Madden NFL is touted as having new and exciting presentation elements with every new installment in the series. These elements, such as commentary, field-level camera work, and halftime shows, are inconsistent at best and tend to leave a lot to be desired, especially when you compare them to the same aspects of games like NBA 2K and MLB The Show. But the latest presentation gaffe in Madden 25 feels like a strangely unforced error.

In the most recent patch, the EA Orlando team introduced the Team Pass, a new battle pass-like cosmetic rewards tree that offers both free and paid unlockables that amount to player banner customization options. You can unlock things like profile pictures, backgrounds, and borders, just like you can in Call of Duty or many other games. These cosmetics are all centered around one particular team of a player's choosing and are meant to be proudly displayed in-game.

In practice, this means the scorebug in any game replaces the logo of the team you're playing as with imagery based on the team you chose in the Team Pass. This is a reasonably innocuous feature for game modes like the arcadey Superstar Showdown and the fantasy-sports-inspired Ultimate Team (MUT). However, forcing this cosmetic change in Franchise mode quickly becomes an eyesore given players are tied to the hip with one particular team--and not necessarily the same team as that in their Team Pass--and are much more likely to be interested in simulating the product they see on TV.

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Voice actor Johnathon Rees (who goes by his stage name, Greg Ellis) was arrested by the Chenango County Sheriff's Office last week on a number of different charges related to harassing his ex-girlfriend and threatening her with revenge porn. Rees voiced the character of Cullen Rutherford in Dragon Age 2 and Dragon Age: Inquisition.

Rees' charges include three counts of coercion, one count of unlawful surveillance, and one count of aggravated harassment and unlawful dissemination or publication of an intimate image. The charges are tied to a breakup in 2022, during which he reportedly threatened to post "revenge porn" of his ex. Rees was also charged with perjury and "offering a false instrument for filing," which refers to the act of knowingly submitting a falsified document to a public office or government agency with the intention of having it be accepted as an official record. The false filing and unlawful surveillance charges are both felonies, while the others are classified as misdemeanors.

Per court documents, Rees was in a relationship with one Jane Doe from April 2016 to September 2022. On September 6, Doe broke up with Rees and cut off all communication with him. The 56-year-old actor allegedly responded to the breakup by engaging in a harassment campaign (including threats of self-harm and threats of posting intimate images of Doe) in an effort to get his ex to respond to his messages. In his preliminary statement, Rees stated that he is a "public figure" and noted that he has more than 65,000 followers on Twitter and 17,000 followers on Instagram.

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With the Nintendo Switch 2 reveal on the imminent horizon, Nintendo finds itself at a critical juncture. Every console launch is a pivotal moment for a company, but that's especially true for Nintendo. The first Switch proved to be a remarkable rebound from the disastrous Wii U, becoming one of the best-selling video game consoles in history over the last eight years.

As such, Nintendo is undoubtedly facing a lot of pressure to maintain this momentum with its next console. And while it's tempting to compare this transition with the move from Wii to Wii U, the company's current situation more closely resembles the position it was in as it prepared to launch the 3DS--itself the successor to a hugely successful and influential system.

In fact, 14 years ago this week, Nintendo hosted a media event in New York detailing its launch plans for the 3DS. Though the company had publicly unveiled the handheld a few months prior at E3 2010, it withheld some key details--including the system's release date, price, and launch lineup--until this January event. In hindsight, however, the reveal offered a glimpse at a rough road ahead for the platform--missteps that Nintendo will want to avoid repeating when it finally launches the Switch 2.

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Nearly nine years ago, the original Crashlands introduced players to an alien space trucker named Flux Dabes as she survived a crash landing on the planet Woanope and crafted her way out of that jam. Flux's history will repeat itself this spring when Crashlands 2 arrives. In the new trailer below, Flux is literally dropped on to Woanope again as she is forced to make a new life for herself until she can get off-world.

Essentially, Flux has to start over from scratch. That means if she wants a home, she'll have to build one herself. As before, Flux can craft her own objects and buildings, and she can also create weapons, traps, and any kind of gadget she needs to survive on Woaope. But on this world, Flux isn't necessarily on top of the food chain, and the alien creatures often hunt each other.

The announcement for the game also hints that Flux will uncover multiple mysteries on Woanope, and she'll be making some new friends to help her solve them. An ancient warrior named Grandmammy is among her new allies, in addition to Kleewik, an inventor who can employ Flux as a lab technician. Beyond mere escape, Flux's goal is to unite the various factions of Woanope, and "restore balance to the planet."

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Esteemed Polish development studio CD Projekt Red has a number of projects in development, including a remake of the 2007 original The Witcher game. It appears to still be relatively early days for the game, but there are already some key details to know. In this post, we're rounding up everything you need to know.

In addition to The Witcher remake, CD Projekt is working on The Witcher 4, a Cyberpunk 2077 sequel, a new Witcher game codenamed Project Sirius, and a new IP codenamed Project Hadar.

The Witcher is getting a remake.Table of Contents [hide]

• When will The Witcher remake be released?

When will The Witcher remake be released?

CD Projekt Red announced The Witcher remake in October 2022, and there is no word on a release date as of yet.

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Rune Factory: Guardians of Azuma - Earth Dancer Edition

$100

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Rune Factory: Guardians of Azuma

$60

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Rune Factory: Guardians of Azuma now has an official release date for Nintendo Switch and PC. The next entry in the popular role-playing farming sim franchise launches May 30. Guardians of Azuma was revealed during a Nintendo Direct last August, and preorders went live shortly following the debut trailer. Like previous entries in the series, there are two physical editions for Nintendo Switch. Rune Factory: Guardians of Azuma's Earth Dancer Limited Edition sold out initially, but it's back in stock now at Amazon, Walmart, and Best Buy. The Earth Dancer Edition comes with numerous extras, but there's also a standard edition for $60 for those who simply want the game.

Rune Factory: Guardians of Azuma - Earth Dancer Edition $100

The $100 Rune Factory: Guardians of Azuma - Earth Dancer Limited Edition includes the physical edition for Nintendo Switch and the following extras:

• Woolby character plush keychain
• Art book
• Official soundtrack on CD
• Traditional Japanese folding fan
• Seasons of Love DLC bundle with extra downloadable Woolby Costumes
• Custom box with unique cover art

Rune Factory: Guardians of Azuma - Earth Dancer Limited Edition Preorders are available now at Amazon, Walmart, and Best Buy.

Note: Collector's editions for multiple other Rune Factory games for Switch, including Rune Factory 5 and Rune Factory 4 Special, aren't always easy to find for reasonable prices these days. If you want all the bonus goodies above, you'll probably want to secure a preorder before the Earth Dancer Edition is gone.

Preorder at Amazon Preorder at Walmart Preorder at Best Buy Rune Factory: Guardians of Azuma $60

If you only want a physical copy of the base game, you can preorder the Rune Factory: Guardians of Azuma for $60 at Amazon, Walmart, and Best Buy. Digital preorders are also available on Switch, and on PC via Steam.

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Baldur's Gate 3 developer Larian is celebrating 100 million mod downloads by giving the game's undead hero Withers some big naturals. The developer has added the "Withers Big Naturals" mod by creator MaybeeAdam to its official mod list, meaning console players can give their Withers a set of big boobs, if they feel so inclined. The mod is a reference to the "Gandalf Big Naturals" meme that originated on Tumblr in 2021.

Larian announced the addition, and the number of mod downloads, with a social media post featuring a picture of Withers with the text "100 million mod downloads." Both the zeros in 100 million have been photoshopped over Withers' chest. The post is captioned, "you are modding naturals."

you are modding naturals pic.twitter.com/PlLcPTe7d0

— Larian Studios (@larianstudios) January 14, 2025

In October 2024, Larian announced players had downloaded 50 million mods. 100,000 of those downloads were to rename Withers to "Bone Daddy." That was just over two months after a patch added official mod support to the game on PC and console.

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Several adorable Final Fantasy plushies are arriving later this year, including seven-inch Chocobo and Moogle plushes launching in November. There is also a set of Chocobo, Moogle, and Cactuar Plush Pouches arriving in June, which are large enough to store earbuds and other accessories, making them as cute as they are functional. Like all things Final Fantasy, these are bound to be popular. If you’re interested in adding them to your collection later this year, consider snagging a preorder today.

Chocobo and Moogle Plush $28 | Release November 12

Though they don’t release until November 12, the Chocobo and Moogle Plushies are bound to be popular. Officially licensed and imported from Square Enix, these are faithful replicas of their in-game counterparts. The Chocobo stands about 6 inches tall, while the Moogle is about 7 inches tall. Both are made from ultra soft and fluffy materials that should make them a welcome addition to any plush collection.

Preorder Chocobo Plush Preorder Moogle Plush Final Fantasy Plush Pouches $17 | Release June 11

Want to get your hands on something earlier than November? Check out the three plush pouches up for preorder. These arrive in June and offer a small zipped pouch that can hold earbuds or other tiny accessories. You’ll also find a strap with a clasp on its end, giving you a few different ways to carry the pouch. It’s available in three designs--Moogle, Chocobo, and Cactuar.

Preorder Moogle Plush Pouch Preorder Chocobo Plush Pouch Preorder Cactuar Plush Pouch

Preordering from Amazon locks in their price guarantee, so if the prices of these plushes drop between now and release, you’re only on the hook for the lowest price. You also won’t pay anything until the order has shipped.

Aside from these plush preorders, there are a few other Final Fantasy collectibles worth checking out. The Chocobo’s Crystal Hunt Card Game is a fun way to bring your love for the series beyond your TV, as it lets up to four players take part in a skill-based board game centered around Chocobos. You’ll send out your band of Chocobos to steal crystals from competitors while playing cards to prevent that from happening to your own, and it includes everything you need to play right out of the box. Inventory is running out fast, but it’s available at Amazon for $43.

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Veteran investment analyst and researcher Matthew Ball of Epyllion has released a gargantuan, 219-page report about the "State of Video Gaming in 2025," and some of the presentation looks at how the video game industry can possibly grow in 2025. In a section titled "How Player, Playertime, and Player Spend Might Return to Growth," Ball mentioned a variety of opportunities, including Grand Theft Auto VI costing as much as $100 when it launches this year.

Ball said "there is hope" that Take-Two will price GTA 6 at "$80 or even $100," which could prove to be a turning point for the video game industry. This could break a "key price barrier" and allow other developers to raise prices as well, he said. Before this, a Baldur's Gate 3 developer said GTA 6 could prompt a shift to more expensive games if Take-Two decides to price it above $70.

$70 is the current market rate for new AAA releases, and in fact, it was Take-Two that was among the first to raise prices from $60 to $70 back in 2020. Many are naturally wondering if Take-Two might raise prices again for GTA 6's launch, but it remains to be seen if that will happen. Beyond updating the sticker price for games, video game publishers have found other ways to get more money out of players, including expensive special editions, microtransactions, and battle passes, just to name a few.

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During the middle of Act 2 in Path of Exile 2, you'll come across a side quest to complete the Trial of Sekhemas. While optional, completion of the trial grants you access to your class' Ascendancy, which totally revamps and customizes your build. Naturally, all players should try to complete the Trial of Sekhmas to unlock the full potential of their character.

It sounds simple, but the Trial of Sekhemas is an extremely difficult endeavor that many players won't pass their first time around. Part of what makes the trial so challenging is the Honor system, which is exclusive to the trial and acts as a secondary HP bar.

Below, you can see exactly how Honor works in Path of Exile 2 and what to do about it ruining your runs in the Trial of Sekhemas.

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Few gaming publishers are more fiercely protective of their IP than Nintendo. In the past year alone, Nintendo has reportedly cracked down on YouTube emulator channels that featured the company's games and played detective to locate and identify an alleged Switch pirate. During a recent appearance at an event run by Japan’s Association of Copyright for Computer Software, Nintendo's patent attorney Koji Nishiura took the time to walk through the company's stance on emulation.

As reported by Denfaminicogamer and translated by Automaton, Nishiura suggested that the emulators by themselves may not be illegal, but the way they are used can determine if they are breaking the law. To illustrate his point, Nishiura noted that emulators may copy proprietary programs or disable security encryptions, both of which are activities that Nintendo frowns upon. He also said that emulators can be used to play pirated copies of Nintendo's games, which the company still considers to be illegal.

Nintendo has emulated several of its own games for its modern systems, which clearly falls within the company's rights. However, many classic games released on the oldest systems--including NES, SNES, Nintendo 64, and GameCube--aren't readily available to legally play from Nintendo itself. Some emulator hosts have argued that by maintaining a library of these games, they are preserving a piece of video game history.

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The newest update for PUBG brings back a popular, fan-favorite feature--Recall. With the new 33.2 update, players on the Sanhok map can utilize the Recall system, which allows them to bring back fallen teammates mid-match. Recall was originally added to PUBG in 2023 before being removed.

Now, however, Krafton is bringing the feature back. "We heard your feedback!" the developer said in the official patch notes for update 33.2

Players can use the Recall system every 2.5 minutes, though the ability to bring back fallen teammates goes away from Phase 6 onwards. The Recall system also works with custom matches.

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The fighting game community will once again descend on the Las Vegas Convention Center this summer, as Evo 2025 will kick off another worldwide fighting game tournament August 1-3. The Evo team has officially revealed the full lineup of games that will be part of the festivities this year, with seven current games and one throwback tournament making the cut.

Marvel Vs. Capcom 2 will be this year's Throwback Tournament, following Street Fighter III: Third Strike's turn last year. Meanwhile, Fatal Fury: City Of The Wolves will make its Evo debut nearly four months after its April 24 launch, where it will join returning games like Street Fighter 6 and Tekken 8.

Along with the eight main Arena tournaments, Evo has also announced an Extended lineup, with Rivals Of Aether II, The King Of Fighters XV, Blazblue: Centralfiction, Guilty Gear Xrd Rev 2, and more set to be featured. More details on this extended list will be revealed during the inaugural Evo Awards in February.

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Yes, the Helldivers movie should cast as many notable celebrities as possible. But no, they shouldn't survive on the silver screen very long, according to the CEO of Helldivers 2 studio Arrowhead.

A Reddit post pointed out that Arrowhead CEO Shams Jorjani shared his thoughts on the Helldivers movie on Discord. "We're all hoping for as many A-list actors as possible--as long as they all get killed immediately," Jorjani wrote. Now, keep in mind, while the developer is involved in the film adaptation, earlier this week Arrowhead CCO Johan Pilestedt said that "we don't, and shouldn't, have final say."

Arrowhead CEO on actors for the Helldivers movie :)
by u/Chance-Juggernaut14 in Helldivers

Jorjani's hopes have been seen previously in Hollywood movies. For example, Deadpool 2 saw a Brad Pitt cameo where the actor dies quickly after jumping from an airplane in the superhero sequel. The Other Guys also hilariously kills off Dwayne "The Rock" Johnson and Samuel L. Jackson in the first act of the film.

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Full refunds are now available to people who purchased a falsely advertised N95 face mask from Razer. The US Federal Trade Commission announced that checks and PayPal payments are on their way to 6,764 customers of the futuristic-looking accessory.

In May 2024, the FTC announced that a settlement was reached with Razer for more than $1 million. The fine occurred because Razer claimed its face mask met N95 requirements, even though it was never submitted for certification to test whether it removed 95% of airborne particles, per the FTC.

In the middle of the COVID-19 pandemic, Razer revealed the N95 face mask with RGB lighting and voice amplification at CES in January 2021. The Razer Zephyr face mask eventually launched in October 2021 for $100. However, just months later in January 2022, Razer removed the N95 claims about the face mask.

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When Dr. Doot took the stage on the final day of AGDQ 2025, the pressure was on. The speedrunner, whose nickname is surprisingly descriptive--he has a doctorate in music composition--was attempting a live run of Elden Ring using a digital saxophone as a controller. Beating Elden Ring's toughest bosses via traditional methods is difficult enough, but Dr. Doot put that PhD to good use and quickly slayed the final boss, as well as the maddingly difficult optional boss Malenia.

GameSpot had the chance to chat with Dr. Doot (who wished to only use his handle rather than his real name), and we were surprised to learn how the saxophone speedruns came to be. Rather than coming about simply as another way to beat Elden Ring or Dark Souls, they were an extension of Dr. Doot's practice on his digital instrument, the Roland Aerophone.

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Microsoft reportedly considered completely shutting down Xbox in 2021, prior to its acquisition of ZeniMax and Activision Blizzard.

According to The Information, Microsoft CEO Satya Nadella reportedly had the choice in 2021 of winding down Xbox, or acquiring more studios to drive Game Pass subscriptions. He chose the latter, purchasing both ZeniMax for $7 billion in 2021 and Activision Blizzard for $75.4 billion in 2023.

Some big-name studios have also reportedly have not been swayed by Xbox Game Pass, which doesn't bode well for Microsoft's internal target numbers. Prior to its acquisition of Activision Blizzard, Microsoft reportedly wanted to hit 100 million Game Pass subscribers by 2030, which would mean tripling its current base in five years. However, Microsoft has reportedly been unable to hit Game Pass internal growth targets in the past two years.

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A new report may contain fresh clues about the apparent partnership between Ubisoft and Tencent, Ubisoft's fortunes continue to slide and the company looks for a way forward.

Bloomberg reported that Ubisoft and Tencent are considering, among other options, "creating a new venture" that could include "certain Ubisoft assets." The overall aim is to improve the company's value, sources said. The two companies are now "evaluating which assets to include in a new entity and their valuation," the report said, citing anonymous sources.

Should a deal come together, Tencent could "gain more control over" some of Ubisoft's franchises, the report said, adding that Tencent would also benefit from improving its own business results outside of China.

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Less than a year after it launched, the story of Suicide Squad: Kill the Justice League has been concluded with the game's final update. Along with an offline mode, several new Libra-themed weapons, and tweaks, Episode 8: Balance closes the curtain on this incarnation of Task Force X and quickly wraps up the story with a brief animatic. If you'd like to avoid spoilers, you can skip reading anything below the embedded video.

As revealed in the epilogue, it looks like the Justice League that the Suicide Squad succeeded in killing wasn't the real superhero team after all, but rather their clones. It turns out that Batman had planned for Harley Quinn and the gang to murder their doppelgangers all along, as while the Suicide Squad was causing chaos in Metropolis, the Dark Knight was working in the shadows to sabotage Brainiac and his multiversal counterparts.

Basically, every Justice League member is just fine--except for Wonder Woman--and with Brainiac stopped, the team is focused on saving Metropolis and the other dimensions that fell to Brainiac. As for the Suicide Squad? Thanks to their allies Hack, Lawless, and Toyman, the gang has embarked on a road trip across the Elseworlds multiverse, leaving the Arkhamverse behind. Batman's controversial death has been erased and the ambitious Brainiac saga has been wrapped up, closing the curtain on the game.

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Marcus Fenix is set to return with the upcoming Gears of War: E-Day, but first, Good Smile Company is giving Gears of War's gruff and beefy protagonist an adorable makeover with the official Marcus Fenix Nendoroid figure launching June 11. If you'd like to add him to your shelf, you can preorder the collectible for $46 at Amazon.

Gears of War Marcus Fenix Nendoroid Figure $46 | Releases June 11

Like other Nendoroids, the Marcus Fenix collectible adapts the original character design into a cute, big-headed figure featuring posable limbs. He also comes with accessories, such as the iconic Lancer MK. 2 rifle with chainsaw bayonet that includes detachable gunfire and blood spatter effects.

Preorder at Amazon

If you'd like to build a collection of video game-themed Nendoroid figures, Good Smile Company has a wide range of them to choose, including a large selection of new collectibles based on games like Genshin Impact, Honkai Star Rail, Hades 2, Metaphor: ReFantazio, and many more available for preorder. Check the list below for some of our favorites, or head over to Good Smile Company's Amazon page to see all the new Nendoroid figures available for preorder.

Nendoroid Video Game Figure Preorders

• The Binding of Isaac - Isaac Nendoroid Figure -- $48 | Releases November 19
• Detroit: Become Human - Connor Nendoroid Figure -- $39 | Releases December 10
• Five Nights at Freddy's - Freddy Fazbear Nendoroid Figure -- $44 | Releases January 29
• Gears of War - Marcus Fenix Nendoroid Figure -- $46 | June 11
• Genshin impact: Raiden Shogun Nendoroid Figure -- $53 | Releases November 12
• Hades 2: Melinoe Nendoroid Figure -- $48 | Releases September 10
• Honkai Star Rail: Aventurine Nendoroid Figure -- $53 | Releases July 16
• Jet Set Radio - Gum Nendoroid Figure -- $43 | Releases October 15
• Metaphor: ReFantazio - Protagonist Nendoroid Figure -- $28 | Releases October 22
• Sekiro: Shadows Die Twice - Sekiro Nendoroid Figure -- $46 | Releases May 14

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