Games
• Key Takeaways: * Metroid Prime 4 began as a direct request from Nintendo of America to make a new numbered Prime title. * Development shifted to Retro Studios mid-project; Retro had to build the internal structure to make a Metroid Prime game. * Background assets and movie creation were outsourced and required close
Games
* Balatro emerges as Dominik Diamond’s personal lifesaver and top emotional pick. * Marvel Snap was his most-played title but fell out of favor over microtransaction-driven changes. * Family favourites: Just Dance 2024, Overwatch, Resident Evil Biohazard, Crash Bandicoot and Minecraft dominated household playtime. * Blue Prince and Doom: The Dark Ages are
Games
• Key Takeaways: * ConcernedApe released a free Nintendo Switch 2 edition update for Stardew Valley on Dec. 25, 2025. * New features include mouse controls, local split-screen for up to 4 players, and online multiplayer for up to 8 players. * Existing Switch owners receive the update as a free "Upgrade Pack&
Games
* Key Takeaways: * Wing Commander: Privateer (1993) taught the author to prefer open-world, player-driven experiences over tightly authored stories. * The game combined Elite-style sandbox mechanics with Wing Commander flight and a richly hand-crafted setting. * Privateer influenced later space sandboxes — Freelancer, the X series, EVE Online, Elite Dangerous, No Man’s Sky,
Games
* A mix of high-profile sequels and unexpected indie hits made Ars Technica’s 2025 top-20 list. * Franchise entries like Assassin’s Creed Shadows, Avowed, and Civilization VII anchored the year, while GTA VI slipped into 2026. * Indie standouts — Blue Prince, Baby Steps, Ball x Pit, and Dragonsweeper — proved small teams
Games
• A wide slate of indie and mid-tier releases in 2025 delivered standout experiences across roguelikes, platformers, puzzles, and party games. • Notable picks: Monster Train 2 (deckbuilder roguelike), Shotgun Cop Man (physics platformer), Abandoned Archive (spell‑based roguelike), Promise Mascot Agency (open‑world collectathon). • Many titles are available across PC and
Games
• Free upgrade: Stardew Valley — Nintendo Switch 2 Edition is now available to existing Switch owners. • New features: Mouse controls, four‑player split‑screen, eight‑player online, and GameShare support are included. • Rollout: Update is live on the US eShop; regional availability may follow. • Ongoing content: Creator Eric "ConcernedApe"
Games
• Fortnite and PlayStation Network saw major login spikes on Christmas Day, briefly stressing servers. • Epic Games CTO Tim Sweeney acknowledged issues as "the servers are melting down, sorry fam." • Fortnite Status later reported logins were recovering; PSN experienced limited, intermittent problems. • Engineers responded quickly; most players were able
Games
• Key Takeaways: * LANESPLIT is a minimalist lanesplitting motorcycle game by solo developer FunkyMouse, currently available as a free demo on Steam. * The game focuses on a flow-state, zen riding experience: weave between traffic at high speed with rhythmic breakcore music. * It’s in early access with bugs being actively patched;
Games
• Key takeaways: • 2025 delivered a slew of inventive indie releases across PS5, Xbox, Switch and PC — from surreal dating sims to experimental puzzle and horror titles. • Standouts include Date Everything! (romance everyday objects), Blippo+ (intergalactic channel surfing), Time Flies (speedrunning a fly’s life) and Wheel World (calm bike racing)
Games
* Key Takeaways: * Steam experienced a partial outage beginning around 1 PM ET on Dec. 24, affecting the Store, Community and Web APIs. * Unofficial monitoring from SteamDB and DownDetector recorded thousands of reports; Valve did not immediately issue a public statement. * By about 4 PM ET services began to recover and
Games
• Key Takeaways: * A partial Steam outage began around 1PM ET on Dec. 24, affecting the Steam Store, Community and Web APIs. * SteamDB and Downdetector reported thousands of user reports; Valve did not publicly acknowledge the disruption. * Online features for Valve titles (Dota 2, Team Fortress 2, Counter-Strike 2) were impacted;