Splitgate Arena Reloaded developer 1047 Games has shared some words regarding how its rereleased and repackaged game is doing over on Valve's PC platform, stating: "Steam Charts don't measure fun."
Splitgate Arena Reloaded, an overhauled relaunch of arena shooter Splitgate 2, appears to be facing a rocky start in its efforts to revitalise the game.
A big budget sequel to one of my favorite competitive FPS games ever, Splitgate 2 was set to be a dream shooter for me. In many ways, it really hit the spot, but its huge ambition resulted in a bloated experience, with unnecessary hero shooter elements tarnishing what was otherwise some excellent gameplay. Swiftly pulling the game back into a beta state, 1047 Games has trimmed off some of the extra fat and relaunched it as the more streamlined, true-to-the-original Splitgate Arena Reloaded. While I believe it's much better for it, its Steam player count hasn't seen a significant resurgence. Responding to those concerned about the amount of people playing Arena Reloaded, 1047 has posted a new statement with a simple message: "Steam charts don't measure fun."
Read the full story on PCGamesN: "Steam charts don't measure fun," says Splitgate dev as relaunched FPS debuts with a 90% lower peak
Valve launched its first-ever official Black Friday sale in 2025, marking a historic shift in the company’s seasonal sales strategy. The Steam Black Friday Sale 2025 runs until December 1, giving gamers a full week to score incredible deals on thousands of titles across every genre imaginable.
Whether you’re hunting for AAA blockbusters like Battlefield 6, indie gems like Blue Prince, or looking to snag hardware discounts on the Steam Deck, this year’s event delivers unprecedented value for PC gamers. From massive publisher sales to deep cuts on 2025’s biggest releases, we’re breaking down everything you need to maximize your savings during this limited-time shopping extravaganza.
What Makes the Steam Black Friday 2025 Sale Special
The sale features a large list of games across basically every genre and sub-genre you can imagine, with a lot of the discounted games including titles that launched in 2025. This year’s event represents a significant milestone for Valve’s digital distribution platform, as it’s the first time the company has specifically branded a sale around the Black Friday shopping holiday.
The 2025 Steam Autumn Sale shifted earlier than usual, separated from the Winter Sale by several weeks, creating space for this new Black Friday event. Gamers can expect discounts ranging from modest 15-20% cuts on recent November releases to jaw-dropping 80-95% price slashes on classic titles and beloved franchises.
Top Publisher Deals During the Steam Black Friday Sale 2025
SEGA Black Friday Gaming Deals
SEGA is offering up to 80% off select games, with franchises like Sonic, Yakuza, Total War, and Persona all receiving substantial markdowns. Persona 5 Royal sits at 65% off, while the tactical spin-off Persona 5 Tactica drops 70%. Soul Hackers 2 reaches its lowest-ever Steam price at just $11.99.
PlayStation PC Exclusives on Steam
Several former PlayStation exclusives have received never-before-seen prices, with games available at up to 80% off. Marvel’s Spider-Man Remastered and Miles Morales both hit 60% off for the first time directly on Steam. Horizon Zero Dawn Remastered offers another excellent entry point into Sony’s acclaimed franchises at competitive pricing.
Xbox Black Friday 2025 Sale
Popular Microsoft games are now up to 80% off. Gears of War: Reloaded drops to $25.99 despite launching just three months ago, while Halo: The Master Chief Collection hits $9.99. Senua’s Saga: Hellblade II is available for $17.49, and ReCore: Definitive Edition costs just $3.99.
Warhammer, EA, and Other Major Publishers
Warhammer 40,000: Space Marine 2 is available for $23.99 with a 60% discount, representing the lowest price the game has ever been on Steam. Electronic Arts titles continue offering deep discounts, while Bethesda features more than 150 games and DLC at reduced prices. CD Projekt Red’s catalog, including Cyberpunk 2077 and The Witcher series, sees discounts up to 90% off.
Best Steam Deck Black Friday Deals 2025
Valve has marked down the Steam Deck, with the base LCD model getting $80 less than usual. The LCD 256GB version drops to just $319.20, the lowest price ever recorded, with this deal beating any previous sale by $50.
While the premium Steam Deck OLED models aren’t receiving Black Friday discounts, the LCD versions still offer incredible value for gamers looking to enter the handheld PC gaming space. The Steam Deck remains one of the most affordable ways to access your entire Steam library on the go, with performance capable of running most indie games and smaller titles smoothly in 2025.
For those seeking alternatives, competing handhelds like the Lenovo Legion Go S with SteamOS have dropped to $449 for the Ryzen Z2 Go model at Best Buy, making handheld gaming more accessible than ever.
Top Steam Black Friday Game Deals You Can’t Miss
2025’s Biggest Releases on Sale
Battlefield 6 is on sale for $59.49, which is 15% off the regular price, notable given that it’s one of the biggest games of 2025 and has only been out for a little more than a month. Other major 2025 releases seeing discounts include Arc Raiders, which maintains its reputation as one of the best games you can buy for $40.
The Oblivion remaster is currently on sale for its lowest-ever price on Steam at 33% off, letting Elder Scrolls fans return to Cyrodiil with enhanced graphics and updated mechanics. Tales of the Shire, the cozy Lord of the Rings game, hits 30% off, making it the cheapest it’s ever been.
Deep Discount Gaming Recommendations
Blue Prince, this year’s roguelite mystery game hit, is reaching its lowest-ever price on Steam at 34% off, blending strategy, mystery, and puzzles for a unique gameplay experience. Dave the Diver sits at 45% off, combining restaurant management with light RPG mechanics and achieving an Overwhelmingly Positive rating on Steam.
Red Dead Redemption 2 is down 75% from its original price of $59.99 to only $14.99, representing one of the best deals during the entire sale. Resident Evil Village Gold Edition drops 70%, taking it from $49.99 to $14.99, including the base game, Winters’ Expansion, and Trauma Pack DLC.
Budget-Friendly Gaming Under $15
Games under specific price points make browsing for affordable deals easier during the Steam Black Friday Sale 2025. Smart shoppers should explore:
When Does the Steam Black Friday Sale 2025 End?
The first-ever Steam Black Friday Sale runs until December 1, providing gamers with a full week to browse thousands of discounts. Individual publisher promotions may end on different dates, so don’t wait until the final hours to make your purchases.
Black Friday Steam Deck deals sell out quickly, with the LCD 20% discount typically disappearing by Friday afternoon. Set notifications for wishlist items to catch price drops before they expire.
Steam Sale Shopping Tips and Strategies for 2025
Wishlist Management: Add games to your Steam wishlist before the sale begins. Steam will notify you when wishlist items go on discount, helping you track price drops across your most-wanted titles without missing opportunities.
Compare Prices Across Retailers: While Steam offers great deals, authorized key retailers like Humble Bundle, Fanatical, and Green Man Gaming sometimes beat Steam’s official pricing. Many competing PC game stores are running Black Friday sales on Steam codes, meaning you can still add games to your Steam library while spending even less.
Check Review Scores: Don’t let deep discounts blind you to mediocre games. Filter searches by positive review ratings to ensure quality purchases. Games with Overwhelmingly Positive or Very Positive ratings generally indicate solid experiences worth your money.
Refund Policy Awareness: Steam offers refunds on games with less than 2 hours of playtime within 14 days of purchase. If a game doesn’t meet expectations, you’re covered, making it safer to take chances on discounted titles.
Consider Multi-Game Bundles: Complete editions and multi-game collections often provide the best value during major sales. Look for Gold Editions, Ultimate Editions, and franchise bundles that package DLC, expansions, and multiple games together at steep discounts.
Hardware Price Warnings for December 2025
Memory prices have surged by 500% and SSD prices have risen by 100%, with retailers warning that prices on gaming PCs, GPUs, laptops, and SSDs will increase after December 7, 2025. This makes the Black Friday sale potentially the last opportunity for affordable gaming hardware purchases before significant price increases take effect.
If you’re considering upgrading your gaming PC, buying additional RAM, or adding storage capacity, act before early December. The Black Friday window represents a critical opportunity to lock in current pricing before the hardware market shifts dramatically.
Alternative Steam Key Retailers During Black Friday 2025
Many competing PC game stores are running Black Friday sales featuring Steam activation codes. Legitimate third-party sellers offering additional discounts include:
Always verify you’re buying from authorized retailers to avoid key revocation issues. Stick with well-known, reputable sellers that have established relationships with game publishers.
Upcoming Steam Sales After Black Friday 2025
The Steam Winter Sale 2025 kicks off on December 18, giving budget-conscious gamers another opportunity to score deals before the year ends. The Winter Sale typically runs for approximately two weeks, often featuring similar discount percentages to the Black Friday event.
Steam also hosts seasonal sales throughout the year, including Spring Sale, Summer Sale, and genre-specific “Fest” events focusing on RPGs, strategy games, horror titles, racing sims, and more. These focused events often highlight indie developers and niche genres that might get overlooked during major seasonal sales.
Frequently Asked Questions About Steam Black Friday Sale 2025
Q: Is this really Steam’s first official Black Friday sale?
A: Yes, this is the first time Valve has specifically branded and marketed a sale as a “Black Friday” event. Previously, the Steam Autumn Sale served as an unofficial Black Friday alternative, but the company has now embraced the shopping holiday directly.
Q: Can I use coupons or promo codes during the Steam Black Friday sale?
A: Steam does not allow stacking coupons on already-discounted products. Sale prices are final, with no additional promotional codes accepted during major seasonal events. However, third-party retailers may offer their own promo codes on Steam keys.
Q: Will newer 2025 releases like Battlefield 6 be on sale?
A: Yes, many games released throughout 2025 are receiving discounts. However, the newest November releases may only receive modest 10-20% discounts, while games from earlier in the year see deeper cuts of 30-70% off.
Q: Are Steam Deck OLED models on sale for Black Friday 2025?
A: No, only the LCD Steam Deck models received Black Friday discounts in 2025. The OLED versions maintain their standard pricing, making the LCD models an even better value proposition for budget-conscious buyers.
Q: How long does the Steam Black Friday sale 2025 last?
A: The sale runs from November 25 through December 1, 2025, giving you a full week to make purchasing decisions. Individual publisher sales may have different end dates, so check specific game pages for exact timing.
Q: Should I wait for the Winter Sale or buy during Black Friday?
A: Discounts during Black Friday and Winter Sales are typically similar, though not identical. If you see a game at a historical low price during Black Friday, there’s no guarantee it will match or beat that price during the Winter Sale. Buy what you want now if the price feels right.
Q: What’s the biggest discount available during the Steam Black Friday 2025 sale?
A: Discounts reach up to 95% off on select titles, with many classic games and complete editions seeing 80-90% price reductions. The deepest discounts typically apply to older titles and complete franchise collections.
Maximizing Your Steam Wallet During Black Friday 2025
Consider purchasing Steam gift cards from retailers offering their own promotions. While Steam itself doesn’t discount wallet funds, some third-party sellers provide bonus value or cashback rewards when buying Steam credit during the holiday shopping season.
Budget-conscious gamers should prioritize building their wishlist with deliberate intent. Focus on games you’ll actually play rather than accumulating a massive backlog of unplayed titles. The average Steam user owns hundreds of games they’ve never launched, a common pitfall during major sales events when everything seems like an irresistible bargain.
Set spending limits before browsing the sale. It’s easy to justify multiple small purchases that add up to significant money. Decide your budget in advance and stick to it, prioritizing your most-wanted titles over impulse buys that might sit unplayed for years.
Final Thoughts on the Steam Black Friday 2025 Sale
This year’s Steam Black Friday sale represents exceptional value across every gaming category. Whether you’re a hardcore enthusiast with a massive library or a newcomer exploring PC gaming for the first time, the combination of deep discounts, hardware deals, and publisher participation creates a perfect storm for savvy shoppers.
The week-long duration eliminates FOMO pressure, allowing you to research purchases, read reviews, compare prices across retailers, and make informed decisions. Take advantage of Steam’s generous refund policy to test games risk-free, and don’t hesitate to explore alternative retailers for even better pricing on Steam keys.
With thousands of titles discounted across every genre, playstyle, and budget level, and hardware prices set to increase dramatically in December, the Steam Black Friday sale 2025 delivers gaming’s best value proposition before the holiday season shifts into high gear. Whether you’re clearing your wishlist or discovering new favorites, this historic first-ever Steam Black Friday event won’t disappoint.
Happy hunting, gamers. Your backlog is about to get a whole lot bigger, and your wallet might actually thank you for waiting until this sale to make your moves.
When I was younger, I was always convinced that the first Tomb Raider game got a sort of remake on the Game Boy Color. It makes a lot of sense in my mind, since the title of the game was Tomb Raider. And in the same time period, Indiana Jones and the Infernal Machine also got a port to the Game Boy Color. That game was an interesting remake in 2D. Now, we are not here to discuss an Indiana Jones game, so let us focus on the Tomb Raider games.
I do not always do research before I start playing a game. This game is one perfect example. I just started the game up, expecting the story starting with a rendition of the Ice Caves. But, to my surprise, the game started up different.
The actual subtitle of the game is The Nightmare Stone. On the box-art, we just got Tomb Raider as a title. On the box-art, we see that Lara is running away from an erupting volcano and behind her, you see several skeleton enemies. The bottom section is reserved for company logo’s like Eidos, Core Dynamics, the licensor Nintendo, and the publisher THQ. We also got the “Only on Game Boy Color” triangle in the left corner.
The game was released in June 2000. On June 7th, North America, Europe got it on June 28th and the UK two days later. Only Australia got the game a little bit later. Their version got released on July 18th. Nowhere on the box-art, the game got the subtitle The Nightmare Stone. The game just released as “Tomb Raider” in North America and released as “Tomb Raider: starring Lara Croft” in all other regions. This is a practice also done with the other Tomb Raider games. It would have been easier if they just added the subtitle, to make conversation easier.
The critics gave Lara Croft is first entry on the Game Boy Color very high praise. Various gaming magazines and websites gave this title 8 or 9 out of ten. The average score of this title is 79% on the aggregator GameRankings. One of the lowest scores I could find was by a German magazine named 64 Power in their June issue, giving it a three out of 5 or 60%.
Since Core Design developed this game, it will not be a surprise that you find a lot of developers on this game also worked on the main Tomb Raider games. This game was developed by people who knew how a Tomb Raider game should play. In this title, Lara is hunting after the Nightmare Stone. This stone is in possession of a treasure hunting group who wants to use it to release the evil god Quaxet, a factious god in the Mayan mythology.
Playing through this game, you really want to play through a Tomb Raider game. Of course, there are some big differences since the game got released on a handheld. The most obvious difference is that the game is in 2D. There were only a handful of 3D Game Boy games, and most of them did not involve jumping.
Another significant difference with the main line Tomb Raider games is that this game plays a lot slower. The controls are more limited on the Game Boy Color, and more action-packed gameplay could not really be implemented, per se without it becoming really clunky.
Speaking about the controls, it takes some time to get used to. I mostly played platformers or adventure games on the Game Boy, and I was so used to push the A button to make my character jump. But Lara jumps with the up arrow in this game. Not only that, if you want to climb up ledges, you need to hold B. Which is the button you use to run. If you are moving left or right and press B, Lara starts running. When Lara is running, and you press the jump button, Lara jumps in the direction she is running. This gives you a hint how to jump a gap when standing still. You have to press B first before the jump button to jump over a gap.
This control scheme is quite ambitious since there is no real tutorial in game explaining the controls. You do not have a training or testing level in Lara’s home. The manual explains these things quite well, but if you bought your copy today from a garage sale without the manual, I would advise you to look for it online. The control scheme is something that you will not really expect from a Game Boy game.
Earlier, I mentioned that this game has a slower pace compared to the main line Tomb Raider games. That was intentional. If you start running everywhere, you will find that this game will be quite harsh and brutal. There are several pits and gaps that either eat a good chunk of your health or kills you right away. Enemies are also hidden everywhere, and their damage can be unforgiving.
You cannot save where you want in this game, since the save crystals from early Tomb Raider console games return in this game. Learning where the save crystals are important. It is the only way you can save, and it is you respawn spot when Lara losses all her health. The save crystals are not close to each other, either, so I was always happy to find one.
If you do not really know the controls, it can feel a bit like trial and error. For example, I did not know that when you are running and jump, Lara will land further than from a standing jump. I did not expect this mechanic to be in the Game Boy Color games as well. Other things like dynamite being able to use to explode walls, which is something I’d have loved to get explained to me.
Overall, visually, this game is extremely impressive. Once everything starts clicking together, and you get used to the controls, this game is a hidden gem on the Game Boy Color. When you know what you are doing, this game takes around 4 hours to play through. For a first playthrough, I would say that you can finish this game in roughly 15 hours.
The game must have been quite successful since a year later we got a new adventure in the same engine and style. Eidos tried to get this game released around the time the first Tomb Raider movie released. Tomb Raider – Curse of the Sword, released in late June in North America and in August in Europe.
This time, the game was not released by THQ, but by Activision. Most of the team who worked on the first Game Boy game also worked on this title. Because this game got a shorter development time, this game is shorter compared to the first Game Boy Color game. If you know what you are doing, this game can be beaten in two and a half hours. For a first playthrough, I estimate that it will take 8 to 10 hours.
The sequel got the same reception from critics when it released. This game still shows off impressive visuals for the Game Boy Color. Remember that the Game Boy Color is an 8-bit system, and these two Tomb Raider games had such fluid animations that it looked next-generation. Did you know that there are over two thousand animation frames per game to make the animation work? Lara’s model is also forty-eight pixels, making her one of the most detailed characters on the Game Boy Color.
Personally, I feel like both games are amazing entries into the Tomb Raider series. While they play quite different from their console and PC counterparts, both are an amazing adventure through various locations. You still must solve various puzzles and platform your way around. In Curse of the Sword, you even have a chase sequence on the rooftops.
When I look with a critical eye at these two games in 2024, I would say that the lack of a tutorial for the controls really hurts the game. Also, some people might be put off from the difficulty level of this game. These games have some really difficult sections. Use the save crystals well! Otherwise, you might lose a lot of progress. And if I am really nitpicky, I could say that some areas would benefit from a map screen. But the levels are a bit too complex for those and with the small Game Boy Color screen, the map might not be even readable. Thankfully, there are various sources online, like Stella’s Tomb Raider site (tombraiders.net) that have amazingly drawn maps.
When you read this, you might think that beating these games without a walkthrough is almost impossible. But do not worry. These games are quite linear and straight forward. I rarely got stuck in these games by not knowing what to do next. Most of the time, I did not know I was able to perform a certain action or how to solve a certain puzzle.
The streak of releasing a new game every year continues in November 2002. The Game Boy Color was on its way out, and the next title was released on the Nintendo Game Boy Advance. For this title, Ubisoft Milan was tasked with creating a new game. That is because the main team was working on the sixth main title, Angel of Darkness. Tomb Raider – The Prophecy was released to mixed reviews. It released in early December in Japan.
This game played quite different compared to the Game Boy Color titles and played more as a top-down isometric puzzle platformer. If I am very honest, this is the gameplay style I expected more of the Tomb Raider series on the Game Boy. It is mainly because I associate Tomb Raider more as a top-down game on handhelds than it being a 2D side view game. The Game Boy Color version of Indiana Jones and the Infernal Machine showed me it was possible to have a game like that on Game Boy Color.
The story of this title is about the Tome of Ezekiel. In this tome, a story is told about three magical stones that bring great power. She faces a big cult by the name of Teg-du-Bhorez. The game takes about 6 hours to complete on a first playthrough. If you really know what you are doing, this game can be beaten in 2 hours and a half.
Honestly, for a portable Tomb Raider adventure, I really enjoyed this one. It is a rather underrated gem in my opinion and really can be quite exciting to play. Especially since the formula really works this way on the Game Boy Advance. The big issue is that reviewers compared it too much to the mainline series, which is quite unfair to do. What I can agree with, is that this game can feel a bit repetitive at times in terms of puzzles and level mechanics. But it is way less repetitive compared to the Game Boy Color titles, since a lot more puzzle solving like statue placing is used.
The final Tomb Raider title on the Game Boy line of platforms came in 2006. After the very mixed reception to Angel of Darkness, the IP was given to Crystal Dynamics and Tomb Raider Legend was born. Talking about that, can be an entire article in itself. But, to close off this article, I want to quickly focus on Tomb Raider Legend on the Game Boy Advance. I know there is a port to the Nintendo DS, but I do not have any nostalgic memories for that one. I do have nostalgic memories for the Game Boy Advance port.
Now, let me tell you, the Game Boy Advance port was rough. The game went back to the style in like the Game Boy Color games. Yet, it also tried to do intractable doors. I can totally understand why reviewers back in the day were extremely negative about this game. Especially, since the console and PC versions of this game were such a blast of fresh air in the series.
Still, why did I beat this title 100% three times? Because, it had a certain charm. You could find various secrets in the game to unlock secrets like concept art or even cheat codes. But you were not able to see if you got all treasures in a level. The jumping and swinging controls were a bit awkward, yet you had very forgiving checkpoints.
There are a few things that stick with me to this day, the fact that the final boss is rendered a joke in this version. Just mash the attack button and you easily win. No matter the difficulty. Also, the mini-games and exploring Lara’s home were fun distractions as well. Moreover, I want to thank all the pizza boys who delivered me pizza during the writing of this article, like in the credits of this game.
And with that, I want to wrap up this brief nostalgic look into the 4 Tomb Raider titles on the Game Boy Color and Advance. My name is NekoJonez and if you enjoyed my writing and want to read more of my work, you can find me over at: https://arpegi.wordpress.com. I want to thank you all for reading my article, and I hope you enjoy the work of the other writers in this magazine. But for now, I am out! I hope to welcome you in another article but until then, have a great rest of your day and take care!
Editorial note: This article has been written for a gaming magazine. Did you find this article interesting? Then you should read the other articles right here. Thank you so much Dominus for letting me publish an article. There are various articles about Ultimate Underworld Retrospective – Sin God – The Making of the Wipeout logo design – …
