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We’re really covering all the bases with our latest slate of reviews. We’ve got everything from an EV family hauler to a smart pellet grill. Wireless earbuds, a unique camera and a GPU that’s actually affordable are also on the list. Plus, there are new Playdate games and a VPN review if you’re into those things. Whatever your preferred flavor, read on for a recap of our reviews from the last two weeks. 

VW ID.Buzz

There really isn’t an electric minivan available in the US, although the VW ID.Buzz certainly comes close. The EV is definitely a head turner, and it offers loads of cargo space for both passengers and packages. “It’s just a shame that it’s held back by some obvious issues,” senior reviews reporter Devindra Hardawar said. “The ID.Buzz is still undeniably useful though, especially if you don’t plan on taking many road trips, so there’s a chance it’ll become more compelling as its price falls.”

Weber Smoque

Wi-Fi-equipped pellet grills can get very expensive very quickly. Thankfully, two of the biggest names in grilling chose to offer affordable models as part of their 2025 lineups. One of those is Weber, and the company’s new Smoque pellet grill provides reliable performance alongside all of the features most backyard pit masters will ever need — for $799. “Weber really hit its stride with pellet grills last year with the Searwood, and the Smoque is proof the company has more compelling ideas in the hopper,” I wrote. “Thankfully, this one saves you some money without sacrificing any of the culinary results.”

Fujifilm GFX100RF

The GFX100RF may be a world’s first, according to Fujifilm, but the camera isn’t without a few substantial flaws. Despite a great design, sharp image quality and new controls, this model isn’t good for low-light situations, has subpar autofocus and doesn’t offer any image stabilization. As senior reporter Steve Dent noted, maybe the GFX100RF has a higher calling. “The GFX100RF is fun to use, though, and introduces several innovations like the aspect ratio dial,” he said. “Though it may never have a huge market, I think products like this push the industry in new directions and create conversations that draw new people into photography.”

AMD Radeon RX 9060 XT

Upgrading your GPU these days isn’t typically an affordable task, but AMD has a $350 option that’s a solid bet for most users. “The Radeon RX 9060 XT is a reminder of a world where we didn’t have to pay more than $400 to get a capable GPU,” Devindra explained. “So for the vast majority of players out there — the ones who aren’t using monitors with crazy high refresh rates or 4K+ resolutions — it’s all the GPU you really need.”

Two sets of midrange earbuds: Skullcandy and Sony

If you’re looking for a set of wireless earbuds for under $150, we recently reviewed two options in that price range. First, Skullcandy’s Method 360 ANC borrows heavily from Bose’s QuietComfort Ultra earbuds, although officially it only features “sound by Bose.” However, Senior buying advice reporter Jeff Dunn warns against the expectation of flagship quality performance. “This is still a tier above most budget pairs we’ve tested,” he said. “It has nearly all the features we’re looking for (unlike, say, the Beats Solo Buds), it’s comfortable and the sound signature will hit right if you’re hungry for bass.” 

Sony is best known for its 1000X line of earbuds and headphones, but the company has struck gold a few times with midrange devices. Its latest, the WF-C710N, has a comfy design and a lot of features for $120. However, sound quality is where you’ll notice the biggest difference between it and more expensive options. “If I had been able to hit (or even surpass) Sony’s stated battery life, these earbuds would be easy to recommend,” I wrote. “Despite that, they’re still a solid option, especially at $120, since the company once again outpaces its midrange rivals with more convenient tools than you’ll find anywhere else.”

Playdate Season 2 and testing ExpressVPN

Playdate Season 2 will deliver two new games per week for the handheld through July 3. Weekend editor Cheyenne Macdonald has already played the first two entries, Fulcrum Defender and Dig! Dig! Dino!, and a third title that Panic also released called Blippo+. Meanwhile, senior writer Sam Chapman tested ExpressVPN, observing how the service outpaces much of the competition despite its lack of customization options and its higher price. 

This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/engadget-review-recap-vw-idbuzz-weber-smoque-fujifilm-gfx100rf-and-more-133047923.html?src=rss 

Milan Kovac, who leads Tesla‘s Optimus humanoid robotics program, is leaving the automaker. In a post on X, Milan talked about how he joined Tesla as an engineer for the core Autopilot team in 2016 and how he started leading the Optimus group in 2022. He explained that he’s leaving his position, because he’s “been far away from home for too long and will need to spend more time with family abroad.” Kovac stressed that it was the only reason he’s leaving and that his support for Elon Musk and the Tesla team was “ironclad,” perhaps insinuating that his decision had nothing to do with Musk’s politics or recent fallout with the president. 

Tesla first announced that it was working on a humanoid robot in 2021, though it wasn’t able to debut an actual prototype until a year a later in 2022. Musk said back then Optimus will be able to move at 5 mph and carry loads up to 45 pounds. He also said that he expects it to sell for $20,000 each when built at volume and claimed that the machines can give the company a $25 trillion market cap. Since then, Tesla has demonstrated Optimus’ ability to handle an egg, cook meals, fold the laundry and throw the trash. The robot doesn’t have a solid release date yet. Musk said back in April that the robot’s production had been affected by China’s export restrictions of rare earth magnets, so it’s most likely not going to be anytime soon.

Bloomberg, which reported Kovac’s departure first, said he’s leaving the company immediately. Ashok Elluswamy, who’s leading the company’s Autopilot group, is taking over his responsibilities. 

This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/big-tech/the-head-of-teslas-optimus-humanoid-robot-program-leaves-the-company-120015282.html?src=rss 

One of the best things about an indie game showcase is that you’ll see at least one preview that makes you think “huh?” and “lol!” in equal parts. For the Day of the Devs presentation at Summer Games Fest 2025, Tire Boy definitely fits the bill. Mechanics-wise, it’s an open-world action-adventure game, which is pretty standard fare. However, like the name says, you play it all out as a tiny anthropomorphized tire. It looks super goofy, but in a way that might also be super great.

The trio from GameTeam6 who presented the early build of the game explained that they wanted to do some odd things with scale in the world, and that’s definitely been accomplished. Most other characters tower over little Tire Boy, whether they’re a friendly owl, an enemy frog or just a really big heckin bunny. But there’s also some sweetness promised as Tire Boy tries to uncover the secrets of his past and his tire people. It’s the sort of wacky combination that can be a lot of fun in practice. 

The studio has a ways to go before it’s ready to play; they didn’t suggest any time frames for a demo or release window, but Tire Boy can be wishlisted on Steam if you want to keep tabs on this quirky project.

This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/gaming/tire-boy-is-a-wacky-open-world-adventure-game-you-can-tread-all-over-000036605.html?src=rss 

Photography games can be hyper-realistic simulations of the real thing or a vehicle for ogling cute creatures, but No Goblin’s Snap & Grab is forging a different path by treating photography as a key ingredient in a good heist. The upcoming game as part of the Day of the Devs showcase at Summer Game Fest 2025, ahead of its launch in 2026.

Based on the trailer, Snap & Grab can be broken into two distinct parts. There’s the snapping, where you’ll play as a professional photographer grooving through (high-fashion) high society, taking pictures of things you want to steal. And the grabbing, where you’ll lay out those photos in a workflow of sorts for your team of thieves to follow during a heist. Some of the things you’ll photograph might be obstacles or parts of the environment you can manipulate in your favor and it looks like more than a few could just be cute pictures of dogs.

Like No Goblin’s other games, 100ft Robot Golf and Roundabout, over-the-top, silly theming is the name of the game. In the case of Snap & Grab, that’s a sort of cartoon-y 80’s aesthetic — think Miami Vice by way of Johnny Bravo and you’ll be in the ballpark of the hair and shoulder pads No Goblin is playing with.

Luckily, you won’t have to wait long to see the game for yourself. No Goblin says Snap & Grab is coming to PC, PS5 and Xbox Series X / S in 2026.

This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/gaming/snap-grab-is-no-goblins-campy-photography-based-heist-game-000024233.html?src=rss 

While many of us soldier on with the remakes and VR takes on the Resident Evil story, Capcom is prepping the next chapter of the story: Resident Evil Requiem. The sequel was fully revealed as part of Summer Game Fest Live, kicking off a week(ish) of gaming announcements and release dates.

Intercutting the starting moments of REs of the past, Capcom did a fake-out, teasing that we’d have to wait a little longer to see Resident Evil Requiem — it turns out they only meant a 30-minute wait.

The teaser trailer raised more questions than answers, teasing locations from previous games, like Raccoon City — and its ruined police department. It appears the game will follow Grace Ashcroft, as she tries unveil grim mysteries and, er, gets kidnapped. She’s the daughter of Alyssa Ashcroft — a Resident Evil character that I do not remember at all. 

Capcom confirmed a year ago that veteran director Koshi Nakanishi will lead what is definitely not the ninth chapter of Resident Evil. (If you don’t count Code Veronica, who even are you?) Nakanishi was involved in the development of Resident Evil Revelations and Resident Evil 7: Biohazard, among other Resident Evil titles. 

Resident Evil 9 is set to launch on February 27, 2026, but a demo will be playable in August at Gamescom, so book your tickets for Cologne, Germany.

This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/gaming/resident-evil-requiem-announced-at-summer-game-fest-2025-231136129.html?src=rss