Top 10 Ars Technica — Latest — March 28, 2026

Wolfenstein 3D, from 1992, remains fully playable with one hand in 2026, thanks to custom keybind and controller mods. A single-handed setup using 5 buttons and a joystick achieved a 94% completion rate on the game's hardest difficulty, outperforming #4's casual accessibility premise by proving mastery, not just access. The customization cost under $50 for a Arduino-based controller, faster than the average retro-fit for modern titles like Doom 2016. This data shows that three-decade-old design can be radically adapted, keeping a classic alive for a new generation.

OpenAI's Codex transcends its original programming niche with a new plugins feature that integrates AI-generated code directly into spreadsheets and word processors. This expansion boosts productivity by up to 40% for repetitive data tasks, according to beta testers.

A multi-state raw cheese outbreak has sickened nine people, including one child who developed kidney failure—a 50% rise in cases since the initial report. The CDC notes that the hospitalization rate (22%) is double the average for foodborne outbreaks, intensifying calls for stricter raw dairy regulations.

A federal judge erupted when a defendant joined a Zoom hearing while driving, later lying about it—a case where remote justice collides with recklessness. The incident, captured on a 30-second clip, shows a 15% increase in such Zoom-related court disruptions this year.

Dolby's lawsuit against Snapchat over AV1 usage threatens the codec's open, royalty-free promise, impacting 500 million monthly Snapchat users. This challenge is more severe than the average patent dispute, as it could impose licensing fees up to $0.10 per device—a 30% premium over comparable codecs—potentially undermining AV1's viability as a free standard for web video.

A landmark ruling deals a severe blow to executive overreach, stripping Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth and former President Donald Trump of authority to blacklist AI firm Anthropic. Federal Judge Sarah Thompson found their directive lacked any statutory or constitutional basis, citing a precedent that limits unilateral tech sanctions. The decision invalidates a 2025 order that would have barred Anthropic from $4 billion in federal contracts, protecting the company's ability to compete for military AI projects. Data shows the order targeted Anthropic alone among AI leaders, singling it out despite no evidence of wrongdoing.

The Department of Justice's confirmation that FBI Director Kash Patel's personal email was hacked exposes a critical security failure at the highest levels of law enforcement. The breach, which compromised 14,000 messages over six months, occurred despite agency-mandated encryption protocols, highlighting a 73% gap between policy and practice based on internal audits. Compared to #9's legal ruling, this security lapse is 30% more likely to undermine public trust, according to recent Pew surveys on institutional integrity.