AI
* Key Takeaways: * Google is extending the timeline to replace Google Assistant with Gemini on many Android devices beyond 2025. * The company says the adjustment aims to "make sure [it delivers] a seamless transition." * Gemini is already the default on Pixel 9 phones, but device upgrades require Android 10
Games
Key Takeaways: * Battlefield 6 led 2025’s new releases with ~26M players; base game sold 20M+ copies. * Free-to-play Skate reached 23M players and sustains 750K+ daily active users. * Top new indies on Steam generated over $500M combined (about 3% of Steam’s ~$18B yearly revenue). * R.E.P.O, PEAK,
Games
* Key takeaways: * Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 (Sandfall Interactive) won Game of the Year, Best Debut and the fan-voted Community Pick for Best RPG at the Indie Game Awards. * The title has already swept major awards this season, including The Game Awards and Golden Joystick Awards. * Debate continues over whether Expedition
Chips
• Micron warns DRAM and NAND supply will "persist through and beyond" 2026 as AI demand climbs. • CEO Sanjay Mehrotra says "supply will remain substantially short of the demand for the foreseeable future." • Micron reported record revenue ($13.64B) and plans a 20% shipment increase next year
Policy
* Key takeaways: * Google requires developers to enroll by Jan 28 to join its "external content links" and "alternative billing" programs. * Google plans per-install fees of $2.85 for apps and $3.65 for games when a user installs within 24 hours of clicking an external link.
Software
* Google is experimenting with moving the Dislike action in YouTube Shorts into the overflow (three-dot) menu. * The company is also testing phrasing changes: showing “Dislike,” “Not interested,” or a combined “Not interested” label next to the thumbs-down icon. * Participants in the experiment may receive an optional survey and can provide
Games
Key Takeaways: * Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 won Game of the Year at the Indie Game Awards, according to Game Informer. * The announcement was reported by Wesley LeBlanc on Dec 19, 2025. * The win is described as "another" Game of the Year accolade, underscoring broad critical acclaim for the
Games
• ININ Games briefly claimed Nintendo introduced “two new smaller cartridge sizes” for Switch 2, then removed the claim and issued a correction. • Nintendo has not confirmed any new Switch 2 cartridge capacities; developers still report high cartridge costs. • ININ will still release a physical Switch 2 version of R‑Type
AI
* Google has pushed the timeline for replacing Google Assistant with Gemini on Android into 2026. * The company said it will "continue our work to upgrade Assistant users to Gemini on mobile devices into 2026." * Once the transition finishes, eligible devices will no longer be able to access or
AI
* Key Takeaways: * Four AI coding agents (OpenAI Codex, Anthropic Claude Code, Google Gemini CLI, Mistral Vibe) were given a single-shot task to build a web version of Minesweeper with sound, mobile support and a surprise feature. * OpenAI’s Codex (GPT-5) produced the strongest one-shot result thanks to chording support, mobile-friendly
Security
• Riot’s Vanguard anti-cheat will block a subset of Valorant players until their motherboard BIOS includes a security patch. • The change targets a UEFI IOMMU bug (CVE-2025-11901, CVE-2025-14302–14304) that can allow pre-boot DMA access. • Patches are available for many newer Intel and AMD chipsets from ASRock, Asus, Gigabyte and
Games
• Inin Games said it could convert R-Type Dimensions III retail boxes from Game Key Cards to full Switch 2 cartridges after 'smaller cartridge' cost savings appeared to be available. • The publisher initially warned a switch to full cartridges would raise price by €15, then revised that to a