Welcome to the Dark Side of technology

Welcome to the Dark Side
Welcome to the Dark Side

With millions waiting eagerly for the launch of the seventh Star Wars film, Star Wars: The Force Awakens, Future's tech sites will be rebranding themselves in celebration and asking: are you ready for the dark side or are you going to use the force for good?

T-3PO will be joining the rebel alliance, practising targeting womp rats and channeling Jedi master Yoda - as well as looking at the utopian side of technology.

T3 - the light side

But for us on techvadar, we're representing the evil Empire and will be taking a look at the dark side of technology, from rogue AI to military drones, to government snooping, VR dystopias and 3D-printed guns.

And, of course, we will be celebrating the amazing Star Wars world with a look at the technology through the films, the impact that Lucas' world has had on everything from sound to IMAX, and covering everything from VFX to the design of some of our favourite gadgets.

Star Wars: The Force Awakens

Star Wars: The Force Awakens trailers, news and rumors

We'll be seeing exactly what it would take to build a Death Star, asking the specialists just how they would undertake such a project, whilst muttering "that's no moon..."

We'll also be trying to recreate a key moment in the Star Wars films with current technology, looking how far a real life C-3PO may be, and chatting to some of the biggest film buffs on the planet.

Star Wars "week" (It's actually a fortnight but we're going to keep saying it until you're convinced that these are not the droids you are looking for) starts right here - so come with us into an occasionally dystopian galaxy far, far away.

And whatever you do - don't turn to the light side

Star Wars week content

the 8 most entertaining Star Wars rip-offs

The 8 most entertaining Star Wars rip-offs

13 ridiculous Star Wars products

13 ridiculous Star Wars branded products

When innocent tech goes bad

When innocent tech goes bad: 9 gadgets that went to the dark side

Here's SWBF in 4K 60FPS

Here's how Star Wars: Battlefront looks in 60fps 4K

7 potential doomsday scenarios - and the tech that makes them possible

7 potential doomsday scenarios and the tech that makes them possible

Star Wars activities to keep you busy

11 Star Wars activities to fill time until the new film

10 wyas the Star Wars prequels tried to ruin the originals

10 ways the Star Wars prequels tried to ruin the originals

10 real life technologies the Empire would definitely approve of

10 technologies that the evil Empire would definitely approve of

Star Wars spoofs

10 hilarious Star Wars spoofs you should watch right now

Star Wars Blu-ray behind the scenes

Before Episode VII: the behind-the-scenes story of the Star Wars Blu-ray

Best Star Wars T-shirts

The 20 best Star Wars T-Shirts in the Galaxy

Check out all of the trailers

We've rated the first six Star Wars films' trailers to compare with the latest one

Roger Christian on Star Wars' lightsabers

New lightsabers 'pretty cool' says the man who built the first one

Death Star

Yes, we can build a Death Star - and here's how

star wars evil

Technology is exactly as evil as humanity

Star Wars Facts

14 Star Wars tech Facts you should almost certainly know

Star Wars character revealed

New Star Wars clip finally shows Lupita Nyong'o's character

Star Wars remotes arrive for Sky

Sky's Star Wars remotes are just awesome

From Hoth to Bespin: the planets of Star Wars are more real than you think

From Hoth to Bespin - the Star Wars planets are more real than you think

The strange tale of Black Angel, Star Wars and lightsabers

The strange tale of Black Angel, Star Wars and lightsabers

Build the ultimate gaming PC for Star Wars Battlefront

How to build the ultimate gaming PC for Star Wars: Battlefront

How to build your own R2-D2 with the Raspberry Pi Zero

How to build your own R2-D2 with the Raspberry Pi Zero

Why we love Star Wars

Why we love Star Wars

Skywalker Sound

Behind the magic: an inside look at Skywalker Sound

How to create your own Star Wars effects

How to create your own Star Wars effects for free

Star Wars: Battlefront

Star Wars Battlefront review

Digital film

Why has Star Wars turned its back on digital film?

10 fictional AIs that should make everyone scared for the future

10 fictional AIs that should make everyone scared for the future

Patrick Goss

Patrick Goss is the ex-Editor in Chief of TechRadar. Patrick was a passionate and experienced journalist, and he has been lucky enough to work on some of the finest online properties on the planet, building audiences everywhere and establishing himself at the forefront of digital content.  After a long stint as the boss at TechRadar, Patrick has now moved on to a role with Apple, where he is the Managing Editor for the App Store in the UK.