Official Stranger Things Cookbook: Recipes from Hawkins and Beyond

$26 (was $37) | Releases January 13

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The series finale for Stranger Things airs on December 31, bringing the epic adventure to a close. But that's not the last time you'll hear from the citizens of Hawkins, as you can keep the spirit of the show alive in your kitchen with the upcoming Stranger Things Cookbook. Available for preorder ahead of its January 13 release, this official cookbook includes over 60 recipes inspired by Netflix's hit series. Preorders are currently discounted to $26 (was $37).

Official Stranger Things Cookbook: Recipes from Hawkins and Beyond $26 (was $37) | Releases January 13

This hardcover cookbook features a wide range of recipes, from decadent desserts to hearty dinners. The sixty or so recipes span 224 pages, each with accompanying images, an ingredient list, and detailed instructions for prep and cooking. Here's a quick look at a few of the dishes in the book:

• Barb's Baked Ziti
• Bob's Speedway Chili
• Dart Shots
• Deep-Dish Pumpkin Pie
• Demigorgonzola Cheese Balls
• El's Eggo Extravaganza
• Hellfire Club Devil's Food Cake
• Surfer Boy Pizza

Each recipe also comes with a short story set in the Stranger Things universe. For example, the Hideout Hamburger Helper recipe tells a story about Eddie Munson as he scavenges for supplies at Reefer Rick's dock house.

Preorder at Amazon USS Butterscotch Sundae from the Stranger Things CookbookGallery

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8BitDo Retro 87 Mechanical Keyboard: Xbox Edition

$70 (was $120) at Woot | $96 at Amazon

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8BitDo Retro R8 Mouse + Charging Dock: Xbox Edition

$50 (was $60)

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All three of 8BitDo's transparent green gaming peripherals licensed by Xbox are on sale for great prices this holiday season. The superb Retro 87 Mechanical Keyboard is up for grabs for only $70 (was $120) at Amazon-owned retailer Woot. You can also save on the tenkeyless wireless keyboard directly from Amazon, but the price is considerably higher ($96). The Retro 87 launched in January alongside the matching Retro R8 Mouse, which is on sale for only $48 (was $60) at Amazon. The wireless mouse is bundled with a magnetic charging dock.

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Lego Batman: Legacy of the Dark Knight Standard Edition

$70 | Releases May 29, 2026

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Lego Batman: Legacy of the Dark Knight Deluxe Edition

$90 | Releases May 26, 2026

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The Caped Crusader returns next year with Lego Batman: Legacy of the Dark Knight launching on PlayStation 5, Switch 2, Xbox Series X|S, and PC on May 29, 2026. This all-new Lego Batman title looks to be a tribute to multiple eras of the hero, letting players explore different versions of Gotham City as multiple Lego-ified incarnations of Batman. Preorders are now open for the game, including a $70 standard edition and a $90 Deluxe Edition, which includes new gear and vehicles to help protect the streets of Gotham. You can also start playing the game a few days early if you preorder the Deluxe Edition. All other versions include bonus cosmetics for securing a copy of the game before launch.

Editor's Note: This article initially stated the Switch 2 version of Lego Batman: Legacy of the Dark Knight includes the full game on the cartridge due to the Switch 2 version box art, but it has since been confirmed that the game is, in fact, a Game Key-Card release, and that the cover art will be updated at a later date to reflect this.

Lego Batman: Legacy of the Dark Knight Preorder BonusesLego Batman: Legacy of the Dark Knight Preorder Bonuses

Preordeing any version of Lego Batman: Legacy of the Dark Knight will unlock the batsuit from The Dark Knight Returns, a classic blue-and-grey ensemble inspired by the legendary comic book mini-series.

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The Pink Panther Blu-rays

Releasing December 30

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The Pink Panther is one of the few film franchises instantly recognizable by its theme tune, and if you've never seen it, you can grab four classic entries in the series on 4K Blu-ray starting December 30. Each new release includes a standard Blu-ray disc of the movie and special features. Preorders are available now, and each one is discounted to $31.49 (was $45) at Amazon. Here's a look at all four of the upcoming Pink Panther 4K Blu-rays, along with links to preorder if you're interested.

The Pink Panther (1963) (4K) $31.49 (was $45) | Releases December 30

The Pink Panther film series began with the original film in 1963, introducing the world to the blundering French police inspector Jacques Clouseau, played by Peter Sellers. Facing off against the dashing European thief Sir Charles Lytton (David Niven), Clouseau had to match what few wits he had against the master criminal and prevent him from stealing the titular Pink Panther diamond.

This new 4K Blu-ray release is the first time the film has been available in 4K. Preorders are discounted to $31.49 (was $45) at Amazon.

Preorder at Amazon A Shot in the Dark (4K) $31.49 (was $45) | Releases December 30

The next film in the series, A Shot in the Dark, hit theaters in 1964 and sees Sellers return as Inspector Clouseau. This was a standalone sequel to The Pink Panther, and it introduced Clouseau's boss, Commissioner Dreyfus, who was the frequent victim of the inspector's near-lethal clumsiness.

Just like The Pink Panther, this new A Shot in the Dark 4K Blu-ray launches on December 30, and Amazon is marking down preorders to $31.49 (was $45).

Preorder at Amazon The Pink Panther Strikes Again (4K) $31.49 (was $45) | Releases December 30

Sellers reunited with director Blake Edwards and several familiar faces for Return of the Pink Panther in 1975--though, strangely, that film's 4K Blu-ray version is planned to launch later in 2026 and it not available to preorder. However, its 1976 follow-up, The Pink Panther Strikes Again, is getting a 4K Blu-ray on the same day as the others. This entry follows the now-deranged Commissioner Dreyfus from the previous films and his schemes to murder Clouseau.

Preorder at Amazon Revenge of the Pink Panther (4K) $31.49 (was $45) | Releases December 30

The final Pink Panther 4K Blu-ray launching on December 30 is 1978's Revenge of the Pink Panther. This film closes out Sellers' run as Clouseau, and sees the detective take on French drug kingpin Philippe Douvier. Just like the other releases, preorders are discounted to $31.49 (was $45) at Amazon.

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While this covers most of the mainline films starring Peter Sellers as Inspector Jacques Clouseau, the third film in the series, Return of the Pink Panther, is expected to be released on 4K Blu-ray later in 2026.

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Avatar Blu-rays

Collector's Edition, 4K, and 3D Blu-rays

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Avatar: The Way of Water Collector's Edition (4K)

$76

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With Avatar: Fire and Ash now in theaters, it's a great time to catch up on the previous two films in director James Cameron's blockbuster sci-fi series. Luckily, new stock of the Avatar and Avatar: The Way of Water Collector's Edition 4K Blu-rays have arrived at Amazon and Walmart. These are the most comprehensive versions of the films available so far, offering both 4K and Blu-ray versions of the movies on disc alongside a bunch of special features, some of which are exclusive to these Collector's Editions. We've outlined the details for both Collector's Editions below. However, if you're looking to save some cash, we've also thrown in links to the standard edition 4K Blu-rays and 3D Blu-ray releases for Avatar and Avatar: The Way of Water as well.

Avatar Collector's Edition (4K) $47.73

Avatar's Collector's Edition is loaded with extra content across this four-disc set. The box set includes theatrical, special edition, and extended cuts of Avatar in 4K, as well as standard Blu-ray and a digital streaming copy of the film. What makes this edition special is that it includes hours of exclusive special features, ranging from deleted scenes to an in-depth deconstruction of how several major moments from the movie were created and filmed.

Additionally, there's a behind-the-scenes presentation by famed filmmaker Jon Landau, RDA promos featuring Stephen Lang as Colonel Miles Quaritch, and several featurettes examining the script, artwork, and marketing of Avatar. Considering that the film employed several groundbreaking visual and special effects technologies throughout its production, the deep dives into how Avatar was made make for a lengthy and informative look behind the curtain.

See at Amazon See at Walmart Avatar Standard Edition (4K) $27

While the 4K version of Avatar isn't as extensive as the Collector's Edition in terms of special features or different cuts of the film, it's still a solid option. The three-disc set includes three hours of bonus materials and the upscaled edits from the 2022 theatrical remaster minus the extended additional scenes from previous releases.

See at Walmart Avatar 3D Blu-ray $34.49 (was $56)

If you have a 3D TV, you can also get the 3D version of Avatar. The movie raised the bar for 3D films and remains the gold standard for the format. The 3D version uses the theatrical cut of Avatar. It also includes a standard (non-3D) Blu-ray and digital copy of the film, along with the same selection of bonus materials as the standard 4K version.

See at Amazon Avatar: The Way of Water Collector's Edition (4K) $76

Like the Avatar: Collector's Edition, this version of the film sequel is packed with extras. In total, there are over eight hours of bonus materials across four discs that thoroughly explore the making of the movie through several featurettes, while also expanding on its story with several deleted and extended scenes. All the discs are housed inside of a fold-out case featuring unique artwork from the movie, and it supports Dolby Vision.

See at Amazon See at Walmart Avatar: The Way of Water Standard Edition (4K) $22.49

If you want to save a few dollars and don't mind missing out on the Collector's Edition's exclusive extras, Avatar: The Way of Water is also available in a standard edition 4K Blu-ray release for just $22.49. While the list of special features is shorter, you're still getting a 4K quality version of the film on disc.

And if you really want to save, there's even a DVD version of Avatar: The Way of Water available for $10, but this is strictly a movie-only release with no extra content, and it's in much lower visual quality than the 4K or even 3D Blu-ray versions.

See at Amazon (4K) See at Amazon (DVD) Avatar: The Way of Water 3d (Blu-ray) $31.36

Fans of 3D movies can also pick up the film in this enhanced version, but it's worth noting that it has a smaller selection of special features than the standard and Collector's Edition 4K Blu-rays. It still totals over three hours of extra content with a curated list of featurettes, behind-the-scenes documentaries, and more, plus you're getting a standard Blu-ray and digital copy of the film to watch.

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Directed by James Cameron (Terminator 2, Alien, Titanic), the Avatar series takes place in the 22nd Century on the faraway alien planet of Pandora, where the native Na'vi species clash with high-tech human colonizers who pillage the world for its valuable resources. The saga follows Jake Sully, a human whose mind is transferred into a genetically engineered Na'vi body on a mission to infiltrate and sabotage their resistance. However, Sully quickly finds himself won over by the Na'vi, and joins their side to push back the invading human forces.

The first two films in the series, Avatar and Avatar: The Way of Water are some of the most successful movies in recent history. The two films combined have grossed over $5.2 billion at the box office, and the third film, Avatar: Fire and Ash, premiered on December 19 to positive reviews and an equally strong $345 million global box office opening weekend. Cameron plans to wrap up the saga with two more Avatar films, with Avatar 4 tentatively planned for December 2029, followed by the fifth and final movie in December 2031.

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Arcade1Up Class of '81 Pac-Man & Galaga Countercade

$130 (was $150)

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Arcade1Up Pac-Man Countercade

$130 (was $150)

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If you'd love to have a home arcade machine but are worried about how much space a standing cabinet takes up, Arcade1Up's Countercades are definitely worth checking out--especially when they are on sale like they are now. The Class of '81 Ms. Pac-Man and Galaga model and the Pac-Man model are discounted to $130 (was $150) at Amazon and Best Buy.

Both of these compact cabinets include three preloaded Namco arcade classics, 7-inch, vertically oriented displays, and full-size arcade controls. It's worth noting that both models originally launched ahead of the 2024 holiday season and sold out at full price.

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Microsoft has said it's committed to bringing Call of Duty to Nintendo Switch, and it could be coming as soon as next year. Reporter Jez Corden said "the first CoD Switch version is nearly done."

He added that the game, whatever it is, will launch "in a few months."

In another post, Corden said the release may not be "close" but it's "on the way" for a 2026 release. He added that the game is "hitting milestones," which is a reference to how a game is proceeding through development.

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Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 was one of 2025's biggest breakout hits, and the game's commercial success has afforded developer Sandfall Interactive the opportunity to scale up for its next project. However, the company is not going to do that--and for what sounds like a good reason.

Speaking to Edge, studio boss Guillaume Broche said he does not feel tempted to grow the company in the wake of the success of Expedition 33, which was the studio's debut title. Why not? He said (via GI.biz), "I think it's good to have limitations when you are creative."

"It's the best way to be the best version of yourself. We could scale up now we have a lot more money, but I would say it's not tempting for us, because even the management team and myself, we'd have to be hands-on and doing things for ourselves," he said. "We love making games more than we love managing, so we want to keep doing that. These past five years were some of the best of my life, and I want to be happy like that again."

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Vince Zampella, the co-founder of Infinity Ward and one of the leading figures behind the first Call of Duty game, has passed away. Zampella was reportedly in a single-car accident on Sunday, December 21 in the San Gabriel Mountains when the vehicle went off the road and hit a concrete barrier.

According to NBC4 Los Angeles, the driver of the vehicle perished in a car fire while the passenger was ejected and died at the hospital. The report didn't share any further specifics about the incident.

Zampella got his start in the video game industry in the late '90s with stints at GameTek, Atari, Interactive Media/Ripcord Games, and SegaSoft. In 1999, he joined 2015 Inc and became the lead designer of the third Medal of Honor game, Medal of Honor: Allied Assault, which was published by EA.

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2K Sports has confirmed that WWE 2K24 will be delisted as of January 31, 2026, with servers shutting down on March 31, 2026. This information was disclosed on the game's Steam page, but also applies to the console editions.

Once the servers go dark, "all game functions requiring online servers will no longer function."

2K Sports actually first confirmed the server shutdown on December 8, but it wasn't widely reported on until more recently. The game's offline modes like Play Now and Showcase will remain available after the servers go dark.

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Over the weekend, The Indie Game Awards shook up its winner's circle by stripping Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 of its Game of the Year Award over the publisher's use of AI. In its place, indie-darling Blue Prince was declared the new Game of the Year winner. Now, publisher Raw Fury wants to make sure everyone knows that Blue Prince wasn't made with AI of any kind.

In a statement released on X, Raw Fury credited Tonda Ros and his team for a game that "was built and crafted with full human instinct ... It is the result of eight years of development [fueled] by imagination and creativity, and we are extremely proud of what Tonda has achieved."

For people that need confirmation:
There is no AI used in Blue Prince. The game was built and crafted with full human instinct by Tonda Ros @dogubomb & his team. It is the result of eight years of development, fuelled by imagination and creativity, and we are extremely proud of… pic.twitter.com/zdbqp6xnKy

— Raw Fury I ROUTINE IS OUT NOW (@RawFury) December 21, 2025

Blue Prince is a roguelike puzzle game that casts players as Simon P. Jones, a man who is set to inherit a mysterious mansion called the Mt. Holly Estate following the death of his great uncle Herbert S. Sinclair. There are 45 rooms known to be in the mansion, and Simon has to find the hidden 46th room in order to claim his inheritance. However, the layout of the mansion changes each night, and Simon largely has to start from scratch if he can't find it in time.

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These past two months with Arc Raiders have been the most fun I've had with games all year. It represents the most exciting and unpredictable multiplayer landscape I've jumped into since Sea of Thieves in 2018, which I consider my favorite game ever made. It's safe to say I really love Arc Raiders. But it's become difficult to fully espouse those feelings as we learn about Embark Studio's use of generative AI.

According to the studio, Arc Raiders' voice acting was initially performed by humans, then used to "train" AI so that it could speak in the actors' voices while addressing any possible circumstance. For Embark, the team doesn't need to bring in the voice actors each time new content is added to the game. The AI voices learn to speak in the voices of the actors, which the actors are said to have agreed upon when they were hired, and the tools take it from there. Maybe it shouldn't have come as a surprise, since the team's previous game, The Finals, uses generative AI in a similar way. In an interview, Embark assured players that the game's visual artwork is entirely human-made, but admitted to using this text-to-speech training to bring voices to the game's shop NPCs, emotes, and other character barks. Knowing this has left me conflicted when I think to sing the game's praises.

On one hand, I can't deny the hold Arc Raiders has taken over me. The heart wants what the heart wants, and Embark's extraction shooter, rich in emergent, player-driven drama, has lit my heart on fire in a way few games ever have. At the same time, I've already written my review. Though it was a glowing one that I don't regret, I also feel it's my job to call out this disappointing practice. In recent weeks, similar practices or plans have arisen in several high-profile examples. Larian Studios' boss vouched for it in some cases. Nexon's former CEO said AI is about to rewrite everything in the games industry. Ubisoft announced it's using an AI tool to help write its games in some instances. Even Hideo Kojima, often considered a unique voice in the industry, says he uses it at times. It's being presented as not just helpful, but inevitable.

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Last month, Aspyr shadow-dropped the Switch and Switch 2 versions of Tomb Raider: Definitive Edition, the 2013 reboot that kicked off a new era for Lara Croft. According to Aspyr, the response has been so strong that more Tomb Raider games may make the leap to Switch 2.

Aspyr product manager Jordon Reese was recently asked by Nintendo Everything about the possibility of the other Survivor trilogy games--Rise of the Tomb Raider and Shadow of the Tomb Raider--coming to Switch 2. Reese didn't directly confirm those titles, but he also seemed to leave the door open for them.

"We've successfully brought back the classic era [Tomb Raider 1-6] and now the origin story of Lara Croft to modern Nintendo platforms," said Reese. "We can't announce anything at the moment, but the passionate response to this release is strong encouragement for us to continue exploring those possibilities."

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The actor who provided the motion capture for Clair Obscur: Expedition 33's Gustave has spoken out to say it would be "more logical" to have a Best Character category at awards shows to help give credit to everyone who contributed to bringing a character to life in a game. The actor, Maxence Cazorla, is saying this against the backdrop of only one person, voice actor Charlie Cox, being nominated for Best Performance at The Game Awards for the role of Gustave. For what it's worth, Cox was open in acknowledging that Cazorla deserved credit, too, and Cazorla said Cox was kind to say that.

Cox did not end up winning Best Performance, as it was Jennifer English as Maelle from Expedition 33 who took home the award. In any event, Cazorla told Eurogamer that he believes a "Best Character category feels more logical" than "isolating a single performer and potentially leaving others invisible."

Whether or not this is something that host and organizer Geoff Keighley is considering for next year's The Game Awards is unknown.

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Sucker Punch Productions co-founder Brian Fleming is leaving the gaming studio after working there since it opened 28 years ago in 1997. What's he doing next? Fleming says he does not know.

In a post on LinkedIn, Fleming said, "I really don't know what's next."

He's staying with Sucker Punch through April 2026 to help with the transition efforts, and after that he said he plans to travel. He's also going to spend the time trying to "sort out which opportunities" he wants to pursue next. Fleming said he's considering a lot of different options for the future, including staying in games, moving to the wider technology space, getting into the "entertainment" business, and even working in the "advocacy/politics" areas.

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If you find yourself with a shiny new Meta Quest headset during the holidays, be sure to check out the new Winter 2025 Edition of Fanatical's Build Your Own Quest VR Bundle deal. Like other Fanatical deals, you choose from a catalog of 21 games (all of which are offered as official keys for your Quest), and the more you buy, the more you'll save. Buy two or more games to get each for $9, four or more for $8.75/each, and seven or more for $8.50/each. If you want, you can add 21 games to your bundle, in which case you'll pay $178.50--while that's higher than most Fanatical bundle deals, it's still a massive 65% savings compared to the bundle's $471.79 value.

See deal at Fanatical

As for the games in the bundle, if you're a fan of Superhot, take a peek at Chronostrike. The stylized shooter emphasizes cooperative play, tasking you and a buddy to take down hordes of foes while deflecting bullets, manipulating time, and making liberal use of your environment to your advantage. There are also more traditional shooters like Contracts Shadow: ExfilZone. Fans of dark fantasy dungeon crawls should check out Amid Evil VR, which offers a frantic melee adventure with classic Quake-style movement and level design.

For something more strategic, check out Neon Squad Tactics. The top-down, turn-based, cyberpunk tactics game lets players choose from nine unique characters and fight across 31 maps. Meanwhile, 7th Guest VR and Shadow Chambers are great picks for more immersive, puzzle-filled adventure games.

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Microsoft has reacted to a report that said the company is pushing Xbox to make more profit. In a statement to CNBC, the company said it has ambitious profit goals, but the specific 30% profit-margin figure was not correct. The statement was paraphrased and not attributed to any specific person at Microsoft, and GameSpot has followed up with Microsoft in an attempt to get more information.

Earlier this year, Bloomberg reported that Microsoft pushed the Xbox team to increase profit margins starting in 2023, with the goal of rising to 30% (up from 12% in 2022). The industry average for profit margins is likely between 17% and 22%, analysts said in the Bloomberg piece.

According to the report, Microsoft CFO Amy Hood implemented the new goals, and her team has "taken a larger role" in the company's gaming business recently.

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Battlefield 6 players believe they have discovered evidence that the game features AI-generated art. People are theorizing that some of the art in player emblems in Battlefield 6 was created, at least in part, with the use of generative AI systems, though there is no concrete evidence of this as of yet or any comment from Electronic Arts or the game's developers.

People have pointed out some apparent irregularities with the art below. GameSpot has contacted EA in an attempt to get more details on the situation.

This definitely looks AI Generated right? #Battlefield6 pic.twitter.com/VLYMhEMOqQ

— Battlefield 6 News (@BF6Updates) December 21, 2025

Battlefield 6 is getting accused of using Gen AI. pic.twitter.com/fa2E79X8as

— Shooter Intel (@ShooterIntel) December 22, 2025

Back in October, DICE GM Rebecka Coutaz said EA's teams use generative AI in the early stages of development "to allow more time and more space to be creative." But Battlefield 6 has no gen AI-created content, she said. She is optimistic about the technology overall, though. "If we can break the magic with AI it will help us be more innovative and more creative," she said.

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In the span of a week, Sandfall Interactive's Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 was named Game of the Year by both The Game Awards and The Indie Game Awards. But just two days after its latest win, The Indie Game Awards stripped Expedition 33 of its two wins over the developer's use of AI.

"The Indie Game Awards have a hard stance on the use of gen AI throughout the nomination process and during the ceremony itself," reads a statement on The Indie Game Awards' official site (via Insider Gaming). "When it was submitted for consideration, representatives of Sandfall Interactive agreed that no gen AI was used in the development of Clair Obscur: Expedition 33. In light of Sandfall Interactive confirming the use of gen AI on the day of the Indie Game Awards 2025 premiere, this does disqualify Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 from its nomination."

Following that decision, The Indie Game Awards named Blue Prince as its new Game of the Year. Sorry We're Closed was given the award for Debut Game, which Expedition 33 previously claimed.

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Despite Netflix announcing a deal with Warner Bros. Discovery to acquire the media and entertainment behemoth, Paramount has not given up on its own attempt to acquire the company by going directly to shareholders. Now, Paramount has announced that it has further sweetened its proposal in a bid to make a deal.

Paramount, which is run by David Ellison, has offered an "irrevocable personal guarantee" from his father, billionaire Oracle founder Larry Ellison, of $40.4 billion. Additionally, Paramount announced that it would increase and match Netflix's fee of $5.8 billion to be paid to WBD if the deal gets struck down in the regulatory process. Paramount's previous breakup fee was $5 billion.

What's more, Paramount said its revised proposal includes "further improved flexibility to WBD on debt refinancing transactions, representations, and interim operating covenants." The updated offer also includes the publishing of records that show the Ellison family trust owns 1.16 billion shares of Oracle stock, which is an attempt to show WBD shareholders that the Ellisons can indeed finance their $40.4 billion of the proposed $108 billion all-cash offer.

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