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Microsoft has just announced an Xbox take on the Asus's ROG Ally handheld gaming PC: meet the ROG Xbox Ally.

Shown off at the Xbox Games Showcase 2025, this version of the most recent ROG Ally comes in two variants. While both machines have a 7-inch 1080p display with a 1320Hz refresh rate, a white Xbox Ally version targets 720p gaming, somewhat like the Valve Steam Deck, and a black Xbox Ally X console that aims for 900p to 1080p gaming.

Both of these Ally consoles-meet-PCs use AMD Ryzen chipsets; the more powerful black machine has the Ryzen AI Z2 Extreme chip, while the Xbox Ally uses the Ryzen Ryzen Z2 A. The latter comes with 16GB of LPDDR5X-6400 RAM and 512GB of M.2 2280 SSD storage, while the Xbox Ally X comes with 24GB of LPDDR5X-8000 RAM, and a 1TB SSD.

Unlike Asus current ROG and ROG Ally X, the Xbox version has a tweaked design with contoured grips that echo the shape of the current Xbox Wireless Controller. And as one would expect both Xbox Allys sport the Xbox 'ABXY' button layout and a dedicated Xbox home button.

Much like the Xbox Wireless Controller, the Xbox Allys have hall-effect impulse triggers, which should feel familiar to Xbox Series X and Series S gamers and give the handheld machines some of the best analog game controller triggers around (at least in my humble opinion).

This story is developing...

⬛ ROG Xbox Ally X​​◻️ ROG Xbox Ally pic.twitter.com/InOsAK2eSFJune 8, 2025

In terms of ports, the Xbox Ally has two USB 3.2 Gen 2 Type-C ports that support with DisplayPort 2.1 and Power Delivery 3.0 , and uses a UHS-II microSD card reader for storage expansion.

The Xbox Ally X has one of the above USB-C ports but also has one USB4 Type-C port with DisplayPort 2.1 , Power Delivery 3.0, and Thunderbolt 4 support. It also comes with a microSD card reader.

Both handhelds come with a 3.5mm headphone jack, and Wi-Fi 6E and Bluetooth 5.4  connectivity.

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The Blood of Dawnwalker, the debut single-player, role-playing game (RPG) from Polish studio Rebel Wolves, just got its first gameplay trailer at the Xbox Games Showcase.

We still don't have an official release date just yet, but the developer has confirmed that the game will launch in 2026 for PS5, Xbox Series X, Xbox Series S, and PC.

The project, which is being built in Unreal Engine 5 and published by Bandai Namco, is led by former The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt game director Konrad Tomaszkiewicz, alongside other former Witcher 3 and Cyberpunk 2077 developers.

"Face your foes - be they human, monster, or the ticking clock itself. But remember - the real evil may bask in the sun's light, and the most loyal of allies could lurk under the cover of night," the game description reads.

This story is developing...

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Obsidian Entertainment has announced that The Outer Worlds 2 will launch on October 29 for PS5, Xbox Series X, Xbox Series S, and PC.

The studio unveiled the release date as the first major announcement of the Xbox Games Showcase, and offered a new glimpse at the sequel with a gameplay trailer.

This won't be the last we hear about the first-person shooter tonight. Immediately after the Xbox Games Showcase, The Outer Worlds 2 Direct will begin, which will presumably offer an in-depth look at the game.

This story is developing...

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From bumping up to iOS 26 to expanding its gaming ambitions, Apple could be debuting a slew of changes at this year's developer conference.

After trying Nespresso's Pistachio Vanilla capsules, which produce a highly-flavored shot of espresso that's ideal for making lattes and iced americanos, I was keen to try out another of the company's other flavors designed for enjoying over ice. The limited edition Coconut Vanilla Over Ice pods looked particularly appealing, so I picked up a pack of 10 with my last order and waited with some impatience for them to arrive.

Unlike the Pistachio Vanilla pods, which make the equivalent of a double espresso shot, the Nespresso Coconut Vanilla capsules produce a long drink that's equivalent to a full mug.

The coffee has a base of arabica beans, roasted medium-dark. I usually opt for a lighter roast when I'm choosing beans for brewing at home, but the darker roast helps the coffee stand up to the added natural vanilla and coconut flavours.

(Image credit: Future)

Iced coffee is a hot commodity right now. There's been a flood of machines that claim to recreate the rounded, mellow taste of cold-infused coffee in minutes rather than hours, including the Jura J10, Ninja Luxe Cafe, and De'Longhi Primadonna Aromatic to name just a few.

They all produce impressive results, with the Jura being a particular favorite of mine thanks to its ability to infuse hot or cold milk with flavored syrup, but they have one major disadvantage: they're usually very expensive. That's where these Nespresso Over Ice pods come in, offering a kind of cold-brew experience without the price tag.

Even the best Nespresso machines brew hot, so you'll need to use plenty of ice to bring the temperature of your drink down. You might also want to leave your brewed coffee to cool, then chill it in the fridge for a little while. Make sure you allow the coffee to reach room temperature before refrigerating it, to avoid raising the temperature inside your fridge unnecessarily.

(Image credit: Future)

I enjoy cold brew with plenty of milk, so I was able to use one Vanilla Coconut capsule to make two drinks by dispensing the coffee from my Nespresso Vertuo Pop machine into a heatproof glass jug with lots of ice, allowing it to chill, and then mixing it with milk. The overall flavor profile leans towards caramel, which pairs well with either dairy or plant-based alternatives.

Adding the coffee, ice, and milk to a personal blender (I used the Ninja Blast Max) worked even better, and although I haven't tried it yet, I imagine a shot of rum might be good with the coconut and vanilla flavors too.

It's a drink that's ripe for experimentation, and Nespresso offers some of its own recipe ideas if you want some inspiration. Its iced coconut vanilla mint coffee is easy to make and only takes three minutes.

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After trying Nespresso's Pistachio Vanilla capsules, which produce a highly-flavored shot of espresso that's ideal for making lattes and iced americanos, I was keen to try out another of the company's other flavors designed for enjoying over ice. The limited edition Coconut Vanilla Over Ice pods looked particularly appealing, so I picked up a pack of 10 with my last order and waited with some impatience for them to arrive.

Unlike the Pistachio Vanilla pods, which make the equivalent of a double espresso shot, the Nespresso Coconut Vanilla capsules produce a long drink that's equivalent to a full mug.

The coffee has a base of arabica beans, roasted medium-dark. I usually opt for a lighter roast when I'm choosing beans for brewing at home, but the darker roast helps the coffee stand up to the added natural vanilla and coconut flavours.

(Image credit: Future)

Iced coffee is a hot commodity right now. There's been a flood of machines that claim to recreate the rounded, mellow taste of cold-infused coffee in minutes rather than hours, including the Jura J10, Ninja Luxe Cafe, and De'Longhi Primadonna Aromatic to name just a few.

They all produce impressive results, with the Jura being a particular favorite of mine thanks to its ability to infuse hot or cold milk with flavored syrup, but they have one major disadvantage: they're usually very expensive. That's where these Nespresso Over Ice pods come in, offering a kind of cold-brew experience without the price tag.

Even the best Nespresso machines brew hot, so you'll need to use plenty of ice to bring the temperature of your drink down. You might also want to leave your brewed coffee to cool, then chill it in the fridge for a little while. Make sure you allow the coffee to reach room temperature before refrigerating it, to avoid raising the temperature inside your fridge unnecessarily.

(Image credit: Future)

I enjoy cold brew with plenty of milk, so I was able to use one Vanilla Coconut capsule to make two drinks by dispensing the coffee from my Nespresso Vertuo Pop machine into a heatproof glass jug with lots of ice, allowing it to chill, and then mixing it with milk. The overall flavor profile leans towards caramel, which pairs well with either dairy or plant-based alternatives.

Adding the coffee, ice, and milk to a personal blender (I used the Ninja Blast Max) worked even better, and although I haven't tried it yet, I imagine a shot of rum might be good with the coconut and vanilla flavors too.

It's a drink that's ripe for experimentation, and Nespresso offers some of its own recipe ideas if you want some inspiration. Its iced coconut vanilla mint coffee is easy to make and only takes three minutes.

You might also like...

• The De'Longhi Primadonna Aromatic is one of the best bean-to-cup coffee makers I've ever used – and one of the most expensive
• The Sage Barista Impress is so satisfying to use, I just want to make lattes all day
• Ninja's best coffee maker just got a makeover, and it looks so good it's selling out already

Whether you're a devout Xbox fan or just want to see the reveals of some of the most exciting games on the horizon, the ongoing Xbox Games Showcase is well worth watching.

This show is part of Summer Game Fest 2025 and follows yesterday's main show. At that event, we saw the exciting reveal of Resident Evil Requiem, the next entry in the long-running survival horror series

Today, the latest rumors suggest that we're going to see a Persona 4 remake revealed, plus some potential Xbox hardware in the form of a licensed PC handheld and new controller. Whether this is the case is yet to be seen, but you can bet that I'll be here giving you a steady stream of news and my live reactions as the event begins.

Xbox Games Showcase live stream

The Xbox Games Showcase live stream is up right now!

Catch it on the official The Game Awards YouTube channel or in the embed below.

Xbox Games Showcase start time

The Xbox Games Showcase takes place on June 8 at 1PM ET / 10AM PT / 6PM BST / 7PM CEST.

Xbox Games Showcase length and schedule

While there is no exact schedule, the Xbox Games Showcase will be followed immediately by The Outer Worlds 2 Direct - a deep dive presentation on the upcoming Xbox RPG.

There's also no official word on length right now, though I would expect the Xbox Games Showcase and The Outer Worlds 2 Direct to last around two hours in total, though this is just a prediction.

Hello everybody and welcome to the very, very beginning of my Xbox Games Showcase 2025 coverage!

If you're reading this, it means you're on the of the very first people to join me as I cover the upcoming Xbox event.

Stay tuned, as I'm just about to hit you with some of my biggest hopes and predictions...

My big predictions (and some things I'm really hoping to see)

(Image credit: Atlus)

As the Xbox Games Showcase gets even nearer, I've been thinking a lot about the games that I expect (and want) to see.

First and foremost, it's hard to ignore all the chatter about a potential Persona 4 remake. This is a game that I've been hearing about through some of my contacts for months and I honestly I expected it to have been announced by now.

The latest rumors suggest that it is set to be shown off at the Xbox Games Showcase, with a version for Xbox Series X and Xbox Series S in addition to PS5 and PC. It will likely be something similar to the Persona 3 Reload, so a complete from-the-ground up recreation.

(Image credit: InXile Entertainment)

That aside, there are plenty of other games that I think are very likely to show up.

Remember Clockwork Revolution? That cool looking steampunk action game showed off by Xbox studio inXile Entertainment last year? I would be shocked if we don't get another trailer, and maybe even a release date.

There's another big Xbox game in the works too that I think will definitely make an appearance: Fable. With the game now set to come out in 2026 following a delay, I'm expecting a pretty beefy trailer to help keep everyone excited.

In a similar vein, State of Decay 3 really needs some new details. It feels like the open world zombie adventure has been in the works for absolutely ages, so it's really about time that we got a good look at it.

(Image credit: MachineGames/Bethesda)

Some safe bets here: we'll almost definitely see something of the upcoming Indiana Jones and the Great Circle DLC, plus new content for The Elder Scrolls Online from Bethesda.

On the Activision front, we'll surely get a trailer for a Diablo 4 update or expansion.

There's also a chance that we might get our very, very first tease for the next Call of Duty game. It's likely to be another entry in the Modern Warfare subseries, which I'm hoping is the case as I just can't resist any Call of Duty game with my Task Force 141 boys.

(Image credit: Future)

On to what I'm hoping to see... Well, a new Xbox controller would be absolutely amazing. I'm heard some slightly rumblings of an Xbox Elite Series 3 pad, which would make me very happy.

It's about time that Microsoft's dated, but still super expensive, pro controller got an update - especially considering the arrival of the DualSense Edge over on the PlayStation side of things.

With the high likelihood of an Xbox handheld announcement, I'm also praying that we will be shown some updates coming to the Windows 11 gaming experience.

Have you ever tried to play an Xbox game on the Microsoft Store or via PC Game Pass? It's absolutely horrible, and if the company wants to compete against the likes of the Steam Deck it's time that the Windows gaming experience got serious.

But what about Hollow Knight: Silksong?

(Image credit: Nintendo)

Will we see a Hollow Knight: Silksong trailer today?

Normally, I would have said that it's a near impossibility - though after the game's surprising (and brief) appearance in the Nintendo Switch 2 reveal stream I think that it could show up.

Surely developer Team Cherry has something to show off by now? It's been more than five whole years after all. As far as I know, the game is still set to come out in 2025 - so we have just got to see something soon.

Now, some thoughts from my colleagues on what they're looking out for...

(Image credit: Playground Games)

After the crushing announcement of its delay, News Managing Editor Roland Moore-Colyer is still holding out for fresh look at Fable.

"As a gamer in his late thirties, I've been a fan of Xbox since the original chunky model, and one of the games that defined Microsoft’s first console for me was Fable. I’m really hoping today’s showcase finally gives us a proper look at Fable 4 gameplay.

Given the work Playground Games has done with the Forza Horizon series, I’m bubbling to see what the developers can do with the Fable name. My hope is a charming open-world that one’s actions can influence that is steeped in very British humor.

I have my fingers crossed."

(Image credit: Arkane / Bethesda)

Roland also had a bit to say about the upcoming Blade game from Arkane, something that I had honestly forgotten was even announced...

"Arkane is working on a take on Marvel’s Blade, and as things have been relatively quiet from the developer Dishonored and Deathloop, in my humble opinion), I’m cautiously hopeful we’ll hear more about it.

I’d even take a punt on saying we could see some clips of gameplay, though that could be wishful thinking. Arkane is one of the masters of immersive sim games and I’ve been twiddling my thumbs for something that’ll have me pulling all sorts of tricks to sneak past enemies or creatively dispatch foes.

It’s my utmost hope that whatever Arkane does with Blade that it won’t abandon its immersive sim roots."

(Image credit: Bethesda)

He's also excited for some potential Elder Scrolls 6 information. It's been six years now, so I think it could happen - but part of me feels like it's still a little early.

"It’s been six years since Bethesda announced The Elder Scrolls 6, and in that time the company was snapped up by Microsoft.

That sort of worked out well for Starfield, which launched rather bug-free compared to previous Bethesda open-world games, though the ambitious space adventure didn’t quite live up to a lot of people’s expectations,

So I’d love to see what’s happening with The Elder Scrolls 6, as I feel that’s still one of the few games that could draw some hype from Grand Theft Auto 6. I also reckon that Bethesda is better off focusing on fantasy open-world games that have a narrower scope rather than an entire galaxy."

With just over 20 minutes to go, we have fishing action

There is just over 20 minutes to go until the Xbox Games Showcase begins.

Grab any snacks and drinks that you want to have on hand and get comfortable, because the show will be here before you know it.

Currently, the stream is showing a live countdown with some relaxing Fallout 76 fishing gameplay in the background.

We have just ten minutes to go until the showcase begins!

(Image credit: Microsoft)

The big event is almost here!

We have just ten minutes to go until the Xbox Games Showcase begins.

Do you have any last minute predictions? I'm going to add on a quick one to my list: I think we might get some news about a potential Halo release on PS5...

Just before we get into the show, I feel like I should also say that there's also been a little bit of talk of a potential Sunset Overdrive remake or remaster.

The source for this one is extremely strenuous and the game was never that successful in the first place, so I'd take this one with a mountain of salt.

The stream begins...

Hold on to something! The Xbox Games Showcase is starting right now...

(Image credit: Microsoft)

The Xbox Games Showcase 2025 is officially underway!

And the first game I'm seeing on my screen? It should come as no surprise that it's The Outer Worlds 2!

We're getting a deep dive into this game right after the show in The Outer Worlds 2 Direct, so it should come as no surprise that it's one of the first things that we are shown too.

(Image credit: Microsoft)

This certainly looks like a follow-up to The Outer Worlds, with the same whacky sense of humor and expressive art direction.

I'm liking the look of the combat though, which seems a lot more impactful in this entry.

The Outer Worlds 2 is launching on October 29. And what's that? It's coming to PS5 in addition to Xbox and PC? Interesting....

(Image credit: Microsoft)

Now on to the next title, and it looks a lot like a new High on Life game. I'm being bombarded with images of guns with eyes, a knife with eyes, enemies with eyes. Everything has eyes, basically.

Yep, that's High on Life 2 - coming in Winter 2025.

(Image credit: Microsoft)

Another World Premiere, with quite a cool fantasy tone this time. Hang on, looking a bit closer - it seems like it might be set in ancient Rome... What could this be?

(Image credit: Microsoft)

It's Resonance A Plague Tale Legacy - definitely not what I was expecting based on that trailer!

Xbox handheld revealed

(Image credit: Microsoft)

Yep, that's the Xbox handheld that I was predicting - an Asus Rog Ally with Xbox branding!

It's got impulse triggers, which is pretty cool. Honestly, I'm liking the look of this a lot - and it's coming later this year!

There will be two models available, an Asus Rog Ally and Asus Rog Ally X.

(Image credit: Microsoft)Hollow Knight: Silksong gets a release window

(Image credit: Microsoft)

Now we're hearing some chatter about the handheld. We saw some clips of Hollow Knight: Silksong too, which is set to release on the same day as the Xbox Asus Rog Ally later this year!

(Image credit: Microsoft)

Now we're moving on to the The Blood of Dawnwalker, an upcoming Bandai Namco published fantasy RPG.

It looks seriously creepy, with a super-powered vampire protagonist.

(Image credit: Microsoft)

That's coming out some time in 2026 for Xbox, PC, and PS5.

(Image credit: Microsoft)

And now we have Super Meat Boy on screen! And he's 3D! This looks like a lot of fun, with fast-paced platforming challenges and no shortage of brutal, meaty deaths.

It's Super Meat Boy 3D, and it's coming in 2026. Day one on Xbox Game Pass too!

(Image credit: Microsoft)

A Xbox published game now! With Koei Tecmo and Team Ninja working on it. I'm thinking that this will be a Ninja Gaiden game, but let's wait and see...

It's Njnia Gaiden 4! And you'll be able to play it on October 21, 2025.

A bit of Indiana Jones news now! I'm betting that it will be that DLC I mentioned earlier...

(Image credit: Microsoft)

Yep, it's the The Order of Giants expansion - which is going to take place in Rome. Will that mean returning to the fantastic Vatican level from the main game? I hope so!

It'll be out on September 4 on all platforms where the game is currently available.

(Image credit: Microsoft)

A Game Freak title here! That's unexpected. If you don't know, that's the developer of the Pokemon series.

Whatever is being shown, it looks an awful lot like some kind of souslike with massive bosses.

It's called Beast of Reincarnation! Coming in 2026, with a PS5 release confirmed too.

(Image credit: Microsoft)

Another Xbox Games Studios project here, definitely Clockwork Revolution.

The game will be set in 1885, with plenty of steampunk weapons and big robots.

(Image credit: Microsoft)

It looks very RPG-like, with a character creator and customizable stats.

(Image credit: Microsoft)

(Image credit: Microsoft)

I also saw lots of weapon customization and it sounds like there will be some kind of time travel narrative.

That was a pretty lengthy trailer, but it didn't end with a release date unfortunately.

Matt Booty on screen now! Revealing a new game from Obsidian...

I'm getting Grounded vibes here. Some kind of sequel?

(Image credit: Microsoft)

Yep, this is almost definitely a Grounded follow-up. I'm seeing lots of miniature characters in a giant garden world, big scary ants, and so on.

It's official then: Grounded 2, coming to Game Preview on July 29!

(Image credit: Microsoft)

Okay, this is Cronos: The New Dawn! I interviewed the developers of this game some time back, so know quite a bit about it.

It's a survival horror game, with big Resident Evil vibes. Expect shooting, inventory management, and lots of weird moment when it arrives in late 2025.

(Image credit: Microsoft)

The Elder Scrolls Online now! To me this looks like it's just a general trailer, trying to attract new players to the game rather than show off anything specific.

I really like The Elder Scrolls Online to be honest, it's one of my most played MMOs ever - so I'd definitely recommend checking it out. It's regularly on sale and fantastic value for money in my book.

(Image credit: Microsoft)

We've got a new game from Don't Nod up now! One of my favorite studios ever, so I'm locking in for this one.

It looks like a sci-fi action game, though knowing the studio I am willing to bet that the narrative will be important. It's called Aphelion!

(Image credit: Microsoft)

A stylish looking game here, with a catchy musical number. It seems to be a hotel renovation type game, with the protagonist inheriting a dilapidated hotel with a sinister twist...

(Image credit: Microsoft)

It's called There are No Ghosts at the Grand, releasing in 2026. It will be on Xbox Game Pass day one.

Another Xbox Game Studios title, and it's giving Age of Mythology.

(Image credit: Microsoft)

Yep, that's a DLC for Age of Mythology Retold focusing on Japanese mythology! It's titled Heavenly Spear.

(Image credit: Microsoft)

A third-person shooter game now, set in Korea by the looks of it. I'm seeing shooting, explosions, and super-powered bosses.

(Image credit: Microsoft)

It's Mudang Two Hearts, coming in 2026.

(Image credit: Microsoft)

A world premiere now, published by Thunderful and coming in 2026.

It looks like a super pretty platformer, with a super familiar look. I'm thinking that it's got to be a sequel but I can't quite put my finger on the name of the original.

(Image credit: Microsoft)

Planet of Lana 2 Children of the Leaf! It was just at the tip of my tongue. It's coming 2026, with a Nintendo Switch release confirmed too interestingly enough.

(Image credit: Microsoft)

A Fallout 76 trailer now, showing off the upcoming fishing mechancs.

(Image credit: Microsoft)

We're back with another world premiere: Solo Leveling Arise Overdrive. It's an action-RPG with four play co-op, based on the webcomic and anime.

It will release later this year.

(Image credit: Microsoft)

Another world premiere, with cute animals and characters. This looks like a gacha game to me, hopefully it will be something free-to-play.

It looks open-world to me, with the ability to capture creatures and take control of them in combat.

It's called Animo, coming 2026.

(Image credit: Microsoft)

Now a new trailer for Tony Hawk's Pro Skater 3+4, which is going to release on July 11 - so really not that long to go now.

As you might expect, this remastered collection looks pretty sweet!

There's a demo coming today! I'll be downloading that right after the show then...

(Image credit: Microsoft)

This game looks pretty good! It's coming from the team behind Spiritfarer, which was a fantastically, if not slightly emotionally devastating, game.

It looks like something of a metroidvania almost, with a focus on family secrets.

(Image credit: Microsoft)

(Image credit: Microsoft)

It's At Fate's End!

(Image credit: Microsoft)

We're getting some Gears of War: Reloaded goodness now, with confirmed cross-progression and 4K 120FPS visuals. We're also getting split screen co-op and Xbox Play Anywhere support.

It was previously announced that it will come out on August 26, 2025.

(Image credit: Microsoft)

Yep, that sure looks like a Persona 4 remake!

It's called Persona 4 Revival, though sadly we haven't got a release date for now.

Still, I can't wait to see Adachi in all his glory one last time.

(Image credit: Microsoft)

Sea of Thieves sure is getting an update, it seems. Players will be getting a new class and new loot to steal.

It's a new season, called Smuggler's Tide dropping this August.

(Image credit: Microsoft)

A new game from Skybound Games here, based on the Invisible series. I'm not a huge fan of the source material, but I can at least say the art style here is pretty nice and seems very faithful to the show's look.

It's a fighting game, called Invisible VS with 3v3 tag team combat!

(Image credit: Microsoft)

A Final Fantasy announcement now! I'm thinking we're about to get Final Fantasy 7 Remake Intergrade for Xbox!

(Image credit: Microsoft)

And that's confirmed now! Plus we're getting Final Fantasy 16 on Xbox - nice!

(Image credit: Microsoft)

A Double Fine game now!

With you playing as what looks like a sentient lighthouse, spider type thing. It's a little weird, but I'm really digging it.

It's called Keeper, and it's coming sooner than you might think: October 17 this year.

One more thing...

The show is almost over, but we're getting to see one more reveal... Let's see what it is.

(Image credit: Microsoft)

It's some kind of sci-fi game, with a futuristic robots and a very sinister undertone.

Whether you're a devout Xbox fan or just want to see the reveals of some of the most exciting games on the horizon, the ongoing Xbox Games Showcase is well worth watching.

This show is part of Summer Game Fest 2025 and follows yesterday's main show. At that event, we saw the exciting reveal of Resident Evil Requiem, the next entry in the long-running survival horror series

Today, the latest rumors suggest that we're going to see a Persona 4 remake revealed, plus some potential Xbox hardware in the form of a licensed PC handheld and new controller. Whether this is the case is yet to be seen, but you can bet that I'll be here giving you a steady stream of news and my live reactions as the event begins.

Xbox Games Showcase live stream

The Xbox Games Showcase live stream is up right now!

Catch it on the official The Game Awards YouTube channel or in the embed below.

Xbox Games Showcase start time

The Xbox Games Showcase takes place on June 8 at 1PM ET / 10AM PT / 6PM BST / 7PM CEST.

Xbox Games Showcase length and schedule

While there is no exact schedule, the Xbox Games Showcase will be followed immediately by The Outer Worlds 2 Direct - a deep dive presentation on the upcoming Xbox RPG.

There's also no official word on length right now, though I would expect the Xbox Games Showcase and The Outer Worlds 2 Direct to last around two hours in total, though this is just a prediction.

Hello everybody and welcome to the very, very beginning of my Xbox Games Showcase 2025 coverage!

If you're reading this, it means you're on the of the very first people to join me as I cover the upcoming Xbox event.

Stay tuned, as I'm just about to hit you with some of my biggest hopes and predictions...

My big predictions (and some things I'm really hoping to see)

(Image credit: Atlus)

As the Xbox Games Showcase gets even nearer, I've been thinking a lot about the games that I expect (and want) to see.

First and foremost, it's hard to ignore all the chatter about a potential Persona 4 remake. This is a game that I've been hearing about through some of my contacts for months and I honestly I expected it to have been announced by now.

The latest rumors suggest that it is set to be shown off at the Xbox Games Showcase, with a version for Xbox Series X and Xbox Series S in addition to PS5 and PC. It will likely be something similar to the Persona 3 Reload, so a complete from-the-ground up recreation.

(Image credit: InXile Entertainment)

That aside, there are plenty of other games that I think are very likely to show up.

Remember Clockwork Revolution? That cool looking steampunk action game showed off by Xbox studio inXile Entertainment last year? I would be shocked if we don't get another trailer, and maybe even a release date.

There's another big Xbox game in the works too that I think will definitely make an appearance: Fable. With the game now set to come out in 2026 following a delay, I'm expecting a pretty beefy trailer to help keep everyone excited.

In a similar vein, State of Decay 3 really needs some new details. It feels like the open world zombie adventure has been in the works for absolutely ages, so it's really about time that we got a good look at it.

(Image credit: MachineGames/Bethesda)

Some safe bets here: we'll almost definitely see something of the upcoming Indiana Jones and the Great Circle DLC, plus new content for The Elder Scrolls Online from Bethesda.

On the Activision front, we'll surely get a trailer for a Diablo 4 update or expansion.

There's also a chance that we might get our very, very first tease for the next Call of Duty game. It's likely to be another entry in the Modern Warfare subseries, which I'm hoping is the case as I just can't resist any Call of Duty game with my Task Force 141 boys.

(Image credit: Future)

On to what I'm hoping to see... Well, a new Xbox controller would be absolutely amazing. I'm heard some slightly rumblings of an Xbox Elite Series 3 pad, which would make me very happy.

It's about time that Microsoft's dated, but still super expensive, pro controller got an update - especially considering the arrival of the DualSense Edge over on the PlayStation side of things.

With the high likelihood of an Xbox handheld announcement, I'm also praying that we will be shown some updates coming to the Windows 11 gaming experience.

Have you ever tried to play an Xbox game on the Microsoft Store or via PC Game Pass? It's absolutely horrible, and if the company wants to compete against the likes of the Steam Deck it's time that the Windows gaming experience got serious.

But what about Hollow Knight: Silksong?

(Image credit: Nintendo)

Will we see a Hollow Knight: Silksong trailer today?

Normally, I would have said that it's a near impossibility - though after the game's surprising (and brief) appearance in the Nintendo Switch 2 reveal stream I think that it could show up.

Surely developer Team Cherry has something to show off by now? It's been more than five whole years after all. As far as I know, the game is still set to come out in 2025 - so we have just got to see something soon.

Now, some thoughts from my colleagues on what they're looking out for...

(Image credit: Playground Games)

After the crushing announcement of its delay, News Managing Editor Roland Moore-Colyer is still holding out for fresh look at Fable.

"As a gamer in his late thirties, I've been a fan of Xbox since the original chunky model, and one of the games that defined Microsoft’s first console for me was Fable. I’m really hoping today’s showcase finally gives us a proper look at Fable 4 gameplay.

Given the work Playground Games has done with the Forza Horizon series, I’m bubbling to see what the developers can do with the Fable name. My hope is a charming open-world that one’s actions can influence that is steeped in very British humor.

I have my fingers crossed."

(Image credit: Arkane / Bethesda)

Roland also had a bit to say about the upcoming Blade game from Arkane, something that I had honestly forgotten was even announced...

"Arkane is working on a take on Marvel’s Blade, and as things have been relatively quiet from the developer Dishonored and Deathloop, in my humble opinion), I’m cautiously hopeful we’ll hear more about it.

I’d even take a punt on saying we could see some clips of gameplay, though that could be wishful thinking. Arkane is one of the masters of immersive sim games and I’ve been twiddling my thumbs for something that’ll have me pulling all sorts of tricks to sneak past enemies or creatively dispatch foes.

It’s my utmost hope that whatever Arkane does with Blade that it won’t abandon its immersive sim roots."

(Image credit: Bethesda)

He's also excited for some potential Elder Scrolls 6 information. It's been six years now, so I think it could happen - but part of me feels like it's still a little early.

"It’s been six years since Bethesda announced The Elder Scrolls 6, and in that time the company was snapped up by Microsoft.

That sort of worked out well for Starfield, which launched rather bug-free compared to previous Bethesda open-world games, though the ambitious space adventure didn’t quite live up to a lot of people’s expectations,

So I’d love to see what’s happening with The Elder Scrolls 6, as I feel that’s still one of the few games that could draw some hype from Grand Theft Auto 6. I also reckon that Bethesda is better off focusing on fantasy open-world games that have a narrower scope rather than an entire galaxy."

With just over 20 minutes to go, we have fishing action

There is just over 20 minutes to go until the Xbox Games Showcase begins.

Grab any snacks and drinks that you want to have on hand and get comfortable, because the show will be here before you know it.

Currently, the stream is showing a live countdown with some relaxing Fallout 76 fishing gameplay in the background.

We have just ten minutes to go until the showcase begins!

(Image credit: Microsoft)

The big event is almost here!

We have just ten minutes to go until the Xbox Games Showcase begins.

Do you have any last minute predictions? I'm going to add on a quick one to my list: I think we might get some news about a potential Halo release on PS5...

Just before we get into the show, I feel like I should also say that there's also been a little bit of talk of a potential Sunset Overdrive remake or remaster.

The source for this one is extremely strenuous and the game was never that successful in the first place, so I'd take this one with a mountain of salt.

The stream begins...

Hold on to something! The Xbox Games Showcase is starting right now...

(Image credit: Microsoft)

The Xbox Games Showcase 2025 is officially underway!

And the first game I'm seeing on my screen? It should come as no surprise that it's The Outer Worlds 2!

We're getting a deep dive into this game right after the show in The Outer Worlds 2 Direct, so it should come as no surprise that it's one of the first things that we are shown too.

(Image credit: Microsoft)

This certainly looks like a follow-up to The Outer Worlds, with the same whacky sense of humor and expressive art direction.

I'm liking the look of the combat though, which seems a lot more impactful in this entry.

The Outer Worlds 2 is launching on October 29. And what's that? It's coming to PS5 in addition to Xbox and PC? Interesting....

(Image credit: Microsoft)

Now on to the next title, and it looks a lot like a new High on Life game. I'm being bombarded with images of guns with eyes, a knife with eyes, enemies with eyes. Everything has eyes, basically.

Yep, that's High on Life 2 - coming in Winter 2025.

(Image credit: Microsoft)

Another World Premiere, with quite a cool fantasy tone this time. Hang on, looking a bit closer - it seems like it might be set in ancient Rome... What could this be?

(Image credit: Microsoft)

It's Resonance A Plague Tale Legacy - definitely not what I was expecting based on that trailer!

Xbox handheld revealed

(Image credit: Microsoft)

Yep, that's the Xbox handheld that I was predicting - an Asus Rog Ally with Xbox branding!

It's got impulse triggers, which is pretty cool. Honestly, I'm liking the look of this a lot - and it's coming later this year!

There will be two models available, an Asus Rog Ally and Asus Rog Ally X.

(Image credit: Microsoft)Hollow Knight: Silksong gets a release window

(Image credit: Microsoft)

Now we're hearing some chatter about the handheld. We saw some clips of Hollow Knight: Silksong too, which is set to release on the same day as the Xbox Asus Rog Ally later this year!

(Image credit: Microsoft)

Now we're moving on to the The Blood of Dawnwalker, an upcoming Bandai Namco published fantasy RPG.

It looks seriously creepy, with a super-powered vampire protagonist.

(Image credit: Microsoft)

That's coming out some time in 2026 for Xbox, PC, and PS5.

(Image credit: Microsoft)

And now we have Super Meat Boy on screen! And he's 3D! This looks like a lot of fun, with fast-paced platforming challenges and no shortage of brutal, meaty deaths.

It's Super Meat Boy 3D, and it's coming in 2026. Day one on Xbox Game Pass too!

(Image credit: Microsoft)

A Xbox published game now! With Koei Tecmo and Team Ninja working on it. I'm thinking that this will be a Ninja Gaiden game, but let's wait and see...

It's Njnia Gaiden 4! And you'll be able to play it on October 21, 2025.

A bit of Indiana Jones news now! I'm betting that it will be that DLC I mentioned earlier...

(Image credit: Microsoft)

Yep, it's the The Order of Giants expansion - which is going to take place in Rome. Will that mean returning to the fantastic Vatican level from the main game? I hope so!

It'll be out on September 4 on all platforms where the game is currently available.

(Image credit: Microsoft)

A Game Freak title here! That's unexpected. If you don't know, that's the developer of the Pokemon series.

Whatever is being shown, it looks an awful lot like some kind of souslike with massive bosses.

It's called Beast of Reincarnation! Coming in 2026, with a PS5 release confirmed too.

(Image credit: Microsoft)

Another Xbox Games Studios project here, definitely Clockwork Revolution.

The game will be set in 1885, with plenty of steampunk weapons and big robots.

(Image credit: Microsoft)

It looks very RPG-like, with a character creator and customizable stats.

(Image credit: Microsoft)

(Image credit: Microsoft)

I also saw lots of weapon customization and it sounds like there will be some kind of time travel narrative.

That was a pretty lengthy trailer, but it didn't end with a release date unfortunately.

Matt Booty on screen now! Revealing a new game from Obsidian...

I'm getting Grounded vibes here. Some kind of sequel?

(Image credit: Microsoft)

Yep, this is almost definitely a Grounded follow-up. I'm seeing lots of miniature characters in a giant garden world, big scary ants, and so on.

It's official then: Grounded 2, coming to Game Preview on July 29!

(Image credit: Microsoft)

Okay, this is Cronos: The New Dawn! I interviewed the developers of this game some time back, so know quite a bit about it.

It's a survival horror game, with big Resident Evil vibes. Expect shooting, inventory management, and lots of weird moment when it arrives in late 2025.

(Image credit: Microsoft)

The Elder Scrolls Online now! To me this looks like it's just a general trailer, trying to attract new players to the game rather than show off anything specific.

I really like The Elder Scrolls Online to be honest, it's one of my most played MMOs ever - so I'd definitely recommend checking it out. It's regularly on sale and fantastic value for money in my book.

(Image credit: Microsoft)

We've got a new game from Don't Nod up now! One of my favorite studios ever, so I'm locking in for this one.

It looks like a sci-fi action game, though knowing the studio I am willing to bet that the narrative will be important. It's called Aphelion!

(Image credit: Microsoft)

A stylish looking game here, with a catchy musical number. It seems to be a hotel renovation type game, with the protagonist inheriting a dilapidated hotel with a sinister twist...

(Image credit: Microsoft)

It's called There are No Ghosts at the Grand, releasing in 2026. It will be on Xbox Game Pass day one.

Another Xbox Game Studios title, and it's giving Age of Mythology.

(Image credit: Microsoft)

Yep, that's a DLC for Age of Mythology Retold focusing on Japanese mythology! It's titled Heavenly Spear.

(Image credit: Microsoft)

A third-person shooter game now, set in Korea by the looks of it. I'm seeing shooting, explosions, and super-powered bosses.

(Image credit: Microsoft)

It's Mudang Two Hearts, coming in 2026.

(Image credit: Microsoft)

A world premiere now, published by Thunderful and coming in 2026.

It looks like a super pretty platformer, with a super familiar look. I'm thinking that it's got to be a sequel but I can't quite put my finger on the name of the original.

(Image credit: Microsoft)

Planet of Lana 2 Children of the Leaf! It was just at the tip of my tongue. It's coming 2026, with a Nintendo Switch release confirmed too interestingly enough.

(Image credit: Microsoft)

A Fallout 76 trailer now, showing off the upcoming fishing mechancs.

(Image credit: Microsoft)

We're back with another world premiere: Solo Leveling Arise Overdrive. It's an action-RPG with four play co-op, based on the webcomic and anime.

It will release later this year.

(Image credit: Microsoft)

Another world premiere, with cute animals and characters. This looks like a gacha game to me, hopefully it will be something free-to-play.

It looks open-world to me, with the ability to capture creatures and take control of them in combat.

It's called Animo, coming 2026.

(Image credit: Microsoft)

Now a new trailer for Tony Hawk's Pro Skater 3+4, which is going to release on July 11 - so really not that long to go now.

As you might expect, this remastered collection looks pretty sweet!

There's a demo coming today! I'll be downloading that right after the show then...

(Image credit: Microsoft)

This game looks pretty good! It's coming from the team behind Spiritfarer, which was a fantastically, if not slightly emotionally devastating, game.

It looks like something of a metroidvania almost, with a focus on family secrets.

(Image credit: Microsoft)

(Image credit: Microsoft)

It's At Fate's End!

(Image credit: Microsoft)

We're getting some Gears of War: Reloaded goodness now, with confirmed cross-progression and 4K 120FPS visuals. We're also getting split screen co-op and Xbox Play Anywhere support.

It was previously announced that it will come out on August 26, 2025.

(Image credit: Microsoft)

Yep, that sure looks like a Persona 4 remake!

It's called Persona 4 Revival, though sadly we haven't got a release date for now.

Still, I can't wait to see Adachi in all his glory one last time.

(Image credit: Microsoft)

Sea of Thieves sure is getting an update, it seems. Players will be getting a new class and new loot to steal.

It's a new season, called Smuggler's Tide dropping this August.

(Image credit: Microsoft)

A new game from Skybound Games here, based on the Invisible series. I'm not a huge fan of the source material, but I can at least say the art style here is pretty nice and seems very faithful to the show's look.

It's a fighting game, called Invisible VS with 3v3 tag team combat!

(Image credit: Microsoft)

A Final Fantasy announcement now! I'm thinking we're about to get Final Fantasy 7 Remake Intergrade for Xbox!

(Image credit: Microsoft)

And that's confirmed now! Plus we're getting Final Fantasy 16 on Xbox - nice!

(Image credit: Microsoft)

A Double Fine game now!

With you playing as what looks like a sentient lighthouse, spider type thing. It's a little weird, but I'm really digging it.

It's called Keeper, and it's coming sooner than you might think: October 17 this year.

One more thing...

The show is almost over, but we're getting to see one more reveal... Let's see what it is.

(Image credit: Microsoft)

It's some kind of sci-fi game, with a futuristic robots and a very sinister undertone.

"I don't care if it becomes the Terminator," I heard from somewhere behind me at the deli counter. While I'm not in the habit of eavesdropping, this guy was speaking full volume and, as I quickly ascertained, talking about AI. That wasn't what caught my ear, though.

Young and fit, the man was regaling his buddy, who worked behind the counter, with tales of his dating life, which currently involved "a few girls".

They were laughing about his amorous adventures. Having been out of the dating scene for decades, I was intrigued. I knew that people my adult children's ages tended to rely on Tinder, Hinge, Bumble, and other assorted dating apps, but the man standing just a few feet away from me was animatedly talking about making the love connection and how he uses ChatGPT to open and smooth the road.

I proceeded to place my order while keeping one ear tuned into "Love in the AI Age."

"I don't have words," he said. I silently agreed.

Then he explained that he'd started using ChatGPT to craft texts to send to his potential paramours. From the sounds of things, it'd been helping him close the deal on dates.

AI love connection

I'd heard whispers about this elsewhere and was not all that surprised. We are, after all, increasingly turning to AI chatbots like Gemini, Claude AI, Copilot, and, especially, ChatGPT for everything from job interviews (have ChatGPT running alongside the Zoom window listening so it can craft responses you can say out loud) and emotional support. These LLMs' abilities to engage in natural conversation have connected deeply with average consumers who would normally wait years before welcoming cutting-edge technology into their lives.

More alarmingly, some in the Gen Z set appear ready to skip the whole human dating thing and marry an AI, instead. At least this guy was not that far gone.

Without stereotyping him, this gentleman did not look or strike me as a technologist. His insistence on dropping articles from his sentences was my first clue.

Our dater in question, though, apparently discovered a ChatGPT relationship superpower: Instead of ghosting women, he was using ChatGPT as "the closer" to text "the letdown."

"I was dating this girl, and I want to send a breakup text," he explained to his friend.

This is when he noted that "words" were not his specialty.

Instead of ghosting the woman or sending an incomprehensible text, he said he creates a prompt in ChatGPT with his "feelings" and the "issues", and I assume the need to say "this over."

He especially liked that ChatGPT would ask him how he wanted the text to come across: "Want it to be warmer?" Naturally, the guy said yes and got the perfect breakup text.

"I send it and done!"

Better than ghosting?

The deli guy behind the counter didn't say much. I'm not sure if he was astounded at his friend's AI savvy or concerned.

"Thank god they don’t know me," the guy said, chuckling at his cleverness, "I don’t use half of these words."

With his AI-powered digital breakup revealed, the guy grabbed his sandwich and left. I stared at my sliced cold cuts and pondered the state of the world.

On the one hand, there is some comfort in the fact that he didn't break someone's heart with silence. Back when I was dating in the 1980s, I did the equivalent of a ghost by not calling up a woman I'd been dating for a few weeks. I knew I was being a coward, but could not figure out how to say on the phone or to her face that I wasn't feeling it (I'm pretty sure she wasn't either). A couple of weeks later, she called me and yelled...a lot.

Perhaps this is better. Ghosting someone creates a vacuum that you can't easily fill with feelings of resignation, understanding, anger, or confusion. So perhaps you fill it with all of them.

This guy, while clearly lazy and as cowardly as I once was, at least had the decency to turn to something that could take his jumbled and grammatically imperfect thoughts and put them into something readable.

Love prompts

Perhaps the woman on the receiving end at least felt a sense of closure. I do wonder, though, what would happen if they ever saw each other again. What if she were to reference the "considerate" breakup text? He didn't write it, would he even remember what "he said"?

If I write something, I remember it. But this guy just copied and pasted ChatGPT's breakup text suggestion. He might stare at her and mumble, "Uh, yeah. Sure thing." Oh, the gallantry.

The first word in AI is "artificial". It refers to the state of algorithmic intelligence, but when AI is used in this fashion, it might as well be talking about the artificiality of feelings. Even if this guy didn't "have words", the words he texted would have been his own. That's surely worth something.

As it is, I hope the woman he broke up with didn't feel too disappointed. She probably dodged an arrow (through the heart, of course).

You might also like

• Can ChatGPT really replace a therapist? We spoke to mental health experts to find out
• How does ChatGPT know so much about everything? Here's where AI gets its knowledge from
• Would you marry an AI? A recent survey says most Gen Z-ers would - here's why that's a ridiculous idea

"I don't care if it becomes the Terminator," I heard from somewhere behind me at the deli counter. While I'm not in the habit of eavesdropping, this guy was speaking full volume and, as I quickly ascertained, talking about AI. That wasn't what caught my ear, though.

Young and fit, the man was regaling his buddy, who worked behind the counter, with tales of his dating life, which currently involved "a few girls".

They were laughing about his amorous adventures. Having been out of the dating scene for decades, I was intrigued. I knew that people my adult children's ages tended to rely on Tinder, Hinge, Bumble, and other assorted dating apps, but the man standing just a few feet away from me was animatedly talking about making the love connection and how he uses ChatGPT to open and smooth the road.

I proceeded to place my order while keeping one ear tuned into "Love in the AI Age."

"I don't have words," he said. I silently agreed.

Then he explained that he'd started using ChatGPT to craft texts to send to his potential paramours. From the sounds of things, it'd been helping him close the deal on dates.

AI love connection

I'd heard whispers about this elsewhere and was not all that surprised. We are, after all, increasingly turning to AI chatbots like Gemini, Claude AI, Copilot, and, especially, ChatGPT for everything from job interviews (have ChatGPT running alongside the Zoom window listening so it can craft responses you can say out loud) and emotional support. These LLMs' abilities to engage in natural conversation have connected deeply with average consumers who would normally wait years before welcoming cutting-edge technology into their lives.

More alarmingly, some in the Gen Z set appear ready to skip the whole human dating thing and marry an AI, instead. At least this guy was not that far gone.

Without stereotyping him, this gentleman did not look or strike me as a technologist. His insistence on dropping articles from his sentences was my first clue.

Our dater in question, though, apparently discovered a ChatGPT relationship superpower: Instead of ghosting women, he was using ChatGPT as "the closer" to text "the letdown."

"I was dating this girl, and I want to send a breakup text," he explained to his friend.

This is when he noted that "words" were not his specialty.

Instead of ghosting the woman or sending an incomprehensible text, he said he creates a prompt in ChatGPT with his "feelings" and the "issues", and I assume the need to say "this over."

He especially liked that ChatGPT would ask him how he wanted the text to come across: "Want it to be warmer?" Naturally, the guy said yes and got the perfect breakup text.

"I send it and done!"

Better than ghosting?

The deli guy behind the counter didn't say much. I'm not sure if he was astounded at his friend's AI savvy or concerned.

"Thank god they don’t know me," the guy said, chuckling at his cleverness, "I don’t use half of these words."

With his AI-powered digital breakup revealed, the guy grabbed his sandwich and left. I stared at my sliced cold cuts and pondered the state of the world.

On the one hand, there is some comfort in the fact that he didn't break someone's heart with silence. Back when I was dating in the 1980s, I did the equivalent of a ghost by not calling up a woman I'd been dating for a few weeks. I knew I was being a coward, but could not figure out how to say on the phone or to her face that I wasn't feeling it (I'm pretty sure she wasn't either). A couple of weeks later, she called me and yelled...a lot.

Perhaps this is better. Ghosting someone creates a vacuum that you can't easily fill with feelings of resignation, understanding, anger, or confusion. So perhaps you fill it with all of them.

This guy, while clearly lazy and as cowardly as I once was, at least had the decency to turn to something that could take his jumbled and grammatically imperfect thoughts and put them into something readable.

Love prompts

Perhaps the woman on the receiving end at least felt a sense of closure. I do wonder, though, what would happen if they ever saw each other again. What if she were to reference the "considerate" breakup text? He didn't write it, would he even remember what "he said"?

If I write something, I remember it. But this guy just copied and pasted ChatGPT's breakup text suggestion. He might stare at her and mumble, "Uh, yeah. Sure thing." Oh, the gallantry.

The first word in AI is "artificial". It refers to the state of algorithmic intelligence, but when AI is used in this fashion, it might as well be talking about the artificiality of feelings. Even if this guy didn't "have words", the words he texted would have been his own. That's surely worth something.

As it is, I hope the woman he broke up with didn't feel too disappointed. She probably dodged an arrow (through the heart, of course).

You might also like

• Can ChatGPT really replace a therapist? We spoke to mental health experts to find out
• How does ChatGPT know so much about everything? Here's where AI gets its knowledge from
• Would you marry an AI? A recent survey says most Gen Z-ers would - here's why that's a ridiculous idea

It's a clash of the ages as teenage sensation Lamine Yamal faces off against old master Cristiano Ronaldo.

How quickly five years goes by – I can scarcely believe it, but it’s been almost half a decade since I picked up my 11-inch iPad Pro and second-generation Apple Pencil.

The approach of WWDC 2025 has brought an onslaught of rumors about Apple’s upcoming operating system updates, and given the timing of the above I’ve been drawn to the latest tip-offs and suggestions about iPadOS 19.

Speaking personally, I’m pretty excited by the prospect of an iPad operating system that’s tipped to be the most Mac-like iPadOS update ever – check out our recent roundup of iPadOS 19 features we want to see for a detailed breakdown.

But on the other hand, as a user of both Apple and Android devices, I’ll believe it when I see it. Android has surpassed Apple in terms of tablet multitasking and computer compatibility so successfully that I’d almost stopped hoping for any proper competition from Apple; in thes arena at least, as iPads arguably have the suprios hardware and tablet-optimized app ecosystem.

To be fair, in the last five years I’ve put my iPad Pro to good use. It carried me through the first two years of my degree, and has been a fabulous companion for streaming video, controlling Spotify playback, and doodling on ProCreate. I’ve edited audio and video, taken photos, made spreadsheets and diagrams, and scrolled through plenty of social media posts.

But since picking up a 16-inch M1 Pro MacBook Pro just over a year ago, I’ve noticed my iPad usage falling steadily – to the point where its A12Z processor and still-lovely 120Hz LCD display have mostly been relegated to the status of YouTube machine.

The 2021 Macbook Pro 16-inch has largely supplanted the iPad's role in my life (Image credit: Future)

As anyone who’s owned an iPad knows, that’s pretty much death’s door for an Apple tablet, no matter the model. In the latter years of my older iPad Air (the original model released in 2013), I was using the tablet for the exact same thing, despite not having a Mac at the time, and the iPad Pro's greater power and multitasking capabilities.

Given five years is somewhat aged for my iPad Pro, especially as its successors moved to the powerful and efficient M-series Apple chips, I’ve been eyeing up some of the best iPads as a possible successor to the Pro, and to give me a tablet that I'll use for a lot more than streaming.

To be honest, though, the spark I felt with my previous two Apple tablets just isn’t there this time.

The crux of this is I don't feel there's enough 'pro' features to justify and upgrade to the latest iPad Pro, and see it become my primary device for work and play over my MacBook. Unless you absolutely need the touchscreen or Apple Pencil, I think it’s quicker to get things done on the more flexible, more powerful macOS-based machine.

That’s because iPadOS just isn't powerful enough without proper desktop-style features – its multitasking is usable, but awkward, the files app convenient, but nerfed, the ecosystem smooth, but much more closed off than a traditional desktop. Essentially, I feel in its current guise iPadOS means the iPad Pro is essentially a powered-up iPad Air rather than a MacBook replacement that would pique my interest.

The iPad Pro M4 sports desktop-class hardware, but is held back by software (Image credit: Future)

I’m not the first to say that the iPad’s remarkable hardware is held back by iPadOS. I'm not even the first TechRadar journalist to say so - Managing Editor, Core Tech Matt Hanson said he found that "the power of the M4 chip largely went to waste with the iPad Pro" earlier this year.

I think the hardware jump from my current 11-inch iPad Pro to one of the gorgeous 2024 models, with their slim build, Tandem OLED displays, and ludicrously powerful M4 chipsets, would feel even greater than the jump from the original iPad Air to my current 2020 iPad Pro, which makes the limitations of iPadOS even more frustrating. Why invest in all that power if the software can't take advantage of it?

So, without being too dramatic, I think this coming WWDC is Apple’s last chance to show me it really knows what it’s doing with the iPad.

(Image credit: Future)

Why invest in all that power if the software can't take advantage of it?

While I’d settle for new features that offer a more purposeful tablet experience while remaining entirely separate from the Mac, what I really want to see is Apple pushing the iPad towards a bolder, more capable role, leaving its ‘YouTube machine’ moniker firmly in the past.

One could even suggest having a separate fork to iPadOS, such as iPadOS Pro, that focuses on pro-grade multitasking, a better mouse-centric interface when using an iPad Pro with the Magic Keyboard, and file management and transfer that's suitable for people doing professional work such as video editing.

There's always been the perceived concern that Apple wouldn't do this due to cannibalising MacBook users, but there's scope that by making iPadOS more macOS-like for iPad Pros you could get an more capable and flexible tablet that could augment one Apple product collection than dilute it; for example photographers and video editors could use an iPad Pro with a more pro-centric iPadOS to do on the fly edits or tap into powerful Apple Intelligence features, while out in the field, then move over to a MacBook Pro when back at their desk or in a more laptop-friendly environment.

So my hope is we see something special from Apple at WWDC that supercharges iPadOS, if not with an eye on professionals then in a fashion that really harnesses the M-series chip power to make iPadOS more distinct, and less of what's arguably a modified take on iOS 18.

WWDC 2025 kicks off on June 9 – be sure to bookmark our how to watch WWDC 2025 guide and keep an eye on our phones coverage and tablets coverage for the latest updates. Let us know what you’re looking forward to in the comments below.

You might also like

• Got an older iPad? Download this new security update now for models that can't run iPadOS 18
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How quickly five years goes by – I can scarcely believe it, but it’s been almost half a decade since I picked up my 11-inch iPad Pro and second-generation Apple Pencil.

The approach of WWDC 2025 has brought an onslaught of rumors about Apple’s upcoming operating system updates, and given the timing of the above I’ve been drawn to the latest tip-offs and suggestions about iPadOS 19.

Speaking personally, I’m pretty excited by the prospect of an iPad operating system that’s tipped to be the most Mac-like iPadOS update ever – check out our recent roundup of iPadOS 19 features we want to see for a detailed breakdown.

But on the other hand, as a user of both Apple and Android devices, I’ll believe it when I see it. Android has surpassed Apple in terms of tablet multitasking and computer compatibility so successfully that I’d almost stopped hoping for any proper competition from Apple; in thes arena at least, as iPads arguably have the suprios hardware and tablet-optimized app ecosystem.

To be fair, in the last five years I’ve put my iPad Pro to good use. It carried me through the first two years of my degree, and has been a fabulous companion for streaming video, controlling Spotify playback, and doodling on ProCreate. I’ve edited audio and video, taken photos, made spreadsheets and diagrams, and scrolled through plenty of social media posts.

But since picking up a 16-inch M1 Pro MacBook Pro just over a year ago, I’ve noticed my iPad usage falling steadily – to the point where its A12Z processor and still-lovely 120Hz LCD display have mostly been relegated to the status of YouTube machine.

The 2021 Macbook Pro 16-inch has largely supplanted the iPad's role in my life (Image credit: Future)

As anyone who’s owned an iPad knows, that’s pretty much death’s door for an Apple tablet, no matter the model. In the latter years of my older iPad Air (the original model released in 2013), I was using the tablet for the exact same thing, despite not having a Mac at the time, and the iPad Pro's greater power and multitasking capabilities.

Given five years is somewhat aged for my iPad Pro, especially as its successors moved to the powerful and efficient M-series Apple chips, I’ve been eyeing up some of the best iPads as a possible successor to the Pro, and to give me a tablet that I'll use for a lot more than streaming.

To be honest, though, the spark I felt with my previous two Apple tablets just isn’t there this time.

The crux of this is I don't feel there's enough 'pro' features to justify and upgrade to the latest iPad Pro, and see it become my primary device for work and play over my MacBook. Unless you absolutely need the touchscreen or Apple Pencil, I think it’s quicker to get things done on the more flexible, more powerful macOS-based machine.

That’s because iPadOS just isn't powerful enough without proper desktop-style features – its multitasking is usable, but awkward, the files app convenient, but nerfed, the ecosystem smooth, but much more closed off than a traditional desktop. Essentially, I feel in its current guise iPadOS means the iPad Pro is essentially a powered-up iPad Air rather than a MacBook replacement that would pique my interest.

The iPad Pro M4 sports desktop-class hardware, but is held back by software (Image credit: Future)

I’m not the first to say that the iPad’s remarkable hardware is held back by iPadOS. I'm not even the first TechRadar journalist to say so - Managing Editor, Core Tech Matt Hanson said he found that "the power of the M4 chip largely went to waste with the iPad Pro" earlier this year.

I think the hardware jump from my current 11-inch iPad Pro to one of the gorgeous 2024 models, with their slim build, Tandem OLED displays, and ludicrously powerful M4 chipsets, would feel even greater than the jump from the original iPad Air to my current 2020 iPad Pro, which makes the limitations of iPadOS even more frustrating. Why invest in all that power if the software can't take advantage of it?

So, without being too dramatic, I think this coming WWDC is Apple’s last chance to show me it really knows what it’s doing with the iPad.

(Image credit: Future)

Why invest in all that power if the software can't take advantage of it?

While I’d settle for new features that offer a more purposeful tablet experience while remaining entirely separate from the Mac, what I really want to see is Apple pushing the iPad towards a bolder, more capable role, leaving its ‘YouTube machine’ moniker firmly in the past.

One could even suggest having a separate fork to iPadOS, such as iPadOS Pro, that focuses on pro-grade multitasking, a better mouse-centric interface when using an iPad Pro with the Magic Keyboard, and file management and transfer that's suitable for people doing professional work such as video editing.

There's always been the perceived concern that Apple wouldn't do this due to cannibalising MacBook users, but there's scope that by making iPadOS more macOS-like for iPad Pros you could get an more capable and flexible tablet that could augment one Apple product collection than dilute it; for example photographers and video editors could use an iPad Pro with a more pro-centric iPadOS to do on the fly edits or tap into powerful Apple Intelligence features, while out in the field, then move over to a MacBook Pro when back at their desk or in a more laptop-friendly environment.

So my hope is we see something special from Apple at WWDC that supercharges iPadOS, if not with an eye on professionals then in a fashion that really harnesses the M-series chip power to make iPadOS more distinct, and less of what's arguably a modified take on iOS 18.

WWDC 2025 kicks off on June 9 – be sure to bookmark our how to watch WWDC 2025 guide and keep an eye on our phones coverage and tablets coverage for the latest updates. Let us know what you’re looking forward to in the comments below.

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Nothing in the Apple world has the impact of the annual iPhone launch, but the company’s yearly WWDC developer conference comes close.

Last year saw the launch of iOS 18, which brought with it a revamped Control Center, a new Passwords app, in-depth Home Screen customization, and much more. Yet iOS 18 also continued a worrying trend for Apple in terms of stability.

I’ve used the iPhone for over a decade, and while I love the direction Apple is taking with new features, the stability of iOS has me concerned. An increasing number of bugs and a more general feeling of complexity go against the reasons I fell in love with iOS in the first place, and ultimately make the iPhone far less competitive.

Apple is rumored to be launching a redesign of iOS 19 at WWDC 2025, possibly shifting its branding ahead to iOS 26 to partially align with the update's release year. Here’s why I hope the company's next software overhaul is far more than just a redesign, and that Apple rebuilds iOS with a focus on stability, not just aesthetics.

iOS no longer 'just works'

The redesigned Photos app in iOS 18 (Image credit: Apple)

The success of the iPhone over the past 18 years has undoubtedly been due to Apple’s approach to both hardware and software. Android phones are widely renowned for having better specifications, at least if one looks at the specs on paper, but Apple has proven that software optimization is just as important.

Legendary founder Steve Jobs famously described the Apple ecosystem as “it just works”, but the stability of iOS 18 has continued a worrying trend that bucks that phrase. Many of the new hero features were somewhat buggy at launch, and crucially, if you transferred from an old iPhone into the iPhone 16 series, these bugs impacted the overall experience.

My iPhone 16 often freezes and either needs a restart, or I have to wait for it to respond. This is not an isolated issue, since the same complaints are being made by hundreds of users in communities like Reddit. I've also noticed significant battery drain on my iPhone 16, and enabling battery saver has a detrimental impact on performance.

Then there’s Apple Photos and the universal dislike for its complete overhaul in iOS 18. It’s rare that Apple customers universally dislike an official Apple app, but the redesigned Photos app leaves a lot to be desired, especially when Google Photos is such a compelling alternative. Yes, there are ways to make Apple Photos more like the previous version, but this experience is yet more indicative of Apple’s software challenges.

Software and hardware are no longer in sync

Apple announced Apple Intelligence at WWDC 2024 (Image credit: Apple)

The success of Apple’s products has been widely attributed to the company's remarkable ability to integrate software and hardware into a seamless experience.

Over the past few years, though, the company’s hardware ambitions have not been matched by the same level of success in software, which became apparent with the launch of Apple Intelligence.

The A18 Pro processor in the iPhone 16 Pro and Pro Max is incredibly powerful, and builds upon the success of Apple's M-series computing chips. The cameras used in the iPhone can capture great photos, and the Camera Control feature is surprisingly useful. But a year on from Apple’s big AI debut, many of the highlighted features that were noted as coming within a year have been significantly delayed.

The stability of iOS 18 has only partially improved a year later, despite being on the fifth major launch build. Conversely, the Action Button and Dynamic Island are two rare hardware features where the software completes the hardware experience, proving that Apple can still deliver a compelling package.

A look at history suggests iOS needs a rebuild

The Samsung Galaxy Note 7 running TouchWiz

Apple’s current software challenges feel familiar, and that’s because we’ve seen this story before. To find the answer to its own problems, Apple needs to look no further than its chief rival, Samsung.

I’ve reviewed phones for nearly 20 years, and while Samsung’s One UI is one of the best user experiences on Android right now, this wasn’t always the case. Before the launch of One UI in 2018, Galaxy phones ran TouchWiz, and while I was a fan of Samsung’s software at the time, I recall being in the distinct minority.

The biggest challenge facing Samsung’s software team at the time is also a cautionary tale for Apple and other phone makers.

TouchWiz was launched just two years after iOS, and both platforms have undergone considerable changes as smartphone users evolved and new habits formed. Like Microsoft has faced with Windows, this usually leads to software that is continually being added to, and the experience will inevitably suffer.

The Vision Pro and Vision OS show that Apple can still build a phenomenal integrated experience.

The answer for Apple is the same approach that Samsung took back in 2018: a complete rebuild. One UI took years to develop, and it removed large portions of the legacy experience in favor of the features required for current and future smartphone form factors, such as the Galaxy Z Fold 7.

For Apple to successfully launch new hardware and software form factors, such as the rumored iPhone Fold, the company needs to rebuild iOS from the ground up, not just redesign the existing codebase.

The Vision Pro and Vision OS show that Apple can still build a phenomenal integrated experience – now it just needs to do the same for the iPhone.

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We're very much looking forward to the full unveiling of the Samsung tri-fold phone at some point later this year, but the latest rumor around the handset suggests it's going to be somewhat disappointing in terms of its charging speed.

According to documentation filed with regulators in China (via SamMobile), the Samsung tri-fold is going to offer 25W wired charging. That's on a par with the Samsung Galaxy S25 and Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 6 phones.

While it's perhaps not surprising that Samsung is sticking to the same charging limits as those current flagships, the Oppo Find N5 charges up at 80W when plugged in, while the Samsung Galaxy S25 Ultra hits the heights of 45W.

It's possible that Samsung is playing it safe with the charging technology to avoid having to charge too much for adding a new form factor to its lineup. We've seen estimates as high as $3,500 (about £2,585 / AU$5,390) for this handset.

Here's what else we think we know

The tri-fold Huawei Mate XT (Image credit: Huawei)

We've seen plenty of other unofficial leaks and rumors about this handset: the only bit of information that's official and confirmed by Samsung is that this tri-fold handset is definitely on the way to take on existing phones like the Huawei Mate XT.

One of the unconfirmed pieces of information we've come across is that this phone is going to be called the Galaxy G Fold. That would certainly put it in line with the current foldables Samsung sells, in terms of its naming.

Apparently, the folding handset is going to come with a 6.49-inch outer screen and a huge 9.96-inch display on the inside. If that turns out to be the case then we're going to be very much into tablet territory when the phone is opened out.

With the Galaxy Z Fold 7 and the Galaxy Z Flip 7 thought to be breaking cover sometime in July, the Galaxy G Fold (if that turns out to be its name) could arrive at the same time – but some sources have said it'll actually be unveiled later in the year.

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Thanko has launched what might be one of the most unexpected entries in the increasingly niche world of peripherals: a mechanical keyboard integrated with a 10-inch touchscreen monitor.

The company says this full mechanical keyboard is designed for space-conscious users who still want both tactile input and an additional display.

“The combination of a customizable and highly durable mechanical keyboard with independent switches and a 10-inch monitor... saves space while improving work efficiency,” Thanko says.

Compact design, but with compromises

The keyboard integrates a 1,920 x 720 resolution TFT LCD touchscreen, which supports 10-point multi-touch and features a continuously adjustable angle. It occupies just 320 x 140 mm of space and can be folded when not in use.

The idea is to deliver a dual-purpose tool for coders or business users who need a second screen. However, the relatively low resolution and aspect ratio may limit how much useful content can actually be displayed.

The screen can function as a touch-enabled display if set as the main monitor, but Thanko quietly notes: “If it does not work properly even after changing the settings, it is a compatibility issue.”

Despite its promise of touch interaction, there’s no mention of macOS or Linux support, suggesting this device is designed solely for the Windows ecosystem. As a result, its usefulness outside that environment remains unknown.

While it could make for a decent business keyboard, or a keyboard for coding, it really needs broader compatibility.

The keyboard uses blue switches by default and allows full customization, including switch types and keycaps. It also includes an RGB LED backlight and ships with a USB 3.2 Gen 1 cable. Users can supplement power via an additional USB Type-C port if needed.

That said, it’s hard to determine whether the typing experience is truly premium or merely adequate with flair, as no typing latency or switch actuation specs are disclosed.

Designed for plug-and-play via USB 3.0, the keyboard weighs about 1.5 kg and is listed at 69,800 yen (around $445).

It certainly scores points for compactness and desk economy, but at nearly $450, buyers may wonder whether it’s worth the cost compared to purchasing a standalone mechanical keyboard and a separate secondary display.

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Ivanky is a brand that I have not heard a ton about other than a few targeted ads or other people's setups I watch on YouTube (yes, gear is a hobby and a job). Once I got my hands on the iVanky FusionDock Max 1 though, I realized just how powerful this docking station truly is.

Granted, it's clearly designed for MacBooks alone, and M-Series, Apple Silicon MacBooks at that. But for Apple users, it's a great docking station, able to produce the amount of power that just about anyone from a casual user with a single display, to a professional user with a quad setup and plenty of accessories.

I added this to one of my more robust desks I have set up as of recently, with a custom desk from Uplift, a super cool desk shelf from Hexcal and a dual monitor setup. Just the kind of bougie, yet accessible setup the iVanky FusionDock Max 1 commands.

(Image credit: Collin Probst // Future )iVanky FusionDock Max 1: Unboxing & first impressions

Unboxing this docking station was pretty straightforward, in the box was the dock itself, which is a bit heavier than expected, a Dual USB-C Cable which has connected USB-C ports on one end and disconnected leads on the other end. It also has a power adapter, an HDMI Cable and the user manual.

Personally, I love the floating look, I think it looks fantastic, intentional and unique in a good way. It stands out in all of the best docking stations I have tested, and I have seen quite a few. It has a minimalist design with a compact footprint, though it is a bit too thick to slide underneath my Hexcal Desk shelf, at least without the extensions which would then make my monitors too high.

Moving on, the port split from the front to the back seems very intentional, and easy to navigate. Lastly, the dual-cable system is interesting, though understood. It is interesting that the part that connects to the MacBook is the side that is connected meaning that there is only ever the option to plug both into the MacBook — then again what ports could you possibly want that this dock doesn't already offer?

iVanky FusionDock Max 1: Design & build qualitySpecs

Ports: 20 ports; 4x Thunderbolt 4, 2x HDMI, 5x USB-A, 3x USB-C, SD card slot, Ethernet port, Optical Audio
PD: 96W

The iVanky FusionDock Max 1 is clearly a premium product. By build quality alone let alone the materials used and the unique design promoting better airflow, this device is high-end. The ports are tight and assembled perfectly, the labels are clear and descriptive, and the front facing ports are exactly what I would want up front, just enough to keep me capable of pretty much anything I'd need to plug in, but not so much that I feel like there is always a cable cluttering my desk.

iVanky seems to understand the same thing that I have been saying for years with docking stations. The back ports are for your constantly plugged in devices, such as HDMI, Audio, USB-A (most), USB-C (most), power, Ethernet, in this case, optical, and so on. It should be all the devices you don't plan on unplugging anytime soon. The front, however, is where your frequently accessed devices should live. SD Cards, USB-C, USB-A, Headphone jack, and maybe some more.

(Image credit: Collin Probst // Future )iVanky FusionDock Max 1: In use

From the first time I plugged a MacBook into this docking station it has run wonderfully. Part of the reason I chose to put this docking station on this desk you see in the photos is because that desk has a soundbar that is currently being used via Bluetooth, but it also has an optical port, just like this dock (something I have never seen before on a docking station).

The integration to the MacBook was not only seamless physically but digitally as well. The ports lined up great to plug in, and then once I approved the device on my Mac I was instantly connected to my dual display setup, my SSD, my Optical, Power, Ethernet, and more.

So far, I have yet to have any issues with the FusionDock Max 1. Like I said, I am running audio out every day through Optical, I am streaming content with the network cable, along with uploading and downloading large files and more. I don't notice any lag or latency in the displays, even when running a heavy load.

I will say that under a heavy load this guy can get hot, but thankfully that is why there is a bit of a guard built into the stand, but regardless, if it takes having a dock that gets a little hot to be able to to run as smoothly as this, then it's worth it.

iVanky FusionDock Max 1: Final verdict

The FusionDock Max 1 is a hefty, powerful, and premium docking station with an ideal number of ports for heavy users. It's a feature-rich docking station that has been super impressive to use and rely on for a few months now. I have this dock running a dual-monitor setup for a MacBook, and it has been an absolute dream so far. If you're looking for a reliable docking station to run your professional setup without compromise, this is a docking station worth checking out.

Attributes

Notes

Rating

Design

Unique and beautiful

⭐⭐⭐⭐

Ease of use

Needs to be for specific macs

⭐⭐⭐⭐

Practicality

Practical for the right machine

⭐⭐⭐

Price

Decent price for the quality

⭐⭐⭐⭐