Europa Universalis V Triumphs in Strategy Gaming; Other News Highlights Including Fortnite Pets, Rockstar Union-Busting, Nintendo Patent Rejection, Blake Manor, and US-China Trade Truce Agreement

Europa Universalis 5 Review: A Masterful Strategy Epic

Eurogames’ Europa Universalis 5 delivers an expansive, historically rich grand strategy experience. The review highlights its deep mechanics, stunning visuals, and the ability to shape empires across centuries, making it a standout entry in the series.

• Europa Universalis 5 review — Rock Paper Shotgun

Battlefield 6 Players Uncover Hidden Secrets in Shooting Range

Players have discovered a secret room within Battlefield 6’s shooting range, sparking speculation and excitement among the community.

• Battlefield 6’s Redsec battle royale makes me miss peak PUBG — Eurogamer
• Battlefield 6 players have broken into a secret room in the shooting range — Eurogamer
• Rumours and theories swirl as Battlefield 6 players break into a secret room — Eurogamer

Fortnite Introduces Pets and Customizable Banana Dogs

Epic Games announces pets in Fortnite, including a banana puppy that can be danced with; changes to the invincible banana dog’s color will require purchasing an additional one.

• Fortnite is getting pets at last, including a banana puppy you can dance with — Eurogamer
• Fortnite’s adding pets, and changing your invincible banana dog’s colour will require buying another invincible banana dog — Rock Paper Shotgun
• Fortnite Sidekicks Are Here, Epic Confirms You Can Customize the Appearance of Your Pet Just Once and It’s Permanent — IGN

The Proof Is Undeniable: People Will Still Pay for Great Shooters

A recent article from PC Gamer highlights that despite the gaming landscape evolving, players remain willing to pay premium prices for exceptional first-person shooter experiences. The enduring popularity of high-quality shooters underscores their continued relevance and profitability in the industry.

• The proof is undeniable: People will still pay for great shooters — PC Gamer

Rockstar Accused of Most Ruthless Union-Busting in UK Games Industry History

After firing dozens of employees allegedly attempting to form a union, Rockstar faces accusations of the most ruthless act of union busting in the history of the UK games industry.

• Rockstar accused of ‘the most ruthless act of union busting in the history of the UK games industry’ after firing dozens of employees who were allegedly attempting to form a union — PC Gamer

Condemned: Criminal Origins Fans Hope for Remaster After Delisting

The critically acclaimed horror game Condemned: Criminal Origins, praised as the best game about beating people to death with a lead pipe ever played, has been delisted from Steam and Xbox. Fans are now hoping this signals plans for a remastered version of the title.

• Condemned: Criminal Origins, the best game about beating people to death with a lead pipe I’ve ever played, has been delisted from Steam and Xbox, and fans are hoping that means a remaster is on the way — PC Gamer

The Outer Worlds: Faction Writing Fails to Match Fallout: New Vegas

A review of The Outer Worlds 2’s faction writing, which falls short compared to the depth and complexity found in Fallout: New Vegas. The article highlights how the handling of powerful factions is a key area where The Outer Worlds 2 struggles.

• These Are the 10 Best New Horror Books of 2025 to Read This Halloween — IGN
• The Outer Worlds 2’s faction writing falls short of Fallout: New Vegas, and how it handles the powerful is key — Rock Paper Shotgun

Japanese Patent Officials Reject Nintendo’s Pokémon Patent Overlap with ARK, Monster Hunter, and Pokémon Go

Japanese patent authorities have rejected one of Nintendo’s Pokémon patent applications due to its similarity to existing patents for titles like ARK, Monster Hunter, and the mobile game Pokémon Go. The decision highlights concerns about potential trademark conflicts among popular game franchises.

• Japanese patent officials reject one of Nintendo’s Pokémon patent applications for being too similar to ARK, Monster Hunter, and—embarrasingly—Pokémon Go — PC Gamer

Blake Manor: A Chilling Halloween Detective Game for Fans

Eurogamer praises Blake Manor as a standout Halloween detective game, calling it one of the year’s best.

• The Séance of Blake Manor is shaping up to be one of my favourite games this year, and a brilliant Halloween treat for detective fans — Eurogamer
• The hardest part of making Arc Raiders was creating a “meaningful” item meta so that your loot doesn’t just feel like “cash” — Rock Paper Shotgun

Nintendo Successfully Sues Streamer Over Unauthorized Release of Unpublished Games

Nintendo has won a lawsuit against a streamer who illegally broadcasted unreleased games, highlighting the company’s ongoing efforts to protect its intellectual property.

• Nintendo wins lawsuit against streamer of unreleased games — Eurogamer
• Nintendo Wins Lawsuit Against Pirate Who Boasted ‘You Might Run a Corporation, But I Run The Streets’ — IGN

‘On a scale of 0-10… the meeting was a 12’: The US and China have agreed on a one-year trade truce after Trump’s meeting with Xi Jinping, although Nvidia Blackwell wasn’t on the table

The US and China have reached a one-year trade agreement following President Trump’s summit with Chinese President Xi Jinping. Despite ongoing geopolitical tensions and significant issues like semiconductor supply chain disruptions involving companies such as Nvidia, both leaders deemed it necessary to stabilize economic relations temporarily.

• ‘On a scale of 0-10… the meeting was a 12’: The US and China have agreed on a one-year trade truce after Trump’s meeting with Xi Jinping, although Nvidia Blackwell wasn’t on the table — PC Gamer