Ubisoft is revamping its games subscription service by offering a premium multi-platform plan and adding a less-expensive tier on PC. The company is merging Ubisoft+ Multi-Access and PC Access into Ubisoft+ Premium. The new PC tier is called Ubisoft+ Classics. Ubisoft says there will be no automatic changes for existing PC Access subscribers, whose plan will remain the same at current pricing.

Ubisoft+ Premium will run you $18 per month (that's $1 more per month than Game Pass Ultimate, fact fans). It includes access to the premium versions of Ubisoft games, all expansions and monthly rewards. Most importantly, you'll be able to play new Ubisoft games on the day they drop. Select games will be available in early access too. For instance, if you sign up now, you can immediately check out Prince of Persia: The Lost Crown, which Ubisoft won't officially release until January 18.

What's more, an Ubisoft+ Premium subscription works across Xbox, PC and Amazon Luna. So you might chip away at Avatar: Frontiers of Pandora on your PC during the work day (we won't tell your boss), continue where you left off on your Xbox after dinner and then wind down for the day by flying around on the back of an ikran on your phone when you're in bed.

Alongside the Ubisoft+ Premium shake up, the company has unveiled Ubisoft+ Classics on PC. This includes access to a collection of "popular back-catalog and live games" for $8 per month. Titles available include Far Cry 6, Rainbow Six Siege and Watch Dogs: Legion. It's worth noting that PlayStation Plus Extra and Premium subscribers have access to the Ubisoft+ Classics lineup at no extra cost.

Ubisoft's head of subscriptions, Philippe Tremblay, says that Ubisoft+ has outperformed the publisher's expectations in terms of membership numbers. "We've seen millions of players since launch, and they've enjoyed over 600 million hours of play," Tremblay told the Ubisoft blog. Tremblay added that the company decided to introduce Ubisoft+ Classics as "we think it's a strong offer at the price point, and the catalog will only grow as we keep adding games to it as time goes on, so players can discover even more of our worlds.”

While the pricing of the respective services may be off putting for some, it's worth bearing in mind that Microsoft sold the cloud gaming rights for Activision Blizzard games to Ubisoft in an attempt to appease regulators (it worked). Back in August, Ubisoft said the agreement meant that its subscribers will eventually be able to stream Activision Blizzard games. Ubisoft hasn't yet shared a timeline for adding those titles to its service. "We're working on the offering right now to make sure it's the best possible experience for our subscribers, and we'll have more to share later," Tremblay said.

It seems that Apple will be able to bypass an import ban on Apple Watch Series 9 and Ultra 2 devices and once again sell those products in the US after dropping a key feature. According to a letter to an appeals court judge from Masimo, a company that's been involved in a patent dispute against Apple, the latter can skirt the ban by removing the Blood Oxygen app from Apple Watch units it sells in the US going forward.

Per the letter, US Customs and Border Protection (CBP) determined that "Apple’s redesign falls outside the scope" of the International Trade Commission's (ITC) import ban on the two devices. Apple told CBP that its "Redesigned Watch Products definitively do not contain pulse oximetry functionality.” Other details related to the CBP decision are confidential and, as things stand, "no public version of the decision exists," Masimo's letter states.

According to Reuters, however, the CBP decision may be upended if the ITC disagrees. Apple is said to already have shipped modified Watch Series 9 and Ultra 2 units to its US locations, but stores were reportedly told not to open or sell the new versions until getting the green light from higher ups.

Photo by Cherlynn Low / Engadget

In October, the ITC upheld a prior ruling that Apple violated Masimo patents concerning blood oxygen functions on the Apple Watch. The ruling led Apple to pause sales of the Watch Series 9 and Ultra 2 in the US through its own website and Apple Stores by Christmas Eve. An emergency interim stay of the ITC ruling in late December enabled Apple to start selling the wearables again in the US.

According to 9to5 Mac, Apple's concession won't affect those who already have an Apple Watch with pulse oximetry features. Apple has offered the Blood Oxygen app on its wearables since it released the Apple Watch Series 6 in 2020. It's possible that Apple will roll out a new version of the Blood Oxygen app to affected units once it resolves the patent problem.

Soon after Apple said it would stop selling the Watch Series 9 and Ultra 2 to adhere to the ITC's order, it was reported that the company's engineers were working feverishly on a software update. Those efforts were said to focus on changes to the Blood Oxygen app and its algorithms to ensure the devices violated Masimo's patents.

That said, according to Bloomberg, nixing the app altogether was seen as the quickest (and likely easiest) way to avoid having the ban reinstated, though removing what was once a highly touted feature of the Apple Watch is a significant concession. A federal appeals court could hear an Apple motion to extend the stay (which was granted pending an appeal) on the ban as early as this week.

Masimo has claimed that Apple hired its former employees and used its pulse oximetry tech in Apple Watch devices. Apple countersued Masimo, arguing that the company's own smartwatch copies patented Apple Watch features.

New year, new... desktop setup? If you're looking for ways to spruce up your desk space without breaking the bank, it's worth taking a peek at a Logitech sale on Amazon that includes discounts on mice, webcams and other accessories. Most of us could do with a webcam upgrade (I know I could given the low-res one built into my laptop), and Logitech's Bio 300 may fit the bill. It's a Full HD 1080p webcam that's on sale for $44.85. That's a 25 percent discount, or just over $15 off the usual price of $60.

The Bio 300 has a privacy shutter, 70-degree field of view, auto-light correction function, LED activity light, built-in mono noise reducing microphone and USB-C connector. You'll be able to use the Logi Tune app to adjust color and image quality. Those concerned with sustainability may be pleased to learn it's made with 48 percent post-consumer recycled plastic too. The slightly speckled plastics help give the webcam a fresh look.

One other product that caught our eye in the sale is the Pebble 2 M350s mouse. That's on sale for $25, which marks a record low. The wireless mouse usually costs $30. The Pebble 2 is available in black, white or a fetching rose to match the aforementioned webcam. It too is built with at least 58 percent certified post-consumer recycled plastic.

This low-profile mouse has quiet clicking sounds and is highly portable, making it a good fit for those who move around with their laptops. It supports Bluetooth 5.1 and the Logitech Bolt receiver, and it's able to pair with up to three devices (you can switch between them using a button on the base). The middle button is customizable and supports shortcuts. Logitech says the Pebble 2 M350s will run for up to two years before you have to change the battery.

Follow @EngadgetDeals on Twitter and subscribe to the Engadget Deals newsletter for the latest tech deals and buying advice.

It's once again that time of year when a bunch of dedicated gamers gather in a conference room to play through their favorite titles as quickly as possible in the name of charity. This year's Awesome Games Done Quick (AGDQ) speedrunning marathon starts on Sunday, January 14. The week-long event is slated to last until the early hours of January 21. You can watch it live below and catch up on any runs you missed over on the Games Done Quick (GDQ) YouTube channel.

The event will kick off with a sprint through Tunic (maybe don't tune in for that one if you haven't yet played and don't want to be spoiled on the secrets). It will close out with a speedrun of Final Fantasy V Pixel Remaster. In between, you'll get to see runners push classics like Donkey Kong Country, Batman: Arkham City and Hades to their limits. Several big games from last year will be making their first appearance at AGDQ, including Super Mario Bros. Wonder, Cocoon, Pikmin 4, Armored Core VI: Fires of Rubicon, Viewfinder and Baldur's Gate 3.

I'm particularly looking forward to a glitch showcase of Super Mario Maker 2 and finding out the latest The Legend of Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom strats (people are beating that mammoth game in under an hour!). There's one run in particular that looks to be unmissable: a dog-assisted sprint through Gyromite, in which a Shina Ibu named Peanut Butter will help his owner beat the NES game.

AGDQ is once again raising funds for Prevent Cancer Foundation. Over $2.6 million was raised for the cause at last year's AGDQ, and organizers will surely be hoping to best that total in 2024. You can donate through the GDQ website.

Following last week's terrifying incident in which a Boeing 737 Max 9 lost a cabin panel mid-flight, the Federal Aviation Administration says it will have more oversight of the company's production and manufacturing. The FAA is also carrying out an investigation into Boeing following the incident, which led to the agency grounding around 171 of the company's 737 Max 9 planes.

The FAA says it will audit the 737 Max 9 production line and its suppliers to make sure Boeing is complying with quality protocols. It notes that the results will determine whether further audits are needed. In addition, the FAA will more carefully monitor in-service events concerning the 737 Max 9. It will also conduct an assessment of safety risks related to delegated authority and quality oversight. In the latter case, the agency will look into whether it makes more sense to have independent third parties oversee Boeing's quality control and inspections.

"It is time to re-examine the delegation of authority and assess any associated safety risks," FAA Administrator Mike Whitaker said in a statement. "The grounding of the 737-9 and the multiple production-related issues identified in recent years require us to look at every option to reduce risk." As for when the 737 Max 9 might return to service, the FAA says that timeline will be determined by "the safety of the flying public, not speed."

There were no major injuries reported as a result of last Friday's incident on an Alaska Airlines plane. Boeing's 737 Max line was previously grounded for nearly two years after two crashes in 2018 and 2019 that killed 346 people.

Nissan has unveiled its latest Nismo electric vehicle. The Ariya Nismo is based on the Ariya e-4orce and it's scheduled to be available in two trims. The B6 has a 66kWh battery, while the B9 has a 91kWh version. With Nismo being Nissan's performance division, it's no real surprise that the EV will offer a little more power than other Ariyas. The B6 model will have 362 hp and 413 lb-ft while the B9 is set to have 429 hp and 443 lb-ft, though Road and Track points out that these figures might change before the electric SUV hits the road.

The Nismo team is said to have tuned the acceleration and added an exclusive driving mode that aims to maximize response. Nissan claims that the tuning, combined with the four-wheel-control tech of e-4orce and tires mounted on rigid 20-inch aluminum wheels, will help deliver "superior stability and turn-in ability as well as better line-tracing and enhanced cornering ability at high speeds."

Nismo also added an optional Formula E-esque sound to the Ariya Nismo for additional "excitement," Nissan said. The automaker added that the cabin has a premium feel with specially designed Nismo seats and trim.

This isn't quite the first Nissan EV that the Nismo team has worked on. It debuted the Leaf Nismo RC concept at the 2011 New York Auto Show. A second-gen model went into production in Japan in 2018. Nissan has yet to announce pricing and a release window for Nismo's new flagship EV.

It's almost time for the first Samsung Unpacked event of the year. We're almost guaranteed to get the first official details about the Galaxy S24 smartphones, which are almost certainly going to have on-device generative AI features. You'll be able to watch Samsung Unpacked at 1PM ET on January 17 on the company's website or YouTube channel.

What to expect at Samsung Unpacked

Samsung hasn't exactly been subtle about what's on deck for Unpacked. The company has been teasing something called Galaxy AI for mobile devices across several promo videos:

Yeah, it's pretty safe to say AI will be a focal point of the showcase. In November, Samsung revealed its Gauss generative AI models. These can handle tasks such as translation, coding assistance and turning text into images. The S24 lineup is also expected to run on Qualcomm's Snapdragon 8 Gen 3 chipset, which can handle many generative AI requests on-device. As such, at least some GAI features won't need to go through the cloud, meaning that they should be processed more quickly.

As for the new smartphones, there likely won't be many changes on the hardware front beyond spec bumps. That said, the S24 Ultra is slated to have a fully flat display along with a titanium casing, according to a leaked spec sheet. Just in case there was any doubt about fresh Galaxy phones being in the offing, Samsung already has a pre-order page up for "the newest phone from Galaxy."

It's less certain whether we'll see any hardware other than smartphones at the event, though some rumors have indicated the presence of a Galaxy Fit 3 fitness tracker and/or Galaxy Book Pro laptops. This being Samsung, there's always at least a small chance of seeing new tablets, smartwatches and earbuds too.

The US attorney's office in Massachusetts says eBay will pay a $3 million penalty to resolve criminal charges following a harassment campaign conducted by several former executives. Several ex-employees targeted a couple who wrote a newsletter that was critical of the company.

The Justice Department charged eBay with two counts of stalking through interstate travel, two counts of stalking through electronic communications services, one count of witness tampering and one count of obstruction of justice. The $3 million fine was the statutory maximum for the felonies. As part of a deferred prosecution agreement with authorities, eBay also needs to improve its compliance program and retain an independent corporate compliance monitor for three years.

The US attorney's office says eBay "admitted to a detailed recitation of all the relevant facts about its conduct." In August 2019, the company's former senior director of safety and security Jim Baugh and six others carried out a harassment campaign against Ina and David Steiner of Massachusetts. The couple wrote about litigation involving eBay and higher-ups at the company were said to have been frustrated about the negative coverage.

Baugh and his co-conspirators harassed the couple by, among other things, sending them a fetal pig, a funeral wreath and live spiders and cockroaches. According to prosecutors, three of the former eBay employees traveled to the Steiners' home in the aim of planting a GPS tracking device on their car. The campaign also involved sending harassing messages via Twitter (now X).

Baugh and several others were convicted and sent to prison. One other has admitted to their part in the campaign but has yet to be sentenced.

In a victim impact statement published on their website, the Steiners wrote that "eBay's actions against us had a damaging and permanent impact on us — emotionally, psychologically, physically, reputationally, and financially — and we strongly pushed federal prosecutors for further indictments to deter corporate executives and board members from creating a culture where stalking and harassment is tolerated or encouraged."

The pair and Steiner Associates, the publisher of their EcommerceBytes newsletter, have filed a civil lawsuit against eBay and the former employees. A trial has been scheduled for March next year.

Hertz says it's selling around 20,000 electric vehicles from its US fleet, which constitutes approximately a third of its total number of EVs in its global fleet. It claimed that "expenses related to collision and damage, primarily associated with EVs, remained high" in the most recent financial quarter, "thereby supporting the company’s decision to initiate the material reduction in the EV fleet." Hertz said it plans to reinvest some of the proceeds into purchasing gas-powered vehicles.

"The company expects this action to better balance supply against expected demand of EVs," Hertz said in an SEC filing. "This will position the company to eliminate a disproportionate number of lower margin rentals and reduce damage expense associated with EVs."

There were already signs that Hertz was having cold feet over its decision to invest heavily in EVs over the last few years. It was reported in 2021 that the rental company had ordered 100,000 EVs from Tesla. The following April, it emerged that Hertz planned to buy up to 65,000 EVs from Polestar over five years.

However, in October 2023, Hertz said it was slowing down plans to electrify its fleet. At the time, CEO Stephen Scherr said EVs cost Hertz "about twice in terms of damage cost repair than a conventional internal combustion engine vehicle."

As Reuters notes, Tesla is currently selling more than 700 EVs through its used car website. The vast majority of those are Tesla Model 3 and Model Y vehicles.

CES 2024 is in the books and that means the tech world can kick back and re— oh, wait, there's the small matter of a Samsung Unpacked on the horizon. Samsung is running its first event of the year a little earlier than usual. It will start on January 17 at 1PM ET. However, barring a major shock, Samsung will unveil its Galaxy S24 smartphones.

Samsung Galaxy S24 lineup

As is always the case, the rumor mill has been churning for weeks when it comes to Samsung’s Galaxy S24 smartphones. Thanks to leaker Evan Blass, who claimed to have obtained a spec sheet for all three of the devices, we have a decent idea of what Samsung has in store for the Galaxy S24, S24+ and S24 Ultra. As in years past, Samsung has a "reserve" page up now on its site as well for those who want to be first in line to buy the latest smartphones.

It’s likely to be another year of iterative changes on the hardware front. There will very likely be spec bumps to most of the components and the S24 devices will probably offer faster and more efficient performance than their predecessors. However, you shouldn't anticipate having a wildly different looking phone if you tend to upgrade to the latest handset every year or two... except in the case of the Galaxy S24 Ultra, which is slated to have a flat display and a titanium frame.

The most important hardware upgrade is arguably in the engine room. Samsung is expected to employ the Qualcomm Snapdragon 8 Gen 3 chipset. That’s significant given Qualcomm’s efforts to support on-device AI operations with its CPUs and Samsung’s recent work in the generative AI space.

To that end, the biggest change to the Galaxy lineup this year is likely to come in the form of AI features. Samsung recently unveiled its own generative AI models, which can handle tasks such as translations, summarizing documents, drafting emails, helping out with coding and, yes, whipping up images based on text prompts. 

It's widely believed that Samsung's Gauss generative AI tech will make its public debut in the Galaxy S24 smartphones, and it's likely to be labeled as Galaxy AI. The company has been hinting at some of the AI updates, such as with this tease of a feature called Zoom with Galaxy AI.

Everything else: Generative AI, fitness trackers and laptops

The new smartphones will undoubtedly be the star of the show and Samsung will probably spend quite a bit of time going over the generative AI functions. That might not leave much bandwidth for other announcements. There is a chance that we might see the Galaxy Fit 3 fitness tracker, according to some rumormongers. The event may mark the release of One UI 6.1 for Galaxy devices too.

Beyond that, there have been suggestions that Samsung will show off several Galaxy Book Pro laptops, while there's also a possibility the company will unveil new tablets, smartwatches and earbuds. We'll find out soon enough just what the company has planned for its first mass market devices of 2024.