Nintendo has rolled out another new update for Mario Kart World. This patch brings the Switch 2 racing game up to version 1.4.0 and includes a swath of quality-of-life improvements and other adjustments.

Among the numerous tweaks, Nintendo has added a "Custom Items" rule to the game, allowing you to adjust which items appear during a round. The Custom Items rule can be applied to VS Race, Balloon Battle, and Coin Runners modes.

In addition, Nintendo has tweaked some of the course layouts leading to and from Koopa Troopa Beach. The company has also changed it so that every race heading toward Koopa Troopa Beach will now require you to complete two laps after reaching the course.

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As we approach the end of the year, most of us in the northern hemisphere are dealing with long night and cold weather--and hopefully a days of well-earned vacation during the holidays. If you're looking for something to fill your time with, you'll want to check out Fanatical's latest Bundlefestive 2025 event for some big savings on PC games from Monday, December 1, through Friday, December 5. The week-long promotion sees new PC game bundles launching each day, many of which include a dozen or more games for less than the cost of a full-price game. So far, Fanatical has launched two new bundles: the eclectic Killer Bundle Winter 2025 Edition on December 1, followed by the Steam Deck-friendly Build Your Own Play on the Go Bundlefestive Edition today, December 2. You can check out the full details on both bundles below.

Fanatical Bundle Festive 2025

• December 1: Killer Bundle (Winter 2025)
• December 2: Build Your Own Play on the Go Bundle (BundleFestive 2025)
• December 3: TBA
• December 4: TBA
• December 5: TBA

There are still a few more days left of Fanatical's Bundlefestive 2025 event, so be sure to check back daily to see the latest offers. Note that while Bundlefestive 2025 ends on December 5, these bundle deals will stick around for a while longer--but not forever. Like other Fanatical bundles, all games purchased in these Bundlefestive deals are delivered as official PC game keys. Most are redeemed via Steam, though other stores like Epic Games Store may also be required. Each game's DRM is listed on Fanatical's store page.

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Guillermo del Toro: Cabinet of Curiosities (Hardcover)

$45 (was $60) | Limited-time deal

See at Amazon

Whether he's crafting beloved dark fantasy movies like Pan's Labyrinth or directing sci-fi masterpieces like Pacific Rim, filmmaker Guillermo del Toro's work is immediately recognizable for its vivid visual direction. No other films look quite like del Toro's, and if you've ever wanted to take a peek inside his process, then you'll want to grab the reissue of Guillermo del Toro: Cabinet of Curiosities - My Notebooks, Collections, and Other Obsessions. This new edition of the book launched back in October, but is now discounted to $45 (was $60) for a limited time at Amazon. This could make for the perfect holiday gift for the del Toro fan in your life--just make sure you snag a copy while Amazon's discount is still available.

Guillermo del Toro: Cabinet of Curiosities (Hardcover) $45 (was $60) | Limited-time deal

Cabinet of Curiosities is a collection of Guillermo del Toro's illustrated diaries, production notes, and more. The offer a look into the development of his visual sensibilities, as well as closer looks at themes common to his work. The book also includes a lengthy interview with del Toro by New York Times best-selling author and filmmaker Marc Scott Zicree, discussing del Toro's personal inspirations.

See at Amazon

While this deal is for the new 2025 edition of Cabinet of Curiosities, the original 2013 edition is also still available at Amazon for $64. While the books are essentially identical in content, the older book might be a little worse for wear after spending 12 years in an Amazon warehouse. We'd only recommend grabbing this version if the 2025 edition sells out, but it's worth keeping in mind.

Del Toro's latest project is Frankenstein, a Netflix film adaptation of the classic Mary Shelley story about Victor Frankenstein and his monstrous creation. The film features an ensemble cast that includes Oscar Isaac as the infamous doctor and Jacob Elordi as his resurrected creation. While the movie is available to stream on Netflix, you can also dive into the creation of the film with Frankenstein: Written and Directed by Guillermo del Toro, available for $75. There's also Frankenstein: The Complete Screenplay, which includes the film's script alongside concept art and set photography. It's on sale for $21 (was $30) at Amazon.

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Elden Ring: Nightreign's The Forsaken Hollows expansion launches on December 4, and fans should prepare themselves for a challenge--but nothing too extreme. Elden Ring and Nightreign are known for being challenging endeavors, and that will continue with The Forsaken Hollows.

Game director Junya Ishizaki told GameSpot that From Software didn't want the expansion to be "so hard that new players can't get into it." However, people should not expect to breeze through it.

"[The Forsaken Hollows is] definitely a little bit harder, but it's not ridiculous or anything like that, but that's still within what we would consider to be a fair challenge," the developer said.

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Devolver Digital wants to talk about balls. For starters, Ball X Pit just reached a new sales milestone, selling 1 million copies. But that's not all: Developer Kenny Sun is working on brand-new balls for the action-roguelite game, with three free updates on the way next year.

The first new content planned for Ball X Pit is set to release in January with the Regal Update. The Shadow Update is scheduled to follow in April, with the Naturalist Update on the way in July. Devolver Digital says that each free major patch will include new balls, evolutions, and characters. A new trailer for the game--seen below--teases the upcoming updates.

In late October, Ball X Pit had sold 400,000 copies, meaning the game has more than doubled its sales over the past six weeks. The sales numbers come from copies sold on Nintendo Switch, Switch 2, PC, PlayStation 5, and Xbox Series X|S. Ball X Pit is also available on Xbox Game Pass, but the subscription service doesn't count toward traditional sales numbers.

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Fallout 76's Burning Springs update is live, bringing the game's largest map expansion yet. The patch notes for Burning Springs also highlight new Bounty features, more wildlife, and the introduction of The Ghoul character from Amazon Prime Video's Fallout TV series.

Although Fallout 76's main setting is the post-apocalyptic wasteland of Appalachia, players can now explore a brand-new bordering area with a setting in rural Ohio. Burning Springs is described as a region of southeastern Ohio affected by nuclear destruction and environmental poisoning from a chemical plant. This map expansion offers players a new questline that features a Super Mutant known as the Rust King.

Highway Town is a main point-of-interest for the new region, and it serves as a social hub for some of the game's new characters. A notable location to visit is the town's Last Resort saloon, which is where players can meet Walton Goggins' character, The Ghoul, from the TV series.

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Moonlighter 2: The Endless Vault

$20 (was $30)

See at Fanatical

Digital Sun's Moonlighter 2: The Endless Vault launched in early access for PC, PlayStation 5, and Xbox Series X|S on November 19. The PC version of the highly anticipated Zelda-inspired roguelike is already seeing a nice discount over on Fanatical. You can pick it up for $20.09, saving you nearly $10 off the $30 launch price. This is the lowest price for the game so far, as Steam is offering the game for $24.89. Note that buying the game at Fanatical gets you an official Steam key.

Moonlighter 2: The Endless Vault $20 (was $30)

Moonlighter 2: The Endless Vault is the follow-up to the original Moonlighter, which launched in 2018, and offers the same mix of cozy shop sim and action-Roguelike gameplay its predecessor is known for. This time, however, you traverse its regions in a 3D isometric perspective, instead of the top-down 2D view of the first game. The new visual style and new gameplay mechanics also come with expanded accessibility options compared to the original.

See at Fanatical

Moonlighter 2: The Endless Vault may be on sale on Steam through Fanatical, but it launched on PS5 and Xbox Series X|S as well, where it's available day one if you're an Xbox GamePass subscriber.

The original Moonlighter came out in May 2018 to critical acclaim, and if you're a fan of 16-bit retro art styles, then this is the game for you. Fanatical also has the original on sale if you're curious about checking out the series' roots. It's currently down to $14.69 (was $20) for the PC version.

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Ken Levine's Judas has been in development for a very long time, and it will be his first major project since BioShock Infinite's Burial At Sea DLC in 2014. A few of the gameplay elements we've seen from Judas greatly resemble BioShock's interface. But according to Levine, his team doesn't think of it as a first-person shooter. Instead, he called it a "Judas simulator," since the main character's name is Judas.

"Judas ... understands machines in a way she can never understand people," wrote Levin in a developer's blog shared on PlayStation's official site. "That became her greatest strength… and greatest weakness. We put her in a science fiction world, a colony ship filled with robots--a futuristic setting that makes someone like her extremely powerful. But it's also a world where personal success hinges on how well you can conform to the rules, because dissent would lead to the failure of the mission. That makes her an outlaw, a pariah--a Judas. That tension at the heart of the character came to inform everything about the game, which we stopped thinking of as an FPS and started calling a 'Judas Simulator.' Everything comes back to that core idea of you interacting with the world as Judas."

Levine noted that Judas isn't overly fond of other people, but the game's narrative forces her to pick between three different leaders on the colony space ship called The Mayflower. Players' choices as Judas will determine which of the three will call her an ally, while the others condemn her as an enemy.

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Marvel Cosmic Invasion Deluxe Edition

$60 | Releases March 13, 2026

Preorder at Best Buy Preorder at GameStop

Marvel Cosmic Invasion Standard Edition

$40 | Releases March 13, 2026

Preorder at Best Buy Preorder at GameStop

Marvel Cosmic Invasion launches digitally on PC and console next month, but those holding out for a physical release will need to hold out a bit longer. The PS5, Xbox Series X, Switch 2, and Switch physical editions of the game launch on March 13, 2026, but the upshot is that fans can preorder the game now at Best Buy and GameStop. While there are no preorder bonuses announced, you can secure copies of the $40 Standard Edition (or $50 on Switch 2) and $60 Deluxe Edition (or $70 on Switch 2), with the latter including extra content like a steelbook case, a poster, art cards, and a sticker sheet. Walmart is also listing preorders, but all versions are currently sold out, so we recommend preordering at one of the other retailers soon in case it sells out there as well.

Marvel Cosmic Invasion Deluxe Edition $60 | Releases March 13, 2026

The Deluxe Edition of Marvel Cosmic Invasion includes the full game and a selection of physical collectibles. Here's a rundown of everything included:

• Marvel Cosmic Invasion base game
• Steelbook case
• 15 premium art cards
• Poster
• Two sticker sheets
• Deluxe Edition Box

Marvel Cosmic Invasion Deluxe Edition is available on PS5, Xbox Series X, Switch 2, and Switch. Note that the Switch 2 version costs $70, which is $10 more than on the other platforms, but it includes the full game on the cartridge, which is rare among third-party Switch 2 releases that opt for a Game Key-Card format instead.

Marvel Cosmic Invasion Deluxe Edition Preorders

• PS5 -- $60 | Also at GameStop
• Xbox Series X -- $60 | Also at GameStop
• Switch 2 -- $70 | Also at GameStop
• Switch -- $60 | Also at GameStop

Preorder at Best Buy Preorder at GameStop Marvel Cosmic Invasion Standard Edition $40 | Releases March 13, 2026

The Standard Edition of Marvel Cosmic Invasion does not include any extra content, but you get the base game on disc and cartridge. Like the Deluxe Edition, the Switch 2 version is $10 more ($50) than the Switch, PS5, and Xbox Series X versions, but all game data is on the cart.

Marvel Cosmic Invasion Preorders

• PS5 -- $40 | Also at GameStop
• Xbox Series X -- $40 | Also at GameStop
• Switch 2 -- $50 | Also at GameStop
• Switch -- $40 | Also at GameStop

Preorder at Best Buy Preorder at GameStop

A beat-’em-up game from Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: Shredder's Revenge developer Tribute Games, Marvel Cosmic Invasion sees Earth’s Mightiest Mortals team up to take on Annihilus and his Annihilation Wave. Designed to look like an old-school SNES action game with its pixel-art graphics, the game features a roster of 15 heroes. The lineup includes popular characters like Captain America, Storm, and Spider-Man, alongside more obscure heroes like Beta Ray Bill and Quasar, all rendered in a style that evokes classic ’90s video games.

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Bungie's Marathon was reported to have used stolen art, but the matter has now apparently been resolved. The artist who originally brought the claims against Bungie has now announced that the issue "has been resolved with Bungie and Sony Interactive Entertainment to my satisfaction."

No further details were divulged regarding the nature of the matter and how this closure came to be. People are theorizing that the artist received a settlement payment, but that is not confirmed.

The Marathon art issue has been resolved with Bungie and Sony Interactive Entertainment to my satisfaction.

— N² (@4nt1r34l) December 2, 2025

After the art theft claims came to light earlier this year, Bungie responded to say it "immediately investigated" the concerns, and "confirmed that a former Bungie artist included these in a texture sheet that was ultimately used in-game."

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Obsidian has announced that the planned fall update for Avowed is not going to make it on time. The features planned for the update are still coming, but they are now going to be wrapped into a "larger update" instead in February 2026 to celebrate the game's first anniversary.

"This update will include everything originally planned for fall, plus additional features that will make it our biggest update yet. Stay tuned as we head into the new year for more details on what’s planned for the Living Lands," the developer said.

Avowed previously got spring and summer updates that added things like a no-spiders mode and custom map markers. The February 2026 update will include New Game Plus and Photo modes, along with a new weapon type, new character presets, more Godlike feature presets, and the ability to change your character's appearance, among other things.

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Rockstar Games launched the new version of Red Dead Redemption on modern consoles and mobile today, December 2, but the rollout did not go entirely smoothly on Xbox.

People who already own Red Dead Redemption for Xbox 360 digitally were expecting the new edition for Xbox Series X|S to automatically show up as a free download, but quickly noticed this didn't happen.

This is an issue that Rockstar is aware of and the studio is working with Microsoft to resolve it. "Thank you for your patience," Rockstar said.

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The Pokemon Company is giving away another freebie for Pokemon Legends: Z-A. Players can now claim two free Mega Stones for Mewtwo, which will unlock a side quest to catch the legendary Pokemon.

The two Mega Stones--Mewtwonite X and Mewtwonite Y--can be downloaded via the Mystery Gift function. Once equipped, they allow the legendary Pokemon to Mega Evolve into Mega Mewtwo X and Mega Mewtwo Y, respectively.

To claim the Mega Stones, you must fire up your copy of Pokemon Legends: Z-A and do the following:

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Elden Ring Nightreign packs a solid number of nightfarers and bosses in its base game, ensuring players have plenty to do right out of the gate. But if you've seen everything in the initial release and want some fresh challenges, The Forsaken Hollows DLC adds two new playable characters, two extra bosses, and a fresh Shifting Earth event. If you're curious what you'll need to accomplish to unlock access to these additions, though, we've got you covered below.

How to start The Forsaken Hollows DLC in Elden Ring Nightreign

Before you can begin unlocking the content in The Forsaken Hollows DLC, you'll need to purchase and download it from your platform's respective storefront. Alternatively, if you've previously purchased the Elden Ring Nightreign Deluxe Edition, you'll be able to download the DLC at no additional cost.

Once you've installed the DLC, follow the steps below to unlock each bit of new content.

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A handful of new Mega-Evolved Pokemon are making their debut in Pokemon Legends: Z-A's upcoming Mega Dimension DLC, and ahead of the expansion's launch, The Pokemon Company has revealed another new one: a second Mega Evolution for Lucario.

Mega Lucario Z marks the game's first Z Mega Evolution--a new kind of Mega-Evolved form that has a shorter cooldown period, but depletes Mega Energy much more quickly. According to the official Pokemon website, "Pokemon that undergo Z Mega Evolution require less time to fire off moves after receiving the orders from their Trainer, but they also burn through their Mega Power very quickly, making them less suited for long battles."

Like the original Mega Lucario, Mega Lucario Z is a steel and fighting type. Where this form differs, however, is in its defense and speed stats. As the official Pokemon website explains, "While Mega Lucario concentrates its aura into a destructive force, Mega Lucario Z uses it to surround its entire body, cloaking itself to increase its defense, flexibility, and agility."

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Veteran games executive and former Nexon CEO, Owen Mahoney, believes the video game industry is on the cusp of a massive transformation--and that AI is at the center of it. He argues that AI is already integrated into many aspects of game development, from asset production to testing tools, and that its impact will only intensify.

In an interview with The Game Business, Mahoney explains that the AAA sector is facing what he bluntly calls an "end-of-days" moment. Costs are skyrocketing, development cycles are slowing, and publishers are becoming increasingly risk-averse, adding that the industry often misunderstands where value truly comes from.

Responding to examples of failed studios with prestigious founders, Mahoney says, "The examples that you just gave were, 'We bought this company because five years ago they made some game. So, therefore they're good.' It doesn’t work that way at all," and insists that the "game companies are really just collections of people." He believes that success depends on understanding their motivation and creative drive, not past hits.

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A new report has shed more light on the CEO succession plans at Disney, with a story from The Wall Street Journal saying leading candidate Josh D'Amaro wants to focus more on gaming. The same report also suggested that Electronic Arts CEO Andrew Wilson is not going to get the job.

It was previously reported that Disney's board considered external candidates to take over for Bob Iger, including Wilson. But the new report said Disney is likely to choose an internal candidate. Wilson, for his part, is staying on with EA amidst the company's $55 billion sale.

The new Disney CEO could be D'Amaro, who is currently the current head of Disney Experiences--a sprawling unit that covers theme parks, consumer products, cruise ships, and video games. The WSJ report said D'Amaro--who is "widely considered" to be named the next CEO--wants to give video games "a bigger role at the company." The report said D'Amaro is also looking to integrate "gaming technology" into Disney's creative processes. No further details were divulged, however.

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Battlefield 6's collaboration with Red Bull is now live, allowing players to unlock XP boosts and cosmetic items for completing challenges in the main game and Battlefield Redsec.

There are 10 new challenges available now (and three "bonus" challenges), and they're all themed around "extreme physical feats," which makes sense given Red Bull is all about extreme sports and lots of caffeine. The Battlefield 6 x Red Bull challenges will be available until December 16.

The Battlefield 6 x Red Bull collaboration is now live.

The challenges involve doing daring things like performing a combat roll after jumping off a ledge three times, sprinting for 600 seconds, getting airtime in the golf cart, and surviving for 600 seconds total in Redsec.

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Yours Truly, Princess Peach Talking Figure

$37.79 (was $50)

See at Macy's See at Target

With The Super Mario Galaxy Movie launching in theaters early next year, it's no surprise there are tons of new Mario toys launching this holiday season. One of the newest (and most unique) options is the Talking Princess Peach Doll, which launched just a few weeks ago in November, but is already seeing a discount at multiple online retailers. Fans can pick up the interactive 12-inch doll at Macy's for $37.79, saving you some cash compared to its $50 list price. It's also available for $40 at Target. We're expecting the toy to be quite popular, so if you want to pick it up as a gift or for yourself, we'd recommend checking it out soon. Note that if you buy from Macy's, consider picking up a few other things while you're there, as the retailer is offering a free Geoffrey Giraffe 9-Inch Plush on all orders of $75 or more. The offer ends on December 11.

Yours Truly, Princess Peach Talking Figure $37.79 (was $50)

This officially licensed Princess Peach toy features over 25 quotes, phrases, and music from the Super Mario video game series. The figure has multiple points of articulation for posing, and you can also press downward to cause her flowing pink dress to billow outward--much as it does when she's jumping in the games. The figure runs on two AA batteries, which are included in the package.

See at Macy's See at Target Yours Truly, Princess Peach Talking Figure

Looking to put together a collection of Mario dolls? Macy's also has the Let's Go, Yoshi 12-Inch Figure in stock and on sale for $37.79 (was $50). Consider bundling Yoshi with Peach to unlock the free Geoffrey plush offer. Unfortunately, the talking It's-A Me, Mario 12-inch figure companion to Yoshi and Peach has been discontinued--but if you really need it in your collection, you can still find it at Amazon for $66.63, which is a bit more expensive than its original $50 MSRP. You can round out the set the the 12-inch Big Bad Bowser figure, which is available exclusively at Costco, where it's discounted to $34 (was $54) until December 7.

All 12-inch Talking Mario Figures

• Big Bad Bowser -- $35 ($54)
• It's-A Me, Mario -- $66.63
• Let's Go, Yoshi -- $37.79 ($50)
• Yours Truly, Princess Peach -- $37.79 ($50) | $40 at Target

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Helldivers 2 on PC just got a whole lot smaller, with developer Arrowhead Studios announcing a new, "slim" version of the game that reduces the game's install size by 131GB.

Fans on PC have long complained about the PC version's huge install size (and other technichal issues), which since the game's launch in 2024 has ballooned to 154GB. That's much larger than the close-to-22GB size of the console versions.

Arrowhead stated in a new blog post its long-term goal has always been to reduce the PC install size, but that now, with help from Nixxes Software, that goal has become a reality "much sooner than expected." Helldivers 2 on PC now only takes up 23GB--an 85% size reduction.

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