Ad-supported Xbox Cloud Gaming is imminent - DTNS 5118

An ad-supported version of Xbox Cloud Gaming is in testing with Microsoft employees, and Oisín Lennon, founder of Danu Sports in Ireland talks about his company’s sensor-filled socks.

Starring Jason Howell, Jenn Cutter, and Oisín Lennon.

JASON: This is the Daily Tech News for Friday, October 3, 2025. We tell you what you need to know, follow up on the context of those stories, and help each other understand.

JENN: Today, Jason’s Ireland tech trip continues with a look at a pair of smart socks, and we discuss an ad-supported version of Xbox Cloud Gaming that’s being tested now.

I’m Jason Howell,

I’m Jenn Cutter

JASON: Let’s start with what you need to know with the big story.

BIG STORY

GameStop Says It Will Continue to Sell Xbox Game Pass Ultimate for $19.99 a Month Despite New Price Hike
Microsoft is about to launch free Xbox Cloud Gaming with ads

On Wednesday, Tom and Sarah talked about the price increase of Xbox Game Pass Ultimate memberships. And now, GameStop has announced it will continue selling the memberships in-store and online at the previous price of $19.99 per month instead of raising it to Microsoft’s new $29.99 per month price. As of show time, Amazon, Target, and Best Buy are also still listing the membership at the lower price. What sets GameStop apart is its public commitment to the lower price.

Gamers are speculating that these stores are simply selling through old inventory of prepaid codes tied to the lower price. In fact, physically printed Game Pass cards show their value, so selling a card printed with the lower cost at a higher price could at least explain part of this, but not why online digital code pricing is staying at the previous rate as well.

Microsoft is also about to launch a free, ad-supported version of Xbox Cloud Gaming, according to The Verge’s sources. Employees are reportedly testing this feature internally, playing certain titles without a Game Pass subscription. Users will be able to stream the games they already own, plus Xbox Retro Classics and Free Play Days titles.

The test requires watching about two minutes’ worth of ads before gameplay kicks in and currently limits play to one hour per session, with up to five hours each month. A public beta is expected soon.

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JASON: There’s more we need to know today. Let’s get to the briefs.

BRIEFS

OpenAI’s Sora soars to No. 3 on the US App Store
JENN: Tom and I talked at length about Sora 2 on yesterday’s show, but it’s worth following up on the fact that the app has reached number 3 on the US App Store, pulling in around 164,000 installs in two days. In fact, Sora’s day one downloads beat Anthropic’s Claude and Microsoft Copilot. It’s day one number of around 56,000 downloads did not surpass day one numbers of ChatGPT and Google Gemini which both pulled more than 80,000 downloads on their first days on the App Store.

Apple Removes ICE-Tracking Apps From App Store After DOJ Concerns - WSJ
Law Enforcement Wants Waze App Shut Down Over Police Safety Worries - CBS Sacramento
Apple bans DUI checkpoint apps on iOS devices - CNET
ICE Wants to Build Out a 24/7 Social Media Surveillance Team | WIRED
JASON: Apple has removed apps from its app store that let users track and report sightings of US Immigration and Customs Enforcement agents. Apple told the press that “Based on information we’ve received from law enforcement about the safety risks associated with ICEBlock, we have removed it and similar apps from the App Store.” US Attorney General Pam Bondi said the Department of Justice requested Apple make the removals. This is the latest instance of the US government pressuring tech companies to remove reporting of law enforcement activities. Apple’s guidelines prohibit accepting apps that relay information about drunken driving checkpoints after pressure from US Senators in 2011, and navigation apps like Waze and Google Maps have been pressured not to explicitly warn about speed traps.

And in a related story, Wired found internal contractor vendor requirements at US Immigration and Customs Enforcement describe a plan to create a team of 30 individuals to monitor public social media posts to create leads for immigration enforcement.

Strava Just Sued Garmin: Demands Garmin Stop Selling Devices
JENN: Strava is suing Garmin and demanding the end to sales of most of Garmin’s fitness and outdoor watches, as well as removal of certain features from Garmin Connect. Strava claims Garmin violated two patents, one related to segments and the other to heatmaps, and breached a 2015 cooperation agreement made between the two companies. Garmin disputes this, saying that it had similar features before Strava’s patents were filed. Some experts believe that Strava will not win in the lawsuit. Have no fear though; both brands are saying that people can still sync workouts as usual, so at least there’s that.

Hacking group claims theft of 1 billion records from Salesforce customer databases
JASON: A hacking group named ShinyHunters, also known in the past as Lapsus$, is claiming to have stolen around one billion records from companies storing customer data in cloud databases that were managed by Salesforce. The group launched a dark website called Scattered LAPSUS$ Hunters to pressure victims of its attack into paying to avoid having their data leaked. Companies include Google, Qantas, FedEx, Hulu, and Toyota. Salesforce is denying that a compromise actually happened, sharing that no evidence links the breach to vulnerabilities in its own technology.

Gmail business users can now send encrypted emails to anyone
JENN: Google is now allowing Gmail business users to send end-to-end encrypted emails to anyone, regardless of their email platform. Users will need to activate “Additional encryption” when composing the email. Non-Gmail recipients will receive a secure link to view and reply using a restricted guest account. More complicated measures, like requiring key exchanges or extra software, are unnecessary with this system because Google’s client-side encryption manages security on the sender’s end with encryption keys under organizational control.

Threads is getting a ‘communities’ feature for better conversations
JASON: Meta is testing a Threads communities feature with dedicated spaces for focused discussions, with more than 100 communities already created around topics like “NBA Threads”, “Book Threads,” and “Tech Threads.” The posts inside are ranked higher according to relevance, and there are special engagement features like custom emoji.

JENN: Those are the essentials for today. Let’s dive a little deeper.

INTERVIEW

JASON: More to share about my trip to Dublin, Ireland, last week, courtesy of Enterprise Ireland, which is NOT a car rental company, is a government organization that invests in and supports Irish startups. One of the really cool startups I saw up close was Danu Sports, which has developed smart socks, yes, you heard that right. I spoke with founder Oisín Lennon at his company’s lab about how this tech helps athletes and clinicians track performance and prevent injuries.

JASON: And real quick, you should know that my Irish travelogue video went live on the Daily Tech News Show YouTube channel last night, so if you haven’t checked it out and wonder what it’s like to be whisked away through Dublin for a week, definitely give it a watch. Also, a HUGE thank you to Roger Chang, who masterfully edited an insane amount of footage into the final video. You are a god, Roger!
Watch the video here

PROMO

JENN: Need a snazzy gift for a co-worker or colleague? We got dozens of ideas at dailytechnewsshow.com/store! Pick up a mug, t-shirt, or mouse pad with our new DTNS Logo! They’re great gifts and a great way to support the show!

HELPING EACH OTHER UNDERSTAND

JASON: We end every episode of DTNS with some shared wisdom. Today Job Seeker is happy I went to Ireland

JENN: Job Seeker writes:
It was lovely hearing about Jason’s trip to Ireland on Tuesday’s podcast. Not only was it engaging, but it really hit home for me. I’ve actually been looking at jobs in Ireland myself (shh… IT project managers are considered essential and eligible for work visas).
I’m actively looking, though I’m not holding my breath. Jason’s story gave me a boost all the same. It’s encouraging to know Ireland is putting real effort behind tech, especially with initiatives like Enterprise Ireland. Maybe there’s a deep dive on a weekend edition coming up for more info?
Thanks for the info!

JASON: What are you thinking about? Got some insight into a story? Share it with us feedback@dailytechnewsshow.com

JASON: Thanks to Oisín Lennon from Danu Sports and Job Seeker for contributing to today’s show. And thank YOU for being along for Daily Tech News Show. You can keep us in business by becoming a patron, at Patreon.com/dtns