Games
PlayStation Network is experiencing a massive outage
PlayStation Network (PSN) is going through an outage that's affecting all of Sony's video game services, according to the PlayStation Service Status page. Players may be unable to access their PlayStation account or use the PlayStation Store, and the outage has had at least one real world impact by delaying the EA Sports FC 26 championship at the Esports World Cup. Sony's status page notes that "all services are experiencing issues," including account management features, game streaming, the PlayStation Store and even PlayStation Direct, Sony's website for selling PlayStation hardware. The issues also extend to older platforms the company is still maintaining in one way or another, like the PS Vita, PS4 and PS3. Engadget has asked Sony to comment on the outage and the work it's doing to fix it.
Poinpy, a perfect video game, is back and it's completely free on mobile
Poinpy, a perfect video game, is back and it's completely free on mobile Poinpy, a perfect video game, is back and it's completely free on mobile The former Netflix exclusive was unavailable to play for over a year. Nothing gold can stay, as Robert Frost once wrote. But maybe it can go away for a while and come back again. Such is the case with . The mobile game debuted in 2022 and it was available exclusively to Netflix subscribers.
Microsoft accused of unfair labor practices by US and Canadian video game unions
Charges filed with the NLRB accuse Xbox of bad faith bargaining. Following another round of mass layoffs and studio upheavals at Xbox, Communications Workers of America has filed unfair labor practice charges against Microsoft with the National Labor Relations Board. The CWA accuses Microsoft of bad faith bargaining, coercive actions, contract repudiation and failing to provide notice to employees, according to the charge on the NLRB site . The case was filed on July 15 in the United States, and CWA Canada is taking legal action against Microsoft as well, as reported by Game Developer . On July 6, Microsoft announced it would immediately cut 1,600 jobs across its Xbox division, with plans to lose another 1,600 employees over the coming fiscal year.
Palworld 1.0, Tiny Bookshop on mobile and other new indie games worth checking out
Plus, pretend you're moderating a forum like it's 2007 again. Welcome to our latest roundup of what's going on in the indie game space. As ever, we've got some neat new games for you to dive into this weekend, as well as a peek at some of the goodies headed our way in the near future. In between playing and trying to figure out whether the Steam Machine that's now under my TV actually fits into my life at all, I've been dipping into a -inspired project. is a simulation game that tasks you with moderating a forum in the mid-2000s, with a Windows XP-style UI adeptly setting the scene. There's even a desktop music player called Winump and a screensaver that kicks in after a period of inactivity. You'll have to review users' posts to determine whether they comply with a set of ever-changing rules, all while dealing with distractions like pop-ups and NSM Messenger pings.
IndyCar and iRacing Studios spill details on series' first video game in twenty years
Former college softball star is now an America-loving Giants WAG, Norway fan won't row & Spurs announcer fired Stacey Dales provides much-needed logic to ESPN's Caitlin Clark coverage, dismantles race-baiter on set Sandy Alcantara home dominance gives edge to Miami Marlins for tonight's betting card WNBA player who battered Caitlin Clark elbows another Fever star in the face, but there's a catch Fever coach Stephanie White dodges question on GOP letter about Caitlin Clark's treatment in WNBA LA Galaxy coach Greg Vanney says Team USA was'too naive,' explains Christian Pulisic's struggles Airplane passenger goes viral for streaming Argentina's miraculous World Cup comeback for the entire plane Vice admiral says he is surprised by Iran's sustained attacks in the region Why Graham Platner's withdrawal from Senate race could pour fuel on the progressive insurgence Charlie Kirk's mother weeps with Erika Kirk as surveillance video plays in courtroom Mamdani addresses top official's plan to meet with Iran Mamdani faces backlash over planned meeting with Iran's UN ambassador On this episode of Don't @ Me with Dan Dakich, we expose ESPN's broken, narrative-driven coverage of Indiana Fever superstar Caitlin Clark as the fading network hypocritically sabotages the WNBA's most popular asset. The NTT IndyCar series produces some of the best racing anywhere on the planet, and for years, fans have been clamoring for a standalone video game based on the series. It's been in the works for some time, but on Thursday, IndyCar and racing sim juggernaut iRacing announced details, including when to expect the game to debut. And when that happens, you'll know where to find me: in the upstairs guest bedroom where my wife is cool with me setting up my racing sim. The NTT IndyCar Series is getting the standalone video game treatment for the first time in over twenty years when IndyCar Racing The Game rolls out next year.
Microsoft reportedly cancels Avowed sequel as Obsidian focuses on a Fallout game
The Fallout: New Vegas developer has not escaped Microsoft's Xbox layoffs unscathed. Obsidian Entertainment, the developer behind the Pillars of Eternity series, and, is being reshuffled as part of Xbox's larger reset and mass layoffs across Microsoft's gaming business. Josh Sawyer, the director of and the Medieval adventure game, is reportedly leading development of the new game. Getting a new Fallout game out is particularly relevant given that, a multiplayer survival game from 2018, is technically the most recent release and Fallout has now been adapted into a successful streaming series on Amazon Prime Video. This change in studio direction is also being paired with layoffs.
A Sad Kind of Convenience
The death of physical media is getting closer--and we may miss it when it's gone. When I was 16, I did something I'm embarrassed to admit: I waited in a long line to buy a video game called Assassin's Creed III . Over the past few days, though, that experience has become ever so slightly tinged with nostalgia. Last week, Sony announced that, starting in 2028, new PlayStation games will be available only as digital downloads rather than physical discs. Will kids ever get to embarrass themselves like this again?
Sony will stop making disc-based PlayStation games starting 2028
Xbox and Nintendo have also been pushing consumers towards digital games. Sony has announced that PlayStation is going all digital, with physical game disc production being discontinued starting January 2028. After this date, you'll only be able to purchase new games digitally on the PlayStation Store and in retailers. Sony says its decision is a response to shifting trends in consumer preference, with digital sales significantly outweighing physical. Last year, physical game distribution accounted for just three percent of PlayStation's revenue, and the fact that the PS5 Pro launched in 2024 without a disc drive was a pretty good indication of Sony's future direction.
This Humanoid Robot Is a Terrifyingly Competent Office Intern
Flexion Robotics, a startup founded by ex-Nvidia engineers, has a clever way of training robots to do useful work. Humanoid robots might be able to run, dance, and occasionally kick people, but to become human, they're going to need to learn how to do all sorts of menial chores at work. Flexion Robotics, a Swiss startup founded by ex-Nvidia robotics researchers, thinks it has the solution. The company has developed a way to train robots to perform complex tasks that involve simple skills like opening doors, climbing stairs, and carrying boxes. The key is to teach the robots individual skills in simulation, then have a master AI algorithm determine how to use them.
A sidescrolling roguelite platformer, Steam Deck air hockey and other new indie games worth checking out
Plus, the Steam Summer Sale is under way. Welcome to our latest roundup of what's going on in the indie game space. If you're looking for something new to play this weekend, we have several options for you to check out. We've also got news to bring you about upcoming games, including one with sword-wielding dinosaurs. Despite already having more games in my various libraries than I can ever conceivably play, I'm sure I'll at least pick up a few things from my wishlist.