Two classic Sega mobile games may soon be removed from digital storefronts, prompting fans of retro gaming to act quickly to secure these titles before they potentially disappear.
The immersive simulation genre is considered a pinnacle of gaming, offering unique experiences that blend creativity and interaction. However, the production of immersive sims is rare due to financial challenges. Stephen Kick, CEO of Nightdive Studios, noted that these games typically appeal to a small, dedicated fanbase, which is insufficient to influence corporate decisions. Despite this, Kick and his team pursue these games for their artistic value rather than financial performance. The development of immersive sims is complex, with the game's essence often crystallizing only in the final stages. Nightdive Studios has managed to allocate the necessary resources for their projects, but as budgets increase, companies become less willing to take risks on niche audiences. Even successful immersive sims may only reach a limited audience of dedicated fans and industry insiders.
Dedicated fans of Minecraft are integrating elements from the game into Hytale, which has been anticipated for seven years. French YouTuber 'LAirHisson' announced the creation of "the end in Hytale," incorporating Minecraft's final boss area, The End, into Hytale. His video features a character resembling Minecraft's Steve using a modded Eye of Ender, leading to a challenge biome similar to Minecraft's Ender Dragon domain. LAirHisson engages in combat with Endermen and attempts to fight the Ender Dragon, showcasing Hytale's modding capabilities. Simon Collins-Laflamme from the Hytale community praised LAirHisson's work. Hytale has released its first significant content update, adding dinosaurs and improved melee combat. The game is available for .99, with premium tiers offering exclusive in-game accessories.
Anthem has officially ended as of approximately 2:05 PM EST on Monday. Former BioWare executive producer Mark Darrah suggested that the technology to run Anthem locally could potentially be revived, depending on third-party developers or EA's involvement. Anthem's architecture relied on a client-server model, requiring players to connect to centralized servers. Reviving the game through private servers would necessitate a deep understanding of its network traffic and mechanics.
Hytale has officially launched after nearly eight years since its initial announcement in 2018. The game, developed by Hypixel Studios and acquired by Riot Games in 2020, faced a temporary cancellation in June 2025 but was later revived when CEO Simon Collins-Laflamme regained control of the studio. Hytale has garnered 344,000 viewers on Twitch, surpassing all other games. The developers expressed excitement about the launch, emphasizing that it marks the beginning of the game's journey. Early player feedback has been positive, and pre-orders are expected to fund the next two years of development.
Asus has collaborated with Hideo Kojima to create a new collection of gaming peripherals, which includes the ROG Keris II Origin gaming mouse, ROG Delta II gaming headset, ROG Scabbard II XXL mouse mat, and ROG Flow Z13 tablet. Each item features a design inspired by Kojima Productions' astronaut mascot, Ludens. The ROG Flow Z13 tablet has a larger form factor, a new color scheme of white, gold, and gray, and playful details on the keyboard cover. It retains the AMD Ryzen AI Max 390 processor for high-performance gaming. The ROG Keris II Origin mouse has a unique color palette and features a 42K DPI sensor and RGB lighting. The ROG Delta II headset includes the Kojima Productions logo and a humorous warning about comfort. The ROG Scabbard II XXL mouse mat features a large Ludens-inspired design and motivational phrase. Pricing and release dates for these limited-edition items have not yet been announced.
Star Wars has a rich history of licensed games, with a curated list of the finest titles available on PC in 2025 including:
1. Star Wars Outlaws - Players assume the role of Kay Vess in a narrative set between The Empire Strikes Back and Return of the Jedi, focusing on heists and adventures.
2. Star Wars Bounty Hunter Remaster - A remaster of the original game following Jango Fett, featuring updated controls and graphics, rated 'Very Positive' on Steam.
3. Lego Star Wars: The Skywalker Saga - Covers all nine mainline films in a Lego format, offering cooperative gameplay.
4. Star Wars: Knights of the Old Republic II - The Sith Lords - A sequel with a complex narrative exploring the light and dark sides of the Force.
5. Star Wars: Republic Commando - A tactical shooter from the perspective of a special ops clone trooper during the Clone Wars.
6. Star Wars: Empire at War - A real-time strategy game focusing on the conflict between the Empire and the Rebel Alliance.
7. Star Wars: The Old Republic - An MMO with single-player storytelling and various class narratives.
8. Star Wars: Episode 1 Racer - A racing game based on the pod race sequence from the film.
9. Star Wars: Dark Forces Remaster - A remaster of the classic game featuring Kyle Katarn's first adventure.
10. Star Wars Jedi Knight 2: Jedi Outcast - Continues Kyle Katarn's journey with a mix of shooting and lightsaber combat.
11. Star Wars: Rogue Squadron - Players pilot starfighters in space battles.
12. Star Wars: TIE Fighter - Players experience the conflict from the perspective of an Imperial pilot.
13. Star Wars Battlefront 2 (2017) - A multiplayer experience with stunning visuals and epic battles.
14. Star Wars Jedi: Survivor - A sequel featuring a more mature Cal Kestis with refined combat mechanics.
15. Star Wars: The Force Unleashed - Allows players to wield the dark side of the Force as Starkiller.
16. Star Wars Episode 3: Revenge of the Sith - A game capturing the essence of the prequel trilogy with dynamic saber combat.
Upcoming titles include a remake of Knights of the Old Republic and a new project titled Fate of the Old Republic, led by KOTOR director Casey Hudson.
In 2025, traditional box office expectations were challenged as pixelated films outperformed superhero movies and a Chinese animated epic surpassed Hollywood productions. Asian cinema, exemplified by films like Ne Zha 2, achieved global success, while Disney's nostalgia-driven strategies failed to guarantee success, indicating a shift in audience preferences towards fresh narratives. Anime gained mainstream traction, horror films remained popular with inventive plots, and visionary directors took creative risks that occasionally paid off. The year's events highlighted the evolving tastes of moviegoers and the importance of innovation in storytelling.
The FPS landscape is transforming, with trends indicating a shift away from high skill ceilings and expensive cosmetics in multiplayer FPS games. Gamers are expressing dissatisfaction with overpriced cosmetics, leading franchises like Call of Duty to reconsider their strategies. Activision announced that Black Ops 7 will not carry over skins from previous games, focusing instead on thematic cosmetics. Competitive shooters are broadening their appeal to casual audiences, with games like The Finals, Rainbow Six Siege, Splitgate 2, and Overwatch 2 introducing new modes that reduce competitive intensity. Purely co-op shooters, such as Helldivers 2 and Warhammer 40,000: Darktide, continue to thrive, demonstrating lasting player engagement. Additionally, titles like Battlefield 6 and Black Ops 7 are being developed as premium products, indicating that gamers are willing to pay for complete, high-quality experiences rather than free-to-play models that lack content.
Biomenace Remastered is a fan-made remaster of the classic 1993 shooter developed by Apogee, created by two fans, Niko and Bart, who secured a licensing deal with the original developer, James Norwood. The remaster features the original three episodes with 36 levels and introduces a fourth chapter with 15 additional stages, new NPCs, and two extra boss encounters. It includes a built-in editor for players to create missions, offers seamless transitions between new and classic visuals, and has a quick-save feature. The game incorporates Steam achievements and leaderboards and is verified for Steam Deck. Biomenace Remastered is available on Steam for .99 / £10.23 until December 25, after which the price will increase to .99 / £12.79, with a free demo also available.
