Skate is aiming to arrive in early access this year, and there's a new beta to sign up for. If you want to throw your name in the hat for the chance to playtest the game on consoles ahead of release, publisher EA has opened up registrations to do so.

Announced via X (formerly known as Twitter), those interested can sign in via the Skate Insider Playtesting program. Fancy name aside, EA hopes to receive feedback from selected players. As stated on the site, the studio is inviting people to playtest on Xbox and PlayStation. This comes after an initial playtest on PC last year.

While there's no guarantee on how soon people will get to try the beta, EA says it's begun to increase the number of players invited. Insiders will also receive an in-game skateboard and stickers as rewards when the game launches in early access.

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While everyone is waiting for Nintendo to announce the Switch 2--and it could happen as soon as January 16--the company had a different hardware-related announcement this week. The Alarmo clock will be available for everyone to buy in stores starting this March, and that's a little later than expected.

The clock went on sale back in late 2024 for Nintendo Switch Online members, but relatively soon it will be available for everyone to buy. Nintendo said it will sell the $100 clock "while supplies last." Previously, Nintendo said it would launch Alarmo at retail in January, but it's now being delayed to March.

Nintendo Sound Clock: #Alarmo will be available in stores at participating retailers in March 2025, no Nintendo Switch Online membership required. Available while supplies last. pic.twitter.com/qhVo0NMKjx

— Nintendo of America (@NintendoAmerica) January 13, 2025

Alarmo is an interactive clock that features Nintendo-themed animations, sounds, and characters. It also has motion-sensing technology so you can hit snooze without physically tapping the device. Alarmo features 42 different scenes, based on games like Super Mario Odyssey, The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild, and Mario Kart 8, with scenes from Animal Crossing: New Horizons coming later via an update.

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At the start of Act 2 in Path of Exile 2, you embark on the Ardura Caravan. The massive town on wheels is being pulled by slaves through the Vistiri Desert. However, it's being stopped by a vicious sandstorm, and you need to find a way to get through it as a part of the Trail of Corruption quest.

As you meet more characters on the Ardura Caravan, you'll be directed to travel to new regions and find a way to stop the sandstorm. Unfortunately, getting off the caravan and traveling to new places isn't as simple as it sounds.

Leaving the Ardura Caravan in Path of Exile 2The Ardura Caravan is your first stop in Act 2.

After meeting with enough people onboard the Ardura Caravan, the Trail of Corruption will update with the objective: "Travel to areas of reported corruption." Of course, that's a fairly vague objective, as the caravan is moving the entire time you're on it and you haven't visited any new locations to fast-travel to.

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The Nintendo Switch 2 could be unveiled as soon as this week, according to some reports. But once the system arrives, the real question is what's going to be on it beyond AAA Nintendo titles? According to a new report, Nintendo may have already secured some AAA support from Konami, Square Enix, and Ubisoft.

Nate the Hate is reporting that Konami's Metal Gear Solid Delta: Snake Eater will be among the titles available on Switch 2, as will Square Enix's Final Fantasy 7 Remake and its sequel, Final Fantasy 7 Rebirth. But it sounds like Ubisoft will be going even deeper by bringing a port of Assassin’s Creed Mirage for the Switch 2 launch window. The upcoming game, Assassin's Creed Shadows, is also said to be in the works for Switch 2, but not in time for the system's launch. That title was recently pushed back to March.

The report goes to mention that Ubisoft is "doing more than half a dozen games for the Switch 2," including a game from The Division series, Rainbow Six Siege, and a potential compilation of the two Mario + Rabbids games. Earlier this month, a separate report from Nate the Hate suggested that Microsoft will bring Halo: The Master Chief Collection and Microsoft Flight Simulator 2024 to both Switch 2 and PS5 in 2025.

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Three video game developers have already closed their doors this month, including the studio behind Godfall, Counterplay Games.

Spotted by PlayStation Lifestyle, a developer from Jackalyptic stated that the studio was working with Counterplay Games on a project together. However, the partnership couldn't continue into 2025 due to Counterplay Games closing down.

Toadman Interactive was also shut down on January 9. The studio worked as support for games such as the Warhammer Vermintide series. Its parent company, Enad Global 7, said in a press release that the studio was unable to secure new work-for-hire contracts at a "necessary pace."

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Monster Hunter Wilds is fast approaching, and its scale won't be easy to contend with. Thankfully, developer Niantic has announced a collaboration between mobile game Monster Hunter Now and Capcom's upcoming behemoth, granting players a number of virtual goodies for a limited time.

Running from February 3 until March 31, Monster Hunter Now players can tackle a series of quests to earn an array of items and clothing options across both Now and Wilds. For the former, rewards include weapon and armor refining parts, an in-game hoodie layered equipment, and a collaboration guild card background. As for Wilds, you can get a gift code to redeem mega potions, energy drinks, dash juices, and other support items to aid your future hunts.

If you want to be up to date with each reward batch, make sure to log into Now every Monday in February from 9 AM (local time) to get a supply with item box expansions, potions, and the aforementioned refining parts. Some premium collaboration packs in the in-game shop will also be available from February 3 to February 28.

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The first major professional tennis tournament of the year, the Australian Open, is underway now in Melbourne. New for the 2025 event is an alternate broadcast that makes players look like something out of Wii Sports. The Australian Open organizers rolled out what they are calling "AO Animated" versions of tennis matches this year, featuring animated, video game-looking versions of the real players.

As you can see in the video game, from the Jacob Fearnley vs. Nick Kyrgios match, the animation is far from perfect--at times, the player's racket and the tennis ball vanish out of thin air. The audio doesn't sync up perfectly, either. But it's pretty solid, all things considered. You can watch more of these matches on the Australian Open YouTube page under the "Live" tab.

Broadcasts of this nature are becoming more and more popular these days. Before this, the NFL and Disney+ partnered to air a very bizarre-looking Simpsons-themed broadcast of the Cincinnati Bengals vs. Dallas Cowboys game on December 9. This broadcast had the likes of Homer, Bart, Moe, Carl, Barney, and Lenny suiting up and making plays on the field.

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Microsoft is reportedly announcing a new entry in a "legendary Japanese IP" during its Xbox Developer Direct on January 23. Along with this new game, Microsoft will also show off Doom: The Dark Ages, Clair Obscur: Expedition 33, and South of Midnight.

According to Windows Central, this IP has decades of history and "should make a lot of fans happy." The phrasing is rather vague, so fans have been speculating what the game could be. Ninja Gaiden is one of the first franchises to come to mind. While it's not exclusive to Xbox platforms, entries like Ninja Gaiden Black and Ninja Gaiden 2 were.

However, The Game Kitchen and Koei Tecmo recently revealed the 2D side-scrolling Ninja Gaiden: Ragebound, so a new fully-fledged 3D entry may not be likely.

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Path of Exile 2 Patch 0.1.1 launches later this week and developer Grinding Gear has now previewed what to expect from it.. According to game director Jonathan Rogers, this patch primarily addresses issues developer Grinding Gear can address "relatively quickly," such as endgame maps and enemy balance.

You can see some of the details in a new video on the official Path of Exile YouTube channel. Endgame mapping (i.e. the autogeneration of levels) have received a balance overhaul, altering the number of chests, number of monsters, and lots of other variables. Four new "Tower" maps have been added, and the first Tower map, Lost Towers, has been redesigned to be "less boring." More endgame maps will include bosses, correcting a glitch that causes fewer bosses to spawn than intended.

Pinnacle content has gotten some tweaks too. You'll be able to see citadels from further away in the fog of war making them easier to find. You'll also get up to six respawns for the pinnacle boss The Arbiter of Ash. The respawns can only be activated by the player who put in the keys at the Burning Monolith and they affect every player in your party at once. Respawns will be added to other Pinnacle content soon.

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We've known since the beginning of Chapter 6 Season 1 that we'd be getting a Godzilla skin with the battle pass in January. But it looks like this collaboration is going to be a lot bigger than you might have expected. Like, a lot bigger--judging by the short teaser Epic Games just dropped, there will be a skyscraper-sized Godzilla roaming the battle royale island starting this week.

Prepare to ROOOAAARRR! pic.twitter.com/3SoPwKy3ki

— Fortnite (@FortniteGame) January 13, 2025

It's not the most shocking news, since a Godzilla-sized Godzilla is a fairly logical thing to expect from a game that's had kaiju-sized monsters and mechs on the island in the past, but it's cool to see the confirmation even so.

It's pretty clear, however, that there's still plenty more to this collab than we know about right now. For one thing, this collab is with Legendary Pictures for its Monsterverse franchise and last year's Godzilla x Kong--it would be pretty reasonable to expect both a King Kong skin in the item shop and a large King Kong boss on the battle royale island to battle Godzilla. And there are plenty of other potential kaiju from that franchise that could get skins, like Mechagodzilla and the Scar King.

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The announcement and reveal of the Nintendo Switch 2 is likely to be one of the biggest gaming stories of 2025. Earlier this month, Genki inadvertently became a part of that story when the company showed off a Switch 2 mockup at CES. Now, a report claims that Nintendo sent over some lawyers to Genki's booth over those Switch 2 mockups.

Journalist Julien Tellouck was the first to report about Nintendo's lawyers getting involved over the incident. He also related that someone at Genki told him that the company brushed off the lawyers because there was no non-disclosure agreement signed with Nintendo.

"I talked to the guy from Genki just behind me, he told me that Nintendo had stopped by with lawyers--they had nothing to be reprimanded for because they had never signed a paper with Nintendo--no confidentiality agreement, no NDA," said Tellouck.

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It's been rumored for weeks now that Hatsune Miku would be the headliner for Fortnite Festival Season 7 when it launches Jan. 14, and Epic Games has finally spilled the details about all the cosmetic goodies--and songs--that will be added to Fortnite with the Miku collab. And for good measure, this update is adding a long-requested feature: the ability to use some of your Festival instruments as pickaxes and back blings. Fortnite's first patch in a month is a real doozie.

As has become standard practice for each season of Fortnite Festival, we'll have a bundle of Hatsune Miku cosmetics in the item shop to go along with a separate slate of cosmetics in the new Music Pass. The Music Pass, which can be obtained with V-Bucks or by subscribing to Fortnite Crew, includes the Neko Hatsune Miku skin, which is unlocked instantly, as well as a set of instruments, jam tracks, and other good stuff. This is the first Music Pass to use the new, single-track format that we've already seen with the Lego Pass and OG Pass. Season 7 ends April 8.

The classic Hatsune Miku look will also be available to purchase in the item shop throughout Season 7, and it'll come in a bundle that includes a mic, drum set, two emotes, a musical contrail, and a jam track ("Miku" by Anamanaguchi).

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Ahead of its return to Netflix this week, a new trailer for Castlevania: Nocturne season two has gone live. This time, the focus is all on the action that fans of the anime series can look forward to, as the vampire army of the seemingly invincible Erzsebet Báthory marches on France. In case you haven't watched Castlevania: Nocturne yet, you might want to give this trailer--and the text below--a skip as it does reveal a spoiler from that show's first season.

As seen in the teaser, the gang of Richter Belmont, Annette, and Maria Renard have a powerful new ally on their side in the form of Alucard, the son of Dracula. Once again voiced by James Callis--and sporting a look heavily influenced by Castlevania: Symphony of the Night--the group still has their work cut out for them if they want to stop Erzsebet and her minions, as the self-proclaimed vampire messiah appears to be almost unstoppable.

Throw in ancient Aztec vampire Olrox, Richter's grandfather Juste Belmont, and Erzsebet's second-in-command Drolta, and it looks like even more heads will roll when Paris becomes a bloody battlefield.

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Call of Duty Season 2 arrives in Black Ops 6 and Warzone later this month, and here you'll find everything rumored and announced so far. This includes new content, some anticipated Zombies fixes, and Ricochet anti-cheat improvements.

Table of Contents [hide]

• Call of Duty Season 2 start times
• What to expect from Season 2

Call of Duty Season 2 start times

In the patch notes for the January 9 update, Activision confirmed Season 2 launches for Black Ops 6 and Warzone on January 28. These seasonal updates usually go live around 9 AM PT / 12 PM ET / 5 PM BST across all platforms.

What to expect from Season 2

A new season of Call of Duty means a new battle pass to level up. Activision hasn't revealed the details of the pass, but that information will likely be released closer to launch.

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There are plenty of smart cubes on the market designed to help you solve a Rubik’s Cube, but few are as futuristic as the AI Robot Cube. Built to offer instant feedback without the need for a companion mobile app, it's a premium choice for speedcubers--and right now, Amazon is discounting it to $80 (was $120) when you click the coupon code on its Amazon store page. That’s one of the best prices we’ve seen for the AI Robot Cube, as price cuts rarely bring it below $100.

AI Robot Cube $80 with coupon code (was $120)

The AI Robot Cube from eX-Mars uses AI technology to teach you how to solve a Rubik’s Cube. Beginners can follow along with a unique demonstration mode, which lets the cube rotate autonomously to show you exactly which side needs to move next. You’ll even get step-by-step instructions and feedback when a wrong move is made. It's a bit bulkier than your standard cube, but its flashing lights and instant feedback should make it a frustration-free way for newcomers to learn the basics.

If you're interested, head over to Amazon and grab the AI Robot Cube while its on sale. Be sure to clip the coupon on the store page to receive your full discount.

See at Amazon

Once you’ve mastered the basics, you can enable the scramble feature to have the cube automatically change its layout--meaning you won’t have to recruit a friend to reset your puzzle every time it’s solved. Better yet, the AI Robot Cube comes with an automatic solving timer, so you can easily monitor your progress.

Other notable features include the ability to act as an alarm or intelligent dice and the ability to program the cube with Scratch.

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The Meta Quest 3S launched in October, and now it’s officially getting its first discount. The 256GB version is currently available for $349 (was $400), and it includes a copy of Batman: Arkham Shadow so you can start gaming on the VR headset right away. As an added bonus, you’ll get a free 3-month trial of Meta Quest+, which gives you access to a deep catalog of other VR games along with a rotating monthly selection.

Meta Quest 3S (256GB) $349 (was $400)

The Quest 3S is the more affordable sibling of the Quest 3, though it offers many of the same specs. This includes the same Qualcomm Snapdragon XR2 chipset, 8GB RAM, and support for the Touch Pro controllers. The main difference is in the lenses, as the Quest 3S uses 1832 x 1920 Fresnel lenses (found in the Quest 2) while the Quest 3 uses 2064 x 2208 pancake lenses. However, the lower resolution should result in longer battery life. The discount is available at Amazon, Walmart, Target, and Best Buy.

See at Amazon See at Walmart See at Target

This current price cut is even better than the deal we saw during Black Friday, as that only offered a gift card with your purchase. Note that the current offer only applies to the 256GB version, as the 128GB version is still full price. But considering this is the first discount we’ve seen for the headset--and it still includes a copy of the excellent Batman: Arkham Shadow--it’s a great way to dive into the world of VR headsets without dropping too much cash.

The Meta Quest 3S doesn’t come with a good carrying case (the packaging is flimsy cardboard), so consider taking that money you saved and buying a protective way to store the headset when not in use. The Meta Quest Compact Carrying Case is a good option, though it’s a bit pricey at $44. A nice alternative is the Kiwi Design Carrying Case, which is large enough for both the headset and its controllers--and is currently just $20 (was $50) when clicking the coupon on its store page

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Starfield was originally planned to have a gore and dismemberment system like Fallout, with players being able to more gruesomely kill foes. However, these features were ultimately left out of Starfield.

In an interview with Kiwi Talkz, former senior character artist Dennis Mejillones said that there were technical considerations when it came to the space suits. "There's a lot that has to go with it. You have to cut the helmet in a certain way, and it's got to come off; you have meat caps to the bottom where the flesh is," he explained. "We had systems for all of that, and it turned into a big rat's nest of all these things you have to count for."

With the feature of being able to customize body size in the character creator, that added more complications. Mejillones also said that gore and dismemberment didn't fit with Starfield's themes as opposed to Fallout's over-the-top presentation.

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When it comes down to it, the essence of Dynasty Warriors' longevity is simple: Cleaving through hundreds of enemies like a hot knife through butter feels really good. It's the ultimate power fantasy, with each swing of your weapon sending bodies careening through the air in every conceivable direction as the KO counter ticks up into the thousands. For almost 25 years, this basic formula has remained virtually unchanged, lending the series a fervent albeit niche following. Dynasty Warriors 9 attempted to evolve the formula, but the shift to a lifeless open world was a misstep that didn't mesh with the series' core appeal. Dynasty Warriors: Origins, as the name implies, sees Omega Force returning to its roots, emphasizing the large-scale, hack-and-slash action Dynasty Warriors is known for while implementing a number of clever new additions that achieve what Dynasty Warriors 9 failed to.

If you're unfamiliar with the long-running series, Dynasty Warriors is based on Luo Guanzhong's 14th-century novel, Romance of the Three Kingdoms--and the ancient history it's based on--loosely adapting the classic Chinese novel by taking some absurd creative liberties along the way. While previous games in the series have typically covered the bulk of the Three Kingdoms period from 184 AD to 280 AD, Origins tightly focuses on the early parts of the story, beginning with the rise of the Yellow Turban Rebellion and culminating in the decisive Battle of Chibi. Unlike the rest of the series, the story is also told from the perspective of an amnesiac warrior who's meeting legendary figures like Guan Yu, Dong Zhuo, and the fearsome Lü Bu for the first time. This setup is clearly designed with newcomers in mind, making the series' enduring legacy and myriad beloved characters much more palatable for new players to dive into for the first time.

Still, that doesn't mean returning players will be left wanting. By focusing on the early events of the Three Kingdoms' tapestry, Omega Force has opted to delve into the time period in greater detail than before, with a renewed emphasis on storytelling and character development. Even minor figures are more fleshed out, while pivotal moments are given the gravitas they deserve. This is somewhat of a double-edged sword, however. The writing is generally solid, with defined, charming, and likable characters engaging in moral quandaries and battles of both wit and brawn, but the overabundance of cutscenes sometimes works to its detriment. Too many conversations simply feel derivative, either repeating plot points or adding little of substance to the narrative and your understanding of its ensemble cast of characters. This disrupts the game's pacing, leading to more than a few occasions where you're forced to wait impatiently for the next battle to arrive as you cycle through one superfluous conversation after another.

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Last year at Call of Duty: Next, Activision confirmed that the fan-favorite map Verdansk would return to Warzone in 2025, but the publisher didn't provide a specific date. Now, known Call of Duty insider "The Ghost of Hope" suggests a more specific timeframe for the map's arrival.

The Ghost of Hope has leaked on Twitter/X that Verdansk will reportedly return in Season 3 of Warzone. This leak lines up with Activision's initial announcement that Verdansk would be returning sometime in Spring 2025 to celebrate Warzone's five-year anniversary.

Season 1 is currently underway in Black Ops 6 and Warzone, with Season 2 announced to arrive on January 28. Given the length of a typical Call of Duty season, Season 3 would likely launch at the end of March or early April.

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World War Z hit the big screen over a decade ago, earning generally favorable reviews with both critics and viewers. The film is still popular today, as preorders for the upcoming Walmart exclusive World War Z 4K Steelbook continue to sell out--though they’re finally back in stock. We’re not sure how long it’ll remain available, but if you’re interested in adding the movie to your collection when it releases on March 18, you’ll want to take a look as soon as you can.

World War Z 4K Steelbook (Walmart Exclusive) $45 | Releases March 18

The big draw of this version of the movie is its exclusive steelbook case. Featuring incredible artwork of zombies clawing their way up a wall, it’s a creepy centerpiece that’ll draw the attention of any horror fan. You’ll also get a 4K Blu-ray copy of the film, though bonus features are yet to be confirmed. The old 4K version from 2014 included a four-part documentary on the making of the film, theatrical trailers, and more, so expect much of the same to be available on this new steelbook.

Preorder at Walmart

Since the steelbook doesn’t release until March 18, use that time to read through the film’s source material--World War Z: An Oral History of the Zombie War. It’s currently discounted to just $10 (was $19), and it’s a fantastic way to learn more about the hit film. A hardcover version is also available for $18 (was $30).

Max Brooks is the author responsible for World War Z, and he’s published several other books that should appeal to zombie and survival horror fans. He’s even responsible for several Minecraft novels, which weave survival stories that are more appropriate for young readers.

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