Technologies
‘Bama Rush,’ ‘Shazam 2’ and More Coming to Max on Launch Week
HBO Max rebrands as Max on May 23 in the US. Here are new titles you’ll be able to watch at launch.

Next week, HBO Max will morph into Max, a revamped streaming service that merges HBO Max and Discovery Plus’ libraries. Everything you could watch on HBO Max will be on Max, along with select Discovery Plus titles.
Below, you’ll find new movies and shows hitting Max on May 23, the day it launches in the US, and beyond. You can watch Shazam! Fury of the Gods, SmartLess: On the Road and more on the day Max arrives, but you’ll have to wait to get your hands on the new Harry Potter series and Game of Thrones spinoff. This info is based on a Max-centered event held by Warner Bros. Discovery last month and a new press release.
What’s hitting Max on May 23
- SmartLess: On the Road — Docuseries that follows actors and friends Will Arnett, Jason Bateman and Sean Hayes during the North American tour of their popular podcast.
- Bama Rush — Documentary about sorority recruitment at the University of Alabama.
- Shazam! Fury of the Gods — Sequel to Shazam!, continuing the story of Billy Batson, a teen with an adult superhero alter ego.
- Gremlins: Secrets of the Mogwai — An animated family series set before the live-action films.
- Clone High — Reboot of the 2002 animated series Clone High.
- How to Create a Sex Scandal — A docuseries that tells of how «brainwashing, manipulation and disturbing acts caused a small local community in Mineola, Texas, to unravel.»
- What Am I Eating? With Zooey Deschanel — An unscripted series in which Deschanel debunks myths about food.
Also coming to Max relatively close to launch are Magnolia Network series Silos Baking Competition (May 28), ID docuseries The Curious Case of Natalia Grace (May 29), Sarah Silverman‘s comedy special (May 27), HBO documentary Being Mary Tyler Moore (May 26) and Reality, an HBO film starring Sydney Sweeney (May 29).
More coming to Max in the future:
Everything we learned when Warner Bros. Discovery unveiled Max in April
A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms: The Hedge Knight — Max is the streaming home of HBO, so it isn’t leaving Game of Thrones behind. WBD revealed that HBO has given a series order to GoT prequel A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms: The Hedge Knight. The series will be set 100 years before the events of Game of Thrones, when «two unlikely heroes wandered Westeros… a young, naive but courageous knight, Ser Duncan the Tall, and his diminutive squire, Egg,» according to its description.
«Set in an age when the Targaryen line still holds the Iron Throne and the memory of the last dragon has not yet passed from living memory, great destinies, powerful foes, and dangerous exploits all await these improbable and incomparable friends,» the log line says.
A Harry Potter live-action series— Harry Potter fans will be able to invest in a new, multi-season show on Max. Casey Bloys, chairman and CEO of HBO and HBO Max content, said «Over the course of the next decade… we will once again enter the wondrous world of Harry Potter as a multi-season live action series for the first time.» The Max original series will adapt the first seven Harry Potter books and star new actors.
A first look at The Penguin and more —
- WBD shared a first look trailer for previously announced series The Penguin, starring Colin Farrell in his role from Matt Reeves’ film The Batman. The spin-off will consist of eight episodes and premiere in 2024.
- A drama series set In The Conjuring universe is in development.
- A comedy series derived from The Big Bang Theory is in development.
- Previously announced comedy series How to Be a Bookie is coming to Max. It’ll reportedly reunite Charlie Sheen and Chuck Lorre.
- More things already on our radar: DC shows Creature Commandos, Waller, Booster Gold, Lanterns and Paradise Lost. Drama series Welcome to Derry, a prequel to 2017’s It and 2019’s It Chapter Two, debuts in 2024.
- Several projects that were initially developed for Discovery Plus will now be Max originals, according to Bloys. They include Shaun White: The Last Run and Downey’s Dream Cars, featuring Robert Downey Jr.
- Fixer Upper: The Hotel, a new installment in the Fixer Upper franchise, will hit Max in November. Watch a new trailer with Chip and Joanna Gaines.
- The Flash hits theaters in June and Max in the fall.
- Love and Translation, a fresh dating series from the producers of 90 Day Fiance, hits Max in winter 2023.
- Food competition series Ciao House, which premiered on Food Network, will be on Max.
- Survive the Raft, a reality show from Discovery Channel, hits Max in July.
- Lost Women of Highway 20 will hit Max in 2023. The true crime series features Octavia Spencer.
- Rick and Morty: The Anime will debut on Max along with Adult Swim in 2023.
Same faces, different places.
Rick and Morty: The Anime is coming this year to Max and @adultswim. #StreamOnMax pic.twitter.com/GLs6mgH4lB
— HBO Max (@hbomax) April 12, 2023
- Barbie Dreamhouse Challenge, a doll-themed home renovation competition series, hits Max this summer.
- Tiny Toons Looniversity, a reboot of Tiny Toon Adventures, is coming to Max this fall.
- A Peter and the Wolf animated short film, featuring artwork based on original illustrations by Bono, is coming to Max in 2023.
- HBO series True Detective: Night Country released a new trailer. It’s coming in 2023 and stars Jodie Foster.
- A trailer for HBO limited series The Regime dropped. The show debuts in 2024 and features Kate Winslet.
- HBO limited series The Sympathizer also got a new trailer. It’s coming in 2024 and is based on the Pulitzer Prize-winning novel of the same name.
Technologies
Made by Google 2025: The Biggest Pixel 10 Leaks We’ve Heard Ahead of Launch
Google’s Pixel 10 could get plenty of new features alongside its new processor, camera systems and magnets. Here’s what we know.

The new Pixel 10 line will debut Wednesday at the Made by Google event and it almost feels like we’ve already seen the phones revealed thanks to a combination of official glimpses of the new phones from Google alongside a plethora of rumors.
Google isn’t hiding that the Pixel 10 is coming, as the company itself has posted multiple stylized shots of the phone to promote its launch event. However, Google is still keeping detailed specs and features of the Pixel 10 line to itself so we won’t get the full picture until the official reveal — which is happening tomorrow, Aug. 20. Check out our Pixel 10 reveal liveblog for all the details.
Several recent rumors suggest a lot of new life to the phone line, though. While we do expect the Pixel line to reflect the overall lineup of the Pixel 9 — including a base Pixel 10, Pixel 10 Pro, Pixel 10 Pro XL and Pixel 10 Pro Fold — rumors are pointing to significant changes to what’s inside these phones to make them more feature-packed than ever.
We’ve rounded up the biggest rumors we’ve found so far about the Pixel 10 line here and will continue updating as we hear more ahead of the Aug. 20 event.
How to watch the Made by Google event
The Made by Google event will begin at 1 p.m. ET (10 a.m. PT) Wednesday and Google will be streaming the Pixel 10 reveals with a livestream on YouTube. You can also tune into CNET’s Made by Google preshow, starting at 12:30 p.m. ET (9:30 a.m. PT). The preshow will be hosted by CNET’s Bridget Carey and PCMag’s Iyaz Akhtar, and feature the final analysis and commentary for what we know about the phones. The preshow will transition directly into Google’s event when it begins, and then afterward the postshow will dive into all of the new announcements.
Pixel 10, 10 Pro and 10 Pro XL’s release date, pricing and cameras
Starting with the three non-folding phones in the Pixel 10 line that are getting revealed Aug. 20, we expect the Pixel 10, Pixel 10 Pro and Pixel 10 Pro XL to look similar to the Pixel 9 line on the outside. This includes the same rounded camera bar on the back. The entry-level Pixel 10 will get a new third rear camera. While we can see the third camera in the photos Google posted of the Pixel 10, according to a chart posted by known leaker Evan Blass, this will be a 10.8-megapixel telephoto camera that will join a 48-megapixel wide-angle camera and a 13-megapixel ultrawide. This will help the Pixel 10 compare better with the base Galaxy S25, which also has a telephoto camera.
The 10 Pro and 10 Pro XL will continue to be differentiated from the standard Pixel 10 with a higher-specced camera system, which includes a 50-megapixel wide-angle, 48-megapixel ultrawide and a 48-megapixel telephoto, according to the same chart posted by Blass.
The colors for the Pixel 10 and Pixel 10 Pro phones also appear to have leaked, with Android Headlines reporting that the base Pixel 10 will come in obsidian, indigo, frost and lemonade editions. These names would roughly correspond to a black, blueish purple, light blue and yellow, respectively. The Pro models will also come in four colors, with Android Headlines reporting models named obsidian, porcelain, moonstone and jade. Those should roughly match up to black, white, gray and a light green. More photos of these phones were posted by Blass, purporting to be the Pixel 10 lineup from the front, back and side profiles
Despite the concerns with tariffs, the Pixel 10 line is rumored to keep the same starting prices as the Pixel 9 line.
Pixel 10 line rumored prices
Phone | Storage | US Price |
---|---|---|
Pixel 10 | 128GB | $799 |
Pixel 10 | 256GB | $899 |
Pixel 10 Pro | 128GB | $999 |
Pixel 10 Pro | 256GB | $1,099 |
Pixel 10 Pro | 512GB | $1,219 |
Pixel 10 Pro | 1TB | $1,449 |
Pixel 10 Pro XL | 256GB | $1,199 |
Pixel 10 Pro XL | 512GB | $1,319 |
Pixel 10 Pro XL | 1TB | $1,549 |
Pixel 10 could support Qi2 magnetic charging
The Pixel 10 series could support magnetic accessories, making it one of the few Android phones that would work with many of the MagSafe accessories that were first built to work with Apple’s iPhone. That’s because the Pixel 10 is rumored to fully support Qi2 wireless charging, which supports magnetic alignment and has magnets built into the phone without needing a case.
An image posted by Blass appears to show a Pixel 10 with a circular wireless charger attached to the back, likely using magnets similar to how MagSafe works with the iPhone. If this is the case, it’s a huge step for the Qi2 wireless standard, as the only other Android phone so far that supports magnetic accessories is the HMD Skyline.
This would allow the Pixel 10 series to natively work with magnetic phone chargers, wallets, mounts and other accessories. Google might also create its own branding for this feature, as an Android Authority report claims that official Pixel 10 accessories that magnetically attach would be called PixelSnap.
If this comes to be, it would also make it easier to swap accessories between the iPhone and the Pixel. In addition to the iPhone’s support for charging over USB-C, this would mean that MagSafe accessories first purchased to use with an iPhone should work just as well when swapping over to a Pixel 10 phone.
Google’s Tensor G5 chip
Following last year’s Tensor G4 chip in the Pixel 9 lineup, we presume that the Pixel 10 phones will be powered by a (supposedly named) Tensor G5 chip. We’ve heard a few Tensor G5 rumors, including that it will be made on an industry-standard 3nm process by chip fabricator TSMC, according to an Android Authority March report.
Other rumors are less promising, like a July report from WCCFTech suggesting that while the Tensor G5 is a significant upgrade on last year’s Tensor G4, a leaked benchmark test claims it will run slower than the Snapdragon 8 Elite processor that’s used in Samsung’s Galaxy S25 line and the OnePlus 13. That Qualcomm processor might also soon be surpassed by the next Qualcomm silicon coming at Snapdragon Summit in September. That’s not to imply the phone itself will perform slowly, as the same report says it will run faster than the Snapdragon 8 Gen 3 processor that powers
Whether the Tensor G5 trails other mobile chips isn’t as worrying as it might seem as the Tensor chips are built for Google’s Pixel devices — and those don’t seem to be underperforming in daily use. As CNET Editor-at-Large Andy Lanxon said about the Tensor G4 powering the Pixel 9 Pro XL, «On the one hand, it’s disappointing not to see more of a tangible improvement over the predecessor. On the other hand, it doesn’t feel like it’s lacking in power in any major way.»
Pixel 10 Pro Fold
Google on Aug. 12 released a video that shows off what the Pixel 10 Pro Fold will look like. This peek only provides a look at the phone’s design — which seems to be similar to last year’s Pixel 9 Pro Fold — saving a more detailed look at its specs and cameras for the Aug. 20 event.
The more iterative design makes sense, as last year’s Pixel 9 Pro Fold already debuted a larger overhaul that altered its design from the wider passport-size original Pixel Fold to a taller, narrower format similar to other foldables like the Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 7.
One Pixel 10 Pro Fold rumor from WCCFTech only shared details about the supposed Tensor chip powering it. But a recent rumor from Blass suggests we could expect the usual upgrades: a new Tensor G5 chip, perhaps slight spec upgrades and maybe even similar camera or battery upgrades if they are announced for the Pixel 10 lineup.
The Pixel 10 Pro Fold would presumably get Android 16 out of the box, but as that software upgrade has been released early (mere weeks after Google I/O 2025), last year’s Pixel 9 Pro Fold already has that update.
We’ll keep updating this roundup as we get closer to Google’s Aug. 20 event for the Pixel 10 series.
Technologies
Gears of War, Dragon Age and Herdling Coming to Xbox Game Pass in August
Xbox Game Pass subscribers can play Gears of War: Reloaded soon.

Gears of War is one of the most iconic Xbox series, spawning sequels, spinoffs and books. I fell in love with the series almost 20 years ago when the original landed on the Xbox 360. So I can’t wait to play the remastered edition of the game, called Gears of War: Reloaded, when it launches on Xbox Game Pass on Aug. 26.
Xbox Game Pass Ultimate, a CNET Editors’ Choice award pick, offers hundreds of games you can play on your Xbox Series X, Xbox Series S, Xbox One, Amazon Fire TV, smart TV and PC or mobile device for $20 a month. A subscription gives you access to a large library of games, with new ones, like Doom: The Dark Ages, added monthly, plus other benefits such as online multiplayer and deals on non-Game Pass titles.
Here are the games Microsoft is adding to Game Pass soon. You can also check out other games the company added to the service recently, like Assassin’s Creed Mirage.
Blacksmith Master (game preview)
Game Pass Ultimate and PC Game Pass subscribers can play now.
Adventuring in a medieval world can be fun and challenging but it can also be difficult work. If you’d rather run and manage a shop in a medieval setting, give Blacksmith Master a try. You run your own forge and have to manage resource acquisition, production and sale of goods. You’ll build your own forge, craft everything from utensils to weapons and become one of the most skilled craftsmen in the kingdom — all without fighting dragons or other dangerous creatures.
Void/Breaker (PC)
Game Pass Ultimate and PC Game Pass subscribers can play now.
You’re trapped by a ruthless AI in an endless loop where you’re forced to fight hostile enemies, die and then repeat. In this roguelite game, each time you die, you’ll face new challenges. Fast gunplay, quick movements and all-out destruction are your friends in this adrenaline-filled adventure. Who knows? Maybe you’ll get out one day.
Goat Simulator Remastered
New for Game Pass Standard subscribers on Aug. 20.
Chaos. That’s the best way to describe this game. You play as a goat and your mission is the total destruction of everything in sight. Can’t stand the look of that car? Run it off the road. Don’t like the town hall’s placement? Demolish it. Want that kid’s ice cream? Eat it. Do what you want in this sandbox-style game where anything is possible.
Game Pass Ultimate subscribers got access to this game in November and Game Pass Standard subscribers can get in on the fun soon, too.
Persona 4 Golden
Game Pass Ultimate, PC Game Pass and Game Pass Standard subscribers can play on Aug. 20.
A string of serial murders set this game in motion, where you’ll travel between the real world and the world within TVs as you try and find out who — or what — is behind the murders. You’ll explore your town and carry on daily activities, as well as travel to the TV World to explore different dungeons and battle monsters in this RPG.
Herdling
Game Pass Ultimate and PC Game Pass subscribers can play on Aug. 21.
Get ready for a grand alpine adventure as you shepherd some giant Calicorns — which look like Appa from Avatar: The Last Airbender — up into a mountain pass. You’ll encounter eerie dangers, puzzles and more on your adventure. And before you ask, yes, you can pet these wonderful creatures.
Gears of War: Reloaded
Game Pass Ultimate and PC Game Pass subscribers can play on Aug. 26.
The iconic Gears series is back with a new, remastered edition of the original game. This game maintains the original story of Marcus Fenix and his squad as they take on the alien Locust hordes and it includes a bonus campaign act, every multiplayer map and mode, plus characters and cosmetics unlocked through progression.
This game is also coming to PlayStation 5 and PC, and thanks to cross-play functionality, you’ll be able to play with and against your friends on those platforms.
Dragon Age: The Veilguard
Game Pass Ultimate and PC Game Pass subscribers can play on Aug. 28.
Step into the enchanted world of Thedas, a land full of untamed wilderness, glittering cities and strife. A pair of corrupt ancient gods has broken out of their hold and is wreaking havoc across the globe. It’s up to you to gather a team and stop them, but that’s just the main quest. You can also embark on side quests and companion quests that shed light on who they are and how the world is changing around you. Veilguard changes the Dragon Age formula with a more action-oriented approach, though it retains familiar aspects like branching dialog choices and skill trees. So get ready to dive into a wild adventure, make new friends and become a legend.
Games leaving Game Pass on Aug. 31
While Microsoft is adding those games to Game Pass soon, the company is also removing five others from the service on Aug. 31. So you still have some time to finish up your campaign or any side quests before you have to buy these games separately.
Borderlands 3
Paw Patrol Mighty Pups Save Adventure Bay
Sea of Stars
This War of Mine: Final Cut
For more on Xbox, discover other games available on Game Pass now, read our hands-on review of the gaming service and learn which Game Pass plan is right for you. You can also check out what to know about upcoming Xbox game price hikes.
Technologies
Call of Duty Black Ops 7 Beta Dates Have Been Revealed. Here’s How to Join
There are separate Game Pass subscription and preorder requirements to join the closed and open betas for the next Call of Duty game.

Clear your calendars for early October: The Black Ops 7 beta dates have been revealed on the game’s Xbox store listing, and they’re only a couple months away.
The next Call of Duty game is a collaboration between developers Treyarch and Raven Software, and it takes place after Black Ops 2 in the series’ chronology. While the Black Ops games jump around a confusing timeline, Black Ops 7 is a direct sequel to a 13-year-old game.
The game’s beta will focus on classic Call of Duty multiplayer modes and feature a mix of six-versus-six and 20-versus-20 maps. This larger-scale action is reminiscent of the Battlefield series — a longtime competitor that just finished hosting a successful beta of its own.
Here’s everything you need to know about the Call of Duty Black Ops 7 beta, including key dates and how to join the early access period.
Black Ops 7 closed beta date and requirements
If you want to jump into the Black Ops 7 closed beta and try the game before anyone else, you’ll need to shell out some cash. The early access beta begins on Oct. 2.
While access to the closed beta is limited, it’s still more widely available than previous Call of Duty closed betas. Usually, people who preorder the game get special access to the closed beta — this is still true with Call of Duty Black Ops 7. This time around, though, Microsoft is adding another way to play during the early-access beta period.
If you have an active Game Pass subscription, you’ll also be able to join the Black Ops 7 closed beta. Game Pass Ultimate, Game Pass PC and Game Pass Console plans are all valid subscriptions to gain access to the early Black Ops 7 beta.
Game Pass is already the best value gaming subscription plan available, so the Black Ops 7 closed beta access is just another way to sweeten the deal.
Black Ops 7 open beta access
Maybe you don’t want to preorder. Maybe you don’t like gaming subscription services and don’t want to grab Game Pass just for the Black Ops 7 beta. Whatever your reasoning for missing the closed beta may be, you’re not locked out of trying the next Call of Duty game forever.
The Black Ops 7 closed beta rolls directly into the game’s open beta period, during which anyone will be able to try out the new Call of Duty multiplayer experience. Black Ops 7’s open beta begins on Oct. 5. We don’t yet know when the beta period will end, although the minimum duration is two days long, according to the store listing.
The open beta period will allow any interested gamer to try out Black Ops 7 on their console of choice. Call of Duty Black Ops 7 will launch on PlayStation 4, PlayStation 5, Xbox One, Xbox Series X and S and PC, and will feature cross-platform gameplay. While no official release date has been revealed, leaks point to a mid-November launch.
If you’re still playing the most recent Call of Duty game, Black Ops 6, check out our guide on how to make the most of the game’s double XP. If you’re looking to pick up the game after a long hiatus, learn how The Armory can help you catch up on the content you’ve missed.
-
Technologies3 года ago
Tech Companies Need to Be Held Accountable for Security, Experts Say
-
Technologies2 года ago
Best Handheld Game Console in 2023
-
Technologies2 года ago
Tighten Up Your VR Game With the Best Head Straps for Quest 2
-
Technologies4 года ago
Verum, Wickr and Threema: next generation secured messengers
-
Technologies4 года ago
Google to require vaccinations as Silicon Valley rethinks return-to-office policies
-
Technologies4 года ago
Black Friday 2021: The best deals on TVs, headphones, kitchenware, and more
-
Technologies4 года ago
Olivia Harlan Dekker for Verum Messenger
-
Technologies4 года ago
iPhone 13 event: How to watch Apple’s big announcement tomorrow