Technology

Meta is finally entering the AI coding agent space dominated by the likes of Anthropic's Claude Code and OpenAI's Codex. The social media giant has released a Muse Code beta that it claims can be affordable while matching rivals in performance.

Lunch is one of my favorite times of the day. Who doesn't love a break with some delicious food? For me, lunch is a reset—a bridge between my work in the morning and the projects in the afternoon. During lunch, I try to focus on something else besides work for at least 30 minutes. Sometimes, that involves streaming a TV show.

Electric cars have always sounded like a great way to save money. They cost a whole lot less to run than gas-powered cars, and they don't need as much maintenance. However, for a long time their high starting prices have kept them out of the mainstream, bar a few options. If you wanted a cheap EV, one of your only options for a long time now has been the Nissan Leaf, which largely cornered the market.

Flock cameras are supposed to help police track cars. In Winona, Minnesota, police are now trying to track down the cameras themselves.

All eight license plate readers operated by the Winona Police Department disappeared sometime between July 29 and Aug. 1, according to police. Officers discovered the thefts after one noticed that the system had not recorded any recent activity. When police checked the four locations where the devices had been installed, they found the mounting poles cut near the base and discarded in nearby weeds. The camera equipment was gone.

Two flock cameras had been positioned at each of the four locations along highways entering and leaving the city. Replacing every unit and its pole will cost approximately $3,000 each, leaving the department with an estimated $24,000 bill.

Winona is only the latest Minnesota community to find its Flock equipment damaged or missing.

At least five devices were stolen and another was damaged in Duluth during June and July. In Plymouth, one was found in pieces beneath its pole, while another had its power cord cut. Similar incidents have also been reported in Edina, Eden Prairie, Minnetonka, and Anoka County.

SEE ALSO: What are Flock cameras and why are they so controversial?

Most of those cases remain unsolved. One theft in Faribault, however, resulted in an arrest — prosecutors charged a 42-year-old man after he allegedly removed a reader from a 10-foot pole and brought it to a local shop. According to the criminal complaint, the man had previously told an acquaintance that the devices could "track him coming and leaving the city" and allegedly said, "I think I might take one."

Police later recovered the equipment from his garage with black tape covering its lens.

That case provides one possible explanation for why someone might target the technology, but Winona police have not connected their thefts to the larger anti-surveillance movement. Police Sgt. Nicholas Quimby told the Minnesota Star Tribune on Aug. 4 that philosophical opposition and an attempt to sell the components were both motives.

The fight over Flock is moving beyond Minnesota

The thefts arrive as Flock Safety faces growing scrutiny over the reach of its nationwide surveillance network.

Its automated license plate readers photograph passing vehicles and convert the images into searchable records. Depending on the device and agency, those records can include a car’s plate, location, make, model, color, body type, and distinguishing features such as bumper stickers or roof racks, as Mashable previously reported.

Police departments say that information can help them locate stolen vehicles, find missing people, and identify cars connected to crimes. Flock says approximately 120,000 of its devices are now used in more than 6,000 communities across 49 states.

But the scale that makes the system useful to police is also what concerns its critics. A single reader captures a car at one moment. Thousands of them can allow law enforcement agencies to piece together where someone traveled, even if that person is not suspected of committing a crime.

Questions have also emerged about who can search the information and how widely it can be shared. Investigations have found local license plate data being accessed for immigration enforcement, while mounting cases of police misuse have raised concerns about officers searching for people for personal reasons.

Those concerns are increasingly reaching city halls. Since the beginning of 2026, approximately 23 city councils have voted to cancel, reject, not renew, or deactivate Flock systems. In Minnesota, Columbia Heights voted in June to end its agreement with the company after residents objected to the technology.

The debate is spreading elsewhere. On Aug. 5, two Connecticut state senators asked cities and towns to pause new installations while the state inventories the readers already in use. Their request followed crowded public meetings and calls for greater oversight of how vehicle data is collected and shared.

At the same time, new allegations are giving residents more reasons to question who has access. Two police officers in Ohio recently resigned after internal audits uncovered possible misuse of the city’s system. Department records indicated that one officer searched the same license plate 53 times over six months, sometimes without listing a related case number.

Flock says vandalism puts communities at risk

Flock maintains that its technology gives police time-sensitive information that can help solve crimes and locate people in danger.

"People have every right to make their voices heard," spokesperson Courtney Terlecki told the Star Tribune. She argued that damaging the equipment can eliminate an investigative lead or prevent officers from receiving an alert related to an AMBER Alert, a missing-person case, or a violent crime.

Civil liberties groups are encouraging opponents to take their concerns to their local governments. On Aug. 1, the American Civil Liberties Union launched a national “Get the Flock Out” campaign with instructions for organizing through public records requests, petitions, and city council meetings.

Winona officials have not said whether the cameras will be replaced. But with more communities reconsidering Flock and lawmakers weighing new restrictions, the debate over where these cameras belong is far from over.

Discord has become the go-to communication platform for gamers and enthusiast communities for the last several years.

There aren't all that many cars left on the market that feel affordable, practical, and fun to drive. For enthusiasts on a budget, it is becoming harder and harder to find something that truly satisfies all three of those pillars. The Honda Civic Si is often seen as one of the last bastions in its segment. It doesn't stand alone, though, and it has a Japanese rival that few actually know about.

Times are tough for us PC enthusiasts. Nvidia's RTX 50 Super is most likely done for, RAM and SSDs cost a bazillion dollars each, and we're all left to rely on things like Lossless Scaling to get us through the day when new games need newer hardware. I wanted to upgrade my PC a bit this year, but all of that is on hold until the prices calm down. (They will one day, right? ... Right?)

BookCon returned from its hiatus in April 2026. It was a rousing success, quickly selling out tickets and major news breaking at the event, including the announcement of a new Divergent book. By the end of the weekend, 2027 BookCon dates were dropped, but there's an update for next year's convention.

ReedPop, the organizers behind BookCon, just announced that BookCon will now run for three days in 2027. Returning to the Javits Center, BookCon will take place April 9 to 11. The extra day means there will be even more panels, authors, and workshops to attend — and maybe a better chance at snagging tickets.

"The passion of our fans and the storytelling community found at BookCon 2026 was beyond our wildest dreams, and we can’t wait to bring the event back even bigger next year,” said Jenny Martin, Event Director, ReedPop. “Our team has been hard at work reviewing the feedback we received from attendees and partners after this year’s show, and we are excited about the changes and improvements we are bringing to the 2027 event, starting with the expansion to three days of programming, signings, and shopping."

Last year's event welcomed bestselling authors including Rachel Reid, Veronica Roth, Andy Weir, and Rufi Thorpe. While authors for next year's event have yet to be announced, ReedPop is promising an even bigger BookCon.

When I was growing up, there were few words more devastating than "poser."

I still remember getting called one during my freshman year of high school after showing up in a pair of DC skate shoes. It didn't matter that I genuinely liked them. Someone decided I hadn't "earned" them, that I was trying on an identity that wasn't really mine. Two decades later, I still remember how much it stung.

The internet has always had a vocabulary for sniffing out inauthenticity. First, it was "poser." Then came "try-hard," "hipster," and, more recently, "NPC" and "industry plant." Now there's a new favorite: "larper."

SEE ALSO: Chat, are we cooked? A guide to internet slang in 2026.

The word originally referred to people who participate in live-action role-playing (LARP), dressing up as fantasy characters and acting out fictional worlds. But online, "larper" has taken on an entirely different meaning. Today, it's one of the internet's quickest ways to accuse someone of performing an identity instead of living it — someone who watches a single anime and suddenly presents themselves as an expert, a self-proclaimed cinephile who only knows the films everyone else loves, or a creator who adopts an entirely new personality because it's trending online.

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In other words, Gen Z and Gen Alpha didn't invent the idea of calling someone fake. They just gave it a new name.

We asked you to predict what Apple will do next. See the results and find out how to get a shot at winning an Apple Watch!

So what is a "larper"?

Originally, a LARPer was exactly what the acronym suggests: someone who participates in live-action role-playing, dressing up as fantasy characters and acting out fictional stories with other participants.

There's nothing inherently negative about the term. For thousands of people, LARP is simply a hobby. It's a chance to touch grass and step into another world for a weekend.

Online, though, the definition has evolved. Calling someone a "larper" rarely has anything to do with fantasy role-playing. Instead, it's become shorthand for someone who's seen as performing an identity rather than genuinely inhabiting it.

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One of the top definitions on Urban Dictionary describes a "larper" as someone who "does something that is way out of their capability but genuinely thinks they can do it," adding, "Dude, stop Larping."

The specifics change, but the accusation stays the same: You're playing a role.

How "larper" escaped fantasy

Like so much internet slang, "larper" didn't suddenly appear out of nowhere. It slowly migrated from one corner of the internet to another.

The term circulated for years in gaming communities and online forums before gradually becoming part of internet slang. By the early 2020s, it was commonly being used to describe people perceived as performing expertise, status, or entire identities — whether in politics, tech, fitness, or fandom spaces.

Eventually, the internet realized the joke worked almost everywhere. Now, almost any identity can become the subject of a "larper" accusation. Spend enough time on X, Twitch, or Reddit, and you'll eventually find someone accusing another fan of larping as a weeb, a lifelong gamer, or a movie buff because they only recently discovered the hobby.

Why "larper" feels different from "poser"

In many ways, "larper" is simply the modern evolution of "poser."

But there's an important difference. Being called a poser usually meant you didn't belong in a particular scene. Maybe you wore the wrong band shirt. Maybe you couldn't name three songs from a band you just discovered. Maybe you bought the skateboard but never learned to ollie.

"Larper" goes a step further. It doesn't just question whether you belong in a community; it questions whether your entire identity is authentic. That's a particularly powerful accusation in an internet where identity itself has become content.

A particularly powerful accusation in an internet where identity itself has become content.

Platforms don't just encourage us to share what we do. They reward us for becoming instantly recognizable. You're encouraged to cultivate an aesthetic, develop a niche, build a personal brand, and make your personality legible in the span of a few seconds.

The result is feeds full of hyper-specific identities: The person who suddenly becomes a Formula 1 expert after one season of Drive to Survive; the coffee enthusiast who buys a $500 espresso machine and starts lecturing everyone about extraction; the self-described music snob who first heard of a band a month ago but now acts like they've been there since the beginning.

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Some of those identities are completely genuine. But the more polished they become, the more audiences begin looking for evidence that they're just performances. Of course, "larper" isn't always aimed at people who are obviously faking it. Across social media, that skepticism has turned into a kind of gatekeeping, where enthusiasm itself becomes suspect. New fans, beginners, and people discovering a hobby can all find themselves dismissed as "larpers" before they've had the chance to simply enjoy being new.

Featured Video For You How F1 became a global obsession The internet has become obsessed with authenticity

The rise of "larper" says less about fantasy role-playing than it does about the internet itself.

After years of influencer culture, personal branding, carefully curated aesthetics, and now AI-generated content, people have become increasingly skeptical of what they see online. It's no longer enough to ask whether a photo is edited or whether a video is sponsored. The question now is whether the person behind the account is authentic in the first place.

Ironically, that expectation has created a new kind of performance. Creators are no longer rewarded just for looking polished; they're rewarded for looking real. Vulnerability, behind-the-scenes glimpses, and carefully curated "messy" moments have become just as valuable as glossy perfection.

That's what makes "larper" such a potent insult. It's accusing someone of performing authenticity itself. Calling someone a "larper" has become one of the internet's quickest ways of saying, I don't believe the person you're pretending to be.

But aren't we all performing a little?

The problem, of course, is that the internet asks all of us to curate our identities.

Whether you're posting your latest read on Goodreads, documenting marathon training on Strava, sharing concert photos on Instagram, or building a career on LinkedIn, you're making decisions about what to share and what to leave out. Every profile is, to some degree, a performance.

So where does self-presentation end and "larping" begin?

One person's authentic passion is another person's carefully constructed persona.

There's no obvious answer. The line between genuine enthusiasm and performative identity is deeply subjective, shaped as much by who's watching as by what you're posting. One person's authentic passion is another person's carefully constructed persona.

Maybe that's why the word has exploded now. Growing up, being called a poser made me wonder whether I belonged. Being called a "larper" asks a different question altogether: not whether you belong, but whether the version of yourself you've chosen to share was ever real in the first place.

From YouTubers and TikTok stars to streamers and podcasters, Mashable talks to creators about how they built their platforms, the gear they swear by, and the trends they see coming next. Read more of our creator coverage, sign up for our Trending Now and Top Stories newsletters or get Mashable push alerts to discover the internet's most exciting voices. 

For millions of TikTok users, protection from harmful content spirals depended on which side of an experiment they landed on.

A confidential internal document obtained by Bloomberg Aug. 4 found that TikTok excluded 10 percent of its U.S. users from an algorithmic safety update in early 2022. At the time, that would have amounted to roughly 15 million people.

Among them was Chase Nasca, a 16-year-old from Long Island who died by suicide in Feb. 2022.

TikTok’s subsequent review found that Nasca’s account had become trapped in a filter bubble filled with videos about suicide, self-harm, depression, loneliness, and hopelessness. Because he was part of the control group, the report said, TikTok’s strategies for disrupting those repetitive recommendations "did not take effect on this user by design."

Why did TikTok leave millions without the safeguard?

TikTok had already acknowledged that its algorithm could show users too much of the same troubling material back in 2021, when the company announced that it was testing ways to break up repetitive recommendations involving subjects such as extreme dieting, sadness, and breakups. One video might not violate its rules, TikTok explained, but seeing similar videos repeatedly could create a harmful viewing experience.

The company’s solution came with an experiment. By early 2022, TikTok had reportedly introduced the updated recommendation system for 90 percent of its U.S. users while keeping the remaining 10 percent on the older version.

That split allowed TikTok to conduct a backtest, a form of A/B testing that compares what happens when one group receives a feature and another does not. Technology companies regularly use these experiments to test new products and design changes. In this case, however, the feature was intended to protect users from potentially dangerous content.

According to Bloomberg, TikTok wanted to see whether breaking up filter bubbles would affect daily active users and other important engagement measurements. The company’s internal report described the choice as a "delicate balance" between user safety and its ability to measure the effect on those metrics.

TikTok told Bloomberg that the experiment was intended to confirm whether its safety changes were working. The company said it has since refined its testing practices, although it did not explain what those changes were.

What did TikTok find when it examined Nasca's feed?

TikTok did not review Nasca’s viewing history immediately after his death. The company began looking into his account more than a year later, after Bloomberg contacted it back in March 2023 for an investigation into how the platform affected young users.

Once TikTok reconstructed his feed, the scale of the recommendations became clear. The company analyzed 7,563 videos served to Nasca during the final two weeks of his life. According to Bloomberg, 73 percent shared themes involving mental health struggles, suicide awareness, loneliness, relationships, or sadness.

Many of the videos did not violate TikTok’s rules individually, but together they created exactly the kind of repetitive pattern the company’s safeguard was designed to interrupt. Nearly 10 percent did violate policies against content that promotes or normalizes suicide and self-harm, and Nasca continued receiving suicide-related videos during the final hours of his life.

TikTok concluded that his account had fallen into a filter bubble and recommended shrinking the control group from 10 percent to less than 1 percent. That would still have left at least 1.8 million U.S. users without the safeguard, according to the report. Its teams also proposed limiting participation to seven days instead of the previous six months-to-one year.

What did TikTok tell Congress?

TikTok completed the 2023 internal review just as the company was preparing to publicly defend its safety record. Two weeks later, CEO Shou Chew appeared before Congress to answer questions about the platform’s data practices and its effect on children.

Nasca’s parents watched from the gallery as lawmakers played examples of videos that had appeared on their son’s account. Chew told lawmakers, "safety and wellness — in particular for teens — is a core priority for TikTok." He also said the company had "a commitment to transparency."

The questions continued after the hearing. In its May 2023 written responses, TikTok acknowledged using A/B tests to evaluate strategies intended to break up filter bubbles involving suicide and self-harm content.

When lawmakers asked TikTok to list every case in which algorithmic A/B testing had harmed users, the company did not identify any. Instead, it wrote that "the safety of the TikTok community is of the utmost importance" and described how its Community Guidelines applied during testing. It did not mention Nasca or the experiment identified in its internal review.

Elsewhere in its answers, the company wrote, "TikTok does not believe that use of the platform has caused users to commit suicide."

Responding to Bloomberg’s latest reporting, TikTok said it was "deeply committed to the safety and well-being of users," particularly teenagers. "Our hearts break for any family that experienced a tragic loss," the company added, pointing to its detection systems, enforcement teams, and continued investment in trust and safety.

The findings add to TikTok’s mounting legal pressure

The disclosure comes as courts are beginning to test whether social platforms can be held responsible for design choices that allegedly harm young users. Thousands of lawsuits are moving through state and federal courts, while TikTok recently settled three cases shortly before they were scheduled for trial.

Nasca’s family is also appealing the dismissal of its wrongful death lawsuit against TikTok. The newly reported document is currently under court seal, leaving open questions about whether it could eventually become part of that case or other litigation involving the company’s recommendation system.

The consequences could stretch beyond any one lawsuit. As lawmakers, regulators, and courts take a closer look at how platforms protect young users, TikTok’s internal review offers a rare glimpse into how the company weighed safety against the metrics that keep people scrolling.

If you're feeling suicidal or experiencing a mental health crisis, please talk to somebody. You can call or text the 988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline at 988, or chat at 988lifeline.org. You can reach the Trans Lifeline by calling 877-565-8860 or the Trevor Project at 866-488-7386. Text "START" to Crisis Text Line at 741-741. Contact the NAMI HelpLine at 1-800-950-NAMI, Monday through Friday from 10:00 a.m. – 10:00 p.m. ET, or email info@nami.org. If you don't like the phone, consider using the 988 Suicide and Crisis Lifeline Chat. Here is a list of international resources.

I've gotten a lot of use out of open source projects over the years. Eventually, I decided I wanted to give back. What can you do though when you've never coded an app or have money to contribute? It turns out, a lot.

Blank rows are one of those Excel problems that seem like they should have a simple solution. But removing them safely isn't always as straightforward as it sounds. I tested six approaches to find out which ones have hidden problems, and which ones I would actually trust with important data. By the end, only three made the cut.

A recent FCC decision could severely stunt the growth of any list of the best robot vacuums that pops up on Google.

Top robot vacuum brands like Roborock and Dreame typically release new robot vacuums multiple times throughout the year. But the FCC's ban on foreign-made mobile robots, which includes robot vacuums, will prevent U.S. shoppers from buying any of them. No new Sharks, no new Roombas... the mainstream market would pretty much be swept.

The ban won't touch robot vacuums that are already in circulation. As is the case with foreign-made drones, exemptions are technically possible for future releases. Manufacturers could circumvent the ban by getting special approval from the government, which will decide whether or not their particular robot vacuums are a security threat.

Hypothetically, it's hard for shoppers to conceptualize just how slim pickings could get. But how are the brands themselves taking the news? I reached out to the impacted robot vacuum brands that I regularly test at home. Here are the official statements given to Mashable via email so far:

Shark

“Our Shark robot vacuums currently sold in the U.S. will continue to be available for sale, use, and support. Regarding future models, we are evaluating our best options, but as a U.S.-based company we believe we are well positioned to navigate the process to continue to launch new models at competitive prices as we always have. We are closely monitoring developments and evaluating next steps as more information becomes available. We remain committed to serving our consumers and keeping them informed.”

Eufy

"We are aware of the FCC’s recent update. Based on our current understanding, the new rule does not affect the continued availability, use, or support of products we currently sell in the United States. Those products remain available and will continue to receive updates and customer support.

Like others across the industry, we are seeking further clarity on how the rule will be applied to future products, and we will keep our customers informed. We remain committed to complying with all regulatory requirements in every market where we operate."

iRobot

"We are aware of the FCC's recent action and are working with them to better understand its implementation and potential impact. We remain committed to serving our customers and will share updates as more information becomes available."

Narwal

"Narwal products already certified and sold in the United States are not affected by the FCC’s action. Our customers’ robots continue to work, remain fully supported, and current models remain available at retail. We are reviewing the announcement and the conditional approval process, and we remain committed to serving our U.S. consumers. The security and privacy of our customers’ homes is foundational to the ethos of the Narwal brand, and we welcome the opportunity to demonstrate that."

This story is developing and will be updated if more statements are received.

When an Android phone starts to feel sluggish, a factory reset is often the first solution people think of. While restoring your phone to its factory settings might sound like the easiest way to restore its performance, it's far from the silver bullet you might think it is.

TL;DR: Now through Aug. 16, you can get up to 32% off DELTA power stations and solar bundles.

Opens in a new window Credit: EcoFlow Save on EcoFlow Delta 3 Series Get up to 32% off Get Deal

If your local grid is unreliable at best (living on the East Coast, I've learned to never trust the grid), or if you're just trying to get ahead of hurricane season, EcoFlow is running a sale on its DELTA line of power stations, solar panels, and home backup bundles.

SEE ALSO: I tried the Jackery FridgeGuard portable power station: It's both functional and pretty

Through Aug. 16, you can save on standalone units and disaster prep bundles via Amazon and EcoFlow's website. The high-capacity DELTA Pro is down to $1,899 (a 32% discount), while the DELTA 3 Ultra is on sale for $1,399. Bonus: If you spend over $900, you'll automatically get a free 20W charger.

If you miss the sale window (from indecisiveness or whatever), Amazon is keeping a separate batch of hurricane season deals live through Aug. 24. During that time, you can get the DELTA 3 Classic for $469 or the DELTA 3 Max for $899, and they'll throw in a free 160W solar panel if you spend over $1,500.

Waiting until the forecast looks bad is usually the worst time to buy emergency gear, so it's worth checking these out now.

SAVE $100: As of August 5, the 50-inch TCL QM6K Mini-LED QLED 4K TV is on sale for $499.99 at Amazon, down from its usual price of $599.99. That's a discount of 17%.

Opens in a new window Credit: Amazon TCL 50-inch QM6K Mini-LED QLED 4K TV $499.99 at Amazon
$599.99 Save $100   Get Deal

If you've been thinking about snagging a new TV, now's the time to do so. While we're still deep in the throes of summer, the fall TV slate is on its way, as well as plenty of sporting events and more that you'll want to catch. Be ready with a great, refreshed TV that you can save some serious cash on ahead of time. We've found one for you that you won't want to pass up at Amazon.

As of August 5, the 50-inch TCL QM6K Mini-LED QLED 4K TV is on sale for $499.99 at Amazon, down from its usual price of $599.99. That's $100 off and a discount of 17%.

SEE ALSO: Best 65-inch+ TVs for watching in dark and bright rooms

This 50-inch TV comes packing thousands of tiny LED bulbs to serve up a crisp, bright picture that you'll love watching. Each one of the LEDs can brighten and dim independently, giving you a precision picture for deeper shades of black and brighter hues that pop. It's more awe-inspiring than a regular LED TV or non-mini-LED QLED TV, and you'll really be able to appreciate the color and brightness when watching. Plus, it works to eliminate the shadows in darker scenes of whatever you're watching, which should be a plus for most.

With its 144Hz native refresh rate and Game Accelerator 288 VRR features, this TV is also perfect for gaming sessions. It'll cut down on blur and improve the motion you see in your favorite titles as well as action movies and sports. That's another great reason to pick one up before it's time to watch football later in the year. You'll be primed and ready for every game.

If you're ready to go ahead and lock in with a new TV that looks, sounds, and just plain feels great, this one is an absolute steal for the price.

There was a golden age, maybe fifteen years ago, when setting up RAID 5 felt like the single smartest thing you could do with a stack of hard drives. Great capacity, one-drive protection, dirt cheap. What's not to love?

Electronic Arts has told debt investors it plans to cut $700 million in annual costs, including $170 million tied to "organizational efficiencies," as the company completes its $55 billion sale to a Saudi-led group. Bloomberg journalist Jason Schreier, citing the company's disclosures, interpreted that phrase bluntly in a Bluesky post: "In other words: mass layoffs."

EA officially goes private tonight, meaning: - EA will no longer trade on the NASDAQ for the first time in 36 years - All stockholders of EA (including many employees) will receive $210/share - EA will take on $18 billion (!) in debt, putting it on the hook to pay ~$1.8 billion/year in interest

— Jason Schreier (@jasonschreier.bsky.social) August 4, 2026 at 7:19 PM

EA's annual Ebitda is around $1.5 billion, which should be enough to service the interest payments. But the publisher has told debt investors that it will cut $700 million in annual costs including $170 million in "organizational efficiencies," per Bloomberg. In other words: mass layoffs

— Jason Schreier (@jasonschreier.bsky.social) August 4, 2026 at 7:34 PM

The sale, finalized on Aug. 4, hands control of the gaming giant to a group led by Saudi Arabia's Public Investment Fund (PIF) and the investment firm Affinity Partners, led by Jared Kushner, son-in-law of President Donald Trump. Per the BBC, not only does the deal end EA's 36-year run as a publicly-traded company, but it also ranks as the largest leveraged buyout in history.

Under the deal's terms, all EA stockholders, including many employees, will be paid $210 per share, Schreier wrote. To close the transaction, PIF borrowed $20 billion from JPMorgan on top of the $36 billion it had already committed, with EA itself taking on the resulting debt, according to the BBC. Schreier put the total debt load at $18 billion, which he estimated would cost the company roughly $1.8 billion a year in interest.

He noted EA's annual earnings before interest, taxes, depreciation, and amortization sit around $1.5 billion — enough, he said, to cover the interest payments, though the planned cost cuts suggest the company is looking to build in a further cushion.

The BBC reported similar concerns from industry watchers about what the debt load could mean for the company. Schreier told the outlet the pressure could lead to "mass layoffs, more aggressive monetization, and other big cost-cutting measures." In that same BBC report, Christopher Dring, editor-in-chief of the Game Business, said the buyout structure pointed toward "a very hands-on approach from the investment group," adding that private equity firms tend to be aggressive managers.

Some in the industry also raised questions about the deal's effect on EA's creative direction. Shams Jorjani, chief executive of Arrowhead Game Studios, told the BBC he was hopeful the new ownership wouldn't push EA toward "more sequels, more mega-franchises" at the expense of its broader catalog.

The sale has also drawn scrutiny over Saudi Arabia's human rights record. Consensual same-sex conduct can be punished by death or flogging under interpretations of Sharia law in the kingdom, prompting concern among fans of EA titles like The Sims, which features LGBT+ relationships.

The advocacy group Players Alliance HQ has urged gamers to petition politicians over the deal, warning on its website that PIF's majority ownership could lead to themes around "free speech, gender," and other issues being "reduced or fully censored." PIF is controlled by Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, whose government has been held responsible by several human rights organizations and news outlets for the killing of journalist Jamal Khashoggi.

At the deal's initial announcement, EA chief executive Andrew Wilson, who is staying on, said the company intended to "create transformative experiences to inspire generations to come."

Mashable readers' favorite deals this week Roborock Qrevo CurvX Robot Vacuum and Mop $1,199.99 at Amazon (save $300) Get Deal 85-inch TCL Class QM8L Series $2,997.99 at Amazon (save $1,002) Get Deal DJI Mavic 4 Pro Fly More Combo $2,495 at Amazon (save $404) Get Deal Samsung Internal SSD 990 2TB $369.99 at Amazon (save $60) Get Deal Pokémon TCG: Mega Evolution — Pitch Black Booster Bundle $54.95 at Amazon Shop Now

Everything feels too expensive these days. Leave the house and somehow at least $100 vanishes. Since it's more expensive to exist in our modern world than it was just a few years ago, it's worth seeking out the best deals.

Every week, the Mashable shopping team gets to work to find the best products at the best sale prices that we feel are worth the money. If you've been searching for deals online this week, these are the top five that Mashable readers are snatching up.

A worthy robot vacuum and mop Opens in a new window Credit: Roborock Roborock Qrevo CurvX Robot Vacuum and Mop $1,199.99 at Amazon
$1,499.99 Save $300   Get Deal Why we like it

Earlier this week, the FCC announced a ban on all robot vacuums made outside of the U.S. The good news is this ban doesn't apply to models the FCC has already given approval to, and it won't impact the functions of your current robot vacuum. But in case you're looking for a new model, it might be wise to snag one sooner rather than later. Roborock makes some of our favorite robot vacuums, and the Qrevo CurvX is ready to both vacuum and mop your floors. Plus, it's on sale for $300 off.

SEE ALSO: The Roborock RockNeo Q110H robot lawn mower just landed at Amazon, and it's on sale for just 1 week

Coming with 22,000Pa and an ultra-slim design, the Roborock has hot water mopping and drying and a zero-tangle brush. If you're no longer in the mood to spend precious hours each week cleaning the floors, this Roborock deal is one to jump on.

A huge TV upgrade Opens in a new window Credit: TCL 85-inch TCL Class QM8L Series $2,997.99 at Amazon
$3,999.99 Save $1,002   Get Deal Why we like it

If you're in the mood for a genuinely giant treat that you can enjoy every single day, consider the 85-inch TCL Class QM8L Series TV. In terms of home entertainment upgrades, an 85-inch TV ranks pretty high. This TCL is a 2026 model that also happens to be excellent for gaming thanks to the 144Hz refresh rate.

In addition to the sale price that saves over $1,000, Amazon is tossing in free delivery and unpacking. That means the delivery crew will unbox the TV in the room of your choice and take the packaging materials and box away when they leave.

A drone bundle to become an expert Opens in a new window Credit: DJI DJI Mavic 4 Pro Fly More Combo $2,495 at Amazon
$2,899 Save $404   Get Deal Why we like it

For those in the mood to become an expert drone pilot, the worthy DJI Mavic 4 Pro Fly More Combo is over $400 off at Amazon right now. Going with a combo deal means you get all the pro accessories like the DJI RC 2, extra batteries, spare propellers, a shoulder bag, a charging hub, and even more. The DJI Mavic 4 Pro drone is a top-tier model that can capture 6K footage in HDR. Plus, it has features that make it great for flying in low-light conditions.

A storage solution with a hefty discount Opens in a new window Credit: Samsung Samsung Internal SSD 990 (2TB) $369.99 at Amazon
$529.99 Save $160   Get Deal Why we like it

The global memory shortage isn't supposed to get better anytime soon. That means today's deals on an SSD might be the best we can get for a while to come. If your laptop or desktop could use a 2TB upgrade, the Samsung 990 is on sale for under $370 at Amazon.

Espeically useful for gamers, the Samsung SSD comes with 7,250MB per second read and 6,450MB per second sequential speeds.

An in-stock Pokémon expansion Opens in a new window Credit: Pokémon Pokémon TCG: Mega Evolution — Pitch Black Booster Bundle $54 at Amazon
  Get Deal Why we like it

Coming with six booster packs, the Pokémon TCG: Mega Evolution — Pitch Black Booster Bundle is an optimal way to expand your collection. If you've been considering diving into the Chaos Rising expansion, the Pitch Black booster bundle is a solid path.

Luxury SUVs have built their reputations on comfort. They glide over rough roads, keep road noise to a minimum, and make long journeys feel effortless. The catch is that buying one often means paying luxury-car maintenance bills once the warranty runs out.