News

NordVPN Debuts Scam Call Protection for Android in an Effort to Help Protect You From Spam Calls - Tuesday, July 29, 2025 - 12:59
NordVPN is already a great VPN for Android, and now the company aims to warn you about spam calls on mobile devices.
ChatGPT Study Mode Aims to Circumvent the Brain Atrophy Problem With AI in Education - Tuesday, July 29, 2025 - 13:00
Study Mode won't just give students an answer -- it'll try to continue working with them to help them get to the correct conclusion.
Best Phone to Buy for 2025 - Tuesday, July 29, 2025 - 13:03
From Samsung's Galaxy Z Fold 7 and Google's Pixel 9A to Apple's iPhone 16 series, these are the best phones that we've tested and reviewed.
New iOS 18.6 Update Is Out: Change These 10 Essential Settings Now - Tuesday, July 29, 2025 - 14:54
Customize your iOS 18 settings to make the most of your everyday iPhone experience.
15 Sneaky Places You've Probably Forgotten to Clean - Tuesday, July 29, 2025 - 15:15
A cleaning expert weighs in on the most neglected areas in our homes.
Today's NYT Connections Hints, Answers and Help for July 30, #780 - Tuesday, July 29, 2025 - 16:00
Here are some hints and the answers for the NYT Connections puzzle for July 30, #780.
Today's NYT Strands Hints, Answers and Help for July 30 #514 - Tuesday, July 29, 2025 - 16:00
Here are hints and answers for the NYT Strands puzzle for July 30 No. 514.
Today's Wordle Hints, Answer and Help for July 30, #1502 - Tuesday, July 29, 2025 - 16:00
Here are hints and the answer for today's Wordle for July 30, No. 1,502.
Today's NYT Connections: Sports Edition Hints and Answers for July 30, #310 - Tuesday, July 29, 2025 - 16:00
Here are hints and the answers for the NYT Connections: Sports Edition puzzle for July 30, No. 310.
All PS Plus Subscribers Can Play Lies of P and Other Games This August - Tuesday, July 29, 2025 - 16:52
PlayStation Plus subscribers can access these games starting Aug. 5.
NotebookLM Gets Video Overviews, Along With Upgraded Studio Panel - Tuesday, July 29, 2025 - 16:59
Audio Overviews get a new look, and the Studio panel sports a redesign with expanded capabilities.
SpaceX's Crew-11 Is Heading to the ISS on July 31. Here's How to Watch - Tuesday, July 29, 2025 - 17:05
After the launch, the crew will be in orbit for 39 hours before docking with the International Space Station.
Windows 10 is ten years old and it had some of the best and worst ideas ever - Tuesday, July 29, 2025 - 10:42

I'm writing this Windows 10 tribute on a MacBook Air, which tells you exactly how well my relationship with Windows is going. Even so, back in the day, Windows 10 was a broadly good iteration of Microsoft's venerable platform, and it was also a showcase for one of Microsoft's most quixotic efforts: Cortana.

Microsoft and Windows were my jam, and I spent decades covering every version of Windows from Windows 3.1 to Windows 11, but Windows 10 was special. It fixed so many missteps, all while taking a rather huge digital assistant and other swings.

Now, though, we celebrate Windows 10's tenth birthday with the specter of its demise looming in October. That's when Microsoft will officially stop supporting Windows 10. Until quite recently, it was overwhelmingly Microsoft's most popular Windows version. Windows 11, its adoption held back in part by stringent TPM 2.0 security requirements that many still-new PCs could not meet, has in recent months surged to essentially match the Windows 10 install base.

According to StatCounter: Windows 10 is falling and Windows 11 is on the rise. (Image credit: Statcounter)Some of the best stuff

Windows 10 was one of the upgrades that introduced bold new furniture without redesigning the whole house. The platform felt familiar, but I remember bumping into a cluster of new ideas, some that stuck and others that were dropped by the time Windows 11 arrived.

This was the update where Microsoft finally shoved aside the much-maligned Internet Explorer in favor of Microsoft Edge. Over time, it grew into my favorite web browser, one I loved for its vertical tabs, speed, and stability. It's still a distant third in browser market share, behind Safari and Chrome, even though it uses the same Web engine, Chromium, as Chrome.

Windows 10 introduced Windows Hello, a biometric security system so new that most PCs at the time didn't fully support it. The face ID system relied on 3D scanning, which used standard and IR cameras to map a face. Even the laptop I tested Windows 10 on in 2015, a Surface Pro 3, couldn't fully support Windows Hello, though subsequent Surfaces would all ship with it as standard equipment. I loved how easy it was to unlock my PC and that it was virtually impossible to fool.

There were other nifty bits like the Action Center, which thankfully replaced Windows 8-style Charms, and the Xbox App, which brought the console's profile management and other gaming features to the Windows platform.

Like most of the best platform updates, Windows 10 remained fantastically familiar with unchanged Printer menu, Device Manager, File Manager, File Folders, and Recycle Bin. Some might argue, as I did at the time, that Microsoft was still struggling to go more than skin deep with its Windows updates. After all, the inscrutable Registry was still a thing. But to know and love Windows is to understand that it's still the world's most widely used platform. Fundamental changes to the core of the OS risk breaking Windows for millions of users and, possibly, rendering some of their trusted hardware and systems incompatible. I always appreciated the care Microsoft took in not severing these critical connections.

Not all the great ideas

(Image credit: Shutterstock)

There were still vestiges of Windows 8 oddities living on in Windows 10, like Continuum, which could transform Windows into a touch-first interface for use on tablets like the Surface Pro. I know, no one uses Surface devices without keyboards, but Microsoft always positioned the convertibles as, well, convertibles. They thought the Surface Pro could ably compete with both the iPad and the MacBook Air. In the end, all Surface devices, those with or without detachable keyboards, mostly compete with traditional laptops. Continuum's disappearance in Windows 11 is mourned by no one.

This brings us to Cortana, Microsoft's biggest Windows 10 idea.

Cortana was not, in and of itself, new. After all, Microsoft took the name and modeled the digital voice assistant on Master Chief's helpful (and occasionally murderous) AI companion in the company's popular Halo console game series.

In Windows 10, Cortana occupied critical real estate next to the start button. It essentially replaced Search. You could talk to it and ask it to manage some system tasks. It was even a bit conversational. That's right, years before ChatGPT, Copilot, and Gemini, Microsoft had us talking to our computers.

Here's how, in 2015, I described an early interaction with Cortana:

"Cortana can be smart and sassy. When I told her to "turn on Bluetooth," she perfectly interpreted my speech and, because she has access to system-level tools, told me (in her Halo-esque Cortana voice) that she had turned on Bluetooth. And when I asked Cortana, “Flights in Denver,” she correctly interpreted it and launched a webpage featuring MSN Travel results for flights. Later I asked her if she would marry me and she responded: "Among a handful of challenges, I don't think the Supreme Court would approve just yet." She's such a card."

Some things never change.

Cortana was as adept at written queries as she was at spoken ones and could even launch a Bing search for web-based queries, which is ironic since Bing's big ChatGPT-powered AI glow-up marked the end of the line for Cortana. Microsoft ended Cortana's standalone app existence in 2023, right around the time it introduced Bing AI, which was built on ChatGPT, and that eventually became Copilot.

What Windows 11 got wrong

(Image credit: Microsoft)

Windows 11, which arrived roughly six years after Windows 10 is arguably a better version of Windows, ushering in one of the platform's most radical redesigns, including a divisive, centered task bar, finally redesigned core app icons, and a deeply integrated Copilot that is riding the AI interrest wave to a prominence Cortana could only dream of.

Still, Microsoft's insistence on requiring TPM 2.0 support when it knew that vast numbers of consumers owned PCs that didn't include that was the opposite of the classic Windows big-tent approach: support everyone, make everyone happy. To be fair. Better security is better for everyone, but if Microsoft knew it was going to do that, it should've given Microsoft customers five years' notice and worked with Windows system partners to sell them all TPM 2.0-ready PCs.

I celebrate and will ultimately miss Windows 10. It's the bridge between the iconic Windows many of us grew up with and all that it would become in the 21st century. In it, Microsoft was willing to try big ideas, all while still holding its arms open for a deep embrace of all Windows PC owners. Windows 11 never felt like that, and now, as everyone is herded onto the Windows 11 and soon, Windows 12 train, it's worth taking one last look back at maybe the best Windows there ever was or will be.

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Modern Warfare 2 and Modern Warfare 3 are being removed from Call of Duty HQ to become standalone downloads - Tuesday, July 29, 2025 - 10:54
  • Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 2 and Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 3 will be removed from Call of Duty HQ today
  • Both games will need to be reinstalled as standalone downloads
  • Legacy content related to Modern Warfare 2 and Modern Warfare 3 modes will be automatically removed from the main Call of Duty install on August 7

Activision has announced new changes to Call of Duty HQ that will see the removal of two games.

As detailed in a new Steam blog post, starting today at 9am PT / 5pm BST / 12pm ET, Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 2 and Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 3 will be removed from the Call of Duty HQ game launcher and main install to become standalone downloads.

When the change goes into effect, players will be required to redownload each game separately to access them.

The publisher also said that legacy content related to Modern Warfare 2 and Modern Warfare 3 modes within the main Call of Duty install will be automatically removed on August 7, "to free up storage space", but operators and weapons for Warzone won't be impacted.

Activision didn't give a reason for the latest change, but it was likely made in anticipation of Black Ops 7, which is planned to be released later this year and be part of Call of Duty HQ.

Last year's Black Ops 6 will remain on the launcher, so the decision could be down to simply wanting to free up hard drive space for players.

Black Ops 7 was announced last month during the Xbox Games Showcase 2025 and will be released for PS5, Xbox Series X, Xbox Series S, and PC.

Developed by Treyarch and Raven Software, the latest entry will return to a futuristic setting and be set in 2035, 10 years after the events of Black Ops 2.

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Razer reveals a brand-new gaming headset line, and for once, console gamers won't miss out - Tuesday, July 29, 2025 - 11:00
  • Razer has revealed a new line of BlackShark V3 Pro headsets
  • There are dedicated versions for PC, PlayStation, and Xbox
  • It's part of the brand's wider push into the console space

Gaming hardware brand Razer has unveiled the new Razer BlackShark V3 Pro line, with dedicated options for PC, PlayStation, and Xbox gamers.

A successor to the already excellent Razer BlackShark V2 Pro, a hugely popular headset that we awarded four and a half out of five stars in our review, the Razer BlackShark V3 Pro introduces hybrid active noise cancellation (ANC) for the first time in a BlackShark headset.

It features four microphones to detect and help filter out background noise, plus comfortable memory foam ear cups to provide an ideal fit.

It's also the first Razer headset to benefit from the brand's new Gen-2 HyperSpeed Wireless technology, reducing audio latency as low as a claimed 10 milliseconds. That, according to Razer, puts it well ahead of the competition and makes it an ideal choice for professional gamers.

In addition to a slightly revised overall design, there have been substantial changes under the hood. The headset now has Gen-2 Triforce 50mm drivers with bio-cellulose diaphragms, completely redesigned for more precise audio and spatial accuracy.

The microphone has also been upgraded, with a whopping 48kHz sample rate that puts it in competition with some of the best microphones for streaming right now.

The Razer BlackShark V3 Pro launches in three variants, each tailored to its distinct platforms. The PC version supports THX Spatial Audio, while the PlayStation variant is fully compatible with Tempest 3D Audio. The Xbox options, then, are designed with Windows Sonic spatial sound in mind.

All three cost $249.99 / £249.99 each, and come in either Black or White colorways. While the Xbox and PC versions are available now, the PlayStation variant will hit shelves at a later date.

They release alongside the more affordable Razer BlackShark V3 and entry-level Razer BlackShark V3 X HyperSpeed. Both of these models also come in distinct PC, PlayStation, and Xbox flavors.

Razer goes all-in on the console space

(Image credit: Razer)

The launch of these new headsets represents something of a shift for the traditionally very PC-focused hardware brand, which is now aiming to become a major player in the console space.

"So I think in the past, we had really worked as very separate entities as far as PC and console were concerned," explains Razer senior product evangelist Paige Sander.

"We took a step back and realized that, as we have so much credibility and innovation in the PC space, why not take some of those iconic things, like BlackShark V2 Pro or like our mouse click switches, and bring them to our console products?"

In the end, "it's about bringing those innovations to console gamers so that they get the same level of performance and esports-focused features", though Sander admits that there are some special considerations when designing a console product.

"The most important thing is making sure that it's really optimized for the platform that it's built for. That's why we do driver tuning specifically on the platforms, to make sure that the audio is really dialed in," she says. "Also, things like the 3.5mm jack. We know that many console gamers like to plug headsets directly into their controllers, so we made sure that that feature was present."

Razer is also carefully considering feedback from pro players, a formula that has proven successful for its PC products.

"We also worked specifically with pros in the console space 'Snip3down' on Xbox, 'Shotzzy' on PlayStation," Sander reveals.

"These are their preferred platforms when they're gaming, and so we made sure to work directly with them on the development of their FPS profiles, on some of the design elements like the subtle Xbox and PlayStation stitching that you'll see on our headsets."

According to market research firm Circana, the Razer BlackShark V2 Pro is currently the most popular PC gaming headset in the US.

Will Razer find similar success in the console market? Only time will tell, but I'm certainly looking forward to taking these new models for a spin.

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Google Gemini security flaw could have let anyone access systems or run code - Tuesday, July 29, 2025 - 11:25
  • Gemini could automatically run certain commands that were previously placed on an allow-list
  • If a benign command was paired with a malicious one, Gemini could execute it without warning
  • Version 0.1.14 addresses the flaw, so users should update now

A security flaw in Google’s new Gemini CLI tool allowed threat actors to target software developers with malware, even exfiltrating sensitive information from their devices, without them ever knowing.

The vulnerability was discovered by cybersecurity researchers from Tracebit just days after Gemini CLI was first launched on June 25, 2025.

Google released a fix with the version 0.1.14, which is now available for download.

Hiding the attack in plain sight

Gemini CLI is a tool that lets developers talk to Google’s AI (called Gemini) directly from the command line. It can understand code, make suggestions, and even run commands on the user’s device.

The problem stems from the fact that Gemini could automatically run certain commands that were previously placed on an allow-list. According to Tracebit, there was a way to sneak hidden, malicious instructions into files that Gemini reads, like README.md.

In one test, a seemingly harmless command was paired with a malicious one that exfiltrated sensitive information (such as system variables or credentials) to a third-party server.

Because Gemini thought it was just a trusted command, it didn’t warn the user or ask for approval. Tracebit also says the malicious command could be hidden using clever formatting, so users wouldn’t even see it happening.

"The malicious command could be anything (installing a remote shell, deleting files, etc),” the researchers explained.

The attack is not that easy to pull off, though. It requires a little setting up, including having a trusted command on the allow-list, but it could still be used to trick unsuspecting developers into running dangerous code.

Google has now patched the problem, and if you’re using Gemini CLI, make sure to update to version 0.1.14 or newer as soon as possible. Also, make sure not to run it on unknown, or untrusted code (unless you’re in a secure test environment).

Via BleepingComputer

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Warner Bros. Discovery is changing its name (again) – here’s what that means for HBO Max and Discovery+ - Tuesday, July 29, 2025 - 11:46
  • Warner Bros. Discovery will soon be Warner Bros. and Discovery Global
  • HBO Max and Discovery+ will be split under the new corporate entities
  • TNT Sports, Bleacher Reports and CNN will move to Discovery Global

Warner Bros. Discovery (WBD) will soon be Warner Bros. once more. Following the announcement in early June that the media company would separate into two, WBD has revealed the new corporate names of its new businesses.

Like it did with HBO Max at the start of the month, which changed back to HBO Max after a two-year stint as Max (who could forget the Spider-Men meme that HBO Max's chief marketing officer Shauna Spenley shared during the rebrand's announcement), WBD is reverting back to the name it's most commonly known as.

V2 approved by legal. pic.twitter.com/uUhH3RU4T6May 14, 2025

The change will take effect in mid-2026 and will see Warner Bros. become the home of Warner Bros. Television, Warner Bros. Motion Picture Group, DC Studios, HBO, HBO Max and Warner Bros. Gaming Studios, as well as the studio's legendary movie and TV content.

Meanwhile, the newly formed Discovery Global will include the TV networks CNN, TNT Sports in the US, Discovery, and some free-to-air channels across Europe such as Quest and Food Network as well as streaming services such as the Discovery+ and the Bleacher Report (B/R).

Effectively, the split means that Warner Bros. will house all of WBD's main streaming services and studios, while Discovery Global will become the place for premier entertainment, sports and news networks.

The decision to split Warner Bros. and Discovery Global is similar to Comcast's plan to spinoff NBCUniversal's struggling cable portfolio into a new company called Versant. Just like Warner Bros., NBCU will be the new home for its studios, the streaming service Peacock, and the networks NBC and Bravo.

What does the Warner Bros. and Discovery Global split mean for subscribers?

The decline of linear TV is no secret. Since the introduction of the best streaming services, on-demand content has grown significantly in popularity, particularly for its accessibility, flexible pricing and convenience.

That's left cable networks scrambling to tempt back viewers, and as a result many media companies have launched streaming services of their own to counter the decline in profits and help balance the financial strain.

One way to help offset that debt is to restructure a business, which is exactly what WBD has done, splitting off its burdened cable networks from its most profitable assets, including its streaming service HBO Max.

However, the move also means that its other streaming platforms, Discovery+ and CNN (not the service that was shut down in 2022 but the new one launching later this year), will now be part of Discovery Global. While the platform – which is known for real-life entertainment and includes content from networks such as Magnolia Network, HGTV, Food Network, TLC, ID, Animal Planet and the Discovery Channel – will remain independent, subscribers can expect some changes to the content they see.

The biggest potential change is that HBO Max will likely no longer be the home for sports content from its TNT Sports and Bleacher Reports networks in the US. That will likely be the same for CNN content that's currently available on HBO Max, too (although WBD has said that CNN Max will remain, despite the launch of its new standalone service).

However, while that's not yet confirmed for those in the US, a WBD spokesperson has reportedly told RXTV that TNT Sports will be available on HBO Max when it eventually launches in the UK sometime in 2026.

It's not yet clear how the split will impact the content you see on HBO Max and Discovery+, but considering that both platforms have been merging some of their content together in the years since WarnerMedia merged with Discovery, there's bound to be some changes to subscribers next year as the two companies separate.

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Netflix really didn’t need to do another Pride and Prejudice remake, and this bungled casting announcement proves it - Tuesday, July 29, 2025 - 11:53

While it has no release date, Netflix’s upcoming Pride and Prejudice adaptation now has a fully confirmed cast. Olivia Colman and Rufus Sewell will lead the Bennet family, with Emma Corrin, Freya Mavor, Hopey Parish, Holley Avery and Rhea Norwood as the infamous Bennet women. Jack Lowden will be our Mr. Darcey, with Daryl McCormack as Mr. Bingley. The names don’t stop there, though, with Fiona Shaw playing Lady Catherine de Bourgh and Jamie Demetriou joining as Mr. Collins.

However, none of these characters are who I actually have an issue with. You might have noticed that there are a lot of Jane Austen adaptations that have graced our screens over the years. From the infamous Pride and Prejudice movies that helped give the tale the cultural capital it has today, to Netflix’s previous take on Austen’s Persuasion that got absolutely battered online, there’s been more than anyone could count. So, surely if you’re going to add yet another title to the pile, it has to be pitch perfect.

While the Bennet women totally hit the mark, it’s the casting of Mr. Wickham that has got my back up. Take one brick out of the pile and it all falls down, and much like a lost game of Jenga, Louis Partridge’s casting announcement is the one that spoils it all for Netflix.

Louis Partridge isn’t the right age fit for Mr. Wickham in Netflix’s Pride and Prejudice remake

Louis Partridge in The Lost Girls. (Image credit: Amazon Prime Video)

If you’ve read the original book – and just about every bookish girl in their 20s and 30s will be watching Dolly Alderton’s take with a scathing eye – you’ll know Mr. Wickham is an abhorrent man. A manipulative militia officer who (in 2025 terms) is a total wasteman, Wickham is best known for predatory behaviour, lying and gambling. In short, this means he needs to be a little older and more strung-out than the rest of his cast.

Enter 22-year-old Patridge, who is at least seven years younger than the majority of his immediate co-stars. While his long locks and chiseled jaw are objectively ideal for a period drama, his baby face and sweet eyes don’t match the abusive personality he’s been assigned. Even though he’s an incredibly promising actor, I’m not entirely convinced he’ll be able to pull this one off.

Of course, none of this is Partridge’s fault. It’s more of a testament to just how lazy the supposed best streaming service in the world is being when it comes to their adaptations. Considering how Persuasion went down the last time Netflix attempted Austen, it can’t even guarantee a healthy amount of viewers to make production worthwhile. So, what does the streamer think it can add to the value of one of the most famous fictional IPs? My guess is it doesn’t think it needs to, it’s merely riding on the coattails of a well-known story very few people dislike.

Netflix and Partridge, prove me wrong. If we really do stand to benefit from another Pride and Prejudice adaptation, I’m prepared to eat my bonnet. But If I’m right, and I suspect I am, no casting announcement in the world could save me from riding off on my high horse.

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Could VPNs be banned?! UK government to look "very closely" into their usage amid mass usage since the age verification row - Tuesday, July 29, 2025 - 11:55
  • UK's science secretary ensures there are no plans to ban VPNs
  • The government is, however, looking "very closely" at how VPNs are being used
  • VPN demand soared in the UK starting from Friday, July 25, 2025, as Brits look for ways to avoid new age checks

VPN demand in the UK has soared overnight since new age verification checks were enforced, as Brits look for ways to bypass new requirements. This has sparked concerns that authorities could end up banning their use.

The UK's science secretary, Peter Kyle, asserts there are no plans to ban VPNs. Kyle confirmed, however, that the government would be looking "very closely" at how the best VPN apps are being used.

"Some people are finding their way round [the legislation]. Very few children will be going actively out there searching for harmful content," said Kyle during an interview with Sky News today, July 29, 2025 – The Guardian reported.

A virtual private network (VPN) encrypts your internet connections, while spoofing you real IP address location. (Image credit: Getty Images)

Starting from Friday, July 25, 2025, all platforms displaying adult-only or harmful content must enforce robust age verification checks under the Online Safety Act.

As Ofcom explains on its website, "Just ticking a box to say you're over 18 will no longer be enough."

This means that all websites reserved for users over 18 must ensure minors never access their services via ID checks. Crucially, social media, dating apps, and gaming platforms are also expected to verify their users' age before displaying them potentially dangerous materials.

These new requirements have thus far sparked concerns regarding data privacy, security, free speech, and access to information.

A petition to repeal the UK Online Safety Act has already reached over 340,000 at the time of writing.

Reform UK's leader, Nigel Farage, is also strongly pushing to scrap what he described as a "borderline dystopian" legislation – The Guardian reported.

VPNs and age checks – what to know

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VPN services are a popular way to bypass geo-restrictions, like those imposed by streaming platforms. That's because a VPN spoofs your real IP address and assigns you a new, temporary one based in the same place as the VPN server you join. This makes it possible to trick the sites you visit into thinking you're in a different country.

Considering the sudden spike in VPN usage across the country, people in the UK are likely familiar with this.

A popular provider, Proton VPN, recorded an hourly increase of over 1,400% starting from Friday at midnight. AdGuard VPN also confirmed to TechRadar that sign-ups grew by 2.5 times in just a few days. Data from Top10VPN shows an ongoing surge in VPN demand of over 500% since Friday.

At the time of writing, using a VPN in the UK is completely legal, and using one to bypass the new age checks should not be considered a crime.

The UK's regulator body for online safety, Ofcom, however, is strongly suggesting against their use. Clearly, without much success so far.

Will the government find a way to prevent people from bypassing the new Online Safety Act's measures via VPNs?

It's too early to know for certain, but a ban seems to be off the cards – for now, at least.

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You might not have to wait long for the ROG Xbox Ally – a new leak suggests a launch may be sooner than you expect - Tuesday, July 29, 2025 - 11:58
  • A new leak suggests the ROG Xbox Ally X and ROG Xbox Ally will launch on August 20
  • This is the same date it will be available at Gamescom 2025 at the Xbox booth
  • A Hollow Knight: Silksong demo will also be available at Gamescom 2025...

Microsoft and Asus' ROG Xbox Ally X and ROG Xbox Ally handhelds were announced earlier in June, with an anticipated late 2025 launch date. However, that may not be as accurate as initially expected.

According to reliable leaker Billbil-kun via Dealabs, both ROG Xbox Ally models will launch on August 20, with pre-orders going live during Gamescom 2025. The new leak also corroborates the previous price rumors; the ROG Xbox Ally X will reportedly be priced at $899, and the ROG Xbox Ally at $599. Pricing in other regions could vary due to factors such as inflation and tariffs.

It's worth noting that Microsoft will be present at Gamescom in August, with hands-on opportunities for fans at the Xbox booth, so it lines up well with the leak suggesting an August 20 launch date. The long-anticipated Hollow Knight: Silksong will also be available to test at the popular large-scale game expo.

If this leak is legitimate, it could mean that Silksong will also launch on August 20, as Xbox President Sarah Bond previously confirmed that the title will be available on Game Pass at launch of the new handhelds. Essentially, it may act as a shadow drop, which Microsoft has done before with The Elder Scrolls 4: Oblivion Remastered, and August may be the month to look forward to for Xbox and PC fans.

While we still need to await Microsoft's full confirmation, it appears as though the ROG Xbox Ally handhelds will rival the MSI Claw A8, which has also been rumored to launch in August – and Microsoft and Asus may have the edge in that battle with a less expensive option.

(Image credit: Team Cherry)Analysis: The ROG Xbox Ally X's price is a huge dealbreaker, but at least there's a cheaper alternative

I've been highly critical of handheld gaming PC manufacturers lately due to the huge leap in pricing for new devices, and we can see the same thing happening here with the ROG Xbox Ally X. However, I'm pleased to at least see that there is an inexpensive alternative – which is one aspect some mainstream handheld makers like MSI consider with new releases.

Having seen the underwhelming performance leap from AMD's Ryzen Z1 Extreme to the Ryzen Z2 Extreme, I don't think I could recommend the ROG Xbox Ally X at $899. While it's using a slightly different Ryzen AI Z2 Extreme processor, I don't expect that to be too different from its standard version, at least when it comes to game performance.

As I stated in my previous piece, I'm not pleased to see prices nearly reach $1,000 for handheld gaming PCs, but gamers aren't necessarily being completely priced out here, with the Ryzen Z2 A ROG Xbox Ally model at $599. Of course, we still need official confirmation on pricing, but if the latter model's price is this low, I'll have to give credit where credit is due.

Let's just hope there's enough availability, and prices don't suddenly spiral out of control.

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