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Build 2026: Solara, Scout, and Spark / Microsoft’s developer event was a preview of its plans for AI.

Windows is back on the Microsoft menuWindows is back on the Microsoft menu

At its annual Build developer conference, Microsoft put Windows front and center.

Tom Warren
Microsoft and OpenAI broke up — now they’re ready to fight

‘We have to prove that we can do everything that we need to from the ground up,’ said AI chief Mustafa Suleyman.

Hayden Field and Tom Warren
Microsoft Build 2026: The 7 biggest announcements

The Build 2026 keynote was almost all about AI.

Emma Roth
A first look at Microsoft’s Surface Laptop Ultra and Surface Dev Box

Microsoft has focused on performance, battery life, and display for its Surface Laptop Ultra.

Tom Warren

Gaming on the go / Handhelds are better — and more expensive — than ever.

I held the next-gen handheldI held the next-gen handheld

We try the new MSI Claw with Intel’s dedicated handheld silicon.

Sean Hollister
Asus just announced the OLED Xbox Ally X of my dreams

This really isn’t going to be cheap.

Sean Hollister
The golden age of handheld gaming is already over

A $789 Steam Deck changes everything.

Sean Hollister
Intel’s first handheld gaming chip is the Arc G3, and this Acer is using it

The Acer Predator Atlas 8 will be one of the first to use it — and there’s reportedly an MSI too.

Sean Hollister

Staff picks / Our favorite stories you don’t want to miss.

Gemini Spark is the most impressive and terrifying AI experience I’ve had yetGemini Spark is the most impressive and terrifying AI experience I’ve had yet

It’s a remarkable piece of technology. But the future sure is creepy.

David Pierce
Supernatural isn’t dead after all

The game is being spun out into an independent company called Supernatural Health.

Victoria Song
How one founder’s bet on ‘the old school web’ is paying off

In 2022, Craig Campbell walked away from a ‘blank check’ to start, of all things, a website. And his bet is paying off.

Allison Johnson
Marathon’s second season is a chance for Bungie to turn things around

In the volatile world of live-service shooters, the game needs to stop wasting players’ time.

Nick Statt

Mac vs. PC / PC makers are playing catch-up with Apple’s newest and cheapest hardware.

I tested three Windows laptops in the MacBook Neo’s price range — there’s no contest

The cut corners of these Asus, Lenovo, and Acer laptops are glaringly obvious next to the Neo.

Antonio G. Di Benedetto
Dell is bringing back the XPS 13 as a MacBook Neo competitor — with a temporary discount to $599

It’ll start with just 8GB of RAM and an Intel Wildcat Lake chip.

Antonio G. Di Benedetto
Acer’s answer to the MacBook Neo is a $699 laptop with Intel chips and 8GB of RAM

For Computex, Acer is also announcing a huge 18-inch Aspire laptop and a Nitro 16 gaming model with an AMD X3D chip.

Antonio G. Di Benedetto
Sean Hollister
Sean Hollister
AMD just reserved the right to disappoint handheld and Steam Machine gamers.

“I did not say it’s coming,” AMD VP David McAfee tells Tom’s Guide, regarding FSR 4.1 with INT8 for RDNA3 iGPUs. In plain English? The graphics boost in this video may not actually come to today’s AMD gaming portables, even though it clearly works and is coming to older desktop cards:

Jay Peters
Jay Peters
PlatinumGames is making another TMNT game.

Following its work on 2016’s Mutants in Manhattan, PlatinumGames will be developing Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: The Last Ronin, a new AAA action-adventure game based on the graphic novels. The Last Ronin will be published by the newly announced Paramount Games Studio.

Congress still can’t decide what to do about warrantless surveillanceCongress still can’t decide what to do about warrantless surveillance

Trump’s appointment of Bill Pulte as director of national intelligence has thrown a wrench in Republicans’ reauthorization plans.

Gaby Del Valle
Summer Game Fest Live 2026: The biggest news, trailers, and announcementsSummer Game Fest Live 2026: The biggest news, trailers, and announcements
LIVE

Geoff Keighley’s big show is back.

The Verge
Andrew Webster
Andrew Webster
TGI(SG)F.

What better way to spend a Friday night than with a deluge of video game trailers and reveals. Summer Game Fest Live kicks off at 5PM ET, and you can watch along live right here.

TC Sottek
TC Sottek
How is the Figma CEO a runner-up to Elon Musk?

I’m blown away by this piece from The New York Times about executive compensation. We all know Elon is strapped to his own compensation rocket, but my eyes popped seeing Figma CEO Dylan Field’s comp in second place. Especially considering the stock is down more than 80% since going public. We’re truly just paying people based on vibes.

Jay Peters
Jay Peters
Google follows Anthropic in signing a compute deal with SpaceX.

Per a regulatory filing, Google will pay SpaceX $920 million per month from October 2026 through June 2029, as reported by TechCrunch.

In a statement to TechCrunch, Google says that it’s a “short-term” agreement to help meet “surging customer demand for our agent platform, Gemini Enterprise, which has been even higher than we expected.”

Anthropic’s deal with SpaceX was announced in May.

Jay Peters
Jay Peters
Minecraft Dungeons II could launch this September.

The Nintendo eShop listing for the game shows a September 29th release date and a price tag of $29.99, as shared by Wario64.

Perhaps this is a Summer Game Fest Live announcement that got pushed a little early; that event is set to kick off at 5PM ET. (We’ll be watching and covering the show, stay tuned!)

If you buy something from a Verge link, Vox Media may earn a commission. See our ethics statement.

A screenshot of the Nintendo eShop listing for Minecraft Dungeons II.
Image: Nintendo
Stevie Bonifield
Stevie Bonifield
T-Mobile is capping download speeds on its base home internet plan.

As spotted by The Mobile Report for new customers on T-Mobile’s “Rely” 5G home internet plan:

Hidden in the FAQ on the Home Internet plans page, T-Mobile details that the Rely plan will now have a maximum download speed of 354 mbps. All the other plans (and the prior version of Rely) lists no maximum speed, and instead offers a “typical” speed listing of 170 – 498 mbps.

Gone in 60 minutesGone in 60 minutes

The chaos at CBS is a grim portent for journalism media in the age of consolidation.

TC Sottek
Lauren Feiner
Lauren Feiner
Sam Altman reportedly talked to the Trump administration about taking a stake in OpenAI.

The CEO pitched the idea as a way to bring economic benefits from AI to the public, according to NOTUS, which added that Altman first pitched the idea to President Donald Trump early last year.

Stevie Bonifield
Stevie Bonifield
Linux has had a lot going on this week.

Colorado’s governor signed the SB26-051 age verification bill into law with its exemption for open-source, while Linux usage on Steam is down a little over one percent from April’s peak.

Microsoft launched Coreutils for Windows. Phoronix reports that Linux 7.2 will be able to boot on M3 Macs and will include support for HDMI 2.1 FRL on AMD GPUs. Plus, 2026’s best game (so far) has native Linux support!

If you buy something from a Verge link, Vox Media may earn a commission. See our ethics statement.

Lauren Feiner
Lauren Feiner
New York passes a bill that would bar AI chatbots from acting like companions to kids.

State lawmakers passed a bill that, if signed by Democratic Gov. Kathy Hochul, would restrict AI companies from letting teens use chatbots that suggest they’re human. It comes after some AI companies have faced lawsuits (some of which have settled) over allegations their chatbots coaxed teen users toward suicide or self-harm.

If you or anyone you know is considering self-harm or needs to talk, contact the following people who want to help: In the US, text or call 988. Outside the US, contact https://www.iasp.info/.

Andrew Liszewski
Andrew Liszewski
Wyze is recalling security cams because incorrect instructions could lead to battery punctures.

Using the wrong screws when attaching the camera to its solar panel could accidentally puncture the battery’s metal casing, according to the USCPSC. To date there have been 13 reports of batteries overheating while six exploded and caught fire. Wyze is offering full refunds, replacements, or gift cards to its online store.

If you buy something from a Verge link, Vox Media may earn a commission. See our ethics statement.

An image of the Wyze Solar Cam Pan Security Camera attached to a tree next to a close-up showing which screws should be used to attach a solar panel accessory.
Using the wrong screws to attach the camera’s solar panel could result in a battery fire.
Image: Wyze and USCPSC
The Sonos Era 100 speaker is down to its lowest price in monthsThe Sonos Era 100 speaker is down to its lowest price in months

Also, the wired Google Nest Doorbell is down to a good price, and you can get several 2K sports games on PC for $25.

Brad Bourque
This is your laptop… on AIThis is your laptop… on AI

On The Vergecast: Nvidia’s plan to reboot your PC, Apple’s smart glasses, and the first week of our new daily format.

David Pierce
Terrence O'Brien
Terrence O'Brien
Beat Gems is a big beautiful book of drum machines.

Bjooks has published several coffee-table books exploring musical instrument design, the history of Roland, the world of guitar pedals, and more. Its latest covers the evolution of drum machines from 1959’s Wurlitzer Side Man to modern oddities from Erica Synths. There’s only two days left to back it on Kickstarter, though.

What happens when your phone is confiscated at the airportWhat happens when your phone is confiscated at the airport

One woman had her phone taken by CBP and is now suing to get it back.

Gaby Del Valle
Jay Peters
Jay Peters
Paramount is making a unified games studio.

Paramount Games Studio puts all of Paramount and Skydance’s development teams under one brand. Weirdly, it will still be making two titles set in Disney universes: Marvel 1943: Rise of Hydra and an untitled Star Wars game, Variety reports.

There will also be a new AAA title announced at Summer Game Fest Live later today.

Emma Roth
Emma Roth
LinkedIn co-founder Reid Hoffman is leaving Microsoft’s board.

Hoffman, who joined Microsoft’s board in 2017, won’t stand for reelection at the company’s next shareholder meeting, as reported earlier by Bloomberg.

In an episode of his Possible podcast with Microsoft CEO Satya Nadella, Hoffman says he wants to focus on Manas, the AI drug development startup he co-founded last year.

If you buy something from a Verge link, Vox Media may earn a commission. See our ethics statement.

Richard Lawler
Richard Lawler
Audi reveals its hybrid Nuvolari supercar as a replacement for the R8.

Now that Audi has an F1 team, it apparently feels ready to put the supercar label on something for the first time. A press release says it will release 499 Nuvolaris starting in the first half of 2027.

They will combine an 800 hp V8 turbocharged engine in the middle with three electric motors that can produce up to 110 kW each, capable of pushing it to an estimated 350 km/h, or 217 mph, and 0 to 100 km/h in 2.6 seconds.

Audi Nuvolari European Pre-Production Prototype pictured from the front overlooking the top of a sleek gray supercar
Audi Nuvolari
1/11Image: Audi
New York lawmakers pass one-year ban on new data centersNew York lawmakers pass one-year ban on new data centers

It could become the first ban of its kind in a state.

Lauren Feiner
TC Sottek
TC Sottek
Mechanical Pencil is the new cross-section book.

If you grew up enjoying Stephen Biesty’s cross-sections like me, you’ll appreciate this brilliant project from Google engineer Bryan Macomber. The website breaks down mechanical objects, like the G2 retractable pen (my favorite), the PEZ dispenser, and the Zippo lighter. I can’t wait to see what comes next. (h/t to Kottke for spotting it.)

Mia Sato
Mia Sato
Polymarket’s CMO sent thousands to influencers like Nick Shirley and Riley Gaines.

Polymarket’s chief marketing officer Matthew Modabber used his personal PayPal account to send at least $350,000 to content creators who hyped the prediction market platform, Politico reports. Shirley and others who were paid promoted Polymarket on X with no paid content disclosures. Influencer content is a huge part of prediction markets’ media strategy — often hiding in plain sight.

Stevie Bonifield
Stevie Bonifield
Amazon is picking up the pace of Leo satellites launched from Europe.

There are over 330 Leo satellites already in orbit, but the 36 planned for the next Arianespace mission is still smaller than the 48 satellites Amazon was planning to launch on a Blue Origin rocket that exploded during testing last week. This batch of satellites will launch from a spaceport in Kourou, French Guiana, on June 17th.

An illustration showing a size comparison for two Amazon Leo payloads
Image: Amazon
Emma Roth
Emma Roth
Google has officially sunset its Pixel Studio app.

After removing some features from the AI image-maker in February, Google has shut down the app completely and directs users to Gemini instead, as reported by 9to5Google. Pixel Studio launched in 2024 alongside the Pixel 9.

MAHA is coming for your clothingMAHA is coming for your clothing

A new campaign to promote American-grown cotton to consumers sounds nice — but is far more complicated than the administration is making it sound.

Mia Sato
Thomas Ricker
Thomas Ricker
Peacock will stream all 104 World Cup matches in Dolby Vision, Atmos… and Spanish.

Telemundo’s live feed on Peacock will apparently be the first commercial deployment of the efficient Dolby AC-4 codec by a streaming platform, promising immersive stadium sound that shouldn’t overload the network. Peacock will also be streaming the World Cup in 4K and 1080p HDR, according to Dolby spokesperson Andrea Villarreal.

Update and correction: Peacock will stream the games in 4K and 1080p HDR, but won’t offer personalized audio controls as previously stated.

Emma Roth
Emma Roth
NYT report reveals how Meta, Snapchat, TikTok, and YouTube grabbed kids’ attention in school.

Internal documents, which were disclosed as part of a wave of child safety lawsuits filed by school districts across the US, showed:

Snapchat sent phone alerts to adolescents during school hours, urging them to share what was going on in their classrooms.

Meta paid “teen ambassadors” to promote Instagram and hand out swag to their friends at school.

TikTok gave the National PTA millions of dollars, in part to throw school events about online safety and provide favorable comments to journalists.

Jennifer Pattison Tuohy
Jennifer Pattison Tuohy
Meta remembers the Portal exists and turns it into an AI dev kit.

The company’s new agentic developer tools are giving the discontinued smart displays a second life as a smart home controller, family message board, art display, or anything you can dream up. The move comes shortly after Microsoft announced Project Solara. Meta says the tools are hardware-agnostic and work with many existing devices. Still, anything that breathes new life into a defunct gadget is a good thing.

Why isn’t the Trump phone made in the USA?Why isn’t the Trump phone made in the USA?

The T1 Phone is only assembled in the US. Making it here would take a miracle.

Dominic Preston
This chunky little tablet got my kid to clean up his toys

6

Verge Score

Andrew Liszewski
Andrew Liszewski
Insta360’s DJI Pocket rival will track and match your head movements.

The company hasn’t confirmed when its dual camera Luna Ultra will see a global release, but it recently teased a new head-tracking accessory. The POV Head Tracker is worn like an open-style earbud and translates your head movements to the Luna Ultra so it’s always capturing what you’re looking at.

I customized a MacBook Neo with colorful spare parts
Antonio G. Di Benedetto
Dominic Preston
Dominic Preston
No sharp objects.

The bubble is very delicate, even a social media slop filter might burst it.

burkellium:

It would be devastating to the bubble. No sharp objects near the AI please.

Get the day’s best comment and more in my free newsletter, The Verge Daily.

Jess Weatherbed
Jess Weatherbed
Peloton takes on Pilates.

Peloton has acquired Skōp, a Pilates-focused startup that builds real-time form-tracking technology. That suggests there might be new Peloton hardware on the horizon, as the company tries to recover from its post-covid slump. In a statement, Peloton CEO Peter Stern said:

“Form is everything in Pilates, so we are taking a purposeful approach to ensure we develop the most effective, safest, and fun experiences possible—ones people will keep doing for life.”

Jess Weatherbed
Jess Weatherbed
Google is testing a floating desktop AI Search bar.

I wasn’t able to enable it in Google’s Chrome Canary developer sandbox, but Windows Report got it working using a Ctrl+Shift+Space keyboard shortcut on Windows. It opens as a standalone window centered on the screen, with AI Mode at the heart of the experience.

A screenshot of Google’s floating Search bar experiment in Chrome Canary.
The interface supports traditional search and AI Mode tasks from a single window, with a “plus” icon for uploading images and files.
Image: Windows Report
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