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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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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Lego Guardians of the Galaxy: Rocket & Baby Groot (566 Pieces)

$34 (was $60) | Retiring soon

See at Walmart See at Target Check stock at Amazon

Guardians of the Galaxy fans can get an excellent deal on Lego's buildable Rocket Raccoon figure. Normally $60, the 566-piece Rocket and Baby Groot building set is discounted to only $34 in Walmart's extended Cyber Deals event. Target also has a deal on this set that drops the price to $34.49. Amazon price-matched Target earlier this week but has since sold out.

Rocket and Baby Groot is one of the Lego Marvel sets that is retiring soon. The Lego Store already cleared out its remaining inventory with a $42 deal, so the deals at Walmart and Target could be the last for Rocket and Baby Groot.

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This week, Five Nights At Freddy's 2 is heading to theaters to see if it can scare up a box office return comparable to the original film's $297.1 million worldwide take. Apparently, it's already scared returning star Matthew Lillard enough to believe that the sequel could have gotten bumped to an R rating.

"It's funny, Matthew Lillard saw the movie the other day and he called me and he was like, 'It's so scary… Is this still PG-13?,'" related director Emma Tammi during an interview with Dexerto. Tammi noted that the sequel does have a darker tone than its predecessor, but she wanted it to be PG-13 so younger fans could watch it as well.

"I think the audiences that maybe wanted the first one to go to scarier places will be really satisfied," added Tammi. "We wanted to be inclusive of the younger audiences, and at the same time, we don't want to limit how dark and scary it can feel for the older audiences."

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Lego Wicked: Glinda & Elphaba Visit Munchkinland (744 pieces)

$48 (was $70)

See at Walmart

Wicked: For Good hit theaters last month, and if you're seeking an affordable way to bring the magical musical into your home, Walmart has you covered. The Lego Wicked: Glinda & Elphaba Visit Munchkinland set is currently on sale for just $48 (was $70). This set is only sold by Walmart and the official Lego Store--and since the latter still has it for $70, this is a pretty enticing offer. The offer is part of Walmart's extended Cyber Monday sale this week, but it won't be around for long and could sell out fast.

Lego Wicked: Glinda & Elphaba Visit Munchkinland (744 pieces) $48 (was $70)

This fun playset lets you build a mini munchkin house, complete with accessories like flowers, a bubble pedal, and a tiny version of the Yellow Brick Road. You'll also get three minifigures for Elphaba, Glinda, and Boq. While the front of the building features an exterior based on that of the film, the back of the set lets you dive into a variety of rooms. From a reading den and bedroom to a removable kitchen sink, this relatively small playset is packed with cool features.

At 744 pieces, experienced builders should have no problem snapping this together in an afternoon. Instructions are included, though it's also compatible with the Lego Builder app, which provides a more detailed (and interactive) guide. The set stands over 8.5 inches tall and 9 inches wide once completed.

See at Walmart

Black Friday and Cyber Monday have come and gone, but several items are still on sale at Walmart. Be sure to check out its full catalog, but we've pulled together a few great Lego deals--including additional discounts for Lego Wicked sets. For example, Lego Wicked: Welcome to Emerald City is just $80 (was $100) and comes with five minidolls. And if you don't mind venturing over to Amazon, you can pick up the tiny Lego Wicked: Glinda's Wedding Day set for just $34 (was $40). Outside of the Wicked collection, sets from Lego's other lines like Star Wars, Marvel, Technic, and more are also on sale. Some notable offers include the Lego Star Wars Executor Star Destroyer model for $40 (was $70) and the Lego Technic: NEOM McLaren kit for $45 (was $77). You can also score a deal on the soon-to-be-retired Lego Icons: Blacktron Renegade set, which is down to $59 (was $100) and may be one of the last opportunities you'll have to pick it up. Check the links below for more Lego deals at Walmart.

More Lego Deals at Walmart

• Lego Icons: Blacktron Renegade (1,151 pieces)-- $59 ($100)
• Lego Ideas: Red London Telephone (1,460 pieces)-- $79 ($115)
• Lego Marvel: Rocket & Baby Groot (566 pieces) -- $34 ($60)
• Lego Star Wars: Executor Super Star Destroyer (630 pieces)-- $40 ($70)
• Lego Technic: NEOM McLaren (704 pieces) -- $45 ($77)
• Lego Wicked: Elphaba & Glinda Figures (558 pieces)-- $44 ($55)
• Lego Wicked: Elphaba's Retreat (228 pieces)-- $23.79 ($28)
• Lego Wicked: Glinda, Elphaba & Nessarose at Shiz University (304 pieces)-- $21 ($30)
• Lego Wicked: Glinda and Elphaba Visit Munchkinland (744 pieces)-- $48 ($70)
• Lego Wicked: Glinda's Wedding Day (476 pieces)-- $34 ($40)
• Lego Wicked: Welcome to Emerald City (945 pieces) -- $80 ($100)

While Wicked: For Good is currently in theaters, the upcoming Blu-ray release is already available to preorder. You can secure your copy of the standard 4K Blu-ray edition at Amazon and Walmart, or you can opt for one of the retailer-exclusive versions. Walmart has a unique Limited Edition Steelbook version for $38, while Amazon has a very pricey exclusive Wicked: For Good Gift Set for $230 that includes the 4K Blu-ray, a special case, a collectible gold Emerald City statuette, and certificate of authenticity. Release dates for have not been announced.

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Mina the Hollower, the next game from the creators of Shovel Knight, is "make-or-break" for indie developer Yacht Club Games, according to studio head and co-founder Sean Velasco.

In a new Bloomberg interview, Velasco said in order for Yacht Club Games to remain independent, Mina the Hollower needs to be a success, and if it could sell 200,000 copies, "that would be really, really great." The studio recently underwent layoffs and put a second in-the-works project on hold until Mina the Hollower releases.

"It's make-or-break for sure," Velasco said. "If we sold 500,000 copies, then we would be golden. If we sold even 200,000, that would be really, really great. If we sold, like, 100,000, that's not so good."

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The Arc Raiders Achievement/Trophy for killing another player in PvP combat is titled "Crossing The Threshold," and after 120 hours of intentional pacifistic gameplay, when I saw that alert come across my screen, I felt like I had done exactly that: I'd waded into uncharted territory. More than that, I'd found myself in a world I didn't even want to be in. I'd prided myself on never killing another player in the game. Through dozens and dozens of rounds, I'd gone well out of my way to avoid such an outcome, often being slow to shoot first, even to my own detriment. I put my trust in other players, and sometimes it would prove unwarranted. Mostly, I'd resorted to diplomacy, often talking my way out of problems with other players I'd encounter. I had so many big ideas about what it takes to return to Speranza without blood on one's hands. To me, Arc Raiders was this exciting social experiment. How long can I effectively talk down other players who means me harm? In the end, the answer was about 122 hours of play.

The fateful encounter occurred on Stella Montis, which will be no surprise to some Arc Raiders veterans. This newest map, and the first to take place entirely indoors, is an ultra-tense setting where you are either diligently checking your corners or you're soon bleeding out on the ground. Even in solo queues, where Arc Raiders remains mostly the bastion of good-natured and helpful PvE-only players, it feels like Stella Montis is kill-or-be-killed more than the game's other maps.

I was minding my own business, cautiously looting but certainly not planning to hurt anyone, when I heard some gunfire nearby. Hiding behind some lockers, I had a clear view of this fight, except for when it wrapped into the next room via the open doors leading to a hallway. I was still within range to hear the proximity chat of those who were scrapping, and witnessed with my eyes and/or ears a scuffle that took the lives of at least two players, whose flares shot toward the ceiling from inside the hallway. I crouched a safe distance away from the noise, then continued exploring other rooms.

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While many of the best Black Friday and Cyber Monday deals have vanished, a few are still around. One such offer is at Displate, which is offering up to 44% on select metal posters. The price cut applies to dozens of pieces in Displate's product catalog, which offers metal prints based on everything from video games and movies to TV shows and anime. To cash in on the deal, add any eligible product (or products) to your shopping cart, then use promo code CYBER at checkout. The amount you'll save is directly related to how many items you have in your cart: 35% for one or more prints, 41% for three or more, and 44% for five or more. The savings ends at 11:59 PM PT, so be sure to swing by the retailer and check out the offer while you can.

See deals at Displate Displate Cyber Monday Discounts

Use code CYBER at checkout.

• Buy 1-2 -- Get 35% off
• Buy 3-4 -- Get 41% off
• Buy 5+ -- Get 44% off

Need help sifting through Displate's gigantic catalog? Here's a look at a few of our favorites. Keep in mind that pricing varies based on how you customize the poster (size, matte, gloss, frame, etc.), but your standard 17.7 x 12.6 inch matte poster starts at $32.49 (was $50) when using the promo code. Note that all of the products below are officially licensed.

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YouTube has published its list of the top trending topics of 2025, and once again, gaming and pop culture were popular choices for what people watched on the video-streaming website. Out of the trending topics--which aren't ranked in any particular order--US YouTube viewers devoured any content related to the Switch 2 console, Roblox, and the RPG-strategy game Cookie Run Kingdom. Other topics of interest in the US included KPop Demon Hunters, Labubu collectible dolls, and the hit anime series Blue Lock.

Roblox user-generated experiences and the Switch 2 continued to be popular topics on YouTube worldwide, especially in countries such as Korea, Germany, Mexico, France, Japan, and the United Kingdom. YouTube says that it determined the top trends for the US and other regions through "a variety of signals," including views, uploads, and creator activity around the topics. Only the topics that were determined to have had conspicuous popularity this year--either because they were new to 2025 or because they saw significant increases in their user-interest metrics--were eligible for the list.

YouTube Trending Pop Culture Topics in the US for 2025

• Squid Game
• User-Generated Roblox Experiences: Grow A Garden, Dandy's World, Forsaken, Steal A Brainrot
• KPop Demon Hunters
• Brainrot
• Labubu
• Nintendo Switch 2
• Cookie Run Kingdom
• Blue Lock
• Katseye

While Roblox has seen its popularity reach new heights in 2025, that has also brought new scrutiny to the game-creation platform, following accusations that it is infested with child predators who prey on its young userbase. Recently, Roblox Corporation CEO David Baszucki unveiled an initiative to introduce a new face-scanning feature to increase child safety, but an interview with The New York Times yielded some questionable responses from him.

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Mark Cerny--best known as the lead architect of the PlayStation Vita, PS4, and PS5--recently appeared on Simon Parkin's My Perfect Console podcast to choose five games he would preserve on a fictional console. While much of the conversation naturally touched on his long history with Sony, one of the most surprising and heartfelt moments came when he talked about his love for Nintendo's Pikmin.

Despite his deep ties to PlayStation, Cerny made it clear that Pikmin left a lasting mark on him. Cerny described playing the original Pikmin as a truly "transformative" experience. He explained how emotionally invested he became in Captain Olimar's struggle to survive and return home.

"I had this thing where I tended to play smaller, lighter games for about 10 years, so I don't know, Portal or Plants vs. Zombies or Flower or Katamari Damacy. Pikmin, I just [picked] out of that list because I thought it was such an emotionally involving story," Cerny explained. "Poor Captain Olimar, he crash lands, and he's got 30 days to reassemble his ship, or he'll run out of oxygen and die, and he's sending letters home every day."

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Nintendo has provided game file sizes for Metroid Prime 4: Beyond on Switch and Switch 2, letting console owners know how much space they need to download the first-person adventure game. On Switch 2, Metroid Prime 4 comes in at an estimated 31.6GB, while the original Switch version only takes up 26.3GB, per the Nintendo Store. Intriguingly, though, the eShop accessed via Switch 2 showcases the Switch edition as taking up 28.9GB.

Regardless, it makes sense Metroid Prime 4 has a bigger download size on Switch 2, since the game offers 4K visuals in quality mode docked and 120fps in performance mode docked. There is also HDR support and mouse controls, courtesy of the Switch 2 Joy-Con controllers. Both versions will launch this Thursday, December 4.

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In November, PC and PlayStation 5 users were able to dive into Everstone Studio and NetEase Games' Wuxia action-adventure-RPG, Where Winds Meet. Now, the mobile launch is just over a week away.

Where Winds Meet will get its official debut on iOS and Android on December 12, and the mobile version will support cross-play and cross-progression for PC and PS5 users.

"We are both humbled and flattered by the kind words and encouragement from players around the world," said Where Winds Meet lead producer Beralt Lyu in a statement. "Their support inspires us to continue improving the game and delivering even better content to our players. With the mobile version coming soon, we can't wait for more players to join our growing community."

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Lego Stranger Things: The Creel House (2,593 pieces)

$300 | Releases January 4, 2026

See at Lego Store

Lego has officially revealed a new Stranger Things set, as fans can look forward to a 2,593-piece tribute to the iconic Creel House. The hub of all things spooky in the Stranger Things series, this Lego replica is loaded with Easter eggs from all five seasons of the Netflix show and it's now available to preorder for $300. Members of the Lego Insiders rewards program can get their hands on the set early, starting January 1, 2026, and it'll be available globally starting January 4. Anyone who buys the set from the Lego Store from January 1-4 will also receive the 584-piece Lego Icons Stranger Things: WSQK Radio Station set as a free gift, which includes Joyce and Hopper minifigures.

Lego Stranger Things: The Creel House (2,593 pieces) $300 | Releases January 4, 2026

Just like the infamous location, the Lego replica of the Creel House features a richly detailed facade and several highly detailed rooms. Alice and Henry's bedrooms, the haunted upstairs hallway, and Vecna's Mind Lair are all part of the build, and other nods to the series include the infamous grandfather clock, Steve's car, the WSQK radio station van, and Will's bike. The mansion can be displayed in its eerie boarded-up state, or you can open it up to examine all the rooms inside.

The set comes with 13 minifigures--Eleven, Will, Mike, Lucas, Dustin, Holly, Steve, Nancy, Robin, Jonathan, Max, Mr. Whatsit, and Vecna--and it measures over 11.5 inches high, 20 inches wide, and 7 inches deep after it has been fully constructed.

See at Lego Store Gallery

This isn't the first Stranger Things set produced by Lego, and if you're looking to complete the collection, you can pick up a BrickHeadz collection of Mike Wheeler, Dustin Henderson, Lucas Sinclair, and Will Byers buildable figures for $40. The set launched in October, and each figure adapts the Stranger Things character's look and '80s fashion.

Stranger Things BrickHeadz See at Lego Store

Each blocky figure also comes with a buildable display base to pop them on and accessories like a walkie-talkie for Mike, a headset for Dustin, and a slingshot and binoculars for Lucas.

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Writer-director Hideo Kojima has announced that he is part of the voice cast for the Japanese version of Disney's Zootopia 2. He voices the mole role of Paul Moldebrandt.

Kojima told Famitsu that Zootopia 2 director Jared Bush personally asked Kojima to play the role for the Japanese dubbing of the Disney film that's now in theaters and putting up massive numbers.

Zootopia 2 has already made $560 million+ globally, thanks in large part to China, where the film has earned $270 million so far. China is far and away the biggest market for Zootopia 2 so far, the next closet being the US and Canada ($158.8 million).

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Sony has unveiled a new limited-edition look for the DualSense controller, just in time for the launch of Genshin Impact Version Luna III. Dubbed the Genshin Impact Limited Edition, this controller is inspired by the game and its signature style, giving it a fantasy-themed makeover. Preorders begin December 11 at 7 AM PT / 10 AM ET, and the controller is priced at $85.

This version of the DualSense controller combines an ethereal white, gold, and green palette with arcane glyphs found in Genshin Impact. You'll also find emblems of the Traveler Twins Aether and Lumine, as well as a nod to their companion guide, Paimon, with a cute graphic. Sony says that it collaborated closely with Genshin Impact developer HoYoverse to create the controller and celebrate the popular live-service game's fifth anniversary.

Genshin Impact DualSense controllerGallery

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Lego Minifigures - Spider-Man: Across the Spider-Verse 6-Pack

$27 (was $30)

See at Amazon See at Target Sold out at Walmart Sold out at Lego Store

The Lego Spider-Man: Across the Spider-Verse minifigure collection is on sale for the first time since launching in September. Amazon is selling mystery boxes with six Lego Spider-Man minifigures for $27 (was $30). The 10% discount only shaves three bucks from the price, but the Spider-Verse minifigures have largely been sold out at other retailers. At the moment, only Amazon and Target have Spider-Verse 6-Packs in stock--and you'll pay full price at Target. Single Spider-Verse minifigures are priced at $5, but every major retailer and the Lego Store are sold out of singles.

Amazon has marked this as a Cyber Monday deal, so it may disappear at 12 AM PT (December 2). But unlike most of Amazon's Cyber Monday Lego deals, the store page doesn't have a countdown clock, so it could stick around after the sale ends.

The Spider-Verse Lego minifigure collection includes 12 characters from the animated film series. Each minifigure comes with a stand and most also have an accessory.

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Amazon Fire HD 10 Tablet 32GB

Starts at $70 (normally $140)

See at Amazon (with ads) See at Amazon (no ads)

There are only a few hours left of Amazon's Cyber Monday event, but the sale is still chock-full of discounts, including big price cuts on the retailer's first-party devices. One of the best deals is for up to 50% off the 32GB Fire HD 10 Tablet. You can grab the ad-supported version of the tablet for just $70 (was $140), while the ad-free model is $85 (was $155). These markdowns only last until Amazon's Cyber Monday event ends at 11:59 PM PT on December 1.

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The Mistborn Saga: Original Trilogy Box Set

$15.32 (was $35)

See at Amazon

The Stormlight Archive: Books 1-3 Box Set

$17 (was $39)

See at Amazon

If you're interested in trying one or both of Brandon Sanderson's wildly popular fantasy series, you shouldn't miss out on Amazon's Cyber Monday box set deals. The Mistborn Trilogy Box Set is on sale for only $15.32 (was $35), which is the lowest price ever--and this slipcased set has been available since early 2020. The Stormlight Archive Books 1-3 Box Set is on sale for $17 (was $38), which is the lowest price since it was $15 in Amazon's 2023 Black Friday sale.

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