Ars Technica Gaming

1. Everybody panic: A Valve developer said "HLX" in public

   Sound designer lets Half Life-related codename slip at a conference.

2. Switch 2 security takes a hit as hackers unlock homebrew access

   "Userland" exploit relies on integer overflow found in "SmileBasic" interpreter.

3. Leaked Mass Effect: Universe trailer gives a taste of what we're all missing

   We can't have nice things, but at least we can get trailers for them.

4. This emulator reimagines Nintendo’s Virtual Boy with a full color display

   Tile-based color palettes go way beyond the four shades of red on original hardware.

5. Xbox wants you to pay 24 to 40 cents per hour to stream games you already bought

   Time-based a la carte charges come on top of the purchase price for the games themselves.

6. RIP BioWare: EA shuts down storied RPG studio after over three decades

   Next Mass Effect project canceled as parent company lays off 400.

7. The past, present, and future share a show floor at Pinball Expo 2026

   Flipping through the highlights in and around Pinball Expo 2026.

8. Microsoft reportedly projects $1,200 to $1,800 price for 2028 Project Helix

   Xbox maker is also apparently planning its own gaming handheld for next year.

9. AI game clones are making indie developers afraid to show their work

   Delayed Steam Next Fest demo is a sign of a growing problem for indie devs.

10. Why BioWare's Neverwinter Nights still has thousands of active players

    The single-player is just OK, but according to the players, that doesn't matter.

11. US Rep proposes bill to give video game buyers "ownership," not "a license"

    There are still significant hurdles ahead, both technical and legislative.

12. Epic says its new vibe-coded Epic Games Launcher is faster than Steam

    But the new "Preview" app "will have some bugs," Epic warns.

13. Legendary FPS level designer Richard "Levelord" Gray dies at 68

    Tributes pour in for the man behind iconic Duke Nukem 3D levels and much more.

14. ESA targets Anbernic emulation handhelds as "superfake" piracy enablers

    But third-party sellers, not Anbernic, are the ones routinely selling ROM-filled SD cards.

15. Epic Games reportedly pivoting to "AI first" game development model

    "No more hand-written code" or AI-free art for delayed Marvel/Star Wars shooter.

16. After a 10-year redemption arc, No Man's Sky is coming to the iPhone and iPad

    You can get a universe in your pocket if you have an iPhone 11 or later.

17. Long-lost horror gaming cult classic P.T. gets a much-needed PC port

    Kojima's discontinued "playable trailer" is no longer stuck on a few aging PS4 hard drives.

18. Someone got Doom in an SQL database

    1,300 lines of SQL querying renders accurate bitmapped views of Hell at 35 fps.

19. PS5 emulation is suddenly making big strides on PC

    Games like Astro Bot and Demon’s Souls are running ably without a console.

20. The PS5 hacking scene just took a big leap forward

    New exploit works on all but the most recently updated consoles.