Tech & Protests: NASA's Rocket Woes, iPad Deals, and a Security Nightmare

Overwatch Reverts to Original Name After Content Changes

Just a few years after its release, Overwatch 2 has dropped the "2" and reverted to its original name, Overwatch, according to The Verge. The change comes after a series of significant alterations to the game, including the cancellation of planned Player vs. Environment (PvE) content and the unlocking of its hero pool.

Overwatch 2 was initially announced in 2019 and launched three years later, introducing a shift to five-on-five matches in Player vs Player (PvP) mode and new characters, including the game's first Black female hero, The Verge reported.

In other tech news, security researchers have uncovered malware in hundreds of user-submitted skill add-ons on ClawHub, the marketplace for the popular AI agent OpenClaw, according to The Verge. Emma Roth, a news writer at The Verge, reported that the findings raise new security concerns about the AI agent, which has exploded in popularity over the past week.

Meanwhile, Senator Edward J. Markey (D-Mass.) has demanded that Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) confirm or deny the existence of a domestic terrorists database that lists US citizens who protest ICE's immigration crackdown, Ars Technica reported. In a letter to Acting ICE Director Todd Lyons, Markey stated that if such a database exists, "it would constitute a grave and unacceptable constitutional violation."

NASA's Space Launch System (SLS) rocket program continues to face challenges, Ars Technica reported. The program, which is now a decade and a half old, has cost US taxpayers in excess of $30 billion to date. The report noted the rocket is expensive and slow, despite reaching maturity.

For consumers looking for deals, The Verge reported that discounts are currently available on various iPad models, including the base iPad, iPad Mini, iPad Air, and iPad Pro. Brandon Widder and Brandon Russell of The Verge noted that while the best iPad deals typically occur during major sale events like Black Friday, discounts can be found throughout the year.