Konami Digital Entertainment Inc. has announced today that its popular game eFootball be hosting a major Manchester United-focused competitive campaign. Players around the world will have the chance to compete in order to become the official Manchester United representative in the eFootball Championship 2026.
For interested fans, the online qualifiers for the event are now live for the in-game Club Event “eFootball Championship 2026 Manchester United.” Participating in the event will give players the chance to represent the Red Devils on the global esports stage, which in turn determines the official Manchester United representative for the eFootball Championship 2026.
KONAMI says that in the previous season, 36.3 million players competed in Club Events, with the journey starting all over again this year. All players need to do to have a chance is download eFootball for free and enter the “Match” hub to potentially start your future eFootball legacy.
Two tournaments are slated for fans to compete in: the ’eFootballChampionship 2026 Open’ and the ‘eFootballChampionship 2026 Club Event.’ The former is for all users, and the latter is used to determine each eFootball partnered club’s number one fan. If you manage to succeed in these events, you will be able to compete for the title of ‘World’s Best eFootball player’ at the ‘eFootballChampionship 2026 World Finals’ expected for the summer of 2026.
Surpassing 950 million downloads, the game’s reach has been cemented since its days before its rebranding as PES. In celebration of that fact and to support the current campaign, eFootball has added the Manchester United Club Pack featuring the club’s starting XI, as well as legendary players from the club’s past. Big Time player George Best has been added, along with Epic’s Peter Schmeichel and Bryan Robson.
Spotify Camp Nou in the process of its renovation.
Players can also enjoy a fresh stadium, FC Barcelona’s newly renovated home, Spotify Camp Nou. The stadium is so far only available for mobile players, but PC and console players will soon be able to play a match in the Barcelona icon in a coming update. Using the new stadium, players can experience more of what the game has to offer by participating in the campaign, where daily log-ins and progressing through in-game events can unlock special goal effects and tickets offering the chance to win up to 1,000 in-game coins.
Compete, play, and enjoy yourself in eFootball’s newest campaign, and maybe even try to get that spot representing Manchester United.
The critically acclaimed rhythm action game Hi-Fi Rush is getting a physical release. KRAFTON Inc., the game’s publisher, announced that pre-orders for the PlayStation 5 and Xbox Series X versions are now open.
Hi-Fi Rush was originally developed by Tango Gameworks and released in 2023 to very high praise for its poppy artstyle and amazing soundtrack. Hi-Fi Rush is different from other rhythm games, requiring you to time your attacks to the beat of the game in order to do major damage. Currently sitting at an overwhelmingly positive rating on Steam, Hi-Fi Rush previously won Best Audio Design at The Game Awards 2023 and the Animation Award at the 20th BAFTA Games Awards, and has since gained a cult following.
After partnering with Limited Run Games for the physical release of the acclaimed title Hi-Fi Rush, three distinct editions have been produced. These include the Rhythm Edition, the Smidge Edition and the Project Armstrong Edition, each offering its own set of content.
The Rhythm Edition includes the Hi-Fi Rush Deluxe version along with three DLC costume packs: Bossplay, Traditional Grab and Teamplay. Stepping up to the Smidge Edition adds several extras on top of the Rhythm Edition’s contents, including a three-disc DVD soundtrack featuring developer liner notes and a custom storage box themed around the character Smidge.
Last but certainly not least is the Project Armstrong Edition, named after the program that gave Chai his rock n’ roll powers in the game. This Edition includes everything in the Smidge Edition, plus a mini replica of Chai’s guitar, a plush of the robot 808, a 90-page art book, a spinning MP3 player pin badge, and a numbered certificate of authenticity.
Fans waiting to pre-order any of these editions will be glad to know that the final date for purchase will be March 1st. You can’t just find this offer anywhere, though. Make sure to visit the Limited Run Games official website for the official purchase pathway.
The Sims4 is trading suburban drama for crowns and castles in the sweeping new Royalty & Legacy expansion, set in the coastal kingdom of Ondarion. The expansion allows players to guide their Sims through a royal lifestyle that unfolds across generations in the lavish new world. Build a dynasty, practice the new swordsmanship skill, and plot against your noble rivals in a royal playground.
The new Sims 4 land of Ondarion introduces three distinct regions to rule over: Dambele, a centre of art and culture; Verdemar, a land shaped by heroic outlaws and cunning nobles; and Bellacorde, a region defined by romance and opulence. Also introduced is a new Backroom lot type. By day, the space can be customized for studying, exercise or displaying artifacts, depending on how players choose to build it. When night falls, the lot transforms into a lively nightclub designed for royalty to gather and socialize.
Every region of The Sims 4Royalty & Legacy’s Ondarion is home to noble houses waiting to be engaged with, while the kingdom’s throne itself remains vacant, awaiting its next ruler. New Powershift mechanics offer several possible paths to power. Some Sims may attempt to pull the legendary sword from the stone, while others may charm a magical frog; each choice leads to unpredictable outcomes. Sims can also consult a magic mirror to uncover hidden truths about the land and its ruling forces.
However, if you want a more direct path, The Sims 4Royalty & Legacy also introduces the swordsmanship skill, which can be trained to the series standard level 10. Sims can use it to challenge noble rivals, duel for love or simoleans, and prove their prowess in combat. Swordsmanship tournaments provide the fastest way to advance the skill. These events are held in each region, bringing local lords together to showcase their fighting skills.
If you’re not fond of the more “official” routes to lordship, Sims 4 players who enjoy a more mischievous approach will find plenty to explore through newly added secret passageways. These hidden routes provide discreet access between regions, opening the door to various schemes and misdeeds. Those inclined toward chaos may also appreciate a new dramatic demise. Meddling with cuckoo clocks scattered across the kingdom can now result in an unusual death by cuckoo bird.
Royalty & Legacy players can advance through the new noble career, rising from newcomer to kingdom leader and ultimately ruling as monarch. Progression through high society comes by gaining favour at court, forging alliances, or pursuing faster routes through strategic marriages and carefully plotted schemes. Each kingdom has only one seat of power. Securing it ensures your family’s rule for generations.
Once your lordship is established, Sim rulers can deliver grand speeches, issue decrees, and make donations to win favour among nobles or commoners. Power, however, brings risk. Excessive influence can breed jealousy, prompting rivals to attempt to damage your reputation. These conflicts can be resolved through persuasion, diplomacy or, if necessary, a swordfight.
Beware, though, rulers must also complete their royal duties each day to maintain performance and public standing. Carelessness carries consequences. A poorly timed insult or an ill-considered flirtation can cause influence to drop sharply, sometimes overnight.
When you start The Sims 4Royalty & Legacy pack, Sims can either join an existing dynasty or establish one of their own, unlocking new actions and systems tied to family power. Options such as designating an heir, usurping the family head or expelling a member from the dynasty place full control of succession and authority in the player’s hands.
Although if you want to keep your dynasty in power, The Sims 4 players will need to keep a close watch on their Sims, as forbidden romances or illegitimate children can now spark scandals across the kingdom. When scandal strikes, Sims can attempt to repair their reputation through a public apology or by writing a book about the experience for extra income. Sims 4 players who enjoy a more dramatic approach can also weaponize scandal against rivals, using it as a tool to climb the social ladder through calculated chaos.
Behind the scenes, The Sims team began working with the Pan African Gaming Group and other Simmers with ties to West African countries more than a year ago. The collaboration helped ensure Royalty & Legacy’s cultural inspirations were handled with care and authenticity.
The Sims Content creators like Plumbob Kingdom, Eva Rotky, EmeraldStories, and more all contributed their thoughts and ideas to this expansion pack. For a limited time, when you purchase the Royalty and Legacy pack, you will get a free upgrade to the Grand Bundle. The offer ends on March 15th, 2025.
The new Royalty & Legacy pack is vast, and it could already be said that it’s one of the most in-depth expansion packs in recent Sims history. With input and feedback from dedicated content creators, it’s sure to live up to expectations. The Sims 4 Royalty & Legacy Expansionreleases on February 12, 2026, on PC via the EA app, Epic Games Store and Steam, PS5, PS4, Xbox Series X|S and Xbox One.
After rumours of another set coming last year, LEGO has officially revealed its second The Legend of Zelda set, this time recreating an iconic moment from the series’ most beloved games, Ocarina of Time.
The “Ocarina of Time – The Final Battle” set is indeed the final fight with Ganon in the ruins of Hyrule Castle, with a collapsed castle spire and everything. Luckily, the smaller set is more on the affordable side, as far as LEGO goes, retailing for $129.99. It releases on March 1, 2026, and pre-orders are currently open on the official LEGO store.
The set includes 1003 pieces, minifigures of Link, Zelda, and Ganondorf, a buildable giant Ganon, and even a little Navi to accompany the hero. But it sounds like there might be some extra fun little details based on the description, and you can see images below.
“Recreate the final battle scene with movable rubble, a button to raise Ganondorf in the ruins, the hidden Megaton Hammer in the tower, secret Recovery Hearts and more.”
This is the latest step in a bit inatiative to adapt video games into LEGO products. It, of course, joins the previous Great Deku Tree set from Breath of the Wild. But just last week, LEGO also revealed the brand-new line of Pokémon sets, including Eevee, Pikachu, and the Kanto starter evolution (Charizard, Blastoise, and Venesaur). Late last year, the company also released a set of classic Game Boy.
If you’re looking to play The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time, there are really only two ways to do so these days. If you have a Nintendo 3DS, you might be able to hunt down a copy of Ocarina of Time 3D. But the much easier way is with Nintendo Switch Online on both Switch 1 & 2. You just need an Expansion Pass membership to access the Nintendo 64 classics, includingOcarina of Time.
With Resident Evil Requiem roughly a month away from release, fans of Capcom’s seminal horror franchise are eager for new details about the game. Thanks to a digital showcase, they have some idea of how it plays.
During Capcom’s January Resident Evil Showcase, Resident Evil RequiemDirector Koshi Nakanishi broke down some of the updated elements of gameplay after the reveal of Leon being a main character in this new installment. Resident Evil Requiem will effectively have two modes of play—Grace’s sections will be more focused on atmosphere and horror, while Leon’s will be more focused on action.
“Grace’s parts are more similar to Resident Evil2 & 7…whereas Leon’s part is closer to the thrilling tension featured in Resident Evil 4,” said Nakanishi. He continued, “By combining Grace’s horror and Leon’s action and allowing you to play them side-by-side, we created an experience with an emotional range unlike any other Resident Evil to date.”
Nakanishi explained that when playing as Grace, players must be far more aware of their surroundings, as resources are limited and zombies pose a greater threat. Leon, by contrast, can rely on his combat training to target specific body parts to weaken enemies before finishing them with melee attacks. Nakanishi also discussed a new type of zombie featured in the game.
“This time, there are zombies that retain characteristics from when they were alive,” Nakanishi said. “Many of them cling to habits from their past lives, so by observing their behaviour closely, players can dodge attacks or take them down more effectively.” Nakanishi also highlighted an expanded crafting system inspired by Resident Evil 2 Remake. The updated system allows Grace to use infected blood to craft unique items, adding another layer of strategy to survival.
Regarding unique items, Resident Evil Requiem has partnered with Porsche and Hamilton Watches to create Leon’s custom Cayenne Turbo GT. “For his adventures, Leon needed a car which represents his style, but also delivers when it comes to navigating him through all of those dangerous moments he experiences in the game,” said Niklas Krellenberg.
On top of this, Capcom has teamed up with Hamilton Watches to create two distinct timepieces for Grace and Leon, both in and out of the game. The Khaki-filled Autochrono and the Pan-Europe Automatic will be limited to 2,000 pieces each and released alongside Resident Evil Requiem on February 27th.
Furthermore, Resident Evil Requiem will feature a variety of gameplay options for gamers of different skill levels. Players can switch between two camera perspectives, and these can be changed at any time during the game. Multiple difficulties are also available. Players can utilize Casual mode and use Aim Assist to take down zombies with more ease. But if you choose Standard Classic, ink ribbons will be needed to save the game when playing as Grace.
Also announced during the showcase, Resident Evil Requiem will also be available on the cloud gaming service, GeForce Now, in collaboration with NVIDIA. “It’s such an honour to work on Resident Evil,” said Vice President, Developer Relations at NVIDIA, Keita Iida, adding, “The iconic series has been thrilling fans around the world for close to 30 years and has continued to raise the bar for innovation and technology with every single release.”
In addition, a plethora of bonus content will be released alongside the game. A deluxe edition featuring bonus content such as extra costumes for Grace and Leon, weapon skins, and screen filters. In addition, one-sixth-scale figures of the two protagonists will be available for purchase and can be displayed separately or connected. Also, a special-edition Resident Evil Requiem Nintendo Switch 2 Pro Controller will launch with the game, along with Amiibo; however, details will be provided at a later date.
Lastly, Gold Editions of both Resident Evil Village and Resident Evil 7 Biohazard, including all downloadable content, will be released on the Nintendo Switch 2 on the same day as Resident Evil Requiem. As an added celebration for the series’ 30th anniversary, special orchestral concerts will be happening in Japan, as well as North America and Europe.
Resident Evil Requiem launches for Nintendo Switch 2, PC (Microsoft Windows), PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X|S, and GeForce Now on February 27th, 2026.
With less than a month away from its release, eager fans are awaiting the release of Dragon Quest VII: Reimagined. Now Square Enix is giving them a few new details on the game.
Announced via press release, Square shed some light on some of the new features that will be incorporated into Dragon Quest VII Reimagined. The first of these is the “vocations” system, which allows the protagonist and party members to learn new spells and abilities as their proficiency levels increase.
New to Dragon Quest VII Reimagined, there are 10 beginner vocations, and players can progress to intermediate and even advanced vocations (like Hero and Druid) by fulfilling certain requirements. Alongside these is the new “Moonlighting” system, which allows players to assign two advanced vocations at once to each character, giving players a plethora of new strategies to try out.
Lastly, a new type of enemy known as “vicious monsters” roam the world alongside regular monsters. waiting for brave players to challenge them. These vicious monsters may be very powerful, but defeating them will reward you with their “hearts” that can be equipped as accessories and provide rare effects that make the difficulty worth it.
For those interested in trying Dragon Quest VII Reimagined, a free demo was released on January 7th, 2026. The demo allows players to experience the beginning of the game and explore the Ballymolly region alongside the characters Kiefer and Maribel. Completing the demo will give players access to Maribel’s “Day-Off Dress,” which will change her appearance in the main game.
DRAGON QUEST VII Reimagined is set to launch on Feb. 5, 2026, for Nintendo Switch 2, Nintendo Switch, PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X|S and PC. A Deluxe Edition, priced at $74.99, will launch alongside the $59.99 Standard Edition and will contain three pieces of DLC.
Acclaimed actor Ryan Hurst has been cast by Sony Pictures Television and Amazon MGM Studios as Kratos in the upcoming Prime Video God of War TV series. The BAFTA award-winning Hurst previously delivered a legendary voice-acting performance as Thor in God of War: Ragnarok and played the iconic character Opie Winston in the FX drama series Sons of Anarchy.
Kratos Battling Thor in the opening of God of War: Ragnarok
The new series has already secured a two-season order, with pre-production underway in Vancouver. Emmy Award-winning director Frederick E.O. Toye has signed on to direct the first two episodes. Toye brings experience from several critically acclaimed series, including Shōgun, The Boys and Fallout. His previous directing credits also include episodes of Watchmen, Snowpiercer and The Walking Dead.
Ronald D. Moore serves as showrunner, executive producer, and writer, best known for his work on Star Trek. Moore brings decades of experience to the production. He previously wrote for Star Trek: The Next Generation and later earned Hugo Award nominations for his work on the films Star Trek: Generations and Star Trek: First Contact.
A long list of executive producers that have also joined up includes names like Cory Barlog, the current creative director of video game development at Santa Monica Studio, and Maril Davis, a 70-episode alumna of the TV show Outlander. Cory Barlog, especially is widely credited as the one who brought the God of War franchise back into the spotlight with his passionate work on God of War (2018).
Ryan Hurst Portraying Opie Winston in Sons of Anarchy
God of War follows the journey of Kratos and his son, Atreus, as they travel through the realms of the World Tree to spread the ashes of their wife and mother, Faye. Ryan Hurst will most definitely do the character of Kratos justice based on his role as Thor, although living up to Christopher Judge’s performance in the games is a high bar to jump over. Fans of the game have expressed surprise at how well Thor is playing Kratos, but some remain skeptical about whether the show should even be made.
As of today, the TV series does not yet have a release date; however, with the show entering pre-production, the wait is almost over.
After the electric atmosphere of CES, GeForce NOW has announced that Devolver Digital’s Quarantine Zone: The Last Check will be among 9 new games coming to the video game streaming service.
Quarantine Zone: The Last Check, Star Wars Outlaws, The Legend of Heroes: Trails Beyond the Horizon, Styx: Shards of Darkness, Styx: Master of Shadows, Guild Wars: Reforged, Mon Bazou, Tavern Keeper, and Waterpark Simulator will all be added to GeForce NOW this week.
GeForce NOW is a video game cloud streaming service made by hardware giant NVIDIA, which lets subscribers play games like Arc Raidersand Baldur’s Gate 3 on demand. The service also offers features from NVIDIA, like GeForce RTX and their NVIDIA Blackwell RTX servers for very fast streaming.
This week, Quarantine Zone: The Last Check will be hitting the service. It is Devolver Digital’s newest game, where you take control of a checkpoint in a post apocalyptic zombie outbreak, make sure your outpost stays safe with upgrades, state-of-the-art screening technology, and first-person shooter action.
One of the most notable additions is Star Wars Outlaws. This is the Star Wars game we all wanted as kids, incorporating criminal reputation mechanics, space dogfights, and a very cool droid partner in a galaxy-spanning effort to make one last score. GeForce NOW also introduces The Legend of Heroes: Trails Beyond the Horizon, whichis a milestone entry in the Trails series, letting you explore the vast Calvard Republic as three playable characters that fight in both real-time and turn-based battles.
Two games from the Of Orcs and Men franchise, Styx: Shards of Darkness and Styx: Master of Shadows, have also been added to GeForce NOW’s library. The Styx games are a stealth lover’s dream franchise; both are successors to the 2012 video game of the franchise’s namesake. Play as the experienced goblin assassin, Styx, as he navigates the world with his wits, stealth, and magic, all in order to prevent the Elves and dwarves from enacting their dubious plans.
The legendary MMO Guild Wars: Reforged is an unexpected addition that has been remade for the modern age and modern hardware. Experience fighting warbands, rival gangs, and crossing inhospitable terrain in the world of Ascalon, perfect for scratching that MMO itch.
Three indie games, Mon Bazou, Tavern Keeper, and Waterpark Simulator, are now all residents of GeForce NOW’s library. Mon Bazou is a My Summer Car-esque game where, in place of finland you survive and thrive in 2005 Canada by selling maple syrup deliver pizzas and more in your effort to build and customize your race car. Tavern Keeper lets you build, customize, and stock your very own tavern, although be prepared to fight the dirt, heat, noise, and sickness that come with owning a medieval establishment.
And finally, Waterpark Simulator gives you the full waterpark experience where you are the boss. Keep your attendees in line by making them shower, tazing the belligerent and stocking your stalls while customizing your park to exactly the specifications you want.
Enjoy these newly added games on GeForce NOW today, along with the upcoming native apps on Linux and Amazon Fire TV and the newly added flight control support.
And for fans of Microsoft Flight Simulator, you can also enter to win a T.Flight Hotas One MSFS Edition and one month of GeForce NOW Ultimate. Just follow Thrustmaster and GeForce NOW on socials and repost the giveaway before January 24th for a chance to win.
With the 2025 Game Awards in the rearview mirror, the Game Developers Choice Awards (or GDCA) are quickly approaching on the horizon. This year, the competition is fierce with several prominent games up for awards.
Announced via press release, the organizers of the GDC Festival of Gaming are announcing the finalists for the 26th annual GDCA. Finalists will be honoured, and winners announced at this year’s GDCA ceremony, held on Thursday, March 12, during the GDC Festival of Gaming in San Francisco. This year’s GDCA ceremony will take place the night after the 28th annual Independent Games Festival (IGF).
In addition to the categories listed below, the Audience Award invites all GDC Festival of Gaming attendees and members of the public to cast their vote for their favourite game of the year from all of this year’s GDCA finalists. The public can cast their vote from the Audience Award ballot here. Voting opens on January 26 and ends on February 8th, 2026.
Honourable Mentions: ARC Raiders (Embark Studios), Consume Me (Jenny Jiao Hsia), Hollow Knight: Silksong (Team Cherry), The Hundred Line: Last Defense Academy (Too Kyo Games, Media. Vision Inc. / Aniplex), The Roottrees are Dead (Evil Trout Inc.)
Best Design
BALL X PIT (Kenny Sun & Friends / Devolver Digital)
Honourable Mentions: Death Stranding 2: On the Beach (Kojima Productions / Sony Interactive Entertainment), Ghost of Yōtei (Sucker Punch Productions / Sony Interactive Entertainment), Kingdom Come: Deliverance II (Warhorse Studios / Deep Silver), The Alters (11 Bit Studios)
Innovation Award
BALL X PIT (Kenny Sun & Friends / Devolver Digital)
Honourable Mentions: Lost Records: Bloom & Rage (DON’T NOD Montréal, DON’T NOD), South of Midnight (Compulsion Games / Xbox Game Studios), The Outer Worlds 2 (Obsidian Entertainment / Xbox Game Studios), The Séance of Blake Manor (Spooky Doorway / Raw Fury)
Death Stranding 2: On the Beach (Kojima Productions / Sony Interactive Entertainment)
Ghost of Yōtei (Sucker Punch Productions / Sony Interactive Entertainment)
Hades II (Supergiant Games)
Keeper (Double Fine Productions / Xbox Game Studios)
Honourable Mentions: Hollow Knight: Silksong (Team Cherry), South of Midnight (Compulsion Games / Xbox Game Studios), Sword of the Sea (Giant Squid), The Midnight Walk (MoonHood / Fast Travel Games)
Honourable Mentions: Absolum (Guard Crush Games, Dotemu, Supamonks / Dotemu), BALL X PIT (Kenny Sun & Friends / Devolver Digital), Hades II (Supergiant Games)
The Game Developers Choice Awards is a celebration of the top games from the past year and the developers who make them. Games are nominated by, voted on, and decided by video game developers within the industry.
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.
No Rest for the Wicked has introduced their new Together coop update, offering a new level of play for fans of this budding early access title.
Moon Studios GmbH has just released the coop update for their early access darling, No Rest for the Wicked. Titled No Rest for the Wicked Together, this latest update marks the first since the long-awaited The Breach Update, that release the end of April last year. Promising loads of new features, including the long-awaited coop play, Moon Studios isn’t simply allowing players to join in on a friend’s game; they are redefining how coop play can work.
While there are many aspects to the update to be impressed by, which you can find on the official Steam page, some stand-out features include shared realms that can be accessed by any invited player, even if the host isn’t present. This allows players to collaborate even when party members are offline, continuing to build the world of Sanctuary.
Additionally, this latest update allows for difficulty scaling based on active player count, ensuring that No Rest for the Wicked’s signature, challenging combat, remains consistent with the single-player experience. With full access to every aspect of the game experience, coop players can explore the world of No Rest for the Wicked together, sharing resources, housing, loot and experience while playfully trolling one another if they so desire.
Perhaps the most impressive aspect of Moon Studio’s approach to the coop experience is that all of this will be available as part of the base game, no subscriptions, passes, or microtransactions required. Following their recent successful bid to gain independence as a studio, this latest update is a testament to the developer’s commitment to creating the game they envisioned, unhindered by external pressure.
Even in its Early Access release, we noted in our preview that this title feels like a labour of love for Moon Studios. From its unique blending of Souls-like combat and ARPG design structure, No Rest for the Wicked is one of the most unique takes on these genres we’ve seen in recent years.
For the latest news on No Rest for the Wicked and all things gaming, keep those bookmarks saved to CGMagazine.
Marvel Games and NetEase Games have announced the official launch of the newly established Marvel Rivals Professional League. The award-winning PvP hero shooter Marvel Rivals has gained significant traction across the gaming industry since its release in December 2024.
With an all-time Steam player peak of 642,333, Marvel Rivals has shattered its own records multiple times and has significantly surpassed player counts for other hero shooters such as Overwatch 2 and Apex Legends. In its first month alone, Marvel Rivals peaked at more than 400,000 concurrent players, a level of success that quickly sparked interest from the esports community.
In the past, NetEase organized the Marvel Rivals Championship, which launched in 2024, the game’s release year, and featured a prize pool of approximately $450,000. The newly announced professional league offers increased support for participating teams and an uncapped prize pool of up to $3 million.
The league will include teams from the Americas, Europe, the Middle East and Africa, the Pacific region and China. This year’s season will be played in three stages. The opening stage runs from May to June, followed by the mid-season finals in August.
Stage two will run from September through October, culminating in the grand finals in late November. Beginning this year, nearly all Ignite Series tournaments, along with the mid-season finals, will serve as qualifiers for the grand finals.
League points will be awarded based on final placements in stage one, the mid-season finals and stage two. Teams can secure a spot at the global finals either by winning the stage two playoffs or by finishing near the top of the overall league standings.
To enhance the competitive experience and support a sustainable development pipeline, the Marvel Rivals Esports team has introduced a promotion and relegation system. Under the new structure, teams can earn points throughout the Marvel Rivals Championship 2026. At both the mid-season finals and the conclusion of the season, top Championship teams will have the opportunity to compete against league teams for an official league position.
This year, NetEase has also collaborated with organizations across regions to launch the Marvel Rivals Esports Partner Teams Program. Selected teams will share revenue from in-game team-themed content and receive comprehensive support. Submission date ends January 15th.
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.
As snow falls in Kilima Valley, Singularity 6 has launched Palia’s latest update, Winter’s Wonder: Snowbound Sanctuary. The update introduces the new Lunar Path, additional tints, furniture, and more.
The seasonal return to Kilima Valley brings a range of new features and cosmetics for players to explore. The update adds Lunar Path: Path of Cardigan, snow-covered decor, and the Ferris joining the Ranch. Alongside the gameplay additions, the Premium Store is also receiving updates, including new outfits, a glider, pets, and other cosmetic items.
Entering the world of Palia, players embark on an adventure while living out their fantasy across Kilima Valley, Bahari Bay and the Elderwood. As players settle into the life-simulation RPG, they can craft their dream home, complete quests while learning more about the Ancient Humans, build relationships with villagers, garden and collect plushies. Players can also take part in a variety of in-game events and activities, from visiting the Maji Market to playing the Hot Pot card game in the Underground Black Market.
Expanding the Lunar Path system, the Path of Cardigan introduces new decor and cosmetic items that can be unlocked at any time. The path features 14 levels of free and Premium rewards. Introduced in the previous patch, the Lunar Path allows players to progress at their own pace without concern about expiration. Players can also switch between available paths at any time. Some of the unlockable rewards highlighted in the Path of Cardigan include:
Cardigancore – Darling Daisy
Mullet
Side Burns #1
Side Burns #2
Carigancore Jukebox
Improving the Lunar Path, players can now level up their Lunar XP passively by earning Skill XP. Additionally, players can earn Rest XP for every new Palia day (real-life hour), multiplying the Lunar XP from skills by 10x, or bank up to 24 hours of bonus XP. Lastly, the value of Lunar XP has been increased by 100x, with Dailies and Bundle providing 5,000 Lunar XP, and Path Level requiring 10,000 Lunar XP to be completed.
Another feature arriving with Palia’s Winter’s Wonder: Snowbound Sanctuary update is the Ferris, which now serves as a ranch animal that assists players on their homestead. Previously available only as a pet, the Ferris can now be unlocked at Ranching Level 12. Once acquired, it provides one piece of fruit per day, including blueberries, apples or Piksii berries. The Ferris also requires minimal upkeep, with hunger needs that fall between those of a Peki and a Trufflet.
From Jan. 19 to Jan. 26, 2026, players across Palia are invited to take part in Hodari’s Starstone Search event. The community-focused event encourages players to mine solo or with friends to collect Starstones and work toward a shared Starstone goal. Tiered rewards include star-quality Starstones, consumables, decorations and other items. Rewards can be claimed through the in-game news inbox.
Players can also assist Elosia to earn the Snowy Skitterer Bundle by helping the resident create a welcoming winter space. This task involves providing requested items such as snow-covered decorations, Glowling natural light sources, critters from the player’s bug and fish collections, and Elosia’s favourite meal. In return for completing the request, players can unlock:
Woodland Deco Wallpaper – Acquired from the Bulletin Board
Desert Deco Wallpaper – Acquired from the Bulletin Board
Eclectic Flooring – Acquired from the Bulletin Board
Maji’s Mark Flooring – Acquired from the Bulletin Board
Expanding the tint system from Patch 0.198, Paila: Winter’s Wonder: Snowbound Sanctuary update introduces Copy Mode, allowing users to select a colour and apply it to any tintable decor items. To access the Copy Mode, players can either select the button in the Tint UI through Placement Mode or use the tint item from their hotbar to instantly access the Copy Mode. Alongside the new Copy Mode feature, two new tints will be available in various stores. The new tints that will be available are:
Leafy Green – Recipe acquired via Skill Medals from the Gardening Guild Store at Gardening Skill Level 10.
Paddock – Recipe acquired via Skill Medals from the Ranching Guild Store at Ranching Skill Level 10
Getting into the seasonal spirit, the Palia: Winter’s Wonder: Snowbound Sanctuary will offer various snowy variants of existing decor, available to players after they have learned their non-snowy version. The items that will be available are:
Snowy Parasol – Recipe acquired via Kilima Rummage Piles / Kilima Coin Rummaged Goodies Bag. Players must know the Summer Stripe Umbrella Recipe.
Snowy Pavillion – Recipe acquired via Kilima Rummage Piles / Kilima Coin Rummaged Goodies Bag. Players must know the Cozy Camp Pavillion recipe.
Snowy Lawn #1 – Recipe acquired via Kilima Rummage Piles / Kilima Coin Rummaged Goodies Bag. Players must know Yardwork Terrace (Found in City Hall, by purchasing all housing writs)
Snowy Lawn #2 – Recipe acquired via Kilima Rummage Piles / Kilima Coin Rummaged Goodies Bag. Players must know Yardwork Terrace (Found in City Hall, by purchasing all housing writs)
Snowy Lawn #3 – Recipe acquired via Kilima Rummage Piles / Kilima Coin Rummaged Goodies Bag. Players must know Yardwork Terrace (Found in City Hall, by purchasing all housing writs)
For those who love collecting Plushes, two new Plushes will be arriving in Palia. Following the community vote, the Fairy Mantis joins the collections of Plushes for players to catch as a rare drop. The second plush joining the collection is the Lil Sprout, a rare drop as players participate in the Kilima Flower Bloom Event.
As many new features arrive at the Winter Wonder: Snowbound Sanctuary update, Palia will feature many new improvements and adjustments to improve the players’ experience with the life-sim RPG title. The improvement and adjustments included are:
Storage Tab Improvement – Two new storage tabs have been added, including a dedicated tab for animal treats and a separate tab for stored tints.
Quickchat Feature – With access to the Quick Chats wheel, players will have access to eight phrases, such as Hello, Thank You, Yes, No, and more. Additional customizable options are planned for future updates of the feature.
Tint Tool UI – Tinted item will now display the tint that is equipped with the tooltip.
Seed Stack Increase – All seed stacks have been increased to 100.
Super Lucky Prize – Super Lucky Prize has been added to the game.
New Workbench Category – New workbench category for Home Line Pieces. (Alchemist’s Cottage, The Estate)
Update to Server Transfer Keybind – To prevent accidental acceptance of server transfer, the keybind to accept a server transfer has been changed.
Before wrapping up, the launch of Palia: Winter’s Wonder: Snowbound Sanctuary will feature new collections and items that will be available in the Premium Store. The sets of outfits and items that will be available are:
January 13 – Draconic Knight (Outfit): Maji’s Chosen
January 13 – Cardigancore (Outfit): Flower Power and Lovely Lotus
January 13 – Draconic Knight (Glider)
January 13 – Draconic Knight (Tools Skin): Axe, Pickaxe, and Bow
January 13 – Armoured Ferris (Pets): Armoured Ferris, Golden Armoured Ferris, and Obsidian Armoured Ferris
January 13 – Ferris Handler’s License (Handler License)
That’s about everything arriving at Palia, latest update, Winter’s Wonder: Snowbound Sanctuary. To learn more about the features and bug fixes, players can visit the Palia blog.
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.
