HeyWhatsNew: Threads Overtakes X in Daily Mobile Users and Rockstar Reaches Out to GTA 6 Fan
Let’s catch up, Heyuppers. These are this week’s highlights in tech, gaming, and innovation, starting 20/01/2026.
Sony Plans TV Spin Off With Majority Owned TCL Venture
Sony has announced plans to spin off its TV hardware business into a new joint venture with TCL. The two companies have signed a nonbinding agreement that would give TCL a 51 percent stake and Sony 49 percent. If finalized, the deal would move Sony’s television and home audio operations into the new company, while keeping the Sony and Bravia branding on future products. Sony and TCL aim to complete binding agreements by the end of March, with operations expected to begin in April 2027, pending regulatory approval.
Under the proposed partnership, the new venture would manage everything from product design and development to manufacturing, sales, and logistics. Sony says it will contribute its picture and audio technology, brand strength, and operational expertise, while TCL will bring its display technology, supply chain scale, and cost efficiency. Sony CEO Kimio Maki says the collaboration is intended to create stronger home entertainment products, while TCL chairperson Du Juan says the deal would help TCL move further into the premium TV market and improve efficiency across its global operations.
Threads Overtakes X on Mobile Usage
New data from Similarweb shows that Threads has surpassed X in daily mobile users. As of January 7, 2026, Threads recorded 141.5 million daily active users on iOS and Android, compared to X’s 125 million. While X still has a much stronger presence on the web, Threads’ mobile usage has been steadily growing for months, indicating a longer-term shift rather than a short-term reaction to recent controversies.
The growth is likely driven by Meta’s cross-promotion of Threads through Facebook and Instagram, alongside a steady rollout of new features such as communities, direct messages, long-form posts, and improved content controls. Meta previously reported that Threads reached over 400 million monthly active users by August 2025 and around 150 million daily active users by October. Similarweb data also shows that while X still leads in web traffic, Threads’ increasing mobile engagement suggests it is becoming a more regular habit for users, particularly on smartphones.
OpenAI to Test Ads in ChatGPT to Expand Revenue
OpenAI said it will begin testing advertisements in ChatGPT for some users in the United States, marking a shift away from its subscription only model. According to reporting by Reuters, ads will appear for users on the free tier and the lower priced Go plan in the coming weeks, while paid tiers such as Plus, Pro, Business, and Enterprise will remain ad free. OpenAI says ads will be shown separately from chatbot responses, will not influence answers, and user conversations will not be shared with advertisers.
The move reflects pressure on OpenAI to generate new revenue as it spends heavily on AI infrastructure and prepares for a potential initial public offering. Analysts note that ads could unlock significant income from ChatGPT’s roughly 800 million weekly active users, but warn the change could risk user trust and push some people toward competitors like Google’s Gemini or Anthropic’s Claude. OpenAI said ads will not be shown to users under 18 and will be blocked from sensitive topics such as health and politics, framing the test as a controlled step toward sustainable monetization rather than a full shift to ad driven AI.
Terminally Ill GTA 6 Fan Receives Positive Response From Rockstar and Take-Two
A terminally ill fan of Grand Theft Auto VI may get the chance to experience the game early after a public appeal reached senior leadership at Take-Two Interactive. The request was shared by Anthony Armstrong, a UI integrator at Ubisoft, who asked contacts at Rockstar Games if a private playtest could be arranged for a family member diagnosed with cancer and given a prognosis of six to twelve months. Armstrong said his relative was a lifelong GTA fan and was willing to sign an NDA to respect the project’s secrecy.
The post gained widespread attention after being shared outside LinkedIn, prompting a response from Take-Two CEO Strauss Zelnick, who contacted Armstrong directly. In a follow-up update, Armstrong confirmed that discussions had taken place and described the outcome as “great news,” though no specific details were shared. If the request is granted, it would follow a precedent set in 2018, when Rockstar allowed a terminally ill fan to play Red Dead Redemption 2 before release. Grand Theft Auto VI is currently scheduled to launch on November 19, 2026.
Animal Crossing’s New Hotel Lets Villagers Visit, Not Move In
In Animal Crossing: New Horizons, the 3.0 update introduces a hotel where players can invite villagers to stay temporarily, decorate rooms for them, and see them explore the island. These visiting villagers can take part in activities like Group Stretching, roam freely, and interact much like permanent residents. However, unlike villagers met through the Campsite or Island Excursions, hotel guests cannot be convinced to move in, even if the player has open housing plots.
This limitation has disappointed many players, especially since the hotel is one of the easiest ways to meet a wide range of villagers, with up to eight staying at once. The feature is particularly frustrating when former island residents visit and talk about missing their old home, yet still cannot return permanently. Despite this, the hotel remains useful as a way to preview villagers before encountering them through other methods where moving them in is possible.
Thanks for reading, Heyuppers. We’ll be back next week with more to catch up on.
