The Epic Games Store has revealed its December 26 mystery giveaway title, confirming that Mystery Game number 10 of 17 is We Were Here Together. The reveal places the cooperative puzzle adventure as the latest entry in Epic’s ongoing holiday promotion, which has now passed the halfway point, with seven additional games still scheduled to be unlocked. We Were Here Together follows Disco Elysium and The Callisto Protocol in the mystery lineup and comes after earlier giveaways such as Bloodstained, Paradise Killer, and Sorry We’re Closed. Previous entries in the promotion also included Hogwarts Legacy, Jotunnslayer Hordes of Hel, Eternights, and Blood West.

Mario Kart World has reached 2.5 million retail units sold in Japan, achieving the milestone in just 29 weeks, according to sales data shared by Pierre485. The figure establishes the title as the fastest-selling Mario Kart game in the region, surpassing Mario Kart Wii, which required 89 weeks to reach the same mark. It is also the fastest-selling Nintendo Switch 2 game to date and currently stands as Japan’s best-selling game of 2025, with one week remaining in the year. The strong domestic performance further reinforces Mario Kart World’s position as a flagship release for Nintendo’s latest hardware.

Former Tekken director Katsuhiro Harada has publicly responded to a viral AI-generated video that attempts to explain the Tekken series storyline, offering a broader reflection on technology, creativity, and how AI should be evaluated within game development. His comments were shared directly in response to a social media user who suggested that some AI-generated Tekken videos do a better job of presenting the story than the games themselves. Harada pushed back strongly against that assessment, arguing that such reactions reflect a misunderstanding of technological history and creative processes. He stated that judging only the final output, without understanding how and why something was created, leads to shallow conclusions.

Level-5 CEO Akihiro Hino has issued a detailed response to renewed controversy surrounding the company’s stance on AI in game development, following the resurfacing of older remarks about generative AI use. The discussion has intensified amid broader industry debate over AI-assisted creation, prompting Hino to publicly clarify Level-5’s position and address what he described as significant misunderstandings. Hino stated that AI is already widely used across game development studios, with the primary difference being whether companies choose to disclose that usage. He emphasized that AI should be viewed as a tool rather than an inherently negative force, pushing back against the notion that its use is synonymous with plagiarism or creative shortcuts.

Stardew Valley creator Eric Barone, known publicly as ConcernedApe, has addressed player concerns following the surprise release of the game’s Nintendo Switch 2 edition, confirming that multiple issues are affecting the new version and that a fix is currently in development. The response came shortly after players began reporting severe bugs and multiplayer problems across social platforms, particularly Reddit. In a public statement, Barone took responsibility for the situation, stating, "I am aware that there are some issues with the nintendo switch 2 edition that just dropped. I take full responsibility for this mistake.

Nintendo has shared extensive insight into the long and complex development of Metroid Prime 4 Beyond through a new interview with its development staff published by Famitsu (via Famiboards). The discussion outlines why the project changed development teams mid-production, how its core concepts were defined, and what guided major gameplay and story decisions. According to the development team, the project began with a request from Nintendo of America to produce a numbered Metroid Prime entry, positioning it as a mainline installment. From the outset, the goal was to create something new while preserving the distinctive feel of the Prime series.

Kuro Games has detailed the Version 3.0 update for Wuthering Waves, confirming the game’s largest post-launch expansion to date will arrive on December 25, 2025. The update not only introduces a major new story arc but also arrives as the studio celebrates multiple high-profile awards from organizations including The Game Awards, PlayStation, Google Play, and the Hollywood Music In Media Awards. Version 3.0 begins Chapter III of Wuthering Waves’ ongoing episodic narrative, opening a new science fiction-focused storyline that blends mechanical futurism with space-themed romance. The chapter launches with two acts, What Burns Beneath Frostlands and Ode to the Second Sunrise, and sends players to an entirely new region while expanding the game’s cast and combat systems.

Digital Foundry has shared a detailed technical analysis of Layers of Fear: The Final Masterpiece Edition on Nintendo Switch 2, offering insight into how the Unreal Engine 5-powered title performs on Nintendo’s new hardware. The discussion took place during a recent Digital Foundry podcast and focused on resolution behavior, frame rate targets, and the extent to which Unreal Engine 5 features have been scaled back to meet platform constraints. According to the team, the Switch 2 version is notable not because it is a flawless port, but because it serves as an early example of what Unreal Engine 5 can and cannot currently achieve on the system.

Stardew Valley has quietly launched on Nintendo Switch 2, appearing without prior announcement and offering a free upgrade path for players who already own the game on the original Nintendo Switch. The Switch 2 version can currently be claimed directly through the console, while users searching on desktop storefronts may not see the upgrade option. The standalone price for new buyers on Switch 2 is listed at $14.99. The unannounced release was first shared by Wario64, who also confirmed that the upgrade process is only visible when accessed directly on the Switch 2 hardware.

Epic Games Store has officially revealed Mystery Game number 9 of its December promotion, confirming Disco Elysium: The Final Cut as the free title for December 25. The game will go live at 9 AM PST and will be available to claim for a full 24 hours, after which it will rotate out as part of the ongoing holiday giveaway event. Disco Elysium: The Final Cut is described as a role-playing game that places players in the role of a detective with a highly unconventional skill system. Players are tasked with interrogating characters, solving murders, and navigating morally flexible choices that allow them to act as either a heroic figure or, at times, an outright disaster.

Inazuma Eleven Victory Road is perhaps the most feature-complete and content-rich entry in the series so far. It is no surprise that it took so long to release, but the wait feels completely worth it if you are a fan of the Inazuma franchise. For those who are not, and are simply looking for a casual soccer game with an anime style, this may not appeal to everyone. Just booting up Inazuma Eleven Victory Road can feel overwhelming due to the sheer amount of content shown on the main menu. To start with, there are two separate story modes to play through, along with a Kizuna Station mode that lets players build their own town and social hub.

New screenshots for Gang of Dragon have been released following an update to the game’s Steam page, offering a closer look at its action-focused gameplay and urban setting. The screenshots highlight several key elements, including car customization, weapons like a machine gun, and close-range brawling that emphasizes raw physical force. Gang of Dragon is an action-adventure title developed and published by Nagoshi Studio Inc., marking the studio’s debut project. The game is set in Shinjuku, Tokyo, with a particular focus on Kabukicho, one of Japan’s most recognizable entertainment districts. Players step into the role of Shin Ji-seong, a high-ranking member of a Korean crime syndicate operating in the area.

Steam experienced a service disruption on Christmas Eve, briefly going offline and leaving many users unable to access the store. While the platform appeared to recover shortly afterward, reports indicate that issues persisted for a significant number of users even after service was partially restored. According to user reports, the outage occurred around 11 AM PST, when Steam services began experiencing widespread problems. Downdetector recorded a large spike in outage reports during this period, suggesting that the disruption affected a broad portion of the user base. Although the storefront came back online relatively quickly, access remained inconsistent, with some users continuing to encounter loading failures and connectivity problems.

We’re in the midst of the awards season, and our staff at Twisted Voxel has put together our Best of PC titles list for the year 2025. 2025 has been a decent year for the PC platform, with several standout titles that impressed us. For our list, we’ve focused on ranking the 5 best releases that excelled on PC in the year 2025. 5. Trails in the Sky 1st Chapter Remake Trails in the Sky 1st Chapter Remake modernizes visuals, combat flow, and quality-of-life features while preserving the deliberate pacing and character-driven storytelling of the original.

Arkane Lyon has offered a rare update on the development of Marvel Blade, responding to growing fan curiosity after a long period of silence. The update came directly from co-creative director Dinga Bakaba, who addressed concerns during a brief exchange on X, reassuring players that work on the project remains active and ambitious. The exchange began when a fan account, TheArkaneRealm, publicly expressed frustration over the lack of visible progress on the game. The user wrote, “My Christmas wish this year is to get SOMETHING about Blade from the ArkaneStudios team in Lyon.

Layers of Fear: The Final Masterpiece Edition is the definitive version of the Bloober Team classic. It includes the first two Layers of Fear games, along with all post-launch DLC released for them. This is the most feature rich version of the series, with the added benefit of being playable on a portable system. It is based on the significantly enhanced version of Layers of Fear that launched in 2023 on consoles and PC, which effectively served as a remake aimed at fixing issues from the original releases. This edition includes all DLC, which adds to the overall playtime and brings the total experience to over ten hours.

System Shock is a remake of a cult classic developed by the acclaimed Nightdive Studios. As a remake of such an old game, it holds up well thanks to the strong effort put into rebuilding most of the assets in high definition. The Switch 2 port arrives a few years after the game was released on PC and other consoles. While the game is also available on Switch 1, I was only able to play and test it on Switch 2, which offers the most interesting handheld version, though unfortunately, it also comes with many drawbacks.

Epic Games Store has officially revealed its December 24 mystery game, confirming that The Callisto Protocol will be available to claim for free for a limited time. The survival horror title will be accessible at no cost for 24 hours once the promotion goes live, continuing Epic ongoing holiday giveaway campaign. The Callisto Protocol is featured as Mystery Game 8 out of 17 in the promotion. While this is not the first time the game has been offered for free on a digital storefront, its inclusion still stands out due to its scale and genre appeal, particularly for players who enjoyed the Dead Space series.

Fantasy Life i version 2.0.1 introduces a substantial content drop led by Snoozaland, a new roguelike open world area, alongside the Polishing system that enhances weapons and Life tools through crafting. Several interface improvements streamline navigation across maps, quests, crafting, and inventory management, making daily play feel more efficient overall. The update also raises the damage cap, expands Base Camp housing limits, adds a wide range of new items and customization options, and resolves multiple gameplay and platform-specific issues. It is a broad quality-focused update that touches nearly every major system without overcomplicating things.

We're in the midst of the awards season, and our staff at Twisted Voxel has put together our list of Best of 2025 Xbox titles. 2025 has been a lukewarm year for the Xbox consoles, with few major console exclusive first-party and third-party titles from Microsoft. For our list, we’ve focused on ranking the 5 best releases that could only be experienced on Xbox consoles in the year 2025. 5. Grounded 2 (Early Access Preview) While still in Early Access Preview, Grounded 2 makes its place on this list by showing plenty of potential as a sequel that understands what worked and what didn't in the original survival game.

Sandfall Interactive has addressed several key topics surrounding Clair Obscur Expedition 33, offering clarification on post-launch content, difficulty design, generative AI use, and the studio's long-term direction. The details were shared during a private creator Q and A session hosted by publisher Kepler Interactive (via YouTuber Sushi), featuring Sandfall Interactive founder Guillaume Broche and art director Nicholas Maxson-Francombe. The discussion focused on questions that have emerged since the game launch, particularly following the release of the free DLC update. According to Sandfall Interactive, the free DLC expansion was conceived as both a creative outlet and a way to acknowledge player support.

A paid expansion for The Witcher 3 is projected to release in May 2026, according to a new analyst report from Noble Securities. The forecast comes from Mateusz Chrzanowski, an analyst at the firm, who maintains an accumulate rating for CD Projekt stock and has revised internal schedules and budget expectations for the company's flagship projects. In his latest report, Chrzanowski outlines a revised production and release timeline that places a new Witcher 3 expansion ahead of The Witcher 4, which is now expected to launch in the fourth quarter of 2027.

A potential new Spyro game may have been inadvertently revealed through a former Toys For Bob developer's LinkedIn profile, sparking renewed discussion around the long-dormant franchise. The leak (via Canadian Guy) centers on Donald Yatomi, an ex-Toys For Bob developer, who listed Spyro as one of the IPs he worked on during his time at the studio, alongside Call of Duty. The listing suggests active development work on a Spyro project well after the release of the last mainline entry. According to the information shared, Yatomi joined Toys For Bob in 2022 and continued working there until 2024.

Sony has begun refunding PlayStation Store users who previously claimed Shadow Tactics Blades of the Shogun for free due to a pricing error, nearly two months after the issue first surfaced. The action effectively removes ownership of the game from affected accounts, despite users having added it to their libraries during the original store glitch. The reversal was communicated through an email sent by PlayStation Support, which confirms that a refund was processed even though no money had been paid. The email states, "We have processed your refund request on 12 23 2025 09 25 PM GMT in the amount of 0.00 for Shadow Tactics Blades of the Shogun."

CD Projekt Red has confirmed that the steep discount recently seen for Cyberpunk 2077 on the Nintendo Switch 2 eShop was the result of an internal error. The pricing issue briefly reduced Cyberpunk 2077 Ultimate Edition by as much as 75 percent, dropping the title to approximately $17.50 from its regular price of $99.99. The unexpected discount quickly drew attention and led many players to assume the price was a mistake rather than an intentional promotion. The situation gained further visibility when an official Nintendo press release also referenced the 75 percent discount for…