I won’t mourn PlayStation discs

Patch Notes is a weekly newsletter bringing you the best of Polygon, sent on Fridays and published on the site on Sundays. You can subscribe here. Let me be clear. I’m as disheartened as anyone at PlayStation’s announcement this week that it will cease production of physical PlayStation games. I am pro physical media. I…

Can you translate these simlish phrases in our latest Sims series quiz?

Sul sul! If you’ve ever spent extended time with The Sims, don’t pretend like you don’t know what I’m saying—we’ve all been there. It’s never enough to open a game in the series for a quick session. You’ve got to spend hours micromanaging households, building new homes, and coordinating fancy ‘fits. More quizzes! (Image credit:…

The Fallout Over PlayStation Killing Gaming Discs Is Everywhere

It’s been 48 hours since Sony revealed that it’s killing off PlayStation game discs by 2028. It’s a policy shift that many felt was inevitable but is also coming sooner than expected, and the uproar over the move isn’t dying down. Who knows if any amount of online backlash will get Sony to change its…

Boss themes, sagas, and Goblin Jazz: How World of Warcraft’s music reflects a shifting Azeroth

World of Warcraft and music go hand in hand. It’s been three decades since the original Warcraft: Orcs and Humans introduced us to Azeroth, and in that time its soundtracks have grown and shifted. In 2026, we’re smack-bang in the middle of the Worldsoul Saga, marking the first ‘connected trilogy’ of expansions. How does modern…

Sony’s Marvel Tokon Blocked In Over 100 Countries On Steam

It appears as if Marvel Tōkon: Fighting Souls, the upcoming game developed by Arc System Works and published by Sony Interactive Entertainment, set to release on August 6, won’t be available in 132 countries on Steam. Why? Well, while there’s no official explanation on the Steam store page, the reason seems to be obvious: you…

Notoriety codes (July 2026) – PCGamesN

See something in the store you can’t afford? These new Notoriety codes might ease the sting. In fact, with some codes awarding free chips on top of unique skins, redeem enough over time, and you could come out with some premium products without ever opening up your wallet. It’s a steal. You’re roleplaying a master…

Sega Shares Sneak Peek Of Sonic’s New Animated Short

At Anime Expo this week, Sega shared a “sneak peek” of its upcoming 35th anniversary short form animation, Sonic the Hedgehog: Memories and Beyond. This was revealed during the “Sonic the Hedgehog Animated Shorts: A Frame-by-Frame Retrospective panel”. As you can see, it stars Sonic and the rest of his crew, and will apparently focus…

The launch of Commodore’s social media-free privacy-first ‘dumbphone’ was apparently responsible for ‘Our biggest week’

Meet Commodore Callback: The Smart Flip-Phone with No Social Media – YouTube Watch On In 2025, Commodore was bought by retro YouTuber Chris “Peri Fractic” Simpson, who re-assembled some key execs and went into the hardware business. The main result so far has been the Commodore 64 Ultimate, the slimline 64C, and a line of…

The Ghost in the Shell is a true love letter to cyberpunk anime fans

Few anime carry the weight of Ghost in the Shell. Since Masamune Shirow’s manga first appeared in 1989, the franchise has shaped decades of science fiction storytelling, inspiring filmmakers, game creators, and anime directors alike. From the landmark 1995 film by Mamaru Oshii to Stand Alone Complex and even the more recent series, every new…

The Steam Machine Has Its Own ‘Red Ring Of Death’

History doesn’t always repeat itself, but it often rhymes. Last month, Valve finally began shipping the anticipated Steam Machine, albeit at a much higher price tag. Players were excited to crack into the new PC-console hybrid, though one only got about 20 minutes in before experiencing the “red line of death.” “The Steam Machine was…