The Stepback
The Stepback is a weekly breakdown of one essential story from across the tech world. Every Sunday, we’ll bring you an exciting new story from a rotating cast of writers from every corner of The Verge extended universe. The Stepback is built to dig in deeper on the biggest stories and topics at The Verge. Subscribe to The Verge for exclusive access.



Porn is increasingly age-gated. Social media is next.

More cities are adopting OMNY-like open-loop payment systems for transit. Can it keep transit from slipping into a death spiral?

AI startups want to brute force their way into the movie business, even though the tech isn’t ready for its closeup.

On Sony, Microsoft, and the future of game consoles.

Silicon-carbon cells are leading to thinner phones with longer battery life.



The US is saying ‘to hell with the international mining code.’

Dust could spell death for a foldable’s inner screen.

‘Car bloat’ is what you get when companies prioritize profits over safety.

We’re launching two exclusive newsletters and a partnership with Lowpass by Janko Roettgers.

