games Archives

Let the games begin

🎉 Here’s what you need to keep the good times rolling.

Level up with a gaming controller ($56) that’s fast and smooth.
A Toniebox speaker (30% off) tells kids’ bedtime stories and more.
Help your child learn to swim with a back belt floater (18% off).
Fetch! This oddly shaped dog ball ($8) bounces in some cool ways.
Watch your cat chase this laser cat toy ($25) in random directions.

🧸 Catch ’em all: Toss your kid’s stuffed animals into a hanging net ($29) for later.

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Paying to unplug: What happened to self-control? Folks are dropping thousands to stay at places like Grand Velas Resorts in Mexico for a digital detox. No phones. No TV. Instead? Board games, snorkeling and outdoor activities. Most guests go crazy in the first 24 hours … but adjust by day three.

$38 billion

That’s how much Saudi Arabia is pouring into gaming. Basically the Thanos of gaming via Savvy Games Group, the kingdom controls 40% of the global esports industry and big chunks of ESL, Scopely, Nintendo, EA and more. When your gaming strategy includes Red Bull partnerships and a sovereign wealth fund, you’re not playing games when it comes to games.

📚 Books to bucks: Got shelves of old novels, DVDs or video games? Free apps like BookBuddy (iOS) and Libib (Android) make it easy to sell them. Scan the barcode, and the app stores it in a catalog. From there, create a listing on eBay, Facebook Marketplace or wherever you flip.

Deal with bullies: Your kid will run into rude or mean people online, especially in games or group chats. Show them how to mute or block the person. On Discord, they just need to right-click the bully’s name or profile and hit Block. Let them know it’s private and their other friends won’t know.

2.4 billion

That’s how many times people visited Zillow in just three months. Why? Because daydreaming is cheaper than buying. Only 4 million homes were actually sold last year, but that didn’t stop everyone and their mom from house-hunting from the couch. Zillow’s not just a listing site; it’s the new social media, where “cozy” means claustrophobic and “as-is” means “run.” When it comes to board games about buying real estate, Hasbro really has the Monopoly.

🎮 Kids and online games: When they play games online, they’re chatting with strangers since no friend request is needed. Anyone in the lobby can talk using a mic. Make sure they know not to share personal info and to never agree to meet up in real life. Too many wackos are behind the screen.

10

That’s how many NFL stars could make up Team USA’s Olympic flag football roster in 2028. The NFL just gave its blessing for players to suit up for the red, white and blue. Get ready for Patrick Mahomes, Lamar Jackson and Tyreek Hill to turn the Games into a glorified Pro Bowl.

$50 an hour

What Meta’s offering people to record their smiles, small talk and movements. It’s part of Project Warhol, a push to build super-realistic digital avatars. One day, your 3D clone could pop into VR meetings or games. The catch? You’ve got to be 18+ and head to their Pittsburgh lab starting in September.

$29.99

The monthly price of ESPN’s new all-access streaming app. It comes with access to all ESPN live games, documentaries, fantasy sports and enough studio programming to make you forget you haven’t gone outside since football season started.

May 26, 2026

That’s when the Grand Theft Auto VI launch got pushed to. Gamers weren’t the only ones crushed; Wall Street took shotgun on the joyride. The developer’s stock fell 7% on the news. Now basically a full year away, Rockstar Games swears it’ll be worth the wait. (Cue flashbacks to every other delayed launch ever.)

🚭 Parents, watch out for smart vapes! They look like colorful gadgets that play music, run games, take calls and send social media notifications. But they’re actually vapes … with up to 30,000 puffs, and some even give you points for every hit. Yep, it’s nicotine, sweet flavors and gaming all rolled into one. It’s kind of like a Tamagotchi, except instead of you keeping it alive, it’s killing you.

🚓 Play stupid games, win stupid prizes: Devon Bart thought he could outsmart the cops. The 25-year-old was wanted for assault, but instead of hiding, he took to TikTok. He allegedly posted photos daring law enforcement to find him. He’s now in jail after sheriff deputies in Tennessee arrested him. Ouch. Next up on TikTok: “How I accidentally sped up a felony charge with a thirst trap.”

Heads up, gamers: The Nintendo Switch 2 is dropping June 5, starting at $449.99. It’s packing a 7.9-inch 1080p screen with a 120Hz refresh rate, 256GB of storage and bigger Joy-Con controllers. In docked mode, you’ll also be able to run games up to 4K at 60fps. As for battery? Expect 2 to 6.5 hours, depending on the game. FYI: Preorders open April 9.

👶 Birth rates are declining: If you’re wondering why no one’s settling down anymore, here’s a stat for you: Over half of 18- to 34-year-olds in the U.S. aren’t in a steady relationship. Blame tech. Folks are spending more time on social media, video games and TV than hanging out with each other. Can’t date if you’re glued to a screen!

🍫 A real-life Willy Wonka show? Yep, Netflix is casting for a new reality competition series inspired by Charlie and the Chocolate Factory. It’s called The Golden Ticket, and contestants face wild games and temptations in a retro-futuristic dreamscape. The best part? You can apply now. I just got over my addiction to chocolate, marshmallows and nuts. It was a Rocky Road. (I saw you smile!)

Up to $1.3 million annually

Netflix just listed this eye-popping salary for a new remote job. The role? “General Manager of Games,” overseeing business strategy and development for their flagship franchises. One catch: You’ll need at least 10 years of senior leadership experience to get it.

🎮 Check the garage: Old Nintendo 64 games could be worth serious cash. A sealed copy of The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time is worth over $1,000. The manual alone could fetch you $50. For you collectors, a professionally graded Super Mario 64 is worth $5,000! Time to start digging.

On the tip of my tongue: Researchers are developing a lickable lollipop that lets you “taste” in virtual reality games. It’s packed with small gel pouches that mix with your saliva to create flavors like salt, sugar, cherry and even milk. (Ew.) An electrical current triggers the flavors, and the voltage controls how much you get. That means game designers can mix and match for custom tastes.

16GB of RAM

No longer enough to play PC games. For open-world games that rely on visuals, the new standard is 32GB for shorter loading times, fewer stutters and smoother streaming. Here are affordable upgrade kits for DDR4 and DDR5 systems.

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