The Guardian

He rewrote the rule book with Rockstar then left it all behind. Now Dan Houser is back with a storytelling-focused studio to take on AI-obsessed tech bros and Mexican beauty queens There are only a handful of video game makers who have had as profound an effect on the industry as Dan Houser. The co-founder of Rockstar Games, and its lead writer, worked on all the GTA titles since the groundbreaki…

From athletes such as Tristan Thompson to artists such as Iggy Azalea, celebrities have returned to hawking crypto Following the numbers suggests Tristan Thompson is nearing the end of his basketball career. While the 6ft 9in center once regularly played more than 80 games in a regular season, he’s hit new career lows, appearing just 40 times on court during the 2024-2025 season. Following the mo…

As the exam regulator consults about introducing onscreen exams amid complaints of hand fatigue, a young aspiring journalist goes head-to-head with a self-professed expert This week it was reported that students could soon be sitting their end-of-year exams on laptops after pupils complained of hand fatigue, saying their muscles “are not strong enough”. With Ofqual preparing to launch a public co…

Outside the lavish event, workers called out the ‘greed’ in the industry that has left games ‘being sold for parts to make a few people a lot of money’ It’s the night of the 2025 Game Awards , a major industry event where the best games of the year are crowned and major publishers reveal forthcoming projects. In the shadow of the Peacock theater in Los Angeles and next to a giant, demonic statue …

Rachel Reeves wants to protect consumers by bringing digital money and assets into the ‘regulatory perimeter’ Cryptocurrencies will be regulated in a similar way to other financial products under legislation coming into force in 2027. The Treasury is drawing up rules that will require crypto companies to meet a set of standards overseen by the Financial Conduct Authority (FCA). Continue reading...

Party would also abolish zero-emission vehicle mandate, cutting legal requirement on carmakers to sell EVs The Conservatives have announced proposals to end the 2030 ban on new petrol and diesel cars and cut the legal requirement on car manufacturers to sell electric vehicles. A Conservative government would abolish the zero-emission vehicle (ZEV) mandate, ending the legal requirement for manufac…

Battery-powered leaf blowers from Ryobi, Ego and Stihl quickly clean up leaves with no gas, no smell, and dramatically less noise In the UK? The best leaf blowers: 10 favourites to speed up raking – plus smart ways to reuse your fallen leaves Sign up for the Filter US newsletter, your weekly guide to buying fewer, better things Electric leaf blowers are on track to soon outsell their obnoxious ga…

The long-running series in which readers answer other readers’ questions on subjects ranging from trivial flights of fancy to profound scientific and philosophical concepts The dramatic chipmunk, distracted boyfriend, the raccoon with the candy floss or “success kid”, what is – or was – the absolute top, world-beating, best-ever internet meme? Antony Scacchi, Los Angeles, US Post your answers (an…

The new Bluey game is the first made in Australia, the first to involve creator Joe Brumm and the first to respect the kids playing it Get our weekend culture and lifestyle email Bluey embodies the talent, heart and character of Australia’s creative industries. But unfortunately, until now, the beloved franchise’s video games had a track record spottier than her friend Chloe the dalmatian. Some p…

Analysts say benefits could be felt in under-resourced rural hospitals but warn against AI as a cost-cutting measure For states to receive certain funding stipulated in the Trump administration’s “big, beautiful” bill, they must meet three of 10 criteria – including integrating more artificial intelligence ( AI ) technology in healthcare settings – which experts say could have major benefits and …

Exclusive: More than 150 anonymous channels using cheap AI tools to spread false stories about Keir Starmer, study finds YouTube channels spreading fake, anti-Labour videos have amassed more than a billion views this year, as opportunists attempt to use AI-generated content to profit from political division in the UK. More than 150 channels have been detected in the last year that promote anti-La…

California governor says order pushes ‘grift and corruption’ instead of innovation just hours after president’s dictum The ink was barely dry on Donald Trump’s artificial intelligence executive order when Gavin Newsom came out swinging. Just hours after the order went public Thursday evening, the California governor issued a statement saying the presidential dictum, which seeks to block states fr…

Platform fighting world-leading ban on grounds it contravenes implied freedom of political communication in constitution Will Australia’s social media ban survive a high court challenge? Reddit has filed a challenge against Australia’s under-16s social media ban in the high court, lodging its case two days after implementing age restrictions on its website. The company said in a Reddit post on Fr…

It started with a goat. Now – via a degree for developers and an incubator for startups – the tiny city is churning out world-famous video game hits. What is the secret of its success? On 26 March 2014, a trailer for a video game appeared on YouTube. The first thing the viewer sees is a closeup of a goat lying on the ground, its tongue out, its eyes open. Behind it is a man on fire, running backw…

Every prize at the The Game Awards from the Peacock theater in Los Angeles Star Wars, Tomb Raider and a big night for Expedition 33 – what you need to know from The Game Awards Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 – WINNER Death Stranding 2: On the Beach Donkey Kong Bananza Hades II Hollow Knight: Silksong Kingdom Come: Deliverance II Continue reading...