Long-lost NES puzzle game Xcavator, initially developed in 1991 by Chris Oberth and never released, is being resurrected as a fully polished cartridge edition through a collaboration between iam8bit and the Video Game History Foundation. Priced at $100, the 2025 release includes an authentic NES cart and a detailed manual that chronicles the game’s troubled past, Oberth’s career, and the broader challenges of preserving 8-bit history, with profits supporting VGHF’s archival efforts.

Limited Run Games is reviving the 1987 NES cult classic Jaws with Jaws: Retro Edition for PS5 and Nintendo Switch, combining the original game, now enhanced with save-anywhere, rewind, and bonus features in addition to a newly expanded multi-chapter mode drawing from all four films. Offered in Standard and deluxe “Bigger Boat” physical editions, the release targets both retro enthusiasts and collectors ahead of the movie’s 50th anniversary in 2025.

John Romero has revealed that his cancelled, big-budget Microsoft-backed FPS has been reborn as a smaller-scale indie shooter that repurposes about $50 million worth of prior work into a radically redesigned single-player project. Now free of AAA constraints, Romero claims the game’s experimental mechanics aim to deliver a fresh experience he likens, in terms of innovation rather than genre, to the transformative impact of Elden Ring.

Australia has become the first country to impose a nationwide ban on social media use for under‑16s across ten major platforms, with companies facing multimillion‑dollar fines if they fail to take “reasonable steps” to block underage users. Framed as a historic child‑safety and mental health reform, the move has drawn global scrutiny for its broad reach, selective targeting of platforms, and potential cultural impact on how young people spend their time online and offline.

A briefly published PEGI 18+ rating for “Assassin’s Creed IV Black Flag: Resynced” has reignited speculation that Ubisoft is preparing a full remake of its 2013 pirate epic, potentially dropping the modern-day storyline in favor of expanded Golden Age of Piracy content. While the listing has since been removed and no platforms were confirmed, mounting leaks, financial hints, and teases from Edward Kenway’s voice actor suggest an official reveal could be imminent, possibly at The Game Awards 2025.

New Blood Interactive has unveiled Dungeons of Dusk, a turn-based dungeon-crawling RPG spin-off of its acclaimed retro shooter Dusk, drawing heavily from cult mobile titles DOOM RPG and Wolfenstein RPG. Slated for 2026 with 30 campaign levels, full platform support, and a built-in level editor, the game canonically fills the gaps between Dusk’s episodes while trading twitch shooting for grid-based, bite-sized role-playing.

A decade-long experiment by retro tech YouTuber Tech Tangents reveals that “retrobrighting” yellowed consoles with hydrogen peroxide and UV light can actually accelerate plastic degradation, leaving treated systems more discolored than untouched ones. His findings challenge a popular restoration practice and are pushing collectors toward gentler, less chemically aggressive methods or acceptance of inevitable aging.

Veteran RPG designer Tim Cain, best known for creating the original Fallout games and co-directing The Outer Worlds, has rejoined Obsidian Entertainment as a full-time, in-office developer after years of semi-retirement and contract work. While his return has sparked intense speculation about a new Fallout or Fallout: New Vegas project, Cain says his current, NDA-protected game is something fans “won’t guess,” even as Obsidian insiders hint at a different beloved franchise making a comeback.

Valve’s latest Counter-Strike 2 “Call to Arms-ory” update invites creators to design Arabian, espionage, and even food-themed skins, stickers, and charms, offering flat payouts up to $35,000 per accepted weapon finish. The move introduces optional one-time licensing alongside existing revenue-share models, signaling a significant shift in CS2’s creator economy and sparking debate over long-term earnings versus guaranteed cash.

Running With Scissors has canceled its upcoming spinoff Postal: Bullet Paradise following a wave of fan accusations that outsourced developer Goonswarm Games used generative AI for the game’s assets, an allegation that the studio firmly denies. Amid escalating backlash, threats, and reputational fallout for the Postal brand, Goonswarm has shut down its studio, and the project has been fully withdrawn from digital storefronts.

Bethesda's Todd Howard said artificial intelligence should serve strictly as a production “tool,” stressing that human intention and artistry must remain at the heart of game development in a conversation with Eurogamer.

Deal | Aquatico allows players to explore, inhabit, and expand their settlement on the ocean floor, beautifully rendered with stunning visuals, even as reviews indicate a mixed reception at best from gamers. Update: Its price is back to normal.

Sony has partnered with J.J. Abrams’ Bad Robot Games for an ambitious new four-player co-op shooter for PS5 and PC, led by Left 4 Dead creator Mike Booth. Framed as Bad Robot Games’ first fully in-house project, the collaboration aims to blend Sony’s blockbuster production values with Booth’s proven co-op design pedigree.

Monster Hunter Wilds director Yuga Tokuda has acknowledged that the game’s lowered difficulty curve may have alienated series veterans, contributing to slowed sales and early player drop-off despite a strong 10 million+ launch. Speaking at the PlayStation Partner Awards 2025, Tokuda urged lapsed players to return as Capcom pivots to harder endgame content and extended post-launch support through 2026.

Sega Sammy Holdings has confirmed it will adopt AI to boost efficiency in game development amid rising costs, but pledges to limit its use to “appropriate” non-creative workflows to avoid fan and industry backlash. The move comes as Sega’s major franchises underperform against indie and AAA competition, pushing the company to balance profitability pressures with concerns over AI’s impact on creative labor.

A long-rumored 1993 Famicom JRPG spin-off, Splatterworld: Rick to Kyofu no Daiou, has finally become fully playable after a prototype ROM surfaced and fan group Aeon Genesis released an English translation patch. The game’s unexpected resurrection sheds light on its bizarre mechanics, including the ability to summon infamous real-world dictators while offering retro enthusiasts a rare look at a once-lost chapter of the Splatterhouse franchise.

Scottish artist Fern “Antireal” Hook says her dispute with Bungie and Sony over alleged plagiarism of her 2017 poster designs in the upcoming game Marathon has been resolved to her satisfaction, closing one of 2025’s most high-profile digital art controversies. The settlement follows Bungie’s confirmation that a former pre-production artist lifted Hook’s work without permission, the removal of affected assets, and an internal review. The terms of the agreement remain confidential, and neither Bungie nor Sony has publicly commented on the resolution.

Twitch streamer and longtime Escape From Tarkov veteran Tigz has become the first player to trigger a proper ending to the notoriously unforgiving extraction shooter, escaping via the new Terminal map after roughly 150 hours of focused attempts. His run unlocked one of four possible finales which was deemed the second-worst by game director Nikita Buyanov, fueling a fresh community race to discover Tarkov’s remaining endings and the teased “special” reward tied to its best outcome.