Rockstar
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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.
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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:
"In a brief call with Game Developer, a Warner Bros. Discovery spokesperson confirmed the recently-restructured video game division, which includes studios such as Mortal Kombat creator NetherRealm, Batman: Arkham developer Rocksteady, and LEGO custodian TT Games, will be joining Netflix."
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."
"This acquisition brings 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. Beloved franchises, shows and movies such as The Big Bang Theory, The Sopranos, Game of Thrones, The Wizard of Oz and the DC Universe will join Netflix’s extensive portfolio including Wednesday, Money Heist, Bridgerton, Adolescence and Extraction, creating an extraordinary entertainment offering for audiences worldwide."
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".
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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!
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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:"The reaction to our last trailer absolutely blew us away. The passion, the theories, the excitement from our fans - it's been incredible fuel for our team."
"I can tell you, this is the most complex game I have ever worked on. Between the character creation that really matters, the reactivity, and if you've seen the trailer, you've seen how gritty and dark humour really shines through."
"We're making it way more complicated for ourselves by taking visual reactivity to an entirely new level, letting players go to the past and then rewrite history through their choices in the game."
"And to think, we've only shown a tiny glimpse of the world, the mechanics and the wild characters you're going to meet."
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!
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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.
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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:
Arcade Racing for Every Skill Level:
Four difficulty settings, Rookie, Novice, Veteran, and Expert, as well as an Assist Mode for younger racers, making it easy for newcomers to jump in while giving experienced racers a real challenge.
Multiplayer Mayhem with Game Share:
Race solo or with up to four players in split-screen, and join friends with GameShare locally on both Nintendo Switch and Nintendo Switch 2, or play online with others on Nintendo Switch 2 via GameChat.
Multiple Game Modes:
Hop into Quick Races for instant fun, tackle a full set of courses in Championship Mode, or chase perfect laps in Time Attack Mode.
Unlockable Tracks and Vehicles:
Race and unlock an expanding lineup of 14 circuits and build out your collection of 19 cars.
90s Vibe, Modern Tech:
Enjoy a 90s-inspired arcade racing feel paired with modern visuals and performance, powered by a custom engine. For Nintendo Switch 2 Edition, the game supports 4K resolution and 120fps.
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.
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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.
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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.
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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:
"Rather than fully following the trend toward the large-scale development, we will also pursue efficiency improvements, such as leveraging AI. However, as AI adoption can face strong resistance in creative areas such as character creation, we will proceed by carefully assess appropriate use cases, such as streamlining development processes."
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.
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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:
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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:
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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.
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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
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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.
Set 25 years after the events of the original Starship Troopers film, this heroic campaign follows war veteran Samantha Dietz as she recounts her hunt for the dreadful Assassin Bug during the First Bug War. Relive her experiences as you annihilate the Arachnids on their familiar home world of Klendathu and journey to all new worlds like Planet P and beyond in this streamlined solo campaign, with access to a devastating arsenal of 14 weapons (including the iconic Morita rifle), 11 Tactical Supports and a Mech vehicle in a gloriously gory 3D pixelated combat simulation.
Citizens looking to prepare themselves to the fullest extent can utilize Starship Troopers: Ultimate Bug War!’s anti-bug combat training, where you can play from the perspective of the Bugs, and prepare for the skills they need to erase the insectoid threat.
Images: via Steam / Dotemu, Auroch Digital
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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)
Things are about to get… bloody! Soak up 42 pulse-pounding levels dripping with Lovecraftian atmosphere as you battle your way through armies of sycophantic cultists, zombies, gargoyles, hell hounds, and other insatiable horrors, in your quest to defeat the loathsome Tchernobog.
Carmageddon: Rogue Shift - Reveal Trailer (Early 2026)
Carmageddon smashes back with brutal roguelite vehicular‑combat mayhem. Adapt, upgrade, and unleash destruction on post‑apocalyptic zombie hordes. The legacy lives on, reinvented and unforgiving.
Memories In Orbit - Release Date Trailer (January 20, 2026) (Xbox Game Pass)
Play as android MIO in this mesmerizing metroidvania where you explore the Vessel, an enormous technological ark overgrown with machines gone rogue. Uncover its secrets, enhance MIO's abilities, and save the spaceship and its residents from oblivion.
Grave Seasons - New Character Reveal Trailer (TBD 2026)
Grave Seasons is a narrative farming sim with a terrifying twist – someone in the town is a supernatural serial killer. Farm, romance, and investigate your way through the unsettling town of Ashenridge.
Killing Floor 3 - Operation: Breakout Trailer (Available Now)
It’s 2091 and megacorp Horzine has produced the ultimate army: an obedient horde of bioengineered monsters called zeds. Now, join the rebel group Nightfall in this co-op action/horror FPS that puts you and your teammates in a battle for the future of humanity.
Lunar Strike - Story Trailer (May 2026)
Lunar Strike blends speculative fiction with a game world grounded in hard science. The game focuses on compelling survival and character-driven storytelling over combat. A race against time to preserve the evidence of humanity’s presence on the Moon before its inevitable collapse and destruction.
Starship Troopers: Ultimate Bug War! - Reveal Trailer (Early 2026)
Lock and load into the Starship Troopers universe and join the Mobile Infantry in the most realistic depiction of war ever made ! Experience an original story in this action-packed, first-person retro shooter. Would you like to know more?
Clive Barker's Hellraiser: Revival Interview (TBD 2026)
Experience a new chapter in the legendary horror series like never before. Clive Barker's Hellraiser: Revival takes first-person action horror survival to the next level. Wield the powers of the Genesis Configuration puzzle box to survive your bargain with the infamous Pinhead.
High On Life 2 Interview (February 13, 2026) (Xbox Game Pass)
An intergalactic conspiracy threatens the fate of humanity! Team up with a wide cast of talking alien guns as you shoot, stab, and skate your way through the exotic locales to take down the bad guys and save your favorite species (humans)!
Tamer Town - Gameplay Trailer (TBD 2026)
Collect Mokiton in this city management game, where tamers and their monsters unite in battle, evolve and bond together in their unique town. Design neighborhoods, unlock stories and grow a feel-good world where every connection matters.
Crimson Desert - Pre-Order Trailer (March 19, 2026)
Crimson Desert is an open-world action-adventure game set in the beautiful yet brutal continent of Pywel. Embark on a journey as the Greymane Kliff and restore what has been lost. Explore uncharted lands, fight against threats that stand in your way, and discover the wonders the world has in store.
Halloween - Map Reveal Trailer (September 8, 2026)
On Halloween night, 1978, no one is safe from Michael Myers. Become the Boogeyman or fight back against the face of evil itself in Halloween.
Luna Abyss - Gameplay Trailer (TBD 2026)
Luna Abyss is a single player story driven action-adventure with fluid platforming and bullet hell combat. Follow the journey of Fawkes, a prisoner of Luna caught between a cryptic prophecy and their prison sentence.
Space Warlord Baby Trading Simulator - Reveal Trailer (TBD)
Buy low, sell high, and short an entire universe of babies in this arcade stock market sim set in the world of Space Warlord Organ Trading Simulator.
Starsand Island - Gameplay Trailer (February 1, 2026)
Tired of the city grind? Escape to Starsand Island and embrace a peaceful, Chinese-inspired pastoral life. Befriend adorable animals, enjoy a relaxing fishing trip, and explore the enchanting Moonlit Forest. Find your quiet seaside retreat and rediscover life's simple joys.
The Relic: First Guardian - Gameplay Trailer (Early 2026)
The once-prosperous Arsiltus was swallowed up by the void created by the destruction of the great relic and transformed into a land of death. Now your mission is to find the pieces of the broken great relic and close the void.
SPLITGATE: Arena Reloaded - Relaunch Trailer (December 17, 2026)
SPLITGATE: Arena Reloaded is coming December 17. The free-to-play portal shooter returns for a new era with the same DNA.
Anything taking your fancy in here? Let us know down in the comments section below.
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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.
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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.
"Series X, meanwhile, appears to mostly match base PS5 in resolution and performance aspects. Its 30fps quality mode employs DRS to operate between 1224-1512p - the same range as base PS5 - and enjoys a mostly steady 30fps refresh, with the exception of certain traversal stutters and alpha-effect resolution dips while the DRS system kicks in to return the refresh to a 30fps cadence [...] Its 60fps performance mode renders at a range of 864-1152p - again, identical to base PS5,
Bloober Team has opted to limit Series S to only one visual mode, which not only locks the frame-rate at 30fps but also renders natively at 1280x720 - with no noted adjustments via dynamic resolution scaling (DRS) [...] More noticeable are Series S's lower-resolution Lumen-based effects. In motion, reduced reflection resolution and poor signed distanced fields (SDF) accuracy combine to add a noticeable, constant flicker to reflections on surfaces like puddles and wooden floorboards. And while a form of global illumination (RTGI) remains enabled on Series S, its light-bounce setting is drastically reduced compared to other consoles' 60fps performance modes. The Series S cuts continue in other settings, including significant drops to texture fidelity and geometry tessellation."
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.
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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.
Cast Outs brings you the pure spectacle of magic where spellcasting hits with the physical impact of a brawler and the immediate kick of a shooter. Dive into the ultimate magical urban battleground where you and your friends can truly cooperate, regardless of skill level. It’s the perfect balance of quick-fix fun and high-octane action, built to be played together.
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.
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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.
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It's been announced today that Xbox has joined forces with ESPN to become the title sponsor of December 18th's college football bowl game between Missouri State and Arkansas State.
The entire event is getting some major Xbox branding as a result, with the logo being a big Xbox controller as seen above, and it's all going to be broadcast on ESPN2 from 9pm ET on Thursday the 18th.
Here's what Chris Lee, vice president of Xbox marketing had to say about the partnership today:
“The Xbox Bowl is where the thrill of game day meets the joy of play. Teaming up with ESPN Events lets us bring fans even closer to the fun, whether they are in the stands in Frisco, watching the bowl game at home, or playing with friends around the world. Together we are celebrating the passion for play, on the field and in the ways people love to game, and reimagining what game day can be for lifelong players and for those experiencing the thrill for the first time.”
If you're interested in actually attending the event at Ford Center at The Star in Frisco, Texas, tickets will soon be available via www.XboxBowl.com — although that website isn't leading anywhere at the time of writing.
We assume attendees will get to at least play some College Football 26 and maybe get their hands on some Xbox-branded merch, but who knows! This is a pretty cool partnership either way.
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Quantum Dream, the French studio behind the likes of Heavy Rain, Beyond: Two Souls, and Detroit: Become Human — games that have all been very closely tied to PlayStation — has just launched its first beta for Spellcasters Chronicles on PC.
If you haven't been keeping up, Spellcasters Chronicles marks a dramatic pivot away from the developer's typical story-driven output. It's a free-to-play, competitive multiplayer game with a live service model.
Announced back in October, it's fair to say that the project didn't make a great first impression — especially amongst fans of the company's past work. As we all know, breaking into the world of live service is incredibly difficult, and so onlookers were immediately questioning the game's potential.
The reveal trailer was decent enough, but does Quantic Dream really have the experience to make it in the multiplayer space? It's a fair question, and we may catch the glimpse of an answer over the next few days.
The aforementioned beta is now live — again, only on PC — and it runs until the 8th December. In other words, first impressions will be dropping in the very near future, and it'll be interesting to see whether Spellcasters establishes any kind of early foothold.
You can catch some gameplay in the following video:
What's your take on Quantic Dream's latest pursuit? Is Spellcasters Chronicles doomed to fail like so many over live service wannabes, or does it actually look pretty cool? Don't flub any QTEs in the comments section below.
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Bad Robot Games has today announced a new "four-player co-operative shooter" being led by Left 4 Dead's original creator Mike Booth - but there's a chance this attempt to rekindle that L4D flame may not see the light of day on Xbox.
Although this development studio has been working away for a number of years now, it's today announced this new project in partnership with Sony. Yep, the PlayStation owner will "produce and publish" this Bad Robot Games title at some point in the future.
Here's Sony's introduction to its new partnership with Bad Robot Games:
"Sony Interactive Entertainment (SIE) today announced a partnership with video game studio Bad Robot Games, a division of Bad Robot, the film, television and theater production company founded by JJ Abrams, for SIE to produce and publish the studio’s upcoming project, an unannounced four-player, cooperative shooter directed by Mike Booth (Left 4 Dead). The game is currently in development for PlayStation 5 and PC. More details on the game will be shared at a later date."
As you can see there, the game is just announced for PS5 and PC at this point, so Xbox Series X|S players may miss out - at least at launch. The likes of Helldivers 2 launched in a similar way and eventually came to Xbox as well, so you never know, this Bad Robot Games production may follow in similar footsteps.
We'd certainly like that to be the case, anyway. Ever since Left 4 Dead stormed the co-op shooter scene back in the Xbox 360 days, we've been clamouring for something similar to grace more modern machines. Back 4 Blood and World War Z got close to the Valve classic, but nothing has ever quite matched the magic of the L4D series.
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Lil Gator Game, one of the cutest action adventure titles available on PS5 and PS4, is about to get a whole lot bigger.
Publisher Playtonic Friends has announced a release date for its major expansion DLC, In the Dark, by way of a new trailer:
It's due out on 12th February 2026, meaning it's just a couple of months away.
One of the most notable things about the DLC is its size; apparently it doubles the size of the world you can explore, with lots of new underground areas to navigate.
As well as the extra space to explore, In the Dark adds new characters to meet, secret treasure to find, and quests to complete.
It even adds new equipment and movement abilities, such as gymnastic ribbons that give you a double jump, and a gadget that allows you to slam into the ground. Pretty classic platformer stuff.
In addition to the expansion, Lil Gator Game: Gator of the Year Edition has been dated. This is a version of the game that includes the base adventure as well as In the Dark in one package.
It'll be available digitally on the same day as In the Dark, while a physical version will hit store shelves on 27th February.
Are you looking forward to Lil Gator Game: In the Dark? Tell us in the comments section below.
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With Season 01's launch arriving today for Call of Duty: Black Ops 7, developer Treyarch has dropped the new season's patch notes - and they contain some controversial updates on the game's skill-based matchmaking system.
As we covered a few times in the run up to launch, the team decided to remove SBMM in Black Ops 7 before clarifying that one playlist would remain more skill-based. Well now, that playlist is becoming more prominent, as Treyarch sees "increased engagement" with the SBMM-heavy mode.
Basically, the game's 'Standard Moshpit' mode — which features this heavier implementation of SBMM — is now moving over to the 'Featured Playlists' area, where it'll be more visible to players. Here's Treyarch's reasoning behind this move:
"We’ve continued to see increased engagement with Standard Moshpit, so we’ll be featuring it in the Featured tab for players who prefer an experience with more similarly skilled opponents. With the main tab changing to Featured, the other tab will now become Party Games, which will include Prop Hunt, Sharpshooter, One in the Chamber, and Gunfight at the launch of Season 01, as well as the debut of Sticks & Stones and Gun Game in Week 2."
The team does go on to clarify that all of the other playlists still feature the 'Open' matchmaking system that fans have been asking for, but yep, this skill-based option is becoming more prominent starting in Season 01. If you're more interested in all of the new content coming in the game's first season, the update goes live at 9am PT / 12pm ET / 5pm GMT today, December 4th.
Starship Troopers: Ultimate Bug War Turns Helldivers 2 into a Retro, PS2-Era FPS
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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.
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