PS3 games to look for in 2009


Recommended Posts

killzone-2-20080506020316134_640w.jpg

Killzone 2

Exclusive

February 27, 2009

Guerrilla Games | Sony Computer Entertainment

The hype is very real. We have the final review code here (no kidding!) and it is absolutely unbelievable. While many will be talking about the visuals, the gameplay is just as polished. This is easily one of the most realistic and visceral shooters you can find on any console.

godofwar2009.jpg

God of War III

Exclusive

Q4 2009

Santa Monica Studios | Sony Computer Entertainment

God of War on PS3. That's really all you need to know. Kratos is ready to make his big console return, with big gloves to boot. There's no way Sony will release this game in less-than-awesome shape, so don't be surprised if this blockbuster slips into 2010.

uncharted2trailerhdgrab.jpg

Uncharted 2

Exclusive

Q4 2009

Naughty Dog | Sony Computer Entertainment

Uncharted 2 will be bigger, better and more badass than Uncharted. We don't think much more needs to be said about this one.

heavy_rain_impressions.jpg

Heavy Rain

Exclusive

2009

Quantic Dream | Sony Computer Entertainment

We think gamers are ready for some real "adult entertainment." Y'know, the kind that isn't represented by headshots and boobies. Quantic Dream certainly has the experience necessary to craft a story that will be remembered in the annals of video game history. Oh, and did we mention it's unbelievably gorgeous?

maginternalscreenshot.jpg

MAG: Massive Action Game

Exclusive

2009

Zipper Interactive | Sony Computer Entertainment

The tentatively-titled MAG is exactly what it sounds like. By massive, they really mean it. The game is promising battlefields that support a whopping 256 players. The scale is unprecedented, but it offers gamers with a new kind of tactical experience. Considering Zipper's experience with the original SOCOM franchise, this really could be the "next big thing" for PlayStation.

infamousps32009.jpg

inFamous

Exclusive

Q2 2009

Sucker Punch Productions | Sony Computer Entertainment

Sly Cooper, this ain't. The talented team at Sucker Punch has to go against Prototype in a superpower super-battle. A lot of this game has been kept under wraps. The morality choices of inFamous have us intrigued, but we hope to see some truly amazing powers before the game's release later this year.

white-1-m2009.jpg

White Knight Chronicles

Exclusive

Q2 2009

Level-5 | Sony Computer Entertainment

PS3's first big exclusive RPG is finally coming to the States in 2009. The online-enabled world of White Knight Chronicles is certainly ambitious. How well will English-language gamers receive Level-5's latest?

batman_and_robin_dc_universe_online_image.jpg

DC Universe Online

PS3 & PC Exclusive

2009

SOE Austin | Sony Online Entertainment

A MMO game where you get to play with Batman and Superman? The DC Universe is adored by many, and the online world is being developed by the folks at SOE. This could be a huge win for PS3 if done properly. With comic book properties being more popular than ever, we can't wait to see how DC Universe Online shapes up ... if SOE ever finishes the game.

rac-quest-continues-2009.jpg

Ratchet & Clank

Exclusive

Q3 2009

Insomniac Games | Sony Computer Entertainment

Insomniac Games lives up to their name: they clearly don't sleep as they're prepping yet another Ratchet & Clank game a year after the last one: Quest for Booty. Fans of the series want to know about Clank's mysterious disappearance at the end of Tools of Destruction -- we're hoping this new adventure will finally have us getting closer to our robot pal.

mlb012009.jpg

MLB The Show 09

Exclusive

Q1 2009

San Diego Studios | Sony Computer Entertainment

Sports fans know that Sony's exclusive MLB game is the best baseball game on any platform, bar none. The stellar 08 game is upgraded with new visual tricks and new features in 09, making The Show a must-have for sports fans in 2009.

agency2009.jpg

The Agency

PS3 & PC Exclusive

2009

SOE Seattle | Sony Online Entertainment

SOE has an incredible property on their hands -- but will they ever release it to the public? The online-connected world of The Agency promises to make PS3 owners into virtual spies. The style is terrific, and the concept seems fun. However, SOE has shown very little of The Agency in 2008. Hopefully, 2009 will prove to be its big coming out party.

afrika2009.jpg

National Geographic: Africa

Exclusive

2009

Rhino Studios | National Geographic

Sony's Afrika is being rebranded for its release in the States. National Geographic has picked up the publishing duties. Somehow, the nature photography game missed its 2008 mark, and will now release some time in 2009.

crossedge2009.jpg

X-Edge

Exclusive

March 2009

Capcom, Nippon Ichi, Namco Bandai, Gust, Idea Factory | NIS America

We weren't expecting this 2D cross-over RPG (featuring characters from Darkstalkers and Disgaea) to make it to the States. Ever. But, NIS America somehow managed to get this very Japanese game over to English-speaking audiences. For very hardcore JRPG nuts, this is a dream come true.

femtzxlcsn2009.jpg

Free Realms

PS3 & PC Exclusive

2009

Sony Online Entertainment

SOE's ambitious Free Realms is a MMO experience for everyone. Really. Casual gamers, non-gamers, and MMO fans will find something to do in the world SOE is cooking up. Want to go into battle? Sure thing. Don't want to fight? Then, you can race. You can cook, play soccer, play card games, and more. Best of all, it'll be free to access. Do we smell a potential Home-killer here?

gt52009.jpg

Gran Turismo 5

Exclusive

2009

SOE Polyphony Digital | Sony Computer Entertainment

Did you know it's been 17 months since the Japanese release of Gran Turismo 5 Prologue? That's a long time. You know what Polyphony Digital should be working on? Gran Turismo 5. You know when it should come out? This year. Sony continues to make the franchise a carrot on a stick, but we're hopeful that 2009 is the year the GT5 finally comes out ... at least in Japan.

eyepet-screenshot-0309.jpg

EyePet

Exclusive

Q4 2009

London Studios | Sony Computer Entertainment

This virtual pet promises to take advantage of the PlayStation Eye in a new, innovative way. The early concept video had many quite excited. If London Studios pulls this off right, expect this to be Sony's next big casual hit.

savage-moon_51.jpg

Savage Moon

Exclusive

January 8, 2009

FluffyLogic | Sony Computer Entertainment

One part PixelJunk Monsters, and another part Starship Troopers, this tower defense game has you fighting off a massive alien horde. The downloadable game released in Europe late last year, and will be coming to the PlayStation Store very soon.

fat-princess-62009.jpg

Fat Princess

Exclusive

2009

Titan Studios | Sony Computer Entertainment

Bloody, fast and fun. Fat Princess may look cute with these tiny hat-donning soldiers running around everywhere. But don't let it deceive you. The massive multiplayer battles of Fat Princess will have the battlefield covered in blood and guts. Essentially, the game is a massive Capture the Flag game, the flag being a princess with clear dietary problems. With so many players on screen, it's important to coordinate classes and attacks. We can't wait for this to appear on the PlayStation Store.

flower_banner.jpg

Flower

Exclusive

2009

thatgamecompany | Sony Computer Entertainment

This is one of the most beautiful games ever created. The follow-up to flOw dares to take gamers to a new emotional space, unseen in other kinds of games. The serene world of Flower tells a story about a city, and does so in a moody, intriguing way. This will be one of the best PlayStation Network games this year.

005noby09.jpg

Noby Noby Boy

Exclusive

2009

Namco Bandai

The creator of Katamari Damacy comes back with a brand new ... er, game? About ... this? It's very strange. It may not be harnessing the power of the PS3, but it certainly looks adorable.

2880057811_0a42229e6d.jpg

The Punisher: No Mercy

Exclusive

2009

ZEN Studios

Powered by the Unreal Engine, this PlayStation Network-exclusive shooter looks like a return to the classic arcade FPS shooters of yore. We're hoping for some quick, fun, jump-in FPS gunning.

ragdollkungfu_hero.jpg

Rag Doll Fung-Fu: Fists of Plastic

Exclusive

2009

Tarsier Studios | Sony Computer Entertainment

Before LittleBigPlanet, there was Rag Doll Kung-Fu, a fun innovative brawler released on Steam. Fists of Plastic takes the same concept of the original game, but adapts the controls to the SIXAXIS controller. The results. Well, they're interesting.

......

Multiplatform titles continued: http://www.ps3fanboy.com/photos/ps3-games-...n-2009/1258355/

Source: http://www.ps3fanboy.com/2009/01/05/ps3-ga...ok-for-in-2009/

Edited by Audioboxer
Link to comment
https://www.neowin.net/forum/topic/718178-ps3-games-to-look-for-in-2009/
Share on other sites

Impressive list... not convinced these will all make release in 09..at first glance of the Savage moon screen shot i thought it was going to be Starship Troopers... EyePet is the one I am most interested in... the video demo of that was just super impressive and if they can pull it off like the demo...they can capture a huge market of kids... of course looking forward to GT5... and having never actually played a God of War..i am really looking forward to that one..

But you love trophies, so it's all good ;)

YEah :p

from that list I want:

Killzone 2

GoW 3

Uncharted 2

Heavy Rain

White Knight Chronicles

Ratchet & Clank

Gran Turismo 5

Fat Princess

Flower

National Geographic: Africa (maybe)

Plus PSP games:

Dissidia: Final Fantasy

Resistance

Patapon 2

Really looking forward to MLB 09: The Show and Gran Turismo 5 (Top Gear test track! :D). Might be interested in Killzone 2 if the demo impresses me - I'm not usually a fan of shooters on consoles, I much prefer the mouse/keyboard for aim/movement. Heavy Rain looks really interesting too.

Some very good games in the lineup. Those Q4 dates make me a bit nervous for some of the PS3 owners though, it seems all to easy for them to slip in Q1 of 2010. I feel like it is finally time for some of the great PS3 games to finally hit and that is 2009 (for the most part). Killzone 2 is the first real part of that and I really can't wait to try it out.

Rather than create a new topic for this, here's Sony's and partners internal views :)

Games industry figures reveal what they?re looking forward to most in the coming year.i>

"The most important thing for us as a company in the very short term is for us to start making money. This is a pledge that was made last March and is something that we are still very much on target to achieve. Once we have achieved this, I think it will be a very exciting time for PlayStation. Once we have alleviated that specific pressure, we can move forward at a rate of knots. 2009 promises to be a very exciting year for PS3, with blockbuster titles such as Heavy Rain and Killzone 2 coming out, whilst we have the music and video download service becoming available towards the end of the year. PSP will continue to prosper and sell in incredible numbers, with some great games coming out, which will take full advantage of the new enhanced screen. We have built our reputation over the years on great entertainment, and innovation and 2009 will be a prime example of PlayStation at its very best.&quotDavid Reeves, President, Sony Computer Entertainment Europeb>

"2009 will be the year of big, exclusive PS3 titles. Just to name a few, the year will start with the much anticipated launch of Killzone 2, followed by a fresh, new take on the superhero/anti-hero open sandbox genre inFamous, a mind-bending thriller Heavy Rain, a massive 256 player simultaneous online shooter MAG, an augmented reality, virtual pet in your room experience EyePet, and some more big titles that we have not even announced yet. On PSP, we have new titles and innovations that will connect and expand the PlayStation experiences.&quotShuhei Yoshida, President, SCEE Worldwide Studiosb>

"What I'm really looking forward to most is probably Tekken 6: Bloodline Rebellion - a massive game for me. I've been a Tekken fan since the very first one, so I desperately want to get my hands on that.&quotSimon Woodroffe, Creative Director, Midwayb>

?Resident Evil 5, hopefully a continuation of a fantastic horror franchise. Resi 4 really set the benchmark for a third person shooter as well as a dark adult survival horror that avoided the clunky mechanics of that genrJason Wilson, Creative Director, Concept Team, SCE Cambridge Studioio

"After a couple of years developing it, it's got to be Killzone 2 coming out on PS3 [laughs].&quHermen Hulst, Managing Director, Guerrilla Games

"I'm most looking forward to seeing what developers do with destructible environments in 2009. That to me is really, really exciting.&quNoah R. Heller, Senior Producer, Call Of Duty: World At War

"PlayStation Network being bolstered by some of the innovative new titles that I've seen in the works for online release, as well as some of the under wraps stuff for Blu-ray of course.&quSimon O'Brien, Art Director, Evolution Studios

?Whatever the PixelJunk team (Q-Games) do next. I love their stSteven Tattersall, Principal Programmer, PlayTV, SCE Cambridgeidge

"I haven't seen too much of the games of 2009, but Killzone 2 looks to be shaping up well.&Phil McDonnell, Head of Console Division, Konamimi

"There are two titles that I'm getting all sweaty-palmed about. The first is Tim Schafer's Brutal Legend - I adore Schafer's games. He's made six games and they've all been absolutely genius. I've got no reason to believe that Brutal Legend isn't going to continue that solid gold run of quality. The second is Nobi Nobi Boy, Keita Takahashi's follow-up to Katamari Damacy and its sequels. Katamari hit all the right notes for me, I think it's an amazing, brilliant piece of game design, one of the best I've ever played. So clever, so much fun, and a concept you can take in so many directions. And the scale in the first game - from rolling up rice cakes and thumb tacks at the start, to ending up rolling up entire continents at the end, was just breathtaking. Whatever Nobi Nobi Boy turns out to be, I have no doubt it'll be fresh, original, and new, and those are the three rarest qualities in commercially designed games. &Jed Ashforth, Game Director, Download Content, Evolution Studiosos

"Large scale MMOs coming to PLAYSTATION 3 ? with innovative business and service modelsPhil Harrison, President, Infogramesames

"I am ever hopeful that Final Fantasy XIII will be released in 2009. Hopefully it can match the incredible quality of FFXII on PlayStation 2Damian Hosen, Head of Design, SCE London Studioudio

"Home: if it lives up to expectations it could be a defining moment in the industrySean Brennan, Managing Director, Bethesda Softworks Europerope

"I'm really hoping that 2009 carries on where 2008 left off, with new franchises and high quality sequels for existing series. I'm incredibly excited about Resident Evil 5 as it looks like it's shaping up to be even better than Resi 4, which is my favourite game of all time. I'm also really excited to get my hands on Killzone 2 and, towards the end of the year, Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 2. There are a few games that I'm keeping my eye on with keen interest, namely Ghostbusters, Aliens: Colonial Marines and Heavy Rain. If those games fulfil their potential, 2009 will be a brilliant year for PS3 ownersKevin Mason, Principal Designer, SingStar, SCE London Studioudio

"What I've seen of Resident Evil 5, so far, has got me salivating. I'm really looking forward to seeing how the Resident Evil team tackle the challenges that they've had from other developers that have released competing titles in a genre that they made popular. I'm hoping that they reclaim the top spot in the survival horror genreRon Festejo, Creative Director, SCE London Studioudio

"Of course I can't wait for the consumer reactions to EyePet. The team have really been working hard and the results are really impressive. Killzone 2 is looking really nice too; I can't wait to see how well they've implemented it. In 2008 I loved the increase in downloads for titles, as it helped developers maintain the life of their games; I hope that we will see even more download content coming in 2009Mark Lintott, Technical Manager on EyePet, SCE London Studioudio

"I'm really looking forward to seeing what Street Fighter IV does - it'll be fun to see what they've brought to the next generation and what they've done newShaun Himmerick, Executive Producer, Midwaydway

"It's a tough choice, and it's between Killzone 2 and Heavy Rain. Having played both I can say they both look staggering. I think I'll go with Heavy Rain though, as it's such a cinematic experience that's pushing the boundaries in both visual quality and interactive storytelling. Quantic Dream's attention to detail never fails to surprise mePhil Gaskell, Senior Producer, PlayStation Networkwork

?Aside from going online for the first time in Killzone 2, I think it has to be God of War 3. If it is anywhere near as good as its predecessors, we should be in for a real treat. For me, there have been few more satisfying gaming experiences than dishing out vengeance in the uniquely brutal way that only Kratos can. I really can't wait to see who's made him angry this timeTom Jones, Lead Artist, Killzone 2, SCE Cambridge Studioe Studio

"I?m excited to see God of War III as it should be nothing short of epic. Generally, it is nice to see game designers and artists coming to the spotlight now that our systems are so poweTim Ernst, Producer, Alpha Protocol, Segaol, Sega

"For 2009, I?m looking forward to playing all the new downloadable content for MotorStorm Pacific Rift ? we have some awesome new tracks and more content than ever before ? all soon to beAndy Gahan, Development Manager Download Content, Evolution Studioslution Studios

"I?m most looking forward to the coming instalments of PlayStation series that haven?t seen a true next generation debut ? namely God of War and Final Fantasy. Everything I?ve seen on the new Final Fantasy games has looked fantastic, and I feel faint when I think of the potential of a PGavin Carter, Lead Producer, Fallout 3, Bethesda Game Studios Bethesda Game Studios

Wow, they're finally getting the games. Good stuff for the gamers but it's long over due. Now all you guys need is a price cut and things will look good for PS3.

Why? I already own one! Plus, who here actually benefits from sales figures? I know I don't.

Why? I already own one! Plus, who here actually benefits from sales figures? I know I don't.

We all benefit from healthy sales/competition, gamers, devs, Sony themselves (MS/Nintendo too).

The PS3 sales aren't unhealthy as such, they could just be much higher. The console has as much potential as everyone else, and is doing a lot right like everyone else - With some better prices, it will be good times ahead for Sony.

Nothing impacts us directly from sales (well we get more people to play online with), but not for one second can be just swipe sales out the way and say "hey it doesn't matter".

Of course they do, but no, not to the extent of which some people literally won't play/touch or hand out any praise unless said game/console hits said sales - That just means that person has an issue and are severely restricting themselves from enjoying the gaming world.

However we (Sony not as desperately till they break even) need a price cut, there's no two ways about it, anyone disagreeing with that is being ballsy. Q1 or Q2 at the furthest to qualm the media who right now are having a field trip, and help more gamers be attracted to the PS3 in light of what competitor prices are sitting at.

The biggest issue is not the media unable to keep yapping on, it's gamers getting upset they can't buy a PS3 more in-line with competition - Not everyone out there is Mr Finance like some of us, that understand economics and why Sony can't cut right now, most of them are just simple people looking at price tags. Which is why we need a cut as soon as it's viably possible.

Edited by Audioboxer
This topic is now closed to further replies.
  • Recently Browsing   0 members

    • No registered users viewing this page.
  • Posts

    • Well I really think the repasting helped if your higher clocks have returned, maybe the next thing to look at is if there is a problem with your case airflow? I guess this because your 3080 has returned to optimal state, but is still staying too warm, which might suggest it was thermal throttling before you repasted, of which the only logical conclusion could be outside factors.
    • Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 8, Flip 8, Z Fold Wide: Everything you need to know by Hamid Ganji Galaxy Z Fold 7 - Image via Samsung The next generation of Samsung foldables is set to be unveiled next month at the second Unpacked event of the year. Samsung’s 2026 foldables are not expected to offer significant upgrades over their predecessors, with the Korean firm instead focusing on design refinements and conventional upgrades such as faster processors and better cameras. However, Samsung is reportedly planning to unveil an all-new passport-style foldable this year to rival Apple’s first foldable iPhone, which is expected to debut this September. Here’s a roundup of everything we know about Samsung’s upcoming foldable devices ahead of their official debut. When can we expect Samsung’s new foldables? The Galaxy Z Fold 7 and Z Flip 7 series were unveiled in July, and Samsung is expected to maintain this timeframe in 2026. Based on previous reports from Korean sources, Samsung will hold its Unpacked event on July 22 in London, UK, to pull back the curtain on the Galaxy Z Fold 8 series. The devices are also expected to hit the shelves a few weeks after launch. However, Samsung has yet to announce an official date. A new naming scheme? One of the most interesting changes we might see this year is a new naming scheme for Samsung’s latest foldables. SamMobile reported that since Samsung is expected to unveil three foldables this year, it has adopted a new naming strategy to simplify product identification for customers. Accordingly, the standard Galaxy Z Fold 8 will reportedly be called the Galaxy Z Fold 8 Ultra and will serve as the direct successor to last year’s Galaxy Z Fold 7. The “Ultra” suffix suggests the phone could feature higher-end specifications, such as additional rear camera modules. Samsung’s new passport-style foldable is expected to carry the Galaxy Z Fold 8 name without any suffix. This model is reportedly equipped with two rear cameras. No major changes are expected for the Flip model. Galaxy Z Fold 8 Ultra and Z Flip 8 anticipated specs Rumors over the past few months suggest Samsung is preparing several upgrades for its upcoming foldables, although the devices may continue to rely on larger batteries and faster charging speeds rather than dramatic design changes. The primary focus this year is expected to be the Galaxy Z Fold 8 and its wide-screen design. Galaxy Z Fold 8 Ultra official CAD renders - Image via AndroidHeadlines Here are the anticipated specifications for the Galaxy Z Fold 8 Ultra based on previous leaks: 6.5-inch outer display and 8-inch inner display, 120Hz refresh rate, and 2,600 nits peak brightness Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 5 processor, paired with 12GB or 16GB of RAM and 256GB, 512GB, or 1TB of storage 4.1mm thickness when unfolded and a weight of 210g 200MP main camera, 50MP ultrawide camera, 10MP or 12MP telephoto camera, 10MP cover camera, and 10MP selfie camera 5,000mAh battery with 45W wired charging Android 17 and One UI 9 As for the Galaxy Z Flip 8, the device is not expected to be a major departure from its predecessor, although it could become slightly slimmer. Expected specifications include: Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 5 or Exynos 2600 processor 12GB of RAM with 256GB and 512GB storage options 6.9-inch Dynamic AMOLED 2X inner dispaly and 4.1-inch Super AMOLED outer dispaly 50MP main camera, 12MP ultrawide camera, and 10MP selfie camera 4,300mAh battery with 25W wired charging Android 17 and One UI 9 Samsung’s foldables are also expected to launch with Gemini Intelligence, Google’s AI suite for automating tasks in Android ecosystem. Moreover, given current memory and component costs, some Galaxy Z Fold 8 Ultra and Z Flip 8 variants could see a price hike. Galaxy Z Fold 8 adopts a wide-screen design The centerpiece of the upcoming Unpacked event could be the Galaxy Z Fold 8, previously rumored as the Galaxy Z Fold Wide. This model adopts a passport-style form factor and is expected to compete directly with Apple’s iPhone Fold. Galaxy Z Fold 8 official CAD renders - Image via AndroidHeadlines Here’s what to expect: 7.6-inch primary OLED display and 5.4-inch cover display, 120Hz refresh rate, 2,600 nits peak brightness, and 4:3 aspect ratio Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 5 processor, 12GB or 16GB of RAM, and 256GB, 512GB, or 1TB storage options 4,800mAh battery with 45W wired charging 50MP main camera, 50MP ultrawide camera, and 10MP selfie camera Android 17 and One UI 9 The three new foldable phones are unlikely to be the only devices unveiled at Samsung’s Unpacked event. The company is also expected to introduce the Galaxy Watch Ultra 2 and the Galaxy Watch 9 series.
    • Thanks
    • 7 Days: Killing uBlock Origin bypasses, Euro Office faces fire, and will AI replace you? by Aditya Tiwari 7 Days is a weekly roundup of picks of what's been happening in the world of technology - written with a dash of humor, a hint of exasperation, and an endless supply of (black) coffee. This week's highlights include WWDC 2026 announcements, updates on child safety, and Meta's use of data from outside businesses to optimize your feed. Let's get started. You can check out the recent issues of the 7 Days weekly roundup. Killing uBlock Origin bypasses The hottest news of the week was about Google Chrome effectively ending most uBlock Origin workarounds (a free, open-source ad blocker extension) by permanently dropping MV2 extensions and their bypasses. Chrome is transitioning towards newer MV3 extensions. A recent discussion thread highlighted how the latest and upcoming versions of the most popular browser are expected to be its final releases with support for MV2 extensions. Genuinely European? Euro-Office faces fire The recently launched cloud-based office suite, Euro-Office, is facing criticism at home. The LibreOffice developer wrote an open letter criticizing Euro-Office for its marketing claim that it's the "first open-source office suite developed in Europe," since the honor has belonged to OpenOffice since 2001. The Document Foundation has called out Euro-Office, arguing that it can't consider "itself genuinely European" as long as it keeps pushing Microsoft defaults on users, adding that "it has to speak ODF as its mother tongue." Will AI replace you? Image: Tara Winstead via Pexels Microsoft's AI boss, Mustafa Suleyman, said in an interview earlier this year that AI would replace office workers within 12 to 18 months. Joining the ranks of top executives who have softened their stance on AI replacing humans, Suleyman recently walked back his earlier remarks and now says that AI will automate tasks, not replace entire white-collar jobs. He defended his earlier comments by arguing that they referred only to individual actions people perform at their desks. Louis Rossmann wants to sue Samsung Image: Louis Rossmann Tech repair entrepreneur and right-to-repair activist Louis Rossmann contacted Samsung support over a failed 4TB Samsung 990 Pro NVMe SSD. After back-and-forth communication, Samsung offered a $330 refund instead of a replacement, but Rossmann found that the SSD was readily available for new buyers at a higher price. He has issued a formal 60-day notice and intends to file a suit in Texas small claims court, as Samsung's actions reflect a failure to honor its warranty obligations. Samsung reached out to Neowin to clarify its updated stance that customers in such situations will receive a refund equal to the product's current market price. Child safety or mass surveillance? Image: Jonathan Borba via Pexels Signal accused the UK government of using child safety and device-level explicit content ban as a cover for mass surveillance. Calling the plan "dystopian," Signal warned that it violates everyone's fundamental right to privacy. The messaging platform believes that the government should keep children "safe" and "protected," but it should do so through social services and education. Fears of social media regulation Image via DepositPhotos.com More governments across the globe are tightening their grip on social media and bringing stricter regulations in the name of child safety. Bluesky COO, Rose Wang, warned that social media regulations could destroy competition from small startups and that heavy regulatory compliance costs favor deep-pocketed tech giants while locking out new entrants. Our Features Image: Pexels Our coffee-powered team publishes a platter of editorials, opinion posts, and guides. Here's what they got for the week: UK **** blockers are a looming privacy disaster, we must be able to see the source code This week in software news Image: Proton Catch up on some of the latest software news updates that arrived throughout the week: Dark clouds over PC makers: Building on our report from last month, Dell officially acknowledged that its own remediation software was causing BSOD issues and unexpected system restarts. HP is also facing equally frustrating issues involving recent Windows Secure Boot updates on Windows 11. Controversial icon: Spotify finally removed the disco ball icon from its app and replaced it with the familiar flat green logo after weeks of mixed reactions online. While some people don't like the new design, the retro, three-dimensional look has generated a following of its own. Even other brands are coming up with their versions of the disco logo. NVIDIA fixes stuff: A new hotfix driver 610.52 fixes various issues related to monitors and displays, noting that G-SYNC-related frame pacing troubles should now be resolved on Ada Lovelace GPUs. The feedback thread also points out that the hotfix patches a BSOD issue. FIFA World Cup tracker: Opera is redesigning its Android browser with a built-in football tracker for the upcoming World Cup in the US. The new homepage is now "more immersive" with easier access to common browser features. Command line for Proton: The Swiss technology company has launched a command line version of the Proton Drive, which you can use to manage your encrypted files directly from a terminal across all major platforms, including Windows, macOS, and Linux. This week in hardware news Image: Thermaltake Catch up on some of the latest software news updates that arrived throughout the week: Intel and AMD PCs in one case: Thermaltake's CAPO X dual-system chassis brings you the best of both worlds by supporting two microATX (mATX) motherboards and up to two 360 mm AIO liquid coolers. If you want ideas, maybe you can use one as your main PC and another as an AI agent. Google Tensor production: While TSMC will remain the lead producer, the search giant is reportedly in talks with Samsung to hand over part of the production of its next-generation Tensor AI chips. The upcoming TPUs are reportedly codenamed “Icefish” and will be produced using Samsung's 2-nanometer process technology. Lethal fake phone chargers: UK-based consumer rights organization Which? has warned that "potentially lethal knock-off chargers" are still being sold on online marketplaces, including Amazon and eBay, despite the dangers of such chargers having been exposed. This week in Google News Image: Google Catch up on some of the latest Google news updates that arrived throughout the week: Sliding into DMs: You might remember that YouTube had a direct messaging feature back in the day. It's now rolling out a revamped direct messaging inbox that lets you share Shorts, videos, and live streams and have conversations about them. New in NotebookLM: The AI-powered note-taking app got some new agentic capabilities and more advanced reasoning, thanks to support for Gemini 3.5 and Antigravity. NotebookLM can now generate outputs in more formats, making it easier to start new projects with less information. This week in Apple News Image: Apple Catch up on some of the latest Apple news updates that arrived throughout the week: WWDC 2026: This week was all about Apple's annual developer conference, where the iPhone-maker finally unveiled an upgraded Siri AI and a platter of new Apple Intelligence features. Siri AI now has a cross-platform app, which is supported on select models of iPhone, iPad, Mac, Apple Watch, and Vision Pro. What's different about WWDC: I wrote a detailed feature this week discussing how Apple changed the WWDC keynote this year, blurring the lines between its operating systems. Apple didn't have dedicated segments for its operating systems this year and didn't even publish the official press releases. Liquid Glass slider (finally): It's that time of the year when Apple previews fresh updates for iPhone, iPad, Mac, Apple Watch, AirPods, and other platforms. A new transparency slider for Liquid Glass is coming to iOS 27, iPadOS 27, and macOS 27 Golden Gate. Is your device supported?: If you're wondering whether your Apple device supports the new developer beta builds, you can check the respective compatibility lists for iOS 27, iPadOS 27, macOS 27, and watchOS 27. Siri AI not coming to Europe: Yes, that's true due to complications related to the Digital Markets Act (DMA). While Apple penned a blog post to tell its side of the story, a European Commission spokesperson told Neowin that the DMA does not prohibit Apple from launching its services in the EU; the company is simply required to comply with the law. New child safety features: Apple announced a trove of new safety features for kids, including a simpler setup experience for parents, Ask to Browse, Time Allowances, and a redesigned Screen Time UI. Parents can now visit a new website to find answers to common questions around child safety features. More cloud power: Apple's Private Cloud Compute cloud infrastructure will now run beyond its own data centers for the first time. It's working with Google and NVIDIA to run new Apple Intelligence workloads on Google Cloud systems powered by NVIDIA GPUs. This week in Meta news Catch up on the latest Meta news updates that arrived throughout the week: Data from outside: Meta is rolling out a new update globally to personalize your AI responses and primary feeds using data from outside businesses. It already targets ads based on shopping activity, but the latest development enables it to personalize other "parts of your experience." There is a toggle in the Settings to disable activity from other businesses; however, it won't prevent companies from sending your data to Meta. Level playing field: The European Commission has ordered the social media giant to restore access to WhatsApp for third-party AI chatbots, including ChatGPT and Copilot. Meta previously blocked rival AI chatbots from operating on WhatsApp, prompting the Commission to launch an antitrust investigation. Spying on users: On the flip side, WhatsApp accused the Israeli cyber-intelligence firm, NSO Group, of deploying a fresh wave of targeted "spear phishing" attacks against its users, which were thwarted by WhatsApp's security teams. Reorder profile grid: Adding some customization for the profile grid feature, Instagram now lets you rearrange posts in your profile without deleting and reuploading content. Go to your profile and long-press any thumbnail to find the "Reorder grid" option. This week in AI news Catch up on the latest artificial intelligence news updates that arrived throughout the week: Claude RAM hogger: Windows users are getting infuriated by Claude Desktop's hidden 1.8GB Hyper-V VM bug, which spins up if you use Claude Cowork or agent mode even once. It shows a Vmmem process in Task Manager, indicating 0% CPU usage but 1.8GB of RAM usage. Claude Fable 5: The new state-of-the-art AI model from Anthropic beats OpenAI's ChatGPT-5.5 in multiple AI benchmarks. Claude Fable 5 sits above the Opus models and outperforms most other generally available models across knowledge work, vision, scientific research, and more. However, the model was abruptly suspended after receiving an export control directive from the US government. Stack Overflow for AI agents: The popular Q&A platform has launched Stack Overflow for Agents in beta, which AI agents can use to share, find, and reuse coding knowledge. It explained that AI agents operate in isolation, creating an Ephemeral Intelligence Gap, and valuable tokens are wasted on something another agent has already solved. Upgrading Codex: OpenAI is buying a company called Ona, which makes secure cloud execution and orchestration technology for developers. The ChatGPT-maker aims to make Codex agents run for days without being tied to a local machine or an active session. It also announced a new developer mode in Chrome. This week in open-source news Catch up on some of the latest open-source and Linux updates that arrived throughout the week: Linux 7.1 rc7: Linux Torvalds dropped an optimized rc7 with crucial fixes for AMD and laptop hardware. He said that a stable version of Linux 7.1 could arrive next week, adding that the latest RC is not small, but smaller than recent releases. Alpine Linux 3.24: The latest Alpine Linux release added support for COSMIC Desktop, Linux 6.18, IPv6 installer support, automatic serial console configuration for headless setups, and major package updates and removals. This week in Microsoft News Microsoft had to shut down more than 70 GitHub repos after they were compromised by malware, Teams is getting a controversial tracking feature that users may hate, and the company explained why the new update makes PowerToys faster. You can check out Taras's freshly baked Microsoft Weekly roundup to catch up on all the interesting stories this week. This week in gaming The latest issue of Pulasthi's Weekend PC Game Deals curates several exciting games on sale this week. On the Epic Games Store, the new titles on display for grabs include Warhammer 40K Speed Freeks and The Ouroboros King. NVIDIA GeForce NOW's summer sale lowered the prices of both the Performance and Ultimate membership options for a limited time period. Meanwhile, the Xbox Free Play Days brought Undead Labs' post-apocalyptic title State of Decay 2, as well as two Team17-published titles. That said, here are some more stories from the gaming world: Dragon's Dogma 2: Dark Arisen expansion to bring snowy region, new updates also coming Playground drops 30 minutes of Fable gameplay, shows off life sim and morality system Playground Games confirms Forza Horizon 6 save wipe bug Doom: The Dark Ages Revelations expansion gives the Slayer a brutal Chain Spear State of Decay 3 is out in 2027, reveals Plague Nests with new co-op gameplay trailer From the review corner This week, Taras got his hands on the DuRoBo Krono portable e-ink reader, which comes with a $279 price tag. It's a smartphone-sized device with a rotating dial, sitting somewhere between premium and cheap in terms of build quality. Speaking of the pros, the physical controls are cool, the smart dial is useful, the battery life is good, and Android 15 has no-nonsense software. On the flip side, the device lacks software customization, the built-in AI needs improvement, the smart dial is a bit wobbly, and there is no ambient light sensor. EA Sports UFC 6 EA Sports UFC 6 does a better job at onboarding new players than most fighting games, according to Pulasthi's detailed review. The game comes with rewarding combat systems, top-notch animation, impressive impact physics, and visible damage on fighters. However, the menus lag a lot, grappling isn't very fun, and the flow state feels a little misplaced. More price drops! We got you covered with some hot tech deals all week. For some reason, if you missed out on a great discount, here is a summary of some recent deals that are still alive: GIGABYTE Radeon RX 9070 XT Gaming OC ICE 16G - $649.99 (13% off) 1TB Samsung T7 Portable SSD - $189.98 (31% off) AirPods Pro 3 - $179 ($50 off) Edifier R1280Ts Powered Bookshelf Speakers - $129.99 (24% off) To view all of our recent deals, click here. So, these were some of the biggest tech news and other updates from this week. There will be more issues of our 7 Days series in the coming weeks and months, so stay tuned. You can also support Neowin by registering for a free member account or subscribing to extra member benefits, along with an ad-free tier option. Have a great weekend!
  • Recent Achievements

    • Week One Done
      rolfus earned a badge
      Week One Done
    • One Month Later
      Leroy Jethro Gibbs earned a badge
      One Month Later
    • Conversation Starter
      flexorcist earned a badge
      Conversation Starter
    • One Month Later
      AndreaB earned a badge
      One Month Later
    • One Month Later
      agatameier earned a badge
      One Month Later
  • Popular Contributors

    1. 1
      +primortal
      505
    2. 2
      +Edouard
      197
    3. 3
      PsYcHoKiLLa
      141
    4. 4
      ATLien_0
      89
    5. 5
      Steven P.
      80
  • Tell a friend

    Love Neowin? Tell a friend!