The screen flickers with the progress bar as I watch the game update download. It’s been stuck at 95% for what feels like forever. My fingers tap on the armrest of the couch, growing restless. The sound of a new song starts playing in the background—something catchy by Olivia Rodrigo. The notifications light up, but I ignore them; nothing matters right now except getting this update done.

I’ve been waiting for these new levels to come out all week. The developers promised some epic boss fights and new power-ups that make my character stronger than ever. Can’t wait to see if they delivered. My thumb hovers over the ‘play’ button, but I know better than to start playing now. I need this update complete first.

When it finally hits 100%, I’ll jump up like a caged animal and check out those new levels. Maybe even take a quick peek at what’s new in the game chat. The anticipation is killing me, but it will all be worth it when I can dive back into the world of Sonic.