When Stranger Things first premiered in 2016, Netflix was still courting new subscribers with splashy original projects that were meant to have broad audience appeal. The company had solidified itself as a major player in the streaming wars with massive hits like House of Cards, Orange Is the New Black, and a collection of live-action Marvel series. The shows were all very different, but they each felt like part of an ambitious plan to establish Netflix as the gravitational center of a new pop cultural era.
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Stranger Things is ending, and so is Netflix’s reliance on tentpole shows
Those big, watercooler tentpole projects made Netflix feel like a platform worth subscribing to because of how large they loomed in the public consciousness. Especially in its early seasons, Stranger Things was thrilling to watch as a new sci-fi / horror series steeped in nostalgia. But it was also fascinating to see the show become a global phenomenon that dominated online discourse and inspired other studios to tell more stories set in the ’80s.
Though Netflix has had a number of other massive hits since Stranger Things, it has often felt like the company is thinking differently about its path to continued success. It’s no longer reporting its quarterly subscriber numbers, and a combination of price hikes and new ad-supported tiers have become key parts of its economic growth. Even as Netflix starts rolling out Stranger Things’ final season this week, a three-part event spread out over the rest of the year, it feels like tentpoles — moments that are supposed to capture and sustain everyone’s attention — aren’t as critical to the streamer’s big-picture strategy anymore.
As big as Stranger Things has been in the past, the hype around the show’s fifth and final season has been relatively subdued for a handful of reasons. For one, the competition is fiercer; more streaming platforms have come into existence and they have had ample time to capture audiences’ imaginations with new genre series of their own. Though Stranger Things’ first two seasons came out in quick succession, Netflix began releasing subsequent episodes at much, much slower pace. The series will have been airing for almost a decade when the first part of season 5 drops on November 26th, and many viewers will probably find themselves a little hazy on how the Duffer Brothers’ story got to this point.
Netflix might have been concerned about Stranger Things losing momentum between seasons back when the company was more focused on dropping entire seasons of a show in one fell swoop. But through its shift toward more staggered releases, particularly for its most notable series, Netflix has signaled that it’s aiming for a different kind of success.
Netflix knows that people are still going to watch Stranger Things 5 and stick around for at least a couple of months to see how things shake out for the Hawkins gang. There’s also going to be an animated spinoff series for folks who aren’t ready to leave Stranger Things behind. But Netflix has also cultivated more IP with fandoms of their own outside of Stranger Things, and the streamer understands that those eyeballs can be kept long after the Duffer Brothers have gone.
Though every streamer wants to make bona fide hits that drive subscriber sign-ups, Netflix has gotten heavily into the business of launching franchises that can coexist without seeming to overlap all that much. That’s exactly the vibe you get from the company’s annual Tudum showcase, which frames all of its shows from Bridgerton to Wednesday to Emily in Paris as equally important parts of its future plans.
Rather than launching massive tentpole originals designed to get everyone watching the same thing, Netflix has invested more of its energy into projects that feel more targeted to specific audiences, like fans of anime and live sports. That might be part of why the company spent so much time dabbling in mobile gaming before its recent shift to prioritize TV-focused party gaming. Those dabblings don’t mean that Netflix isn’t thinking about which of its many upcoming series might be “the next Stranger Things.” But they do suggest that the company sees tentpole shows as just one of many irons it needs to keep in the fire.
Netflix’s head content officer Bela Bajaria said as much earlier this year during a presentation where she noted that the platform now has somewhere north of 700 million subscribers. With that many viewers, the company can’t bank on individual shows or movies landing with everyone, and it makes much more sense to cater to specific niches. As long as you’re paying, Netflix doesn’t really care whether you’ve signed up for the English-language Squid Game remake, a Little House on the Prairie reboot, or WWE. All of the programming serves the same bottom line, and the main goal is to keep viewers watching.
Netflix is absolutely going to be paying attention to the ways its subscriber numbers fluctuate in the coming weeks as Stranger Things 5 arrives in waves. A sharp decline once the season is through in the new year might sound some internal alarms. But whether or not Stranger Things 5 is as big as Netflix is building it up to be, its conclusion marks the end of an era for the streamer — and what’s next looks very different. But what’s much more likely is that the show comes and goes with a moderate amount of fanfare, and then Netflix sits back to think about what to do when one of its upcoming projects sticks.
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To close out its February 2026 State of Play presentation, Sony revealed God of War Sons of Sparta, a new prequel 2D side scroller in the God of War franchise, and announced that it’s out right now on PlayStation 5.
”God of War Sons of Sparta is a 2D action platformer with a canon story set in Kratos’ youth during his harsh training at the Agoge alongside his brother Deimos,” Sony says. Over the course of the game, Kratos will “learn deadly skills using his spear and shield, as well as harness powerful divine artifacts known as the Gifts of Olympus to take on a wide array of foes.”
Sony’s Santa Monica Studio collaborated on the game with Mega Cat Studios. It costs $29.99, with a Digital Deluxe version available for $39.99.
Sony also announced that it’s working on a remake of the original God of War trilogy, with TC Carson set to return as the voice of Kratos. However, the project is “still very early in development, so we ask for your patience as it will be a while before anything else can be shared,” according to Sony. “When we can come back with an update, we aim to make it a big one!”
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Logging into your bank, retirement or investment accounts is now part of everyday life. Still, for many people, it comes with a knot in the stomach. You hear about hacks, scams and stolen identities and wonder if simply checking your balance could open the door to trouble. That concern landed in our inbox from Mary.
“How do I protect my bank accounts, 401K and non-retirement accounts when I view them online?”
Mary’s question is a good one, because protecting your money online is not about one magic setting. It comes down to smart habits layered together.
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DATA BREACH EXPOSES 400,000 BANK CUSTOMERS’ INFO
Securing your device with updates and antivirus software is the first step in protecting your financial accounts online. (REUTERS/Andrew Kelly)
Secure your device before logging into financial accounts
Everything begins with the device in your hands. If it isn’t secure, even the strongest password can be exposed. These essentials help lock things down before you ever sign in.
Start with these device security basics:
- Keep your phone, tablet and computer fully updated with the latest operating system and browser versions
- Use strong, always-on antivirus protection to block malware and phishing attempts. Get my picks for the best 2026 antivirus protection winners for your Windows, Mac, Android and iOS devices at Cyberguy.com.
- Avoid public Wi-Fi when accessing financial accounts, or use a trusted VPN if you have no other option. For the best VPN software, see my expert review of the best VPNs for browsing the web privately on your Windows, Mac, Android and iOS devices at Cyberguy.com.
Protect your bank and investment account logins
Your login details are the front door to your money. Strengthening them reduces the chance that anyone else can get inside.
Strengthen your account logins by:
- Using strong, unique passwords for every financial account
- Avoiding saved passwords on shared or older devices
- Relying on a password manager to create and store credentials securely. Our No. 1 pick, includes a built-in breach scanner that alerts you if your information appears in known leaks. If you find a match, change any reused passwords immediately and secure those accounts with new, unique credentials.
- Checking whether your email or passwords have appeared in known data breaches and updating reused passwords immediately. Check out the best expert-reviewed password managers of 2026 at Cyberguy.com.
- Turning on two-factor authentication (2FA) wherever it’s available
Avoid common online banking scams when logging in
Even well-secured accounts can be compromised through careless access. How you log in matters.
Reduce your risk when accessing financial accounts:
- Typing website addresses yourself or using saved bookmarks
- Avoiding login links sent by email or text, even if they look official
- Checking for “https” and the lock icon before entering credentials
- Logging out completely after every session, especially on mobile devices
Add extra layers of protection to financial accounts
Strong, unique passwords and two-factor authentication help stop criminals even if one login is exposed. (Photo by Neil Godwin/Future via Getty Images)
DON’T LET AI PHANTOM HACKERS DRAIN YOUR BANK ACCOUNT
Think of these as early warning systems. They help catch problems quickly, before real damage is done.
Enable financial account alerts and safeguards:
- Setting up alerts for logins, withdrawals, password changes and new payees
- Requiring extra confirmation for large or unusual transactions
- Freezing your credit with the major credit bureaus to block new accounts opened in your name. To learn more about how to do this, go to Cyberguy.com and search “How to freeze your credit.”
Protect your identity beyond your bank accounts
Your financial accounts are only part of the picture. Identity protection helps stop problems before they ever reach your bank.
Go beyond basic banking security:
- Monitoring for identity theft involving your Social Security number, phone number and email
- Using an identity protection service that alerts you if your data appears on the dark web or is used fraudulently. See my tips and best picks on how to protect yourself from identity theft at Cyberguy.com
- Removing your personal information from data broker websites that buy and sell consumer data. A data removal service reduces risk before identity theft happens. Check out my top picks for data removal services, and get a free scan to find out if your personal information is already out on the web by visiting Cyberguy.com.
Review bank and credit statements for early warning signs
Review your bank, credit card and investment statements regularly, even when nothing looks suspicious. Small red flags often appear long before major losses.
Everyday security habits that prevent financial scams
Many successful scams rely on pressure and trust, not advanced technology. Good habits close those gaps.
Practice smart daily security habits:
- Never allow anyone to log into your accounts remotely, even if they claim to be from your bank
- Avoid storing photos of IDs, Social Security cards, or account numbers on your phone or email
- Stop immediately if something feels off, and contact the institution directly using a verified phone number
Logging in the right way, by typing web addresses yourself and avoiding suspicious links, reduces phishing risks. (Martin Bertrand / Hans Lucas / AFP via Getty Images)
Kurt’s key takeaways
Checking your bank or retirement accounts online should feel routine, not risky. With updated devices, strong logins, careful access and smart habits, you can keep control of your money without giving up convenience. Security is not about fear. It is about staying one step ahead.
Have you ever clicked a financial alert and wondered afterward if it was real or a scam? Let us know your thoughts by writing to us at Cyberguy.com
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Business laptops are typically dull computers foisted on employees en masse. But higher-end enterprise workstation notebooks sometimes get an interesting enough blend of power and features to appeal to enthusiasts. HP’s ZBook Ultra G1a is a nice example. It’s easy to see it as another gray boring-book for spendy business types, until you notice a few key specs: an AMD Strix Halo APU, lots of RAM, an OLED display, and an adequate amount of speedy ports (Thunderbolt 4, even — a rarity on AMD laptops).
I know from my time with the Asus ROG Flow Z13 and Framework Desktop that anything using AMD’s high-end Ryzen AI Max chips should make for a compelling computer. But those two are a gaming tablet and a small form factor PC, respectively. Here, you get Strix Halo and its excellent integrated graphics in a straightforward, portable 14-inch laptop — so far, the only one of its kind. That should mean great performance with solid battery life, and the graphics chops to hang with midlevel gaming laptops — all in a computer that wouldn’t draw a second glance in a stuffy office. It’s a decent Windows (or Linux) alternative to a MacBook Pro, albeit for a very high price.
$3499
The Good
- Great screen, keyboard, and trackpad
- Powerful AMD Strix Halo chip
- Solid port selection with Thunderbolt 4
- Can do the work stuff, the boring stuff, and also game
The Bad
- Expensive
- Strix Halo can be power-hungry
- HP’s enterprise-focused security software is nagging
The HP ZBook Ultra G1a starts around $2,100 for a modest six-core AMD Ryzen AI Max Pro 380 processor, 16GB of shared memory, and basic IPS display. Our review unit is a much higher-spec configuration with a 16-core Ryzen AI Max Plus Pro 395, 2880 x 1800 resolution 120Hz OLED touchscreen, 2TB of storage, and a whopping 128GB of shared memory, costing nearly $4,700. I often see it discounted by $1,000 or more — still expensive, but more realistic for someone seeking a MacBook Pro alternative. Having this much shared memory is mostly useful for hefty local AI inference workloads and serious dataset crunching; most people don’t need it. But with the ongoing memory shortage I’d also understand wanting to futureproof.
- Screen: A
- Webcam: B
- Keyboard: B
- Trackpad: B
- Port selection: B
- Speakers: B
- Number of ugly stickers to remove: 1 (only a Windows sticker on the bottom)
Unlike cheaper HP laptops I’ve tested that made big sacrifices on everyday features like speaker quality, the ZBook Ultra G1a is very good across the board. The OLED is vibrant, with punchy contrast. The keyboard has nice tactility and deep key travel. The mechanical trackpad is smooth, with a good click feel. The 5-megapixel webcam looks solid in most lighting. And the speakers have a full sound that I’m happy to listen to music on all day. I have my gripes, but they’re minor: The 400-nit screen could be a little brighter, the four-speaker audio system doesn’t sound quite as rich as current MacBook Pros, and my accidental presses of the Page Up and Page Down keys above the arrows really get on my nerves. These quibbles aren’t deal-breakers, though for the ZBook’s price I wish HP solved some of them.
The big thing you’re paying for with the ZBook Ultra is that top-end Strix Halo APU, which is so far only found in $2,000+ computers and a sicko-level gaming handheld, though there will be cut-down versions coming to cheaper gaming laptops this year.
The flagship 395 chip in the ZBook offers speedy performance for mixed-use work and enough battery life to eke out an eight-hour workday filled with Chrome tabs and web apps (with power-saving measures). I burned through battery in Adobe Lightroom Classic, but even though Strix Halo is less powerful when disconnected from wall power, the ZBook didn’t get bogged down. I blazed through a hefty batch edit of 47-megapixel RAW images without any particularly long waits on things like AI denoise or automated masking adjustments.
The ZBook stays cool and silent during typical use; pushing it under heavy loads only yields a little warmth in its center and a bit of tolerable fan noise that’s easily drowned out by music, a video, or a game at normal volume.
This isn’t a gaming-focused laptop any more than a MacBook Pro is, as its huge pool of shared memory and graphics cores are meant for workstation duties. However, this thing can game. I spent an entire evening playing Battlefield 6 with friends, with Discord and Chrome open in the background, and the whole time it averaged 70 to 80fps in 1920 x 1200 resolution with Medium preset settings and FSR set to Balanced mode — with peaks above 100fps. Running it at the native 2880 x 1800 got a solid 50-ish fps that’s fine for single-player.
Intel’s new Panther Lake chips also have great integrated graphics for gaming, while being more power-efficient. But Strix Halo edges out Panther Lake in multi-core tasks and graphics, with the flagship 395 version proving as capable as a laptop RTX 4060 discrete GPU. AMD’s beefy mobile chips have also proven great for Linux if you’re looking to get away from Windows.
HP Zbook Ultra G1a / Ryzen AI Max Plus Pro 395 (Strix Halo) / 128GB / 2TB |
Asus Zenbook Duo / Intel Core Ultra X9 388H (Panther Lake) / 32GB / 1TB |
MacBook Pro 14 / Apple M5 / 16GB / 1TB |
MacBook Pro 16 / Apple M4 Pro / 48GB / 2TB |
Asus ROG Flow Z13/ AMD Ryzen AI Max Plus 395 (Strix Halo) / 32GB / 1TB |
Framework Desktop / AMD Ryzen AI Max Plus 395 (Strix Halo) / 128GB / 1TB |
|
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| CPU cores | 16 | 16 | 10 | 14 | 16 | 16 |
| Graphics cores | 40 | 12 | 10 | 20 | 40 | 40 |
| Geekbench 6 CPU Single | 2826 | 3009 | 4208 | 3976 | 2986 | 2961 |
| Geekbench 6 CPU Multi | 18125 | 17268 | 17948 | 22615 | 19845 | 17484 |
| Geekbench 6 GPU (OpenCL) | 85139 | 56839 | 49059 | 70018 | 80819 | 86948 |
| Cinebench 2024 Single | 113 | 129 | 200 | 179 | 116 | 115 |
| Cinebench 2024 Multi | 1614 | 983 | 1085 | 1744 | 1450 | 1927 |
| PugetBench for Photoshop | 10842 | 8773 | 12354 | 12374 | 10515 | 10951 |
| PugetBench for Premiere Pro (version 2.0.0+) | 78151 | 54920 | 71122 | Not tested | Not tested | Not tested |
| Premiere 4K Export (shorter time is better) | 2 minutes, 39 seconds | 3 minutes, 3 seconds | 3 minutes, 14 seconds | 2 minutes, 13 seconds | Not tested | 2 minutes, 34 seconds |
| Blender Classroom test (seconds, lower is better) | 154 | 61 | 44 | Not tested | Not tested | 135 |
| Sustained SSD reads (MB/s) | 6969.04 | 6762.15 | 7049.45 | 6737.84 | 6072.58 | Not tested |
| Sustained SSD writes (MB/s) | 5257.17 | 5679.41 | 7317.6 | 7499.56 | 5403.13 | Not tested |
| 3DMark Time Spy (1080p) | 13257 | 9847 | Not tested | Not tested | 12043 | 17620 |
| Price as tested | $4,689 | $2,299.99 | $1,949 | $3,349 | $2,299.99 | $2,459 |
In addition to Windows 11’s upsells and nagging notifications, the ZBook also has HP’s Wolf Security, designed for deployment on an IT-managed fleet of company laptops. For someone not using this as a work-managed device, its extra layer of protections may be tolerable, but they’re annoying. They range from warning you about files from an “untrusted location” (fine) to pop-ups when plugging in a non-HP USB-C charger (infuriating). You can turn off and uninstall all of this, same as you can for the bloatware AI Companion and Support Assistant apps, but it’s part of what HP charges for on its Z workstation line.
You don’t need to spend this kind of money on a kitted-out ZBook Ultra G1a unless you do the kind of specialized computing (local AI models, mathematical simulations, 3D rendering, etc.) it’s designed for. There’s a more attainable configuration, frequently on sale for around $2,500, but its 12-core CPU, lower-specced GPU, and 64GB of shared memory are a dip in performance.
If you’re mostly interested in gaming, an Asus ROG Zephyrus G14 or even a Razer Blade 16 make a hell of a lot more sense. For about the price of our ZBook Ultra review unit, the Razer gets you an RTX 5090 GPU, with much more powerful gaming performance, while the more modest ROG Zephyrus G14 with an RTX 5060 gets you comparable gaming performance to the ZBook Ultra in a similar form factor for nearly $3,000 less. The biggest knock against those gaming laptops compared to the ZBook is that their fans get much louder under load.
And while it’s easy to think of a MacBook Pro as the lazy answer to all computing needs, it still should be said: If you don’t mind macOS, you can get a whole lot more (non-gaming) performance from an M4 Pro / M4 Max MacBook Pro. Even sticking with Windows and integrated graphics, the Asus Zenbook Duo with Panther Lake at $2,300 is a deal by comparison, once it launches.
1/7
At $4,700, this is a specific machine for specialized workloads. It’s a travel-friendly 14-inch that can do a bit of everything, but it’s a high price for a jack of all trades if you’re spending your own money. The ZBook piqued my interest because it’s one of the earliest examples of Strix Halo in a conventional laptop. After using it, I’m even more excited to see upcoming models at more down-to-earth prices.
2025 HP ZBook Ultra G1a specs (as reviewed)
- Display: 14-inch (2880 x 1800) 120Hz OLED touchscreen
- CPU: AMD Ryzen AI Max Plus Pro 395 (Strix Halo)
- RAM: 128GB LPDDR5x memory, shared with the GPU
- Storage: 2TB PCIe 4.0 M.2 NVMe SSD
- Webcam: 5-megapixel with IR and privacy shutter
- Connectivity: Wi-Fi 7, Bluetooth 5.4
- Ports: 2x Thunderbolt 4 / USB-C (up to 40Gbps with Power Delivery and DisplayPort), 1x USB-C 3.2 Gen 2, 1x USB-A 3.2 Gen 2, HDMI 2.1, 3.5mm combo audio jack
- Biometrics: Windows Hello facial recognition, power button with fingerprint reader
- Weight: 3.46 pounds / 1.57kg
- Dimensions: 12.18 x 8.37 x 0.7 inches / 309.37 x 212.60 x 17.78mm
- Battery: 74.5Whr
- Price: $4,689
Photography by Antonio G. Di Benedetto / The Verge
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