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Printable Metroid Prime 4 'Databook' Has Us Feeling Nostalgic For Instruction Booklets

Bar a few exceptions, the days of opening your boxed copy of a new game and eagerly flipping through the instruction booklet are behind us. But it looks like Nintendo isn't ready to give up on the nostalgia just yet, as it has released a printable 'databook' for Metroid Prime 4: Beyond, that just makes our hearts sing (thanks for the heads up, @ninpatentswatch).
The booklet is only available on the Japanese Nintendo website at the time of writing — with all of the text in Japanese, natch — but it scratches such a retro itch for us that we're amazed the big N doesn't do something similar for all its releases.
The 24-page 'World Databook', to give it its official title, is full of a lot of things you would expect from a classic instruction manual, including game controls and character introductions, but there are also rundowns of the game's main locales and mechanics, with a sneaky bit of lore peppered in there, too.
Here's a couple of pages, so you can get a taste for what's inside:

Images: Nintendo
The full PDF has instructions for how to print and fold the booklet, so you can rest easy knowing that it'll slot nicely into those under-utilised plastic clips that occupy the top half of all modern game cases.
Would opening the in-game menu and looking up the controls that way be an awful lot easier? Sure it would. But come on, where's the fun in that?
Rockstar

Avatar PS5 Is Transformed in Third-Person, Expanded in From the Ashes DLC

Avatar: Frontiers of Pandora - From the Ashes is a bigger deal than we initially thought.
The third paid DLC for Massive Entertainment’s 2023 movie tie-in offers up a 25-hour campaign, a new region, and the highly requested third-person mode.
But what really struck us was a greater sense of what was described as “brand synergy”.

That’s what Lightstorm Entertainment’s executive vice president of multimedia development, Joshua Izzo, said when we flew out to Lightstorm’s HQ in LA. There, we got a sneak peek at James Cameron’s upcoming Avatar: Fire And Ash, which was about as visually mindblowing as you’d expect, as well as some hands-on time with this new DLC.
The standalone pack, which will cost £21.99/$32,99, focuses on the previous side character So’Lek, as he tries to take down the villainous Na’Vi Ash clan – the big bads in the upcoming film.
It’s clear that Ubisoft and Disney are aiming for a more cohesive brand experience, so players will be able to take on the Ash Clan in-game the very same day that Fire and Ash drops in cinemas, on December 19th.

In addition, mentions of specific characters, events, and even the supposed presence of full clans from the new movie make this DLC feel like a much bigger event. It’s not quite winks and nods anymore; it’s now a cog in the Pandora machine. As Avatar fans, we loved this sense of narrative cohesion.
However, lore and movie tie-ins aside, the thing we were most amped to try was the long-requested third-person mode. Available now as a free update, this third-person mode can be played in the main game, on top of From The Ashes.
Simply put, third-person reinvents the game. Massive Entertainment has gone above and beyond to implement a third-person mode that feels cinematic, immersive, and most importantly, it doesn't feel like a tack-on.
Combat is incredibly sharp, especially with its unique kill animations that let you take out RDA mechs in style. And since you can also play the base game in third-person, too, you can finally check out your customisable Na'Vi attire, which was previously only noticeable in third-person flying.
It's not entirely cohesive, however, as some interactions, like soothing a direhorse, will thrust you back into first-person. And if you play the base game again, you'll transition to its first-person cutscenes with a brief black screen, shattering some immersion. There are still some reminders that this was a first-person game first.
From The Ashes solves some of these issues with far more immersive third-person cutscenes, however, which are a noted improvement over the base campaign.
But the main thing is traversal, combat, and the immersion factor are all top-tier with the new third-person mode, and if you don't like it, you can switch back to first-person whenever you please.
That leads us into the story of From The Ashes. We enjoyed moments of Frontier’s campaign, but this is a definite leg up that we think Avatar fans are really going to dig.
It’s got those typical hallmarks – bad humans trying to pillage Pandora of its resources – but So’Lek is a much more compelling protagonist, and the story actually sets up three big bad Na’Vi that must be taken down, giving the whole thing a bit more direction.

With the new perspective and new style of cutscene, From The Ashes has much more cinematic appeal, and we often felt the urge to stop and gawk at the expansive vistas.
The Kinglor Forest, an area from the base game, is now scarred, as broken branches and tire-treaded dirt tracks replace the once vibrant woodlands. Ubisoft says that the map will steadily evolve across the From The Ashes campaign.
A surprising new addition in From The Ashes is boss fights, which were strangely absent from Frontiers. During our session – roughly 90 minutes early on in the DLC – we fought giant creatures and even other Na’Vi.

While a big deal was made out of this by the Massive Entertainment developers, boss fights were a bit of a letdown. We can’t speak for all of them, of course, but those we did fight were rather rinse and repeat, with abnormally strong bullet (and arrow) sponge enemies.
The biggest letdown was the Ash clan enemies. We hoped that these would be introduced to the regular roster of enemies, but they seem to be exclusively reserved for boss types. If nothing else, it feels like a missed opportunity.
There are other attempts to spice up the combat, however. So’Lek comes with his own set of skills to unlock, which aid him in battle, and he is also equipped with a sort of berserk mode.

This allows So’Lek to massively increase damage output and defence for a short time, which can be great fun as you tear through armoured RDA mechs. There are also new mech variants and a sort of robot dog to shake things up a little more.
In conjunction with the third-person mode, we still really enjoyed enemy encounters as we jumped around, weaving in and out of stealth, and switching through the arsenal of weaponry at hand.
The big “but” of this preview is that the whole thing was played on PC, so the jury is still out on how this will pan out on PS5. We did use a DualSense controller, so we can say that the haptics are still as excellent as they are in the base game.
While we never had any performance or visual issues on PS5 before (outside of a sketchy PS5 Pro update), we’ll need to wait for the full release to check back on performance.

Avatar Frontiers of Pandora - From The Ashes is a sneakily ambitious DLC. It’s got an expansive campaign that feels more tied to the wider world than ever before, with meaningful changes to combat, albeit missed opportunities with its Na’Vi enemies.
The icing on the cake is the third-person mode, which for us just massively improves the experience — we wouldn’t play the game any other way now.
There are a lot of ifs and buts to address with the full release, like how the narrative unfolds, how it runs on PS5, and there’s even a whole new area in the DLC that we didn’t get to see.
But, as it stands, From the Ashes is an exciting next step in an ever-expanding and evolving sci-fi world that's a delight to explore on PS5, and the new third-person mode is the perfect excuse to check out the base game, if you haven’t already.
Avatar: Frontiers of Pandora - From the Ashes drops on PS5 on December 19th, and the third-person update is available now. Will you be checking them out? Let us know in the comments below.
Rockstar

GTA 5 Protagonist Michael Returns in GTA Online Mansions Update

Michael, one of the three main characters from the single player story in GTA 5, will return to the GTA Online part of the experience next week in a free update. You can get a bit of visual context in the trailer above.
Across a new series of missions featuring the protagonist, you shall work towards earning your very own mansion. "For those who have reached the highest rungs of the criminal ladder, celebrate your triumph with a painstakingly crafted palace in one of Los Santos’ most exclusive neighborhoods, complete with breathtaking views, the finest amenities, and countless ways to customize and make it your own."
The free update is called A Safehouse in the Hills, and it'll become part of GTA Online for free on 10th December 2025.
There'll be three mansions you can buy for your custom character, and they all include an AI assistant, pets, a huge garage for your cars, trophy cabinets, a private salon, an armory, and more. For where Michael is present, voice actor Ned Luke reprises his role as the character.
Also included in the patch will be a new mission creator feature, which has been rumored to be coming for a number of years now. In it, you can "design and publish your own Missions using sophisticated game mechanics, custom objectives, placeable actors, and much more".
Rockstar

One of 2025's Most Beloved and Adorable Games Is Setting Up Shop on PS5

Tiny Bookshop, a highly acclaimed indie title that released earlier this year on PC and Switch, is confirmed for release on PS5.
The cute and cozy adventure trundles onto Sony's console on 10th April 2026, both physically and digitally.
In the game, you run a mobile bookshop you can take to different areas, setting up shop and recommending books to your customers.
It's a stress-free management game about stocking different genres to satisfy different people, getting to know characters through interactions, and making your little bookshop your own with all kinds of decorations.
Tiny Bookshop has garnered very positive player feedback, and did very well critically too, so it seems this is something of a hidden gem.
It's still a little while before the game is available on PS5, but as mentioned, it's coming to physical retail as well. The boxed copy comes with the digital soundtrack and a physical bookmark, which is pretty nice.
Are you interested in Tiny Bookshop? Tell us in the comments section below.
Rockstar

AI Accusations Have Killed a PS5, PS4 Game Just Two Days After Announcement

Earlier this week saw the announcement of Postal: Bullet Paradise, a Vampire Survivors-esque "bullet heaven" title based on the longstanding shooter franchise.
However, before you get too excited, know that the PS5/PS4 game has been cancelled — just two days following its official announcement.
This is because the game saw an "overwhelmingly negative" response from the community, all revolving around accusations of heavy generative AI usage.
For reference, here's the announce trailer:
The video does appear to have some AI elements — the voice work is suspect, as is the art in the non-gameplay segments.
The game was due to be published by Running with Scissors and developed by Goonswarm Games, but after the intense reaction from the public, the publisher has cancelled and distanced itself from the project.
Here's the full statement from Running with Scissors founder, Vince Desi:
Generative AI has been a major point of contention over the last couple of years, including within game development. This year, games like Call of Duty: Black Ops 7 and ARC Raiders, among others, have been criticised for utilising these tools for certain aspects of production.
What are your thoughts on this situation? Was Running with Scissors right to kill the game after the negative response from fans? Tell us in the comments section below.
Rockstar

Starship Troopers: Ultimate Bug War Turns Helldivers 2 into a Retro, PS2-Era FPS

Satirical sci-fi is in at the moment, with Helldivers 2 taking off massively last year, and its direct inspiration, Starship Troopers, is getting in on the action.
Starship Troopers: Ultimate Bug War is a freshly announced single player first-person shooter set within the universe of the much-loved sci-fi action movie.
It's not exactly what you might expect; it winds back the clock to 1997 — the year of the film's release — and presents us with a retro FPS, as you can see in this trailer:
We reckon this looks more like a PS2-era shooter than a PS1 one, but the effect is the same; it's intentionally old school, with low poly counts and flat textures everywhere.
The game even features FMV cutscenes, with General Johnny Rico himself (Casper Van Dien) issuing commands to the troops.


It honestly looks like a lot of fun, and for many it'll certainly be a nostalgic reminder of a simpler time. It's due for release on PS5 next year.
The game is in development at Auroch Digital, the studio Warhammer 40,000: Boltgun, so it's a team that's made retro FPS titles before.
An interesting one, this, but what do you make of it? Are you interested in Starship Troopers: Ultimate Bug War? Tell us in the comments section below.
Rockstar

Hogwarts Legacy, Mortal Kombat Publisher Warner Bros Bought for $82 Billion by Netflix

Netflix has entered into an agreement to acquire Warner Bros Discovery for $82.7 billion, which includes the publisher's video game developers and IPs.
This means that, should the deal go through, the ownership of Mortal Kombat team NetherRealm Studios, the Hogwarts Legacy developer Avalanche, and other outfits like TT Games and Rocksteady will be transferred to Netflix. IPs such as Harry Potter, DC, and Game of Thrones are all included in the deal.
In a statement posted to the Netflix website, it is said the acquisition will bring "together two pioneering entertainment businesses, combining Netflix’s innovation, global reach and best-in-class streaming service with Warner Bros.’ century-long legacy of world-class storytelling".
Netflix co-CEO Ted Sarandos added: "By combining Warner Bros.’ incredible library of shows and movies—from timeless classics like Casablanca and Citizen Kane to modern favorites like Harry Potter and Friends—with our culture-defining titles like Stranger Things, KPop Demon Hunters and Squid Game, we'll be able to do that even better. Together, we can give audiences more of what they love and help define the next century of storytelling."
From a video games perspective, there's no mention of what will happen to the developers currently under Warner Bros' wing. Despite the success of Hogwarts Legacy, the publisher's video game efforts haven't been all that successful, with notable failures to its name like Suicide Squad.
There are rumours Rocksteady has returned to the Batman: Arkham universe, while the Wonder Woman game was cancelled earlier this year. A sequel to Hogwarts Legacy is expected in the next handful of years.
Warner Bros president and CEO David Zaslav concluded: "Today’s announcement combines two of the greatest storytelling companies in the world to bring to even more people the entertainment they love to watch the most." You can learn more about the two companies' intentions through the link.
Rockstar

Netflix Is Buying Warner Bros. For Even More Money Than Xbox's ActiBlizz Deal

Update [Fri 5th Dec 2025, 7:45am]: We have an update on this coming from Game Developer, where a Warner Bros. spokesperson confirms that its video game division will be included in the sale to Netflix. We'll throw a quick quote from the site on this confirmation down below:
Original Story: In an announcement that's sending shockwaves throughout the entertainment world, streaming giant Netflix has announced its intentions to buy Warner Bros. - for a whopping $72 billion (or $82.7 billion as a "total enterprise value").
Going off Netflix's statement on this, the move doesn't mention Warner Bros.' gaming studios - although the finer detail on this deal is still a little hazy at the minute, especially because it's not completed yet. All we know for sure is that Netflix has "entered into a definitive agreement under which Netflix will acquire Warner Bros., including its film and television studios, HBO Max and HBO."
Of course, the bit that's standing out to us right now is the sheer size and scope of this acquisition. Throughout 2022 and 2023, Microsoft fought tooth and nail to acquire Activision Blizzard at a cost of roughly $70 billion - and we all know how that went down within the realm of gaming. We suppose we'll have to see how things go for Netflix, and how hard the company has to fight to get this deal done.
We'll also be keeping our eye on any potential news regarding the Warner Bros. gaming division, but as things stand, this deal seems to focus on film and TV streaming - which makes sense given the nature of Netflix's current business. In terms of timing, the two companies believe that "the transaction is expected to close in 12-18 months".
Rockstar

Metroid Prime 4 Has A Stronger Connection To Xbox And Halo Than You Might Think

Apparently, something is happening over in Nintendo land this week. There's some kind of long-awaited sequel that's been in the works for 18 years? "Metroid"..."Prime"... they call it? That's a new one to us!
Seriously though, the new release of Metroid Prime 4: Beyond actually has a connection to Xbox, and specifically the Halo series. When the reviews and latest gameplay footage started doing the rounds this week, many people were making the comparison to Halo, and it seems there's a very good reason for that.
Taking to social media, VGC's Andy Robinson confirmed that there are "lots" of former 343 Industries developers on the Retro Studios team (studio behind Metroid Prime 4), with reporter Rebs Gaming highlighting that it's a "significant" amount of people that worked on Halo 4, Halo 5 and Halo Infinite.
We haven't come across a full list of names yet, but looking back to a VGC article from 2024, various people with Halo history were listed in the development credits for Metroid Prime 4. At the time, the following names were mentioned:
Jessica Spence, senior producer (Donkey Kong Country: Tropical Freeze, Halo 4)
Chris Lewis, senior environment / material artist (Halo 4, Halo 5, Halo Infinite)
Kyle Hefley, lead character artist (Halo 4, 5 & Infinite, Call of Duty: Black Ops, DJ Hero)
Brandon Habib, lighting artist (Halo Infinite)
Bobby Arlauskas, sound designer (Metroid Prime 3, Donkey Kong Country Returns & Tropical Freeze, Call of Duty: Advanced Warfare, Halo 4)
Robert Walker, gameplay engineer (Halo 2L Anniversary, Doom 2016, Call of Duty 4: Modern Warfare Remastered)
In particular, Kyle Hefley is someone who made headlines when joining Retro Studios back in 2019, having served as the senior character modeler for Halo 4, Halo 5 and Halo Infinite before taking on a lead character role for Metroid Prime.
Many have pointed out in the comments of the above Twitter post that Metroid developers have jumped to Halo in the past as well, so it's no surprise the two series' look quite similar.
Of course, it's not like everyone on the Metroid Prime 4: Beyond team has worked on Halo before — there's a ridiculous number of people who have developed all sorts of major games across the industry (including many Bethesda and Activision titles that are now owned by Xbox) — but it's fun to see a crossover like this all the same.
We'll leave you with a review of Metroid Prime 4 from Nintendo Life, just in case you own one of those "Switch" thingies!
Rockstar

Clockwork Revolution Dev Shares New Message About Its Eagerly Anticipated Xbox RPG

Clockwork Revolution has a bit of hype behind it within the Xbox fanbase - heck, even boss Phil Spencer sounds pretty excited about what inXile is cooking up. And, while info on the title remains scarce, the team has delivered a new message about the game as part of the latest PC Gaming Show.

The upcoming Xbox RPG was named amongst the showcase's 'Most Wanted' titles, and so, Brian Fargo & co. gave us a quick update on how it's progressing over at Microsoft HQ. We'll share the video message down below:
Everything the team is saying sounds rather exciting, from this being Fargo's "most complex game" to date, to the Clockwork Revolution dev "taking visual reactivity to an entirely new level" with its time-travelling mechanics. Visually it's very striking too; something that's no doubt grabbing fans' attention right now.
Finally, Fargo teases that they've "only shown a tiny glimpse" of the game so far, before again leaving us hanging with its "in due time" release window. We've got a feeling this one will get a date when it's really closed to being finished - and all we can say is, bring it on!
Rockstar

Is Mario Kart World Getting Donkey Kong Bananza DLC? Datamines Have Fans Speculating

While Mario Kart World may have just received a rather hefty update, fans of the Switch 2 launch game have been eagerly anticipating any potential DLC that will come to the racer. And a recent datamine of Nintendo Today! has brought all of those hopes and dreams to the surface (thanks, IGN!).
So, some context: earlier this week, Nintendo updated its news app with a suite of Donkey Kong themes, with many of them seemingly inspired by Donkey Kong Bananza.
Fans decided to datamine the themes and see which Kong characters would be appearing in the future and over on Famiboards, user MondoMega shared the results, and there were a few surprises.
Now, beyond this point, we'll be going into big Donkey Kong Bananza spoilers, so if you haven't beaten the game yet and want to be surprised, then stop reading right now; the spoilers will be after the image.

It turns out, none other than King K. Rool will be featuring on the app on 15th December. Nintendo has rarely acknowledged the villainous croc in recent years, besides his appearance in Super Smash Bros. Ultimate, and Donkey Kong Bananza's endgame — and his role as the final boss — was a huge surprise to many. Kritters will also be appearing a few days prior, on 9th.
Now, why would Nintendo have K. Rool pop up on the calendar on 15th December? Honestly, it may well be a harmless bit of promotion. Nintendo features multiple characters unrelated to game releases on the app.
But the timing of this update, and all of the assets coming from Bananza (you can see all of the datamined animations on Mario Wiki - beware of spoilers, obviously) has people fervently speculating; will King K. Rool be added to Mario Kart World?
It's not just baseless speculation, either; shortly after Bananza launched, eagle-eyed players noticed that both King K. Rool and Void Kong's voices were listed in Mario Kart World's credits, but neither character was in the game.
So will we be getting some DLC news soon? The Game Awards are next week, but Nintendo rarely makes an appearance at the ceremony, with its biggest announcements there being Bayonetta Origins and a variety of Smash Bros. DLC. Could the Big N buck the trend in 2025? We'll have to wait and see.
For now, take this with a pinch of salt. We'd love to see K. Rool in a kart, but we won't get our hopes up just yet.
Rockstar

'4PGP: Four-Player Grand Prix' Brings 90's-Style Multiplayer Racing To Switch 1 & 2 In 2026

3Goo, which has previously published the likes of Gear.Club series and WRC Generations on Nintendo consoles, has announced a brand new multiplayer grand-prix racer.
4PGP: Four-Player Grand Prix, which releases on 5th February 2026, has a phenomenally straight-forward moniker, and we reckon that suits its aims as a no-nonsense 90s-style racer just fine, as the keyword here is "simplicity" in being able to pick up and play, with easy to grasp controls.
That extends to the visuals too, in the clean and simplistic graphical style adopted to bring this arcade speeding to life with 4K and 120fps on Switch 2.
The game also features track "design contributions" from Kenji Sasaki, who of course designed the tracks for little known racers such as Ridge Racer and Sega Rally. Hold on, what? Excuse us? Oh, and you've also got a soundtrack by Tomoyuki Kawamura, who did the music for Sega Rally and Virtua Racing. Wow.
Here's some more deets from the press release:

Images: 3goo

Images: 3goo
We like the look of this one, and if 3goo can nail the driving, get the arcade feel just right and give online that works well, this one could fill a proper hole in our Switch libraries when it comes to F1-style racing with pals. We're also totally down for that price point of $24.99 on Switch 2 and $19.99 on Switch 1.
Rockstar

Netflix Enters Agreement To Buy Warner Bros. For $82 Billion, Includes Game Studios

In a staggering piece of news this Friday, streaming giant Netflix has announced that it has entered an agreement with Warner Bros. Discovery to acquire Warner Bros. in a deal that's valued at roughly $82.7 billion — an equity value of $72 billion.
Netflix is specifically acquiring Warner Bros.' Streaming & Studios company, which it created in June 2025 and includes including Game of Thrones, the DC Universe, Harry Potter, Lord of the Rings, and platforms such as HBO and HBO Max and Warner Bros. Games.
The media company doesn't mention WB's gaming division at all in its press release. However, Game Developer has confirmed with a WB spokesperson that "the recently-restructured video game division... will be joining Netflix."
Currently, Warner Bros. Games includes a number of studios such as Rocksteady (Batman: Arkham series), NetherRealm Studios (Mortal Kombat), TT Games (LEGO), Portkey Games, and Avalanche Studios (Harry Potter), along with WB's studios in Boston, Montréal, New York, and San Francisco.
It's a huge deal that Netflix expect to take around 12-18 months, but that's if it goes through. We know how long other huge acquisitions have taken. Plus regulators are more than likely to get involved. Paramount had previously attempted to purchase the studio in October, which was rejected.

Images: Warner Bros.
If successful, Warner Bros. shareholders will receive $27.75 a share along with stock in Netflix and the company expects to make savings of around $2-$3 billion by the third year.
The deal could have a huge impact on these studios, and is yet another example of consolidation in the video game industry at a time when layoffs, game studio sales, and closures are rampant.
In fact, earlier this week, reports emerged that Netflix was selling Spry Fox, developer of Cozy Grove, back to the owners.
We'll update this story if more information comes to light.
Rockstar

Don't Worry, Nintendo's Working On A Fix For Some Kirby Air Riders Bugs

Kirby Air Riders arrived on Switch 2 just a few weeks ago and, for the most part, it has proven to be a pretty polished experience. Of course, that isn't to say the odd bug didn't slip through the net, but don't worry, Nintendo knows about 'em.
A new post on X from @nintendo_cs (translated by @Oatmealdome on Bluesky), Nintendo stated that it is aware of two bugs in particular, and it's working on a fix. First, there's the City Trial 'Dyna Blade' event, which Nintendo has noticed isn't showing up as often as it should. There's also a glitch in the Free Run timer, where it stops counting if the mode is used for too long.
It seems that the latter of these two bugs only applies if Free Run is played for a really long time, mind you. X user @maziari1105 shared a clip of their timer maxing out after running the mode for a whopping 116 hours — so don't worry about leaving it on for an hour or two!
Nintendo has given no indication of when a patch will be released to remedy these issues, though we'd be surprised if we don't see it soon enough.
Rockstar

Sega Will "Carefully Assess Appropriate Use Cases" When It Comes To "Leveraging AI"

While rivals such as Electronic Arts and Ubisoft have jumped into the world of Generative AI development with both feet, not every company in the games industry is willing to throw caution to the wind.
During a Q&A session following its recent Q2 financial results, Sega‘s top brass addressed the use of AI when it comes to making games (thanks, VGC) and how it will help tackle the increasing costs of development.
Sega's response was as follows:
So, while Sega certainly isn't against turning to AI to streamline production, it doesn't look like it will be embracing it with quite the same vigour as other companies.
While Generative AI models are powerful tools, they are often trained on the work of artists, musicians, filmmakers, and animators without permission or remuneration. Many models have been found to produce copyright-infringing results with minimal effort.
Nintendo has previously stated that it doesn't currently intend to use Generative AI in its own games, citing "issues with intellectual property rights" as one of the main reasons for avoiding it.
Rockstar

'Queen's Domain' Is A New Action RPG Inspired By FromSoftware's Legendary 'King's Field' Series

New Blood Interactive's Dungeons of Dusk wasn't only the promising game announcement to come out of last night's PC Gaming Show, with Freshly Baked Games and Future Friends Games also revealing an exciting new retro-inspired action-RPG, which is set to come to Steam next year.
Queen's Domain, as you might have guessed from its title, is a homage to From Software's classic PlayStation series King's Field, and is said to combine "brutal combat and a super stylish retro-fantasy aesthetic", as well as "traversal-focused exploration" set on an interconnected island filled with secrets.
The game starts with the player washing up on the shores of the Isle of Neasied, where they will begin a search for their missing father, while also attempting to uncover the mysteries at the island's "dark heart".


Images: Freshly Baked Games/Future Friends Games
Equipping themselves with a string of weapons, ranging from basic wooden clubs to enchanted swords and hammers, the player will do battle against various enemies, such as "mind-boggling" skeletons, human-fish hybrids, and laser-firing plants, levelling up and accessorising their character as they venture deeper into the island's cavernous depths.
If that sounds like something you'd be into playing, a Steam page for the game is already available, as well as a short demo giving you a taste of what's to come.

Images: Freshly Baked Games/Future Friends Games
Here's the game's trailer:
Rockstar

The Modern FPS Classic 'Dusk' Is Getting A Retro-Inspired RPG Spin-Off

At last night's PC Gaming Show, New Blood Interactive announced that its modern FPS classic Dusk will be getting an RPG spin-off next year, in 2026.
Dungeons of Dusk is described as a "classic turn-based dungeon crawling RPG that takes place canonically between the episodes of the cult classic FPS" and is being developed by 68K Studios, the company behind indie RPGs like The 7th Circle: Endless Nightmare, Inferno - Beyond the 7th Circle, and Ludus Mortis.
It is scheduled to be released on PC (Steam & GOG), PS5, Xbox Series X|S, Nintendo Switch, Switch 2, iOS, and Android, and seems to not only be a homage to both '80s and '90s cRPGs, but also Fountainhead Entertainment's (later id Mobile's) phone-based RPGs for Wolfenstein and DOOM (which were also obviously based on existing shooters).


Images: New Blood Interactive
It is said to feature "a 30-level campaign" with character progression and NPCs who will grant you passive buffs; a bunch of new and familiar enemies to fight, such as chainsaw-wielding leathernecks and the KKK-esque cultists; and a variety of action-packed game modes, which include boss rush, survival, and endless arena. Looking at the reveal trailer, there also seems to be plenty of weapons to find and equip, ranging from sickles to shoguns, and shops where you'll be able to stock up on ammo and health items.
You can watch the full trailer below:
Rockstar

Bad Dudes Is Getting A Fan-Made Sega Genesis Port

Look, Data East's Bad Dudes Vs. Dragon Ninja isn't a great game – we all know it.
However, it seems to have had a disproportionate impact on the world of video games thanks to its cool premise, amusing dialogue with "President Ronnie", and the fact that it came at a time when the entire world seemed to be utterly crazy about ninjas.
A hit in arcades and on the NES, Bad Dudes was never ported to a Sega system back in the day – but don't worry, because Andrea Baldiraghi is fixing that particular oversight with an unofficial port to the Genesis / Mega Drive.
Baldiraghi, as you may or may not be aware, is the person behind the upcoming Sega port of R-Type. The footage shown so far is looking very promising indeed.
Released in 1988, Bad Dudes was followed by Two Crude Dudes / Crude Buster, and both titles are available on modern-day systems like Evercade and Polymega.
Rockstar

T&E Soft's MSX Shoot 'Em Up 'Super Laydock Mission Striker' Arrives On Switch Next Week

If you are interested at all in the history of MSX shoot 'em ups, next week's EGGCONSOLE title for the Nintendo Switch, Super Laydock Mission Striker, might be of some interest to you.
Released in 1987, the vertically-scrolling shoot 'em up from the Hydlide developer T&E Soft is the second title in the Laydock series of games for Japanese home computers, and was launched between the original 1986 game for the MSX2 and its 1988 sequel Laydock 2: Last Attack for the MSX2+.
It follows on from the events of the first game, with players once again taking control of a Federal Space Force pilot who is, this time, given orders to destroy a newly-built, Death Star-like base, called Soleil, which the Gilcen army had constructed following their defeat at the hands of the player in the previous title.
Getting behind the controls of the Neo Stormy Gunner, the Federal Space Force's latest aircraft, the player will be sent across 14 stages, each of which ends with a boss fight, to try to bring the war to an end by wiping out the Gilcen stronghold.
While playing, pilots are equipped with both ground and anti-air attacks, with their health being monitored by a damage system as opposed to lives. In addition to that, there are also optional attacks to unlock, with the game incorporating a simple levelling system based on destroying enemy ships.
Perhaps the most interesting feature, though, is the ability in two-player mode to dock two ships together to increase their firepower (the main mechanic of the series). Whenever this happens, player one will be in charge of controlling the ship and normal attacks, while the other will be left to handle any optional weapons.
Super Laydock Mission Striker will release on Nintendo Switch on December 11th, 2025, and will cost $6.49
Rockstar

Starship Troopers: Ultimate Bug War! Brings A "New Retro FPS" To Switch 2 Next Year

If you're a fan of retro-style first-person shooters and want to eradicate swarms of alien bugs, you might want to check out this new game when it arrives in early 2026.
Starship Troopers: Ultimate Bug War! is developed by Auroch Digital (Warhammer 40,000: Boltgun) and published by Dotemu (Marvel Cosmic Invasion), and will be coming to the Switch 2 and multiple other platforms.
Here's some additional information, and you can listen to General Johnny Rico's recruitment message in the video above.


Images: via Steam / Dotemu, Auroch Digital
Rockstar

All The Xbox Reveals From The PC Gaming Show: Most Wanted 2025

We're not done with showcases in 2025 yet! The PC Gaming Show: Most Wanted 2025 showcase has just concluded this evening, and it included a few Xbox reveals as part of the event.
Everything that featured an Xbox logo can be found down below, which includes some brand-new announcements for the likes of Starship Troopers: Ultimate Bug War! and Carmageddon: Rogue Shift. You'll also find some more generic stuff though, like a launch trailer for Blood: Refreshed Supply - a game we highlighted earlier this week.
Here are all the Xbox-related reveals from the PC Gaming Show: Most Wanted 2025 showcase:
Blood: Refreshed Supply - Launch Trailer (December 4, 2025)
Carmageddon: Rogue Shift - Reveal Trailer (Early 2026)
Memories In Orbit - Release Date Trailer (January 20, 2026) (Xbox Game Pass)
Grave Seasons - New Character Reveal Trailer (TBD 2026)
Killing Floor 3 - Operation: Breakout Trailer (Available Now)
Lunar Strike - Story Trailer (May 2026)
Starship Troopers: Ultimate Bug War! - Reveal Trailer (Early 2026)
Clive Barker's Hellraiser: Revival Interview (TBD 2026)
High On Life 2 Interview (February 13, 2026) (Xbox Game Pass)
Tamer Town - Gameplay Trailer (TBD 2026)
Crimson Desert - Pre-Order Trailer (March 19, 2026)
Halloween - Map Reveal Trailer (September 8, 2026)
Luna Abyss - Gameplay Trailer (TBD 2026)
Space Warlord Baby Trading Simulator - Reveal Trailer (TBD)
Starsand Island - Gameplay Trailer (February 1, 2026)
The Relic: First Guardian - Gameplay Trailer (Early 2026)
SPLITGATE: Arena Reloaded - Relaunch Trailer (December 17, 2026)
Anything taking your fancy in here? Let us know down in the comments section below.
Rockstar

Future Total War Games Will Finally Invade PlayStation

The Total War series has long been at the centre of all things strategic in gaming — but the franchise has always maintained a PC focus.
That's going to change with future titles, however. During the property's 25th anniversary showcase, British developer Creative Assembly basically confirmed the new direction, stating that Total War's new engine — delightfully named the Warcore engine — should allow the studio to account for console releases going forward.
"In a franchise first, [the Warcore engine] enables future games to be released on PlayStation and Xbox, welcoming a new generation of commanders to the scale, immersion, and tactical mastery that defines Total War," the company revealed.
To be clear, Creative Assembly hasn't made any PS5-specific announcements at this point, but it sounds like it's only a matter of time (although we might well be in PS6 territory by the time we get something concrete).
Modern Total War, as a franchise, essentially covers two bases: titles that are based on periods in history, and titles that are based on Warhammer. Both sides of the series are pretty much beloved by strategy enthusiasts, so it'll be great to see the property finally get a chance to shine on PlayStation.
How long have you been waiting to hear this? Gather your armies and lay waste to the comments section below.
Rockstar

Digital Foundry Looks At Silent Hill 2's 'Fascinating' Xbox Series S Port, Compares It With Series X & PS5

Silent Hill 2 finally came to Xbox last month after a year-long wait, and its release was quickly followed up with some brief Xbox Series X|S comparisons. Now though, the tech experts over at Digital Foundry have delivered their verdict - and despite the Series S version being "noticeably cut back", both Xbox ports are present and well here.
In short, Xbox Series X is basically a match to the base PS5 version from 2024, which isn't entirely surprising given how closely matched the two systems are. As usual, Series S presents its own challenges - and developer Bloober Team has opted to cut the 60FPS mode and par back the 30FPS quality mode to bring a decent version of the game to Microsoft's digital-only system.
DF ultimately sums things up by saying that going down the 30FPS-only route on Series S may have been done to preserve "Silent Hill 2's fog-lined, Lumen-dependent aesthetic", and that this move means the game "retains enough of its character" on Series S. Series X is as expected of course; a similar match to PS5 with two gameplay modes on offer.
Rockstar

Sony London's Cancelled PS5 Game Seemingly Revived as Cast Outs

At least some of the work, ideas, and inspiration that went into the now-cancelled PS5 game from shuttered PlayStation developer London Studio have found their way into Cast Outs, a newly announced game from a team containing eight former London Studio developers.
Cast Outs is an online co-op game set in an urban fantasy-inspired London that's "intertwined with fantastical wonder, delivering a sense of newness and nostalgia, discovery and familiar favourites. It’s fantasy in a modern jacket." You use magic and spells to get around and defeat enemies, which is a similar concept to what London Studio was working on before it was closed down.
Twisted Works, the developer making Cast Outs, plans to put the game out for PS5, Xbox Series X|S, and PC, with a view to releasing an early access beta in the first few months of 2027. A Nintendo Switch 2 version is also being considered.


You can play the game in two, three, and four-player co-op across modes such as combat runs, escort missions, horde survival, speed runs, and challenge modes.
On the left is the single piece of art we got for the cancelled London Studio game, and the newly announced Cast Outs is on the right:

London Studio was a victim of the PlayStation layoffs in February 2024, when the developer was closed after creating SingStar, various games for the EyeToy and PSVR, and its biggest title, Blood & Truth.
Do you like the look of Cast Outs? Share your first thoughts in the comments below.
Rockstar

Shuten Order Is Getting A Full Physical Release On Switch 1 & 2

DMM Games, Tookyo Games and Spike Chunsoft are releasing a physical version of SHUTEN ORDER on both Switch 1 and Switch 2 in Spring 2026, the companies have announced.
Both the Switch 1 and Nintendo Switch 2 Edition will be getting a physical in the US courtesy of PM Studios, with Reef Entertainment's European release sticking with just the Switch 2 version.
And for those physical collectors out there, yes, the Switch 2 physical will have the full game on the cartridge. That's a nice little announcement, given that the Switch 2 upgrade just came out last week.
So, if you're on the fence about grabbing the game on the newer console and are reluctant to dive into a digital release, then you only have to wait until Spring to get your hands on a fully boxed version.
That cover art is nice, too!


Images: Spike Chunsoft
Just in case you've never heard of the game before, Shuten Order is from Danganronpa creator Kazutaka Kodaka (who is one of the key writers). The game is a blend of multiple genres but it's ultimately a mystery game where you play as a character who has been murdered, and you must find your killer.
While we praised the ambition of the game on Switch, we ultimately felt that it felt a little long in the tooth and not quite up to par with Kodaka's previous works. It looks nice, though, and the Switch 2 version allows you to reach between 60-120fps docked and handheld and use Mouse Mode.
Are you a Shuten Order fan? Will you be grabbing the physical release next spring? Let us know in the comments.
Rockstar

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