Welcome to Sheppard Mullin’s Weekly Web Wrap-Up, a quick list of the past week’s top news in the social media, gaming, and virtual goods and currencies industries curated by Social Media & Games Team.  Here are some of the stories that we’ve been reading:

Watch the World’s First Mind-Controlled Drone Race

Sixteen students at the University of Florida took part in the competition, taking control of the drones using a brain-computer interface (BCI) device.  Billed as the next NASCAR, drone racing seems poised to fly into the world of mainstream sports and to bring BCI technology out of the lab and into your living room.

What to Expect From an Indie E3

With Activision, Disney, Bethesda, and EA all bowing out of E3 in an official capacity this year, the industry is abuzz with one question:  Can the biggest annual event for gamers survive its newfound independence?  June 12 is right around the corner, and the rumors have us cautiously optimistic.

How Prince Fought the Internet for Musicians

None can deny that Prince leaves behind a legacy.  But for young artists in the music industry, that legacy includes activism.  Placing blame on labels that sign lucrative content deals with streaming services but refused to share profits, Prince pulled his entire catalog from all major streaming services.  He was also at the forefront of the piracy fight, suing the infamous The Pirate Bay for rampant online piracy.

The Latest on Sony’s PS4.5

Sony is poised to drop a new console only three years after the launch of the PS4—the most powerful game console on the market today—to support 4K Ultra HD gaming and VR experiences.  Check out all the updates, rumors, and news on the update.

The XTech Conference Returns to San Francisco

The Neurotechnology Industry Organization (NIO), the leading neuroscience trade association, in conjunction with JAZZ Venture Partners return this year for the 2016 Experiential Technology and NeuroGaming Conference & Expo—or “XTech.”  The conference focuses on the convergence of emerging digital platforms—such as VR, AR, MR, deep learning, and robotics—and advances in neuroscience.  The event illuminates the impact of new experiential technologies on health, wellness, learning, training, sports and entertainment.