Before I continue, can we all just let out a collective sigh? Okay, now that's done, let's jump into it.

Just a week or so ago, I covered a few stories on Marvel's Blade. Todd Howard had recently seen the project and said it was progressing well, and the game's lead concept artist spoke on X regarding the game, both of which gave us a glimmer of hope that perhaps Arkane was safe and the game would eventually see the light of day.

Unfortunately, I have some bad news if this report from The Verge turns out to be accurate.

According to The Verge, Microsoft's next wave of Xbox layoffs is set for next week and could include studio closures or spin-offs, potential studio mergers, and canceled games. One of those games, according to the report, could be Marvel's Blade.

Now, it's important to mention that this is only something Microsoft is reportedly considering. The report also claims Xbox is exploring the possibility of selling Arkane.

In what is admittedly a bad situation all around, that would probably be the better outcome. I'd much rather see Xbox stick with the project and see it through, but Asha Sharma's reset appears to be focused on restructuring Xbox and returning the business to profitability.

The report also claims we could have seen Marvel's Blade as early as later this year before its internal release target reportedly slipped to late 2027. To me, that suggests the game may have been further along than many of us expected, although game development is unpredictable, so that's purely my own speculation.

I don't really want to drone on, because I think we're all painfully aware of what's potentially coming. It's going to be a difficult few weeks for Xbox fans, employees, and the wider games industry.

Gaming is supposed to be a hobby that helps us escape from everything else going on in the world, so it really does suck when those same problems keep finding their way into the industry we all enjoy so much.

With that said, I genuinely hope this remains something that's only being considered and that Arkane gets the chance to finish Marvel's Blade. Let me know your thoughts in the comments, and be sure to take part in our poll.

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Assassin's Creed Black Flag Resynced launches on July 9, 2026, for Xbox Series X|S, PlayStation 5, and PC, and we've just got our first look from Ubisoft at what console players can expect in terms of performance. Honestly, it's looking pretty solid.

The Xbox Series X keeps pace with the PlayStation 5 in terms of resolution and frame rate, while the PS5 Pro gains the edge thanks to its enhanced PSSR upscaling. Series S fans, however, are a bit out of luck, and I'm a little disappointed to see it.

While the game does support ray tracing on Series S and is upscaled to 1620p, players are limited to a single 30 FPS fidelity mode, with seemingly no access to the other graphics presets. On Series X and PS5, players can choose between Performance, Fidelity, and Balanced modes, with Performance targeting 60 FPS and Balanced targeting 40 FPS.

It feels like a missed opportunity not to offer some kind of 60fps mode on Series S, even if that meant dropping ray tracing and reducing the resolution to 1080p. That said, I've actually picked the game up anyway, mainly for my dad, who's a big Assassin's Creed fan. Since we share games, I'll be playing it too. It is a shame, though, that the game doesn't support Xbox Play Anywhere.

We also already know the game's PC system requirements. For those wondering how demanding it is, the minimum specs call for a GTX 1660 or AMD Radeon RX 5500 XT, 16GB of RAM, and either an Intel Core i7-8700K or Ryzen 5 3600. That'll get you 1080p at 30 FPS using the Low preset with standard ray tracing.

I'm actually looking forward to this remake. I never really got into Black Flag back in the day because I'd just finished Ezio's story and had started to lose interest in Assassin's Creed. Despite that, I've always heard it's one of the best entries in the series, so I'm excited to finally experience it for myself when it launches.

With that said, let me know what you think about the console and PC performance in the comments below, and don't forget to take part in our poll below:

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In a new report from GameFile, it was revealed that Xbox had been funding 1666: Amsterdam, a new game from the lead creator of Assassin's Creed, Patrice Désilets. However, in a story I'm sure we're all too familiar with, Microsoft reportedly pulled funding, similar to reports surrounding John Romero's game, where Xbox had reportedly met with Romero just a day before deciding to cancel funding.

For those out of the loop, 1666: Amsterdam is still coming out, and it's shaping up to be a story-driven, third-person action adventure spanning multiple time periods. You can even play as a cat, which I can imagine my girlfriend being quite into, considering we have three ourselves.

The game also currently has a 30-minute demo available on Steam and the Epic Games Store. From what I could gather, though, reception to the demo has been a bit mixed online. Interestingly, on release, the game is currently only coming to PC, though I assume consoles will come later; whether that includes Xbox or not is a mystery.

It's hard to say whether Xbox funding and publishing this game would've paid off. The game isn't out yet, and Xbox is currently undergoing a plethora of changes since Asha Sharma became CEO. As I'm sure we're all aware, her first 100 days were largely about scoring wins with fans.

However, the 100 days after that seem as though they may be far bleaker, with a major restructuring looming on the horizon. The results of that restructuring are still unknown, but that hasn't stopped negative rumors from swirling around Xbox, with some being disproven rather quickly. However, it feels like the wave of negativity around Xbox is stronger than ever.

Back to 1666: Amsterdam, though. It'll ultimately be a wait-and-see situation as to whether Xbox made the right decision to pull funding. Given the mixed reception to the demo, they may have made the right call, but it's still a shame to see what feels like a genuine passion project lose backing from what is, ultimately, a company worth trillions.

But let me know your thoughts. Are you excited for 1666: Amsterdam? Let me know in the comments, and be sure to take part in our poll!

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Grand Theft Auto 6 is fast approaching, and the rumors are already in full swing. Unlike some of the recent, more upsetting Xbox rumors, this is one I'm genuinely hoping turns out to be true. The claim comes from the same source that reportedly leaked The Witcher 3 DLC ahead of its official reveal, which gives this rumor at least some credibility.

Of course, it's still just a rumor, so it's worth taking with a grain of salt. Here's what they had to say: “Xbox Series S is being locked at 30 FPS right now, but they’re fighting to get it to 60 FPS. From what I’ve learned, they’re not 100% sure yet whether 60 FPS will be available at launch.”

It continues with more hints: “A source close to Rockstar, but I emphasize that this is a single source, but a very reliable one. It’s very likely, and ultimately, according to the information I’ve received, there will be two graphical modes: 30 and 60 FPS on PlayStation 5 and Xbox Series X.”

Interestingly, we could expect two graphics modes, which, I believe, might be a first for a Rockstar game (don't quote me on that). Many people, myself included, have expected Grand Theft Auto 6 to be capped at 30 FPS, and given the sheer scope of the game, that does seem believable.

Perhaps the most interesting part of this rumor, though, is the mention of a 60 FPS mode on Xbox Series S. While the report claims it's currently locked to 30, hearing that Rockstar is actively trying to get it to 60 is at least promising, at least to me.

The source also states that Microsoft is working with Rockstar on the Series S version of the game, so hopefully fans with a Series S do manage to see 60 FPS. Hopefully, we hear something official sooner rather than later, although there's a good chance we'll have to wait until much closer to launch.

As for me, I probably won't be picking up Grand Theft Auto 6 on day one. I've been a fan of the series from the beginning, but I grew a little tired of Grand Theft Auto 5, and I still prefer Grand Theft Auto 4. I'll be waiting to see how the game shapes up before deciding whether to jump in.

But let me know your thoughts. Would a 60 FPS mode make a big difference to you? Be sure to take part in our poll and leave a comment below!

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Correction: Today's Assembly layoffs were part of an agency-wide reorganization and were not related to Xbox ending contracts. People on the Xbox account were laid off but the agency is still continuing to work with Xbox, I'm told

— @jasonschreier.bsky.social (@jasonschreier.bsky.social.bsky.social) 2026-06-30T08:07:15.114Z

ORIGINAL ARTICLE CONTINUES:

Insert joke here about how Microsoft's layoffs are reportedly so big, they're impacting companies that aren't even part of Microsoft. Oh wait, that actually might be what's happening.

According to industry insider Jason Schreier of Bloomberg, Assembly, a PR agency whose biggest client is Microsoft, is laying off employees today.

In a post on Bluesky, Schreier says:

“The massive Xbox layoffs won't happen until after the fiscal year ends, but the company is already ending contracts and cutting vendors. So Assembly, Xbox's main PR agency, is laying people off today.”

Assembly appears to be responsible for quite a broad range of services, including media planning, communications, marketing research, and more. As for the full extent of its relationship with Microsoft, however, I couldn't find much publicly available beyond the comment above from Schreier.

Xbox is, however, undergoing a significant restructuring as CEO Asha Sharma attempts to make the business more profitable. According to Schreier, Microsoft is ending contracts and cutting vendors, which appears to have resulted in Assembly laying off employees due to a reduction in business.

It's hard to know what to say about layoffs, because I'm sure we can all agree they suck, regardless of the company involved. I genuinely hope those affected are able to land on their feet.

I'm also really curious to see what the next 100 days of Xbox look like. Rumors are everywhere at the moment, with recent reports even suggesting Undead Labs, the studio behind State of Decay 3, could be affected. If that were true, it would be a disastrous decision, especially considering the time and investment that's reportedly gone into the game and just how promising it's shaping up to be.

It's an exhausting time to be a fan of anything lately; skyrocketing prices are sucking the joy out of what would otherwise be fun hobbies. It's not to say that we can't still enjoy things like gaming, but egregious prices certainly put a damper on things.

With all that said, let me know your thoughts in the comments, because I'm honestly just tired of all the negativity surrounding Xbox lately.

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The death of trust at Xbox may be imminent, if this latest report is to be believed.

One of the most hotly anticipated upcoming Xbox games is State of Decay 3 from Undead Labs. State of Decay is a zombie apocalypse management simulation game, where players in small teams can develop settlements, fight against zombie hordes, and scavenge for supplies. The previous games had a variety of limitations, but many of these have been eliminated in State of Decay 3, which looks incredibly promising.

Despite having trailers at the previous two showcases and a well-received alpha test which boasted thousands of sign ups, Microsoft is exploring selling off Undead Labs and potentially cancelling State of Decay 3 if it can't find a buyer for the team. Given that State of Decay 3 is nearly finished, looks spectacular, and has had multiple trailers — this is one of the most self-immolating ideas I've seen of Xbox since I started reporting on it over a decade ago.

The report comes from GamesBeat, which lists studios having discussions with Xbox leadership. It coincides with information I received over the weekend. Indeed, Undead Labs could be among the studios Microsoft is looking to offload as part of its fiscal year end.

I'm told the cuts are being driven by Microsoft corporate CFO Amy Hood, who has demanded a variety of savings at Xbox to offset losses ... which were also a result of her previous 30% margin demands.

Microsoft has frozen discussions with third-parties for Xbox Game Pass deals (for now), and is exploring a range of measures, which could see Double Fine, Ninja Theory, Compulsion, and others shuttered if Microsoft can't find a buyer or pathway for them to go independent.

Xbox's administrative teams are working 7 day weeks to meet Microsoft's cutbacks, potentially saving studios with sales to third-party suitors or self-funded independence ventures. But for me, we shouldn't even be here.

At the end of the day, to run a business you need to be able to sell things. Some studios haven't sold products in years, eventually the math catches up. At the same time, Microsoft's gaming division had its most profitable year after in the previous fiscal, and Satya Nadella's compensation package was valued at almost $100 million last year.

Gaming is a risky business, and increasingly a luxury business for consumers (in part driven by the RAMpocalypse fostered by ... erm, Microsoft and its AI fad.) With gaming moving further and further into discretionary spending territory, I would argue trust and culture matter more than ever. Microsoft corporate either doesn't understand this, or perhaps more realistically, just doesn't care.

State of Decay 3 is clearly nearly finished. If that isn't safe, how is ANYTHING safe anymore? How can you trust ANY announcement Xbox will make in the near future? How is this not indicative of a Microsoft actively trying to set up Asha Sharma and her team for failure?

State of Decay 3 received multiple trailers. Undead Labs built up a passionate fanbase across decades, and was an early pioneer building games directly with fan-led feedback over the internet.

Microsoft's share price is imploding on fears that it missed the boat on the AI race (which let's be real, it has). And ... its response is to take an axe to one of its only businesses people actually like? Never change Microsoft. (Actually, change, change NOW.)

Are you looking forward to State of Decay 3? Let us know your thoughts on all of this in the comments.

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Sony just announced that over 550 movies will be removed from the accounts of PlayStation customers. On September 1, 2026, any movies or TV shows from Studio Canal will be removed. The move sparked controversy, drew criticism, and reignited a debate about digital ownership.

Those affected by the maneuver have no recourse to retain access to the content. There's no option to download the content for offline playback on another device. Sony isn't offering refunds either.

Several quotes have popped up repeatedly in online forums about Sony's announcement, such as "if buying isn't owning, piracy isn't theft." But a different quote about piracy came to my mind:

Gabe Newell, the co-founder of Valve, explained that providing excellent service is the best method to combat piracy. He added that, "The easiest way to stop piracy is not by putting antipiracy technology to work. It’s by giving those people a service that’s better than what they’re receiving from the pirates."

Newell specifically referenced localization efforts during his time on stage at the Washington Technology Industry Association's (WTIA) Tech NW conference, but the principles he broke down apply to what Sony is doing.

If "buying" content only gives you access for an undetermined amount of time dependent on volatile corporate licensing deals, the service is fundamentally broken. Naturally, people will look for other methods to acquire the same content.

You wouldn't steal a car

The infamous "You wouldn't steal a car" commercial pushed back against piracy over 20 years ago. The ad has received its fair share of criticism over the years, but please humor me as I look at it from a different angle.

If pirating digital content is akin to stealing a car, what is selling digital content and then revoking access without offering a refund? In this hypothetical world in which physical goods work the same way as digital content, what Sony is doing is like selling someone a DVD then breaking into their house and stealing it back after a few years.

I imagine Sony's legal team is getting ready to argue that people agree to terms and that Sony reserved the right to revoke access. But that's nonsense. When people obtained content through Sony, they clicked a button that said "Buy."

That Buy button was presented right next to a "Rent" button in most cases, meaning Sony was offering people two choices: purchase a piece of content or rent it.

Even Sony's statement sent informing people of the removal of Studio Canal content uses the word "purchased" rather than rent:

"As of 1 September 2026 due to our content licensing arrangements, you will no longer be able to watch any of your previously purchased Studio Canal content and the content will be removed from your video library."

Sony could argue that people purchased a revocable license, but if that's the case the company never should have used a Buy button.

Could this happen to Xbox?

Anything is possible, but I don't want to venture into speculation. We're trying to get confirmation from Microsoft regarding digital ownership of media.

What I will say is that legal protections of digitally purchased content need to be secured. Reportedly, over 90% of Xbox games are purchased digitally. PlayStation isn't that far behind, with digital sales reportedly making up 78% of purchases.

Buying habits have shifted dramatically over the last decade. There are plenty of gamers with entirely digital collections. The advent of online streaming has made physical movie collections rarer, though I know many cinephiles who cling to physical copies.

If companies want to continue to sell movies, TV shows, and games, potential buyers need confidence that purchases are secure. Otherwise, people will take some inspiration from Sea of Thieves.

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It's no secret that due to increasing RAM and NAND (storage) costs, everyone from Apple to Dell to Valve to Xbox is raising prices. And it's the latter here we're concerned with, as this may be your last chance to get the Xbox Series X below $700 until 2028. Indeed, we may not see prices on hardware drop significantly until 2030.

As such, I'm creating this page to show you the latest deals and inventory on the Xbox Series S, Xbox Series X, and associated accessories like the ever-so-important expansion cards.

I'll be updating this page every day, usually multiple times.

Xbox Series X prices

The Xbox Series X (see our updated review) is the top-tier Xbox model and is aimed at 4K/60 FPS gaming for those who want the best and fastest available.

Because it's in such high demand, this one often sells out or goes through frequent and rapid price shifts. We think it's the version most people should buy.

We have seen Xbox Series X (1TB, optical) drop down to $573 in the last few days (during Prime Day), and that could happen again for the July 4th holiday.

Xbox Series S prices

If you want to save some more money and don't quite need the power of the Series X (or simply can't afford it), you can go for the more budget-friendly Xbox Series S. If you're not familiar with this model, you can read our Xbox Series S review (2025) for more context and to see what we have to say about it.

The tl;dr is the Xbox Series X is the more powerful console, built for native 4K gaming, higher frame rates, and larger storage with its 1TB SSD. The Xbox Series S is a smaller, more affordable model designed for 1440p gaming, with reduced GPU power and a 512GB or 1TB SSD.

Both run the same games and features, but the Series X targets premium performance while the Series S focuses on value and accessibility.

The good news is that while the savings are not as much for Xbox Series S, they are often in stock at most stores either for pickup or shipping.

How much (and when) are Xbox prices going up?

Beginning August 1, the Xbox Series X Digital will rise to $749 (up from $599) and the Series S to $499 (up from $399) in the United States, with similar jumps across multiple regions.

And those are the entry-level models!

Xbox Series X (1TB) with optical drive is going up to $799 (from $649), while the Xbox Series S (1TB) increases to $599 (from $449).

To put that in perspective, the Xbox Series X (1TB) with optical drive launched at $499, but is going up a total of $300.

The company cites rising manufacturing and component costs as the primary driver, noting that the broader hardware market continues to face pressure that shows no signs of easing.

Analysts expect component prices to climb again in 2027, driven by supply constraints and increased demand for advanced chips. Microsoft’s own internal projections suggest that the “Rampocalypse” — the ongoing surge in RAM and component pricing — will continue well into 2028, making this price hike potentially the first of several.

For consumers, the timing is significant. Xbox consoles have remained relatively stable in price for years, but this shift signals a new era where premium hardware will cost more to produce and more to buy.

With the August 1 increase approaching, the window to buy an Xbox Series X|S at current pricing is closing quickly. We’ll keep updating this tracker as retailers react, deals appear, and the market adjusts, so you always know the best time to make your move.

What about expansion cards?

If you're picking up an Xbox Series X or Series S, extra storage becomes essential fast. Constantly deleting games or clearing space for updates interrupts play and makes managing your library a chore.

The Seagate Storage Expansion Card for Xbox Series X|S adds more room instantly with true plug‑and‑play support, giving your console the storage it needs without slowing anything down.

Like Xbox consoles, we've seen pricing on these vary a lot, and many times they go out of stock, so give it some serious thought, as we do expect these cards to cost even more later this year.

As to why get a storage card, it really depends on the size of your gaming library.

For instance, Call of Duty: Black Ops 7 alone is 161 GB, without any DLC. The Seagate Expansion Card delivers similar speeds to the native storage of the Xbox Series X|S, so you can store games on the card and play them without having to transfer or delete files.

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• Grand Theft Auto 6 is selling eight times faster on PS5 than Xbox says IGN
• Xbox disputes this, however, in a statement to Windows Central
• This potential bad news comes just as Xbox announced console price hikes

IGN has reported that, based on its internal affiliate data, Grand Theft Auto 6 preorders on PS5 are surging ahead of Xbox preorders of the game at a rate of eight to one — Xbox is now saying this is far from the full picture. Though, I have a hard time believing Xbox is doing a heck of a lot better than this data suggests.

In a statement to Windows Central, an Xbox spokesperson explained that “This doesn’t represent pre-order data. We’ve had record orders. People should wait for real data and not clicks on affiliate links."

Now, I don’t doubt that GTA 6 is selling gangbusters everywhere it’s playable, leading to “record sales.” Grand Theft Auto 5 is considered the third-best-selling game of all time — trailing only Minecraft and Tetris (though not everyone counts Tetris, as the figures aggregate several versions of the game, and you might see some places calling GTA 5 the second-best-selling of all time). So it tracks that out of the gate GTA 6 would be hugely popular too, and I expect it will only get more popular when GTA 6 Online and the PC port eventually release.

However, Xbox seeing record orders and its preorders lagging behind PlayStation’s aren’t mutually exclusive. In fact, it’s no secret that the PS5 has outsold Xbox consoles this generation, so you’d expect the Sony hardware to have more GTA 6 game sales — though with estimated sales figures sitting at around 95 million for PlayStation to 35 million Xboxes, you would expect a rate of two or three to one, not eight to one.

Is something more going on here as Xbox suggests?

What's going on with GTA 6 sales?

On Xbox’s side of the argument, there are reasons not to extrapolate too much from affiliate link data.

First, people might simply be picking the game up digitally directly from Xbox’s store rather than through typical affiliate partners like Walmart, Argos, and Amazon. Given that GTA 6’s physical edition is functionally identical to the digital version — as there’s no disc, just a download code in a plastic case — there’s little to no advantage to buying from a retail store.

And given Xbox's digital gaming focus with services like Game Pass and multi-platform gaming across consoles, PCs, and PC handhelds (even if GTA 6 doesn’t look set to be a Play Anywhere title at launch), it makes sense that Xbox gamers would be more comfortable (and possibly more likely to shop) at Xbox’s own store compared with PS5 gamers and PlayStation's store.

What’s more, affiliate data doesn’t necessarily mean sales. IGN hasn’t said much on what exactly its data is based on, but if it's affiliate link clicks (as the Xbox spokesperson suggests it is), then that doesn’t necessarily mean the PS5 version is selling eight times more copies, just that links for the PS5 version are eight times more popular.

Gamers could simply be clicking on them more but then not buying the game, or clicking a few times before making a purchase, though I’m not sure why you wouldn’t expect Xbox and PlayStation gamers to be equally flaky on a post-click purchase.

The only final piece of support for Xbox would be if IGN’s audience skewed more towards PlayStation at a rate disproportionate to the overall population’s two- or three-to-one.

Though as a general gaming outlet rather than one dedicated to either side of the aisle, I don’t see that being the case — all I could see happening is IGN’s audience of gaming enthusiasts could be more likely to own both an Xbox Series and PlayStation 5 console, and then with Sony’s promise that GTA 6 “plays best on PS5” they’d be more likely to pick up a copy for Sony’s hardware compared with Xbox’s.

All that’s to say, while IGN’s stats might not be entirely accurate to the final picture, I don’t doubt that PS5 sales of GTA 6 are blowing Xbox’s out of the water. And even if current sales aren’t quite eight-to-one, I wouldn’t be surprised if sales trend in that direction.

My argument here is Xbox consoles are set to get a major price hike effective August 1, 2026, putting the Series X at $749 for the all-digital, and $899 for the disc drive equipped model (price increases outside the US are yet to be confirmed) — a sharp raise on the previous costs of $599 and $649 respectively which are the identical to the equivalent PS5 models.

Sony may announce similar hikes itself — it isn’t immune to the cost increases hitting the whole industry, though its drastically better sales may help it weather the storm for a little longer — but until it does, the PS5 looks like a much better deal. If casual gamers still rocking a last-gen console finally want to upgrade so they can play GTA 6, there will be a clear winner: the PlayStation 5.

There’s still a lot of time before Grand Theft Auto 6’s eventual November 19 release date (I’ll be ready for another delay until it’s actually in my hands), but I don’t think Xbox’s fortunes will turn around dramatically by then.

Another day, another Xbox rumor! Today's revolves around Xbox Game Pass, Microsoft's controversy-prone subscription service giving access to hundreds of games on a monthly subscription.

Xbox Game Pass took a battering last year when Microsoft made the spectacularly ill-advised move of making it $30 a month — a 50% increase. In one fell swoop, Microsoft destroyed one of its most stable revenue drivers for its gaming operation, leading to the biggest decline its seen in its history.

New Xbox CEO Asha Sharma remarked a few weeks ago that, now that Game Pass Ultimate has returned to a far more respectable $22 per month, they've started seeing growth return to the service. But I am curious if it's anywhere near back to previous levels.

Indeed, Asha previously spoke about Game Pass retention, and the business model revolves entirely around offsetting churn, i.e., the number of users subscribing month in, month out. If you make it too expensive, you risk users unsubscribing and never coming back. Subscription services work best when people subscribe and then ... just leave it rolling in perpetuity. If you make it so expensive that it becomes discretionary spending, it's going to end up being a net loss per head, rather than habit-forming perpetual income.

That's why I'm casting "big doubt" over this latest Xbox Game Pass rumor, which suggests Microsoft is no longer planning to new third-party funding for new Game Pass titles (via Insider Gaming).

During an episode of The Business of Gaming PodcastFernando Rizo of Caboodle Games shared rumors that Microsoft "rug pulled" Game Pass deals from industry colleagues Rizo had spoken with recently.

"I was at a trade show in Italy, had some nice lunches, some nice dinners with industry colleagues. Word on the street was that loads of people who were in the frame for Game Pass deals. You know, nothing was inked yet, but the deals were in advanced discussions. Everybody got the rug pulled out from under them."

I'm not doubting the idea that Microsoft cancelled discussions. But it has been used to frame an idea that Xbox is done completely with third-party deals for Xbox Game Pass.

Right now, Xbox is undergoing something of a "reset," with new CEO Asha Sharma and CSO Matthew Ball reviewing practically every corner of the business, including deals like the above. Microsoft's fiscal year is ending too, where budgets will be allocated (or re-allocated). Microsoft is exploring closing down entire studios at Xbox as part of this "review," so it stands to reason that some ID@Xbox deals might've been skewered in the cross-fire. I know of at least one example of a third-party Game Pass deal that didn't go through as a direct result of July re-budgeting.

But that doesn't mean they're done with Xbox Game Pass deals forever. Indeed, at least one industry publishing figure Stephen DuCrest poured cold water on the rumors earlier, saying it wasn't "remotely true."

Even if some deals had fallen through, I would expect as soon as next week or the week after when Microsoft's next fiscal starts, discussions for funding will immediately resume. The bottom line is simple: Xbox Game Pass needs content in order to operate. With Xbox rumored to be gutting first-party content, I expect it to lean even more into third-party deals, rather than less. But hey, Microsoft works in mysterious ways, as we all know.

Either way, I've reached out to Microsoft and other sources to get some firm clarification, but wanted to share some thoughts ahead of that. I'll update this article soon with more info.

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Xbox mode only rolled out to Windows 11 with the May 2026 Security Update, but the feature already has a name change in the works. The latest Windows Insider build shows "XBOX mode" rather than "Xbox mode."

The change is small, but it reflects the rebrand Microsoft is in the middle of. Earlier this year, Xbox CEO Asha Sharma polled people on X asking if the name of the brand should be Xbox or XBOX. The overwhelming majority preferred the all-caps version, and Microsoft listened to the feedback.

In several places, Microsoft has swapped in the XBOX name. The official XBOX website and XBOX social media handles show the all-caps version. Even the Microsoft Store shows love for capital letters.

Sharma has made more meaningful changes to the XBOX brand since being promoted, but the XBOX rebrand is quite visible. The move aligns XBOX with the original console, which is a clever bit of marketing.

The change was flagged by X user @phantomofearth. Microsoft's release notes for Windows 11 Experimental Build 26300.8758 do not note the new name for XBOX mode.

XBOX mode (and Xbox mode) was originally called "Xbox Fullscreen Experience." Throughout all three names, the concept of the feature has been the same: provide a console-like experience on Windows 11.

When enabled, XBOX mode makes Windows 11 open with a controller-friendly interface that also works well with built-in controllers on gaming handhelds. Microsoft has worked on XBOX mode for a while and overcome some awkward limitations. For example, it's now easier to sign in to Windows 11 when in XBOX mode by using a PIN.

XBOX mode also prioritizes gaming and reduces background tasks on Windows 11. It can free up to 2GB of memory on your PC, according to Microsoft. Considering it's increasingly expensive to get a PC with a lot of memory, freeing up 2GB makes a big difference.

The next generation of Xbox, known currently as Project Helix, is meant to run some form of XBOX mode. Before that device ships, XBOX mode needs more meaningful changes to smooth out the experience. We spent a week with XBOX mode last month and had a mixed experience.

Microsoft is aggressively pushing improvements to Windows 11 through its K2 initiative. Among those upgrades will be a smoother gaming experience. But for now, we can enjoy the unified branding of XBOX mode.

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• Netflix users are being asked to add email addresses to their individual profiles
• The platform says this will allow separate sign-ins while offering even more personalized recommendations
• It seems convenient on paper, but users think it could lead to another big crackdown

Sharing Netflix accounts today isn’t as easy as it was in the mid-2010s, but now the best streaming service has another account crackdown on the way that’s already getting under people’s skins.

A handful of users have noticed a new in-app pop-up asking each member in a shared account to add individual email addresses to their individual profiles, instead of using the account owner’s email address as the primary one. One of the most jarring parts about it is that the pop-up doesn’t clear unless the request is fulfilled.

This hasn’t rolled out to all Netflix account holders yet, but the company informed Ars Technica that the new sign-in update began on June 15, so we imagine a wider rollout is inevitable. The outlet also stated that this pop-up doesn’t apply to profiles that are labelled as belonging to children.

Netflix households accounts have always been built on the traditional 'one email, one password’ foundation, allowing you to create up to five profiles to keep watchlists and recommendations separate from other members in your family. That’s all about to change, but why Netflix has decided to roll out yet another crackdown is the question that everyone is asking.

According to the details mentioned in the pop-up, this is purely a convenience reason. Having individual emails assigned to individual profiles under one account means you won’t have to keep relying on using the account holder’s email to sign in each time. It also means that if you ever need a verification code to log into Netflix, you won’t have to chase up the account holder for it in their inbox.

Additionally, the pop-up also says that adding an email address to your profile will make it a lot easier for you to recover the account when needed, and get personalized content recommendations with more features to come. On paper it sounds like Netflix is adding this requirement as a user experience enhancer, but subscribers are convinced it’s just another way for the company to surveil user activity.

When Netflix rolled out its password crackdown back in 2023, it ended an era of serial account sharing and that’s where the service decided one account was strictly for one household, the ‘Netflix Household’ in official terms. With its latest move, we believe that there’s more than meets the eye — and so do a vast majority of users online.

Bye Bye profiles on Netflix. So shady. Sheesh. from r/netflix

Over the past few weeks Reddit has seen a swarm of reactions following the first appearances of the pop-up, but the main concern expressed by users is the possibility of this morphing into a payment system, charging account holders to fork out extra just to add more profiles. “This is killing Netflix for me”, one user added.

Based on Netflix’s past crackdowns, the new requirement could also give the streaming giant another way to better distinguish between the activity of individual profiles, or even shift them to individual accounts later down the line. But while users have expressed outrage over this, some say they’ve found a workaround.

It appears that creating email aliases has helped some users get past the pop-up without giving Netflix all of their information, however this has only worked for those using Gmail.

One person in particular says that you can amend your Gmail address in order to create an alias, giving the example that if your email is ‘johnsmith@ gmail.com’ you could set up ‘johnsmith+kid1@gmail.com’. They go into further detail in their Reddit post, while others in the replies who use this workaround for other situations confirmed that it works.

As mentioned, this update hasn’t reached every Netflix subscriber yet and is rolling out slowly to start, similar to how the platform kick-started its password crackdown. Given Netflix’s history, we’re definitely keeping one eye open on this one.

The 2026 XBOX Games Showcase was undeniably packed with exciting game reveals from AAA studios and independent teams alike, but there was one particular reveal that I can’t stop thinking about. As soon as the large purple text and adorably odd bird-like creatures appeared on screen, I recognized the art style. Everybody’s favorite little purple dragon was back to face a new foe, albeit with a little more of a mature redesign that reflects some of the new gameplay mechanics.

Toys for Bob unveiled Spyro: A Realm Beyond in a flashy cinematic trailer, complete with a tease for our hero’s newest ability — goodbye gliding, hello flight. Spyro can be seen soaring through the air with his new skill: freely flying through the arches of a bridge and collecting orbs in the sky of the beautifully color-saturated world, where the danger of a dark and mysterious big bad lurks above the clouds.

The reveal for Spyro: A Realm Beyond has been nothing shy of successful. The cinematic reveal trailer on the Spyro The Dragon YouTube channel has amassed more than 16 million views in just two weeks. Add yet another million when you combine view counts across the XBOX, Nintendo, and PlayStation channels.

But the successful revival of Spyro almost didn’t happen. Toys for Bob had to return to its independent roots after being targeted for closure by Activision to give its beloved purple dragon his big-boy wings.

The path forged by Toys for Bob — avoiding closure and spinning out to become an independent studio that continues to work in partnership with Activision and XBOX to publish its next game — could prove to be the solution that just might save studios like Ninja Theory and Compulsion Games, which are rumored to be next on the chopping block under new XBOX CEO Asha Sharma’s “reset.”

A notable history that led to a radical plan

Few game studios make it to see their 35th anniversary. With the tumultuous state of the games industry today, that elite club seems even more elusive. But Toys for Bob, originally founded in 1989 and operating as a partnership between founders Paul Reiche III and Fred Ford until the pair incorporated the studio in 2002, has somehow managed to not just see the 35-year mark — it has surpassed that milestone and continues trucking along, creating mesmerizing and meaningful digital worlds for a dedicated fanbase.

However, the Toys for Bob story is one of resilience. In 1990, the studio changed the landscape for science fiction games with the release of Star Control, followed by the 1992 sequel Star Control II with Accolade, Inc. and Crystal Dynamics as its publisher. Toys for Bob continued its partnership with Crystal Dynamics until the early 2000s, when it faced a layoff following the release of Disney’s 102 Dalmatians: Puppies to the Rescue.

The studio found a new publisher in Activision and was fully acquired by the publisher in 2005. Activision then merged Toys for Bob with Vivendi Games, which held the rights to the Spyro IP at the time, setting the studio up to launch the Skylanders series and pioneer the toys-to-life game genre. “We had a fantastic, successful partnership over that time,” Toys for Bob studio head Paul Yan said in a recent IGN interview. Toys for Bob’s time with Spyro didn’t end there, as they then released the Spyro Reignited Trilogy in 2018.

After the unbelievably successful launch of Call of Duty: Warzone in March 2020, however, things changed for the studio as Activision began to allocate all of its studio teams to the resource-hungry free-to-play battle royale. Toys for Bob took its place as part of the dozen-plus studio machine that was fueling Call of Duty in addition to providing support for Overwatch 2 and other Activision properties.

“Toys for Bob stepped up to support those initiatives, and those teams, and those games. We’re very proud of the work that we did, but deep down inside, we knew it wasn’t the right fit. We were getting away from the types of games that we love to make and that we’re best known for doing,” said Yan.

Activision was then acquired by Microsoft in 2022. Despite statements by then Microsoft Gaming CEO Phil Spencer on the potential for studios to revive past IPs, Toys for Bob still found its studio offices closed down amid massive layoffs that affected 1900 jobs across Microsoft’s workforce in January of 2024. Just four months later, Toys for Bob successfully spun off from Activision and regained its independence.

How to save a game development studio the Toys for Bob way

Toys for Bob’s plan was unprecedented. Buy back its independence. Take back creative, financial, and organizational control. And preserve its tenured team. For the plan to succeed, it hinged on the past success of Spyro. The team pitched a new Spyro title, published by Activision and XBOX with plans to drop day one on XBOX Game Pass, to secure its future. Two years after going independent, the Spyro: A Realm Beyond trailer showing up during the XBOX Showcase feels like a step in the right direction for a radical plan at independence paying off.

The more things change, however, the more they stay the same. XBOX has a new CEO with fresh eyes for the future of the company, but rising hardware prices and ballooning development costs are cutting into the bottom line. We’re told a ‘hard reset’ is on the horizon. Microsoft-owned studios like Ninja Theory and Compulsion Games are the new sacrificial lambs sitting on the proverbial chopping block, despite a strong showing for Senua at the 2026 XBOX showcase and South of Midnight’s ongoing award-pick-up spree.

Studio closures are a scourge on the gaming industry. Studios are often formed from teams that come together organically to bring life to a creative vision, and then those studios are scooped up by publishers who promise financial security. Then, when the tides of a fickle industry shift, the studio is shuttered, and creative talent that was being fostered finds itself fractured between other studios, where the cycle starts again. That’s without taking into consideration the talent that simply leaves the games industry altogether.

Spyro: A Realm Beyond was more than just a game announcement. It felt like a victory lap for independent game development and a survival plan for how studios could keep things together even in the face of closure.

Should Asha Sharma consider taking any pages from Phil Spencer’s playbook as CEO, I hope it’s the one that saw fit to accept Toys for Bob’s independence plan so that we can continue to see studios in danger of closure have a chance to stand on their own and create what they love. When studios like Toys for Bob have the opportunity to return to their independent roots and keep creative teams together rather than just finding locks on the studio doors, consumers win.

With any luck, the radical plan that let Toys for Bob become an indie studio with creative control can serve as a roadmap for studios like Ninja Theory and Compulsion Games if the rumors of their impending closures turn true. If there's anything the games industry can use right now, it's radical plans for independence that pay off.

Join us on Reddit at r/WindowsCentral to share your insights and discuss our latest news, reviews, and more.

Amongst what feels like a deluge of bad news for Xbox right now, from console price rises (again) and threatened studio closures, it seems GTA 6 preorder sales data has become the next battleground for which fans and publications are using to stick the knife in. There’s a particular social media post right now being shared from IGN stating that, based on their affiliate data, PlayStation is outperforming Xbox on GTA 6 preorders by a rate of 8-to-1.

Windows Central can confirm that we’ve received a statement from an Xbox spokesperson on this matter: “This doesn’t represent pre-order data. We’ve had record orders. People should wait for real data and not clicks on affiliate links."

Why affiliate data isn’t reliable on its own

We’re living in an era where social media narratives often outpace verified market reality, and to be clear, IGN does state in the quote that it's based on their own community data. But it’s worth noting that while it is likely true that PlayStation is receiving more orders based on their console share of the market, nobody actually knows the concrete sales data yet, and relying on affiliate linking programs from one website to draw broad conclusions about the state of affairs is a shaky tactic.

But it IS one that’s gathering traction as it’s being amplified by reports such as this one from Vice, and it’s gathering significant engagement. Engagement that will no doubt have reached the general public outside of the gaming sphere, too, as it's being shared around on Instagram, X, and other platforms.

Affiliate programs track user traffic and clicks directed through specific retail links. Such data inherently reflects the specific demographics, regional biases, and shopping habits of a single publication's readership rather than being a mirror for total industry performance. Treating click-through metrics as a proxy for platform health risks spreading misinformation, as can be seen in the current cycle regarding Grand Theft Auto 6 preorders.

(Speaking of which, we have our own list of links for pre-ordering Rockstar’s highly anticipated game, so go check that out. Girl's gotta plug!)

RELATED: Everywhere you can buy GTA 6

An unquestionably rocky time for Xbox

The discourse right now is occurring against the backdrop of an incredibly volatile console market. There’s a perfect storm of economic pressures, including the significant price hikes taking effect on August 1, 2026, on Xbox consoles, driven by the global crisis in memory and storage component supply.

On a personal note, I’ve wondered why Xbox, during the week of GTA 6 preorders, would choose this moment to announce price increases. GTA 6 is the final major catalyst that will push many remaining Xbox One and PS4 users to the current generation, and both Microsoft and Sony should be utilizing this to their full advantage. While Sony will likely announce its own price increases, waiting until after GTA 6 has launched could be a savvy move to maintain goodwill with the general gaming public, letting Xbox take the brunt of the frustration during a critical sales window for both platforms.

However, by announcing these hikes in advance, could Xbox have actually secured a surge of panic orders during Amazon Prime Week? If we were to look at our own affiliate data, we saw significant click-through rates on discounted Xbox Series X units at Walmart and Target. But for the reasons I have already mentioned, to base a market analysis on that would be biased reporting. Our audience, which is already invested in the Microsoft ecosystem, is naturally drawn to deals on Xbox hardware; that doesn't necessarily reflect the wider gaming community, does it?

RELATED: Cheapest way to get GTA 6 on both Xbox and PS5

It’s more important than ever right now for the gaming community to distinguish between anecdotal affiliate traffic and concrete commercial data. As our Xbox contact noted, waiting for official comprehensive sales reports is the only way to gauge the true state of the market. Until then, statistics derived from click-based affiliate programs should be viewed for what they are: a measurement of a specific website's outgoing traffic, not a reflection of the global gaming state of affairs.

Join us on Reddit at r/WindowsCentral to share your insights and discuss our latest news, reviews, and more.

Avatar: The Last Airbender season 2 has only just landed on Netflix, but we're already thinking about season 3 (you can read our ending explained to learn why).

Luckily for us, it had incredibly early confirmation. We've known all along that Aang (Gordon Cormier) needs to learn all four elemental bending skills in order to stop the Fire Nation, led by Lord Ozai (Daniel Dae Kim), from controlling the Four Nations.

As our current batch of episodes draws to a close, we're still far from reaching this conclusion. Enter Avatar: The Last Airbender season 3, which is already poised to take over.

From release window predictions to returning cast, here's everything we know about the next installment.

Avatar: The Last Airbender season 3 release window prediction

It's worth pointing out that, as of writing, Avatar: The Last Airbender season 3 doesn't have a confirmed release date or window. However, internet rumors suggest we could be seeing new episodes at some point in summer 2027.

Seasons 2 and 3 were shot back-to-back, and filming for new episodes wrapped back in November 2025.

Worst case, we can expect season 3 at some point in 2028, given that there's been a two-year gap between seasons 1 and 2.

Avatar: The Last Airbender season 3 trailer: is there one?

A trailer for Avatar: The Last Airbender season 3 hasn't made its debut yet. Once one is released, we'll update this section.

Avatar: The Last Airbender season 3 cast

We can expect the following cast to return for Avatar: The Last Airbender season 3:

• Gordon Cormier as Aang
• Kiawentiio as Katara
• Ian Ousley as Sokka
• Dallas Liu as Zuko
• Daniel Dae Kim as Ozai
• Paul Sun-Hyung Lee as Zuko
• Elizabeth Yu as Princess Azula
• Miya Cech as Toph
• Chin Han as Long Feng
• Justin Chien as King Kuei
• Amanda Zhao as Joo Dee
• Crystal Yu as Lady Beifong
• Kelemete Misipeka as The Boulder
• Hoa Xuande as Professor Zei
• Lourdes Faberes as General Sung
• Rekha Sharma as Amita
• Madison Hu as Fei
• Dichen Lachman as Yangchen
• Lily Gao as Ursa
• Terry Chen as Jeong Jeong

Dolly De Leon as Lo and Li, Jon Jon Briones as Piandao, and Tantoo Cardinal as Hama were all originally tipped to appear in the second reason, but do not. Despite this, we can expect them to star in season 3.

More new names will likely be announced as we get closer to the show's release, so keep your eyes peeled.

Avatar: The Last Airbender season 3 plot predictions

Spoilers for Avatar: The Last Airbender season 2 ahead.

We're pretty confident that season 3 is going to directly adapt the third Avatar book, following Aang learning to firebend, infiltrating the Fire Nation, and preparing for his climactic showdown with Fire Lord Ozai before Sozin's Comet arrives. Not too much, then.

We also know that Zuko will eventually team up with Aang and the gang to make this happen, so we can expect to see some more emotional upheaval from him.

Obviously, finding out if Aang has actually survived the battle is a top priority for season 3. But the mere fact that season 3 has already been greenlit basically confirms that we'll be seeing Aang again anyway.

Will there be more seasons of Avatar: The Last Airbender?

As of writing, nothing has been announced. Narratively, it makes sense for season 3 to be the last, if Books 1, 2, and 3 have all been adapted in each.

However, the fact that there are so many written and comic book continuations means that the possibilities could be endless. Even if we don't get a direct season 4, Netflix could invest in spinoffs galore.

Not only do I review gaming gear for a living, I game every day, which is how I know how important a truly reliable gamepad can be. Fortunately, while we're on the final day of Prime Day, I'm still seeing loads of offers out there on some of my favorite Xbox controllers. That's why I've brought you together the best I've found.

• View the full Amazon Prime Day sale

For a long time, when gaming on my PC and Xbox Series X, I just stuck with the Robot White Xbox Wireless Controller that came with my console. And who could blame me? It's a seriously well-designed controller, from its multi-platform connectivity to its Impulse Triggers. But there's a whole rainbow of different colorways out there: given they're so cheap, why not opt for the badass bubblegum vibes of Deep Pink or the exhilarating Electric Volt?

And although it may have taken me a while, I have since upgraded to a pro-grade pad: the fantastic Asus ROG Raikiri II Xbox Wireless, one of the many premium controllers you can get an enormous discount on this Prime Day. Can't quite stretch to a high-end controller? Fortunately, plenty of cheaper options like the PowerA Wired Controller are still going for a song, so there's never been a better time to get your hands on a new one.

If you're keen to browse the deals where you are, feel free to skip straight to the US links or UK links. And if you're also on the hunt for other bargains, don't forget to follow our Amazon Prime Day US live blog or our Amazon Prime Day UK live blog.

Xbox controller sale — top picks

• Xbox Wireless Controller — Robot White: now $49.99 at Amazon (was $64.99)
• Asus ROG Raikiri II Xbox Wireless: now $149.99 at Best Buy (was $189.99)
• GameSir Kaleid: now $32.51 at Amazon (was $40.40)

Xbox controllers — US deals

Xbox controllers — UK deals

More Prime Day deals in the US

• Amazon Devices: Fire Sticks & Echo from $18
• Amazon Haul: viral gadgets, tech & appliances from $1.99
• Apple: MacBooks, AirPods & AirTags from $29
• Back-to-school tech: 48% off laptops, headphones & tablets
• Cheap TVs: Samsung, Sony & LG from $89.99
• Headphones: 50% off Beats, Bose & Samsung
• Laptops: Apple, HP & Dell from $199
• Smartwatches: up to $250 off Garmin & Apple
• Vacuums: Dyson, Shark & Bissell from $34

More Amazon Prime Day deals in the UK

• Amazon Prime: get a 30-day free trial
• Amazon Devices: Fire, Ring & Blink from £13.99
• Apple: up to 33% off AirPods & Apple Watch
• Appliances: up to 45% off Ninja & De'Longhi
• Fans: from £20
• Headphones: up to 50% off Beats & Sony
• Tablets: Samsung & Lenovo from £79.99
• Vacuums: up to 40% off Shark & Roborock
• Wearables: up to 30% off Garmin & Oura

House of the Dragon season 3 is — if you'll forgive the pun — off to a flier. Indeed, with season 3 episode 1 getting things off to a physically and emotionally brutal start, episode 2 will examine the fallout from its forebear's events in typically melodramatic fashion.

So, when will House of the Dragon's next chapter air? And which of the world's streamers will it be released on? Warm up your scrolling finger, and read on for more details.

What time can I watch House of the Dragon season 3 episode 2?

Season 3 episode 2 will come out in North and South America on Sunday, June 28 at 6pm PT / 9pm ET.

"But, what about those of us who don't live on those continents?", I hear you cry. Don't worry, I've got you covered. Read the list below to learn when the Game of Thrones prequel's next installment will make its debut where you live:

• US — Sunday, June 28 at 6pm PT / 9pm ET
• Canada — Sunday, June 28 at 6pm PT / 9pm ET
• UK — Monday, June 29 at 2am BST
• India — Monday, June 29 at 6:30am IST
• Singapore — Monday, June 29 at 9am SGT
• Australia — Monday, June 29 at 11am AEST
• New Zealand — Monday, June 29 at 1pm NZST

Where can I stream House of the Dragon season 3?

If you live in a country in which HBO Max has already launched, that platform will be your go-to destination for all things House of the Dragon season 3.

Fear not if one of the world's best streaming services isn't out in your neck of the woods, though, because the high fantasy show has somewhere to live where you, well, live:

• US — HBO and HBO Max
• Canada — Crave
• UK — HBO Max, Sky Atlantic, and Now TV
• India — JioHotstar
• Singapore — HBO Max
• Australia — HBO Max
• New Zealand — HBO Max

When do new episodes of House of the Dragon season 3 come out?

Every Sunday in the Americas and every Monday in other parts of the world. That'll remain the case until this season's final episode drops in early August.

Need to know the exact dates that new chapters will be released? Check out the list below:

• House of the Dragon season 3 episode 1 — out now
• House of the Dragon season 3 episode 2 — June 28/29
• House of the Dragon season 3 episode 3 — July 5/6
• House of the Dragon season 3 episode 4— July 12/13
• House of the Dragon season 3 episode 5 — July 19/20
• House of the Dragon season 3 episode 6 — July 26/27
• House of the Dragon season 3 episode 7 — August 2/3
• House of the Dragon season 3 episode 8 — August 9/10

Supergirl has finally taken flight in theaters — and, if you're weighing up whether to see it, read my Supergirl review first to find out if it's worth doing so.

If you've already made up your mind about not seeing the DC Universe (DCU) movie on the big screen, though, you might be wondering when it'll be available to watch at home.

So, when might the Milly Alcock-fronted superhero film make its streaming debut? Below, I've offered my thoughts on its possible HBO Max release date, so read on to see when it might come to one of the world's best streaming services.

Does Supergirl have an HBO Max release date?

No. One of this year's many new movies only landed in theaters globally on June 26, so it'll be a while before it airs on Warner Bros. Discovery's (WBD) streaming platform.

That said, we can use some recent examples of WBD movies releasing on HBO Max to take an educated guess at when it may join the service's library.

For starters, Superman, the first DCU Chapter One flick, dropped on HBO Max on September 19, 2025. That means it came to the platform exactly 70 days after its initial theatrical release on July 11, 2025.

If Supergirl follows in Superman's footsteps, it would make its HBO Max bow on September 4, 2026 — but, how likely is that to happen?

Well, Warner Bros. movies that have come out this year and are now on HBO Max include Wuthering Heights, The Bride!, and They Will Kill You. Curiously, this trio all launched on the service 77 days their original theatrical release dates.

Should other films yet to launch on HBO Max, such as Mortal Kombat II and Lee Cronin's The Mummy, also arrive 77 days after their theatrical debuts, Supergirl may similarly follow this release pattern, and be available to stream at home on September 11.

However, considering the aforementioned date is when the 9/11 attacks, aka one of the most tragic events in US history, occurred, I'd be very surprised if the movie formerly known as Supergirl: Woman of Tomorrow comes out on that date. My best guess, then, is that Supergirl will make its streaming bow on September 4 or 18.

What is the runtime for Supergirl?

Supergirl is one of the shortest superhero films of all time. Indeed, at just one hour and 47 minutes, Kara Zor-El's second-ever standalone film, which includes its end-credits crawl, is certainly on the punchier side.

For those of you with small bladders, though, that means you might only need to take one bathroom break during your screening, if you need to take any at all!

Does Supergirl have any end-credits scenes?

You'll need to read my Supergirl ending explained piece to find out. It goes without saying, but that article is full of spoilers, so only read it once you've seen the DCU flick.

Haven't done so yet, but want to find out more before you do? First, read up on everything you need to know about Supergirl. Then, check out my Supergirl cast and character guide to learn who's joins Alcock in DC Studios' latest film.

• The Sopranos: The Complete Series is a limited edition 4K Blu-ray release
• 86 episodes over 28 discs including 2 bonus Blu-rays
• December 2026 (US), $149.99

One of the greatest TV dramas of all time is coming to 4K Blu-ray. The Sopranos: The Complete Series box set is available for pre-order in the US and Canada, and will be released at the end of 2026.

This far from the first Sopranos box set: in addition to the DVD box set I've got on the shelf, there was a Blu-ray box in 2014, plus a 25th anniversary Blu-ray box set in 2024, which included The Many Saints of Newark as well. So this is the first time it's all available in 4K.

This edition delivers a brand new and currently untitled featurette with Sopranos creator and writer David Chase. That featurette is on one of the two bonus discs that also include hours of extra material including a two-part documentary, seven behind-the-scenes featurettes, and all of the bonus content previously released on The Sopranos: Complete Series Blu-ray release. And it's all delivered in hardcover lay-flat book packaging.

For fans of the show, this looks like the ultimate release: the best-looking, most pristine way to see one of the most influential TV shows ever.

Why The Sopranos in 4K is a must-have mafia drama

The Sopranos tells the story of depressed mob boss Tony Soprano, who's going to therapy in secret because he knows that if word gets out about his "weakness", he's a dead man walking. It's as much about family as it is about mafia families, and it features stellar performances throughout.

During its run the show amassed multiple well-deserved awards including 111 Primetime Emmy nominations and 21 wins, 5 Golden Globe awards, and Emmys for cast members James Gandolfini, Edie Falco, Michael Imperioli, Drea de Matteo, and Joe Pantoliano.

I'm not being hyperbolic when I tell you that The Sopranos began a golden age of TV drama. Without The Sopranos, there would be no Breaking Bad, Mad Men or any of the other premium shows we love so much.

It was pivotal in shifting the view that TV was inferior to cinema, and that our relatable protagonists couldn't be awful people. And it was really, really, really good: the writing, the performances and the cinematography were all superb.

While much of the praise for The Sopranos centers on the cast, and rightly so, the work of cinematographer Alik Sakharov was crucial too. The cinematography was groundbreaking in how it contributed to the story, and there's a fascinating article about it on No Film School. And if that's the kind of thing you find interesting, then this new 4K box set was made for you.

The Sopranos 4K Blu-ray box set has a release date of 8 December 2026 in the US and a recommended price of $149.99.

Thinking of buying a new TV?

Try our TV size and model finder! You tell it how far you sit from your TV, we'll tell you what size to buy based on viewing angle advice from image quality experts, and we'll recommend our three top TVs at that size for different prices.

If you're an Xbox One or Xbox Series X owner, then the Amazon Prime Day deals represent the perfect time to stock up on new games.

I test the console extensively whenever I'm experimenting with new Xbox accessories as part of my job here at TechRadar Gaming, so I have a strong handle on the best titles on offer.

• View all of Amazon's current prices and deals on Xbox games this Prime Day

Below you will find a selection of games that I recommend, spanning all the way from massive adventures like Crimson Desert to recent spy thriller 007 First Light. These are the releases that I'm spending the most time in right now, so I can personally vouch for the quality of each one.

Amazon Prime Day game deals

• PS5 games: God of War Ragnarok for just $32 and more
• Xbox games: loads of deals, including NBA 2K26 for just $10
• Nintendo Switch 2 games: Save $12 on the likes of Cyberpunk 2077 Ultimate Edition

Amazon Prime Day – the best Xbox games I'd buy right now

More Prime Day deals in the US

• Amazon Devices: Fire Sticks & Echo from $18
• Amazon Haul: viral gadgets, tech & appliances from $1.99
• Apple: MacBooks, AirPods & AirTags from $29
• Beauty: 50% off toothbrushes & hair tools
• Cheap TVs: smart TVs from $69.99
• Garden: tools, mowers, planters from $24.99
• Headphones: 50% off Beats, Bose & Samsung
• Laptops: Apple, HP & Dell from $199
• Mattresses: Sealy, Serta & more from $186
• Patio: outdoor furniture, rugs & decor from $19.99
• Sports: 50% off fitness gear, treadmills & clothing
• Vacuums: Dyson, Shark & Bissell from $34

Price hikes! Get your price hikes here! Hot on the heels of Apple's upward push of dollar figures, ganging up with Framework, and harnessing the disillusion caused by the price of Valve's Steam Machine... It's now Microsoft's turn. The ailing division is enacting yet another increase to the price of the Xbox Series consoles, at $100 more for the 512 GB versions and $150 more for the 1 TB model. The pricing will come into effect in roughly a month and change, on August 1st.

The firm is also killing the 2 TB version of the Xbox Series X, in an echo of Apple slicing away the higher-RAM variants of its Mac Studio computers. If you were on the fence about buying one of those, it would be wise to rush, as at the current price of "only" around $799.99, stocks are unlikely to last. Here's the new pricing, in all its glory:

• Xbox Series S, 512 GB, Digital Edition: $499.99
• Xbox Series S, 1 TB, Digital Edition: $599.99
• Xbox Series X, 1 TB, Digital Edition: $749.99
• Xbox Series X, 1 TB: $799.99

Microsoft is also adding a few options for payment and alternative purchases. Buy Now, Pay Later for splitting purchases across short-term installments for consoles bought at the Microsoft store, confirming rumors of a partnership with well-known payment processor Klarna. If that's not quite your jam, there's also interest-free 12-month financing available at Amazon for Xbox hardware.

The company is expanding Xbox trade-ins, stating that it's "working with retail partners" to enable players to sell their consoles to stores for cash or store credit. This isn't a new thing in the gaming world, as GameStop and Amazon have historically had this feature, but Microsoft's wording makes it sound like the program will be expanded to more retailers. As always, you can buy a certified refurbished console from the Microsoft Store and a number of retailers.

The highly anticipated Steam Machine is being shot down by flak due to its high release price, but all of a sudden, the $1,349 on ask for the 2 TB version doesn't sound so absurd, considering the superior hardware, gigantic game library, and low prices for games. Following Microsoft's logic, the upswing for the now-dead 2 TB version of the Xbox Series X would be $300, putting it at a nice round $1,099.99. Are you not entertained, if not excited, to be living in such interesting times?

• The Long Walk is coming to HBO Max on July 10
• HBO Max will be the movie's US streaming home after a successful theatrical run
• The Long Walk is based on a Stephen King story and was a box office success

The Long Walk is finally coming to HBO Max for US subscribers, joining a host of exciting new movies arriving in July.

HBO Max has confirmed that The Long Walk will arrive on July 10, so we don't have long to wait before we can stream it at home. The movie was a huge success among critics and saw box office takings of $63.1 million before it moved onto streaming.

If you haven't seen The Long Walk yet, it's based on the novel by Stephen King and follows 50 boys in an annually televised competitive walking contest which is meant to inspire viewers.

They maintain a pace of 4.8 km/h of nonstop walking for days, and failure to do so after three warnings results in their death. The boy who lasts the longest wins a large cash prize and the fulfilment of one wish of his choice.

The walk only ends when one survivor remains, so it is a nail-biting watch. If you enjoyed director Francis Lawrence's adaptations of The Hunger Games, I think you'll love what he's done with The Long Walk too.

There's some other great titles arriving on HBO Max in July too. Sofia Coppola's movie about iconic designer Marc Jacobs., Marc by Sofia, arrives on July 16.

Elsewhere, dark comedy The Drama starring Zendaya and Robert Pattinson arrives on July 31, and it promises to be the most dramatic wedding of the season. Hence the name, of course.

If none of that catches your eye, check out our best HBO Max movies or best HBO Max shows round ups for more titles. There's plenty to enjoy on one of the best streaming services.

If you've had your sights set on a new Xbox console, I strongly recommend you get one as soon as possible, because in just over a month, they're about to get much, much pricier.

On Thursday afternoon this week, Microsoft announced that its Xbox Series X|S consoles are getting a price hike come August 1, and this one is steep. Specifically, the cost of all 512GB models of these systems is climbing by $100, while 1TB units are skyrocketing an eye-watering $150. Microsoft is also sunsetting its 2TB Xbox Series X entirely.

I've included what the MSRP of Xbox Series X|S consoles will be after these price increases go into effect in the table below:

As you can see, we'll soon be living in a sobering reality in which the Xbox Series S — once heralded by many as an affordable and low-cost option for enjoying modern gaming on a budget — costs as much as the Xbox Series X did at launch, and in which the Series X has hit the $800 mark. Awful.

It's important to note that these price hikes are coming after Microsoft and Xbox already rose the cost of its consoles twice last year, with one increase in Spring 2025 and another that came in October.

Tariffs were largely responsible for those, though this time around, the ongoing RAM and storage crisis that's being perpetuated by the tech industry's all-in bet on AI is to blame.

AI's insatiable hunger for silicon has brought on severe worldwide memory and storage shortages, driving up component costs and making just about every electronic device on the market more expensive as a result. Tragically, the problem is projected to get even worse next year, which may mean additional price hikes are on the horizon.

"Unfortunately, console storage and memory prices have increased by more than 2.5x and we expect another doubling by the fall of 2027," Xbox lamented in its notice about new prices. "The entire consumer electronics industry is struggling with the current components crisis, but the effects are particularly hard on consoles. Unlike phones, computers, speakers, and other consumer devices, consoles are typically not sold at a profit, but instead for less than they cost to make."

Ironically, these price increases come mere days after Xbox CEO Asha Sharma made a point of discussing the fact that "gaming is unaffordable in many cases" and highlighting that that's a serious problem. Granted, Microsoft isn't in control of what's going on in the industry...though, it's certainly contributed to it majorly with its own pushes for AI.

It's also worth noting that Sharma believes contending with memory shortages is Xbox's next big "challenge and opportunity"; making "affordable products during that time" is her goal, though evidently, things are getting worse before they get better.

How do you feel about the latest round of Xbox console cost increases? Do you believe the Xbox Series X|S is still worth getting at their new prices? Let me know, and be sure to check out the incredible Prime Day deal on the Series X I've included below. It's a killer chance to get one for less before August.

Microsoft has just announced that the price of the Xbox Series X and Series S consoles will increase "effective August 1, 2026" in a post on Xbox News Wire. Specifically, the company says that "The price of Xbox consoles will increase by US$100 for 512 GB models and US$150 for 1 TB models. We will also be sunsetting our 2 TB model."

We don't have confirmation on what this will mean in countries outside the US, but we know there will be changes worldwide; the question is how much.

This will make the prices of Xbox consoles in the US as follows:

So the Xbox Series S now costs the same as the Series X used to, and is the same price as the PS5 Digital Edition currently costs (though we'll see if that changes again too…).

Fortunately, you have a chance to beat the price rise at the moment — if you're in the US, Walmart has a great discount on the 1TB disc version currently.

We're getting into a real crunch point when it comes to price rises caused by the AI-driven memory crisis.

Apple has just announced a huge suite of price rises, having resisted as long as possible, and the price of the Steam Machine shocked people who were hoping for something more console-level — but Valve says the memory companies had them over a barrel, basically.

It's hard to say if the price rise coming just before the GTA IV launch is a cynical move by Xbox, or if letting us know six weeks in advance, during a sales event, just after GTA VI pre-orders went live is doing us a favor — I'm inclined to lean towards the latter.

Amazon Prime Day is here, and like always, we have some of the best deals out there highlighted for you. To add a little flair to it, I am someone who very rarely posts about deals. It’s not my jam, but when I do, you can bet it’s about something I think is a real deal!

Introducing the Turtle Beach Velocity One Racing Wheel and Pedal System. One of the best setups I’ve laid my hands on and reviewed in 2024 is now on sale for an absolutely crazy price. Not only that, but its sister system is also on sale, the Turtle Beach VelocityOne Race KD3.

Originally priced at $650, the VelocityOne Race Wheel & Pedal System is now just $399, an absolute steal when compared to plug-and-play systems like the Logitech G923. Then, the KD3 wheel, which starts at an even lower original price of $449, is at a crushingly low price of $237!

These deals are absolutely crazy

These are insane deals coming from my favorite new racing wheel creator, Turtle Beach. It still feels weird seeing them make something that isn’t a headset, but it's always amazing to see new entrants into the simulation space.

While I didn’t entirely recommend the VelocityOne system at the $650 price point, I can say without a shadow of a doubt that $399 would make this a ten out of ten deal. You'll get a 7.2nm base with a side control unit that delivers over a dozen different buttons and switches. Alongside a triple-pedal setup, perfect for manual/clutch racers.

Then, there's the $237 for the KD3 system, which is even more shocking. Completely undercutting the half-decade-old Logitech G923, which is also on sale, it’s $25 less than its main competitor!

With a slimmer look and a slightly reduced feedback system, the KD3 wheel and base are phenomenal for the price. With two pedals rather than three, those looking to skip the clutch and have a more realistic, but still casual racing experience will absolutely love this setup.

Whether you’re looking for a cheaper, higher-end setup or something cheaper than the old price of the Xbox Series S, look no further than the Turtle Beach Racing Wheel family. And while you’re at it, pick up Forza Horizon 6 too, you’ll thank me later!

Join us on Reddit at r/WindowsCentral to share your insights and discuss our latest news, reviews, and more.

• The second season of Netflix crime drama Dept Q begins production in Edinburgh, Scotland
• Core cast set to return alongside nine new faces
• No word yet on release date or the number of episodes

Netflix has confirmed that the second season of the hit crime drama Dept Q. is now in production, filming in Edinburgh, Scotland.

Our core cast is set to return, including:

• Matthew Goode as DCI Carl Morck
• Alexej Manvelov as Akram Salim
• Jamie Sives as DS James Hardy
• Leah Byrne as DC Rose Dickson
• Mark Bonnar as Stephen Burns,
• Kate Dickie as Moira Jacobson
• Aaron McVeigh as Jasper
• Sanjeev Kohli as Martin Flemming

Nine new cast members will also be seen in new episodes. While we don't know exactly what their roles will be, we do have names:

• Aisling Franciosi as Kimmie
• Greg Wise as Derek Powell
• Nicholas Rowe as Thomas Fulton
• Tony Curran as Winnie Calderwood
• Hamish Clark as Christopher Herron
• Alex Ferns as Phil Allenbeck
• Ross Anderson as Ricky Daddario
• Rebecca Root as June Lovesay
• Isla Johnston as Agnes

Currently, there's no word on exactly when Dept Q. season 2 will be released, nor how many episodes will make up the series.

However, we do have a brief idea of what the plot will involve thanks to the synopsis below.

Dept Q. season 2 set to explore a brand-new case

As per Netflix, Dept Q. season 2 follows "DCI Carl Morck heading up the maverick Dept. Q from the basement of an Edinburgh police station, charged with cases previously deemed unsolvable.

"This darkly humorous, propulsive show delivers all the pleasures of a procedural but takes us into the complex mysteries not just of the cases but of the detectives themselves."

Unsurprisingly, this is all very vague at this point in development. However, Rob Bullock, Executive Producer, Left Bank Pictures, added in a statement, “This season, Carl and his band of misfits tackle a terrible crime hidden in the highest echelons of Scottish society. It is a story for our times: rich and powerful people who believe they are above the law."

Executive Manda Levin agreed, "The story of season 2 is as darkly delicious as you’d expect, and Carl and his glorious gang will have their work cut out pinning down the perpetrators as we launch back in for more!”

What we know for sure is that we will continue to see an adaptation of Jussi Adler-Olsen’s original novels — but how faithful the show will be remains to be seen.

Two years ago, Netflix dramatically let me down. As a massive anime fan, I tuned into the first season of their live-action Avatar: The Last Airbender remake and was horrifically disappointed within minutes. In fact, the most positive critique you could give it is that it was better than the live-action movies, which are widely considered to be garbage.

Why? The action was all there, but the heart of Aang's story wasn't. Spectacular VFX tried to cover up the hollow, mundane narrative underneath. In fact, to quote a fantastic jaw-dropping writer called Jasmine Valentine: "There’s little room to learn, with life-changing realizations made in a ridiculously short amount of time. If a tale can’t be paid its due diligence in a certain remit, should we even bother at all?"

In 2026, my excitement for Avatar: The Last Airbender season 2 is non-existent. I've approached its seven-episode run with complete trepidation, honestly wondering if there is anything better that I could be covering this week. However — while a long way from being a masterpiece — the hit Netflix show has clearly been listening.

Now that all of the exhausting worldbuilding is out of the way (for the most part), fans can finally focus on the character relationships that they want to invest in. There's a lot of tenderness and vulnerability on display, which is the most fulfilling part of our cast having grown up so much between seasons.

But there's still something obvious that's really bothering me... and it comes back to Netflix's "cookie-cutter" mold that none of its programs can escape.

Avatar: The Last Airbender season 2 has finally learned its lesson about the importance of heart

Read it and weep (for joy), kids — Avatar: The Last Airbender season 2 actually has heart. If we're being honest, nobody had to put any effort into achieving this, with the mere fact that the lore of the Four Nations is fully established meaning there's now room for bigger, better things.

A mature Aang (Gordon Cormier) now straddles his inner struggles of legacy and constant imposter syndrome even more effectively, with the likes of Katara (Kiawentiio), Sokka (Ian Ousley), and Suki (Maria Zhang) now all settled into their selves, wants and needs.

If anything, Zuko (Dallas Liu) is going through it the most. After deserting his family and retreating into hiding at the end of season 1, we've got a lot more sympathy with him this time around as he grapples with his supposed destiny of capturing Aang for the Fire Nation's glory. Unlike Lord Ozai (Daniel Dae Kim), he's no longer a villain, but a victim.

The standout character of season 2 is easily Toph (Miya Cech), who has finally been introduced after not appearing in season 2. Coming from a complicated family background that routinely dismisses her Earthbending, she comes into her own sassy self after teaming up with Aang to teach him the next element.

Collectively, the team is now firing on all cylinders, and it's nothing short of a joy to watch. Now we understand who they are and what the bigger picture looks like; intimacy, fun, and genuinely satisfying friendships are now flourishing. The jokes land, the serious moments stab you in the heart, and whimsy is flying around like Appa the sky bison.

Netflix makes season 2 look exactly like The Witcher — just with different lore

Everything else in Avatar: The Last Airbender season 2 feels like more of the same — and that's a huge problem when it comes to the visuals. Broadly speaking, the Four Nations are jaw-droppingly gorgeous, and the detail that the creative team has packed into the landscapes is nothing short of impressive.

The immediate VFX, such as the bending that our characters use, leave a lot to be desired. It's obviously not a usual thing for people to have fire and water shooting out of their hands, so we're suspending a great deal of belief anyway... but being in the moment doesn't help when seeing it happen looks so fake.

This lumps season 2 into the same visually poor category as The Witcher, which is another comparison I made during season 1's debut. Cover the faces of the actors, stick them in the woods for a combat scene, and you'd be hard-pressed to tell the shows apart. Netflix is determined to make all of its genre programs look exactly like one another, and I'm baffled as to why.

Then there's the ultimate ending, which we already know without including spoilers. Much like other long-running anime series like One Piece (with its Netflix adaptation also guilty of this), we've known about the final endgame from its first five minutes. Here, it's for Aang to learn his bending skills, become all-powerful, and defeat Lord Ozai and the Fire Nation.

With a third series already confirmed, this is being drawn out for as long as humanly possible. It was obvious that none of the above was going to be achieved by the time season 2 wrapped up, so we've made little substantial progress from when Aang's goal was first introduced.

For me, the constant theme of "Oh no! Danger is on the horizon, and the Fire Nation must be stopped" is going to wear thin quickly. I'd really like to see season 3 mix things up, but I'm guessing that it won't.

Did I enjoy seeing Aang and the gang in 2026 more than in 2024? Absolutely. Has it renewed my interest in seeing them again at the end of 2027 (season 3's assumed release window)? Far from it.

Spoilers for Avatar: The Last Airbender season 2 ahead.

Even before Avatar: The Last Airbender season 2 dropped on Netflix, we knew exactly where it was heading: the Fire Nation taking over all of the Four Nations.

In the latest batch of seven episodes, the target is the hidden city of Ba Sing Se — and as of season 2 episode 6, it's been captured.

With Avatar Aang (Gordon Cormier) the only person who can save the day, the pressure is on to stop Fire Lord Ozai (Daniel Dae Kim) from doing any more damage.

Unluckily, Princess Azula (Elizabeth Yu) is taking her dad's wishes into her own hands. But can our favorite gang cope with her fiendish plans?

Here's everything you need to know about the Avatar: The Last Airbender season 2 ending... and what it might mean for the already confirmed season 3.

Appa, Sokka, Zuko and Katara are all captured by the Dai Li — which is now controlled by Azula

We kick off Avatar: The Last Airbender season 2 episode 8 with a flashback of baby Aang meeting Appa the sky bison for the first time. Aang feeds Appa an apple (trying to say that three times fast), and they embrace.

Cut to the present day, where Appa has been kidnapped by the Dai Li — Ba Sing Se's secret police force — which is now being controlled by Princess Azula. Trust me, you will cry seeing him in chains.

In a meeting with the city's Grand Secretariat, Long Feng (Chin Han), Azula kills all of Ba Sing Se's highest-ranking men in the force when they question why the Fire Nation wants to control the city. Long Feng, however, begrudgingly but fearfully complies with Azula's plan: to raise Ba Sing Se's drawbridge and let the Fire Nation troops roll in, taking out anything they want in the process.

Remember, this is all coming from Lord Ozai's orders, despite Azula being a more than willing vehicle for them. But Appa isn't the only Aang ally the Dai Li has captured on her orders, with Sokka (Ian Ousley) and Katara (Kiawentiio) also in separate cells.

Sokka reunites with inventor Sai (Danny Pudi) in his cell, with the inventor already being captured before his arrival. Together, they try to figure out how to use the prison's underground structure to break free.

Katara has been put in a cell with Zuko (Dallas Liu), who was caught by the Dai Li after "doing a good act." This marks the biggest pinnacle in Zuko's personal struggle between good and evil so far, and Azula has no idea that he's jailed.

Meanwhile, Toph (Miya Cech) returns home to her mother, complaining that Aang and co. "don't understand her" after their huge falling out in episode 6. While initially seeming on board with how great Toph's earthbending powers are, her mother poisons Toph's tea in order to try and control her urge to leave home forever.

Aang and Iroh plan an escape mission

So where is Aang in this? Right behind his pals, having already figured out where Appa is underground just by sensing him. When the Azula-controlled Dai Li parade through the center of Ba Sing Se, he's hidden by allies made in season 2, episode 1.

When he attempts to approach the Dai Li's underground jail, he's spotted by Iroh (Paul Sun-Hyung Lee) and is immediately suspicious. Iroh reveals that he's also on a mission to break Zuko out of jail, thinking that the pair should team up for maximum effect.

Iroh tells Aang about a secret door that Avatar Kyoshi once installed to lead into the underground caves, but it needs all four elements bent at once to be able to open it. Aang is missing his firebending powers at this stage, so he needs Iroh just as much as Iroh needs Aang.

Together, the pair locate and open the door, and set off on their rescue mission.

Zuko tries to bond with Katara

While Sokka and Sai try to be proactive, Katara learns who Zuko really is. Immediately, she goes on the defensive, telling him how all of her family — and the entire Waterbending tribe — were wiped out thanks to the hostile Fire Nation invasion.

Zuko definitely feels empathy for Katara, but still has a chip on his shoulder. He tells her that the Fire Nation also stripped him of his family, with his mother dying at the hands of Lord Ozai.

The more the two talk, the more they realize that they have a lot in common. It's the closest we've even seen Zuko come to his "good" side, and it seems as though he's finally going to stay that way for good.

Looking at the burn mark around his left eye, Katara offers to try and heal Zuko using the waterbending potion in the locket around her neck. Just as she's about to apply it, Aang and Iroh storm in, having found and released Sokka and Sai first.

Aang goes to fight Zuko, but Iroh stops him, claiming that he's seen huge changes for the better in his nephew. Not quite believing that Zuko has defected from the Fire Nation, the gang sets off in search of the exit.

Aang's escape plan is thwarted

With the Dai Li everywhere, the gang splits up. Aang goes to find Appa after Long Feng brings him up to speed with Azula's plans, earthbending a hole through the ceiling so that Appa can fly to safety.

But as he tries to rejoin the others, he passes another prisoner who was originally being psychologically tortured by a Dai Li officer earlier on. Aang offers to bring her with them, but instead of accepting his offer, she shouts that "the Avatar is here," alerting the guards.

From there, it's fighting on all fronts. In pairs, the group makes light work of the Dai Li roaming the hallways, especially when Toph joins suits, revealing that she has invented "metalbending."

In fact, metalbending is how she ended up there in the first place. When she wakes up after her poisoning, Toph awakes in a metal box riding inside her mother's horse and carriage. Coming to the conclusion that Aang really does understand her, where her family doesn't, she bends the box and flies out of the carriage, making her way to safety.

An all-out battle with Azula changes Zuko's allegiance

With the fight raging on, Azula soon joins the mix, learning that her brother is among the escapees. Honing her focus on him, she tries to convince him, once again, to rejoin her side.

At first, Zuko remains hesitant, more confident in his newfound ability to do good things. But when Azula brings up the death of their mother, he changes his mind.

Where Zuko has always held a grudge against Azula for how she acted when their mother died, Azula reveals that she was only acting on her mother's orders. Their mom wanted the siblings to stay together through the trauma, breaking an emotional trigger point inside Zuko when he hears this.

By the time the rest of the gang reach a large clearing in the underground caves, Azula and Zuko emerge to fight them all as a team. This shocks Katara, who had genuinely believed that Zuko was coming around to being on their side.

After a lot of intense bending and fighting, it looks as though Azula has Aang right where she wants him — after all, the entire point of kidnapping his friends was to lure Aang to Ba Sing Se.

But in his hour of need, Aang taps into what can best be described as an "Avatar portal," seeing physical forms of all the Avatars that came before him in his mind's eye. More clearly, it's what causes Aang's eyes and head arrow to turn a shining blue, as he's essentially channelling their collective power through his body.

Aang is left unconscious

At this point, we see Aang's best bending to date, turning the tables on Azula and leaving her (and the Dai Li guards who join her) powerless.

But just as he's about to deliver the final blow, Aang loses his inner vision, effectively shutting his power off. He collapses to the floor, but Katara, Sokka and Toph are able to get him to safety thanks to Appa having waited outside.

With Ba Sing Se still under Azula's control, our final scene shows the gang flying away on Appa's back. Kata uses the potion she initially offered to Zuko on Aang, aiming to heal him and bring him back to full health.

However, nothing happens after she gives it to him, with the final shot showing Aang completely unconscious and unresponsive.

Season 3 predictions

Obviously, finding out if Aang has actually survived the battle is a top priority for season 3. But the mere fact that season 3 has already been greenlit basically confirms that we'll be seeing Aang again anyway.

In a nutshell, we can expect to see Aang learning to firebend, infiltrating the Fire Nation, and preparing for his climactic showdown with Fire Lord Ozai before Sozin's Comet arrives. Not too much, then.

We also know that Zuko will eventually team up with Aang and the gang to make this happen, so we can expect to see some more emotional upheaval from him.

We're hoping to see season 3 episodes next summer.

If you've been following our GTA 6 pre-order live updates, you'll know that pre-orders now finally live in the UK for the new game.

Not only can you get your order in, including for the GTA 6 Ultimate Edition with all of its extras over the standard edition, but this has also finally revealed to us what the UK price actually is — Rockstar only revealed the US prices when it announced the pre-order time.

So now we know that GTA 6 will cost £69.99 for the Standard Edition, and £89.99 for the Ultimate Edition — we're in a brave new world of video game prices here, folks.

And don't forget, if you buy the 'physical' version of it, you're not getting a disc in the box. It's just for show on your shelf.

We're updating this page as different retailers start showing their pre-order pages — here's a quick list of search page links for now, but we'll put solid links in as they appear.

Confirmed pre-orders

• PlayStation Store
  🅿️ Standard Edition digital pre-order
  🅿️ Ultimate Edition digital pre-order
• Xbox Store
  ❎ Standard Edition digital pre-order
  ❎ Ultimate Edition digital pre-order
• Amazon:
  📦 PS5 Standard Edition box pre-order
  📦 Xbox Standard Edition box pre-order
• ShopTo:
  🟡 PS5 Standard Edition box pre-order
  🟡 Xbox Standard Edition box pre-order
• The Game Collection:
  🎮 Standard Edition box pre-order (both consoles)
• Smyth's Toys:
  🇸 PS5 Standard Edition box pre-order
  🇸 Xbox Standard Edition box pre-order
• Very:
  𝓥 PS5 Standard Edition box pre-order
  𝓥 Check Ultimate Edition box pre-order

Links for other retailers — pre-orders not confirmed yet

• Currys:
  ©️Check Standard Edition stock
  ©️Check Ultimate Edition stock
• Argos:
  🟥Check Standard Edition stock
  🟥Check Ultimate Edition stock
• Very:
  𝓥 Check Standard Edition stock
  𝓥 Check Ultimate Edition stock
• EE:
  📱Check Standard Edition stock
  📱Check Ultimate Edition stock
• John Lewis:
  🛍️Check Standard Edition stock
  🛍️Check Ultimate Edition stock

One of this week's bigger stories in the world of Xbox was the platform's new CEO Asha Sharma stating that "gaming is unaffordable in many cases" in a recent interview with Entertainment Weekly.

Though it was hardly the main focus of the interview — most of it was centered around Microsoft's current and upcoming multimedia projects like the Fallout TV show, Netflix's work-in-progress Gears of War series, and a newly announced Sea of Thieves movie — the comment does stick out at a time when the cost of gaming is rapidly becoming a hotter and hotter topic.

We were curious to hear how you, our readers, feel on the matter, and so when we reported on Sharma's statement, we included a poll about it in our article in which many of you voted to voice your opinion. It remains ongoing, and I'll embed it below, but even now, the way our community feels has been made clear by the votes we've tallied up thus far.

At the time of writing, of the 228 of you that have participated in the poll, a whopping 151 gamers — 66% — believe that the cost of gaming is getting out of control. 28% of you, a count of 63, think it's a growing problem but that affordable options still exist, while the remaining minority think gaming isn't unreasonably expensive.

It's clear that the vast majority of you feel that gaming has become partially or completely unaffordable, and honestly? I'm not surprised.

In fact, I'm right there with you; between the ongoing RAM and storage crisis brought on by the tech industry going all in on AI and rising development costs leading to higher game prices (GTA 6 is $80, by the way), the cost of both new games and the hardware to play them on is becoming untenable.

Just look at the Steam Machine and the Steam Deck; the former costs over $1,000 no matter which version of it you want, and the latter got a brutal price hike last month that's made it a significantly less attractive option for portable gaming.

Sharma made a good point that memory shortages aren't the only culprit, and that "the attention economy and competing subscriptions" in other entertainment mediums like film and TV have made it harder for many to afford games and gaming devices too.

With that said, though, it's undeniable that the AI-driven hardware crisis is largely responsible for what we're seeing, which is why Sharma considers navigating it Xbox's next big "challenge and opportunity." In your responses to Sharma's comments over on our subreddit, though, many of you have rightfully pointed out that Microsoft itself has massively contributed to this problem with its own push for AI.

"Wonder who's fault that is? 🤔," wrote one reader, reacting to Sharma's statement about the price of gaming in 2026. "Well, of course gaming is becoming unaffordable at the moment. No s***, Sherlock. The call is coming from inside the house," said another.

"'Gaming is becoming unaffordable' says CEO of a company making gaming unaffordable," added another, hammering home the point as another of you did: "Yeah. Maybe she should talk to her boss about that."

Like many of you, I too believe that Microsoft has effectively stepped on a rake as it continues to invest in AI through initiatives like its partnership with OpenAI, sabotaging the game and tech industry alongside other big-name AI developers even as its AI products fail to move the needle and AI in general still lacks a clear road to any kind of stable profitability.

Put simply, gaming has become unaffordable — and quite a bit of the blame for that frustrating truth lies on Microsoft's shoulders.

Join us on Reddit at r/WindowsCentral to share your insights and discuss our latest news, reviews, and more.

Throughout the last several months, Microsoft and Xbox have made a wide range of improvements to the platform on consoles and PC, including an overhaul to the Achievements system, visual updates for its user interface, and the introduction of more customization options, among other things.

Now, in the latest Xbox update — available now for Xbox Insiders in the Alpha Skip-Ahead ring of the Xbox Insider Program, and hopefully soon to all — Microsoft has further elevated the Xbox user experience with a few major feature enhancements and additions.

The first and arguably most exciting part of the update is a change for Xbox gamertags that expands their character limit from 12 to 15. Provided you create a gamertag that's both unique and doesn't contain non-Latin characters, you can take advantage of this. Non-unique gamertags will still have a 12-character limit, and will be assigned a random numerical suffix.

"This update applies to gamertags that are unique and available, giving you more room to create a gamertag that feels like you," reads Microsoft's blog post.

Xbox 360 games playable through the Xbox Backwards Compatibility feature have also been updated so that they have game hubs within their game cards in the Xbox UI. These allow you to "quickly view achievement progress, captures, and other useful information," and give these titles parity with Xbox One and Xbox Series X|S games in the Xbox Dashboard.

Another big addition for Xbox Game Pass subscribers specifically is the ability to play a game through Xbox Cloud Gaming while you're updating it. This allows you to circumvent the time you'd normally have to spend waiting for an update to finish entirely, and jump right in while one downloads in the background. Do note that this feature will only work with games that support play through streaming.

Finally, you now also have the ability to add games to your wishlist directly from game cards, making it quick and easy to bookmark a title you're interested in when you come across it on the Xbox Dashboard. This works with "both released and upcoming games," notably.

All in all, I think these are some excellent improvements to the Xbox platform, and continue the streak of speedy updates that have come after Xbox's new CEO Asha Sharma stepped into the position earlier this year.

They also come about a month and a half after Sharma vowed to deliver new Xbox updates every two weeks, admitting that "We have to sweat every single detail" and announcing that one of her core goals this year would be to "fix the fundamentals on console and PC."

That objective is part of a wider plan to make Xbox "where the world plays," and coincides with an ongoing 100-day "reset" of the brand. Sadly, it's been reported that this reorganization will likely bring layoffs as well as a variety of studio closures and/or divestments, but one silver lining is that the Xbox user experience has been getting quite a lot better.

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Fans have been asking for a spinoff of The Big Bang Theory for years... but I don't think they were expecting Stuart Fails to Save the Universe.

Created by Chuck Lorre, Zak Penn, and Bill Prady, Kevin Sussman reprises the role of Stuart, the awkward and angsty comic book shop owner who often plays host to many classic TBBT scenes, not to mention its ever-spiralling scientific lore.

While the main season ran until 2019, Young Sheldon and Georgie & Mandy's First Marriage have taken over the reins when it comes to keeping the 'Sheldonverse' alive. Seven years later, and we're returning to the original story — only it's nothing like it, really.

In all honesty, it looks like a hilarious spoof of The Walking Dead with a comic book twist. But what do we actually know about the new HBO Max show?

Stuart Fails to Save the Universe release date

Stuart Fails to Save the Universe consists of 10 episodes, which will debut on HBO on July 23 at 9pm ET.

It will also be available to stream on HBO Max. New episodes will debut on subsequent Thursdays.

Stuart Fails to Save the Universe trailer

The full trailer was released on June 23, which you can watch above. There's a bunch of direct references to classic movies, from Mad Max to Alien.

Stuart Fails to Save the Universe cast

We're expecting the following main cast members to appear in Stuart Fails to Save the Universe:

• Kevin Sussman as Stuart Bloom / Alternate Stuart Bloom
• Brian Posehn as Bert Kibbler
• Lauren Lapkus as Denise
• John Ross Bowie as Barry Kripke / Supreme Ruler Barry Kripke
• Ryan Cartwright as Kyle
• Josh Brener as Trevor
• Tommy Walker as Gary

However, according to the synopsis (which you can read in full below), we can also expect to see some cameo appearances of alternate TBBT characters.

Annoyingly, we don't know exactly who yet. This will likely be kept under wraps until episodes air, so keep your eyes peeled.

Stuart Fails to Save the Universe plot

Here's the official synopsis: "Comic book store owner Stuart Bloom is tasked with restoring reality after he breaks a device built by Sheldon (Jim Parsons) and Leonard (Johnny Galecki), accidentally bringing about a multiverse Armageddon.

"Stuart is aided in this quest by his girlfriend Denise, geologist friend Bert, and quantum physicist/all-around pain in the ass Barry Kripke. Along the way, they meet alternate-universe versions of characters we’ve come to know and love from The Big Bang Theory. As the title implies, things don’t go well."

See what I mean about those potential cameos? A lot of TBBT lore is set to be featured here, and fan theories are already spreading across the internet like wildfire.

None of these is confirmed, however, so don't believe everything you read.

The Big Bang Theory timeline — will it cross over?

Out of the four shows that currently make up the Sheldonverse, this is the correct chronological order for them (according to time, not when they were released):

• Young Sheldon
• Georgie & Mandy's First Marriage
• The Big Bang Theory
• Stuart Fails to Save the Universe

There's currently no confirmation that Stuart Fails to Save the Universe and The Big Bang Theory will directly cross over, outside of the tipped cameos.

However, as a show with alternate realities, it is logically feasible that some of these realities just happen to be the set of TBBT, or Sheldon's childhood home in Medford, Texas. Even more so for the latter, as the set is currently being used to film Georgie & Mandy's First Marriage season 3.

We'll have to wait until the show starts airing to see if any of this is true.

With GTA 6 pre-orders going live at midnight tonight, the pressure is on to ensure your hardware is up to the task, especially since the title is exclusive to current-gen consoles. If you haven't upgraded yet, Amazon Prime week Day is the perfect time to secure an Xbox Series X.

I'm not going to pretend that the current deal sets the gaming world alight, but it does bring us closer to an actually reasonable price for Xbox's flagship console. This is currently the only active deal for the Series X. You can pick it up for $573 at Walmart (not AMAZON), saving you $76.99 just in time for the GTA 6 launch.

The Xbox Series X 1TB will be the best place to play GTA 6

The Xbox Series X remains the gold standard for Xbox gaming, and will be the best place to experience GTA 6 (if you don't want to fork out PS5 Pro prices, that is). With a custom 8-core Zen 2 CPU and 12 teraflops of RDNA 2 GPU power, it is built to handle the heavy lifting that Rockstar’s latest beast of a game will demand.

Plus, unlike Valve’s catastrophically expensive new Steam Machine, which doesn’t even include a controller, the Series X arrives ready to play right out of the box.

This deal is mostly for those who have been waiting for the right moment to retire an aging Xbox One X or Series S. This console generation has been a rocky one, with prices being hiked upward rather than dropping as the hardware ages, so we always knew steep discounts were off the table. However, if you are looking to upgrade without heading to the second-hand market, this is the most sensible way to do it.

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