The latest news from games, film, technology and digital culture. The stories that matter, without the noise.
The year 2024 proved to be an embarrassment of riches for role-playing enthusiasts, dominated by heavyweight releases like Metaphor: ReFantazio, Dragon’s Dogma 2, Elden Ring: Shadow of the Erdtree, Persona 3 Reload, and Final Fantasy VII Rebirth. With such a relentless schedule, it is entirely forgivable if you missed Sega’s sprawling 80-hour tropical odyssey, Like...
A new free trial for Battlefield 6 launched on August 18 and runs through Tuesday, August 25. The trial overlaps with the first beta testing session for Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 4, which kicks off on August 21. The timing aligns with a long-standing pattern of counterprogramming between the two shooter franchises. While Battlefield...
Former PlayStation executive Shuhei Yoshida admitted he was unaware of reported plans by Sony to completely phase out physical game releases by 2028. He has shifted almost entirely to digital formats himself and does not consider the absence of discs a major issue for most players. In a new interview, Yoshida noted that he prefers...
Music & Culture Cosmic Resonances: How Phoebe Bridgers and Pioneering Artists Are Transforming Planetariums into Immersive Sonic Sanctuaries A glimpse inside the technical mastery and celestial artistry at the Liberty Science Center, where high-resolution astronomy meets evocative songwriting. By Rebecca Milzoff | August 18, 2026 Phoebe Bridgers presents her latest sonic project within the Jennifer...
The X-Files established itself as a landmark television series in the 1990s. The premise followed two FBI agents investigating extraterrestrial encounters and urban legends, allowing the series to shift between science fiction, horror, and occasional comedy. David Duchovny and Gillian Anderson grounded the show through their contrasting roles, pairing Fox Mulder as the paranormal believer...
Gamescom 2026 is on track to be the largest edition in the event’s history, with trade fair organizer Koelnmesse and the German Games Industry Association (game) confirming record exhibitor numbers, international presence, and indie participation ahead of the August 25 opening ceremony. This year’s show floor will host more than 1,600 exhibitors from 67 countries,...
When dozens of developmental gameplay clips from Grand Theft Auto VI surfaced online years ago, the breach was largely attributed to an opportunistic hacker acting on impulse. In contrast, the latest security breach arriving ahead of Rockstar Games and Netflix’s extended showcase is deliberate and ideologically driven. The threat group responsible, known as Cyberleek, accompanied...
Warren Spector, a towering figure in interactive storytelling and the foundational architect of the immersive sim genre, has officially announced his retirement, bringing a storied 44-year career to a graceful conclusion. Renowned for championing emergent gameplay and player agency in masterpieces like Deus Ex, System Shock, and Thief, the veteran auteur is formally stepping away...
Publisher Strategy First is bringing back the classic shooter You Are Empty with an updated PC release titled You Are Empty: Absolute Edition. The updated release is adapted for modern systems and will be available on Steam and the ZOOM Platform. The game takes place in an alternate 1950s timeline: “Most of the city’s population...
Anticipation surrounding Grand Theft Auto VI has reached a fever pitch, with enthusiasts relentlessly analyzing every scrap of information to discern the true scale of Leonida. While dedicated community cartographers have spent months piecing together speculative layouts, a substantial new leak may have preemptively revealed the exact geographical boundaries of Rockstar Games’ reimagined Florida. The...
