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Everything Amazon Announced Today at Its Fall Hardware Event (2025)
Product Reviews

Everything Amazon Announced Today at Its Fall Hardware Event (2025)

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Over on the Show models, they now have a 13-megapixel camera for richer details on your video calls, with improved audio quality as well. Amazon says more and more companies are integrating with Alexa+, touting an Oura partnership that lets you ask Alexa about last night’s sleep with data collected from your Oura ring. More integrations are on the way, including the ability to buy movie tickets with Fandango.

All of these Echo devices are available for preorder today.

Alexa+ Is Still in Early Access

Alexa+ was announced back in February and began rolling out in early access by March. Not much is changing about this. Amazon says Alexa+ is now rolling out in the US “during an early access period” and in waves over the coming months. It’ll prioritize Echo Show 8, 10, 15, and 21 device owners in this period, and you can sign up for early access here. The fastest way to access it is to buy one of the new Echo devices announced today.

Alexa+ is an upgrade over the standard Alexa you’re familiar with. Powered by a large language model, it allows you to be more conversational with the assistant. Alexa+ is much faster at answering more topical and contextual questions, correctly answering things like “What’s that popular Soda Pop song?” You can read more here about our experience using it for a week.

Alexa+ is free for Amazon Prime subscribers, but costs $20 a month for everyone else. Amazon says Alexa+ is being integrated into other devices from Sonos, Bose, Samsung, LG, and BMW.

The Kindle Scribe Colorsoft

The Kindle Scribe is a relatively new entry in Amazon’s e-reader ecosystem, but now it’s already in its third generation. And for the third iteration, there are three new 11-inch Kindle Scribe models: Kindle Scribe ($430), Kindle Scribe With Frontlight ($550), and Kindle Scribe Colorsoft ($630). These devices are 5.4 mm thick, which is thinner than the new iPhone Air. They weigh 400 grams and are made from precision-milled aluminum. Panay says they’re 40 percent faster, though he wasn’t specific about what he was comparing them to. When you write, you should experience a reduced latency of under 12 milliseconds.

The Kindle Scribe Colorsoft.

Photograph: Julian-Chokkattu



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Product Reviews

Everything announced at Amazon’s fall hardware event

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It’s not technically Techtober yet since we’re one day shy, but we’ve already had a bunch of fall hardware events from some of the bigger companies in the tech space. Today, it was Amazon’s turn to step up to the plate. 

Going into its event, the company teased new Echo speakers and Kindle news. Rumors suggested Amazon was ready to ditch its long-standing Android-based OS on Fire TVs in favor of the Linux-based Vega OS it’s already using on the Echo Show 5, Echo Hub units and Echo Spot.

Indeed, Echo, Kindle and Fire TV are all being featured at the event, along with Ring and Blink devices. Oh, and lots of Alexa+ updates, of course.

Amazon doesn’t usually livestream its product events and that remained the case here. However, we’ve got you covered with all the news and announcements with both our liveblog and this here rundown of everything Amazon announced at its fall hardware event:

Echo speakers

The Echo lineup was beyond overdue for a refresh — it’s been five years since the 4th-gen Echo arrived, while the most recent Echo Studio debuted a couple of years later. And, with Amazon looking to push Alexa+, it’s certainly time for some new models.

To that end, the $100 Echo Dot Max and $220 Echo Studio are up for pre-order and will ship on October 29. No sign of a new standard Echo this time!

The Echo Dot Max delivers almost three times the bass of the fifth-gen Echo Dot and sound that adapts to your space, Amazon claims. The company added that the updated design integrates the speaker directly into the device’s housing, freeing up extra space for more bass. In fact, the Echo Dot Max has two speakers: a “high-excursion woofer optimized for deep bass and a custom tweeter for crisp high notes.”

Amazon has shrunk down the Echo Studio to 60 percent of the size of the last version. Even so, it has a “powerful high-excursion woofer that delivers deep, immersive bass and three optimally placed full-range drivers to create immersive,” room-filling sound, according to the company. The latest model supports spatial audio and Dolby Atmos.

If you’re in the US and you snap up either of the new Echo speakers — or the latest Echo Show devices — Amazon says you’ll get early access to Alexa+. We’ve had a chance to try the speakers, so be sure to check out Engadget senior reporter Jeff Dunn’s first impressions.

Alexa Home Theater with Echo

Amazon is looking to take on the likes of Sonos with a home theater feature. You’ll be able to connect as many as five Echo Studio or Echo Dot Max devices to a compatible Fire TV stick for surround sound.

The company says that, with the Alexa Home Theater feature, Alexa will take care of everything after you plug in your speakers. That includes tuning them for your space automatically. Amazon will sell the Echo speakers in Alexa Home Theater bundles too.

Echo Show

2025 Echo Show smart displays

(Amazon)

Quelle surprise, Amazon has refreshed the Echo Show smart displays. As with the rest of its new products, Amazon built the Echo Show 8 and Echo Show 11 with Alexa+ in mind.

They boast new front-facing stereo speakers and upgraded microphones, all the better to bolster the chats you might have with Alexa+. The new units have improved cameras with 13MP lenses. Alexa will be able to recognize you when you approach the device and display personalized information. It might show you, for instance, an AI-powered summary of footage from your Ring devices. The Echo Show smart home hub supports devices in the Zigbee, Matter and Thread ecosystems too.

As for the display, both of the new Echo Show units have a negative liquid crystal screen designed to maximize viewing angles. Amazon also said there are new color-coded calendars to help everyone in the family to stay on top of their schedules. Alexa will keep an eye out for scheduling conflicts. Such a clever cookie.

The new Echo Show 8 costs $180, while the Echo Show 11 will run you $220. Pre-orders for the latest Echo Show models open today. They’ll ship on November 12.

The new Echo Show 8 costs $180, while the Echo Show 11 will run you $220. Pre-orders for the latest Echo Show models open today. They’ll ship on November 12. Be sure to check out Engadget senior writer Sam Rutherford’s initial impressions of the latest models.

Kindle Scribe Colorsoft

Kindle Scribe Colorsoft

(Amazon)

The Kindle Scribe 2 and Kindle Colorsoft appear to have been smushed together, as there’s now a full color version of Amazon’s writing tablet (which has some other upgrades). The company is using its custom display tech for the Kindle Scribe Colorsoft, which has a color filter and “light guide” with nitride LEDs. The idea, according to Amazon, is to boost color without washing out details.

The company says it developed a new rendering engine for the Kindle Colorsoft too. It claims this helps make sure writing on the device feels fluid, natural and fast. Moreover, the Kindle Scribe Colorsoft is said to run for several weeks on a single charge. 

You’ll be able to choose from 10 pen colors for writing, drawing and annotation. There are five highlighter colors as well.

The Kindle Scribe Colorsoft will be available in the US later this year, starting at $630. It’s coming to the UK and Germany in early 2026. 

We’ve been able to try out the Kindle Scribe Colorsoft. You can check out Engadget managing editor Cherlynn Low’s initial hands-on impressions.

Refreshed Kindle Scribe

Amazon is refreshing the regular Kindle Scribe too. It has a larger, 11-inch display to match the proportions of a sheet of paper. It’s 5.44mm (0.2 inches) thin and weighs 400g. Amazon also says it’s 40 percent faster than the previous model when it comes to page turns and writing. 

The standard 2025 Kindle Scribe shares a bunch of features with the Colorsoft model. Both boast a front light system with miniature LEDs, a texture-molded glass that’s designed to improve friction for writing and revamped display tech that’s said to make it feel like you’re writing directly on the page.

The latest devices have a quad-core chip and more memory than previous models. That helps to power new AI-driven features. You’ll be able to get an AI-generated summary of information that you search for across your notes and the option to ask follow-up questions. Starting in early 2026, you’ll be able to send notes and other docs from your Kindle Scribe to Alexa+, and have a conversation with the chatbot about them.

There’s support for Google Drive and Microsoft OneDrive, so you can pull in documents from there to mark them up. There’s an option to export annotated PDFs, as well as to export notes as converted text or an embedded image to OneNote. 

The home screen has a new Quick Notes function to help users start jotting down their thoughts faster. You’ll have swift access to recently opened or added books and documents from there too. 

Meanwhile, there’s a new pen that attaches to your Kindle Scribe. This refreshed Kindle Scribe will go on sale in the US by the end of the year, and it starts at $500. A version without a front light will be $430. Again, these models will be available in the US and Germany in early 2026.

Fire TV

The image Amazon sent out as part of its event invite included the corner of a television, hinting that Fire TV would get some time in the spotlight during today’s event. And, yup, that turned out to be the case.

There’s a new 4K streaming stick called the Fire TV Stick 4K Select ($40). Amazon says it supports HDR10+ and your favorite streaming services. Support for Alexa+, Luna and Xbox Cloud Gaming is on the way too. As with the other Fire TV devices Amazon announced today, pre-orders are open and the Fire TV Stick 4K Select will ship next month.

If you’d rather have the Fire TV ecosystem baked into your television, Amazon’s got you covered there. The latest Omni QLED Series models have displays that are 60 percent brighter than previous versions, Amazon says. The TVs adjust their display colors automatically depending on the ambient lighting and can turn on by themselves when they detect your presence. The TV can also display your photos or artwork and switch off when you exit the room. The Omni QLED Series TV come in 50-inch, 55-inch, 65-inch and 75-inch variants and start at $480.

The Omnisense feature is available on the latest 2-Series Fire TV models too. These budget-friendly 4K options are said to be 30 percent faster than their predecessors. A Dialogue Boost feature will be present on all the latest Fire TV models. You can snap up a 2-Series Fire TV in either a 32-inch or 40-inch variant, starting at just $160.

Janko Roettgers of LowPass reported last week that Amazon was set to bring its Vega operating system to Fire TV by the end of this year. Whaddya know? The company confirmed that it’s bringing Vega to Fire TVs and streaming devices, including the 4K Select. So, it’ll debut in October on at least one device. Amazon didn’t say when it would roll out the OS more broadly, but helpfully noted that Vega is “responsive and highly efficient.”

Blink

2025 Blink camera lineup

(Amazon)

No, you didn’t miss it: there are new Blink devices as well. All of them can capture 2K video, and pre-orders for all three go live today.

Amazon says the $90 Blink Outdoor 2K+ has a 4x zoom, two-way talk with noise cancellation, enhanced low-light performance and, for Blink Plus subscribers, smart notifications when people and vehicles are detected.

The $50 Blink Mini 2K+ is primarily designed for indoor use, but you can place it outside thanks to a weather-resistant power adapter. Otherwise, it has the same features as the Blink Outdoor 2K+.

Blink had an entirely new device to show off as well. The Blink Arc looks quite odd, almost like a pair of goggles. It houses two Blink Mini 2K+ cameras and combines the footage into “a single, seamlessly stitched feed.” If you have a Blink Plus subscription, you’ll have access to a 180-degree view. The Blink Arc can also be used outside with the weather-resistant power adapter. It costs $100, and the mount is an extra $20.

Ring

Retinal Vision is a concept that Ring has built its latest devices (for what it’s worth, the name reminds me I’m probably due for an eye exam). The idea is to use AI to optimize image quality. It taps into back-side illumination sensors to deliver superior low-light performance, Amazon says.

A function called Retinal Tuning samples your Ring camera’s video quality several times per day for up to two weeks in a attempt to improve it. Large-aperture lenses in the new devices will help with all of that.

To that end, Amazon has announced a Wired Doorbell Plus with 2K visuals for $180 and the Indoor Plus Cam 2K for $60. There are 4K models too: Outdoor Cam Pro 4K ($200), Spotlight Cam Pro 4K ($250), Wired Doorbell Pro 4K ($250) and Floodlight Cam Pro 4K ($280). Pre-orders for all of them open today.

Of course, there are Alexa+ features for the new cameras. Alexa+ Greetings is a function that will enable the AI to make “informed decisions about how to greet certain visitors.” Amazon will roll this out for the new cameras in December.

Familiar Faces, meanwhile, is a facial recognition feature. It identifies known faces, so Ring will be able to notify you when they’re at your door (or if someone unfamiliar is there). That’s coming in December too.

There’s another new feature called Search Party, which Amazon says is about helping people find lost dogs. When a neighbor reports a missing pooch in the Ring app, a Search Party commences on nearby Ring cameras. These will keep a look out and notify camera owners if they spot what may be the missing dog. The camera owner will then see a photo of the pet alongside relevant camera footage, and can then choose whether to alert the dog’s owner. Search Party will roll out in November.

Alexa+ and other AI features

Zero prizes for anyone who guessed that Amazon was going to talk up Alexa+ features. That one was a gimme. All of the devices Amazon just announced will support Alexa+ out of the box.

AI features for books are coming to the Kindle Scribe devices and other compatible Kindles in early 2026. The Kindle iOS app will be the first to gain access later this year. Amazon says the Story So Far option will catch you up on everything you’ve read in a book to that point without any spoilers — which could be handy if you’re returning to a digital tome after a break. With the Ask this Book option, you’ll be able to highlight any text, ask questions about it and get “spoiler-free answers.” Amazon says thousands of Kindle books will support these features.

On Fire TV devices, Alexa+ will be able to find scenes in movies using natural language prompts. You’ll be able to ask the assistant to find a scene where a certain thing happens and it will try to find that for you. This feature is coming soon.

You’ll be able to ask the voice assistant to find a show like one you watched a couple of nights earlier, a family-friendly movie or something that features your favorite performer. This isn’t limited to Prime Video as Alexa+ can tap into a variety of streaming services, including Netflix and HBO Max.

You can ask the assistant questions about what you’re watching too, such as details about an actor (handy if you recognize them from another show or movie but you’re not sure what) and behind-the-scenes info. This works for live sports as well, so you can find out stats and other nuggets about what you’re watching on Prime Video, Sling TV, DirecTV and Fubo.

On the new Echo Show devices, there’s an Alexa+ shopping widget. From here, you’ll be able to keep tabs on your Amazon, Whole Foods and Amazon Fresh deliveries; access detailed info on products; and re-order items with a voice command or a tap.

Amazon claims Alexa+ can help you figure out what gift to get someone based on responses to questions it asks you. The assistant will offer personalized recommendations from Amazon.

Alexa+ is going to hook into all manner of devices and services. Through the Alexa+ Store (which will be available soon), you’ll be able to access services from the likes of TaskRabbit, Fandango, Priceline, Uber, Lyft, Thumbtack, GrubHub and Yahoo Sports. You can manage your various Amazon subscriptions via Alexa+ too.

In addition, Alexa+ is coming to speakers, TVs and in-car systems from other brands. Those include Bose, Sonos, LG, Samsung and BMW.

As things stand, Alexa+ is currently free with Prime. Non-Prime members can use it for $20 per month — but you may as well pay $15 per month or $139 per year for Prime if you really, really want access to Alexa+.

Smart remote

Amazon had another product to unveil today, but this one wasn’t highlighted during the event. The company has revealed a $20 smart remote for Echo devices. Pre-orders are open and it’ll ship on October 30.

You can use the Alexa app or Alexa+ to customize the Smart Dimmer Switch and Remote. There are four buttons to which you can map individual actions (like making a change to your smart lights) and multi-stage routines. Amazon might also suggest routines for you to set up based on your habits. As well as using this device as a traditional remote, you can attach it to wall, which might be the way to go if you’re going to use it primarily for managing your lights.



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Halo Studios revealing more on next projects (yes, plural) at next month's World Championship event
Game Reviews

Halo Studios revealing more on next projects (yes, plural) at next month’s World Championship event

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Halo Studios will be giving a “deep dive” presentation on its next projects at the Halo World Championship next month.

The event takes place from 24th – 26th October in Seattle, and will feature a Community Stage holding a number of panels, including one with voice actors Steve Downes (Master Chief) and Jen Taylor (Cortana).

Further details on the studio’s next projects will be shown on the Main Stage, but there will also be a further “deep dive” panel on the Community Stage.

A New Dawn | Halo StudiosWatch on YouTube

Last year, developer 343 Industries announced it was rebranding as Halo Studios and is working on multiple new games for the franchise. It shared a video titled A New Dawn, which included a look at Project Foundry: an experiment into how Halo games will look using Unreal Engine 5.

“It’s fair to say that our intent is that the majority of what we showcased in Foundry is expected to be in projects which we are building, or future projects,” Halo Studios boss Pierre Hintze said at the time.

Until now, the studio has been using its own Slipspace engine. Digital Foundry stated the change to UE5 could provide “a seismic shift in presentation and development”.

The latest HaloWC blog post on Halo Waypoint doesn’t specify anything on these new projects, but Halo fans won’t want to miss the announcements.

The blog reads: “Back in June we let the community know that we’d be continuing the conversation from last year’s HaloWC and the ‘A New Dawn’ video and sharing more about what we’ve been working on. Like last year we’ll be on the Main Stage to talk about it but this year we’ve also got a ‘deep dive’ panel planned for the Community Stage that you won’t want to miss.”

The last Halo game released was Halo Infinite in 2021, which saw the Xbox’s flagship shooter move to a semi-open world. While it was received positively, player numbers for its multiplayer mode have since plummeted.

What are you hoping to see? Let us know in the comments.



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Product Reviews

How to follow Amazon’s big hardware event tomorrow

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Tomorrow, Amazon will host an event in New York City to unveil some new hardware. The showcase kicks off on September 30 at 10AM ET. Based on what we can see in the invitation and the most common cadence of product news, we are expecting to hear about developments to the Echo line of smart speakers, at least one new addition to the Kindle collection and an update for the Fire TV. 

Normally this is where we’d have an embed of a YouTube link so you could watch along on Tuesday, but this event is a little unusual in that Amazon doesn’t provide a stream for those of us at home. However, Engadget will have reporters at the event, and they will be liveblogging all the details as Amazon announces them. The liveblog will be up and running around 8AM ET. 

In past years, this fall showcase has also been when Amazon shares news from the Ring, Blink and Eero companies, so we might have more than just its own-brand products being discussed tomorrow. And with AI the buzzword of the day, there’s also a good chance that Amazon execs will spend some time discussing the Alexa+ voice assistant.



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Crypto Market Prediction: Shiba Inu (SHIB) Moon Landing, Dogecoin (DOGE) Trapped in $0.23, XRP: Most Important Event for $3
Crypto Trends

Crypto Market Prediction: Shiba Inu (SHIB) Moon Landing, Dogecoin (DOGE) Trapped in $0.23, XRP: Most Important Event for $3

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The market’s state right now is quite unexpected: multiple assets are trying to break through. However, there is not much bullish volume consolidation out there. 

Key SHIB support

The much-discussed moon for Shiba Inu is not about prices soaring, rather, it is a significant historical ground support level that has repeatedly supported the token. SHIB is now trading close to $0.0000119, where it is pressed up against the lower edge of its long-running symmetrical triangle — where support has frequently been the final floor. 

SHIB/USDT Chart by TradingView

When SHIB returns to its most crucial support zone, it is said to be moon landing. This level could either stabilize the market or pave the way for further declines. The chart structure of SHIB shows a narrowing triangle made up of stable well-defended support at $0.0000110-$0.0000115 and lower highs since August. Since each test has generated a lot of buyer interest in recent months, this area has essentially turned into SHIB’s moon base. 

If bulls maintain this hold, they may be able to lay the groundwork for a subsequent attempt toward the pattern’s upper boundary, which is located closer to $0.0000140-$0.0000150. In the short term, however, moving averages are bearish. By hovering over the current price action, the 100-day and 200-day EMAs serve as layers of overhead resistance.

Momentum indicators, such the RSI — which is in the mid-40s and lacks directional conviction — support the fragile state. A decrease in trading volume also reflects participant hesitancy. SHIB could lose its moon ground support, which would be dangerous.

Prices could drop into the $0.0000090-$0.0000100 range, which would be levels not seen since the early summer, if there was a clear break below $0.0000110, invalidating the triangle. On the other hand, SHIB has a chance to rise again as long as the base holds and any advance above the descending resistance line could lead to a brief rally. 

Dogecoin’s tense range

Dogecoin is currently trading in a tight and tense range around $0.23, and the market is giving the indication that a significant move may be imminent. DOGE has now settled into a compressed zone, situated directly between critical moving averages following a retracement from its late-September highs located around $0.30. Often, explosive volatility comes after this tight setup. 

Shorter-term averages like the 20-day and 50-day EMAs also cluster close to DOGE, which is currently pinned between the 100-day EMA and the 200-day EMA on the chart. This effectively traps price action by creating a congestion zone. Traders are keeping a close eye on things because momentum could pick up speed as soon as DOGE decides on a course out of this compression. According to the bearish argument, thinning volumes and recurrent rejections from the $0.25-$0.26 region indicate waning bullish interest. 

DOGE/USDT Chart by TradingView

If DOGE breaches the 200 EMA support at $0.22, downside targets might reach $0.20, the location of a prior accumulation base. The bullish scenario should not be discounted, though. In recent months, DOGE has consistently demonstrated resilience at these levels. A recovery could be triggered by holding above the 200 EMA, particularly if the price breaks through the overhead resistance at $0.24-$0.25.

Buyers might then retarget $0.28 and higher. At 45, the RSI is neutral, meaning that it can move in either direction without becoming overly stretched. In keeping with the calm-before-the-storm theory, volume has considerably decreased in comparison to previous surges.

Dogecoin is still in limbo at this time. The next trend will probably be determined by a clear break of either boundary, and given the current compression, volatility could skyrocket when the breakout occurs.

XRP’s decisive technical move

After battling under layered resistance for weeks, XRP demonstrated a decisive technical move by breaking above the 100-day EMA. As the first definite bullish signal since the decline in September, it prepares the market for a potential retest of the psychologically significant $3.00 level. However, there is still a significant obstacle in the way and the path ahead is still complicated. 

Although recovering, the 100 EMA is a good place to start. XRP is currently getting close to the 50-day EMA. This level has historically served as bears’ more effective line of defense and frequently determines whether breakouts maintain momentum or quickly fade. XRP could make another attempt to reach the $3.00 region, where descending trendline resistance and psychological pressure converge, if it can create support above the 50 EMA. 

Even with the technical advancement, volume is still very low, underscoring the lack of conviction in the current bounce. Based on the low participation, a lot of traders are holding off on investing money until there is a verified breakout or a more erratic trigger. XRP could stall at the 50 EMA and reenter the consolidation zone around $2.80-$2.85 in the absence of more robust buying pressure.

The bullish argument is based on XRP staying above the 100 EMA and breaking through the 50 EMA fast. By drawing in sidelined buyers, such a move might quicken momentum and prepare a run to $3.00 and possibly $3.20. 

But in the bearish scenario, the 50 EMA would be rejected and there would be fresh downward pressure heading toward the 200 EMA at $2.65, which has frequently served as deeper support. At this point, XRP is going through its most significant event in months at $3. When volume breaks above the 50 EMA, bulls will take back control. If this goes wrong, the rally could end up being another false start.



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Photo of Team Spirit after winning IEM Cologne.
Esports

CS2 crowd cheating controversy reignites debate over live event security measures

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The recent controversy at FISSURE Playground 2 has reignited conversations about competitive integrity in esports, with professionals across the scene demanding stronger security measures at live tournaments.

The incident unfolded during the semifinals between Team Falcons and FURIA, where Falcons player Kyxsan repeatedly wiggled his crosshair through smoke at suspected enemy positions, relying on crowd reactions to guide his decisions on Nuke. The tactic quickly spiraled out of control, forcing organizers to disable the X-ray spectator feature mid-match to prevent further abuse.

Industry voices were quick to criticize the situation. Complexity general manager Messioso made his stance clear: “Crowd cheating is one thing. Players enticing the crowd into cheating for them by wiggling their crosshair into smokes or walls is significantly worse and should be punished severely.” His words highlighted just how damaging intentional crowd manipulation can be for the credibility of top-level competition.

Mild take

Crowd cheating is one thing.

Players enticing the crowd into cheating for them by wiggling their crosshair into smokes or walls is significantly worse and should be punished severely.

Disgraceful behaviour.

— Graham Pitt (@messioso) September 20, 2025

This problem is not new to Counter-Strike. The 2018 Boston Major saw Olofmeister engage in similar antics, though back then, the community largely laughed it off. The climate in 2025 is different, with multiple CS2 events this year facing crowd-related controversies; the issue is now systemic rather than isolated.

Tournament organizers are exploring several fixes. Some events have tested separating audiences from players, while others have leaned toward stricter penalties for disruptive spectators. As seen at FISSURE, protocols now allow for cutting off spectator features like X-ray when necessary, though such measures raise concerns about the overall viewing experience.

Discussions are also emerging around standardized penalties for players who deliberately exploit crowd reactions, though the industry lacks a unified regulatory framework. With more international tournaments approaching, each boasting massive prize pools and global audiences, pressure is mounting to strike a balance between maintaining fairness and preserving the electric atmosphere that makes live esports so compelling.

IEM Chengdu is set to feature crowds during the group stage as well. Photo via ESL

Ironically, despite the controversy, FURIA pushed through the distraction, taking both the semifinal and eventually the championship. Their victory reinforced that disciplined execution can still prevail, even when external factors threaten to tip the scales. The incident, however, has left the esports community with pressing questions about how to safeguard integrity while keeping the live spectacle alive.

Dot Esports is supported by our audience. When you purchase through links on our site, we may earn a small affiliate commission. Learn more about our Affiliate Policy





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What to expect from Amazon’s big fall hardware event on Tuesday
Gaming Gear

What to expect from Amazon’s big fall hardware event on Tuesday

by admin


Amazon is hosting its 2025 fall hardware event on Tuesday, September 30th, and it could be a packed show. The company’s invite has a few not-so-subtle hints about new Echos and a new Kindle. It will also be Amazon’s next big product event for Panos Panay, who joined Amazon in 2023 to head up its devices and services teams after a long career at Microsoft helping launch products like the Surface lineup.

Amazon has taken some big swings under Panay’s leadership, launching a suite of new Kindle products last year — including the first color Kindle — and announcing its AI-powered Alexa Plus assistant. What’s coming up next, then? Here’s what we think you can expect.

Amazon’s event invite image. Image: Amazon

At least one new Echo product

Amazon’s invitation appears to tease two products with the company’s iconic blue Echo ring, so it looks like we’ll get new Echo smart speakers of some kind during the show. Which ones, though?

A new standard Echo seems like a safe bet, as the company hasn’t released one since 2020. Perhaps that’s the one in the top left of Amazon’s event teaser. The shape on the top right looks a little bit like an Echo Studio, which is also due for an upgrade. It was last refreshed in 2023.

I might be totally off-base with my guesses, but if you’re shopping for new smart speakers and are already invested in Amazon’s Alexa and Echo ecosystem, you might want to wait to see what Amazon reveals at this event before you buy anything new.

This one is easier to tease out from Amazon’s event invite: one of the pictures is a color version of the Kindle logo. But hidden in the corner of the image is a clue that Amazon might announce a color version of the Kindle Scribe: tiny text in the corner includes the words “with the” and “stroke of a pen.”

Amazon announced the first Scribe, a tablet-sized E Ink device that pairs with a stylus, in 2022, and it released a second-generation version last year. But both were missing a color screen, which seems like the next natural upgrade.

A Reddit user recently shared images of a prototype Kindle that’s apparently a bit smaller than the 11th-generation Kindle and has “Kindle Petit Color” branding. The prototype has colors that are better than last year’s Colorsoft, too, the user says. The first Colorsoft had a rocky launch due to a discoloration issue affecting some units that Amazon had to address. I have lower confidence in this one, though, since Amazon very recently launched a cheaper Kindle Colorsoft without some of the features of the Colorsoft Signature Edition, like wireless charging.

New TV hardware and potentially a new TV OS

The bottom-left corner of the invitation features a picture that resembles a TV, suggesting that Amazon will announce new TV hardware of some kind. But the bigger TV-focused news might be Vega OS, a replacement operating system for its Fire TVs that isn’t based on Android, and the OS could launch as soon as this week, according to Lowpass’ Janko Roettgers.

Vega OS is a bit of an open secret already; Amazon job listings have directly mentioned it, and the company already uses the operating system on the Echo Show 5, Echo Hub smart displays, and the Echo Spot smart clock. If Amazon uses this event to share more about Vega OS on TVs, it would mark a big public reveal for the operating system.

Alexa Plus announcements or upgrades

Alexa Plus is a major initiative for Amazon as it looks to compete with other popular AI assistants, such as OpenAI’s ChatGPT and Google’s Gemini. While the revamped Alexa is still technically rolling out in early access, Amazon could use this event as an opportunity to give an update on that rollout and announce new features coming to the assistant.

Other unexpected hardware

When David Limp, now the CEO of Jeff Bezos’ rocket company Blue Origin, led Amazon’s devices and services, the company’s hardware events were often packed with a dizzying number of new and unexpected products that worked with Alexa, including things like Echo Buttons, the Echo Wall Clock, and even an Alexa-enabled microwave. All three of those are now in the Echo graveyard, but Amazon could have another surprise product up its sleeves again. With Meta all-in on smart AI glasses, maybe Amazon will upgrade its Echo Frames?

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GDC founder says the event is "rapidly becoming a dinosaur"
Esports

GDC founder says the event is “rapidly becoming a dinosaur”

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The founder of GDC, Chris Crawford, has suggested that the “gigantic costs” of the event, compared with the “microscopic costs” of interacting over the internet, mean GDC is “rapidly becoming a dinosaur.”

Crawford – who worked at Atari in the early 1980s and later created the groundbreaking Cold War simulation Balance of Power for the Macintosh – founded GDC back in 1988. The first conference was held at his house in California.

He later stepped away from running the rapidly growing event in the 1990s, following disputes with board members over the conference’s direction.

Chris Crawford | Image credit: Avatar CC BY-SA 3.0

Earlier this week, GDC rebranded itself as GDC Festival of Gaming. But The Guardian warned that “even a rebrand may not be able to save America’s most storied gaming event,” with games editor Keza MacDonald arguing that the conference is “prohibitively expensive” and noting that “a large percentage of the global video game development community is reluctant to visit the US.”

GamesIndustry.biz contacted Crawford over email to ask his opinion on the above. Despite protesting that he might not be able to “offer any useful thoughts on the future of GDC,” given that he has been out of the industry for so long, he provided the following statement:

“There has been profound change that undermines the value of GDC.

“When I founded it, there was no way for game developers to share their ideas; I created it to permit that idea-sharing that is so important. Nowadays, there are lots of ways for people to share. There are plenty of social forums for discussing just about every aspect of game design. We have interactive video for pulling people from all over the world together.

“Given the gigantic costs, in both time and money, of attending something like GDC, compared to the microscopic costs of interacting with people via Internet, it would seem that GDC is rapidly becoming a dinosaur.”

GamesIndustry.biz has reached out to GDC for comment, and we will update this article if we hear back.



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PS5 State Of Play September 2025: Start Time, How To Watch, And What To Expect From Today's Event
Game Updates

PS5 State Of Play September 2025: Start Time, How To Watch, And What To Expect From Today’s Event

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It’s a big week for gaming with events like the Tokyo Game Show, but right now, it’s time for Sony to show what it has been cooking up with a new State of Play broadcast today, September 24. We’ve rounded up all the details for the livestream, popped in a few links for where to watch, when it starts, and what you can expect from it. On September 25, you can also tune in for an Xbox livestream, which will be held at a very early time.

How to watch the State of Play

State of Play will be streamed live on Sony’s YouTube and Twitch channels and will be broadcast in English.

State of Play start time

The State of Play broadcast begins today, September 24, at 2 PM PT / 5 PM ET and will run for approximately 35 minutes.

  • 2 PM PT
  • 5 PM ET
  • 11 PM CEST
  • 6 AM JST (September 25)

What to expect

Sony says that the event will feature reveals and news from developers around the world on third-party games and indie titles. On the first-party side, Sony has confirmed that there’ll be an extended look at Housemarque’s next game, Saros, with five minutes of PS5-captured gameplay. You can also look forward to updates from some of the teams at PlayStation Studios, but beyond that, Sony is keeping quiet on the specific details here.

Ghost of Yotei launches on October 2, so we’re expecting to see a quick trailer for the game, and this would be a great time to reveal a few new characters for the upcoming superhero brawler from Arc System Works, Marvel Tokon: Fighting Souls. Fans are also eager to see a fresh look at Insomniac’s Wolverine game, which was first announced way back in 2021. It has also been a year since Uncharted developer Naughty Dog revealed Intergalactic: The Heretic Prophet, so an update on that game wouldn’t be unwelcome.

If we’re digging into rumored reveals, then there might be some pleasant surprises today. Speculation about a new God of War game that will be smaller in scope and will see players return to ancient Greece has been doing the rounds for a while now, and everything from a Metal Gear Solid 4 port to a remake of Assassin’s Creed 4: Black Flag have also been heavily rumored for a while now. The only way to find out will be to tune in today to see what the future of PlayStation looks like.



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