Remedy's co-op shooter FBC: Firebreak hasn't exactly had the quickest start to life on Xbox, but the team vowed to support the game back in the summer; announcing a major update for later in the year. Well, that 'Rogue Protocol' update has now been delayed, as the studio "makes sure everything feels right" for its launch.

Announcing the news via Steam, the Control dev says that its cross-platform voice chat feature is now live, but that the accompanying 'major update' has been delayed to January 2026. In short, the team goes on to say that it simply needed "extra time" to make sure Rogue Protocol is "polished, balanced, and worthy of your time".

"While we’re excited to roll that out today, the Rogue Protocol Major Update, originally planned to launch alongside it still needs a bit more time. We’re now aiming to release Rogue Protocol in January 2026.

As we mentioned in the September roadmap, this update will include a completely new game mode. The extra time will help us make sure everything feels right: polished, balanced, and worthy of your time."

Despite this last-minute delay, Remedy has shared more details on the new mode coming in this update; 'Endless Shift'. As the name suggests, this is a horde mode that tasks players with surviving "endless waves of increasingly dangerous enemies". That's not exactly the most original addition to FBC: Firebreak here, but the studio is at least hoping to put its own Control-universe spin on things with its unique theme and setting.

Anyway, you can read a little bit more about this planned update via the Steam link down below, ahead of its new January 2026 release date. In the meantime, FBC: Firebreak remains an Xbox Game Pass title following its day one launch back in June.

Over the last 18 months or so, we've seen Microsoft pivot to releasing games on rival platforms - including PlayStation of course. While the reaction to this move has been mixed, shall we say, within the community, it sounds as though Xbox developers at large are pretty pleased with the decision.

Talking with 404 Media, Bloomberg's ever-reliable Jason Schreier spoke about the situation, and how "a lot" of these studios are "thrilled that they get to release their games on PlayStation". Schreier hinted at sales pressure being a core reason why the teams are happy to get their games out there on PS5.

"A lot of these [Xbox first-party games] are put on Game Pass, which means they’re not selling as much because people can just subscribe and get them for much cheaper than they would if they bought them. That complicates the math for a lot of these studios. A lot of game studios are now actually thrilled that they get to release their games on PlayStation, which is a recent phenomenon that's been happening in the last year or so."

Coming off the back of a recent report that Microsoft is now aiming for 30% profits from its Xbox gaming division (also via Schreier/Bloomberg), this makes a lot of sense. As the quote above suggests, game sales on Xbox are likely being impacted by Game Pass, so the extra revenue brought in by PS5 sales should be helping the studios hit any internal targets that are being set.

Of course, there's also the fact that game developers just like as many folks as possible to experience their creations. We've seen this being touted as a net positive for the multiplatform push on multiple occasions, so yeah, it makes sense that a lot of the Xbox teams would be happy to get their games out there to more players!

Over the weekend, Level-5 released a brand new update for Inazuma Eleven: Victory Road, booting the football RPG up to ver. 1.3.0 and adding some new features in the process.

The newbies this time around are a level cap feature for Ranked and Lobby matches, and two new opportunities to switch characters when using the in-game menus. There are a bunch of balancing adjustments and bug fixes included in this one too, so it will be well worth checking out for the best experience possible.

The full patch notes were shared on the official Inazuma Eleven website, and we have gathered them together for you to check out below.

Inazuma Eleven: Victory Road Ver. 1.3.0 (Released 21st Nov 2025)

Feature Additions / Adjustments

Added a Level Cap Feature to Ranked Matches and Lobby Matches

• Added a Level 50 cap to Ranked Matches to ensure more intense and balanced competition. Any character above this level will be automatically adjusted down to 50. For lobby matches, players now have the option to enable or disable this cap.

Added a Feature to Switch Characters on the Abilearn Board

• Added a feature that allows players to switch to other characters in the same Team Dock directly from the Abilearn Board.

Added a Feature to Switch Characters on the Equipment Menu

• Added a feature that allows players to switch to other characters in the same Team Dock directly from the Equipment Menu.

Balance Adjustments

Adjusted Training Goals in Story Mode Chapter 9

• Adjusted the training goals in Chapter 9 of Story Mode.

  • When playing on another platform via Cross-Save, training goals may appear higher due to differences between versions.

Adjusted Experience Requirements for Leveling Up

• Adjusted the amount of experience required for all characters to level up.

Added Level Sync for Avatars in Story Mode

• When using an Avatar in Story Mode matches, any Avatar at level 51 or above will now be adjusted down to level 50.

Retrying a Story Match Will Now Carry Over the Score

• Adjusted Story Mode matches so that if you lose and retry from mid-match, the score up to that point will now be carried over.

Adjusted Experience Gains for Lower-Level Characters

• Adjusted the system so that up to five lower-level characters among the sixteen members in the Team Dock will receive a post-match experience bonus. The bonus scales based on the level gap between each of the lowest five characters and the team's average level.

Countermeasures for Idling in Ranked Matches

• Implemented the following measures:

  • In the case of defeat, rewards will only be granted if the match was played through to the end.

  • Experience earned upon defeat has been reduced to one quarter.

  • Conceding a match will no longer grant rewards.

Bug Fixes

• Fixed an issue where a player who has not completed Story Mode competing against a player who has in Ranked Matches or Lobby Matches would result in the acquisition of characters from South Cirrus not yet obtained in the story, preventing further progression.

• Fixed an issue in the Spirit Exchange where used Spirits would not decrease even after being spent.

• Fixed an issue where Ranked Match points were still awarded even if the connection was canceled during a Ranked Match.

• Fixed an issue in the Special Training Gatling Kraken Trap that prevented it from being cleared when played at a high frame rate.

• Fixed an issue in BB Stadium where, after selecting "Continue from save" to resume Campaign Mode and winning a match, the game would sometimes fail to progress when attempting to start the next one.

• Fixed an issue in Story Mode Chapter 6 where the game would sometimes fail to progress after winning the skill showdown.

• Fixed an issue in the Story Mode Chapter 8 match against Royal Academy where the screen effect of a Special Tactic could sometimes remain on screen.

• Fixed an issue in the Story Mode Chapter 8 match against Royal Academy where the same Special Tactic could be used twice in a row during the second half.

• Fixed an issue in Story Mode where the number of abilities owned was displayed incorrectly due to referencing items from other modes.

• Fixed an issue in Story Mode Chapter 9 where, when controlling Darian Moonward, players could fast travel to South Cirrus Junior High but were unable to return to Raimon, preventing further progression.

• Fixed an issue in Story Mode where opening the map exactly as the player touched the red dashed line marking an impassable area could cause the game to become unresponsive.

• Fixed an issue where, in environments with significant network latency, performing a penalty kick during online play could prevent the game from progressing, as no goal animation would play after the shot.

• Fixed an issue in Story Mode Chapter 9 during the Raimon Junior High match where, after completing the mission Take a shot, the screen could remain dark and the game could become stuck if the shot was blocked.

• Fixed an issue where, during a zone, the game could sometimes become unprogressable when a character collided with the castle wall and lost the ball at the same time as executing a shooting move.

• Fixed an issue in Chapter 8 of Story Mode during the match against Royal Academy where, if a foul was committed while controlling Cade Shelby during the mission Successfully pass the ball to Cade, the Mix 'n' Match event would be skipped.

• Fixed an issue where the number of Focus Squabble Wins in Activities was not being counted.

• Fixed an issue where, during a zone, the game could sometimes become unprogressable if a pass was made to a character just before their Keshin Armourfy was deactivated and a direct shot was executed simultaneously.

• Fixed an issue where, in environments with significant network latency, the goalkeeper command would sometimes fail to trigger against a pass-into-immediate-shot sequence, causing a goal to be scored without a save attempt.

• Fixed an issue in Online Bond Town where the application could sometimes become unresponsive if another player joined while you were sending a chat message.

• Fixed an issue where, by following a specific sequence of steps, players could form a party with three or more HEROES.

We'll be kicking off our full thoughts on Inazuma Eleven: Victory Road on Switch 2 soon enough, so keep an eye out to see what we make of Level-5's latest.

With just one week to go before Assassin's Creed Shadows arrives on Switch 2, Ubisoft has updated the game's eShop page with some noteworthy details to keep in mind before you buy. Like, for example, the dreaded file size.

According to the updated listing, Shadows will take up a beefy 62.8 GB on your system. It's not the most surprising news considering the size of the game, but it's something to keep an eye on as we head towards release.

For reference, this file size puts Shadows above the likes of Cyberpunk 2077 (60.6 GB), Madden NFL 26 (57.1 GB), and Yakuza 0: Director's Cut (45.3 GB), but it's still a good step below Split Fiction (69.2 GB) and the upcoming Final Fantasy VII Remake Intergrade (90-95 GB). Not the end of the world, then, but it might be time to start looking for a Micro SD Express, if you're hoping to have a couple of these in your library.

For those who missed the initial announcement, Assassin's Creed Shadows will arrive on Switch 2 on 2nd December, complete with cross-progression saves, touchscreen support and all the title updates you could wish for — apart from the Claws of Awaji expansion, you'll have to wait until 2026 for that.

Prolific Game Boy developer Gumpy Function (AKA Tom Lockwood, one of the talented people behind the amazing Grimace's Birthday) has just announced the release of Feed IT Souls: Department of Martian Efficiency Edition, a Metroidvania for the Game Boy Color which serves as a remake of his GB Compo 23 game jam effort.

Described by its creator as a title which satirises Elon Musk and the "techno-feudalists of the corporate world", the game's origin was inspired by Musk's purchase of the social media platform Twitter back in 2023.

"You are the offspring of IT, a bio-technological monstrosity after only one thing - delicious souls," reads the game's itch.io page. "Seek out and retrieve souls to feed your master. His power is your power. Every soul retrieved will enhance your mobility as you explore your surroundings."

Costing just $5 and playable on original GBC hardware or via emulation, Feed IT Souls: DOME Edition showcases new areas, new enemies, reworked artwork, in-game achievements, an overhauled game engine and a new Key Performance Indicator mode that "enables a classic life system for extra challenge".

Furthermore, you also get a digital manual "in the style of classic GBC manuals from the late 1990s and 2000s."

The developer has also confirmed that the game is coming to Playtiles Season 1 next week. Playtiles, in case you weren't aware, is a new operating system for smartphones that adds tactile buttons to your device's touchscreen via a removable, silicon-based "tile".

Lockwood has also revealed that he is no longer publishing his games via ModRetro, the company founded by Palmer Luckey, which is behind the FPGA-based Chromatic and M64 consoles.

When Irem & City Connection announced that they were working on a port of R-Type Delta HD Boosted for modern consoles and PCs earlier this year, there was a lot of excitement online. And it's pretty easy to understand why.

The original game is frequently listed online for hundreds of pounds on the secondhand market, making this new version a potentially cheaper alternative for those who want to get their hands on the PS1 game, without breaking the bank.

Reviews for the game dropped on Thursday, November 20th (the same day as the game's release) and have so far been pretty universally positive, with our friends at Nintendo Life giving it a 9, while our other sister site, Push Square, awarded it an 8 in its own review. However, it appears there may be some issues that those reviews, and other reviewers online, didn't pick up on, with Japanese players now taking to social media to highlight issues with missing effects and desynced audio, which are reportedly caused by the new version's lack of slowdown (thanks, OhFivePro, for the spot!).

This appears to be most evident in a section before the end credits, in which there are a bunch of buildings onscreen that are supposed to slowly sink into space and vanish. In the new game, because the slowdown from the original has been removed, these buildings now simply fall off the side of the screen, with the audio then sharply cutting as the staff roll begins. There are also reports that the game is now harder too, with the third stage, in particular, proving "abnormally difficult" for some.

In a Gamespark interview from earlier this month, R-Type Delta HD Boosted producer Nobuhiro Yoshikawa shared a few interesting details with the publication about the creation of the game, which does go some way to explaining why the port may not be as accurate to the original experience as players may have wanted.

In the interview, Yoshikawa stated, for instance, that only "60 to 70 per cent" of the original game's source code has survived, with City Connection having to supplement what was already there. In addition to this, the team also made a conscious decision to remove frame lag, with the producer stating this decision was based on comments that R-Type Delta's original director, Hiroya Kita, once gave in an interview, in which he stated the PS1 game's slowdown was reportedly not an intended feature.

Yoshikawa acknowledged that the game would play differently because of this production choice, but did not refer to any changes to the way audio would be implemented to compensate.

As of right now, neither Irem nor City Connection have acknowledged the issue, so it's unknown whether they will attempt to address this with future updates. We've reached out to its Western publisher, Clear River Games, for comment.

It's been particularly pleasing to see Capcom and Marvel hook up again in recent years, as I was a massive fan of the many superb one-on-one fighters the pair collaborated on in the '90s.

So much so that any little piece of trivia relating to these games is like catnip to me – so I must thank the always-excellent vgdensetsu for unearthing this fact about Marvel vs. Capcom, one of my personal favourites.

I always wondered why Capcom decided to replace Iron Man (who was present in Marvel Super Heroes) with War Machine, a relatively minor character from the comics who would ultimately use the same sprite design. Why remove such a famous face only to replace him with the same sprite, but in black and grey?

According to former Capcom staffer Atsushi Tomita (also known as Tomichin), this was done because Capcom briefly lost the video game rights to the Iron Man character to Acclaim, which released the critically panned Iron Man / X-O Manowar in Heavy Metal in 1996.

"The reason we couldn't include Iron Man in Marvel vs. Capcom was because we couldn't get the rights (Acclaim had the exclusive rights at the time)," says Tomita on social media (translated by Google). "We wanted to include a character with the same abilities we created in Marvel Super Heroes, so we named him War Machine and got permission from Marvel."

Tomita also acknowledges that the palette swap created some inconsistencies with how the War Machine character appeared in the Marvel comics. "At the time, in the original comics, War Machine never wore armor with that design, but Marvel had become more tolerant by this time and was understanding. In the victory demo and other illustrations, Bengus drew the original design, which is completely different from the one in the game, but no one criticized it."

War Machine plays almost exactly like Iron Man in Marvel vs. Capcom, bar some animation changes. However, by the time Marvel vs. Capcom 2 came around in 2000, Capcom was able to reintroduce Iron Man and, therefore, make War Machine a little more individual.

Update [Sun 23rd Nov 2025, 10am]: Ahead of the December Update for Pokémon Unite, additional details have been shared about License Points and the Aeos Coins Exchange. Here's the rundown via the Pokémon website:

Pokémon Unite - December Update

Please see the details below regarding exchanging previously earned Aeos coins for license points.

Exchange Rate

• 10 Aeos coins → 1 license point

Points Required to Obtain a License

In License Journeys, the number of license points required to obtain a Pokémon’s Unite license will vary per license.

• License points required: 325–1,960

Usage Tips

Obtaining a license at the shop

• If you would like a specific Unite license, we recommend obtaining it via Aeos coins at the shop before the maintenance starts at 3:00 UTC on December 4, 2025.

• After the update, you will no longer be able to obtain Unite licenses via Aeos coins.

Exchanging Aeos coins at the Aeos Coin Exchange after December 4, 2025

• After December 4, 2025, you’ll be able to use the Aeos Coin Exchange to exchange previously earned Aeos coins for license points, which can be used in License Journeys.

• Besides license points, we also plan to make other items—such as fashion items, Holowear, and more—available at the Aeos Coin Exchange in exchange for Aeos coins.

The December game updates will also include a new Ranking System, updates to the Theia Sky Ruins battle map, improvements to the main menu and changes to Exp. Point distribution. Planned future improvements have been outlined as well. You can find out more on the official Pokémon website.

You can read the original announcement about the discontinuation of Aeos Coins and introduction of License Journeys in our story below.

Original Story: The free-to-play MOBA Pokémon Unite has experienced all sorts of updates since arriving on the Switch eShop and mobile devices in 2021, but this latest announcement appears to have a lot of the community talking about the title's future.

In an in-game notification, it's been revealed as of 4th December 2025, Aeos coins will no longer be distributed. Nintendo Life can confirm the following in-game message. Here's the part of this notice focused on Aeos coins:

As of December 4, 2025, Aeos coins will no longer be distributed, and the Unite Battle Comittee will no longer offer Unite licenses in exchange for Aeos coins. If you would like to obtain Unite licenses via Aeos coins, please do so by that date.

Aeos coin boost cards will become unusable starting December 4, 2025. We plan to allow remaining ones to be exchangeable for Aeos coins. This will be implemented at a later date.

After December 4, 2025, the Unite Battle Committee will, however, continue to offer Unite licenses in exchange for Aeos gems.

Aeos Coin Exchange

An Aeos Coin Exchange will become available December 4, 2025. Here, players will be able to exchange previously earned Aeos coins for license points or various items.

Aeos coins and the Aeos Coin Exchange will remain in-game until May 2026.

This discontinuation of Aeos coins will take place alongside the introduction of License Journeys on the same date (4th December 2025). These will give players a new way to obtain Licenses in Unite by playing the game and accumulating License points. These can be obtained as battle pass rewards, from random boxes, or as rewards from future events. Here's a bit more about this new feature:

"Typically, each time the player selects a Unite license to work toward, they'll choose from five available licenses. However, there will also be times players can choose from all the Unite licenses in the game. Unite licenses for newly released Pokémon may also become available via License Journeys at the same time they're released in the shop."

2025 marks the fourth anniversary of Pokémon Unite. Over the years it's been expanded with new playable Pokémon, maps, modes, and is also playable on the Switch 2.

Update [Sun 23rd Nov 2025, 5am]: Gear.Club Unlimited 3 was meant to be racing onto the Switch 2 in 2025, but it's reportedly been delayed.

Sim racing website Traxion has reached out to Nacon after noticing several retailer listings for the Switch 2 version were scheduled for early next year and has been informed "a release date has not yet been set".

If there is an official announcement about this or any other updates before the end of the year, we'll let you know.

Original Story: [Fri 22nd Aug 2025]:

It's been announced another racing game is speeding onto the Switch 2 in the future. This time it's Gear.Club Unlimited 3 and it's arriving at some point in "late 2025".

This game will follow on from the first two titles, which were released on the eShop during the original Switch generation. Apart from the teaser trailer above, Nacon has also shared some information about what you can expect:

Gear.Club Unlimited 3: Arcade Fun for Everyone - "Built for accessible fun and gameplay, Gear.Club Unlimited 3 returns with a more complete formula. This new installment features two contrasting environments: the sunny Mediterranean coast and the twisting, mountainous roads of Japan. A brand-new "Highway" mode challenges players with dense traffic and high-speed moments. With over 40 officially licensed cars and a full career mode, this game offers instant driving enjoyment for all player types."

As mentioned, this new entry will include "contrasting environments" from the sunny Mediterranean coast to the twisting, mountainous roads of Japan. We've also got some "work-in-progress" screenshots (via Gematsu):

When we hear more about this one, we'll let you know.

Guilty Gear -Strive- Nintendo Switch Edition arrived earlier this year in January, but fans on the hybrid platform were left behind when the new DLC and other updates never showed up.

Now, alongside an apology about missing the previous window, Arc System Works has confirmed the Season 4 "DLC characters" and "implementation of ranked matches" will be arriving in the Switch version of the game on 18th December 2025. As a reminder, these characters include Venom, Unika and Lucy from the anime Cyberpunk: Edgerunners.

Here's part of the translated message about the update and DLC delay on Switch:

We had initially announced that the game would be released in the fall of 2025, but due to additional issues arising during the operational testing process, we have changed the release date. We sincerely apologize to everyone who has been eagerly awaiting the update for any inconvenience caused. The development team is making every effort to ensure a high level of perfection so as not to impair the gaming experience of our users.

We hope you continue to enjoy GUILTY GEAR -STRIVE- Nintendo Switch Edition.

In case you need a reminder, the Switch version of Guilty Gear Strive includes 28 playable characters in the base package, including the first three seasons of the title.

When this update finally drops, we'll share a reminder.

Update [Sun 23rd Nov 2025, 2am]: It seems we might have got to the bottom of this mystery. According to multiple online listings, Capcom will offer "Lenticular Editions" of Resident Evil Requiem for all platforms. So, not just for the Switch 2 but also the PlayStation 5 and Xbox Series X|S versions of the game.

Some listings describe this as being a "case sleeve" or "card" (featuring what is basically a changing picture, depending on the angle you view it from). This same type of card has also recently been featured in official Capcom advertising materials for the 'Deluxe Edition' of the game.

Some online listings outside of the US also show the Switch 2 game case with cover art matching its PS5 and Xbox counterparts. So, there you go - it seems there might not be special treatment for the Switch 2 version in this department.

If we hear any updates or developments, we'll let you know.

Original Story: When the Switch 2 version of Resident Evil Requiem arrives next February, Nintendo fans can look forward to a few extra goodies, such as a limited edition Pro Controller and eventually a themed amiibo.

As highlighted by many Nintendo enthusiasts online, it seems there could be another surprise. If you haven't already seen the title's cover art for the Switch 2 standard physical release, it's apparently looking a bit "different" from the PlayStation 5 and Xbox Series X|S versions.

As you can see below, the cover art on display for the Nintendo release features the game's protagonist, and FBI intelligence analyst, Grace Ashcroft.

As Nintendo Everything highlights, although the standard release may show different cover art here for Switch 2 physical copies, it seems Capcom has shown the same design for the Deluxe Edition of the game.

This cover on display here for the Switch 2 standard version has resulted in all sorts of speculation online, so if we find out anything else, we'll let you know. On Switch 2, Resident Evil Requiem is expected to offer the same gameplay experience as other platforms and will also be releasing at the same time on 27th February 2026.

It's also been previously confirmed the physical Switch 2 version is a Game-Key Card. Capcom will be offering a special 'Generation Pack' as well containing the new game, Resident Evil 7: Biohazard and Resident Evil: Village (launching for Switch 2 on the same date).

Will you be picking up the Switch 2 version of this game? Let us know in the comments.

Ys X: Proud Nordics, the definitive edition of the acclaimed Ys series game, was previously announced for PC and Switch 2 in the West. Today, NIS America announced that the title would also be coming to PlayStation 5. The publisher also revealed the game’s two release dates: one for the US and Europe, and the other for Australia and New Zealand. (I’m slightly annoyed that it’s US and EU, not the Americas and EU or even NA and EU. Rude.) The game was first released in Japan in July 2025.

This version of Ys X: Proud Nordic features the fast-paced combat and enthralling narrative from the original release, but also offers new mechanics, a high-difficulty dungeon, and a brand-new storyline seamlessly integrated into the game.

Adol and a proud Norman named Karja have a tense encounter at sea, and end up shackled together with Mana. Players will board the Sandras, their ship, to gather some trustworthy friends before going head-to-head with the Greigr to protect Obelia Gulf. The new story centers on Öland Island and the mysterious newcomers, Canute and Astrid. This definitive version of Ys Xaksi includes a new time-trial dungeon, Muspelheim.

Here are the game’s key features, from NIS America:

• Adventure Anew: The spectacular adventure of Ys X: Nordics is back and better than ever, with improved graphical performance and quality of life updates that make this the definitive way to experience Ys X.

• Isle of Mystery: Arrive at Öland Island and take part in a brand-new adventure! With Shield Siblings Canute and Astrid by your side, dig deep into the mystery surrounding this island in a story that’s been seamlessly integrated into the original.

• An Ocean of Experiences Awaits: New mechanics and content abound in Ys X: Proud Nordics! Use the new Mana Hold ability to manipulate the world around you, try your hand at new challenges on Öland Island, and prepare yourself for Muspelheim, a timed dungeon of diabolical difficulty.

Developed by Nihon Falcom Corporation and published in the West by NIS America, Ys X: Proud Nordics will be released in North America and Europe on February 20, 2026; it will be released in Australia and New Zealand one week later, on February 27.

If you're itching to play a brand-new Game Boy Color game, then you're in luck. Bitmap Soft has announced it has opened pre-orders for its latest title, Lightseeker, over on its official website.

Priced at £10 for a digital copy and £50 for a physical Game Boy Color cartridge, Lightseeker is a roguelike of sorts in which you defeat enemies to gain rations, while keeping any loot you've obtained upon each inevitable death.

It looks neat from the screenshots, but gameplay footage is, at the time of writing, a little scarce. Still, Bitmap Soft had previously released Glory Hunters, which you may have recently seen received a digital release on the Switch eShop. So if you're not keen on picking up Lightseeker for the Game Boy Color, then you might want to hold off for a bit.

Let's check out the key features:

- Battle dozens of enemies and colossal bosses in brutal, fast-paced combat.

- Discover the lore of a world long lost to the dark.

- Collect armour, weapons, and cards to build your strength and uncover hidden stories.

- Earn achievements, play minigames, and master every challenge the Abyss offers.

- Choose your path: a stalwart knight, a deadly hunter, a feral eastern warrior, or the mysterious Scorched.

Images: BItmap Soft

Will you be picking up Lightseeker for the Game Boy Color? Let us know with a comment in the usual place.

We're now just weeks out from Metroid Prime 4: Beyond's anticipated release, and more details about it (including some previews) are beginning to circulate online.

In case you missed it, the estimated digital file sizes for the Switch and Switch 2 Edition of Samus' long-awaited adventure have also gone live on the eShop and official Nintendo website. So, if you didn't already know, here's what you can expect:

Metroid Prime 4: Beyond Estimated File Size

- Metroid Prime 4: Beyond (Switch) - 28.9 GB

- Metroid Prime 4: Beyond - Nintendo Switch 2 Edition - 31.6 GB

Of course, these sizes are still classed as an "estimate" at the moment and are subject to change before and after release, depending on the patches and updates distributed. The eShop also has Metroid Prime 4's Upgrade Pack listed as 1.5 GB.

In comparison, Metroid Prime Remastered (based on the first Prime entry) is just under 7 GB according to the Switch eShop.

As previously confirmed, the Switch 2 version of Metroid Prime 4 supports higher resolution, faster frame rates, HDR and mouse controls. When in docked mode, players can choose from 4K at 60fps (quality) or 1080p at 120fps (performance). And in handheld/tabletop mode, the options are 1080p at 60fps (quality) and 720p at 120fps (performance).

Will you be downloading this game on Switch or Switch 2? Have you already pre-ordered Metroid 4 from the eShop? Let us know in the comments.

Although the new game Pokémon Legends: Z-A is now in full swing with its events and unlocks, The Pokémon Company and Game Freak are still showing support for Pokémon Scarlet and Violet with distribution events.

With this in mind, the latest one is now live and it offers up a Whimsicott based on the same one used by Federico Camporesi to win the 2025 Pokémon North America International Championships (thanks for the heads up, Serebii.net). This also lines up with the 2026 Latin America International Championships running this weekend.

To obtain this latest distribution Pokémon, the code you'll need is LA1C26TA1LW1ND. You can redeem it in the mystery gift section of the game, and it's available until 30th November 2025.

The same titles are currently giving trainers the opportunity to catch a Goodra with the Mightiest Mark. This event is now underway and will repeat on 28th November - 30th November 2025.

In case you missed it, earlier this year, Pokémon Scarlet and Violet also received a free Switch 2 upgrade - adding frame rate improvements and higher resolution. You can find out more about this in the full patch notes for Version 4.0.0.

Apart from this new distribution event for Scarlet and Violet this week, Pokémon Legends: Z-A also revealed a new Mega Evolution recently for its upcoming DLC, due out next month. The new entry's Ranked Battle Season 3 start date and rewards have also been detailed.

Update [Fri 21st Nov 2025, 10:30pm]: This Shadow Labyrinth update is now available for the Switch and Switch 2. Alongside this, Bandai Namco has released a video that runs for close to six minutes, explaining everything included in Patch 1.1.0. You can see it above and download the patch now.

The written patch notes for this latest update are available in the original story below.

Original Story: Bandai Namco announced at the end of last month that it would be revamping Shadow Labyrinth with a major update. It's now officially rolled out Version 1.1.0 across multiple platforms. These updates aren't out on the Switch 2 and Switch just yet, but will "release soon".

For now, here's the full rundown of this next major update, which includes the addition of "Explorer Mode", balance adjustments for the existing mode and improved play control for Mini-PUCK. Bandai Namco notes how this update has been designed to "enhance" the overall enjoyment of this title. Here's the full rundown:

Shadow Labyrinth - Update 1.1.0 (Switch, Switch 2 - Coming Soon)

Supported Platforms

• PlayStation®5 / Xbox Series X|S / STEAM® are available now

• Updates are also incoming for Nintendo Switch™2 / Nintendo Switch™ and will release soon. Thank you for your patience!

Adjustments

• Addition of Explorer Mode
  

  • This mode significantly lowers the difficulty of combat and exploration, allowing you to better enjoy the story and world

  • The existing mode, which was playable upon Shadow Labyrinth’s first release, will now be distinguished as "Veteran Mode," allowing you to continue enjoying the intense gameplay you've come to expect!

• Switching Method

• You can switch modes at any time during save data selection on the title screen or within the Miku Sol (Save/Warp Point) menu

• There are no disadvantages to selecting "Explorer Mode," so please enjoy the game in the mode that best suits your playstyle

• Main Adjustments in Explorer Mode

  • Sword Fighter and GAIA's attack power increased

  • Damage taken is reduced

  • Contact damage is nullified

    • Contact damage occurs when certain enemies are hit, or when enemies perform specific actions such as charging

  • Various energy consumption rates are reduced and recovery effects increased

  • ESP consumption is reduced

  • Increased GAIA energy recovery during predation (consuming foes)

  • GAIA Energy automatically recovers while in Sword Fighter phase

  • Increased ESP recovery speed while crouching

  • Increased recovery speed after ESP reaches 0

• Athletic Recovery Support

  • In certain areas with particularly high athletic (platforming) difficulty, failing three times in a row will cause a warp point to appear, allowing you to skip that specific challenging athletic area

• "Tenacity Boost" becomes available

  • "Tenacity Boost" further increases attack power!

  • When "Tenacity Boost" is ON, the Sword Fighter's cloak turns red, and attack power gradually increases each time you die

  • Players can toggle Tenacity Boost ON/OFF and adjust its level at any time via Miku Sol (Save/Warp Point)

• MAZE difficulty adjustments

  • Including boss weakening, MAZE stage adjustments, and changes to item placement within MAZE.

The following adjustments apply to both Explorer Mode & Veteran Mode

• Adjustments to Miku Sol (Save/Warp Points)

• Significantly increased the number of Miku Sol (Save/Warp Points) and Simple Miku Sol (Save Points)

• Additionally, some Simple Miku Sol have been replaced with Miku Sol that allow warping, greatly improving player convenience

• Added Mode Change/Settings to Miku Sol Menu
  You can now switch between Explorer Mode and Veteran Mode at any time from the Miku Sol menu.
  Additionally, you can now toggle "Tenacity Boost" ON/OFF and set its level.

• HP tanks now recover even in Simple Miku Sol

• MAZE Adjustments

• Adjusted MAZE clear rewards

• The reward score required to clear MAZE has been reduced, making it easier to obtain

• Additionally, Ora can now be obtained when the score gauge is at maximum, or when the reward acquisition score is reached even if the reward has already been obtained

• Maximum bonus fruit acquisition increased from 100 to 200

• If you fail the MAZE for Red Bragza: Terrias-Gilba, Blue Bragza: Terrias-Juno, Orange Bragza: Terrias-Valou, or Pink Bragza: Terrias-Boz Rag, players can choose to skip it

• Added save/load support for the retry function from MAZE boss battles!

• MAZE that have progressed to the boss battle can now resume from the boss battle after restarting the game

• Mini PUCK Play Control Adjustments

• Added operation tutorial stages within Miku Sol's menu, certain MAZE, and after some events

• Added a dedicated button for neutral jump (jump without directional input). This reduces the chance of accidental inputs

• Added diagonal forward-up stick input to the normal jump button. Inputting the stick diagonally forward-up and jumping now follows the same trajectory as a neutral jump, making the controls more intuitive

• Improved mid-air control after jumping

• Other Adjustments

  • If defeated during the final battle against the last boss, you can now retry from the final battle!

  • Reduced consumption and increased recovery of various energy sources

    • No ESP consumption when Devour as the Sword Fighter

    • Reduction in ESP consumption during evasive maneuvers

    • Increased GAIA energy recovery during Devour (Recovery also slightly increased in Veteran Mode)

• Fixes

  • Fixed an issue where the game could crash during the staff roll. (Nintendo Switch version only)

  • Fixed an issue where, in certain MAZE, the speed when ejected from a booster slowed down at high refresh rates. (Steam version only)

  • Fixed an issue where ESP would not naturally recover and the menu could not be opened after dying under specific conditions

  • Other minor fixes

20 years, eh, where does the time go?! Yep, Microsoft's Xbox 360 console launched on November 22nd, 2005 - which means the system has now hit the ripe old age of 20. To celebrate, we've been looking back at what made this gaming machine one of the very best - from the system itself to its launch games lineup and the experiences it delivered over time, Xbox 360 is simply an awesome console and one that's worth looking back on.

You may have seen that in recent days, we started the party early here at Pure Xbox! I raved about Project Gotham Racing 3 once again because of course I did, while Fraser went back and played Perfect Dark Zero for the first time in over a decade. We also recently listed off some of the biggest things we miss from the 360 era in more general terms. You can take a look at all of those PX features down below.

There's more where that came from too — including a fun little poll we're soon to publish about your favorite Xbox 360 launch games — but for now, we want to get some discussion going about what this anniversary means to you. Do you remember November 22nd, 2005 like it was yesterday? Did you discover the library later on, perhaps via modern Xbox backwards compatibility? We want to know!

For us here at the PX offices, Xbox 360 remains a special thing - it's the era we look back on most fondly; a time where Microsoft was firing on all cylinders in its gaming department. The games released on it — from first and third-party — were largely brilliant, the controller was amazing and is still one of the best around, and all-in-all, we just have great memories of being Xbox fans at that time. The system had its issues, sure (who can forget the RROD and those strange Kinect years?), but it represents a time where Xbox really was at the top of the gaming tree.

So, what does Xbox 360 and this anniversary mean to you? Do chat with us about that in the comments, and be on the lookout for plenty of other 360 stories here on Pure Xbox!

Analogue's amazing FPGA-based N64 clone, the Analogue 3D, will go back up for pre-order next week – but the price is getting a bump thanks to President Trump's infamous tariffs.

The company announced on social media that a new batch of the systems will be available for order at 8 AM PT / 11 AM ET on Monday, November 24th.

The big catch is that the price is rising from $249.99 to $269.99, as the company has had to absorb the tariffs imposed by the US government on goods imported from abroad.

These systems will begin shipping on December 2nd, but Analogue has stated that “all open orders will ship before restock orders ship.”

That means if there are any issues with getting existing pre-orders out the door before the 2nd, you might be waiting longer. Still, this leaves a glimmer of hope that you might get your machine in time for Christmas.

The promising MARS FPGA console is dead, according to one of the project's developers.

Todd Gill – a longstanding and influential figure within the FPGA community – broke the news on Discord recently.

Gill, who was designing the console's casing, reveals that the person in charge of the MARS board development "just disappeared", putting the project on ice. Gill says that the rest of the MARS team was effectively "Ghosted" by the individual, meaning work could not continue.

MARS was promoted as a rival to the established MiSTer FPGA system and would have used a more powerful FPGA chip to emulate consoles like the Sega Dreamcast on a hardware level.

Image: Discord

Image: Discord

Its rumoured price point would have been around $699, and it was claimed that it would allow users to plug in their original controllers and cartridges.

In addition to Gill, the MARS FPGA team also included Flxel (developer of 3DO and Dreamcast emulators) and RetroTINK creator Mike Chi. FPGA developer Wizzo parted company with the project last year on good terms.

Implicit Conversions, the studio behind emulating some of your favorite PS1 and PS2 games as part of PS Plus Premium, is quietly working on a PS3 emulator.

While boss Bill Litshauer insists improving its support for PS2 is his company’s current focus, he revealed in an interview with Mystic that he believes it will be “feasible” to emulate PS3 games in the future – potentially on the PS5 and “certainly” on the PS6.

He said:

“We believe it’s feasible. I don’t think anyone expects it to run on a Switch or a PS4, but maybe PS5 and certainly PS6 whenever that comes out. We do feel it’s technically possible, it’s just a matter of devoting the time, energy, and resources to it.”

Litshauer explained that supporting PS3 is a “back burner project” for his team and that it actually hasn’t had many requests for the console. But it’s something it’s working on anyway.

He continued:

“We’re working with a third-party to help us with this. So, we have a base to work off. It’s a back burner project for us that we’re investigating over time. To be transparent, PS2 is more of a priority for us just because of the demand. But it’s a fun project for our engineers.”

Many believed that PS3 emulation may never happen due to the complicated nature of the console’s architecture, but in recent years we’ve seen PC-based solutions like RPCS3 come on leaps and bounds.

As Litshauer appears to allude to, the biggest bottleneck here seems to be the time and resources required to do it.

Hopefully it’s a project Sony will eventually put some muscle behind, as it’d be great to see PS3 games added to PS Plus Premium in the future.

Today marks the 25th birthday of one of Treasure's most acclaimed titles, Sin & Punishment.

Released exclusively in Japan on 21st November 2000, the game is a 3D rail shooter directed by Hideyuki Suganami. Built around the N64 controller's unique setup, Sin & Punishment is famed for its intense action, superb visuals and surprisingly mature and deep storyline.

While it was never released in the West, it is playable on Nintendo Switch Online, complete with translated menus.

Almost a decade after it hit the N64, a sequel appeared on the Wii under the title Sin & Punishment: Star Successor. Just as beloved as its predecessor, the game is one of the company's last releases; it would be followed by Bangai-O HD: Missile Fury (2011), Gaist Crusher (2013) and Gaist Crusher God (2014).

While Treasure is still active, most of its staff are now at other companies, and it primarily exists to oversee the release of its back catalogue on modern-day systems.

If rumors are to be believed, Ubisoft's next game might be a remake of Assassin's Creed IV: Black Flag. While nothing has been confirmed by Ubisoft, numerous reports have been leaked or hinted at through the years, of a potential remake to one of Ubisoft's most successful entries in the series, giving building credence to the idea of a remake actually being developed. However, other rumors claim that there will be major changes within the potential Assassin's Creed IV remake, including doing away with all modern-day sections of the game, or reportedly modernizing it with more RPG-like gameplay elements.

Adding fuel to the fire, Ubisoft's financial report today showcased that the company has a handful of games due out before the end of the fiscal year, including one unannounced title, believed to be the ACIV remake, meaning it would theoretically launch sometime before March 31, 2026.

Source

Publisher Ubisoft is making no secret of its plans to utilise generative AI tech — at least, it certainly sounds that way in new comments from CEO Yves Guillemot.

The controversial technology has been a hot topic of discussion in the industry for a while now, and as it begins to feed into the games we're playing, it's rubbing some people the wrong way.

Games like ARC Raiders, The Finals, Call of Duty: Black Ops 7, and more used AI tools to varying degrees in their production, and they're being criticised by onlookers who are concerned about the tech replacing original creative work from human beings.

It seems Ubisoft is going whole hog on the AI front. Speaking to investors, Guillemot says the publisher is "making great strides in applying gen-AI to high-value use cases that bring tangible benefits to our players and teams".

He goes on to call generative AI "as big a revolution for our industry as the shift to 3D", and it sounds as though it's being implemented in quite a meaningful way.

Guillemot brings up "neo-NPCs", AI-powered characters capable of "unique and responsive" conversations with players to deliver "fully personalized and immersive experiences".

He says this concept is now out of prototyping, so we can probably expect to start seeing Ubi's neo-NPCs in future games.

"On the production side, we now have teams in all our studios and offices embracing these new technologies, and constantly exploring new use cases in programming, art, and overall game quality," Guillemot says, essentially saying AI tech is planned to be a major part of how the publisher makes games going forward.

Whether that works out in the long run remains to be seen, of course.

It's very likely there are use cases for AI tools in the production pipeline, but the concerns from fans are more to do with creative disciplines within that; generating art, music, animation, and so on, rather than having talented artists helming those areas.

Again, we'll have to wait and see how things play out.

South Korean studio Shift Up has begun recruiting for what seems to be a new game in the Stellar Blade series.

Stellar Blade is a PS5 console exclusive action game that released last year, quickly becoming a fan favourite.

Now, it looks as though the developer is openly hiring for people to work specifically on Stellar Blade's "next work".

The company's recruitment page has several sections, each related to an individual project, and the Stellar Blade project is up at the top.

Shift Up is hiring across several disciplines, including writers, artists, programmers, and designers.

It's difficult to really glean any details about the game from the job listings, but it at least reaffirms a follow-up to Stellar Blade is in the works.

We probably won't see the new game for a while; Shift Up has previously said it's targeting 2027, but isn't making promises.

In a sign of the times that makes us feel old, a new report has found that nearly half of the USA's children are planning to ask for in-game currencies this Christmas.

A survey conducted by the Entertainment Software Association (ESA) asked over 700 kids about video game gifts, with nearly three out of five respondents wanting a game-related present this holiday season.

43 per cent would like in-game currency, presumably for games such as Fortnite and Roblox.

Some more statistics: 39 per cent of the kids want a game console, while 37 per cent would like physical games under the Christmas tree.

The survey also asked more than a thousand adults about their Christmas purchasing plans, with a third of them planning video game gifts.

The ESA holds this survey on a yearly basis, and looking back, it's interesting to see how these results compare to previous results.

We reported on the survey in 2023, when a smaller percentage of children wanted in-game currency, but at the same time, fewer kids planned to ask for a physical game.

It seems the appetite for game-related presents is growing, then, and more children are after V-Bucks than full games on a disc.

What are your thoughts on this? Tell us in the comments section below.