Tech news roundup for September 13, 2026: Apple’s iPhone 18 Pro preorders are underway, though shipping for some iPhone 18 Pro Max configurations has already slipped past the September 18 launch day.

Beyond Apple, today’s roundup covers Blizzard’s surprise reveal of a new open-world StarCraft shooter, OpenAI CEO Sam Altman’s comments on delaying an IPO, and Anthropic’s proposal to slow the pace of AI development.

The TLDR

• Tech & Apps: iPhone 18 Pro preorders are open — but some colors already won’t arrive on launch day
• AI Tools: Sam Altman says an OpenAI IPO in 2026 is off the table

Tech & Apps

iPhone 18 Pro preorders are open — but some colors already won’t arrive on launch day

Apple opened preorders for the iPhone 18 Pro and Pro Max on September 12, ahead of the September 18 launch, according to The Verge. By Saturday evening, shipping estimates for several iPhone 18 Pro Max configurations had already slipped into October, with Burgundy and Glacier colors in 256GB and 512GB hit hardest, per 9to5Mac. The standard iPhone 18 Pro saw only minor delays, and every 2TB configuration of both phones is still on track for launch-day delivery.

Blizzard reveals a new open-world StarCraft shooter, targeting 2030

Blizzard announced a new StarCraft game built as an open-world, story-driven shooter, set decades after StarCraft II: Legacy of the Void, according to The Verge. The project is led by Dan Hay, a former Far Cry producer, and Blizzard says it’s early in development, with a 2030 launch window and more details to come in future years.

AI Tools

Sam Altman says an OpenAI IPO in 2026 is off the table

OpenAI CEO Sam Altman told Fortune’s editor-in-chief that going public in 2026 would be “ill-advised,” confirming the IPO won’t happen this year, according to TechCrunch. OpenAI has already filed confidentially for an IPO after initially targeting the second half of 2026, but Altman said the company will go public only “when the business is ready.”

Anthropic’s CEO proposes a plan to slow down AI development

Anthropic CEO Dario Amodei published a plan calling for the AI industry to “pace the frontier,” including third-party evaluators like METR to verify safety commitments and coordinated safety standards among AI companies, per TechCrunch. He also called for the U.S. and its allies to coordinate with other governments, including China, on limiting the riskiest AI applications, and said Sam Altman had agreed to adopt the third-party evaluator approach. If you’re trying to get more day-to-day use out of AI tools yourself, see our guide on using ChatGPT to plan a weekend road trip on a budget.

Explore more: using ChatGPT to plan a weekend road trip on a budget, turning off Google’s Personal Intelligence feature.

Tech News FAQs

When do iPhone 18 Pro preorders ship?

Preorders opened September 12, 2026, ahead of the September 18 launch day. Most configurations ship on time, but some iPhone 18 Pro Max colors and storage sizes have slipped into October.

What is the new StarCraft game Blizzard announced?

It’s a new open-world, story-driven shooter set in the StarCraft universe, led by former Far Cry producer Dan Hay. Blizzard is targeting a 2030 release and says the game is still early in development.

Is OpenAI going public in 2026?

No. CEO Sam Altman said in a Fortune interview that an IPO in 2026 would be “ill-advised,” even though OpenAI has already filed confidentially. The company says it will go public only when the business is ready.

What did Anthropic propose about slowing down AI?

CEO Dario Amodei proposed third-party safety evaluators, coordinated safety standards among AI companies, and international coordination on limiting the riskiest AI applications. Sam Altman reportedly agreed to adopt the third-party evaluator approach.

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The post Tech News Roundup: 4 Essential Stories for September 13, 2026 — iPhone 18 Pro Preorders, StarCraft’s Return, and Anthropic’s AI Slowdown Plan appeared first on GTWebs.