93 m. ago Children are developing 'Fortnite accents' after spending too much time playing the video game, experts warn

Experts have warned that some children are spending so much time playing the game that they're developing 'Fortnite accents'.

Events

1 hour ago The cost of gaming is soaring – but for many fans, a game is ‘worth’ more than its price tag

As tariffs raise the price of consoles, is it time for gamers to reevaluate our relationship with new releases?Now is not a good time to buy a new games console.The shock waves from Donald Trump’s will-he-won’t-he approach to trade tariffs were always going to hit video games, an industry that relies on incredibly complex global supply chains. On Monday, Nikkei Asia reported on analysis from a major electronics supplier suggesting that the Nintendo Switch 2 will be subject to Trump’s 145% tariff on goods imported to the US from China, despite his apparent decision to exempt smartphones and computers. Continue reading...

Sport

6 h. ago Fun and Games by John Patrick McHugh review – teenage dreams

The tale of a 17-year-old Irish boy’s painful summer of romance and uncertain friendship captures the tenderness and menace of young menI wouldn’t wish the pains of being a 17-year-old boy on my worst enemy. The awkward longing, the spots, the insecurity: it’s enough to cringe yourself into oblivion. For John Patrick McHugh, however, it is a rich seam to squeeze – not only for humour, but for a nuanced examination of burgeoning masculinity.John Masterson, the main character of McHugh’s debut novel, is in the limboland of a post-exams summer, playing football and hooking up with a slightly older colleague at the hotel where he has a part-time job. In this way, Fun and Games stalks the same emotional and geographical territory as McHugh’s 2021 short-story collection, Pure Gold, also set on an island off the Irish mainland in County Mayo, and also knee-deep in the turmoil of young lads, painted with tenderness and menace in equal measure. Continue reading...

Politics

7 h. ago ‘It’s allowed me to see through his eyes’: Super Mario, my dad and me

When his mum found their old family NES covered in dust and rust, Thomas Hobbs cleaned it up, got it working and reconnected with his childhood and late fatherOne of my earliest memories is watching my mum and dad play the opening level of Super Mario Bros in cooperative mode on the Nintendo Entertainment System. This was the early 1990s, and they were joined at the hip on the sofa, laughing at the idea of two portly plumbers becoming gigantic after consuming copious amounts of magic mushrooms.In this moment I sensed their natural chemistry, while the intoxicating mix of 8-bit visuals and perky, synth-heavy music blew my toddler mind. Although it was irritating seeing them constantly fail to jump high enough to hit the top of the flagpole at the end of the level, I remember being transfixed by the TV screen, and I’m pretty sure this was the first time I connected properly with a video game. Continue reading...

Politics

3 d. ago Donald Trump is now badly wounded. Europe can seize an advantage | Will Hutton

It’s time to fashion a new global trade order without the USThe game-changing geopolitical event last week was the near collapse of the immense $29tn ­market in US government debt, threatening the stability of the American and global financial system and the safe-haven status of dollar assets.The US president boasted as the collapse unfolded that world leaders were queueing to “kiss his arse”. Twelve hours later, he was in the same humiliatingly weak position as the then British prime minister Liz Truss found herself after her tax-slashing “mini-budget” in 2022. The markets had forced him to pause for 90 days the swingeing range of “reciprocal” tariffs that he announced on what he proclaimed “liberation day”; instead he lowered all of them, bar that on China, to 10%. Continue reading...

Politics

4 d. ago Nottingham Forest v Everton, Brighton v Leicester and more: clockwatch – live

Southampton v Aston Villa, plus EFL and BundesligaLive scoreboard | And you can contact Dom on emailOther full-time scores from the early games:Manchester City 5-2 Crystal PalaceCeltic 5-1 KilmarnockLeeds 2-1 PrestonPlymouth 2-1 Sheffield United Continue reading...

Politics

5 d. ago Dejan Kulusevski: Tottenham star 'touch and go' to return for crucial Europa League decider

Spurs could get a double boost just in time for next week’s crucial game in Germany

Politics

5 d. ago Australia star Ellyse Perry ‘excited’ to join Hampshire for Women’s T20 Blast

Perry will play at least six games in new tournamentSigning is coup for English domestic women’s cricketHampshire have signed the Australia all-rounder Ellyse Perry, in a major coup for the restructure of the English women’s domestic game.Perry, the all-time leading run-scorer and wicket-taker in the Women’s Ashes, has been at the forefront of eight Australia World Cup wins – two in ODIs and six in Twenty20 – and was named the International Cricket Council’s women’s player of the decade in 2020. Continue reading...

Politics

6 d. ago ‘It’s time to move on’: Tearful Dončić drops 45 in first game at Dallas since trade

Lakers star scores 31 of 45 points before halftime in winDončić shed tears during lengthy pre-game tribute videoLuka Dončić scored 45 points in his first game in Dallas since being traded to the Los Angeles, helping the Lakers wrap up a playoff spot with a 112-97 victory over the Mavericks on Wednesday night.Dončić’s emotional return came two months after a seismic trade out of nowhere that sent the five-time All-Star to Los Angeles. The 26-year-old star from Slovenia spent his first five and a half seasons with the Mavericks, and still had two seasons left on his contract. Continue reading...

Politics

6 d. ago Adam Peaty makes LA 2028 decision after key change to Olympic swimming programme

The six-time Olympic medallist appears set to bid for a fourth Games in 2028

Politics

6 d. ago Adam Peaty makes LA 2028 decision after key change to swimming programme

The six-time Olympic medallist appears set to bid for a fourth Games in 2028

Politics

7 d. ago Blue Prince release time – when Xbox Game Pass and PS Plus get this year's best

A major new indie title is on its way to both Xbox Game Pass and PS Plus on day one, and it's already shaking up the critical world.

Politics

7 d. ago PS Plus Extra April 2025 reveal time as first game announced with 92% Metacritic score

PS5 gamers can download smash hit Blue Prince this month with their PS Plus Extra subscription, but there's more to come – here's all we know about the upcoming lineup

Sport

7 d. ago USWNT lose for second time in three games after Brazil’s late winner

Brazilians gain revenge for defeat in Olympic finalEmma Hayes names inexperienced starting XIAmanda Gutierres scored in stoppage time and Brazil defeated the United States 2-1 on Tuesday night for the team’s first victory over the Americans since 2014.It was the second of two friendlies between the teams, who were meeting for the first time since the United States beat Brazil 1-0 in the gold medal game at last summer’s Olympics. Continue reading...

Politics

8 d. ago Leicester set embarrassing new record after eighth home defeat in a row without a goal

LEICESTER 0-3 NEWCASTLE: Jacob Murphy scored twice early in the game and Harvey Barnes added a third before half-time as the Foxes' season plumbed new depths

Politics

9 d. ago A Minecraft Movie breaks records to become highest opening video game movie of all time

First-weekend takings of $163m in North America puts the adaptation of the wildly popular video game ahead of previous record holder The Super Mario Bros MovieA Minecraft Movie has broken box office records to record the highest ever first weekend total for a video game adaptation.According to the Hollywood Reporter, the film took $163m (£128m) on its first three days at the North American box office (including approximately $10m for preview screenings on Thursday), which puts it well ahead of the previous record holder The Super Mario Bros Movie, which took $146m on its opening weekend in the US and Canada in 2023. Continue reading...

Culture

9 d. ago André Onana will not speed up passing to placate Manchester United fans

Goalkeeper says he takes his time to help teammates‘I have to let my guys breathe. They need me to do that’André Onana has shrugged off criticism from Manchester United fans over his slow distribution by stating he takes that approach to assist his teammates.The goalkeeper has been the subject of supporter discontent for sometimes lingering over the ball rather than executing a quick pass but said: “It doesn’t affect me because the decision I make is to help the team. Sometimes I will make the right decision, sometimes I will make the wrong decision. When I feel my players need to rest I have to take my time; when I feel we need to speed up the game I will do it.” Continue reading...

Sport

9 d. ago Igor Tudor injects fury into Juventus to rev up race for Champions League | Nicky Bandini

New manager has transformed mood and on Sunday halted the seven-match winning streak of Claudio Ranieri’s RomaIgor Tudor was on the pitch, stepping out of his technical area and on to the playing field as he gestured frantically at his defenders, jabbing a pointed finger so close to Stephan El Shaarawy that it appeared he might tap the Roma forward on the shoulder. It has been a little over 20 years since Tudor played his last game for Juventus, but all that time away does not appear to have lessened his passion.The Bianconeri had needed this, needed something, an injection of purpose, of fury, of life. All their energies seemed to have expired under Thiago Motta, four defeats in six games telling only a part of the story. Anyone could lose a match to Atalanta, but 4-0? At home? And to follow that up with a 3-0 thrashing by one of your club’s favourite victims, Fiorentina? Continue reading...

Sport

9 d. ago Alex Ovechkin is now the NHL’s greatest goalscorer. It’s debatable what else he is

The Russian has broken a record some believed would never be passed. But, like the man whose mark he bettered, he has received scrutiny away from the rink“He’s definitely a very, very, very good player,” the Washington Capitals’ director of amateur scouting, Ross Mahoney, told reporters on the night of the NHL entry draft in June 2004. He was talking about Alex Ovechkin, who the team picked first overall that night. “How good will he be?” Mahoney asked. “Time will tell.” Now, nearly 21 years later, time has had its say. On Sunday afternoon in a game against the New York Islanders, Ovechkin scored his 895th goal, passing Wayne Gretzky’s all-time NHL scoring record, a tally that had stood since 29 March 1999 and that few believed would ever be broken.Had things been slightly different in 2004, we might have been having this conversation a year ago. The NHL season after Ovechkin’s draft – the 2004-05 campaign – never happened, replaced instead by a long dispute between the league and t...

Politics

1 week ago GTA 5 on Xbox Game Pass returns on console and this time with the PC Enhanced Edition too

GTA 5 comes to Xbox Game Pass for the first time since it left back in early 2024, and it's coming with all the bells and whistles for players on console and PC.

Sport