lowhighkang_LHK Member Oct 25, 2017 6,494 USA Chicago I always wanted to play it back in the day but never had a PC to run it proper. Looking at it now, it seems such a departure to the Doom trilogy post 2016. Doom 3 seems more tightly built, claustrophobic level design more designed to build fear and tension. Just wondering if it's still worth it to play or is it something that should just be left in the past?   Huey Member Oct 27, 2017 15,757 Loved doom 3 at release and I love it today. I'm currently playing through the dhewm3 source port on PC and it's as great as ever. I love that iteration of id's engine - it's hard to overstate what a visual leap it was at the time, the atmosphere and lighting is just second to none. Legit scary game in many instances, especially if you're playing alone in a dark room with headphones etc It's just different. It's got some survival horror sensibilities mixed in with the usual action. It's definitely not for everyone - there are definitely detractors here - but I absolutely think it's worth at least trying with an open mind.  Forerunner Resetufologist The Fallen Oct 30, 2017 18,749 I hope you like jump scares lol   MorshuTheTrader Member Oct 27, 2017 1,579 I played it about a year ago and finished it for the first time and had a blast. I originally played as a pre-teen back in the original Xbox and found it too scary at the time lol. Funny how playing it now it wasn't nearly as terrifying and actually once you get past the horror trappings, it plays a lot more like regular Doom than it seems at first. Kinda like playing Doom in a haunted house amusement park attraction.   Tasman1991 Member Oct 22, 2024 432 Yes honestly it's one of my favorite Dooms the atmosphere it's just pretty good I also like just going through people's pdas and reading up the history of Mars City so yeah I recommend it oh With The Shotgun you have to get up to the Enemies face with it   tidewatersouthern Member Nov 27, 2020 7,282 Yes. It's a very different experience from the originals or Doom 2016, but it's fantastic in its own right. It's moody, it's more survival horror than "rip and tear", and it can be hard. It's a real good time, and still looks great.   Henry Jones Jr Avenger Oct 27, 2017 2,735 I played it a couple years ago and still liked it. But I'm nostalgic for it   TaySan SayTan Member Dec 10, 2018 36,634 Tulsa, Oklahoma It's a very different game from the originals, but its very much worth playing!   AaronMT Member Oct 27, 2017 8,386 Toronto avoid any Flashlight mod (if that' even a thing these days), play as intended   Spark Member Dec 6, 2017 2,810 Doom 3 is Half Life: Doom Edition   Eye_of_Sauron Member Feb 27, 2024 134 Hell yeah   Crushed Member Oct 25, 2017 8,158 It's a fascinating time capsule of a game, because it feels like id going, "Well, what's the de facto way to make a sci-fi horror shooter? Half-Life 1 and System Shock 2, right?" and releasing that game in 2004 at the same time as the rest of the heavy hitters in the genre were veering off in another direction. And while it's not nearly as incredible as that sounds on paper, there is something very endearing about it when you can accept it as its own thing.   The Lord of Cereal #REFANTAZIO SWEEP Member Jan 9, 2020 12,225 Yes, but if you can, play the original rather than the BFG Edition. BFG edition is fine, but it totally ruins a lot of the atmosphere and tight combat of the original game in exchange for a more traditional Doom experience   Miker Member Oct 25, 2017 3,561 I played through it last year, and I think it's okay. It's amazing as a time capsule to see what idTech was doing at the time, not just with shadows, but also the neat interactive menus you could control using the mouse. It is simple and repetitive though, and the gameplay scenarios struggle to escalate in meaningful ways. The core shooting, small encounters, and endless monster closets remain the same through the entire campaign. You've seen 90% of what the game has to offer by hour 3 of a 10 hour campaign. If you have a lot of nostalgia for that era of PC shooters, as I do, that may be enough to carry you for a playthrough, but I really don't think the game rises above "fine." If you do, play the OG version that forces you to switch to the flashlight rather than the BFG edition.  CloudsFromSpace baaaaa Member Mar 8, 2018 1,178 Pasture I think it's pretty neat - liked it a lot when I did a full series playthrough in 2022. It's definitely different from the rest of the series, but not bad.   DrScruffleton Member Oct 26, 2017 14,857 Played this recently while going through all the dooms. Absolutely hated it, and felt it was way too long with samey environments almost nonstop   WyLD iNk Member Oct 27, 2017 2,444 Here, duh. Ha, I was just playing my Switch version like 20 minutes ago. Yes, absolutely. It's a fantastic game, and deserves all the love it got then and receives now. Only weirdo purists have a problem with it. But they're weirdos, so ignore 'em.  defghik Member Feb 15, 2018 114 It's worth checking out, but don't play the BFG edition. Not having to choose between your weapon or the flashlight ruins the tension that the game was going for. Even today the lighting still looks fantastic, I love those super sharp stencil shadows.  TheSpaceBetween Member Jan 11, 2018 10,054 I played it for the first time a few years back and was largely underwhelmed. It didn't feel like a Doom game at all. I understand wanting to go in a different direction after a while, buy nothing in particular about this game was interesting or well designed to me.   Hero_of_the_Day Avenger Oct 27, 2017 19,780 I have really been wanting to go back to it. I remember thinking it felt really long back in the day. But, I enjoyed it well enough back at launch.   Eila Member Oct 27, 2017 3,382 The Lord of Cereal said: Yes, but if you can, play the original rather than the BFG Edition. BFG edition is fine, but it totally ruins a lot of the atmosphere and tight combat of the original game in exchange for a more traditional Doom experience Click to expand... Click to shrink... What did the BFG do, did they actually change the level design? Also, is this best played vanilla or are there some must install mods? I feel like most games from that era need some modding to run well nowadays.   MatildaMuggins Member Oct 29, 2017 1,139 Australia I love Doom 3. Honestly it feels more like Doom to me than the Dark Ages does. As someone who played the originals at a very young age they were basically horror games to me at the time. Doom 3 feel like a more natural evolution than where the series ended up going.  

News Physint Requires “5 or 6 Years” to Develop, Says Hideo Kojima After that, the director of Death Stranding 2 may "finally decide to make a film," especially since he's "getting on in years." Posted By Ravi Sinha | On 18th, May. 2025 Death Stranding 2: On the Beach is shaping up to be one of 2025’s biggest games and a strong follow-up to the original. However, Kojima Productions has two other projects – the horror-focused OD published by Xbox Game Studios and Physint, a new stealth action IP with Sony. Director Hideo Kojima noted how both titles faced development hurdles due to the SAG-AFTRA Strike, but he’s seemingly provided a window for Physint’s release. And it’s a ways off. On Twitter, Ayako Terashima, Kojima’s assistant, posted a short clip of him flipping through Le Film français to a recent interview. Resetera’s Red Kong XIX extracted the text from the section in question and translated it through DeepL, where Kojima discusses Physint taking “another five or six years.” When asked if he’d like to direct a film someday, Kojima responded, “Yes, I would! I had many offers after I left Konami, with serious conditions for developing games in my independent studio. Alongside Death Stranding 2, there’s Physint in development. It will take me another five or six years. “But maybe after that, I’ll finally decide to make a film. I grew up with cinema. Directing would be a kind of tribute to it. What’s more, I’m getting on in years, and I’d rather do it while I’m still young!” If Physint launches by 2030 or 2031, it could be on the PlayStation 6 (for which rumors have been circulating). Regardless, there’s plenty of time to learn more, including its final name, story, and mechanics. In the meantime, head here to learn about how Kojima considers Death Stranding 2: On the Beach an updated version of Metal Gear Solid 5: The Phantom Pain. The PS5 exclusive launches on June 26th. Tagged With: Elden Ring: Nightreign Publisher:Bandai Namco Developer:FromSoftware Platforms:PS5, Xbox Series X, PS4, Xbox One, PCView More DOOM: The Dark Ages Publisher:Bethesda Softworks Developer:id Software Platforms:Xbox Series X, PS5, PCView More Death Stranding 2: On the Beach Publisher:Sony Developer:Kojima Productions Platforms:PS5View More Amazing Articles You Might Want To Check Out! Syberia Remastered Announced, Launches in Q4 2025 The remaster of Benoît Sokal's classic point-and-click adventure features redesigned characters, revamped puz... Physint Requires “5 or 6 Years” to Develop, Says Hideo Kojima After that, the director of Death Stranding 2 may "finally decide to make a film," especially since he's "gett... Injustice 3 is NetherRealm’s Next Title – Rumor A sequel to NetherRealm's DC-focused fighting game is seemingly in development, according to teases from a Mul... Former SIE President Says $70 or $80 is a “Steal” for “Really Great Games” "As long as people choose carefully how they spend their money, I don't think they should be complaining," say... Death Stranding 2: On the Beach Feels Like an Updated Metal Gear Solid 5: The Phantom Pain, Says Kojima Visiting the DHV Magellan reminds the director of returning to Mother Base. VR Challenges also await across th... Nintendo-Developed Titles Won’t Use Game-Key Cards, Nintendo UK Confirms Franchises like Mario, The Legend of Zelda and Metroid won't utilize the format, but the jury is still out on ... View More

Embassy of the State of Kuwait / ArchitectkiddSave this picture!© Luke YeungEmbassy, Interior Design•Bandar Seri Begawan, Brunei Architects: Architectkidd Area Area of this architecture project Area:  3000 m² Year Completion year of this architecture project Year:  2024 Photographs Photographs:Luke Yeung Lead Architects: Udomsak Komonvilas, Jariyawadee Lekawatana, Luke Yeung More SpecsLess Specs Save this picture! Text description provided by the architects. The Embassy of the State of Kuwait in Brunei is located in Bandar Seri Begawan. Architectkidd was selected to design the interior spaces by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Kuwait along with architecture studio Arkitek RekaJaya. Architectkidd looked beyond direct symbolism and cultural representations and instead focused on how the design could incorporate virtues in more abstract and functional ways. Cooperation, openness, and engaging public spaces were considered, and these values were expressed in materials, light, and form - qualities that the building environment can communicate as a public institution and civic cultural space.Save this picture!The Foyer is the first experience upon entering the Kuwait Embassy. It features an atrium space with a skylight at its highest point. Vertical wooden louvers were installed from the ceiling to the floor and are gently tilted along a sloping curvature to filter daylight from above. Natural light integration is enhanced by the curving geometry, helping to reduce energy dependence while also imbuing the space with a sense of calm.Save this picture!Save this picture!Save this picture!Save this picture!The Reception Hall is at the heart of the building, and with this new space, the Kuwait Embassy is able to curate public events. The ceiling design in the reception hall is a crafted pattern of undulating forms that create a dynamic interplay of depth and texture. Each panel was carved from polymer in shapes that, when combined, form an acoustic-friendly, three-dimensional surface. The sculptural quality adds a sense of movement while the repetition of the modules ensures a unified formal language. Lighting is embedded within the recessed patterns and provides an ambient glow, enriching the spatial experience.Save this picture!In other public spaces of the Embassy, the fluid design approach led to the idea of subtle wayfinding. The gallery and hallways have long and rippled wood walls to guide the users' direction towards the atrium and main staircase. These wavy walls offer a fluid and organic form that contrasts with the geometry of the rectilinear spaces.Save this picture!Materials and finishes were designed to ensure longevity and practical performance, and also to enhance visual and tactile qualities. The use of textured surfaces, such as the patterning of wall panels and marble stone flooring, contributes to a multi-layered interaction with the space. The integration of natural materials such as wood and marble, along with the soft diffusion of light, creates a welcoming environment that balances necessary security measures with warmth and hospitality.Save this picture!The expansive approach continues with interior sightlines between the spaces, creating a sense of visual continuity. With unobstructed views of surrounding areas, embassy staff work mostly in natural light during the daytime hours, with artificial light reduced to a minimum.Save this picture!By softening the boundaries between formality and warmth, security and openness, the Embassy of the State of Kuwait reimagines the way a diplomatic institution can function as a cultural bridge. As embassies increasingly take on roles beyond their traditional functions, this project aims to express how design can contribute to a more engaged approach towards fostering connections among nations.Save this picture! Project gallerySee allShow less Project locationAddress:Bandar Seri Begawan, BruneiLocation to be used only as a reference. It could indicate city/country but not exact address.About this officeArchitectkiddOffice••• Published on May 19, 2025Cite: "Embassy of the State of Kuwait / Architectkidd" 18 May 2025. ArchDaily. Accessed . <https://www.archdaily.com/1030144/embassy-of-the-state-of-kuwait-architectkidd&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

GTA: Vice City Stories was originally released on PSP (Rockstar Games) The Monday letters page is sceptical about third party support for Nintendo Switch 2, as one reader enjoys his time with Doom: The Dark Ages. To join in with the discussions yourself email gamecentral@metro.co.uk Second story I think it’s obvious that GTA 6 is never, and could never, come to Nintendo Switch 2, but what do we think of the chances of there being a spin-off? There was Chinatown Wars, which was originally exclusive to DS, but there was also Liberty City Stories and Vice City Stories, which I think would be a better template for the Switch 2.They could make a new one set in modern Vice City and make it a prequel to the main game. The graphics wouldn’t be as good, and the map smaller, but since it wouldn’t literally be trying to be the same game as GTA 6 I think there pressure would be off to be as good as it. It could do some things that GTA 6 probably won’t too, like maybe co-op using the Joy-Cons and touchscreen controls. If Rockstar wanted to, I’m sure they can make a good job of it. It just depends if they feel they have the time and if Nintendo are willing to foot enough of the bill to help.Anders Kojima clone Does anyone else feel that Hideo Kojima has become a parody of himself? I read that stuff about the game character forgetting stuff if you didn’t play it for a while and it reminded me of the PeterMolydeux parody account. Had a look at it for the first time in a while and lo and behold it had quoted the Kojima idea! When you’re being compared to Peter Molyneux’s crazy, impractical, stream of consciousness ideas, I don’t think that’s a good thing.At first, I was surprised Kojima was making Death Stranding 2, because it didn’t seem to need a sequel, but then I realised just how long he was stuck making Metal Gear games, long after the series had peaked. I don’t think he knows how to move on, but I guess he thinks it’s easier to get some of his wackier ideas made if he makes them part of an existing franchise. Maybe there’s some wisdom in that though. I find a lot of things about Kojima frustrating, but you can’t criticise someone for doing what they love.Benson Block and parry RE: Simundo. Was enjoying Nine Sols massively… until I reached a Sol, about number six? So the Sols (bosses) had started having two phases to their fights, then there’s ‘her’ who has three phases; she makes clones, so first there’s two others, then there’s five of her, then there’s seven, and you gotta parry or dodge them all, while looking for visual clues as to which one to attack, in about a millionth of a second. Get it wrong and you will be punished harshly!I got to phase three a couple of times, but could never finish her, so that was that bye bye Nine Sols and hello whatever replaced you. Now playing Clair Obscur… and also parrying everything in sight.big boy bent Email your comments to: gamecentral@metro.co.uk Preferred formatRE: Panda. I can understand the benefits of digital games. I myself have been buying more but the shop bought games have so much more. It’s not only about the sell on bit, but there are other benefits as well. Wasn’t too long ago PlayStation went down and no one could play their digital games, no matter what it was. Soon as the network goes down that’s it, you can’t play. Also, at this moment, I’m waiting for the new Assassin’s Creed to drop in price, not because I’m tight but I’m fed up with buying a game at £70 and two months later on the store it’s half price. It’s £70 at the moment on the PlayStation Store. If I bought it on disc it’s £57.99, a saving of around £18. Factor in if I want to sell it on once I have done with it, which is even more of a saving. As for game sharing, how long is that really going to last before that is stopped? One little update and game sharing is over. Also, buying a digital games also has its ups: the game never breaks, you can download it as much as you like. Digital games do have benefits but for me physical games have so much more.David Downward trend I’m going back through all the Halo games at the moment, as it’s my favourite franchise and the games are all great. I don’t mind Halo 4, even though it gets lots of hate but Halo 5 is really bad. They had that cut scene at the start of Halo 2 Anniversary, with Locke and the Arbiter, and they had those great ‘hunt’ adverts with Chief and Locke, and then we got Halo 5 which was basically rubbish.I don’t know how they messed it all up so much and I’m expecting bad things from the remake of Halo 1.Simon Spoiling a good thing I know this is a terrible thing to feel but I’m currently experiencing feeling of schadenfreude directed towards Sony and their live service plans. While I understand there are thousands of hardworking people labouring away so that companies like Sony might find a pot of gold at the end of the rainbow, I’m personally delighted when gamers reject them. How many times do they need to hear we don’t need more live service games? Nobody wants them!The thing I can’t ever wrap my head around is Sony basically had it figured out with the PlayStation 4 – keep making big budget/iconic single-player games and let the rest of their gaming library be filled in by others. It was such a simple way to act but it worked. Now we all have to put up with constant negativity around ridiculous sounding games and the fallout from the inevitable redundancies associated with their failure. I just don’t know how any of these CEO types keep their jobs while the people forced to work on them lose out. One last point regarding Jade Raymond, a person I’ve been vaguely aware off since Assassin’s Creed’s early days – this woman seems to be the kiss of death for any game. The only time I ever hear about her it’s because she’s walked out on another company or been associated with a terrible game. Let’s be honest, the original Assassin’s Creed game was pretty poor, even back then. Seems to be some people can only fail upwards in the world of gaming. Lucky them.Chris GC: The unfortunate truth is that Sony isn’t making live service games for gamers, they’re making them for investors, to appeal to their all or nothing mentality. Carrying on I’d write a long review of the new Doom game but I’m too busy killing demons and, occasionally, dying myself. But I’d just like to say so far the game has been amazing.To play this free on Game Pass makes me wonder how Microsoft messed this up so badly. They should have sold a billion Xbox Series S or X consoles. Keep up the good work.Manic miner 100 (gamertag) GC: Thanks, although Doom has always been a multiformat series. No matter what had happened, Microsoft would’ve been heavily criticised for making The Dark Ages an exclusive. No switch expected Interesting take from those analysts, about the Switch 2 becoming the dominant third party platform. While that would be great if we’re making an effort to deescalate the ever-increasing budgets and development times for triple-A games… I have to say I’m not sure what evidence they’re looking at for this?The Switch 2 likely occupies a similar spot versus the PlayStation 5 as the original console did when up against the PlayStation 4, in terms of power and performance. The Switch also had a steady stream of Xbox 360 and PlayStation 3 ports to the device, ports you might say are the equivalent of putting PlayStation 4 games on the Switch 2. Also, the Switch sold 150 million units, many more than the Xbox One or PlayStation 4. A huge install base for third party developers to tap into. However, we never saw any major third parties prioritise Switch triple-A development, even out of Japan all we got was Monster Hunter Rise from Capcom. Why was this? The answer seems to be in the sales figures for the ports that were brought over, the list of million+ sellers on Switch is mostly (if not all) Nintendo titles. Historically, Nintendo machines play by their own rules and so do their buyers. They pick up first parties and the odd zeitgeisty cheap indie and call it a day. The price of these old and inferior ports is certainly one reason (they’re having a laugh with Yakuza 0 at launch) but even beyond the cost I just don’t think a lot of Nintendo gamers are into third party games, certainly not at the scale needed where they shift 5 to 10 million copies to make it worth prioritising development for. The numbers seem to bear that out. I expect Switch 2 support to be better, since now the Switch is a proven concept. But if 150 million Switches can’t persuade publishers to prioritise Nintendo, due to the demographic of those buyers, then in the end the Switch 2 will be no different.Marc Inbox also-rans Am I the only one that just isn’t enjoying Blue Prince all that much? It’s quite clever but also kind of boring. I never liked roguelikes, I shouldn’t have believed the reviews.LombardI feel like Devil May Cry is turning into Capcom’s Castlevania. It has its own animated show and lots of people talk about it, but it hasn’t had a new game in soooo long and there’s not even hints at it yet.Kalibak More Trending Email your comments to: gamecentral@metro.co.uk The small printNew Inbox updates appear every weekday morning, with special Hot Topic Inboxes at the weekend. Readers’ letters are used on merit and may be edited for length and content. 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A Meta senior software engineer shared 4 strategies for career growth in times of uncertainty. Krishna Ganeriwal 2025-05-19T00:00:01Z Save Saved Read in app This story is available exclusively to Business Insider subscribers. Become an Insider and start reading now. Have an account? Krishna Ganeriwal, a Meta software engineer, shared four strategies that helped grow his career. Meta's 'year of efficiency' led to structural changes and 10,000 employees being laid off in 2023. Aligning with company priorities and tackling overlooked tasks can help career advancement, he said. This as-told-to essay is based on a conversation with Krishna Ganeriwal, a senior engineer at Meta in California.Meta dubbed 2023 its "year of efficiency" and made several changes to the company's structure, including flattening management layers and laying off about 10,000 employees. This interview has been edited for length and clarity. Business Insider has verified Ganeriwal's employment history and compensation.I moved to the US in 2021 for my master's, after working for four years as a software engineer at Texas Instruments in India.In the summer before I graduated from the University of Wisconsin-Madison, I had the opportunity to intern with Meta. I loved the scale of the projects the company worked on, and I returned to the company full time as a software engineer in 2023 — Meta's "year of efficiency."Here are four strategies I used to get promoted and grow my salary from $200,000 to about $500,000 in the 18 months since I joined full time.1. Swim with the tideWhen company management is working toward a theme, which was efficiency in the case of Meta, I see it as a direct hint for what my priorities need to be. I tried to align myself with the same idea of efficiency over scaling and growth at all costs, which was the mindset many tech companies had previously.That meant taking note of my knowledge gaps and upskilling so that I can help build more cost-aware infrastructure. Reorganizations and layoffs are times of major cost cutting, and it would be swimming against the tide to insist on working on time-consuming or expensive projects.I've found it helpful to have an open ear to what company leaders are talking about at quarterly meetings and constantly ensure that I am in the middle of —or at least the periphery of — those priorities.2. Get ready to reprioritizeJust because you've been fortunate to survive a round of layoffs, it doesn't mean there's nothing for you to change.I tell myself that a layoff means I have to be ready to be thrown into ambiguous areas and solve problems, despite constraints such as fewer colleagues and fewer resources.It also means I have to be open to pivoting and reprioritizing — dropping what I'm working on at the moment and switching priorities, even if it's temporarily. 3. Don't put your growth in the backseatI've found it helpful to separate conversations about layoffs and the company's performance from those about my career growth.Despite multiple rounds of layoffs at the company, I kept having conversations with my manager about setting new goals for myself and working toward them. I also took steps to overcommunicate and remain visible to my manager and others in my team because it plays an important role during performance reviews.4. Be open to 'underdog' problemsOne underrated strategy that helped me land promotions was looking out for problems and tasks no one was willing to work on, because they were likely busy chasing a piece of a big, exciting project.In the past year, I've been open to being loaned out to other teams or working alone on some projects. I've found that these underdog projects pay back in the long run because they gave me expertise that very few people have.For example, when everyone at the company was working on efficiency and AI models, I focused on neglected engineering problems that leveraged both these areas. Recommended video

Imagine a tool that takes an image of whatever appears on your computer’s screen, saves it locally, and lets you access it all like a time machine. A magical looking glass for the computing past. That’s essentially what Microsoft’s Recall is all about. Yet, when it was first introduced, it stirred up a security storm. Microsoft pulled its release plans, fortified the security guardrails, and relaunched it a few weeks ago. This time around, Recall got a minor-but-amazingly practical upgrade. The best part? Instead of having you scrub through a long timeline of pictures, you can simply search through the entire activity history with words. Recommended Videos All those perks come at a steep processing price, both in terms of system resources and AI chops. So much that the only machines that support Recall need a Copilot+ branding and a processor launched within the past year, or so. The experience, however, is shockingly good.  What is Recall? Nadeem Sarwar / Digital Trends In Microsoft’s words, Recall lets you “quickly find and jump back into what you have seen before on your PC.” But before any of that happens, do keep in mind that it’s an opt-in process, and when you enable it, you need to biometrically verify your identity (face unlock or fingerprint scan) to access the history. Next, your PC must meet the system requirements, too. For recall, you need a Copilot+ PC that has a dedicated AI chip offering over 40 TOPS output, 16GB of RAM, 256GB storage (of which 50GB must be free at the very minimum), active device encryption, and Windows Hello sign-in enabled.  Recall is also tied deeply to your web browsing activity, and as such, it needs a compatible browser. Broadly, it works with Chromium-based options, such as Edge, Chrome, Opera, and Firefox. But why are browsers important when Recall is essentially saving your entire screen activity?  Nadeem Sarwar / Digital Trends First, it doesn’t log screenshots of your incognito or private mode browsing. More importantly, you can limit it from saving screenshots of certain websites, using a system of filters. Think of your banking activities or secure communications.  Likewise, you can also exclude certain apps from getting visually cataloged into a digital ledger. Those exceptions are extremely important, especially for folks who think the idea of a “snapshot everything” tool is too risky. For the sake of privacy, I disabled Recall for WhatsApp to protect my personal chats and Adobe Reader, because I regularly handle confidential papers. You can choose to pause/resume Recall’s snapshot gathering — briefly or permanently – from a dedicated shortcut in the system tray. How does it help me? Nadeem Sarwar / Digital Trends Microsoft is selling the idea of Recall as a photographic memory for your PC. The idea is almost loathsome for any normal person who despises the concept of all their computing activity being recorded in the form of crisp snapshots. AI skeptics would absolutely run away from it.  I, a man of forgetful ways and critic of poorly-designed apps, love this. My daily routine entails reading and writing words. Lots and lots of them. From long articles in Docs and notes in a tiny scratchpad to detailed pitches in email and daily chat with work colleagues, most of my waking time revolves around words.  I believe I have a decent memory of events, but not so much with exact terms like “Embargoed until May 16, 6AM PT / 9AM CET” or “Microsoft meeting with John scheduled for April 9. Does 6AM ET or 5PM ET sound good?” It’s not scientifically possible either to remember it all, even though I have a vague recollection of the main event.  Nadeem Sarwar / Digital Trends This is where Windows Recall and its image recognition come to the rescue in a very controlled fashion. I remember having a brief chat with a source named John,  but couldn’t quite remember where the transcripts were saved. I went back to Recall, looked up the name, and found just what I was looking for. From the looks of the snapshot, it was a browser tab, but I no longer had it active. This is where Recall offered two routes to recover it. First, it offered an outbound URL button to open the webpage in a browser. Alternatively, the Click To Do system lets me copy-paste the conversation directly from the saved snapshot. Nadeem Sarwar / Digital Trends It even pulled information from a diagnostic test and directly guided me to Microsoft’s official Get Help dashboard with a single click. That’s impressive stuff.  Depending on the content you have selected in a Recall snapshot, you will also see contextual actions such as summarizing or rewriting the text passage. You can directly choose to open it in Notepad, or pick from any app of your choice.  Nadeem Sarwar / Digital Trends For example, I was recently looking up a recipe and forgot to bookmark it. With Recall, I recovered it and directly moved the wall of text to Copilot, where it was neatly rewritten across headings and bullet points, like a cookbook. These impressive capabilities are driven by Optical Character Recognition (OCR), powered by the AI accelerator chip on a Windows machine. Everything you search in Recall is processed contextually, and the results you are shown are divided across text and images. Nadeem Sarwar / Digital Trends The safety protocols Microsoft has also built a set of safety features around sensitive information. For example, it won’t save details such as license, credit card, account, personal identification, tax filing, citizen registration, and license numbers. I tried two of my banking operators and a government website where my national identity card copies are accessible, and they didn’t appear in the Recall snapshots. The list covers a healthy bunch of documents used across North America, Europe, and Asian countries, but it’s not all-encompassing.  Nadeem Sarwar / Digital Trends For the sake of added precaution, you can open such web portals in incognito mode or private windows. Alternatively, you can simply set those websites within Recall’s filters, and their snapshots will never be saved in the first place.  Furthermore, the Recall app will give you an option to delete all images belonging to a certain website or app, in one go. Finally, there is an auto-delete function, where you can set the erase all snapshots at a cadence of 30, 60, 90, and 180 days. Of course, you can wipe the slate clean at your own discretion. Another huge respite for me? The poor search system in apps. From Slack to Google Drive, the search system in these platforms often leaves me frustrated. Plus, if you don’t pay for a premium, the free user limits mean you lose your chat data due to the auto-delete protocols.  Nadeem Sarwar / Digital Trends Recall offers a fantastic way to not just overcome the poor search system in virtually any app that runs on your computer, but also does a much better job at it. It fared better at helping me find the right Docs file in a list of thousands that I have hoarded over the years and refuse to delete. Contextual understanding is a huge benefit here. For example, if you work across different apps, the search results at the top will let you narrow down the results. For example, you can only look for an item in Outlook if a match is found in the email client, among a bunch of other apps. This approach saves a lot of time.  Why are experts spooked?  Security experts are skeptical about the idea, and rightfully so. Nick Hyatt, Director of Threat Intelligence at Blackpoint Cyber, told me that Recall is a great idea, but also an awful one for a lot of reasons.  Nadeem Sarwar / Digital Trends He pointed out how the feature logs every single aspect of your digital life, from personal communications to files and what you look up on the web. The stakes are even higher for situations such as domestic abuse. “A categorized, searchable database of every activity conducted by a user could literally result in people dying should attempts to get help be discovered,” Hyatt pointed out. Plus, the cyber threat ecosystem is an ever-evolving field, so the risks persist.  Nadeem Sarwar / Digital Trends “Recall will be heavily targeted by attackers because of the goldmine of user data it contains,” Nate Warfield, Director of Threat Research & Intelligence at Eclypsium, told Digital Trends. “The repercussions of being able to steal what is essentially a complete history of what a user does on their machine are near impossible to comprehend.”  Jeff Williams, co-founder and CTO at Contrast Security, expressed confidence in the kind of security protections Microsoft has put in place for Recall. It is encrypted and lives behind biometric authentication.  Even if you are running it in the background and randomly pull up the dashboard, you will only be able to see the timeline after going through the security check. “For now, I don’t see how this is much more risky than log files stored locally,” Williams pointed out, adding that only extensive penetration testing will reveal the real picture of Recall.  Nadeem Sarwar / Digital Trends For an average user like me, I believe Recall is a deeply rewarding feature. And yes, every layer of security that is added to the system is a welcome change. The risk of infostealers and malware with OCR capabilities will persist, but going past the Recall guardrails won’t be easy, especially with safety features such as just-in-time decryption. You can always stay a step ahead and block Recall from logging your activity across specific websites and apps to be on the safe side. You can go with the auto-delete protocol, or even batch delete all snapshots from a certain website or app from Recall, in case you didn’t already filter it out. In the wake of my tests, I found Recall to be one of the most practically rewarding AI features, right up there with Deep Research. What it really needs is to bring down the access walls (read: price), or wait for Copilot+ PCs to get a bit cheaper. The new 12-inch Microsoft Surface Pro is a great start, but more brands need to follow suit. 

Home Trump Is the US’s New AI Salesman in the Middle East. A Smart Move or Desperation? News Trump Is the US’s New AI Salesman in the Middle East. A Smart Move or Desperation? 5 min read Published: May 18, 2025 Key Takeaways The US has signed a deal with the UAE to build the largest AI data center outside of the US. UAE will also be able to acquire 500K advanced NVIDIA AI chips every year from 2025. Saudi Arabia AI firm HUMAIN announced a partnership with NVIDIA to build 500 MW of AI factories in the next five years. Donald Trump’s visit to the Middle East has turned out to be quite fruitful for both parties. The US has signed a new deal with the UAE, wherein ‘the Middle East powerhouse’ will build a 10-square-mile AI facility in Abu Dhabi with a power capacity of 5 gigawatts. Remember, this kind of power can support 2.5 million Nvidia B200 chips. The facility will be built by Emirati government-backed AI company G42. This is the same company in which Microsoft invested $1.5 billion last year. However, the US seems to be cautious about the deal and would control a large part of the facility, even after it’s operational. Howard Lutnick, the US Secretary of Commerce, said that American companies will operate the data center and offer cloud services through the Middle East. This agreement would also allow the UAE to import 500K advanced Nvidia AI chips every year starting as early as 2025. Nvidia CEO Jensen Huang also accompanied Trump on his visit. Additionally, the agreement requires the UAE to reposition their national security regulations with the US, considering the country’s strong trading ties with China. This is important to prevent any diversion of US technology to other countries, specifically China. Recently, during Trump’s visit to Saudi Arabia, the country unveiled HUMAIN, an AI firm that is part of the country’s public investment fund. HUMAIN recently announced a landmark deal with NVIDIA, planning to build AI factories with a total capacity of 500 MW in the next 5 years, which will run on millions of NVIDIA GPUs.  These AI data centers will become launchpads for training and deploying AI models on a larger scale. Saudi Arabia wants to become an international AI powerhouse to drive the next wave of AI development in the Middle East, and its partnership with NVIDIA might just be the beginning. AI Shaping Geopolitical Ties The Middle East has been trying to ramp up its AI investments and efforts in recent years. For instance, the UAE hired Eric Xing, a pioneer AI researcher, in 2020 to lead the Mohamed bin Zayed University of Artificial Intelligence. Following this, Saudi Arabia roped in Jürgen Schmidhuber, another AI pioneer, to head its King Abdullah University of Science and Technology. However, the quality of AI research from these countries has been subpar so far when compared to China and the US. This is largely due to restricted access to advanced computing resources. That could quickly become a thing of the past, though, thanks to the new deal with the US. The Middle East seems to be standing at an important crossroads. While it needs to maintain its trading ties with China, it cannot sever US relations owing to the latter’s AI supremacy. As of 2023, China accounts for around 11% of the UAE’s total exports, valued at $41.8 billion. At the same time, it also accounts for 20% of the country’s imports at $77.42 billion.  A powerhouse like the UAE is not dumb enough to ditch China to please the US. Therefore, this deal will be a meticulously planned affair from both countries. While the US will ensure the AI chips do not end up in China, the UAE will be cautious not to ruffle China. Trump Exploring New Markets The US has also shown a lot of trust in the Middle East with this deal. Earlier, such deals were blocked by the US administration, citing the Middle East’s close connections with China. However, Trump has been quick to realize that he needs to tap the potential of the ‘oil money’ to stamp America’s authority over artificial intelligence. Another reason behind the US’s interest in the Middle East could be that it has blocked the Chinese market for manufacturers like Nvidia and AMD. In fact, a new law is under discussion that could require US companies to introduce location tracking in exported AI chips so that they do not end up in the hands of their Chinese counterparts. These strict measures will eventually lead to a total loss of Chinese markets. Also, note that China contributed 13% of Nvidia’s total revenue for the year ended January 2025. So, the US-Middle East deals could also be a desperate move by the former to find new markets for its huge AI production units. Also, Trump doesn’t seem to have many options. After exiling the Chinese markets, the Middle East is the biggest emerging AI producer and consumer globally. Other strong candidates like India haven’t shown much interest in AI technological developments, at least not until the time of writing. What’s more, the South American market may not be enough to cover for loss in Chinese revenue. So, in all probability, it seems like the US needs this deal more than the Middle East. The Middle East, on the other hand, also seems to be in the mood to redefine traditional partnerships through strategic investments and diplomatic tools, creating a win-win situation for both parties. Mohammed Soliman, a senior at the Middle East Institute, said that this shift will improve the country’s technological partnership with the US. However, this does not mean that the UAE is abandoning China – it’s just recalibrating its tech strategy to prepare for the future. Krishi is a seasoned tech journalist with over four years of experience writing about PC hardware, consumer technology, and artificial intelligence.  Clarity and accessibility are at the core of Krishi’s writing style. He believes technology writing should empower readers—not confuse them—and he’s committed to ensuring his content is always easy to understand without sacrificing accuracy or depth. Over the years, Krishi has contributed to some of the most reputable names in the industry, including Techopedia, TechRadar, and Tom’s Guide. A man of many talents, Krishi has also proven his mettle as a crypto writer, tackling complex topics with both ease and zeal. His work spans various formats—from in-depth explainers and news coverage to feature pieces and buying guides.  Behind the scenes, Krishi operates from a dual-monitor setup (including a 29-inch LG UltraWide) that’s always buzzing with news feeds, technical documentation, and research notes, as well as the occasional gaming sessions that keep him fresh.  Krishi thrives on staying current, always ready to dive into the latest announcements, industry shifts, and their far-reaching impacts.  When he's not deep into research on the latest PC hardware news, Krishi would love to chat with you about day trading and the financial markets—oh! And cricket, as well. View all articles by Krishi Chowdhary Our editorial process The Tech Report editorial policy is centered on providing helpful, accurate content that offers real value to our readers. We only work with experienced writers who have specific knowledge in the topics they cover, including latest developments in technology, online privacy, cryptocurrencies, software, and more. Our editorial policy ensures that each topic is researched and curated by our in-house editors. We maintain rigorous journalistic standards, and every article is 100% written by real authors. More from News View all View all

Cybersecuritygetty Each May, the cybersecurity industry converges in San Francisco for the RSA Conference. This year’s gathering, attracting more than 45,000 attendees, highlighted several transformative trends reshaping digital asset protection, with AI unsurprisingly generating the most discussion. Beyond AI, we're witnessing an acceleration of platformization, which is enabling the rise of comprehensive security providers, cybersecurity moving directly into the data path, and growing threats to operational technology and industrial infrastructure. The Three Faces of AI: Protector, Protected, and Predator Artificial intelligence is emerging as a game-changing force in cybersecurity, playing three distinct roles in an increasingly complex digital landscape. Protecting Enterprise AI Today's enterprises are on the verge of deploying "agentic AI" systems that work independently — scheduling meetings, analyzing data, writing code, and making decisions with minimal human oversight. These AI agents create new security risks as they access sensitive company data and systems. Organizations now need specialized protection to prevent their AI helpers from being compromised. IBM leads this space with its watsonx platform, delivering comprehensive enterprise compliance and governance tools. Domino Data Labs takes compliance to an even higher level for highly regulated industries, while CrowdStrike brings its identity expertise to the agentic AI world through Falcon Identity Protection. As CrowdStrike's president, Michael Sentonas, told me at the event, "Every AI agent is an endpoint that must be protected." Palo Alto Networks unveiled its comprehensive new Prisma AIRS platform to protect AI workloads. The company also announced its intent to acquire Protect AI, an established provider of security solutions for AI applications. Several startups are making strides in this area, including CalypsoAI, with its platform ensuring AI model safety for inference, MIND, with its unique approach to data loss prevention and insider risk management for AI applications, and Cyberhaven, which provides visibility over AI tool usage. AI as a Digital Defender AI is indispensable for security teams protecting vast digital environments against rapidly evolving threats. Modern security systems can analyze billions of events to spot suspicious patterns, identify unusual behavior, automatically respond to threats, and predict potential attack vectors. These systems do this at a scale impossible for human analysts. SentinelOne unveiled its Purple AI Athena, introducing agentic AI capabilities that emulate seasoned security analysts' decision-making processes. Palo Alto Networks enhanced its Charlotte AI platform with tools that automate incident triage and initiate policy-driven responses. Defending Against AI-Powered Attacks Most concerning is how threat actors are wielding AI as a weapon. Cybercriminals and nation-states now use AI to generate convincing phishing emails, create deepfakes for elaborate scams, discover vulnerabilities, and customize attacks based on individuals' online behavior. The most alarming development is how AI democratizes cybercrime, making advanced hacking techniques accessible to almost anyone. This arms race means AI-powered attacks require equally sophisticated AI defenses. While a trend, there isn't dedicated protection against AI attacks. Instead, nearly every company I spoke with at the event recognized the threat and is enhancing offerings to better address it. Platformization: The Rise of Security Giants Cybersecurity platforms function as digital superstores — integrated systems providing multiple security functions through a single interface. Benefits include simplified management through unified dashboards, improved threat detection through tool communication, reduced costs through consolidated licensing, consistent protection across systems, and faster incident response. Palo Alto Networks pioneered this trend, evolving from a network security provider to a comprehensive platform. CrowdStrike expanded from endpoint protection to a full-scale security platform with its Falcon offering, while SentinelOne transformed its Singularity solution into a broader platform. Tech giants like Microsoft, Cisco, and Google follow similar paths. Protection Moves into the Data Path Traditional cybersecurity has functioned as a wall around digital assets. A new approach is emerging: embedding protection directly into data management systems. This "in-line" security continuously monitors and safeguards data as it moves, is accessed, and is stored. Nearly every storage provider is doing something in this space. NetApp has integrated real-time malware scanning directly into their storage systems, automatically checking files for threats whenever they're saved or accessed, all without requiring separate security software or adding delays. IBM offers similar technology across its storage portfolio. Infinidat, the only storage vendor exhibiting at RSAC this year, takes an even bolder approach by offering actual guarantees around data recovery after a cyberattack. Its storage solutions include built-in capabilities ensuring organizations can recover data without paying ransom, backed by a financial guarantee with specific recovery time objectives. Pure Storage supports immutable snapshots and offers comprehensive SLAs for ransomware recovery in its Evergreen//One storage-as-a-service offering. Hewlett-Packard Enterprise recently announced similar capabilities for its B10000 Alletra storage systems. OT and the Edge: The New Security Frontier Operational Technology refers to the hardware and software that monitor and control physical equipment and processes. These systems run power plants, water treatment facilities, manufacturing lines, oil refineries, and transportation networks. For decades, these industrial systems were largely isolated from the internet, creating an "air gap" that made them difficult to hack remotely. That world has disappeared. Today's industrial facilities are rapidly connecting their operational systems to corporate networks and the internet, creating dangerous new attack surfaces. Unlike typical cyberattacks that might result in stolen data or financial losses, attacks on industrial systems can have physical, real-world consequences. Securing these environments requires specialized approaches: Asset Visibility: Organizations are investing in specialized tools to discover and monitor all industrial devices and systems OT-Specific Security: Implementing security technologies specifically designed for industrial systems Network Segmentation: Dividing networks into isolated zones to prevent attackers from moving from business systems to critical operational systems Supply Chain Security: Securing complex equipment and software supply chains against tampering and compromises A small but growing segment of the cybersecurity industry is dedicated to protecting these environments. Cisco's Industrial Threat Platform directly addresses these concerns, announcing new capabilities at RSAC. It integrates new threat intelligence from Cisco Vulnerability Management and provides new industrial zone protection in its Cyber Vision and Secure Firewall. TXOne Networks, a startup specializing in OT protection, showcased its Stellar endpoint protection solution. Stellar enables AI-powered threat detection, zero-trust segmentation, and real-time behavioral monitoring for OT environments. The Road Ahead: Cybersecurity's Evolution The trends highlighted at this year's RSA Conference paint a clear picture of cybersecurity's future. The industry is moving from isolated security tools to comprehensive platforms, from perimeter defenses to protection embedded in the data path, and from primarily digital concerns to securing the physical-digital intersection. Meanwhile, AI has introduced a complex three-dimensional challenge: it must be protected as a valuable enterprise asset, leveraged as a powerful defensive tool, and countered as a formidable weapon in attackers' arsenals. Enterprises that adapt to this new reality will be positioned to thrive in an increasingly connected world. Those that cling to outdated security paradigms may find themselves dangerously exposed. The message from RSAC 2025 is clear: cybersecurity is no longer just an IT concert but a fundamental business imperative requiring strategic investment and continuous evolution. As attack surfaces expand and threats grow more sophisticated, the most successful organizations will embrace these emerging trends and build security into every aspect of their operations. Robust cybersecurity is about more than just avoiding disaster; Cybersecurity is about enabling innovation and growth with confidence. Disclosure: Steve McDowell is an industry analyst, and NAND Research is an industry analyst firm, that engages in, or has engaged in, research, analysis and advisory services with many technology companies, including HPE, IBM, Infinidat, NetApp, Pure Storage, and SentinelOne. Mr. McDowell does not hold any equity positions with any company mentioned.

Inventor and physicist Thomas Senkel created an Internet sensation with the October 2011 video of his maiden—and only—test flight of a spidery proof-of-concept 16-rotor helicopter dubbed Multicopter 1. Now the maker of the experimental personal aviation craft, the European start-up e-volo, is back with a revised "volocopter" design that adds two more rotors, a serial hybrid drive and long-term plans for going to 100 percent battery power. The new design calls for 1.8-meter, 0.5-kilogram carbon-fiber blades, each paired with a motor. They are arrayed around a hub in two concentric circles over a boxy one- or two-person cockpit. After awarding the volocopter concept a Lindbergh Prize for Innovation in April, Yolanka Wulff, executive director of The Charles A. and Anne Morrow Lindbergh Foundation, admitted the idea of the multi-blade chopper at first seems "nutty." Looking beyond the novel appearance, however, she says, e-volo's concept excels in safety, energy efficiency and simplicity, which were the bases of the prize. All three attributes arrive thanks largely to evolo's removal of classic helicopter elements. First, the energy-robbing high-mass main rotor, transmission, tail boom and tail rotor are gone. The enormous blades over a normal chopper's cabin create lift, but their mass creates a high degree of stress and wear on the craft. And the small tail rotor, perched vertically out on a boom behind the cabin, keeps the helicopter's body from spinning in the opposite direction as the main blades, but it also eats up about 30 percent of a helicopter's power. The volocopter's multiple rotor blades individually would not create the torque that a single large rotor produces, and they offer redundancy for safety. Hypothetically, the volocopter could fly with a few as 12 functioning rotors, as long as those rotors were not all clustered together on one side, says Senkel, the aircraft's co-inventor and e-volo's lead construction engineer. Without the iconic two-prop configuration, the craft would be lighter, making it more fuel efficient and reducing the physical complexity of delivering power to the top and rear blades from a single engine. Nor would the volocopter need an energy-hungry transmission. In fact, "there will be no mechanical connection between the gas engine and the blades," Senkel says. That means fewer points of energy loss and more redundancy for safety. E-volo's design eliminates the dependence on a single source of power to the blades. As a serial-hybrid vehicle, the volocopter would have a gas-fueled engine, in this case an engine capable of generating 50- to 75 kilowatts, typical of ultralight aircraft. Rather than mechanically drive the rotors, the engine would generate power for electric motors as well as charge onboard lithium batteries. Should it fail, the batteries are expected to provide enough backup power so the craft could make a controlled landing. Whereas helicopters navigate by changing the pitch of the main and tail rotor blades, the volocopter's maneuverability will depend on changing the speed of individual rotors. Although more complex, it is more precise in principle to control a craft using three to six redundant microcontrollers (in case one or more fails) interpreting instructions from a pilot using a game console–like joystick—instead of rudder pedals, a control stick and a throttle. Wulff's first impression about the volocopter's design is not uncommon. E-volo's computer-animated promotional videos of a gleaming white, carbon-fiber and fiberglass craft beneath a thatch of blades recall the many-winged would-be flying machines of the late 19th century. This point is not lost on Senkel. "I understand these skeptical opinions," he says. "The design concept looks like a blender. But we really are making a safe flying machine." That would be progress in itself. Multicopter 1 looked like something from an especially iffy episode of MacGyver, complete with landing gear that involved a silver yoga ball. Senkel rode seated amid all those rotors powered only by lithium batteries. Multicopter 1 generated an average of 20 kilowatts for hovering and was aloft for just a few minutes. There's a reason why the experimental craft flew briefly and only once.Senkel describes that first craft as "glued and screwed together." Seated on the same platform as the spinning blades, he says, "I was aware of the fact that I will be dead, maybe. Besides, we showed that the concept works. What do we win if we fly it twice?" he asks rhetorically. Other than putting the pilot safely below the blades, the revised volocopter design would operate largely the same as the initial prototype. The design calls for three to six redundant accelerometers and gyroscopes to measure the volocopter's position and orientation, creating a feedback loop that gives the craft stability and makes it easier to fly, Senkel says. The volocopter's revised prototype under construction could debut as soon as next spring. The first production models, available in perhaps three years, are expected to fly for at least an hour at speeds exceeding 100 kilometers per hour and a minimum altitude of about 2,000 meters, still far shy of standard helicopter's normal operating altitude of about 3,000 meters. "This could change our lives, but I don't expect anything like that for 10 years," Senkel adds. Given that most of the technology needed to build the volocopter is already available, "this idea is fairly easy to realize," says Carl Kühn, managing director of e-volo partner Smoto GmbH, a company that integrates electric drive systems and related components. Like Senkel, Kühn has modest short-term expectations despite his repeated emphasis on the standard nature of the technology involved. "I guess that e-volo will have [a prototype] aircraft in three years that can do the job—that it will lift one or two persons from one point to another," he says. The biggest immediate limitations appear to be regulatory. For instance, European aviation regulators consider any electrical system greater than 60 volts to be high voltage and regulate such systems more aggressively, Kühn says. As a result, the volocopter will operate below that threshold. The craft will also need to weigh no more than 450 kilograms to remain in the ultralight category, which is likewise subject to fewer government aviation regulations, according to Senkel. The Lindbergh Foundation's Wulff says the organization's judges felt e-volo had "a greater than 50 percent chance of succeeding, or they wouldn't have given them the innovation award." Asked if she would line up to fly one someday, she says, "I sure would. It looks very compelling to me." Follow Scientific American on Twitter @SciAm and @SciamBlogs. Visit ScientificAmerican.com for the latest in science, health and technology news. © 2012 ScientificAmerican.com. All rights reserved.

A month after launch, a small percentage of The Elder Scrolls IV: Oblivion Remastered players have completed the main questline. But for a game like this, that’s not particularly surprising — fans are saying they’re way too busy doing other stuff.I’m one of those fans! I’ve been playing and enjoying Oblivion Remastered since it shadow-dropped on April 22, and upon leaving the sewers and handing over the Amulet of Kings to Jauffre at Weynon Priory, I’ve done everything BUT the main questline. I’ve joined the Fighters Guild, explored Cyrodiil, and completed loads of side quests. I’ve even tried to brute force my way out of the map, as one player managed to do.Why? Well, the side quests in Oblivion are brilliant fun (I won’t spoil any story stuff here), but I'm also trying to avoid the main quest (and potentially difficult parts of it like Kvatch) for the time being while keeping leveling up to a minimum.PlaySo, I’ve decided to enjoy Oblivion until I get bored enough to play the game properly. Although there is no properly with a Bethesda game like this one, is there? That’s why they’re brilliant. You do what you want whenever you want, and the game still works.It seems a lot of other players are doing the same thing. “I'm BUSY doing OTHER STUFF like hunting for SLAUGHTERFISH in Lake Rumare,” the wonderfully named redditor MrCrispyFriedChicken said in response to the percentage completion stats for finishing Oblivion Remastered’s main questline.“I spend 160 hours in already and Kvatch is still waiting for me,” added Roffear. “I'm one of those weirdos who actually likes the Oblivion gates so I purposefully don't finish the main quest until I've found all 60 gates in my world and closed them,” said Ellert0. “44 hours and an actual in-game year, and I haven't even been to Weynon Priory,” said PlayaHatinIG-88. “Those poor Kvatch city guards never stood a chance.”At the time of this article’s publication, a paltry 2.97% had completed Oblivion Remastered's main questline on Xbox and a slightly better 4.4% had on Steam. Why the difference? I presume that’s because Xbox factors in Game Pass, which will have seen a number of players dip their toe into Oblivion Remastered before bouncing. Steam players are all in, of course, because they actually bought the game outright.     Either way, it’s still a low percentage for Oblivion Remastered, which has so far seen over 4 million players. But in truth most video games have a surprisingly low campaign completion rate, whether it’s an epic, 100-hour open-world fantasy role-playing game like Oblivion Remastered or a five-hour story like Call of Duty. Indeed, a lot of games have a surprisingly low percentage of players who stick around after an hour or so or continue playing after the tutorial. Such is the fickle nature of the gamer.For Oblivion Remastered, the stats may be skewed further because it’s a remaster of a beloved game many of its players finished back in the day. If you completed Oblivion's main quest 20 years ago, perhaps you’re less inclined to do it again now, and would rather focus on all the pretty new visuals and upgraded bits and bobs. Or, as one player has done, spend seven hours lining up books to get a Dominoes chain reaction just right.Thaddeus122 said they were almost 100 hours in and hadn’t even completed three of the main quests. They have, however, completed the Arena and the Mages Guild. And the rest of the time? “Leveling, getting money for homes, closing all the Oblivion gates, the Nirnroot quest, a bunch of little quests. To be fair, also don't fast travel anywhere.”Wesley is the UK News Editor for IGN. Find him on Twitter at @wyp100. You can reach Wesley at wesley_yinpoole@ign.com or confidentially at wyp100@proton.me.