Tech's Most Struggling Stories of 2025

Evaluating the Downfalls in Technology

Creating a list of the major failures for Engadget often brings more excitement than celebrating the victories. Though there were no missteps as severe as the ill-fated AI assistants of 2024, the tech world saw AI firms and their services occupy the top and bottom tiers.

American consumers may find themselves among the unlikely losers this year. Those seeking drones will have to explore options beyond DJI, as regulators have been wary of the brand since 2017, fearing espionage for China on U.S. infrastructure.

DJI's dominance with over three-quarters of the market share means their absence would disrupt the sector significantly. Their drones remain top-notch, yet the U.S. government hasn't evaluated the potential risk they pose. DJI has made a final appeal for their products to be assessed by five American agencies, suggesting that if this attempt doesn't succeed, it could severely limit drone availability in the country.

A Year of Harsh Realizations for EVs

While global electric vehicle sales surged by roughly 25 percent, and Germany saw electric vehicles make up nearly 20 percent of new entries, the U.S. faced contrasting fortunes. The elimination of the EV tax credit by the Trump administration saw sales plummet, with companies like Ford experiencing a 60 percent decline annually.

Sam Rutherford highlighted how this decision complicates efforts to produce affordable electric cars and depresses investment, potentially causing American automakers to fall behind their global counterparts.

Lamenting the State of Entertainment and Technology

We also shake our heads at struggles faced by Xbox, Grok, and streaming services. They too faced hurdles in this turbid tech landscape.

Celebrations and Revelations in the Gaming World

Those who missed The Game Awards 2025 missed Sandfall Interactive’s historic triumph with Clair Obscur: Expedition 33, which claimed Game of the Year and several other accolades, more than any other game in the event's history.

Trailers and game announcements were another highlight, featuring titles like the new Control sequel, Resonant, and Star Wars: Fate of The Old Republic led by industry veterans. Larian Studios also teased their return to the Divinity universe post-Baldur’s Gate 3 success. Fun fact: voice actor Jennifer English featured prominently, having roles in both BG3 and Clair Obscur.

Disney's Venture into AI

Disney and OpenAI joined forces in a three-year partnership, bringing over 200 characters from Star Wars and Pixar into AI-driven platforms like the Sora app and ChatGPT. This collaboration enables AI users to create images using Disney’s iconic properties, and involves a substantial $1 billion investment from Disney in OpenAI with options for future equity acquisition.

MasterClass Deals for the Holidays

For holiday shoppers, MasterClass offers appealing discounts of up to 40 percent on their subscriptions. A personal experience with a similar deal revealed a user-friendly platform brimming with diverse courses. Such an offer is tempting enough to renew interest again.

Amazon Struggles with AI Recaps

Amazon's initial experiment with AI-generated summaries for its Prime Video offerings hit roadblocks, evident from its recap of 'Fallout' season one containing factual errors. For instance, it misdated Los Angeles flashback scenes and misunderstood major plot developments, highlighting shortcomings in their AI’s comprehension.