The British Academy Film Awards (BAFTAs) invited the gaming community to vote for the most influential video game of all time. The results named Yu Suzuki's 1999 Dreamcast title, Shenmue, as the most influential game, praised for pioneering open-world gameplay and popularizing Quick Time Events (QTEs). The subsequent rankings included Doom in second place, Super Mario Bros in third, Half-Life in fourth, and The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time and Minecraft in fifth and sixth, respectively. Kingdom Come: Deliverance 2 was ranked seventh, despite being a recent release. The voting process raised questions about the interpretation of "most influential," as some voters seemed to equate it with personal enjoyment, leading to unexpected results. The full list of the BAFTA's most influential games includes:
1. Shenmue
2. Doom
3. Super Mario Bros
4. Half-Life
5. The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time
6. Minecraft
7. Kingdom Come: Deliverance 2
8. Super Mario 64
9. Half-Life 2
10. The Sims
11. Tetris
12. Tomb Raider
13. Pong
14. Metal Gear Solid
15. World of Warcraft
16. Baldur's Gate 3
17. Final Fantasy VII
18. Dark Souls
19. Grand Theft Auto 3
20. Skyrim
21. Grand Theft Auto
- The Last of Us Part II Remastered is set to release on PC on April 3, 2025.
- South of Midnight will launch on Xbox and PC on April 8, 2025.
- Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 is scheduled for release on PS5, Xbox Series X/S, and PC on April 24, 2025.
- Days Gone Remastered will be available on PS5, PC, and as a digital version for PS4 on April 25, 2025.
- Forza Horizon 5 will be released on PS5 on April 29, 2025.
A McDonald's location in Brooklyn now requires patrons under 20 to present ID or be accompanied by a parent. McDonald's is launching a new Happy Meal in collaboration with "A Minecraft Movie" on April 1, ahead of the film's release on April 4. This collaboration will introduce new desserts in Canada, the UK, and Singapore, including an apple cake McFlurry in the UK, an apple shake in Canada, and a cotton candy McFlurry, sundae, and ice cream cone in Singapore. The 'Minecraft' meal will feature a Big Mac or 10-piece Chicken McNuggets with medium fries and a drink, served with a new Nether Flame Sauce. The themed meal includes twelve Block World toys or six exclusive collectibles that unlock unique skins in the Minecraft Marketplace. Customers can purchase Happy Meal toys separately, and Happy Meals typically include a choice of hamburger, cheeseburger, or McNuggets, fries, apple slices, and a drink. The price of a Happy Meal varies by location. Ohio has 613 McDonald's restaurants, ranking fifth in the nation.
Assassin's Creed Shadows has gained over 2 million players just three days after its launch, surpassing the launches of AC Origins and Odyssey. It reached 1 million players within the first 24 hours, breaking the record previously held by AC Valhalla. Currently, Shadows has around 60,000 concurrent players, nearing Odyssey's record of 62,069. Ubisoft is in discussions with Tencent for a potential investment in a new intellectual property unit that includes the Assassin's Creed franchise. The game has received approximately 81.7% favorable reviews on Steam, with PC Gamer rating it at 80%.
In 2025, the gaming landscape features a mix of innovative titles and new iterations of beloved franchises. The standout games, each rated four stars or higher, include:
- WWE 2K25: Offers an immersive wrestling experience with a talented roster and innovative modes, though it has monetization strategies that may frustrate fans.
- Like a Dragon: Pirate Yakuza in Hawaii: Revitalizes the Yakuza series with engaging mechanics and a captivating pirate adventure narrative.
- Sniper Elite: Resistance: Set in World War II France, it enhances the sniping experience with multiplayer modes and a strategic narrative.
- Dynasty Warriors Origins: Features epic battles and refined combat mechanics, creating a thrilling atmosphere.
- Wanderstop: A simulation game about a former champion fighter running a tea shop, blending whimsical gameplay with a narrative about personal growth.
- Civilization 7: Enhances the 4X formula with stunning visuals and new mechanics, making it accessible for newcomers and rewarding for veterans.
- Avowed: Set in the Pillars of Eternity universe, it emphasizes rich storytelling and exploration.
- Citizen Sleeper 2: Starward Vector: Enhances narrative depth and introduces new gameplay mechanics, creating a thrilling experience.
- Assassin's Creed Shadows: Combines stealth and RPG elements in a beautifully crafted Sengoku-era Japan setting.
- Kingdom Come Deliverance 2: Features a detailed open world and engaging quests, rewarding players for overcoming challenges.
- Two Point Museum: A humorous simulation game where players build and manage a quirky museum, adding layers of strategy.
- Lost Records: Bloom & Rage – Tape One: Introduces a dual timeline for enriched storytelling and innovative mechanics.
- Split Fiction: A cooperative game with a blend of genres and gameplay styles, promoting teamwork in a visually stunning world.
- Monster Hunter Wilds: Refines the series' core loop with thrilling hunts and gear crafting, emphasizing dynamic combat and immersive environments.
A Minecraft Movie is set to debut on April 4, 2025, with promotional efforts by Mojang Studios and Xbox Game Studios. McDonald's will launch A Minecraft Movie Happy Meals in over 100 markets starting April 1, 2025, featuring 12 collectible toys, including six cubes based on in-game blocks and six toys representing Minecraft mobs. Each Happy Meal will include a trading card with an in-game code for a character skin. A new "Nether Flame" dipping sauce will also be introduced. Additionally, McDonald's will offer an A Minecraft Movie Meal for adults, featuring a Big Mac or McNuggets, collectible toys, and possibly an Apple Cake McFlurry. Mojang Studios will release two downloadable content packs: A Minecraft Movie: Add-On and A Minecraft Movie Hero Pack, both available for free. Minecraft Live on March 22 will provide more insights and in-game cosmetics related to the movie.
A recent report from Newzoo indicates that 67% of total hours spent playing PC games last year were dedicated to titles six years old or more, with notable games including Counter Strike 2 and GO (7.1%), League of Legends (6.4%), Roblox (6.2%), DOTA 2 (5.8%), and Fortnite (5.4%). Additionally, 25% of playtime was on games aged two to five years, while only 8% was allocated to 2024 releases. On consoles, 44% of PlayStation and 49% of Xbox playtime was for games over six years old, with 2024 releases accounting for 15% of total playtime. Key 2024 titles like Call of Duty: Black Ops 6, NBA 2K25, and EA Sports FC 25 made up about half of the playtime for new releases on console. The report notes a trend of players engaging with fewer games, averaging 10 on Steam and PlayStation and 9 on Xbox, with a requirement of at least two hours of play for a game to be counted. Financially, yearly console revenues from full-price games reached approximately billion, a 14% decline from 2023, attributed to the weaker release slate in 2024 compared to the previous year.
The Nintendo Switch, eight years after its launch, continues to demonstrate impressive capabilities. A YouTube user tested an overclocked version of the Switch with 8 GB of RAM running 20 PC games, including titles like Dead Space and Kingdom Hearts III. The performance results varied, with demanding games like Rise of the Tomb Raider struggling, while others like Kingdom Hearts III performed well at lower resolutions. The challenges in porting games to the Switch stem from its limited specifications and RAM. The upcoming Nintendo Switch 2, expected to launch later this year, aims to address these challenges, although it may not match the power of the PlayStation 5 or Xbox Series X. An upcoming Nintendo Direct on April 2nd will provide more information about the new system's capabilities.
Developer Ogre Pixel has announced the roguelike action game Castlebound, set to launch on PC via Steam. Players will defend a walking castle against waves of monsters, featuring characters Lenora, a skilled archer, and her grandfather Vargus. The game includes fast-paced combat, solo or cooperative gameplay, multiple playable heroes, and roguelike progression. Castlebound combines castle defense and roguelike mechanics for a unique gaming experience.
