Author - Jerry Paxton

id Software Celebrates 35th Anniversary

2026 marks a special year for id Software as it celebrates its 35th anniversary. Initially founded in Mesquite, TX on February 1, 1991, id Software has become synonymous with the modern FPS, receiving hundreds of awards with landmark titles such as Wolfenstein 3D, DOOM, RAGE, and Quake, right up to last year’s DOOM: The Dark Ages. Major releases from the studio include:

  • 1991 – Wolfenstein 3D
  • 1993 – DOOM
  • 1994 – DOOM II: Hell on Earth
  • 1996 – Quake
  • 1997 – Quake II
  • 1999 – Quake III: Arena
  • 2004 – DOOM 3
  • 2011 – RAGE
  • 2016 – DOOM (2016)
  • 2020 – DOOM Eternal
  • 2025 – DOOM: The Dark Ages

You can catch up on the full timeline of id’s many successes in a special feature here.

Celebrations kicked off this past Sunday with tributes across our social channels and continue today, Wednesday, February 4, with a special live anniversary stream at 3pm PT/6pm ET to celebrate id’s legacy, featuring both Marty Stratton and Hugo Martin. Make sure to watch for first details on this year’s QuakeCon, which celebrates its 30th anniversary this year.

Following that, in salute to the 35th anniversary, select id catalogue titles will be on sale across Steam and PlayStation from today, including up to 66.6% off DOOM: The Dark Ages, while titles from the Wolfenstein, DOOM, Quake, and RAGE franchises remain available to play on Xbox Game Pass. Additionally, Evercade teased today they will release a collection of classic DOOM products, keeping the retro gaming experience alive for id fans.

There will be more announcements to come throughout the year, which also marks both Quake’s 30th and DOOM (2016)’s 10th anniversary. Stay tuned to the DOOM social channels for further details.

Knott’s Berry Farm and Magic Mountain Join Six Flags Coast-to-Coast Hiring Spree

Today Knott’s Berry Farm and Six Flags Magic Mountain, two of Southern California’s premier amusement parks, announced plans to hire hundreds of seasonal associates for the 2026 season. The parks will start filling those roles during a week-long hiring blitz to be held Feb. 14 through 22 as part of a large recruiting campaign by the parent company, Six Flags Entertainment Corporation, across all its parks in North America to hire more than 50,000 seasonal associates.

“We’re thrilled to kick off our annual Hiring Week at our California parks for the 2026 season,” said Adam Shinnick, West Region HR Director. “With so many different roles available, we can help applicants find the perfect fit for their talents and aspirations. Our streamlined hiring process makes it simple to complete onboarding, so new team members can start working and earning right away. We’re looking forward to welcoming a vibrant and diverse team that’s passionate about creating memorable experiences, making a positive impact on our guests and building new friendships throughout the season.”

Six Flags Magic Mountain is hiring for all positions including food & beverage team members, ride operators, park services clean team and more. Knott’s Berry Farm will be hiring for lifeguards, ride operators, food & beverage associates and more. For details on hiring week and open positions, please visit the following links:

Six Flags Magic Mountain Hiring Week    Knott’s Berry Farm Hiring Week

HOW TO APPLY

Join the team by applying online for either Magic Mountain or Knott’s Berry Farm and schedule your in-person appointment.

Magic Mountain will also offer an onsite, in-person hiring event.

  • WHERE: 26101 Magic Mountain Parkway, Valencia, Calif.
  • WHEN:
    • Feb. 21, 10 a.m. – 4 p.m.

  • APPLICATION: Applicants are encouraged to apply online here prior to attending the hiring event to expedite the interview process. Once time slot is booked, applicants will be sent arrival information.

TEAM MEMBER BENEFITS & NEED-TO-KNOW INFORMATION

  • Both parks offer competitive wages and amazing perks for their associates, including discounts on park food and merchandise, reward and recognition programs, exclusive park events for associates, ride parties, a cafeteria with discount meals and free admission to any Six Flags park.
  • With so much to offer at Six Flags’ Southern California parks, there are a variety of positions to match every skill set.
  • Interested applicants must be at least 16 years old.

Join the fun as the park’s new additions and improvements debut this summer. At Magic Mountain, the kids area will be reimagined as Looney Tunes™ Land, a brand-new park with travel at the heart of it and with loveable Looney Tunes characters to be found throughout. At Knott’s Berry Farm, a new eatery will be introduced to Charleston Circle with menu items like chicken, fries and more. With a spirited atmosphere, Crafty’s Kitchen promises a flavorful, mischievous dining experience unlike any other in the park.

Knott’s Berry Farm and Six Flags Magic Mountain anticipate filling most of the seasonal roles during the hiring week. Interested candidates are encouraged to apply online at jobs.sixflags.com

Spooky Swap Meet tickets on sale this Friday!

Southern California’s most loved “Halfway-to-Halloween” event returns with a brand new “Swap Til You Drop (Dead) Pass,” when Spooky Swap Meet VI returns to Heritage Square Museum Los Angeles from Friday evening, April 24 through Sunday the 26th.

Featuring 65+ vendors selling a mix of used Halloween decor and props and new merchandise, and all age trick or treating, Spooky Swap Meet has sold out each day of the event since its start in 2021.

New for 2026, the introduction of the “Swap Til You Drop (Dead) Pass” that allows the bearer to access the event on one or all three event days without the usual time slot restrictions of the GA pass. “We thought of a way to provide flexibility for our die hard Halloween fans who want to see all aspects of the event at differing times of day and night” said Claire Dunlap, co-creator and producer of Spooky Swap Meet. “The ‘Swap Til You Drop (Dead) Pass will get them first stab at acquiring vendors’ limited products as well as avoiding FOMO as each day has distinct offerings.”

Spooky Swap Meet features 65+ vendors including leading Halloween brands Backstitch Bruja and Kreepsville 666, as well as convention and online favorites Tee No Evil, Discount Cemetery and Lucky Hell Cat Art selling selections of new and gently used items including gothic furnishings, Halloween inspired decor, baked goods, apparel, props, and more. Fortune telling and food will also be available for purchase.

Guests of all ages are also encouraged to trick-or-treat for real candy at Heritage Square’s seven Victorian era manors, whose exteriors have been decorated and “spooked up” for the weekend by a curated selection of professional and amateur haunted attraction designers and enthusiasts including LA Haunted Hayride, A Mr. He Slasher, Stagefright Theater, and Samhain’s Restless Farm in association with AdamJess FX.

This year Nikk Alcaraz of Practical Peculiarities will lend his decorating expertise to one of the homes while signing copies of Peculiar Baking: A Practical Guide to Strange Confections. We are also pleased to announce Diana Vogel of The Vogel Victorian will be gracing a manor with her mad skills as well.

As always, performances, mini walk-thru haunted experiences, scary monsters and super creeps will be on hand at SSM.

Tickets go on sale Friday February 6, 2026 at www.spookyswapmeet.com. Spooky Swap Meet will be open Friday, April 24, 5pm-10pm; Saturday, April 25, 12pm-10pm; and Sunday, April 26, 10am-5pm. Saturday has an added hour!

General admission starts at $23 for timed entries throughout the weekend, while the limited “Swap Til You Drop (Dead) Pass” will be $45 for entry during all open hours for multiple day use.

The event entrance is located at 3510 Pasadena Ave (the “back” entry to the museum), with free parking across the street at Metro Gold Lot, Heritage Square Station. Parking at Metro lot is free, first come, first served and limited. Neighborhood street parking is also available.There will also be some VIP parking spots available for pre-purchase only ($32). There will be no entry or parking from the Homer Street side except for ADA with placards (limited first come, first served) and VIP parking pass holders. VIP parking lot and entrance located at 3800 Homer St. No parking sales on site.

For more info visit SpookySwapMeet.com and on Instagram and Facebook at @spookyswapmeet.

About Spooky Swap Meet: Spooky Swap Meet is created/produced by Scarlett Creative, Inc, owner Claire Dunlap (co-creator/Producer of Midsummer Scream, Season’s Screamings) and Instagram influencer Sarah Cooke (@the_pumpkin_queenand owner/creator of GOREnaments). Production Assistance by David Markland (Executive Director, Midsummer Scream) and Jon Cooke (Owner of Plague Productions, and haunt designer for Six Flags, Knott’s Scary Farm, and Queen Mary’s Dark Harbor).

Wreckreation What’s New Update Trailer

Since the launch of Wreckreation in October 2025, the team at Three Fields Entertainment has been hard at work upgrading and expanding the game with five major – and free – content updates. These additions introduced new cars, expanded building options like full construction sites with towering cranes and modular multi-story structures, more challenge variants, and the ability to share them with the entire community – and much more!

Today, the team has released a new video showcasing the distance traveled since release and what’s coming to Wreckreation in 2026. Get ready for drivable construction vehicles and even a helicopter. Thanks to a passionate community, the developers understand what players are most excited about and plan to collaborate closely to create the ultimate sandbox racer. Stay tuned – this world is just getting started!

Visit the official Website: https://wreckreation.thqnordic.com/

Wreckreation is available for PC, PlayStation®5, and Xbox Series X|S at an SRP of $39.99 / €39.99. PC players can enjoy 25% off during the THQ Nordic Publisher Sale on Steam until February 9th, 2026.
Check out the THQ Nordic Publisher Sale on Steam: https://thqn.net/PS26

Star Trek: Voyager Across the Unknown New Gameplay Mechanics Deep Dive Trailer

A new gameplay mechanics deep dive trailer for Star Trek: Voyager – Across The Unknown is now live.

In this latest video, developer GameXcite breaks down the game’s building and management layer, focusing on the reconstruction of the U.S.S. Voyager. The trailer highlights how ship rebuilding, internal management, and customization options directly influence gameplay styles and narrative paths, with player decisions shaping the course of the story.

Star Trek: Voyager – Across the Unknown is developed by gameXcite and published by Daedalic Entertainment. The full game will be released on PC, PlayStation 5, Xbox X|S and Nintendo Switch 2 on February 18.

More information about the game is available at:

https://www.stvatu.com/

 

John Carpenter’s Toxic Commando Gameplay Overview Trailer

Saber Interactive and Focus Entertainment have premiered a new Gameplay Overview Trailer for the ‘80s-inspired action-horror video game John Carpenter’s Toxic Commando, releasing March 12, 2026, on PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X|S, and PC via Steam and the Epic Games Store. Check out this new video and see how the creative team behind Warhammer 40,000: Space Marine 2, World War Z and SnowRunner are bringing their expertise to this new IP – from story and missions to weapons, classes, vehicles and more!

Get ready for non-stop zombie destruction
Today’s new trailer introduces the highly trained team of mercenaries you’ll be cleaning the zombie mess with in four-player co-op action made using Saber Interactive’s hellish Swarm Engine technology. Take on multiple missions through a semi-open world, surviving endless waves of mutated monstrosities coming straight at your face!

Luckily, you’ll have a slime-proof line-up of badass vehicles to smash foes under and navigate this hellscape. Expect a lethal menu of 16 primary weapon types and all kinds of secondary weapons to unleash on zombie heads, from shotguns, SMGs and sniper rifles to pistols, machetes and crowbars.

With four classes to choose from, manage your own kickass abilities as Strike, Medic, Operator or Defender. Tag team with up to three buddies using matchmaking or create a private lobby with friends, including full crossplay that lets anyone join from any platform!

Go commando in a limited-time demo

John Carpenter’s Toxic Commando is getting a first playable demo, available from February 19 to March 2 on Steam! So get your favorite carnage-minded buddies ready!

Pre-order the Standard or Blood Edition and Get Free DLC!

John Carpenter’s Toxic Commando will come in two editions – the Standard Edition and the Blood Edition, both available to pre-order now on PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X|S, and PC via Steam and the Epic Games Store.

Pre-order any edition to get the “Leon’s Secret Stash” DLC for free!

On top of the base game, the Blood Edition includes the Bloody Pass, featuring:

  • Two post-launch DLCs including unique skins for characters, weapons and vehicles – make sure you’re the most fashionable crew in the apocalypse!
  • A golden Cosmetic Pack for weapons featuring a weapon charm and character skins

Virtua Fighter 5 R.E.V.O. World Stage Takes the Fight to Nintendo Switch 2 on March 26

Today SEGA® announced Virtua Fighter 5 R.E.V.O. World Stage will launch for Nintendo Switch 2 on March 26, 2026, marking the debut of the beloved 3D fighting series on a Nintendo platform!

This definitive release features full cross-play—allowing competitive online battles between Nintendo Switch 2, PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X|S, and Steam users—along with rollback netcode support, new moves and combos, balance updates, and key improvements to the training mode.

Open Beta Test Starts February 18

Players interested in trying out the game early can participate in the Nintendo Switch 2 Open Beta Test that will kick off on February 18 at 7pm PT / 10pm ET. This test will focus on the network servers and cross-play performance for the game with the other available platforms. Interested players can download the beta directly from the Nintendo eShop (no Sega.com account needed).

Pre-Orders Available Now

Digital and physical pre-orders are now available. Those who purchase any Nintendo Switch 2 edition of the game (digital or physical) will be granted the Sega Hardware Customization Item “Genesis™,” based on the legendary SEGA hardware, at no added cost! This in-game digital customization item can be equipped by all 19 base characters in the game.

Those who order the digital 30th Anniversary Edition ($49.99 USD MSRP) will unlock the following:

  • Virtua Fighter 5 R.E.V.O. World Stage base game
  • Legendary Pack DLC
  • Yakuza Series Collaboration Pack DLC
  • Virtua Fighter 30th Anniversary Swimsuit Costume Set, Soundtrack Collection, and Ranking Titles
  • Virtua Fighter Pre-Production Artwork

A standard digital edition is also available to pre-order for $19.99 USD MSRP. Each paid DLC pack included in the 30th Anniversary Edition will be offered for individual digital purchase at launch.

Pre-orders are also available for the physical edition ($49.99 USD MSRP), containing the same content as the 30th Anniversary Edition. This version will include a double-sided poster inside the case, which features the cover art from Virtual Fighter 5 R.E.V.O. World Stage on one side and the cover art from the original Virtua Fighter on the other.

Virtua Fighter 5 R.E.V.O. World Stage will launch for Nintendo Switch 2 on March 26, 2026. It is currently available for PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X|S, and Steam. For more information about the game, including where to pre-order, visit https://www.sega.com/virtua-fighter/virtua-fighter-5-revo, and follow the official SEGA social channels on X, Facebook, Instagram, and YouTube.

SpongeBob SquarePants: Titans of the Tide Goes Live Today

The final DLC for Titans of the Tide will go live today, bringing new cosmetic content and a fresh patch to all players.

The patch includes:

  • Some minor fixes
  • The Double Deluxe Costume Pack DLC, available for DLC and Season Pass owners
  • Two free Patrick costumes, unlocked automatically for all players

And if you can’t get enough of the Titans of the Tide song, you’ll find the full track on all major music streaming platforms: Spotify, Apple Music, YouTube Music, and more!

  • Spotify: https://thqn.net/43yGots
  • Apple: https://thqn.net/47L0YcB
  • Amazon: https://thqn.net/3LCnMmp
  • YT Music: https://thqn.net/4peTt3y

Get the game now:
Switch 2

  • Nintendo E-Shop Europe: https://thqn.net/47raDDF
  • Nintendo E-Shop US: https://thqn.net/3X0DXw1
  • Nintendo E-Shop Japan: https://thqn.net/4hy67bl

Other platforms:

  • Steam: https://thqn.net/sbtott-steam
  • PlayStation: https://thqn.net/sbtott-psn
  • Xbox: https://thqn.net/sbtott-xbox
  • Website: https://spongebobtitans.thqnordic.com

SpongeBob SquarePants: Titans of the Tide is being developed by Purple Lamp and published by THQ Nordic. The game is available for PC, PlayStation®5, Xbox Series X|S and Nintendo Switch 2™.

Free League Releases First Expansion for Coriolis: The Great Dark The Flowers of Algorab

Today, Free League Publishing’s The Flowers of Algorab, the first expansion for its science-fiction tabletop roleplaying game Coriolis: The Great Dark, is now available for purchase in the Free League webshop and in hobby stores worldwide. Digital copies are also for sale through DrivethruRPG and the Foundry VTT marketplace.

The Flowers of Algorab is a complete boxed campaign for Coriolis: The Great Dark, inviting Explorers to uncover the mysteries of Ship City, embark on dangerous expeditions, and travel the Hammurabi Arm in search of long-lost secrets. The campaign is set in motion by the death of a seasoned ruin delver and the disappearance of a mysterious stone tablet, triggering a strange chain of events deep within Ship City.

Designed as a full campaign experience, The Flowers of Algorab expands the world of Coriolis: The Great Dark with new locations, stories, and tools for both players and Game Masters. The boxed set includes:

  • Campaign book detailing characters, locations, and overarching plots
  • Expedition booklet with player-facing information on Greatships and the systems of the Hammurabi Arm
  • Large full-color map of the Lost Horizon and Ship City
  • Map of the Charted Sphere
  • Delve maps and handouts
  • Blueprints of the Greatships Akhander and Rigel
  • Blueprints of a Grasshopper shuttle and a Rhino rover
  • Nine base dice and three gear dice
  • Deck of custom cards for initiative, gear, and discoveries
  • Cardboard tokens for Blight, supply, and expeditions

Sumerian Six Coming to PlayStation and Xbox March 6

Developed by tactics masters Artificer and published by Devolver Digital, Sumerian Six transports you to an alternate version of World War II where you command the Enigma Squad – an elite team of six scientists-turned-commandos, each with unique skills and abilities. Stealth and strategy will be your greatest allies if you hope to stop the Nazis from controlling the world order when Sumerian Six launches on PlayStation 5 and Xbox Series X|S on March 6.

A gripping storyline sets the stage for a thrilling adventure inspired by historical locations, filled with challenging missions and sharp, tactical stealth gameplay over 10 chapters.

Sneak your way around Nazi strongholds and dispatch the ever-present guards in a variety of ways before taking on the more serious threats that lie in wait. Combine your team’s dynamic powers in creative displays of tactical tenacity, from the carcinogenic concoctions of brilliant chemist Rosa Reznick, to the mutated might of ‘The Werebear’ Wojtek Galica.

Put your strategic abilities and dexterity to the ultimate test against heavily armed, mutated and supernaturally charged forces. The more you overcome, the more powerful your Squad becomes, striking fear into the black hearts of the Third Reich.

A grim future awaits you should the Nazis be victorious, so do your best to prevent that dark timeline from coming true in this real-time tactical stealth adventure.

Sumerian Six is coming to PlayStation 5 and Xbox Series X|S on March 6.