Judge John Hodgman ruled that it is acceptable to play the game Slay the Spire 2 in bed, as long as both partners communicate and respect each other's boundaries.
Dreamcore explores "liminal spaces," featuring environments like indoor pools, low-poly suburbia, and children's play areas, with a notable "liminal hotel" inspired by the Backrooms meme. Liminal spaces evoke feelings of transition and emptiness and have gained popularity on platforms like Steam. Since its release in January 2025, Dreamcore has introduced a new map called Dead Mall, reminiscent of 1990s super malls. Other titles in the genre include Pools, Tainted Pools, and Liminal Waters, while games like Dream Logic offer a PS1-era twist. Dreamcore is noted for its diverse themes and well-optimized performance, allowing players to explore unsettling landscapes.
Steam's sales chart from May 12 - 19 lists the top games by revenue, with Subnautica 2 leading, followed by Forza Horizon 6, Counter-Strike 2, and PUBG: Battlegrounds. LEGO Batman: Legacy of the Dark Night is expected to rise in the charts, and 007 First Light is gaining traction due to pre-orders. Librarian: Tidy Up The Arcane Library ranks eighth despite its April release. A humorous user review for Bubsy 4D received attention for its candidness.
New York City mayor Zohran Mamdani debuted on Twitch on May 21 with a show called "Talk with the People," where he interacted with New Yorkers and answered questions in real-time. During the stream, he was asked about playing Minecraft and admitted he had not played it, confusing it with a movie adaptation released earlier this year. Despite this moment, he addressed significant topics such as his 4.7 billion executive budget, changes to SNAP eligibility, and free childcare initiatives. The Twitch chat was chaotic, with viewers requesting him to play various games, including Minecraft, Fortnite, and Undertale. Mamdani's unfamiliarity with Minecraft was notable, given its popularity and cultural significance. His Twitch channel is available at nyc_mayor for future episodes.
Crimson Desert achieved 5 million sales within 26 days of its release, setting a new benchmark for Korean console games. South Korea's Prime Minister, Kim Min-seok, praised the game, highlighting its historic sales figures and its impact on the national gaming industry.
A Minecraft theme park is set to open at Chessington World of Adventures in 2027, with a million-dollar investment announced in early 2026. The project is a collaboration between Mojang Studios and Merlin Entertainments, aiming to capture the essence of Minecraft through rides, interactive adventures, and retail experiences. Iconic Minecraft creators are involved in the design process to ensure the park reflects the game's spirit.
Jensen Huang, CEO of Nvidia, identified "Doom" as the most influential video game of all time, citing its role in transforming personal computers into gaming devices for families. He noted that while flight simulation games existed before Doom, none matched its popularity or cultural significance. Huang also mentioned "Virtua Fighter" as a significant technological milestone in gaming. The legacy of Doom is recognized widely, even among those outside the gaming community, illustrating its appeal across generations.
A new speedrunning technique for the PC version of GTA: San Andreas allows players to complete the game in under an hour using a method called the Arbitrary Jump in Script (AJS) skip. This technique involves approximately 30 precise steps and was detailed by Reddit user Vitosi4ek. The AJS skip enables speedrunners to execute a JUMP instruction that leads directly to the game's conclusion. The discovery comes 21 years after the game's release, reflecting its lasting popularity and the innovative efforts of the speedrunning community.
Adidas has partnered with Minecraft since early 2025, launching a new capsule collection inspired by elements from the Minecraft universe. The collection includes reimagined versions of classic footwear models: the Samba XLG features a Creeper-inspired design, the Handball Spezial incorporates flame graphics related to the Ghast, the Superstar pays homage to the Ender Dragon, and the Campus showcases an "Eye of Ender" color scheme. The adilette Slide is designed to reflect the Drowned mob.
The film adaptation of a beloved brick-building video game, A Minecraft Movie, has become the highest-grossing film in the US for 2025 and ranks fourth worldwide, nearing the billion mark globally. It features Jack Black and includes a musical number about "lava chicken." Oppenheimer, starring Cillian Murphy, is the third highest-grossing film in 2023. A Minecraft Movie received a 48% rating on Rotten Tomatoes but exceeded audience expectations during its opening weekend in April, with active participation from viewers. Some screenings required police intervention due to the excitement, as fans engaged enthusiastically with the film.
GTA 6 has experienced multiple delays, leading to frustration and disappointment among fans, while also prompting reflection on the negative implications for the gaming industry. Devolver Digital has humorously threatened to release a game on the same day as GTA 6, announcing a new target date of November 19, 2026, in response to each delay from Rockstar. Devolver Digital describes GTA 6 as having a monumental scale and cultural significance, emphasizing the contrasting positions of major and indie titles in the gaming landscape.
