Games
• Key Takeaways: * Split Fiction and Donkey Kong Bananza lead Metacritic’s co-op rankings for 2025 with 91 metascores. * The list spans genres: from Hazelight’s narrative co-op to big‑budget shooters like Battlefield 6 and Borderlands 4. * Several classics and remasters (Super Mario Galaxy, Heretic + Hexen) proved co-op remains timeless.
Software
• Google’s Android 16 QPR3 beta updates Pixel emoji visuals to more closely resemble iPhone designs. • Updated emoji include Melting Face, Face Exhaling, Nauseated Face, Cold Face and Loudly Crying Face. • Many changes are minor stylistic shifts; Emojipedia has cataloged dozens of other adjustments tied to Unicode 17.0. • Updates
Games
• Case settled between Sony (SIE) and Tencent over alleged copy of Horizon; terms confidential. • Litigation dismissed with prejudice; neither party will refile on this claim and each pays own legal costs. • Tencent paused marketing and testing for Light of Motiram; the game remains delisted on Steam and Epic Games Store.
Games
* Start time: Dec 18, 10AM PST / 1PM EDT / 6PM GMT. * Sale runs from Dec 18, 2025 to Jan 5, 2026 — two days longer than last year. * Valve’s trailer confirms titles including Dispatch, Hades 2, Assassin’s Creed Shadows and Borderlands 4. * Official prices aren’t live yet; thousands of
Gadgets
* Key Takeaways: * OnePlus 15R packs a Snapdragon 8 Gen 5, 12GB RAM and UFS 4.1 storage starting at $700. * Massive 7,400mAh battery with 55W in-box charging (supports up to 80W) and a 6.83" OLED 120Hz panel. * Camera setup is simplified: 50MP primary + 8MP ultrawide, no telephoto;
Gadgets
* Apple is reportedly working on a 24-inch iMac with an OLED display. * The panel spec in discussion includes 600 nits of brightness and 218 PPI. * Apple has requested information from Samsung Display and LG Display; development could finish by 2027–2028. What the report says South Korea’s The Elec
Games
• Key Takeaways: * Sony and Tencent reached a confidential settlement over Tencent’s Light of Motiram, a game Sony called a “slavish clone” of Horizon Zero Dawn. * The lawsuit, filed in July 2025, was dismissed after the companies agreed to a confidential resolution. * Light of Motiram has been removed from Steam
AI
* Apple Music is available as an app inside ChatGPT for subscribers. * The integration lets ChatGPT search Apple Music and build playlists via natural language, but it does not stream full songs in-chat. * To use it, visit chatgpt.com/apps, add the Apple Music app, and connect your Apple Music account.
AI
• Key Takeaways: * Director Adam Bhala Lough created a full Sam Altman deepfake, dubbed “Sam Bot,” after failing to secure an interview with OpenAI CEO Sam Altman. * The film, Deepfaking Sam Altman, follows the creation of Sam Bot in India and explores growing human–AI relationships and ethical risks. * The documentary
Startups
* SpaceX’s first successful Falcon 9 first‑stage landing occurred Dec. 21, 2015 on the Orbcomm‑2 mission, proving controlled recovery was possible. * The dramatic comeback followed the June 2015 CRS‑7 failure; investigation traced the loss to a failed COPV rod‑end and quality control gaps. * Simultaneous engineering pushes
Software
Key Takeaways: * Microsoft rolled out Link to Windows v1.25102.140.0 with new remote controls for Windows 11 PCs. * New features include remote PC lock (under 3 seconds), two-way file transfer to PC, cross-device clipboard, and a Recent Activity feed. * Screen mirroring (Mirror to PC) and basic PC status
Software
• Key Takeaways: * Apple’s iOS 26.2 update has triggered widespread complaints about performance, UI changes and battery reporting. * Reported issues include slower responsiveness, new animations, touch-sensitivity oddities and harder-to-find settings. * Community reaction on Reddit, Bluesky and other forums ranges from frustration to outright rejection; some noted the update as