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This year's Computex has highlighted just how big an impact Apple can have on the wider computing industry
Apple's influence on the computing industry was evident at Computex this year, particularly in laptop design and pricing strategies. The success of the recent MacBook Neo, noted for its sleek design and affordable price, appears to be inspiring manufacturers like Dell, Asus, and HP to adopt similar aesthetics and cost-effective approaches in their new hardware.
New data predicts PC sales will tank in 2026 but Apple is doubling MacBook Neo production according to reports
New data from IDC predicts a significant decline in PC sales starting in 2026, attributing it to a persistent memory shortage. However, Apple is reportedly doubling production of its MacBook Neo due to high demand, with CEO describing customer response as "off the charts."
PS5 Price Hike Has Flushed UK Hardware Sales Down the Toilet
Sony's PlayStation 5 hardware sales in the UK fell by 50% in May following a price increase, with the console barely outselling the Xbox Series X|S. While Microsoft's console saw a 12% rise in sales, the Nintendo Switch outperformed both. The article suggests that some PS5 sales may have been brought forward due to the price hike.
James Bond game 007 First Light sales estimated to have reached an impressive milestone a week after launch
The James Bond game 007 First Light has reportedly surpassed two million copies sold within its first week, according to analyst Rhyss Elliot of Alinea Analytics. The game has generated an estimated $150 million, with PlayStation platforms accounting for the majority of both sales and revenue. Additionally, the article lists new games coming to Xbox Game Pass in June, including Herdling, Frog Sqwad, and Persona 5 Royal.
Here are our Xbox Game Pass games for June
Microsoft has announced the first wave of games coming to Xbox Game Pass in June, including Herdling, Total Chaos, and Persona 5 Royal. Several titles will be available day one on the service. Additionally, a selection of games will be leaving the Game Pass library on June 15th.
Evening Safety Dance
Microsoft is implementing a significant security update for its Windows operating system in the near future. The change aims to enhance the overall security posture of the platform for its users.
Final Fantasy and Star Wars have the same problem, says former Square Enix exec: fans are getting older, and young…
Former Square Enix executive Jacob Navok argues that both Final Fantasy and Star Wars face a critical problem of an aging core fanbase with a shrinking new audience. He points to declining ratings for Star Wars: The Mandalorian and the high average age of Final Fantasy 7 Rebirth players as evidence that these franchises are struggling to connect with younger generations who are growing up with platforms like Roblox.
MMO Business Roundup: Gamers sue Microsoft, Skull and Bones on Steam Deck, and NetEase’s Q1
This MMO business roundup covers several industry updates, including Skull and Bones achieving Steam Deck verification. NetEase reported a strong first quarter for 2026 with a 6.9% rise in games revenue. Additionally, a lawsuit has been filed against Microsoft, accusing the company of colluding with Valve to maintain higher prices on the Steam store.
2026 - Drift Stage - 0.5.0.4, Current Status: – Priority Update; Return to Active Development.
Drift Stage has received a priority update to version 0.5.0.4, migrating its codebase from Unity 2016 to Unity 2021 to address a critical security vulnerability and improve compatibility with modern hardware and operating systems. This foundational update, while containing some bugs and incomplete features, is a crucial step in resuming active development and was prepared for demonstration at INDIE Games Fest. Future updates will focus on bug fixing, restoring features, and reintroducing Mac and Linux support.
CoD Season 4 Patch Notes Detail SG-12 Nerf, Anti-Cheat Updates, And More
Call of Duty: Black Ops 7 and Warzone's Season 4 update introduces significant changes including an SG-12 shotgun nerf, new anti-cheat measures via Microsoft Azure Attestation, and various weapon and map adjustments. The update also brings new content for Zombies modes, including the Rogue Run roguelite experience and the Totenreich map improvements, alongside a revamped Ranked Play system and new multiplayer modes.
Age of Empires Mobile: PC Edition Launches June 23 - Wishlist Now! - Age of Empires - World's Edge Studio
Age of Empires Mobile: PC Edition is set to launch on June 23 for PC via Steam, the Microsoft Store, and PC Game Pass. This version offers enhanced 4K visuals, mouse and keyboard controls, and seamless cross-play with the mobile version, allowing players to build empires across devices. The game aims to grow the Age of Empires franchise by attracting new players while providing existing mobile fans with more ways to play.
This is me playing Alan Wake 2's native Arm build on an RTX Spark laptop, and I'm here for it
The article details a hands-on experience with a native Arm build of Alan Wake 2 running on an Nvidia RTX Spark laptop. The author reports a smooth and visually impressive experience, highlighting Nvidia and Microsoft's collaboration with Remedy Entertainment to optimize the graphically intensive DirectX 12 title for Arm hardware. Emulated versions of Indiana Jones and the Great Circle and Pragmata were also tested, with assurances that major applications and games will be supported at launch.
Minecraft's servers are down, locking players out of the game for hours
Minecraft experienced widespread server issues on June 3, preventing players from accessing multiplayer services on both Bedrock and Java editions. Authentication servers for Bedrock were down, and the Realms multiplayer system was inaccessible for both editions, with no estimated time for resolution. This follows a similar outage on June 1 caused by a Microsoft Azure issue.
Morning Tech Bits
Microsoft is covering its Build 2026 demos and announcements live, with details on laptops and PCs powered by NVIDIA's RTX Spark N1x variant. The article notes that these devices cannot be priced below approximately $2,000.
AI Yi-Yi!
Microsoft has announced Project Solara AI, a new chip-to-cloud platform designed to enable 'agent-first' enterprise devices. The platform aims to power a new generation of intelligent devices, with early users of GitHub Copilot reporting significant performance increases.
Morning Safety Dance
A bug hunter has leaked Microsoft exploits, criticizing the company's approach to vulnerability disclosures. Concurrently, Instagram accounts are reportedly being hacked, with attackers claiming Meta has not adequately addressed the issue.
The Subscription Audit Gap: $3,000/Year Unwatched | TAG
This article highlights the significant financial burden of multiple gaming subscription services, estimating annual costs between $1,000 and $3,000 per consumer. It contrasts this with the ongoing instability and layoffs within the gaming industry, such as Embracer Group's struggles and publisher-wide redundancies, suggesting a lack of consumer-facing accountability in the current business model.
Forza Horizon 6 gets customisable interiors thanks to a modder who couldn't resist swapping the seats of their beemer
A modder named Smidgeee has introduced customizable interiors to Forza Horizon 6, starting with the BMW M4 Coupé. This mod allows players to swap seats, steering wheels, and customize interior colors, addressing a notable omission in the game's existing customization options. The modder plans to expand support to more vehicles in the future.
Persona 5 Royal Headlines Xbox Game Pass June 2026 Wave 1
Microsoft has announced that Persona 5 Royal will be among the titles added to Xbox Game Pass in the first half of June. This addition highlights the subscription service's upcoming content for the period.
Xbox Game Pass – here’s what’s coming in June’s first wave of releases
Microsoft has announced the first wave of games coming to Xbox Game Pass in June 2026, with Persona 5 Royal being the most prominent addition. The lineup also includes new titles like Herdling, Total Chaos, Solarpunk, Undisputed, Beastro, Frog Sqwad, Starseeker: Astroneer Expeditions, and Junkster, available across Cloud, Xbox Series X|S, and PC. Several games are also scheduled to leave the service on June 15.
