In an interview, Xbox CEO Asha Sharma and CCO Matt Booty clarify previous statements made by the CEO, saying the company wants to bring back its spirit, and it starts with the console.
In case you haven’t heard, Xbox has a new CEO, and fans haven’t exactly been all too pleased about it. With the surprise retirement of Phil Spencer and Sarah Bond out at Xbox, former CoreAI CEO Asha Sharma has taken over the reins at Microsoft Gaming, with Matt Booty serving as CCO. Today, the new heads of Microsoft Gaming sat down with Windows Central for an interview to shed light on their future plans for Xbox and discuss their efforts to return the gaming juggernaut to form.
In her opening letter, signing on as CEO, Asha Sharma explained she wanted to bring about a “return” to Xbox. She clarifies what she meant by that statement, saying it’s “about returning to the spirit that the team was founded on,” adding, “It’s that spirit of surprise, it’s the spirit of building something nobody else was willing to try — I’ve heard ‘renegade,’ ‘rebellion,’ and ‘fun’ used. That’s what I was thinking about when I wrote that.”
She explained that she knows how long the dedicated fans have been on their platform, and she’s committed to meeting them where they are, starting with the console. This is far different from the previous “Every screen is an Xbox” strategy touted in February 2024. Sharma explains the company wants to reduce this friction (and the “artificial divide” fans have had between devices touted as the console) since then. They’re committed to breaking this divide and starting with the fans; the company plans to go from there. With regards to 25 years of gaming history, Sharma is looking towards “lifetime value, not just what happened in a previous moment.”
She continues, “players have thousands of dollars invested, in money and time too — it’s incredibly important for me to understand that and protect that,” adding, “I am committed to ‘returning to Xbox,’ and that starts with console, that starts with hardware. You will hear more about that soon,” confirming the company’s commitment to the home platform it started as. New hardware is still in the works.
On the topic of AI, CCO Matt Booty confirmed, “We’ve got no pressure from Microsoft; there are no directives on AI coming down. Our teams are free to use any technologies that might be beneficial, whether it’s helping write code, checking for bugs, or working on more production pipeline tasks. At the end of the day, as Asha said, we’re committed to art made by people,” saying the usage of AI in Microsoft’s ecosystem is for AI to be additive and supportive and not replace people. Sharma also said in the interview, “I will not flood our ecosystem with slop,” in regard to her previous role as a CoreAI executive.
Ultimately, the Xbox executives say they mainly want what the fans want: the next 25 years at Xbox to be incredible. With a sign off, Sharma says, “This team has brought it back before, and I’m here to help us do it again.”
Xbox fans will have to wait and see if the team behind the console will meet them “where they are.”
After revealing that the writing is on the wall, the known AA publisher and accessory maker Nacon has filed for insolvency, putting the company in jeopardy.
Last week, it was reported that Bigben Interactive (Nacon’s parent company) was facing serious financial issues that were affecting its subsidiaries’ businesses. According to a Traxion report, Nacon temporarily suspended trading in its shares last week, as its dire financial straits forced it to restructure to continue operations. Bigben Interactive reportedly struggled to pay a 43 million euro debt to bondholders, and these financial issues have hit a boiling point.
The Mound: Omen of Cthulu
This boiling point has forced Nacon to announce that the company has filed for insolvency. The company holds 16 development studios and a publishing arm under its banner, and the filing puts the entire company (including those studios) in jeopardy. The announcement reads, “The aim of this procedure is to assess all possible solutions to ensure the sustainability of the Company’s activity under the best possible conditions, protect employees, and preserve jobs, while renegotiating with its creditors in a calm and constructive framework,” and the filing will help achieve this.
With the filing, the company would be able to continue operating its business and develop a payment plan to effectively pull it out of debt. If not, insolvency can lead to bankruptcy; the more severe possibility is business liquidation. The developer and peripheral maker has notably announced that it will air its next Nacon Connect presentation on March 4 this month, which will include new game announcements and presentations for previously announced games such as Cthulhu: The Cosmic Abyss, The Mound: Omen of Cthulu, and Edge of Memories.
As of this posting, Nacon has not determined whether the showcase is also in jeopardy, or whether these filings will stall the 1.0 release of Greedfall 2: The Dying World (which was scheduled to launch March 12). But as it stands, things aren’t looking good for the company.
Fans have already stormed social media to complain about the new Microsoft Gaming (Xbox also) CEO, Asha Sharma, and she has been replying without using AI.
It has been only four days since the executive shake-up at Microsoft, and fans have really let their feelings be known online. Asha Sharma revealed herself on X (formerly Twitter), announced her official Gamer Tag on the platform, wrote a few posts to start a conversation about “Top 3 greatest games ever? Why? GO,” and then went silent after those conversations (not before agreeing to play Borderlands 2).
Xbox fans took this opportunity to pile on the Microsoft hire, citing her prior status as a CoreAI CEO and her lack of experience with the platform as reasons she isn’t fit for the role. Today, the CEO returned to the platform to respond to IGN‘s Ryan McCaffrey.
I agree. Faking would be a terrible idea and wouldn’t work. I also didn't expect my gamertag to blowup and the reality is more boring. I created it recently to learn and understand this world. I’ve played with my family, and it’s a shared home account across devices (which you…
On the notion of ‘faking it’ as a gamer, Sharma wrote, “I created it recently to learn and understand this world. I’ve played with my family, and it’s a shared home account across devices (which you can see in the range of games /achievements). Fixed that this weekend, and everyone is only playing on their own GTs. But I get where this is coming from. I don’t pretend to be the best gamer, and even though I’m playing, that’s still not my goal. My focus is to make Xbox the best place to play, return to our roots, ship great things, and become stronger for the future,” signing off with “yes, I’m writing my own posts :)”.
Previously, Sharma’s conversational replies were meant to test the waters and try to find common ground with Xbox gamers, even including her own Gamer Tag in one of them. Her original post asked what everyone’s favourite games were, and when someone replied that Crackdown 3 was a favourite, Sharma blasted the whole community with, “I’m listening!” Sharma also shared her own favourite titles, saying, “For me it’s Halo, Valheim, Goldeneye,” which fans responded to in kind. Fans in the replies are still very cautious due to Sharma’s previous work as CEO of CoreAI, a generative AI company focused on developing applications through generative AI.
While it appears the new Xbox CEO (or Microsoft Gaming CEO) has her work already cut out for her, she is trying to embrace the community fostered at Microsoft, for better or worse. Oh, and she’s also letting everyone know she’s writing her own replies, even if they read like “Beep Boop Beep Boop.”
Blizzard introduced fans to Overwatch Rush today, a new top-down Hero shooter built from the ground up for mobile, set in the Overwatch universe.
Blizzard Entertainment has finally committed to bringingOverwatchto mobile, just not the way many fans have expected. Introducing Overwatch Rush, a brand new title that brings top-down shooting to the hero multiplayer genre in 4v4 team-based skirmishes. Not unlike how Helldivers went from top-down perspective to third-person in Helldivers 2, Overwatch is doing the opposite. Overwatch Rush takes the first-person hero shooter action to a new perspective, from behind the barrel to overhead in a top-down hero shooter that resembles a team-based MOBA.
As of this reveal, there is no genuine port of Overwatch on mobile, and this new title is not developed by the veteran Team 4 development studio(which is responsible for developing Overwatch and Overwatch 2). A new gameplay preview to show players what’s behind the curtain has been released for Rush, and it can be seen below.
Eagle-eyed fans may have spotted the likes of Tracer, Soldier: 76, Reinhardt, Reaper, Mercy, Lucio, and Pharah, so while Overwatch Rush is bringing a new perspective to the hero shooter, instantly recognizable heroes from the base experience are making their way over to Rush. Each of the characters (as shown in the trailer) appears to don their typical power loadout. Tracer can be seen traversing away from trouble with the Blink ability, and Reinhardt can deploy a mega Barrier Field. Although there is a new perspective, the heroes of Overwatch translate to the new top-down fields of battle faithfully.
Overwatch Rush is being developed by a team separate from the usual Team 4, and they’re using “Limited Geo Tests” to gather player feedback on how to improve the title. For future playtests, fans can sign up for the officialOverwatch RushDiscord here for announcements, as the new title is built “with our community in mind,” and player feedback will help shape Overwatch Rush. Like the base Overwatch experience, Rush is a free-to-play title with optional in-app purchases, and it will not have controller support (yet).
While still in development, Blizzard Entertainment has not given a window for the new mobile title’s launch, so fans will have to wait until more information comes out.
After Saudi Arabia RTS purchased Evolution Championship Series (Evo) this week, fans took to the internet to blast the decision, and some have called the event dead.
Earlier in the week, Qiddiya City, Saudi Arabia’s RTS, announced its decision to purchase 100% of the Evolution Championship Series (Evo), the world’s most renowned fighting game competition, which was raised from the ground up as a grassroots, fan-organized tournament. As NODWIN Gaming exits co-ownership (PlayStation left as a co-owner in August 2025), it will continue to work with Evolution, focusing on marketing. Meanwhile, key leadership will remain in position to attempt to ensure consistency with the tournament’s legacy
At the time of purchase, CSO of the Qiddiya Investment Company, Muhannad AlDawood, said, “This is about investing in the future of play, and safeguarding what makes Evo special,” in the official announcement. The event started more than 20 years ago as a small, community-focused 40-person Super Street Fighter II Turbo and Street Fighter Alpha 2 tournament and has grown into a global sensation, with fans regarding it as the premier FGC (Fighting Game Community) event.
The now-Saudi-owned RTS was founded in 2021 and purchased by the Qiddiya Investment Company (QIC) in September 2025. The Qiddiya Investment Company is under the same umbrella as Saudi Arabia’s Public Investment Fund (PIF), and it has been busy this year. The PIF acquired a huge stake in Electronic Arts in 2025 and holds significant stakes in CAPCOM, Nexon, and Nintendo. Community Events like Evo were just the next step.
It has been nearly a week, and fans are still scathing about the decision. On forums like Reddit, fans have been quick to declare the event “dead” already. One fighting fan advises others to go to their local game shops for the fighting game community, saying, “I was already on my way out of Evo because I don’t like how corporate the scene has become. I don’t even want fighting games to be a scene anymore, just play and watch the games you like, give feedback that you care about, and growth will come organically.” With many fans echoing the sentiment, agreeing they don’t like how corporate and over-produced the event has become.
Other fans have even suggested ‘making their own community,’ rather than support what ‘Evo has become.’ Other fans have said they’ll still support CEO 2026 (another fighting game community-led tournament) and other events like Combo Breaker, which are both run by former Evo organizers. Many fans have already started to grieve the tournament, with one saying, “This is just the final nail in an already well-sealed coffin. Glad I got to go before the ticket became $200.” It’s worth noting that Evo tickets have been circling that price point since Sony and RTS outright purchased the event as co-owners in 2021.
While many fans are jaded regarding the purchase, it remains to be seen how ‘corporate’ things become. More information (and how to attend) can be found on the official tournament website.
At the end of the 30th ANNIVERSARY OF EVANGELION event, a brand-new anime series in the franchise has been revealed, with Nier writer, Yoko Taro, set to scribe the series.
While details are currently sparse for the new animated series, Evangelionrevealed that there’s a new anime series in the works, written by Nier: Automata‘s Yoko Taro. Yoko Taro is known for embracing the macabre, employing dark, heavy emotional sequences in his storytelling. This makes the marriage between writer and series a natural fit, given that the original Neon Genesis Evangelion series often teetered on the brink of catastrophe. Yoko Taro has been on a winning streak, as the NieR series has been confirmed to continue by Square Enix, following 10 million sales of NieR: Automata.
『エヴァ』30周年を記念するフェス「EVANGELION:30+； 30th ANNIVERSARY OF EVANGELION」最終日である2月23日(月・祝)Final Programにて『エヴァンゲリオン』完全新作シリーズの制作に関する初報を発表致しました。
Yoko Taro has previously praised Neon Genesis Evangelion in a 2024 interview with IGN. He described Evangelion as a major inspiration for the NieR franchise, saying, “I thank you for praising NieR: Automata’s story, but actually it’s pretty much just a retelling of Evangelion, so there’s not much originality to it. I don’t really watch recent movies, so I’m mostly inspired by memories of works I saw in the past.” Based on those comments, it is clear that the writer is deeply familiar with the series.
The Director of the Rebuild films (a four-film tetralogy, designed to be a retelling of the series) and Mobile Suit Gundam GQuuuuuuX, Kazuya Tsurumaki, helms the project alongside Toko Yatabe, who was an assistant director on Evangelion: 3.0+1.0 Thrice Upon a Time (the final Rebuild film). NieR creator Yoko Taro is taking over writing duties, and NieR‘s composer, Keiichi Okabe, is providing the sound for the new series. Outside of these small details, the production remains tightly under wraps, detail-wise. So, until the production is ready to spill more details, fans won’t know if this is a reboot, another retelling, or something different altogether.
Fans can now head to the new official website while waiting for more information about what’s next for the animated sci-fi series, or watch the full 30th anniversary celebration video.
Microsoft Gaming is shaking up its leadership as a major announcement reveals that Phil Spencer is retiring and Sarah Bond is resigning, with Asha Sharma taking over CEO duties.
After decades under the Microsoft and Xbox banner, Phil Spencer has announced his retirement, and Xbox President Sarah Bond has also resigned from the company. This big executive shakeup sees Microsoft CEO Satya Nadella announce today that former CoreAI President Asha Sharma is the new CEO of Microsoft Gaming.
Microsoft CEO Satya Nadella announced Phil Spencer’s retirement, saying, “Last year, Phil Spencer made the decision to retire from the company, and since then we’ve been talking about succession planning,” adding, “I want to thank Phil for his extraordinary leadership and partnership.” Phil Spencer started at Microsoft as an intern over 38 years ago and moved into the Head of Xbox role in 2014. One of his biggest contributions to the brand was the Activision Blizzard acquisition in 2022, which saw Microsoft purchase the gaming giant for nearly $69 billion.
It’s rare in life to know when a chapter is closing, but after 38 years at Microsoft, that moment has arrived for me. I’ve made the decision to retire and begin the next chapter of my life. It’s a milestone that’s given me a chance to reflect on the incredible journey I’ve been…
In the official announcement, Spencer wrote, “Today marks an exciting new chapter for Microsoft Gaming as Asha Sharma steps into the role of CEO, and I want to be the first to welcome her to this incredible team. Working with her over the past several months has given me tremendous confidence. She brings genuine curiosity, clarity and a deep commitment to understanding players, creators, and the decisions that shape our future.”
Sharma isn’t a stranger to working with tech companies, as she has served as the VP of Product and Engineering at Meta before re-joining Microsoft in 2024. In the official announcement, Sharma wrote, “My first job is simple: understand what makes this work and protect it. That starts with three commitments,” declaring great games, the return of Xbox, and the future of play as her main focuses stepping into the role. Sharma added, “As monetization and AI evolve and influence this future, we will not chase short-term efficiency or flood our ecosystem with soulless AI slop,” promising Microsoft games will “always be art, crafted by humans.”
Welcome to Team Xbox, we're excited about what we'll build together! https://t.co/6jQ4tD5lrr
It’s worth mentioning right before being confirmed as Microsoft Gaming CEO, Sharma served as President of CoreAI, a company that uses Microsoft Azure AI Foundry to help develop applications through generative AI implementation. Microsoft Foundry is designed to “Build generative AI applications and AI agents on an enterprise-grade platform,” which deploys generative AI in system development processes.
Xbox has given Spencer his flowers, writing, “Once Team Xbox, always Team Xbox. Thank you for everything Phil,” in a post, commemorating his time at the brand. Spencer is set to remain in an advisory role through the Summer to oversee the smooth handoff of duties to the incoming Microsoft Gaming CEO.
A collaboration between two of the biggest franchises in gaming, Fortnite and Minecraft, has been long-requested. Today, collaboration rumours have started.
Fortnite and Minecraft have become household names, and despite both franchises’ meteoric rise to prominence (and multitude of crossover events for both), they have never collaborated before. New rumours hit the Fortnite feed almost daily, and it’s about time the Mojang juggernaut Minecraft, has entered the picture. A new rumour indicates that Battle Island could be accepting new entrants with Minecraft, in what would be one of their biggest crossover events to date (this is the company that has thrown an Eminem concert in-game).
MINECRAFT x FORTNITE IS *RUMORED* TO BE IN EARLY DEVELOPMENT
The information about the potential Minecraft crossover being in early development comes from an X user (formerly Twitter), AdiraFNInfo, then reposted by the reliableFortnite leaker HYPEX (which lent ‘credibility’ to the leak). HYPEX’s post has ‘rumoured’ emblazoned across the post, so even that account hasn’t been able to confirm if this rumour is true or not. It’s worth noting that alongside other prominent Fortnite leakers like ShiinaBR (who echoed the Minecraft rumours in their own post) on X (who has been responsible for some of the most accurate ‘leaks’ coming to Fortnite), HYPEX has “Epic Games Partner” in their bio, alongside a blue checkmark for verification.
The next confirmed season scheduled to hit Battle Island will be Chapter 7, Season 2, following the current Pacific Break season, which has been steeped in Hollywood and Tarantino additions to the Item Shop. As of these rumours, nothing has been confirmed as concrete regarding the next season. Although both accounts have been responsible for accurate leaks before, fans should take this news with a grain of salt until the collaboration is confirmed by Mojang Studios or Epic Games. Both parties will undoubtedly have a huge announcement if it’s indeed going down.
A new teaser has been unearthed from Prime Video’s live-action Tomb Raider adaptation, and it shows Sophie Turner as the series lead, Lara Croft.
Earlier this month, Prime Video let the cast out of the bag with the live-action Tomb Raider. Phoebe Waller-Bridge’s live-action project has confirmed that Jason Isaacs and Sigourney Weaver will star in the upcoming series adaptation, alongside other notable cast members with roles plucked from the video games. At the time, Sophie Turner had already been confirmed as the series lead (shortly after the series was greenlit in 2024), and today, Prime Video has given fans a first look at her portrayal of the legendary video game archaeologist. Amazon MGM Studios released the photo as it announced production is underway on Tomb Raider. The full image can be seen below, courtesy of Prime Video.
Prime Video’s Tomb Raider is based on the iconic video game franchise, which follows the adventures of Lara Croft. In an interview with SiriusXM (posted to Instagram), Sophie Turner revealed she’s playing the video games and reading the comics to prepare for the role, but she’s avoiding watching the previous on-screen versions of the characters, saying “I’m kind of doing all of it, but not really focusing on the previous iterations, because I don’t want to imitate, I’ve gotta create my own thing. So, as much as I love those movies, I can’t watch them right now.”
Phoebe Waller-Bridge serves as creator, writer and executive producer on the series, and Chad Hodge is an executive producer and co-showrunner. Jonathan van Tulleken will serve as director and executive producer. Alongside Turner as Lara Croft, the cast includes Sigourney Weaver, Jason Isaacs, Martin Bobb-Semple, Jack Bannon, John Heffernan, Bill Paterson, Paterson Joseph, Sasha Luss, Juliette Motamed, Celia Imrie, and August Wittgenstein.
Prime Video’s live-action Tomb Raider has just entered production, so it may be a while before it hits the screen. Until then, Crystal Dynamics’ Tomb Raider: Definitive Edition is on Xbox Game Pass.
Roblox announced a “Facial Age Check” service last week, which is to be rolled out and required for members to use social features for safety purposes. However, it isn’t working as designed.
For those who missed it, last week, Roblox globally rolled out a new safety feature (which previously launched in select regions in early December) wherever chat is available. This feature requires an in-app face scan, which doubles as an age check to chat with others on the platform using AI tech. This service uses “Facial Age Check” technology (a necessity to chat with others), which is based on users who have volunteered their photos sourced in the U.K., and tested by the Age Check Certification Scheme in the U.K.
Fans were quick to point out issues immediately on forums such as Reddit, namely, what if parents don’t want their child’s face to be scanned for privacy purposes and localization issues (the world doesn’t look like U.K. residents).
We’re committed to providing a safe place to play for all of our users, regardless of age. Starting today, our age check requirement to chat is rolling out globally wherever chat is available. Learn more: https://t.co/uoWivL8uKgpic.twitter.com/WpKPrgtuPO
The service has been rolled out, and although Roblox boasts “more than 50% of daily active users have completed the process,” many issues have surfaced. Age-appropriate players have been locked out of talking with their friends, developers are listing issues and asking to ground the update, and experts have said that the AI wrongly confirms young players as adults and vice versa. The system allegedly does little to help address the ongoing problem on the Roblox platform; child safety is at risk.
Niftier players have realized the graphical prowess of Death Stranding 2: On the Beach can also bypass these face scan restrictions (reported by Dexterto). Some users on Reddit have pointed out the irony of a facial scan service just being “flooded with Norman Reedus” as a detriment to the facial scan’s learning ability.
According to Wired, they’ve found multiple listings on the resale platform, eBay, for age-verified Roblox accounts up for sale for as low as $4. Roblox’s CSO, Matt Kaufman, replied to the site in an email responding to the issues with the service, “You can’t flip a switch while building something that hasn’t existed before,” he said, adding, “Expecting the system to be flawless overnight is ignoring the scale of this undertaking.”
While Roblox has acknowledged some issues with the system on their devforum, the system remains intact on the platform.
The highly anticipated Animal Crossing: New Horizons 3.0 update has been released onto islands one day early, which means players can jump in right now.
Fans have heard right, update 3.0 is now live, extending Animal Crossing: New Horizons. The anticipated 3.0 update can be accessed by updating the title on the Nintendo Switch home screen, then jumping in as normal (players can start exploring the new content if Kapp’n has been unlocked). Unfortunately, those awaiting the Nintendo Switch 2 update will still have to wait until tomorrow. All new features are shown in the trailer below, in case you missed it.
The Animal Crossing:New Horizons updates were first announced last year, giving fans a welcome surprise after Nintendo had announced the 2.0 update would be the last update (and included content) to hit the game. The 3.0 update lets players visit a new hotel resort run by Kapp’n’s family that they can help decorate, new themed items and characters, exclusives like Slumber Island for Nintendo Switch Online members and more. Both the regular and Nintendo Switch 2 versions of the title can play this content update (tomorrow for Switch 2). Villagers with a Nintendo Switch Online membership can design and save up to three islands and play with friends online with those islands in Slumber Island.
The content update includes a range of new content for Villagers to explore, starting with quality-of-life improvements. Resetti is on hand in the new update with a convenient Reset Service to help tidy up player islands. Players can also now upgrade their home storage to hold up to 9,000 items, and storage can now hold trees, shrubs and flowers. The Nintendo Switch 2 version will include a built-in microphone, Game Chat, and support up to 12 players on any given island. Fans who own amiibo can also attract new Villagers to their islands with added amiibo support.
Animal Crossing: New Horizons Update 3.0 is out now, so fans can start decorating their hotels now. Nintendo Switch 2 owners will be able to jump in tomorrow.
Helldivers 2 shows no signs of slowing down, and their next content update bestows C4 and suppressors on players to choose tactics carefully, or go guns blazing with Redacted Regiment.
After just releasing a quality of space update, and following with taking the fight to the Automatons in Into The Unjust, Arrowhead Studios continues to keep its foot on the gas and send Super Earth’s defenders after those who would dethrone democracy. This time, there are options. The Ministry of Defence Research & Development teams have brought the latest suppression technology and spec ops gear to give Helldivers 2 players a new stack of ordinance to blow up those who would threaten Super Earth. The Redacted Regiment premium warbond is adding C4, suppressors, and new armour for Helldivers to join the fight with, and a trailer showcasing all the action can be seen below.
Helldivers 2: Redacted Regiment outfits defenders of democracy with two new primary weapons, the R-72 Censor and the AR-59 Suppressor. The R-72 Censor is a mid-range precision rifle with an integrated suppressor, while the AR-59 Suppressor is a fully automatic assault rifle, also equipped with a suppressor. Together, the weapons are designed to keep missions discreet. The P-35 Re-Educator dart-firing secondary pistol further supports stealth-focused play, allowing players who are detected to escape by inducing delirium in organic targets and causing malfunctions in inorganic ones.
Redacted Regiment also introduces the B/MD C4 Pack stratagem, which delivers explosive firepower for Helldivers. The backpack includes six C4 charges and a wireless detonator that supports both individual and simultaneous detonation. Explosive options expand further with the TM-01 Lure Mine, a throwable anti-personnel mine that adheres to surfaces and emits light to attract nearby enemies. Once targets move within range, the mine detonates with devastating results.
Aside from weaponry, Helldivers 2: Redacted Regiment deploys new armour sets and a new Hellpod booster to keep movements concealed. The RS-89 Shadow Paragon light armour and the RS–67 Null Cipher medium armour come outfitted with the Reduced Signature passive, which reduces your noise level and the range at which the enemy can detect you.
Helldivers 2: Redacted Regiment is a premium warbond, and it will arrive for players on January 20.
As Resident Evil Requiem approaches its February release date, Capcom has announced a special Resident Evil Showcase set to reveal more information and gameplay.
Earlier this month, Nvidia published a Resident Evil Requiem trailer featuring clips of a busy city environment not yet seen in demos or other trailers, and ‘publicly’ removed from a massive zombie outbreak. The city was populated with cars and pedestrians (and monsters in hallways), making the snippet resemble an open-world city more than what fans are used to with Raccoon City. The trailer can be seen below, featuring NVIDIA DLSS 4 technology.
After this trailer, Capcom wants to keep the hype train rolling with another Resident Evil Showcase set to drop this week. Previously, the Resident Evil Showcase from October 2022 revealed Resident Evil: Village DLC and showed off new visuals for Resident Evil 4 Remake, giving fans a peek behind the curtain before launch. It appears Capcom is doing that again with their latest announcement.
Artwork for the Resident Evil Showcase predominantly features the gun seen on Requiem‘s cover. Resident Evil Requiem‘s director, Koshi Nakanishi, has previously suggested this gun will be important, and the gun’s prominence may be revealed in the Showcase. While speaking to AUTOMATON, Nakanishi detailed how boss fights will go in Requiem, stating, “However, rather than defeating enemies in a flashy manner as you progress through the game, like in games that emphasize gun shooting action, the style is more like Resident Evil and Resident Evil 2, where players expand their exploration area in a closed space and overcome obstacles using their wits.”
How To Watch The Resident Evil Showcase
The Resident Evil Showcase will air on January 15, and it “offers the latest information on the Resident Evil series.” Beyond new Resident Evil Requiem gameplay, details on other projects remain unconfirmed. The announcement states, “some of the games included in the show aren’t suitable for children,” which could mean other titles may be shown, but this is unconfirmed.
The Resident Evil Showcase will launch on January 15 at 5:00 p.m. EST and will be available to watch on the official Resident EvilYouTube channel.
A fresh look for Mario Tennis Fever has come out today, showcasing a massive roster, as well as a slew of new modes coming to the court in February.
Nintendo pulled back the curtain on Mario Tennis Fever (which has already been confirmed as a Switch 2 exclusive) during a Direct back in September, showcasing gameplay and revealing its release date on February 12. Now, with a little over a month to go before launch, the company has dropped a new trailer featuring new looks at gameplay, mini-games, Adventure Mode, and a peek at the largest character roster in series history. The trailer can be seen below, including all of the gameplay additions fans can expect.
Mario Tennis Fever has detailed a slew of new features and characters coming to the court. Fever Rackets will spice up gameplay with shot modifiers that apply effects to the ball as it goes over the net. If an opponent can return the shot without a bounce, players can return the effect right back. There are 30 available Fever Rackets for fans to play with, and Mario Tennis Fever has also revealed a staggering 38 character-filled roster, letting players pick a playstyle tailored to them. Players can also turn off Fever Racket play for good old-fashioned tennis volleys. Joy Cons can also be used with motion control to swing the racket itself.
On top of that, Mario Tennis Fever revealed a slew of new modes for fans to jump into, starting with Adventure Mode. This mode starts you off as Baby Mario learning the ropes at the Tennis Academy, and you will have to master your skills to make it past challenging boss fights.
Other modes include Trial Towers mode, which forces players to take on a series of challenges as they climb their way to the top of a tower; Mix It Up mode that allows players to play matches with unconventional rules like the fan-favourite Ring Shot (where you have to hit balls with precision through rings to earn points) and Forest Court Match, where you can expand the court’s size by feeding Piranha Plants tennis balls.
Super Mario Wonder also makes an appearance on the court, with Wonder Seeds turning the court into a wacky fever dream, and a Tournament Mode features commentary from the talking flower present on each stage in the base title. Nintendo has also revealed a new Nintendo Switch 2 Joy-Con 2 colourway, light purple and light green, which will be launching the same day as Mario Tennis Fever.
Mario Tennis Fever and the new Nintendo Switch 2 Joy-Con 2 controllers launch on February 12.
A new Xbox Developer Direct is scheduled for two weeks from now, featuring new gameplay from Fable, Forza Horizon 6, and Beast of Reincarnation.
The Xbox Developer Direct is an annual showcase featuring upcoming games coming to the Xbox platform. These showcases are typically focused on gameplay developments, giving players a glimpse behind the curtain at what the final product (and its gameplay) will look like when it launches. The last Xbox Developer Direct aired nearly a year ago, bringing fresh looks at the now-GOTY winner, Clair Obscur: Expedition 33, with other first looks being given to Ninja Gaiden 4 and DOOM: The Dark Ages.
This year, the Xbox Developer Direct 2026 is returning with fresh looks at upcoming developments in Xbox’s first-party catalogue, as well as a new look at GameFreak’s Beast of Reincarnation. The show includes two titles from Playground Games, with the UK studio bringing fans a first extended look at the highly anticipated Fable (the first look since June 2024), as well as the debut of gameplay for Forza Horizon 6. Game Freak is also bringing a first in-depth look at Beast of Reincarnation, which was revealed at the Xbox Games Showcase last year.
Xbox Developer Direct showcases put a spotlight on the developers themselves, and each developer usually takes the screen to detail new developments coming to previously announced titles. The Direct has confirmed it will be visiting Playground Games in the UK for extended Fable and Forza Horizon 6 gameplay reveals (including new looks at how Japan landscapes come to life in Horizon), and Game Freak in Tokyo, Japan, for Beast of Reincarnation.
Fans can watch the latest Xbox Developer Direct when it goes live at 1:00 p.m. EST on January 22. It will be available on Xbox’s official YouTube channel, where the rest of their Developer Directs are hosted.
Zenimax Online Studios and Bethesda Softworks took to a livestream today to discuss changes coming to TheElder Scrolls Online, including a new seasonal model.
After 12 years of The Elder Scrolls Online, it appears the development team has moved on from the existing chapter model and into how the current seasonal model will work in The Elder Scrolls Online after it was announced by former Zenimax Director Matt Firor at the end of 2024. In case fans have missed it, the entire livestream can be seen on YouTube.
In today’s livestream, ESO Game Director Nick Giacomini and Executive Producer Susan Kath detailed all of the big changes coming to the base game of ESO:Tamriel Unlimited, starting with the announcement that the development team will be more transparent with fans on how they will manage the game’s systems. They will use how they approach the Guild Summit to communicate with fans. Both Giacomini and Kath stressed that content and storylines will remain as usual, but delivery of that content will be treated differently.
Further on that note, all future (and previous) The Elder Scrolls Online expansions (formerly called Chapters) will be unleashed onto players for free in a Seasonal format. These seasons will be launched concurrently on Console and PC at the same time moving forward, eliminating that two week gap where PC players received content early. Seasonal content will function like basic game updates, and players will be able to dive in as it’s released.
The Elder Scrolls Online: All New Improvements Announced!
Tamriel Tomes – This will serve as The Elder Scrolls Online‘s ‘battle pass.’ Like most other ongoing titles, it will serve a free and paid version. The free Tamriel Tome will give cosmetics, armor and weapon styles, 8000 seals of endeavour (by playing, not paying), earnable crown crates, and more. These rewards will replace Daily Login Rewards, making sure players get rewarded for when they’re in the game and playing, instead of having to log in every single day. Challenges have embraced this flexibility, moving to weekly and seasonal models, and removing daily challenges. Three tiers of Tamriel Tomes are available: Free, Premium and Premium+. Fans can complete Tamriel Tomes whenever they feel like and have the time. Expiration dates are a thing of the past.
Gold Coast Bazaar – A storefront dedicated to players for more rewards and a way players can acquire older items. This is for the players who miss limited-time Twitch drops or limited-time events where it’s an impossibility for some to tune in. The Gold Coast Bazaar will have these drops. New cosmetics and rewards will be added to the Bazaar regularly, and items will rotate in and out, similar (but not exactly) to Fortnite’s Item Shop, as the shop will rotate with the season. Players will use a new currency called Trade Bars to access shop items. This new currency can be earned through Tamriel Tomes. In light of these new developments, the existing Event Ticket model will be scrapped. Trade Bars can be earned through gameplay, with those who pay for ESO Plus getting a small distribution for supporting the game. This currency will have no limit.
Experimental Content Starting With Night Market! – A new PvE zone designed for experienced players, but doubles as a good place where newcomers can go to find experienced groups. This will be difficult content. Three factions will be included in Night Market, and a new, unique house reward will be released with the Night Market. This new earnable house has an included bank for ease of use as well. The Night Market opens in April 2026 as a limited feature, and it will potentially recur if fans like it.
Free Existing and Future Expansions – All content in The Elder Scrolls Online will be made free, including existing expansions. The new roadmap bestowed by Zenimax Studios reveals that this will start with Orsinium, Thieves’ Guild, The Dark Brotherhood, and Imperial City Chapters and locations hitting the base game when Season 0 begins in Spring 2026.
Class and Systems Refresh – Before and after each seasonal launch, The Elder Scrolls Online will refresh existing systems and classes to restore class identity after Subclassing was implemented. The development team hears the player feedback, particularly on how class identity was lost, so visual and skill updates will be included with each season to help restore these class identities.
Quality of Life – The Elder Scrolls Online team is listening to the community, and with the start of Season 0 a wealth of quality of life updates will be added to the game. This starts with account-wide outfit slots. That’s not all, a female-based werewolf model will be added (as was heavily requested by the community), players will be able to respec their skill trees and attributes free of charge, 16 ridable mounts will be added to the gold (not paid crowns) mount store, and mount training will be reduced in time. Additionally, a direct-to-player werewolf and vampire questline will be added (with respective NPCs) to allow players to roleplay as their favourite abomination.
Quality of Life, Cont. – Antiquities timing will be extended, and players will be able to add 100+ new furnishings to their homes (including the new bank-equipped one). These changes are designed to respect the player’s time and improve the ESO experience to feel easier. ESO Plus members will get a monthly grant of Tome Points (earned through completing Tamriel Tome tasks), plus players will be able to upgrade their Tamriel Tomes into the higher tier with the membership.
The Elder Scrolls Online development team will share early development ideas with the community moving forward, and provide more transparency toward the community and incorporate more player feedback into roadmaps and content moving forward. The Night Market is reminiscent of that. This is new experimental content that can stay in-game if players like the content, or it can be removed entirely if players don’t.
The roadmap provided by The Elder Scrolls Online team is subject to change based on player feedback, and new content can come to older in-game systems, like a new questline coming to the Thieves’ Guild content in season one. New occurrences will also land in Tamriel Unlimited, like the fan-favourite Daedric Prince Sheogorath, having a specific questline as well.
The team is revamping PvP in The Elder Scrolls Online, starting with rampant online complaints of spawn camping during PvP Battle Grounds battles, they will work on fixing it to be fair for everyone. Lastly, new content will be provided seasonally, with a new Trial landing in season one called the Crimson Veldt, and new solo dungeons landing in season two. Whether fans play alone or together, there are additions for the entire community.
That wraps all of the information given to players from The Elder Scrolls Online Reveal 2026. Those looking for more information can find everything mentioned on the official ESOwebsite.
It’s beginning to look a lot like Christmas again, and to help readers come up with ideas for friends and family who hit the controller hard, we at CGMagazine have compiled our Christmas Gift Guide 2025: The Gamer Edition, filled with great gifts for gamers for the holiday season, so you don’t have to.
With the busy season upon us, CGMagazine has gathered a list of the latest and greatest gaming innovations, so consumers can focus on buying rather than searching for ‘that perfect something’ to make the holiday legendary for family and friends alike. Our Christmas Gift Guide 2025: The Gamer Edition has all the components, accessories, and gadgets consumers need to make Christmas a success behind the sticks and in front of the TV for the upcoming year.
Gaming Laptops
With innovations in gaming laptops becoming increasingly refined each year, it might be time to re-up on hardware for that special someone who still can’t escape their backlog of games. Let’s face it, there’s nothing quite like unboxing a new gaming system, whether PC or console, and giving loved ones a reason to pop the lid on a new PC could be the idea that makes you the coolest parent in the room (or the most punchable).
CGM has spent 2025 testing and reviewing the latest laptop innovations to bring readers the cream of the crop in gaming laptops. Whether that special someone is looking for a lightweight option or a desktop replacement, the Christmas Gift Guide 2025: The Gamer Edition has your six.
Coming equipped with a double whammy of the Intel Core Ultra 9 275HX processor and a robust GeForce RTX 5080 GPU, the Lenovo Legion 9i 18 offers a well-balanced high-end laptop platform that provides a lot of power under the hood for a reasonable cost.
For a more budget-friendly option, the MSI Katana 15 HX series offers a performance-level gaming laptop experience without breaking the bank. The Katana 15 HX has no issues running load-heavy experiences at 60fps, while also delivering solid visuals.
For a gaming laptop outfitted as a “jack of all trades,” the HP Victus 16.1-inch Gaming Laptop could be the right option for users who want high multitasking performance and adaptability for multiple functions.
For an out-of-this-world gaming laptop experience (and for those who don’t have a price limit), the Alienware 18 Area-51 Gaming Laptop “could handle just about anything” thrown at it on “the highest settings” without breaking a sweat.
For those who want another option that is more tablet than laptop (but still has gaming features), the REDMAGIC Astra Gaming Tablet could suffice for those who don’t need a keyboard (but can use one if needed). The REDMAGIC Astra gives gamers another lightweight option to tote around when the PC stays at home.
Unapologetic power: Area-51 was intentionally designed to reach new performance horizons by enabling higher graphics and processor power limits.
Game changing graphics: Designed to push boundaries, RTX 5080 with NVIDIA Max-Q delivers optimized battery life and performance and jaw-dropping graphics fidelity—perfect for those who demand the extraordinary on the go.
Intel Core i9 HX Power for Elite Gaming: Dominate demanding titles with the Intel Core i9-14900HX and its 24-core hybrid architecture, delivering fast load times, high FPS, and smooth multitasking.
GeForce RTX 5070 With Ray Tracing & DLSS 4: Powered by NVIDIA Blackwell, the RTX 5070 delivers stronger ray tracing, higher FPS, faster AI upscaling, and more responsive gameplay—ideal for competitive and cinematic gaming.
【RAM & Storage】This computer comes with 16GB RAM DDR5 | 512GB SSD
【AMD Ryzen 7 7435HS Processor】It is a mid-range CPU for gaming laptops that features 8 Zen 3+ cores and no iGPU.This 16-thread Rembrandt Refresh family processor runs at 3.1 GHz to 4.5 GHz.
The latest handheld gaming craze is here, and what started with the Steam Deck handheld PC experience has now branched into multiple platforms with different designs and tailored experiences for the more avid gamer who needs to stay in the game even when out of the home. CGMagazine has been putting these new handheld PCs through the wringer to determine which is worth playing on (from VR to Legion), and the Christmas Gift Guide 2025: The Gamer Edition has provided answers to the question “which handheld device should I get?” without being asked.
For the latest in the ROG Ally series of handheld gaming PCs, they’ve teamed up with Xbox to bring Xbox branding to the handheld capabilities of the ROG Ally and the ROG Ally X. For the Xbox fans in families that have been extra good this year, the Xbox Ally is a game changer, letting gamers take their console out of the house without the extra weight and need for a display.
The upgraded version of the first-to-market modern handheld gaming PC, the Steam Deck OLED, is also a solid option for PC gamers who ‘have everything.’ With an updated display and more customization options, the Steam Deck is a device that can adapt to many scenarios, including outdoor use.
The updated version of the Lenovo Legion Go, the Lenovo Legion Go 2, comes complete with an updated processor, GPU and RAM but retains a similar size and shape to the original. Lenovo has reworked the overall user experience of the original Legion Go (while carrying over many of the features that made the Legion Go such a unique handheld) to make a true sequel, and a great option in handheld gaming.
For those who have openly wanted a VR headset, the Christmas Gift Guide 2025 suggests the latest Meta Quest 3 and Meta Quest 3S headsets for aspiring reality jumpers. For Xbox fans, not only is there an Xbox option for Meta Quest 3, but the Quest 3S (without the branding) to seamlessly connect to Xbox Game Pass and play existing libraries in a more portable frame. For gamers, VR could be the next frontier to be conquered this Christmas.
XBOX EXPERIENCE BROUGHT TO LIFE BY ROG The Xbox gaming legacy meets ROG’s decades of premium hardware design in the ROG Xbox Ally. Boot straight into the Xbox experience just like a console.
XBOX GAME BAR INTEGRATION Launch Game Bar with a tap of the Xbox button or play your favorite titles natively from platforms like Xbox Game Pass, Steam, Epic Games, or Windows games on the go.
Transform your reality and do everything you love in totally new ways. Welcome to Meta Quest 3S.
Explore thousands of unreal experiences with mixed reality, where you can blend digital objects into the room around you or dial up the immersion in VR.
7.4” diagonal, HDR OLED, 1280 x 800 x RGB, up to 90Hz Refresh rate, High performance touch, <0.1 ms Response time, 1,000 nits peak brightness (HDR), 600 nits (SDR)
Not all gifts for gamers are physical; some of the best gifts can be delivered as a digital service (including Fortnite V-Bucks and other currencies). For our Christmas Gift Guide 2025: The Gamer Edition, a fresh GeForce NOW subscription could be just what a gamer needs to get out of the trenches of their backlog and into a game seamlessly without a weighty download.
GeForce NOW brings the power of an NVIDIA GPU to a device that normally can’t run certain software. This year, GeForce NOW brought the power of NVIDIA GPUs to the Steam Deck, letting players who use their Deck for everything jump into higher-fidelity experiences in the cloud. In the second half of 2025, GeForce NOW implemented RTX 5080 support and NVIDIA DLSS 4 Multi-Frame Generation for streaming up to 5K resolution at 120 frames per second to the service, giving players without a powerful system true power to play. GeForce NOW is our recommendation for our Christmas Gift Guide 2025: The Gamer Edition.
Digital Currency
In-game funds are always considered a servicable gift, especially for younger family members looking for Minecraft Mine Coins, or Fortnite V-Bucks. Younger family members don’t have their own credit cards, so it’s usually a good choice to get redeemable code cards for members to go shopping at a storefront (with parental permission), without ringing up the credit card bill for mom and dad. For our Christmas Gift Guide 2025: The Gamer Edition, digital currency can answer the “what should I get?” question without stress.
Steam Wallet Funds – Steam Gift Cards in denominations of $20 and $50 can be found at any local pharmacy or gift card stand, and can even be purchased off the GameStop website for ease of gift-giving.
Xbox Game Pass/Xbox Currency – Like Steam, Xbox offers gift cards to exchange real currency into either Xbox funds or Xbox Game Pass time, and is a boon for those looking to gift younger family members the right items for Christmas. Xbox Game Pass Ultimate recently jumped in price, but using code cards gets players a significant discount from the secondary market. It’s worth noting that dollar amounts will almost always translate into the same amount digitally, but Xbox Game Pass Ultimate for cheaper is a solid choice.
PlayStation Plus – Like Xbox, PlayStation has its own subscription service that can be purchased as a digital redemption code alongside PlayStation currency.
Nintendo Online + Expansion Pass – Lastly, Nintendo also offers digital currency on its storefront, and has an online subscription service that allows gamers to play from a catalogue of its hit titles. Nintendo Online + Expansion Pass even lets players jump into some N64 titles straight from the dashboard, letting older and younger gamers bridge the gap for the Holiday Season.
GAME PASS ULTIMATE: Play new games on day one, and enjoy hundreds of high-quality games on console, PC, and cloud. Game Pass Ultimate also includes online console multiplayer, EA Play, and other great member benefits.
SOMETHING FOR EVERYONE: From fast-paced action and adventure to timeless classics, family-friendly games, innovative indie titles, brain-teasing puzzles, immersive role playing adventures, and intense shooters. Dive into a world where every gamer can find their next favorite game.
Communication is the best weapon on any battlefield, and for our Christmas Gift Guide 2025: The Gamer Edition, we here at CGMagazine have scoured the depths of the internet for the best possible headsets any gamer could use to get a leg up on the competition. For any price range, the listed headsets below can cover the needs of any Christmas shopper who needs a headset, in and out of battle.
For a more lightweight and colourful option, the SteelSeries Arctis Nova 3P is a solid choice that provides in-app customized functionality, long battery life, and AI noise cancelling for a user who could use a new pair of ears.
For the racing-savvy (and those who want to match McLaren’s signature Papaya Orange colourway), the Logitech A50 X Lightspeed Wireless Gaming Headset McLaren Racing Edition is a tailored choice specific to racing fans that can provide excellent sound and includes a resting base for pit stops.
For a more budget-friendly, wired headset option, the Turtle Beach Atlas 200 for PlayStation Gaming Headset is a good solution for PlayStation gamers looking for a great deal.
Shoppers who are looking for the best of both worlds (budget and functionality), the latest Razer BlackShark V3 Pro Headset features an undying battery and comfort in spades to keep players on the battlefield and out of the gulag. With both wireless and Razer app functionality, the BlackShark V3 smells when there’s blood on the water.
PRESETS FOR CoD, FORTNITE, AND MORE – Control your audio using the mobile app to hear footsteps better in game. Unlock total audio control with 200+ game presets in the Arctis Companion.
OPTIMIZED FAST CHARGE — Get back into action in a flash with fast charging: 15 minutes equals up to 9 hours playback. A full charge lasts up to 40 hours
HYPERSPEED WIRELESS GEN-2 — Outpace all competition with the fastest wireless technology optimized for ultra-low latency as low as 10 ms, delivering near-instantaneous audio; perfect for clutch plays and split-second decisions
DETACHABLE HYPERCLEAR FULL BAND 12MM MIC — Armed with a large 12 mm capsule, this next-gen full band mic captures every detail of shotcalls clearly and effectively suppresses background noise with a unidirectional pick-up pattern
For families that want to take the player out of the digital blocks of Minecraft and onto LEGO tabletops, the LEGO Minecraft The Mooshroom House serves that purpose without fail. This LEGO house is shaped like a large cow, and features a removable roof for players to check out what’s going on inside. This playset contains 500 pieces and features Minecraft’s Steve in mini-fig form. CGM’s Christmas Gift Guide 2025: The Gamer Edition brings gamers to real life, too!
BUILDABLE PLAYSET – The Mooshroom House is packed with features and characters for an immersive experience and hours of pretend play
6 MINECRAFT TOY FIGURES – Toy figures in this set include Steve, a red mooshroom, baby red mooshroom, brown mooshroom, calico cat and the hostile flying phantom
Not all gifts for gamers are game-related. Sometimes, desks need new decorations and CGM’s Christmas Gift Guide 2025: The Gamer Edition has found a new collaboration between the light-decoration maker Govee and everyone’s favourite glutton, Pac-Man. This new limited-edition pixel light features over 150+ displayable Pac-Man pixelated scenes, and fans can have imagery featuring all four ghosts (and the Pac-Man himself). Decorations could be the perfect gift for gamers in 2025.
Gaming Pixel Light PAC-MAN Edition: Immerse yourself in the iconic world of PAC-MAN! This special edition features 4 exclusive PAC-MAN-themed animations, alongside sharp clarity, smooth motion, and vibrant colors for pixel art or GIFs, Perfect for retro gaming enthusiasts.
Rich Pixel Art & Live Updates: Stay in the game with real-time updates for time, weather, stocks, and NBA/NFL scores! Explore 150+ preset scenes and 4 PAC-MAN-inspired visuals.
Speaking of Pac-Man, for fans who want to travel back to one of the first ever home consoles, and do it in limited edition Pac-Man yellow, they should look no further than this Atari 2600+ re-release. Both the console and joystick are coated in Pac-Man yellow, and the front of the Atari 2600+ is emblazoned with Atari branding (the norm for the console) and Pac-Man with ghosts (not normal for the console). Fans can excavate the past and past 2600+ titles with this limited console on CGMagazine’s Christmas Gift Guide 2025, and this console plays both Atari 2600 and Atari 7800 original game cartridges.
Atari 2600+ PAC-MAN Edition: The iconic console, now in PAC-MAN yellow with illuminated character icons across the front.
Backward and Forward Compatible: Play retro games just like you remember them on a system upgraded for today. Play both Atari 2600 and 7800 games on this 2600+ console. Compatible with everything in the Plus Platform, as well as with most original accessories and cartridges.
Not all gaming accessories can fit into a neat category, so for CGM’s Christmas Gift Guide 2025: The Gamer Edition, we have included a sub-category of odds, ends, and knick-knacks that gamers could use but they wouldn’t necessarily buy for themselves. From a sleek Alienware monitor to decorations, every gamer would want one of these accessories under the Christmas tree.
The Alienware AW3425DW QD-OLED Gaming Monitor delivers crystal clear visuals and allows PCs to flex their advanced component muscles with a high-quality display. If gamers are in the market for a 240Hz OLED monitor solution, Alienware provides.
For gamers who love playing with a controller but never have their console or laptop on hand, the Backbone Pro Mobile Controller turns a smartphone into a handheld console with finesse. The Backbone Pro incorporates many of the features of its predecessor for mobile gamers in a more robust and full-size design, complete with over 40 hours of battery life.
For racing enthusiasts, Turtle Beach’s VelocityOne Race KD3 Steering Wheel Controller could provide a controller solution for those who want to get literally behind the wheel. The VelocityOne Race KD3 is designed as a complete driving system straight out of the box, making it ready for any racing simulation.
For gamers in need of decorations, the Govee AI Sync Box Kit 2 can enhance the immersive aspects of gaming and media with lighting reminiscent of what’s happening on screen. For anyone looking to take their gaming setup to another immersive level, the Govee AI Sync Box Kit 2 is a solid choice that elevates gaming experiences.
For a very niche brand of gamers, the ROG XG Mobile External GPU Dock on the Christmas Gift Guide 2025: The Gamer Edition can bring a solution to mobile GPU issues, featuring impressive specs, solid IO, and a small compact design.
For gamers who need a new desk mat due to theirs becoming worn out (or discoloured), Logitech’s Studio Series Desk Mat can offer a fresh pop of colour and comfort when a replacement (or a first) is necessary.
Ultrawide immersion for elite gameplay: Our expansive 34″ QD-OLED monitor delivers seamless speed, and super smooth motion with intuitive function and connectivity.
Sweeping visuals and color: Evolve your field of view with WQHD and an 1800R curve, combined with QD-OLED’s incredible color range and clarity that easily immerses you in any world.
UNLOCK THE NEW CLYDE OUTFIT IN FORTNITE: For a limited time, starting December 3rd, 2025, new Backbone Pro purchases and current Backbone Pro owners can unlock the Clyde Outfit in Fortnite.
PRECISION CONTROLS: Designed for serious mobile gamers, the Backbone Pro phone controller features full-size ALPS analog joysticks, a precision D-pad, tactile face buttons, remappable rear buttons, and ergonomic grips. While the Backbone One delivers a streamlined experience for everyday play, the Pro offers upgraded precision and customization for advanced mobile gaming.
Latest HDMI 2.1 Interface: Govee AI Sync Box 2 adopts the latest HDMI 2.1 interface for data transmission, enabling screen and lighting synchronization, and supporting resolutions of up to 8K at 60Hz and 4K at 144Hz. Note: Automatic signal switching is not supported when multiple devices are connected.
Unique CogniGlow Technology: Govee Sync Box uses AI to automatically recognize images and text, determining trigger conditions to match specific lighting effects. HDMI 2.1 Sync Box supports VRR and ALLM, reducing screen tearing and latency, providing a seamless experience.
It is a fact that games cannot be played without an input device. So, CGMagazine has compiled some of the best controllers we have looked at in 2025 for CGM’s Christmas Gift Guide 2025: The Gamer Edition. Throughout the year, we have reviewed and tested some of the best offerings on the market, and they’re compiled here so fans can shop without having to research a recommended pair of sticks.
For gamers who have every console (including PC), the GameSir G7 Pro Controller is a serviceable option thanks to its adaptability. The GameSir G7 can sync up to any Xbox console, Android mobile phone, or PC without issue, and keybinds can be toyed with to let players tailor theirs to their playstyle.
For a premium option for PlayStation 5 gamers, the Razer Raiju V3 Pro Wireless PS5 Controller is a good choice if players require a host of features and functions, and like included attachments and accessories for their weapon of choice. The included hair-trigger functionality also gives players an extra edge where competitive gaming is concerned, in case the player is serious about their K/D.
For a more modular design, the Victrix Pro BFG Reloaded includes replaceable parts and a multitool for gamers who need to have everything their way. While the BFG includes hair triggers, it can also function as a fight stick with a removable face module that transforms the right stick into six face buttons, adapting to a hard-to-shop-for user without effort.
The Nintendo Switch 2 is finally out, and so is the add-on Nintendo Switch 2 Pro Controller. With a premium weight, solid design, and compatibility with the new Switch 2, this pro controller is a good option for players who like a more traditional controller design without the bells and whistles of modular or other ‘Pro’ designs.
OFFICIALLY LICENSED FOR PLAYSTATION — Tailored to the needs of esports pros for best-in-class performance and a symmetrical thumbstick layout, embrace what it takes to win with an officially licensed PlayStation wireless esports controller
4 REMOVABLE MOUSE CLICK BACK BUTTONS & 2 CLAW GRIP BUMPER — Enjoy the same ultra-responsive actuation found in Razer’s top gaming mice with 4 removable buttons built into the controller’s ergonomic, rubberized handles—topped with 2 claw grip bumpers for even more control
Tri-mode Connectivity: Wired for Xbox, 2.4G & Wired for PC, and Bluetooth for Android. The G7 Pro supports seamless connectivity across Xbox, PC, and Android. Effortlessly switch between modes using the convenient physical mode switch.
TMR Sticks: The G7 Pro features GameSir’s Mag-Res TMR sticks, combining Hall Effect durability with traditional potentiometer performance. This advanced technology delivers stable polling rates for smooth, drift-free gaming with low power consumption.
For PC gamers, it’s easy to see how important a proper keyboard is for maintaining relevance on a battlefield, and often gamers continue to use their favourite board until the keys (literally and figuratively) fall off. For 2025, CGMagazine has dealt the best mechanical keyboards (especially gaming keyboards), and we have picked some favourites for our Christmas Gift Guide 2025: The Gamer Edition. From heavy-duty to lightweight, CGM has you covered.
For the mechanical/customizable gamer, the Razer Blackwidow v4 Tenkeyless HyperSpeed Wireless Keyboard features ABS keycaps that can be switched with nearly every other mechanical keyboard on the market (including Drops). For heavier-handed users, if a switch breaks, it can also be easily replaced rather than getting a whole new board.
Another TKL, the Cherry XTRFY MX 8.3, cuts out the number pad for more desk real estate for easier mouse manipulation. Cherry also includes a keycap remover alongside its small, customizable LCD and metal chassis, so that fans can tailor their board to their preferences.
Cutting the size by another percentage, the Gravistar Mercury V75 Pro Cyberpunk Keyboard features a mini design, taking even more keys off the board in favour of more desk space. Gravistar V75 boasts HE switches for precision, giving gamers a slight advantage over those without optimized latency solutions.
Another option for the 75 percent keyboard enthusiasts is the ASUS ROG Azoth X, a premium option with customization options consistent with other mechanical keyboards, and it comes with a sci-fi-inspired profile that stands out from the rest of the pack.
RAZER HYPERSPEED WIRELESS & BLUETOOTH — Game lag-free with ultra-fast 2.4 GHz wireless and pair a compatible Razer mouse to the same dongle via multi-device support; multi-task swiftly by toggling between 3 Bluetooth devices
HOT-SWAPPABLE DESIGN — Compatible with 3 or 5-pin switches, the keyboard’s socketed PCB allows an easy swap out of its pre-loaded switches for custom ones to achieve desired key feel
PREMIUM TYPING. FASTER THAN EVER. Want it all in one keyboard? Here you go. The MX 8.3 brings you ultra-fast wireless connectivity, hot-swappable CHERRY MX2A switches with durable PBT keycaps, and ultimate control with an intuitive display and rotary knob. All in a premium build for the perfect feel with every keystroke.
ULTRA-FAST 4K WIRELESS AND 8K WIRED TECHNOLOGY. Outpace your opponents with 4000 Hz wireless and 8000 Hz wired polling rates. Reporting up to 8 times every millisecond, the MX 8.3 enables your computer to react faster to every keystroke.
Hand-Painted Limited Edition Design – Vibrant Neon Graffiti artwork meets a CNC-machined aluminum alloy frame for a truly one-of-a-kind look. Each keyboard is individually numbered, blending street art aesthetics with a durable metal build that’s made to turn heads.
Next-Gen Magnetic Switch Performance – Equipped with Hall Effect magnetic switches co-engineered with Gateron for 0.005mm precision and adjustable actuation (0.1mm–3.5mm). Tune each key’s trigger depth for lightning-fast combos or deliberate presses, and hot-swap switches without soldering to customize your feel on the fly.
Tri-mode connectvity: Seamlessly connect to three devices via Bluetooth. Experience ultra-low latency gameplay with ROG SpeedNova wireless technology in 2.4 GHz RF mode (1600+ hours battery life with OLED & RGB off), or utilize a standard wired USB connection.
Deep, Crisp Typing Sounds & Comfortable Feel: Enjoy sublime acoustics thanks to the gasket mount and five-layer dampening design. A silicone layer and four PORON layers absorb vibrations and switch ping, while the FR4 positioning plate provides a more flexible typing feel and low-pitched, crisp sound.
Turtle Beach PlayTrek Travel Case — Nintendo Switch 2
The Nintendo Switch 2 is a hot commodity this year, so you are likely to know someone who has one or is getting one this Christmas. That means you know someone who needs accessories and protection for their fancy new system. Turtle Beach has released the PlayTrek Travel Case for Nintendo Switch 2 for only $29.99, and it is officially licensed by Nintendo! With storage for up to 12 game cartridges, a padded flap for screen protection and a unique lenticular design, you can’t miss. This case comes in a Mario Bricks theme or Donkey Kong, perfect for any true Nintendo fan! You can also go with a Stellar White or Charcoal Black for $24.99 if you want something a little more subtle.
Officially Licensed Nintendo Product – Officially licensed by Nintendo and built for Nintendo Switch 2, Nintendo Switch, and Nintendo Switch – OLED Model, this case delivers reliable protection with a travel-ready design.
Unique lenticular Artwork – This case features a unique Mario Bricks lenticular design that shifts with movement, bringing each scene to life for a dynamic, collectible-quality finish.
Officially Licensed Nintendo Product – Officially licensed by Nintendo and built for Nintendo Switch 2, Nintendo Switch, and Nintendo Switch – OLED Model, this case delivers reliable protection with a travel-ready design.
Unique lenticular Artwork – This case features a unique Donkey Kong lenticular design that shifts with movement, bringing each scene to life for a dynamic, collectible-quality finish.
Officially Licensed Nintendo Product – Officially licensed by Nintendo and built for Nintendo Switch 2, Nintendo Switch, and Nintendo Switch – OLED Model, this case delivers reliable protection with a travel-ready design.
Rugged Exterior Protection – A durable EVA molded shell and TPU-coated polyester exterior defend your console from bumps and drops on the go.
Officially Licensed Nintendo Product – Officially licensed by Nintendo and built for Nintendo Switch 2, Nintendo Switch, and Nintendo Switch – OLED Model, this case delivers reliable protection with a travel-ready design.
Rugged Exterior Protection – A durable EVA molded shell and TPU-coated polyester exterior defend your console from bumps and drops on the go.
One of the best gifts to give any gamer is an upgrade to a needed device, and one of the most needed devices in PC gaming is the mouse. CGMagazine has been testing some of the best gaming mouse options on the market for 2025, and we have compiled some of our favourites below for our Christmas Gift Guide 2025: The Gamer Edition. To become the coolest family member at the table, getting one of these mice for a loved one could net you extra points.
CORSAIR is instantly recognizable as a quality peripheral manufacturer for PC, and with their latest ultralight mouse line, the CORSAIR SABRE v2 PRO Gaming Mouse is ultralight, has 8K hyper-polling, and will run under $100 for those looking for a premium upgrade.
Move over ultralight, the ASUS ROG Harpe Ace Mini Gaming Mouse brings a sturdier (but smaller) frame to the desktop. For PC enthusiasts who need everything in a bite-sized presentation, including a light-up scroll wheel (and looks good doing it), the Harpe Ace Mini has your back.
For users who need a fast and more affordable option, Razer has come to the rescue with the Razer Cobra HyperSpeed Wireless Gaming Mouse. Although this mouse is cheaper for a gaming mouse, Razer’s Focus X 26K optical sensor is on board, providing an excellent user experience for a less premium price point.
Ultralight 36g design: Built from the ground up for elite FPS players, the 36g design delivers maximum agility and control for rapid flicks, sweeping 180s, and high-precision aim.
Maximize every millisecond: 8,000Hz hyper-polling for latency-defying input delivery up to eight times faster than standard polling. Whether wired or wireless, your commands register instantly when every millisecond counts.
Built for Esports Gamers: Co-developed with professional FPS players, the compact semi-symmetrical form factor is optimized for fingertip and claw grips. Its refined shape is a smaller form of the pro-approved Harpe Ace mouse, designed to fit a wider spectrum of handshapes and grip types—making it ideal for competitive gaming on desktop or laptop setups
Pro-Level Precision for FPS: The ROG AimPoint Pro optical sensor delivers 42,000 DPI and track-on-glass technology, providing pixel-perfect accuracy and responsiveness for competitive gaming
9 CUSTOMIZABLE CONTROLS — Instantly trigger commands and macros with a swipe or click; AI Prompt Master enhances gameplay with strategic customization, while five onboard memory profiles keep settings locked in
4 ZONE CHROMA LIGHTING WITH UNDERGLOW — Customize the mouse from 16.8 million colors and countless lighting effects, and experience greater immersion as it reacts dynamically with hundreds of Chroma-integrated games
That just about wraps up CGMagazine’s Christmas Gift Guide 2025: The Gamer Edition! Fans looking for more gift-giving ideas can head to the rest of our 2025 gift guides for more lists as the Holiday Season continues.
Helldivers 2 finds itself in the news again this week with the surprise release of new missions for the Into The Unjust campaign, and this time Super Earth takes the fight to the automatons.
After just releasing a quality of space update, which effectively reduced the install size of Helldivers 2 on Steam by 131GB of data, Arrowhead Studios continues to keep its foot on the gas and send Super Earth’s defenders after those who would dethrone democracy. A continuation of the Into The Unjust campaign has been revealed, and this time, the automatons are the target.
Into The Unjust saw Helldivers take on planets designated as ‘Hive Worlds,’ by bringing the fight to the bugs on their front doorstep. Helldivers were forced to dive deep beneath Hive World’s crust to destroy Spore Lungs. This continuation has Helldivers dive beneath the surface once again to face fiery magma and automatons, retrieving valuable minerals from these hellscapes. A trailer has been released to inform fellow Helldivers 2 patriots of the threat, and it can be seen below.
The trailer describes these new planets as “too hot for humans, too unstable for farming, too explosive for tourism—yet rich in minerals.” A new in-game major order has been designed to push Helldivers 2 players onto these three new planets in search of minerals. Players must liberate these three planets before the week’s end, or else Super Earth’s children will have their futures taken! That’s at least what Arrowhead Studios is telling people with their new poster.
The new missions have arrived alongside a new warbond called “Python Commandos.” Helldivers 2 channels its best Warhammer 40K impression by allowing Helldivers to bring chainsaws that can penetrate up to heavy armour to the battlefield in Into The Unjust. Other notable unlockables include a flamethrower watchdog backpack, a new assault rifle, and of course, new armour sets for the closet. Fans can dive into the new major order and Warbond today by just firing up Helldivers 2.
This update to Helldivers 2 (like the others) comes to fans free of charge.
Fortnite and Epic Games have slyly revealed Nickelodeon (namely, Danny Phantom) is coming to Battle Island alongside the potential return of the Battle Bus.
Fortnite has officially shared an advertisement for upcoming outfits coming to the Item Shop this week, confirming previous leaks for Danny Phantom‘s inclusion on Battle Island. Not only is Danny Phantom set to join the fray, but Kill Billis also continuing to add to its Fortnite roster, with a Gogo Yubari addition to the closet. A fresh companion can be recruited from the Item Shop as well, giving fans the option to have the Best Cat or a Phantom Guffpup sidekick companion. If fans are fast enough, the Naruto Kakashi bundle from Naruto Shippuden is still up on the shop today. The Item Shop announcement can be seen below.
It's time to get hype for everything dropping in the shop this week including: New Outfits, New Sidekicks, and Kicks! What are you looking forward to? pic.twitter.com/rjrg3aZcze
The new item shop bundle will feature skins for Danny Phantom and Samantha Manson, opening the door for potential future Nickelodeon collaborations (like the often rumoured inclusion of SpongeBob SquarePants) and as Fortnite has proven with The Simpsons, there’s no collaboration too out of bounds for Battle Island. Alongside new additions to the item shop, Fortnite has also teased the return of the Battle Bus. The Battle Bus Driver texted the runners of the official X account that they were, in fact, not obliterated by an energy beam last week, saying “I Lived”.
The Bus Driver, who was obliterated by an energy beam last week, just texted me this pic.twitter.com/i4D5JfvV5f
After the alleged demise of the Battle Bus via energy beam, players have been hard at work completing quests to repair the Battle Bus, locating pieces of the rig to reassemble, and this text message proves the hard work may have paid off. Although the bus looks a little worse for wear, Epic Games hasn’t confirmed whether the surfing mechanic (the current way to enter battle royale matches) will remain once repairs are complete.
Fans can jump in and check out the new additions to the Item Shop today, and fans should note that today is the last day for the Naruto Bundle (at a discount no less).
Sony Pictures has dropped the next trailer for the upcoming zombie-filled sequel, 28 Years Later: The Bone Temple, and it puts two survivors face-to-face at last.
Zombie film fans have gotten Christmas early this season, as Sony Pictures has uncorked the second trailer for the upcoming 28 Years Later: The Bone Temple today, and after the first trailer was mostly light on plot points, the second trailer features a desperate Dr. Kelson (played by Ralph Fiennes) still searching for an answer for the infection, a tense meeting between Kelson and Jimmy Crystal (played by Jack O’Connell) and a potential cure for the Alpha, Sampson (played by Chi Lewis-Parry). The new trailer can be seen below.
The events of 28 Years Later have left fans on the edge of a cliff, with Spike (Alfie Williams) deciding to leave his family (and the safe village provided by them) to explore the world, only to run into the sociopathic Jimmy Crystal and his gang of bad actors. Dr. Kelson, on the other hand, came to terms with death directly and offered a fitting skull tribute to The Bone Temple, setting the stage for this bloody sequel.
In the new trailer, Dr. Kelson is embroiled in research on the deadly nature of the Rage virus (with intriguing snapshots of his pre-apocalypse life), while Sir Jimmy and his gang search for “souls to deliver to hell.” Spike, (who joined up with Jimmy’s gang at the conclusion of the previous film) watches the gang in terror.
While series mainstay Cillian Murphy is billed as Executive Producer for 28 Years Later: The Bone Temple, he hasn’t appeared in the previous entry, and he has made no appearance in either trailer despite confirming in August 2025 he will be reprising his role as Jim in the film.
Fans only have to wait just over a month to find out, as 28 Years Later: The Bone Temple lands in theatres on January 16, 2026.
