HeyWhatsNew: The Game Awards 2025 Hits the Spotlight and Google Upgrades Weather Forecasting
Hey, Heyuppers! Let’s plug into what’s trending in tech, innovation, and gaming, starting 17/11/2025.
Google’s New WeatherNext 2 Brings Faster, Smarter Forecasts to Everyone
Google has rolled out WeatherNext 2, a major upgrade to its AI-powered weather forecasting system, now built directly into Search, Gemini, and Pixel devices. After years of experimentation, Google says the model is finally ready for everyday use, offering predictions that are faster, more reliable, and designed to genuinely help people plan their day. Peter Battaglia from Google DeepMind explained that the company now has enough confidence in the model’s performance to move it beyond the lab and into users’ hands.
WeatherNext 2 can create forecasts eight times faster than Google’s previous version and does so with improved accuracy across almost every major weather variable. Instead of recreating complex atmospheric physics like traditional supercomputer models, it learns from past weather patterns and generates hundreds of possible outcomes in under a minute. A new method called a Functional Generative Network makes this possible by letting the system produce many forecast scenarios in one efficient step, giving users quicker, clearer insights into what the weather might bring.
Jeff Bezos Launches Project Prometheus
Jeff Bezos is reportedly stepping back into the world of day-to-day leadership, taking on a co-CEO role at a new AI startup called Project Prometheus. The venture has already pulled in an enormous $6.2 billion in funding, and Bezos will be sharing the top job with Vik Bajaj, a veteran in Google’s life sciences work and a co-founder of Verily. If the reporting from The New York Times is accurate, this marks Bezos’ first real return to hands-on operations since he exited his CEO role at Amazon in 2021.
Project Prometheus is setting its sights on building powerful AI tools for industries that keep the world moving—from aerospace to computers to automobiles. Its focus is “AI for the physical economy,” and its approach is compared to companies like Periodic Labs, which use simulation to speed up scientific breakthroughs. The startup has already recruited nearly 100 experts, including researchers from Meta, OpenAI, and Google DeepMind. So far, neither Amazon nor Bajaj have publicly commented, but the rapid growth and high-profile backing suggest this new project is gearing up to make a big impact.
Apple Gears Up for Leadership Change as Tim Cook Nears Retirement
Apple is stepping up plans for CEO Tim Cook to hand over the reins, possibly as soon as next year. Cook, who just turned 65, has led the company since 2011, overseeing its rise from a $350 billion market value to $4 trillion today. Sources familiar with Apple’s internal discussions say the board and executives are preparing for a smooth transition, with John Ternus, senior vice-president of hardware engineering, seen as the likely successor. Any official announcement is expected after Apple’s January earnings report, allowing the new leadership time to settle in before key events like the developer conference and iPhone launch.
The move comes after several top executive changes this year, including the departures of CFO Luca Maestri and COO Jeff Williams. Appointing Ternus would bring a hardware-focused leader back to the forefront as Apple works to expand beyond the iPhone and strengthen its position in AI. Cook has emphasized his preference for promoting from within and says the company has “very detailed succession plans,” while also making it clear he plans to stay involved for the foreseeable future.
Call of Duty Faces Fresh Competition but Aims to Win Fans Back
Call of Duty is returning with Black Ops 7, but this year the franchise is under more pressure than usual. Battlefield 6 has captured a lot of attention, and long-time Call of Duty fans have raised concerns about the series drifting away from its original identity. Earlier operator skins inspired by Beavis and Butthead sparked backlash, with many players saying the game felt too similar to Fortnite. Activision acknowledged the criticism and said the feedback mattered. The release is also arriving shortly after Microsoft increased the price of Game Pass, adding to frustration among players.
Despite these challenges, Activision is confident in Black Ops 7. The new game continues the familiar Black Ops style with a story set in 2035 involving global threats and shady tech companies. Developers say this setting allows them to explore deeper themes about trust and perception. The campaign features well-known actors including Kiernan Shipka and Milo Ventimiglia, both of whom say they feel the weight of fan expectations. While the campaign is important, the real test will be the multiplayer experience that keeps the community coming back each year. Activision says it is focused on making Black Ops 7 the strongest game it can be and believes its variety and scope offer something unique for players who want action, connection, and fun.
Hytale Saved as Hypixel Reclaims Beloved Sandbox Game
Hytale, the Minecraft-style game many thought was lost, has officially been revived. Hypixel has regained full ownership of the project after Riot Games canceled it earlier this year, ending development and beginning to wind down Hypixel Studios despite a decade of work on the game. In response, Hypixel founders Simon Collins-Laflamme and Philippe Touchette made an offer to buy back the project, securing its independence without outside investors or publishers.
The team has already rehired over 30 former Hytale developers and committed personal funding for the next ten years to rebuild the game around its original vision. An early access release will arrive later this month, giving players a first look at a raw and unfinished version full of bugs, unbalanced content, and frequent updates. Simon Collins-Laflamme shared the news on X, emphasizing that while the game won’t be perfect on day one, the goal is to shape it into something truly special with ongoing community feedback guiding development.
The Game Awards 2025: Nominees Revealed
The nominees for The Game Awards 2025 are finally here, with the event set for December 11 at the Peacock Theater in Los Angeles. This year’s lineup celebrates some of the most loved and talked-about games while also giving fans a sneak peek at what’s coming in 2026. Competing for Game of the Year are Clair Obscur: Expedition 33, Death Stranding 2: On the Beach, Donkey Kong Bananza, Hades 2, Hollow Knight: Silksong, and Kingdom Come: Deliverance 2. Already, fans and personalities like streamer Shroud are weighing in, adding even more excitement and debate around who will take home the top prize.
The awards cover a wide range of categories, from Best Narrative and Best Art Direction to Best Multiplayer, Best Esports Athlete, and Most Anticipated Game. Titles like Hollow Knight: Silksong, Battlefield 6, and ARC Raiders appear in multiple categories, showing their popularity and impact this year. Even though upcoming 2026 releases like Resident Evil Requiem and Grand Theft Auto 6 won’t be eligible for next year’s awards, the buzz around them is already building. Fans can also vote for the Players’ Voice award, with nominees set to be announced on December 1, giving gamers a chance to have their say.
That’s all for now, Heyuppers. Keep an eye out for the next round of tech, gaming, and innovation updates!
