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The race became a microcosm for the clashes and pressures on the American legal system this year, in part because one of the two top candidates is the younger brother of Attorney General Pam Bondi.

(Image credit: ftwitty)

Apple's iPadOS is getting sleeker and smarter with these new features. Here's what's new.

Contour Design Unimouse: Two-minute review

The Contour Design Unimouse is an ergonomic mouse with an adjustable design, allowing users to get the right fit to match their personal preferences.

It has a functional appearance, although it's sleek and inoffensive enough to fit in any environment, whether that’s the office of the home. The materials also feel premium, from the plastic chassis to the texturized padding on outside edge.

The form factor is large: bigger than many of the best mouse options around. This means those with smaller hands may struggle to use it, although I can say that I found it to be the right size for me, and my hands aren’t particularly large.

The split-folding design of the Unimouse means you can adjust the angle of the contact surface between 35 and 70 degrees, which I found to be enough for providing meaningful differences in grip style. However, those looking for a flatter, more traditional position might not find this to their liking; although it might be argued that such users wouldn’t be in the market for an ergonomic mouse in the first place.

The hinge mechanism for adjusting this angle can be quite stiff, meaning it doesn’t operate all that smoothly. Still, it remains completely stable while in place, and I experienced no wobbling at all while using it.

(Image credit: Future)

These two points can also be made of the thumb grip. It rotates on a ball to allow for multiple planes of adjustment, resulting in a wide range of available positions. It also allows you to hold the Unimouse loosely – a feature all the best ergonomic mice share, and results in a more relaxed, strain-free experience.

The mouse buttons are large, and are easy to use as a result. There are three of them, with the one in the center acting as a middle click (the scroll wheel also has this function), although this default binding can be changed in the customization software.

The Unimouse also features two side buttons, although these are placed too far back, which means you can’t easily and quickly navigate between web pages, for example. The placement of the DPI button is also inconvenient, being inaccessible while your hand is on the mouse, since it’s tucked away on the bottom portion of the body.

The Unimouse can be customized using the Contour Design’s software tool, available for Windows and macOS, which allows for a pleasing number of productivity-based tweaks. You can change the DPI setting from here as well, in addition to the cursor acceleration and scroll speed.

There are a generous amount of remapping options too, with a few media and system functions available for assignment, including the ability to run applications of your choosing. You can also create application-specific profiles for your rebinds.

Additionally, keystrokes are assignable, with the option to map multiple keys in combination with modifiers to a single button. Unfortunately, though, the scroll function of the wheel can only be reassigned to control volume.

There are other issues with the software, too. I experienced crashes on a few occasions, and the firmware update for the wireless dongle was plagued with failed attempts and frustrating pop-up notifications.

(Image credit: Future)

Thankfully, the overall performance of the Unimouse is much more pleasant. It glides smoothly despite its relative heft, as it’s lighter than it appears. The buttons are easy to actuate and provide enough feedback, although scrolling is a little too notched for my liking, lacking the precision and effortless action of other mouse wheels I’ve experienced.

It also lacks a free-spin function, so you’re locked in at the rate its notches provide. Even though, as previously mentioned, the software does allow you to alter the scrolling speed, this still doesn’t make it any smoother.

Setting up a wireless connection wasn’t the most seamless experience, either. Having tested it on two separate devices, one Windows 10 and the other Windows 11, the Unimouse failed to connect on first attempt.

To get it working, I had to toggle the power button underneath off and on. I'll admit this is a minor issue, but it’s more bothersome if you plan on using the Unimouse with multiple devices.

On that note, it’s also a shame that there’s no Bluetooth option, which would have made hot-switching between devices all the more amenable. However, I have to say that once I established a connection between the Unimouse and my devices I didn’t experience any lag or issues with responsiveness.

After a full day of use, the Unimouse dropped a single LED on its battery life indicator, meaning it had between 61-80% left (I suspect it was much closer to the latter figure). Losing 20% after a day isn’t terribly impressive, but at least the Unimouse comes with a USB cable for wired connectivity, allowing you to charge and work simultaneously.

At £87, the Unimouse is more expensive than many other ergonomic mice. They may have higher list prices, but can often be found with discounts, so here’s hoping that will also be the case with the Unimouse.

But the ace up the Unimouse’s sleeve is its physical adjustability, which even the best ergonomic mice lack, such as the Lift and the MX Master 3S, for instance. Combined with its software customizations, this elevates the Unimouse to a better value proposition than it otherwise would be, and may make sense for those craving an adjustable mouse. Just make sure you can fit your hand around it.

(Image credit: Future)Contour Design Unimouse review: Price & availability

• £87 (about $100 / AU$170)
• Available now for left and right-handers
• Expensive compared to rivals

In the UK the Unimouse is available now direct from Contour Design for £87, although we have seen it slightly cheaper on Amazon. In the US and Australia it's available from Amazon for around $100 / AU$170. There are right and left-handed variants, and a wired model also exists, but this is only marginally less expensive.

This makes the Unimouse quite expensive relative to other ergonomic mice. It faces plenty of competition, chiefly from Logitech’s various lines of ergonomic mice, such as the MX and the Lift.

While some of these may have a higher list price, they can often be found with strong discounts. However, these lack the physical adjustability of the Unimouse, which might swing it for you depending on how much you value this quality.

Contour Design Unimouse review: Specs

Interface

Wireless (2.4GHz), wired (USB-C-to-A)

Ergonomics

Right or left-handed asymmetrical

Buttons

7

DPI

Up to 4,000

Switches

Not stated

Weight

5oz / 141g

Should I buy the Razer Contour Design Unimouse?

Attributes

Notes

Rating

Value

The Unimouse is expensive compared to other ergonomic mice, although its various adjustments set it apart from the competition.

3.5 / 5

Design

The Unimouse is well made, although a few design choices let the side down. The software is useful, but this also has its sticking points.

3.5 / 5

Performance

The Unimouse does its job admirably and without fuss. The adjustments cater to individual grip styles quite well, too.

4 / 5

Overall

The Unimouse is a capable and comfortable ergonomic mouse. It may be pricey, but its malleability makes a strong case itself – you’ll just have to decide how much this means to you, and whether its size will be a fit for your hand.

3.5 / 5

Buy it if...

You want physical adjustability
One of the unique features of the Unimouse is the ability to alter its angle and thumb grip position, both of which are easy to do and make it more amenable to different styles.

You want to customize inputs
The software tool for the Unimouse offers plenty of useful rebinding options, as well as various motion and movement tweaks.

Don't buy it if...

You have smaller hands
The Unimouse is unquestionably large, so those with smaller hands might have a hard time getting a grip on it.

You want to the best software
The tool for the Unimouse offers a plentiful selection of customizations, but it’s prone to a few bugs and UI issues.

Contour Design Unimouse review: Also consider

Contour Design Unimouse

Logitech MX Master 3S

Logitech Lift

Price

Wireless (2.4GHz), wired (USB-C-to-A)

Wireless (2.4GHz, Bluetooth), wired (USB-C-to-A)

Wireless (2.4GHz, Bluetooth), wired (USB-C-to-A)

Interface

Right or left-handed asymmetrical

Right-handed asymmetrical

Right or left-handed asymmetrical

Buttons

7

7

6

DPI

4,000

8,000

4,000

Switches

Not stated

Not stated

Not stated

Weight

1.9oz / 55g

5oz / 141g

4.4oz / 125g

Logitech MX Master 3S
The MX Master 3S is one of the best all-round mice there is. It’s comfortable and performs very well. However, as with the Unimouse, it’s best suited for those with larger hands, and left-handers are left out altogether. It’s nominally more expensive than the Unimouse, but we’ve seen it for a lot less. Read our full Logitech MX Master 3S review.

Logitech Lift Ergonomic Vertical Mouse
Another Logitech pointer, the Lift is a fully-fledged ergonomic mouse, with its totally upright design. Again, though, the angle of its verticality can’t be changed, as it can with the Unimouse. Read our full Logitech Lift review.

How I tested the Contour Design Unimouse

• Tested for a full day
• Used for work and general browsing
• Plentiful mouse reviewing experience

I tested the Unimouse for a full day, during which time I used it for working and for general browsing. I made sure to try out all of its available adjustments, and also used as many functions and features present in its customization software.

I have experience reviewing mice, ranging in size, purpose, and price point. I have used all kinds of mice throughout my life, for work as well as play.

• Read more about how we test
• First reviewed: May 2025

The Games app is a new video game hub that will come preinstalled on Apple devices. Will this be Game Center all over again?

A new design and new features are coming. Here's what's new.

Commentary: Photos tabs are back, baby!

Apple just announced major free upgrades coming to Apple Intelligence-compatible devices, set to arrive as part of iOS 26, iPadOS 26, macOS 26, and watchOS 26 later this year.

The new AI features coming to these devices were sporadically showcased throughout WWDC 2025, so we've compiled a list of all the major announcements to give you a breakdown of every Apple Intelligence announcement at the event.

Unfortunately, Apple didn't showcase the Siri AI upgrade we'd been hoping for, but the Cupertino-based company did unveil a lot of new software improvements powered by Apple Intelligence.

Here are the six major Apple Intelligence upgrades announced at WWDC 2025.

1. Live Translation

(Image credit: Apple)

Live Translation "helps users communicate across languages when messaging or speaking," and is integrated directly into Messages, FaceTime, and the Phone app.

Live Translation will be able to automatically translate messages, add translated live captions to FaceTime, and on a phone call the translation will be spoken aloud throughout the conversation, completely removing language barriers using AI.

Privacy won't be an issue either, as Apple says the new translation tool runs on Apple's own AI models and "users’ personal conversations stay personal."

2. Genmoji and Image Playground upgrades

(Image credit: Lance Ulanoff / Future)

Apple launched Genmoji and Image Playground as part of the first wave of Apple Intelligence features, and now the company is improving its generative AI image tools.

Users can now turn text descriptions into emojis as well as mix together emojis and combine them with descriptions to create something new. You'll also be able to change expressions and adjust personal attributes of Genmojis made from photos of friends and family members.

Image Playground is now getting ChatGPT support to allow users to access brand-new styles such as oil painting and vector art. Apple says, "users are always in control, and nothing is shared with ChatGPT without their permission."

3. Visual Intelligence can now see your screen

Visual Intelligence might've already been the best Apple Intelligence feature, but now the exclusive iPhone 16 AI tool is even better.

At WWDC, Apple announced that Visual Intelligence can now scan your screen, allowing users to search and take action on anything they’re viewing across apps.

You'll be able to ask ChatGPT questions about content on your screen via Apple Intelligence, and this new feature can be accessed by taking a screenshot. When using the same buttons as a screenshot, you'll be asked to save, share the screenshot, or explore more with Visual Intelligence.

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As someone who loves Gemini's ability to see your screen, I'm incredibly excited to see how Visual Intelligence tackles its newfound power that lets it analyze what you're doing on your device.

4. Apple Intelligence on Apple Watch

(Image credit: Lance Ulanoff / Future)

The world's most popular smartwatch just got AI functionality in the form of Workout Buddy, a workout experience with Apple Intelligence that "incorporates a user’s workout data and fitness history to generate personalized, motivational insights during their session."

Apple says the new feature is a "first-of-its-kind workout experience" and will offer "meaningful inspiration in real time" to keep you motivated on your exercise.

Once Apple Intelligence has analyzed your workout data, "a new text-to-speech model then translates insights into a dynamic generative voice built using voice data from Fitness+ trainers, so it has the right energy, style, and tone for a workout."

Workout Buddy is the first exclusive Apple Intelligence feature on Apple Watch and will require an Apple Intelligence-supported iPhone nearby. At launch, Workout Buddy will be available in English and across the following workout types: "Outdoor and Indoor Run, Outdoor and Indoor Walk, Outdoor Cycle, HIIT, and Functional and Traditional Strength Training."

5. Third party apps have Apple Intelligence access

(Image credit: Apple)

While this announcement might not grab any headlines, it's a big one for the future of Apple Intelligence: Developers now have access to Apple's Foundation Models.

What does that mean exactly? Well, app developers will be able to "build on Apple Intelligence to bring users new experiences that are intelligent, available when they’re offline, and that protect their privacy, using AI inference that is free of cost."

Apple's example is an education app using the Apple Intelligence model to generate a quiz from your notes, without any API costs.

This framework could completely change the way we, users, interact with our favorite third-party apps, now with the ability to tap into Apple's AI models and make the user experience even more intuitive.

6. AI-powered Shortcuts

Last but not least, Apple announced Apple Intelligence powers for the Shortcuts app. This is a major upgrade to one of the best apps on Apple devices, allowing users to "tap into intelligent actions, a whole new set of shortcuts enabled by Apple Intelligence."

Apple says "Shortcuts are supercharged with Apple Intelligence," and you'll also be able to tap into ChatGPT to superpower your Shortcuts.

Just like the Shortcuts app, the true power here will come down to user creations and how people tap into this new ability. As someone who uses Shortcuts on a daily basis, I'm incredibly excited to see how Apple Intelligence improves the experience.

7. Everything else

(Image credit: Apple)

Alongside these six major announcements, Apple also announced that Apple Intelligence will scan and identify relevant actions from your emails, websites, notes, and other content, and then automatically categorize them in the Reminders app.

Elsewhere, Apple Wallet can now "identify and summarize order tracking details from emails sent from merchants or delivery carriers. This works across all of a user’s orders, giving them the ability to see their full order details, progress notifications, and more, all in one place."

Finally, Messages is getting Apple Intelligence poll functionality, which can detect when a poll might come in handy. The Messages app is also getting AI-generated backgrounds that can be created for each conversation using Image Playground.

The new language translation feature will function across the Messages, FaceTime and Phone apps.

A redesigned interface, an AI powered workout buddy, and a few more surprises... Here's your first look at the next big software update coming to the Apple Watch.

• Apple has revealed a new unified design for nearly all of its software platforms
• The new design centers on a digital 'material' called Liquid Glass
• The design makes heavy use of translucent elements that simulate refraction

Apple has revealed a major visual redesign for its upcoming iOS 26, iPadOS 26, macOS 26, tvOS 26, and watchOS 26 software updates.

Announced at WWDC 2025, the new software design language puts emphasis on transparency and fluidity, incorporating a new digital ‘material’ called Liquid Glass that virtually refracts light and dynamically reacts to user movements.

According to Apple, iOS 26 will be the biggest update to the visual identity of Apple's iPhone software since iOS 7 was released in 2013.

Image 1 of 3

Apple's new Liquid Glass design interface (Image credit: Apple)Image 2 of 3

Apple's new Liquid Glass design interface (Image credit: Apple)Image 3 of 3

Apple's new Liquid Glass design interface (Image credit: Apple)

Apple notes that the rounded and transparent elements of visionOS served as inspiration for the new software design, which also remodels app icons somewhere between the look of iOS 18 and macOS Sequoia.

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Additionally, a new clear theme will debut on iPhone and iPad, expanding on the previously available light, dark, and color tint modes.

The WWDC keynote is ongoing at the time of writing – be sure to check in with our WWDC 2025 live blog for the latest updates. Let us know what you think of the new Liquid Glass-based design in the comments below.

Apple has announced the latest version of macOS at WWDC 2025, its yearly developer conference.

According to Apple, the new version of macOS Tahoe 26, the operating system used by MacBooks and Macs, is coming later this year, but before then an early beta version has been made available for developers to help ensure their apps work well with the new operating system. We show you how to download the macOS Tahoe 26 developer beta if you want to give it an early try.

After that, Apple will launch a public beta that allows anyone with a compatible Mac to test out the operating system - though you should only do this with the understanding that this is an early version of the software and could lack features and could include bugs (after all, the reason for releasing a beta version is for people to help test out the software and highlight problems).

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As usual, macOS Tahoe 26 will be a free update for everyone with a compatible Mac or MacBook, so for most people I recommend holding on tight for the official launch around October or November, as by that point most, if not all, of the bugs and issues found in the beta version will have been fixed.

Until then, read on for all the info we know about macOS Tahoe 26 so far, plus the new features we're most excited about.

(Image credit: Apple)Cut to the chase

• What is it? The latest operating system for Macs and MacBooks
• How much is it? As usual, it's free for compatible Macs
• When is it out? Developer Beta out now, public Beta out in July 2025, final release autumn 2025

What Macs and MacBooks are compatible with macOS Tahoe 26?

These are the all the Mac and MacBook devices that will be able to run macOS Tahoe 26 according to Apple:

MacBook Air M1 or later

MacBook Pro 16-inch 2019 or later

MacBook Pro 2020 or later

MacBook Pro 13-inch 2020 with four Thunderbolt 3 ports

iMac 2020 or later

Mac mini 2020 or later

Mac Pro 2019 or later

Mac Studio 2022 and later

(Image credit: Apple)A new look

The rumors were right - Apple has overhauled the look of macOS (as with its other operating systems), with a unified design language which means that macOS, iPadOS and iOS will look similar.

Known as 'Liquid Glass', this part of the user interface doesn't just look good, it reacts depending on the task you're performing.

The Dock, sidebar and toolbars of macOS 26 Tahoe have been redesigned, with the menu bar now completely transparent. The idea behind this appears to be to make the user interface blend into the background, giving prominence to whatever you're working on on the screen.

App icons have also been given a new look to fit in the the Liquid Glass design, and these will also change depending on if you're using the light or dark macOS theme.

Apple is also expanding on the customization options of macOS 26 Tahoe, so it should be even easier to make the operating system suit your style.

(Image credit: Apple)A new numbering convention

At WWDC, Apple announced the official name for the latest macOS: Tahoe. Once again, based on a landmark in Apple's native California.

More surprisingly (if you weren't keeping up with the rumors), Apple also confirmed that there will be a new numbering scheme for macOS and its other operating systems. Instead numbering according to version (the current version is macOS 15), it will now be based on year, so there will be no macOS 16, but macOS 26, as well as iOS 26, iPadOS 26 and more.

This is quite a change, but it shows how serious Apple is about making all of its operating systems feel like they are parts of the same ecosystem.

Spotlight in the... spotlight...

Spotlight has been a key part of macOS for ages, allowing you to find and open up applications that you've installed. At WWDC 2025, Apple revealed that macOS Tahoe 26 will feature the 'biggest update ever' to Spotlight, with all search results across apps, files, folders, messages and more are all listed together and 'ranked intelligently based on relevance to the user.'

Advanced filter controls should help you narrow down your results, and Spotlight will also be able to search for files stored on third-party cloud drives, such as Google Drive or OneDrive.

You'll also be able to perform actions straight from Spotlight - so you can send an email, play a media file and more without having to open the app first. These can also be used via keyboard shortcuts, and according to Apple, Spotlight will learn from how you use your Mac, and will offer you personalized actions for tasks you perform often. The example Apple gives is quickly sending a message to someone you regularly talk to.

Live translation

As you might expect, Apple has put plenty of AI features into macOS Tahoe 26, and perhaps the most interesting (and useful) is Live Translation, which will automatically translate messages depending on the language of the person you're talking to (and their reply will be translated for you).

During FaceTime calls, live captions will also be shown, and if you're old school and still use the Phone app, you can see a translation of what they are talking about - and all of this is done on-device so conversations remain private.

(Image credit: Apple)Make calls from the Phone app direct from macOS Tahoe 26

A running theme of WWDC 2025 seems to be making Apple's ecosystem of devices work better together, and with Continuity, the app that allows you to access your iPhone through your Mac, you can now use the Phone app to answer phone calls on your Mac, rather than having to pull out your iPhone out of your pocket.

The Phone app in macOS 26 is designed to be instantly familiar to iPhone users, and you'll be able to access recent calls, favorite contacts and your voicemails - plus handy features like Call Screening and Hold Assist.

(Image credit: Apple)

If someone from an unknown phone number rings, Call Screening will answer the call and ask for information, letting you decide whether or not to answer the call.

If you are put on hold, Hold Assist will save your spot in line, so you can work on your Mac until your turn comes up. Handy!

(Image credit: Apple)Mac gaming gets better with Apple Games app

Gaming on a Mac is no longer the joke it used to be thanks to a steady stream of AAA games coming to macOS, and with macOS Tahoe 26, it looks like gaming could get even better.

A new app, called Apple Games, will act as a launcher for all of your games, as well as highlight new games that suit your tastes. It's not clear if this app will only show games you've bought and installed from Apple's App Store, or if you'll be able to add games from other services, such as Steam. Hopefully it'll be the latter.

A Game Overlay, familiar to PC gamers using Windows 11 and Steam, is also included with the Apple Games app, and will allow you to quickly change your settings and chat with friends without leaving the game.

A new Low Power Mode should also make playing games on a MacBook less demanding of the battery, so you should be able to play unplugged for longer - though I hope it doesn't have too much of an impact on game performance.

The referendum, which sought to reduce the time it takes to become a naturalized citizen from 10 years to five, failed because fewer than 50% of eligible voters took part in two days of voting.

(Image credit: FILIPPO MONTEFORTE)

The ban, which revives a controversial measure from Trump's first term, took effect Monday morning. Here's what to know about who's affected, who's exempt and how foreign leaders are responding.

(Image credit: Yuki Iwamura)

New York Times event in 2023, announced on Monday that the company would be split, with its streaming and Hollywood studios on one side, and its cable properties on the other. The company currently includes HBOMax, Warner Bros. movie and television studios, and CNN among its properties.'/>

Warner Bros. Discovery is to split into two, separating streaming and studios from its cable channels. The company has been burdened by debt and the decline of cable TV.

(Image credit: Slaven Vlasic/Getty Images)

The newest iPhone system boasts a new look, new name and a host of features to look forward to.

Nintendo claims that only USB-C cameras work with the new Switch 2, but many users found that to not be the case.

In a public letter, hundreds of scientists expressed their dissent to the Trump administration's policies affecting the National Institutes of Health and called on its director to support the agency.

(Image credit: Alex Wong)

Deltarune fans have been waiting over five years for the release of the third chapter in developer Toby Fox's role-playing game, but the wait is finally over. To coincide with the release of the Nintendo Switch 2, Fox has released not one but two more (of the seven total) chapters of the indie gem, with the four chapters releasing as a launch title for Nintendo's long-awaited console.

Review info

Platform reviewed: Nintendo Switch 2
Available on: Nintendo Switch 2, Nintendo Switch, PS5, PS4, PC
Release date: June 4, 2025 (June 5, 2025 for Nintendo Switch 2)

Both were well worth the wait. Fox's charming adventure is the perfect companion for the new console, offering a surreal, personable world (well, worlds) filled to the brim with memorable, chaotic characters, brilliant writing, and tons of heart. Undertale fans will find a lot of familiarity here.

But, thanks to the overhauled battle system, the addition of party members, and a cast of bizarre new (and returning) characters, Deltarune is as welcoming for new players as it is for long-time Fox fans.

After over 15 hours with Deltarune, I'm itching for more – to return to its bewitching world and the characters I've grown to love across its four chapters. The wait for the last three chapters, likely to be released one to two years apart, is going to be excruciating.

Wake up

(Image credit: Toby Fox)

Straight off the bat, Deltarune lets you know this is not a story you have much control over. You begin Chapter 1, creating your "vessel," choosing their arms, head, legs, and... uh... favorite blood type.

It feels a bit fishy, but hey, if it's anything like Undertale, I knew to be prepared for weirdness. And I was right. Upon finishing your character, it's discarded: "No one chooses who they are in this world," a mysterious voice tells you.

Best bit

(Image credit: Toby Fox)

Those who played Undertale will find a lot of references to its universe in Deltarune. From characters like Toriel and Alphys to in-game item references (the sign in Kris' hallways says: "It's you") and even the name "Deltrarune" (an anagram of Undertale), there's a clear connection between the two worlds.

Instead, you're Kris, child of Undertale's Toriel, except the Undertale and Deltarune universes are not directly connected. They're parallel, with characters and references to Undertale appearing throughout Deltarune, but this Toriel is not the same as the one we knew.

This Toriel is Kris' doting mother, ushering him to school, where he's late. The punishment? Being teamed up for a group project with Susie, the class bully/badass monster. Sent on a mission by their teacher, Alphys, to find chalk (Susie ate it), the pair stumble across a closet that leads to the Dark World, where they meet adorable dork (and prince) Ralsei, who tells them they're part of a prophecy. Kris, Susie, and Ralsei are the Lightners, the heroes that will seal the Dark Fountains prophesied to destroy the world (both light and dark).

Across the three chapters, Susie, Ralsei, and Kris make their way through unique Dark Worlds to seal the fountains, meeting peculiar (and often hilarious) characters on their way and uncovering more about the link between the Dark and Light worlds.

Friend or foe?

(Image credit: Toby Fox)

The juxtaposition between Deltarune's Light and Dark Worlds is palpable. The Light World is an idyllic town with a diner, hospital, school, library, and friendly animal-like inhabitants (some of which will be familiar faces to Undertale fans.) Once Kris and Susie enter the Dark World, however, things get much weirder.

Chapter one sees Kris, Susie, and now Ralsei facing off against perhaps the worst bad guy in history – and I don't mean that in a ‘he's so fearsome’ way. Lancer, the young son of a tyrant king, tries his best to intimidate the heroes but spectacularly fails again and again, eventually having to get help from Susie. The writing throughout Deltarune is laugh-out-loud funny, with each character bubbling with personality and acting in unpredictable, unique ways.

For example, grumpy Susie initially hates being a hero and tries to pummel any characters you encounter – regardless of whether you want her to. But, as Ralsei warns you early on, acts of kindness are the most profitable in this game. You're actively encouraged to show mercy to the weird and wonderful ‘enemies’ you encounter. "Nah," says Susie.

(Image credit: Toby Fox)

But, throughout the four chapters, you grow to love Susie as she gradually lowers her walls, learns to be a ‘good’ hero, and awkwardly courts her crush, school nerd Noelle. Likewise, all the returning characters develop through the four chapters, opening up about their backgrounds, insecurities, and more. So, by the end of chapter four, I felt I knew these characters. These bizarre animal-like creatures were friends, I knew how they'd likely respond to something, what they'd say, or how they were feeling in a situation. They felt like real friends – a feeling I've not had with a game before.

So much of that is down to the writing. While there's a lot of it, and an auto-play feature would be helpful rather than clicking a button after each paragraph, the writing manages to capture and present the personalities of every character you meet seamlessly – both friends and foes. It never feels shoehorned, either.

You want to know more about each and every character because they're so interesting and unique, and you know the unveiling will likely have you laughing out loud. That's why you're so taken off guard when an emotional beat hits, like Susie's realization that her Darkner friends, Ralsei and Lancer, can't just go to school with her in the Light World. A tough pill to swallow when her Light World reality is much lonelier.

Alongside the writing, it's the design of Deltarune's characters and world that brings this adventure to life. Across the chapters, you'll go toe-to-toe with water coolers, mice, flamboyant weather people, and a three-headed cat that loves trees, boys, and sports as you traverse various Dark Worlds. In the first chapter, you work through a forest-like setting, the second sees you navigating a cyber world, the third takes you to a TV World (where you're a contestant on a deadly game show), and the fourth sees you working through a church-like setting. These pixelated worlds are stunning, with their atmospheres further boosted by unique, chiptune soundtracks. I dare you not to feel good listening to the Cyber City World tune.

Each of these worlds has its own, eccentric boss that you can't help but love. The bosses in chapters one to three are all pretty bad at their jobs and encounters with them result in some of the game's funniest moments, like chapter two's Queen who is obsessed with her "Sweetie Honey Darling Gravy" Noelle, but continually hides from her adoring peon Berdly. It's absurd, and utterly brilliant.

Acts of kindness

(Image credit: Toby Fox)

Ralsei's emphasis on acts of kindness is pivotal in Deltarune, because, unlike other RPGs, you are encouraged not to fight your opponents. This was a large part of Undertale's unique battle mechanics but is much more apparent here.

While Deltarune's encounters look similar to Undertale's and focus on turn-based combat, the battle system has been overhauled. Now, rather than fighting alone, you fight alongside your party members: Ralsei and Susie.

When you encounter an enemy, you're given several options: Fight, Act, Item, Spare, or Defend. While you can fight enemies, you ideally shouldn't. Not only is that because it's not quite in line with the game's ethos, but also because the foes you are kind to, and ultimately spare, can be recruited (officially in chapters two to four), with recruited allies helping you out in some way in the chapter's endgame. The recruited allies also move to Castle Town, your Dark World town base, with some building new shops you can take advantage of.

So, how do you win? Well, you kill them with kindness. By that, I mean, you use your turn to make each of your party members Act, which can involve flirting, talking, or complimenting your opponent, and increasing the Mercy meter of the enemy until they reach 100, allowing you to Spare and recruit them. Alternatively, you can tire them out and use Ralsei’s Pacify magic ability to spare them.

These enemies won't go easy on you during the encounter, however. They attack using the Bullet Board seen in Undertale. While in the Bullet Board, you must move around your soul (a heart icon) to avoid the enemy's bullet hell attacks. If you can Graze the bullets, and get close to them without getting hit, a white heart icon appears, and you gain TP (Tension Points) that allow you to use more powerful Acts and Magic.

(Image credit: Toby Fox)

The Bullet Board can be hard to get to grips with. While you're encouraged to move bit by bit, avoiding the bullets can be near impossible at times – potentially because the Switch 2’s controls are less accurate than a mouse and keyboard. It's a frustrating mechanic that I disliked in Undertale, too, but a critical aspect of all encounters.

What I do like is the extra mini-games that can crop up in encounters, like an ability that requires you to catch the mouse to increase the mercy bar, or to "knock the socks" off an enemy by shooting its... socks.

In between turns, your opponent will likely say and do ridiculous things, which makes these encounters much more entertaining as, especially in chapter one, they can feel a bit repetitive. Fortunately, unlike Undertale, Deltarune doesn't have random encounters, but chapter one's battles definitely get repetitive after a while. This issue eases up a bit in the following chapters, though, with fewer of the same enemy types and the recruit feature offering an incentive to work toward.

It feels like Deltarune finds its footing in chapters two to four and addresses any concerns about repetition we may have had in chapter one. As you progress through chapters, you come across new tools to use, Magic to utilize, and different obstacles and mini-games to complete, making each chapter feel unique but familiar.

Dark vs. Light

(Image credit: Toby Fox)

I can't sing Deltarune's praises loud enough. Toby Fox has created a refreshing witty, charming adventure that isn't afraid to be tongue-in-cheek and weird. At the same time, Deltarune's full of heart. Its emphasis is on the power of kindness and empathy for others, but its benevolent message is wrapped in a bizarre, coming-of-age RPG that is a joy to play.

There's no denying Undertale is the foundation upon which Deltarune is built, and the memorable pixelated gem Fox is building on that foundation is a stroke of genius. Keeping up that momentum across the next three chapters, however, will be the real challenge. And for fans like me, the years of waiting between them will be just as difficult.

Should I play Deltarune?Play it if…

You love narrative-driven games with interesting characters
Deltarune has some of the best character development I've seen in a game. From the heroes themselves to the random enemy encounters, and bosses, every character is memorable and brimming with personality. If you want to sink your teeth into a story where the characters are the heart of the adventure, you can't go wrong here.

You want a lot of variety
Deltarune's four chapters offer unique characters, bosses, worlds, music, and mechanics, so if you want one game that almost feels like four different ones in a single package, it's well worth picking this up.

Don’t play it if…

You hate bullet hell games
As explained, the Bullet Board mechanic in Deltarune's encounters is tough to navigate. This is a bullet hell game, even if you take the path of kindness, so if you don't like that genre, or prefer unchallenging games, this may not be for you.

You don't want to wait for the whole story
Deltarune is an episodic RPG, consisting of seven chapters. Right now, only chapters one to four are available, with chapter five due to release in 2026 and the remaining chapters' release date TBC. If you want to play the entire thing at once, maybe hold off until every chapter has been released – though you'll be waiting a while.View Deal

Accessibility

Deltarune offers a few simple (but welcome) accessibility options. In the Config menu, you can select 'Controls' to remap the controls to a configuration best suited to your needs.

The Config menu also offers the ability to enable Auto-Run, which I advise for everyone. By default, Auto Run is toggled off, requiring you to hold the run button (B on Switch 2) to run. Kris moves slowly, but this can also prove tricky for those with dexterity issues. Enabling Auto Run means Kris runs everywhere without the need to hold the button.

I would have loved to see more accessibility options, especially for encounters. Some moves during encounters require you to quickly move the left toggle back and forth of the button bash, which proved especially challenging for me due to a recent wrist/thumb injury. The ability to hold a button or auto-complete these actions would be ideal.

How I reviewed Deltarune

I played Deltarune for 15 hours, with each of the four chapters taking around three to four hours to complete.

While I focused on the main story, I made sure to take the time to explore the game's various side routes where possible. Having previously completed Undertale, I was able to compare this game to Toby Fox's previous offering to give insight into the key similarities and differences between Deltarune and Undertale.

I reviewed Deltarune Chapters 1-4 on Nintendo Switch 2 with a Nintendo Switch 2 Pro controller, primarily playing in the console's TV mode with my Samsung Q80T QLED TV. I occasionally switched between the Pro and the Joy-Con 2 Charging Grip but found the Pro controller to be much more comfortable to use.

First reviewed June 2025

Apple’s Worldwide Developer Conference - aka WWDC - is upon us once more, and the 2025 edition looks like it could ring in some big changes for Apple. The rumor mill says that there are major redesigns planned for iOS on the iPhone, as well as iPadOS, macOS, WatchOS for the Apple Watch, and even tvOS for the Apple TV streaming box. Lots of people will be hoping for news on Apple Intelligence too (although I wouldn’t hold my breath on that if I were you).

But, in the words of the immortal Spice Girls - I’ll tell you what I want, what I really, really want – and that’s more games for the Mac. I am that rare breed of creature known as the Mac Gamer. It’s a small, select group, mainly consisting of me and Whoopi Goldberg, but it’s growing all the time and after decades of completely ignoring games on the Mac it looks as though Apple is finally showing some interest.

Game On

Apple has never liked games. John Carmack, one of the creators of Doom and Quake at id Software, once said that Apple co-founder Steve Jobs “didn’t think very highly of games”, and Jobs’ attitude meant that Apple effectively ignored gaming on the Mac for decades (“I never took it personally,” said Carmack).

That state of affairs didn’t really change until WWDC in 2023. After making headlines with the debut of the Vision Pro headset, Apple very quietly released a new software tool called the Game Porting ToolKit (GPT) that was designed specifically to help developers produce Mac versions of their PC games.

Apple's MacBooks can play the latest games - though you might need to do a bit of graphical tweaking if you're not running the latest Apple Silicon, (Image credit: Apple)

This seemed to mark a real change in Apple’s attitude towards games, and the launch of GPT did help to bring a few AAA titles to Mac for the first time, including Assassin’s Creed Shadows, Control, Death Stranding, and multiple Resident Evil games. But the fact remains that most A-List PC games never get released on the Mac at all, so here’s my wishlist for the Mac games scene at WWDC in 2025.

More Powerful Hardware

Even the best Macbooks and Macs have often been mocked for lacking the power to play games with modern 3D graphics – in fact, Macs couldn’t even handle ray-tracing until Apple introduced its M3 processors about 18 months ago.

Even now, many Mac games still require very expensive, top-of-the-range Mac models in order to run at high graphical settings. There are some pretty good gaming PCs available for less than £1000/$1000, and Apple needs to bring real gaming power to more Mac models in order to create a larger audience for new Mac games.

In Apple's defense, though, there's no denying that the best gaming laptops can get pretty expensive - and many people need a single lightweight system for work as well as gaming, not a desktop-replacement powerhouse machine that can't last more than two hours away from a wall outlet. So the potential is there; Apple just needs to step up.

More Tools For Games Developers

The Mac operating system (aka macOS) relies on a piece of Apple software called Metal to handle 3D graphics in games. In contrast, PC games generally rely on Microsoft’s DirectX graphics software instead, and converting – or ‘porting’ - DirectX games to run on Macs is a huge technical challenge for game developers.

Sonic Dream Team was a major recent Apple Arcade release. (Image credit: Sega / Sonic Team)

That’s where the Game Porting Toolkit comes in, as it is specifically designed to help with this conversion process. Apple did introduce GPT 2.0 at WWDC in 2024, so releasing another update at this year’s WWDC would reaffirm Apple’s commitment to gaming. Apple could also simply buy Codeweavers, the developer of the open-source CrossOver software that GPT is partly based on (codeweavers.com). The CrossOver team has enormous experience in getting Windows games to run on Macs, and that could help Apple to smooth the path onto the Mac for many PC-based games developers.

Open Up The App Store

At the moment, many Mac games are only available via Apple’s own Mac App Store. Even if you’ve already bought Control: Ultimate Edition on Steam or the Epic Games Store then you’ll find that you still have to buy the Mac version separately on the Mac App Store – so you’re effectively paying twice for a game that you already own. Games on the Mac App Store also tend to be more expensive than on Steam or Epic – where the PC version of Control: Ultimate Edition is currently on sale at a bargain price.

Baldur's Gate 3 was a big win for Mac gamers, but it's not as if Windows players can't enjoy the iconic title. (Image credit: Larian)

This applies to lots of other Mac games too, so Apple really needs to allow developers more freedom to sell their Mac games outside the Mac App Store. Unfortunately, Apple’s long-running legal battle with Epic over selling Fortnite on the App Store suggests that this is pretty unlikely. However, games such as Baldur’s Gate 3 and Hades 2 do allow you to buy the game once on Steam and then download either Mac or PC versions as required, so that’s something I’d like to see from more games in the future.

Revamp Apple Arcade

Apple makes billions of dollars from its subscription services, and Apple Arcade was meant to provide an Apple alternative to gaming services such as Microsoft’s Game Pass for Xbox and PC. But while Game Pass tempts players with newly-released hit titles such as Oblivion Remastered and Clair Obscur: Expedition 33, Apple Arcade is full of aging mobile games like Angry Birds that were originally designed for the iPhone or iPad.

The selection of 'Role-Playing Games' currently on Apple Arcade is... feeble at best. (Image credit: Apple)

The selection of Mac games is seriously underwhelming, so Apple needs to work with game developers to bring some heavyweight A-list titles to Apple Arcade. Mac users know that Apple often makes splashy announcements at WWDC about forthcoming games for the Mac, but it needs to continue that commitment for the other 51 weeks of the year if it really wants the Mac to be taken seriously as a gaming platform. Zigazig ah!

• Indian police conducted raids at 19 locations to target scammers
• Six people were arrested, and numerous equipment seized
• The operation targeted elderly Japanese victims

Indian and Japanese law enforcement, with the help of Microsoft’s Digital Crimes Unit (DCU), have taken down a major financial fraud network and arrest six people suspected of running the entire operation.

India’s Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) recently conducted raids at 19 locations across the country and dismantled a large network that includes tech support schemes.

The network mostly targeted older adults in Japan (aged 60 and above) and included two illegal call centers. Besides the arrests, both digital and physical infrastructure was seized, including computers, storage devices, digital video recorders, and phones.

Chakra V

The fightback started with the Japan Cybercrime Control Center (JC3), a Japanese nonprofit dedicated to combating cybercrime, which identified the cybercriminal operation impersonating Microsoft, flagging it to the tech giant.

The operation, known as Chakra V, was large and well-organized, the report notes - it revolved around fake pop-ups tricking people into thinking their computers were broken, and providing a phone number to “call Microsoft” and have the issues fixed.

However the calls were actually being made towards the scammers, who would trick the victims into installing remote desktop software, or malware, and use this to steal sensitive files and money.

The operation included pop-up creators, search-engine optimizers, lead generators, logistics and technology providers, payment processors, and talent providers.

Microsoft also said that the introduction of Gen AI made scaling the operation infinitely easier and thus - more dangerous.

“These actors used generative AI to scale their operations, including to identify potential victims, automate the creation of malicious pop–up windows, and perform language translations to target Japanese victims,” Microsoft explained.

“This activity highlights the increasingly sophisticated tactics employed by cybercriminals and underscores the importance of proactive global collaboration to protect victims.”

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