1 big thing: Valve commits to Steam Deck

Photo of a person holding a Steam Deck OLED

2. Nintendo's next big movie

3. The live-service chase

4. Need to know (supersized edition)

5. New Super Mario fact

It was a very busy week in gaming. Ready to catch up?

Today's edition: 1,770 words, a 6.5-minute read.

🎁 Like the newsletter? Refer Axios Gaming to your friends to spread the word and get free stuff in the process. Follow the link here to begin.

🐦 Find me on Twitter or Threads, @stephentotilo.

Thank you to Scott Rosenberg for editing and Kathie Bozanich for copy editing this newsletter.

Constantly learning new things about Mario.

Gaming

deepBlue

Keep up with the multi-billion dollar video gaming universe, from the hottest games to the most interesting studios and players, by Stephen Totilo.

Axios Gaming

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1 big thing: One studio’s survival

Photo illustration of Chelsea Blasko surrounded by abstract lines and circles. 

2. Take-Two microtransaction lawsuit alleges "theft"

3. Need to know

4. Independent thing

Screenshot showing the five nominees for best independent game

What's been your favorite game of the year and why, in two sentences or less?

Today's edition: 1,361 words, a 5-minute read.

Thank you to Meg Morrone and Kathie Bozanich for editing this newsletter.

On the verge of watching the final Star Wars movie with my kids for the first time. Wonder how it aged.

1 big thing: The post-COVID gaming sales slump might be over

Video game screenshot of two Spider-Men swinging in front of a skyscraper

2. An influential indie returns

Video game screenshot showing a man approaching a chasm

3. Star Wars developer strikes back

4. Need to know

5. The week ahead

Video game screenshot of the anthropomorphized dog characters from the cartoon Bluey playing basketball. 

6. I played … video games at Epcot Center

Photo of a sit-down arcade game with a steering wheel

A problem unique to this job: There are some new VR games that I want to check out, but I have just enough of a head cold that I don't think I can handle it. Maybe tomorrow? 

🐦 Find me on X or Threads, @stephentotilo.

Thank you to Megan Morrone for editing and Patricia Guadalupe for copy editing this newsletter.

Wondering if the Bluey game is about to take over my house.

1 big thing: Gaming’s mystery numbers

Illustration of question mark emerging from a video game block punched by a gloved fist.

2. Exclusive: Xsolla defends

3. Court case catch-up: Nintendo’s loot box defense

6. I played ... Jusant

Heads up: I'm off to Disney World with my kids next week. It'll be a busy week in games, but fall break and the allure of meeting Mickey and Minnie wait for no one. I'll preview some of what'll happen next week in today's item 5.

Today's edition: 1,779 words, a 6.5-minute read.

Thank you to Megan Morrone for editing and Kathie Bozanich for copy editing this newsletter.

Ready to become an expert user of Genie+.

1 big thing: Sony’s odd portable

Photo of the PS Portal on a white background

2. Scoop: Fortnite co-creator teams with Avengers directors

3. Exclusive: Ubisoft suspends advertising on X

Screenshot of an Assassin's Creed ad as it appeared on X/Twitter, showing a person in VR goggles looking down.

5. My kids played ... WarioWare: Move It

Video game screenshot of a person rubbing their back with a towel while an inset photo of a player shows them making a similar gesture while holding video game controllers.

Just one newsletter from me this week, thanks to the Thanksgiving holiday in the U.S.

Today's edition: 1,580 words, a 6-minute read.

Stephen Totilo

Newsletter editions

2023 survival story

Sony's odd portable

Sales slump ends

Valve commits

Numbers mystery