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Live service games were the main revenue drivers over the Christmas period, with Arc Raiders maintaining its hold at No.3 while Call of Duty and Battlefield "struggled to stand out." Read more View the full article

Savvy Games Group and Neom have signed a new memorandum of understanding with the intention of making the path for Saudi games startups moving from "incubation to acceleration" easier. Read more View the full article

"Anger and despair [are] reigning supreme" at Ubisoft following its recent restructuring plan. Read more View the full article

Experts from the world of virtual reality have described Meta's decision to close three studios and make layoffs to its metaverse-focused Reality Labs division as "concerning". Read more View the full article

Xbox wants to be "more consistent" with bringing its first-party titles to PlayStation 5. Read more View the full article

Grab Kiki for free via Steam!Kiki is a 3d platformer with unique graphics. Check it out! View the full article

It's a news-heavy week on The Game Informer Show, as Ubisoft announced some major changes to its roadmap over the coming years amid numerous delays and game cancellations. Alex, Marcus, and Eric get together to break all that down in the last half of the show, and try to make light of how the Far Cry and Assassin's Creed publisher got here. Before that, though, the crew talks about two fascinating new indie games they've been playing. Marcus dives into MIO: Memories In Orbit, a new Metroidvania that might be Hollow Knight-levels of difficult. Eric, meanwhile, has been testing his mental mettle with TR-49, Inkle's new mystery game that tasks players with tearing their way through a strange machine. The Game Informer Show is a weekly podcast covering the video game industry. Join us every Friday for chats about your favorite titles – past and present – alongside Game Informer staff and special guests from around the industry. Watch the video version: Listen to "What's Going On With Ubisoft?" on Spreaker.Follow our hosts on social media:Alex Van Aken (@itsvanaken)Marcus Stewart (@MarcusStewart7)Eric Van Allen (@seamoosi)Jump ahead to specific segments:00:00 - Intro05:08 - MIO: Memories In Orbit18:11 - TR-4939:39 - Ubisoft discussion View the full article

Last November, Nintendo hosted a Direct for The Super Mario Galaxy Movie, sharing a new trailer and behind-the-scenes details about the sequel to 2023's box office hit. Even though the movie is only a few more months away, today the company announced a second livestream, which will presumably provide even more detail than the last. The stream will also air during the weekend, which is abnormal for Nintendo, on January 25 at 6 a.m. PT/9 a.m. ET. When it's live, you can watch it on Nintendo's YouTube channel, right here. Additionally, the messaging around this Direct has been clear that it's strictly limited to information about the movie. If Mario fans were hoping for some kind of video game announcement or tie-in, they'll be disappointed; a description for the event on Nintendo's website includes the line "Please note that no game information will be included in this presentation." The last look at The Super Mario Galaxy Movie showed us some of the movie's major new characters, including fan-favorite Rosalina (played by Brie Larson) and Bowser Jr. (played by Benny Safdie). It also included updates from executive producer Shigeru Miyamoto and Illumination CEO Chris Meledandri, like the fact that the studio was weeks away from putting the finishing touches on the movie. For more Super Mario Galaxy, you can check out the movie's reveal trailer, watch some gameplay of the newly released Super Mario Galaxy + Super Mario Galaxy 2 bundle, or read Game Informer's review of The Super Mario Bros. Movie. View the full article

Roblox has said that a performance of Bruno Mars's new single in the platform's user-created Steal A Brainrot mode attracted 12.8 million concurrent users, which it described as a "single artist record for most-watched virtual concert" on the platform. The activation issued custom "Brunito Marsito" brainrot collectibles to attendees, who accumulated a total of 5,428,644 of them. Read more View the full article

The UK Video Games Council has pushed for further government support of the industry, arguing that the country has a wealth of talent but not less support than other parts of the world. Read more View the full article

Vampire Survivors took the gaming world by storm in 2022, thanks to its extremely effective hook, absurdly approachable gameplay, and a ridiculously low cost of entry. Though many games have borrowed elements from Vampire Survivors to great effect, fans of the genre have been waiting for a Survivors developer Poncle's next game. In November of last year, we learned of Vampire Crawlers, a spin-off title from Poncle that is a deck-building dungeon crawler. Today, we received more information about the anticipated spin-off title. Described by Poncle as a "turboturn deckbuilder," Vampire Crawlers attempts to deliver turn-based combat without the trademark waiting. According to the developer, you don't need to pause for animations to complete before executing your next move, as the game stacks and executives your inputs in a way that minimizes downtime. The goal is to turn the often-slow tactical combat that sometimes typifies the genre into a more fast-paced and visually exciting experience. Poncle also shared that players can use gems to customize cards with various effects, ranging from damage multipliers to weapon evolutions. You can see Vampire Crawlers in action through the first part of a new video series called "Let's Explore Vampire Crawlers," which will detail new gameplay mechanics with each subsequent episode. Vampire Crawlers arrives on PS5, Xbox Series X/S, Switch, PC, iOS, and Android in 2026. It will receive a free demo on Xbox and on Steam as part of Steam Next Fest on February 23. View the full article

The United States' Congressional Labor Caucus has written to the Federal Trade Commission to raise concerns about the potential impact of the proposed $55 billion acquisition of Electronic Arts led by the Saudi Arabian Public Investment Fund (PIF). Read more View the full article

The narrative director at indie developer Inkle, Jon Ingold, has said that pricing its recently-released title TR-49 at $7 was a means of encouraging players to buy the game as an "impulse" purchase rather than waiting. Read more View the full article

The CEO of Manor Lords publisher Hooded Horse, Tim Bender, has detailed his company's approach to developer contracts, saying that the way most legal agreements in the space are written "violate a lot of principles of what's an efficient contract". Read more View the full article

Playground Games has announced a release window for Fable, which is set to launch in Autumn 2026. Read more View the full article

Payday developer Starbreeze has reportedly conducted a second round of layoffs in two months. Read more View the full article

US consumer spending on video games reached $5.9 billion in December 2025, an increase of 3% year-over-year (YoY). This rise was partially fuelled by an increase in subscription services spend, which rose 24% from December 2024. Read more View the full article

Developer Playground Games, which is primarily known for the Forza Horizon series, finally lifted the curtain today in a big way for its upcoming Fable – a game that was originally officially teased back in 2017. Playground Games has been working on the game for a long time, but we will finally be able to play it this Fall. The game's director, Ralph Fulton, was on hand during today's Xbox Developer Direct to share details for the game and finally show extensive gameplay. Fulton paid his respects to the work of the original Fable trilogy's creators, Lionhead Games, saying the team is eager to carry on its legacy, and referred to the game as an open-world action RPG and that it represents a new beginning for the franchise. We, of course, assumed the game would be an open-world action RPG, especially considering Playground Games' history and the genre of the original trilogy, but it was nice to get proper confirmation. As was the case with the other Fable games, you start the adventure as a child before learning you are a rare hero, the first in a long time. A calamity affects your home village of Briar Hill, turning everyone into stone, including the protagonist's grandmother. And then you're off on your adventure of being a hero. Apparently, the open world will be available to the player pretty early in the game, and you will find yourself stuck between two rival gangs fighting for power. Footage for the game showed off imposing castles, inviting fields, gardens of oversized vegetables, and magical mushroom forests. The protagonist was also seen riding on horseback as they explored, but I didn't see a pet dog, however, which was a big element of Fable II and III. Fulton says the ethos of the game is "What does it mean, to you, to be a hero?" You will be able to create your hero, dictating their look and clothing. Combat seems familiar to the first three games, with a split between melee action, long-range action, and magic. The player can use light and heavy combos, execute finishers, use magic like electricity, as well as attacks like the one that turned enemies into chickens. The player character got into plenty of battles in the gameplay footage against familiar Fable enemies like Hobs, but we also saw them fighting a giant fire-breathing chicken. The bigger question mark for Fable, however, came later in the presentation, where Fulton and other members of the team talked about how the population will react to the player and what the player can do outside of combat. You can buy property and business, get married and have kids, and there are more than 1,000 named NPCs who will have individual reactions to you as well as their own lives. You can apparently follow any of the denizens of Albion and watch them wake up, go to work, relax, and go to bed. Among the examples Playground mentioned in terms of how NPCs will react to you is that you can own property that NPCs will live in. They will react to you as their landlord, or you can kick them out of your house, effectively making them homeless. Expectedly, they will not be your biggest fans if you do this. Characters will praise or insult you depending on your reputation as you walk around and explore. This was an element in the original games, but it seems much more in-depth and specific to your choices here. And speaking of choices, Playground highlighted the idea of "Your choices change the world," where some of the decisions you make will make radical changes to the environment of the game. An early example offered is related to the giant seen in previous trailers played by British comedian Richard Ayoade. You can choose to spare or kill Ayoade's character, and if you choose the latter, his massive corpse will remain in the environment for the rest of the game, serving as an undeniable landmark that will affect property prices nearby. The big element missing from Playground's presentation, which is admittedly hard to get across in a developer diary like this, is Fable's humor. It remains to be seen if the new Fable will effectively borrow the tone of the original trilogy. The inclusion of comedians like Richard Ayoade certainly inspires comedic confidence, but we will have to wait and see in the Autumn of 2026. View the full article

Walmart has released a free, official commerce software development kit (SDK) for Unity developers to "seamlessly integrate Walmart products, or your own merchandise via the Walmart marketplace, directly into your projects." Read more View the full article

While Game Freak is best known for its work on the Pokémon games (the series is so large that it's hard to see how they wouldn't be), it does develop other games from time to time. That said, Beast of Reincarnation, the studio's upcoming post-apocalyptic action role-playing game, is a big swing even by the studio's standards. After seeing the game in action during today's Xbox Developer Direct, we got a much clearer vision of what to expect when it launches this summer. Set in Japan in the year 4026, Game Freak describes the game as a "one-person one-dog action RPG." The person and dog in question are named Emma and Koo, respectively, and they live in a time where the human population has been decimated by a parasitic plant called "blight." Somehow, Emma is able to seal that blight within her body, so she's known as a Sealer. Unfortunately, this is an ability people fear, causing her to live in isolation from the remains of society. After forming a bond with Koo, a magical white dog with a tail made of vines and branches, Emma is told (by the a hologram of perhaps the most cyberpunk-looking guy of all time) to defeat the titular beast of reincarnation to save the Capital. To do so, she'll have to defeat "malefacts," corrupt fusions of animals and blight. I assume "malefact" is pronounced less like "male fact" more like "artifact," but given that the word was only provided in the Japanese speakers' subtitles, this is just a guess. Extremely powerful malefacts, known as Nushi, are the bosses of this world. They can create blighted forests full of enemies and obstacles players will have to overcome before facing off against the deadly beasts. Emma is particularly suited to this task thanks to her ability to absorb and dispel blight, but also because of her trusty sword, magic abilities, and vinelike hair. Her sword is her main weapon in combat, and can be upgraded with spirit stones to get special effects when she parries. She and Koo can also use Blooming Arts, powerful magic moves that slow time and allow them to harm or hinder foes. Each character also has a skill tree, and the abilities from one character impacts the other's; the developers also hint that the two will unlock more powers as their bond deepens. Finally, Emma's hair can be used in various ways for platforming, like as a bridge that extends forward over gaps or as a long stilt-like extension of Emma's leg. The duo will also have to face golems – robots with corrupted human souls – and meet other human characters, like Brad, Kagura, and the mysterious swordswoman Kunai. The dystopian elements are a bit on the nose, but game looks beautiful, especially for a studio that's been criticized for the poor technical performance of recent Pokémon games. It helps that this game, at the time of writing, is not coming to Switch or Switch 2, and is instead launching on Xbox, PlayStation, and PC. We're excited to check it out when it hits shelves this summer. View the full article

Today’s Xbox Developer Direct kicked off with the first look at gameplay for Forza Horizon 6. We got a look at the game’s cover cars, a breakdown of new customization features, and, of course, a glimpse into how much fun driving across the game’s rendition of Japan could be. The campaign sees players begin as a tourist who joins the Horizon festival and climb the ranks, a departure from previous entries where the player is already a relative superstar. You’ll still progress via the established wristband system, but Horizon 6 introduces a new method of progression called the Collection Journal. The Collection Journal is inspired by Japanese stamp collecting and lets players build a digital collection of mementos discovered while exploring. Players can take photos of murals, landmarks, and other scenic sights to save to the journal as well. Japan is the series’ biggest map yet. Tokyo alone is the largest city in the series, featuring multiple districts for players to cruise through and recognizable sights, such as Shibuya Crossing, Tokyo Tower, and Ginko Avenue. Playground Games is also striving to accurately represent topographical details, from various countryside to mountains and city streets, to add as much authenticity to the experience as possible. Seasons also return, shifting the environment from winter to spring and beyond. Of course, Japanese car culture will be represented in a major way. Cars have no customization options and a fully overhauled roster for improved balancing. More cars will be available at launch than ever before, and new aftermarket cars include rare or unique vehicles to unlock at a bargain. Playground also revealed Forza Horizon 6’s cover cars: the 2025 GR GT Prototype and the 2025 Toyota Land Cruiser. Players can now build custom structures from any location, and building is now fully multiplayer, allowing friends to concoct creations together. In addition to unlocking player houses for vehicle storage and fast travel, you’ll also unlock a new destination called The Estate. This giant plot of land gives players a blank canvas to build what they want. What begins as a rural section of land can be transformed into mountain hideaways, your own personal race track, a factory complex, and more, based on items purchased using in-game currency. Another new feature is Car Meets, inspired by the real-world Daikoku car meet. This social space is always available to join, and it lets players meet up, share custom paint jobs and designs, and purchase their own versions of cars they like. New driving features include Auto-drive and proximity radar. In terms of accessibility options, Forza Horizon 6 features a customizable high-contrast mode to help make the game easier to play for the visually impaired. The trailer ends with a tantalizing tease of a pair of giant robotic feet stepping behind a vehicle that looked suspiciously like a Gundam. Given Forza Horizon’s penchant for crossover content, odds are we’ll be piloting a mobile suit, which is the perfect fit given the setting. Forza Horizon 6 launches on May 19 for Xbox Series X/S and PC, and it will come to PlayStation 5 later this year. View the full article

During Xbox's Developer Direct today, Double Fine took a surprise spot on the virtual stage to announce its charming new pottery party game, Kiln. Developed as part of Double Fine's internal game jam Amnesia Fortnight, Kiln is a multiplayer party brawler where you build pots and destroy them. Per today's Xbox Developer Direct, the drive behind Kiln is allowing players to build creatively, and then letting them destroy each other's creations. The Quench mode, for example, tasks players with picking up and carrying water to their enemies' kiln, with the goal of dousing it for the win. It's reminiscent of a MOBA in some ways, or Splatoon, or maybe just multiplayer objective-based games in general. There are tons of options for shaping and sculpting your pottery, with detection tools for identifying specific shapes like bowls or cups. Once they enter the arena, they can run, jump, and attack, and each shape also has different special attacks all their own. Plates can fling a pie, for example. Maps range from dance floors to ancient history, with different lanes and avenues. Some paths might only be accessible for specific shapes, giving a small advantage to the little cups. Kiln is set to arrive in spring 2026 for PlayStation, Xbox, and PC. Double Fine plans to host a beta ahead of that launch, with specific details yet to be announced. View the full article

GreedFall: The Dying World, the prequel to 2019’s GreedFall, has been coming together in Steam Early Access since September 2024, but it's almost ready to come out of the oven. Developer Spiders announced today that its follow-up will launch on March 12. Set three years before the original GreedFall, The Dying World is a choice-driven action RPG where players control a native of the island of Teer Fradee, the primary setting of the last game. The protagonist is a guardian of knowledge and nature; unfortunately, this status attracts the attention of colonists from the old continent of Gacane, which is being ravaged by the Malichor plague. The invaders capture the player and bring them to Gacane to be experimented on, so players must find a way to escape and return home. Along the way, they’ll get roped up in a grander conspiracy that may endanger everyone on Teer Fradee. Dialogue choices steer the game’s plot, as players can talk their way in and out of situations as well as build alliances, including assembling a party of companions. When diplomacy isn’t an option, you can cut down threats in the tactical battles. You can pause the action to carefully coordinate actions with companions or focus on your player while allies act independently. GreedFall: The Dying World is coming to PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X/S, and PC on March 12. You can read our 2024 preview of the game here. View the full article

Looking for GTA 6? Same here! While we wait, grab Rustler (Grand Theft Horse) for free on the Epic Games Store. ... View the full article

Super Mario Bros. Wonder was one of Nintendo's flagship games on the original Nintendo Switch when it was released in 2023. While its Switch 2 upgrade was announced a while ago, today we got some more details about what to expect and when it's coming out. First things first: you can get the upgrade and content expansion in just over two months on March 26. Attraction Central is Bellabel Park's main sell, inviting players to a new area full of co-op and competitive minigames. The attractions are divided into two sections – local and wireless/online. The former can also be played with GameShare – meaning one Switch 2 owner can share it with nearby Switch or Switch 2 players that might not have the game – while the latter is built around players having individual screens and moving at their own paces. Today's trailer also revealed Camp Central, a new area in the park where you can participate in the Toad Brigade Training Camp. These levels unlock as you complete stages in the main game, and give alternate challenge modes to levels you've already completed. Examples in the footage include defeating enemies, collecting coins in a time limit, and completing the level while maintaining invincibility. Of course, Bellabel Park isn't all fun and games, and you can blame the Koopalings for that. They'll appear and scatter across the game's various worlds, and players will have to track them down, a task seemingly aided by an explorer Toad in each kingdom. We don't see much of these villainous turtles, however, because the trailer quickly pivots to the reveal that Rosalina will be playable with the update. She has no special abilities, and joins the main cast in all modes. The update also adds some more accessibility options, specifically geared towards younger children. Co-Star Luma can join if there are at least two players, and can freely fly around a level. Luma can collect coins and spin to defeat enemies, but can't die, so it's ideal for someone who wants to participate but isn't coordinated enough to play. Since this is exclusive to the Switch 2 version, it also adds mouse controls for Luma, so it's even accessible to those who can't quite use a joystick. There's also a new Assist Mode which accomplishes a similar function, making players immune to damage and automatically surviving falls with a flying flower. Super Mario Bros. Wonder – Nintendo Switch 2 Edition + Meetup in Bellabel Park (man, what a long title) is out March 26 exclusively on Switch 2. For more Mario and Rosalina, check out the Super Mario Galaxy Movie's reveal trailer. View the full article