News and Reviews

Hitoshi Sakimoto has been composing music for video games for 40 years, and his remarkable contribution to the medium is being marked with a unique concert in London next year. "The Colors of Harmony will be the 40th anniversary of Hitoshi Sakimoto‘s work on soundtracks which brought to life many enchanting worlds created by legendary Japanese studios Vanillaware and Square Enix," says GameMusic.net, the company behind the event. "The composer will join us in person for this special evening, accompanied by the London Mozart Players orchestra and a host of talented soloists." Sakimoto has worked on titles such as Final Fantasy Tactics, Radiant Silvergun, Odin Sphere, Final…

The launch of the GF1 Neptune – a FPGA recreation of the Genesis / Mega Drive and 32X combo that never actually hit store shelves – has been delayed. GamesCare, the Brazilian company behind the project, has stated that the delay will enable it to "ensure that both the software and the cores provide a stable and high-quality experience." Here's the PR from GamesCare: Sega originally announced the Neptune project back in the mid-'90s, just as it was preparing to release the 32X and Saturn. Neptune would have combined the Genesis and 32X into a single system, offering a more elegant entry point for those who weren't ready to invest in a Saturn. Mock-ups of the console were…

What's leaving Xbox Game Pass in January 2026? Well, Microsoft hasn't confirmed anything just yet, but based on some games that were added to the service this time last year, we can at least make a few predictions ahead of time. We know that a lot of Xbox users want more advance notice of games leaving Xbox Game Pass, but Microsoft usually gives us around two weeks right now - and don't forget, publishers sometimes secure late deals with Microsoft to keep their games on Game Pass, even after they've been announced to be leaving! So, before we take a look at the following list of potential games leaving Xbox Game Pass in January 2026, we want to stress that nothing has bee…

Since the release of the ROG Xbox Ally and Ally X a couple of months ago, it's been hard to find any kind of discounts or giveaways for the two devices, but we've just come across something via the Bloodlines 2 team on social media. As you can see below, they're giving away a free ROG Xbox Ally X, which is pretty crazy considering how expensive (£799.99, €899.99, $999.99) that device is! You're going to need some serious luck to win it, but you might as well try. Here's a look at what you'll need to like and comment on: We're sure there's some kind of terms and conditions page for this somewhere, but we haven't managed to locate one yet and nothing's mentioned in this twe…

Apart from Metroid Prime 4: Beyond, one other significant Switch 2 release this week was the third-party title Assassin's Creed Shadows. While Ubisoft's new feudal Japan outing has been mostly well-received by critics on Nintendo's new hybrid platform, it seems the experience hasn't been quite as enjoyable for some players. Multiple message board posts and social media threads online are filled with player reports about the game randomly crashing. Some players have even experienced repeated crashes, forcing them to completely halt their play sessions until Ubisoft deploys a patch. The following comments in a thread on the Switch 2 subreddit highlights just how much of a p…

Earlier this week, Nintendo released a new update for the Switch 2 launch title Mario Kart World, bumping the racer up to Version 1.4.0. In case you missed it, this is a major update, including all sorts of adjustments, changes and improvements. One highlight, in particular, is tied to the game's courses. As mentioned in the patch notes, the layout of select tracks has been changed for certain modes. YouTube channel 'RetroArchive' has now shared a look at all these changes and redesigns in a side-by-side comparison video featuring footage of the original versions. As a point of reference, here's what's been updated according to Nintendo's official patch notes: Mario Kart …

If you played Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom, you're probably familiar with the Decayed Master Sword. First 4 Figures now has plans for a "life-size" statue of it, with pre-orders scheduled to open on 18th December 2025. Pricing hasn't been revealed just yet, but if you sign up to the First 4 Figures email, you can get $10.00 off. For now, here's a teaser in the form of a silhouette reveal: First 4 Figures also has a range of other Zelda-themed items including a Sheikah Slate, Majora's Mask, Hylian Shield and various statues based on characters from Breath of the Wild. View full article

Update [Sat 6th Dec 2025, 1:30pm]: The Dreamcast port of Star Fox 64 is now available: Original Story: JNMartin's unofficial Sega Dreamcast port of Mario Kart 64 is getting pretty close to its first public release. However, it appears that its lead developer has already started working on his next port of an N64 classic. The Dreamcast developer @Falco_Girgis shared the news earlier today on Twitter/X, stating while he has been busy fixing the last couple of bugs in the Mario Kart 64 DC port, ahead of the game's alpha release, JNMartin has started the process of porting the rail shooter Star Fox 64 over to the Sega console. Better yet, it appears the developer has already …

Fans of Suda51’s development studio, Grasshopper Manufacture, is known for games like No More Heroes and the Silver Case series. Up next on the studio’s docket is blood-soaked action game Romeo is a Dead Man. It promises a unique combination of ultra-violent science fiction and super sleek action gameplay, wrapped up in an original (and bonkers) story. This is the first Grasshopper Manufacture title to be published in-house; it will be released in February 2026. It is the studio’s first new IP in five years. Here is a description of the game, via Grasshopper Manufacture: Snatched from the brink of death by his donning of the rad mask “DeadGear”, FBI Space-Time special age…

Pikmin 4 received a free update in November adding new content, but it wasn't a Switch 2 upgrade and didn't include any enhancements for the game on the new hybrid platform. With this in mind, the same Switch title has now reportedly popped up in a section on the eShop, which focuses on first-party Nintendo "games with free updates" and also notes how select titles are enhanced when played on the Switch 2. This discovery was originally shared on the Pikmin subreddit (via My Nintendo News) and has also surfaced in other regions, as highlighted by Universo Nintendo editor Felipe Lima. Here's the attached description along with a look: As you can see, the game featured alon…

To celebrate the holiday season this year, Nintendo has released special Super Mario icons you can redeem right now with My Nintendo Platinum Points. This is a "limited time" offer, and the first wave is available from now until 11th December 2025. As you can see, there are icons for Mario and the rest of the gang, along with a few other themed designs. These icons are 10 Platinum Points each, and the borders and banners will set you back five Platinum Points each. Along with this, Nintendo has also released a new Super Mario Yoshi Holiday Ornament on its US storefront. This will set you back 400 Platinum Points. Here's the official description, along with a look: Image…

Splitgate 2 is coming back to PS5 and PS4 very soon, and not only has it been given a total overhaul, it's also got a new name. Now called Splitgate: Arena Reloaded, the free-to-play multiplayer FPS relaunches on 17th December 2025: The above trailer showcases some gameplay before design director Josh Watson gives an overview of exactly what's changed since Splitgate 2 was reverted back to beta. Here's a quick rundown of the major changes: Removal of factions and character-based abilities Overhauled progression and ranking systems Five brand new maps and six "fully-reworked" maps Four new weapons New modes Reduction in store prices and a simplified Battle Pass In a nutshe…

You may have forgotten about MIO: Memories in Orbit, a Metroidvania action platformer announced earlier this year. Well, publisher Focus Entertainment has finally announced a release date; it comes to PS5 very soon, on 20th January 2026. MIO is the name of the little robot you play as. They've lost their memories, and you'll have to navigate a vast, maze-like spaceship in order to solve its mysteries. It looks to contain your typical Metroidvania fare, with a mix of combat and traversal as you slowly explore every corner of the map. In a sci-fi setting and with a stylish look, it's certainly doing something a little different from the competition, but said competition now…

Alright, so you probably saw the news about this "Banjo-Kazooie: Mumbomania" project that was cross-posted to Pure Xbox by our friends at Push Square yesterday - a game made in Dreams for PS5 that's gone viral this week. The gist is that someone made their own version of Banjo-Kazooie inside of the PS5 creation tool, and it's so impressive that even the Xbox Studio "Rare" (the original developer of Banjo-Kazooie) highlighted it as some "incredible work". The big problem with this is that it's reminding everyone how Xbox still hasn't done anything significant with the Banjo-Kazooie IP in years, and Rare in particular seems to be getting inundated with requests to make a ne…

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 …

Romeo Is A Dead Man is the first brand-new IP from Grasshopper Manufacture Inc., Goichi ‘Suda51’ Suda's new studio. The developer announced that the game will release early next year and aired a new trailer: “Now we've won our game of chicken against cough a certain twice-delayed 2026 release, we can reveal our cards and confirm we never intended to launch in May in the first place,” Executive Director/Scenario Writer/Producer, Grasshopper Manufacture, Goichi ‘Suda51’ Suda, said. “We're warping space-time to put the finishing touches to ROMEO IS A DEAD MAN ahead of its launch next February.” Romeo Is A Dead Manwill launch on 11th February 2026 on PlayStation 5, Xbox Se…

Sad Cat Studios and Thunderful are finally able to provide a firm release date for their cyberpunk action platformer, Replaced. To accompany the announcement, they aired a new trailer: Replacedwill be releasing on PC and Xbox Series X|S on March 12th.

One of the great classics from the original Build Engine FPS era got a brand new re-release today, by the hands of none other than the remaster veterans from Nightdive Studios. This brand new re-release adds an incredible amount of polish and quality of life features to the original game, making this the definitive way to experience one of the great classics from the early FPS days "Blood", alongside its brethren Duke Nukem 3D and Shadow Warrior made a trifecta of Build Engine games back in the late 90s. Nightdive's remaster of Blood includes many new things and enhancements: Includes the original Blood and its Cryptic Passage add-ons. Rebuilt from the original source c…

PlayStation's Dreams may not be receiving the same amount of excitement that it garnered during its launch in 2020, but there are some dedicated users still creating impressive fan content with it. A team of three creators managed to make a short fan-game based on Banjo-Kazooie, titled Banjo-Kazooie: Mumbomania. It plays much like the classic entries in the franchise, featuring platforming and collectibles. The game is available to download and play on Dreams for PS4 or PS5, and even has a trailer showcasing some gameplay.

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 standalon…

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…

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 i…

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 develope…

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 ev…

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 Warne…