Top Gaming News of the Week: Pokémon Gifts, New Updates, Announcements, and More from Ubisoft, Bungie, Bethesda, and Nintendo.
The Best Pokémon Gifts for Every Trainer This Christmas
A roundup of the top Pokemon gifts available this holiday season, catering to all types of trainers from beginners to seasoned collectors.
- The Best Pokémon Deals For Every Kind of Trainer This Christmas — IGN
- The Best Free VPNs for Your PC — IGN
- The Final Update for Assassin’s Creed Shadows in 2025 Arrives Tomorrow, With New Finishers, Another Animus Quest, and More — IGN
- The Best Pokemon Gift Ideas for 2025 — IGN
- The Best Superhero Movie of 2025 — IGN
Arc Raiders Embraces the Long Dark: New Frostbite Update Arrives
Rock Paper Shotgun and Eurogamer report on Arc Raiders’ latest Cold Snap update, introducing environmental effects like frostbite and snow maps that liven up outdoor gameplay.
- Arc Raiders takes a turn for the Long Dark with today’s Cold Snap update – beware the frostbite — Rock Paper Shotgun
- Arc Raiders is getting festive tomorrow, as new environmental effects liven up outdoor maps — Eurogamer
- Arc Raiders Cold Snap Survival Mechanics Fully Detailed — Here’s Everything You Need to Know — IGN
Amazon Sells Free-To-Play MOBA Developed In-House to Ubisoft
Following Amazon’s decision to offload a portion of its video game division, the company has sold one of its in-development free-to-play MOBA projects to Ubisoft.
- Amazon sells a free-to-play MOBA it had in development, and the studio making it, to Ubisoft — PC Gamer
- After “gutting” its video game division, Amazon has sold one of its studios to Ubisoft — Eurogamer
Bungie Unveils March 2026 Launch and $40 Price for Marathon Extraction Shooter
Bungie has announced that the long-delayed multiplayer extraction shooter Marathon will launch in March 2026 with a price point of $40, revealing new gameplay details.
- Marathon Sets March 2026 Launch Window and $40 Price Point as Bungie Unveils New Gameplay — IGN
- Marathon lives, as Bungie set a March release date and try to convince you the extraction shooter is good now — Rock Paper Shotgun
- Six months after being delayed indefinitely, Bungie’s troubled Marathon finally gets release window and price — Eurogamer
Mr. House: Fallout: New Vegas Character Inspired by Howard Hughes, Evolving with Silicon Valley
The lead writer of Fallout: New Vegas reveals that the character Mr. House was initially based on Howard Hughes, but acknowledges that his perspective has evolved alongside the rise of modern tech visionaries and ‘Silicon Valley messiahs.’
- Fallout: New Vegas’ Mr. House was based on Howard Hughes, but the game’s lead writer says his sense of the character ‘has changed as we’ve seen the rise of Silicon Valley would-be messiahs’ — PC Gamer
- Fallout Season 2 Prime Video Premiere Release Date Brought Forward in Surprise Move by Amazon — IGN
Stalker 2 Receives Major Free Update Adding Hours of New Quests
The highly anticipated Stalker 2: Heart of Chornobyl is set to deliver a significant free update this week, introducing dozens of new quests across the Burnt Forest and other locations. Players will gain access to extended storylines, fresh environments, and expanded gameplay content that significantly enhances the game’s narrative and exploration aspects.
- Stalker 2 is adding “hours” of new quests in a major free update coming very, very soon — Eurogamer
- Stalker 2: Heart of Chornobyl Gets Free Update This Week Adding New Quests, Locations and Hub — IGN
- Stalker 2’s Stories Untold update delivers a new questline and a place to chill in the Burnt Forest this week — Rock Paper Shotgun
Hollow Knight: Silksong Breaks 7 Million Copies Sold Milestone in First Three Months
The first-person action-adventure game Hollow Knight: Silksong has surpassed the impressive milestone of selling over 7 million copies within just three months of its release, with this figure not accounting for numbers from Xbox Game Pass subscriptions.
- Hollow Knight: Silksong has sold over 7m copies in three months, and no that doesn’t include Game Pass numbers — Eurogamer
- Hollow Knight: Silksong’s first big expansion, Sea of Sorrow, flows into our lives for free next year — Rock Paper Shotgun
Free Nintendo Switch Games Giveaway: Get 10 Free Titles from No Gravity Games’ Switchmas Event
GG.deals announces a free giveaway of ten Nintendo Switch games through No Gravity Games’ Switchmas event, available exclusively to American users. The promotion is open and updated as of December 16, 2025.
- Get the fifth of 10 FREE Nintendo Switch games with No Gravity Games’ Switchmas Giveaway! (Americas only) — GG.deals
- Get the fifth of 10 FREE Nintendo Switch games with No Gravity Games’ Switchmas Giveaway! (Americas only) (updated) — GG.deals
Destiny 2: Renegades Review
IGN provides a comprehensive review of Destiny 2: Renegades, highlighting its gameplay mechanics, story elements, and overall player experience. The article discusses the game’s improvements over previous iterations and offers insights into whether it lives up to expectations for both new and returning players.
Bungie Announces Second Attempt to Reveal Marathon: $40 Price Tag, Proximity Chat, Solo Queue, and March Release Confirmed
Following an initial teaser, Bungie is set to reveal more details about the long-awaited game Marathon. The developers confirm a $40 price point, proximity chat functionality, solo queue support, and plan for a March 2026 release.
Todd Howard Declines Cameo Offers for Fallout TV Show
Fallout’s Todd Howard explains why he has turned down all offers to cameo in the upcoming Fallout TV show, stating his interest lies elsewhere.
- Fallout’s Todd Howard has no interest in becoming Bethesda’s version of Marvel cameo king Stan Lee — Eurogamer
- Todd Howard Explains Why He Has Turned Down All the Offers to Cameo in the Fallout TV Show So Far — IGN
Divinity: Original Sin 2 Receives Free Cross-Gen Upgrade for PS5, Xbox Series X/S, and Nintendo Switch 2
Larian Studios announced that Divinity: Original Sin 2 will receive a free upgrade on current-generation platforms including PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X/S, and Nintendo Switch 2. The announcement follows Larian’s Game Awards reveal for the game in 2017.
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