Introducing WIRED Games, an expanded look at the industry and the games you need to play

PLUS: How video game music began, the military's new recruitment forum, and working through grief on Twitch. View this email in your browser  |  Manage newsletter subscriptions 10.05.20 Hi! My name is Alan Henry. I'm the service editor here at WIRED, and your host for the newly-expanded WIRED Games, launching today. I'll be sharing the biggest stories and best recommendations in this newsletter; sign up to receive it every Wednesday! GET THE GAMES NEWSLETTER WEEKLY October happens to be my favorite month. There are a lot of reasons: It's finally starting to feel like fall, spooky stuff is everywhere, my birthday is this month, and, of course, we're getting a clearer look at the fall games lineup and the holiday shopping season. Major titles from big publishers are on their way soon, new video cards are "here" (with here in quotes because the only way to get one is to pay way too much on eBay), and we're looking at a whole new console generation and launch games to get excited about—or not, depending on how long your current game backlog is and how deep your pockets are (or aren't, as the case may be). Even so, there's plenty to talk about, so let's get started. 🚀 Welcome to WIRED Games! So here we are. This project has been a labor of love and the work of more people than you probably care to know about—but we promise to do all of them proud. Read more—and learn how to get in touch with us—here. 🎵 Meet the women who invented video game music. U.N. Squadron (known as Area 88 in Japan) was one of the first games that really captivated me. I still have my copy somewhere, but I didn't know until decades later that the woman who composed the music for it was also behind Mega Man and Magic Sword and even contributed to Shovel Knight. This story is an ode to her and the other women who invented a genre we all love and whose names have been lost to time. 🎮 Microsoft is betting on choice—not just power—to win the next-gen console wars. The Xbox has always marketed itself as a powerhouse gaming console, and the upcoming Xbox Series X and its lighter-weight sibling, the Series S, are no exception. But Microsoft has another trick up its sleeve, and Phil Spencer, head of the Xbox division at Microsoft, told us what that is and why he—and we—think it's a good play. ⚓The US military needs gamers, and it's hoping to find them on Twitch. But why? Well, it turns out gamers have a unique set of skills that every branch of the military is particularly interested in. There's even a US Navy Guide to Streamers that explains all of this—but hanging out with a US Army or Air Force streamer for hours is different than having a recruiter or ROTC program in your school, and many gamers are pushing back. 👀 Follow us on Twitch, at twitch.tv/wiredmag! Speaking of Twitch, the WIRED crew streams on Twitch pretty regularly! Follow us on Twitch to get notified every time we go live, and come hang out and play some games with us! 🔥 Subscribe to WIRED! I'd be remiss if I didn't ask you to support our work. WIRED Games—and WIRED as a whole—is only possible thanks to the fine folks who subscribe. So if you can spare a few bucks, subscribe to get full and complete access to all of our work—and to support my caffeine habit. This week on Twitch Mon, 10/5, 4-5 pm ET: Among Us → Crewmate or Impostor? You decide. Tues, 10/6, 4-5 pm ET: Genshin Impact → Too anime for our own good. Wed, 10/7, 7-8 pm ET: Kind Words → Lo-fi beats and life advice. Thu, 10/8, 3-4 pm ET: Spellbreak → Co-op magical combat. Fri, 10/9, 4-5 pm ET: Jackbox Trivia → Stump the tech experts. When you buy something using the retail links in our stories, we may earn a small affiliate commission. Much like subscribing to WIRED, these contributions help fund the journalism we produce every day. Read more about how this works. Welcome to WIRED Games Meet our expanded hub for all things games. Whether you're an experienced player or just curious, we have the stories you need—from behind-the-scenes looks at the gaming industry, to reviews of the games you must try, to tips and tricks to improve your game. The Women Who Invented Video Game Music Composers like Eímear Noone and Manami Matsumae created some of the most iconic songs in games that have defined the industry. Uncle Sam Is Looking for Recruits—Over Twitch The US military needs tech-savvy youth. It's hoping its streaming channels will help fill out its roster. Xbox Has Always Chased Power. That's Not Enough Anymore Specs go a long way. But in exclusive interviews with WIRED, the Xbox team explains why they're thinking outside the teraflops. Twitch Support Groups Are an Unlikely Source of Solace Some folks are using the platform to build deep, meaningful communities—and not all of them are around games. The Best Desktop PCs for Gaming Now, witness the firepower of these fully armed and operational desktops!       When you buy something using the retail links in this email, we earn a small affiliate commission. Read more about how this works.   This e-mail was sent to you by WIRED. To ensure delivery to your inbox (not bulk or junk folders), please add our e-mail address, wired@newsletters.wired.com, to your address book.   View our Privacy Policy Unsubscribe or manage your newsletter subscriptions