Banks Consider $38 Billion Funding Boost for Oracle, Vantage, and OpenAI Expansion 
Anthropic Reportedly Taps Wilson Sonsini as It Prepares for a Potential 2026 IPO 
Norway’s Wealth Fund Backs Shareholder Push for Microsoft Human-Rights Risk Report 
Wikipedia Pushes for AI Licensing Deals as Jimmy Wales Calls for Fair Compensation 
Coupang Apologizes After Massive Data Breach Affecting 33.7 Million Users 
OpenAI Moves to Acquire Neptune as It Expands AI Training Capabilities 
Apple Leads Singles’ Day Smartphone Sales as iPhone 17 Demand Surges 
Senate Sets December 8 Vote on Trump’s NASA Nominee Jared Isaacman 
Apple Alerts EU Regulators That Apple Ads and Maps Meet DMA Gatekeeper Thresholds 
Nexperia Urges China Division to Resume Chip Production as Supply Risks Mount 
Baidu Cuts Jobs as AI Competition and Ad Revenue Slump Intensify 
Intel Boosts Malaysia Operations with Additional RM860 Million Investment 
Quantum Systems Projects Revenue Surge as It Eyes IPO or Private Sale 
Amazon and Google Launch New Multicloud Networking Service to Boost High-Speed Cloud Connectivity 
Trump Administration to Secure Equity Stake in Pat Gelsinger’s XLight Startup 
Apple Appoints Amar Subramanya as New Vice President of AI Amid Push to Accelerate Innovation 
Sam Altman Reportedly Explored Funding for Rocket Venture in Potential Challenge to SpaceX 
Microsoft has a few more games to add to the Xbox Game Pass library before the month ends. “Need for Speed: Hot Pursuit Remastered” headlines the new additions, while more cloud games get Xbox touch controls update.
A total of three games are coming to the subscription service on Thursday, June 24, including EA’s “NFS: Hot Pursuit Remastered.” The re-released edition of the 2021 title was launched last November for $29.99, but gamers with Xbox Game Pass subscriptions will be able to access the game at no additional cost.
The remaster also comes with its main DLC that features extra six hours of gameplay and dozens of extra challenges. “NFS: Hot Pursuit Remastered” will be available on Xbox Game Pass for PC, and console players can also access the game through Xbox Game Pass Ultimate via EA Play.
Also coming to Xbox Game Pass on Thursday are “Iron Harvest” and “Prodeus” on PC. “Iron Harvest” is a “dieselpunk” RTS originally released in early 2020 set “1920+” that allows players to control mecha units. “Prodeus” is a crowdfunded first-person shooter featuring retro animation and “over-the-top gory visuals.”
“Worms Rumble” from Team17’s long-running series “Worms” was also added to Xbox Game Pass on Wednesday for cloud, console, and PC gamers. The 2.5D action game features 32-player arena-based mode that can be joined by players using different gaming systems.
Meanwhile, Microsoft also announced five games coming to Xbox Game Pass on July 1, including the critically-acclaimed puzzle platformer “Limbo” developed by Playdead. Another interesting addition next week is the “silly multiplayer” “Gang Beasts” that features customizable gelatinous characters that use melee combat. Other games to look forward to at the start of July are “Banjo-Kazooie: Nuts & Bolts,” “Bug Fables: The Everlasting Sapling,” and “Immoral Realms: Vampire Wars.”
Eight cloud-enabled titles available via Xbox Game Pass were also updated on Wednesday to support Xbox touch controls. This means fans using Android devices through Xbox Cloud Gaming will have an easier time navigating the gameplay on “Dirt 5,” “Double Kick Heroes,” “Eastshade,” “Empire of Sin,” “Haven,” “Octopath Traveler,” “Torchlight 3,” and “Yakuza: Like a Dragon.”
Games that are labeled for cloud gaming can be accessed through Xbox Game Pass Ultimate, which costs $14.99 per month. The same tier also offers free monthly subscriptions to Xbox Live Gold and EA Play. More affordable tiers, Xbox Game Pass for Console and Xbox Game Pass for PC, are available for a monthly fee of $9.99.
