Gaming

Gaming is a colloquial term that generally refers to the act of playing video games, or sometimes tabletop games. Those who enjoy gaming are often referred to as “gamers,” though many people who enjoy video games actively choose not to identify as such. Surveys indicate that around 65 percent of adults in the U.S. play video games in some form, which can mean on a dedicated console, on a personal computer, or on a mobile device like a smartphone or tablet. Gaming as we know it today has evolved greatly over time. Going back to the 1970s, it was largely done in arcades, but consoles like the Atari 2600 and Nintendo Entertainment System popularized home gaming throughout the 1980s, and it has remained popular to this day. PC gaming goes back to home computers in the 1980s such as the Commodore 64, but the advent of Windows in the 1990s and digital marketplaces like Steam in the early 2000s brought PC gaming to where it is now. Handheld gaming devices like the Game Boy made gaming portable in the early 1990s, but those have given way to smartphones, with the iOS and Android app stores full of incredibly popular and lucrative games. Some of the biggest companies in the gaming industry today include Nintendo, Sony, Microsoft, Electronic Arts, Valve, Activision, and many more.

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NYT's The Mini crossword answers for May 14

screenshot from fallout 76 trailer showing helmet

Need more 'Fallout'? You can play 'Fallout 76' on Xbox for only $5.99

Best Buy Drops this week: Here are the upcoming products dropping through Best Buy's app hack

More Gaming

NYT's The Mini crossword answers for May 13

Stuck on any of the clues? We have the answers you need.

05/13/2024

By Mashable Team

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Closeup view of crossword puzzle clues

NYT's The Mini crossword answers for May 12

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05/12/2024

By Mashable Team

Closeup view of crossword puzzle clues

Closeup view of crossword puzzle clues

NYT's The Mini crossword answers for May 11

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05/11/2024

By Mashable Team

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Closeup view of crossword puzzle clues

Gift mom flowers that'll last a lifetime with Lego Icons Bouquet sets up to 20% off

These Lego flowers are the perfect low-maintenance gift.

05/10/2024

By Tabitha Britt

lego icons bouquet set on a table

lego icons bouquet set on a table

Asus ROG Ally, a Steam Deck rival, is getting a big update. Here’s what we know.

But it's not ROG Ally 2.

05/10/2024

ASUS ROG Ally handhelds on display

ASUS ROG Ally handhelds on display

NYT's The Mini crossword answers for May 10

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05/10/2024

By Mashable Team

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Closeup view of crossword puzzle clues

Nintendo is removing Twitter / X integration from Switch

Nintendo joins Sony Playstation and Microsoft Xbox in removing X integration after Elon Musk hiked API fee pricing.

05/09/2024

Nintendo Switch

Nintendo Switch

NYT's The Mini crossword answers for May 9

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05/09/2024

By Mashable Team

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Closeup view of crossword puzzle clues

NYT's The Mini crossword answers for May 8

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05/08/2024

By Mashable Team

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Closeup view of crossword puzzle clues

'Stardew Valley' has an official cookbook. Here's how to make Seafoam Pudding.

Will not boost fishing skill, but possibly your cooking skill.

05/07/2024

By Shannon Connellan

A picnic blanket pattern beneath the cover of the Stardew Valley Cookbook.

A picnic blanket pattern beneath the cover of the Stardew Valley Cookbook.

NYT's The Mini crossword answers for May 7

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05/07/2024

By Mashable Team

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Closeup view of crossword puzzle clues

NYT's The Mini crossword answers for May 5

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05/05/2024

By Mashable Team

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Closeup view of crossword puzzle clues

Star Wars Day deals: All the best sales and new releases you can shop on May the 4th

These are the deals you're looking for.

05/04/2024

By Haley Henschel

a collage of star wars products

a collage of star wars products

NYT's The Mini crossword answers for May 4

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05/04/2024

By Mashable Team

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Closeup view of crossword puzzle clues

NYT's The Mini crossword answers for May 3

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05/03/2024

By Mashable Team

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Closeup view of crossword puzzle clues

Nintendo Switch 2 leaks: Release date, games, price, and more

Can the Nintendo Switch 2 be a worthy successor to the third-highest-selling console of all time?

05/02/2024

By Chance Townsend

A gamer plays a video game on a Nintendo Switch console, OLED model during Paris Games Week 2022 at Parc des Expositions Porte de Versailles on November 03, 2022 in Paris, France.

A gamer plays a video game on a Nintendo Switch console, OLED model during Paris Games Week 2022 at Parc des Expositions Porte de Versailles on November 03, 2022 in Paris, France.

NYT's The Mini crossword answers for May 2

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05/02/2024

By Mashable Team

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Closeup view of crossword puzzle clues

Tons of gaming monitors are on sale at Amazon right now

Save up to $100 on our favorite picks and take your gaming setup to the next level.

05/01/2024

By Tabitha Britt

sceptre monitor against a colorful background

sceptre monitor against a colorful background

NYT's The Mini crossword answers for May 1

Stuck on any of the clues? We have the answers you need.

05/01/2024

By Mashable Team

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Closeup view of crossword puzzle clues

Grab deals from Amazon Gaming Week and level up your gaming setup

Save on controllers, keyboards, headsets, and more during Amazon's biggest gaming sale yet.

04/30/2024

By Brittany Vincent

Headset, laptop, and video game on blue and purple pixelated background

Headset, laptop, and video game on blue and purple pixelated background

NYT's The Mini crossword answers for April 30

Stuck on any of the clues? We have the answers you need.

04/30/2024

By Mashable Team

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Closeup view of crossword puzzle clues

NYT's The Mini crossword answers for April 29

Stuck on any of the clues? We have the answers you need.

04/29/2024

By Mashable Team

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Closeup view of crossword puzzle clues

NYT's The Mini crossword answers for April 28

Stuck on any of the clues? We have the answers you need.

04/28/2024

By Mashable Team

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Closeup view of crossword puzzle clues

NYT's The Mini crossword answers for April 27

Stuck on any of the clues? We have the answers you need.

04/27/2024

By Mashable Team

Closeup view of crossword puzzle clues

Closeup view of crossword puzzle clues

NYT's The Mini crossword answers for April 26

Stuck on any of the clues? We have the answers you need.

04/26/2024

By Mashable Team

Closeup view of crossword puzzle clues

Closeup view of crossword puzzle clues

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