4 inches long (with Joy-Cons attached), according to Nintendo’s official system specs. Switch 2 is a little bigger at 6.5 inches high and 10.7 inches long (also with Joy-Cons attached). The larger size also makes the Switch 2 weigh about 1.18 lbs, which is a little heavier than the .88-lbs original Switch. For another reference: That’s a little less than the Steam Deck LCD’s 1.5-lbs weight. Screen size Switch 2’s capacitive touch screen is 7.9 inches — bigger than both the original Switch (6.2 inches) and the Switch OLED (7 inches) — but it’s back to LCD. The new display also got a bump in resolution to 1080p (from 720p) and supports a variable refresh rate (VRR) up to 120 Hz. HDR10 support is coming too, but Nintendo didn’t specify any of the fine details on the screen’s brightness so it might not be as impressive as something like the Steam Deck OLED. And while it’s technically not a feature of the screen itself, the thinner bezel should make it just feel bigger as well. Joy-Cons Switch 2’s new Joy-Cons work a bit differently than the original Switch. They magnetically attach to the sides of the console and don’t produce that satisfying snap like they used to. The original Joy-Cons weigh around 1.7 ounces (left) and 1.8 ounces (right), and the new ones weigh around 2.3 ounces (left) and 2.4 ounces (right). That might be because the Switch 2’s Joy-Cons have a mouse sensor that lets you flip them on their side and slide them around, and the new C button for GameChat. While Nintendo says that Joy-Con 2 controllers don’t feature Hall-effect joystick technology, “The control sticks for Joy-Con 2 controllers have been redesigned and have improved in areas such as durability,” the company says. In addition to a mouse sensor, each Joy-Con 2 has a built-in accelerometer and gyroscope. The Joy-Con 2 controllers have wireless connectivity via Bluetooth 3.0, and the right one has NFC wireless connectivity. Nintendo says the Joy-Con 2 controllers have approximately 20 hours worth of battery life, and require approximately 3.5 hours to fully charge. Storage Switch 2 has 256 GB of flash storage, considerably more than the original Switch’s 32 GB of storage. If that sounds a little small for you, you can still expand the storage with an SD card. The original Switch supported microSDHC and microSDXC (UHS-I) cards up to 2 TB, while the Switch 2 supports up to 2 TB microSD Express cards, which offer much faster read speeds. CPU/GPU Switch 2 is powered by a “custom processor made by Nvidia,” Nintendo says. According to leaked details gleaned from the console’s motherboard, it’s supposedly a custom Tegra T239 processor. That would put the system’s processing power on par with previous-generation consoles like the PlayStation 4 and Xbox One, according to analysts. But leaks suggest the Switch 2 will employ upscaling technology that can boost 720p resolution visuals up to 4K when docked, using machine learning techniques. Additionally, Switch 2 is rumored to have 12 GB of RAM. Ports Switch 2 features a port for game cartridges, two USB-C ports, and a 3.5 mm headphone jack. The USB-C port on the bottom of the console is purely for charging and connecting to the dock. A slot for expanded microSD storage appears to be tucked away underneath the Switch 2’s kickstand, similar to the original Switch. Microphone Switch 2 has a built-in microphone that will primarily be used for its Discord-like GameChat feature. It has noise cancellation, echo cancellation, and auto gain control so you don’t have to fuss with settings for it to pick up everyone in the room. Battery life Switch 2’s battery will last around 2 to 6.5 hours depending on the games you play. That’s actually a tiny bit less than the launch Switch 1 models, which can run from 2.6 to 6.5 hours, and considerably less than the updated models that last 4.5 to 9 hours. Blame the Switch 2’s bigger and better screen for making you charge it a little more often. Thankfully, it can be charged up to full in the same three hours it took the original consoles (while in sleep mode). Nintendo will also let Switch 2 owners set the system’s battery charge to slow down at “around 90%” to preserve the system’s battery life. Wi-Fi Switch 2 supports Wi-Fi 6 connectivity, which should make downloading games faster if you have a beefy internet connection. It also means screen-sharing your games over GameChat should be smooth, too. Alternatively, the Switch 2 dock has a wired Ethernet port built-in, unlike the original Switch which required a completely separate adapter. Dock Switch 2’s dock looks a lot like the original Switch’s dock, but it’s a little bigger to match the size of the new console. It comes in at 4.5 inches tall, 7.9 inches wide, and 2 inches thick. On the back, there are 2 USB ports, an HDMI port, and an Ethernet port. And when you slide your system into it, it will output video up to 4K at 60 frames per second to your TV. Accessibility Switch 2 offers a couple new accessibility options that weren’t available on the original Switch, including text sizing and text-to-speech. You can also turn on speech-to-text and text-to-speech specifically for GameChat. And like the original Switch, you can still remap controller buttons, change the display colors, zoom into the screen, and swap the audio from stereo to mono.

“What. Is. THAT?” At Remedy HQ, me and two other writers getting a first hands-on with the forthcoming FBC: Firebreak have hit a problem. Namely, a strange, ever-changing black-grey mass, aimlessly and unnervingly stuttering around the Quarry we’re currently exploring. We have no idea what it is until we get close enough to recognize it—an Astral Spike from Firebreak’s ‘prequel,’ Control. But by then, it’s too late. Our screams that soon follow confirm it’s still just as deadly as ever. It’s not the only surprise I encountered in my extensive playthrough of the already slick and utterly engaging first-person squad-based shooter, launching June 17 on PlayStation 5. Here’s what I discovered from a fair few rounds of firefighting a paranatural invasion in the Oldest House. Live as a team or die alone repeatedly The focus on creating a team of three for the game’s player vs. environment (PvE) set-up is to hone in on the three classes of the game, known as Crisis Kits. I plumped for the Jump Kit, which specializes in crowd control and power management, while my two teammates went for the Fix Kit (a repair and tech expert) and Splash Kit (a water dealer and status support for other players). These Kits are designed to complement and collaborate in tasks and attacks, so trying to be a maverick only leads to death, likely yours. Communication is absolutely essential – especially as it’s easy to get caught in friendly fire – and taking full advantage of the Kits’ tools is the only way to survive the endless supply of rampaging hordes. And given that you possess a limited number of respawns between your team, reviving each other on the field is the best way to stay in the game, not always easy when dozens of Hiss beasties surround you. Crafting the perfect loadout In addition to the expected rifles, shotguns, and pistols, each Kit consists of three types of equipment: a tool, augment, and item. My Jump Kit’s initial loadout features an Electro-Kinetic Charge Impactor tool for shocking enemies, powering up generators, and even jumping long distances, and a BOOMbox item that distracts enemies once it’s charged. The systemic subtleties of each Kit’s equipment is where the teamwork comes into play. My Splash Kit comrade-in-arms uses his Crank-Operated Fluidic Ejector tool to wet the beasts, which maximizes my electrocution attack on them. At the same time, our Fix Kit buddy utilizes his Swivel Turret item that automatically tracks and unleashes a volley of rounds at any stragglers. Like the best co-op shooters, FBC: Firebreak encourages you to improvise under increasingly difficult odds, while not being afraid of the hilarity that comes with the chaos. There’s a mischievous glee from the Remedy staff when they unlock our Kits’ augments, and I soon see why. Once charged, my augment – named the AI19 Garden Gnome – fired out an unassuming gnome that unleashed a massive electrical storm that was far too close to my entire team and got us all electrocuted. My bad. Playing with piggy banks and paper Of course, it’s not all just fighting (or accidentally maiming your teammates) with things like the enemy igniting AI44 Teapot or the incredibly significant damage of the ‘break on contact but reforming’ AI16 Piggy Bank. FBC’s director and Control’s protagonist, Jesse Faden, has given you specific tasks to ensure the invasion of Hiss is contained. In this build of the game, I have access to three of the five Jobs that will be present at launch. Hot Fix challenges you to repair a number of heat fans and ultimately reseal the Maintenance Sector’s paranatural Furnace. Paper Chase requires the destruction of a set number of sticky notes, as well as surviving the shuffling sticky note monsters. Ground Control drops you into Black Rock Quarry to kill Astral Leeches in order to uncover irradiated pearls that need to be collected into a shuttle and launched into orbit. Each well-designed level offers opportunities to use the Kits’ different abilities, such as the Fix Kit’s wrench providing quick repairs to broken fans that lets you sidestep the button matching sub-game other Kits might need to perform, or the Splash Kit’s Humidifier spraying healing water to wash off radiation. But the Jobs also bring their fair share of downright terrifying moments, such as the confrontation with the literally giant sticky note boss monster, Sticky Ricky, which requires you to power up surrounding generators before you can hurt it. Or the aforementioned nightmare-inducing Astral Spikes that haunt the Quarry. ​​ Customization and corruption keep you guessing With its satisfying gunplay and smooth controls that feel at home on the DualSense wireless controller, there’s a lot to look forward to with FBC: Firebreak. Plenty of extra tantalizing elements will be expanded for launch, too, such as the many unlockable customizable gears and cosmetics for weapons, equipment, armor, or level unlock perks, such as the chance for electrified bullets or the ability to shake off radiation or fire by jumping up and down. There’s even a Corruption Level modifier that introduces Corrupted Items that cause additional hazards, such as low gravity or—the horrifying one I encountered, which led to many deaths—super fast enemies. It’s all designed to make the most of movement and character status-based systems, creating unpredictable results that set up FBC: Firebreak to be a compelling and ever-evolving experience. The doors to the Oldest House reopen when FBC: Firebreak shoots onto PS5 on June 17, with day one availability for PlayStation Plus Extra and Premium members as part of PlayStation Plus Game Catalog. And for anyone who still has any doubts, don’t worry – Remedy has this all under Control.

At this point, it's fair to say that 2024 has been the most disastrous year in Ubisoft's history as far as reputation and goodwill within the gaming community are concerned, with the studio releasing flop after flop, angering players with questionable statements, pushing out NFT games, and seemingly doing everything under the sun to make itself seem as unlikeable as it can be.But reputation is but a smaller part of what keeps big-league AAA studios afloat, with their financial performance being a far more important element. Now, Ubisoft has finally released its financial report for the full year 2024-25, giving us insight into how one of the most disliked game developers has fared money-wise during its most turbulent 12 months to date.UbisoftSurprising virtually no one, the report shows that the company remains unprofitable, posting an €82.6 million loss in IFRS operating income and a €15.1 million loss in non-IFRS operating income.The studio's sales totaled €1.9 billion for the year, a 17.5% drop from last year's €2.3 billion, while net bookings reached €1.85 billion, a 20.5% decline from €2.3 billion in 2023-24. Although Ubisoft slightly improved its debt position in 2024, it still carries €885 million in debt, which it plans to cover in FY2025-26 by finalizing its deal with Tencent.In light of this performance, Ubisoft plans to continue laying off its developers, revealing that around 1,230 employees were terminated in 2024-25 – which helped them achieve €200m reduction in the fixed cost base ahead of schedule – and stating that it intends to reduce its fixed cost base by at least an additional €100 million over the next two years through "ongoing targeted restructurings and strict control on recruitments."Despite their losses, the culture of toxic positivity within Ubisoft continues to thrive, with the studio describing its biggest release of the year, Assassin's Creed Shadows, as a great success. In the report, the company repeated its earlier talking points about Shadows achieving the second-highest Day 1 sales revenue in franchise history and setting a new Day 1 record for Ubisoft on the PlayStation Store, proclaiming that the game holds a 91/100 average player score across first-party stores.Neither the number of Shadows' copies sold nor the revenue it generated for Ubisoft has been disclosed, which is also not surprising in the slightest, given Ubisoft's past tendency to disclose player numbers rather than actual sales.Also worth pointing out is the report breaking down the studio's net bookings by platform. Over the past twelve months, console sales accounted for 45% of net bookings, PC for 31%, mobile for 16%, and the remaining 8% went to other platforms. Compared to 2023-24 figures, the studio lost some ground on consoles (which made up 56% last year) but gained on mobile (up from just 6%).Check out the full report here and don't forget to join our 80 Level Talent platform and our new Discord server, follow us on Instagram, Twitter, LinkedIn, Telegram, TikTok, and Threads, where we share breakdowns, the latest news, awesome artworks, and more.

There are many web hosts vying for your dollar, so it takes a special service to stand out from the crowded field and prove itself worthy of your investment. Hosting.com (formerly A2 Hosting) distinguishes itself in the competitive web hosting market with terrific customer service and several feature-rich hosting packages. Notably, Hosting's high-quality WordPress plans rival those from our Editors' Choice winner, Bluehost. However, its lack of cloud, dedicated, and Windows server plans prevents it from seizing the crown as one of our top picks overall.Shared Web HostingIf you want to launch a site without spending a lot of money, check out shared hosting. A shared package places your site on a server with many other sites, so you literally share resources and lower your overall hosting costs. It's practical and cheap, but it isn't particularly powerful. The main drawback is that the other sites sharing the server can slow your site's load speed with a crash or traffic spike.(Credit: Hosting.com/PCMag)Hosting.com offers four tiers of Linux-based shared web hosting: Startup, Plus, Pro, and Max. Starter (starting at $7.99 per month with an annual contract) has 15GB of storage, unlimited monthly data transfers, and five email addresses, but you're limited to a single domain. Plus (starting at $9.99 per month with an annual contract) builds on Startup with 30GB of storage,10 email accounts, and two websites. Pro (starting at $12.99 per month with an annual contract) ups the ante with its 50GB of storage, 20 email accounts, and 10 websites. Finally, there's Max (starting at $15.99 per month with an annual contract), which offers 100GB of storage, 40 email accounts, and 50 websites. Each plan includes free domain registration for the first year when committing to an annual contract. These are respectable shared plans, but they're a step behind HostGator. HostGator features free domain registration, unlimited monthly data transfers, and unlimited email addresses with each shared hosting plan. If you want to explore shared hosting, HostGator is the place to start.VPS Web HostingAs with its shared hosting plans, Hosting.com has multiple Linux-based virtual private server (VPS) packages. VPS hosting is like shared hosting in that multiple sites exist on the same server. The difference? VPS hosting offers more resources per site. There are far fewer sites on each server, and each is isolated from its server mates. Hosting.com offers managed and unmanaged VPS servers. With managed servers, Hosting.com takes care of all aspects of server management, including setup, configuration, security, backups, and maintenance. On the other hand, unmanaged servers require you to handle all these tasks yourself for a more hands-on experience.Unmanaged VPS XS (starting at $9.99 per month with an annual contract) starts with 4GB of virtual memory, 80GB of storage, and unlimited monthly data transfers. The next tier up, VPS S (starting at $15.99 per month with an annual contract), increases the virtual memory to 8GB and storage to 160GB. VPS M ($24.99 per month with an annual contract) lets you work with 16GB of virtual memory and 320GB of storage. Lastly, VPS L ($60.99 per month with an annual contract) is a plan with a hefty 32TB of virtual memory and 640GB of storage.Managed VPS plans use the same naming structure and offer the same configurations, but include managed server support. As expected, that white glove treatment comes at a much higher cost than unmanaged VPS. Managed VPS XS starts at $65.99 per month for a one-year commitment, while the highest tier, Managed VPS L, costs you $110.99 per month for the year. The upside is that Hosting.com’s team handles your site's backend, so you can focus on website content without stressing about site maintenance.All VPS plans come with a free SSL certificate and cPanel. It's worth noting that both managed and unmanaged VPS have root access options for complete website control; it's standard on unmanaged VPS plans, and an option for managed ones. (Credit: Hosting.com/PCMag)Hostwinds tops Hosting.com in VPS hosting. It has you covered with multiple tiers of managed or unmanaged VPS, plus Linux- or Windows-based hosting, something that Hosting's VPS services lack. Hostwinds even features Minecraft (yes, the video game) VPS server hosting. Like the standard VPS hosting, Minecraft VPS hosting has a slider that lets you quickly select a pre-configured server. The entry-level tier ($4.99 per month) is designed for 10 people; the high-end tier ($328.99 per month) can host 350 people.Dedicated Web HostingDedicated servers are the most powerful web hosting type, as your website shares zero resources with other sites. If you expect a large amount of website traffic, you should spring for dedicated hosting.However, Hosting.com lacks dedicated servers. The transition from A2 to Hosting.com has left some plans in limbo, with dedicated servers being the most glaring omission. That said, my conversation with a customer support representative confirmed that dedicated servers are coming in the future. If your operation requires dedicated servers, take a look at the feature-packed AccuWeb. AccuWeb offers customizable or prefab Linux—or Windows-based dedicated servers, starting at $123 per month for 8GB of RAM, 1TB of storage, and 20TB of monthly data transfers. These servers also scale considerably if you need more power.Recommended by Our EditorsCloud Web HostingCloud hosting differs from traditional hosting in that it spreads resources across multiple servers, whereas traditional hosting pulls power from a single server. Unfortunately, Hosting.com doesn't currently offer cloud hosting. Instead, consider DreamHost. DreamHost's Linux-based packages start at $0.0075 per hour (for 512MB of RAM, 80GB of storage, and unlimited monthly data transfers) and top out at $0.0800 per hour (for 8GB of RAM, 80GB of storage, and unlimited monthly data transfers). Liquid Web is another notable host with cloud options, and it has an array of Windows servers, unlike Hosting.com.(Credit: Hosting.com/PCMag)WordPress Web HostingWordPress is synonymous with web hosting and a service that powers more than 40% of the web. It's easy to see why: WordPress is easy to use and has a rich theme and plug-in ecosystem that lets you tweak the content management system as you see fit.If you want to use WordPress, Hosting.com has many noteworthy packages. Its four shared WordPress hosting plans—Starter, Plus, Pro, and Max—are identical to the company's shared web hosting plans, though marginally more expensive. The low-end and high-end packages cost $8.99 per month and $17.99 per month, respectively, with an annual contract.If you require something a bit more hands-off, Hosting.com lets you sign up for managed WordPress servers. With a managed WordPress server, the company handles updates. If you're focused on one website, the Starter plan starts at $27.99 per month per year as a managed WordPress package. That scales up to the Max plan, which starts at $59.99 per month per year. These server plans otherwise have the same features as Hosting.com's shared and WordPress plans. Bluehost has Editors' Choice-worthy WordPress plans, starting at $15.99 per month for 10 websites, 10GB of storage, DDoS protection, malware scanning, and 40,000 monthly visitors. They max out with the $24.99-per-month eCommerce Essentials tier, which lets you build 100 sites, store 100GB of data in fast-speed NVMe storage, allow 400,000 visitors, and use AI creation tools. Alternately, Bluehost also has an excellent website builder that integrates WordPress functionality and offers tremendous flexibility. Bluehost's multiple WordPress options give you lots of flexibility for building websites.Reseller Web HostingIf you're looking to get into the web hosting business, but don't want to deal with infrastructure matters, check out Hosting.com's reseller hosting packages. The plans start at $49.99 per month for a one-year term and scale up to $115.99 per month annually. These plans offer unlimited email and up to 250GB of storage and 3500GB of monthly data transfers. In addition, Hosting.com lets you apply your own branding to the servers you rent, and it supplies 24/7 tech support. Hosting.com's reseller packages aren't quite as robust as Hostwinds, which has a variety of packages that are sure to please anyone thinking about getting into the reseller business.Commerce and SecurityIf you plan to sell products, check out Hosting.com's many e-commerce tools. You can use PrestaShop, OpenCart, WooCommerce, or another tool to construct an online store. All offer a one-click setup that lets you get started fairly easily. Magento, a common and popular e-commerce app, lets you easily drag and drop elements to create a store.Naturally, you'll need a Secure Socket Layer certificate to accompany that store. It encrypts the data between your shop and customers' browsers for safe online transactions. Hosting.com's SSLs start at $29.99 per year for a one-year certificate and 256-bit encryption and climb to the $449.99 Organization Validation Wildcard SSL.Customer Support, Uptime Promise, and RefundsWebsite uptime is a vital element of web hosting. If your site goes down, clients or customers will be unable to find you or access your products or services. It's in your best interest to find a reliable web host that can keep your site up and running. Otherwise, customers may go elsewhere, and they might never come back. Hosting.com promises 99.9% uptime. If you're ever in need of technical assistance, Hosting.com's aptly named Guru Crew is available to lend a helping hand. Available 24/7/365 via phone or live chat, the Guru Crew is one of the best customer support teams I've encountered in the web hosting space. I contacted the team on a weekday morning to learn which plans offer Windows-based hosting (none do!) and how to install WordPress. I waited just a few seconds before a Guru Crew member fielded my questions. Hosting.com's customer service squad ranks up there with GoDaddy as the best in the business.Hosting.com's money-back guarantee grants you a full refund if you cancel your account within a 30-day window. You can cancel services directly from your account page, so you don't need to submit a ticket, the case with many other web hosts.

Mission: Impossible – The Final Reckoning carries the weight of a meaningful farewell but lacks the courage to commit. The eighth film in the series begins with a sincere American president (Angela Bassett) entreating IMF agent Ethan Hunt (Tom Cruise) to take one last mission to save the world. This time, he must defeat a scheming AI called the Entity, which is hell-bent on wiping humans off the face of the earth through computer hacking and nuclear war. As fans have come to expect of this espionage franchise, Mission: Impossible – The Final Reckoning will deliver globe-trekking, tense twists, jaw-dropping action sequences that make grown-ups feel like kids again, the unrelenting star power of Tom Cruise, and a sentimental belief in the righteousness of one noble man playing by his own rules. But amid these treasures, The Final Reckoning is a film at war with itself. Rather than a fitting send-off to a film series rich in stunts and thrills, it feels like an exquisite corpse of warring artistic goals that is incredible to behold, but never really comes together. Mission: Impossible – The Final Reckoning delivers a plot that refuses to make sense. Ethan is still on the mission from Mission: Impossible — Dead Reckoning Part One.not to capture this AI wonder and hand it over to any government. He wants to destroy it, even though stern American counselors to the president insist that killing the Entity would mean destroying cyberspace. How? Despite much, much exposition dropping in brow-furrowing war room scenes, that's never remotely clear. You May Also Like Actually, the script by Christopher McQuarrie (who also directs) and Erik Jendresen makes a lot of declarations about the Entity's intentions, powers, and drawbacks without giving much sense of how any of it is possible. This has the effect of making the movie feel less like a sci-fi espionage thriller and more like flat-out fantasy adventure. The Entity becomes effectively an evil spirit that must be captured to end its reign of terror and its influence on the power-hungry or weak-minded. Final Reckoning even offers a doomsday cult devoted to the Entity to unfurl a thin thread. At 2 hours and 49 minutes, Mission: Impossible – The Final Reckoning takes off running with the plot line from Dead Reckoning, but runs it into the ground by losing sense of what made audiences so excited about the last installment. This fuzzy focus on AI as some vague but almost inescapable demon makes many of the decisions by Ethan and his crew hard to follow if not impossible. Worse yet, McQuarrie and Jendresen's overstuffed plot forces too many of Ethan's allies into a dull box, where they become tools of the plot over engaging characters. Tom Cruise is in top form, but Hayley Atwell is criminally misused in Mission: Impossible – The Final Reckoning. Cruise is a producer and star of this movie, and that's clear even without the title card announcing "A Tom Cruise Production." In Final Reckoning, he is an American action star in full, able to drop a powerful glower to underscore a dramatic moment better than any orchestra swell. He can perform a complicated and astonishing stunt with seeming ease. And truly, no one in cinema history can run as intensely as Cruise; his every speedy step seems to propel the iconic Mission: Impossible theme. At 62, his latest mission pulls him into the depths of the ocean and into a sky-high dogfight. Whether pummeling cronies with his bare hands or leaping from one in-flight plane to another, Cruise (and his stunt team) make Ethan a one-of-a-kind hero, capable of anything, yet able to express keenly his own morality through a powerful glance. This works even amid Final Reckoning's meandering plotting. Unfortunately, all the Ethan-centered heroics leave little room for his expansive crew to shine. Reprising their roles as IMF agents Luther Stickell and Benji Dunn, Ving Rhames and Simon Pegg have little screen time, but solid impact. They've mastered the art of making the most of these brotherly supporting roles. But more recent additions — like Hayley Atwell as pickpocket turned agent Grace and Pom Klementieff as assassin turned ally Paris — have achingly little to do. Mashable Top Stories Stay connected with the hottest stories of the day and the latest entertainment news. Sign up for Mashable's Top Stories newsletter By clicking Sign Me Up, you confirm you are 16+ and agree to our Terms of Use and Privacy Policy. Thanks for signing up! Klementieff gets a fun opening fight scene and a tender sequence in the third act. But frankly, that finale feels in conflict with her chilly character, as everywhere in between her dialogue is the same one-note joke of being apathetic, in French. Atwell, who was established as Cruise's next love interest in Dead Reckoning, becomes an unrecognizable nag in Final Reckoning. Her spirited banter and self-assurance has been swapped for tedious dialogue filled with worry or bizarrely out-of-character proclamations, like that Ethan should take over Entity and effectively rule the world! A collection of critically heralded actors, from Academy-Award winner Bassett to Emmy-winner Nick Offerman to Morales, Hannah Waddingham, Shea Whigham, and Janet McTeer, are similarly underused in scenes that involve a lot of furrowed brow-talking, but too little logic. Their intensity might have better sold the absurdity if McQuarrie didn't linger so long in these preposterous war room discussions. Tramell Tillman steals Mission: Impossible – The Final Reckoning. The underwhelming dialogue, which veers from exposition dumping to near-religious proclamations, proves a stumbling block for much of the Final Reckoning ensemble. Even Cruise struggles with comically dramatic lines like, "We can deceive the Lord of Lies!" But Severance star Tramell Tillman strides where others stumble. It's not that he gets better dialogue. Many of his lines are unremarkable, like, "Oh, OK" in response to some intense Ethan declaration. But Tillman builds a world with his curious delivery. Playing a smooth submarine captain, Tillman delivers every line as if he is welcoming Ethan into an exclusive resort. There's an almost seductive attitude to Tillman's captain, who moves suavely in the tight confines of the submarine and addresses his crew with a magnanimous warmth. As if he had not a concern in the world, he oozes charisma, which is reflected by his invitingly smirking crewmate Kodiak, played by Love Lies Bleeding's Katy O'Brian. Together they weave an underwater world of camaraderie and personality that had me wishing Ethan would abandon his mission and just hang out there for a spell. This series has offered scads of compelling characters. But I was sad to see the plot plunge away from this submarine crew so soon. I'd follow Tillman's captain anywhere, just because of the beguiling way he says "OK." Related Stories Mission: Impossible – The Final Reckoning is bloated but very fun. The final hour of Final Reckoning is jam-packed with suspense as action sequences between Ethan and his crew are cut across each other. Editor Eddie Hamilton masterfully creates tension while underlying how everything in the impossible plan to defeat the Entity must come together in "the blink of an eye." When the action scenes are hitting as they should, it's hard to imagine anything better to experience in a theater than a Mission: Impossible movie. Even Cruise's old-school sincerity is contagious, as Ethan throws his life on the line one more time for life, liberty, and an idealized American way. Very likely, you'll walk out of the cinema with a rush and joy, marveling over the stunts and heroics. But if you linger on the details of Final Reckoning, you begin to notice plot holes and dangling threads. You may get hung up on the tonal shifts that feel less like a flowing dance — as they did in Dead Reckoning — and more like a frenzied battle between ideas. In some ways, Mission: Impossible – The Final Reckoning feels like the final chapter. Ethan's colleagues praise him so intensely that several scenes feel like a premature eulogy for the still (ass-)kicking agent. The title and the snarling threats of the antagonist Gabriel — who promises a "final reckoning" — suggest this is Ethan's last mission, should he choose to accept it. Cruise's drive to top himself with not one but two absolutely bonkers action set pieces feels like an encore before he retires the character for good. Plus, a reprisal of a character long forgotten in the franchise is not only a welcome surprise, but also suggests this story is coming to a comforting close. (Cheers to Rolf Saxon and Lucy Tulugarjuk, who are splendid scene partners.) However, McQuarrie also refuses to shut doors that seem to be closing. Without giving away third-act spoilers, I can say Final Reckoning pulls its punches, seemingly to allow for a IMF story to continue. Yet what might make for a happy ending isn't satisfyingly resolved either. Rather than providing a sense of resolution, McQuarrie ends the film with a sequence meant to speak to enduring connection, but it feels jarringly isolating because of how disjointedly it is presented. Essentially, Mission: Impossible – The Final Reckoning feels like the filmmakers were both trying to make this the final movie in a successful franchise — and also leaving the door open for more. In waffling over that, they deliver a final chapter that is in turns thrilling and frustrating. Rather than going out with a bang, Mission: Impossible may go out with the fizzled whimper of a message self-destructing in a tape deck. Mission: Impossible – The Final Reckoning opens exclusively in theaters on May 23. Topics Film