People are taking a patchwork approach to self-expression to feel like they have control over how their identity is generated. Yet as individual expression becomes more mutable and mistrust in social systems abounds, there’s one place above all that people are seeking integrity and guidance: brands.

Acting as a home away from home, equipped with gaming consoles, board games, vinyl players, and film screens, a new breed of socialising spaces is encouraging visitors to connect and engage in person. These venues foster community and belonging in an increasingly isolated digital landscape.

Step asideThe Sims; there's a new life simulator in town.Paralivesmight seem lighthearted on the surface, but deeper inspection reveals how the game offers a sense of agency that can help players navigate milestone anxiety, providing them with a much-needed escape from reality.

Video game art is beginning to mimic real life, as in-game experience shifts to include positive life milestones that are growing increasingly difficult to achieve for many young Gen Yers and Zers in the real world. How is The Sims shifting real-life concerns to the virtual world?

Based in a Southeast Asian-inspired world,TheSims 4expansion pack 'For Rent' reflects the housing crisis and offers players a chance to be landlords and maintain properties in a virtual reality. As renters grapple with the powerlessness they feel, the game provides a sense of control.