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Ubisoft Confirms Prince Of Persia: The Sands Of Time Will Be Skipping The Game Awards

Last month, Ubisoft confirmed that its Prince of Persia: The Sands of Time Remake was set to launch before April 2026, which led to rumours of the game potentially showing up at The Game Awards next week ahead of a reported January release. Well, the team has now confirmed that sadly, the title won't be showing up at TGA 2025.
In a social media response this week, the Prince of Persia team says it's "sorry to disappoint", but "The Sands of Time won't be at TGA this year". We'll share this online exchange down below:
Now, as far as we're aware, this Sands of Time remake is officially set to launch in Ubisoft's current fiscal year, despite this TGA no-show. The company recently revealed that two more of its titles are to launch by April '26, including this Prince of Persia title.
Anyway, we suppose we'll have to wait and see exactly when and where Ubisoft deems it the perfect time to re-re-reveal this PoP project, but we can confirm that The Game Awards on December 11th won't be that time and place.
Rockstar

Digital Foundry Delivers A Tech Analysis Of Assassin's Creed Shadows On Switch 2

December has gotten off to quite the start, hasn't it? With so many new games launching on Switch 2, we're sure that you're keen to find out how each and every one of them runs on the fresh hardware and, as ever, the tech experts over at Digital Foundry are here to do just that.
This time, it's Assassin's Creed Shadows' Switch 2 port that's being put under the microscope. The above video sets a baseline of the Xbox Series S version and compares the technical flair of the new Nintendo hybrid from there. So, what does DF make of it?
Visually, the Switch 2 has some obvious cutbacks from the Series S edition. Without SSR, the handheld version is lacking most water reflection and movement, and you'll notice some decrease in foliage at a middle distance. Textures also come in at a decreased resolution, and, ironically, the titular shadows don't hold up as well as they do elsewhere — though, at half the storage size of the Series S release, this is hardly surprising.
All that said, DF describes the Switch 2 edition as "a pretty handsome rendition of the game", one that comes in very close to the Series S.
In terms of image quality, the game utilises DLSS technology to help along the docked mode's typical 648p resolution, and produces a much better image than that number would suggest in the process. This is, of course, reduced in handheld play, where DF counted resolutions as low as 400p, but it all remains "pretty respectable" in action and is even considered "more reliable in portable play than when docked".
The game mostly sticks to its 30fps target in typical play, though its frame pacing is rather poor, and there are occasional dips in particularly taxing locations or cutscenes.
Rockstar

IO Interactive Shares Lots Of Gameplay Details In '007: First' Light Dev Diary

IO Interactive is in our good books big time off the back of all the premium-grade assassinating they've let us do across the globe as Agent 47. Now the team has taken up the mantle (the obvious next step for those paying attention) of James Bond himself, with 007: First Light.
And ahead of the game's 27th March 2026 release date, IO has dropped the very first in a series of dev diary deep dives aimed at exploring this latest Bond adventure alongside interested players. What an absolute high this dev team has been on with the majestic Hitman: World of Assassination, and it looks like it'll continue here.
We've already seen bits and pieces of the game, and we know it's a reimagining of the Bond origin story, featuring a young 007. But this first episode, which you can watch in full above, concentrates on gameplay, as the series as a whole looks to cover the design philosophy and creative processes.

Images: IO Interactive
It's interesting stuff, so make sure to check it out for all the new gameplay footage, and discussions about the game's blend of mechanics, which it seems will - in part at least - run with some Hitman aspects, developing on stuff such as questioning and observing, and blending into your surroundings. Oh boy, we can't wait.
One example mentioned in the video is "enforcers", meaning NPCs who see through you because they "know" everyone who works in a particular building or area. So this then introduces a new puzzle style to work with.
We also get some tantalising chat about how the devs want to balance thing to give players freedom to approach any situation the way they want as Bond, whilst also making it so the execution of any given plan you hatch can go wildly wrong and need re-tuning on the fly. All the good stuff we hoped we'd hear them speak about when approaching James Bond in their signature style, basically.
Andreas Krogh, the gameplay director on 007: First Light also mentions new techniques they've come up with by "marrying" Bond's style with their take on stealth. So you have some new deescalation options, such as bluffing. Here we see that Bond can smooth talk his way out of a scenario where the only option for 47 would be to pan somebody in the head or run away.

Images: IO Interactive
Thomas Pulluelo, the game's level designer, also pops up to show how the rather nice looking environs on display are designed so that players can see opportunities more easily and naturally. So hopefully fewer shiny pipes and yellow footholds, and more feeling like you did it all yourself. Nice.
There's are some fantastic sequences (so do make sure to check out the full vid) that show off the amazingly brutal action and combat we can expect in March of next year. This young Bond does some vicious CQC, he charges down foes and gets stuck in like a proper trained killer. Expect plenty of quick switching between fist fights, shooting with fancy guns, stealth action and lots of crashing of expensive cars and then reloading the game.
Now, speaking of cars, where did we put the keys to our motor? It's been leaking oil slicks and randomly firing machine gun bullets out of its hood again. Honestly, Q's been right off their game recently.
If you're looking forward to 007: First Light, make sure you check out Push Square's preview from back in September; they might be more excited than us!



Images: IO Interactive
Looking forward to 007: First Light? Think IO's style suits 007 down to the ground like we do? Let us know!
Rockstar

Nintendo Reveals New Line Of Metroid Merch

Metroid has rarely been able to play with the Nintendo big boys as far as sales are concerned, so it's no surprise that Samus merch drops have been a fair bit rarer than those seen for Zelda and Mario. But, with Metroid Prime 4: Beyond finally here, Nintendo is changing that... in Japan, at least.
Yes, a new wave of Metroid merch is now available exclusively at the Nintendo Stores in Tokyo, Osaka, Kyoto, Fukuoka and the Okinawa pop-up. Just to really rub salt in the wound, it's also available on the My Nintendo Store, exclusively in Japan. sigh Back to looking longingly at plane tickets, it is.
Update: Well, it looks like Nintendo has answered our wishes! Although it appeared that the merch outlined below was exclusive to Japan, many of the items have just cropped up on the UK My Nintendo Store, too. Time to beef up those Christmas stockings!
Simply put, the new range is awesome. There's a super cute Baby Metroid keychain, a Morph Ball zip-up pouch, a 'gadget case' for all your wires and charging banks, and even glasses so you can 'cheers' Prime 4 in style.


Images: Nintendo
The real winners, mind you, are the Metroid ice cube tray (not available on the EU store) — because why have cube-shaped ice, when it could look like a tiny alien? — and the Arm Cannon pillow, which, yes, you can actually wear.


Images: Nintendo
The full collection ranges in price from 2,420 yen / £12.99 for the keychain, up to 6,600 yen / £37.99 for the Arm Cannon pillow.
And if the above has got you in the mood for even more merch, the squishy Metroid amiibo is now back in stock on the UK My Nintendo Store for £12.99.
Those unable to get their hands on any of the above can still take joy in Metroid Prime 4: Beyond, which arrives on Switch and Switch 2 today, instead. We called Samus' latest adventure "one of the very best Metroid games of all time" in our review, and today, the wait is finally over!
Rockstar

Hyper Sentinel Fusion Ships On A "Floppy Disk" And Is Coming To Kickstarter Soon

While floppy disks may not have been the best storage medium when it comes to longevity and memory, there's undoubtedly something very nostalgic about them – if you grew up in the late '80s and early '90s, at least.
Industry vets Andrew and Rob Hewson are aiming to tap into that rose-tinted feeling with Hyper Sentinel Fusion, a successor to Hyper Sentinel. It's described as "Uridium and Paradroid combined with extraction shooter and roguelite elements in an explosive fusion of gameplay styles."
Launching on Kickstarter soon, Hyper Sentinel Fusion is an arcade shooter which will ship on a floppy disk – only this one isn't going to work in your PC, Amiga or ST.

"Slide open that floppy shutter to uncover a secret USB stash, loaded with this new exciting retro game for the modern era (DRM-free) for PC & Mac, and crammed with bonus goodies—just like finding hidden cheat codes of the past," says the Kickstarter pre-launch page.
A demo is available on Steam as we speak, and digital versions of Hyper Sentinel Fusion are expected to launch on PC, Mac, PlayStation 5, PS4, Xbox Series X|S, Nintendo Switch and Nintendo Switch 2.
Rockstar

'Pixels To Pages' Is A Remarkable New YouTube Documentary Covering The History Of Electronic Gaming Monthly

Update [Thu 4th Dec 2025, 4:30am]:
My Life in Gaming and Game Sack's Electronic Gaming Monthly documentary, Pixels to Pages - The Story of Electronic Gaming Monthly, is now available to watch online for free.
The 1-hour 16-minute-long documentary was released yesterday, across both My Life in Gaming and Game Sack's YouTube channels, and features interviews with former Electronic Gaming Monthly Editor-In-Chief Ed Semrad, the late EGM editor Martin Alessi, and the one-time managing editor Ken Williams, among others who were involved in the creation of the landmark magazine.


Images: Game Sack/My Life In Gaming
Frank Cifaldi from the Video Game History Foundation also makes an appearance, too, giving some valuable context about what made EGM stand out from other video game publications of the time.
Some of the major topics discussed in the documentary include how EGM was originally started and its early association with the U.S. National Video Game Team, how Ed took the best video game screenshots at events (often leading to the magazine containing images of games that never saw the light of day), and its approach to reviews (including the origins and identity of the Review Crew's Sushi-X). If you're interested, you can watch the documentary below:
Original Story: Founded back in 1988, Electronic Gaming Monthly (or 'EGM' to its friends) was one of the world's most famous video game magazines.
From its first full issue in 1989 to its closure in 2014, EGM covered all of the important events in the world of video gaming, charting the NES's dominance to the arrival of 16-bit successors and the 32-bit wave that pushed the industry forward in the 1990s.
By the time issue 264 arrived on shelves in 2014, the magazine had seen consoles such as the PS2, Xbox 360, Nintendo DS and Wii come and go. An internet-only relaunch took place in 2019, but at the time of writing, the last article posted on EGMNow.com is from the start of last year.
While EGM is no longer in active production either as a physical magazine or a website, it remains a beloved part of video game history for many people – as was evidenced by the 2024 Kickstarter for The Electronic Gaming Monthly Compendium, a retrospective book which will celebrate EGM's legacy.
It turns out that's not the only celebration we're going to be getting – the host of retro YouTube channel Game Sack has announced that he is directing and editing a documentary on the magazine in collaboration with fellow channel, My Life In Gaming.
Game Sack's Joe Redifer has confirmed that the production will not be funded through a crowdfunding drive. There's also no release date in place, but he says it will hopefully be "soon."
Rockstar

Cancelled Splatterhouse RPG 'Splatter World' Is Now Playable In English

Update [Thu 4th Dec 2025, 4:15am]:
Splatter World is now playable in English, thanks to the efforts of the fan translation community.
"Splatterworld is several things," says Aeon Genesis, the entity behind the translation. "First, it is a cutesy RPG spinoff of Namco's Splatterhouse property. It's a sequel to the Splatterhouse Wanpaku Graffiti cutesy platformer on the Famicom, which was never released outside of Japan. It's a parody of horror films and loves to poke fun at them. It's also a prototype. The game was never commercially released, and was only made available online on Halloween night this year (2025). Naturally, I jumped right on it."


Images: Aeon Genesis
Aeon Genesis adds:
Original Story: Namco's Splatterhouse series began life in the arcades before transitioning to consoles with its direct sequels (both on Sega Genesis / Mega Drive) and its Japan-only spin-off, Splatterhouse - Wanpaku Graffiti.
That cute Famicom title was intended to get an RPG sequel of its own, named Splatter World, which was intended to launch in March of 1993 but was ultimately cancelled.
It's not known why this happened, but promotional materials were being distributed to Japanese retailers at the close of 1992, so the game was clearly very close to being finished.
Splatter World has been a highly sought-after title for some time, and we experienced a Halloween miracle at the end of last week when the game was dumped and released online.
As reported by the Splatterhouse fan site West Manison, the ROM was uploaded to 4chan. It currently only works on the emulator FCEUX, which is apparently due to its use of an obscure Namco mapper.
However, it's surely only a matter of time before hackers make it compatible with other emulators.
Rockstar

This Banjo-Kazooie Fan Game Took 14 Months & 800+ Hours Of Work, But You'll Need A PS4 Or A PS5 To Play It

Fans have been crying out for a new Banjo-Kazooie game ever since Banjo-Kazooie: Nuts & Bolts was released in 2008.
But apart from a strange audience-controlled interactive demo at SXSW in 2015, the occasional merch drop, and a playable cameo in Smash back in 2019, there hasn't really been much to look forward to when it comes to official news regarding the bird and the bear.
Instead, it has mostly fallen to the Banjo fan community to keep the series's legacy alive, with developers creating spiritual successors, ROM hacks, and fan games to offer players that classic platforming experience that they've been so desperately missing.
With that in mind, we wanted to tell you about the latest of these projects that recently crossed our radar: Banjo Kazooie: Mumbomania. This is an amazing new fan game built inside Media Molecule's Dreams for the PS4 and PS5 by the creator of Trip's Voyage, @Eupholace, in addition to @Piece_of_Craft and @duckenomics, which lets you revisit an expanded version of one of Banjo-Kazooie's most iconic levels: the pirate-themed Treasure Trove Cove.
According to Eupholace, the one-level fangame reportedly took 14 months and 800+ hours to build, and features 30 jiggys to collect, as opposed to the 10 which were featured in the original game. There are also a bunch of brand new transformations included as well to discover, letting you transform from a fish to a cannon to a big rock monster to get around the level. Even better, these transformations are now instantaneous and won't require you to constantly backtrack to Mumbo's shack, with the witch doctor following closely behind the player at all times.
Since its release yesterday, former Rare staff have responded to the announcement. The Banjo-Kazooie, Tooie, and Nuts & Bolts composer Grant Kirkhope responded to the trailer, for instance, with an eyes emoji, later adding, "I almost shed a tear." Steve Mayles, the "chief scribbler", art director and character designer, on Banjo Kazooie and artist on Tooie and Nuts & Bolts, meanwhile, told Eupholace, "I can see you had a lot of fun making this!"
If you want to check out the game, you'll need a copy of Dreams and a PS4/PS5. Once Dreams is downloaded, no additional cost is necessary. You just need to search for the game in the list of publicly available creations.
Rockstar

PS5 Outsold by an Unexpected Rival in the Run Up to Black Friday

An interesting datapoint from Circana analyst Mat Piscatella reveals the PS5 was outsold by an unexpected US-based rival in the run up to Black Friday last week.
While the Switch 2 being top-selling hardware SKU for the week ending 22nd November won’t come as a massive surprise, the NEX Playground Interactive Gaming System coming second is a bit of a shock.
If you’ve never heard of this product, it’s effectively a standalone reimagining of the Kinect – or the EyeToy, if you remember the classic PS2 peripheral.
Primarily aimed at families and kids, the NEX Playground allows you to enjoy a variety of minigames on your TV using your body as the controller. Options include a simple platformer, kart racer, and more.
Piscatella is breaking up SKUs in this chart, so it’s possible the PS5 performed better overall when you combine all of its different SKUs, including Disc and Digital options as well as the PS5 Pro.
We’d also, obviously, have expected it to perform better during Thanksgiving week, as the console was discounted and appeared to sell out on Black Friday weekend.
But it’s still quite interesting to see a product like the NEX Playground seemingly come out of nowhere and perform so well. At $249 it’s not cheap either – although we’re assuming it was on sale in order to achieve these kinds of numbers.
Nevertheless, we told you it was an unexpected rival. Bet you didn’t guess it before you clicked on the article, eh? Have any of you got one of these?
Rockstar

Sonic Racing: CrossWorlds Version 1.2.0 Is Now Live, Here Are The Full Patch Notes

Every game is getting in its final update of the year before the holiday period gets underway, and Sega has today rolled out a major patch for Sonic Racing: CrossWorlds.
On the Nintendo front, this marks the arrival of the Switch 2 Edition as well as the Upgrade Pack for existing Switch owners.
Apart from this, there's a lot of new content in this update. This includes new gadgets, an increase to the world match rating, additional friend settings, anti-cheat measure improvements and much more. Here's the full rundown of patch Ver 1.2.0, according to Sega's official website:
Sonic Racing: CrossWorlds - Ver.1.2.0 (3rd December 2025)
Thank you all for playing Sonic Racing: CrossWorlds! Today, we’re releasing patch Ver.1.2.0!
Please update your game to the latest version to access the online modes, including World Match, and downloadable content.
PS5/PS4: Patch Ver.1.2.0
Nintendo Switch/ Nintendo Switch2: Patch Ver.1.2.0
Xbox XS/One: Patch Ver.1.2.0
Steam: Patch Ver.1.2.0
Epic: Patch Ver.1.2.0
Content Update Summary
Added new event mode “Legend Competition”
Increased maximum World Match rating from 9,999 to 99,999
Added multi-round options to Friend Match
Added 2 collaboration tracks to the Jukebox
Added 12 collaboration decals
Added 6 new gadgets
Gadget balance changes
Anti-Cheat measures
Other adjustments and bug fixes
Legend Competition
A new mode “Legend Competition” has been added. This mode will occur regularly, with the first competition being held from December 4, 2025 through December 21, 2025.
World Match Rating
We’ve increased the maximum rating from 9,999 to 99,999.
Friend Match Settings
You can now set races to have multiple rounds in Custom Matches in Free Race! No more going back to the lobby after each race!
Jukebox Tracks
No.1 - Crazy Raccoon
Hongami Precious Moment - Inugami Kroone, Tomoya Ohtani
Collaboration Decals
REJ Assemble
REJ Chilidog
REJ ALWAYS CHASING
REJ SUPERCHAOSMODE
REJ LOGO
CR AKAMI KARUBI
CR RAS
CR VANILLA
CR RION
CR AMATSUKI
CR JASPER
CR x SONIC
Gadget Additions and Adjustments in Ver. 1.2.0
Since launch, we’ve observed two common strategies emerge in online matches:
Using drift-type gadgets to maintain top positions.
Staying in 9th – 12th place and using item control gadgets to get powerful items late in the race and quickly jump to top positions.
Both strategies made it very difficult for those in 4th – 8th place to make a comeback.
Therefore, in Ver.1.2.0, we’ve added and strengthened support-type and item-type gadgets to make it easier to make comebacks from 4th – 8th place.
We will continue monitoring online gadget usage and win rates to adjust balance going forward.
New Gadgets
We’ve added 6 gadgets!*
Item Control Type
Lucky Pair
Double Down
Support Type
Ring Mercy
Damage Mercy
Item Mercy
Strong Finish
*Gadgets can be obtained once your Gadget Plate reaches "Silver Plate" or higher.

The following gadgets which were previously distributed as Festival rewards can now be purchased with Donpa Tickets from the gadget customization screen**:
Boost Character Kit
Power Character Kit
Handling Character Kit
Comeback Kit
Sea Dog Kit
**These can be purchased if your gadget plate is “Master Plate” or higher
Gadget Adjustments
Quick Recovery
Further reduced downtime after taking a hit.
Previously, Quick Recovery provided a large benefit when hit, but losing rings often led to lower final positions. The gadget has been adjusted to allow more mid-position endurance.
Acceleration Machine Kit
Recovery timing further reduced to align with Quick Recovery’s adjustments.
Wisp Chance UP
Reduced the influence on item probability.
Previously, Wisp Chance UP made it too easy to collect powerful items before the race’s end and aim for top positions. We’ve dialed this back a bit.
Invincible Start
Vehicles now flash just before the effect ends to make timing clearer.
Other Adjustments
Adjusted the appearance of Silver and Blaze’s AI skins and the color of Race Park rivals “Team Dimension,” as they could be mistaken for Invincible state.
For the eagle-eyed, the new color scheme is based on the “Turquoise Blue” aura Silver the Hedgehog emits when activating his abilities!
Improved machine handling after collisions with other machines in water areas.
Improved directional input detection to make it easier to use items in the intended direction while drifting.
Adjusted race communication to prioritize syncing information that affects race progression, improving correct reflection of Invincibility such as Ultimate Charge activation.
Strengthened anti-cheat measures for races and race results in online play such as Global Match on PC.
Concerning Anti-Cheat Measures
Bug Fixes
Fixed Festival announcements showing old information before events began.
Fixed a bug where auto-acceleration failed to activate for several seconds after manual input.
Improved smoothness and visibility of left/right movement in item warning display.
Fixed a bug where Charge Dash would not activate when passing through Transform Rings in mid-air drift state using Dash type.
Fixed a bug where attacks from the “King Bomb Boo” item could be avoided using Charge Jump or Handle Assist.
Fixed a bug where “King Bomb Boo” item attacks in mid-air could cause fire pillar direction to be incorrect.
Fixed a bug where using the “Laser” item caused Dash type machine appearance to break at certain times.
Fixed a bug where using the “Boost” item obtained during Boost Frenzy at the exact end of Frenzy could make the item unusable.
Fixed a bug where using the “Tornado” item during Boost Frenzy could make items unusable until Frenzy ended.
Adjusted Dash Gate placement in Dash Gate Frenzy on certain courses where more gates than intended were placed.
Fixed a bug in course “Wonder Museum” where machines could get stuck in the Tornado.
Fixed a bug in course “Sky Road” or “Minecraft World” where using “Slicer” or “Homing Punch” when crossing Travel Rings or End Portals could cause incorrect tracking.
Fixed a bug in course “Steampunk City” where colliding from the side with ground where trains run could cause machines to sink into the ground.
Fixed a bug in course “White Cave” where using “Drill” in cave areas could cause machines to sink into the ground.
Fixed several other gameplay-related bugs.
Rockstar

Sonic Racing: CrossWorlds Switch 2 Edition Out Today, Includes Paid Upgrade Path For Switch Players

If you're looking for a reason to jump back into Sonic Racing: CrossWorlds, Sega has this week released the Nintendo Switch 2 Edition of the game digitally.
It's available for $69.99 or your regional equivalent, and will be released in physical form on this platform in "early 2026".
If you're an existing owner of the Switch release and don't want to miss out, there's the Switch 2 Edition Upgrade Pack, which is also available. It's normally priced at $10.00 but you'll get an introductory discount (bringing it down to just $5.00) if you purchase it by 11th December 2025.

Sega also notes how the Werehog DLC Pack is available to download for free for the first two weeks of the digital version's availability (until 17th December 2025).
You can also carry over all of your content and progress in the Switch release to the Switch 2 Edition of the game. As previously revealed, the Switch 2 version of the game includes improved performance and resolution.
Alongside the Switch 2 Edition and Switch upgrade, Sega has also released a major patch for this title today.
Rockstar

Nintendo Music "Special Release" Adds Seven Tracks From Metroid Prime 4: Beyond

If you keep up with the Nintendo Music app's release schedule, you probably noticed Nintendo didn't update the app at the regular time earlier this week.
Unsurprisingly, it's all linked to the release of Metroid Prime 4: Beyond, with Nintendo announcing it's added seven tracks from the new game as a special release. This adds up to 48 minutes of music and will give you a nice sample of the game's "main theme", environments and more.
Here's the full tracklist and you can hear some of them in Nintendo's official sample below:
Metroid Prime 4: Beyond - Nintendo Music Special Release
Metroid Prime 4 Main Theme
Fury Green
The Sacred Tree
Vi-O-La
Ice Belt Power On
Carvex
Volt Forge
Although Nintendo Music has mostly received retro game soundtracks, this isn't the first time Nintendo has released an update based on a Switch 2 game. We've previously seen similar track releases for Donkey Kong Bananza and Kirby Air Riders.
If you want to listen to music on the Nintendo Music mobile app, you'll need to have an active Switch Online subscription.
In some other Metroid Prime 4: Beyond news, Nintendo has also released new custom icons today as part of the Switch Online 'Missions & Rewards' service. The first wave is available now and will be followed by weekly updates.

Rockstar

'The Fans' Voices Gave Us Power': Monster Hunter Wilds Dev Admits to Difficulties After Awards Show Win

Monster Hunter Wilds has had numerous ups and downs since it launched earlier in the year, to the point where it has, arguably, become one of 2025's most divisive games.
On release, the action RPG was met with super strong review scores and positive player feedback; the finished product sported dramatic improvements over the somewhat disappointing beta tests that had taken place in the months prior.
But as hunters made their way through the main story and eventually stumbled into endgame hunts, the cracks started to show. Wilds was quite roundly criticised for its claustrophobic campaign, a general lack of challenge, and poor optimisation (especially on PC).
From there, opinions started to take a nosedive as Capcom struggled to provide immediate answers. Updates came and went, but nothing seemed to satisfy those who wanted more from the game — many having experienced the best of previous titles Monster Hunter World and Monster Hunter Rise.
Over the last few months, Capcom has undoubtedly improved the experience with big updates, dropping additional monsters, quests, and activities. But as the game's dwindling sales numbers suggest, Wilds clearly lost momentum after its initial honeymoon period.
Still, the ongoing negativity hasn't stopped the title from winning big at PlayStation's annual Partners Awards in Japan. Wilds won a 'Grand Award' for "outstanding worldwide sales" (again, the vast majority of which came at launch), and was voted as one of the year's top five PlayStation games by users.
As per IGN, director Yuya Tokuda spoke after the ceremony, and was quick to thank players for their support.
"Immediately after the release, we apologised for the inconvenience caused by the volume of content and the difficulty level. Despite this, we were delighted to receive various awards, including Users' Choice awards," he said.
"We would like to thank all the players who have given their opinions and spoken warm words even in this situation. The development team was able to turn everyone's feedback into an asset and work on the update with all our strength, and I think the result was also the reason why players voted for us."
The team has obviously been trying to turn things around with Wilds, so it does feel like Tokuda's attempting to clear the air — if only for a minute.
"In order to make Monster Hunter Wilds better, the fans’ voices gave us power. There are still updates left to come, so we will continue to do our best," producer Ryozo Tsujimoto added.
Tokuda goes on to assure potentially lapsed players that Wilds is in a better state these days, commenting: "If you beat the game immediately after its release and stopped playing, I would appreciate it if you could pick it up again."
It's assumed that at some point next year, Wilds will be getting its inevitable expansion — and that'll end up being a pivotal moment for the game.
Indeed, both World and Rise benefitted massively from the endgame content and systems that their own expansions delivered, bolstering the entire experience in the process. The hope is that Wilds will, ultimately, share a similar fate — but it's definitely got a bigger mountain to climb in terms of pleasing its players.
What are your hopes for Monster Hunter Wilds going forwards? Will you be diving back in for Title Update 4 on the 16th December? Prepare for another quest in the comments section below.
Rockstar

Digital Foundry Compares Xbox Series S & Switch 2 In New Assassin's Creed Shadows Analysis

Just like September's interesting analysis of Star Wars Outlaws on Switch 2 and Series S, Digital Foundry returns with a fresh look at another Ubisoft title that's been ported over to the Nintendo system this week - and once again, this one uses the Xbox Series S version as its jumping off point.
Yes, in its latest tech review on Assassin's Creed Shadows, DF notes that "this ambitious port succeeds by starting from the cut-down Xbox Series S" version, pulling back a little further than the Microsoft machine to achieve these results on Switch 2. It's an intriguing comparison that once again sheds some light on how these two systems stack up.
The team goes on to mention more cuts as well, namely to reflections, water and cloth simulations:
In summary, DF reckons that Ubisoft "made the right calls with one or two exceptions" when porting Assassin's Creed Shadows to Switch 2, and while the Nintendo hybrid device turns in some impressive results, it doesn't quite match up to Xbox Series S in some key areas. You can check out the full video of this tech review up above while the written version is down below - and yep, it's going to be interesting to see how this battle continues in the coming years!
Rockstar

Madcap Platformer 'Antonblast' Is Getting One Final Update This Month

Summitsphere is giving Antonblast fans one last hurrah, one year after the game first launched on PC. And it's a content-filled update befittingly titled 'THE END'.
On 18th December 2025, The End is bringing four brand new bosses, a boss rush, multiple new game modes (including Hard Mode), new music, and new spray cans, among lots of other little additions coming to the 2024 platformer, which is heavily inspired by the Wario Land series.
Let's have a look at the specifics coming with The End in just a few weeks, courtesy of Antonblast's Steam page:
That's a lot for an ending, isn't it? Any excuse to go back to Antonblast, which we loved back when it launched on Switch last year. And it's received a performance boost since launch.
Have you picked up Antonblast on Switch? Will you be checking out the update this month? Blast down to the comments and share your thoughts.
Rockstar

Rue Valley Review

8:00 pm: Eugene Harrow has just finished his first therapy session with Dr. Fink. That’s one out of (likely) many, and so he sets up shop in the motel next door; the only one in the small town of Rue Valley. After checking in, he heads to his room. When the clock reads 8:47 pm, he experiences something that’s out of a doomsday scenario: the skies are set ablaze, and the whole world blacks out.

 
Just then, Eugene finds himself back in Dr. Fink’s office, with the clock reading 8:00 pm. While this could have been brushed off as a vivid dream, our protagonist quickly finds out that he is in a Groundhog Day-type situation. Every night, at 8:47 pm, the day ends up the same dramatic way, only for it to reset back to 8:00 pm.
What is the reason for this occurrence, and how can Eugene get out of this loop? That’s for you to find out in Rue Valley.
An isometric RPG with a comic book flair
With its isometric perspective and having received praise from Disco Elysium leads, Rue Valley has been looped in as Disco-like. It plays like one, with a point-and-click gameplay that has been well optimised for controllers, especially with the ability to highlight interactive elements with the shoulder buttons. Despite these similarities, Rue Valley stands on its own thanks to its original artistic direction and contemporary setting. 
Its 2D parallax art style leans heavily into a comic book aesthetic. From its fonts and panel-style text to its stylised palette and stop motion-like animations, it draws more visual parallels with comic books than cRPGs. This does help it pack its own flair, without necessitating comparisons with other isometric RPGs.
The presentation is enhanced with professional voice-overs. This is a bonus with a game as text-heavy as this one, helping break the monotony and easing newcomers to the genre. 

    
However, there are some inconsistencies with the VO. Even within the same conversation, some lines are recorded, while others aren’t. The game would also have benefited from having voice acting for Eugene’s internal monologue, which is more than frequent in this game.
There is also a lack of character animation during conversations. This is especially noticeable during long stretches of conversations, which this game isn't lacking. These rough edges don’t necessarily ruin the experience, but they do make extended dialogues feel longer.

That said, the strength lies in the story and character development. There is more than meets the eye in the seemingly quaint town of Rue Valley. Beyond Eugene’s need for therapy, the town’s inhabitants are dealing with their own stuff, and you get to dig deeper as you interact with them throughout the game. You learn how each character is interconnected, and get to experience relatable family squabbles to heartwarming moments. 
There is an overarching theme of mental health that underpins the main plot and the story of each character. The ‘small town secret’ premise and the element of having small decisions accumulate into meaningful results are apt to explore such themes.

   
A loop with purpose
The premise of a looping cycle might not sound appealing at first, with the inevitable repetition that it implies. Rue Valley earns its keep by employing this loop to its strength, using it as a clever pacing device that builds urgency and adds meaning to your investigative leads of choice. 
As the town’s inhabitants are engaged in the same activities across every loop, events are time-based. Some NPCs will be in different locations based on the time of day, and may act differently at different times. As there is only so much Eugene can do within the 8:00-8:47 pm window of a single loop, this forces you to pursue different leads and experiment with your investigative approach once the day resets. 

While each day will feel familiar, they will feel fresh as more options open up from talking to other people to accessing new areas. The timed mechanic also helps draw you back into the game. As the clock reaches 8:47 pm, you might not finish all of your leads, so you'll be motivated to pursue them in the next loop.
Nevertheless, some aspects of the loop do get excessively repetitive, like waking up in Dr Fink’s office and even leads that require backtracking across multiple loops. You do unlock some shortcuts to areas you need to visit, which does help, but there are recurring elements that you have to contend with. 
Mind power
As Eugene investigates the mysterious loop in a bid to get out of it, his main tool is his mind. Having mental health struggles recently, he might not be at his sharpest, but slowly progressing across loops does help build his confidence and his mental acuity. This is where Rue Valley’s investigative mechanic comes in. 
This game doesn’t rely on combat but, rather, on Eugene’s investigative skills. His approach is determined by his personality traits (which you build when starting the game) and his mood. The mood or status effect varies through the game based on your in-game actions and decisions, and different moods can alter Eugene’s base personality, leading to new investigative routes.
This is the game's version of 'skill checks', leading to different conversation outcomes and paths to investigate. If you are too cynical, for example, you might be blocked from a truthful response in a conversation. However, there is an element of smoke and mirrors with this mechanic, as, unlike other isometric RPGs, you are not able to pursue any options you fancy from the get-go. The game purposefully restricts your options, especially at the start, which can feel deceiving.

  
Another mechanic that ties into Eugene’s investigation is the Mind Map. This helps you recall events of the day and facts that you learn about people in town. The Mind Map turns these fragments of information into ideas, and with enough inspiration and willpower points, you can turn that idea into an intention.
By following through on intentions (or investigative leads), you will have access to new dialogue options that will lead you through the journey of completing that intention. However, not all that you intend can be successfully achieved, adding a layer of challenge to your quest.

  
Rue Valley: a time-loop story with intention
Despite the repetition by design, Rue Vallley, for the most part, mitigates tedium with variety. The new investigative paths that open up by following new intentions reward persistence. 
However, it falls short compared to the iconic cRPGs it draws influence from. This is due to the game often railroading you on specific tracks, without offering the freedom to explore other routes that have become quasi-expected of games of this genre. There is also a lack of variety in side quests, and in-game choices aren’t as nuanced. 
Rue Valley might be best not compared to the likes of Disco Elysium, and it does stand on its own. Its exploration of mental health thematically and mechanically is intriguing and refreshing, but does not ultimately reach the heights that its predecessors set. Nevertheless, it is a notable accomplishment as Emotion Spark Studio’s debut game, and I hope they improve on their formula in their next game.
Rue Valley Release Trailer
Rockstar

Sony Announces, Soft Launches MLB The Show Mobile for iOS and Android

Sony's latest push into mobile territory is MLB The Show Mobile, just announced and soft launched in the Philippines.
Developed in-house at San Diego Studio — developer of the main MLB The Show series — you can get a sense of the free-to-play game in the below trailer:
The official website describes MLB The Show Mobile as "a new standalone experience built from the ground up to deliver realistic baseball gameplay on mobile devices".
Built for both iOS and Android, the game is currently only available in the Philippines, but it'll come to more territories in future.
The game will feature current and legacy players, as well as all real stadiums.
You'll be able to bat, pitch, and field using touch controls, and you'll gradually build your dream team by collecting player cards. You can then earn XP and upgrade your players to make them more valuable.
For Sony's mobile plans, this seems like a no-brainer — bringing one of its popular franchises to a whole new audience.
Hopefully the global rollout won't be too far away so everyone can get to grips with this new take on MLB The Show.
What are your thoughts on MLB The Show Mobile? Is this something you'd like to play? Tell us in the comments section below.
Rockstar

This Thursday's PC Gaming Show Could Include Some Xbox Game Pass Reveals

We're still a week away from the last major gaming showcase of 2025 in the form of The Game Awards, but this Thursday's PC Gaming Show sounds well worth watching - even from an Xbox perspective.
The PC Gaming Show: Most Wanted showcase is said to be "powered by Xbox Game Pass", which basically means Game Pass is the big partner here. The focus of the event is to highlight the 25 most wanted games of the moment, but we also know we're getting "new trailers, announcements and behind the scenes looks at over 50 games".
Here's a list of stuff that's already been confirmed for the showcase:
A new trailer from Team 17 for the soon the be released 4-player co-op shooter, Rogue Point
A behind the scenes look at High On Life 2, the latest intergalactic action-adventure from Squanch Games releasing February 13
A new trailer for Cairn, the beautiful survival-climber from the creators of Furi and Haven
Tripwire Interactive will be unveiling a new trailer for first-person shooter Killing Floor 3
Soulmask will debut a new gameplay trailer for its ancient Egypt DLC 'Shifting Sands' which adds more powerful Gods-themed masks and takes us out of the jungle and into the desert with flying ships
A new trailer for open world adventure Witchspire from Envar Games
A brand-new trailer for space flight sim, Remnant Protocol
Plus announcements from developers such as Dotemu, Lightbulb Crew and Playstack.
Nothing has been spelled out in terms of whether we'll be getting any Xbox Game Pass reveals at the PC Gaming Show: Most Wanted event, but the close partnership suggests it's pretty likely. At the very least, we can see from the list above that High on Life 2 will be there - a title that's already confirmed to release on Game Pass in February 2026.
If you're interested in finding out for yourself, you'll be able to watch the PC Gaming Show: Most Wanted event via the video above at 12pm PST / 3pm EST / 8pm GMT / 9pm CET on Thursday, December 4th. We'll be watching it as well, and we'll have a roundup of everything that was shared - including any potential Xbox Game Pass reveals!
Rockstar

Monument Valley 3's Gorgeous Free Expansion Adds Even More Perspective-Bending Puzzling

We were delighted to see Ustwo Games' gorgeous mobile puzzler, Monument Valley 3, make the jump to Switch earlier this year, and today the dev has given us even more story chapters to sink our teeth into — for free!
The 'Garden of Life' expansion is now available on Switch, bolting four additional chapters onto the end of the main game, packed with even more of the series' signature perspective-bending puzzles. There are even some hidden optional puzzles to find in the bonus levels, for those after even more.
The expansion drop accompanies the news that MV3 is now back on mobile, so you can check out all the extra content wherever you please.
If the above trailer didn't do enough to sell you on the new freebie, here's a statement on what you can expect from the expansion by lead designer Emily Brown, and a handful of screenshots:


Images: Ustwo Games
You'll find Monument Valley 3 and the previous two series entries on the Switch eShop right now. Those who want to experience the full trilogy from start to finish can even pick up the collection in physical form from iam8bit.
Rockstar

Classic PS1 Platformer Tomba! 2 Grabs a December Release Date on PS5

Tomba! 2: The Evil Swine Return Special Edition now has a confirmed release date on PS5 — and it's soon!
Publisher Limited Run Games announced this one all the way back in June of last year, so it's nice to see that it hasn't somehow been forgotten. It launches in just a couple of weeks, on the 15th December.
This is obviously a follow up to Tomba! Special Edition, which dropped for PS5 and PS4 in August 2024. However, we should note that the PS4 version of Tomba! 2's Special Edition has been cancelled.
Much like its enhanced predecessor, the sequel will feature modern quality of life features, like the ability to save anywhere and a rewind function. It'll also boast a museum mode full of artwork form the original release.
Tomba! 2 is widely regarded to be an improved sequel. A sprinkling of new mechanics, more ambitious level design, and a shift to full 3D graphics earned it some really strong review scores back in 1999, when it first launched for the PS1.
Will you be leaping into Tomba! 2 this month? Pick up some pigs in the comments section below.
Rockstar

Microsoft Flight Simulator PS5 Trophies Want You Racking Up the Air Miles for the Platinum

The latest Xbox Game Studios title making the leap to PS5 is Microsoft Flight Simulator 2024, a highly acclaimed aviation sim landing on the console on 8th December, 2025.
Aspiring pilots may be interested to know what's expected of them with regards to Trophies, and fortunately, the list has made its way online prior to release.
Over on PSNProfiles, the full rundown of digital trinkets is available for your perusal, and it looks like a fairly manageable to-do list, albeit time-consuming.
One Trophy requires that you spend 50 cumulative hours in the air, for example, which sounds like a lot, but it's probably quite achievable if you partake in all the game's missions and activities.
To get the platinum, you'll need to complete training and earn your private pilot licence, take a whole bunch of photographs, complete 100 weekly challenges, and perform various flying feats.
These include 30 successful seaplane landings, 50 successful landings at heliports, performing touch-and-go manoeuvres, and visiting several landmarks via hot air balloon.
It's certainly going to keep you busy if you want that plat, then, but we feel like the people interested in Flight Sim are probably gonna play it enough regardless.
Are you onboard for Microsoft Flight Simulator 2024? Will you be aiming to collect all the Trophies? Tell us in the comments section below.
Rockstar

Slivers of New Resident Evil Requiem Gameplay Debut on Japanese TV

Some very brief — but new — clips from Resident Evil Requiem have been made public by way of a Japanese television show about the series.
In the footage, we see protagonist Grace shooting a zombie on a staircase, only for it to attack her and reveal there is a second undead man nearby. Based on the decor, this scene looks to be taken from the hotel location that shall play an important part in the campaign.
Catch the new gameplay below:
The footage falls in line with virtually everything else we've seen of Resident Evil Requiem up until now, which is to say not a lot. The game is out for PS5 on 27th February 2026, meaning it's already only three months away. In a surprising move — as all recent Resident Evil titles have received one — it's been said Requiem won't be getting a demo prior to launch.
Is Resident Evil Requiem one of your most anticipated games for 2026? Let us know in the comments below.
Rockstar

PS5 Exclusive Dino Shooter Code Violet Has Gone Gold, Delayed to January 2026

In the absence of Dino Crisis, TeamKill Media's upcoming shooter Code Violet looks set to fill the void.
The PS5 exclusive sci-fi action horror title has been on the radar all year, and was expected to launch back in November. Unfortunately, it hasn't hit its launch plans, and has been delayed to 10th January 2026.
However, with this delay comes some good news: Code Violet has now gone gold, meaning the game is effectively finished, and the remaining time will presumably be spent squashing last-minute bugs.
All this news comes via a lengthy statement posted on the studio's social accounts:
In a nutshell, the team ran into some issues relating to "unlocking entitlements" for the game's deluxe and pre-order editions, and to circumvent all that, it's decided to simply release one standard edition of the game.
This version will include "all the bonus outfits, items, and perks", so those who wanted the deluxe editions won't be missing out. That said, anybody who pre-ordered the deluxe edition will be receiving full refunds.
TeamKill Media is working to get Code Violet back up on the PS Store for pre-ordering.
It sounds like we'll be seeing more gameplay and trailers of the game in the lead-up to its launch in the new year.
It's been a bit of a bumpy road to release, then, but despite the delay, this seems like a net positive outcome. Hopefully the game can deliver a good experience that's worth the wait.
Are you looking forward to Code Violet? Tell us in the comments section below.
Rockstar

Avowed Is Getting Its 'Biggest Update Yet' To Mark The Xbox Title's One-Year Anniversary

Back in the summer, Xbox developer Obsidian reassured fans that Avowed's Fall 2025 update was still on track - but plans have since changed, and this update has now morphed into a bigger content drop set to arrive in February 2026.
To mark the game's one-year anniversary next Feb., Obsidian says that it's delivering "our biggest update yet" for Avowed - featuring "everything originally planned for fall, plus additional features". We'll throw the team's updated roadmap down below:

As you can see in the above image, this 2026 anniversary update will bring New Game+, photo mode, a new weapon type, new character presets and more - and that list is set to grow now that the team is taking a little more time in bringing its next update to players across Xbox, PC and Game Pass next year.
As for what's coming after this update, well, we don't know much about the longer-term future of Avowed right now - but it sounds like the team could be working towards a sequel at some point! That's by no means confirmed just yet, but it was discussed recently by a former Obsidian developer.
Rockstar

Octopath Traveler 0 Review (Switch 2)

In 2020, Square Enix released an interesting 'stopgap' in the Octopath Traveler series called Octopath Traveler: Champions of the Continent. This free-to-play mobile game took the gacha approach to design, regularly launching new units and storylines to interact with as the years rolled by. The company wrapped up that initial version in January this year, but it decided to design a new standalone version for consoles: Octopath Traveler 0.
Not quite a straight port of the original nor a brand new game, this fresh release converts a previously more fractured game into a cohesive traditional JRPG that features no online elements or microtransactions and feels more in line with what you’d expect from a proper numbered entry. And while it’s not the true successor to Octopath Traveler II, OT0 nonetheless stands tall as another great entry in the series.

Captured on Nintendo Switch 2 (Handheld/Undocked)
The narrative here is arguably the most interesting aspect, as it somewhat bucks the series trend of offering various disconnected narratives following each of the primary protagonists. For one thing, there’s now technically only one protagonist (your self-insert MC) and everyone else is merely an incidental addition to the plot. And while there’s still a nonlinear, chapter-based system that allows you to pursue the main story at your leisure, each chapter is now focused on a specific antagonist.
Even though intraparty interaction is still kept to a minimum, the storyline is nonetheless significantly more streamlined and in line with what you’d expect out of a typical JRPG. You begin as a resident of the cosy, friendly town of Wishvale, which is very quickly pillaged and razed to the ground by a nasty group of villains. After reconnecting with another survivor, you set out on a campaign of vengeance several years later, hunting key leaders of the attack, setting up the first arc of the overarching narrative.
What I really liked about this storytelling approach is how much more personal and interesting it made the rogues' gallery of villains. Not only do the ensuing chapters explore some of the antagonists' moral greyness, but there are some genuinely surprising and dark plot twists that add to the satisfaction when you finally get a chance to punch these people in the mouth.

Captured on Nintendo Switch 2 (Docked)
I was always a fan of the way the first two games handled their braided narratives, but choosing to centre the narrative this time on one protagonist and various villains that have made their life hell is an interesting and ultimately worthwhile change.
That all said, the length of the campaign is a long haul. Given that this is based on a live-service gacha that grew quite a bit, there are literally years of storylines to experience—the developers themselves flagged that it should take you roughly 100 hours to clear, and that’s not including the mountain of optional side content. I wouldn’t say that this tremendous length is necessarily a mark against Octopath Traveler 0, but just be aware that the pacing and quality can vary over that time, as any narrative of that size can get unwieldy in some places.

Captured on Nintendo Switch 2 (Handheld/Undocked)
Gameplay otherwise follows the standard formula of previous games, wherein you explore a sizeable open world, pick up quests, fight in turn-based battles, explore dungeons, and utilise Path Actions to interact with the various NPCs you come across. Initially, you only have two party members, but as you discover and explore new towns, you eventually grow the party to just over 30.
All of which is to say, this is exactly how you’d expect a new Octopath entry to play, and while I would have liked to see more innovation on the gameplay side of things, it’s tough to argue that the team didn’t stick the landing with the execution of their gameplay loop.
Combat remains largely the same, with a key difference being that you now have eight active party members instead of four. Only four of them are active during a given round, but when a party member’s turn comes, they can tag out to let their backline partner take an action instead. The backline is more than just a reserve in case someone gets knocked down, too, as all characters in the rear at the end of every round also gain HP and SP.

Captured on Nintendo Switch 2 (Handheld/Undocked)
Though the eight-character setup doesn’t massively change the overall flow of combat that we’re well familiar with by now, I really appreciated the additional strategic depth offered by the extra members. You effectively build BP (Boost Points) twice as fast now, which can lead to some crazy combos if you plan out your team right, and there’s a lot more to think through as you consider the various skills and abilities of each member and plan in advance how you’ll place them in the overall formation.
Do you put two healer characters together to maximise your healing output? Or do you pair one with a DPS character who will need to get cycled to the back to recover? The previous two games regularly asked you similar teambuilding questions, but here that more strategic approach is present to a much higher degree.
On the other hand, individual character progression has been kneecapped a bit, and I'm not as much a fan of how it’s been implemented. The ability to multiclass in previous games kept character-building interesting throughout the whole experience as you constantly unlocked new class types and found new ways to combine different class abilities to lead to some units that truly 'broke' the game. Here, there are no second classes; you can only progress a character along their default assigned class.

Captured on Nintendo Switch 2 (Handheld/Undocked)
There is some variation introduced by equipping Battle Skills and Support Skills gained from NPCs, granting boons like the ability to utilise wind attacks or increased healing output. However, these feel more limited than giving a character access to all the abilities that come along with a new class, and it leads to characters feeling pigeon-holed into the clear roles they’re designed to fulfil.
There’s something to be said about having a roster of bespoke characters who become simply more of what they already are at the beginning, but I’ve always viewed the Octopath Traveler games as encouraging you to find ways to make party members overpowered by building them far beyond their initial loadouts and here that definitely feels reined in.
Given that there’s technically only the one protagonist in this game, the Path Action system has been adapted. Now your protagonist can do all the actions (such as stealing, inquiring, or haggling) and the success rate is determined by how much you’ve grown their wealth, power, or fame stats by completing various quests and side quests. Which stat gets checked depends on what the character you’re talking to values most, and this also affects what path actions are available to use on them. Overall, this doesn't feel like a significant change, but I appreciated how it gave you reason to regularly return to towns, as many NPCs are clearly way above the levels you’re at when you initially meet them.

Captured on Nintendo Switch 2 (Handheld/Undocked)
Perhaps the headlining new feature is the addition of townbuilding elements while you slowly rebuild Wishvale to its former glory. Simply talking to your carpenter friend, Stia, or interacting with a workbench will turn the overgrown ruins of the once-quaint town into a grid where you can place new buildings, paths, and decorations according to your liking. Some of these buildings have a more functional passive value, too, such as how the pub allows you to bring food and prep dishes to give yourself an edge in battle for a certain number of turns.
As you find new towns, some NPCs will have the 'Invite' Path Action, which lets you invite them to Wishvale to contribute to the community. Every NPC has some sort of passive ability that can affect things like crop production speed or JP (Job Points) gain in battle, and housing them in your town lets you build these up over time. Plus, inviting more residents causes the overall town level to increase, unlocking new structures to build, and lets you place more homes where you’d like.
I appreciated how the townbuilding managed to feel both instrumental and optional to the game’s progression. Though there are plot reasons for why you have to build up the town to a certain point, it’s something that you can otherwise choose to ignore if you’d rather just stay on the road and keep pushing on to the next quest.

Captured on Nintendo Switch 2 (Handheld/Undocked)
On the other hand, there’s plenty to dig into here if you want to get in the weeds of building the most picturesque town possible as you regularly return to reap the rewards. And while there are concrete gameplay benefits from investing in and interacting with your town, they aren’t so enormous that you’re handicapping yourself if you choose to only return to Wishvale when necessary.
As far as visuals are concerned, this entry falls neatly between the fidelity of the previous two mainline games. It's clear that it was built with many reused assets from the first Octopath Traveler, but there are some details and flourishes present that will remind you more of the second game.
The Switch 2 version runs quite well, too, and seeing the action unfold at 60fps makes everything appear that much nicer. It definitely feels like a slight step down if you’re playing this right after putting a lot of time into Octopath Traveler 2, but overall the HD-2D art style here still holds up exceptionally well and looks gorgeous in motion.

Captured on Nintendo Switch 2 (Handheld/Undocked)
Much like how the visuals feel like a blend of the previous two games, the soundtrack offers a variety of tracks and remixes from its predecessors, with some new tracks thrown in there to accompany the new content. Though it’s a bit disappointing that we didn’t get a new full-fledged soundtrack for this release, the new music feels right in line with the previous tracks, which are just as excellent as they were when we heard them for the first time.
Conclusion
In many ways, Octopath Traveler 0 feels like a ‘victory lap’ for the beloved series, remixing various elements that you’re familiar with from the past games while introducing some interesting new ones to spice things up a bit. Importantly, this prequel does not feel like a proper Octopath Traveler 3, but that doesn’t mean that it isn't still an incredibly good time and a much better JRPG than most genre peers.
Even if it's a retread in some ways, though, an absolutely monstrous amount of content, interesting new gameplay elements, gorgeous visuals, and compelling storytelling all come together to make Octopath Traveler 0 a must-buy.
Rockstar

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