Charming Holiday

Indie developer Evil Raptor has teamed up with PLAION to reveal a first teaser trailer for the upcoming action-adventure shooter Akimbot, which has already received positive response among audiences for its likeness to Ratchet and Clank. Offering a colorful journey with two partnered heroes and gameplay akin to the beloved action-adventure video games synonymous with the PlayStation 2, this upcoming release is one fans of Ratchet and Clank and Jak and Daxter may want to take a closer look at.

Warner Bros. Games has announced the Joker as the latest character to join the playable roster in the upcoming 2D platform fighting game MultiVersus. It was also revealed that the Joker will be voiced by Mark Hamill, who portrayed the Clown Prince of Crime in the animated Batman television series and the popular Batman: Arkham video game franchise.

Fans continue to find unique ways to create crossovers between gaming franchises, including one player who made character models of the Stardew Valley citizens in The Sims 4. Expansive character creators have led to fans making Animal Crossing characters in The Sims 4, and this latest lineup of Stardew Valley characters has added to the growing number of video game franchises reproduced in The Sims.

Fans of the Borderlands franchise are getting another look at the upcoming live-action film with a new official poster, featuring a colorful cast of familiar characters. Since the first trailer for the Borderlands movie dropped back in March, announcements for the project have been quiet, but this latest glimpse at the cinematic video game adaptation is looking to reignite fan hype once more.

Fans of the Super Mario Bros. and Donkey Kong Country franchises have finally gotten official details revealed in a new trailer for the upcoming Super Nintendo World theme park land at Universal Epic Universe. The brand-new theme park, expected to open in 2025, will feature a fully-immersive land themed to two of Nintendo's classic IPs and will include rides based on Donkey Kong mine cart levels and a Mario Kart AR experience.

Update 1.6 for Stardew Valley added tons of new content to the game, with one player encountering a rather depressing line of dialogue from Robin. Several patches for Stardew Valley Update 1.6 have included even more additions to the beloved indie game, and fans have been sharing their unique and unexpected discoveries with fellow community members.

Internet users are likely to remember an iconic debate over whether a now infamous dress was blue and black or white and gold, and now an Animal Crossing: New Horizons player has utilized in-game creation tools to reignite the controversy once more. Fan-made Animal Crossing designs are frequently shared in online spaces, and the merging of a beloved game with an amusing meme has sparked hilarious banter.

Following the launch of Update 1.6, players have been jumping back into Stardew Valley, with one fan encountering a beneficial bug in which they got an unexpected 100 million gold after their co-op partner's character passed out in the game. Stardew Valley Update 1.6 has already received a number of patches to fix bugs that have popped up following the new additions, and some fans are wondering if certain glitches may be more useful if left unfixed.

Microsoft's latest quarterly earnings call with shareholders has revealed that its Activision Blizzard acquisition has bolstered the company's gaming division revenue for Q3, offsetting a number of otherwise negative returns. The Microsoft Activision Blizzard acquisition has endured a series of legal challenges across several countries, but it would seem the Xbox parent company's persistence has more than paid off.

The brand-new MMO Age of Water has released in early access, giving fans the opportunity to experience a game that is reminiscent of the cult classic 1995 film Waterworld. Ocean-faring video games have grown in popularity in recent years, and Age of Water looks to build upon the aquatic craze with gameplay straight out of an action movie.

The Pokemon Center just revealed a brand-new life-sized Slowpoke plush priced at a whopping $450, leaving even the most diehard Pokemon fans questioning if their love of the iconic pocket monster is worth the investment. Just last year, The Pokemon Company International unveiled an incredible Sizzlipede chair for sale, and this new Slowpoke plush is once again providing fans with the opportunity to make a majorPokemon addition to their home decor.

Nintendo is known to be highly protective of its IPs, and its latest takedown request has targeted Garry's Mod, forcing the sandbox game to remove 20 years worth of content that contains Nintendo related workshop assets. Fans of the Super Smash Bros. gaming circuit and various sandbox titles are highly familiar with Nintendo shutting down games with DMCA takedowns. With Nintendo now requesting all of its assets to be removed from the Garry's Mod section of the Steam Workshop, fans are lamenting the impending loss of community content.

The variety of farm types in Stardew Valley allow players to approach the game in a number of ways, including one fan who devised an intricately structured Forest Farm. With the release of Stardew Valley Update 1.6, both new and returning players have been jumping in to try out each of the different starter farms, leading many to share their farm layouts to assist and inspire others.

According to a recently published patent, Sony is working on a program that would record in-game and voice chat audio and then convert those sounds into haptic feedback vibrations to be felt on a controller. A number of recent patents from Sony have focused on enhancements to the PlayStation controller's haptic feedback capabilities, and this latest filing has once again showcased the company's efforts to expand the use of haptic features.

The massive popularity of Elden Ring continues to produce a number of interesting fan creations, including a detailed birthday card with «real world» character stats. Unique fan-made Elden Ring crafts have frequently caught the attention of online communities, and this latest homemade gift has fans talking about the applicability of RPG statistics in daily life.

Players continue to push the building limits of Minecraft to the test, including one fan who managed to recreate a playable version of the beloved Balloon Battle game mode from the Mario Kart franchise. Fans have previously made Mario Kart tracks in Minecraft, and this playable battle mode course has once again managed to inspire and impress the Minecraft and Mario communities.

A dedicated group of Banjo-Kazooie fans have created an impressive concept trailer for what they invision a «Banjo-Threeie» game could look like. With recent rumors of Banjo-Kazooie making a comeback, fans have remained optimistic that the beloved franchise may see a new installment. However, there has yet to be any official confirmation on such a project, so some fans have taken the opportunity to showcase the potential of a new Banjo-Kazooie title.

Following up on the overwhelmingly positive response to Stardew Valley Update 1.6, developer Eric «ConcernedApe» Barone has revealed Patch 1.6.4, which adds even more content and fixes a number of bugs. Stardew Valley Update 1.6 has been released for PC and will be coming to console and mobile platforms soon. In the meantime, ConcernedApe has released a number of key patches, including the latest 1.6.4 update.

Gaming giant Nintendo recently filed trademark applications for Kirby and the Rainbow Curse, suggesting that the popular Wii U Kirby game may be added to the growing list of older games ported to the Switch. Whether it could be among the retro titles on Nintendo Switch Online or fully remastered remains unknown, but the trademark filings may be promising for fans of Kirby and the Wii U.

Gameloft's Disney Dreamlight Valley boasts a number of familiar faces and magical castles, but one creative player wanted to introduce another beloved property, doing so via their in-game reproduction of Far Far Away from the Shrek franchise. While the beloved ogre is a property of Dreamworks and not Disney, the lack of video games based on Shrek have led to some gamers taking creative matters into their own hands.

The release of Stardew Valley Update 1.6 introduced a number of new crops, including carrots, which one player discovered could be used to feed horses for a speed boost. Developer Eric «ConcernedApe» Barone included a number of major changes and minor fixes in Stardew Valley Update 1.6, with more patches on the way, and fans have been sharing a number of surprise discoveries from the new content additions.

A life-long Nintendo gamer made a nostalgic discovery, as they found a 1997 Super Mario RPG official player's guide in their closet. With the success of the Super Mario RPG remake potentially spurring more retro RPG game remakes from Nintendo, the find offered both a pleasant surprise and an unexpected bit of usefulness.

Developer KingsIsle Entertainment has announced an upcoming single-player visual novel prequel to the popular Wizard101 MMORPG, titled Ravenwood Academy: A Wizard101 Story. While Wizard101 is a perfect introduction to MMORPGs, Ravenwood Academy will shift focus to a solo gaming experience, offering fans a brand-new way to enjoy the world of the Spiral.

Adding to the new content in Update 1.6, a dedicated Stardew Valley fan has created a mod that adds an extra 116 lines of dialogue for gift giving sequences. Stardew Valley Update 1.6 has already provided massive dialogue, cutscene, and gameplay additions, and players have been hard at work providing feedback for bug fixes while also updating and improving mods for the indie title.

A newly published patent reveals that Electronic Arts is working on a branching battle pass system that would allow players to navigate a non-linear map and choose their desired reward path. Several patents filed by EA have given audiences insights into the company's research and development efforts, and this latest document has once again highlighted EA's focus on battle passes.

Retro video game collecting continues to rise in popularity and price, with a recent collection of original unopened NES games selling for upwards of $90,000 on eBay. Beloved classic Nintendo titles can frequently be found in online auctions, with bids rising into the tens of thousands of dollars, and this latest sale once again showcases the growing value of retro games among collectors.

Following the release of Update 1.6 for Stardew Valley, a number of new players have jumped into the indie title, including one unfortunate player who learned a hard lesson about their 137 casks needing to be placed in a cellar to be usable. While there are a number of helpful guides for Stardew Valley, fans often find themselves running into common issues spurred on by poor planning.

With the release of Update 1.6, Stardew Valley has once again seen an increase in the number of fan-made player guides, including an incredibly helpful fishing chart. Stardew Valley has broken player count records with the content additions and gameplay changes of Update 1.6, and many fans are taking the opportunity to help new and returning players with useful community tools.

A recent patent publication has revealed that Sony is working on a braille integration system for the PlayStation 5 controller, which would allow visually impaired players to use the PS5 controller touchpad to feel vibrations that can be read as braille. This latest patent joins a growing number of recent Sony patents targeting accessibility that have given audiences some insight into the company's research and development efforts.

Players have been enjoying all the new content of Stardew Valley Update 1.6, including one fan who has been experimenting with the new furniture placement mechanics by vandalizing Pierre's General Store with JojaMart merchandise. A number of key gameplay changes and quality of life improvements in Stardew Valley Update 1.6 have drawn in a record numbers of players, with many sharing highlights of their new discoveries.

A recently published patent has revealed a Sony software system that would help to simplify dialogue to ensure players skipping through long lines of text do not miss out on key quest or story details. A number of Sony software patents to aid users have been made public in recent months, highlighting the research and development efforts of the technology giant.

A recently published patent reveals a holographic display system in development by Sony, which could possibly be utilized with video game consoles such as the PlayStation series. Multiple recent patent filings from Sony have focused on potential software applications, but this newest filing details a unique UI that could operate in tandem with a gaming console.

Players have been enjoying the big Stardew Valley Update 1.6 and all of its new content, with one fan discovering a major change to rare loot chests and special floors in Skull Cavern. Update 1.6 for Stardew Valley is the biggest patch to date for the indie game, and fans have been jumping in to experience the fresh content and numerous quality-of-life improvements.

Update 1.6 for Stardew Valley is available now for PC players across platforms, along with Patch 1.6.2 being made available for PC Game Pass and Windows Store users. Stardew Valley Patch 1.6.2 includes a number of adjustments and fixes to resolve bugs with Update 1.6, along with some new changes to key game mechanics.

In addition to the major content changes of Stardew Valley Update 1.6, Patch 1.6.3 will finally allow players to access Clint's shop and geode processing while a tool is being upgraded. Stardew Valley Patch 1.6.2 has already been released, and creator Eric «ConcernedApe» Barone is quickly rolling out even more updates.

Fan content continues to fuel the passion of the Pokemon community, including a series of artistic weapons inspired by the iconic pocket monsters. Pokemon fan crafts and creations are frequently shared among the player base, boosting the seemingly neverending enthusiasm of the fandom.

According to a newly published patent, Sony is working on a software application that would allow «personal space» boundaries for users to prevent unwanted interactions during online multiplayer in VR games. A number of recent Sony technology patents have focused on increased protection for players, and this latest in-development software would further the company's efforts to improve user safety.

Following the recent release of Stardew Valley Update 1.6, creator Eric «ConcernedApe» Barone has announced Patch 1.6.2 to fix a number of gameplay bugs, translation errors, and graphical issues. Patch 1.6.1 for Stardew Valley is already available for download, and fans are pleasantly surprised to see even more quick changes on the way.

The highly-anticipated Stardew Valley Update 1.6 has released, resulting in the game achieving an all-time high player count of over 140,000 concurrent users on Steam. Patch notes for Stardew Valley Update 1.6 include a slew of new content, bug fixes, and more, and both new and returning fans have booted up in droves to enjoy the massive patch.

With just hours remaining before the release of Update 1.6, Stardew Valley creator Eric «ConcernedApe» Barone has revealed that a new Meadowlands Farm is on the way. Fans have been excitedly awaiting the big Stardew Valley Update 1.6, with ConcernedApe continuing to drop sneak peeks like the new farm type and more fun changes.

Xbox has announced a sweepstakes in celebration of the upcoming Fallout television series, where fans can win a custom Xbox Series X and controller housed in a Fort Knox vault themed to the game franchise. The upcoming Fallout TV show premieres in less than one month, and Xbox is kicking off the countdown to the series with this incredible prize.

Players frequently showcase their love of Stardew Valley, including one fan who baked a series of sugar cookies themed to iconic items from the game. As players eagerly await the upcoming release of Stardew Valley Update 1.6, the community continues to find new ways to share their appreciation for the beloved indie game.

Red Barrels' The Outlast Trials has reached the #1 spot on Xbox's «Top Paid» charts, marking a major achievement for the cooperative horror game. Considered to be among the scariest horror games of all time, the original Outlast game established a dedicated audience, and it would seem its multiplayer successor is continuing to draw in even more fans.

Following the massive success of Baldur's Gate 3, Hasbro and Wizard's of the Coast have approved Disney Dreamlight Valley developer Gameloft Montreal to work on a brand new Dungeons and Dragons survival-RPG. The 2023 Game of the Year Baldur's Gate 3 was seen by many as a return to form for Dungeons and Dragons video games, and the IP's owners are keen to keep the momentum rolling with another upcoming title based on the classic franchise.

Players frequently share their unique Minecraft builds with the community, including one fan of The Lord of the Rings who made an in-game recreation of Rivendell. Lord of the Rings builds in Minecraft have proven popular with gaming and Tolkien fans, and this particular build has already received praise from both communities.

Nintendo has kicked off its March 10 Mario Day celebrations with confirmed release dates for Paper Mario: The Thousand-Year Door and Luigi's Mansion 2 HD, which launch May 23 and June 27, respectively. Both titles are on the list of upcoming Nintendo Switch exclusives, with many fans celebrating the now official release days for these beloved games.

Nintendo has just released a playable demo of Princess Peach: Showtime on Nintendo eShop and at select retailers. The highly-anticipated title is among the slate of upcoming Nintendo releases for 2024, and interested players can now hop into the new imaginative world sooner than expected.

X Corp. CEO Elon Musk is being sued for $128 million dollars in a lawsuit that alleges several former Twitter executives are still due unpaid severances. Multiple lawsuits have been lobbed at the social media CEO in recent months, including Grimes suing Elon Musk in October of last year. With Musk's personal and professional decisions continuing to raise eyebrows, this new lawsuit has once again fueled discussion among audiences.

With the release of the trailer for the Shadow of the Erdtree DLC, Elden Ring has gotten a massive boost to its concurrent player counts across platforms. Elden Ring saw a spike in concurrent players when the DLC was first revealed. As players await the content update to drop, this uptick in reignited fan interest is continuing to rise.

Valve Corporation's computer video game platform Steam has set a new record with over 34 million concurrent players. Record player counts boasted by Palworld and other popular titles have helped to drive users to the platform, along with dozens of indie titles released every day. Now, Steam itself has achieved another massive milestone, marking a great achievement for the decades-old platform.

Gaming fans frequently find and showcase rare collector's pieces, including one player who shared a look at an incredible PlayStation 2 console designed to look like a car from the game Need for Speed: Most Wanted. The Need for Speed game franchise was a staple of the PS2, and this incredible console is one of the rarest collector's pieces for racing and gaming fans alike.

A classic of retro horror gaming, Silent Hill 2 is beloved by many, but one fan has put out a call to find someone that will join them and provide moral support while they play through the terrifying experience. As the Silent Hill 2 remake is nearing completion, many fans are taking the time to go back and enjoy the original game. However, the horrors of Silent Hill 2 have proven overwhelming for some, requiring the power of friendship to help alleviate some of the scariness.

Eric «ConcernedApe» Barone has confirmed that the massive Update 1.6 for Stardew Valley will be releasing for PC on March 19, with console and mobile following as soon as possible. ConcernedApe has been dropping a number of hints and teasers for Stardew Valley Update 1.6 for several months now, and this confirmation of the PC release date has fan excitement reaching a fever pitch.

Eric «ConcernedApe» Barone, the creator of Stardew Valley, has confirmed that bug fixes for the mobile version of the game will be coming in Update 1.6. Fans have been excited for Stardew Valley Update 1.6 since it was first teased months ago, and the game's creator has reassured fans that a highly-requested update will be included in the big patch.

Streaming giant Twitch has been fined over $300,000 by the South Korean government for violations of federal law, as the platform prepares to terminate its services in the country. Twitch is ending service in South Korea on February 27, and this massive fine has once again raised eyebrows in response to the streaming service's decision.

Korean game studio Netmarble has announced that Paragon: The Overprime will be shutting down on Monday, April 22. In spite of a dedicated community and variety of characters in Paragon: The Overprime, the game will be officially ending service less than two years after its initial launch. This comes as a number of online multiplayer games have announced closures over the past several months, adding to the unfortunate trends in the industry from 2023.

Developer Evening Star and publisher Private Division revealed the official launch trailer for Penny's Big Breakaway, as the game was shadow dropped across platforms during today's Nintendo Direct. Evening Star previously developed the 2017 plaftormer Sonic Mania, while Private Division has published The Outer Worlds, Hades, Kerbal Space Program, and more.

A remake of the original Wii exclusive, Disney Epic Mickey: Rebrushed will be available on Switch later this year. Fans have been hoping for a revival of the Epic Mickey game franchise, and this surprise announcement during today's Nintendo Direct has already got audiences buzzing.

One of Nintendo's classic IPs, Kirby remains incredibly popular among fans, leading to the gaming giant teaming up with McDonald's to offer Kirby plushies with Happy Meals in Japan. Players have enjoyed the Kirby video game franchise for many years, and this latest team-up with McDonald's has already caught the attention of fans across the globe.

Following the reported delay of an expected announcement regarding the Switch 2, Nintendo stock prices dropped 8.8% in Japan's stock market, though analysts expect the gaming giant's market value to recover quickly. Traders were influenced by rumors of the Switch 2 release getting delayed from late 2024 to Q1 2025, resulting in an abrupt sale of shares. However, market analysts expect upcoming releases and official confirmations to reassure shareholders and recover the loss in trade value.

Players have praised Stardew Valley for its charming moments, with one fan sharing a hilarious incident of a fairy watering some dead rice crops, reminding the player to take better care of their harvests. The various crops in Stardew Valley have different growth periods and harvest cycles, leading some players to forget to take care of their produce and resulting in funny moments like this player's fairy encounter.

Boasting a dedicated fandom, the Shrek movies have been recreated in a number of video games, with one creative group now showcasing a trailer for what an open world Shrek game would look like in Unreal Engine 5. Fans have frequently recreated the iconic characters and locations fromShrekin Animal Crossing and other popular titles, but this short trailer gives audiences a glimpse at the potential of an Unreal production starring the green ogre.

Behaviour Interactive has just revealed a teaser trailer for an upcoming horrifying new killer in Dead by Daylight, with fans speculating that the creature may be some type of folklore monster. A number of IP-based and original killers in Dead by Daylight have received praise from players, and audiences are already buzzing with potential explanations for this terrifying new addition.

In a recent statement by CEO Lars Wingefors, it was revealed that Embracer Group plans to continue its «restructuring» model of cutbacks in order to prioritize shareholders above all else. Having just announced even more layoffs for Embracer Group, this latest statement by the CEO has left many fans in shock.

Due to a comment made by director Fumuhiko Yasuda, all physical and digital releases of Rise of the Ronin have been canceled in South Korea. The upcoming Japanese action RPG has been drumming up excitement among fans, but players in Korea will no longer be able to look forward to the game's launch.

According to a newly published patent, Sony is working on a privacy software that would detect when players are taking voice or video calls during gaming sessions and implement measures to protect the player's privacy. Multiple recent patents from Sony have focused on improving the user experience, and this latest patent aims to further build upon player-focused changes.

In spite of long-running rumors, Doctor Who showrunner Russel T. Davies states that there is no upcoming collaboration between Fortnite and the popular British television series. Former leaks of Doctor Who joining Fortnite had fans of both franchises excited, but this recent comment from the show's lead has put those rumors on ice.

Just days after laying off 1,900 workers under the recently acquired Activision Blizzard, Microsoft has become only the second company ever to reach a $3 trillion market value. The recent layoffs by Microsoft were met with inquisition from audiences concerned about the company's profits, though it would seem Microsoft is showing no signs of declining value.

Chinese technology giant Huawei has filed a patent for a handheld video game controller that can be modified into various shapes depending on the player's desired configuration. Huawei has previously released unique game consoles for Chinese audiences, along with a series of popular mobile phones, and the tech powerhouse is now entering the fray of customizable gaming controllers.

The Academy of Interactive Arts and Sciences (AIAS) has announced that legendary Nintendo composer Koji Kondo will be inducted into the 27th Annual D.I.C.E Awards Hall of Fame on February 15. Kondo rose to icon status with his music production for The Legend of Zelda and Super Mario Bros. franchises and will receive a major honor for his beloved work.

The official Nintendo of America Twitter account has announced that April 8 will be the end of service date for Wii U and 3DS online functionality. Nintendo previously revealed the planned shutdown of Wii U and 3DS servers in October 2023, but this latest announcement has finally given fans an exact date for the end of the consoles' online services.

Artistic fans frequently share unique artwork based on their favorite Pokemon characters, including one artist who reimagined Slither Wing, Volcarona, and Iron Moth as great swords. Drawing comparisons to games like Monster Hunter, the intricately designed Pokemon swords have caught the attention of fellow fans.

In yet another blow to workers in the video game industry, Riot Games has announced that it will lay off 530 staff members, or roughly 11% of its employees. The decision follows the unfortunate trend of studio shutdowns, game cancelations, and AAA game studio layoffs that dominated the industry in 2023.

Beloved for its robust character creator, The Sims frequently lets players recreate popular NPCs from other franchises, including one fan who made the citizens of Stardew Valley in The Sims 4. Players have previously recreated Stardew Valley characters in Minecraft and other games, and this series of NPC recreations in The Sims 4 has caught the eye of fellow fans.

According to a recently published patent, Electronic Arts is working on a new game creation and marketplace software. The patent shows that this software would function similarly to Unreal Engine, GameMaker, and even the building games in Roblox. While there is no official confirmation on what EA is planning to do with this software, it does reveal what the company has been working on.

A recently published patent reveals that Sony is currently developing a new software that would allow players to pin a list of controls on their gameplay screen so that they can more easily learn and memorize a game's control scheme. Sony has filed a number of patents recently, many of which focus on unique software features. Whether this control pin software will reach fruition remains to be seen, but it may be of interest to PlayStation fans.

In yet another blow to industry workers, Embracer Group has announced more layoffs at Lost Boys Interactive, a subsidiary of Gearbox Software. Lost Boys Interactive provided support work on the Borderlands spin-off Tiny Tina's Wonderlands, but the studio is now facing the ax with multiple departments set to lose staff.

A recently published trademark filing for «PAND LAND» by Game Freak has fans wondering if this will be the official title for the studio's previously announced Project Bloom. Game Freak and Private Division announced Project Bloom in May 2023, and this newly publicized trademark may be connected to that game.