The Verge Headlines

Honey, Xbox shrunk its controller

Microsoft is officially announcing its Xbox Nano controller today, a smaller and cheaper controller that's designed to fit into your pocket. The more compact controller is also designed for "younger p…

Microsoft has a new machine learning tool to improve weather forecasts

Old-school physics-based weather forecasting and even new AI models typically become less reliable beyond two weeks, a problem Microsoft claims to have solved using machine learning. Researchers with…

Now you can call anyone with WhatsApp, even if they don’t have WhatsApp

WhatsApp's new guest calling feature allows you to invite anyone to a call, without needing them to make an account first. They won't need the app, either, since Meta also added support for calls on t…

Android is using AI to suss out scammers in Google Messages

Android is introducing new scam defense features that aim to make it easier for users to evade mobile fraud, including bolstered protection in Google Messages and additional safeguarding tools. Buildi…

Square’s new kiosk lets you talk to AI for help with your order

Square is launching new hardware: a big kiosk for ordering things that has a touchscreen and lets you talk to an AI. It's called the Square Kiosk. Square says the Kiosk, which has a large pill shape,…

Anthropic’s self-replicating AI warning is an alarming deja vu

Are legions of smart devices - fridges, ovens, vacuum cleaners, lawnmowers, security cameras, and TVs - conspiring to take over the internet? No. But they could soon be unwitting hosts to self-replica…

Netflix is laying off around 1,000 employees

Following a report last week that Netflix was planning to lay off five percent of the company, today the streamer's co-CEOs Ted Sarandos and Greg Peters announced in an email that it would actually be…

HomeView doesn’t natively support any video apps yet — not even Apple’s

Apple says HomeView is "the perfect way" to enjoy its audio and video entertainment apps, but some notable examples like Apple TV only work if you AirPlay it through your iPhone. As noted on the HomeV…

Ukraine claims Starlink is suddenly disrupting service for its military

Ukrainian officials claim the Elon Musk-owned Starlink put new limits on its service in the area without warning, disrupting the country's drone operations and missions, according to reports from Reut…

$15 gets you Psychonauts 2, the latest Like a Dragon game, and more

There are several deals happening right now on video games and gaming-related tech that are worth sharing. To start, this month’s Humble Choice drop of Steam PC games is really good. The $14.99 per mo…

Apple’s new Find My-compatible remote will also work with your old Apple TV

You don't need to buy the new Apple TV 4K just to get the updated Siri Remote with Find My and a built-in speaker, as it works with every model released going back to the Apple TV HD and is available…

Halo’s co-creator wrote a novel about AI taking over the world

Back in 2019, author Margaret Stohl was handed a manuscript written by Jason Jones, who's best known as the co-creator of sci-fi gaming series Halo and Destiny. The two had worked together at Bungie,…

Epic’s new games launcher is ‘vibe coded’

Epic Games is announcing a big refresh of its PC games launcher today in preview, saying that the new version is "way faster" and now supports Linux. But the company, which has been publicly making a…

The VergeDevelopment

Epic is bringing Fortnite to Linux

Epic is working on bringing Fortnite to Linux through its Epic Games Launcher. The new launcher is releasing in preview today, and for the first time on Linux, and while Fortnite isn't available there…

Fujifilm’s new square format instant camera adds analog color filters

Continuing the analog approach of the Instax Square SQ6 that launched in 2018 and follow-ups like the Square SQ1 and SQ40, the new Fujifilm Instax Square 2 skips digital functionality while still intr…

We might not have to wait 13 years for the next GTA

Rockstar Games might not keep fans waiting as long for the next installment of Grand Theft Auto. As part of Bloomberg's expansive report on the making of GTA VI, Rockstar technical lead Phil Hooker sa…

The Ocarina of Time remake feels remarkably modern — and surprisingly terrifying

With its upcoming remake for the Switch 2, Nintendo might have nailed the best thing about The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time: its timelessness. The 1998 3D action adventure game for the Nintendo 64…

The VergeHardware

The Alexa Tablet 12 Pro is almost the Android tablet we needed

We have to talk about this screen. It's the first thing you notice, and maybe the only thing that matters, about the Alexa Tablet 12 Pro. It's a 12-inch, 2800 x 1840 panel with a new technology Amazon…