Resuscitating the Video Game Industry

By Nick Mokey August 17, 2009

Resuscitating the Video Game Industry

You play video games. We play video games. But with developers struggling to stay afload in turbulent financial seas, will the industry as we know it survive another decade, or disappear beneath the waves the way arcade machines did after their heyday?

Having made the case for the doom of video games in part one of the Players Only season opener “Are Video Games Dead?,” Scott Steinberg revisits the subject for part two to find out about the potential salvation of the industry.

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Will mega studios go the way of the dodo as more nimble, innovative smaller studios take their place? Or will they continue to grow and thrive with the expansion of the medium, the same way movie studios did in the 20th century?

Digital Trends’ video series Players Only debuted last year, earning critical acclaim by offering a behind-the-scenes glimpse at the video games industry, through the eyes of the people running it. The new season runs August 17 through September 28, with new episodes debuting ever Monday. Part two of Video Games are Dead is available immediately.

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As Digital Trends’ Managing Editor, Nick Mokey oversees an editorial team delivering definitive reviews, enlightening…

Gaming

Every summer 2023 gaming showcase: full schedule of live streams

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Summer is one of the most exciting times to be a gamer, as it's when most video game developers and publishers tease what's coming next. For years, this was all centered around E3, but since that show went away during the COVID-19 pandemic, publishers have switched things up and held a variety of reveal-focused live-stream events throughout the entire season. This year is shaping up to be no different, especially now that E3 2023 is canceled.

On May 24, Sony kicked things off with a PlayStation Showcase that revealed games like a Metal Gear Solid 3: Snake Eater remake and that Bungie is reviving the Marathon series. In June, though, the number of showcases ramped up. From Meta to Microsoft to gaming's main man Geoff Keighley, a lot of live-stream events have already taken place, and there's more to come in August. It can be a lot to keep track of, but we're here to help. This is every important, announcement-filled video game live stream happening throughout summer 2023.
PlayStation Showcase: May 24

Gaming

If you loved TMNT: Mutant Mayhem, play these 7 Turtles’ games next

The Turtles and April play a video game in Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: Mutant Mayhem.

Paramount Pictures' Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: Mutant Mayhem hit theaters this week, and it's a radical time at the movie theater. After watching the excellent animated movie, I had the itch to revisit some TMNT games and live out my turtle power dreams. There were a wealth of options available to me, from ones that I grew up with to titles that I've enjoyed more recently. I'm sure I won't be alone in that feeling, so allow me to pass along some of the great games starring the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles that you can dive into after seeing the movie.
This isn't just a list of the retro classics. I mixed in games from all eras, from the early arcade game that set the precedent for future TMNT titles to more recent crossovers and ambitious titles. Regardless of which you choose (or have access to at all), you're sure to have a great time playing any of these TMNT titles.
Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: Shredder's Revenge

Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: Shredder's Revenge from 2022 might be the best TMNT game ever made. It's a beat 'em up by Dotemu, the publisher of Streets of Rage 4, and Tribute Games, whose founders also worked on the shockingly solid 2007 TMNT game for Game Boy Advance. As a huge fan of the genre, I love how Shredder's Revenge hits all of the right notes required of a fantastic brawler. It has fluid combat with lots of combo potential, excellent pixel art, and really enjoyable co-op. Shredder's Revenge is also packed with references for TMNT fans from all eras.
If you were still somehow doubting its quality, it's also one of the few games to ever get a five-star review from Digital Trends. If you play one game on this list, make it this. Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: Shredder's Revenge is available now on PC, PlayStation 4, PS5, Xbox One, Xbox Series X/S, Nintendo Switch, and iOS and Android via Netflix. It's part of the Xbox Game Pass catalog too, so there's no reason to not check this game out.
Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles

Gaming

The best open-world games for PS5

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Since its release in 2020, the PS5 has amassed a large library of experiences, from shooters to sports games, RPGs, and platformers, along with a wide variety of open-world adventures. While "open world" isn't necessarily a genre in and of itself, it's a style that millions of players have fallen in love with over the years. These days, open-world games are quite common, meaning the competition to grab your attention is much stiffer. And with the likes of Marvel's Spider-Man 2 down the pipeline, there will be plenty more to play in the future.

Despite this, there are so many fantastic open-world games available on the PS5. Some lean into horror, others send you to historical periods, while one, in particular, lets you explore the entire galaxy. There is no shortage of open-world games to play on PS5, and here, we'll go through all of the best ones to choose from.