Title: The Automatic Pizza Vending Machine In The Detroit Airport: The Kotaku Review Date: Fri, 26 Dec 2025 22:50:18 +0000 Link: https://kotaku.com/automatic-pizza-vending-machine-detroit-airport-the-kotaku-review-pizza-cat-2000655797 The post The Automatic Pizza Vending Machine In The Detroit Airport: The <i>Kotaku</i> Review appeared first on Kotaku.

Title: Kotaku’s Weekend Guide: 5 Great Games We Can’t Wait To Get Back To Date: Fri, 26 Dec 2025 22:10:10 +0000 Link: https://kotaku.com/best-rpggame-recommendations-dec-26-2025-2000655786 The post <i>Kotaku</i>’s Weekend Guide: 5 Great Games We Can’t Wait To Get Back To appeared first on Kotaku.

Title: There Are Still Some Surprisingly Good Deals On A Few Killer Switch Games Right Now Date: Fri, 26 Dec 2025 21:28:46 +0000 Link: https://kotaku.com/switch-eshop-discounts-rpg-roguelike-indie-2000655765 The post There Are Still Some Surprisingly Good Deals On A Few Killer Switch Games Right Now appeared first on Kotaku.

Title: Every Time Todd Howard Has Talked About Fallout 5 Date: Fri, 26 Dec 2025 21:15:20 +0000 Link: https://kotaku.com/every-time-todd-howard-has-talked-about-fallout-5-2000655749 The post Every Time Todd Howard Has Talked About <i>Fallout 5</i> appeared first on Kotaku.

Title: Professor Layton Boss Wants People To Stop Demonizing Generative AI Date: Fri, 26 Dec 2025 17:52:50 +0000 Link: https://kotaku.com/professor-layton-boss-wants-people-to-stop-demonizing-generative-ai-2000655721 The post <i>Professor Layton</i> Boss Wants People To Stop Demonizing Generative AI appeared first on Kotaku.

Title: Legendary game creator Vince Zampella has passed away Date: Tue, 23 Dec 2025 09:03:58 +0000 Link: https://www.vg247.com/vince-zampella-call-of-duty-co-creator-passes-away-55 Vince Zampella, known for co-creating the Call of Duty series, among many other roles, has died. Zampella, 55, died in a car crash in Los Angeles on Sunday. The fatal crash killed him, along with the occupant of his car. Read more

Title: Heartopia finally gets a release date... on everything but Steam Date: Mon, 22 Dec 2025 09:17:55 +0000 Link: https://www.vg247.com/heartopia-release-date-pc-android-ios Heartopia developer XD Games has delivered the news anyone who tried out the life sim game had been waiting for. The Animal Crossing-like cozy multiplayer game will finally arrive on January 7 across Android, iOS, and PC - with one caveat. Read more

Title: FC 26 adds upgraded Pina alongside 3 new Heroes in full Winter Wildcards promo Date: Fri, 19 Dec 2025 18:00:00 +0000 Link: https://www.vg247.com/fc-26-adds-upgraded-pina-alongside-3-new-heroes-in-full-winter-wildcards-promo EA Sports has revealed 3 new Heroes coming to FC 26 Ultimate Team as part of Team 1 of the Winter Wildcards promo: Ivan Zamorano, Claudio Pizarro and Jill Scott. Read more

Title: Zenless Zone Zero's big end-of-year update brings multiplayer combat, free Zhao, and the first dual-form Agent Date: Fri, 19 Dec 2025 15:25:26 +0000 Link: https://www.vg247.com/zenless-zone-zero-update-2-5-ye-shunguang-zhao-multiplayer Zenless Zone Zero’s latest Special Program has delivered the good news on Version 2.5, To Be Fuel for the Night. This chapter is a big deal for a few reasons, not least of which because it brings an end to Season 2. Read more

Title: It’s official: Battlefield 6 is 2025's best-selling game, but Black Ops 7 still managed to be November’s top-seller Date: Thu, 18 Dec 2025 09:20:57 +0000 Link: https://www.vg247.com/game-hardware-sales-circana-november-2025-battlefield-6-black-ops-7 Circan’s November 2025 video game sales report has easily been one of the most anticipated. For one, November is always one of the most lucrative for the games industry, but this year in particular has seen several major hits - including new entries in two rival series. Read more

Title: Arcade1Up NBA Jam Deluxe Cabinet Is Only $350 At Amazon Date: Sat, 27 Dec 2025 22:18:00 -0800 Link: https://www.gamespot.com/articles/nba-jam-arcade1up-deluxe-home-arcade-cabinet-best-deal/1100-6537125/?ftag=CAD-01-10abi2f Arcade1Up NBA Jam Deluxe Cabinet $350 (was $500) See at Amazon See at Best Buy See at Kohl's See at Macy's See at Walmart Nostalgic NBA Jam fans can save big on Arcade1Up's home arcade machine featuring the classic 2v2 basketball game. Earlier this month, the NBA Jam Deluxe Arcade Cabinet was on sale for an all-time low price of $400 (was $500). The price dropped an additional $50 in the days leading up to Christmas. As of December 28, NBA Jam Deluxe is up for grabs for onl $350 at Amazon, Best Buy, Walmart, Kohl's, and Macy's. If you purchase NBA Jam Deluxe from Kohl's for $350, you'll also get $70 Kohl's Cash to use online or at your local store from December 29 to January 4.The NBA Jam Deluxe Cabinet isn't the only Arcade1Up machine on sale for a great price at Amazon and Best Buy. We've included a list of the best Arcade1Up deals at the bottom of this story. Arcade1Up NBA Jam Deluxe Cabinet $350 (was $500) The NBA Jam Deluxe Cabinet is preloaded with three classic arcade basketball games developed by Midway from 1993-1996: NBA Jam, NBA Jam Tournament Edition, and NBA Hangtime.The control deck has two sets of inputs: one arcade stick and three buttons for each player. In addition to local multiplayer, you can play against users around the world over Wi-Fi. Like other Deluxe editions from Arcade1Up, it has a 17-inch HD display, light-up marquee, dual stereo speakers, and a faux coin door on the front.The cabinet is roughly 61.5 inches tall, just under 19 inches wide, and weighs approximately 62 pounds. If you want to sit while playing, Amazon has a limited-time deal on this popular adjustable bar stool with a backrest.Arcade1Up has manufactured several NBA Jam cabinets over the past five years, but the Deluxe Edition is the only model in stores today. Outside of Arcade1Up cabinets, NBA Jam has been dormant for nearly 15 years; the last home console entry, NBA Jam: On Fire Edition, released on PS3 and Xbox 360 in 2011. Thankfully, Arcade1Up's NBA Jam cabinet offers an authentic way to revisit the best entries in the series. See at Amazon See at Best Buy See at Kohl's NBA Jam debuted exclusively in arcades in 1993 and was ported to consoles the following year. The Tournament Edition, which launched in 1994, is essentially an updated and expanded version of the original NBA Jam. As the name suggests, the main addition was Tournament mode. It's still 2v2 basketball, but Midway added a third player to each team, allowing you to make substitutions throughout each game. The Tournament Edition also expanded player stat categories.Continue Reading at GameSpot

Title: Games Want You to Play Forever, But Dispatch Tells You When to Stop Date: Sat, 27 Dec 2025 13:00:00 -0800 Link: https://www.gamespot.com/articles/games-want-you-to-play-forever-but-dispatch-tells-you-when-to-stop/1100-6537045/?ftag=CAD-01-10abi2f Is there a more infamous monkey-paw wish than the collective dream that all our favorite games could last forever? Well, the finger curled, because it seems like all major game publishers in the world only want to make games that go on to infinity.With the rise of live-service games, it's been a struggle to know when to put the controller down, especially when games like Fortnite release seasonal content like The Simpsons season pass that ask you to play long enough to unlock stupid sexy Flanders. Luckily, for us, episodic games, perfectly portioned into bite-sized morsels, have come back to rescue us from the endless grind.In this case, I am talking specifically about Dispatch, the new episodic superhero game from AdHoc Studio. If the name is unfamiliar to you, AdHoc is a new game company founded by former members of Ubisoft, Night School, and perhaps most notably, Telltale Games, who blew up the episodic gaming scene with 2012's The Walking Dead. The studio would later close due to a variety of factors internal and external, some of which I covered previously as a reporter. But by then, the episodic-games formula was starting to feel a bit played out, and the mood appeared to be shifting towards either more complete single-player experiences, or the early live-service games we know today.Continue Reading at GameSpot

Title: The Epic Games Store Is Giving Away Free Games Every Day: Here's What You Can Get Today Date: Sat, 27 Dec 2025 08:03:00 -0800 Link: https://www.gamespot.com/articles/free-games-epic-games-store/1100-6476419/?ftag=CAD-01-10abi2f The Epic Games Store continues to give away a free game each week, and this week is another nice find with a price that can't be beaten. Every Thursday at 8 AM PT / 11 AM ET, Epic offers at least one free PC game (and sometimes even as many as two or three). All you need to do to claim the free games is create a free Epic account and enable two-factor authentication. You have a week to add the freebies to your library before the new one(s) take their place. At this point, Epic has given away hundreds of free games, and there's no sign that the program will stop any time soon. The company has also extended its freebies to Android devices, and you can claim a free game every week here as well. We keep this article up to date weekly to highlight both the current free games and next week's offerings.If you're looking for more freebies, you can check out our list of the 25 best free PC games to play in 2025, or for more options, the 25 best free games to play in 2025 on multiple platforms.Current free game at EpicWhat's under the Epic Games Store tree today?Epic offers daily free games during the last days of December, so you can check back starting December 18 for more freebies in the store. You can also check the list below to see what's currently available, or what you might have missed out on during this festive promotion. Today’s game is Cassette Beasts, a monster-collecting open-world adventure.Continue Reading at GameSpot

Title: In The Switch 2's First Year, Every Third-Party Port Tells A Story About The System Date: Sat, 27 Dec 2025 06:00:00 -0800 Link: https://www.gamespot.com/articles/in-the-switch-2s-first-year-every-third-party-port-tells-a-story-about-the-system/1100-6536987/?ftag=CAD-01-10abi2f In November 2017, Bethesda Softworks and port specialists Panic Button performed what seemed like a miracle: They released a Switch port for id Software's recent reboot of Doom. The game, a famously fast-paced, intense shooter with modern graphics, seemed ill-suited to Nintendo's handheld and its capabilities, but despite some visual blurriness and a reduction in the frame rate, the game held up well on the hybrid system. In GameSpot's 8/10 review of the Switch port, Peter Brown praised the game as "an impressive port that begs you to consider gameplay over graphics."Doom was the first Switch "impossible port," a colloquial term that players took to using whenever a third-party game designed for much more powerful hardware arrived on the Switch in pretty good shape. Over the course of the system's lifespan, it would receive many more so-called impossible ports, including versions of Wolfenstein 2: The New Collossus, Hellblade: Senua's Sacrifice, The Witcher 3, No Man's Sky, and Ace Combat 7--large, visually-intensive, action-heavy games, all of them translated to the system with immaculate care. Seeing how the Switch handled these games was always exciting--even when the ports were less-than-ideal, there was still something special about seeing them run on a handheld from 2017.Prior to the Switch 2's launch this year, Nintendo, in typical fashion, did not tell us much about what the Switch 2 was capable of on a technical level. We knew that the new 7.9-inch 1080p screen was capable of displaying gameplay at up to 120fps and was HDR-compliant. Nvidia announced that the system's custom chip would allow for DLSS, which is capable of upscaling games regardless of native resolution, and that the new system would be, of course, much more powerful than the old one. For early adopters, though, the system's first six-plus months of availability has involved a lot of curiosity over what the system can and can't do, speculating on what games the system could or couldn't handle, and pondering just how close these ports can come to other console versions.Continue Reading at GameSpot

Title: Arc Raiders Battle Pass 2 - All Goalie Raider Deck Rewards Date: Fri, 26 Dec 2025 10:21:00 -0800 Link: https://www.gamespot.com/gallery/arc-raiders-battle-pass-2-all-goalie-raider-deck-rewards/2900-7345/ Arc Raiders has already seen quite a few updates since its launch at the end of October, but developer Embark Studios is closing the year out big. The Cold Snap update brings multiple seasonal events, a new Snowfall map condition, and plenty more for fans to sink their teeth into. Among the fresh additions is the Goalie Raider Deck--the game's second battle pass--which contains a smorgasbord of cosmetics, gear, items, and even Raider Tokens that can be used toward premium purchases in the shop.The Goalie Deck is free for all players, so you won't need to purchase access to these rewards with premium currency. Instead, you'll simply need to work toward completing daily Feats that provide you with Creds, then use those to unlock your preferred items from the deck. This should prove fairly easy to do for most players, as you can complete up to three Feats per match, and you'll even get additional bonus Creds for the first five Feats you finish in a day.Perhaps the best news about the Goalie Deck, however, is that it's a permanent reward track. Unlike battle passes in other games, this deck will stick around forever, meaning you can unlock what you want from it whenever you'd like. With this in mind, you can skip any rewards that just don't matter much to you right now--though it's worth pointing out you will still need to purchase a certain number of items from the deck to unlock subsequent pages.If you're excited to dive into the Goalie Deck and start reaping its rewards--including the new hockey-themed outfit, which is pretty rad--we've got you covered ahead of time. Keep scrolling below for every reward from the Goalie Deck in Arc Raiders.

Title: Umamusume: Pretty Derby made everyone a horse girl in 2025 Date: Sat, 27 Dec 2025 19:00:17 GMT Link: https://www.polygon.com/umamusume-pretty-derby-2025-retrospective/ This summer, I was sitting in my friend’s living room doing what we call “parallel play,” where we each enjoy a separate activity while in the same room. She was painting, and I was playing Umamusume: Pretty Derby. Despite her activity being altogether more cultured than mine, it only took a few races for her, her partner, and her roommate to all gather around my phone to cheer on my racer like it was a high-stakes sport. It’s undeniable: Umamusume makes everyone a horse girl, and that’s exactly what happened for a lot of casual gamers in 2025.

Title: Scream 7 star Matthew Lillard is worried he's ruining the movie Date: Sat, 27 Dec 2025 18:00:18 GMT Link: https://www.polygon.com/matthew-lillard-ruin-scream-7-stu-macher/ Scream 7 will slash its way into theaters next year, and the horror franchise is gearing up for a pretty massive family reunion. The latest installment in the series marks Neve Campbell's return to her iconic role as Sidney Prescott after sitting out for Scream 6. As usual, she'll be joined by Courtney Cox (Gail Weathers), but they won't be the only familiar faces for longtime Scream fans.

Title: Stranger Things season 5 resolved its love triangle in the best possible way Date: Sat, 27 Dec 2025 17:00:17 GMT Link: https://www.polygon.com/stranger-things-season-5-episode-6-recap/ Throughout Stranger Things season 5, Jonathan Byers (Charlie Heaton) and Steve Harrington (Joe Keery) have gotten competitive whenever they’re around Nancy Wheeler (Natalia Dyer). It’s a classic love-triangle dynamic, putting Nancy in the position of choosing between her current boyfriend or her ex, who’s grown a lot as a character since season 1. Writer Kate Trefry and the Duffer brothers settle the matter decisively in episode 6, “Escape from Camazotz,” in a deeply satisfying way that bucks clichés to give every character what they need.

Title: What free games are on Epic Games Store today (Dec. 26)? Date: Sat, 27 Dec 2025 16:43:56 GMT Link: https://www.polygon.com/epic-games-store-free-games-december-2025/ The Epic Games Store's latest free mystery game has been revealed. Until 11 a.m. EST on Dec. 28, Casette Beastswill be available to claim for free from the Epic Games Store.

Title: DCU 2025 releases: How James Gunn launched a cinematic universe by breaking Marvel's biggest rules Date: Sat, 27 Dec 2025 15:00:17 GMT Link: https://www.polygon.com/2025-state-of-the-dcu/ This is because DC Studios overseers James Gunn and Peter Safran appear to be flouting a lot of conventional wisdom about how to form a cinematic universe, superheroic or otherwise. In a lot of ways, they’ve been soft-launching the DCU for the better part of a year, even if Superman felt like the true hard launch. But that’s not the only break from tradition the first sorta-year of the DCU represented. Let’s take a quick look at what Gunn and Safran decided not to do, and what it reveals about their unconventional plans for this cinematic universe moving forward.

Title: Deck the Vaults: ‘Fallout: New Vegas’ Joins the Cloud This Holiday Season Date: Thu, 18 Dec 2025 14:00:12 +0000 Link: https://blogs.nvidia.com/blog/geforce-now-thursday-fallout-new-vegas/ Step out of the vault and into the future of gaming with Fallout: New Vegas streaming on GeForce NOW, just in time to celebrate the newest season of the hit Amazon TV show Fallout. To mark the occasion, GeForce NOW members can claim Fallout 3 and Fallout 4 as special rewards, completing a wasteland-ready trilogy in the cloud. Whether scavenging the ruins of post-apocalyptic America or rebuilding hope in the Wasteland, gamers can experience every choice — and every radroach — even sharper in the cloud. Take a detour from the desert dust to the enchanted halls of Hogwarts in Hogwarts Legacy — and relive Harry’s years at school, brick by whimsical brick, in LEGO Harry Potter: Years 1-7. This week’s GFN Thursday lineup of five games proves adventure comes in every form, from radiation to incantations. Plus, GeForce NOW is joining Ubisoft to celebrate 10 years of Rainbow Six Siege: a decade of clutch plays and tactical showdowns streaming strong in the cloud. Have Yourself a Merry Little ‘Fallout’ It’s a S.P.E.C.I.A.L. GFN Thursday. Bethesda’s Fallout: New Vegas is rolling onto GeForce NOW with a suitcase full of wasteland wit. Set in the Mojave Desert after a bombing, the title follows a courier carrying a valuable chip through a desert full of schemers, gamblers and nuclear scars. The adventure drops players into a three- or more-way tug-of-war for the fate of New Vegas, where every decision can shift who runs the Strip and who ends up buried in the sand. Choices matter at every turn: talk fast, sneak smart or go loud, all while navigating sharp, darkly funny writing and factions that rarely fit cleanly into good or evil.​ In the cloud, the Mojave feels right at home, with high-fidelity visuals, fast response times and no need for a monster rig or huge downloads. The wasteland spins up in just seconds on underpowered laptops, phones and more, making it easier than ever to drop in for a quick caravan run or a long night on the Strip. To sweeten the deal, GeForce NOW Ultimate members can claim a stack of classics — including Fallout 3 and Fallout 4 — while supplies last. It’s a tour of the Fallout universe, ready to stream from the cloud. Members can look for an email with details on how to redeem. Magic Without the Wait GeForce NOW is making spirits bright this season with two enchanting adventures in the cloud. Step into the wizarding world with Hogwarts Legacy and relive the full saga of the “Boy Who Lived” in brick form with the LEGO Harry Potter Collection. Whether exploring the Forbidden Forest or causing mischief in Hogwarts, gamers can experience plenty of magic to go around. It’s not sorcery, it’s the cloud. In Hogwarts Legacy, players can chart their own path as a fifth-year student at Hogwarts in the 1800s. From learning powerful spells to taming magical beasts, the castle and its grounds are packed with secrets waiting to be discovered. It’s a world of intrigue, danger and wonder — with rich storytelling and breathtaking visuals that shine perfectly in the cloud. GeForce NOW Ultimate members can experience the magic of Hogwarts like never before — every spell, shadow and shimmering corridor brought to life with GeForce RTX 5080-class power and NVIDIA DLSS 4 technology for spellbinding performance and ultrasmooth gameplay. No floo powder needed — just jump right in with GeForce NOW. The LEGO Harry Potter Collection offers a lighter, more playful spin on the saga, combining all seven years at Hogwarts into one charming package. Revisit major moments, cast silly spells and collect enough studs to make Gringotts jealous. It’s the ultimate magical mashup — family-friendly, full of humor and packed with puzzles and co-op fun. No need for spells or waiting around for sorting — the magic starts right away with GeForce NOW. Members can stream both titles in jaw-dropping detail from nearly any device. Seize the Cloud No floo powder needed — just jump right in with GeForce NOW. Rainbow Six Siege is turning 10, and the tactical chaos is streaming strong on GeForce NOW. For a full decade, squads have been breaching, droning and clutching rounds in one of the most precise, team-focused shooters around, instantly accessible from the cloud on a range of devices. Rainbow Six Siege is rolling out free in-game rewards all month to mark a decade of creativity, competition and tactical mastery. Players jumping into the game can look forward to a steady stream of goodies — from themed cosmetics to special packs and daily surprises — to commemorate the anniversary, on top of seasonal updates and the ever-evolving Operator roster. Celebrate and stream the iconic game on GeForce NOW, with anniversary matches just a few clicks away — from quick warmups on a laptop to long sessions on the living room TV. Squads old and new can mark 10 unforgettable years of Rainbow Six Siege together in the cloud. In addition, members can look for the following: Pioner (New release on Steam, Dec. 16) Fallout: New Vegas (Steam, Epic Games Store and Xbox, available on PC Game Pass) For the King II (Steam) Hogwarts Legacy (Steam, Epic Games Store, and Xbox, available on PC Game Pass, GeForce RTX 5080-ready) LEGO Harry Potter Collection (Steam) GeForce RTX 5080-ready games, in addition to Hogwarts Legacy: Avatar: Frontiers of Pandora (Steam and Ubisoft Connect) Starting in January 2026, some games currently available to all members will no longer be available on the free tier as the basic rig type does not meet these games’ — Enshrouded, Alan Wake 2 and Cities: Skylines II — minimum system requirements. Premium members can continue to play these games uninterrupted. What are you planning to play this weekend? Let us know on X or in the comments below. Treat yo'elf to our Half Price Holiday offer — for a limited time, premium memberships are half off for the first month. Go here https://t.co/eLwaS9Go5Z #GeForceSeason pic.twitter.com/QLdVpROB7T — NVIDIA GeForce NOW (@NVIDIAGFN) December 17, 2025

Title: Ride Into Adventure With Capcom’s ‘Monster Hunter Stories’ Series in the Cloud Date: Thu, 11 Dec 2025 14:00:09 +0000 Link: https://blogs.nvidia.com/blog/geforce-now-thursday-monster-hunter-stories/ Hunters, saddle up — adventure awaits in the cloud. Journey into the world of Monster Hunter Stories as Capcom’s acclaimed role-playing classics join GeForce NOW. Monster Hunter Stories and Monster Hunter Stories 2: Wings of Ruin are soaring into the cloud this week, bringing colorful worlds, charming companions and turn-based monster battles across devices. They lead seven new games joining the cloud this week, on top of an ARC Raiders “Electrician Backpack: Emerald Wave Variant” reward for Ultimate members who want to drop into battle in style. It’s also been a big year for games, and this year’s major gaming awards nominees show just how strong gaming is right now — with many of those fan-favorite titles playable on GeForce NOW, no downloads required. Look for the “The Game Awards” row in the GeForce NOW app to dive in instantly. Saddle Up Capcom’s Monster Hunter Stories and Monster Hunter Stories 2: Wings of Ruin arrive in the cloud this week. Members can explore vibrant worlds, bond with quirky monsters and experience turn-based role-playing game (RPG) adventures across devices. Saddle up for egg-citement. In Monster Hunter Stories, an RPG that expands the Monster Hunter world, players are no longer hunting monsters but raising them. In this story featuring heroes known as Monster Riders, players live alongside monsters and form lifelong bonds with them. The first installment of the Monster Hunter Stories series returns, fully voiced in Japanese and English, with additional features such as a new museum mode where players can listen to music and view concept art — offering an even deeper dive into the world of Monster Hunter Stories. When fate calls, answer on a dragon’s back. A new adventure awaits in Monster Hunter Stories 2: Wings of Ruin: the second installment of the turn-based RPG series. Become a Monster Rider and form bonds with friendly monsters known as Monsties to fight alongside them in the game’s epic story. These adventures can be enjoyed on almost any device, powered by high-performance GeForce RTX technology. Seamlessly switch between phones, laptops and desktops, and experience every lush landscape and thrilling battle with cloud-streamed visuals and smooth gameplay — no downloads, installs or upgrades required. And the Cloud Goes to … GeForce NOW It’s a big month for games, and this year’s major gaming awards make it an especially great time to be a gamer. Many of the buzziest nominees and fan-favorite titles are playable on GeForce NOW, where it’s easy to jump into the action, catch up on the hits and see what the hype’s all about — all instantly, no downloads required. What a game. A stack of nominated titles are available in the cloud through GeForce NOW, including a majority of Game of the Year (GOTY) contenders like Clair Obscur: Expedition 33, Hollow Knight: Silksong and Kingdom Come: Deliverance II. RPG fans can marathon some of the year’s best titles in the genre through the cloud. Avowed, Clair Obscur: Expedition 33, Kingdom Come: Deliverance II, Monster Hunter Wilds and The Outer Worlds 2 are all streamable on GeForce NOW.​ A masterpiece. Members can also dive into other nominated favorites such as Battlefield 6 and DOOM: The Dark Ages for Best Action, Indiana Jones and the Ancient Circle and Split Fiction for Best Adventure, The Alters and Sid Meier’s Civilization VII for Best Sim/Strategy, ARC Raiders and PEAK for Best Multiplayer, plus esports staples like Counter-Strike 2 and DOTA 2. Whether chasing GOTY, exploring indies like Blue Prince and Hollow Knight: Silksong, or sticking to long-running hits like Fortnite and No Man’s Sky, gamers can always find a top title ready to stream. Loot, Shoot and Look Good Doing It Pack up and stand out. Ultimate members can claim the ARC Raiders “Electrician Backpack: Emerald Wave Variant” — an in-game cosmetic item that adds a distinct look. The Emerald Wave design offers a clean, modern touch for Raiders ready to stand out during extraction missions.​​ Jump into battle with style, powered by GeForce RTX 5080-class servers on GeForce NOW, delivering up to 2.8x higher frame rates and a new Cinematic-Quality Streaming mode that makes every firefight shine. The reward is available to Ultimate members through Sunday, Jan. 4, 2026, or while supplies last. Keep an eye on email for instructions to redeem this stylish advantage for the journey ahead. Once claimed, navigate to the Electrician Backpack and select the Emerald Wave color variant to equip it and head off in style. Fresh Crop of Games Where the cows know your name. Everdream Village, a cozy farming adventure from publisher Untold Tales, lets players turn a sleepy island settlement into a thriving, story-filled village. Tend crops, befriend quirky villagers and wrangle a menagerie of charming animals while terraforming the land and sail off to discover new magical islands — all while shaping a laid-back little paradise. In addition, members can look for the following: Skate Story (New release on Steam, Dec. 8) Dome Keeper (New release on Xbox, available on Game Pass, Dec. 9) Death Howl (New release on Steam and Xbox, available on Game Pass, Dec. 9) RuneQuest: Warlords (New release on Steam, Dec. 9) Everdream Village (New release on Steam, Dec. 12) Monster Hunter Stories (Steam) Monster Hunter Stories 2 (Steam) GeForce RTX 5080-ready games: Age of Wonders 4 (Steam, Epic Games Store and Xbox, available on the Microsoft store) Cities: Skylines (Steam and Epic Games Store) Cities: Skylines II (Steam and Xbox, available on Game Pass) What are you planning to play this weekend? Let us know on X or in the comments below. What's on the top of your gaming wishlist this holiday? — NVIDIA GeForce NOW (@NVIDIAGFN) December 10, 2025

Title: Game the Halls: GeForce NOW Brings Holiday Cheer With 30 New Games in the Cloud Date: Thu, 04 Dec 2025 14:00:37 +0000 Link: https://blogs.nvidia.com/blog/geforce-now-thursday-dec-2025/ Editor’s note: The Game Pass edition of ‘Hogwarts Legacy’ will also be supported on GeForce NOW when the Steam and Epic Games Store versions launch on the service later this month. GeForce NOW is decking the digital halls with 30 new games to keep spirits high all month long. Join the fun with Hogwarts Legacy, the LEGO Harry Potter Collection and a sleighful of new adventures streaming straight from the cloud. The “Half-Price Holiday” sale keeps the savings rolling after Black Friday, with premium GeForce NOW memberships available at 50% off for the first month for a limited time. And GeForce NOW is bringing members a new way to jump into the worlds of some of the most iconic games. Stream select Activision titles through Ubisoft+ Premium in the cloud for GeForce RTX power  — including Call of Duty: Modern Warfare II, Call of Duty: Modern Warfare III, Crash Bandicoot N. Sane Trilogy and the Spyro Reignited Trilogy, with more to come. That’s not all: Battle.net single sign-on is now live, making it easier than ever for members to leap into Overwatch 2, Diablo IV and other titles without multiple logins. Link once and play instantly, no matter the device. Plus, the GeForce NOW Community Video Contest is rolling on — creators are decking the halls with epic clips and their merriest cloud gaming moments from all over the world. There’s still time to jump in with a clip of a favorite game or a memorable match. Submit a clip and score two Ultimate day passes — one to share with a friend and one to keep — plus a chance to win a one-year Ultimate membership. Half-Price Holiday Wrap up the year with half off. The holiday season continues with more ways to play. Even after Black Friday, GeForce NOW is keeping the celebration going with its “Half-Price Holiday” offer. For a limited time, premium memberships are half off for the first month. Performance and Ultimate tiers unlock shorter queue times, longer gaming sessions and access to more than 2,000 additional Install-to-Play titles powered by GeForce RTX in the cloud. The “Half-Price Holiday” sale is the perfect opportunity to experience premium gaming at a fraction of the cost and keep the winter gaming streak alive. The sale wraps up on Tuesday, Dec. 30, while supplies last, so now’s the time to lock in that first month at half off and head into the new year with the GeForce NOW premium experience. Auto Sign-In, Auto Win One login, endless worlds. GeForce NOW is making it easier than ever for members to jump into games from Blizzard Entertainment, Activision and more. Starting today, members can link their Battle.net accounts directly to GeForce NOW for automatic single sign-on across all supported devices. After a quick one-time setup, members are automatically logged in for future cloud gaming sessions — no extra steps, no password juggling, just instant access to Battle.net favorites like Overwatch 2 and Diablo IV. The update expands on existing automatic login support for Xbox, Epic Games and Ubisoft, further streamlining the GeForce NOW cloud gaming experience. Whether at home or on the go, members can enjoy faster, simpler, smoother access to the games they love. A Very GeForce NOW December Eight travelers, one very GeForce NOW cloud. Square Enix’s Octopath Traveler 0 brings the series’ signature wanderlust and quiet drama back to Orsterra, this time with a fresh cast and a few extra tricks up each traveler’s sleeve. The prequel leans into sharp character banter, devious Path Actions and choices that can charm, swindle or strong-arm just about anyone in the way. Expect rich pixel art, big feelings and plenty of scheming as players embark on an adventure of their own creation, navigating revenge and restoration. MARVEL Cosmic Invasion (New release on Steam and Xbox, available on Game Pass, Dec. 1) Call of Duty: Modern Warfare II (New release on Ubisoft, Dec. 2) Call of Duty: Modern Warfare III (New release on Ubisoft, Dec. 2) Crash Bandicoot N. Sane Trilogy (New release on Ubisoft, Dec. 2) XOCIETY (New release on Epic Games Store, Dec. 2) Spyro Reignited Trilogy (New release on Ubisoft, Dec. 2) Lost Records: Bloom & Rage (New release on Xbox, available on Game Pass, Dec. 2) OCTOPATH TRAVELER 0 (New release on Steam, Dec. 4) ROUTINE (New release on Steam and Xbox, available on Game Pass, Dec. 4) MIMESIS (Steam) GeForce RTX 5080-ready games: Enshrouded (Steam) Fallout 76 (Steam and Xbox, available on Game Pass) Catch the full list of games coming to the cloud in December: Dome Keeper (New release on Xbox, available on Game Pass, Dec. 9) Death Howl (New release on Steam and Xbox, available on Game Pass, Dec. 9) Everdream Village (New release on Steam, Dec. 12) ARC Raiders (Epic Games Store) Dying Light: The Beast (Epic Games Store) Citizen Sleeper (Steam) For the King II (Steam) Jurassic World Evolution 3 (Epic Games Store) Hogwarts Legacy (Steam, Epic Games Store, and Xbox, available on Game Pass) LEGO Harry Potter Collection (Steam) Lara Croft and the Temple of Osiris (Xbox, available on Game Pass) Pigeon Simulator (Xbox, available on Game Pass) Pacific Drive (Xbox, available on Game Pass) Powerwash Simulator 2 (Steam) Shape of Dreams (Steam) Storage Hunter Simulator (Steam) Sword of the Sea (Steam) Underground Garage (Steam) Warhammer 40,000: SPACE MARINE 2 (Epic Games Store) Witchfire (Epic Games Store) ‘Tis the Season for Extra Games In addition to the 23 games announced in November, an extra 10 joined over the month: Apollo Justice: Ace Attorney Trilogy (Steam) The Crew Motorfest (Xbox, available on Game Pass) Cricket 26 (Steam) Kill It With Fire (Xbox, available on PC Game Pass) Moonlighter 2: The Endless Vault (Steam and Xbox, available on Game Pass) Of Ash and Steel (Steam, GeForce RTX 5080-ready) Prologue: Go Wayback! (Steam) Sacred 2 Remaster (Steam) Songs of Silence (Epic Games Store) Zero Hour (Epic Games Store) To improve the overall quality of service for the most played games on GeForce NOW, members will see movement of games in the catalog. Some titles with little-to-no playtime that are currently available in the Ready-to-Play catalog will start moving to Install-to-Play on December 12. Premium members can continue to play these games as part of their Install-to-Play benefits. See this article for details. Some of the most popular Install-to-Play games — including Megabonk, R.E.P.O  and RV There Yet? — have moved to Ready-to-Play, so they’ll always be kept up to date for instant streaming. What are you planning to play this weekend? Let us know on X or in the comments below. Health pots, extra weapons, alternate armor — what's an item you never remove from your inventory? — NVIDIA GeForce NOW (@NVIDIAGFN) December 3, 2025

Title: The Ultimate Black Friday Deal Is Here Date: Thu, 27 Nov 2025 14:00:37 +0000 Link: https://blogs.nvidia.com/blog/geforce-now-thursday-black-friday-2025/ Black Friday is leveling up. Get ready to score one of the biggest deals of the season — 50% off the first three months of a new GeForce NOW Ultimate membership. That’s GeForce RTX 5080-class power in the cloud for half the price. The completed Ultimate upgrade. The NVIDIA Blackwell RTX upgrade is now fully live across all servers — including in Stockholm, the final region to receive the upgrade — bringing even faster performance and lower latency to more members. To celebrate this milestone, Ultimate members can claim a Battlefield 6 reward to show off in style. Kick off a gaming-filled weekend with seven new titles joining the GeForce NOW library. And the GeForce NOW Community Video Contest continues. Submit epic gameplay moments or share what makes streaming with GeForce NOW special for a chance to win Ultimate day passes or even a full year of Ultimate access. Keep those clips rolling — there’s still time to enter and level up chances to win. Black Friday, GFN Thursday Green is the new black. The Ultimate Black Friday Sale is the perfect time to upgrade to peak cloud performance, with Blackwell RTX now live worldwide. Through Sunday, Nov. 30, the first three months of an Ultimate membership are 50% off. An Ultimate membership delivers GeForce RTX 5080-class power from the cloud, powering the fastest frame rates, ultrasmooth gameplay and breathtaking visuals with NVIDIA DLSS 4 technology. With cinematic-quality streaming up to 5K 120 frames per second, every session plays out with premium precision. Top titles like Battlefield 6, Borderlands 4 and Outer Worlds 2 shine with GeForce RTX 50 Series performance. From explosive action to expansive worlds, Ultimate transforms every adventure into a showpiece. The Ultimate Black Friday Sale — available in the U.S., Mexico and Japan — ends at the end of this week. Take advantage now for epic savings and next-level performance. Built for Victors Dominate the battlefield. Ultimate members will turn heads in Battlefield 6 with a new free reward: an in-game weapon skin for the Marksman SVK-8.6 DMR, forged for those who thrive where chaos reigns. The fight takes on new style with a skin that means business, featuring battle-scarred alloy, digital accents and just enough swagger to stir envy among any squad. This weapon skin stands ready for gamers who lock in on victory, even as the odds explode around them. The limited-time reward is available through Friday, Dec. 26. Ultimate members can sign in to GeForce NOW and claim an edge in the midst of chaos. Zoom to New Games Born to push the limits. Project Motor Racing is an ambitious racing simulation game that captures the intensity and challenge of professional motorsport, featuring a wide selection of meticulously recreated cars and global circuits. Designed for both seasoned sim racers and newcomers, it offers deep single-player career modes and robust online competition, all built around immersive physics, dynamic weather and a dedication to authenticity. Every race is a fresh test of skill, with relentless attention to detail and a vibrant, competitive racing community. Check out this week’s new games here: Of Ash and Steel (New release on Steam, Nov. 24, GeForce RTX 5080-ready) Kill It With Fire (Xbox, available on PC Game Pass, Nov. 25) Project Motor Racing (New release on Steam, Nov. 25) Brotato (Steam) Cricket 26 (Steam) GODBREAKERS (Steam) Zero Hour (Epic Games Store) And another GeForce RTX 5080-ready game atop this week’s addition Of Ash and Steel: Phasmaphobia (Steam) Launch dates shared on GFN Thursdays reflect release dates for new titles, which will arrive on GeForce NOW within the following week. Before digging into a gaming weekend, check out the question below. Post answers on X or in the comments below. So, here's the deal. Literally. The Ultimate Black Friday deal is live! GO https://t.co/mMt5aYmSsH #GeForceSeason pic.twitter.com/idnvq6VBlO — NVIDIA GeForce NOW (@NVIDIAGFN) November 25, 2025

Title: Ultimate Cloud Gaming Is Everywhere With GeForce NOW Date: Thu, 20 Nov 2025 14:00:07 +0000 Link: https://blogs.nvidia.com/blog/geforce-now-thursday-ultimate-is-everywhere/ The NVIDIA Blackwell RTX upgrade is nearing the finish line, letting GeForce NOW Ultimate members across the globe experience true next-generation cloud gaming from anywhere. Everyone’s talking about Ultimate memberships — including GeForce NOW partner 2K. “With GeForce NOW Ultimate, top-tier streaming truly goes everywhere,” said Sean Haran, head of partnerships and licensing at 2K. “Anyone can experience the glory of Borderlands 4, with breathtaking graphics and flawless gameplay powered by GeForce RTX 5080 servers, even without the latest devices. Jump into the cloud and play at high settings, whether you’re at home or on the move.” The community has plenty to say about Ultimate, too. The GeForce NOW Community Video Contest invites gamers to share how GeForce NOW has changed the way they play. Participants can earn two Ultimate day passes — one to keep and one to share with a gaming buddy — and a chance to win a one-year Ultimate membership, just for submitting a clip. Plus, the celebration continues with free in-game skins for both Guild Wars II and Borderlands 4. And Capcom’s Ace Attorney headlines the lineup of nine new titles joining the cloud this week, alongside even more ways to jump in with the new Chromebook Fast Pass. Stockholm will soon be the final region to get Blackwell RTX power, completing the rollout of GeForce RTX 5080-class performance worldwide. Ultrasmooth streaming, cutting-edge visuals and lightning-fast responsiveness are unlocking new levels of performance for Ultimate members. The Ultimate Leap Ultimate is everywhere, with Stockholm to be the final region to upgrade. GeForce RTX 5080-class performance is lighting up regions around the globe, powered by the Blackwell RTX upgrade. Ultimate now streams at up to 5K at 120 frames per second or up to 360 fps at 1080p for sharp, competitive play. Expect cinematic-quality visuals, advanced ray tracing and AI-powered performance that makes every frame shine on nearly any device. From the neon buzz of Cyberpunk 2077 to the over-the-top chaos of Borderlands 4, gaming has never looked — or felt — this good. With high-dynamic-range visuals, support for racing wheels, ultrawide displays, gaming handhelds running up to 90 fps and an expanded library of over 4,000 games thanks to the Install-to-Play feature — GeForce NOW enables every gamer to play bigger, go longer and jump right into blockbuster adventures without worrying about hardware. The Ultimate Contest Members can join in celebrating GeForce RTX 5080-class power streaming all over the world by sharing gameplay videos of why the Ultimate experience stands out. Submit entries on the Blackwell upgrade page. Participants will earn two Ultimate day passes — either for keeping or sharing with a friend. Top 10 entries will win a one-year Ultimate membership to keep the gaming going. Calling All Heroes The celebrations don’t stop there. GeForce NOW members are in for a treat: fantastic rewards are up for grabs in Borderlands 4 and Guild Wars 2. Stand out in the mayhem. GeForce NOW Ultimate members can claim the bold ECHO-4 drone skin in Borderlands 4 to show off their style while experiencing the game with cinematic-quality streaming and up to 2.8x higher frame rates, powered by NVIDIA Blackwell RTX servers. Rule the realm in style. And in Guild Wars 2, Ultimate members can unlock the regal and ruthless Bloody Prince Outfit, perfect for making a memorable entrance in the new “Visions of Eternity” expansion. Jump into epic quests across Castora to carve legends, harness ancient magic and stand out among heroes. It’s all about perks, effortless streaming and instant access — no downloads required. With a GeForce NOW membership, play with style, power and rewards that let members shine in the worlds they explore. Claim member rewards in the GeForce NOW account portal, then follow the instructions to collect the in-game reward. For Borderlands 4, enter the provided SHiFT code in the in-game menu. For Guild Wars 2, log in to the GeForce NOW account to redeem. Ready to Battle It’s justice time. Apollo Justice’s legal journey begins anew. In Apollo Justice: Ace Attorney Trilogy, join rookie attorney Apollo Justice and his mentor, the legendary Phoenix Wright, in this collection of three games. It features the 14 episodes of Apollo Justice: Ace Attorney, Phoenix Wright: Ace Attorney – Dual Destinies and Phoenix Wright: Ace Attorney – Spirit of Justice, as well as two special episodes that were previously only offered as downloadable content, for a total of 16 episodes. Also included is a mountain of extra goodies — such as xx, yy and zz — sure to satisfy any Ace Attorney fan. Stream this legendary courtroom drama anywhere with GeForce NOW. Experience the sharp wit and thrilling investigations of Apollo Justice: Ace Attorney Trilogy across laptops, Macs, phones and other gaming devices. With GeForce NOW powering the action, every objection comes through in high fidelity — no long downloads, no waiting, just instant access to justice. Zoom Down the Fast-Pass Lane Gotta go fast. Gaming just got a major upgrade for Chromebook users. The GeForce NOW Chromebook Fast Pass unlocks a full year of cloud gaming with no ads or waiting in queues for a year — simple, accessible and Chromebook-friendly. With this exclusive perk, Chromebook owners get 12 months of priority access to stream over 2,000 Ready-to-Play PC games from major libraries, all at 1080p and 60 fps, and without ads.​ It’s never been easier to turn a Chromebook into a high-powered gaming rig. Grab a Fast Pass, jump into the action and take favorite PC games anywhere — whether at home or on the go. This offer is available for new Chromebook and Chromebook+ owners, as well as new and existing GeForce NOW free users. Let’s Play Today Rise from the rubble. “Season 1: California Resistance” is Battlefield 6’s second major update, transforming luxurious pools and private golf courses into a sprawling combat zone, with new updates to Battlefield 6 and free-to-play ‘REDSEC’ experience. New maps stretch across abandoned city blocks and fractured coastlines, while fresh factions, vehicles and gadgets bring new strategies to the fight. It’s the dawn of a new chapter for Battlefield 6, full of surprises waiting behind every collapsing wall and cloud of dust. Squad coordination, reactive destruction and cinematic weather events keep every round unpredictable. Storm idyllic fairways and jump into chaos with an all-new Golf Cart on the new MP Map Eastwood. Even on the back nine, every explosion feels and takedown feels bigger, bolder and more cinematic than before. In addition, members can look for the following: SpongeBob SquarePants: Titans of the Tide (New release on Steam, Nov. 18) Long Drive North (New release on Steam, Nov. 18) Demonschool (New release on Steam, Nov. 19) Moonlighter 2: The Endless Vault (New release on Steam and Xbox, available on Game Pass, Nov. 20) Monsters Are Coming! Rock & Road (New release on Steam and Xbox, available on Game Pass, Nov. 20) Prologue: Go Wayback! (New release on Steam, available Nov. 20) The Crew Motorfest (New release on Xbox, available on PC Game Pass, Nov. 20) Apollo Justice: Ace Attorney Trilogy (Steam) Sacred 2 Remaster (Steam) GeForce RTX 5080-ready game: Star Wars Outlaws (Steam and Ubisoft Connect) To access supported Ubisoft titles from Xbox PC Game Pass on GeForce NOW — such as this week’s addition, The Crew Motorfest — refer to this article for further details. Launch dates shared on GFN Thursdays reflect release dates for new titles, which will arrive on GeForce NOW within the following week. What are you planning to play this weekend? Let us know on X or in the comments below. Rewards are on their way! @GuildWars2 Bloody Prince Outfit for GFN members@Borderlands 4 ECHO-4 Drone skin for Ultimate members Opt-in for GFN Rewards on your account so you don’t miss out https://t.co/BgW4GNBmUE pic.twitter.com/JamlTcQ8db — NVIDIA GeForce NOW (@NVIDIAGFN) November 17, 2025  

Title: 10 indie games from 2025 that delighted the PlayStation Indies teams Date: Mon, 22 Dec 2025 16:00:40 +0000 Link: https://blog.playstation.com/2025/12/22/10-indie-games-from-2025-that-delighted-the-playstation-indies-teams/ The joy of working with indies is never knowing what you’ll stumble upon next. Every year brings something unexpected and delightful, no matter what your genre of preference is. The indie-focused teams here at Sony Interactive Entertainment have bundled up some of their personal favorite indie games from the past year. Here are some of the games that surprised, enchanted, and tickled us in 2025. Baby Steps Developer: Gabe Cuzzillo, Maxi Boch, Bennett FoddyPublisher: Devolver Digital Play Video An irreverent, physics-driven stumble-through-life adventure built on those wonderfully punishing physics that made Bennett Foddy’s Getting Over It so iconic. Why we love it: We had a hard time really explaining the elevator pitch to our colleagues after we played it — this is one of those games you simply have to feel to understand. When we handed a controller to SIE’s Sid Shuman and his character immediately slid helplessly down a mountain in the most dramatic way possible, he broke into that tears-in-your-eyes kind of laugh. And it went on for a while. That’s when it clicked for us: the chaos, the tenderness, the humor — it all makes sense the second you take that first clumsy step. Ball X Pit Developer: Kenny SunPublisher: Devolver Digital Play Video A chaotic, neon-soaked arcade blast where everything moves fast, loud, and just slightly unhinged. Why we love it: A few of us got an early look at this one from Devolver, and we knew it was sticky when several folks on our team found themselves compelled to keep playing it long after they’d already finished writing up the review. It’s pure, joyful chaos — the kind of game that grabs you immediately and refuses to let go. And for me personally, seeing Kenny Sun behind this made it even better. I’ve followed his work since my early editorial days and loved his 2016 platformer Circa Infinity. Watching his evolution from those minimalist, mind-bending roots to something this loud, playful, and polished — all as a single developer — is incredibly cool. Blue Prince Developer: Banana Bird StudiosPublisher: Raw Fury Play Video A surreal, shifting-room puzzle mystery that constantly reinvents itself as you explore. Why we love it: There’s nothing better than a hypnotic, mysterious puzzle game that refuses to play by the rules, and Blue Prince nails that feeling. Several of us ended up having the same unexpected experience with it — even though it’s a single-player game, it became something we played alongside our partners or friends at home. We’d compare notes, swap theories, and brainstorm puzzle solutions together like we were part of some shared secret. That sense of quiet discovery, of unraveling something strange and elegant piece by piece, is exactly what makes this one so special. It’s stylish, clever, and lingers with you long after you stop playing. Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 Developer: Sandfall InteractivePublisher: Kepler Interactive Play Video A striking, painterly RPG about breaking a prophecy and claiming a future that was never supposed to be yours. Why we love it: The art direction grabbed us immediately, and the combat hits that sweet spot between thoughtful and cinematic. Such a beautiful game with tremendous acting, tight gameplay, and possibly the greatest gaming soundtrack ever. Montpellier-based team Sandfall Interactive wears their inspirations on their sleeve — from European illustration traditions to the emotional arc and iconic gameplay of your favorite RPGs. You can feel those influences in every character, creature, and brushstroke. It’s bold, beautiful, and exactly the kind of creative vision we love. Despelote Developer: Julián Cordero and Sebastian ValbuenaPublisher: Panic Play Video A grounded, slice-of-life adventure set in early-2000s Quito, capturing a neighborhood—and a country—caught up in Ecuador’s historic 2002 World Cup qualifying run. Why we love it: Despelote captures a cultural moment that meant so much to so many Ecuadorians, and it does it through small, everyday details that feel incredibly personal. We were struck by how intimate it felt. The narrative is a step back in time drawn from the creators’ childhood memories in Quito. The art style adds to that effect with a gentle, dreamlike quality that makes the world feel both real and surreal. It’s warm, human, and a heartfelt celebration of their people. Dispatch Developer: AdHoc StudioPublisher: AdHoc Studio Play Video A sharp-witted episodic superhero workplace comedy where you’re not the hero, but the one sending them. Why we love it: From the get-go, Dispatch had us hooked: it draws you in with its vibrant art style, razor-sharp writing, and versatile mechanics that fluidly shift from thoughtful narrative choices to challenging puzzles and the chaos of superhero dispatch management. What sets it apart, though, is how quickly these larger-than-life characters develop as you play. Beneath the capes and theatrics, they’re full of surprising warmth, messy emotions, and a delightful streak of pettiness that fuels hilarious office drama. It’s a refreshing twist on the narrative-driven adventure games and super hero content we’ve all grown accustomed to. Dispatch finds its own unique voice in that space, which is a superhuman feat in itself, and focuses on unmasking the larger-than-life personalities to study the flawed people behind the costumes. AdHoc reminds us why this genre continues to be so compelling. Hollow Knight: Silksong Developer: Team CherryPublisher: Team Cherry Play Video The long-awaited sequel to Hollow Knight, delivering sharper movement, richer combat, and a haunting new world. Why we love it: Few modern indies have had the cultural impact of Hollow Knight — it became a touchstone for precision platforming, atmosphere, and handcrafted design. Silksong builds on that legacy with the same meticulous attention to detail that made the original so beloved. Team Cherry’s craftsmanship is extraordinary for a studio of their size, and once again, we found ourselves completely lost in their world. It’s elegant, ambitious, and a reminder of just how far great artistry can go. Lumines Arise Developer: EnhancePublisher: Enhance Play Video A modern evolution of the puzzle-rhythm classic, polished into a hypnotic little gem. Why we love it: Enhance has been behind some of the most transcendent puzzle experiences ever made — from Rez Infinite to Tetris Effect — and Lumines Arise carries that same lineage of arcadey, synesthetic brilliance. They’re simply the best at what they do. When the visuals, music, and patterns lock together, it drops you into that unmistakable flow state where your brain finally exhales. It’s stylish, soothing, and one of those games we keep “accidentally” playing for an hour. Pipistrello and the Cursed Yo-Yo Developer: Pocket TrapPublisher: PM Studios Play Video A stylish, fast-moving action-platformer built around a surprisingly deep, yo-yo-based moveset. Why we love it: This is one of those games that feels instantly good the second you touch it. The movement is expressive, the combat has real snap, and the whole thing radiates personality. We were impressed by how they took such a simple mechanic and stretched it into something with real depth and momentum. Sword of the Sea Developer: Giant SquidPublisher: Giant Squid Play Video A serene sand-surfing adventure from Matt Nava and the team behind Journey, Abzû, and The Pathless. Why we love it: Watching Nava’s artistic evolution over the years has been such a joy, and Sword of the Sea feels like a culmination of everything he does best — movement, atmosphere, emotional quiet. It’s already gorgeous and calming on its own, but what really elevated the experience for us were the subtle, innovative touches he layered in. The DualSense haptics in particular add this gentle, tactile dimension to surfing across the dunes — you feel the world in a way that’s impossible to describe until the controller is in your hands. It’s thoughtful, immersive, and one of those experiences that stays with you long after you sign off. Honorable Mentions Citizen Sleeper 2 Demonschool Ender Magnolia: Bloom in the Mist Hotel Infinity Lonely Mountains: Snow Riders Lost Records Bloom & Rage Ninja Gaiden Ragebound Promise Mascot Agency Rematch The Alters The Midnight Walk To a T Wanderstop Wheel World These games represent just a fraction of the incredible creativity happening across the indie landscape. We’re thrilled to support such creative, genre-defying work and we can’t wait to see what’s next.

Title: Behind the scenes of Lumines Arise with Enhance Date: Mon, 22 Dec 2025 13:00:06 +0000 Link: https://blog.playstation.com/2025/12/22/behind-the-scenes-of-lumines-arise-with-enhance/ Hello everyone! I’m Takashi Ishihara, the Game Director and Art Director for Lumines Arise at Enhance. It’s been a little over a month since we released Lumines Arise, a reimagining of the Lumines puzzle game series originally introduced in 2004, on PlayStation 5 with optional PS VR2 support. Hopefully, you’ve been enjoying playing through the Journey mode, exploring the Mission mode and its Training missions and Challenges, battling other players around the world in Burst Battle, or taking part in Weekend Loomii Live events. I’d like to give you more insight into the development of Lumines Arise and how the team at Enhance brought this project to life. Defining next-generation Lumines We already knew that after Tetris Effect: Connected, we wanted to revisit Lumines. The big question in our heads at that time was, “What defines the next Lumines?” An image began brewing in my head, and I spent time thinking about key words and colors that would represent the new game. It was all very abstract at first, but slowly the main idea took shape. This is when I sat down with Executive Producer Tetsuya Mizuguchi to align on the core concept and where we’d like this iteration to go. Once that was agreed upon, I went full tilt in designing individual stages, picking out moments or feelings I wanted to see visualized, including the UI/UX, getting an idea of the musical styles that might pair with each. As it came together, I made a pre-visualization video. That’s when a real team was starting to take shape so I shared it with them. We started talking about how to make the concept even better and improve on the foundation. After this initial shaping and polishing process, that’s when we really started building out the game. Developing Stages over time A common question that we get is how long does it take you to create a full stage from start to finish. Well, that’s a bit of a difficult one to answer, since during development we continually polish, improve, and tweak little things throughout. It’s become a bit of our house style at Enhance! At no point do we say, “OK, we’re done with that stage time to move to the next!” The initial design for a single stage is quite broad—its visuals, music, and sound, and the feeling that we want it to evoke. Then, as we work, each person on the team, be it a visual designer or a member of the sound team, contributes tweaks and changes. This back-and-forth process doesn’t stop, but if you laid it all out on a timeline, it might show that it took three or four months per stage from start to finish! At times we would shift focus to certain stages and leave others to “breathe” and come back to them later. Every component of a stage—visuals, sound effects, music—needs to work together in harmony. The design informs the music, the music informs the design, and we change things throughout the process until the very end. When we reach the point where it’s in harmony and feeling good to play, that’s when we know the stage is working and everything is in its most polished, perfected state. Speaking a little more about matching the music to a stage’s visuals, at the beginning it’s very broad. From what I just described, you could say our development style is very flowy. But at the start, we do a lot of music-related planning, analyzing sound waves, looking at the MIDI, timing and BPM data. However, it’s very similar to making something out of a mountain of clay. You have a plan, but as you’re creating it you take things away, add textures, or maybe you have to add elements back to it. Maybe a shape or curve you added doesn’t work anymore. You’re always perfecting and correcting, and our development style gives some room for that flexibility. On the cutting room floor Now, were there any stages we cut from the game? There were a few that we’d started working on very early in development that just didn’t fit thematically. One had an ocean theme, and another was a forest theme—in the end, these didn’t feel cohesive to the Lumines experience we were building. I’d set a high bar for what I wanted out of this new Lumines game. After working on these types of games over the last 20 years, focused on the core synesthesia experience, I had to dig deeper and it turned out that the more darker, cooler feeling tones worked better than the brighter and sometimes softer epic-scale vibes that fit more naturally in a game like Tetris Effect: Connected. That VR feeling This is the first time a Lumines game has been playable in VR, too—have you tried it in PS VR2? We wanted playing Lumines in VR to feel like being in the front row at a concert. The lights, the energy, the stage in front of you. It took quite a bit of tuning to get the camera positioning perfect to elicit these feelings, too. If you’ve played on PS VR2 you may have noticed there are lights and particles and things happening that are not visible when playing on a TV. Those little details, along with the headset vibration, help immerse you in the experience even further. An Immense Task The games in the Lumines series up to now were all built in 2D. With Lumines Arise, we’re bringing all this into 3D, which means we’re working with a ton of assets, lots of sound components, and music. Every stage’s visuals, music, sound effects are different across all 36 stages. It was so ambitious in scope that we increased our production schedule by six months to get it all done. The finished project hopefully appears effortless, but the scale and volume of making this happen were immense. It was an absolutely huge effort by our team over three and a half years. In that time, our team grew, we learned a lot of new technology that we hadn’t used before, tuned each stage to painstaking detail, and we shipped a game that plays on your TV, PlayStation Portal, and in VR via PS VR2. I am so proud that we were able to overcome all the challenges that this game presented to us. Lumines Arise is available right now on PlayStation 5 with optional PS VR2 compatibility. If you’re a PS Plus Premium subscriber, there’s even a game trial available so you can try out the game for yourself.

Title: Official PlayStation Podcast Episode 530: Wrapped With a Bow Date: Fri, 19 Dec 2025 17:03:03 +0000 Link: https://blog.playstation.com/2025/12/19/official-playstation-podcast-episode-530-wrapped-with-a-bow/ Email us at PSPodcast@sony.com! Subscribe via Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or download here Hey, everybody! Sid, Kristen, and Brett are back this week to discuss their top games of 2025, both in terms of hours played and the ones they can’t stop thinking about. This episode also includes a spoiler-filled Ghost of Yōtei interview with Sucker Punch Creative Directors Jason Connell and Nate Fox. Stuff We Talked About Holiday Cards 2025 — Celebrate the holidays with festive cards from our studio friends and developers. See if you can find your favorite characters getting into some yuletide shenanigans. Marathon new features and updates — Get detailed information on all the changes and updates made to Marathon ahead of its March 2026 release. Extract all the data and be prepared to run as a squad or solo. Saros developers reflect on Story Trailer — The Housemarque team breaks down the new story trailer, going over the emotional throughlines of the title, working with seasoned actors to bring the vision to life, and more. Helldivers 2 update —.Blast into some mandatory holiday cheer with the Festival of Reckoning on December 18. Enjoy limited-time access to a host of stratagems and other themed goodies. PlayStation Blog GOTY 2025 Winners — The votes are in, and it’s time to see what the community’s top picks are for 2025. The Cast View and download image Download the image close Close Download this image Sid Shuman – Senior Director of Content Communications, SIE View and download image Download the image close Close Download this image Brett Elston – Manager, Content Communications, SIE View and download image Download the image close Close Download this image Kristen Zitani –  Globlal Content Content Communications Manager, SIE Thanks to Dormilón for our rad theme song and show music. [Editor’s note: PSN game release dates are subject to change without notice. Game details are gathered from press releases from their individual publishers and/or ESRB rating descriptions.]

Title: Share of the Week: Microsoft Flight Simulator 2024 Date: Fri, 19 Dec 2025 17:00:03 +0000 Link: https://blog.playstation.com/2025/12/19/share-of-the-week-microsoft-flight-simulator-2024/ Last week, we asked you take off and share your best moments in Microsoft Flight Simulator using #PSshare #PSBlog. Here’s this week’s highlights: Akkan_Vader shares a birdseye view of their plane above a sprawling city TheSkinnyRage shares their plane taking off into the night Akkan_Vader shares their plane on the tarmac ready to take off Search #PSshare #PSBlog on Twitter or Instagram to see more entries to this week’s theme, or be inspired by other great games featuring Photo Mode. Want to be featured in the next Share of the Week? View and download image Download the image close Close Download this image THEME: Share of the YearSUBMIT BY: 11:59 PM PT on January 7, 2026 We’re wrapping up an incredible year in gaming. Share your best shots taken in games from 2025 using #PSshare #PSBlog for a chance to be featured in Share of the Year!

Title: Like A Dragon: 20th anniversary interview Date: Fri, 19 Dec 2025 15:00:44 +0000 Link: https://blog.playstation.com/2025/12/19/like-a-dragon-20th-anniversary-interview/ Unforgettable stories and characters, outrageous combat, and some hilarious mini-games – the acclaimed Yakuza / Like a Dragon series has a massive following for all the right reasons. With Yakuza Kiwami 3 & Dark Ties’ launching on PlayStation 5 February 12 next year – and to celebrate the franchise’s 20th anniversary, with the first game Yakuza launching on PS2 20 years ago this month – it’s only fitting to mark the moment with some of the developers who know these hard-hitting titles best. So we sat down with Executive Producer Masayoshi Yokoyama, Chief Director Ryosuke Horii, and Chief Producer Hiroyuki Sakamoto to talk about their thoughts on the series’ 20th anniversary, its journey so far, and the upcoming Yakuza Kiwami 3 & Dark Ties.  Play Video How is the studio celebrating the milestone?  Yokoyama: We envisioned the 20th anniversary to be similar to a ‘coming of age,’ reflecting on the history of Like a Dragon as one might look back on the years from birth to adulthood. We have various events and special footage planned that celebrate this journey, and in addition to the currently running ‘The Four Ceremonies of Life Exhibition’ in Tokyo, more initiatives are scheduled to roll out beyond December 8. We hope to continue celebrating with fans until December 7 of next year, so that the series will remain in the hearts of many for years to come. When you compare how the series and the studio are now to when the franchise began, what are the things you’re most proud of?  Yokoyama: Maybe people can finally say they enjoy the Like a Dragon series more openly (laughs). In the past, it wasn’t something you could really say out loud; its reputation and brand image made it hard to talk about publicly. Back in the early days, even some of the studio developers kept their involvement a secret from their parents or girlfriends.  But about ten years in, more staff began proudly acknowledging their work on the series. There was even a case where being part of the project helped someone gain approval for marriage from their partner’s parents. That’s when it really sank in how much the series’ presence and perception in the world had evolved. Now that RGG Studio is growing into a recognized brand, we want to continue nurturing it with care so that it remains something our staff, partners, cast and fans can all be proud of. Play Video The series has evolved drastically since 2005, how would you say other modern releases have impacted your development approach? Would you say you always do your own thing, or are you influenced by current trends? Yokoyama: I don’t consciously chase trends, but my environment today is vastly different from what it was 20 years ago, so my creative approach has naturally evolved. A major reflection of that change is our growing exposure to global culture.  With the rise of streaming platforms like YouTube and Netflix, we now encounter diverse cultures from around the world on a daily basis. This was unimaginable when the series first began in 2005. Back then, our development studio was about 90% male and almost entirely Japanese. Today, more than 10% of our team members are from abroad, and the gender ratio is nearly an even 50:50.  We went through a dramatic transformation in the past two decades, and I believe this evolving environment has naturally influenced our creative output. Looking ahead, we’ll continue to embrace these changes, trust in who we are now, and keep creating in our own way. Play Video You’ve also earned quite the reputation for turning around games very quickly, with a very consistent release schedule – how do you maintain such a development pace and keep the quality so high?Sakamoto: I believe this is thanks to the workflow we’ve perfected over many years of working on the series. Our team takes pride in refining quality while eliminating unnecessary tasks and consistently pursuing the most efficient approach to development. This strong awareness of quality, scale, time, and cost makes our achievements possible. Yakuza/Like a Dragon games have become quite renowned for changing with the times, mostly taking place in their year of release – have there been titles in which that’s proved a challenge, or perhaps even advantageous? Sakamoto: Entertainment districts like Kamurocho have changed drastically over the past 20 years. So, when working on the mainline titles set in the present day, we need to research the current landscape, which presents its own challenges. On the other hand, spin-off titles have more freedom since they allow for a certain level of creative freedom. Play Video Since Y7 effectively passed the baton to Ichiban, were you surprised the audience liked him so much? Shifting away from Kiryu as the series’ main protagonist must have been a little nerve-wracking. Sakamoto: Personally, I was never worried. I trusted that by the time players reached the end of the story, they’d grow to like Ichiban. The same goes for characters from past titles; if players can truly connect with the characters’ personalities, anyone can take the lead. That’s the kind of strength this series has. There’ve been some amazing minigames across the series. What’s the creative process for those? Horii: The heart of the Like a Dragon series lies in its drama, so every project begins by defining the story’s concept and choosing the setting that works best for it. From there, we craft side content that aligns with both the theme and the concept of the game. For instance, in Yakuza: Like a Dragon, Kasuga’s theme revolved around ‘rising to the top,’ which led us to develop the business management feature. In Like a Dragon: Infinite Wealth, the Hawaiian setting inspired the ‘Dondoko Island’ resort-building minigame. Each piece of content is designed to deepen the player’s immersion in the story and setting, and that is at the core of our creative process. Practically speaking, we start by presenting the concept to the minigame development team, such as outlining the experience we want to deliver and the nuances we hope to capture. From there, the team goes through weekly cycles of trial and error. The most important thing is preserving the signature Like a Dragon humor. Whether it’s turning an ‘apology’ into a finishing move during a shareholders’ meeting or letting players build multiple cabarets on Dondoko Island, we put great care into capturing those playful, humorous moments and making sure every detail lands just right. Play Video The series has featured some seminal arcade titles within its Club Sega recreations – how early does the conversation in picking which titles should feature in a game’s arcade begin during development?  Horii: Our studio’s technical director, Itō, is well versed in retro games, so he leads the discussions on the lineup. Since we’re dealing with older titles, it’s not as simple as including whatever we want. Each game comes with its own unique challenges, whether that’s the difficulty of porting, licensing concerns, or other technical hurdles. Taking all of that into account, we select games that we love, that are feasible within our timeframe and technical limits, and that we genuinely want today’s players to experience. Many of us, myself included, are passionate about retro games, so our biggest priority is choosing titles that are crafted with care, and those we truly respect and want to play again. Play Video Yakuza Kiwami 3 & Dark Ties is billed as an “extreme” remake of the original, plus all-new content. What has shaped the decisions to so extensively retool the title, and do you feel that’s the ideal approach for any future adaptations of past works?  Yokoyama: For now, we haven’t made any concrete decisions about remaking additional past titles. At RGG Studio, our ongoing mission is to create games that are fun to play in the present moment. Our philosophy, ‘do whatever it takes to make it happen,’ will continue to guide us moving forward. That same mindset is reflected in Yakuza Kiwami 3 & Dark Ties. These titles also feature significant elements that point toward the series’ future direction, so we hope fans who have already played Yakuza 3 will give it a try as well. What can players of the original Yakuza 3 look forward to in Kiwami 3 – how is it different? Similarly, what can players new to the franchise expect? Horii: The changes and evolution in Kiwami 3 as a game go far beyond what most people might imagine compared to the original Yakuza 3. While the core story remains the same, we’ve added many new cut scenes, characters, and voice lines. With the addition of major side content like ‘Life at Morning Glory’ and ‘Legendary Baddie, Bad Boy Dragon,’ the game’s overall design, pacing, and structure have been completely reworked. It’s a title that truly stands on its own as a brand-new release from RGG Studio. Whether you’re experiencing it for the first time or returning after playing the original, you’ll find a fresh and exciting experience that feels entirely new. Can players brand-new to Like a Dragon games enjoy Kiwami 3’s story without knowledge of the wider series? Horii: Absolutely. There’s a story recap feature for previous titles, and the game is designed so that even newcomers can jump right in, so we’d be delighted if new players gave it a try.  That said, playing the earlier games will help you connect more deeply with the characters and story, so if you have time before the release of Kiwami 3, we’d love for players to play Yakuza 0, Kiwami 1, and Kiwami 2 as well. Play Video What are your thoughts and future goals as you celebrate the 20th anniversary? Horii: I never imagined the series would continue for 20 years, nor that I would end up spending nearly half my life making Like a Dragon. Each entry in the series, I’ve poured everything into it, thinking that it could be the last one, without worrying about what comes next. Looking back, I think that approach has served me well. All forms of entertainment will come to an end someday. I don’t know when that will be, but I have no intention of simply wishing for the series to continue. I’d rather stick to a forward-looking mindset that even if it were to be the last one, I’d have no regrets. From here on, we’ll keep moving forward in our own way, fuelled by our love for the characters and deep pride in our craft. Sakamoto: It’s hard to believe it’s already been 20 years. We’ve devoted ourselves completely to each game, so there’s been almost no time to reflect on the past. To push the Like a Dragon IP even further, we need to keep evolving and embracing new challenges in the years ahead. Yokoyama: To be honest, I don’t feel particularly sentimental about it. For the past 20 years, my focus has always been on looking ahead and creating games every day, so I rarely find myself reflecting on the past. That said, through the events celebrating the series’ 20th anniversary, I had a rare opportunity to look back on the history of Like a Dragon, almost from the same perspective as our fans. It gave me a renewed appreciation for the lasting appeal of the series. I hope to carry the lessons and emotions I’ve gained from that reflection and channel them into creating something exciting moving forward.  Yakuza Kiwami 3 & Dark Ties hits PS5 on February 12 so there’s not long to wait before you can reclaim these mean streets. But if you’re itching for action right now, join the crew via PlayStation Plus Game Catalog, where you can enjoy a selection from the series, including Yakuza: Like a Dragon and Like a Dragon Gaiden: The Man Who Erased His Name*. *Available on PlayStation Plus Game Catalog at time of publish.

Title: The seventh RPS Christmas Cracker 2025 Date: Sat, 27 Dec 2025 16:00:00 +0000 Link: https://www.rockpapershotgun.com/the-seventh-rps-christmas-cracker-2025 We eight scribes from RPS are, Bearing jokes, we wrote in the past, Christmas crackers, god we’re knackered, After twelve months of graft. O, reader of wonder, loved the most, Why not subscribe to Supporters posts? January leading, still proceeding, See you once we’ve munched our roasts. But first, time to enjoy your lovely joke! Read more

Title: The RPS Selection Box: James' bonus games of the year 2025 Date: Sat, 27 Dec 2025 10:00:00 +0000 Link: https://www.rockpapershotgun.com/the-rps-selection-box-james-bonus-games-of-the-year-2025 RPS Advent Calendar voting remains an esoteric and mercurial process, even to those of us who practice in it. If two games get the same amount of votes, which goes higher in the list? Did Deep Rock Galactic: Survivor technically release in 2025 or 2024? These are questions most of us dare not ask, and those that do often vanish mysteriously overnight. Until January 3rd or so, when they come back from holiday. One thing’s for sure: I had a bunch of games that no-one else voted for. Don’t be sad, games. I still like you. Read more

Title: The sixth RPS Christmas Cracker 2025 Date: Fri, 26 Dec 2025 16:00:00 +0000 Link: https://www.rockpapershotgun.com/the-sixth-rps-christmas-cracker-2025 We eight scribes from RPS are, Bearing jokes, we wrote in the past, Christmas crackers, god we’re knackered, After twelve months of graft. O, reader of wonder, loved the most, Why not subscribe to Supporters posts? January leading, still proceeding, See you once we’ve munched our roasts. But first, time to enjoy your lovely joke! Read more

Title: Mark's most anticipated PC games for 2026 Date: Fri, 26 Dec 2025 14:00:00 +0000 Link: https://www.rockpapershotgun.com/marks-most-anticipated-pc-games-for-2026 2025 had video games. 2026 will have video games. GTA 6 might be one of those video games. However, it’s currently only pencilled in for console next year. Not that I considered writing about it in this sort of article two years running, just for a laugh. That’d be hackish and beneath the level I hold myself to. Well, by about three millimeters. Read more

Title: The RPS 100: Reader Edition (2025) - your favourite games of all time Date: Fri, 26 Dec 2025 12:00:00 +0000 Link: https://www.rockpapershotgun.com/the-rps-100-reader-edition-2025-your-favourite-games-of-all-time Welcome to the third ever RPS 100: Readers Edition. This is the (nearly) annual tradition of you, RPS readers, telling us where we went wrong in our annual tradition of trying to fit all of our favourite games into a list of the 100 best PC games of all time. The list below is your list, voted for by your fellow readers. Read more