The new Trump administrations temporary appointment as the lead administrator of Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA), former Navy SEAL veteran Cameron Hamilton, is raising eyebrows in the aftermath of the devastating Los Angeles Fires.According to the New YorkTimes: "Mr. Hamilton is an unusual choice to lead the agency, even in a temporary capacity. Since Hurricane Katrina, when the federal response was severely criticized, FEMA has been led by disaster management professionals who have run state or local emergency management agencies, or were regional administrators at FEMA."Hamilton, who had previously worked as an emergency management specialist at the State Department, takes the helm of the agency after criticizing its response to last fall's flooding incident in western North Carolina after Hurricane Helene.

The Royal Shakespeare Company announced it's making its first video game alongside iNK Stories, an adaptation of MacBeth called Lili.Read More

Savvy Games hires Nika Nour as SVP and head of international business developmentNour will oversee international partnerships, provide advice on mergers, acquisitions, and investments News by Sophie McEvoy Staff Writer Published on Jan. 24, 2025 Savvy Games Group has appointed Nika Nour as SVP and head of international business development.Nour will be responsible for building international partnerships and recruiting game firms to further strengthen the games industry in Saudi Arabia.This will include providing advice on mergers, acquisitions, and investments "to support the growth of Savvy's ecosystem, and drive the growth of domestic businesses."Prior to joining Savvy Games, Nour was head of partnerships at Genvid Entertainment. She oversaw the publishing of titles including Silent Hill: Ascension, DC Heroes United, and Borderlands Echovision Live.Nour was also previously the executive director for the International Game Developers Association Foundation (IGDA).Last August, Savvy Games partnered with Xsolla to strengthen Saudi Arabia and the Middle East as a global games hub.

Fortnite maker Epic has bolstered its mobile storefront with the addition of almost 20 third-party tiles and the launch of a Free Games program.It's a notable move for the publisher as it looks to make inroads into the mobile market.The Epic Games Store debuted on mobile with just a handful of Epic-produced titles including Fortnite, Fall Guys, and Rocket League Sideswipe.Epic said the addition of third-party releases on Android worldwide and iOS across the European Union represents a "major step forward" for the store.The company also intends to hand out a free title each month through the Epic Games Store mobile app, beginning with Dungeon of the Endless: Apogee."There will be new games offered each month until we move to a weekly schedule later this year," it added in a newsroom post.The company runs a similar initiative on its PC marketplace that allows users to download a free title each week.Epic has also introduced new mobile app features including Epic Account login (with persistent status across Epic titles on iOS and Android) and an auto-update functionality.Developers who bring their titles to the Epic Games Store on mobile will receive the same 88/12 revenue split as those on the PC marketplace. Epic explained that split only applies to payments it processes and said it won't take a cut from third-party payments.It also touted the royalty rate reduction offered through its Launch Everywhere with Epic program, which is designed to encourage developers to debut their Unreal Engine titles on Epic platformseither as a timed exclusive or via a simultaneous launch."This new program offers a royalty rate reduction from 5 percent to 3.5 percent on all platforms and stores for eligible Unreal Engine games published on the Epic Games Store from 2025 onwards," explained Epic."To be eligible, games must ship on the Epic Games Store before or at the same time its released on other stores on corresponding platforms you support (PC, Mac, Android, and in the future, iOS). This program is inclusive of games participating in Epic First Run, which helps developers to maximize their revenue share during their initial run on the Store."

Every month,The Verges designers, photographers, and illustrators gather to share the work of artists who inspire us. Now, were turning our Art Club into an interview series in which we catch up with the artists and designers we admire and find out what drives them.Cartoonist Chris Wares work is so precise that you might assume it was illustrated digitally but its all drawn on paper. One of Americas most celebrated graphic artists, Wares lines are so meticulous and the geometry is so exacting that it seems impossible a human hand made them. His latest book, the third and final installment of his Acme Novelty Datebook series, collects a wide range of drawing styles. Spanning 2002 to 2023, the book is filled with illustrations of his daughter as she grows from infancy to college age, sketches of subway riders, renderings of childrens toys and stately foyers, pandemic musings, concepts for New Yorker covers, watercolor experiments, intricate schematics, and several notes about his own hopelessness.The cartoonists range is as impressive as it is irritating (how can one person draw perfectly in so many different styles?), and much of his lettering requires a magnifying glass to parse without squinting. Comics are a medium that can often be read quickly, but Ware forces us to slow down.I spoke with Ware via email at his request, and his answers resemble short essays that bear all the hallmarks of his cartooning: exacting, tender, vulnerable, and punctuated with his trademark self-deprecation. Image: Drawn & QuarterlyThe following interview has been edited for clarity and length.Someone who is familiar with your books like Jimmy Corrigan or Building Stories may be surprised to see the range of drawing styles in this collection. How do you decide the way youll approach a specific drawing? Do you have a default mode that comes out most often?Well, not to start out sounding pretentious, but at least for me, drawing for comics (aka cartooning) is different from drawing for a story; such drawings are completely synthetic, i.e., fictional, and so theyre designed to be transparent and clear, almost like typography. Conversely, everything in my sketchbooks actually happened to me somehow, so those drawings are more traditional, meaning theyre meant for looking more than reading, if that makes any sense at all.When Im drawing from life, I go out of my way to avoid crosshatching, i.e., the sort of built-up overlapping of screens of tone that were all taught in art school is a professional way of indicating light and shadow. For a few years, I defaulted to this way of drawing but eventually realized I was ignoring the quality and especially the texture of whatever I was trying to draw, whether it was a tree or a table or skin, so I started trying to use all my lines as a means of both communicating shadow and texture, for better or for worse.Most of the figure drawings in this book are people Ive seen on public transportation, who, especially since the advent of the iPhone, make perfect subjects, as they hold their poses much more consistently than do people who are engaged by the actual world. Even better, if they suddenly put their phone away and look out the window, all I have to do is wait 30 or 40 seconds and theyll reach in their pocket and take out the phone again and I can resume drawing. When Im drawing strangers, Im always trying to get a solid sense of their presence and their vulnerability, and even the slightest error in judgment can throw a whole drawing off.Tip to those staring at people on public transportation: if your subject becomes suspicious and suddenly looks at you, simply instantly look at someone else while assuming an expression of intense concentration until the original subject is satisfied / disappointed that its not them youre looking at. Then theyll go back to looking at their phone and you can go back to looking at them. Works every time, and I have yet to be arrested.Finally, I will add that I think theres no better means of seeing and being a part of the world, however briefly, than drawing from life. Nearly everything in contemporary culture now points us away from this. And if youre someone who draws stories from memory, as I am, you need to bank your understanding of humans and how we hold ourselves, gesture, and deceive each other. I know some cartoonists place little currency in this, and their work shows it. This said, I have a strange occasional facial blindness, and I sometimes wont immediately recognize people Ive met before, which is a completely different problem.Did parenthood change the way you make art?Since I was the stay-at-home parent in our family (my wife is a public high school science teacher), I was lucky enough to get to spend most days with my daughter Clara from the time she was born to the time she went away to school. I wouldnt trade those years for anything. Not only was it a sort of miraculous anthropological study but it was fun. It was also profoundly exhausting.Oddly, however, I got more work done during those years than at any time since, I think because I was suddenly aware of how valuable every second is; I did not screw around when Clara took her nap. And for years, my workday exactly matched the schedule of her school day. Now I can waste time like nobodys business.1/4 Image: Drawn & Quarterly1/4 Image: Drawn & QuarterlyCan you talk about the role of self-deprecation in your comics? Is it a primary motivation in creating or an obstacle you have to work around?My wife has advised me to never talk about this, saying no one wants to hear you whine.But: I was recently asked in an interview if my self-doubt was all a put-on or something I was cultivating; its not. Ive struggled for years with despair and doubt and naively thought that if I worked just a little harder or a little longer, Id suddenly one day bloom into a gloriously radiant self-confident artist. Didnt happen.Thus, Ive learned over the years to simply try to make a pact with my despair, as if it was a terrible roommate which has mostly worked. But I still always feel it while Im asleep, when I wake up, and whenever I sit down to work. Ive written and talked about this because I thought objectifying it on the page might help me somehow, but it didnt, and also because I thought those artists who feel similarly to me perhaps might take some solace in knowing they werent alone. Ultimately, though, it doesnt matter how you feel as an artist. What matters is the emotion you put into the work itself, and the two are completely exclusive.If theres a slight advantage to doubting oneself, its that one is perhaps a little more self-critical of ones own work, which cant hurt. Plus, most of the self-confident artists Ive met are jerks and seem especially interested in cultivating and securing power, which is an aim anathema to art itself.Where does anxiety come in?Usually through the fingertips and toes, exiting in involuntary grimaces and moans, especially around 2AM. I was recently anesthetized for a medical procedure with a low dose of fentanyl and then had the best nights sleep Id had in decades, waking up not in a panic but grateful for my pillow and in a sort of pink sparkly haze; it felt like Christmas Eve c. 1976.What does your personal archive look like? How do you maintain it?If youre asking about my own stuff, its pretty easy to manage, as its almost all books, notebooks, and original pages, the latter I either sell or keep in mylar sleeves upright in a cabinet far from my drawing table (since I spilled an entire cup of coffee on the last such cabinet I had, which was right behind my drawing table and which did not count as a good day).When I was in art school, I made largish paintings 6 x 9 up to 8 x 12 feet which I then had to leave behind when I moved and which prompted me to seriously consider the value of smaller, flatter stuff. This said, Ive started painting again and also make sculptures. But I also dont want to leave a big mess for my daughter after I cough my last.

The release of Fantasian on Apple Arcade in 2021 was meant to be an end to the illustrious career of Hironobu Sakaguchi but it seems like he cant stay away.Fantasian was a return to Sakaguchis roots, a throwback roleplaying game from the creator of the Final Fantasy series, which added some innovative gameplay ideas and an incredibly charming world made of handcrafted dioramas. And in December, his Mistwalker studio released a new version dubbed Neo Dimension, which brought the game to more platforms and added new features like voice acting. It was even published by Final Fantasy company Square Enix. While Sakaguchi says he intended Fantasian to be my final project before I retired, he now wants to make another game in the same mold, one he hopes can be seen as a successor to Final Fantasy VI. The sixth Final Fantasy game is particularly notable as the last to feature pixel art before the series shifted to 3D.Following the launch of Neo Dimension, I had the chance to ask Sakaguchi a few questions about making Fantasian, the enduring popularity of turn-based RPGs, and what comes next.This interview has been edited for clarity and length. There have obviously been a lot of comparisons to Final Fantasy, and you were inspired in part to make this game because of FFVI. Do the comparisons bother you? Do you ever worry people are missing what makes Fantasian unique?Not really, since my approach to creating Fantasian was different from my previous works. For this project, I aimed to tap into my inner creativity to earnestly craft an RPG once more, so because of this, drawing comparisons with existing games felt pointless to me. I intended Fantasian to be my final project before I retired, so it was somewhat of a farewell note from me.With the production and release of Fantasian Neo Dimension a definitive directors cut version I believe that the game has become complete. In the distant future, or maybe after I have already left this world, I imagine this game will find its meaning if someone chooses to look into the legacy of either myself or Final Fantasy.What was it like working with Square Enix again? That feels like an interesting full-circle moment.Its the place where I started my career, so coming full circle through the game I envisioned to be my final work was definitely a fascinating experience. There are times in life when we encounter coincidental full-circle moments or experience deja vu, but this particular instance felt very significant and comforting.The big change for this game is the addition of voice acting. What do you think that adds to the experience, and what was it like finding the right casting for these existing characters? Did you already have an idea in your head of how they would sound?Since I wasnt well versed with voice acting in games, I trusted Square Enixs expertise and the artistic vision of director Takuto Nakamura. As a result, the voice actors some of whom, for the Japanese version, were cast in consideration oftheir connection to Final Fantasy XIV were all wonderful. Establishing how the characters would sound involved extensive collaboration as well as trial and error with the voice actors, which I believe is a testament to the numerous ideas and inspirations contributed by all the staff who took part in the voice recordingprocess.Final Fantasy VI. Image: Square EnixBoth Neo Dimension and the Dragon Quest 3 remake came out around the same time to very positive reception. What do you think it is about this style of RPG that makes them still relevant today?Games that employ cutting-edge technology are very appealing. Improved graphics are a given, but Im anticipating that future games will likely also incorporate AI in innovative ways, and Im personally very intrigued by these games. However, apart from these advancements, I also believe there is an intrinsic desire associated with gaming experiences to immerse oneself in virtual worlds.With games that have a similar style to Fantasian Neo Dimension, players can explore the virtual world and gain a sense of fulfillment that they have mastered everything that occurs within it. I think another factor is how these games allow developers to utilize energy created from this extraordinary technology to come up with unique mechanics that enable players total immersion in virtual worlds. It goes without saying that realizing both is feasible, and I do think that would represent the best kind of game.When I spoke to you ahead of the Apple Arcade launch, you said you only wanted to work on games that brought you genuine joy. Now that youve wrapped up Fantasian, what does that joy look like for you moving forward? Do you think you want to stick to familiar styles and genres like this or explore newthings?I was thinking of making Fantasian Neo Dimension my final work, but the fantastic team that was assembled to complete this project was so enjoyable to work with that I found it hard to part ways. Humans are greedy creatures, arent we? For that reason, Im currently working on a new project with the same team thatworked on Fantasian Neo Dimension. Its generally going to follow a similar style to my previous works, and itll be something that can be a successor to Final Fantasy VI in a good way our goal is to create something old but new at the same time. Itll be part two of my farewell note.

The Elite Creators Superbundle on Humble Bundle is a collection of 4000+ high quality Unreal Engine assets from Meshingun Studio, SCANS Factory, Dekogon and Prophaus. The assets are redeemed on the Fab marketplace and are for Unreal Engine, although they can be exported to other tools and game engines using the guides available below. The bundle is organized into the following tiers:1$ TierFood ScansRestaurant VOL.1 Food Prep (Nanite and Low Poly)Stone Sculptures VOL.2 Statues and Benches (Nanite + Low Poly)Stone Sculptures VOL.l Modular Urns & Stand (Nanite + Low Poly)Foliage VOL.5 Euonymus Bushes (Nanite and Low Poly)Foliage VOL.6 Broom Bushes (Nanite and Low Poly)[SCANS] Urban Props Vol. 1Median TierParadise Motel Modular PackFeudal Japan Interior Props Vol1[SCANS] Gate BackyardTown Buildings VOL.1 BoathouseVictorian VOL.1 Furniture (Nanite and Low Poly)Gothic Cemetery PackMedieval Props Pack[SCANS] Urban Props Vol. 230$ TierPharaohs Legacy: Egyptian Temple MegapackGothic Interior MegapackMedieval Fantasy Ruins Dark Forest Environment[SCANS] Cemetery Forgotten ChurchyardAncient Mountain Temple (Nanite)Medieval VOL.1 Kitchen (Low Poly)Anemoia ManorResidential Houses Modular PackFeudal Japan Exterior Props Vol1Bones VOL.1 Animal Bones 1 (Nanite + Low Poly)Medieval VOL 9 Castle FurnitureIf you wish to convert the assets from one game engine to another, consider the following guides.You can learn more about Elite Creators Superbundle on Humble Bundle in thevideobelow. Using links on this page helps support GFS (and thanks so much if you do!). If you have any trouble opening the links simply paste it into a new tab and it should work just fine.

Dragon Age: The Veilguard developer BioWare has released a new patch for the game and in the same breath suggested its basically done with it less than three months after launch.As spotted by Eurogamer, Patch 5 includes just one quality-of-life improvement and a number of bug fixes, but its the wording from BioWare that suggests this is the final major patch Dragon Age: The Veilguard will get.Thank you all for playing Dragon Age: The Veilguard; we were so happy with the games stability at launch and hope you have enjoyed our Quality of Life patches since then, BioWare said. With the game being in a stable place, we are moving to monitor for any game-breaking bugs should those occur. Dareth shiral!Moving to monitor game-breaking bugs sounds like players shouldnt expect any new content. And as Eurogamer points out, "dareth shiral" means "farewell" in Dragon Age's Elvish language.IGN's Twenty Questions - Guess the game!IGN's Twenty Questions - Guess the game!To start:...try asking a question that can be answered with a "Yes" or "No".000/250Dragon Age: The Veilguard was the first new game in the fantasy RPG series in 10 years, but it came and went not with a bang but a whimper. Amid the launch BioWare confirmed Dragon Age: The Veilguard wouldnt get any post-launch DLC, shocking fans who had hoped for expansions as previous Dragon Age games had received.This week, publisher and owner EA admitted Dragon Age: The Veilguard had failed to meet sales expectations by a whopping 50%; it had expected three million players, but the game managed only 1.5 million.There's been some smoke around Dragon Age: The Veilguard's struggles, such as it receiving a significant discount just a month after launch for Cyber Monday, and the departure of its director, Corinne Busche, from BioWare just last week. We've chronicled some of the game's development challenges already, including layoffs and the departure of several project leads at different stages.Mass Effect 5 now appears to be BioWares focus, although it seems far, far away still. And what next for Dragon Age? Given how Dragon Age: The Veilguard went for EA, it seems the publisher will take some convincing to greenlight yet another sequel any time soon.Wesley is the UK News Editor for IGN. Find him on Twitter at @wyp100. You can reach Wesley at wesley_yinpoole@ign.com or confidentially at wyp100@proton.me.

Dishonored 2 cost more to make than legendary role-playing game and fellow Bethesda title The Elder Scrolls 5: Skyrim and struggled for sales, but it still saved developer Arkane according to a former employee.Julien Eveill, who worked in quality assurance on Dishonored 2 and as a designer on sequel Dishonored: Death of the Outsider, told PC Gamer that the game underperformed financially but saved Arkane by providing a "seal of quality" that "would maybe be considered the most refined games of the whole Bethesda catalogue."Bethesda questioned the series' viability in the wake of disappointing sales of Dishonored 2 and Death of the Outsider, Eveill said.PlayIGN's Twenty Questions - Guess the game!IGN's Twenty Questions - Guess the game!To start:...try asking a question that can be answered with a "Yes" or "No".000/250"It was a bit strange and weird. I think when Bethesda was looking at the numbers, they thought, 'Okay, Skyrim sold so much. And it cost less than Dishonored 2 to make.' So they were asking questions," he said."From an executive spend standpoint, it makes sense to ask those questions of, 'Why should we keep going with you?' But we knew that we had a kind of seal of quality protection, making what would maybe be considered the most refined games of the whole Bethesda catalogue."This "kind of saved the studio," Eveill added, noting that focusing on this kind of game instead of chasing trends like live service games was critical to the "future success of the studio." This pedigree continued on to Deathloop, deemed a masterpiece by IGN, and fans will surely hope the incoming Marvel's Blade will have that quality too.This is a tale of two Arkanes, however, as Arkane Austin infamously went down that path of chasing trends when it developed Redfall as a live service title, though this was reportedly at the request of upper management and not the actual developers creating it.Redfall launched without that Arkane "seal of quality" but instead with "bland missions, boneheaded enemies, and repeated technical problems," according to IGN's 4/10 review. Bethesda owner Microsoft later shut down the studio in a devastating round of lay offs.Ryan Dinsdale is an IGN freelance reporter. He'll talk about The Witcher all day.

2025 is an exciting year for Xbox Series X/S owners and Xbox Game Pass subscribers. With exciting two Obsidian RPGs on the slate, a new Doom, the return of Ninja Gaiden, and so much more, this year has a lot to offer. We know it can be hard to keep track of every single new game coming out, so we put together this handy list to help you keep up with as many noteworthy Xbox games as possible.Heres every game that Xbox owners should definitely keep an eye on in 2025.Star Wars Episode 1: Jedi Power BattlesAspyr Jan. 23Originally released for the PlayStation, Sega Dreamcast, and Game Boy Advance,Star Wars Episode 1: Jedi Power Battlesis getting a re-release for its 25th anniversary. This remastered version of the classicStar Warsgame brings back couch co-op mode, training rooms, bonus levels, and the arcade cheats and power-ups that made the original version so fun. In addition, the game will have 13 new playable characters, including Jar Jar Binks, and a lightsaber toggle that allows players to choose between the original lightsaber colors used in the game or more screen-accurate versions. No matter your age,Star Wars Episode 1: Jedi Power Battlesis sure to be a fun walk (or Force-powered jump) down memory lane.Kingdom Come: Deliverance IIWarhorse Studios Feb. 4Set in the Kingdom of Bohemia during the early 15th century,Kingdom Come: Deliverance IIfollows the story of Henry, a trusted diplomatic escort of the king who seeks revenge for his murdered family. In the games open-world Medieval setting, the player can guide Henry on daring adventures, forge alliances with a charismatic cast of characters, and engage in visceral real-time combat.Kingdom Come: Deliverance IIis a gripping action RPG perfect for anyone eager to step into an epic Medieval adventure.Civilization 7Firaxis Games Feb 11Arriving nearly a decade after the previous game,Civilization VIIpromises to be a revolutionary new chapter in this award-winning franchise. Similar to its predecessors,Civilization VIIis a turn-based tactical strategy game where you develop an empire across three distinct historic eras. With updated graphics and improved gameplay that includes updates to diplomacy mechanics, changes to production management, as well as other improvements, this evolution seems poised to bring this franchise into the next generation.AvowedObsidian Entertainment Feb 18Avowedis an action RPG set in the Living Lands of Eora, which was first introduced in Obsidians stellarPillars of Eternitygames. Its a vast region encompassing a variety of landscapes, from lush forests to rocky deserts. The player begins the game as an envoy from the Aedyr Empire who is sent to the Living Lands to investigate rumors of a spreading plague and a secret so dangerous it could destroy everything.The Envoy can use different combos of magic, melee weapons, and firearms to defeat dangerous enemies, and the choices they make affect the story. The player can also recruit various NPCs to join their party, up to two at a time, that can aid in accomplishing certain tasks. Though these companion NPCs unfortunately wont be available for romancing or smooching,Avowedstill looks like a world that will be easy to get lost in. We quite enjoyed our time witha preview buildof the game last year.Join our mailing listGet the best of Den of Geek delivered right to your inbox!Monster Hunter WildsCapcom Feb 28The latest chapter in theMonster Hunterseries,Monster Hunter Wildsis set in the Forbidden Lands, an uncharted region long thought to be uninhabited. That is, until a boy named Nata is discovered near the border of these lands, on the run from a mysterious creature known as the White Wraith that attacked his people. As the player, you control The Hunter, one of the professional monster hunters tasked with searching for the White Wraith, charting the Forbidden Lands, and searching for Natas people.Monster Hunter Wildsdoesnt only have an intriguing story, however. The game also features new fighting moves and a wide variety of weapons and equipment that give you even more ways to use monsters and their environment to your advantage. Even if youre not familiar with the series,Monster Hunter Wildslooks to be a fun game for any fan of action RPG games.FragpunkBad Guitar Studio March 6Fragpunk is an upcoming 5v5 FPS that lets you bend the rules of gameplay with unique Shard Cards that each have their own abilities and effects on the game. You can instantly create grass to hide from your enemies, you can give everyone a big head to give yourself a comically large target, you can flip the map around to create your own route through the battlefield, and so much more. Not only does combat look incredibly fun, but Fragpunk also has a vibrant art style that makes gameplay even more electric and energetic to watch and play in.Suikoden I & II HD RemasterKonami March 6Konamis RPG seriesSuikodenis joining a long list of classic RPGs getting a fresh update for modern consoles. TheSuikoden I&IIHD Remasterwill feature improvements to graphics and the art style, gameplay mechanics, and sound. Players will also now have the option to automate battles with a single button and play through combat at double-speed. Despite all of these updates, however, the developers are stillstriving to keep the original storyand the charm of the colorful cast of characters that fans know and love intact.Assassins Creed: ShadowsUbisoft March 20Set inthe late Sengoku periodof feudal Japan,Assassins Creed Shadowsfeatures two playable protagonists: Naoe, a shinobi assassin, and Yasuke, a legendary samurai. Quests can be handled as either protagonist, with Naoe as the more stealthy and discrete approach and Yasuke as the charismatic warrior, useful for taking on several enemies at a time. The game encourages players to explore the open world gathering intel and building a network of spies ready to help usher Japan into a new era. After playing six hours of the game earlier this year, we have to say this one definitely has potential to be an all-time great installment in the series. Tales of the ShireWt Workshop March 25New cozy game alert!Tales of the Shireis like ifStardew ValleyandAnimal Crossingtook a trip to the Shire ofLord of the Rings.The game lets players live out their dreams of spending time in the idyllic landscape of the Shire as they create their own character, decorate their own Hobbit hole, make friends in the community, and help the town flourish. We playedTales of the Shireat SGF and were impressed with the amount of care put into creating this version of the Shire. Even though the game isnt technically canon, there are still plenty of references and easter eggs forLord of the Ringsfans to find.AtomfallRebellion March 27Inspired by the real-life Windscale Fire nuclear disaster in Northern England,Atomfallis a survival-action game set five years after the event. In this alternate version of history, there are more mysterious and sinister forces at work behind the scenes, and its up to the player to explore the quarantine zone and uncover what truly happened at Windscale. As with any good post-apocalyptic survival game, you must learn how to craft items and weapons with what you can find in the environmenteither through bartering, ransacking, or straight up stealing. This fictional yet familiar world is full of mysticism and folk horror influences, creating the perfect eerie environment to explore.South of MidnightCompulsion Games April 8Inspired by the gothic folklore of the American deep South, South of Midnight follows protagonist Hazel as she goes on a journey through legends and folktales to find her mother and the power within herself. With an animation stylehttps://www.denofgeek.com/games/assassins-creed-shadows-preview/ inspired by stop-motion, enemies are even more haunting and gameplay feels like it was ripped right out of a storybook. On her journey, Hazel must learn how to harness the ancient power of weaving magic to rip apart enemies and repair the Grand Tapestry on her quest to heal her home after a devastating hurricane. South of Midnight looks like it will be a unique and powerful story to play through, and perfect for anyone looking for an exciting third person action-adventure game to try out this year.Fatal Fury: City of the WolvesSNK April 21The popular 90s fighting game franchiseFatal Furyis back after 26 years withFatal Fury: City of the Wolves. With 22 playable characters, including 17 familiar faces from previous games, and 3 different modes of gameplay, there are plenty of options for longtime fans and franchise newcomers alike to have a great time. Theres a single-player RPG mode, Episodes of South Town, as well as online modes that allow you to match with other players or clones generated by automatic AI technology that learns your play style.Clair Obscur: Expedition 33Sandfall Interactive April 24Developed by the relatively small Sandfall Interactive, Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 is an upcoming turn-based RPG with real-time mechanics that is already looking to be one of the most exciting new games this year. Expedition 33s voice cast includes Daredevils Charlie Cox and Baldurs Gate 3s Jennifer English as two of the six playable characters you can use to build your team, crafting unique builds to fit your playstyle. Set in a world inspired by Bell poque France, the game is full of hauntingly beautiful visuals that arent afraid to hide a little whimsy below the surface. Expedition 33 has an expansive world to explore, and we cant wait to spend hours looking through every nook and cranny with these characters.DOOM: The Dark AgesBethesda Softworks May 15Cue the heavy metal,DOOMfans, because the latest game in the franchise is coming to crush some demon skulls. A prequel toDOOM(2016) andDOOM Eternal,DOOM: The Dark Agestells the origin of the DOOM Slayer as the hero fights against the forces of Hell in a dark fantasy setting unlike anything weve seen from this franchise before. This single-player FPS not only allows you to crush combat scenarios with classic DOOM weaponry,The Dark Agesalso features new tools like a face-shattering flail, throwable Shield Saw, and yes, even a Mecha Dragon.Double Dragon ReviveYukes Oct 23Another popular fighting game franchise set to return this year isDouble Dragon.This isnt the first modern-era sequel for this arcade-style beat em up franchise, but that doesnt mean we arent excited to see what this game has in store in 2025. With four playable characters, including brothers Jimmy and Billy Lee, modern 3D graphics, and an exhilarating belt-scroll action experience,Double Dragon Reviveseems like a fun merge of past and present gaming.Borderlands 4Gearbox Software TBDSet on the all-new planet of Kairos,Borderlands 4already looks like it will be an irreverent, chaotic timeas any goodBorderlandsgame should be. While we dont know a lot about the game thus far, Gearbox promises the games will deliver intense action and billions of wild and deadly weapons with its brand new planet and story. Youll get to control one of four new Vault Hunters seeking wealth and glory after crashing on Kairos and breaking free from the planets ruthless dictator, the Timekeeper. With the option to play solo or in co-op with up to three other players as well as free-form combat and exploration, there are plenty of opportunities to fight your way through the planet, and maybe even spark a rebellion in the process.Dying Light: The BeastTechland TBDAfter over a decade in captivity,Dying Lighthero Kyle Crane escapes into a changed world, though not necessarily for the better. Using not only the survival skills honed in the previous games, but also some new abilities that come from being experimented on, inDying Light: The Beast, youll once again play as Crane as he tries to help the survivors of Castor Woods and keep the ever increasing population of zombies at bay. This survival horror game also has a 4-player co-op feature if you want a little help to make it through the violent, zombie-filled nights.FablePlayground Games TBDIts been over a decade since the lastFablegame was released, and now the upcoming sequel is set to take us back to the fantasy world of Albion for the first time in a while. So far, the story seems to be focused on a former hero named Humphry and a young adventurer hes taken under his wing. Someone from his past has come back to haunt him and threatens Albions very existence in the process. While we dont know much else aboutFables story or gameplay yet, this third-person action RPG already looks to be a welcome addition to the franchise.Grand Theft Auto VIRockstar Games TBDTwelve long years afterGTA Vhit shelves,Grand Theft Auto VIis finally supposed to arrive this year.Promising to bethe biggest, most immersive evolution of theGrand Theft Autoseries yet,GTA VIwill be set in the fictional state of Leonida, home of Vice City. This game will feature the franchises first female protagonist since 2000, Lucia, and her partner in a Bonnie and Clyde-inspired scenario.JudasGhost Story Games TBDFrom the creator ofBioShock,Judasis a single player narrative FPS set on a disintegrating starship. Playing as the mysterious and troubled Judas, you must navigate alliances, fight against foes, and do whatever it takes to escape. Whether youre a fan ofBioShockor just looking for a new and intriguing sci-fi game,Judasis definitely one to keep your eye on this year.Killing Floor 3Tripwire Interactive TBDThe Co-op action horror FPS franchise thats fun for your entire squad of friends is back this year withKilling Floor 3. Made with Unreal Engine 5, this next-gen sequel looks to be full of the blood, gore, and heart-pounding action that fans have come to love. Playing as a member of the rebel group Nightfall, you and up to five teammates must fight against waves of zeds (bioengineered zombies) in order to save humanity.Revenge of the Savage PlanetRaccoon Logic Studios TBDIn this upbeat, satirical sci-fi adventure game, you play as a space explorer fired and abandoned by your corporate employer because even in space, the cruel hand of capitalism knows no bounds. With few resources and no safety net, you must explore every inch of the planets you visit to collect resources that will help you level up, return to Earth, and get revenge on your greedy corporate overlords. With single player, online co-op, crossplay, and split screen modes at your disposal, you can go at it alone, or team up with a friend to scan as many planets, capture as many creatures, and explore as many terrains as you can. Revenge of the Savage Planet looks like itll be a zany, fun time, and we cant wait to check it out.The Alters11 Bit Studios TBDThe Alterstells the story of Jan, a simple miner who crash lands on a hostile planet alone. Tasked with running a mobile base by himself, Jan soon realizes that he cant do this alone if hes going to survive. With the help of his ships quantum computer and a rare substance found on this planet, Jan is able to create clones of himself based on different life paths he may or may not have chosen in his past. While these clones are versions of him, they are also very different people with their own motivations, goals, and fearswhich means that they dont always get along. Its a very intriguing premise that makes for a unique sci-fi survival game that we really cant wait to play.Vampire: The Masquerade Bloodlines 2Paradox Interactive TBDIts been over twenty years sinceVampire: The Masquerade Bloodlineswas first released, and now werefinallyset to see the sequel this year. Just like its predecessor,Vampire: The Masquerade Bloodlines 2is an action RPG where you get to play as an elder vampire. As you fight and talk your way through modern-day Seattle, your choices matter. Whether you choose to rise through the ranks of vampire society or rail against it, your decisions influence the balance of power in the city and what becomes of it and the people within. Whether youre familiar with this franchise or looking to dip your toe into a new RPG,Vampire: The Masquerade Bloodlines 2looks like itll be a blood-sucking good time.Wuchang: Fallen FeathersLeenzee Games TBDA dark and fantastical Soulslike game,Wuchang: Fallen Feathersfollows Wuchang, a pirate who awakens with amnesia in the final years of Chinas Ming Dynasty. Its a chaotic time as a mysterious phenomenon known as Feathering has come to the land of Shu, causing mutations and an epidemic of plague and monsters across the land. Playing as Wuchang, you must fight your way forward using a variety of fighting styles, hidden weapons, ancient firearms, and even the power of Feathering itself to forge a path toward the truth, and hopefully uncover some of your own memories along the way.Ninja Gaiden 4Team Ninja TBDAfter over a decade since the last mainline game, the Ninja Gaiden series is back this year with Ninja Gaiden 4 currently in active development with Team Ninja. Set in a dark, gritty dystopian Tokyo, Ninja Gaiden 4 follows new protagonist Yakumo, a young ninja prodigy connected to the formidable Master Ninja, Ryu Hayabusa, who is also a playable character in the game. As Yakumo navigates this world and tries to put a stop to the Dark Dragons rise, he must also face off against his foes, and Hayabusa to become the ninja the world needs him to be. During the Xbox Developer Direct showcase, Team Ninja was adamant that this game isnt just for longtime fans of the series and that they hope it can be an entry point for newcomers as well.The Dark Pictures Anthology: Directive 8020Supermassive Games TBDSupermassive Games Dark Pictures Anthology is back with another immersive horror experience this year. Directive 8020 is the studios first foray into full on sci-fi horror, both for the Dark Pictures series and for the studio at large. House of Ashes toed the line between the genres with ancient vampiric aliens as the main source of scares, but the game was very much still grounded on Earth. Directive 8020 follows the crew of the Cassiopeia as they find themselves hunted by an alien organism capable of mimicking its prey very much like The Thing, but actually in space. With Lashana Lynch (Captain Marvel) as the games star, theres no doubt in my mind that this is going to be an epic and terrifying adventure to play through.