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Dec 25, 22:00


Destructoid Thursday, December 25, 2025 5:45 PM
    

Fight going on in Escape from Tarkov

The last week of December in Escape from Tarkov has become an active time for players to grind, as they can use various recipes at a Christmas Tree to get different items.

This Christmas Tree can be found inside your own hideout. There are six Christmas Trees spread across different maps. You'll find Christmas Ornaments from these trees that you can bring back in your inventory. Using them at your hideout will allow you to get different rewards, and this guide will provide you with all available recipes.

All Christmas Tree recipes in Escape from Tarkov

The table below has information on every item that you can craft with Christmas Ornaments. The Ornaments come in different colors, which decides what you can produce with them.

Recipe Required Ingredients
AS Val Mod 4 1 Tangerine
3 Christmas Ornament (Purple)
AK 308 3 Christmas Ornament (Red)
Ballistic Plate Case 13 Christmas Ornament (Purple)
20 Christmas Ornament (White)
2 Shyshka
2 Tangerine
ETG-change Regenerative Stimulant 2 Christmas Ornament (White)
3 Christmas Ornament (Red)
Gas Analyzer 1 Christmas Ornament (Red)
1 Christmas Ornament (White)
1 Christmas Ornament (Purple)
Grizzly Medical Kit 4 Christmas Ornament (White)
LedX 30 Christmas Ornament (White)
2 Christmas Ornament (Purple)
1 Shyshka
3 Tangerine
Marlin MXLR 1 Christmas Ornament (Purple)
NL545 2 Christmas Ornament (Red)
4 Christmas Ornament (White)
Mule Stimulant 3 Christmas Ornament (Red)
Trimadol Stimulant 1 Christmas Ornament (Purple)
3 Christmas Ornament (Red)
TKPD 1 Christmas Ornament (Red)
1 Christmas Ornament (White)
1 Christmas Ornament (Purple)
1 Tangerine
Terraframe Backpack 5 Christmas Ornament (White)
Tangerine 1 Christmas Ornament (Red)
1 Christmas Ornament (White)
1 Christmas Ornament (Purple)
SJ6 Stimulant 1 Christmas Ornament (Purple)
2 Christmas Ornament (White)
Stich Profi Defense mod.2 Plate Carrier 8 Christmas Ornament (White)
Whiskey 2 Christmas Ornament (Purple)

For starters, you'll have to find the Christmas Trees to get the Ornaments. You'll also need to find plenty if you're looking to maximize this event. There are some exciting recipes to try out. Tangerine is one such option that is required for more advanced recipes. You can also find Tangerine from Christmas Trees, but the odds appear to be low.

If you're approaching the endgame stage and close to level 35, crafting the LedX will be immensely helpful. Stimulants are also a great choice, and there are different ones available based on your needs. You can craft them for your own requirements, or store them to sell later at a profit. Ultimately, the choice depends on your needs and how many resources you can manage to find.

The post Every Christmas Tree Hideout crafting recipes in Escape from Tarkov Winter 2025 Event appeared first on Destructoid.


Destructoid Thursday, December 25, 2025 5:16 PM
    

Winter Event promo image in Escape from Tarkov

The Winter 2025 Event is live and thriving in Escape from Tarkov, and one of the most important tasks is to find the Christmas Trees on different maps.

The Christmas Trees will provide you with different loot that you can add to your inventory. You can also find various Christmas Ornaments from the trees, and then use them in your hideout. If you're confused about where to find these trees, this guide will fix your problems.

All Escape from Tarkov Christmas Tree locations

You can find a total of six Christmas Trees. All six are on different maps, so that's something to keep in mind. I have marked the locations for all six to help you find them easily.

Customs

Image via Tarkov.dev. Remix by Destructoid

You can find the Christmas Tree between the two-storey and the three-storey dorms. Not only is this spot dangerous, but you'll find a bigger tree right beside the correct one. However, the Christmas Tree will have decor on it. The easiest spawn point to reach this location is near the Smuggler's Boat.

Interchange

Image via Tarkov.dev. Remix by Destructoid

You'll have to visit the old Scav Camp extraction point. This area has had a few design changes since update 1.0. You can find the new position near the railtracks, and there should be plenty of enemies at his location. The tree is behind a wired fence near a train bogey.

Reserve

Image via Tarkov.dev. Remix by Destructoid

Go near the Knight Building, where the train extraction point is located. It's near the small bunkers, and the area is quite open (so be careful of enemy fire). You'll find several trees in this location, so look for the one that has decor on it. Some of the loot is scattered around, so look carefully along the ground to pick up everything.

Shoreline

Image via Tarkov.dev. Remix by Destructoid

This one is relatively easy to spot as it's in the middle of the Resort. Look for it in front of the Admin building. However, I got taken down multiple times in this area, so keep that in mind. The Christmas Tree at this location will be brightly lit up with decor, so it's hard to miss. You'll find all the loot at the base of the tree.

Woods

Image via Tarkov.dev. Remix by Destructoid

You'll find the Christmas tree by the shore near the Sawmill. The tree will be on the piece of land that extends into the lake, and there are no other similar landmarks to confuse you. This location is a repeat of last year if you played Escape from Tarkov in 2024. The loot here is scattered around the tree, so make sure to look into the planks, the corpse, the boat, and the generator.

Lighthouse

Image via Tarkov.dev. Remix by Destructoid

Go to the bright by the sunken house that takes you to Lightkeeper. You'll find it by the shore, and you'll also have to keep enemies that can spawn at this location.

The post All Christmas Tree Locations in Escape from Tarkov Winter 2025 Event appeared first on Destructoid.


Destructoid Thursday, December 25, 2025 3:59 PM
    

A snow-covered area in Disco Elysium.

Epic Games is currently running a hell of a campaign. Each day, a mysterious game is revealed to the world and given out for free in true Christmas fashion. Some of them have been bangers, others not so much. But today, on Christmas, one of the best cRPGs has been put up for free.

And the game in question is Disco Elysium, the incredible title from ZA/UM. Set in a fictional, politically ravaged landscape, Disco Elysium puts you in the shoes of a nameless detective meandering through the streets, trying to solve a strange case alongside his sharper, more focused partner.

The detective is a reflection of your (assumed or actual) complex political reality and can take on the role of anything you want him to, with each action carrying significant consequences, thus altering the outcome of each playthrough.

The game is as beautiful and stylish as it is well-written, and is a masterclass in video game narrative design in just about every way imaginable.

Amazon Disco Elysium adaptation deal
Image via ZA/UM

So unless you have a major hatred of Epic Games and oppose engaging with the platform in any capacity, you'd do well for yourself to pick the game up. It'll be free throughout Dec. 25, before being replaced by another mystery game.

This promotion from Epic is set to last throughout these last few days of 2025, closing off with Dec. 31. Of course, there's also a holiday sale going on, which will continue into 2026, ending in early January.

There hasn't been a better time to buy and get new games, so make sure you don't miss out on these amazing promotions, especially when a platform is giving out 10/10 masterpieces for literally zero dollars.

The post One of the best cRPGs is free to keep forever, but only for today appeared first on Destructoid.


Destructoid Thursday, December 25, 2025 3:36 PM
    

ghoul re kagune and quinque tier list and guide

Updated on December 25, 2025: I'll keep updating the tier list as I test more weapons and skills in the new patch. Kagunes are a bit weaker now than Quinques since Kakujas are disabled as they get reworked while CCG has Arata Proto/Joker V2s. Will also add notes for the new race Quinx if there's interest.

The best Kagune and Quinques depend on whether you're looking for one for PVP or PVE. I'm mostly going to be focusing on PVP power but I'll mention if a particular weapon is great for PVE specifically though you can assume most S-Tiers are. Here's my GHOUL://RE Kagune and Quinque tier list and guide.

GHOUL://RE Kagune Tier List

ghoul re kagune tier list
Image by Destructoid

I've rated Kagune in Ghoul://RE with V1 and V2 versions separate from one another since sometimes a V2 is better than V1 but sometimes it's the opposite. With Kagune I've also considered Half Kakuja and Full Kakuja modes so some Kagune will be higher since they have a Kakuja mode. Let's dive into all the individual Kagune below and discuss their ranking reasons.

Kakuja: I commented on the Half and Full Kakujas in the V2 sections of the Kagunes. That said note that they're disabled for now so my comments are based on the pre-release versions.

S-Tier Kagune

S-Tier Kagune Ranking Explained

Eto V2
Legendary

Eto V1
Legendary
• Eto is a top 3 Kagune and arguably the best in the game
• Mainly because it deals a ton of damage with the Frenzy meter and the Full Kakuja is really powerful
• Also you have strong and versatile Crits
• I personally prefer the V1 since the V2 is easy to parry but V2 dashes have hyperarmor and noobstomping moves if they're not used to fighting Eto
• The Kakuja is also strong with insta grips on M1, full hyperarmor and high damage, AOE and range for teamfights

Takizawa V2
Legendary

Takizawa V1
Legendary
• Putting these together since they're quite similar in how good they are
• Takizawa is one of the best Kagune in the game with a high skill ceiling for both 1v1 and teamfights
• You need to learn to combo the moves well
• V1 is so fast with great mobility, 1v1 comboes and great hitboxes
• V2 is a bit slower but much more versatile and better for teamfights
• The Half Kakuja is also one of the best in the game
• You can bait parries with the Crit Faint
• Plus it has ranged options, a counter and Z for high damage and ragdoll which are all amazing

Beaked V2
Common
• Ignore the Common rarity, Beaked V2 is a really strong 1v1 moveset
• Best M2 variants in the game for combo extending
• Z+M2 that launches you is incredible utility and hard to deal with
• Generally requires more practice and skill than Taki and Eto but once you master it it's so dominant in PVP

Nishio V2
Common
• Excellent defensive moveset that's skill-based and requires practice
• The best move here is C with great hyperarmor to get out of any combo
• Follow up with X to take over aggression
• Amazing mix of offense and defense

A-Tier Kagune

A-Tier Kagune Ranking Explained

Ken V1
Legendary
• Better than V2 IMO
• Ken V1 is actually underrated since it combos well with Dexterity for 1v1s
• It's low range but you can get mobility with Dexterity
• Then you guardbreak and ragdoll with the base kit
• That said you do need to practice the combos but it's worth it

Yomo V1
Legendary
• A solid moveset with lots of mobility due to Z and the cloak
• There's plenty of mixups with the doges and grabs dealing good damage
• The double crit is strong for mixups
• Run 40 Dex Triple Step into X for amazing 1v1s

Yamori V1
Rare
• Yamori is extremely skill-based but potentially really powerful
• It's got one of the best hyperarmor moves in the game and decent range
• Z is good into uppercut
• Abuse turning sideways during the second part of X for more range and a guaranteed Crit after
• It's a niche pick but is actually quite powerful when you master it
• Yamori's Kakuja moves are a bit difficult to land so I wouldn't use them as often

Bin V1
Rare
• Bin didn't get powercrept as much
• It's still strong with a mix of Strength and Dexterity
• Great combo potential

Ken V2
Legendary
• This is a great moveset if you use the air variant in combos while running Dexterity
• The moves deal good damage, the grabs are easy to hit and you have access to Half Kakuja
• That said you have to rely more on Dexterity moves since the base moves are a bit easy to dodge or parry against experienced players
• Overall the base Ken V2 is IMO a bit worse than V1 but with Dexterity it becomes miles better
• The Half Kakuja has a decent counter and mobility but I would say the base V2 is stronger with Dex moves

Tsukiyama V1
Common
• Tsukiyama's ranking depends on how well you learn the combos
• It's a combo master with amazing guardbreaks and a good hyperarmor move
• I run 33 Mastery, rest in Strength for moves and combo off of some of the best guardbreaks in the game
• It's not overwhelmingly powerful by itself but is fast and has pokes landing it in A

Tatara V2
Legendary
• Very skill-dependent since it's powerful if you know how to movestack with Strength/Dexterity moves
• Otherwise it's slow and clunky and you won't be able to land moves reliably
• That said the Full Kakuja makes Tatara V2 much more reliable since it's really good
• Tatara Kakuja X and C are really good for stunlocking because if you get hit by the first one you're getting hit by the entire thing

B-Tier Kagune

B-Tier Kagune Ranking Explained

Mayu V1
Mythical
• Haven't played Mayu much but it was decent from what I've seen, not terribly powerful though
• The M2 variants are weaker than Beaked V2 so I'm putting it B for now
• That said they're still really good for 1v1 combos
• I'll play more in the re-release and re-rank this if need be because I'm interested in why they made it Mythical

Yomo V2
Legendary
• IMO slightly worse than V1
• The range moves are easy to parry
• The Crit is really good since it's a two-part strike forcing a double parry check but it's not all that impressive
• You do have a nice damage boost with the cloak and the C+C variant is a bit hard to land but it stuns which is great for teamfights

Wing V2
Common
• Similar case to Wing V1 where the ranged moves are really good
• You can zone well and the Crit comboes well with everything
• It also suffered from nerfs making it not as good as it used to be but it's still a decent playstyle

Noro V2
Legendary
• Noticeably higher damage than Noro
• That said the moves are still slow and awkward to land and combo
• There's also the endlag problem
• It can work if you land your crits two times in a row but against experienced players that's hard to do
• The Hunger Bar mechanic is annoying to deal with though so it's decent

Hinami V1
Rare
• Hinami desperately needs a V2 like a lot of rares
• It got power crept by a lot of Common V2s
• It's still decent since you have wide hitboxes and good range for when you're getting ganked
• It's best for alt account PVE farming though so that you can eat your alt with your main account for progression

C-Tier Kagune

C-Tier Kagune Ranking Explained

Beaked V1
Common
• The guardbreak Counter is what carries V1
• Also the M1s are fast
• But the other moves aren't the best and you just want it for the V2 which is S-Tier

Wing V1
Common
• The ranged moves here are pretty decent for zoning
• That said, Wing V1 was nerfed so much it's no longer that good

Tatara V1
Legendary
• Slow moves
• That said if you can guard break and can movestack it's much better
• It mainly suffers from slow wind-ups with no hyperarmor but the V2 is better

Noro V1
Legendary
• Clunky and slow moves but you do have hyper armor on almost all of them
• I personally don't like to use it but it can be good in certain scenarios

D-Tier Kagune

D-Tier Kagune Ranking Explained

Shachi V1
Rare
• Slow start-ups on some moves that are easy to parry
• A bit buggy and overall not the best to use

Nishio V1
Common
• Underpowered moveset
• Needs V2 to be good

GHOUL://RE Quinque Tier List

ghoul re quinque tier list
Image by Destructoid

GHOUL://RE CCG Quinques are a bit harder to rank since most of them are strong and you can access Arata regardless of Quinque. With that said, keep in mind that some rated lower are actually on average better than Kagunes of a similar tier. I won't be including the 3 base versions since they're just Crit modifiers. Let's dive into each Quinque individually.

Proto vs Joker: In terms of Aratas, Proto is a Defense-oriented mode while Joker is for boosting DPS. Both are really good so you should pick what you're lacking based on your playstyle. If you feel like you're taking too much damage go with Proto and if you're good at parrying/dodging pick Joker. The Arata V2 versions are so powerful on Release.

S-Tier Quinque

S-Tier Qinque Ranking Explained

Solace V1
Mythical
• One of the best Quinques in the game
• Deals a ton of damage with good range
• The moves can be difficult to parry like C's initial is fine but then the M2 kick follow-up hits you
• Really strong and fun to play in both PVP and PVE

13's Jason V2
Legendary
• Very similar to V1 but just straight up better
• More damage and more move variations
• Dominates in teamfights
• That said it's got some moves that are more difficult to land like the Z hold

SSS Owl V2
Mythical
• SSS Owl V2 deals massive damage and is a huge upgrade for PVP over the V1 version
• The C is easy to dodge but the rest of the moves are really strong
• It's best for teamfights where you can hit multiple enemies since it's got a ton of AOE

Serrate V2
Rare
• Serrate V1 and V2 are both really good and are all about combos
• You can combo someone for a lot of damage with uplift
• It's similar to Hakuda in Type Soul where you need to learn all the mix ups for it to work
• That's why it's very skill-based but potentially really strong

Yukimura V2
Common
• One of the best Quinques
• Fast, has great hitboxes and amazing guardbreaks
• X is so strong with multihits that guardbreak
• Just a straight up better version of V1

A-Tier Quinque

A-Tier Qinque Ranking Explained

Scorpion V2
Common
• V1 is just a worse version of V2 in this case so rush V2 if you wanna use it
• Really strong for 1v1 PVP if you learn the moves
• The dash has a massive hitboxes which you can use to combo into the double hits
• That said a lot of the moves here have a slow start-up so it takes some getting used to

Nutcracker V2
Rare
• High A-Tier
• The V2 is really strong and is almost like Ground Hakuda in Type Soul in terms of combos
• Has a really strong counter
• The crit isn't that good though due to low reach
• That said the C combos well with the Crit

AUS V1
Legendary
• Very versatile since you have a ton of combo options and ways to pull fleeing enemies to you
• Aus also has a lot of lingering hitboxes, especially on the crit that make its moves easy to land
• X boomerage is a nice combo extender
• Also has decent damage, good guardbreaks and an autoparry for defense

Ginkui V1
Mythical
• Ginkui is weird because it largely depends on who you're playing against
• The high damage moves will stomp players who don't know how to fight against it
• That said, if someone has faced Ginkui before and knows how to multi-hit parry it you won't do much
• It's A or B based on who you're facing

13's Jason V1
Legendary
• Excellent for fighting crowds
• Tons of great AOE moves
• Decent for 1V1s as well since the damage is good
• Overall a great Quinque

IXA V1
Legendary
• IXA used to be OP but now it's much more balanced
• It's still good due to the various combos you can pull off
• You have a lot of pressure in melee and ranged and even defense with the autoparry
• That said it's not as good as it used to be

Yukimura V1
Common
• Same notes as V2 but a bit weaker
• Great for PVP

B-Tier Quinque

B-Tier Qinque Ranking Explained

SSS Owl V1
Mythical
• The V1 version is honestly not that good for PVP and is more of a PVE pick since the moves do great damage but are difficult to land
• The Z is the only good one for 1v1s
• The rest of the moves are easy to dodge or parry
• It can be good for PVE but it's underpowered for PVP
• V2 is miles better

Chi She V1
Rare
• Not the best for PVP due to clunky moves but not the worst either
• That said it's got high M1 damage so it's good for PVE boss raids

Kura V1
Mythical
• Kura deals a ton of damage but the moves are hard to land
• Most of the moves are slow and easy to parry or have long wind-ups
• It can be worth it for PVE but for PVP is quite awkward to use
• Even the gimmick mode moves are janky and can be dodged out of easily

Narukami V1
Legendary
• While the moves don't combo that well together Narukami can be decent
• It's because it deals high damage and is versatile with different variations
• The X burst in ranged mode is a really strong move because you can hit it easily
• That said some of the other moves have start-up lag so it's very situational

Kuai V1
Legendary
• Not the best for PVE but it's pretty decent for PVP
• It's basically a slightly worse version of Serrate
• It's good pretty good damage and you have to play aggressive for combos
• But if you get used to it even the C can be parried easily mid-move
• It's very skill-based but at that point just use Serrate

Serrate V1
Rare
• A worse version of V2 but still really good for PVP
• Similar notes as V2 but the moves are a bit weaker on average

Scorpion V1
Common
• A worse version of the V2 but still good
• The knife throw is hard to land but the other moves are really good
• Especially the dash

C-Tier Quinque

C-Tier Qinque Ranking Explained

Bokusatsu V1
Rare
• Very slow and clunky for PVP
• Much better for PVE

Kajiri V1
Common
• Kajiri deals high damage but the moves are just not synergistic with each other
• It's fun to play and pretty safe for PVE and PVP since you're firing from range
• That said players will just dodge you and then combo you when you land

Doujima V2
Common
• Not the best for PVP
• Great M1 damage so it's really good for PVE boss raids
• Still better than V1

D-Tier Quinque

D-Tier Qinque Ranking Explained

Doujima V1
Common
• Great M1 damage so it's good for PVE boss raids
• That said it's slow for PVP

Demon Yamada V1
Rare
• Got power crept so hard by all the latest Quinques
• Extremely slow with wind-ups
• The Rending Cleave is good but you have to hit previous moves to do it which is almost impossible against skilled players

That's it for my GHOUL://RE Kagune and Quinque tier list and guide. Check out the latest GHOUL://RE Codes for free goodies.

The post GHOUL://RE Kagune And Quinque Tier List [RELEASE] appeared first on Destructoid.


Destructoid Thursday, December 25, 2025 3:31 PM
    

Tyrese Haliburton in NBA 2K26 dribbling with the ball

NBA 2K26 players are in for some treats during Christmas, as 2K has been handing out regular codes.

These codes are significantly better than what we get from locker codes. All the rewards revealed until now feature special cards, and the same trend should continue later in the day. This guide will help you get all the rewards so that you can improve your collection in MyTeam.

All NBA 2K26 Christmas Day codes and rewards

So far, NBA 2K has revealed three rewards. All three codes guarantee you special cards, so here they are.

  • HAPPY-HOLIDAYS-FROM-MyTEAM: Drops a PD Ball that features Pink Diamond De'Aaron Fox, LaMarcus Aldridge, Michael Redd, Pascal Siakam, and Rudy Gobert.
  • MT-MITHCELL-BRUNSON: Drops two 90-rated Amethyst Donovan Mitchell and Jalen Brunson cards.
  • FOX-AND-SGA-IN-MT: Drops two 90-rated Amethyst De'Aaron Fox and Shai Gilgeous-Alexander cards.

More codes are expected as 2K will be releasing them based on the Christmas matchups. Your task is to redeem the codes before they expire so you don't miss out on the cool rewards.

https://twitter.com/NBA2KMyTEAM/status/2004175294362521962

How to redeem Christmas Day codes in NBA 2K26

The process to redeem the codes is the same as that you apply for Locker codes.

  • Go to the Market tab after loading MyTeam.
  • Open the Locker Codes section.
  • Enter the code after copying it from this guide (or manually input it).
  • Click Done to claim all the rewards. You can find the packs in the Pack Market section.

If you're a beginner, these codes will be invaluable to get you started. You can expect to find agendas based on these cards to win more rewards.

The post All NBA 2K26 Christmas Day code rewards and how to get them appeared first on Destructoid.


Destructoid Thursday, December 25, 2025 3:30 PM
    

A Kensei swordsman surrounded by fallen enemies in For Honor.

For Honor is on sale for about a dollar on Steam at the moment, leading many players to hop into the game for the first time. Released in 2017, it's one of Ubisoft's best multiplayer titles, and certainly among its most beautiful, serving to remind all of us what the company used to make.

I, for one, played For Honor back when it initially released almost a decade ago. It was as cool then as it is now. It had this innovative combat that was really one-of-a-kind during its time, combining elements of fighting games with a third-person perspective, adding a unique stance and blocking mechanic on top.

All of these blended perfectly well with each other, allowing you to duel others head-to-head or participate in group skirmishes, with pure skill making or breaking any given match.

A Raider fighting against smaller enemies in For Honor.
The combat is as unique now as it was way back in 2017. Image via Ubisoft

Of course, with time, Ubisoft introduced a lot of sketchy updates to the game, including heroes that border on pay-to-win. But outcomes are, more often than not, still determined by raw player prowess, as no hero comes with inherent advantages that can make up for it.

Over the years, I came back to the game a couple of times, but made a huge break from it for at least the past three or four. Now, along the Steam Winter Sale, a friend of mine hopped in after I spent an hour shilling the game to him, leading us to become completely addicted to the simple yet immensely fun gameplay loop.

We're primarily rocking a Raider and an Orochi, but we've both lately pivoted into the Lawbringer, a class we both initially hated because Knights in this game and every game with a medieval aesthetic are completely overpowered (and the most popular, naturally).

Each match, simple and same-y though they are, is a load of fun, rage, and sweat, with every player giving it their all for whatever reason. I'd wager it's because most of the less hardcore people have been filtered out since 2017, leaving only those that actually care for the outcome.

A bunch of smaller characters running into battle in For Honor.
To say this game is beautiful would be a major understatement. Image via Ubisoft

This genuinely produces a better environment, as you'll seldom come across people who troll, dodge, or leave mid-match. There are also no cheaters, a miracle for an older live-service game.

Everything sort of serves to highlight the greatness of an old Ubisoft, a company that used to deliver year after year, innovating on its own formulas, implementing mechanics from different genres, and experimenting with what gaming can achieve. An Ubisoft that made (and still does, though to a lesser extent) the most beautiful games on the market, using all the power of the Anvil engine to produce levels and areas of utmost quality.

Even now, For Honor's maps are some of the most stunning and breathtaking I have ever come across. Each time we load into any match, both me and my friend exclaim: "Man, this game looks good," completely in awe at what Ubisoft had achieved for a relative side-project, popular though it was in its heyday.

The company continues to support the title, releases seasonal passes and new heroes every now and again, and has done so for nearly a decade, but I reckon it'll never recreate what made For Honor so good and beautiful.

It did try to venture into the live-service sphere again with the fabled Skull and Bones, failing in all those areas where For Honor thrived, despite the almost invulnerable Black Flag foundation it was built upon.

It's a true, crying shame, but at least we can still go back and play this incredible title. That is, until Ubisoft takes it offline, though the player count is currently helping keep it afloat.

The post Revisiting For Honor reminds me of how great Ubisoft used to be appeared first on Destructoid.


Destructoid Thursday, December 25, 2025 3:29 PM
    

Cold Snap feature on a map in ARC Raiders

ARC Raiders' Cold Snap update is here, bringing the winter along with it. The topside world has now fully embraced the festive spirit—that is, if we can count ARCs shooting people down at every corner festive.

Anyhow, a lot came with Cold Snap, but one aspect that was promised in the roadmap together with this massive update is the second Raider Deck—i.e., battle pass—which is yet to arrive. So, here's everything we know about it.

ARC Raiders Raider Deck 2 — Everything we know

A skin for a character in ARC Raiders.
The new Deck will be hockey-themed. Image via Embark Studios

ARC Raiders' second Raider Deck or battle pass will come out on Dec. 26, or a day after this article had been published. It's called The Goalie, and is themed after hockey, which tracks with the Cold Snap update being winter-themed.

Of course, much like the previous Raider Deck, this new one will be entirely free of charge and available to all players, forever with no expiration date. The first Raider Deck will also remain active for anyone who wants to complete it, but there are no restrictions on starting from the second if you're new to the game or haven't yet cleared all the rewards from the first one.

The Raider Deck 2 will, like its predecessor, feature various rewards that are unlocked with Cred, a special in-game currency that is earned simply by playing the game or completing quests. No purchases or real money are needed for the Deck. What's more, it'll probably give you some free premium currency which you can hoard and collect from each of the decks, eventually purchasing actual cosmetics at no real cost.

Anyhow, it's just around the corner, and will be the cherry on top of the already amazing Cold Snap update.

The post When does Raider Deck 2 come out in ARC Raiders? Release date, content, and more appeared first on Destructoid.


Destructoid Thursday, December 25, 2025 3:06 PM
    

The Ion Sputter item overlaid over a partial 3D render of Stella Montis in ARC Raiders.

ARC Raiders is chock-full of all sorts of items, many of which are necessary for progression.

Lately, a new form of loot was added, Exodus loot, available only in a limited number of areas. The most important of these are of course the Exodus Modules, and the Ion Sputter is just one of many ways of obtaining them.

So, here's where you can find this valuable item.

How to get Ion Sputter in ARC Raiders

A partial 3D render of the lower Stella Montis map in ARC Raiders.
The Assembly is located on the lower level of the Stella Montis map. Screenshot and remix by Destructoid

Ion Sputters, which for some players are also necessary to complete Expeditions, are a rare Exodus item, meaning it can only be found in set areas. Since Exodus items are generally tied to the Stella Montis map, your best bet would be the Assembly area on that level, given that it spawns the greatest amount of Exodus loot, including Ion Sputters.

Simply navigate to the area and open every drawer and container you come across. The spawn rates for Exodus items in this zone are tremendous, meaning you'll most likely leave the map with at least one of them in tow. Of course, this means there are good odds of simply looting other Exodus items (like the Geiger Counter) and not Ion Sputters per se, but it still remains your best bet.

Ion Sputters can be dismantled into Exodus Modules, another super valuable and useful item, which you'll also have a chance to find in the Assembly zone.

The post Where to find the Ion Sputter in ARC Raiders appeared first on Destructoid.


WGB Thursday, December 25, 2025 4:48 PM
     Merry Christmas, everyone!

iDev Games Feed Thursday, December 25, 2025 6:27 PM
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