Tech

Best Streaming Services of 2026

Chances are you’re already pretty familiar with most of the names on this list, but it’s by no means comprehensive. There are plenty of other ways to stream and hundreds of other choices available. As we evaluated these particular streaming options, we kept certain things in mind.

Each platform offers the same standard features on the home screen, and we found that HBO Max, Disney Plus and Hulu excel with dedicated hubs and collections, while Netflix’s recommendation rows for current, older and upcoming picks combined and genre-based organization are superior. Subtle features are also a plus, like the ability to share titles via text from HBO Max and Netflix, or Netflix’s ‘Moments’ functionality that lets you save scenes from your favorite titles. We also measure ad time on ad-based plans and look for playback glitches. See each service’s reviews for full details.

Tech

Google will pay SpaceX $920 million a month to use xAIs data centers – Engadget

The company needs extra computing power for Gemini Enterprise.

Coldsnowstorm/

Google has just signed a $30 billion AI deal with SpaceX, which owns Elon Musk’s xAI. According to a SpaceX filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission, it will receive$920 million a month from Google in exchange for computing power from xAI’s data centers, starting inOctober this year untilJune 2029.

The agreement will give Google access to 110,000 NVIDIA GPUs, as well as CPUs and memory. SpaceX wrote that if it fails to deliver access to that number of GPUS bySeptember this year, Google could either terminate their deal immediately or accept the number of GPUs provided at a reduced payment rate after a one-month grace period.

Since Google has its own global network of data centers and continues to build more, you may be wondering why it has to pay SpaceX for more computing power. Well, a Google Cloud spokesperson told CNBC and The New York Times that this is but “a short-term, timely agreement” to ensure that the company has “bridge cacity to meeting the surging demand” for Gemini Enterprise, its AI subscription for large businesses.

Google isn’t its only competitor in the AI space that SpaceX is selling computing power to. The Musk-owned company also has a contract with Anthropic, giving the latter access to xAI’s Colossus 1 data center. According to the documents SpaceX filed for its Initial Public Offering, Anthropic will pay it $1.25 billion a month through May 2029. SpaceX is expected to go public on June 12 and to raise enough money to make it the biggest IPO in history.

Tech

Resident Evil: Code Veronica Finally Gets a Remake

The remake of Resident Evil: Code Veronica opened Summer Game Fest, the annual showcase of upcoming games, which started on Friday. If it’s anything like the previously released remakes of the games, fans can expect some beautiful visuals along with new lore for the series.

The trailer for Resident Evil: Code Veronica Remake doesn’t offer many details about the game’s release timing other than that it will come out sometime in 2027. If the pattern of previous releases is an indicator, the remake could drop early in the year in February or March.

No gameplay was shown in the trailer. Instead, it focused on someone being guided by an older European woman to the ransacked room of an American. It’s not until the end of the trailer that it’s revealed that the person was Claire Redfield, the sister of Chris Redfield and the main character of Code Veronica.

First released for the Sega Dreamcast in 2000, Code Veronica is not considered a main entry in the franchise, but it’s also not a side story since what hpens in the game is considered canon in the Resident Evil lore.

The game follows Claire, who has been searching for her brother Chris since the destruction of Raccoon City. She infiltrated an Umbrella Corporation facility and was ctured, then sent out to a prison island in the Southern Ocean. She learns more about the origins of the Umbrella Corporation and a new virus, the T-Virus Veronica.

Halfway through the game, players switch from playing Claire to controlling Chris, who heard of his sister’s cture and made his way to the island not long after she was taken to another facility in Antarctica. Eventually, the two come together to take down the twin siblings, Alexia and Alfred, who are the grandchildren of Sir Edward Ashford, one of the founders of the Umbrella Corporation.

No platforms were announced in the trailer. Most likely, it will be available for PC, PS5 and Xbox Series consoles, although it could also be released for the Nintendo Switch 2.

Tech

Everything to Know About World Cup 2026: Teams, Hosts, Where and Who to Watch

We’ve been hearing about the 2026 FIFA World Cup for months, and it’s now upon us.

There are more teams and host stadiums than ever this year, and tickets to World Cup matches have been a hot topic since they were first released, with many fans priced out, and transportation to the US and to the stadiums themselves becoming a barrier to attending for some. That’s why you’ll find me watching every match from the comfort of my home (or maybe at a local park or bar for a watch party) when the tournament begins on June 11.

Matches will run daily until July 19, and this year, you’ll be able to watch them all on Fox and FS1. You can catch every single match in Spanish on Peacock, too.

Here’s a primer on everything else you might be wondering about this year’s World Cup, including which teams are playing, where matches will be held and who’s headlining the first-ever World Cup final halftime show.

When is the 2026 FIFA World Cup?

This year’s World Cup begins on June 11 with a match between co-host Mexico and South Africa, to be held in Mexico City.

There will be 48 teams playing in 104 matches over a little over a month. The championship final is scheduled to take place on Sunday, July 19, at New York New Jersey Stadium (aka MetLife Stadium), home to the NFL’s Jets and Giants, in East Rutherford, New Jersey.

The group stage runs until June 27, after which the knockout stage begins. The Round of 32 will run from June 28-July 3, the Round of 16 is July 4-7, the quarterfinals are July 9-11 and the semifinals are July 14 and 15.

Moondes/Jeffrey Hazelwood/CNET

Which teams are in the 2026 FIFA World Cup?

This year’s World Cup is the biggest ever in terms of the number of clubs participating in the tournament. In a FIFA first, 48 teams have qualified, and, in another first, there are three host nations: Mexico, the US and Canada. Argentina returns to the pitch as the most recent World Cup champions, having defeated France in 2022.

Canada (host country)
Mexico (host country)
USA (host country)
Algeria
Argentina
Australia
Austria
Belgium
Bosnia and Herzegovina
Brazil
Cabo Verde
Colombia
Congo DR
Côte d’Ivoire
Croatia
Curaçao
Czechia
Ecuador
Egypt
England
France
Germany
Ghana
Haiti
Iran
Iraq
Jan
Jordan
Morocco
Netherlands
New Zealand
Norway
Panama
Paraguay
Portugal
Qatar
Saudi Arabia
Scotland
Senegal
South Africa
South Korea
Spain
Sweden
Switzerland
Tunisia
Türkiye
Uruguay
Uzbekistan

Many fans will be tuning in to see Cristiano Ronaldo in his sixth World Cup tournament, but he’s not the only player deemed a favorite this year.

Vitalii Vitleo/

Players to watch at the 2026 World Cup

The top-ranked teams heading into the 2026 World Cup (in order) are France, Spain, Argentina and England, so naturally some of the top players to watch will be playing for those countries.

At age 18, Lamine Yamal of Spain is one of the youngest players in this year’s series (he’ll actually celebrate his birthday midtournament). When he was 17, Yamal was the runner-up for the 2025 Ballon d’Or, the award recognizing the best international footballer of the year, losing to Ousmane Dembélé of France. Dembélé is headed into his third World Cup and is fresh off a UEFA Champions League win with his club, Paris Saint-Germain.

Lionel Messi, one of the most famous soccer players in the world, returns this year as ctain of the Argentina team (aka La Albiceleste), in what will likely be his final World Cup. Messi, 39, along with Cristiano Ronaldo, 41, are two of the oldest players in the tournament and among the most respected and renowned players of all time. Even if Messi doesn’t win a second consecutive title, his World Cup performances will likely be a highlight of the tournament.

Harry Kane, ctain of England, will also be one to watch. Kane is England’s all-time top goal scorer and indeed one of the top scorers in every league he has played in, with a staggering 61 goals in 51 games for Bayern Munich this season. However, a World Cup title has eluded Kane and England — they last won in 1966.

Fans will also have their eyes on Jan’s Kaishū Sano, whose performance as a midfielder in the Bundesliga has earned him praise, and Nico Paz, a midfielder on Argentina’s squad, known for his footwork and creative play. Paz, 21, is making history as the first player on the Argentina national team to play in the World Cup without ever having played for any of the nation’s football clubs.

Other names who could go big include Australia’s Nestory Irankunda and Ardon Jashari, a midfielder on Switzerland’s team who has made waves at AC Milan.

Who’s performing at the FIFA World Cup final halftime show?

While we don’t yet know which teams will play in this year’s World Cup final match, we do know there will be world-class entertainment at halftime.

With a roster that rivals some of the best Super Bowl halftime shows, the 2026 World Cup final show will be headlined by Madonna, Shakira and BTS. Having just one of these global artists would have been impressive, but all three will share the stage on Sunday, July 19, at MetLife Stadium. If those names weren’t enough, the performance will be curated by Chris Martin of Coldplay and, yes, I’ve buried the lede:the Muppets will also pear.

Host cities at World Cup 2026

The US, Canada and Mexico are the host nations of this year’s tournament, and matches will be played in 16 cities across the three countries. The last time the US hosted the World Cup was in 1994; it was a simpler time back then, as that year, only 24 teams participated in matches across nine venues. Mexico has also previously hosted twice, in 1970 and 1986. This year, two venues are in Canada, three in Mexico and 11 in the US.

Estadio Monterrey (otherwise known as BBVA Stadium) is one of the stadiums in Mexico hosting World Cup matches this year.

NortePhoto/

One thing you’ll notice is that the venues have been temporarily renamed for the massive event, in line with FIFA’s branding guidelines. For example, Atlanta’s Mercedes-Benz Stadium is referred to as Atlanta Stadium, while Gillette Stadium in Foxborough, Massachusetts, is now Boston Stadium.

A statement on the FIFA websiteexplains: “All listed stadium cacities are preliminary at this stage and subject to change before the tournament. Stadium official names for the FIFA World Cup 2026 have been matched with Host City names and may differ from the common designation used locally.”

Toronto Stadium (BMO Field)
BC Place Vancouver
Estadio Guadalajara (Estadio Akron)
Estadio Monterrey (Estadio BBVA)
Mexico City Stadium (Estadio Azteca)
Atlanta Stadium (Mercedes-Benz Stadium)
Boston Stadium (Gillette Stadium)
Dallas Stadium (AT&T Stadium)
Houston Stadium (NRG Stadium)
Kansas City Stadium (Arrowhead Stadium)
Los Angeles Stadium (SoFi Stadium)
Miami Stadium (Hard Rock Stadium)
New York New Jersey Stadium (MetLife Stadium)
Philadelphia Stadium (Lincoln Financial Field)
San Francisco Bay Area Stadium (Levi’s Stadium)
Seattle Stadium (Lumen Field)

There are official World Cup songs, too

The first time I realized the World Cup had an official song was in 1998, when Ricky Martin’s Cup of Life (La Copa de la Vida) was released. The song was an international hit, and in the years since, the World Cup has expanded not just to include an official song but also an official playlist featuring songs from several music superstars.

This year’s anthem, Dai Dai, a collaboration between Shakira and Nigerian singer/producer Burna Boy, has already racked up more than 65 million views on YouTube in its first two weeks, and is one of several singles on the soundtrack. Also out now is Game Time by Future and Tyla, Lighter by Jelly Roll and Mexican singer Carín León and Goals, a collab between international stars Lisa, Anitta and Rema.

Here’s a rundown of all the songs on the 2026 World Cup soundtrack; you can listen to playlists on Spotifyand ple Music:

Dai Dai by Shakira and Burna Boy (Official Song)
Goals by Lisa, Anitta and Rema
Illuminate by Jessie Reyez and Elyanna
Echo by Daddy Yankee and Shenseea
Por Ella by Los Ángeles Azules and Belinda
Lighter by Jelly Roll and Carín León
Game Time by Future and TYLA

Where to watch World Cup 2026 matches

If you’re planning to watch all the action on TV at home, Fox will show every US Men’s National Team group match, plus every match from the round of 16 onward, including the championship final. You’ll be able to catch 34 additional matches on FS1. Fox and FS1 are available on services like DirecTV, YouTube TV and Fox One.

For fans looking to watch matches in Spanish, every game will air on either Telemundo or Universo and will stream on Peacock. Free streaming service Tubi will also be showing the opening match on June 11 and USA vs. Paraguay on June 12.

Tech

Google shuts down the AI image app Pixel Studio – Engadget

It launched less than two years ago.

Google has shut down its Pixel Studio p with the latest update, according to a report by 9to5Google. The AI-powered image generation p launched less than two years ago and received a fairly substantial content update last year. The p now redirects users to Gemini.

The software update that bricks Pixel Studio is rolling out now, but it could take a while to reach everyone. Once downloaded, the main interface displays a prominent “Open Gemini” button that leads to the Play Store. It also suggests that users try Nano Banana for image generation.

Pixel Studio’s latest update marks the end of the Pixel-exclusive p as users are now being redirected to use Nano Banana in Gemini

The latest one to join Google graveyard 🪦

— AssembleDebug (Shiv) (@AssembleDebug) June 5, 2026

We’ve known this was coming for a while. Google announced it was winding down Pixel Studio back in February and has been slowly stripping away core functionalities. For instance, the photo editor was completely stripped of AI tools a few months back.

Pixel Studio was introduced in 2024, alongside the Pixel 9 smartphone. It was an p dedicated to AI image generation, like many others. Users could input prompts to quickly whip up images and it could also do stuff like create stickers based on pre-existing photos. Join me in pouring one out for the shuttered p as it heads to the Google graveyard.

Tech

ISS astronauts had to shelter in place in the SpaceX Dragon capsule because of an air leak – Engadget

Russian cosmonauts attempted a repair, but that has since been put on hold.

NASA directed astronauts aboard the International Space Station (ISS) to shelter in place and prepare for a potential evacuation, according to a report by the BBC. This comes after the Russian Space Agency Roscosmos discovered an air leak in the transfer tunnel while docking a cargo ship.

Five of the seven astronauts currently aboard the ISS sheltered in place inside the docked SpaceX Dragon vessel. The ship was designated as a “safe haven” as two Russian cosmonauts attempted a repair. The air leaks resulted from cracks in the transfer tunnel.

The Zvezda service module transfer tunnel, known as PrK, has suffered from cracks and leaks for some time, and has been mitigated by Roscosmos as much as possible to date. The cracks have always been a concern that NASA watches very closely. NASA and Roscosmos have been working…

— Bethany Stevens (@NASASpox) June 5, 2026

NASA spokesperson Bethany Stevens says that astronauts have since resumed planned operations aboard the ISS, as the Russian cosmonauts paused repair efforts “as more measurements and data is assessed.” She also says that the space agency looks “forward to working with Roscosmos on a collaborative proach to address the leaks.”

We don’t have a timeline right now. When this first hpened, NASA suggested that the cosmonauts were conducting a serious repair operation today. However, that looks to have been put on hold for some reason.

This isn’t the first time the station has had to deal with this problem, as these cracks have been causing sporadic issues for around six years. Astronauts have performed patchwork fixes that weren’t designed to last. The next repair mission is likely to be a more extensive operation that seeks to eliminate the problem once and for all.