Interview: “Music Is Pretty Much All I Think About” – PaRappa The Rapper’s Masaya Matsuura On His Journey From Pop Star To Game Dev

“I didn’t know anything about what other people in the gaming industry were doing”. In December 1996, Sony Computer Entertainment published the video game PaRappa the Rapper in Japan – a groundbreaking title about a paper-thin rapping dog on a quest to win the heart of his beloved (a humanoid flower named Sunny Funny). Developed…

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High Score Hoards: Retro Competitions with Real Rewards

generated a unique subculture of competitive online platforms. These environments borrow heavily from the spirit of arcade leaderboards, but with an added layer of incentive—real-world prizes. By blending free-to-play gaming models with sweepstakes systems, several operators have carved out a compelling niche. These platforms simulate casino-style play using virtual currencies while creating genuine competition through…

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Bringing Stadium to Overwatch 2 on April 22

Bringing Stadium to Overwatch 2 on April 22

Overwatch 2 is on the verge of releasing the biggest new way to play since Overwatch was first announced in 2014. Stadium is the new best-of-7 mode where you’ll upgrade your Hero over multiple rounds with more powerful abilities to transform what it means to play Overwatch.  On a team of five, you’ll earn Stadium…

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Nintendo confirms the Switch 2 price is staying at $450 in the US despite tariff turmoil, with preorders starting April 24

After putting Switch 2 preorders on hiatus in the US while it assessed the “potential impact” of the Trump administration’s sweeping tariff rollout, Nintendo has confirmed that it will be maintaining the Switch 2’s originally announced $450 price. US preorders will begin on April 24. “We apologize for the retail pre-order delay, and hope this…

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Phil Spencer is ‘really happy’ with Indiana Jones and the Great Circle, hinting there might be more Nazi punching adventures in the future: ‘We do think there’s life in that franchise’

Indiana Jones and the Great Circle was one of 2024’s most pleasant surprises, whipping in at the end of the year and delivering a triple-decker knuckle sandwich to everyone’s best games lists. It wasn’t just critics and players who were delighted by Indy’s long-awaited return to the virtual realm, either. Microsoft was also pleased with…

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Next Week on Xbox: New Games for April 21 to 25

Category: Next Week on Xbox Next Week on Xbox: New Games for April 21 to 25 Joe Skrebels, Xbox Wire Editor-in-Chief Published April 18, 2025 Welcome to Next Week on Xbox! In this weekly feature we cover all the games coming soon to Xbox Series X|S, Xbox One, Windows, and Game Pass! Get more details…

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