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It was one Oscar after another for Paul Thomas Anderson at the 98th Academy Awards.

The director's three-hour-long epic One Battle After Another picked up the Oscar for Best Picture, along Best Director, Best Supporting Actor (Sean Penn), Best Adapted Screenplay, Best Editing, and Best Casting. With six Oscars to its name, it was the most awarded film of the night.

Ryan Coogler's Sinners also won big at the Oscars ceremony, picking up four awards: Best Actor (Michael B. Jordan), Best Original Screenplay, Best Original Score, and Best Cinematography. With its 16 nominations, Sinners holds the record of most-nominated film of all time.

SEE ALSO: How many Oscars has 'Sinners' won?

Here is the full list of the 2026 Oscar winners. Winners are in bold.

Best Actor in a Supporting Role 

Benicio Del Toro – One Battle After Another

Jacob Elordi – Frankenstein

Delroy Lindo – Sinners

Sean Penn – One Battle After Another (WINNER)

Stellan Skarsgård – Sentimental Value

Best Actress in a Supporting Role 

Elle Fanning – Sentimental Value

Inga Ibsdotter Lilleaas – Sentimental Value 

Amy Madigan – Weapons (WINNER)

Wunmi Mosaku – Sinners 

Teyana Taylor – One Battle After Another

Best Animated Short Film 

"Butterfly"

"Forevergreen"

"The Girl Who Cried Pearls" (WINNER)

"Retirement Plan"

"The Three Sisters"

Best Costume Design

Avatar: Fire and Ash

Frankenstein (WINNER)

Hamnet 

Marty Supreme

Sinners

Best Live Action Short Film

"Butchers Stain"

"A Friend of Dorothy"

"Jane Austen's Period Drama"

"The Singers" (WINNER — TIE)

"Two People Exchanging Saliva" (WINNER — TIE)

Best Makeup and Hairstyling 

Frankenstein (WINNER)

Kokuho

Sinners 

The Smashing Machine 

The Ugly Stepsister

Best Music (Original Score) 

Bugonia

Frankenstein

Hamnet

One Battle After Another

Sinners (WINNER)

Best Writing (Adapted Screenplay)

Will Tracy – Bugonia

Guillermo del Toro – Frankenstein

Chloé Zhao and Maggie O'Farrell – Hamnet

Paul Thomas Anderson – One Battle After Another (WINNER)

Clint Bentley and Greg Kwedar – Train Dreams

Best Writing (Original Screenplay)

Robert Kaplow - Blue Moon

Jafar Panahi - It Was Just an Accident

Ronald Bronstein and Josh Safdie – Marty Supreme

Eskil Vogt and Joachim Trier – Sentimental Value

Ryan Coogler – Sinners (WINNER)

Best Actor in a Leading Role 

Timothée Chalamet – Marty Supreme

Leonardo DiCaprio – One Battle After Another 

Ethan Hawke – Blue Moon 

Michael B. Jordan – Sinners (WINNER)

Wagner Moura – The Secret Agent

Best Actress in a Leading Role 

Jessie Buckley – Hamnet (WINNER)

Rose Byrne – If I Had Legs I'd Kick You 

Kate Hudson - Song Sung Blue

Renate Reinsve – Sentimental Value 

Emma Stone – Bugonia 

Best Animated Feature Film 

Arco

Elio

KPop Demon Hunters (WINNER)

Little Amélie or the Character of Rain

Zootopia 2

Best Picture

Bugonia

F1

Frankenstein

Hamnet

Marty Supreme

One Battle After Another (WINNER)

The Secret Agent

Sentimental Value

Sinners

Train Dreams

Best Casting

Hamnet

Marty Supreme

One Battle After Another (WINNER)

The Secret Agent

Sinners

Best Cinematography 

Frankenstein

Marty Supreme

One Battle After Another

Sinners (WINNER)

Train Dreams

Best Directing 

Chloé Zhao – Hamnet

Josh Safdie – Marty Supreme

Paul Thomas Anderson – One Battle After Another (WINNER)

Joachim Trier – Sentimental Value

Ryan Coogler – Sinners

Best Documentary Feature Film 

The Alabama Solution

Come See Me in the Good Light

Cutting Through Rocks

Mr. Nobody Against Putin (WINNER)

The Perfect Neighbor

Best Documentary Short Film 

"All the Empty Rooms" (WINNER)

"Armed Only With a Camera: The Life and Death of Brent Renaud"

"Children No More: Were and are Gone"

"The Devil is Busy"

"Perfectly A Strangeness"

Best Film Editing

F1

Marty Supreme

One Battle After Another (WINNER)

Sentimental Value

Sinners

Best International Feature Film 

The Secret Agent 

It Was Just an Accident 

Sentimental Value (WINNER)

Sirāt 

The Voice of Hind Rajab

Best Music (Original Song) 

"Dear Me" - Diane Warren: Relentless

"Golden - Kpop Demon Hunters (WINNER)

"I Lied to You" – Sinners

"Sweet Dreams of Joy" – Viva Verdi!

"Train Dreams" – Train Dreams

Best Production Design 

Frankenstein (WINNER)

Hamnet

Marty Supreme

One Battle After Another

Sinners

Best Sound

F1 (WINNER)

Frankenstein

One Battle After Another

Sinners

Sirāt 

Best Visual Effects

Avatar: Fire and Ash (WINNER)

F1 

Jurassic World Rebirth

The Lost Bus

Sinners

How to watch: The 98th Oscars airs live on March 15 on ABC and Hulu.

Mashable’s covering all things Oscars 2026, from Academy Awards live updates to red carpet style and the wildest moments from the show. Check back at Mashable.com throughout the night for winners announcements and more.

Where to buy the Pokémon TCG Mega Evolution Ascended Heroes Elite Trainer Box Best Walmart Deal Pokémon TCG Mega Evolution Ascended Heroes Elite Trainer Box $115.99 at Walmart ($34) Shop Now Best Amazon Deal Pokémon TCG Mega Evolution Ascended Heroes Elite Trainer Box $133.88 at Amazon Shop Now

Ascended Heroes ETBs recently shot up in price after a post-launch pricing war that left Pokémon TCG collectors caught in the middle, but Walmart is balancing the scales again by allowing you to grab one for under $120.

As of March 16, Walmart has the Pokémon TCG Mega Evolution Ascended Heroes Elite Trainer Box listed for $115.99, down from $149.99. Amazon has the same ETB at $133.88, making Walmart cheaper by $17.89. That’s already enough of a gap to make Walmart the better buy, but this price is also down to market price vs. TCGplayer. 

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You’re getting everything you’d expect from a Pokémon ETB based around Mega Evolution Pokémon — namely the poster child, Mega Dragonite. You’ll get nine Ascended Heroes booster packs of trading cards, one full-art foil promo card featuring N’s Zekrom, 65 card sleeves, 40 Pokémon TCG Energy cards, a player’s guide, six damage-counter dice, one competition-legal coin-flip die, a collector’s box with six dividers, and a code card for Pokémon TCG Live.

For more Asended Heroes boosters, you can buy the Pokémon TCG Ascended Heroes Tech Sticker Collections now for only $32 at Walmart. As for an ETB from the next expansion, the best place to pre-order Pokémon TCG Perfect Order is Walmart right now.

One of the most basic things you do on a computer is copying and pasting. Yet somehow, it’s still more annoying than it should be. That’s exactly why I started looking for a better clipboard manager and found ClipShelf.

Michael B. Jordan picked up the Oscar for Best Actor during a much anticipated Academy Awards on Sunday, with the Sinners star taking to the stage to make a passionate acceptance speech.

"I stand here because of the people that came before me: Sidney Poitier, Denzel Washington, Halle Berry, Jamie Fox, Forest Whittaker, Will Smith," says Jordan in the clip above. "And to be amongst those giants, amongst those greats, amongst my ancestors, amongst my guys, thank you everybody in this room, and everybody at home for supporting me over my career. I feel it. I know you guys want me to do well and I want to do that because you guys bet on me. So thank you for keeping betting on me. And I'mma keep stepping up, and I'mma keep being the best version of myself I can be."

For the full list of Oscars winners, Mashable's got you covered. We've also rounded up the wildest moments from the awards, and the best red carpet looks.

SAVE $300: As of March 16, the Apple Watch Ultra 2 has hit a new low price of $499 at Amazon. This is $300 off its original list price of $799.

Opens in a new window Credit: Apple Apple Watch Ultra 2 (GPS + Cellular 49mm) $499 at Amazon
$799 Save $300   Get Deal

Amazon's 2026 spring sale is right around the corner. Thankfully, we don't have to wait for great deals to drop, as a few exciting offers are already live. If you're an Apple user, one of those discounts is on the Apple Watch Ultra 2 (GPS + Cellular, 49mm). As of March 16, it has hit a new low price of $499.

The original list price is $799, so this deal saves you a whopping $300 on the Apple Watch Ultra 2. There are multiple colors to choose from at this price, including the rugged titanium case with a blue/black trail loop, blue alpine loop, green/grey trail loop, indigo alpine loop, and orange/beige trail loop.

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If you want to invest in a smartwatch that can keep up with your outdoor adventures, the Apple Watch Ultra 2 can definitely help. Whether you're a runner, cyclist, swimmer, or hiker, its full of features to assist with your workouts, including a precision dual-frequency GPS, speed tracking, heart rate monitoring, and elevation recording. It even has automatic stroke detection, lap count, splits, and more for swimmers.

It also offers solid health features, including irregular heart rhythm notifications, sleep tracking, and safety features. We consider it "the dark horse pick" in our roundup of the best smartwatches.

Be quick to grab this excellent offer on the Apple Watch Ultra 2 at Amazon.

SAVE $170.01: As of March 16, the Insignia 55-inch Class F50 TV is on sale for $179.98 at Amazon. That's a 49% discount on the list price.

Opens in a new window Credit: Insignia Insignia 55-inch Class F50 TV $179.98 at Amazon
$349.99 Save $170.01   Get Deal

The Insignia 55-inch Class F50 TV has gone on sale again at Amazon, and this time it's down to its lowest-ever price. As of March 16, you can take home this smart TV for under $180 ($179.99), a saving of $170 on list price.

With this TV you'll get 4K Ultra HD TV with a 2160p resolution and HDR10 support. It also benefits from an upscaling feature that improves the quality of lower-resolution content, bringing it closer to Ultra HD quality. The sound is impressive too, with DTS Virtual-X creating a more immersive audio experience through the TV’s speakers.

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It also boasts Fire TV on the inside, giving you access to a wide range of streaming apps, including Prime Video and Netflix, along with free options such as Fire TV Channels, Tubi, and Pluto TV. Not to mention, the interface is nice and easy to use, with all your favorite apps on one home screen.

If you have other smart home devices, this TV can act as a hub, allowing you to pair compatible devices to view camera feeds, control lighting, and adjust thermostats.

Find this Insignia TV deal at Amazon now. This is a limited-time discount, so don't miss out.

The beauty of live television is that absolutely anything can happen, and nowhere is that more reliably, terrifyingly true than at the Oscars. The Academy Awards like to present themselves as the pinnacle of Hollywood elegance, and yet the ceremony has an almost proud history of producing moments that range from the benignly chaotic like the the La La Land / Moonlight Best Picture debacle to the genuinely unhinged, like Will Smith walking up on stage and slapping the hell out of Chris Rock in front of every famous person on earth.

The point is: Something is always going to happen. This year, however, was a relatively quiet night, the biggest event being the seventh-ever tie in Oscars history for Live-Action Short Film.

Featured Video For You 2026 Oscar winners Kevin O'Leary is placing bets on Kalshi

To kick things off, Kevin O'Leary, the Shark Tank businessman and supporting star of Josh Safdie's Marty Supreme, arrived on the red carpet and let everyone know he put a $1,000 bet on Timothée Chalamet winning Best Actor through the infamous prediction market site Kalshi. Unsurprisingly, this has now led to a snowball effect of people betting against Chalamet.

This Tweet is currently unavailable. It might be loading or has been removed. This Tweet is currently unavailable. It might be loading or has been removed. This Tweet is currently unavailable. It might be loading or has been removed. This Tweet is currently unavailable. It might be loading or has been removed. Conan O'Brien as Aunt Gladys

In what can only be described as a bit that had absolutely no business working as well as it did, Oscars host Conan O'Brien took the stage dressed as Aunt Gladys from Weapons — the scene-stealing villain that earned Amy Madigan her Best Supporting Actress win — and somehow made it funnier than it had any right to be.

This Tweet is currently unavailable. It might be loading or has been removed. This Tweet is currently unavailable. It might be loading or has been removed. This Tweet is currently unavailable. It might be loading or has been removed. The Live-Action Short Film Oscar is a tie??

In a moment that sent genuine shockwaves through a ceremony that has been running for nearly a century, the Live Action Short Film category produced just the seventh tie in Academy Awards history, with Two People Exchanging Saliva and The Singers.

SEE ALSO: 2026 Oscar winners: See full list

The chaos that followed was, frankly, perfect — when the crew from Two People took the stage for their turn at the microphone, the Academy apparently decided they had heard enough and physically retracted the mic while they were still mid-speech, which is either a massive technical blunder or the most passive-aggressive move in Oscars history.

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The Academy's increasingly aggressive relationship with the clock claimed another victim when KPop Demon Hunters' "Golden" took home Best Original Song and the accepting team, mid-speech, got unceremoniously cut off and sent immediately to commercial without so much as a courtesy pause — a noticeably harsher fate than the Live Action Short situation earlier in the night, where at least the affected parties were eventually allowed to finish their thoughts.

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TL;DR: Unblock Pornhub from Texas with a VPN. The best service for unblocking porn sites is ExpressVPN.

More than a third of U.S. states have introduced age verification laws for online adult content, including Texas. In response, Pornhub banned users in those locations from accessing their site. That means millions of users in Texas are now unable to access Pornhub.

There are complicated reasons for this restriction, but the workaround is simple. If you want to unblock porn sites like Pornhub for free from Texas, we have all the information you need.

How to unblock Pornhub for free in Texas

VPNs are useful tools that can hide your real IP address (digital location) and connect you to secure servers in other locations. This straightforward process bypasses geo-restrictions so you can access sites like Pornhub from anywhere in the world.

Unblock Pornhub by following these simple steps:

1. Sign up for a VPN (like ExpressVPN)

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

3. Open up the app and connect to a server in a location that supports access to Pornhub

4. Visit Pornhub

Opens in a new window Credit: ExpressVPN ExpressVPN (1-Month Plan) $12.99 only at ExpressVPN (with money-back guarantee) Get Deal

The best VPNs for unblocking porn sites are not free, but most do offer free-trial peiods or money-back guarantees. By leveraging these offers, you can unblock porn sites like Pornhub without actually spending anything. This is obviously not a long-term solution, but it does give you the opportunity to temporarily retain access to Pornhub before recovering your investment.

If you want to retain permanent access to sites like Pornhub, you'll need a subscription. Fortunately, the best VPN for bypassing content restrictions is on sale for a limited time.

What is the best VPN for Pornhub?

ExpressVPN is the top choice for unblocking porn sites like Pornhub, for a number of reasons:

• Servers in 105 countries

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

• Strict no-logging policy so your data is always secure

• Fast streaming speeds free from throttling

• Up to 10 simultaneous connections

• 30-day money-back guarantee

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

Unblock Pornhub for free in Texas with ExpressVPN.

TL;DR: Unblock Pornhub for free with a VPN. The best service for unblocking porn sites from Australia is ExpressVPN.

The world of porn continues to be impacted by age-verification laws. Early in 2025, more than a third of U.S. states introduced age verification laws for online adult content. Pornhub responded by blocking users from those locations. A similar situation hit France and the UK, and now Australians are facing the same set of challenges.

The porn blocks arrived just days before new online safety codes came into effect, requiring organisations to verify the ages of users. It's the same story, with the same workaround.

If you want to unblock porn sites like Pornhub for free from Australia, we have all the information you need.

How to unblock Pornhub for free in Australia

VPNs are useful tools that can hide your real IP address (digital location) and connect you to secure servers in other locations. This quick and easy process bypasses geo-restrictions so you can access sites like Pornhub from anywhere in the world.

Unblock Pornhub from Australia by following these simple steps:

1. Sign up for a VPN (like ExpressVPN)

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

3. Open up the app and connect to a server in a location that supports access to Pornhub

4. Visit Pornhub

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

The best VPNs for unblocking porn sites are not free, but most do offer free-trial peiods or money-back guarantees. By leveraging these offers, you can unblock porn sites like Pornhub without spending anything. This is obviously not a long-term solution, but it does give you the opportunity to temporarily retain access to Pornhub before recovering your investment. There's a chance that the situation may have changed before the free trial comes to an end.

If you want to retain permanent access to sites like Pornhub, you'll need a subscription. Fortunately, the best VPN for bypassing content restrictions is on sale for a limited time.

What is the best VPN for Pornhub?

ExpressVPN is the top choice for unblocking porn sites like Pornhub, for a number of reasons:

• Servers in 105 countries

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

• Strict no-logging policy so your data is always secure

• Fast streaming speeds free from throttling

• Up to 10 simultaneous connections

• 30-day money-back guarantee

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

Unblock Pornhub for free in Australia with ExpressVPN.

Ugreen started out as a charger company, but quickly took the NAS world by storm a few years ago when it started releasing NAS units. Now, its moving from entry-level and mid-range storage servers to professional units. The Ugreen iDX6011 Pro is the first truly pro-grade NAS from Ugreen, and I was quite surprised with just how great it worked for me.

TL;DR: Enjoy professional-level styling at home with this Dyson Airwrap Multi-Styler Complete Long, now only $349.99.

Opens in a new window Credit: Dyson Dyson Airwrap Multi-Styler Complete Long - Nickel/Copper (Refurbished) $349.99
$649.99 Save $300   Get Deal

If you have long hair, you know how tough it can be to style it like the pros. You need the right tools — and the Dyson Airwrap Multi-Styler Complete Long was literally made for you. It works with chest-length hair or longer, and is compatible with multiple hair types. Right now, you can get this expensive tool refurbished for just $349.99.

There’s a reason people pay the big bucks for Dyson hair products — they allow you to replicate salon-quality style at home. The Dyson Airwrap Multi-Styler Complete Long comes with re-engineered attachments to make it even quicker and easier to style your tresses, and this refurbished model lets you do it for a fraction of the usual price.

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Curl, shape, smooth, and hide your flyaways with this Dyson Airwrap Multi-Styler. It doesn’t use extreme heat, while still managing to help you dry and style simultaneously. The Enhanced Coanda airflow — which helps you style with air, not heat — enables greater control by attracting the hair to the surface of the Dyson’s brushes.

Go from wet to damp in pre-styling mode, or finish up your styling with the smoothing mode, which leaves you with up to 58% less frizz and flyaways. You can craft clockwise and counterclockwise curls with just one barrel, while the Enhanced Conada airflow attracts and self-wraps hair in both directions around these re-engineered barrels that create gorgeous curls or waves.

This Dyson Airwrap is powered by the Dyson digital motor V9, and intelligent heat control measures the airflow temperature more than 40 times a second, so you won’t be left with any heat damage. It also uses negative ions to help reduce static in your hair, so you’re left with a silky, smooth look.

Get this refurbished Dyson Airwrap Multi-Styler Complete Long for $349.99 while supplies last.

Want to see more deals? Visit the shop and use code MARCH15 to save an extra 15% sitewide through March 29. Exclusions apply.

StackSocial prices subject to change.

FREE GOOGLE PIXEL 10A: As of March 16, T-Mobile is offering shoppers the chance to get a Google Pixel 10A for free with a new line on its Essentials Plan.

Opens in a new window Credit: Google Google Pixel 10A For Free With T-Mobile   Get Deal

Phones are always pricey investments, so it's always good to see something for "free." As of March 16, T-Mobile is offering shoppers the opportunity to score a Google Pixel 10a smartphone for free when they start a new line on its Essentials Plan.

The Pixel 10a's full price is $499.99, so this is a truly great deal. The Essentials Plan is sets you up with the, well, essentials for your smartphone. According to T-Mobile's announcement of this plan back when it was initially revealed, "T-Mobile Essentials is designed for those who say they just want the basics: unlimited talk, text and smartphone data in the U.S." What more do you really need?

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As for the Pixel 10a, it's a smartphone we think is "still the best budget Android phone on the market" according to our review. Mashable's Alex Perry continued to say, "Though it's not a particularly exciting smartphone, it does have a very attractive price and one notable design change: The camera array is now completely flat, so there's no wobble when it lays flat."

Perry also adds that, "The Pixel 10a may not be a conversation starter, but not every phone needs to be one, and it's a good smartphone nonetheless." So if you don't mind having a phone that's a little less flashy than it's more expensive counterparts, this is a great opportunity to grab it for free from T-Mobile.

Fabula Rasa: Dead Man Talking, in an interactive VR game that made its global debut at the XR Exhibition at SXSW 2026 this weekend. At the exhibition, I got the chance to try a bunch of virtual and augmented reality experiences — art installations, VR experiences, and satirical projects that defied definition. But after playing Fabula Rasa, I can’t stop thinking about what it means for the future of gaming.

The gameplay of Fabula Rasa is built around fully improvised, AI-generated conversations. You create your own character on the spot, and the game characters and your interactions are all powered by LLMs.

This is what the game forces us to ask: What if there were no more NPCs in video games? What if every character in an RPG had a fully-realized backstory and infinite conversational trees?

Imagine it: you’re playing a game like Red Dead Redemption or Skyrim, except every character you meet — the random henchmen, tavern wenches, pickpockets — can have in-depth conversations with you in real-time. 

You’re no longer choosing from three or four pre-written dialogue options and having circular, process-of-elimination conversations. You’re talking into your headset and making up wholly original stories and side quests as you go. It would bring true role-playing to RPGs.

It’s a reality that’s closer than I realized.

What is Fabula Rasa: Dead Man Talking? 'Fabula Rasa' is a medieval fantasy game driven by AI characters. Credit: Arvore

Fabula Rasa is an experiment. The game was made by the award-winning Brazilian XR studio Arvore. I played the game on a Meta Quest VR headset, but it’s not commercially available yet.

The game has a simple premise: You play a prisoner condemned to death in a medieval kingdom. The entire game takes place in a cage, suspended over a monster pit, as you await the king’s arrival and your eventual execution. You talk to a variety of characters, and depending on your interactions with them, you’ll either be spared or killed. (I went home with a pin that says “I survived the monster pit,” which is apparently the less likely outcome, the game's directors told me.)

Fabula Rasa is an improv experience. The game can be as fun as you are. When I realized a knight in a suit of armor was secretly three cats stacked on top of each other, I told him/them that one of my best friends was actually three dogs in a trenchcoat, which prompted him to argue for a stay of execution on my behalf. It’s silly, cheesy fun.

“In essence, we created sort of an improv theater experience, right?” Arvore’s founder and CEO Ricardo Justus told me. “We did workshops with improv comedians at our studio to learn more about this, and it started working once we started implementing a lot of these improv techniques. So, characters riffing off you. You riffing off the characters. And if you are into it, like into the story, it's really funny and fun.”

Justus told me Fabula Rasa was meant to be replayable, with the ending and characters changing depending on your actions. 

A game where choices matter Credit: Arvore

The game definitely felt like a proof of concept more than a fully realized game, but it’s the concept that’s really interesting.

Games will, of course, still need writers and storylines, but Fabula Rasa shows how AI can open up even more immersion in the game's world.

If that idea could be applied to AAA games, it could rewrite the rules of gaming as we know it.

Justus told me that Arvore uses a patchwork of models to power Fabula Rasa, particularly Claude for dialogue and ElevenLabs for audio. While not perfect, the conversations were surprisingly rich, and you could engage in back-and-forth worldplay.

I decided to play as a humble shoemaker wrongly imprisoned for murder. Twenty minutes later, pleading for my life, I realized the king in the game is literally a very short king. So, I offered to design a pair of high heels that would make him so tall that people would no longer call him “Your highness” ironically. LLMs make this kind of spur-of-the-moment banter possible. And don't forget: this technology is still in its infancy and rapidly improving.

Credit: Arvore AI in gaming isn't going away

Now, to be sure, many gamers hate any hint of AI in gaming. However, Justus told me that Arvore didn’t use AI to replace human developers, writers, or artists. (The game does use AI voice models instead of actors, due to the improvisational nature of the dialogue.) Rather, AI powers the game mechanics and the story itself.

"All the art in the game is handcrafted. Like, we didn't want to use it as a way to shorten production time, right? What we challenged ourselves was, can we use AI as a storytelling medium? And how would that work? And I do think eventually it's gonna be very interesting to apply that to an RPG, like, for example, a big open world game. Almost, like Westworld, you can talk to the characters. We're not there yet, I don't think."

Still, Justus acknowledged that AI in gaming can be controversial.

Any time a studio is caught using AI in game development, they face a strong backlash from a very vocal group of gamers. Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 was stripped of its Indie Game Awards for using AI background textures. Yet it’s still the most award-winning title of all time. Arc Raiders was the subject of a boycott over AI, and went on to become a global best-seller.

“I think there's a big vocal [group] of people that are very incensed by this, and maybe [more] so than the people who are actually buying games and don't care necessarily. If it's a good game, the process to create it doesn't matter as much from a consumer standpoint. Are there ethical issues of people losing their jobs and stuff like that? Of course there are, right? It’s challenging. But I feel like there isn’t a way back from using AI for development.

"Again, for this, we handcrafted all the art. We wanted to use AI to tell the story, right?"

SEE ALSO: ARC Raiders opts to replace AI-generated dialogue with professional voice actors AI-powered immersion still has limitations

Unfortunately, it may be awhile before you can play Fabula Rasa.

Arvore’s CEO told me they’re working toward a commercial release, but several hurdles need to be cleared first. Every time the game improvises a scene, it uses costly tokens with the LLM models. Second, the game is powered by frontier models that can’t be run on-device, which means some latency in conversations. 

So, there’s a cost problem and a latency problem.

Still, surely these are solvable problems.

You can find Fabula Rasa at the SXSW XR Exhibition for a little while longer, and you can look for it at future conferences and gaming events.

I played the game for about 30 minutes, but I’ve been thinking about its implications for a lot longer.

You can learn more about Fabula Rasa: Dead Man Talking at the Arvore website.

New from JBL: JBL Live 780NC Wireless Headphones $249.95 at JBL Shop Now JBL 680NC Wireless On-Ear Headphones $159.95 at JBL Get Deal JBL Soundgear Clips Open-Ear Headphones $149.95 Shop Now

Bold colors. Transparent casing. A splashy event at SXSW. JBL is working hard to give stylish music lovers something to get excited about this year.

And at a music event at SXSW 2026 over the weekend, the audio brand announced two new pairs of noise-cancelling headphones: The JBL Live 780NC Over-Ear Headphones and the Live 680NC On-Ear Headphones.

The brand definitely seems to be leaning into wearing your tech as a fashion statement, and the new Live 780NC and 680NC headphones feature stylish color options.

Credit: JBL

The release follows the launch of the brand's new party speaker, the JBL PartyBox On-the-Go 2 Plus. In addition, the JBL open-ear earbuds previously announced at CES 2026 are now available for sale.

We've got all the details on the new products, plus a first look from our colleagues at CNET.

View this post on Instagram Introducing two new JBL Live headphones

The headphones made their official debut at JBL's SXSW activation, the JBL Livebrary, which featured live performances from Steve Aoki and others. Like Apple's AirPods Pro Max, the headphones feature cool color options.

Credit: JBL Credit: JBL

The headphones come in black, green, blue, champagne, and white, giving shoppers more color options than usual. (Unfortunately, not all colors are available at launch.)

The JBL Live 780NC over-ear headphones have premium specs, including 80 hours of battery life (50 hours without ANC). They're priced at $249.95 and are available for order at JBL's online store now.

• Active noise-cancellation supported by 6 microphones

• 40mm dynamic driver with compound diaphragm 

• JBL Spatial Sound 3.0

• LDAC support for high-resolution wireless audio on compatible devices

• 80 hours battery life (50 hours without ANC)

• Quick charge provides 4 hours with 5 minutes of Speed Charge

• 2 beamforming mics with an enhanced AI-trained noise-cancellation algorithm for phone calls

JBL Live 780NC Wireless Headphones $249.95 at JBL
  See It at JBL See It at Amazon

The JBL 680NC on-ear headphones are more affordable at $159.95, but they have most of the same features and come in the same colors. Instead of the six microphones for ANC, they only feature four. In addition, they lack some premium EQ settings. Otherwise, the specs are very similar.

JBL 680NC Wireless On-Ear Headphones $159.95 at JBL
  See It at JBL See It at Amazon

In addition, JBL announced the launch of a new party speaker and some karaoke accessories, which you can read about on the JBL and Harmon websites (JBL is owned by Harman).

Finally, the open-ear line announced at CES 2026 are now available for sale.

We're also very happy to report that although the initial pictures of the transparent JBL Soundgear Clips didn't look all that great, they do look much cooler in person. You can order them at the JBL website or via Amazon for $149.95.

View this post on Instagram

If you purchase any of the new products through Amazon, you'll get 90 days of Amazon Music for free.

Opens in a new window Credit: JBL JBL Soundgear Clips Open Earbuds $149.95 at Amazon
  Shop Now

The Mini is a bite-sized version of The New York Times' revered daily crossword. While the crossword is a lengthier experience that requires both knowledge and patience to complete, The Mini is an entirely different vibe.

With only a handful of clues to answer, the daily puzzle doubles as a speed-running test for many who play it.

So, when a tricky clue disrupts a player's flow, it can be frustrating! If you find yourself stumped playing The Mini — much like with Wordle and Connections — we have you covered.

SEE ALSO: Mahjong, Sudoku, free crossword, and more: Play games on Mashable SEE ALSO: How to play Pips, the newest NYT game

Here are the clues and answers to NYT's The Mini for Monday, March 16, 2026:

AcrossBlues, e.g.

• The answer is Music.

Late actress Catherine of "Schitt's Creek"

• The answer is O'Hara.

List included with a board game

• The answer is Rules.

April Fools' shenanigan

• The answer is Prank.

Greek god of the underworld

• The answer is Hades.

DownTransform gradually

• The answer is Morph.

"Star Trek" officer portrayed by Zoe Saldaña

• The answer is Uhura.

Greens, e.g.

• The answer is Salad.

Woman's name that's an anagram of ERNIE

• The answer is Irene.

Containers for reds and whites

• The answer is Casks.

If you're looking for more puzzles, Mashable's got games now! Check out our games hub for Mahjong, Sudoku, free crossword, and more.

Are you also playing NYT Strands? See hints and answers for today's Strands.

Not the day you're after? Here's the solution to the latest Mini Crossword.

SAVE OVER $700: As of March 16, the EcoFlow Delta 2 Max with solar generator is on sale for $1,298.99 at Amazon. That's a 35% discount on the list price.

Opens in a new window Credit: EcoFlow EcoFlow Delta 2 Max (with Solar Generator) $1,298.99 at Amazon
$1,999 Save $700.01   Get Deal

If you’ve been after a solid portable power station, the EcoFlow Delta 2 Max with solar generator is on sale at Amazon. As of March 16, it’s dropped to $1,298.99 from $1,999, a $700 saving on list price. This is a seriously powerful unit, so if you're looking for a whole home backup, this is your lucky day.

This unit charges quickly thanks to its portable solar panels. A single 400W panel can help it reach full charge in just 5.1 hours and two panels in 2.6 hours. It also supports fast AC charging, reaching 80% in 1.1 hours or 43 minutes with combined solar and AC input using EcoFlow’s dual charging technology.

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It's easy to store, with the solar panels folding away and only weighing 35.3 pounds. They're also waterproof and designed for outdoor use, so take them with you when camping or road tripping.

When charged up, this EcoFlow unit can power pretty much all household devices with up to 2,400W output, or up to 3,400W using X-Boost mode for high-wattage appliances. It has 15 outlets that include USB-A, AC, and car outlets. And you'll be glad to know that this power station is designed for serious use over a number of years. This is thanks to its LiFePO4 battery that's rated for 3,000 full cycles (this is equivalent to over 10 years of use), and comes with a five-year service plan.

Get this EcoFlow deal online at Amazon now.

SAVE $22: As of March 16, the Fire Stick 4K Select is on sale for $14.99 with the code FTVSELECT. That's a 55% discount on the list price, and its best-ever price.

Opens in a new window Credit: Amazon Amazon Fire Stick 4K Select $14.99 at Amazon
$39.99 Save $25 Use code FTVSELECT at the checkout Get Deal

The Amazon Fire Stick 4K Select is back on sale at Amazon, but this time it has dropped to a new all-time low price of $14.99. That's more than half off ahead of the Spring Sale. The Select is the newest Fire Stick in the range, released as a more affordable way to bring you 4K streaming.

Like all of Amazon's Fire TV Sticks, this one is a breeze to set up. It plugs directly into your TV's HDMI port (if it sits snug against your wall, don't worry, it comes with an HDMI extender cable). After you plug that in, attach the power cable to the device and then power it from your nearest wall outlet. Then turn your TV on and you're good to go.

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It also comes with a remote with Alexa functionality. Press down the blue button to ask the TV to find your favorite show, research something on the internet, or even communicate with your other smart home devices. This remote can also be used to control your TV, allowing you to power it on and off and adjust the volume.

And of course, you'll get access to a wide range of streaming apps including Prime Video, Netflix, Disney+, Apple TV, and many more. Not to mention, you'll be watching in brilliant 4K Ultra HD with High Dynamic Range 10+.

Get this Fire TV Stick deal from Amazon now.

TL;DR: On March 19, fans can score a free vanilla soft-serve cone at participating Dairy Queen locations nationwide.

The birds are singing, the temperature is climbing, and yes, that is the sun you can see peeping through the clouds. Spring is just around the corner, and so is Free Cone Day.

Dairy Queen's Free Cone Day is making a triumphant return in 2026. On March 19, you can celebrate this special occasion by enjoying a free vanilla soft-serve cone at participating Dairy Queen locations. Simply stop by your local DQ restaurant to score this delicious treat — there's really no catch.

SEE ALSO: Lego is giving away an exclusive Steering Wheel for free. Here’s how to get yours on March 9.

We recommend visiting Dairy Queen or downloading the Dairy Queen App to find a local restaurant before March 19. When the day comes, you don't want to be messing around online. You want to be prepared. On Free Cone Day, the focus should be on free ice cream and nothing else.

The promotion runs all day while supplies last and there's a limit of one free cone per person. This free giveaway is not valid on delivery or mobile orders and it's worth noting that U.S. Mall locations require a purchase to qualify.

Celebrate Dairy Queen's Cone Day with a free vanilla soft-serve cone on March 19.

SAVE $500: As of March 14, the DJI Mini 5 Pro Fly More Combo is on sale for $1,099 at Amazon. That's $500 off the list price.

Opens in a new window Credit: DJI DJI Mini 5 Pro Fly More Combo $1,099 at Amazon
$1,599 Save $500   Get Deal

The ban on DJI imports it naturally causing stock to drop, but it's still possible to find popular models on Amazon (for now). And you can still find deals on some of the best drones from the brand, including the DJI Mini 5 Pro Fly More Combo. This bumper bundle has hit a record-low price on Amazon this weekend.

As of March 14, the DJI Mini 5 Pro Fly More Combo is on sale for $1,099 at Amazon. That's $500 off the list price for a limited time.

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We have seen this low price before, but we don't know how long this sort of deal will stay live. Stock is going to dwindle at some stage. At that point, prices will surely jump. Until we reach that moment, we're going to take every opportunity we can get to shop.

This bundle includes the DJI Mini 5 Pro drone, the DJI RC 2 camera-drone remote controller, a set of filters, three DJI Mini 5 Pro Intelligent Flight batteries, three propeller sets, a shoulder bag, and more. You're getting everything you need to start flying and capturing footage in one convenient package.

The DJI Mini 5 Pro features a one-inch CMOS camera with 4K HDR filming at 60fps. You can opt for 4K 120fps for slow-motion filming, and night flying is a possibility thanks to the 360 degree Nightscape Omnidirectional Sensing and Nighttime return-to-home function.

It's a truly stellar option for content creators and anyone looking to capture epic footage.

Score the best-ever price on the DJI Mini 5 Pro this weekend.

Samsung's Galaxy Z TriFold was a brave experiment that largely worked out well, but the experiment might be coming to an end.

A new report from Korean outlet Donga claims that Samsung is ending the sales of the TriFold in Korea just three months after launch. In the U.S., the TriFold is still available, but sales will only continue until the current production volume is sold out.

For such a novelty device – the first Samsung tri-folding phone to hit the mass market – the TriFold was a success. Reviewers loved it (I've tried it briefly, and was impressed by the size and quality of its display when fully unfolded), and it was sold out shortly after launch (though this may be attributed to production volume being small), despite its high price tag of $2,899.

But Donga cites industry sources as saying that the TriFold, while successful, had such high production costs that it was unprofitable even at that price. The costs further increased after the prices of certain parts, including memory chips, have risen through the roof.

The report quotes industry insiders as saying that the TriFold was a product to showcase Samsung's tech prowess, and that it was never intended to generate major sales revenue.

SEE ALSO: Samsung Galaxy S26 Ultra review: I might be done with iPhones

The question is whether Samsung will follow up with another tri-folding device, or perhaps use some of the tech from the TriFold in one of its upcoming foldables. The company is likely to launch new Galaxy Z Fold 8 and Flip 8 next summer, and a possible "Wide" version of the Galaxy Z Fold is rumored as well.