Kotaku Tuesday, December 23, 2025 5:02 PM
A viral Unreal Engine 5 render of gritty Mario has fresh voiceover and it's the best The post Newly Dubbed <i>Mario</i> Fan Video Perfectly Lampoons AAA Gaming appeared first on Kotaku. |
Kotaku Tuesday, December 23, 2025 2:34 PM
From the weirdest little guys to the bravest heroes, here are our favorite characters from this year The post The Best Video Game Characters Of 2025 appeared first on Kotaku. |
Kotaku Tuesday, December 23, 2025 12:57 PM
007: First Light will get some extra polish The post James Bond Game Delayed 3 Months, Snagging <i>GTA 6′</i>s Old Spot appeared first on Kotaku. |
Kotaku Tuesday, December 23, 2025 12:51 PM
The Limited Run Games' edition is showing up with defects and damage The post <em>Sonic</em> Fans Waited Over A Year For This Crummy <em>Shadow Generations</em> Collector's Edition, And They Want Their Money Back appeared first on Kotaku. |
Kotaku Tuesday, December 23, 2025 12:03 PM
While a legitimate way to play, THump isn't winning any friends with his PvP antics The post Washed-Up Pro Gamer Goes Viral For Griefing In <i>Arc Raiders</i>: 'You Want Optional PvP Go Play <i>WoW</i>' appeared first on Kotaku. |
Kotaku Tuesday, December 23, 2025 11:35 AM
Lock in your drone purchase before this deal is dead and gone. The post DJI Mini 3 Drone With RC Goes Final Clearance at Its Cheapest Price, Selling Faster Than Expected After a Major Price Drop appeared first on Kotaku. |
Kotaku Tuesday, December 23, 2025 11:30 AM
Breakout hit TV series Heated Rivalry is pulling in stellar ratings and endless thirst The post The People Yearn For Gay Hockey Romance As <i>Heated Rivalry</i> Ties Top-Rated Episode Of All Time appeared first on Kotaku. |
Kotaku Tuesday, December 23, 2025 11:27 AM
The Call of Duty co-creator was killed in a car accident on Sunday The post The Video Game Industry Pays Tribute To Vince Zampella: 'The Embodiment Of A Legend' appeared first on Kotaku. |
Kotaku Tuesday, December 23, 2025 11:05 AM
With these headphones for 22% off, staying motivated during winter runs just got a lot easier and more enjoyable. The post Shokz OpenRun Pro 2 Price Drop Makes It a Budget Bone Conduction Headphone, Gear Up for Your 2026 Fitness Goals appeared first on Kotaku. |
PCGamesN Tuesday, December 23, 2025 3:00 PM If you've not grabbed Hollow Knight Silksong yet, then you'll be pleased that Humble Bundle has its at its lowest price yet. |
PCGamesN Tuesday, December 23, 2025 12:46 PM Inspired by an old, RTS-inspired mechanic from a past expansion, Ark Survival Ascended may bring a top-down twist to its Lost Colony DLC. |
PCGamesN Tuesday, December 23, 2025 12:42 PM Exfil has had a rocky first year in early access, but it's hoping to win players back with a mammoth free trial and lots of new content. |
PCGamesN Tuesday, December 23, 2025 5:13 PM These new Anime Auto Chess codes can boost you through the harder stages of the Roblox game with free gems, emblems, dice, and more. |
PCGamesN Tuesday, December 23, 2025 5:15 PM Get free Lumens, XP Vows, and clan rolls with the latest Jujutsu Zero codes for the new high-octane magical melee RPG game on Roblox. |
Rock Paper Shotgun Latest Articles Feed Tuesday, December 23, 2025 3:34 PM  (Strokes cat) Good eeeeeevening, Mr Bond. You thought you could escape 2025 without your game, 007: First Light, catching a delay? For shame, Mr Bond. It has, and will now Bondily emerge in May 2026. |
Siliconera Tuesday, December 23, 2025 6:00 PM
Nintendo announced it updated its Ninten Island in Animal Crossing: New Horizons, its official Dream Island, with New Year 2026 designs for people to collect and wear in the Switch and (soon Switch 2) game. These join the bell bag, Jingle, and wreath ugly sweaters it shared back in November 2025. All of them can be found at the Dream Address DA-6382-1459-4417 when you check in with Luna.
The creator of all three official Nintendo New Year's designs is Nina at MA-6818-1746-6029. The three designs are 2026 Flag, 2026 Hoodie, and 2026 Knit Cap, Each one features a similar design. There's a navy blue background with fireworks, and the year is outlined in purple.
Here's the full list of IDs for each specific item:
And these are the official screenshots of each item that Nintendo shared with us:
We could see more smaller Animal Crossing: New Horizons updates like this in 2026. That's when the major free update and Switch 2 Edition will launch. The patch and upgrade will both debut on January 15, 2026. The Resort Hotel will open and Slumber Islands will appear after someone gets the new download. The Legend of Zelda and Splatoon-themed villagers will also appear.
Animal Crossing: New Horizons is available on the Switch, and the paid Switch 2 Edition upgrade and free update for both versions of the game will debut on January 15, 2026.
The post Animal Crossing: New Horizons New Year 2026 Designs Shared appeared first on Siliconera. |
Siliconera Tuesday, December 23, 2025 5:00 PM
Square Enix announced it is looking for feedback on the Final Fantasy series via a new survey, with the official questionnaire that asks questions about the games available online until January 9, 2026. It is for people ages 16 and up and features over 30 questions about the JRPGs, as well as merchandise and promotions tied to them. There is no reward, like a wallpaper, for participating.
Things start out simple enough with some demographic questions. For example, it starts by asking which consoles and platforms someone has access to, how we find out about games, and our age. There are also questions in the survey designed to gauge how familiar someone is with the Final Fantasy series and how many games they know and bought, like ones asking how many titles were purchased in the last year and if someone picked up FFT: The Ivalice Chronicles. There are general awareness questions to find out if people know about old and new releases, such as the Magic the Gathering expansion and Dissidia Duellum Final Fantasy.
Some of the questions also get into what we might like to see shared on official Final Fantasy accounts for games. For example, Square Enix asked for the reader to select which of nine calendar designs shared on social media they liked best. Square Enix also tries to gauge interest in celebrating entries' anniversaries in this poll. It asks how interested they are in honoring specific titles and the series as a whole. The final question also allows you to write in general feedback or specific requests.
The Final Fantasy Questionnaire is live now, with people able to fill out the survey and share thoughts until January 9, 2026.
The post Square Enix Shares Final Fantasy Series Survey appeared first on Siliconera. |
Siliconera Tuesday, December 23, 2025 4:00 PM
As part of the 2.7 Persona 5: The Phantom X stream, Atlus announced an official cut-in TikTok filter based on the cut-in effect from more recent entries in the series. It will appear worldwide in "late December" 2025. First footage highlighting how it will work also appeared during the reveal segment. [Thanks, Razmos on Resetera!]
For the segment, we got to see how Neki Matsuzawa would look when using the Persona 5: The Phantom X cut-in TikTok filter. When selected, the splash effect will show on-screen and make the background behind the person's face look completely red. The person being photographed can then arrange their face to be within the gap in order to create their perfect cut-in, like one seen during an All-Out Attack. This version is specifically based on the mobile game's effect.
You can see the introduction to the filter at the 1:11:35 moment in the stream below.
As for the rest of the stream, it primarily focused on the half-anniversary event and introduction of Caroline and Justine. The Velvet Room attendants/wardens from Persona 5 are joining the game as playable characters on December 25, 2025.
Persona 5: The Phantom X is available for the PC and mobile devices.
The post 2.7 Persona 5: The Phantom X Shared Cut-in TikTok Filter appeared first on Siliconera. |
Siliconera Tuesday, December 23, 2025 3:00 PM
SuperGroupies announced new items in its Kingdom Hearts collection, as it is now selling new jackets, purses, and Keyblade bag charms based on Sora and Roxas. These are only showing on the Japanese storefront at the moment, as the section based on the series on the US website didn't update yet. Global shipping is available via WorldShopping, and items are expected to ship out in early June 2026.
Both the Sora and Roxas Kingdom Hearts jackets are ¥33,000 (~$211) each. Both are available in sizes small through XXL. While there are patches inside with their Keyblades referenced, the designs on the back are the most notable parts. Sora's black jacket features the Kingdom Key, images referencing his time on Destiny Islands, and the message, "My friends are my power." Roxas' white one has black accents, an interior patch with Oathkeeper and Oblivion Keyblades, and a back design with both of those keychains, a reference to Organization XIII, and the message, "Looks like my summer vacation is… over."
The Kingdom Hearts purses also feature similar matching designs that go together while referencing the two characters. Sora's bag is primarily black, with a stained glass interior referencing the Paupu fruit and Destiny Islands. Roxas' is black and white with his cross symbol and Twilight Town references in its stained glass interior. Both of those are ¥20,900 (~$134). The ¥4,950 (~$32) bag charms for each feature the signature Keyblades also shown on the coats (Kingdom Key for Sora and Oathkeeper and Oblivion with Roxas). The Sora one also has a Paopu fruit charm, silver crown, and keyhole. Roxas' has a checkerboard strap and sea salt ice cream.
Here's how all the items look:
Earlier in 2025, items based on Sora, Riku, Kairi, Roxas, Axel, and Xion also appeared.
The SuperGroupies Sora and Roxas Kingdom Hearts jackets, purses, and Keyblade bag charms are available to pre-order until January 5, 2026, and they will ship in early June 2026.
The post New SuperGroupies Kingdom Hearts Items Based on Sora and Roxas appeared first on Siliconera. |
Siliconera Tuesday, December 23, 2025 2:00 PM
Bandai Namco announced new Tales of series anniversary items that turn the cover and cases of PS1, PS2, PS3, PS4, and PS5 games into keychains. These will first be sold for 300円 (~$2) per try on Gashapon Online in Japan between December 24, 2025 and January 25, 2026, with items shipping in late May 2026. They will also appear in physical machines in the country and may do so before the online orders ship. Since Bandai Namco does operate Gashapon capsule machines worldwide, we could also see these everywhere in 2026.
There are eight game cases referenced in this Tales of series keychain collection, with two PS1 entries, two PS2 JRPGs, two PS3 covers, one PS4 one, and one PS5 one appearing. Each features an exact replica of the front cover art and back design, and opening the case up reveals a tiny disc. There are also no "secrets," so there is an equal chance of pulling each design.
Here are the eight titles represented:
And here's how they'll all look:
This isn't the first time Bandai Namco released keychain charms based on game cases. In 2025, there were ones of PS1 and PS2 titles from Sony.
Tales of series PS1, PS2, PS3, PS4, and PS5 30th anniversary game case keychain collection will appear in Gashapon Online between December 24, 2025 and January 25, 2026 before shipping in May 2026. They'll also appear in physical machines after that initial online sale period.
The post Tales of PS1, PS2, PS3, PS4, PS5 Game Cases Become Keychains appeared first on Siliconera. |
Siliconera Tuesday, December 23, 2025 1:00 PM
Ahead of the holidays, Sega and RGG used a Direct showcase to offer another look at Yakuza Kiwami 3 and Dark Ties, the updated version of the third installment, which focuses on the new gameplay elements in both Kazuma Kiryu and Yoshitaka Mine's storylines. This also offers another opportunity to see how existing Life at Morning Glory Orphanage elements with Kiryu look in this version of the game.
The Yakuza Kiwami 3 and Dark Ties Direct started with the base game. Things began by showing Kiryu and his adopted daughter Haruka at the Morning Glory Orphanage in Okinawa. This section showed off minigames and Family Time Event scenes with the kids living at Morning Glory. We see Kiryu cook, farm, assist with science homework, sew, fish, and play with kids. The Family Time scenes are a bit like substories, in that he'll get to know each kid and connect with them during side quests.
From there, we get to see the new Bad Boy Dragon element of Yakuza Kiwami 3, with the video showing gameplay of Kiryu assisting the Haisai Girls as they protect Okinawa from other groups like Tokyo Nightmare. This means increasing the ranks of the gang, getting them equipment, and taking squadrons into fights.
At the 2:50 mark, the presentation focused on some of the new Yoshitaka Mine storyline features. This is all new-to-us and added for this release. While part of this segment focused on showing how his storyline will work, a big features for this section of the Direct ended up being Kanda Damage Control and Hell's Arena. In the former, Mine takes on Good Deeds, Helping the Little People, and Damage Control Challenges to increase your Kanda Rep rank in town to get monetary rewards and see Bro Time scenes. Hell's Arena involves opportunities to fight for rewards and glory. In a Hellish Brawl, Mine faces a single opponent. If you select a Survival Hell run, that sends him into an area filled with enemies for greater rewards.
Here's the full Yakuza Kiwami 3 and Dark Ties Direct showcase highlighting new gameplay footage.
Yakuza Kiwami 3 and Dark Ties will come to the Switch 2, PS4, PS5, Xbox Series X, and PC on February 12, 2026. The original game is on the PS3, PS4, Xbox One, and PC.
The post Yakuza 3 Kiwami and Dark Ties Direct Highlights New Gameplay Additions appeared first on Siliconera. |
Siliconera Tuesday, December 23, 2025 12:00 PM
Welcome to Siliconera's Game of the Year awards! All week, we'll be naming our top games, culminating in our overall selection. We're starting off with our PlayStation category, which might have been the most cutthroat competition of the bunch. Read on for our selections!
These awards represent the consensus of the Siliconera staff. Multiplatform games are considered on the platform for which they received the most staff support. For more of the year's award selections, check out our Game of the Year 2025 archive.
Like a Dragon: Pirate Yakuza in Hawaii
Even though it's a side game of sorts, Pirate Yakuza has a lot going for it. Ship battles! Fun combat! Weird substories and side activities! It may not be a load-bearing part of the franchise's structure, but it uses that freedom to be delightfully wacky. If only they'd put in a few more Master System games...
Digimon Story: Time Stranger
The Digimon Story games have breathed new life into a franchise that has seen its affinity outstrip its appeal, and Time Stranger continues that work of making a tentpole release worthy of the fandom. The traditional JRPG structure gives more players an entry point, but don't get it twisted: there's a truly wild level of depth and customization to explore.
And yet, in this case, they're not quite the champions.
Winner: Hollow Knight: Silksong
Worth the wait? Few games with development times as long as Hollow Knight: Silksong manage to live up to the years of anticipation, but Team Cherry's sequel sure delivered. Hornet's quest features mechanical refinements and a lush world that keeps you exploring more. Congratulations to our PlayStation Game of the Year 2025! And congratulations to us for no longer having to update our Silksong announcement draft every time there's a big livestream just in case.
The post Siliconera's PlayStation Game of the Year 2025 appeared first on Siliconera. |
Siliconera Tuesday, December 23, 2025 11:00 AM
Bandai Namco has published more details on the upcoming "OathONE" solo concert featuring Chihaya Kisaragi from The Idolmaster series. The company revealed that it will collaborate with Sony, which will provide the Groovots system for the concert.
Sony has recently showcased a demonstration of the Groovots system at the 2025 Sony Technology Exchange Fair. It will consist of a large display robot that shows the main character model and several supporting robots that can move around in accordance with the music while providing additional imagery. More details on the system, including a sneak peek of the devices contained inside, are available in Japanese via Gadget Gate.
In the upcoming concert, Bandai Namco and Sony will deploy a 2-meter-tall (~6'7") main display robot that will show Chihaya's model. The supporting robots will have an approximate height of 1.3 meters (~4'3").
Chihaya Kisaragi is one of the idols who appeared in the original Idolmaster entry. She is performed by Asami Imai, a voice actress who has also released songs on her own. As of the end of 2025, the character has appeared twice on The First Take channel on YouTube, where she performed "Yakusoku (Promise)" and "M@sterpiece," respectively.
Chihaya primarily appears in console games like The Idolm@ster: Starlit Season and the mobile game The Idolm@ster Million Live: Theater Days. Bandai Namco has also added her to The Idolm@ster Shiny Colors: Song for Prism as a guest idol via a time-limited gacha banner.
The Idolmaster Chihaya Kisaragi solo concert "OathONE" will take place at Nippon Budokan in Tokyo, Japan, on January 24-25, 2026.
The post Idolmaster Chihaya Will Perform at Budokan via Groovots appeared first on Siliconera. |
Destructoid Tuesday, December 23, 2025 4:18 PM
The Lost Colony DLC in ARK Survival Ascended has been one of the biggest content updates to date, and it has its own share of bosses to take down.
The new expansion and all the related content revolve around the Arat Prime map. There are two main bosses on the new map: the Lost King and the Lost Queen. This guide will provide you with all the essential information to know if you're looking to complete the expansion as quickly as possible.
Table of contents
All ARK Survival Ascended bosses in Lost Colony DLC
As mentioned earlier, there are two main bosses to take down: Lost King and Lost Queen.
Lost King
The Lost King is actually the main boss of Arat Prime. We already knew about his looks, all thanks to the trailer. You can find him at his palace, which is the hardest stage to complete. To enter, you'll need to craft a Red-Handed relic. Lost King comes in three different variants, with each having its own requirements.
Alpha
Beta
Gamma
The Lost King is one of the most challenging enemies to take down, but doing so has its own rewards. For one, you get to complete the new story, which is pretty intense. This is also the only legitimate way of gaining a Gigadesmodus for yourself.
Lost Queen
Once you defeat the Lost King, you'll have to face the Lost Queen. You'll get to know that she was defeated by Lost King, who made her his queen. The location is the same as the fight directly transits to Lost Queen.
Like Lost King, the Lost Queen battle will have mutople phases. Once you deal enough damage, she will become temporarily immune. You'll then have to break the beam to prevent her from healing and continue the fight.
Once you defeat her, interact with the codex to lower the castle shields and turn the Arat Prime back to its original form. Defeating the Lost Queen officially completes the full Lost Colony DLC campaign.
The post All bosses in ARK Survival Ascended Lost Colony DLC appeared first on Destructoid. |
Destructoid Tuesday, December 23, 2025 2:12 PM
An open-world, soulslike deckbuilder sounds like a mishmash of genres that just shouldn't work. But somehow, developer The Outer Zone has masterfully stitched them all together into something remarkably cohesive—a harrowing, punishing, and visually striking game about grief and survival called Death Howl.
The game hit digital shelves on Dec. 9, and its premise is simple: You play as Ro, a woman who enters the spirit realm to save her son Olvi from the clutches of death. But the other side of the veil isn't all that friendly to outsiders, and Ro must fight her way through dangerous spirits who aim to cut her search short and send her back to the world of the living empty-handed.
Using mana and a deck of cards, you battle these spirits, moving Ro around a gridded battlefield. Each battlefield looks a little different, consisting of a set of tiles arranged in unique layouts with various environmental objects that can either help or hinder you in the fight. The foes you face vary greatly in design and combat style: floating crow heads that attack from a distance, infected molars that cause fissures at your feet (yes, you read that right), and jellyfish that can kill you with a single touch. Yeah, did I mention how dangerous the spirit world is?
Throughout your journey around the spirit world, you'll travel five different "realms." In every realm, you craft cards with items and Death Howls (or spirits) left over from the entities you defeat. Each realm has its own set of cards that vary in effects, giving you the chance to rebuild your deck with an entirely new playstyle for each region you visit. The Realm of Hostile Plains, for example, has an archetype based around movement. Certain cards in this realm increase the number of tiles you can move at one time, while other cards reduce their cost the more tiles you've traveled that turn.
There are over 160 total cards in the game, and with the various playstyles they offer, gameplay never feels stale. Though you're not limited to using only cards from the realm you're in, cards from other regions cost more mana to play. And because you only have five or six mana per turn, and most cards cost between one to three mana, you'll likely be swapping cards out every time you change realms. This isn't a big problem if you choose to focus on one realm at a time. But the game is open-world, and realms can become more difficult as you progress through them, so you may find yourself fast-traveling from one to another to train up. This then leads to you having to change out your deck every time you do so, which can be quite time-consuming.
At the heart of each realm lies a powerful boss, or Great Spirit. In boss fights, you'll find fun and unique mechanics that challenge everything you've learned from the realm thus far, but getting to them won't be easy. Don't forget—Death Howl is a true soulslike experience, and any good soulslike boasts a difficulty level that's not for the faint of heart. Through limited health, frequent enemy encounters, and close-quarters combat, gameplay can be quite unforgiving, and you'll have to consider your every move. But whenever I lost a fight, I felt as though victory was within reach, and I was always eager to jump back into the fray and try again.
Like other soulslikes, Death Howl has a checkpoint system that allows you to restore health but respawns every foe you've defeated up until that point. As mentioned earlier, foes drop Death Howls that can craft cards or be put towards Teardrops that unlock new skills. Die in combat, though, and all your hard-earned Death Howls will be dropped at the location of your demise, and you'll have to return to the scene of the crime to pick them back up. If combat proves too difficult for you, or you can't progress past certain encounters, you can choose to grind easier encounters, stock up on Death Howls, and then use them to unlock better cards and more skills that will assist you in your next fight.
These skills can be unlocked in each region's skill tree. Though they're all separate from one another, there's quite a bit of overlap between realms. Some skills allow you to charge an ultimate ability, which varies in effect depending on the realm. In one realm, for example, your ultimate increases the damage you deal in a turn, while in another, it deals damage to all enemies in a row.
In between combat encounters, you'll navigate the various spirit realms and their harrowing landscapes. Death Howl's environmental design is simultaneously creepy and breathtakingly atmospheric, with giant forests filled with poisonous mushrooms, corpse-filled crevasses, and ghouls of Ro's regrets. Visually, the spirit world may seem straightforward at first glance—but make no mistake: it's full of secrets, and those who pay close attention to their surroundings will be rewarded with hidden maps and extra resources. You'll also meet non-hostile characters who will assist you on your journey if you first solve their problems. These side quests add a layer of intrigue to the worldbuilding and help the spirit realm feel truly alive.
I played Death Howl on both my gaming laptop and my Steam Deck, and it ran excellently on both—though, I'll admit, there were times when I couldn't properly select cards or menu navigation was wonky, and I'd have to switch back to my mouse or touch screen to bypass the issue. These problems were few and far between, and they by no means disrupted my overall positive experience with the game.
All in all, Death Howl is a fantastic representation of both the deckbuilding and soulslike genres. The gameplay will teach you a few lessons, but the experience will be well worth your patience.
The post Death Howl review – A soulslike deckbuilder that turns sorrow into strategy appeared first on Destructoid. |
Destructoid Tuesday, December 23, 2025 1:35 PM
The Attacking Freeze Evolution is now live in FC 26 Ultimate Team, and you can complete the upgrade to improve a card of your choice.
The free evolution might not raise the overall of your cards, but it adds every defensive playstyle available in the game. It's a great upgrade option to create an evolution chain, so let's look at the best options to consider for receiving the boosts.
Table of contents
FC 26 Attacking Freeze requirements
Here are the requirements for Attacking Freeze Evolution in FC 26.
FC 26 Attacking Freeze Evolution upgrades
The Attacking Freeze Evolution has two levels of upgrades. To obtain the boosts, you'll need to complete specific tasks.
Level 1 upgrades
Level 2 upgrades
Level 1 upgrade requirements
Level 2 upgrade requirements
Best players for Attacking Freeze Evolution in FC 26
You can include a wide variety of items in this evolution.
These are arguably some of the best options you can include in this evolution. This is one of the best evolutions for creating a chain. Since the overall rating will remain low, you can immediately include the upgraded card in another evolution to create a stronger version.
The post Best players for FC 26 Attacking Freeze Evolution appeared first on Destructoid. |
Destructoid Tuesday, December 23, 2025 1:00 PM
There are simply too many good games coming out all the time these days to play everything, but dang it, I will try.
The calendar year of 2026 has plenty of big titles to look forward to, including Grand Theft Auto 6 in November (please, please, please, no more delays) and many others. The year starts strongly with titles like Resident Evil Requiem and 007 First Light, so it's sure to be another good campaign for gamers.
Lock in for another great year of gaming and check the list below to see what is coming out and when.
Table of contents
2026 upcoming video game release dates
This is looking to be a very big year for games. Many upcoming titles have release windows but no concrete date yet (such as Marvel's Wolverine due in fall 2026), and so once those days are locked down, our list will be updated.
January 2026 game releases
February 2026 game releases
March 2026 game releases
April 2026 game releases
May 2026 game releases
June 2026 game releases
Nothing here just yet.
July 2026 game releases
Nothing here just yet.
August 2026 game releases
Nothing here just yet.
September 2026 game releases
October 2026 game releases
Nothing here just yet.
November 2026 game releases
December 2026 game releases
Nothing here just yet.
Notable 2026 TBD titles
Many games are scheduled for 2026 with no confirmed date yet. Here are just a few notable ones:
This article will be updated periodically over time as more and more release dates are revealed. Make sure to bookmark it and check back every now and then to see what's in the pipeline.
The post 2026 video game release date calendar appeared first on Destructoid. |
Destructoid Tuesday, December 23, 2025 12:33 PM
About 15 years ago, I was a college student studying journalism and quickly losing my way.
I was taking courses on how to become a beat cop writer, calling precincts about petty crimes and writing for newspapers, a dying medium. I had another course writing for broadcast journalism, which is somehow almost an entirely different language from what I had studied in the past. I hated it. I felt totally lost.
So, I went to my student advisor and asked for help. She simply asked me what I enjoyed, and to write about what I knew. Well, at the time, all I really knew was Call of Duty because I was playing a whole hell of a lot of it. And so that's where it all started for me.
I spent the next year or so working on a 10,000-word magazine piece-style senior project (think of it as a thesis) that propelled me into something way greater than me. I found my senior project on my hard drive, and it honestly holds up pretty well.
The theme of the project (titled Answering the Call: Inside a Pop Culture Phenomenon) was CoD's wide reach as a popular game that went outside of the game experience, even all the way back then in 2010. Over the course of the year, I interviewed an esports competitor who became a friend, a journalist whom I looked up to, a couple who met on CoD and ended up getting married, and numerous others.
But one of the many things that drew me to the project was an ongoing lawsuit at the time between Activision and Infinity Ward co-founders Vince Zampella and Jason West. And in the process of writing about all of these things, interviewing people, and researching the franchise that I'd already sunk countless hours into, I found my passion and realized that my future was in writing about video games.
And now today, many years later and after countless challenges and hardships, on my final working day of the year, I'm celebrating the most rewarding year of my games journalism career at Destructoid. I've had more fun in the past nine months of writing for this website than I thought was possible.
But it also comes with great sadness as I and many others are mourning the sudden loss of the great Zampella, one of the CoD franchise's creators and a visionary in the FPS genre.
Zampella passed away in a car accident on Dec. 21, leaving behind a legacy of greatness. Call of Duty, Call of Duty 2, Call of Duty 4: Modern Warfare, Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 2, Titanfall, Apex Legends, Star Wars Jedi, Battlefield 6. Legendary gaming moments like "No Russian," General Shepard's betrayal, or the bond between Jack Cooper and his Titan, BT-7274. He was an architect behind it all.
But in today's somber reflection, I've realized he was also the architect of my career. He was not only the architect of one of the most successful franchises in history, but of friendships and love stories that will last forever. In his iconic games, he created jobs, worlds, and universes that will survive longer than any of us. Everything I've done this year, including traveling to industry events, reviewing over a dozen games, and interviewing many passionate developers, there's a good chance none of that would have happened without Zampella's work.
And that's without even really delving into how deep his impact on gaming itself has been. Call of Duty's massive success over the past 20 years helped shape the industry into what it became. Titanfall 2 is one of my favorite single-player FPS campaigns of all time. Apex Legends was an excellent extension and memorable highlight of the battle royale craze. The Star Wars Jedi games are a critically acclaimed handling of one of the most loved and respected IP ever. And his last title, Battlefield 6, reinvigorated the franchise to become one of the top-selling games of 2025.
Zampella's impact can't truly be quantified today, just a few days after his untimely passing. For now, we can say that he helped craft modern-day FPS games as we know them. But strictly speaking for myself, although I never had the pleasure of meeting or speaking with him, I'm quickly realizing just how much he and his work have meant to me and millions of others, on so many levels. And so, I would just like to say thank you for all of this.
The post If not for Vince Zampella and his work, I would not have found my career in gaming journalism appeared first on Destructoid. |
Destructoid Tuesday, December 23, 2025 11:52 AM
The first full year of Marvel Rivals was an impressive one in a number of metrics, but according to the developers working on the free-to-play hero shooter, the game is only beginning.
Looking back on its first year, Marvel Rivals delivered a lot of content. Whether it's MCU-based skins in partnership with Fantastic Four: First Steps, limited-time events with free rewards, or a shocking amount of new heroes, a tough precedent has been set. But Marvel and NetEase Games are not resting anytime soon.
"2025 was more of a warm-up period for us," Marvel Games executive producer Danny Koo said in an interview with Den of Geek. "Next year, we're going to have bigger plans. We're not going to slow down. We've already planned more than a year ahead and I can't wait for our players to see it."
In just one year, Marvel Rivals already has the same number of playable characters as another hero shooter, Overwatch 2, after adding 12 to the game in 2025. That number will be surpassed quickly as Deadpool joins the roster in January, followed by Elsa Bloodstone in February, and another new hero every single month for the foreseeable future.
This is going to be tough to balance, but I can't deny that this cadence keeps me coming back consistently. And according to publisher NetEase Games' publishing and marketing lead, Yachen Bian, 2026 will include more playable experiences to supplement the characters on offer.
"In the next year, we want to provide more game modes," Bian said. "It's why we have prototypes in the game, like PvE and 18v18. We want to give the players more choices of different game modes beyond the basic gameplay because your fundamental experience might be very different. When you're fighting against zombies, it's quite different from fighting against other people."
The first year of Rivals already included several new modes like Marvel Zombies PvE mode, a Times Square social space, and even a PvP auto-battler mode, so if there's more in the works, I and many others will likely be continuing to log in and play some games occasionally for a long time to come.
With 2026 boasting the potential for more PvE experiences, popular and iconic heroes like Deadpool joining the roster, the launch of a new esports model, and further MCU partnerships likely in the pipeline (Spider-Man: Brand New Day launches in August, followed by Avengers: Doomsday in December), maybe they really are just getting started.
The post Marvel Rivals' successful and content-packed first year was just 'a warm-up,' executive producer teases appeared first on Destructoid. |
Destructoid Tuesday, December 23, 2025 11:37 AM
Ever heard of My Summer Car? This aging gem of a game was made by a solo dev with the help of his wife and some friends, and was inspired by his childhood. The game now holds nostalgic meaning to thousands of gamers who enjoyed the punishing experience.
If you were around for that, you might not know that a sequel is well on its way.
My Winter Car
The follow-up to the charming (and supremely infuriating) My Summer Car is called My Winter Car, and we can be sure we'll have more beer-drinking, sausage-eating shenanigans to look forward to. As well as another immensely complicated car to build from scratch.
The game is slated for release in December 2025, but at this point, we might well be facing a delay, as the year is almost over. Still, that doesn't mean we might still get it sometime this winter, and to me, it would be the perfect game to fight the winter blues and have another grand time in the beautiful Finnish landscapes.
But why am I so eager for this game – Myself and 18,000 other followers? I'll explain.
My Summer Car Explained
I first came across this game via YouTuber GrayStillPlays, and it looked genuinely hilarious. I picked it up and thought that I'd watched enough videos to know what to do. Boy, was I wrong. You see, this game has a form of permadeath that was really brutal. No matter how far you are, no matter how much work you've done on your car, crash, and it's all over.
Yeah, you literally need to start from scratch.
And by crash, I don't mean taking a turn at 90 miles per hour and hitting a tree dead on, no. Gently tap a fence at two miles per hour, and it's tickets. The vehicles in this game must have a safety rating of negative 9,000 or something.
There are also a couple of "rivals" who speed around the map, largely ignoring road rules. So even if you're being super careful, one of these morons could come speeding around a corner at any time and end your run for you.
Don't worry, though; there are many ways to save your progress now. Gone are the days of ultimate brutality, though that option is still there if you prefer.
Then there's the insane complexity of actually building up your car. You find it in the garage in pieces, and you have to put it all together again without a manual or help of any kind, really. Make the simple mistake of connecting the battery incorrectly, and that's it, back to the start with your now crispy fried ass. Yeah, this is one game in which looking up a guide really is not a gaming sin. I know I did.
The map itself also has so much to discover, and you'll even end up driving a sewage truck and pumping septic tanks for an income at some point, all on a diet of beer and sausages.
It's funny, it's challenging, and, most importantly, it's incredibly fun. If you haven't yet, I highly recommend you check out My Summer Car, so you can get as excited as I am about My Winter Car. With the release schedule as slow as it is over the holidays, this would be an absolute Godsend.
Ever played My Summer Car, Destructoid? If so, what was your fondest experience? I'd love to hear from you in the comments.
The post This obscure little game might just save us from winter depression appeared first on Destructoid. |
Destructoid Tuesday, December 23, 2025 11:08 AM
The Division 2 Y7S3 Mutiny Week 4 Manhunt has finally had its first HVT of the season to hunt, and doing so is necessary if you're looking to complete Scout 4 objectives.
Taking down the HVT is pretty much necessary if you're planning to take down the Manhunt target that will appear in the Mutiny finale. This guide will help you clear all the steps in the Scout 4 operations.
Table of contents
The Division 2 Y7S3 Mutiny Week 4 Manhunt HVT guide
Scout 4 operations begin with a specific set of clues that will be visible after you activate it. Here's what the set of hints suggests.
While your task is to decode these hints, the following steps will make things easier for you.
Complete a hostage rescue
The first task of Mutiny Week 4 Manhunt requires you to find an activity marked with a green handcuff symbol. You'll only find this symbol once you take control of every Control Point in a district. Go to the location and clear all hostiles. You'll get a random key drop from an enemy, which will open a door (highlighted once you clear all enemies). Use the key to spare the hostages, and this completes the first objective.
Complete Jefferson Plaza
The next task is to clear the Jefferson Plaza on any difficulty. Located in the Southwest part of the DC map, you'll find stairs leading down to an underground metro station. Start the main mission available at this location at any difficulty to get more information about the HVT to take down. If you want to get this done quickly, your best bet is to lower the difficulty.
Complete the Major Bungler
The last challenge will pit you against Major Bungler. He is the first HVT of the Y7S3 Manhunt campaign, and you can find him in the southwest district. You'll first have to begin the Bounty and withstand three waves of enemies.
Major Bungler will then appear, carrying a lot of arsenal. You should target the weapons first, since they can break. This will make the fight easier. You can also use your companions to help you clear the reinforcements without having to do it by yourself.
Once done, you will receive an audio transmission. This transmission will reveal an interesting story plot that I will not spoil. Completing it will bring you one step closer to completing the seasonal finale.
The post The Division 2 Y7S3 Mutiny Week 4 Manhunt HVT: Scout 4 solutions appeared first on Destructoid. |
WGB Tuesday, December 23, 2025 5:15 PM Rumors of a new Spyro game being developed by Toys for Bob have intensified, especially after a LinkedIn profile confirmed Donald Yatomi's work on the title, with industry insiders supporting the claims. |
WGB Tuesday, December 23, 2025 4:34 PM GTA 6's delay to November 2026 provides space for other releases. 007 First Light is now set for May 27th, allowing developers extra time for refinement and ensuring long-term success. |
Gaming Instincts – Next-Generation of Video Game Journalism Tuesday, December 23, 2025 4:11 PM Bosses randomly change. The post PATAPON 1+2 REPLAY Gets New Boss Rush Challenge Update appeared first on Gaming Instincts - Next-Generation of Video Game Journalism. |
Gaming Instincts – Next-Generation of Video Game Journalism Tuesday, December 23, 2025 3:52 PM A new free roam mode. The post POSTAL 4: No Regerts Gets New Free Roam Update appeared first on Gaming Instincts - Next-Generation of Video Game Journalism. |
Gaming Instincts – Next-Generation of Video Game Journalism Tuesday, December 23, 2025 3:41 PM From its previous March 27 release date. The post 007 First Light Has Been Delayed By Two Months appeared first on Gaming Instincts - Next-Generation of Video Game Journalism. |
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