the verge — Lorien Times

Project Helix: Microsoft's mechanism for digital rent extraction

You read about Project Helix—Microsoft’s next Xbox—and you hear words like “backward compatibility” and “every game ever made.” It sounds like a miracle of engineering, doesn't it?

By Josie Calloway · August 4, 2026

Game Freak mistakes appearance for work in Beast of Reincarnation

The story of Game Freak and its upcoming title, Beast of Reincarnation, isn't about gaming; it’s about the economics of institutional inertia.

By Ray Dombrowski · August 4, 2026

Surprise! Google will introduce a new Pixel device on August 12

They call it innovation; I call it a predictable cash grab dressed up in sleek bezels and glowing notification lights.

By Josie Calloway · August 1, 2026