The upcoming retro-inspired action-platformer was originally set to come out in September
The post Cool Looking <i>Terminator</i> Game Suffers Another Delay Due To Trump’s Tariffs appeared first on Kotaku.
The upcoming retro-inspired action-platformer was originally set to come out in September
The post Cool Looking <i>Terminator</i> Game Suffers Another Delay Due To Trump’s Tariffs appeared first on Kotaku.
Anthropic’s Claude Sonnet 4.5 ran autonomously for 30 hours to build a chat application similar to Slack or Teams, generating approximately 11,000 lines of code before stopping upon task completion. The model, announced today, marks a significant leap from the company’s Opus 4 model, which ran for seven hours in May.
Claude Sonnet 4.5 performs three times better at browser navigation and computer use than Anthropic’s October technology. Beta-tester Canva deployed the model for complex engineering tasks in its codebase and product features. Anthropic paired the release with virtual machines, memory, context management, and multi-agent support tools, enabling developers to build their own AI agents using the same building blocks that power Claude Code.
Read more of this story at Slashdot.
Anthropic’s Claude Sonnet 4.5 ran autonomously for 30 hours to build a chat application similar to Slack or Teams, generating approximately 11,000 lines of code before stopping upon task completion. The model, announced today, marks a significant leap from the company’s Opus 4 model, which ran for seven hours in May.
Claude Sonnet 4.5 performs three times better at browser navigation and computer use than Anthropic’s October technology. Beta-tester Canva deployed the model for complex engineering tasks in its codebase and product features. Anthropic paired the release with virtual machines, memory, context management, and multi-agent support tools, enabling developers to build their own AI agents using the same building blocks that power Claude Code.
Read more of this story at Slashdot.
WineConf as the annual Wine developer conference, for this open-source software allowing Windows games and applications to run on Linux, took place this weekend in The Hague. Several interesting talks took place including the usual keynote by Wine project leader Alexandre Julliard…
Take $55 off this already affordable tablet for streaming, reading, and gaming, and bring it home for just $190 for a limited time.
The post Amazon Fire Max 11 Tablet Hits Lowest Price Yet Ahead of Prime Big Deal Days, Hundreds Cheaper Than an iPad appeared first on Kotaku.
Take $55 off this already affordable tablet for streaming, reading, and gaming, and bring it home for just $190 for a limited time.
The post Amazon Fire Max 11 Tablet Hits Lowest Price Yet Ahead of Prime Big Deal Days, Hundreds Cheaper Than an iPad appeared first on Kotaku.
The store is giving out free codes for Scarlet and Violet. Well, they’re supposed to be free
The post GameStop Giveaway Unlocks Shiny Legendary Pokémon For The First Time And It Goes Very Poorly appeared first on Kotaku.
The store is giving out free codes for Scarlet and Violet. Well, they’re supposed to be free
The post GameStop Giveaway Unlocks Shiny Legendary Pokémon For The First Time And It Goes Very Poorly appeared first on Kotaku.
Today’s Iron Rebellion update adds 16-player warzones to the action mech game, also promising performance boosts on Quest and PC VR.
Now live on both platforms, the latest Iron Rebellion update increases the player cap from 8 to 16 across all maps and game modes. Developer Black Beach Studio advised it “had to do an absurd amount of additional optimization” to get this working on Quest, though it confirmed the PC VR edition “shares a lot” of performance benefits from this.
0:00
Other changes to Iron Rebellion include a fresh intro screen, a new community map, three new training scenarios, and promised interaction improvements across your mech. Despite the increased player count, Black Beach Studio states it has improved performance on Quest hardware “by up to 25% in some cases.” You can read the full patch notes provided to UploadVR below.
Warzone 8v8 mode
New Intro Screen
Interaction improvements
Tons of optimization
Community Maps
Misc
Inspired by Titanfall, MechWarrior, and Hawken, Iron Rebellion has seen continued post-launch updates since receiving its full release last December. May’s update introduced a custom camo maker and a new camera toolkit, while last month’s minor update added improved hand functionality and a fully functional coffee machine to your mech.
Iron Rebellion is available now on Quest and Steam.
UploadVRRichie Shoemaker
Today’s Iron Rebellion update adds 16-player warzones to the action mech game, also promising performance boosts on Quest and PC VR.
Now live on both platforms, the latest Iron Rebellion update increases the player cap from 8 to 16 across all maps and game modes. Developer Black Beach Studio advised it “had to do an absurd amount of additional optimization” to get this working on Quest, though it confirmed the PC VR edition “shares a lot” of performance benefits from this.
0:00
Other changes to Iron Rebellion include a fresh intro screen, a new community map, three new training scenarios, and promised interaction improvements across your mech. Despite the increased player count, Black Beach Studio states it has improved performance on Quest hardware “by up to 25% in some cases.” You can read the full patch notes provided to UploadVR below.
Warzone 8v8 mode
New Intro Screen
Interaction improvements
Tons of optimization
Community Maps
Misc
Inspired by Titanfall, MechWarrior, and Hawken, Iron Rebellion has seen continued post-launch updates since receiving its full release last December. May’s update introduced a custom camo maker and a new camera toolkit, while last month’s minor update added improved hand functionality and a fully functional coffee machine to your mech.
Iron Rebellion is available now on Quest and Steam.
UploadVRRichie Shoemaker
CEO Andrew Wilson is about to make a lot of money
The post EA Boss Congratulates Employees On $55 Billion Leveraged Buyout By Private Equity appeared first on Kotaku.
CEO Andrew Wilson is about to make a lot of money
The post EA Boss Congratulates Employees On $55 Billion Leveraged Buyout By Private Equity appeared first on Kotaku.
It’s a packed month for new VR games this October, so we’re highlighting the biggest releases on Quest, PC VR, and PlayStation VR2.
Following an unsurprisingly quieter summer, September started picking up the pace once more. Our highlights included DrakkenRidge, Titan Isles, UnLoop, Of Lies and Rain, ZIX, and Unseen Diplomacy 2, while Table Troopers entered full release. Sushi Ben and Dungeons of Eternity both launched on Steam, and Valve’s storefront hosted a major PC VR celebration with the VR Forever Fest.
Fall is often the busiest time for new VR games, so we’ll keep a keen eye on news as it comes in. We’ll refresh this list across the month, and our upcoming VR games list remains regularly updated. Though we wouldn’t classify it in the same way for this list, Forefront kicks off an open beta on October 9, and Steam Next Fest runs from October 13-20. We’ve included individual demos below too.
With that out of the way, here are our highlights for new VR games this October on Quest, PC VR, and PlayStation VR2.
Developed by Breach, Laser Matrix involves dodging laser hazards as you attempt to hit glowing buttons in a dynamically adapting arena, taking a similar approach to Laser Dance. It features scaling difficulty settings with optional gameplay modifiers and two gameplay modes: Survival Mode and Time Trials.
Project Mix is a risqué anime-inspired VR game where you play as Rone, a former thug looking to leave his old life behind, promising a branching narrative based on your choices with various romance routes. Following a successful Kickstarter campaign and April’s PC VR demo on Steam, a Quest 3 and 3S demo is confirmed to launch on October 1.
BlackGate by Fun Train is a 4v1 asymmetric multiplayer horror game that’s heading for an early access launch. This pits four engineers trying to repair the titular space station, restoring crucial systems and unlocking the Armory, against a fifth player who controls an alien. Starting off as a small larva, the alien grows more powerful as it successfully harms the engineers.
0:00
One of the older VR titles by Bolverk Games (Genotype, Surviving Mars: Pioneer), 2017’s Dick Wilde is coming back on Quest 3, an arcade shooting game where you take down critters across a swamp. Bolverk states this re-release comes with a price drop and further gameplay balancing.
Developed by Unbinary studio Ludact, My Monsters uses a hand-painted art style for this surreal third-person journey with environmental puzzle solving and platforming. Joined by a small monster called Moti, you must confront creatures designed to represent common psychological struggles that include loneliness, fear, and anxiety.
Following Vader Immortal and Tales from the Galaxy’s Edge, the next Star Wars game to reach Quest features both VR and mixed reality gameplay. Beyond Victory takes place around Solo: A Star Wars Story, where you meet “up-and-comer” Volo Bolus as he joins forces with podracer Sebulba from Star Wars: Episode I. You can find out more in our recent hands-on preview.
UploadVRGeorge Yang
Super RC, the latest project from the developers behind the Ultrawings series, features 1/5 scale remote-controlled cars you can collect, build, customize, and race through “three hours” of single-player races. Supporting both MR and VR gameplay, this also features a track creator mode, car customization, a sandbox mode, and online multiplayer for up to 8 players.
Inspired by Star Fox and Ikaruga, The Phoenix Gene is a third-person narrative on-rails shooter by HEROmation where you play as Firestorm, a phoenix aiming to protect Jackie after an accident involving an immortality serum. Now heading to PC VR following last week’s Update 1.3 on Quest, this PC edition includes 120fps support. A free Steam demo also is live now.
Developed by Patient 8 Games, Memoreum is a VR action horror game that began life as a Dead Space VR mod. Set in the year 2311, you play as Dr. Otto Hudson as you discover your ship’s inhabitants have succumbed to the Ichor Infection. Steam and PlayStation VR2 versions are coming later on, though a specific release date is unknown.
Scared by Squares is a creepy exploration game where you’re a prisoner who’s been given a life sentence. Giving you one last chance at life, you’ve been sent into a digital prison of perfect squares known as the Cube following reports of dangerous irregularities. You can play the Quest demo now and while a PC VR version is on the way, this month’s early access launch is only on Quest.
Dreams of Another is the next entry in the PixelJunk series coming to PS5 with an exclusive first-person mode for PS VR2. Following the theme of “No Creation Without Destruction,” you create objects by shooting guns rather than destroying them. Take a look at our preview and Q-Games interview to learn more, and it’s worth noting the Steam version doesn’t have PC VR support.
UploadVRAlicia Haddick
Reach is an ambitious AAA cinematic VR adventure from nDreams Elevation where you portray reluctant hero Rosa. Focused on unearthing the secrets of an underground civilization as you take down a series of mythical threats, we had strong impressions in our recent preview, and we’ll bring you our full review as soon as we can.
UploadVRHenry Stockdale
Developed by Nervous Systems and published by Fast Travel Games, Vex Mage aims to deliver a high-speed shooter where you and up to two additional players fight through deadly arenas as enemies emerge from all sides. That’s getting a slightly staggered launch across both platforms with an optional flatscreen mode on Steam, while free Quest and PC VR demos are out now.
Cité Alexandrie by Sirene Rouge Games is a narrative-management game set in an alternate 1980s France, where culture such as books and records has become contraband as you run an “illegal cultural network.” That’s out this month on Quest.
Developed by Steelkrill Studio and published by Perp Games, Trenches VR is a psychological horror game set during World War 1 with a supernatural twist, and it previously launched for flatscreen platforms. The Quest and Steam editions support microphone detection where enemies can hear your real-life breathing, and dying sends you back to the start.
A remake of 2022’s time travel adventure Wanderer, Mighty Eyes is back with Wanderer: The Fragments of Fate. Playing as Asher Neumann, this adventure focuses on escape room-style puzzles as you explore different time periods. Previously released on Quest and PlayStation VR2, it’s now heading to Steam following a PC VR demo launch. However, just be aware that Wanderer has seen repeat delays before, so this timeline may slip.
0:00
Created by TitanZGames, The Amygdala Protocol is a puzzle survival game where you portray a private detective as you visit the Crestwood Institute. Tasked with finding a missing neurologist, Dr. Elias Thorne, this promises a dark conspiracy that goes from a missing persons case to investigating highly unethical experiments.
Developed by VitruviusVR, Arken Age is a single-player action-adventure game that previously arrived on Steam and PlayStation VR2. This upcoming Quest 3 port features full content parity with the original release, and our recent preview considered this to be a promising standalone port. You can also check out our full review for the original launch.
UploadVRDon Hopper
Currently in early access, Little Planet by VRWOOD originally arrived in 2023 and has seen a consistent slate of updates ever since. Playable alone and in multiplayer, this social sandbox lets you build a home across different planets with the ability to terraform these worlds. That’s now entering full release later this month, which coincides with a free-to-play transition.
UploadVRHenry Stockdale
By Grit Alone by Crooks Peak is an intense action horror game that originally launched on Quest last November. Offering a sci-fi anthology of narrative tales, this sees you exploring derelict starships in the “Bermuda Triangle of space” as you fend off vicious aliens to survive. That’s now reaching Steam with a demo launching on October 1, and demo progress carries over to the main game.
UploadVRElijah Beahm
Initially launched two years ago on Quest, zombie survival shooter Drop Dead: The Cabin is now heading to PC VR with four-player co-op, cross-platform multiplayer, and a flatscreen mode. Soul Assembly previously confirmed this upcoming port features visual enhancements, and a Steam Next Fest demo will be available on October 13.
Zero Caliber is one of VR’s older FPS hits, and that’s now heading to PlayStation VR2 with a remastered edition. While XREAL Games confirmed it’s aiming for an October launch, a specific release date remains unconfirmed. The studio also plans to bring the sequel, Zero Caliber 2, to Sony’s headset at a later date.
If you’re releasing a new VR game we should know about for this article or future monthly roundups, you can use our contact page or email tips@uploadvr.com with details.
Interested in learning about more upcoming VR games? Take a look at our complete list below, which covers upcoming Quest, PC VR, PlayStation VR2, Pico, Apple Vision Pro, and Android XR games:
UploadVRHenry Stockdale
It’s a packed month for new VR games this October, so we’re highlighting the biggest releases on Quest, PC VR, and PlayStation VR2.
Following an unsurprisingly quieter summer, September started picking up the pace once more. Our highlights included DrakkenRidge, Titan Isles, UnLoop, Of Lies and Rain, ZIX, and Unseen Diplomacy 2, while Table Troopers entered full release. Sushi Ben and Dungeons of Eternity both launched on Steam, and Valve’s storefront hosted a major PC VR celebration with the VR Forever Fest.
Fall is often the busiest time for new VR games, so we’ll keep a keen eye on news as it comes in. We’ll refresh this list across the month, and our upcoming VR games list remains regularly updated. Though we wouldn’t classify it in the same way for this list, Forefront kicks off an open beta on October 9, and Steam Next Fest runs from October 13-20. We’ve included individual demos below too.
With that out of the way, here are our highlights for new VR games this October on Quest, PC VR, and PlayStation VR2.
Developed by Breach, Laser Matrix involves dodging laser hazards as you attempt to hit glowing buttons in a dynamically adapting arena, taking a similar approach to Laser Dance. It features scaling difficulty settings with optional gameplay modifiers and two gameplay modes: Survival Mode and Time Trials.
Project Mix is a risqué anime-inspired VR game where you play as Rone, a former thug looking to leave his old life behind, promising a branching narrative based on your choices with various romance routes. Following a successful Kickstarter campaign and April’s PC VR demo on Steam, a Quest 3 and 3S demo is confirmed to launch on October 1.
BlackGate by Fun Train is a 4v1 asymmetric multiplayer horror game that’s heading for an early access launch. This pits four engineers trying to repair the titular space station, restoring crucial systems and unlocking the Armory, against a fifth player who controls an alien. Starting off as a small larva, the alien grows more powerful as it successfully harms the engineers.
0:00
One of the older VR titles by Bolverk Games (Genotype, Surviving Mars: Pioneer), 2017’s Dick Wilde is coming back on Quest 3, an arcade shooting game where you take down critters across a swamp. Bolverk states this re-release comes with a price drop and further gameplay balancing.
Developed by Unbinary studio Ludact, My Monsters uses a hand-painted art style for this surreal third-person journey with environmental puzzle solving and platforming. Joined by a small monster called Moti, you must confront creatures designed to represent common psychological struggles that include loneliness, fear, and anxiety.
Following Vader Immortal and Tales from the Galaxy’s Edge, the next Star Wars game to reach Quest features both VR and mixed reality gameplay. Beyond Victory takes place around Solo: A Star Wars Story, where you meet “up-and-comer” Volo Bolus as he joins forces with podracer Sebulba from Star Wars: Episode I. You can find out more in our recent hands-on preview.
UploadVRGeorge Yang
Super RC, the latest project from the developers behind the Ultrawings series, features 1/5 scale remote-controlled cars you can collect, build, customize, and race through “three hours” of single-player races. Supporting both MR and VR gameplay, this also features a track creator mode, car customization, a sandbox mode, and online multiplayer for up to 8 players.
Inspired by Star Fox and Ikaruga, The Phoenix Gene is a third-person narrative on-rails shooter by HEROmation where you play as Firestorm, a phoenix aiming to protect Jackie after an accident involving an immortality serum. Now heading to PC VR following last week’s Update 1.3 on Quest, this PC edition includes 120fps support. A free Steam demo also is live now.
Developed by Patient 8 Games, Memoreum is a VR action horror game that began life as a Dead Space VR mod. Set in the year 2311, you play as Dr. Otto Hudson as you discover your ship’s inhabitants have succumbed to the Ichor Infection. Steam and PlayStation VR2 versions are coming later on, though a specific release date is unknown.
Scared by Squares is a creepy exploration game where you’re a prisoner who’s been given a life sentence. Giving you one last chance at life, you’ve been sent into a digital prison of perfect squares known as the Cube following reports of dangerous irregularities. You can play the Quest demo now and while a PC VR version is on the way, this month’s early access launch is only on Quest.
Dreams of Another is the next entry in the PixelJunk series coming to PS5 with an exclusive first-person mode for PS VR2. Following the theme of “No Creation Without Destruction,” you create objects by shooting guns rather than destroying them. Take a look at our preview and Q-Games interview to learn more, and it’s worth noting the Steam version doesn’t have PC VR support.
UploadVRAlicia Haddick
Reach is an ambitious AAA cinematic VR adventure from nDreams Elevation where you portray reluctant hero Rosa. Focused on unearthing the secrets of an underground civilization as you take down a series of mythical threats, we had strong impressions in our recent preview, and we’ll bring you our full review as soon as we can.
UploadVRHenry Stockdale
Developed by Nervous Systems and published by Fast Travel Games, Vex Mage aims to deliver a high-speed shooter where you and up to two additional players fight through deadly arenas as enemies emerge from all sides. That’s getting a slightly staggered launch across both platforms with an optional flatscreen mode on Steam, while free Quest and PC VR demos are out now.
Cité Alexandrie by Sirene Rouge Games is a narrative-management game set in an alternate 1980s France, where culture such as books and records has become contraband as you run an “illegal cultural network.” That’s out this month on Quest.
Developed by Steelkrill Studio and published by Perp Games, Trenches VR is a psychological horror game set during World War 1 with a supernatural twist, and it previously launched for flatscreen platforms. The Quest and Steam editions support microphone detection where enemies can hear your real-life breathing, and dying sends you back to the start.
A remake of 2022’s time travel adventure Wanderer, Mighty Eyes is back with Wanderer: The Fragments of Fate. Playing as Asher Neumann, this adventure focuses on escape room-style puzzles as you explore different time periods. Previously released on Quest and PlayStation VR2, it’s now heading to Steam following a PC VR demo launch. However, just be aware that Wanderer has seen repeat delays before, so this timeline may slip.
0:00
Created by TitanZGames, The Amygdala Protocol is a puzzle survival game where you portray a private detective as you visit the Crestwood Institute. Tasked with finding a missing neurologist, Dr. Elias Thorne, this promises a dark conspiracy that goes from a missing persons case to investigating highly unethical experiments.
Developed by VitruviusVR, Arken Age is a single-player action-adventure game that previously arrived on Steam and PlayStation VR2. This upcoming Quest 3 port features full content parity with the original release, and our recent preview considered this to be a promising standalone port. You can also check out our full review for the original launch.
UploadVRDon Hopper
Currently in early access, Little Planet by VRWOOD originally arrived in 2023 and has seen a consistent slate of updates ever since. Playable alone and in multiplayer, this social sandbox lets you build a home across different planets with the ability to terraform these worlds. That’s now entering full release later this month, which coincides with a free-to-play transition.
UploadVRHenry StockdaleBy Grit Alone by Crooks Peak is an intense action horror game that originally launched on Quest last November. Offering a sci-fi anthology of narrative tales, this sees you exploring derelict starships in the “Bermuda Triangle of space” as you fend off vicious aliens to survive. That’s now reaching Steam with a demo launching on October 1, and demo progress carries over to the main game.
UploadVRElijah Beahm
Initially launched two years ago on Quest, zombie survival shooter Drop Dead: The Cabin is now heading to PC VR with four-player co-op, cross-platform multiplayer, and a flatscreen mode. Soul Assembly previously confirmed this upcoming port features visual enhancements, and a Steam Next Fest demo will be available on October 13.
Zero Caliber is one of VR’s older FPS hits, and that’s now heading to PlayStation VR2 with a remastered edition. While XREAL Games confirmed it’s aiming for an October launch, a specific release date remains unconfirmed. The studio also plans to bring the sequel, Zero Caliber 2, to Sony’s headset at a later date.
If you’re releasing a new VR game we should know about for this article or future monthly roundups, you can use our contact page or email tips@uploadvr.com with details.
Interested in learning about more upcoming VR games? Take a look at our complete list below, which covers upcoming Quest, PC VR, PlayStation VR2, Pico, Apple Vision Pro, and Android XR games:
UploadVRHenry Stockdale
Linux ACPI and power management maintainer Rafael Wysocki today sent out all of the feature updates and changes intended for the now-started Linux 6.18 merge window. There are some new Intel additions as well as for the growing range of different ARM-based SoCs and other hardware…
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Did you know you can customize Google to filter out garbage? Take these steps for better search results, including adding my work at Lifehacker as a preferred source.
CMF, the budget-friendly sub-brand from Nothing, has launched its first pair of over-ear headphones. At $99, the CMF Headphone Pro are Nothing’s answer to fans looking for an affordable alternative to the popular Headphone 1 (which will cost you $299). Though Nothing has a reputation for odd-looking tech, the CMF Headphone Pros look a little more traditional, but also appear to be highly customizable, potentially making them a better value overall.
Here’s what we know now about how the CMF Headphone Pros compare.
Today’s launch marks the release of CMF’s first over-ear headphone, designed to integrate seamlessly with the broader Nothing/CMF ecosystem that includes smartphones, watches, and other audio products.
The design includes a round power and Bluetooth button on one side, paired with a customizable action button on the other that can be programmed through the Nothing X app. There’s more room for customization via $25 replacement ear cushions, available in vibrant orange or light green, allowing you to dramatically alter the headphones’ appearance to match your mood or style.
The standout control feature is the multi-function roller on one side, with an “Energy Slider” on the other. The multi-function roller handles volume adjustment, playback control, and ambient sound, while the Energy Slider allows you to tune your sound in real-time, instantly adjusting the treble and bass balance. Normally you’d have to dive into your headphone app’s EQ settings to get that sort of control. As someone who always prefers tactile controls over sensitive touch-screens, I’m particularly excited by this design.
And as you’d hope to find in a quality pair of over-ear headphones, the Headphone Pro has Adaptive Active Noise Cancellation (ANC) to block ambient noise. Perhaps most impressive is the battery life: allegedly, these headphones will offer a staggering 100 hours of playback on a single charge (reduced to up to 50 hours with ANC turned on). That’s 15 more hours than you’ll get from the Headphone 1 with ANC active, and much better performance than the highly rated Sony WH-1000XM6, which top out at 40 hours.
This is a promising product launch from Nothing. The CMF sub-brand appeals to budget-conscious segment of the market while still delivering on the aesthetic and technical appeal that drew fans to Nothing in the first place.
The CMF Headphone Pro launches today in the EU and UK, but eager US customers do have to face a brief wait until Oct. 7 to get their hands on a pair. Whether these headphones will satisfy fans who have been requesting a more affordable option remains to be seen, but on paper, they appear to deliver exactly what was asked for: Nothing’s design philosophy and build quality at a price that won’t break the bank.
We may earn a commission from links on this page.
Did you know you can customize Google to filter out garbage? Take these steps for better search results, including adding my work at Lifehacker as a preferred source.
CMF, the budget-friendly sub-brand from Nothing, has launched its first pair of over-ear headphones. At $99, the CMF Headphone Pro are Nothing’s answer to fans looking for an affordable alternative to the popular Headphone 1 (which will cost you $299). Though Nothing has a reputation for odd-looking tech, the CMF Headphone Pros look a little more traditional, but also appear to be highly customizable, potentially making them a better value overall.
Here’s what we know now about how the CMF Headphone Pros compare.
Today’s launch marks the release of CMF’s first over-ear headphone, designed to integrate seamlessly with the broader Nothing/CMF ecosystem that includes smartphones, watches, and other audio products.
The design includes a round power and Bluetooth button on one side, paired with a customizable action button on the other that can be programmed through the Nothing X app. There’s more room for customization via $25 replacement ear cushions, available in vibrant orange or light green, allowing you to dramatically alter the headphones’ appearance to match your mood or style.
The standout control feature is the multi-function roller on one side, with an “Energy Slider” on the other. The multi-function roller handles volume adjustment, playback control, and ambient sound, while the Energy Slider allows you to tune your sound in real-time, instantly adjusting the treble and bass balance. Normally you’d have to dive into your headphone app’s EQ settings to get that sort of control. As someone who always prefers tactile controls over sensitive touch-screens, I’m particularly excited by this design.
And as you’d hope to find in a quality pair of over-ear headphones, the Headphone Pro has Adaptive Active Noise Cancellation (ANC) to block ambient noise. Perhaps most impressive is the battery life: allegedly, these headphones will offer a staggering 100 hours of playback on a single charge (reduced to up to 50 hours with ANC turned on). That’s 15 more hours than you’ll get from the Headphone 1 with ANC active, and much better performance than the highly rated Sony WH-1000XM6, which top out at 40 hours.
This is a promising product launch from Nothing. The CMF sub-brand appeals to budget-conscious segment of the market while still delivering on the aesthetic and technical appeal that drew fans to Nothing in the first place.
The CMF Headphone Pro launches today in the EU and UK, but eager US customers do have to face a brief wait until Oct. 7 to get their hands on a pair. Whether these headphones will satisfy fans who have been requesting a more affordable option remains to be seen, but on paper, they appear to deliver exactly what was asked for: Nothing’s design philosophy and build quality at a price that won’t break the bank.