NickSchaden

Can the gaming industry adapt to a frozen market?

01.26.26 | Gaming | ∞

With the console and gaming PC market at a standstill, gaming is facing one of its largest crises in a decade. Momentum the medium took for granted — new console generations, affordable hardware upgrades, and a growing player base — has hit a wall. The ripple effects could be devastating, leading to more layoffs and shuttered studios.

But before we can look ahead, we need to understand how we got here. Gradual shifts in demand over the last decade set the stage, and economic supply shocks locked them in place.

The first signs of a major shakeup appeared around 2018 with Fortnite’s massive success. The free to play “game as a service” (GAAS) drew massive player growth and revenues that rapidly outpaced full priced games from similar genres. Other GAAS like Roblox and Minecraft followed similar trajectories around the same period.

My favorite movies of 2025

01.01.26 | film | ∞

My favorite films of 2025 featured a wider range of genres, budgets, and themes than in the past. From heart-wrenching dramas to maximalist action, and tiny Sundance debuts to $100 million studio blockbusters, all ten films give me hope for the industry’s future. While it’s an especially challenging time for filmmakers, theaters, and financiers, great art continues to flourish.

To avoid genre bias, my list is in alphabetical order and limited to theatrical or streaming releases from this year. There are also several buzzy films I wasn’t able to see before locking in my selections, including Urchin, Pillion, and Resurrection.