Okay, so I’m really hyped for ARC Raiders, that extraction shooter coming to PC and the new consoles. The release date is set for October 30th, 2025, and it’s getting closer! Nexon, the company that owns Embark Studios, has been really ramping up the marketing lately. I was listening to the Friends Per Second podcast this past Saturday – episode 81 – and Embark’s Executive Producer, Aleksander Grondal, was on there talking all about it.
While the original Resident Evil is still considered one of the scariest games ever made, many newer titles have surpassed it in terms of fright. These games come from both major franchises and small independent studios, but they all share a common purpose: to deliver truly disturbing and intense experiences.
Pokemon Legends: Z-A features a diverse cast of characters, including both newcomers and familiar faces. Players quickly become involved with Team MZ, meeting either Taunie or Urbain and soon after, Lida and Naveen. The game also brings back AZ, a mysterious character from Pokemon X and Y, who now owns Hotel Z. Other supporting characters, like Mable and Emma, have more prominent roles in this installment. Recently, a fan discovered some animations for Mable that weren’t used in the final game.
More recent Pokémon games have been adding to the experience with downloadable content (DLC) released after the initial game launch. Pokémon Sword and Shield started this trend, with the Isle of Armor released about six months after the main game, followed by the Crown Tundra a few months later. Pokémon Scarlet and Violet also used this approach, releasing the Teal Mask nearly a year after the base game and the Indigo Disk a couple of months after that. Although Pokémon Legends: Arceus didn’t have any DLC, the announcement of an expansion for Pokémon Legends: Z-A before its launch suggests that future DLC might be available sooner.
Recently, screenshots from an unfinished version of the game have appeared online. These images suggest the game would have been a prequel, taking place during the events of the original God of War trilogy.
I often feel overwhelmed starting games that have been around for a while and have a lot of existing content – it’s why I had to make a real effort to get into Destiny 2 before its latest expansion, and why I’m only now considering giving Fallout 76 another try. This fear of falling behind is why I’ve avoided games like Genshin Impact and Honkai: Star Rail. I admire HoYoverse’s ability to create immersive games with compelling characters, but I’ve also seen friends become completely absorbed by them, dedicating all their time and money to those games. As someone who enjoys playing a variety of titles, I worry about the commitment required to catch up on current HoYoverse games. Luckily, Petit Planet seems like a good entry point, as I can start fresh with a HoYoverse title and it also offers something my gaming collection has been missing: a relaxing, life-simulation game similar to Animal Crossing.
Watching the Elbaf arc of One Piece unfold has been a wild ride! It’s been non-stop action and huge reveals with each new chapter. Honestly, there hasn’t been a dull moment. Right now, the story is diving into Loki’s past, and we’re getting glimpses of the God Valley Incident – it’s been absolutely amazing to see everything come to light.
I’m really excited about 911 Operator! From what the developers at Jutsu Games say, it’s a game all about the tough job of emergency line workers. It’s a cool mix of simulator and strategy where you get to handle calls from people who need help all over the world – seriously, thousands of cities! Sometimes you can help just by giving advice over the phone, but other times you need to send the police, fire department, or paramedics. What’s really impressive is they’ve recorded over 50 different conversations based on real emergency calls, and they’re aiming to make it one of the most realistic simulator games out there.
Maomao, the main character of The Apothecary Diaries, has quickly become a hugely popular character – not just among female leads, but as a defining face of contemporary anime. The series itself is incredibly successful in Japan and is rapidly gaining fans worldwide. Excitingly, The Apothecary Diaries will return for a third season in 2026.
The first Halo: Combat Evolved game didn’t offer much in the way of customization, which had both positive and negative effects. However, the developers at Halo Studios have announced that the remake will include more options for players. One example is the ability to turn off the sprint feature, which was a point of contention in the original game, allowing players who prefer the classic Halo experience to do so.