The Verge's podcast Version History has kicked off its fifth season with an episode exploring the history and cultural impact of The Oregon Trail, the educational video game that shaped childhoods for generations of American students. Host David Pierce is joined by gaming journalist Chris Grant and Philip Bouchard, who designed and led the team behind the game's most famous version, to discuss its academic origins, its enduring and sometimes contested legacy, and the game's infamous dysentery deaths.

This season will also cover other pieces of classroom and personal technology, including the TI-84 graphing calculator, One Laptop Per Child, Chromebooks, LeapPad and the overhead projector. The Verge is also planning a livestreamed playthrough of The Oregon Trail on its YouTube channel, in which staff members will attempt to complete the journey. Episodes are available via the Version History podcast feed, YouTube channel, TikTok and Instagram, with an ad-free option for Verge subscribers.