News and Reviews

How on earth is it that time of year again already? It feels as though we can still sense the tight elastic of our tiny Kirby swimming trunks digging into our fresh summer sunburn, and yet here comes Rolling Stone with its Best of 2025 list, because it's nearly Christmas. Brace for impact! Yes, Rolling Stone has dropped its 25 favourite gaming experiences of the year and, whilst the number one spot is absolutely no surprise (congratulations to Clair Obscur: Expedition 33), we've been tickled pink to see that good old Donkey Kong has managed to secure a number three spot via all that wrecking shop he did in Bananza. The big man has smashed his way onto a prestigious podium…

Eight years on from its big reveal, Metroid Prime 4: Beyond finally arrives on Switch 1 & 2 tomorrow. To make sure that things are in tip-top condition, Nintendo has today released the launch day update, boosting things up to ver. 1.1.0 and adding a bunch of day-one features to boot. This update adds in amiibo functionality, some sweet cinematic controller rumble, an easily accessible upgrade path to the Switch 2 Edition in the opening menu, some gallery tweaks, and then the usual adjustments and fixes. At the time of writing, the patch notes have only been shared on the Japanese Nintendo Support website. We have included those below (via Google Translate), and we wil…

11th March 2025 marked the 30th anniversary of Chrono Trigger. Square Enix marked the occasion by announcing that "various projects" would be coming our way over the next year, but so far, those projects have been limited to character popularity polls and planned orchestral concerts. Importantly, that's not the remake that we all want to see and have been chatting about for years. But we're still not ready to completely throw out all hope just yet. You see, in the latest episode of the 'KosoKoso Hōsō Kyoku' talk show livestream (translated by Automaton), Dragon Quest creator and Chrono Trigger supervisor Yuji Horii attempted to keep his lips sealed about where the series …

Believe it or not, the holiday season is almost upon us. Of course, many stores have been setting up the Christmas cheer for months now (this writer was seeing bedecked trees in shop windows back in October), but, as of today, the Nintendo Museum is finally following suit. As shared in a post on the museum's official X account, the lights will be on every night from 4pm JST until close (7pm), and they'll be sticking around in the grounds until the not particularly festive date of 27th April 2026. While it is far from the kind of display we might expect from Disney Land — or, perhaps more accurately, Super Nintendo World — there's enough Mushroom Kingdom flair here that ou…

Mario Kart World is this week racing ahead with a brand new update, bumping this latest entry in the series up to Version 1.4.0. This new update for the Switch 2 exclusive adds a bunch of general changes. This includes the addition of "Custom Items" in the item rules, some music-related improvements, online updates, course changes for certain modes, and more. Along with this are fixes addressing various aspects of the game such as online play, problems related to courses and even items. So, here's the full rundown courtesy of Nintendo's official support page: Mario Kart World - Version 1.4.0 (2nd December 2025)General Added "Custom Items" to the item rules. This is a feat…

Chinese dev Seed Lab has officially announced that its upcoming cosy life sim, Starsand Island, is getting a Switch 2 version alongside the Switch 1 release when it launches next year. Scheduled for release in the nebulous "early 2026" and coming to all the usual platforms, that list also now includes Nintendo's latest console, where the devs will be offering two modes depending on your preference: Quality Mode, "targeting 45FPS in 1080p", and Performance Mode, delivering "60FPS in 1080p" in both docked and handheld modes. The Switch 2 version will also support mouse controls and GameChat during online multiplayer. You can check out the reveal trailer below if this one's …

After ongoing requests from players, NieR:Automata The End of YoRHa Edition finally got a compatibility update for the Switch 2 in November. With this game now functioning as it should on Nintendo's new hardware, another Square Enix title has now received a compatibility update. This time it's for the role-playing game Chrono Cross: The Radical Dreamers Edition, which was originally released on the Switch eShop in 2022. While it might not be the best remaster in Square Enix's library, there are still fans out there who have been wanting to experience this title on the Switch 2 without any problems. The good news is the issues associated with this game on Nintendo's hybrid…

For all the money it earns through GTA Online, you'd think Rockstar would put at least a little bit more effort into the re-releases of its past games. Apparently not, though, as the new PS5 version of Red Dead Redemption is probably about as barebones as you can get. Just like the older PS4 re-release from a few years ago, you get the single player campaign of Red Dead Redemption along with the Undead Nightmare expansion in this package. There's a free upgrade for current PS4 owners, and it's also available via PS Plus Extra and GTA+. Buying the game outside of any upgrade or subscription will knock you back £49.99 / $49.99, or there's a 10-day offer to utilise on the PS…

That pesky Yuji Horii's at it again, getting Chrono Trigger fans all riled up over a potential re-release. This time, the Dragon Quest creator — who was a supervisor on the original Chrono Trigger — has raised eyebrows with comments that he made during a recent Japanese broadcast (as reported by IGN). When asked about all of the remaster and remake rumours that have surrounded the RPG's 30th anniversary for months now, Horii replied: "I can't say", "you shouldn't ask that", and "I'll get told off!". Of course, this has been enough to reignite all kinds of hopes and dreams. Unless Horii comes out and says that a revival categorically isn't happening, then this is always go…

Inazuma Eleven: Victory Road has had another update to bring it up to version 1.4 following the recent 1.3 patch. This new patch brings all of the tweaks and additions made to other versions of the game (which we reckon is really very good, actually) to Switch 1 and 2, so there's total parity across all versions. That means the Switch releases have received the CPU Ranked Match mode, the new "Advance Win" feature — which allows you to call time on matches with huge leads (as well as some anti-cheat measures for online) — and a bunch of other tweaks and fixes to boot. The game's executive producer (and Level-5 CEO, lest we forget), Akihiro Hino, dropped the full deets on s…

We have been keeping an eye on Mina the Hollower for some years now. This is the GBC-looking Zelda-like from Yacht Club Games, the studio behind Shovel Knight, that launched on Kickstarter back in 2022, and only recently missed out on its initial release date thanks to a last-minute delay. It feels like it has been a long time coming, a fact that Yacht Club is reportedly painfully aware of. In a new report from Bloomberg (paywalled), studio founder Sean Velasco described Mina as "make-or-break" for the future of Yacht Club Games. In the time since Shovel Knight, the studio has downsized, faced a global pandemic and divided its teams into two — later reforged into one — an…

Drag x Drive has received a rather beefy update earlier today, and to coincide with Patch 1.2.0's release, Nintendo has dropped a series of Ask the Developer interviews with the lead trio. Yoshinori Konishi (director and programming director), Hiroki Hamaue (programmer), and Takahisa Ikejiri (art director) sat down to share their experience in developing this online multiplayer title, which is controlled entirely with the Switch 2's Mouse Mode. In Part 1, Konishi shares that the game was inspired by "sports such as wheelchair basketball, wheelchair rugby, wheelchair motocross, BMX and skateboarding", particularly the former. Hamaue had previously rode a wheelchair "for a …

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

Don’t Stop, Girlypop! is a fast-paced arena movement shooter developed by Aussie indie studio Funny Fintan Softworks. Today, the developer, alongside publisher Kwalee, announced that the game will launch for PC in late January 2026. The brand new release date trailer showcases the game’s fast-paced combat, vibrant arenas, unique movement mechanics, and customization items. A demo for Don’t Stop, Girlypop! is currently available via Steam. It includes six early states, three unique weapons, and the chance to team up with a special digital dino companion. The demo is sitting at a Very Positive rating on Steam based on over 700 reviews. The faster you go in Don’t Stop, Girly…

Fans of SEGA's blue hedgehog, rejoice: Sonic is returning to the silver screen with at least two more films by the end of 2028. Sonic the Hedgehog 4 was officially announced a while ago, and though little is known of the movie and its plot, it's pencilled in for theatrical release in March 2027. However, as reported by Variety, Paramount Pictures has also revealed a 'Sonic Universe Event Film' is scheduled for December 2028. This is a separate project from the aforementioned Sonic 4, and given its label as a Sonic universe event film, it sounds like a spin-off, perhaps focusing on a different character. While it's presumed that core cast and crew will return for these mov…

There's nothing quite like learning the ins and outs of a fighting game, but sometimes, you just want to mash on buttons and enjoy cool moves and animations. Granblue Fantasy Versus: Rising is almost two years old at this point, but that hasn't stopped developers Cygames and Arc System Works from releasing a meaty update that attempts to welcome new players. Patch 2.40 is out now on PS5 and PS4 in celebration of the title's second anniversary. It introduces two new control schemes, amusingly titled 'Smart' and 'Super Ultimate'. 'Smart' basically lets you perform automatic combos by repeatedly hitting face buttons once an attack connects, but outside of that, the controls …

Earlier today, Microsoft dropped its December Xbox Game Pass roundup - with 14 games coming to multiple tiers of the service in the next few weeks. The update stops at December 11th with the addition of Bratz: Rhythm & Style, and that's seemingly going to be our final XGP update for 2025 as the team begins to tease its 2026 lineup. Yep, snuck at the bottom of today's Xbox Wire roundup is a little closing message regarding Xbox Game Pass in 2025 and 2026. The team wishes us all "a chill rest of your December", before mentioning that our next XGP update will be coming in "early 2026". In this case, then, it's looking like we won't be getting any further Xbox Game Pass …

If you can believe it, we are very, very nearly at the official launch of Metroid Prime 4: Beyond. It's a cross-generation release, but we always knew that this was going to be a big player for the Switch 2, making the most of the new hardware's beefed-up specs to squeeze the most out of the space adventure. The question is, how does it hold up? Our good friends over at Digital Foundry are here to answer just that. In the above video, the tech experts break down everything you need to know about the game's performance, and we've got the full rundown for you to read through below. So, let's dive right into it. Kicking things off with the visuals, DF states that the game is…

When Metroid Prime 4: Beyond landed with Retro Studios back in 2019, we're not sure anybody was truly shocked by this turn of events. Retro is, after all, the original developer of the Prime series, and while many of the veteran team members have since left, the sheer quality of the fourth entry on Switch 2 demonstrates that the studio is still one of the very best in the business. The folks over at Retro didn't do it alone, though. As highlighted in the game's credits sequence, many separate companies lent their talents to the development of Prime 4, including Next Level Games and Virtuos. Next Level Games, as you may know, is already familiar with the Prime series, havi…

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

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

Counter-Strike may be a quarter of a century old, but it remains one of Valve's biggest money-spinners on Steam. Counter-Strike 2 – the latest iteration of the free-to-play team-based shooter – makes its money from chests, which cost around $2.50 to open. Incredibly, some of the skins found inside said chests can fetch over a million dollars online – so it's little wonder that, on average, players pay real-world money to open around 70,000,000 chests every month. That's over $175,000,000 of revenue coming in every 30 days – so you'd expect the person who created the game to be utterly minted, right? Wrong. Speaking to EDGE magazine, Counter-Strike creator Minh Le reveals …

A full Trophy list for Rune Factory: Guardians of Azuma has been uncovered, suggesting that the highly rated RPG is ready for release on PS5. Guardians of Azuma is the latest instalment in Marvelous' Rune Factory series, having launched for Switch 2, Switch, and PC back in June of this year. Funnily enough, the game was actually age rated for Sony's current-gen system before it had even released, leading many to believe that its Nintendo-focused exclusivity was timed. Of course, six months of that supposed exclusivity will be up this week — so we could be seeing an official announcement before the year is out. If you're wondering what kind of RPG Guardians of Azuma is, it…

Work on the movie adaptation of a smash hit co-op shooter Helldivers is now well underway. Justin Lin of Fast & Furious fame will direct the film, based on a script written by horror movie veteran Gary Dauberman. He’s best known for writing the screenplays for It and Annabelle. As you’d expect, the film will be released by Sony Pictures Entertainment, with PlayStation subsidiary PS Productions overseeing the project. Additional organisations involved will include Lin’s own Perfect Storm Entertainment. While we don’t know much about the plot itself, Starship Troopers will likely be a massive inspiration, as Helldivers is effectively a video game adaptation of the 90s h…

There's newfound hope the Splinter Cell Remake will one day release, as the project's first game director has rejoined development on the title three years after his departure. David Grivel posted to his LinkedIn profile one week ago that he was "very happy to announce that I'm rejoining Ubisoft Toronto as Game Director on the Splinter Cell Remake! A very special team and project to me." Drivel served as game director on the Splinter Cell Remake project up until 2022, at which point he left to work on Battlefield 6 at EA. He then went back to Ubisoft Toronto to work on an unannounced game in May 2024, then left again late last year to join a developer named Worlds Untold…