Xbox has a new rival in town, and you might be surprised to know that it’s TikTok, as well as movies, that keep the Head of Xbox Game Studios up at night. Not PlayStation, not Nintendo. A social media application available on Android and iOS, and those motion picture films that you used to flock to theaters to see, but can now more easily than ever before watch from the comfort of your own couch.

It’s likely strange hearing that a video game company isn’t considering other video game companies its competitors anymore. That’s understandable. Xbox targeting TikTok and movies as its new rivals probably feels entirely random. As random as it might feel, if PlayStation were to stop competing with other video game companies and start targeting fast food chains. On a surface level, it doesn’t make any sense. But if you dig a little deeper, you can start to see the direction that Xbox is probably taking, in addition to the reason it’s taking it.

Xbox probably sees TikTok and movies as its new rivals because it’s competing for your time

To be clear, this has always been the case. Video games are a form of entertainment, and as long as they’ve been around, they’ve had to compete for your time with any other form of entertainment. So, that’s not an entirely new aspect of things. However, things have changed quite a bit. Now more than ever, entertainment through mediums like movies and TikTok is commanding the time of everyone, from teenagers to full-blown adults.

TikTok consumption is on such a massive scale that it wouldn’t be surprising to learn if some users were avoiding all other forms of entertainment to scroll through new clips. There likely are some users out there who are like this. Microsoft and its Xbox team appear to think so, and this is likely a big reason why it considers TikTok one of its new main rivals.

This is just speculation, of course, but it’s the most reasonable assumption that can be made. TikTok, movies, and streaming video make up a huge chunk of media consumption these days. Naturally, Xbox wants users to spend time playing games as opposed to watching videos. So, it’s setting its sights on those types of services.

The Xbox, as we know it, has changed forever

The days of Xbox being the third console behemoth in the market are long gone. This console platform of the early 2000s and 2010s has transformed into something entirely different. It’s not dead per se, but it’s certainly dead in the sense that the Xbox that fans have loved for two decades isn’t the same. Not only is Microsoft now targeting social media apps as its new rival, but its Xbox consoles won’t be traditional consoles anymore. The next Xbox will reportedly be a Windows gaming PC with an Xbox UI layer on top. It’s a new age for Xbox. For better or worse, this is the path Microsoft has chosen to take.

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Rumors of the next-gen Xbox console powered by Windows, making it a full-fledged gaming PC, began floating to the surface of the news cycle earlier this month. Now, it seems that those rumors actually have weight to them. So much weight that the rumors are reportedly true.

When the rumors first popped up, we said it sounded like the next console would just be an expensive gaming PC. That’s exactly what Microsoft is going for, according to Windows Central. (It is worth noting that this report is based on “trusted sources within Microsoft.” So, Microsoft itself has not publicly announced these details). This probably comes as no surprise to some. The ASUS ROG Xbox Ally X and ROG Xbox Ally launched on October 16, and both feature a new software experience. It’s called the Xbox Fullscreen Experience, and it’s designed to be more of a console-like user interface than Windows 11.

One of the main complaints that Windows 11 handhelds have had so far is that they don’t feel like handheld consoles, which is essentially what they are. The Xbox Fullscreen Experience takes steps to address that issue. In most ways, it does a fine job at this. All your games are accessible right from one place. This includes games across clients like the Xbox app, Steam, Ubisoft Connect, and more. The next Xbox console is following in these footsteps.

Microsoft’s next Xbox console is a Windows PC, but it will have a console-style UI

The important bit here for console fans is that the new Xbox will have a console-style UI. Similar to, or perhaps exactly like, the Xbox Fullscreen Experience for the ROG Xbox Ally X and ROG Xbox Ally. The console experience will be layered on top of Windows, just like those handhelds. It will also boot into this experience as soon as you power it on, as opposed to booting into Windows first.

There is a major difference, though. As Windows Central reports, those who prefer this console UI can stay within it indefinitely. With no requirement to ever leave it. That means updates, game installs, etc., will all be doable from this experience. For comparison, with the ROG Xbox Ally X, if you want to update anything, it all has to be done from the Windows side of things. It’s not a great experience, all things considered. The next console is reportedly not going to have this problem. That’s a big step in the right direction if you want a console to be a console.

That being said, gamers will have the option to move to the Windows layout if they want to play games from other clients, such as Steam, or play Windows games that run in their own client and aren’t available on Xbox.

It’s still unclear what the price is going to be. However, Xbox President Sarah Bond did confirm that the next-gen Xbox will be a “very premium, very high-end, curated experience.” So, chances are the next Xbox won’t be as affordable as some people are hoping.

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If you’ve glanced at your screen lately, you’ve probably noticed how sports tech is quietly transforming what we watch, how we watch it, and what we talk about afterwards. 

In India, this shift feels bigger than ever. New mobile platforms and analytics tools are gaining traction, and one of the most talked-about is the TTB Predictions App. The Top Bookies is carving out a niche by promising something different: data-driven fan engagement and sharper insights.

A Ground-Level Look at Sports Tech in India

The Indian sports technology market generated USD 185.3 million in 2023 and is projected to reach USD 830.3 million by 2030, with a CAGR of about 23.9% from 2024 to 2030. This growth is driven by digital adoption, franchise expansion, and the increasing number of mobile users.

Platforms once limited to live scores or fantasy are broadening into analytics, content, and community. As Sudeep Kulkarni of Game Theory once said, “Technology now fits like a glove in the modern ecosystem of sports performance analysis.”

But what makes TTB Predictions stand out? Well, it’s how they combine real-time data, machine learning, experts’ opinions, and user engagement.

So, they’re not just tracking numbers produced by matches as they’re actually building a narrative around that data to make information easier to digest for fans who are just curious or want to come up with predictions more accurately.

What the TTB Predictions App Does

At its core, TTB Predictions offers predictive modelling based on historic performance, pitch and weather data, in-match event tracking, and user-friendly dashboards. Users receive match insights, player metrics, and what the app describes as “engagement prompts” to watch games differently. 

Also, their predictions are completely free, and even if they use prediction models, they have cricket lovers and experts on board, so you know they’re not just reading the numbers.

Behind the scenes, apps like The Top Bookies are facing three key challenges: data access (especially for domestic leagues), modeling accuracy in highly volatile games, and making insights understandable for the average fan. The test will be whether it converts curious downloads into daily active users.

Why This Matters for Indian Sports

Why does an app like TTB Predictions matter? First, it addresses a gap. In India, we have a huge passion for sport, especially cricket, but there are only a few tools or platforms that translate raw performance data into something fan-friendly. 

TTB also opens new monetization paths for partnerships, broadcasters, and leagues that are more than just ticket sales and traditional ads.

The timing is critical, too. With leagues growing, viewership fragmenting, and younger audiences expecting interactivity, sports tech platforms form the new frontier. TTB Predictions is positioning itself as India’s most downloaded sports predictions app, and leveraging that reach to tie with content creators, regional leagues, and fan-engagement campaigns.

For brands and sponsors, this means a shift in how value is measured when it comes to how engaged a user is with an app, how much time they spend, what content they share, and what analytics drive. TTB’s model may well become a template for others.

Barriers and What to Watch Next

Of course, this isn’t a guaranteed success story. Sports tech in India is still facing a lot of challenges. Data privacy and platform liability are some of them. When the machine says “Player X will score,” and it doesn’t happen, how will these technologies maintain user trust?

The thing is that the legal framework around sports-tech analytics is still young. Additionally, monetization remains tricky in India, and users expect free or low-cost apps.

Accuracy is also important and can be a challenge for sports prediction apps. An analytics tool may flag trends, but nothing in cricket or even any sports match is absolute. After all, a single upset can easily turn things around. 

Looking ahead, three signals will matter: 

1. whether the app expands beyond cricket into other sports (football, kabaddi, badminton) in India; 

2. how it partners with leagues, broadcasters, or content platforms; and 

3. whether it builds sustainable revenue streams, like subscriptions, in-app content, and regional tie-ups.

Summary

If Indian sports tech has a “next big thing,” it could well be TTB Predictions. The platform aligns with today’s latest trends in the sports scene: mobile-first audiences, data-rich sports, fan-centric engagement, and regionalization. But the real measure will be execution.

Will it prove that predictions and insights matter as much as match highlight reels?

Well, for athletes, fans, leagues, broadcasters, and brands, what happens next will be interesting. How we predict sports outcomes is now evolving, and TTB is one of those platforms at the forefront. So, download the app if you want valuable insights on upcoming cricket matches.

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Razer is back with yet another new console controller, and this time it’s geared towards PS5 owners, as the company has just launched the Raiju V3 Pro. If you remember the last Raiju from a few years ago, throw that idea out the window. Razer has made several improvements. Not the least of which was the removal of the Razer Chroma RGB lighting. This only really served to give the player short-term visual gratification and, more importantly, drained battery life.

The new Razer Raiju V3 Pro does away with the Chroma to preserve battery life. It also adds some very important upgrades to help extend the longevity of the hardware. Of course, the controller looks pretty similar to the last model, albeit with a few minor tweaks. It also features Razer’s signature Hyper Triggers and comes in a matte black colorway that Razer has been known for since its inception. It’s available in White as well.

The Razer Raiju V3 Pro comes with TMR thumbsticks

One of the biggest issues with DualSense controllers, including the DualSense Edge, is the use of standard thumbsticks that use standard potentiometers. These can often lead to thumbstick drift, and thumbstick drift can lead to bad experiences in games. The Raiju V3 Pro combats this by using TMR (Tension Magnetic Resistance) thumbsticks. These are even more advanced than Hall Effect thumbsticks. They also deliver consistent tension. If you play any games that can be tough on the thumbsticks, such as FPS titles or fighting games, then this controller is for you.

Of course, the inclusion of Razer’s Hyper Triggers is also a nice addition for shooter fans. A quick flick of the switch on the back near the triggers will lock these into more of a mouse-click style trigger pull. Although it’s worth noting that while the trigger pull feels about as short, they feel a little more spongy on the Raiju V3 Pro than Razer’s Wolverine V3 Pro 8K PC controller. It’s a very subtle difference, but noticeable if you use the controllers every day.

You can also swap out the thumbsticks for domed or concave, depending on what you prefer. The four remappable back buttons are also removable if you ever don’t want them for certain games. Plus, you still have two remappable claw bumpers if you want additional controls you can customize. One of the best parts about the Raiju V3 Pro is battery life. Razer doesn’t officially list the battery life in the controller specs. However, it’s quite high compared to your standard DualSense, DualSense Edge, or other pro controllers like the Reflex from SCUF. The only downside here is that the Raiju V3 Pro isn’t available in the US yet. It was supposed to launch today, but Razer is awaiting regulatory approval before it goes up for sale. When it does launch in the US, it’ll retail for $219.99.

Buy from Razer – $219.99

Buy from Razer

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