I published this post in my AI newsletter (130k subs). You can join for free here.
I just discovered this AI startup idea from Reddit. Will it be the next unicorn after Cursor ($30B valuation)?
Note that ideas are cheap, execution is king.
To the best of my knowledge, this idea hasn’t been implemented yet. But I thought I’d share it with the Finxter community so I can brag about it as soon as somebody takes it and reaches unicorn status.
~~~
Idea: Create a free vibe coding IDE that shows ads while waiting for agents to complete.
“The free vibe coding IDE that pays for its own GPT-5.2 tokens”
Here’s a pitch deck I created with Gemini Banana Pro (comic style):
Some features:
Monetize idle time
Waiting is a sustainable business thesis for AI
TAM is 1B vibe coders
Bonus: Ads pay for AI tokens
I hope that somebody from the Finxter community takes this idea and runs with it. I’ll be here to share v1 with the community for free (130k readers). Let’s go.
Be on the right side of change! Chris
PS: Join our community for AI builders. It’s fun and our goal is for each member to ship one AI project each month.
Dotemu, Crush Guard Games, and Supamonks have today announced that big things are coming to their fantasy ‘rouge ’em up’, Absolum, next year, starting with the game’s first major update.
The ver. 1.1 update, ‘The Threads of Fate’, will launch at some point in “Early 2026” (the studios haven’t been more precise than that at the moment), and will bring a healthy dose of new content alongside the usual tweaks and bug fixes.
First up is a batch of new ‘Mystic Ordeal’ challenges, which will let you add challenging quirks to your runs to put your skills to the test — you’ll even be able to set your own rules and share them with others via a code. Select stages of your journey across Talamh will also become corrupted, with stronger enemies therein granting bigger rewards. Don’t worry if you’re finding the base game challenging enough; both of these will be completely optional.
The devs are also introducing newly evolved mounts that pack more of a punch, and a batch of fresh in-game skins and emotes, so you can get your party looking as sharp as they deserve.
The devs shared a full rundown of the upcoming changes in a blog post on Steam, concluding by thanking everyone who has played so far: “We wanted to take a moment, once again, to thank you for joining our rebellion, and lending your skills, passion and personality to our resistance movement.”
We had a great time with Absolum on Switch earlier this year, calling it “one of the best of its kind, whatever that kind may be” in our 9/10 review. Let’s hope we don’t have to wait too long in 2026 to see its updates come our way.
What do you make of Absolum? Will you be checking out its first major update next year? Let us know in the comments.
The PHP development team announces the immediate availability of PHP
8.5.1. This is a security release. All PHP 8.5 users are encouraged to upgrade to this version. Release Announcement: <https://php.net/releases/8_5_1.php>
Downloads: <https://php.net/downloads>
Windows downloads: <https://windows.php.net/download#php-8.5>
Changelog: <https://php.net/ChangeLog-8.php#8.5.1>
Release Manifest:
<https://gist.github.com/edorian/bed6e9fd6f7f886a74a5818624751aa3> Many thanks to all the contributors and supporters! Regards,
Volker Dusch, Daniel Scherzer, and Pierrick Charron php-8.5.1.tar.bz2
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The latest Nintendo Download update for North America has arrived, and it’s bringing new games galore to the eShop in your region. As always, be sure to drop a vote in our poll and comment down below with your potential picks for the week. Enjoy!
Switch 2 eShop – Highlights
The Rogue Prince of Persia(Ubisoft, 16th Dec, $29.99) – Dive into a thrilling and epic adventure, where every action pulses to the heady rhythm of an intense soundtrack. Master fluid, acrobatic and responsive combat, paired with challenging parkour. Death after death, forge your own playstyle with every run. Through exploration and encounters, find a way to right your wrongs and save the Persian kingdom envisioned by Evil Empire!
Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: Splintered Fate – Nintendo Switch 2 Edition(Super Evil Mega, 16th Dec, $32.49) – Unleash the Turtles in a roguelike quest to rescue Splinter from the Foot Clan – now on Nintendo Switch 2! Brace yourself for fast-paced, roguelike action with randomized power-ups, room layouts and boss modifiers. Take control of all four Turtles, each wielding unique powers, and team up with friends for bodacious co-op gameplay.
Switch 2 eShop – New Releases
A-Train: All Aboard! Tourism Nintendo Switch 2 Edition(ARTDINK, 18th Dec, $66.99) – You are the president of a railroad company. Lay tracks, run trains, and experience building your very own city! The theme of this work is “tourism.” Develop tourist routes from distant cities and aim to create a bustling tourist city filled with people.
Cast n Chill – Nintendo Switch 2 Edition(Wombat Brawler, 18th Dec, $14.99) – You are the president of a railroad company. Lay tracks, run trains, and experience building your very own city! The theme of this work is “tourism.” Develop tourist routes from distant cities and aim to create a bustling tourist city filled with people.
Factorio – Nintendo Switch 2 Edition(Wube Software, 22nd Dec, $35.00) – Factorio is a game in which you build and maintain factories. You will be mining resources, researching technologies, building infrastructure, automating production and fighting enemies. In the beginning you will find yourself chopping trees, mining ores and crafting mechanical arms and transport belts by hand, but in short time you can become an industrial powerhouse, with huge solar fields, oil refining and cracking, manufacture and deployment of construction and logistic robots, all for your resource needs.
System Shock(Atari, 18th Dec, $39.99) – System Shock is the fully fledged remake of the ground breaking original from 1994, combining cult gameplay with all-new HD visuals, updated controls, an overhauled interface and all-new sounds & music; it even has the original voice actor of SHODAN, one of gaming’s most iconic villains. Witness the rebirth of one of the greatest and most influential games ever created. – Read our System Shock review
Switch eShop – New Releases
Asphalt Champions(isTom Games, 22nd Dec, $20.00) – Asphalt Champions is a high-octane racing game where style meets speed. Tame the roads of the countryside, master the art of turbo boosting, and dominate a world built for speed and glory. These modern champion riders charge through diverse tracks – be it dusty desert roads, ramshackle junkyards, or winding country lanes.
Auto Sport Racing Simulator(Vitalii Kaminskyi, 19th Dec, $9.99) – Get ready for an intense and fast-paced racing experience. Auto Sport Racing Simulator puts you behind the wheel of high-performance vehicles and challenges you to master a wide variety of tracks, each designed with its own unique flow, structure, and racing style. Experience constantly changing environments that keep every race fresh – from tight technical sections to long high-speed stretches that test your reflexes and precision.
Battle Pixel(Testagamercreations, 18th Dec, $9.99) – Battle Pixel is an intense first-person shooter where every match becomes a fierce battle for the top spot. You’ll enter a combat zone where there’s no room for error — only those who think fast, shoot precisely, and move smartly will come out on top.
Big Trouble in Little Chimney(Ratalaika Games, 19th Dec, $4.99) – Krampus is Coming! Grab your shotgun, finish your hot punch and don’t forget your mission: Save the Christmas! Big Trouble in Little Chimney is a fast paced arena bullet-hell shooter. Survive endless hordes of creatures lurk from the dark chimney and save the Christmas!
Cast n Chill[Switch 1](Wombat Brawler, 18th Dec, $14.99) – Cast n Chill’s a laid-back fishin’ game for folks who’d rather wet a line than break a sweat. Whether yer driftin’ on a lazy lake, pokin’ ’round a winding river, or droppin’ lines in salty blue water, this here’s a game where you set the pace.
Cat Girl Survivor(Minimum Studio, 22nd Dec, $19.99) – Cat Girl Survivor is a survivor-style action game where you fight endless waves of enemies alongside adorable cat girl characters.Characters automatically attack nearby enemies. Players only need to focus on movement and skill selection. Level up to acquire new skills and combine them to unleash powerful combination skills!
CloverPit Gamble(Evc Studio, 23rd Dec, $7.99) – CloverPit Gamble is a hellish fusion of card madness and deadly roulette. A rogue-lite where you’ve built your own prison and are now doomed to rot inside it. Chained in a damp iron cell, face-to-face with a trembling slot machine and a greedy ATM, you must pay your debt after every round… or be consumed entirely and dragged into the endless pit of debt. Survival here means twisting luck to your will. [Note that this is not CloverPit, which is developed by Panik Arcade and not available on Switch.]
Clutchtime: Basketball Deckbuilder(Bigosaur, 18th Dec, $15.99) – Clutchtime: Basketball is a deck builder centered around basketball plays and team synergies. Different game modes: Elimination tournaments in true roguelike style, or Classic regular season where you can lose some games, but have to qualify and win the playoffs to become a Champion. Each mode can be played in single player mode, or shared screen with your friends.
Cosmic Arcade Tycoon(NebulaNookGames, 19th Dec, $4.99) – Build your dream arcade at your own pace. No pressure, no deadlines, just a cozy space to fill with games, decorations, warm neon lights and a bite-sized playthrough duration. Create Design your arcade from the ground up, shaping its layout while choosing from a handful of structures, furniture, decoration and arcade machines. Unlock Use your Computer to unlock new objects, expand your land and customize your character.
Crowded Mysteries 2: Winter Romance(404 Games, 23rd Dec, $4.99) – Winter’s chill has settled over the city, turning love into obsession and passion into crime. As a dedicated detective, you’ll uncover secrets buried beneath the snow — investigating shocking murders, robberies, and betrayals that test both your logic and your heart.
Cup Heroes(QubicGames, 19th Dec, $0.00) – Step into the whimsical world of Cup Heroes, where everyday cups turn into mighty heroes on an epic quest to save their beloved Queen! Explore various enchanting worlds, from mystical forests to fiery volcanoes. Every level is a new adventure filled with hidden secrets and dangerous foes. Your Cup Heroes are waiting for you to lead them to victory!
Demonspire(EpiXR Games, 18th Dec, $14.99) – Demonspire is a dark fantasy action-platformer that throws you into the depths of a cursed tower, where only the strongest survive. You are a warrior trapped in the Demon Spire, a towering inferno of chaos and death. Your only way out? Climb. Fight. Endure. Each level begins with a fast-paced, deadly platforming section where you’ll leap over traps, dash across collapsing ledges, and follow glowing soul shards that replenish your mana and stamina.
Dive Expedition(QubicGames, 20th Dec, $7.99) – Explore sunken ships, submarines, and mysterious underwater ruins filled with hidden treasures and fascinating artifacts. Take your time as you navigate detailed environments, complete exploration objectives, and collect items scattered across the sea floor. Examine each discovery up close, uncovering the secrets of lost vessels and forgotten places.
EGGCONSOLE YUUREIKUN MSX2(D4 Enterprise, 18th Dec, $6.49) – This is an action game released by SYSTEM SACOM for the MSX2 in 1989. Players defeat various enemies with standard shots (Ochoco-Dama) and a backward-leaping tackle (Back Attack). Beautiful graphics that fully utilized the MSX2’s capabilities and large enemy characters made this a highly acclaimed title, earning a lot of user support.
Electronics Puzzle Lab 1 & 2 Collection(eastasiasoft, 23rd Dec, $7.99) – Awaken your inner engineer with the brainteasing circuitry of Electronics Puzzle Lab! In this fun and educational 3D puzzle game, your task is to inspect circuit boards and make adjustments to power LED lights. Take a seat at your workbench, cut wires, flip switches and more as you trace the path of the current. This collection contains 2 games: Electronics Puzzle Lab Electronics Puzzle Lab 2
Escape game R00M08(AlignmentSharp, 18th Dec, $1.00) – Explore 3D space and escape. Move through 3D space to find hints, solve mysteries and escape from the room. Anyone can play to the end because you can see hints and answers.
Hidden Cats on Christmas(Great Ave Games, 24th Dec, $3.99) – Celebrate the holiday season with Hidden Cats on Christmas, a cozy and charming hidden object adventure! Search through beautifully decorated rooms, snowy landscapes, and festive scenes to find adorable hidden cats. Each discovery brings joy and adds to your Christmas spirit. Relax, explore, and enjoy the heartwarming art and music as you uncover every secret and every cat hidden among the winter magic.
LuminousStoria(SmileForeverStudio, 18th Dec, $3.99) – “Do you know the story of Luminous? ” Uplifting music and An exciting work in which you defeat more and more monsters in the world of swords. An impressive character advances through the ruins with the village’s treasured sword.
Monsters in Cards(GAME NACIONAL, 20th Dec, $14.99) – Monsters in Cards is a turn-based strategy game where each card represents a monster with a specific type of attack. Plan your moves carefully, choose the perfect moment to strike, and defeat your opponents in tactical battles that test your strategy and control.
Nordic Ashes: The Complete Saga(Noxfall Studios, 19th Dec, $19.99) – Nordic Ashes is a challenging Norse inspired roguelite-survivor game, where you’ll have to survive hordes of creatures that come your way.
Oppidum(EP Games, 18th Dec, $23.99) – Build your camp, collect resources, craft equipment, face the dangers that this island driven mad by the corruption hides and uncover its mystery in this story-driven survival adventure for 1 to 4 players. · The weight of a prophecy lies on your shoulders… Corruption has taken over the island of Insule and the creatures that live in it, a place that was once full of beauty and magic, and that only you can save from its ill fate. · …but you don’t have to carry it alone
Raptor Evolution(QubicGames, 20th Dec, $5.99) – Take control of a mighty dinosaur in a post-apocalyptic world on a quest to recover its stolen eggs. Smash through environments, gather resources, and hunt grotesque human-mutants to evolve and grow stronger. Use what you collect to rebuild bridges, restore paths and push deeper into a world filled with danger and mystery.
Sheepy: A Short Adventure(Seeking Blue Records, 24th Dec, $2.00) – A Short Handcrafted Pixel Art Platformer that follows Sheepy, an abandoned plushy brought to life. Sheepy: A Short Adventure is the first short game from MrSuicideSheep.
Sports Challenge: 65 Games Edition(Plug In Digital, 16th Dec, $39.99) – Access 65 party games and compete with your friends and family in local co-op. Enjoy this party game bundle packed with dozens of sports game and unexpected activities to play solo or with friends and family.
Super Ultimate Fighters X(HUNTERS, 18th Dec, $2.80) – Super Ultimate Fighters X is a 2D fighting game. It brings together martial artists from around the world, including Karate, Judo, Sumo, Aikido, Drunken Fist, Mantis Style, Wing Chun, Taekwondo, Muay Thai, Professional Wrestling, Capoeira, Savate, Boxing, Pankration, Bartitsu, Silat, Lethwei, Oil Wrestling, and more. When the technique gauge fills up, a super special move can be unleashed! VS Mode also features 2-on-2 tag team battles. Use your unique techniques to fight for victory.
System Shock [Switch 1](Atari, 18th Dec, $39.99) – Meet SHODAN: The psychotic AI has taken control of Citadel Station and turned the crew into an army of cyborgs and mutants; She now plans to do the same to Earth. You must explore and battle your way through the depths of a space station gone to hell. Stop SHODAN and avert humanity’s destruction.
The Days Without Gods(Wise Games, 18th Dec, $9.99) – Step into the role of Mori Granson, apprentice and subordinate to Hsiao, the head of the Magic Association. In the mage capital of Tarlin, your path will cross with Coccinea, a young woman you saved years ago, and a host of other compelling characters. As you adventure together, your mission extends beyond exploration: you must help this group forge strong bonds and become a true “Granson Family,” a chosen family bound not by blood, but by choice. Will you succeed in uniting them?
The Rogue Prince of Persia[Switch 1](Ubisoft, 16th Dec, $29.99) – Shape the legend of a Prince spared by death, whose fatal mistake doomed his people. Try your best to right your wrongs: each failure is a new chance to explore different paths, discover secrets, meet new characters, and use the knowledge gained from past attempts to change your people’s fate and prove yourself as the true Prince of Persia.
Timore 6: The Cadaver(Vidas Games, 18th Dec, $2.99) – The Cadaver is a prequel chapter in the story of Timore 6, showing more about Rosa and how it all started. The surreal story is a mix of survival horror and psychological atmospheric exploration, weird creatures lurk around here, the mannequins that always look at you and the cryptic and dark backstory of Timore 6 gets more answers as well as new mysteries.
Unholy Adventure: Mystery(REDDEER.GAMES, 22nd Dec, $5.99) – If you like point and click adventure puzzle mystery games and narrative games with story mode – you’ve come to the right place. Unholy Adventure: Mystery is a point and click adventure game with hundreds of storyline puzzles. Each of our adventure point and click narrative story games is packed with mystery and secret stories.
What is Older?(SOURCE BYTE, 18th Dec, $2.99) – What is Older? is a fun, brain-teasing game where you choose which historical event, invention, or milestone happened first. From fire to smartphones, test your sense of time and chase the ultimate high score! Ever wondered if the wheel spun before the first pyramid was built? Or if cave paintings came before humans tamed dogs?
Woodle Tree Bundle(ChubbyPixel, 24th Dec, $15.99) – This bundle contains the first two set of Woodle Tree videogames! Woodle Tree Adventures, an old school platform game with a catchy and unique art style, and Woodle Tree 2: Worlds, an open world platformer/adventure game.
Zumba – Dragon’s Marble Trial(EpiXR, 18th Dec, $4.99) – Zumba – The Dragon’s Marble Trial invites you into an enchanting world where a charming dragon wields colorful marbles in mouth and tail! Pick a stage, aim your dragon-launched marbles at winding paths, and match three or more identical colors to trigger explosive combos before they invade your lair. Rack up high scores and up to three stars per level by clearing waves quickly and precisely.
What will you be downloading this week? (133 votes)
A-Train: All Aboard! Tourism Nintendo Switch 2 Edition3%
Cast n Chill – Nintendo Switch 2 Edition6%
Factorio – Nintendo Switch 2 Edition7%
System Shock (Switch 2)4%
Asphalt Champions0%
Auto Sport Racing Simulator0%
Battle Pixel0%
Big Trouble in Little Chimney0%
Cast n Chill (Switch 1)0.8%
Cat Girl Survivor0.8%
CloverPit Gamble0.8%
Clutchtime: Basketball Deckbuilder0.8%
Cosmic Arcade Tycoon0%
Crowded Mysteries 2: Winter Romance0%
Cup Heroes2%
Demonspire0.8%
Dive Expedition0.8%
EGGCONSOLE Yuureikun MSX20.8%
Electronics Puzzle Lab 1 & 2 Collection0%
Escape game R00M080.8%
Hidden Cats on Christmas0%
LuminousStoria0%
Monsters in Cards0%
Nordic Ashes: The Complete Saga0%
Oppidum0.8%
Raptor Evolution0.8%
Sheepy: A Short Adventure2%
Sports Challenge: 65 Games Edition0.8%
Super Ultimate Fighters X0%
System Shock (Switch 1)2%
The Days Without Gods0%
The Rogue Prince of Persia (Switch 1)2%
Timore 6: The Cadaver0%
Unholy Adventure: Mystery0%
What is Older?0%
Woodle Tree Bundle0%
Zumba – Dragon’s Marble Trial0.8%
Nothing for me this week32%
So that’s your lot for this week’s North American Nintendo Download. Go on, be a sport and drop a vote in the poll above, and comment below with your hot picks!
I absolutely adore the System Shock remake from Nightdive Studios. When it launched on the PS5 last year, this reimagining of Looking Glass’ 1994 classic was just about all I could think about for weeks on end thanks to its immersive gameplay, oppressive atmosphere, and stunning visuals that blend pixel-art textures with advanced lighting technology.
I do not, however, adore System Shock on the Switch 2. In fact, the game’s performance on Nintendo’s console is so poor at launch, I’d recommend giving it a wide berth for the time being.
Let’s start with the positives. In terms of content, everything from the PC and console release is retained here on the Switch 2 port. This is a strictly single-player narrative experience with three difficulty options available across four separate categories: Combat, Mission, Cyber, and Puzzle – lots to tinker with to suit your tastes, then.
Captured on Nintendo Switch 2 (Docked)
Your mission is to survive the horrors within Citadel Station and bring down the rogue AI, SHODAN. The station itself is separated into distinct floors, starting with Medical. You’ll need to explore each floor thoroughly, collecting audio logs, equipment, and weapons, while combating a plethora of cybernetic monstrosities. Although System Shock 2 is widely regarded as the spiritual predecessor to BioShock, you can still see the latter’s DNA in the original game, and Nightdive’s remake showcases it wonderfully. The audio logs, in particular, really help to provide key narrative context.
System Shock’s FPS gameplay is slow and methodical; you’ll inch your way around the station to get the drop on your enemies, while the in-game inventory will need frequent TLC to ensure you’re only carrying the essentials. Thankfully, any junk you do pick up on the way can be vaporised into scrap via the inventory screen. This can then be taken to designated locations in the station and swapped for cash.
You’re encouraged, then, to pick up as much stuff as you can and vaporise what you don’t actually need. This may prove tedious for some, but for me it was reminiscent of the attache case from Resident Evil 4, with larger items taking up more inventory slots. I enjoy the rhythmic maintenance required to keep it in tip-top shape.
Captured on Nintendo Switch 2 (Docked)
Weapons procured along the way do a good job at fending off enemies, and there’s a healthy mix of melee and projectile at your disposal. Ammo is quite scarce, so you’ll often find that using the wrench or pipe is a good option for some of the weaker foes, while stronger enemies will require beefier weaponry. Like most modern Nightdive games, gyro aiming is included for fine-tuning, but you can also tinker with its sensitivity in the options menu if you want a greater range of motion.
At various points during your stay at Citadel Station, you’ll also hack into Cyberspace terminals to access locked doors throughout each floor. The Cyberspace is a digital maze in which you fly around in first-person and shoot down colourful enemies. It’s a pretty psychedelic experience; one that Jeff Minter would be proud of, and the visuals on display are truly spectacular.
What’s even better is that these areas don’t outstay their welcome; the bulk of your time will be spent exploring the station, so when the Cyberspace sections do occasionally show up, they add a welcome dose of variety. Meanwhile, other puzzles on each floor are perhaps a bit closer to BioShock in their presentation, requiring you to rewire circuits to direct the flow of electricity and unlock new passageways. These are fun, if a bit throwaway.
Captured on Nintendo Switch 2 (Docked)
I’d love to end the review there and urge you to buy System Shock on Switch 2; fundamentally, it’s a great remake that remains faithful to the original while introducing a host of improvements for modern audiences. Unfortunately, the frame rate is absolutely all over the place and it ruins the experience. [Update: A delayed day one patch has been announced and is due before the end of December 2025 which, according to Nightdive, will aim to improve performance.]
Nightdive is gunning for 60fps here, but it almost never reaches its goal, and the unlocked frame rate results in some frequent, heavy drops while exploring. It makes basic aiming feel off all the time, and although gyro helps stabilise it somewhat, it’s still nowhere near as smooth as it should be.
It’s especially frustrating when you consider that System Shock would be the perfect showcase for mouse controls on the Switch 2. You can toggle this option for both normal exploration and the Cyberspace sections, and in theory it works really well. There’s very minimal input lag which, compared to the disastrous Skyrim port recently, is very welcome, while opening up the inventory screen immediately brings up an on-screen cursor to make management much easier.
Captured on Nintendo Switch 2 (Docked)
Again, however, even with the mouse controls, the frame rate suffers from frequent hitches that make it near-impossible to aim accurately. You’ll pan the camera around to get an enemy in your sights, but when the game tries to manage all the background visual information, it instantly judders, causing you to completely overshoot your mark. It’s extremely frustrating.
Curiously, the Cyberspace sections run perfectly – a solid 60fps with no noticeable drops. This is great, but as I mentioned earlier, these jaunts are few and far between, so the vast majority of System Shock is, sadly, plagued by poor performance. To be doubly sure that it wasn’t something iffy with my Switch 2, I transferred the game from the SD Express Card to the onboard memory – sadly, the issues remained unchanged, and a pre-release patch seemingly did nothing to smooth things out.
Coming from Nightdive, a team that prides itself on delivering slick gameplay experiences, this is a disappointing port, to say the least.
Conclusion
System Shock is, on paper, a brilliant remake that thoughtfully updates the 1994 original for modern systems, introducing both gyro aiming and mouse support along with a host of graphical upgrades. Unfortunately, the move over to the Switch 2 has tanked the performance, resulting in a game that never feels satisfying enough to play.
Should this get fixed in the future, it may well be worth investigating, but for now, you’ll be better off playing it on another platform.
Nihon Falcom and publisher GungHo Online Entertainment have confirmed that Trails in the Sky 2nd Chapter is coming to Switch 1 and Switch 2 in Fall 2026, around a year after the first.
That means those of you champing at the bit after that cliffhanger at the end of Trails in the Sky 1st Chapter (and the subsequent teaser after the credits roll), you don’t have too long to wait. If you haven’t played 1st Chapter and want to remain spoiler free, well… you should probably skip the trailer, and this story.
2nd Chapter kicks off pretty much right after the events of Estelle and Joshua’s first adventure. After getting entangled with the secret society of Ouroboros and the Enforcers, Estelle must search for her adoptive brother and best friend Joshua after he runs away.
The young bracer will team up with familiar faces as well as gain a few new companions — though long-time fans will recognise a few of these newcomers. New foes will make an appearance, too, and you’ll finally get to see more of Ouroboros, particularly after 1st Chapter.
The stakes are bigger, but this remake sticks to the same philosophy as the first; the beautiful 3D visuals and overhauled combat are back and present, as well as full English (and Japanese) voice acting.
So, after an extremely strong 2025 for Trails, 2026 is continuing the trend — Trails Beyond the Horizon, the next mainline game in the series, is out in January 2026 (published by NIS), with 2nd Chapter being the second game release.
We’ve known about 2nd Chapter for a little while, as Falcom revealed its existence in its Financial Report in September. But full confirmation of a release window is exactly what we wanted to close out the year.
Are you excited to return to Liberl in 2026 with Estelle? Let us know in the comments.
Feral Interactive had announced that GRID Legends: Deluxe Edition will be making its way to the Switch 2 in early 2026.
The enhanced port will boast improved optimisation with toggles for quality and performance modes, with further options for those in handheld mode. If you like taking your Switch 2 out and about, you can activate battery saver mode to make your gaming sessions last even longer.
An exact date has not yet been announced, but we do know that GRID Legend: Deluxe Edition will cost $39.99 / £24.99 €29,99 on release.
Here’s a look at the official description from Feral Interactive:
GRID Legends marks the return of Codemasters’ premium racing franchise to Nintendo as the much-anticipated sequel to the phenomenally successful GRID Autosport on Switch. GRID Legends is an all-out racer for Switch 2 that delivers pin-sharp visuals, great performance, and a huge range of cars that will go wheel-to-wheel in 10 high-octane motorsport disciplines across 24 stunning locations.
GRID Legends comes to Nintendo Switch 2 complete with all its DLC as the Deluxe Edition, adding Classic Car-Nage destruction derby, Drift and Endurance modes, new Career and Story events, and additional cars and tracks.
What do you make of this one, then? Are you tempted to pick it up? Let us know with a comment in the usual place.
This patch has now gone live, bumping the game up to Version 1.0.3. Once again, it comes with new challenges, quests, improved rewards, features (including new weapons and Unique Skills) and much more. Here’s the full rundown, via the official Nintendo support page:
Hyrule Warriors: Age of Imprisonment – Version 1.0.3 (17th December 2025)
Features added
Phantom Ganon:
Phantom Ganon is a new feature that randomly triggers in battles that you have completed. In battles where Phantom Ganon has triggered, a portion of the enemies that appear will have transformed into Vicious Enemies or Gloom Spawn.
In addition, when you defeat powerful enemies, there is a possibility that Phantom Ganon may appear. You will be able to acquire more Pure Zonaite Steel than in normal battles.
Forbidden Difficulty:
In the new Forbidden difficulty level, you can experience high-difficulty battles that are more challenging than the battles in Very Hard difficulty.
If you complete a certain number of battles on Forbidden difficulty, you will receive special rewards such as Pure Zonaite Steel or an increase in the number of Special Rations that can be held.
New challenges and quests added:
Similar to the first free update, this second update also adds multiple new challenges and quests to the Hyrule Map after the main game has been beaten.
Lizalfos and Chuchus appear as new Vicious Enemies.
The Tanagar Meditation Hall on the sky island is unlocked, and you will be able to perform a sync strike if you enter with two characters.
New Unique Skills added:
New unique skills have been added to the Mysterious Construct for its one-handed weapons, two-handed weapons, and spears.
With the one-handed weapon unique skill Shield Charge, you can break through dangerous attacks from charging enemies by raising your shield and stepping into them. Also, with correct timing against an enemy attack, you can deal a powerful spinning slash.
You can learn these skills by completing the challenges and quests that are added in this update.
New weapons added:
The Forbidden Blade, a one-handed weapon that was touched by Gloom and ominously transformed, was added. The Mysterious Construct and warriors of various peoples are able to equip it.
You can acquire this weapon by completing battles that are added in this update.
The battles below will be added as well:
Battles focused on the warriors.
A life-or-death struggle with a certain powerful enemy.
Improved Features
Aside Quests that involve sync strikes as a condition have been changed so that they can also be achieved by characters you are not controlling while performing sync strikes.
You can back out of bonus conversations in the Gallery with B Button.
Adjusted display conditions and frequency in Tutorials for Dodge and Guard.
When you have hit the upper limit of Zonaite Steel you can possess, you will be able to use the weapon enhancements below at the end of combat:
Raise Weapon-Level Limit
Remove Seals
Fixed Issues
Fixed an issue where, when assigning Electric Lizalfos parts to the Material Sensor, a battle in which Electric Lizalfos don’t appear (“Terror of the Sands”) could be tracked.
Fixed an issue where the Challenge “A Flash of Steel in the Desert“ would not appear until a number of other battles had been completed, even after all displayed requisite battles had been completed.
Fixed an issue where, during two-player split-screen play, the second player’s attack sounds and other sounds could not be heard.
Fixed an issue where, when assigning necessary materials to the Material Sensor (Assign to Sensor in Unlock Weapon Arts) a player would only be able to remove them from the sensor via the Materials screen.
You can find out more about this latest update for Hyrule Warriors: Age of Imprisonment in our previous post:
Will you be checking out this latest update? Tell us in the comments.
To comply with the Mobile Software Competition Act (MSCA), Apple is introducing changes to iOS that create new options for developers’ apps in Japan. Beginning with iOS 26.2, developers can distribute apps on alternative app marketplaces, operate alternative app marketplaces, process app payments for digital goods and services outside of Apple In-App Purchase in iOS, and more.
The new options for downloading apps from alternative app marketplaces and making app payments open new avenues for malware, fraud, scams, and privacy and security risks. Apple has worked with Japanese regulators to introduce protections from these new threats — with a special emphasis on the safety of younger users. Those protections include Notarization for iOS apps, an authorization process for app marketplaces, and requirements that help protect children from inappropriate content and scams.
By March 17, 2026, all current members of the Apple Developer Program will need to agree to the latest update to the Apple Developer Program License Agreement, which includes new terms that allow for these options in Japan.
And there you have it, folks — AdHoc Studio has confirmed that the eShop listing is true. Dispatch will indeed be coming to both Switch 1 and Switch 2 on 28th January 2026.
The game will cost$29.99, but from now until the release date, you’ll get a 10% discount, meaning it’s just $26.99. Not bad!
Original Story: Well, here’s a nice piece of news! Fresh off a couple of nominations at The Game Awards, it looks like AdHoc Studio’s superhero workplace comedy Dispatch will be flying onto Switch and Switch 2 early next year.
A surprise listing has popped up on the Australian eShop (thanks to Vooks for the heads up), displaying the game and a free Switch 2 upgrade with a planned 29th January release date.
And hey, this is good news! For those who missed out this year, Dispatch is a new comedy from the writers of Tales from the Borderlands and The Wolf Among Us. It sees you step into the shoes of Robert Robertson (superhero alias, Mecha Man), who’s forced to take a job in a superhero dispatch centre after his mech suit is destroyed in battle.
Strategically sending out supes is one thing, but a large part of the game is built around your decisions outside the action, with each choice having the potential to send the story in vastly different directions.
All of this is supported by a stacked voice cast, featuring the likes of Breaking Bad‘s Aaron Paul, The Batman‘s Jeffrey Wright, Cyberpunk 2077‘s Alanah Pearce, Critical Role‘s Matt Mercer, Laura Bailey and Travis Willingham and many, many more.
Here’s a rundown of the game’s key features and a handful of screenshots from the eShop listing:
> Shape the Story In Dispatch, every decision you make influences the unfolding narrative. From banter in the breakroom to life-or-death situations in the field, your choices affect your relationships with the heroes, their allegiances, and the path your own story takes.
> Deploy Your Heroes Use the strategy map to review ongoing emergencies and deploy the right (or wrong) heroes to deal with them. Balance the risks and rewards as you make tactical decisions, knowing that each choice can have lasting consequences for your team and the city.
> Manage Your Roster Managing heroes sometimes goes beyond their powers. Each hero comes with quirks, flaws, and baggage you’ll need to navigate to keep the team together. Upgrade their skills and unlock abilities to boost their effectiveness in the field.
Blending narrative, strategy, and humor, Dispatch explores what it means to be a hero, whether you’re wearing a cape or behind a desk.
Launching episodically earlier this year, Dispatch has gone on to rack up over 83,000 ‘Overwhelmingly Positive‘ reviews on Steam. Our good friends over at Push Square had this to say about the game’s PS5 release: “While it’s very light on meaningful gameplay, it tells a brilliantly paced, consistently entertaining superhero story that touches on some refreshingly adult themes”.
Will you be checking out Dispatch on Switch(2) next year? Let us know in the comments.
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