All articles tagged with #news
FCC filings for the Pixel 11 Pro Fold suggest Google is moving the Tensor G6 modem from Samsung Exynos to MediaTek, with a MediaTek reference in RF tests and the SAR report fueling rumors of a modem switch for the Pixel 11 lineup.
Kotaku reports God of War Laufey will be released on disc, hinting at a 2027 launch window and signaling that physical copies will persist before Sony ends discs in 2028. A San Diego Comic-Con panel is planned on July 24 with the developers and cast, but the exact release date remains unconfirmed. The broader questions include whether PS6 will support future discs and how Sony will handle physical libraries, while Microsoft is reportedly exploring digitizing Xbox disc licenses through Project Helix.
An EU commissioner says the European Union can’t force Sony to keep producing physical PlayStation discs; Sony announced it will stop printing physical Blu-ray game discs for new releases starting in 2028, moving to an all-digital lineup, with existing physical copies remaining for years. Commissioner Michael McGrath emphasized commercial and contractual freedoms and that consumer rights must be protected, while acknowledging the EU can’t pass laws to preserve games or keep servers running. The Commission plans a voluntary code of conduct for game preservation, but Sony’s shift to digital is proceeding as planned.
A hacker-leaked set of MSG security documents shows the arena used facial recognition to flag LGBTQIA celebrities and track a transgender woman, assigning risk scores; the disclosure, published by ShinyHunters and reported by Wired, has spurred lawsuits while MSG denies wrongdoing.
Two years after Final Fantasy VII Rebirth's release, a rogue glitched Chocobo still follows players and even appears in cutscenes, a bug Square Enix hasn’t patched. The quirk has circulated on social media and fan forums since 2024, becoming a running joke as the trilogy heads toward Revelation.
A 2002 Xbox surfing title, Kelly Slater's Pro Surfer, is going viral in 2026 for its standout water and wave visuals at 60fps. Fans note that the look is achieved through manual artistic tweaks rather than cutting-edge realism, underscoring how retro games can feel impressive with smooth animation and stylish visuals even decades after release.
Google Messages appears to be testing a smarter sharing flow that adds a 'Send to a group' option alongside 'Send separately' when sharing to multiple recipients. The feature can reuse an existing group chat if the selected contacts already form one, and it warns you to remove MMS numbers if you mix RCS and MMS. It seems to be a limited, server-side rollout, so it may not be visible to all users yet.
Microsoft’s 2026 sustainability report shows carbon emissions rose 25% in 2025 to 34 million metric tons, driven mainly by datacenter expansion and a policy shift away from certain renewable-energy certificates, underscoring that AI infrastructure is increasing energy demand and outpacing scalable sustainability solutions on the path to carbon negativity by 2030.
Fandom laid off GameSpot's entire commerce team (4 staffers and 5 freelancers) and the site's VP of games and entertainment, Chris Grant, marking the fifth round of layoffs since Fandom acquired GameSpot in 2022. One employee was on paid medical leave following a gunshot injury, and the shakeup continues a broader pattern of staffing cuts across Fandom's properties, including past moves at Giant Bomb.
Ubisoft's Assassin’s Creed Black Flag Resynced launches to strong reception, but Ubisoft Barcelona is hit by layoffs as part of broader restructuring, with about 51 employees set to lose their jobs by the end of July; unions have called for protections and remote-work concessions, and the Barcelona launch event was scaled down, though the remake is expected to be a solid seller in a weak year for Ubisoft.
Craig Burnatowski, who voiced Albert Wesker in the Resident Evil 4 remake and returns as Zeno in Resident Evil Requiem, has been dropped from Fantasy & Magic Con after a former partner publicly alleged mental and emotional abuse and physical harm; the convention canceled his appearance and refunded autographs, with the group photo updated to a four-person lineup. Capcom hasn’t commented, and Burnatowski’s Wesker role is expected to appear in the upcoming Code Veronica remake.
Chrome for Android is rolling out version 150 with a dedicated back button in the three-dot menu, plus a new Site controls option and a rename of "Add to Home screen" to "Install and create shortcut" in a phased rollout.
Google Photos for Android is rolling out a redesigned, more compact bottom bar that keeps Photos, Collections, and Create in a single pill with a separate round Search button; the layout is persistent across views and reduces screen real estate, following an iOS update earlier in 2026, with the rollout now broad on Android (noted on Pixel devices with version 7.82).
Leaked renders of the Galaxy Z Fold 8 and Galaxy Z Fold 8 Ultra ahead of Samsung’s Galaxy Unpacked on July 22 reveal a wider cover display and lighter body for the Fold 8, with Cream, Graphite, Lavender and Pistachio (exclusive) colors. The Fold 8 is tipped to use the Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 5 for Galaxy with 12GB RAM and 256GB–1TB storage. The Ultra sticks to a familiar design but with internal upgrades and a 200MP main camera plus a 10MP tele and 50MP ultrawide. Pricing remains uncertain as launch nears in London.
Sony, Bungie, and former Bungie director Christopher Barrett have settled his $100 million lawsuit alleging termination to dodge roughly $80 million in sale bonuses from Bungie’s 2022 acquisition; Barrett’s name is being added to Marathon’s credits, a stipulation framed as vindication, while Bungie braces for further layoffs and Marathon development continues.