After years of going head-to-head with AMD for PC gaming supremacy, Intel now appears determined to challenge Team Red’s dominance in the Windows 11 gaming handheld market.
The company has just unveiled the Intel Arc G3 and Arc G3 Extreme processors, both based on the Panther Lake architecture used in Intel Core Ultra Series 3. Intel says the chips are tuned for handhelds, with 2 performance cores, 8 efficiency cores, 4 low-power efficiency cores, and graphics based on its latest Xe3 architecture. The top configuration uses Intel Arc B390 graphics, with support for real-time ray tracing, XeSS 3, Multi-Frame Generation, Xe Low Latency, and AI-based upscaling.
Intel wants a slice of the handheld pie
It was about time that Intel gave handheld gaming a real shot. AMD has dominated most mainstream gaming handhelds so far. Valve’s Steam Deck uses a custom AMD APU, while Asus’ ROG Ally X and Lenovo’s Legion Go use AMD Ryzen Z1 Extreme chips. Newer premium handhelds are also moving toward AMD’s Ryzen Z2 family, including the ROG Xbox Ally X with the Ryzen AI Z2 Extreme.
Intel is now trying to push into that same category with OEM partners already lined up. According to Intel, Arc G-Series handhelds will begin rolling out from June 2026, with broader availability through the year. The first confirmed systems include Acer’s Predator Atlas 8, MSI’s Claw 8 EX AI+, and OneXPlayer devices. Acer’s Predator Atlas 8 will be available with both Arc G3 and Arc G3 Extreme, while the OneXPlayer 3 has been confirmed with the G3 Extreme chip and an 8.8-inch OLED display. The MSI Claw 8 EX AI+ was earlier spotted at an Australian retailer with the G3 Extreme, suggesting that a healthy number of handhelds could launch this year with Intel’s new chips.
Specs alone will not settle the fight
On paper, the Arc G3 Extreme appears to be Intel’s answer to the Ryzen AI Z2 Extreme, while the regular Arc G3 looks closer to a Ryzen Z2 rival. The comparison will come down to more than clock speeds or graphics architecture. Handhelds need stable performance within tight power and cooling limits, so battery life, thermals, driver support, and lower-wattage gaming will be key.
Intel is preparing Day-0 driver support and precompiled shaders to reduce launch delays and shader stutter in select games. Still, Arc G-Series will need real-world testing before it can be judged against AMD’s more established platform.
Marathon has turned into one of those titles where the chatter around it overshadows the game itself. Behind this fresh extraction shooter lies Bungie’s lengthy development saga and lingering baggage from Destiny 2. With whispers of layoffs after Destiny 2’s conclusion, some have already declared Marathon the epitome of everything wrong with live‑service games—often without having played a single extraction round.
Now that Bungie has unveiled its inaugural Open Play Week, the timing is perfect for newcomers to experience Marathon on their own terms.
The game will be free from June 2 to June 9 on Steam, PlayStation 5, and Xbox Series X/S, and any progress made will carry over if you decide to purchase the full version later. This limited window coincides with the launch of Marathon Season 2 on June 2, during which Bungie will reset progression so both fresh faces and returning veterans start on equal footing.
Don’t Treat It Like a Ranked Shooter
As an extraction shooter, Marathon inherently carries tension. You drop in, scavenge for loot, clash with AI foes and other players, and then scramble to escape alive. Losing in a conventional shooter is frustrating, but in an extraction game the sting is deeper—you also lose your gear. That risk can deter some players, and that’s understandable.
Extraction shooters aren’t built for everyone, but Marathon becomes far more engaging when you stop viewing it as a pure competitive arena where every misstep must be dissected. The thrill lies in the panic and the eventual victory. You’re not fighting just for the sake of fighting; the excitement is in surviving. My recent run in Arc Raiders gave me the same rush.
Hearing footsteps forces you to decide quickly whether to engage or slip into the foliage. One moment you might be loot‑hunting, the next a sudden sound signals a player nearby. “Gear fear” often freezes gamers from using their best equipment, which is why the free week is ideal—you can test the loop without committing long‑term. Dive in with curiosity, not dread of losing.
If the game’s risk‑reward loop hooks you, you’ll no longer be sweating over ELO or rank.
Marathon Shows Confidence From the Outset
Another major reason to give Marathon a go is its distinct identity. I can’t emphasize enough how stunning the visuals are. Graphics shape first impressions, but a unique art direction makes a title truly stand out. Marathon lives and dies by its aesthetics. It’s not a generic military shooter with loot‑tweaking on top; it shares a genre with Hunt: Showdown and Arc Raiders while carving out its own vibe.
The game is vibrant and heavily stylized, pulling from the classic Marathon legacy and reshaping it into something sharper and more contemporary. This revival of a long‑dormant franchise blends retro‑futuristic neon hues, ASCII‑style text, vintage web design, and ’90s sci‑fi culture.
While mainstream titles cling to proven formulas, Marathon chooses the opposite path, embracing risk.
A Fresh Beginning
Season 2 also smooths the entry for newcomers. It adds a new Sentinel shell geared toward defensive play, a nighttime Dire Marsh area pulsing with survival‑horror vibes, fresh gear, and the Cradle progression system, which lets players turn equipment into personal growth separate from faction advancement.
None of this guarantees Marathon will become a long‑term hit. A free week won’t magically resolve every concern about Bungie, monetisation, balance, or the game’s future. However, it does give players a chance to form their own opinion before an online debate does it for them. Try it while it’s free, and stay only if it proves worthwhile. You might just discover your next obsession.
Oura has announced a new version of its popular smart ring, called the Oura Ring 5. Compared to the Ring 4, the new model has a 40% smaller body (2.28mm thick), made of lightweight, non-allergenic titanium.
To achieve a thinner and lighter design, the brand has reworked the mechanical, electrical, optical, battery, and sensing architecture.
Oura Ring 5 has a smaller design and upgraded sensors
The Ring 5 uses low-profile sensor domes, stronger LEDs, and 12 signal pathways to get cleaner and more consistent readings from the finger across different skin tones. Its battery life has been increased to last between six and nine days.
It is available in sizes ranging from 6 to 13 and comes in Silver, Black, Gold, Stealth, Brushed Silver, and Deep Rose. Oura says this is its most scratch-resistant ring so far because of a stronger physical vapor deposition coating. It also has an IP68 rating and is waterproof to 100 meters.
The company is also launching a $99 aluminum charging case for the Ring 5, which can store one month of battery, supports wireless charging, and has an action button for checking charging status and pairing.
Oura is adding more health features to the app
Health Radar is the biggest update that has been launched for Oura subscription members with Gen 3 rings and above. It has two main capabilities called Blood Pressure Signals and Nighttime Breathing. The Blood Pressure Signals feature monitors blood pressure during sleep, when factors such as movement, stress, and caffeine are not affecting readings as much. It can alert users if it detects unusual cardiovascular strain during sleep.
Users can also log readings from a traditional blood pressure cuff directly in the Oura app, so those measurements can sit alongside their longer-term Oura trends.
Nighttime Breathing also works in a similar way by tracking breathing during sleep and giving users a 30-day view of sleep-related breathing disturbances. This makes it easier to spot patterns that may need medical attention.
Other new software features include Live Activity Tracking, which turns the Oura app into a more active workout companion. Users can start a workout from the app and see pace, distance, and connected heart rate in real time. The feature supports running, cycling, and strength training, and can also pull heart rate data from third-party monitors and supported devices.
Oura Ring 5 is available for preorder now and starts shipping on June 4, 2026. It costs $399 in Silver and Black, and $499 in Gold, Stealth, Brushed Silver, and Deep Rose.
New digital assets are prompting the same old questions about trust, oversight, and reserve transparency.
Gold has long been linked to stability in uncertain markets, while stablecoins were introduced to curb the volatility of crypto assets. A growing number of projects are now merging these concepts by issuing digital tokens that are tied to physical gold reserves.
The objective is straightforward: give digital assets a more familiar feel for institutions and users who remain wary of the wild swings in crypto markets.
### Gold Is Still Relevant
As digital assets become more commonplace, one might assume gold would become obsolete—it’s heavy, cumbersome, and doesn’t easily integrate with invisible payments, digital tokens, and modern finance. Yet gold continues to be a trusted store of value.
People view gold as scarce, durable, and dependable—a time‑tested form of money that has changed little over centuries. As financial technology evolves, so does the way investors employ gold.
USDKG, a gold‑backed stablecoin offered to institutional clients via the OSL Group, exemplifies how gold stays pertinent amid contemporary financial shifts. It provides a familiar anchor for a new financial infrastructure while making blockchain‑based money appear less speculative. Even as crypto positions itself as an alternative to modern finance, it still draws on one of the oldest wealth stores.
Rather than treating blockchain assets as completely detached from traditional finance, initiatives like this aim to place them closer to the systems investors already understand. Since investors regard gold as reliable, they are more inclined to trust a stablecoin backed by it.
### Linking Trusted Assets to Modern Finance
Gold is a well‑known asset, but investors demand clear insight into how it ties to custody, ownership, redemption, fees, legal rights, and oversight in stablecoins. A gold‑backed token’s credibility hinges on transparent reserve reporting, robust custody arrangements, reliable redemption processes, and proper regulation.
Transparency, regulation, and liquidity are essential for navigating gold‑backed stablecoins. Because these tokens represent real, allocated physical gold—usually stored in highly secure, insured vaults—verifiable proof of transparency is a must. Merging gold with stablecoins can deliver a more efficient, accessible version of the precious metal, overcoming many of its traditional constraints.
### What Lies Ahead
Gold‑backed stablecoins currently occupy a modest slice of the digital‑asset market, but interest in the segment appears to be rising. This curiosity stems from a broader push within crypto to develop products that feel less speculative and align more closely with familiar financial structures.
Whether these efforts achieve widespread adoption will likely depend on factors such as reserve transparency, liquidity, redemption reliability, regulatory oversight, and users’ ability to clearly grasp how the assets function.
For now, gold‑backed stablecoins sit at the intersection of traditional commodity finance and blockchain‑based payment systems. Their long‑term credibility may hinge less on promotional announcements and more on the consistent performance of the underlying systems that support trust, verification, and accountability.
*Investing involves risk and your investment may lose value. Past performance is not indicative of future results. These statements do not constitute and cannot replace investment advice.*
For several years now, every Spider‑Man show and film has struggled to exist without Peter Parker. Some have explored the Multiverse and followed new web‑slingers, while others have tried and failed to build their own cinematic universe with films like Venom and Morbius. Though the Spider‑Verse movies have achieved great success, few spin‑offs have justified their existence by advancing the franchise with fresh stories.
That changes with Prime Video’s new series, Spider‑Noir. In this Nicolas Cage‑led production, web‑slinging private investigator Ben Reilly takes on a case involving super‑powered people like himself in 1930s New York. Rather than a conventional superhero adventure, the show delivers a hard‑boiled detective tale that stands apart from the many Spider‑Man movies and series we’ve seen so far.
**Spider‑Noir revives a weary, repetitive franchise**
Spider‑Noir opens strong by abandoning the web‑slinger’s classic origin. Audiences already know Peter Parker’s teenage backstory—great power, great responsibility. This series cuts through that familiar web by introducing Reilly long after he’s obtained his powers and suffered personal loss.
By focusing on a Spider‑Man who has already failed and abandoned crime‑fighting, Spider‑Noir offers the hero’s story from a dramatic, new perspective. Instead of a young, awkward Peter Parker, we get an older, angry, and despondent Ben Reilly who feels like a Humphrey Bogart anti‑hero from *Casablanca* or *The Maltese Falcon*.
Reilly isn’t becoming a superhero; he’s deciding whether he wants to be one again.
**Nicolas Cage supplies the series’ soulful core**
Cage made a memorable cameo voicing Spider‑Noir in *Into the Spider‑Verse*, but his role was mostly comic relief. In this live‑action series, Cage gets ample space to stretch his acting muscles, and the show leans into his strengths.
Reilly is cynical, scornful, and occasionally goofy. One moment he’s roughing up gangsters in a bar; the next, he’s undercover as a plumber or an Eddie‑G‑style cop. Cage doesn’t deliver another over‑the‑top performance, yet it’s clear he’s reveling in bringing this weathered, witty web‑slinger to life.
All of this makes Ben Reilly one of Cage’s most engaging and fully realized characters, far beyond a simple cameo or parody.
**The noir setting refreshes every character**
The series doesn’t romanticise 1930s New York. It portrays the era in stark black‑and‑white, highlighting racism, sexism, political corruption, and post‑war trauma. We experience these weighty issues through supporting characters who add depth and realism.
Robbie Robertson (perfectly played by *New Girl* star and Emmy winner Lamorne Morris) works alongside Reilly as a journalist fighting to regain his job and expose the city’s buried truths.
Li Jun Li (*Sinners*) brings nuance to Cat Hardy, the femme fatale who tugs at the Spider’s heartstrings. She isn’t the comic‑book cat‑burglar fans expected, but the writers give her enough care and complexity to make her stand out.
Even classic villains like Sandman receive the same thoughtful treatment. Portrayed as old‑time gangsters, they feel more like tragic creatures from a Universal monster film—caught in the wrong place at the wrong time, trying to make the most of a harsh life.
The crime boss Silvermane, however, remains a ruthless ruler. Though he doesn’t become a cyborg as in the comics, Silvermane controls the city with an iron fist and a heart of steel. Emmy‑winning actor Brendan Gleeson (*The Banshees of Inisherin*) exudes quiet terror as Silvermane, delivering a grounded yet monstrous noir villain.
**Spider‑Noir fuses noir aesthetics with comic‑book visuals**
Many modern superhero movies and series now share a homogenised visual language, making them feel less fresh. Spider‑Noir, by contrast, oozes artistic originality.
Beyond its black‑and‑white palette, the series employs super‑imposed shots, diopter lenses, and Dutch angles, creating a visual style that stands out from most comic‑book adaptations. Some frames even resemble comic panels brought to life on screen.
**Spider‑Noir nails what other entries missed**
The Spider‑Verse films proved that audiences will follow Spider‑Man stories that experiment with new genres and visual styles. Spider‑Noir takes that experiment to live‑action and delivers impressive results.
While Sony has scaled back on Spider‑Man spin‑offs, the franchise doesn’t need a single shared universe to thrive. It needs bold, self‑contained narratives that push beyond traditional superhero fare. If Spider‑Noir can succeed as a detective series, there’s no reason why cyber‑punk Spider‑Man 2099 or anime‑inspired Peni Parker can’t do the same.
The Multiverse has often been used by studios to recycle old plots and stay safe. Spider‑Noir shows that the franchise can have a bright future away from Peter Parker.
Stream Spider‑Noir on Prime Video and MGM+ starting May 27, 2026.
Spotify has launched Podcast Clips, a new feature that lets you capture, trim, save, and share specific moments from any supported podcast directly inside the app. It is rolling out globally today to both Free and Premium users on mobile.
How to share Spotify Podcast Clips?
While listening to a supported podcast, tap the new scissors icon in the Now Playing view. This brings up an interface where you can select the exact moment you want, trim it to the right length, and preview it before saving.
Once saved, your clips live in Your Library, where you can revisit them anytime or add them to a podcast playlist. When you are ready to share, tap the share button and choose your format.
The updated sharing menu now gives you four options: full episode, chapter, timestamp, or clip. You can send it directly to friends via Spotify Messages or any other supported platform.
Why does this feature matter?
A growing number of major tech and AI executives now skip traditional media interviews entirely and instead sit down with podcasters. That means a lot of news is breaking on long-form podcast episodes that most people do not have time to listen to in full.
Podcast Clips makes it easier for the best moments from those conversations to actually find an audience. For creators, a shared clip also acts as a discovery tool, pulling new listeners in through a single standout moment rather than asking them to commit to a full episode upfront.
CD Projekt Red is pulling Geralt back into The Witcher 3. The studio has announced *Songs of the Past*, a third expansion for *Wild Hunt* slated for a 2027 release on PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X/S, and PC. The announcement thrusts the decade‑old RPG back into the spotlight, with players once again joining Geralt of Rivia on the Path, co‑developed alongside Fool’s Theory.
CD Projekt Red says further details will arrive in late summer 2026, leaving big questions unanswered: the scope, price, and exact launch window remain unknown.
**Why bring Geralt back now?**
The Witcher 3 hardly needs rescuing. CD Projekt Red notes the game has sold over 60 million copies since 2015 and amassed more than 250 Game of the Year awards out of roughly 1,000 industry honors. This legacy raises expectations for *Songs of the Past*. Fans won’t view it as a stray side quest attached to an old favorite; they’ll compare it to the *Hearts of Stone* and *Blood and Wine* expansions that made Wild Hunt feel unusually complete.
**How much is truly new?**
Fool’s Theory adds credibility, as CD Projekt Red confirms the team includes veterans who worked on the original Witcher 3, easing concerns about handing a new Geralt story to an external co‑developer. The reveal came amid a bit of chaos, with a Red Launcher leak and a same‑day trademark filing for *Songs of the Past*, making the announcement feel less staged.
**What does this mean for players?**
The looming Ciri factor hangs over everything. The upcoming Witcher 4 is expected to shift focus toward Ciri, giving Geralt’s new expansion a sharper edge for fans who still see him as the series’ defining face. For now, the practical step is to wait for specifics before treating *Songs of the Past* as a full‑scale farewell. Geralt is indeed returning, but the size of the hunt remains uncertain. Late summer 2026 is the date to watch.
Samsung appears to be gearing up for a major overhaul of its flagship Galaxy S series. Recent leaks suggest the company is testing a Galaxy S27 Pro model that would sit between the regular Galaxy S27 and the Galaxy S27 Ultra, and could deliver a camera experience that diverges noticeably from the Ultra’s.
The biggest shift concerns Samsung’s telephoto approach – an area that has drawn criticism for Galaxy Ultra devices over several generations.
### Samsung could finally retire its most criticised lens
Current rumors indicate that both the Galaxy S27 Pro and the Galaxy S27 Ultra will share a 200 MP main sensor and an ultrawide module. The key distinction is expected to be the zoom hardware. The S27 Pro is rumored to house a new 50 MP ALoP telephoto sensor with 3.5× optical zoom, while the S27 Ultra may retain a separate 50 MP telephoto unit offering 5× optical zoom.
More importantly, Samsung is said to be planning to drop the long‑disliked 3× telephoto lens from the Ultra altogether. That lens has consistently underperformed relative to the stronger 5× zoom and the high‑resolution primary camera, delivering uneven image quality.
If the leaks are accurate, Samsung might rely more on cropping from the 200 MP main sensor for mid‑range zoom levels, simplifying the camera stack and potentially improving overall consistency.
Ironically, the S27 Pro’s 3.5× optical zoom could provide a more balanced and usable photography experience for many users. Mid‑range zoom is often more practical for portraits, food, pets, and everyday shots than extreme long‑range zoom.
### Samsung may finally solve its “middle child” dilemma
The information also hints that Samsung is re‑evaluating the structure of its flagship lineup. Historically, Ultra models have received almost every premium component, while the standard and Plus variants felt like watered‑down alternatives. This left consumers choosing between a compact phone or the feature‑laden Ultra. The S27 Pro could finally bridge that gap.
Reports suggest Samsung wants the Pro to act as a genuine premium flagship rather than a slightly upgraded Plus. The main trade‑off versus the Ultra might simply be the lack of an S Pen and a different zoom range.
This mirrors the strategy employed by Apple with its iPhone Pro range, giving buyers two top‑tier options instead of a single, clearly superior model.
### Why it matters
Should Samsung implement these changes, the Galaxy S27 series could represent one of the most significant flagship redesigns in years. Removing the 3× telephoto lens would address one of the longest‑standing grievances about Ultra cameras, while a more premium S27 Pro would offer a flagship experience without the bulk of the Ultra.
It’s worth noting that these details are still early leaks. Samsung is reportedly testing several prototypes, so specifications and camera configurations could evolve before launch. The Galaxy S27 lineup is expected to be unveiled in early 2027, and further leaks about the chipset, battery, and naming are likely to surface in the coming months.
For now, the Galaxy S27 Pro is shaping up to be one of Samsung’s most intriguing flagship experiments in recent memory – and possibly the device that finally resolves the company’s awkward middle‑ground issue.
Samsung’s top‑tier phones already cost enough to make your bank account wince, and 2026 may tighten the squeeze on the upcoming Galaxy S26 line. A fresh report suggests that shoppers in at least one European country will soon face another price increase.
According to the source, Samsung plans to lift prices on several flagship models in Greece starting the first week of June. The devices reportedly affected include the Galaxy S series, Galaxy Z Fold 7, Galaxy Z Flip 7, and the Galaxy FE lineup. The hike is expected to be at least €100 (about $116), with higher‑capacity versions potentially seeing even larger jumps.
Premium Samsung phones are becoming pricier
This could just be the beginning. In other parts of Europe, base‑storage variants have reportedly seen price bumps of €50‑€80 (roughly $58‑$93). In the United States, the same report indicates that the Galaxy S26 series experienced increases ranging from $40 to $100, with larger‑storage models hit hardest.
Samsung has already shown a willingness to let storage upgrades absorb some of the cost pressure. Not long ago, the company raised prices on higher‑storage versions of devices such as the Galaxy Z Flip 7, Galaxy S25 FE, and Galaxy S25 Edge by up to $80, while certain Galaxy Z Fold 7 and Galaxy Tab variants also saw price hikes.
What’s driving the price surge?
The ongoing memory shortage and rising component costs are forcing price hikes across the board, from budget to flagship tiers. Even Chinese manufacturers, known for competitively priced flagships, have begun to raise their prices.
With Samsung’s Unpacked event for the next‑generation foldables – the Z Fold 8, Z Fold 8 Ultra, and Z Flip 8 – on the horizon, we can expect these new foldables to carry a steeper price tag than their predecessors.
