An Exciting New Film Adaptation of a Video Game

Hey gamers! Welcome to Installer No. 144, your go-to source for the coolest and most cutting-edge gear in the gaming universe. If you’re just joining us, welcome aboard! It’s a new tech season, and you can catch up on all the previous editions at the Installer homepage.

This week, I jetted off to Los Angeles to check out Snap’s Specs. While I was there, I couldn’t help but be impressed by Apple’s innovation with the iPhone 18 Pro’s Face ID sensor hidden beneath the display. I also caught up on the latest news about Xbox’s new head honcho, Asha Sharma, got hyped for the new season of The Great British Baking Show, watched Stephen Colbert shave his beard on Jimmy Kimmel, and spent plenty of time working from various coffee shop tables.

I’ve got some exciting updates for you, including Valve’s Steam Frame, Nintendo’s expansive new Fire Emblem title, a compact Fujifilm camera, and more.

As always, the best part of Installer is hearing from you! What are you curious about? What have you been enjoying lately in the gaming world? Feel free to drop a line with your thoughts.

The Drop
* Resident Evil. Zach Cregger’s take on Capcom’s legendary survival-horror franchise sounds like a blast. One of my colleagues described it as “comedy first and a thrilling nightmare second.” Count me in!
* Valve’s Steam Frame. Valve’s new VR headset, originally slated for an early 2026 release, is finally here, starting at $1,059. Based on reviews, it looks like a fun way to dive into VR and traditional games—assuming you can navigate the bugs and instability. The Steam Deck had a similar rocky start, but Valve managed to turn things around, so here’s hoping for the same with the Frame.
* Fire Emblem: Fortune’s Weave. I’ve been diving into Nintendo’s latest strategy RPG, and it’s a fantastic evolution of everything that made Three Houses great. It’s quickly become my favorite game on the Switch 2. It’s a hefty time investment, though—I’ve logged around 130 hours! If you’re a Fire Emblem fan or just love RPGs, this one will keep you engaged for a while.
* Fujifilm’s Instax Pal 2. This $169.95 digital camera packs a punch with a 10-megapixel capability, an optical viewfinder, and a 1.3-inch LCD screen—all in a super compact design. Perfect for on-the-go photography!
* Boox’s Picco. While the new Boox Palma 3 isn’t available for order yet, you can preorder the tiny Picco, featuring a 3.97-inch E Ink screen for $99.99. I haven’t tried these small e-readers yet, but I’m intrigued by the concept.
* Marvel’s Wolverine. Insomniac’s latest superhero adventure isn’t receiving the same acclaim as their Spider-Man titles. One reviewer noted that while it’s a solid action game, the story is “largely forgettable.” Still, if you’re eager to unleash some claws as Wolverine, it seems to deliver on that front.
* Hisense’s RoamView. Hisense has introduced its own take on the “screen on wheels” concept, similar to LG’s StanbyME. With a 32-inch 4K touchscreen and a 10-hour battery life, it can be detached from its wheeled stand for desk use. Priced at $1,199, it’s a bit steep, but I’m definitely curious to give it a try!

Screen Share
This week, I’m spotlighting game developer Dan Dilorio, who creates under the name TrampolineTales. Earlier this year, he launched a charming game called What’s the Password?, where players solve tricky four-digit codes. It’s available on PC, iOS, and Android, and you can wrap it up in just a couple of hours. Highly recommended!

I asked him to share his homescreen and the apps he values. Here’s what he had to say:

The phone: Google Pixel 6A.
The wallpaper: A picture of my partner and our rabbit, Lefty!
The apps: I’ve organized my app grid into 3 columns instead of the usual 4, keeping only the apps I use frequently on my homescreen. File Manager Plus is great for managing files, especially when I need to test APKs for my games. Podcast Addict is my go-to for podcasts; I’ve been using it for years and love its customization options.

Currently, I’m playing MahjongSoul the most, averaging at least one game of riichi mahjong daily. If I’m short on time, I’ll squeeze in a few rounds of Threes. I still have plenty of space on my phone, so I haven’t deleted any games yet.

I also asked Dan to share some of his current favorites. Here’s what he sent back:
* I’ve been really into Omelet You Cook lately. It’s a fantastic score-based roguelike deckbuilder.
* I just finished The Incident at Galley House, Esoteric Ebb, and Rita. All of them are strong contenders for my game of the year.

Crowdsourced
Here’s what the Installer community is buzzing about this week. I’d love to hear what you’re into as well! Send your recommendations to installer@theverge.com, and we’ll feature some of our favorites here each week.

“Slow Horses is baaaaaaaaack. Can’t wait to dive into season 6.” — Jonathan
“I’m loving the new version of the Zen browser. With tab syncing and workspaces, it’s outperformed Arc for me.” — Chris
“I recently played The Drifter, and it was fantastic—fully voiced, beautiful art, and fun puzzles. The story was surprisingly good. I’m currently reading Cloudthief by Nathaniel Rich, which is about a heist in a datacenter and the challenges of going off the grid.” — rkatz94
“After getting hyped by the Metroid Ravenous reveal, I’m giving Dread another shot—this time on Switch 2. A resolution upgrade would’ve been nice, but the handheld experience with the 1080p boost is enjoyable.” — bimonscificon
“Watching: Colin from Accounts S3—good silly Australian fun. The new season of Taskmaster is impressive; I’m surprised they keep the format fresh after all these years. Reading: Children of Strife, the latest in the Children Of series. Nothing beats the first book, Children of Time, though—it’s one of my all-time favorites.” — Mrmagoo
“I’ve been playing Inscryption! It’s a fun roguelike card game with a bit of mystery. I recommend going in blind; it’s exciting to uncover details as you progress.” — HapticVibez
“I haven’t been a big country music fan, but I’m obsessed with Shaboozey’s new album. It feels like a western movie, and I can’t get enough of it. (It’s also a gateway to other country music for me.) Plus, I got the Xteink X4 Pro, and it’s a blast to use—great for on-the-go with a nice touchscreen and front lights.” — Daniel
“I’ve been using Coquiet for my deep work sessions lately, and I’m really enjoying it. The music selection is great, it has a built-in Pomodoro timer, and I love the feeling of working alongside others. Plus, it’s free!” — Diego

Signing off
I’ve got another week of travel ahead, and I’d love to hear your travel app recommendations or tips! For work trips, I usually stick to chain restaurants like Starbucks and Chipotle for reliable meals that won’t upset my stomach while I’m busy covering events. (I’m getting old!) But once the work is done, I love seeking out local spots, like the delicious chicken strips I had from a ghost kitchen in LA this week.

Catch you next week!