Just last month, Ford seemed to be on the brink of sunsetting the F-150 Lightning. Today, the vehicle manufacturer announced plans to reboot the truck as a hybrid. This next generation of the F-150 Lightning will contain Extended Range Electric Vehicle. An EREV is similar in concept to a plug-in hybrid but with a larger battery that's topped up by a gas generator the powertrain itself is all electric. This next generation of the F-150 Lightning will offer an estimated range of more than 700 miles. Production will end this year on the current F-150 Lightning models.
This revamp of the F-150 Lightning is part of Ford's latest approach to electric vehicles. The company projected that by 2030, half of its global volume will be comprised of hybrids, extended-range EVs and electric vehicles, compared with 17 percent today. "As part of these actions, Ford no longer plans to produce select larger electric vehicles where the business case has eroded due to lower-than-expected demand, high costs and regulatory changes," the company's press release states. Ford will also swap its planned electric commercial van for North America with a new, affordable commercial van that has both gas and hybrid options. The company anticipates seeing a $19.5 billion negative impact for this pivot away from EVs.
This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/transportation/evs/ford-is-rebooting-the-f-150-lightning-as-an-erev-with-a-gas-generator-222529768.html?src=rss
Apple TV is adding Google Cast support to its native Android app. This update allows subscribers to stream Apple TV shows from their smartphones to their televisions. Apple's streaming service only just released the dedicated app for the Android operating system in February 2025. Adding in Google Cast support helps fully integrate the app into the experience for people whose gear is part of the Android ecosystem.
The addition should make it easier for viewers to shift between screens, even mid-episode. It's a very different approach than Netflix, which recently ended Google Cast support for its streaming platform in most use cases.
This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/entertainment/streaming/apple-tv-app-for-android-now-supports-google-cast-205642324.html?src=rss
In an era where we often have to twiddle our thumbs for three years before a new season of a TV show we enjoy returns to our screens, the second season of Fallout has had a relatively short turnaround. It's set to hit Prime Video 20 months after the first batch of episodes. As it turns out, the season two premiere is going to arrive a little earlier than you may have anticipated as well.
The first episode will now hit Prime Video at 9PM ET on December 16. That's six hours earlier than expected. So if you've been looking forward to catching back up with Lucy, Maximus and The Ghoul, you won't have to stay up as late on Tuesday night to catch the premiere as soon as it's available.
Well, well, looks like Christmas came early on Sphere. The Fallout Season Two premiere, now arriving December 16 at 6 p.m. PT. pic.twitter.com/RHpSBBXJ6H FALLOUT (@falloutonprime) December 15, 2025
However, you won't be able to binge the entire season this week. While Amazon dropped all of Fallout season one at once in April 2024, this time around it will release episodes on a weekly cadence through February 4.
Fallout was also in the news late last week when Prime Video offered up an error-ridden, AI-generated recap of season one. Amazon responded to the backlash (the Fallout fallout, if you will) by nixing AI video recaps from Prime Video entirely.This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/gaming/playstation/fallout-season-2s-first-episode-will-premiere-a-little-earlier-than-expected-205018028.html?src=rss
Bungies Marathon has a new release window. The survival extraction shooter was originally set to hit PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X/S and PC in September, but by June, Sony had delayed it indefinitely. Now, with a plagiarism issue largely in the rearview mirror, Bungie has confirmed that Marathon will arrive in March and and plans to sell it for $40.
Alongside the release date and price announcement, Bungie released a 23-minute video that takes a deep dive into the game and shows off the current state of Marathon. New features include proximity chat and a solo mode, while Bungie says it has upgraded the environmental storytelling and visual fidelity. Gritty environments provide a nice contrast to the glossy sci-fi sheen that defined Marathons visual language in our earliest looks at the game.
Theres a lot more on deck for Marathons first year including new maps and events. Bungie also plans to release more shells, which are akin to character classes that can be customized by changing your loadout. The Rook shell, for instance, is a new one that the studio has added since the alpha playtests. This shell allows you to join a run that's already in progress. Youll have a limited loadout, but youre not really risking anything valuable as you run around to loot items.
Theres a lot riding on Marathon. Parent company Sony Interactive Entertainment said last month that Destiny 2 had not lived up to its expectations and it wrote down the value of Bungies assets by $204 million. Back in August, Sony asserted more control over Bungie and said the developer was shifting into a role that is becoming more part of PlayStation Studios.
Thats hardly the only issue Bungie has faced this year. The studio admitted in May that one of its former employees plagiarized the work of artist Fern Hook by enabling it to be used in Marathons in-game textures. Earlier this month, Hook said that Bungie and Sony had resolved the matter to my satisfaction.This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/gaming/playstation/bungies-marathon-will-arrive-in-march-200838426.html?src=rss
Meta revealed that Disney+ was coming to its Quest headsets earlier this year during its Connect event. Now, the streaming app and its vast catalog are finally available to Meta's VR users in the United States.Meta recently overhauled the Quest's entertainment experience with a new Horizon TV hub that brings its streaming features into one place. Horizon TV also added support for Dolby Vision and Dolby Atmos sound, both of which Disney+ subscribers can now take advantage of. According to Meta, there are a"select" number of titles available to stream in Dolby Vision 4K HDR, and Disney+ Premium subscribers can stream with Dolby Atmos Sound. The company also says there are more than 100 titles in Disney's catalog that support 4K UHD and HDR and some Marvel and Pixar titles that support IMAX's expanded aspect ratio. The app is available now on the latest version of Horizon OS. Though Disney+ is for now limited to US-based Quest users, Meta says that international availability is "coming soon." This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/ar-vr/disney-is-now-available-to-stream-on-metas-quest-headsets-203622392.html?src=rss
Ubisoft is moving deeper into MOBAs after buying March of Giants from Amazon and acquiring the team that made the game. As part of the agreement, Amazon will help promote March of Giants on Twitch. The deal is expected to close on December 16Theres no release date as yet for March of Giants. Amazon announced the free-to-play game back in August and there was a closed alpha playtest the following month. The next playtest will take place in 2026. The next major update for March of Giants will include new giants, expanded competitive modes and foundational systems designed to support long-term growth.March of Giants is a 4v4 game in which players control giant war commanders. Youll lead armies with thousands of soldiers and send them to attack enemy giants. Likewise, youll have to fend off the other teams minions. You can also deploy reinforcements (called Battleworks) like trenches, tanks and bunkers to help you win a match.MOBAs arent entirely new territory for Ubisoft. While its ostensibly a third-person action game, For Honor checks all the MOBA criteria too. Although it clearly sees an opportunity in the MOBA market, Ubisoft will have a job on its hands to make March of Giants succeed in a space thats dominated by League of Legends and Dota 2.March of Giants was in development at Amazon Games Montreal, a studio that was established five years ago. Several former Ubisoft employees are returning to that company as part of this deal. Many of them were part of the original creative team behind Rainbow Six Siege, including Amazon Games Montreal founder and March of Giants creative director Xavier Marquis.This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/gaming/amazon-sells-moba-march-of-giants-to-ubisoft-183948291.html?src=rss
Merriam-Webster has selected "slop" for the dictionary company's 2025 word of the year. The leading lexicographers define slop as "digital content of low quality that is produced usually in quantity by means of artificial intelligence." We've seen an absolute deluge of AI slop this year, from fake movie trailers on YouTube to AI-generated bands on Spotify. Not even food delivery like Uber Eats could escape the onslaught of AI-generated garbage that no one asked for.
It's gotten to the point that half the videos my well-meaning parents send me on social media are AI-generated videos of dogs. This isn't all that surprising given how very intentionally the social media giants have added slop to all our feeds.
Merriam-Webster rightly points out the somewhat mocking nature of calling it slop. "Like slime, sludge and muck, slop has the wet sound of something you don't want to touch. Slop oozes into everything. The original sense of the word, in the 1700s, was 'soft mud.' In the 1800s it came to mean 'food waste' (as in 'pig slop'), and then more generally, 'rubbish' or 'a product of little or no value,'" the dictionary distributors wrote.
As the proliferation of AI slop expanded, some platforms like TikTok and Pinterest got wise and began offering users the choice to tone down the sheer amount of it in their feeds. Even Spotify is at least trying to combat some of this stuff now, though that didn't stop an AI-generated copycat from going unnoticed on the platform for weeks. Elsewhere, companies like Google leaned in, incorporating Veo 3-generated videos into YouTube Shorts. We'll only be able to tell in hindsight if 2025 was the peak of AI slop, but for now it shows no signs of abating.
Merriam-Webster highlighted some other words for the year (some of which the chronically online will be familiar with), including Gerrymander, Touch Grass, Performative, Tariff, Conclave and Six Seven.This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/ai/slop-is-merriam-websters-word-of-the-year-181903322.html?src=rss
There's a growing sentiment that gadgets have gotten boring. And while I don't fully agree, I understand why people might feel that way. Just think about some of the novel device types that companies have tried to push since the original iPhone came out. 3D TVs were a massive flop and tablets still feel like extra-large smartphones despite Apple's efforts to prop them up as laptop replacements. Meanwhile, even with huge technological advancements over the last decade, VR headsets remain relatively niche due to factors like high prices and a lack of compelling content. And although big names like Google, Microsoft, Meta and others continue to dump billions into AI development, the first wave of dedicated AI devices was an abject failure. When you think about it, the only new(ish) class of gadget that has made major inroads to the mainstream market is smartwatches. That said, because they've evolved into wearable health and fitness sensors instead of the wrist-based computers that many once thought they would be, they haven't really disrupted our lives like the personal computer and smartphone did. But that seems poised to change because the tech giants have decided that smart glasses are going to be the next big thing. Headsets versus smart glasses, whats the difference?Google is planning to support both smart glasses and headsets with Android XR, though the increased size and weight of devices like the Galaxy XR means it's not a great choice for all-day functionality. Sam Rutherford for EngadgetAt this point, you might be saying, "Wait, hold on. Aren't VR headsets and smart glasses kind of the same thing?" Well, yes and no. Both types of gadgets require similar software and hardware, but they utilize them in very different ways. Not only are VR goggles typically much bigger and heavier, they also provide a more isolated experience that can make it feel like you've been transported to another world. Sure, most modern headsets have exterior cameras that support some level of mixed reality (blending virtual graphics with physical objects) or let you peek quickly into meatspace (passthrough view) for when you need to get a drink or acknowledge other humans in the room. But in many respects, that closed-off feeling is the goal because it creates the ideal environment for playing games, taking virtual meetings or modeling 3D objects without real-world distractions. Furthermore, while many headsets like the Vision Pro and the Meta Quest 3 can function as standalone systems and support accessories like controllers or other motion trackers, they can also be tethered to a nearby PC for enhanced functionality. On the other hand, the default use case for smart glasses is a mixed reality environment where the spectacles can overlay helpful info or messages while you stay active and aware of your surroundings. Notably, while smart glasses might come with lenses or clip-on attachments that allow them to get darker or serve as sunglasses when you're outside, there typically isn't a way to completely block out the world like you can with a headset, mostly because that's simply not the point. And even though most smart spectacles can be paired with a phone to get access to mobile data or notifications, they're generally not meant to be tethered to a PC full-time (though there are some exceptions). The goal for smart glasses is more to provide a mobile-first heads-up display that augments what you see with your eyes instead of replacing things entirely with a digital environment. OK, but what makes you so sure that smart glasses are "it?"Now that we've discussed what separates smart glasses from headsets, what makes it so obvious that they are going to be the next big thing? This one is a bit easier to answer because we can simply look at the sheer number of companies that have released smart glasses or are planning to do so in the future. If we skip past the Google Glass from 2013 as forward-thinking specs that were ahead of their time, the most well-known example of modern smart glasses is the Meta Ray-Ban (or the even earlier Ray-Ban Stories from back when Facebook was still Facebook). While they are a bit chunky, the Meta Ray-Ban Display are some of the most sophisticated smart glasses on the market right now due in large part to their single full-color screen. Karissa Bell for EngadgetEven though they don't have built-in displays, the ability to capture photos and videos and play audio via built-in speakers brought the idea of smart glasses into the mainstream without making the concept look or feel completely ridiculous. Those earlier models then paved the wayfor even more sophisticated iterations like the Meta Ray-Ban Display from earlier this fall, which features a stunning RGB HUD (though only in the right lens) that has gotten us tantalizingly close to a true wearable display that doesn't make you look like a cyborg. Of course, Meta isn't the only game in town: there's a rapidly growing number of competitors from companies like Even Realities, Rokkid, TCL, Xreal, Viture and more. But for an even clearer sign of where the tech giants are heading, we can just look at Meta's two biggest competitors: Apple and Google. While Apple hasn't publicly announced plans to make its own smart glasses, Bloomberg's Mark Gurman who is one of the company's most reliable analysts provided inside info earlier this fall that Tim Cook and Co. are planning to pivot away from a proper follow-up to the Vision Pro in favor of more lightweight spectacles with greater mass appeal. This shouldn't really come as a major surprise, as sales of Apple's $3,500 headset have been lackluster. But more importantly, for a company that's extremely cautious about entering new product categories (foldable iPhone anyone?), it feels very telling to hear that Apple is shifting to smart glasses instead of abandoning the idea of wearable displays entirely. This is a company that doesn't swing and miss very often, so the idea of two flops in a row seems preposterous. If this pivot is real, there must be some Apple execs who are big believers that glasses and not goggles are the right choice for future development. Here are two of Google's reference design smart glasses. The one in the front features dual RGB waveguide displays while the one in the back relies on a single monocular screen.Sam Rutherford for EngadgetMeanwhile, Google is taking a two-pronged approach. In addition to releasing a new mixed reality OS Android XR on Samsung's Galaxy XR headset in October, the company has also teased upcoming smart glasses along with a handful of partners including glasses makers Gentle Monster and Warby Parker. Just this week, the company also added a number of new features to Android XR designed to support a wide range of upcoming devices while simultaneously making it easier for developers to port existing apps over to smart glasses and headsets. And if you still need additional evidence regarding Google's desire to get into smart glasses, consider that even with its ongoing collaboration, the company also spent $100 million to acquire a 4 percent stake in Gentle Monster. Regardless of who is making them though, the big draw for these companies is the idea that smart glasses will become a new piece of core personal computing, similar to how people rely on smartphones and laptops today (or to a lesser extent wireless headphones and smartwatches). If true, that could become a trillion-dollar market in the next 10 to 15 years (or sooner, who knows), which not only makes it a natural avenue for expansion but possibly a future existential crisis for certain companies. After all, none of these organizations want to be the next Microsoft after it failed to develop a successful smartphone or mobile OS.Fine, the smart glasses trend is real, but why would we even want them?At this point, I hope it's clear that the push for smart glasses is very real and very serious. But so far, we've only addressed why companies are betting big on them. So what's in it for us, the people who ight actually buy and use them? Well, to answer that, we need to separate the current models into three main categories.A great use case for smart glasses would be to provide heads-up mapping without the need to constantly look down at your phone as seen in this demo clip of Android XR. GoogleFirst, there are the most basic smart glasses that don't come with built-in displays and typically rely on cameras and built-in speakers for enhanced functionality. The best example of this class of devices is the Meta Ray-Ban smart glasses (or the original Ray-Ban Stories) along with rivals like the Bose Sound Frames, which, believe it or not, have been on the market since 2019. However, before anyone gets attached to these early models, the simplest smart glasses already kind of feel like dinosaurs and will probably, in the not-too-distant future, go extinct. They were an interesting attempt to add things like music playback or photo and video capture to regular-looking sunglasses, but their limited feature set puts a clear ceiling on what they can do. Plus, if this is what people really wanted, they would have taken off already. Waveguides like the ones built into the Even Realities G2 project images directly onto their lenses allowing for super sleek glasses featuring a heads-up display. Sam Rutherford for EngadgetThis brings us to more recent offerings like the Meta Ray-Ban Display, Even Realities G2, the Halliday glasses and others which add some type of built-in display to the mix. Most often, these models rely on waveguide displays as they enable thinner and lighter designs while propagating images onto the glasses' lenses. Currently, most of these smart glasses feature single-color optics (usually green) to reduce complexity and power draw, but there are others like the Meta Ray-Ban Display and both the TCL RayNeo X2 and X3 that support full color.In this day and age when everyone is surrounded by screens, the idea of yet another display mounted inches away from your eyeballs might sound like the last thing you want. However, because modern smart glasses are much more discreet and less awkward-looking, I find that they can actually help cut down on distractions. That's because instead of having to peek down at your phone or smartwatch to check notifications, reply to messages or look up directions, you can do many or all of these things using smart glasses all in the middle of a conversation without anyone noticing. Not only does this keep your focus where it should be on people instead of gadgets the glasses are also just as easy to wear as a smartwatch and far more comfortable than bulky VR headsets. Then, when you consider some other features of modern smart glasses like on-the-fly translation, the ability to function as a teleprompter hidden in plain sight or additional support from AI, suddenly you have a wearable that allows you to keep all of your other devices neatly stashed away. In many respects, smart glasses could be the portable displays that people might not even know they want.Compared to rivals with waveguides, glasses featuring "birdbath" optics are often significantly thicker and bulkier. Sam Rutherford for EngadgetSpeaking of portable displays: If you recall, I mentioned above how most smart glasses generally don't need to be tethered to other devices. The exception to that comes from a subclass of specs that are primarily designed to function as wearable monitors capable of supporting one or more virtual screens that can be in excess of 100 inches in size, relatively speaking. The most well-known smart glasses in this category come from Xreal and Viture, with both companies offering a range of models with varying levels of performance. One interesting thing to note is instead of waveguides, some of these smart glasses rely on birdbath optics. This means instead of projecting an image into the lens itself, they use a beamsplitter and mirror to reflect images into your eye. The benefit of this is that you get good image quality from components that cost less than an equivalent waveguide setup, with the downside being increased light loss, potentially lower brightness and a much thicker design. This results in chunky frames that often look likethey are sitting too far away from your face, which might not be immediately apparent if you see someone using them from afar. But up close, they don't look quite right. Or at least they dont look like a pair of "normal" glasses.Another issue is that due to more light loss, birdbath smart glasses require darker lenses (similar to sunglasses), which means they aren't great for wearing all day in a variety of environments. And because we still don't really have a great protocol for wireless displays (though it looks like Valve may be cooking up something with the Steam Frames), most of these need to be connected by wire to a nearby PC. So you plug them in, put them on, get your work done and then you take them off. Project Aura is Xreal's next-gen smart glasses and they feature a large 70-degree field of view and fancy electrochromic lenses. Sam Rutherford for EngadgetThat said, for those who need a ton of screen real estate, this type of smart glasses can be a very attractive alternative to traditional portable monitors. On top of being smaller and more portable, they provide additional privacy when working in public spaces like a cafe or plane, which is what prompted a doctor friend of mine to get a pair instead of going with a portable display. And for the gamers out there, because they can be connected to a phone or even a portable PC or Switch 2 (with the proper dock, of course), they're great for people who might not have room for or access to a big screen TV.So where do we go from here?Ultimately, I think all three types of smart glasses will merge into one as engineers perfect the tech and steal ideas from one another, though there will surely be plenty of room for more niche designs. But more importantly, if we consider the types of gadgets most people carry around today, it boils down to just a handful of devices: a smartphone, some type of wireless audio (either earbuds or headphones) and maybe a health and fitness tracker of some kind (typically a smartwatch or smart ring). Even tough they didn't have a built-in display, the Meta Ray-Ban smart glasses from 2023 raised a ton of awareness for the category.Sam Rutherford for EngadgetSmart glasses have the potential to really round out that kit by allowing us to keep most of those devices in our pocket while the wearables serve up helpful info when we need it, but without being overly intrusive or distracting. In the short term, you'll still need a laptop for work, but smart glasses may have a role to play there too, as they can provide way more screen space than a traditional physical display (even the new-fangled flexible ones). It might never happen, but I wouldnt rule out a future scenario where your next employer gives you a company-issued phone and a pair of smart glasses and that's it. Before that happens though, there are still a bunch of other things that need to be figured out. Without help from a mouse or keyboard, navigating a virtual display is a bit of a challenge. AI combined with hand and eye tracking can help, but no one has really nailed that combo yet. Not even Apple could do so on the much bulkier Vision Pro. To address this, Meta created a bracelet (they call it a neural band) that pairs with the Ray-Ban Display that can detect subtle movements so you can type or navigate menus practically anywhere. Even Realities opted for a ring accessory that does some basic health monitoring and comes with a tiny touchpad. In the more distant future, this hurdle may be solved by BCIs (brain-computer interfaces), but even the most optimistic view suggests that those aren't going to be mainstream for a long time.Even though we're still a long ways away, one day everyone might be able to have something like Tony Stark's E.D.I.T.H. smart glasses from the Marvel Universe. MarvelThe issue for Meta is that it's pretty obvious that its wristband really ought to be incorporated into a smartwatch. The idea of a single-purpose bracelet that doesn't track your health or do anything else sort of feels like a step backwards. And there's the problem of Meta's glasses being largely tied down to its own platforms (i.e. Instagram, Whatsapp and Facebook), which may end up being a major hindrance after rivals like Google and Apple catch up.And then there's the cost. Right now, a pair of Meta Ray-Ban Displays (which thankfully come with the wristband) costs $800. That's a lot for what is basically a publicly available beta test. But when you consider that an Even Realties G2 and an R2 ring costs even more at $850, it's clear that wearing smart glasses is going to be a very expensive hobby for at least the next few years. And while more single-purpose smart glasses from Xreal and Viture are a bit more affordable, with models ranging from $400 to $550 or $600, they still aren't cheap. On top of that, getting prescription lenses for smart glasses can often be a major pain in the ass and may not even be an option for people with more limited eyesight. But those are problems for another day. And just because tech giants are pouring billions into the development of smart glasses doesn't mean they will be a guaranteed hit. If you care about tech, alongside AI and possibly EVTOL aircraft (aka flying taxis), pay attention to the advancements in smart glasses. Otherwise, you could miss out on what might be the next major wave in sci-fi gadgetry made real.This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/wearables/in-2025-tech-giants-decided-smart-glasses-are-the-next-big-thing-163000812.html?src=rss
Welcome to our latest roundup of what's going on in the indie game space. Between The Game Awards and showcases like Day of the Devs, Wholesome Snack, Latin American Games and Women-Led Games, theres been a ton of video game news over the last week (I need Control Resonant ASAP, please and thank you, Remedy). And hey, guess what? I've got even more for you to dig into, including info on some new releases that you can play right now.One of those is a game Id been looking forward to since about 2022, and its always nice when something youve remained patient for turns out to be worth the wait. In Sam Eng's Skate Story, you play as a demon who accepts a deal offered by the Devil. If the demon can ride a skateboard to the Moon and swallow it after being transformed into a creature made of glass and pain, the Devil will grant them their freedom. Its just as strange as that setup sounds. While youll need to execute combos to defeat bosses, this is a skateboarding game that leans more heavily on story than pure gameplay. Its visually and sonically arresting too, with Blood Cultures and John Fio crafting a killer soundtrack I know Ill be listening to for a long time to come. Skate Story is out now on Nintendo Switch 2, Steam and PS5 for $20. PlayStation Plus Extra and Premium members can play it at no extra cost. New releasesUnbeatable is another game Ive had on my radar for some time, though I havent had a chance to jump in yet. This is another stylish game in which you play as Beat, who sings in a band. However, music is outlawed in this world (oh no!). Through rhythm-based minigames and battles with cops, Beat tries to bring back the music. There's a separate arcade mode with a dedicated progression system too.I'm a sucker for stories about rebellious underdogs, and this rhythm adventure could well hook me in. Unbeatable from D-Cell Games and publisher Playstack is available on Steam and PS5 for $28 (theres a 10 percent discount on Steam until December 23). It's set to hit Xbox Series X/S very soon too.Speaking of games I've been keeping an eye on, Adrift (from solo developer S.K.9.8 and co-publisher Secret Sauce) was one of the first games I covered when I started doing this weekly roundup earlier this year. It's a driving game in which your aim is to deliver a volatile energy core. Since you're traversing a hot desert, you'll need to be careful to prevent the core from overheating and blowing up. Thankfully, there are safe spots and cooling stations where you can bring down the temperature.The vaporwave aesthetic of Adrift caught my eye and although I dig the presentation, the game isn't quite clicking for me in the early going. It didn't take long before my vehicle got stuck and I had to reset, and I'm finding the top-down world a little confusing to navigate. I'll stick with it for at least a little longer, though. Adrift is out now on Steam. It usually costs $13 though there's a 25 percent discount until December 23. I've very happy that a game like Drywall Eating Simulator can exist. Peripheral Playbox's satirical walking sim sees your character trying to deal with the maddening realities of daily life and the frustration that one may find in dealing with other people. Get mad enough and you'll be able to punch through a wall (something you'll have to do to move through the levels anyway). Then, you can munch on some drywall to calm yourself down.I had a good time with it and theres some pointedly funny writing here. I thought AI sucks but it told me that was wrong and I believed it, says one person. That's all well and good, but I mainly just want the NPCs to leave me alone so I can eat drywall in peace. Drywall Eating Simulator is out now on Steam. It'll usually run you $10, but there's a 10 percent discount until December 17.Planet of Lana was one of my favorite games of 2023 and now it's available on iOS and Android for $9. It sees teenage Lana and her cute companion Mui making their way through a world that's been taken over by alien robots as they try to rescue Lana's sister.This is a puzzle platformer in the vein of Inside and Limbo, and despite the pretty and often bright presentation, it's just as dystopian as those games. It sounds gorgeous too, thanks in large part to a beautiful score from The Last Guardian composer Takeshi Furukawa. I'm very much looking forward to the sequel from Wishfully and publisher Thunderful. That's set to arrive next year.A Game About Digging A Hole is one of this year's real indie success stories. Its a game that a developer started making in their spare time that has sold more than 1.2 million copies since February. After landing on PC and mobile, the $5 game from Doublebee and publisher Rokaplay is now on Nintendo Switch, Xbox Series X/S and PS5. It's on Game Pass Ultimate, Game Pass Premium and PC Game Pass.It's a straightforward loop. Start digging a hole in your backyard, sell the stuff you find, upgrade your equipment and keep going. Just, uh, be careful down there. You never quite know what you'll run into.Upcoming Vampire Therapist developer Little Bat Games has revealed its latest project, Better Than Us, which is coming to Steam in 2026. It's a narrative-driven sci-fi narrative game in which you'll infiltrate swanky parties thrown by wealth hoarders in the future to steal spoils back from them. Violence isn't the solution here, as you'll need to charm the ultra-rich, who buy elections and have "monopolized AI development to ensure machines serve their interests" (I dunno, this all seems extremely far-fetched). You can spin up a web of lies about things like how your husband died and how much Worldcoin you have. To maintain your ruse, you'll need to keep your story straight by remembering what you said and to which characters. Okomotive (Herdling, Far: Changing Tides) just revealed its next game. PinKeep is a roguelike deckbuilder in which you'll place structures on a playing field to fend off enemies. To collect resources, you'll need to play some pinball. By using the flippers (and flicking the ball for more precise movement), you can pick up what you need to fight back against your opponents. You can damage bad guys directly with the balls too. As a Ball x Pit enthusiast with a tepid but growing interest in deckbuilders, this speaks to me. A PinKeep demo is coming to Steam in January, with the full game set to arrive late in 2026.AudioMech is a neat-looking game that popped up for the first time during the pre-show of The Game Awards. This is a rhythm-based action title from Dylan Fitterer, the creator of Audiosurf. It taps into whatever music you have playing on your computer (even something that you're streaming or playing through a microphone) to customize both your weapons and opponents.A track that's heavy on bass might give you a longer sword, while vocals and lead instruments can power a cannon. There are several ways to play, including a mode in which you don't take damage and a boss rush option. AudioMech is coming to Steam and there's a demo available now. Let's wrap things up with something a little more relaxing. Lost and Found Co. is a hidden object game from Bit Egg Inc. and co-publisher Gamirror Games. During the latest Wholesome Snack showcase, it was revealed that the game is coming to Steam on February 11.It's little wonder that more than 170,000 Steam users have wishlisted this game. It looks absolutely lovely. The developers sought to recapture the "magic" of childhood puzzle books in their hand-drawn world. Here, you'll help Ducky, a duck-turned-human intern at a startup that hunts for items that townspeople have lost. There's a demo available that features the option to decorate a part of the world using items you find.This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/gaming/swallowing-the-moon-and-other-new-indie-games-worth-checking-out-154937071.html?src=rss
My boyfriend texted me those dreaded four words: "Is your Spotify down?" Sure enough his, mine and thousands of other users' Spotify accounts appear to be down and out at the moment, with Downdetector recording over 10,000 reports from users. Spotify is apparently working on the problem. The account, Spotify Status, shared an update on X at 9:45 AM on Monday, "Were aware of some issues right now and are checking them out!" About an hour later, the company shared an update saying that the outage was resolved as of 10:34 AM ET. All clear! Thanks for your patience. If you're still having issues, you can find out more on this issue on our Community support thread: https://t.co/IaZcQTy9jF Spotify Status (@SpotifyStatus) December 15, 2025Update, December 15, 2025, 10:48AM ET: This story and its headline were updated to indicate that Spotifys outage has been resolved.This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/entertainment/music/spotify-was-down-this-morning-for-thousands-of-users-updates-on-the-widespread-outages-150453379.html?src=rss
