The best sports cars for the money in 2018 - Roadshow

Driving fun for the 99 percent.

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V35 ThinQ: LG's priciest and most premium phone is here - CNET

With its $900 price tag, the high-end V35 ThinQ flaunts a 6-inch OLED display, water resistance and dual rear cameras.

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Best Netflix series for July 2018 - CNET

Warning: Not safe for productivity.

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What it's like to shop at the Amazon Treasure Truck

In 25 U.S. cities, as well as in the U.K., Amazon runs a promotion called the Treasure Truck. Its a truck that visits multiple locations around a city and sells just one product a day at a discount.

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Golden boots: the extraordinary evolution of football footwear

Sony Xperia XZ3: what we want to see

How to watch the British Championships: live stream athletics online from anywhere

In the midst of the omnipresent football fest unfolding in Russia right now, sports fans would be forgiven for letting the 2018 British Athletics Championships slip their mind. But the all-important track-and-field event is upon us and there's plenty to compete for, so make sure you catch all the action by following one of the free live stream options we've outlined below. 

Upping the stakes in Birmingham this year is the fact that spots in Team GB for the European Championships are up for grabs as well as the national titles themselves, so expect a full-blooded showing from those competing at the Alexander Stadium in Birmingham. 

Among them will be Zharnel Hughes going head-to-head with defending champion Reece Prescod in the men's 100m, while the women's 800m looks particularly intriguing with Shelayna Oskan-Clarke defending her title against in-form Alex Bell, former European champion Lynsey Sharp and British Indoor champion Adelle Tracey.

That's just the tip of the iceberg and you can live stream the key action of the British Athletics Championships for free, wherever you are in the world, via one of the options below.

• See how to stream F1 live and for free from the Austrian Grand Prix

How to live stream the British Athletics Championships in the UK for free

In the UK, the British Athletics Championships will be shown live on BBC Two, the BBC Red Button and BBC Sport online. That means you can watch for free when the coverage kicks of at 2.45pm on Saturday, June 30 (Red Button and online only), and from 1pm on Sunday, July 1 (BBC Two until 5pm, Red Button and online only from 5-6pm). 

Alternatively you can live stream the action via the BBC iPlayer platform or through a third-party online streaming TV service such as TVPlayer.com. This means you can catch the athletics on TV, computer, tablet and smartphone for free if you're in the UK.

Not in the UK this weekend? No worries - just download and install a VPN and use a UK location to watch as if you were back in blighty. Full instructions below.

How to live stream the British Athletics Championships for free anywhere else in the world

If you're outside the UK and try to start streaming the athletics on the BBC, you'll soon discover that it is location restricted. But there's a way you can watch for free anyway. By downloading and installing a VPN, you can effectively trick your computer into thinking that it's in the UK. That way you can enjoy the free coverage without having to pay your local broadcaster or find an illegal stream.

It's really easy to get started with a VPN - here's how to do it:

Main image courtesy of www.britishathletics.org.uk

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The best Prime Day deals: how to get the best Amazon deals in July

Amazon Prime Day deals are coming your way in July and we want to help you find the best deals in what is usually the sales event of the summer.

Thanks to a leak we exclusively uncovered last week, it looks like Amazon Prime Day is probably going to start at midday on July 16th and carry on until midnight the following day on the 17th. That's one hell of a long 'day' Amazon. The date has not been confirmed officially yet but we've got all our money firmly placed on those days.

We love a good deal here at TechRadar and we've been bringing you highlights of the best prices for years now around Prime Day, Black Friday, Cyber Monday, Boxing Day, Memorial Day, bank holiday sales and every day in between too. And yes, we've got you covered for this weekend's 4th of July sales too. So if you want to see the best deals rounded up by seasoned pros instead of seasonal enthusiasts, we'd very much like to see you right here on July 16th.

For now though, take a look at our top tips on how to get the most from the best Amazon Prime Day deals so you can get ready in advance to have a stress free shopping experience on the day. And you don't even have to leave the house. Remember those days, when you had to go out to buy things? What an awful time.

How to get the best Amazon Prime Day deals:

1. Come back to TechRadar.com for the best deals

We'll be pointing you towards the best Amazon Prime Day deals throughout the event here at TechRadar with our dedicated 20-strong team of deal hunters tracking down the best bargains. 

We're looking for deals all year round, not just Prime Day and Black Friday, so we're pretty handy at spotting the genuine bargains over the fake discounts that aren't worth your time. So feel free to bookmark us if you want to stay up to date with the finest deals.

2. Get Amazon Prime membership beforehand

To get the best Prime Day deals from Amazon you'll have to be a member of Amazon Prime. Signing up doesn't take long at all, but considering some of the deals can potentially sell out in minutes, it's a step you really don't want to be doing on the day.

Pro tip? If you've never signed up before, you can actually sign up for a free 30-day trial right now, which will last right through the sale in mid-July. You can enjoy all the membership benefits straight away too like fast delivery and the excellent Prime Video streaming service. We've actually written extensively about the benefits Amazon Prime offers. Here are some links to the free trial in the following countries:  US, UK, Canada, India and Australia.

3. Compare previous prices with CamelCamelCamel

An odd site name for sure, but CamelCamelCamel.com is a fantastic resource for checking just how good a deal is. Simply copy/paste in the Amazon URL on the site of an item you're thinking of buying and you'll see an extensive price history for it on Amazon stretching back over a year. This way you can see if that day's deal is really the best ever price, or how often it gets a similar discount and how likely it is you'll see a similar price in a few months' time.

4. Remember, you don't have to buy it

With so much hype around Prime Day deals it's easy to get swept away by the huge amount of deals and supposed big discounts. So yes, use CamelCamelCamel like we mentioned above, but even if it is the lowest price yet, that doesn't mean it's the right deal for you.

If you've set aside a budget and you know it's important to not overspend, try and stick to your guns. Prime Day is not the final sale of the year, hell it's not even the final sale of the summer, there will be plenty of other fantastic deals and it's our job to find you the best ones all year round in our Deals section. So while that exact TV might not be available at that price again for a while, you can be sure some nigh-on identical ones will be before the kids go back to school.

5. But don't wait too long to buy

The best Lightning Deals on Amazon Prime Day could be gone in matter of minutes, so be sure to check how many have been sold with the information provided on Amazon's site. Deals of the Day will have an expiry date, but some will sell out long before they reach that time. Game consoles and 4K TVs are especially popular on Prime Day, so if you see a price you like on your lunch break, you're risking it being gone by the time you get home from work.

6. Use the desktop version of Amazon if you can

While the Amazon app and mobile sites are pretty reliable most of the time, Prime Day last year saw quite a few buyers struggle to complete purchases with adding items to the basket being as issue.

We're confident Amazon will be better equipped to deal the huge numbers of traffic this year, but all the same, we'd recommend browsing the deals on a laptop or PC if you can as the desktop version of the site might be a bit more stable.

7. Make sure delivery date promises are kept

In the UK many items will be eligible for free next day delivery or two business days in the US and Australia. Now as a Prime member, you're paying for that delivery promise, well unless you're on the free trial, then it's free. 

But if your delivery doesn't turn up on the day it's supposed to, then you need to put in a complaint to Amazon. This has happened to us a small number of times over the years and Amazon is keen to make it right. We've had an extra month added to our Prime membership for free as an apology and even had the whole cost of some cheap items refunded in full without having to return it. Naturally, if you're not home when Amazon try to deliver on the original date that's on you. You'll find a nice orange slip informing you what to do next though.

8. Don't forget about the other retailers

While Amazon will be the main focus of course, last year we saw a wide range of rival retailers cash-in by having a sale of their own too. So it's certainly worth checking to see if they've price-matched Amazon or have maybe gone even lower.

And unlike Amazon Prime Day deals, you won't have to be a 'member' at other stores to get the deals. Or if you have a points-card elsewhere, it might be a good opportunity to bag a decent haul. We'll be keeping an eye on other retailers for you to give you as many options as possible on the day.

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Is the gold Samsung Galaxy S9 less smudgy than the purple S9? - CNET

Six words: french fries, almond butter, hand lotion.

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This black MacBook sat under a couch for 8 years, and it just booted right up - CNET

I found a dust-covered, circa-2007 black polycarbonate MacBook, plugged it in and it came right back to life.

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France vs Argentina live stream: how to watch today's World Cup football online

Here we go. The knock-out stages of the 2018 FIFA World Cup are here and they kick off with a bang, with France and Argentina locking horns in Kazan at Russia 2018.

Despite the wealth of talent in both squads, it hasn't been an easy ride for either side so far in Russia. France laboured through their group and will need the likes of Giroud, Griezmann and Mbappe to up the tempo and increase the threat in the final third if they are to go all the way. Given Argentina's flaky defensive showing so far, it could well be these attacking outlets that prove decisive for the French in this one. 

Argentina's group stage journey was traumatic, including a draw with Iceland, a heavy defeat against Croatia and fall-outs between coach Jorge Sampaoli and the players. But with Messi off the mark and Ever Banega orchestrating a much-improved performance against Nigeria in their triumphant final group match, the Albiceleste may finally have some momentum.

This is one not to be missed, so that's why we're showing you how to live stream France vs Argentina from the 2018 World Cup for free, wherever you are in the world. 

Use a VPN to watch the World Cup 2018 from anywhere for FREE

You don't have to miss a single minute of World Cup soccer - even if the country where you are isn't broadcasting certain games. Because every second of action is being shown somewhere (the UK, for example, is televising every game for free - see below), you can simply use a VPN to login to a region that is broadcasting the game. And it's really easy to do:

How to stream France vs Argentina live in the UK 

How to watch Argentina vs France: US live stream 

How to watch France vs Argentina: Canada live stream 

How to watch France vs Argentina: Australia live stream 

How to watch Argentina vs France: New Zealand live stream 

Exclusive World Cup competition with VyprVPN

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Wolfenstein II: The New Colossus (Nintendo Switch) review

Late last year, developer Panic Button worked wonders by transplanting id Software's hellish FPS DOOM to the Nintendo Switch. Visual downgrades aside, it was an incredibly accurate conversion of relatively recent AAA shooter, and proof that Nintendo's system – despite its relative lack of grunt when compared to Sony and Microsoft's home consoles – was capable of handling visually intense multi-format releases. Unsurprisingly, it established Panic Button as one of the Switch's most exciting developers.

Fast-forward to the present, and publisher Bethesda has once again entrusted Panic Button with porting duties for a second high-profile shooter: MachineGames' Wolfenstein II: The New Colossus. The result is yet another impressive entry on Panic Button's burgeoning CV, even if some of the concessions that have been made render it slightly less appealing than its home console iterations, which launched in October last year.

The New Colossus follows on directly from the events of the 2014 title Wolfenstein: The New Order, which – if you're a seasoned Nintendo veteran – you may not have had the chance to play, as it was only available on Xbox One, PS4 and PC. The New Colossus does a commendable job of summarizing the events of that game in its introduction sequence – it even allows you to relive a distressing (but important) choice which impacts the narrative of the sequel you're about to play – but it's a real shame that Switch owners have to jump into this one totally cold, as you're missing out on vital character development that gave The New Colossus some of its most emotional (and shocking) moments.

Reich here, Reich now

Stepping into the boots of William Joseph 'B.J.' Blazkowicz, you find yourself crippled and wheelchair-bound aboard the stolen Nazi U-boat Eva's Hammer. You've been in a coma for months following the catastrophic conclusion of The New Order, but your respite is cruelly cut short by an attack by the unhinged Frau Engel, a key protagonist from the first game who has good reason to want your head on a stick. 

It's a brave move to place the player in the role of a character who has limited movement from the off, but it sets into motion a breakneck pace that doesn't let up, even as you hijack Nazi flying fortresses, plan a revolution in the ruins of Manhattan and stalk through the slums of New Orleans.

The storyline veers from utterly shocking to hilariously silly in the blink of an eye, but it's a mix that somehow holds together – thanks in no small part to some excellent scripting and stellar voice acting, especially on the part of the gruff-voiced Brian Bloom, who turns the previously one-dimensional Blazkowicz (lest we forget, his tour of duty began way back on 1992 in Wolfenstein 3D) into a relatable hero. It's also impossible to deny the satisfaction one can gain from taking down hordes of nasty Nazis, and the game never shirks from giving you an opportunity to enact revenge on members of the hated Reich.

Speak softly and carry a big stick

While your path through the carnage is largely a linear one, the environments are usually big and maze-like enough to encourage you to consider a different strategy to the tried-and-tested 'all guns blazing' approach. Nazi officers will signal for help when alerted to your presence, which means that silent takedown kills – executed by pushing the 'R' stick down when in range of an enemy – are preferable, especially when you're low on health and ammo.

Of course, there are moments when stealth simply isn't an option, and it's here that the game's superbly-crafted gun-play becomes apparent. All of the weapons – from the smallest pistol to the largest laser-spewing rifle – have a lovely heft to them, and projectile-filled battles with streams of Nazi soldiers – all of who will try to use cover intelligently and outflank you – are never anything less than thrilling. The opportunity to dual-wield certain weapons adds to your destructive power.

DOOM on Switch was vastly improved by the addition of motion controls, and thankfully The New Colossus is blessed with these from the very start. Nintendo fans who lived through the Wii U era will already know what a difference motion-aided aiming can make; it almost feels like having a third analog stick with which you can fine-tune your shots. We honestly don't know if we can go back to standard single-stick aiming after playing this; it's that good.

AAA gaming on the go

What's truly remarkable about Panic Room's Switch port is that despite a blindly obvious downgrade in visual fidelity, the action is faithful to that seen in the other versions of the game. The developer has wisely decided to sacrifice detail for responsiveness and speed, and as a result The New Colossus on Switch runs at around 30fps at all times. Lighting effects and motion blur help mask the much-reduced pixel count, and it would seem that Panic Room has employed dynamic resolution scaling to help Nintendo's console cope with packed scenes.

During slower moments, though, the cutbacks are plain to see – textures are muddy and everything lacks detail thanks to the lower resolution. In both docked and handheld mode, it often seems like you're playing The New Colossus through a thick film of vaseline, and if you've played the game elsewhere then the downgrade might be off-putting.

On the plus side, the Switch's 720p screen does a good job of hiding these shortcomings, and being able to play such a recent AAA console game on the move is nothing short of a miracle; the main thing is that Panic Button has transferred the essence of what makes The New Colossus great to Switch successfully.

There's sadly no multiplayer to speak of (there wasn't any in the original release, either) which means that once the end credits have rolled there's little reason to return, unless you fancy taking on one of the harder difficulty levels.

Verdict: Play it now

Wolfenstein II: The New Colossus is an incredible ride while it lasts, and proof positive that Nintendo's hybrid console is more than capable of hosting faithful ports of big-name third-party releases – even if some of the visual spectacle has to be dialed back in the process.

The concessions made by developer Panic Button make sense in the grand scheme of things, and being able to blast away Nazis in portable mode is something of a game-changer – even if you've already experienced this adventure on PS4 or Xbox One.

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More details leak out about Microsoft's new "pocketable" Surface

Just what is Microsoft planning next for its Surface line of hardware? We've had numerous hints in recent weeks and months that a Surface Phone or something like it might be on the cards, and now a leaked email is pointing to a "pocketable" Surface device that's been two years in the works.

In an internal email obtained by The Verge, the device is described as part of the Andromeda project – Microsoft's plan to roll out different versions of WIndows suited to different devices. Including, maybe, a phone.

But it sounds like this new Surface device isn't exactly like a conventional smartphone. It's intended to create a "new and disruptive" device category, as per the leaked email, and will combine "innovative new hardware and software experiences to create a truly personal and versatile computing experience".

Phone meets computer

In other words, it's sounds very much like a phone-laptop hybrid in the same way that the Surface Pro is a tablet-laptop hybrid: not a direct iPhone or Pixel competitor but something that gets close to the full Windows 10 experience on a smaller screen while also letting you make phone calls too.

As for what it'll look like, the concepts made by designer David Breyer (one of which you can see at the top of this page) are rumored to be pretty on the mark. As well as being pocketable, it's also going to be foldable – something Microsoft has been thinking about for a long, long time.

We've also heard speculation that the imminent Snapdragon 1000 chipset is going to be powering everything, and that the device will support stylus input like the Galaxy Note. The newly leaked email doesn't add to many pieces to the puzzle, unfortunately, but Microsoft's next Surface device is slowly coming into view.

• These are the very best smartphones you can buy in 2018

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Here’s how Walkie-Talkie mode works on your Apple Watch

When smartwatches became a thing, everyone kept talking about how it was bringing the ‘Dick Tracy’ capability of talking to your wrist - but that didn’t actually materialize.

With the launch of the Walkie-Talkie app within watchOS 5 though, Apple brought a childhood dream of many to life: being able to chat with a buddy just by talking on the wrist.

There was a key question we were left with though: how hard will it actually be to use? How will you stop being interrupted all day long?

The Walkie-Talkie is pretty simple: you’ll get a list of of cards, with all the Apple Watch owners you’ve spoke to recently at the top (or the option to add more with a tap of the ‘plus’ icon underneath). 

Above the cards is the ‘Available’ slider - tap this to the off position and people won’t be able to contact you at all (the same if you’ve got the Do Not Disturb option turned on too).

Tapping the person you want to chat to will move you to a screen packing the yellow circle emblazoned with ‘Talk’ - and you’ll know what to do then.

At this point, the other big question hovered into view: would owning an Apple Watch suddenly mean anyone you knew with a similar device could start shouting out of your wrist?

After all, at the advent of the Apple Watch who didn’t endure a number of rude digital sketches being sent to their wrist from their supposed friends?

The good news for those that work in sensitive offices is that you’ll need to accept the conversation. The person beginning the chat will press Talk, and speak into their Watch - and on the other end, the intended subject will hear a couple of beeps and feel a haptic buzz.

If they want to chat, a tap will play the message. Covering the Watch with your hand will stop the message from blaring out loud - but otherwise you’re going to hear the vocal missive from your pal.

While the first message hangs in the ether until it’s played, from then on the chat is the true walkie-talkie experience you’d be looking for: instantaneous chats from wrist to wrist in pretty high-quality audio. Saying ‘over’ at the end of each statement is optional.

Wrist chatter

The chats are either sent over Wi-Fi, cellular data (if you’ve got an LTE-enabled Watch) or if you’re connected to your phone, you’ll piggyback on the phone’s connection to get the chats to your Watch.

Once finished, the connection will hang open for around five to six minutes, at which point it’ll terminate. It seems there’s no way to end it manually though, so if you’re chatting away and your boss walks in you’ll need to quickly set yourself to ‘unavailable’ or snap on the Do Not Disturb option, lest she or he hear your chum waxing lyrical their latest trip to the bathroom.

Is it worth the price of a new Apple Watch to just have the chance to chat aimlessly to a friend, when you can just, you know, phone them? Well, such is the nostalgic thrill… kind of.

• Here’s what watchOS 5 tells us about the Apple Watch 4

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How to watch the Austrian Grand Prix online: stream F1 live for free from anywhere

So whose weekend is this one going to be? The F1 drivers' championship keeps swinging between Lewis Hamilton and Sebastian Vettel, with Hamilton's win in France last week giving him the edge...for now. You can stream F1 live with this guide to see how things progress at the Austrian Grand Prix.

So it's all starting to look a bit like a two-horse race, with Hamilton and Vettel looking like they'll be going head-to-head at the top of the Drivers' World Championship. But Hamilton had the best of it in Friday's practice sessions, leading his Mercedes teammate Valtteri Bottas in second in both the morning and afternoon. Bottas, incidentally, won at Austria's Red Bull Ring last year and will be hungry to make it two in a row this year to make up some ground on Hamilton and Vettel.

Watching the Austrian Grand Prix from the comfort of your own TV is thankfully really straightforward, and on pretty much any device. And the best thing about it...you can do so absolutely free of charge, regardless of where on earth you are! Read on to find out how to stream F1 live.

• Discover how to live stream the FIFA World Cup 2018 for FREE

How to watch the Austrian Grand Prix for free anywhere in the world

If you don't have easy access to watch the Austrian Grand Prix online in your country, the best way to watch it for free is to download and install a VPN service, which effectively tricks your computer into thinking that it's in another country. It's really easy to do, and works for loads of sporting events where live streams may not be readily available where you are:

How to stream F1 live in the UK for free:

How to watch Austrian Grand Prix in the US for free:

How to stream the Austrian Grand Prix in Australia

Photos courtesy of Formula1.com

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Galaxy S9 vs. Pixel 2: Which Android phone is best? - CNET

We compared two Android heavyweights to see which phone comes out on top.

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The 787 planning to intercept the 'Einstein eclipse'

Fallout 76 won't have cross-platform multiplayer because of Sony, says director - CNET

Sony is the only roadblock to cross-play, and the pressure is mounting.

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NASA announces first test flights for a quieter sonic boom - CNET

The space agency says get ready for a "sonic thump."

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Ant-Man and The Wasp: Release date, cast, plot and reviews - CNET

Get all the buzz about the next Marvel superhero movie, which helps move events toward the hush-hush Avengers 4.

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Instagram Giveaway: Enter to win* a hoverboard! - Roadshow

Roadshow and Halo Board are teaming to give one of our Instagram followers a hoverboard. This online sweepstakes ends July 1, 2018, and it's valid in the US, Canada and Puerto Rico.

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What's new on Amazon Prime for July 2018 - CNET

Amazon picks up the futuristic sci-fi romance movie, Zoe, starring Léa Seydoux and Ewan McGregor. Oh, and there are other titles, too. Amazon didn't just add one movie. That'd be silly.

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8-legged case claims to smash-proof iPhones - CNET

But don't throw your phone just to see if the legs pop out.

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Capital Gazette shooter ID'd by facial recognition, but tech has its critics - CNET

Police praised the technology. But some say it presents several issues, including inaccuracies and the potential for mass surveillance.

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500px photo site abandons freely shareable images with commercialization push - CNET

New management, new priorities: Bye-bye Creative Commons licensing.

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2018 iPhones might use LG's OLED displays, and you can download iOS 12 beta right now - CNET

Plus, a new trick with Amazon Alexa. We've got your iPhone news this week.

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Watch this live bear cam now, because you need something good in the world - CNET

Technology, meet nature.

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Apple hopes its Maps do-over gets you where you need to go - CNET

But first it needs you to give its homegrown mapping app another shot.

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Nvidia GeForce GTX 1180's release date may have just leaked - CNET

We're eager to see if Nvidia's CEO winds up eating his words.

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Good luck finding the phone, TV or console of your dreams - CNET

Parts the size of a grain of rice are in critically short supply.

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Hulu's July 2018 lineup: Stephen King and J.J. Abrams team up on Castle Rock - CNET

We've got a brand-new series by two very high-profile names. Will it be any good? We'll find out soon.

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Feds charge man with threatening to kill FCC Chairman Ajit Pai's family - CNET

He allegedly told authorities he was upset about the repeal of net neutrality.

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Comcast confirms major Xfinity outage nationwide - CNET

For a minute there, it looked like the whole internet was down.

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Tesla requiring $2,500 for Model 3 orders is nothing new - Roadshow

The automaker required the same for Model S and Model X orders, too.

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Your Samsung Galaxy phone may power two screens at once, with DeX dock - CNET

Also, the Galaxy Tab S4 is rumored to get DeX support.

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Nintendo's enjoying a renaissance. Meet the man helping to keep it that way - CNET

Shinya Takahashi, Nintendo's planning and development head, spills secrets about why the company's pumping out so many good games lately.

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Big Dick Energy, thy name is Waluigi - CNET

Commentary: He who sparks a revolution without saying a word has BDE.

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Two Earth-like exoplanets now even better spots to look for life - CNET

Two of the earliest Earth-ish exoplanet finds are now more exciting targets in the search for habitable worlds beyond this rock.

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Subscription-only Volvo S60 Polestar Engineered sells out in under an hour - Roadshow

Not bad, considering its hefty monthly price tag.

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Rihanna and 'Ninja' among Time's most influential people on the Internet - CNET

Just admit it. We all love Rihanna. Kanye West and Naomi Watanabe also make the list of people dominating the internet.

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Is it worth $129 to relive your NES Duck Hunt glory days? - CNET

Finally, that dusty old Zapper has a purpose again.

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Is Your Mobile Browser Slower Than Usual? It May Be Mining Bitcoin For Criminals

Depending on the severity of the attack, victims may notice only a slight drop in processing power, often not enough for them to think it's a hacking attack.

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Segway Goes Back to The Future, Launches E-Skates

Maker of personal transportation Segway, probably most famous for its two-wheelers with self-balancing capabilities, has set its sights on bringing back roller skates but with a high-tech twist.

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The Rock Has Launched New 'UA Project Rock' Wireless Sweat-proof Headphones

These are the first headphones under The Rock's partnership with Under Armour.

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Makers of LiveMe Launch Fluxr in India, Announce Partnership With PUBG Mobile

Fluxr has also announced its partnership with Tencent’s PUBG Mobile to kick-start its broadcaster and eSports recruitment campaign at the VidCon annual gaming event.

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Muggle Scientists Develop Harry Potter-like Invisibility Cloak

The new device, developed by researchers from the US-based 'The Optical Society', a scientific society dedicated to advancing the study of light, is known as spectral invisibility cloak.

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Sushma Swaraj's mPassport Seva App a Hit: Gets 1 Million Plus Downloads in 2 Days

The new app by the Government of India has proved to be a hit for smartphone users.

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International Smartphone Brand Mobiistar Enters Indian Markets with Star Selfie Series

What if features, brand and affordability wrap themselves in the same package?

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Google Home, Chromecast Outage Hits Millions of Users Worldwide

The outage affected Google Home and Google Home Mini speakers that respond to voice commands, as well as Chromecast -- a device that plugs into a television and allows users to watch video content.

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Twitter Ads Transparency Centre Lets Users View Who Bought Its Ads

The new transparency tools will let users search for and see who is buying ads, with even more detail on US federal political campaign ads that includes billing information, ad spend, impression data per tweet as well as demographic targeting data.

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Koinex Launches Loop, a Peer-to-Peer Token Transaction Network

All current users of the exchange will automatically be able to access the Peer-to-Peer transaction network and will be able to participate directly.

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Xiaomi's Pricing at Bottom of Range in Hong Kong IPO, Raises $4.72 Billion

The pricing comes at a delicate time for Hong Kong's stock market, with the benchmark Hang Seng index falling 6.5 percent this month and 4.8 percent this year amid escalating trade tension between the U.S. and Chinese governments.

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End of The Road For 'ASIMO' Japan's Most Famous Robot?

It has played football with former US president Barack Obama and danced for German leader Angela Merkel, but Honda's ASIMO robot may have reached the end of the line.

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Google Assistant Will Soon be Able to Make Phone Calls

Duplex technology allows Google Assistant to make phone calls autonomously on behalf of a user to achieve specific tasks like booking a restaurant or making an appointment in a hair salon.

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OnePlus Announces Updated Software Maintenance Schedule With 2 Years of Security Updates, 3 Years of Android Updates

OnePlus 3 and OnePlus 3T will receive regular OTA updates till November 2018 along with a year of extended security patches.

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Samsung Galaxy Note 9 Has Been Reviewed Before Its Launch And Here is How it Will be

A Russian blogger has already reviewed the Galaxy Note 9 and here is what he thinks.

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California, Home of Silicon Valley, Ramps up Online Privacy Law

The law gives people a right to "say no" to the sale of their personal information and calls for them to be treated the same as anyone else online if they opt to restrict the use of their data.

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Xbox Two: what we want to see out of a new Xbox

For the past few years, the next Xbox was nothing more than a fanboy's dream. We had hoped Microsoft was working on something new, even suspected that might be the case, but until recently, we weren't sure.

Now we can confidently say that not only is Xbox Two (a.k.a. Xbox Scarlett) now in development, but it's closer than it's ever been to being unveiled.

The official story starts just a few months ago when Xbox Chief Phil Spencer told the thousands of attendees at E3 2018 that the console - or, rather, series of consoles is in development: "Our hardware team is deep into developing the next generation of Xbox consoles, where we will once again deliver on our commitment to set the benchmark for console gaming." 

Since Spencer's announcement details have slowly bubbled up all around the net on the purported system. First we got a codename - Xbox Scarlett - and now we've heard rumblings of the first games to be designed for the next-gen Xbox: The Elder Scrolls 6, Cyberpunk 2077 and Halo Infinite. If these all manage to launch on the console when it releases somewhere around 2020 or 2021, it could be enough to put Microsoft back on top of the gaming world.

While it'd be nice to have a new console ready for E3 2019, work hasn’t gone so far that we can expect to see the console any sooner than 2019. According to  Windows Central’s Jez Corden, 2 years would be too soon to expect the new console but it would likely still be backwards compatible with the rest of the Xbox family. 

Interestingly, 2019 to 2020 is around the time that analysts are predicting Sony will launch the PlayStation 5. 

If  you ask us, we think it's unlikely that Microsoft would let Sony launch a brand new console without answering with its own within a year, but we don't think the company would try to beat Sony to the post given Microsoft’s first foray into true 4K gaming hasn't even been on store shelves even a year yet.

That said, however, that's not going to stop us from thinking ahead to the next Xbox and what it’ll bring - corroborated by information scoured from across the web.

Xbox Two news and rumors

It will house some impressive tech

A new job listing suggests that Microsoft is hard at work on the next Xbox. The company is looking for a senior electrical engineer to "come be a part of what's next" in Xbox hardware. 

Xbox is seeking for an engineer to “lead the DRAM solutions for the Xbox console hardware development team" adding that the “DRAM solutions include DDR3, GDDR5, GDDR6 and future DRAM technologies."

This person will be working on "currently shipping and future Xbox design projects." It was already suggested by Jez Corden in 2017 that the next Xbox is being designed and this gives greater credence to that.

Andrew House talks the next generation

Former PlayStation chief, Andrew House, has been talking about the future of consoles at GamesBeat Summit in California recently. Though House wasn't willing to go into specifics on the next PlayStation itself, he did say that he thinks physical media will be around for all consoles for some time to come, thanks to the need to continue breaking into new markets. One would assume this is something that would also be relevant to any future Xbox console. 

In his interview, House said, "I don’t have any firm knowledge on this, but my sense is that you will see the disc around in the industry for a while. If you’re going to tap into some of these [developing] markets, then allowing for that more traditional physical purchase model as an option is probably no bad thing."

Despite this, though, House also believes that streaming will be big in the future of gaming – an opinion which ties neatly with Microsoft's Phil Spencer's who emphasised the need for a 'Netflix for video games.' This would be, one would imagine, a natural extension of the download-based Xbox Game Pass in the next generation.

What will the new Xbox be called?

The hardest part of this future-gazing is actually trying to guess what the console might be called, given the naming progression that’s come before. Microsoft isn't going to abandon the Xbox brand anytime soon, surely, but the subtitle is a little harder to pin down. 

If it’s a brand new console generation it’d make sense to call it Xbox Two, but Xbox 720 made a retrospectively perplexing amount of sense at one point so let’s not be too confident in that. 

If we're going to really get our tinfoil hats on, looking at the naming progression we can see the latest console is the Xbox One X. If X were to be read as ten, the next console would be the Xbox One II or Xbox II (2). Okay, we're just kidding. Regardless,Microsoft is a hard company to predict when it comes to console naming. 

What will it the new Xbox be capable of?

What’s slightly easier is predicting the features that are likely to appear in this new Xbox. 

The Xbox One X is a huge step forward for Microsoft, bringing native 4K gaming and near-PC power into a console. It's currently the most powerful console on the market so where can Microsoft go from here?

We can only imagine. So that’s exactly what we’re going to do; join us won’t you?

A powerful console focused on games

We like to think Microsoft has learned a lot of lessons from the difficult launch of the Xbox One. The Xbox One didn’t have the advantage of being the only HD console option on the market like the Xbox 360 did, and additionally its launch ended up being marred by a Kinect bundle that pushed its price way higher than it should have been.

As a result, the PlayStation 4 took (and has maintained) a commanding lead in terms of market share. 

Microsoft has definitely addressed a  lot of these issues with the Xbox One X. It's  a piece of hardware that's almost entirely focused on games, and it's not bundled with any superfluous hardware. In fact, Microsoft's gone so far as to drop the Kinect port entirely. We imagine this focus will continue into the future. 

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Budget and premium options

With the One S and the One X Microsoft is embracing both an iterative and a tiered model. The company is not only launching incrementally better pieces of hardware over time, but it's also supporting previous versions of the console and allowing them to exist as budget options.

As a case in point, the One X is still expensive (much more so than the PS4 Pro), but the Xbox One S is still being presented as a worthy and attractively priced 4K upscaling alternative that will still be capable of playing all the same games, not just from this generation but the previous generation too.

However, after each console has had its chance at being the budget model, they've each fallen away into obscurity. We've already seen this with the original Xbox One, and it's likely that the Xbox Two will eventually have the same effect on the Xbox One S.

We imagine Microsoft may want a certain degree of market saturation for the Xbox One X (or at the very least 4K TVs) before launching the Xbox Two but when the console does launch it’s less likely to feel like the same leap that moving from Xbox 360 to Xbox One did. 

Trial and error, rather than a jump into the unknown

In some senses we feel that it’s reasonable to assume we’ll be slowly drip-fed a lot of the technology that will end up in the Xbox Two. 

This has the big advantage of allowing Microsoft to establish what works and what doesn't work over time rather than having to take a big leap of faith with a brand new piece of hardware. 

VR and AR support is likely

We've learned that certain things are unimportant for consoles this generation, like motion-sensing and touch-screen, but the new technologies like VR and AR are proving to be very exciting fields for developers.

Microsoft has already confirmed that the Xbox One X will support Windows 10 virtual and mixed reality headsets but it’s not being forceful with pushing them. They were notably absent from the console’s presentation at E3 2017 and we still have plenty of questions.

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If PlayStation VR continues to grow in strength we expect Microsoft will be more clear about the Xbox One X’s stance on these headsets and much more active about developing the technology for its successor. Xbox Two could very well be the HoloLens console. If the technology flops, Microsoft can easily phase it out from its next generation plans like the Kinect but much more neatly and less to the detriment of initial sales.

Meanwhile, if the Xbox One X’s 4K visuals fail to make the console appeal as much as Microsoft hopes they will, we don’t doubt they’ll still be a feature of the Xbox Two, but they may be less of a focus in the overall marketing. 

The latest and greatest audio visual technology

Recently Microsoft has been really keen on integrating the latest audio visual technologies into its consoles - Dolby Atmos support, 4K and HDR are all here. This is something we can see continuing into the next generation. 

It’s clear Microsoft wants gaming on Xbox to be a full sensory experience and it’s possible that the next console will include some kind of projection system similar to Project Ariana that Razer showcased at CES 2017 whereby gaming environments were extended beyond the screen and into the player’s room. With something like this, Xbox Two has the potential to be an immersive gaming machine and we already know technology of a similar ilk was being considered in the Illumiroom project from back in 2013.

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An increasingly cross-platform ecosystem

In the way that Nintendo is bridging the gap between its handheld and home console divisions with the Switch, we can see Microsoft moving its PC and console users closer as we move onto the Xbox Two. 

Cross-platform play, accounts and digital purchases are being encouraged in the Windows 10 and Xbox stores and this is something we can see Microsoft continuing to push into the new generation, particularly if it’s going to continue to manufacture consoles that boast near-PC specs. 

Learnings from the PC

It’s likely that the new Xbox will likely have more of a Steam-esque interface that puts games first and doesn't confuse the customer. A system with a more indie- and mod-friendly focus is also important (we’re already seeing this with Indie@Xbox), and if the console consumer base doesn't jibe with mid-lifecycle console upgrades, perhaps a more PC piecemeal approach with more swappable parts will be in order. 

When will the next Xbox be released?

So we can agree we’re almost certainly going to get another console but will we have to wait eight years like we did between the previous generation and this one? It might end up that way, actually, but thanks to iteration it certainly won’t feel like it.

Though it won’t come as soon as two years from now, we think it’d be reasonable to expect the Xbox Two in three years, perhaps releasing in 2021. This would be eight years after the release of the original Xbox One and a good time, perhaps, to move onto the new generation. It'd also be around the time, or one year after, analysts are expecting Sony to release the PlayStation 5.

With the steady and considered steps Microsoft is making and the way the company seems to be listening to feedback from its users more than ever, we anticipate that the Xbox Two could be its most considered launch yet. In the meantime, a lot hinges on the Xbox One X.

• We've also done some speculating about the future of the PlayStation, check out everything we want to see from the PlayStation 5. 

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Moss and more VR games are free right now for new Viveport subscribers

Facebook patent would have your TV tell your phone to secretly record you

Apple Maps is still terrible, but Apple is doing something about it

Apple Maps doesn’t exactly have a sparkling history, and even Apple has admitted that it was embarrassed by its launch back in 2012. Thankfully,  the company is completely rebuilding Apple Maps from the ground up.

Starting in the iOS 12 beta and starting with Cupertino, this reinvention of Apple Maps isn’t just going to be from Apple updating the existing app with new city records and third-party map data – Apple has invested in its own mapping tech to rival Google Maps, according to TechCrunch.

Apple’s fleet of advanced mapping vans, similar to Google Street View cars that gather data and photos at a street level, is finally going to put its data to use this year. The new Apple vans are strapped with LiDAR arrays and eight overlapping cameras along with the standard measuring tools. 

The most interesting map-curation tool at Apple’s disposal, however, is your iPhone. Apple already gathers location data from iPhones, but it will be doing this even more from here on out in an effort to change the map real-time. 

It doesn’t end at the iPhone and street level, either. Apple has deployed satellites to gather even more data and satellite imagery. It will then be cross-referenced with the street level data so that the maps are as accurate as possible.

Mapping out the future 

For the longest time, Google has reigned supreme when it came to Google Maps, but now Apple wants a shot at giving it some serious competition.  Apple Senior Vice President of Internet Software and Services Eddie Cue even goes as far as to say he hopes Apple will have “the best map app in the world”.

This means you can expect more consistent Apple Maps updates outside of year-to-year iOS refreshes. Apple says it will use location data to “change the map real-time and often”, which means you should be notified to sudden changes to your route. 

If Apple is able to build an infrastructure that uses this its own van and iPhone data to create a constantly updated map, the third-party Google Maps might not be everyone’s default app choice anymore when they’re looking for directions.

For anyone worried about their data anonymity, Apple says you don’t need to worry – the company promises it will collect data from its users in a privacy-first manner in order to update map data on the fly with new street and heavy traffic changes. It will only collect data in bits and pieces and never know a person traveled from point A to point B. 

The new Apple Maps will launch in San Francisco and the Bay Area in a future iOS 12 beta update and should cover Northern California around the time we expect an iPhone XI and iPhone 9.  

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The best Xbox One games 2018: 25 must-play titles

Even though the Xbox One is approaching its fifth birthday (which makes it positively geriatric in console years) we think it's just reaching its peak. With a strong library of games and services to offer and lots more exciting new games in the pipeline, we think the Xbox One family of consoles has a lot of life in it yet. 

Although the Xbox One receives criticism for its first-party lineup, it does have some unmissable genre-defining exclusives which include the Forza, Halo, Gears of War and Sea of Thieves series. And with the 4K capabilities of the Xbox One X, these games are looking better than ever. 

As well as AAA releases, Xbox One is also a great place to find high-quality indie games thanks to its ID @ Xbox program which has made titles like Ori and the Blind Forest and Cuphead absolutely essential plays for this generation. 

Thanks to Microsoft's commitment to backwards compatibility, it doesn't matter whether you're using the Xbox One S or the 4K powerhouse that is the Xbox One X, there's going to be something on this list of the best Xbox One games that will suit you. 

Read on to see which games make the Xbox One shine. And keep checking back – we're updating this list all the time. 

• Got the shiny new 4K console? These are the best Xbox One X games
• Make the most of your console with the best Xbox One accessories
• On the PlayStation platform? Check our our picks of the best PS4 games
• Looking to Switch it up? These are the best games on Nintendo Switch

 Check out the video below to see more on the Xbox One X 

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Making the old feel new again

After a year away, Assassin's Creed is back and it's bigger and better than ever. In Assassin's Creed Origins you go back to ancient Egypt, before the brotherhood and before the Templars, where you play as the original assassin Bayek. 

Assassin's Creed is a series that was growing increasingly stale but with Origins the formula has been refreshed with new RPG mechanics, story-driven side quests and a far more free-flowing combat system.

Whether you're new to the series or a fatiguing fan, Assassin's Creed Origins is absolutely worth playing as it's the strongest installment we've seen in years.

Read our full review of the game and our tips and tricks guide. 

A refreshing jump back in time

In the latest Battlefield game, DICE takes players back in time to World War One and by doing so completely rejuvenates the once stagnating franchise. 

The game offers a poignant and entertaining single-player campaign that sets a new standard for first-person shooter. Broken into six sections, each following a different character and front line location, the campaign never feels dull or repetitive –and  even feeds neatly into Battlefield 1's multiplayer mode which, while familiar, also benefits from the much-needed breath of life that the change in setting gives. 

Graphically impressive, entertaining, and sometimes touching, Battlefield 1 is a return to form for the series. 

Remastered Thrillride

Xbox is home to a number of great driving titles already but Burnout Paradise Remastered is the latest to hit the road. First released in 2008, Paradise wasn't quite as appreciated as it should have been.

Sure, it was different to the rest of the Burnout series but it's a prime example of how to do an open world driving game right and we're happy to see it returned and remastered. The visuals aren't massively different and that's a real shame but you do get that 4K resolution and buttery smooth frame rate of the latest generation.  Plus a lot of DLC.

Beautiful and frustrating in equal measure

After a long development and lots of anticipation, Xbox indie exclusive Cuphead has finally been released. Was it worth the wait? It certainly was. Cuphead is a run-and-gun platformer with stationary boss fight levels thrown in. 

With visuals and a soundtrack inspired by 1930s animation but gameplay inspired by the platformers of the 80s this game has had us torn since we first tried it at Gamescom. It's lovely to look at but its gameplay is challenging and you're going to find yourself frustrated and dying a lot.

We enjoyed Cuphead so much we named it Best Xbox Exclusive in our 2017 Game of the Year Awards. 

Still, it's an indie experience that shouldn't be missed and you'll only find it on Xbox and PC.

Master the remaster

Dark Souls is an iconic series in the gaming world and with this remaster you have the chance to go back to where it all started in 2011, but with improved visual fidelity and performance. All the better to see those horrific and punishing enemies. 

This is the same original game with all of its DLC but that's no bad thing. Dark Souls is a fantastic, must-play title and it's great to see it on the latest generation of consoles. Not just because the framerate bump to 60 fps makes it a much smoother and more exhilarating gameplay experience. 

A smart, stealthy, steampunk adventure

Following the surprise 2012 hit Dishonored wasn't going to be an easy task, but Dishonored 2 has more than lived up to its expectations. 

Picking up 15 years after the events of the original, Dishonored 2 takes players back to the Victorian Steampunk city of Dunwall. This time, though, you have the choice of whether or not you want to play as the original title's protagonist Corvo, or his equally-skilled protegee Emily. 

Dishonored 2 doesn't differ wildly from the first game, but there was nothing wrong with Dishonored in the first place. What we get is a vastly improved and close to perfected take on it. 

Anyone who likes their games filled with atmosphere, character, and a bit of wit and intelligence will find Dishonored 2 worth picking up. 

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A retro-slash-modern romp through the underworld

DOOM is very, very good. Not in a “wow, that’s good for a remake” kind of way, either. It’s genuinely a great shooter – so much so that we gave it a Game of the Year award in 2016. While Overwatch reinventing the wheel for first-person shooting games, DOOM impresses us by bringing us back to the time where dial-up internet was the only way to access AOL email: DOOM is, in so many ways, an excellent evolution of what the series was 20 years ago. It’s brutal. It’s bloody. It has devilish, frightening creatures that bleed when you slice them in half with a chainsaw. It’s the experience we wanted two decades ago but couldn’t articulate it because of the limitations of technology.

"Our weapons are fear, surprise, ruthless efficiency and gigantic sidequests."

Inquisition is the proverbial RPG banquet - a 200-hour array of quests, magic-infused scraps, postcard landscapes and well-written character interactions that's perhaps a bit too familiar, at times, but makes up for it with sheer generosity.

It puts you in charge not just of a four-man party of adventurers but also a private army with its own castle and attendant strategic meta-game, tasked with defeating a mysterious demon menace.

The choice of Unreal Engine makes for vast open environments and sexily SFX-laden combat – fortunately, you can pause the latter to issue orders if the onslaught becomes overwhelming. It's a genre giant.

The homecoming we've waited seven years for

All things considered, this is one of the best games Bethesda has made. It ticks all the boxes: a massive, detail-oriented open-world; still-fantastic tenets of looting and shooting; a story filled with intriguing side quests and subplots that feel like they matter; and of course a classic soundtrack that brings it all to life. 

In many ways it's the game we've been waiting for since Fallout 3 steered the series away from its top-down role-playing roots. Not only is the world itself wider, but the plot is better, and more digestible, than any of the games before it. There's still a sense of mystery about what's happening but you no longer have to dig forever and a day through terminals to piece it together.

Welcome home, stranger.

Still the best football sim money can buy

FIFA is, for many console owners, a highly anticipated annual event. The latest and arguably greatest installment in the football sim series has arrived in the form of FIFA 18. 

Whether you're looking to play against others online, build up a management career on your own or play a cinematic story mode that'll give you an insight into the dramatic life of a premier league footballer, FIFA has a game mode just for you. 

The best thing is, there's always more than enough to throw yourself into and agonize over until the next game rolls around with further incremental improvements that'll convince you to upgrade. 

You can read our full review of FIFA 18 right here and make sure you're the best on the pitch using our tips and tricks guide.

Huge, exotic and amazing to behold: Australia is a petrol-head's dream

While the original Forza titles were about pristine driving skills around perfectly kept tracks, the Horizon series has a penchant for trading paint and isn't afraid to have you get down and dirty with off-road races from time to time. 

While the first two entries in Turn 10's spin-off franchise surprised and delighted, Forza Horizon 3 is the unabashed pinnacle of the series, and stands amid some of the greatest racing games ever made. Good news for Xbox One X owners – Forza Horizon 3 now has its 4K and HDR patch. 

The Gears keep on turning for this excellent third-person shooter franchise

Despite a new platform, a new development team and a new-ish set of muscled heroes on its box art, Gears of War 4 isn't some grand reimagining of the series that helped Xbox 360 go supernova back in 2006. But then again, such a revelation shouldn't come as a shock – this is the cover shooter that made cover shooters a fad-filled genre all unto itself, so messing too drastically with that special sauce was never a viable option.

Instead, the Xbox One and Xbox One S get the Gears of War template we all know and love with a few extra features gently stirred into the pot. For a start, the jump to current-gen tech has made all the difference to The Coalition's first full-fat Gears title. Spend a little time in the previously remastered Gears of War: Ultimate Edition and you'll see how small and confined those original level designs were, even with a graphical upgrade to make it feel relevant again. 

It's more than just graphics, though. It's the return to form for the franchise; the focus on what makes a Gears game so great, that really won us over. 

There's no fear and loathing in Los Santos – just explosive entertainment

Yes, including one of last generation's greatest games among this generation's finest is rather boring, but GTA V on Xbox One is too good to ignore, with HD visuals, a longer draw distance and a faster frame-rate.

Among other, more practical perks it includes a first-person mode, which genuinely makes this feel like a different game, though the missions, tools and characters are the same. The new perspective pushes Rockstar's attention to detail to the fore, allowing you to better appreciate the landscape's abundance of in-jokes and ambient details.

GTA V's open world multiplayer remains a laidback thrill, whether you're stuntdiving with friends or teaming up to complete a Heist (a long overdue addition to MP, but worth the wait) – it's probably the best place to hang out on Xbox Live.

Halo multiplayer at its best

A franchise that has defined Xbox as a platform for a long time is Halo and Halo 5: Guardians is a worthy addition to the series. With both a single-player campaign and the usual thrilling multiplayer combat, this is the Halo game for Xbox One you don't want to miss. 

Though its single-player campaign isn't the best in the franchise in terms of story, this is Halo multiplayer combat at its most fun and anyone that loves playing online with friends will enjoy what the various modes on offer.

Say hello to the triple indie

Hellblade: Senua's Sacrifice is developer Ninja Theory's first attempt at publishing its own game and it's quite an achievement. The game follows Senua, a Celtic warrior suffering from psychosis who travels to Hell to rescue her lost lover.

The game uses an interesting mix of binaural audio and innovative visual techniques to communicate Senua's experience with her psychosis to the player, resulting in a game that's likely to be quite different from anything else you've played recently. 

Disturbing, insightful and extremely enjoyable to play, this is a game worth taking a look at and we're glad to see it makes its debut on Xbox One. Xbox One X owners will have the benefit of being able to choose between three visual modes which promote either resolution, framerate or visual richness.

You can read all about our experience with the motion capture tech behind Hellblade right here. 

How many Snakes does it take to change a lightbulb?

Okay, so Hideo Kojima's last game for Konami - and his last ever Metal Gear game - might be a little tough for the MGS n00b to get to grips with, but it's still one of the best stealth-action games ever crafted. The open-world shenanigans will satisfy all your behind-enemy-lines / Rambo fantasies and probably confuse you with crazy plot twists and a million characters all with the same gravel-toned voices.

But hey, that's all part of its charm, right?

Bold, brilliant and brutal

Middle-earth: Shadow of War is the sequel to the accomplished Middle-earth: Shadow of Mordor and builds upon all of its strengths. 

Taking up the role of Talion once more, this game takes you back to a beautifully realized world that's bursting with originality. If you were a fan of the original game, we highly recommend that you pick of Shadow of War as it's an improvement in almost every way.

Read our full review here and check out our handy tips and tricks guide.

Friends who slay together, stay together

You've probably heard of the Monster Hunter franchise before now – it's a classic that's been going a long time. But we haven't seen it on console for a while. Until now. Monster Hunter: World is the franchise's debut on the latest generation of consoles and it's a true breath of fresh air. 

Giving players the option to play solo or team up with up to three other friends, this game invites you into a living, breathing game world to hunt down some monsters. For research. And fun. 

You'll face a learning curve with Monster Hunter: World and the dark-souls style of combat has the potential to frustrate, but this is the most accessible Monster Hunter game we've seen in years. If you've been looking for a chance to break into the series, this is it. 

In our review we called the game "a bold and confident new chapter" and gave it a "play it now" recommendation. Thinking of becoming a Monster Hunter yourself? Make sure you check out our full survival guide. 

A Metroid-Vania platformer with light RPG elements and loads of heart

Although Ori was released early on in the Xbox One's life cycle, it remains one of the best platformers on the console, bar none. Shockingly beautiful and ultra-deadly, the world of Ori and the Blind Forest inspires and impresses in equal measure. Add to that the game's phenomenal, easy-to-learn-hard-to-master control scheme and light RPG elements and you have the recipe for a timeless classic.

Sure, there are some sequences that aren't as enjoyable as the rest of the game (we're looking at you timed post-boss fight sequences) but ultimately this is a series that continues to enthrall long after you put the controller down.

Not had enough Ori in your life? We've learned that the game will be getting a sequel in 2019 called Ori and the Will of the Wisps. It will pick up where are story left off (no spoilers, please!) and will see Ori platforming his way through the eponymous forest for a second run. 

The team-based shooter you need to buy on Xbox One

Overwatch has, without a doubt, been one of our favorite games to come out of the last year – garnering our Game of the Year 2016 award.

It's a classic team arena shooter from Blizzard that sets two six-person teams of wildly different characters against each other in a bright and cartoonish science fiction universe. And while it feels similar to the Call of Duty you've played before, Overwatch turns traditional shooters on their heads by adding unique character abilities and cool-downs to the mix that force you to strategize every once in a while instead of blindly running from room to room.

Great graphics, tight maps, and a good roster of characters to enjoy playing. Overwatch is good old fashioned fun and we thoroughly recommend it. 

A chilling return to form

Your gaming collection isn't really complete if it doesn't have a quality horror title and if we had to suggest one it'd be the newest installment in the Resident Evil franchise. 

Resident Evil is the franchise that put survival-horror games on the map and though it lost its way slightly in later titles, the newest game is a return to form for Capcom. 

By going back to the survival-horror basics and getting them dead on, Capcom has made Resident Evil 7 a genuinely frightening and exhilarating gaming experience. If you have the stomach for the gore, it's absolutely worth playing.

Don't miss our full review of the game.

The name of the game is freedom in Lara's latest sprawling outing

Despite being the sequel to a prequel about the young life of the Lara Croft, this still feels like a Tomb Raider game that has grown up. The reboot which saw a brave new direction for the franchise seemed a lot of the time to be little more than a bit of light Uncharted cosplay, but Rise is a far more accomplished game.

There's now a genuine open world which feels like there is always something to do, and something more than just harvesting up collectibles in exchange for a light dusting of XP. There are also tombs. Yes, that might seem a fatuous thing to say given the name, but the previous game gave them short shrift. In Rise though they are deeper and more plentiful. Rise also has one of the best narratives of any Tomb Raider game, penned again by Rhianna Pratchett, it's sometimes rather poignant.

So come on, ditch Fallout 4's wasteland for a while and give Lara some love.

They had the technology to rebuild him, better than before

The original Titanfall was a great game – so great that it long held a place on this very list. However, its sequel, Titanfall 2, improves on it every conceivable way: the motion is more fluid, there are more distinct titans to choose from and, hold onto your hats here, there's actually a single-player campaign that might take the cake for the best first-person shooter story of the year. 

This game's pedigree is inherited from one of this generation's smartest and most unusual shooters. The original Titanfall married ninja-fast on-foot combat to the gloriously thuggish thrill of piloting giant mechs, which are summoned from orbit a few minutes into each match.

The skill with which Respawn has balanced this mix of styles in the sequel is remarkable – Titans have firepower in excess but they're easy to hit, and maps offer plenty of places for infantry to hide. These ideas coalesce into one of this year's most remarkable entries in the genre and is well-deserving its own shot in the spotlight as well as a Game of the Year nomination.

Stories don't come bigger than this

Geralt didn't have the smoothest of entries to consoles, but after some heavy patching and a lot of angry words about visual downgrades, we're left with an RPG boasting tremendous scope and storytelling.

Oh, and combat. And don't forget Gwent, the in-game card game. And there's the crafting to get stuck into. And the alchemy.

You're rarely short of things to entertain yourself with in The Witcher 3's quasi-open world, then, and all the better that you're in a universe that involves the supernatural without leaning on the same old Tolkien fantasy tropes. Invigorating stuff.

Superb in every sense

Looking for an incredible single-player shooter? Look no further than the 2017 wonder that was Wolfenstein II. Picking up from where the original game left off, this game is a timely social commentary and a superbly silly adventure all rolled into one well-written package.

With tight mechanics and a story worth caring about this is one of the most satisfying first-person shooters we've played in a long time. In our full review we called it "expertly crafted" and recommended that you play it now. 

Here are the biggest new releases this week.

Crash Bandicoot N. Sane Trilogy (Out June 29): Crash Bandicoot spins his way to Microsoft's console for the first time in franchise history with the 2017 re-make of the original Crash trilogy. Levels are just as challenging as you remember but now have that 4K polish you've come to expect from modern games. 

The Crew 2 (Out June 26): Continuing Ubisoft's experiment in racing games, The Crew 2 returns to the U.S. with planes and speedboats in toe. You can swap between vehicles on the fly and you'll once again be competing in races across the States and try to best opponents both computer-controlled and live online. 

NieR: Automata - Become as Gods Edition (Out June 26): One of the best Action RPGs last year is finally coming to Xbox One. Nier: Automata offers a unique aesthetic and fast-paced combat alongside traditional RPG elements. There's an element of replayability to it, but we won't ruin any of those surprises here.

The Awesome Adventures of Captain Spirit (Out June 26): A free downloadable title set in Dontnod's Life is Strange universe, Captain Spirit is the outwardly charming but deeply troubling story of a son trapped with his emotionally and physically abusive father. These style of games, in case you've never played them, are more about immersive gameplay over run-and-gun action, but they're heartfelt looks at sometimes dark, sometimes beautiful moments in a character's life.

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