Tech
YouTube Live gets a Twitch and TikTok inspired update
YouTube announced a slew of new creator-oriented updates at its Made on YouTube 2025 event on Tuesday.
However, it appears YouTube Live received the biggest overhaul of the day, with the video giant making several announcements regarding new live streaming features coming to the platform.
According to YouTube, more than 30 percent of daily logged-in YouTube viewers watched live content in Q2 2025. Livestreams are growing on YouTube, and it appears the company realizes it needs to compete with some of the more unique livestreaming features on competitor platforms like Twitch and TikTok.
Playables on Live
YouTube's first announcement regarding its new streaming capabilities takes a previously launched feature, Playables, and brings it to YouTube Live.
According to YouTube, with the new Playables on Live, creators will have access to more than 75 "lightweight" (read: casual) games like Angry Birds Showdown and Cut The Rope to play on their stream while interacting with their audience.
Vertical and Horizontal Formats
Short-form video platforms like TikTok and YouTube's own YouTube Shorts have made vertical video quite popular online. However, most streamers have had to make a choice between choosing vertical or horizontal video when streaming to their live video platform of choice.

Credit: YouTube
YouTube will soon allow both formats of video for their streamers, with the platform providing a livestream in both vertical and horizontal formats with one unified live chat for all live viewers to interact in. The company pointed out how this will help its streamers with discoverability on the platform, which makes sense as a significant number of viewers seek out one format over the other.
Live practice mode
YouTube announced a new live practice mode for streamers so that they test run their streaming setup and try out new platform features without having to go live.
This is an interesting feature for YouTube to launch at this juncture. Many regular streamers likely already have their own system setup to do this. But, by building it into YouTube directly, the company is signaling that they may be looking to create more live streamers out of their current video creator user base.
React Live
Reaction videos are still all the rage on social media; it's an especially popular format on YouTube competitor TikTok.
This probably inspired the idea for YouTube's new react live feature on YouTube Live. Other streamers and creators will be able to go live on their mobile device in direct reaction to another simultaneously live streaming video, allowing users to provide real-time commentary on livestreams.
AI-powered clips
This is a big one for creators: AI-powered clips are coming directly to YouTube.
Many livestreamers have paid subscriptions to third-party services where they upload their hours-long livestreams and receive short clips of their stream's best moments determined by AI.

Credit: YouTube
According to YouTube, its own AI-powered highlights will pull the best content from streamer's live videos and automatically generate YouTube Shorts videos for them to share.
New live monetization options
YouTube announced two new monetization formats for streamers: One is ad-based and one is membership based.
Video ads are nothing new on YouTube and livestream viewers are likely used to having their favorite streamer interrupted by an ad. However, regular viewers probably noticed some big streaming channels debut a new format that YouTube will now rollout platform-wide: Side-by-side ads.
Side-by-side ads display a video ad next to a live video stream so that the viewer doesn't miss whatever is happening in the stream while the ad is playing.

Credit: YouTube
The other ad format that YouTube announced is for creators with their channel membership feature activated. Streamers will be able to cut off free viewers during a stream and switch the same stream to a subscriber-only broadcast with the new members-only live stream feature.
By utilizing this monetization option, streamers could bring in new viewers with a free portion of their live show and then convert some of them into paying members by only allowing paid subscribers to view the rest of the stream.
Tech
Elon Musk wants to build a giant catapult on the moon

For years, Elon Musk has talked about colonizing Mars. Now, he's talking about building Looney Tunes contraptions on the moon instead.
The New York Times reported that Musk told employees at xAI on Tuesday evening that he wants to build a factory on the moon to construct AI data center satellites. Not only that, but Musk wants the factory to include some type of gigantic space catapult, called a mass driver, that would then launch the satellites into space, purportedly for the sake of powering xAI's artificial intelligence network.
"You have to go to the moon," Musk reportedly told employees, per the Times.
In case you're wondering why this plan involves xAI and not just SpaceX, it's because the two just recently merged at the corporate level. Musk said that the merger was necessary to help xAI build AI data centers in orbit around the Earth.
While these plans sound like something straight out of science fiction, Musk does have an impressive track record with SpaceX, which has accomplished many engineering firsts.
Of course, Musk did not elaborate on how, exactly, this facility would be built, or on what sort of timeline it would come together. Musk has spent decades talking up the notion of using SpaceX to colonize Mars, but he recently pivoted to the moon instead. Musk often talks about the importance of making the human race interplanetary.
As Mashable has reported previously, Musk has a history of making bold announcements that don't come to fruition.
Tech
How to watch Athletic Club vs. Real Sociedad online for free
TL;DR: Live stream Athletic Club vs. Real Sociedad in the Copa del Rey for free on RTVE. Access this free streaming platform from anywhere in the world with ExpressVPN.
The Copa del Rey semi finals are absolutely mouthwatering. A lot of fans will be focused on Atlético Madrid vs. Barcelona, but the first semi-final matchup is arguably even better.
Athletic Club take on Real Sociedad in the Basque derby. The San Mamés stadium will host the first leg of this fiery rivalry. We're expecting passionate support, intense competition, and of course, drama in abundance. It's going to be electric, and you can enjoy everything that this famous game has to offer without spending anything.
If you want to watch Athletic Club vs. Real Sociedad in the Copa del Rey from anywhere in the world, we have all the information you need.
When is Athletic Club vs. Real Sociedad?
Athletic Club vs. Real Sociedad in the Copa del Rey kicks off at 3 p.m. ET on Feb. 11. This fixture takes place at the San Mamés.
How to watch Athletic Club vs. Real Sociedad for free
Athletic Club vs. Real Sociedad in the Copa del Rey is available to live stream for free on RTVE.
RTVE is geo-restricted to Spain, but anyone can access this free streaming platform with a VPN. These tools can hide your real IP address (digital location) and connect you to a secure server in Spain, meaning you can unblock RTVE to live stream the Copa del Rey for free from anywhere in the world.
Live stream Athletic Club vs. Real Sociedad in the Copa del Rey for free by following these simple steps:
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Subscribe to a streaming-friendly VPN (like ExpressVPN)
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Download the app to your device of choice (the best VPNs have apps for Windows, Mac, iOS, Android, Linux, and more)
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Open up the app and connect to a server in Spain
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Visit RTVE
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Watch Athletic Club vs. Real Sociedad for free from anywhere in the world
The best VPNs for streaming are not free, but most do offer free-trials or money-back guarantees. By leveraging these offers, you can access free live streams of the Copa del Rey without actually spending anything. This obviously isn't a long-term solution, but it does give you enough time to stream Athletic Club vs. Real Sociedad in the Copa del Rey before recovering your investment.
What is the best VPN for RTVE?
ExpressVPN is the best choice for bypassing geo-restrictions to stream live sport on RTVE, for a number of reasons:
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Servers in 105 countries including Spain
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Easy-to-use app available on all major devices including iPhone, Android, Windows, Mac, and more
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Strict no-logging policy so your data is secure
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Fast connection speeds free from throttling
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Up to 10 simultaneous connections
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30-day money-back guarantee
A two-year subscription to ExpressVPN is on sale for $68.40 and includes an extra four months for free — 81% off for a limited time. This plan includes a year of free unlimited cloud backup and a generous 30-day money-back guarantee. Alternatively, you can get a one-month plan for just $12.99 (with money-back guarantee).
Live stream Athletic Club vs. Real Sociedad in the Copa del Rey for free with ExpressVPN.
Tech
Reserve a new Galaxy device before Samsung Unpacked and get a free $30 credit
FREE $30 CREDIT: Reservations for a new Samsung Galaxy device come with a free $30 Samsung credit.
Set a calendar event because the next Samsung Galaxy Unpacked event is set for Feb. 25 online at both samsung.com and the brand's YouTube channel. If you'll be first in line for one of the new Galaxy S26 devices, there's a special deal in store if you reserve in advance.
Reservations for a new Samsung Galaxy device will earn you a free $30 Samsung credit. In addition, you'll be eligible for a savings of up to $900 on your order, and get entered to win $5,000 to spend at Samsung.
We have some idea of what the new Samsung Galaxy S26 lineup will include, but we'll all have to wait until Feb. 25 to get solid specs. But if you have intentions of upgrading, there's no harm in securing a reservation and saving $30. All you'll need to do is fill out Samsung's simple form with your name, e-mail address, and your phone number, if you feel like it. Then Samsung will keep you updated about future steps. The discount gets cancelled if you don't end up ordering a qualifying Galaxy device.
Mashable Tech Reporter Alex Perry said he wouldn't be surprised if the new S26 lineup comes with camera upgrades, in addition to more standard improvements like better battery life.
For those who've been patiently waiting for Galaxy Unpacked, now's your chance to place a reservation on a new Galaxy device with a free $30 credit. It's a win-win for those who are ready for an upgrade.
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