doops. Member Jun 3, 2020 5,069 Stumbled upon this list on Backloggd, and was intrigued to hear if anyone has any other games that could be applicable or any takes on the ones already mentioned? 'Narratives that can only exist in video game media' a list of games by Paggi | Backloggd Its somewhat normalized that narrative excellence in games means mirroring books and cinema Not only thats far from the truth but some games have used the media they represent to achieve a whole new level of writing backloggd.com List is: OneShot Nier: Automata Shadow of the Colossus The Silver Case Undertale Danganronpa V3: Killing Harmony EarthBound INSIDE Spec Ops: The Line Death Stranding Alan Wake II The Stanley Parable Return of the Obra Dinn Portal Immortality Legend of Mana   Busaiku Teyvat Traveler Member Oct 25, 2017 17,821 9 Hours, 9 Persons, 9 Doors   Glasfrut Avenger Oct 27, 2017 4,824 Does the first Bioshock go here?   OP OP doops. Member Jun 3, 2020 5,069 Glasfrut said: Does the first Bioshock go here? Click to expand... Click to shrink... Ooo, yeah, that's a good pick!  Gangster Gastino Member Mar 21, 2018 2,805 Eternal Darkness   Mr Evil 37 Member Mar 7, 2022 27,539 Disco Elysium KOTOR  southwest Member Sep 15, 2022 2,718 Glasfrut said: Does the first Bioshock go here? Click to expand... Click to shrink... Why?   JakeNoseIt Catch My Drift Verified Oct 27, 2017 4,744 I think you could argue for almost any game to be on this list. The second there is gameplay, there is narrative (and then obviously that narrative couldn't exist in film or TV)   barbarash22 Member Oct 19, 2019 820 Soma   hiberner toujours Member Dec 6, 2023 1,756 13 sentinels   PallasKitten Member Jul 11, 2022 1,776 Brothers: A Tale of Two Sons The House in Fata Morgana Doki Doki Literature Club  Holundrian Member Oct 25, 2017 11,122 Probably every Daniel Mullins game   OP OP doops. Member Jun 3, 2020 5,069 JakeNoseIt said: I think you could argue for almost any game to be on this list. The second there is gameplay, there is narrative (and then obviously that narrative couldn't exist in film or TV) Click to expand... Click to shrink... Well, technically yes, but that's not as fun for discussion lol  Rustyspider13 Shinra Employee Member Nov 16, 2023 3,587 I'm not sure if the entire story counts but a moment in Brothers: A tale of Two Sons cannot be accomplished outside of video games.   blueredandgold Member Oct 25, 2017 8,626 Spoilers OK if marked? 999 on DS has you hooked until the last 10% or maybe even 5% of the game where the rug is literally pulled out from under you and you are forced to think about every action you as this external detached player character has made throughout the story seemingly while only acting out as the protaganist. Gone Home is by rights a "spooky house and you're all on your own" story at first but it transforms into a beautiful story about youth, family and discovering one's true self. Mario and Luigi Bowser's Inside Story explores what makes the big man tick. Like, literally. Killer 7 on the outside and at the outset is a bonkers third person shoot-em-up and puzzle infused cel shaded action game but t's more a visual novel that's a really interesting character study of a person's personality. Or how it might become more than just singular. RTS games by and large that try and categorise you as someone in-game never sat well with me. I quite liked being more of the invisible hand guiding the events or having the entire campaign come crashing down on me like it's that movie Downfall and I need to yell at everybody, Semi-recently. I can't not mention 1000x Resist. I even was able to stomach voice acting in a video game for once. I'm as surprised as anybody. Play these games. Thank me later.  Boopers Member Nov 1, 2020 4,303 Vermont usa Dragon's Dogma, kinda sorta.   Ashes of Dreams Fallen Guardian of Unshakable Resolve Member May 22, 2020 19,573 Didn't people like the Nier Automata anime? I haven't watched it but I heard it did a decent enough job. What about that story can only exist in a video game? I guess the final bit to an extent but if anything, I'd say the first Nier is a much better pick for that, given it's use of the NG+ mechanic. Edit: Thinking about this list further, I think it's title is doing it a disservice. It should have just been "games that use game specific elements to enhance the narrative" or "narratives made better by being in a game" or something.  Kromis Member Oct 29, 2017 8,083 SoCal Why is Shadow of the Colossus on that list? Haven't played it in almost two decades :')   ynthrepic Member Oct 25, 2017 891 Ashes of Dreams said: Didn't people like the Nier Automata anime? I haven't watched it but I heard it did a decent enough job. What about that story can only exist in a video game? Click to expand... Click to shrink... Its less the main narrative and everything else supporting it. Game mechanics given context in ways that are lost outside the medium.  blueredandgold Member Oct 25, 2017 8,626 Ashes of Dreams said: Didn't people like the Nier Automata anime? I haven't watched it but I heard it did a decent enough job. What about that story can only exist in a video game? Click to expand... Click to shrink... The answer to that is a spoiler and it's also partly due to the fact you can literally come away from it having completely different interpretations of the story, and exactly how it was resolved, compared to another person. I don't fully understand the over-arching thrust of the game's final act/ending but I also don't entirely mind that fact, either. Whereas in a standard three-act story you know what happened at least happened to the other people who experienced the same story as you.  Mr Evil 37 Member Mar 7, 2022 27,539 southwest said: "Would you kindly" would not work anywhere near as well in a linear storytelling medium where the audience isn't controlling the protagonist.   SpicySpiritGun Member May 16, 2018 350 Outer Wilds   Homura ▲ Legend ▲ Member Aug 20, 2019 6,953 As much as I love V3, I don't see why an anime would be impossible. The 1st twist can work with unreliable camera angles, and the 2nd twist doesn't really rely on being a video game at all.   Ashes of Dreams Fallen Guardian of Unshakable Resolve Member May 22, 2020 19,573 blueredandgold said: The answer to that is a spoiler and it's also partly due to the fact you can literally come away from it having completely different interpretations of the story, and exactly how it was resolved, compared to another person. I don't fully understand the over-arching thrust of the game's final act/ending but I also don't entirely mind that fact, either. Whereas in a standard three-act story you know what happened at least happened to the other people who experienced the same story as you. Click to expand... Click to shrink... I'm very familiar with Nier Automata, don't worry. It's just the anime I haven't seen. My point was the story seems to work outside the context of games, so the title of the list is a bit exaggerated.  southwest Member Sep 15, 2022 2,718 Mr Evil 37 said: "Would you kindly" would not work anywhere near as well in a linear storytelling medium where the audience isn't controlling the protagonist. Click to expand... Click to shrink... I really do not agree at all that that cannot exist outside of video games.   Badcoo Member May 9, 2018 1,846 Mass Effect.   Necromanti Member Oct 25, 2017 12,794 hyouko Member Oct 27, 2017 3,902 I've soured on Jonathan Blow, but the standard ending of Braid is pretty good for this.   kaputt Member Oct 27, 2017 1,291 Driver San Francisco It's a detective/cop story, but without the "Shift" element of the gameplay, it wouldn't be nearly as fun as it is. And I don't think it would be easily adaptable to other mediums, it works way better as a game  twister926 Member Apr 28, 2022 764 I Kromis said: Why is Shadow of the Colossus on that list? Haven't played it in almost two decades :') Click to expand... Click to shrink... At some point you may get a feeling that you are not the hero of the story, as the game suggested at the start, and start feeling really bad by progressing it.   Mr Evil 37 Member Mar 7, 2022 27,539 southwest said: I really do not agree at all that that cannot exist outside of video games. Click to expand... Click to shrink... Maybe not CANNOT exist, but I don't think it would work anywhere near as well. It's a twist that is almost entirely predicated on the audience having agency in the story.   giapel Member Oct 28, 2017 5,216 JakeNoseIt said: I think you could argue for almost any game to be on this list. The second there is gameplay, there is narrative (and then obviously that narrative couldn't exist in film or TV) Click to expand... Click to shrink... That's true but most games don't lean on the advantages of the medium and the story they tell is confined to be "cinematic". I would add Blue Prince to the list. It's storytelling is wonderfully interactive.  Lihwem Member Mar 17, 2020 857 I want to say Last of Us Part 2 but the TV show has been stellar so far so who knows   Homura ▲ Legend ▲ Member Aug 20, 2019 6,953 Blue Prince is a good example, as the roguelike element is a canon part of the narrative.   Bucca Member Oct 25, 2017 5,436 The Last Guardian   404LinkNotFound Member Oct 27, 2017 10,600 The entire Zero escape series The whole Ai the somnium files series  Odinsmana Member Mar 13, 2019 3,601 So does this jsut mean games where they tell the story during gameplay or the fact that you are playing the MC enchances the story? Otherwise I don`t really understand why something like SotC or Inside is on the list? Does something like What Remains of Edith Finch count in that case? Anyway. Here as some games with storytelling methods that only work in a game: Doki Doki Literature Club Games like The Golden Idol series and the Rootrees Are Dead. Road 96 Her Story  southwest Member Sep 15, 2022 2,718 Mr Evil 37 said: Maybe not CANNOT exist, but I don't think it would work anywhere near as well. It's a twist that is almost entirely predicated on the audience having agency in the story. Click to expand... Click to shrink... Maybe. But the thread and list is specifically asking for narratives that cannot exist outside of video games.   Nyandeyanen Member Apr 16, 2024 820 Persona, to some extent? The freeform nature of the social links and social skills is pretty video game specific. I do wish the main story would better reflect your social links and romances though.   Bulgowski Member Apr 8, 2022 666 Bloodborne, Elden Ring, Dark Souls   Frankish Member Oct 25, 2017 1,468 USA Came here to say Death Stranding but that's already on list. I'll add Inscryption.  Vic20 Member Nov 10, 2019 4,408 Bulgowski said: Bloodborne, Elden Ring, Dark Souls Click to expand... Click to shrink... Those games have no narratives Anyway I pick GTA and RDR  Mr Evil 37 Member Mar 7, 2022 27,539 southwest said: Maybe. But the thread and list is specifically asking for narratives that cannot exist outside of video games. Click to expand... Click to shrink... I think there's nuance to any conversation like this, but I personally think a game like BioShock which engages directly with the idea that it is a game and the audience is actively controlling the character (or they think they are) qualifies for this discussion. At no point when you're watching a movie do you feel that you are controlling the protagonist. I'm sure there is a way to adapt the twist to a movie but it would need to be presented very differently to the point where the core message would probably be different.  

Another month of type scraps is here. Each month I collate any mixed type tests, experiments, failures and designs. After a busy few weeks this months selection of animated type tests this focusing mainly on social media along with it's positives and pitfalls.

24th International Exhibition of Triennale Milano Announces Bee Award WinnersSave this picture!Shapes of Inequalities Fragapane, Installation view of the 24th International Exhibition Inequalities. Image © Alessandro Salettae Piercarlo Quecchia - DSL Studio, Courtesy of Triennale MilanoThe 24th International Exhibition of Triennale Milano opened to the public on May 13, 2025, at the historic Palazzo dell'Arte. Running until November 9, this edition explores the theme of "Inequalities", continuing Triennale Milano's tradition of addressing urgent global issues through the lenses of art, architecture, and design. The exhibition is formed by two main sections: one that presents a curated selection of exhibitions and installations by individual artists and teams, and another that features international participations, including national pavilions and their contributions. At the opening ceremony on May 12th, the Bee Awards were presented to recognize selected contributions across the exhibition. From both the exhibitions and the international participations, the jury awarded one winner and one honorable mention each.The spatial and exhibition design has been developed by six studios: Abnormal, GISTO, Grace, Midori Hasuike, horizontal, and Sopa Design Studio. Curated by 28 individuals and teams, the program includes eight thematic exhibitions and ten special projects. The exhibition spans 7,500 square meters and features contributions from 341 authors representing 73 countries. Among the contributors are Beatriz Colomina and Mark Wigley; Hans Ulrich Obrist and Natalia Grabowska; Norman Foster and the Norman Foster Foundation; Elizabeth Diller of Diller Scofidio + Renfro; Theaster Gates; and several academic and cultural institutions, including the Politecnico di Milano. The jury, composed of Paola Antonelli (Chair), Senior Curator of Architecture and Design and Director of Research and Development at the Museum of Modern Art (MoMA) in New York; journalist and author Ifeoluwa Adedeji; and Maria Porro, President of Salone del Mobile.Milano, evaluated the projects on the basis of originality and relevance to the exhibition's theme. Save this picture!The Award for Best Original Project was given to "Two Faces of the Same Coin" by Laura Krugan, Dan Miller, and Adam Vosburgh, part of the exhibition "We the Bacteria. Notes Toward Biotic Architecture." The Mention for Original Project was awarded to "Grenfell. Total Failure of the System" by Kimia Zabihyan, presented within the "Cities" exhibition. In the category of international participations, the Best Pavilion Award was presented to the Lebanese Pavilion for the exhibition "And from My Heart I Blow Kisses to the Sea and Houses", curated by Ala Tannir. An Honorable Mention was given to the Puerto Rico Pavilion for "Había una vez y dos son tres feminisitios", curated by Regner Ramos. Related Article Unveiling the 15 Most Significant Architectural Events of 2025 "And from My Heart I Blow Kisses to the Sea and Houses" / Best Pavilion Award from International ParticipationsSave this picture!"And from my heart I blow kisses to the sea and houses" is an exhibition that documents the rehabilitation of a French-Mandate era house in Ain el Mraisseh, damaged during the Beirut Port explosion in August 2020. Curated by Ala Tannir, the project brings together contemporary artistic practices and architectural restoration to examine the evolving relationship between Beirut's built heritage and its changing urban fabric. On view from December 29, 2024, to January 18, 2025, the exhibition offers visitors access to one of the few remaining seaside houses from the late 1920s, an architectural fragment that has resisted the pressures of large-scale real estate development.Save this picture!The exhibition features five permanent in-situ artistic interventions that contribute directly to the restoration of the space. These include a sound installation by Khyam Allami, developed using the architectural dimensions of the house, and a two-channel film by Panos Aprahamian. The film is structured around conversations with "Khalo Aziz," the curator's great-uncle and the building's eldest resident, and examines the layered history of the house, its inhabitants, and the surrounding neighborhood. Collectively, these works seek to re-inhabit the structure while also proposing alternative approaches to preserving both architectural and social heritage in a rapidly transforming urban landscape. A longer-term goal of the project is to establish the house as a cultural site for artistic and academic engagement with the Mediterranean region, with a focus on its Eastern and Southern geographies."Hab ía una vez y dos son tres feminisitios" / Honorable Mention from International ParticipationsSave this picture!"Había una vez y dos son tres feminisitios", translated as "Once Upon Three Femisites", the Puerto Rico Pavilion curated by Regner Ramos, explores the intersection of digital memory, spatial absence, and systemic violence. Grounded in a real Google Maps location labeled "Alexa"—a seemingly empty plot categorized as "Sculpture", the project revisits the events surrounding the 2020 murder of Neulisa "Alexa" Luciano, a Black, homeless, transgender woman in Puerto Rico. Through the reimagining of three interconnected sites, a McDonald's bathroom stall, a roadside tent, and the digital space of Facebook, the pavilion reconstructs the spatial and social conditions that contributed to the crime. Elevated and intentionally displaced within the gallery, the installation functions as both artifact and absence, reflecting on the role of architecture in bearing witness to violence and advocating for the visibility and protection of marginalized communities.Save this picture!"Two Faces of the Same Coin" / Award for Best Original ProjectSave this picture!"Two Faces of the Same Coin" by Laura Krugan, Dan Miller, and Adam Vosburgh is a multimedia installation that explores the interdependent relationship between humans, bacteria, and the built environment. Presented within the exhibition "We the Bacteria. Notes Toward Biotic Architecture", curated by Beatriz Colomina and Mark Wigley, the work contributes to a broader inquiry into the historical and ongoing entanglements between microbial life and architecture. The exhibition traces this relationship from the Neolithic era to the present, proposing that architecture has always been shaped by—and in turn shaped—the microbial ecologies it houses. It invites a reconsideration of spatial, political, and ethical models through the lens of bacterial life, offering alternative frameworks inspired by the organization and resilience of microbial communities."Grenfell. Total Failure of the System" / Honorable Mention for Original ProjectSave this picture!"Grenfell. Total Failure of the System", curated by Kimia Zabihyan and presented within the "Cities" exhibition, offers a space for reflection on the ongoing struggle for justice, accountability, and reform. The installation highlights a range of community responses, including acts of craftivism such as the Grenfell Memorial quilts, which commemorate the lives lost and speak to the collective mourning and resilience of the affected community. It also addresses the broader policy and regulatory failures, particularly the lack of standardized testing and regulation of cladding systems across Europe, that contributed to the scale of the disaster and continue to pose risks. Through a combination of visual, narrative, and material elements, Grenfell Next of Kin (GNoK), a platform that advocates on behalf of the immediate families of those who lost their lives in the Grenfell Tower fire on June 14, 2017, conveys the personal and political dimensions of the tragedy, foregrounding the voices of those most directly impacted while inviting broader reflection on housing, safety, and the responsibilities of governments and industries.Save this picture!The 24th International Exhibition of Triennale Milano, commissioned by the Bureau International des Expositions (BIE) and led by Commissioner General Stefano Boeri, opened to the public on May 13, 2025, and will remain on view through November 9. Titled Inequalities, this edition concludes a thematic trilogy begun with Broken Nature in 2019 and Unknown Unknowns in 2022. With Inequalities, the focus shifts to the human dimension, examining one of the most urgent and politically charged issues: the deepening disparities that shape contemporary urban and global life. Image gallerySee allShow less About this authorReyyan DoganAuthor••• Cite: Reyyan Dogan. "24th International Exhibition of Triennale Milano Announces Bee Award Winners" 15 May 2025. ArchDaily. Accessed . <https://www.archdaily.com/1030194/24th-international-exhibition-of-triennale-milano-announces-bee-award-winners&gt ISSN 0719-8884Save世界上最受欢迎的建筑网站现已推出你的母语版本!想浏览ArchDaily中国吗?是否 You've started following your first account!Did you know?You'll now receive updates based on what you follow! Personalize your stream and start following your favorite authors, offices and users.Go to my stream

By Vanessa Taylor Published May 14, 2025 | Comments (6) | Elon Musk wearing a leather jacket and sunglasses with Trump in the background © (Photo by Win McNamee/Getty Images) Ahead of President Donald Trump’s second inauguration, the House and Senate established caucuses to ostensibly work with the newly created Department of Government Efficiency. But since its creation, DOGE has regularly shirked safeguards and oversight. Now, one House member says that the DOGE Caucus is dead. But even if that’s the case, DOGE itself sure as hell isn’t. In a recent interview with Politico, Rep. Jared Moskowitz (D-Fla.), the House DOGE caucus’s first Democratic member, said, “The DOGE caucus is dead. It’s defunct. We haven’t met in months. We only had two total meetings in five months.” According to Moskowitz, the caucus’s three Republican chairs, Reps. Aaron Bean (Fla.), Pete Sessions (Texas), and Blake Moore (Utah) told lawmakers that they would have a hand in DOGE’s decisions. He told Politico, “They told us that they were going to work with us. They told us these things would come through Congress. None of it happened.” Instead, Moskowitz said that the caucus “[wasn’t] involved at all in anything [happening at DOGE]” and “Musk did it all on his own.” These statements come only months after Moskowitz similarly said in a CNN interview that “we were told this is where the discussion is going to happen…There’s been no discussion. Elon’s been doing it all himself.” Shortly before, Democratic Rep. Val Hoyle (Ore.) left the caucus over Musk’s tactics. Although Moskowitz added that “DOGE was a complete failure,” his sentiments aren’t shared by everyone. Per Politico, caucus co-chair Bean said that their work is “just getting started”. He added, “Congress can enact long-term change, and our 100 committed members and eight specialized working groups are working to codify critical reforms and preparing legislation that will unlock savings for the American people.” But to be so real, Moskowitz’s statements aren’t illuminating. It’s more like…Yeah. No shit? Misdirection aside, it still should’ve been clear that the caucus wasn’t going to have real power. It exists to be a yes man and enforce DOGE’s whims. Per its own description, the DOGE caucus “lead[s] government efficiency initiatives” in the House, and, on the same page, Bean’s introductory statement says “taking on Crazy Town will be no easy task – they will need partners.” In a short time span, DOGE has spread into federal agencies like the plague. Thus far, it has fired over 216,000 people, attempted to dismantle numerous agencies, amassed data from various agencies to build a master database to surveil immigrants, and more. But recently, DOGE has struggled to justify its existence. Musk’s original promise of cutting $2 trillion from the federal budget has steadily reduced to $150 billion. On its website, DOGE claims that it has saved $170 billion through workforce reductions, contract and grant cancellations, and more. However, NPR reported that doesn’t add up. Plus, the Partnership for Public Service’s analysis found that DOGE likely cost taxpayers $135 billion. Keep in mind this analysis doesn’t include the additional costs of DOGE’s lawsuits, like the dozens from former federal employees and multiple watchdog groups who sued over the agency’s lack of transparency. When it comes to verifiable claims for cuts, the DOGE trackers at Musk Watch have put the number at just $16 billion. Recently, DOGE has appeared to be losing steam after Musk announced his plans to step back. But Musk’s potential word games about his future level of involvement aside, DOGE has done plenty of damage in just months. Even if people will be hearing less from Musk himself, the agency isn’t being disbanded. DOGE’s largely under-qualified and unvetted teams will remain. And even if the agency magically disappeared tomorrow, it will take time to repair DOGE’s handiwork. Daily Newsletter You May Also Like By Matt Novak Published May 14, 2025 By Matt Novak Published May 14, 2025 By Lucas Ropek Published May 13, 2025 By AJ Dellinger Published May 13, 2025 By Matt Novak Published May 13, 2025 By Ed Cara Published May 13, 2025

What’s the opposite of a “bear hug”?That was the phrase often used to describe President Joe Biden’s approach to Israel since the October 7, 2023 attacks: publicly and enthusiastically backing Israel, particularly when it comes to its wider regional conflict with Iran and its proxies, while quietly trying to restrain Israel’s actions in Gaza. Now President Donald Trump is traveling through the Middle East this week for a multi-country tour and dealmaking bonanza that pointedly does not include a stop in Israel. (Trump has denied the snub, saying his trip is “very good for Israel.”)The trip is the latest example of how Trump’s approach to the country often seems like a mirror image of his predecessor’s: he has little interest in restraining or pressuring Israel on its war in Gaza, but perhaps even less interest in supporting Israel on wider regional issues or aligning the two countries’ approach to the region. This is still an administration that is fiercely “pro-Israel” in rhetoric and in its willingness to punish Israel’s critics in America. But in practice, as he conducts his foreign policy, Trump seems remarkably unconcerned about what Israel has to say about it. “The one message that’s consistent [from Trump] is ‘I have plans for the region. You’re welcome to be a partner, but if you prefer to be ignored, go ahead,’” said Nimrod Novik, former foreign policy adviser to the late Israeli Prime Minister Shimon Peres. This is not the Trump Israel was expectingWhen Trump was reelected last November, the response from the Israeli government was near rapturous. Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, who had an often fraught relationship with Biden’s administration, praised Trump for “history’s greatest comeback” and predicted a “powerful recommitment to the great alliance between Israel and America.”It’s not hard to figure out why Netanyahu was so optimistic. During his first term, Trump, who often describes himself as the most pro-Israel president in history, took a number of precedent-smashing steps to demonstrate that support, including moving the US embassy to Jerusalem, which is not considered the country’s capital by most of the international community, and recognizing Israel’s sovereignty over the disputed Golan Heights.His first term included the Abraham Accords — a series of deals, mediated by the United States, normalizing relations between Israel and a number of Arab countries — as well as the scrapping of President Barack Obama’s Iran nuclear deal, loathed by Netanyahu’s government. Even by the standards of the US-Israel relationship, Trump’s approach stood out for its unconditional support. There were early indications that the second term would bring more of the same. For his ambassador to Israel, Trump picked Mike Huckabee, a Christian Zionist whose views on Israeli-Palestinian issues would put him on the far right even in Israeli politics. One of Trump’s most notable domestic initiatives so far has been a widespread crackdown on universities and activists over last year’s anti-Israel protests. Nor has his White House engaged in much Biden-style soul-searching about Palestinian civilian casualties in Gaza: Trump quickly lifted the limited restrictions on arms exports to Israel and sanctions on violent West Bank settlers that Biden had put in place. His suggestion that Gaza be “cleaned out” of its Palestinian inhabitants to make room for a resort was received ecstatically by the Israeli far right. But when it comes to the Middle East, writ large, it’s been a different story. Trump seems remarkably unconcerned about appearing to be on the same page as the Israelis in his approach to the region, and has repeatedly negotiated directly with Israel’s main adversaries while cutting Israel out entirely.In early March, Axios reported that Trump’s envoy for hostage affairs, Adam Boehler, had been negotiating with Hamas over the release of American hostages — without coordinating with Israel, and breaking a longstanding precedent of the US refraining from direct talks with the terrorist group. The news created a firestorm of controversy and Boehler was removed from the talks, but just this week, Hamas agreed to release the last surviving American hostage, Edan Alexander. The negotiations that led to the release, led by Trump’s all-purpose foreign envoy Steve Witkoff, reportedly came after Hamas reached out via an “Arab Americans for Trump” group. Israel learned about the talks not from the White House, but from its own intelligence services. It was not the only surprise Netanyahu has gotten recently. During an Oval Office meeting with the prime minister last month, Trump dropped the surprise announcement that he was dispatching Witkoff and other negotiators to begin direct talks with Iran over its nuclear program. Netanyahu, who learned of the talks only after arriving in Washington, DC, has pushed the US to insist on a complete dismantlement of Iran’s nuclear program. But officials including the secretary of state and vice president have suggested they might be open to Iran maintaining some type of civilian nuclear program — effectively returning to a similar framework to the one Trump tore up in 2018. And while Israel welcomed Trump’s decision in March to step up the US air campaign against the Houthis, the Yemeni militant group that has been firing missiles and drones at Israel as well as ships traveling through the Red Sea since the start of the Gaza war, Trump abruptly announced an end to the bombing earlier this month. He said he had received assurances from the Houthis that they would refrain from attacking US ships. (The rate at which the campaign was burning through American money and munitions also probably played a role.) Trump’s announcement made no mention of Israel, even though the Houthis had attacked Tel Aviv’s airport days earlier. The message was unmistakable: Israel could deal with the Houthis on their own. All in all, the Trump administration has been in direct talks with three of Israel’s main adversaries — Hamas, Iran, and the Houthis — to cut deals without Israel’s input, a nearly unprecedented situation according to longtime observers of relations between the two countries.“I don’t think there’s an administration, Democrat or Republican, that has even come close to undertaking the sort independent outreach that the Trump administration has now contrived over the course of the last three months,” said Aaron David Miller, a veteran Mideast peace negotiator who served in several US administrations. A changing GOP meets a changing Middle EastWhat explains the new frostiness in the US-Israel relationship? One answer may be that Trump is simply growing frustrated with Netanyahu. If there’s one consistent theme in Trump’s worldview, it’s skepticism about allies that, as he sees it, take more from America than they give. During his Oval Office meeting with Netanyahu, Trump brushed aside a suggestion that he should lift tariffs on Israel, saying “We give Israel $4 billion a year. That’s a lot. Congratulations, by the way.” Some Trump critics in the US have been crediting him for his approach to the relationship. The New York Times’ Thomas Friedman praised the president for realizing that “Netanyahu is not our friend,” while former Bernie Sanders foreign policy adviser Matt Duss credited him with handling “Netanyahu more effectively than alleged foreign policy expert Joe Biden did.” Netanyahu himself is probably not the only factor here. The second Trump term has also seen the rise in influence of the so-called “restrainer” wing of Republican foreign policy, who want to reduce America’s military footprint abroad, especially in the Middle East, at the expense of traditional hawks. While not uniformly anti-Israel (though some outside Trump allies like Tucker Carlson would probably qualify), the restrainers are much less inclined to think that US and Israeli interests are aligned. Vice President JD Vance, for instance, has stated that while Israel has a right to defend itself, he doesn’t believe the US should be drawn into a war with Iran. Trump’s speech in Saudi Arabia on Tuesday, which included pointed shots at “neocons” and “nation builders,” may have been an indication of which faction is winning the battle for influence. And according to reporting by the Washington Post, former national security adviser Mike Waltz, one of Trump’s most traditionally hawkish advisers, was fired in early May in part because of Trump’s anger that Waltz had been in communication with the Israeli government about using military force against Iran. This is also not the same Middle East that Trump dealt with last time around. Israel isn’t the only longstanding US ally getting snubbed on Trump’s trip; previous presidents might have been expected to make a stop in Egypt or Jordan. But Trump is making a beeline for the Gulf, home of lucrative arms and computer chip deals, not to mention golf resorts and free 747s.During Trump’s first term, the Saudis and Emiratis were more or less aligned with the US and Israel on wider regional security matters — namely, the perceived danger posed by Iran. This was the context that made the Emiratis’ recognition of Israel in the Abraham Accords possible. This time, when Trump sits down with Saudi Arabia’s Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman and the UAE’s Mohammed bin Zayed al-Nahyan, he’s likely to hear a different story. The Saudis and Iranians have reached a detente, and both Gulf countries have tried to extricate themselves from the long and brutal conflict with the Houthis in Yemen. Both now support a deal with Iran that would avoid war, and both supported an end to the US campaign against the Houthis. They’re also increasingly frustrated with Israel’s war in Gaza and the anger it has provoked throughout the region, including in their own populations. The scenes coming out of Gaza have raised the costs of appearing to be aligned with Israel.“Both MBS and MBZ have his respect. He listens to them,” said Novik, now a fellow at the Israel Policy Forum, of the Saudi and Emirati leaders. “They believe that what happens in Gaza doesn’t stay in Gaza. It’s destabilizing the region, and that’s bad for business.” All indications are that Trump is these days more interested in what he calls the “gleaming marvels of Riyadh and Abu Dhabi” than the winding streets of Jerusalem. A case in point: both the first Trump administration and the Biden team sought a major regional deal that would tie US nuclear or security cooperation with Saudi Arabia to Saudi recognition of Israel. Though Trump is still calling for the Saudis — who have never recognized the Jewish state — to normalize relations, his team has reportedly dropped it as a demand for US-Saudi nuclear cooperation. If this comes to pass, it would effectively be giving up on what would be the crown jewel of the Abraham Accords process. A hands-off stance on GazaAll this is a dramatic shift, but it’s certainly not the change that critics of Biden’s support for Israel were hoping for. Trump has iced out the Israelis on regional diplomacy just as Israel is considering a plan for an “intensive escalation” of its military operations in Gaza. This could include the destruction of most of the enclave’s remaining buildings and and would give civilians a choice between moving to a tiny “humanitarian area” or leaving — though it’s not clear what countries would be willing to accept them if they did. Trump and his senior officials have not spoken out publicly about the plan and, according to Axios’ reporting, have “effectively given Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu a green light to do as he sees fit.” Israeli officials say the operation will begin if there is no ceasefire and hostage deal by the end of Trump’s visit to the region this week, though there are few indications that Trump is actively involved in pushing for one. It seems unlikely that Trump would employ pressure tactics that Biden was unwilling to use, such as conditioning military aid or addressing the Israeli public directly about the war. Trump has shifted radically on policy in the past, but for the moment, his cold shoulder doesn’t seem any more likely to put an end to the ongoing catastrophe in Gaza than Biden’s bear hug. See More:

Receipts often contain the chemical BPS. LordHenriVoton/Getty Images 2025-05-15T10:34:01Z Save Saved Read in app This story is available exclusively to Business Insider subscribers. Become an Insider and start reading now. Have an account? Receipts often contain bisphenols, which are chemicals linked to reproductive toxicity and cancer. That's because receipts are coated in a plastic polymer for heat-based printing. Dr. Leonardo Trasande from NYU Langone says he opts for email and text receipts when possible. Plastics and the chemicals they carry are everywhere, from our air, water, and blood to the products we use every day.Researchers like Dr. Leonardo Trasande know the unexpected places where these chemicals sneak into our lives, like the receipts you get at grocery stores, gas stations, restaurants, and clothing outlets."We don't think of thermal paper receipts as plastic, but that shiny coating is a polymer on top," Trasande, a professor of pediatrics and environmental health researcher at NYU Langone, told Business Insider. Trasande's main complaint about receipts is what that plastic polymer puts into human skin.Where there is plastic, he added, "chemicals of concern come along for the ride."When it's an option to receive his receipt by email or text, Trasande goes for that.Toxic chemicals on store receiptsReceipts are usually made of thermal paper, which is designed to print using heat-sensitive inks. That makes for cheap and easy on-the-spot printing in restaurants and businesses.The problem is that this thermal paper usually contains bisphenols, a class of chemicals used to manufacture plastics. Receipts are usually printed on thermal paper using heat. REUTERS/Peter Nicholls The most famous bisphenol, called BPA, has been linked to heart disease, decreased fertility, breast and prostate cancers and, in children, asthma and neurodevelopmental issues. BPA has been phased out of US products over the past decade, including receipts.However, studies have found that many receipt manufacturers have replaced the BPA with its cousin BPS, which is banned in Europe for use in food containers, considered a reproductive toxin by the state of California, and has been associated with breast cancer.If you touch a receipt that's coated in BPS, the toxic chemical can quickly enter your body by absorbing through your skin, according to recent research.This year, the nonprofit watchdog Center for Environmental Health tested receipts from 32 major retailers and found that touching one for 10 seconds would expose someone to enough BPS to legally require a warning in California. Under the state's Proposition 65, businesses must provide warnings about significant exposures to chemicals that cause cancer or reproductive harm. The CEH delivered a legal notice to those 32 retailers in April."Chemicals used in plastic materials need to be properly vetted for safety," Trasande said. "Insofar as chemicals are identified to be toxic to human health, we have safer alternatives that should be considered."He called electronic receipts "an important positive step forward." Microplastics in receiptsUnderlying the bisphenols, of course, is plastic. Though Trasande said there is much more definitive research on the health effects of many chemicals in plastics, emerging science about the proliferation of plastics themselves throughout the human body is not comforting.The plastic items that surround us all in our homes, workplaces, schools, and even the outdoors are shedding tiny particles called microplastics — or, when they get really tiny, nanoplastics.These minuscule plastics build up in our bodies. They've been found in almost every human body tissue researchers have checked, from the brain to the lining of the arteries. Their health impacts are not yet clear, but they've been linked to chronic inflammation, lung and colon cancers, reproductive health issues, and heart attack and stroke risk."There are limits to what I can control," Trasande said. "At the same time, there are so many steps we can take to reduce our exposure to chemicals of concern and particularly micro- and nanoplastics."Declining paper receipts is one of them. On the whole, though, Trasande said the world needs to reduce its plastic production.If business as usual continues, plastics production is expected to triple by 2060, according to the United Nations Environment Programme.Trasande said a global plastics treaty would help. According to Reuters, the United Nations is set to resume negotiations for such a treaty in August. Recommended video

Over the last few months, and especially the last few weeks, there’s been an explosion of news about proposed budget cuts to science in the US. One trend I’ve noticed: Researchers and civil servants are sounding the alarm that those cuts mean we might lose key data that helps us understand our world and how climate change is affecting it. My colleague James Temple has a new story out today about researchers who are attempting to measure the temperature of mountain snowpack across the western US. Snow that melts in the spring is a major water source across the region, and monitoring the temperature far below the top layer of snow could help scientists more accurately predict how fast water will flow down the mountains, allowing farmers, businesses, and residents to plan accordingly. But long-running government programs that monitor the snowpack across the West are among those being threatened by cuts across the US federal government. Also potentially in trouble: carbon dioxide measurements in Hawaii, hurricane forecasting tools, and a database that tracks the economic impact of natural disasters. It’s all got me thinking: What do we lose when data is in danger? Take for example the work at Mauna Loa Observatory, which sits on the northern side of the world’s largest active volcano. In this Hawaii facility, researchers have been measuring the concentration of carbon dioxide in the atmosphere since 1958. The resulting graph, called the Keeling Curve (after Charles David Keeling, the scientist who kicked off the effort) is a pillar of climate research. It shows that carbon dioxide, the main greenhouse gas warming the planet, has increased in the atmosphere from around 313 parts per million in 1958 to over 420 parts per million today. Proposed cuts to the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) jeopardize the Keeling Curve’s future. As Ralph Keeling (current steward of the curve and Keeling’s son) put it in a new piece for Wired, “If successful, this loss will be a nightmare scenario for climate science, not just in the United States, but the world.” This story has echoes across the climate world right now. A lab at Princeton that produces what some consider the top-of-the-line climate models used to make hurricane forecasts could be in trouble because of NOAA budget cuts. And last week, NOAA announced it would no longer track the economic impact of the biggest natural disasters in the US. Some of the largest-scale climate efforts will feel the effects of these cuts, and as James’s new story shows, they could also seep into all sorts of specialized fields. Even seemingly niche work can have a huge impact not just on research, but on people. The frozen reservoir of the Sierra snowpack provides about a third of California’s groundwater, as well as the majority used by towns and cities in northwest Nevada. Researchers there are hoping to help officials better forecast the timing of potential water supplies across the region. This story brought to mind my visit to El Paso, Texas, a few years ago. I spoke with farmers there who rely on water coming down the Rio Grande, alongside dwindling groundwater, to support their crops. There, water comes down from the mountains in Colorado and New Mexico in the spring and is held in the Elephant Butte Reservoir. One farmer I met showed me pages and pages of notes of reservoir records, which he had meticulously copied by hand. Those crinkled pages were a clear sign: Publicly available data was crucial to his work. The endeavor of scientific research, particularly when it involves patiently gathering data, isn’t always exciting. Its importance is often overlooked. But as cuts continue, we’re keeping a lookout, because losing data could harm our ability to track, address, and adapt to our changing climate.  This article is from The Spark, MIT Technology Review’s weekly climate newsletter. To receive it in your inbox every Wednesday, sign up here.

AI evolution Google DeepMind creates super-advanced AI that can invent new algorithms AlphaEvolve has already made Google's data centers more efficient and improved Tensor chips. Ryan Whitwam – May 14, 2025 5:01 pm | 17 Credit: Google DeepMind Credit: Google DeepMind Story text Size Small Standard Large Width * Standard Wide Links Standard Orange * Subscribers only   Learn more Google's DeepMind research division claims its newest AI agent marks a significant step toward using the technology to tackle big problems in math and science. The system, known as AlphaEvolve, is based on the company's Gemini large language models (LLMs), with the addition of an "evolutionary" approach that evaluates and improves algorithms across a range of use cases. AlphaEvolve is essentially an AI coding agent, but it goes deeper than a standard Gemini chatbot. When you talk to Gemini, there is always a risk of hallucination, where the AI makes up details due to the non-deterministic nature of the underlying technology. AlphaEvolve uses an interesting approach to increase its accuracy when handling complex algorithmic problems. According to DeepMind, this AI uses an automatic evaluation system. When a researcher interacts with AlphaEvolve, they input a problem along with possible solutions and avenues to explore. The model generates multiple possible solutions, using the efficient Gemini Flash and the more detail-oriented Gemini Pro, and then each solution is analyzed by the evaluator. An evolutionary framework allows AlphaEvolve to focus on the best solution and improve upon it. Many of the company's past AI systems, for example, the protein-folding AlphaFold, were trained extensively on a single domain of knowledge. AlphaEvolve, however, is more dynamic. DeepMind says AlphaEvolve is a general-purpose AI that can aid research in any programming or algorithmic problem. And Google has already started to deploy it across its sprawling business with positive results. The team turned AlphaEvolve loose on Google's Borg cluster management system for its data centers. The AI suggested a change to the scheduling heuristics, which has been implemented to save Google 0.7 percent on its computing resources globally. For a company the size of Google, that's a significant financial benefit. AlphaEvolve may also be able to make generative AI more efficient, which is necessary if anyone is ever going to make money on the technology. The internal workings of generative systems are based on matrix multiplication operations. The most efficient way to multiply 4×4 complex-valued matrices was devised by mathematician Volker Strassen in 1969, and that held for decades, but DeepMind says AlphaEvolve has discovered a new algorithm that's even more efficient. DeepMind has worked on this problem before with narrowly trained AI agents like AlphaTensor. Despite being a general AI, AlphaEvolve came up with a better solution than AlphaTensor. Google's next-generation Tensor processing hardware will also benefit from AlphaEvolve. DeepMind reports that the AI created a change to the chip's Verilog hardware description language that dropped unnecessary bits to increase efficiency. Google is still working to verify the change but expects this to be part of the upcoming processor. So far, only Google has been able to tinker with AlphaEvolve. While it uses fewer computing resources than AlphaTensor did, it's still too complex to provide publicly. That may change in the future, but the evaluation approach that makes it so capable could also be integrated with smaller AI tools for research. Ryan Whitwam Senior Technology Reporter Ryan Whitwam Senior Technology Reporter Ryan Whitwam is a senior technology reporter at Ars Technica, covering the ways Google, AI, and mobile technology continue to change the world. Over his 20-year career, he's written for Android Police, ExtremeTech, Wirecutter, NY Times, and more. He has reviewed more phones than most people will ever own. You can follow him on Bluesky, where you will see photos of his dozens of mechanical keyboards. 17 Comments

Not long ago, 4K gaming monitors felt like an expensive indulgence, but that's changed over the past couple of years. The kind of money that once bought you a solid 1440p display – think $400 to $500 – can now land you a genuinely great 4K gaming monitor. Upscaling tech has improved, OLED is making moves at smaller sizes, and the barrier to entry is lower than ever. Since our last update to this buying guide, we've seen more 4K OLED panels enter the 27-inch gaming segment, and we've tested a bunch of them. We've also reviewed a wide array of other new releases, some impressive, some not so much, so it's a good time to reassess what actually delivers the best value. There's a catch, though: pricing is a bit of a moving target at the moment. Tariffs in the US are still a mess, and monitor prices are fluctuating as old stock sells out and new shipments roll in. That makes it harder to talk about value in absolute terms, but we'll do our best to stay grounded with a wide range of options and navigate the situation to make this guide useful for people in the US and other regions around the world. As always, our monitor recommendations focus on products we've personally reviewed and tested. We have comprehensive reviews for many of the products mentioned in this article, which provide more in-depth testing and insights. With that in mind, whether you're upgrading from 1440p or going all-in on a new build, now it's a great time to jump into 4K gaming. And with even more new panels on the horizon, 2025 is shaping up to be an excellent year to make the leap. Top 32-inch 4K Gaming Monitors Choose From Your Favorite OLED: Asus, MSI, Dell, Gigabyte, Samsung In numbers Price: $1,177 on Amazon Right now, the best 4K gaming monitors on the market are 32-inch 4K OLEDs. While 27-inch models are also available, we find the larger 32-inch panel size more immersive for 4K gaming, and prices aren't significantly higher than for the smaller models. But why choose OLED over LCD? There are two key advantages of OLED panels that significantly enhance the gaming experience compared to LCDs. First, OLEDs have lightning-fast transition times, delivering elite motion clarity that surpasses LCDs running at the same refresh rate. Second, they feature individual pixel control, allowing each pixel to turn off completely to produce deep, true blacks. This also means OLEDs offer per-pixel local dimming for precise HDR control – eliminating the need for traditional backlight zones. There are two main types of 32-inch 4K OLED panels available: a 240Hz QD-OLED and a 240Hz WOLED. Both offer the same core OLED benefits: fast response times and per-pixel control, but they differ in several ways. Initially, we leaned toward QD-OLED being better, but after extensive testing, we've found it difficult to declare a clear winner. Ultimately, your preferences will determine which panel is the better choice. Our in-depth 4K WOLED vs. 4K QD-OLED comparison dives deeper into this. Choose a 4K QD-OLED monitor if you prefer a glossy screen coating. Currently, only QD-OLED models offer this, as all WOLED options use a matte finish. While this is a matter of personal preference, some buyers won't consider an OLED unless it's glossy. QD-OLEDs also offer the widest color gamut and highest color brightness. In some cases – though not always – they deliver higher overall brightness. On the other hand, choose a 4K WOLED monitor if you want access to dual-mode functionality, which allows the panel to switch between 4K at 240Hz and 1080p at 480Hz. This is especially valuable for competitive gaming, offering increased motion clarity and lower input lag. We've found the feature works seamlessly and adds versatility to the panel. WOLEDs also tend to provide a more consistent brightness experience across high and low APL content, eliminating concerns about aggressive panel dimming or toggling between HDR modes. MSI MPG 321URX There are many 32-inch 4K OLEDs on the market, and within the two panel families, performance is generally similar. You won't see major differences in response times, brightness, contrast, or core capabilities. Most models also have similar out-of-the-box configurations. As a result, the best monitor often comes down to manufacturer tuning and additional features. Here are the monitors we recommend and why: Here are the monitors I recommend and why you might consider each one: Asus ROG Swift PG32UCDM ($980): This is possibly the best overall 4K QD-OLED currently available. It offers a robust feature set including an accurate sRGB mode with unlocked settings, excellent HDR accuracy, ELMB black frame insertion, and Dolby Vision support. While its MSRP is $1,300, we're seeing regular sales bringing it down to the ~$1,000 range. As of writing, there's a $200 rebate. At that price, it's a very strong option. MSI MPG 321URX ($1,049) and MSI MAG 321UPX ($950): The MSI 321URX is the better of the two, offering more USB ports and superior factory calibration. The 321UPX is available if you're looking to save a bit more. They lack some of the premium features found on the Asus model, such as black frame insertion and Dolby Vision support, but still deliver excellent performance and strong value. MSI also offers the MPG 322URX, which is nearly identical to the 321URX but includes DisplayPort 2.1 instead of 1.4. Dell Alienware AW3225QF ($899): This is the go-to model if you prefer a curved screen. We personally prefer flat panels at this size and aspect ratio (32-inch, 16:9), but for curve enthusiasts, Dell has you covered. Performance is very similar to the Asus and MSI offerings, and it includes Dolby Vision support. In many regions, it's also among the most affordable options. Gigabyte Aorus FO32U2P ($1,299) and Gigabyte Aorus FO32U2 ($829): These are solid monitors but can be hard to recommend in some regions due to higher pricing – often several hundred dollars more than competing models. However, they offer more HDR mode customization than competitors and excellent calibration. The FO32U2P includes DisplayPort 2.1, which contributes to its higher price, but we don't think it justifies a substantial premium. We generally lean toward the FO32U2. Samsung Odyssey OLED G8 G80SD ($1,049) and OLED G8 G81SF ($1,299): These QD-OLED models from Samsung offer a matte finish, which is rare among QD-OLEDs. We've tested the G81SF and found it to perform well, although calibration isn't as strong as models from other brands. The G80SD includes smart TV functionality, while the newer G81SF does not. If you find one of these on sale, it could offer excellent value, but we think the MSRP is too high. Asus ROG Swift PG32UCDP ($1,200): This is our recommended 4K WOLED model. We've also tested the LG 32GS95UE, but the Asus version stands out for its superior tuning, performance, and features. Choose the PG32UCDP if you want WOLED with dual-mode functionality, better brightness in bright scenes, and a matte coating. It's an excellent display but priced a tad higher than most others. Let pricing and the key features we just mentioned drive your decision. All of these models have strengths worth considering, and the performance differences between them aren't drastic. These 4K 240Hz QD-OLED and WOLED panels are top-tier displays, and we believe you'll be very satisfied with any of them. Samsung Odyssey OLED G8 G81SF We generally recommend OLED displays for content consumption, such as gaming or video playback. There is a risk of permanent burn-in with OLEDs, especially when displaying static content like productivity apps or web pages. For mixed or work-heavy usage, it's still difficult to recommend OLED at this time. What about 4K LCD monitors for HDR gaming? Right now, these are hard to recommend because OLED panels are simply better. We understand some are concerned about brightness or burn-in with OLEDs, but most alternative LCD options currently on the market are underwhelming. The Samsung Odyssey Neo G7 remains available and you can often find it for around $700. It's a solid 32-inch 4K 165Hz VA LCD with a 1,196-zone full-array local dimming backlight. It offers fast response times, impressive HDR performance, and no risk of burn-in. This is usually our top LCD alternative, though we're still looking for a better option – ideally something with a 240Hz refresh rate and without major flaws. Until then, the Neo G7 remains our recommendation for an HDR-capable LCD gaming monitor. Back to top ▵ Top 27-inch 4K Monitors with HDR Asus ROG Strix XG27UCDMG 27" In numbers Price: $980 While the 32-inch models we've just covered are excellent choices, they can be a bit large for some setups. That's why many gamers prefer 27-inch monitors instead. If you're one of them, there's good news: 2025 has brought the release of 27-inch 4K 240Hz QD-OLED panels. These panels come from the same product family as the 32-inch versions, offering very similar performance... essentially a a shrunk down version with a higher pixel density. We've tested four of these displays so far in 2025, and all are strong contenders: the Asus ROG Swift PG27UCDM, Asus ROG Strix XG27UCDMG, the MSI MPG 272URX and the Dell Alienware AW2725Q. Like their 32-inch counterparts, these monitors perform similarly overall, so your decision will likely come down to features and pricing in your region. Currently, the best value on the market is the Asus ROG Strix XG27UCDMG. It's very similar to the PG27UCDM – which remains the top performer overall – but is available at a significantly lower price. Compared to the PG version, the XG model drops DisplayPort 2.1 and Dolby Vision support but retains many useful features, including the Neo Proximity Sensor, OLED Anti-Flicker, unlocked sRGB mode, KVM switch, and more. Despite its lower price, it's still one of the most feature-rich OLED monitors available. The XG27UCDMG has a listed MSRP of $900, though tariffs and regional variations may affect the final price. Still, it's around $200 cheaper than the PG27UCDM for a very similar experience. We'd only recommend the PG model if you specifically want its additional features. If the price gap narrows in the future, either model could represent a solid buy. The Dell Alienware AW2725Q is also worthy of strong consideration, typically being the most affordable option in most places. It may not offer as many premium features as the Asus, but its performance is excellent. With a current price of around $830, it represents fantastic value. For instance, in Australia, it retails for about $1,200 compared to $2,000 for the PG27UCDM and $1,700 for the MSI MPG 272URX – making Dell's model by far the better value. In Europe, a sub-1,000 euro price tag puts it in direct competition with the XG27UCDMG, and these two are clearly the front-runners right now. The MSI MPG 272URX is not a bad monitor by any means, but it lacks the feature set of the Asus variants and is often priced closer to the PG27UCDM. In our view, it should be priced closer to the Dell model. We'd only recommend the MSI display if it's available at a comparable price to the Dell. There are several other 27-inch 4K QD-OLED monitors hitting the market right now using the same panel. These should offer similar performance to the displays we've tested. For example, we'd expect the 27-inch Samsung Odyssey G81SF to perform similarly to its 32-inch counterpart. Depending on pricing, these may also be worth considering. Later this year, we expect to see 27-inch 4K WOLED panels arrive, but for now, QD-OLED is the only option in this size category. As for LCD alternatives... unfortunately, we're still searching for a standout alternative. The 4K LCDs we've tested so far have been underwhelming. We don't want to recommend anything without proper testing, especially since mini-LED LCDs can sometimes display unusual performance characteristics. Recommending something subpar just to fill the space would be a disservice. If you're interested in a 27-inch 4K HDR LCD, we suggest checking back throughout the year as we continue to test more options. Back to top ▵ Best 4K SDR Monitors in the 27-inch Range LG 27GR93U or Asus ROG Strix XG27UCS In numbers Price: $496 on Amazon If you're looking for a more affordable 4K gaming monitor, the best bet would be a 27-inch 4K mid-refresh SDR display. Pricing in this segment is quite attractive, with many solid options available for under $500. There's no reason to spend more than that on a 4K 144Hz monitor in 2024, as our testing has shown that most of these displays deliver similar performance due to the widespread use of fast IPS panels. One of our favorites in this range is the LG 27GR93U, a 27-inch 4K 144Hz IPS LCD with well-tuned performance. It delivers fast response times in line with other modern IPS panels and offers a single overdrive mode for a straightforward user experience. Factory calibration is solid, brightness is excellent, and LG includes hardware calibration support – a feature not often found in this segment. It's a well-rounded product, suitable for both gaming and desktop productivity. You can find the 27GR93U for around $450. While not the absolute cheapest 27-inch 4K option, it still represents good value, and discounts occasionally push the price lower. A strong alternative is the Asus ROG Strix XG27UCS, which features a 27-inch 4K IPS panel with a slightly higher 160Hz refresh rate. Motion clarity is comparable to the 27GR93U, and factory calibration is slightly better in the sRGB mode. Otherwise, the two monitors are closely matched. Pricing is also similar between the two in both Europe and the US, while in Australia, the Asus model tends to be a bit cheaper. Asus ROG Strix XG27UCS Another option worth mentioning is the Asus ROG Strix XG27UCG, a dual-mode version of this display that can also operate at 1080p 320Hz. This mode provides better clarity and lower input lag for multiplayer gamers at the cost of resolution. In terms of performance, it's similar to the XG27UCS, with comparable response times and color accuracy. The UCG typically costs a bit more, which makes sense given the added dual-mode functionality. However, if you find both models priced similarly, we'd lean toward the UCG – it's the more feature-rich of the two. Gigabyte also offers solid 27-inch 4K options, including the M27U, M27UA and M28U. The M27U and M27UA are essentially the same product, featuring a 27-inch 4K 160Hz IPS LCD panel. The M27UA is the newer model and includes tuning improvements that slightly boost performance, offering faster response times and more accurate colors. These Gigabyte displays are closely matched with the Asus and LG monitors mentioned above. There's no definitive winner – each offers a well-balanced experience at a comparable price. The Gigabyte M28U is also still in the mix despite being an older product, and in fact in the United States it's one of the cheapest 4K monitors on the market. It's pretty similar to the M27U family in performance and color accuracy, but it doesn't get as bright, consumes more power and has a somewhat lower DCI-P3 gamut coverage. Finally, if you're seeking a higher refresh rate, the LG 27G850A features a 27-inch 4K 240Hz IPS LCD panel. It performs well, but at around $800, it's nearly double the price of the 144Hz to 160Hz models. Additionally, you're still only getting an SDR experience, as its HDR functionality relies on basic edge-lit dimming. For people that really want a 27-inch 4K 240Hz LCD we don't think the price or its lack of true HDR support should be a dealbreaker, especially as it has some other neat benefits like its "IPS Black" technology that produces a much better than usual contrast ratio for an IPS. It also supports dual mode, giving multiplayer gamers access to a 1080p 480Hz configuration. However, we don't think it offers great value compared to the other options we've discussed. Back to top ▵ Best 32" 4K Monitors without HDR LG 32GR93U or Gigabyte M32UP In numbers Price: $599 on Amazon There are no changes to our recommendations for a 32-inch 4K SDR gaming monitor. There are two strong contenders in this category, but the leading option is the LG 32GR93U, a 32-inch 4K 144Hz IPS LCD. Over the last six months, prices have remained relatively stable, typically ranging between $500 and $600. Ideally, you'd want to find it closer to the $500 mark, so it's worth waiting for a discount as it follows a predictable pricing cycle. The 32GR93U performs well across a range of areas. It delivers solid response times, and LG has tuned it to provide a single overdrive mode experience. While it's not the absolute fastest 144Hz monitor, it's optimized to avoid inverse ghosting artifacts. Among 32-inch LCDs, this is one of the best we've seen in terms of motion handling – especially important, as older models from a few years ago were quite underwhelming in that regard. This is complemented by great factory color tuning, an excellent sRGB mode, hardware calibration support, wide DCI-P3 color space coverage, and solid brightness levels. It offers great versatility for users who want a monitor suitable for both gaming and productivity, thanks to its large 32-inch 4K panel. It's an excellent dual-purpose display. The main drawback is the lack of HDR capabilities, but that's acceptable at this price point. Another solid choice in this price range is the Gigabyte M32UP, along with the older M32U. The M32UP is the more recent model and goes head-to-head with the 32GR93U in both performance and pricing. The LG display is slightly better tuned for response times and motion clarity, and it also offers higher SDR brightness. On the other hand, the Gigabyte model has slightly better factory calibration and includes a few extra features such as a KVM switch and a USB-C port. Back to top ▵

Over the past few years, Okta has stated its commitment to ending the threat of identity-enabled cyber crime and attacks. As part of its Secure Identity Commitment, Okta has been keen on “elevating our industry’ by accelerating its capabilities and embracing new technology, such as AI, and und the digital transformation of nonprofits and advance inclusive pathways into tech. Therefore, when an announcement was made of a standard around identity security in security-as-a-service (SaaS) applications, it was worth taking notice. Named the Interoperability Profile for Secure Identity in the Enterprise (IPSIE), the concept is of an open standard which provides a framework for SaaS companies to enhance the end-to-end security of their products across every touchpoint of their technology stack. Announcing it in October 2024, Okta CEO and co-founder Todd McKinnon said there is a “need [for] massive standardisation” and “move to a world where every app, every device, every workload all speak a common language”. McKinnon said that by adopting IPSIE, users will get complete visibility into their identity environment and the threat surface, and they can provide access to the right applications at the right time and take real-time actions in response to threats. Okta’s announcement stated that the point of IPSIE is to “foster a more open, consistent, flexible SaaS ecosystem by empowering organisations to adhere to a higher level of security, more seamlessly and efficiently integrating among tech stacks”. This open standard will provide the framework for any enterprise application to be discoverable and governable. By adopting IPSIE, users will be able to gain complete visibility across the identity threat surface, enable consistent security outcomes across SaaS applications, and build secure-by-default SaaS applications more seamlessly and efficiently. On that final point, Okta states that any app built to the IPSIE standard adheres to a higher level of security by ensuring that it can be governed, have entitlements managed, can support multi-factor authentication and posture management, as well as feature real-time Universal Logout. So far, 50 enterprise SaaS applications have joined the cause and integrated with IPSIE – including Google, Microsoft Office 365, Slack and Salesforce – to support modern identity best practices aimed at enhancing security and reducing operational burden. Harish Peri, senior vice-president of product marketing at Okta, tells Computer Weekly that IPSIE is a way to ensure that every app and API conforms to a standard whereby its identity can be secure: “We are leading the way with the OpenID foundation, and we’re part of the working group for the creation of IPSIE interoperably profiled for secure identity of the enterprise.” Far from working alone, Okta has enlisted members of the OpenID Foundation to create the IPSIE Working Group, which will develop profiles of existing specifications with a primary goal of achieving interoperability between independent implementations. Gail Hodges, executive director of the OpenID Foundation, says that while the development of the IPSIE was initially getting off the ground in this first year, she felt the concept was “great”, adding: “I’m really encouraged as the foundation is moving more and more towards lining up specifications; like a lot of our work internally, they’re intended to kind of sync up with each other so that you could layer specifications on top of each other. “I see the work of IPSIE and a group of subject matter experts looking to do exactly that – line up the specifications together. So there’s even more consistency in how those specifications are configured, so there will be even greater benefits of interoperability and security associated with deploying a more complex stack. I think it’s fantastic.” Shiv Ramji, president of customer identity cloud at Okta, says the ultimate ambition with IPSIE is to “make it easy for customers to choose the right default path, which is to be secure, and I think they’ll do that if the value is clear to them, and, over time, it will be”. The concept of IPSIE from Okta is to gain industry-wide adoption, but Ramji was keen to make the point that Okta is “one participant”, and if every participant adopts the standards, “we will deliver better security outcomes for the entire software as a service ecosystem”. One factor Ramji stressed is the support for Universal Logout. Okta describes this as a concept where you can terminate users’ sessions, and their tokens, for supported apps when your identity threat protection identifies a risk change. Specifically, a user session is the time during which a user is authenticated and authorised to access apps secured by Okta, while an app session refers to sessions that an app generates to allow users to access the app’s resources. Universal Logout can be configured to terminate a users’ sessions in generic Security Assertion Markup Language (SAML) and OpenID Connect (OIDC) apps. Stephen McDermid, EMEA chief security officer at Okta, says the concept of Universal Logout will help to mitigate and minimise risks, “so that you’re not waiting for your SOC or your SIEM solution to respond in real time”. He adds: “I think the fact that there’s talk about the risks that IPSIE is trying to address reassures me that we’re going in the right direction for us – and for other vendors as well. The more vendors we can get to agree to it, the better the solution becomes.” This is why SaaS companies are integrating Okta’s software development kit, Ramji says, with companies now adopting this, “we’re changing the type of integrations that we do with these SaaS applications because we can do signal sharing”. In terms of integrations, Ramji says there were more than 150 in April 2025, and users “are asking us what are the ways they can support the adoption of these standards”. Out of those 150 integrations, is this something that the customer can implement on their own, rather than waiting for Salesforce, for example, to do it, for them? Ramji says if a user is using Auth0 today, they can switch IPSIE and Universal Login on and go into their Okta dashboard to enable the Universal Logout cable. “They have to enable it to opt in, as it’s an opt-in mechanism,” he says. “It’s easy to turn it on. As we roll this out initially, a lot of this will be opt-in, and then over time we can look at ways to make that easier, or maybe look at other options, but for now, it’ll be opt-in.We don’t want behaviours in companies where their applications where users are being logged out without working it out, so this is a deliberate thing that they need to roll out.” Peri says Okta’s largest existing customers asked, “How soon can you get all of our apps IPSIE-fied?”, and levels of IPSIE are being defined, but he adds that this is not an Okta-driven initiative or about asserting dominance, but “about doing the right thing for the industry, as the more people that are in it, the better is for everybody”. So, how well will IPSIE be adopted? Computer Weekly contacted a number of other authentication suppliers to find out. Chris Anderson, duo product CTO at Cisco, confirms that the firm had joined the IPSIE Working Group, which aims to develop profiles of existing specifications and achieve interoperability between independent implementations, stating: “While it’s still early days, we believe that interoperability across standards is key to greater success in identity security.” Andras Cser, vice-president and principal analyst at Forrester, says that standards that anyone can implement, proposed by one supplier, generally “do not fare very well”, but with the backing of the working group and OpenID Foundation, could work out well. He points at the example set by the FIDO Alliance, which “started out as a bunch of vendors coming together”. However, Cser believes that if IPSIE could follow FIDO’s lead, then it has a chance to work. “The use case behind FIDO was a lot smaller than IPSIE, it was just authentication and second factor and biometrics, that was the design and try not to boil the ocean,” he says. “Single sign on, logout and token verification are largely resolved by SAML and OpenID, and there’s a scanner for those things. “There’s also a very concrete and distinct use case behind sharing risk signals – there’s a new login from a new IP address, from a new device and that makes a lot of sense.” He claims that single sign on, token revocation and logout have been resolved, while user lifecycle management, and while other areas are being addressed further down the line. He adds that IPSIE is trying to resolve things, “30% of which are not solvable in the security domain only, 60% are addressed by other standards, and 10% is the key part of what IPSIE is trying to do”. Less than a year since its announcement, the conversations around IPSIE suggest it will take a long time to gain full traction and industry adoption, but there is persistent positivity on the side of Okta, its main supplier driver: the criticism comes from it being too broad and “putting everything in the kitchen sink”. Time will tell, but all revolutions need to start somewhere. Read more about identity management and SaaS applications Identity and access management tools and features for 2025. How to build an effective IAM architecture. Seven cloud IAM challenges and how to address them.