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Image: Apple

Apple is launching new “immersive” video content for the Vision Pro over the next few months, including one from The Weeknd, a close-up view of the 2024 NBA All-Star Weekend, and “the first scripted short film captured in Apple Immersive Video.” The new series and film will come exclusively to the Vision Pro, allowing wearers to watch 3D video with a 180-degree field of view.
The immersive performance from The Weeknd will arrive on the Vision Pro later this year, while you can expect a short film featuring events from the NBA All-Star Game this fall, such as the Rising Stars Challenge, slam dunk contest, and the All-Star Game.

But if you’re hoping to jump into an immersive experience sooner, you can catch Boundless, which Apple describes as “a new series that invites viewers to experience once-in-a-lifetime trips from wherever they are” at 9PM ET on July 18th. Here’s some of the other content coming to the Vision Pro:

Wild Life episode two debuts in August.

Elevated, an aerial travel series, arrives in September.

Submerged, a short film set during the WWII era and captured in Apple Immersive Video, arrives this fall.

Red Bull: Big-Wave Surfing, a surfing-focused series is heading to Vision Pro later this year.

All this adds to the immersive content Apple has already brought to the Vision Pro, including Adventure, Alicia Keys: Rehearsal Room, and Prehistoric Planet Immersive. Apple says, “…more series, films, concerts, and sports captured in Apple Immersive Video will be released this year,” helped by a new BlackMagic camera, as well as updates to DaVinci Resolve Studio and Apple Compressor that are coming later.

Image: Apple

Apple is launching new “immersive” video content for the Vision Pro over the next few months, including one from The Weeknd, a close-up view of the 2024 NBA All-Star Weekend, and “the first scripted short film captured in Apple Immersive Video.” The new series and film will come exclusively to the Vision Pro, allowing wearers to watch 3D video with a 180-degree field of view.

The immersive performance from The Weeknd will arrive on the Vision Pro later this year, while you can expect a short film featuring events from the NBA All-Star Game this fall, such as the Rising Stars Challenge, slam dunk contest, and the All-Star Game.

But if you’re hoping to jump into an immersive experience sooner, you can catch Boundless, which Apple describes as “a new series that invites viewers to experience once-in-a-lifetime trips from wherever they are” at 9PM ET on July 18th. Here’s some of the other content coming to the Vision Pro:

Wild Life episode two debuts in August.

Elevated, an aerial travel series, arrives in September.

Submerged, a short film set during the WWII era and captured in Apple Immersive Video, arrives this fall.

Red Bull: Big-Wave Surfing, a surfing-focused series is heading to Vision Pro later this year.

All this adds to the immersive content Apple has already brought to the Vision Pro, including Adventure, Alicia Keys: Rehearsal Room, and Prehistoric Planet Immersive. Apple says, “…more series, films, concerts, and sports captured in Apple Immersive Video will be released this year,” helped by a new BlackMagic camera, as well as updates to DaVinci Resolve Studio and Apple Compressor that are coming later.

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Image: Amazon

The Boys has always reveled in its lampooning of the US’s fraught political landscape, but following the recent Trump rally shooting, Amazon has retitled the show’s season 4 finale and added a new disclaimer stating that the show is not meant to be a reflection of reality.
Though “Assassination Run” was the original title of The Boys’ newest episode (which dropped today), it is now listed as “Season Four Finale” and opens with a warning explaining that the episode “contains scenes of fictional political violence” whose similarities to recent real-world events “are completely coincidental and unintentional.”
Given The Boys’ track record of presenting many of its characters as analogues for actual political figures, Amazon’s move to suddenly insist that the show’s obvious parallels to our reality just happened by chance is hard to take at face value. Understandably, the company doesn’t want one of its buzzier shows to become embroiled in the drama that’s shaping the US’s presidential election cycle or be accused of encouraging people to take up arms.
You can read a longer statement from The Boys’ creative team and Sony below.

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Image: Amazon

The Boys has always reveled in its lampooning of the US’s fraught political landscape, but following the recent Trump rally shooting, Amazon has retitled the show’s season 4 finale and added a new disclaimer stating that the show is not meant to be a reflection of reality.

Though “Assassination Run” was the original title of The Boys’ newest episode (which dropped today), it is now listed as “Season Four Finale” and opens with a warning explaining that the episode “contains scenes of fictional political violence” whose similarities to recent real-world events “are completely coincidental and unintentional.”

Given The Boys’ track record of presenting many of its characters as analogues for actual political figures, Amazon’s move to suddenly insist that the show’s obvious parallels to our reality just happened by chance is hard to take at face value. Understandably, the company doesn’t want one of its buzzier shows to become embroiled in the drama that’s shaping the US’s presidential election cycle or be accused of encouraging people to take up arms.

You can read a longer statement from The Boys’ creative team and Sony below.

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Image: The Verge

FBI officials told Congress on Wednesday that the 20-year-old who shot at former President Donald Trump may have posted a warning on Steam before the attack — but CNN is now reporting that investigators think the account is fake.

Important update here: The FBI briefed senators yesterday that they believed this Steam account did indeed belong to Crooks, per source familiar. Now, the FBI has revised that assessment and investigators think the account is fake, US official tells CNN https://t.co/3d1ovGu7rO— Sean Lyngaas (@snlyngaas) July 18, 2024

Investigators at the bureau “gained access” to Thomas Matthew Crooks’ phone earlier this week and have been combing through it to determine his motive and put together a timeline of events. In a briefing with members of Congress on Wednesday, FBI officials said Crooks had used his phone and other devices to search for information about and images of Trump and President Joe Biden — and that he left a cryptic message on Steam announcing the shooting, according to reports by The New York Times and ABC News.
“July 13 will be my premiere, watch as it unfolds,” reads the message, which investigators told Congress was posted by Crooks. But the FBI has since “revised its assessment,” according to CNN’s Sean Lyngaas.
The Verge has reached out to the FBI and to Valve, which owns and operates Steam, for comment.
Crooks also searched for dates of Trump’s public appearances and of the Democratic National Convention in Chicago, according to multiple reports. In addition to Trump and Biden, Crooks looked up multiple prominent figures, including FBI Director Christopher Wray, Attorney General Merrick Garland, and a member of the British royal family, two officials with knowledge of the situation told The New York Times.
Crooks’ phone is “one of several devices” law enforcement has obtained and is scanning, sources told ABC News. Investigators are also reviewing Crooks’ mail and shipping history after finding three explosive devices connected to him, according to a federal law enforcement memo obtained by The New York Times. Crooks received multiple packages over the last several months, some of which were marked “hazardous material.”
So far, none of the information law enforcement has obtained on Crooks points to a clear motive. Per The New York Times, Wray noted that there was an absence of “any political or ideological information” in Crooks’ home.
On one call with members of Congress, Kimberly Cheatle, the head of the Secret Service, told legislators that the agency had made serious “mistakes,” according to The New York Times. It looks like the FBI, which is still early in its investigation, may have made some as well.

Image: The Verge

FBI officials told Congress on Wednesday that the 20-year-old who shot at former President Donald Trump may have posted a warning on Steam before the attack — but CNN is now reporting that investigators think the account is fake.

Investigators at the bureau “gained access” to Thomas Matthew Crooks’ phone earlier this week and have been combing through it to determine his motive and put together a timeline of events. In a briefing with members of Congress on Wednesday, FBI officials said Crooks had used his phone and other devices to search for information about and images of Trump and President Joe Biden — and that he left a cryptic message on Steam announcing the shooting, according to reports by The New York Times and ABC News.

“July 13 will be my premiere, watch as it unfolds,” reads the message, which investigators told Congress was posted by Crooks. But the FBI has since “revised its assessment,” according to CNN’s Sean Lyngaas.

The Verge has reached out to the FBI and to Valve, which owns and operates Steam, for comment.

Crooks also searched for dates of Trump’s public appearances and of the Democratic National Convention in Chicago, according to multiple reports. In addition to Trump and Biden, Crooks looked up multiple prominent figures, including FBI Director Christopher Wray, Attorney General Merrick Garland, and a member of the British royal family, two officials with knowledge of the situation told The New York Times.

Crooks’ phone is “one of several devices” law enforcement has obtained and is scanning, sources told ABC News. Investigators are also reviewing Crooks’ mail and shipping history after finding three explosive devices connected to him, according to a federal law enforcement memo obtained by The New York Times. Crooks received multiple packages over the last several months, some of which were marked “hazardous material.”

So far, none of the information law enforcement has obtained on Crooks points to a clear motive. Per The New York Times, Wray noted that there was an absence of “any political or ideological information” in Crooks’ home.

On one call with members of Congress, Kimberly Cheatle, the head of the Secret Service, told legislators that the agency had made serious “mistakes,” according to The New York Times. It looks like the FBI, which is still early in its investigation, may have made some as well.

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Image: Google

Google has revealed the Pixel 9 Pro following a series of leaks that revealed the phone in great detail, including hands-on videos and comparisons to other recent devices. The company plans to show off more about the Pixel 9 lineup as well as its other upcoming devices, with an event at Google HQ in California on August 13th.
In a video, the company showed a brief look at the Pixel 9 Pro and teased that AI and Gemini will be a big part of the device. You can also already sign up for information about the Pixel 9 Pro from Google’s online store, which has another image of the phone.

Image: Google

Recent regulatory filings and other leaks indicate that Google is planning to launch four phones soon: the Pixel 9, the Pixel 9 Pro, the Pixel 9 Pro XL, and the Pixel 9 Pro Fold. With its event just under a month away, we won’t have to wait too much longer to officially see what Google has in store.

Image: Google

Google has revealed the Pixel 9 Pro following a series of leaks that revealed the phone in great detail, including hands-on videos and comparisons to other recent devices. The company plans to show off more about the Pixel 9 lineup as well as its other upcoming devices, with an event at Google HQ in California on August 13th.

In a video, the company showed a brief look at the Pixel 9 Pro and teased that AI and Gemini will be a big part of the device. You can also already sign up for information about the Pixel 9 Pro from Google’s online store, which has another image of the phone.

Image: Google

Recent regulatory filings and other leaks indicate that Google is planning to launch four phones soon: the Pixel 9, the Pixel 9 Pro, the Pixel 9 Pro XL, and the Pixel 9 Pro Fold. With its event just under a month away, we won’t have to wait too much longer to officially see what Google has in store.

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Image: Instagram

Instagram Notes — a temporary away status-like feature — is expanding, the company announced today.
Users will now be able to leave Notes on Reels and grid posts, where their comments will float on top of the content in little bubbles. Like Notes, these comments are temporary — they’ll disappear after three days unless you delete them earlier. The new temporary comments are also semiprivate, and users can tailor who’s able to see their comment: either your curated list of close friends or followers you follow back. Based on screenshots, it also appears as though users can tag each other in Notes on Reels and posts. They’re basically hidden comments for a smaller audience.
When users encounter Reels and posts with Notes from friends, those comments will appear almost like a sticker on top of content — the feature is clearly meant to tap into the more private ways people use Instagram, like DMing with friends. Seeing what friends are saying on the platform without having to scroll through comments could be helpful.
At the same time, it’s a bit unnerving to know people can now leave comments I won’t be able to see on my posts — and I wonder how the feature could facilitate bullying, pile-ons, or harassment, especially if the creator of the content can’t see or moderate Notes.
Notes on posts and Reels will begin rolling out globally today.

Image: Instagram

Instagram Notes — a temporary away status-like feature — is expanding, the company announced today.

Users will now be able to leave Notes on Reels and grid posts, where their comments will float on top of the content in little bubbles. Like Notes, these comments are temporary — they’ll disappear after three days unless you delete them earlier. The new temporary comments are also semiprivate, and users can tailor who’s able to see their comment: either your curated list of close friends or followers you follow back. Based on screenshots, it also appears as though users can tag each other in Notes on Reels and posts. They’re basically hidden comments for a smaller audience.

When users encounter Reels and posts with Notes from friends, those comments will appear almost like a sticker on top of content — the feature is clearly meant to tap into the more private ways people use Instagram, like DMing with friends. Seeing what friends are saying on the platform without having to scroll through comments could be helpful.

At the same time, it’s a bit unnerving to know people can now leave comments I won’t be able to see on my posts — and I wonder how the feature could facilitate bullying, pile-ons, or harassment, especially if the creator of the content can’t see or moderate Notes.

Notes on posts and Reels will begin rolling out globally today.

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Image: HBO

HBO’s Dune prequel series now has a premiere date — or month, at least. The upcoming show, called Dune: Prophecy, will hit both HBO and Max in November. The HBO Original also got a fresh teaser, which makes it look like the six-episode-long show will be filled with plenty of political maneuvering.
That makes a lot of sense given that Prophecy follows the origins of the clandestine Bene Gesserit sect, which went on to shape much of the galaxy in the Dune universe. The show is set 10,000 years before Dune and its sequel. HBO says the series is “inspired” by the novel Sisterhood of Dune from 2012, written by Brian Herbert and Kevin J. Anderson.
Alison Schapker — best known for working on shows like Lost, Fringe, and Alias — is serving as showrunner, while the cast includes Emily Watson and Olivia Williams as the two Harkonnen sisters who found the Bene Gesserit. Here’s a look at Watson in her full Dune getup:

Image: HBO
Emily Watson as Valya Harkonnen.

Image: HBO

HBO’s Dune prequel series now has a premiere date — or month, at least. The upcoming show, called Dune: Prophecy, will hit both HBO and Max in November. The HBO Original also got a fresh teaser, which makes it look like the six-episode-long show will be filled with plenty of political maneuvering.

That makes a lot of sense given that Prophecy follows the origins of the clandestine Bene Gesserit sect, which went on to shape much of the galaxy in the Dune universe. The show is set 10,000 years before Dune and its sequel. HBO says the series is “inspired” by the novel Sisterhood of Dune from 2012, written by Brian Herbert and Kevin J. Anderson.

Alison Schapker — best known for working on shows like Lost, Fringe, and Alias — is serving as showrunner, while the cast includes Emily Watson and Olivia Williams as the two Harkonnen sisters who found the Bene Gesserit. Here’s a look at Watson in her full Dune getup:

Image: HBO
Emily Watson as Valya Harkonnen.

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Image: The Verge

OpenAI is releasing a lighter, cheaper model for developers to tinker with called GPT-4o Mini. It costs significantly less than full-sized models and is said to be more capable than GPT-3.5.
Building apps using OpenAI’s models can rack up a huge bill. Developers without the means to afford to tinker with it can get priced out of it entirely and may opt for cheaper models like Google’s Gemini 1.5 Flash or Anthropic’s Claude 3 Haiku. Now, OpenAI is entering the light model game.
“I think GPT-4o Mini really gets at the OpenAI mission of making AI more broadly accessible to people. If we want AI to benefit every corner of the world, every industry, every application, we have to make AI much more affordable,” Olivier Godement, who leads the API platform product, told The Verge.
Starting today, ChatGPT users on Free, Plus, and Team plans can use GPT-4o Mini instead of GPT-3.5 Turbo, with Enterprise users getting access next week. That means GPT-3.5 will no longer be an option for ChatGPT users, but it will still be available for developers via the API if they prefer not to switch to GPT-4o Mini. Godement said GPT-3.5 will get retired from the API at some point — they’re just not sure when.
“I think it’s going to be very popular,” Godement said
The new, lightweight model will also support text and vision in the API, and the company says it will soon handle all multimodal inputs and outputs like video and audio. With all these capabilities, this could look like more capable virtual assistants that can understand your travel itinerary and create suggestions. However, the model is meant for simple tasks, so no one is exactly building Siri for cheap.
This new model achieved an 82 percent score on the Measuring Massive Multitask Language Understanding (MMLU), a benchmark exam consisting of about 16,000 multiple-choice questions across 57 academic subjects. When the MMLU was first introduced in 2020, most models were pretty bad at it, which was the goal since the models had gotten too advanced for previous benchmark exams. GPT-3.5 scored 70 percent on this benchmark, GPT-4o scored 88.7 percent, and Google claims Gemini Ultra to have the highest-ever score of 90 percent. In comparison, the competing models Claude 3 Haiku and Gemini 1.5 Flash scored 75.2 percent and 78.9 percent, respectively.
It’s worth noting that researchers are wary of benchmark tests like the MMLU, as how it’s administered varies slightly from company to company. That makes different models’ scores difficult to compare, as The New York Times reported. There’s also the problem of the AI potentially having these answers in its dataset, which essentially lets it cheat, and typically no third-party evaluators are part of the process.
For developers who are hungry to build AI applications for cheap, the launch of GPT-4o Mini gives them another tool to add to their inventory. OpenAI let the financial technology startup Ramp test the model, using GPT-4o Mini to build a tool that extracts expense data on receipts. So, instead of slogging through text boxes, a user can upload a picture of their receipt and the model sorts it all for them. Superhuman, an email client, also tested GPT-4o Mini and used it to create an auto-suggestion feature for email responses.
The goal is to provide something lightweight and inexpensive for developers to create all the apps and tools they couldn’t afford to make with a larger, more expensive model like GPT-4. Many developers would turn to Claude 3 Haiku or Gemini 1.5 Flash before paying the eye-watering compute costs required to run one of the most robust models.
So, what took OpenAI so long? Godement said it was “pure prioritization” as the company was focused on creating bigger and better models like GPT-4, which took a lot of “people and compute efforts.” As time went on, OpenAI noticed a trend of developers eager to use smaller models, so the company decided now was the time to invest its resources into building GPT-4o Mini.
“I think it’s going to be very popular,” Godement said. “Both by existing apps that use all the AI at OpenAI and also many apps that were put out by the pricing before.”

Image: The Verge

OpenAI is releasing a lighter, cheaper model for developers to tinker with called GPT-4o Mini. It costs significantly less than full-sized models and is said to be more capable than GPT-3.5.

Building apps using OpenAI’s models can rack up a huge bill. Developers without the means to afford to tinker with it can get priced out of it entirely and may opt for cheaper models like Google’s Gemini 1.5 Flash or Anthropic’s Claude 3 Haiku. Now, OpenAI is entering the light model game.

“I think GPT-4o Mini really gets at the OpenAI mission of making AI more broadly accessible to people. If we want AI to benefit every corner of the world, every industry, every application, we have to make AI much more affordable,” Olivier Godement, who leads the API platform product, told The Verge.

Starting today, ChatGPT users on Free, Plus, and Team plans can use GPT-4o Mini instead of GPT-3.5 Turbo, with Enterprise users getting access next week. That means GPT-3.5 will no longer be an option for ChatGPT users, but it will still be available for developers via the API if they prefer not to switch to GPT-4o Mini. Godement said GPT-3.5 will get retired from the API at some point — they’re just not sure when.

The new, lightweight model will also support text and vision in the API, and the company says it will soon handle all multimodal inputs and outputs like video and audio. With all these capabilities, this could look like more capable virtual assistants that can understand your travel itinerary and create suggestions. However, the model is meant for simple tasks, so no one is exactly building Siri for cheap.

This new model achieved an 82 percent score on the Measuring Massive Multitask Language Understanding (MMLU), a benchmark exam consisting of about 16,000 multiple-choice questions across 57 academic subjects. When the MMLU was first introduced in 2020, most models were pretty bad at it, which was the goal since the models had gotten too advanced for previous benchmark exams. GPT-3.5 scored 70 percent on this benchmark, GPT-4o scored 88.7 percent, and Google claims Gemini Ultra to have the highest-ever score of 90 percent. In comparison, the competing models Claude 3 Haiku and Gemini 1.5 Flash scored 75.2 percent and 78.9 percent, respectively.

It’s worth noting that researchers are wary of benchmark tests like the MMLU, as how it’s administered varies slightly from company to company. That makes different models’ scores difficult to compare, as The New York Times reported. There’s also the problem of the AI potentially having these answers in its dataset, which essentially lets it cheat, and typically no third-party evaluators are part of the process.

For developers who are hungry to build AI applications for cheap, the launch of GPT-4o Mini gives them another tool to add to their inventory. OpenAI let the financial technology startup Ramp test the model, using GPT-4o Mini to build a tool that extracts expense data on receipts. So, instead of slogging through text boxes, a user can upload a picture of their receipt and the model sorts it all for them. Superhuman, an email client, also tested GPT-4o Mini and used it to create an auto-suggestion feature for email responses.

The goal is to provide something lightweight and inexpensive for developers to create all the apps and tools they couldn’t afford to make with a larger, more expensive model like GPT-4. Many developers would turn to Claude 3 Haiku or Gemini 1.5 Flash before paying the eye-watering compute costs required to run one of the most robust models.

So, what took OpenAI so long? Godement said it was “pure prioritization” as the company was focused on creating bigger and better models like GPT-4, which took a lot of “people and compute efforts.” As time went on, OpenAI noticed a trend of developers eager to use smaller models, so the company decided now was the time to invest its resources into building GPT-4o Mini.

“I think it’s going to be very popular,” Godement said. “Both by existing apps that use all the AI at OpenAI and also many apps that were put out by the pricing before.”

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The 65-inch version of the CanvasTV is now available, while a 55-inch version will arrive later this summer. | Image: Hisense

Hisense’s CanvasTV, a matte screen television designed to blend into your home decor as a piece of artwork when you’re not watching TV, is now available in a 65-inch model for $1,299.99. A smaller 55-inch version, expected to sell for $999, is still en route for later this summer.
First announced in May, the CanvasTV wraps a 4K, 144Hz QLED anti-glare screen in a wooden teak frame to give it the appearance of framed artwork. If that doesn’t match the decor of a room, walnut and all-white frames are also available but sold separately. An “Art Mode” cycles through a preloaded collection of paintings in Renaissance, modern, and abstract styles, but users can display their own art and photographs. When no one’s around to look, a motion sensor turns the CanvasTV off to conserve power.
It’s a similar sales pitch to Samsung’s The Frame, which also utilizes a matte finish and a customizable bezel to look more like artwork hanging on a wall. The appeal of Hisense’s CanvasTV is that the 65-inch version is about $700 cheaper than Samsung’s, while the 55-inch model will save you about $500.

The 65-inch version of the CanvasTV is now available, while a 55-inch version will arrive later this summer. | Image: Hisense

Hisense’s CanvasTV, a matte screen television designed to blend into your home decor as a piece of artwork when you’re not watching TV, is now available in a 65-inch model for $1,299.99. A smaller 55-inch version, expected to sell for $999, is still en route for later this summer.

First announced in May, the CanvasTV wraps a 4K, 144Hz QLED anti-glare screen in a wooden teak frame to give it the appearance of framed artwork. If that doesn’t match the decor of a room, walnut and all-white frames are also available but sold separately. An “Art Mode” cycles through a preloaded collection of paintings in Renaissance, modern, and abstract styles, but users can display their own art and photographs. When no one’s around to look, a motion sensor turns the CanvasTV off to conserve power.

It’s a similar sales pitch to Samsung’s The Frame, which also utilizes a matte finish and a customizable bezel to look more like artwork hanging on a wall. The appeal of Hisense’s CanvasTV is that the 65-inch version is about $700 cheaper than Samsung’s, while the 55-inch model will save you about $500.

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Image: 1047 Games

Splitgate isn’t dead yet. On Thursday, developer 1047 Games revealed a cinematic trailer for Splitgate 2, a revamped version of the free-to-play multiplayer shooter, which uses the same portal mechanic that made the game so fun the first time around.
When Splitgate 2 launches in 2025, it will come with some notable upgrades. The developers say they’ve “rebuilt everything from the ground up” in Unreal Engine 5 and also added a new faction-based system. “There will be familiar elements, but on the whole, Splitgate 2 should look and feel completely fresh from the original,” 1047 Games says.
Commonly referred to as “Halo with portals,” Splitgate became a breakout hit when it launched in 2021, racking up 10 million downloads in less than 30 days. But 1047 Games abruptly ended development in September 2022 to focus on building Splitgate 2.
While the Splitgate 2 trailer doesn’t feature actual gameplay, it does give us a peek at the Splitgate world 1047 Games is focused on building. There’s a new mobile companion app you can download on Android and iOS that has free comics, rewards, and other features. I have to admit, I didn’t expect much from a sequel after the end of the first Splitgate — but the new focus on lore has me looking forward to getting back into the game.
The Splitgate sequel will remain free to play and will be available on Xbox, PlayStation, and PC. 1047 Games says it will have more details to share about the game in August.

Image: 1047 Games

Splitgate isn’t dead yet. On Thursday, developer 1047 Games revealed a cinematic trailer for Splitgate 2, a revamped version of the free-to-play multiplayer shooter, which uses the same portal mechanic that made the game so fun the first time around.

When Splitgate 2 launches in 2025, it will come with some notable upgrades. The developers say they’ve “rebuilt everything from the ground up” in Unreal Engine 5 and also added a new faction-based system. “There will be familiar elements, but on the whole, Splitgate 2 should look and feel completely fresh from the original,” 1047 Games says.

Commonly referred to as “Halo with portals,” Splitgate became a breakout hit when it launched in 2021, racking up 10 million downloads in less than 30 days. But 1047 Games abruptly ended development in September 2022 to focus on building Splitgate 2.

While the Splitgate 2 trailer doesn’t feature actual gameplay, it does give us a peek at the Splitgate world 1047 Games is focused on building. There’s a new mobile companion app you can download on Android and iOS that has free comics, rewards, and other features. I have to admit, I didn’t expect much from a sequel after the end of the first Splitgate — but the new focus on lore has me looking forward to getting back into the game.

The Splitgate sequel will remain free to play and will be available on Xbox, PlayStation, and PC. 1047 Games says it will have more details to share about the game in August.

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Illustration by Alex Castro / The Verge

This week on Decoder, I talked to author Matthew Ball, who was last on the show in 2022 to discuss his book “The Metaverse: And How it Will Revolutionize Everything.” It’s 2024, and it’s safe to say that has not happened yet. But Matt’s still on the case — in fact, he just performed an almost complete update of the book, now with the much more sober title, “Building the Spatial Internet.” It’s out next week on Tuesday, July 23rd.
Matt and I talked a lot about where the previous metaverse hype cycle landed us and what there is to learn from these boom and bust waves in technology. We also talked about the Apple Vision Pro as a marker or symbol of where the metaverse is now and where it has to go. If you read or watched my review when it came out, you’ll know I think the Vision Pro is sort of an end point for one set of technologies, and I wanted to know if Matt felt the same and what needs to happen to make all of this more mainstream and accessible.

Matt’s overall point is that it’s tempting to think that the metaverse just fizzled out after the huge explosion of hype that came after Facebook renamed itself to Meta, hype which the lackluster Quest Pro and messy Horizon platform couldn’t really live up to. And hype which eventually got totally washed away by the arrival of generative AI.
But the metaverse didn’t just disappear. The major players — Meta, Fortnite maker Epic Games, Roblox — are all still plugging away at the idea, albeit gradually. While Meta and Apple go head-to-head on hardware, the gaming companies whose engines make the 3D internet come to life are still working on some of the core technical ideas — like interoperability and what combination of AR and VR consumers actually want.
That’s all while game makers contend with an industrywide downturn that’s led to waves of layoffs in addition to a pretty stark lack of consumer enthusiasm in the whole metaverse concept. Combine all of that with some intense backlash against both AI and crypto, and you can start to see why we’re not racing as fast toward this next-generation internet as we might have once thought.
Matthew and I got into all of that and more, and he makes his case for why the ideas that power what we think of as the metaverse today are a whole lot bigger than just buzzwords and futurist predictions. He’s optimistic that we’re still on the path toward this new, spatial, or more 3D version of the internet — progress is still being made and that maybe these booms and busts are just part of the trajectory from where we are now to where we might be in the future.

Illustration by Alex Castro / The Verge

This week on Decoder, I talked to author Matthew Ball, who was last on the show in 2022 to discuss his book “The Metaverse: And How it Will Revolutionize Everything.” It’s 2024, and it’s safe to say that has not happened yet. But Matt’s still on the case — in fact, he just performed an almost complete update of the book, now with the much more sober title, “Building the Spatial Internet.” It’s out next week on Tuesday, July 23rd.

Matt and I talked a lot about where the previous metaverse hype cycle landed us and what there is to learn from these boom and bust waves in technology. We also talked about the Apple Vision Pro as a marker or symbol of where the metaverse is now and where it has to go. If you read or watched my review when it came out, you’ll know I think the Vision Pro is sort of an end point for one set of technologies, and I wanted to know if Matt felt the same and what needs to happen to make all of this more mainstream and accessible.

Matt’s overall point is that it’s tempting to think that the metaverse just fizzled out after the huge explosion of hype that came after Facebook renamed itself to Meta, hype which the lackluster Quest Pro and messy Horizon platform couldn’t really live up to. And hype which eventually got totally washed away by the arrival of generative AI.

But the metaverse didn’t just disappear. The major players — Meta, Fortnite maker Epic Games, Roblox — are all still plugging away at the idea, albeit gradually. While Meta and Apple go head-to-head on hardware, the gaming companies whose engines make the 3D internet come to life are still working on some of the core technical ideas — like interoperability and what combination of AR and VR consumers actually want.

That’s all while game makers contend with an industrywide downturn that’s led to waves of layoffs in addition to a pretty stark lack of consumer enthusiasm in the whole metaverse concept. Combine all of that with some intense backlash against both AI and crypto, and you can start to see why we’re not racing as fast toward this next-generation internet as we might have once thought.

Matthew and I got into all of that and more, and he makes his case for why the ideas that power what we think of as the metaverse today are a whole lot bigger than just buzzwords and futurist predictions. He’s optimistic that we’re still on the path toward this new, spatial, or more 3D version of the internet — progress is still being made and that maybe these booms and busts are just part of the trajectory from where we are now to where we might be in the future.

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