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• Sam Altman says OpenAI will soon pass 1 million GPUs and aim for 100 million more
• Running 100 million GPUs could cost $3 trillion and break global power infrastructure limits
• OpenAI’s expansion into Oracle and TPU shows growing impatience with current cloud limits

OpenAI says it is on track to operate over one million GPUs by the end of 2025, a figure that already places it far ahead of rivals in terms of compute resources.

Yet for company CEO Sam Altman, that milestone is merely a beginning, “We will cross well over 1 million GPUs brought online by the end of this year,” he said.

The comment, delivered with apparent levity, has nonetheless sparked serious discussion about the feasibility of deploying 100 million GPUs in the foreseeable future.

A vision far beyond current scale

To put this figure in perspective, Elon Musk’s xAI runs Grok 4 on approximately 200,000 GPUs, which means OpenAI’s planned million-unit scale is already five times that number.

Scaling this to 100 million, however, would involve astronomical costs, estimated at around $3 trillion, and pose major challenges in manufacturing, power consumption, and physical deployment.

“Very proud of the team but now they better get to work figuring out how to 100x that lol,” Altman wrote.

While Microsoft’s Azure remains OpenAI’s primary cloud platform, it has also partnered with Oracle and is reportedly exploring Google’s TPU accelerators.

This diversification reflects an industry-wide trend, with Meta, Amazon, and Google also moving toward in-house chips and greater reliance on high-bandwidth memory.

SK Hynix is one of the companies likely to benefit from this expansion - as GPU demand rises, so does demand for HBM, a key component in AI training.

According to a data center industry insider, “In some cases, the specifications of GPUs and HBMs...are determined by customers (like OpenAI)...configured according to customer requests.”

SK Hynix’s performance has already seen strong growth, with forecasts suggesting a record-breaking operating profit in Q2 2025.

OpenAI’s collaboration with SK Group appears to be deepening. Chairman Chey Tae-won and CEO Kwak No-jung met with Altman recently, reportedly to strengthen their position in the AI infrastructure supply chain.

The relationship builds on past events such as SK Telecom’s AI competition with ChatGPT and participation in the MIT GenAI Impact Consortium.

That said, OpenAI’s rapid expansion has raised concerns about financial sustainability, with reports that SoftBank may be reconsidering its investment.

If OpenAI’s 100 million GPU goal materializes, it will require not just capital but major breakthroughs in compute efficiency, manufacturing capacity, and global energy infrastructure.

For now, the goal seems aspirational, an audacious signal of intent rather than a practical roadmap.

Via TomsHardware

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John Michael Osbourne, a poor student from Birmingham, UK, exceeded expectations and helped invent heavy metal. A moment to remember the singular Ozzy Osbourne, who died this week at the age of 76.

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• BMW says it has no plans to integrate CarPlay Ultra in future cars
• Manufacturers are increasingly turning to in-house infotainment
• Aston Martin is currently the only brand offering Apple's tech

Apple CarPlay launched to much fanfare in late May, adorning the myriad screens in the stunning Aston Martin DBX 707 model.

But just weeks after its unveiling to the world, a number of big name automotive manufacturers – who were once slated to work with the tech – have started backing out. This time, it's BMW.

Recently, one Renault employee was even quoted as saying “don’t invade our systems” by the Financial Times when quizzed about future partnerships with the tech giant.

Now, a BMW AG spokesperson has stated that the company currently has “no plans to integrate Apple CarPlay Ultra”, according to a post from the independent BMW Blog spotted by 9to5Mac.

Instead, the German automotive powerhouse is backing its own reinvention of the popular iDrive system, which was first debuted at CES late last year.

The system – that will first be seen on the upcoming Neue Klasse iX – includes new haptic controls and a full-width display that spans the entire width of the windscreen. Handing this new and innovative digital real estate over to Apple feels counter intuitive.

As a result, the German automaker will still support traditional CarPlay and Android Auto, but its use will be limited to the main infotainment screen.

Analysis: CarPlay Ultra is a step too far

(Image credit: Aston Martin / Apple)

My early hands-on experience with Apple CarPlay Ultra proved that the system fixed many of the irritating issues that arose from traditional CarPlay use.

Chiefly, the ability to adjust important car settings or enjoy some DAB or satellite radio without leaving the CarPlay environment is a boon.

However, when activated in the beautiful surrounds of an Aston Martin, the system felt overly invasive and the fully digital, very Apple-y cockpit lost some of its unique charm.

This is the overriding issue facing many manufacturers, as most feel that allowing Apple to take control of the entire infotainment experience not only stifles brand differentiation but also sees Apple potentially handling reams of valuable data.

Instead, Porsche remains the only manufacturer I can think of that has worked with Apple’s Automotive Developer Toolkit to produce a sort of halfway house.

Plug an iPhone into a new Macan, Taycan or Panamera and you’ll still be able to adjust the temperature of the air con and fiddle with car settings, without leaving the CarPlay environment or giving up the unique Porsche digital driver’s display.

To me, it feels like Apple needs to pursue this avenue and improve the standard CarPlay experience, which should happen with iOS 26.

Otherwise future cars risk feeling homogenous both on the outside and the interior.

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Another deadly overnight raid in central Nigeria left more than 100 villagers dead and hundreds displaced. Survivors in Benue State say it's part of a brutal campaign to drive Christian farming communities from their land. NPR reports from Yelwata, where residents are still counting the dead.

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For most pet primates in the United States, life is marked by chronic stress, malnutrition and illness — if they survive at all. A bill in Congress would aim to make ownership of captive primates illegal in all 50 states.

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Audio Pro Addon C10 MkII: Two -minute review

The Audio Pro Addon C10 MkII is a predictably good-looking wireless speaker with plenty going for it purely in design terms (as long as you're OK with monochrome). It’s lost its handle and its Amazon Alexa voice control compared with the original model, but it’s gained a swanky new streaming platform (thanks, WiiM!) which offers an absolute stack of options where music sources and system flexibility are concerned.

Best of all, it’s a fine-sounding speaker that is able to extract an absolute stack of information from a recording and put it into convincing context. It’s punchy when it needs to be, it’s insightful, and it sounds a heck of a lot bigger than it looks. Deft control of the low frequencies, plenty of midrange articulacy and a winning way with dynamic variations all add to its sonic charm. If it was just a little more vibrant and exciting when the music demanded it, the Audio Pro Addon C10 MkII would be absolutely ideal, but it is nevertheless worthy of a place among the best wireless speakers out there.

(Image credit: Future / Simon Lucas)Audio Pro Addon C10 MkII review: Price and release date

• Cost $360 / £259 / AU$530 (approx.)
• Launched in 2021

When the Audio Pro Addon C10 MkII first launched back in 2021, it cost $450 / £329 / AU$674 (approx.).

Fast-forward to today, and not only has this product become even more compelling thanks to upgrades in its streaming support and smart features, but it’s also routinely available for $360 / £259 / AU$530 (approx.). It looks like rather than becoming outdated, the C10 MkII has matured and evolved…

Audio Pro Addon C10 MkII review: Features

• 80 watts of power
• Dual-band Wi-Fi and Bluetooth 4.2
• Numerous streaming options

It’s fair to say that Bluetooth 4.2 with SBC and AAC codec compatibility is not the most inspiring specification for a wireless speaker in 2025. But what the Audio Pro Addon C10 MkII lacks in cutting-edge Bluetooth chops, it more than makes up for in its wireless network abilities.

The exemplary control app, which is now bolted to WiiM’s extremely well-regarded streaming platform, allows you to integrate a lot of music streaming services – and I mean a lot: Amazon and Apple Music, Deezer and Spotify, Qobuz and Tidal, QQ Music, iHeart Radio and vTuner, and plenty more besides. The C10 MkII is compatible with Apple AirPlay 2 and Google Chromecast, and the app allows the speaker to be half of a stereo pair or part of a multi-room system without any fuss whatsoever. It’s an extremely flexible device.

Once aboard, digital audio information is processed by a 24bit/96kHz DAC and then is breathed on by 80 watts of Class D amplification. A pair of 19mm tweeters get 20 watts of power each, and in between them there’s a 133mm midrange driver that receives the other 40 watts. This bigger driver is supported by a rear-facing vertical bass reflex port.

• Features score: 4.5 / 5

(Image credit: Future / Simon Lucas)Audio Pro Addon C10 MkII review: Sound quality

(Image credit: Future / Simon Lucas)

• Open, detailed and well-controlled sound
• Great tonal balance and frequency response
• Could sound a little more exciting

Yes, by the standards for $350-ish wireless speakers the Audio Pro Addon C10 MkII is quite large. But be assured the sound it creates is plenty larger than the cabinet it’s coming from.

The sort of scale the Audio Pro can invest in a FLAC file of Hookworms’ Negative Space is straightforwardly impressive. It can open the recording out and offer a proper sense of space at the same time, even though the point-source of sound is always obvious. The amount of dynamic headroom that’s available allows the speaker to track the ever-increasing intensity of the recording convincingly, and the control of the lowest frequencies is such that rhythmic expression is confident and naturalistic, too.

And as well as being controlled with real authority, the bottom end – like the rest of the frequency range – is loaded with detail and variation. The C10 MkII is no thumper – it hits good and hard at the low end, but is textured and tonally varied. The same is true at the opposite end, where treble sounds are bright and substantial, with plenty of information available regarding tone, attack and decay. Through the midrange, the Audio Pro is about as explicit and as eloquent as any device of its type and price I’ve heard. It communicates in absolute torrents.

The tonal balance is nicely judged – it’s not absolutely neutral, but the tiny suggestion of warmth (especially towards the bottom end) is almost certainly sensible in the context of the circumstances the C10 MkII will probably be used in. The evenness of the frequency response is splendid, too, giving measured and appropriate weighting to every part of the tonal range, without underplaying or overstating any particular area.

Really, about the only area of mild concern where the sound of this speaker is concerned has little to do with the specifics of performance – it’s more about attitude. For all of its undoubted dynamic potency and ability to paint a full and nicely detailed picture, the Audio Pro is not the most demonstrative listen.

It sounds quite like it looks: sophisticated, understated and in unarguable good taste. This, where audio quality is concerned, can be considered shorthand for ‘slight lack of excitement’. No one is interested in a feral loudspeaker, of course, but at those moments when a recording demands vigor and attack, I get the strong impression the C10 MkII thinks this kind of behavior is a little beneath it.

• Sound quality score: 4.5 / 5

Audio Pro Addon C10 MkII review: Design

(Image credit: Future / Simon Lucas)

• 165 x 320 x 185mm (HxWxD)
• Black, white or gray matte finishes
• Magnetically attached grille

The Audio Pro Addon C10 MkII is, by the standards of a ‘rectangular box’ wireless speaker, very nicely finished and actually quite elegant in an understated sort of way.

This is just as well – given the 165 x 320 x 185mm (HxWxD) dimensions, it could have very easily ended up looking a bit bulky. As it is, though, the standard of construction and finish, along with the unapologetically monotone options of black, gray or white matte colours, make for a very harmonious look. The magnetically attached grille helps with the clean look, too.

It’s a fairly sizeable proposition on the average desk, though, and the lack of a handle makes transporting its 4.3kg weight rather less easy than it might be. I can’t deny I’ve used the bass reflex port as a handle, but I can’t imagine Audio Pro would recommend it as an option…

• Design score: 5 / 5

Audio Pro Addon C10 MkII review: Usability and setup

(Image credit: Future / Simon Lucas)

• Great control app, extensive physical controls
• No voice control
• Can easily be part of a multi-room set-up

Unlike the previous generation of C10, there’s no Amazon Alexa voice control here – there’s no voice control at all, in fact. You may count this as a negative, you may not, but there’s no denying that your other control options are very nicely realized indeed.

That WiiM-powered control app, as already mentioned, is stable, logical and slick in operation. As well as the ability to integrate a generous number of music streaming services and internet radio providers, it’s also where you can form a stereo pair or establish a multi-room system. There’s bass and treble adjustment, the ability to establish as many as half a dozen presets, input selection, the ability to check for firmware updates and various timer and alarm-clock functions.

The top surface of the cabinet features a selection of controls, too, embedded in a tactile steel plate. Power, volume, playback control and Bluetooth pairing are all available here, and access to the six presets you’ve defined in the control app are also available. There’s also a little LED giving confirmation of the selected input.

• Usability and setup score: 4.5 / 5

Audio Pro Addon C10 MkII review: Value

(Image credit: Future / Simon Lucas)

• Excellent standard of finish
• Versatile streaming platform and app
• Extras add up to value for money

Consider the standard of build and finish, and then consider the out-and-out sound quality. Take into account the great new WiiM-powered streaming platform and all its possibilities, from forming a true stereo pair to easily creating a multi-room system.

And then look around at what this kind of money can buy you from alternative brands. Yes, the Audio Pro Addon C10 MkII is very good value for money indeed.

• Value score: 4.5 / 5

Should you buy the Audio Pro Addon C10 MkII?Audio Pro Addon C10 MkII score card

Attributes

Notes

Rating

Features

Wi-Fi connectivity, Bluetooth (albeit 4.2 with SBC and AAC codec) and WiiM’s excellent streaming platform.

4.5 / 5

Sound quality

Open, detailed and well-controlled, but could be a little more exciting.

4.5 / 5

Design

Three possible matte finishes, sizeable with carry handle removed, magnetically attached grille.

5 / 5

Usability and setup

Great control app, extensive physical controls, can be part of a multi-room set-up.

4.5 / 5

Value

Not cheap, but extras provide added value to make the expense more than worth it.

4.5 / 5

Buy it if...

You admire a bit of Scandi design
‘Elegance’ is in the eye of the beholder, of course, but there’s no denying the Audio Pro is a bit of a looker.

You enjoy slick operability
Co-opting WiiM’s streaming platform has turned the C10 MkII into a very versatile and easy-to-use speaker indeed.

You know the devil is in the details
By the standards of their price-comparable rivals, the Audio Pro is able to resolve a heck of a lot of fine detail.

Don't buy it if...

You’re after sonic fireworks
There’s plenty to recommend the sound of the C10 MkII, but ‘excitement’ is not an area of expertise.

You think life should be Technicolor
One person’s ‘understated’ is another’s ‘boring’, and if you don’t like black, or white, or gray, then you’re going to be struggling here.

Audio Pro Addon C10 MkII: Also consider

JBL Authentics 200
If you fancy a bit of retro charm rather than Scandi cool, the JBL Authentics 200 will be just the thing. It's got that JBL sound (punchy, driving and forceful), that JBL look (fully mid-70s hi-fi heyday) and is nothing if not fully featured. See our full JBL Authentics 200 review for more.

Apple HomePod 2
If you’re already deep in the iOS ecosystem, the Apple HomePod 2 is a great-sounding option, although it lacks some features most alternatives consider ‘essential’.
Here's our full Apple HomePod 2 review to add to the pile.

How I tested the Audio Pro Addon C10 MkII

Because the C10 MkII is mains-powered rather than battery-powered, I listened to it exclusively in my home. It’s a bit big for a desktop speaker, but nevertheless I gave it a go – it was much more at home on a shelf in the lounge, though.

I listened to music from Tidal and Qobuz via the excellent control app, of many types and quite a few different file sizes. And I listened both critically and with the Audio Pro functioning simply as a ‘background’ device – and there were never less than thoroughly enjoyable.

• First reviewed: July 2025

We get it, there's a lot going on in life – from sports tournaments to school holidays to work pressures – and you're not necessarily going to be able to keep up with every single story TechRadar publishes over the course of seven days (there are a lot of them).

That's why we put together this ICYMI (In Case You Missed It) round-up every week, so you don't miss out on everything that's happening. This week, that includes new Kindles from Amazon, new software from Apple, and a new watch from Nothing.

It's been another packed week in technology, and we've been covering all of it here on TechRadar. Without any further ado, these are seven of the biggest stories published on the site since last week.

7. We gave our verdict on 2025’s final Marvel movie

The Fantastic Four in action (Image credit: Marvel Studios)

It's fair to say that Marvel movies aren't quite the box office smashes they used to be, and the latest film to try and reverse the downward trend is another retelling of the story of The Fantastic Four – so how does the new big screen outing compare to previous fare?

Well, according to our Senior Entertainment Reporter Tom Power, this is the best live-action adaptation of these comics yet. Click through for our full review – with some light spoilers included – to find out why Pedro Pascal and his pals deserve a lot of credit.

• Read more: I watched The Fantastic Four: First Steps, and it heralds a much-needed new dawn for Marvel's First Family on the big screen

6. Nothing launched an impossibly cheap smartwatch

The CMF Watch 3 Pro is stylish, and very affordable (Image credit: Nothing)

Top tech at bargain prices? We're always interested in that combination, and that's what's promised with the new Nothing CMF Watch 3 Pro: you get all the standard fitness tracking features here, plus an AI companion ready to give you some personal coaching advice.

The best part is, it's only going to cost you $99 / £99 / €99 (around AU$205) – significantly less than rival wearables from the likes of Apple, Fitbit, Google, and Garmin. We've got all the details here, including information on the smartwatch's upgraded sensors.

• Read more: Nothing's new $99 CMF Watch 3 Pro could become the cheap smartwatch to beat – here's why

5. Breville’s new coffee machine has a neat (and expensive) trick

The new Breville Oracle Dual Boiler coffee maker (Image credit: Breville)

From a very cheap piece of tech to a very expensive one – though serious coffee lovers might consider the new Breville Oracle Dual Boiler worth a look. We're certainly impressed by its signature move: being able to brew coffee and steam milk at the same time.

Launching first in Australia for AU$4,499 (about $3,000 / £2,200), this is a new big sibling for the Breville Oracle Touch. Bearing in mind the high regard in which we hold that latter model, this new addition definitely has potential, even if you'll need to save up for it.

• Read more: Breville's new espresso machine can brew coffee and steam milk at the same time – and it's eye-wateringly expensive

4. Amazon gave us two new Kindle Colorsofts

A cheaper Colorsoft is now available (Image credit: Amazon)

Amazon launched its first color Kindle last year, and now there are two more Colorsoft models to choose from: First up is a cheaper model of the main Colorsoft, with less storage and without some of the premium features of the original (including wireless charging).

There's also a Colorsoft Kids for the youngsters in your household – and they're probably better off staring at this all day than a phone or tablet. Both the new Kindles are available to buy now, and we've got full lists of the features and prices for the latest models.

• Read more: Amazon adds two new Kindle Colorsofts to its lineup – a cheaper 16GB model and a version for kids

3. DJI revealed release dates for its 360 camera and robovac

We've been given a brief look at the DJI Osmo 360 (Image credit: DJI)

There was official and unofficial DJI news this week: the company confirmed that its first 360-degree camera would be launched on July 31, while a leaked (and swiftly pulled) video review gave us far more details about the upcoming camera than DJI has.

We also got confirmation that the first DJI robot vacuum, the DJI Romo, is going to get its grand unveiling on August 6. In short, it's going to be a busy few weeks for DJI, as it continues to push beyond its core business of drone-making to pick up more fans.

• Read more: DJI reveals Osmo 360 release date – as leaked 15-minute video shows exactly how it compares to the Insta360 X5

2. Google accidentally leaked all four Pixel 10 phones

The Google Pixel 9 (Image credit: Philip Berne / Future)

Google has told us that the Pixel 10 phones are coming on August 20, but it hasn't revealed too many other details about these devices – at least not officially. However, eagle-eyed users spotted a banner showing off all four Pixel 10 models on the Google Play Store.

It seems that Google didn't really intend this promo to go live quite so early (the accompanying text says "now available"), and if you add in all the other leaks we've seen so far, at this rate there's not going to be much left to reveal at the official event.

• Read more: Oh dear... Google just accidentally revealed all four Pixel 10 models

1. The iOS 26 public beta landed for iPhones

Public beta testing has started for iOS 26 (Image credit: Apple / Future)

The public betas for iOS 26 and Apple's other annual software upgrades are now available, which means that anyone can give them a try ahead of the full launch later this year – or at least, anyone who's prepared to put up with a few extra bugs and errors on their devices.

The TechRadar team has already been testing these updates, including iOS 26, and you can read about what we think are the biggest new features to look forward to. If you're tempted into giving it a try, we've also got a guide to installing the iOS 26 public beta.

• Read more: iOS 26 public beta is now live – here are the 5 biggest new features to try

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• Google's next Pixel products have leaked again
• We have images of the devices in a Moonstone color
• The grand unveiling has been set for August 20

Google has already given us a sneak peek at one of the Pixel 10 phones being revealed at the Made by Google launch event on Wednesday, August 20, but we now have leaked images of the whole range of devices that are expected to be unveiled.

Veteran tipster Evan Blass has posted not one but two threads of images on social media, showing off the Google Pixel 10, Pixel 10 Pro, Pixel 10 Pro XL, Pixel 10 Pro Fold, Pixel Watch 4, and Pixel Buds 2a. It's quite the collection.

Most of these images show the devices in a new color that's apparently going to be called Moonstone. It's an attractive-looking bluey-silver type shade, and it's the same one we've previously seen in the official Google teaser for next month's event.

It's a color that Google clearly likes and will be going all-in with when it comes to the new range of Pixel products. However, we also get a couple of shots of some of the Pixel 10 phones in different shades, which have already been leaked.

A design for life

pic.twitter.com/abIAgjpdppJuly 25, 2025

It's definitely interesting to see the upcoming Google devices in this new Moonstone color, but there's not actually that much that's new in this leak: all of these gadgets look very much like the models they're replacing as expected.

It seems likely that we're once again going to get four Pixel phones, to replace the Google Pixel 9 equivalents. Look out for a processor speed boost, some tweaks to the camera setup, and (we're hoping) no price hikes compared to last year.

When it comes to the Google Pixel Watch 4, previous leaks and rumors have pointed to a bigger battery capacity – which is always welcome of course – as well as improvements in how repairable the smartwatch is going to be.

As for the Pixel Buds 2a, we haven't heard very much about these wireless earbuds at all to date – though the original Google Pixel Buds A-Series might give us some idea of what to expect. In a few weeks, all of these gadgets will be made official.

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Review: I took the Motorola Edge and its 3x telephoto camera to a Mets game and could get photos close enough to see the pitcher's facial expressions.

One of my biggest disappointments of the year so far was no new game footage or deep dive on Fable.

About all we’ve heard is that the game has been pushed back to 2026 – costing me a pint due to a lost bet with Hardware Writer Dash Wood. I had, maybe naively, thought that Fable would launch in the second half of the year with the goal of giving Xbox a big exclusive to finish 2025 on a high. But that wasn't to be.

Now I’m ok with delays if it means polishing a game to a fine shine. Starfield was delayed, and while that didn’t help make it a high watermark game for Bethesda, it launched without a load of bugs.

However, I’d been expecting to see Fable in action. While we’ve seen brief clips of what’s been touted as in-game footage in 2023, followed by a trailer with more game action in 2024, and then a short snippet of pre-alpha 'gameplay' about five months ago,

While the little bits of game footage I've seen so far has me optimistic, we’ve not had anything that properly details how the game plays, what new features it could bring to the table, or just a deep dive into a next-generation Fable now that it's under the wing of Playground Games.

Usually, with a game launching in around the next 12 months, we’ll have got a better idea of what to expect; even if it’s just brief snippets in trailers, like I remember was the case with Red Dead Redemption 2.

A fabled past

(Image credit: Microsoft)

I remember way back when in E3 2007 when Fable 2 was some 14 months away from its 2008 release date, then boss of Lionhead Studios and gaming auteur Peter Molyneux did a dive into how the game will work with contextual one-button combat.

Like a good few of Molyneux's promises, I’m not sure this quite came to fruition in the final release.

Of course, Playground Games isn’t Lionhead, and with E3 more dead than ever, we may have gone beyond the era of post-showcase game deep dives.

As the developer of Forza Horizon, perhaps Playground Games prefers flashier, fast trailers that leave some of the actual game mechanics to the imagination and journalist hands-on previews.

Nevertheless, I’m still a bit surprised we didn’t have any fresh Fable information this year so far, beyond the delay and pre-alpha footage.

Awaiting Albion

So when can we expect to see such stuff? I’d hazard a guess that we could get something towards the end of the year, maybe to juice up interest for people to buy Xbox Series X consoles heading into the holidays.

Or we could hear more early-ish next year, with Microsoft looking to kick off the year with some Xbox positivity, perhaps in one of the developer-led games roundups it does.

But then a lot of that depends on when Fable will get launched next year. If it’s towards the end of the year, we may not hear much until the next Xbox Games Showcase in June 2026.

My hope is we get more information sooner than later. As it stands, I don’t feel we’ve seen a particularly strong year for Xbox exclusive titles (such as they are with PC releases too), with Avowed arguably being one of the biggest so far. Last year, Xbox rounded out the year strongly with Indiana Jones and the Great Circle, which despite being available on PS5 felt like an Xbox game gave its day one release on Game Pass.

Microsoft looks set to have some strong titles to propel the second half of the year, with Grounded 2, Gears of War: Reloaded, and Outer Worlds 2. But I’m not convinced any of these will have a big impact; Gears of War is a contender but Reloaded is just a remaster of the first Gears game. So a game footage-heavy Fable trailer or a bit of a deep dive into what we could expect from the game under its new stewardship could be the shot in the arm I feel Xbox might still need this year, especially as there’s no word on The Elder Scrolls 6.

However, I do have a niggling concern: given the upheaval in Microsoft Gaming’s studios and the cancelation of games like the reboot of Perfect Dark – something I was looking forward to – potentially down to development woes, I’m a little concerned that development of Fable could have stalled.

Playground Games has a solid track record, but effectively rebooting Fable for new hardware and to make in compelling in the face of hugely impressive, system-driven RPGs and adventure games like The Legend of Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom, Baldur’s Gate 3 and Elden Ring, while also retaining that sense of humor, style and sandbox elements of traditional Fable games, is likely a huge proposition.

I’d not be surprised if some information trickles out about Fable going through several iterations in its early development that perhaps means it’s not quite ready to be put in the preview limelight.

For what it’s worth, I have faith in the trailers I’ve seen so far and Playground Games’ ability to produce a compelling open-world game that’s also polished to a standard we’ve come to expect from the developer.

But I’ll need to hear something about Fable reasonably soon to ensure that faith remains burning away, rather than smoulder into nothing… along with my passion for Xbox.

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