Games Archive

Terrence O'BrienOct 24

Ken Kutaragi calls physical media just a ‘metaphor’ for owning games.

The so-called “Father of the PlayStation” told VGC that while he understands why users are upset about Sony phasing out game discs, he thinks it’s the right decision. But I’m also not sure he understands what a “metaphor” is.

“I understand that physical discs have become a metaphor for ‘owning’ games. I really understand that mentality… But nobody thinks [physical media] is necessary for a networked device like a smartphone, for example, because people feel that they will keep their content. So it’s a mentality.
“I really understand [why some people are upset], but I don’t think it’s economically reasonable. Maybe it’s a mentality issue.”

Xbox’s first chief operating officer is out after just a few months

Tom WarrenOct 23

Jay PetersOct 23

Steam’s Personal Calendar feature is exiting beta.

About a year after Valve introduced the feature, which recommends new and upcoming games you might be interested in and even shows some on an actual calendar, it’s now considered a “full feature” of the Steam Store, Valve says.

My personal calendar page has me pretty dead to rights; among other games, it recommends Final Fantasy Resonance, Star Wars: Galactic Racer, both of which I reviewed and really liked, and some indie games I already had my eye on.

Steam's Personal Calendar Full Release

[Steam News]

Jay PetersOct 23

Netflix reportedly offered Microsoft $500 million to license Xbox games for adaptations.

Xbox CEO Asha Sharma and team countered by asking for $800 million, and Netflix has pulled its offer, Puck reports in an article discussing the new leadership at Netflix.

Xbox launched an “XP” division this month that will work on adaptations of its games, and Xbox is already working with Netflix on a Diablo animated series.

The Peter Rice Playbook & Elon's Skydance Motive

[Puck]

Jay PetersOct 23

Amazon is planning more day-and-date Luna game releases for Prime subscribers.

Star Wars: Galactic Racer was available to stream on Luna at no extra cost to Prime subscribers the same day it launched on other platforms, and in a post celebrating the one-year anniversary of Luna’s relaunch, Amazon says it plans to bring more “major” day-and-date releases to Prime members.

Luna’s user base has also grown “fivefold” since the relaunch, Amazon’s gaming GM, Jeff Gattis, says in the post. I spoke to Gattis earlier this year about Amazon’s plan for games.

One Year of Amazon Luna

[Amazon Game Studios]

Sean HollisterOct 23

I’m beginning to think the next Xbox will be sold like a cell phone.

Late yesterday, I laid out five ways Microsoft can try to make lemonade out of RAMageddon, but one feels likelier to me now readers have weighed in: the cell phone subsidy model. In the K-shaped economy, wealthier buyers could buy an “unlocked” Xbox, but most could get it “free” with 36-month (or longer!) subscription.

But I also think many will reject that and stick with what they already have.

The next-gen Xbox won’t cost you $1,800. It can’t. Can it?

Sean Hollister

Oct 22

Sean HollisterOct 23

You can now try FSR 4.1 on your Xbox Ally X or X20.

If you’ve got one of the Microsoft/Asus collab handhelds, let me know if this is game-changing? You can find the update in Command Center > Armory Crate SE > Update Center > Preview Updates. Asus does warn “it may still contain bugs or instability, designed for those who can’t live without the latest and greatest.”

Here’s where you can turn it on after installation.

Image: Asus

Andrew LiszewskiOct 23

Hallmark’s Halo special edition Xbox ornament glows green.

In 2024, Hallmark added a tiny version of the original Xbox to its holiday ornament collection and then followed up last year with a miniature Xbox 360. For 2026 it’s returning to Microsoft’s first console, but the translucent green Halo special edition version. It will be available at the end of the month for $27.99 and includes a glowing greed LED and sound effects.

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A miniature green Xbox console Hallmark ornament hanging from a tree branch.

Image: Hallmark

Andrew LiszewskiOct 23

A Game Boy game coveted by collectors just landed on Nintendo Switch Online.

A quick peek at eBay reveals that just the manual for the US version of Jaleco’s Avenging Spirit currently sells for over $150. The game (with its coveted artwork) has just been added to Nintendo Switch Online’s Game Boy library along with the Shigeru Miyamoto-produced Mole Mania and Pinball: Revenge of the ‘Gator.

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Retro gaming is being overrun with AI

A rise in AI-powered decomps, recomps, and ports has thrust the community into chaos.

Andrew WebsterOct 23

Jay PetersOct 22

Epic Games is promoting a game jam where AI is welcome with a six-fingered hand.

And a red pill meme. You can see the post on X here.

Epic CEO Tim Sweeney said last week that the company is undergoing a “huge pivot” to “retool for maximum AI acceleration,” and it announced a “vibe coded” update to its PC launcher last week in preview that had some issues on the first day.