Lots of us have had some version of a ‘stuck in a room playing videogames until 3am’ period in our lives, but it turns out The 1975 frontman Matty Healy is having his right now, only right in the middle of making the band’s next album, and the game in question is ARC Raiders.
For the non-gamers among you, or even the more casual amongst you who mainly stick to the likes of Call of Duty or FIFA (sorry, EA FC*), you’ll be forgiven if you haven’t heard of ARC Raiders yet.
As for those of you who still regularly sweat it out in online lobbies, either with the boys or solo – this online shooter has quickly proved ideal for either – chances are you’ve at least considered buying it if you’re not already a ridiculous level.
Well, as it turns out, Matty Healy is one of those people, as the local lead singer, songwriter, multi-instrumentalist, and producer says he’s been spending most nights staying up very late in and around recording sessions on the next 1975 outing. More than that, he wants to play with fans.
That’s right, whilst he insists that the group are hard at work on their sixth studio LP, he’s also been spending a lot of time playing the third-person multiplayer game “religiously” and getting very little sleep.
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In fact, as you can see in the post above, it almost been part of this album’s lifecycle and the music-making process, much to even Healy’s own surprise.
Positioned and already being reviewed as one of the best extraction advantages ‘ever’, the game by Embark Studios over in Stockholm, Sweden, is just the second-ever title by the studio, having previously made the FPS (first-person shooter) The Finals, which released early after ARC Raiders was delayed.
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It’s taken the development team nearly seven years to create the game, which was initially teased as an even more ambitious project as early as 2021, and this also included a major rework after they realised they weren’t getting the kind of single-player or co-op experience they had been aiming for.
And that back-to-the-drawing-board step certainly seemed to pay off, as not only was it the most searched game of 2025, but it is already holding over 6 million weekly players online so far this year – and the Wilmslow musician is one of them.
The 36-year-old, opinionated and often opinion-splitting performer is certainly no stranger to roping in various pop culture references and aesthetics into his art, but we can’t think of many other examples where he’s made a nod to gaming. For now, this is literally as much as we have on the next ’75 LP:
Nevertheless, if you want to try and kill a few hours between instalments in their discography and you happen to dabble in the joysticks and/or a mouse and keyboard from time to time, then we’d keep an eye on that Reddit thread for updates.
Healy mentioned that he obviously doesn’t want to flood rounds and his own network with loads of traffic, but he is asking for feedback on how to make raiding the post-apocalyptic wastelands with fans possible very soon.
As much as we’d relish a famous Northerner to team up with (yes, we’re hooked as well), we’d be remiss if we didn’t remind him to GET ON WITH IT and finish this album already, as Being Funny in a Foreign Language feels like forever ago.
This is the kind of stuff we’ve been busy filling our days with whilst waiting for the next 1975 drop…
Tickets officially go on sale for rare 70mm IMAX screenings of Dune: Part Three in Manchester
Emily Sergeant
Tickets have now officially gone on sale for rare 70mm IMAX screenings of Dune: Part Three in Manchester.
Arriving on screens from 18 December and gearing up to be one of the most anticipated films of the year, Dune: Part Three – which is the third and final instalment in director Denis Villeneuve’s Dune franchise – will be screening in IMAX 70mm at Vue Manchester Printworks, one of only three venues to show it in this format nationwide.
There are only 40 other venues across the globe showing the film in IMAX 70mm, and Manchester is the only city outside of London to screen the blockbuster this way too.
Based on the novels of Frank Herbert and set nearly two decades after the previous film, Dune: Part Three features an ensemble cast of all-star names led by Timothée Chalamet and Zendaya.
Alongside them will be Jason Momoa, Florence Pugh, Anya Taylor-Joy, Rebecca Ferguson, Robert Pattinson, Charlotte Rampling, Javier Bardem, and Josh Brolin.
After seats for a special early screening of the film in IMAX sold out in less than 30 minutes last month, the IMAX 70mm showings – which officially went live today (20 October) – are expected to be snapped up fast by film fans in Manchester.
“A decade in the making, Denis Villeneuve’s epic Dune trilogy is reaching its dramatic conclusion this December,” explained Dean Cross, who is the Senior Screen Content Manager at Vue.
“As the only venue outside of London to be screening Dune: Part Three in IMAX 70mm, it’s a privilege for us to offer this unique way to experience the film.”
Dune: Part Three is coming to Vue Manchester Printworks on 18 December, and you can book your tickets here.
Featured Image – Warner Bros.
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Free pints and live craft experiences coming to a Manchester pub for one night only
Daisy Jackson
A pop-up pub takeover is opening its doors in Manchester, where you can get your hands on a free pint as well as some amazing craft experiences.
The Uncommon Inn is being operated by premium Italian lager brand Poretti, who want to help us Brits break out of our daily routines.
Matt & Phreds on Tib Street will welcome The Uncommon Inn on Thursday 22 October, from 4pm to 8pm, giving visitors the chance to discover unusual creative skills and watch artisans at work, with a free pint in hand.
It comes after research commissioned by Poretti found that 61% of UK adults feel they are living on autopilot, while a quarter have not tried a new creative pursuit in five years or more.
Free pints and live craft experiences are coming to a Manchester pub for one night only / Credit: Supplied
The study also found that adults have an average of just 90 minutes of genuine personal time each day, with 58% spending that time watching television and 35% scrolling through social media.
Exhaustion and financial constraints came out as the main barriers preventing people from trying new things.
The Uncommon Inn has been designed to offer an alternative, bringing together a collective of specialist makers to showcase their skills in a familiar pub setting.
Visitors to the Manchester event can watch Giulio Miglietta embroidering personalised beer mats, using a vintage Singer sewing machine dating back to the early 1900s, alongside live hand-engraving and bespoke jewellery-style crafting using recycled silver.
The Uncommon Inn is being operated by premium Italian lager brand Poretti / Credit: Supplied
Other demonstrations include 3D body-casting by sculptor Ami of Angelcasts and personalised, hand-engraved glassware from Leigh Calligraphy. Sabira of Sken Studios will also demonstrate how recycled silver can be turned into bespoke bottle openers.
Guests will be able to enjoy complimentary pints of Poretti while watching the makers at work.
Caitlin Maley, Senior Brand Manager at Poretti, said: “Modern life moves at an overwhelming pace, and it’s all too easy to fall into autopilot mode where routine replaces curiosity.
“We believe in celebrating intentional craft, rare skills, and authentic human connection – values that are at the core of our brewing heritage.
“We created The Uncommon Inn to turn an ordinary pub visit into an inspiring journey. By bringing together our Masters of Crafts, from chainstitch embroiderers to live engravers and musicians, we’re inviting pubgoers to slow down, pick up a new skill, and enjoy a pint crafted with genuine passion.”
The Uncommon Inn is at Matt & Phreds in Manchester on Thursday 22 October, from 4pm until 8pm.
Danny Jones -
13th February 2026 
