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Xbox Game Pass has long been considered one of the best-value subscriptions in gaming. But recent developments suggest that even Microsoft is rethinking that position. A leaked internal memo has revealed concerns about pricing, signalling potential changes ahead for the popular service.

Microsoft Acknowledges Pricing Issues

According to a report by The Verge, Microsoft’s new Xbox leadership admitted internally that Game Pass has “become too expensive for players.” This statement reflects growing concerns about whether the current pricing model still delivers strong value.

The memo highlights that while Game Pass remains central to Xbox’s long-term strategy, the current cost may no longer align with user expectations.

What Led to the Price Concerns?

Several factors appear to have contributed to the rising cost of the subscription:

• Recent price increases: The Game Pass Ultimate tier reportedly jumped significantly, reaching around $29.99 per month.
• High-profile game additions: Popular titles, including major franchises such as Call of Duty, have been added to the service, thereby increasing operational costs.
• Expanding ecosystem: The service now includes cloud gaming, PC access, and a broader game library, which adds to its overall value—but also its cost.

While these improvements were meant to enhance the offering, they may have unintentionally pushed the price beyond what many players consider affordable.

Plans for a More Flexible Game Pass

Microsoft is reportedly exploring ways to improve the “value equation” of Game Pass. This could involve:

• Introducing more flexible subscription tiers
• Offering lower-cost plans with limited features
• Adjusting bundled content or game availability

The company is not expected to make immediate changes, but internal discussions suggest that updates are being actively considered.

Could Game Pass Become Cheaper?

Although no official price cuts have been announced, there is speculation that Microsoft may restructure the service rather than simply reduce prices. Some reports suggest that certain premium titles could be removed or separated into different tiers to balance costs.

This approach would allow Microsoft to maintain profitability while still appealing to a broader audience.

Community Reactions and Industry Impact

The discussion around Game Pass pricing is not limited to Microsoft. Many gamers have already expressed concerns about affordability, especially after recent price hikes.

Online discussions show that some users are reconsidering subscriptions in favour of purchasing games individually, particularly during sales. This shift highlights a key challenge for subscription-based gaming services: maintaining perceived value over time.

What This Means for Gamers

For players, these developments could lead to:

• More affordable subscription options
• Greater choice in how they access games
• Potential changes in which titles are included

Ultimately, Microsoft appears to be aiming for a balance between accessibility and sustainability.

Conclusion

The leaked memo reported by The Verge reveals a significant moment for Xbox Game Pass. Even as the service continues to grow, pricing concerns are forcing a reevaluation of its structure.

If Microsoft successfully adjusts its strategy, Game Pass could evolve into a more flexible and user-friendly platform. For now, gamers can expect ongoing discussions—and possibly meaningful changes—in the near future.

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The Google class action settlement benefits consumers who have used Android-powered mobile devices to access the internet via cellular data networks since November 12, 2017.

According to the class action lawsuit, Google’s Android operating system caused smartphones to send information to Google without the user’s permission. The transfers apparently occurred in the background, even while the devices were idle or not in use.

The plaintiffs in the complaint claim that Google could have made these transfers only when devices were connected to Wi-Fi, but instead decided to use cellular data. This unauthorised use of cellular data allegedly breached the law, forcing Google to pay users for cellular data used for its own profit.

Google has not admitted any wrongdoing, but has reached a $135 million class action settlement to resolve the allegations.

According to the terms of the Google settlement, class members may receive a cash reward. The exact payment amounts will vary depending on the number of participants in the class and how much each class member paid for cellular data while using Android devices.

According to the settlement website, there are almost 100 million class members. Each class member is expected to receive the same amount from the settlement fund, but exact payment amounts are not currently available.

If any funds remain in the settlement after distribution, the settlement administrator may transfer them among class members who have already been paid successfully. If redistribution is not economically viable, the cash will be allocated to a court-approved group. No remaining monies will be returned to Google.

The settlement also includes non-monetary advantages. Google will amend the Google Play Terms of Service, a page in Google’s Help Center, and the setup screens that Android users see during device setup. These updates will reveal the conduct at issue in the complaint and urge users to consent. Google will also turn off a related setting on Android smartphones.

The deadline to exclude and object to the class action settlement is May 29, 2026.

The final approval hearing for the Google deal is set for June 23, 2026.

The settlement does not require the submission of a claim form. Class members who do not opt out will automatically receive settlement rewards. Class participants who want to receive their payment by direct deposit or another way must choose their chosen payment method on the settlement website.

Who is eligible?

The class action settlement benefits anyone who are not class members in a related complaint, Csupo v. Google LLC, and have used an Android-powered mobile device with a cellular data plan to access the internet since November 12, 2017.

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Last week on Power On, Apple’s AirPods Max 2 headphones blurred the distinction between marketing and innovation.

The Starters

Apple Inc. understands that its own artificial intelligence technology lags behind ChatGPT, Google Gemini, Anthropic, and other platforms. And, with its competitors gaining ground at rapid pace, Apple will not be recognised as an AI leader in the near future.

That fact is inspiring the company’s new strategy, which will be announced at the Worldwide Developers Conference on June 8. Rather than engaging in an AI arms race, Apple is focusing on its core competencies: selling extremely profitable hardware and profiting from the services that run on it.

Historically, Apple’s software — such as iMessage, Maps, and Photos — has been designed to drive device sales rather than generate revenue on its own. In contrast, competitors are aggressively monetising AI via subscriptions and premium apps. Apple realises that few, if any, people will pay for Siri or its other artificial intelligence capabilities. The time to convert Apple Intelligence into a moneymaker has now passed.

Instead, Apple is adopting a two-pronged strategy: incorporating just enough AI within its operating systems to dissuade people from switching to Android, while also exposing Siri and Apple Intelligence to third-party businesses. This strategy exploits Apple’s hardware, increases product customisation, and maintains the corporation in control of its ecosystem.

The impending iOS 27 Extensions feature, which will allow users to install and operate third-party AI chatbots other than ChatGPT inside Siri, is a key component of this plan. This functionality will have its own dedicated App Store area, thus creating an AI App Store. It will essentially function as a marketplace for third-party AI integrations.

A separate endeavour to improve Siri and other AI capabilities using Google’s Gemini technology enables Apple to provide usable and capable in-house technologies. However, the next important step is to supplement those capabilities with third-party products. Apple can continue iPhone and other device sales while still making cash from AI-driven apps, thanks to the App Store’s 30% fee.

Apple will continue to require its own services, both for marketing purposes and to deliver a usable out-of-the-box iPhone experience. It’s the same strategy Apple has taken with built-in apps for years: make its offerings usable even if they lag behind competitors. Furthermore, the company requires in-house technology to enable the introduction of additional device categories such as high-end AirPods, smart glasses, a pendant, and smart home goods. Delays with the new Siri have hampered some of these efforts.

Apple’s artificial intelligence software may still be mediocre, but its chips and hardware support AI well in general. This dynamic indicates that the company’s future will most likely be based on hardware, rather than AI software and advanced massive language models. It also strengthens the case for John Ternus, Apple’s chief of hardware engineering, as a likely successor to CEO Tim Cook. At this point, a hardware expert may be more appropriate than someone capable of leading an AI software effort.

Unlike previous initiatives to compete in music, communications, TV, and maps (where the business remains competitive), Apple has effectively conceded the AI race. That means not building a major competitor while allowing third parties to innovate. The corporation had little choice. It was caught off guard by ChatGPT in 2022 and lost AI talent to OpenAI, Meta Platforms Inc., Google, and Anthropic PBC.

Nonetheless, it has a potentially successful path – even if the firm stumbled into it. The closest historical counterpart is Apple’s App Store, which provides in-house software while allowing customers to install third-party alternatives and gets a portion of the revenue. Many consumers remain with Apple’s settings, while many others prefer more advanced options, such as maps, email, and browser software.

However, AI differs. It’s much more fundamental, bringing this approach closer to the inconceivable situation of allowing competing operating systems to run on Apple devices. Some Apple executives and observers have attempted to compare AI to online search, claiming that the firm can thrive without owning it. However, that analogy is incomplete: search is a destination, whereas AI is evolving into the next-generation operating system.

Still, Apple has little alternative but to adopt app and search-like techniques. With iOS 27 and the new Siri Extensions, Apple indicates that it will not actively compete with OpenAI or Google in the market for the most advanced models and features. Instead, it will use its hardware dominance and platform control to remain a tremendously lucrative corporation, while allowing others to bear the burden of AI innovation.

The Mac Pro had already died. Apple has officially made it official. The slow decline of the Mac Pro began in 2022, when Apple shelved plans for a high-end CPU with twice as many processing cores as its Ultra components. Without that high-end processor, the Mac Pro lost its sole purpose, especially when the Mac Studio — smaller, cheaper, quieter, and more practical — already covered the same area.

Nonetheless, Apple had pledged to moving the Mac Pro into the era of in-house silicon (the previous version still used Intel CPUs), so it released an unimpressive M2 Ultra model in 2023, along with a Mac Studio with identical features. Apple’s marketing at the time emphasised that every Mac Pro came with an M2 Ultra, although this didn’t hold much weight given that the cheaper Mac Studio had the same processor.

Other aspects of the Mac Pro made it difficult to sell. It was about three times the volume of the Mac Studio and cost $3,000 more, with prices starting at $6,999. The approach to expansion also felt dated: there were PCIe slots for networking and audio cards, but no support for updating the components that are most important in modern workflows, like as memory and graphics.

By last year, these flaws had become impossible to overlook. The Mac Studio with the M3 Ultra pulled ahead due to improved performance, more memory capacity, and substantially higher storage ceilings. Notably, the Mac Pro did not receive any updates. Simply swapping in new chips (something Apple appears to do ten times per year across other product lines) was evidently too much of a lift.

Apple also paved the path for the Mac Pro’s discontinuation in other ways. That included the news last month that the Mac mini would be manufactured in Houston. The Mac Pro was the company’s only domestically built computer, therefore Apple was able to escape headlines claiming that it killed its only made-in-America product.

Even before the latest incident, the Mac Pro had a turbulent history. Apple harmed the product’s attractiveness in 2013 with the “trash can” redesign, a thermally limited experiment that stalled major improvements for years. In 2017, the corporation took an unprecedented move by admitting its mistake. It eventually produced a well-received new Mac Pro in 2019, presenting it as a fresh start with the promise of regular updates. So much for it.

Iphone 17 Pro max

Apple offers bonuses to iPhone product design engineers in an attempt to discourage them from leaving for OpenAI. The company’s leadership have become increasingly dissatisfied in recent months as a result of defections to OpenAI. The startup’s hardware section, overseen by former Apple design chief Evans Hankey and senior engineering leader Tang Tan, has actively recruited from the iPhone maker’s engineering ranks.

OpenAI has ambitious plans for AI-powered devices, with former Apple design guru Jony Ive assisting with the items’ look and feel. Since last year, the ChatGPT maker has recruited several dozen Apple engineers who had previously worked on the iPhone, Vision Pro headset, audio technology, and practically every other aspect of the company’s hardware and design operations.

From a legal sense, Apple has no power to stop this. So the corporation is attempting a different strategy: retention. Apple has began to award significant out-of-cycle bonuses to key iPhone product designers, ranging from $200,000 to $400,000 with a four-year vesting period.

The difficulty is that OpenAI is willing to go considerably further, providing equity packages worth millions each year. Apple has the resources to compete at that level, but has previously decided not to.

Internally, there is more anxiety about a cultural shift. Some engineers believe that the most intriguing and forward-thinking work is taking place elsewhere, at OpenAI and fledgling firms such as Hark. Apple is perceived, properly or not, as reflecting the past. This is a difficult perception to change.

To be fair, Apple is creating its own AI-powered hardware, and it has a long history of entering markets late and succeeding. The corporation could quickly follow any breakthrough gadget, and its vertically integrated strategy should give it an advantage even if Apple’s AI isn’t superior.

Still, this is an important time for Apple to demonstrate that it is still relevant, particularly as the firm approaches its 50th anniversary. Previously, engineers would accept lower salary in exchange for the opportunity to work there. For many, that era has long passed.

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In the United States, the PS5 disc edition will cost $649.99, up $100 from the previous time Sony raised the console’s costs last year. The device’s digital variant will likewise be priced $100 higher at $599.99. Sony’s most powerful console, the PS5 Pro, is now priced at $899.99, up $150.

The pricing increases take effect on April 2.

“We know that price changes impact our community, and after careful evaluation, we found this was a necessary step to ensure we can continue delivering innovative, high-quality gaming experiences to players worldwide,” the company wrote on its blog.

Sony boosted global prices last year amidst persistently high inflation and uncertainty prompted by US tariffs.

The company is currently dealing with an unusual spike in memory prices. Memory is a critical component of the PS5, and costs have risen dramatically as memory manufacturers allocate their stock to meet high demand from AI data centers, while supply remains tight.

Sony also boosted prices for the console in Japan, the United Kingdom, and Europe. In the United Kingdom, each PS5 model will cost £90 (about $120).

‘Inevitable’ price increases?

Piers Harding-Rolls, research director of games at Ampere Analysis, told CNBC that pricing increases were unavoidable given the growth in memory prices.

“It is likely that Sony had price protections for its components for a set period and this may well have come to an end,” according to Harding-Rolls.

“With no signs of price reductions, Sony will have made the decision to safeguard its thin hardware margins. It would be unsurprising if Microsoft and Nintendo followed suit in the near future.

So far, Nintendo has kept prices stable for its flagship Switch 2 console, which was only released last year.

“It’s awkward for Nintendo as it won’t want to raise the price of the Switch 2 when it is trying to establish the new platform,” Harding-Rolls told reporters.

During an earnings call in February, a Sony executive stated that the company intends to mitigate the impact of rising memory costs by focusing on monetising its existing PS5 install base and boosting its software and network service income.

The war in the Middle East could put more pressure on component prices, according to Harding-Rolls.

“A new wave of inflation is expected from the war in the Middle East, and this will compound the effect of the component price increases,” according to Harding-Rolls.

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CUPERTINO, CALIFORNIA—Apple today launched AirPods Max 2, which improves Active Noise Cancellation (ANC), sound quality, and intelligent features in the classic over-ear design. Adaptive Audio, Conversation Awareness, Voice Isolation, and Live Translation are new capabilities for AirPods Max, powered by H2. The new AirPods Max also open up new creative possibilities for podcasters, musicians, and content creators, thanks to capabilities like studio-quality audio recording and a camera remote.

AirPods Max 2 will be available for purchase beginning March 25 in midnight, starlight, orange, purple, and blue, with delivery beginning early next month.

“With the incredible performance of H2, AirPods Max are upgraded with up to 1.5x more effective ANC for the ultimate all-day listening experience,” said Eric Treski, Apple’s head of Audio Product Marketing. “The sound quality is remarkably clean, rich, and acoustically detailed — and when combined with capabilities like Personalised Spatial Audio, AirPods Max 2 deliver a profoundly immersive experience.”

Active noise cancellation gets much better.

AirPods Max 2 provide up to 1.5x more effective ANC than the previous version, thanks to H2 and improved computational audio algorithms. This lowers even more noise, such as aeroplane engines or commuter trains, allowing users to completely immerse themselves in music, work, or phone calls.

Transparency now sounds even more genuine thanks to a new digital signal processing algorithm optimised for H2 and the microphone array on AirPods Max, allowing users to stay aware of their surroundings.

Airpod Max 2

Highest-fidelity listening experience

AirPods Max 2 include a new high dynamic range amplifier for significantly cleaner audio while retaining the great sound signature of AirPods Max. Spatial Audio content now sounds better than ever, with increased instrument localisation, more precise and consistent bass response, and more natural-sounding mids and highs.

When connected with the supplied USB-C cable, the new AirPods Max enable 24-bit, 48 kHz lossless audio for the best sound quality in music, movies, and games. Lossless audio and ultra-low latency audio allow music creators to use AirPods Max throughout their professional workflow on Logic Pro and other music creation software. Using the USB-C cable, AirPods Max are the only headphones that let musicians both create and mix in Personalized Spatial Audio with head tracking.

Reduced wireless audio latency also improves gaming performance. Games on iOS, macOS, and iPadOS seem more responsive and immersive when played in Game Mode with AirPods Max 2.

AirPods Max now include intelligent features.

H2 introduces a number of new features that make the AirPods Max 2 even more intelligent and convenient.

• Adaptive Audio intelligently adjusts the settings of ANC and Transparency in reaction to the environment, optimising the audio experience.
• Conversation Awareness reduces content volume and background noise when a user begins speaking to someone nearby.
• Live Translation, powered by Apple Intelligence, enables users to communicate across languages in person.
• Voice Isolation employs powerful computational audio enabled by H2 to prioritize voice during calls while blocking ambient noise.
• With the camera remote, users may capture material from a distance by touching the Digital Crown to take a photo and start or stop video recording while using the Camera app or compatible third-party camera apps on iPhone or iPad.
• Interviewers, podcasters, singers, and other content creators can use studio-quality audio recording to capture higher-quality audio and more genuine vocal texture.
• Loud Sound Reduction allows consumers to avoid exposure to loud environmental noise while maintaining the sound profile of what they’re listening to.
• Personalized Volume intelligently adjusts the listening experience for users based on their preferences over time.
• Siri Interactions enable users to quickly and quietly respond to Siri announcements by just nodding yes or gently shaking their heads no.

AirPods Max 2 and Environment

Apple 2030 is the company’s ambitious aim to achieve carbon neutrality across its entire footprint by the end of the decade by cutting product emissions from three major sources: materials, electricity, and transportation. AirPods Max 2 are constructed using 100% recycled rare earth elements in all magnets, 100% recycled polyester in the ear cushion, and 100% recycled gold plating and tin solder in all Apple-designed printed circuit boards. The paper packaging is 100% fiber-based and easily recyclable.

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If you believe you’ve seen everything cellphones have to offer, 2026 is about to prove you wrong.

The Android phone you use in 2026 may appear similar on the appearance, but on the inside, it is becoming significantly more powerful, intelligent, and connected. From smarter AI features to new battery technologies and even robotic-inspired gadgets, Android innovation is accelerating in multiple directions at the same time.

Here are the top 10 Android trends that will shape your mobile experience this year.

AI-native smartphones have becoming the new standard.

Artificial intelligence is no longer merely an add-on function for smartphones. In 2026, Android devices will increasingly be developed with AI at their heart, due to CPUs designed expressly for running machine learning tasks on-device.

Instead of sending every request to the cloud, smartphones may now handle many AI capabilities locally. This leads to speedier responses, increased privacy, and more dependable functioning even when there is no strong internet connection.

Manufacturers are also deploying AI bots to help with daily duties. Some devices already include tools that allow you to edit photographs with voice commands, suggest activities based on what’s on your screen, and automatically search across your phone and apps.

As a result, the smartphone behaves more like an intelligent assistant working discreetly in the background rather than a tool.

Agentic AI programs will begin completing tasks for you.

Another emerging trend is the proliferation of AI agents within apps. These technologies can not only answer questions, but also take activities on your behalf.

In the near future, your phone may schedule meetings, book travel, organise paperwork, or finish purchasing transactions autonomously.

These “agentic” solutions integrate AI assistants with strong super-app ecosystems, allowing them to access calendars, contacts, payments, and location data. Instead than hopping between apps to complete tasks, users may rely on AI to execute common digital tasks.

New smartphone CPUs will offer substantial performance boosts.

Next-generation mobile processors will represent one of the most significant shifts in 2026.

Chipmakers including Qualcomm, Samsung, and MediaTek are developing new silicon expressly for AI workloads and increased efficiency. These chips are likely to power a large number of top Android devices released this year.

Because to the improved CPU performance and specialised AI technology, phones will handle demanding tasks such as video processing, gaming, and advanced photography more smoothly than before.

Privacy-first displays

We’ve all had to deal with shoulder surfers who tried to read our private messages on the bus or in meetings. Samsung has officially addressed issue by introducing the world’s first built-in Privacy Display on the Galaxy S26 Ultra.

This technique employs specialised layers to darken the screen when viewed from the side. You can enable it when reviewing banking information or sensitive correspondence to ensure that your data remains private. It’s a straightforward solution to a deeply human problem.

Professional-grade telephoto extenders

If you’ve ever wanted your phone to zoom like a hefty DSLR camera, 2026 is the year. Following the success of the vivo X200 Ultra, more Android phone manufacturers are introducing attachable telephoto extenders.

These are not simply digital zoom trickery. They are actual lens attachments that fit onto your phone’s periscope camera. Some systems already have an effective 400mm zoom range, allowing you to photograph a bird on a branch from 20 meters distant with great clarity. It makes professional photography available to anyone with a spare pocket.

Silicon-carbon batteries (8000mAh standard)

Battery anxiety is finally disappearing. Chinese producers have pioneered silicon-carbon batteries, which have significantly higher energy density than ordinary lithium-ion batteries.

This technology enables businesses to fit more power into the same small frame. We are now seeing flagship phones with 8,000mAh batteries, and charging speeds are reaching new highs, with 60W to 100W cable charging becoming the expected standard for high-performance devices.

The robot phone species

Honour recently attracted attention at MWC with their Robot Phone concept. This is more than just a phone; it has a motorised gimbal system. It can physically track your movements during a video call or swivel the camera to follow a topic while filming.

By perceiving the phone as a “extension of our hands” rather than merely our minds, this movement is bridging the gap between mobile technology and robotics. Expect more motorised components that allow your phone to interact with the physical environment around it.

Creaseless foldable technology.

One of the most common criticisms concerning foldable phones has always been the obvious wrinkle in the middle of the screen. That will finally disappear by 2026. Samsung Display demonstrated creaseless foldable screens that use new materials to avoid the dip.

This technology is largely in response to the coming “iPhone Fold,” although Android users will benefit first. The end result is a smooth, flat viewing experience that makes switching from phone to tablet feel much more natural.

The final death of the SIM card.

Physical SIM cards are officially on their way out. Android manufacturers are following Apple’s lead and adopting iSIMs (integrated SIMs). Unlike eSIMs, which require a separate chip, iSIMs are embedded directly in the phone’s processor.

This makes phones more secure, water resistant, and simple to set up. You won’t have to hunt for a paperclip to unlock a little tray; instead, you’ll be able to switch carriers or plans with a few taps on your screen.

The memory and storage squeeze

However, not all of the news is good. The rise of AI has resulted in a large demand for memory, pushing smartphone memory costs up by over 50% in the last year.

As a result, many mid-range phones now have 8GB of RAM rather than the projected 12GB. Manufacturers must strike a compromise between high component costs and the requirement to keep phones inexpensive, which may result in smaller storage tiers or somewhat higher entry-level prices.

The Big Picture for Android in 2026

Taken together, these trends depict a smartphone sector that is moving in multiple directions at the same time.

Android phones are becoming smarter through artificial intelligence, more powerful through new processors, and more adaptable thanks to new physical designs. At the same time, advances in battery technology, connection, and photography are gradually boosting the whole smartphone experience.

The improvements may not be visible at first glance, but the technology inside Android handsets is rapidly evolving, and 2026 is shaping up to be a watershed moment for the platform.

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Advanced Protection Mode is a one-tap security feature launched with Android 16 for customers who desire more protection against assaults and malicious apps.

Meanwhile, the AccessibilityService API enables persons with disabilities to engage with their devices. Screen readers, switch-based input systems, and other assistive technologies use it to read screen content and conduct actions on the user’s behalf.
However, those same skills can also be abused. Apps that support accessibility can read screen information, analyse user interactions, and even perform motions automatically. The API has been used by various programs over the years to work around Android’s system constraints, including automation tools, customisation utilities, monitoring apps, and several launchers.
As we previously noted, Google has been attempting to close this gap in Advanced Protection Mode.

What changes in Android 17 Beta 2?

With the new behaviour enabled, Advanced Protection Mode stops apps that are not formally classed as accessibility tools from getting access permissions.
If a non-accessibility app already has the permission, the system will automatically revoke it. Users will also be unable to provide the permission while the mode is active.

We tested this by downloading dynamicSpot, an app that simulates Dynamic Island behaviour on Android phones, onto our Pixel 9a running Android 17 Beta 2. With Advanced Protection Mode enabled, we were unable to grant dynamicSpot the accessibility permissions required to display floating pop-ups. The only way to utilize the app currently is to turn off Advanced Protection Mode.

Disclosure & Restriction

Meanwhile, the stable Android 16 QPR3 build running on our Pixel 10 Pro allows us to use dynamicSpot with Advanced Protection Mode enabled.
According to Google’s support page, this change will not affect apps that properly register themselves as accessible tools, such as screen readers or voice-based accessibility services.

While the new behaviour aligns with the overall goals of Advanced Protection Mode, users who enable it may lose compatibility with specific apps. What’s nice is that Google is at least providing consumers a clear choice: utilise Advanced Protection Mode to protect yourself from malicious applications, or risk not using it and continuing to use apps that require accessibility permissions.

With the update now showing in Android 17 Beta 2, there is no doubt that it will be included in the stable release.

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Plaintiff Purya Ghrabeti filed a class action complaint against T-Mobile USA Inc. in California state court on November 12, alleging violations of the state’s consumer protection statutes.

According to the class action lawsuit, T-Mobile touted a promotion that included $200 gift cards for each new phone line purchased. However, after qualifying purchases, T-Mobile allegedly failed to honour the discount.

Ghrabeti claims he was enticed to buy more phone lines by T-Mobile’s promise of $200 gift cards for each line. After making the transaction, he claims he was told the deal did not exist and that the company would not send the promised gift cards.

The class action lawsuit claims that T-Mobile engaged in misleading advertising and deceptive business practices by promoting a gift card offer that it did not plan to fulfil.

T-Mobile class suit alleges customers were misled by deceptive advertising.

Ghrabeti alleges that a store representative validated T-Mobile’s promotional offer during the purchase process, and that he later discovered similar complaints from other customers who did not receive the promised gift cards.

The class action lawsuit claims that T-Mobile’s acts constituted misleading advertising under California law and that they were part of a larger conspiracy to entice users to make purchases based on nonexistent deals.

Ghrabeti seeks to represent a class of California consumers who acquired new phone lines or devices from T-Mobile based on a promotional offer that promised a gift card or other financial incentive but did not receive it.

He requests a jury trial and seeks restitution, equitable remedy, and injunctive action for himself and the proposed class.

T-Mobile is still facing charges that it switched cell phone plans to more expensive ones without the customer’s agreement, despite a lifetime plan guarantee.

What are your thoughts on the claims made in this T-Mobile class action lawsuit? Please let us know in the comments.

The plaintiff is represented by Todd M. Friedman, Adrian R. Bacon, and Meghan E. George of the Law Offices of Todd M. Friedman P.C.

The T-Mobile class action complaint is Ghrabeti v. T-Mobile USA Inc., Case No. 5:25-cv-03031, filed in the Superior Court of California for the County of Riverside.

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In a social media post Thursday afternoon, Sharma stated that “our commitment to the return of Xbox” would include a new console dubbed Project Helix, which “will lead in performance and play your Xbox and PC games.” Sharma stated that she will discuss that commitment and the console itself with developers and partners during her first Game Developers Conference next week.

Sharma’s statement allows for Project Helix to be more than just a Windows-based living room gaming machine. The next console’s access to PC games could be confined to Microsoft’s existing streaming solution, such as PC Game Pass, or to games created with Microsoft’s own Xbox-branded PC SDK and the PC Xbox app.

Still, a basic interpretation of Sharma’s comments suggests that Microsoft is preparing to open up its next console to a full Windows installation, allowing it to play tens of thousands of existing PC games. That isn’t entirely surprising given that Microsoft already utilised the Xbox name for last year’s Windows-based ROG Xbox Ally (and its rather console-esque full-screen “Xbox Experience”). Microsoft has also gradually reduced the number of games that are completely exclusive to Xbox platforms, diminishing the value of a closed-off console platform. Meanwhile, Valve’s upcoming Steam Machine threatens to bring Windows-free PC gaming to living rooms worldwide in the near future.

There have also been rumours of a Windows-based Xbox system for quite some time. Last October, Windows Central revealed that Microsoft’s next console will run a TV-optimised version of “full-bore Windows,” with the option to remain within a separate “Xbox ecosystem” if gamers so desired. Earlier this month, the site suggested that the console might be released next year in a variety of price/power tiers.

The devil, as always, will be in the details. How well will living room players be able to manage games across various PC launchers and store platforms? How well can the console convert games created specifically for a keyboard and mouse to a living room environment? How readily will it play games created for previous versions of Windows (as well as earlier Xbox consoles)?

We’ll keep an eye out for these kinds of information when they surely emerge in the months leading up to Project Helix’s official launch. For the time being, however, we have the greatest indication that Microsoft intends to permanently combine its Xbox and Windows game platforms.

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