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Microsoft Rewards Is Allowing You To 'Double Your Points' Until Early December

Fancy topping up your Microsoft Rewards earnings over the next week?
Well, there's a new promotion on the Microsoft Rewards dashboard that's allowing you to "double your points" until early December through Bing searches, which you can do on PC, mobile or through the Microsoft Edge browser on Xbox.
To find it, you just need to head to the Microsoft Rewards dashboard and look for the relevant banner and "activate now" button that'll hopefully show up in your region. Here's what it looks like:

After this, you'll get a brief explanation of what "double your points" means:
For me personally, I can see that the cap of earning 90 Microsoft Rewards points through Bing searches on PC every day has now risen to 180 points, and the cap of earning 60 points on mobile every day has now risen to 120 points.
If you're someone who makes these Bing searches part of their daily routine, you're set to earn a lot more Microsoft Rewards points with this! Just make sure you go and activate it first - it doesn't apply unless you specifically ask it to.
Rockstar

Mini Review: Morsels (Switch) - A Punishing, Obscure, But Thoroughly Entertaining Roguelite Dungeon Crawler

A scared mouse scurries through an unforgiving landscape packed with abominations that may be friend or foe. This timid squeaker can join forces with Morsels, strange creatures with offensive abilities that fight at their side. With this help, the mouse travels upward toward the domain of the evil overlords who control this twisted world.
From that simple premise, Morsels presented me with a wealth of visual information and a relentless assault of creatures and environmental hazards. It's a lot to take in and it never really lets up.
An odd blend of Enter the Gungeon and Binding of Isaac, Furcula Games has crafted a twin-stick shooter cum card-based companion collector. The resulting creation is just as bizarre as that sounds.
Starting off in the sewers, you are gifted a morsel at the beginning of each attempt. You assign this friendly creature to a slot, collecting others later that can be added or swapped out. Morsels can level up from use or via power-ups scattered throughout levels.
For the first few runs, I had no idea what I was doing. There is no useful flavour text or tooltips in the game. Aside from a rough guide to the Morsel’s ability set, you don’t really know what you're getting until you learn what everything does. Some are powerful from the start, others have a steep learning curve to master. All of them are unique.
The general trial-and-error nature of Morsels isn’t a detriment. Much like Animal Well, the compulsion to learn more about your purpose in this world is strong.
Death comes swiftly across the densely populated environments. The intricate art style and twitchy gameplay go hand in hand. I found myself trying to dodge benign creatures wandering the maps, jumping headlong into hostile ones spewing projectiles in my general direction. Enemies come in myriad flavours and boss battles are typically chaotic bullet hells. Luckily, each attempt will accrue XP, rewarding buffs that make subsequent runs a bit more forgiving.
Morsels is a pleasingly nightmarish experience, with an oppressive atmosphere and an aesthetic that sets it apart from its peers.
Rockstar

Metroid Prime 4: Beyond: amiibo Unlocks Revealed

Like most first-party Nintendo games, Metroid Prime 4: Beyond contains some bonus material unlocked by tapping amiibo figures onto the Switch 2's NFC spot.
The new amiibo figures are Samus, Samus & Vi-O-La, and Sylux. Meanwhile, previous Metroid amiibo figures are also compatible, but other franchises – like Mario and Zelda – are not.
Nintendo's Japanese amiibo website has detailed what each of these amiibo do in the game, so let's take a look at all the unlockables, shall we?
Metroid Prime 4: Beyond - All amiibo Unlocks
Before we begin, please keep in mind, this information was obtained via machine translation from Nintendo's Japanese website, so there may be some minor inaccuracies. We'll update as and when we're able to confirm for ourselves.
Samus

Tapping the MP4 Samus amiibo into the game will unlock two key features.
The first is the ability to listen to background music tracks while riding Vi-O-La in Sol Valley.
Meanwhile, a shield is awarded only once daily to boost Samus' health by 99 points while also replenishing any health lost in battle. Once it's been depleted from enemy attacks, you can't use it again until the next day.
Samus & Vi-O-La

Tap the Samus & Vi-O-La amiibo and you'll again unlock two features: the ability to change the colour of Vi-O-La, and a daily perk to Vi-O-La's boost regeneration.
You'll also see the total distance travelled in Vi-O-La upon each scan.
Like Samus' shield bonus, the boost regeneration can only be activated once per day.
Sylux

Tapping the Sylux amiibo (available on launch day - 4th December 2025) will unlock a specific cutscene.
Nintendo states that this cutscene can be viewed without the amiibo, but only once 100% of items and logbook scans have been obtained through gameplay.
You'll also hear a random line from Sylux every time you tap the amiibo.
Metroid Series amiibo
Previous amiibo from the Metroid series, including Ridley, Metroid, Samus, and E.M.M.I., will apparently play a simple jingle from the game.
Yeah, that's it!
Rockstar

The C64 Mini - Black Edition - Commodore's Beloved Home Micro Gets Shrunk Down (Again)

As far as micro consoles go, The C64 Mini has been a resounding success, and, according to its manufacturer, is the best-selling 'mini computer' yet released.
I can certainly believe that – The C64 Mini was one of the first devices of its kind to hit the market, and the allure of the Commodore name carries significant weight among retro gamers.
Now, Retro Games Ltd. is back with a new variant of the system that sports a new colour scheme and a totally new selection of pre-loaded games.
While the original beige model came with 64 titles that included the likes of Attack of the Mutant Camels, Boulder Dash, Impossible Mission, Monty Mole and Speedball 2, this new variant ships with a much smaller array of titles – and all of them are 'modern' classics that have been released in the past couple of decades.


Here's the full list of games:
Yeti Mountain
Spinning Image
Steel Ranger
A Pig Quest
Hessian
Joe Gunn: Gold Edition
Hunter's Moon Remastered
It's Magic 2
Runn 'N' Gunn
Guns 'N' Ghosts
Metal Warrior Ultra
Millie & Molly
Rocky Memphis: The Legend of Atlantis
Good Knight
Planet Golf
Nixy and the Seeds of Doom
PO Snake
Grid Pix
Caren and the Tangled Tentacles
Ooze: The Escape
Sam's Journey
Shadow Switcher
Pains 'N' Aches
Knight 'N' Grail
Galencia
To be fair, Retro Games Ltd. has been very clear on this point: the Black Edition is primarily about celebrating the efforts of modern-day homebrew coders, and the 25 pre-installed titles are all highly rated by the C64 community.
Outside of the colour change, the Black Edition is very much the same deal as the original machine – I noticed that the Micro USB port has been upgraded to a USB-C one, but that's about the only difference I could spot.
It features an HDMI output for 720p HD gaming, two USB-A ports and the welcome ability to load C64 ROMs from a USB flash drive. That latter point is essential, as it mitigates some of the sting of losing access to the 64 titles that came bundled with the original variant.


The joystick bundled with the system is insanely clicky, and while it works perfectly fine with most titles, it's pretty uncomfortable to use for prolonged periods. Fortunately, you can use an alternative USB controller with the C64 Mini.
Given how small The C64 Mini is, it should come as little surprise that the keyboard is only for show, which is perhaps the biggest shortcoming of this particular venture; while most C64 games are perfectly playable with a joystick, the keyboard is a major inferface method for home micro computers, so you might encounter some problems when booting up ROMs (an on-screen keyboard is a button click away, but it's not as good as using a physical one, in my opinion).
If you already own the C64 Mini, then I'm not sure the Black Edition is worth a double dip – unless, of course, you really like the new colour and want to power it via USB-C. However, newcomers might want to give this a look if they haven't yet taken the plunge.

Rockstar

This New Mega Man X6 Fan Reimagining Aims To Fix One Of The Series's Most Disappointing Entries

When people rank their favorite Mega Man X games, the PS1 title Mega Man X6 usually winds up appearing towards the bottom of the list.
Released in 2001 (or 2002 if you live in Europe), the sixth entry in the Mega Man sub-series is often viewed by many fans online as a bit of a rush job, with the game coming out a mere 12 months after Mega Man X5, which was originally envisioned by series producer Keiji Inafune to be the end of the story.
Because of this tight production timeline, it ultimately ended up featuring a lot of rough edges and ideas that didn't necessarily come together (like the Nightmare System), making it one of the more challenging games to recommend to newcomers in its original form.
Thankfully, over the years, we have seen some amazing fan-made hacks being produced, which have sought to give the game a much-needed overhaul (like Mega Man X6 Tweaks and Megaman X N's Edition), but it appears that there is also another option that will soon be available to players: a PC fan reimagining from the developer Cat Yard Games (thanks Rockman Corner).
This PC reimagining, which is being called Mega Man X Viral Nightmare, is being developed "from the ground up" in Gamemaker Studio 2, and is Cat Yard Games' own vision of what he'd like to see in X6, as well as Mega Man games in general.
The armor system, for example, has been tweaked, letting you wear armor pieces as soon as you get them (rather than having to collect all four parts) and can be mixed and matched, as in Mega Man X8. There are also new abilities for some of the less useful armor parts, to give them something to make them more desirable.
In addition to that, how you acquire parts has also been changed. In the original game, parts are acquired from rescuing Reploids, with the number of parts you can equip being dependent on your Hunter rank, determined by the number of Nightmare souls you've collected. But this will apparently be the opposite in Viral Nightmare.
Parts will now be bought directly from Douglas and will be paid for with Nightmare Souls, with your rank instead being determined by the number of Reploids you save. New parts will become available in the shop by completing levels, with these parts being based on the level.
The plan for the game seems to be to release it in chunks, with the first volume set to contain the intro stage, and four levels (Commander Yammark, Rainy Turtloid, Blaze Heatnix, and Infinity Mijinion). Of these, 4/5 are complete, meaning the first release shouldn't be too far off (hopefully).
You can watch Cat Yard Games' explainer video here for more information on the project. He's also posted a couple of videos of the game in action, including the Rainy Turtloid boss fight and Commander Yammark's stage.
Rockstar

SEGA Actually Admits Persona 5 Royal-Style Re-Releases May Result in Stunted Game Sales

Well, well, well... How the tables turn.
For a long time now, Atlus, and by extension, parent company SEGA, have dabbled in re-releasing their games. Typically, these re-releases feature expanded and / or improved content, and are often labelled as 'definitive' versions of the original title.
Generally speaking, potential buyers have become more and more critical of this practice over the years. An increased focus on expansions, DLC, and updates has largely painted re-releases as an anti-consumer approach, as they're essentially asking fans to pay up for two versions of the same game.
And according to SEGA, this once fairly common strategy could now be having a negative impact on initial sales — because too many people are just deciding to wait on the eventual 'definitive' edition.
As part of the publisher's latest question and answers session with shareholders (as reported by GameBiz and translated by Automaton), the company was queried on "a sudden drop in sales of catalogue titles".
Games like Metaphor: ReFantazio — which launched in previous years — seem to be the driving force behind this topic. Reportedly, numbers for such titles have fallen off, despite them receiving critical acclaim and positive feedback from players.
In response, SEGA outlines a number of possible factors, including busy release schedules and competition from similar games.
However, it goes one step further in actually admitting that the possibility of future definitive editions may make customers "hesitant" when a new title hits the market.
Indeed, this is a sentiment that we often see expressed across social media and our own comments sections. For example, there were plenty of people around Metaphor's launch saying that they would simply hold out for the seemingly inevitable re-release.
Of course, the Metaphor re-release hasn't actually happened yet, and rumours have suggested that Atlus intends for it to be a singular entity. Which, if true, could be a direct reaction to what SEGA's alluding to in this report.
What do you make of this? Have you ever avoided an Atlus game while banking on a definitive edition to arrive later down the line? Don't miss out in the comments section below.
Rockstar

Cyberpunk 2077 Now at a Staggering 35 Million Sales as Work on Sequel Continues to Ramp Up

It's actually mad to look back on the beginnings of Cyberpunk 2077 and compare that time to where the game is now.
It's taken basically five solid years of updates — along with one hell of an expansion — to turn things around, but the open world RPG is now a colossal commercial success, with developer CD Projekt Red confirming that it's topped 35 million sales in its latest business briefing.
That's a ridiculous achievement for any title, but in Cyberpunk's case, it just goes to show how things can (eventually) turn around.
At this point it's worth mentioning that we're fast approaching the game's fifth anniversary. It first launched for PS4 on the 10th December, 2020. And honestly, we'd be shocked if CDPR doesn't have some kind of surprise up its sleeve.
But what about the sequel, the currently named Cyberpunk 2 (previously known as Project Orion)? Well, the company's continuing to ramp up development on that one, with developer numbers increasing from 116 in July of this year, to 135 as of the 31st October.
For comparison, CDPR currently has 447 employees hard at work on The Witcher 4, which is obviously targeting a release well before the next Cyberpunk.
Did you ever think Cyberpunk 2077 would go on to be such a heavy hitter? What are your hopes and dreams for the sequel? Help yourself to some new chrome in the comments section below.
Rockstar

Digital Foundry Dives Into Tomb Raider: Definitive Edition's "Big Downgrades" On Switch 2

Our good friends over at Digital Foundry have delivered their tech review of Tomb Raider: Definitive Edition, which shadow dropped onto Switch 1 and 2 last week, and it's something of a mixed bag.
Starting on a positive note, the Switch 2 version of the game sets out to hit 60fps, and it does so consistently. DF's Thomas Morgan notes that he noticed "barely any drops" when playing in either handheld or docked modes, so that's a big bonus for fans of smoothness.
What's more, the Switch/Switch 2 'Definitive Edition' boasts many of the re-release 'pros' over the PS3 original — upgraded textures, foliage placement, colour grading, etc. — and renders at 1920x1080p resolution in docked (similarly hits 1080p in handheld). Nice.
Unfortunately, there are some pretty glaring visual omissions in the Switch version to get things running at the specs outlined above. Shadow density is pulled way back, foliage thickness is reduced, the advanced TRESSFX for Lara's hair is MIA, and many of the cutscenes' cinematics are dialled down for simplicity.
It falls behind the Definitive Edition's PS4 release, in this instance, but strangely, there are select points where the Switch 2 version is even a step back from the PS3 original. There are no screen-splat rain effects, the geometry is more simplistic, and even shadow coverage is a bit of a downgrade. It should be noted that these cutbacks also apply to the PS4 re-release, but, as the DF video states, "the drawbacks are disappointing, given the multi-generational divide between the systems".
For those wondering about the Switch 1 version, the older system runs things at 30fps (sometimes dipping into the 20s in demanding cutscenes), with a "surprisingly respectable" 864p-900p. Many of the visuals are matched between the systems, and while Switch 1 does see a further drop in shadow quality, it "holds up much better than you might expect," according to DF.
You'll find the full Digital Foundry tech review in written form, as well as our thoughts on Lara's latest, down below.
Rockstar

Lonely Mountains: Snow Riders Makes It onto PS5 Just in Time for Christmas

An early indie hit this year was Lonely Mountains: Snow Riders, and it's taken the best part of a year to finally slalom its way onto PS5.
The game finally has a release date on Sony's system; it arrives on 3rd December, which is near-perfect timing for some cosy Christmas chill time.
Here's its initial release date trailer from January to get you in the mood:
Despite its name, Snow Riders features co-op, allowing you to ski down the slopes with friends.
The PS5 release will include all the previously added content, and the Highlanders DLC will also be available for separate purchase.
As big fans of the previous game, we're quite looking forward to zipping down the mountain. Are you looking forward to Lonely Mountains: Snow Riders on PS5? Tell us in the comments section below.
Rockstar

Final Fantasy X Was the 'Ultimate Perfection' of the Series, Says Dragon Quest Creator

Opinions will always be split on the best iteration of Final Fantasy, and so it's interesting to hear that living industry legend and Dragon Quest creator Yuji Horii has shared his own thoughts on the franchise.
Once upon a time, Dragon Quest was in direct competition with Final Fantasy; the two properties vying for the RPG crown back in the 80s and 90s.
Of course, this was before Square and Enix merged to form Square Enix, causing the two titans of the genre to fall under the same publishing umbrella.
But apparently, Horii didn't actually view Final Fantasy as a threat to his creation. He explains to Game Informer: "I was definitely paying attention to it because it was something we needed to look out for."
He continues:
An interesting perspective, for sure, but it sounds like Horii was rather taken with Final Fantasy as it continued to evolve as a series.
In particular, he heaps some very strong praise on Final Fantasy X — the franchise's first PS2 foray, which, at the time, felt like a true next-gen jump.
"I do like Final Fantasy, though. When I first saw Final Fantasy X, I recall feeling this was the ultimate perfection of Final Fantasy," he says.
Some would say that Dragon Quest enjoyed a similarly impressive evolutionary step with Dragon Quest 8 — another PS2 all-timer. Now that we think back on those youthful days, it really was another golden age for Japanese RPGs...
Horii's comments have got us reminiscing, but do you recall being that impressed by Final Fantasy X? You can always give it your own rating in our Best Final Fantasy Games list, and then express your love in the comments section below.
Rockstar

TimeSplitters Rewind Has Launched For Free On PC, And It's Great On The Xbox Ally

We're big fans of TimeSplitters here at Pure Xbox, and we've enjoyed playing TimeSplitters 2 and 3 via backwards compatibility in recent years, but we've also been craving some kind of brand-new project for over a decade now.
TimeSplitters Rewind isn't actually new — it's been in development for over a decade — but it's suddenly released for free in early access on PC this week, containing a full remake of TimeSplitters 1's campaign (playable both offline and online), along with a full multiplayer suite that includes some hectic online shootouts.
It's been a long time coming, and there's a lot of excitement from the community right now:
Of course, this is only a PC game as things stand - and therefore the only way to access it on an "Xbox" branded device is by using the ROG Xbox Ally. I can confirm the game runs well and recognises the ROG Xbox Ally X's control scheme just fine, while you can turn all the settings up to maximum and still get easily over 60FPS.
TimeSplitters Rewind isn't the finished package just yet, but it's still glorious to be playing a remake of the series for free on an "Xbox" branded system. This kind of thing is what the next Xbox console could thrive at - allowing us to try games that otherwise are very unlikely to get a release on a traditional console like the Series X, S and PS5.
Anyway, we'll throw a handful of images from TimeSplitters Rewind running on the ROG Xbox Ally X down below, and don't forget about TimeSplitters 2 and 3 - those are both well worth playing on your Xbox console even to this day!


Rockstar

Xbox's Latest Free Game Has 3 Separate Versions And 3000G Worth Of Achievements

It's been a while since we last saw a new free-to-play (or just entirely "free") game release on the Xbox Store, but that's all changed today with the arrival of Card Storm Idle - a game that actually has three separate versions to try.
That makes it extremely lucrative for achievement hunters, as there's a potential 3000G worth of achievements up for grabs here across the Xbox One (1000G), Xbox Series X|S (1000G) and Windows PC (1000G) versions.
It's really simple to complete as well, described as an "incremental experience" in which you can get all the achievements in around 10-20 minutes. You can see how it looks in the video up above.
Of course, a situation like this brings up the whole idea of "stacks" and whether games should be allowed to have multiple versions on the Xbox Store unless they're significantly different from each other. Card Storm Idle is far from the first game to employ this strategy - plenty of publishers do it with paid titles as well, and even in the past few days we've come across many new releases with separate Xbox One, Series X|S and PC versions.
We'll leave the decision up to you about whether to download Card Storm Idle and get those 3000G or not, but in the meantime feel free to let us know your thoughts in the comments - does this kind of thing put you off, or are you just grateful for the free game and extra achievements?
Rockstar

The Game Awards 2025 First Reveal Confirmed Ahead Of Next Month's Showcase

At this point, we know about the awards that will be present at The Game Awards 2025, but the new game reveals are what most folks tune in for, and our first inclusion has now been locked in ahead of the event next month.
Action-adventure RPG Exodus will feature during The Game Awards showcase, as confirmed by Archetype Entertainment and Wizards of the Coast. Exodus was first unveiled at TGA 2023, and will be returning this year with a brand-new trailer.
In the run up to the live event on December 11th, we expect host Geoff Keighley to announce even more games that will be present at the showcase. Typically, these teases are for already announced titles with new trailers, whilst world premieres are saved for the big day - but still, it's nice to know at least some of the titles that are expected to show up during the livestream.
If you want to know all of the games that have been nominated at The Game Awards 2025, do check out our awards roundup below - oh, and we'll drop a wee rant about the Xbox title that we feel is undeservedly missing as part of these nominations down below as well.
Rockstar

Plants vs. Zombies: Replanted Review

When you think of platformers, you likely think of Super Mario Bros. When you think of JRPGs, you likely think of Final Fantasy. When you think of FPS, you likely think of Call of Duty. Some games are just synonymous with their respective genres. And when it comes to tower defense games, what comes to my mind immediately is Plants vs Zombies.
Plants vs Zombies: Replanted is exactly what it says on the tin. Zombies are invading and the only hope against them is a crop of… well, crops. You’ll need to plant an entire plant army to prevent the zombie hoard from entering your home. It’s a simple, if not rather iconic, premise.
I never actually had the chance to play Plants vs Zombies growing up. My only exposure to the franchise has been the hero-shooter spin-offs. Thankfully, this Replanted edition has breathed life back into the game to offer a way for players like me to experience this cult classic properly for the first time. It’s worked well for the most part; I’ve greatly enjoyed my time with Replanted, even if it stumbles in a few areas.

Captured on Nintendo Switch 2 (Docked)
It’s worth noting the amount of gameplay content you get for your buck. From the main campaign, which is itself fairly meaty, to new minigames to even a puzzle mode, there’s a lot packed into this gem of brain-hungry, botanical tower defense.
The unlockable minigames are a blast. Walnut Bowling is self-explanatory, but modes like ZomBotony — where you’re attacked by plant-zombie hybrids— spin gameplay mechanics around on their heads. And if that’s not enough, there’s also a puzzle mode where you have to think strategically about card placement to clear vases.
There’s also an unlockable co-op mode (that I unfortunately wasn’t able to test as I had no one to play with), and those with a partner will be able to do head-to-head PvP matches, with one player on the side of the zombies. You’ll get hours of replayable fun and I’m surprised by how much I’ve enjoyed it all. The tower defense gameplay is as strong as ever, and I love having to carefully prep my cards (i.e. units) to best battle waves after waves of zombies.
My strategy tended to change between battles. Some plants can spray through screen doors, which makes them essential for battles with zombies sporting screen doors. But then you also have to consider which plant you want to use for resource generation and whether you want walnuts to act as a buffer, or maybe protect your crops with landmines. Those kinds of options helped keep the flow of combat feeling fresh and made me get out of my comfort zone to test new strategies.
Unfortunately, there was initially more trouble in the neighborhood than just the hordes of undead ghouls. As Felix mentioned in his video, the optional mouse controls were downright abysmal at launch, and the touchscreen controls didn’t fare much better - at least until patches adjusted things (and also restored the original dynamic audio and implemented a whole load of sound effect fixes which dogged the game on release day).
Previously, trying to use the mouse controls resulted in a headache, as it was so sensitive that it quickly switched back to standard controls the second you lifted the controller. Meanwhile, planting in touchscreen was a letdown because the sprites followed you as if they were stuck to your finger once you selected a unit.

Captured on Nintendo Switch 2 (Docked)
The ball definitely got dropped in this area, and those post-release patches haven’t totally solved things for me, especially in touchscreen mode. It still feels clunky and difficult to control, sometimes slowing on-screen action to a glitchy crawl and ultimately making me question the inclusion of the control scheme in the first place.
There’s also allegations of AI usage in the game, which — at the risk of sounding like I’m soapboxing — is downright messy if true.
That aside, the overall package is still a blast to play. It doesn’t take very long before the 'just one more level' addictiveness begins to take hold. This is helped by the number of units you unlock, all of which have a quirky charm and cute design. Of course the basic attacking unit is called a Pea Shooter, and of course the icy variant is a Frozen Pea Shooter. You can’t beat those kinds of puns! It’s a game that’s guaranteed to make even the most cold-hearted gamer crack a smile.

Captured on Nintendo Switch 2 (Handheld/Undocked)
Plants vs Zombies: Replanted also comes with some quality-of-life improvements. One of the best new features is the ability to fast-forward the gameplay up to 2.5x speed. By default, these are the slow shambling type of zombies and there’s normally a long, slow gap between waves. But with the press of a button, they speed up to World War Z levels of fast. It makes playing feel more fluid and smooth; it also adds another layer of challenge for those who might find the standard gameplay flow too easy.
Conclusion
Overall, I find myself really loving Plants vs. Zombies: Replanted. Its cute and quirky character designs are infectiously charming, and the gameplay is simple but effective. The graphics are easy on the eyes and help make the character designs shine. It’s a bummer that there were problems with the controls at launch, but even with those issues, it wasn't enough to prevent the game from being a botanical blast.
Rockstar

Pikmin Bloom's New Gold Seedling Delivery Has A Mysterious 'Close To You' Connection

Remember Nintendo's short film, Close to You? The adorable baby animation with which the company kept us on tenterhooks for three days straight as it drip-fed us information about its context? Well, it looks like it'll be cropping up again, this time in an upcoming Pikmin Bloom event.
As of tomorrow (27th November), anyone logging into Pikmin Bloom will receive a Gold Seedling, which promises a special Decor Pikmin inside. And this isn't any old Decor Pikmin either, oh no, this is a Seedling that "seems to have a connection to the short movie Pikmin Close to You". At least, that's how the Pikmin Bloom blog post puts it.
We don't know the exact form that this Seedling will take, but considering that Decor Pikmin usually style a cute bit of — you guessed it — decor on their heads, we'd wager it will be something along the lines of a Pikmin wearing a stylish pacifier, rattle or some sort of stuffed toy. Talk about synergy, eh?
You'll be able to collect this special Seedling from the app's home screen simply by logging in any time between 27th Nov 2025 and 26th Nov 2026, so you have a whopping great year to make sure that you pick it up.
It's unclear whether anything else will come of the Pikmin short movie for the time being, but that sure was a fun week while it lasted. Here's hoping there will be a couple more cameos from the little guys in The Super Mario Galaxy Movie, or how about that Nintendo Switch 2 Edition of Pikmin 4 that we're all after? Whatever it takes to keep us Pikmin fans happy...
Rockstar

Lies of P Dev 'Will Not Disappoint' with Upcoming Games, Says Director

Neowiz and Round8 Studio created one of the best-loved Souls-likes outside of FromSoftware with Lies of P, and it sounds like the team isn't resting on its laurels.
Speaking to GamesRadar following Overture's Best Game Expansion win at the Golden Joysticks, director Choi Ji-Won sounds confident about the upcoming work from the studio.
Via an interpreter, he says fans "can expect the most fun that we can achieve within the game", not specifying exactly which project he's talking about. He also asks fans to "please stay tuned for it; we are working really hard, and I will not disappoint you at all."
Neowiz recently announced several games it has in the pipeline, one of which is the direct sequel to Lies of P.
Thanks to the success of that game, the publisher is currently planning five titles, as well as publishing work from other teams, so it's seriously scaling up its whole operation.
Are you excited for the next games from Neowiz, including Lies of P 2? Tell us in the comments section below.
Rockstar

Beyond Good & Evil 2 PS5 May Not Be Dead Just Yet

There seems to be at least a couple of people at Ubisoft still working on Beyond Good & Evil 2, in amongst its Prince of Persia and Assassin's Creed remakes.
A new job listing for a Technical Sound Designer was posted online by the French publisher within the last 24 hours, and the position is tied directly to the long-in-development project.
Part of the Montpellier team, the successful applicant will "provide technical solutions for integrating and implementing audio systems to ensure that the audio assets created by the team work as intended, in line with the Audio Director’s vision". Whoever gets the job will begin work on Beyond Good & Evil 2 "as soon as possible".
The game received a proper reveal more than eight years ago at E3 2017, with a trailer confirming the project as a prequel coming to PS4. Almost a decade later, it's never been seen since. Here's how Ubisoft is describing it in 2025:
In fact, Ubisoft began work on, completed, and shipped a Beyond Good & Evil 20th Anniversary Edition of the first game during that lengthy development time.
That new version contains some new collectibles teasing events taking place outside of the game, which shall link into Beyond Good & Evil 2 — if it ever makes it to market. For now, it does at least seem to be alive. If you want to go back to that 20th Anniversary Edition, it's still more than worth playing, as our 8/10-rated PS5 review states:
"This edition brings smooth visuals, a beautifully recreated musical score, and well-presented supplemental materials. It certainly shows its age, but like all great art, Beyond Good & Evil weathers the test of time with grace."
Do you think Beyond Good & Evil 2 will ever come out? Let us know in the comments below.
Rockstar

Yakuza Kiwami 2 Has All-Important 60FPS Performance on PS5 Alongside Free Upgrade

Bafflingly buried within the questions and answers section of SEGA's Japanese website, the publisher finally confirms that Yakuza Kiwami 2 will run at 60 frames-per-second on PS5.
The fantastic remake is being re-released for Sony's current-gen system on the 8th December, and it'll be a free upgrade for those who already own the PS4 version digitally.
However, up until now, we've had no mention of any technical improvements, leading fans to question the point of even having a PS5 version to begin with.
But 60fps performance is exactly what Kiwami 2 needs. The game's locked at 30fps on PS4, and it never received any kind of performance-boosting patch for PS5 when played via backwards compatibility.
For some, this won't seem like a big deal, but you've got to consider that the titles leading up to Kiwami 2 — that is, Yakuza 0 and Yakuza Kiwami — both run at a silky 60fps, even on PS4.
Jumping from those games to Kiwami 2 can be jarring to say the least, especially since the latter looks so much better, thanks to the Dragon Engine.
So, to recap, Kiwami 2 on PS5 will run at 60fps, it's a free upgrade (for PS4 digital owners), and because it's a new release, it'll have a separate Trophy list to its PS4 predecessor. However, you won't be able to carry over your save data from the PS4 version.
Have you been waiting for Yakuza Kiwami 2's 60fps ascendency? Keep it smooth in the comments section below.
Rockstar

Updates and New Gameplay for PS5's Romeo Is a Dead Man Coming in Grasshopper Direct

Developer Grasshopper Manufacture has announced its third ever Grasshopper Direct, this time with a focus on its upcoming madcap action game, Romeo Is a Dead Man.
Announced during a State of Play earlier this year, Romeo Is a Dead Man is a hyper-violent action title we've not seen a huge amount of yet, but our next glimpse at the game is coming very soon.
On 5th December, the next Grasshopper Direct will go live on the studio's YouTube channel at 10am JST (that's 1am GMT, 2am CET; Thursday 4th December, 5pm PST, 8pm EST).
"Among brand-new updates to pour over, next week’s Grasshopper Direct will showcase more of the studio’s upcoming, absolutely crazy, sci-fi action game, Romeo Is a Dead Man," reads the press release. "Set to launch on Steam, PlayStation 5, and Xbox Series X/S in 2026, the presentation will also share a behind-the-scenes look at the game’s development, together with never before seen gameplay."
With his life saved at the very last moment, the space-time continuum is split open, and player character Romeo becomes an interdimensional special agent who takes down wanted criminals.
He does so with a mixture of guns and swords, and the game is described as Grasshopper's "bloodiest
action game yet".
With a wild art style and bonkers premise, this is definitely one to watch out for in the new year, but in the meantime, we can check out the Grasshopper Direct in the coming days.
Rockstar

Yakuza 0, Kiwami, Kiwami 2 Get Discount PS5 Upgrade Paths, But Only for PS4 Digital Owners

SEGA has confirmed that those who own Yakuza 0, Yakuza Kiwami, or Yakuza Kiwami 2 on PS4 can take advantage of discounted upgrade paths when buying the new versions on PS5.
All three PS5 re-releases are due to launch on the 8th December, but there is a catch in that these upgrade paths only apply to the digital versions of the PS4 games — and any games claimed through PS Plus subscriptions unfortunately don't count either.
Here's a quick summary of the upgrade pricing, which differs between games:
Yakuza 0 (PS4) upgraded to Yakuza 0 Director's Cut (PS5) - $14.99 / £11.99 / €14.99
Yakuza Kiwami (PS4) upgraded to Yakuza Kiwami (PS5) - $1.99 / £1.70 / €1.99
Yakuza Kiwami 2 (PS4) upgraded to Yakuza Kiwami 2 (PS5) - Free
Yakuza 0 Director's Cut is the only PS5 re-release that features new content. It has several additional cutscenes and an online co-op mode — which is why SEGA's charging more for the upgrade. It also has an English dub for the first time.
Meanwhile, Kiwami and Kiwami 2 include new text language support in French, Italian, German, Spanish, Latin American Spanish, Brazilian Portuguese, and Russian.
SEGA has, however, confirmed that Kiwami 2 will boast 60 frames-per-second performance on PS5. The game has always been locked to 30fps on PS4, so the curse has finally been lifted.
Oh, and your PS4 save data will not carry over to the PS5 versions, so get ready to start a new playthrough or two. Or three!
Still, we're glad that SEGA's seen sense and gone down the upgrade route (partially, at least). Given the publisher's more... questionable business practices over the years, we were pretty much convinced that these PS5 versions would demand a fresh purchase across the board.
Will you be replaying any of these Yakuza titles on PS5? Feel the heat in the comments section below.
Rockstar

Embracer Group Sells Off Two Studios As Its Acquisition Spree Dies Down

A few years ago, around the same time that Xbox's Activision deal was going through, Embracer Group went on a bit of a spending spree of its own, scooping up loads of studios from Square Enix and more. Major downsizing has happened since though, as Embracer struggled to handle so many different teams - and now two more studios have been sold off.
Announced in a press release today, Arc Games (the publisher behind the Remnant series) and Cryptic Studios (the developer of Neverwinter and Star Trek Online) have been divested in the latest Embracer restructure. Embracer Group will retain the rights to Remnant, which will be published by spin-off organization THQ Nordic in future.
Another series that Embracer will cling onto as part of this sale is online dungeon crawler Fellowship, also previously of Arc Games. That one will be distributed under Embracer's Coffee Stain label in future - although Arc Games will continue to be listed as co-publisher for the time being.
The full details of the business update have been shared in the press release link up above, and you can take a look through it if you'd like any further nitty-gritty detail on this. We must admit that some of this business jargon goes above our heads, but the long and short of it is that Embracer is letting two more of its game companies go despite massive acquisition efforts in recent years.
Rockstar

Is Tomb Raider 1-3 Remastered About To Get New DLC? Leaked Achievements Suggest So

An intriguing leak has cropped up on the Tomb Raider subreddit this week that hints at some major DLC coming to 2024's Tomb Raider 1-3 Remastered in the near future.
A set of Steam achievements have leaked for the Apsyr collection that are all tagged with the heading 'TRX:CR'. The achievements themselves talk about levels, time limits and gameplay modifiers - and some folks in the Reddit thread are speculating that 'CR' could stand for Challenge Run here; some kind of potential bonus mode for Tomb Raider 1-3 Remastered?
The development teams at Aspyr and Crystal Dynamic haven't officially announced this update/DLC yet, but these leaked achievements certainly suggest it exists in some form - and that it could be pretty close to launching as well. The developer recently shadow dropped Tomb Raider: Definitive Edition on Switch 2 this month, so there's certainly a precedent for them to do something like a surprise release.
For now, one comment mentions that the achievements have been removed for the time being, after presumably going live too early. We'll keep an eye on this to see how things develop; could it have been a simple backend error? Is this stuff about to launch for real in TR 1-3 Remastered? Hopefully we'll find out in the near future!
Rockstar

Destiny 3 Is Apparently In 'Extremely Early Development', Should Still Launch On Xbox

Destiny leaks account Colony Deaks has today shared information on Destiny 3, which is apparently in "extremely early development" right now over at developer Bungie.
The leaker profile, which typically shares datamined Destiny leaks amongst other bits and pieces about the franchise, says that it's been "sitting on the info for a few weeks now" - and has decided to share it following other reports on the game. It adds that it "plans to share more info in the coming months" once the project "takes shape" at Bungie.
Now, we must admit that we're not super well versed in the Destiny leaking scene, and we're absolutely taking this as a vague rumour right now. Bungie hasn't confirmed Destiny 3 at all just yet - in fact, its Destiny 2: Renegades expansion launches in just a few days here on December 2nd, so content for that title is very much still in the pipeline right now.
However, this isn't the first time we've heard about a third game in the franchise. Back in April 2024, another source dropped info on Destiny 3 being in development under the codename Payback. All we can do is sit tight for now, but the Destiny 3 rumours are gathering pace, folks.
Rockstar

Viewfinder Review (Switch eShop)

With a name like Viewfinder, you might be forgiven for thinking that somebody finally decided to capitalise on the picture-hunting format perfected by Pokémon Snap. Perhaps a chilling new instalment in the Fatal Frame series?
Developer Sad Owl Studios is going for a different vibe here. The viewfinder in question is a device that can shift reality, layering photographs on top of the environment and creating new pathways through an artificial world.
It is a genuinely unique experience, though it does share some DNA with Jonathan Blow’s The Witness, with the perspective-shifting madness of Portal. An accessible set of lateral conundrums that usher you through an ever-shifting approximation of utopia.
Originally launching on PS5 in July 2023, there is an intriguing narrative, drip-fed to both you and the main characters. Scientists explore a simulation that seems to comprise an amalgam of civilisation. Photographs are placed around levels, depicting another scene within the space. Taking these images and placing them in focus will set them into the world. This mechanic allows you to solve different flavours of traversal puzzle.

Captured on Nintendo Switch (Handheld/Undocked)
Despite the freaky manipulation of liminal space, the spatial acrobats never feel disorienting; it all comes surprisingly naturally. As I placed bridges across chasms or removed a wall with a section of sky, I never felt the puzzle solutions were obtuse or deliberately vague.
Variations start to appear in the shape of perspective puzzles that must be combined with the photos in order to progress. Making copies of photographs, capturing the right angle with a tower viewer, and good old-fashioned switch flipping are just some of the methods to progress in this idyllic world.
These multi-stage puzzles facilitate frequent use of the rewind mechanic, which zips you back to the last time you tried something that didn't quite pan out. Being able to quickly revisit steps like this is all part of the easygoing feel of Viewfinder. Sad Owl wants you to get through these levels smoothly because stop-start pacing would ruin the artistic flourishes that pepper the journey.

Captured on Nintendo Switch (Docked)
The aesthetic of the simulation is vibrant and intoxicating, with sharp primary colours that pop on both big and small screens. The fabricated world you're jacked into is a snapshot of society that itself feels lived in by those who have explored before your character.
The sheer range of styles on display is impressive. At several points you will transition between completely different motifs, layering hand-drawn crayon sketches on top of polygonal dungeons and back to soft watercolour edges. You will occasionally be pulled out into the real world, with its clinical office environments and harsh red cityscapes. This stark contrast makes you savour the painterly style of the simulation.
While you are a lone scientist wandering between worlds, you have constant communication with your colleague, who will chime in with gameplay-specific banter. Elsewhere, a virtual talking cat called Cait wanders the levels acting as a guide.

Captured on Nintendo Switch (Handheld/Undocked)
At several points, you will find yourself in a hub area that offers a chance to revisit levels and take part in brief but stylistically distinct side challenges. These diversions are worthwhile, but don’t extend the runtime of an all too brief experience; you'll finish it in around four hours.
This being a Switch 1 native release, the trippy visuals run at a lower frame rate and it can be jarring when you constantly pan around the environment to find a puzzle solution. This is an experience built around exploring the screen and it feels hamstrung by the older hardware. Jumping to Switch 2 does not meaningfully change this. Performance is still lacking on the newer console. Undocked play on both platforms looks great and plays a bit smoother, but the difference is marginal at best.
There is a healthy selection of accessibility options. Motion smoothing in particular helps balance out that low frame rate. It doesn’t totally fix it, but it takes the edge off slightly.

Captured on Nintendo Switch (Handheld/Undocked)
Yet in spite of the lower performance, Viewfinder's visually distorting odyssey pulls you in and enchants. It's a relaxing experience, driven by narrative and a constant barrage of artistic flourishes. Add to this a gorgeous musical score by Aether, which mixes slow jazz beats and ethereal synths, and you've got a simulation that's easy to get lost in.
Conclusion
It would be well worth your time to focus on this unique puzzler. Exploring a colourful simulation by manipulating the world around you through photographs, Viewfinder is a relaxed, compelling experience that stands out for its visual style and unique puzzle design. It's a journey worth taking, despite being hampered by the lower performance of the Switch 1.
Rockstar

Beyond Good & Evil 2 Job Listing Shows There's Signs Of Life In The Old Hog Yet

When we first caught wind of Beyond Good and Evil 2 back in May 2008(!), we have to say, even then, we wondered if the stellar original wasn't already getting a little old in the tooth to command a sequel. It's never too late, of course, but would the interest be there?
That was just five years after Beyond Good and Evil first launched on GameCube, and unbelievably, following that initial announcement, the sequel then disappeared until 2017, when it showed up at E3 rocking a fancy pants trailer.
Of course, we've heard nothing good about it since then, really, with a troubled development that's seen a new creative director replace OG Michael Ancel, amongst other issues. But, as reported by our pals over at Eurogamer, it seems there's actually still life in this old hog yet.
Indeed, a fresh new job listing has appeared on the Ubisoft Montpellier website announcing that they're looking for a technical sound designer for the following game, as described in the job listing itself:
Yeah, puts on detective hat that seems like it's probably Beyond Good and Evil 2 that they're hiring for, and it sounds like there's gonna be a nice variety in space-pirating locations, powered by new graphics and sound engines. How very exciting!
But are we still excited? Are you still excited? And can Jade and P'Jay, 17 years after it was first announced, return with the gaming goods intact? Only time will tell.
Still hyped for what Beyond Good and Evil 2 will bring to the table once — if — it finally arrives? Make sure to let us know!
Rockstar

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