Archive - 2025

Season 08 Expansion Pass Available Now for Stellaris: Console Edition

Paradox Interactive and Tantalus Media today released the Season 08 Expansion Pass for their hit sci-fi grand strategy game Stellaris: Console Edition. Available now on PlayStation 5 and Xbox Series X|S, the new expansion pass grants immediate access to the “Rick the Cube Species Portrait” pack and the major “The Machine Age” expansion. It will also include the “Cosmic Storms” mechanical expansion and “Grand Archive” story pack when they arrive next year.

Additionally, Stellaris: Console Edition is now available in a full native version for PlayStation 5 and Xbox Series X|S. This free upgrade for existing players takes full advantage of the advanced hardware and modern optimization on modern consoles, delivering improved performance, 4K resolution, and more galaxy setup options than ever before. Learn more about the update in our free features developer diary.

The Season 08 Expansion Pass for Stellaris: Console Edition includes: 

  • The Machine Age (Major Expansion – available now): Explore cyberpunk fantasies of technological augmentation and digitalization of consciousness and expand the possibilities offered in game by the Cybernetic and Synthetic Ascension Paths. Address the moral and social challenges that communing with the machine brings to your space-faring empire, and face a new threat looming over the galaxy… or become a new threat yourself, as you tear through time and space to shape reality to your image.
  • Rick The Cube Species Portrait (available now): Add a touch of enigma to your interstellar civilization with this unique portrait. It comes with three distinct phenotypes, each boasting unique animations.
  • Cosmic Storms (Mechanical Expansion – coming Q2 2026): Cosmic Storms have begun sweeping through the systems of the galaxy. Check the forecast, prepare your Empire to weather this new threat, and leverage the possibilities these storms give you as they weaken your enemies. Discover multiple types of Cosmic Storms that travel from system to system in the galaxy, wrecking havoc (or bringing powerful bonuses) on empires throughout the galaxy. Discover new technologies allowing you to forecast, and influence the direction of these storms, and play with new civics and a new origin featured around taking advantage of this mysterious galactic phenomenon.
  • Grand Archive (Story Pack – coming Q2 2026): In the Grand Archive Story Pack, uncover and showcase the rarest treasures across the cosmos—both living and inanimate. Amass an unparalleled collection of xeno-geological artifacts, relics of forgotten civilizations, and tame space fauna in your Grand Archive, a groundbreaking new megastructure.

Astral Planes, a narrative-focused expansion, is also available today for Stellaris: Console Edition. Chart your own path through an array of wonders and dangers and travel through Rifts in space and time for a glimpse of strange, new realities. Astral Planes is available now for a suggested retail price of $19.99/€19.99/£16.75.

The Season 08 Expansion Pass is available now for a suggested retail price of $41.99/€41.99/£36.74, giving players a 20% discount compared to buying each piece of DLC individually.

For more information about Stellaris: Console Edition, please visit www.stellaris.com.

Trash Goblin Celebrates First Anniversary

“Best Small Studio” indie game developer Spilt Milk Studios is celebrating its 1-year anniversary since launching their fan-favourite wholesome shopkeeping game Trash Goblin. In addition to this celebration, Trash Goblin also recently won the “Diversity in Games” Award at the TIGA Awards 2025, recognising its commitment to inclusivity and representation.

Originally appearing on Steam Early Access on November 6th, 2023 before its 1.0 launch on May 29th 2025, Trash Goblin has gone on to sell 60k copies and currently sports a ‘Very Positive’ rating across over 900 reviews – with 100% of Steam player reviews in the past 30 days being positive, highlighting the game’s growing and enthusiastic community. To commemorate this milestone, Spilt Milk has put together a few things! There’s the accolades trailer celebrating all the joy and mirth its trinket-restoration-escapist-fantasy has brought to the world.

GOBLIN SCIENCE-FACTS!
In the year since Trash Goblin has gone on sale, it’s accrued nearly a quarter of a million wishlists (with 179k outstanding!) and nearly 5,000 of those goblins have played for more than 20 hours. In fact, our goblins have spent a cumulative total of 376,501 hours playing (That’s 15.5k days, or 43 years – the same age as the game’s creative director). At that rate, we estimate 4.5 million trinkets have been found so far!

The team couldn’t resist taking a look at all the hard work & features they’ve put into the game in that short time – and created this lovely “retrospective roadmap” that shows just how far the game has come:

MORE GOBLIN SCIENCE-FACTS!
The average time played is nearly 8 hrs; our most committed goblin devoted 404 hours to their trinket restoration career (that’s over two weeks in real-time!); the longest time played before a review was left was 271hrs, and the longest playtime of a goblin who left a negative review was 160hrs (they reviewed it after 10hrs, then played for another 150hrs so they couldn’t have been that dissatisfied eh?).

And finally, we’re launching a Kickstarter in January to get some lovely Trash Goblin merch into the hands of our fans all around the world! It will feature T-shirts, pins, posters, stickers and mugs. The campaign will run across January 2026, but you can keep an eye out & follow the Kickstarter campaign here when the landing page goes live on the 6th November – that way you’ll be notified when the campaign kicks off to ensure you can snag your favourite Goblin-themed trinkets before they sell out!

“When we first started making Trash Goblin we were hopeful that people would connect with our cosy little fantasy of eking out a living as a young upstart seeking their place in the world and helping out their community and we’re so happy that our dreams came true with a lovely community supporting our little slice of the gaming landscape,” said Andrew Smith, Creative Director at Spilt Milk Studios. “One year since we launched Trash Goblin our community has continued to grow and support us, so we wanted to give back by making new merch so people can bring a little bit of Trash Goblin with them wherever they may go! Here’s to more goblin adventures in the future!”

More about Trash Goblin
Trash Goblin lets you customise your myriad of already-peculiar goods by combining these trinkets together in almost endless ways, upcycling them into even more strange and wonderful new items to meet the eccentric requests of your colourful customers. Get to know your regulars so you can make custom pieces tailored around their desires – which will fetch you even more money!

Grow your business! Spend your savings to upgrade your shop, buy new and better tools that offer additional ways to restore your trinkets – making them even more valuable – and expand your space, customising it to your tastes.

Owlcat Games Reveals The Expanse: Osiris Reborn’s Main Theme

Today, fans of The Expanse: Osiris Reborn can enjoy a little treat: The game’s main theme is now available on YouTube.

Composed by Paweł Perepelica, who also created the main themes for Owlcat’s prior titles Pathfinder: Wrath of the Righteous and Warhammer 40,000: Rogue Trader, the main theme of The Expanse: Osiris Reborn evokes the sense of scale, discovery, and responsibility that comes with leading a team across the Solar System.

The Expanse: Osiris Reborn is set in the same universe as the acclaimed TV and novel series The Expanse and tells the story of a Pinkwater Security mercenary caught in the chaos of Eros Station’s deadly lockdown. From there, they’ll need to gather a crew, command a powerful ship, and carve their own path across a fractured solar system.

The Expanse: Osiris Reborn will launch on Steam, Epic Games Store, GOG, Xbox Series X|S, and PlayStation 5. Fans can wishlist the game now.

Stay up to date with The Expanse: Osiris Reborn by visiting the official website and following Owlcat Games’ Facebook, X (Twitter), Instagram, Discord, and YouTube.

Bee Simulator: The Hive Buzzes Onto Consoles

Untold Tales and VARSAV Game Studios are happy to announce that Bee Simulator: The Hive will be coming to PS4/5, Nintendo Switch and Xbox X/S on November 28th, 2025.

Bee Simulator: The Hive combines the original Bee Simulator game released in November 2019, with a hefty expansion named The Hive.

The Hive adds new content and mechanics into the base game and endgame to create a fresh new experience for those who never tried the original game. The main highlight of The Hive lets players now build and customize their very own sprawling bee hive colony. You’ll be zipping around the map gathering resources, setting up outposts, and unlocking various buildings to start creating and customizing your very own home for you and your colony.

Total War: Warhammer III – Tides of Torment coming December 4th

Prepare for a clash of maritime might, serpentine slaughter, and arcane ambition as Tides of Torment brings three new Legendary Lords to Total War: WARHAMMER III. Each character; Aislinn the Sea Lord (High Elves), Dechala the Denied One (Slaanesh), and Sayl the Faithless (Norsca), introduces a distinct campaign experience, rich with thematic mechanics, deadly units, and narrative arcs that reshape the Immortal Empires experience.

AISLINN, THE SEA LORD (HIGH ELVES)

Aislinn is a ruthless and tactically brilliant High Elf prince who commands the entire navy of Ulthuan. He’s infamous for his brutal coastal raids and taking an almost cruel delight in punishing the enemies of his homeland.

Gameplay Overview:

  • Aislinn’s campaign is a sweeping saga of naval ambition. As master of Ulthuan’s navy and a mighty Dragonship, he must scour distant shores, conquering enemy strongholds and dedicating them to the mighty Elven Lords. In return, these legendary figures grant powerful relics, elite followers, and blessings which strengthen his fleet.

Unit Roster:

  • Aislinn’s roster brims with maritime might, led by the Sea Helm Lord and Legendary Hero Caradryan, and reinforced by powerful units like the Sea Elemental, Merwyrm, Oceanids, Ship’s Company, and Lothern Sky Cutter.

DECHALA, THE DENIED ONE (SLAANESH)

Dechala is the most feared warlord of Slaanesh’s legions and is as mesmerizing as she is merciless. Twisted into a serpentine horror, she wields a blade in each of her six hands, promising exquisite agony to all who dare oppose her.

Gameplay Overview:

  • Dechala’s campaign is a ruthless cycle of conquest and excess, where captured settlements are turned into Thrall Camps to fuel her economy. As settlements are drained and discarded, Dechala’s empire grows ever more decadent, thriving on the suffering of her enthralled populations.

Unit Roster:

  • Dechala’s warhost is a twisted array of horrors, featuring the Chaos Sorceror Lord of Slaanesh, Styrkaar of the Sortsvinaer, Druchii Anointed, Exalted Hero of Slaanesh, Pleasureseekers, Devotees of Slaanesh, Champions of Slaanesh, Slaangors and the monstrous Preyton.

SAYL, THE FAITHLESS (NORSCA)

Sayl is a treacherous and mutated Chaos Sorcerer, known for his mastery of betrayal, manipulation, and dark magic, who rose to power by sabotaging his rivals and never swearing loyalty to any single Chaos god.

Gameplay Overview:

  • Sayl’s campaign is a treacherous pursuit of arcane ascension, where constructing Chaos Altars fuels his journey towards a grand ritual. Meanwhile, his cunning manifests through a variety of manipulations he can bestow upon his enemies to weaken them, but their use inevitably attracts the sinister gaze of more malevolent powers.

Unit Roster:

  • Sayl brings a chaotic mix of brute force and monstrous might to the battlefield, bolstered by the Great Shaman Sorcerer, Beorg Bearstruck, Fimir Noble, Marauder Bearmen, Kurgan Horsemen, Curs’d Ettin, Runecaller, Chimera, and Dreadmaw.

FREE CONTENT:

Coming free as part of Patch 7.0 will be Total War: WARHAMMER’s 104th Legendary Lord, The Masque of Slaanesh, a powerful Daemonette cursed by the Dark Prince to dance eternally across the realms. Alongside her arrival, each faction featured in the pack will receive fresh legacy updates, allowing players to return to past campaigns and experience a host of new gameplay improvements.

Kingdom Come: Deliverance II Free Weekend Announced

Warhorse Studios and Deep Silver announce that starting today, Kingdom Come: Deliverance II is FREE to play on both Steam & Xbox running through Monday, Nov. 10. For those who have yet to live a life medieval, now is the perfect time to indulge in a tale of revenge, betrayal, and discovery in this epic RPG adventure: https://store.steampowered.com/app/1771300/Kingdom_Come_Deliverance_II/

Timed alongside the free play weekend, the game will be on discount with up to 40% savings on Steam until Nov. 13 and on Xbox through Nov. 19, with game saves from the FREE play trial carrying over to full purchase.

Kingdom Come: Deliverance II is approaching 4 million Henrys living a medieval life with a gripping tale of revenge, betrayal and discovery. Praised for its immersive storyline, improved combat and beautiful open world, the title garnered thousands of positive reviews from around the globe from players and critics alike, with a Metacritic score of 88%, OpenCritic score of 95%, and ‘very positive’ rating on Steam with 94% of all users giving it a positive review.

Kingdom Come: Deliverance II is out now on PC, PlayStation 5, and Xbox Series X|S. Unlock the full experience with Kingdom Come: Deliverance II Gold Edition, which includes the base game, Gallant Huntsman’s Kit, and Expansion Pass (containing access to all three paid story DLCs and Shields of Season passing pack). Visit https://kingdomcomerpg.com/ for more details.

Universal Studios Hollywood Debuts a Dynamic 2026 Event Slate

2026 is shaping up to be a stellar year at Universal Studios Hollywood and the Southern California theme park destination is sharing its mighty 2026 Event Calendar to help guests plan their Best Day in L.A. as they gear up to enjoy a variety of unique events, fan-favorite seasonal activities and the arrival of its high-speed outdoor roller coaster, “Fast & Furious: Hollywood Drift.”

What better way to experience all that Universal Studios Hollywood has to offer than with a coveted Annual Pass. Plus, for a limited time with the purchase of a new 12-month Annual Pass, guests enjoy three additional months free for a total of 15 months of fun, now through April 8, 2026 (restrictions apply).

A great holiday gift or stocking stuffer, Universal Studios Hollywood’s Annual Pass offers member exclusive perks throughout the year, including dedicated events and opportunities from Park Takeovers and Appreciation Days to collectible giveaways and special ticket offers to such popular seasonal events as Halloween Horror Nights and Universal Fan Fest Nights, as well as discounts within the theme park and at Universal CityWalk Hollywood. The must-have Platinum Annual Pass includes the coveted after 3pm Universal Express access to each ride, attraction and seated show with a shorter wait time (restrictions apply).

Visit UniversalStudiosHollywood.com for details and to purchase. Blockout dates and restrictions apply.

The return of its popular Mega Movie Summer and fan-favorites events, Butterbeer Season and Back to Hogwarts within “The Wizarding World of Harry Potter,™” are just a few examples of the adventure ahead.

At a glance, here’s what to expect in 2026 at Universal Studios Hollywood:

Company of Heroes 3 Battlegroup DLC – Endure & Defy Announced

Relic Entertainment is excited to announce a new Company of Heroes 3 Battlegroup DLC – Endure & Defy. Launching November 27, 2025, on PC via Steam for $24.99 USD, the DLC introduces four new Battlegroups—one for each faction—designed for Multiplayer and Co-Op/Skirmish vs A.I. modes. A 10% launch discount will be available for two weeks, and new players can join the battle with a 60% Black Friday discount on the Company of Heroes 3 base game. Each Battlegroup will introduce an exciting new playstyle for their respective factions. Players can expect powerful new units, iconic franchise favorites, as well as innovative abilities that create all new gameplay mechanics for the series.

Four New Battlegroups 

  • US Forces – Italian Partisan Battlegroup: Deploy daring Partisans to wreak havoc behind the lines. Cunning, deception, and sabotage are how your forces will prevail.
    • Brave Resistance Fighters and Saboteurs will enhance your ground forces, while tunnel networks, resource siphoning, and underground detonations will cause the enemy to collapse from within.
  • Wehrmacht – Last Stand Battlegroup: Victory requires sacrifice. Bolster your line with powerful improvised defenses and embolden your ground forces with a number of extraordinary measures.
    • Repel the Allied advance with the new Borgward Wanze, imposing Pantherturm, and immobilized vehicles, then demoralize their troops with the Propaganda Tower. Panzerfaust rollouts, improvised barrages, and final battle directives enable victory at any cost.
  • British Forces – Polish Cavalry Battlegroup: Seek revenge with grizzled Polish troops who long for battle and smash the enemy with devastating heavy weaponry.
    • Elite Polish Lancer Sections lead the line, while Polish-crewed Sherman Fireflies and Land Mattresses demolish enemy positions and armor with frightening efficiency. All Polish units thrive against veteran enemies.
  • Deutsches Afrikakorps – Kriegsmarine Battlegroup: Bring the might of the German Navy to bear. Fortify your positions, establish vital supply chains, and then annihilate all in your path with catastrophic fire support.
    • Kriegsmarine infantry provides combat flexibility and engineering prowess. Establish Hardpoints to secure territory and enable supply drops. Stuka Bombers, Fritz Glide-bombs, and Naval salvos will break the enemy upon your shores.

We’ll be releasing more information about Endure & Defy over the next couple of weeks so keep an eye on our social media channels for updates.

Sonic Rumble Out Now

The wait is over! SEGA® is thrilled to announce that Sonic Rumble has officially launched globally today, November 5, 2025, inviting players around the world to dive into exhilarating party royale mayhem with up to 32 players!

Players around the world can now step into Dr. Eggman’s twisted fantasy world where players control toy figures of beloved Sonic the Hedgehog™ characters. These miniature heroes and villains are battling it out in a series of treacherous obstacle courses and competitive arenas. The goal? Collect the most Rings and prove who is number one in the ultimate toybox showdown! People everywhere can now join the global Sonic Rumble community of over 10 million early ‘Rumblers’ who pre-registered, pre-ordered, wishlisted or downloaded Sonic Rumble in the pre-launch period. Players can now also claim some launch period in-game items including character skins, stickers, and more.

“Today marks an exciting new chapter for the Sonic franchise.” says Sonic Rumble Producer, Norikazu Hirai, from SEGA. “Sonic Rumble is the first Sonic game that brings cross-play capabilities across mobile and PC, which has the potential to bring together an abundance of players in a shared experience of the Sonic the Hedgehog universe. Sonic Rumble offers a unique and highly collaborative party royale experience that we believe fans both old and new will absolutely love.”

“It is an honor to work with an IP as cherished as Sonic the Hedgehog, and Rovio is delighted to have worked with SEGA to bring the vibrant and energetic world of Sonic Rumble to a global audience,” said Rovio CEO, Alex Pelletier-Normand, commenting on Rovio’s role in the global marketing of Sonic Rumble. “We believe our experience in building and engaging worldwide communities will help to establish Sonic Rumble as a unique and memorable arcade royale experience for players around the world.”

Beyond its adrenaline-pumping gameplay, Sonic Rumble offers a delightful character collection aspect, allowing players to unlock toy versions of their favorite Sonic characters. Players can start their collections today with iconic heroes like Sonic, Tails, Knuckles, Shadow and more!

The collectible characters and game content are not only limited to the Sonic universe. Sonic Rumble is already teasing a calendar of crossover events that includes a variety of guest characters from other SEGA games. Look forward to more details coming soon!

Sonic Rumble is available now for download worldwide for iOS, Android devices, as well as PC. Download today from the App Store, Google Play, and Steam!

Follow Sonic Rumble on X, Instagram, Facebook, TikTok, YouTube, and Discord! For more information, head to the official Sonic Rumble website HERE.

Dreamcore Liminal Hotel Expansion Revealed

Indie developer Montraluz, in partnership with publisher Tlön Industries, have a special Halloween treat in store with the reveal of the next expansion to their cult favorite surreal body-cam psychological horror game Dreamcore. Coming to all platforms on November 14th is the DLC chapter Liminal Hotel, offering a stay you’ll never forget!

Liminal Hotel presents the definitive version of the famed “level 188” backrooms meme, offering a wide variety of styles within the rooms. Through elevators, you will traverse the hotel floor to floor and as you go down, you’ll see how the hotel’s atmosphere becomes unstuck in time, full of oddities and antiquities.

Liminal Hotel marks a before and after in the way maps are created in Dreamcore, introducing deep changes and new directions the community has been clamoring for all this time. This latest chapter will tone down the puzzles that stifled progression for much of the fanbase.

Since Liminal Hotel adds significantly more content to the game, the cost of Dreamcore will rise from $11.99 to $14.99. However, anyone who buys Dreamcore before November 14th will receive Liminal Hotel and its impending fifth and final chapter at no additional cost!