World of Tanks Modern Armor invites players on PlayStation and Xbox to step into Winter Fest 2025, the biggest event of the year. Running from December 9, 2025, through January 5, 2026, it expands the game’s winter universe with a full slate of activities, including daily gifts from the 2025 Winter Calendar, special store offerings, two thematic event modes, seasonal rewards, and much more.
The celebration begins with the return of the popular Toy Tanks Mode, where two teams of ten battle beneath the Yule tree in fast-paced matches with respawns. Each Toy Tank features its own weaponry, including the new Plow Master tank, which is equipped with a dozer blade and designed for ramming. Each team also benefits from a new ally: a giant toy robot that will launch devastating support strikes – and that will drop Snowballs, Winter Fest’s special event currency, if destroyed. By popular demand, Toy Tanks Mode has been extended to run for two weeks, giving players double the time to command these tiny but mighty vehicles.
On December 23, the event shifts into The Ice Queen’s Blade, a new cooperative PvE mode. After last year’s battle, Santa imprisoned the Ice Queen, but she managed to summon Krampus, a portal-traveling enforcer. Players partner with a new character, Jack Frost, to stop Krampus before eternal winter takes hold of the maps they know well. Teams of ten will use the portals created by Krampus to travel from battlefield to battlefield, clearing minions, collecting shards, and ultimately confronting Krampus at Frostbite Castle.
Beyond the exclusive event modes, Winter Fest offers players a wealth of fresh content, including four distinct Premium tanks with thematic designs:
Frostwarden – a fast and stylish Tier X medium tank designed by Jack Frost;
Dual Battery – a dual-gun medium tank inspired by new Commander Ro-Burt and built for versatile combat;
Moldmaster Mk. 1 – a toy-inspired tank destroyer with multiple turrets and excellent adaptability;
Winter Warrior – a durable medium tank featuring strong ERA armor that resists autocannon and ATGM fire.
Additionally, new 3D Commanders Jack Frost, Pfc. PVC, Melty Melvin, and Ro-Burt join the roster. An Ultimate version of Jack Frost with all Skill slots open will be available exclusively in Jack Frost War Chests, and the player-favorite Krampus 3D Commander will speak for the first time with new custom voiceover.
Through the entire Winter Fest event, players will earn Snowballs – an exclusive, limited-time virtual currency – that can be spent on Premium tanks, 3D Commanders, cosmetics, holiday skins, and other items.
With all of this and more, Winter Fest 2025 delivers the most wide-ranging seasonal experience yet in World of Tanks Modern Armor, bringing together folklore, humor, combat, and surprises in one massive holiday celebration.
Just in time for the holidays, Bethesda Game Studios is proud to announce and launch The Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim Anniversary Edition on Nintendo Switch 2. Over a decade after winning more than 200 Game of the Year Awards in 2011, the critically acclaimed game continues to bring its magic to players through new platforms.
See the launch trailer here:
The Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim Anniversary Edition includes the base game and the three official expansions—Dawnguard, Dragonborn, and Hearthfire. Players on Switch 2 will experience enhanced resolution, improved load times, performance optimization, Joy-Con 2 mouse support, motion controls, Amiibo support, and more, taking full advantage of the platform’s hardware. This edition offers exclusive Nintendo content from The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild, including the Master Sword, Hylian Shield, and Champion’s Tunic.
Additionally, owners of the Anniversary Edition have access to hundreds of unique Creations Club items, with quests, weapons, armor, spells, dungeons, and more to let players experience the world of Skyrim their way.
There are multiple paths to purchase The Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim Anniversary Edition on Switch 2:
The title can be purchased for $59.99
Free Upgrade for Switch Owners: Owners of The Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim Anniversary Edition on Switch can download the game for free on Switch 2
Owner Upgrade Path: Owners of The Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim (base edition) on Switch can purchase the Anniversary Upgrade for $19.99 to play on Switch and Switch 2
Expansive Worlds, a creative division within Avalanche Studios Group, has today launched theHunter: Call of the Wild’s new DLC map, Scotland Hunting Reserve on PC and console. Players can hunt a rich roster of animals inspired by Scotland’s most iconic species in Tòrr nan Sithean, amidst breathtaking, atmospheric scenery and legendary landmarks. The Scotland map DLC is out now.
Check out the Scotland Tòrr nan Sithean Reserve in the launch trailer here:
Alongside the new Scotland map, the new Premium Trophy Mount Pack launches today. Hunters can take their lodge customisation to the next level, and display their greatest hunting achievements with 16 new plaques, 40 new platforms as well as new textures.
Avalanche Studios has also launched the Winter Hunting Bundle which includes the new Scotland map and Premium Trophy Mount pack from today until 31 January 2026.
Scotland Hunting Reserve – Key Features:
An immersive Scottish environment. Explore six unique biomes in Late Summer/Early Fall:
Caledonian Forest
Purple Heather Moorland
Grass Hills
Wetlands
Highlands
Rainforest
Exclusive new weapon, the Benelhag 12GA. A versatile semi-auto shotgun features a tubular magazine and can load birdshot, buckshot, and slug, making it perfect for hunting all sorts of game.
Iconic landmarks for players to discover including weathered castles, ancient ruins and coastal caves.
This reserve comes with 17 iconic animals, including five new species, three animal remasters and a great one.
You know, sometimes I look at my gaming setup here at the tale end of 2025 and it feels like I’m running a NASA control center just to play a few rounds of Battlefield 6. Everything needs a battery check, a firmware update, or a specific dongle that I definitely lost in the couch cushions three weeks ago. It’s exhausting. So when the NACON RIG R5 SPEAR PRO HS landed on my desk, boasting a price tag of seventy bucks and a cable that physically tethers you to your controller, I honestly felt a weird sense of relief. Is it backward to crave a simple plug-and-play experience in a world obsessed with cutting the cord? Maybe. But after spending the last two weeks with this thing clamped to my skull, I’m starting to think RIG is onto something special here.
Let’s get the elephant out of the room right away. This is a wired headset. In an era where we expect our toaster to have Wi-Fi, buying a wired headset feels like a deliberate choice, almost a statement. You aren’t paying for a battery, a Bluetooth chip, or some finicky wireless receiver. Instead, NACON took that budget and dumped it all into one thing: the drivers. They’ve shoved 40mm Graphene-coated drivers into this chassis. If you’re not a total audio nerd, let me explain why that matters. Graphene is this ridiculously stiff, lightweight material that stops the speaker cone from wobbling when it’s trying to push sound waves. The result? You get sound that starts and stops on a dime. No muddy bass, no distortion. Just pure, angry audio.
I tested this theory by jumping into a chaotic match of The Finals. Usually, with budget headsets, an explosion sounds like a wet thud that drowns out everything else. With the R5 Spear, it was different. I could hear the distinct crunch of debris falling after the explosion, while simultaneously tracking footsteps sprinting on the floor above me. The separation is genuinely startling for a headset that costs less than a new release game. It’s got this claimed harmonic distortion of less than 0.5%, which is a fancy way of saying the sound doesn’t get crunchy or weird even when you crank the volume.
Speaking of cranking the volume, we need to talk about the tuning. This isn’t your dad’s flat, boring studio headphone. RIG tuned this specifically for shooters, pushing the upper-mids forward so footsteps and reloads cut through the mix like a hot knife through butter. It works. It really works. I found myself reacting to audio cues way faster than I usually do. And since it’s wired via a 3.5mm jack, there is zero latency. None. You hear it the instant it happens.
Now, let’s talk about the vibe of the hardware itself. If you’ve ever owned a RIG headset, you know they look kind of industrial – lots of skeletons and holes. The R5 Spear keeps that DNA but cleans it up a bit. It’s incredibly light, weighing in at just around 268 grams. You pick it up and worry it might feel cheap, but the headband is made of this composite material that feels like it could survive a rage-quit throw across the room (not that I tested that, mostly).
But here’s the thing about the fit – it’s tight. When I first put it on, it felt like the headset was trying to squeeze the knowledge out of my head. The clamping force is no joke. For the first hour, I was worried I’d get a headache. But the ear cushions are this mix of fabric and memory foam that breathes really well, and after a couple of days, either the band loosened up or my head just accepted its new fate. The upside of that vice-grip is that the passive noise isolation is fantastic. The world just disappears.
One of the cooler features, and honestly, one I didn’t think I’d care about, is the customization. The ear cups have these magnetic faceplates called “Snap+Lock” covers. You can pop them off and swap them out. The box came with a set of PlayStation-branded ones since this is officially licensed for PS5, but RIG released the 3D printer files online. That means if you have a 3D printer, you can print your own custom covers. It’s such a neat, pro-consumer move that encourages the maker community, and I wish more companies would do stuff like this.
Of course, at seventy dollars, corners had to be cut somewhere. The microphone is… fine. It’s a flip-to-mute boom mic, which I love because there’s a satisfying tactile click when you mute it. Your squad will hear you clearly enough, and because it’s an analog connection, you don’t get that robotic compression you sometimes hear on wireless headsets. But don’t expect to start a podcast with it. It lacks a bit of low-end warmth, making you sound a little thinner than you probably do in real life.
And then there’s the cable. It’s about 1.5 meters long, which is perfect if you’re plugging into a DualSense or Xbox controller, but it’s permanently attached to the headset. That scares me a little. If my cat decides that cable looks like a delicious snack, the whole headset is toast. A detachable cable would have been a huge durability win here. Also, if you’re a PC gamer, note that it doesn’t come with a Y-splitter in the box, so you’ll need to buy one separately if your rig has separate mic and audio jacks.
I also have to mention the volume slider. It’s inline on the cable, and it has this little detent at the max volume position to lock it in place. It’s a smart little detail that stops you from accidentally bumping the volume down when the cable rubs against your hoodie. It’s the kind of small engineering choice that tells you actual gamers designed this thing.
So, who is this actually for? If you’re the type of person who needs to walk to the fridge while listening to your Discord chat, this isn’t for you. But if you are sitting down to sweat it out in a ranked match and you want every single dollar of your budget to go toward helping you hear the enemy before they hear you, the R5 Spear PRO HS is a beast. It punches so far above its weight class in terms of pure audio fidelity that it makes some of my $150 headsets sound muddy by comparison.
It’s refreshing, honestly. In a market flooded with gimmicks, RGB lighting, and software updates, the RIG R5 Spear just shuts up and does its job. It sounds incredible, it’s built to take a beating, and it costs less than a tank of gas. For a wired headset in late 2025, that’s a pretty compelling pitch.
You know that feeling when you finally unbox a Grail item? That mix of excitement and the terrifying realization of how much money you just spent? That is exactly where we need to start with the Razer Huntsman V3 Pro Tenkeyless Counter-Strike 2 Edition. I have spent the last couple of weeks running this keyboard through its paces, from Premier matches to aim trainers, and honestly, it is one of the most conflicting pieces of hardware I have ever put on my desk.
Let me set the scene for you. You are not just buying a keyboard here; you are buying into the mythos of the Dragon Lore. For the uninitiated, the Dragon Lore is the legendary AWP skin in Counter-Strike that can cost as much as a used car. Razer knows this. They know we want it. So they wrapped their flagship optical keyboard in that iconic olive-green, red, and gold artwork and packed it inside a box that looks exactly like a Cobblestone souvenir package. When you pull it out, the first thing that hits you is the sheer audacity of it. It is loud. It is aggressive. And if you are a CS fan, it looks incredible!
The attention to detail is genuinely impressive. The artwork is not just slapped on the top plate; it flows seamlessly onto the magnetic leatherette wrist rest, creating this massive, continuous mural of the dragon. The chassis uses a 5052 brushed aluminum top plate , which feels cold and rigid in a way that screams quality. There is zero deck flex. When you slam your fist down after whiffing an easy shot (not that I do that, of course) this thing takes it like a tank. The keycaps are textured doubleshot PBT , which is non-negotiable at this price point. They feel dry and grippy, perfect for those sweaty clutch moments, and the legends are never going to fade.
But let’s talk about what is under the hood because pretty paint does not win rounds. This board is running Razer’s Analog Optical Switches Gen-2. These aren’t your standard mechanical switches. They use light to detect key presses, which means you can adjust the actuation point, the depth at which the key registers, from a hair-trigger 0.1 mm all the way down to a deep 4.0 mm.
In practice, this is wild. I set my WASD keys to actuate at 0.5 mm, and the responsiveness is almost telepathic. You barely touch the key, and you are moving. But the real star here is Rapid Trigger mode. On a normal keyboard, the switch has to travel back up past a fixed point to reset before you can press it again. With Rapid Trigger, the key resets the instant you let go, even a tiny bit.
For Counter-Strike, this changes everything about your movement. Counter-strafing (that thing where you tap the opposite direction to stop instantly and make your shot accurate) feels remarkably snappy. You stop on a dime. The latency is practically nonexistent, especially with the 1000 Hz polling rate saturating your USB connection. It feels like the hardware has finally caught up to your brain.
However, we have to address the elephant in the room. Actually, it is more like a dragon in the room. I am talking about Snap Tap!
When Razer announced this board, Snap Tap was the killer feature. It is a form of SOCD (Simultaneous Opposing Cardinal Directions) cleaning. Basically, if you press ‘A’ and then ‘D’ without letting go of ‘A’, the keyboard automatically prioritizes the last input. It gives you theoretically perfect counter-strafes without the human error of overlapping key presses.
Here is the kicker, though: Valve banned it.
Yeah, you read that right. The defining feature of the “Counter-Strike 2 Edition” keyboard is now a kickable offense in Counter-Strike 2. Valve decided that hardware automation for movement crosses the line into cheating. Razer had to push updates to make sure it is off by default, and if you toggle it on (FN + Left Shift, by the way) while playing on official servers, you risk getting booted from the match.
So, you are left in this weird spot where you own a piece of hardware designed specifically for a game that has outlawed its coolest trick. It is ironic, sure, but it also stings a bit. You can still use the Rapid Trigger and adjustable actuation, which are totally legal and arguably more important for raw mechanical skill, but Snap Tap is essentially a party trick for single-player games now.
Using this keyboard as a “daily typer” is a unique experience. The typing sound is… decent. Razer added sound-dampening foam , so it doesn’t have that hollow ping you get on cheaper boards, but do not expect the creamy, “thocky” sound of a custom enthusiast build. It is a bit clackier, a bit sharper. It sounds like a gaming tool, not a typewriter.
The software situation is classic Razer. You need Synapse to do the deep customization, like setting up per-key RGB or complex macros. But thankfully, they have added a lot of onboard controls. You can adjust the actuation height and Rapid Trigger sensitivity directly on the board using the LED array as a visual guide. This is a lifesaver if you play at LANs or just hate having background processes running. You can save up to six profiles to the device itself , which is great for switching between a typing profile and a gaming profile without alt-tabbing.
Now, we need to talk about the price. This keyboard costs $269.99. That is a fifty-dollar markup over the standard black Huntsman V3 Pro TKL, which goes for around $220.
So, what do you get for that extra fifty bucks? You get the paint job. You get the orange accents on the chassis and you get the exclusive packaging.
I was really hoping that there was some digital key value added to the product as well – maybe a a code for a genuine CS2 case, or maybe a unique weapon charm, or literally anything in-game. When you buy a “Dragon Lore” product, you want a piece of that digital prestige. But there is nothing inside the box for your Steam inventory. You are paying purely for the physical aesthetic.
This raises the question: Is it worth it?
If you are just looking just for performance, probably not as you can buy the standard V3 Pro TKL for a good chunk less.
However, logic isn’t really the point of this item, is it? This is more of a collector’s piece – especially if you get it as part of the full Counter-Strike 2 peripheral set that Razer has for sale. It is for the person who has 3,000 hours on Dust II and Mirage. It is for the fan who watches every Major tournament and knows the history of the Dragon Lore skin. It is a status symbol for your desk.
There is something undeniably cool about looking down and seeing that iconic dragon artwork while you are clutching a 1v3. It feels special. It feels premium. And, despite the Snap Tap ban, the Rapid Trigger tech is still the best way to play the game legally.
If you have the disposable income and Counter-Strike 2 is your main game, this keyboard is a cool flex. It is a beautiful, high-performance tribute to the game we love (and sometimes hate). Just remember to keep that Snap Tap mode turned off, or you’ll be admiring your fancy keyboard from the main menu.
In the end, the Razer Huntsman V3 Pro TKL CS2 Edition is a bit like the Dragon Lore skin itself: expensive, flashy, and doesn’t actually make you shoot better. But, it sure does it look good while you play!
Today, 11 bit studios hosted its first-ever digital showcase, presenting a wide range of updates, new trailers, and behind-the-scenes insights across both internally developed and published titles. The show highlighted major content drops for The Alters and Frostpunk 2, two new trailers for Death Howl – launching December 9th on PC, and on February 19th on Xbox Series X|S, PlayStation 5, and Nintendo Switch – an update on the road ahead for Moonlighter 2: The Endless Vault in Early Access, and a deeper look at how work is progressing on Frostpunk 1886.
First up, two flagship titles from 11 bit studios’ in-house teams took to the stage. Today, The Alters, a sci-fi personal survival game, receives its first Free Major Content Update, introducing highly requested features like Relax Mode and Photo Mode, alongside a revamped saving system that allows saving on exit and during key gameplay moments. The update also adds a card-based mini-game, a new black-and-white noir-styled story mission, and more.
At the same time, the society-survival city-builder Frostpunk 2 sees the launch of its first DLC – Fractured Utopias – which reforges the Utopia Builder Mode and arrives simultaneously for the recently released console version. In addition, all Frostpunk 2 owners will receive a batch of new free content included in the latest game update. Both The Alters and Frostpunk 2 will continue to be supported with fresh content and DLCs through 2026.
Next, a duo of publishing titles – Moonlighter 2: The Endless Vault and Death Howl – had their moments in the spotlight. Death Howl launches tomorrow, December 9th, on PC, and with a free demo still available on Steam, players can experience the appealing uniqueness of this deck-builder infused with soulslike elements, action-RPG exploration of eerie biomes, and tactical, grid-based combat. Console players can hop into the journey through grief on February 19th, 2026.
Meanwhile, the developers at Digital Sun shared a “work-in-progress” outlook for Moonlighter 2’s next steps in its Early Access journey and thanked players for the continuous feedback that is directly shaping development.
To mark the moment, Death Howl and Moonlighter 2 have extended their spotlight beyond the showcase, with new themed merchandise appearing in our store, alongside limited discounts on select apparel.
Today, the epic fantasy-action RPG Nicktoons & The Dice of Destiny launches digitally and physically via game key card on Nintendo Switch 2 for $49.99. The Nintendo Switch 2 version of Nicktoons & The Dice of Destiny features increased resolution to 1240p and 60 FPS, as well as improved lighting, particle effects, anti-aliasing and more!
Digital and physical owners of the original Nintendo Switch version of Nicktoons & The Dice of Destiny will be able to access the same enhancements when playing on Nintendo Switch 2 with a free performance update for the game, coming soon.
Embark on a grand quest inspired by tabletop fantasy RPGs and Nickelodeon’s most beloved franchises in Nicktoons & The Dice of Destiny! Slash, bash, cast spells, and strategize your way to victory against a variety of enemies in fast-paced and fluid ARPG combat. Choose from a roster of legendary characters from across the Nickelodeon universe – such as Timmy Turner, Leonardo, Jimmy Neutron, SpongeBob SquarePants, Susie Carmichael, Katara and more – while upgrading your weapons and mastering new abilities in solo play and local co-op for up to four players!
Nicktoons & The Dice of Destiny is available now on Nintendo Switch 2, as well as Nintendo Switch, PlayStation®5, Xbox Series X|S, Steam and the Epic Games Store. The “Wardrobe of Wonder” DLC, which includes in-game costumes for each character, is also available on Nintendo Switch 2 as part of the game’s Deluxe Edition and separately for $14.99.
In celebration of the two year anniversary since Ready or Not launched into 1.0 on PC in 2023, VOID Interactive are excited to announce the release of the limited edition ‘Weight of the Badge’ Collection.
The ‘Weight of the Badge’ Collection comes at the end of a milestone year for VOID Interactive in which Ready or Not was released to strong critical and commercial acclaim with console sales closing in on 4 million units shipped and a lifetime sales track totaling nearly 14 million since full release.
Check out the unboxing video here:
The ‘Weight of the Badge’ collection features several premium items and is a must-have that is sure to sell out with dedicated fans, veterans and rookies alike.
The anticipated collection will be available to purchase for $269 / €269 and is available from the NA and EU VOID stores at the following links:
UK games publisher Kwalee and independent game studio Fallen Tree Games have announced a new update for The Precinct, their neon-noir police action sandbox game. The update is available for free on PC (via Steam and the Epic Games Store), PlayStation 5, and Xbox Series X|S.
The latest update for The Precinct lets officers deploy a fully trained working dog from the precinct kennels. The four-legged partner can be washed, fed, and customized there before heading out on patrol. Players can choose between different breeds and equip their dog with various harnesses and collars. The dog will obey a range of commands, including subduing dangerous attackers, pursuing fleeing suspects, and sniffing out concealed narcotics. The update also introduces several quality of life improvements and bug fixes.
The K-9 update is the second major update since The Precinct’s release after the previous update added exciting new features like access to a tow truck, and improved vehicle customization.
iam8bit, in collaboration with Universal Pictures and Blumhouse, returns to the world of Five Nights at Freddy’s with a new lineup of musical collectibles featuring the creepy and kinetic Five Nights at Freddy’s 2 movie soundtrack in three different formats. Available now for pre-order through January 7, the collection includes a 1xLP vinyl, CD and cassette, each containing the full 24-song track album, and will begin shipping in Q2 2026. Additionally, Back Lot Music has released the digital soundtrack, which is now available on all streaming platforms.
With music by The Newton Brothers (Midnight Mass, Haunting of Hill House) and album design by Scott Saslow, the physical collection features the retro-inspired score from Five Nights at Freddy’s 2, Blumhouse’s sequel film based on the globally popular video game series.
“For the second film, we wanted to push the sonic palette with bigger themes, stranger textures, and a more aggressive sense of rhythm,” said The Newton Brothers. “The goal was to evolve FNAF’s musical identity while keeping the vibe, the obscure, the fun, and the horror that defined the first score.”
Included in the collection are:
Five Nights at Freddy’s 2 Vinyl Soundtrack ($31.99): Pressed on eye-catching FazTalker Green Vinyl, this record comes in four variant covers designed by Scott Saslow, each featuring a different animatronic. Collectors are guaranteed to receive all four by purchasing the Four Vinyl Bundle ($127.69).
Five Nights at Freddy’s 2 2xCD ($19.99): A carefully curated compact disc release boasting sinister cover art that features the whole animatronic gang.
Five Nights at Freddy’s 2 Cassette ($19.99): To pair with the retro-like score, this cassette comes in an old-school style shell packaging housed in FazTalker Letter Green plastic with Freddy and crew on the cover.
The Five Nights at Freddy’s franchise was born from game developer Scott Cawthon’s video game series and has become a longstanding pop culture phenomenon. The series follows unsuspecting security guards who uncover the dark history hidden inside a family-friendly pizza chain haunted by animatronics Freddy, Chica, Bonnie, Foxy and more. The franchise has since expanded into a film series from Blumhouse, with the latest installment releasing in theaters today.
iam8bit’s entire Five Nights at Freddy’s collection is available at iam8bit.com, and pre-orders for the latest products are available now.
