Destructoid Thursday, December 25, 2025 5:45 PM
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.
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.
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Destructoid Thursday, December 25, 2025 5:16 PM
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.
Table of contents
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
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
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
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
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
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
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.
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Destructoid Thursday, December 25, 2025 3:59 PM
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.
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.
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Destructoid Thursday, December 25, 2025 3:36 PM
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.
Table of contents
GHOUL://RE Kagune Tier List
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.
S-Tier Kagune
A-Tier Kagune
B-Tier Kagune
C-Tier Kagune
D-Tier Kagune
GHOUL://RE Quinque Tier List
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.
S-Tier Quinque
A-Tier Quinque
B-Tier Quinque
C-Tier Quinque
D-Tier Quinque
That's it for my GHOUL://RE Kagune and Quinque tier list and guide. Check out the latest GHOUL://RE Codes for free goodies.
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Destructoid Thursday, December 25, 2025 3:31 PM
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.
Table of contents
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.
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.
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.
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.
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Destructoid Thursday, December 25, 2025 3:30 PM
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.
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.
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.
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Destructoid Thursday, December 25, 2025 3:29 PM
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
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.
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Destructoid Thursday, December 25, 2025 3:06 PM
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
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.
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WGB Thursday, December 25, 2025 4:48 PM Merry Christmas, everyone! |
iDev Games Feed Thursday, December 25, 2025 6:27 PM You have died. Now you must face the Angel of Judgment. JUDGMENT: ETERNAL VERDICT is an atmospheric narrative experience where you defend your soul!... |























































