Games

Valve recently explained on Steam why they haven’t announced the release date or price of the Steam Machine. They originally intended to have that information, along with details for the new Steam Frame VR headset, available by now. However, shortages of parts have significantly increased manufacturing costs, forcing Valve to reconsider their plans. They still aim to launch both products in the first half of the year, but aren’t ready to share specific dates or prices just yet.

Rather than trying to be exactly like the original series, House of the Dragon focuses on a specific conflict – the Targaryen civil war – and a more limited political landscape. This makes for a more focused and intense show, full of drama and harsh moments, but it also means it doesn’t have the same sweeping scale that attracted so many viewers to Game of Thrones. Is House of the Dragon better or worse? It’s not a simple question. Here are three areas where the new show excels, and three where it doesn’t quite measure up.

Players with a PlayStation 5 or PS5 Pro can now find a discounted copy of Suicide Squad: Kill the Justice League on the PlayStation Store. The 2024 action-adventure shooter from WB Games and Rocksteady Studios received mixed reviews when it first launched, which explains the price drop. The game currently has a 3.2 out of 5-star rating on the PlayStation Store based on over 34,000 reviews, and recent feedback still shows a strong split in opinion – many players give it a perfect 5/5, while just as many rate it a disappointing 2/5. Essentially, Suicide Squad: Kill the Justice League remains a polarizing game two years after its release.

Tom Felton, who played Draco Malfoy in the Harry Potter films, has been chosen as a symbol for the Chinese New Year. According to CNN, the connection is based on the Mandarin transliteration of “Malfoy,” which is “Ma Er Fu.” The first character, “Ma,” means “horse,” and the third character signifies “good fortune.” This makes the name sound like “horses bringing good luck,” and China has embraced this meaning for their New Year celebrations.

The recent war in Hell, which resulted in Nyx taking power, has thrown everything into chaos. This also meant Cogolistro – the original Spawn, also known as Sinn – lost what he’d been planning for centuries. Now banished to Earth and facing danger from Heaven, Hell, Spawn, and the vampire king Bludd, Sinn is desperate. He’s attempting to bring back his former master, Malebolgia, hoping to reclaim the throne of Hell. In Spawn #372, this iconic Image Comics villain has returned, and the entire Spawn Universe will be forever changed.

The miniseries DC K.O. Knightfight showed Batman attempting to rejoin the competition after being eliminated, even resorting to using special armor to cheat. But the Heart of Apokolips stopped him, punishing Bruce by trapping him in simulations where each of his former Robins had become Batman. Bruce has been trying to guide these new Batmen, but the Heart’s strict rules have made it challenging. Now, Batman believes he’s found a way to help them all succeed.

The year 2000 was a fantastic year for gaming, with hits like Diablo 2, The Legend of Zelda: Majora’s Mask, and Perfect Dark. However, the most talked-about game wasn’t any of those, or even Pokémon Gold and Silver, which had been popular the year before. It was The Sims. While Pokémon actually sold more copies that year, The Sims stood out because of its huge impact on the gaming world and its ability to attract people who hadn’t played games before. This social simulation game offered a new level of freedom in gameplay, taking inspiration from titles like SimCity. Since its release, The Sims has sold over 40 million copies and continues to be enjoyed by players today.

If you enjoyed Game of Thrones and are looking for something similar, check out Medieval. This 2022 historical drama, directed by Petr Jákl, tells the story of Jan Žižka, a famous military leader from Bohemia. It’s now streaming on Tubi and offers plenty of action and a realistic historical setting – making it a great choice for fans of epic fantasy. Plus, it’s free to watch! Keep in mind that streaming availability can change, so it’s best to watch Medieval on Tubi soon.

Both Xbox and PlayStation are poised to have an exceptionally strong year for gaming. Xbox is releasing titles like Fable, Halo: Campaign Evolved, and Gears of War: E-Day, while PlayStation is launching Marvel’s Wolverine, Marathon, and Saros. However, Nintendo’s lineup for 2026 appears weaker. While Fire Emblem: Fortune’s Weave is their biggest release, and the series is popular, it’s not enough to compete, especially with supporting games like Mario Tennis Fever and Yoshi and the Mysterious Book. Nintendo needs a major blockbuster game to stay competitive with its rivals, or it risks falling behind.

Netflix announced this week that it will stop supporting PlayStation 3 consoles on March 2nd. After the end of February, PS3 users will no longer be able to stream movies, TV shows, or podcasts through the Netflix app. While not unexpected – Sony stopped making the PS3 in 2016 – this means PlayStation users who still rely on their PS3 for Netflix will need to find a new way to watch soon.