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Culture

Smiling Friends Is a Paean to the Internet’s Unruly Past

The Adult Swim show is a reminder of the days of good old-fashioned Flash animation.

The Impending Demise of the Best Streaming Service 

HBO Max was a big-swing Emmy machine. Its merger with Discovery+ will mean more casualties of the crap you love.

Bodies Bodies Bodies Is a Slasher Movie for the Extremely Online

Director Halina Reijn says she “tried to really swim in the ocean of that whole generation.”

The Endless Afterlife of The Sandman

Theoretically, Neil Gaiman finished his fantasy comic series in 1996. But studios and publishers keep reviving it—maybe not for the reason you think. 

Patton Oswalt on Life, Love, and Catfishing

The actor and comedian breaks down the net-heavy world of his new movie, I Love My Dad.

Is This Nier: Automata Church a Hoax or a 5-Year-Old Secret?

A player claims to have found a hidden room. Now a whole community of fans is trying to figure out what it is.

It’s Not Just Loot Boxes: Predatory Monetization Is Everywhere

The UK recently declined to regulate prize draws as a form of gambling, but does it matter? The industry has moved on to more problematic ways to make money.

Give Yourself Permission to Buy That Steam Deck

It’s not a “must-have,” but it sure is nice.

No NFTs in Minecraft? This Crypto Group Will Make Its Own Game

In the battle over digital ownership, both NFT Worlds and Microsoft-owned Mojang claim to be putting players first.

TikTok and Twitch Streamers Are Trading Sleep for Cash

“Interactive sleep streamers" accept donations from folks who want wake them up with lights or loud noises. Is it worth it? 

Six-Word Sci-Fi: Stories Written by You

Here's this month's prompt, how to submit, and an illustrated archive of past favorites.

Is Beyoncé’s Renaissance a Sign of the Apocalypse?

Probably not, but tell that to the conspiracy theorists.

How to Support People in States Where Abortion Is Under Threat

Donating to national organizations is great. But these local reproductive health care services—in places under immediate threat—could use your help, too.

This Hardcore Band Is a Product of the Internet—in the Best Way

Turnstile breaks most of the rules of their genre. Their fans, who grew up online and care less about convention, follow them because of it.

Bookstagram Is Fueling an Unnerving Trend

Authors aren't above criticism—but when they're tagged in negative social media reviews of their books, it can stifle the conversation.

Comic-Con Is Back! Will It Live Up to Its Former Hype?

The annual pop culture confab held a series of smaller and/or online events during the pandemic. Here's what to expect from this year's in-person event.

How to Promote Your Music Online

From TikTok to Patreon, here's how musicians can use the internet to cut through the noise.
Story Addict

The Best Podcasts for Everyone

Get your fix of tech, true crime, pop culture, or comedy with these audio adventures. 
TV

Alan Tudyk on His Favorite Sci-Fi to Watch Right Now

The Resident Alien star—and science fiction fan—gave WIRED his picks for the best shows on TV, from Severance to Peacemaker.
Movies

Nope Rightly Challenges Our Love of Spectacle

Jordan Peele’s sci-fi western is all about the danger of looking in our image-obsessed culture.
Swoopsie-daisy

A New Time-Travel App, Reviewed

The ChronoSwoop company has appeared out of nowhere and dropped an addictive new app, with “Swoop left/Swoop right” functions.
Video Games

Activision Blizzard Workers Keep Fighting for a Seat at the Table

It’s been one year since the harassment lawsuit that rocked the games industry. Employees say the company hasn't changed enough.
1-Up

For Kids in the Hospital, Video Games Are Part of Recovery

In-house gaming technology specialists play with and support the youngest patients. Plus, research shows that playtime gives literal health points.
Cat's cradle

Stray’s Post-Apocalyptic World Evokes the Walled City of Kowloon

This now-lost city on the outskirts of Hong Kong is perhaps the most influential gaming location you've never heard of.
button mashing

A Father’s Quest for an Accessible Game Controller

After months of writing hardware companies and developers for help, Andreas Karlsson finally found a hero in retro controller maker 8BitDo.
Books

Tomorrow, and Tomorrow, and Tomorrow Shows Games Are a Shared Art

Gabrielle Zevin’s novel makes a case that video games are one of the most empathetic forms of creativity—something the writer and her husband know well.
Video Games

This Band Wrote the Best Legend of Zelda Song of 2022

Among the Boston slowcore group's inspirations are The Ocarina of Time, Tony Hawk’s Pro Skater, and Mario Party 3.
Video Games

The Agony and Ecstasy of Playing Out Your School Years in Games

It's a formative, and sometimes traumatic, time in many people's lives. So why do so many video games want to revisit it?
Connive to Survive

F1 22 Perfectly Simulates the Morality Vacuum of Formula 1

The new game is great at capturing the excitement of motor racing. It's even better at mirroring the sport's rampant commercialism.
Angry Nerd

The First—and Last—Time We Rank the Star Wars Movies

All ranked lists are lazy, lousy, and lacking. Except this one.
Books

The Summer's Best Read Is About AI, Surveillance, and Tiny Aliens

Ever wish George Saunders tried his hand at crime fiction? Try David Musgrave’s imaginative debut novel, Lambda.
Line by Line

How to Get Into Voice Acting for Video Games

WIRED spoke with casting director Julia Bianco Schoeffling about breaking into the industry and how it’s more than just voice acting.
Alternate Historian

Humans Have Always Been Wrong About Humans

The Dawn of Everything fundamentally shifted my view of … everything. I had to meet one of the minds behind its world-tilting revelations.
party on, dude

Travel Back in Time With Street View and Map Archives

These free, simple tools for phone or web let you visualize urban sprawl or see what your street looked like before the turn of the millennium.
Groovy

The Quarry and Evil Dead: The Game Lure You Into a Scary Movie

The games take different approaches to the horror game genre, but both are informed by their love for slasher flicks.