Culture
Game Changer
How Covid-19 Changed Hideo Kojima’s Vision for Death Stranding 2
The video game legend tells WIRED that connection and isolation are major themes of his highly anticipated sequel. The game will be available on PlayStation on June 26.
Silvio Mazzitelli
An Experimental New Dating Site Matches Singles Based on Their Browser Histories
Browser Dating users upload their 5,000 most recent searches, which are turned into a “browsing personality profile" by AI.
Jason Parham
The Viral Storm Streamers Predicting Deadly Tornadoes—Sometimes Faster Than the Government
Storm streamers are using radars and AI robots to track extreme weather for millions of YouTube subscribers, in some cases issuing alerts faster than the National Weather Service.
Hilary Beaumont
I Joined Every Class Action Lawsuit I Could Find, and So Can You
More Americans than ever are becoming eligible for a class action payout—but the money is going to a small, dedicated group of people who are paying attention.
Andy Vasoyan
Meet the ‘Relationship Anarchists’ Ditching Romantic Norms
A growing segment of millennials and Gen Z are forming “anti-hierarchal” relationships with multiple partners and friends, according to a new study by the dating app Feeld.
Jason Parham
Microsoft Finally Gets Into the Handheld Game With ROG Xbox Ally
Xbox players will soon get the freedom to play anywhere with two handheld consoles that Microsoft plans to release this holiday season.
Megan Farokhmanesh
What Really Happened in the Aftermath of the Lizard Squad Hacks
On Christmas Day in 2014 hackers knocked out the Xbox and PlayStation gaming networks, impacting how video game companies handled cybersecurity for years.
Joe Tidy
Mario Kart World Devs Broke Their Own Rule on Who Gets to Drive
The list of playable characters in the Switch 2’s premiere game has expanded to more than 50—including birds, plants, and other players without hands or feet.
Megan Farokhmanesh
Mario Kart World Races Are More Chaotic—and Better—Than Ever
Our first impression of the Switch 2 launch title is that it marks a strong start for Nintendo’s new era.
Megan Farokhmanesh
The 46 Best Shows on Max (aka HBO Max) Right Now
The Mortician, The Last of Us, and The Rehearsal are just a few of the shows you need to be watching on Max this month.
Jennifer M. Wood and WIRED Staff
The 46 Best Movies on Netflix Right Now
Lost in Starlight, Kill Boksoon, and The Old Guard are just a few of the movies you should watch on Netflix this month.
Matt Kamen and WIRED Staff
The 46 Best Shows on Netflix Right Now
Dept. Q, Sirens, and Black Mirror are just a few of the shows you need to watch on Netflix this month.
Matt Kamen and WIRED Staff
Ballerina Deserves an Oscar Nod for Stunts—But It’ll Never Get One
The Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences announced a new Oscar category for stunt performers earlier this year. But none of the performers in the latest John Wick movie will qualify.
Angela Watercutter
Kesha Wants to ‘Smash’ the Music Industry With a New LinkedIn-Style App
Ahead of her new album and tour, pop titan Kesha says she wants to start a new platform called Smash that helps artists connect, collaborate, and collectively heal the wounds of the past.
Boone Ashworth
‘A Billion Streams and No Fans’: Inside a $10 Million AI Music Fraud Case
A chart-topping jazz album! Loads of Spotify and Apple Music plays! Just one problem: The success might not be real.
Kate Knibbs
60-Hour Dance Sessions, Simulated Sex, and Ketamine: Inside the World of Hardcore VR Ravers
VR Clubbing has exploded since Covid-19 lockdowns, with enthusiasts doing drugs and finding friends and love in an inclusive environment. But some say the convenience is making it harder to control their vices.
Mattha Busby
A Philosopher Released an Acclaimed Book About Digital Manipulation. The Author Ended Up Being AI
Italian essayist Andrea Colamedici tells WIRED Hypnocracy: Trump, Musk, and the New Architecture of Reality was a “philosophical experiment and a performance.” The book’s Chinese author does not exist.
Anna Lagos
Latest
Reading List
Trump’s Administration Wants to Erase Queer History. An Unconventional Book Club Is Fighting Back
Megan Farokhmanesh
Creator Economy
OnlyFans Turbocharged Sex Work. Now Its Founder Is Targeting the Whole Influencer Economy
Jason Parham
Video Games
Grand Theft Auto Publisher Swaps DEI for ‘Diversity of Thought’ in Annual Report
Megan Farokhmanesh
Vibe Shift
Hot Farmers, Trad Wives, and an Immigrant Reality Show: Welcome to TV’s MAGA Era
Jason Parham
Losing Game
A Gaming YouTuber Says an AI-Generated Clone of His Voice Is Being Used to Narrate Doom Videos
Megan Farokhmanesh
Food for Thought
Eating Disorder Content Is Infiltrating TikTok. Some Creators Are Going Viral Debunking It
Kat Tenbarge
Digital Culture
IVF Clinic Bombing Suspect Was Linked to ‘Anti-Life’ Ideology. Experts Fear Its Growing Influence
Manisha Krishnan