HeyWhatsNew: Roblox Launches AI Age Verification and X Rolls Out New Account Authenticity Feature
Hi again, Heyuppers! Here’s your weekly roundup of everything happening in tech, innovation, and gaming for the week of 24/11/2025.
Sneakers That Let You Play SNES Games
Designer Gustavo Bonzanini created the AIR SNES, a custom pair of Nike Air Max 90s that actually play classic Super Nintendo games. Instead of trying to fit original SNES hardware into the shoe, he used a small Raspberry Pi Zero W running RetroPie to handle the games. All the tech sits inside the sneaker’s tongue, including a tiny battery that gives you about 30 minutes of gameplay. To keep the design true to the 1990s, the shoes plug into a TV using old-school RCA cables.
The sneakers also work with a real SNES controller. Bonzanini upgraded an original gamepad with a Bluetooth kit from 8BitDo so it connects wirelessly to the shoe. Even though retro gaming fans would love to own a pair, the AIR SNES is just a one-of-a-kind project with no plans for sale.
X Adds a New Way to Check If an Account Is Real
X has started rolling out a new “About this account” section that gives users a clearer look at who they’re interacting with. When you tap the “Joined” date on your own profile, you’ll now see details like your join date, where your account is based, how many times you’ve changed your username, and how you originally downloaded the X app. The idea is to make it easier to spot bots or suspicious accounts, especially as fake profiles become harder to identify. More users have begun seeing the feature pop up on their profiles over the past few days, though it isn’t visible on other people’s profiles for everyone just yet.
X is also giving people some control over what’s shown, letting you choose whether your profile displays your country or just a broader region. There are hints that X may even add warnings for accounts using VPNs to hide their location, though it’s not clear when or if that will launch. X hasn’t made a formal comment on the rollout, but more sightings suggest the feature is slowly expanding.
YouTube Finally Lets You Fix a Messy Home Feed
YouTube is testing a new feature called “Your Custom Feed,” and it might finally solve the problem of your recommendations going wild after you watch one random video. Instead of letting the algorithm assume you suddenly love chess, crime clips, or whatever you accidentally clicked on, this new feature gives you a simple box where you can type what you actually want to see. You can ask for “less MrBeast,” “more Dispatch videos,” or anything else, and your Home feed will update to match.
It’s a pretty big shift for YouTube, which has often been criticized for pushing repetitive or irrelevant videos. Only some users have access right now, but if you see a “Your Custom Feed” tab next to “Home,” you’re part of the test. YouTube is also experimenting with bringing back direct messages after six years, though that’s only live in Ireland and Poland for now.
Five Free PS Plus Games to Look Forward to in December 2025
PlayStation Plus is giving subscribers a treat this December with five free games instead of the usual three. Starting December 2, the current free games, Stray, EA Sports WRC 24, and Totally Accurate Battle Simulator, will rotate out and make way for the new lineup: Killing Floor 3, LEGO Horizon Adventures, Neon White, Synduality: Echo of Ada, and The Outlast Trials. The selection covers a mix of genres, from co-op shooters and survival horror to family-friendly LEGO adventures and inventive FPS gameplay, so there’s something for everyone, whether you play solo or with friends.
Most of these games offer multiplayer fun, making December a great month to team up with others. PS4 players should note that starting January 2026, PlayStation Plus will focus more on PS5 games, so the emphasis on older consoles will gradually decrease. Remember, you need to claim your free games within the month to keep them forever while your subscription is active.
Roblox Introduces New AI Age Checks to Keep Kids Safe
Roblox is rolling out a new system to make chatting on its platform safer for kids. From now on, users who want to chat will need to verify their age, either by uploading a government ID or letting an AI tool estimate their age from a quick facial scan. The AI will place users into age groups, so kids can only chat with other users near their age, helping prevent minors from interacting with adults they don’t know. For users over 13, an ID can be uploaded to correct any mistakes, and parents can adjust their child’s account if needed. Roblox says the facial images are only used for age checks and are deleted once the process is done.
This move comes as Roblox faces lawsuits and criticism over cases of children being groomed or harmed on the platform. While Roblox already has parental controls, content moderation, and age-gated experiences, the new verification system aims to make it easier to protect young users across the board. Age checks are voluntary starting this week and will be mandatory in Australia, New Zealand, and the Netherlands in December, with a global rollout planned for early 2026. Roblox says the AI is generally accurate within one or two years for users aged 5 to 25.
That’s it for today, Heyuppers. Check in next week for more tech, gaming, and innovation news!
