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

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

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

Continue Reading at GameSpot

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

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

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

Continue Reading at GameSpot

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

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

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

Continue Reading at GameSpot

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

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

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

Continue Reading at GameSpot

Stranger Things Funko Pops & Squishmallows

See all at Amazon

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

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

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

Continue Reading at GameSpot

Pragmata

$60 | Releases April 24, 2026

Preorder at Amazon

Pragmata (PC)

Save 17% on the PC version

Pragmata Standard Edition Pragmata Digital Deluxe Edition

Capcom has a busy 2026 in store, with numerous big video game releases already slated for the year. But while many of those upcoming titles are from established franchises like Resident Evil and Onimusha, one of the most exciting is the all-new sci-fi action game, Pragmata. The game launches on April 24 and preorders are now live on PlayStation 5, Switch 2, and Xbox Series X, with a surprisingly last-gen price of $60. Pragmata is also coming to PC, and at Fanatical, both the Standard and Digital Deluxe Editions are 17% off.

Pragmata Preorder BonusesPragmata Preorder Bonus Costumes

Preordering Pragmata gets you the Neo Bushido costume for Hugh and the Neo Kunichi outfit for Diana. These bonus in-game cosmetics are included with all physical and digital preorders of the game.

Pragmata $60 | Releases April 24, 2026

The physical edition of Pragmata includes the base game on, PS5, Switch 2, or Xbox Series X, plus the preorder bonus costumes if you purchase your copy before launch. Note that the Switch 2 edition is a Game Key-Card release--that means none of the game data is included on the cartridge. Instead, it acts as a physical DRM key that grants you access to the digital version of the game. You'll have to download the game to your Switch 2 before you can start playing. Pragmata will take up an estimated 17GB of storage space on your Switch 2's internal hard drive or microSD Express card.

Physical preorders are available at Amazon for $60, and we expect more retailers will have the game soon. Digital preorders are also available on consoles and PC.

Preorder at Amazon Pragmata (PC) Save 17% on the PC version

Speaking of the PC version of the game, Pragmata preorders are currently discounted at Fanatical. The Standard Edition includes the same preorder bonuses as the console versions and is priced at $49.79 (was $60), while the Digital Deluxe Edition is priced at $58 (was $70) and nicludes two more outfits each for Diana and Hugh, additional weapon skins, background music tracks, new gestures for Diana, and you can browse through the concept art of the game via the Data Library.

Pragmata Digital Deluxe Edition:

• Hugh outfits
  • Heavy Lifter
  • Lunar Cat
• Diana outfits
  • Mecha Builder
  • Fluffy
• Weapon Skin: Grip Gun DS
  • Shelter background music tracks
  • Memories Are You (Lo-fi Ver.)
  • Dawn (EDM Ver.)
  • Shelter (Jazz Ver.)
• Diana gestures
  • Drowsy
  • Pumped Up
  • Stepping
• Data Library artwork

Pragmata Standard Edition Pragmata Digital Deluxe Edition

Set in the distant future, Pragmata puts players in the space boots of Hugh, an astronaut stranded on a lunar research station. With the defense mechanisms of the facility activated and hunting him down, Hugh finds an unlikely ally in his quest to escape: Diana, an android who resembles a young girl. While Diana isn't a fighter, she can ride shotgun on Hugh's back and hack them so that their weak points can be exposed. Hugh can then finish them off, using his arsenal of weapons. Together, the duo will have to dodge the hostile machines and solve puzzles on the fly if they hope to return to Earth.

Continue Reading at GameSpot

The release of the upcoming RPG Star Wars: Fate of the Old Republic is likely far, far away. While last night's announcement trailer at The Game Awards 2025 was surely exciting for Knights of the Old Republic fans, the truth is that the game, led by original KOTOR and Mass Effect director Casey Hudson, is in a very early stage of development.

According to the official Star Wars website, Hudson's new studio, Arcanaut Studios, was formed just this year, after his previous studio closed in November 2024. The studio's careers page contains listings for several senior-level positions, so the announcement trailer also doubles as a recruitment advertisement, a tactic that developers often employ.

With the lengthy development cycles that high-profile games undergo these days, we're probably years away from seeing anything concrete from Fate of the Old Republic, and even further from a release. Skepticism about the game even releasing this decade is quite reasonable.

Continue Reading at GameSpot

Fortnite's latest collab is with Kim Kardashian, and in a new interview, the megastar discussed how the partnership came to be, how good she is at Fortnite, and how closely she worked with Epic to bring her vision to life.

Speaking to Elle Magazine, Kardashian said she is a "decent" Fortnite player. "I wouldn't say I'm great, but I wouldn't say I'm horrible," she said. She added that her son, Saint, is "definitely better than I am."

"But, you know, he doesn't teach me all of his tricks," she said.

Continue Reading at GameSpot

Gears of War fans hoping to see a new trailer for the upcoming prequel, Gears of War: E-Day, may have been disappointed that it skipped The Game Awards this year. That may be why the official Gears of War social media accounts have shared a message assuring fans that E-Day is still coming in 2026.

The image shared on the Gears of War X account didn't share any spoilers and it was just a skull set against some haunting red and black shades. But it did confirm the 2026 release window.

Emergence Begins. 2026. pic.twitter.com/7rayOKYEL9

— Gears of War (@GearsofWar) December 12, 2025

For now, Gears of War: E-Day is only confirmed for Xbox Series X|S and PC. However, it seems very likely to be the second game in the franchise to make the leap to PlayStation 5, given that Gears of War: Reloaded--a remake of the original game--became the first title in the series to appear on a Sony console. Cliff Bleszinski--the co-creator of the franchise--has mentioned that he's happy that the Gears of War games are no longer exclusive to a single console.

Continue Reading at GameSpot