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  1. A very human vision for going all-in on AI

    Sun, 07 Dec 2025 15:00:00 -0000

    It's easy to think about AI as a sort of existential battle between human and machine. Maybe it will be, someday, in a Skynet sort of way. But there are also lots of people trying to figure out how to use AI not as a replacement for human creativity and thinking but as a tool […]
    <figure> <img alt="" data-caption="" data-portal-copyright="" data-has-syndication-rights="1" src="https://platform.theverge.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2025/12/VRG_VST_1207_Site.jpg?quality=90&#038;strip=all&#038;crop=0,0,100,100" /> <figcaption> </figcaption> </figure> <p class="has-text-align-none">It's easy to think about AI as a sort of existential battle between human and machine. Maybe it will be, someday, in a Skynet sort of way. But there are also lots of people trying to figure out how to use AI not as a replacement for human creativity and thinking but as a tool meant to augment those things.</p> <p class="has-text-align-none">Sari Azout is one of those people. She's the founder of <a href="https://sublime.app/">Sublime</a>, a platform dedicated to curation, creativity, and ideas. Sublime is all about taste, which makes it slightly surprising that there's a huge amount of AI powering the way it works. But to Azout, it all makes sense.</p> <iframe frameborder="0" height="200" src="https://playlist.megaphone.fm?e=VMP6347263463" width="100%"></iframe> <p class="has-text-align-none"><strong><em><strong><em>Subscribe: <a href="https://bit.ly/40Nhvbe">Spotify</a> | <a href="https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-vergecast/id430333725">Apple </a><a href="https://bit.ly/3R97G3Z">Podcasts</a> | <a href="https://bit.ly/3WSgkWW">Overcast</a> | <a href="https://bit.ly/4hMo2db">Pocket Ca …</a></em></strong></em></strong></p> <p><a href="https://www.theverge.com/podcast/839718/sublime-ai-taste-curation-vergecast">Read the full story at The Verge.</a></p>
  2. What Google Glass got right — and really, really wrong

    Sun, 07 Dec 2025 14:17:43 -0000

    Google didn't invent the concept of smart glasses, but it did help make them mainstream. In retrospect, 13 years after their launch, this is both a good and bad thing. Glass made a lot of people dream about new ways to use computers without staring down at screens all day. Glass also made a lot […]
    <figure> <img alt="" data-caption="" data-portal-copyright="" data-has-syndication-rights="1" src="https://platform.theverge.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2025/12/VH_Google_Glass_Site.jpg?quality=90&#038;strip=all&#038;crop=0,0,100,100" /> <figcaption> </figcaption> </figure> <p class="has-text-align-none">Google didn't invent the concept of smart glasses, but it did help make them mainstream. In retrospect, 13 years after their launch, this is both a good and bad thing. Glass <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9c6W4CCU9M4">made a lot of people dream</a> about new ways to use computers <a href="https://www.theverge.com/2013/2/22/4013406/i-used-google-glass-its-the-future-with-monthly-updates#:~:text=I%20used%20Google%20Glass%3A%20the%20future%2C%20but%20with%20monthly%20updates%20">without staring down at screens all day</a>. Glass also made a lot of people realize just how bad it might feel to have a world full of face computers. Which is more predictive: <a href="https://www.theverge.com/2013/5/16/4338500/google-says-real-opportunity-for-glass-to-be-mainstream#:~:text=Will%20Google%20Glass%20create%20information%20heroes%20or%20new-wave%20Bluetooth%20dorks%3F%20">Glass, or Glassholes</a>? And can you even have one without the other?</p> <p class="has-text-align-none">For <a href="https://link.chtbl.com/versionhistory">this episode of <em>Version History</em></a><em>, </em>we go back in time and tell the story of Google Glass. David Pierce, Victoria Song, and tech journalist <a href="https://www.davidimel.com/">David Imel</a> trace the product's be …</p> <p><a href="https://www.theverge.com/podcast/839712/google-glass-smart-glasses-version-history">Read the full story at The Verge.</a></p>
  3. A love letter to glory days of iPhone gaming

    Sun, 07 Dec 2025 14:00:00 -0000

    It may be hard to believe now, but the App Store was once a thriving place for inventive indie games. The ubiquity of the iPhone coupled with the relative ease of development for the platform meant that smaller studios were able to get their games in front of huge audiences, leading to a great time […]
    <figure> <img alt="" data-caption="Year Walk. | Image: Simogo" data-portal-copyright="Image: Simogo" data-has-syndication-rights="1" src="https://platform.theverge.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2025/12/SLC_03_4K.jpg?quality=90&#038;strip=all&#038;crop=0,0,100,100" /> <figcaption> Year Walk. | Image: Simogo </figcaption> </figure> <p class="has-text-align-none">It may be hard to believe now, but the App Store was once a thriving place for inventive indie games. The ubiquity of the iPhone coupled with the relative ease of development for the platform meant that smaller studios were able to get their games in front of huge audiences, leading to a great time of experimentation that unfortunately didn't last. But if you want to relive those better days, Simogo's new collection is just the thing.</p> <p class="has-text-align-none">You might recognize the name Simogo from more recent titles, like the noir mystery <a href="https://www.theverge.com/24157530/lorelei-and-the-laser-eyes-review-switch-steam"><em>Lorelei and the Laser Eyes</em></a> or the vibrant interactive pop album <a href="https://www.theverge.com/games-review/621706/sayonara-wild-hearts-ps5-review"><em>Sayonara Wild Hearts</em></a>. Before that, though, the studio was a cr …</p> <p><a href="https://www.theverge.com/games/839050/simogo-legacy-collection-review-switch-steam">Read the full story at The Verge.</a></p>
  4. Starlink made ‘work from home’ possible from anywhere — now, I’m ready for a change

    Sun, 07 Dec 2025 13:00:00 -0000

    This is The Stepback, a weekly newsletter breaking down one essential story from the tech world. For more on how to work anywhere, follow Thomas Ricker. The Stepback arrives in our subscribers' inboxes at 8AM ET. Opt in for The Stepback here. How it started I've worked from home for 20 years. In that time, […]
    <figure> <img alt="" data-caption="" data-portal-copyright="" data-has-syndication-rights="1" src="https://platform.theverge.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2025/12/258152_Starlink_CVirginia.jpg?quality=90&#038;strip=all&#038;crop=0,0,100,100" /> <figcaption> </figcaption> </figure> <p class="has-text-align-none"><em>This is</em> <a href="https://www.theverge.com/the-stepback-newsletter">The Stepback</a><em>, a weekly newsletter breaking down one essential story from the tech world. For more on how to </em><a href="https://www.theverge.com/work-from-home-remote-wfh"><em>work anywhere</em></a><em>, follow </em><a href="https://www.theverge.com/authors/thomas-ricker"><em>Thomas Ricker</em></a><em>. </em>The Stepback<em> arrives in our subscribers' inboxes at 8AM ET. Opt in for</em> The Stepback <a href="https://www.theverge.com/newsletters"><em>here</em></a><em>.</em></p> <h2 class="wp-block-heading has-text-align-none">How it started</h2> <p class="has-text-align-none">I've worked from home for 20 years. In that time, I've seen technologies supporting remote work advance considerably. But nothing has been as transformative as the arrival of Starlink, SpaceX's internet service that lets me <a href="https://www.theverge.com/work-from-home-remote-wfh">"work from home" anywhere</a> I choose, be it from the open road, <a href="https://www.theverge.com/23487709/inforest-off-grid-solar-cabin-review">forest</a>, or desolate beach.</p> <p class="has-text-align-none">SpaceX began launching Starlink satellites in 2019 to provide data in the l …</p> <p><a href="https://www.theverge.com/column/837202/starlink-work-from-home">Read the full story at The Verge.</a></p>
  5. An all-time great game makes a comeback

    Sun, 07 Dec 2025 13:00:00 -0000

    Hi, friends! Welcome to Installer No. 108, your guide to the best and Verge-iest stuff in the world. (If you're new here, welcome, hope your holiday shopping is going well, and also you can read all the old editions at the Installer homepage.) This week, I've been reading about Ariana Grande and pelvic floors and […]
    <figure> <img alt="" data-caption="" data-portal-copyright="" data-has-syndication-rights="1" src="https://platform.theverge.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2025/12/Installer-108.png?quality=90&#038;strip=all&#038;crop=0,0,100,100" /> <figcaption> </figcaption> </figure> <p class="has-text-align-none">Hi, friends! Welcome to <em>Installer</em> No. 108, your guide to the best and <em>Verge</em>-iest stuff in the world. (If you're new here, welcome, hope your holiday shopping is going well, and also you can read all the old editions at the <a href="https://www.theverge.com/installer-newsletter"><em>Installer</em> homepage</a>.) </p> <p class="has-text-align-none">This week, I've been reading about <a href="https://www.nytimes.com/2025/11/05/movies/ariana-grande-wicked-for-good.html"><strong>Ariana Grande</strong></a> and <a href="https://www.wired.com/story/the-pelvic-floor-is-a-problem/"><strong>pelvic floors</strong></a> and <a href="https://www.theatlantic.com/politics/2025/12/josh-shapiro-pennsylvania-trump-president-election/684991/"><strong>Josh Shapiro</strong></a><strong> </strong>and<strong> </strong><a href="https://slate.com/business/2025/11/las-vegas-travel-sphere-hotel-donald-trump.html"><strong>Las Vegas</strong></a><strong>, </strong>finishing and then immediately rewatching <a href="https://www.themoviedb.org/tv/271267-chair-company?language=en-US"><strong><em>The Chair Company</em></strong></a><em>, </em>working by the light of this <a href="https://store.moma.org/products/layers-table-lamp-blue-pink?gad_campaignid=17191350656&amp;gbraid=0AAAAAD9gvK1tndT71e4qDMI1FnMbGJTOX"><strong>extremely rad MoMA lamp</strong></a><strong>, </strong>installing a bunch of <a href="https://www.philips-hue.com/en-us/p/hue-dimmer-switch-latest-model/046677562779"><strong>Hue Dimmer Switches</strong></a> around my house, trying desperately to hide the giant box that came with my new <a href="https://www.samsung.com/us/lifestyle-tvs/the-frame/highlights/"><strong>Frame TV</strong></a>, wondering if my 12,983 minutes of Spotify time this year …</p> <p><a href="https://www.theverge.com/tech/839273/red-dead-redemption-fizzy-installer">Read the full story at The Verge.</a></p>
  6. Apple’s chip chief might be the next exec to leave

    Sat, 06 Dec 2025 19:55:52 -0000

    Bloomberg’s Mark Gurman is reporting that Johny Srouji, senior vice president of hardware technologies, told Tim Cook he is “seriously considering” leaving Apple for another company in the near future. It was reported in October that Srouji was “evaluating his future at the tech giant.” While nothing is confirmed, it seems the executive is leaning […]
    <figure> <img alt="" data-caption="" data-portal-copyright="" data-has-syndication-rights="1" src="https://platform.theverge.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2025/08/STK071_APPLE_D.jpg?quality=90&#038;strip=all&#038;crop=0,0,100,100" /> <figcaption> </figcaption> </figure> <p class="has-text-align-none"><em>Bloomberg’s</em> Mark Gurman is reporting that Johny Srouji, senior vice president of hardware technologies, told Tim Cook he is “seriously considering” <a href="https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2025-12-06/apple-rocked-by-executive-departures-with-johny-srouji-at-risk-of-leaving-next">leaving Apple</a> for another company in the near future. It was reported in October that Srouji was “<a href="https://www.theverge.com/news/798258/apple-executive-reshuffling-eddy-cue-johnny-srouji">evaluating his future at the tech giant</a>.” While nothing is confirmed, it seems the executive is leaning towards not having a future at Cupertino.</p> <p class="has-text-align-none">If Srouji leaves, he would be just the latest in a string of high-profile shakeups in the company’s C-suite. COO Jeff Williams <a href="https://www.theverge.com/news/701576/apple-coo-jeff-williams-retiring-sabih-khan">announced his retirement</a> in July, which led to some shifting of roles. But things have only accelerated in December, with AI chief John Giannandrea <a href="https://www.theverge.com/news/835466/apple-ai-chief-john-giannandrea-steps-down-siri">stepping down</a>, policy lead Lisa Jackson and general counsel Kate Adams announcing <a href="https://www.theverge.com/news/838712/apple-policy-lead-lisa-jackson-retiring">plans to retire</a>, and UI design lead Alan Dye <a href="https://www.theverge.com/news/837654/apple-meta-alan-dye-designer">departing for Meta</a>, all in the last few days.</p> <p class="has-text-align-none">Apple has <a href="https://www.theverge.com/2025/1/24/24351391/apple-change-ai-team-siri-upgrades-kim-vorrath">struggled somewhat</a> to <a href="https://www.theverge.com/news/669238/apple-siri-llm-ai-revamp">find its footing</a> as the industry further embraces AI. Now Tim Cook is tasked with trying to stem the bleeding, while being subject to <a href="https://www.theverge.com/news/821691/tim-cook-step-down-apple-ceo-next-year">rumors</a> of his own departure. Gurman, who is usually reliable, has said those rumors are <a href="https://www.bloomberg.com/news/newsletters/2025-11-23/apple-ios-27-snow-leopard-like-quality-focus-ai-features-tim-cook-retirement-mibq7jv8">premature</a>, but it still adds to the uncertainty surrounding what is typically one of the more stable companies in Silicon Valley. </p>
  7. The Nintendo Switch 2 and Ninja’s Creami are the best deals of the week

    Sat, 06 Dec 2025 17:00:00 -0000

    Cyber week has just about wrapped up, but there are still some amazing Cyber Monday leftovers that you can save money on. The one deal we can’t stop telling readers about is the unexpected $50 discount on Nintendo’s Switch 2 console bundle that includes Mario Kart World, bringing it down to $449.99 (was $499.99). Currently, […]
    <figure> <img alt="" data-caption="It’s a great time to consider buying Nintendo’s latest console. | Photo: Cameron Faulkner / The Verge" data-portal-copyright="Photo: Cameron Faulkner / The Verge" data-has-syndication-rights="1" src="https://platform.theverge.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2025/06/glossypikmin4mainRAW.jpg?quality=90&#038;strip=all&#038;crop=0,0,100,100" /> <figcaption> It’s a great time to consider buying Nintendo’s latest console. | Photo: Cameron Faulkner / The Verge </figcaption> </figure> <p class="has-text-align-none">Cyber week has just about wrapped up, but there are still some amazing Cyber Monday leftovers that you can save money on. The one deal we can’t stop telling readers about is the unexpected $50 discount on <strong>Nintendo’s Switch 2 console bundle that includes <em>Mario Kart World</em></strong><em>, </em>bringing it down to $449.99 (was $499.99). Currently, you can snag the bundle at <a href="https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0FC5FJZ9Z/">Amazon</a>, <a href="https://www.walmart.com/ip/Nintendo-Switch-2-plus-Mario-Kart-World-Bundle/16422361549">Walmart</a>, and <a href="https://www.bestbuy.com/product/switch-2-mario-kart-world-bundle-nintendo-switch-2/J7GSL57HFZ/sku/6614325">Best Buy</a>. It’s the best Switch 2 console to buy for the holidays because it comes with <em>Mario Kart World</em>, a fun racing game that’s $79.99 to buy outside of the bundle. You’re getting it for free instead.</p> <p class="has-text-align-none">A price drop for the new handheld was about the last thing we expected to see this week, and we’re happy that the deal has endured over multiple days. We don’t know when it will end, so we’re treating every day like it’ll be the last.</p> <p class="has-text-align-none">If you’re shopping for a Switch 2 console, there are some extras that you may want to consider buying along with it. Games aside, we have buying guides with recommendations if you’re looking for cheap, but <a href="https://www.theverge.com/tech/791574/best-switch-2-controllers">great wireless controllers</a>, <a href="https://www.theverge.com/reviews/691319/best-switch-2-cases">protective cases</a> that are better than the rest, as well as the <a href="https://www.theverge.com/reviews/694948/best-switch-2-glass-screen-protector-glossy-matte">best Switch 2 screen protectors</a> we tried.</p> <div class="product-block"><h3>Nintendo Switch 2</h3> <div class="product-description">The Nintendo Switch 2 has a 7.9-inch LCD display, magnetically attached Joy-Con 2 controllers, backwards compatibility with most original Switch games, and exclusive titles including <em>Donkey Kong Bananza </em>and <em>Kirby Air Riders.</em> <a href="https://www.theverge.com/nintendo/686603/nintendo-switch-2-review">Read our review</a>.</div> <figure class="product-image"><img width="300" height="200" src="https://platform.theverge.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2025/06/257769_Switch_2_AKrales_0093_fe9169.jpg?w=300" class="attachment-medium size-medium" alt="A photo of the Nintendo Switch 2 running Mario Kart World in handheld mode." /></figure> <h3>Where to Buy:</h3><ul><li><a href="http://amazon.com/dp/B0FC5FJZ9Z/"> <strike>$499.99</strike> $449 at <strong>Amazon (Mario Kart World bundle)</strong></a></li><li><a href="https://www.walmart.com/ip/Nintendo-Switch-2-plus-Mario-Kart-World-Bundle/16422361549/"> <strike>$499.99</strike> $449.99 at <strong>Walmart (Mario Kart World bundle)</strong></a></li><li><a href="https://www.bestbuy.com/product/switch-2-mario-kart-world-bundle-nintendo-switch-2/J7GSL57HFZ/sku/6614325"> <strike>$499.99</strike> $449 at <strong>Best Buy (Mario Kart World bundle)</strong></a></li></ul></div> <p class="has-text-align-none">We learned something interesting, but not entirely surprising, about people who were reading our Black Friday coverage: they love ice cream. They flocked to the $70 off deal that’s still happening at <a href="https://www.amazon.com/Ninja-Milkshake-Calories-Program-NC701/dp/B0DSJW8SFG">Amazon</a> and <a href="https://www.bestbuy.com/product/ninja-creami-scoop-swirl-ice-cream-soft-serve-maker-13-one-touch-programs-silver/JXJVXGF37T">Best Buy</a> on <strong>Ninja’s Creami ice cream maker</strong> that can seemingly do it all. You’ll have a tough time finding a more capable machine at its $279.99 sale price (if you frequently treat yourself and the family to ice cream cones, the Creami’s cost will be offset faster than you might think). This machine has a ton of modes, letting you craft soft serve or thicker, scoopable ice cream. You can use it to craft sorbet, gelato, frozen custard, or froyo – or whip up a milkshake. One full batch of ice cream can fill four small cones, or four scooped bowls.</p> <div class="product-block"><h3>Ninja Creami Scoop &amp; Swirl</h3> <div class="product-description">Ninja&#8217;s clever 2-in-1 machine can spin up soft serve and traditional hard scoops in a few easy steps, not to mention creamy milkshakes, gelato, and frozen yogurt. </div> <figure class="product-image"><img loading="lazy" width="300" height="200" src="https://platform.theverge.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2025/08/Ninja-Swirl.jpg?w=300" class="attachment-medium size-medium" alt="Ninja&#039;s Swirl soft serve dessert maker on top a counter dispensing vanilla ice cream." /></figure> <h3>Where to Buy:</h3><ul><li><a href="https://www.amazon.com/Ninja-Milkshake-Calories-Program-NC701/dp/B0DSJW8SFG"> <strike>$349.99</strike> $279.99 at <strong>Amazon</strong></a></li><li><a href="https://www.bestbuy.com/site/ninja-swirl-by-creami-soft-serve-and-ice-cream-maker-13-one-touch-program-silver/6589082.p"> <strike>$349.99</strike> $279.99 at <strong>Best Buy</strong></a></li><li><a href="https://www.sharkninja.com/ninja-creami-scoop-swirl-ice-cream-soft-serve-maker/NC701.html"> <strike>$349.99</strike> $279.99 at <strong>SharkNinja</strong></a></li></ul></div> <p class="has-text-align-none">Not everyone is ready for smart glasses that have cameras built into them. We get it (some <em>Verge </em>staffers feel the same way). However, if you want glasses with some smarts — the ability to take audio calls and listen to music and podcasts, or get Alexa assistance with questions or commands — look no further than the Black Friday bundle that includes Amazon’s latest Echo Frames glasses. The glasses typically sold for over $300 before Black Friday, but you can get the glasses in <a href="https://www.amazon.com/Echo-Frames-3rd-Gen-Smart-audio-glasses-with-Alexa--Rectangle-frames-in-classic-black--with-blue-light-filtering-lenses/dp/B09SVDWTYC/">multiple styles</a> for just $114.99 at Amazon.</p> <div class="product-block"><h3>Amazon Echo Frames (latest verion)</h3> <div class="product-description">The smart glasses resemble a pair of regular eyeglasses but can be used to listen to music, take calls, and perform a range of Alexa-enabled tasks. They feature up to six hours of audio playback with their open-ear design.</div> <figure class="product-image"><img loading="lazy" width="300" height="200" src="https://platform.theverge.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/chorus/uploads/chorus_asset/file/25135294/236936_Amazon_Echo_Frames_AKrales_0082.jpg?w=300" class="attachment-medium size-medium" alt="" /></figure> <h3>Where to Buy:</h3><ul><li><a href="https://www.amazon.com/Echo-Frames-3rd-Gen-Smart-audio-glasses-with-Alexa--Rectangle-frames-in-classic-black--with-blue-light-filtering-lenses/dp/B09SVDWTYC/"> <strike>$299.99</strike> $114.99 at <strong>Amazon (original)</strong></a></li></ul></div> <h2 class="wp-block-heading has-text-align-none">Other Verge-approved deals we dug this week</h2> <ul class="wp-block-list"> <li>For a limited time, <a href="https://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/product/1859262-REG/apple_z1cf_macmini3_mac_mini_m4_10c_10cgpu_24gb_256gb.html">B&amp;H Photo</a> has the best price on the <strong>M4 Mac Mini</strong> that has 24GB of RAM and 256GB of storage — definitely an odd configuration, but a fast one, nevertheless! Normally $779, you can snag it for $679. Of course, most people who want <em>this </em>much memory probably want a bigger SSD than what’s offered here. Unfortunately, getting 24GB RAM with a 512GB SSD costs $904 at Amazon. If you prefer having a 512GB SSD and are alright settling with just 16GB of RAM, <a href="https://www.amazon.com/Apple-2024-Desktop-Computer-10%E2%80%91core/dp/B0DLBX4B1K">Amazon</a> has that model for $729. As for my opinion on the matter, get the model with more RAM. <a href="https://www.theverge.com/24289730/apple-mac-mini-m4-review">Read our review.</a></li> <li><strong>JBL’s Tour One M3 over-ear headphones</strong> plummeted to their lowest price yet at <a href="https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B0F4RT7HFT">Amazon</a> and <a href="https://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/product/1875212-REG/jbl_jbltom3avibluam_tour_one_m3_smart.html">B&amp;H Photo</a>, where the black or blue color schemes are $249.99 (originally $449, but commonly discounted to about $380). These hang with other flagship headphones in terms of sound quality, comfort, and have a robust active noise cancellation effect (they hit my radar thanks to a May 2025 review from <a href="https://www.nytimes.com/wirecutter/reviews/jbl-tour-one-m3-headphones-review/"><em>Wirecutter</em></a>). They’re especially interesting because they include an Auracast transmitter, with which you can plug into any device to beam a Bluetooth signal that any other Auracast-enabled device can connect to (the Tour One M3 is supported, obviously). In normal use, the transmitter is handy for setting up no-fuss connections to really any device with a headphone jack, be it in-flight entertainment, a treadmill, a laptop, or a portable gaming console, to provide some examples.</li> </ul> <ul class="wp-block-list"> <li>I have another treat for your ears — this one being particularly good for PC gamers. The <strong>Fractal Scape</strong> is a wireless gaming headset better than most at its sale price of $169.99 ($30 off) at <a href="https://www.amazon.com/Fractal-Design-Scape-Light-Flip/dp/B0D5HK6JRS">Amazon</a> and <a href="https://www.walmart.com/ip/Fractal-Design-Scape-Light-Circumaural-Gaming-Headset-with-Charging-Base-Grey/16970268634">Walmart</a>. Not only does it sound very good while playing games and listening to music, its web browser-based tool makes it very easy to customize equalizers, in addition to tweaking the built-in LEDs built into the ear cups. Two other things make this one worth considering: recharging them is really easy, as you simply put them on the included docking station, and its Digital Crown-esque knob makes adjusting the volume or skipping tracks a breeze. <a href="https://www.theverge.com/tech/797879/fractal-design-scape-pc-gaming-headset">Read our review.</a></li> </ul>
  8. The tech world is sleeping on the most exciting Bluetooth feature in years

    Sat, 06 Dec 2025 16:00:00 -0000

    It's been a few years since the official introduction of the Bluetooth technology Auracast, which allows devices like earbuds, headphones, speakers, and hearing aids to connect to a single source without the need for pairing. Like a radio picks up your local radio stations, all you have to do is connect to the right broadcast. […]
    <figure> <img alt="" data-caption="" data-portal-copyright="" data-has-syndication-rights="1" src="https://platform.theverge.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2025/12/STKB381_AURACAST2_A.jpg?quality=90&#038;strip=all&#038;crop=0,0,100,100" /> <figcaption> </figcaption> </figure> <p class="has-text-align-none">It's been a few years since the official introduction of the Bluetooth technology <a href="https://www.theverge.com/2022/7/12/23204956/bluetooth-le-audio-completed-low-power-high-quality-wireless-headphones">Auracast</a>, which allows devices like earbuds, headphones, speakers, and hearing aids to connect to a single source without the need for pairing. Like a radio picks up your local radio stations, all you have to do is connect to the right broadcast. These could be flight announcements from your gate at the airport, the microphone a teacher is using during a presentation, or the TV you're watching while on the treadmill at the gym.</p> <p class="has-text-align-none">By letting you link directly into one of these broadcasts, Auracast can increase auditory accessibility for those who are hard of hear …</p> <p><a href="https://www.theverge.com/report/839245/auracast-marketing-jbl-lg-samsung-google">Read the full story at The Verge.</a></p>
  9. Mad Men’s special effects foreman hasn’t seen the infamous 4K remaster

    Sat, 06 Dec 2025 15:00:00 -0000

    Everyone had a good laugh at HBO Max this week when the new 4K Mad Men remaster debuted with a number of glaring errors that should have been caught before the show was uploaded to the streamer's servers. Episodes went live with incorrect titles, and in one instance you could still see members of the […]
    <figure> <img alt="A man in a suit while sitting on a desk and sipping milk from a glass. On the table ie a pitcher of milk and a bottle of vodka." data-caption="" data-portal-copyright="Image: Lionsgate Television / AMC" data-has-syndication-rights="1" src="https://platform.theverge.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2025/12/MadMilk1.png?quality=90&#038;strip=all&#038;crop=0,0,100,100" /> <figcaption> </figcaption> </figure> <p class="has-text-align-none">Everyone had a good laugh at HBO Max this week when the new <a href="https://www.theverge.com/entertainment/836922/hbo-max-man-men-4k-errors-red-in-the-face-lionsgate">4K <em>Mad Men </em>remaster debuted with a number of glaring errors</a> that should have been caught before the show was uploaded to the streamer's servers. Episodes went live with incorrect titles, and in one instance you could still see members of the show's production crew who shouldn't have been visible on-camera. The mistakes were reportedly the result of Lionsgate Television - <em>Mad Men</em>'s original production company - <a href="https://deadline.com/2025/12/mad-men-vomit-machine-tech-error-4k-puking-scene-hbo-max-1236633544/">sending over the incorrect set of exported files</a>.</p> <p class="has-text-align-none">It is wild to think that no one at HBO noticed that the remastered "Red in the Face" episode still included a clear shot of …</p> <p><a href="https://www.theverge.com/entertainment/839591/man-men-shannon-thompson-interview">Read the full story at The Verge.</a></p>
  10. AI ‘creators’ might just crash the influencer economy

    Sat, 06 Dec 2025 14:30:37 -0000

    It was only in June that Jeremy Carrasco uploaded his first videos to TikTok and Instagram. In that short time, he's amassed over 300,000 followers on each platform. No, it's not exactly Charli D'Amelio numbers, but that does make him one of the biggest names in AI literacy on social media. Jeremy told The Verge […]
    <figure> <img alt="" data-caption="" data-portal-copyright="" data-has-syndication-rights="1" src="https://platform.theverge.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2025/12/B14CE41F-F82F-43C6-BD0F-C13D0484D871.jpeg?quality=90&#038;strip=all&#038;crop=0,0,100,100" /> <figcaption> </figcaption> </figure> <p class="has-text-align-none">It was only in June that Jeremy Carrasco uploaded his first videos to TikTok and Instagram. In that short time, he's amassed over 300,000 followers on each platform. No, it's not exactly Charli D'Amelio numbers, but that does make him one of the biggest names in AI literacy on social media. </p> <p class="has-text-align-none">Jeremy told <em>The Verge</em> that he always wanted to try his hand at being a YouTuber. Instead, he found himself behind the camera, working as a producer and director on multicamera livestreams. But he finally decided to take the plunge after realizing that most of the dialogue around generative AI was being driven by the tech companies. "We need other people …</p> <p><a href="https://www.theverge.com/entertainment/839494/ai-literacy-tiktok">Read the full story at The Verge.</a></p>
  11. The Verge’s 2025 holiday gift guide

    Sat, 06 Dec 2025 00:08:39 -0000

    The holidays have a way of sneaking up on us. One minute you're trick-or-treating with your kids, and the next you're panic shopping in a Buc-ee's gift aisle. But it doesn't have to be that way. With the right cheat sheet, you can keep the holiday spirit high and stress levels low. Fortunately, we did […]
    <figure> <img alt="A kaleidoscopic image consisting of many tech products, including the Genki Moonbase, Backbone Pro, Pixel 10, arranged in a manner that creates the illusion that there are many more than there actually are." data-caption="" data-portal-copyright="Image: Amelia Holowaty Krales / The Verge" data-has-syndication-rights="1" src="https://platform.theverge.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2025/10/257851_2025_MAIN_Holiday_Gift_Guide_AKrales_6427.jpg?quality=90&#038;strip=all&#038;crop=0,0,100,100" /> <figcaption> </figcaption> </figure> <p class="has-drop-cap has-text-align-none">The holidays have a way of sneaking up on us. One minute you're trick-or-treating with your kids, and the next you're panic shopping in a Buc-ee's gift aisle. But it doesn't have to be that way. With the right cheat sheet, you can keep the holiday spirit high and stress levels low.</p> <p class="has-text-align-none">Fortunately, we did some planning on your behalf. As much as we love playing with the latest gadgets and gizmos here at <em>The Verge</em>, we also love recommending them. That's why, after consulting with our expert team of writers and editors, we've compiled a medley of gift ideas that won't be regifted come this time next year - from <a href="https://www.amazon.com/Apple-Cancellation-Translation-Headphones-High-Fidelity/dp/B0FQFB8FMG">noise-canceling earbuds</a> and <a href="https://www.amazon.com/Amazon-Kindle-Colorsoft/dp/B0CGVSKR1G/">e-reade …</a></p> <p><a href="https://www.theverge.com/tech/809421/holiday-gift-guide-2025">Read the full story at The Verge.</a></p>
  12. Trump Mobile’s refurbished iPhones are an unsurprisingly bad deal

    Fri, 05 Dec 2025 19:34:38 -0000

    It's been well established that the Trump Phone doesn't exist. But that isn't the only phone Trump Mobile sells. It also offers a range of refurbished Apple and Samsung handsets that you can buy right now. You really shouldn't though. I was relieved reading Allison's coverage over the last two weeks to discover that not […]
    <figure> <img alt="" data-caption="2023’s iPhone 15 is the most recent that Trump Mobile offers." data-portal-copyright="" data-has-syndication-rights="1" src="https://platform.theverge.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/chorus/uploads/chorus_asset/file/24931307/236791_Apple_iPhone_15_and_15_Plus_review_DSeifert_0010.jpg?quality=90&#038;strip=all&#038;crop=0,0,100,100" /> <figcaption> 2023’s iPhone 15 is the most recent that Trump Mobile offers. </figcaption> </figure> <p class="has-text-align-none">It's been well established that <a href="https://www.theverge.com/news/816484/does-trump-phone-exist-yet">the Trump Phone doesn't exist</a>. But that isn't the only phone Trump Mobile sells. It also offers a range of refurbished Apple and Samsung handsets that you can buy <em>right now</em>. You really shouldn't though.</p> <p class="has-text-align-none">I was relieved reading Allison's coverage over the last two weeks to discover that not <em>everything</em> about Trump Mobile is a scam. It may have <a href="https://www.theverge.com/tech/825190/trump-mobile-service-customer-care-sim">taken her a couple weeks to actually get a SIM card</a>, but once it arrived <a href="https://www.theverge.com/tech/829414/trump-mobile-mvno-wireless-service-test">it did work just fine</a> - it's T-Mobile, after all. It made me realize that you could, if you wanted, get Trump Mobile coverage on a Trump Mobile-sold phone right now, so long as you don't mind that the …</p> <p><a href="https://www.theverge.com/report/839123/trump-mobile-refurbished-iphones-galaxy-phones-apple-samsung">Read the full story at The Verge.</a></p>
  13. You can now use Pixel phones as a Switch 2 webcam

    Fri, 05 Dec 2025 18:46:37 -0000

    When it launched the Switch 2’s compatibility with various webcams was hit or miss. A webcam isn’t a necessary accessory, but since the Switch 2 lacks one of its own, you need one to take full advantage of the console’s GameChat feature that can livestream players’ faces during multiplayer matches. Switch 2 webcam compatibility has […]
    <figure> <img alt="A Google Pixel smartphone connected to a Switch 2 and being used as a webcam." data-caption="That Pixel phone in your pocket is now a Switch 2 webcam. | Photo by Cameron Faulkner / The Verge" data-portal-copyright="Photo by Cameron Faulkner / The Verge" data-has-syndication-rights="1" src="https://platform.theverge.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2025/12/switch2_pixel_webcam.jpg?quality=90&#038;strip=all&#038;crop=0,0,100,100" /> <figcaption> That Pixel phone in your pocket is now a Switch 2 webcam. | Photo by Cameron Faulkner / The Verge </figcaption> </figure> <p class="has-text-align-none">When it launched the Switch 2’s <a href="https://www.theverge.com/nintendo/682008/which-webcams-work-with-nintendo-switch-2">compatibility with various webcams was hit or miss</a>. A webcam isn’t a necessary accessory, but since the Switch 2 lacks one of its own, you need one to <a href="https://www.theverge.com/video/685229/nintendo-switch-2-gamechat-c-button-mario-kart">take full advantage of the console’s GameChat feature</a> that can livestream players’ faces during multiplayer matches. Switch 2 <a href="https://www.theverge.com/report/693182/nintendo-switch-2-webcam-mystery-1080p-480p-uvc-iso-bulk-ugreen-elgato">webcam compatibility has since improved</a>, but if you don’t already own one, you can now use your Pixel smartphone, <a href="https://www.androidauthority.com/pixel-phone-as-switch-2-webcam-3622443/">according to <em>Android Authority</em></a>.</p> <p class="has-text-align-none">Despite Nintendo’s claims that the Switch 2 works with most USB webcams, our own testing confirmed that Pixel smartphones could not be used as webcams at launch, even with the device’s settings switched to the USB webcam mode that Google introduced with Android 14. Switch 2 users eventually found that Android phones and iPhones could be used as a webcam for the console, but with the help of <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wGH_VF-Gx4Y">additional USB-C to HDMI adapters</a>, and HDMI capture cables.</p> <img src="https://platform.theverge.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2025/12/switch2_pixel_webcam2.jpg?quality=90&#038;strip=all&#038;crop=0,0,100,100" alt="A screenshot of Android USB settings next to a photo of a Google Pixel phone being used as a webcam with the Switch 2." title="A screenshot of Android USB settings next to a photo of a Google Pixel phone being used as a webcam with the Switch 2." data-has-syndication-rights="1" data-caption="&lt;em&gt;You’ll need to switch your USB preferences to “Webcam” once your Pixel is connected to your Switch 2 with a USB-C cable to use it as a webcam.&lt;/em&gt; | Photo by Cameron Faulkner / The Verge" data-portal-copyright="Photo by Cameron Faulkner / The Verge" /> <p class="has-text-align-none">But extra hardware is no longer needed to use a Pixel smartphone as a Switch 2 webcam. We tested a Pixel 9 Pro connected directly to the Switch 2’s top USB-C port with a single cable and, after switching the USB preferences to “Webcam” mode, we were able to use the smartphone as the camera for GameChat. If you’re playing multiplayer games like <em>Mario Kart World</em>, GameChat lets you not only speak with other competitors around the world, but also see them superimposed over a livestream of them playing if you’re using a webcam.</p> <p class="has-text-align-none">It’s not known if recent updates on Google’s or Nintendo’s end are responsible for making this work (the Pixel 9 Pro we tested it with is running the Android 16 December release), but it’s a welcome upgrade for those who frequently travel with their Switch 2 and don’t want to lug a separate webcam everywhere they go.</p>
  14. The best Christmas gifts we love under $50

    Fri, 05 Dec 2025 16:33:41 -0000

    One of the easiest things to do during the holidays is spend too much money. It happens to many of us, even when we swear that things are going to be different this year. We want to help you stay true to your intentions to save money when possible, and we're doing that with a […]
    <figure> <img alt="Various small tech items such as mice and cords against a red background." data-caption="" data-portal-copyright="" data-has-syndication-rights="1" src="https://platform.theverge.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2025/10/257851_2025_UNDER_50_Holiday_Gift_Guide_AKrales_6052.jpg?quality=90&#038;strip=all&#038;crop=0,0,100,100" /> <figcaption> </figcaption> </figure> <p class="has-text-align-none">One of the easiest things to do during the holidays is spend too much money. It happens to many of us, even when we swear that things are going to be different this year. We want to help you stay true to your intentions to save money when possible, and we're doing that with a gift guide focused on products that cost no more than $50. We've already posted a guide to <a href="https://www.theverge.com/tech/800440/best-gifts-under-100-2025">the best gifts under $100</a>, but you might be surprised how many good gifts can be purchased for half the amount.</p> <p class="has-text-align-none">You can delight a lucky recipient who's looking for a quirky addition to their home with an <a href="https://www.happyorganics.co/products/heirloom-tomato-beeswax-candle">heirloom tomato beeswax candle</a>. Or present a set of <a href="https://www.amazon.com/Rechargeable-Electric-Portable-Christmas-Accessories/dp/B0CG65PYBV">rechargeable hand warmer …</a></p> <p><a href="https://www.theverge.com/gadgets/802969/best-gifts-under-50-2025">Read the full story at The Verge.</a></p>
  15. The Apple AirPods 4 with ANC are at their lowest price

    Fri, 05 Dec 2025 16:00:00 -0000

    The Apple AirPods 4 with active noise cancellation are now at their lowest price of $99 ($80 off) at Amazon and Walmart. The AirPods 4 offer upgraded sound quality, wireless charging, and a built-in speaker in the case that rings if you can’t find it. The ANC, while not the best on the market, is […]
    <figure> <img alt="" data-caption="" data-portal-copyright="" data-has-syndication-rights="1" src="https://platform.theverge.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/chorus/uploads/chorus_asset/file/25623449/DSCF0031.jpg?quality=90&#038;strip=all&#038;crop=0,0,100,100" /> <figcaption> </figcaption> </figure> <p class="has-text-align-none">The <strong>Apple AirPods 4 with active noise cancellation</strong> are now at their lowest price of $99 ($80 off) at <a href="https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0DGJ7HYG1/?th=1">Amazon</a> and <a href="https://www.walmart.com/ip/4W09PR7NC59E">Walmart</a>. The AirPods 4 offer upgraded sound quality, wireless charging, and a built-in speaker in the case that rings if you can’t find it. The ANC, while not the best on the market, is pretty good among open design earbuds at blocking noise.</p> <div class="product-block"><h3>Apple Airpods 4 with ANC</h3> <div class="product-description">Apple’s AirPods 4 improve on previous models with better sound, clearer voice calls, and an even more comfortable design.</div> <figure class="product-image"><img loading="lazy" width="300" height="200" src="https://platform.theverge.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/chorus/uploads/chorus_asset/file/25623448/DSCF0028.jpg?w=300" class="attachment-medium size-medium" alt="A hands-on photo of Apple’s AirPods 4 wireless earbuds." /></figure> <h3>Where to Buy:</h3><ul><li><a href="https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0DGJ7HYG1/?th=1"> <strike>$179</strike> $99 at <strong>Amazon</strong></a></li><li><a href="https://www.walmart.com/ip/4W09PR7NC59E"> <strike>$179</strike> $99 at <strong>Walmart</strong></a></li></ul></div> <p class="has-text-align-none">There aren’t <a href="https://www.theverge.com/24245570/apple-airpods-4-review">many differences</a> between the AirPods 4 with and without ANC. Both deliver the same sound quality, are built with the same H2 chip, and are IP54 dust- and water-resistant. But while the ANC doesn’t eliminate all ambient sound, it does a surprisingly good job of removing distractions, especially when listening to music or other audio. This higher-end model also comes with transparency mode and Adaptive Audio, which is nice if (like me) you want to hear sirens or shouts of “Look out!” that may suddenly erupt around you.</p> <p class="has-text-align-none">There are other interesting, if less earth-shaking, features that come with this model of the AirPods 4, such as the ability to nod your head to answer a call. In all, these are very worthy earbuds to consider, especially at this price. <a href="https://www.theverge.com/24245570/apple-airpods-4-review">Read our review.</a></p> <h2 class="wp-block-heading">More great deals</h2> <ul class="wp-block-list"> <li>If nostalgia is getting the best of you, try building Lego’s 2,651-piece replica of the 1980s favorite <strong>PAC-MAN</strong>. It’s nonfunctional, but you can use a crank to simulate the chase. And it’s available for $189.99 (a savings of $80) at <a href="https://www.amazon.com/LEGO-PAC-Man-Building-Replica-Nostalgic/dp/B0CGYQ2WJC/">Amazon</a> and <a href="https://www.walmart.com/ip/5JZXKZ8X49CZ">Walmart</a>, only $1 more than its Black Friday price (which was the lowest yet).</li> <li>If you want to catch your pet in the process of knocking over your favorite plant, or using its water dish to cause a small flood, then you might want to check out the <strong><a href="https://www.amazon.com/Furbo-Subscription-Designed-Detection-Emergency/dp/B0C4XXBY44/?th=1">Furbo Cat Camera</a> </strong>or <strong><a href="https://www.amazon.com/Furbo-Subscription-Designed-Detection-Emergency/dp/B09GDQZLD1/?th=1">Dog Camera</a></strong>, both of which are currently $129 (a savings of $81) at Amazon. Either gives you a 360-degree rotating view of the room with two-way audio (in case you want to yell, “Get away from that plant!”), and lets you remotely toss treats to your pet when they’re behaving. The basic functionality is free, though you can subscribe for AI-powered smart alerts.</li> <li>The <strong>LTC NB681 Nimbleback</strong> is the affordable pick in our roundup of <a href="https://www.theverge.com/23384750/best-mechanical-keyboard-wired-wireless-75-percent-layout-cheap-bluetooth">best mechanical keyboards</a>, and it’s on sale for $10 off: <a href="https://computers.woot.com/offers/ltc-nimbleback-ultra-compact-mechanical-keyboard" data-type="link" data-id="https://computers.woot.com/offers/ltc-nimbleback-ultra-compact-mechanical-keyboard">Woot</a> is offering it for $29.99.&nbsp;<a href="https://www.theverge.com/23384750/best-mechanical-keyboard-wired-wireless-75-percent-layout-cheap-bluetooth#:~:text=little%20more%20smushed.-,A%20more%20affordable%20wired%2065%20percent%20keyboard,-LTC%20Nimbleback">Read our review</a>.</li> </ul>
  16. Elon Musk says Tesla drivers can text while driving, but they absolutely should not

    Fri, 05 Dec 2025 15:32:08 -0000

    I can’t believe I have to say this, but Tesla drivers should not start texting while driving, despite what Elon Musk says. Do not listen to the billionaire CEO of the company that makes your car. He will not be liable if there’s a crash — you will. Musk took a break from posting racist […]
    <figure> <img alt="photo of Tesla Model Y interior" data-caption="" data-portal-copyright="" data-has-syndication-rights="1" src="https://platform.theverge.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2025/12/gettyimages-2201582645.jpg?quality=90&#038;strip=all&#038;crop=0,0,100,100" /> <figcaption> </figcaption> </figure> <p class="has-text-align-none">I can’t believe I have to say this, but Tesla drivers should not start texting while driving, despite what Elon Musk says. Do not listen to the billionaire CEO of the company that makes your car. He will not be liable if there’s a crash — you will. </p> <p class="has-text-align-none">Musk took a break from <a href="https://www.theverge.com/news/837423/elon-musk-x-racist-posts-minnesota">posting racist and xenophobic screeds</a> yesterday to confirm that the latest version of Tesla’s Full Self-Driving software would allow for some instances of texting while driving, despite it being incredibly unsafe and illegal in 49 states, Washington, DC, and the US territories. (<a href="https://nbcmontana.com/news/local/montana-remains-the-last-state-with-no-statewide-texting-while-driving-ban">Montana, wyd?</a>) “Depending on context of surrounding traffic, yes,” <a href="https://x.com/elonmusk/status/1996631421449072754">Musk replied</a> to the question of whether FSD v14.2.1 would allow the illegal behavior.</p> <p class="has-text-align-none">But just to repeat: do not do this. You will not only be risking your life, but the lives of everyone around you.</p> <img src="https://platform.theverge.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2025/12/Screenshot-2025-12-05-at-9.23.56%E2%80%AFAM.png?quality=90&#038;strip=all&#038;crop=0,0,100,100" alt="" title="" data-has-syndication-rights="1" data-caption="" data-portal-copyright="" /> <p class="has-text-align-none"><a href="https://www.theverge.com/tesla/654253/tesla-robotaxi-elon-musk-earnings-promise-fantasy">For months now</a>, Musk has been promising an “unsupervised” version of Tesla’s Full Self-Driving software that he claims will enable drivers to, among other things, use their phones while driving. The current version of FSD is a Level 2 “supervised” system, meaning drivers are required to stay focused on the road and be ready to take control of the vehicle when prompted. (In other words, not full self-driving.) For years, Musk has been hyping a moment when Tesla’s vehicles will actually drive themselves — no supervision required. </p> <p class="has-text-align-none">Last month, at <a href="https://www.theverge.com/news/815892/tesla-shareholder-vote-elon-musk-pay-trillion-robot">Tesla’s annual shareholder meeting</a>, Musk said that an upcoming FSD update, Version 14, would finally allow for unsupervised driving. “And now with version 14, we&#8217;re actually getting to the point where we almost feel comfortable allowing people to text and drive,” Musk said at the event.&nbsp;“Which is kind of the killer app, because that&#8217;s really what people want to do.”</p> <p class="has-text-align-none">Currently, Tesla vehicles have in-cabin cameras that track drivers’ eye movement. If a driver’s attention wanders while using FSD, the cameras will notice and the system will alert them to put their eyes back on the road. If they don’t, the system can disengage. Five strikes can result in a suspension of FSD. Tesla owners have long complained about these “nags” and urged Musk to reduce their frequency. </p> <p class="has-text-align-none">Musk’s comment yesterday suggests that he’s listening and that Tesla could relax the requirements in certain situations, like stop-and-go traffic. But this doesn’t change the legal reality, in which texting while driving is strictly prohibited. </p> <p class="has-text-align-none">Imagine a cop pulls you over after catching you texting while driving your Tesla. Do you think “Elon Musk said it was OK” is going to get you off the hook? And God forbid there’s a crash, do you think Tesla will take responsibility? </p> <p class="has-text-align-none">I get it — FSD can be very capable. Many Tesla fans are amazed at what their car can do, and fully believe Musk when he says that real autonomy is just around the corner. But the fact remains that the driver — and only the driver — is liable for anything that happens while Autopilot and FSD are in operation. Unlike Waymo, Tesla won’t take responsibility for any incidents because it knows its vehicles aren’t fully autonomous. Why would it take responsibility for a Level 2 system? When Tesla owners have tried to force the company to accept liability for certain incidents, it has fought back in court — <a href="https://www.theverge.com/2023/10/31/23940693/tesla-jury-autopilot-win-liable-micah-lee">and often won</a>.</p> <p class="has-text-align-none">Don’t be stupid. Don’t listen to Elon Musk. Watch the road. </p> <p class="has-text-align-none"></p> <p class="has-text-align-none"></p>
  17. Waymo’s robotaxis are under investigation for passing stopped school buses

    Fri, 05 Dec 2025 13:45:35 -0000

    The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration has opened an investigation into Waymo following reports that the company’s robotaxis illegally drove past stopped school buses in Austin, Texas.  In a letter sent to Waymo on Wednesday, the federal regulator’s Office of Defects Investigation asked for detailed information on Waymo’s fifth-generation self-driving system and expressed concern that […]
    <figure> <img alt="" data-caption="" data-portal-copyright="Photo: Getty Images" data-has-syndication-rights="1" src="https://platform.theverge.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2025/12/gettyimages-2236321139.jpg?quality=90&#038;strip=all&#038;crop=0,0,100,100" /> <figcaption> </figcaption> </figure> <p class="has-text-align-none">The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration has opened an investigation into Waymo following reports that the company’s robotaxis illegally drove past stopped school buses in Austin, Texas.&nbsp;</p> <p class="has-text-align-none">In a <a href="https://static.nhtsa.gov/odi/inv/2025/INIM-PE25013-30896.pdf">letter</a> sent to Waymo on Wednesday, the federal regulator’s Office of Defects Investigation asked for detailed information on Waymo’s fifth-generation self-driving system and expressed concern that the Alphabet-owned company’s vehicles were showing unexpected or illegal behavior around school buses.&nbsp;</p> <p class="has-text-align-none">The letter comes after the watchdog opened an October investigation into the firm following an incident involving a stationary school bus in Georgia. Video footage showed one of Waymo’s autonomous vehicles driving past a stopped school bus with its red lights flashing and stop arms deployed. In response, Waymo <a href="https://techcrunch.com/2025/10/20/regulators-probe-waymo-after-its-robotaxi-drove-around-a-stopped-school-bus/">said</a> safety is its top priority and that it had already issued software updates to its fleet to resolve the issue.&nbsp;</p> <p class="has-text-align-none">However, the problem appears to have persisted. In a <a href="https://static.nhtsa.gov/odi/inv/2025/INOT-PE25013-30888P1.pdf">letter</a> dated November 20, the Austin Independent School District said it had evidence of 19 separate incidents in which Waymo vehicles had been recorded driving past stopped school buses since the start of the school year. At least five of these happened after the company said it issued an update to fix the problem.&nbsp;</p> <p class="has-text-align-none">The school district asked Waymo to cease self-driving operations around school pick-up and drop-off times. The district <a href="https://www.reuters.com/world/us/us-probes-reports-waymo-self-driving-cars-illegally-passed-school-buses-19-times-2025-12-04/">told</a> <em>Reuters </em>the company had refused to halt operations around schools and claimed another incident involving an actively loading school bus occurred on December 1. In an <a href="https://static.nhtsa.gov/odi/inv/2025/INOT-PE25013-30887.pdf">email</a> dated November 24, the NHTSA explicitly asked Waymo to “let us know if you have ceased operations during these times as requested or plan to cease,” and to confirm whether a software fix had been implemented.</p> <p class="has-text-align-none">Waymo plans to file a voluntary software recall with the NHTSA to address the issue. “While we are incredibly proud of our strong safety record showing Waymo experiences twelve times fewer injury crashes involving pedestrians than human drivers, holding the highest safety standards means recognizing when our behavior should be better,” Mauricio Peña, Waymo’s chief safety officer, says in a statement. “As a result, we have made the decision to file a voluntary software recall with NHTSA related to appropriately slowing and stopping in these scenarios. We will continue analyzing our vehicles’ performance and making necessary fixes as part of our commitment to continuous improvement.&#8221;</p> <p class="has-text-align-none">This isn’t the first time Waymo has come under regulatory scrutiny for its self-driving cars. For example, in 2024, the federal regulator <a href="https://edition.cnn.com/2024/05/14/business/self-driving-cars-waymo-zoox-regulators-investigating">launched a probe</a> following reports of erratic driving that potentially broke the law. It comes as the company expands into new markets, with <a href="https://www.theverge.com/transportation/837003/waymo-cities-part-3">hopes</a> to launch in over 20 cities in the coming years. </p> <p class="has-text-align-none"><em><strong>Update December 5th</strong>: Added statement from Waymo.</em></p>
  18. Trump invites ‘cute’ Japanese kei trucks to come to America

    Thu, 04 Dec 2025 20:29:44 -0000

    Tiny kei trucks from Japan have a new fan: President Donald Trump. Trump expressed admiration for the pint-sized autos during a briefing with reporters to announce his plan to gut fuel economy standards. “They’re very small. They’re really cute,” Trump said. “And I said, how would that do in this country? And everyone seems to think, good, […]
    <figure> <img alt="photo of kei cars in Japan" data-caption="This picture taken on August 31, 2017 shows Honda Motor&#039;s new N-BOX mini-vehicles at its headquaters in Tokyo." data-portal-copyright="" data-has-syndication-rights="1" src="https://platform.theverge.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2025/12/gettyimages-842105942.jpg?quality=90&#038;strip=all&#038;crop=0,0,100,100" /> <figcaption> This picture taken on August 31, 2017 shows Honda Motor's new N-BOX mini-vehicles at its headquaters in Tokyo. </figcaption> </figure> <p class="has-text-align-none">Tiny kei trucks from Japan have a new fan: President Donald Trump. </p> <p class="has-text-align-none">Trump expressed admiration for the pint-sized autos during a briefing with reporters to announce his plan to <a href="https://www.theverge.com/news/837575/trump-rollback-fuel-economy-standards">gut fuel economy standards</a>. “They&#8217;re very small.&nbsp;They&#8217;re really cute,” Trump said. “And I said, how would that do in this country?&nbsp;And everyone seems to think, good, but you&#8217;re not allowed to build them.”</p> <p class="has-text-align-none">Kei vehicles, which are built to satisfy Japan’s light vehicle regulations, are enjoying surging popularity in the automarket — including here in the US. Sales of kei trucks tripled in the last five years, with around 7,500 total imported just last year, according to data from Japan Used Motor Vehicle <a href="https://edition.cnn.com/2024/07/14/business/kei-trucks-japan-tiny-movement/index.html">cited by CNN</a>.</p> <figure class="wp-block-pullquote"><blockquote><p>“They&#8217;re very small.&nbsp;They&#8217;re really cute.”</p></blockquote></figure> <p class="has-text-align-none">Comparing them to the Volkswagen Beetle, Trump said he was authorizing the US Department of Transportation “to immediately approve the production of those cars.” </p> <p class="has-text-align-none">“He gave me the directive to clear the regulations on this, which we have,” US Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy said at the briefing.&nbsp;“And so if Toyota or any other company wants to make smaller, more affordable cars, fuel&nbsp;efficient, we have cleared the deck so they can make them in America and sell them in&nbsp;America.”</p> <p class="has-text-align-none">A spokesperson for USDOT did not immediately respond to questions about what specific authorization Trump gave Duffy. </p> <p class="has-text-align-none">Indeed, the regulation around the legality of kei vehicles in the US is spotty. Federal rules allow for the import of mini trucks so long as they are 25 years or older, while state laws surrounding their on-road legality and registration are less clear. The vehicles would also need to comply with the Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standards, which dictates everything from steering wheel placement to vehicle weight. </p> <p class="has-text-align-none">That said, many states have rules allowing low-speed vehicles like golf carts, so its conceivable that kei trucks could slip through under those provisions. </p> <p class="has-text-align-none">Whether they would sell, though, is another question. Kei vehicles, short for “keitora,” meaning “light truck,” have strict guidelines around engine, size, and power limits. And while they certainly have a following in the US, they are probably too small for the majority of American buyers. </p> <p class="has-text-align-none">That said, they have a small but growing fan base in the US, specifically because they represent an antidote to the <a href="https://www.theverge.com/the-stepback-newsletter/756967/giant-trucks-suvs-car-bloat">giant SUVs and trucks that dominate our roads today</a>. <a href="https://www.instagram.com/keitrucksas/">On Instagram</a> and other social platforms, enthusiasts sell kei merch and post memes to tens of thousands of followers. </p> <p class="has-text-align-none">Of course, the purpose of the briefing was to announce the rollback of strict fuel efficiency rules put in place by the Biden administration. Trump said the goal was to make cars more affordable, but most experts predict that any savings from lower-priced vehicles will be offset by higher fuel costs over time. </p> <p class="has-text-align-none"><em><strong>Update December 5th:</strong> After publication, USDOT spokesperson Sean Rushton sent this statement: “<em>Under President Trump’s strong leadership, Secretary Duffy is working to ensure Americans can afford the car that fits their family’s needs whether gas-powered or electric. As with all vehicles, manufacturers must certify that they meet U.S. Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standards, including for crashworthiness and passenger protection.”</em></em></p> <p class="has-text-align-none"><em>On Friday, Trump posted on Truth Social: </em></p> <img src="https://platform.theverge.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2025/12/image-4-1.png?quality=90&#038;strip=all&#038;crop=0,0,100,100" alt="" title="" data-has-syndication-rights="1" data-caption="" data-portal-copyright="" />
  19. BMW iX3 first drive: a ‘New Class’ is in session

    Wed, 03 Dec 2025 23:01:00 -0000

    BMW has been peppering us with teasers and bits and pieces about its next-gen EV platform, Neue Klasse, for so long - fully two years now - that I confess I've become a bit numb to the hype. I'd seen the dashboard-filling displays, talked to engineers endlessly about the completely retooled active safety suite, and […]
    <figure> <img alt="photo of BMW iX3" data-caption="" data-portal-copyright="" data-has-syndication-rights="1" src="https://platform.theverge.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2025/12/2026-BMW-iX3-first-drive-055.jpg?quality=90&#038;strip=all&#038;crop=0,0,100,100" /> <figcaption> </figcaption> </figure> <p class="has-text-align-none">BMW has been peppering us with teasers and bits and pieces about its next-gen EV platform, Neue Klasse, for so long - fully two years now - that I confess I've become a bit numb to the hype. I'd seen the <a href="https://www.theverge.com/2025/1/7/24335460/bmw-ces-2025-idrive-heads-up-display-ar">dashboard-filling displays</a>, talked to engineers endlessly about the completely retooled active safety suite, and even got a <a href="https://www.theverge.com/bmw/684404/bmw-ix3-ev-prototype-neue-klasse-first-drive">go behind the wheel</a> of a prototype machine.</p> <p class="has-text-align-none">All this for the launch of a crossover SUV, typically the most milquetoast of all the automotive classifications. But after spending the better part of a day wheeling around the final version of the iX3, I'm surprised to say it was all worth it. This little(ish) SUV really is …</p> <p><a href="https://www.theverge.com/transportation/837394/bmw-ix3-first-drive-neue-klasse-specs-price">Read the full story at The Verge.</a></p>
  20. Trump embraces gas guzzlers and air pollution by weakening fuel economy standards

    Wed, 03 Dec 2025 21:19:09 -0000

    President Donald Trump announced a new plan that lets carmakers pollute more by making less fuel efficient vehicles. The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) said today that it’ll roll back fuel economy rules finalized last year by the Biden administration for model year 2022-2031 vehicles. The Trump administration has eliminated incentives for EV purchases, […]
    <figure> <img alt="Vehicles driving on a busy highway." data-caption="Motorists drive on Interstate 210 during the morning commute on December 03, 2025 in Pasadena, California." data-portal-copyright="" data-has-syndication-rights="1" src="https://platform.theverge.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2025/12/gettyimages-2249775210.jpg?quality=90&#038;strip=all&#038;crop=0,0,100,100" /> <figcaption> Motorists drive on Interstate 210 during the morning commute on December 03, 2025 in Pasadena, California. </figcaption> </figure> <p class="has-text-align-none">President Donald Trump announced a new plan that lets carmakers pollute more by making less fuel efficient vehicles. The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) <a href="https://www.nhtsa.gov/sites/nhtsa.gov/files/2025-12/CAFE-LD-2022-2031-Notice-of-Proposed-Rulemaking.pdf">said today that it’ll roll back</a> fuel economy <a href="https://www.theverge.com/2024/6/7/24173862/us-fuel-economy-nhtsa-cafe-emissions-biden-epa">rules finalized last</a> year by the Biden administration for model year 2022-2031 vehicles.</p> <p class="has-text-align-none">The Trump administration has<a href="https://www.theverge.com/podcast/800190/ev-tax-credit-auto-industry-cars-trump-tesla-china"> eliminated incentives for EV purchases</a>, <a href="https://www.theverge.com/news/671615/energy-efficiency-rollbakcs-electricity-costs-utility-bills-analysis">stymied energy efficiency</a> policies, and gutted <a href="https://eelp.law.harvard.edu/tracker-type/regulatory-tracker/">pollution regulations</a> in general. The president wants the US to produce more oil and gas, and says that his agenda will boost business for American automakers. Critics contend that Americans will ultimately pay for these measures with higher fuel costs, as well as health risks and climate disasters stemming from tailpipe emissions.</p> <p class="has-text-align-none">“Slashing fuel economy standards will increase costs for drivers and threaten the progress made in reducing dangerous air pollution and preventing adverse health outcomes for children, older adults, and communities who live near busy roads,” Darien Davis, government affairs advocate on climate change and clean energy at the League of Conservation Voters, said in a statement emailed to <em>The Verge</em>.</p> <figure class="wp-block-pullquote"><blockquote><p>“Slashing fuel economy standards will increase costs for drivers”</p></blockquote></figure> <p class="has-text-align-none">NHTSA proposed a federal fuel economy standard of around 34.5 miles per gallon of gas by 2031.&nbsp; That’s far lower than the bar Biden set last year of reaching an average of roughly 50.4 miles per gallon by 2031.&nbsp;</p> <p class="has-text-align-none">The agency <a href="https://www.nhtsa.gov/press-releases/new-fuel-economy-standards-model-years-2027-2031">previously estimated</a> that the higher standards set in 2024 would collectively save Americans $23 billion in fuel costs over the years, or about $600 for each passenger car and light truck owner over the lifetime of their vehicle. The rules were expected to cut down gasoline use by 70 billion gallons through 2050. That would avoid 710 million metric tons of planet-heating carbon dioxide pollution, <a href="https://www.epa.gov/energy/greenhouse-gas-equivalencies-calculator#results">equivalent</a> to taking more than 165.6 million gas-guzzling passenger vehicles off the road for a year. Trump claimed without evidence that his latest action would shave $1,000 off the price of a car, while clean energy advocates expect the rollback to lead to higher fuel costs.</p> <p class="has-text-align-none">Automakers would likely have had to sell more EVs in order to meet the higher Biden-era standards for fleetwide fuel economy. Trump’s Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy <a href="https://www.theverge.com/policy/683596/cafe-fuel-economy-usdot-nhtsa-ev-duffy-republican">accused the Biden administration</a> in June of <a href="https://www.transportation.gov/briefing-room/trumps-transportation-secretary-sean-p-duffy-announces-key-step-toward-making-cars">illegally using Corporate Average Fuel Economy (CAFE)</a> standards to mandate EV sales. In July, Republicans <a href="https://www.marketplace.org/story/2025/07/28/will-end-of-fuel-efficiency-fines-cause-automakers-to-pivot">eliminated fines for carmakers failing</a> to meet CAFE standards in the <a href="https://www.theverge.com/policy/697879/congress-house-senate-pass-trump-obbb">giant spending bill</a> they passed in July and <a href="https://www.theverge.com/transportation/787281/ev-tax-credit-sales-lease-trump-climate">sunsetted tax credits for EVs</a>. “America Now Effectively Has No Fuel Economy Rules,” reads a July <a href="https://www.kbb.com/car-news/america-now-effectively-has-no-fuel-economy-rules/">headline from Kelley Blue Book</a>.&nbsp;</p> <p class="has-text-align-none">GM had paid $128.2 million in CAFE penalties for 2016 and 2017, <a href="https://www.reuters.com/world/white-house-propose-less-stringent-fuel-economy-standards-sources-say-2025-12-02/"><em>Reuters</em> reports</a>. Stellantis, which owns Chrysler, has paid more than $590 million in penalties since 2016. Leadership for both companies joined the president in the Oval Office today as he announced the new CAFE standards.&nbsp;</p> <p class="has-text-align-none">“We’ve just freed you up, so you’re going to have a good day, you’re going to have a good number of years,” Trump said to auto industry leaders during the announcement.&nbsp;</p> <p class="has-text-align-none">“Today is a victory of common sense and affordability,” Ford CEO Jim Farley later responded.&nbsp;</p> <p class="has-text-align-none">The US Department of Transportation is <a href="https://www.nytimes.com/2025/12/02/climate/trump-fuel-economy-rules.html">expected to post the proposal for public comment</a> before finalizing standards next year.</p>
  21. Anyone want to buy a car that drives itself?

    Wed, 03 Dec 2025 15:00:00 -0000

    Earlier this year, a mysterious new company called Tensor announced itself to the world by claiming it would be the first to sell fully autonomous vehicles to customers at scale. The news didn't make much of a splash. No one had ever heard of Tensor, so it was the kind of announcement easy to dismiss […]
    <figure> <img alt="" data-caption="" data-portal-copyright="" data-has-syndication-rights="1" src="https://platform.theverge.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2025/08/STKS518_WAYMO_TAXI_C.jpg?quality=90&#038;strip=all&#038;crop=0,0,100,100" /> <figcaption> </figcaption> </figure> <p class="has-text-align-none">Earlier this year, a mysterious new company called Tensor announced itself to the world by claiming it would be the first to sell fully autonomous vehicles to customers at scale. The news didn't make much of a splash. No one had ever heard of Tensor, so it was the kind of announcement easy to dismiss as vaporware. But the idea was not unfamiliar. In fact, some of the world's biggest companies are interested in selling driverless cars to individual customers. After all, if you can already hail a fully autonomous vehicle, why not own one too?</p> <p class="has-text-align-none">But it won't be easy. The technological and legal hurdles are immense. Today's robotaxis are restrict …</p> <p><a href="https://www.theverge.com/transportation/837014/autonomous-vehicle-privately-owned-who-wants">Read the full story at The Verge.</a></p>
  22. Why Honda is suddenly launching reusable rockets

    Sat, 29 Nov 2025 13:00:00 -0000

    In June of this year, Honda launched and landed a prototype, 20-foot-long reusable rocket at its research facility in Hokkaido, Japan's northernmost island. Though the company is known mainly as an innovative and iterative carmaker, it is also a transportation conglomerate, having developed and produced motorcycles, scooters, e-bikes, ATVs, boat motors, and even jets. Its […]
    <figure> <img alt="photo of Honda rocket launch" data-caption="" data-portal-copyright="Image: Honda" data-has-syndication-rights="1" src="https://platform.theverge.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2025/11/Screenshot-2025-11-28-at-3.04.30%E2%80%AFPM.png?quality=90&#038;strip=all&#038;crop=0,0,100,100" /> <figcaption> </figcaption> </figure> <p class="has-text-align-none">In June of this year, <a href="https://global.honda/en/topics/2025/c_2025-06-17ceng.html">Honda launched and landed a prototype, 20-foot-long reusable rocket</a> at its research facility in Hokkaido, Japan's northernmost island. </p> <p class="has-text-align-none">Though the company is known mainly as an innovative and iterative carmaker, it is also a transportation conglomerate, having developed and produced motorcycles, scooters, e-bikes, ATVs, boat motors, and even jets. Its skunkworks R&amp;D center built <a href="https://www.autoweek.com/news/technology/a1858236/1981-honda-invents-first-car-navigation-system/">the world's first in-car navigation system</a>, <a href="https://www.capitalone.com/cars/learn/finding-the-right-car/the-evolution-of-automatic-emergency-braking/3484">the first mass-produced automatic braking system</a>, and <a href="https://aibusiness.com/verticals/honda-legend-is-the-world-s-first-level-3-certified-autonomous-car">the first production Level-3 autonomous driving system</a>. Still, aiming toward the stars and potentially launching a competitor to Elon Musk's Space …</p> <p><a href="https://www.theverge.com/transportation/832364/honda-reusable-rocket-space-exploration">Read the full story at The Verge.</a></p>
  23. Rivian’s software-powered e-bike won me over with its adaptability 

    Fri, 28 Nov 2025 13:00:00 -0000

    When Rivian-spinoff Also announced its first electric bike recently, I was stoked - a Rivian in bike form? Yes please! - but also had some doubts. The design was, shall we say, polarizing, and the whole thing was powered by software, which raises the specter of outages, glitches, and other assorted crashes. I could already […]
    <figure> <img alt="Image of Rivian’s Also TM-B electric bike" data-caption="" data-portal-copyright="Image: Alex Parkin / The Verge" data-has-syndication-rights="1" src="https://platform.theverge.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2025/11/DSC00732-2.jpg?quality=90&#038;strip=all&#038;crop=0,0,100,100" /> <figcaption> </figcaption> </figure> <p class="has-text-align-none">When <a href="https://www.theverge.com/news/804157/rivian-tm-b-electric-bike-price-specs-helmet-quad">Rivian-spinoff Also announced its first electric bike recently</a>, I was stoked - a Rivian in bike form? Yes please! - but also had some doubts. <a href="https://www.theverge.com/transportation/804163/rivian-also-tm-b-ebike-specs-price">The design was, shall we say, polarizing</a>, and the whole thing was powered by software, which raises the specter of outages, glitches, and other assorted crashes. I could already hear the grumbling from purists: bikes are supposed to be <em>simple</em>, and this was anything but. </p> <p class="has-text-align-none">A quick glance at the spec sheet confirmed my fears: zonal architecture; series hybrid powertrain; pedal-by-wire; custom vehicle software; BLE anti-theft. These are not the type of specs you typically see in any bike, let alone a …</p> <p><a href="https://www.theverge.com/transportation/829860/rivian-also-tmb-ebike-hands-on-software">Read the full story at The Verge.</a></p>
  24. Uber’s robotaxi service in UAE now includes fully driverless vehicles

    Wed, 26 Nov 2025 07:00:00 -0000

    Uber and WeRide are now deploying fully driverless vehicles as part of its robotaxi service in the United Arab Emarites. Customers in Abu Dhabi who request an UberX or Uber Comfort may be matched with a fully autonomous WeRide vehicle if the route is part of the company’s service area. Uber and Chinese autonomous vehicle […]
    <figure> <img alt="image of WeRide robotaxis in UAE" data-caption="" data-portal-copyright="Image: Uber" data-has-syndication-rights="1" src="https://platform.theverge.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2025/11/Photo_2.jpeg?quality=90&#038;strip=all&#038;crop=0,0,100,100" /> <figcaption> </figcaption> </figure> <p class="has-text-align-none">Uber and WeRide are now deploying fully driverless vehicles as part of <a href="https://www.theverge.com/2024/12/6/24313138/uber-weride-robotaxi-uae-abu-dhabi">its robotaxi service in the United Arab Emarites</a>. Customers in Abu Dhabi who request an UberX or Uber Comfort may be matched with a fully autonomous WeRide vehicle if the route is part of the company’s service area. </p> <p class="has-text-align-none">Uber and Chinese autonomous vehicle operator WeRide first launched their robotaxi service with safety drivers back in December 2024. At the time, the companies they anticipated pulling safety drivers out of the vehicles the following year. </p> <p class="has-text-align-none">Initially, the fully autonomous vehicles will only be available in select locations throughout the 12 square miles of Yas Island, a popular tourist destination in Abu Dhabi. Uber and WeRide say they will expand its fully driverless territory in the future. Customers interested in riding in a driverless car can select the “Autonomous” option in the Uber app for a better chance of being matched. </p> <div class="image-slider"> <div class="image-slider"> <img src="https://platform.theverge.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2025/11/Photo_1.jpeg?quality=90&#038;strip=all&#038;crop=0,8.8512241054614,100,82.297551789077" alt="" title="" data-has-syndication-rights="1" data-caption="" data-portal-copyright="" /> <img src="https://platform.theverge.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2025/11/Photo_3.jpeg?quality=90&#038;strip=all&#038;crop=0,0.094161958568733,100,99.811676082863" alt="" title="" data-has-syndication-rights="1" data-caption="" data-portal-copyright="" /> </div> </div> <p class="has-text-align-none">The vehicles are WeRide’s GXR equipped with over 20 sensors and cameras, and can seat up to five passengers. The GXR is based on Geely’s <a href="http://Farizon SuperVan">Farizon SuperVan</a>, which is also being used as <a href="https://www.therobotreport.com/weride-to-deploy-its-gxr-robotaxi-in-beijing/#:~:text=WeRide's%20GXR%20robotaxi%20goes%20to,the%20service%20scope%20and%20scale.">a WeRide robotaxi in Beijing</a>. Similar to <a href="https://www.theverge.com/news/691101/waymo-uber-robotaxi-atlanta-launch">Uber’s partnership with Waymo in the US</a>, the ridehailing company oversees fleet operations for WeRide’s robotaxis in collaboration with <a href="https://tawasul.ae/">taxi operator Tawasul Transport</a>. This includes vehicle cleaning, maintenance, inspections, charging, and depot management. WeRide remains responsible for vehicle testing and sensor calibration.</p> <p class="has-text-align-none">In addition to its service in the UAE, Uber and WeRide have said they plan on launching in <a href="https://www.theverge.com/uber/661325/uber-and-weride-are-bringing-robotaxis-to-15-new-cities">an additional 15 cities</a> over the next five years, including some cities in Europe. Uber has been on <a href="https://www.theverge.com/news/707347/uber-baidu-robotaxi-deal-autonomous-ridehail">an absolute streak of partnering</a> with new AV companies over the past few years as it seeks to become a <a href="https://www.theverge.com/news/654780/vw-uber-autonomous-robotaxi-moia-la-2026">one-stop</a> <a href="https://www.theverge.com/2024/9/13/24243397/waymo-uber-austin-atlanta-robotaxi-partnership">shop</a> <a href="https://www.theverge.com/2022/12/7/23496383/uber-motional-av-robotaxi-las-vegas-ridehail">for</a> <a href="https://www.theverge.com/2024/10/3/24260712/uber-avride-robotaxi-sidewalk-robot-delivery-yandex">robot</a> <a href="https://www.theverge.com/23930378/serve-delivery-robot-la-day-in-life-tiktok">cars</a> and <a href="https://www.theverge.com/news/824918/ubers-british-bots">robot</a> <a href="https://techcrunch.com/2025/11/20/uber-eats-will-use-starship-sidewalk-robots-to-deliver-food-in-the-uk/">delivery</a> of any brand (<a href="https://insideevs.com/news/751623/tesla-snubs-uber-robotaxi-partnership/">except Tesla</a>, for now).</p> <p class="has-text-align-none"></p> <p class="has-text-align-none"></p>
  25. Car influencers love Chinese EVs — and China loves them back

    Tue, 25 Nov 2025 13:00:00 -0000

    The first Chinese-made car Omar Rana ever drove was a gas-powered SUV that he rented while on a trip overseas in 2015. To say it didn't leave much of an impression would be an understatement. "It sucked really bad," Rana, aka OmarDrives, tells me. "A horrible experience." Flash forward nearly a decade to last year, […]
    <figure> <img alt="" data-caption="" data-portal-copyright="" data-has-syndication-rights="1" src="https://platform.theverge.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2025/11/258136_Car_YouTube_loves_Chinese_EVs_CVirginia.jpg?quality=90&#038;strip=all&#038;crop=0,0,100,100" /> <figcaption> </figcaption> </figure> <p class="has-text-align-none">The first Chinese-made car Omar Rana ever drove was a gas-powered SUV that he rented while on a trip overseas in 2015. To say it didn't leave much of an impression would be an understatement. </p> <p class="has-text-align-none">"It sucked really bad," Rana, aka <a href="https://www.youtube.com/omardrives">OmarDrives</a>, tells me. "A horrible experience."</p> <p class="has-text-align-none">Flash forward nearly a decade to last year, when Rana received a DM from a company he'd never heard of called DCar Studio inviting him to check out a few Chinese EVs in Los Angeles. It wasn't surprising that DCar would reach out to Rana. With his 90,000 subscribers on YouTube and over 280,000 followers on Instagram, he's built a small but respectable following over the y …</p> <p><a href="https://www.theverge.com/transportation/828155/car-influencer-china-ev-youtube-influencer-pay-play">Read the full story at The Verge.</a></p>
  26. Horses deserves to be played, even if it’s not very good

    Sat, 06 Dec 2025 14:00:00 -0000

    Horses has become the current face of the fight against video game censorship and what gets to be art. After getting banned from Steam and the Epic Game Store, the narrative horror game has become a bestseller on GOG.com, and has brought gamers of all stripes together in support of it. But as a game, […]
    <figure> <img alt="" data-caption="" data-portal-copyright="" data-has-syndication-rights="1" src="https://platform.theverge.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2025/12/HORSES_Screenshot_3.jpg?quality=90&#038;strip=all&#038;crop=0,0,100,100" /> <figcaption> </figcaption> </figure> <p class="has-text-align-none"><a href="https://www.theverge.com/news/837278/horses-banned-steam-epic-games-store"><em>Horses</em></a> has become the current face of the fight against video game censorship and what gets to be art. After getting banned from Steam and the Epic Game Store, the narrative horror game has become a bestseller on GOG.com, and has brought gamers of all stripes together in support of it. But as a game, <em>Horses</em> doesn't deserve all this - neither its bans nor, after playing it myself, all the glowing praise.</p> <p class="has-text-align-none"><em>Horses </em>is a collaboration between indie studio <a href="https://www.santaragione.com/">Santa Ragione</a> and Italian filmmaker Andrea Lucco Bolera. Bolera wrote the game and acted in and directed the FMV cutscenes that are interspersed throughout, while the developers at Santa Ragione …</p> <p><a href="https://www.theverge.com/games/839464/horses-review-santa-ragione-steam-epic-bans">Read the full story at The Verge.</a></p>
  27. Horses is a hit, but its studio might still be in trouble

    Fri, 05 Dec 2025 19:00:31 -0000

    After indie narrative horror game Horses was banned from Steam two years ago, it put the studio, Santa Ragione, at risk of closure. Studio cofounder and Horses producer Pietro Righi Riva had to make a difficult phone call to the game’s director, Italian filmmaker Andrea Lucco Borlera. “I was terrified for him,” Riva said in […]
    <figure> <img alt="" data-caption="" data-portal-copyright="Image: Santa Ragione Game Studio" data-has-syndication-rights="1" src="https://platform.theverge.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2025/12/HORSES_Screenshot_10.jpg?quality=90&#038;strip=all&#038;crop=0,0,100,100" /> <figcaption> </figcaption> </figure> <p class="has-text-align-none">After indie narrative horror game <a href="https://www.theverge.com/news/837278/horses-banned-steam-epic-games-store"><em>Horses</em></a> was banned from Steam two years ago, it put the studio, Santa Ragione, at risk of closure. Studio cofounder and <em>Horses </em>producer Pietro Righi Riva had to make a difficult phone call to the game’s director, Italian filmmaker Andrea Lucco Borlera. “I was terrified for him,” Riva said in an interview with <em>The Verge</em>. “This was his first game and he put so much work, so much passion, so many years, and it was supposed to be his big breakthrough.” </p> <p class="has-text-align-none">But <em>Horses</em> has broken through even without Steam. Riva’s <a href="https://www.horses.wtf/BannedFromSteam/index.html">detailed accounting of the game’s multiple storefront bans</a> caught the attention of journalists, developers, and curious gamers eager to see <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/games/2025/dec/05/horror-game-horses-has-been-banned-from-sale-but-is-it-as-controversial-as-youd-think">just what was so objectionable</a> that the game couldn’t be sold on Steam alongside the likes of <em>Sex Standing</em> or <em>Sex with Hitler 2</em>. That attention has made <em>Horses</em> the video game cause célèbre of the moment, <a href="https://bsky.app/profile/santaragione.com/post/3m73jkbnhxk2i">catapulting it to bestseller status on GOG.com</a>.</p> <p class="has-text-align-none">But while this all sounds like a happy ending, Riva isn’t ready to breathe easy just yet. “I’m relieved because with all this attention, I&#8217;m probably going to be able to give back most of the money [roughly half of $100,000] that I had to borrow,” he said. “But we’re not out of the [woods] yet, no.” </p> <img src="https://platform.theverge.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2025/12/HORSES_Screenshot_1_bf996e.jpg?quality=90&#038;strip=all&#038;crop=0,0,100,100" alt="" title="" data-has-syndication-rights="1" data-caption="" data-portal-copyright="Image: Santa Ragione Game Studio" /> <p class="has-text-align-none"><em>Horses</em> is a short, crunchy-looking game, boasting Dreamcast-era graphics with gameplay that’s no more involved than clicking things to put them in and take them out of your inventory. And while Santa Ragione has had success with <a href="https://www.washingtonpost.com/video-games/reviews/saturnalia-review/"><em>Saturnalia</em></a><em> </em>and <a href="https://www.eurogamer.net/milky-way-prince-the-vampire-star-review-an-artfully-told-oppressively-bleak-story"><em>Milky Way Prince</em></a> before the bans, it was largely a little-known developer. Riva is aware of how that looks, acknowledging that the bans have been instrumental in <em>Horses</em> punching through the noise.</p> <p class="has-text-align-none">“There is no way the same kind of interest would have happened,” he said. And despite that first difficult call, Riva says Borlera is quite pleased at what the bans have done for his game. “He&#8217;s extremely happy with the reception that the game is getting,” Riva said. “People are reading into the game and [&#8230;] engaging with it in a way that he hoped.”</p> <figure class="wp-block-pullquote"><blockquote><p>“There is no way the same kind of interest would have happened.”</p></blockquote></figure> <p class="has-text-align-none">That engagement, though, isn’t enough to make up for the access Steam could have provided. While Riva is grateful for the support of gamers and storefronts like GOG, it’s not enough, and he’s still very much in fear of Santa Ragione’s future. “Even with all the publicity, all the reporting, all the reviews, everything else,” he said. “This still does not compare to the kind of audience we would have on Steam.”</p> <p class="has-text-align-none">Steam has an outsize influence on the PC video game market. The indie studios that cannot afford the costs of porting their games to consoles are at the mercy of Valve’s <a href="https://www.theverge.com/2017/12/18/16783394/you-must-be-18-or-older-to-enter-game-banned-porn-steam">vague</a>, <a href="https://www.theverge.com/2018/6/1/17417790/steam-pornography-rules-guidelines-porn-visual-novels">capricious</a>, and often <a href="https://www.theverge.com/2024/11/15/24297364/steam-extremist-content-moderation-us-senator-warner-letter">inconsistent</a> moderation whims. Though <em>Horses </em>has found a roundabout way to relative success without it, Riva said that journey has been traumatic, affecting not just him and his team but his peers and future projects.</p> <p class="has-text-align-none">“I think there is going to be, in my case, and in other people&#8217;s case, a certain degree of self-censorship,” he said. “It&#8217;s terrifying, and it&#8217;s going to make people make safer and safer games, me included.”</p>
  28. Sony’s new PS5 DualSense controller might have way more battery life

    Fri, 05 Dec 2025 15:21:25 -0000

    It might not look much different on the outside, but the newest version of the PS5’s DualSense controller could feature a major improvement in battery life. Polish modder Modyfikator89 shared in a post on X that the new DualSense V2 variant, model number CFI-ZCT2W, lasted for more than 15 hours of continuous play in a […]
    <figure> <img alt="" data-caption="" data-portal-copyright="" data-has-syndication-rights="1" src="https://platform.theverge.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2025/09/Sony-Astro-Bot-Joyful-DualSense-controller-for-PS5.png?quality=90&#038;strip=all&#038;crop=0,0,100,100" /> <figcaption> </figcaption> </figure> <p class="has-text-align-none">It might not look much different on the outside, but the newest version of the PS5’s DualSense controller could feature a major improvement in battery life. Polish modder Modyfikator89 shared <a href="https://x.com/Modyfikator89/status/1996709867386527840?s=20">in a post on X</a> that the new DualSense V2 variant, model number CFI-ZCT2W, lasted for more than 15 hours of continuous play in a battery life test.&nbsp;</p> <p class="has-text-align-none">Modyfikator89 <a href="https://x.com/Modyfikator89/status/1996288995572191497?s=20">added</a> that the “longer playtime [was] achieved by removing components (e.g., secondary mic) and optimizing the electronics.” YouTuber Austin Evans <a href="https://youtu.be/Kk3oxSQ_UwM?si=900_N84X8cMD5tHk">also noticed</a> the missing rear mic <a href="https://youtu.be/Kk3oxSQ_UwM?si=900_N84X8cMD5tHk">in a teardown video</a> posted in October, along with a new plastic support around the battery under the controller’s shell and a different battery connector.&nbsp;</p> <figure class="wp-block-embed is-type-rich is-provider-twitter wp-block-embed-twitter"><div class="wp-block-embed__wrapper"> <blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-dnt="true"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">BREAKING NEWS: CAN&#039;T BELIEVE IT! 🤯<br>Sony has finally fixed the biggest PS5 flaw. The new DualSense V2 (CFI-ZCT2W) is an absolute game changer.<br>My test: OVER 15 HOURS of continuous play with all DualSense features used! 🔥<br>CRUSHES the DualSense Edge and all previous pads.<br>Test… <a href="https://t.co/xfCdo681MG">pic.twitter.com/xfCdo681MG</a></p>&mdash; modyfikatorcasper (@Modyfikator89) <a href="https://twitter.com/Modyfikator89/status/1996709867386527840?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">December 4, 2025</a></blockquote> </div></figure> <p class="has-text-align-none">For comparison, the previous DualSense controller typically <a href="https://www.ign.com/articles/dualsense-vs-dualsense-edge-which-controller-should-you-buy">lasts around 10 hours</a> per charge. The DualSense Edge has even less battery life, about five to six hours. The 15 hours of battery life on the new version of the DualSense is enough for you to complete the whole single-player campaign in <em>Astro Bot</em> without having to plug in your controller. </p> <p class="has-text-align-none">The revised version of the DualSense is popping up bundled with recently revised PS5 Pro and PS5 Slim consoles, which have tweaks like <a href="https://www.theverge.com/news/791380/sony-ps5-slim-reduced-storage-2100-model-series">slightly smaller internal storage</a> and <a href="https://youtu.be/Kk3oxSQ_UwM?si=900_N84X8cMD5tHk">a lower weight</a> for the PS5 Slim. It will also be available for purchase as a standalone controller — for instance, the upcoming <a href="https://blog.playstation.com/2025/12/01/step-into-a-new-adventure-with-the-upcoming-dualsense-wireless-controller-genshin-impact-limited-edition/">Genshin Impact limited edition</a> will likely be the new model, but just check the back of the box to make sure you’re getting the updated version.</p>
  29. 13 years later, the bold and terrifying sci-fi game Routine is finally here

    Fri, 05 Dec 2025 15:00:00 -0000

    It has been 13 long years since Aaron Foster last spoke to The Verge. Back then, Foster's tiny, three-person studio Lunar Software was touting sci-fi horror game Routine with a striking vision: Foster hoped to suck players into the desolate eeriness of its moon base setting, which was equal parts immersive and grounded. Foster ended […]
    <figure> <img alt="" data-caption="" data-portal-copyright="" data-has-syndication-rights="1" src="https://platform.theverge.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2025/12/ROUTINE_SS_001_August.png?quality=90&#038;strip=all&#038;crop=0,0,100,100" /> <figcaption> </figcaption> </figure> <p class="has-drop-cap has-text-align-none">It has been 13 long years since Aaron Foster last <a href="https://www.theverge.com/2012/10/15/3507340/routine-sci-fi-horror-game">spoke</a> to <em>The Verge</em>. Back then, Foster's tiny, three-person studio Lunar Software was touting sci-fi horror game <em>Routine</em> with a striking vision: Foster hoped to suck players into the desolate eeriness of its moon base setting, which was equal parts immersive and grounded. Foster ended that interview by swerving a release date question. With 13 years of hindsight, it reads like an all-timer understatement. "Making a good game is more important than a hard-set deadline," he said. "So we will keep it loose for now." </p> <p class="has-text-align-none">Now, nearly a decade and a half on, <a href="https://www.routinegame.com/" data-type="link" data-id="https://www.routinegame.com/"><em>Routine </em>has been released on Steam and Xbox</a> …</p> <p><a href="https://www.theverge.com/entertainment/838639/routine-sci-fi-horror-game-development">Read the full story at The Verge.</a></p>
  30. Nintendo’s Switch 2 Mario Kart bundle is on sale at Amazon again for $50 off

    Thu, 04 Dec 2025 22:24:13 -0000

    One of the biggest surprises of Cyber Monday was the terrific discount we saw on the Nintendo Switch 2 Mario Kart World bundle, which dropped in price by $50. We expected the price to return to normal once the shopping holiday ended, but to our surprise, it’s still going strong two days later. Several major […]
    <figure> <img alt="" data-caption="" data-portal-copyright="" data-has-syndication-rights="1" src="https://platform.theverge.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2025/06/257769_Switch_2_AKrales_0175_f1b8d7.jpg?quality=90&#038;strip=all&#038;crop=0,0,100,100" /> <figcaption> </figcaption> </figure> <p class="has-text-align-none">One of the biggest surprises of Cyber Monday was the terrific discount we saw on the <strong>Nintendo Switch 2 <em>Mario Kart World</em> bundle</strong>, which dropped in price by $50. We expected the price to return to normal once the shopping holiday ended, but to our surprise, it’s still going strong two days later. Several major retailers are offering the console bundle for $449.99 ($50 off) — including <a href="https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0FC5FJZ9Z/">Amazon</a>, <a href="https://www.walmart.com/ip/Nintendo-Switch-2-plus-Mario-Kart-World-Bundle/16422361549">Walmart</a>, and <a href="https://www.bestbuy.com/product/switch-2-mario-kart-world-bundle-nintendo-switch-2/J7GSL57HFZ/sku/6614325">Best Buy</a>. Since it’s a high-demand item, Walmart and Best Buy require that you add the bundle to your cart before seeing the discounted price.</p> <div class="product-block"><h3>Nintendo Switch 2</h3> <figure class="product-image"><img width="300" height="200" src="https://platform.theverge.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2025/06/257769_Switch_2_AKrales_0093_fe9169.jpg?w=300" class="attachment-medium size-medium" alt="A photo of the Nintendo Switch 2 running Mario Kart World in handheld mode." /></figure> <h3>Where to Buy:</h3><ul><li><a href="http://amazon.com/dp/B0FC5FJZ9Z/"> <strike>$499.99</strike> $449 at <strong>Amazon (Mario Kart World bundle)</strong></a></li><li><a href="https://www.walmart.com/ip/Nintendo-Switch-2-plus-Mario-Kart-World-Bundle/16422361549/"> <strike>$499.99</strike> $449.99 at <strong>Walmart (Mario Kart World bundle)</strong></a></li><li><a href="https://www.bestbuy.com/product/switch-2-mario-kart-world-bundle-nintendo-switch-2/J7GSL57HFZ/sku/6614325"> <strike>$499.99</strike> $449 at <strong>Best Buy (Mario Kart World bundle)</strong></a></li></ul></div> <p class="has-text-align-none">The current promo effectively gets you a free digital copy of <em>Mario Kart World</em>, which <a href="https://www.walmart.com/ip/Mario-Kart-World-U-S-Version/15940407280">typically retails for $79.99</a> on its own. Given that tariff-induced price hikes have recently made consoles like the <a href="https://www.theverge.com/news/717610/nintendo-switch-original-price-increase">original Switch</a>, <a href="https://www.theverge.com/news/782079/microsoft-xbox-console-price-increase-us">Xbox Series X</a>, and <a href="https://www.theverge.com/news/762410/sony-ps5-price-hike-raise-digital-pro">PlayStation 5</a> to become more expensive, this deal is a welcome reprieve. However, we don’t anticipate it sticking around much longer, so if you or someone you know is on the hunt for the Switch 2, now’s the time to pick one up.</p> <p class="has-text-align-none">The Nintendo Switch 2 offers a nice upgrade over the original, with an expansive 7.9-inch 1080p LCD screen, magnetic Joy-Con controllers, and improved performance. It can play most original Switch games, and the system’s library of must-play titles continues to grow, with big releases like <em><a href="https://www.theverge.com/games-review/707704/donkey-kong-bananza-review-nintendo-switch-2">Donkey Kong Bananza</a></em>, <em><a href="https://www.theverge.com/games-review/684518/mario-kart-world-review-nintendo-switch-2">Mario Kart World</a></em>, <em><a href="https://www.theverge.com/games/826488/kirby-air-riders-nintendo-switch-2-vehicle-customization">Kirby Air Riders</a></em>, and the recently released <em><a href="https://www.theverge.com/games/835325/metroid-prime-4-review-nintendo-switch">Metroid Prime 4: Beyond</a></em>.</p> <h5 class="wp-block-heading has-text-align-none"><a href="https://www.theverge.com/nintendo/686603/nintendo-switch-2-review">Read our Nintendo Switch 2 review</a>.</h5> <p class="has-text-align-none"><em><strong>Update, December 4th:</strong> Updated to reflect the recent release of </em>Metroid Prime 4: Beyond<em> and the fact that the Switch 2 deal is available once again at Amazon.</em></p>
  31. Metroid Prime 4 doesn’t stand up to Nintendo’s best

    Thu, 04 Dec 2025 19:59:18 -0000

    Metroid Prime 4: Beyond is finally out after a long and difficult development - and despite some bright spots, the game really shows its age. Nintendo has a long and celebrated history of doing things its own way. During the original Switch era, going back to Super Mario Odyssey in 2017, Nintendo has focused on […]
    <figure> <img alt="" data-caption="" data-portal-copyright="Image: Nintendo" data-has-syndication-rights="1" src="https://platform.theverge.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2025/12/Switch_MetroidPrime4Beyond_SCRN_Samus_01.png?quality=90&#038;strip=all&#038;crop=0,0,100,100" /> <figcaption> </figcaption> </figure> <p class="has-text-align-none"><em>Metroid Prime 4: Beyond</em> is finally out after a long and difficult development - and despite some bright spots, the game really shows its age.</p> <p class="has-text-align-none">Nintendo has a long and celebrated history of doing things its own way. During the original Switch era, going back to<em> Super Mario Odyssey</em> in 2017, Nintendo has focused on bringing <a href="https://www.theverge.com/nintendo/707449/donkey-kong-bananza-switch-2-nintendo-design-open-world">open-world style exploration elements</a> to many of its major releases. That strategy has worked very well, breathing new life into storied franchises like <em>Donkey Kong</em>, <em>Mario Kart</em>, and <em>The Legend of Zelda</em>. But it hasn't quite added the same revolutionary touch to <em>Metroid Prime 4</em>. </p> <p class="has-text-align-none">In all of the other games that got the open-wo …</p> <p><a href="https://www.theverge.com/games/838428/metroid-prime-4-analysis-open-world-nintendo">Read the full story at The Verge.</a></p>
  32. Russia bans Roblox over ‘LGBT propaganda’ and ‘extremist’ content

    Thu, 04 Dec 2025 14:41:12 -0000

    Russia is restricting access to Roblox after the country’s communications regulator Roskomnadzor accused it of promoting extremism and “LGBT propaganda,” according to reports from Reuters and Meduza. As reported by Meduza, Russian lawmakers began raising concerns about Roblox days after The Guardian published a report about the platform last month, detailing how the author was […]
    <figure> <img alt="" data-caption="" data-portal-copyright="" data-has-syndication-rights="1" src="https://platform.theverge.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/chorus/uploads/chorus_asset/file/24369733/STK146_Roblox.jpg?quality=90&#038;strip=all&#038;crop=0,0,100,100" /> <figcaption> </figcaption> </figure> <p class="has-text-align-none">Russia is restricting access to Roblox after the country’s communications regulator Roskomnadzor accused it of promoting extremism and “LGBT propaganda,” <a href="https://www.reuters.com/technology/russia-blocks-access-us-childrens-gaming-platform-roblox-2025-12-03/">according to reports from <em>Reuters</em></a> and <a href="https://meduza.io/en/feature/2025/12/04/russia-bans-roblox-over-child-safety-fears"><em>Meduza</em></a>.</p> <p class="has-text-align-none">As reported by <em>Meduza</em>, Russian lawmakers began raising concerns about Roblox days after <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/games/2025/nov/05/roblox-game-robux-children-child-kids-safety-parental-controls"><em>The Guardian</em> published</a> a report about the platform last month, detailing how the author was able to access content that might not be appropriate for kids with parental controls enabled.</p> <p class="has-text-align-none">The communications agency said that content on Roblox “may negatively affect the spiritual and moral development of children,” <em>Meduza</em> reports. “Children in the game are exposed to sexual harassment, coerced into sharing intimate photos, and pushed toward lewd acts and violence.” In addition to new restrictions <a href="https://www.reuters.com/business/retail-consumer/russia-imposes-restrictions-apples-facetime-app-agencies-say-2025-12-04/">on FaceTime and WhatsApp</a>, Russia has banned platforms <a href="https://www.theverge.com/2024/10/8/24265284/russia-has-blocked-discord">like Discord</a>, <a href="https://www.theverge.com/2022/3/21/22988955/russia-facebook-instagram-putin-meta-whatsapp-ban-ukraine">Facebook</a>, and <a href="https://www.theverge.com/2022/3/14/22976603/russia-bans-instagram-facebook-meta-call-to-violence">Instagram</a> in the past, while <a href="https://www.nytimes.com/2025/01/31/world/europe/russia-youtube.html">limiting access to YouTube</a>.</p> <p class="has-text-align-none">Roblox is also <a href="https://www.theverge.com/2024/8/8/24216300/turkey-blocks-roblox-instagram">blocked in Turkey</a>, Qatar, and Oman, while access to in-game chats is suspended in <a href="https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/world/middle-east/roblox-blocks-voice-and-in-game-chat-in-saudi-arabia-uae-to-protect-underage-players/articleshow/123696470.cms">Saudi Arabia, Jordan, and the United Arab Emirates</a>. In the US, Roblox is also facing growing scrutiny surrounding child safety, with <a href="https://www.theverge.com/news/816549/texas-roblox-lawsuit-child-safety">Texas suing the platform</a> over claims it’s “putting pixel pedophiles and profits over the safety of Texas children.” Louisiana <a href="https://www.theverge.com/news/760162/roblox-louisiana-lawsuit-child-predators-safety">filed a similar lawsuit in August</a>.</p> <p class="has-text-align-none">Roblox <a href="https://www.theverge.com/news/760805/roblox-sexual-content-lawsuit-age-verification">has since announced</a> that it’s locking down access to sexual content and will soon <a href="https://www.theverge.com/news/822718/roblox-age-estimation-verification-chat-rollout">require users to go through an age estimation process</a> in order to chat on the platform.</p> <p class="has-text-align-none">&#8220;We respect the local laws and regulations in the countries where we operate and believe Roblox provides a positive space for learning, creation and meaningful connection for everyone,” Roblox spokesperson Kadia Koroma said in a statement to <em>The Verge</em>. “We have a deep commitment to safety and we have a robust set of proactive and preventative safety measures designed to catch and prevent harmful content on our platform.”</p> <p class="has-text-align-none"><em><strong>Update, December 5th: </strong>Added a statement from Roblox.</em></p>
  33. Nvidia’s new RTX 50-series GPU driver restores PhysX support for popular games

    Thu, 04 Dec 2025 14:11:16 -0000

    Nvidia launched its first RTX 50-series graphics cards earlier this year without support for PhysX, the GPU-accelerated technology that let games realistically simulate shattering glass, moving liquids, smoke, fog, and more. Now, Nvidia is bringing back PhysX support for the RTX 50-series GPUs for top-played games like Borderlands 2, Mirror’s Edge, and Batman: Arkham City. […]
    <figure> <img alt="" data-caption="" data-portal-copyright="" data-has-syndication-rights="1" src="https://platform.theverge.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/chorus/uploads/chorus_asset/file/25728971/STK083_NVIDIA_2_D.jpg?quality=90&#038;strip=all&#038;crop=0,0,100,100" /> <figcaption> </figcaption> </figure> <p class="has-text-align-none">Nvidia launched its first RTX 50-series graphics cards earlier this year <a href="https://www.theverge.com/news/615768/nvidia-rtx-5090-5080-5070-drop-physx-support-32-bit">without support for PhysX</a>, the GPU-accelerated technology that let games realistically simulate shattering glass, moving liquids, smoke, fog, and more. Now, Nvidia is bringing back PhysX support for the RTX 50-series GPUs for top-played games like <em>Borderlands 2</em>, <em>Mirror’s Edge</em>, and <em>Batman: Arkham City</em>.</p> <p class="has-text-align-none">“We heard the feedback from the community, and with the launch of our new driver today, we are adding custom support for GeForce gamers’ most played PhysX-accelerated games, enabling full performance on GeForce RTX 50 Series GPUs, in line with our existing PhysX support on prior-generation GPUs,” <a href="https://www.nvidia.com/en-us/geforce/news/battlefield-6-winter-offensive-geforce-game-ready-driver/">says Nvidia</a>.</p> <p class="has-text-align-none">PhysX was a big part of games like <em>Borderlands 2</em> and <em>Mirror’s Edge</em>, and it originally didn’t ship with Nvidia’s latest GPUs because the RTX 50-series dropped support for 32-bit CUDA support. That prevented these older games using PhysX from being GPU-accelerated on the latest Nvidia GPUs. Some titles like <em>Borderlands 2</em> dropped below 60fps, because the games were relying on a CPU to deliver PhysX effects.</p> <p class="has-text-align-none">Nvidia has now created “custom support” for top-played PhysX-accelerated games, but not all games are supported yet. Here’s the current list:</p> <p class="has-text-align-none"><em>Alice: Madness Returns<br>Assassin’s Creed IV: Black Flag<br>Batman: Arkham City<br>Batman: Arkham Origins<br>Borderlands 2<br>Mafia II<br>Metro 2033<br>Metro: Last Light<br>Mirror’s Edge</em></p> <p class="has-text-align-none">Nvidia says it’s also planning to support <em>Batman: Arkham Asylum</em> “in the first part of 2026,” but there’s no word on any additional games. PhysX was always limited to a handful of titles anyway, but <a href="https://www.resetera.com/threads/rtx-50-series-gpus-have-dropped-support-for-32-bit-physx-many-older-pc-games-are-impacted-mirrors-edge-borderlands-etc.1111698/">Resetera forum</a> members have been tracking more than 40 games that have been affected by the removal of PhysX support on RTX 50-series GPUs. Unfortunately, it seems unlikely that Nvidia will fully support all of these older PhysX games.</p> <p class="has-text-align-none">You can download Nvidia’s new Game Ready driver (591.44) over at <a href="https://www.nvidia.com/en-us/geforce/drivers/">Nvidia’s website</a> or through the Nvidia app.</p>