Next Level
Video games offer older adults both physical and mental exercise
October 1, 2023

Video games offer older adults both physical and mental exercise

This "Next Level" episode shows how many senior citizens are finding purpose and fun through gaming.

AI fears are fueling the labor strikes in Hollywood
July 22, 2023

AI fears are fueling the labor strikes in Hollywood

Artificial intelligence is poised to completely change the film and TV industries, but Hollywood’s workers want a say in how it develops.

Mobile game ads are weird, misleading — and effective
June 14, 2023

Mobile game ads are weird, misleading — and effective

Mobile games are a huge part of the billion-dollar video game industry. So why do they rely so heavily on bizarre, misleading ads?

Dungeons & Dragons faces fan revolt over creative control clampdown
March 30, 2023

Dungeons & Dragons faces fan revolt over creative control clampdown

The role-playing game Dungeons & Dragons is more popular than ever these days, but that popularity is threatened by a consumer revolt.

Next Level: AI art is almost human, but fueled by unwilling artists
January 26, 2023

Next Level: AI art is almost human, but fueled by unwilling artists

What are the ethical, legal and moral boundaries of creating AI-generated content from other people's works?

Next Level: What Does The Future Of Gaming Look Like?
October 9, 2022

Next Level: What Does The Future Of Gaming Look Like?

From dropping quarters into arcades to strapping on a virtual reality headset, the way we play video games is always changing.

Next Level: Can Gaming Be For Everyone?
October 2, 2022

Next Level: Can Gaming Be For Everyone?

Video games can reach a vastly broad audience. But deeply-rooted mechanics and stereotypes can still create a barrier to entry for some players.

Next Level: Can Modders Save Games By Breaking Them?
September 25, 2022

Next Level: Can Modders Save Games By Breaking Them?

There’s a long-standing tradition of amateur game developers tinkering with the content of finished games.

Next Level: Are We On The Brink Of Gaming’s Cinematic Golden Age?
September 18, 2022

Next Level: Are We On The Brink Of Gaming’s Cinematic Golden Age?

Video games and movies have many things in common, but efforts to adapt franchises from one medium to another have historically been met with failure.

Next Level: Do Video Games Help Or Hurt Our Mental Health?
September 11, 2022

Next Level: Do Video Games Help Or Hurt Our Mental Health?

In each episode of 'Next Level,' Newsy explores the real-world impacts of the largest entertainment industry on Earth: video games.

Video Games Are Teaching Players Real (And Alternate) History
October 5, 2021

Video Games Are Teaching Players Real (And Alternate) History

History-based video games allow their players to engage with the past in completely new ways. But like every medium, the genre still has limits.

Apple Trial Shows How Platforms Shape Mobile Games
July 7, 2021

Apple Trial Shows How Platforms Shape Mobile Games

A recent court case against Apple has shed some light on how the mobile gaming market is shaped by the big tech platforms it appears on.

NFT Art Auctions Have A Piracy Problem
May 18, 2021

NFT Art Auctions Have A Piracy Problem

Artists are seeing their work sold by strangers on NFT sites without their consent — and there's no easy way to stop it from happening.

The Big Problems Behind Big-Budget Video Game Flops
March 11, 2021

The Big Problems Behind Big-Budget Video Game Flops

The production process for big-budget video games leads many major studios to overpromise and underdeliver on the games they make.

How Video Games Can Help (Not Hurt) Mental Health
January 26, 2021

How Video Games Can Help (Not Hurt) Mental Health

Video games and mental health have a rough history, but experts and creators are exploring how games can help people deal with mental health issues.

Political Outreach Enters The World Of 'Animal Crossing'
October 13, 2020

Political Outreach Enters The World Of 'Animal Crossing'

With the pandemic making traditional campaigning more risky, some 2020 campaigns are reaching out to voters through gaming.

Why Video Games Are Looking More Like Movies
September 22, 2020

Why Video Games Are Looking More Like Movies

Big-budget gaming franchises like "The Last Of Us" showcase the connections between cinema and video games.

AI Tech Changes How We See The World In 'Microsoft Flight Simulator'
September 3, 2020

AI Tech Changes How We See The World In 'Microsoft Flight Simulator'

The virtual world of Microsoft Flight Simulator is so realistic, it’s attracting the attention of real-world open-source journalists and researchers.

Rethinking How 'Dungeons & Dragons' Handles Race
September 1, 2020

Rethinking How 'Dungeons & Dragons' Handles Race

Amid national conversations over racial injustice, game designers are offering new ideas around the role of race in games like Dungeons & Dragons.