James Cameron's Aliens, released 40 years ago, profoundly impacted video game design, influencing titles like Doom, Halo, and Gears of War with its space marines, weaponry, and gameplay structure, despite challenges in direct game adaptations.
Despite perceived decline, the 2020s have seen significant innovation in cinema, driven by YouTube creators achieving box office success, the emergence of copyright expiry films, and unprecedented audience influence on film production and marketing, as seen with *Sonic the Hedgehog* and *Barbenheimer*.
Independent developers Friday Sundae's new video game, 'There Are No Ghosts at the Grand', blends genres to tell a British ghost story. Players renovate a dilapidated hotel, fight ghosts, and interact with characters speaking authentic British slang, aiming for a diverse portrayal of real Britain.
The Designers Republic (TDR), founded by Ian Anderson in Sheffield 40 years ago, is celebrated for its influential graphic design work for music acts like Aphex Twin and Pulp, video games, and brands, despite its humble, self-taught beginnings.
Artists Case Jernigan and Todd Anderson are developing 'Bub,' a stop-motion video game based on Jernigan's life, exploring an artist's memories, dreams, and experiences with anxiety and MS. The game features unique visual and musical styles, aiming for intuitive yet unpredictable player interaction.
Rockstar Games announced Grand Theft Auto VI will be digital-only in a box, while Sony confirmed it will stop making physical PlayStation game discs by January 2028. These moves accelerate the industry's shift to digital, raising concerns for game preservation, consumer rights, and the resale market.
Federal agents arrested Zyaire Wilkins, 21, in Florida, accusing him of involvement in a scheme that hid crypto-stealing malware in online video games. The group allegedly infected 8,000 devices, accessed 80 crypto wallets, and stole at least $220,000 between May 2024 and February 2026. Wilkins faces up to 10 years in prison.
Kelela's new album 'New Avatar' blends R&B with shoegaze and rock, marking a significant artistic reinvention. The artist discusses her evolving sound, influences from indie rock and progressive metal, and her commitment to a Black queer feminist vision.
Software engineers face anxiety and uncertainty as AI transforms the industry, diminishing the value of traditional coding skills. Many are adapting by focusing on AI code evaluation, seeking new skills, or exploring collective action and career changes.
General Intuition CEO Pim de Witte believes embodied AI will adopt a foundation model approach, similar to NLP. The company raised $320M at a $2.3B valuation for its model trained on video game data, capable of powering robots with minimal real-world data.
Microsoft's Xbox division is undergoing significant restructuring, including 1,600 layoffs this summer and more expected, while aiming to reach a billion people daily. This strategy, led by CEO Asha Sharma, focuses on major franchises like Minecraft and Candy Crush amid industry volatility and skepticism.
Microsoft's Xbox division is in crisis, with reports of layoffs, studio closures, and game cancellations following costly, unsuccessful bets on subscription services like Game Pass. Despite billions spent, revenue has declined, leading to a strategic "reset" under new leadership.
The Rhythm Heaven series returns with Rhythm Heaven Groove, offering bite-sized rhythm-based experiences. While it may lack the experimental spirit of its predecessors and suffers from some latency issues, the new entry provides dozens of fresh challenges and a charming, familiar feel.
Sony announced it will cease releasing new PlayStation video games on physical discs in January 2028, shifting entirely to digital downloads via the PlayStation Store. This move reflects a significant consumer preference for digital media, with digital game sales rising from 13% in 2013 to nearly 80% in 2025.
Sony announced it will stop producing physical PlayStation discs by January 2028, shifting to digital-only PS5 games. Concurrently, PS3 and PS Vita digital stores are winding down, highlighting significant challenges for video game preservation as digital-exclusive titles become inaccessible.
Philosopher Daisy Dixon's new book, "Depraved," examines controversial artworks, exploring how artist character and harmful creations impact the world. Dixon categorizes depravity in art and advocates for confronting it openly rather than hiding it.
Valve's Steam Machine launches at high price points ($1,049-$1,428), significantly more than competitors like Xbox Series X and PS5, due to global RAM shortages impacting PC component costs. This signals a trend of increasing prices in the console market.
Video game terms like 'killstreak' and 'NPC' are increasingly used in political discourse and propaganda, reflecting gaming's mainstream cultural impact. This shift is evident in White House content and political commentary, highlighting a new era of 'slopaganda'.
Claude Guillemot, co-founder of the video game publisher Ubisoft, died Friday in a plane crash in La Baule, France. He was 69. Guillemot helped build Ubisoft into a global gaming company and also chaired the family's hardware business, Guillemot Corp.
La chercheuse Fanny Rebillard explique que la musique de jeu vidéo est un genre unique, adaptatif et interactif, se distinguant de la musique de film par sa composition en temps réel répondant aux actions des joueurs et aux codes du jeu.
Elon Musk, the world's richest man, controls a sprawling network of businesses including SpaceX, Tesla, Neuralink, and The Boring Company. His ventures, often close to collapse, have disrupted industries and achieved massive valuations, with SpaceX recently having the largest IPO ever.
The Nex Playground, a new cube-shaped video game console, uses AI and body movements instead of controllers to encourage children to be active. Despite its niche focus, it surprisingly ranked as the third best-selling console in the US during Black Friday 2025.
A movement called Stop Killing Games is lobbying for legal protections to prevent publishers from shutting down online video games. The group advocates for "end-of-life plans" to keep games playable, proposing that companies allow players to operate private servers. While the European Commission cannot mandate this due to copyright laws, it will work on a code of conduct. In the US, California's "Protect Our Games" act, which requires advance notice before takedown and access for purchased games, has passed the Assembly.
The Adventures of Elliot: The Millennium Tales is a 2D-HD game inspired by Zelda, featuring a customizable combat system and time-traveling puzzles. Despite its earnest tone, it offers a rewarding experience with inspired dungeons and fast-paced gameplay.
