Arthur Gies
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Painter. Supervising Editor @wirecutter. Author. Co-founder — Polygon (the video game site!). PR can contact me at aegies@gmail. aegies.bsky.social
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Articles by Arthur Gies
Is This The End of Affordable Tech?
ARTHUR: We have built a world that makes people need this stuff and increasingly it's going to be very difficult for a broad category of people to afford. ROSIE: I’m Rosie Guering and you’re listening to The Wirecutter Show. ROSIE: Hey, it’s Rosie. Several months ago my colleagues on the tech team here at Wirecutter began reporting on the rising costs of consumer tech products like laptops, phones, and gaming consoles.
Tech Prices Are Skyrocketing. Nintendo’s Switch 2 Might Be Next.
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Listen and follow The Wirecutter Show Apple Podcasts | Spotify | Amazon Music | YouTube | iHeartRadio The Nintendo Switch 2 was released in June 2025. In just four months, it sold over 10 million units, making it the fastest selling console of all time in the U.S. But at $450, is it really worth the hype? Arthur Gies, supervising editor on the tech team at Wirecutter, has spent nearly a year testing the system, playing the new games, and weighing the pros and cons.
By Christine Cyr Clisset Verified, Caira Blackwell Verified, Rosie Guerin Verified, Abigail Keel Verified, Arthur Gies Verified
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Wirecutter
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The Death of the Cheap Laptop Is Coming
I built a PC for a colleague in January of 2025. At the time, the cost for the three main components — the motherboard, the processor, and the DDR5 memory — was about $800. A few weeks ago, I had to buy the same components, more or less, for another coworker’s PC build. The bill: $1,200. And it’s all thanks to AI. Whether you use AI or not, it’s probably going to impact your life this year — and I’m not just talking about search results or slop.
I Knew TV Backlighting Was Cool. I Didn’t Expect It to Be Such a Powerful Upgrade.
Is this the worst billboard of 2025? There's a lot wrong with this advert. A lot. We all love a good advertising fail, and no more so than on LinkedIn, where piling on to deride the …
I Knew TV Backlighting Was Cool. I Didn't Expect It to Be Such a Powerful Upgrade.
The isolation of the pandemic lockdowns of 2020 shoulder-checked lots of people into new and unexpected hobbies (Dutch oven bread baking, anyone?). The particular locker that the pandemic stuffed me inside was color-changing lighting. My tumble led me down the Philips Hue smart-lighting hole.
The Best Video Games of 2025 (So Far)
When the world feels overwhelming, few escapes are as compelling as an immersive video game. Whether you’re embarking on fantasy-monster hunts, going on adventures in a sparkling, Belle Epoque–style world, touring a stunning feudal Japan, or losing yourself in a rip-roaring onslaught against the forces of hell itself, a great game allows you to be in a completely different place (even if it’s just for a little while). This has been a standout year for games, and these are our favorites so far.
The Nintendo Switch 2 Is a Huge Upgrade. But It Has Some Annoying Flaws
Using a Nintendo Switch 2, the $450 handheld console that launched in early June, feels a lot like upgrading to a new phone for the first time in years. We’ve been playing the long-awaited Switch 2 for a few weeks, comparing it with the $300 original Switch, which launched in March 2017, as well as the $200 Switch Lite and $350 Switch OLED, to see how the next-gen console stacks up. Nintendo still sells those three older, cheaper Switch models, which complicates the buying decision somewhat.
The Best Graphics Cards
Why you should trust us My first video card was a hand-me-down GeForce 256, and I’ve been fixated on graphics card price and performance ever since. I’ve been reviewing laptops, PCs, PC hardware, and video game consoles since 2009, and I’ve been covering PC and gaming hardware at Wirecutter since 2019. I’ve built dozens of PCs since 2002, both for myself and others. I’ve also written Wirecutter’s guides to external optical drives, video game consoles, and handheld gaming consoles.
The Best Graphics Cards
Some RTX 50-series gamers with EVGA motherboards are having to physically tape their graphics cards to boot up their PC Nothing a bit of tape won't fix, eh? Far be it from me to presume a state of play for technology in 2025, but I don't tend to assume a need to tape up …
The 4 Best Drawing Tablets of 2025
Even as screen-based work replaces more and more of the time that people spend with paper, using a pencil remains a near-universal skill, for good reason. Drawing and writing by hand rank among the most intuitive kinds of physical interaction for most people, and drawing tablets translate that movement almost directly to a PC, laptop, or phone.
We Played the Nintendo Switch 2, and You're Going to Want One
The Nintendo Switch 2 is almost here, and we got to play it. The original Nintendo Switch launched more than eight years ago, and while we’ve seen minor updates since, the new Nintendo Switch 2 is a meaningful upgrade in almost every way: It has a much faster processor, a bigger screen, redesigned Joy-cons, and new games you’ll only be able to play on Nintendo’s latest console. The Switch 2 goes on sale June 5 for $450—a $150 jump over the original’s starting price.
I Bought This Bed Frame 4 Years Ago, and I Still Can’t Stop Talking About It. Original
During the pandemic, I learned a hard lesson: My up-to-that-point reliable IKEA bed frame wasn’t cut out for a good mattress. This lesson came in the middle of the night as my partner and I were woken up by a crack and a sudden downward jolt. I lived in the Bay Area at the time, so we spent a confusing and terrifying few seconds wondering if the Big One had finally hit before I figured out what had actually happened.
The Best Handheld Gaming Console
We independently review everything we recommend. We may make money from the links on our site. Learn more› Michael Hession/NYT Wirecutter By Arthur Gies Arthur Gies is an editor for Wirecutter's tech coverage. He's written about video games since 2008 and covers drawing tablets, iPad styluses and more. FYI The Steam Deck OLED is our new top pick after our previous pick, the non-OLED version, was discontinued in late 2025.
The 4 Best Drawing Tablets of 2024
Even as screen-based work replaces more and more of the time that people spend with paper, using a pencil remains a near-universal skill, for good reason. Drawing and writing by hand rank among the most intuitive kinds of physical interaction for most people, and drawing tablets translate that movement almost directly to a PC, laptop, or phone.
The Best Video Games of 2024 So Far
Gaming 21 hours ago Dystopika Is A Cyberpunk City-Builder* aftermath.site - Luke Plunkett • 21h Just build the city, never mind the neural networks or megacorp diplomacyThe post Dystopika Is A Cyberpunk City-Builder* appeared first on Aftermath.
Behold: We Just Got a Sneak Peek at 2024’s Biggest New Video Games
Every summer, video game makers show off new games coming later in the year, and Wirecutter was on the ground at this year’s Summer Game Fest to go hands-on with some major upcoming releases. From charming puzzle games to big-budget Star Wars adventures, here are the games we can’t wait to play in 2024.
Hellblade 2 thoughts: this is what time and money gets a former indie studio. | Arthur Gies
Getting this out of the way right now: this is not a review of Hellblade 2. I've only played a few chapters because I was determined to finish Hellblade (the first), and it dragged on longer than I expected and I've got a life, so, thus far, I've only got thoughts. Generally, though, those thoughts are much, much more positive than I expected. To be blunt, I don't think the original Hellblade is a very good game.
Skip House Cleaning. Play These Cleaning-Themed Video Games Instead.
We independently review everything we recommend. When you buy through our links, we may earn a commission. Learn more› By Haley Perry and Arthur Gies FYI We’ve added four new games to this list: Undusted: Letters from the Past, A Storied Life: Tabitha, MakeRoom, and PowerWash Simulator 2. May 2026 Spring traditionally offers a chance to refresh your space to go along with some hopefully better weather — which is a nice way of saying that you’re supposed to clean up a winter’s worth of clutter.
Tales of Kenzera: Zau (not a) Review | Arthur Gies
(Note: feel free to consider this not-a-review, if you like. I haven't finished the game yet, though I've put about six hours into it so far, on both a ROG Ally Extreme and a desktop PC. But I think this analysis holds.) I like Tales of Kenzera: Zau, but not as much as I'd like to like it. It's a cliche to say that this comes down to what the game does well vs what it doesn't, because that's basically every game, right? No game is good at everything (except, like, Link to the Past).
The Fallout show is Fallout 5, and Fallout Zero. | Arthur Gies
The Fallout TV show isn't an adaptation — not really, anyway. Sure, in a way, Jonathan Nolan and Lisa Joy's Fallout — and let's be clear, Fallout feels much more the product of the creators/showrunners of the first season of Westworld than it does an Amazon Production™, even if Amazon paid the $150 million to make it — is a kind of adaptation. But it's the rarest kind of translation attempt to bring a video game property into linear media: a sequel.
Why Everyone Can’t Stop Talking About Palworld
The internet can’t get enough of Palworld, a new video game with a surprising hook: Pokémon but with guns. In less than a week, Palworld has sold more than 8 million copies, has dominated Steam, and is currently more popular than Fortnite on Xbox. But there’s both more and less to Palworld than its surface-level resemblance to Pokémon. Here’s why everyone is playing it—and why you might not want to.
Super Mario Bros. Wonder Is One of the Weirdest Games of the Year. We Love It.
In Super Mario Bros. Wonder, one of the most bizarre games we've played this year, weird things happen. You might turn into a balloon that bounces off other characters and the walls. You may ride a warp pipe that has come to life. Or perhaps you’ll turn into a Goomba. All bets are off—and it’s some of the most fun we’ve had playing a game this year.
Assassin’s Creed Mirage Review: Murder, Mystery, and Islamic History
Assassin’s Creed Mirage is unique amidst the big game releases this fall. In a sea of dark fantasies, superhero sagas, and cyberpunk dystopias, Mirage continues the Assassin’s Creed series with a dense, wonderfully realized bit of historical fiction set in Baghdad during the Islamic Golden Age. It’s a game full of running across rooftops and striking fear into a mysterious secret society from the shadows, sure.
Assassin's Creed Mirage | Patreon
So I played through Assassin's Creed Mirage. This won't be a review, exactly, since I wrote one of those already over at Wirecutter … sort of. Reviews there are different because if you're reading this, well, they're not really aimed at you. But there are certain things that audience just absolutely does not have time for because they are busy people with lives that aren't oriented around video games, and, well, I have some thoughts about Mirage that don't really work in that format.
Starfield Review: A Game With a Galaxy of Possibilities Original
Offering a galaxy with more than a thousand planets, a fully customizable ship, and major decisions to make (and small ones too), the brand-new game Starfield promises more than an open world—it presents the mystery, wonder, and terror of space. Starfield is the first truly new game from Bethesda Game Studios, the creators of The Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim and the makers of the Fallout games, since 2015.
Starfield Review: A Game With a Galaxy of Possibilities
Offering a galaxy with more than a thousand planets, a fully customizable ship, and major decisions to make (and small ones too), the brand-new game Starfield promises more than an open world—it presents the mystery, wonder, and terror of space. Starfield is the first truly new game from Bethesda Game Studios, the creators of The Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim and the makers of the Fallout games, since 2015.
Apple’s iPhone 15 Event Recap: New Phones, New Watches, and USB-C
Apple's annual fall product launch event brought few surprises, but still delivered big news: There are four new iPhone 15 models, which switch from Apple's proprietary Lightning charging port to USB-C, two new Apple Watches, and a fresh pair of AirPods Pro that also move to USB-C. Here’s everything Apple announced at its Wonderlust event.
The New Video Game Releases We Can’t Wait to Play in 2023: Starfield, Baldur’s Gate 3, and More
You’d be forgiven for thinking the biggest games of 2023 had already been released. After all, between The Legend of Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom, Diablo IV, and Final Fantasy XVI, who has time to play anything else? But the biggest launches are still in store, with Spider-Man 2, Starfield, and many, many more titles competing for your attention this fall—and before that, plenty more to play this summer.
Baldur’s Gate 3 Review: A Fantasy Epic to Be Played After Dark
Let’s cut to the chase: The hottest, sexiest video game of summer 2023 is a Dungeons & Dragons adaptation. Baldur’s Gate 3 has been something of a surprise sensation—not bad for the sequel to a beloved but long-dormant pair of PC role-playing games from the ’90s. Millions of players have lost themselves in Baldur’s Gate 3’s huge fantasy world and the host of weird and fascinating characters within it, either alone or online with their friends.
Baldur’s Gate 3 Review: A Fantasy Epic to Be Played After Dark
Let’s cut to the chase: The hottest, sexiest video game of summer 2023 is a Dungeons & Dragons adaptation. Baldur’s Gate 3 has been something of a surprise sensation—not bad for the sequel to a beloved but long-dormant pair of PC role-playing games from the ’90s. Millions of players have lost themselves in Baldur’s Gate 3’s huge fantasy world and the host of weird and fascinating characters within it, either alone or online with their friends.
Remnant 2 Review: This Shooter-RPG Hybrid Is Full of Secrets, and a Million People Can’t Stop Playing It
People can’t stop talking about Remnant 2, the summer’s first surprise video game hit. TikTok, YouTube—the game is everywhere. It has sold more than a million copies since its launch last week, and for good reason. Remnant 2 is a tangle of mysteries and secrets that all those players are working to unravel—and it’s a lot of fun, too.
Pikmin 4 Review: A Great, Weird Video Game for the Whole Family Original
It’s sweltering outside, which is perfect weather for staying indoors and firing up a fun video game for the whole family. Nintendo’s Pikmin 4, available on the Nintendo Switch on July 21, is the kind of game we haven’t seen a lot of this year: something safe for kids that doesn’t feel too simple for adults. You can—and we did—spend hours wandering the game’s planet, ordering Pikmin around, and solving puzzles, all the while enjoying the hum of an air conditioner on full blast.
Oxenfree II Is a Great New Game, and Netflix Is Trying to Give It to You
You’d be forgiven for having no clue that Netflix was trying to give you video games—especially if you don’t watch movies on your phone or tablet. But the streaming service has been investing more and more in games over the past few years, and this month, a major new release is dropping on Netflix at the same time that it’s landing on other consoles. And luckily for all of us, Oxenfree II: Lost Signals, the sequel to a 2016 indie sleeper hit, is well worth playing.
Oxenfree II Is a Great New Game, and Netflix Is Trying to Give It to You
You’d be forgiven for having no clue that Netflix was trying to give you video games—especially if you don’t watch movies on your phone or tablet. But the streaming service has been investing more and more in games over the past few years, and this month, a major new release is dropping on Netflix at the same time that it’s landing on other consoles. And luckily for all of us, Oxenfree II: Lost Signals (the sequel to a 2016 indie sleeper hit) is well worth playing.
The New Video Game Releases We Can’t Wait to Play in 2023: Starfield, Baldur’s Gate 3, and More Original
You’d be forgiven for thinking the biggest games of 2023 had already been released. After all, between The Legend of Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom, Diablo IV, and Final Fantasy XVI, who has time to play anything else? But the biggest launches are still in store, with Spider-Man 2, Starfield, and many, many more titles competing for your attention this fall—and before that, plenty more to play this summer.
The New Video Game Releases We Can’t Wait to Play in 2023: Starfield, Baldur’s Gate 3, and More
You’d be forgiven for thinking the biggest games of 2023 had already been released. After all, between The Legend of Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom, Diablo IV, and Final Fantasy XVI, who has time to play anything else? But the biggest launches are still in store, with Spider-Man 2, Starfield, and many, many more titles competing for your attention this fall—and before that, plenty more to play this summer.
PlayStation’s New PS VR2 Is Great. Don’t Buy It (Yet).
What you get when you buy a PS VR2 The PS VR2 is an impressive VR headset, though it doesn’t exactly break the mold. Its white plastic body bears some resemblance to those of Meta’s Quest headsets (the controllers also look similar). But unlike the $400 Quest 2—and the significantly more expensive $1,500 Quest Pro—the PS VR2 is not a standalone headset.
We’re Impressed With Everything from Apple’s Fall 2022 iPhone Event—With One Exception
Apple announced four new iPhones, three new Apple Watches, and new AirPods today, and while we won’t know what’ll end up as a Wirecutter pick until we get our hands on them, each announcement left us (mostly) impressed.
Nintendo Switch Sports Is Fun. But Make Sure to Tighten Those Wrist Straps.
We independently review everything we recommend. When you buy through our links, we may earn a commission. Learn more› Image: Nintendo of America There may be no better video game than Nintendo’s Switch Sports for upcoming summer vacations, cookouts, and family get-togethers. If you played and loved Wii Sports after its launch, back in 2006, this new version will feel like a comfortably familiar upgrade.
Set Up That Gaming Console Before You Wrap It
Video game consoles make great gifts (assuming you can find them—they’re in short supply). But they’re not necessarily easy gifts. Someone who has received a new video game console may end up doing a lot of frustrating waiting.
If You Can’t Snag a PS5 or Xbox Series X on Black Friday, the Xbox Series S Is a Great Alternative
The PlayStation 5 and Xbox Series X are awfully hard to find, and the best time to buy them for the holidays was yesterday. If you can’t get your hands on one, consider a cheaper available alternative: the Xbox Series S, Microsoft’s entry-level option.
The Nintendo Switch OLED Is Gorgeous-and Expensive
Just as it was starting to get easier to find an existing model of the Nintendo Switch, the gaming company has released a new version of its popular console. Dubbed the Nintendo Switch OLED Model, this upgraded iteration of the popular portable console, as its name indicates, is designed around a beautiful OLED display, which replaces the LCD screen of every prior version of the Switch. You pay extra for that new screen, as well as for a few other upgrades. The Switch OLED Model is $350.
Best Books for Anyone that Loves Video Games
Video games may be an interactive genre filled with decisions and different paths but the linear stories that make them possible are often just as fascinating. Getting to see how things work, how specific games were made, and learning more about the constantly shifting and growing industry of interactive entertainment. Here are some of the best books for anyone that loves video games, especially if you’d like to learn more about the people that make it happen.
The 3 Best USB Flash Drives
Even as cloud storage and wireless file transfers have become more common, sometimes the best option for moving files is to put them on a USB flash drive. The cheapest drives can leave you waiting an agonizingly long time to transfer files. Most $20 flash drives out there will do the job okay, while the best $40 drives will do it noticeably faster so you spend less time waiting—time that adds up when they withstand being tossed in bags and drawers for years to come.
What’s the Smartest Way to Collect Digital Movies?
Advertiser Disclosure: At Slickdeals, we work hard to find the best deals. Some products in our articles are from partners who may provide us with compensation, but this doesn’t change our opinions. © Provided by Slickdeals There are lots of places to watch and buy digital movies, and it’s not always easy to decide which one is best.
Diablo 3 review: angels and demons
Diablo 3 arrives after 11 years, and brings Heaven and Hell with it. Game Info Platform 360, PS3, Win, Mac, PS4 Publisher Activision Blizzard Developer Blizzard Entertainment Release Date May 15, 2012 Diablo 3 is the first game to render Diablo 2 obsolete. With Diablo 2 and its 2001 expansion, Lord of Destruction, Blizzard set a standard for loot-based action RPGs that everyone else struggled to meet.
The Nintendo Switch 2 Is the Best Nintendo Switch
We independently review everything we recommend. When you buy through our links, we may earn a commission. Learn more› Connie Park/NYT Wirecutter By Arthur Gies Arthur Gies is an editor for Wirecutter's tech coverage. He's written about video games since 2008 and covers drawing tablets, iPad styluses and more. FYI Nintendo announced that the Switch 2’s price will increase to $500 on September 1. We still recommend it, but the Switch Lite is also a solid pick for a lower price tag.
The 3 Best External Optical Drives for DVDs and Blu-rays in 2024
If you thought you were done with physical media, think again: As TV shows and movies vanish from streaming services, DVDs and Blu-ray discs are becoming relevant once more. Most modern computers lack a physical disc drive, but an external optical drive allows you to watch, rip, or burn movies and shows that may be found only on disc. If you have a massive library of DVD movies, the Verbatim External Slimline CD/DVD Writer is fast and affordable.
Choosing the Right Xbox: Series X or Series S
It’s finally time to upgrade from your PS4 or Xbox One. The biggest games — like Monster Hunter Wilds, Assassin’s Creed Shadows, and the highly anticipated Grand Theft Auto VI — are coming only to current-generation consoles. If you’re shopping for a new Xbox, you have two choices: the Xbox Series X and the Xbox Series S. The two are based on a similar foundation, and they will play all of the same games for years to come.
Choosing the Right PlayStation 5
The PlayStation 5 console is the one to get if you want the first shot to play hit PlayStation franchises like The Last of Us, God of War, or the upcoming Marvel’s Wolverine. Many of these games will launch on PCs eventually, but the PlayStation 5 is where you can play them first, so it’s a great choice for dedicated gamers of all ages and interests. The PS5 launched in the fall of 2020, and three years later, Sony replaced it with the PlayStation 5 Slim and PlayStation 5 Slim Digital Edition.
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