Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 Dominates The Game Awards 2025 With Nine Wins Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 emerged as the undisputed standout of The Game Awards 2025, claiming the prestigious Game of the Year title and securing more trophies than any other nominee at this year’s ceremony. The dark fantasy RPG walked away with an impressive nine awards, cementing its place as one of the most celebrated releases of the year. In addition to Game of the Year, Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 won Best Game Direction, Best Narrative, Best Independent Game, Best Debut Indie Game, Best RPG, Best Art Direction, Best Score & Music, and Best Performance, with Jennifer English earning recognition for her standout voice acting. The game’s sweeping success highlighted both its artistic ambition and its strong emotional storytelling. While Clair Obscur dominated the night, several other titles also earned major recognition. Arc Raiders took home Best Multiplayer, Mario Kart World won Best Sports/Racing Game, and Baldur’s Gate 3 continued its post launch legacy by winning Best Community Support. The three hour ceremony wasn’t short on surprises either. Fans were treated to a debut trailer for Control: Resonant, a first look at Leon Kennedy’s role in Resident Evil Requiem, a memorable Street Fighter movie cast reveal, and the announcement of a brand new Mega Man game. Below is the full list of winners from The Game Awards 2025: The Game Awards 2025 Complete Winners List Game of the Year Winner: Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 Nominees: Death Stranding 2: On the Beach, Donkey Kong Bananza, Hades 2, Hollow Knight: Silksong, Kingdom Come: Deliverance 2 Best Game Direction Winner: Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 Best Narrative Winner: Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 Best Art Direction Winner: Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 Best Score & Music Winner: Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 Best Performance Winner: Jennifer English (Clair Obscur: Expedition 33) Best RPG Winner: Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 Best Independent Game Winner: Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 Best Debut Indie Game Winner: Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 Best Multiplayer Winner: Arc Raiders Best Sports / Racing Game Winner: Mario Kart World Best Action Game Winner: Hades 2 Best Action/Adventure Game Winner: Hollow Knight: Silksong Best Family Game Winner: Donkey Kong Bananza Best Fighting Game Winner: Fatal Fury: City of the Wolves Best Strategy / Simulation Game Winner: Final Fantasy Tactics: The Ivalice Chronicles Best VR/AR Game Winner: The Midnight Walk Best Mobile Game Winner: Umamusume: Pretty Derby Best Ongoing Game Winner: No Man’s Sky Best Adaptation Winner: The Last of Us (Season 2) Innovation in Accessibility Winner: Doom: The Dark Ages Games for Impact Winner: South of Midnight Best Community Support Winner: Baldur’s Gate 3 Esports Awards Best Esports Game: Counter-Strike 2 Best Esports Athlete: Chovy Best Esports Team: Team Vitality (Counter-Strike 2) Other Major Awards Content Creator of the Year: MoistCr1tikal Most Anticipated Game: Grand Theft Auto 6 Players’ Voice: Wuthering Waves

How to Unlock Elden Ring Nightreign’s The Forsaken Hollows DLC Elden Ring Nightreign: The Forsaken Hollows launches December 4 across PlayStation, Xbox, and PC, bringing players back into FromSoftware’s ever twisting world of cryptic lore, brutal bosses, and hidden secrets. As fans have come to expect, gaining access to the DLC won’t be as simple as pressing “Start.” According to a new update from Bandai Namco’s marketing team, The Forsaken Hollows requires several specific in game steps before players can experience its new content. Below is a full breakdown of every requirement you’ll need to complete before entering the Forsaken Hollows and what you can expect once you’re inside. How to Access The Forsaken Hollows DLC You Must Defeat Certain Bosses Before Entering the New Areas The DLC introduces a substantial amount of new content, including: Two new Nightfarers: The Scholar and The Undertaker Two bosses: The Dreglord and Balancers A Shifting Earth event: The Great Hollows Each of these features has its own unlock conditions, and none will be available until every prerequisite has been met. DLC Unlock Requirements 1.DLC Feature 2.Description 3.How to Unlock Nightfarers Scholar & Undertaker 1. Defeat Tricephalos 2. Speak to Iron Menial at Roundtable Hold 3. Obtain message from the Small Jar Merchant Bosses Dreglord & Balancers 1. Defeat Tricephalos and one additional base game boss 2. Unlock both new Nightfarers 3. Enter the chapel behind the Small Jar Merchant 4. Participate in The Great Hollows Shifting Earth event Shifting Earth Event The Great Hollows Unlock the chapel behind the Small Jar Merchant All players within the same party must own and download The Forsaken Hollows to participate in its content. Defeating Tricephalos is the single most important requirement, as it gates nearly every part of the DLC. It’s currently unclear whether further steps are needed to fully unlock the two new Nightfarers after receiving the Small Jar Merchant’s message mirroring the layered requirements of Nightfarers in the base game. Additionally, Bandai Namco’s post didn’t mention the Dreglord directly, despite the boss already appearing in YouTube previews. For now, it’s assumed the Dreglord becomes available after defeating Balancers, though this may change as new information arrives. DLC Release Times When Does The Forsaken Hollows Go Live? Elden Ring Nightreign: The Forsaken Hollows launches on a rolling schedule beginning December 3. PC players will get in first, with console users gaining access several hours later. Global Release Schedule Time Zone PST December 3 at 3:00 PM PC December 3 at 9:00 PM Console CST December 3 at 5:00 PM PC December 3 at 11:00 PM Console EST December 3 at 6:00 PM PC December 4 at 12:00 AM Console Automatic downloads on Steam begin at 0:00 UTC on December 4, 2025, and the required Update File 1.03 will go live on December 3.

Phantom Monarchs and Merlin Re:Collection Set to Expand the Grand Archive TCG Universe This December Grand Archive TCG fans have plenty to look forward to as December 5, 2025 marks the simultaneous launch of two major releases: the highly anticipated Phantom Monarchs expansion set and the comprehensive Merlin Re:Collection Brilliant Vestige bundle. Together, these products promise new strategies, enhanced collectability, and exciting reintroductions to the game’s evolving world. Phantom Monarchs: A New Chapter in the Grand Archive Saga The Phantom Monarchs expansion arrives with an impressive 199 unique cards, bolstering archetypes first unveiled in Distorted Reflections and offering fresh support across all classes. Designed to open doors for a wide array of play styles, this set aims to enrich both competitive depth and deck building creativity. Collectors will find even more to love. Phantom Monarchs introduces: Full art Ultra Rares Over 200 foil variants Alternate art versions of iconic Advance Element cards Among the standout collector pieces is Phantom Monarch: Looking Glass Sights, a textless card variant rendered in a striking stained glass art style. This exclusive card is available only in Phantom Monarchs 1st Edition, adding an extra layer of prestige for dedicated fans and collectors. Merlin Re:Collection Brilliant Vestige: A New Way to Begin Launching alongside Phantom Monarchs is Merlin Re:Collection, Brilliant Vestige, a curated product reintroducing Merlin as the game’s first Crux Assassin. Designed as both an entry point for newcomers and a powerful tool for seasoned players, this collection is positioned to influence current meta strategies in meaningful ways. What’s Inside Merlin Re:Collection Players will find everything they need to jump into the action: A pre constructed 60 card main deck A 12 card material deck 100 matching Dragon Shield art sleeves Additional cards that complete all playsets for the included deck A chance to pull a random non champion Collector Super Rare card 1 damage counter Art dividers Two 10 sided crystal shaped dice Three Phantom Monarchs 1st Edition booster packs

Riftbound: Spiritforged Release Date, New Mechanics, and Everything We Know Riot’s new League of Legends trading card game, Riftbound, has already made a strong impression with its debut set. While many players are still tearing through booster packs from Origins, excitement is quickly shifting toward the game’s next major expansion: Spiritforged. Featuring over 200 new cards and several highly requested champions, this set is shaping up to be one of Riftbound’s biggest milestones yet. Release Dates for Riftbound: Spiritforged Players won’t have to wait too long to get their hands on the new expansion: Chinese release: December 2025 English release: February 13, 2026 The earlier release in China gives fans in the region a head start, but the global community won’t be far behind. What’s Coming in Spiritforged Spiritforged introduces a massive wave of content, including: 200+ new cards Two ready to play decks Three new gameplay mechanics 12 thematic Spirit Blossom–inspired Overnumbered cards These additions aim to expand player creativity, deepen deck building, and shake up the existing meta. All Spiritforged Products The Spiritforged product line will include: Two pre constructed decks featuring Fiora and Rumble Standard booster packs Booster cases containing 24 packs Whether you’re a new player looking to jump in or a collector chasing top value cards, Spiritforged offers a variety of entry points. New Mechanics Debuting in Spiritforged Three fresh mechanics will redefine how players build and pilot their decks: 1. Equipment A major new subtype, Equipment cards can be attached to units for lasting buffs and unlike most effects, they remain on the board even if the equipped unit dies. Classic League of Legends items like Long Sword, Doran’s Shield, and Blade of the Ruined King make their card game debut through this mechanic. 2. Gold Associated primarily with Draven, Gold tokens act as a spendable resource that can be converted into Power, a core requirement for playing certain cards. This mechanic adds new layers of resource management and strategic timing. 3. Repeat Spells with Repeat can be cast a second time by paying an additional cost, effectively doubling their impact. This opens the door to explosive combo plays and flexible spell based strategies. All Confirmed Legends in Spiritforged Spiritforged will contain 12 legends, matching the number introduced in Origins. Here are the champions confirmed so far: Irelia Fiora Rumble Ezreal Lucian Draven Azir Sivir Renata Glasc Riot has showcased artwork and teasers for several of these characters, though not all card images have been revealed yet.

Dispatch Review Telltale for the Critical Role Generation Dispatch is a strange and fascinating anomaly a game that somehow feels like it was plucked straight from 2012 yet also points toward the future of narrative driven experiences. Adhoc Games has crafted something that’s equal parts interactive drama and cinematic storytelling, brought to life through stellar animation, sharp writing, and top tier performances. But make no mistake: while Dispatch is captivating, it’s barely a video game in the traditional sense. Carrying the Telltale Torch The comparisons to The Wolf Among Us and The Walking Dead are impossible to avoid. Like those Telltale classics, Dispatch focuses on storytelling and player choice over complex gameplay or puzzles. Back in the day, Telltale simplified the classic point and click adventure for a new audience and it worked. Their games became cultural milestones, even as critics debated whether they were “real” games. Though Telltale shut down in 2018 after a series of financial missteps, its creative DNA lives on. Games like Life is Strange, Firewatch, Until Dawn, and now Dispatch carry the studio’s legacy forward. In Adhoc’s case, this lineage is literal the team is made up of former Telltale developers, and that heritage shines through in every frame. A Superhero Story with a Human Heart In Dispatch, players step into the shoes of Robert Robertson once the superhero Mecha Man now a down on his luck everyman trying to find his place in the world after hanging up the cape. Voiced by Aaron Paul, Robertson’s sardonic tone and quiet vulnerability make him instantly sympathetic, even as he wrestles with apathy and regret. After a night of drinking with his old superhero buddy Blue Blazer, Robertson is roped into working as a dispatcher for the SDN a subscription based superhero agency that sends out heroes on call. The twist? His team consists of reformed supervillains, all with their own quirks and baggage, and all too eager to test his patience. It’s a killer premise, infused with the personality and humor of the Critical Role era of storytelling. In fact, Dispatch directly involves members of the Critical Role cast, including Laura Bailey, Travis Willingham, and Matthew Mercer, alongside guest appearances from JackSepticEye, MoistCr1TiKaL, Alanah Pierce, and Jeffrey Wright. For longtime fans of modern geek culture, this ensemble feels like a dream crossover. More Show Than Game Like its Telltale predecessors, Dispatch prioritizes narrative over interaction. There’s no free roam exploration or inventory puzzles here your engagement mostly comes from dialogue choices, quick time events, and a few clever minigames. You spend far more time watching Dispatch than playing it, but when the story is this well acted and visually striking, that’s hardly a problem. One of the game’s most engaging features is its dispatching mechanic. Sitting at your computer, you send heroes on missions based on their abilities and personalities. These fast paced sequences break up the conversations and drama nicely, even if it’s unclear how much your success or failure actually matters. Still, the illusion of control fits perfectly with the game’s cinematic approach. A Stripped Down Evolution Dispatch feels like Telltale reimagined for the Critical Role generation a show disguised as a game, designed to make you feel involved rather than in control. The animation is top tier, the script is sharp, and the performances breathe life into every scene. Adhoc has taken Telltale’s formula, stripped it down to its emotional core, and built something sleek, modern, and full of heart. It’s easy to imagine some players being turned off by how passive the experience can be. But for those who value storytelling above all else, Dispatch might be one of the most compelling narrative adventures in years a glimpse of what the next evolution of the genre could look like.

Kirby Air Riders Release Date, Gameplay, Characters, and Everything We Know More than two decades after the cult classic Kirby Air Ride first launched on the Nintendo GameCube, Kirby is back behind the wheel with a brand new racing adventure. Kirby Air Riders promises to bring the charm and high speed chaos of the original game to a new generation this time on the Nintendo Switch 2, with modern upgrades, new characters, and expanded online features. Kirby Air Riders Release Date Kirby Air Riders officially launches on Thursday, November 20, 2025, exclusively for the Nintendo Switch 2. The game will be priced at $69.99 USD at release. Serving as a direct sequel to 2003’s Kirby Air Ride, the new title is once again helmed by Kirby’s legendary creator, Masahiro Sakurai, best known for his work on the Super Smash Bros. series. Fans of the original can expect a faithful recreation of the beloved gameplay loop but with plenty of fresh twists. Gameplay Overview At its heart, Kirby Air Riders keeps the approachable yet addictive formula of the original game. Players race through colorful courses, collect power ups, and battle opponents using Kirby’s trademark copy abilities all while mastering the handling of unique Air Ride machines. Characters and Abilities This time, the roster is much bigger. Players can choose from over 20 characters, including classic favorites and newcomers alike: Kirby (with multiple color variants) King Dedede Meta Knight Waddle Doo Bandana Waddle Dee Magolor Daroach Starman Cappy Ricky …and more! Each racer comes with a special ability to spice up the competition. For example, Daroach can steal other players’ copy abilities mid race, adding an extra layer of strategy. Copy Abilities Return Copy abilities make a triumphant comeback, allowing players to unleash temporary powers during races. A few confirmed examples include: Cutter – Throw a returning blade to slice through opponents. Drill – Dig underground to dodge attacks, then burst upward with a powerful jump strike. Needle – Extend spikes for defensive protection and counterattacks. These abilities keep races fast, chaotic, and unpredictable a perfect match for Kirby’s playful world. Air Ride Machines Before each race, players choose from a lineup of hovercraft style vehicles known as Air Ride machines. Each one has its own balance of speed, control, and durability. Warp Star – A balanced, all around machine. Shadow Star – Deals heavy damage and can even one hit KO enemies. Turbo Star – Blisteringly fast but difficult to steer. Paper Star – Lightweight and excellent at gliding. Different tracks favor different machines, so experimentation is key. As before, the game’s controls are designed to be simple vehicles move automatically, allowing players to focus on steering, gliding, and using abilities effectively. Game Modes Kirby Air Riders features multiple modes for solo and multiplayer play, including both local and online options. Air Ride Mode – The classic racing mode returns, now supporting up to six players locally. Compete in standard races, time trials, or free runs while customizing rules and conditions. Top Ride – The fan favorite top down mode makes its comeback, offering quick, arcade style races perfect for short sessions. City Trial – The signature chaotic mode returns, expanded for modern play. Players explore a large city map, collect upgrades, and battle others before a final showdown event. This time, players can choose which final event they’ll compete in a first for the series. City Trial also supports up to 16 players online, complete with lobby features where players can explore garages, interact socially, and show off their customizations. Story Mode As of now, there’s no confirmed story mode in Kirby Air Riders. True to its roots, the focus remains on fun, competitive racing rather than narrative progression much like the original Air Ride and the Super Smash Bros. series.