Developer MercurySteam has released a new trailer for its upcoming 3D action-adventure game Blades of Fire. The trailer, that you can check out below, offers up 5 minutes of gameplay, letting us see what the general minute-to-minute gameplay of the title will look like.Right from the start, the trailer reveals that players will have the ability to switch between three weapons at any given time. All three weapons were crafted by the player themselves, and will feature different properties as well as unique move sets. This ability to switch weapons on the fly also comes in handy quite early in the trailer, when the players sword ends up breaking.The trailer also puts quite a bit of emphasis on the player picking the right kind of weapon depending on the combat situation. Since each weapon will have different properties, ranging from the more refined slashes and thrusts of a sword to the wide-arcing swings of a Warhammer.Aside from the core combat, the trailer also lets us get a glimpse of its lush world. The trailer takes part in what appears to be a forested area, with several paths available for players to take thanks to cliffs and ravines. Ultimately, the trailer ends when the protagonist finds a Forgers Anvil, which seems to act as a checkpoint and fast-travel point for players to use down the line.Blades of Fire was unveiled back in February. Developed by the studio behind Metroid Dread, the game is currently in development for PC, PS5 and Xbox Series X/S. The PC version of the game will be available exclusively through Epic Games Store when it comes out on May 22.Lead game designer Joan Amat revealed details about how the main progression systems of Blades of Fire will work earlier this month. Writing about how the studio doesnt want players to turn into magical gods by the end of the game, Amat revealed that progression in Blades of Fire will revolve around players forging and using their own weapons.You definitely cant turn Aran into a magic god at the end of Blades of Fire, right? There are lots of spectacular things that you could do, have your weapon shoot fireballs or other things that are really spectacular, said Amat. This is not our aim! Our aim is to make everything really important.When it comes to the Forge system itself, Blades of Fire will allow players to craft almost infinite combinations of weapons, depending on the parts they choose.[Historical YouTubers] are talking about edges; theyre talking about balance, the center of mass, grips and handling, and edge alignment. Theyre not talking about agility, strength, stamina, intelligence, and dexterity, right? Those are not the stats, explained Amat.When we moved from the stats combo into a challenge mentality, balance became so much easier. We only really need to make sure that the enemy is strong against some things and weak against some other things. There are all these other great RPGs that are about power complexity. Thats not what this game is about.For more details on Blades of Fire, check out how the game is going to be strongly narrative-driven, and how the curiosity of players will drive them to uncovering more of the story by themselves.

While the recently-released Assassins Creed Shadows had seen several delays, its developers apparently used the extra time to add more polish to the game. Speaking to GamesRadar, creative director Jonathan Dumont spoke about how the studio didnt actually make any fundamental changes to Assassins Creed Shadows in the wake of feedback from Star Wars Outlaws.Not really, said Dumont when asked if the delays were because of the feedback from Star Wars Outlaws. We were basically trying to make the most polished game that we [can]. He went on to say that the delays were because, our game was there, so just making sure that we dont have bugs and that the experience is clean for people.While Ubisoft didnt make any sweeping changes to Assassins Creed Shadows after the game got delayed, Dumont did say that a few things were added to the games narrative here and there. These additions typically came in the form of the developers realising that, in a particular scene, this is a place where we could reinforce the relationship.We had a few already, and people love those things, he continued. So alright, lets try to get a little bit more in there.Dumont saw the games release date being delayed a couple of times as opportunities for the studio to further polish the game before it hit store shelves. Its kind of cool also that we were close to launch, and then we get this extra time to do the things that typically youre doing at the end, he said.Since it finally came out on March 20, Assassins Creed Shadows has been doing quite well for Ubisoft. The company revealed last week that more than 3 million players had played Assassins Creed Shadows. The company also revealed that the title ranked second in highest day one sales revenue in the franchise, and that it was the biggest day one performer for Ubisoft on PlayStations digital store. In total, more than 40 million hours had been spent by people playing Assassins Creed Shadows.This milestone followed similar ones from day one of the games release. In less than a day, Assassins Creed Shadows had already crossed more than a million players. It 2 million players just a couple of days later. The game even went on to overtake the Steam concurrent player count for the incredibly popular Assassins Creed Odyssey.While the studio behind Assassins Creed Shadows has been enjoying the successful launch, it has still continued working on updates for the title. Just last week, Assassins Creed Shadows got an update that brought with it some stabilisation fixes across all platforms, as well as fixes for crashes caused by the games Photo mode on the PC and PS5 versions.Assassins Creed Shadows is available on PC, PS5 and Xbox Series X/S. For more details, check out our review. And if youre curious about the best open-world game set in Japan right now, heres how it stacks up against Ghost of Tsushima and Rise of the Ronin.

Join our daily and weekly newsletters for the latest updates and exclusive content on industry-leading AI coverage. Learn MoreMake no mistake about it, there is a lot of money being spent on generative AI in 2025.Analyst firm Gartner released a new report today forecasting that global gen AI spending will hit $644 billion in 2025. That figure represents a 76.4% year-over-year increase over gen AI spending in 2024.Gartners report joins a chorus of other industry analyses in recent months that all point to increasing adoption and spending for gen AI. Spending has been growing by 130%, according to research conducted by AI at Wharton, a research center at the Wharton School of the University of Pennsylvania. Deloitte reported that 74% of enterprises have already met or exceeded gen AI initiatives.While its no surprise that spending on gen AI is growing, the Gartner report provides new clarity on where the money is going and where enterprises might get the most value.According to Gartners analysis, hardware will claim a staggering 80% of all gen AI spending in 2025. The forecast shows:Devices will account for $398.3 billion (99.5% growth)Servers will reach $180.6 billion (33.1% growth)Software spending follows at just $37.2 billion (93.9% growth)Services will total $27.8 billion (162.6% growth)The device market was the biggest surprise, it is the market most driven by the supply side rather than the demand side, John Lovelock, distinguished VP analyst at Gartner, told VentureBeat. Consumers and enterprises are not seeking AI enabled devices, but manufacturers are producing them and selling them. By 2027, it will be almost impossible to buy a PC that is not AI enabled.Hardwares dominance will intensify, not diminish for enterprise AIWith hardware claiming approximately 80% of gen AI spending in 2025, many might assume this ratio would gradually shift toward software and services as the market matures. Lovelocks insights suggest the opposite.The ratios shift more in hardwares favor over time, Lovelock said. While more and more software will have gen AI enabled features, there will be less attributable money spent on gen AI softwaregen AI will be embedded functionality delivered as part of the price of the software.This projection has profound implications for technology budgeting and infrastructure planning. Organizations expecting to shift spending from hardware to software over time may need to recalibrate their financial models to account for ongoing hardware requirements.Moreover, the embedded nature of future-gen AI functionality means that discrete AI projects may become less common. Instead, AI capabilities will increasingly arrive as features within existing software platforms, making intentional adoption strategies and governance frameworks even more critical.The PoC graveyard: Why internal enterprise AI projects failGartners report highlights a sobering reality: many internal gen AI proof-of-concept (PoC) projects have failed to deliver expected results. This has created what Lovelock calls a paradox where expectations are declining despite massive investment.When asked to elaborate on these challenges, Lovelock identified three specific barriers that consistently derail gen AI initiatives.Corporations with more experience with AI had higher success rates with gen AI, while enterprises with less experience suffered higher failure rates, Lovelock explained. However, most enterprises failed for one or more of the top three reasons: Their data was of insufficient size or quality, their people were unable to use the new technology or change to use the new process or the new gen AI would not have a sufficient ROI.These insights reveal that gen AIs primary challenges arent technical limitations but organizational readiness factors:Data inadequacy: Many organizations lack sufficient high-quality data to train or implement gen AI systems effectively.Change resistance: Users struggle to adopt new tools or adapt workflows to incorporate AI capabilities.ROI shortfalls: Projects fail to deliver measurable business value that justifies their implementation costs.The strategic pivot: From internal development to commercial solutionsThe Gartner forecast notes an expected shift from ambitious internal projects in 2025 and beyond. Instead, the expectation is that enterprises will opt for commercial off-the-shelf solutions that deliver more predictable implementation and business value.This transition reflects the growing recognition that building custom-gen AI solutions often presents more challenges than anticipated. Lovelocks comments about failure rates underscore why many organizations are pivoting to commercial options offering predictable implementation paths and clearer ROI.For technical leaders, this suggests prioritizing vendor solutions that embed gen AI capabilities into existing systems rather than building custom applications from scratch. As Lovelock noted, these capabilities will increasingly be delivered as part of standard software functionality rather than as separate gen AI products.What this means for enterprise AI strategyFor enterprises looking to lead in AI adoption, Gartners forecast challenges several common assumptions about the gen AI marketplace. The emphasis on hardware spending, supply-side drivers and embedded functionality suggests a more evolutionary approach may yield better results than revolutionary initiatives.Technical decision-makers should focus on integrating commercial gen AI capabilities into existing workflows rather than building custom solutions. This approach aligns with Lovelocks observation that CIOs are reducing self-development efforts in favor of features from existing software providers.For organizations planning more conservative adoption, the inevitability of AI-enabled devices presents challenges and opportunities. While these capabilities may arrive through regular refresh cycles regardless of strategic intent, organizations that prepare to leverage them effectively will gain competitive advantages.As gen AI spending accelerates toward $644 billion in 2025, success wont be determined by spending volume alone. Organizations that align their investments with organizational readiness, focus on overcoming the three key failure factors and develop strategies to leverage increasingly embedded gen AI capabilities will extract the most value from this rapidly evolving technology landscape.Daily insights on business use cases with VB DailyIf you want to impress your boss, VB Daily has you covered. We give you the inside scoop on what companies are doing with generative AI, from regulatory shifts to practical deployments, so you can share insights for maximum ROI.Read our Privacy PolicyThanks for subscribing. Check out more VB newsletters here.An error occured.

Eidos-Montreal announced its laying off 75 people, saying a mandate has ended and it can't reallocate these employees to other projects.Read More

IGN Entertainment opens ticket sales for IGN LiveThe consumer focused show returns to LA in June News by Rachel Weber Contributor Published on March 31, 2025 IGN Entertainment has confirmed the official dates for its fan-facing event IGN Live, June 7-8, and ticket sales are now open. Last year the event played host to more than 100 studio partners from the world of games and entertainment, and shows from its stages were shared worldwide through streaming."We're thrilled for the return of IGN Live this coming June," said Michael Peyton, IGN's Senior Editorial Director, Events and Entertainment."Last year, we saw fans of all ages gather for a huge party celebrating games, movies, TV, comics, collectibles, and more and we anticipate that this year the event will be bigger and better than ever. We're looking forward to seeing fans in LA June 7-8 and across IGN platforms for anyone who can't be there in person."In its debut year, IGN Live played host to developers, publishers and stars from the world of entertainment. Xbox's Phil Spencer took to the stage for a live interview, the cast of The Lord of the Rings: The Rings of Power appeared to talk about the show, and game studios like Blumhouse held sessions talking about upcoming games. Beyond the stage show there were over 100 gaming stations on the show floor, 10,000 giveaways, and millions around the world who could not make it to the event in person watched streams from the show.The line up for this year is still under wraps, but with summer still marking a huge press and marketing opportunity for the games industry, expect to see a mix of familiar IP and rising stars. Humble Bundle is part of IGN Entertainment, the division of Ziff Davis that includes GamesIndustry.biz, IGN, and MapGenie.

Eidos Montral lays off 75 staff"It is not a reflection of their dedication or skills, but we dont have the capacity to reallocate them," the company said News by Vikki Blake Contributor Published on March 31, 2025 Eidos Montral has laid off 75 members of staff.In a LinkedIn post, the company said that as "one of [its] mandates is coming to an end," it had to "let go up to 75 valuable members," adding: "It is not a reflection of their dedication or skills, but unfortunately, we dont have the capacity to entirely reallocate them to our other ongoing projects and services.""These very talented, highly experienced experts are going to enter the employment market, and we are working to support them through this transition," the statement added."Eidos-Montral stays committed to deliver[ing] its other projects currently in development."Eidos was acquired by Embracer back in 2022, yet throughout 2023, the games firm laid off more than 900 people. Another 97 employees lost their jobs in January 2024.Earlier today, we reported that Myst developer Cyan Worlds has also laid off half of its team.

Aron Garst, ContributorMarch 31, 20255 Min ReadVia Valve2023 gave Steam quite the scare. The premiere PC gaming marketplace saw a major downturn in revenue for new games, pushing Valve to put significant work into new features that would drive engagement and sales on the platform.Their main priority? Pushing developers to add demos and putting those demos in front of as many players as possible."In 2023, Valve actually made less money from new games, it actually declined," said game marketing strategist Chris Zukowski. "All of 2024 was them pushing out features, thinking that they needed to fix the issue. They Flooded the store with features that all focus on demos. Valve was saying, in not so subtle terms, that everyone needs to make a demo."Everything is demo orientedZukowski gave a talk on navigating these new Steam features at the Game Developers Conference in San Francisco. We sat down with him after the talk to dive into the topic in more detail. The main point of the talk was that demos are the key to getting discovered on Steam. It's natural, according to Zukowski, that interest in your game will have a greater chance at visibility if you give streamers a way to play."For most games, social media doesn't work," Zukowski said. "And the reason is streamers can play a demo. Streamers can't play a screenshot. They need the demo, and when they play it on stream, it brings their audience."Related:While the majority of the talk was focused on demos, Zukowski also elaborated on what else developers can do to get exposure for their demo and game. It involves launching a page, gathering some sort of audience, and then running a playtest in order to drum up interest. Developers only have one shot at releasing a demo and leaving a good impression, and a playtest can give them a chance to "iron out the kinks" according to Zukowski. He estimated, from extensive data, that 100 concurrent players may be the threshold to being discovered by the algorithm."The real revelation is that a demo launch is front page featuring now," Zukowski said. "It's big, but you have to have an existing audience and you have to have enough players simultaneously playing your demo for the Steam algorithm to put you on the front page."Zukowski was insistent that you can't just throw a game page up on Steam, launch a demo, and then expect success. It's not that easy for developers to get discovered in a marketplace that sees thousands of new games released every year."The playtest is like priming the pump," Zukowski said. "It's getting the pump working."Related:Zukowski brought up several specific examples of games using this method within the past year. Some had been near dormant for months, sometimes years, before running a playtest and then launching a demo. Those games' wishlist numbers shot up soon after.A common mentality: release demos close to a game launch, so that players could try the experience and have it be top-of-mind when the full game hits. Zukowski refutes that idea, saying that momentum doesn't play a role in smaller game launches. The games are so small that a big influx of players, especially a long way from launch, is better than trying to set up some sort of curated event around launch.The good, the bad, and the AI slopOne point brought up during Steam Next Fest was that these new demo and discovery features elevated almost every game who utilized the feature on Steam, including what some journalists called "AI slop.""Day one of Next Fest, everyone gets a certain amount of impressions," Zukowski said, adding that wishlist numbers will impact how many impressions a game may get at first. On day two, Zukowski pointed out that Steam had given visibility to everyone, including games many considered poor quality. "That's Steam giving everyone visibility."Steam's algorithm then gives certain games more of a boost based on impressions and other statistics. Games that don't get that attention will sink to the bottom, having wasted their chance at gaining players while showcased on the front page.Related:The system that Steam is using for demos is brand new. It's not even a year old in its current iteration. The main question that popped into my mind was, "How well with all this work in a few years after demos have flooded the store just as much as other games have?" Zukowski's answer was that discoverability isn't that much of an issue to begin with.He showed me a graph that he had removed from his talk, as it would "take too much time to explain" as part of his current presentation. It showed how many games were released per year on Steam and how many games of that number actually received more than 50 reviews.From 2019 to 2024, several thousands more games were released each year, culminating in over 18,000 games in 2024. However, only a little over 4,000 of those games actually received more than 50 reviews. The same went for every year, where only a fraction of the games released picked up any traction on Steam."I think the problem is that [...] a lot of people are making their first game. They don't know how to make the type of game the Steam audience likes, or aren't skilled enough, or it's just their first game. I think the biggest limiting factor is not visibility, Steam gives us a ton of visibility," Zukowksi said, adding that Steam players have a certain taste. "Demos give everyone a better chance to see these games and make a judgement."Read more about:GDC 2025Top StoriesFeaturesAbout the AuthorAron GarstContributorSee more from Aron GarstDaily news, dev blogs, and stories from Game Developer straight to your inboxStay UpdatedYou May Also Like

The release of Apples iOS 18.4 on Monday includes good news for robot vacuum owners. The update includes support for controlling robot vacuums and adding them to automations and scenes in the Apple Home app via the Matter protocol. With the official rollout of iOS 18.4, companies like Roborock, iRobot, and Ecovacs are introducing firmware updates so their robovacs will be fully compatible with Apple Home.Roborocks firmware update enhances the implementation of the Matter protocol across several of its premium robot vacuum models, according to a press release from the company. Roborock models that will be getting this expanded Matter support include the S8 MaxV Ultra, Saros Z70, Saros 10, Saros 10R, Qrevo Curv, Qrevo Edge, and Qrevo Master.Roborock says the supported models will receive the firmware update sometime between April 1st and April 10th, allowing users to control their robovacs through the Home app on devices including the iPhone, Apple Watch, HomePod, and iPad. The update will also improve connectivity and Matter support with smart home platforms based on Google Home and Amazon Alexa. (Thats of course why Matter was created in the first place to help make smart home devices platform-agnostic.)Additional models, including the Roborock S8 Max Ultra and Qrevo Slim, will be getting Matter support in updates scheduled to be released in the upcoming weeks and months. iRobot announced that the Roomba Combo 10 Max robot and Auto Wash Dock, released last August, will be its first robovac compliant with Matter protocol and compatible with the Apple Home ecosystem. Users will be able to start, stop, and schedule cleanings for specific rooms using the Home app or voice commands through Siri. Several of Ecovacs robot vacuums, including the Deebot X2, X2 Combo, T50, T50 Max, and X8, will also be getting Matter 1.4 firmware updates starting today. The updates will start rolling out across these models in phases, Ecovacs Associate Brand Marketing Director, Michelle Jones, told The Verge in an email.Apple originally announced support for robot vacuums in Apple Home through Matter during WWDC 2024 as one of the many changes coming with iOS 18, though the features will be limited to power control, switching between vacuuming and mopping modes, and specifying which rooms to clean. Matter doesnt support more advanced cleaning features like mapping and configuring zones for robovacs to avoid, so those functions might only be available through each manufacturers own app.See More:

When you're setting out to buy an iPhone, you've probably noticed that there's like a gazillion of them out there. Apple released the iPhone 16 and 16 Pro models in 2024 and even more recently released the 16e, making the list of options even longer. This doesn't make it any easier to pick out a new phone for yourself unless you just want the latest and greatest. Even if that is you, it's still worth considering all of your options.Apple iPhone 16 ProApple iPhone 16Apple iPhone 16eSee it at AppleOnePlus 13No matter which iPhone you choose, each supports iOS 18 that was announced at WWDC 2024, which brings a ton of AI features to every iPhone on this list, along with an all-new Photos app that's way better organized. Though if you want to tap into Apple Intelligence, you'll be looking at any iPhone 15 and above.You can also check out our guide to the best iPhone accessories to help you find the right peripherals especially screen protectors for your new phone. We got a chance to review the Apple AirPods 4 with ANC, and they rival the AirPods 2 in several categories, so these earbuds may be worth investing in. Contributions by Georgie Peru and Rudie Obias1. iPhone 16 ProBest Overall iPhoneApple iPhone 16 ProA compact size is met by powerful internals, a great display, and capable cameras.Product SpecificationsScreen6.3-inch OLED, 1206x2622, 460 ppi, 120Hz refresh rateProcessorA18 ProCamera48-Megapixel Wide, 48-Megapixel Ultrawide, 12-Megapixel Telephoto, 12-Megapixel SelfieBattery3,582mAhWeight199g (0.44lb)PROSPowerful performanceElegant designRobust camera systemCONSCamera settings could use some tweaksThe iPhone 16 Pro gets major props for filling in the gap between the base iPhone 16 and the iPhone 16 Pro Max. Its more compact form factor will be more manageable for most users in one-handed use than the enormous Pro Max, but it doesnt miss out any features or camera sensors unlike previous iterations that had different cameras on the smaller Pro model. Of course, if you want the larger screen, you can simply upgrade to the iPhone 16 Pro Max and count on getting an otherwise similar experience.The iPhone 16 Pro gets all the latest from Apple, including the A18 Pro chip thats exceedingly powerful for everyday operation and gaming. In the iPhone 16 Pro Max, the chip had the single fastest Geekbench 6 single-core score Ive ever measured in a phone (and in a laptop for that matter). This also pairs with a GPU that rips. Playing the latest games, the chip is readily able to pump out high frame rates at max settings. Apples build is great and feels luxurious, though it doesn't come in the most vibrant colors. The screen is brilliant, offering both the combination of high brightness and contrast with the more fluid motion of a higher refresh rate. While Apple hypes up the durability of the new phones Ceramic Shield glass, I found its still able to get scraped up easily, so its worth some protection. The cameras on the iPhone 16 Pro and Pro Max are strong. The main sensor is downright excellent, exhibiting its strength in low-light scenarios where smartphone cameras typically struggle. The ultra-wide successfully squeezes more into the shot, though struggled a bit with softness and noise in my testing, seemingly as a result with a focusing issue (which you could avoid with manual focus). Theres also a helpful 5x telephoto sensor that makes all the difference when youre trying to capture portraits with natural bokeh or need to get closer to a subject you cant physically get closer to. The new Camera Control also provides a way to navigate settings and shoot photos with a more shutter-button-like control, though I think Apple has some more work to do perfecting it in future updates and hardware iterations. iPhone 16 Photos2. iPhone 16Best Mid-Range iPhoneApple iPhone 16More affordable than its Pro siblings, the iPhone 16 doesn't make you give up a lot and still delivers excellent performance. Product SpecificationsScreen6.3-inch OLED, 1206x2622, 460 ppi, 120Hz refresh rateProcessorA18Camera48-Megapixel Wide, 48-Megapixel Ultrawide, 12-Megapixel Telephoto, 12-Megapixel SelfieBattery3,582mAhWeight199g (0.44lb)PROSExcellent performanceFun colorsCONSUltra-wide and selfie shots can be softThe iPhone 16 is a properly brilliant mid-range option in the iPhone lineup. The introduction of Apple Intelligence required more from the internals, which meant Apple couldnt leave the base iPhone in the past on an outdated SoC like it has in previous years. As a result, the iPhone 16 ends up with the A18 chip, which puts up serious performance much like the A18 Pro chip in the phones Pro siblings. The A18 lagged behind the A18 Pro by a very small margin, but otherwise it readily blasted past the Geekbench 6 CPU performance Id seen from every phone running a Snapdragon 8 Gen 3 chipset in Android devices. Single-core even remains enough to outdo what Ive seen from the newer Snapdragon 8 Elite. With all that performance, the iPhone 16 easily holds up in everyday use and can play demanding games like Wuthering Waves with ease. Even after long play sessions, the phone remains comfortable to hold. This model has more colorful options for the hardware, should you like that, though you can also opt for a clean black or white design. The iPhone 16 also gets Ceramic Shield as protection, though I still recommend some extra protection for the phone. The size of the iPhone 16 is great in the pocket and in the hand, with its smaller width making it much more wieldy than the wide Pro Max models. While youll miss out on the extra smoothness of the 120Hz refresh rate on the Pro models, the iPhone 16 still gets a great display. Its plenty sharp for a 6.1-inch screen, and it offers a gorgeous OLED panel. That pairs with punchy speakers that make watching shows and movies on the phone all the more enjoyable. The main camera on the iPhone 16 snaps lovely photos, capturing vibrant color and pulling in enough light to make do even in dim environments. The ultra-wide and selfie cameras arent bad, but they do struggle with some softness, seemingly a focus issue much like I encountered on the Pro. This is something Apple will hopefully remedy in an update.3. iPhone 16eBest Budget iPhoneApple iPhone 16eThe iPhone 16e is Apple's cheapest new option and comes with a potent chip, though some overall trade-offs.See it at AppleProduct SpecificationsScreen6.1-inch OLED, 1170x2532, 60Hz refresh rateProcessorA18Camera48-Megapixel Wide, 12-Megapixel SelfieBattery4,005AhWeight167g (0.39lb)PROSFast chipLower price than main iPhone lineupCONSTrims a handful of common iPhone featuresIf youre looking for an iPhone on a budget, Apple isnt making your selection process much easier. With the introduction of the iPhone 16e, Apple's offerings stepped even further away from affordable than before. The prior iPhone SE may not have been a very good phone, but it at least had a more palatable starting price at $429. The new iPhone 16e enters as Apples lowest-priced iPhone currently available, but it starts at $599. While it becomes the de facto budget iPhone, this recommendation comes with some caveats. The iPhone 16e will give you a modern phone running on a potent chip in the A18 the same chip youll find in the iPhone 16, albeit with one fewer GPU core. This means youll get a fast enough phone and access to Apple Intelligence features. The iPhone 16e thankfully updated away from the prior iPhone SEs design, which was already incredibly dated when it launched in 2022. Youll get a larger and sharper 6.1-inch OLED display. That updated design also brings with it an aluminum frame and tough Ceramic Shield glass on both sides. Apple has also raised the base storage to a more agreeable 128GB. However, Apple took a lot away. Since the introduction of the iPhone 12, all of Apples non-SE models have had a few shared features. They all offered MagSafe for magnetically connected accessories and wireless charging. They all supported mmWave 5G. They all had UWB support, which allowed for precise location tracking on devices like the Apple AirTag and some other accessories. And they all included at least two cameras on the rear. The iPhone 16e omits all of these. That strips it of a lot of functionality and limits its camera capabilities. That may not be enough to make it a bad phone, but its all worth weighing. Now, I wont argue that you should just shell out for the $799 iPhone 16 instead. If you just need a simple phone and want it to be a new iPhone, you can go ahead with the iPhone 16e. But if youre not loving the many things it omits and arent sold on Apple Intellgences AI features, its worth considering that theres a world of refurbished and renewed devices out there offering serious discounts. Amazon has refurbished iPhone 14 Pro and iPhone 15 units in excellent conditions for under $500, for instance. For my money, Id take the refurbished iPhone 14 Pro deal over the iPhone 16e.4. OnePlus 13Best iPhone AlternativeOnePlus 13A great design, excellent display, superb performance and impressive cameras all combine in a discounted flagship that deserves consideration. Product SpecificationsScreen6.82-inch OLED, 1440x3168, 510ppi, 120Hz refresh rateProcessorSnapdragon 8 EliteCamera50-Megapixel Wide, 50-Megapixel Ultrawide, 50-Megapixel Telephoto, 32-Megapixel SeflieBattery6,000mAhWeight210g (0.46lb)PROSGreat valueFast performanceCONSSoftware support a little shorter than rivalsThe iPhone is beloved for its easy-to-use software, solid cameras, and excellent performance. But if youre not committed to the operating system or dont want to pay the premiums to get some of the features locked away in the top tier of Apples phones, then the OnePlus 13 provides an exciting alternative. The OnePlus 13 comes in at $899, but rather than competing with the iPhone 16 or iPhone 16 Plus at this price, its more of a rival to the $1199 iPhone 16 Pro Max. Where Apples top-line phone brings a bigger display, smoother refresh rate, more cameras, and upgraded processing to the table, the OnePlus 13 also delivers similarly. It boasts a triple-camera setup on the back complete with a 50MP telephoto sensor that helps punch in on far-off subjects, and thats backed up by a 50MP main sensor and 50MP ultra-wide sensor. Combined, these shoot great photos and video, and the selfie camera on the front is a knockout. The display is iPhone-worthy. It stretches 6.82-inches across corner to corner and has a 3168x1440 resolution, just a hair shy of the iPhone 16 Pro Max. It also boasts a 120Hz refresh rate for smooth visuals, plus it can drop all the way down to 1Hz to save power when displaying static content. On top of that, its a brilliant OLED panel with ultra-bright peaks and inky blacks. Performance had long been the area that even the best Android phones couldnt quite touch Apple, but the Snapdragon 8 Gen 3 started to shake that up in Android flagships in 2024, and the Snapdragon 8 Elite in the OnePlus 13 only moves the needle further. The OnePlus 13 nearly caught the iPhone 16 Pro Max in single-core performance, beat it in multi-core performance, and swept up in 3DMarks graphics tests. Its a champ when gaming, too. And with a 6,000mAh battery, its ready for heavy use all day. Never mind that when the battery gets low, you can juice back up with 80W wired charging or 50W wireless charging. Did I mention that the phone is also elegant? It gets a stylish design with either a silver and white colorway, a silver frame and vegan leather backing in a bold blue, or a blacked-out color scheme with the back glass etched to show a wood grain pattern. The phone also includes an alert slider akin to the old iPhones Ring/Silent switch. And while the iPhone 16 lineup has respectable water ingress protection, the OnePlus 13 steps it up with IP68 protection against submersion and IP69 protection that keeps the internals safe even against hot, high-pressure water jets. The OnePlus 13 has so much going for it, and if youre not dead set on an iPhone, its definitely worth considering. Upcoming iPhonesWe saw a few new iPhone additions for 2024 by way of the iPhone 16s, and they offer some great improvements and serious performance. Apple also lowered the prices of earlier models in a meaningful way. That said, Apple recently introduced the cheaper iPhone 16e, meant to replace the iPhone SE budget model. Additionally, leaked images and information about upcoming iPhones have cropped up on the internet, which seem to be the iPhone 17 lineup that includes an iPhone Air.What to Look for in an Apple iPhoneWhile there are a number of different models, the user experience is essentially the same. Thats one of the Apple iPhones biggest draws and why its the most popular smartphone in the world. However, the differences between models can make it tougher to find the best one for you. Heres what to look out for in an Apple iPhone in 2025.Phone SizeWhen it comes to the iPhone, size matters. If you want to be able to use it with just one hand, finding the best size is key. For bigger hands,the Apple iPhone 16 Plus or the Apple iPhone 16 Pro Max is the perfect fit, thanks to their larger displays and wider builds. But if youre on the smaller side, then the Apple iPhone 16 or iPhone 14.Storage CapacityAdditionally, storage size is also something to think about. If you want to take a lot of high resolution photos, then the Apple iPhone 16 Pro Max with 1TB of storage is the best option. Other models listed here come with a base of 128GB, which should do if you dont want to use a lot of apps and just use it very casually.PriceIf price is a consideration, the Apple iPhone ranges from the new cheapest iPhone, the iPhone 16e, at $599 to the totally maxed out iPhone 16 Pro Max (1TB) at $1,599. Best of all, even if you go with the most inexpensive model, Apple iOS operating system will be included which will receive updates for the next five-to-six years after purchase. So whatever the budget, each model gets about the same software experience and support. Overall, the most important thing to look for when buying an iPhone is how youll use it. For most people, the Apple iPhone 16 Pro is the best pick because it's the most well-rounded with a fast processor, fantastic camera system, timeless colors, and a wide range of storage options at a good price.Best iPhone FAQWhat are the best iPhone alternatives?Although iPhones dominate a large sector of the smartphone market these days, there are quite a few Android phones that match up well to the latest Apple devices. The best iPhone alternatives include the OnePlus 13 and Google Pixel 9 Pro which are at the top of the Android market. There are other brands like Asus and RedMagic that offer some decent phones as well that have many of the features and iOS user would expect.Mark Knapp is a contributing freelancer for IGN covering everything electronics and gaming hardware. He has over 10 years of experience in the tech industry with bylines at PCMag, Reviewed, CNET, and more. Find Mark on Twitter @Techn0Mark or BlueSky at @Techn0Mark.

Over 10 years into the Conjuring Universe, James Wan and Peter Safran have created eight movies across three subfranchises: The Conjuring, Annabelle, and The Nun. With the final Conjuring movie coming out this year, we've put together this handy streaming guide detailing how you can watch all eight movies in the popular horror movie franchise.For those looking to watch or rewatch the films during this year's spooky season, we've compiled this guide on where you can watch all of the Conjuring movies right now.Where to Watch The Conjuring Movies OnlineGet the Disney+, Hulu, Max Streaming Bundle$16.99/month with ads, $29.99/month ad-free.See it at MaxAll 8 films in the Conjuring Universe are available to watch online, but unfortunately they're split across different streaming services. The mainline Conjuring films are all streaming on Max, while The Nun and Annabelle movies are on Netflix.Here's our full breakdown of where to watch The Conjuring movies online in 2025:The Conjuring (2013)Stream: Max or HuluAnnabelle (2014)Stream: NetflixThe Conjuring 2 (2016)Stream: MaxAnnabelle: Creation (2017)Stream: MaxThe Nun (2018)Stream: NetflixAnnabelle Comes Home (2019)Stream: MaxThe Conjuring: The Devil Made Me Do It (2021)Stream: MaxThe Nun 2 (2023)Stream: MaxThe Conjuring Movies on Blu-ray The Conjuring: 7 Film Collection [Blu-Ray]See it at AmazonWhile there are technically 8 movies in The Conjuring-verse, the closest you can get to a full set on DVD is this 7-movie collection. You can also find each individual Conjuring movie on Blu-ray at most online retailers. Is The Curse of La Llorona a Conjuring Movie?The Curse of La Llorona is absent from our list as it does not exist in the Conjuring Universe."You can't count it!" producer Peter Safran told EW. "It periodically gets lumped in because of [director Michael] Chaves and because of [production company] Atomic Monster, but it is not officially part of the universe."What's the Best Order to Watch the Conjuring Movies?Navigating the Conjuring Universe is a bit tricky, as the narrative chronology does not follow the release order. If you want to be sure you're viewing the movies in the best order for you, be sure to check out our Conjuring movies in order explainer.The Conjuring Movies in (Chronological) OrderWill There Be More Conjuring Movies?PlayYes. The Conjuring: Last Rites, which will be the fourth and final mainline Conjuring movie, is releasing in theaters on September 5, 2025. There's also an untitled TV series in The Conjuring universe being developed for Max. In the meantime, you can check out our list of movies like the Conjuring for something new to watch. Jordan covers games, shows, and movies as a freelance writer for IGN.