Games

In 2025, AI became a lightning rod for gamers and developers
24 Dec

In 2025, AI became a lightning rod for gamers and developers

hightechz.net0 CommentsAI, Games
2025 was the year generative AI made its presence felt in the video game industry. Its use has been discovered in some of the most popular games of the year, and CEOs from some of the largest game studios claim it's being implemented everywhere in the industry including in their own development processes. Meanwhile, rank-and-file developers, especially in the indie games space, are pushing back against its encroachment, coming up with ways to signal their games are gen-AI free. Generative AI has largely replaced NFTs as the buzzy trend publishers are chasing. Its proponents claim that the technology will be…
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Samsung’s 2026 gaming monitors promise 6K, 3D, and up to 1,040Hz
23 Dec

Samsung’s 2026 gaming monitors promise 6K, 3D, and up to 1,040Hz

hightechz.net0 CommentsGames, Products
Samsung is breaking new ground with its 2026 lineup of gaming monitors, with the Odyssey 3D G90XH becoming the first to feature a 6K display with "glasses-free 3D." The new monitor comes with a 32-inch IPS panel, offering real-time eye-tracking that "adjusts depth and perspective" based on your position, along with a speedy 165Hz refresh rate that you can boost to 330Hz with a Dual Mode feature that switches to 3K. The 2026 Odyssey 3D is an upgrade to the display Samsung revealed during CES last year, which comes with a smaller 27-inch display and a lower 4K resolution. We've…
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Call of Duty, Titanfall developer Vince Zampella has died at age 55
22 Dec

Call of Duty, Titanfall developer Vince Zampella has died at age 55

hightechz.net0 CommentsGames
Vince Zampella, who had a major hand in developing franchises like Medal of Honor, Call of Duty, and Battlefield, died in a car crash on Sunday, NBC Los Angeles reports. He was 55. NBC Los Angeles and CBS Los Angeles report California Highway Patrol responded to a single-car crash at around 12:45PM local time on Angeles Crest Highway in Altadena. An Emergency SOS request came in via satellite from an Apple device, according to the CHP's incident log. The Highway Patrol did not identify Zampella, but CHP officer Marissa Mcintire sent over a press release about the crash that says:…
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Dogpile’s puzzles mix Balatro, Tetris, and a pile of puppies
20 Dec

Dogpile’s puzzles mix Balatro, Tetris, and a pile of puppies

hightechz.net0 CommentsGames
One day, video game critics and journalists will put together a comprehensive study on the impact Balatro had on the industry - of how so many games that came after tried to capture its essence by adding complex systems to otherwise simple, easily understood games. Until then, I'm gonna play Dogpile. Dogpile is a deckbuilding match-3 roguelike that builds on the style of merge games like Suika Game by adding a Balatro-like twist. The result is a cute, cozy (in both genre and vibe) game that appeals to both the numbers-go-up and the dog-loving sicko in me. Drop matching dogs…
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Did a publisher’s slip-up reveal smaller Switch 2 cartridges?
19 Dec

Did a publisher’s slip-up reveal smaller Switch 2 cartridges?

hightechz.net0 CommentsGames
On Friday, retro and arcade game publisher ININ Games surprisingly announced it's been able to "recalculate production" on offering a physical version of R-Type Dimensions III for the Switch 2 because "Two days ago Nintendo announced two new smaller cartridge sizes for Nintendo Switch 2." Physical games on the Switch 2 have been something of a contentious topic; full physical games are reportedly expensive for developers, while game-key cards don't actually have the game on the cart. But later in the day, ININ removed that line from its post and published a significant correction: "There has been no official announcement…
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Steam’s annual winter sale is here — these are the best games to get
18 Dec

Steam’s annual winter sale is here — these are the best games to get

hightechz.net0 CommentsGames
If you’re lucky enough to have a bit of time off around the holidays, we have great news: Steam’s annual winter sale kicked off today, and will run through Monday, January 5th at 1PM ET. Now’s a great time to stock up on some of the best games of 2025 at a solid discount, or add some classics to your backlog if you’ve got a hole in your library. Thousands of games are on sale, but we’ve picked out some highlights to help you get started.  We were surprised to see Hollow Knight: Silksong for $15.99 ($4 off) given its…
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Arcade1Up isn’t dead, maybe
17 Dec

Arcade1Up isn’t dead, maybe

hightechz.net0 CommentsGames
Days after a rumor circulated that home arcade machine maker Arcade1Up would be shutting down, the company has finally shared a statement about its future. "Select assets" from Arcade1Up have been acquired by toy company Basic Fun, and although Arcade1Up isn't dead, what's next for the brand is still a little murky. Last week, a screenshot of an email appearing to be sent from an Arcade1Up staffer painted a grim picture. As stated in the email, which you can see on Reddit: Arcade1Up is closing operations. For the majority of us, our last day is this coming Friday. I cannot…
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A Kinect for kids is outselling Xbox to become the hot console this holiday
13 Dec

A Kinect for kids is outselling Xbox to become the hot console this holiday

hightechz.net0 CommentsGames, Products
It's a small sample size, likely driven by Black Friday discounts and temporary virality, but the Nex Playground has gone from little-known console curiosity to best-seller. It's now on track to quadruple its sales from last year. According to research firm Circana, the Playground was the second best-selling console in the US for the week ending November 22nd, and third for the week ending November 28th. In October, it wasn't even mentioned by Circana's video game analyst, Mat Piscatella. The colorful cube got a steep discount for Black Friday, from $249 to $199, which is likely part of what drove…
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The best thing I bought this year: a portable mechanical keyboard
13 Dec

The best thing I bought this year: a portable mechanical keyboard

hightechz.net0 CommentsGames, Products
A keyboard perfect for barside writing. As a writer, I take the tools of my trade relatively seriously. I’m not crazy enough to drop $3,600 on a keyboard, but I also find typing on a MacBook for extended periods of time deeply unsatisfying — and distracting. So this spring, I started looking into distraction-free writing setups, which included an e-reader / writer and a mechanical keyboard.  I started with the Boox Palma 2 because its E Ink screen and limited connectivity could make it a solid distraction-free solution if paired with a good keyboard. After a lot of research, the keyboard…
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Control’s action-RPG sequel launches in 2026
12 Dec

Control’s action-RPG sequel launches in 2026

hightechz.net0 CommentsGames
Remedy Entertainment is finally showing off the much-anticipated sequel to Control. The new game, dubbed Control Resonant, expands on the original with a new action-RPG framework. It takes place seven years later and shifts the setting from the unsettling Oldest House of the original to a more open Manhattan, while putting players in the role of Dylan Faden, brother of Control protagonist Jesse. It's expected to launch in 2026. Here's the basic setup, per Remedy: After years in confinement at the hands of the Federal Bureau of Control (FBC), Dylan Faden's former captors are deploying him at the peak of…
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