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Microsoft’s August 2025 security updates are breaking recovery tools on Windows 10 and Windows 11 PCs

by admin August 20, 2025

Microsoft has acknowledged an issue with its recent August 2025 security updates that prevent users from resetting or recovering their systems using built-in Windows tools. According the company, the bug affects older versions of Windows 11 including 23H2 and 22H2 as well as Windows 10 22H2, Windows 10 Enterprise LTSC 2019/2021, and Windows 10 IoT Enterprise LTSC 2019/2021.

Installing this month’s security updates can potentially break the Windows recovery options for users. Those attempting to reinstall Windows without losing their personal files through the Reset this PC feature may run into failures. Similarly, the Fix problems using Windows Update feature, which attempts to reinstall the current version of the OS on your device while preserving all your apps, documents, and settings, is also broken. Microsoft has also warned that the bug could affect IT administrators who rely on the RemoteWipe configuration service provider to reset devices remotely.

According to testing by Windows Latest, attempts to reset a PC on Windows 11 23H2 using the Reset this PC feature causes the process to start and then roll back immediately, leaving the reset incomplete. After this failure, no personal files are lost, but the recovery feature becomes unusable. Additionally, Windows doesn’t give any warning that the reset process can fail, meaning most people won’t realize there’s a problem until they actually try to reset their PC.

Ghost of Yotei’s gamescom Opening Night Live trailer is good, but it’s made better by that Legends teaser

by admin August 20, 2025

We were promised a new look at Ghost of Yotei at this year’s gamescom, and Opening Night Live indeed kept that promise. The Geoff Keighley-hosted show was full of updated looks at previously-announced games, as well as some fresh game reveals.

Sucker Punch was among the developers in attendance, and the team brought something special for fans of the upcoming Ghost of Tsushima sequel.

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Today’s trailer was actually one of Yotei’s best so far, blending quick cuts of the game’s action combat with a couple of menacing moments with the game’s villains. Nothing too unexpected here – except, of course, for that tease at the end.

Legends, the online co-op mode that came to Tsushima in a free update, will return in Yotei. It won’t be available at launch, however, and will instead arrive in a free update in 2026. Legends will feature new story missions for two players, alongside four-player survival matches.

There’s going to be four playable character classes, and some of the bosses you’ll come up against will be fantastical, demonic versions of the game’s Yotei Six gang of outlaws. We didn’t get to see much from Legends in today’s reveal, but the news will definitely make a lot of people happy.

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For a game coming out in about six weeks, we actually haven’t seen all that much of Ghost of Yotei. Gameplay was kept under wraps practically since the moment Yotei was initially announced. It wasn’t until July that the game got its own, dedicated State of Play presentation from Sony.

Today’s showcase certainly helped keep that hype train chugging, even if we still like to see more of the open-world action RPG. That said, it continues to appear as a fairly straightforward sequel, so there may – understandably – be not much more to show.

Ghost of Yotei arrives October 2 on PS5.

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August 20, 2025 0 comments

NFT Gaming

‘Wilder World’ Launches First-Person Shooter Game With $100K Tournament

by admin August 20, 2025

In brief

Wilder World launched a 10-player shooter game mode in “super early access” at Gamescom, featuring deathmatch gameplay in a recreated Miami setting called Wiami.
The Ethereum-based project is hosting a $100,000 tournament from August 25 to September 24, with five finalists receiving all-expenses-paid trips to compete in person.
This shooter represents the second release in Wilder World’s broader metaverse vision targeting early 2026, which will include racing, combat, mining, concerts, and other experiences.

Wilder World launched a high-intensity shooter game mode into “super early access” at the annual Gamescom conference on Wednesday.

The Ethereum-based project aims to create a broad metaverse of gaming experiences, which kick-started last year with the launch of the racing game Wilder Wheels in partnership with Lamborghini.

The PC-based shooter is a 10-player free-for-all deathmatch that blends first and third-person perspectives. Available on Epic Games Store, each match will last for 10 minutes, with players earning points as they battle in a fragment of Wiami—which is a 1:1 recreation of Miami, and the future foundation of its open-world metaverse. Gamescom attendees will also be able to claim Samsung-branded playable NFTs.

To celebrate the launch of the game, Wilder Worlds is hosting a $100,000 tournament with qualifiers running from August 25 to September 9, before a round of playoffs and finally an in-person final at an undisclosed location on September 24. The five players who qualify will be flown out to the final, all expenses paid.

Wilder World’s shooter game mode comes as the second release in its broader metaverse vision, which is targeting an early 2026 rollout.

Pseudonymous co-founder and Executive Producer n3o told Decrypt that the full game will include “racing, combat, resource mining, exploration, concerts, art galleries, and branded cultural experiences” that “coexist within a living, player-driven economy.”

“Launching individual modes first allows us to refine gameplay mechanics at a world-class level before bringing everything together into the open world,” they added.

The project launched an Ethereum token in 2021 and approximately six months later set its all-time high of $7.44, according to CoinGecko. Wilder World said that the launch of WILD was “foundational” to building the game, as it raised over $30 million to fund development. Over the past month, WILD has climbed 37% to about $0.40, but still remains down nearly 95% from its peak price.

“Think of [Wilder World] as the world’s first truly living digital city—where you can race, fight, build, trade, attend a concert, showcase your art, or launch your own brand.” n3o told Decrypt. “We are targeting early 2026 for the full open-world release, with Super Early Access modes like racing and FPS serving as the foundation that evolves into this broader vision.”

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August 20, 2025 0 comments

Crypto Trends

UK BTC ETNs Are a Turning Point for Britain’s Role in Crypto, Industry Participants Say

by admin August 20, 2025

After four years in the wilderness, bitcoin

exchange traded notes (ETN) are set to return to London and the change could prove more significant than many expect.

Starting Oct. 8, crypto ETN products, which allow retail investors to gain exposure to cryptocurrencies without buying the tokens themselves, will become available after being banned by the Financial Conduct Authority (FCA) in January 2021. The regulators argued at the time that extreme volatility, susceptibility to fraud and the difficulty of valuation made them too risky for retail investors.

But the ban also left the U.K. lagging behind developments elsewhere. The U.S. spot exchange-traded funds have been a resounding success, with more than $65 billion dollars flowing into bitcoin and ether (ETH) ETFs since their inception in January last year, data from SoSoValue show. European investors also have access to a range of exchange-traded products. U.K. investors were forced to look abroad for regulated exposure, often turning to Strategy (MSTR) stock as a proxy.

“The importance of bitcoin exchange traded notes coming to London is being underestimated,” Charlie Morris, the founder of digital asset investment firm ByteTree, said in an interview. “London is the world’s second-largest financial center, and many funds have touch points with London, whether it be custody, trading, legal or settlement.”

The ban, for example, locked products complying with UCITS, the European framework for regulated mutual funds and ETFs, from accessing crypto if they wanted to have contact with the London-based financial system.

“This will change. Bitcoin is about to be opened up to the global fund market, and there will be legal clarity. This could be as important as the USA launches last year, and possibly more so over time. Sustained demand for bitcoin remains underpinned for years to come through exchange traded notes,” Morris said.

The reversal signals a recalibration. Britain, once an early crypto hub with initiatives from then Chancellor Rishi Sunak and firms like Jersey-based CoinShares, is moving to reassert relevance. Industry figures such as former Chancellor George Osborne, who is now an adviser to Coinbase, have warned that London risks falling behind if it does not embrace innovation.

“The Financial Conduct Authority’s reversal signals more than a rule change. It is a clear sign that the winds are shifting in the U.K.’s financial landscape, with policymakers now keen to keep the country relevant in a fast-evolving global market,” said Bitcoin OG Nicholas Gregory.

Even so, the complex structure of the country’s investment-advice industry may mean take up is slower than proponents assume, said Peter Lane, CEO of Jacobi Asset Management. Just because the products are legal, doesn’t mean they will be offered to clients.

“The U.K. adviser network is highly fragmented, with IFAs [independent financial advisers], restricted and tied advisers all operating under different models,” he said. “It will take time for firms across these groups to evaluate the implications of the crypto ETN ban being lifted, assess suitability frameworks, and build the necessary due diligence processes before they are in a position to consider offering or recommending such products to clients.”

UPDATE (Aug. 20, 07:48 UTC): Adds wider unbanning of crypto ETNs in second paragraph.

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August 20, 2025 0 comments

Gaming Gear

The best wireless mice for 2025

by admin August 20, 2025

There’s a reason the MX Master 3S is right up the top of our list. The ergonomic design almost feels like a hand rest that places three customizable buttons and a second scroll wheel within easy reach of your thumb. Every button is configurable via Logitech’s Options+ software, which is a treasure trove of productivity potential.

Beyond standard customization options such as click-speed and scroll direction, you can assign all manner of shortcuts and create profiles for specific apps — so the buttons do different things depending on the app you’re using at the time. “Smart Actions” take things up a notch, allowing you to bring an app to the foreground, perform a series of keystrokes, automate text entry and even restart or shutdown your PC. We’re fully in the AI era, so of course there’s a way to summon ChatGPT here, too. Closing a Zoom meeting, muting your volume and summarizing your notes in a team email in one click? With the MX Master 3S you can.

Logitech’s flagship mouse is also quite practical. The MX Master 3S offers 70 days of use between charges, which is plenty. Even if you’re caught short, a minute or two of charge time will get you through the rest of your working day. The sensor is highly responsive with an 8K DPI (Dots Per Inch) and the button clicks are quieter than a literal mouse. At 170g, it’s sturdy but hardly lightweight — in case that’s important to you. Multi-device connectivity isn’t rare, but with the MX Master 3S you can also seamlessly work between two PCs at the same time. It detects when you reach the edge of the screen on one before switching to the other — it’ll even let you copy and paste files between them as well.

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August 20, 2025 0 comments

Esports

Black Ops 7 devs address Call of Duty’s controversial skins

by admin August 20, 2025

Black Ops 7 devs have opened up about controversial Call of Duty skins, mentioning how they’re considering feedback from the community.

Much like any other shooter, the Call of Duty franchise offers a plethora of different skins that players can use, some of which are part of limited-time crossovers from different franchises.

Black Ops 6, for example, has its share of crossover skins or bundles that players are fond of. However, it’s no secret that some out there have not been well-received by the community.

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One major complaint stems from how the choices of some characters feel out of place, leading to fans dubbing them ‘wacky’ as they clash with the game’s aesthetics. As the hype for Black Ops 7 mounts, devs have spoken up regarding players’ feedback on this very subject.

Black Ops 7 devs are paying attention to feedback for skins

activisionCall of Duty has been releasing goofy skins like this for years.

In an interview with IGN, Associate Creative Director Miles Leslie responded to a question on whether fans can expect to see these kinds of designs in the upcoming title.

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Having thought about this, he explained that the team is “always looking at community feedback.

“We always try to make sure that we are trying to touch the widest audience. I’ve had the pleasure of working on Call of Duty now for almost 20 years, and we’re constantly looking at ways to push into different audiences and fans, and that’s what you saw with that; there are fans that really love it,” he added.

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He’s aware that “there are fans who those may not be their favorite.” That said, he assured players that the team is going to “try to calibrate that” as they “move forward” and “take that feedback seriously.”

Ultimately, he stressed: “But again, we are trying to make sure that all fans feel represented in the game and figuring out that tight balance is something we’re paying attention to.”

As many players have already pointed out, one of the main issues with some crossovers is that they feel “cartoonish” in a game like CoD. This is a very different case from Fortnite, which has a stylized look instead of a more realistic and gritty style.

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Black Ops 7 is set to release on November 14, 2025. It’ll still be a while until then, but so far, devs have shared plenty of details, such as having more Mystery camos, Tac-Sprint change, as well as 16 6v6 maps.

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August 20, 2025 0 comments

GameFi Guides

CFTC Wins Summary Judgment in $228M Crypto Ponzi Case

by admin August 20, 2025

In brief

A federal judge ordered Eddy Alexandre and EminiFX to pay $228.5 million in restitution to victims of a crypto Ponzi scheme that promised fake weekly returns of 5% to 9.99% using nonexistent “AI trading technology.”
Alexandre exploited his position of trust within Long Island’s Haitian community and his own church congregation to recruit over 25,000 investors between September 2021 and May 2022.
The CFTC’s civil victory follows Alexandre’s July 2023 criminal sentencing to nine years in prison, with court-appointed receivers already distributing recovered funds to defrauded investors since January 2025.

A federal judge has ordered Eddy Alexandre and his company EminiFX to pay $228.5 million in restitution to investors who lost money in what authorities called a ‘brazen’ crypto Ponzi scheme that bilked over 25,000 people out of more than $248 million.

U.S. District Judge Valerie Caproni granted summary judgment Tuesday in favor of the Commodity Futures Trading Commission in its civil enforcement action against Alexandre.

The ruling comes after Alexandre was already sentenced to nine years in federal prison last July for his role in operating the fraudulent EminiFX trading platform.

Alexandre, who represented himself, opposed the CFTC’s motion but failed to present evidence disputing the fraud claims.

The CFTC set restitution based on investor contributions minus withdrawals, with Judge Caproni adding $15 million in disgorgement, offset by restitution payments.

“Fraud persists, now often cloaked in high-tech buzzwords like AI and crypto,” Even Alex Chandra, partner at IGNOS Law Alliance, told Decrypt, adding how “rigorous verification is essential” for ventures promising outsized returns.

“Groups with limited financial literacy are prime targets,” he added, making investor education crucial for community protection. “No matter how trendy the technology, labels like AI or crypto do not prevent fraudulent activity.”

U.S. Attorney Damian Williams previously called Alexandre’s conduct “brazen,” noting he exploited trust in his church and Haitian community to draw in investors.

A history of fraud

Federal prosecutors first brought charges three years back, when Alexandre was arrested for commodities and wire fraud after soliciting $59 million from early investors.

Alexandre operated EminiFX from September 2021 through May 2022, promising investors “guaranteed” weekly returns of 5% to 9.99% through automated crypto and forex trading using what he called a “trade secret” technology dubbed “Robo-Advisor Assisted Account (RA3).”

EminiFX lost money during 24 of its 30 weeks of operation, and even in its best week, when Alexandre reported returns of 9.98%, the actual return was just 2.28%.

“The weekly figures [he] provided were not based on investment returns,” Alexandre admitted in a criminal sentencing letter.

Prosecutors said Alexandre diverted at least $15 million to personal accounts, spending on luxury cars, including a BMW and a Mercedes-Benz.

“Alexandre’s guilty plea in the Criminal Action prevents him from denying liability,” the court determined, applying the doctrine of collateral estoppel, which prevents defendants from re-litigating issues already decided in prior proceedings.

An equity receiver appointed by the court has been overseeing asset recovery efforts, with distributions to defrauded investors already underway since January 2025.

The case remains open as recovery efforts continue.

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August 20, 2025 0 comments

Game Updates

Resident Evil Requiem Trailer Shows Us More Of Grace’s Past

by admin August 20, 2025

Capcom showed up to Gamescom Opening Night Live with a new look at Resident Evil Requiem, and it told us a little bit more about Grace Ashcroft, the star of this next entry in the long-running horror series. There wasn’t much gameplay, but we did see an extended story segment showing Grace with her mother years before the main events of the game.

Some might call what Capcom showed a bit too spoilery for their liking, as we see the lead-up to Grace’s mother’s death eight years before the bulk of Requiem‘s story, though Capcom had already confirmed the status of Grace’s mother back when the game was officially announced back at Summer Game Fest. The short clip we saw showed both women trying to escape an incoming threat, but Grace’s mother is cagey on the details as she drags her daughter to safety. As it becomes clear that there is danger afoot, Grace has a panic attack her mother soothes, and shortly after she promises she’ll explain what’s going on soon, we get a hard cut to black and some gross sounds. We’ll probably find out specifics as we get closer to the game’s February 27 release date. Check out the trailer below:

There’s not much to go on here, so it’s unclear at this time how Requiem connects to previous Resident Evil games. Maybe it won’t have much connective tissue now that it’s focusing on a new protagonist, but if the last few games have taught us anything, it’s that Chris Redfield and company find some way to get involved sooner or later. Resident Evil Requiem is coming to PC, PlayStation 5, and Xbox Series X/S, and maintains the first-person perspective of the past two entries. However, like Resident Evil Village, Requiem will have the option to play in third-person if you so choose.

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August 20, 2025 0 comments

Product Reviews

How the Casting of ‘Andor’ Brought More Powerful Women to ‘Star Wars’

by admin August 20, 2025

The extraordinary ensemble seen in Andor exemplified the best of Star Wars and brought more iconic heroes and villains to the franchise in two unforgettable seasons. Led by Genevieve O’Reilly, reprising her role as Mon Mothma, the women of the Disney+ series really carved out their legacies within the Lucasfilm universe.

In a behind-the-scenes featurette for Andor, casting directors Nina Gold and Martin Ware discussed discovering the immense talents of the series’ key leading ladies. Elizabeth Dulau was an utter revelation as Kleya Marki, a season two standout as Luthen Rael’s right-hand spymaster. Gold described their search for Kleya: “Obviously, Stellan Skarsgård is completely a genius. We needed to find someone to play Kleya, who [while] a young woman, could match him in authority and intensity and could go toe-to-toe with him in all situations, and [Dulau] really did that.” We’d have to agree with the sentiment because even when Kleya was no longer sharing moments with Skarsgård’s Luthen, the actress shone in some all-timer scenes, in particular that fateful hospital mission.

Ware knew that finding an equal to match Skarsgård was key for their storyline’s eventual conclusion. “With Stellan, because he kind of plays two parts in a way for quite a lot of the show, the gallery owner requires quite a lot of lightness of touch, and then he’s got the darker side, so it was just finding…”

Gold jumped in, “…Finding someone who could do that journey with him. She really had this inner command and real authority.” And it’s one fans would love to see again if Gilroy ever revisits Andor‘s surviving characters.

An Imperial baddie who we want to see get a bigger cinematic comeuppance is Denise Gough’s Dedra Mero, the overachieving Empire social climber. Gold described the cutthroat villain as an “evil mastermind.” Gough was cast after the casting directors saw her and co-star Kyle Soller on stage. “This was a real amazing showcase for their brilliance on screen. Both of their characters have really gone through a full, really big journey to go from where they started, as she was a very impenetrable, authoritarian boss.”

Ware complimented Gough’s season two transformation. “In season two, Dedra’s character, we see her in a domestic setting. We see her at home. We see her dealing with Syril’s mum. And loving Syril in her own very strange, peculiar way.” But of course her ambition leads her to abandon the simple fascist family life for bigger things that blow up in her face.

Gold and Ware had their work cut out for them insofar as what Gilroy wanted for Cassian’s romantic partner, Bix. Thankfully they found it all with Adria Arjona. “[As] soon as she did her first five words of her first audition, it suddenly became really obvious that it must be her.”

Gold explained that Bix needed to be more than just a love interest and demonstrate that she too was a capable fighter within the rebellion, which Arjona easily handled. “She had such an incredible mix of the other kind of strength and resilience of Bix and the vulnerability and willingness to go through this immense journey that Bix has to go through. She was one of the few people who we were able to get in the room to do a chemistry test with Diego [Luna], and again that just cemented it very clearly that they were really meant to be playing these parts opposite each other.” And we agree that Arjona and Luna’s performances gave Andor its heart as well as the hope the show’s lead sacrificed so much for.

According to Ware, the casting process was shaped by both the script and Andor‘s creator. “The script alone is so detailed and precise about character and intention that it’s quite easy for us to start thinking about brilliant actors to bring them to life. But then Tony Gilroy also would love to talk about other thoughts he had on the characters before we headed out there making lists and auditioning actors.”

Gold added that Gilroy’s input along the way really brought out what the galaxy needed in its heroes and villains to serve the incredible overarching story Andor brought to our screens. “It was fascinating because Tony’s interest in character is so detailed and wonderful, and he’s very flexible in his thinking,” Gold said. “When he sees something in an actor that’s not necessarily the thing that he’d originally thought, he’s quite happy to make some changes in his thought process if it seems the right thing to do. And also the writing is so appealing to actors because it is so interesting and good.”

The trio don’t even round out the rest of the supremely talented actresses showcased in Andor, but the galaxy is a better place because of them, that’s for sure. Watch the clip below!

Want more io9 news? Check out when to expect the latest Marvel, Star Wars, and Star Trek releases, what’s next for the DC Universe on film and TV, and everything you need to know about the future of Doctor Who.

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August 20, 2025 0 comments

NFT Gaming

Trump Family Expands Crypto Bets as Thumzup Pivots Into Dogecoin Mining

by admin August 20, 2025

Thumzup Media Corp. (TZUP), which counts Donald Trump Jr. as a large shareholder, said it will acquire Dogehash Technologies, Inc. in an all-stock deal, pivoting from digital marketing into industrial-scale crypto mining

Under the agreement, Dogehash shareholders will receive 30.7 million Thumzup shares, according to a Tuesday release, valuing the transaction at $153.8 million, based on the shares’ closing price. The combined company will rebrand as Dogehash Technologies Holdings, Inc. and list on Nasdaq under the ticker XDOG, pending shareholder approval later this year.

Dogehash operates about 2,500 Scrypt ASIC miners across renewable-powered data centers in North America, with plans to scale up further in 2026. Unlike firms that pad their balance sheets by simply buying coins, Dogehash has invested in its own infrastructure, giving it direct exposure to dogecoin

and litecoin block rewards at a lower cost base.

The deal comes on the heels of Thumzup’s $50 million stock offering in July, earmarked for mining expansion and digital asset accumulation. The company says it will also use Dogecoin’s DogeOS layer 2 to stake in DeFi products, aiming to boost miner returns beyond standard rewards.

This new deal adds to the Trump family’s expanding crypto empire. Eric Trump and Donald Jr. launched American Bitcoin earlier this year with Hut 8, which has over 60,000 miners.

Meanwhile, World Liberty Financial, another Trump-backed venture, struck a $1.5 billion deal with Nasdaq-listed ALT5 Sigma to inject its WLFI token into the firm’s treasury.

Thumzup stock fell 41% to $5.01 on Tuesday.

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August 20, 2025 0 comments