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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 syncApple 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 rebuildThe Samsung Galaxy Note 7 running TouchWizApple’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.
You might also likeHow 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"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 connectionI'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 promptsPerhaps 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 likeAfter 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
- The Outer Worlds 2 officially launches on October 29 for PS5, Xbox Series X, Xbox Series S, and PC
- Obsidian Entertainment revealed a new story trailer packed with gameplay at the Xbox Games Showcase
- The Outer Worlds 2 Direct also offered a more in-depth look at the game
Obsidian Entertainment has announced that The Outer Worlds 2 will launch on October 29 for PS5, Xbox Series X, Xbox Series S, and PC. It will also be a day-one release for Xbox Game Pass.
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.
We also have a new game description: "As a daring and most likely good-looking Earth Directorate agent, you must uncover the source of devastating rifts threatening to destroy all of humanity.
"Your investigation leads to Arcadia, home of skip drive technology, where the fate of the colony, and ultimately the entire galaxy, rests on your decisions-your strengths, your flaws, your crew, and the factions you choose to trust."
Like the first game, players can build their character with the abilities and choices that reflect their playstyle and craft a narrative of their own.
Pre-orders are now live.
You might also like...- The Blood of Dawnwalker just got a new trailer
- The game is set to release in 2026
- It's being led by former The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt game director Konrad Tomaszkiewicz
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's description reads.
In the trailer, we see plenty of its creepy medieval world and lots of vampire action.
You might also like...- A new Pixel Watch feature has been spotted
- It would auto-lock your phone if your watch was disconnected
- We're not sure when the feature may launch
Code spotted in the latest Pixel Watch app for Android suggests there's a new feature on the way for the Google Pixel Watch 3 and older models: the ability to have your phone automatically lock itself when it's out of range of your smartwatch.
This code was found by the team at Android Authority, and while it hasn't been enabled yet – and there's no word yet on when it might be – the feature would be a useful security upgrade if you pair a Pixel Watch with an Android smartphone.
The idea is that if someone should swipe your phone without you knowing, or if you should happen to leave your handset behind without realizing it, you'd have the reassurance that your phone would automatically lock itself.
According to the newly discovered code, this feature could be called 'lock on disconnect' or something along those lines. With a little tweaking, one user has managed to make the setting show up in their Pixel Watch app.
Extra functionalityThe Google Pixel Watch 3 (Image credit: Google)This isn't something that's currently offered by any other wearable at the moment – including the best Apple Watches – though you can of course remotely lock an Android phone at any time using the Find My Device service from Google.
With no official announcement about this feature, it's difficult to predict when we might see it rolled out. Nothing was said at the recent Google I/O 2025 conference, but Google does tend to roll out software updates all across the year.
Presumably, once the feature goes live for Pixel Watch devices, it might then be pushed out into the code for Wear OS. That would then enable wearables like the Samsung Galaxy Watch 7 and Samsung Galaxy Watch Ultra to take advantage of it.
What you can already do with your Pixel Watch is use it to unlock your smartphone: so if the watch is nearby, you don't need to keep unlocking your phone. This would be a useful extra function to add to that, once it eventually rolls out.
You might also like- InXile Entertainment's Clockwork Revolution has a new gameplay trailer
- The game has immersive sim elements, and looks to have character creation
- Lots of top British humor and banter, we approve
InXile Entertainment has unveiled a brand new look at its first-person steampunk action game, Clockwork Revolution.
During the Xbox Games Showcase 2025, the studio offered our most in-depth look at the game yet. We got our first look at first-person action, time-travelling mechanics, and a futuristic, steampunk setting filled with a variety of enemy types. It seems very Bioshock meets Dishonored.
The game, which was first announced during the Xbox Games Showcase 2023, is coming to Xbox Series X, Xbox Series S, and PC, but we unfortunately don't have a release date yet.
"Clockwork Revolution is a time-bending steampunk first-person RPG. After stumbling across an incredible invention that allows you to travel into the past, you discover the city you call home—the vibrant steam-powered metropolis of Avalon—has been carefully crafted through the alteration of historical events," the blurb reads.
"By traveling back to key moments, your interactions and choices will have a butterfly effect on the deep, narrative-driven world and characters of Avalon, causing them to change and react in unprecedented ways."
Again, no release date just yet, with the trailer ending on a message stating: "Coming in due time." Hopefully we'll learn more about this ambitious immersive sim shooter sometime in the near future.
- Corsair One i600 comes in a choice of wood and metal finishes, combining beauty and performance
- It's powered by an Intel Core Ultra 9 285K processor and Nvidia’s GeForce RTX 5080 GPU
- It has a full range of ports for pro-grade tasks and whisper quiet liquid cooling
The Corsair ONE i600 is a compact workstation PC that, that for me, really stands out in both design and performance.
There are two finishes available – Metal Dark and Wood Dark. The latter is the most eye-catching and combines dark recycled aluminum with real FSC-certified walnut wood side panels. Every panel has a unique grain, giving each unit a slightly different finish.
It’s not just the outside where the Corsair ONE i600 shines of course. Inside there’s Intel’s Core Ultra 9 285K processor, paired with Nvidia’s GeForce RTX 5080 GPU. The system is built for heavy creative workloads, gaming, and AI applications, with 64GB of DDR5-6400 RAM.
Liquid cooled performanceStorage is spread across two M.2 NVMe SSDs, 2TB each for a total of 4TB, configured to separate system and project files or gaming libraries. There's also an additional 2TB secondary drive, giving users even more options for local data storage.
To keep temperatures in check, Corsair includes dual 240mm liquid coolers, one for the CPU and another for the GPU. Corsair says this setup runs quietly, even under heavy load, with fan noise typically staying under 35dBA.
A tri-spoke vent design helps maximize passive airflow within the micro-ATX chassis.
On the outside, users get access to a full suite of ports. Up front, there are two USB 3.1 Gen 1 ports, a USB 3.2 Gen 2 Type-C, and a combo headphone/mic jack. Around back, connectivity includes a USB 20Gbps Type-C port, a USB 10Gbps Type-A port, four USB 5Gbps Type-A ports, and two legacy USB 2 ports.
Networking options are 2.5G Ethernet, Wi-Fi 7, and Bluetooth 5.4 support included as standard.
The system draws power from a 1000W SFX 80 PLUS Gold power supply and runs Windows 11 Home out of the box. It weighs 15kg and ships with a two-year warranty.
With customizable front-panel lighting and Corsair’s control software for thermal and lighting management, the i600 is aimed at those who want power without compromising on form. It’s priced at $4,999.99 and available now.
You might also like- These are the best mini PC choices around right now
- And these are best mobile workstations to suit your every need
- HP's Ryzen AI Max+ Pro 395 laptop with 128GB RAM goes on sale everywhere in the US
- Don't Nod has announced its next game, Aphelion, at the Xbox Games Showcase 2025
- The game is coming to Xbox Series X, Xbox Series S, PS5, and PC in 2026
- The sci-fi action-adventure game follows astronaut Ariane, who is stranded on the frozen planet and must rescue her wounded partner, Thomas
Don't Nod has announced Aphelion, a new sci-fi action-adventure game, coming to Xbox Series X, Xbox Series S, PS5, and PC in 2026.
Revealed during the Xbox Games Showcase alongside an action-packed gameplay trailer, the game follows the protagonist and astronaut Ariane, who is stranded on the frozen planet Persephone.
She must survive and brave the landscapes and shifting realities of the planet to rescue her wounded partner, Thomas.
The end of the trailer also seemed to hint at something more sinister, so the sci-fi adventure game could take a turn.
Don't Nod also confirmed that the game will blend exploration, traversal, and "tense stealth gameplay", and that players will have to avoid "lurking threats" and uncover "haunting secrets buried beneath the ice".
"By 2060, Earth will be uninhabitable. The discovery of a 9th planet – Persephone – at the edge of the solar system, is humanity’s best hope," the game's blurb reads.
"The European Space Agency is dispatching the Hope 01 scientific mission, consisting of 2 of their accomplished astronauts, Ariane and Thomas. Their mission: to survey the planet and determine whether humanity can prosper anew here.
"Your adventure begins in chaos, as the crash landing of their ship scatters them across the planet, launching them on a desperate quest to find one another."
Although the game doesn't launch until 2026, you can wishlist it right now.
You might also like...- The Persona 4 remake is official and known as Persona 4 Revival
- No release date yet, and with only a short teaser here, it could be a ways off
- It looks like it'll be available on Xbox Game Pass on day one
Following months of rumors, Atlus has formally announced the Persona 4 remake, now known as Persona 4 Revival.
Revealed during the Xbox Games Showcase, Persona 4 Revival is officially coming to PS5, Xbox Series X, Xbox Series S, and PC, and it's confirmed to be a full remake just like Persona 3 Reload.
Unfortunately, there's no release date yet, but from the short teaser trailer, we know that the game won't have a fixed perspective camera like the original game, and will now allow players to explore their surroundings with a full 360 camera.
The small fictional Japanese town of Inaba has never looked better, and we even got snippets of the game's iconic soundtrack. These don't seem to be remixed versions in the trailer, but I do expect a remixed soundtrack here similar to how Atlus did with Persona 3 Reload.
The short teaser trailer for Persona 4 Revival also has an Xbox Game Pass logo at the end, suggesting the game will be available on the subscription service on day one. While it's just Xbox platforms that have been confirmed for release at present, Persona 4 Revival will most likely release on PS5, PC and perhaps Nintendo Switch 2.
It also remains to be seen if Persona 4 Revival will contain all the bonus content and extra story content from the Persona 4 Golden re-release. Hopefully, we'll learn more about this upcoming game later this year.
You might also like...Microsoft has 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 ROG Ally comes in two variants. While both machines have a 7-inch 1080p display with a 120Hz refresh rate, a white Xbox Ally version targets 720p gaming, somewhat like the Valve Steam Deck, and a the black Xbox Ally X console 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.
(Image credit: Microsoft)Unlike Asus' current ROG Ally 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).
⬛ 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 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 have a 3.5mm headphone jack, and offer Wi-Fi 6E and Bluetooth 5.4 connectivity.
Windows 11 meets Xbox customization (Image credit: Microsoft)While the ROG Xbox Ally and Xbox Ally X are attention grabbing, the current crop of handheld PCs already have Xbox game support via Windows 11 and Xbox Cloud Gaming. But the experience hasn't always been slick, with there being a solid argument that Windows can hold back handheld gaming, especially when compared to the Steam Deck.
But Microsoft has worked to optimize Windows to work particularly well on the Xbox Allys, with the operating system booting into new full-screen Xbox experience, which pulls in Xbox games, as well as those from other storefronts/PC gaming platforms such as Steam and the Epic Games Store.
Tweaks to the Xbox app and the Game Bar have been made to help them be more handheld-friendly, and the latter to integrate Asus' Armoury Crate.
All of this should make it easier to access Xbox games, other PC games, cloud streaming and apps like Discord from one easy interface.
If the Xbox Allys can deliver on solid handheld performance, we could be looking at an impressive alternative, or in some cases a complementary console, to the Steam Deck.
And these Allys will need to impress given the Nintendo Switch 2 is holding a lot of the handheld gaming linelight; check out our Nintendo Switch 2 restocks coverage for a taste of how it's kinda tricky to get Nintendo's console. But a portable Xbox in this Ally guise is definitely worthy of stealing some brief attention from the Switch 2.
Right now, we don't have any detail on the ROG Xbox Ally and Xbox Ally X's release date or price, but expect the latter to be in line with what the current Allys cost.
Are you interested and keen for an Xbox Ally? Let me know in the comments.
You might also like- The Outer Worlds 2 gets an official October release date at the Xbox Games Showcase
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