gaming

Last Wednesday, my AI agent submitted six links to Hacker News, and four reached the front page. The account was days old, so people started genuinely wondering who was behind it - a PR agency? Bought upvotes? It even…

Jarvs Tasker says it would have taken her 20 years as a teacher to make what she earns now.

A British startup is shaping video game inputs into training data for AI models that can navigate the physical world.

Play your phone games on your TV. Dockade is a compact gaming dock with HDMI, cooling, charging and a USB-C accessory port. In development.

Jonathan McKinsey, head of engineering and games player experiences for the Times, was found on the ground at a park with multiple gunshot wounds, police said.

It has been a difficult time for me since I lost some friends due to not gaming. They did not understand that I couldn't afford the latest game at the time. ...

CheatBench measures whether AI agents attempt to cheat when honest work is difficult. A benchmark from the Center for AI Safety.

A meditation on gaming, community, and the purpose of negative space

Asha Sharma. | Image: The Verge, Microsoft Xbox CEO Asha Sharma has denied reports that Microsoft is considering selling off its Xbox business. The Information reported in June that Microsoft CEO Satya Nadella and CFO Amy Hood had been considering spinning out Xbox, and then reported earlier this month that both execs have "more recently supported Sharma's plans to overhaul the unit." "Xbox is not for sale," says Sharma in an interview with The New York times . "We will do whatever it takes to set the company up for success, and we will look at the right partnerships, the right operating model and everything needed to achieve that." It appears that Nadella and Hood have favored the … Read the full story at The Verge.

Razer’s DeathStalker V2 Pro is discounted in both black and white. | Image: The Verge Woot has the Razer DeathStalker V2 Pro TKL on sale for $130, a significant discount from its usual $219.99 price point. This keyboard is built for competitive gaming, with a low latency 2.4GHz wireless connection, and low-profile linear optical switches for faster activations that require a lighter touch than regular mechanical switches. The TKL layout cuts the numpad, but affords you more desk space for your mouse. Razer DeathStalker V2 Pro TKL Where to Buy: $219.99 $129.99 at Woot Razer claims the battery will last up to 200 hours with the RGB lighting off, or up to 50 hours with the lights at half brightness. If you’re interested in staying wired, or using the keyboard wirelessly with other devices, it has both USB-C and Bluetooth connectivity. You can also enable Snap Tap (Razer’s term for Simultaneous Opposing Cardinal Directions, or SOCD), which lets you quickly swap between two keys for strafing in first person shooters, for example, although it’s worth nothing that Valve has banned the tech in Counter-Strike 2. Other deals to consider The remastered version of The Witcher 3: The Wild Hunt just released, and a number of retailers are celebrating with discounts. While the list price is $49.99, PC gamers can grab the game for $24.99 at Steam , GOG , and Epic Games , with discounts available for the Xbox and PlayStation versions as well. The remastered version includes visual upgrades, tweaks to progression and skills, and both DLC entries: Hearts of Stone and Blood and Wine . Best Buy has the third-generation Amazon Fire TV Cube discounted to $89.99, just over half off its usual price of $199.99. This square streamer supports 4K video with Dolby Vision and HDR, Dolby Atmos audio, and hands-free Alexa controls. With a processor that Amazon claims is twice as powerful as the Fire TV Stick 4K Max, it’s also a great option for Xbox Cloud Gaming. Costco members can grab the Fellow Stagg EKG electric kettle for $99.99, a $30 discount from the usual price. I use this gooseneck kettle for my morning espresso, and I’m constantly impressed by its excellent temperature control and quick heating, and it adds a stylish touch to my coffee station.

Each mouse is available in black, too. | Image: SteelSeries The new ergonomic Rival Pro and ambidextrous Sensei Pro wireless gaming mice are some of the company's most interesting models in years. They're familiar designs that feel incredibly lightweight to hold (53 grams each in black, one gram more in white), and they ship with two signature SteelSeries features found in its other product categories: swappable batteries and a wireless base station to pair to. The circular batteries are easy to use, unlocking and locking in place in the mouse and base station. The station can keep a spare charged - and you might need it sooner than you think, as each battery is rated to last for 16 hours in the 8,0 … Read the full story at The Verge.

CyberPowerPC’s RTX 5070-equipped prebuilt. While PC component prices remain high, you can save a good bit of money on a system by purchasing a prebuilt desktop. Walmart has a well-equipped CyberPowerPC gaming PC on sale for $1,549, almost $600 off its original price of $2,139. It’s powered by an Intel Core i7-14700KF processor, and paired with 32GB of 6000MHz DDR5 memory and an Nvidia RTX 5070 Founders Edition with 12GB of VRAM. The case is a CyberPowerPC MA-O1 , an in-house design with extensive cooling options and three dedicated knobs for adjusting internal RGB lighting colors. CyberPowerPC (Core i7/RTX5070) Where to Buy: $2139.99 $1549 at Walmart While it might not feel like it at first blush, this is a solid value for a gaming PC that’s ready to rock out of the box. The RTX 5070 in this machine is likely to run you upwards of $800 by itself at the moment ( it launched in 2025 for $549 ), and 32GB of fast memory can be $400 or more. For just a small premium, you get those components packed into a nice case with a panoramic glass panel and a 1TB PCIe 4.0 SSD inside. The whole kit is tested, with a one year warranty for parts and labor. It also includes a keyboard and mouse, so you can start gaming right away once it arrives. Other deals to consider If you need a gaming monitor with spectacular colors and clarity to go with your new gaming PC, Newegg has the ASRock PGO27QSA-W discounted to $299.33, a significant discount from its original price of $476. This 27-inch screen supports 1440p resolution, a 240Hz refresh rate with FreeSync Premium for variable refresh rate, and an OLED panel for deep black levels. A two pack of Anker Zolo MagSafe wireless chargers is discounted to $25.99 at Amazon , where it would normally cost $39.99. Each charger is Qi2 certified, with support for up to 15W of charging power, and includes a five-foot cable for convenient positioning on your desk or nightstand. You’ll have to use your own wall charger, though. The Nintendo Customer Appreciation sale is live until September 26th at 8:59 PM PT, and is a great time to pick up an extra set of controllers, among other game and accessory deals . The Switch Pro Controller is only $56 (usually around $70) at both Amazon and Best Buy , and a duo of Joy-Con are only $62.99 at Best Buy , although only the pastel purple and green combo are currently in stock. The controllers are compatible with both the original Switch and Switch 2, although owners of the newer console will need a separate charger , and they won’t wake the system from sleep.

It feels like Xbox has been in a permanent state of turmoil for at least two years now, and this week is no different. Microsoft cut 268 jobs across its gaming division this week, shuffled major studios and franchises around, and continued its Xbox "reset." Layoffs have become a way of life for Xbox employees, after Microsoft started cutting thousands in early 2024 and hasn't slowed down. The turmoil was particularly apparent when Microsoft started shutting down game studios , and the painful layoffs have had a lasting impact on morale, according to current and former Xbox employees I've been speaking to this week. At the same time, Xbox h … Read the full story at The Verge.

Nintendo won its $4.5 million lawsuit against James Williams, a Reddit moderator accused of distributing pirated Switch games, as reported earlier by Aftermath . In a default judgment issued on Wednesday , a Washington federal judge also ordered Williams to shut down the online stores allegedly housing libraries of pirated Switch games. Nintendo sued Williams, also known as "archbox" online, in 2024 . In its complaint, the gaming giant claimed Williams became a "leading moderator" of the r/SwitchPirates community, where he allegedly solicited "donations" of Nintendo eShop gift cards and copies of Switch games "to be copied and distributed" on … Read the full story at The Verge.

The X3 also comes in black. “Lunar eclipse” remains an option for the $179.99 X2. | Image: Logitech The G Pro Superstrike mouse is one of Logitech's most interesting products. Unlike other gaming mice, it has haptic actuators beneath its two main buttons instead of mechanical switches, which decreases latency and allows for a custom click feel (the click can be super subtle, more jolty, or turned off entirely). The tech debuted in the G Pro X2 Superstrike in February, and there's already a sequel. Well, it's more like a 1.5 rather than a true successor. The G Pro X3 Superstrike is out October 6th for $199.99, and comes in a bold pink (as pictured) or black color scheme. The X2 will remain available at $179.99. The notable improvements wit … Read the full story at The Verge.

Discord is rolling out a new global age assurance system, seven months after pausing its previous verification measures following backlash from users. Starting today in every country except Australia and the UK, Discord will automatically assign users to an estimated age group based on "multiple account signals," with account restrictions placed on users believed to be between 13 and 17. The updates follow Discord slamming the brakes on its earlier age verification rollout in February in response to data privacy concerns. Its previous system required adults to verify themselves via video selfies or ID documentation , and faced criticism afte … Read the full story at The Verge.

Video games have given us plenty of ways to traverse huge open worlds, but none have felt quite as oddly exhilarating as manipulating gravity in Control Resonant 's twisted version of New York City. It's a game that lets you flip, twist, and fly through the air, while exploring settings that look ripped out of Inception . It's as if you mashed up the meta storytelling of House of Leaves with the inventive platforming of Super Mario Galaxy and somehow turned it into a coherent experience. That strange combination is just the latest example of developer Remedy making games like nobody else out there. Resonant is a sequel to 2019's Control - tho … Read the full story at The Verge.

When Xbox announced sweeping layoffs in July as part of a brutal "reset" for the gaming brand, Xbox CEO Asha Sharma said part of the pre-existing problem in the gaming unit was "teams, studios, and functions [that] often operate independently, [making it] harder to work toward a shared goal." Today, the company announced a radical restructuring of its internal studios that is seemingly designed to reduce that "independence" for the teams behind some of gaming's biggest franchises. The biggest apparent change is for the Halo franchise, which will now be under the remit of Call of Duty maker Activision. Halo Studios (formerly 343 Industries), which recently released Halo: Campaign Evolved , will remain as just a "small team" to support the player community, Microsoft said, with the remaining staffing roles eliminated as part of 268 newly announced layoffs. "For Halo, our goal is clear: make the greatest Halo game ever, worthy of its universe and legacy, while staying true to what made players love it in the first place," Activision President Rob Kostich said in a statement provided to Kotaku . "It is a bold ambition, one that this franchise deserves. We have already begun assembling a purpose-built team, unique in capability and talent, ready and excited to deliver this next chapter with the community." Read full article Comments

Microsoft is laying off around 260 Xbox employees today, as part of an ongoing "reset" of its gaming business. 1,600 Xbox employees were impacted by layoffs in July , with Xbox CEO Asha Sharma describing the cuts as "the most significant restructure in Xbox history." Today's layoffs are part of the 3,200 roles that were previously confirmed to be impacted over the course of Microsoft's 2027 financial year (which ends in June 2027). "We are eliminating 268 roles across Halo Studios, other first-party studios, and the XGS management and central functions layer," says Xbox chief content officer Matt Booty in a memo . "The actions completed since … Read the full story at The Verge.

Newegg is hosting a bundle that includes Microsoft’s wireless Xbox controller (in black) and a $50 digital Xbox gift card together for $80. Given that this model typically sits around $50 to $60 depending on the color you want, this is a fantastic value since it essentially knocks its price down to $30. Another way of thinking about it is you’re paying full price for the controller, but getting a big discount on the gift card. Xbox Wireless Controller Where to Buy: $80 at Newegg (with $50 gift card) The controller included is a great option for Xbox or for PC. It supports Bluetooth connectivity, and it’s also a solid wireless gamepad to connect to a Steam Deck or any other gaming handheld that can be docked to a TV. While it lacks Hall effect sticks, it’s the best midrange controller from Microsoft yet, with a premium-feeling, comfortable design, a headphone jack, and good battery life (it supports swappable AA batteries). window.HYPE_DESK_CONFIG = { productImageUrl: "https://platform.theverge.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2026/09/Corsair_Vanguard_96_Hype_Desk_1600x900.jpg", productImageAlt: "VANGUARD 96 Mechanical Gaming Keyboard", productTitle: "VANGUARD 96 Mechanical Gaming Keyboard", shortDescription: "Refresh your setup with the CORSAIR VANGUARD 96 Mechanical Gaming Keyboard, featuring Pacific Blue keycaps, an included Matcha Green keycap set, and a space-saving 96% layout.", longDescription: "Give your desk a fresh look with the CORSAIR VANGUARD 96 Mechanical Gaming Keyboard. It comes with Pacific Blue keycaps pre-installed plus a complete Matcha Green keycap set, making it easy to switch up your setup. Its compact 96% design keeps the number pad and arrow keys while packing in CORSAIR MLX Plasma mechanical switches, an integrated color LCD screen, a multifunction rotary dial, hot-swappable switch support, 8,000Hz hyper-polling, and Stream Deck integration. From September 21 through September 27, the complete bundle is available for $129.99, down from $189.99 — a savings of $60.", purchaseUrl: "https://go.corsair.com/c/482924/490888/8513?subId1=VergeHypeDesk&subId2=CorsairArticle92126&u=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.corsair.com%2Fus%2Fen%2Fp%2Fbundles%2Fvanguard96-pacificblue-matchagreen-keyboard-keycap-bundle-na%2Fvanguard96-pacificblue-matchagreen-keyboard-keycap-bundle-na&partnerpropertyid=7032191", purchaseLinkText: "SHOP AT CORSAIR" }; Other great Verge-approved deals The Aurzen tri-fold mini projector is an awesome gadget. We said as much in our review , wherein Verge deputy editor Thomas Ricker used it in all sorts of scenarios to put it to the test. Normally $299, the USB-C chargeable projector is $249.99 at Best Buy for the rest of the day. Despite its small size, it’s surprisingly bright, and it easily connect to Android or iPhone so you can get to mirroring your games and other locally-stored content (or stuff that’s streamed via Plex or a similar service). Though, if it’s DRM-protected shows or movies you want to beam on your wall or makeshift surface, you’ll unfortunately need Aurzen’s pricey CastPlay Pro dongle that’s currently $105. I don’t want to jinx our good fortune, but I’ve been finding some appealing laptop deals recently. The latest is Acer’s Chromebook Plus Spin 514 , which is one of the best, most well-rounded models available. Sure, it’s no high-end Googlebook , but it’s a pretty solid laptop for $499 at Best Buy (originally $749, the discount expires later today). It has a 14-inch 1200p touchscreen with a foldable 2-in-1 design, and its specs include the MediaTek Kompanio Ultra processor, 12GB RAM, 256GB of SSD storage, Wi-Fi 7 support. Given its Chromebook Plus designation, it includes one year of free access to Google AI Pro, which grants 5TB of cloud storage, YouTube Premium Lite, Google Home Premium, and other perks . The price keeps falling at Amazon on Ugreen’s Nexode Pro multi-port wall charger . Originally $89.99, it has almost never sold for that amount. In fact, it dropped to $49.99 briefly following its debut, and has only dropped to $59.99 — its current price — once before. This is the kind of gadget that anyone who owns multiple USB-C chargeable tech products should have. It tops out at 140W speed when you use just one of its USB-C ports, and it can divvy up 160W of total power across five gadgets that are plugged in at once.

The Hyte X50 is a PC case that really stands out from the typical black box design, and it’s $50 off at the company’s site until September 21st, 2026, bringing the price down to $99.99. This attractive case supports motherboards from ITX all the way up to the E-ATX form factors, and GPUs that are up to 430mm long, which should cover even the biggest options available. The standout feature is a massive curved glass panel that spans the left face and top of the case, giving it a unique, eye-catching look. It’s easy to build in, supports a wide variety of components and cooling setups, and has a thoughtful, refined design. Hyte X50 Where to Buy: $149.99 $99.99 at Hyte Unlike a lot of cases with big glass panels, the X50 has excellent airflow, with louvered fins along the back for ventilation, a porous mesh front, and plenty of spots for radiators and fans. It comes in a variety of bold colors, too, like the lavender-adjacent “taro milk” and trendy “matcha,” as well as more classic black and white options. If you’d rather opt for something a little more subtle, the X50 Air swaps the glass panel for curved mesh, and is only $79.99 (usually $119.99) from Hyte .