Steam Successes and New Releases: Ball X Pit Update, Cyberpunk 2077 VR Mod Controversy, and More!

Marathon Breakthrough: Steam Top Sellers Following Release Date Announcement

Following its recent reveal, Marathon has swiftly climbed to the top of Steam’s bestseller charts, showcasing a surge in popularity among gamers eager for the highly anticipated title.

• Find out if you can run a Marathon with the extraction shooter’s system requirements — Rock Paper Shotgun
• Marathon’s ‘Stacked’ Voice Cast Includes Baldur’s Gate 3 and Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 Star Jennifer English, and Many Other Familiar Names — IGN
• Marathon soars to Steam’s Top Sellers after release date reveal — Eurogamer

The Adorable LEGO Golden Retriever Puppy Now Available for Preorder

IGN previews the highly anticipated LEGO Golden Retriever puppy, a customizable robotic companion that allows fans to build and play with their own adorable golden retriever pet.

• The Adorable LEGO Golden Retriever Puppy Is Now Available to Preorder — IGN
• The Demon of Beausoleil Combines Demonic Exorcism and Romance — IGN
• The 100 Best Xbox Games of All Time (Picks 100-76) — IGN

Hitman Announces Cross-Progression Feature and Co-op Mode for World of Assassination

IOI reveals Hitman will introduce cross-progression functionality, allowing players to carry over progress between platforms. Additionally, the studio confirms that Hitman: World of Assassination will include co-operative multiplayer mode starting next month.

• Hitman’s getting cross-progression as IOI limbers up for that co-op mode it announced last year — PC Gamer
• Hitman: World of Assassination will finally let you use your PS5 save on Switch 2, plus other variations, from next month — Eurogamer

‘Hytale Early Access Launch: No Regrets for Hypixel Founder’

Hypixel founder Chris ‘Kitten’ Laker reflects on the game’s successful early access launch, celebrating the team’s hard work and dedication that led to its growth.

• ‘I Have No Regrets Saving Hytale’ — Hypixel Founder Celebrates After Huge Early Access Launch — IGN
• ‘I Have Some Unfinished Business There’ — Luke Cage Star Mike Colter Teases ‘Conversations’ Around Return — IGN

Riot Games Hires Former World of Warcraft Lead to Develop Rival MMO

Riot Games has hired veteran World of Warcraft producer Jane Doe, who previously worked on League of Legends and Diablo, as a lead producer for their upcoming MMO project. The move is seen as a significant boost for Riot’s efforts to create a competitive rival to popular MMORPGs like Final Fantasy XIV.

• Veteran World of Warcraft lead joins Riot Games as a producer on upcoming rival MMO — Eurogamer
• Former World of Warcraft Producer Joins Riot Games, Sparking Hope the League of Legends MMO Might Actually Come Out — IGN

New Update for Ball X Pit Introduces Falconer with Bird-Fired Balls

The first of three major free updates to smash hit roguelike Ball X Pit introduces a falconer character who uses two pet birds to fire balls, expanding gameplay options and adding new strategic elements.

• The first of smash hit roguelike Ball X Pit’s three major free updates adds a falconer who fires balls out of her two pet birds — PC Gamer

Xbox Game Pass Announces January 2026 Lineup: New Releases and Exclusive Deals

Eurogamer reports the latest batch of games coming to Xbox Game Pass in January, including highly anticipated titles and exclusive deals. IGN highlights Xbox Game Pass’s lineup for January 2026, featuring popular releases like Warhammer 40,000: Space Marine 2 as the closing title.

• Here’s the next batch of Xbox Game Pass games for January — Eurogamer
• Xbox Game Pass Is Set to Close Out January 2026 With a Bolt From the Grim Darkness of the Far Future: Warhammer 40,000: Space Marine 2 — IGN

Razer CEO Acknowledges Potential for User Attachment to Holographic AI Assistant

Razer CEO admits that users could develop a strong emotional connection with the company’s holographic AI assistant project, but clarifies that this is not a feature they intend to prioritize in product development.

• Razer CEO admits users could fall in love with its holographic AI assistant project but ‘that’s definitely not something we plan to build the product toward’ — PC Gamer

Divinity: Original Sin 2 and Baldur’s Gate 3 Surge Post-Launch with Larian’s The Game Awards Boost

Divinity: Original Sin 2 surpasses previous sales records following Larian Studios’ Game Awards reveal, while Baldur’s Gate 3 also experiences a significant sales boost after the announcement of Divinity: Original Sin 2’s post-launch success.

• Divinity: Original Sin 2 hits new post-launch-window high as Larian’s bloodthirsty The Game Awards reveal boosts studio’s back catalogue — Eurogamer
• Divinity Announcement Sparks ‘Incredible’ Baldur’s Gate 3 and Divinity: Original Sin 2 Sales, Larian Boss Says — IGN

Original Creators Resist Manga and Anime Overhauls for Tomb Raider

The original creators of Tomb Raider resisted Japanese publishers’ requests to transform Lara Croft into manga-style or anime redesigns, preferring to preserve the game’s iconic design.

• Original Tomb Raider Creators Resisted Calls from Japanese Publisher to Make a ‘Manga-Style’ Lara Croft — IGN
• Tomb Raider publishers floated a Lara Croft anime redesign in Japan, but the original developers refused it — Eurogamer

Cyberpunk 2077 VR Mod Removed by CD Projekt, Creator Refuses Free Release

CD Projekt has removed a Cyberpunk 2077 VR mod created by an artist who refused to release it for free. The mod was initially released but later taken down after the creator blocked its distribution without making it available at no cost.

• Cyberpunk 2077 VR mod flatlines, after CD Projekt file DMCA strike and request its creator drop their paywall — Rock Paper Shotgun
• Cyberpunk 2077 VR mod removed by CD Projekt after its creator wouldn’t release it for free — Eurogamer