Warner Bros. Discovery to split into two companies
Warner Bros. Discovery will split into two companies by next year, with much of its streaming and movie production moving under one company and its live sports and news to another.
The deal, announced Monday, comes just three years after Warner Bros. and Discovery merged in a bid to capture more of the highly competitive streaming market and hunt for 130 million paying subscribers on its Max service. As of March, the company had nearly reached that goal, having reached more than 122 million subscribers, according to its most recent quarterly report.
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Digital Trends
16 minutes ago
- Digital Trends
Directive 8020 is straight up a playable version of The Thing
It's no secret that developer Supermassive Games is inspired by horror movies. The studio's brand of choose your own adventure horror games has always pulled ideas from classic slashers and adapted those ideas into original stories. With Directive 8020, the latest entry in its long running Dark Pictures anthology, that inspiration is clearer than ever. I played a quick slice of it at Summer Game Fest and I'm happy to report that Supermassive has basically just made John Carpenter's The Thing, but playable. That isn't apparent right away when my demo begins. I start in the middle of a dramatic conversation between two of its main characters who set up the sci-fi world and express some concerns with an operation to Mars. For the purposes of the demo, it's basically just a way for Supermassive to show off how strong its cinematic chops have gotten. The character models approach hyperrealism, and the acting doesn't feel far off from a Hollywood movie. After that quick introduction, things rapidly heat up. One of those characters winds up facing down his doppelganger, leading to a thrilling little fight scene. While those bits have some minimal interaction, I get to do a lot more when a doppelganger suddenly mutates into an enormous flesh monster pulled straight from a John Carpenter movie. I'm tossed into a straight-up stealth horror sequence where I need to get past a patrolling monster and sneak my way to a ladder. I can use a scanner to track its position through walls. Though it's a bit of a standard stealth hiding sequence, it's a remarkably tense one. I'm legitimately terrified of getting caught, likely because the monster that's chasing me is just so grotesque with its human face hanging from its hulking body. I almost get to the end undetected, but it spots me at the last moment. I make a run for the ladder and grab it with a second to spare. It's another true movie moment. Recommended Videos Even with all these tells, I don't fully pick up on how much Supermassive is making The Thing in space until the next cutscene. The ship's crew has a potential doppelganger contained in a cell and must decide if he's friend or foe. I'm given the choice to either shoot him dead or spare him. Naturally, I shoot the sucker dead. That's where I learn about the biggest way that Directive 8020 is evolving the Dark Pictures formula. As soon as I make my choice, a pop up appears on screen that asks me if I want to rewind. I'm no longer stuck with my bad decision. When it happens, a developer from the Supermassive team come over to me and explains exactly how that works. By opening a menu, players can now see exactly how a chapter's story tree will branch. It doesn't show what the choices are, but it shows how many permeations there are from the jump. In my case, there were three ways my encounter could have gone. It turned out that the guy I shot was legitimately a human (whoops), but certain story choices earlier on could lead to a mimic being there instead — hence three possible outcomes. And don't worry: If you're a purist, there will be a mode that disallows you from using rewinds, so you have to live with your bad choices. All of this seems like a smart evolution for a formula that Supermassive Games has nearly perfected at this point. The few choices I had to make felt impactful and I like having a little more classic horror gameplay in that bit of stealth. More than anything, I just like running away from gross body horror monsters that would make David Cronenberg proud. I'm ready to be grossed out. Directive 8020 launches on October 2 for PS5, Xbox Series X/S, and PC.
Car and Driver
18 minutes ago
- Car and Driver
2025 Mini Countryman Electric Review, Pricing, and Specs
Specs See all specs EPA Est. Range 212 Miles Seating 5 Seats Powertrain Electric Drivetrain All-Wheel Drive Limited Warranty 4 Years/50,000 Miles Overview If you want that classic Mini charm combined with an electric powertrain, the SE version of the Countryman SUV is the only game in town these days. Although it looks identical to the gas-powered Countryman, underneath is a battery pack that offers an estimated range of between 204 and 212 miles on a charge. Its 308-hp dual-motor electric powertrain provides decent acceleration and standard all-wheel drive. The Countryman Electric offers a crisp exterior design and a nicely outfitted cabin with plenty of fun features, including a circular infotainment system. Buyers who aren't ready to make the switch to electric just yet will no doubt pass on the EV for the regular Countryman (reviewed separately), but those who take a chance on the Countryman Electric will find that very little of Mini's signature spunkiness has been lost in translation. What's New for 2025? The Countryman Electric is a new model for the Mini lineup for the 2025 model year. Pricing and Which One to Buy The price of the 2025 Mini Countryman Electric starts at $46,375. SE All4 $46,375 0 $10k $20k $30k $40k $50k $60k $70k build & price Mini is only offering the SE All4 dual-motor model in North America. It comes standard with a lot of desirable equipment though, including a cool circular infotainment screen, 20-inch wheels, and ambient interior lighting. Want to compare the 2025 Mini Countryman Electric to other vehicles you're interested in? Our new compare tool provides a comprehensive, side-by-side look at up to five cars of your choice. Compare Cars This content is imported from Third party. You may be able to find the same content in another format, or you may be able to find more information, at their web site. EV Motor, Power, and Performance While Mini sells single-motor models in other markets, all Countryman Electrics sold in the U.S. come with a dual-motor all-wheel-drive setup called All4. This powertrain features two electric motors that in combination make 308 horsepower. Ride and handling are nicely balanced here, but no one will mistake the Electric for the performance-oriented John Cooper Works model (reviewed separately). When we drove the Countryman Electric, we appreciated its one-pedal driving capability but felt that its extra weight compared with the gas version prevented it from being as eager and responsive. 0–60-MPH Times In our testing, the Countryman SE All4 got to 60 mph in 4.8 seconds. That's a couple ticks slower than the similarly powered John Cooper Works gas version. View Exterior Photos Andi Hedrick | Car and Driver Range, Charging, and Battery Life The Countryman S E All4 comes standard with a 64.6-kWh battery and has an EPA-estimated range of up to 212 miles of driving per charge. That figure is for Countrymans with 18-inch wheels; upgrading to 19-inch wheels knocks the range down to 204 miles. Rival EV SUVs such as the Kia Niro EV and the Tesla Model Y both offer more driving range per charge at a similar price point. In our real-world 75-mph highway range test, the Countryman achieved 180 miles. We also tested its DC fast-charging speed and were able to get it from 10 percent to 90 percent charge in 39 minutes. Fuel Economy and Real-World MPGe According to the EPA, the jumbo Mini EV is good for a 96 MPGe combined rating when equipped with 18-inch wheels. Wearing larger 19-inch wheels, the Countryman Electric's rating drops to 91 MPGe combined. In our 75-mph highway fuel economy test, the Countryman achieved 75 MPGe. MPGe stands for miles per gallon of gas equivalent, an EPA metric that estimates PHEV and EV vehicle fuel efficiency. For more information about the Countryman Electric's fuel economy, visit the EPA's website. Interior, Comfort, and Cargo Like the Cooper Electric hatchback, the Countryman has an interior with sustainable materials and a simplified design. A fabric-colored dash pad cleverly hides configurable ambient lighting elements that change color and shape depending on which drive mode is selected. The new Countryman is also slightly larger than the previous-generation model, which benefits passenger and cargo space. The rear seat is noticeably roomier than the 2024 Countryman, although tall passengers may wish for more legroom. We were able to fit 8 carry-on suitcases with the rear seats up and 22 carry-ons with the rear seats folded. Sadly, the Countryman Electric offers no front-trunk area for additional storage. View Interior Photos Andi Hedrick | Car and Driver Infotainment and Connectivity Minis have long had a circular display in the middle of the dashboard, but in the 2025 Countryman Electric, the circular display is entirely digital. This panel serves as both a gauge display and infotainment, and it runs Mini's latest software interface, which provides many customizable features. Not only are there a bunch of pre-programmed backgrounds for the display, but the system will also allow you to upload photos of your own. So, if you want a photo of your cat to show up there, you can easily make that happen. Apple CarPlay and Android Auto will be standard, and there's even an option to download video games to the system to help you pass the time at a public charging station. Safety and Driver-Assistance Features While all Countryman Electric models will come with driver-assistance features such as automated emergency braking and lane-keeping assist, if you want to access adaptive cruise control with a lane-centering feature you'll need to spring for the Driving Assistant Plus package. For more information about the Countryman Electric's crash-test results, visit the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) and Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS) websites. Key safety features include: Standard automated emergency braking with pedestrian detection Standard lane-departure warning with lane-keeping assist Available adaptive cruise control with a lane-centering feature Warranty and Maintenance Coverage Mini provides one of the better warranty plans compared with its competitors, and the company also includes substantial complimentary scheduled maintenance. Limited warranty covers four years or 50,000 miles Powertrain warranty covers four years or 50,000 miles Electrical components are covered for eight years or 100,000 miles Complimentary maintenance is covered for three years or 36,000 miles Specifications Specifications 2025 Mini Countryman SE ALL4 Vehicle Type: front- and rear-motor, all-wheel-drive, 5-passenger, 4-door wagon PRICE Base/As Tested: $46,375/$51,325 POWERTRAIN Front Motor: current-excited synchronous AC, 188 hp, 182 lb-ft Rear Motor: current-excited synchronous AC, 188 hp, 182 lb-ft Combined Power: 308 hp Combined Torque: 364 lb-ft Battery Pack: liquid-cooled lithium-ion, 65 kWh Onboard Charger: 9.6 kW Peak DC Fast-Charge Rate: 130 kW Transmissions, F/R: direct-drive CHASSIS Suspension, F/R: struts/multilink Tires: Continental ProContact GX 245/45R-19 102H M+S ★ DIMENSIONS Wheelbase: 106.0 in Length: 175.0 in Width: 72.6 in Height: 64.6 in Passenger Volume, F/R: 53/42 ft3 Cargo Volume, Behind F/R: 56/25 ft3 Curb Weight: 4606 lb C/D TEST RESULTS 60 mph: 4.8 sec 100 mph: 13.1 sec 1/4-Mile: 13.6 sec @ 101 mph Results above omit 1-ft rollout of 0.3 sec. Rolling Start, 5–60 mph: 5.0 sec Top Gear, 30–50 mph: 2.2 sec Top Gear, 50–70 mph: 3.5 sec Top Speed (gov ltd): 112 mph Braking, 70–0 mph: 171 ft Braking, 100–0 mph: 343 ft Roadholding, 300-ft Skidpad: 0.85 g C/D FUEL ECONOMY AND CHARGING Observed: 75 MPGe 75-mph Highway Range: 180 mi Average DC Fast-Charge Rate, 10–90%: 84 kW DC Fast-Charge Time, 10–90%: 39 min EPA FUEL ECONOMY Combined/City/Highway: 91/94/88 MPGe Range: 204 mi C/D TESTING EXPLAINED More Features and Specs
Gizmodo
19 minutes ago
- Gizmodo
Apple's New tvOS 26 Is Actually All About Karaoke for Me
Apple's tvOS might not get the same attention as iOS or macOS, but there's one feature I can't wait to try. Apple's new tvOS 26 is here, and the one feature I can't wait to try has nothing to do with TV. At WWDC 2025, Apple introduced 'Sing-along' sessions, which sounds like a traumatic summer camp experience but is actually a cool new karaoke feature that I can't wait to test out for myself. According to Apple, the feature allows you to turn your iPhone into a 'handheld microphone' that can be used on Apple TV to amplify your voice for karaoke and 'belt out [your] favorite songs.' Sing-along sessions also allow other singers to 'queue up songs or react with onscreen emoji,' so you can make karaoke a more communal experience, though there's nothing to stop your selfish friends from queuing up several songs in a row. You know who you are. Like any karaoke app, Sing-along uses real-time lyrics and visual effects to 'light up the screen' and can even use a translation feature that will help port over a song in a different language to something you can read, understand, and sing. As excited as I am to try Sing-along, I'm also skeptical that an iPhone mic is the ideal hardware for karaoke—there's a chance it might sound pretty bad if you have an older device (like I do). Then again, plenty of people use fairly cheap Bluetooth mics at home and don't bat an eyelash, so their experience may really be on par here. The good news is, if karaoke isn't doing it for you, Apple introduced other new tvOS features, like one that grants more control over when the option to choose a profile comes up. That should be great for anyone who's in a multi-person household. Apple says, '…users will now have the choice to automatically display profiles when Apple TV wakes, allowing them to quickly get back to their recommendations and Watchlist in the TV app and playlists in Apple Music.' There are also some tweaks to FaceTime, which include 'Contact Posters' on Apple TV that show a contact's custom photo and name when you start a FaceTime call and an expansion of Live Captions that includes French, German, Japanese, Korean, Mandarin, and Spanish. FaceTime audio and call notifications will now show up onscreen based on whichever profile is being used at the time. This is a developing story…
