HeyWhatsNew: Meta Launches Forum App to Challenge Reddit, and Red Dead Redemption 2 Hits 4th Best-Selling Game Ever
Heyuppers, the world of gaming, innovation, and technology is heating up again. Here are the biggest stories starting 25/05/2026.
Google’s New Omni AI Creates Shockingly Realistic Videos
Google has launched Omni Flash, a new AI video tool that can turn text, photos, and videos into realistic AI-generated clips. Available on Google’s Flow platform, Omni improves on the company’s older Veo model by creating more consistent characters, understanding prompts better, and making video edits more accurately. During testing, the AI created videos of a stuffed toy going on holiday adventures and even generated fake travel videos using simple selfie footage. Although some clips still had strange AI mistakes, like objects changing shape or characters suddenly looking different, the videos looked far more realistic than previous AI tools.
One of the biggest concerns is how convincing the deepfakes can be. Using short selfie videos, Omni created believable clips of the reviewer eating pasta, sitting on a plane, and standing in front of the Eiffel Tower. Some videos were realistic enough that other people could mistake them for real social media posts. The tool still has limitations and can become expensive because users pay with credits for every generated clip and edit, but Omni shows how fast AI video technology is improving and how easy realistic fake videos are becoming to create.
Meta Launches Forum App to Rival Reddit With AI Tools
Meta has launched a new standalone app called Forum, built around Facebook Groups and designed to work similarly to Reddit. Users can join group-based communities, post using nicknames, and take part in ongoing discussions, all linked to their Facebook account. The app focuses on more in-depth conversations within groups rather than short, trending content, and keeps users connected to their existing Facebook Groups and activity.
Forum also includes AI features, such as an “Ask” tab that generates answers based on discussions across multiple groups, and an AI assistant to help group admins manage and moderate content. Meta positions the app as a space for “real discussions,” but it comes as part of a broader push to release multiple standalone apps, many of which draw comparisons to existing platforms in the market.
Sony Launches Reon Pocket Pro Plus: Wearable Personal Air Conditioner for Hot Weather
Sony has released the Reon Pocket Pro Plus, a wearable device designed to cool or warm the body by sitting under clothing and pressing a temperature-controlled panel against the back of the neck. It uses sensors to monitor skin temperature and an external tag that tracks ambient conditions, allowing the device to automatically adjust cooling levels for comfort and safety. Users can also control settings via buttons or a smartphone app.
The updated model delivers up to 20% stronger cooling performance, lowering temperatures by about 2°C compared to the previous version, while maintaining up to 10 hours of battery life. It also features a redesigned neckband for better stability during movement and can switch between cooling in summer and warming in winter. The device is currently available in the UK for £199 and in Europe for €229, targeting users looking for portable, discreet climate control during extreme temperatures.
AI Pet Collar Claims It Can Turn Animal Sounds Into Human Emotions
A Hangzhou startup, Meng Xiaoyi, has developed an AI-powered pet collar called PettiChat that it says can interpret cat and dog sounds and turn them into short human-style emotional messages. The collar uses microphones, behavioral data, and AI models to analyse vocal patterns and activity, then categorises them into states such as hunger, anxiety, excitement, or discomfort. The company claims an accuracy rate of around 94.6% for emotion recognition, and reports more than 10,000 preorders at about 799 yuan ($118) per unit.
The product is positioned as a consumer AI tool in the growing pet-tech market, combining wearable technology with emotional interpretation. However, the claims have not been independently verified, and experts caution that animal communication depends heavily on context and body language, not just sound. This raises questions about how reliably the device can interpret real-world situations, especially in noisy or complex environments. While it may help owners better understand general pet behaviour, there is uncertainty around whether it can consistently deliver accurate “translations” in everyday use.
Destiny 2 Support Ending After Nearly 9 Years as Bungie Shifts Focus
Bungie has announced it will stop releasing content updates for Destiny 2, bringing an end to its long-running live-service model. The game’s final update is scheduled for 9 June, although it will still remain playable afterwards. The decision follows months of speculation about the game’s future, driven by delays, declining player numbers, and Bungie’s focus on its newer shooter Marathon.
The announcement triggered emotional reactions from the community, with long-time players and content creators expressing shock and sadness after years invested in the game. Bungie thanked fans and confirmed it will now focus on developing new projects, including future titles beyond Destiny 2. While there is no confirmation of a sequel, the studio says it will share updates when available, as it moves away from supporting the current game.
Red Dead Redemption 2 Becomes the 4th Best-Selling Game of All Time
Red Dead Redemption 2 has officially reached a major milestone, becoming the fourth best-selling video game in history with around 85 million copies sold. It has now surpassed Wii Sports and continues to sit behind only Tetris, Minecraft, and Grand Theft Auto V. Released in 2018, the game’s long-term sales success highlights its lasting popularity compared to older franchises that have had decades to build their numbers.
The top 10 list also includes major titles such as Mario Kart 8, PUBG: Battlegrounds, Terraria, The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt, and Super Mario Bros. Despite being newer than most games on the list, Red Dead Redemption 2 continues to sell strongly, and analysts expect further shifts in rankings as upcoming releases like GTA 6 enter the market.
That brings us to the end of today’s roundup, Heyuppers. We’ll catch you next week with more stories, launches, and moments you won’t want to miss.
