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SAVE $1,000: As of Nov. 18, the Bluetti Apex 300 is on sale for $1,399 at Amazon. That's a 42% discount on the list price and its best-ever price.
Opens in a new window Credit: Bluetti Bluetti Apex 300 $1,399 at AmazonPortable power stations are a hot product right now, and as we come into the winter months (aka the storm months), it’s easy to see why people are looking for something that keeps their phones, laptops, and appliances going during outages. And with Black Friday deals going live, it’s a good time to pick one up for way less than normal.
As of Nov. 18, the Bluetti Apex 300 is on sale for its lowest-ever price. Get this power station for $1,399 at Amazon. That's a $1,000 discount on the list price.
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 4 msgs/mo. 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!This is a great option for backup, whether at home, camping, or taking on an RV vacation. It has 2,764.8Wh of storage and 3,840W output, with the option to run two or three units in parallel for 5.5 to 8.3kWh. And you can power multiple devices at once thanks to its six AC outlets, allowing you to run things like refrigerators, AC units, and even EV chargers.
Charging options are flexible too, and include built-in 2,400W solar input (which is expandable to 6,400W), fast AC charging that reaches 80% in 45 minutes, and generator compatibility with most models. And with any product that has a high price tag, you want it to last. And thanks to the LiFePO4 battery, this model is rated for over 6,000 cycles and a lifespan of around 17 years, so you'll get your money's worth.
Pick up this great power station deal from Amazon. For more Black Friday deals on power stations, check out our breakdown of everything on sale right now.
TL;DR: Live stream Spain vs. Turkey in World Cup qualifiers for free on RTVE. Access this free streaming site from anywhere in the world with ExpressVPN.
Spain have absolutely strolled through World Cup qualification, winning every game and not conceding a single goal. In their final game, they face a Turkey team that has been nearly perfect. Turkey have only lost once, to Spain of course.
If you want to watch Spain vs. Turkey in World Cup qualifiers for free from anywhere in the world, we have all the information you need.
When is Spain vs. Turkey?Spain vs. Turkey in World Cup qualifiers kicks off at 7:45 p.m. GMT on Nov. 18. This fixture takes place at the Estadio La Cartuja.
How to watch Spain vs. Turkey for freeSpain vs. Turkey in World Cup qualifiers is available to live stream for free on RTVE.
RTVE is geo-restricted to Spain, but anyone can access this free streaming service with a VPN. These tools can hide your real IP address (digital location) and connect you to a secure server in Spain, meaning you can access free live streams on RTVE from anywhere in the world.
Lve stream Spain vs. Turkey for free by following these simple steps:
Subscribe to a streaming-friendly VPN (like ExpressVPN)
Download the app to your device of choice (the best VPNs have apps for Windows, Mac, iOS, Android, Linux, and more)
Open up the app and connect to a server in Spain
Visit RTVE
Stream Spain vs. Turkey for free from anywhere in the world
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 Spain vs. Turkey in World Cup qualifiers without actually spending anything. This clearly isn't a long-term solution, but it does give you enough time to stream select World Cup qualifiers before recovering your investment.
If you want to retain permanent access to free streaming sites from around the world, you'll need a subscription. Fortunately, the best VPN for streaming live sport is on sale for a limited time.
What is the best VPN for RTVE?ExpressVPN is the best choice for bypassing geo-restrictions to stream live sport on RTVE, for a number of reasons:
Servers in 105 countries including Spain
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 eight simultaneous connections
30-day money-back guarantee
A one-year subscription to ExpressVPN is on sale for $99.95 and includes an extra three months for free — 49% off for a limited time. This plan also 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 $12.95 (including money-back guarantee).
Live stream Spain vs. Turkey in World Cup qualifiers for free with ExpressVPN.
TL;DR: Live stream Scotland vs. Denmark in World Cup qualifiers for free on BBC iPlayer. Access this free streaming site from anywhere in the world with ExpressVPN.
There is nothing quite like a winner-takes-all game. One point separates Denmark and Scotland in Group C of World Cup qualification, meaning that if Scotland win this final game against the Danes, they leapfrog their opponents and secure automatic passage to the main event next summer. It really doesn't get much bigger than this.
If you want to watch Scotland vs. Denmark in World Cup qualifiers for free from anywhere in the world, we have all the information you need.
When is Scotland vs. Denmark?Scotland vs. Denmark in World Cup qualifiers kicks off at 7:45 p.m. GMT on Nov. 18. This fixture takes place at Hampden Park.
How to watch Scotland vs. Denmark for freeScotland vs. Denmark in World Cup qualifiers is available to live stream for free on BBC iPlayer.
BBC iPlayer is geo-restricted to the UK, but anyone can access this free streaming service with a VPN. These tools can hide your real IP address (digital location) and connect you to a secure server in the UK, meaning you can access free live streams on BBC iPlayer from anywhere in the world.
Lve stream Scotland vs. Denmark for free by following these simple steps:
Subscribe to a streaming-friendly VPN (like ExpressVPN)
Download the app to your device of choice (the best VPNs have apps for Windows, Mac, iOS, Android, Linux, and more)
Open up the app and connect to a server in the UK
Visit BBC iPlayer
Stream Scotland vs. Denmark for free from anywhere in the world
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 Scotland vs. Denmark in World Cup qualifiers without actually spending anything. This clearly isn't a long-term solution, but it does give you enough time to stream select World Cup qualifiers before recovering your investment.
If you want to retain permanent access to free streaming sites from around the world, you'll need a subscription. Fortunately, the best VPN for streaming live sport is on sale for a limited time.
What is the best VPN for BBC iPlayer?ExpressVPN is the best choice for bypassing geo-restrictions to stream live sport on BBC iPlayer, for a number of reasons:
Servers in 105 countries including the UK
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 eight simultaneous connections
30-day money-back guarantee
A one-year subscription to ExpressVPN is on sale for $99.95 and includes an extra three months for free — 49% off for a limited time. This plan also 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 $12.95 (including money-back guarantee).
Live stream Scotland vs. Denmark in World Cup qualifiers for free with ExpressVPN.
TL;DR: Live stream Brazil vs. Tunisia in an International Friendly for free on ITVX. Access this free streaming site from anywhere in the world with ExpressVPN.
World Cup qualification is already sorted for Brazil, but now it's time to build some momentum and test out new lineups ahead of the main event. Fresh from beating Senegal 1-0 in their last International Friendly, Brazil now face Tunisia in Lille. We're expecting an entertaining tussle between two talented sides.
If you want to watch Brazil vs. Tunisia in an International Friendly for free from anywhere in the world, we have all the information you need.
When is Brazil vs. Tunisia?Brazil vs. Tunisia kicks off at 7:30 p.m. GMT on Nov. 18. This fixture takes place at the Stade Pierre-Mauroy.
How to watch Brazil vs. Tunisia for freeBrazil vs. Tunisia is available to live stream for free on ITVX+.
ITVX is geo-restricted to the UK, but anyone can access this free streaming service with a VPN. These tools can hide your real IP address (digital location) and connect you to a secure server in the UK, meaning you can access free live streams on ITVX from anywhere in the world.
Lve stream Brazil vs. Tunisia for free by following these simple steps:
Subscribe to a streaming-friendly VPN (like ExpressVPN)
Download the app to your device of choice (the best VPNs have apps for Windows, Mac, iOS, Android, Linux, and more)
Open up the app and connect to a server in the UK
Visit ITVX
Stream Brazil vs. Tunisia for free from anywhere in the world
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 Brazil vs. Tunisia without actually spending anything. This clearly isn't a long-term solution, but it does give you enough time to stream select games before recovering your investment.
If you want to retain permanent access to free streaming sites from around the world, you'll need a subscription. Fortunately, the best VPN for streaming live sport is on sale for a limited time.
What is the best VPN for ITVX?ExpressVPN is the best choice for bypassing geo-restrictions to stream live sport on ITVX, for a number of reasons:
Servers in 105 countries including the UK
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 eight simultaneous connections
30-day money-back guarantee
A one-year subscription to ExpressVPN is on sale for $99.95 and includes an extra three months for free — 49% off for a limited time. This plan also 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 $12.95 (including money-back guarantee).
Live stream Brazil vs. Tunisia for free with ExpressVPN.
If you like playing daily word games like Wordle, then Hurdle is a great game to add to your routine.
There are five rounds to the game. The first round sees you trying to guess the word, with correct, misplaced, and incorrect letters shown in each guess. If you guess the correct answer, it'll take you to the next hurdle, providing the answer to the last hurdle as your first guess. This can give you several clues or none, depending on the words. For the final hurdle, every correct answer from previous hurdles is shown, with correct and misplaced letters clearly shown.
An important note is that the number of times a letter is highlighted from previous guesses does necessarily indicate the number of times that letter appears in the final hurdle.
If you find yourself stuck at any step of today's Hurdle, don't worry! We have you covered.
SEE ALSO: Hurdle: Everything you need to know to find the answers Hurdle Word 1 hintA large fruit.
SEE ALSO: Apple’s new M3 MacBook Air is $300 off at Amazon. And yes, I’m tempted. Hurdle Word 1 answerGOURD
Hurdle Word 2 hintTrash.
SEE ALSO: Wordle today: Answer, hints for November 18, 2025 Hurdle Word 2 AnswerWASTE
Hurdle Word 3 hintDemanding.
SEE ALSO: NYT Connections Sports Edition today: Hints and answers for November 18 SEE ALSO: NYT Connections hints today: Clues, answers for November 18, 2025 Hurdle Word 3 answerBOSSY
Hurdle Word 4 hintMetamorphic rock.
SEE ALSO: NYT Strands hints, answers for November 18 Hurdle Word 4 answerSLATE
Final Hurdle hintEnthusiasm.
SEE ALSO: Mahjong, Sudoku, free crossword, and more: Games available on Mashable Hurdle Word 5 answerVERVE
If you're looking for more puzzles, Mashable's got games now! Check out our games hub for Mahjong, Sudoku, free crossword, and more.
There's still a small sliver of moon on display tonight, but not so much to see anything. This is because we're approaching the New Moon phase of the lunar cycle. Keep reading to find out what exactly this means.
What is today’s moon phase?As of Tuesday, Nov. 18, the moon phase is Waning Crescent. This means 3% of the moon is lit up tonight, according to NASA's Daily Moon Observation.
Don't strain your eyes tonight, there's too little moon to see anything. As we move towards the next lunar cycle, the moon will be small (and even out of sight) for a few days.
When is the next full moon?The next full moon will be on Dec. 4, this will be the last of three consecutive supermoons. The last full moon was on Nov. 5.
What are moon phases?Moon phases are are part of a recurring lunar cycle (every 29.5 days), according to NASA. These phases describe how the moon appears from Earth as it orbits our planet. While we always see the same side of the moon, the amount of sunlight hitting it changes throughout its orbit. So, sometimes it looks full, sometimes half, and sometimes not there at all (aka, the New Moon). There are eight main moon phases:
New Moon - The moon is between Earth and the sun, so the side we see is dark (in other words, it's invisible to the eye).
Waxing Crescent - A small sliver of light appears on the right side (Northern Hemisphere).
First Quarter - Half of the moon is lit on the right side. It looks like a half-moon.
Waxing Gibbous - More than half is lit up, but it’s not quite full yet.
Full Moon - The whole face of the moon is illuminated and fully visible.
Waning Gibbous - The moon starts losing light on the right side. (Northern Hemisphere)
Third Quarter (or Last Quarter) - Another half-moon, but now the left side is lit.
Waning Crescent - A thin sliver of light remains on the left side before going dark again.
Welcome to your guide to Pips, the latest game in the New York Times catalogue.
Released in August 2025, the Pips puts a unique spin on dominoes, creating a fun single-player experience that could become your next daily gaming habit.
Currently, if you're stuck, the game only offers to reveal the entire puzzle, forcing you to move onto the next difficulty level and start over. However, we have you covered! Below are piecemeal answers that will serve as hints so that you can find your way through each difficulty level.
How to play PipsIf you've ever played dominoes, you'll have a passing familiarity for how Pips is played. As we've shared in our previous hints stories for Pips, the tiles, like dominoes, are placed vertically or horizontally and connect with each other. The main difference between a traditional game of dominoes and Pips is the color-coded conditions you have to address. The touching tiles don't necessarily have to match.
SEE ALSO: Wordle today: Answer, hints for November 8, 2025The conditions you have to meet are specific to the color-coded spaces. For example, if it provides a single number, every side of a tile in that space must add up to the number provided. It is possible – and common – for only half a tile to be within a color-coded space.
Here are common examples you'll run into across the difficulty levels:
Number: All the pips in this space must add up to the number.
Equal: Every domino half in this space must be the same number of pips.
Not Equal: Every domino half in this space must have a completely different number of pips.
Less than: Every domino half in this space must add up to less than the number.
Greater than: Every domino half in this space must add up to more than the number.
If an area does not have any color coding, it means there are no conditions on the portions of dominoes within those spaces.
SEE ALSO: NYT Strands hints, answers for November 8, 2025 Easy difficulty hints, answers for Nov. 18 PipsEqual (6): Everything in this space must be equal to 5. The answer is 6-2, placed vertically; 6-0, placed horizontally.
Equal (0): Everything in this space must be equal to 0. The answer is 6-0, placed horizontally; 0-0, placed vertically.
Number (8): Everything in this space must add to 8. The answer is 4-4, placed horizontally.
Medium difficulty hints, answers for Nov. 18 PipsNumber (5): Everything in this space must add to 5. The answer is 1-4, placed horizontally.
Number (1): Everything in this space must add to 1. The answer is 1-0, placed vertically.
Equal (2): Everything in this light blue space must be equal to 2. The answer is 2-2, placed horizontally; 2-5, placed vertically; 2-0, placed horizontally.
Equal (0): Everything in this orange space must be equal to 0. The answer is 2-0, placed horizontally; 1-0, placed vertically.
Number (11): Everything in this space must add to 11. The answer is 1-6, placed vertically; 2-5, placed vertically.
Equal (3): Everything in this dark blue space must be equal to 3. The answer is 3-6, placed horizontally; 3-4, placed horizontally.
Number (4): Everything in this space must add to 4. The answer is 3-4, placed horizontally.
Hard difficulty hints, answers for Nov. 18 PipsNumber (9): Everything in this orange space must add to 9. The answer is 4-2, placed horizontally; 6-5, placed vertically.
Number (9): Everything in this purple space must add to 9. The answer is 6-5, placed vertically; 3-3, placed horizontally.
Number (3): Everything in this space must add to 3. The answer is 3-3, placed horizontally.
Number (9): Everything in this light blue space must add to 9. The answer is 5-2, placed horizontally; 2-1, placed vertically.
Number (9): Everything in this dark blue space must add to 9. The answer is 4-2, placed horizontally; 2-2, placed horizontally; 2-1, placed vertically; 2-6, placed vertically.
Number (9): Everything in this green space must add to 9. The answer is 2-6, placed vertically; 4-3, placed horizontally.
Equal (5): Everything in this space must be equal to 5. The answer is 5-5, placed horizontally.
If you're looking for more puzzles, Mashable's got games now! Check out our games hub for Mahjong, Sudoku, free crossword, and more.
Today's Connections: Sports Edition isn't too bad if you're familiar with head coaches.
As we've shared in previous hints stories, this is a version of the popular New York Times word game that seeks to test the knowledge of sports fans.
Like the original Connections, the game is all about finding the "common threads between words." And just like Wordle, Connections resets after midnight and each new set of words gets trickier and trickier — so we've served up some hints and tips to get you over the hurdle.
If you just want to be told today's puzzle, you can jump to the end of this article for the latest Connections solution. But if you'd rather solve it yourself, keep reading for some clues, tips, and strategies to assist you.
SEE ALSO: Mahjong, Sudoku, free crossword, and more: Play games on Mashable What is Connections: Sports Edition?The NYT's latest daily word game has launched in association with The Athletic, the New York Times property that provides the publication's sports coverage. Connections can be played on both web browsers and mobile devices and require players to group four words that share something in common.
This Tweet is currently unavailable. It might be loading or has been removed.Each puzzle features 16 words and each grouping of words is split into four categories. These sets could comprise of anything from book titles, software, country names, etc. Even though multiple words will seem like they fit together, there's only one correct answer.
If a player gets all four words in a set correct, those words are removed from the board. Guess wrong and it counts as a mistake — players get up to four mistakes until the game ends.
This Tweet is currently unavailable. It might be loading or has been removed.Players can also rearrange and shuffle the board to make spotting connections easier. Additionally, each group is color-coded with yellow being the easiest, followed by green, blue, and purple. Like Wordle, you can share the results with your friends on social media.
SEE ALSO: Wordle-obsessed? These are the best word games to play IRL. Here's a hint for today's Connections: Sports Edition categoriesWant a hint about the categories without being told the categories? Then give these a try:
Yellow: A natural
Green: Run in this
Blue: Lead playcaller
Purple: Summer events and people
Need a little extra help? Today's connections fall into the following categories:
Yellow: Special Ability
Green: Running Shoe Brands
Blue: NFL Head Coaches
Purple: Summer___
Looking for Wordle today? Here's the answer to today's Wordle.
Ready for the answers? This is your last chance to turn back and solve today's puzzle before we reveal the solutions.
Drumroll, please!
The solution to today's Connections: Sports Edition #421 is...
What is the answer to Connections: Sports Edition today?Special Ability - FLAIR, GIFT, SKILL, TALENT
Running Shoe Brands - ASCIS, BROOKS, HOKA, SAUCONY
NFL Head Coaches - HARBAUGH, PAYTON, RYANS, VRABEL
Summer___: LEAGUE, MCINTOSH, OLYMPICS, SANDERS
Don't feel down if you didn't manage to guess it this time. There will be new sports Connections for you to stretch your brain with tomorrow, and we'll be back again to guide you with more helpful hints.
Are you also playing NYT Strands? See hints and answers for today's Strands.
If you're looking for more puzzles, Mashable's got games now! Check out our games hub for Mahjong, Sudoku, free crossword, and more.
Not the day you're after? Here's the solution to yesterday's Connections.
The NYT Connections puzzle today is not too difficult to solve if you love to make people laugh.
Connections is the one of the most popular New York Times word games that's captured the public's attention. The game is all about finding the "common threads between words." And just like Wordle, Connections resets after midnight and each new set of words gets trickier and trickier—so we've served up some hints and tips to get you over the hurdle.
If you just want to be told today's puzzle, you can jump to the end of this article for today's Connections solution. But if you'd rather solve it yourself, keep reading for some clues, tips, and strategies to assist you.
SEE ALSO: Mahjong, Sudoku, free crossword, and more: Play games on Mashable What is Connections?The NYT's latest daily word game has become a social media hit. The Times credits associate puzzle editor Wyna Liu with helping to create the new word game and bringing it to the publications' Games section. Connections can be played on both web browsers and mobile devices and require players to group four words that share something in common.
This Tweet is currently unavailable. It might be loading or has been removed.Each puzzle features 16 words and each grouping of words is split into four categories. These sets could comprise of anything from book titles, software, country names, etc. Even though multiple words will seem like they fit together, there's only one correct answer.
If a player gets all four words in a set correct, those words are removed from the board. Guess wrong and it counts as a mistake—players get up to four mistakes until the game ends.
This Tweet is currently unavailable. It might be loading or has been removed.Players can also rearrange and shuffle the board to make spotting connections easier. Additionally, each group is color-coded with yellow being the easiest, followed by green, blue, and purple. Like Wordle, you can share the results with your friends on social media.
SEE ALSO: NYT Pips hints, answers for November 18, 2025 Here's a hint for today's Connections categoriesWant a hint about the categories without being told the categories? Then give these a try:
Yellow: A hoot
Green: Red veggies
Blue: Film stars
Purple: Setting
Need a little extra help? Today's connections fall into the following categories:
Yellow: Funny person
Green: Kinds of tomatoes
Blue: Best actress Oscar winners
Purple: Ending in synonyms for "location"
Looking for Wordle today? Here's the answer to today's Wordle.
Ready for the answers? This is your last chance to turn back and solve today's puzzle before we reveal the solutions.
Drumroll, please!
The solution to today's Connections #891 is...
What is the answer to Connections todayFunny person: CLOWN, JOKER, LAUGH, RIOT
Kinds of tomatoes: CHERRY, GRAPE, PLUM, ROMA
Best actress Oscar winners: BERRY, MADISON, STONE, SWANK
Ending in synonyms for "location": COMMONPLACE, NEEDLEPOINT, PARASITE, SUNSPOT
Don't feel down if you didn't manage to guess it this time. There will be new Connections for you to stretch your brain with tomorrow, and we'll be back again to guide you with more helpful hints.
SEE ALSO: NYT Connections Sports Edition today: Hints and answers for November 18, 2025Are you also playing NYT Strands? Get all the Strands hints you need for today's puzzle.
If you're looking for more puzzles, Mashable's got games now! Check out our games hub for Mahjong, Sudoku, free crossword, and more.
Not the day you're after? Here's the solution to yesterday's Connections.
Today's NYT Strands hints are easy if you're disorganized.
Strands, the New York Times' elevated word-search game, requires the player to perform a twist on the classic word search. Words can be made from linked letters — up, down, left, right, or diagonal, but words can also change direction, resulting in quirky shapes and patterns. Every single letter in the grid will be part of an answer. There's always a theme linking every solution, along with the "spangram," a special, word or phrase that sums up that day's theme, and spans the entire grid horizontally or vertically.
SEE ALSO: Mahjong, Sudoku, free crossword, and more: Play games on MashableBy providing an opaque hint and not providing the word list, Strands creates a brain-teasing game that takes a little longer to play than its other games, like Wordle and Connections.
If you're feeling stuck or just don't have 10 or more minutes to figure out today's puzzle, we've got all the NYT Strands hints for today's puzzle you need to progress at your preferred pace.
SEE ALSO: Wordle today: Answer, hints for November 18, 2025 SEE ALSO: NYT Connections hints today: Clues, answers for November 18, 2025 NYT Strands hint for today’s theme: All mixed upThe words are related to organization.
Today’s NYT Strands theme plainly explainedThese words describe things that are in disarray.
NYT Strands spangram hint: Is it vertical or horizontal?Today's NYT Strands spangram is horizontal.
NYT Strands spangram answer todayToday's spangram is Out of Order.
NYT Strands word list for November 18Jumbled
Scrambled
Out of Order
Chaotic
Shuffled
Muddled
Looking for other daily online games? Mashable's Games page has more hints, and if you're looking for more puzzles, Mashable's got games now!
Check out our games hub for Mahjong, Sudoku, free crossword, and more.
Not the day you're after? Here's the solution to yesterday's Strands.
Today's Wordle answer should be easy to solve if you're opinionated.
If you just want to be told today's word, you can jump to the bottom of this article for today's Wordle solution revealed. But if you'd rather solve it yourself, keep reading for some clues, tips, and strategies to assist you.
SEE ALSO: Mahjong, Sudoku, free crossword, and more: Play games on Mashable SEE ALSO: NYT Connections hints today: Clues, answers for November 18, 2025 Where did Wordle come from?Originally created by engineer Josh Wardle as a gift for his partner, Wordle rapidly spread to become an international phenomenon, with thousands of people around the globe playing every day. Alternate Wordle versions created by fans also sprang up, including battle royale Squabble, music identification game Heardle, and variations like Dordle and Quordle that make you guess multiple words at once.
Wordle eventually became so popular that it was purchased by the New York Times, and TikTok creators even livestream themselves playing.
What's the best Wordle starting word?The best Wordle starting word is the one that speaks to you. But if you prefer to be strategic in your approach, we have a few ideas to help you pick a word that might help you find the solution faster. One tip is to select a word that includes at least two different vowels, plus some common consonants like S, T, R, or N.
What happened to the Wordle archive?The entire archive of past Wordle puzzles was originally available for anyone to enjoy whenever they felt like it, but it was later taken down, with the website's creator stating it was done at the request of the New York Times. However, the New York Times then rolled out its own Wordle Archive, available only to NYT Games subscribers.
Is Wordle getting harder?It might feel like Wordle is getting harder, but it actually isn't any more difficult than when it first began. You can turn on Wordle's Hard Mode if you're after more of a challenge, though.
SEE ALSO: NYT Pips hints, answers for November 18, 2025 Here's a subtle hint for today's Wordle answer:To suggest.
Does today's Wordle answer have a double letter?There are no recurring letters.
Today's Wordle is a 5-letter word that starts with...Today's Wordle starts with the letter O.
SEE ALSO: Wordle-obsessed? These are the best word games to play IRL. The Wordle answer today is...Get your last guesses in now, because it's your final chance to solve today's Wordle before we reveal the solution.
Drumroll please!
The solution to today's Wordle is...
OPINE
Don't feel down if you didn't manage to guess it this time. There will be a new Wordle for you to stretch your brain with tomorrow, and we'll be back again to guide you with more helpful hints.
Are you also playing NYT Strands? See hints and answers for today's Strands.
SEE ALSO: NYT Connections Sports Edition today: Hints and answers for November 18, 2025Reporting by Chance Townsend, Caitlin Welsh, Sam Haysom, Amanda Yeo, Shannon Connellan, Cecily Mauran, Mike Pearl, and Adam Rosenberg contributed to this article.
If you're looking for more puzzles, Mashable's got games now! Check out our games hub for Mahjong, Sudoku, free crossword, and more.
Not the day you're after? Here's the solution to yesterday's Wordle.
If you hate the idea of your information being used to train AI, you're going to love the minor but vital tweak Apple just made to the iOS App Store.
"You must clearly disclose where personal data will be shared with third parties, including with third-party AI," the company told app developers — adding that all apps must "obtain explicit permission before doing so."
The updated language — Apple's first guidance on third-party AI — is part of a document called App Review Guidelines. And lest the name fool you, the introduction makes clear that adhering to these guidelines is pretty much mandatory.
"We will reject apps for any content or behavior that we believe is over the line," Apple tells developers later in the guidelines. "What line, you ask? Well, as a Supreme Court Justice once said, 'I'll know it when I see it.' And we think that you will also know it when you cross it."
The update, which dropped last week, marks the first time that AI has even been mentioned in the guidelines. Apple under CEO Tim Cook has been highly skeptical about AI, slow to include AI features in Siri, and sometimes hesitant to even use the letters "AI"; Cook has preferred to use the similar term "machine learning" in past keynotes.
Sourcing data to train AI models has become one of the most legally contentious activities in Silicon Valley. (Disclosure: Ziff Davis, Mashable’s parent company, filed a lawsuit in April against OpenAI, alleging it infringed Ziff Davis copyrights in training and operating its AI systems.)
And even Apple, the AI laggard that is reportedly going to use Google Gemini to power Siri soon, isn't immune.
Last month saw two lawsuits alleging Apple has improperly used other people's work for its own AI training. In separate filings, two neuroscientists and two authors said Cook's company had used data from "shadow libraries," or pirated content available online.
While Apple's response remains to be seen, the legal landscape doesn't look all that promising for the company. AI giant Anthropic settled a class-action lawsuit over shadow library usage in September for $1.5 billion.
But at least Apple can now legitimately claim to be protecting its users from AI data-scraping within its apps.
As one of Mashable’s sex toy and dating app experts, I have the inside scoop on the news and deals way before they hit the masses. I also get exclusive access to products before they launch (you should see my office closet — it’s nothing but boxes and boxes of sex toys). I truly love what I do as a service journalist, and if there’s one thing I’m passionate about, it’s making sure our readers have the right tools and info they need to get all the pleasure and self-love they deserve.
I’ve also been covering Black Friday sales since 2022, and I have a pretty good grasp of the genuine sex toy deals versus inflated price tags masquerading as deals. (Even deals like to role play!) Now that holiday sales are starting to drop (they literally get earlier and earlier every year), I’m starting the season off with a comprehensive guide to the best early Black Friday sex toy deals.
In this guide, you’ll find all the sex toy deals I’d recommend to friends. Spoiler: Most of these deals aren’t at Amazon, but that’s OK! While Amazon does have some worthwhile deals, its selection of sexual wellness products is limited compared to specialized retailers, and most items are sold by sketchy third-party sellers. The real deals come directly from the manufacturers themselves or from reputable retailers who specialize in sexual wellness products.
With all that said, there’s no way this is the final list. We haven’t even seen the actual Black Friday and Cyber Monday sales yet, so be sure to check back frequently for updates as more deals become available.
Lovers Loyal 5.5in DildoI have endometriosis and I struggle with pelvic pain, so I’m not always down for penetration, but when I am, my go-to dildo is the Lovers Loyal 5.5in Dildo. This little guy is super soft (like, unbelievably soft) and flexible, and it has a suction cup base so you can stick it to the floor, the side of a bathtub/shower, a chair, your headboard, or wherever else it’s safe to do so. (I wouldn’t stick it to a mirror, even though that does sound like a good idea in theory.) The suction cup base also makes for a great handle if you don’t actually want to stick it to anything, but the option’s there if you want it.
It’s 5.5 inches long and 1.48 inches in diameter, and it’s harness-compatible. You’ll want to use lube with this toy, but stick to water-based lubes — other types, like silicone and oil, can break down the material over time. I know the actual phallic look can be a turn-off (I wasn’t a fan of realistic toys until I met this one), but I assure you it's incredibly comfortable and versatile. You can use it for anal, too!
For Black Friday, Lovers is offering 20% off all purchases with the code JUST4U. This code is valid through Nov. 30. That means, you can get this dildo for $38.40 (that’s a $9.60 discount).
Opens in a new window Credit: Lovers Lovers Loyal 5.5in Dildo $38.40 at LoversI’m waiting with bated breath for Bellesa Boutique's 12 Day Advent Calendar to drop (it’s currently out of stock, but it’s totally worth the wait — I tried it out last year and will be praising it until I find a better alternative). But, right now, you can get up to 80% off select Bellesa toys, including the G-Stroking Rabbit, which is perfect for anyone who loves deep, G-spot stimulation paired with external clitoral vibration.
This dual-action vibrator is only $79 with the discount (or you can do four interest-free payments of $21 with Klarna). At this price, I’d definitely recommend snatching it up before it’s gone. (A handful of toys are already sold out!) The overall aesthetic of Bellesa toys is pretty basic, but their functionality and effectiveness in the orgasm department are unmatched.
Opens in a new window Credit: Bellesa Boutique Bellesa Boutique G-Stroking Rabbit $79 at Bellesa BoutiqueThis is the first wand vibrator I ever fell in love with: the LELO Smart Wand 2 Medium. It's the perfect size and shape (especially if you have wrist limitations or pain) for targeted clitoral stimulation. The vibrations are strong, rumbly, and if set correctly, can get you from 0 to orgasm in seconds. Right now, you can get the LELO Smart Wand 2 at the LELO site for $126.75. It’s also on sale at Lovers with code LELO20, but the better deal is at LELO. You’re saving $42.25, and you’ll get a free Sona 2 Travel if you spend $62.26 more (so, all you’d need to do is add another LELO product or accessory to your cart to qualify for the free gift).
Opens in a new window Credit: LELO LELO Smart Wand 2 Medium $126.75 at LELOIf you’re interested in adding a second toy to your cart so you can get the Sona 2 Travel for free, I’d recommend the LELO Enigma Wave (but only if you’re into intense clitoral and G-spot stimulation). This toy came out in 2023, and fair warning, it is intense. So, if you prefer gentler sensations, this might not be the best option for you. I had to move it around a bit to get the perfect angle, but once I found it, the combo of G-spot and clitoral stimulation sent me into orgasmic bliss. It also helps that it's totally hands-free once you get it in position. (Bonus: Your partner will love watching you converse uncontrollably.)
The difference between this toy and other dual-stimulation toys is that it features a proprietary WaveMotion technology and three synchronized motors to mimic that come-hither motion while also providing intense external clitoral stimulation. I’d definitely recommend using lube with this toy or getting revved up before putting it inside of you. With the discount, you can get the Enigma Wave for $201.75 directly from LELO. Again, it’s also 20% off at Lovers, but LELO currently has the better deal.
Opens in a new window Credit: LELO LELO Enigma Wave $201.75 at LELOIf you want a similar clitoral suction experience at a more accessible price point, I can’t recommend Tracy’s Dog OG Sucking Vibrator enough. If you can get past the weird name, you’ll see that this little vibe can hold its own compared to more expensive models, and it’s currently 40% off. (You can also find Tracy’s Dog at Amazon, but not all of the brand’s products can be found there.)
This vibrator is famous, and if you haven’t heard of it, you definitely need to go and read this review. It basically broke the internet in 2019 thanks to its unbeatable clitoral suction technology. The viral reviewer was so into this toy that she said her “soul left” her body and “God himself” spoke to her. “I shook for a good five minutes; I couldn’t get up off the bed if I even wanted to,” she wrote. While not everyone will have this out-of-body (and maybe out-of-mind) experience, I can truthfully say this little toy has exceeded my expectations, especially for an under-$50 toy. At the time of writing, Tracy’s Dog OG Sucking Vibrator is available for $29.99 at the Tracy’s Dog website.
Opens in a new window Credit: Tracy's Dog Tracy's Dog OG Sucking Vibrator $29.99 at Tracy's DogAt Amazon specifically, virtually the entire Tracy's Doc toy lineup is discounted by at least 10% right now. You can also find special coupons, free toys, and other promotions. So, if you're a Prime member, head ot Amazon to shop Tracy's Dog early Black Friday discounts.
Opens in a new window Credit: Tracy's Dog Tracy's Dog Flexible Rabbit Vibrator with Suction $35.99 at AmazonIf you have an afternoon or evening to yourself and you want to get completely wrecked, the FemmeFunn Thruster Rabbit is my go-to. This is for those days/nights when you have 0 plans. (Big Samantha Jones vibes here.) The FemmeFunn Thruster Rabbit, fortunately, is available in purple in addition to its flesh tones (I have the dark purple one, which is the brand's signature color), and it comes with a remote. The suction cup base makes it easy to stick to just about any flat surface. (Place a pillow or something soft where your knees are going to go if you plan on getting on all fours, which I totally recommend trying at least once).
Unlike other thrusters on the market, the FemmeFunn Thruster Rabbit is designed to keep going even when your muscles are contracting — this means it won’t stall out at the good part. And, thanks to the remote, you can adjust the settings while you’re playing without having to reach down to fumble with the buttons.
From Nov. 18 (tomorrow) to Nov. 27, you can get this toy for 15% off. OR, you can buy two toys for 20% off, or three toys for 30% off. If you wait until Nov. 28, you can get 30% off sitewide, so it really just depends on how willing you are to wait after I just gave you that juicy rundown.
Opens in a new window Credit: FemmeFunn FemmeFunn Thruster Rabbit $111.99 at FemmeFunnHere’s a lightning round of all the other sitewide and product-specific sales to have on your radar, straight from my inbox.
Opens in a new window Credit: Babeland Babeland The retailer is running an early offer for up to 50% off air pleasure and suction toys from Nov. 17-23. But the real sale is up to 69% off sitewide from Nov. 26 to Dec. 2. Shop Now Opens in a new window Credit: b-Vibe b-Vibe The leading anal play brand is offering 40% off sitewide from Nov. 18 to Dec. 2. This also includes "up to 80% off selected items," so it's a great time to shop. Shop Now Opens in a new window Credit: biird biird From Nov. 21 to Dec. 1, Biird is offering up to 50% off on its official site and Amazon store. Purchases on the Biird website also get a free gift (a Vulvii necklace for $75+ or an Evii Green for $159+). Shop Now Opens in a new window Credit: Good Vibes Good Vibes This retailer is offering up to 50% off G-spot vibes from Nov. 17-23. The bigger sale — up to 50% off sitewide — runs from Nov. 26 to Dec. 2. Shop Now Opens in a new window Credit: Hot Octopuss Hot Octopuss Get up to 60% off for bestsellers like the Pulse Queen, Pulse Solo, and Pulse Duo. Shop Now Opens in a new window Credit: Je Joue Je Joue Je Joue For all of November, Je Joue has up to 50% off some of its most popular products. This includes 50% off the Amour Pink, Duet Lilac, all Onyx butt-plugs, Naughty & Nice Gift Boxes, and G-Spot Favourites (Uma and Juno), and 15% off fan favorites like the Mimi & Mimi Soft and the new ILY Collection. Shop Now Opens in a new window Credit: Kiiroo Kiiroo This sale is wild. From Nov. 18 to Dec. 4, their bestsellers are on sale, with some getting massive discounts. The Titan stroker is 70% off, dropping from $149 to just $45. Shop Now Opens in a new window Credit: Le Wand Le Wand The premium wand brand is having two sales. First, from Nov. 18-24, get 40% off all wands. Then, from Nov. 25 to Dec. 2, the sale expands to 40% off sitewide, plus up to 80% off select items. Shop NowAI music is beginning to fill up music streaming libraries, and a lot of music lovers aren't happy about it.
However, according to a new study conducted by French music streaming service Deezer and Ipsos, 97 percent of people surveyed couldn't tell that a song was fully generated by AI instead of a human. Out of that group, the majority, or 52 percent, felt uncomfortable about the fact that they couldn't tell the difference.
AI-generated music has certainly advanced over the years, but that's not the only reason people can struggle to identify AI songs. A lot of popular music is rather formulaic, meaning it's rather easy for AI to mimic, at least when it comes to instrumentals.
SEE ALSO: No, that AI country song isn't No. 1 on the Billboard chart. Yes, it is terrible.The study from Deezer and Ipsos is an interesting one, as it finds people aren't completely opposed to AI. For example, 46 percent of people surveyed thought AI could be used to help them discover new music. In addition, 66 percent of people said they would give AI music a try at least once out of curiosity.
However, it seems like people start to feel an opposition to AI music once they feel deceived. The survey found that 80 percent of people want AI music clearly labeled on platforms. Another 72 percent would want to know if a platform was recommending fully AI-generated music to them. Nearly half, or 45 percent of users, would filter out AI-generated music, and 40 percent would skip AI music if they came across it.
Music fans also have a negative view of AI songs when it comes to supporting music artists. The survey found that 65 percent of people don't think AI should train on copyrighted music, and another 70 percent believe that AI threatens the livelihood of artists.
Only 11 percent of those surveyed think that AI music should be given equal treatment on the top music charts.
It's important to note that much of the critical reaction towards AI-generated music is specific to fully AI-generated songs. Musical artists and producers have long used emerging technologies in their work, such as autotune, to digitally fix or alter their music. However, even those tools require human expertise and input to actually create the final sound or composition.
According to Deezer, around 50,000 fully AI-generated music tracks are uploaded to streaming services every day, accounting for a whopping 34 percent of all daily music releases.
AI-generated creative works, such as AI-created illustrations and videos, have received lots of backlash online over the past couple of years. In fact, the push back against AI in art has been so strong that some social media platforms, like Pinterest, have given its users the option to filter out AI content completely.
As AI-generated music evolves and the blowback against AI continues to grow, it will be interesting to see how streaming platforms like Spotify and Deezer treat AI-generated music on their platforms.
TL;DR: The 2026 AI Content Creation Lifetime Bundle gives you two pro-grade AI tools for writing and voiceovers — for just $39.99 (reg. $2,070).
Opens in a new window Credit: StackCommerce 2026 AI Content Creation Lifetime Subscription Bundle $39.99If your content workflow feels like a juggling act — writing, editing, translating, and then recording — here’s your new secret weapon: The 2026 AI Content Creation Lifetime Subscription Bundle.
For just $39.99, you’ll get lifetime access to two powerhouse tools, WordPop AI and SpeakBreez AI, designed to take your creative and professional projects from idea to finished product — in less time than it takes to brew your morning coffee.
SEE ALSO: Google's AI can now automatically call stores and buy items for youWordPop AI was designed to be your all-in-one writing assistant, translator, and document wizard. It’s built to handle everything from SEO-optimized blog posts and polished business copy to multilingual content and creative storytelling.
With 100+ templates, 120+ supported languages, and an AI Writing Editor that adjusts tone and style on the fly, WordPop AI makes writing feel less like work and more like an easy flow.
Then there’s SpeakBreez AI, a digital voice studio. It gives you access to 800+ ultra-realistic voices across 142 languages — ideal for YouTubers, educators, marketers, and business owners. From corporate training narrations to podcast intros, SpeakBreez lets you turn text into human-quality voiceovers in seconds. And it’s fast.
Together, these two tools can help you create more efficiently, scale content production, and stay competitive without a mountain of subscriptions.
You’ll write, speak, and publish easier — all for a one-time payment. Get the 2026 AI Content Creation Lifetime Subscription Bundle, on sale for just $39.99 (reg. $2,070) for a limited time.
StackSocial prices subject to change.
BEST-EVER PRICE: The M5 MacBook Pro is on sale at Amazon for $1,476, down from the list price of $1,599.
Opens in a new window Credit: Apple Apple MacBook Pro M5 $1,476 at AmazonThe early Black Friday deals at Amazon are making us look like fools. We made a lot of noise about the most recent price drop on the brand new MacBook Pro M5, but now it has fallen even further. OK, we not talking big numbers here (an extra $4 off), but a new record-low price is a new record-low price. We're certainly not complaining.
As of Nov. 17, the Apple MacBook Pro M5 is on sale for $1,476 at Amazon. That's down from its list price of $1,599, and the lowest price we've ever seen at Amazon. So what are you waiting for? Black Friday deals like this don't always stick around for long.
SEE ALSO: Amazon Black Friday ad: The best early deals you can buy onlineMashable's Tech Editor Timothy Beck Werth reviewed the new M5 MacBook Pro and awarded it a Mashable Choice Award, so you know it's worth the splurge even at list price. According to Werth, "The new MacBook Pro offers only iterative improvements over its predecessor, but that hardly matters with a device this good. With a beautifully crisp display and M5 silicon, the MacBook Pro surges even further ahead of Windows laptops."
There are already a bunch of MacBook deals to consider ahead of Black Friday, but this might be a candidate for the best. Need something super powerful that can handle even the most demanding of creative tasks? This could be the deal for you.
The Game Awards 2025 has finally revealed its nominees for categories such as Best Racing Game, Best Sports Game, and the coveted Game of the Year. This has been one of the best years for gaming in recent memory. Nintendo launched the Switch 2, the successor to its dominating console and handheld hybrid, and Xbox dipped its own toes into the handheld market with the ROG Xbox Ally.
There have been some incredible hits across the industry from small indies like Blue Prince and Despelote, as well as blockbusters like Doom: The Dark Ages, Split Fiction, and Monster Hunter Wilds. There have also been quite a few late-year surprises like ARC Raiders and Dispatch.
But only one game can take home 2025’s Game of the Year award, and there are only six nominees. Keep reading to learn how to vote in The Game Awards 2025 as well as the full list of categories and nominees, from best indie game to best art direction.
Clair Obscur: Expedition 33Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 is the clear fan favorite to win 2025’s Game of the Year award. Made by a small group of passionate developers in France, this game combines engaging turn-based combat with believable characters to tell one of the most emotional impactful stories this year. Plus, unlike every other game of the year nominee, Expedition 33 isn't a sequel or franchise title, which may give it an extra edge among players.
Expedition 33 is also leading the pack with a staggering 12 nominations this year in other categories, including Best Art Direction and Best Narrative.
Clair Obscur Expedition 33 PS5 $48.97 at AmazonThe sequel to Hideo Kojima’s post-apocalyptic epic, Death Stranding, is another fantastic narrative-driven game with themes about connection, grief, and loss. With Death Stranding 2, Helldivers 2, and Ghost of Yotei, Sony is this year’s most nominated publisher with 19 nominations.
Death Stranding was a nominee for Game of the Year at The Game Awards 2019, but ultimately lost out to From Software and Activision’s Sekiro: Shadows Die Twice. Let’s see if Kojima can take home the award this time.
Opens in a new window Credit: Kojima Productions Death Stranding 2: On the Beach (PS5) $69 at AmazonNintendo has taken its ape mascot and created one of the best 3D platformers this year with Donkey Kong Banaza. The camaraderie between Donkey Kong and Daisy is so charming, and the game’s innovative destruction mechanics make it fun to smash the environment into pieces.
Nintendo has received plenty of Game of the Year nominations throughout the years with games like Xenoblade Chronicles 3, Metroid Dread, and Super Mario Bros. Wonder, but hasn’t won the category since 2017 with The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild.
Donkey Kong Bananza - Nintendo Switch 2 $69.99 at Best BuyHades was 2020’s indie darling. The incredibly addictive “just one more round” roguelite gameplay, appealing cast of characters, and bold comic-book art direction captivated players all across the world. Hades 2 brings more of the same but turns the dial up. With even more gameplay refinements, areas to explore, and deities to meet, it’s no wonder that Hades 2 has received a Game of the Year nomination.
Hades was nominated for Game of the Year in 2020, but lost to The Last of Us Part 2. Now’s another chance for it to win.
Hades II - Nintendo Switch™ 2 Edition $49.94 at WalmartTogether with Hades 2 and Expedition 33, Hollow Knight Silksong completes the indie trifecta of nominations this year. It’s surprising that this game actually came out this year after numerous delays, but the wait definitely paid off. Its exploration and difficulty are immensely rewarding, making it one of the best 2D platformers in years.
Its predecessor, Hollow Knight, was nominated for Best Debut Indie Game in 2017, but lost to Cuphead. Now, its sequel joined the big leagues with a Game of the Year nomination. Talk about a glow up!
Opens in a new window Credit: Team Cherry Hollow Knight: Silksong (Nintendo Switch 2 - Digital Code) $19.99 at AmazonThis one is a bit of a surprise because for as great as Kingdom Come Deliverance 2 is, there are other games that could’ve taken its place in this nomination. The other nominees have stayed in the cultural zeitgeist and were shoe-ins. Still, Kingdom Come Deliverance 2’s dedication to historical realism and gameplay is impressive, and its story is more emotionally charged than the first game, making it an excellent medieval simulation RPG.
The first game didn’t receive any nominations at previous shows, so it must be exciting for the devs to get their first nomination at The Game Awards, and for the ultimate Game of the Year category, no less.
How to vote in The Game Awards 2025The Game Awards 2025 takes place at the Peacock Theater in Los Angeles, California and will air on December 11. You can vote for your favorite games on The Game Awards website. All you have to do is create an account and sign in to start voting right away. However, the winners aren't simply chosen by popular vote.
In addition to fan votes, The Game Awards has a "jury of over 100 global media and influencer outlets, selected for their history of critical video game evaluation. Specialized juries also convene for other categories including esports, accessibility and best adaptation." In the end, "Winners are determined by a blended vote between the voting jury (90%) and public fan voting (10%). Fans can vote for their favorite games on TheGameAwards.com.
The Game Awards 2025: Full list of nomineesBesides the six Game of the Year nominees, here's the full list of categories and nominations for 2025.
Best Independent Game:
Absolum
BALL x PIT
Blue Prince
Clair Obscur: Expedition 33
Hades II
Hollow Knight: Silksong
Best Debut Indie Game:
Blue Prince
Clair Obscur: Expedition 33
despelote
Dispatch
Megabonk
Best Mobile Game:
Destiny: Rising
Persona 5: The Phantom X
Sonic Rumble
Umamusume: Pretty Derby
Wuthering Waves
Best Virtual Reality/Augmented Reality Game:
Alien: Rogue Incursion
Arken Age
Ghost Town
Marvel’s Deadpool VR
The Midnight Walk
Best Action Game:
Battlefield 6
Doom: The Dark Ages
Hades II
Ninja Gaiden 4
Shinobi: Art of Vengeance
Best Role-Playing Game:
Death Stranding 2: On the Beach
Ghost of Yotei
Indiana Jones and the Great Circle
Hollow Knight: Silksong
Split Fiction
Best Fighting Game:
2XKO
Capcom Fighting Collection 2
Fatal Fury: City of the Wolves
Mortal Kombat: Legacy Kollection
Virtua Fighter 5 R.E.V.O. World Stage
Best Family Game:
Donkey Kong Bananza
LEGO Party!
LEGO Voyagers
Mario Kart World
Sonic Racing: CrossWorlds
Split Fiction
Best Simulation/Strategy Game:
The Alters
Final Fantasy Tactics: The Ivalice Chronicles
Jurassic World Evolution 3
Sid Meier’s Civilization VII
Tempest Rising
Two Point Museum
Best Sports/Racing Game:
EA Sports FC 26
F1 25
Mario Kart World
REMATCH
Sonic Racing: CrossWorlds
Best Multiplayer Game:
ARC Raiders
Battlefield 6
Elden Ring Nightreign
PEAK
Split Fiction
Best Game Direction:
Clair Obscur: Expedition 33
Death Stranding 2: On the Beach
Ghost of Yotei
Hades II
Split Fiction
Best Narrative:
Clair Obscur: Expedition 33
Death Stranding 2: On the Beach
Ghost of Yotei
Kingdom Come: Deliverance II
Silent Hill f
Best Art Direction:
Clair Obscur: Expedition 33
Death Stranding 2: On the Beach
Ghost of Yotei
Hades II
Hollow Knight: Silksong
Best Score and Music:
Clair Obscur: Expedition 33
Death Stranding 2: On the Beach
Ghost of Yotei
Hades II
Hollow Knight: Silksong
Best Audio Design:
Battlefield 6
Clair Obscur: Expedition 33
Death Stranding 2: On the Beach
Ghost of Yotei
Silent Hill f
Best Performance:
Benn Star in Clair Obscur: Expedition 33
Charlie Cox in Clair Obscur: Expedition 33
Erika Ishii in Ghost of Yotei
Jennifer English in Clair Obscur: Expedition 33
Konatsu Kato in Silent Hill f
Troy Baker in Indiana Jones and the Great Circle
Innovation in Accessibility:
Assassin’s Creed Shadows
Atomfall
Doom: The Dark Ages
EA Sports FC 26
South of Midnight
Games for Impact:
Consume Me
despelote
Lost Records: Bloom & Rage
South of Midnight
Wanderstop
Best Ongoing Game:
Final Fantasy XIV
Fortnite
Helldivers II
Marvel Rivals
No Man’s Sky
Best Community Support:
Baldur’s Gate III
Final Fantasy XIV
Fortnite
Helldivers II
No Man’s Sky
Best Game Adaptation:
A Minecraft Movie
Devil May Cry
Splinter Cell: Deathwatch
The Last of Us Season 2
Until Dawn
Most-Anticipated Game:
007 First Light
Grand Theft Auto VI
Marvel’s Wolverine
Resident Evil Requiem
The Witcher IV
Content Creator of the Year:
Caedrel
Kai Cenat
MoistCr1TiKaL
Sakura Miko
The Burnt Peanut
Best eSports Game:
Counter-Strike 2
DOTA 2
League of Legends
Mobile Legends: Bang Bang
VALORANT
Best eSports Athlete:
brawk – Brock Somerhalder (VALORANT)
Chovy – Jeong Ji-hoon (League of Legends)
f0rsakeN – Jason Susanto (VALORANT)
Kakeru – Kakeru Watanabe (Street Fighter)
MenaRD – Saul Leonardo (Street Fighter)
Zyw0o – Mathieu Herbaut (Counter-Strike 2)
Best eSports Team:
Gen.G (League of Legends)
NRG (VALORANT)
Team Falcons (DOTA 2)
Team Liquid PH (Mobile Legends: Bang Bang)
Team Vitality
At this point, it should be clear that anything you read from Google’s AI Overview needs to be taken with a grain of salt — including when it starts labeling real video games as fictional. Case in point: Call of Duty: Black Ops 7.
For the past few months, searching "Black Ops 7" on Google has returned a bizarre response from the search engine’s Gemini-powered AI Overview, which insists the game doesn’t exist. "Call of Duty: Black Ops 7 is a fictional video game that does not exist," the AI claims. It even elaborates: "The search results describe a hypothetical game with a November 14, 2025, release date, a story set in 2035 that continues the narrative from Black Ops 2 and Black Ops... The fictional game includes co-op campaign, multiplayer, and a Zombies mode."
Credit: Screenshot: GoogleWhat makes the situation even stranger is that everything the AI lists — from the release date to the 2035 setting to the available modes — is actually true. Yet it still labels the game as "fictional." Black Ops 7 is the 22nd mainline entry in the Call of Duty franchise and the eighth installment in the Black Ops universe. Right now, it’s sitting at a grim 1.8 user score on Metacritic, with players voicing frustration over a disappointing single-player campaign and the blatant use of generative AI for core assets throughout the game.
The issue was first spotted about three months ago by a Reddit user in the r/google subreddit. As of Nov. 13 — the day before the game’s release — I was able to replicate the same problem multiple times, and it’s still happening as of this writing. Interestingly, the glitch appears to be limited to mobile devices and AI Overviews; Google's AI mode correctly recognizes that Black Ops 7 is real. Mashable reached out to both Google and Activision-Blizzard, but have not yet received a comment from either.
What's happening with AI Overviews is a small but telling example of a much larger problem: Big Tech’s AI systems still struggle to keep up with real-time information, especially around breaking news or newly released media.
AI Overviews has no trouble recognizing the release and existence of other games that launched around the same time as Black Ops 7. For example, it correctly tells me that Yakuza Kiwami 2 received a Switch 2 release this month. But in the same breath, it completely fumbles Dragon Ball: Sparking! Zero — first labeling it as a mobile game, then immediately correcting itself and saying it isn’t, all while failing to mention that it also just launched on Switch and Switch 2.
Credit: Screenshot: GoogleAs Mashable's Chase DiBenedetto has reported before, "While AI assistants may be helpful for simple daily tasks... their weakness at reporting news is a liability for everyone, according to watchdogs and media leaders alike." And while this current glitch may only involve a video game, it highlights the same broader issue.
We’ve already seen how easily AI chatbots can spread or reinforce misinformation in far more serious contexts — like Grok's viral claim that the Charlie Kirk shooting was a hoax. As more people rely on AI tools as on-demand fact-checkers, especially during highly volatile events, these inaccuracies could be seen as a danger.
Back in March, a working paper from researchers at NYU and other universities suggested that age-verification laws are ineffective. Now, a new analysis not only supports the same finding but also suggests that these laws may impose a burden on adults' First Amendment rights.
The new study, conducted by the public policy nonprofit the Phoenix Center, finds that these laws should fail a constitutional cost-benefit test. Meaning, if the laws are ineffective, then the cost to adults' constitutional rights to view legal content likely outweighs the benefit of preventing minors from seeing it.
Age-verification laws in the United States and beyond typically require websites that host a decent amount of explicit content to verify visitors' ages with more than a "yes or no" checkbox — such as with their government ID or a facial recognition scan. But, especially with the onset of the United Kingdom's age-verification law over the summer, some non-explicit platforms like YouTube are starting to implement age checks as well.
SEE ALSO: How to unblock Pornhub for freeExperts have long told Mashable that these laws won't work for their intended purpose of keeping minors off pornographic websites. Software like VPNs can circumvent them, and users can simply visit websites that don't comply with the laws. There are also privacy and security concerns associated with these laws, such as the inability to browse legal content anonymously and inputting personal data into a third-party system that may be vulnerable to hacking.
Still, lawmakers have introduced and passed age verification laws in many states and countries. And since the initial release of the working paper in March this year, the Supreme Court has deemed age verification laws constitutional, despite concerns that they quell free speech and thus infringe on the First Amendment.
Costs and benefits of age-verificationThe Phoenix Center's cost-benefit analysis is important due to SCOTUS's recent ruling. In June, the majority of the court decided that Texas's age-verification law was subject to the "intermediate scrutiny" standard. As the study outlines, the Supreme Court held that "Texas's age-verification law served an important government interest and that age-verification was substantially related to achieving that purpose."
Phoenix Center's chief economist, Dr. George S. Ford, conducted the study and reasoned that age-verification laws should deter substantially more minors than adults in order for this standard to hold up.
He used Google Trends data before and after states implemented their laws and/or Pornhub blocked itself in these states. He found spikes in searches for "VPN" (47 percent increase in the week Pornhub pulled out of the state, sustained for around 20 weeks) and "free porn" (30 percent increase without a significant decrease back down).
And while Google doesn't break down whether it's an adult or a minor searching, other research has found that adolescents aged 13-18 are likely to know how to use VPNs or can easily adopt them. This suggests that users, including minors, simply go around the laws.
"The evidence suggests a regulatory regime where the intended targets — tech-savvy minors — can easily bypass restrictions while adults exercising constitutional rights bear the primary costs," Ford stated in the press release.
In the study, Ford also laid out cybersecurity risks of using free VPNs, such as increased vulnerability to ransomware incidents, IP leaks, and third-party tracking.
While more research has to be done, Ford wrote in the study that the effectiveness of age verification laws at protecting minors is "questionable," both because knowledgeable teens can find ways to circumvent them and because of the costs of impeding adults' First Amendment rights.
"When a policy's burdens on protected speech substantially exceed its effectiveness at achieving its stated purpose, it fails the constitutional requirement of being 'substantially related' to that purpose, regardless of how important the objective may be," he continued in the press release. "Add to this the cybersecurity risks and degradation of internet infrastructure, and we have a clear case where costs exceed benefits."
SAVE $30: As of Nov. 17, the Amazon Fire TV Stick 4K Select is only $9.99 for select customers with the on-page coupon code STREAM4K at Amazon. That's 75% off its list price and its lowest price ever.
Opens in a new window Credit: Amazon Amazon Fire TV Stick 4K Select $9.99 at AmazonIf a streaming stick is on your shopping list, there's no reason to wait for Black Friday to grab one. Amazon is practically giving away its new Fire TV Stick 4K Select.
As of Nov. 17, the Fire TV Stick 4K Select is down to just $9.99 at Amazon for select customers with the on-page coupon code STREAM4K. That's 75% off its list price of $39.99 and its lowest price ever by a landslide. Without the coupon code, it's still a pretty solid deal at $21.99, but $10 for a 4K streaming stick is honestly outrageous.
Unfortunately, the coupon code seems to only be available for select customers. Several members of Mashable's shopping team are able to see the code, while a few others can't. We're unsure how Amazon goes about selecting which customers are eligible, but congrats if you're one of Amazon's favorites.
You can find the coupon code underneath the pricing details at Amazon if you're one of the lucky ones. Credit: Screenshot: AmazonThe Fire TV 4K Select launched this fall as part of Amazon's newest Fire TV lineup. Whether or not we really needed another Fire TV Stick in general is debatable, but at this wildly low early Black Friday price, we're certainly not complaining. Amazon calls it the "most affordable 4K streaming stick yet." It offers vibrant 4K quality with HDR10+ support and a new operating system called Vega that is ultra-responsive and fast. Its plug-and-play design is the same as every other Fire TV Stick, and it will soon offer support for Alexa+, Xbox Game Pass, Amazon Luna, Amazon Kids+, and NordVPN.
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