A "missing link" black hole in Omega Centauri is still missing. What appeared to be an intermediate-mass black hole was a cluster of stellar-mass black holes.

Tango Gameworks is dead; long live Tango Gameworks Inc. That's the new "reborn" name of the Hi-Fi Rush studio, which is now officially a part of PUBG publisher Krafton Inc. Tango began last year under the Xbox Game Studios umbrella before a tumultuous few months saw the developer almost shuttered permanently before Krafton stepped in.On X, Tango announced the studio's "new start" earlier this week and said it's "excited to continue crafting games that bring joy to players around the world." This is the first post from the official Tango account since May 7, 2024, when the developer stated that it would "close." That message was a result of Tango being one of four studios that Microsoft shut down at the time, which also included Redfall's Arkane Austin.pic.twitter.com/XyTkKcFyzF Tango Gameworks (EN) (@TangoGameworks) January 1, 2025 However, in August, Tango was saved by Krafton, with Hi-Fi Rush rights being acquired as well. The studio was started in 2010 and known for the survival-horror series The Evil Within, which will apparently stay with Microsoft. Hi-Fi Rush 2 was being worked on before Microsoft closed down Tango, though the sequel isn't officially on the way. Krafton realizes Hi-Fi Rush 2 might not make any money, and that's okay for the company--if Tango decides to move forward with that project.Continue Reading at GameSpot

Game designer Hideo Kojima provided an update on his in-development games, including Death Stranding 2: On the Beach, OD, and Physint. Starting with the latter two, both were impacted by the SAG-AFTRA strike for video game actors, which began in July 2024 and remains ongoing.For OD, which is in the works alongside Microsoft and Xbox, Kojima said his teams "developed the game" and did scanning efforts for environments and the actors themselves. Scanning and filming for OD was suspended due to the strike, however. For Physint, which is being published by Sony, Kojima said casting was suspended due to the strike. "We hope to resume [in 2025]," Kojima said.As for Death Stranding 2, Kojima said, "We started to play and build up the game." He added that his teams conducted music production and recording, along with ADR for the actors.Continue Reading at GameSpot

A new update is scheduled for Call of Duty: Black Ops 6 and Warzone on December 3, which includes the recently announced Squid Game crossover event. In addition to new operator bundles, the event also includes other Squid Game-themed rewards, but some of the items appear to be locked behind an additional paywall. As previously reported by CharlieIntel, Black Ops 6's in-game message board teased more details about the upcoming Squid Game event. This includes special limited-time modes themed around the hit Netflix show as well as an event pass for with a "premium track" that requires an additional purchase. This premium pass is said to include the Front Man operator skin and other cosmetic items.In the past, Call of Duty has included other major IP collaborations with event rewards themed around Fallout, The Walking Dead, Dune, Warhammer, and more. Outside of the shop bundles, all of the event rewards could be earned for free by completing challenges or simply earning XP. This upcoming Squid Game event has the potential to be the first to lock some of the rewards behind an additional cost.Continue Reading at GameSpot

Implicit Conversions, the developer behind some of PS Pluss Classic PlayStation ports, is said to be looking into adding PS3 emulation at long last. While the PlayStation 5 is only backward compatible with its immediate predecessor, the PS4, Sony has been allowing gamers to play older titles from the PS1, PS2, and PSP eras through its Classics catalog of emulated games. However, while some PlayStation 3 games like God of War 3 have been made available on the PS4 and beyond, a good many classic PlayStation titles from the seventh console generation remain locked to their native system to this day.

When it comes to RPGs, the Tales of series holds a very special place in the industry, recognized for its storytelling, memorable characters, and innovative gameplay mechanics. Since its humble beginnings in 1995 with Tales of Phantasia, the series has continued to capture and retain the attention of its fans and those of the JRPG genre in general with its frequently emotional narratives, unique artstyle, and ever-evolving combat systems. Now that the Tales of series is nearly 30 years old, however, that means some of its oldest titles are due for a remaster.

The writer behind the manga Squid Girl, Masahiro Anbe, has announced that he will be releasing a new series soon. This new series will be called Akuma de Fukei (unofficially, Demon Policewoman). Akuma de Fukei is currently listed to release its first volume on June 6th, 2025, via Kodansha's Young Maga KC Special imprint. The volume has already been listed by Japanese online marketplace Rakuten.

GeForce NOW is kicking off 2025 by delivering 14 games to the cloud this month, with two available to stream this week so members can get started on their New Years gaming resolutions.This years CES trade show will open with a keynote from NVIDIA founder and CEO Jensen Huang on Monday, Jan. 6. GeForce NOW is offering members front-row seats in a virtual stadium, so they can hear the latest announcements and get hyped with livestreams no downloads or installations required.Its all powered by GeForce NOW cloud streaming and hosted by ZENOS, an innovative virtual stadium platform. Members can enter the virtual stadium starting at 3 p.m. PT on Monday, Jan. 6.In addition, gear up to participate in NVIDIA GeForce LAN 50 gaming missions starting on Saturday, Jan. 4, at 4:30 p.m. PT. Stream #GeForceGreats games to unlock incredible in-game rewards with GeForce NOW.Mission PossibleYour mission begins here.Its rewarding to be a GeForce NOW member. Unlock exclusive rewards during CES by doing what gamers do best playing the game. Members can participate in GeForce LAN 50 gaming missions even without a game-ready rig.To participate, stream the following featured GeForce Greats games on GeForce NOW and earn exclusive in-game items:Diablo IV: Creeping Shadows Mount Armor BundleThe Elder Scrolls Online: Pineblossom Vale Elk MountThe Finals: Legendary Corrugatosaurus MaskWorld of Warcraft: Armored Bloodwing MountFallout 76: Settler Work Chief Outfit and Raider Nomad OutfitComplete each games mission to become eligible for the associated reward. Rewards will be available to redeem on Thursday, Jan. 9. Theyre available on a first-come, first-served basis, so make sure to jump in right away.With GeForce NOW, members can participate in the event on any supported device, whether a PC, Mac, SHIELD TV or mobile device, with access to GeForce RTX gaming rigs in the cloud for maximum performance.Front-Row Seat to NVIDIA at CES 2025Step into the action, wherever you are.Join others around the world as NVIDIA celebrates the latest advancements in gaming, technology and generative AI at CES, starting with livestreams from the GeForce LAN 50 online event thatll lead up to the shows opening NVIDIA keynote all from the comfort of home, no trip to Las Vegas needed.Enter the virtual stadium using the GeForce NOW app on PC, Mac or through a web browser for those without a GeForce NOW membership. The virtual stadium is hosted by ZENOS, which uses NVIDIAs cloud gaming infrastructure to deliver high-fidelity, low-latency streaming experiences directly via web browsers, making live events more accessible worldwide.Whos number one?Enhance the experience by signing in with a GeForce NOW membership, and create a Ready Player Me avatar and account to save digital characters for future visits. Members can link their Twitch accounts to chat, emote with other viewers in the stadium and collect NVIDIA-branded digital items, including NVIDIA foam fingers and jerseys, to customize their avatars.New Year New GamesLook for the following games available to stream in the cloud this week:Mirthwood (Steam)Slime Rancher 2 (Steam)Heres what to expect for the rest of January:Builders of Egypt (New release on Steam, Jan. 8)Hyper Light Breaker (New release on Steam, Jan. 14)Jtunnslayer: Hordes of Hel (New release on Steam, Jan. 21)Eternal Strands (New release on Steam, Jan. 27)Space Engineers 2 (New release on Steam, Jan. 27)Orcs Must Die! Deathtrap (New release on Steam, Jan. 28)Heart of the Machine (New release on Steam, Jan. 31)Citizen Sleeper 2: Starward Vector (New release on Steam, Jan. 31)Drova Forsaken Kin (Steam)Pax Dei (Steam)Sniper Elite: Resistance (New release on Xbox, available on PC Game Pass, Jan. 30)Voidwrought (Steam)Outstanding DecemberIn addition to the 13 games announced last month, four more joined the GeForce NOW library, including the new games listed this week:Indiana Jones and the Great Circle (New release on Steam and Xbox, available on the Microsoft Store and PC Game Pass, Dec. 8)Diablo Immortal (Battle.net)Headquarters: World War II (Steam)Zenless Zone Zero v1.4 (HoYoverse)What are you planning to play this weekend? Let us know on X or in the comments below.

Nintendo Switch 2, which may not even be called that, will be released in 2025. We think. It will launch with some games, but we dont know which ones. Weve got a relatively complete, if hazy, picture of what the console will be a new, more powerful Switch, basically but we dont know what, if anything, will distinguish it from its predecessor other than that.Theres no doubt that the Switch 2s launch will be one of two seismic events in gaming in 2025, alongside Grand Theft Auto 6 (assuming Rockstars game makes its fall 2025 release window). But for a console that could reportedly launch as soon as March or April, its remarkable how much about the Switch 2 remains uncertain: the details, certainly, but also the bigger picture. Whats at stake for Nintendo? What could go wrong? And how will the rest of the industry react?Lets start by recapping what we know so far, and what we dont, before asking some of those existential questions.Heres what we definitely know about Switch 2This is everything Nintendo has said on the record about its next console:It existsIt will be backward-compatible with Nintendo Switch gamesIt will offer the Nintendo Switch Online serviceIt will use Nintendo AccountsNintendo will officially announce the console within its current fiscal year, so before the end of March 2025Thats it!Heres what we think we know about Switch 2Through well-sourced reporting and leaks, a fairly clear picture has built up of the new machine in advance of its unveiling:Its called Nintendo Switch 2.It will be released in 2025. Nintendo had planned to release it before the end of March, but there are indications this deadline has slipped, with Nintendo keen to avoid stock shortages and to have launch software ready.It will be a handheld hybrid console with detachable controllers and a dock for connecting it to a TV, just like the original Switch. (This is strongly supported by the backward-compatibility announcement.)It will be compatible with some Switch accessories, including original Joy-Con controllers (even if it wont be able to connect to them physically or charge them).The Switch 2s Joy-Cons will attach magnetically, rather than using the Switchs slide clip system, and feature Hall-effect sticks and some extra buttons.It has a cartridge slot like the Switchs, and will support physical releases.Its larger, with an 8-inch 1080p LCD screen.In terms of power, it will be close to the Xbox One/PlayStation 4 home console generation. But with custom Nvidia hardware that allows for machine-learning-powered upscaling and even ray tracing, it could get surprisingly close to the Xbox Series X and PlayStation 5 experience.The base onboard storage will be 256 GB, expandable via microSD card. It has two USB-C ports.Here are some pretty solid guesses about Switch 2 gamesNotably, there have been no leaks or well-sourced reports about the Switch 2s software lineup. But knowing what we do about internal development at Nintendo, we can make a few informed guesses.Metroid Prime 4: Beyond, confirmed as a Switch game, might actually be a cross-generational launch title for the Switch 2, in the manner of The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild (Wii U and Switch) and The Legend of Zelda: Twilight Princess (GameCube and Wii).Some first-party Nintendo games that are not necessarily launch titles, but probably arriving early in the life of the machine: a new Mario Kart, a new 3D Mario title, a new Animal Crossing game, and long-rumored Zelda remasters The Wind Waker and Twilight Princess. We can make these guesses because of the conspicuously long gaps to the last releases in some of these franchises; its been a decade since there was an all-new Mario Kart, seven years since Super Mario Odyssey, and four years since the 46-million-selling Animal Crossing: New Horizons.Heres what we definitely dont know about Switch 2How much it will costThe exact release dateAny confirmed games (beyond a couple of minor third-party releases)What, if any, gimmicks it will have to differentiate it from the SwitchSeriously though. How much will it cost?This is the big one. Nintendo is in a good position; the Switch has built up a massive install base for the company, plus Nintendo has all its beloved properties and decades of trust in its brand to lean on. But, like all tech companies right now, its under intense pressure on pricing, and the wrong move could spell disaster.The Switch launched at $299 in 2017, and its official sticker price hasnt dropped a single cent since. This is in line with the changing trends in pricing due to chip shortages, inflation, and the slowing pace of advances in tech, this generation of consoles has not come down in price as much as previous generations did. (Its also true that demand for Switch has remained so consistent that Nintendo hasnt needed to drop prices, and it has the Switch Lite to market at a lower price point.)In this environment, Nintendo will have to figure out how to package more advanced tech while keeping the price reasonable. The Switch 2 is unlikely to be priced any lower than $349, the current cost of an OLED Switch model. $399 seems like a safe bet the same price as the base Steam Deck. Any more than this and Nintendo will face uncomfortable comparisons to the new wave of PC handhelds (a Steam Deck OLED is $549; an Asus ROG Ally is $499) and risk pricing itself out of its traditional family market.Whats at stake for Nintendo?Almost everything. As I said, Nintendo is sitting pretty right now, but the games market is changing rapidly. The cost of producing games is soaring without market growth to pay for it, margins are being eaten into everywhere, and traditional console hardware platforms are losing influence. Nintendos business model selling hardware and exclusive games to play on it is emblematic of the old ways, but even Sony publishes on PC now. If Switch 2 goes wrong, Nintendo will probably have to face the ultimate indignity of becoming a third-party publisher.At the same time, Nintendo is better protected against the winds of change than anyone else. It has vast cash reserves, incredibly valuable IP, growing multimedia clout, and a resourceful approach to technology that helps keep both hardware and software costs down. Perhaps it could weather another generation on its uppers.Nintendo has also usually taken an innovative approach to its hardware platforms that has worked out more often (Wii, DS, Switch) than not (Wii U). But this is not necessarily the time for innovation.The Switch was an attempt by Nintendo to lock down its dominant position in handheld gaming while keeping one foot in the home, and it was an amazing success. Since then, Valve, with Steam Deck, has come at the same problem from the other direction what if you could take your home game library on the go with you? and proven that its possible and that theres a high demand for it. Now Microsoft and Sony are both reportedly planning handheld consoles.The dedicated handheld space is about to become more aggressively competitive than it has ever been, and Nintendo needs to use the Switch 2 to dig in and defend its position. Thats why it has already announced backward compatibility, so the owners of the 140 million Switches Nintendo has sold can rest easy that their libraries will persist. For perhaps the first time in the companys lifespan, continuity is everything, and it cant afford to wander off on a tangent.Thats why the Switch 2 sounds as though it will be Nintendos most conservative design since the GameCube. It simply has to succeed.

Miniatures skirmish games have exploded in popularity these past few years, and with nearly a dozen high-profile titles currently in active development, the genre is poised for a breakout year in 2025. But what makes these wargames so sticky with fans?Most mainstream miniatures wargames require dozens, sometimes a hundred or more miniatures to be present on the table all at the same time. Games like Warhammer 40,000, Flames of War, and Conquest: The Last Argument of Kings fall firmly in this category. But many modern gamers simply dont have the time to paint all those miniatures, or the space in their home to store them. Thats where skirmish wargames come in.Skirmish games only require a handful of miniatures on either side of the table, often from six to 12 for each battle group. That makes the games easier to set up and tear down, and easier still to store on a shelf or in a closet. The genre thrives on collectibility, with small unit counts making it easier for players to own and field multiple factions. But they also encourage customization, with kitbashing and exotic paint jobs turning heads online and in person.Here are our picks for the nine best miniatures skirmish games on the market right now, with details on what to expect from them in the year ahead.BattleTechCatalyst Game Labs is just one of the modern stewards of the combined BattleTech/MechWarrior license, and the team there has made incredible strides at reviving the beloved tabletop game from the 1980s. With dozens of different models of mechs available for purchase online and at your local game store, its among the least expensive ways to enter the modern tabletop hobby. Miniatures always come fully assembled and ready to paint, and the game has multiple styles of play. Whether youre into fast and punchy or slow and crunchy, these big stompy boys have a lot going for them including the new BattleTech: Mercenaries boxed set arriving at retail early next year.Cyberpunk Red: Combat ZoneMonster Fight Club licensed the Cyberpunk Red intellectual property from R. Talsorian Games, whose original work on Cyberpunk 2020 became the foundation for CD Projekt Reds epic role-playing video game Cyberpunk 2077. That partnership directly led to the launch of its skirmish miniatures game, Cyberpunk Red: Combat Zone, in 2023. Thanks to an affordable starter set, easy-to-assemble miniatures, and a dirt-simple ruleset, the experiment was an instant hit. Expect the latest entry, Cyberpunk Edgerunners: Combat Zone, to be another winner when it arrives at retail early next year.Halo: FlashpointMantic Games revived the Halo franchise on the tabletop in 2024 with Halo: Flashpoint, a small-unit skirmish game with loads of style. While the game draws its lore from the classic video game series, the gameplay is truly unique. It uses a cube-based movement system that encourages fast, fluid traversal of in-game terrain. It teaches incredibly quickly, and I cant wait to see how the British company expands the franchise in 2025.InfinitySpanish gamemaker Corvus Belli spent the last few years trying new things in the board gaming and 3D printing space, only to return to the venerable Infinity line late in the year. It posits a near future dominated by powerful megacorporations, and its punchy and strategic style of gameplay will appeal to fans of turn-based tactical games like XCOM 2. While the latest ruleset, known as Infinity N5, was a bit late to market, a lavish new boxed set titled Operation: Sandtrap full of gorgeous miniatures dropped in December. It features units from Panoceania and the Japanese Secessionist Army, so if you like lithe warriors with longswords youre in for a treat. Beware, though, that Corvus Belli is still making white metal miniatures, which require different tools and skills than more modern plastic miniatures.NecromundaI honestly thought that the Necromunda franchise was on the way out in 2024, but the game received an excellent new starter set this year. Representing the warlike state of what amounts to civil society in the dark and distant future, its a breeding ground for bloody, unbalanced narrative campaigns among friends as well as some of the most stunning artwork in the miniatures space. A newly published rules compendium puts everything you need to learn the game in one place. If youre looking for a crunchy and rewarding new hobby, theres never been a better time to dip in.Star Wars: ShatterpointAtomic Mass latest Star Wars license, Star Wars: Shatterpoint, burst onto the scene in late 2023. Its larger-than-usual 32-millimeter heroic scale miniatures are a joy to work with, and they take modern materials like contrast paints with ease. For newcomers, its also nice that you only need three or four miniatures for most factions to get started. Add to that the fact that there are currently 30 (!!) different squads to choose from, and you have one of the most diverse and competitive games on the market. Expect Fantasy Flight Games miniatures imprint to double down on its advantages in the new year.StargraveJoseph A. McCulloughs Stargrave is a miniatures-agnostic small-unit skirmish game that continues to earn new fans thanks to its battle-tested, highly flexible rules system. If you have some little dudes that youve previously painted for any other game system, they are more than welcome to participate in this skirmish wargame. And thats not all: Osprey Publishing also publishes McCulloughs fantasy-themed Frostgrave and the horror-themed Silver Bayonet. Between these three games there is likely a setting to suit you and your gaming group.Trench CrusadeBloated with incredible art from prolific concept artist Michael Franchina (Diablo), with rules and lore co-developed by Games Workshop veteran Tuomas Pirinen (Mordheim), Trench Crusade is perhaps the biggest success story of the year as far as miniatures gaming goes. It posits an alternate historical take on World War I where the Crusaders unlocked an actual portal to hell, turning the war to end all wars into a fight for the soul of well, everyone on the planet, basically. The Kickstarter campaign, first previewed here at Polygon, earned the pair more than $3.33 million and a throng of more than 20,000 players. The rules are available now, with physical miniatures on the way to backers in the new year. Meanwhile, 3D print files can get you where you need to go in a hurry.Warhammer 40,000: Kill TeamFollowing an excellent reboot in 2018, the fourth edition ruleset for Warhammer 40,000: Kill Team was released in 2024, much to the joy of fans and critics alike. It draws its tiny little warbands from all across the franchises fictional universe, so you can collect Tau, Sisters of Battle, Orks, and more in addition to the traditional Space Marines. An excellent new Starter Set found its way to store shelves in the fall, and new faction boxes have begun to crop up at retail. Expect this well-regarded game to continue to thrive into 2025 and beyond.