Dec 05, 20:00


GamersHeroes Friday, December 5, 2025 5:09 PM
    

Celebrating music from across the storied Zelda series with immersive orchestral and piano arrangements, ROZEN's Ballads of Hyrule III album is now available on digital, CD, and vinyl.

The post Zelda Arrange Album "Ballads of Hyrule III" by ROZEN Now Available appeared first on GamersHeroes.


GamersHeroes Friday, December 5, 2025 4:47 PM
    

The world of Media Vision and Bandai Namco's turn-based RPG Digimon Story Time Stranger is getting that much bigger with the release of Episode Pack 1: Alternate Dimension December 8.

The post Digimon Story Time Stranger Episode Pack 1: Alternate Dimension Launching December 8 appeared first on GamersHeroes.


GamersHeroes Friday, December 5, 2025 3:48 PM
    

We recently joined Richard Horvitz at FANEXPO San Francisco 2025 to learn more about his truly amazing legacy - learn more with our interview.

The post Richard Horvitz FANEXPO SF 2025 Interview – Iconic Voice Actor Talks Helluva Boss, Invader Zim, and More appeared first on GamersHeroes.


GamersHeroes Friday, December 5, 2025 1:58 PM
    

Ringing in the weekend, Super Creative and Smilegate's Chaos Zero Nightmare has released Chapter 2 of Forbidden Catalyst, along with Season 1 of the story-based seasonal content "Galactic Disaster."

The post Roguelike RPG Chaos Zero Nightmare Forbidden Catalyst Second Chapter Released appeared first on GamersHeroes.


GamersHeroes Friday, December 5, 2025 1:20 PM
    

The next major update for Rockstar Games' GTA Online, dubbed "A Safehouse in the Hills," will launch December 10.

The post GTA Online: A Safehouse in the Hills Launching December 10 appeared first on GamersHeroes.


Kotaku Friday, December 5, 2025 5:44 PM
    

I mean, most of these doors look more like vulvas to me...

The post <i>Metroid Prime 4</i> Players Are Discovering The Game Is Filled With Vagina Doors appeared first on Kotaku.


Kotaku Friday, December 5, 2025 5:30 PM
    

Characters from Nightreign, Destiny 2, and Arc Raiders are arranged in a collage.

This weekend we're sneaking around where we're not supposed to be, wielding light sabers, and more

The post <i>Kotaku'</i>s Weekend Guide: 6 Cool Games We Can't Wait To Get Back To appeared first on Kotaku.


Kotaku Friday, December 5, 2025 5:05 PM
    

Optiplex

Upgrade your workspace by adding a powerful PC to it.

The post Dell Adds a 4.6-Star Mini PC at 71% Off to Its Clearance Push, Going Beyond Just Laptop Deals appeared first on Kotaku.


Kotaku Friday, December 5, 2025 5:00 PM
    

The Netflix logo floats over the clouds from the Warner Bros. Logo

Netflix aims to grow even larger with its impending purchase of Warner Bros.

The post Netflix Says It's Not Destroying Hollywood: 'We're Saving' It appeared first on Kotaku.


Kotaku Friday, December 5, 2025 4:49 PM
    

Endgame

Ahead of Avengers: Doomsday, Marvel is dipping into the nostalgia bucket

The post Marvel Is So Out Of Ideas It's Bringing <i>Avengers: Endgame</i> Back To Theaters appeared first on Kotaku.


Kotaku Friday, December 5, 2025 4:27 PM
    

Jumping as a Morph Ball should use the same button as jumping when not in ball mode

The post Here's How To Fix <i>Metroid Prime 4</i><i>'s Silliest Control Decision</i> appeared first on Kotaku.


Kotaku Friday, December 5, 2025 2:49 PM
    

Geoff Keighley stands next to a demonic statue.

For now, the statue is whatever you want it to be

The post No Matter What The Game Awards Hell Statue Is For, Geoff Keighley Wins appeared first on Kotaku.


Kotaku Friday, December 5, 2025 2:29 PM
    

Metroid Prime 4: Beyond is hopefully just the start of Nintendo providing performance modes in its games

The post It's Wild That Nintendo's New Game Is An FPS That Runs At 120FPS appeared first on Kotaku.


Kotaku Friday, December 5, 2025 1:51 PM

Kotaku Friday, December 5, 2025 1:00 PM
    

Somehow this movie is worse than that first film and even worst than Minecraft and Snow White

The post <i>Five Nights At Freddy's 2</i> Reviews Are Even Worse Than You Think appeared first on Kotaku.


PCGamesN Friday, December 5, 2025 3:53 PM
    

Destiny 2 Renegades is full of lightsabers, blasters, scoundrels, and other Star Wars mainstays, and here's how to get it cheap.


Rock Paper Shotgun Latest Articles Feed Friday, December 5, 2025 2:32 PM
    

It's after 5pm on a Friday, but no force on this Earth can stop me hurrying back to my desk to report on a large financial transaction. Also, we should have written this up earlier, but we were busy deciding which are the objectively correct 100 best PC games.

I'm not… sure we put any Warner Bros games in that list. I've just done a CTRL-F for "Batman" and got zero results. I know, WTF - Arkham Asylum is amazing. Mark needs to stop driving things and think about capes for a change. I'm sure Warner Bros aren't too bothered about this gross oversight right now, though. Netflix have just revealed plans to buy their entertainment business for $82.7 billion in stock and cash.

Read more


Rock Paper Shotgun Latest Articles Feed Friday, December 5, 2025 1:24 PM
    

Significant story spoilers for Horses follow. Also, here is some possibly appropriate music.

Read more


Twinfinite Friday, December 5, 2025 3:15 PM
    
Redeem Project Blue Lock codes and prove them all wrong!

Siliconera Friday, December 5, 2025 5:00 PM
    

Suikoden Star Leap: Trails of the Stars Manga Appears in English

Konami announced the Suikoden Star Leap: Trails of the Stars manga that acts as a companion piece to the upcoming mobile game is available in English. The Aki Shimizu series already showed up in Japan. The first chapter is available on the Kadokawa Kadocomi Comic Walker site in both Japanese and English.

The manga begins by saying its events start in the Solar Calendar Year 422 and focuses on General Shapur, who will appear in the main game as the hero's teacher and his father Hou's aide. It shows his dissatisfaction with his life now, before offering a flashback to him as a child who wanted to be a knight and general. He met with a former knight named Bamshard who told him about the exams, but also explained that Shapur can't become a night due to being "a heretic" and following a different religion. He then became that man's apprentice. We then watch what his life was like training as an outsider, but that some people like Lord Alizade believed in him. However, once he's on the front lines, he sees what the realities of being a knight are. 

The end of the first chapter closed out with some additional details about the game itself. It notes the gap in time between the events of Shapur's story and the title, which takes place in 453. 

Suikoden Star Leap is in development for PCs and mobile devices, and the manga chapters will appear bimonthly. 

The post Suikoden Star Leap: Trails of the Stars Manga Appears in English appeared first on Siliconera.


Siliconera Friday, December 5, 2025 4:00 PM
    

Lucky Star Trio-Try-iT Konata Izumi Figure Appears in 2026

FuRyu announced Konata Izumi, from Lucky Star, will join its Trio-Try-iT prize figure line. That will show up in Japan in May 2026. Good Smile Company then followed up to note it will sell it worldwide. It will cost $38.99 through them and appear in Q4 2026.

Lucky Star is a slice-of-life manga and anime series that focuses on Konata Izumi and her friends the twins Kagami and Tsukasa Hiiragi and Miyuki Takara. After a hiatus, it started running again in November 2022, and a 20th anniversary concert was held in Japan in February 2024. 

For the figure, it is a static depiction of the character in her Ryou-ou High School school uniform. Her right arm is in the air, with three fingers raised in a "W." She holds a chocolate cornet pastry in her left hand. It is expected to stand at over six inches tall (17cm). 

Here's how that looks:

The Lucky Star Trio-Try-iT Konata Izumi figure will debut in Japan in May 2026 and in North America in Q4 2026. The Good Smile Company pre-order is open until December 17, 2025. The anime is streaming on Crunchyroll, and Viz Media handles the manga.

The post Lucky Star Trio-Try-iT Konata Izumi Figure Appears in 2026 appeared first on Siliconera.


Siliconera Friday, December 5, 2025 3:00 PM
    

New Dragon Quest Eden Manga Based on Dragon Quest VII

Square Enix announced a new manga series called Dragon Quest Eden that will be based on the events of Dragon Quest VII. It will follow the events of Dragon Quest: Warriors of Eden, an unfinished series also based on that entry. Kamui Fujiwara will return as its mangaka. It will run in the Square Enix manga magazine Young Gangan in Japan, with the first chapter appearing on January 5, 2026.

There are few details about what to expect from Dragon Quest Eden yet, aside from the author, debut date, and fact it is based on the events of the seventh game. The reveal did include new art of the main characters the hero, Maribel, and Kiefer. That art does seem to suggest it will pick up where the first adaptation from Fujiwara left off and could involve some plot elements from the Reimagined remake, due to the depiction of Kiefer. It is also only confirmed for Japan, with no details about a possible worldwide release.

We have seen Kamui Fujiwara Dragon Quest manga appear in English recently, however. Square Enix started releasing Dragon Quest: The Mark of Erdrick worldwide. That featured art by Fujiwara and a Chiaki Kawamata story. It acted as a prequel to Dragon Quest III

The Dragon Quest Eden manga will begin running in Young Gangan in Japan on January 5, 2026, and the Dragon Quest VII Reimagined remake will come to the Switch, Switch 2, PS5, Xbox Series X, and PC on February 5, 2026.

The post New Dragon Quest Eden Manga Based on Dragon Quest VII appeared first on Siliconera.


Siliconera Friday, December 5, 2025 2:00 PM
    

First Digimon Story: Time Stranger Digimon & Episode DLC Appears Soon

Bandai Namco revealed we'll be playing the first Digimon Story: Time Stranger Digimon & Episode Pack 1 DLC, which is called Alternate Dimension, on December 8, 2025. It also shared a video highlighting what to expect it to add to the game. This is the first of three packs. It is part of the $29.99 Season Pass for the JRPG, but will also be sold separately. Prior to this major add-on, we mainly saw costume packs, BGM packs, and the Outer Dungeons called The Hall of EXP, The Hall of Gold, and The Hall of Materials. 

An Akashic Backdoor opened in Digimon Story: Time Stranger as the Alternate Dimension DLC begins, and our agent is sent in to deal with Parallelmon and fix the issue. Kyoko Kuremi will be there and appears in the first teaser, as does the confirmation that Omnimon will be added in this pack.  

Here is the full trailer for the first major add-on:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AnJUapvmLx4

While we don't know what the additional episodes will entail or what the other Mega Digimon in them, Bandai Namco did offer a general schedule for when to expect the other additions. The second pack should appear between January and March 2026. The third and final one will debut between April and June 2026.

Digimon Story: Time Stranger is available on the PS5, Xbox Series X, and PC, and its Additional Digimon & Episode Pack 1: Alternate Dimension DLC debuts on December 8, 2025. 

The post First Digimon Story: Time Stranger Digimon & Episode DLC Appears Soon appeared first on Siliconera.


Destructoid Friday, December 5, 2025 2:53 PM
    

Baldur's Gate 3 system requirements need a lot of storage.

After posting a mysterious statue and an image of a desert, The Game Awards and Geoff Keighley have once again started teasing us with cryptic messaging.

In a Dec. 5 reply to Geoff's original tweets, TGA's account posted " The █████ are silent. █████ bleeds. New █████ stir." Whatever that means.

Over the past week or so, many speculations arose regarding the statue and what it could mean. Half-Life 3 hopefuls were first to be shut down, as the statue clearly indicates a dark fantasy world with dragons, druidic bears, medieval armors, and so on. That led people to hook to Diablo 4, based on Jez Corden's claims, which were then refuted by Jason Schreier, one of gaming's most reputable journalists.

He went on to say that it's not The Elder Scrolls 6 either, but did not want to reveal what it was because he nevertheless considers it big enough to be kept a secret. This left God of War as the only plausible scenario, but Santa Monica and Cory Balrog both denied these claims.

https://twitter.com/thegameawards/status/1996993470322692176

So what is it? What does the code above mean? Well, discussing the tease, my colleagues and filled in the gaps with a couple plausible words. One was "The Great Ones are silent. The Hunter bleeds. New Nightmares stir." If that wasn't clear, we were indicating Bloodborne 2. However, the pieces of armor and the overall tone of the statue do not inspire hope for that fabled sequel, so we could be very off target.

Another potential solution is "The gods are silent. Earth bleeds. New evils stir," which could indicate just about anything. However, since Schreier thinks this is too big to reveal and spoil the heavy marketing, I believe this has to do with Larian Studios' next project. The statue thematically coincides with the Divinity series, and especially Original Sin 2.

We know Larian has started working on its next game a while ago, though it did spare a lot of resources on updating Baldur's Gate 3 for two full years. It could be time to reveal the game to the world, probably a couple of years ahead of release. Larian is a private company, so they could've been working on this since before BG3 for all we know, as it has no obligation to disclose anything it does.

The dark tone fits with the company's style, the eccentricity matches that of Swen Vincke, and since no corporate publisher is creative enough to greenlight this project, it's safe to say this was made by a private company, aka a studio like Larian.

Of course, I leave space for the most copeful solution: "The half are silent. Life bleeds. New 3 stir," because I'm not giving up the hopium.

The post TGA's latest tease of the viral demonic statue is here, and we think we've cracked the code appeared first on Destructoid.


Destructoid Friday, December 5, 2025 2:43 PM
    

The Warlock Aunor with the Praxic Blade, a lightsaber, in Destiny 2: Renegades.

The Fire and Ice mission is the highlight of the Renegades campaign, bringing the classic Destiny 2 feel back to an expansion that often crosses into Star Wars territory. Of course, this means a lot of combat and a main mechanic that ties in with the mission.

Fire and Ice can be quite a long mission when you don't know your way around it, and the main mechanic—bringing balance to the cosmic scales—can be tricky to glean at first. It's a perfect in-universe tie-in to the themes of Light, Darkness, and equilibrium, and it's a perfect opportunity to harken back to the Star Wars source material.

Because of this, we'll cover the main combat sections in Renegades' Fire and Ice mission so you can learn the mechanics and grab your Praxic Blade.

How to Balance the Scales in Fire and Ice in Destiny 2 Renegades

An icy block with a suspended pendulum in the middle and four Taken Blights.
The pendulum is a nice touch. Screenshot and remix by Destructoid

For a quick breakdown:

  • Kill two Cleaved enemies to generate energy orbs. Killing two of the same type grants Paired Energy (white), and killing two different ones generates Opposite Energy (black).
  • Throw the energy orbs at a Blight to grow it, but make sure it's not too far apart from its twin color.
  • Repeat it until all four Blights are fully grown.

The Balance the Scales encounter is the first time you encounter Fire and Ice's unique mechanic. You enter a long room with a pendulum in the center and four Taken Blights interspersed in a square. The Blights are symmetrical to each other: top-right and bottom-left are black, while top-left and bottom-right are white.

The right half of the arena has Taken enemies, while the left brings Cabal. You'll notice a special glowing enemy under each Blight, called a Cleaved Taken Centurion or a Cleaved Imperium Centurion. Kill any of them to receive a buff: either Barant Energy (Cabal) or Taken Energy (Taken).

Killing two of those Cleaved enemies generates energy orbs, depending on the type of enemy you killed. Defeating two of the same type creates Paired Energy (white), while defeating two different foes drops Opposite Energy (black). If you have Barant Energy and kill a Taken, you get Opposite Energy, which is easy to remember. The order doesn't matter, either.

The Balance the Scales room in Fire and Ice in Destiny 2.
Remember, Taken are on the right. Screenshot by Destructoid

After killing two Cleaved enemies, throw the energy orbs into the Blights to grow them. Blights can be up to two stages apart from each other. If one is three charges ahead, it resets, so don't overfeed them. We recommend doing two energy orbs per Blight, and it's fairly safe to aim them long-distance (it's not as good as battery tracking in Into the Light's Onslaught, but it's good enough).

As long as you're keeping Blights within two stages of their matching color, you can continue generating the appropriate energy orbs and throwing them. You can do colors separately, for instance, starting with the two white Blights and then doing black. Unless you're hunting down a catalyst for your Praxic Blade, this should be enough to get you to the portal and onto the final boss: the Disciple of Harrow.

How to beat Disciple of Harrow in Fire and Ice in Destiny 2 Renegades

The arena for the Disciple of Harrow, a Cabal armed with a minigun. Two black Blights are visible in the background.
The lightsaber helps... But it's a shame you only get it after the mission. Screenshot by Destructoid

The culmination of Fire and Ice is the Disciple of Harrow, a heavily armed Cabal that has some pretty simple mechanics until it starts drawing cosmic energy and making an immune shield. The first part of the boss fight is simple: just damage it until it moves away. Once it gets to 75 percent health, the boss will move away and spawn a Cabal dome on the left. It'll do the same on the other side after reaching 50 percent, and it summons an immune shield when it gets to 25 percent. Breaking it requires the mechanic from the previous encounter.

How to break the Disciple of Harrow's shield in Fire and Ice in Destiny 2 Renegades

The Disciple of Harrow without its last shield in Destiny 2 Renegades
The Praxic Blade helps, but it's a shame you only get this after this mission. Screenshot by Destructoid

Once you reach the last part of its health bar, Disciple of Harrow will shield itself, spawning a set of Cleaved Cabal enemies. There are no white Blights, however, so you shouldn't kill the two Cabal enemies, or you'll receive Paired energy. Getaway Artist Warlocks, be careful here. This is easily remedied if you're not solo, since two players can grab the same type of energy.

Grab the necessary buff and look for a set of floating rocks around the center of the arena, which will lead to the artifact you've been using in the mission. Interact with it to summon the second type of Cleaved enemies. Kill them to generate black orbs and throw them into the Blights, keeping them up to two stages apart from each other. With five orbs per spawn, throw three into one of the Blights and two into the second, then repeat the process, fill up the Blights, and go for another damage phase.

The trickiest part of this boss fight may not even be the mechanic. Disciple of Harrow has a fast-firing Cabal minigun and a penchant for aiming it at a guardian, so be careful if you're on the other side of those crosshairs.

Take the Disciple of Harrow down, and you'll be teleported to a new room in the Praxic Temple, where you can snag your Praxic Blade. You'll receive one with either a green or a blue crystal, which lends its colors, but a lot of other options are available through playing (and some are in the Eververse, because, well, it's Bungie).

The post Destiny 2 Renegades Fire and Ice mission combat guide and walkthrough appeared first on Destructoid.


Destructoid Friday, December 5, 2025 1:24 PM
    

A massive settlement in Nova Roma.

For some odd reason, 2025 seems to be the year of Roman-era city-builders. From Anno 117 to Roman Triumph, it's certainly been a great period for those who love their forums and temples.

But now we're getting another game, whose demo is already out and attracting a good chunk of players: Nova Roma.

Much like Roman Triumph, which I spoke of earlier this year, Nova Roma is styled more after Banished than Anno. You are tasked with erecting a new Roman settlement at the twilight of the Empire, managing your residents' needs, health, happiness, and, what's most crucial, ensuring they're warm during the winter.

The game adopts a cartoonish art style, exchanging realism for beauty and color. Every visual is striking, and the maps themselves are incredible canvases perfectly suited for Rome's new beginnings. It's in many ways akin to Banished in its gameplay, but it streamlines many of the processes to ensure frustration is kept at a minimum.

A roman settlement in Nova Roma covered in snow.
The winters can be harsh on your people. Image via Lion Shield

Though Banished has a clear-cut progression system, it doesn't always work out so well. More often than not, you'll spread out and expand quickly at the start, but have your entire population decimated just as fast. In Nova Roma, such worries are put aside. Your citizens will freeze to death, and the odd egg will wander out into the sea, never to be seen again (this is an actual event in the game), but the rapid collapse we've come to know in Banished isn't part of the experience.

Some influence of Anno does exist. Citizens have select needs that must be fulfilled depending on their strata, there is a linear progression in social class even if it isn't clearly stated like in Anno, and enemies (i.e. Rome itself) will try to come and conquer you every now and again. You must dedicate temples to various gods, like in Anno 117, only here they get really mad if you don't dedicate enough of these shrines to them.

Appeasing the Olympian host is just as important as keeping your citizens at bay, giving you something to do at every point of your progression. The tech tree is tied to the gods' happiness, so you'd better offer those 40 grapes when Ceres asks you to.

The combination of nice visuals, a relatively challenging gameplay loop, and inspirations taken from the most influential games in this niche genre produces a fantastic little game that I could not get enough of. As said, the demo is free of charge and already available, while the full release is scheduled for Jan. 22 next year.

If you loved any of the games I've mentioned here, Nova Roma will probably scratch that same itch, doing so in a lovely, calmer, and unique way.

The post Nova Roma could be the Banished-like we've all been searching for appeared first on Destructoid.


Destructoid Friday, December 5, 2025 1:21 PM
    

Raspadori World Tour item in FC 26

The Wizard Evolution is now live in FC 26, and you can complete the upgrade to improve a card of your choice.

The evolution, available for 40,000 coins, offers some amazing upgrades. Your selected card can rise up to 87 overall rating, along with new playstyles and roles. This guide will help you find the best possible choices based on the requirements and offered upgrades.

FC 26 The Wizard Evolution requirements

Here are the requirements of The Wizard Evolution in FC 26.

  • Overall: Max 85
  • Pace: Max 89
  • Total Positions: Max 3
  • PlayStyle: Max 10
  • PlayStyle+: Max 1
  • Not Rarity: World Tour Silver Stars
  • Position: LW

FC 26 The Wizard Evolution upgrades

The evolution has five levels of upgrades, each with certain conditions to fulfill.

Level 1 upgrades

  • Overall: +12|87
  • Balance: +20|89
  • Composure: +20|85
  • Positions: CAM
  • PlayStyles: Trickster|6

Level 2 upgrades

  • Acceleration: +10
  • Penalties: +15
  • Long Shots: +15
  • Roles: Inside Forward++, Classic 10++

Level 3 upgrades

  • Passing: +10|83
  • Ball control: +20|88
  • Sprint Speed: +20|91
  • Stamina: +20|85
  • Skills: +4

Level 4 upgrades

  • Acceleration: +10|90
  • Dribbling: +20|88
  • Positioning: +15|87
  • Reactions: +20|87
  • PlayStyles: Inventive|6

Level 5 upgrades

  • Agility: +20|90
  • Finishing: +15|87
  • Shot Power: +15|85
  • PlayStyles+: Quick Step|1
  • Roles: Wide Playmaker++

Level 1 upgrade requirements

  • Play 2 matches in Squad Battles on min Semi-Pro difficulty (or Rush/Rivals/Champions/Live Events) using your active EVO player in game.

Level 2 upgrade requirements

  • Play 1 match in Squad Battles on min. Semi-Pro difficulty (or Rush/Rivals/Champions/Live Events) using your active EVO Player in game.

Level 3 upgrade requirements

  • Play 1 match in Squad Battles on min. Semi-Pro difficulty (or Rush/Rivals/Champions/Live Events) using your active EVO Player in game.

Level 4 upgrade requirements

  • Play 1 match in Squad Battles on min. Semi-Pro difficulty (or Rush/Rivals/Champions/Live Events) using your active EVO Player in game.

Level 5 upgrade requirements

  • Play 1 match in Squad Battles on min. Semi-Pro difficulty (or Rush/Rivals/Champions/Live Events) using your active EVO Player in game.

Best players to use in The Wizard Evolution

Here are some of my best recommendations for inclusion in the evolution.

  • Joelinton
  • Raspadori World Tour
  • Son Heung Min
  • Harvey Barnes TOTW
  • Selma Bacha
  • Luna TOTW
  • Tzolis

While the upgrades are significant, you will be able to include these cards in future evolutions to create a chain and evolve their stats further.

The post Best players for the FC 26 The Wizard Evolution appeared first on Destructoid.


Destructoid Friday, December 5, 2025 1:13 PM
    

OW2 Winter Wonderland season 20

Winter Wonderland is back for another year in Overwatch 2 alongside season 20, and that's just the start of the seasonal festivities.

The newest DPS hero, Vendetta, makes her mark immediately when the season goes live, but there's a whole load of new cosmetic items to unlock along with changes to the base game to keep players warm over the holidays.

Read on below for OW2's season 20 patch notes to see what's new and different in the FPS with the new season that begins Dec. 9.

Overwatch 2 season 20 patch notes

Vendetta OW2
Image via Blizzard Entertainment

New Damage hero: Vendetta

OW2 Vendetta hero abilities
Image via Blizzard Entertainment

Vendetta is OW2's 45th hero and its first-ever fully melee-based DPS character. Her Palatine Fang sword will wreak havoc on the backline as she flies through the air and deals big damage, so be prepared to help your healers.

Hero buffs and nerfs

Hero balancing changes will arrive alongside the update on Dec. 9, so check back here for more info once the full patch notes are available.

Stadium updates

OW2 Wuyang surfing
Image via Blizzard Entertainment

Wuyang and Doomfist join the round-based mode along with a re-work for Cassidy and a new Top 500 rank tier to grind for on the new China Control map.

Competitive updates

The newly-introduced Challenger Score will add more heat in the battle for Top 500 players, but some big changes coming to cheater bans will help players regain any rank progress lost in "unfair losses" along the way.

Console aim assist changes

Aim assist is getting a buff on consoles, "anywhere from 6 percent to 8 percent depending on the target's distance," alongside the season 20 update.

Winter Wonderland returns

OW2 season 20 Winter skins
Image via Blizzard Entertainment

The return of everyone's favorite cheery event adds a three-path reward system where players can complete challenges to earn Winter Cookies to unlock skins like Jingle Tracer, Krampus Junkrat, and Santa Claus Torbjorn.

Running from Dec. 9 to Jan. 7, the event also includes a winterized Mischief & Magic prop hunt mode variant, along with other unlockable skins in Frozen Demon Junkrat and Frozen Mountaineer Cassidy.

New Mythics

Divine Desperado Mythic Cassidy skin
Image via Blizzard Entertainment

This season's new mythic skin is Divine Desperado Cassidy, offering a number of customization options. Season 2's Mythic weapon is Orisa's Capsule Cannon, which is like a big gacha machine on her arm.

OW2 Orisa Capsule Cannon Mythic weapon
Image via Blizzard Entertainment

It's adorable.

New battle pass

OW2 season 20 battle pass skins
Image via Blizzard Entertainment

Five legendary skins and three Epic skins highlight this season's battle pas. Yukizaru Genji, Colder: 76 Soldier: 76, Frost Lich Reaper, Skadi Freja, Cold Front Tracer, Ice Crystal Symmetra, and Winter Guardian Illari round it out along with dozens of other rewards. The Ultimate Battle Pass bundle adds High Society Vendetta and Reindeer Tracer, along with 20 tier skips and 2,000 OW Coins.

Avatar: The Last Airbender collab returns

OW2 ATLA collab
Image via Blizzard Entertainment

OW2's A:TLA collab returns to the store with skins such as Katara Mei, Aang Zenyatta, Appa Orisa, Toph Venture, Zuko Genji, and Suki Kiriko.


This article will be updated with more information when it becomes available.

The post Overwatch 2 season 20 early patch notes – Vendetta, Winter Wonderland, nerfs and buffs, plus more appeared first on Destructoid.


WGB Friday, December 5, 2025 7:32 PM
     The Last Case of John Morley promises brooding detective work, haunted corridors and a twisted mystery, but delivers a mostly linear walking sim where the answers arrive long before the questions. There's atmosphere, some sincerity, and a couple of surprising moments, yet the story is too blunt and the characters too distant to ever truly land. It's a case worth closing, but the developers' ambition makes me curious about what they'll build next.

Gaming Instincts – Next-Generation of Video Game Journalism Friday, December 5, 2025 4:08 PM
    

A trailer was also released.

The post 2XKO Console Version Release Date Announced appeared first on Gaming Instincts - Next-Generation of Video Game Journalism.


Gaming Instincts – Next-Generation of Video Game Journalism Friday, December 5, 2025 3:49 PM
    

A new trailer was also released.

The post ROMEO IS A DEAD MAN Release Date Announced appeared first on Gaming Instincts - Next-Generation of Video Game Journalism.


Gaming Instincts – Next-Generation of Video Game Journalism Friday, December 5, 2025 3:19 PM
    

A teaser trailer was also released.

The post Monster Hunter December Showcase Announced appeared first on Gaming Instincts - Next-Generation of Video Game Journalism.


Gaming Instincts – Next-Generation of Video Game Journalism Friday, December 5, 2025 3:02 PM

MonsterVine Friday, December 5, 2025 6:53 PM
     Tokyo-based publisher Shueisha Games and solo developer Koeda have announced that their strategic deck-building roguelite ANTHEM#9 will officially launch on Steam in February 2026. Previously targeting Winter 2025, the delay gives the team additional time to polish the gem-matching battler ahead of release. The update arrived during The Best Indie Games Winter Showcase, which also […]

MonsterVine Friday, December 5, 2025 6:39 PM
     The legendary fight for humanity's survival continues next year. Dotemu and Alt Shift, in collaboration with Universal Products & Experiences, have revealed a new trailer for Battlestar Galactica: Scattered Hopes, an innovative tactical roguelite based on the iconic sci-fi franchise. The game is set to launch on PC in early 2026, with a Steam page […]

MonsterVine Friday, December 5, 2025 2:07 PM
     Indie studio The Game Bakers (known for Furi and Haven) has announced that their anticipated survival climbing adventure, Cairn, officially launches on January 29, 2026, for PlayStation 5 and Steam. The reveal arrived during the PC Gaming Show: Most Wanted showcase, alongside a striking new trailer that highlights the game's physical intensity and emotional scope. Cairn will be priced […]

MonsterVine Friday, December 5, 2025 2:01 PM
     Red Essence Games and indie.io have announced that Traveler's Refrain, the hand-painted musical action RPG, is heading to consoles for the first time with its Nintendo Switch launch on December 11, 2025. Following its positive reception on Steam earlier this year, the game is now making the leap to a platform built for story-driven adventures […]