Vince Zampella, known for co-creating the Call of Duty series, among many other roles, has died. Zampella, 55, died in a car crash in Los Angeles on Sunday. The fatal crash killed him, along with the occupant of his car.
Circan’s November 2025 video game sales report has easily been one of the most anticipated. For one, November is always one of the most lucrative for the games industry, but this year in particular has seen several major hits - including new entries in two rival series.
There’s been a lot of anticipation for Battlefield 6’s version 1.1.3.0 patch. The patch kicks off the third and final phase of the game’s first season, adding some new holiday-themed content. More the new content itself, the update’s biggest additions are almost entirely gameplay-related.
Battlefield 6 is about to receive a new update. Version 1.1.3.0 is set to arrive tomorrow, December 9 to kick off the third and final phase of the game’s first season. Winter Offensive brings some holiday-themed new content to the game, but it’s not the most interesting part of the patch.
It's been another strange, difficult, and yet somehow also brilliant year for video games in 2025. Triple-A releases have been sparse again, compared to the boom times of old, with a great big GTA 6-shaped hole left in the final few months of the year. And yet once again, every gap left by the established order has been filled twice over with something brilliantly new.
Battlefield 6 took the unusual step of chopping up its first season of post-launch content into three separate DLC drops, but as of the time of writing, we don’t know if Season 2 will do the same.
Given that we got new maps, weapons, and the RedSec Battle Royale as a standalone experience, Season 2 will show us what to expect going forward for DICE’s latest shooter. Here’s all we know about Battlefield 6 Season 2, including when we expect it to arrive.
The current season launched on October 28, with new content arriving every three weeks or so to keep things fresh.
Season 2’s initial launch has been speculated to start somewhere between January 20 and January 27.
We’ll undoubtedly have a roadmap in the next week or two, then, but it’d be reasonable to expect February 17 and March 10 to be dates where more content arrives for the second season.
Look, we’re sort of flying blind here because DICE and EA haven’t revealed anything for the new season just yet, but we do have some ideas from leaks.
Leaker temporyal spilled the proverbial beans about fresh weapons that include the MG5 LMG, Bren 2, and Scorpion Evo 3 as primary weapons, with a Skorpion vz. 61 as a secondary weapon. That doesn’t necessarily mean it’ll be in Season 2 of Battlefield 6, though.
What does appear to be tied to Season 2 is a new helicopter option, the AH-6 Little Bird, complete with loadout options like flares, motion sensor, stinger missiles, and more.
Curiously, temporyal’s information suggests a Jetski is coming in Season 3. Players have been wondering when naval combat could arrive, and while a Jetski is hardly akin to an aircraft carrier or battleship, could its inclusion hint at more fun on the water?
Finally, new gadgets could include an Airburst Grenade Launcher, Sticky Grenade Launcher, anti-tank weaponry and a new impact grenade.
It’s also highly likely that RedSec gets fresh content, too, similarly to how Call of Duty works with Warzone. It feels as though the initial buzz around RedSec has died down, so it’ll be interesting to see how DICE gives it a shot in the arm in 2026.
No, Battlefield 6 is a full-price title, but the standalone Battle Royale, RedSec, is free-to-play and features multiple modes.
Battlefield 6 seasons are free, helping keep the player base together and giving everyone access to the same content.
Battlefield 6 can be played on Xbox Series S and X, PlayStation 5, and PC.
The post Battlefield 6 Season 2 release: All we know about new content coming to DICE’s shooter appeared first on The Escapist.
With another stellar year of gaming squarely in the rearview mirror, the staff here at PlayStation Lifestyle decided to take a trip down memory lane, tally up what new games we played over the past 12 months, and see which ones got enough votes to land a spot on our coveted list of best games from 2025.
Interestingly, in what might be an all-time record low, only five Sony first-party titles launched this year (discounting ports and rereleases), so a vast majority of our list is comprised of indie and AAA titles from other publishers. Chances are, you’ve heard of or played most of the games that made the cut, but a couple of our inclusions might take you by surprise.
And without further ado… the list!
Showing just how loaded this year with great games, Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 barely managed to lay claim to the number 10 spot. However, there’s no denying the sheer artistry on display with Sandfall Interactive’s debut title. Most RPG fans worth their salt are at the very least familiar with Clair Obscure, but if this one passed you by entirely, we’d love to know what rock you find yourself living under.
We wouldn’t blame you if you forgot that Kingdom Come: Deliverance II even came out in 2025, seeing as how it launched at the very beginning of February. This is the second, and final, European-developed RPG to make it onto our list, but unlike Clair Obscur, Kingdom Come: Deliverance II trades in the linear, dark fantasy Belle Époque setting for a truly stunning recreation of 15th-century Bohemia. If an unrivaled sense of freedom, a vast open-world that’s begging to be explored, and the unforgiving, harsh realities of medieval life and warfare pique your interest, you shouldn’t pass this one up.
With a handful of Metal Gear fans on staff, it’s no surprise that Metal Gear Solid Delta: Snake Eater has slithered its way onto our list. Even though series creator Hideo Kojima parted ways with Konami a decade ago and had zero involvement with the development of this remake, the original PS2 version was (or rather, still is) such a remarkable game, that its success was all but guaranteed. With a handful of quality of life improvements, a modernized control scheme, and a next-gen coat of ray-traced paint, Metal Gear Solid Delta: Snake Eater looks and plays like a proper remake; anyone claiming that it’s a simple, by-the-numbers cash grab is woefully mistaken.
Much like the previous entry on our list, Lumines: Arise doesn’t exactly reinvent the wheel when it comes to its moment-to-moment action. In fact, aside from the newly-added Burst mechanic, Lumines: Arise’s gameplay is almost identical to the original PSP version that launched over 20 years ago. Of course, if you know anything about the series, the gameplay is only a part of the magic. From its entrenching, mesmerizing visuals to its stellar soundtrack, Lumines: Arise is a feast for the eyes and ears, and is also a sight to behold when playing in VR.
Having laid out the foundation with A Way Out and upping the ante with It Takes Two, it’s hardly a surprise that Split Fiction was a smash hit right out of the gates. Developer Hazelight Studios has perfected its craft of creating compelling co-operative gaming experiences, and with Split Fiction, it has even managed to upend our expectations once again. Whether you’re taking to the skies on the back of a dragon or fending off cyber-ninjas, there’s plenty of fun to be had here. If we were to make one suggestion, if you give this one a go, try to find a co-op buddy who can play on the couch next to you if that’s at all possible.
Like a few other titles on this list, Blue Prince sort of took us by surprise when it launched, and once it sank its roguelike hooks into us, we couldn’t get enough of it. Granted, some of its puzzles border on cruelly obscure, and at least one writer on our team lost hours of progress to the dreaded (and thankfully, fixed) save bug, but Blue Prince successfully wormed its way into the inner recesses of our brains, keeping us hooked on its addictive loop of drafting new rooms, uncovering more lore, and peeling back more layers of its seemingly never-ending puzzle. It’s an onion lover’s dream! Or, parfaits, if you prefer.
After a string of middling releases and years of losing ground to its competitors, Battlefield is finally back, and baby, it’s as good as it’s ever been. Sure, there are dozens of other shooters, competitive and casual alike, that are constantly vying for our attention, but Battlefield 6’s objective-focused, squad-centric flavor of running and gunning offers an experience that few other games come close to matching. The environmental destruction and sheer number of vehicles and weapons to master are just the icing on the cake.
Even though its story is a rather conventional revenge tale that doesn’t exactly break the mold, Ghost of Yotei is still a top-tier experience from start to finish. Building off the foundation laid out in Ghost of Tsushima, developer Sucker Punch is firing on all cylinders this time around and pushes the PS5 (and PS5 Pro, for that matter) to its limit. It’s one of the most gorgeous games we’ve seen to date, and with a handful of visual filters and audio mixes to choose from, it’s almost begging to be replayed a second (or even third) time.
2025 saw the launch of a handful of different skating games, but none of them came close to matching the sense of wonder and awe that Sword of the Sea manages to evoke. It strikes an amazing balance between offering up platforming challenges and puzzles, and letting you explore a beautiful world that’s chock-full of surprises that are just waiting to be discovered and experienced firsthand. If you enjoyed Journey, or either of developer Giant Squid’s previous titles (Abzû, The Pathless), this one’s a no-brainer.
Sure, its detractors will be quick to label it as a glorified walking simulator, but Death Stranding 2: On The Beach is so much more than that. It’s a reflection on our current society, a world in which everyone is more connected than ever, but simultaneously, more isolated and alone. It’s a stunning achievement on a technical level, serving up some of the best visuals and most lovingly crafted cutscenes we’ve seen to date. And, for a handful of us staffers and contributors, it’s another opportunity to take a peek into the mind of Hideo Kojima, an absolute juggernaut of a game developer who’s been reinventing genres and subverting expectations for four decades at this point. But, above all, it’s a game about sticks. And ropes. Oh, and chiral networks. And don’t forget Timefall. Plate gates too!
The post PlayStation LifeStyle’s 10 Best PS5 Games of 2025 appeared first on PlayStation LifeStyle.
Right, get ready for some chatter about where the contents of our collective wallets have gone over the past year. Valve's list of the highest-grossing games on Steam in 2025 has emerged from the great mists, and in a nice revelation, features a larger number of fresh releases than last year's ranking. That's alongside all of the moderately to quite old stuff which more folks keep hopping on the train of with every passing 12 month period.
Vince Zampella, the co-creator of Call of Duty, founder of Respawn Entertainment, and head of EA's Battlefield franchise died in a car crash on December 22nd. He was 55 years old.
"We're heartbroken by the passing of our founder and dear friend Vince Zampella," Respawn Entertainment said in a statement on Twitter. "Our hearts are with his family, friends, and all who love him."
We're back with a brand new Now Playing. Our team is playing a bit of everything this month, which isn't a surprise with our diverse roster of contributors who jump in each month. We have the latest FPS, celebrated indies, roguelikes, and AAA masterpieces. No matter what we're playing, we want to share with you and maybe send you down the path to try something new. Let us know in the comments what you're playing and what news has you excited for the future!
I found myself rather intrigued by the prospects a new Battlefield game would potentially have to offer. I’ve always had a love for the FPS genre, and we haven’t really seen the genre’s flagship IPs shine in recent years the way they did in the late 2000s or early 2010s.
Those who aren’t familiar with the FPS genre are likely confused about why Battlefield has captivated so many in its launch. It’s been a long time coming for a franchise such as Battlefield to return to glory, to deliver an experience that players truly want. I was hoping Battlefield 2042 could’ve been that game, but it unfortunately had its own fair share of issues while also losing the plot on what makes the Battlefield IP so lovable. Perhaps it sounds simpler than it actually is, but that stellar sandbox-y immersive gameplay fans want from Battlefield does not cater to taking notes from Call of Duty’s Operator format in the way 2042 attempted.
As much as the two franchises get compared, any FPS fan will tell you that the two games play quite differently. Whereas Call of Duty is known for very fast-paced arcadey gameplay, Battlefield prides itself on playing objectives alongside team cohesion. Now was the right time for Battlefield. This moment in time is the perfect instance for Battlefield to truly nail what their fans want, and they were successful in doing that. Interest in Call of Duty has reached an all-time low, with the franchise cannibalizing its own identity with out-of-place collaborations. The average FPS fan does not want to see animated characters running around in their games. They want a game that invokes the feeling of being grounded in reality; the “mil-sim” experience, if you will.
When a game like Battlefield 6 releases in a state where it provides exactly what FPS fans are starved for, you get a game that blows up the way this one does. It’s beautiful to see, and it’s an absolute blast to play. I’ve always been a casual fan of Battlefield, so you won’t get a nuanced breakdown of what’s different in the gameplay from me. The game is enjoyable, and that’s all that matters. It feels wonderful to have a Battlefield game we can consider great once again. We should be rooting for Battlefield and even Call of Duty to be great.
Call of Duty is feeling clear pressure, as evidenced by the Black Ops 7 beta. Activision is finally giving in and rectifying long-standing fan complaints about the series. When there’s steep competition in a genre, we get better games out of it. The winners here are the consumers, who have higher-quality games that they can enjoy. It’s what we want from AAA shooters, and I’m very happy to see Battlefield doing well for that reason. I’d happily recommend giving it a shot if you are looking to hop back into one of these types of games.
OK, I’ll admit it: I’m obsessed with Dead Cells. I’ve bought it on almost every platform I own. The only major frustration for me is the lack of cross progression. With a game this deep, progress ends up scattered across devices, and my hard-earned unlocks stay trapped where they were earned. Cross-platform saves would be a godsend. Of course, the smart move is to stick with one version for the long haul, and for me, that’s on the Switch. Because, you see, Dead Cells is very much a long-haul game.
By sheer hours alone, it sits near the top of my library, and even after six years of playing it still finds new ways to surprise me. By far, the main thing keeping me hooked is the razor-sharp combat. This is pure action, with every slash, arrow shot, and firebomb feeling visceral. I just love the way busted-up baddies burst into smatterings of crunchy pixel-art confetti - it never gets old.
Kills matter too, because enemies drop glowing orbs, which are the currency for permanent upgrades, so you’re incentivised to fight hard and clear every room (unless you're attempting a speed run, of course). Biomes are procedurally generated, and you choose different routes each time, so layouts, mobs, and secrets keep shifting. The roster of levels is huge, too, from toxic sewers and sunset ramparts to haunted shipwrecks and gloomy castles with vampires; there's always something new to see.
Have I gushed about the combat enough? No? Well, here's some more. Enemy encounters are fast and fluid, playing out like a Doom-esque dance of two-dimensional combat chess. You weave sword strikes, projectiles, and tossed grenades while dodging and sliding around hazards. On higher difficulties, it becomes a high-stakes ballet. When it clicks, it feels incredible. But when things fall apart, you usually know why, which makes heading back in for just 'one more run' an easy choice.
The epic boss fights really seal the deal, too. Every few biomes, things build up to a frantic test of everything you’ve learned on the run so far. One mistake can end it all and send you back to the start, which makes endgame victories feel like glorious fist-pumping wins. Another aspect I love: beating the final boss is only the beginning. Boss Cells (rewarded after completing a successful run) let you raise the difficulty for bigger rewards. Each Boss Cell added throws down tougher enemies and new hazards, but also higher-tier loot.
That moment I realised that finishing my first run was only a warm-up blew my mind. Years later, I’m still discovering new weapons and hidden rooms I’ve never seen. Dead Cells feels fantastic to play and offers depth and replayability in equal measure. For me, it's easily one of the best action roguelites ever made.
Keeper had my interest based on my experience playing many of Double Fine’s previous games, like Psychonauts, Costume Quest, and Stacking. It’s very much a narrative game with some straightforward puzzles to solve. The gameplay largely revolves around you controlling a sentient lighthouse while also moving a bird who opens doors or turns levers to progress to the next level. While there is no spoken dialogue, the game makes you care about the friendship between the lighthouse and the bird as they make their way towards a mountain. The visuals feature some gorgeous landscapes with psychedelic effects that make Keeper stand out from the games I normally play. As something you can play on Xbox Game Pass, I highly recommend you play it if a short, calming narrative experience interests you.
This is an underrated game that I have played several times now, but I just finished it yet again on my Series X on Legendary difficulty. It’s always fun to replay a game that you enjoyed before, and I just wanted to get more achievements after playing some newer releases this year.
I finished playing Dispatch earlier this week, and I was pleasantly surprised by the writing and gameplay. I laughed out loud many times as I went through each episode. I appreciated the management sim elements of choosing which hero would work best for a given scenario and seeing the synergies formed among the heroes you create. Certain emotional narrative moments will definitely stick with me for a long time, along with the tough choices I made along the way. I definitely would want to replay it to see what the other choices would look like and see if there are any meaningful changes within the story. Dispatch is certainly a game that I see being one of my favorites for this year.
Silksong delivers on every expectation I held in my heart and mind. The combat is far more varied and feels more difficult than its predecessor. Its hauntingly beautiful soundtrack enhances both story and environment. And speaking of the story, the narrative threads are woven more tightly throughout every location, every interaction, every item. Yet it doesn’t forcefully drill into your head with its storytelling. It all feels delicately connected yet reactive to your influence. You can see the web and touch the web, even change the web. In short, I’m consistently admiring Silksong’s narrative design; in a word, I’d describe it as thoughtful.
I love how small interactions over time can develop the environment or NPCs, as well as a player’s fondness and understanding of them. It is remarkable how those relationships have the potential to be radically altered in a single moment. I particularly enjoy playing Hornet’s Needolin for every NPC after exhausting their standard dialogue. Each sings a unique song, with words they would not share otherwise. Their tune, their message, gives you an intimate glimpse into their culture and soul: Sometimes it’s funny, and sometimes it’s profoundly sad. Yet it is always an enriching and thoughtful coda from Team Cherry.
I’ve been on an Obsidian kick lately. I’m lumping these two games together since I’m not particularly far in either at the moment. This has been a good year for Obsidian. Avowed is an excellent experience, and one I’ll miss since I cancelled my Game Pass subscription – though I’m eagerly waiting for a Steam sale.
In the meantime, I decided to buy New Vegas on PC and play through it for the first time since 2010. Then I just couldn’t help myself and bought The Outer Worlds 2 as well. It’s great fun so far, making me consistently chuckle at its hilarious writing. It feels very cool to see that Obsidian has kept its core DNA active and alive over the decades.
New Vegas encourages an immersive role-playing experience, constantly offering ways to utilize your chosen skill choices through gameplay mechanics or dialogue. It wants you to commit to a character choice, rather than being a Jack-of-all-trades. The Outer Worlds 2 follows suit, jamming every conversation with skill-related options and presenting various ways to utilize your abilities (as long as they’re leveled up appropriately). Both games wind up feeling very rewarding while simultaneously instilling in you a yearning to build an entirely different character next time.
Between these two games, I feel spoiled. The writing in each is great. Their stories have me captivated and entertained. Both do a good job of signposting where you need to go to progress the story, but neither ever tells you how you should do it. You have the agency to choose, which is what a good immersive RPG is all about.
My main gaming endeavour over the last month has been the fantastic sequel from Sony's first-party studio, Sucker Punch. I'm not quite done with it yet due to the fractured nature of my available playtime, but I'm guessing that the end is near. I've loved the fresh story, enhanced and expanded combat, and the multiple relationships that heroine Atsu develops with the various NPCs in and around Ezo. I think it might be padded out a bit too much, but I've rarely felt that any of the activities are dull or repetitive. The visuals are absolutely stunning, a true testament to the power of the PS5, and I'm constantly staring at the horizon and the incredible level of detail in every corner of the world. Make sure you don't miss this one!
I reviewed the new side-scrolling Metroidvania from developer Heart Machine Games over at Seasoned Gaming, and really enjoyed my time with it. Combat and traversal are quite enjoyable, with a wide variety of tools available to aid your destructive tendencies and keep things fresh even after many hours. There is ample reason to chase 100% completion, plumbing the world for all its secrets and goodies. The story made me want to keep playing, and there were plenty of late nights spent just wanting to see what was in the next area because the game simply looks fantastic.
A big thank you to our writers for dropping by and to all our loyal fans for being here to check it out! Be sure to tell us what you're playing in the comments, and check back next month for more of what our team is getting into.
