We’ve all heard of the myriad of devices that people have managed to get DOOM running on, but one gamer has shared an incredible hack that lets them fully play Half-Life on their own smart watch.
Games are becoming more demanding and more expensive to make as time goes on, with increased power requirements in order to ensure that the graphics are as shiny as they possibly can be.
Sometimes it’s worth stripping everything back to what it used to be though, and technology has advanced so much that we’re able to do that in the most unlikely of places.
In a marvellous post on the r/valve subreddit, user Damsey_Doo has shared how they’ve managed to get the original Half-Life running smoothly on a smartwatch – complete with touch aiming controls to prove that it’s real, as reported by TechRadar.
It’s usually the aforementioned DOOM that you see running on unexpected screens – and while most of the time these are partly a facade, as it’s typically an auxillary screen inserted into something like a pregnancy test or calculator, Half-Life in this case is in fact running natively on the watch.
Reactions in the comments of the post range from “incredible” to “absolutely jaw dropping,” and it’s simply staggering to see what people are able to achieve on everyday gadgets with the right approach.
When questioned about the actual ‘playability’ of the game – meaning how easy it would be to run through the story as you normally would – Damsey_Doo had this to say:
“Oh yeah it’s actually surprisingly easy to play. One handed is somewhat challenging but still possible, however I recommend removing the watch and using both thumbs for fairly smooth control (as smooth as you can get on a watch).”
Not quite the convenient time killer that you’d expect a game on a smartwatch to be, and you’d probably be best whipping it out on your phone instead, but it’s still crazy to see regardless.
It’s not got the best graphics in 2025, but it’s still amazing to see it running on a smartwatch (Valve)
If you’re wondering how this was possible in the first place, it’s all thanks to the Xash3D FWGS game engine, which allows people to run most games made with the GoldSrc engine on android devices.
These include Half-Life and other Valve titles, of course, but you can also port games from other engines like DOOM and Quake, which Damsey_Doo has confirmed also works on the smartwatch.
While the original poster hasn’t explicitly confirmed that Xash3D was used to achieve this feat, their interactions with other comments suggesting that they use the engine on a Nokia N900 do seem to suggest that it was the case.
Featured Image Credit: Damsey_Doo / u/Reddit
If you own this iconic 1990s game on Play Station it could be worth a lot of money today
Unopened copies regularly bag owners a decent amount of cash
First released in the US in 1995, the original PlayStation is remembered fondly for its diverse library of games and ‘advanced’ gaming system, for the time at least.
But, low print runs and limited availability make some of its titles amongst the hardest in the gaming world to get your hands on.
As with most things on the resell market, the rarer a game is, the higher its value.
As a result, hardcore fans are often willing to part with some serious cash in order to add certain PS1 games to their collections.
A copy of 1996’s Batman Forever Arcade, for example, sells for up to $155.
And Castlevania: Symphony of the Night, which was released in 1997, could bag you $590.
But, there’s one iconic game from the 1990s that could earn you much more.
PS1 games are amongst the rarest in the gaming world with fans willing to spend massive amounts of cash to get their hands on them (eBay)
Survival horror game Resident Evil sees players control Chris Redfield and Jill Valentine, members of the S.T.A.R.S. elite task force, as they try to escape from a mansion infested with zombies and other terrifying creatures.
While the game faced some criticism for its corny dialogue and clunky controls, its fascinating plot and solid graphics made it an international bestseller.
It became the highest-selling PlayStation game following its release in 1996 and by December 1997, had sold an estimated 4 million copies worldwide, launching a word-famous franchise.
With so many Resident Evil copies sold, it’s not too hard to find on resale sites. Unless you’re looking for a sealed one, that is.
So few unopened copies of the game exist that they’re unsurprisingly very expensive and will likely get more so as time goes on.
The Gamer names it as the most expensive PS1 game to buy sealed and unused and a copy is currently going on eBay for a whopping $1,799.
Unsealed copies of Resident Evil can bag owners upwards of $1,700 (eBay)
However, there’s a limited edition run of another game that consistently sells for upwards of $2,000.
Elemental Gearbolt is a light gun shooter game that was first released in Japan in 1997 and in the US a year later, in which two powerful beings try to defeat the tyrannical leader of a sci-fi fantasy world.
If you happen to own a copy of the US version of the game, you can expect to sell it for around $200. A sealed version of the Japanese release could bag you up to $300.
But, an extremely limited run of the game is even more desirable. The Assassin’s Case edition features the game sealed in a briefcase alongside a golden GunCon and memory card.
Just 40 copies of the game were produced in total which were exclusively available as a prize at 1998’s E3 tournament, making it one of the rarest, and most expensive, games out there.
Featured Image Credit: Sony/eBay
GTA fans brutally respond to new announcement from Rockstar Games that left them infuriated
Gamers are getting impatient to hear more on Leonida
Despite still being set for a 2025 release, you wouldn’t think that GTA 6 is meant to be out by the end of the year given publisher Rockstar Games’ radio silence over the past year.
Following the drop of the latest Grand Theft Auto game’s first and only trailer back in December 2023, the publisher has said next to nothing since and fans aren’t afraid to make that clear when responding to other franchise announcements.
The latest has come through following the above announcement of GTA Online’s latest monthly update. Usually offering bonuses like free DLC, extra in-game money, and even bonus, XP, the new update — titled “Oscar Guzman Flies Again” — featuring the return of recurring namesake character, Oscar Guzman.
Feedback to this post highlights the issue Rockstar Games currently has on its social media platforms. Starved fans are now so hungry for even a whiff of news on GTA 6’s release date or even a hint of gameplay reveal, they hold no hesitation in letting their frustrations be known.
One such fan, Synth Potato, keeps their thoughts short and sweet. They said: “One more update after this then GTA 6 RELEASE [date news]”, along with a trinity of pleading emojis.
With hundreds of likes on some replies, it’s clear these responders aren’t alone. Another frustrated user replied: “Where is trailer two for GTA 6? Asking for a friend”. Others like LJT have gone on to even a poll asking whether fellow players think Rockstar will ever drop a second trailer at all.
Others like Digelotron simply replied: “GTA 6 or don’t care”, surely representing the thoughts of many Grand Theft Auto fans who’ve had their fill of GTA Online’s almost 12-year run and are ready to jump into the next entry in the franchise.
Lucia & her male accomplice in the first GTA 6 trailer (Rockstar Games)
While Rockstar Games are yet to reveal GTA 6’s release date or gameplay, the company’s owner — Take-Two Interactive — quietly re-confirmed the game’s release window of Fall 2025 during a February 6 earnings call.
In it, Strauss Zelnick, Chairman and CEO of Take-Two Interactive, said: ““Looking ahead, this calendar year is shaping up to be one of the strongest ever for Take-Two, as we plan to launch Sid Meier’s Civilization VII on February 11th, Mafia: The Old Country in the Summer, Grand Theft Auto VI in the Fall, and Borderlands 4.”
What’s more, the GTA VI section on Rockstar Games’ website still has “Coming 2025 to PlayStation 5 and Xbox Series X|S” listen in its description”, hopefully silencing potential worries that a delay announcement could be on the way.
While the usual state of the gaming industry has a trend “never say never” when it comes to last-minute delays, the continued confirmation of GTA 6’s release window signals we’ll be getting a real update on the game’s specific launch date and gameplay eventually. That still won’t stop eager fans sharing their impatience in the meantime, but it’s still surely a comfort to many others, at least until if the shocking rumoured price tag ends up being true..
Featured Image Credit: RockstarGames/X
Gamers accuse Elon Musk of cheating these popular video games by ‘hiring better users to play for him’
Fans believe he turned to loopholes in the game
Gamers have been accusing Elon Musk of cheating while gaming.
You’ll likely know Elon Musk for the futuristic Tesla Cybertruck, Mars colonisation plans and his unfiltered opinions on just about everyone on X.
But did you know he’s also a video game fan?
According to Walter Isaacson’s 2023 biography, Musk has been called a ‘video game addict,’ even pushing back meetings to extend his gaming sessions.
Now it’s come to light that the Tesla CEO is one of the top-ranked players in Diablo IV.
Some people are starting to believe that the almost trillionaire is taking advantage of a game bug and finding loopholes – how else would he find time to game as the world’s richest person?
Musk, who is now a close advisor to President-elect Donald Trump and running the Department of Government Efficiency, has managed to accomplish the improbable: Rank among the top players of Diablo IV and Path of Exile 2.
Brandon Bell / Staff / Getty
But a lot of people aren’t buying it. Critics allege Musk might be ‘boosting’ his accounts by hiring skilled players to grind through difficult tasks and level up his character, as pointed out by Twitch streamer Quin69.
“He literally has no idea what he’s doing,” said Quin69 in his stream, with a following of 892,000. “This is straight-up account sharing.”
During a live stream of Path of Exile 2, Musk appeared to bypass valuable in-game items and attempted to enter portals he wasn’t eligible for.
But this behaviour from Musk isn’t exactly new.
In November last year, Musk became one of Diablo IV’s top players, posting a video on X of his impressive speedrun conquest of “the Pit” – one of Diablo IV’s toughest challenges – in under two minutes.
Not to mention, the SpaceX founder claimed to be among the top 20 Diablo IV players in the world when appearing on the popular podcast The Joe Rogan Experience.
Emanuele Cremaschi / Contributor / Getty
According to leaderboard site Helltides.com though, he now ranks No. 53 in the world.
“So many life lessons to be learned from speedrunning video games on max difficulty,” Musk previously stated in a post. “Teaches you to see the matrix, rather than simply exist in the matrix.”
20-year-old student and gamer Luiz Felipe Terra da Silva said it was widely accepted in the gaming community that Musk took advantage of a bug in order to set a new Pit record. l
But it’s leading gaming fans to question: what’s the point?
“If he loves the game, really, he should just play without these things,” Silva told Fortune. “I don’t see the reason to do this because he’s already famous—very famous.”
Featured Image Credit: Emanuele Cremaschi/Contributor / Brandon Bell/Staff / Getty
PlayStation owners could be sitting on a classic horror game that’s worth over $7,000
You could be in for a jackpot if you’ve still got this particular classic
Game collecting is a notoriously expensive hobby to have, with anything older than around 15 years holding an unappealingly high price, but one classic horror title might be able to net you thousands if you happen to still own it.
New games are becoming more expensive by the year, and rumors surrounding the potential price of GTA 6 when it releases are beginning to scare fans that feel like they’re being priced out of the hobby that they love.
Unfortunately for anyone wanting to look back at the medium’s vast history, picking up an older title is likely going to cost far more than any new game would off the shelf, providing you want it in great condition.
Many PS1 games can earn you thousands if sold in the right condition (Nikos Pekiaridis/NurPhoto via Getty Images)
While some are expensive simply because they’re rare, regardless of how good the game actually is, others hold high demand through their status within the canon, and that’s definitely the case with one particular horror classic.
As reported by Birmingham Live, the very first Resident Evil game on the original PlayStation could net you thousands of dollars if you happen to have it in new condition, so have a hunt around those boxes in the attic just in case.
The series has eight mainline entries and a number of spin offs too, but the first is likely worth the most, reaching a staggering price of $7,716 in its best condition according to value tracking website Price Charting.
Getting that $7,000 figure requires your copy to be graded, in which an expert professionally measures the quality of your copy – something that many collectors deem to be an essential part of the buying process.
If you can’t go through that process though and simply want to sell and newly sealed copy then you’ll still be able to get around $2,600, which is certainly not something to scoff at.
Selling a ‘Graded’ version of the first Resident Evil on PS1 can earn you upwards of $7,000 (Capcom)
‘Complete’ copies, identified by being unsealed but still in the box with a manual, will fetch you just under $100, showing quite how valuable the outer plastic sealing is to keen collectors. You’ll be cursing yourself from two decades ago that you couldn’t simply leave it alone!
Finally, if you just have the game disk and nothing else then you can still get around $30, but that’s merely a fraction of what you’d get with a plastic box for it to live in – that’s another $23 to buy on its own!
If you’re someone on the other side of the table who wants to buy Resident Evil then you might be in luck if it’s just the game you’re wanting to play without the fuss of collecting. Like most games in the series the first entry is available on pretty much every modern console, and it’s even the HD remake that many fans actual prefer.