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N64 Cult Classic Body Harvest Is Now Available On Polymega

Polymega maker Playmaji has announced that DMA Design's Body Harvest is now available on the modular emulation system.
Included on the same disc are:
Burning Road PS
Dead in the Water PS
S.C.A.R.S N64, PS
The N64 title is part of the Polymega Collection of physical releases, and is joined by A Boy And His Blob.
That disc includes:
A Boy and His Blob NES, FC
KKND2: Krossfire PS
Uprising X PS
Gunboat TG16
Super Solitare SNES

You can order both directly from the Polymega website.
Rockstar

At Least Two More Sonic Movies Are Speeding Our Way by 2028

Fans of SEGA's blue hedgehog, rejoice: Sonic is returning to the silver screen with at least two more films by the end of 2028.
Sonic the Hedgehog 4 was officially announced a while ago, and though little is known of the movie and its plot, it's pencilled in for theatrical release in March 2027.
However, as reported by Variety, Paramount Pictures has also revealed a 'Sonic Universe Event Film' is scheduled for December 2028.
This is a separate project from the aforementioned Sonic 4, and given its label as a Sonic universe event film, it sounds like a spin-off, perhaps focusing on a different character.
While it's presumed that core cast and crew will return for these movies, including director Jeff Fowler and voice talent Ben Schwartz (Sonic), we're pretty much in the dark as to the finer details.
Sonic the Hedgehog 3, released last year, found big success, making nearly half a billion dollars at the box office.
It centred around the introduction of Shadow the Hedgehog, a powerful adversary voiced by Keanu Reeves.
The series of movies has been a big hit, so it's not really much surprise that there's more to come in the next few years.
Are you excited for the next couple of Sonic films? Tell us in the comments section below.
Rockstar

Fantastic Fighter Granblue Fantasy Versus: Rising Opens Up with Easy Control Modes on PS5, PS4

There's nothing quite like learning the ins and outs of a fighting game, but sometimes, you just want to mash on buttons and enjoy cool moves and animations.
Granblue Fantasy Versus: Rising is almost two years old at this point, but that hasn't stopped developers Cygames and Arc System Works from releasing a meaty update that attempts to welcome new players.
Patch 2.40 is out now on PS5 and PS4 in celebration of the title's second anniversary. It introduces two new control schemes, amusingly titled 'Smart' and 'Super Ultimate'.
'Smart' basically lets you perform automatic combos by repeatedly hitting face buttons once an attack connects, but outside of that, the controls retain their usual properties. This means that you can weave your own specials and supers into said combos once you feel more comfortable with the game's timing.
'Super Ultimate', meanwhile, is for those who to go all-in on automation. All you need to do is hold a button down to initiate attacks and combos, while defence is handled automatically as long as you're not pressing anything.
The latter's only available in offline modes, however.
For what it's worth, there is a free version of Rising that you can take for a spin, if word of these control schemes has caught your attention.
Oh, and for the next couple of days — until the 4th December — every character on the base roster is available to play. Normally, characters are funnelled in and out on a weekly basis.
As the headline of this article suggests, we would recommend checking Rising out. It's a rock solid, really good looking brawler with a very healthy mix of single player and online content.
Might these new control modes tempt you into trying Granblue Fantasy Versus: Rising? Never drop another combo in the comments section below.
Rockstar

Xbox Teases 2026 Game Pass Lineup As It Delivers The Service's Final Update Of 2025

Earlier today, Microsoft dropped its December Xbox Game Pass roundup - with 14 games coming to multiple tiers of the service in the next few weeks. The update stops at December 11th with the addition of Bratz: Rhythm & Style, and that's seemingly going to be our final XGP update for 2025 as the team begins to tease its 2026 lineup.
Yep, snuck at the bottom of today's Xbox Wire roundup is a little closing message regarding Xbox Game Pass in 2025 and 2026. The team wishes us all "a chill rest of your December", before mentioning that our next XGP update will be coming in "early 2026".
In this case, then, it's looking like we won't be getting any further Xbox Game Pass updates in December - as opposed to every other month in the year where we get a second roundup during the middle of the month. All eyes are on 2026 now then, we suppose!
And, it sounds as though we've got a big year ahead of us on Xbox Game Pass. Not only might we see at least five major first-party games drop next year, but October's XGP overhaul also noted that we can now expect "75+ day one games a year". That's a lot to play on Game Pass Ultimate over the next year or so!
Rockstar

Metroid Prime 4: Beyond - Nintendo Switch 2 Edition Review (Switch 2)

I’ve been waiting a long time for this. Ever since Metroid Prime 3: Corruption ended on a slight cliffhanger (provided you obtained the 100% completion rating) back in 2007, I’ve been wondering where exactly Nintendo and Retro Studios might take the series next. 18 years would follow, and that’s an awful long time to formulate an idea of what the perfect sequel might look like.
Now that Metroid Prime 4: Beyond is finally here, it’s absolutely nothing like I’d imagined – and that’s a good thing. What Retro Studios has delivered might well be the studio’s finest work yet, and it’s certainly up there as one of the very best Metroid games of all time.

Captured on Nintendo Switch 2 (Docked)
I should say, however, that I think this game may prove divisive. Retro has successfully replicated that magical feeling of discovery from the GameCube original, but it’s also taken some pretty wild swings with Beyond’s new open-world hub, high-speed motorbike traversal, and yes, Galactic Federation companions. I’m not sure everybody is going to get along with it like I did, but what I do know is that Beyond feels like a natural evolution of Corruption. The Prime games have set themselves apart from the rest of the series by expanding Samus’ world to introduce more and more side characters, and this latest entry takes this concept further than ever.
To illustrate, Beyond kicks off on the planet Tanamaar, with Samus fighting alongside a host of Federation troopers against an attack from Sylux and their Space Pirate cronies. It’s a great sequence to get reacquainted with your beam attacks, missiles, morph ball, and double jump before most of it gets ripped away in classic Metroid style. Y’see, following a confrontation with Sylux, Samus gets transported to the mysterious world of Viewros, seemingly alone in a hostile environment stuffed with creatures looking to kill you.
What follows is an intriguing mystery that introduces the brand-new Lamorn race, which is essentially Prime 4's Chozo. Uncovering what happened to the Lamorn is a joy, and you don't need any prior series knowledge to enjoy this story. Phazon's out, Dark Samus is out, and Sylux gets enough screen time as the new Big Bad. Fans will adore it, but newcomers can get right on board, too.

Captured on Nintendo Switch 2 (Handheld/Undocked)
The first thing that leapt out when wandering around the lush opening section of Fury Green was just how beautiful Beyond really is. Environments and creatures are brought to life like never before, with accompanying lighting and particle effects making this the best-looking game Nintendo has ever published. The art design is simply astonishing, constantly compelling you to just stop and soak it all in, which was easy given how much there is to uncover with the Scan Visor. Go back to (the lovely-looking) Prime Remastered and you'll see just how much of a step up this is.
The visuals are augmented by the incredible soundtrack, which is comfortably the best since the original Prime. You've likely already heard the Fury Green theme from trailers, but every major biome rocks its own awesome variant, from the thumping, electrically-charged Volt Forge to the calming, ethereal Base Camp. I quite literally sat for about 10 minutes just vibing in the latter, and with the combined effects of the art style and audio, it was the first of many moments where I thought, 'Okay, yes, this is a really special game.' It's the kind of thing you just know you'll be going back to in 10, 20 years' time.

Captured on Nintendo Switch 2 (Docked)
The enemies and boss characters are comfortably some of the best, most grotesque in series history, and the battles that ensue are equally thrilling and challenging. Even better, they're all completely new and don’t lean on nostalgia – sorry Ridley, maybe next time. There are loads of different enemy types, including the ferocious Grievers, the exploding Pyremite, and the deadly Psy-Bots. I only wish there was a 3D model feature like Prime Remastered to better appreciate their incredible designs.
Provided you have the right setup, you can choose between two performance modes on Switch 2: Quality at 4K/60fps (1080p handheld) or Performance at 1080p/120fps (720p handheld). The bump up to 120fps in Performance Mode is certainly noticeable, but not half as much as the resulting downgrade in resolution. As such, I spent the vast majority of the time in Quality Mode; it looks absolutely gorgeous in 4K while docked, with performance that appeared locked at 60fps with no noticeable dips. Trust me, you’ll want the highest resolution possible for this game.

Captured on Nintendo Switch 2 (Docked)
You've also got several different control methods from the off, including dual-stick aiming and motion aiming. Opt for the former, and you use the analogue sticks for your movement, while gyro aiming can help with fine-tuning. Mouse controls are also featured for both options, so if you're playing with the Joy-Con 2 detached, you can put the right controller side-down to immediately activate mouse mode. It's a little erratic at first, so you'll probably need to bring the sensitivity down a bit, but it feels pretty great. Overall, my control method of choice remained dual-sticks with a Pro Controller, but all options feel perfectly viable.
In typical Metroid fashion, you’ll be exploring various biomes throughout the world of Viewros, including the luscious forest of Fury Green, the frozen laboratories of Ice Belt, and much more. In addition to familiar abilities and armaments — missiles, grapple beam, morph ball — Samus gains a host of new psychic powers early on. This includes the ability to move devices remotely and open up paths, hurl your morph ball bombs at enemies and bomb slots from a distance, and directly manipulate the direction of your ‘Control Beam’ to hit multiple targets at once.

Captured on Nintendo Switch 2 (Handheld/Undocked)
In pre-release trailers depicting the psychic powers, I was worried that they might prove gimmicky, but this isn’t the case. It makes for some really cool sequences, including (but not limited to) the new Psychic Boost Rails, which hurl you around the environment on an almost-but-not-quite invisible path; perfect for locating those coveted Missile Expansions. Think of the Magatsu Rail from Shin Megami Tensei V: Vengeance, and you’re on the right track.
Of course, you’ll also gain new weapons on your travels, and these work a little differently this time. In the past, you’d acquire new beams while your standard missiles would remain the default sub-weapon. In Beyond, your Power Beam is maintained throughout, while elemental beams — specifically Fire, Ice, and Thunder — are mapped to the missile input and require their own ammo called Shots.
So, in addition to Missile Expansions, you’ll also be on the lookout for Shot Expansions. I was concerned this might limit my approach to battles if I’m constantly worried about running out of ammo, but truthfully, you’ll find so many expansions on your travels, depleting your supplies is never a major concern.

Captured on Nintendo Switch 2 (Handheld/Undocked)
Travelling from one biome to another is also a little (a lot) different this time around. A few hours in, you’ll gain access to Vi-O-La, an awesome futuristic motorbike that comes equipped with boost abilities and projectile weapons. It controls like a dream, too, with light touches of ‘L’ allowing you to slide and turn sharp corners at will. Upgrades found in the environment add more boosts to your arsenal, and soon you’ll be racing from one end of the hub world to the other in no time at all.
Sol Valley itself is a pretty vast area, and at first it felt completely empty, but looks can be deceiving. In addition to connecting the major locations necessary to progress the story, Sol Valley also includes a bunch of Shrines (yes, there’s that Breath of the Wild influence), Galactic Federation debris sites, and dozens upon dozens of Green Crystal clusters that you simply drive through at speed to collect.
Ultimately, including such a meaty open world amongst the usual labyrinthine biomes is a stroke of genius on Retro's part. Think about how previous Metroid games (or really any Metroidvania titles) work: completely different environments will be separated by a mere door or an elevator, and while this works perfectly well from a gameplay perspective, logically it doesn't make a whole lot of sense.

Captured on Nintendo Switch 2 (Handheld/Undocked)
What Sol Valley demonstrates is that these games don't need to be confined to dense corridors for the duration of the experience. You can open up the world, make the biomes link together more logically, and still maintain the essence of that classic Metroid experience. I can't wait to see how it influences the genre going forward.
Like the missiles, energy tanks, and whatnot, those Green Crystals found in Sol Valley are a finite resource. You’ll need to nab the whole lot to bag some sweet rewards, but the game introduces some neat little perks later on that make this a lot easier than you might think. Truth be told, this is possibly the most approachable Metroid game ever, since hidden Scout Bots located in each environment can also ping their radars and reveal the locations of any undiscovered items on your map. Granted, you won’t be able to activate these until much, much later in the game, but it makes chasing that 100% completion rating a lot more digestible than ever before.

Captured on Nintendo Switch 2 (Handheld/Undocked)
As you make your way across Viewros, you’ll also run into a handful of Galactic Federation troopers: Myles Mackenzie, Reger Tokabi, Nora Armstrong, Ezra Duke, and VUE-995. Honestly, none of them are even remotely as irritating as previews suggested, and I genuinely came to enjoy their presence. There are brief moments where one or two might join you in the fight, but these are kept to a minimum, and Retro wisely ditches them before they outstay their welcome. Overall, the dialogue is a lot stronger than anything seen in Corruption, and the voice actors do a wonderful job at bringing them to life.
But this is also where my one little nitpick comes in. While exploring Sol Valley, Myles will occasionally ping you on the radio to let you know what you should be doing next. Whether it’s making your way to your next objective or heading back to Base Camp to activate a new beam upgrade, Myles is essentially Prime 4’s Navi from Ocarina of Time - always there to nudge you in the right direction.
It’s not as frequent as you might fear — once you’ve heard him once, that’ll be it until your next major outing on Vi-O-La — but I’d love it if Retro Studios could add the ability to mute him completely. Sometimes I just want to ride around in peace, y’know?

Captured on Nintendo Switch 2 (Docked)
I did find myself longing for a couple of extra features: namely, the ability to change the bike's colour and to listen to some custom music while roaming about. Well, these are both here... if you buy the amiibo.
The Vi-O-La figure unlocks skins for your ride, while Samus adds the Vi-O-La Radio, letting you toggle through a small selection of banging Metroid-themed tunes. It's frankly irritating that Nintendo decided to lock these features behind amiibo; they should have been in the game by default, no question. The Sylux amiibo apparently unlocks a specific cutscene early, which you'll otherwise need to 100% the game to see. All other Metroid series amiibo just play a random Metroid-themed jingle.
At the time of writing, I’ve beaten the game with 100% items and 97% logbook scans, and this has taken me roughly 16 hours (don’t worry, I'm already looking for that remaining 3%). Keep in mind that I’ve sped through for review, so playing through at your own, slower pace could nudge your time to over 20 hours if you’re after absolutely everything; mainlining the story may shave it down to around 10 hours.

Captured on Nintendo Switch 2 (Docked)
I’d recommend finding all collectibles if you can, though, since this will uncover everything in the game’s Gallery section, which is filled with concept art from Beyond’s development – it’s a lovely behind-the-scenes look at a game that’s been heavily shrouded in mystery for years.
Conclusion
After 18 years of waiting, Metroid Prime 4: Beyond manages to replicate that magical sense of discovery from the GameCube original while pushing the series in some incredible new directions. Separating the main biomes with a vast open world sounds ridiculous on paper, but the slick traversal provided by Vi-O-La makes exploration more satisfying than ever.
Combine this with the stunning art direction, ferocious new boss characters, and a surprisingly endearing squad of Federation troopers, and Beyond is quite possibly the boldest, most well-realised Metroid game to date. Make no mistake, the long wait has been more than worth it. Welcome back, Samus.
Rockstar

"One Of The Best-Looking Games On Switch 2" - Digital Foundry Dives Into Metroid Prime 4

If you can believe it, we are very, very nearly at the official launch of Metroid Prime 4: Beyond. It's a cross-generation release, but we always knew that this was going to be a big player for the Switch 2, making the most of the new hardware's beefed-up specs to squeeze the most out of the space adventure. The question is, how does it hold up?
Our good friends over at Digital Foundry are here to answer just that. In the above video, the tech experts break down everything you need to know about the game's performance, and we've got the full rundown for you to read through below. So, let's dive right into it.
Kicking things off with the visuals, DF states that the game is "truly beautiful". With crisp visor reflections, rain droplets and light peeking through cracks, the game is packed with more detail than ever before, and it's used to great effect.
In terms of performance, we all know that MP4 offers two different options — 'Performance' and 'Quality' — though, according to Digital Foundry, things are a bit more nuanced in actuality. In Quality, the visor 'frame' and main image appear to be rendered separately, and while the real meat of what you're looking at "generally does read as a native 4K image", it's still "very much 1440p" (1080p in handheld). The sharpness is right where you'd want it, though, with DF calling it "the best image quality I've seen from a Nintendo game on Switch 2 thus far".
'Performance' mode drops the resolution down to 1080p (720p in handheld), giving everything a slightly softer look. That said, the presentation remains "sharp enough" and is still sharper and clearer than Metroid Prime Remastered was on Switch 1 by a "significant margin".
But what about the much-discussed frame rate? You'll be pleased to hear that the 120fps promise (in the relevant mode) is delivered on, locking to 120, and holding it "with complete consistency" — bar the very odd, tiny dip when riding around the open world. And yes, the same level of smoothness applies to the 60fps mode.
The truly "mind-blowing" feature, according to DF, is the HDR, which stacks up as "one of the finest HDR presentations I've seen in years, standing shoulder-to-shoulder with the very best". So, expect those highlights to pop, and the shadows to deepen in docked. The same can't be said for handheld, mind you, where the Switch 2's native screen can't keep up.
And finally, the load times are right where you'd want 'em, with door opening times much reduced from the previous entries.
You can find the full tech review in the above video or over on Digital Foundry's new site. As for us, we were absolutely blown away by MP4, calling it "quite possibly the boldest, most well-realized Metroid game to date" in our review — read all about it below.
Rockstar

Metroid Prime 4: Beyond Credits Reveal A Plethora Of Assist Devs, Including Next Level Games

When Metroid Prime 4: Beyond landed with Retro Studios back in 2019, we're not sure anybody was truly shocked by this turn of events. Retro is, after all, the original developer of the Prime series, and while many of the veteran team members have since left, the sheer quality of the fourth entry on Switch 2 demonstrates that the studio is still one of the very best in the business.
The folks over at Retro didn't do it alone, though. As highlighted in the game's credits sequence, many separate companies lent their talents to the development of Prime 4, including Next Level Games and Virtuos.
Next Level Games, as you may know, is already familiar with the Prime series, having worked on Metroid Prime: Federation Force for the 3DS in 2016. As of 2021, it's a wholly-owned subsidiary of Nintendo alongside Retro Studios itself. The specific developers at Next Level Games credited as helping out on Prime 4 were Matt McTavish, Cavin Yen, Mark Blanchin, and Christopher Rice.
Here are the teams listed in the credits:
Retro Studios
Next Level Games
Virtuos
Territory Studio
Waterproof
Keywords Studios
Liquid Development
Volta
AMC Studio
GameSim
Smoking Gun Interactive
Forge Studios
Red Hot CG
Original Force
Devoted Studios
Room 8 Studio
Next Gen Dreams
Mock Science
Cup of Tea
Formosa Interactive
House of Moves
Meanwhile, longtime producer Kensuke Tanabe at Nintendo also provided the text for the in-game scans, while Samus herself is now voiced by Erin Yvette with motion capture by Krystle Martin. Fans of the series will know that Jennifer Hale had previously provided the voiceover for Samus in the original Prime trilogy.
In our review for Metroid Prime 4: Beyond for the Switch 2, we said that it "manages to replicate that magical sense of discovery from the GameCube original while pushing the series in some incredible new directions", awarding it a score of 9/10.
Rockstar

Pokémon Legends: Z-A DLC Is Introducing A New Type Of Mega Evolution

The Pokémon Company has revealed yet another new Mega 'mon arriving in the Pokémon Legends: Z-A Mega Dimension DLC, but more than that, it has revealed a whole new type of Mega Evolution.
Mega Lucario Z is the latest Fighting- and Steel-type Mega Evolution to join the line-up, boasting a swanky blue and yellow look as well as some particularly fetching fringe work. This marks the debut appearance of Z Mega Evolution — a new take on the mechanic that sees Pokémon able to fire off their moves quicker, but also burn through their Mega Power at a faster rate.
Pokémon that undergo a Z Mega Evolution might not be best suited for long battles, then, but they'll likely pose a good way for wrapping up fights with a decisive victory.
Here's the official rundown of Mega Lucario Z and a handful of snaps from The Pokémon Company:


Images: Nintendo
Mega Lucario Z will arrive with the other new Megas in the Legends: Z-A DLC on 10th December.
Rockstar

Pokémon Legends: Z-A's Next Mystery Gift Code Event Is Now Live

As a part of today's Mega Dimension DLC news, The Pokémon Company revealed Legends: Z-A's next Mystery Gift Code event, and it's not one to be missed.
The event is live in-game right now. All that you need to do is head to the 'Mystery Gift' menu and select 'Receive via Internet' to get involved. Right off the bat, you'll be rewarded with special Mewtwonite X & Y Mega Stones, and you'll also unlock the new 'Project M' side mission, which sets you on the path to catch — you guessed it — Mewtwo!
You need to have rolled credits to access the gift, but no end date has been revealed for the event at the time of writing, so you've got plenty of time to get there if you're still exploring Lumiose at your leisure.
And yes, while the news was broken in today's Mega Dimension dump, the event is available for everyone with the base game.
Rockstar

"I Do Have Some Regrets" - How The Creator Of Counter-Strike Gave Up A Money-Making Behemoth

Counter-Strike may be a quarter of a century old, but it remains one of Valve's biggest money-spinners on Steam.
Counter-Strike 2 – the latest iteration of the free-to-play team-based shooter – makes its money from chests, which cost around $2.50 to open. Incredibly, some of the skins found inside said chests can fetch over a million dollars online – so it's little wonder that, on average, players pay real-world money to open around 70,000,000 chests every month.
That's over $175,000,000 of revenue coming in every 30 days – so you'd expect the person who created the game to be utterly minted, right? Wrong.
Speaking to EDGE magazine, Counter-Strike creator Minh Le reveals that he effectively gave up what would become a billion-dollar money-making machine when he joined Valve back in 2000. In fact, when it came to selling up, Le readily admits he had no idea why Valve thought the game, which began life as a Half-Life mod, was worth anything:
Le also reveals that he was happy to take any amount of cash at the time, as his own situation was somewhat precarious:
Le has never revealed what Valve paid him for Counter-Strike, but admits that it wasn't enough cash to retire there and then. In fact, as part of the arrangement, he became a Valve employee, which was something he could only have dreamed about prior to Counter-Strike being made.
In 2006, Le left Valve and has since worked on the likes of Rust and Black Desert Online. He's now working on a new tactical FPS of his own creation, Alpha Response, at Ultimo Ratio Games.
While he's continuing to chart his own path in game development, Le admits there are things he wishes had gone differently. "I do have some regrets," he tells EDGE. "A lot of the people who I still keep in touch with at Valve, I kind of notice that they're really well off financially."
Rockstar

Switch 2 RPG Rune Factory: Guardians of Azuma's PS5 Release Could Be Imminent

A full Trophy list for Rune Factory: Guardians of Azuma has been uncovered, suggesting that the highly rated RPG is ready for release on PS5.
Guardians of Azuma is the latest instalment in Marvelous' Rune Factory series, having launched for Switch 2, Switch, and PC back in June of this year.
Funnily enough, the game was actually age rated for Sony's current-gen system before it had even released, leading many to believe that its Nintendo-focused exclusivity was timed.
Of course, six months of that supposed exclusivity will be up this week — so we could be seeing an official announcement before the year is out.
If you're wondering what kind of RPG Guardians of Azuma is, it's got a flashy action combat system built on top of town-building and farming elements. There's also a heavy focus on forging bonds with a colourful cast of characters.
Again, it received very positive reviews from both critics and players, with our pals at Nintendo Life giving it an 'excellent' 9/10 in their Switch 2 review.
Are you interested in playing Guardians of Azuma on PS5? Daydream about your ideal anime-styled spouse in the comments section below.
Rockstar

Fast & Furious Director on Deck for Helldivers Movie Penned by It, Annabelle Scribe

Work on the movie adaptation of a smash hit co-op shooter Helldivers is now well underway.
Justin Lin of Fast & Furious fame will direct the film, based on a script written by horror movie veteran Gary Dauberman. He’s best known for writing the screenplays for It and Annabelle.
As you’d expect, the film will be released by Sony Pictures Entertainment, with PlayStation subsidiary PS Productions overseeing the project. Additional organisations involved will include Lin’s own Perfect Storm Entertainment.
While we don’t know much about the plot itself, Starship Troopers will likely be a massive inspiration, as Helldivers is effectively a video game adaptation of the 90s hit.
We’d expect a blend of comedy and action, although Dauberman’s involvement does potentially hint at some horror elements as well.
Lin is not a gamer, and he apparently leaned into that with his pitch for the project.
According to the Hollywood Reporter, his goal is to flesh out the overall fiction of the franchise and “find the humanity” in the characters.
Of course, he already has an existing relationship with Sony, as he’s also been hired to direct the live action adaptation of anime One Punch Man.
There’s no word on any casting decisions or a target release date just yet, but it sounds like this project is moving along pretty quickly, so don’t be surprised if we get a lot more news soon.
Rockstar

Splinter Cell Remake Gets Its Original Game Director Back

There's newfound hope the Splinter Cell Remake will one day release, as the project's first game director has rejoined development on the title three years after his departure.
David Grivel posted to his LinkedIn profile one week ago that he was "very happy to announce that I'm rejoining Ubisoft Toronto as Game Director on the Splinter Cell Remake! A very special team and project to me."

Drivel served as game director on the Splinter Cell Remake project up until 2022, at which point he left to work on Battlefield 6 at EA. He then went back to Ubisoft Toronto to work on an unannounced game in May 2024, then left again late last year to join a developer named Worlds Untold, which was quickly shut down. Drivel now finds himself back on the Splinter Cell Remake three years later.
Officially confirmed in December 2021, the remake of the first Splinter Cell title has not been seen outside of the most minor updates. The return of David Grivel may boost development efforts, however.
Rockstar

Rockstar Causes Confusion Over Red Dead Redemption Upgrade On Xbox

The new upgrade for Red Dead Redemption is out today on all platforms, and while the game is now live and playable on Xbox Series X|S, the upgrade path from the old Xbox 360 version isn't working for lots of players - and there's some confusion as to why at the moment.
When the team at Rockstar announced this new version of RDR last month, they said that "current owners on PS4, Nintendo Switch, or the digital backward compatible version on Xbox One will be able to upgrade digitally for free". However, right now, lots existing owners of Red Dead on 360/Xbox One are being asked to pay the team's introductory 50% off discount for the new version.
To be clear, Rockstar's initial wording on this (as you can see up above) suggests that the back compat version will get a free upgrade. However, after doing a little digging, we're noticing that people who bought this RDR/RDR2 bundle from 2023 (when the PS4 version of RDR came out) are getting free access - whilst owners who bought the 360 version on its own years ago (like yours truly) are being asked to pay up.
Heading over to the game's subreddit only leads to even more confusion. This post, where a fan asks Rockstar Support about the issue, shows the developer saying that the new upgrade is not free for 360 owners - even though on a technical level, the only version of Red Dead Redemption on Xbox prior to this upgrade was indeed the 360 game. It's worth noting that this is just one Rockstar Support response and may not be accurate.
There's a whole discussion further into that thread about what's going on here, with lots of different suggestions and interpretations. One responder shows evidence of their 2023 bundle purchase working for the free upgrade, which again adds to the theory that it's this specific bundle that's providing free access on Xbox Series X|S for now.

So, this could all be one big glitch and older 360 owners will soon get free access - or this whole upgrade path may only apply to newer purchases of Red Dead 1, syncing up with the PS4 and Switch releases from 2023 onwards. Honestly, we're just about as confused as anyone right now, but the long and short of it is that if you can't get in for free just yet and you own the old 360 version, it's worth waiting to see if Rockstar comes out to clarify the situation.
Rockstar

Black Ops 7 Season 01 Maps Detailed, Free On Xbox Game Pass Ultimate This Week

Ahead of launch later this week, Xbox and Activision have given us a closer look at the multiplayer maps coming to Black Ops 7 Season 01 - with four new levels coming to the Game Pass FPS later this week.
The maps in question are Fate, Odysseus, Utopia and Standoff; the latter being a returning classic from 2012's Black Ops 2. You can take a look at the four new additions in action up above, and we'll chuck some descriptions for them down below as well:
These four multiplayer maps arrive alongside some new Zombies levels, weapons, operators and progression improvements; which we've detailed elsewhere at Pure Xbox in our broader Season 01 overview. We'll throw the team's full Season 01 roadmap down below anyway, so you can get a quick glimpse at what's arriving both later this week and during the mid-season update.

Black Ops 7 Season 01 begins on December 4th, free for existing owners and Game Pass Ultimate subscribers across Xbox One, Xbox Series X|S and PC.
Rockstar

Nintendo Today! Mobile App Update Adds A New Donkey Kong Theme

Nintendo has been releasing all sorts of software and firmware updates recently, and it's now rolled out an update for its Nintendo Today! mobile application.
The app, which provides daily updates from the world of Nintendo, has today been updated to Version 2.2.0. It's currently live on iOS, with the App Store page also revealing "what's new". This includes a new Donkey Kong theme (seemingly inspired by the recent release Donkey Kong Bananza).
Along with this, the app is now also avaialble in Thailand, Malaysia, Philippines and Singapore.

Image: OatmealDome (via social media)
If you haven't already downloaded this app, once again it offers regular updates on "all things Nintendo" including Switch 2 news, game information, videos, comics and even some Nintendo trivia and history. It's also got a built-in event schedule, marking significant Nintendo events including releases, special occasions and in-game events.
In case you missed it, Nintendo recently released an update for its Switch and Switch 2 mobile app adding some new features. You can find out more in our previous story.
Rockstar

33 Years After It Hit Arcades, A Secret Debug Menu For Street Fighter II Turbo Has Been Discovered

Think every little secret about Street Fighter II has been discovered? Well, you'd be wrong, as a new debug menu has been found in the 'Turbo' version of the game.
TurboAnnihilate is the one who made the discovery, unearthing a debug menu for sprite scaling and rotation.
To access this menu, TurboAnnihilate says:
This begs the question – were there ever any plans to add sprite scaling to the game? This effect is seen in titles like Art of Fighting and Fatal Fury, so it would be interesting to know if Capcom was experimenting with a similar approach for Street Fighter II.
Rockstar

Nintendo Announces 50th Maximus Cup Event For Tetris 99

To celebrate the recent launch of Kirby Air Riders on the Switch 2, Nintendo has announced a new event for its Switch Online battle royale game Tetris 99.
This event will take place between 4th December and 8th December 2025, and allows players to unlock a special design inspired by Kirby's new game. This also happens to mark the 50th Maximus Cup event!
In some other Switch Online news, Nintendo has also released some new Animal Crossing: New Horizons icons for Switch Online members this week.
Rockstar

Turok And Turok 2 Have Been Updated, Here Are The Full Patch Notes

Nightdive is still rolling out regular updates for its Switch eShop versions of Turok and Turok 2, and to kick off December, it has released two new patches.
In Turok, you can expect all sorts of enhancements and improvements as well as a Switch-specific update. And in Turok 2, the team has added a bunch of improvements including cross-play multiplayer. It also shared some details about issues it's aware of in Turok 2.
Here are the full details courtesy of the Nightdive website:
Turok (2015) Patch 3 - 1st December 2025
Turok has been updated on all platforms!
PATCH NOTES
Added Atari intro video. Updated KEX and Nightdive videos. Removed Acclaim intro cutscene.
Save menu will now update the save slot text when all save slots are used.
Fixed cheat text localization when entering in a cheat code.
Added a much-requested gameplay option to toggle respawning enemies off.
Added a gameplay option for enemies to always drop items no matter what the difficulty is set to.
Crosshair now scales with the size of the screen.
Trails: are smoother, no longer disappear when the enemies change animations, and their performance has been improved.
When firing the Rocket Launcher the trails no longer stop spawning smoke particles.
Crawling now uses the weapons walk animation instead of the run animation.
Particles now fade in correctly with the intended alpha values.
Sounds pause and resume when opening and closing menus.
Lowered volume of explosion sounds during the end game escape cutscene.
Maximum active sounds increased from 64 to 128.
When the music changes there’s a quick fade out.
Fixed issues with some enemies showing the wrong blood colors.
Sandworms can no longer be shot when they have died and are under the floor.
Knife makes metal impact sounds when hitting metal enemies.
The arrow head on the Bow now flashes briefly for a better indicator of the Bow’s super shot timing.
After beating the Longhunter and the dam opens, water sounds now play. Removed shadow flags on 2 of the dam doors. Removed unused switch sectors from beta version only seen on the automap.
In Level 5 a shortcut from the beta version was added in, going from the outside area with the key to back inside to the catacomb hallways. The unique model used for the shortcut entrance was never correctly modeled, and it has now been fixed up.
Added in the missing startup elevator sound for tech platforms.
Sky speed now changes based on the sector properties. In Level 7, for example, the sky moves a little faster than the other levels.
Fixed walk speed value when moving diagonally.
Fixed enemies not respawning when they’re in water.
Interpolation fixes.
Minor model geometry fixes.
(Switch) You can now select up to an FOV of 120 on Nintendo Switch.
(PC) Rendering fixes when window focuses/unfocuses.
(PC) Using mods no longer prevents achievements which was the original remaster behavior.
(PC) Modding additions and improvements.
Turok 2: Seeds of Evil - Patch 2.2
Turok 2: Seeds of Evil has been updated on all platforms!
Improvements:
Updated KEX engine version for latest support and features.
Updated rendering defaults.
Smoother shadows, optimized light scattering, and improved ambient occlusion.
Extended singleplayer weapon models for ultrawide resolutions.
Improved localization across the game.
Added subtitles for all cinematics.
Cross-play multiplayer is now functional.
Current Issues:
We are currently aware that some players are encountering graphical and visual glitches in the Turok 2: Seeds of Evil “Next-Gen” update. We are currently working on these issues and will be addressing them in a future update slated for release before the end of the year.
We want to ensure that this release is simultaneous on all platforms, so we ask to please wait a little longer for these updates to go live. Thank you for understanding.
Rockstar

More 007 First Light Gameplay in New Developer Livestream This Week

IO Interactive has confirmed that it's hosting a gameplay-focused livestream later this week, where it will share more on its upcoming PS5 title 007 First Light.
Having been the star of a recent State of Play showcase, the James Bond game will next appear in a Beyond the Light livestream this Wednesday, 3rd December 2025. Gameplay director Andreas Krogh and senior level designer Thomas Pulluelo will "pull back the curtain on all things gameplay" from 8am PT / 11am ET / 4pm GMT on Wednesday. It'll be livestreamed on Twitch.
One of the biggest releases for the first half of 2026, the game is slated to arrive for PS5 on 27th March. Will you be tuning in to the show, or have you already seen enough? Let us know in the comments below.
Rockstar

IO Interactive Confirms the Hitman Series Will Continue

Developer IO Interactive is currently all-in on its upcoming action adventure, 007 First Light, but it sounds like Hitman fans needn't worry about the franchise's future.
In an interview with Variety, CEO Hakan Abrak is very clear about the status of the Hitman series.
"So of course there will be more Hitman," Abrak says, saying that the team is first focusing on bringing co-op to the existing game, calling it a "really, really good extension to the universe".
After that, though, Abrak says IO will "be talking about the next Hitman — because, of course, there’s going to be a next Hitman."
Exactly what form a future Hitman game will take is unclear, but Hitman 3 — now known as World of Assassination — will be a tough act to follow.
Incorporating the campaigns from Hitman 1 and 2, various additional modes, and a seemingly never-ending supply of Elusive Target missions and special events, World of Assassination is about as content-rich a game as you'll find in 2025.
IO's excellent post-launch support continues throughout December with an Elusive Target that sees Eminem hiring Agent 47 to kill Slim Shady.
Hitman 4 could simply be a whole new campaign added to the existing package, or perhaps it'll be a fresh start for the series. It's all speculation for now; we expect a new Hitman will take a while to materialise given the studio's other work.
Still, confirmation of a "next" Hitman is quite exciting, isn't it? Are you looking forward to more Agent 47 in future? Tell us in the comments section below.
Rockstar

'Everyone Told Us Not to Do It': Dispatch Producer Says Episodic Release Was Deemed 'Insane'

It sounds like Dispatch developer AdHoc Studio knew it was taking a risk by adopting an episodic release schedule — but the decision paid off in the end.
The interactive superhero drama dropped its first two episodes — of eight total — on the 22nd October, and then proceeded to launch two new episodes every following week.
In years gone by, Telltale Games had all but driven the episodic model into the ground with its numerous licensed adventure titles. And AdHoc apparently had to navigate that lasting negativity when considering its approach for Dispatch.
"Everyone was telling us not to do it," admits executive producer and CEO Michael Choung, in an interview with Knowledge.
"[It's] an insane thing to do," he adds. "From every metric, from a production perspective, no one should do this. If you think episodic alone is going to be the thing that dictates success for you, then good luck."
Essentially, Choung says that Dispatch's success was partly down to its episodic nature, but he certainly doesn't recommend that other developers follow suit — unless the narrative hook is already abundantly present in the actual game.
"The spine of this whole thing is the creative. If the creative is strong, you can cut it up however you like, and it probably is going to make it through, even if it's a poor decision," he explains.
"If you go episodic with a not-so-great story, you're flirting with people that aren't attracted to you whatsoever."
Indeed, Dispatch has been (in our opinion, rightly) praised for its endearing cast of characters and comedy-tinged storyline. There's more than enough quality there to keep people coming back.
While it's entirely possible to play through all eight episodes in one or two sittings, it's clear that the episodic structure helped spread positive impressions; Choung says that player counts hit new heights every time fresh episodes were made available.
"Again, conventional wisdom says: whatever you guys do in the first week, the second week is going to be half that number. It was literally the opposite. Those things, we anticipated. I don't think we anticipated the scale of it," Choung reveals.
Of course, we think it probably helps that Dispatch was always completely transparent with its schedule right from the start. One of Telltale's biggest problems was how uneven its releases were, with delays often sapping the hype as the studio scrambled across multiple projects.
Do you think there's still room for episodic releases in gaming? Did you play Dispatch week by week, or did you binge the whole thing in one go? Ponder Season 2 in the comments section below.
Rockstar

New 'Sonic Universe' Movie Spin-Off Announced For 2028

Paramount has revealed some of its future movie plans, but for us, the biggest draw is that Sonic the Hedgehog will be getting a brand new spin-off movie in 2028.
Variety reports that this upcoming spin-off is currently untitled, but it's being referred to to as the "Sonic Universe Event Film". It will launch in cinemas on 22nd December 2028. More than three years away!
Note that this isn't the planned Sonic the Hedgehog 4 movie, which is coming out in March 2027.
We have no other details right now, but there are a lot of opportunities to branch out in the Sonic universe, with tons of untapped characters and other video games the movies can draw from.
Plus, it seems like a no-brainer to expand the Sonic movie universe — the first three films have all received warm critical reception, particularly Sonic the Hedgehog 3, and fans seem to absolutely love them.
Collectively, the franchise has made over $1 billion at the box office and spawned a TV show focusing on Knuckles the Echidna, so more movies surely means more money.
We at least have some idea of who will feature in the Sonic 4 movie, so we'll have to excitedly wait and see on what the Sonic Universe movie will bring.
Rockstar

Third Styx Game Set for PS5 Release in February 2026

Cyanide Studio has revealed the third instalment in the Styx stealth series, Styx: Blades of Greed, has been delayed out of 2025, and will now release for PS5 on 19th February 2026.
From the perspective of Styx himself, the following was posted to the game's Steam page: "Yeah, yeah, I know, waiting isn’t your favorite thing. Mine either. (Unless I’m waiting in the dark to stab someone, of course). The devs are taking a few extra months to polish everything up, tweak the bits that need tweaking, and make sure my grand return is as glorious (and chaotic) as it deserves to be."
Blades of Greed follows on from Master of Shadows and Shards of Darkness, with a third entry almost nine years after the latter released. Decent enough stealth experiences, this new title "refines the proven formula of the first two games by making freedom and creativity central to the experience. Explore vast vertical environments and master new tools and powers."
It'll now come to PS5 on 19th February 2026. Are you interested? Let us know in the comments below.
Rockstar

Ghost of Yotei Gets 'Incredible' PS5 Pro Frame Rate Boost Thanks to New Patch

Ghost of Yotei's latest update — patch 1.1 — has resulted in some pretty significant performance boosts.
Analysed by our friends over at Digital Foundry, the update's introduction of VRR support is a win for all players, but it's an especially big deal on PS5 Pro.
Just to recap, version 1.1 was headlined by the addition of New Game+ when it launched last week, but developer Sucker Punch also snuck in some juicy new graphical settings.
A new 'Balanced' mode targets 40 frames-per-second, but really, it's the ability to uncap the game's frame rate that yields the most impressive results.
The aforementioned Balanced mode, with ray tracing, manages to hover between its intended 40fps and a smooth 60fps on PS5 Pro, with the uncap toggle enabled.
But even more impressive, the title's already excellent RT Pro mode jumps from 60fps to anywhere between 70 and 90fps, giving Atsu's adventure a seriously silky feel. Digital Foundry describes the jump as "incredible", given how well the open worlder performed to begin with.
Meanwhile, if you decide to switch ray tracing off and just dive into the standard Performance, Balanced, and Quality modes with the frame rate uncapped, you'll be treated to a roughly 33% fps increase across the board.
Oh, and on the base PS5, it's worth mentioning that Balanced can give you a very similar boost to what's available on PS5 Pro — as long as you're playing on a VRR-compatible 120Hz display. Uncapped, the frame rate can hit 60fps.
Have you given Ghost of Yotei a shot since Update 1.1? Behold those beautiful frames in the comments section below.
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