2026

Stop Killing Games has had a hell of a run, going from a niche, long-shot consumer campaign to an “absolutely incredible” appearance in front of the European Parliament in just two years. But it’s hit something of a bump in the road, as the European Commission says it “will engage with consumers and publishers by…

Plenty has been said about the hundreds of games that launch on Steam each week and the many features Valve has concocted over the years to funnel that waterfall of content through a straw an average player can actually sip on. Latest among them is the new “personal calendar” feature and you know what? I…

The day is here: Wider humanity has gotten its hands on the Steam Machine. Our own Steam Machine review is live, and with it, we’ve finally got confirmation of the Steam Machine’s pricing scheme. The SteamOS-powered gaming box starts at a hefty $1,049. In its slate of Steam Machine launch announcements, Valve has acknowledged that…

Picture a huge metal beast lumbering through the sand dunes. As it lifts its mechanical legs and places its heavy metal feet down, you probably wouldn’t be surprised if it stumbled, lurched, or even got stuck here and there for a bit. That’s what’s been happening with Sand: Raiders of Sophie, a PvPvE extraction shooter…

I had several immediate thoughts when the Call of Duty movie was announced in 2025, most of them some variation of, why? Regardless of your preferred Call of Duty sub-series, movie theaters and streaming services are already awash in an array of movies telling tales virtually indistinguishable from the big-time military shooters. Slap a CoD…

They just don’t make ’em like they used to. At least, that’s according to Eidos Montreal founder (and former general manager) Stephane D’Astous, who recently chatted with Thunderpick about the way the direction of the games industry—and the people setting that direction—have changed in the past 15 years. “The big players 15 years ago are…

The Steam Machine is finally here, with pre-orders now live, so long as you can get lucky in the reservation system lottery that is. And, honestly, we’re kinda underwhelmed with the thing, beautiful wee companion cube though it is. Though that’s more the fault of the AI apocalypse hoovering up all the memory and making…

Every long-running series benefits from an occasional change of genre. Yakuza dabbling in RPG-style combat works well. Dragon Quest going Dynasty Warriors for a bit is nothing but refreshing. Sonic racing about in a car makes a fun change of pace. Now it’s R-Type’s turn, the legendary arcade shmup series putting on a strategy hat…