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https://www.pcgamer.com/square-enix-says-final-fantasy-14-is-a-huge-reason-behind-financial-success-in-2021/ Square Enix has attributed the rising number of people playing the critically acclaimed MMORPG Final Fantasy 14 as one of the biggest reasons behind its recent financial success. The developer and publisher reported a 4% increase in sales and a 17.1% increase in operating income in its latest financial report. The substantial increase has led to Square Enix increasing its profit forecast for the rest of the financial year. Games like Nier Replicant and Guardians of the Galaxy were named as successful launches, along with strong sales of merchandise. But it was Final Fantasy 14 that was called out as one of the shining stars of the last financial quarter. Recent expansion Endwalker—which ended up being so po[CENSORED]r that sales of the entire game were halted for six weeks—was cited as a major reason for the positive report. Square Enix said it's also seen a significant uptick in the number of paid subscribers for the game, even with its (still suspended) generous free trial. As Eurogamer points out, it's a much different story from Activision-Blizzard's recent financial reporting. Blizzard's player count was down from 26 million to 24 million—unaided by the declining state of World of Warcraft and the ongoing lawsuit concerning allegations of harassment and sexual assault at the company. Activision's player count dropped steeper still, from 119 million to 107 million. I've parroted it enough times now, but Final Fantasy 14's success in 2021 has been astounding. It's been a long time coming and is seriously well-deserved for the MMO. The game has never been in a better state even with Endwalker's initial login woes and the ongoing server congestion issues. With director and producer Naoki Yoshida preparing to lay out plans for the next 10 years of the MMO, it's likely to continue being a huge hit for Square Enix. A fresh writer in the industry, Mollie has been taken under PC Gamer's RGB-laden wing, making sure she doesn't get up to too much mischief on the site. She's not quite sure what a Command & Conquer is, but she can rattle on for hours about all the obscure rhythm games and strange MMOs from the 2000s. She's been cooking up all manner of news, previews and features while she's been here, but especially enjoys when she gets to write about Final Fantasy, Persona, The Sims, and whatever other game she's currently hopelessly fixated on. There's a good chance she's boring another PC Gamer writer about her latest obsession as we speak.

Music Title: LET ME BE - MICKEY SINGH (OFFICIAL VIDEO) Signer: Mickey Singh Release Date: 3 Feb 2022 Official Youtube Link: Informations About The Signer: - Your Opinion About The Track (Music Video): 6/10

https://www.techspot.com/news/93247-switch-becomes-nintendo-best-selling-home-console-ever.html The Nintendo Switch has broken two more records. Not only has it surpassed 100 million sales faster than any other console in history, but it’s also become Nintendo’s best-selling home console ever. The news comes in the middle of a chip crisis that has impacted the production of many electronic products, including Sony’s PlayStation 5. Nintendo’s latest financial results state that the new Switch OLED got off to a “good start” following its launch last October, selling 10.67 million units in Q3, which Nintendo classes as October to December. That brings the hybrid machine’s total sales to 103.54 million since it launched in 2017. It means the Switch has now surpassed the Wii’s lifetime sales of 101.63 million to become Nintendo’s best-selling home console of all time. It’s also reached 100 million units sold faster than any other console in history—four years, eleven months—beating the record held by the PS4, which took five years and seven months to hit that figure. The news comes a day after Sony cut its sales forecast for the PlayStation 5 due to the ongoing chip shortage, impacting the console’s production. In December, Nintendo President Shuntaro Furukawa warned that the Switch could start seeing similar availability issues this year. Despite the good news, Switch sales were down 8% YoY. And after Nintendo lowered its Switch sales forecast in November from 25.5 million to 24 million due to the semiconductor shortage, it has once again revised that figure down, by another million to 23 million. In the area of software, Pokémon remasters Brilliant Diamond and Shining Pearl were the Switch’s best sellers over the last nine months with 13.97 million total units sold. It was followed by Mario Kart 8 Deluxe (7.96 million), Mario Party Superstars (5.43 million), and Animal Crossing: New Horizons (4.99 million).

https://www.techradar.com/news/software/operating-systems/best-windows-10-deals-2015-1300938 If you’re thinking of buying Windows 10, whether it's for that new PC you’re building, a Mac you’d like to install a Windows operating system in, or an older computer you’d like to upgrade, we can help. Despite Windows 11 now being available, there are still Windows users who remain true to its predecessor, and for good reason. Barely anyone has upgraded to Windows 11, due to its TPM requirements, compatibility issues, and even slowdowns. And, if you’re trying to upgrade from an older OS, getting the best supported version of Windows (which remains Windows 10) will make your computer a lot more secure. After all, if you’re running an older version such as Windows 8, you’re vulnerable to all sorts of security issues. And, now that the deadline for the free update has come and gone, you’ll have to hunt for a good price to make that upgrade. To make things easy, we’ve collected the best deals out there so you can get Windows 10 without spending too much money. That way, you also get to experience speedier performance, Cortana assistance, and crucial security features. Whether you just want to upgrade an older computer, are building a new one, or have a nice laptop that needs it, you’ll need to buy a copy of Windows 10. We’re keeping tabs on the latest prices, however, so you can find the best deal available on this version of Microsoft’s OS. You may still be running your computer on Windows 7 or 8, and if so now's the time to buy Windows 10. This isn't just a performance update, Windows 10 brings new features and security settings to your machine that are crucial to getting your work done in today's operating systems. From the ease of the Cortana assistant to the speed boost you'll notice instantly, upgrading your older system to Windows 10 will be well worth your while. Windows 10 Home is the version that most people will need. It's for home use and includes game streaming from Xbox One and other consumer features like Cortana, as well as Windows Hello for logging into your PC via a fingerprint scanner or your face. If Windows 8 was the steepest learning curve imaginable, Windows 10 is like meeting a great friend you once knew again - it's just that they've bought some new clothes of which you really do approve. If you're looking to buy Windows 10 Home today, you'll find some excellent offers to save you some cash below. Buy Windows 10 Pro if you need the extra security and management improvements over the Home version above. It includes Hyper-V for virtualization, BitLocker whole disk encryption, enterprise mode IE, Remote Desktop, a version of the Windows Store for your own business and assigned access (which locks a PC to running only one modern application, to use like a kiosk). Network admins can also schedule updates so they don't happen at important times.

https://www.pcgamer.com/battlefield-2042s-scoreboard-update-has-been-delayed-until-march/ It's more bad news for Battlefield 2042 fans, as Electronic Arts has announced that the 3.3 update, which includes the long-awaited new scoreboard, has been delayed a few weeks and won't be out until sometime in March. EA said in January that the 3.3 update featuring the "refreshed scoreboard" would roll out in mid to late February, following a smaller 3.2 update that would bring in changes to Battlefield Portal's XP system and a number of performance optimizations. But the 3.2 update also introduced stability problems, which developer DICE attempted to stamp out with a hotfix released today. "Our next update after today's hotfix will now roll out in early March," EA said via the Battlefield Direct Communication Twitter account, after the hotfix went live. "This is a change from our last message to you all on its intended release. The extra time will help to ensure we improve the quality of our updates, and include additional changes." Predictably, the reaction to the delay has not been positive. While some players encourage DICE to take the time it needs to get things right, many others are highly critical: A number of players are comparing it to the disastrous launch of Cyberpunk 2077 and/or demanding refunds, while others are sharing their own (sometimes reasonable, sometimes wild) ideas for "fixing the game," such as eliminating specialists completely or removing restrictions and XP caps in solo play and the Portal. There are even calls for Battlefield 2042 to be abandoned so resources can be focused on the next game in the series. There are bits of gallows humour scattered throughout the commentary as well, some of it surprisingly sympathetic to the plight of the developer. "If DICE were a friend on social media you'd be setting up a GoFundme page because it's clear they're reaching out for help but they're too brave to tell everyone they have cancer or they're unemployed or something," redditor loseisnothardtospell wrote. It's understandable that some players are frustrated to the point of giving up. Battlefield 2042 was in a rough state at launch, and many players were unhappy with the design direction DICE took for the new game, which they felt strayed too far from the core Battlefield formula. Of more than 93,000 user reviews on Steam, only 30% are positive; the situation is bad enough that earlier this week, DICE delayed the kickoff of Battlefield 2042's first season so it could work on addressing player criticism. Electronic Arts acknowledged in its most recent quarterly investment call that Battlefield 2042 "did not meet expectations," but CEO Andrew Wilson promised the company is "fully committed to realizing the full potential" of the game.

Happy Birthday! 🎂 Stay Blessed.

https://www.pcgamer.com/suicide-squad-kill-the-justice-league-reportedly-delayed-until-2023/ Suicide Squad: Kill the Justice League, a game in which the Suicide Squad attempts to kill the Justice League, may not make it out this year as it was expected to. According to a Bloomberg report, "people familiar with its development" have said that the game has been delayed and won't be released until sometime in 2023. In development at Rocksteady Studios, Suicide Squad will be an open-world game set in Superman's home city of Metropolis, with gameplay blending the fisticuffs of the studio's Batman Arkham games with "powerful, awesome gunplay," as Rocksteady creative director Sefton Hill put it. We don't know much about the story yet, except that it puts the squad "on a collision course with an invading alien force and DC Super Heroes who are now laser-focused on destroying the city they once vowed to protect." The story aspect is a little confusing because publisher Warner Bros has another superhero brawler in development, Gotham Knights, which as the title suggests is effectively a Batman game, although Batman isn't actually in it. But that game is completely separate from Rocksteady's Arkham series, which were all about the Batman, while Suicide Squad: Kill the Justice League actually follows the story of 2015's Arkham Knight, making it, and not Gotham Knights, the next story in that series. Confusing, like I said. Warner hasn't announced the delay at this point but assuming the report is legit, it's possible that Gotham Knights could be the cause. It was originally set to come out in 2021 but was delayed into 2022 in March of last year, and it's reasonable to think that Warner may not want to drop two thematically similar games in such close proximity. The Bloomberg report noted that WarnerMedia CEO Jason Kilar also teased "a full slate of highly anticipated games" coming in 2022, with logos for Hogwart's Legacy and Gotham Knights, but notably not Suicide Squad. This mission, this strategy continues in ‘22 with a sense of urgency: launching HBO Max in many more countries this quarter and the balance of the year, launching CNN+, delivering of a full slate of highly anticipated games. 10/x pic.twitter.com/CY5jYAhxU5January 26, 2022

https://www.techspot.com/news/93220-qnap-forced-security-update-stopped-ransomware-but-users.html Last month, QNAP faced a security crisis when a ransomware group targeted its customers' network-attached storage (NAS) devices. It issued a security update that remediated the problem. However, the fix caused unexpected side effects for some. Taiwan-based QNAP Systems has had to explain how and why it forced some of its customers to update the software for their NAS systems. While there was a clear need to stop ransomware that had already reached thousands of QNAP storage systems, many users felt they should have been given a choice due to each one’s unique situation. The issues started in January when the Deadbolt ransomware group began infecting QNAP devices with encryption malware. According to Malwarebytes, Deadbolt offered each affected user a decryption key for 0.03 bitcoin (about $1100). At the same time, it also tried to sell QNAP a universal decryption key and the details of the zero-day exploit Deadbolt used for 50 bitcoins (almost $2 million). Towards the end of January, after issuing a warning to its users, QNAP issued an automatic security update that addressed the exploit. However, it did it in a way that updated some users’ systems even if they had disabled auto-update, which angered some. Some users may have been running crucial processes, which the auto-update might have interrupted. Some of the ransomware victims who had paid the ransom but got the update before decrypting their files could no longer use the keys they got from Deadbolt. More recent versions of QNAP’s software may have also broken other functionalities. The global updating was allowed because QNAP has two levels of auto-updates: a setting to keep a system updated to the latest build and one to keep it updated to a “recommended version.” The company issued the security update by changing which iteration was recommended. Some users who went through multiple system updates in succession may have disabled auto-updating to the latest version but not known about the auto-updates to the recommended build. This system is designed to provide flexibility, but tech companies usually respond to similar problems by simply telling users about a security update and strongly recommending they apply it. At least in that way, users would have retained control of how and when the software was updated.

https://www.techradar.com/news/microsoft-edge-will-let-you-embrace-multiple-identities-at-once Using multiple profiles across Microsoft Edge should soon become a lot smoother thanks to an update coming to the service. Microsoft has revealed it is working on a new feature for its web browser that will allow users to create a selection of websites where they can switch between user profiles. The tool could prove useful for Edge users that use the software for work, and need to switch between personal and workplace accounts frequently, or for those sharing a laptop or other device with family members. "Users can personalize their multi-profile experience with the ability to create a customized list of sites for automatic profile switching in Microsoft Edge," the entry on the Microsoft 365 roadmap reads. Although Edge initially unveiled profile support back in 2019, users have had to stick with one profile until now, with the new tool meaning users have less need to use anonymous browsers, but can rely instead on speedy switching. The feature will be arriving in Microsoft Edge v.98, which is set to begin rolling out within the next few weeks. The company says that the multi-profile preferences tool should launch by the end of the month at the latest, with users around the world able to access the feature. It's the latest addition to Microsoft Edge v.98 as the company looks to tempt users away from browser rivals such as Google Chrome. The company recently announced that Microsoft Edge v.98 is getting a significant security upgrade thanks to a "boosted browsing experience" that puts safety and security at the forefront. This includes allowing administrators to apply group policies to end-user desktops across not just Windows devices, but also those running macOS and Linux, giving extra protection against zero-day threats, as well as what Microsoft says is "an extra layer of protection when browsing the web."

https://www.pcgamer.com/apex-legends-says-hello-to-a-bigger-olympus-and-a-better-crypto/ We're a week out from a new season of Apex Legends. And while it's too soon to get a brand new map a la last season's Storm Point, there's still new ground to discover on Apex's loftiest arena. In a dev panel last night, Respawn broke down some of the map and balance changes coming to Apex in Season 12: Defiance. The biggie is that Olympus, pristine flying city and personal favourite, is back—and bigger than before. While Olympus has long been a fairly balanced map, next season's changes aim to pull attention away from the meat grinder around Hammond Labs and Waterfall. The area surrounding Bonsai towers has been expanded with broken, 'shifted' hillsides and two new points of interest. The first, Terminal, replaces the tight choke between Labs and Bonsai with a layered interior section set within Olympus' vast phase runner, but it's the second that'll draw the most eyes. As seen in the launch trailer, Phase Driver is a massive teleporter plaza that adds a dense arena at a previously empty spot between Bonsai and Hydroponics. Being a portal, Phase Driver sports terminals that can be used to summon loot orbs from thin air. These have a 30-second cooldown and make one hell of a racket, so make sure the coast is clear before yanking supplies from the ether. Phased terrain pieces have been scattered across the south of the map, but fortunately that's the extent of Olympus' destruction. It's an additive map change, not destructive, bulking out the map without breaking it apart. After what happened to World's Edge, that's more than welcome. Respawn also detailed a few balance changes coming with Defiance, the biggest being a long-overdue buff for everyone's favourite hacker. Crypto has been maligned for some time, having to be stationary in his drone to get any use out of his abilities. By holding tactical, Crypto can now toss his drone out to gain info without settling down. If he decides to fly his drone direct, the UI will now give him more data on his own health, team and game status, ensuring you're not sacrificing information while scouting t's a small change, in line with Wattson's last season, but one that has the potential to give Crypto a hell of a lot more versatility. Caustic has also seen a slight nerf in letting players destroy his traps while they're active. On the weapon side of things, the Alternator and Volt trade places as care package and floor loot respectively. The Flatline and Longbow also have the honour of being the first guns to be placed in the replicator all season, no longer appearing as floor loot. Hammerpoint Rounds also return and now offer extra damage to the RE-45, while Shatter Caps no longer require a toggle—instead firing shotgun rounds while hip-firing and traditional single-shot rounds while ADSing. A new Kinetic Feeder has also been added to the Peacekeeper and Triple Take, slowly reloading those weapons as you slider your arse across the map. Finally, in welcome news to everyone who's sick of dropping Fragment, Season 12 is removing World's Edge to focus on King's Canyon, Olympus and Storm Point (no details were given on ranked splits). Apex Legends Season 12: Defiance kicks off on February 8, and we'll have more info on the spiciest new additions, new hero Mad Maggie and 9v9 Control LTM, ahead of release.

https://www.techradar.com/news/microsoft-is-offering-a-new-version-of-its-most-underappreciated-productivity-tool-for-free Microsoft wants to help us all feel a little more organized and ready for the day ahead, and it's offering a free experience of one of its least well-known productivity apps to do so. The company has revealed users with a Microsoft account (MSA) can now try a new lightweight version of its Microsoft Lists app at no charge, to see just how it can help them. Microsoft Lists is designed for small business and individual use, and the new preview version of the app looks to help provide a clear and straightforward view of all your important tasks in one single place. "It’s time to liberate yourself from coordination chaos," Microsoft wrote in a blog post announcing the news. "Time to clear your brain space and get organized. In short, it’s time to try the Microsoft Lists – MSA Preview." Previously only available as part of a paid Microsoft 365 subscription, the company says the new preview app is designed around the core of the existing service, but also adds in a few new tools, including tabbed views, sharing from within a Person column, add images inline and more. It believes Microsoft Lists can be helpful across a huge range of tasks, from business-focused tasks such as internal events planning, job applications and employee onboarding, to more home-oriented activities such as vacation planning or even recipe collecting. The app allows users to share all their plans with co-workers, family or friends, and can be customized in a wide range of formats to give users exactly the view or approach they need. The company is offering 200,000 free trial accounts on a first-come, first-served basis, and you'll need a Microsoft account to sign up. During preview, users can try up to 50 lists, with up to 2,000 items/list, although there is also a 200MB limit for files, video, and image storage per list. Customers planning to use Microsoft Lists with a business account and personal Microsoft account will need to switch between accounts to see each set of lists. "We’re excited to see what sorts of information tracking goodness you create during preview, and how you share it all," the company added. Get your projects under control with our top picks for the best project

https://www.techspot.com/news/93215-corsair-new-mp600-pro-lpx-m2-ps5-compatible.html The default storage unit of the PlayStation is somewhat limited. Although the drive has 825GB, only about 670GB is available. Considering some games can occupy over 100GB of storage, that's not much. New PS5-compatible M.2 SSDs have been hitting the market left and right. There are several affordable options, and Corsair just jumped into the fray with the MP600 Pro LPX SSD. Like many other SSD vendors, Corsair launched a PS5-ready SSD to increase the console's storage capacity. Available with 500GB, 1TB, 2TB, and even a whopping 4TB, Corsair's new PCIe 4.0 M.2 SSD features a compact built-in heatsink designed to fit inside the PS5 that should offer enough cooling capacity to prevent thermal throttling. To be compatible with the PlayStation 5, an SSD must meet specific requirements. These include having a PCIe 4.0 M.2 NVMe interface (key M), a minimum sequential read speed of 5,500MB/s, and between 250GB and 4TB of storage capacity. Moreover, companies also must consider that only 2230, 2242, 2260, 2280, 22110 SSD form factors are compatible, and the SSD's thickness must not exceed 11.25mm. These requirements are all met by the new Corsair 3D TLC NAND-based SSD, which offers sequential read speeds of 7,100MB/s and sequential write speeds of 6,800MB/s. In addition, it also uses Dynamic SLC NAND cache to improve sustained performance and enhance the drive's durability. Although the SSD it's targeted at PS5 use, it doesn't mean you can't install it on a PC. All you need is a free M.2 slot on the motherboard, and you're all set. It doesn't even matter if it's PCIe 4.0 or PCIe 3.0, as backward compatibility ensures the SSD works in both. However, performance will vary depending on the PCIe interface you use. The Corsair MP600 Pro LPX SSD is now available with 500GB for $99.99, while the 1TB model puts you back $169.99. The 2TB model goes for $339.99, and the 4TB variant is by far the most expensive, costing $784.99. All models have a five-year warranty.

https://www.techspot.com/news/93189-intel-responds-graphics-card-crisis-promises-ship-millions.html Intel executives Pat Gelsinger and Raja M. Koduri have responded to an open letter pleading for team blue to lead the industry out of the graphics card crisis. Koudri, the SVP of Intel’s architecture, graphics, and software (IAGS) division, promised “millions” of Arc GPUs every year, while the company’s CEO tweeted a simple “we are on it.” The open letter comes from PC Gamer’s Dave James, who cites the familiar problem of supply chain issues and crypto mining leading to low supply combined with huge demand, resulting in scalpers snapping up cards to resell them at double the MSRP, and retail outlets increasing their prices. James also highlights a point many have been asking: once supply does improve and mining demand dies down, will AMD and Nvidia be willing to lower the pricing structure of their chips to pre-crisis levels, given how much money they are making from the situation right now? Koduri was the first to reply to the article. His weekend tweet acknowledged that the graphics card mess “is a huge issue for PC gamers and the industry at large,” adding that Intel is working hard to get “millions of Arc GPUs into the hands of PC gamers every year.” Gelsinger followed with a message of his own. “I am with you, too,” he tweeted. “We are on it.” It’s good to hear company bosses acknowledging the problems being faced by PC fans who are sick of this seemingly unending crisis, but talk, of course, is cheap; Nvidia has already said it will improve the supply of graphics cards in the second half of the year, which will likely coincide with the launch of its RTX 4000 Lovelace series. Moreover, will Koudri and Gelsinger even be able to live up to their promises? Intel is tapping TSMC and its 6nm process node for Arc Alchemist, which restricts the number of GPUs it can produce—not forgetting that TSMC is hiking its prices this year. Plus, there's the lack of a mining limiter on Intel’s cards, scalpers aren’t going away, and we’ll have to wait until Q2 (hopefully) to see how the desktop versions of Arc Alchemist stack up against the equivalent cards from rivals Nvidia and AMD. There have been some recent rays of hope suggesting the GPU market is starting to turn around. Graphics card prices in Europe are finally trending downwards after being on the rise from around August to December, crypto prices are falling, there’s Ethereum’s upcoming shift from a Proof-of-Work (PoW) mining consensus to Proof-of-Stake (PoS), and the average selling price of cards on eBay is coming down. Let's hope Alchemist helps things as much as Gelsinger and Koudri claim.

https://www.pcgamer.com/sony-is-buying-bungie-for-dollar36b/ In yet another major blockbuster acquisition, Sony has announced that it has made a deal to acquire Destiny developer Bungie for $3.6 billion. Bungie will remain "an independent subsidiary" of Sony Interactive Entertainment, according to a GamesIndustry report, headed up by current CEO Pete Parsons. Sony also committed to keeping Bungie a multiplatform developer, and it will have the option "to self-publish and reach players wherever they choose to play." "We've had a strong partnership with Bungie since the inception of the Destiny franchise, and I couldn't be more thrilled to officially welcome the studio to the PlayStation family," Sony Interactive Entertainment president and CEO Jim Ryan said. "This is an important step in our strategy to expand the reach of PlayStation to a much wider audience. We understand how vital Bungie's community is to the studio and look forward to supporting them as they remain independent and continue to grow. Like Bungie, our community is core to PlayStation's DNA, and our shared passion for the gamer and building the best place to play will now evolve even further." In its own announcement, Bungie said Sony "unconditionally supports us in all we are," as it "begins our journey to become a global multi-media entertainment company." It also said that the acquisition will have no impact on Destiny 2 or the upcoming Witch Queen expansion, and—very importantly—said that its future projects will not become PlayStation exclusives. "We want the worlds we are creating to extend to anywhere people play games. We will continue to be self-published, creatively independent, and we will continue to drive one, unified Bungie community." The deal isn't on the same scale as Microsoft's buyout of Activision Blizzard, but it is a major studio acquisition by any measure. It's also an interesting step for Bungie: Following its founding in 1991, the studio was acquired by Microsoft in 2000 and played a big role in making the original Xbox a major success for with Halo: Combat Evolved. It regained its independence in 2007, then signed a ten-year publishing deal with Activision in 2010; it terminated that deal in 2019. One potentially interesting point in all this the $100 million investment that Chinese online gaming company NetEase made in Bungie in 2018. That investment was meant to help fund the creation of new, self-published games and transform Bungie "from a single franchise development team into a global, multi-franchise entertainment studio." It's not yet known how that investment will be impacted by the Sony acquisition. More information about how the acquisition will impact Bungie and the future of Destiny 2 are up at bungie.net. Andy has been gaming on PCs from the very beginning, starting as a youngster with text adventures and primitive action games on a cassette-based TRS80. From there he graduated to the glory days of Sierra Online adventures and Microprose sims, ran a local BBS, learned how to build PCs, and developed a longstanding love of RPGs, immersive sims, and shooters. He began writing videogame news in 2007 for The Escapist and somehow managed to avoid getting fired until 2014, when he joined the storied ranks of PC Gamer. He covers all aspects of the industry, from new game announcements and patch notes to legal disputes, Twitch beefs, esports, and Henry Cavill. Lots of Henry Cavill.

https://www.techradar.com/news/macbook-battery-problems-macos-monterey-122-could-be-to-blame The macOS Monterey 12.2 update was released on January 26, and some users are already reporting issues, with reports that BlueTooth accessories connected to the device are seemingly causing it to wake from sleep mode, draining battery life that would have otherwise been preserved. As reported by MacRumors, it's unclear how widespread the issue currently is, but there have been several posts across social media sites like Twitter and Reddit during the last few days that would indicate this isn't an isolated incident. While no official statement has been made from Apple, those affected have claimed that their Mac's battery life drops from 100% to 0% while left in sleep mode overnight, something that wasn't occurring prior to updating to macOS 12.2. After some investigation, users like @Jpavao found that Bluetooth accessories are apparently causing the Macs to repeatedly wake from sleep mode, which drains the battery over the course of several hours. All fingers point to the latest update being responsible as both older Intel-based Macs and newer M1-powered devices appear to be affected. Disabling the Bluetooth on the device or disconnecting all accessories connected via Bluetooth prior to placing the Mac into sleep mode seems to work as a quick fix, though this obviously isn't ideal if you have to set up your mouse, keyboard and headset every morning, especially if you use the MacBook for work. Apple also made the beta version of Monterey 12.3 available to developers last week, though no mentions were made that refer to a fix within the notes, so it's unclear if the issue will be resolved when this update is pushed live for all macOS users or if another solution is in the works. We've reached out to Apple for clarification. Analysis: keep calm and carry on It's understandable that you might feel wary regarding upgrades when you see stories like this circulating, but we would always recommend that you keep your device up to date with the latest patches to help with security and app compatibility. Any problems that arise after an update, regardless of a system being Windows or macOS, are usually swiftly corrected. It's important to remember though, that updates are likely never going to be a universal 'fix-all' for every user. In fact, the patch to fix this Bluetooth issue could just as likely cause problems for a handful of users who were not previously experiencing any. The risks of using an outdated operating system also far outweigh the risks that come with updating to the latest version though, so it isn't worth avoiding the upgrade to Monterey 12.2 if you've been putting it off. It's not unusual for software updates and patches to cause additional issues that require additional work down the line. It's certainly a nuisance for those affected by the problem, but there are several workarounds that will help tide things over, such as leaving your MacBook charging overnight or disconnecting any Bluetooth accessories, until Apple can officially patch out the battery drain. Make sure you check out our macOS Monterey problems guide for more advice on fixing issues with Apple's latest operating system.