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The Revival of Motion Gaming For a wonderful moment in the noughties, video games became a truly universal pursuit. The Nintendo Wii flew off the shelves, inspiring a wave of competitors such as the Xbox Kinect camera that encouraged people to play games by moving their bodies. But the tide turned: outside of still-niche VR gaming and the odd controller-waggler on the Switch, motion-controlled gaming has barely been seen for more than a decade. The Nex Playground Console Now, 20 years later, a new console is aiming to get the whole family flailing in front of the TV once again: the Nex Playground. Launching in the UK later this month, the first thing that struck me about this family-friendly device is just how tiny it is. The size of two and a half Rubik’s Cubes taped together, this impressively unintrusive device swaps cumbersome controllers for camera-controlled minigames, putting you and your family directly in the game. The Data Behind the Console The Playground retails at £269 ($299) – significantly less than any other games console at the moment. But it comes with just five free games. The rest of its library is locked behind an eye-watering £90 annual subscription. In the US, where it launched in 2023, the Playground has sold over a million units, even outselling Microsoft’s Xbox consoles during 2025’s Black Friday week. The Impact on Family Gaming Nex appears to be taking great care to earn families’ trust. None of the camera data from Nex play sessions is saved – either offline or online – meaning that families can happily embarrass themselves without worrying that an omniscient tech firm is tracking their every movement. “Safety is number one,” says Nex president Thomas Kang. The Future of Motion Gaming Online multiplayer is coming to Playground soon, via parent-controlled “playdates”, and Lee hopes that this will also help older relatives stay connected with their families. “The intention of that is solving the loneliness problem,” says Lee. “We want to create a space where grandparents play with their grandkids, even if they cannot be physically together. Nex Playground launches in the UK on 22 June.

The Pixelate Phenomenon Pixelate, a rave currently touring the UK, is a hyperactive fever dream celebrating the 00s era of 'internet cringe'. The events are filled with high-octane versions of 00s memes, video games, cartoons, and dancefloor hits. The Internet-Culture Rave Scene Themed nights have been around for decades, but today's immersive raves go beyond generic themes and deploy hyper-specific memes and pop-cultural references. Examples include Shrek Rave, Lord of the Rings rave, and Dubtendo, a video game-themed rave with over 100,000 followers on Instagram. The Founder's Vision Pixelate's 22-year-old founder, DJ Compulsive Leia, started raving in early 2024 and fell in love with the scene after attending a Sonic the Hedgehog-themed rave. She began Pixelate in December 2024 with a small venue event that drew 100 people, which has since grown into sellout events across the UK. The Cultural Significance Patrick Hinton, editor of dance music magazine Mixmag, notes that online culture's reach has made dance music 'a lot less tribal.' People are less strict about their tastes due to the internet's expansive influence, softening cultural boundaries. The Future of Rave Culture The UK's cost-of-living crisis and changing nighttime economy have driven the growth of immersive raves like Pixelate. These events offer a space for people to indulge in their interests without judgment, creating a sense of community and fun.

The Lead007 First Light successfully revitalizes the James Bond video game franchise after years of absence, offering fans an immersive experience that captures both the action and sophistication of the iconic spy. Developer IO Interactive demonstrates their passion for the Bond universe through meticulous attention to detail and creative gameplay mechanics that honor the franchise's legacy.Gameplay Mechanics and DesignGiven how open-ended Hitman is, it's surprising how well IO has taken to linear storytelling. There are still moments of the "social stealth" that defines the studio's other games, but it's been repurposed for cinematic forward thrust, and blended together with plenty of action. It seems lazy to pigeonhole First Light as Hitman meets Uncharted, but when you see Bond leap on to a cliff edge and scurry along rocky handholds, your mind can't help but go there.You are often playing through moments that would be cutscenes in another game. Sometimes that's as simple as a dramatic approach to a level; driving round a bend to reveal a sprawling Slovakian castle, say. More ambitiously, one whole chapter is given over to a glorified training montage that whips you back and forth between getaway driving, stealth and gunplay, all while charting thawing relations between our fledgling 00 candidates. This is on-rails storytelling done right.Character Development and StorytellingWe join young Bond in his pre-00 days, as a petulant, belligerent rule-breaking trainee. Actor Patrick Gibson begins as a cookie-cutter insubordinate, but warms to the role once he's bouncing off M (herself a green leader looking to make her mark), and an enjoyably urbane Q who drops the frustrated quartermaster routine and introduces Bond to the wonders of vinyl. A scene where he teaches our agent to tie a bow tie is a perfect bit of prequelcraft: arriving at an iconic look through a lovely character touch.In contrast to previous Bond games, First Light understands that action is only a part of the Bond fantasy. He's as much schmoozer as bruiser, and there's plenty of the former here, with socialising setpieces at a chess tournament or swanky product launch. The staging and atmosphere of these rooms is exemplary, but the work mostly boils down to eavesdropping on guests to discover a keycard's location, before shooting its keeper with a toxic dart.Technical Execution and VisualsAs Bond himself is learning the ropes, it sometimes feels as if the developers are feeling their way towards something. Guns are enjoyably punchy, but scripted fights always emphasise explosive theatrics over strategy. Gas tanks erupt, walkways tumble, cranes collapse: you enter fights looking for the red barrel that will trigger a chain of collateral damage. Fail to quell numbers this way and you're quickly overwhelmed.Fist fights are more enjoyable – not because they are any more sophisticated, but because of the commitment of their virtual stuntmen. Bond is a barroom brawler, barging bodies into clattering bookshelves and battering enemies with mugs and keyboards lying around. In the same way that waist-high cover always alerts you to an incoming fight in Gears of War, you learn to eye crockery or wine bottles with suspicion here. If it's not stuck down, you'll be smashing it into a mercenary's face within the next two minutes.Fists and guns are what happen when sneaking goes wrong. On this front, IO finds a punchy take on its classic lurking. A hacking watch introduces some Home Alone hijinks as you lure guards towards misbehaving photocopiers, before electrocuting the device with a laser beam. Gadgets let you run circles around enemies – though you have to accept some silliness as you refuel those toys with batteries stolen from TV remotes, or globs of hand sanitiser. It's hard to picture Daniel Craig scavenging for Carex.Legacy and Future of Bond GamesOn a visit to a Mauritanian market and a luxury hotel getaway, however, there is space to roam, and you're reminded how few developers can tap into that aspirational tourist fantasy. Plenty of games have let us be a gun-toting version of Bond, but this is the first opportunity we've had to be a Bond relaxing beside a glittering infinity pool in Vietnam, or a Bond trying to get one over on a shell game hustler. Games are now much more capable of taking us to specific places than they were in the time of GoldenEye on the N64.It's that full Bond immersion that 007 First Light will ultimately be remembered for, more so than the odd wonky setpiece scene. I have no doubt that this was made by excitable Bond geeks throwing "what if" moments at a whiteboard. What if you got to explore Q Lab watching underlings test malfunctioning prototypes? What if you were tied to a torturer's table and had to talk your way out? What if you found yourself at 15,000ft with no parachute? And what if you had access to John Barry's classic scores and could deploy a staggering needle drop out of nowhere?Very few fans get to play in the sandbox of their obsession like IO has here. As far as Bond video games go, nobody has done it better.

The LeadLike the rest of the western world, our household is currently binging medical drama The Pitt, revelling in its visceral depiction of life in a modern emergency department. So far the series has yet to inspire a video game tie-in (though there has been an amusing parody), but fans wishing to try their hand at tense medical (mal)practice, should not despair. Here are eight of the best hospital games spanning more than 40 years of gruesome interactive surgery. Microsurgeon (1982, Mattel Intellivision) Created by lone developer Rick Levine, this early oddity shrank players down and put them into the bloodstream of a sick patient where they had to blast diseased cells and unclog arteries. Clearly inspired by the movie Fantastic Voyage, the title features strange, colourful, almost psychedelic depictions of human anatomy. Life & Death (1988, PC, Mac, Atari ST, Amiga etc) This point-and-click abdominal surgery simulation was groundbreaking in its realism. Players had to diagnose a variety of conditions (kidney stones! aortic aneurysm!), before ordering tests and scans and finally operating while an ECG display showed your victim’s – sorry, patient’s – heart rate. Sanitarium (1998, PC, smartphones from 2015) The asylum has always been a popular trope for horror games, from the imaginatively titled 1981 adventure Asylum to the Silent Hill series. I’m going for this disturbing psychological thriller in which a patient wakes up in a seemingly abandoned sanatorium, his memory gone, his face completely bandaged. Emergency Call Ambulance (1999, arcade) You’ve no doubt heard of Crazy Taxi, Sega’s hectic arcade game about careering around a city picking up annoying passengers. But did you ever play its stablemate, Emergency Call Ambulance, about driving around a city picking up desperately ill passengers? Trauma Center: Under the Knife (2005, Nintendo DS) If you thought the Nintendo DS was all about cosy puzzle games, you were wrong. Developed by veteran publisher Atlus, this fascinating game was part surgery sim, using the handheld’s touchscreen and stylus for realistic operations, and part visual novel as lead character Dr Derek Stiles navigated life in a futuristic hospital. Surgeon Simulator (2013, PC, PlayStation, Switch, Xbox) Surgeon Simulator is a game where you play as a surgeon with a goal to perform operations. The game became famous for its challenging gameplay and realistic physics.

The Enduring Power of Physical GamingIn a world dominated by digital downloads and massive game updates, the simple act of holding a retro game cartridge can bring unexpected joy. Dominik Diamond, former host of GamesMaster, recently experienced this firsthand when he touched a ZX Spectrum for the first time in decades, finding himself smiling at the mere physical presence of Daley Thompson's Super Test.The Forgotten Worlds ExperienceThe journey began at Forgotten Worlds, a retro gaming store in Stewarton, Scotland, which Diamond describes as an "absolute heart-and-eyeball-exploding cornucopia of joy." This physical space represents more than just retail—it's a gathering place for retro gaming enthusiasts, offering tangible connections to gaming history that digital platforms cannot replicate.The Social Currency of Retro GamingWhat's striking about Diamond's experience is the social connection it fostered. At both Forgotten Worlds and the OLL 26 Video Games Show in Norwich, people queued not just for autographs but for genuine conversations about shared gaming memories. This stands in stark contrast to modern conventions where interactions can feel transactional rather than relational.The Analogue AdvantageThe article highlights a crucial distinction between analogue and digital gaming experiences. With retro games, players had a physical relationship with their purchases—saving money, visiting stores, reading manuals on the bus home, and cherishing the physical object. This contrasts sharply with today's 15GB game updates and digital-only experiences that lack the same tactile connection.The Future of Retro Gaming CommunitiesAs Diamond observes, retro gaming has evolved from a solitary activity to a social phenomenon that continues to form bonds decades later. Events like Dominik Diamond's Retro Rumble demonstrate that these experiences are not just nostalgic indulgences but meaningful cultural touchstones that provide an "antidote to the untrustworthiness of the modern world." The enduring appeal suggests that physical gaming artifacts and shared memories will continue to hold value in an increasingly digital future.

Lead: A Sword‑Sharp Invitation for All AudiencesRonin delivers a high‑energy blend of contemporary dance, samurai‑style swordplay and video‑game‑inspired visuals that feels welcoming to anyone over 10+ years old. The Guardian’s review highlights how the piece avoids the pretension often associated with avant‑garde works, opting instead for a clear, exhilarating narrative.Swordplay and Digital Immersion Define Masui’s RoninThe choreography, crafted by Yukiko Masui, centers on razor‑sharp sword movements that are simultaneously fluid and staccato. Digital artist Barrett Hodgson projects rain, bubbles, neon flowers and pixelated pathways across all three walls and the floor, while composer Ruth Chan weaves a soundscape that shifts from rain‑drummed ambience to synthetic noise and sudden, deafening silences.Audience Reach and Touring ScheduleAge recommendation: 10+Key cast: Cher Nicolette Ho (lead), Nathan Bartman, Jacob LangTour date announced: 23 May (touring to unspecified venues)Why Ronin Signals a Shift in Accessible Contemporary DanceBy marrying high‑tech visuals with a storyline that references samurai lore, anime and video games, Ronin expands the demographic appeal of contemporary dance. The production proves that complex choreography can coexist with clear, inclusive storytelling, potentially encouraging more families and non‑specialist audiences to attend future dance events.Looking Ahead: The Next Wave of Immersive ChoreographyIf the positive reception continues, we can expect more companies to experiment with mixed‑media stages, integrating projection mapping and interactive soundtracks as standard tools. Masui’s success may inspire a new generation of choreographers to prioritize both artistic rigor and audience accessibility, reshaping the landscape of live performance in the coming years.

The author's complicated relationship with video games as a teenager is relatable to many who have grown up with a passion for gaming. Initially dismissing The Legend of Zelda: The Wind Waker as childish, they later discovered its joy and transformative power. Play is often undervalued in adult life, seen as something to be outgrown or intellectualized. However, the author argues that play is essential for well-being and can be a powerful coping mechanism for life's challenges. The Wind Waker, with its vibrant and cartoon-like art style, was initially judged and dismissed. Yet, it became a gateway to rekindling the author's love for gaming, free from the pressures of intellectualizing every experience. The game encouraged exploration and curiosity, allowing the player to simply enjoy the process of discovery. This realization had a profound impact on the author's life, helping them navigate adulthood, parenting, and grief with a keen sense of fun and openness to new experiences. The author emphasizes that play is not just for children but a vital aspect of human nature that should be preserved and cherished. In a world that often prioritizes productivity and self-improvement, the author advocates for embracing play as a survival strategy against the pressures of everyday life. By doing so, individuals can maintain a sense of joy and curiosity, essential for a fulfilling life.

US tech firms, including Microsoft, have successfully influenced the EU to conceal the environmental impact of their datacentres, an investigation has revealed. The EU's proposal to create a database of green metrics for datacentres was amended to include a secrecy provision, almost verbatim from industry lobbying efforts in 2024. This confidentiality clause, included in EU rules, restricts public access to individual datacentre emissions data, leaving only national-level summaries of energy footprints. Researchers and legal scholars warn that this blanket confidentiality may violate EU transparency rules and the Aarhus convention on public access to environmental information. The rise of AI chatbots has led to a surge in datacentre construction, increasing demand for power, partly met by burning fossil gas. The EU aims to triple its datacentre capacity in the next five to seven years to become a global leader in artificial intelligence. Industry groups, including DigitalEurope and Video Games Europe, lobbied for the change, citing commercial interests. Microsoft stated it supports greater transparency while protecting confidential business information. Legal experts argue that the confidentiality clause contravenes EU transparency rules and the Aarhus convention. The EU is obliged to ensure systematic availability of environmental information to the public under the convention.

The vastness of space has always been a profound source of inspiration and terror for humanity. The recent launch of the Artemis II space mission brought this into sharp focus, as the tiny Orion craft and its four-person crew drifted silently through the void, further and further from home. This sense of cosmic isolation is a feeling that video games have long sought to capture.In his autobiography, Apollo astronaut Michael Collins described the experience of being left alone in the command module while Neil Armstrong and Buzz Aldrin walked on the moon: 'I am alone now, truly alone, and absolutely isolated from any known life. I am it. If a count were taken, the score would be three billion plus two over on the other side of the moon, and one plus God knows what on this side.'Games like Elite, No Man's Sky, and Outer Wilds have attempted to evoke this sense of solitude and vulnerability. Outer Wilds thrusts players into a time loop on a doomed planetary system, while Xenonauts 2 challenges players to manage Earth's defenses against alien invaders. These games, and others like them, concentrate not on generational starships or laser wars, but on small crews in tiny pods, the weight of the universe stacked against them in the dark.Other notable mentions include Alien: Isolation, Freelancer, Homeworld, and Out There, which all capture the minimalist elements of space travel – often just isolated noises and details. As Tracey McGarrigan noted, even classic games like Solaris on the Atari 2600 managed to evoke a sense of loneliness and awe.For those interested in exploring these themes further, the article recommends checking out Xenonauts 2, available on PC, with an estimated playtime of over 30 hours.