The race to wipe bezels off the face of the Earth has led to an identity crisis. Today’s phones all follow the same pattern, that of packing some sweet internals between layers of glass. Sure, we’ve got high refresh rates and processors that could make an old computer blush. But gone are the adventurous smartphones that dared to dream. Things have truly gone downhill if having a headphone jack on a device is seen as a display of courage. Removable batteries and camera shutters? Forget it.

Phones were a whole lot cooler a few years ago.

In a desperate bid…

CREATOR INTERVIEW

Gauntlet meets Bomberman. That’s how I described Knight Squad 2’s explosive predecessor back when it defined my college days. Those LAN parties remain memories that I recall fondly. Years later, it’s beyond an honor to interview the team who had painstakingly created Knight Squad. Better yet, I got my hands on a review key to dive into battle as good-ol’ Savior (one among the game’s many knights).

In what was perhaps the worst attempt at an April Fools’ joke, Volkswagen issued a press release a day ago (that has since been taken down) declaring the name change of its American division to “Voltswagen.” It was a marketing stunt intended to draw consumers to the solitary EV vehicle in the automaker’s exhaustive lineup of commercial automobiles. And while Volkswagen did get the media’s attention, most of it wasn’t positive.

Sources familiar with the matter informed Reuters of an announcement on Wednesday stating that Voltswagen was, in fact, a corporate prank. …

With the curtains falling over OnePlus’ global 9 Series launch event, my mind was on the device that didn’t make an appearance. Sure, the new LTPO displays and the Hasselblad camera tech of the 9 Pro are neat. But the device that had me waiting was not the very best that OnePlus had to offer, it was the cheapest (of the three).

The OnePlus 9R is an interesting omission from said event. And yes, it is real. Some of you may argue that the device didn’t show up solely because it’s exclusive to the Indian market. Nonetheless, I found its…

I once wrote a story on how the Game Boy’s Link Cable served as Nintendo’s umbilical cord. But today, I am fuming. Not because there was anything wrong with hooking up two Game Boy devices together but because there was a better way. While I had only dreamt of wireless connectivity for Nintendo’s stable of devices at the time, the revolution had already begun right under my nose. Pokémon FireRed and LeafGreen, remakes of Pokémon Red and Blue, came bundled with a special accessory for the first two years after their 2004 debut. My problem? …

After months of waiting, EA Play is finally hitting Xbox Game Pass on PC. While EA Play titles have been accessible on Xbox consoles since November, Microsoft encountered a couple of snags along the way. With over 60 new titles from EA and 20 from Microsoft’s Bethesda purchase, Xbox Game Pass looks meatier than ever. The game subscription service hasn’t shied away from comparisons with Netflix and Disney Plus. The comparison is well-deserved. And that’s because Microsoft is getting as many studios on board as it possibly can.

It’s a move that Netflix can’t really replicate. Now that every entertainment…

Not every adventure game is made equal. Some are made by big-budget AAA studios that tend to pander to a wide demographic, spraying darts and hoping that some will land. Others are more concentrated endeavors. A few are created by diminutive indie teams that range from solo first attempts to titles that punch well above their weight. And while most of these can put you into a flow state that can rob hours from you without notice, a few titles go further. They set a fire in your heart, a slow yet meaningful burn that will remain with you long…

It’s no surprise that the COVID-19 pandemic cut down on activities spent outside the confines of our homes. From leisure activities and sports to 9-to-5 jobs, a significant chunk of our lives was turned virtual in the span of a few weeks. But what is surprising is that the wearables market has grown considerably at a time when the daily commute no longer happens daily.

To make things clear, wearables don’t just mean smartwatches. It refers to everything from fitness trackers and smartwatches to wireless earphones. According to a report by IDC, the wearables market has grown by over 28…