Author - Jerry Paxton

The Witcher IV Announced at The Game Awards 2024

CD PROJEKT RED proudly unveiled a first look at The Witcher IV — the first game in the new Witcher saga — at The Game Awards 2024 in Los Angeles with a cinematic trailer.

Snapshot:

  • The nearly six-minute trailer offers a first look at Ciri as the protagonist she takes on a witcher contract in a remote village terrorized for generations by a monster demanding ritual sacrifice.
  • The Witcher IV is being developed using customized Unreal Engine 5 technology; the cinematic trailer is pre-rendered in a custom build of Unreal Engine 5 on an unannounced NVIDIA GeForce RTX GPU.
  • A follow-up to one of the most acclaimed RPGs of all time, The Witcher IV aims to be the most immersive and ambitious open-world Witcher game to date.

During this year’s The Game Awards, CD PROJEKT RED offered a first look at The Witcher IV, previously known by its codename Polaris. The game, a successor to The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt — considered one of the most acclaimed games of all time — marks the beginning of a new Witcher saga with Ciri stepping into the role of the protagonist.

“We’re kicking off a brand-new Witcher saga, this time with Ciri as the heart of the story!” said Sebastian Kalemba, Game Director. “It feels so good to finally be able to say those words — for the longest time we knew that we wanted Ciri to be the protagonist of The Witcher IV; it just felt natural to us and we believe that Ciri deserves it. In this game we want to explore what it means to truly become a witcher by following Ciri on her Path. This trailer is a taste of both that, and just how dark and grounded the world of The Witcher can be.”

In the nearly six-minute trailer, viewers were introduced to Ciri, the adopted daughter of Geralt of Rivia, as she takes on a witcher contract in a remote village that has been terrorized for generations by a fearsome monster demanding human sacrifices. Framed as a short, self-contained Witcher story, the trailer showcases Ciri’s new abilities and tools, including a chain and advanced magic powers.

At the heart of the trailer is Ciri’s perspective as an outsider to the village. As the villagers say goodbye to one of their own — a young girl they are preparing for a traditional ritual sacrifice — Ciri chooses to intervene. Aiming to slay the beast and save the girl at the same time, Ciri finds herself at odds with the prejudices and superstitions of the people she tries to protect, leading her to confront a painful witcher lesson: that monsters come in all forms.

The trailer is pre-rendered in a custom build of Unreal Engine 5 on an unannounced NVIDIA GeForce RTX GPU. Powered by the same tech that The Witcher IV is built on, using assets and models from the game itself, it aims to provide players with a cinematic look at the kind of experience the game is aspiring to provide. The trailer was created through a close collaboration between CD PROJEKT RED and Platige Image, who are no strangers to The Witcher universe, having been responsible for intro cinematics in the previous installments of the series.

The Witcher IV is a single-player, open-world RPG from CD PROJEKT RED. At the start of a new saga, players take on the role of Ciri and embark on a journey through a brutal dark fantasy world. Powered by Unreal Engine 5, it aims to be the most immersive and ambitious open-world Witcher game to date.

For more information on The Witcher IV, please visit the official website. More information about The Witcher series can be found on the official website, X, and Facebook.

SQUAD 44 The Pacific Front Announcement Trailer

Want action? Apply to the nearest recruiting station to join Squad 44as they storm the beaches of in its latest Free Weekend, and prepare for the launch of its next Major Update: The Pacific Front. Jump into Squad 44 with your friends for free from Thursday, December 12th to Monday, December 16th in preparation for The Pacific Front launching early next year. Squad 44is out now on Steam for $26.99 USD.

Update 1.5, live now, adds some reworked features and showcases some upcoming content for The Pacific Front Update, coming in early 2025.

New Game Mode | Seeding
  • Seeding is a tailored game mode similar to a small-scale Advance and Secure match, with all weapons and roles unlocked and available to all. This allows players the opportunity to get to grips with a wider array of faction-specific weapons than they would on any other game modes, often in much closer engagements than they may be used to.

New Museum/Shooting Range

  • Set in a sealed-off section of the London Underground
  • Features all the weapons in the game
  • Gives a sneak peak at the Imperial Japanese Army and US Marine Corps faction characters

Improved Game Mechanics

  • The Stamina system has been reworked to be more forgiving and reduce the player’s dependency on the canteen.
  • Changes to player movement have been made to give the player a more realistic movement feel
  • A machine gun overheating and barrel change feature has been added to the game to increase the levels of immersion for MG players
  • New full screen map allowing use of mouse scroll wheel to zoom in and out
  • New faction specific SFX have been added for death and wounded calls, and for tanks to simulate loader drills
  • New weapon specific SFX have been added to various grenades
  • Improved animations on a number of weapons.

DRAGON BALL Games Battle Hour 2025 Is Coming Back To Los Angeles This January

Bandai Namco Entertainment Inc., in collaboration with Capsule Corporation Tokyo, SHUEISHA and TOEI ANIMATION, today announced more information about DRAGON BALL Games Battle Hour 2025 program. Packed with exciting content from the world of DRAGON BALL, this year’s event will be held at the Shrine Auditorium in LA from Saturday, January 18 through Sunday, January 19, 2025. The event is free with registration open now for interested attendees. Exclusive merchandise will be available at DRAGON BALL Games Battle Hour 2025 including items celebrating the 40th anniversary of the original DRAGON BALL series.

To access DRAGON BALL Games Battle Hour 2025 exclusive merch and for event details and registration, please visit the official DRAGON BALL Games Battle Hour 2025 website at https://store.bandainamcoent.com/games/brands/dragon-ball/dragon-ball-games-battle-hour-2025/

The fifth annual DRAGON BALL Games Battle Hour will once again gather fans from around the world, delivering a unique experience that combines the latest information about the DRAGON BALL franchise with exhibitions showcasing everything from the original manga and anime to the latest movies, games, figures, and toys. This year’s event promises to be bigger than ever and will feature the first official competition for DRAGON BALL: Sparking! ZERO, which launched this past October and sold more than 3 million units in its first 24 hours from release. The DRAGON BALL: SPARKING! ZERO DRAMATIC SHOWDOWN! will focus less on true esports competition and instead draw from the game’s epic roster of characters and feature special rules to create an exciting and enjoyable competitive experience for players and spectators. This year’s DRAGON BALL Games Battle Hour will also hold tournaments drawing top players for the World Tour 2024/20225 Finals for DRAGON BALL FighterZ and World Championship 2024 competitions for both DRAGON BALL SUPER CARD GAME MASTERS and DRAGON BALL SUPER CARD GAME FUSION WORLD.

DRAGON BALL Games Battle Hour 2025 tournament matches will be available for viewing via a simultaneous global livestream. For details on how to watch and information on the streamed tournaments, please visit the official “Dragon Ball Games Battle Hour 2025” website (https://dbgbh.bn-ent.net/jp/).

Also featured will be special stages and exhibitions for titles such as DRAGON BALL Z DOKKAN BATTLE and DRAGON BALL LEGENDS, along with merchandise and photo ops. There will be a special panel for the new anime Dragon Ball DAIMA that premiered in October 2024 is currently airing. The series’ executive producer will be joined on stage by voice actors from the English dub version, with exciting reveals such as original illustrations by Akira Toriyama and behind-the-scenes stories from the anime’s production.

The Dragon Ball DAIMA booth will feature an area where visitors can experience the world of this latest series via a photo op area, and exhibitions of various merchandise. The DRAGON BALL: Sparking! ZERO booth will have competitive demo stations along with stations where players will be able to challenge Custom Battles created by the different games’ producers. The DRAGON BALL LEGENDS booth will have demo stations where players can try out offline matches and interact with other participants.

DRAGON BALL Games Battle Hour 2025 will also have a booth dedicated to DRAGON BALL Z DOKKAN BATTLE, which will be celebrating its 10th anniversary in January 2025. There will be demo stations featuring a special time attack challenge as well as a special anniversary exhibition going back through the game’s history. The anniversary celebration will also include the first-ever fan meeting on Saturday, January 18. The available slots to participate in the fan meeting will be distributed through a lottery system. For more details, please visit the official DRAGON BALL Games Battle Hour 2025 website.

Planet Coaster 2: Thrill-Seekers Ride Pack Launch Trailer

From today Planet Coaster 2 players can update their game to benefit from a host of additions and enhancements as part of the game’s first major update since launching in November.

These include highly requested changes such as separate loading and unloading stations, UI and control adjustments, the ability to customize tracked and transport rides, a new heatmap for guest tolerances, glass scenery pieces, enhanced guest movements on flumes, and much more.

All players will also now be able add more spark to their parks by putting on mesmerizing firework displays using the event sequencer tool, adding even more magic for their guests.
Planet Coaster 2: Thrill-Seekers Ride Pack | Launch Trailer

A full list of the changes arriving is available here: https://planetcoaster.com/updates/1-0-9.

In addition, the development team have shared a sneak peek of their progress with some further exciting enhancements for flumes which will be arriving in the future in a short video which is available here:

Alongside the free update, players looking to add even more attractions to their parks can spin, whirl, and wow crowds with the Planet Coaster 2: Thrill-Seekers Ride Pack DLC. They’ll be able to create and customise a swirling sensation with five high-adrenaline new attractions that are sure to provide the ride of a lifetime.

For those brave enough, the loops and rotating cars of Big M’s Rides – Ultra Spin are sure to impress as they transform the world into a spinning blur. The Vector – LIM Launch Family Coaster also provides a streamlined whirlwind adventure for all ages.

In addition to two new coasters, three thrilling flat rides are on hand to amaze. Guests can ride the wave with the 540, as they engage in a dizzying dance while standing on a shared surfboard, or swirl round and round on the endless spins and rotating arms of Strike. Whirlpool, a customisable rebuild of the original Planet Coaster’s Psychola, also arrives to sweep guests into its wild vortex.

Planet Coaster 2: Thrill-Seekers Ride Pack is available now on PC via Steam, PlayStation®5, and Xbox Series X|S for a suggested retail price of £7.99/$9.99/€9.99. Planet Coaster 2 is required to play and is available now on PC, PlayStation®5, and Xbox Series X|S for a suggested retail price of £39.99/$49.99/€49.99.

Williams Pinball Volume 8 Launch Trailer

Zen Studios — the leading global producer and publisher of digital pinball video games — in partnership with Williams Electronics Games Inc. © have announced that the Williams™ Pinball Volume 8 DLC pack is available now for Pinball FX. Pinball fanatics can now take on classic Williams™ tables Earthshaker!™, Banzai Run™, and the recently revealed Black Knight 2000 on PC and consoles!

Today, fans can showcase their pinball prowess with Pinball FX’s most nostalgic DLC to date! Included in the Williams™ Pinball Volume 8 DLC pack is Earthshaker!™ — a seismic classic from 1989 known for its groundbreaking features and earthquake-themed gameplay. In the second retro table, Banzai Run™, players take on the ultimate motocross challenge and conquer the king of the hill to claim the top spot. The third table, Black Knight 2000, launches players straight back into the ‘90s while introducing an all-new, all-digital, unsurpassed sound system and stylized, electrifying graphics. A timeless pinball experience awaits!

Pinball FX’s Williams™ Pinball Volume 8 Key Features:
  • Nostalgia meets thrilling gameplay with each new legendary table!
  • Get ready to feel the ground shake, rumble, and roar as you chase high scores through these three Williams™ masterpieces
  • In Earthshaker!™, you’ll experience the seismic excitement as the earth trembles beneath your flippers! Get ready to immerse yourself in this beloved table, which will bring hours of retro fun
  • First released in 1988, Banzai Run™ is back and better than ever in this modern take to overthrow the king of the hill to become number one in an exciting daredevil motocross race
  • Black Knight 2000 is a fast-paced, visually aggressive tribute to the ‘90s era of intense pinball action, featuring original music to create a powerhouse of dynamic sound

Maestro Media Unveils Hello Kitty: Day at the Park Board Game

Maestro Media is teaming up with Sanrio®, the global lifestyle brand and home to Hello Kitty® to announce the release of the highly anticipated board game, Hello Kitty®: Day at the Park. This new game invites fans of all ages to experience the icon’s nostalgic charm by joining Hello Kitty and Friends on a heartwarming adventure filled with fun challenges and beautiful game design that is sure to spread smiles.

“We are partnering with Sanrio to bring Hello Kitty and her friends to life in a fresh board game experience,” says Javon Fraizer, CEO of Maestro Media. “This game is designed to foster teamwork and creativity, with a playful experience that promotes Hello Kitty’s message of friendship and kindness.

Developed with families and fans of Hello Kitty in mind, Hello Kitty®: Day at the Park is an accessible strategy board game that promises a unique family-friendly game experience, seamlessly blending the playful spirit of Hello Kitty with engaging and strategic gameplay that everyone can enjoy together. Players can compete as Hello Kitty and other iconic Sanrio characters, including My Melody™, Pompompurin™, Keroppi™, and more to complete thrilling adventures, earn rewards, and explore the charming park setting–all while collecting items and visiting attractions. The Deluxe Retail version of the game will also include a collectible, exclusive Hello Kitty Figurine, only available via purchase of the game.

  • Hello Kitty: Day at the Park Retail Edition ($29.99)
  • Hello Kitty: Day at the Park Deluxe Retail Edition ($59.99) – Exclusive Hello Kitty Figurine
  • Hello Kitty: Day at the Park Deluxe Retail Edition and Hello Kitty Playmat Bundle – ($99.99) Exclusive Hello Kitty Figurine

CD PROJEKT RED Launches Cyberpunk 2077 Update 2.2

CD PROJEKT RED today released a free update for Cyberpunk 2077 introducing new character customization options, Photo Mode functionality, additional gameplay improvements, and much more. The update’s launch was also accompanied by another installment of REDstreams featuring a deep dive into the latest update with its developers.

Snapshot:

  • CD PROJEKT RED launched Update 2.2 for Cyberpunk 2077, bringing a range of free improvements to the game.
  • The update was developed in partnership with Virtuos.
  • Players can enjoy new customization choices, including character and vehicle customization.
  • Photo Mode also received new features including a new camera mode and lighting options.
  • More information about the update was shared in a REDstreams episode on Twitch and YouTube.

Update 2.2 is the fruit of a close collaboration between CD PROJEKT RED and Virtuos, a studio known for its work on many well-known AAA games for consoles and PC. It is available to all owners of Cyberpunk 2077 on Xbox Series X|S, PlayStation 5, and PC.

As part of Update 2.2, players will access new character customization options — including new variants of cosmetic cyberware, tattoos, makeup options, and more. That’s not the only thing players can now modify — all luxury or sports cars that have partnered with Rayfield now have access to exclusive CrystalCoat technology, meaning players can swap out the colors of select rides. Changes have also been made to Photo Mode, which now boasts additional features — including improved camera modes, the ability to spawn up to three additional characters in the scene, increased camera range, and new lighting options. Players will also be able to enjoy the presence of Johnny Silverhand in the passenger seat as they drive through the city of dreams. On top of it all, Update 2.2 also brings a number of technical improvements and more secrets to Night City.

The Simpsons Holiday Special “O C’mon All Ye Faithful” Premieres Dec. 17

Today, Disney+ revealed the trailer for “The Simpsons” all-new holiday special “O C’mon All Ye Faithful,” premiering December 17 exclusively on Disney+. Derren Brown guest stars in the holiday special, which also features musical performances from Patti LaBelle and Pentatonix. The Christmas-themed double episode is launching timed to the 35th anniversary of “The Simpsons” original Christmas special which aired on December 17, 1989. The trailer for the upcoming Disney+ exclusive special is available here:

Famed British mentalist, Derren Brown, comes to Springfield and uses psychological tricks and showmanship to raise the town’s Christmas spirit. When Homer gets hypnotized and mistakenly believes he is Santa Claus, it sets off a cheery chain-reaction and causes everyone to question what they believe and to explore the meaning of “miracle.” Featuring musical performances by Patti LaBelle and Pentatonix, this special double episode marks the 35th anniversary of the original Christmas special from “The Simpsons” (“Simpsons Roasting on an Open Fire”) and airs exclusively on Disney+ starting December 17th.

In addition to 35 seasons of “The Simpsons,” Disney+ is also home to “The Simpsons Movie” and more than 10 shorts featuring the Simpsons family. All these and more can be found in “The Simpsons” collection on the streaming service: https://www.disneyplus.com/franchise/the-simpsons

PEACOCK Announces SNL50: BEYOND SATURDAY NIGHT Docuseries

Featuring more than 60 contributors, including SNL alumni, and covering decades of SNL history, SNL50: Beyond Saturday Night offers a behind-the-scenes look at some of the most iconic hallmarks of the American late night comedy institution. Executive produced by Academy and Emmy Award winner Morgan Neville, each episode reveals new insights into the show’s rich history, pulling back the curtain on everything from the writers’ room to the famed audition process.

  • All four episodes of SNL50: Beyond Saturday Night will premiere on Peacock on January 16.
  • The four-part docuseries spotlights different elements of the show’s history and legacy, exploring the intricacies of the legendary sketch comedy series:
    • Episode 101, “Five Minutes” – A showcase of the SNL audition process, with never-before-seen audition footage and firsthand accounts from some of the show’s most iconic names as they reflect on their preparation and journey to the SNL stage.
    • Episode 102, “Written By: A Week Inside The SNL Writers Room” – A behind-the-scenes look at the SNL writing process from script to screen, capturing the creativity and chaos of a week inside the writers’ room at SNL.
    • Episode 103, “More Cowbell”  A deep dive into the making of SNL‘s iconic “More Cowbell” sketch, exploring how a simple idea became a cultural phenomenon and offering a tribute to the lasting impact of sketch comedy.
    • Episode 104, “Season 11: The Weird Year” – An exploration into SNL’s 11th season, examining the pivotal year that reset the show’s direction and cemented its enduring DNA with Lorne Michaels at the helm.
  • With unprecedented access to the show’s archives and talent, each episode brings a distinct lens to their dynamic subjects, embracing the unique vision of their award-winning directors: Emmy Award winner Robert Alexander (Ep 101), Academy Award winner Marshall Curry (Ep 102), Emmy Nominee Neil Berkeley (Ep 103) and Emmy Nominee Jason Zeldes (Ep 104).
  • Quote from Morgan Neville, Executive Producer: “I’ve been obsessed with Saturday Night Live as long as I can remember. For SNL50, I’ve been lucky to collaborate with some of my favorite independent filmmakers to tell some deeper stories of SNL. Taken together, these standalone episodes give a new perspective of SNL and what makes it work.”
  • Along with SNL50: Beyond Saturday Night, stream every season of SNL, exclusively on Peacock. New SNL episodes also stream live on Peacock, in addition to the broadcast on NBC (11:30pm ET/8:30pm PT).
  • SNL will also mark its 50th anniversary with a celebratory weekend culminating in a live primetime special on Sunday, February 16, on NBC and Peacock.