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.

More Gaming - Page 13

NYT Pips hints, answers for January 20, 2026
By Mashable Team
A phone with the Pips logo.
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By Chance Townsend
Video game screenshot
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By Chance Townsend
The lettering 'Cloud Gaming' is seen at the Xbox booth during the media day at the Gamescom video games trade fair
The giant 49-inch Samsung Odyssey OLED G9 curved gaming monitor is within $2 of a record-low price at Amazon
By Lauren Allain
the Samsung Odyssey g9 curved gaming monitor on a pink and purple background
Score over $300 off the ASUS ROG Swift gaming monitor at Amazon
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The ASUS ROG Swiftgaming monitor on a pink and orange background
NYT Mini crossword answers, hints for January 19, 2026
By Mashable Team
Close-up view of crossword puzzle.
NYT Pips hints, answers for January 19, 2026
By Mashable Team
A phone with the Pips logo.
Hurdle hints and answers for January 19, 2026
By Mashable Team
Hurdle game on a smartphone
Hurdle hints and answers for January 18, 2026
By Mashable Team
Hurdle game on a smartphone
NYT Pips hints, answers for January 18, 2026
By Mashable Team
A phone with the Pips logo.
NYT Pips hints, answers for January 17, 2026
By Mashable Team
A phone with the Pips logo.
Hurdle hints and answers for January 17, 2026
By Mashable Team
Hurdle game on a smartphone
The 85-inch Sony Bravia 3 TV is over $500 off at Amazon — upgrade now to watch the NFL
By Lois Mackenzie
Sony 85-inch Bravia 3 TV
NYT Pips hints, answers for January 16, 2026
By Mashable Team
A phone with the Pips logo.
NYT Mini crossword answers, hints for January 16, 2026
By Mashable Team
Close-up view of crossword puzzle.
Hurdle hints and answers for January 16, 2026
By Mashable Team
Hurdle game on a smartphone
The Samsung Odyssey G5 ultra-wide gaming monitor just dropped to under $300 at Amazon
By Ben Williams
The Samsung 34-inch Odyssey G5 Ultra-Wide Gaming Monitor on a green background
GOTY contender 'Kingdom Come: Deliverance II' is now only $40
By Ben Williams
The front cover of Kingdom Come: Deliverance II on PS5 on a blue, purple, and red background
NYT Mini crossword answers, hints for January 15, 2026
By Mashable Team
Close-up view of crossword puzzle.
Hurdle hints and answers for January 15, 2026
By Mashable Team
Hurdle game on a smartphone
NYT Pips hints, answers for January 15, 2026
By Mashable Team
A phone with the Pips logo.
Roblox's new age verification is reportedly fooled by shockingly simple tactics
By Matt Binder
Roblox logo on mobile device
Snag the Razer Basilisk V3 Pro gaming mouse near its lowest price ever
By Brittany Vincent
Razer Basilisk V3 Pro on pink and orange abstract background
The limited edition of 'Assassin's Creed Shadows' has dropped to its lowest-ever price on Amazon
By Ben Williams
Assassin's Creed Shadows - Limited Edition on PS5 on a green background
NYT Mini crossword answers, hints for January 14, 2026
By Mashable Team
Close-up view of crossword puzzle.
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