Baldur's Gate 3 is apparently even better to play on the go now, as Larian Studios has released a new native version of the RPG for Steam Deck as part of a hotfix update. The developer states that the game has "a more stable frame rate, lower loading times, and smoother gameplay" on the PC handheld.

Larian detailed what's included with hotfix 34 on Steam in a set of patch notes, with the spotlight on the Steam Deck-native build. But the developer pointed out this new portable version of Baldur's Gate 3 has led to "overall improvements to the way game models are streamed on all platforms, which should reduce framerate spikes in busy areas, such as the Lower City in Act 3." Previously, the RPG utilized the "Proton compatibility layer, which requires extra CPU processing power," to run on Valve's handheld.

Hotfix #34 is now live! You'll no longer turn into a floating torso when talking with Ketheric’s dog, the Apostle of Myrkul will stop regaining hit points when you load a save mid-combat, and we've attempted to save you from some annoying crashes. Read all about it: larian.club/Hotfix34

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— Larian Studios (@larianstudios.com) September 23, 2025 at 11:14 AM

Mods can carry over to the native Steam Deck build of Baldur's Gate 3. Larian stated that by logging "in to your Larian Account and hav[ing] it connected to mod.io" will lead to your mods downloading for the game. Meanwhile, hotfix 34 also addresses other issues for Baldur's Gate 3, like crashing instances on Xbox Series X|S.

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Ubisoft's classic platforming series Rayman celebrated its 30th anniversary earlier this month. The developer confirmed the next mainline entry is in the works, but it sounds like it's a long ways off. While that's probably not what fans wanted to hear, at least you can buy a brand-new version of Rayman for Game Boy Color. That sentence sounds odd, but it's true: Ubisoft partnered with ModRetro to rerelease the GBC version of the original Rayman. An actual GBC cartridge, in fact, and it looks lovely.

Rayman for ModRetro Chromatic / Game Boy Color

Rayman is the latest addition to the ModRetro Chromatic Classics Collection. If the words ModRetro Chromatic don't mean anything to you: ModRetro is a retro gaming hardware manufacturer and software publisher; the Chromatic, an exceedingly impressive recreation of the Game Boy Color, was the brand's debut product last year. Check out our in-depth Chromatic review published at launch. Just a heads up, though: The Chromatic we reviewed now retails for $299, and the $199 model has slightly different components. That said, you can still get the GameStop-exclusive gray launch edition bundled with Tetris for $199.

It's important to note that even though ModRetro carts have Chromatic branding, all of them work on original hardware and other FPGA handhelds like the Analogue Pocket. ModRetro sent me a Rayman demo cart, and I tested it on Chromatic, Pocket, and an original Game Boy Color. It played perfectly on all three.

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Blippo+ is certainly one of the strangest games you could play this year--or any year, really. Released on Steam, Switch, and Playdate (the small yellow handheld famous for its crank controls), it strains the fundamental definition of a video game. Instead, it's more of a simulation of TV channel-surfing in the late '80s or early '90s, a kind of interaction younger generations actually have no experience with. It's a game whose target audience would seem to be very few people at all. And yet, because I enjoy exceptionally weird experiences, it delivers.

Blippo+ is a collection of live-action skits meant to play like a cable television package from 30ish years ago. When you first start up the game, it "scans" for channels--a process I vaguely recalled interacting with as a kid when Blippo+ reminded me. Then, once its dozen or so channels are found, you simply... watch TV.

Every show becomes a micro-story you can follow for several in-game weeks at a time.

The TV schedule plays out in real time. These are not on-demand offerings a la Netflix or HBO Max. This is a perpetually cycling programming schedule. If you tune into the news channel, for example, you'll miss what's happening at the same time on the music, family or--yes--even the porn channel. Each program only lasts a few minutes, so it's not as though you're locked in for 30 or more minutes if you want to watch any single program in its entirety. This also makes it easy enough to eventually catch everything, either by channel-surfing routinely like a kid after school in 1996, or by sticking with one channel at a time until it has looped fully, then moving onto the next channel.

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Earlier in September, Nintendo revealed that Pokemon is getting a cozy game, Pokemon Pokopia. Apparently the developers of Palworld had similar ideas, because Pocketpair has now unveiled a spin-off cozy game of its own called Palworld: Palfarm.

Much like Pokemon Pokopia, Palfarm lets players gather pals to help them live a quiet life as a farmer while handling the harvest, the cooking, and even the business of selling the food. The chosen pals also lend their special abilities to the player to make things easier on the farm.

However, it does appear that this game has a dark side. Pocketpair has confirmed that some pals will attack the communities you create in Palfarm. The trailer also has an unnerving sequence of a gunshop owner playing with a weapon that's much darker than the Pokemon games are willing to go.

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PS5 and PC may have larger player bases than Xbox these days, but Xbox apparently still has the other platforms beat on one metric. According to a new report, Xbox users play more games than their PS5 and Steam counterparts--and it's due to Game Pass.

Based on data collected by Ampere Analytics, Xbox users, on average, played almost six games each in August 2025. This is significantly more than Steam players (4.5 games on average) and PS5 players (3.7 games), and Ampere suggests that this finding is due to the Game Pass effect. In essence, enough Xbox players are Game Pass subscribers at this point that the ability to easily try out dozens of new games actually shows up in the data.

However, Ampere suggests that Xbox players are spending less overall time playing games compared to PS5 and Steam players. While this dynamic has often been true in the past, Ampere states that August 2025 was particularly unbalanced. Xbox users played only 7.7 hours of games on average, much lower than PS5 players (12.7 hours) and Steam players (11.9 hours).

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Avatar: Frontiers of Pandora, Ubisoft Massive's open-world action game set within James Cameron's Avatar cinematic universe, is getting another expansion during the Christmas season. This new DLC, titled From the Ashes, drops on December 19, the same day Avatar: Fire and Ash hits theaters--in case you needed more Avatar.

Revealed by IGN, From the Ashes sees you play as the battle-hardened Trr’ong clan Na'vi So'lek, who sets out to protect his family after the RDA and its new allies--the violent Ash clan--ambushed and left him for dead.

Creative director Omar Bouali told IGN that From the Ashes takes place "a few weeks" after the upcoming Fire and Ash film and "roughly six months" after the events of Frontiers of Pandora and its two previous story expansions (The Sky Breaker and Secrets of the Spires).

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More than a year ago, Ubisoft announced that the long-in-development Watch Dogs movie had finished filming, but the movie's star, Tom Blyth, has now confirmed some in the cast recently came back for reshoots.

Speaking to ScreenRant, Blyth said said he "just went back and did some reshoots" to help make the movie "even better."

Blyth didn't elaborate as to the nature of the reshoots, but reshoots are pretty common and aren't necessarily indicative of issues. In any event, Blyth went on to share a key detail about the Watch Dogs movie, and that is that it's "not the game" and is "very different."

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Over six years after its initial announcement, and nearly four years since Riot Games shared a first look at gameplay, 2XKO, the League of Legends fighting game, will soon be available to all. Riot has announced that the current 2XKO closed beta will end on October 7, and early access will begin the same day.

2XKO's early-access period will include a "Season 0," which will function as the game's first seasonal event and include special in-game events and progression rewards. Season 0 will also mark the debut of a new champion to bring the playable roster to 10--though Riot has not confirmed who that champion will be.

2XKO

Riot also revealed that 2026 will include five seasons, each of which will also add events, rewards, and a playable champion. All progress made in the closed beta will carry over to the early-access period, and all progress made in early access will also carry over to subsequent seasons.

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Vault Hunters need not worry about nerfs, at least for now. Instead, developer Gearbox wants to focus on buffs for Borderlands 4 players first and foremost, especially in regard to skills and gear.

On X, Borderlands 4 creative director Graeme Timmins laid out the team's plans for the immediate future. "We've seen the discourse about builds that use unintended interactions and/or the knife. We're not going to act on those immediately; instead, we're looking at our first round of buffs," Timmins wrote. "Those will get addressed, but we're going to start with underperforming gear/skills first."

We’ve seen the discourse about builds that use unintended interactions and/or the knife. We’re not going to act on those immediately, instead, we’re looking at our first round of buffs. Those will get addressed but we’re going to start with underperforming gear/skills first.

— Graeme Timmins (@ProdigyXL) September 23, 2025

This isn't the first time Timmins has commented on the issue. Last week, the developer noted that they weren't "going to knee-jerk react to anything," including nerfing a Borderlands 4 player's favorite busted build. It's worth pointing out that the looter-shooter is PvE, so balancing online multiplayer isn't a concern.

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Google's latest update to Google Play is a big one. The tech giant is bringing its multiplatform play out of beta and expanding its availability, allowing players to access Google Play games across both mobile and PC. It is also making a big push to further personalize the Google Play experience, which includes deeper integration with its AI products.

As detailed in a blog post, Google is focusing on efforts designed to unify gaming experiences across platforms. The update marks the full launch of Google Play Games on PC, which had been in beta for almost three years. This system allows people to play a subset of Google Play games across both mobile and PC, and progress and rewards are shared between platforms.

Alongside this launch, Google is also deepening integration throughout its gaming ecosystem. Google Play Points, which players can earn through gameplay and participation in events to redeem for in-game items and Google Store purchases, are now shared across mobile and PC.

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Lego Ideas: Mineral Collection (880 pieces)

$60 | Releases October 1

Preorder at Amazon Preorder at Lego Store See at Walmart

The Lego Ideas catalog is overflowing with cool display pieces, including those inspired by real-world locations like the Italian Riviera, iconic movies like Jaws, and important historical artwork like Vincent van Gogh's The Starry Night. On October 1, the list will expand with the new Lego Ideas: Mineral Collection, which will let you build a display featuring replicas of some of the Earth’s most precious minerals. If you're a geologist, jeweler, or rockhound--or just really into crystals--you can preorder the new set for $60 at multiple online retailers.

Lego Ideas: Mineral Collection (880 pieces) $60 | Releases October 1

This 880-piece set features Lego replicas of six different minerals: pyrite, amethyst, fluorite, tourmaline, rhodochrosite, and quartz, each of which is composed of colorful, transparent bricks. You'll also build a set of display shelves for showing them off. The display is customizable, featuring modular shelves that can be arranged, combined, or separated as you see fit.

While the set includes an instruction booklet to follow along with, the Mineral Collection is also compatible with the Lego Builder App, which lets you view your project from a variety of angles and saves your progress after each step.

Preorders are available for $60 at Amazon, Lego Store, Walmart, and Target. Keep in mind that, while the set releases on October 1, both Amazon and the Lego Store likely won’t ship in time to have it in your hands by that date. Instead, expect it to arrive a few days later. Free shipping is available at most retailers.

Preorder at Amazon Preorder at Lego Store See at Walmart Lego Ideas: Mineral CollectionGallery

If you’re looking for other Lego sets to pair with the upcoming Mineral Collection, consider one of the many Lego Botanicals kits. The line includes numerous model kits based on flowers and other plants that could go well with the new minerals set. Even better, many are currently discounted at Amazon. Some are themed around a specific plant and include Lego vases to display them in, such as the 608-piece Mini Orchid or the 327-piece Plum Blossom, both of which are on sale for $24 apiece (normally $30 each). If you'd like a bigger centerpiece, consider kits like the Succulents set that's available for $40 (was $50), the Wildflower Bouquet for $48 (was $60), or the Bouquet of Roses for $48 (was $60). Check the list below for even more Lego Botanical set deals at Amazon.

Lego Botanical Set Deals

• Bonsai Tree (878 pieces) -- $40 ($50)
• Bouquet of Roses (822 pieces) -- $48 ($60)
• Chrysanthemum (278 pieces) -- $24 ($30)
• Flower Bouquet (756 pieces) -- $48 ($60)
• Kingfisher (834 pieces) -- $40 ($50)
• Mini Orchid (274 pieces) -- $24 ($30)
• Orchid (608 pieces) -- $40 ($50)
• Plum Blossom (327 pieces) -- $24 ($30)
• Succulents (771 pieces) -- $40 ($50)
• Tiny Plants (758 pieces) -- $40 ($50)
• Wildflower Bouquet (939 pieces) -- $48 ($60)

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In addition to a Death Stranding anime movie, a live-action Death Stranding movie from director Michael Sarnoski and A24 is in the works. During the Beyond the Strand event celebrating the 10th anniversary of Kojima Productions, Sarnoski and Kojima appeared on stage to share some more updates about it.

Kojima said he wanted Sarnoski to direct the movie after seeing the movies Pig and A Quiet Place: Day One, both of which Sarnoski directed and Kojima enjoyed. Kojima said he thought Sarnoski would be "perfect" to make the movie.

As for Sarnoski, he said he was "terrified" by the pressure of working on such a beloved franchise, but ultimately agreed to sign on after meeting with Kojima and A24 and learning that he would be given "freedom" to make the movie he wanted to make.

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The next PlayStation State of Play event is coming up very soon. How soon? Like tomorrow. The second PlayStation State of Play this month will air on Wednesday, September 24.

The event promises more than 35 minutes of "reveals and news from developers around the world." The existence of this event is no surprise, as it was previously referenced by a reliable insider.

"We'll share new looks at anticipated third-party and indie titles, plus updates from some of our teams at PlayStation Studios--including an extended look at Saros, Housemarque's mysterious new title arriving next year. Look forward to nearly five minutes of gameplay captured on PS5," Sony said.

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2026 looks to be a very exciting year for video games. In addition to being the first full year for the Switch 2--we'll surely hear about even more games for the system as we move further into the year--2026 will also see the release of Grand Theft Auto 6, which is widely anticipated as one of the biggest entertainment launches of all time. We'll see plenty of other sequels to popular franchises, as well as a number of brand-new games across everything from console to mobile.

In order for you to keep track of everything coming in 2026, GameSpot has broken down the entire year by month, showing games with final release dates as well as games given a nebulous "2026" window. As more games are announced, they'll be added to this list, and those given final dates will be shifted into the relevant sections. For more, check out all the games released (and releasing) in 2025.

January

The Legend of Heroes: Trails Beyond the Horizon (PS5, PS4, Switch 2, Switch, PC) - January 15

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Since the days of the PlayStation 3, players have been earning Trophies in their PlayStation games by completing challenges and finishing games, but outside of their online profiles, there hasn't been a way for the most loyal PS fans to show off those in-game achievements. Today, Sony has provided a solution in Franchise Rewards, a new program where unlocking certain trophies will give a player access to special physical "rewards."

The program kicks off today with Ghost of Tsushima, and it offers two pieces of unique merch for those who earn certain trophies by December 31. Players who have unlocked the "Mono no Aware" gold trophy can preorder a t-shirt for $30, while those who have unlocked the "Living Legend" platinum trophy can preorder a pin for $25.

The Living Legend pin, available to those who unlock Ghost of Tsushima's platinum trophy.

A new article on the PlayStation Blog goes into further detail about the special merch, saying that both items were "created with close input from Sucker Punch Productions to make sure they authentically capture the game’s atmosphere and artistry." The blog post also confirms that Ghost of Yotei will join the program "later this year," with details on that merch coming "closer to launch."

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Zach Cregger, the writer-director of the acclaimed horror movies Barbarian and Weapons, has shared some new insight into his upcoming Resident Evil movie.

Speaking to Fangoria, Cregger said the movie will not be a re-telling of Leon's story and, in fact, won't use "any of the characters from the games." Instead, Cregger is making a movie that's in the Resident Evil world--and specifically in the Resident Evil 2 universe--but aims to feel like an original story.

"I'm telling my story that exists in the world of Resident Evil 2. You could play 2 and never know that the events of my story are happening right over there, but they are," he said. "I'm following the rules, but I'm not claiming any key, canon characters because we have those in the games."

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As part of the Beyond the Strand event celebrating 10 years of Kojima Productions, the Japanese developer and the original creator of Pokemon Go announced a "new technology partnership" that aims to "redefine immersive entertainment."

Like with Kojima's Death Stranding series, much remains shrouded in mystery about this new project.

"For Kojima Productions, it's a bold expansion into new forms of media beyond traditional gaming. For Niantic Spatial, it underlines the potential of geospatial AI technology to transform how people and machines understand and interact with the physical world," reads a line from the announcement.

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As part of the "Beyond the Strand" event this week that celebrated the 10th anniversary of Kojima Productions, Hideo Kojima made a series of announcements, one of which was quite unexpected.

Kojima is parterning with Mitsubishi UFJ Financial Group to launch a new Kojima credit card. In the second half of 2026, MUFG will offer a credit card that will give users points based on spending that they can use to exchange for merchandise and other goods for Kojima-related items.

That's all Kojima and the bank had to say about the credit card. Additional details will be forthcoming.

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Nearly two years ago, Hideo Kojima and director Jordan Peele revealed their upcoming horror game, OD. Since then, Kojima was largely focused on finishing Death Stranding 2: On the Beach. Now, Kojima Productions has shared a fresh look at OD during the Beyond the Strand event. And from the preview, it looks like Kojima is evoking P.T., the playable trailer for his canceled game Silent Hills.

The new video redacts some of the backstory text that sets up the game, which makes it difficult to understand what's supposed to be happening. Stephen King's It star Sophia Lillis plays the game's leading character, but most of the action takes place from a first-person perspective. Near the beginning of the clip, Lillis' character receives a card through the door with enigmatic instructions.

Lillis' character goes on to light a few candles, and that's where the creep factor rapidly expands. By the time someone--or something--enters the room behind Lillis' character, she's too frightened to run before it lays its hands upon her.

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The console wars have reached a point where it's no longer uncommon for some of the biggest Xbox games to get a cross-platform release on PS5. A small handful of PlayStation 5 titles have also gone to Xbox Series X|S. But if you were hoping that meant games like Horizon Zero Dawn and Ghost of Tsushima were next in line for Xbox releases then you might be disappointed.

A user on Reddit found a listing for Horizon Zero Dawn on the German Xbox Store. And it's not the only Sony title to appear there. Unfortunately, as pointed out by other Reddit users, this appears to be an indexing mistake by Google rather than Microsoft. Even some Nintendo games are listed on the Xbox Store because of that error.

Regardless, porting games from PS5 to Xbox Series X|S may not be a bad idea. It's worked wonders for Helldivers 2, and dramatically driven up the number of players in the game. In short, it made Helldivers 2 an even bigger hit. Sony also shares MLB The Show with other platforms thanks to agreements made with Major League Baseball. However, Sony is under no such obligation to bring any of its top franchises to the competition.

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