While the majority of Summer Game Fest takes place over the weekend, Sony is getting a jump on things with its next State of Play showcase, which airs on June 2nd at 5PM ET. It’s coming at a pivotal time for the PlayStation brand: The PS5 keeps getting more expensive and Sony’s big bet on live-service games has largely fallen flat. A good showing at SGF won’t fix everything, but it could help show that PlayStation is on the right path moving forward.

For its part, Sony says its latest State of Play will feature “more than 60 minutes of updates, announcements, and gameplay reveals from top studios around the world.” The only confirmed part of the event’s lineup is Wolverine, from Spider-Man developer Insomniac, which is slated to launch in September. But given the length of the stream, there’ll be plenty more detailed. Maybe we’ll see the just-announced third expansion for The Witcher 3, or the long-awaited final installment of the Final Fantasy VII remake trilogy, or some more of Intergalactic, the next big project from The Last of Us developer Naughty Dog. It’s also likely the event will provide some insight into the uncertain future of Marathon.

Whatever Sony shows, you can watch along on YouTube or Twitch, or follow along with the latest developments right here.

And for everything announced at the rest of Summer Game Fest, be sure to check out our event hub.

• God of War Laufey is coming to the PS5
• Remedy’s Control sequel launches in September
• Until Dawn gets a little sun.
• Marathon season 2 kicks off.
• Ace Combat 8 release date: October 2nd.
• A different take on Silent Hill.
• Onimusha: Way of the Sword launches in September — and a demo is launching today.
• Arrakis on console.
• Dino crisis.
• The Tomb Raider reboot is getting a small delay.
• Yokai-slaying fun.
• Dave the Diver is getting a prequel game.
• Rayman reimagined, revealed.
• A little more Marvel.
• Here’s seven bloody minutes of Wolverine on the PS5
• PlayStation’s next big State of Play kicks off soon.
• Summer Game Fest is getting off to an early start.

Intel couldn't catch a break. Layoffs. Shakedowns. Crashing CPUs torpedoing its reputation, sending desktop gamers fleeing to AMD. Apple and Qualcomm pushing Intel out of multiple flagship laptops. A gaming graphics card going MIA. But its Panther Lake laptop chip, the first on its all-important 18A process, turned out excellent - and a handheld version might make Intel the leader in portable gaming chips.

On Monday, I spent two hours with an MSI Claw 8 EX AI Plus handheld atop Intel's new Arc G3 Extreme. I walked away thinking that next-gen handhelds have finally arrived. The true leap in performance and battery life we've been waiting for …

Read the full story at The Verge.

Microsoft just kicked off Build 2026 with a keynote from CEO Satya Nadella and other company leaders. As expected, it was filled with announcements, ranging from new Surface hardware to an always-on personal assistant and updates across Microsoft's in-house AI models.

If you didn't watch the event live, you can catch up on all the latest news in the roundup below.

A mini Surface PC designed for AI development

The Surface RTX Spark Dev Box is geared toward developers who want to run local AI models on their device, serving as a substitute for Qualcomm's canceled dev kit. It comes equipped with Nvidia's new Arm-based Spark RTX chip and 128G …

Read the full story at The Verge.

President Donald Trump signed an executive order Tuesday creating a "voluntary framework" for AI companies to share their frontier models with the federal government before they're released "to promote secure innovation and strengthen the cybersecurity of critical infrastructure."

The order says the US AI industry has succeeded in part "because we refuse to stifle this innovation with overly burdensome regulation," but that it also recognizes new AI capabilities come with security risks. Accordingly, it directs several federal agencies to come up with a framework to "assess the advanced cyber capabilities of AI models" before they're releas …

Read the full story at The Verge.

Microsoft claimed last year that it had made a key breakthrough in quantum computing with Majorana 1, the company's first quantum processor. While physicists were immediately skeptical of Microsoft's claims, the software giant is announcing Majorana 2 today, the next generation of its topological quantum chip.

Majorana 2 contains qubits, a unit of information in quantum computing much like the binary bits that computers use today, that are 1,000 times more reliable, according to Microsoft. It's a milestone that helps make quantum computing more reliable, thanks to the use of a new material stack and some help from Microsoft Discovery's agen …

Read the full story at The Verge.

Microsoft announced a bunch of new in-house AI models at Build 2026, including a new "flagship" model: MAI-Thinking-1. It's an ambitious step into model development for Microsoft, which introduced its initial in-house models last year - before then, it had relied on OpenAI's models. The two companies recently renegotiated their deal to loosen ties.

According to Microsoft, MAI-Thinking-1 is a "medium-sized model" that "matches leading models" on "key" software engineering benchmarks. Microsoft says the company "trained it from the ground up on clean data, without distillation from third-party models."

As for other models announced today, t …

Read the full story at The Verge.

I like the UE Wonderboom 4 Bluetooth speaker so much that I bought two of them, though I wish I could have paid less for them. Fortunately, you can stock up on the cheap, so long as you like the color blue. The Wonderboom 4 is available in blue at Amazon for $51.49, and at Walmart and Best Buy for $51.99 ($28 off its regular price). That’s the lowest price we’ve seen yet for the waterproof speaker, with most of the other color options selling at a slightly higher (but still discounted) $69.99.

Ultimate Ears Wonderboom 4

The Wonderboom 4 might feature a compact design, but it still delivers big sound for its diminutive size. It also carries an IP67 rating, meaning it’s both water- and dust-resistant (it can even float if you need it to).

Where to Buy:

• $79.99 $51.49 at Amazon
• $79.99 $51.99 at Walmart
• $79.99 $51.99 at Best Buy

Despite the Wonderboom 4’s compact size, the speaker sounds great, and is IP67-rated, meaning it can survive being submerged in water for a while. Although, its floatable design means that it’ll quickly return to the surface so you can put it back on dry land (it’s not meant to be listened to while in the water). If you have two of them, like me, they can be wirelessly paired together for stereo sound. With up to 14 hours of battery life per charge, the speaker will likely outlast your long summer outings. 

Other deals to consider

• Hollow Knight: Silksong, the long-awaited sequel to Team Cherry’s 2017 metroidvania,  is discounted for the first time on the Nintendo eShop, bringing the price for the Switch and Switch 2 digital versions down to just $15.99 ($4 off). The difficult sequel pits players against relentless bosses and demanding platforming sections, and is great for anyone who loves a challenging side-scroller. Read our review.
• This MAG 272QP 27-inch 1440p QD-OLED gaming monitor from MSI is marked down to $339.99 ($60 off) for Costco members, its lowest price yet. It’s selling for around $400 at other retailers, so this is a good deal even if you have to get a Costco membership to snag. The monitor features a fast 240Hz refresh rate, plus FreeSync Premium and G-Sync support to keep the image looking smooth even if the frame rate fluctuates. In terms of ports, it offers two HDMI 2.1 inputs and one DisplayPort 1.4 port, plus a USB-C connection for DP Alt Mode, and a 3.5mm headphone jack. The monitor includes a three-year warranty that also covers OLED burn-in.
• Fractal Design may be best known for PC components, but the case maker’s Scape wireless gaming headset surprised us with excellent sound and a sleek, refined aesthetic. They’re marked down to $169.99 ($30 off) at Amazon for Prime members, available in both silver or black finishes, with an included inductive charging dock. In addition to working with PC, we also got it working on a PlayStation 5 and Nintendo Switch 2 with its included USB audio transmitter. Read our review.

Much like Google, Microsoft is launching its own version of OpenClaw. Microsoft Scout is an always-on assistant that integrates into Microsoft 365 apps like Outlook, OneDrive, and Microsoft Teams, allowing businesses to assign a virtual assistant to employees to help with organizing calendars, expense reporting, email drafts, and much more.

Unlike Copilot that lives inside Microsoft 365 apps, Microsoft Scout can see and do a lot more. "This is a personal assistant, it's the first real personal assistant we've offered customers," explains Omar Shahine, corporate vice president of Microsoft Scout, in an interview with The Verge. "I think it's …

Read the full story at The Verge.

Google is launching a new feature for its Phone app that aims to protect you from AI impersonation scams. Now, when you receive a call from a scammer that appears to be coming from the same number as one of your contacts, Phone by Google will flag the call as suspicious so you can hang up.

It's part of Google's broader June Android drop, which will add support for Apple AirDrop across more devices, including the Samsung Galaxy S25 lineup. Google is also making its Personal Safety app available to kids under 13, widely rolling out support for its AI-powered clothing try-on feature in Photos, and bringing the ability to find items in an outfi …

Read the full story at The Verge.

A glass screen protector is one of a few essential accessories that I strongly recommend to every Switch 2 owner. In fact, it should be a priority to stick one onto the console’s screen as soon as possible to avoid accidental scratches. 

To test the candidates below, I installed and removed Switch 2 screen protectors on my console at an alarming rate, more than any sane person should, and here are the most important takeaways:

• Do not buy a flimsy plastic screen protector. They are a waste of money and won’t protect your Switch 2 enough.
• It’s impossible to tell different brands’ protectors apart once they’re on your screen; product packaging and the installation process are the biggest differences (as well as the key factors that increase cost).
• Some protectors are glossy and some are anti-reflective, each with its own tradeoffs. For my money, glossy is the way to go. The matte finish looks good, but it reduces the screen’s vivid quality and its viewing angles.

Of the options below, it’s easiest to recommend amFilm’s three-pack of glossy screen protectors. Not only is the pack affordable ($9.99 from Amazon), but the tray also allows for perfect alignment of the glass protector for easy, bubble-free installation. I’ve used this company’s screen protectors on various gadgets for years, and I particularly like its glossy option over the matte finish, since it lets the Switch 2’s screen fully shine through.

amFilm three-pack of glossy screen protectors

My go-to screen protector brand for years has been amFilm. Three glossy tempered glass sheets come in the box, and the tools make installation fairly simple. JSAUX’s model is just as good based on my testing, and just as affordable.

Where to Buy:

• $9.99 at Amazon

AmFilm OneTouch screen protectors (two-pack)

In keeping up with some brands that offer faster installations, amFilm offers a two-pack of glossy protectors that includes a “OneTouch” tray. Remove the protector’s bottom film, attach the tray to your device, and then press gently on the protector until it’s fully applied.

Where to Buy:

• $8.99 at Amazon

Dbrand Prism 2.0 two-pack of glossy screen protectors

Dbrand’s Prism 2.0 includes two glass protectors for the Switch 2, each nestled into plastic cases that fit perfectly around the edges of the console (with the Joy-Con 2 removed). $34.99 is expensive for two protectors, but if simplicity and elegant packaging trump value, then this is a good option.

Where to Buy:

• $34.95 at Best Buy
• $34.95 at Dbrand

Genki Aegis Shield two-pack of glossy screen protectors

Genki offers a cheaper alternative to Dbrand with the Aegis Shield. It includes two protectors, and the installation process is nearly identical: just align the plastic frame with the console, pull the tab, and run your finger across the exposed section of the frame. Spigen makes a similar product that costs $24.99 for a two-pack.

Where to Buy:

• $19.99 $15.99 at Amazon
• $19.99 at Genki

amFilm two-pack of matte screen protectors

Let’s start with one of the most affordable options if you want to go the matte-textured route. AmFilm sells a two-pack of protectors at Amazon for $8.99. The set includes a plastic frame that serves as a guide to align the protector just right. JSAUX makes a similar product that’s the same price.

Where to Buy:

• $9.99 at Amazon

amFilm OneTouch two-pack of matte screen protectors

AmFilm also sells a two-pack with a OneTouch frame for easier installation. Again, keep in mind that opting for matte over glossy will reduce glare, but at the cost of viewing angles as well as the full vivid quality of the Switch 2’s screen. That’ll be an acceptable tradeoff for some, but not all people.

Where to Buy:

• $12.99 at Amazon

Update, June 2nd: Adjusted prices as needed.

Microsoft just announced "Project Solara," a new OS designed for gadgets that run AI agents, at Build 2026. The company is calling it "a new platform built from the ground up to power agent-driven experiences." It's built on Android, not Windows.

Microsoft demonstrated two concept Project Solara devices at Build today: Desk concept and badge concept. The desk concept is an Amazon Echo Show-like device that unlocks with facial recognition and provides access to AI agents.

The badge concept is a wearable, the type of badge you'd typically use to access a work building. It has a camera and a fingerprint scanner, which can wake an AI agent wi …

Read the full story at The Verge.

Microsoft only just announced a new Surface Laptop Ultra at the weekend, and it's now revealing a miniature Surface PC aimed at developers. The new Surface RTX Spark Dev Box is powered by Nvidia's new Arm-based RTX Spark chips, just like the Surface Laptop Ultra, and is optimized for sustained workloads and local AI tasks.

The Surface RTX Spark Dev Box looks a little like the top of an Xbox Series X console, with an aluminum chassis that also doubles as a heatsink. It has a 100-watt thermal envelope, slightly more than the 45-watt-to-80-watt thermal envelopes for Nvidia's RTX Spark laptops. This miniature Surface PC also has 128GB of unifie …

Read the full story at The Verge.

Microsoft is kicking off its Build developer conference today with a promise of making Windows a trusted platform for development. As the company continues to focus on performance and reliability fixes for Windows 11, it's also creating a developer-optimized experience that bundles a lot of useful tools and apps and embraces Linux even further.

"We have optimized the Windows 11 experience for developers, bringing frequently used command line utilities, a familiar comfort shell, faster setup experience, a built-in way to create and interact with Linux containers on Windows and a new experimental Intelligent Terminal," explains Windows chief …

Read the full story at The Verge.

On the Friday before Memorial Day, on the eve of a long weekend, the Trump administration announced that it was further gutting legal immigration. The Department of Homeland Security didn't use this language. "This policy allows our immigration system to function as the law intended instead of incentivizing loopholes," the agency said on X. "The era of abusing our nation's immigration system is over." A press release from US Citizenship and Immigration Services, the agency that handles legal immigration, provided few details. Following the Trump playbook, DHS seemingly intended to bury this news by announcing it at a time that hardly anyone …

Read the full story at The Verge.

If you’re looking for a way to add a personal touch to Father’s Day or graduation gifts, the Cricut Joy 2 can help you customize everything from water bottles and bookmarks to greeting cards and gift cards. The Cricut Joy 2 Rainbow Essential Bundle includes enough vinyl, cardstock, iron-on materials, and other supplies to create up to 75 projects, and it’s currently down to a new low of $119.99 ($50 off) at Amazon.

Cricut Joy 2

Where to Buy:

• $169.99 $119.99 at Amazon (Rainbow Essentials Bundle)

As somebody who had never used a cutting machine before, I found the Cricut Joy 2 relatively easy to get started with. The bundle includes a 30-day Cricut Access trial that helps by giving you access to hundreds of additional templates, images, and fonts while you’re figuring things out. Setup is simple, and while the Design Space software takes some getting used to, I found it much easier to navigate after a few days of tinkering around with different projects and watching tutorials from Cricut’s community.

What’s especially cool about the Joy 2 is that it brings Cricut’s Print Then Cut feature to the company’s entry-level machine, allowing you to print full-color designs on your home printer and then have the Joy 2 cut them out for you. While it’s great for creating personalized gifts, I’ve also used it to make bullet journal templates and cabinet labels, making it feel just as practical as it is fun. The bundle also includes iron-on materials for customizing T-shirts, tote bags, and other fabric items. Unlike the Ultimate Bundle I tested, though, the Rainbow Essential Bundle doesn’t include a heat press, so you’ll need to buy your own. It’s also small enough to leave on a desk or tuck away when you’re not using it, which is a nice perk if you’re already as short on storage as I am.

Read our hands-on impressions of the Cricut Joy 2. 

Microsoft’s annual developer conference is kicking off on June 2nd in San Francisco with the keynote presentation streaming live at 12:30PM ET / 9:30AM PT, and we will be following along here with everything as it’s announced. 

The Verge’s Tom Warren reports that we can expect to hear about new AI models and agentic OpenClaw-like tools, plus a Copilot “super app” to go along with some of the major changes to Windows 11 that have already started appearing. Microsoft just announced the new Surface Laptop Ultra, powered by Nvidia’s RTX Spark, so there could be more Windows on ARM news in store. 

Follow along here for the latest news and updates.

• The new Surface mini PC is here.
• Build kicks off with Windows.
• Microsoft created the mini Surface dev box that Qualcomm couldn’t
• Microsoft’s new developer-optimized Windows embraces Linux even more
• Microsoft Build 2026 is about to begin.
• How to watch Microsoft’s Build 2026 conference
• Microsoft to unveil new AI models and Windows improvements at Build
• Microsoft’s big developer conference returns to San Francisco in June

Ableton already has Max for Live, which allows users to build MIDI effects, synths, and samplers for its digital audio workstation (DAW). But now with its Extensions SDK, features can be added to Ableton Live with common JavaScript. Where Max is largely limited to MIDI and audio processing, Extensions can touch almost any part of the DAW simply by right-clicking within your Live set.

The company provides a handful of example extensions that include the ability to bulk rename tracks, sketch out song arrangements, and slice up samples. The idea is that extensions can simplify tedious tasks, provide creative sparks, or even connect Live to oth …

Read the full story at The Verge.

After expanding its offerings to video with the CS-8 inspired by Kodak and Canon's retro Super 8mm film cameras, Camp Snap is returning to its roots. The Camp Snap 2 is a sequel to the company's first screenless digital point-and-shoot camera that updates the original with a slimmer design, faster performance, filters available right out of the box, and new features making it easier for kids to use.

The Camp Snap 2 is available starting today through the company's online store for $69.95, which is the same price as the original. Color options being carried forward include stealth black, chestnut brown, arctic white, forest green, and sunbea …

Read the full story at The Verge.

When Lego announced its tech-packed Smart Bricks at CES, we were impressed by the potential - enough to give it our Best in Show award. But when the first Star Wars sets actually launched in March, we were less enamored. All that promise of clever interaction and creative play ultimately boiled down to a few voice barks and flashing lights, with the smartest features we'd seen at CES nowhere to be found.

Today, Lego announced the second generation, with 12 new sets launching this summer, promising Pokémon play and some of the smarts we'd been missing. After a few hours training and battling with the new sets this morning, it's clear the Sm …

Read the full story at The Verge.

Thermacell has launched Liv 2.0, the next generation of its Wi-Fi-connected smart mosquito protection system. It features new hardware and can cover a larger area, and Thermacell says its formula can now deter no-see-ums. But it's also more expensive and requires professional installation.

Liv 2.0 uses the same setup as the original Liv - a central hub with a wired repeller system containing its metofluthrin-based repellent - but it features entirely new hardware. Pricing starts at about $1,746 for a system with three repellers, a six-pack of repellent refills, and coverage of up to 900 square feet. That's twice as much as the original, wh …

Read the full story at The Verge.