HeyWhatsNew: Paramount Skydance Joins Forces with Warner Bros. Discovery and Resident Evil Requiem Smashes Steam Records
Hello, Heyuppers! Here's your quick dive into this week’s world of tech, innovation, and gaming beginning 03/02/2026.
Honor Magic V6 Sets New Standards for Foldable Phones
The Honor Magic V6 was unveiled at Mobile World Congress 2026, introducing several industry firsts for foldable devices. Honor claims it is the world’s thinnest book-style foldable, measuring 4 mm when open and 8.75 mm when folded. It is also the first foldable smartphone with both IP68 and IP69 ratings, meaning it can withstand dust, water immersion, and high-pressure water jets. The device features a large 6,660 mAh battery using silicon-carbon technology, significantly larger than batteries in most competing foldables, including the Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 7.
The phone is powered by a Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 5 chip with 16 GB RAM and 512 GB storage, and includes features such as stylus support, 80 W wired charging, wireless charging, and a triple-camera system with a 64 MP periscope telephoto lens. Honor is also emphasizing cross-device compatibility, enabling AirPods features and connectivity with iPhones, Apple Watches, and MacBooks. Although announced at MWC 2026, the Magic V6 will launch first in China later in the year, with an international release expected in the second half of 2026.
Paramount Skydance to Acquire Warner Bros. Discovery
Netflix has stepped away from its $82.7 billion bid to buy Warner Bros. Discovery, ending the bidding war and allowing Paramount Skydance to move forward with the acquisition. Warner Bros. Discovery said Paramount’s latest offer, valued at about $111 billion, was stronger. Netflix chose not to increase its bid, saying the higher price was no longer financially worthwhile. As part of the agreement, Warner Bros. Discovery will pay Netflix a $2.8 billion termination fee.
The deal means Paramount Skydance will take control of Warner Bros. Discovery’s major assets, including its film studios, the HBO brand, streaming services, and TV networks such as CNN, TBS, TNT, Discovery, and HGTV. The acquisition is backed by billionaire Larry Ellison and includes taking on around $33 billion in Warner Bros. Discovery debt.
UK Launches Consultation on Social Media Ban for Under-16s
The UK government is seeking public input on whether to ban social media use for under-16s, following similar moves in Australia and planned action in Spain. The consultation invites young people, parents, and guardians to share their views, while also exploring less strict measures like switching off addictive features, enforcing overnight curfews, regulating AI chatbot use, and improving age verification. Pilot programs will test some of these interventions to assess their effectiveness.
The debate has divided experts and politicians. Some support the ban to better protect children online, while others warn it could push young users to other, less-regulated platforms. Charities and academics emphasize the need for stronger enforcement of existing safety rules rather than an outright ban. The consultation will close on 26 May, with the government planning to respond in the summer.
Human Brain Cells Trained on Microchip to Play Doom
Scientists at Australian biotech company Cortical Labs have successfully trained human neurons grown on a microchip to play Doom, one of the most complex experiments in biological computing yet. Using their CL1 biological computer, which contains around 200,000 living neurons on a multi-electrode array, the team translated the game’s digital signals into electrical patterns the neurons could process, allowing them to control movement and shooting in the game.
While the neuron culture can learn and adapt, performance is still rudimentary, likened to a beginner player. The experiment builds on prior work with Pong but presents a far greater challenge due to Doom’s 3D environments and enemy encounters. This research highlights the potential of interfacing living brain cells with computers for both learning and computational purposes, even if the neurons are far from being competitive gamers.
Resident Evil Requiem Sets New Steam Records
Resident Evil Requiem has made a record-breaking debut on Steam, becoming the series’ most successful launch on the platform to date. At the time of reporting, over 230,210 players were logged in concurrently, with a peak of 267,509 users shortly after release. This surpasses the previous high set by Resident Evil 4 Remake in March 2023, which reached 168,191 concurrent players, and Resident Evil 7’s peak of 106,631 in 2021. These numbers highlight both strong engagement and the potential for significant sales for Capcom’s latest entry in the long-running survival horror franchise.
While these figures reflect only Steam users, Resident Evil Requiem is also available on the Epic Games Store and on consoles, including Nintendo Switch 2, PlayStation 5, and Xbox Series X/S, meaning the total global player base is even larger. The launch marks a major milestone for the series, setting new benchmarks for player engagement and signaling strong momentum for Capcom’s ongoing success in the survival horror genre.
That’s a wrap for this week, Heyuppers! Thanks for tuning in—we’ll see you again next week for more.
