Senior Producer (Creative Services)Epic GamesCary, North Carolina, United States58 minutes agoApplyWHAT MAKES US EPIC?At the core of Epic’s success are talented, passionate people. Epic prides itself on creating a collaborative, welcoming, and creative environment. Whether it’s building award-winning games or crafting engine technology that enables others to make visually stunning interactive experiences, we’re always innovating.Being Epic means being a part of a team that continually strives to do right by our community and users. We’re constantly innovating to raise the bar of engine and game development.PRODUCTIONWhat We DoWhether it’s driving a vision from start to finish or collaborating with teams to inspire and deliver projects of Epic quality, Epic’s production teams take pride in consistently delivering world-class products and experiences.What You'll DoAs a member of the team, you will help bring Epic game experiences to players. We are looking for individuals who excel in organization, have exceptional communication abilities, and are comfortable managing schedules of complex projects in a fast-paced environment. The ideal candidates are passionate about working in technology and have a history of working within marketing environments.In this role, you willOwn Project Success: Drive the successful launch and ongoing operation of marketing assets, coordinating complex, multi-team projects across departments and time zonesBe the Hub and Lead with Clarity: Act as the central point of contact for design projects, ensuring seamless communication and coordination among internal teams, external partners, and cross-functional stakeholders. Provide clear visibility into project timelines, status, and risks to keep stakeholders informed and aligned throughout the design lifecycleChampion Planning & Execution: Develop and oversee detailed project plans—including timelines, deliverables, and resourcing—to ensure smooth and timely creative deliverySupport & Empower the Team: Leverage strong communication and leadership skills to guide teams, resolve blockers, and foster collaboration across disciplines. Be able to quickly develop deep knowledge about tools, teams, and technologiesFacilitate Reviews & Delivery While Maintaining Creative Standards: Coordinate feedback loops, approvals, and final delivery of assets, ensuring all creative meets partner requirements and project goals. Track asset production quality to ensure alignment with brand guidelines, marketing briefs, and stakeholder expectationsManage Resources Proactively: Partner with resourcing and studio leads to align design needs with available talent, while identifying future asset needsWhat we're looking for5+ years of experience in agency or video game marketing, including PC, console and mobile gamingExperience in working with Licensed IP partnersBackground in marketing and graphic design production, communications, business, or related fieldsExecuting a global vision/strategyLeading cross-functional teams on projectsBalancing priorities and internal resourcesPresenting plans and discussing strategy with leadershipWorking with internal and external creative teams to make static assetsBonus: Live games as service experienceEPIC JOB + EPIC BENEFITS = EPIC LIFEOur intent is to cover all things that are medically necessary and improve the quality of life. We pay 100% of the premiums for both you and your dependents. Our coverage includes Medical, Dental, a Vision HRA, Long Term Disability, Life Insurance & a 401k with competitive match. We also offer a robust mental well-being program through Modern Health, which provides free therapy and coaching for employees & dependents. Throughout the year we celebrate our employees with events and company-wide paid breaks. We offer unlimited PTO and sick time and recognize individuals for 7 years of employment with a paid sabbatical.ABOUT USEpic Games spans across 25 countries with 46 studios and 4,500+ employees globally. For over 25 years, we've been making award-winning games and engine technology that empowers others to make visually stunning games and 3D content that bring environments to life like never before. Epic's award-winning Unreal Engine technology not only provides game developers the ability to build high-fidelity, interactive experiences for PC, console, mobile, and VR, it is also a tool being embraced by content creators across a variety of industries such as media and entertainment, automotive, and architectural design. As we continue to build our Engine technology and develop remarkable games, we strive to build teams of world-class talent.Like what you hear? Come be a part of something Epic!Epic Games deeply values diverse teams and an inclusive work culture, and we are proud to be an Equal Opportunity employer. Learn more about our Equal Employment Opportunity (EEO) Policy here.Note to Recruitment Agencies: Epic does not accept any unsolicited resumes or approaches from any unauthorized third party (including recruitment or placement agencies) (i.e., a third party with whom we do not have a negotiated and validly executed agreement). We will not pay any fees to any unauthorized third party. Further details on these matters can be found here. Create Your Profile — Game companies can contact you with their relevant job openings. Apply

With “A Minecraft Movie” in striking distance of the billion-dollar mark at the global box office, there’s no better time to check in on the state of the video game industry, with an emphasis on its intersection with Hollywood. Kaare Eriksen, author of a recent Variety Intelligence Platform special report on these subjects, tackles everything on the latest episode of Variety’s “Strictly Business” podcast — from the shadow that Trump-era tariffs could cast over Nintendo’s Switch 2 console launch next month to the shift of “Grand Theft Auto 6” to 2026. Related Stories Rockstar Games, publisher of the hugely popular franchise, announced earlier this month that “GTA 6” is now set to release on May 26, 2026. Many publishers behind big games expected this year were reportedly reluctant to commit to release dates until they knew for sure “GTA 6” is locked down to one. Popular on Variety Listen to the podcast here:   “The immediate upside is the sheer reality that now some publishers can breathe a bit easy and schedule games for the fall,” said Eriksen. Meanwhile, Warner Bros.’s “A Minecraft Movie,” starring Jack Black and Jason Momoa, has done well enough to become the second-best gaming adaptation ever at the box office, which will certainly whet appetites among film execs to capitalize on other gaming properties. “If there’s going to be any kind of ramifications of a ‘Minecraft’ movie doing so well, it is going to be studios obviously salivating for the chance to take some IP, whether it’s ‘Grand Theft Auto,’ ‘Call of Duty,’ or even Fortnite and Roblox, and try to figure out a way to do movies around those if it means they could potentially bring out that big of an audience,” said Eriksen. “Strictly Business” is Variety’s weekly podcast featuring conversations with industry leaders about the business of media and entertainment. (Please click here to subscribe to our free newsletter.) New episodes debut every Wednesday and can be downloaded at Apple Podcasts, Amazon Music, Spotify, Google Play, SoundCloud and more.

Editor's take: Back in the DOS days, real PC users wrote their textual tomes in the official MS-DOS Editor – I certainly did. These days, developers offer a confusing array of text editors, so Microsoft built its own to simplify command-line editing. Although it's slightly different than the OG version, I find it refreshing! Microsoft is reviving the classic MS-DOS Edit utility with a new open-source text editor built for Windows 11. Microsoft developers designed it to provide a native command-line interface (CLI) option. While 32-bit versions of Windows included the legacy 16-bit MS-DOS version, 64-bit editions lacked any built-in CLI tool. Edit is a compact, modeless editor with a text-based user interface. Its minimal footprint of less than 250kB makes it easy for Microsoft to include in Windows 11 ISO images. Although still in early development, Edit offers several modern features to create a more comfortable editing experience, including mouse support, key binding, simultaneous multiple file editing, find-and-replace (with match case and regular expression options), and word wrap – something MS-DOS users could only dream of back in the 90s. The open-source version of Edit is already available on GitHub. The project's official page states its primary goal is to offer an accessible text editor that even users unfamiliar with the command line can use easily. That said, when compared side-by-side, Edit's interface feels nothing like the original MS-DOS Editor. We checked. Also see: A Compilation of Command Prompt Tips, Tricks & Cool Things You Can Do Microsoft plans to roll out the new CLI text editor to unpaid Windows Insider beta testers soon. Microsoft expects the tool to mature enough to launch alongside a stable Windows 11 build. The new editor could appeal to PC users tired of relentless AI fluff, Copilot ads, and unwanted features flooding their systems. Microsoft continues to use every trick in the book to make Windows an AI-first-user-last experience – to the point that even the "classic" Notepad can't survive without some unwanted AI gimmick that nobody requested. Image credit: Windows Latest // Related Stories

Marks and Spencer (M&S) leadership believes that it may take at least another month to fully recover following a ransomware attack that it now looks likely will cost it at least £300m. It has also emerged that the incident may have begun through the systems of a third-party supplier of IT services, where tech support staff had their credentials stolen via social engineering, according to CEO Stuart Machin. The admission that the attack began via social engineering lends credence to the theory that the Scattered Spider hacking collective is indeed behind the attack. The gang has previously used similar techniques against other targets. According to Reuters, the initial target of the cyber attack may have been Tata Consulting Services (TCS), which runs the M&S IT helpdesk. Pushed by reporters on this on results day, Machin declined to state if this was accurate, and Computer Weekly understands TCS has also made no comment. Nor did Machin reveal whether or not M&S has paid off its attackers, stating advice from incident responders. He did, however, say that M&S has heavily invested in cyber tooling in the past 24 months which may have helped it spot and respond to the attack quicker. He also said M&S had not “left the door open” to its hackers. “Over the Easter bank holiday it became clear that we were facing a highly sophisticated and targeted attack,” said Machin in a prerecorded video accompanying the retailer’s latest results. “We called in several cyber experts and assembled the best support team including technology partners and notified the authorities immediately. “As a result we were able to take control of the situation very quickly and take the right actions to protect the business, our customers, our suppliers, and keep our shops empty and trading. This meant proactively taking down some of our systems which resulted in short-term disruption – but we think that was the right thing to do.” Jason Gerrard, senior director of systems engineering at cyber resilience company, Commvault, said M&S’ experience was a useful reminder to others that the ability to recover fast must be built into cyber resilience plans. “Behind the scenes, teams are scrambling to rebuild systems, trace breach origins, and restore customer data with forensic precision – all while execs are juggling regulators, insurers, auditors and shareholders,” said Gerrard. “The longer it takes to return to ‘normal’, the more that ‘normal’ drifts further away,  both in business operations and public perception. While recovery takes 24 days on average, some organisations don’t achieve business-as-usual for over 200 days. “This headline-grabbing downtime should be a warning to others that preparation for such a scenario is vital. Having a tried and tested recovery plan in place and identifying your Minimum Viable Company (MVC) ahead of time can help to reduce some of the damage that can very quickly spiral out of control,” said Gerrard. “Understanding your MVC – the essential systems needed to stay operational – is central to achieving cyber resilience and maintaining continuous business, even amidst a cyber attack. “The true power of the MVC model is not simply about responding to threats – it builds future-ready organisations that can adapt, recover, and lead.” Timeline: UK retail cyber attacks 22 April 2025: A cyber attack at M&S has caused significant disruption to customers, leaving them unable to make contactless payments or use click-and-collect services. 24 April: M&S is still unable to provide contactless payment or click-and-collect services amid a cyber attack that it says has forced it to move a number of processes offline to safeguard its customers, staff and business. 25 April: M&S shuts down online sales as it works to contain and mitigate a severe cyber attack on its systems. 29 April: The infamous Scattered Spider hacking collective may have been behind the ongoing cyber attack on M&S that has crippled systems at the retailer and left its ecommerce operation in disarray. 30 April: A developing cyber incident at Co-op has forced the retailer to pull the plug on some of its IT systems as it works to contain the attack. 1 May: Co-op tells staff to stop using their VPNs and be wary that their communications channels may be being monitored, as a cyber attack on the organisation continues to develop. 1 May: Harrods confirms it is the latest UK retailer to experience a cyber attack, shutting off a number of systems in an attempt to lessen the impact. 2 May: The National Cyber Security Centre confirms it is providing assistance to M&S, Co-op and Harrods as concerns grow among UK retailers. 7 May: No end is yet in sight for UK retailers subjected to apparent ransomware attacks. 13 May: M&S is instructing all of its customers to change their account passwords after a significant amount of data was stolen in a DragonForce ransomware attack. 14 May: Google’s threat intel analysts are aware of a number of in-progress cyber attacks against US retailers linked to the same Scattered Spider gang that supposedly attacked M&S and Co-op in the UK. 20 May: Cold chain services provider Peter Green Chilled, which supplies the likes of Aldi, Sainsbury’s and Tesco, has been forced to halt operations after succumbing to a ransomware attack. Meanwhile, M&S says it has now moved into full recovery mode and is trying to get back on its feet. Machin said: “Customers should be able to shop in our stores as normal. Our food business is delivering stock to stores in the normal way and all customers should find much better availability and should find what they need. Stock is flowing well. “But of course, in fashion, home and beauty, online orders are still paused but our plan is to reopen online in the coming weeks. It is a complex operation so it is going to take us some time to bring up our online systems.” Looking ahead, Machin said M&S would use the cyber attack as a net positive, bringing up a previously-announced digital transformation plan and condensing a two-year plan into just six months. “This has been a challenging time,” said Machin. “[but] our business is in good shape with strong performance, strong foundations, and a solid financial footing. This has bolstered our resilience meaning we can recover at pace and regain momentum. “We will draw a line under this and move on to business as usual,” he said. Besides thanking M&S staff and suppliers for their hard work and support, and customers “who have given us so much help and encouragement”, Machin also gave thanks to his peers in the business world. “So many chief executives have called me over the past few weeks who have all gone through similar events,” said Machin. “They told me firstly this will be one of the most challenging situations you face as a CEO. Secondly they told me we need to watch out for burn-out ... in the first few weeks. And thirdly they said to me it will take longer [to recover] than you would like and you would hope for, and it could be a distraction in the short-term. “We’re only four and a half weeks into this incident. It feels like four and a half months if I’m honest,” he added.

A duck stands in a fedora and a trench coat, delivering a noir-style monologue about how his recent divorce has fueled his bread addiction. If this image doesn't tickle you, then you'd better give Duck Detective: The Ghost of Glamping a miss. If it does, oh boy, do we have the recommendation for you. Much like developer Happy Broccoli's predecessor, The Secret Salami, Ghost of Glamping sees you thrown into the petty crime-ridden world of Eugene "The Duck Detective" McQuacklin, a grizzled PI who serves as both the game's protagonist and narrator. Reluctantly accompanying his reptilian roommate on a holiday to a nearby haunted glamping site (yes, really), McQuacklin is once again left to face Lady Crime, as a seemingly minor mystery surrounding some stolen camping chairs soon spirals into something much bigger. This time around, there's a blackmailed influencer, stolen state secrets, a kidnapping, and a run-in with the supernatural to contend with, all of which can only be solved by interviewing suspects, hunting for clues, and then plugging the right bits of information into the 'Deducktions' page of McQuacklin's trusty journal. It's a simple gameplay loop, and while some of the 'fill in the blank' investigations turn to a bit of trial and error as you fill the prompt sentence with a list of accumulated nouns to finally find the right answer, Ghost of Glamping manages to walk the fine line between predictability and surprise. We saw some plot twists coming from a mile off, but we appreciated how other threads were gradually pulled over the ~two-hour runtime. There's a hint system standing by, in case the evidence has really stumped you, and the game can be flipped between 'Story' and 'Sleuth' modes at any time (the former flags your incorrect Deducktions to nudge you in the right direction), but anyone familiar with the likes of Ace Attorney or Professor Layton shouldn't have too much trouble cracking the case. And that's okay! Ghost of Glamping isn't the kind of mystery that'll get under your skin and refuse to let you go until you unmask its villain. In fact, its plot is almost secondary to its presentation. McQuacklin's melodramatic monologues (all fully voice-acted, we should add), the adorable Paper Mario-style cutout sprites, the toe-tapping jazz soundtrack, and the laugh-out-loud loading screens that boast such 'facts' as "Most ducks live in houses because they are filthy rich" all add up to a bitesized mystery that oozes charm. Come on, there's even a dedicated quack button! You'll easily polish it off in an evening, and you'll feel all the better for it. Happy Broccoli has once again pulled together a simple yet satisfying mystery that brings plenty of smiles and a handful of surprises. Now, if you'll excuse us, we've got to don our fedoras and go deliver a brooding speech in the rain.

Sandeep Kashyap, CEO, ProofHubMay 21, 20254 Min ReadEugene Sergeev via Alamy StockIt’s normal to feel nervous when you have to make big decisions at work. After all, you never know how things will turn out. Fortunately, decision-making frameworks can help lessen those nerves and boost your confidence. They bring structure and clarity by bringing practical, proven methods that turn chaos into clarity.  For IT leaders, these frameworks support critical thinking, confident action, and smarter choices -- even under pressure. Most importantly, they help you cut through the noise and ensure every decision stays aligned with your long-term business goals. This blog post will walk you through the five frameworks for effective decision-making that can help IT leaders make more informed decisions. Each one is designed to help you simplify complexity and lead with greater impact.  Importance of Decision-Making FrameworksDecision-making frameworks bring consistency and logic to the decision-making process. They help you break things down and focus on the essentials. Here are the benefits of using these frameworks. Make your objectives clear: Structured decision-making frameworks help you cut through the noise and focus on what matters most, ensuring every decision aligns with your objectives.  Bring teams together: The frameworks allow you to involve the right people and ensure everyone is on the same page. Related:Avoid costly mistakes: IT decisions often involve significant investments, such as new software and infrastructure upgrades. The framework helps you assess potential risk upfront and make deliberate choices.  5 Decision-Making Frameworks Every Leader Should KnowA decision-making framework provides clarity and consistency to make better decisions. Here are five frameworks that can sharpen your thinking and strengthen your leadership. 1. RAPID (recommend, agree, perform, input, decide) RAPID is a decision-making framework that helps clarify who is responsible for what when multiple stakeholders are involved.  Each letter in RAPID represents a key role in the decision-making process:  Recommend: The person in this role leads the effort by gathering data, analyzing options, and proposing a well-informed recommendation. Agree: These stakeholders have to work closely with the recommender to shape the best possible decision.  Perform: This is the individual or team responsible for executing the decision once it's made. Input: These contributors offer valuable insights, expertise, or context that inform the recommendation.  Decide: The final authority that makes the call and commits the organization to move forward. This role carries accountability for the outcome. Related:2. SPADE (setting, people, alternatives, decide, explain) The SPADE framework breaks down each step of the structured decision-making process so that you can reach an informed and critical conclusion. It’s especially helpful when decisions involve multiple teams, limited time, and high visibility.  Each letter in SPADE represents a crucial phase in the decision-making process: Setting: Define the decision’s scope, goal, and constraints.  People: Identify and engage relevant stakeholders such as decision-makers, influencers, and executors. Alternatives: Generate options related to the decision based on criteria like cost, security, and scalability.  Decide: Evaluate all options and select the best course of action. You can avoid negative consequences and bias through objective methods like private voting. Explain: Clearly document and explain the rationale behind a decision to ensure alignment across teams and maintain accountability for outcomes. 3. OODA loop (observe, orient, decide, act) The OODA loop is a four-step approach to decision-making that focuses on filtering available information, putting it in context, and quickly making the most appropriate decision.  Related:The word OODA stands for:  Observe: Monitor system performance, team dynamics, and industry trends to gather relevant and timely data. Orient: Analyze the information you have collected to understand the context, challenges, and opportunities. Decide: Based on your analysis, choose the most effective course of action. Act: Implement the decision quickly and efficiently. Once action is taken, the loop restarts—each decision and outcome creates new conditions to observe and evaluate. 4. Eisenhower MatrixThe Eisenhower Matrix is a task prioritization technique that helps make decisions related to tasks. It helps you organize tasks into four quadrants, based on the urgency and importance, and suggests appropriate action for tasks in each quadrant. It ensures that essential tasks are completed first, contributing to the success of projects and goals.  Here is what the Eisenhower matrix includes:  QuadrantDescription Action DoImportant and urgent Handle these immediately ScheduleImportant but not urgent Schedule these for later DelegateUrgent but not important Assign these to others if possible DeleteNeither urgent nor important Consider removing these altogether 5. Decision TreeA decision tree is a graphical representation that helps IT leaders map out the possible outcomes of different decisions. It helps leaders assess risks, rewards, and the potential consequences of each choice before committing to a path. Decision trees are most useful in complex decision-making processes where multiple scenarios are involved. ConclusionIT leaders deal with tough decisions every day. Which project should be prioritized? Should we adopt new tools or improve the existing ones? Who should get what tasks? To handle these challenges, leaders can use frameworks for effective decision-making like RAPID, SPADE, OODA, Eisenhower Matrix, and decision trees. These tools help bring structure and clarity to tough decisions, making it easier to move forward with confidence in a fast-changing business world. About the AuthorSandeep KashyapCEO, ProofHubSandeep Kashyap, the visionary CEO of ProofHub, boasts over 25 years of IT industry experience. He's a recognized luminary known for innovation and agility. His contributions extend to project management insights and leadership, growth and entrepreneurship. His practical expertise is evident in ProofHub's success. Recognized as Top Leadership Voice on Linkedin, Sandeep’s contributions provide invaluable insight for leaders and professionals seeking to create thriving workplaces.See more from Sandeep KashyapWebinarsMore WebinarsReportsMore ReportsNever Miss a Beat: Get a snapshot of the issues affecting the IT industry straight to your inbox.SIGN-UPYou May Also Like

Continuous Integration and Continuous Delivery/Deployment (CI/CD) refers to practices that automate how code is developed and released to different environments. CI/CD pipelines are fundamental in modern software development, ensuring code is consistently tested, built, and deployed quickly and efficiently. While CI/CD automation accelerates software delivery, it can also introduce security risks. Without proper security measures, CI/CD workflows can be vulnerable to supply chain attacks, insecure dependencies, and insider threats. To mitigate these risks, organizations must integrate measures for continuous monitoring and enforcing security best practices at every pipeline stage. Securing CI/CD workflows preserves the software delivery process's confidentiality, integrity, and availability. Security challenges and risks in CI/CD workflows While CI/CD workflows offer benefits in terms of automation and speed, they also bring unique security challenges that must be addressed to maintain the integrity of the development process. Some common challenges and risks include: Lack of visibility and inadequate security monitoring: CI/CD workflows involve multiple tools and stages, which make it challenging to maintain security visibility into potential threats. Vulnerabilities, especially in third-party libraries or containerized applications, can introduce security risks that go undetected if not correctly managed. Without centralized monitoring, real-time threat detection and response become difficult. Manual, reactive incident response increases the risk of exploitation. Compliance requirements: Meeting regulatory standards such as GDPR or HIPAA while maintaining fast deployment cycles can be challenging. Organizations must balance enforcing security policies, data protection, and compliance requirements without slowing down their CI/CD workflows.Code and dependency vulnerabilities: Unpatched or outdated dependencies in the workflow can introduce significant security risks. Third-party libraries or outdated packages can become attack vectors if not regularly updated and monitored for vulnerabilities. These risks are increased by the fast pace of CI/CD, where vulnerabilities may go untreated.Container vulnerabilities and image security: While containers are mainly used in CI/CD workflows, they are not safe from security risks. Vulnerabilities in container images, such as outdated software versions, misconfigurations, or insecure base images, present a risk in CI/CD workflows and can be exploited by attackers. Without proper scanning and validation, these weaknesses can propagate through the pipeline.Misconfiguration of CI/CD tools: Improper configuration of CI/CD tools can leave the workflow open to unauthorized access or unintentionally expose sensitive code. Misconfigurations in access control settings can increase the likelihood of privilege escalation or code exposure. Additionally, hardcoded credentials or mismanaged environment variables introduce a risk of being extracted by attackers, which could lead to data breaches.Supply chain attacks: Compromised third-party dependencies can introduce malicious packages or vulnerabilities into the workflow. These vulnerabilities can spread throughout the entire pipeline and infect production environments, primarily when third-party tools or libraries are not sufficiently validated.Insider threats: Insider threats in CI/CD workflows involve authorized users such as developers, DevOps engineers, system administrators, or third-party contractors, who may intentionally or unintentionally compromise the pipeline. Weak authentication mechanisms, inadequate access controls, and a lack of monitoring can increase the risk of unauthorized changes, credential theft, or the introduction of malicious code into the workflow.Enhancing CI/CD workflow security with Wazuh Wazuh is an open source security platform that offers unified XDR and SIEM capabilities for on-premises, containerized, virtualized, and cloud-based environments. Wazuh provides flexibility in threat detection, compliance, incident handling, and third-party integration. Organizations can implement Wazuh to address the challenges and mitigate the risks associated with CI/CD workflow security. Below are some ways Wazuh helps improve security in CI/CD workflows. Log collection and system monitoring Wazuh provides log collection and analysis capabilities to ensure the components of your CI/CD environment are continuously monitored for security threats. It collects and analyzes logs from various CI/CD pipeline components, including servers, containerization and orchestration tools such as Docker and Kubernetes, and version control systems like GitHub. This allows security teams to monitor for unusual activities, unauthorized access, or security breaches across the CI/CD environment. Additionally, the Wazuh File Integrity Monitoring (FIM) capability can detect unauthorized changes in code or configuration files. By monitoring files in real time or on a schedule, Wazuh generates alerts for security teams about file activities like creation, deletion, or modification. Figure 1: Wazuh dashboard showing File Integrity Monitoring (FIM) alerts. Custom rules and streamlined security monitoring Wazuh allows users to create custom rules and alerts that align with a pipeline's security requirements. Organizations can create custom rules matching their specific security needs, such as monitoring code changes, server configurations, or container images. This flexibility allows organizations to enforce granular security controls tailored to their CI/CD workflow. For instance, the Center for Internet Security (CIS) Docker Benchmark provides guidelines for securing Docker environments. Organizations can automate the compliance checks against CIS Docker Benchmark v1.7.0 using the Wazuh Security Configuration Assessment (SCA) capability. Figure 2: Wazuh dashboard showing Wazuh Security configuration assessment (SCA) results. Integration with third-party security tools Wazuh can integrate with various security tools and platforms, including container vulnerability scanners and CI/CD orchestration systems. This is particularly important in CI/CD workflows, where multiple tools may be used to manage the development lifecycle. Wazuh can pull in data from various sources, which helps to provide a centralized view of security across the pipeline. For instance, Wazuh integrates with container vulnerability scanning tools Trivy and Grype, which are commonly used to scan container images for vulnerabilities, insecure base images, or outdated software versions. By scanning container images before they are deployed into production, organizations can ensure that only secure, up-to-date images are used in the deployment processes. You can configure the Wazuh Command module to run a Trivy scan on an endpoint hosting container images and display any detected vulnerabilities in the Wazuh dashboard. This helps to ensure that insecure images are identified and prevented from being pushed into production. Figure 3: Wazuh dashboard displaying vulnerabilities discovered on container images from a Trivy scan. Automated incident response The speed of CI/CD workflows means that threats must be detected and mitigated quickly to minimize the risk of breaches or downtime. Wazuh provides incident response capabilities that help organizations respond to security incidents as soon as they occur. The Wazuh Active Response module can automatically take action when a security threat is detected. For example, suppose a malicious IP address is detected trying to access a system that runs CI/CD processes. In that case, Wazuh can automatically block the IP address and trigger predefined remediation actions. This automation ensures fast response, reduces manual intervention, and prevents potential threats from escalating. Conclusion Securing CI/CD workflows is important for maintaining a reliable and safe software development process. By using Wazuh, organizations can detect vulnerabilities early, monitor for anomalies, enforce compliance, and automate security responses while maintaining the speed and efficiency of CI/CD workflows. Integrating Wazuh into your CI/CD workflow ensures that security keeps pace with development speed. 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.

With its unapologetically violent gameplay and hellfire aesthetics, Doom not only popularized first-person shooters when the franchise launched in 1993 but changed the gaming industry forever with its countless influences still felt today far beyond its genre. And despite its success, there are surprisingly few games in the core series once you discount the seemingly endless platforms the classic games have been ported to throughout the years. Fortunately, most of these games are clear winners that towered above contemporaries and have stood the test of time. With that in mind, not all Doom games are created equal, even if the gameplay and core premise has remained consistently intact for decades. Eschewing spinoffs like Ultimate Doom, Mighty Doom, or Doom RPG, here are all the mainline Doom games ranked from worst to best. 8. Final Doom (1996) This entry was very nearly left off this list entirely since some fans saw 1996’s Final Doom as a glorified spinoff—or little more than a standalone expansion of Doom II. But with its own PC and PlayStation release, along with a vocal fan base accumulated over the years, Final Doom does indeed count as its own installment in the franchise’s main line. The game also features a story that takes place after the events of Doom II, with the Doom Slayer repelling a hellish invasion of a colony on one of Jupiter’s moons before taking the fight to Hell itself. That said, Final Doom is easily the weakest game from the series’ classic era, recycling old assets instead of introducing new elements while presenting largely uninspired levels. The PS version is worse than the PC version, providing players with less than half of the original PC release and an overall weaker visual fidelity and presentation. Final Doom is best enjoyed by hardcore Doom II fans looking for something a bit different than the base game they know and love. 7. Doom 3 (2004) After a lengthy hiatus and high-profile personnel changes at developer id Software, Doom returned a decade after Doom II with 2004’s Doom 3. The game is more or less a rehash of the original game’s story where a research facility on Mars accidentally opens a portal to Hell, allowing demons to pour into our world. The game was ported to Xbox eight months after the initial PC release, received the Resurrection of Evil expansion in 2005, and was remastered with new content in 2012. Taking advantage of the advances of technical capabilities since the franchise’s heyday in the early to mid ‘90s, Doom 3 is a slower, moodier experience, favoring suspense and scares over wall-to-wall action, at least for the first half of the game. This makes Doom 3 something of an outlier in its overall gameplay and presentation, which is the most strikingly different in the wider franchise. However, the pacing for those earlier portions of the game really drags, especially for players used to the series’ penchant for just diving headfirst into the usual carnage. 6. Doom 64 (1997) When the Doom franchise made its way to the Nintendo 64 in 1997, it didn’t do so as a port of the existing games but rather as its own standalone title. Doom 64 is very much its own game, complete with an original story of the Doom Slayer being lured back into Hell by an elaborate trap set by the Mother Demon. A remaster of the game was released in 2020 for modern platforms, including original content that linked this game’s story to the revival trilogy that began in 2016. At the time of its release, players may have been experiencing franchise fatigue, not giving the game the credit it was due as more popular successors to Doom, like Quake and Unreal, took shape. To be fair, Doom 64 doesn’t reinvent the wheel, not adding much distinctly new. But it does refine the established formula with heightened atmosphere and engaging level design. Years later, fans are finally starting to recognize Doom 64 for what it really is—the last game released in the franchise’s classic era and the culmination of that initial cycle. 5. Doom: The Dark Ages (2025) People are going to look at this ranking and invariably think that a fifth place position means that Doom: The Dark Ages is a bad game. To be clear, it isn’t, The Dark Ages is a solid entry in the franchise; the series just has a list of absolute bangers that outrank it. True to its title, The Dark Ages blends the franchise’s penchant for sci-fi horror with dark fantasy as the Doom Slayer uses more medieval-inspired weapons to battle invading armies of demons across the cosmos. For sure, The Dark Ages is the biggest tonal departure within the revival trilogy, including more strategic combat and even vehicle-based levels to navigate. The gory sensibilities of Doom are still very much intact, fortunately, though the game’s insistence on having players rely on the Doom Slayer’s new shield may throw established fans off who are just looking to rip and tear. An expansion of what Doom can be without discarding the franchise’s core ethos entirely, The Dark Ages is a welcome big swing from the series that mostly connects. 4. Doom (1993) Obviously the entire franchise we’re talking about here wouldn’t exist without the original Doom released in 1993, not only serving as the series’ foundation, but a title that changed gaming forever. With all that said, when doing our best to remove nostalgia out of the equation and look at the game on its own standalone merits, that first Doom game still stands in the top half of the franchise but is narrowly edged out of the top three. The game’s premise is simple: when a dimensional portal on the moons of Mars accidentally serves as a bridge to Hell, the Doom Slayer stands alone in purging the invading demons from the research facilities with whatever weapons he can find. Join our mailing list Get the best of Den of Geek delivered right to your inbox! From its chugging heavy metal-inspired soundtrack to its over-the-top arsenal reducing hellish enemies to bloody pulp, Doom set the template for the franchise that has only been built upon to this day. The game spawned countless copycat titles while being ported to virtually every major gaming platform, a distinction that it continues to hold over 30 years since its initial release. Despite now having the roughest of edges, Doom holds up as one of the most straightforward and enjoyable first-person shooters of its era, both for nostalgia-minded gamers and those curious of the franchise’s roots. 3. Doom (2016) Though commercially successful, the middling response to Doom 3 and changes in the developer’s ownership had left the franchise languishing in limbo for over a decade, confined to the occasional port and remaster as id Software returned its focus to Wolfenstein. After undergoing years of various stages of development, it was 2016’s Doom that completely reinvigorated the flagship franchise, getting back to the fast-paced gameplay that the series was known for while also enjoying extensive updates for modern sensibilities. The game itself is more or less a rehash of the original story, with a human research facility on Mars descending into madness and being overrun after opening a portal to Hell. The 2016 Doom is also exactly what fans wanted after the more deliberately paced Doom 3, something that ditched the emphasis on tutorials and narrative and instead got back to gory gunplay in all its glory. Though the multiplayer aspect left some players wanting, the single-player campaign is among the franchise’s best, powered by a hard-rocking soundtrack composed by Mick Gordon. The kick in the pants that the series needed, the Doom revival lived up to the franchise’s example while bringing it deeper into the 21st century, guns blazing. 2. Doom II: Hell on Earth (1994) The original Doom set a high bar for first-person shooters moving forward. But it’s a bar that the direct sequel Doom II: Hell on Earth vaulted over when it was released in 1994. Picking up from its predecessor with the Doom Slayer fighting for the fate of Earth after it is invaded by the forces of Hell, Doom II would receive a number of expansions and ports after its launch, with the latest released as recently as 2024, adding an original episode with brand-new weapons and enemies to the venerable title. Everything that the original Doom did, Doom II does noticeably better, all while expanding on the premise with new enemies, fresh weapons, and even more inventive level design. From a technical standpoint, there is no huge leap in the graphical department or sound design, but rather in the complexity and size of the levels coupled with a larger number of enemies onscreen. Indeed, Doom II almost makes the original game feel like a first draft at times given how much it refines the overall experience despite only coming out a year after the franchise began. 1. Doom Eternal (2020) After successfully relaunching the franchise for modern audiences in 2016, the Doom revival got a direct sequel in 2020 with Doom Eternal. Taking its cues from Doom II, Eternal has Earth invaded by the armies of Hell and facing near-annihilation from the all-powerful Icon of Sin with the Doom Slayer as humanity’s last, best hope for survival. The two-part DLC epilogue The Ancient Gods has the Doom Slayer travel deep into Hell to confront the Dark Lord and vanquish the demon hordes for good. Though Doom Eternal may have divided hardcore purists about its inclusion of prominent narrative elements, platforming gameplay sequences, and tutorials, it is a clear refinement of what the 2016 revival began. The combat is as frenetic and engaging as it has ever been in the franchise, the arsenal is upgraded and expanded, and the hellish aesthetics the series is known for are in excelsis here. Simply put, Doom Eternal is the apex of the franchise, leaning into what the series does best while incorporating bold flourishes to build the mythology and subtly redefine what Doom can be.

OpenAI is buying io, a hardware company founded by former Apple design chief Jony Ive and several other former engineers from his time there, including Scott Cannon, Evans Hankey, and Tang Tan.Ive won’t be joining OpenAI, and his design firm, LoveFrom, will continue to be independent, but they will “take over design for all of OpenAI, including its software,” in a deal valued at nearly $6.5 billion, Bloomberg reports.About 55 hardware engineers, software developers, and manufacturing experts will join OpenAI as part of the acquisition. That includes Cannon, Hankey, and Tan. The first devices following the acquisition are set to launch in 2026.In an interview with Bloomberg, Ive called AI hardware misfires like the Humane Pin and Rabbit R1, “very poor products,” and said that “There has been an absence of new ways of thinking expressed in products.”The first product isn’t intended to be an iPhone killer, though: “In the same way that the smartphone didn’t make the laptop go away, I don’t think our first thing is going to make the smartphone go away,” Altman told Bloomberg. “It is a totally new kind of thing.”The Wall Street Journal reports that Altman and LoveFrom have been working together for two years and have considered options like headphones and devices with cameras.The first product the team has been working on “has just completely captured our imagination,” Ive said in a video.“Jony recently gave me one of the prototypes of the device for the first time to take home, and I’ve been able to live with it, and I think it is the coolest piece of technology that the world will have ever seen,” Altman said.“I am absolutely certain that we are literally on the brink of a new generation of technology that can make us our better selves,” Ive said.“We gathered together the best hardware and software engineers, the best technologists, physicists, scientists, researchers and experts in product development and manufacturing,” Ive and OpenAI CEO Sam Altman said in a joint post. “Many of us have worked closely for decades. The io team, focused on developing products that inspire, empower and enable, will now merge with OpenAI to work more intimately with the research, engineering and product teams in San Francisco.”“AI is an incredible technology, but great tools require work at the intersection of technology, design, and understanding people and the world,” Altman said in a statement. “No one can do this like Jony and his team; the amount of care they put into every aspect of the process is extraordinary.”“I have a growing sense that everything I have learned over the last 30 years has led me to this moment,” Ive said. “While I am both anxious and excited about the responsibility of the substantial work ahead, I am so grateful for the opportunity to be part of such an important collaboration. The values and vision of Sam and the teams at OpenAI and io are a rare inspiration.”“A number of us looked at each other and said, ‘This is probably the most incredible technology of our career,’” Hankey said in an interview with Bloomberg.Update, May 21st: Added information from The Wall Street Journal.See More:

Luxury has always been a moving target – one minute defined by mechanical prowess and the next by minimalist interiors or digital interfaces. In a time of AI advancements, relentless upgrades, and short attention spans, Lexus is betting on something more timeless: emotion. Their new brand platform, The Standard of Amazing, is less a tagline and more a philosophical pivot. Developed in collaboration with creative agency Team One, the platform builds on the Japanese marque's legacy of precision (The Pursuit of Perfection) and experience-led design (Experience Amazing) while introducing a bolder, more unified purpose to make every touchpoint resonate. At its core, The Standard of Amazing is a statement of intent—not just that Lexus vehicles should deliver excellence but that they should stir an unmistakable emotional response in the driver. As Chris Graves, chief creative officer at Team One, puts it, "By re-establishing the driver at the centre, Lexus is ensuring that innovation doesn't come at the cost of emotional connection." The launch follows a strong product run. Recent models like the IS, RX, TX, and the radically reimagined GX have all injected fresh energy into the brand. That momentum gave Team One the opportunity to evolve Lexus' story. Executive creative director Jason Stinsmuehlen explains, "Lexus had come off a series of incredible years of record sales and model success… We had a unique opportunity to build upon recent product momentum and drive overall brand desire." This is about standards as much as it's about desire, though. While Experience Amazing first signalled a shift from engineering excellence to emotional engagement, it was never fully launched with a comprehensive brand campaign. This new platform finally gives it the scale and clarity to land. "We wanted to reintroduce the line with a new POV," Jason continues, "that with 'Amazing' there are no half measures… If an automobile doesn't make you feel something, it stops short of amazing." That sentiment drives the creative thinking across the campaign, from a cinematic 30-second spot titled No Such Thing to expansive OOH placements rolling out in cities like LA, New York, Chicago and Miami this summer. Directed by Johan Renck, the film blends sweeping visuals with intimate moments, portraying a series of high-standard individuals, each hard to impress, each moved by a Lexus. "Our goal was to show a swath of humanity that has almost impossible standards for themselves and for the things they own," says Jason. "A Lexus Driver is someone you must bring your A-Game to impress." The imagery is equally considered in print and outdoors. Photographer Clemens Asher was brought in to capture vehicles not just as objects but as emotional catalysts. The message is clear: Beauty is nothing without meaning, and performance is incomplete without feeling. Underpinning the visuals is a design philosophy defined by three tonal filters: Modern, Elevated, and Human. "If any choice we made missed any of those marks, we recalibrated," says Jason. From colour grading and casting to cinematography, every element was refined to ensure it landed not just aspirationally but with emotional clarity. That human-centric approach is mirrored in the product storytelling. Rather than speak only to specs, the campaign explores how each model creates a different emotional response. The RC might channel confidence, the RX comfort, and the LC pure exhilaration. Lexus' famed Takumi craftspeople and racing teams are also brought into the narrative, not as behind-the-scenes technicians but as emotional engineers. Even the smallest sensory details, like the sound of a door closing or the torque of a dial, are positioned as tools for connection. "Lexus has always considered and anticipated what people need," Jason explains. "The question is, can it serve a higher emotional function? Can a car not just unlock itself for the driver, but actually know the driver and customise itself for them?" That framing is particularly important given the campaign's target: a new generation of luxury buyers who expect more than status. These consumers seek purpose, feeling, and alignment with their values. Crucially, Lexus doesn't need to reinvent the wheel to reach them. "The happy truth is the Lexus lineup is already aimed at this generation," says Jason. "Models like the TX, GX and IS just need their stories authentically told—and the next generation is lining up to buy them." The development of The Standard of Amazing also marks a new level of collaboration between Lexus and Team One. "There has never been more fruitful collaboration across the myriad groups within Lexus and Team One," Jason says. "Our director talked directly to our clients. The lines were blurred like never before. We were on a mission." That mission isn't confined to one campaign, either. The Standard of Amazing will underpin Lexus' marketing, product launches, sales events, and digital touchpoints moving forward.