Technology

The "We got X before GTA VI" memes live on for at least another year. That's right: Everybody's favorite unreleased video game — Grand Theft Auto VI — has been delayed yet again.

Rumors of an even longer wait have been spreading for a while now, but Rockstar Games confirmed the frustrating news on Thursday.

The company posted on X:

"Hi everyone, Grand Theft Auto VI will now release on Thursday, November 19, 2026. We are sorry for adding additional time to what we realize has been a long wait, but these extra months will allow us to finish the game with the level of polish you have come to expect and deserve."

The release of GTA VI — or non-release, really — has been an exercise in patience for gamers eagerly awaiting the next chapter in the beloved, ground-breaking franchise. The last installment in the GTA franchise came all the way back in 2013. So, obviously, GTA VI has built up lots of anticipation.

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Initially, it was scheduled for release late this year. It was then pushed to May 26, 2026. Now we're on to November 2026.

SEE ALSO: 'GTA 6' fans are losing their entire minds over new trailer and its twerking queen

"We want to thank you again for your patience and support," Rockstar Games wrote in its latest post announcing the further delay. "While the wait is a little longer, we are incredibly excited for players to experience the sprawling state of Leonida and a return to modern day Vice City."

If the repeated delays help Rockstar avoid the kinds of launch bugs that plagued Cyberpunk: 2077, they may be worth it for gamers. But that doesn't make the disappointment go down any easier.

While you wait, you can check out some official screenshots from the game, previously released by Rockstar.

No one knows what it takes to be an It Girl better than the cast of HBO's new comedy I Love LA.

Created by Rachel Sennott, the series follows talent manager Maia (Sennott) as she takes on a new client, her bestie and rising It Girl Tallulah (Odessa A'zion). Naturally, given that premise, I Love LA pays a lot of attention to the world of influencers and digital culture, including what it takes to make it in that world.

SEE ALSO: 'I Love LA' is Charli XCX and Lorde's 'Girl, so confusing,' but make it TV

In a virtual junket interview, Mashable Entertainment Reporter Belen Edwards spoke with Sennott and A'zion, as well as co-stars Jordan Firstman, True Whitaker, Leighton Meester, and Josh Hutcherson, about I Love LA's take on It Girls and the internet.

"I think it's having a special, unique quality that people latch onto and identify with but are excited by," Sennott said of what truly makes an It Girl. "It's hard to describe."

"And you have to have a Sidekick," A'zion added, referring to the It Girl phone of choice in the early 2000s.

For Hutcherson, I Love LA offered up a glimpse into the world of influencers, one he wasn't entirely familiar with before filming the show.

"A person who's a TikTok influencer might have a management team and a PR team and a studio where they record their TikToks," Hutcherson said. "It's a whole industry inside of it, and that's just a new industry, just like how film and TV was a new industry once, so it's another development in the world of entertainment. It's cool to see a show that breaks into that world a bit."

New episodes of I Love LA premiere Sundays at 10:30 p.m. ET on HBO and HBO Max.

Video playback is dependent on a lot of low-level stuff—mainly, codecs, which decode video files into something you're actually able to watch and consume. Some HP computers are suffering from issues with playing videos, and it's all due to some weird codec shenanigans tracking back to HP itself.

The Epic Games vs. Google lawsuit has been going back and forth for nearly five years, and we finally have an outcome. Just one decision away from a total loss, Google settled with Epic earlier this week. As a result of Google’s concessions, there are some pretty major changes coming to Android in the future. Let’s go over them.

Just got on the Spotify Premium or Free subscription plan? Before you start creating playlists and liking songs from your favorite artists, there are a few settings that you should enable and adjust for a better listening experience.

Calling all half-bloods! Disney+ has released the full trailer for Percy Jackson & The Olympians Season 2, and it looks like it's going to be a watery good time.

Based on The Sea of Monsters, the second book in Rick Riordan's beloved series, Season 2 reunites viewers with Percy Jackson (Walker Scobell), son of the Greek god Poseidon (Toby Stephens). After recovering Zeus' (Courtney B. Vance, replacing the late Lance Reddick) Master Bolt and preventing a war among the Olympians in Season 1, Percy is headed back to Camp Half-Blood for the summer.

SEE ALSO: How is 'Percy Jackson and the Olympians' different from the books?

However, things are different this year. Percy's satyr bestie Grover (Aryan Simhadri) has gone missing on his search to find Pan. To make matters worse, Kronos' acolyte Luke (Charlie Bushnell) has poisoned the tree that keeps all of camp safe from monsters — the very same tree that Zeus' daughter Thalia (Tamara Smart) transformed into prior to the events of Season 1. Now, Percy must head to the Sea of Monsters, aka the Bermuda Triangle, in order to find the Golden Fleece and save both Grover and Camp Half-Blood.

Accompanying him are Annabeth (Leah Sava Jeffries), the wise daughter of Athena (Andra Day); Clarisse (Dior Goodjohn), the hotheaded daughter of Ares (Adam Copeland); and Tyson (Daniel Diemer), Percy's newly discovered cyclops half-brother.

The trailer teases massive nautical battles, new monstrous encounters, and even a glimpse at Thalia in action. Still no sign of what book fans are most pumped to see, though: Grover in that wedding dress.

Percy Jackson and the Olympians Season 2 premieres Dec. 10 on Disney+.

The right-click menu on Windows 11 has received a lot of criticism over the last few years, and for good reason. Some people love it, while others aren't too pleased with its ever-changing look. Lately, the right-click context menu has become somewhat lengthy, bloated, and cluttered, and it appears that Microsoft is ready to clean things up.

Google Messages has been the default messaging app on Samsung phones for more than a year now. While you can still use Samsung Messages on your Galaxy device without issues (at least for now), you ought to switch to Google Messages. Here's why.

Have you ever counted how many USB ports are on your computer? Do you ever think twice about which port you plug your hard drive or mouse into? If you feel like your peripherals aren't performing up to snuff, it might be due to which port you are plugging them into.

Ikea is known for many things: its cafeteria meatballs, assembly instructions that drive you to madness, and now, it's venturing into smart home. While the home goods purveyor is mostly known for its affordable, assemble-it-yourself furniture, is branching out into tech, specifically smart home.

Ikea is launching a collection of 21 new smart home devices centered on lighting, sensors, and controls. All of the devices will be Matter-over-Thread, meaning that they speak the universal smart home language so they can work with your Apple HomePods and Google Homes.

Ikea is known for its affordability, and they're staying true to that as they expand their smart home collection. “Until now, smart home technology hasn’t been easy enough to use for most people — or affordable enough for many to consider. This launch brings us closer to helping everyone feel ready and confident to get started,” says David Granath, Range Manager at Ikea of Sweden. 

The new light bulbs in Ikea's smart home collection can add a colorful touch to your home. Credit: Ikea

This isn't actually Ikea's first foray into smart home. Previously, its tech came in the form of sneaky built in appliances like air purifiers built into side tables or speakers that blend into book shelves. But this is the first line with Matter certified products.

Matter is a system developed by the Connectivity Standards Alliance, to allow any smart home device to speak to another, regardless of what brand makes the device. This means your Google Home can connect to your new Ikea lightbulbs, and you don't need a new smart home hub to control them.

Ikea's devices will also be Thread connected. Thread is another away of connecting devices, similar to how many devices connect via WiFi.

What's coming to Ikea's Matter-over-Thread collection? Ikea's new smart home devices include light bulbs and remotes that work together. Credit: Ikea

Ikea has broken down its collection into three categories: lighting, sensors and controls. The lighting will include a new line-up of light bulbs as well as sensors that monitor your homes well-being. No release date or pricing has been provided for the products as it will vary between markets. Here are all the new smart home products coming soon.

Lighting

Kajplats smart light bulbs will be available in all shapes and sizes. These are the new options:

• E27/E26 – standard globe shape, 60 mm diameter. Available in white and colour. Dimmable options available.
  Colour and white spectrum, 1 055 lm – colour-changing  

• P45 E14* – compact profile, 45 mm diameter. Available in white and colour. Dimmable options available.

• GU10 – directional spotlight. Available in white and colour. Dimmable options available.

• Clear-glass decorative bulbs. Available only in white. Sizes available include E14 and E27 standard and large globe.

Sensors

• Myggspray: Motion sensor for indoor and outdoor use that turns on lighting automatically in areas like entrances, staircases, garages, or anywhere you need hands-free light. 

• Myggbett: Door/Window sensor. Detects when a door or window is opened or closed, and if connected to a smart system you can get notifications on your phone. Also works for spaces like walk-in closets, where it can trigger a light to turn on or off. 

• Timmerflotte: Temperature and Humidity Sensor. Measures the indoor climate at home. Press the button to view temperature, followed by humidity — one after the other. 

• Alpstuga: Air quality sensor. Measures CO₂, particles (PM2.5), temperature, and humidity to show the air quality in your home. Built to work together with IKEA air purifiers for better indoor air. Can also display the time.

• Klippbok: Water leakage sensor. Detects leaks and alerts you with a sound — and can also send a notification to your phone when connected to a hub. Small enough to place under sinks, appliances, or other risk areas. 

Remotes

• Bilresa remote control with dual button: A simple way to control smart products from afar. Use it to switch lights on or off, adjust brightness, change colour, or trigger a preset scene. 

• Bilresa remote control with scroll wheel: Lets you adjust smart products with a simple turn. Use it to switch lights on or off, dim, change colour, or control a group or preset scene. 

• Bilresa Remote Control Kits (2x): Kits of three colorful versions of the remote controls, in green, red and beige. One kit with three scroll wheels, and the other is with remote control with dual buttons. 

• Grillplats smart plug: This smart plug lets you control ordinary lamps or smaller appliances remotely — turning them into smart products. It also tracks energy use and can be paired with a remote or motion sensor.

The long-awaited Samsung mixed reality headset, formerly known by its codename Project Moohan, finally made its debut this year as the Samsung Galaxy XR.

That is, if you live in the U.S. or South Korea. Samsung fans outside of those two countries are still waiting for the Galaxy XR. Fortunately, it doesn't look like they'll be waiting too much longer after the U.S. and South Korea's Oct. 21 Galaxy XR launch date.

According to a new report from SamMobile, Samsung appears to be readying a 2026 launch for the Galaxy XR in Canada, France, Germany, and the UK. In addition, that list has yet to be finalized, with more countries potentially being added to the 2026 launch list soon.

Samsung appears to be in favor of slowly rolling out the Galaxy XR in international markets as opposed to a wider global rollout. 

The Galaxy VR is basically Samsung's answer to the Meta Quest headset and the Apple Vision Pro. Samsung has priced the Galaxy VR at $1,799.99 in the U.S., placing the device squarely in the middle of both of its competitors' prices. Meta has the more affordable device, starting at $299.99. While the Galaxy VR may look expensive when compared to the Meta Quest, it looks like the affordable option when put up against the $3,499 Apple Vision Pro.

It's currently unclear where Samsung will price its headset for the upcoming international markets but it will likely be similarly priced based on Samsung's pricing in the U.S. and South Korea markets.

So, the wait won't be much longer, readers in Canada and the EU. Soon, you'll be able to get hands-on with the Samsung Galaxy XR just like Mashable did for our Galaxy XR review.

 

Spotify is leaning even further into what it does best: turning your listening habits into data you want to see and share.

On Thursday, Nov. 6, the streaming giant announced a new feature called Listening Stats, giving users a weekly snapshot of their top artists, tracks, and musical milestones.

The timing couldn't be better. Wrapped season is right around the corner — that annual internet holiday where everyone collectively decides to humble-brag about their superior playlists. Listening Stats is, in a sense, a smaller-scale version of that, designed to keep the dopamine hit of personalized music insights going year round.

SEE ALSO: Spotify Wrapped 2025: When does it stop tracking your listening?

Rolling out to both Free and Premium users in more than 60 markets, the feature breaks down your past four weeks of listening and builds playlists inspired by your current obsessions. It also drops in little highlights that capture what makes your habits unique — like a new discovery, a fandom milestone, or the realization that, yes, you did play that one NMIXX song 27 times in a row. In the spirit of transparency, here's a look at my top songs from the week of Oct. 27.

Have you listened to "Spaghetti" by Le Sserafim yet? Credit: Crystal Bell

Users can share their stats directly from the app to Instagram, WhatsApp, and beyond.

Spotify has long been a leader in personalizing music experiences through data, from algorithmic playlists like Discover Weekly and Release Radar to experimental formats like daylist. These features work because they blend tech and taste, turning raw listening history into something emotional and shareable.

SEE ALSO: Why artists are leaving Spotify — and how you can, too How to find your Listening Stats on Spotify Total Time

• 1 min

What You Need

• Spotify App

Step 1: Tap your profile image in the Spotify app to open the menu.

Credit: Crystal Bell

Step 2: Click the "Listening Stats" tab.

Step 3: Explore your top artists, songs, and insights from the past four weeks.

Credit: Crystal Bell

Step 4: Tap "Share" to post your weekly stats or individual highlights on Instagram, WhatsApp, or anywhere else you show off your taste.

As Spotify Wrapped looms on the horizon, this new weekly feature is a reminder that every track, every late-night loop, and every guilty pleasure counts toward the story of your year in music.

CrossOver, the Wine-based compatibility layer for running Windows software on Mac and Linux, just released its first 64-bit ARM version. It allows games like Cyberpunk 2077, Hades II, and Ghost of Tsushima to run on Linux ARM computers without installing additional emulators or translation layers.

Mathematica is well-known for its ability to solve all kinds of math and science problems. It's also notoriously expensive and closed-source. What if there was an open-source program for Linux that let you explore math for free? There is, and it's called SageMath.

Traveling during the holidays is always stressful, and there's a chance it might get even more stressful this year thanks to the longest government shutdown in U.S. history.

On Wednesday, U.S. Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy announced he is ordering a 10 percent cut in flights at 40 U.S. airports, Reuters reported in an exclusive. Why? The U.S. government is on the 36th day of its longest shutdown in history (the previous record was set by the first Trump administration). As a result, there are concerns about air traffic control safety as 13,000 air traffic controllers and 50,000 Transportation Security Administration agents work without pay, according to Reuters. The timing couldn't be worse for people planning to visit family or friends over the fall and winter holidays.

Republicans blame Democrats for the shutdown. Democrats blame Republicans for the shutdown. Meanwhile, thousands of federal workers are without paychecks.

"We had a gut check of what is our job," Duffy told reporters, according to Reuters. "Our job is to make sure we make the hard decisions to continue to keep the airspace safe."

The FAA added that international flights are excempt from the reduction cuts.

"When we see pressures building in these 40 markets, we just can't ignore it," FAA Administrator Bryan Bedford said at a press conference, Reuters reported. "We can take action today to prevent things from deteriorating so the system is extremely safe today, will be extremely safe tomorrow."

According to CNBC, the flight cancellations are a "proactive" measure, Duffy said. The reduction goes into effect on Friday, NBC reported.

What to do online if you're flight is canceled

Before you head to the airport, make sure your flight is still on. You can do that by heading to the airports website or your airline's website. If it is cancelled, check with your airline to see if you're owed a refund or other types of compensation, and then figure out your next move. Can you take a train to your destination, or rent a car? Is there another airline you can switch to?

If your travel plans get mixed up this year, you can figure out a lot of the mess from the comfort of your home — as long as you check online before you leave.

FAA flight reductions: Full list of 40 airports reportedly threatened by shutdown

Duffy did not say which 40 airports would be affected, but said that the airports experience "high volume," meaning it's likely an airport you're traveling through. No official list has been released by the FAA, but reports from ABC News and CBS News, citing anonymous sources show that these are likely the affected airports. The FAA did not immediately respond to a request from Mashable.

• Anchorage International

• Baltimore/Washington International

• Boston Logan International

• Charlotte Douglas International

• Chicago Midway

• Chicago O`Hare International

• Cincinnati/Northern Kentucky International

• Dallas Love

• Dallas/Fort Worth International

• Denver International

• Detroit Metropolitan Wayne County

• Fort Lauderdale/Hollywood International

• George Bush Houston Intercontinental

• Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International

• Honolulu International

• Houston Hobby

• Indianapolis International

• Las Vegas Harry Reid International

• Los Angeles International

• Louisville International

• Memphis International

• Miami International

• Minneapolis/St. Paul International

• Newark Liberty International

• New York John F. Kennedy International

• New York LaGuardia

• Oakland International

• Ontario International

• Orlando International

• Philadelphia International

• Phoenix Sky Harbor International

• Portland International

• Ronald Reagan Washington National

• Salt Lake City International

• San Diego International

• San Francisco International

• Seattle/Tacoma International

• Tampa International

• Teterboro

• Washington Dulles International

We're not going to say the Trump administration is threatening to hold Thanksgiving hostage in the shutdown fight. There are legitimate worries about air traffic control staffing. But we're not not saying that.

SAVE $110: As of Nov. 6, get the Bluetti Elite 30 v2 portable power station for $189 at Amazon, down from its usual price of $299. That's a discount of 37% and the lowest price we've seen.

Opens in a new window Credit: Amazon Bluetti Elite 30 v2 portable power station $189 at Amazon
$299 Save $110   Get Deal

A portable power station is always something that's super handy to have in your corner. Whether you want to take it with you on a camping trip or keep it in your car or home for emergencies, it could be the difference between a very bad time and being prepared for any situation. And right now, there's a great one you can get for the cheapest price we've ever seen.

As of Nov. 6, get the Bluetti Elite 30 v2 portable power station for $189 at Amazon, down from its usual price of $299. That's $110 off and a discount of 37%. It'a also the lowest price we've seen.

SEE ALSO: Save over $300 on the Anker Solix C1000 Gen 2 portable power station at Amazon

The Bluetti Elite 30 V2 is made to help keep your smaller gadgets, like your phone, tablet, or laptop, going when they're on their last legs. It has 228Wh of capacity, which means it can top up your things lickety split. It's got plenty of electricity to go around for quite some time, so you won't be without a way to stay in touch with friends and family.

It's also super portable and lightweight, so you can take it anywhere. It has a built-in handle to facilitate that, and it weighs just under 10 pounds, which means you can tote it around wherever you go. Plus, it has a slew of port options to choose form, including two AC outlets, two USB-C ports, and two USB-A ports for good measure.

Don't get caught unaware without emergency power. Grab one of these power stations and be ready for the next time the power goes out.

The Linux Mint team showed off in its October blog post progress on the System Reports tool, which is being overhauled and renamed "System Information." The redesign is meant to assist with troubleshooting issues, which is easily one of the biggest pain points in switching to Linux.

I've certainly seen my share of malware over the years, and while the methods evolve, our thinking must evolve too. It’s easy to believe the threats are all "advanced," but for everyday Windows users, the majority of compromises still come down to the same few glitches that are recognizable to most. A click we shouldn’t have made, a "free" download we didn’t check well enough, or a system update we kept postponing. If you think you’re safe because you’re not part of some headline-grabbing breach, you might want to take another look.

SAVE $56.76: As of Nov. 6, get a Magic: The Gathering Tarkir: Dragonstorm - Play Booster Box for $107.94 at Amazon, down from its usual price of $164.70. That's a discount of 34% and the lowest price we've seen.

Opens in a new window Credit: Amazon Magic: The Gathering Tarkir: Dragonstorm - Play Booster Box $107.94 at Amazon
$164.70 Save $56.76   Get Deal

Looking to grow your Magic: The Gathering collection without breaking the bank? Amazon typically has a wide selection of cards on sale that you can splurge on without having to spend so much you dive into your savings cache. Case in point: a booster box that's on sale for its lowest price ever right now.

On Nov. 6, get the Magic: The Gathering Tarkir: Dragonstorm - Play Booster Box for $107.94 at Amazon. It's a nice discount — the usual price is $164.70. That's 34% off and the lowest price we've seen.

SEE ALSO: Where to preorder Magic: The Gathering | Avatar: The Last Airbender sealed product and single cards

This booster box contains 30 Tarkir: Dragonstorm packs, each with 14 cards and 1 Token or Art card within. You get 1-4 cards in each pack that are Rare rarity or higher, and you could even get a Special Guest Mythic Rare with borderless art with each pack you pull.

Additionally, each booster comes with at least one Traditional Foil card of any rarity. To sweeten the deal, 20% of the packs in hese boxes come with an additional shiny card in the form of a Traditional Foil land. If you're really lucky, you might also find Art cards with pieces of artwork from Tarkir: Dragonstorm with a foil artist signature.

You can use these cards to add more to your collection or build your own decks to play with others. And getting a box for this price is much, much sweeter than spending an arm and a leg, so be sure you snag yours now while it's still in stock.

Tinder is testing a new AI matching feature called Chemistry, its parent company, Match Group, told investors on Tuesday during its third quarter earnings call.

The dating app's interactive feature is "a major part of Tinder's upcoming 2026 product experience," a Tinder spokesperson told Mashable. Chemistry will get to know users through conversational prompts and (with permission) their camera roll to learn about their interests and personality. It's currently live in Australia and New Zealand, and Tinder plans to roll it out in more countries in the coming months.

SEE ALSO: The best hookup apps for 2025: I swiped until my thumb hurt

The announcement comes soon after Tinder started requiring facial scans for new U.S. users last month. It also launched several other features this year, like Modes, which lets users arrange double dates or indicate if they're a college student.

This also isn't Tinder's first foray into AI features. The app launched an AI photo selector tool last year, which also assesses a user's camera roll, this time for the purpose of picking the best photos. Tinder also uses AI for trust and safety tools, like scans for potentially harmful messages.

Featured Video For You 3 simple tips to optimise your ChatGPT search

"Chemistry aims to reduce dating app fatigue by surfacing a few highly relevant profiles each day — driving more compatible matches and more engaging conversations," Tinder's spokesperson said over email.

Dating app fatigue is a phenomenon that Tinder and other apps have had to contend with over the last few years, as trust in dating apps has declined while singles increasingly want to meet potential partners in person. As daters seek offline connections, dating apps have leaned more and more into AI features.

Match's third-quarter earnings call also reported that Tinder's direct revenue and paying users are both down year-over-year (three percent and seven percent, respectively). Hinge, meanwhile, is up in both metrics (direct revenue increased 27 percent and paying users increased 17 percent year-over-year), continuing the same story as in quarter two: as Tinder struggles, Hinge is on the rise.