From 1999 to 2017, Bruce Straley was one of the key players at Naughty Dog, and the co-director of two its best-selling games, The Last of Us and Uncharted 4. However, Straley essentially left the game industry for several years despite that impressive track record. Now, Straley is sharing more details regarding his departure, following up on comments he made years ago.

"I had been there 18 years. That's a long time for anybody to be anywhere," Straley told Polygon. "I need new problems to solve, I need new creative outlets. I'm not saying there wouldn't be opportunities there, but couple that feeling with the idea that I was working really, really hard at something that wasn’t mine."

Straley went on to explain that he didn't jump to another AAA studio because he felt Naughty Dog was the "pinnacle" of developers that made the games he was interested in. And he didn't want to deal with "a whole different bureaucratic or cultural system."

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The new Tomb Raider games announced at The Game Awards, Tomb Raider: Legacy of Atlantis and Tomb Raider: Catalyst, will feature the voice of Alix Wilton Regan as Lara Croft.

This is a change from the latest trilogy--Tomb Raider, Rise of the Tomb Raider, and Shadow of the Tomb Raider--which featured Camilla Luddington voicing and performing the motion-capture for Croft.

Wilton Regan is known for her roles as Samantha Traynor in Mass Effect 3 and the female Inquisitor in Dragon Age: Inquisition. She also played Aya in Assassin's Creed Origins.

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New Metroid games are few and far between, so the launch of Metroid Prime 4: Beyond should have been a monumental event for the fanbase. Instead, eight years after its announcement, and 18 years after the previous game, Nintendo’s big December 2025 release landed with a loud thud. Already, this once highly anticipated title is poised to be one of the series' most divisive games, earning a spot alongside Other M and Federation Force.

This isn't for lack of polish, as Prime 4 is indeed visually stunning and perhaps the greatest first-party showcase of graphics on the Nintendo Switch and its successor. But while it has its share of enthusiasts, it’s difficult not to feel underwhelmed by the final product in comparison to prior Prime games and even other, similar entries in the Metroidvania space that has grown in Nintendo’s frequent absence.

The list of Metroidvania games from independent and third-party developers in the past decade alone is astonishing, with Ori and the Blind Forest, Axiom Verge, Hollow Knight, Dead Cells, Animal Well, and others throwing new concepts and innovations into the genre’s well of ideas. Hollow Knight and its follow-up, Silksong, have captivated players with their dense worldbuilding, roaming NPCs, and optional side objectives, all of which have come to define the critically acclaimed series. Nine Sols stood out with its intricate combat system, while more out-there games like pinball Metroidvania Yoku’s Island Express have proven anything can be a Metroidvania with the right amount of determination and creativity. Even Prince of Persia: The Lost Crown changed the game with something as simple as an in-game screenshot system to help with backtracking. The Metroidvania genre is rapidly iterating with a volume of unique takes.

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Oscar-nominated actor Sigourney Weaver has confirmed the reports that she will appear in the upcoming live-action Tomb Raider series on Prime Video.

Speaking to Deadline, Weaver said she is "very excited" to join the cast and work with writer-producer Phoebe Waller-Bridge on the project. "The scripts are incredible and very funny, very charming, very witty, as we've come to expect from Ms. Waller-Bridge," she said. "I've always been a huge fan of hers. So I am delighted."

Also in the interview, Weaver revealed that she's playing a character named Wallace. It appears this may be a new character created for the show.

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Stranger Things Funko Pops & Squishmallows

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Stranger Things is finally coming to an end when the second half of Season 5 arrives on Christmas, followed by the series finale on New Year's Eve (it'll even be in theaters at select locations, if you're looking for a cinematic conclusion). But ahead of the end of the Upside Down, you'll find a bunch of new Funko Pops celebrating the hit Netflix series, most of which are just $15.

This new batch of Stranger Things Funko Pops includes models for Derek, Dustin, Holly, Eleven, Mike, Will, Lucas, Hopper, and Nancy. All of these are traditional Funkos, standing around 3.75 inches tall and giving the cast the iconic Funko makeover. For something a bit different, you can check out the Rockin' Robin with The Squawk set or Steve with the Squawk Van. The latter is already sold out at Amazon, though you can still pick it up at Target. You'll find a list of all new Stranger Things Funko Pops below.

If you're looking for even more Stranger Things Funkos, there are also a bunch of cool Stranger Things Funko Bitty Pops to check out. These tiny figures stand less than an inch tall. These are a nice alternative to the traditional Funko Pops, as they're easy to display on a crowded desktop or entertainment center. They also look absolutely adorable and are a fun choice for young fans of the show. We've included them in the list below as well, including the Byers House Playset you can snag for just $24.84

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