Will the Metaverse Live Up to the Hype? Game Developers Aren’t Impressed
[ad_1] The perfect version of the metaverse, to hear tech heads like Mark Zuckerberg tell it, marries social media, entertainment, and—most exciting of all—meetings in one pristine virtual space. Long ago…
The 10 Best and Cruelest Games of 2022
[ad_1] In Blue Twelve Studios’ postapocalypse, humans are gone and cats are left to roam the neon-lit ruins. Stray, a puzzle platformer where players control an orange tabby traversing a cyberpunk…
Activision Blizzard Has Another Union on Its Hands. Now What?
[ad_1] On October 18, after the NLRB ruled that Blizzard Albany QA workers would be able to vote in a union election, newly instated chief communications officer Lulu Cheng Meservey posted a…
Gamers Are Fleeing Twitter for Hive. Can It Handle the Swarm?
[ad_1] Twitter, both as a company and as a functioning service, is hurtling toward the unknown. In the weeks since Elon Musk took control, users have been fleeing to whatever platforms they…
Anita Sarkeesian Hates Talking About Gamergate—But She Has To
[ad_1] If you’d like to debate Anita Sarkeesian about whether or not male privilege exists, we’ll make this easy for you: she’s not interested. It’s been a decade since her…
As Googles Stadia Shutters, Developers Are Left to Face the Fallout
[ad_1] Moreover, the Stadia team was enthusiastic about each project, and they took a shine to indies in particular. Even when developers sensed it wasn’t the healthiest of places—Google’s decision…
Super Mario Sounds Exactly Like Chris Pratt—and That’s Fine
[ad_1] When Chris Pratt teased his upcoming role as gaming’s most iconic character, Mario, he called it “unlike anything you’ve heard in the Mario world before.” Charles Martinet, who has…
The End of Google Stadia
[ad_1] Google Stadia is shutting down. Just three years after it launched, Google’s big bet on cloud gaming will stop operating on January 18, 2023. Its rapid demise isn’t a…
Twitch’s Crypto Casino Ban Ignores the Bigger Play
[ad_1] During a heavily watched Twitch stream on September 18, UK-based creator Sliker delivered a tearful admission to his audience. “It’s time for the truth,” he said between sobs. “I…
The Real Impact of the ‘Grand Theft Auto’ and ‘Diablo’ Leaks
[ad_1] On September 17, a user called teapotuberhacker went to a Grand Theft Auto forum with what they claimed were 90 clips from Rockstar Games’ next big presumed hit, Grand…
The End of Kiwi Farms, the Web’s Most Notorious Stalker Site
[ad_1] On the morning of August 5, in London, Ontario, police put an assault rifle in Clara Sorrenti’s face. Sorrenti is a trans activist and Twitch streamer who provides political…
Clocking In at the Virtual Reality Kmart
[ad_1] Trolls she can mute or block. VRC Kmart employee infractions require more nuanced solutions. The store maintains its own HR department and documents complaints, which can be filed anonymously.…
Final Fantasy Is ‘Struggling.’ Where Does the Series Go From Here?
[ad_1] At the height of its popularity, Final Fantasy was the JRPG franchise, a must-have that sold PlayStation consoles through the ’90s and beyond. But the cornerstones that defined the…
Nobody Is Playing Netflix’s Games
[ad_1] It’s been nearly two years since Netflix began its big push into gaming, and the streaming giant’s presence as a household name isn’t quite translating. According to recent findings…
Is This ‘Nier: Automata’ Church a Hoax or a 5-Year-Old Secret?
[ad_1] For the last month, Redditors in the Nier: Automata community were trying to solve a mystery. It involved a secret door, a church allegedly hidden in the game for…
Activision Blizzard Workers Keep Fighting for a Seat at the Table
[ad_1] On Thursday, Activision Blizzard developers from employee collective ABK Workers Alliance (and at least one dog) gathered outside the gates of Blizzard Entertainment’s Irvine, California campus. Many raised a…
The Agony and Ecstasy of Playing Out Your School Years in Games
[ad_1] George Pigula can’t get a prom date. With roughly 24 hours until the dance, the Sims 4: High School Years lead producer is reliving one of the most mortifying…