"30 years ago chronicled a generational conflict between an old-timey pull-string doll and a fancy new one with buttons. The two toys learned to get along. This week a trailer for showing both toys enacting a against tablets. While I agree on the potential detriments of excessive screen-time, it is telling how the creators and intended audience now identify less with the kid playing with toys and more with the adult who just spent all of dinner hearing about ' butlerian jihad looksmaxxing.'"
"It has been an ominous month for the video gaming industry. AI-infrastructure is bodying the consumer technology world . More multi-million live-service games failed to meet its mark while Sony appears to be rebuilding themselves entirely in that image. Not only is Microsoft singularly focussed on AI integration, but as I wrote this the heads of Xbox abruptly announced their departure and replacement with reps from the AI-wing of the company ."
"All of these dramatic pivots occur in the shadow of inconvenient player trends . More players are playing fewer games. The games they do play are years old . Landing a 'forever game' is obviously lucrative to the company behind it, and why Sony is wagering they'll nail at least one for themselves, but it's a formula that can only shrink the industry."
An animated toy sequel frames a conflict between traditional play and screens, with creators and audiences aligning with adults worried about screen time. Hollywood continues to supply distinct content for children and adults, while the gaming industry lacks a comparable ecosystem. AI infrastructure is reshaping consumer technology and prompting major companies to reorganize around AI priorities. Several high-budget live-service games have failed commercially, and corporate leadership changes signal deeper AI bets. Player behavior shows more people playing fewer, older games, increasing the value of long-lived 'forever games' but concentrating revenue and shrinking creative diversity. Diverse niche communities persist despite industry gaps.
Read at Kotaku
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