Halo’s going back to basics everywhere
We never thought we’d see the day. The day when Xbox finally relented to end the console war once and for all. Halo is headed to PlayStation, folks. This isn’t the Halo you might remember your Xbox-owning friends bragging about staying up ’til 05h00 to play. But it’s pretty damn close. This is Halo: Campaign Evolved, landing in 2026.
Don’t ask us why Xbox didn’t want to revive the enormous hype surrounding Halo’s iconic multiplayer scene that arguably built its kingdom? We don’t doubt PlayStation gamers will get to see that happen eventually, but for now, they’re limited to playing a remastered version of the first game’s campaign with a fresh coat of paint.
And what a coat it is. Halo Studios confirmed that Campaign Evolved has been built from the ground up to honour the original “while modernizing the experience.” That means all the levels you remember, but with new cinematics, smoother controls and movement, and “improved wayfinding and combat flow.” Even the soundtrack has been fully remastered here.
By the studio’s own description, “what makes Halo special isn’t just the gameplay, it’s who you play it with.” To that end, Campaign Evolved is still offering up four-player online co-op (with crossplay), or two-player couch co-op, though the lack of proper online multiplayer is a strange one. Give it a while, and we’re sure Xbox will capitalise on the situation with a proper Halo 2 remaster. In the meantime, check out Halo’s new trailer.
The next iPad Pro may be considerably cooler
If Apple’s M5 chip wasn’t enough to tempt you into picking up the latest iPad Pro, then the Fruit Company’s next upgrade is going to be considerably cooler — quite literally. The company is gearing up to include a vapour chamber inside the next iPad Pro alongside a new M6 chip, according to Bloomberg’s Mark Gurman.
The idea is to cool the device to offer improved performance, like we recently saw happen with the iPhone 17 Pro. The iPad, being a fair bit bigger, already offers improved heat dissipation, but those who like to put their iPad through the ringer won’t complain about the upgrade, which should make it a little more capable when dealing with gaming, video editing, or using AI.
You’ll have to wait until at least 2027 to get your hands on the next M6 iPad Pro, though. Apple tends to follow an 18-month upgrade cycle for the device, and Gurman has indicated that won’t be changing here.
Found some ads in your Apple Maps
If you’re a diehard Apple Maps user, you’ve got bigger problems than the janky UI and the odd wrong turn to worry about. Gurman’s Power On newsletter not only dug into the next iPad Pro, it also revealed that the Fruit Company was readying advertising for the Apple Maps platform set to land as early as 2026.
This won’t mean watching an unskippable 30-second video just to get directions to your destination. Instead, Apple is offering increased visibility inside the app’s searches to the businesses and restaurants willing to pony up for the privilege. It already mimics Apple’s App Store, which offers similar boosts for apps.
We’ve already seen Google take a similar approach with its Maps app, so Apple is banking on customers already being used to the strategy elsewhere. Gurman also mentioned that Apple wants to take it a step further by leveraging AI to “ensure that results are relevant and useful.” Because AI and Apple mix so well, you know?
Nike’s all about the future
If Nike’s futuristic kicks couldn’t get your attention, perhaps the company’s new bomber jacket will do the trick. The Therma-FIT Air Milano Jacket is easily one of the most over-engineered bits of kit we’ve seen, allowing wearers — mainly athletes — to regulate their body temperature without resorting to adding or removing layers.
You’ll have to come to terms with the fact that you look ridiculous before you can take advantage of the jacket’s warming powers. It’s made up of a two-layer composite laminate material that allows it to be inflated or deflated in a matter of seconds. When inflated, it’ll work to trap in your body’s heat more effectively, while deflating it offers similar protection to that of a typical lightweight hoodie, according to Nike.
Wearers — which for now will include members of Team USA at the 2026 Winter Olympics in Milan — must use a small electronic pump to achieve their desired puff. Nike hasn’t yet said whether it’ll sell these to the public, but its closing statement — “if you have a body you are an athlete,” — makes us think we’ll see it go on sale eventually.
