Author: Dave Warren Hans Co

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Google Pixel 10 looks like the smarter buy right now: Pixel 11 could cost more for small gains

Google is rumored to unveil the Pixel 11 lineup at a Made by Google event on August 12, 2026. If the leaks are right, the story is pretty simple: higher prices, and upgrades that don’t seem all that dramatic next to the Pixel 10.

Google Camera Download

The leaked pricing paints a clear picture. The 256GB Pixel 11 could start at $899, roughly $100 more than the Pixel 10. That same increase would put the Pixel 11 Pro at $1,099, the Pixel 11 Pro XL at $1,299, and the Pixel 11 Pro Fold at $1,899. Every model may start at 256GB, which helps explain the bump, but that matters a lot less if you don’t need the extra storage and can pick up a discounted Pixel 10 instead.

What the rumors describe so far sounds more like a refresh than a reset. The Pixel 11 could get a Tensor G6, a 6.3-inch OLED display, a 4,985mAh battery, a new modem, and better on-device features. But leakers aren’t talking about a major overhaul. Some even claim the base Pixel 11 might lose the Pixel 10’s telephoto camera, while the Pixel 11 Pro and Pixel 11 Pro XL could drop from 16GB of RAM to 12GB.

If you’re shopping for a new Pixel, the Pixel 10 still makes a lot of sense. It already gives you a strong camera system, clean software, and the day-to-day performance most people actually notice. Wait, and you may end up paying more for gains that feel pretty small.

You can buy the Pixel 10 now from Google and other retailers. The Pixel 11, at least for now, is still just a rumor and may not hit stores until later in August.

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PS5 beta update now enables improved PSSR by default on PS5 Pro

Sony’s latest PlayStation 5 system software beta is a pretty focused update, but for PlayStation 5 Pro owners, the big change is easy to spot: Enhance PSSR Image Quality now comes on by default. Sony has also added a new switch that lets you turn Bluetooth off.

Back in March 2026, Sony introduced that image-quality setting as a manual toggle on PlayStation 5 Pro. In this beta, it turns on automatically, so games built for the original PlayStation Spectral Super Resolution can tap the newer Project Amethyst-era image reconstruction without you having to change anything or wait for a game patch. Sony says the newer version delivers a sharper, more stable image with less shimmering and flicker. It’s also, according to Sony, about 100 microseconds faster.

Some games already support the newer PSSR natively, including Resident Evil Requiem, Alan Wake II, Assassin’s Creed Shadows, Final Fantasy VII Rebirth, Monster Hunter Wilds, and Silent Hill f.

The Bluetooth option is much more specific. It’s mainly there for tournament-style wired setups, and if you switch it off, you also lose rest mode and HDMI-CEC.

If you use a PlayStation 5 Pro regularly, this beta is probably worth downloading for the automatic visual bump alone. Most people, though, will want to keep Bluetooth on.

You can download the beta on PlayStation 5, while the PSSR change is limited to PlayStation 5 Pro.

Chrome now streams Netflix in 4K on Windows 11

Netflix has updated its Windows playback requirements, and the big change is this: Google Chrome 117 or later now supports Ultra HD 2160p streaming on compatible Windows 11 PCs.

Netflix Download

So yes, Chrome can finally sit at the same table as Microsoft Edge and the Netflix app for 4K playback on Windows. That’s a pretty big shift after years of Chrome being stuck at 1080p, and sometimes even 720p, mostly because Microsoft Edge had the upper hand with PlayReady DRM while Chrome relied on Widevine for protected 4K streams.

There’s still a checklist. You’ll need a fully updated Windows 11 PC, a Netflix Premium plan, playback quality set to Auto or High, and at least 15 Mbps of bandwidth. Your hardware also has to be supported, which means newer Nvidia, AMD, Intel, or AMD Ryzen gear, plus a 4K 60 Hz display. If you’re using an external screen, it needs HDCP 2.2, and every active monitor connected to the system has to meet those same standards. In some setups, Netflix also says you may need Microsoft’s HEVC Video Extensions. If you watch Netflix in Google Chrome regularly, this is an update worth installing. Edge and the Windows app still have a few extras, though, including HDR and often Dolby Atmos. And on macOS, Chrome is still limited to 1080p, so you’ll need Safari if you want Ultra HD there. You can download Google Chrome directly from Google, and if your setup calls for it, the HEVC extension is available in the Microsoft Store.

Google Chrome Download

Alphabet’s X updates its moonshot strategy: more spinouts now

Alphabet’s moonshot lab X has quietly reworked its strategy. On X’s site, the company says it wants more moonshot projects to grow into independent businesses, with Alphabet often staying in the picture as a minority investor instead of owning them outright.

You can see that approach in Series X Capital. X describes it as a fund built to help projects raise outside money, bring in their own leaders, and operate with more independence. Astro Teller, meanwhile, keeps X centered on the habits that made the lab what it is: 10x thinking, fast prototypes, early stress tests, and killing weak ideas before they eat up too much time.

Waymo and Wing are the clearest examples. X points to Waymo’s expansion in autonomous ride-hailing, powered by its sixth-generation driver tech, and to Wing’s growth in drone delivery through commercial partnerships that include Walmart. The message is hard to miss: science projects don’t have to remain science projects forever.

X also spotlights newer bets such as Materra in recycling, Bellwether in disaster prediction, and Tapestry in electric-grid software. Together , they pull X further into forecasting, infrastructure software, climate resilience, and next-generation services. If you follow Alphabet’s moonshots, this update is worth a look.

Supporters say this keeps long-term innovation tied to real businesses. Critics say too few projects have turned into anything truly transformative or profitable. And as these tools spread, expect more scrutiny around privacy, accountability, competition, bias, and critical infrastructure. You can read more on Alphabet’s X site.

Helldivers 2’s Warhammer 40,000 crossover arrives August 12: Castellan’s Creed detailed

Arrowhead Game Studios has filled in the blanks on Helldivers 2’s Warhammer 40,000 crossover. After first revealing it on July 30 during the Warhammer Skulls Showcase 2026, the studio has now confirmed that the Legendary Castellan’s Creed Warbond arrives on August 12.

Steam Download

It’ll cost 1,500 Super Credits, and this is more than a quick cosmetic tie-in. The Warbond includes a Bolt Pistol, a Hot-Shot Marksman Rifle, the Meltagun stratagem, Meltamines, and two armor sets based on Warhammer 40,000’s Astra Militarum Cadian Kasrkin.

If you play Helldivers 2 all the time, or you’re already a Warhammer fan, this feels like an easy sell. The match is obvious: impossible alien wars, militarism pushed to absurd extremes, propaganda, dark humor, and that last-stand heroism both worlds lean on so hard. It lands like a natural crossover, not some random guest spot thrown in for attention.

There’s a bigger clue here about where Arrowhead’s live-service plans may be going, too. Previous reports said Helldivers 2 had sold more than 20 million copies by January 2026, brought in over 700 million in revenue, and reportedly had 3.6 million active players in the month before this reveal. Add in the earlier Halo crossover, and it starts to look like major franchise tie-ins could become a regular part of the game’s long-term update rhythm, even if the money they bring in and the larger strategy behind them are still hard to pin down.

You’ll be able to pick up Castellan’s Creed in Helldivers 2 on August 12, ahead of Warhammer 40,000: Dawn of War 4 on September 17.

Mistfall Hunter is out now on PC, PS5 and Xbox: it’s on Game Pass too

Bellring Games released Mistfall Hunter on July 29, 2026, for PC, PlayStation 5, and Xbox Series X/S. The studio is pitching it as an extraction shooter with a dark-fantasy edge, and that tone comes through right away.

It also landed on Xbox Game Pass, per Xbox. You play as a Gyldhunter, brought back by Dew to reclaim Gyldenblood in a world swallowed by the Gyldenmist and piece the Web of Fate back together.

Matches have you dropping into maps, fighting both AI enemies and other players, scooping up loot, and then taking down a Returner Woodling to open an escape portal. Die before you get out, and you lose everything. There are six classes in total, from Withered Knight to Seer, covering frontline, ranged, stealth, and support roles, based on the game’s official description.

So far, player response has been split. Early impressions have singled out the Soulslike mood, the clean, easy-to-read interface, and the tension in PvP. But on Steam, reviews sit at Mixed as of July 30, with roughly 57% positive. Player complaints keep circling back to stuttering, latency, PvP gear balance, no Oceania servers, and the absence of a dedicated duo queue.

For people who like extraction games, this one is worth keeping an eye on, especially since Bellring Games already has a lot on the roadmap: Season 1: Soul Hunt, the Solemn Needles map, new bosses, a combat overhaul, and practice modes for both PvE and PvP.

You can download Mistfall Hunter now on PC, PS5, and Xbox Series X/S, or jump in through Xbox Game Pass.

Minecraft Java Edition updates PC requirements after 17 years: Vulkan and more RAM

On July 21, 2026, Mojang Studios raised the PC system requirements for Minecraft Java Edition. It’s the first big reset of the baseline in 17 years. The new minimum is meant to hit 1080p at 30 FPS, while the recommended specs aim for 1080p at 60 FPS.

Mojang says the old requirements just don’t hold up anymore. Minecraft Java Edition has grown into a heavier game, with bigger worlds, technical upgrades, more graphics work on the way, and a move from OpenGL to Vulkan. That change also lines up with the planned Vibrant Visuals update.

Minecraft Download

For the new minimum, Mojang says it’s targeting 1080p at 30 FPS on Fast settings. That means a 64-bit OS, a 4-core CPU, Vulkan 1.3 support, 2 GB of VRAM, and 8 GB of RAM if you have discrete graphics, or 12 GB if you’re on integrated graphics. The recommended target is 1080p at 60 FPS on Fancy settings, with 16 GB of RAM, an Intel Core i5-12400 or AMD Ryzen 5 5600, and a 6 GB GPU such as an Nvidia GeForce RTX 2060 or AMD Radeon RX 5600 XT.

That’s a real step up from Mojang’s old baseline of 2 GB to 4 GB of memory and graphics around the Intel HD 4000 and GeForce 700 era. If you already play Minecraft Java Edition with mods or huge worlds, the change will probably seem fair enough. If you’re using a low-end laptop, though, or trying to put together the cheapest possible setup, you should expect upgrade costs. And yes, PCs that fall below the minimum may still launch the game, but you’re likely looking at low frame rates, slow load times, glitches, and shaky performance.

Mojang points players with weaker hardware toward Minecraft Bedrock Edition as the lower-spec option. The tradeoff is obvious: you give up the stronger modding scene that comes with Minecraft Java Edition. If you want the PC version, you can get Minecraft from Minecraft.net.

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NVIDIA launches Open Cyber Defense Alliance today: Microsoft, SpaceX, Dell, IBM and Linux Foundation join

NVIDIA today launched the Open Cyber Defense Alliance, bringing Microsoft, SpaceX, Dell, IBM, and The Linux Foundation into one group. The pitch is share tools, models, and methods that could help security teams catch threats faster and investigate incidents more effectively.

The alliance says teams will be able to inspect shared tools, adapt them, and improve them, rather than rely only on closed systems they can’t really look inside. Its first building blocks include NVIDIA’s NOOA agent framework and Microsoft’s MDASH scanning harness. Each partner fills a different role here. Microsoft and IBM bring enterprise reach. Dell brings infrastructure. SpaceX brings scale. The Linux Foundation gives the effort an open-source home. That matters right now, when phishing, deepfake scams, and automated break-in attempts are all getting easier to produce at scale.

If you work in security, this one deserves a look. Supporters say open code gives teams a way to audit model behavior and tune their response to fit their own environment. They also point to the size of the market, which could grow from $25 billion in 2024 to over $93 billion by 2030. Then there’s the list of companies that aren’t involved. OpenAI, Anthropic, and Google are missing, and the Hugging Face breach involving an automated agent from OpenAI, the maker of ChatGPT, gives the alliance’s argument more weight: black-box models can make forensic work harder when something goes wrong.

You can expect the Open Cyber Defense Alliance’s tools to be published for use across organizations. Even so, NVIDIA and its partners still need to explain how governance will work, what the contribution rules are, what the roadmap looks like, and what safeguards will stop attackers from repurposing the same tools for their own use.

Dragon Ball: Sparking! ZERO gets Super Limit-Breaking NEO on July 30: 30+ fighters, free update

Bandai Namco has locked in July 30 for Dragon Ball: Sparking! ZERO‘s paid Super Limit-Breaking NEO DLC, and all players are getting a free update that same day too.

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The expansion adds more than 30 new playable characters, including Super Saiyan Bardock, Super 17, Champa, Demon King Piccolo, Grandpa Gohan, Mercenary Tao, and GT versions of Vegeta and Trunks. The free update also brings in a new battle system, although Bandai Namco still hasn’t actually explained how that part works.

There’s a new single-player mode as well, called Limit Breaker Journey. Players move across an interactive map, take on battles and events, build up a chosen fighter, and customize six attributes. Once a character has been trained, you can use them in offline battles and player matches.

Bandai Namco is also adding four new stages: Kami’s Palace, Kame House, Bitter Tundra, and Stratosphere, with Earth and Planet Vegeta variants for that last one. On top of that, players get more than 20 customization items, including costumes and super attacks.

If you’ve been waiting for more modes, more fighters, and a better excuse to jump back in, this update looks like a good one to grab, especially since it seems aimed at complaints about the game’s lack of depth and variety.

Super Limit-Breaking NEO goes on sale as DLC on July 30, and the free update arrives that same day in Dragon Ball: Sparking! ZERO.

Xbox app now brings original Xbox games to PC: BLiNX, Conker and more

Microsoft started rolling out original Xbox games to PC through the Xbox app on Windows 11 today. That makes this the company’s first official backward compatibility program for original Xbox games on PC, built around titles from the first Xbox era.

Xbox Download

The opening batch has BLiNX: The Time Sweeper, Conker: Live and Reloaded, Crimson Skies: High Road to Revenge, and Fuzion Frenzy. If you already own supported digital Xbox versions, you can play them on PC at no extra charge through Xbox Play Anywhere. They’re also included across Xbox Game Pass tiers. Microsoft says these aren’t just untouched ROMs dropped into the app, either. The PC versions get up to 4x resolution upscaling, VSync, anisotropic filtering, and better anti-aliasing to smooth out the image on modern displays. If you’ve wanted a simpler legal way to go back to these games without dragging out an old console or turning to unofficial emulation tools like Xemu, this Xbox app update is an easy one to recommend.

The bigger story is what comes next. Microsoft says this is the start of a wider preservation effort, with more classic Xbox games headed to PC, plus Xbox achievements coming to select original Xbox titles on both console and PC over the next few months. You can grab the first batch now through the Xbox app on Windows 11. It also turns a long-discussed Xbox idea into something real: back in 2017, Xbox chief Phil Spencer said the console’s x86 roots could open a path to PC emulation. Now it finally has.