Month: December 2021

Find out which choice is best for you when it comes to cheap yet high-quality web hosting services.

If you’re one of the few who are looking for budget hosting solutions, Hostinger and HostGator are probably at the top of your list. And rightfully so. Among the top names in web hosting, both are highly affordable yet offer reliable and fast hosting services. 

Despite these great features, their reliable customer support available 24/7 becomes their easiest selling point, making help available to users anytime anything doesn’t work the way it should. This means a website that’s not only fast, but also always up and running.

As similar as both hosting providers may seem, there are key differences that will likely determine your choice. Read through to find out which provider is best for your needs.

Hostinger vs HostGator: main similarities 

Both Hostinger and HostGator have comprehensive plans designed to fit the budget of users. The difference comes in the way these plans are laid out. For instance, HostGator has plans for users looking to start a single website, as well as plans if they’re building multiple sites. Hostinger’s plans, on the other hand, are categorized into simpler options.

Moreover, backups, easy integration, and SSD drives are all offered by both hosting platforms. Both also offer VPS, WordPress, cloud, and Dedicated Server Hosting and have a 99.9% uptime guarantee, as well as a money-back guarantee.

(Image credit: HostGator)

Price comparison

Upon comparison, you’ll easily find that Hostinger is the more affordable option with their lower-priced plans. Hostinger’s most basic plan comes in at only $1.39 per month. Their WordPress and VPS hosting plans are also cheaper than those of HostGator, priced at $1.99 and $3.95 respectively. 

Hostinger’s basic plan lets you host one website, offers 30GB of SSD storage, weekly backups, and bandwidth limited to 100GB. This is best for sites not expecting heavy traffic. Other plans offered by Hostinger include cPanel hosting priced at $1.95 per month, cloud hosting at $9.99 per month, CyberPanel VPS hosting at $3.95 per month, and more.

HostGator’s shared plans start at $2.75 per month. This plan gives users a single website and includes free domain registration for a full year. Hostinger’s Dedicated Servers’ cheapest plan goes for $89.98 per month, while the highest tier costs $139.99 per month. 

Ease of use

Beginners prefer both Hostinger and HostGator because of the simple interface you’ll find on both platforms, although they use completely different management systems. 

HostGator went with the classic cPanel and native user interface, which makes the dashboard easy for beginners to navigate. This makes tasks and processes so much easier to tackle, not to mention faster. Their dashboard lets you access billing, the marketplace, and other main tools to manage your account.

From setting up your account to account management, Hostinger makes the process super easy and fast. Hostinger’s automatic account setup wizard helps from domain registration to account management. Once through, you can access hPanel, Hostinger’s custom control panel where you can process configurations to your account.

Both are relatively user and beginner-friendly, but we’re more inclined to go with the native interface and cPanel dashboard for now. HostGator takes this round.

(Image credit: Hostinger)

Performance

Performance of sites often encounters problems when in shared hosting, one hosted site increases its consumption of the resources. It’s relatively inevitable, but HostGator safeguards their hosted sites’ performance by limiting how many clients each server hosts. As a result, HostGator’s sites perform well beyond expectations.

Hostinger’s high-performance solid-state drives alone make data load faster, resulting in an uptime guarantee of up to 99.9% and a relatively higher site loading speed, due in part to their servers being located in three continents. 

Hostinger’s scalable servers make it an easy choice for reasonable pricing and quality performance. HostGator is not far behind in performance, but there’s no taking this spot from Hostinger.

Dedicated, VPS, WordPress hosting comparison

HostGator’s Dedicated hosting plans start at less than $90 per month. Pretty steep but when you weigh in the features and advantages, it’s a pretty good investment. Hostinger does not offer Dedicated hosting.

Both Hostinger and HostGator give you options for VPS hosting, with HostGator offering twice as much RAM at 2GB with its cheapest plan. Hostinger offers a dedicated IP while HostGator does not, but Hostinger limits its bandwidth on all plans while HostGator offers unlimited. 

You’re also likely to find WordPress hosting from both, but Hostinger has cheaper plans and more options. HostGator only offers three plans to choose from and can host only three sites maximum, while Hostinger gives you up to 300. Both come loaded with features and benefits.

While HostGator should win by default with the absence of Dedicated hosting with Hostinger, the latter does offer more flexibility and proves superior feature-wise. 

Website builder comparison

Hostinger’s in-house and widely known website builder, lets you publish a website within minutes with an easy and beginner-friendly interface. With the tool, building a website takes only three steps: choose an SEO-optimized template, drag & drop to edit, and pick a plan to publish.

HostGator’s website builder also offers the “build a website within minutes” feature. Unlike Hostinger, their website builder will require five (easy) steps to launch, which includes answering some questions, inserting your logo, adding your images, editing, and then launching the site. This website builder also allows drag-and-drop and has a simple and beginner-friendly interface.

HostGator and Hostinger’s website builders both offer non-complex website building, but since Hostinger’s website builder is extremely easy to use, Hostinger takes this round easy.

Security

Neither HostGator nor Hostinger takes security and protection lightly. That’s why you’ll get a free SSL, regular backups, DDoS protection and server monitoring included in your plan with both companies. These backups are automated and while Hostinger lets you download and keep your backup files, HostGator wipes them out weekly.

When it comes to advanced security options, however, HostGator has additional security measures from add-ons that you can find on the cPanel. These features cost a little extra, though. Hostinger has some of these advanced features available without extra charges. 

Hostinger’s security features are hands down more enticing, with the free advanced security features sealing the deal.

Customer support

As mentioned earlier in this article, both Hostinger and HostGator will have their support team ready to assist you anytime anything goes wrong to keep your website up and running. That means having their team on standby 24/7.

Hostinger only has live chat and email agents available, which means having a live agent is the fastest way you can have someone to the rescue if something isn’t working, which isn’t half as bad, except when you find out that Hostinger has phone agents ready to talk you through troubleshooting steps, on top of live chat support. 

That said, we’d have to give it to Hostinger’s customer support team. 

Verdict

The comparison we’ve just made has hopefully shown how close the competition is between these two popular hosting providers, which should help if you’re stumped and cannot make a decision. 

There’s not a lot of difference between these two hosting providers as both give great performance and offer their quality services in reasonably-priced plans. 

However, when you take into consideration how much cheaper and more practical Hostinger’s plans are, not to mention a free trial to use their website builder and free advanced security features, Hostinger does get a huge advantage over its toughest competitor, HostGator.

We’ve built a list of the best ecommerce hosting providers

Check out the latest Hostgator coupon codes to get discounts this month.

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In our TouchBistro POS review, we explore the popular restaurant POS company and its offering to help you decide whether it’s right for your business.

TouchBistro Inc. is an all-in-one mobile Point of Sale (POS) and restaurant management system that helps to streamline the running of your restaurant. 

It often comes up in conversations about the best POS systems for restaurants, thanks to its ease of use. Although, some online reviews suggest that it might not be quite as good as it appears at first glance. 

In the rest of this TouchBistro review, we analyze every aspect of this company to help you determine if it’s a viable option for your next restaurant POS solution. We evaluate TouchBistro prices, main features, user interface and support, plus more, so you don’t have to. 

TouchBistro POS system offers customizable, mobile POS solutions just for restaurants (Image credit: TouchBistro )

TouchBistro POS plans and pricing

POS software licenses start at $69 per month (Image credit: TouchBistro)

How much does TouchBistro cost? Good question! Expect to pay into triple figures each month to get the best from TouchBistro’s restaurant management systems. 

The TouchBistro website provides a small amount of pricing information, but there isn’t nearly as much transparency as we would have liked to see. According to the company’s website, POS licenses start from just $69 per month, which is comparable to the entry-level plans of most other companies.

This includes:

Various menu managementTable managementAnalytics tools24/7/365 customer service support

Unfortunately, though, there’s no readily available information about what higher-end plans are available or what they include. 

Add-ons

There are various TouchBistro POS add-ons, shown below. 

On top of this, you can expect to pay some sort of card processing and/or transaction fees. However, these will vary according to your country/region, and the TouchBistro website provides no information about exactly what you will pay. 

How does TouchBistro’s POS system work?

TouchBistro POS software

Is TouchBistro POS cloud-based? Yes, partly. Although their software is hosted through an on-site server, the data in the POS application is stored in the cloud. Not only does this mean you can continue with customer sales without an internet connection, it  also allows you to access company data from any browser. 

The user interface itself is quite attractive and functional, if a little clunky. There are various add-on integrations available, including a kitchen display system, a self-ordering kiosk display, and a customer-facing display. 

TouchBistro POS hardware

TouchBistro uses an iPad-based system that’s designed for ease of use and flexibility. Getting started is quite simple, and, in many cases, you’ll be able to access professional technical assistance to ensure you’re up and running as soon as possible. 

Small businesses will benefit from a streamlined single-iPad POS system, suitable when you have one terminal to take payments and manage orders. Medium-sized systems with up to five iPads can be used with a sixth iPad acting as the central terminal, for seated table transactions. 

Larger systems can be custom-built with a more powerful computer as the central hub, allowing you to connect as many mobile devices as required. 

TouchBistro’s POS interface is simple and easy to use (Image credit: TouchBistro)

TouchBistro POS features and services

Like most restaurant-specific POS systems, TouchBistro offers a range of features designed to help you maximize occupancy, efficiency, and customer satisfaction. 

✓ TouchBistro table management tool

One of our favorite features is TouchBistro’s table management tool. Sure, this isn’t unique by design, but it does let you create a unique floor plan that mirrors your restaurant to make order management easier everyday. 

✓ TouchBistro Tableside ordering and payment

TouchBistro’s tableside ordering and payment tools stand out as excellent. Each feature provides staff with everything they need to maximize order value, ensure accurate order placement, and process payments fast and flexibly. 

✓ TouchBistro analytics and reporting

There’s nothing worse than being forced to make important business decisions without knowing what you should be doing. TouchBistro POS systems assist you in making informed business decisions, by providing a range of powerful reports and in-depth analytics. 

✓ TouchBistro’s staff management and scheduling tools

Save time and simplify the scheduling process with TouchBistro’s in-built tools. Easily create new rosters with the click of a button, track employee working hours and labor costs, and communicate directly with employees if there are any concerns.

✓ Inventory management

Calculate basic stock inventory at speed and monitor beverage costs with ease, thanks to TouchBistro’s user-friendly inventory management feature. 

✓ TouchBistro application integration

From WorldPay to Xero, 7shifts and QuickBooks, TouchBistro POS systems easily integrate with many of the restaurant industry’s favorite applications. 

✓ TouchBistro’s Kitchen Display System (KDS)

With real-time performance feedback, order accuracy improvement and communication transparency between back of house and front of house staff, TouchBistro’s KDS is one not to miss. Your team can minimize human errors and optimize every order without a blink: TouchBistro’s POS will do the thinking for you!

TouchBistro’s analytics tools stand out as excellent (Image credit: TouchBistro)

TouchBistro POS support and customer care

There are various self-help resources, but reports suggest that things might not be as good as they appear (Image credit: Oatawa / Shutterstock)

TouchBistro provides a a great range of support services, including multinational phone support and email service through its online contact form. They also have local offices in the United States, Canada, the UK, and Mexico, which have their own local phone numbers and contact information. 

So, wherever you are, help is easy to reach anytime. And we do literally mean anytime: you can contact TouchBistro 24 hours a day, seven days a week, 365 days of the year. 

From the very start of your experience with TouchBistro you are supported. Their “one-box POS solution” is can be setup fast so you can start using your POS system straight away. If you prefer in-person help, they can also delegate an expert installation specialists to assist you remotely. 

Their online self-help resources are plentiful too, and available through the Support & Training centre. There, you’ll find various setup tutorials and user guides. There are even useful videos detailing specific actions. 

However, online customer reports don’t paint a mixed picture of TouchBistro’s support and post-sales customer care. The company receives a commendable rating of 4.2/5 stars (from 308 reviews) on Capterra, but its customer service rating is slightly lower at 3.9/5. 

A large proportion of reviews touch on poor customer care and support services, which is a major concern.

TouchBistro’s POS competition

TouchBistro has the hospitality industry pretty well covered when it comes to point of sale systems. They cater for every business from the humble food truck to the fancy fine dining restaurant. 

However, if you’re looking for a higher-rated restaurant POS service provider, we’d recommend checking out Upserve POS. Its software prices start from $59 per month, it uses a very flexible system, and its customer service is reported to be excellent. 

Another great option is Square POS, which offers flexible POS services tailored to various industries. It doesn’t charge any monthly software fees, but you will be hit with 2.6% + 10c transaction fees. 

Final verdict

All things considered, TouchBistro provides excellent restaurant POS solutions. Its customer service receives poor online ratings, but reports suggest that this is largely because its agents are slow and response times can be long. 

At the end of the day, the company’s feature-rich software, competitive prices, and simple setup process more than outweigh these negatives. We’d recommend checking out TouchBistro if you’re looking for a powerful, customizable, data-driven POS program that’s designed specifically for restaurants.

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With three new movies joining all the upcoming TV shows on Disney Plus, this is a great time to be a Star Wars fan.

There has been a great disturbance in the Force. Since 2019’s divisive The Rise of Skywalker, Disney Plus TV shows have been our primary source of new Star Wars content, but at April 2023’s Star Wars Celebration in London, Lucasfilm president Kathleen Kennedy set out a plan for the franchise’s return to the big screen.

Three new movies will explore different eras spread across millennia in the ever-expanding Star Wars timeline, from the dawn of the Jedi to the aftermath of The Rise of Skywalker. The exciting slate of new Star Wars TV shows and movies also features continuations of the story started by The Mandalorian, the culmination of Andor, and the returns of animated shows The Bad Batch and Star Wars: Visions.

“We’re exploring a lot of different storylines,” Kennedy said at Celebration (via StarWars.com). “This really spawns from what George Lucas said years ago, that he created Star Wars to move forward and backward along a mythological timeline. Now we’re looking to broaden that timeline.”

Below we explain all the new Star Wars TV shows and movies preparing to jump out of hyperspace. And if you can’t wait, check out our guide to watching Star Wars in order.

New Star Wars TV shows

Star Wars: Visions Volume 2

Release date: May 4, 2023

After 2021’s Volume 1 gifted the keys to the Star Wars universe to a select group of Japanese anime studios, the second outing for anthology series Visions is much more international in scope. Among shorts from Chile, France, India, Ireland, Japan, South Africa, South Korea, Spain and the UK, we’ll see stories told in CG, traditional 2D animation and stop-motion – including an offering from Wallace & Gromit creators Aardman Animations titled “I am Your Mother”. And with the stories unconstrained by the limitations of canon, we can expect to see filmmakers exploring aspects of George Lucas’s galaxy far, far away we’ve never explored before.

Young Jedi Adventures

If you’re looking to get your younglings into Star Wars, this TV show (available on both Disney Plus and Disney Junior in the US) could be a good place to start. Targeted squarely at younger kids, it has a definite Muppet Babies vibe, and follows a bunch of pre-teen Jedi wannabes taking their first steps into the wider world of the Force. Set in the High Republic era (around 200 years before The Phantom Menace), it features a younger version of Master Yoda, and older fans will surely appreciate the cameo from an exogorth (space slug) in the trailer.

Ahsoka

Release date: August 2023

Having made the move from CG animation to live-action in The Mandalorian and The Book of Boba Fett, Anakin Skywalker’s former apprentice finally becomes the headline attraction. As well as being a Mando spin-off, the Ahsoka TV show is turning into something of a Star Wars Rebels reunion, with Mandalorian warrior Sabine Wren (Natasha Liu Bordizzo), ace pilot Hera Syndulla (Mary Elizabeth Winstead), wannabe Jedi Ezra Bridger and surly droid Chopper (himself) all returning alongside the eponymous lapsed Jedi (Rosario Dawson). Hunting down returned Imperial bigwig Grand Admiral Thrawn (Lars Mikkelsen will reprise his Rebels voice role) is set to be on top of their agenda, especially as – like the other shows from the Mandalorian era – the series is building up to an epic conclusion on the big screen (see below).

Skeleton Crew

Jude Law with his young Skeleton Crew co-stars Ravi Cabot-Conyers, Robert Timothy Smith and Kyriana Kratter at Star Wars Celebration 2023. (Image credit: Jeff Spicer/Getty Images for Disney)

Release date: 2023 (TBC)

Despite being yet another show set in the increasingly crowded Mandalorian sector of the Star Wars timeline, Skeleton Crew will have a very different mission briefing to its predecessors. Jon Watts, director of the three Marvel Cinematic Universe Spider-Man movies, reportedly pitched the show as The Goonies in space, and Disney say it’ll focus on a group of kids trying to find their way home after making a mysterious discovery. Luckily for them, they won’t be making their journey across a dangerous galaxy alone – Jude Law is coming along for the ride as their (as-yet unnamed) Jedi protector.

The Bad Batch season 3

Sharp-shooting bounty hunter Fennec Shand will be back in The Bad Batch season 3.  (Image credit: Lucasfilm/Disney)

The Clone Wars was the TV show that kept Star Wars’ fire alive between Revenge of the Sith and Disney’s 2012 Lucasfilm buyout. It’s fitting, then, that Disney Plus is sticking with animation for this Clone Wars spin-off about an elite unit of genetically modified Clone Troopers in the early days of the Galactic Empire. 

Greenlit back in August 2021, The Bad Batch season 2 will pick up the story of Hunter, Tech, Wrecker, Echo and fellow clone Omega as they try to stay one step ahead of Imperial forces led by their renegade brother, Crosshair. And with (spoilers!) the cloning facilities on Kamino now destroyed and hints that the show will somehow tie into the events of The Mandalorian, this follow-up season could have big ramifications for the Star Wars galaxy.

Andor season 2

Cassian Andor’s journey towards Rogue One will continue in season 2.  (Image credit: Lucasfilm/Disney Plus)

Arguably the most critically acclaimed of all Disney Plus’s Star Wars TV shows, Andor’s ambitious, morally complex first season showed us a darker, grittier side to a galaxy far, far away. Creator/showrunner Tony Gilroy returns to continue the story of Cassian Andor, Mon Mothma and the early days of the Rebel Alliance, with a second and final season whose 12 episodes will unfold over the four years leading up to Rogue One: A Star Wars Story.

“If you know your ending, it really helps,” Gilroy said at Star Wars Celebration (as reported by Variety). “We know exactly where we’re going. You know what you have to deliver emotionally and what the story has to do. It’s a decision borne of survival, but it’s good for us creatively.”  

Diego Luna and Genevieve O’Reilly are back as Andor and Mothma, respectively, alongside fellow returnees Stellan Skarsgård (Luthen Rael), Denise Gough (Dedra Meero), Kyle Soller (Syril Karn), Adria Arjona (Bix Caleen), Faye Marsay (Vel Sartha) and Varada Sethu (Cinta Kaz). Production on season 2 began in November 2022, with Gilroy hoping for an August 2024 debut.

The Acolyte

The Acolyte star Amandla Stenberg gets into the spirit of Star Wars Celebration alongside showrunner Leslye Headland. (Image credit: eff Spicer/Getty Images for Disney)

Release date: 2024 (TBC)

Every canonical Star Wars movie and TV show to date has been set in the relatively brief seven-decade period between The Phantom Menace and The Rise of Skywalker. That all changes with The Acolyte, as showrunner Leslye Headland (Russian Doll) winds the clock back more than a century to explore the Jedi Order’s glory days in the High Republic era.

Intriguingly, the new show will focus on characters who’d usually be considered the villains in of the franchise – the word “acolyte” is traditionally used to describe an apprentice of the Dark Side in Star Wars lore – and has also been touted as a mystery thriller. The cast includes Amandla Stenberg (The Hate U Give, Dear Evan Hansen), Lee Jung-Jae (Squid Game), Jodie Turner-Smith (Queen & Slim), Carrie-Anne Moss (The Matrix), Joonas Suotamo (Solo: A Star Wars Story) and Dafne Keen (His Dark Materials). Russian Doll star Rebecca Henderson brings Vernestra Rwoh, a fan favorite character from the High Republic books, to the screen.

Lando

Donald Glover as Lando Calrissian, the role he inherited from Billy Dee Williams in Solo: A Star Wars Story. (Image credit: Lucasfilm)

Release date: TBC

Card player, gambler, scoundrel… you’d like him! Things have been rather quiet on the Lando front since this ‘event series’ was first announced at a Disney Investor Day way back in December 2020, but Lucasfilm president Kathleen Kennedy told IGN at Star Wars Celebration 2023 that “it’s still happening”. Star Donald Glover (Atlanta) also seems keen to go back to a role he first played in 2018’s Solo: A Star Wars Story, telling GQ: “I would love to play Lando again. It just needs to be the right way to do it.”

Dear White People writer/director Justin Simien is lined up to call the shots, though, given the seemingly glacial pace of its development, we’re not expecting to see this show on Disney Plus anytime soon.

Other Star Wars TV shows in the works

While a fourth season of The Mandalorian hasn’t been given an official greenlight by Disney Plus yet, further adventures of Din Djarin and Grogu seem inevitable – especially as series creator Jon Favreau confirmed to French TV station BFM in February (via Entertainment Weekly) that “season 4, yeah, I’ve written it already.” That said, with The Book of Boba Fett, Ahsoka and Skeleton Crew seemingly existing as an ever-expanding, interweaving tapestry of Star Wars content set in the post-Return of the Jedi, we have no idea what form season 4 might take.

Although the future of The Book of Boba Fett remains up in the air (more than a year on, a season remains unconfirmed), we definitely won’t be seeing Rangers of the New Republic, another proposed Mandalorian spin-off. After it was announced in December 2020, there was much speculation that Rangers might focus on former Rebel shock trooper Cara Dune (Gina Carano) and X-Wing pilots like Carson Teva (Paul Sun-Hyung Lee), who’s since evolved into a kind of Outer Rim space cop. By May 2021, however, it was being reported that the show was “no longer in active development”, a move seemingly connected to Lucasfilm’s decision to part company with Carano that February, after a series of offensive social media tweets from the star.

Don’t hold your breath for a second season of Obi-Wan Kenobi either. While Ewan McGregor is apparently keen to pick up his lightsaber again, Lucasfilm boss Kathleen Kennedy told Variety at April 2023’s Star Wars Celebration, “That [show] is not in active development.”

Maybe we shouldn’t give up hope just yet, however. “But never say never,” she added, “because there’s always the possibility. That show was so well-received and [director] Deborah Chow did such a spectacular job. Ewan McGregor really wants to do another. Everybody’s all hands on deck with what we’re doing right now. We’ll turn our attention to [Obi-Wan Kenobi] again maybe down the road.”

Now, onto the movies…

New Star Wars movies

The Mandalorian spin-off movie

It looks like Din Djarin and his fellow Mandalorians have a major crossover event in their future. (Image credit: Lucasfilm/Disney)

Release date: TBC

Baby Yoda is coming to theaters! In what must be a synergistic dream come true for Disney shareholders, Star Wars is following the MCU’s lead by taking a story originated on TV to the big screen. The overlapping stories of The Mandalorian, The Book of Boba Fett, Ahsoka and (presumably) Skeleton Crew are all set to come together in this “cinematic event”, as the “escalating war between the Imperial Remnant and the fledgling New Republic” reaches a climax. Dave Filoni, Ahsoka showrunner and long-time protector of Star Wars lore, is lined up to direct.

“I hesitate to say it’s a big meet-up from just [The Mandalorian, Ahsoka, The Book of Boba Fett and Skeleton Crew], because Dave has been developing Star Wars storytelling inside Clone Wars and Rebels and so much of the work he has done for 20 years,” Kathleen Kennedy told Entertainment Weekly. “So it will be little bits of all that. There are a lot of sources he’s drawing from to see where we’re going.”

The Jedi origins movie

James Mangold at Star Wars Celebration, where he revealed he’s directing a new movie set an even longer time ago in the Star Wars galaxy. (Image credit: Jeff Spicer/Getty Images for Disney)

Release date: TBC

The Acolyte may be going back to a time a few centuries before the events of The Phantom Menace but that’s nothing compared to this Jedi origin story. In fact, at risk of coming over a bit Star Trek, this pre-prequel is boldly going where no Star Wars movie has gone before. James Mangold, who’s clearly impressed Lucasfilm with his work on the upcoming Indiana Jones and the Dial of Destiny (one of the most exciting new movies of 2023), is the director lined up to take the franchise millennia into the history of that galaxy far, far away.

The official summary says the film “will take audiences deep into the past, telling the tale of the first Jedi to wield the Force and harness it as a liberating power in an era of chaos and oppression.”  

“We’ve been talking a lot about going well into the past,” Kennedy told EW, “and one of the things that’s really knitting this all together, obviously are the Jedi. What happened with the Jedi over time? How did the Jedi evolve? They were wiped out with Order 66. Then they gradually have been coming back.”

Rey’s New Jedi Order movie

Rey’s post-The Rise of Skywalker story will be the focus of Sharmeen Obaid-Chinoy’s new Star Wars movie. (Image credit: Lucasfilm)

Release date: TBC

Rumors that Lucasfilm is done with the Skywalker Saga may have been greatly exaggerated. Yes, Anakin’s bloodline technically ended with the deaths of Luke and Kylo Ren/Ben Solo, but having taken her old master’s name, Rey is now most definitely a Skywalker. This movie – the first release to expand the Star Wars universe beyond The Rise of Skywalker – continues her story.

Sequel trilogy star Daisy Ridley will return as Rey, as she rebuilds the New Jedi Order and faces up to “the powers that rise to tear it down”. Sharmeen Obaid-Chinoy (Saving Face, Ms Marvel) is signed up to direct. “This story is about 15 years outside of The Rise of Skywalker,” Kathleen Kennedy said in her EW interview. “We left episode 9 with Rey making a commitment to Luke Skywalker that she would rebuild the Jedi Order. And so here we are, we’re ready to do that.”

As well as hinting that familiar faces from the sequel trilogy might appear alongside Rey – “it’s entirely possible to see some people come back,” Kennedy teased – the Lucasfilm president revealed that, as in Mangold’s movie, the galaxy’s relationship with the Jedi will be a major theme. “The question we’re going to ask with the New Jedi Order and Rey is, ‘Does the galaxy need them any more?’” she said. “‘Do they want them back?’ So there’s a lot of food for thought in what we’re doing, whether it’s in the past, present or future.”

Other Star Wars movies in the works

In the words of Yoda, “Always in motion is the future” – and the diminutive Jedi Master easily have been talking about the Star Wars movie slate since the release of The Rise of Skywalker. Several projects have come and gone since the franchise made its last visit to theaters in 2019, and while some have subsequently been abandoned, two of the highest profile projects remain in the pipeline.

There’s been talk of a new trilogy from writer/director Rian Johnson since he made The Last Jedi, and it seems he’s still keen to head back to that galaxy far, far away. “Rian and I talk all the time,” Kathleen Kennedy told Variety at Celebration 2023. “He is unbelievably busy. So we’re not actively involved in anything at the moment because he’s doing another one of the Glass Onion [Knives Out] movies and then God knows what else. But he really wants to step back into the space. It’s a big commitment of time so that’s really on him.” 

Thor: Ragnarok/Love and Thunder director Taika Waititi (who’s both directed and starred in episodes of The Mandalorian) also continues to orbit a Star Wars project of his own. “Taika is still working away,” said Kennedy. “He’s writing the script himself. He doesn’t really want to bring others into that process and I don’t blame him. He has a very, very unique voice. So we want to protect that and that’s what he’s doing. But we’re going to make that one day.”

Unfortunately, Rogue Squadron, the pilot-focused movie from Wonder Woman director Patty Jenkins, seems to be stuck on the launchpad indefinitely, having been pulled from its original December 2023 slot (per Variety). It’s also been reported that the Star Wars movie produced by Marvel Studios boss Kevin Feige (and scripted by Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness writer Michael Waldron) is no longer in active development.

Best Disney Plus movies

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Here’s everything you need to know about Windows 11, including news, features and price details.

Update: Microsoft’s big ‘Build’ developers conference is taking place on May 23, and we could be seeing some information about the next big update to Windows 11. If you’d like to watch the event, you can do that right here – we’ll update this page if anything major gets revealed, so stay tuned…

Windows 11 is out and available as a free upgrade for those still on Windows 10. But, before you go grabbing that download, find out all the important information about this brand-new OS. We’ve covered all the important questions, such as the operating system’s best features, how to download it, and its price.

If you want to make the leap already, here’s how to download and install Windows 11 on your PC or Windows laptop. Since it’s passed its first birthday recently, there are some kinks that still need working out, so take a look at how to fix common Windows 11 problems if you come across any issues.

Make sure to also take a look at our Windows 11 review, where we cover all the improvements the new OS has made, from offering an updated, attractive design, to new ways to grab apps as well as better security features.

While there is still some room for improvement, Windows 11 is turning out to be a very promising update. And, if you’re currently using Windows 10, it’s free to upgrade to 11, as long as your computer meets certain strict minimum system requirements required for the sake of the operating system’s security.

Just bear in mind that there’s still some confusion as to what these system requirements are due to a component called TPM (Trusted Platform Module). Right now, it looks like Microsoft isn’t going to budge on its requirement that your device is equipped with a TPM 2.0 in order to run a fully supported version of the new OS.

With an October event announcing new Surface tablets and the arrival of Apple Music heading to Windows in 2023, it’s a good time to upgrade your tablet,

Now that Windows 11’s 2022 update has been released, let’s take a look at what the operating system has to offer, from its updated features to the benefits it has for users over Windows 10.

Windows 11: Cut to the chase

What is it? Windows 11 is the successor to Windows 10

When did it come out? October 5

How much does it cost? Free (if you already have Windows 10)

Windows 11 release date 

Microsoft launched Windows 11 on October 5 as a free upgrade, though some people were able to install it a day early on October 4.

Microsoft will be rolling out the update to eligible devices over the coming months, with users being notified when the update is available for them.

However, you can also download Windows 11 right now from the Windows 11 download page.

Many laptop and PC makers have also confirmed that many of their new products will come with Windows 11 preinstalled. This includes Microsoft’s new Surface Pro 8, Surface Go 3 and Surface Laptop Studio devices, which were launched to coincide with Windows 11’s release date.

There is also going to be a yearly update of the new operating system, similar to Apple’s efforts with macOS.

While Microsoft released a tool that allowed you to see if your desktop PC or laptop will be able to run Windows 11, it was confirmed to be buggy, giving erroneous results for machines that would have no problem in running the update.

However, another tool has been released which gives you much clearer detail for how eligible for PC is.

(Image credit: TechRadar)

Windows 11 system requirements

There’s been a lot of discussion as to which devices are eligible for Windows 11. Regardless of the TPM requirement, others are simply wondering if they need to look to upgrade their PC or laptop soon.

Microsoft has published the requirements for the update which you view below:

Processor: 1 gigahertz (GHz) or faster with at least two cores on a compatible 64-bit processor or SoC

RAM: 4GB

Storage: 64GB

System Firmware: UEFI, Secure Boot capable

TPM: Trusted Platform Module 2.0

Graphics Card: DirectX 12 or later with WDDM 2.0 driver

Display: 720p, 8-bit per color channel, at least 9-inch diagonal

Internet Connection and Microsoft Account: Windows 11 Home requires an active internet connection and a Microsoft Account to complete initial, first-use setup of the operating system, or when switching a device out of Windows 11 Home in S-mode.

(Image credit: Microsoft)

How to download Windows 11

We have a handy guide on how to download Windows 11, which gives you all the information you need now that the final version has been released.

It’s a relatively simple process, as long as your PC meets Windows 11’s minimum system requirements.

(Image credit: TechRadar)

There’s also an option to downgrade to Windows 10 if you are experiencing issues with Windows 11. This is available in the current Insider builds, but you can only do it within 10 days of upgrading your machine, otherwise a clean install has to be done in order to go to Windows 10.

How to download Windows 11 ISO for a clean install

If you’d like to perform a fresh install of Windows 11, rather than upgrading from Windows 10 (or earlier), then you’ll need to download the Windows 11 ISO file.

Doing a clean install takes a bit more time, and you’ll need to reinstall all of your apps and restore your files if you’ve backed them up (which you should do before you start), but there are many benefits of doing a clean install of Windows 11.

For a start, you’ll get a much better performing PC, and if you were encountering any issues with Windows 10, a clean install can help fix some of these. Over the years your PC’s hard drive may become filled with unwanted apps and files, so a clean install can get rid of all of that.

If that’s the way you want to install the operating system, then check out our guide on how to download the Windows 11 ISO for more advice.

How to upgrade to Windows 11 without TPM 2.0

Some people have found that they are unable to install Windows 11 due to the requirement for PCs to have TPM 2.0 support.

This is a relatively little known security feature, but it’s caused some people a fair bit of frustration as they’ve found they’ve been unable to install Windows 11.

We do have a guide to enable TPM 2.0 if needed, but you may be out of luck if your PC doesn’t support it.

However, there is a way to upgrade to Windows 11 without TPM 2.0, but this should only be done by people who are really desperate to run Windows 11 despite not meeting the system requirements.

(Image credit: Foxy burrow / Shutterstock / Microsoft)

How to downgrade from Windows 11 to Windows 10

There may be an occasion however, where you may need to revert back to Windows 10. This could be due to an app not being compatible as yet, or Windows 11 doesn’t take kindly to a component in your PC.

Fortunately we have a guide ready that can take you through this, step by step.

Windows 11 price

Windows 11 is a free update for existing Windows users – you’ll need to be online to download, install and activate Home versions, and you’ll need to have a Microsoft account when installing it on or upgrading your PC or tablet.

Windows 11 will also come pre-installed for free on new PCs and laptops as well, though you should check before you buy to make sure. In some cases, new laptops and PCs may still be sold with Windows 10, and you’ll have to upgrade for free yourself.

Windows 11 product keys for fresh installs will likely go on sale in 2022, but we don’t know how much it’ll cost.

It could cost as much as Windows 10 licences originally sold for: Windows 10 Home cost £119.99/$139 and Windows 10 Pro sold for £219.99/$199.99, so we could see similar prices for Windows 11.

So far Microsoft has released the hardware requirements for Windows 11, but there’s confusion over TPM (Trusted Platform Module) and whether the company are pushing hard over the minimum threshold for which devices are eligible to be updated to the new version.

While we’ve got a handy explainer for you that goes into TPM, hardware vendors can still offer new machines with Windows 11 that won’t need this requirement, albeit with good reason to.

Should you upgrade to Windows 11?

Now that Windows 11 is out, and it’s a free upgrade, many people will be keen to download it and try it out. But should you upgrade to Windows 11?

In our opinion, for many people it’ll be worth not upgrading to Windows 11 just yet. This is because it’s still early days, and there are several problems that need fixing first. For example, some people are reporting that Windows 11 is slowing down their internet connections.

Microsoft is aware of most of these issues and is working on fixes. That means by holding off from installing Windows 11 for a while, you’ll give Microsoft a chance to release updates to fix those problems. Then, when you do finally install Windows 11 in a few week’s or month’s time, things should run much smoother.

We also spoke to several industry experts, and they all agree that people – and businesses – shouldn’t rush to install Windows 11 just yet.

(Image credit: TechRadar)

How to run Windows 11 in macOS Monterey

You may want to have the best of both worlds sometime, especially if your day job involves running both operating systems.

Thankfully we’ve put together a guide to show you how to do exactly that.

Windows 11 features

There are improvements across the board in Windows 11, with Microsoft promising that updates will be 40% smaller, and touting Windows 11 as “the most secure release yet”.

The taskbar is optimized for touch as well as mouse peripherals, and is now renamed the dock.

New multitasking features are also on offer thanks to a feature called Snap Layouts, which enables you to arrange multiple windows across the screen, not just side by side, but in columns, sections and more.

Windows 11 checker

There’s now a much-improved health check app found in Settings, where Windows 11 will recommend you to turn down the brightness for example, change the power saving mode of the battery and much more.

(Image credit: TechRadar)

Another feature is Snap Groups, where you can go back to previously snapped windows from the dock, so for example you can go to your email app, Edge browser windows or anything else without having to snap them back to the previous view again.

There’s also improved multi-monitor support, so when you reconnect an external monitor, Windows 11 remembers the previous positions of the windows that were on that monitor.

There’s even an estimated installation time for Windows Update, so you can see whether you need to hold off from updating your PC until later in the day.

Teams is also integrated to the dock, so you can easily join in with meetings and family calls. This looks like the first inkling of Skype disappearing from Windows, especially with the Skype sounds being heard in the demo when a call was incoming.

(Image credit: Microsoft)

The Microsoft Store is finally seeing a redesign, with better-curated content, and a better options for managing your purchased shows, such as mirroring them to your television. Apps such as Disney+, Adobe Creative Cloud, Pinterest and more are already in this redesigned store for Windows 11, ready to go.

WPA, EWP and Win32 apps are now all in the Microsoft Store, ready to go. If a developer has a commerce engine, they can keep 100% of the revenue brought from the Microsoft Store.

Android apps are also ready for Windows 11, discoverable from the Microsoft Store, via the Amazon App Store, so you can download TikTok and more, ready to use on your PC or tablet.

We suspect that the reason why Amazon are allowing their version of the store instead of Google, may be to do with the .APK filename being replaced from August.

The new store opens up possibilities for other applications to arrive in Windows 11, even Apple’s iMessage, which could follow iTunes and Safari.

(Image credit: TechRadar)

Windows 11 Home vs Windows 11 Pro

Depending on what you currently use your system for, you may need to consider if you will be upgrading to standard Home version of Windows 11, or if you need to bump up to Windows 11 Pro, Microsoft’s enterprise version of the operating system. Regardless of what your preference may be, both have the same minimum system requirements so you’ll need to meet those standards regardless of what version you side with.

There are numerous benefits to Windows 11 Pro, though mostly security related to protect businesses and organizations to keep data safe, with features like Windows Information Protection (abbreviated to WIP).

Another difference you’ll see between Windows 11 Home and Pro is when you’re setting it up for the first time, as with the Home version you’ll need to set it up with an internet connection and a Microsoft account. 

Windows 11 doesn’t have either of these restrictions, which may tempt some non-enterprise users into buying the Pro version of the operating system to avoid using a Microsoft account. Windows 11 Home PCs also can’t be joined to Active Directory, which are often used on business devices to control access to certain applications and resources.

You can find a full list of the differences between Windows 11 Home and Windows 11 Pro over on the official Microsoft comparison page.

A new look for Windows 11

Fluent Design is the new name for the look of Windows 11. Across the board everything looks more modern and fresh, with rounded windows and apps such as Snipping Tool seeing huge improvements in years.

One of the biggest changes users will notice is that the Start menu has been moved to the center of the screen – and it’s now “cloud powered”, so it dynamically changes depending on the time of day, and the content you’re working with.

If you’re using the Insider Build, there’s already ways of customizing the taskbar and the start menu, including moving the icons back to the left.

Light Mode and Dark Mode are here too, with a unified design across the operating system, with colorful wallpapers to choose from as well.

(Image credit: Shutterstock – Gorodenkoff / Microsoft)

Windows Widgets are back in Windows 11, accessible via the dock, with Microsoft touting AI-powered dynamic features that enable widgets, as with the Start menu, to change depending on the apps you’re using and the time of day. On the touchscreen, you can slide from the left on the desktop to have widgets appear.

There are plenty to choose from, such as the weather, Bing maps, news, and more.

These will be available for third-parties as well, so you may see as many widgets available to pick as there are on Apple’s iOS and iPadOS operating systems.

Many apps are being redesigned for Windows 11, such as the Photos, Snipping Tool and Paint apps, bringing them in line with the Fluent Design language.

(Image credit: Microsoft)

Gaming on Windows 11

Gaming will be a much bigger focus in Windows 11, with the sluggish and frustrating-to-use Windows 10 Xbox app replaced by a new Game Pass app that enables you to buy, manage and remove games, making it easier for you to access and download games, from Doom Eternal to – soon – Halo Infinite.

HDR will also be supported on compatible machines, offering improved lighting and contrast for gaming and viewing media. Direct Storage is also here, with the main game assets able to be downloaded and installed, enabling you to play your games even faster than before.

(Image credit: Shutterstock)

Improved Wi-Fi in Windows 11

It looks like Windows 11 could come with a decent upgrade to your device’s Wi-Fi capabilities, as Qualcomm announced it has worked with Microsoft, along with other laptop makers and even Valve, to bring Wi-Fi Dual Station with Qualcomm 4-stream DBS technology to compatible machines.

We explain more about how this will boost Wi-Fi in Windows 11, but it looks like it will be particularly useful for gamers, as it will use multiple Wi-Fi bands at once to help reduce latency. This could be a killer feature for Windows 11.

(Image credit: TechRadar)

Windows 11 Touch improvements

Tablet mode has been one of Windows’ weaker points ever since Windows 8, and the new tablet features that Microsoft showed off for Windows 11 could be key to the operating system’s fortunes, especially with future Surface products in the pipeline from Microsoft – to have a new, numbered operating system for its upcoming tablets could be a big selling point for new users.

At the event, Microsoft touted bigger touch targets and easier ways to move windows around, and better rotate optimizations, for example in how windows are rearranged, so you don’t lose track of the applications you were using.

Gestures used with the trackpad of the Surface models are also coming to the touchscreen, bringing in some familiarity here. Haptics is also coming to Windows 11 when you use a stylus for better feedback when drawing or sketching.

The touch keyboard has also been redesigned, with a smaller keyboard just for your thumb, and emojis ready to be used. Microsoft says dictation will also be improved, alongside voice commands, with ‘delete that’ options and more. 

(Image credit: Microsoft)

Add a personalized touch to Windows 11

Microsoft has certainly given Windows 11 a more modern look than what we saw in Windows 10, but there’s always the risk that it might not be to your taste. No need to worry though, as it takes very little time and effort – and, pleasingly, no money! – to inject some personality into Windows 11, customizing the look of the operating system in various ways to make it your own.

Perhaps the easiest way to completely change the look of Windows 11 is to apply a new theme, and there are a good handful of options already available for you to try out, but if the ones that come with the OS don’t suit you, you can download more from the Microsoft Store.

There are also familiar customizations such as setting a personal desktop background as either a static image or a slideshow, and you can tweak system color options – including dark mode. You can even make adjustments to the taskbar if you like, so your finalized Windows 11 doesn’t need to look anything like the out-of-box version of the OS.

(Image credit: Microsoft)

Are there issues with Windows 11?

No new operating system will have a completely flawless launch, so despite being in beta through the Windows Insider Program, a few issues have already popped up. Thankfully the ones discovered so far are nothing serious and some of them are only appearing for a few users so if you wanted to start downloading the OS on launch day, don’t let this stop you.

The biggest problem on Microsoft’s status page for Windows 11 listing known issues is compatibility problems with Intel Killer network drivers which is causing websites and video streams to be slow and sluggish. A memory leak issue has also been reported on Reddit, with at least some folks are finding that when they close an instance of File Explorer, it isn’t releasing the RAM it used.

We have a run-through of most of the currently known issues with Windows 11 and we will be keeping this up to date as more reports come in with any new Windows 11 problems and how you can fix them, but nothing system-breaking has appeared so far.

(Image credit: Microsoft)

What devices are shipping with Windows 11?

If you tuned into Microsoft’s Surface event on September 22 then you might already have seen that Windows 11 will be pre-installed onto the Surface Pro 8, Surface Go 3, and the Surface Laptop Studio. This isn’t surprising as all these products have been released on the same date that Windows 11 became available for public download so Microsoft will want to push its latest operating system.

If the Microsoft Surface family of products isn’t your style though, other brands like Dell, Asus and HP have all released pages online that specify what devices are Windows 11 ready. Note that many won’t come with the new operating system installed, but as they all meet the minimum system requirements, you can simply buy the laptop or 2-in-1 as normal and then update it yourself. 

(Image credit: Future)

Microsoft claims Windows 11 is a “new era for the PC”

It’s worth remembering that Windows 11 is the first major upgrade to the software platform since the launch of Windows 10 back in July 2015, and so marks a crucial point for Microsoft.

Heralding its new offering as “an exciting milestone in the history of Windows“, Panos Panay, Microsoft’s Chief Product Officer for Windows and Devices noted that, “a new era for the PC begins today”.

In a company blog post, Panay added that “there’s never been a better time to buy a PC”, and that, “whether it’s to work, create, connect, learn or play, the PC will continue to play a relevant and lasting role in our lives. No other ecosystem has the breadth and scale that the Windows ecosystem does to meet the needs of people whether they’re creators, developers, students and educators, business and gamers at every price point and in every form factor.”

(Image credit: Microsoft)

Should you install Windows 11?

As the saying goes, good things come to those who wait. While it may be tempting to give Windows 11 a try straight away, we recommend holding on a few days, or even weeks, before you grab the new operating system.

Why? After all, our Windows 11 review is pretty glowing, and it brings plenty of new features that many people will be keen to try out.

However, every major operating system launch comes with its fair share of issues, as we’ve mentioned above, so getting the very best experience might require letting other people do the early testing for you. Microsoft will be working hard to identify and fix problems as they occur, which is why it’s a good idea to hold fire for a few days or weeks. Let other people encounter those problems first, then in a few weeks, download Windows 11 safe in the knowledge that most problems will be fixed.

This is especially important if you were planning to install it onto a PC that you use daily, such as for work or study. If it’s working fine with Windows 10, it’s best to hold off for the moment. Otherwise, you may find that Windows 11 has messed a few things up, and you’re stuck with a PC that’s not working correctly.

(Image credit: Future)

How to spot fake Windows 11 downloads

Windows 11 is out now, and it’s relatively easy to download and install it, but this does mean that you should be vigilant about where you download Windows 11 from, as there are fake downloads out there that could catch you out.

To make sure you’re only installing the official release, only download Windows 11 from Microsoft itself.

You should also check out our guide on how to spot fake Windows 11 downloads for more information on keeping yourself protected.

(Image credit: Shutterstock)

Issues with Cloud Gaming on Windows 11

Cloud gaming platform Shadow has told its users that they shouldn’t try to install the Windows 11 upgrade for Windows 10 just yet – advice that could be well heeded by all PC gamers, who should at least have caution at the forefront of their minds.

With Windows 11 being previously available to the public as a beta via the Windows Insider Program,  It’s possible that bugs have been detected as Shadow asserts that it isn’t ready for cloud PC installations in an email to subscribers.

The email states: “Today, Microsoft will officially launch Windows 11. Its release will be gradual, with potential bugs and issues early on. With this in mind, we will monitor the initial performances of Windows 11 before taking any action.

“This will allow us to guarantee strong performances and an overall high quality of service when we do make the eventual transition to Windows 11. Please do not update your Shadow to Windows 11 until further notice.”

The email concludes by letting subscribers know that they’ll be told when Windows 11 is ready to go on their cloud PC installation, and in the meantime, the Shadow team will continue to run tests on the OS to ensure suitability and that the service is “fully optimized” for Windows 11.

This is only a single provider, but if you use Cloud Gaming services then you may need to ask around for other experiences using Windows 11 before you give it a try yourself.

(Image credit: Microsoft)

How to manage notifications in Windows 11

You almost certainly have a selection of apps installed on your computer, and many of these use notifications to let you know about things. A news app can alert you to the latest headlines, an email app will let you know when you have new mail, and your chat app will inform you of new messages that need your attention. 

Thankfully, you can set all this up in Windows 11 with relative ease, or turn them off completely if you don’t like the interruption. If you’re happy with the current Windows 10 experience (in which notifications are displayed in the lower right-hand corner of the screen, just above the clock in the Taskbar) then great news – you won’t have to do any configuration as this is the default for Microsoft’s latest OS.

Fort everything else though, there are plenty of ways for you to adjust your notifications in Windows 11 to best suit your needs.

(Image credit: Microsoft)

How to manage power options in Windows 11

Microsoft has always given Windows users a good deal of control over how their computer uses power, and this is something that continues with Windows 11. 

While managing power consumption may be something that you most readily associate with laptops and a desire to maximize battery life, power options can also play an important role for desktop users.

Desktop user may not have to worry about how long a battery is going to last, but Windows 11’s power option remains important. Thankfully, Windows 11 has made it easier than ever to keep track of power consumption, Sleep Mode and detecting what apps are draining your device’s battery life.

(Image credit: Microsoft)

How to us Focus Assist in Windows 11

Do you ever get distracted when you should be doing something important? Your computer is supposed to be a tool to help you get things done. This might mean getting on with work, playing games, watching movies, writing emails, or just browsing the web, but there are all manner of distractions that can pull you away from what you’re trying to do. 

If you’re sick of being pestered by notifications when you’re trying to do something else, you could benefit from Windows 11’s Focus assist feature. This is a simple but powerful function of Windows 11 that enables you to configure rules that determine when notifications about new emails, messages and so on are muted.

There are many customization options that let you do things like set a schedule, create priority lists and you can even optimize for different monitors if you use multiple displays. 

(Image credit: Microsoft)

How to use virtual desktops in Windows 11

Windows 11 offers excellent support for virtual desktops, which allow you to use several desktops, and switch between them easily. This allows you to keep organised  by having separate desktops for work and pleasure, for example.

It’s a great way to have some of the productivity benefits of multiple monitors, but with a single screen, so check out our guide on how to use virtual desktops in Windows 11 for an in-depth look into this feature.

Find out where to buy Windows 10

Read More 

BioShock 4 is officially in the works, but likely won’t launch for a while. Here’s what we know about the game so far.

BioShock 4 was revealed a few years back, and unfortunately, we haven’t heard all that much since. What we do know is that it’s being worked on over at Cloud Chamber, a studio under 2K. Other than that, it’s mostly rumors that point to what the game could be like at launch.

The BioShock series is a beloved one amongst gamers, especially the first game, which was praised for its twisting narrative and impressive setting. Since then, the series has gone to new locales, and returned to the underwater city of Rapture a number of times.

While we wait for news on BioShock 4 (or whatever it’s called at launch), here’s everything we know about the game so far. On this page you’ll find all of the latest news and rumors, and as new details come to light, it will be updated. 

Check back in throughout the year, because 2K is surely looking to re-reveal BioShock 4 at some point. Here’s hoping this happens sooner rather than later.

BioShock 4: cut to the chase

What is it? The fourth entry in 2K Games’ retrofuturistic game series

When can I play it? TBC

What can I play it on? TBC (PS5, Xbox Series X|S, and PC are likely)

BioShock 4 release date and platforms

(Image credit: 2K)

While we’re certainly excited for the next BioShock game, we don’t actually know when we’ll get our hands on it.

In a tweet officially announcing a new BioShock game back in 2019, publisher 2K Games stated that work had begun on the next iteration of the BioShock franchise. Here, it confirmed that the game would be in development “for the next several years”.

That may not have been the most welcome news, but it did give us an idea about what platforms BioShock 4 would eventually release on. With the PS5 and Xbox Series X now available, we’ll almost certainly be seeing a new BioShock releasing on these platforms (and probably on PC too). Whether the title arrives on last-generation consoles like Xbox One and PS4 is less certain; it depends on when the sequel releases.

BioShock 4 news

(Image credit: 2K)

Ghost of Tsushima narrative lead joins BioShock 4
Far Cry 4 and Ghost of Tsushima narrative lead Liz Albl announced on Twitter (opens in new tab) that she would be making the jump to 2K Games’ Cloud Chamber studio as part of the BioShock 4 story crew. This is the latest we’ve heard in terms of the game’s development process.

More job listings suggest the next BioShock will be open-world
In a piece of juicy gossip supplied by a new round of job listings, it appears that Cloud Chamber will be taking BioShock in a different direction this time out, with the developer actively searching for someone “who can weave impactful, character-driven stories in an open world setting.”

Another job listing also points to the upcoming BioShock implementing an “urban crowd system” with a  “systemic tribal ecology” backed by a “sometimes hostile AI”. It’s said the person who ultimately gets the job will need to “push the envelope of what is possible with interactive crowd systems”.

BioShock revisited: unpicking the complex, messy legacy of 2K’s knockout franchise

Read More 

The Epic Games Store free games offering for this week is one you won’t want to miss. Make sure to download them before they’re gone!

Epic Games Store free games refresh weekly, giving you the opportunity to build up a solid collection of games at no extra cost. It’s usually a varied offering, with everything from AAA blockbusters to indie darlings often included. Make sure to check back in to grab these free games, even if you don’t plan on playing them right away.

Epic Games and participating developers are giving away free games each week, then, and we’re rounding up all the freebies below so you don’t miss out. Each week, we’ll list the free games you can pick up. The current offering includes an industry simulator.

To download the latest free titles, simply head to the Epic Games Store free games page (opens in a new tab) while signed in to your account. Like any week, you can download these games to keep for free, so long as you do so before the deal expires. Here are the free games you can pick up on the Epic Games Store, including Rise of Industry.

This week’s games

Epic Games Store free games – Rise of Industry

(Image credit: Dapper Penguin Studios)

Rise of Industry allows you to put your entrepreneurial skills to the test as you create & optimise intricate production lines whilst keeping an eye on the all-important bottom line. As an early 20th Century industrialist, grow your empire & adapt to unexpected events that could lead to boom…or bust.

Available from March 2 – March 9

Previous free games

Want to see what you’ve missed so far? Check below for the historic list of freebies that the Epic Games Store has offered up to its customers so far:

Recipe For Disaster (February 16)

City of Gangsters (February 9)

Dishonored: Death of the Outsider (February 9)

Hell is Others (February 2)

Adios (February 2)

Epistory: Typing Chronicles (January 19)

Divine Knockout (January 19)

Gamedec (January 12)

Kerbal Space Program (January 12)

Shadow Tactics: Aiko’s Choice (January 12)

Dishonored: Definitive Edition (January 5)

Wolfenstein: The New Order (December 20)

Them’s Fighting Herds (December 19)

Saints Row IV Re-Elected (December 8 – December 15)

Fort Triumph (December 1 – December 8)

RPG in a Box (December 1 – December 8)

Dark Deity (November 10 – November 17)

Filament (November 3 – November 10)

Rising Storm 2 (November 3 – November 10) 

Evoland Legendary Edition (October 20 – October 27, 2022)

Fallout 3 (October 20 – October 27, 2022)

Spirit Of the North (September 15 – September 22, 2022)

Hundred Days – Winemaking Simulator and Realm Royale Reforged Epic Launch Bundle (September 8 – September 15, 2022)

Shadow of the Tomb Raider and Submerged: Hidden Depths (September 1 – September 8, 2022)

Ring of Pain (August 25 – September 1)

Doom 64 and Rumbleverse Boom Boxer pack (August 18 – August 25)

Cook, Serve, Delicious! 3?! (August 11 – August 18, 2022)

Unrailed (August 4 – August 11, 2022)

Lawn Mowing Simulator (July 28 – August 4, 2022)

Shop Titans and Tannenberg (July 21 – July 28, 2022)

Idle Champions of the Forgotten Realms and Wonder Boy: The Dragon’s Trap (July 14 – July 21, 2022)
Ancient Enemy, Killing Floor 2 (July 7 – July 14, 2022)

Geneforge 1: Mutagen, Hood: Outlaws & Legends and Iratus: Lord of the Dead (June 30 – July 7, 2022)

Car Mechanic Simulator 2018 and A Game Of Thrones: The Board Game Digital Edition (June 23 – June 30, 2022)

Supraland (June 16 – June 23, 2022)

Maneater (June 9 – June 16, 2022)

Wolfenstein: The New Order (June 2 – June 9, 2022)

BioShock: The Collection (May 26 – June 2, 2022)

Borderlands 3 (May 19 – May 26, 2022)

Prey, Jotun: Valhalla Edition, and Redout: Enhanced Edition (May 12 – May 19, 2022)

Terraforming Mars (May 5 – May 12, 2022)

Paradigm and Just Die Already (April 28 – May 5, 2022)

Amnesia Rebirth and Riverbond (April 21 – April 28, 2022)

XCOM 2 and Insurmountable (April 14 – April 21, 2022)

Rogue Legacy and The Vanishing of Ethan Carter (April 7 – April 14, 2022)

Total War: Warhammer and City of Brass (March 31 – April 7, 2022)

Demon’s Tilt (March 24 – March 31, 2022)

In Sound Mind (March 17 – March 24, 2022)

Cities: Skylines (March 10 – March 17, 2022)

Centipede: Recharged & Black Widow: Recharged and Dauntless (Epic Slayer Kit) (March 3 – March 10, 2022)

Cris Tales (February 24 – March 3, 2022)

Brothers: A Tale of Two Sons (February 17 – February 24, 2022)

Windbound (February 10 – February 17, 2022)

Yooka-Laylee and the Impossible Lair (February 3 – February 10, 2022)

DAEMON X MACHINA (January 27 – February 3, 2022)

Relicta (January 20 – January 27, 2022)

Galactic Civilizations 3 (January 13 – January 20, 2022)

Gods Will Fall (January 6 – January 13, 2022)

Tomb Raider Trilogy (December 30, 2021)

Salt and Sanctuary (December 29, 2021)

Moving Out (December 28, 2021)

Mages of Mystralia (December 27, 2021)

Control (December 26, 2021)

Prey (December 25, 2021)

Pathfinder: Kingmaker (December 24 2021)

Vampyr (December 23, 2021)

Mutant Year Zero: Road to Eden (December 22, 2021)

Second Extinction (December 21, 2021)

Loop Hero (December 20, 2021)

The Vanishing of Ethan Carter (December 19, 2021)

Remnant: From the Ashes (December 18, 2021)

Neon Abyss (December 17, 2021)

Shenmue 3  (December 16, 2021)

Prison Architect (December 9 – December 16, 2021)

Godfall Challenger Edition (December 9 – December 16, 2021)

Dead by Daylight (December 2 – December 9, 2021)

while True: learn() (December 2 – December 9, 2021)

theHunter: Call of the Wild (November 25 – December 2, 2021)

Antstream – Epic Welcome Pack (November 25 – December 2, 2021)

Guild of Duneoneering (November 18 – November 25, 2021)

KID A MNESIA EXHIBITION (November 18 – November 25, 2021)

Never Alone (November 18 – November 25, 2021)

Rogue Company Season 4 Epic Pack (November 11 – November 18, 2021)

Tiny Tina’s Assault on Dragon Keep: A Wonderlands One-shot Adventure (November 9 – November 16, 2021)

Aven Colony (November 4 – November 11, 2021)

DARQ: Complete Edition (October 25 – November 4, 2021)

Among The Sleep (October 21 – October 28, 2021)

Stubbs the Zombie in Rebel Without a Pulse (October 14 – October 21, 2021)

PC Building Simulator (October 7 – October 14, 2021)

Europa Universalis IV (September 30 – October 7, 2021)

The Escapists (September 23 – September 30, 2021)

Tharsis (September 16 – September 23, 2021)

Speed Brawl (September 16 – September 23, 2021)

Sheltered (September 9 – September 16, 2021)

Nioh: The Complete Edition (September 9 – September 16, 2021)

Yoku Island’s Express (September 2 – September 9, 2021)

Automachef (August 26 – September 2, 2021)

Saints Row: The Third Remastered (August 26 – September 2, 2021)

Yooka-Laylee (August 19 – August 26, 2021)

Void Bastards (August 19 – August 26, 2021)

Rebel Galaxy (August 12 – August 19, 2021)

Minit (August 5 – August 12, 2021)

A Plague Tale: Innocence (August 5 – August 12, 2021)

Mothergunship (July 29 – August 5, 2021)

Train Sim World 2 (July 29 – August 5, 2021)

Defense Grid: The Awakening (July 22 – July 29, 2021)

Verdun (July 22 – July 29, 2021)

Obduction (July 15 – July 22, 2021)

Offworld Trading Company (July 15 – Jul 22, 2021)

The Walking Dead Bridge Constructor (July 8 – July 15, 2021)

Ironcast (July 8 – July 15, 2021)

The Spectrum Retreat (July 1 – July 8, 2021)

Horizon Chase Turbo (June 24 – July 1, 2021)

Sonic Mania (June 24 – July 1, 2021)

Hell is other Demons (June 17 – June 24, 2021)

Overcooked 2! (June 17 – June 24, 2021)

Control (June 10 – June 17, 2021)

Frostpunk (June 3 – June 10, 2021)

Among Us (May 27 – June 3, 2021)

NBA 2K21 (May 20 – May 27, 2021)

The Lion’s Song (May 13 – May 20, 2021)

Pine (May 6 – May 13, 2021)

Idle Champions of the Forgotten Realms (April 29 – May 6, 2021)

Alien Isolation (April 22 – April 29, 2021)

Hand of Fate 2 (April 22 – April 29, 2021)

Ken Follet’s The Pillars of Earth (April 15 – April 22, 2021)

The First Tree (April 15 – April 22, 2021)

Deponia: The Complete Journey (April 15 – April 22, 2021)

3 out of 10: Season 2 (April 8 – April 15, 2021)

Tales of the Neon Sea (April 1 – April 8, 2021)

Creature in the well (March 25 – April 1, 2021)

The Fall (March 18 – March 25, 2021)

Surviving Mars (March 11 – March 18, 2021)

Wargame: Red Dragon (March 4 – March 11, 2021)

Sunless Sea (February 25 – March 4, 2021)

Rage 2 (February 18 – February 25, 2021)

Absolute Drift Zen Edition (February 18 – February 25, 2021)

Halycon 6 (February 11 – February 18, 2021)

Metro: Last Light Redux (February 4 – February 11, 2021)

For The King (February 4 – February 11, 2021)

Dandara: Trials of Fear (January 28 – February 4, 2021)

Galactic Civilizations 3 (January 21 – January 28, 2021)

Star Wars Battlefront 2: Celebration Edition (January 14 – January 21, 2021)

Crying Suns (January 7 – January 14, 2021)

Jurassic World Evolution (December 31 – January 7, 2021)

Torchlight II (December 30 – December 31, 2020)

Solitairica (December 29 – December 30, 2020)

Stranded Deep (December 28 – December 29, 2020)

Night in the Woods (December 27 – December 28, 2020)

My Time in Portia (December 26 – December 27, 2020)

Darkest Dungeon (December 25 – December 26, 2020)

Inside (December 24 – December 25, 2020)

Tropico 5 (December 23 – December 24, 2020)

Metro 2033 Redux (December 22 – December 23, 2020)

Alien: Isolation (December 21 – December 22, 2020)

Defense Grid: The Awakening (December 20 – December 21, 2020)

The Long Dark (December 19 – December 20, 2020)

Oddworld: New ‘n’ Tasty (December 18 – December 19, 2020)

Cities: Skylines (December 17 – December 18, 2020)

Pillars of Eternity: Definitive Edition (December 10 – December 17, 2020)

Tyranny: Gold Edition (December 10 – December 17, 2020)

Cave Story+ (December 3 – December 10, 2020)

MudRunner (November 26 – December 3, 2020)

The World Next Door (November 19 – November 26, 2020)

Elite Dangerous (November 19 – November 26, 2020)

The Textorcist (November 12 – November 19, 2020)

Dungeons 3 (November 5 – November 12, 2020)

Ghostbusters: The Video Game Remastered (October 29 – November 5, 2020)

Blair Witch (October 29 – November 5, 2020)

Layers of Fear 2 (October 21 – October 29, 2020)

Costume Quest 2 (October 21 – October 29, 2020)

Amnesia: A Machine for Pigs (October 15 – October 21, 2020)

Kingdom New Lands (October 15 – October 21, 2020)

Abzu (October 8 – October 15, 2020)

Rising Storm 2: Vietnam (October 8 – October 15, 2020)

Pikuniku (October 1 – October 8, 2020)

RollerCoaster Tycoon 3: Complete Edition (September 24 – October 1, 2020)

Stick It To The Man! (September 17 – September 24, 2020)

Football Manager 2020 (September 17 – September 24, 2020)

Watch Dogs 2 (September 17 – September 24, 2020)

Railway Empire (September 10 – September 17, 2020)

Where The Water Tastes Like Wine (September 10 – September 17, 2020)

Into the Breach (September 3 – September 10, 2020)

Shadowrun Collection (August 27 – September 3, 2020)

Hitman (August 27 – September 3, 2020)

Enter the Gungeon (August 20 – August 27, 2020)

God’s Trigger (August 20 – August 27, 2020)

The Alto Collection (August 13 – August 20, 2020)

Remnant: From the Ashes (August 13 – August 20, 2020)

Wilmot’s Warehouse (August 6 – August 13, 2020)

3 Out of 10 (August 6 – August 13, 2020)

Superbrothers: Sword & Sworcery EP (July 30 – August 6, 2020)

Barony (July 30 – August 6, 2020)

20XX (July 30 – August 6, 2020)

Tacoma (July 23 – July 30, 2020)

Next Up Hero (July 23 – July 30, 2020)

Torchlight 2 (July 16 – July 23, 2020)

The Escapists 2 (July 9 – July 16, 2020)

Lifeless Planet (July 9 – July 16, 2020)

Killing Floor 2 (July 9 – July 16, 2020)

Hue (July 2 – July 9, 2020)

AER Memories of Old (June 25 – July 2, 2020)

Stranger Things 3: The Game (June 25 – July 2, 2020)

Pathway (June 18 – June 25, 2020)

Samurai Shodown Neo Geo Collection (June 11 – June 18, 2020)

Ark: Survival Evolved (June 11 – June 18, 2020)

Overcooked! (June 4 – June 11, 2020)

Borderlands: The Handsome Collection (May 28 – June 4, 2020)

Civilization 6 (May 21 – May 28, 2020)

GTA 5 (May 14 – May 21, 2020)

Death Coming (May 7 – May 14, 2020)

Amnesia: The Dark Descent (April 30 – May 7, 2020)

Crashlands (April 30 – May 7, 2020)

For the King (April 23 – April 30, 2020)

Just Cause 4 (April 16 – April 23, 2020)

Wheels of Aurelia (April 16 – April 23, 2020)

Close to the Sun (April 9 – 16, 2020)

Sherlock Holmes: Crimes and Punishments (April 9 -14, 2020)

Drawful 2 (April 2 – April 9, 2020)

Gone Home (April 2 – April 9, 2020)

Hob (April 2 – April 9, 2020)

Figment (March 26 – April 1, 2020)

Tormentor X Punisher (March 26 – April 1, 2020)

World War Z (March 26 – April 1, 2020)

Stanley Parable (March 20 – 26, 2020)

Watch Dogs (March 20 – 26, 2020)

A Short Hike (March 13-19, 2020)

Anodyne 2: Return to Dust (March 13-19, 2020)

Mutazione (March 13-19, 2020)

GoNNER (March 5-12, 2020)

Offworld Trading Company (March 5-12, 2020)

Inner Space (February 27-March 5, 2020)

Faeria (February 20-27, 2020)

Assassin’s Creed: Syndicate (February 20-27, 2020)

Kingdom Come: Deliverance (February 13-20, 2020)

Aztez (February 13-20, 2020)

Carcassonne (February 6-13, 2020)

Ticket to Ride (February 6-13, 2020)

Pandemic (February 6-13, 2020)

Farming Simulator 19 (January 30-February 6, 2020)

The Bridge (January 23-30, 2020)

Horace (January 16-23, 2020)

Sundered Eldritch Edition (January 9-16, 2020)

Steep, Darksiders I Warmastered Edition, and Darksiders II Deathinitive Edition (January 1-9, 2020)

Yooka-Laylee and the Impossible Lair (December 31, 2019-January 1, 2020)

Hello Neighbor (December 30-31, 2019)

The Talos Principle (December 29-30, 2019)

Shadow Tactics: Blades of the Shogun (December 28-29, 2019)

Hyper Light Drifter (December 27-28, 2019)

Faster Than Light (December 26-27, 2019)

Totally Accurate Battle Simulator (December 25-26, 2019)

Celeste (December 24-25, 2019)

Ape Out (December 23-24, 2019)

Little Inferno (December 22-23, 2019)

Superhot (December 21-22, 2019)

TowerFall Ascension (December 20-21, 2019)

Into The Breach (December 19-20, 2019)

The Escapists and The Wolf Among Us (December 12-19, 2019)

Jotun: Valhalla Edition (December 6-12, 2019)

Rayman Legends (November 29-December 6, 2019)

Bad North (November 21-29, 2019)

The Messenger (November 14-21, 2019)

Nuclear Throne and Ruiner (November 7-14, 2019)

SOMA and Costume Quest (October 31-November 7, 2019)

Layers of Fear and Q.U.B.E. 2 (October 24-31, 2019)

Observer and Alan Wake’s American Nightmare (October 17-24, 2019)

Surviving Mars and DLCs (Space Race and Resupply Pack) (October 10-17, 2019)

Minit (October 3-10, 2019)

Everything and Metro 2033: Redux (September 26-October 3, 2019)

Batman Arkham Collection (three games) and Lego Batman Trilogy (September 19-26, 2019)

Conarium (September 12-19, 2019)

The End is Nigh and Abzu (September 5-12, 2019)

Celeste and Inside (August 29-September 5, 2019)

Fez (August 22-29, 2019)

Hyper Light Drifter and Mutant Year Zero: Road to Eden (August 15-22, 2019)

GNOG (August 8-15, 2019)

For Honor and Alan Wake (August 2-9, 2019)

Moonlighter and This War of Mine (July 25-August 2, 2019)

LIMBO (July 17-25, 2019)

Torchlight (July 11-18, 2019)

Overcooked! (July 4-11, 2019)

Last Day of June (June 27-July 4, 2019)

Rebel Galaxy (June 20-27, 2019)

Enter The Gungeon (June 13-20, 2019)

Kingdom: New Lands (June 6-13, 2019)

City of Brass (May 30-June 6, 2019)

RiME (May 23-30, 2019)

Stories Untold (May 16-30, 2019)

World of Goo (May 2-16, 2019)

Transistor (April 18-May 2, 2019)

The Witness (April 4-18, 2019)

Oxenfree (March 21-April 4, 2019)

Slime Rancher (March 7-21, 2019)

Thimbleweed Park (February 21-March 7, 2019)

Axiom Verge (February 7-21, 2019)

Jackbox Party Pack (January 24-February 7, 2019)

What Remains of Edith Finch (January 11-24, 2019)

Super Meat Boy (December 28, 2018-January 10, 2019)

Subnautica (December 12-27, 2018)

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