With its Nintendo Switch Online service, the Nintendo Switch can play almost all Mario Kart games. However, some exceptions exist – notably Mario Kart: Double Dash!! and the arcade versions, which might be included in the upcoming library for the Nintendo Switch 2, though this hasn’t been confirmed yet.
The fresh redesign of Donkey Kong, debuting in the Super Mario Bros. Movie, is rapidly establishing itself as the prevailing style for everyone’s beloved video game ape (Winston has taken a backseat now, as Overwatch no longer enjoys the popularity it once did).
Phil Spencer, head of Xbox, has talked extensively about the possibility of making first-party games accessible on other consoles. He explained that their approach is to make these games available, but not with the intention of keeping them exclusively on specific platforms. Instead, this strategy isn’t something they plan to pursue as it doesn’t seem beneficial for them.
In late 2024, Frostpunk 2 was launched, and according to its development plan, it will continue to receive free content upgrades and significant expansion packs until 2026. Although only six years separate the initial release of Frostpunk from its sequel, Frostpunk 2, the swift pace of game development means that many of its features and mechanics are significantly improved. In an interview with Game Rant, game director Maciej SuĊecki announced that the upcoming title, Frostpunk: 1886, will leverage these enhancements.
This year, Minecraft has been frequently releasing snapshot updates, and the annual Minecraft LIVE event recently showcased a lot of new content scheduled for the game in 2025. Fans have caught a sneak peek at several upcoming features in test versions made available for both Java and Bedrock editions. For instance, players have been introduced to Minecraft’s cheerful Ghast mob and revamped leashing mechanics. Additionally, those playing with the preview versions of Minecraft on the Bedrock Edition have had a sneak peek at the game’s upcoming Vibrant Visuals, a significant graphical and lighting overhaul that will eventually be available for both Java and Bedrock editions.
The popular series One Piece is nearing its conclusion with just a handful of story arcs remaining, commonly referred to as the Final Saga. With the end drawing near, it’s likely that viewers will witness some of the most significant characters in action, including Monkey D. Dragon.
Towards the end of 2022, Sony introduced the PlayStation Stars program, allowing gamers to accumulate loyalty points and digital memorabilia by fulfilling specific tasks and making purchases on the PlayStation Store. These points could be utilized in several ways via the PlayStation Stars catalog, with numerous users opting to add funds to their PSN account or even directly purchase games. Despite its popularity over the years, Sony’s digital collectibles initially sparked debate as they were seen as part of the broader NFT trend, causing concern among some. However, it turned out that this wasn’t the case. Sadly, despite fans enjoying the collection of PlayStation game mementos from past and present, it seemed insufficient to sustain the service’s operation.
Over the past few months, Electronic Arts (EA) has been conducting exclusive playtests for the upcoming “Battlefield” title in North America and Europe. Despite being asked not to share their experiences with the game, many participants have been vocal about their positive impressions so far. It appears that “Battlefield 6” will keep several elements from its predecessors that made the series popular, like destructible environments, compact multiplayer battles, and a contemporary setting. Sadly, we won’t see the release of the game any time soon; however, there are a couple of movies and shows connected to it that fans might find interesting while they wait for the official launch.
The revival of the “Final Destination: Bloodlines” horror series has been highly successful, offering a fresh narrative that rejuvenates the franchise. In 2000, the original “Final Destination” was released, centering around a young man who had a chilling premonition of a plane crash, leading him and others to evacuate beforehand. The plane indeed exploded minutes later, as he had foreseen. Escaping death, the survivors found themselves becoming victims of seemingly random accidents, but in reality, these were Death claiming the souls that cheated it.
From the previews, it appears that the graphics in this new game are slightly improved compared to Mario Kart 8, but not dramatically so. However, instead of focusing on enhancing visual quality, Nintendo seems to have directed their technology towards an aspect that players might value even more: improving the gameplay itself.