Gaming : NPR

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" > <a href="https://www.npr.org/2025/07/16/nx-s1-5459757/best-games-2025-picked-by-npr-staff"> <picture> <source srcset="https://npr.brightspotcdn.com/dims3/default/strip/false/crop/1417x797+146+0/resize/800/quality/85/format/jpeg/?url=http%3A%2F%2Fnpr-brightspot.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fc0%2F5b%2F6e5151a24fe38e2f573c211c99fb%2Fgames-we-love-summer-2025.jpg" data-original="https://npr.brightspotcdn.com/dims3/default/strip/false/crop/1417x797+146+0/resize/800/quality/100/format/jpeg/?url=http%3A%2F%2Fnpr-brightspot.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fc0%2F5b%2F6e5151a24fe38e2f573c211c99fb%2Fgames-we-love-summer-2025.jpg" data-template="https://npr.brightspotcdn.com/dims3/default/strip/false/crop/1417x797+146+0/resize/{width}/quality/{quality}/format/{format}/?url=http%3A%2F%2Fnpr-brightspot.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fc0%2F5b%2F6e5151a24fe38e2f573c211c99fb%2Fgames-we-love-summer-2025.jpg" data-format="webp" class="feat1_23 lazyOnLoad" type="image/webp" /> <source 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src="https://npr.brightspotcdn.com/dims3/default/strip/false/crop/1417x797+146+0/resize/800/quality/85/format/jpeg/?url=http%3A%2F%2Fnpr-brightspot.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fc0%2F5b%2F6e5151a24fe38e2f573c211c99fb%2Fgames-we-love-summer-2025.jpg" data-original="https://npr.brightspotcdn.com/dims3/default/strip/false/crop/1417x797+146+0/resize/800/quality/100/format/jpeg/?url=http%3A%2F%2Fnpr-brightspot.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fc0%2F5b%2F6e5151a24fe38e2f573c211c99fb%2Fgames-we-love-summer-2025.jpg" data-template="https://npr.brightspotcdn.com/dims3/default/strip/false/crop/1417x797+146+0/resize/{width}/quality/{quality}/format/{format}/?url=http%3A%2F%2Fnpr-brightspot.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fc0%2F5b%2F6e5151a24fe38e2f573c211c99fb%2Fgames-we-love-summer-2025.jpg" data-format="jpeg" class="feat1_23 lazyOnLoad" alt="A 6-by-5 grid of images of various games. Mostly video game screenshots, with a few board games as well." loading="lazy" /> </picture> </a> </div> <div class="credit-caption"> <div class="caption-wrap"> <div class="caption" aria-label="Image caption"> </div> </div> </div> </div> <div class="item-info-wrap"> <div class="item-info"> <h2 class="title"><a href="https://www.npr.org/2025/07/16/nx-s1-5459757/best-games-2025-picked-by-npr-staff" data-metrics-ga4='{"action":"topic_homepage_recirculation_click","category":"recirculation","clickType":"gaming","clickName":"topic headline click","clickUrl":"https:\/\/www.npr.org\/2025\/07\/16\/nx-s1-5459757\/best-games-2025-picked-by-npr-staff","clickPosition":"1.1"}' >The best games of 2025 so far, picked by NPR's staff</a></h2> <p class="teaser"><a href="https://www.npr.org/2025/07/16/nx-s1-5459757/best-games-2025-picked-by-npr-staff"><time datetime="2025-07-16"><span class="date">July 16, 2025  </span></time>From indies like Blue Prince to big console exclusives like Donkey Kong Bananza, NPR staff and contributors round up their favorite games of the year so far.</a></p> </div> <article id="resnx-s1-9379988" class="bucketwrap resaudio" aria-label="audio-module"><div class="audio-module"> <h4 class="audio-module-title">The best video games of 2025, so far</h4> <div class="audio-module-controls-wrap" data-audio='{"uid":"nx-s1-5459757:nx-s1-9379988","available":true,"duration":198,"title":"The best video games of 2025, so far","audioUrl":"https:\/\/ondemand.npr.org\/anon.npr-mp3\/npr\/atc\/2025\/07\/20250721_atc_the_best_video_games_of_2025_so_far.mp3?t=progseg&e=nx-s1-5458797&p=2&seg=5&d=198&size=3169429&sc=siteplayer","storyUrl":"https:\/\/www.npr.org\/2025\/07\/16\/nx-s1-5459757\/best-games-2025-picked-by-npr-staff","slug":"gaming","program":"","affiliation":"","song":"","artist":"","album":"","track":0,"type":"segment","subtype":"other","skipSponsorship":false,"hasAdsWizz":false,"isStreamAudioType":false}' data-audio-metrics='[]'> <div class="audio-module-controls"> <a class="audio-module-listen" href="https://ondemand.npr.org/anon.npr-mp3/npr/atc/2025/07/20250721_atc_the_best_video_games_of_2025_so_far.mp3?t=progseg&e=nx-s1-5458797&p=2&seg=5&d=198&size=3169429&sc=siteplayer&aw_0_1st.playerid=siteplayer"> <b class="audio-module-listen-inner"> <b class="audio-module-listen-icon icn-play"></b> <b class="audio-module-listen-text"> <b class="audio-module-cta"> Listen </b> <b class="audio-module-listen-duration"> <span>· </span> <span>3:18</span> </b> </b> </b> </a> <time class="audio-module-duration" datetime="P3M,18S"> <span class="audio-module-duration__initial-value">3:18</span> </time> </div> </div> <div class="audio-module-tools"> <a class="audio-tool audio-tool-transcript" href="https://www.npr.org/transcripts/nx-s1-5459757" data-metrics-ga4='{"category":"audio","action":"audio_click_transcript","storyId":"nx-s1-5459757","mediaId":"nx-s1-9379988","title":"The best games of 2025 so far, picked by NPR&#39;s 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src="https://npr.brightspotcdn.com/dims3/default/strip/false/crop/3840x2160+0+0/resize/800/quality/85/format/png/?url=http%3A%2F%2Fnpr-brightspot.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fb5%2F1a%2Fac35e9904cd98776815de01226b0%2Fuse-this-one-2.png" data-original="https://npr.brightspotcdn.com/dims3/default/strip/false/crop/3840x2160+0+0/resize/800/quality/100/format/png/?url=http%3A%2F%2Fnpr-brightspot.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fb5%2F1a%2Fac35e9904cd98776815de01226b0%2Fuse-this-one-2.png" data-template="https://npr.brightspotcdn.com/dims3/default/strip/false/crop/3840x2160+0+0/resize/{width}/quality/{quality}/format/{format}/?url=http%3A%2F%2Fnpr-brightspot.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fb5%2F1a%2Fac35e9904cd98776815de01226b0%2Fuse-this-one-2.png" data-format="png" class="feat23 lazyOnLoad" alt="Pac-Man, or PUCK in this instance, is a little less cute and cuddly in the new game Shadow Labyrinth." loading="lazy" /> </picture> </a> </div> <div class="credit-caption"> <div class="caption-wrap"> <div class="caption" aria-label="Image caption"> <p> Pac-Man, or PUCK in this instance, is a little less cute and cuddly in the new game Shadow Labyrinth. <b class="credit" aria-label="Image credit"> Bandai Namco </b> <b class="hide-caption"><b>hide caption</b></b> </p> </div> <b class="toggle-caption"><b>toggle caption</b></b> </div> <span class="credit" aria-label="Image credit"> Bandai Namco </span> </div> </div> <div class="item-info-wrap"> <div class="item-info"> <h2 class="title"><a href="https://www.npr.org/2025/07/21/g-s1-78293/shadow-labyrinth-pac-man-twist" data-metrics-ga4='{"action":"topic_homepage_recirculation_click","category":"recirculation","clickType":"gaming","clickName":"topic headline click","clickUrl":"https:\/\/www.npr.org\/2025\/07\/21\/g-s1-78293\/shadow-labyrinth-pac-man-twist","clickPosition":"1.2"}' >Shadow Labyrinth is a gritty twist on Pac-Man aimed at a new, younger audience</a></h2> <p class="teaser"><a href="https://www.npr.org/2025/07/21/g-s1-78293/shadow-labyrinth-pac-man-twist"><time datetime="2025-07-21"><span class="date">July 21, 2025  </span></time>A new video game just debuted within the Pac-Man universe. It's called Shadow Labyrinth and it's very different from the pellet-chomping game that once dominated arcades. </a></p> </div> <article id="resnx-s1-9377785" class="bucketwrap resaudio" aria-label="audio-module"><div class="audio-module"> <h4 class="audio-module-title">45 years in, Pac-Man gets a gritty twist</h4> <div class="audio-module-controls-wrap" data-audio='{"uid":"g-s1-78293:nx-s1-9377785","available":true,"duration":223,"title":"45 years in, Pac-Man gets a gritty twist","audioUrl":"https:\/\/ondemand.npr.org\/anon.npr-mp3\/npr\/atc\/2025\/07\/20250718_atc_45_years_in_pac-man_gets_a_gritty_twist.mp3?d=223&size=3576521&sc=siteplayer","storyUrl":"https:\/\/www.npr.org\/2025\/07\/21\/g-s1-78293\/shadow-labyrinth-pac-man-twist","slug":"gaming","program":"","affiliation":"","song":"","artist":"","album":"","track":0,"type":"segment","subtype":"other","skipSponsorship":false,"hasAdsWizz":false,"isStreamAudioType":false}' data-audio-metrics='[]'> <div class="audio-module-controls"> <a class="audio-module-listen" href="https://ondemand.npr.org/anon.npr-mp3/npr/atc/2025/07/20250718_atc_45_years_in_pac-man_gets_a_gritty_twist.mp3?d=223&size=3576521&sc=siteplayer&aw_0_1st.playerid=siteplayer"> <b class="audio-module-listen-inner"> <b class="audio-module-listen-icon icn-play"></b> <b class="audio-module-listen-text"> <b class="audio-module-cta"> Listen </b> <b class="audio-module-listen-duration"> <span>· </span> <span>3:43</span> </b> </b> </b> </a> <time class="audio-module-duration" datetime="P3M,43S"> <span class="audio-module-duration__initial-value">3:43</span> </time> </div> </div> <div class="audio-module-tools"> <button class="audio-module-tools-toggle" data-metrics-ga4='{"category":"audio","action":"audio_open_more_options","storyId":"g-s1-78293","mediaId":"nx-s1-9377785","title":"Shadow Labyrinth is a gritty twist on Pac-Man aimed at a new, younger audience","type":"ondemand"}' > <b class="icn-toggle"></b> <b class="label">Toggle more options</b> </button> <ul class="audio-module-more-tools"> <li class="audio-tool audio-tool-download"><a href="https://ondemand.npr.org/anon.npr-mp3/npr/atc/2025/07/20250718_atc_45_years_in_pac-man_gets_a_gritty_twist.mp3?d=223&size=3576521&sc=siteplayer&aw_0_1st.playerid=siteplayer" data-metrics-ga4='{"category":"audio","action":"audio_download","storyId":"g-s1-78293","mediaId":"nx-s1-9377785","title":"Shadow Labyrinth is a gritty twist on Pac-Man aimed at a new, younger audience","type":"ondemand"}' ><b class="icn-download"></b><b class="audio-tool-label">Download</b></a> </li> <li class="audio-tool audio-tool-embed" > <button data-embed-url="https://www.npr.org/player/embed/g-s1-78293/nx-s1-9377785" data-metrics-ga4='{"category":"audio","action":"audio_embed","storyId":"g-s1-78293","mediaId":"nx-s1-9377785","title":"Shadow Labyrinth is a gritty twist on Pac-Man aimed at a new, younger audience","type":"ondemand"}' ><b class="button-inner"><b class="icn-embed"></b><b class="audio-tool-label">Embed</b></b></button> <div class="audio-embed-overlay"> <button class="btn-close"></button> <label class="embed-label"> <b class="audio-embed-overlay__icon"></b> <b class="label">Embed</b> <input class="embed-url embed-url-no-touch" readonly value="<iframe src="https://www.npr.org/player/embed/g-s1-78293/nx-s1-9377785" width="100%" height="290" frameborder="0" scrolling="no" title="NPR embedded audio player"></iframe>"> </label> <b class="embed-url embed-url-touch"> <code><b class="punctuation"><</b>iframe src="https://www.npr.org/player/embed/g-s1-78293/nx-s1-9377785" width="100%" height="290" frameborder="0" scrolling="no" title="NPR embedded audio player"></code> </b> </div> </li> </ul> </div> </div> </article> </div> </article> <article class="item has-image has-audio"> <div class="item-image"> <div class="imagewrap has-source-dimensions" data-crop-type="wide" style=" --source-width: 2720; --source-height: 1530; " > <a href="https://www.npr.org/2025/06/16/1254264655/nintendo-switch-2-business-strategy"> <picture> <source srcset="https://media.npr.org/assets/img/2025/06/13/more-art_wide-2d294b3478c1152d61ea29bf738e332dc4d887e8.jpg?s=800&c=85&f=jpeg" data-original="https://media.npr.org/assets/img/2025/06/13/more-art_wide-2d294b3478c1152d61ea29bf738e332dc4d887e8.jpg?s=800&c=100&f=jpeg" data-template="https://media.npr.org/assets/img/2025/06/13/more-art_wide-2d294b3478c1152d61ea29bf738e332dc4d887e8.jpg?s={width}&c={quality}&f={format}" data-format="webp" class="feat23 lazyOnLoad" type="image/webp" /> <source srcset="https://media.npr.org/assets/img/2025/06/13/more-art_wide-2d294b3478c1152d61ea29bf738e332dc4d887e8.jpg?s=800&c=85&f=jpeg" data-original="https://media.npr.org/assets/img/2025/06/13/more-art_wide-2d294b3478c1152d61ea29bf738e332dc4d887e8.jpg?s=800&c=100&f=jpeg" data-template="https://media.npr.org/assets/img/2025/06/13/more-art_wide-2d294b3478c1152d61ea29bf738e332dc4d887e8.jpg?s={width}&c={quality}&f={format}" data-format="jpeg" class="feat23 lazyOnLoad" type="image/jpeg" /> <img src="https://media.npr.org/assets/img/2025/06/13/more-art_wide-2d294b3478c1152d61ea29bf738e332dc4d887e8.jpg?s=800&c=85&f=jpeg" data-original="https://media.npr.org/assets/img/2025/06/13/more-art_wide-2d294b3478c1152d61ea29bf738e332dc4d887e8.jpg?s=800&c=100&f=jpeg" data-template="https://media.npr.org/assets/img/2025/06/13/more-art_wide-2d294b3478c1152d61ea29bf738e332dc4d887e8.jpg?s={width}&c={quality}&f={format}" data-format="jpeg" class="feat23 lazyOnLoad" alt="The secret to Nintendo's success" loading="lazy" /> </picture> </a> </div> <div class="credit-caption"> <div class="caption-wrap"> <div class="caption" aria-label="Image caption"> </div> </div> <span class="credit" aria-label="Image credit"> Getty Images </span> </div> </div> <div class="item-info-wrap"> <div class="item-info"> <div class="slug-wrap"> <h3 class="slug"><a href="https://www.npr.org/podcasts/510325/the-indicator-from-planet-money">The Indicator from Planet Money</a></h3> </div> <h2 class="title"><a href="https://www.npr.org/2025/06/16/1254264655/nintendo-switch-2-business-strategy" data-metrics-ga4='{"action":"topic_homepage_recirculation_click","category":"recirculation","clickType":"gaming","clickName":"topic headline click","clickUrl":"https:\/\/www.npr.org\/2025\/06\/16\/1254264655\/nintendo-switch-2-business-strategy","clickPosition":"1.3"}' >The secret to Nintendo's success</a></h2> <p class="teaser"><a href="https://www.npr.org/2025/06/16/1254264655/nintendo-switch-2-business-strategy"><time datetime="2025-06-16"><span class="date">June 16, 2025  </span></time>Nintendo has been a titan in the video game industry for decades, but that wasn't always the case. At its very core, Nintendo sees itself as a toy company which is evident in its products from the Nintendo Entertainment System (NES) to the Nintendo Switch 2. </a></p> </div> <article id="res1269473705" class="bucketwrap resaudio" aria-label="audio-module"><div class="audio-module"> <h4 class="audio-module-title">The secret to Nintendo's success</h4> <div class="audio-module-controls-wrap" data-audio='{"uid":"1254264655:1269473705","available":true,"duration":565,"title":"The secret to Nintendo\u0027s success","audioUrl":"https:\/\/chrt.fm\/track\/138C95\/prfx.byspotify.com\/e\/play.podtrac.com\/npr-510325\/traffic.megaphone.fm\/NPR6442686375.mp3?d=565&size=9043470&e=1254264655&t=podcast&p=510325&sc=siteplayer&aw_0_1st.playerid=siteplayer","storyUrl":"https:\/\/www.npr.org\/2025\/06\/16\/1254264655\/nintendo-switch-2-business-strategy","slug":"","program":"The Indicator from Planet 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srcset="https://npr.brightspotcdn.com/dims3/default/strip/false/crop/3840x2160+0+0/resize/300/quality/85/format/png/?url=http%3A%2F%2Fnpr-brightspot.s3.amazonaws.com%2F6c%2Fab%2Fe255d2d946359162130bcb91e174%2Fresident-evil-requiem-screenshot-17.png" data-original="https://npr.brightspotcdn.com/dims3/default/strip/false/crop/3840x2160+0+0/resize/300/quality/100/format/png/?url=http%3A%2F%2Fnpr-brightspot.s3.amazonaws.com%2F6c%2Fab%2Fe255d2d946359162130bcb91e174%2Fresident-evil-requiem-screenshot-17.png" data-template="https://npr.brightspotcdn.com/dims3/default/strip/false/crop/3840x2160+0+0/resize/{width}/quality/{quality}/format/{format}/?url=http%3A%2F%2Fnpr-brightspot.s3.amazonaws.com%2F6c%2Fab%2Fe255d2d946359162130bcb91e174%2Fresident-evil-requiem-screenshot-17.png" data-format="webp" class="respArchListImg lazyOnLoad" type="image/webp" /> <source srcset="https://npr.brightspotcdn.com/dims3/default/strip/false/crop/3840x2160+0+0/resize/300/quality/85/format/png/?url=http%3A%2F%2Fnpr-brightspot.s3.amazonaws.com%2F6c%2Fab%2Fe255d2d946359162130bcb91e174%2Fresident-evil-requiem-screenshot-17.png" data-original="https://npr.brightspotcdn.com/dims3/default/strip/false/crop/3840x2160+0+0/resize/300/quality/100/format/png/?url=http%3A%2F%2Fnpr-brightspot.s3.amazonaws.com%2F6c%2Fab%2Fe255d2d946359162130bcb91e174%2Fresident-evil-requiem-screenshot-17.png" data-template="https://npr.brightspotcdn.com/dims3/default/strip/false/crop/3840x2160+0+0/resize/{width}/quality/{quality}/format/{format}/?url=http%3A%2F%2Fnpr-brightspot.s3.amazonaws.com%2F6c%2Fab%2Fe255d2d946359162130bcb91e174%2Fresident-evil-requiem-screenshot-17.png" data-format="png" class="respArchListImg lazyOnLoad" type="image/png" /> <img src="https://npr.brightspotcdn.com/dims3/default/strip/false/crop/3840x2160+0+0/resize/300/quality/85/format/png/?url=http%3A%2F%2Fnpr-brightspot.s3.amazonaws.com%2F6c%2Fab%2Fe255d2d946359162130bcb91e174%2Fresident-evil-requiem-screenshot-17.png" data-original="https://npr.brightspotcdn.com/dims3/default/strip/false/crop/3840x2160+0+0/resize/300/quality/100/format/png/?url=http%3A%2F%2Fnpr-brightspot.s3.amazonaws.com%2F6c%2Fab%2Fe255d2d946359162130bcb91e174%2Fresident-evil-requiem-screenshot-17.png" data-template="https://npr.brightspotcdn.com/dims3/default/strip/false/crop/3840x2160+0+0/resize/{width}/quality/{quality}/format/{format}/?url=http%3A%2F%2Fnpr-brightspot.s3.amazonaws.com%2F6c%2Fab%2Fe255d2d946359162130bcb91e174%2Fresident-evil-requiem-screenshot-17.png" data-format="png" class="respArchListImg lazyOnLoad" alt="Resident Evil Requiem generated a lot of hype from its reveal trailer. But it was hardly the most interesting game at this year's Play Days showcase." loading="lazy" /> </picture> </a> </div> <div class="credit-caption"> <div class="caption-wrap"> <div class="caption" aria-label="Image caption"> <p> Resident Evil Requiem generated a lot of hype from its reveal trailer. But it was hardly the most interesting game at this year's Play Days showcase. <b class="credit" aria-label="Image credit"> Capcom/fortyseven communications </b> <b class="hide-caption"><b>hide caption</b></b> </p> </div> <b class="toggle-caption"><b>toggle caption</b></b> </div> <span class="credit" aria-label="Image credit"> Capcom/fortyseven communications </span> </div> </div> <div class="item-info-wrap"> <div class="item-info"> <h2 class="title"><a href="https://www.npr.org/2025/06/14/g-s1-72240/video-games-resident-evil-requiem-summer-game-fest" data-metrics-ga4='{"action":"topic_homepage_recirculation_click","category":"recirculation","clickType":"gaming","clickName":"topic headline click","clickUrl":"https:\/\/www.npr.org\/2025\/06\/14\/g-s1-72240\/video-games-resident-evil-requiem-summer-game-fest","clickPosition":"2.1"}' >I played the new Resident Evil — and a whole lot more. Here are my thoughts</a></h2> <p class="teaser"><a href="https://www.npr.org/2025/06/14/g-s1-72240/video-games-resident-evil-requiem-summer-game-fest"><time datetime="2025-06-14"><span class="date">June 14, 2025  </span></time>The annual Play Days showcase was far more interesting than the reveals themselves. </a></p> </div> </div> </article> <article class="item has-image"> <div class="item-image"> <div class="imagewrap has-source-dimensions" data-crop-type="wide" style=" --source-width: 3840; --source-height: 2160; " > <a href="https://www.npr.org/2025/06/12/nx-s1-5415890/nintendo-switch-2-mario-kart-world-review"> <picture> <source srcset="https://npr.brightspotcdn.com/dims3/default/strip/false/crop/3840x2160+0+0/resize/300/quality/85/format/png/?url=http%3A%2F%2Fnpr-brightspot.s3.amazonaws.com%2F37%2Fa1%2F7a6c0322408b9de2bca5f2b7106a%2Fnintendoswitch2-mariokartworld-item-scrn-01.png" data-original="https://npr.brightspotcdn.com/dims3/default/strip/false/crop/3840x2160+0+0/resize/300/quality/100/format/png/?url=http%3A%2F%2Fnpr-brightspot.s3.amazonaws.com%2F37%2Fa1%2F7a6c0322408b9de2bca5f2b7106a%2Fnintendoswitch2-mariokartworld-item-scrn-01.png" data-template="https://npr.brightspotcdn.com/dims3/default/strip/false/crop/3840x2160+0+0/resize/{width}/quality/{quality}/format/{format}/?url=http%3A%2F%2Fnpr-brightspot.s3.amazonaws.com%2F37%2Fa1%2F7a6c0322408b9de2bca5f2b7106a%2Fnintendoswitch2-mariokartworld-item-scrn-01.png" data-format="webp" class="respArchListImg lazyOnLoad" type="image/webp" /> <source srcset="https://npr.brightspotcdn.com/dims3/default/strip/false/crop/3840x2160+0+0/resize/300/quality/85/format/png/?url=http%3A%2F%2Fnpr-brightspot.s3.amazonaws.com%2F37%2Fa1%2F7a6c0322408b9de2bca5f2b7106a%2Fnintendoswitch2-mariokartworld-item-scrn-01.png" data-original="https://npr.brightspotcdn.com/dims3/default/strip/false/crop/3840x2160+0+0/resize/300/quality/100/format/png/?url=http%3A%2F%2Fnpr-brightspot.s3.amazonaws.com%2F37%2Fa1%2F7a6c0322408b9de2bca5f2b7106a%2Fnintendoswitch2-mariokartworld-item-scrn-01.png" data-template="https://npr.brightspotcdn.com/dims3/default/strip/false/crop/3840x2160+0+0/resize/{width}/quality/{quality}/format/{format}/?url=http%3A%2F%2Fnpr-brightspot.s3.amazonaws.com%2F37%2Fa1%2F7a6c0322408b9de2bca5f2b7106a%2Fnintendoswitch2-mariokartworld-item-scrn-01.png" data-format="png" class="respArchListImg lazyOnLoad" type="image/png" /> <img src="https://npr.brightspotcdn.com/dims3/default/strip/false/crop/3840x2160+0+0/resize/300/quality/85/format/png/?url=http%3A%2F%2Fnpr-brightspot.s3.amazonaws.com%2F37%2Fa1%2F7a6c0322408b9de2bca5f2b7106a%2Fnintendoswitch2-mariokartworld-item-scrn-01.png" data-original="https://npr.brightspotcdn.com/dims3/default/strip/false/crop/3840x2160+0+0/resize/300/quality/100/format/png/?url=http%3A%2F%2Fnpr-brightspot.s3.amazonaws.com%2F37%2Fa1%2F7a6c0322408b9de2bca5f2b7106a%2Fnintendoswitch2-mariokartworld-item-scrn-01.png" data-template="https://npr.brightspotcdn.com/dims3/default/strip/false/crop/3840x2160+0+0/resize/{width}/quality/{quality}/format/{format}/?url=http%3A%2F%2Fnpr-brightspot.s3.amazonaws.com%2F37%2Fa1%2F7a6c0322408b9de2bca5f2b7106a%2Fnintendoswitch2-mariokartworld-item-scrn-01.png" data-format="png" class="respArchListImg lazyOnLoad" alt="Mario Kart World's golden shell disperses coins to all who follow it." loading="lazy" /> </picture> </a> </div> <div class="credit-caption"> <div class="caption-wrap"> <div class="caption" aria-label="Image caption"> <p> Mario Kart World's golden shell disperses coins to all who follow it. <b class="credit" aria-label="Image credit"> Nintendo </b> <b class="hide-caption"><b>hide caption</b></b> </p> </div> <b class="toggle-caption"><b>toggle caption</b></b> </div> <span class="credit" aria-label="Image credit"> Nintendo </span> </div> </div> <div class="item-info-wrap"> <div class="item-info"> <div class="slug-wrap"> <h3 class="slug"><a href="https://www.npr.org/sections/video-game-reviews">Video Game Reviews</a></h3> </div> <h2 class="title"><a href="https://www.npr.org/2025/06/12/nx-s1-5415890/nintendo-switch-2-mario-kart-world-review" data-metrics-ga4='{"action":"topic_homepage_recirculation_click","category":"recirculation","clickType":"gaming","clickName":"topic headline click","clickUrl":"https:\/\/www.npr.org\/2025\/06\/12\/nx-s1-5415890\/nintendo-switch-2-mario-kart-world-review","clickPosition":"2.2"}' >Nintendo Switch 2 and launch games reviewed: Everything you need to know</a></h2> <p class="teaser"><a href="https://www.npr.org/2025/06/12/nx-s1-5415890/nintendo-switch-2-mario-kart-world-review"><time datetime="2025-06-12"><span class="date">June 12, 2025  </span></time>The Switch 2 improves upon the first console in nearly every way. But is it worth the $450? We review how to get the best bang for your buck.</a></p> </div> </div> </article> <article class="item has-image"> <div class="item-image"> <div class="imagewrap has-source-dimensions" data-crop-type="wide" style=" --source-width: 4753; --source-height: 2674; " > <a href="https://www.npr.org/2025/06/11/nx-s1-5174160/video-game-strike-sag-aftra-agreement"> <picture> <source srcset="https://npr.brightspotcdn.com/dims3/default/strip/false/crop/4753x2674+0+0/resize/300/quality/85/format/jpeg/?url=http%3A%2F%2Fnpr-brightspot.s3.amazonaws.com%2F18%2Ffb%2Fe64c7ada46a6a986e04a5a5ec99a%2Fgettyimages-2166231420.jpg" data-original="https://npr.brightspotcdn.com/dims3/default/strip/false/crop/4753x2674+0+0/resize/300/quality/100/format/jpeg/?url=http%3A%2F%2Fnpr-brightspot.s3.amazonaws.com%2F18%2Ffb%2Fe64c7ada46a6a986e04a5a5ec99a%2Fgettyimages-2166231420.jpg" data-template="https://npr.brightspotcdn.com/dims3/default/strip/false/crop/4753x2674+0+0/resize/{width}/quality/{quality}/format/{format}/?url=http%3A%2F%2Fnpr-brightspot.s3.amazonaws.com%2F18%2Ffb%2Fe64c7ada46a6a986e04a5a5ec99a%2Fgettyimages-2166231420.jpg" data-format="webp" class="respArchListImg lazyOnLoad" type="image/webp" /> <source srcset="https://npr.brightspotcdn.com/dims3/default/strip/false/crop/4753x2674+0+0/resize/300/quality/85/format/jpeg/?url=http%3A%2F%2Fnpr-brightspot.s3.amazonaws.com%2F18%2Ffb%2Fe64c7ada46a6a986e04a5a5ec99a%2Fgettyimages-2166231420.jpg" data-original="https://npr.brightspotcdn.com/dims3/default/strip/false/crop/4753x2674+0+0/resize/300/quality/100/format/jpeg/?url=http%3A%2F%2Fnpr-brightspot.s3.amazonaws.com%2F18%2Ffb%2Fe64c7ada46a6a986e04a5a5ec99a%2Fgettyimages-2166231420.jpg" data-template="https://npr.brightspotcdn.com/dims3/default/strip/false/crop/4753x2674+0+0/resize/{width}/quality/{quality}/format/{format}/?url=http%3A%2F%2Fnpr-brightspot.s3.amazonaws.com%2F18%2Ffb%2Fe64c7ada46a6a986e04a5a5ec99a%2Fgettyimages-2166231420.jpg" data-format="jpeg" class="respArchListImg lazyOnLoad" type="image/jpeg" /> <img src="https://npr.brightspotcdn.com/dims3/default/strip/false/crop/4753x2674+0+0/resize/300/quality/85/format/jpeg/?url=http%3A%2F%2Fnpr-brightspot.s3.amazonaws.com%2F18%2Ffb%2Fe64c7ada46a6a986e04a5a5ec99a%2Fgettyimages-2166231420.jpg" data-original="https://npr.brightspotcdn.com/dims3/default/strip/false/crop/4753x2674+0+0/resize/300/quality/100/format/jpeg/?url=http%3A%2F%2Fnpr-brightspot.s3.amazonaws.com%2F18%2Ffb%2Fe64c7ada46a6a986e04a5a5ec99a%2Fgettyimages-2166231420.jpg" data-template="https://npr.brightspotcdn.com/dims3/default/strip/false/crop/4753x2674+0+0/resize/{width}/quality/{quality}/format/{format}/?url=http%3A%2F%2Fnpr-brightspot.s3.amazonaws.com%2F18%2Ffb%2Fe64c7ada46a6a986e04a5a5ec99a%2Fgettyimages-2166231420.jpg" data-format="jpeg" class="respArchListImg lazyOnLoad" alt="Striking performers picket outside Disney Character Voices, a subsidiary of The Walt Disney Company, in Burbank, California, in August." loading="lazy" /> </picture> </a> </div> <div class="credit-caption"> <div class="caption-wrap"> <div class="caption" aria-label="Image caption"> <p> Striking performers picket outside Disney Character Voices, a subsidiary of The Walt Disney Company, in Burbank, California, in August. <b class="credit" aria-label="Image credit"> Valerie Macon/AFP/Getty </b> <b class="hide-caption"><b>hide caption</b></b> </p> </div> <b class="toggle-caption"><b>toggle caption</b></b> </div> <span class="credit" aria-label="Image credit"> Valerie Macon/AFP/Getty </span> </div> </div> <div class="item-info-wrap"> <div class="item-info"> <h2 class="title"><a href="https://www.npr.org/2025/06/11/nx-s1-5174160/video-game-strike-sag-aftra-agreement" data-metrics-ga4='{"action":"topic_homepage_recirculation_click","category":"recirculation","clickType":"gaming","clickName":"topic headline click","clickUrl":"https:\/\/www.npr.org\/2025\/06\/11\/nx-s1-5174160\/video-game-strike-sag-aftra-agreement","clickPosition":"2.3"}' >Performers and video game companies reach deal that ends nearly yearlong strike</a></h2> <p class="teaser"><a href="https://www.npr.org/2025/06/11/nx-s1-5174160/video-game-strike-sag-aftra-agreement"><time datetime="2025-06-11"><span class="date">June 11, 2025  </span></time>Performers who do stunt and voice work for video games went on strike in July after reaching a stalemate in negotiations over how companies can use AI in game development.</a></p> </div> </div> </article> <article class="item has-image"> <div class="item-image"> <div class="imagewrap has-source-dimensions" data-crop-type="wide" style=" --source-width: 4080; --source-height: 2295; " > <a href="https://www.npr.org/2025/06/11/nx-s1-5430295/hong-kong-police-video-game-sedition-china"> <picture> <source srcset="https://npr.brightspotcdn.com/dims3/default/strip/false/crop/4080x2295+0+389/resize/300/quality/85/format/jpeg/?url=http%3A%2F%2Fnpr-brightspot.s3.amazonaws.com%2F1e%2Fa9%2Fddd565d342e796eb57c605fc2a69%2F1000005602.jpg" data-original="https://npr.brightspotcdn.com/dims3/default/strip/false/crop/4080x2295+0+389/resize/300/quality/100/format/jpeg/?url=http%3A%2F%2Fnpr-brightspot.s3.amazonaws.com%2F1e%2Fa9%2Fddd565d342e796eb57c605fc2a69%2F1000005602.jpg" data-template="https://npr.brightspotcdn.com/dims3/default/strip/false/crop/4080x2295+0+389/resize/{width}/quality/{quality}/format/{format}/?url=http%3A%2F%2Fnpr-brightspot.s3.amazonaws.com%2F1e%2Fa9%2Fddd565d342e796eb57c605fc2a69%2F1000005602.jpg" data-format="webp" class="respArchListImg lazyOnLoad" type="image/webp" /> <source srcset="https://npr.brightspotcdn.com/dims3/default/strip/false/crop/4080x2295+0+389/resize/300/quality/85/format/jpeg/?url=http%3A%2F%2Fnpr-brightspot.s3.amazonaws.com%2F1e%2Fa9%2Fddd565d342e796eb57c605fc2a69%2F1000005602.jpg" data-original="https://npr.brightspotcdn.com/dims3/default/strip/false/crop/4080x2295+0+389/resize/300/quality/100/format/jpeg/?url=http%3A%2F%2Fnpr-brightspot.s3.amazonaws.com%2F1e%2Fa9%2Fddd565d342e796eb57c605fc2a69%2F1000005602.jpg" data-template="https://npr.brightspotcdn.com/dims3/default/strip/false/crop/4080x2295+0+389/resize/{width}/quality/{quality}/format/{format}/?url=http%3A%2F%2Fnpr-brightspot.s3.amazonaws.com%2F1e%2Fa9%2Fddd565d342e796eb57c605fc2a69%2F1000005602.jpg" data-format="jpeg" class="respArchListImg lazyOnLoad" type="image/jpeg" /> <img src="https://npr.brightspotcdn.com/dims3/default/strip/false/crop/4080x2295+0+389/resize/300/quality/85/format/jpeg/?url=http%3A%2F%2Fnpr-brightspot.s3.amazonaws.com%2F1e%2Fa9%2Fddd565d342e796eb57c605fc2a69%2F1000005602.jpg" data-original="https://npr.brightspotcdn.com/dims3/default/strip/false/crop/4080x2295+0+389/resize/300/quality/100/format/jpeg/?url=http%3A%2F%2Fnpr-brightspot.s3.amazonaws.com%2F1e%2Fa9%2Fddd565d342e796eb57c605fc2a69%2F1000005602.jpg" data-template="https://npr.brightspotcdn.com/dims3/default/strip/false/crop/4080x2295+0+389/resize/{width}/quality/{quality}/format/{format}/?url=http%3A%2F%2Fnpr-brightspot.s3.amazonaws.com%2F1e%2Fa9%2Fddd565d342e796eb57c605fc2a69%2F1000005602.jpg" data-format="jpeg" class="respArchListImg lazyOnLoad" alt="A phone displaying the App Store page page for the mobile game Reversed Front: Bonfire." loading="lazy" /> </picture> </a> </div> <div class="credit-caption"> <div class="caption-wrap"> <div class="caption" aria-label="Image caption"> <p> A phone displaying the App Store page for the mobile game Reversed Front: Bonfire. <b class="credit" aria-label="Image credit"> Ryland Barton/NPR </b> <b class="hide-caption"><b>hide caption</b></b> </p> </div> <b class="toggle-caption"><b>toggle caption</b></b> </div> <span class="credit" aria-label="Image credit"> Ryland Barton/NPR </span> </div> </div> <div class="item-info-wrap"> <div class="item-info"> <div class="slug-wrap"> <h3 class="slug"><a href="https://www.npr.org/sections/asia/">Asia</a></h3> </div> <h2 class="title"><a href="https://www.npr.org/2025/06/11/nx-s1-5430295/hong-kong-police-video-game-sedition-china" data-metrics-ga4='{"action":"topic_homepage_recirculation_click","category":"recirculation","clickType":"gaming","clickName":"topic headline click","clickUrl":"https:\/\/www.npr.org\/2025\/06\/11\/nx-s1-5430295\/hong-kong-police-video-game-sedition-china","clickPosition":"2.4"}' >Hong Kong police accuse mobile game of promoting 'armed revolution'</a></h2> <p class="teaser"><a href="https://www.npr.org/2025/06/11/nx-s1-5430295/hong-kong-police-video-game-sedition-china"><time datetime="2025-06-11"><span class="date">June 11, 2025  </span></time>The crackdown on the video game and its users is just the latest in what democracy and human rights advocates say is an erosion of Hong Kong's civil rights and freedoms.</a></p> </div> </div> </article> <article class="item has-image has-audio"> <div class="item-image"> <div class="imagewrap has-source-dimensions" data-crop-type="wide" style=" --source-width: 3925; --source-height: 2208; " > <a href="https://www.npr.org/2025/06/05/nx-s1-5414509/nintendo-switch-2-launch-waiting-game"> <picture> <source srcset="https://npr.brightspotcdn.com/dims3/default/strip/false/crop/3925x2208+0+0/resize/300/quality/85/format/jpeg/?url=http%3A%2F%2Fnpr-brightspot.s3.amazonaws.com%2F84%2Ff6%2F3dcbf5a340eebec07c589f56940f%2Fnintendo-new-york.jpg" data-original="https://npr.brightspotcdn.com/dims3/default/strip/false/crop/3925x2208+0+0/resize/300/quality/100/format/jpeg/?url=http%3A%2F%2Fnpr-brightspot.s3.amazonaws.com%2F84%2Ff6%2F3dcbf5a340eebec07c589f56940f%2Fnintendo-new-york.jpg" data-template="https://npr.brightspotcdn.com/dims3/default/strip/false/crop/3925x2208+0+0/resize/{width}/quality/{quality}/format/{format}/?url=http%3A%2F%2Fnpr-brightspot.s3.amazonaws.com%2F84%2Ff6%2F3dcbf5a340eebec07c589f56940f%2Fnintendo-new-york.jpg" data-format="webp" class="respArchListImg lazyOnLoad" type="image/webp" /> <source srcset="https://npr.brightspotcdn.com/dims3/default/strip/false/crop/3925x2208+0+0/resize/300/quality/85/format/jpeg/?url=http%3A%2F%2Fnpr-brightspot.s3.amazonaws.com%2F84%2Ff6%2F3dcbf5a340eebec07c589f56940f%2Fnintendo-new-york.jpg" data-original="https://npr.brightspotcdn.com/dims3/default/strip/false/crop/3925x2208+0+0/resize/300/quality/100/format/jpeg/?url=http%3A%2F%2Fnpr-brightspot.s3.amazonaws.com%2F84%2Ff6%2F3dcbf5a340eebec07c589f56940f%2Fnintendo-new-york.jpg" data-template="https://npr.brightspotcdn.com/dims3/default/strip/false/crop/3925x2208+0+0/resize/{width}/quality/{quality}/format/{format}/?url=http%3A%2F%2Fnpr-brightspot.s3.amazonaws.com%2F84%2Ff6%2F3dcbf5a340eebec07c589f56940f%2Fnintendo-new-york.jpg" data-format="jpeg" class="respArchListImg lazyOnLoad" type="image/jpeg" /> <img src="https://npr.brightspotcdn.com/dims3/default/strip/false/crop/3925x2208+0+0/resize/300/quality/85/format/jpeg/?url=http%3A%2F%2Fnpr-brightspot.s3.amazonaws.com%2F84%2Ff6%2F3dcbf5a340eebec07c589f56940f%2Fnintendo-new-york.jpg" data-original="https://npr.brightspotcdn.com/dims3/default/strip/false/crop/3925x2208+0+0/resize/300/quality/100/format/jpeg/?url=http%3A%2F%2Fnpr-brightspot.s3.amazonaws.com%2F84%2Ff6%2F3dcbf5a340eebec07c589f56940f%2Fnintendo-new-york.jpg" data-template="https://npr.brightspotcdn.com/dims3/default/strip/false/crop/3925x2208+0+0/resize/{width}/quality/{quality}/format/{format}/?url=http%3A%2F%2Fnpr-brightspot.s3.amazonaws.com%2F84%2Ff6%2F3dcbf5a340eebec07c589f56940f%2Fnintendo-new-york.jpg" data-format="jpeg" class="respArchListImg lazyOnLoad" alt="Nintendo of America President Doug Bowser sells a Nintendo Switch 2 system to a Christopher Evangelista, a fan who says he camped out for two months outside Nintendo New York to be first in line for the console." loading="lazy" /> </picture> </a> </div> <div class="credit-caption"> <div class="caption-wrap"> <div class="caption" aria-label="Image caption"> <p> Nintendo of America President Doug Bowser sells a Nintendo Switch 2 system to a Christopher Evangelista, a fan who says he camped out for two months outside Nintendo New York to be first in line for the console. <b class="credit" aria-label="Image credit"> Nintendo of America </b> <b class="hide-caption"><b>hide caption</b></b> </p> </div> <b class="toggle-caption"><b>toggle caption</b></b> </div> <span class="credit" aria-label="Image credit"> Nintendo of America </span> </div> </div> <div class="item-info-wrap"> <div class="item-info"> <div class="slug-wrap"> <h3 class="slug"><a href="https://www.npr.org/sections/gaming-culture">Gaming Culture</a></h3> </div> <h2 class="title"><a href="https://www.npr.org/2025/06/05/nx-s1-5414509/nintendo-switch-2-launch-waiting-game" data-metrics-ga4='{"action":"topic_homepage_recirculation_click","category":"recirculation","clickType":"gaming","clickName":"topic headline click","clickUrl":"https:\/\/www.npr.org\/2025\/06\/05\/nx-s1-5414509\/nintendo-switch-2-launch-waiting-game","clickPosition":"2.5"}' >Fans drive huge Nintendo Switch 2 launch; others play the waiting game</a></h2> <p class="teaser"><a href="https://www.npr.org/2025/06/05/nx-s1-5414509/nintendo-switch-2-launch-waiting-game"><time datetime="2025-06-05"><span class="date">June 5, 2025  </span></time>Criticized for its high cost but still selling out nearly everywhere, Nintendo's sequel to their popular Switch console releases as a trade war squeezes the video game industry.</a></p> </div> <article id="resnx-s1-5481777-1" class="bucketwrap resaudio" aria-label="audio-module"><div class="audio-module"> <h4 class="audio-module-title">Nintendo Switch 2 Release</h4> <div class="audio-module-controls-wrap" data-audio='{"uid":"nx-s1-5414509:nx-s1-5481777-1","available":true,"duration":153,"title":"Nintendo Switch 2 Release","audioUrl":"https:\/\/ondemand.npr.org\/anon.npr-mp3\/npr\/atc\/2025\/06\/20250605_atc_nintendo_switch_2_release.mp3?size=2452629&d=153251&e=nx-s1-5414509&sc=siteplayer","storyUrl":"https:\/\/www.npr.org\/2025\/06\/05\/nx-s1-5414509\/nintendo-switch-2-launch-waiting-game","slug":"Gaming Culture","program":"All Things Considered","affiliation":"","song":"","artist":"","album":"","track":0,"type":"segment","subtype":"other","skipSponsorship":false,"hasAdsWizz":false,"isStreamAudioType":false}' data-audio-metrics='[]'> <div class="audio-module-controls"> <a class="audio-module-listen" href="https://ondemand.npr.org/anon.npr-mp3/npr/atc/2025/06/20250605_atc_nintendo_switch_2_release.mp3?size=2452629&d=153251&e=nx-s1-5414509&sc=siteplayer&aw_0_1st.playerid=siteplayer"> <b class="audio-module-listen-inner"> <b class="audio-module-listen-icon icn-play"></b> <b class="audio-module-listen-text"> <b class="audio-module-cta"> Listen </b> <b class="audio-module-listen-duration"> <span>· </span> <span>2:33</span> </b> </b> </b> </a> <time class="audio-module-duration" datetime="P2M,33S"> <span class="audio-module-duration__initial-value">2:33</span> </time> </div> </div> <div class="audio-module-tools"> <a class="audio-tool audio-tool-transcript" href="https://www.npr.org/transcripts/nx-s1-5414509" data-metrics-ga4='{"category":"audio","action":"audio_click_transcript","storyId":"nx-s1-5414509","mediaId":"nx-s1-5481777-1","title":"Fans drive huge Nintendo Switch 2 launch; 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It's a joy for co-op fans, but sacrifices the expansiveness that made the original game so compelling.</a></p> </div> </div> </article> <article class="item has-image has-audio"> <div class="item-image"> <div class="imagewrap has-source-dimensions" data-crop-type="wide" style=" --source-width: 3397; --source-height: 1911; " > <a href="https://www.npr.org/2025/05/20/nx-s1-5405430/chess-magnus-carlsen-draw-the-world"> <picture> <source srcset="https://npr.brightspotcdn.com/dims3/default/strip/false/crop/3397x1911+0+177/resize/300/quality/85/format/jpeg/?url=http%3A%2F%2Fnpr-brightspot.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fe6%2F68%2Ffc15eee84272824d484301e2a306%2Fgettyimages-2184600703.jpg" data-original="https://npr.brightspotcdn.com/dims3/default/strip/false/crop/3397x1911+0+177/resize/300/quality/100/format/jpeg/?url=http%3A%2F%2Fnpr-brightspot.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fe6%2F68%2Ffc15eee84272824d484301e2a306%2Fgettyimages-2184600703.jpg" data-template="https://npr.brightspotcdn.com/dims3/default/strip/false/crop/3397x1911+0+177/resize/{width}/quality/{quality}/format/{format}/?url=http%3A%2F%2Fnpr-brightspot.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fe6%2F68%2Ffc15eee84272824d484301e2a306%2Fgettyimages-2184600703.jpg" data-format="webp" class="respArchListImg lazyOnLoad" type="image/webp" /> <source srcset="https://npr.brightspotcdn.com/dims3/default/strip/false/crop/3397x1911+0+177/resize/300/quality/85/format/jpeg/?url=http%3A%2F%2Fnpr-brightspot.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fe6%2F68%2Ffc15eee84272824d484301e2a306%2Fgettyimages-2184600703.jpg" data-original="https://npr.brightspotcdn.com/dims3/default/strip/false/crop/3397x1911+0+177/resize/300/quality/100/format/jpeg/?url=http%3A%2F%2Fnpr-brightspot.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fe6%2F68%2Ffc15eee84272824d484301e2a306%2Fgettyimages-2184600703.jpg" data-template="https://npr.brightspotcdn.com/dims3/default/strip/false/crop/3397x1911+0+177/resize/{width}/quality/{quality}/format/{format}/?url=http%3A%2F%2Fnpr-brightspot.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fe6%2F68%2Ffc15eee84272824d484301e2a306%2Fgettyimages-2184600703.jpg" data-format="jpeg" class="respArchListImg lazyOnLoad" type="image/jpeg" /> <img src="https://npr.brightspotcdn.com/dims3/default/strip/false/crop/3397x1911+0+177/resize/300/quality/85/format/jpeg/?url=http%3A%2F%2Fnpr-brightspot.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fe6%2F68%2Ffc15eee84272824d484301e2a306%2Fgettyimages-2184600703.jpg" data-original="https://npr.brightspotcdn.com/dims3/default/strip/false/crop/3397x1911+0+177/resize/300/quality/100/format/jpeg/?url=http%3A%2F%2Fnpr-brightspot.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fe6%2F68%2Ffc15eee84272824d484301e2a306%2Fgettyimages-2184600703.jpg" data-template="https://npr.brightspotcdn.com/dims3/default/strip/false/crop/3397x1911+0+177/resize/{width}/quality/{quality}/format/{format}/?url=http%3A%2F%2Fnpr-brightspot.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fe6%2F68%2Ffc15eee84272824d484301e2a306%2Fgettyimages-2184600703.jpg" data-format="jpeg" class="respArchListImg lazyOnLoad" alt="Norway's chess grandmaster Magnus Carlsen gestures during a game in the Tata Steel Chess India tournament in Kolkata on Nov. 17, 2024." loading="lazy" /> </picture> </a> </div> <div class="credit-caption"> <div class="caption-wrap"> <div class="caption" aria-label="Image caption"> <p> Norway's chess grandmaster Magnus Carlsen gestures during a game in the Tata Steel Chess India tournament in Kolkata on Nov. 17, 2024. <b class="credit" aria-label="Image credit"> Dibyangshu Sarkar/AFP via Getty Images </b> <b class="hide-caption"><b>hide caption</b></b> </p> </div> <b class="toggle-caption"><b>toggle caption</b></b> </div> <span class="credit" aria-label="Image credit"> Dibyangshu Sarkar/AFP via Getty Images </span> </div> </div> <div class="item-info-wrap"> <div class="item-info"> <h2 class="title"><a href="https://www.npr.org/2025/05/20/nx-s1-5405430/chess-magnus-carlsen-draw-the-world" data-metrics-ga4='{"action":"topic_homepage_recirculation_click","category":"recirculation","clickType":"gaming","clickName":"topic headline click","clickUrl":"https:\/\/www.npr.org\/2025\/05\/20\/nx-s1-5405430\/chess-magnus-carlsen-draw-the-world","clickPosition":"2.7"}' >Team World manages a draw in marathon chess showdown against grandmaster Magnus Carlsen</a></h2> <p class="teaser"><a href="https://www.npr.org/2025/05/20/nx-s1-5405430/chess-magnus-carlsen-draw-the-world"><time datetime="2025-05-20"><span class="date">May 20, 2025  </span></time>Carlsen squared off against 143,000 players from around the world — but the chess grandmaster was unable to clinch a victory over Team World. </a></p> </div> <article id="resnx-s1-5466498-1" class="bucketwrap resaudio" 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data-original="https://media.npr.org/assets/img/2025/05/16/to-a-t_wide-2850fa6aeba169638e9263983e11dd9c48a18802.jpg?s=300&c=100&f=jpeg" data-template="https://media.npr.org/assets/img/2025/05/16/to-a-t_wide-2850fa6aeba169638e9263983e11dd9c48a18802.jpg?s={width}&c={quality}&f={format}" data-format="webp" class="respArchListImg lazyOnLoad" type="image/webp" /> <source srcset="https://media.npr.org/assets/img/2025/05/16/to-a-t_wide-2850fa6aeba169638e9263983e11dd9c48a18802.jpg?s=300&c=85&f=jpeg" data-original="https://media.npr.org/assets/img/2025/05/16/to-a-t_wide-2850fa6aeba169638e9263983e11dd9c48a18802.jpg?s=300&c=100&f=jpeg" data-template="https://media.npr.org/assets/img/2025/05/16/to-a-t_wide-2850fa6aeba169638e9263983e11dd9c48a18802.jpg?s={width}&c={quality}&f={format}" data-format="jpeg" class="respArchListImg lazyOnLoad" type="image/jpeg" /> <img src="https://media.npr.org/assets/img/2025/05/16/to-a-t_wide-2850fa6aeba169638e9263983e11dd9c48a18802.jpg?s=300&c=85&f=jpeg" data-original="https://media.npr.org/assets/img/2025/05/16/to-a-t_wide-2850fa6aeba169638e9263983e11dd9c48a18802.jpg?s=300&c=100&f=jpeg" data-template="https://media.npr.org/assets/img/2025/05/16/to-a-t_wide-2850fa6aeba169638e9263983e11dd9c48a18802.jpg?s={width}&c={quality}&f={format}" data-format="jpeg" class="respArchListImg lazyOnLoad" alt="Keita Takahashi created one of the most beloved cult video games ever" loading="lazy" /> </picture> </a> </div> <div class="credit-caption"> <div class="caption-wrap"> <div class="caption" aria-label="Image caption"> <p> A still from Keita Takahashi's upcoming game <em>to a T</em> <b class="credit" aria-label="Image credit"> Annapurna interactive/uvula LLC </b> <b class="hide-caption"><b>hide caption</b></b> </p> </div> <b class="toggle-caption"><b>toggle caption</b></b> </div> <span class="credit" aria-label="Image credit"> Annapurna interactive/uvula LLC </span> </div> </div> <div class="item-info-wrap"> <div class="item-info"> <div class="slug-wrap"> <h3 class="slug"><a href="https://www.npr.org/podcasts/510309/bullseye">Bullseye with Jesse Thorn</a></h3> </div> <h2 class="title"><a href="https://www.npr.org/2025/05/16/1251782085/bullseye-with-jesse-thorn-keita-takahashi" data-metrics-ga4='{"action":"topic_homepage_recirculation_click","category":"recirculation","clickType":"gaming","clickName":"topic headline click","clickUrl":"https:\/\/www.npr.org\/2025\/05\/16\/1251782085\/bullseye-with-jesse-thorn-keita-takahashi","clickPosition":"2.8"}' >Keita Takahashi created one of the most beloved cult video games ever</a></h2> <p class="teaser"><a href="https://www.npr.org/2025/05/16/1251782085/bullseye-with-jesse-thorn-keita-takahashi"><time datetime="2025-05-16"><span class="date">May 16, 2025  </span></time>Video game creator Keita Takahashi joins us to talk about how he got into designing video games and how he pitched the idea for his popular game <em>Katamari Damacy</em> to the folks at Namco. He also talks with us about his new game, <em>to a T</em>, which comes out soon. <em>A version of this interview originally ran in April of 2024.</em></a></p> </div> <article id="res1269323128" class="bucketwrap resaudio" aria-label="audio-module"><div class="audio-module"> <h4 class="audio-module-title">Keita Takahashi created one of the most beloved cult video games ever</h4> <div class="audio-module-controls-wrap" data-audio='{"uid":"1251782085:1269323128","available":true,"duration":1997,"title":"Keita Takahashi created one of the most beloved cult video games ever","audioUrl":"https:\/\/chrt.fm\/track\/138C95\/prfx.byspotify.com\/e\/play.podtrac.com\/npr-510309\/traffic.megaphone.fm\/NPR2179956518.mp3?d=1997&size=31965981&e=1251782085&t=podcast&p=510309&sc=siteplayer&aw_0_1st.playerid=siteplayer","storyUrl":"https:\/\/www.npr.org\/2025\/05\/16\/1251782085\/bullseye-with-jesse-thorn-keita-takahashi","slug":"","program":"Bullseye with Jesse Thorn","affiliation":"","song":"","artist":"","album":"","track":0,"type":"segment","subtype":"other","skipSponsorship":true,"hasAdsWizz":true,"isStreamAudioType":false}' data-audio-metrics='[]'> <div class="audio-module-controls"> <a class="audio-module-listen" href="https://chrt.fm/track/138C95/prfx.byspotify.com/e/play.podtrac.com/npr-510309/traffic.megaphone.fm/NPR2179956518.mp3?d=1997&size=31965981&e=1251782085&t=podcast&p=510309&sc=siteplayer&aw_0_1st.playerid=siteplayer"> <b class="audio-module-listen-inner"> <b class="audio-module-listen-icon icn-play"></b> <b class="audio-module-listen-text"> <b class="audio-module-cta"> Listen </b> <b class="audio-module-listen-duration"> <span>· </span> <span>33:17</span> </b> </b> </b> </a> <time class="audio-module-duration" datetime="P33M,17S"> <span class="audio-module-duration__initial-value">33:17</span> </time> </div> </div> <div class="audio-module-tools"> <button class="audio-module-tools-toggle" data-metrics-ga4='{"category":"audio","action":"audio_open_more_options","storyId":"1251782085","mediaId":"1269323128","title":"Keita Takahashi created one of the most beloved cult video games ever","type":"ondemand"}' > <b class="icn-toggle"></b> <b class="label">Toggle more options</b> </button> <ul class="audio-module-more-tools"> <li class="audio-tool audio-tool-download"><a href="https://chrt.fm/track/138C95/prfx.byspotify.com/e/play.podtrac.com/npr-510309/traffic.megaphone.fm/NPR2179956518.mp3?d=1997&size=31965981&e=1251782085&t=podcast&p=510309&sc=siteplayer&aw_0_1st.playerid=siteplayer" data-metrics-ga4='{"category":"audio","action":"audio_download","storyId":"1251782085","mediaId":"1269323128","title":"Keita Takahashi created one of the most beloved cult video games ever","type":"ondemand"}' ><b class="icn-download"></b><b class="audio-tool-label">Download</b></a> </li> <li class="audio-tool audio-tool-embed" > <button data-embed-url="https://www.npr.org/player/embed/1251782085/1269323128" data-metrics-ga4='{"category":"audio","action":"audio_embed","storyId":"1251782085","mediaId":"1269323128","title":"Keita Takahashi created one of the most beloved cult video games ever","type":"ondemand"}' ><b class="button-inner"><b class="icn-embed"></b><b class="audio-tool-label">Embed</b></b></button> <div class="audio-embed-overlay"> <button class="btn-close"></button> <label class="embed-label"> <b class="audio-embed-overlay__icon"></b> <b class="label">Embed</b> <input class="embed-url embed-url-no-touch" readonly value="<iframe src="https://www.npr.org/player/embed/1251782085/1269323128" width="100%" height="290" frameborder="0" scrolling="no" title="NPR embedded audio player"></iframe>"> </label> <b class="embed-url embed-url-touch"> <code><b class="punctuation"><</b>iframe src="https://www.npr.org/player/embed/1251782085/1269323128" width="100%" height="290" frameborder="0" scrolling="no" title="NPR embedded audio player"></code> </b> </div> </li> </ul> </div> </div> </article> </div> </article> <article class="item has-image has-audio"> <div class="item-image"> <div class="imagewrap has-source-dimensions" data-crop-type="wide" style=" --source-width: 1068; --source-height: 601; " > <a href="https://www.npr.org/2025/05/06/nx-s1-5382412/pope-conclave-fantapapa-fantasy-game"> <picture> <source srcset="https://npr.brightspotcdn.com/dims3/default/strip/false/crop/1068x601+0+68/resize/300/quality/85/format/png/?url=http%3A%2F%2Fnpr-brightspot.s3.amazonaws.com%2F30%2F2b%2F9438bc83407eacf0ba4feb722a5a%2Fimage-1.png" data-original="https://npr.brightspotcdn.com/dims3/default/strip/false/crop/1068x601+0+68/resize/300/quality/100/format/png/?url=http%3A%2F%2Fnpr-brightspot.s3.amazonaws.com%2F30%2F2b%2F9438bc83407eacf0ba4feb722a5a%2Fimage-1.png" data-template="https://npr.brightspotcdn.com/dims3/default/strip/false/crop/1068x601+0+68/resize/{width}/quality/{quality}/format/{format}/?url=http%3A%2F%2Fnpr-brightspot.s3.amazonaws.com%2F30%2F2b%2F9438bc83407eacf0ba4feb722a5a%2Fimage-1.png" data-format="webp" class="respArchListImg lazyOnLoad" type="image/webp" /> <source srcset="https://npr.brightspotcdn.com/dims3/default/strip/false/crop/1068x601+0+68/resize/300/quality/85/format/png/?url=http%3A%2F%2Fnpr-brightspot.s3.amazonaws.com%2F30%2F2b%2F9438bc83407eacf0ba4feb722a5a%2Fimage-1.png" data-original="https://npr.brightspotcdn.com/dims3/default/strip/false/crop/1068x601+0+68/resize/300/quality/100/format/png/?url=http%3A%2F%2Fnpr-brightspot.s3.amazonaws.com%2F30%2F2b%2F9438bc83407eacf0ba4feb722a5a%2Fimage-1.png" data-template="https://npr.brightspotcdn.com/dims3/default/strip/false/crop/1068x601+0+68/resize/{width}/quality/{quality}/format/{format}/?url=http%3A%2F%2Fnpr-brightspot.s3.amazonaws.com%2F30%2F2b%2F9438bc83407eacf0ba4feb722a5a%2Fimage-1.png" data-format="png" class="respArchListImg lazyOnLoad" type="image/png" /> <img src="https://npr.brightspotcdn.com/dims3/default/strip/false/crop/1068x601+0+68/resize/300/quality/85/format/png/?url=http%3A%2F%2Fnpr-brightspot.s3.amazonaws.com%2F30%2F2b%2F9438bc83407eacf0ba4feb722a5a%2Fimage-1.png" data-original="https://npr.brightspotcdn.com/dims3/default/strip/false/crop/1068x601+0+68/resize/300/quality/100/format/png/?url=http%3A%2F%2Fnpr-brightspot.s3.amazonaws.com%2F30%2F2b%2F9438bc83407eacf0ba4feb722a5a%2Fimage-1.png" data-template="https://npr.brightspotcdn.com/dims3/default/strip/false/crop/1068x601+0+68/resize/{width}/quality/{quality}/format/{format}/?url=http%3A%2F%2Fnpr-brightspot.s3.amazonaws.com%2F30%2F2b%2F9438bc83407eacf0ba4feb722a5a%2Fimage-1.png" data-format="png" class="respArchListImg lazyOnLoad" alt="Fantapapa is an online video game inspired by fantasy football, where players draft a team of cardinals they think have the best shot at becoming the next pope." loading="lazy" /> </picture> </a> </div> <div class="credit-caption"> <div class="caption-wrap"> <div class="caption" aria-label="Image caption"> <p> Fantapapa is an online video game inspired by fantasy football, where players draft a team of cardinals they think have the best shot at becoming the next pope. <b class="credit" aria-label="Image credit"> Screenshot of a Fantapapa team selection/<i>Adam Bearne </i> </b> <b class="hide-caption"><b>hide caption</b></b> </p> </div> <b class="toggle-caption"><b>toggle caption</b></b> </div> <span class="credit" aria-label="Image credit"> Screenshot of a Fantapapa team selection/<i>Adam Bearne </i> </span> </div> </div> <div class="item-info-wrap"> <div class="item-info"> <div class="slug-wrap"> <h3 class="slug"><a href="https://www.npr.org/sections/gaming-culture">Gaming Culture</a></h3> </div> <h2 class="title"><a href="https://www.npr.org/2025/05/06/nx-s1-5382412/pope-conclave-fantapapa-fantasy-game" data-metrics-ga4='{"action":"topic_homepage_recirculation_click","category":"recirculation","clickType":"gaming","clickName":"topic headline click","clickUrl":"https:\/\/www.npr.org\/2025\/05\/06\/nx-s1-5382412\/pope-conclave-fantapapa-fantasy-game","clickPosition":"2.9"}' >This online game lets Italians predict the next pope like fantasy football</a></h2> <p class="teaser"><a href="https://www.npr.org/2025/05/06/nx-s1-5382412/pope-conclave-fantapapa-fantasy-game"><time datetime="2025-05-06"><span class="date">May 6, 2025  </span></time>As the papal conclave nears, people in Italy turn to an online game for some possible outcomes. The goal is to exchange glory, not cash.</a></p> </div> <article id="resnx-s1-5446739-1" class="bucketwrap resaudio" aria-label="audio-module"><div class="audio-module"> <h4 class="audio-module-title">Italians flock to 'Fantapapa,' a fantasy football-like game to pick next pope</h4> <div class="audio-module-controls-wrap" data-audio='{"uid":"nx-s1-5382412:nx-s1-5446739-1","available":true,"duration":182,"title":"Italians flock to \u0027Fantapapa,\u0027 a fantasy football-like game to pick next pope","audioUrl":"https:\/\/ondemand.npr.org\/anon.npr-mp3\/npr\/me\/2025\/05\/20250506_me_italians_flock_to_fantapapa_a_fantasy_football-like_game_to_pick_next_pope.mp3?size=2914892&d=182143&e=nx-s1-5382412&sc=siteplayer","storyUrl":"https:\/\/www.npr.org\/2025\/05\/06\/nx-s1-5382412\/pope-conclave-fantapapa-fantasy-game","slug":"Gaming Culture","program":"Morning Edition","affiliation":"","song":"","artist":"","album":"","track":0,"type":"segment","subtype":"other","skipSponsorship":false,"hasAdsWizz":false,"isStreamAudioType":false}' data-audio-metrics='[]'> <div class="audio-module-controls"> <a class="audio-module-listen" href="https://ondemand.npr.org/anon.npr-mp3/npr/me/2025/05/20250506_me_italians_flock_to_fantapapa_a_fantasy_football-like_game_to_pick_next_pope.mp3?size=2914892&d=182143&e=nx-s1-5382412&sc=siteplayer&aw_0_1st.playerid=siteplayer"> <b class="audio-module-listen-inner"> <b class="audio-module-listen-icon icn-play"></b> <b class="audio-module-listen-text"> <b class="audio-module-cta"> Listen </b> <b class="audio-module-listen-duration"> <span>· </span> <span>3:02</span> </b> </b> </b> </a> <time class="audio-module-duration" datetime="P3M,2S"> <span class="audio-module-duration__initial-value">3:02</span> </time> </div> </div> <div class="audio-module-tools"> <a class="audio-tool audio-tool-transcript" 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data-template="https://npr.brightspotcdn.com/dims3/default/strip/false/crop/1563x879+0+0/resize/{width}/quality/{quality}/format/{format}/?url=http%3A%2F%2Fnpr-brightspot.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fec%2F42%2F6c3cea714f1b912d1456c0f643ea%2Fronaldo-screenshot.png" data-format="webp" class="respArchListImg lazyOnLoad" type="image/webp" /> <source srcset="https://npr.brightspotcdn.com/dims3/default/strip/false/crop/1563x879+0+0/resize/300/quality/85/format/png/?url=http%3A%2F%2Fnpr-brightspot.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fec%2F42%2F6c3cea714f1b912d1456c0f643ea%2Fronaldo-screenshot.png" data-original="https://npr.brightspotcdn.com/dims3/default/strip/false/crop/1563x879+0+0/resize/300/quality/100/format/png/?url=http%3A%2F%2Fnpr-brightspot.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fec%2F42%2F6c3cea714f1b912d1456c0f643ea%2Fronaldo-screenshot.png" data-template="https://npr.brightspotcdn.com/dims3/default/strip/false/crop/1563x879+0+0/resize/{width}/quality/{quality}/format/{format}/?url=http%3A%2F%2Fnpr-brightspot.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fec%2F42%2F6c3cea714f1b912d1456c0f643ea%2Fronaldo-screenshot.png" data-format="png" class="respArchListImg lazyOnLoad" type="image/png" /> <img src="https://npr.brightspotcdn.com/dims3/default/strip/false/crop/1563x879+0+0/resize/300/quality/85/format/png/?url=http%3A%2F%2Fnpr-brightspot.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fec%2F42%2F6c3cea714f1b912d1456c0f643ea%2Fronaldo-screenshot.png" data-original="https://npr.brightspotcdn.com/dims3/default/strip/false/crop/1563x879+0+0/resize/300/quality/100/format/png/?url=http%3A%2F%2Fnpr-brightspot.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fec%2F42%2F6c3cea714f1b912d1456c0f643ea%2Fronaldo-screenshot.png" data-template="https://npr.brightspotcdn.com/dims3/default/strip/false/crop/1563x879+0+0/resize/{width}/quality/{quality}/format/{format}/?url=http%3A%2F%2Fnpr-brightspot.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fec%2F42%2F6c3cea714f1b912d1456c0f643ea%2Fronaldo-screenshot.png" data-format="png" class="respArchListImg lazyOnLoad" alt="In this screenshot from Fatal Fury: City of the Wolves, Cristiano Ronaldo prepares to attack his opponent." loading="lazy" /> </picture> </a> </div> <div class="credit-caption"> <div class="caption-wrap"> <div class="caption" aria-label="Image caption"> <p> In this screenshot from Fatal Fury: City of the Wolves, Cristiano Ronaldo prepares to attack his opponent. <b class="credit" aria-label="Image credit"> SNK </b> <b class="hide-caption"><b>hide caption</b></b> </p> </div> <b class="toggle-caption"><b>toggle caption</b></b> </div> <span class="credit" aria-label="Image credit"> SNK </span> </div> </div> <div class="item-info-wrap"> <div class="item-info"> <div class="slug-wrap"> <h3 class="slug"><a href="https://www.npr.org/sections/gaming-culture">Gaming Culture</a></h3> </div> <h2 class="title"><a href="https://www.npr.org/2025/04/24/nx-s1-5246205/fatal-fury-japanese-video-game-cristiano-ronaldo" data-metrics-ga4='{"action":"topic_homepage_recirculation_click","category":"recirculation","clickType":"gaming","clickName":"topic headline click","clickUrl":"https:\/\/www.npr.org\/2025\/04\/24\/nx-s1-5246205\/fatal-fury-japanese-video-game-cristiano-ronaldo","clickPosition":"2.10"}' >How Saudi funds brought Cristiano Ronaldo into a fighting video game</a></h2> <p class="teaser"><a href="https://www.npr.org/2025/04/24/nx-s1-5246205/fatal-fury-japanese-video-game-cristiano-ronaldo"><time datetime="2025-04-24"><span class="date">April 24, 2025  </span></time>The newest Fatal Fury fighting game will include a curious choice of playable characters, including soccer star Cristiano Ronaldo and Bosnian-Swedish DJ Salvatore Ganacci.</a></p> </div> <article id="resnx-s1-5421013-1" class="bucketwrap resaudio" aria-label="audio-module"><div class="audio-module"> <h4 class="audio-module-title">'Fatal Fury' video game to feature curious choice of playable real-world characters</h4> <div class="audio-module-controls-wrap" data-audio='{"uid":"nx-s1-5246205:nx-s1-5421013-1","available":true,"duration":314,"title":"\u0027Fatal Fury\u0027 video game to feature curious choice of playable real-world characters","audioUrl":"https:\/\/ondemand.npr.org\/anon.npr-mp3\/npr\/me\/2025\/04\/20250424_me_fatal_fury_video_game_to_feature_curious_choice_of_playable_real-world_characters.mp3?size=5024750&d=314007&e=nx-s1-5246205&sc=siteplayer","storyUrl":"https:\/\/www.npr.org\/2025\/04\/24\/nx-s1-5246205\/fatal-fury-japanese-video-game-cristiano-ronaldo","slug":"Gaming Culture","program":"Morning Edition","affiliation":"","song":"","artist":"","album":"","track":0,"type":"segment","subtype":"other","skipSponsorship":false,"hasAdsWizz":false,"isStreamAudioType":false}' data-audio-metrics='[]'> <div class="audio-module-controls"> <a class="audio-module-listen" href="https://ondemand.npr.org/anon.npr-mp3/npr/me/2025/04/20250424_me_fatal_fury_video_game_to_feature_curious_choice_of_playable_real-world_characters.mp3?size=5024750&d=314007&e=nx-s1-5246205&sc=siteplayer&aw_0_1st.playerid=siteplayer"> <b class="audio-module-listen-inner"> <b class="audio-module-listen-icon icn-play"></b> <b class="audio-module-listen-text"> <b class="audio-module-cta"> Listen </b> <b class="audio-module-listen-duration"> <span>· </span> <span>5:14</span> </b> </b> </b> </a> <time class="audio-module-duration" datetime="P5M,14S"> <span class="audio-module-duration__initial-value">5:14</span> </time> </div> </div> <div class="audio-module-tools"> <a class="audio-tool audio-tool-transcript" 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data-template="https://npr.brightspotcdn.com/dims3/default/strip/false/crop/2135x1200+0+8/resize/{width}/quality/{quality}/format/{format}/?url=http%3A%2F%2Fnpr-brightspot.s3.amazonaws.com%2F7a%2Fb0%2F557a8c13490396eff0525a213cc2%2Fgettyimages-1986401062.jpg" data-format="webp" class="respArchListImg lazyOnLoad" type="image/webp" /> <source srcset="https://npr.brightspotcdn.com/dims3/default/strip/false/crop/2135x1200+0+8/resize/300/quality/85/format/jpeg/?url=http%3A%2F%2Fnpr-brightspot.s3.amazonaws.com%2F7a%2Fb0%2F557a8c13490396eff0525a213cc2%2Fgettyimages-1986401062.jpg" data-original="https://npr.brightspotcdn.com/dims3/default/strip/false/crop/2135x1200+0+8/resize/300/quality/100/format/jpeg/?url=http%3A%2F%2Fnpr-brightspot.s3.amazonaws.com%2F7a%2Fb0%2F557a8c13490396eff0525a213cc2%2Fgettyimages-1986401062.jpg" 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data-template="https://npr.brightspotcdn.com/dims3/default/strip/false/crop/2135x1200+0+8/resize/{width}/quality/{quality}/format/{format}/?url=http%3A%2F%2Fnpr-brightspot.s3.amazonaws.com%2F7a%2Fb0%2F557a8c13490396eff0525a213cc2%2Fgettyimages-1986401062.jpg" data-format="jpeg" class="respArchListImg lazyOnLoad" alt="Tracy Chapman onstage during the 66th Grammy Awards on February 04, 2024 in Los Angeles, California." loading="lazy" /> </picture> </a> </div> <div class="credit-caption"> <div class="caption-wrap"> <div class="caption" aria-label="Image caption"> <p> Tracy Chapman performs during the 66th Grammy Awards on Feb. 4, 2024 in Los Angeles. <b class="credit" aria-label="Image credit"> Amy Sussman/Getty Images </b> <b class="hide-caption"><b>hide caption</b></b> </p> </div> <b class="toggle-caption"><b>toggle caption</b></b> </div> <span class="credit" aria-label="Image credit"> Amy Sussman/Getty Images </span> </div> </div> <div class="item-info-wrap"> <div class="item-info"> <div class="slug-wrap"> <h3 class="slug"><a href="https://www.npr.org/sections/culture/">Culture</a></h3> </div> <h2 class="title"><a href="https://www.npr.org/2025/04/09/nx-s1-5352774/national-recording-registry-tracy-chapman-elton-john-hamilton-minecraft" data-metrics-ga4='{"action":"topic_homepage_recirculation_click","category":"recirculation","clickType":"gaming","clickName":"topic headline click","clickUrl":"https:\/\/www.npr.org\/2025\/04\/09\/nx-s1-5352774\/national-recording-registry-tracy-chapman-elton-john-hamilton-minecraft","clickPosition":"2.11"}' >National Recording Registry adds Tracy Chapman, Hamilton and the Minecraft game soundtrack</a></h2> <p class="teaser"><a href="https://www.npr.org/2025/04/09/nx-s1-5352774/national-recording-registry-tracy-chapman-elton-john-hamilton-minecraft"><time datetime="2025-04-09"><span class="date">April 9, 2025  </span></time>There are 25 new additions to the Library of Congress collection. They include albums by Elton John, Miles Davis, Amy Winehouse, and the original cast recording of <em>Hamilton.</em></a></p> </div> <article id="resnx-s1-5417271-1" class="bucketwrap resaudio" aria-label="audio-module"><div class="audio-module"> <h4 class="audio-module-title">National Recording Registry adds Tracy Chapman, Hamilton and the Minecraft soundtrack</h4> <div class="audio-module-controls-wrap" data-audio='{"uid":"nx-s1-5352774:nx-s1-5417271-1","available":true,"duration":147,"title":"National Recording Registry adds Tracy Chapman, Hamilton and the Minecraft soundtrack","audioUrl":"https:\/\/ondemand.npr.org\/anon.npr-mp3\/npr\/me\/2025\/04\/20250409_me_national_recording_registry_adds_tracy_chapman_hamilton_and_the_minecraft_soundtrack.mp3?size=2362350&d=147570&e=nx-s1-5352774&sc=siteplayer","storyUrl":"https:\/\/www.npr.org\/2025\/04\/09\/nx-s1-5352774\/national-recording-registry-tracy-chapman-elton-john-hamilton-minecraft","slug":"Culture","program":"Morning 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data-original="https://npr.brightspotcdn.com/dims3/default/strip/false/crop/4096x2304+0+0/resize/300/quality/100/format/jpeg/?url=http%3A%2F%2Fnpr-brightspot.s3.amazonaws.com%2F84%2F59%2F5a11431b475c83c94b459d568f9e%2Frev-1-mcr-t3-0047-high-res-jpeg.jpeg" data-template="https://npr.brightspotcdn.com/dims3/default/strip/false/crop/4096x2304+0+0/resize/{width}/quality/{quality}/format/{format}/?url=http%3A%2F%2Fnpr-brightspot.s3.amazonaws.com%2F84%2F59%2F5a11431b475c83c94b459d568f9e%2Frev-1-mcr-t3-0047-high-res-jpeg.jpeg" data-format="webp" class="respArchListImg lazyOnLoad" type="image/webp" /> <source srcset="https://npr.brightspotcdn.com/dims3/default/strip/false/crop/4096x2304+0+0/resize/300/quality/85/format/jpeg/?url=http%3A%2F%2Fnpr-brightspot.s3.amazonaws.com%2F84%2F59%2F5a11431b475c83c94b459d568f9e%2Frev-1-mcr-t3-0047-high-res-jpeg.jpeg" data-original="https://npr.brightspotcdn.com/dims3/default/strip/false/crop/4096x2304+0+0/resize/300/quality/100/format/jpeg/?url=http%3A%2F%2Fnpr-brightspot.s3.amazonaws.com%2F84%2F59%2F5a11431b475c83c94b459d568f9e%2Frev-1-mcr-t3-0047-high-res-jpeg.jpeg" data-template="https://npr.brightspotcdn.com/dims3/default/strip/false/crop/4096x2304+0+0/resize/{width}/quality/{quality}/format/{format}/?url=http%3A%2F%2Fnpr-brightspot.s3.amazonaws.com%2F84%2F59%2F5a11431b475c83c94b459d568f9e%2Frev-1-mcr-t3-0047-high-res-jpeg.jpeg" data-format="jpeg" class="respArchListImg lazyOnLoad" type="image/jpeg" /> <img src="https://npr.brightspotcdn.com/dims3/default/strip/false/crop/4096x2304+0+0/resize/300/quality/85/format/jpeg/?url=http%3A%2F%2Fnpr-brightspot.s3.amazonaws.com%2F84%2F59%2F5a11431b475c83c94b459d568f9e%2Frev-1-mcr-t3-0047-high-res-jpeg.jpeg" data-original="https://npr.brightspotcdn.com/dims3/default/strip/false/crop/4096x2304+0+0/resize/300/quality/100/format/jpeg/?url=http%3A%2F%2Fnpr-brightspot.s3.amazonaws.com%2F84%2F59%2F5a11431b475c83c94b459d568f9e%2Frev-1-mcr-t3-0047-high-res-jpeg.jpeg" data-template="https://npr.brightspotcdn.com/dims3/default/strip/false/crop/4096x2304+0+0/resize/{width}/quality/{quality}/format/{format}/?url=http%3A%2F%2Fnpr-brightspot.s3.amazonaws.com%2F84%2F59%2F5a11431b475c83c94b459d568f9e%2Frev-1-mcr-t3-0047-high-res-jpeg.jpeg" data-format="jpeg" class="respArchListImg lazyOnLoad" alt="from L to R: Jack Black, Jason Momoa and Sebastian Eugene Hansen star in A Minecraft Movie" loading="lazy" /> </picture> </a> </div> <div class="credit-caption"> <div class="caption-wrap"> <div class="caption" aria-label="Image caption"> <p> from L to R: Jack Black, Jason Momoa and Sebastian Eugene Hansen star in <em>A Minecraft Movie</em> <b class="credit" aria-label="Image credit"> Courtesy Warner Bros. Pictures/Courtesy Warner Bros. Pictures </b> <b class="hide-caption"><b>hide caption</b></b> </p> </div> <b class="toggle-caption"><b>toggle caption</b></b> </div> <span class="credit" aria-label="Image credit"> Courtesy Warner Bros. Pictures/Courtesy Warner Bros. Pictures </span> </div> </div> <div class="item-info-wrap"> <div class="item-info"> <div class="slug-wrap"> <h3 class="slug"><a href="https://www.npr.org/sections/culture/">Culture</a></h3> </div> <h2 class="title"><a href="https://www.npr.org/2025/04/08/g-s1-58788/a-minecraft-movie-meme-theater-tiktok-gen-z-box-office-record" data-metrics-ga4='{"action":"topic_homepage_recirculation_click","category":"recirculation","clickType":"gaming","clickName":"topic headline click","clickUrl":"https:\/\/www.npr.org\/2025\/04\/08\/g-s1-58788\/a-minecraft-movie-meme-theater-tiktok-gen-z-box-office-record","clickPosition":"2.12"}' >'A Minecraft Movie' is both a box office hit and post-ironic meme</a></h2> <p class="teaser"><a href="https://www.npr.org/2025/04/08/g-s1-58788/a-minecraft-movie-meme-theater-tiktok-gen-z-box-office-record"><time datetime="2025-04-08"><span class="date">April 8, 2025  </span></time>Studios have struggled to get younger generations into the theaters for years. Could more immersive experiences be their golden ticket?</a></p> </div> </div> </article> <article class="item has-image"> <div class="item-image"> <div class="imagewrap has-source-dimensions" data-crop-type="wide" style=" --source-width: 9000; --source-height: 5063; " > <a href="https://www.npr.org/2025/04/07/nx-s1-5349650/trump-tariffs-nintendo-switch-2-doug-bowser"> <picture> <source srcset="https://npr.brightspotcdn.com/dims3/default/strip/false/crop/9000x5063+0+938/resize/300/quality/85/format/jpeg/?url=http%3A%2F%2Fnpr-brightspot.s3.amazonaws.com%2F90%2F77%2Ff76bd90f4dcba81002078d7427f3%2Fnintendo-switch-2-experience-nyc-1.jpg" data-original="https://npr.brightspotcdn.com/dims3/default/strip/false/crop/9000x5063+0+938/resize/300/quality/100/format/jpeg/?url=http%3A%2F%2Fnpr-brightspot.s3.amazonaws.com%2F90%2F77%2Ff76bd90f4dcba81002078d7427f3%2Fnintendo-switch-2-experience-nyc-1.jpg" data-template="https://npr.brightspotcdn.com/dims3/default/strip/false/crop/9000x5063+0+938/resize/{width}/quality/{quality}/format/{format}/?url=http%3A%2F%2Fnpr-brightspot.s3.amazonaws.com%2F90%2F77%2Ff76bd90f4dcba81002078d7427f3%2Fnintendo-switch-2-experience-nyc-1.jpg" data-format="webp" class="respArchListImg lazyOnLoad" type="image/webp" /> <source srcset="https://npr.brightspotcdn.com/dims3/default/strip/false/crop/9000x5063+0+938/resize/300/quality/85/format/jpeg/?url=http%3A%2F%2Fnpr-brightspot.s3.amazonaws.com%2F90%2F77%2Ff76bd90f4dcba81002078d7427f3%2Fnintendo-switch-2-experience-nyc-1.jpg" data-original="https://npr.brightspotcdn.com/dims3/default/strip/false/crop/9000x5063+0+938/resize/300/quality/100/format/jpeg/?url=http%3A%2F%2Fnpr-brightspot.s3.amazonaws.com%2F90%2F77%2Ff76bd90f4dcba81002078d7427f3%2Fnintendo-switch-2-experience-nyc-1.jpg" data-template="https://npr.brightspotcdn.com/dims3/default/strip/false/crop/9000x5063+0+938/resize/{width}/quality/{quality}/format/{format}/?url=http%3A%2F%2Fnpr-brightspot.s3.amazonaws.com%2F90%2F77%2Ff76bd90f4dcba81002078d7427f3%2Fnintendo-switch-2-experience-nyc-1.jpg" data-format="jpeg" class="respArchListImg lazyOnLoad" type="image/jpeg" /> <img src="https://npr.brightspotcdn.com/dims3/default/strip/false/crop/9000x5063+0+938/resize/300/quality/85/format/jpeg/?url=http%3A%2F%2Fnpr-brightspot.s3.amazonaws.com%2F90%2F77%2Ff76bd90f4dcba81002078d7427f3%2Fnintendo-switch-2-experience-nyc-1.jpg" data-original="https://npr.brightspotcdn.com/dims3/default/strip/false/crop/9000x5063+0+938/resize/300/quality/100/format/jpeg/?url=http%3A%2F%2Fnpr-brightspot.s3.amazonaws.com%2F90%2F77%2Ff76bd90f4dcba81002078d7427f3%2Fnintendo-switch-2-experience-nyc-1.jpg" data-template="https://npr.brightspotcdn.com/dims3/default/strip/false/crop/9000x5063+0+938/resize/{width}/quality/{quality}/format/{format}/?url=http%3A%2F%2Fnpr-brightspot.s3.amazonaws.com%2F90%2F77%2Ff76bd90f4dcba81002078d7427f3%2Fnintendo-switch-2-experience-nyc-1.jpg" data-format="jpeg" class="respArchListImg lazyOnLoad" alt="Attendees at a New York City event previewing the Nintendo Switch 2." loading="lazy" /> </picture> </a> </div> <div class="credit-caption"> <div class="caption-wrap"> <div class="caption" aria-label="Image caption"> <p> Attendees at a New York City event previewing the Nintendo Switch 2. <b class="credit" aria-label="Image credit"> Nintendo </b> <b class="hide-caption"><b>hide caption</b></b> </p> </div> <b class="toggle-caption"><b>toggle caption</b></b> </div> <span class="credit" aria-label="Image credit"> Nintendo </span> </div> </div> <div class="item-info-wrap"> <div class="item-info"> <h2 class="title"><a href="https://www.npr.org/2025/04/07/nx-s1-5349650/trump-tariffs-nintendo-switch-2-doug-bowser" data-metrics-ga4='{"action":"topic_homepage_recirculation_click","category":"recirculation","clickType":"gaming","clickName":"topic headline click","clickUrl":"https:\/\/www.npr.org\/2025\/04\/07\/nx-s1-5349650\/trump-tariffs-nintendo-switch-2-doug-bowser","clickPosition":"2.13"}' >Trump's tariffs complicate the Switch 2 launch, says Nintendo of America president</a></h2> <p class="teaser"><a href="https://www.npr.org/2025/04/07/nx-s1-5349650/trump-tariffs-nintendo-switch-2-doug-bowser"><time datetime="2025-04-07"><span class="date">April 7, 2025  </span></time>Some retailers appear to be cancelling preorders for the Nintendo Switch 2 ahead of the console's launch June 5. Nintendo of America President Doug Bowser spoke to us about how an ongoing trade war is impacting the Switch 2's release.</a></p> </div> </div> </article> <article class="item has-image has-audio"> <div class="item-image"> <div class="imagewrap has-source-dimensions" data-crop-type="wide" style=" --source-width: 667; --source-height: 375; " > <a href="https://www.npr.org/2026/01/01/1249801194/the-video-game-industry-at-a-crossroads"> <picture> <source srcset="https://media.npr.org/assets/img/2025/04/04/download-1-_wide-9df5ad287a5a2d46983eae81bef00be94b562ba0.jpg?s=300&c=85&f=jpeg" data-original="https://media.npr.org/assets/img/2025/04/04/download-1-_wide-9df5ad287a5a2d46983eae81bef00be94b562ba0.jpg?s=300&c=100&f=jpeg" data-template="https://media.npr.org/assets/img/2025/04/04/download-1-_wide-9df5ad287a5a2d46983eae81bef00be94b562ba0.jpg?s={width}&c={quality}&f={format}" data-format="webp" class="respArchListImg lazyOnLoad" type="image/webp" /> <source srcset="https://media.npr.org/assets/img/2025/04/04/download-1-_wide-9df5ad287a5a2d46983eae81bef00be94b562ba0.jpg?s=300&c=85&f=jpeg" data-original="https://media.npr.org/assets/img/2025/04/04/download-1-_wide-9df5ad287a5a2d46983eae81bef00be94b562ba0.jpg?s=300&c=100&f=jpeg" data-template="https://media.npr.org/assets/img/2025/04/04/download-1-_wide-9df5ad287a5a2d46983eae81bef00be94b562ba0.jpg?s={width}&c={quality}&f={format}" data-format="jpeg" class="respArchListImg lazyOnLoad" type="image/jpeg" /> <img src="https://media.npr.org/assets/img/2025/04/04/download-1-_wide-9df5ad287a5a2d46983eae81bef00be94b562ba0.jpg?s=300&c=85&f=jpeg" data-original="https://media.npr.org/assets/img/2025/04/04/download-1-_wide-9df5ad287a5a2d46983eae81bef00be94b562ba0.jpg?s=300&c=100&f=jpeg" data-template="https://media.npr.org/assets/img/2025/04/04/download-1-_wide-9df5ad287a5a2d46983eae81bef00be94b562ba0.jpg?s={width}&c={quality}&f={format}" data-format="jpeg" class="respArchListImg lazyOnLoad" alt="The video game industry at a crossroads" loading="lazy" /> </picture> </a> </div> <div class="credit-caption"> <div class="caption-wrap"> <div class="caption" aria-label="Image caption"> <p> Screenshot of gameplay in "Beatdown City Survivors" <b class="credit" aria-label="Image credit"> NuChallenger </b> <b class="hide-caption"><b>hide caption</b></b> </p> </div> <b class="toggle-caption"><b>toggle caption</b></b> </div> <span class="credit" aria-label="Image credit"> NuChallenger </span> </div> </div> <div class="item-info-wrap"> <div class="item-info"> <div class="slug-wrap"> <h3 class="slug"><a href="https://www.npr.org/podcasts/510355/considerthis">Consider This from NPR</a></h3> </div> <h2 class="title"><a href="https://www.npr.org/2026/01/01/1249801194/the-video-game-industry-at-a-crossroads" data-metrics-ga4='{"action":"topic_homepage_recirculation_click","category":"recirculation","clickType":"gaming","clickName":"topic headline click","clickUrl":"https:\/\/www.npr.org\/2026\/01\/01\/1249801194\/the-video-game-industry-at-a-crossroads","clickPosition":"2.14"}' >The video game industry at a crossroads</a></h2> <p class="teaser"><a href="https://www.npr.org/2026/01/01/1249801194/the-video-game-industry-at-a-crossroads"><time datetime="2025-04-05"><span class="date">April 5, 2025  </span></time>The video game industry is huge. Last year alone it generated an estimated $187 billion dollars in revenue. </a></p> </div> <article id="res1268931188" class="bucketwrap resaudio" aria-label="audio-module"><div class="audio-module"> <h4 class="audio-module-title">The video game industry at a crossroads</h4> <div class="audio-module-controls-wrap" data-audio='{"uid":"1249801194:1268931188","available":true,"duration":1504,"title":"The video game industry at a crossroads","audioUrl":"https:\/\/chrt.fm\/track\/138C95\/prfx.byspotify.com\/e\/play.podtrac.com\/npr-510355\/traffic.megaphone.fm\/NPR8473970068.mp3?d=1504&size=9898572&e=1249801194&t=podcast&p=510355&sc=siteplayer&aw_0_1st.playerid=siteplayer","storyUrl":"https:\/\/www.npr.org\/2026\/01\/01\/1249801194\/the-video-game-industry-at-a-crossroads","slug":"","program":"Consider This from NPR","affiliation":"","song":"","artist":"","album":"","track":0,"type":"segment","subtype":"other","skipSponsorship":true,"hasAdsWizz":true,"isStreamAudioType":false}' data-audio-metrics='[]'> <div class="audio-module-controls"> <a class="audio-module-listen" href="https://chrt.fm/track/138C95/prfx.byspotify.com/e/play.podtrac.com/npr-510355/traffic.megaphone.fm/NPR8473970068.mp3?d=1504&size=9898572&e=1249801194&t=podcast&p=510355&sc=siteplayer&aw_0_1st.playerid=siteplayer"> <b class="audio-module-listen-inner"> <b class="audio-module-listen-icon icn-play"></b> <b class="audio-module-listen-text"> <b class="audio-module-cta"> Listen </b> <b class="audio-module-listen-duration"> <span>· </span> <span>25:04</span> </b> </b> </b> </a> <time class="audio-module-duration" datetime="P25M,4S"> <span class="audio-module-duration__initial-value">25:04</span> </time> </div> </div> <div class="audio-module-tools"> <a class="audio-tool audio-tool-transcript" href="https://www.npr.org/transcripts/1249801194" data-metrics-ga4='{"category":"audio","action":"audio_click_transcript","storyId":"1249801194","mediaId":"1268931188","title":"The video game industry at a crossroads","type":"ondemand"}' > <b class="icn-transcript"></b> <b class="audio-tool-label">Transcript</b> </a> <button class="audio-module-tools-toggle" data-metrics-ga4='{"category":"audio","action":"audio_open_more_options","storyId":"1249801194","mediaId":"1268931188","title":"The video game industry at a crossroads","type":"ondemand"}' > <b class="icn-toggle"></b> <b class="label">Toggle more options</b> </button> <ul class="audio-module-more-tools"> <li class="audio-tool audio-tool-download"><a href="https://chrt.fm/track/138C95/prfx.byspotify.com/e/play.podtrac.com/npr-510355/traffic.megaphone.fm/NPR8473970068.mp3?d=1504&size=9898572&e=1249801194&t=podcast&p=510355&sc=siteplayer&aw_0_1st.playerid=siteplayer" data-metrics-ga4='{"category":"audio","action":"audio_download","storyId":"1249801194","mediaId":"1268931188","title":"The video game industry at a crossroads","type":"ondemand"}' ><b class="icn-download"></b><b class="audio-tool-label">Download</b></a> </li> <li class="audio-tool audio-tool-embed" > <button data-embed-url="https://www.npr.org/player/embed/1249801194/1268931188" data-metrics-ga4='{"category":"audio","action":"audio_embed","storyId":"1249801194","mediaId":"1268931188","title":"The video game industry at a crossroads","type":"ondemand"}' ><b class="button-inner"><b class="icn-embed"></b><b class="audio-tool-label">Embed</b></b></button> <div class="audio-embed-overlay"> <button class="btn-close"></button> <label class="embed-label"> <b class="audio-embed-overlay__icon"></b> <b class="label">Embed</b> <input class="embed-url embed-url-no-touch" readonly value="<iframe src="https://www.npr.org/player/embed/1249801194/1268931188" width="100%" height="290" frameborder="0" scrolling="no" title="NPR embedded audio player"></iframe>"> </label> <b class="embed-url embed-url-touch"> <code><b class="punctuation"><</b>iframe src="https://www.npr.org/player/embed/1249801194/1268931188" width="100%" height="290" frameborder="0" scrolling="no" title="NPR embedded audio player"></code> </b> </div> </li> <li class="audio-tool audio-tool-transcript"> <a href="https://www.npr.org/transcripts/1249801194" data-metrics-ga4='{"category":"audio","action":"audio_click_transcript","storyId":"1249801194","mediaId":"1268931188","title":"The video game industry at a crossroads","type":"ondemand"}' > <b class="icn-transcript"></b> <b class="audio-tool-label">Transcript</b> </a> </li> </ul> </div> </div> </article> </div> </article> <article class="item has-image"> <div class="item-image"> <div class="imagewrap has-source-dimensions" data-crop-type="wide" style=" --source-width: 4080; --source-height: 2295; " > <a href="https://www.npr.org/2025/04/03/g-s1-57953/nintendo-switch-2-games-mario-kart-world-bananza-metroid"> <picture> <source srcset="https://npr.brightspotcdn.com/dims3/default/strip/false/crop/4080x2295+0+0/resize/300/quality/85/format/jpeg/?url=http%3A%2F%2Fnpr-brightspot.s3.amazonaws.com%2F9e%2F63%2F0f5d35884d44950b81968b7243c5%2Fmastromarino.jpg" data-original="https://npr.brightspotcdn.com/dims3/default/strip/false/crop/4080x2295+0+0/resize/300/quality/100/format/jpeg/?url=http%3A%2F%2Fnpr-brightspot.s3.amazonaws.com%2F9e%2F63%2F0f5d35884d44950b81968b7243c5%2Fmastromarino.jpg" data-template="https://npr.brightspotcdn.com/dims3/default/strip/false/crop/4080x2295+0+0/resize/{width}/quality/{quality}/format/{format}/?url=http%3A%2F%2Fnpr-brightspot.s3.amazonaws.com%2F9e%2F63%2F0f5d35884d44950b81968b7243c5%2Fmastromarino.jpg" data-format="webp" class="respArchListImg lazyOnLoad" type="image/webp" /> <source srcset="https://npr.brightspotcdn.com/dims3/default/strip/false/crop/4080x2295+0+0/resize/300/quality/85/format/jpeg/?url=http%3A%2F%2Fnpr-brightspot.s3.amazonaws.com%2F9e%2F63%2F0f5d35884d44950b81968b7243c5%2Fmastromarino.jpg" data-original="https://npr.brightspotcdn.com/dims3/default/strip/false/crop/4080x2295+0+0/resize/300/quality/100/format/jpeg/?url=http%3A%2F%2Fnpr-brightspot.s3.amazonaws.com%2F9e%2F63%2F0f5d35884d44950b81968b7243c5%2Fmastromarino.jpg" data-template="https://npr.brightspotcdn.com/dims3/default/strip/false/crop/4080x2295+0+0/resize/{width}/quality/{quality}/format/{format}/?url=http%3A%2F%2Fnpr-brightspot.s3.amazonaws.com%2F9e%2F63%2F0f5d35884d44950b81968b7243c5%2Fmastromarino.jpg" data-format="jpeg" class="respArchListImg lazyOnLoad" type="image/jpeg" /> <img src="https://npr.brightspotcdn.com/dims3/default/strip/false/crop/4080x2295+0+0/resize/300/quality/85/format/jpeg/?url=http%3A%2F%2Fnpr-brightspot.s3.amazonaws.com%2F9e%2F63%2F0f5d35884d44950b81968b7243c5%2Fmastromarino.jpg" data-original="https://npr.brightspotcdn.com/dims3/default/strip/false/crop/4080x2295+0+0/resize/300/quality/100/format/jpeg/?url=http%3A%2F%2Fnpr-brightspot.s3.amazonaws.com%2F9e%2F63%2F0f5d35884d44950b81968b7243c5%2Fmastromarino.jpg" data-template="https://npr.brightspotcdn.com/dims3/default/strip/false/crop/4080x2295+0+0/resize/{width}/quality/{quality}/format/{format}/?url=http%3A%2F%2Fnpr-brightspot.s3.amazonaws.com%2F9e%2F63%2F0f5d35884d44950b81968b7243c5%2Fmastromarino.jpg" data-format="jpeg" class="respArchListImg lazyOnLoad" alt="A Nintendo Switch 2 console playing Mario Kart World at a hands-on event in New York City." loading="lazy" /> </picture> </a> </div> <div class="credit-caption"> <div class="caption-wrap"> <div class="caption" aria-label="Image caption"> <p> A Nintendo Switch 2 console playing Mario Kart World at a hands-on event in New York City. <b class="credit" aria-label="Image credit"> NPR </b> <b class="hide-caption"><b>hide caption</b></b> </p> </div> <b class="toggle-caption"><b>toggle caption</b></b> </div> <span class="credit" aria-label="Image credit"> NPR </span> </div> </div> <div class="item-info-wrap"> <div class="item-info"> <h2 class="title"><a href="https://www.npr.org/2025/04/03/g-s1-57953/nintendo-switch-2-games-mario-kart-world-bananza-metroid" data-metrics-ga4='{"action":"topic_homepage_recirculation_click","category":"recirculation","clickType":"gaming","clickName":"topic headline click","clickUrl":"https:\/\/www.npr.org\/2025\/04\/03\/g-s1-57953\/nintendo-switch-2-games-mario-kart-world-bananza-metroid","clickPosition":"2.15"}' >We tried out the Nintendo Switch 2 — it's a solid console sequel</a></h2> <p class="teaser"><a href="https://www.npr.org/2025/04/03/g-s1-57953/nintendo-switch-2-games-mario-kart-world-bananza-metroid"><time datetime="2025-04-03"><span class="date">April 3, 2025  </span></time>We played hours of Nintendo Switch 2 games the same day President Trump announced new global tariffs. Despite the hefty price tag, it's a solid evolution of one of the world's most popular consoles.</a></p> </div> </div> </article> <article class="item has-image"> <div class="item-image"> <div class="imagewrap has-source-dimensions" data-crop-type="wide" style=" --source-width: 1920; --source-height: 1080; " > <a href="https://www.npr.org/2025/03/28/nx-s1-5342510/indie-video-games-gdc-2025"> <picture> <source srcset="https://npr.brightspotcdn.com/dims3/default/strip/false/crop/1920x1080+0+0/resize/300/quality/85/format/png/?url=http%3A%2F%2Fnpr-brightspot.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fd4%2F73%2F4ef9decb416ba27e1aefc05094cf%2F13.png" data-original="https://npr.brightspotcdn.com/dims3/default/strip/false/crop/1920x1080+0+0/resize/300/quality/100/format/png/?url=http%3A%2F%2Fnpr-brightspot.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fd4%2F73%2F4ef9decb416ba27e1aefc05094cf%2F13.png" data-template="https://npr.brightspotcdn.com/dims3/default/strip/false/crop/1920x1080+0+0/resize/{width}/quality/{quality}/format/{format}/?url=http%3A%2F%2Fnpr-brightspot.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fd4%2F73%2F4ef9decb416ba27e1aefc05094cf%2F13.png" data-format="webp" class="respArchListImg lazyOnLoad" type="image/webp" /> <source srcset="https://npr.brightspotcdn.com/dims3/default/strip/false/crop/1920x1080+0+0/resize/300/quality/85/format/png/?url=http%3A%2F%2Fnpr-brightspot.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fd4%2F73%2F4ef9decb416ba27e1aefc05094cf%2F13.png" data-original="https://npr.brightspotcdn.com/dims3/default/strip/false/crop/1920x1080+0+0/resize/300/quality/100/format/png/?url=http%3A%2F%2Fnpr-brightspot.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fd4%2F73%2F4ef9decb416ba27e1aefc05094cf%2F13.png" data-template="https://npr.brightspotcdn.com/dims3/default/strip/false/crop/1920x1080+0+0/resize/{width}/quality/{quality}/format/{format}/?url=http%3A%2F%2Fnpr-brightspot.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fd4%2F73%2F4ef9decb416ba27e1aefc05094cf%2F13.png" data-format="png" class="respArchListImg lazyOnLoad" type="image/png" /> <img src="https://npr.brightspotcdn.com/dims3/default/strip/false/crop/1920x1080+0+0/resize/300/quality/85/format/png/?url=http%3A%2F%2Fnpr-brightspot.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fd4%2F73%2F4ef9decb416ba27e1aefc05094cf%2F13.png" data-original="https://npr.brightspotcdn.com/dims3/default/strip/false/crop/1920x1080+0+0/resize/300/quality/100/format/png/?url=http%3A%2F%2Fnpr-brightspot.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fd4%2F73%2F4ef9decb416ba27e1aefc05094cf%2F13.png" data-template="https://npr.brightspotcdn.com/dims3/default/strip/false/crop/1920x1080+0+0/resize/{width}/quality/{quality}/format/{format}/?url=http%3A%2F%2Fnpr-brightspot.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fd4%2F73%2F4ef9decb416ba27e1aefc05094cf%2F13.png" data-format="png" class="respArchListImg lazyOnLoad" alt="to a T (from left) and All Systems Dance." loading="lazy" /> </picture> </a> </div> <div class="credit-caption"> <div class="caption-wrap"> <div class="caption" aria-label="Image caption"> <p> to a T (from left) and All Systems Dance. <b class="credit" aria-label="Image credit"> Annapurna Interactive, Mighty Yell </b> <b class="hide-caption"><b>hide caption</b></b> </p> </div> <b class="toggle-caption"><b>toggle caption</b></b> </div> <span class="credit" aria-label="Image credit"> Annapurna Interactive, Mighty Yell </span> </div> </div> <div class="item-info-wrap"> <div class="item-info"> <div class="slug-wrap"> <h3 class="slug"><a href="https://www.npr.org/sections/gaming-culture">Gaming Culture</a></h3> </div> <h2 class="title"><a href="https://www.npr.org/2025/03/28/nx-s1-5342510/indie-video-games-gdc-2025" data-metrics-ga4='{"action":"topic_homepage_recirculation_click","category":"recirculation","clickType":"gaming","clickName":"topic headline click","clickUrl":"https:\/\/www.npr.org\/2025\/03\/28\/nx-s1-5342510\/indie-video-games-gdc-2025","clickPosition":"2.16"}' >Indie developers showed off big ideas at this year's Game Developers Conference</a></h2> <p class="teaser"><a href="https://www.npr.org/2025/03/28/nx-s1-5342510/indie-video-games-gdc-2025"><time datetime="2025-03-28"><span class="date">March 28, 2025  </span></time>At the Game Developers Conference in San Francisco, indie studios showed off ambitious games made by small development teams.</a></p> </div> </div> </article> <article class="item has-image"> <div class="item-image"> <div class="imagewrap has-source-dimensions" data-crop-type="wide" style=" --source-width: 1920; --source-height: 1080; " > <a href="https://www.npr.org/2025/03/20/nx-s1-5331927/assassins-creed-shadows-ubisoft-review"> <picture> <source srcset="https://npr.brightspotcdn.com/dims3/default/strip/false/crop/1920x1080+0+0/resize/300/quality/85/format/jpeg/?url=http%3A%2F%2Fnpr-brightspot.s3.amazonaws.com%2F80%2F1d%2Fc37ecc324d57a422bec8fcfaf067%2Facshadows1.jpg" data-original="https://npr.brightspotcdn.com/dims3/default/strip/false/crop/1920x1080+0+0/resize/300/quality/100/format/jpeg/?url=http%3A%2F%2Fnpr-brightspot.s3.amazonaws.com%2F80%2F1d%2Fc37ecc324d57a422bec8fcfaf067%2Facshadows1.jpg" data-template="https://npr.brightspotcdn.com/dims3/default/strip/false/crop/1920x1080+0+0/resize/{width}/quality/{quality}/format/{format}/?url=http%3A%2F%2Fnpr-brightspot.s3.amazonaws.com%2F80%2F1d%2Fc37ecc324d57a422bec8fcfaf067%2Facshadows1.jpg" data-format="webp" class="respArchListImg lazyOnLoad" type="image/webp" /> <source srcset="https://npr.brightspotcdn.com/dims3/default/strip/false/crop/1920x1080+0+0/resize/300/quality/85/format/jpeg/?url=http%3A%2F%2Fnpr-brightspot.s3.amazonaws.com%2F80%2F1d%2Fc37ecc324d57a422bec8fcfaf067%2Facshadows1.jpg" data-original="https://npr.brightspotcdn.com/dims3/default/strip/false/crop/1920x1080+0+0/resize/300/quality/100/format/jpeg/?url=http%3A%2F%2Fnpr-brightspot.s3.amazonaws.com%2F80%2F1d%2Fc37ecc324d57a422bec8fcfaf067%2Facshadows1.jpg" data-template="https://npr.brightspotcdn.com/dims3/default/strip/false/crop/1920x1080+0+0/resize/{width}/quality/{quality}/format/{format}/?url=http%3A%2F%2Fnpr-brightspot.s3.amazonaws.com%2F80%2F1d%2Fc37ecc324d57a422bec8fcfaf067%2Facshadows1.jpg" data-format="jpeg" class="respArchListImg lazyOnLoad" type="image/jpeg" /> <img src="https://npr.brightspotcdn.com/dims3/default/strip/false/crop/1920x1080+0+0/resize/300/quality/85/format/jpeg/?url=http%3A%2F%2Fnpr-brightspot.s3.amazonaws.com%2F80%2F1d%2Fc37ecc324d57a422bec8fcfaf067%2Facshadows1.jpg" data-original="https://npr.brightspotcdn.com/dims3/default/strip/false/crop/1920x1080+0+0/resize/300/quality/100/format/jpeg/?url=http%3A%2F%2Fnpr-brightspot.s3.amazonaws.com%2F80%2F1d%2Fc37ecc324d57a422bec8fcfaf067%2Facshadows1.jpg" data-template="https://npr.brightspotcdn.com/dims3/default/strip/false/crop/1920x1080+0+0/resize/{width}/quality/{quality}/format/{format}/?url=http%3A%2F%2Fnpr-brightspot.s3.amazonaws.com%2F80%2F1d%2Fc37ecc324d57a422bec8fcfaf067%2Facshadows1.jpg" data-format="jpeg" class="respArchListImg lazyOnLoad" alt="Yasuke wields a long katana against foes in Assassin's Creed Shadows." loading="lazy" /> </picture> </a> </div> <div class="credit-caption"> <div class="caption-wrap"> <div class="caption" aria-label="Image caption"> <p> Yasuke wields a long katana against foes in Assassin's Creed Shadows. <b class="credit" aria-label="Image credit"> Ubisoft </b> <b class="hide-caption"><b>hide caption</b></b> </p> </div> <b class="toggle-caption"><b>toggle caption</b></b> </div> <span class="credit" aria-label="Image credit"> Ubisoft </span> </div> </div> <div class="item-info-wrap"> <div class="item-info"> <div class="slug-wrap"> <h3 class="slug"><a href="https://www.npr.org/sections/video-game-reviews">Video Game Reviews</a></h3> </div> <h2 class="title"><a href="https://www.npr.org/2025/03/20/nx-s1-5331927/assassins-creed-shadows-ubisoft-review" data-metrics-ga4='{"action":"topic_homepage_recirculation_click","category":"recirculation","clickType":"gaming","clickName":"topic headline click","clickUrl":"https:\/\/www.npr.org\/2025\/03\/20\/nx-s1-5331927\/assassins-creed-shadows-ubisoft-review","clickPosition":"2.17"}' >Assassin's Creed Shadows is good, but not great. Is that enough?</a></h2> <p class="teaser"><a href="https://www.npr.org/2025/03/20/nx-s1-5331927/assassins-creed-shadows-ubisoft-review"><time datetime="2025-03-20"><span class="date">March 20, 2025  </span></time>Assassin's Creed Shadows, out Thursday, might be big enough to reverse Ubisoft's crumbling fortunes. But the game faces headwinds. </a></p> </div> </div> </article> <article class="item has-image"> <div class="item-image"> <div class="imagewrap has-source-dimensions" data-crop-type="wide" style=" --source-width: 1920; --source-height: 1080; " > <a href="https://www.npr.org/2025/03/14/g-s1-53341/best-video-games-split-fiction-monster-hunter"> <picture> <source srcset="https://npr.brightspotcdn.com/dims3/default/strip/false/crop/1920x1080+0+0/resize/300/quality/85/format/jpeg/?url=http%3A%2F%2Fnpr-brightspot.s3.amazonaws.com%2F06%2F44%2F877d9aa642e196d5aa1c814784af%2Ftrishotnew.jpg" data-original="https://npr.brightspotcdn.com/dims3/default/strip/false/crop/1920x1080+0+0/resize/300/quality/100/format/jpeg/?url=http%3A%2F%2Fnpr-brightspot.s3.amazonaws.com%2F06%2F44%2F877d9aa642e196d5aa1c814784af%2Ftrishotnew.jpg" data-template="https://npr.brightspotcdn.com/dims3/default/strip/false/crop/1920x1080+0+0/resize/{width}/quality/{quality}/format/{format}/?url=http%3A%2F%2Fnpr-brightspot.s3.amazonaws.com%2F06%2F44%2F877d9aa642e196d5aa1c814784af%2Ftrishotnew.jpg" data-format="webp" class="respArchListImg lazyOnLoad" type="image/webp" /> <source srcset="https://npr.brightspotcdn.com/dims3/default/strip/false/crop/1920x1080+0+0/resize/300/quality/85/format/jpeg/?url=http%3A%2F%2Fnpr-brightspot.s3.amazonaws.com%2F06%2F44%2F877d9aa642e196d5aa1c814784af%2Ftrishotnew.jpg" data-original="https://npr.brightspotcdn.com/dims3/default/strip/false/crop/1920x1080+0+0/resize/300/quality/100/format/jpeg/?url=http%3A%2F%2Fnpr-brightspot.s3.amazonaws.com%2F06%2F44%2F877d9aa642e196d5aa1c814784af%2Ftrishotnew.jpg" data-template="https://npr.brightspotcdn.com/dims3/default/strip/false/crop/1920x1080+0+0/resize/{width}/quality/{quality}/format/{format}/?url=http%3A%2F%2Fnpr-brightspot.s3.amazonaws.com%2F06%2F44%2F877d9aa642e196d5aa1c814784af%2Ftrishotnew.jpg" data-format="jpeg" class="respArchListImg lazyOnLoad" type="image/jpeg" /> <img src="https://npr.brightspotcdn.com/dims3/default/strip/false/crop/1920x1080+0+0/resize/300/quality/85/format/jpeg/?url=http%3A%2F%2Fnpr-brightspot.s3.amazonaws.com%2F06%2F44%2F877d9aa642e196d5aa1c814784af%2Ftrishotnew.jpg" data-original="https://npr.brightspotcdn.com/dims3/default/strip/false/crop/1920x1080+0+0/resize/300/quality/100/format/jpeg/?url=http%3A%2F%2Fnpr-brightspot.s3.amazonaws.com%2F06%2F44%2F877d9aa642e196d5aa1c814784af%2Ftrishotnew.jpg" data-template="https://npr.brightspotcdn.com/dims3/default/strip/false/crop/1920x1080+0+0/resize/{width}/quality/{quality}/format/{format}/?url=http%3A%2F%2Fnpr-brightspot.s3.amazonaws.com%2F06%2F44%2F877d9aa642e196d5aa1c814784af%2Ftrishotnew.jpg" data-format="jpeg" class="respArchListImg lazyOnLoad" alt="From left to right: Split Fiction, Monster Hunter Wilds, and Avowed." loading="lazy" /> </picture> </a> </div> <div class="credit-caption"> <div class="caption-wrap"> <div class="caption" aria-label="Image caption"> <p> Split Fiction (from left), Monster Hunter Wilds and Avowed. <b class="credit" aria-label="Image credit"> Hazelight Studios, Capcom, Obsidian Entertainment </b> <b class="hide-caption"><b>hide caption</b></b> </p> </div> <b class="toggle-caption"><b>toggle caption</b></b> </div> <span class="credit" aria-label="Image credit"> Hazelight Studios, Capcom, Obsidian Entertainment </span> </div> </div> <div class="item-info-wrap"> <div class="item-info"> <div class="slug-wrap"> <h3 class="slug"><a href="https://www.npr.org/sections/video-game-reviews">Video Game Reviews</a></h3> </div> <h2 class="title"><a href="https://www.npr.org/2025/03/14/g-s1-53341/best-video-games-split-fiction-monster-hunter" data-metrics-ga4='{"action":"topic_homepage_recirculation_click","category":"recirculation","clickType":"gaming","clickName":"topic headline click","clickUrl":"https:\/\/www.npr.org\/2025\/03\/14\/g-s1-53341\/best-video-games-split-fiction-monster-hunter","clickPosition":"2.18"}' >The best and biggest games of 2025 so far</a></h2> <p class="teaser"><a href="https://www.npr.org/2025/03/14/g-s1-53341/best-video-games-split-fiction-monster-hunter"><time datetime="2025-03-14"><span class="date">March 14, 2025  </span></time>Game studios have cranked out surprising hits ranging from cooperative platformers to historical epics. NPR staff and contributors round up the latest from a promising 2025.</a></p> </div> </div> </article> <article class="item has-image has-audio"> <div class="item-image"> <div class="imagewrap has-source-dimensions" data-crop-type="wide" style=" --source-width: 3936; --source-height: 2214; " > <a href="https://www.npr.org/2025/02/16/nx-s1-5275382/fight-for-america-jan-6"> <picture> <source srcset="https://npr.brightspotcdn.com/dims3/default/strip/false/crop/3936x2214+0+1/resize/300/quality/85/format/jpeg/?url=http%3A%2F%2Fnpr-brightspot.s3.amazonaws.com%2F1e%2Fc7%2Fdea1298948229efcbdcdfe7571fa%2Fjeg01296jpg.jpg" data-original="https://npr.brightspotcdn.com/dims3/default/strip/false/crop/3936x2214+0+1/resize/300/quality/100/format/jpeg/?url=http%3A%2F%2Fnpr-brightspot.s3.amazonaws.com%2F1e%2Fc7%2Fdea1298948229efcbdcdfe7571fa%2Fjeg01296jpg.jpg" data-template="https://npr.brightspotcdn.com/dims3/default/strip/false/crop/3936x2214+0+1/resize/{width}/quality/{quality}/format/{format}/?url=http%3A%2F%2Fnpr-brightspot.s3.amazonaws.com%2F1e%2Fc7%2Fdea1298948229efcbdcdfe7571fa%2Fjeg01296jpg.jpg" data-format="webp" class="respArchListImg lazyOnLoad" type="image/webp" /> <source srcset="https://npr.brightspotcdn.com/dims3/default/strip/false/crop/3936x2214+0+1/resize/300/quality/85/format/jpeg/?url=http%3A%2F%2Fnpr-brightspot.s3.amazonaws.com%2F1e%2Fc7%2Fdea1298948229efcbdcdfe7571fa%2Fjeg01296jpg.jpg" data-original="https://npr.brightspotcdn.com/dims3/default/strip/false/crop/3936x2214+0+1/resize/300/quality/100/format/jpeg/?url=http%3A%2F%2Fnpr-brightspot.s3.amazonaws.com%2F1e%2Fc7%2Fdea1298948229efcbdcdfe7571fa%2Fjeg01296jpg.jpg" data-template="https://npr.brightspotcdn.com/dims3/default/strip/false/crop/3936x2214+0+1/resize/{width}/quality/{quality}/format/{format}/?url=http%3A%2F%2Fnpr-brightspot.s3.amazonaws.com%2F1e%2Fc7%2Fdea1298948229efcbdcdfe7571fa%2Fjeg01296jpg.jpg" data-format="jpeg" class="respArchListImg lazyOnLoad" type="image/jpeg" /> <img src="https://npr.brightspotcdn.com/dims3/default/strip/false/crop/3936x2214+0+1/resize/300/quality/85/format/jpeg/?url=http%3A%2F%2Fnpr-brightspot.s3.amazonaws.com%2F1e%2Fc7%2Fdea1298948229efcbdcdfe7571fa%2Fjeg01296jpg.jpg" data-original="https://npr.brightspotcdn.com/dims3/default/strip/false/crop/3936x2214+0+1/resize/300/quality/100/format/jpeg/?url=http%3A%2F%2Fnpr-brightspot.s3.amazonaws.com%2F1e%2Fc7%2Fdea1298948229efcbdcdfe7571fa%2Fjeg01296jpg.jpg" data-template="https://npr.brightspotcdn.com/dims3/default/strip/false/crop/3936x2214+0+1/resize/{width}/quality/{quality}/format/{format}/?url=http%3A%2F%2Fnpr-brightspot.s3.amazonaws.com%2F1e%2Fc7%2Fdea1298948229efcbdcdfe7571fa%2Fjeg01296jpg.jpg" data-format="jpeg" class="respArchListImg lazyOnLoad" alt="Fight for America!" loading="lazy" /> </picture> </a> </div> <div class="credit-caption"> <div class="caption-wrap"> <div class="caption" aria-label="Image caption"> <p> Fight for America! is a new art installation about democracy that invites audiences to play a war game — battling over the U.S. Capitol on Jan. 6, 2021. <b class="credit" aria-label="Image credit"> J. Elon Goodman/the american vicarious </b> <b class="hide-caption"><b>hide caption</b></b> </p> </div> <b class="toggle-caption"><b>toggle caption</b></b> </div> <span class="credit" aria-label="Image credit"> J. Elon Goodman/the american vicarious </span> </div> </div> <div class="item-info-wrap"> <div class="item-info"> <div class="slug-wrap"> <h3 class="slug"><a href="https://www.npr.org/sections/culture/">Culture</a></h3> </div> <h2 class="title"><a href="https://www.npr.org/2025/02/16/nx-s1-5275382/fight-for-america-jan-6" data-metrics-ga4='{"action":"topic_homepage_recirculation_click","category":"recirculation","clickType":"gaming","clickName":"topic headline click","clickUrl":"https:\/\/www.npr.org\/2025\/02\/16\/nx-s1-5275382\/fight-for-america-jan-6","clickPosition":"2.19"}' >January 6th ... the board game?</a></h2> <p class="teaser"><a href="https://www.npr.org/2025/02/16/nx-s1-5275382/fight-for-america-jan-6"><time datetime="2025-02-16"><span class="date">February 16, 2025  </span></time>Fight for America! is a new art installation about democracy that invites audiences to play a war game — battling over the U.S. Capitol on Jan. 6, 2021.</a></p> </div> <article id="resnx-s1-5354781-1" class="bucketwrap resaudio" aria-label="audio-module"><div class="audio-module"> <h4 class="audio-module-title">Fight for America</h4> <div class="audio-module-controls-wrap" data-audio='{"uid":"nx-s1-5275382:nx-s1-5354781-1","available":true,"duration":487,"title":"Fight for America","audioUrl":"https:\/\/ondemand.npr.org\/anon.npr-mp3\/npr\/wesun\/2025\/02\/20250216_wesun_fight_for_america.mp3?size=7798327&d=487348&e=nx-s1-5275382&sc=siteplayer","storyUrl":"https:\/\/www.npr.org\/2025\/02\/16\/nx-s1-5275382\/fight-for-america-jan-6","slug":"Culture","program":"Weekend Edition Sunday","affiliation":"","song":"","artist":"","album":"","track":0,"type":"segment","subtype":"other","skipSponsorship":false,"hasAdsWizz":false,"isStreamAudioType":false}' data-audio-metrics='[]'> <div class="audio-module-controls"> <a class="audio-module-listen" 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data-original="https://npr.brightspotcdn.com/dims3/default/strip/false/crop/3000x1688+0+0/resize/300/quality/100/format/jpeg/?url=http%3A%2F%2Fnpr-brightspot.s3.amazonaws.com%2F60%2Fd1%2F54afb00644b5aa52b11556155822%2Fgettyimages-80744081.jpg" data-template="https://npr.brightspotcdn.com/dims3/default/strip/false/crop/3000x1688+0+0/resize/{width}/quality/{quality}/format/{format}/?url=http%3A%2F%2Fnpr-brightspot.s3.amazonaws.com%2F60%2Fd1%2F54afb00644b5aa52b11556155822%2Fgettyimages-80744081.jpg" data-format="webp" class="respArchListImg lazyOnLoad" type="image/webp" /> <source srcset="https://npr.brightspotcdn.com/dims3/default/strip/false/crop/3000x1688+0+0/resize/300/quality/85/format/jpeg/?url=http%3A%2F%2Fnpr-brightspot.s3.amazonaws.com%2F60%2Fd1%2F54afb00644b5aa52b11556155822%2Fgettyimages-80744081.jpg" data-original="https://npr.brightspotcdn.com/dims3/default/strip/false/crop/3000x1688+0+0/resize/300/quality/100/format/jpeg/?url=http%3A%2F%2Fnpr-brightspot.s3.amazonaws.com%2F60%2Fd1%2F54afb00644b5aa52b11556155822%2Fgettyimages-80744081.jpg" data-template="https://npr.brightspotcdn.com/dims3/default/strip/false/crop/3000x1688+0+0/resize/{width}/quality/{quality}/format/{format}/?url=http%3A%2F%2Fnpr-brightspot.s3.amazonaws.com%2F60%2Fd1%2F54afb00644b5aa52b11556155822%2Fgettyimages-80744081.jpg" data-format="jpeg" class="respArchListImg lazyOnLoad" type="image/jpeg" /> <img src="https://npr.brightspotcdn.com/dims3/default/strip/false/crop/3000x1688+0+0/resize/300/quality/85/format/jpeg/?url=http%3A%2F%2Fnpr-brightspot.s3.amazonaws.com%2F60%2Fd1%2F54afb00644b5aa52b11556155822%2Fgettyimages-80744081.jpg" data-original="https://npr.brightspotcdn.com/dims3/default/strip/false/crop/3000x1688+0+0/resize/300/quality/100/format/jpeg/?url=http%3A%2F%2Fnpr-brightspot.s3.amazonaws.com%2F60%2Fd1%2F54afb00644b5aa52b11556155822%2Fgettyimages-80744081.jpg" data-template="https://npr.brightspotcdn.com/dims3/default/strip/false/crop/3000x1688+0+0/resize/{width}/quality/{quality}/format/{format}/?url=http%3A%2F%2Fnpr-brightspot.s3.amazonaws.com%2F60%2Fd1%2F54afb00644b5aa52b11556155822%2Fgettyimages-80744081.jpg" data-format="jpeg" class="respArchListImg lazyOnLoad" alt="Will Wright, creator of The Sims, in March 2008 at Electronic Arts in Emeryville, Calif." loading="lazy" /> </picture> </a> </div> <div class="credit-caption"> <div class="caption-wrap"> <div class="caption" aria-label="Image caption"> <p> Will Wright, creator of <em>The Sims</em>, at Electronic Arts in Emeryville, Calif., on March 24, 2008. <b class="credit" aria-label="Image credit"> Ryan Anson/AFP via Getty Images </b> <b class="hide-caption"><b>hide caption</b></b> </p> </div> <b class="toggle-caption"><b>toggle caption</b></b> </div> <span class="credit" aria-label="Image credit"> Ryan Anson/AFP via Getty Images </span> </div> </div> <div class="item-info-wrap"> <div class="item-info"> <div class="slug-wrap"> <h3 class="slug"><a href="https://www.npr.org/sections/history/">History</a></h3> </div> <h2 class="title"><a href="https://www.npr.org/2025/02/01/nx-s1-5247661/the-sims-gamings-ultimate-social-sandbox-turns-25" data-metrics-ga4='{"action":"topic_homepage_recirculation_click","category":"recirculation","clickType":"gaming","clickName":"topic headline click","clickUrl":"https:\/\/www.npr.org\/2025\/02\/01\/nx-s1-5247661\/the-sims-gamings-ultimate-social-sandbox-turns-25","clickPosition":"2.20"}' >'The Sims,' gaming's ultimate social sandbox, turns 25</a></h2> <p class="teaser"><a href="https://www.npr.org/2025/02/01/nx-s1-5247661/the-sims-gamings-ultimate-social-sandbox-turns-25"><time datetime="2025-02-01"><span class="date">February 1, 2025  </span></time>The original launched in February 2000 and spawned one of the most successful franchises in video game history. NPR's Susan Stone went hands-on with <em>The Sims</em> shortly after its debut.</a></p> </div> <article id="resnx-s1-5312902-1" class="bucketwrap resaudio" aria-label="audio-module"><div class="audio-module"> <h4 class="audio-module-title">'The Sims,' gaming's ultimate social sandbox, was born 25 years ago</h4> <div class="audio-module-controls-wrap" data-audio='{"uid":"nx-s1-5247661:nx-s1-5312902-1","available":true,"duration":463,"title":"\u0027The Sims,\u0027 gaming\u0027s ultimate social sandbox, was born 25 years 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srcset="https://npr.brightspotcdn.com/dims3/default/strip/false/crop/1918x1079+0+0/resize/300/quality/85/format/jpeg/?url=http%3A%2F%2Fnpr-brightspot.s3.amazonaws.com%2F24%2F13%2F0dca1b9143a6969c8791b745eb41%2Fsleeper3.jpg" data-original="https://npr.brightspotcdn.com/dims3/default/strip/false/crop/1918x1079+0+0/resize/300/quality/100/format/jpeg/?url=http%3A%2F%2Fnpr-brightspot.s3.amazonaws.com%2F24%2F13%2F0dca1b9143a6969c8791b745eb41%2Fsleeper3.jpg" data-template="https://npr.brightspotcdn.com/dims3/default/strip/false/crop/1918x1079+0+0/resize/{width}/quality/{quality}/format/{format}/?url=http%3A%2F%2Fnpr-brightspot.s3.amazonaws.com%2F24%2F13%2F0dca1b9143a6969c8791b745eb41%2Fsleeper3.jpg" data-format="webp" class="respArchListImg lazyOnLoad" type="image/webp" /> <source srcset="https://npr.brightspotcdn.com/dims3/default/strip/false/crop/1918x1079+0+0/resize/300/quality/85/format/jpeg/?url=http%3A%2F%2Fnpr-brightspot.s3.amazonaws.com%2F24%2F13%2F0dca1b9143a6969c8791b745eb41%2Fsleeper3.jpg" data-original="https://npr.brightspotcdn.com/dims3/default/strip/false/crop/1918x1079+0+0/resize/300/quality/100/format/jpeg/?url=http%3A%2F%2Fnpr-brightspot.s3.amazonaws.com%2F24%2F13%2F0dca1b9143a6969c8791b745eb41%2Fsleeper3.jpg" data-template="https://npr.brightspotcdn.com/dims3/default/strip/false/crop/1918x1079+0+0/resize/{width}/quality/{quality}/format/{format}/?url=http%3A%2F%2Fnpr-brightspot.s3.amazonaws.com%2F24%2F13%2F0dca1b9143a6969c8791b745eb41%2Fsleeper3.jpg" data-format="jpeg" class="respArchListImg lazyOnLoad" type="image/jpeg" /> <img src="https://npr.brightspotcdn.com/dims3/default/strip/false/crop/1918x1079+0+0/resize/300/quality/85/format/jpeg/?url=http%3A%2F%2Fnpr-brightspot.s3.amazonaws.com%2F24%2F13%2F0dca1b9143a6969c8791b745eb41%2Fsleeper3.jpg" data-original="https://npr.brightspotcdn.com/dims3/default/strip/false/crop/1918x1079+0+0/resize/300/quality/100/format/jpeg/?url=http%3A%2F%2Fnpr-brightspot.s3.amazonaws.com%2F24%2F13%2F0dca1b9143a6969c8791b745eb41%2Fsleeper3.jpg" data-template="https://npr.brightspotcdn.com/dims3/default/strip/false/crop/1918x1079+0+0/resize/{width}/quality/{quality}/format/{format}/?url=http%3A%2F%2Fnpr-brightspot.s3.amazonaws.com%2F24%2F13%2F0dca1b9143a6969c8791b745eb41%2Fsleeper3.jpg" data-format="jpeg" class="respArchListImg lazyOnLoad" alt="Citizen Sleeper 2's android protagonist, vacant-eyed and hooked up to wires, in a scene from the game's trailer." loading="lazy" /> </picture> </a> </div> <div class="credit-caption"> <div class="caption-wrap"> <div class="caption" aria-label="Image caption"> <p> Citizen Sleeper 2's android protagonist, in a scene from the game's trailer. <b class="credit" aria-label="Image credit"> Fellow Traveler </b> <b class="hide-caption"><b>hide caption</b></b> </p> </div> <b class="toggle-caption"><b>toggle caption</b></b> </div> <span class="credit" aria-label="Image credit"> Fellow Traveler </span> </div> </div> <div class="item-info-wrap"> <div class="item-info"> <h2 class="title"><a href="https://www.npr.org/2025/01/30/g-s1-45425/citizen-sleeper-2-gareth-damian-martin" data-metrics-ga4='{"action":"topic_homepage_recirculation_click","category":"recirculation","clickType":"gaming","clickName":"topic headline click","clickUrl":"https:\/\/www.npr.org\/2025\/01\/30\/g-s1-45425\/citizen-sleeper-2-gareth-damian-martin","clickPosition":"2.21"}' >This indie sci-fi game is a lesson in resilience and resistance</a></h2> <p class="teaser"><a href="https://www.npr.org/2025/01/30/g-s1-45425/citizen-sleeper-2-gareth-damian-martin"><time datetime="2025-01-30"><span class="date">January 30, 2025  </span></time>Developer Gareth Damian Martin tackles gig work, trauma and communities in crisis in the follow up to the acclaimed game Citizen Sleeper.</a></p> </div> </div> </article> </div>  <div class="scrolllink" id="scrolllink"> <a rel="nofollow" href="/sections/gaming/archive?start=placeholder">More from Gaming</a> </div> <div id="infinitescrollwrap"> <div id="infinitescroll" class="infinitescroll" data-item-selector="article.item"></div> </div> <div class="options"> <button class="options__load-more">Load more stories</button> </div><div class="agg-archive-search-tools"> <b class="agg-archive-search-tools__lead-in"> <a href="/sections/gaming/archive">Browse archive</a> or </b> <a href="/search" class="agg-archive-search-tools__search">search npr.org</a> </div><footer id="npr-footer" class="npr-footer" role="contentinfo" 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