Gaming

Nintendo Is Still Being Wildly Underestimated

• Nintendo’s accessible games may face a critical ceiling.
• Switch Sports Resort is praised for thoughtful, welcoming design.
• Its free-roam activities could introduce players to open-world play.

Nintendo’s approachable games can be undervalued by critics, despite the company’s strong reputation for influential design. The article argues that Nintendo Switch Sports Resort is a particularly good example: its welcoming, simplified design offers substantial enjoyment, but reviews appear to give it less credit than more complex or…

Windows 11 background tasks to adjust for smoother gaming

• Disable a few background tasks to reduce resource use.
• Pause cloud syncing while gaming to avoid CPU and network spikes.
• Expect modest gains; disabling the wrong service can cause problems.

The article recommends trimming a few Windows 11 background tasks to reduce resource use and potentially make PC gaming smoother. It matters because rising costs for graphics cards and memory make upgrades harder to justify, though disabling services is only a modest measure and will not deliver major…

Ken Kutaragi says keeping PlayStation games on disc is hard to justify

• Ken Kutaragi understands Sony’s economic case for ending discs.
• Digital downloads made up 82 per cent of recent full-game sales.
• The debate also raises questions about who owns digital games.

Ken Kutaragi, who led development of the original PlayStation, PS2 and PS3, says he understands why players object to Sony ending disc production but considers keeping physical games economically difficult to justify. He suggests the attachment to discs partly reflects their role as a symbol of owning a…

5 Years Later, Metroid Dread’s Perfect Ending Is Still One of Nintendo’s Best

• Metroid Dread’s ending makes Samus’s transformation its central horror.
• The Metroid DNA that saved her life also puts her in danger.
• The finale turns her power into a source of fear.

Five years after its 2021 release, Metroid Dread remains memorable for its tense design and, especially, its ending. The article argues that the finale matters because it turns Samus Aran’s struggle with Metroid DNA into a frightening personal crisis: she becomes the species she once helped drive to…

Feature: 15 Years Ago, ‘Return To Dream Land’ Ushered In Kirby’s Golden Era

• Kirby returned to home consoles after an 11-year gap.
• Four-player co-op and Super Abilities added spectacle.
• The game helped launch a celebrated period for Kirby.

Kirby’s Return to Dream Land arrived on Wii in 2011 after an 11-year gap since Kirby 64: The Crystal Shards, bringing the series back to home consoles with a new major adventure. The feature argues that its success came from HAL Laboratory trusting the familiar 2D Kirby formula,…

Fallout Day 2026: Every Big Announcement from Bethesda’s Fan Event

• Fallout 76 pets can join players out in the world from 1 December.
• Bethesda says Fallout 76 has passed 25 million players.
• Fallout Day 2027 is planned for Washington, DC.

Bethesda’s five-day Fallout Day celebration in 2026 brought updates and announcements for Fallout 76, Fallout Shelter and Fallout 4. The event highlighted new content for existing games while fans continue to await news about recently announced Fallout projects. Fallout 76’s 72nd free update, World Pets, arrives on 1…

Forget Spider-Man, Tom Holland’s Video Game Movie Is Officially Dominating Streaming

• *Uncharted* is among HBO Max’s ten most-watched films worldwide.
• The film made about $400 million in 2022.
• Holland’s recent blockbusters may be renewing interest in his earlier work.

Tom Holland’s video game adaptation *Uncharted* is among the ten most-watched films on HBO Max worldwide, as interest in the actor remains high following the success of *Spider-Man: Brand New Day*. The streaming performance shows how a major cinema hit can draw attention to an actor’s earlier work.…

Co-op climbing hit Peak reaches consoles after selling 23 million copies

• *Peak* is now available on major consoles.
• The game has sold more than 23 million copies.
• Steam Next Fest offers thousands of demos until Monday.

The co-operative climbing game *Peak* has launched on PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X/S and Nintendo Switch 2, bringing one of 2025’s biggest indie hits to consoles. Its daily-changing mountain routes, survival mechanics and cross-play are designed for chaotic sessions with friends, helping explain its popularity and potential for…

UK plans £100m AI biosecurity lab as OpenAI shuns live web training

Rosland Capital files for bankruptcy; Sapkowski plans another Witcher book, and a pub explorer names 50 favourites.