Technology

If you're unhappy with Microsoft, you're not the only one.

The company behind the Xbox brand has raised a lot of ire in recent months for a lot of different reasons. It's a priority target for the BDS movement, there have been mass layoffs, and Xbox in general has had a hard time actually releasing new games that people want to play amidst all of that. And now, Xbox Game Pass Ultimate costs $30/mo, a 50 percent price increase from what it used to be.

If you want to cancel or downgrade your subscription for any of the reasons above, here's how.

SEE ALSO: Xbox Game Pass Ultimate is about to cost more — here's how to lock in a better price Xbox Game Pass price hike: How to cancel or downgrade your subscription

Helpfully, Microsoft has support pages on its website for all of this. You can cancel or downgrade your Game Pass subscription from either an Xbox console or a web browser. Here's how you do it on a console:

1. Press the Xbox button

2. Go to Profile & System

3. Go to Settings

4. Go to Account

5. Go to Subscription

6. Select "Cancel Subscription" or "Change Subscription"

If you want to do it on a web browser instead, here's how:

1. Go to Microsoft's Subscriptions website and log in

2. Find your subscription and select "Manage"

3. Select either "Cancel Subscription" if you want to cancel, or "Turn off recurring billing" if you want to downgrade

If you're trying to downgrade, after you turn off recurring billing, you should see a section that gives you other, cheaper subscription options. Pick the one that's best for you and go with God, as they say.

SAVE OVER $30: As of Oct. 2, the Lego Icons Dune Atreides Royal Ornithopter set is on sale at Amazon for $133.99. This is $31 (19%) off its list price of $164.99.

Opens in a new window Credit: Lego Lego Icons Dune Atreides Royal Ornithopter $133.99 at Amazon
$164.99 Save $31 Get Deal

Ahead of its next big sale event, Prime Big Deal Days, Amazon has quite a selection of early Lego deals to look through. If you're a fan, it's a great time to shop for sets. One of our favorite deals to cross our radar before the October Prime Day sale is on the Lego Icons Dune Atreides Royal Ornithopter set, which is over $30 off at the moment.

More specifically, the Lego Icons Dune Atreides Royal Ornithopter set has received a $31 discount that's dropped it's price from $164.99 to $133.99. This price is also very close to its lowest-ever price of $131.95, so if you've been waiting for a good time to get it now is as good a time as any.

SEE ALSO: Target announced dates for its fall Target Circle Week. Duh, it's during Prime Day.

The Lego Icons Dune Atreides Royal Ornithopter set is a great pick-up for Dune fans. Its 1,369 pieces come together to create a Lego version of the Dune Atreides Royal Ornithopter, complete with wings that fold out and flap and landing gear that can be deployed. It even comes with eight minifigures: Paul Atreides, Lady Jessica, Gurney Halleck, Chani, Leto Atreides, Liet Kynes, Duncan Idaho, and Baron Harkonnen.

This set is also recommended for those aged 18 and up, but if you know a younger fan who really wants to build it, just give them a hand in the process. Who knows how much longer it'll stay down at this price, so be quick to grab the Lego Icons Dune Atreides Royal Ornithopter set for $133.99 at Amazon.

Alongside Lego sets being discounted, there are plenty more early deals to check out right now at Amazon. Have a look at our breakdown of 30+ early deals to shop now to see what else is available at the moment.

SAVE $45: As of Oct. 2, the Amazon Fire HD 8 tablet is on sale for $54.99 at Amazon. That's a 45% savings on the list price.

Opens in a new window Credit: Amazon Amazon Fire HD 8 tablet $54.99 at Amazon
$99.99 Save $45.00 Get Deal

If you're impatiently waiting for a Prime Day bargain, wait no more. While the official event doesn't kick off until Oct. 7, you can grab a whole range of early Prime Day deals right now. Everything from fitness trackers to TVs and Fire tablets have already been reduced, and this new price on the Amazon Fire HD 8 tablet is hard to beat.

As of Oct. 2, this tablet is now at its lowest price all year. With $45 off the list price, you can now take it home for just $54.99. This price is for the 32GB model, and you can choose between black, emerald, or hibiscus colors.

This tablet is a great option, especially for the new low price. It has an 8-inch HD display that's perfect for watching movies, scrolling social media, and gaming. It even has a 5MP rear camera, so it's good for snapping pictures too.

The battery life promises to last up to 13 hours, so it's ideal for all-day use. It also comes with three handy smart tools to help you perfect your emails, summarize webpages, or even create custom wallpapers. Alexa is built in too, so you can ask it to play music, check the weather, manage your shopping list, or even control your smart home devices like a robot vacuum or light bulbs.

Get this tablet deal from the Amazon website.

A lot of people are afraid, intimidated, or outright angered by the thought of having to switch to an electric car. That's valid—the way these cars function is quite different. But once you've reconfigured your life around EVs, the frustrations of switching back to a gas-powered car are greater than you might think.

SAVE $120: As of Oct. 2, get the Shark FlexStyle for $279.99, down from its usual price of $399.99. That's a discount of 30% and the lowest price we've seen.

Opens in a new window Credit: Amazon Shark FlexStyle $279.99 at Amazon
$399.99 Save $120 Get Deal

Looking for a quick and easy way to get salon-quality hair at home? You don't have to go all-out on something from Dyson or buy all the latest and greatest shampoos and conditioners. There's a more affordable option from Shark, which you can get ahead of Prime Day at a great price right now.

As of Sep. 25, get the Shark FlexStyle for $279.99, down from its usual price of $399.99. That's $120 off and a discount of 30%. It's also the lowest price we've seen.

SEE ALSO: Skip the salon with the Shark FlexStyle for its lowest price yet

This multi-styling tool comes packed with multiple different attachments that let you work with any type of hair. Whether you've got curly, straight, or wavy hair, it can help you volumize, smooth, dry, and style your hair no matter your needs. It's compact, light, and can provide low-heat styling while regulating temperatures 1,000x per second.

Mashable's Bethany Allard was impressed with the FlexStyle after reviewing it, praising it as"100 percent worth it": "Admittedly, I am someone who would much rather put more effort into their makeup than hair, but I found myself wanting to style my hair more often with the FlexStyle," she wrote.

There's no reason you have to stick to paying for expensive hair appointments every time you want a fresh blowout. Grab this Shark FlexStyle while it's on sale and have a good hair day every day.

Ohio's age-verification laws went into effect on September 30. But despite what you might read on Reddit, Pornhub is staying put in the Buckeye State.

Age-verification laws vary across states but typically require a visitor to a site that hosts explicit content to verify their age, beyond simply checking a box indicating they're over 18. In Ohio's in particular, any site that contains "any material or performance that is obscene or harmful to juveniles" must verify visitors' ages using one's photo ID or public or private data — like mortgage, educational, and employment records.

SEE ALSO: Porn censorship is going to destroy the entire internet

In many states where age-verification laws have been enacted, the tube site Pornhub has blocked itself due to the burden of complying with these laws. But Pornhub isn't blocked in Ohio, its owner Aylo told Mashable, nor has it enabled age verification measures.

Unlike other state laws in places where Pornhub removed itself, Ohio's law states that establishing age verification methods doesn't apply to a provider of an interactive computer service (under section 1349.10).

"As a provider of an 'interactive computer service' as defined under Section 230 of the Communications Decency Act, it is our understanding that we are not subject to the obligations under section 1349.10 of the Ohio Revised Code regarding mandated age verification for the 'interactive computer services' we provide, such as Pornhub," Aylo told Mashable in a statement.

Section 230 of the Communications Decency Act of 1996 states that platforms aren't liable for content that users upload onto them.

Aylo goes on to state that it has publicly supported age verification for users for years. "However, we believe that any law to this effect must preserve user safety and privacy and must effectively protect children from accessing content intended for adults."

"Unfortunately, the way many jurisdictions worldwide have chosen to implement age verification is ineffective, haphazard, and failing to meet these basic requirements," it goes on. It then advocates, as it has for years, for device-level filters in order to stop minors from accessing explicit content.

This summer, Pornhub announced that it will comply with the UK's Online Safety Act, its own version of age verification. Such laws have swept the U.S. and abroad (despite experts telling Mashable they don't work and will result in broader censorship), with Pornhub blocking itself in France due to its law as well.

While Pornhub is blocked from many states, Ohioans will be able to access it for the foreseeable future.

When you need a new power tool and wander into any big-box hardware store, you'll see all sorts of options on the shelves. Power tools come in various styles, brands, and price points. Do you own any of the blue Kobalt tools from Lowe's? Here's where Kobalt tools are made and whether they're worth buying.

YouTuber JerryRigEverything dubbed the iPhone Air a "ridiculously strong phone" — so much so that he needed a blowtorch to finish a disassembly.

JerryRigEverything famously breaks electronic devices to show viewers the guts of their favorite phones. His most recent video focuses on the Air, and if you've never seen a phone get blowtorched, well, I recommend it. It's pretty neat and a necessary step for removing a titanium exterior strip from the interior parts of the phone.

SEE ALSO: Review: The new iPhone Air is the sexiest iPhone I've ever tested

It's nearly hypnotizing to see the titanium turn bright orange as the torch keeps piling on the heat.

Breaking a phone by accident is never fun. But watching somebody do it on purpose? That's a great time.

Unfortunately, ransomware has become more and more prevalent in recent years. According to cybersecurity firm Mandiant, ransomware accounted for 21 percent of the intrusion incidents last year. The fact that it's been a growing issue means that it's been working out for hackers and other bad actors. They've been making millions off of ransomware.

But, Google's newest feature is hoping to deal with the ransomware problem by helping users stop its spread and detect it before the problem gets worse. The search giant has announced that it has begun rolling out an AI-powered feature for Google Drive for desktop that detects ransomware, stops the affected files from syncing, and allows the user to easily restore any altered files.

Google Drive for desktop is available for both Windows and Mac and the tool is available for both versions of the app. A commercial Google Workspace subscription is required for the ransomware detection tool. 

Credit: Google

Ransomware works by locking computer files, usually through encryption, from the infected user. The bad actors then extort money out of the victim in exchange for unlocking the files.

In a post, Google explains how ransomware has mostly been dealt as an antivirus issue. While it's obviously important to stop ransomware before the initial infection takes place, Google came up with a solution for when that first layer of protection has been breached.

According to Google, the company has trained AI on millions of ransomware attack samples to notice identifiers that a file is being altered maliciously. The new AI-powered tool is able to then detect a ransomware's attempt to encrypt or corrupt files and intervenes by pausing the files from syncing. As Google describes it, the tool puts a "protective bubble around a user's files." 

The ransomware detection tool in Google Drive for desktop works automatically. Once ransomware is detected, the tool will also automatically pause the syncing of affected files. Users will then receive a desktop and email notification informing them of the ransomware and guide them through the steps to take to restore their affected files.

The role of Google Drive for desktop's tool is to stop the spread of the affected files to other users and devices within an organization. The purpose of ransomware is for bad actors to extort users for monetary gain in exchange for access to their files. If the Google Drive for desktop tool enables users to restore the affected files to their previous state, then the bad actors have failed, even if the ransomware infects a device.

Are you slowly getting into K-pop, K-dramas, and related entertainment niches, but don't know where to find content? Mainstream streaming platforms may host content in many languages, but not all of them have a sizable catalog of Asian titles.

AdGuard for Android has just rolled out version 4.12. There will finally be proper landscape mode support. If you're one of the many who use AdGuard on a tablet, you can now expect a much more convenient experience when holding your device horizontally.

We're nearly at the full moon, which means it's getting bigger each night.

The lunar cycle is a 29.5-day cycle of eight distinct phases of the moon. According to NASA, these phases happen as the Sun lights up different portions of the moon while it orbits Earth.

Keep reading to find out what you can spot in the night sky tonight, October 2.

What is today’s moon phase?

As of Thursday, Oct. 2, the moon phase is Waxing Gibbous, and according to NASA's Daily Moon Observation, 75% of its surface is illuminated tonight.

There's more than half of the moon illuminated tonight, with lots to see. With your naked eye, you'll be able to see the Mare Imbrium, the Mare Serenitatis, and the Mare Fecunditatis. With binoculars, you can also see the Archimedes Crater, Alphonsus Crater, and the Alps Mountains. Grab a telescope to see even more, with the Apollo 14 and Apollo 11 landing spots also in view.

When is the next full moon?

The next full moon will be on Oct. 7. The last full moon was on Sept. 7.

What are moon phases?

According to NASA, the moon’s phases are part of its 29.5-day orbit around Earth. As the moon moves, the angles between the Sun, Moon, and Earth shift, creating the changing phases we see. From our perspective, the moon sometimes appears full, sometimes seems to vanish completely, but we always see the same side. What changes is how much sunlight is reflected off its surface, depending on its position in orbit.

This is how we get full moons, half moons, and moons that appear completely invisible. There are eight main moon phases, and they follow a repeating cycle:

New Moon - The moon is between Earth and the sun, so the side we see is dark (in other words, it's invisible to the eye).

Waxing Crescent - A small sliver of light appears on the right side (Northern Hemisphere).

First Quarter - Half of the moon is lit on the right side. It looks like a half-moon.

Waxing Gibbous - More than half is lit up, but it’s not quite full yet.

Full Moon - The whole face of the moon is illuminated and fully visible.

Waning Gibbous - The moon starts losing light on the right side.

Last Quarter (or Third Quarter) - Another half-moon, but now the left side is lit.

Waning Crescent - A thin sliver of light remains on the left side before going dark again.

Bose did something right when it named its QuietComfort Ultra headphones.

The first generation of the premium over-ear headphones have held the title of Mashable's favorite noise-cancelling headphones basically since their release, and for good reason — they're ultra comfortable and great at keeping the surrounding environment quiet. See? Aptly named.

As one of Mashable's headphones reviewers, I was naturally very curious when the second generation of the QuietComfort Ultra headphones was announced. Though I've only had the chance to use them for about a day and a half, in honor of their launch day this Oct. 2, I wanted to share my initial thoughts on trying these headphones out.

(As always, a disclaimer that my opinion is subject to change as I spend more time with the headphones.)

Bose QuietComfort Ultra headphones (2nd gen) $449 at Amazon
Shop Now Bose QuietComfort Ultra (2nd gen) design upgrades

Though my testing period is relatively limited, I can't help but feel like I know what to expect from these headphones, likely because they don't feel that different from the previous generation.

SEE ALSO: Review: Bose QuietComfort Ultra are the most comfortable headphones I've ever worn

Design-wise, they're basically identical, with the same on-ear controls and placement, folding ear cups, and plush padding on the ears that makes them feel comfortable enough to wear for long periods of time — even as I wore earrings and glasses. The main design difference is in the available colors: while there are fewer options upon launch, the midnight violet and driftwood sand colorways feel unique compared to Bose's extensive colorways and options from other brands.

How the new Bose QuietComfort Ultra headphones sound

Sound and noise cancellation-wise, I haven't had the chance to test them side by side with the first-gen headphones just yet (but will provide an update as soon as I do).

That said, these headphones definitely perform on the high end of the spectrum in both categories. Bose's companion app equalizer is a little more simplistic than Sony's, providing fewer presets and options for playing around with specific settings, but it's still serviceable. Plus, the out-of-the-box sound delivers, both with and without spatial audio.

Yes, they still sound great. Credit: Bethany Allard / Mashable

As for their noise cancellation, Bose headphones have long provided some of the best ANC, and while I haven't put these headphones through the wringer yet, I'm feeling confident about their initial showing. Even with the best ANC headphones, you can typically detect some degree of white noise when you're not playing any audio, even if it's minimal. With these Bose headphones, I could barely tell the noise-cancelling was on in the best way possible — the world just felt quieter, without the assistance of a hiss.

The surprisingly big upgrades

While Bose does note that the adaptive ANC has improved on these headphones, so far, I find myself feeling possibly more excited about the wired playback options and improved battery life.

One of my bigger gripes with the first gen of these headphones was that their comfort, great ANC, and foldable ear cups made them a great option for travel. However, their so-so battery life and lack of passive playback (the ability to use the aux cord and play lossless audio without the headphones powered on) felt like oversights, so I'm pleased to see that rectified with the second generation.

Passive playback finally arrives to the QC Ultras. Credit: Bethany Allard / Mashable

In addition to passive playback, the new QC Ultras also offer USB-C headphones (though I've found the headphones do have to be powered on for it to work). The battery life is undeniably better, with an increase from 24 to 30 hours (putting them on par with the Sony WH-1000XM6 and XM5 headphones).

Overall, they feel like much improved headphones for travel over their previous gen, thanks to the adjustable noise cancellation, improved battery life, passive playback capability, and USB-C playback.

Is there room for improvement?

Bose headphones can have some issues with multipoint pairing — on several occasions, when testing them with more than one device paired, the audio stream will cut in and out. For $449, I expect way more out of my headphones. So far, I haven't had that experience with these headphones, which is encouraging, but it'll be something I look out for as I continue to test them.

I do wish the equalizer and sound profile in general had received a bigger upgrade — though both were already great, a new generation of headphones should sound noticeably improved. Still, I'm hesitant to knock Bose too much here — it's not as if it's the only brand keeping things relatively consistent from generation to generation.

Are the new Bose QuietComfort Ultra headphones worth it?

If you already own the first-gen Ultras, I feel pretty comfortable already saying that these aren't so different as to be a must-upgrade.

At $449, these headphones aren't cheap, so really deliberating whether or not to invest makes sense, especially with more and more worthwhile mid-range and budget models on the market. Still, for premium headphones, their pricing is on par with the competition — the Sony XM6 headphones are $449, the Bowers & Wilkins Px7 S3 headphones are $449, and the Apple AirPods Max are $549.

Plus, the comfort of these headphones, combined with the spatial audio features, adjustable ANC, and overall experience, does feel like it firmly belongs in the premium price tier. So far, they seem like a promising option.

Where to buy the new Bose QuietComfort Ultra headphones

If you're ready to check out the new Bose QuietComfort Ultra headphones, you can find them available as of Oct. 2 at the following retailers:

Where to buy the Bose QuietComfort Ultra headphones (2nd gen) Amazon Bose QuietComfort Ultra headphones (2nd gen) $449 Shop Now Best Buy Bose QuietComfort Ultra headphones (2nd gen) $449 Shop Now Bose Bose QuietComfort Ultra headphones (2nd gen) $449 Shop Now

October Prime Day (also known as Prime Big Deal Days) is nearly here, starting on Oct. 7 and 8, but that doesn’t mean you need to wait for the official sale to bag a Nintendo Switch bargain. 

As with most big sales, the retailer has already rolled out a batch of early Prime Day deals on Amazon, and Nintendo Switch fans in particular have plenty to get excited about.

SEE ALSO: How to sign up for Amazon Prime ahead of Prime Big Deal Days

From discounts on must-play titles, old and new, to deals on consoles and accessories that can make gaming on the go a little easier, there’s already a healthy selection available. So, whether you’re hoping to top up your game library, pick up a spare controller, or even grab a Switch console itself, now’s a great time to take a look.

We’ve pulled together some of the standout Nintendo Switch deals live at Amazon right now, all ahead of October Prime Day. More discounts are sure to follow once the sale event officially gets underway, and we’ll keep updating this list as fresh offers appear.

Best Nintendo Switch deal Opens in a new window Credit: SEGA Yakuza 0: Director’s Cut - Nintendo Switch 2 $37.99 at Amazon
$49.99 Save $12 Get Deal Why we like it

If you’ve been waiting for the right excuse to dive into Yakuza 0: Director’s Cut on the Nintendo Switch 2, this price cut is exactly that. Marked down to $37 from $49.99, it’s the cheapest we’ve seen it so far, making it one of the best-value third-party titles currently on the system.

It’s also a surprisingly sharp price drop, considering this new Switch 2 version of Yakuza 0 only launched in early June.

As a prequel to the long-running series, Yakuza 0 plunges you into the seedy underworld of late-’80s Japan, switching between the perspectives of Kazuma Kiryu and Goro Majima in a crime drama that’s as stylish as it is brutal. Already a fantastically fun game to begin with, the Director’s Cut layers in new cutscenes and expanded story details, offering fresh insight into its central characters, while combat gives you three unique fighting styles to swap between on the fly.

There’s even a new online mode, Red Light Raid, which lets you join forces with friends to take on wave-based enemy encounters. 

The only real caveat is that the physical version uses Nintendo’s Game-Key Card system, meaning you’ll be downloading rather than slotting in a full cartridge. Still, at this discount,

More Nintendo Switch deals

• PowerA King Bowster Wireless Controller for Nintendo Switch / Switch Lite / OLED Model - $26.97 $44.99 (40% off)

• The Legend of Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom - Nintendo Switch - $59.50 $69.99 (15%)

• Nintendo Switch Lite - Blue - $199.97 $229.99 (13% off)

• Marvel vs. Capcom Fighting Collection: Arcade Classics - Nintendo Switch - $25.99 $49.99 (48% off)

• Lexar 512GB Play PRO microSD Express Card (for Switch 2) - $104.11 $119.99 (13% off)

• tomtoc Slim Carrying Case for Nintendo Switch 2 - $30.99 $36.99 (16% off)

• TMNT Mutants Unleashed - Standard Edition for Nintendo Switch - $19.99 $39.99 (50% off)

• Sonic X Shadow Generations (Nintendo Switch 1 & 2) - Up to $39.99 $49.99 (20% off)

• R.D.S. Industries, Inc. Licensed Nintendo Switch 2, OLED & Nintendo Switch Game Traveller Deluxe Case - $27.49 $29.99 (8% off)

Prime Big Deal Days, the new October Amazon Prime Day sale event arriving on Oct. 7 and 8, is already building momentum with some sweet gaming deals that players can grab right now. 

While there are some great early deals at Amazon across all categories, games across PS5, Nintendo Switch, and Xbox Series X|S platforms have scored fantastic bargains to stock up your backlog with. 

Among a mix of very recent releases and those that have come out over the last few years, you’ll either find modern gems that have rarely gone down in price, fun adventures that have had so much taken off that they’re at an all-time low, or RPGs that will give you hundreds of hours of content for the time you’ve put in.

SEE ALSO: How to sign up for Amazon Prime ahead of Prime Big Deal Days

Ahead of Amazon Prime Day starting on Oct. 7, we’ve assembled the top 10 gaming deals across all three major console platforms so far. If the main event adds in some offers that are even better, we’ll immediately be updating this list accordingly. 

In the meantime, our best gaming deals so far before Prime Day is an RPG with so much money taken off, it feels ridiculous.

Best gaming deal Opens in a new window Credit: SEGA Persona 3 Reload: Standard Edition - PlayStation 5 $20 at Amazon
$69.99 Save $49.99 Get Deal Why we like it

If you’re catching up on long RPGs that have come out over the years, being able to grab the amazing Persona 3 Reload for only $20 — 71% off its launch price — is the best gaming deal Amazon has going right now, ahead of the Prime Day sale. 

Launched in February 2024, this fantastic remake of the already great Persona 3 from 2006 has been a must-buy for fans of the long-running franchise and RPG fans alike. With its upgraded visuals and music remade from the ground up, enhanced turn-based & social-sim mechanics, and new voice-acting performed by a stellar cast, the original’s incredible story — about a group of high schoolers wielding titular Personas to battle Shadows and solve the mysterious Dark Hour — plays better than ever. 

Thankfully, I’m not alone in my praise, as Mashable eventually declared Persona 3 Reload as one of the best games of 2024 at the time. 

Persona games are especially known for their longer lengths amongst role-playing games, and P3R is no different, with a 70-hour minimum playtime to beat the campaign, with at least 100 hours required for completionists. For only $20 to buy the game physically on PS5, that’s at most 28 cents per hour for an incredible game. 

As shown through its pricing history on price tracker CamelCamelCamel, this particular game will likely go back to its higher price of $69.99 once stock allocation for the $20 sale price runs out. 

Persona 3 Reload is also available on Xbox Series X for $35.16, and its upcoming Nintendo Switch 2 port is available to pre-order for $59.99, making this sale on the PS5 version the best cost-effective way to play it if you own all consoles. 

More gaming deals

• Unicorn Overlord (PS5, Switch, Xbox) - Up to $34.99 $59.99 (42% off)

• Black Myth: Wukong - PlayStation 5 - $55.49 $64.99 (15% off)

• Marvel’s Spider-Man 2 – PS5 Standard Edition - $53.99 $69.99 (23% off)

• Gran Turismo 7 (PS5 & PS4) - Up to $49.65 $69.99 (29% off)

• F1 25 (PS5 & Xbox) - $44.92 $69.99 (36% off)

• Sonic Frontiers (PS5 & Xbox) - Up to $19.53 $39.99 (50% off)

• Marvel vs. Capcom Fighting Collection: Arcade Classics - Nintendo Switch - $25.99 $49.99 (48% off)

• Raidou: Remastered – The Mystery of the Soulless Army Launch Edition (PS5, Xbox, Nintendo Switch 2) - Up to $44.99 $49.99 (10% off)

• Tomb Raider I-III Remastered Starring Lara Croft (PS5 & Nintendo Switch) - Up to $19.99 $27.99 (29% off)

• Warhammer 40,000: Space Marine 2 (PS5 & Xbox) - Up to $49.99 $69.99 (29% off)

Not even a decade ago, the idea of playing console-quality (or higher) video games in a handheld form factor was more aspiration than reality. Yet, here we are in 2025, with Lenovo already launching the sequel to its flagship handheld gaming PC. Time flies!

I'm talking, of course, about the Lenovo Legion Go 2. Starting at $1,099, this mobile powerhouse has just about everything you could want in a handheld gaming PC: A powerful AMD Ryzen chip, a gigantic 8.8-inch display, detachable controllers with a bevy of auxiliary optional buttons, and the ability to work with any PC gaming marketplace you use.

That said...in my brief time with it, I'm wondering if I actually want any of that stuff in a world where the comparatively elegant (but also compromised) Nintendo Switch 2 exists. Heck, even a Steam Deck OLED, while inferior in some ways, is a more enjoyable product to use for my gaming needs. If it's possible for a machine to have too many features, the Legion Go 2 might be a good example of that.

Opens in a new window Credit: Lenovo Lenovo Legion Go Gen 2 $1,099 at Lenovo
Get Deal SEE ALSO: All 2025 Nintendo Switch 2 game releases confirmed with preorder details Lenovo Legion Go 2 has a little bit of everything

There are multiple models of the Legion Go 2 with a range of specs, but for starters, here's what's inside of the unit Lenovo provided Mashable for review:

• AMD Ryzen Z2 Extreme processor

• 8.8-inch OLED display with 1920x1200 resolution and 30-144Hz adaptive refresh rate

• 32GB RAM

• 1TB storage

• Windows 11 OS out of the box

Interestingly, Lenovo arguably downgraded the display a bit from the first Legion Go. That device's panel was the same size and had the same refresh rate, but a higher 2560x1600 resolution. I can't say I mind that much, though, as I would argue that you get diminishing returns past 1080p or so when it comes to handheld gaming. Besides, lower screen resolution will probably equal better battery life, though I haven't had enough time with the Legion Go 2 to say that for sure.

The new processor also promises more horsepower under the hood. I've only been able to test a small handful of games so far, but early returns are positive, especially compared to the now-kinda-old Steam Deck OLED. Games like Final Fantasy VII Remake: Intergrade and The Witcher 3 run at or near 60 frames per second on lower graphics settings, though little hitches here and there are noticeable. For those two games in particular, that's a small upgrade over the Steam Deck; FFVII Remake in particular would oscillate between 45 and 60FPS when I played it on my Steam Deck a couple years ago.

Even from the silhouette, you can tell this is more comfortable to hold than the first one. Credit: Alex Perry/Mashable SEE ALSO: ROG Xbox Ally pre-orders start now: Where to buy the new handheld

On the software side, the Legion Go 2 runs Windows 11 out of the box. There are pros and cons to this. On the upside, it means you can natively install and play games from any PC gaming marketplace, be it Steam, Epic Games Store, or Xbox Game Pass. That option is considerably less available on a Steam Deck running SteamOS. However, I have to say I miss the safe confines of SteamOS. Valve's custom handheld PC operating system has a much more touchscreen-friendly interface than Windows 11. Using the normal desktop version of Steam with your fingers straight up blows.

My colleague Zackery Cuevas at PCMag also noted in a Legion Go 2 hands-on piece recently that the SteamOS version of the original Legion Go saw notably better game performance than the Windows model. Whether that would be the case with Legion Go 2 or not is just speculation at this point, but that's worth keeping in mind, at any rate.

On the hardware end, Legion Go 2 is pretty comprehensive. It's got the usual array of analog sticks, shoulder buttons, and face buttons, but there are also numerous optional mappable buttons on the sides and back of the device. There are also six other buttons on the front of the device that do things like open the Legion Go-specific library hub for all of your games, switch between open windows, and pull up a handy UI that lets you change resolution and refresh rate on the fly.

Just like the previous Legion Go (and Switch), the controllers are also detachable. I need to spend more time with this feature before I can say much about its efficacy, but I'm sure some people will get plenty of use out of that. That definitely sets it apart from other handheld gaming PCs, if nothing else. There are circular LED lights surrounding each analog stick that light up and change color, too, which is fun. Lenovo has also gone and made the device more ergonomic in the hands, a welcome change from the weirdly angular original Legion Go.

But I think less might be more sometimes

Now that I've covered everything the Legion Go 2 can do, I feel the need to say that it honestly feels like a bit much at first blush.

For instance, all of those extra buttons are nice to have in theory, but for my money, they're a little too easy to accidentally press in the course of play. Thankfully, they don't do anything by default, but if you happen to map them in some way, I can see it becoming irritating. All of that plus the ability to detach the controllers also means the device, by necessity, has to have a lot of real estate, for lack of a better term. It's just very big and bulky, which would have been more tolerable had I not spent the past few months getting used to the Nintendo Switch 2.

It's tough to knock the Legion Go 2 too much, especially in comparison to the Switch 2, a device that costs a lot less, but can also do a lot less. Legion Go 2's library of potential games is bigger than Switch 2's by several orders of magnitude, and it's likely considerably more powerful, as well. But in the early stages of testing the Legion Go 2, I'm realizing that maybe I don't care about that. I think I care more about form factor and elegance than horsepower and tertiary features. After all, my Switch 2 is probably never going to tell me that a game I own for it is incompatible with the machine's graphics hardware, which is strangely what happened when I tried to play Halo Infinite on Legion Go 2.

I'll have a full review with more expanded thoughts on the Legion Go 2 soon, but for now, I'm wondering if maybe I'm just not the target audience for it.

Opens in a new window Credit: Lenovo Lenovo Legion Go Gen 2 $1,099 at Lenovo
Pre-order Here

The unstoppable might of Netflix's Kpop Demon Hunters is landing in Fortnite in one of the buzziest collaborations we've heard in an age.

Teased on TikTok by Rei Ami (Zoey's singing voice in the film), the new "Demon Rush Mode" hit the online gaming platform on Thursday. Players can kit themselves out in HUNTR/X skins and accessories to fight side by side with Rumi, Mira, and Zoey against hordes of demons from Oct. 2 to Nov. 1.

Plus, Fortnite creators can also build their own KPop Demon Hunters games with new themed assets.

Check out the trailer above and enjoy "Golden" right back in your head where it should be.

In just the latest example of Gen Z growing nostalgic for the '90s and 2000s, a new trend is employing AI to insert people in the famous Scream franchise.

Yes, TikToks love for the '90s and 2000s — by the way, I was there, it wasn't that great — has led to Scream playing a central role in an online trend. It doesn't hurt, of course, that the movie franchise was rebooted a few years back. Here's what to know about the trend.

What is the Ghostface AI trend

It's loosely known as the Ghostface AI trend — the killer in Scream is known as Ghostface. The idea is you upload a photo of yourself and have AI morph it into a glossy, 90s-style photo, with killer Ghostface creeping up behind you. With October nearly here, Spooky Season is upon us. It tracks folks would be drawn to a horror movie-based trend. It's also not uncommon for AI-created images to spark a trend.

This Tweet is currently unavailable. It might be loading or has been removed. This Tweet is currently unavailable. It might be loading or has been removed. This Tweet is currently unavailable. It might be loading or has been removed.

People also made fun of the trend or did it without AI because of course the internet loves mockery, too.

This Tweet is currently unavailable. It might be loading or has been removed. This Tweet is currently unavailable. It might be loading or has been removed. How to do the Ghostface AI trend

If you want to do the Ghostface trend, it's pretty simple. Basically, you just upload a photo and ask AI to do the work. The general idea is to ask AI to create an image where you're lying on a bed with an old-school, corded phone, in a glossy, dimly lit room. Barely visible in the back, you guessed it: Ghostface from Scream.

A popular post on Reddit and a blog from the website The Tab both suggested using this specific prompt with an image generator like Google's Gemini:

"Create a photo of me in a dreamy y2k style portrait of me laying on a shiny pink satin bedding as i hold a large 90s style chorded phone and in a thoughtful daydreaming pose her long black hair falls freely in loose curls with pink clips on each side. she wears delicate jewellery including dainty gold necklaces and accessories and gold chunky rings. the room behind her is girly and daydreamy with 90s posters. her makeup is simple yet glamorous with brown lipgloss and brown lip liner. the photo should have a grainy 90s style to it with a light source like a lamp in a dimly lit room at night. The Ghostface killer from Scream should be behind her staring at her, his body should be dimly lit, and he should be standing in the doorway of a dimly hallway. The background behind he should be 150 slightly dark and ominous."

So there you have it, you, too, can pretend to be in imminent danger in a '90s movie.

Hily, a dating app with 39 million worldwide users, just launched a feature to stop unwanted explicit messages and cyberflashing, or sending non-consensual nude images.

"Consent Guard" uses machine-learning models and custom algorithms to scan for specific words in messages and elements of photos. If something X-rated is detected, Hily will alert a user that their match wants to send explicit messages, and that they'll only see them if they consent. The user can then consent or decline.

SEE ALSO: The best hookup apps, reviewed: I swiped until my thumb hurt

The sender, meanwhile, receives a prompt to request one-click consent. If they say no, the explicit content won't be sent. And if the prompt goes unanswered, the conversation will continue as if nothing explicit was attempted.

Hily's new Consent Guard in action. Credit: Hily

Each user can send up to three consent requests per chat, according to Hily's press release. Users can also adjust their consent settings at any point — from hot to chill to "not tonight, please."

Hily developed Consent Guard with its sexologist and sex educator, Dr. Mindy DeSeta. DeSeta provided insights on the culture around sexual consent and harassment.

As of 2024, over a third of women under 40 have received unsolicited sexual photos from someone who was not a dating, romantic, or sexual partner, YouGov reported. This is an issue that other dating apps have also addressed, such as Bumble's Private Detector, an AI tool designed to detect nude images.

Hily has also previously addressed this. Consent Guard will replace the app's Explicit Filter feature, which blurred photos for review.

"Unsolicited pics have never really worked: they're mostly just a turn-off," DeSeta said in the press release. "Hily's new Consent Guard feature actually empowers your sexuality by putting you in charge of how you date, what you share, and how sexy you want to get. Instead of having an explicit photo pop up at the worst possible moment, imagine getting a notification that someone wants to get a little hot and heavy. That's mental foreplay!"

Worried about creating operating system independent programs in Python? The os module is Python's direct line to your operating system. Think of it as the Swiss Army knife for everyday tasks related to your system. Let’s see what tricks the os module has up its sleeve.