Five things on Friday #404
Music, sumo, and deck fodder (not at the same time, obvs),
Things of note for the week ending October 31st, 2025.
#404
If all else fails, hopefully this will be the best 404 page you’ll read today.
INTRO
Happy Halloween fam!
Yes, I know I’m a day late but it’s HALLOWEEN WEEKEND so stick it for now and just enjoy the awesome make up job I did on myself for a party this week - thanks.
I read a thing this week encouraging women to use Chat GPT.
Now look, I get and understand the p-rnography of the new and exciting. I also get, on linkedin at least, generative ai is mostly peddled by ex metaverse/crypto/NFT bros desperate to perpetuate and defend their bastion of being self-proclaimed innovators. Not all. But most.
So you might hear the above advice from someone you trust. But the article (which I am purposefully not linking to) in question seemed to offer this advice with no real awareness (self or otherwise) of the inherent bias basked into the sycophantic faux best pal that is Chat GPT (and Gen AI more broadly).
Bias that is especially bad for women and women of colour.
Here. Are. Some. Facts. And. Data. About. That.
And maybe consider reading The New Age of Sexism: How the AI revolution is reinventing misogyny.
THEN maybe consider using Gen AI ‘more’.
And by more, I mean less.
(Also, have you watched the thing that you were tagged in?)
Anyway, how have you beeeeeen?
It's been a full on week here: meetings bossed, meetings cancelled, toys thrown together and toys thrown out. Gigs attended, love adored, parties danced and fancy dress GALORE.
This week: HAIM! AT THE O2!
I first saw Haim live waaaaay back in 2013 - at Flow Festival in Helsinki (the Mrs and I had barely started dating and I’d headed there to see some pals after a great few days at the Fringe (also a fun read - mainly for the bragging rights of seeing Fleabag, live, before it was famous) - so yeah, one of the better mini-breaks I’ve had.
Aaaaanyway, I’ve watched live-streams, caught albums, watched their sets at Glastonbury on the telly but actual live live, no - it had been a few years.
So yeah, we FINALLY did that. I FINALLY got to show the Mrs the band that I love and we FINALLY got to see them live and in person, together. And they were great.
OTHER FUN THINGS THIS WEEK.
A wicked Halloween party hosted by YRS TRULY (complete with completely normal doorbell cam footage)
A ‘Make and Take’ LEGO witch at the office.
A well-earned steak after a particularly tricky day.
Like I said, it’s been a week.
And now I am here writing to you. It’s Saturday November 1st as I pick this edition up to finish. It’s 15:19 in the afternoon, the kids are playing Minecraft, and it is chucking it down outside.
Important Parish Notice.
If you ever have any difficulty reading Five things on Friday, please know that this email is simultaneously published to the web and most of the editions can be found at https://www.fivethingsonfriday.com/archive and this edition should be there as you read this.
Just in case x
As promised last edition, we had some leftover THINGS to throw in the bonus section as well as the usual collection of flotsam and jetsam we pick up while trawling for interesting THINGS to share… so we should go ahead and get right into them, right?
Right.
—
TO THE THINGS!
THING 1. THIS SONG SUCKS.
“I went to the label and said, ‘This song sucks. This is not the song I wrote.’ They said it sounded fine. I did not agree”
Linda Perry of Four Non-Blondes fame talking about the 1992 anthem ‘What’s Up?’ (I still have the single on vinyl somewhere).
Music Radar have written about the background to the song and as an insight both into what it means to write and produce music that matters and using that music to stand up for what you believe in - well, it’s a damn good read.
“I pray/Oh my God do I pray /I pray every single day/For revolution”.
THING 2. REVIEWING GOOGLE GEMINI HOME
Ars Technica coming in here with something that is so so so so so needed. Something I will resist with every bone in my body. We have a Google-centric smart home and I have no intention whatsoever of switching us over from Assistant to Gemini.
And that was before I read this review.
Entitled ‘“Unexpectedly, a deer briefly entered the family room”: Living with Gemini Home’ - it’s a warts and all hitlist of exactly why any Google smart home user should definitely not a) use this product or b) pay for the privilege.
"Security cameras shouldn’t lie about seeing intruders, nor should they tell me I’m lying when they fail to recognize an event."
It’s barely a beta, let alone a consumer-ready one.
THING 3. THIS WEEK IN USEFUL GAMING DATA FOR YOUR POWERPOINT DECKS.
Let’s make some room for the Power of Play 2025 Global Video Games Report.
Published by the Entertainment Software Association and supported by trade bodies the world over, this is a well researched, well put together, and well worth your time report (PDF available here).
Why? Because it is a superb take on what the world and landscape of gaming looks like across the globe (24,000 respondents over 21 countries) and a few outtakes that may well, like I said, make it into any decks you’re writing or pitches you’re putting together over the coming days and weeks.
Some immediate take outs:
GAMING is massive. It is a key driver of social network development, friendships, and... fun.
Dismissing gaming as ‘not real fun’ is folly. Moreso as something that ‘replaces real world play'. If you see this, stamp it out because the evidence here shows kids and parents play together with video games and that play matters.
HAVING FUN is the top reason the world plays video games and learned that video games help players feel less stressed and help them get through difficult times. Players also recognise that video games develop skills such as problem-solving, teamwork, adaptability, and critical thinking.
It’s international. Also, for overseas markets among you, this report has individual pages for quite a few countries on their own - which might help if you’re building a case for an EMEA campaign, for example.
The benefits of playing video games are not just felt and shared by those who love to play them; there is a growing body of academic research challenging the prevailing stereotypes about video games, consistently supporting the conclusion that video games enhance cognitive development, build emotional resilience, support social and mental health, and foster learning and development.
There’s more research! Linked to the above quote, the back of the report cites a smorgasbord of academic research (with links!) about how:
Playing video games is good for you. Not only can playing video games positively effect Mental Health and Well Being.
Across the world, video games and gaming are appreciated as a vehicle to build positive and lasting connections with children, family, and friends, but also viewed as a space to find new relationships in an increasingly isolated world.
Video games can provide VALUABLE JOB SKILLS. As someone who has spent many nights trying to conquer a raid on Destiny 2 (it was a dark time) then I agree with the developing teamwork + communication aspect of this.
Video games are a powerful training tool. This is both good and bad. On the one hand, maintaining high stakes awareness in simulation situations is something that can only be done in gaming. The Nintendo surgeon example mentioned is superb. However, on the other side, politicians and government have started to wake up to how well games can be used for ‘training’ (Read: propaganda), among other things.
The point is: there's gold in dem hills.
70% of players agree that gaming can help them feel less anxious
62% of players agree that games have helped them get through difficult times in their lives (tag yourself, this is me).
66% of Brazilian parents agree that playing video games has positively impacted their relationship with their children.
Etc etc etc.
To children, teens, and adults - playing video games is a core component of how people destress, have fun, and keep their brain sharp.
And I feel like we should be talking more about that x
Halo is coming to PlayStation.
We missed the big ‘Halo is coming to PlayStation’ news last week.
I've no idea what NDAs still stand (or don't) so I guess all I can say is that in a different life I had had some pretty up close interactions with a few of the Halo Studios leadership team and I'm genuinely excited for what's coming.
As for the not-so-obvious shift in Microsoft's publishing strategy (which, let's be honest, has been telegraphed for a WHILE now), for me where Halo goes NEXT is the most exciting thing.
You're talking about one of the most recognisable brand characters in the world.
In modern parlance, Master Chief is to Xbox what Mario is to Nintendo and Sonic is to Sega.
PlayStation have often struggled in this area. I think it’s fair to say that Astrobot is the latest attempt (and a successful one, I hasten to add - RIP Sackboy). But you get the point.
But being a platform masthead doesn’t mean you have to be platform exclusive. Sonic has proved that. Can Master Chief do the same? I sincerely hope so.
Also, if there’s a real opportunity for MORE players to experience how GREAT Halo can be, well, what's not to love?
Sure, your Xbox may feel like a doorstop right now - especially in light of those Game Pass price rises - but hey, it's a process right.
And if you listen carefully to what Microsoft is saying, the next Xbox might be a PC anyway (one that can play PlayStation games...).
Convergence ay.
Gaming Bites, Bits, and News.
Where do developers get their ideas? This is an excellent read both for the insight and the inspiration (for games to play).
The SNES classic ‘Street Racer’ is coming to PS5. Given I spent a few days trying to track an original copy of this down for my own SNES (£3 at CeX, thanks), the timing of this has made me chuckle.
‘True randomness’ in video games is coded out for a reason.
You can always tell how bad the games news is when it breaks through to the mainstream. Anyway, here’s the BBC writing about Mindseye.
‘The vast majority of players don’t post on reddit’ - the truth. It burns!
Amazon lays off 14,000 people. Cancels MMOs. Scales back a ton of stuff. Horrible.
What is James playing?
I am still playing Hades 2. But I was convinced to try out Battlefield 6’s new gauntlet mode last night - that was fun. ALSO, a good pal (hi James) threw me a code for Arc Raiders this week so I’m hoping to dive into that at some point this evening…
And then I think that’s it.
What are you playing?
THING 4. OH MY GOD I FORGOT ABOUT THE SUMO.
HOW COULD I?!
You’ve almost certainly read about this. Or seen the AMAZING photos. There are so many.
So wholesome.
So good.
BUT I wanted to add them in here because me and the kids actually watched a bunch of it on BBC iPlayer - live from the Royal Albert Hall and we were thoroughly surprised by how amazing it was and how addictive it was.
Stupid, old me: Sumo is just a bunch of fat guys pushing each other around and the most famous sumo I know is E Honda.
Smarter, enlightened new me: Sumo is an incredible sport, matching wit, skill, and strength with ancient mystery, myth, and religion.
Stick it on the telly, and definitely watch both the Yokozuna AND Tobizaru Masaya - aka ‘The Flying Monkey’.
You’ll be amazed.
THING 5. YOU HAVE MY ATTENTION AND NOW I WANT IT BACK
Emily Ash Powell writes:
"And what did you even look at, anyway? Did the bottomless pit of information and entertainment on your rectangle give you good news? Or did it give you bad news? Maybe fake news. But also dog videos. Then clickbait. Rage bait. Memes to make you type ‘haha’ with a straight face. Post from old friends. Posts from old enemies. The worst crimes against humanity you’ve ever seen. A new video clip of that same interview you listened to last week with your favourite celeb. A friend’s new baby. A recipe you won’t make. A dress you don’t need. Shoes you (maybe) do. A devastating update to the threat of democracy. News that a celebrity marriage is over. An itinerary for a holiday you won’t go on. A photo of what a cow looks like if you blow dry its fur. A photo of someone you used to know getting engaged to someone you don’t. An article about how AI is coming for your job. More discourse about a popstar. Yet another shocking, but not surprising, report on sexual assault. A new restaurant you’ll save but never go to. Are you screaming yet?"
BONUS SECTION
THIS IS THE BONUS SECTION. BONUS LINKS THAT BUMP US OVER FIVE THINGS BUT DUE TO TIMING AND SELF-IMPOSED WRITING RESTRICTIONS ARE LIMITED TO PITHY COMMENTARY ONLY.
ENJOY.
Calling all Animal Crossing players. Whether you only played during lockdown or if you’re still checking in on your animals, it’s important that you know there’s A NEW UPDATE COMING - a big one. With LEGO in it. (YouTube link).
I wrote about the McDonald’s x Street Fighter II partnership an edition or so ago. I FORGOT TO INCLUDE THE GUILE FRENCH FRIES.
Disney+ and Hulu cancellation rates doubled after Kimmel suspension.
Samsung finally revealed its take on the Apple Vision Pro with the new Galaxy XR device. Much earlier this year, on a top secret freelance project, I had hands on with this headset and it was stunning. However, as ever, the proof will be in the
puddingcontent. Apps, games, movies, use-cases… we’ll see, Samsung. We’ll see.The Independent’s pearl clutching at the UK Government ‘spending £115,000 on influencer marketing in under a year’ is an amazing self-own. In marketing, this is not a huge spend. ESPECIALLY when it comes to influencers. Parking the lack of marketing spend knowledge to one side, why would any government spend money on using the best channels and media to meet the youth where they are? It should be housekeeping, not front page news.
“If You Were Bankrolling OpenAI, the Percent of ChatGPT Users Willing to Pay for It Might Make You Break Out in a Cold Sweat” - futurism.
This week I learned about Kraftwerk removing the ringer from their phone (calls were by appointment only).
One of the smarter things I’ve read on OpenAI embracing NSFW.
Speaking of NSFW, Meta seem to be at it as well. What’s interesting about both of these links is that it’s reasonably common knowledge that the sex industry is what drives tech take-up and innovation. Betamax vs VHS? Sex won. HD-DVD vs Blu-ray? Sex won. Now we get to Generative Ai and the tech bros are in charge, what do you think they’re going to use to win?
I quite liked this profile of coffee nerd YouTube master, James Hoffman. You might too.
‘Stop telling us we’re dead’ - creatives of adland speak out (via the DMA).
I can’t quite believe I’m writing this but someone at The Sandbox has convinced some poor marketer at Casio to launch the new Casio Virtual Gshock on their ‘metaverse’. What year is this?!
My visit to Comic-Con last week sent me down a huge Masters of the Universe partnership tie up rabbit hole that started with Thundercats (Battle-Cat Man! SKELL-RA!), visited Transformers, and ended with TMNT: Turtles of Greyskull. Where are the cartoons to go with this? Give me a comic AT LEAST! GOD DAMMIT.
Speaking of He-Man, I want this on PS5!
‘London’s thieves are burying phones in flowerbeds’ - fascinating.
I am yet to listen to Lily Allen’s new album. Wait! Don’t go! I haven’t had the bloody time to sit down and properly listen to it. I intend to though. What I have done however is read a LOT about it. Like, a lot. And this ‘Love and Gaslight’ is best thing I’ve read - by miles.
YOU ARE REACHING THE END OF THE NEWSLETTER. MIND THE GAP.
Right and with that I think we are done. It’s 16:53 and it’s dark outside. The kids are still playing Minecraft and I better get off this laptop and think about our plans for the evening.
I hope you’ve enjoyed this edition. We had a big bumper crop of new subscribers this week (hello!) - I guess that’s what happens when you actually tell people you have a newsletter. I forget that sometimes. 😁
Anyway, hello, welcome, and goodbye for now.
I hope you all have lovely weekends.
Until next time,
Whatley out x
Five thing on Friday will always be free.
However, if you want to chuck a couple of quid directly to the running costs then you can do that at these links:
You can sign up to an annual sub (no minimum amount required - people have dropped £20-£50 on this link, which is nice).
Or a one off pay whatever you want donation right here.
100% of all your dollar will go on Buttondown fees (about £23 a month) and anything left over at the end of each year with Buttondown will go direct to men’s mental health charity, CALM.