This week, we’re diving into the big changes at Xbox and what it all means for Microsoft’s gaming future. Phil Spencer, the longtime face of Xbox, announced he’s retiring last week. He’ll be replaced by Microsoft’s former CoreAI CEO Asha Sharma, instead of his longtime deputy Sarah Bond, who plans to leave the company. Will this change actually help the beleaguered Xbox division, or is it another example of Microsoft shoving AI into everything?

Also, Samsung held its latest Unpacked event this week to announce its new Galaxy S26 family. They look pretty much the same as last year, but the Ultra model includes a unique privacy feature that can instantly make the screen unreadable to bystanders. It’s one of those features we expect to see in every phone eventually.

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Topic

• Xbox leadership falls apart. what happens next with Phil Spencer and Sarah Bond out? – 1:53

• Samsung Unpacked: Privacy display on the S26 Ultra looks amazing – 27:27

• U.S. Defense leadership gives Anthropic a Friday deadline to let it use Claude as it sees fit – 42:38

• MrBeast editor accused of insider trading on Kalshi – 50:40

• Discord delays age verification program after user revolt – 54:09

• Around Engadget – 1:04:04

• Pop culture picks – 1:08:21

Credits

Hosts: Devindra Hardawar and Igor Bonifacic
Producer: Ben Ellman
Music: Dale North and Terrence O’Brien