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Hideo Kojima and his team have only ever made great games, but even he is unsure about how OD, the title he's making with Xbox, will turn out. In an interview with Ananweb (via Automaton), Kojima is asked about his upcoming projects now that Death Stranding 2 is out. He says that while the latest trailer may make it look like a traditional horror game, it's actually "something completely different". He continues: "I can't say what it is yet, and I don't know if it will work. We've made games that haven't been done before, like games where you can't be found or games where you have to make deliveries, but the system is the same as other games." In the case of OD, Kojima says the developer is attempting to create "a different service format from the system", and it could be "quite challenging" to make. OD is thought to be the next project Kojima Productions will release, as Physint — which is being developed in partnership with PlayStation — is still incredibly early in development. Horror movie maker Jordan Peele is working with Kojima on the project, but it's only confirmed for Xbox Series X|S so far. Given the multi-platform moves Microsoft has made recently, however, there's a good chance OD releases for PS5 too. On Physint, Kojima jokingly says it could be made in his sleep since it's an espionage game. According to Kojima, the challenge with Physint comes from coming up with "new gimmicks" and crossing "the line between film and game". Kojima Productions is thinking of having filmmakers on board for Physint as staff, not just as part of the cast. It's so early in production, though, that the chances are we're realistically looking at a PS6 title. Do you want to play OD on PS5? Let us know in the comments below.

Even though 2023's Dead Space remake was a hit both critically and commercially, publisher EA apparently has "no plans" to develop another instalment in the series. And perhaps even more revealing, there's now talk of the company selling the horror IP off, in a bid to correct the debt that'll inevitably envelop EA when its acquisition deal closes next year. This is according to anonymous sources from within the publisher, as per Insider Gaming. Said sources are "hoping" that EA will want to move Dead Space on to a new owner. Indeed, it sounds like Dead Space could be one of numerous properties to be leveraged; it's described as being put "on ice", suggesting that the publisher has no interest in continuing the franchise itself. Just to quickly recap, EA is set to be bought out by a consortium made up of Saudi Arabia’s Public Investment Fund (PIF), alongside US-based investment firms Silver Lake and Affinity Partners. Recent reports have said that the PIF will own the vast majority (93.4%) of the company. The acquisition will cost the consortium a whopping $55 billion, but a huge part of that sum will be borrowed, dumping around $20 billion worth of debt on EA. In other words, there are going to be a lot of sales, closures, and layoffs throughout the company over the next few years. And so, onlookers — and EA employees — are currently weighing up the bits and pieces that its new owners could deem to be sellable assets. Again, Dead Space could be one such IP. Would you be okay with Dead Space jumping ship? Are you surprised there's no new game in the works? Stomp on some abominations in the comments section below.

For fans who have spent the last decade waiting for a true successor to the Looking Glass Studios classics, Legacy of Shadow is a complicated gift. It is not the hardcore immersive sim of the late 90s, but it is also far better than the infamous 2014 reboot. It sits somewhere in the middle: a genuinely atmospheric VR stealth game that nails the feeling of being a master thief, even if it sometimes stumbles on the mechanics. The GistYou don’t play as Garrett this time. Instead, you step into the boots of Magpie, a street-smart protégé. However, the legendary Master Thief (voiced again by the iconic Stephen Russell) is present as a "construct"—a spirit guiding you through a mechanical eye. The game is built from the ground up for VR, meaning the focus is on tactile interactions: physically reaching out to snatch loot, manually picking locks, and drawing your bowstring. The GoodThe Atmosphere is Back: The "City" feels right. The steampunk-meets-medieval aesthetic is heavy with fog, gloom, and gear-turning machinery. Hearing Stephen Russell’s gravelly voice in your ear instantly triggers nostalgia. Tactile Thievery: This is where the game shines. Looting: You don't just press 'X' to steal. You physically reach out, grab a goblet, and toss it over your shoulder into your backpack. It’s incredibly satisfying. Lockpicking: You insert picks with one hand and apply tension with the other, listening for the tumbler clicks. It’s tense and immersive. The Bow: Nocking a water arrow to douse a torch from across a courtyard feels fantastic. The Light Gem: A clever UI adaptation places the classic visibility gem on the back of your hand. A quick glance tells you if you are hidden in shadow or exposed in the light. Comfort: The game offers a robust suite of comfort options (vignetting, snap turning, teleport vs. smooth walk) making it accessible even if you don't have strong "VR legs." The BadArtificial Intelligence: The guards are... dim. They often struggle to spot you even when you feel exposed, and their patrol routes are rigid. If you are looking for the hyper-intelligent AI of Metal Gear Solid or the original Thief, you will find this too easy. Binary Stealth: The shadow mechanic can feel "on/off." You are often completely invisible in a shadow that realistically shouldn't hide you, which can break immersion. Length: The campaign runs about 6–8 hours. It is a tight experience, but it lacks the sprawling, labyrinthine maps of the original games. Quest Visuals: On standalone headsets (Quest 2/3), the textures can look muddy and flat compared to the PCVR or PSVR 2 versions, which feature dynamic shadows and much sharper lighting. The Verdict: 7/10Thief VR: Legacy of Shadow is a "vibe" game. If you want to inhabit that world, physically sneak through dark corridors, and listen to Garrett begrudgingly mentor you, it is a delight. However, hardcore stealth purists may find the gameplay loops a bit too casual and the AI too forgiving. Recommended for: VR owners looking for a slower-paced, atmospheric game. Thief fans desperate for any new content (hearing Stephen Russell is worth the price of admission alone). Skip if: You require highly complex AI opponents. You are looking for a 20+ hour RPG.

Just under two months since the ROG Xbox Ally first arrived, it's just received its first major discount! Xbox has officially reduced its price by $100 in the US until December 20th, although only at certain retailers. This brings the price of the standard ROG Xbox Ally down from $599 to $499 USD (or actually slightly lower in some cases) in time for Christmas, although keep in mind that supplies are limited and may not last until that Dec. 20 date. Here's a look at Xbox's marketing for this deal: A quick glance shows us that the ROG Xbox Ally is currently discounted at ASUS, Amazon, Best Buy and Walmart, but it's sold out on the Microsoft Store (and will likely disappear at Amazon soon too). The discount unfortunately doesn't apply here in the UK, where the lowest price we've found is at Harvey Norman for £479.00. In terms of whether it's worth it, we've only been hands on with the more powerful ROG Xbox Ally X version, but that system is fantastic and offers great ergonomics, cooling and access to a ridiculous number of games through the Xbox app, Steam, Epic Games Store and various other storefronts. The standard ROG Xbox Ally offers the same thing, but with reduced performance - similar to how the Xbox Series S stacks up against the more powerful Xbox Series X. Here's a look at those deals, and do let us know if you spot any other great offers beyond the US!

There's been an unfortunate narrative doing the rounds on social media this weekend about Xbox consoles, and it's all to do with some new Black Friday 2025 data that suggests the Series X and Series S sold poorly during BF week. Specifically, Mat Piscatella of the analysis group "Circana" took to Bluesky on Sunday to share how the PlayStation 5 dominated Black Friday week with 47% of gaming hardware sales in the US, followed by the Switch 2 at 24% and the little-known NEX Playground at 14%. The other 15% will have been shared by the Xbox Series X, Series S, Switch 1 and whatever else falls into the hardware category (not specified). To be honest, we had to look up the NEX Playground to figure out what it was — apparently it's a Kinect-like system for "kids and families" that's got amazing reviews and only costs $249 USD. The things you learn! As you can see, it wasn't great in the UK either. The Game Business reported that Xbox Series X and Xbox Series S only accounted for 10% of the market during Black Friday week, with the PS5 racking up a whopping 62%. Before we get all doom and gloom though, this is exactly what was to be expected. Xbox basically had no Black Friday deals for the Xbox Series X and Xbox Series S apart from some extremely slight reductions at a handful of retailers (mostly in the UK), whereas the PS5 received massive reductions and therefore ended up selling predictably well. Industry experts have warned that the BF sales data doesn't tell us much about "consumer demand" for Xbox: Nevertheless, the fact that Xbox Series X|S apparently lost to the NEX Playground in the US not only makes for an interesting angle, but adds fuel to the narrative that nobody's buying Xbox consoles anymore. There is a good reason behind it in this case, but that part's inevitably getting overlooked by many fans of the industry. Should Xbox have made a bigger effort to sell Series X and S consoles during Black Friday this year? Maybe that's a lesson to learn for next time, but we have a feeling Microsoft's more focused on the future of its hardware, services and software rather than continuing to push the Series X and S right now.

Nightdive Studios is bringing its awesome System Shock remake to the Switch and Switch 2, and we can now exclusively reveal that it'll be available to play from 18th December 2025. Originally released in 2023, System Shock is a comprehensive yet faithful remake of the 1994 FPS from Looking Light Studios. Development was lengthy and somewhat troubled, with Nightdive striving to reboot the original with more modern design principles. In the end, however, to deliver on the promises of its initial Kickstarter campaign, the team chose to lean more towards a remake, keeping the core elements of the original intact while introducing a plethora of quality-of-life updates. Ultimately, Nightdive succeeded in its goal, and System Shock received mostly positive critical acclaim upon release. Taking place in the year 2072, you play as an unnamed hacker who awakens in a station under total control of SHODAN, an AI completely removed from its moral and ethical restraints. Grotesque mutations and cyborgs roam the station, and it's up to you to defeat SHODAN. With visuals blending pixel art textures and modern lighting technology, the System Shock remake is, to put it lightly, a vibe. It's a significantly different experience compared to System Shock 2, which Nightdive also released on the Switch earlier this year. If you're curious, we definitely recommend giving it a shot. For those on Switch 2, the game will offer up both gyro aiming and optional mouse controls. Images: Nightdive Studios

What do you do when you're surfing the old interwebs and happen upon a bunch of lovely gaming folk wondering if anyone has ever stuffed a Switch — in fully working order — into a Wii U GamePad (also still in complete working order)? Well, if it were us, we'd shut off our internet and go for a nice, long walk outside. Maybe we'd never come back. However, (and as reported by GoNintendo) retro gaming YouTuber and modder extraordinaire @KouzexMods accepted it as a challenge and decided it was time to take matters into their own hands. As you can see in the impressively detailed video up top, this was no half-hearted job either. Nope, this expert retro modder has gone all in, drawing up a list of rules to stick by and everything, and it's fascinating to watch along as a Switch Lite console is stripped right down, very carefully, whilst designs are drawn up for how to have every part of the Wii U GamePad still fully functional whilst making it useable and comfortable. Images: @KouzexMods Images: @KouzexMods There are even some improvements made to the base Switch console's performance during the process here, with upgrades to its battery, screen and a few other things that you can check out in the vid. Honestly, it's worth watching the full thing to see just how much effort and ingenuity went in here, and how problems met along the way were circumvented. The vid wraps up with what we have to say looks like a very polished hybrid console, and muscle memory tells us that — let's face it — it's probably way more comfortable to hold than a vanilla Switch Lite. Man, that GamePad was comfortable. Like the modding job that's been done here? Fancy turning your GamePad (if you're one of the seventy or so people who owned one) into a Switch? Let us know! (But also, don't blame us when you break it)

Polymega Collection Vol. 6 - Heavy Barrel features two Data East-made run-and-gun shooters, neither of which really achieved the same level of fame as the likes of Commando, Ikari Warriors and Mercs back in the day. 1987's Heavy Barrel was clearly an attempt by Data East to muscle in on the craze for horizontally-scrolling shooters, and for the most part, it's a successful clone of the more notable examples from Capcom and SNK. Supporting two players at the same time, Heavy Barrel's levels scroll both horizontally and vertically, while keys you pick up during gameplay can be used to unlock chests and gain access to different weapons (a bit like Midnight Resistance, another Data East title). The most notable firearm is the titular 'Heavy Barrel', which cannot be acquired at once but has to be assembled from six different parts. It's the most potent weapon in the game and cuts through enemies like a hot knife through butter – but with a catch. It lasts for half a minute before it vanishes, which avoids you being so overpowered that you can literally sleepwalk through the game. Heavy Barrel got an NES port back in the day, but it can't really hold a candle to the arcade original – so it's great to see it get a new lease of life on Polymega. The aforementioned port is included, at least – so you can see just how weak it is when compared to the original. I would imagine there will be plenty of people out there who got their first taste of the game on Nintendo's console, so this could have some nostalgic appeal. However, even more appealing is the second game on this collection, 1991's Desert Assault (also known as Thunder Zone). This title was never ported to any home system back in the '90s, which is a crying shame as it's one of Data East's most accomplished arcade games. With its gorgeous visuals, insane set-pieces and support for up to four players, Desert Assault is simply brilliant – and, if you're interested in this kind of thing, there are a bunch of changes between the 'World' and Japanese versions of the game, which means it's worth experiencing both. Given that we've seen a lot of previous Polymega Collection releases with multiple games included, it feels a bit cheap for Playmaji to only have included two on this release (well, three if you count the NES port as a stand-alone game). Where's 1988's Bloody Wolf, for example, which is often considered by fans to be part of the same loose series as Heavy Barrel and Desert Assault? Still, while it's hard to argue that this sixth Polymega Collection is especially good value for money, at least the two games included are of a high standard.

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 Fantasy XII, Vagrant Story, Gradius V, Valkyria Chronicles and many, many more. He founded the music and audio production firm Basiscape in 2002, after leaving Square. "Music crafted by Basiscape under the direction of Hitoshi Sakimoto has always held a special place in the hearts of millions of gamers worldwide," adds Game Music.net. "The Colors of Harmony concert will feature beloved themes from Vanillaware titles such as 13 Sentinels: Aegis Rim and Odin Sphere Leifthrasir, as well as Square Enix classics including Final Fantasy Tactics and Final Fantasy XII. Beyond the concert itself, there is an accompanying event planned with Hitoshi Sakimoto, the details of which will be revealed at a later stage." You can secure your tickets here.

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 shown off to the press, but the poor performance of the 32X convinced Sega to pull the plug and focus all of its energies on Saturn instead.

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 been confirmed yet, and this will not be a 100% accurate list by any means. Some of these games might leave, some of these games might stay, and many others might be added to the list. The most common (but definitely not the only) trend with Xbox Game Pass seems to be that games stick around for one year, so we've gone back to January 2025 to look at the games that were added to Game Pass at the time. That said, we've also gone back to the January 2024 list as well, just to see what may potentially stick around for two years in total. Based on those original announcements, here's what we think could potentially leave Xbox Game Pass in January 2026: Date It Joined Xbox Game Pass Game Platform January 9, 2024 Assassin's Creed Valhalla (seems unlikely?) Console, PC, Cloud January 16, 2024 Resident Evil 2 Console, PC, Cloud January 19, 2024 Palworld Console, PC, Cloud January 25, 2024 Go Mecha Ball Console, PC, Cloud January 30, 2024 Brotato Console, PC, Cloud January 7, 2025 Road 96 Console, PC, Cloud January 21, 2025 Lonely Mountains: Snow Riders Console, PC, Cloud January 22, 2025 Starbound Console, PC, Cloud January 23, 2025 Ninja Gaiden 2 Black (seems unlikely?) Series X|S, PC, Cloud January 28, 2025 Eternal Strands Console, PC, Cloud January 28, 2025 Orcs Must Die! Deathtrap Series X|S, PC, Cloud January 29, 2025 Shady Part of Me Console, PC, Cloud January 30, 2025 Sniper Elite: Resistance Console, PC, Cloud January 31, 2025 Citizen Sleeper 2: Starward Vector Console, PC, Cloud As usual, there could be plenty of additions to this list, and a few of these games might stick around on Xbox Game Pass for even longer, but it seems likely that we'll lose at least some of these in January 2026. Our predictions usually turn out to be anywhere from 30%-80% correct - you never know how accurate they'll be! We still have another batch of titles to come to the service this month too, including Mortal Kombat 1 which headlines next week on Xbox Game Pass!

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 tweet. Just like it, comment on it, and see what happens later this month... I'm personally of the belief that the ROG Xbox Ally X is a really cool handheld that opens up so many possibilities for PC gaming on the go, and if you can manage to grab one for free, you've pretty much won the jackpot in our eyes!

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 problem this has become for some players: There is seemingly no clear solution or fix to stop these game crashes, but it hasn't stopped players sharing their own ideas. Some suggest playing the title exclusively in docked mode, making sure the game is installed on Switch 2's internal storage, changing the system resolution, turning off HDR, disabling various other options, and even reinstalling the game... Some users here on Nintendo Life have also reported encountering crashes in Assassin's Creed Shadows for Switch 2. Critics have noted issues with frame-pacing, and recommend handheld mode for the best experience, but there seems to be fewer reports about game crashes during the review phase. TheSixthAxis was one site that directly acknowledged this "underlying issue" – referencing "a series of crashes" not long into the adventure, but "no clear trigger". Nintendo World Report also mentioned the "occasional" software crash. In our own review here on Nintendo Life, we admitted Assassin's Creed Shadows wasn't the perfect port, but still felt it was a colossal achievement on Nintendo's new system. So, when might we see a patch for this problem? As highlighted in the Reddit thread above, the YouTube channel 'What's It Like?' (which also "experienced several crashes" during its review of the game) says it reached out to Ubisoft's support and there's supposedly a patch planned for mid-December, which will apparently address "some" technical issues with the Switch 2 version. And with so many player reports now, Ubisoft has hopefully got the message. Until we get an update from Ubisoft, tell us how your time with Assassin's Creed Shadows on the Switch 2 has been so far? Have you experienced any crashes? Vote in our poll, and let us know in the comments.