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The Game Awards is teasing a new game reveal with a mysterious statue, and players still can’t tell what it represents. Last Saturday, The Game Awards organiser Geoff Keighley posted an image of the statue and the words “regal inspiring thickness”. The words themselves have no relation to the statue, but instead mark the location of the statue using the What3Words map tracking system. Read More... View the full article

Megabonk may have withdrawn itself for consideration for best indie game at next week's The Game Awards 2025, but it's now long-listed as one of 30 fan-favorite games in the running for the Players' Voice category. Megabonk was nominated for Best Debut Indie, alongside Blue Prince, Clair Obscur: Expedition 33, Despelote, and Dispatch. Developer Vedinad, however, withdrew their game from The Game Awards in mid-November, saying it didn't qualify for the category, as Megabonk was not their debut game. "It's an honor and a dream for Megabonk to be nominated for TGA, but unfortunately, I don't think it qualifies for the category 'Debut Indie Game,'" the developer said at the time. "I've made games in the past under different studio names, so Megabonk is not my debut game." Shortly after that, The Game Awards creator Geoff Keighley shared a statement of his own acknowledging the request and stating that Megabonk would be removed in a Twitter/X post, which it eventually was. That was seemingly not the end of the story for Megabonk's journey at The Game Awards, however. It's now also been nominated under the publicly-voted Players' Voice category. 30 games are nominated for this section, the shortlist for which will be whittled down across three rounds of van-voting. Megabonk is up against big hitters like Death Stranding 2, Clair Obscur: Expedition 33, Arc Raiders, Battlefield 6, Hades 2, and Fortnite. The Game Awards 2025 Players' Voice nominations:Arc Raiders - Embark StudiosBattlefield 6 - Battlefield Studios/EAClair Obscur: Expedition 33 - Sandfall Interactive/Kepler InteractiveDeath Stranding 2: On The Beach - Kojima Productions/Sony Interactive EntertainmentDelta Force - Team *****/TiMi Studio GroupDispatch - AdHoc StudioDonkey Kong Bananza - Nintendo EPD/NintendoDoom: The Dark Ages - id Software/Bethesda SoftworksElden Ring Nightreign - FromSoftware/Bandai Namco EntertainmentFinal Fantasy XIV - Square EnixFortnite - Epic GamesGenshin Impact - HoYoverseGhost of Yōtei - Sucker Punch Productions/Sony Interactive EntertainmentHades II - Supergiant GamesHelldivers 2 - Arrowhead Game Studios/Sony Interactive EntertainmentHollow Knight: Silksong - Team CherryIndiana Jones and the Great Circle - MachineGames/Bethesda SoftworksKingdom Come: Deliverance II - Warhorse Studios/Deep SilverMario Kart World - Nintendo EPD/NintendoMarvel Rivals - NetEase GamesMegabonk - VedinadNinja Gaiden 4 - Platinum Games/Team Ninja/Xbox Game StudiosNo Man’s Sky - Hello GamesPeak - Aggro Crab/LandfallR.E.P.O. - Semiwork StudiosSilent Hill f - NeoBards Entertainment/KonamiSonic Racing: CrossWorlds - Sonic Team/*****Split Fiction - Hazelight Studios/EAWarframe - Digital ExtremesWuthering Waves - Kuro Games "WE'RE SO BACK," Vedinad wrote (thanks, Polygon). "Megabonk is nominated for The Game Awards - Player's Voice!! I withdrew my other nomination due to Megabonk not fitting the category, but with this new nomination we're more back than ever. go vote pls." We had a good time with Megabonk. In IGN's Megadonk quick review, we wrote: "As far as survivors-likes go, this is a pretty strong one. I'd say it's worth a look if you have an appetite for another one of these that isn't basically just a Vampire Survivors reskin. I just wish there was a little more level variety." Vikki Blake is a reporter for IGN, as well as a critic, columnist, and consultant with 15+ years experience working with some of the world's biggest gaming sites and publications. She's also a Guardian, Spartan, Silent Hillian, Legend, and perpetually High Chaos. Find her at BlueSky. View the full article

A Fortnite artist has been forced to defend their work after fans suggested numerous images found within the game's new season are AI-generated, including a suspicious-looking poster showing a character in a hammock with an odd number of toes. Last night, freelance artist Sean Dove took to Instagram in response to fan claims that his Studio Ghibli-style depiction of Back to the Future hero Marty McFly was the product of AI generation. Dove, a frequent Fortnite collaborator, showed off his manual process for drawing the image. But while he drew the Ghibli-esque main character himself, Dove admitted he may still have inadvertantly included AI elements in the background. "I guess someone on reddit thinks this was AI," Dove wrote. "I think the culprit is a clock in the background. I grabbed some clocks off image search, collaged them, and halftoned them. The numbers are bad, entirely possible I grabbed an AI clock and wasn't paying attention." no way they put ai ghibli style slop in the pass byu/wmwl inFortNiteBR .reddit-embed-wrapper iframe { margin-left: 0 !important; } And while Dove has personally responded, Fortnite developer Epic Games has so far remained silent on the topic, as fans on reddit create numerous threads pointing out other examples of images they think show signs of AI generation. (IGN contacted Epic Games for this story, but did not receive a comment back.) Most egregious, according to fans, is an in-game poster for a location named Mile High Retreat. The image shows a pair of legs sticking out from a hammock, with five toes visible on one foot and four visible on another. Is this Chapter 7 art AI generated? byu/Thready704 inFortNiteBR .reddit-embed-wrapper iframe { margin-left: 0 !important; } Another in-game poster being scrutinized by fans depicts the game's glassy-eyed Tomatohead character as the host of Sauce Talk, a Hollywood-style chat show. And there's discussion too around a mysterious song, Latata, set to be used in an upcoming emote. The music does not appear to come from a recognizable source, though some fans have suggested the audio has been sourced from stock music, rather than anything specifically AI-made. Amid all the confusion, and lack of clarification from Epic Games itself, what's clear is that Fortnite fans are keen to push back against the perception of AI art usage within the game. An enormous thread on reddit is tracking every example where players have doubts of images being made by human hands, and searching for more. "Awful decision," wrote one player. "I hope it gets amended. As others have said, the art and style of this damn game is one of the main reasons we love it. Generative AI has no place in it." "I thought things like Darth Vader were cool, using AI to achieve something that simply wouldn't be possible without it," another fan wrote. "But, that was the only case so far that I've genuinely found neat. Creating art is something humans, and especially Epic due to their money and resources, are very capable of doing." Epic Games is no stranger to AI technology, of course, having previously used generative speech technology to reproduce James Earl Jones' Darth Vader portrayal. But despite having the rights and approval of Disney, the character's inclusion proved controversial, especially as players quickly began making Vader say things more aligned with the dark side of the Force. Last week, Epic Games boss Tim Sweeney suggested that Valve should ditch Steam's AI Generated Content Disclosure label for games, as he believes AI use will become so ubiquitous it will make any warning redundant. "Why stop at AI use?" Sweeney wrote on social media. "We could have mandatory disclosures for what shampoo brand the developer uses. Customers deserve to know lol. "It doesn’t matter any more,” he continued. "The AI tag is relevant to art exhibits for authorship disclosure, and to digital content licensing marketplaces where buyers need to understand the rights situation. It makes no sense for game stores, where AI will be involved in nearly all future production.” Speaking of AI artwork, boot up Fortnite anytime recently and you'll be greeted by a menu screen with dozens, if not hundreds, of user-made experiences that use AI artwork for their thumbnails, something Epic Games has previously said it is pointless to police, as technology rapidly improves to the point where AI images become almost impossible to distinguish. Indeed, if nothing else, the whole matter has simply highlighted the increasing difficulty in 2025 of being able to tell what is AI-generated, and what is not. Tom Phillips is IGN's News Editor. You can reach Tom at [email protected] or find him on Bluesky @tomphillipseg.bsky.social View the full article

Lepton appears to be the new official name for Valve's version of Waydroid (Android in a Linux container). Read the full article here: [Hidden Content] View the full article

What could the mysterious statue be teasing?View the full article

Upcoming indie launch Cloudheim is all set to release on PCs in early access, and not long is left for that to happen. After a successful demo during previous Steam Fests, the final launch is upon us. However, this will just be the start of early access, and it will launch on PC via Steam. This guide will help you keep track of the upcoming launch and allow you to jump in when it goes live. Cloudheim release countdown Cloudheim's full launch will happen as early access on PC, followed by a later launch on consoles. As of writing, we are yet to have an idea about when the console launch will take place. However, the game goes live on Dec. 4 if you're on PC. The countdown below will help you keep track of when the early access will go live. However, it's an estimate based on older updates released on the demo branch. Once we have confirmed information from the developers, we will update it on our guide. [hurrytimer id="1149814"] The countdown is based on the following timings. 10am PT12pm CT1pm ET6pm GMT7pm CET Once again, we are waiting for an official countdown closer to the actual launch. As of writing, you can wishlist Clouheim on Steam, but there's no pre-purchase option available. There's no advanced/early access of any form, so everyone begins playing at the same time. If you want to try out Cloudheim before you purchase, a demo is available for free on Steam. It offers you a limited experience since there will be more locations and content to explore in the full version. However, it's a great way to check out what Cloudheim offers and if it's your cup of tea. A roadmap has also been published by the developers regarding upcoming content that will be released during early access. The post Cloudheim release countdown: Exact date and time appeared first on Destructoid. View the full article

Valve released the statistics from the Steam Hardware & Software Survey for November 2025, which shows once again that Linux use is trending nicely upwards. Read the full article here: [Hidden Content] View the full article

Part 48 of the long running series of retro Linux gaming goodness. This time it's all about point and click adventuring. Read the full article here: [Hidden Content] View the full article

Marvel Cosmic Invasion has a pretty massive list of heroes to play in their shoes, and you can expand your roster further with the help of the hidden characters. The hidden characters, unlike the main cast of heroes, aren't available at the start of your adventure. Instead, you'll have to unlock them by completing specific conditions. This guide will provide you with all the information required for unlocking the hidden characters. How to unlock all characters in Marvel Cosmic Invasion There are four characters you can unlock in Marvel Cosmic Invasion. PhoenixPhyla-VellSilver SurferVenom The main task is to complete the main campaign. You can unlock all the characters by completing specific stages in the campaign. Unlocking the characters will take some time since the first one is available from Mission 7. Image via Dotemu To unlock Phoenix, you can complete the Blue Area of the Moon (Mission 7). This is the earliest you can access a hidden character.To unlock Venom, you need to complete Destromundo (Mission 8/9).Phyla-Vell is unlocked once you complete Hala (Mission 11).Siler Surfer is the final character you get to unlock by completing Fort Galactus (Mission 13/14). Reaching this stage will take a fair amount of time based on how quickly you're progressing through the earlier missions. Whenever you unlock a character by completing the campaign, they will be available in the Arcade mode. The mode allows you to test your skills by making the stages harder with unique modifiers. While the hidden characters have their own strengths and weaknesses, the default roster is pretty expansive. Here's a complete list of all the choices available by default. There's a wide variety of all the star names from Marvel's comic universe, and you can make a pick based on your favorite choices. The post How to unlock all hidden heroes in Marvel Cosmic Invasion appeared first on Destructoid. View the full article

As the AI ***** fuels massive data-center buildouts, demand for memory keeps climbing – and with it, the notoriously high power consumption of today's NAND. Samsung's researchers are pitching a new architecture that could sharply reduce those energy costs. Mobile devices might also benefit if the findings catch on. Read Entire Article View the full article

The original director of Ubisoft’s Splinter Cell remake, David Grivel, has returned to recommence his role as director on the game after leaving Ubisoft in 2022. Grivel confirmed the news himself in a post on LinkedIn (via GamesRadar). “Today, I am very, very happy to announce that I’m rejoining Ubisoft Toronto as Game Director on the Splinter Cell Remake!” wrote Grivel, noting the team and project are very special to him. Grivel previously worked at Ubisoft for just over a decade, from 2011 to 2022. Prior to his brief initial tenure as director on the Splinter Cell remake he contributed as a game designer on a variety of projects, including Splinter Cell: Blacklist, Assassin’s Creed: Unity, Far Cry Primal, Far Cry 4, and Far Cry 5. Grivel rejoins Ubisoft after a stint at Ridgeline Games working on the campaign mode for Battlefield 6, until EA abruptly shuttered the studio in early 2024. The Splinter Cell remake, which was first announced way back in late 2021, has been skulking around in the dark for many years now. Little information about the game has made its way into the light during that time, although we do know the story of the 2002 original is set to be updated to be “more authentic and believable” to a modern-day audience. Luke is a Senior Editor on the IGN reviews team. You can track him down on Bluesky @mrlukereilly to ask him things about stuff. View the full article

Jadwiga notably handles most of the business and smithworks in the base. View the full article

nd just like that, the year is over. While 2025's new game release calendar saw the occasional dry spell, we were never left lacking for long, and with a gauntlet of big shooter releases barely behind us, I'm ready for some downtime. I'll need it before the new 2026 games roll in... Read more.View the full article

The Warhammer 40,000: Dark Heresy Alpha launches on December 16 for Steam and it will have Cogg as a playable character. View the full article

Japanese game companies are being forced to move to Monotype Fonts, which is more than 50x pricier based on the current USD pricing. View the full article

Justin Lin is set to direct the upcoming film adaptation of Arrowhead Game Studios’ Helldivers franchise, according to The Hollywood Reporter. Lin is best known for his work on a number of Fast & Furious movies, and was the director of the series from The Fast and the Furious: Tokyo Drift in 2006 until Fast & Furious 6 in 2013. It won’t mark the first time Lin has set his sights on outer space, as he also directed Star Trek Beyond in 2016 – and later returned to the Fast & Furious series to direct 2021’s F9 (in which he sent Ludacris and Tyrese Gibson into literal orbit in a 1984 Pontiac Fiero). The Helldivers movie has been written by Gary Dauberman, the writer of several Annabelle films and The Nun – as well as the co-writer of 2017’s It and the writer of its 2019 sequel, It Chapter Two. Sony Pictures’ and PlayStation Productions’ Helldivers movie was announced early this year at Sony’s CES 2025 press conference. The project comes in the wake of the immense success of Arrowhead’s Helldivers 2, which became PlayStation’s fastest-selling game of all time following its initial launch in February 2024, selling over 12 million copies in its first 12 weeks on *****. Heavily inspired by Paul Verhoeven’s vision for 1997 sci-fi cult classic Starship Troopers, Helldivers 2 is “the rare modern multiplayer game that does almost everything right” by boasting a ton of freedom and a smart progression system that doesn’t nickel and dime players, according to IGN’s review. After originally arriving on PlayStation 5 and PC, Helldivers 2 also came to Xbox Series X|S in August, 2025. Luke is a Senior Editor on the IGN reviews team. You can track him down on Bluesky @mrlukereilly to ask him things about stuff. View the full article

Lies of P is one of the most popular soulslike games in recent memory, and fans were given a great surprise earlier this year with the release of the Lies of P: Overture DLC. With 2025 wrapping up, Lies of P players weren't expecting any more good news—but it looks like they're getting it anyway. View the full article

Greetings from a post-Thanksgiving stupor, FPS enjoyers. I had a nice AFK holiday with family, but in the back of my mind I was riding the high of the night before, when my friends managed to assemble a party of nine Master Chief Collection owners (shout out to the $10 Steam *****) to play classic Halo 3 custom games... Read more.View the full article

We have just shipped an updated Steam Deck Client to the Preview/Beta channel. Steam Input Fixed Dualsense Edge, Xbox Pro, Nintendo JoyCons in paired mode not finding the correct config to edit. Adjusted Dualsense "Create" and "Options" glyphs for better recall. In all Gyro Modes, when selecting multiple gyro activation buttons, you can also choose whether "Any" or "All" buttons are required to Enable/Suppress/Toggle the gyro. Gyro Haptic On/Off effect is now separated from Gyro Haptic Rotation Effect. Added an "Invert Input" toggle in "Regular Press" activator settings. When enabled, this causes button presses to generate releases, and vice versa. Gyro to Joystick Deflection Mode: Added "Use Relative Roll" & "Use Relative Pitch" toggles. When enabled, this makes the output Joystick deflection relative to the controller's pose since the Gyro's activation. i.e. turning on the gyro will always center the stick output. When disabled, the deflection angle is absolute vs. the controller's gravity sensor. Previously this was only possible for "Pitch" (old name: "World Auto Tilt"), but it's now available for Roll as well. View the full article

The Steam Client Beta has been updated with the following changes: Windows 64-bit Fixed regression causing Steam ****** when running installscripts for certain games Fixed regression causing soundtrack playback to not work Fixed voice chat not working in some games Steam Input Fixed Dualsense Edge, Xbox Pro, Nintendo JoyCons in paired mode not finding the correct config to edit. Adjusted Dualsense "Create" and "Options" glyphs for better recall. In all Gyro Modes, when selecting multiple gyro activation buttons, you can also choose whether "Any" or "All" buttons are required to Enable/Suppress/Toggle the gyro. Gyro Haptic On/Off effect is now separated from Gyro Haptic Rotation Effect. Added an "Invert Input" toggle in "Regular Press" activator settings. When enabled, this causes button presses to generate releases, and vice versa. Gyro to Joystick Deflection Mode: Added "Use Relative Roll" & "Use Relative Pitch" toggles. When enabled, this makes the output Joystick deflection relative to the controller's pose since the Gyro's activation. i.e. turning on the gyro will always center the stick output. When disabled, the deflection angle is absolute vs. the controller's gravity sensor. Previously this was only possible for "Pitch" (old name: "World Auto Tilt"), but it's now available for Roll as well. View the full article

Where Winds Meethas finally launched worldwide, with a massive reception for Western audiences, reaching over 2 million players in just 2 days after its global release. Players are really enjoying the free-to-play wuxia experience, and are particularly enjoying the versatility in builds that's possible. View the full article

"There will be no microtransactions"View the full article

Joga Bonito promo is coming to FC 26 after the confirmation from EA Sports, and we should be able to enjoy the new set of cards pretty soon. Unlike the ongoing Thunderstruck campaign, Joga Bonito is a fresh addition. So far, EA Sports has only teased the promo, but a few leaks have already started to appear. The upcoming promo could be a fantastic addition for those who are looking for something fresh in Ultimate Team. Table of contentsFC 26 Joga Bonito players (leaks)FC 26 Joga Bonito release countdownFC 26 Joga Bonito players (leaks) With a name like Joga Bonito, the promo will be heavily influenced by "The Beautiful Game" adage. The promo is unlikely to stick exclusively to Brazilian cards. Instead, expect to find footballers who were renowned for their skill and flair on the pitch. Here's a list of all the players that have either been leaked on social media or teased by EA Sports. EndrickAimarRicardo Quaresma The Joga Bonito promo will have two types of special cards - active footballers and Heroes. I am sure that we will have more leaks closer to the release date. Some of the new cards will be available via objectives and SBCs, and you can obtain them without having to rely on your luck. FC 26 Joga Bonito release countdown The Joga Bonito promo will directly replace the ongoing Thunderstruck promo, and it will go live on Friday, Dec. 5. With Joga Bonito, EA Sports will be going back to the usual release timings of 12pm CT. The following countdown will expire once the promo goes live. [hurrytimer id="1149743"] The countdown is based on the following timings. 10am PT12pm CT1pm ET6pm GMT7pm CET Expect to find new objectives and SBCs on launch night, which will allow you to get more promo cards outside of packs. The post All FC 26 Joga Bonito players (leaks) and release countdown appeared first on Destructoid. View the full article

350 million mod downloads, 10,000 mods uploadedView the full article

Paramount Pictures is working on a fifth Sonic the Hedgehog movie. The unnamed film is set to release on December 22, 2028, and is described only as a “Sonic Universe feature”, suggesting it’s a spin-off. The fourth Sonic the Hedgehog movie is set to release around 18 months earlier, on March 19, 2027. Read More... View the full article