Gaming NPR explores the latest in games and gaming culture — from the latest digital titles to what's on our tabletops.

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A new version of the popular board game Catan, which hits shelves this summer, introduces energy production and pollution into the gameplay. Catan GmbH hide caption

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Catan GmbH

How the new Catan board game can spark conversations on climate change

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Theresa O'Reilly for NPR

Video Game Industry Week: The Final Level

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The explosive growth of Esports has made it so that elite-level competitive gamers can leverage their ability into a full-time job. But what does the life of a typical Esports pro look like and how do they think about their long-term prospects with Esports growth stagnating? Theresa O'Reilly for NPR hide caption

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Theresa O'Reilly for NPR

The boom and bust of esports

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Accessibility has long been an afterthought in the video game industry. However, that's changed over the last decade as incentives have changed. It's estimated that there are 46 million gamers with disabilities, creating a strong incentive for video game companies to improve their accessibility efforts. Theresa O'Reilly for NPR hide caption

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Theresa O'Reilly for NPR

Designing for disability: how video games become more accessible

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The 2010s saw a seismic shift in the business model for the video game industry. The widespread embrace of the "Live Service" model revolutionized the industry and enabled companies to maximize their profits, to the annoyance of many gamers. Theresa O'Reilly for NPR hide caption

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Theresa O'Reilly for NPR

Forever games: the economics of the live service model

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A new version of the popular board game Catan, which hits shelves this summer, introduces energy production and pollution into the gameplay. Catan GmbH hide caption

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Catan GmbH

How do you build without over polluting? That's the challenge of new Catan board game

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Tunde Onakoya, a Nigerian chess champion and child education advocate, plays a chess game in Times Square, Friday, April 19, 2024, in New York Yuki Iwamura/AP hide caption

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Yuki Iwamura/AP

This Nigerian chess master aims to raise money by playing the longest continuous game

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Ella Purnell stars as Lucy in Fallout. Prime Video hide caption

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Prime Video

A screenshot from Nvidia and Convai's recent demonstration video of AI in video games. Screenshot by NPR hide caption

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Screenshot by NPR

'Games made by soulless machines': Tech sparks debate over AI stories in video games

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Two of the main characters from the 2015 game Life is Strange, Max Caulfield and Chloe Price. Dontnod Entertainment hide caption

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Dontnod Entertainment

A growing number of gamers are LGBTQ+, so why is representation still lacking?

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John Cheeks' lottery ticket matched the numbers posted online in January 2023. But when he tried to redeem his prize, he was repeatedly denied. Tasos Katopodis/Getty Images hide caption

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Tasos Katopodis/Getty Images

If you, like me, wake up in the middle of the night covered in sweat wondering how to best prepare yourself for Final Fantasy 7 Rebirth (pictured), read on! Square Enix hide caption

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Square Enix

The Half-Elf Cleric Shadowheart, a character in Baldur's Gate 3. Larian Studios hide caption

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Larian Studios

Clockwise from the top-left: Final Fantasy 7: Rebirth, Hades 2, Dragon's Dogma 2, Princess Peach: Showtime! Square Enix/Supergiant Games/Capcom/Nintendo hide caption

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Square Enix/Supergiant Games/Capcom/Nintendo

NPR's 24 most anticipated video games of 2024

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