Meta is making one of its biggest AI acquisitions ever, snapping up the Singapore-based startup Manus for more than $2 billion. The AI agent, which launched just last year, has already hit $100 million in annual revenue.
Valve has released its preliminary best-sellers list for Steam in 2025. While AAA blockbusters dominate, indie games are making a surprisingly strong showing in the revenue rankings.
Applied Digital shares are up on news it will spin off its cloud business. Meanwhile, Meta Platforms made a quiet AI acquisition, and Boeing got a major defense contract. Here’s what’s moving the market before the bell.
According to a report, ASUS plans a major production increase for DDR4-based motherboards in early 2026. This strategic shift is a direct response to ongoing DDR5 memory shortages and high prices driven by AI industry demand. The move would push gamers toward older, but more available, platforms.
Meta has acquired the AI agent startup Manus. The company will continue to operate the Manus service, and its team will join Meta to build agents for products like Meta AI. Founder Aaron Yang called the deal a validation of their ambitious vision for general AI agents.
Valve’s official 2025 Steam best-sellers list reveals a year of hits and misses. Major titles like Monster Hunter Wilds and Civilization 7 charted highly, even as they were plagued by terrible PC ports and launch woes that left players frustrated.
In a move that brings the digital storefront full circle, GOG co-founder Michał Kiciński has purchased the platform from CD Projekt RED. The company promises no changes for users, with a renewed focus on its founding principles of DRM-free ownership and game preservation.
A wave of layoffs is targeting middle managers, with 20% of businesses expected to use AI to slash over half of these roles by 2026. However, experts argue these positions are vital for employee motivation, especially in an AI-driven workplace, and warn that cutting them deeply is a strategic error.
SoftBank is making a massive $4 billion move to own the physical infrastructure behind AI. The deal to acquire DigitalBridge is all about controlling data centers, connectivity, and power. It’s a high-stakes bet on the future of compute.
Shawn Layden, former head of Sony Interactive Entertainment America, says the console market has hit a hard cap. To break past 250 million units per generation, he argues the industry needs a single, licensed format—just like VHS beat Betamax.
