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How to watch Tottenham vs. Atletico Madrid online for free

Mashable - Tue, 03/17/2026 - 17:00

TL;DR: Live stream Tottenham vs. Atletico Madrid in the Champions League for free on Virgin Media Player. Access this free live stream from anywhere in the world with ExpressVPN.

Things have been going really badly for Spurs, and the 5-2 Champions League defeat to Atletico Madrid was a real low point for a number of reasons. Now they face Atletico Madrid again in the second leg, looking to build on a slightly better performance against Liverpool at the weekend.

It would take a heroic effort from Spurs to qualify for the quarter finals, but anything is possible. The reality is that fans would take anything even remotely positive right now. They don't need a 4-0 win. They just need to see some light at the end of the tunnel.

If you want to watch Tottenham vs. Atletico Madrid in the Champions League for free from anywhere in the world, we have all the information you need.

When is Tottenham vs. Atletico Madrid?

Tottenham vs. Atletico Madrid in the Champions League kicks off at 8 p.m. GMT on March 18. This fixture takes place at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium.

How to watch Tottenham vs. Atletico Madrid for free

Tottenham vs. Atletico Madrid is available to live stream for free on Virgin Media Player.

Virgin Media Player is geo-restricted to Ireland, but anyone can access this free streaming platform with a VPN. These tools can hide your real IP address (digital location) and connect you to a secure server in Ireland, meaning you can unblock Virgin Media Player to stream the Champions League for free from anywhere in the world.

Live stream Tottenham vs. Atletico Madrid for free by following these simple steps:

  1. Subscribe to a streaming-friendly VPN (like ExpressVPN)

  2. Download the app to your device of choice (the best VPNs have apps for Windows, Mac, iOS, Android, Linux, and more)

  3. Open up the app and connect to a server in Ireland

  4. Visit Virgin Media Player

  5. Watch Tottenham vs. Atletico Madrid for free from anywhere in the world

Opens in a new window Credit: ExpressVPN ExpressVPN (1-Month Plan) $12.95 only at ExpressVPN (with money-back guarantee) Get Deal

The best VPNs for streaming are not free, but most do offer free-trials or money-back guarantees. By leveraging these offers, you can watch Tottenham vs. Atletico Madrid without committing with your cash. This isn't a long-term solution, but it does give you enough time to stream select Champions League fixtures before recovering your investment.

What is the best VPN for Virgin Media Player?

ExpressVPN is the best choice for bypassing geo-restrictions to stream live sport on Virgin Media Player, for a number of reasons:

  • Servers in 105 countries including Ireland

  • Easy-to-use app available on all major devices including iPhone, Android, Windows, Mac, and more

  • Strict no-logging policy so your data is secure

  • Fast connection speeds free from throttling

  • Up to 10 simultaneous connections

  • 30-day money-back guarantee

A two-year subscription to ExpressVPN is on sale for $68.40 and includes an extra four months for free — 81% off for a limited time. This plan includes a year of free unlimited cloud backup and a generous 30-day money-back guarantee. Alternatively, you can get a one-month plan for just $12.99 (with money-back guarantee).

Watch Tottenham vs. Atletico Madrid in the Champions League for free with ExpressVPN.

China Ramps Up Scrutiny of Meta’s Acquisition of Manus

NYT Technology - Tue, 03/17/2026 - 15:38
The country appears to be cracking down on people linked to the acquisition of Manus, a Singapore company with Chinese roots, as President Trump prepares to visit Beijing.

Arizona Files Criminal Charges Against Kalshi, the Prediction Site

NYT Technology - Tue, 03/17/2026 - 15:18
The state accused Kalshi on Tuesday of operating an illegal gambling business, escalating the legal battle between states and prediction markets.

Amazon has a long list of budget QLED TVs at record-low pricing the week before its spring sale

Mashable - Tue, 03/17/2026 - 15:09
A quick look at the best Amazon TV deals ahead of the Big Spring Sale Best 55-inch TV deal Hisense 55-inch Canvas QLED 4K TV $693.99 at Amazon (save $306) Get Deal Best 65-inch TV deal TCL 65-inch QM8K Mini LED QLED 4K TV $999.99 at Amazon (save $500) Get Deal Best 75-inch TV deal Hisense 75-inch U7 Mini LED QLED 4K TV $899.99 at Amazon (save $398) Get Deal

Most of the year's major flagship TVs announced in January are typically out by the end of March, cuing retailers to push deals on last year's TVs even harder. March was further established as one of the best months to buy a TV when Amazon started holding a massive annual spring sale. This year, it's longer than ever: The 2026 Big Spring Sale runs from March 25 through 31.

SEE ALSO: What to look for when buying a TV, as told through this easy TV specs guide

It's not just Amazon's in-house Fire TVs that see big discounts during the Big Spring Sale — they're hardly the best TVs you can get for the money right now. The most worthwhile Amazon TV deals are typically from solid budget brands like TCL and Hisense, with a few premium options like Samsung's The Frame thrown in. To find deals on premium 2025 OLEDs, Best Buy's spring sale has way more options.

Below is a running list of the best Amazon TV deals live ahead of the Big Spring Sale. Any TV listed below matches or beats its lowest-ever sale price (according to price tracker camelcamelcamel) to ensure you're genuinely looking at a steal. We're keeping our eyes peeled for deals on more of the best 65-inch TVs, manifesting a new record discount on our beloved TCL QM6K.

Best early Big Spring Sale TV deal Hisense 75-inch U7 QLED 4K TV $899.99 at Amazon
$1,297.99 Save $398   Get Deal at Amazon Why we like it

One TV that's actually beating its previous record-low sale price is the 2025 75-inch Hisense U7. Currently 31 percent off, it's $103 cheaper than it was just a month ago during Presidents' Day sales.

This new price drop tracks, considering the 2026 version of the same TV was just unveiled on March 6. The 2026 75-inch U7 will cost $1,999.99 — more than $1,000 steeper than the 2025 model's $899.99 sale price. Those are the kind of steals we were talking about.

This mini LED model packs a serious punch for the price. Its brightness in SDR and HDR gets consistently great notes across the internet, with glare handling strong enough for most sunlit rooms. You don't always see a 165 Hz refresh rate in budget to mid-range TVs, so the Hisense U7 is a top contender for an XL gaming TV under $1,000.

Deals on 43-inch TVs and underDeals on 50- to 55-inch TVsDeals on 65-inch TVs Deals on 75-inch TVs and up

How to watch Barcelona vs. Newcastle United online for free

Mashable - Tue, 03/17/2026 - 15:00

TL;DR: Live stream Barcelona vs. Newcastle United in the Champions League for free on Virgin Media Player. Access this free live stream from anywhere in the world with ExpressVPN.

The Champions League is back this week with a number of huge second-leg matchups, including Barcelona vs. Newcastle United. These sides are tied 1-1 after a competitive first leg contest. Lamine Yamal equalized from the penalty spot with almost the last kick of the game at St James' Park, and now the attention turns to the Camp Nou.

Barcelona will be favorites to advance into the quarter finals, but Newcastle United have the talent to give any side problems. We're expecting an entertaining clash between two attacking sides.

If you want to watch Barcelona vs. Newcastle United in the Champions League for free from anywhere in the world, we have all the information you need.

When is Barcelona vs. Newcastle United?

Barcelona vs. Newcastle United in the Champions League kicks off at 5:45 p.m. GMT on March 18. This fixture takes place at the Camp Nou.

How to watch Barcelona vs. Newcastle United for free

Barcelona vs. Newcastle United is available to live stream for free on Virgin Media Player.

Virgin Media Player is geo-restricted to Ireland, but anyone can access this free streaming platform with a VPN. These tools can hide your real IP address (digital location) and connect you to a secure server in Ireland, meaning you can unblock Virgin Media Player to stream the Champions League for free from anywhere in the world.

Live stream Barcelona vs. Newcastle United for free by following these simple steps:

  1. Subscribe to a streaming-friendly VPN (like ExpressVPN)

  2. Download the app to your device of choice (the best VPNs have apps for Windows, Mac, iOS, Android, Linux, and more)

  3. Open up the app and connect to a server in Ireland

  4. Visit Virgin Media Player

  5. Watch Barcelona vs. Newcastle United for free from anywhere in the world

Opens in a new window Credit: ExpressVPN ExpressVPN (1-Month Plan) $12.95 only at ExpressVPN (with money-back guarantee) Get Deal

The best VPNs for streaming are not free, but most do offer free-trials or money-back guarantees. By leveraging these offers, you can watch Barcelona vs. Newcastle United without committing with your cash. This isn't a long-term solution, but it does give you enough time to stream select Champions League fixtures before recovering your investment.

What is the best VPN for Virgin Media Player?

ExpressVPN is the best choice for bypassing geo-restrictions to stream live sport on Virgin Media Player, for a number of reasons:

  • Servers in 105 countries including Ireland

  • Easy-to-use app available on all major devices including iPhone, Android, Windows, Mac, and more

  • Strict no-logging policy so your data is secure

  • Fast connection speeds free from throttling

  • Up to 10 simultaneous connections

  • 30-day money-back guarantee

A two-year subscription to ExpressVPN is on sale for $68.40 and includes an extra four months for free — 81% off for a limited time. This plan includes a year of free unlimited cloud backup and a generous 30-day money-back guarantee. Alternatively, you can get a one-month plan for just $12.99 (with money-back guarantee).

Watch Barcelona vs. Newcastle United in the Champions League for free with ExpressVPN.

10 of the coolest and weirdest Pokémon Pokopia builds weve seen so far

Mashable - Tue, 03/17/2026 - 14:43

Pokémon Pokopia is a certified smash hit, which means there's no shortage of amazing videos of people doing wild things with the game on social media.

The new Nintendo Switch 2 exclusive has exploded onto the scene, and in just a week or two, players have gotten to work tearing the game apart, figuring out every little thing you can do with it, and then doing all of those things. Sure, it's a very cozy game at its core, but you can also turn it into a big, multi-day construction project if you're so inclined. And it turns out a lot of people are so inclined.

For example, someone went and recreated Kanto, the setting of the original Pokémon RPGs on Game Boy, in Pokopia. People of a certain age will probably feel a rush of nostalgia looking at this.

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Speaking of tributes to other Pokémon games, someone also made a gigantic monument to Arceus, a popular legendary Pokémon.

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Of course, not everything is a huge, elaborate nostalgia-fest. Some people are simply creating fun little comedy skits in their Pokopia worlds. Take this one, for example.

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It's also just inherently funny to put a bunch of adorable Pokémon to work, as this player did. Those furnaces aren't going to run themselves!

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One fun thing you can do in Pokopia is build railroads and ride around them in minecarts. There are a bunch of cool, complicated railroad builds online, and this is just one example.

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Sometimes the coolest builds are simple in concept, but were clearly the result of a ton of effort and love. This pink hotel is a good example of that.

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But also, some builds are cool because they totally break your conception of what you can even do in Pokopia. This player, for instance, used physical objects to essentially program a lava waterfall that you can activate with a switch.

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Another example is this player, who built a complex sprinkler system.

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And then there's my favorite one: a simple but functional giant computer, of sorts.

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Last but not least, some players are devoting their time to helping others. This person created an online island that anyone can visit, full of rare items for other players to take and use in their own islands. A big salute to that hero.

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Pokémon Pokopia is available now on Nintendo Switch 2.

ChatGPTs sex-centered adult mode raises red flags at OpenAI

Mashable - Tue, 03/17/2026 - 14:25

Two weeks ago, OpenAI announced it would be delaying the release of its "Adult Mode," an NSFW chatbot setting that lets users engage in erotic chats and generate "smut."

An anonymous source from the company recently told journalist Alex Heath the delay was based on updated priorities, a move that appeared to align with OpenAI's decision to scale back in light of ongoing legal battles, build upon GPT 5.4, and score deals with the federal government. But interviews with anonymous insiders, published this week by the Wall Street Journal, tell a different story.

SEE ALSO: Child safety group blasts YouTube for million dollar gamble on AI content for kids

The company's well being advisory council said in a January meeting that they were in unanimous agreement that the company should not move forward with the proposed adult mode, insiders told WSJ. Concerns from psychologists and cognitive scientists had gone ignored, they said, after warning that X-rated chats could foster unhealthy emotional dependence — an existing problem with standard ChatGPT users.

Insiders said that one expert cautioned that ChatGPT would just become a "sexy suicide coach."

In addition, advisors warned that the chatbot's age assurance policies — including its new age prediction technology — were not robust enough to handle the X-rated experience. According to the WSJ, the system was at one point working at a 12 percent error rate when classifying minor users. Insiders said that would result in millions of minors flying under the radar and potentially accessing developmentally inappropriate chat experiences.

SEE ALSO: 'Perfect predator': When chatbots sexually abuse kids

OpenAI competitor Meta weathered a similar scandal last year after internal documents revealed lax chatbot safety policies for teen users. Meta has since overhauled its AI policies for teens, but still allows chatbots and AI avatars to engage in "romantic roleplay."

Despite concerns, OpenAI says it will move forward with Adult Mode in the future.

But OpenAI's safety teams are reportedly still figuring out the finer details of how the experience will work, including how to effectively lift explicit content restrictions while still blocking content like nonconsensual behavior or child sexual abuse, the publication reports. A spokesperson told the Wall Street Journal that adult mode would allow users to generate "smut level" text conversations, but not outright pornography.

They also said that the age verification error rate was "industry standard" and that it could never be foolproof.

Disclosure: Ziff Davis, Mashable’s parent company, in April 2025 filed a lawsuit against OpenAI, alleging it infringed Ziff Davis copyrights in training and operating its AI systems.

The tech trends getting buzz at SXSW 2026

Mashable - Tue, 03/17/2026 - 13:53

SXSW isn’t just about movies or music. The annual Austin festival has also become a hub for inventors and entrepreneurs who use technology in exciting new ways.

So while my colleagues in the entertainment section score interviews with Dropout TV stars and hit the I Love Boosters red carpet, I went looking for the latest word in tech. Here's what I learned while attending panels on robots, playing next-gen VR games, interviewing AI experts — plus eating a dangerous amount of tacos to power me through it all.

SEE ALSO: 17 SXSW movies you need to know about right now AI Doom is out. AI Apocaloptimism is in.

If it feels like they’re adding AI to everything, it’s because they’re adding AI to everything. It seemed like every other booth and event at SXSW was about some new way to integrate AI into ... whatever doesn't have it yet. It's a gold rush, still loves a bubble until it pops.

SXSW offered panels about runaway AI, job loss, environmental crisis, cognitive decline, and everything else you need for your full-blown panic attack before heading to the IBM AI Sports Club for a consoling round of drinks with other apparently obsolete humans.

But between the AI doomers and the AI goldrush crowd, a middle path is emerging: AI Apocaloptimism. 

The AI Doc: Or How I Became an Apocaloptimist is one buzzy new documentary at SXSW. Mashable hosted a panel about the movie with its producer, Daniel Kwan ( one half of the "Daniels" duo that directed 2023 Oscar winner Everything Everywhere All At Once).

An Apocaloptimist, according to Kwan's movie, is someone whose eyes are wide open to the perils of AI, but also to the promises. The AI Doc is also a call to action for viewers to support responsible AI development and regulation. You can catch it in theaters from March 27.

Bleeding-edge tech on display at XR Exhibition

As in years past, SXSW hosted an XR Exhibition, where artists, pranksters, and game developers debuted installations on the bleeding edge of XR technology. It wasn't new, but it has shown more staying power than the AI trend. Of all the tech I saw at SXSW, this is the event crowds were most excited about. There was a line and rush at the door when the hall opened.

Ironically, however, this event's popularity may be a sign that XR in the wider world is not popular. Most people don’t have Meta Quests, Galaxy XR headsets, or Snap Spectacles, so they jump at the chance to try them.

SXSW saw the global debut of Fabula Rasa, a virtual reality game driven by fully improvised and AI-generated conversations. I wrote about the experience immediately after trying it, and it could be a preview of what RPG games will become in the AI era.

Imagine this: No more dialogue trees or circular conversations. You can talk, in real time, to every character you meet.

SEE ALSO: 'Fabula Rasa' is the new AI VR game that made me ask: Is this the future of RPGs?

Snap also hosted the U.S. debut of a new augmented reality art exhibition with Jonathan Yeo, the painter behind a controversial portrait of Sir King Charles. Yeo's exhibit powered by the Snap Spectacles.

Some AI is doing good

ElevenLabs, the AI audio company, announced a new initiative at SXSW that’s genuinely exciting — the company pledged to restore 1 million voices for people with permanent voice loss.

The company announced the news with Rebecca Gayheart Dane, the actress and wife of actor Eric Dane, who recently died after a struggle ALS. Dane worked with ElevenLabs to clone his voice prior to his death, which he used to talk to his family and care team. Now ElevenLabs is looking for people all over the world to participate in the 1 Million Voices Initiative.

"Because [AI] can be used for good, and maybe this will inspire others, other AI companies, to do something good with their capabilities instead of something nefarious," Gayheart Dane said.

One Silicon Valley founder told me that EleveLabs is “dialed in,” and the company’s lawyer said they’ve been shipping products and models at a furious pace. While the company’s AI music album was a swing and a miss, the company is certainly generating buzz with its new models and AI tools. I heard from multiple people at SXSW that they were using ElevenLabs voice models in their own products, including Fabula Rasa.

Robotaxis are everywhere Two Waymos and a Cybertruck drive into a bar... Credit: Timothy Werth / Mashable

For Austin locals and San Francisco visitors, robotaxis are old news. As someone coming from New York, I got to take my first Waymo robotaxi rides in Austin. It was weird!

SXSW itself was sponsored by Rivian, which showed off a self-driving electric truck. I also saw a lot of Zoox robotaxis, and Tesla took the opportunity to show off its new Tesla Robotaxis. (I saw a Robotaxi in a big display case ... being towed by a Cybertruck.)

Credit: Timothy Werth / Mashable

Welcome to the future. The cars aren’t flying, but they are driving themselves.

Sustainability tech

Climate and sustainability has long been a popular topic at SXSW, and this year was no exception. Several sustainability startups were recognized at the annual SXSW pitch competition, and preventing waste was a common theme among the winners.

Promising new companies like PLNTmatter take plant waste and turn it into sustainable fabrics. EcoSphere Organics sends a robot around Detroit collecting food waste to make upcycled products. MayimFlow helps eliminate water waste at data centers.

I also saw a startup called Flotier that wants to bring compact wind turbines to commercial rooftops, so that buildings can harness solar and wind. It's one of those ideas that makes you think, why aren't we doing this already?

The Ammortal Chamber, built for Darth Vader Credit: Timothy Werth / Mashable

Have you ever wanted your very own Darth Vader chamber you can climb into when you need to refresh?

That's how I've taken to describing my experience inside the Ammortal Chamber, the $160,000 rejuvenation machine that combines light therapy, molecular hydrogen, breathwork, vibroacoustics, pulsed electromagnetic fields (PEMF), and guided meditation into one experience that will refresh even the crankiest Dark Lord of the Sith.

As the Ammortal sales rep told me, it lets you plug yourself in like a cell phone. If you frequent medspas, you may see Ammortal Chambers on the spa menu soon. The devices are also popular with pro athletes, I was told.

The creator economy grows up

The days of creators negotiating brand deals themselves in lengthy negotiations with a massive power imbalance are over. Or, at least, that's the idea. I interviewed Arthur Leopold, the CEO and co-founder of Agentio, a platform that lets creators match with brands and sign deals in a couple of clicks.

AI analyzes their body of work to find natural brand partners, and creators don't need to worry about sketchy contracts they don't understand.

Agentio hosted a panel with YouTube megastars Rhett and Link, the company's marquee clients, and they made a compelling case that billions of ad dollars will soon be shifting to creator marketing.

I also spoke with Snap's head of creator partnerships team, who walked me through monetization tools like Snap Spotlight and the newly launched Creator Subscriptions tool, currently in beta.

Teens sue xAI for Groks reported sexual image generation issues

Mashable - Tue, 03/17/2026 - 13:15

Three Jane Does, two under 18, filed a lawsuit against xAI yesterday about the generation of child sex abuse material (CSAM) on Grok, Elon Musk's AI tool.

"Like a rag doll brought to life through the dark arts, this child can be manipulated into any pose, however sick, however fetishized, however unlawful," the complaint states. It goes on to allege that while other AI companies recognize the dangers of AI and put up guardrails to prevent child sex predators from using them, "xAI did not."

SEE ALSO: Adult performer Siri Dahl doxxed by Grok: 'Go f*ck yourself you nazi clanker'

"Instead, xAI — and its founder Elon Musk — saw a business opportunity: an opportunity to profit off the sexual predation of real people, including children," the suit, which is a class action, states.

In January, Mashable reported that xAI admitted that Grok generates images of "minors in minimal clothing." A report by the Center for Countering Digital Hate stated weeks later that Grok was able to create around three million sexualized images, including 23,000 of apparent children, between Dec. 29 and Jan. 8.

Several countries, including France, the UK, Ireland, India, and Brazil, have announced that they're now investigating Grok. Stateside, California is also investigating the chatbot. Now, the lawsuits have begun.

This one, filed March 16, has been filed in federal court in California. It states that the Jane Does, who live in Tennessee, have suffered severe harm from xAI's production of CSAM.

Around Dec. 6, 2025, Jane Doe 1 discovered from an anonymous Instagram message that images of her had been generated by someone she knows and disseminated on Discord. The perpetrator had created images of at least 18 other girls, many of whom Jane Doe 1 recognized. Jane Doe 1 is now an adult, but was a minor in the photos used of her, according to the lawsuit.

Then, around Feb. 12 this year, Jane Does 2 and 3 were notified by local law enforcement that their images were used by the same perpetrator to generate CSAM. They are still minors.

Another lawsuit against xAI was filed in the same court on Jan. 23. Another Jane Doe, an adult, is suing due to Grok "undressing" an image of her, rendering her in a bikini.

Mashable has reached out to xAI for comment.

The best MacBook deals to shop ahead of Amazons Big Spring Sale

Mashable - Tue, 03/17/2026 - 13:07
A quick look at Amazon's best MacBook deals ahead of the Big Spring Sale: Best MacBook Air deal Apple MacBook Air, 15-inch (M4, 24GB RAM, 512GB SSD) $1,299 (save $300) Get Deal Best MacBook Pro deal Apple MacBook Pro, 14-inch (M5, 16GB RAM, 1TB SSD) $1,499.99 (save $199.01) Get Deal

Amazon is gearing up to host its third annual Big Spring Sale from March 25 to 31. The event mainly revolves around seasonal essentials like cleaning supplies and outdoor gear, but in the past, it's also featured deals on tech — including flagship Apple products. Since the company just refreshed (and expanded) its MacBook lineup earlier this month, I'm thinking Amazon will put a big focus on clearing out its remaining inventory of last-gen models.

In the days leading up to the sale, I'm already seeing some pretty great deals on M4 MacBook Airs and Pros. Amazon's biggest discount thus far is going to a 15-inch M4 Air with 24GB of RAM and 512GB of storage, which is now $300 off — its lowest price ever. (No other M4 MacBook is more than $200 off.) That's one deal I would definitely grab ahead of time, before the Big Spring Sale officially starts, in case it sells out. Apple has discontinued the M4 MacBooks, so once third-party retailers' supplies dry up, they'll only be available on the refurbished market.

SEE ALSO: Amazon's Big Spring Sale is back: The best deals already live on Apple, robot vacuums, headphones, and more

If you'd prefer a MacBook Pro with a nicer display, more ports, and fans that prevent thermal throttling, I've spotted a 14-inch M5 model with 16GB of RAM and 1TB of storage that's only $1,499.99 (or about $200 off), another all-time low. It's the best option for most people, though a couple of M4 Pro models with 24GB of memory are enjoying the same discount if you're a professional creative who needs even more power.

The brand-new M5 MacBook Airs and M5 Pro/Max MacBook Pros are all $50 off ahead of the Big Spring Sale, and that's probably going to be as cheap as they get for now. (The then-new M4 models got the same discount during last year's sale.) Look for better deals in a couple months around Amazon's summer Prime Day sale.

The one MacBook that isn't on sale just yet is the MacBook Neo, Apple's all-new budget laptop. I doubt that will change once the event begins — the Neo is already super affordable (and a bestseller) at its regular MSRP — but you never know. A decent MacBook Neo deal is my 2026 Big Spring Sale white whale.

Note: Deals marked with a 🔥 have dropped to a record-low price.

Best MacBook Air deal Opens in a new window Credit: Apple Apple MacBook Air, 15-inch (M4, 24GB RAM, 512GB SSD) 🔥 $1,299 at Amazon
$1,599 Save $300   Get Deal Why we like it

The 15-inch M4 MacBook Air may be a last-gen laptop, but it's still an incredibly capable ultraportable. In multitasking scenarios and heavier tasks like video editing, it's faster than nearly 80 percent of the models in our current testing database (including much pricier Windows laptops). It has the same 12MP Center Stage webcam, Liquid Retina display, and 18-hour battery life as its fresher M5 counterpart, which just offers slightly faster performance and newer wireless connectivity. This particular model is well future-proofed amid the ongoing RAM crunch — thanks, AI.

Read Mashable's full review of the 15-inch Apple MacBook Air (M4).

More MacBook Air dealsBest MacBook Pro deal Opens in a new window Credit: Apple Apple MacBook Pro, 14-inch (M5, 16GB RAM, 1TB SSD) 🔥 $1,499.99 at Amazon
$1,699 Save $199.01   Get Deal Why we like it

An October 2025 release, the M5 MacBook Pro features a dazzling 120Hz mini-LED display; creative-friendly ports like a SDXC card slot and an HDMI port; and a longer battery life of around 21 hours per charge. It's a great upgrade pick for photo and video editors. This 16GB RAM/1TB SSD variant is technically the new base configuration: Apple bumped the M5 MacBook Pro from 512GB of starting storage upon announcing the upgraded M5 Pro and M5 Max variants in early March. Again, it's never been cheaper before.

Read Mashable's full review of the 14-inch Apple MacBook Pro (M5).

More MacBook Pro deals

Dune: Part Three teaser is here to get you back on the Timothée Chalamet train

Mashable - Tue, 03/17/2026 - 12:59

Following his Marty Supreme press run, Oscar loss, and beef with the entire ballet and opera communities, I'd understand if you were experiencing Timothée Chalamet fatigue. But after watching the teaser for Dune: Part Three, I no longer share that same fatigue.

The conclusion to Denis Villeneuve's epic, Academy Award-winning sci-fi trilogy takes place 17 years after Dune: Part Two. (In Frank Herbert's novels, there's roughly a 12-year time jump between Dune and Dune Messiah.) By the end of that film, Paul Atreides (Chalamet) became Emperor, took Princess Irulan (Florence Pugh) as his wife, and declared the very holy war he'd been struggling all movie to prevent. Horrified at what Paul has become, his lover Chani (Zendaya) flees into the desert.

Based on Dune: Part Three's teaser, though, Chani and Paul's story is far from over. In tender scenes, likely flashbacks to their time together during Dune: Part Two, the pair wonder about what they'd name their children. If they have a girl, Paul declares she'd be called Ghanima. If they have a boy, Chani says she'd name him Leto, after Paul's late father (Oscar Isaac). These are the names of Paul and Chani's children in Herbert's books, so you can guess we're in for some Dune babies in Part Three.

SEE ALSO: 'Dune: Part Two' ending explained: What comes next for Paul and Chani?

Aside from Paul and Chani's sweet musings on their future children, there's very little comfort to be found in the teaser. Everyone is going through it because, you know, the whole universe is at war.

Between pulse-pounding action scenes and sneak peeks at new locations in Dune's vast world, Dune: Part Three's teaser introduces some new major players. Paul's sister Alia (Anya Taylor-Joy) is all grown up now, and likely wrestling with the immense powers she absorbed when her mother Jessica (Rebecca Ferguson) drank the water of life when she was pregnant. Robert Pattinson stars as Scytale, a shape shifting Face Dancer from the genetically altered Bene Tleilax order. On top of all that, Jason Momoa is back! While his character Duncan Idaho perished in the first Dune film, he returns in a fashion as Hayt, a ghola, or artificial human created from dead matter, created by the Bene Tleilax.

That's already a lot to take in, and that's before we get a glimpse of bald Paul Atreides. Check out the full trailer above to witness the Dune: Part Three teaser in all its glory.

Dune: Part Three hits theaters Dec. 18.

You can shop several Dyson deals ahead of the Amazon Big Spring Sale

Mashable - Tue, 03/17/2026 - 12:55
The best Amazon Spring Sale Dyson deals at a glance: Best Dyson Corded Vacuum Deal Dyson Ball Animal 3 Extra Upright Vacuum $549.99 (save $155) Get Deal Best Dyson Cordless Vacuum Deal Dyson V8 Cordless Vacuum $375 (save $164.99) Get Deal Best Dyson Air Purifier Deal Dyson Purifier Hot+Cool HP1 $499 (save $160.99) Get Deal

It's that time again. The Amazon Big Spring Sale is back, and it's set to run from March 25 through March 31. You'll be able to score some serious savings across every conceivable category on the site, so it's time to lock in some of those must-have purchases that have been on your list.

One thing you'll definitely want to keep an eye out for is deep discounts across the Dyson brand, from sales on vacuums to air purifiers. There are already several early deals popping up ahead of the sale that you can shop before the madness.

While there are currently no savings opportunities on Dyson's hair tools and scant savings on its audio products, there are plenty of deals to be found on vacuums and more. That could likely change in the coming days as the sale begins, however.

Right now, we've gathered together the best Dyson deals we could find on Amazon. So if you can't wait, the good news is that you can shop these products right now ahead of the sale.

Best Amazon Big Spring Sale Dyson corded vacuum deal Opens in a new window Credit: Amazon Dyson Ball Animal 3 Extra Upright Vacuum $394.99 at Amazon
$549.99 Save $155   Get Deal Why we like it

This powerful corded vacuum can tackle even the toughest of pet messes and then some. With its tangle-free turbine tool, it offers high-performance cleaning with whole-machine filtration to make sure all those dust and dirt particles it captures don't get released back into the air in your home. It can handle dirt and pet hair no matter where you decide to run it, with three suction modes perfect for deep-, medium-, and low-pile carpets as well as hard floors and other high-traffic areas. It even comes with pet tools for removing hair from upholstery and fabric as well as your car.

Best Amazon Big Spring Sale Dyson cordless vacuum deal Opens in a new window Credit: Amazon Dyson V8 Cordless Vacuum $375 at Amazon
$539.99 Save $164.99   Get Deal Why we like it

Dyson is known for its many cordless vacuum options that are just as powerful as its corded models, and this one is no slouch. It has the same powerful motorbar cleaner head to cut through dirt and debris in your home as well as pet hair, with two power modes. Its "Powerful" mode is perfect for regular cleaning across the board, while "Max" mode is better for spot cleaning when you have tough stains and other difficult issues to tackle. Plus, it gives you 40 minutes of runtime so if you have a larger area to clean, it won't run out of battery in the middle of your session. Even better, it can be converted into a handheld vacuum to get in those nooks and crannies or clean out your car, couch, or furniture.

Best Amazon Big Spring Sale Dyson air purifier deal Opens in a new window Credit: Amazon Dyson Purifier Hot+Cool HP1 $499 at Amazon
$659.99 Save $160.99   Get Deal Why we like it

Clear the air in your home with this air purifier that uses both an activated carbon filter and HEPA filter to remove gases and 99.97% of the microscopic allergens that make their way inside. The entirety of the purifier is sealed so it all stays contained, while you breathe fresher air all throughout your home. It claims to capture up to 97% of odors as well, so if you have pets or you've been cooking something pungent, it can trap those smells and make things a bit fresher. Set your own cleaning schedules via the MyDyson app and control and monitor the air quality from there as well. It's simple to set up and keep a tidier home with this Dyson air purifier, and the cherry on top? It can heat and cool your home as well.

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Nvidia DLSS 5 games list: Every supported title we know so far

Mashable - Tue, 03/17/2026 - 12:39

Earlier this week, Nvidia held a big press conference where it announced, among other things, something called DLSS 5. The long and short of it is that, using artificial intelligence, DLSS 5 "infuses pixels with photoreal lighting and materials." In other words, it uses AI to supposedly make games look more realistic on the fly, even going so far as to change lighting and character appearances. It will be available for some PC games this fall.

SEE ALSO: NVIDIA GTC keynote: Everything Jensen Huang announced from AI gaming to space data centers This Tweet is currently unavailable. It might be loading or has been removed.

According to Nvidia's press release, here is a list of games that will support the feature in the near future. Though, to be clear, more games than just these will support DLSS 5 over time:

  • AION 2

  • Assassin's Creed Shadows

  • Black State

  • Cinder City

  • Delta Force

  • Hogwarts Legacy

  • Justice

  • Narake Bladepoint

  • NTE: Neverness to Everness

  • Phantom Blade Zero

  • Resident Evil Requiem

  • Sea of Remnants

  • Starfield

  • The Elder Scrolls IV: Oblivion Remastered

  • Where Winds Meet

DLSS 5's announcement was met with some controversy online. Specifically, plenty of folks are unhappy about the idea of AI coming in and making transformative changes to a game's art direction, seemingly without any input from the game's creators. If you look at the Resident Evil Requiem example embedded above, Grace Ashcroft looks like a completely different person with DLSS 5 turned on. Environmental lighting can also dramatically change, giving areas a totally different look from what they were intended to have.

The good news is that this will be an optional feature for some PC games, not something that's on by default.

Sears AI chatbot chats and audio files found exposed online

Mashable - Tue, 03/17/2026 - 12:33

Despite having only five remaining retail outlets, Sears still has an active and widely used Home Services division, complete with an AI chatbot. Unfortunately, that chatbot was reportedly quietly leaking customer conversations to anyone who knew where to look, according to WIRED.

Security researcher Jeremiah Fowler discovered three publicly accessible databases last month containing 3.7 million chat logs, 1.4 million audio files, and transcripts captured between 2024 and this year, according to WIRED's report. The exposed data included customer names, phone numbers, home addresses, appliance information, and details about repair and delivery appointments.

SEE ALSO: Former DOGE hire still has 'god level' Social Security data, whistleblower says

The data has since been secured after Fowler notified Transformco, the company that owns Sears and Sears Home Services. Transformco did not respond to WIRED's requests for comment.

What's most unsettling about the report may be the hours-long audio files from customers who thought the calls with the AI chatbot, named Samantha, had long since ended. Several recordings ran for up to four hours, potentially capturing private conversations, background TV, and ambient household noise that customers had no idea was being recorded.

"The thing to remember is that it is real data of real people," Fowler told WIRED, adding that companies rushing to deploy AI cannot afford to cut corners on data security.

As of the writing of this article, Transformco has not publicly addressed the breach.

Netanyahu Posts ‘Proof of Life’ Video as A.I. Sows Doubts About What’s Real

NYT Technology - Tue, 03/17/2026 - 12:01
The unusual video is the latest demonstration that artificial intelligence is undermining trust — even in footage that is authentic.

20 fitness tracker deals to shop ahead of the Amazon Big Spring Sale

Mashable - Tue, 03/17/2026 - 12:01
The best Amazon Big Spring Sale fitness tracker deals at a glance: Best Apple deal Apple Watch Series 11 (GPS, 42mm) $299 (save $100) Get Deal Best Garmin deal Garmin vívoactive 5 $174.28 (save $125.71) Get Deal Best Google deal Google Pixel Watch 4 (WiFi, 41mm) $289.99 (save $60) Get Deal Best Nothing deal Nothing CMF Watch 3 Pro $79 (save $20) Get Deal Best Samsung deal Samsung Galaxy Watch 8 Classic (Bluetooth, 46mm) $369.99 (save $130) Get Deal

Amazon's third annual Big Spring Sale kicks off next week (officially running March 25 through 31), but deals are already starting to roll in. You can find deal stamps across Apple products, robot vacuums, speakers, and even high-end fitness trackers, including Garmin, Google, and of course Apple Watches. Whether you need a new watch to track that 5K you're training for or simply monitor your sleep habits, there will surely be a fitness tracker deal for you during the sale.

Deals are starting slow, with the biggest discounts so far on last-gen Garmin watches, but we'll be updating this list as new price drops appear. There are a few big names that seem to be holding out until the official sale, like Whoop, Fitbit, and Oura. So we'd hold off on buying those brands until the Big Spring Sale commences.

Below, we're tracking all the best fitness tracker deals at Amazon leading up to and throughout the official Big Spring Sale 2026.

Best early Amazon Big Spring Sale fitness tracker deal Opens in a new window Credit: Garmin Garmin vívoactive 5 $174.28 at Amazon
$299.99 Save $125.71   Get Deal Why we like it

While it's since been replaced with the newer vívoactive 6, the Garmin vívoactive 5 is still an excellent choice. It's a perfect all-rounder for someone who wants a fitness tracker with plenty of smartwatch features. It can track everything from long runs and rides to stress, sleep, and body battery, has a bright and responsive AMOLED display, and boasts 11 days of battery power (Apple could literally never). I personally gifted this watch to my boyfriend (he loves it) after snagging an epic Black Friday discount, but it's now even cheaper. At $174.28, it's over 40% off and is down to the lowest price we've ever seen.

Best Apple Watch deal Opens in a new window Credit: Apple Apple Watch Series 11 (GPS, 42mm) $299 at Amazon
$399 Save $100   Get Deal Why we like it

If you're looking for a solid Apple Watch deal, this $100 price drop on the Series 11 makes it a pretty stellar value. It's been chilling at this price for awhile now, so we're hoping to see the Big Spring Sale drop it down even lower. But even if it doesn't, $299 for the newest Apple Watch ain't bad. It brings significant battery improvements over its predecessor, which alone makes it worth the upgrade. It also has a tougher design with more durable glass that's twice as resistant to scratches, 5G capability for seamless connectivity, and a Sleep Score and hypertension tool for flagging high blood pressure.

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Apple

Garmin

Google / Fitbit

Nothing

Samsung

The best early gaming deals to shop ahead of Amazons Big Spring Sale

Mashable - Tue, 03/17/2026 - 12:01

TL;DR: Ahead of Amazon’s Big Spring Sale, gamers can already score some standout early discounts, including the Samsung 27-inch Odyssey OLED G5 gaming monitor for $349.99, down from $549.99, and NBA 2K26 on PS5, Xbox, and Switch 2 for just $19.93 instead of $69.99.

A quick look at the best Amazon Spring Sale gaming deals: Best Hardware Pick 27-inch Samsung Odyssey G5 (G50SF) Gaming Monitor $349.99 at Amazon (Save $200) Shop Now Best Game Pick NBA 2K26 (PS5) $19.93 at Amazon (Save $50.06) Shop Now

Amazon’s Big Spring Sale is nearly here, but gamers don’t have to wait for the official kickoff to start saving. 

A couple of strong early gaming deals have already landed, and they’re the sort of offers that are great for whether you’re upgrading your setup or you’re just looking to catch up on the big releases of years past without paying full price — with plenty more still to come across PS5, Xbox, Nintendo Switch 1 & 2, and peripherals like monitors, headsets, mice, and much more. 

Opens in a new window Credit: Samsung Our best hardware pick: 27-inch Samsung Odyssey G5 (G50SF) gaming monitor $349.99 at Amazon
$549.99 Save $200   Get Deal

As of March 17, the standout hardware deal is the Samsung 27-inch Odyssey OLED G5 gaming monitor, which has dropped to $349.99 from its $549.99 list price. That’s a 36% discount, or $200 off, on a QHD QD-OLED display with specs that are a lot more premium than this new price would suggest. This is even the OLED G5’s lowest price ever on Amazon, as confirmed via price tracker camelcamelcamel.

This model packs a 180Hz refresh rate, a 0.03ms response time, Nvidia G-Sync compatibility, and AMD FreeSync support, which is a strong mix for anyone who wants smooth gameplay without moving into the much more expensive OLED monitor tier. Samsung also highlights glare-free tech, HDR10, and Pantone validation, so this one looks particularly appealing if you want your games to pop as much as your frame rates.

Opens in a new window Credit: 2K Best game pick: NBA 2K26 (PS5) PlayStation 5 $19.93 at Amazon
$69.99 Save $50.06   Get Deal Mashable Deals Be the first to know! Get editor selected deals texted right to your phone! Get editor selected deals texted right to your phone! Loading... Sign Me Up By signing up, you agree to receive recurring automated SMS marketing messages from Mashable Deals at the number provided. Msg and data rates may apply. Up to 2 messages/day. Reply STOP to opt out, HELP for help. Consent is not a condition of purchase. See our Privacy Policy and Terms of Use. Thanks for signing up!

As for cheaper games, though, NBA 2K26 is down to just $19.93 from $69.99 on PS5 — its lowest price ever, as confirmed with camelcamelcamel, as well. That’s 72% off the full game that includes ProPLAY-enhanced gameplay, MyCAREER, MyTEAM, and MyNBA modes, giving basketball fans plenty to dig into whether they mostly play solo or jump online with friends.

More Amazon Big Spring Sale gaming deals

PlayStation games

Nintendo Switch 2 games

Xbox games

Gaming mice

Gaming headsets

Gaming monitors

The Comeback Season 3 review: Lisa Kudrow warns us of the AI apocalypse

Mashable - Tue, 03/17/2026 - 12:00

Lisa Kudrow and Michael Patrick King's cult comedy gem The Comeback has always been a frighteningly prescient satire of Hollywood.

Season 1, which aired in 2005, was ahead of its time in its portrayal of the manipulative tactics that power reality TV. Season 2, coming almost a decade later in 2014, poked fun at prestige antihero dramedies. Now, The Comeback makes its second (and supposedly final) comeback with a third season that's all about Hollywood's hottest topic: AI.

SEE ALSO: 'The Audacity' tears Silicon Valley a new one: Review

That AI focus lends The Comeback Season 3 an urgency that sets it apart from its prior two outings. Yes, it's still hilarious, cynical, and a remarkable showcase for Kudrow in her best role. But on top of all that, it's also something else: a warning.

What's The Comeback Season 3 about? Zane Philips, Brittany O’Grady, Barry Shabaka Henley, Lisa Kudrow, Tim Bagley, and Matt Cook in "The Comeback." Credit: Erin Simkin / HBO

The warning signs begin early, as The Comeback Season 3 picks up during the 2023 WGA and SAG-AFTRA strikes.

"AI is coming after all of us," then-SAG-AFTRA president Fran Drescher (in one of The Comeback's many celebrity cameos) tells a crowd of striking actors and writers.

The Comeback's embattled sitcom star Valerie Cherish (Kudrow) nods along, but in true Valerie fashion, she's more focused on the optics of her presence at the strike than the strike itself. Now trying to master the social media game to stay relevant, she's too busy directing her Gen Z social manager Patience (Ella Stiller) to truly take in the gravity of the situation. (Kudrow is already on Emmy watch for Valerie's posing with the picket sign alone.)

SEE ALSO: 'Margo's Got Money Troubles' review: An alien OnlyFans is the highlight of Apple's family dramedy

Flash forward to 2026: Valerie is struggling to get a podcast (Cherish the Time) off the ground, and she's taking bit roles in the lowest of low budget films. But her luck is set to change when she's offered the lead of new multi-cam sitcom How's That?!. It's everything she's ever wanted, with one huge catch: It's completely written by AI.

The Comeback Season 3 examines the role of AI in show business. John Early and Abbi Jacobson in "The Comeback." Credit: Erin Simkin / HBO

On paper, How's That?!'s showrunners are two humans, Mary and Josh (Abbi Jacobson and John Early). But in reality, their only job is to babysit the AI program that's actually churning out the show's scripts, sending the two of them down a disillusioned spiral.

Part of that comes from the fact that The Comeback initially approaches AI writing as somewhat competent. It churns out tens of alternate lines before Mary and Josh can think of one. Its jokes resonate more with How's That?!'s live studio audience than the one or two gags Mary and Josh manage to sneak in themselves. In terms of speed and sheer writing volume, it's impressive, and Valerie certainly seems to agree. That she has to deal less with difficult writer types like her past antagonist Paulie G. (Lance Barber) also seems to sweeten the deal.

However, as Season 3 continues, How's That?!'s shiny new tool begins to lose its sheen. AI hallucinations turn scripts incomprehensible, and the program's hastily-produced alts prove unsurprising and dull. Of course they would — they're just scraping other writers' work for inspiration.

That's what The Comeback Season 3 hammers home. AI can crank out script after script, but it's completely soulless. It has no sense of what will truly resonate with an audience. That, The Comeback says, can only come from writers pitching in the crucible of production, grinding it out until they find the perfect one-liner.

According to How's That?!'s network's CEO (played to skeezy perfection by Andrew Scott), the use of AI will help cut costs and optimize the show for maximum audience enjoyment. (Or really, just throwing it on in the background.) Ironically, he asks Valerie to keep it a secret from the cast and crew, a process that requires more effort than simply bringing more human writers onboard.

Featured Video For You Ethan Hawke, Andrew Scott, and Bobby Cannavale bring Broadway history to the big screen

Valerie has never been great at keeping things to herself, which is why she lets How's That?!'s AI use slip to The Comeback documentarian Jane (Laura Silverman). The slip brings Jane back into the fold for a new documentary project: exploring the making of the first-ever AI-written show.

It's clear from the start that Jane understands the existential threat AI poses to the entertainment industry. Things are already awful for the majority of workers in the field. Now an Academy Award winner, Jane's main job isn't filmmaking, but rather working as a cashier at Trader Joe's. Crew members on How's That?! have worked on films whose production has been drastically shortened due to AI, robbing them of over 10 weeks of pay. Elsewhere, The Comeback populates entire coffee shops with talented writers who have to pivot because the industry is a mess. As one writer notes in the show, the normalization of AI in TV won't just be an evolution of the form, it'll be "an extinction event."

Yet somehow, Valerie is the rare example of someone in the entertainment industry benefitting from AI. It's given her the job of a lifetime, and in her mind, she's willing to set aside a lot of her misgivings in exchange for a lead role and a shiny executive producer credit. But really, Valerie is the proverbial frog in a slowly boiling pot of water. She doesn't realize that the danger is coming for her too, even as The Comeback works its way up towards a Black Mirror-esque conclusion.

The Comeback Season 3 isn't all AI doom and gloom, though. It's full of standout running gags, including Valerie's obsession with her under-viewed show Mrs. Hatt. (Nobody watched it because it was on Epix, a cutting jab at the sheer amount of streaming shows.) It also provides a touching send-off to Valerie's hair stylists and closest friend Mickey, whose actor Robert Michael Morris passed away in 2017. Trust The Comeback to make me tear up and belly laugh all at once.

Kudrow's performance remains pure comedic excellence, managing to make even Valerie's most selfish moments endearing. That The Comeback plays more loosely with its documentary format helps here as well: We tend to see Valerie through the lens of Jane's camera, Patience's phone, or security footage in her and Mark's (Damian Young) apartment. Often, though, The Comeback Season 3 allows us to see parts of Valerie's life that the cameras don't capture, a tactic that closed out its touching Season 2 finale. In keeping it up, Season 3 offers up the most humanized view of Valerie yet, and Kudrow is spectacular through each high and low.

Of course, much of those lows revolve around AI. The Comeback can occasionally get uncharacteristically heavy-handed about the subject matter, but then again, in a world where entertainment giants like Disney are investing in OpenAI, it's not wrong to sound the alarm about something that could so thoroughly decimate the industry.

In The Comeback's eyes, bringing AI into TV will result in nothing but lowest common denominator "content," and that's about as far from the show's sharp, superb swan song as you can get.

The Comeback Season 3 premieres March 22 at 10:30 p.m. ET on HBO and HBO Max.

Pragmata combines thrilling sci-fi action with endearing uncle energy

Mashable - Tue, 03/17/2026 - 11:00

For far too long, video games have been besieged by the scourge of Dad Games. Things like the recent God of War entries and The Last of Us have popularized the idea of giving players some kind of paternal duty over a young, mostly helpless companion. It's played out and boring, among other things.

That's one of the reasons why I'm so into what I've seen of Capcom's upcoming Pragmata so far. This sci-fi third-person shooter, originally announced six years ago, has a similar enough premise to those other games I mentioned. You play as a guy named Hugh who finds himself needing to protect and work with a strange little girl named Diana as they try to escape a space station full of angry robots.

The difference, though, is that I would categorize Pragmata as more of an Uncle Game than a Dad Game. I got to play about 90 minutes of Pragmata at a press event recently, and it seems like a totally kick-ass action game with a really neat hacking-based hook, but the lighthearted interplay between Hugh and Diana was also significantly more endearing than the heavy-handed self-seriousness of something like The Last of Us.

SEE ALSO: How Resident Evil Survived Itself Pragmata is basically Resident Evil 4 with an air dash The hacking aspect of 'Pragmata' is extremely sick. Credit: Capcom

In case you haven't been following along with Pragmata's marketing (there's also a free demo available on every platform), the main thing to know is that it's a space-based third-person shooter with similar gameplay guts to that of the more action-oriented entries in Capcom's Resident Evil series.

Of course, Pragmata is not a horror game, so the vibe is pretty different. But at its core, this is still a game about carefully positioning yourself in the middle of overwhelming fights and trying to precisely line up shots on the weak points of enemies who (mostly) creepily move towards you in a slow manner. An obvious difference is that Hugh can also sprint, jump, and dash around the environment, giving it a much more fast-paced feel than you'd get as Leon S. Kennedy of the Resident Evil series.

These guys suck to fight. Credit: Capcom

The real meat of Pragmata's combat comes from Diana's hacking abilities. She sits on Hugh's shoulder at all times, and aiming at an enemy will bring up a square-based hacking grid that you navigate using the face buttons. In essence, you're doing a hacking mini-game while also running and shooting, and successfully hacking an enemy can open up weak spots or stun/slow them down. It is absolutely key to success, and the first time you do it, you'll immediately understand why it's a cool idea.

All of that had been known about Pragmata prior to this recent hands-on opportunity, though. One major new thing I got to see this time around was the game's hub area, which you can travel to from any checkpoint in the world. It's got a training range, upgrade stations, and even a friendly robot named Cabin who exists to help you do whatever you need to do in that space. Just from the demo I played, Pragmata seems like it's got a pretty satisfying upgrade loop to it. You collect different kinds of currency from exploring levels and defeating enemies, which you then use to upgrade Hugh's core functions like health, as well as all the different guns he uses along the way.

It's straightforward enough, but Capcom is one of the best purveyors of this type of single-player action game. I think they know a thing or two about player progression, and it showed in the demo I played.

Pragmata also has a ton of personality Of course, there are fun costumes to unlock. Credit: Capcom

While the actual gameplay side of the demo didn't show me a ton I didn't already know about Pragmata, it was set in a substantially more interesting environment than we had seen previously. Specifically, I got to run around a weird, 3D-printed simulacra of Times Square in New York City, but inside a space station. Billboards and ads were full of fun references to other Capcom games like Ghouls 'n Ghosts, while the buildings and storefronts sometimes faded halfway out of existence because they clearly weren't fully completed before...whatever happened in this space station.

Going back to the whole "Uncle Game" thing, what impressed me most about Pragmata is the amount of heart there is in all of Hugh and Diana's interactions. She's never been to Earth, so Hugh spends most of the NYC level explaining various Earth concepts to her to sate her infinite curiosity on the subject. I especially dug a bit where Hugh mentioned that the fake NYC wasn't nearly as dirty as the real one.

Cabin's a cool dude. Credit: Capcom

Most importantly, I didn't get a ton of paternal energy from what I saw between Hugh and Diana. There was one scene where he had to save her from her own curiosity, but other than that, what I played was bereft of Hugh scolding, lecturing, or otherwise acting like much of a parent towards Diana. Rather, he feels a bit more like an uncle who's been tasked with watching a kid for a weekend. Just like any good uncle, you can even find gifts in the world and give them to Diana in the hub area, at which point she will adorably go and play with them.

At this point I've only played about two combined hours of Pragmata at various press events, but every time I see it, I want to play the final game more and more. I really think Capcom has stumbled onto something very cool here, between the sweaty, stressful sci-fi combat and the cute interplay between its two leads. We'll find out pretty soon whether or not it holds up over the course of a full game.

Pragmata launches on April 17 for PC, PS5, Xbox Series consoles, and Nintendo Switch 2.

5 things you may have missed about Apples AirPods Max 2

Mashable - Tue, 03/17/2026 - 10:57

It took Apple six years to properly update the AirPods Max, and at first glance, it might seem like a fairly minor update. After all, the new AirPods Max 2 still look the same, come with the same case, and are even sold in the exact same five colors as their predecessor.

The new features mainly revolve around Apple's H2 chip, which has unlocked several smart features, as well as improved active noise cancellation (check our initial coverage for a rundown of what's new).

SEE ALSO: Apple launches AirPods Max 2 with improved noise cancelling and smart features

Having browsed through Apple's official tech specs, however, we've found that the new AirPods Max 2 have quite a bit new functionality that might not be apparent at first glance. Here's five hidden features we've found:

1. It's 'Siri' not 'Hey Siri'

When you need to invoke Apple's smart assistant on the new AirPods Max 2, you can just say "Siri" to do so. On AirPods that sport the old H2 chip, you need to say "Hey Siri." It's a small difference, but it saves time (for some, at least; I've gotten so accustomed to the "hey" part that I'll probably just keep saying it).

The buttons are the same as before. But you might not need to touch them as often, as Siri Interactions are now supported. Credit: Apple

You can now also respond to Siri via head gestures; just nod or shake your head for a "yes" or "no" answer.

2. Loud Sound Reduction

The Loud Sound Reduction feature, already present in the latest AirPods Pro, helps you prevent exposure to loud environmental noise, such as a car horn.

While Apple highlighted this one in its press release accompanying the AirPods Max 2 launch, we're mentioning it here because it does not show up in Apple's comparison tool. It is, however, listed in the official tech specs for AirPods Max 2.

The Loud Sound Reduction feature is on by default in Transparency and Adaptive Audio listening modes.

3. Bluetooth 5.3 vs. 5.0

The AirPods Max 2 come with Bluetooth 5.3, as opposed to Bluetooth 5.0 on the AirPods Max with USB-C. In theory, this should mean lower power usage, improved connectivity, and quicker connections with other devices. Wireless audio latency has also been reduced, which is great news for music creators and gamers.

Featured Video For You How TikTok is Changing the Music Industry 4. New high dynamic range amplifier: Yes, but, what can it do?

Apple mentioned that the AirPods Max 2 have a new high dynamic range amplifier, but the company only said this enables "even cleaner audio while maintaining the incredible sound signature of AirPods Max".

Cleaner sound at higher volumes. Credit: Apple

While that's pretty vague, we can tell you that the high dynamic range amplifier's job is to amplify an audio signal while keeping noise and distortion low. We can also take a look at the latest AirPods Pro 3, which also feature a new, custom high dynamic range amplifier. In our review, we found they sound significantly better than their predecessor.

Based on that, and given that the AirPods Pro 3 also feature Apple's H3 chip, we can predict that the AirPods Max 2 will not only have cleaner audio, but also an improved soundstage, accurate sound reproduction at higher volumes, and the benefits should also be audible in Spatial Audio.

If you dig into Apple's "learn more" bits on the AirPods Max 2 official page, you'll find an explanation that matches the above. "Modeled after those in high‑end floor‑standing speakers, the driver’s dual‑neodymium ring magnet motor minimizes total harmonic distortion across the entire audible range. With the new high dynamic range amplifier, the result is consistently clear playback, even at higher volumes," it says.

5. Your old case still fits

Perhaps the worst, or at least most divisive, features of the AirPods Max are their odd, bra-like case that doesn't really do a great job of protecting the headphones. Yes, you get it included in the price, but it's just...odd. Fortunately, there's a number of great, third-party cases that are compatible with Apple's sleep mode, meaning the AirPods Max won't drain too much battery when they're in the case.

If you have the old AirPods Max and are thinking of upgrading, and you're wondering whether your old third-party case will fit the new ones, we've got good news. We've compared the weight and size specs for the AirPods Max 2 and the original AirPods Max headphones, and they're exactly the same: 187.3 x 168.6 x 83.44 mililmeters, weighing exactly 386.2 grams. We'd prefer it if Apple shed some of that weight, but at least your old case will fit.

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