How Tesla almost went out of business — and then broke the auto industry Image: Vox MediaDuring the development of the Tesla Model S, one top engineer would tick off certain milestones in his mind whenever the tiny, almost bankrupt startup would hit certain goals. A particular number of cars built, for example. And one milestone he distinctly remembers is when the Tesla team completed more than 9,000 cars. Why? Beca…

Activision Blizzard lays off esports staff as it faces potential dramatic changes for the Overwatch League Image: Joe BradyAmid layoffs in the Activision Blizzard esports department, Overwatch League franchise owners will vote on whether to continue the league in its current format. Continue reading…

Microsoft and Activision Blizzard agree to extend merger agreement to October Photo by Hakan Nural / Anadolu Agency via Getty ImagesMicrosoft and Activision Blizzard have agreed to extend their merger agreement pending the outcome of negotiations with UK regulators. Both parties will now have until October 18th to finalize the transaction, after missing yesterday’s original deal deadline. “The recent decision in the US an…

Pikmin 4 embraces the series’ hidden horror roots Image: NintendoIf you haven’t played a Pikmin game before, you might be surprised to learn that the series can get quite dark. Sure, it stars a bunch of adorable plant-like beings — the titular pikmin — who navigate a huge world full of similarly cute creatures. It’s bright and colorful in the way that Nintendo games tend to be. But it’s also pr…

Nothing CEO Carl Pei on the Phone 2, AI, and the future of gadgets Nothing CEO Carl Pei knows better than most how hard it is to make a dent in the hardware world. | Image: NothingNothing wants to invent the future. But you don’t get to invent the future if you can’t first make it in the smartphone biz. Continue reading…

Netflix just axed its basic ad-free plan in the US and UK Illustration by Nick Barclay / The VergeAfter Netflix dropped its cheapest ad-free plan in Canada last month, it’s now doing the same in the US and UK, as first spotted by Cord Busters. Netflix’s support page in both countries states that the $9.99 (£6.99) / month basic plan is no longer available “for new or rejoining members.” If you’re alread…

Readers pick the best tech books of all time We asked you for your favorites, and you delivered. Continue reading…

The self-transforming Optimus Prime now has a $1,700 dinobot friend ME GRIMLOCK.How much would fans pay for the ultimate action figure? A company named Robosen seems determined to find out — with Transformers toys that transform themselves like they do in the classic cartoon. First, it was a $750 self-transforming Optimus Prime robot, then a $750 transforming trailer to go with. $1,500 total to bring the leader…

TikTok Music rolls out to more countries ByteDance hasn’t yet announced when TikTok Music will be launching to US markets. | Image: TikTok / The Verge / CanvaTikTok is rolling out its new subscription-based music streaming platform — aptly named TikTok Music — to new markets, almost two weeks after the service first debuted in Indonesia and Brazil. According to a press release shared w…

Intel mini NUC computers get a second life thanks to Asus Image: IntelIntel announced earlier this week that its compact and upgradable NUC computers were being discontinued, but now Asus is stepping in to manufacture and develop future NUC systems instead. While Intel won’t be making its cute small form factor PCs anymore, Asus will receive a non-exclusive license to Intel’s NUC (Next Unit of Computin…

This Barbie is a feminist parable fighting to be great in spite of Mattel’s input Margot Robbie as Barbie in her cowgirl guise. | Image: Warner Bros.Greta Gerwig’s Barbie is often good and sometimes great, but it always feels like it’s fighting to be itself rather than the movie Warner Bros. and Mattel Films want. Continue reading…

Why would anyone make a website in 2023? Squarespace CEO Anthony Casalena has some ideas Photo illustration by Alex Parkin / The VergeSquarespace has lived through the eras of domain squatting, SEO keywords, and social algorithms and is now launching AI tools. Here’s what’s next for the 20-year-old company. Continue reading…

Instagram Reels are about to get a lot more repetitive Image: InstagramInstagram is introducing updates to its Reels templates — a feature that allows users to make their own video based on someone else’s. The result could be a lot more content that looks exactly like everything else. Templates break down Reels into a preset format that users can drop their own photos and videos into — a sequence of…

Roblox is going to let developers offer subscriptions in their experiences Illustration: The VergeRoblox is developing tools that will let developers offer subscriptions within their experiences, according to a blog post published Tuesday, which could prove to be a major new way for developers to make money in their experiences. Roblox already offers developers a lot of ways to monetize their experiences, including the…

Google is testing AI-generated Meet video backgrounds Illustration: The VergeI am not big on blurring out or replacing my office background with premade images, but then again, I’m fortunate enough to have a small environment I’m completely in control of at my disposal, and I want people to see the Doctor Zhivago DVD on the shelf behind me. I could, however, see myself using the new AI-generated ba…

Reddit’s only free iOS app icons are ugly now If you’re not a fan of the new pixelated Reddit icon on your iPhone, I have some bad news: unless you want to switch to an icon themed around the Dogecoin dog or WallStreetBets, you’ll have to subscribe to Reddit Premium to be able to use an icon that just features the regular Reddit logo, as spotted by 9to5Mac’s Benjamin Mayo. Below are the cur…

Capcom’s dino shooter Exoprimal is campy but clunky CapcomDinos in crisis. Continue reading…

Paul McCartney’s new podcast had to make some tough choices This is Hot Pod, The Verge’s newsletter about podcasting and the audio industry. Sign up here for more. I’ve got a rather assorted issue of Hot Pod for you all today. First off, Paul McCartney is getting a podcast. I spoke to the executive producer of the new show to learn more about the inner workings of the two-season series. There’s a new le…

OnePlus 12 leaks show a bigger battery and faster charging The OnePlus 11 5G. | Photo by Allison Johnson / The VergeSpecs for the OnePlus 12 have leaked, showing some key incremental changes including faster charging and a bigger battery but with a design that’s not a lot different from the OnePlus 11 5G, reported Smartprix in collaboration with prominent leaker OnLeaks. According to Smartprix, the phon…

Logitech buys Stream Deck rival Loupedeck Logitech has acquired Loupedeck for an “undisclosed, non-material” sum. | Image: LoupedeckLogitech has acquired Loupedeck — the company behind the self-titled editing console beloved by streamers and creative professionals — for an undisclosed sum, according to a press release published on Tuesday. It’s one of many recent steps that Logitech has…