XDefiantis shutting down, continuing a tumultuous year for Ubisoft. The company has faced a string of rocky launches, leaving it with the tough decision to shut downXDefiantdespite the game not even being a year old. Released back in May,XDefiantbrought a free-to-play 6v6 shooter to gamers, but struggled to keep a solid player base. In a genre that is saturated with similar titles,XDefiantwas unfortunately unable to stand out in the crowd....

Summary World of Warcrafthas a special Feast of Winter Veil present for Hunters this year in the form of the Dreaming Festive Reindeer, a secret pet that can only be tamed during the holiday. This Hunter surprise, along with the Feast of Winter Veil in-game event, is available inWorld of Warcraftnow through January 5. The Feast of Winter Veil inWorld of Warcraftis the in-game equivalent to the Christmas holiday. Each year, Blizzard brings the event back for a couple of weeks, often adding brand-new surprises, such as the Winter Veil Armor customization for the Highland Drake mount from last year....

Quick Links TheWinter 2025 anime seasonis airing, and the lineup includes several shows that demand attention.Solo Leveling,The Apothecary Diaries,Dr. Stone,Toiler-Bound Hanako-kun,My Happy Marriage,The 100 Girlfriends Who Really, Really, Really, Really, Really Love You, andUnnamed Memoryare just some of the quarter’s sequels. There are also plenty of exciting new anime, such asSakamoto DaysandI’m Getting Married to a Girl I Hate in My Class. While not exhaustive, Winter 2025 has most genres and themes covered to an extent, be it romance, action, comedy, harem, or isekai....

Summary After the major cliffhanger that was theseason 1 finale of Ahsoka, the question on everyone’s minds is how much of the non-canon story of Thrawn’sHeir to the Empirewill make its way into the main canon of theStar Warsuniverse. Grand Admiral Thrawn is returning to the galaxy during a time when the Republic is still new, and the remnants of the Empire are now poised to gather under his rule. It all spells trouble and the start of a new war that should lead to the formation of the First Order in the years to come....

Summary Get ready for a celebration of creativity as the 2025 EPCOT International Festival of the Arts atWalt Disney Worldapproaches. Running from January 17 to February 24, this annualDisney Parksevent showcases a vibrant blend of culinary, performing, and visual arts, creating an atmosphere designed to spark artistic inspiration. As EPCOT’s newest seasonal festival, it will mark its 10th anniversary in 2025, a milestone that highlights a decade of artistic expression and memorable experiences....

Baldur’s Gate 3has thrived through its depth of customization, allowing players to dip in and out of a plethora of builds across diverse class options. Among its viable routes, unarmed builds powered by the Tavern Brawler Feat have significantly risen in popularity since the game’s release. Now that Obsidian Entertainment’sAvowedis set to feature a similar focus on open-ended combat through its own unconventional take on classes, there’s a possibility thatunarmed options in the action RPG ecosystemcould be viable as well....

Summary Larian Studios is looking forBaldur’s Gate 3players to help stress test patch 8 and upcoming crossplay features to ensure a smooth launch. Even though Larian has confirmed that the studio has moved on to new projects,Baldur’s Gate 3continues to receive updates, with the latest one bringing in a highly requested feature. Patch 8 forBaldur’s Gate 3is set to be a huge one for the title, as it has some major features, like a fully customizable Photo Mode and 12 new subclasses for all the current classes within the game....

Summary There have now been threeSonic the Hedgehogmovies, and they seem to be getting more popular and beloved with each new entry, a rare case in Hollywood but an even rarer one in the history of video games being adapted into films. With a rich mythos behind him, Sonic has been able to lead all three movies and dish out his wacky brand of beloved adventure without complaint or fault....

Summary At worst, video game downloadable content (DLC) is a way for publishers to slice off sections of a main game and sell them back for a bag full of nickels and dimes. At its best, it’s a chance for fans to get a little more of what they love from the base game in the form of skins, maps, or gameplay mechanics. While there’s less of a distinction between DLC and expansions in the Internet age, the latter tend to be seen as packages that come with a considerable number of new features, but it’s never guaranteed....

Summary The Americas and Asia have historically dominated the gaming industry, developing and distributing some of the biggest games and consoles in the world. As such, it is no surprise that many of these games are also set in their respective countries. Despite their influence over the field, other continents have proved equally popular settings and produced just as talented developers. European countries offer a number of reasons as to why they are perfect backdrops for horror games, including their dark histories, rich folklore, and variety of landscapes....

Summary If there is anything to learn from romance anime, it’s that love conquers all, even when theparties involved are of different species. Whether it’s ‘monster girl falls for human boy’ or ‘wolf meets bunny rabbit,’ interspecies romances come in various shapes, stripes, and flavors. It seems that in fiction, the rules of biology are merely suggestions, not rules. These couples often encounter obstacles and prejudice from those around them, much like interracial and inter-community couples in real life....

As part of the live-service formatPokemon Trading Card Game Pocketutilizes, new sets are occasionally added over time, introducing additional cards that can be collected and incorporated into many different deck builds. As more and more cards make their way into the game, unique synergies and strategies begin to appear across more Pokemon, Items, and Supporters, which rotate the kind of general Tyes and ace Pokemon you’re able to expect to go up against within each meta....

Summary TheResident Evilgames always know how to kick things off with a bang. While many of the games will have incredibly memorable opening acts, such as the Village horde inResident Evil 4or the prison sequence inCode Veronica, even before that, there’s always an opening line that sets the stage for the adventure to come. Not every first line in these games has ended up being very memorable, but in stark contrast, others have become iconic for how impactful they are....