The rumored touchscreen MacBook Pro could get the iPhone’s Dynamic Island, but still lack one key feature

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• A new report says the touchscreen MacBook Pro will get the Dynamic Island
• This feature comes from the iPhone and will be found in the OLED display
• Don’t expect Face ID, as the report makes no mention of this feature

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We’ve been hearing for some time now that Apple is planning to release a touchscreen MacBook Pro later this year. Now, Bloomberg reporter Mark Gurman has boosted that idea by revealing fresh details about Apple’s plans — but there’s one key thing missing.

Gurman outlined what we can expect in a new report, wherein he explained that the forthcoming MacBook Pro will likely use the Dynamic Island currently found in all the best iPhones, as well as a new touch-oriented interface that adapts to your actions.

Starting with the Dynamic Island, Gurman says the implementation of this feature in the MacBook Pro will differ from the version found in the iPhone 17 series. That’s because the MacBook Pro version will be “built around a hole-punch-sized cutout for the computer’s camera,” Gurman contends, making it “smaller than the pill-shaped notch in current iPhones.” That should complement the redesigned Dynamic Island that is set to launch with the iPhone 18 Pro and iPhone 18 Pro that are due to arrive later this year.

As for the new interface, this will apparently be integrated into an OLED display with touchscreen capabilities. Gurman believes that Apple has created a system that adapts to your input, whether that’s the traditional mouse and keyboard or a finger. If you use the latter, macOS will enlarge the on-screen controls to make them easier to tap, for example.

This interface also involves the addition of a new type of menu that surrounds the user’s finger, putting controls close at hand. Certain menus, such as the emoji selector, will have touch-optimized interfaces if you’re using touch controls. And you’ll be able to use common gestures found in iOS, such as fast scrolling and pinching to zoom in on photos.

Where’s Face ID?

(Image credit: Future)

The influence of iOS on both the rumored Dynamic Island and the touch interface is clear to see. It would reflect a growing crossover between iOS and macOS, which has seen Apple introduce universal apps and tools like iPhone Mirroring and Universal Control in recent years.

However, one key feature that apparently won’t make the leap to the Mac is Face ID, despite it being a vital part of the iPhone’s Dynamic Island. Gurman’s report makes no mention of Face ID, and it looks like Mac users will have to stick to Touch ID for the time being – especially considering Gurman previously claimed that Face ID on the Mac is “years away” from being realized.

That said, Apple has published numerous patents over the years concerning the process of incorporating facial recognition into a Mac, so it appears that the company is at least considering adding it to its laptops. But for now, it appears that Face ID is one feature that will remain absent from the MacBook Pro.

Apple is expected to release the touchscreen MacBook Pro near the end of 2026. Before that happens, a new version of the laptop – with M5 Pro and M5 Max chips but lacking the Dynamic Island and touchscreen display – is slated for this spring, or sometime between March and May.

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Microsoft's planned new AI trick for Edge will 'automatically open the Copilot side pane' with Outlook email links — and I can feel the hate already

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• Microsoft Edge has a new feature on the roadmap
• When you click a link in an Outlook message, it'll open that link in Edge with a Copilot side pane
• This side pane will provide 'contextual insights and actionable suggestions', but I'm betting the idea won't be well received

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Microsoft is preparing a feature for its Edge browser that automatically opens Copilot AI in a sidebar, and I can tell you now that this idea isn't going to be popular.

Windows Central spotted the addition to the Microsoft 365 Roadmap which means that when a Windows 11 user clicks a link in an Outlook message that opens in Edge, the Copilot side pane will automatically pop into view on the right of the browser window with extra details.

Microsoft explains: "When users open links from Outlook, Microsoft Edge can automatically open the Copilot side pane to provide contextual insights and actionable suggestion chips based on email and destination content – such as highlighting key points, and recommending next actions — without disrupting the browsing flow.

"This experience helps users quickly understand content, take action with fewer steps, and get more value from Copilot while extending productive browsing time in Edge."

The feature is under development currently, and is expected to be rolled out starting from May 2026, according to the provided timeline on the roadmap. So in theory — if nothing derails the concept — it might be just a few short months away.

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Analysis: tread carefully, Microsoft

(Image credit: Shutterstock / monticello)

Despite the big AI backlash that started late last year, Microsoft clearly isn't downing AI tools – but did we think it would? No, of course not, as AI agents are the next-big-thing (TM) in Windows 11, and there's no getting around that.

Development of other AI features will continue as well, and Microsoft isn't putting any of this on ice to fix Windows 11. The promised work to address the fundamental issues that have blighted the desktop OS for a long time will happen alongside more AI being introduced to Windows 11 — it won't push AI aside.

The problem lies in what kind of AI features Microsoft is ushering in, and the sort which automatically pop up in your face in certain scenarios are the very unwelcome variety.

Granted, we don't know how this particular feature will be implemented, and we know very little about it at all save for what we can infer from a paragraph of description. Presumably it won't be on by default – the use of the word 'can' in Microsoft's blurb suggests that — but why do I worry that it might be?

Probably because Microsoft has pulled that kind of trick in the past, but given the anti-AI sentiment from many Windows 11 users these days, it'd be very foolish to try these kinds of shenanigans in 2026.

We shall see, and indeed Microsoft could even abandon this idea entirely — just because it's on the roadmap now, that doesn't rule out the feature getting pushed aside and abandoned. However, this is one addition that Microsoft will need to tread very carefully with, if the company does forge ahead with the idea.

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I can't believe I'm actually excited to sit in virtual traffic in the 'most ambitious and content-rich Bus Simulator to date'

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• Astragon Entertainment has unveiled Bus Simulator 27
• It will feature 45 officially licensed buses, and even coaches for the first time
• It's playable solo, but also in four player online co-op

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Publisher Astragon Entertainment has announced Bus Simulator 27, the next entry in its niche but surprisingly enjoyable transport simulator series.

Putting you in the driver's seat of a fleet of officially licensed buses from brands like Mercedes-Benz, IVECO, and Scania, the Bus Simulator games are all about living your bus driver fantasy by carefully following a timetable and transporting passengers around large maps.

This new entry is billed as "the most ambitious and content-rich Bus Simulator to date," and boasts more than 45 officially licensed vehicles to try. There are double-decker buses, electric buses, articulated buses, and more. Basically, if it's a type of bus you can probably drive it in this game.

If that wasn't enough excitement, coaches will be playable for the first time in the series - taking the action outside of a single city with long-distance passenger routes.

This instalment is set in Felicia Bay, a fictional region based on the Iberian Peninsula (a region that mainly encompasses the sunny streets of Spain and Portugal) and features a suite of modes. There's a story that has you building your own bus empire, Career challenges, and a full sandbox to play around in.

You'll even be able to bring your friends along for the ride with support for four-player online co-op.

The game is set to release in the latter half of 2026 for PC, PlayStation 5, and Xbox Series X and Series S. It's available to wish list now on those platforms.

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This new Hitman crossover mission features a blockbuster star from the Resident Evil movies

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• The latest free Hitman World of Assassination mission has arrived
• It stars Hollywood actress Milla Jovovich
• It's available to play until March 24, 2026

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The latest Elusive Target mission has launched for Hitman World of Assassination, and it seems like the perfect starter course ahead of the release of Resident Evil Requiem later this week.

Titled 'The Harbinger', this limited-time content drop stars blockbuster actress Milla Jovovich, known for her appearances in sci-fi and action movies like The Fifth Element and the Resident Evil series.

The Resident Evil movies do seem to be a big inspiration here, with the mission's story following on from the events of the game's virus-filled Patient Zero campaign. Jovovich portrays Lilith Devereux, the mysterious new CEO of a fictional biotech corporation, whom players must assassinate as protagonist Agent 47.

“I am stepping into an amazing character with Lilith; she is dangerous, she has ambition, and a dark secret, revealed Jovovich ahead of the mission's launch.

It takes place in Hitman World of Assassination's existing Thornbridge Manor level, though you can expect a few new surprises this time around.

It's free for existing owners of Hitman World of Assassination from today, February 25, until March 24. Even if you don't own the game, can play it at no cost via the Free Demo version in that same time frame.

It arrives alongside the paid Patient Zero Requiem Pack downloadable content (DLC) pack. This grants permanent access to the mission in the Elusive Target Arcade mode, plus some bonus goodies, including the new Bartoli 75S "Lucky Knight" pistol and a stylish outfit inspired by the level.

Hitman World of Assassination, previously branded as Hitman 3, is available on a wide range of platforms, including PC, PS5, PS4, Xbox Series X and Series S, Xbox One, Nintendo Switch, and Nintendo Switch 2.

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YouTube Premium’s cheapest tier just got better — with background play and downloads

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• YouTube is adding downloads and background play to its Premium Lite plan
• It's the first upgrade to the Premium Lite plan since its inception last year
• Music fans will still have to upgrade however, as ad-free music videos are still paywalled into the Premium Plan

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YouTube locks tons of features behind the walls of its rather pricey Premium tier, but now it’s bringing a few of them over to its more affordable Premium Lite plan.

The platform announced on its blog that offline downloads and background play are both being integrated into YouTube Premium Lite, and are being rolled out now. This is a big upgrade; when YouTube launched Premium Lite in March 2025, it offered ad-free viewing for most videos (with the exception of music videos and music content) and not much else. Premium Lite subscribers don’t get the YouTube Music perk, either.

Until now, the only way subscribers could view all videos ad-free was by signing up to the full-price YouTube Premium plan for $13.99 / £12.99 (about AU$20) a month. While YouTube Premium Lite ($7.99 / £7.99, or about AU$10 a month) is still missing features such as jump ahead, queuing, and continue watching, downloads and background play were the most-requested features.

(Image credit: YouTube )

“Last year, we expanded our Premium Lite pilot to more markets​ and heard feedback about wanting these additional features included in the service. ​We're excited for today's update and to continue testing and building products that best meet our users’ needs,” the YouTube team shared in its announcement.

Going forward, the YouTube Premium Lite experience will give you an even bigger taste of what the standard plan has to offer. For most people who just want to enjoy mostly ad-free viewing and now the added benefits of downloads and background play on most videos, YouTube Premium Lite will be the ideal option, and the next step is to roll out a Premium Lite Family plan to give households a more affordable alternative.

That’s not the reason why I’m still more attracted to the standard YouTube Premium plan, though.

I’m nothing without YouTube music videos

(Image credit: YouTube)

I’ve been eyeing up a YouTube Premium subscription for quite a while now, and though I’ve come close to it many times, for some reason I always pull myself back. For the most part YouTube Premium Lite is the ideal plan, but leaving out ad-free music videos is a bit of a kick in the teeth. That said, I know exactly why YouTube does this.

As far as the best music streaming services go, YouTube Music is no match to Spotify or Apple Music on the features and popularity front. However, it has the edge over its competitors with one particular thing: music videos.

I’ve tested Spotify’s music video ecosystem many times, and despite being a subscriber for the last decade, I can see it doesn’t even come close to what YouTube has to offer with music videos. It’s all over the place, and the way videos appear in the playback page is quite unflattering. I’m not the only one who thinks so, and Spotify music videos have been at the center of heated discussions since their inception.

I hate "listening" to music videos :( from r/truespotify

I think I speak on behalf of many music fans when I say that, despite being subscribed to audio streaming platforms that aren’t YouTube Music, we still revert to the standard YouTube app for the visual elements, whether that’s for music videos or live performances. So the fact that YouTube has identified and paywalled this advantage is no surprise whatsoever — it’s just frustrating to know that the Premium temptation is inevitable.

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Dell and Lenovo laptops with Nvidia CPUs 'could come in the first half of this year' — so get ready for some thin-and-light gaming powerhouses (hopefully)

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• New rumor suggests laptops with Nvidia's new CPUs could arrive in the first half of 2026
• These are the long-rumored N1 and N1X processors, which are Arm-based
• There'll be notebooks from Dell and Lenovo, plus other vendors, too

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If you're wondering when laptops will start shipping with Nvidia's new Arm CPU inside, the latest rumor suggests the initial models will debut in the first half of this year.

A report from the Wall Street Journal (via VideoCardz) claims that Dell and Lenovo are working on laptops with Arm CPUs from Nvidia – built in collaboration with MediaTek – that "could come in the first half of this year".

That suggests an arrival in the next four months or so, and this info comes from sources in Nvidia's supply chain.

These are the long-rumored N1 and N1X CPUs, in case you were in any doubt. The report notes that the hope is that Nvidia's silicon can help to make notebooks both lighter and thinner, while maintaining a long battery life.

That, of course, fits the bill very well for an Arm chip, with these processors excelling at achieving new heights of battery longevity in thin-and-light laptops.

Dell and Lenovo are mentioned specifically, but the WSJ notes that other laptop manufacturers will be on board with Nvidia's Arm CPU, as you'd expect – though perhaps the first devices will be from the mentioned vendors.

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Analysis: strong Arm tactics

(Image credit: Collin Probst // Future )

While Arm has its strengths – as noted, certainly in power efficiency – these laptops have their weaknesses when running Windows 11, too. Namely, compatibility issues around some software and particularly games, though a lot of meaningful strides were taken in smoothing over gaming on an Arm notebook last year.

An Nvidia-powered Windows on Arm laptop could be pretty exciting, then, as a thin-and-light capable of coping with mainstream gaming relatively well with its integrated graphics. Because, naturally, the GPU is going to be one of Nvidia's strong points here, with previous rumors that the graphics core count could be up there with the RTX 5070. Although note that doesn't mean actual performance will be – we've got to be realistic around the scope with integrated graphics, given thermals and so forth.

There's also the issue of driver quality in Nvidia's favor, which is a shakier area for the Adreno GPUs in Qualcomm's Snapdragon chips (which will be Team Green's rival in the realm of Windows on Arm notebooks).

Regarding the rumored timing, there are concerns about the RAM crisis, which is making everything difficult in the PC world and extending to storage memory chips, too, and how that might interfere with Nvidia's launch plans.

Previous rumors suggested a Q1 2026 launch for these N1X laptops, but that never seemed all that likely, as Nvidia didn't even mention the devices at CES 2026 (and if they were close at hand, Team Green surely would have done).

I'm not sure about a launch in the first half of 2026, either, at this point. The WSJ seems rather tentative in its phrasing with the rumored timeframe, so it sounds far from certain. From a betting perspective, I'd give Q3 the same odds as Q2 here, given the current PC climate, but we shall see.

Furthermore, there are other notable questions here. What about the rumored desktop incarnation of Nvidia's new Arm CPU? And indeed, remember Nvidia's separate collaboration, away from MediaTek, in which the firm is providing integrated graphics for Intel CPUs (among other plans) – how does that fit with this Arm masterplan? 2026 is sure to be a revealing year for Nvidia, but I'm not convinced those revelations are anything like imminent yet.

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Apple will build the Mac Mini in the US and you can probably thank AI

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• Apple plans to build some Mac Mini computers in the US
• Tim Cook made the announcement while showing off some behind-the-scenes manufacturing video
• AI may be one of the driving forces here

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The suddenly hot Mac mini will soon be made in the United States. Apple CEO Tim Cook announced the move on Tuesday in a post on X.

"As part of our $600B commitment, Mac mini will be produced in the US for the first time later this year!" wrote Cook.

As part of our $600B commitment, Mac mini will be produced in the US for the first time later this year!We're accelerating our progress even further— producing more AI servers and opening an all-new Apple Advanced Manufacturing Center for hands-on training. pic.twitter.com/NO5DeZvPwPFebruary 24, 2026

The $600B investment he refers to is the billions Cook promised US President Donald Trump last year he'd be funneling into US manufacturing efforts as part of a new "American Manufacturing Program" (AMP). He made the promise while also presenting Trump with a golden plaque featuring the words "Made in America."

This Mac mini news, though, may be far more valuable to American consumers interested in buying one of Apple's increasingly popular tiny desktop computers.

A mini piece of the pie

The Mac mini has accounted for only about 1% of Apple's Mac sales in recent years, but the mini's star is on the rise. According to recent reports, 2024 M4 Mac minis have been selling out (along with Mac Studios). Why? Blame AI. The tiny box computer is considered a perfect fit for handling localized agentic AI tasks, and so they're apparently flying off the shelves.

Now, it's unclear if all those sales are helping the Mac mini draw closer to, say, it's best-sellign MacBook Air or MacBook Pro counterparts. That seems unlikely, but the US production, set to begin at a new Houston, Texas, facility later this year, should increase mini-production levels.

An entire production facility devoted to just one thin slice of Apple's Mac market doesn't make much sense. However, AI's appetite for hardware goes far beyond the mini. Apple will also be building AI servers that should help support the company's growing Private Cloud Computer and other AI aspirations.

How mini are these operations

Tim Cook's post offers scant details on exactly when the facility will open and become operational, or how many Mac minis it will produce each quarter. It's likely the factory will only build a fraction of all the Mac minis Apple produces for sale. Perhaps, it will build all those sold in the US, while other global manufacturing facilities serve the rest of the world.

However, we do now know a bit more about how Apple builds products through its supply chain and with its manufacturing partners, thanks to a new video report from The Wall Street Journal.

The report focuses largely on Apple's efforts to get its Apple Silicon built in the US. Apple does not produce any chips; it relies on a series of partners to produce the high-powered silicon. However, it's clear from the video that Apple's fingerprints are all over the process.

When asked by The Wall Street Journal, "Who is the most demanding customer you have?" the Global Wafers exec answered quickly, "Apple."

Apple's deep involvement and its size give it the power to push partners like these chip supply chain partners to move more operations to the US.

iPhone next?

Apple's promise to begin building some Mac minis in the US this year does not signal a massive shift to making all Apple products in the US. And when Apple executives were asked by The Wall Street Journal about making the iPhone in the US, they gave a circuitous answer about future innovation, but offered no insight into future iPhone build operations.

Ultimately, the Mac mini's new manufacturing home represents a small but perhaps important return to US manufacturing for Apple, which famously built the original Macintosh in Fremont. California.

There's no indication Apple is planning a broad return to US manufacturing, but the push for US-based operations for chip manufacturing is perhaps a stronger possibility because of the growing need for chips (and memory) in the US.

For now, the majority of silicon and RAM are made outside the US. Once again, the global AI race is creating unprecedented demand, shortages, and the need for, in the US, closer-to-home supply chains.

In a way, this Houston-based operation is also a proof of concept. If it goes well, and Apple can also bring some Apple Silicon manufacturing to the US, we may finally see a wider swath of Apple products arriving without the support of imports and the potential burden of tariffs.

Will that mean cheaper Mac minis and eventually other products? Only time will tell.

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Founders of long-lost weather app Dark Sky return with a new forecast platform, and it’s already better than Apple’s unreliable flagship weather predictions

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• Dark Sky founders have launched a new forecast app, Acme Weather
• The new app displays alternate forecast readings to show weather changes that could occur throughout the day
• It's also added a community reporting tool, as well as refined custom notifications settings

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Remember the days of the Dark Sky weather app before it was dissolved by Apple? Well, its creators are back with an alternative that acknowledges that weather forecasts are often very wrong.

The new weather forecast platform, called Acme Weather, is now available to download on iOS devices, with plans to bring it to Android already in the works. You can try it out with a two-week free trial, and then it requires a $25 yearly subscription fee, working out a lot cheaper than Dark Sky’s $3.99 monthly charge.

Acme Weather marks the founders’ return to forecast apps since Apple acquired Dark Sky in 2020, whose tools were eventually adopted into the flagship Weather app (which faces scrutiny for its inaccuracies) when Dark Sky was phased out.

But the main selling point of Acme Weather is that it doesn’t just give you one forecast prediction; it provides you with alternate weather outcomes to show which direction your local forecast could go in. Co-founder Adam Grossman goes into further detail in his blog post, sharing the following insight:

“It’s simple: when looking at the landscape of the countless weather apps out there, many of them lovely, we found ourselves feeling unsatisfied. The more we spoke to friends and family, the more we heard that many of them did too. And, of course, we missed those days as a small scrappy shop.”

Using multiple data sources, including weather prediction models, satellite data, and ground station observations, Acme Weather provides a ‘main’ forecast reading, supported by additional forecast lines with alternate outcomes, showing possible weather changes (see below).

(Image credit: Acme Weather)

The black line indicates Acme Weather’s primary forecast reading, while the faint gray lines highlight the changes that could occur. When the alternate lines are grouped closer together, it indicates that the main forecast prediction is reliable, and when the alternate lines are more spread out, it shows that the weather will likely change throughout the day. This way, you’ll have a better idea of what to expect and can plan ahead accordingly.

To improve forecast accuracy, Acme Weather has also developed a community reporting feature that lets users submit local weather reports in the app. You can choose from a list of pre-selected weather conditions or even use emojis, and Acme will display them in the app for other users in your area to view.

(Image credit: Acme Weather)

As far as other weather apps go, I find that most of them haven’t quite hit the nail on the head when it comes to notifications. Though I use the Met Office app and trust it with my life, I have to remember to constantly check it, and sometimes my homescreen widget displays incorrect data. Acme Weather is doubling down on the notifications front, bringing Dark Sky’s reliable notifications system over, but with a new twist.

Beyond notifications from community reports, timely rain warnings, and even government-issued severe forecast warnings, Acme Weather introduces a new custom notifications tool allowing you to set your notifications based on your biggest interests and concerns.

As mentioned, Acme Weather is currently only available on iOS, so you'll have to wait a little longer for its Android debut. Although it's early days, Acme Weather already looks like a faithful continuation of what Dark Sky started, and it's brewing some trouble for Apple's Weather app.

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Summer Game Fest officially returns this summer with all-new game announcements — here's when you can watch the showcase

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• Summer Game Fest 2026 is scheduled to air on June 5, 2026
• The event will be two hours long and feature new game announcements
• The showcase will be followed by SGF Play Days on June 6 and The Game Business conference on June 8

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Summer Game Fest host Geoff Keighley has announced the dates for the 2026 annual gaming showcase, along with the additional key events.

In a new social media post, Keighley confirmed that the main Summer Game Fest presentation will air on June 5, 2026, at 2PM PT / 5PM ET / 10PM BST at the Dolby Theatre and will be approximately two hours long.

Normally, Summer Game Fest is hosted on the official Game Awards YouTube and Twitch channels. The annual awards show was also founded by host Geoff Keighley.

For now, we don't have confirmation of which studios will be present at the showcase, but Keighley has said there will be "new game announcements" and the live show will be followed by the Day of the Devs, which traditionally highlights new and upcoming indie games.

After the main event, the invite-only SGF Play Days will be held for media and influencers from June 6 to June 8, offering hands-on access to new games, followed by The Game Business live conference on June 8.

Last year's Summer Game Fest was a huge event that unveiled brand new trailers and announcements for games like Resident Evil Requiem, which finally launches this week, 007 First Light, Dying Light The Beast, Mafia The Old Country, and more.

There are plenty of games to look forward to in the latter half of 2026, and there's always the possibility we'll be treated to new trailers and launch date reveals for a bunch of them, including FromSoftware's Nintendo Switch 2 exclusive, The Duskbloods, Control Resonant, and Marvel's Wolverine.

There's the obvious excitement around Grand Theft Auto 6, which launches on November 19. However, given Rockstar Games' track record for sharing its own trailers and announcements, we think it's unlikely the game will make an appearance at SGF this year.

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Amazon is shutting down King of Meat, promising a 'full refund' for 'all players'

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• Amazon published online game King of Meat is shutting down
• It was on the market for less than a year
• Buyers will be eligible for a refund

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Amazon published online party brawler King of Meat is shutting down after less than one year on the market.

Developed by UK team Glowmade, the game originally launched back in October 2025 and struggled to attract players. According to data from SteamDB, it peaked at a player count of just 320 on Steam, which is startlingly low given it launched alongside a flashy marketing campaign featuring celebrity content creator MrBeast.

Retailing for $29.99 / £29.99 on the platform, the price was slashed to just $7.49 / £5.98 for two weeks in November, but this generous discount did little to increase player numbers.

After weeks of just a handful of players logging into the game daily, Amazon has pulled the plug. "Following the launch of King of Meat, it’s been incredibly rewarding to watch the community enjoy this fun and chaotic world," reads a new notice on the game's official website.

"Despite the creativity and innovation Glowmade brought to King of Meat, the game has unfortunately not found the audience we hoped for", it continues. "As a result, we have made the difficult decision to conclude our investment in the game, and King of Meat's servers will close on April 9, 2026."

The game will still be playable up until that date, but afterwards, it will seemingly be gone for good.

Players who purchased the game on any platform or any in-game currency will be eligible for a refund. According to Amazon, these will be "handled directly by the platform where you purchased the game" and processed automatically towards the end of this month.

This news comes just weeks after Amazon announced that it would be shutting down its MMO New World next year as the company shifts away from the costly support of long-term live service titles.

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Forget the wooden ruler — I measured the Blizzard of 2026 with my iPhone

In between lifting 40-pound scoops of heavy white snow, I stepped back to ponder Mother Nature's stunning show of force with the Blizzard of 2026. Then I pulled out my iPhone 17 Pro Max to measure if this really was The Storm of this Century.

Hidden inside your best iPhone, like the remnants of grass under the mountain of snow currently on my front lawn, is the Measure app. Introduced back in 2018 as part of iOS 12, it's an incredibly handy digital measuring system that uses augmented reality and the iPhone Pro's LiDAR sensor to measure all kinds of dimensions.

Why was I suddenly so interested in using Measure? If you don't live on the northeast coast of the US, you could be forgiven for not knowing about Bomb Cyclone Hernandez and the feet of snow dumped on places like New Jersey, New York, Connecticut, Boston, and Maine during a bona fide blizzard (a snowstorm with sustained winds of 35mph that reduces visibility to near-zero).

Even just eyeballing it, I assumed I had two feet of snow and drifts that approached 3- to 3.5 feet. Where we shoveled, piles of snow reached 4 and 5 feet high.

However, the iPhone offers me an opportunity to get an accurate reading without carrying around a yardstick or jumping in until I'm almost waist-deep in the white stuff.

How to use Measure

(Image credit: Future)

Using Measure, which also includes a level, is easy.

I opened the app and then pointed the camera array at the ground, choosing a spot where we had neatly shoveled down from the top of the snow pile to my sidewalk

Measure automatically detects the ground, and once it's done, you can tap to set a start point for your measurement. After that, I slowly pull the phone up while I watch the measurement appear on screen, rolling out almost like a fabric measuring tape. The current total appears to be midway along the line.

Once I reached the top of a pile, I taped again to capture the measurement. The first one said 19 inches. I then chose a slightly higher plateau and measured out 22 inches.

I could find higher drifts, but I was looking for whatever represented the untouched (or unblown) totals. I think around 20 inches is where we're at.

If you were in this storm's path and want to know just how much snow you got, don't go hunting for a ruler or yardstick. Just unpocket your iPhone, open Measure, and start collecting and sharing your totals.

I'd love to share more tips, butI have to finish digging out...

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Lenovo is the latest victim of the RAM crisis, and states, 'there's no way around' upcoming March price hikes

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• Lenovo has warned its partners of March price hikes for select products
• The price hikes are a result of the ongoing RAM crisis
• Lenovo is yet another company to be hit by the RAM crisis in 2026

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The RAM crisis is spiraling out of control, with multiple PC hardware manufacturers, companies, and resellers forced to implement price hikes – and unfortunately, the latest victim is a renowned consumer PC brand, Lenovo.

As reported by CRN, Lenovo has warned its partners of upcoming price hikes for select products, including consumer PCs, in March, due to the RAM crisis caused by the ongoing AI boom.

Partners have been encouraged to place orders on or before February 28 to stay aligned with "current pricing assumptions," specifically stating that orders received on February 28 that aren't shipped by March 31 "will need to be repriced", further highlighting Lenovo's urgent push for partners to avoid March's pricing adjustments.

Lenovo's North America VP and Channel Chief, Wade McFarland, stated: "Pricing is influenced by both order and timing and fulfillment timing, and Lenovo reviews pricing periodically in response to evolving market conditions."

Regarding those price increases and orders for its wide range of hardware, Lenovo stressed, "We've absolutely had to adjust and continue to adjust [terms]. There's no way around it."

It's quite clear that the impact of the RAM crisis is substantial for Lenovo, and it won't be long before consumers see price changes on its devices, likely including the Lenovo Legion Go 2 handheld gaming PC.

(Image credit: Lenovo)

Consumers should act fast too

It's now easy to say that the current state of the PC hardware market is unprecedented, with demand for memory from AI datacenters causing almost a total collapse in stability.

Prices are higher than ever before as the crisis is forcing manufacturers to rethink strategies, and Lenovo joins the likes of Valve, which is facing memory and storage shortages and has its Steam Deck OLED handheld intermittently out of stock as a result.

While Lenovo's urgent message is to its partners, it's also one consumers should consider. Prices for its handhelds, laptops, and consumer PCs are likely going to see major price increases, and now may be the only chance to beat the inevitable impact.

The market is a chaotic state of affairs, and now the only question we can ask is how much worse can the RAM crisis possibly get?

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NYT Strands hints and answers for Tuesday, February 24 (game #723)

Looking for a different day?

A new NYT Strands puzzle appears at midnight each day for your time zone – which means that some people are always playing 'today's game' while others are playing 'yesterday's'. If you're looking for Monday's puzzle instead then click here: NYT Strands hints and answers for Monday, February 23 (game #722).

Strands is the NYT's latest word game after the likes of Wordle, Spelling Bee and Connections – and it's great fun. It can be difficult, though, so read on for my Strands hints.

Want more word-based fun? Then check out my NYT Connections today and Quordle today pages for hints and answers for those games, and Marc's Wordle today page for the original viral word game.

SPOILER WARNING: Information about NYT Strands today is below, so don't read on if you don't want to know the answers.

NYT Strands today (game #723) - hint #1 - today's theme

What is the theme of today's NYT Strands?

• Today's NYT Strands theme is… Just for reference

NYT Strands today (game #723) - hint #2 - clue words

Play any of these words to unlock the in-game hints system.

• PAID
• RISK
• DIARY
• TOOL
• DUETS
• HEARD

NYT Strands today (game #723) - hint #3 - spangram letters

How many letters are in today's spangram?

• Spangram has 8 letters

NYT Strands today (game #723) - hint #4 - spangram position

What are two sides of the board that today's spangram touches?

First side: left, 8th row

Last side: right, 1st row

Right, the answers are below, so DO NOT SCROLL ANY FURTHER IF YOU DON'T WANT TO SEE THEM.

NYT Strands today (game #723) - the answers

(Image credit: New York Times)

The answers to today's Strands, game #723, are…

• ENCYCLOPEDIA
• DIRECTORY
• THESAURUS
• DICTIONARY
• SPANGRAM: LOOKITUP

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• My rating: Easy
• My score: Perfect

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The very first thing I thought of when I saw the theme “just for reference” was ENCYCLOPEDIA — possibly the hardest word to hide in Strands game and one that was instantly spotted.

DIRECTORY was slightly harder, but with just four game words, and a diagonal spangram that neatly divided the board, the biggest challenge today was connecting the letters of THESAURUS correctly.

Although versions of all four of these reference materials exist in multiple formats, I find it hard to imagine them as anything other than books from the pre-digital age. There are plenty of benefits to this — specifically the joy of the random page turning and learning a new fact or word.

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Yesterday's NYT Strands answers (Monday, February 23, game #722)

• BRIDGE
• BODY
• FRETBOARD
• NECK
• HEADSTOCK
• PEGS
• STRING
• SPANGRAM: GUITAR

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What is NYT Strands?

Strands is the NYT's not-so-new-any-more word game, following Wordle and Connections. It's now a fully fledged member of the NYT's games stable that has been running for a year and which can be played on the NYT Games site on desktop or mobile.

I've got a full guide to how to play NYT Strands, complete with tips for solving it, so check that out if you're struggling to beat it each day.

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