Yesterday, Smite 2 released their latest patch which moved the game from closed Alpha status to Beta and free to play. The patch also adds five new gods as well as the first designed from the ground up fully for the sequel, Aladdin. The Egyptian is highly mobile, can run along walls and structures, and of course carries his companion, the Genie. The Genie's three wishes include a chance for revival on death and can trap opponents in his lamp to create 1v1's. 

Aladdin joins the other four gods added with the patch: Geb - the Egyptian God of Earth, the Chinese Ascendant Warrior Mulan (it's a regular Disney animated reunion, amirite?), Agni of the Hindu Pantheon, and Ullr of Norse mythology. The patch also adds the gamemode Joust - a 3v3 mode focusing on fast paced, small-scale combat; and does so in a new map themed from the Arthurian legend.

Smite 2 is available for  PS5, Xbox Series, and PC via either Steam (it's also Steam Deck compatible) or Epic Games Store.

Sniping is almost a game within a game of most first person shooters. Rebellion wasn't the only developer that took that concept and fleshed it out into its own entire series, but they probably did it best incorporating stealth, small arms skirmishes, and deadly takedowns from the end of a sniper rifle with brutal killcams to boot. Sniper Elite: Resistance is the latest installment in the franchise, and sticking to their guns (pun definitely intended) the game takes stage during World War II. That conflict, as terrible as it was in reality, provides and endless stream of setting, circumstance, and feel to build out campaigns and draw in players with the tactile clang of bolt action rifles and the patient clanks of reloading the next round. 

This game takes place alongside the events from the most recent installment, Sniper Elite 5 from two years ago, but a new protagonist takes center stage deep undercover in occupied France. This time we leave Karl Fairburne, the star of 5 and other titles, to his actions in the concurrent game while marksman Harry Hawker is the story's lead. The campaign is fully playable solo or co-op and returns with Invasion Mode - the popular tweak to Sniper Elite 5 that lets you drop in to another player's game as an enemy sniper. There are other multiplayer modes available as well as a brand-new mode, Propaganda. Unlocked by finding hidden propaganda posters in the campaign you can jump in to quick fire challenges as a resistance fighter. 

Sniper Elite: Resistance is available for PS4 and PS5, Xbox One and Series X|S, and PC. The game releases in two weeks, January 30th. Pre-orders reward a bonus Target Führer campaign mission, a weapon skin, and unlocks the Karabiner 98 Rifle. Pre-ordering the Deluxe Edition also gains the classic M1911 Pistol and opens up early access to the game two days before release. 

Developer Goat Gamez and publisher Dear Villagers announced that Sports: Renovations, a simulator about fixing up old athletic facilities, will launch for PC, PlayStation 5, and Xbox Series on March 27^th. In Sports: Renovations, you’re not just engaging with the simulation, but also experiencing the memories and emotions of restoring the venues to their former glory while saving them from a local real estate agent. As such, you will uncover mementos and souvenirs as you work to clean, fix, and rebuild each facility.

As you progress, you will unlock a variety of tools and equipment, earn cash to expand your base of operations, and collect memorabilia for your personal trophy case. Each room unlocked at your base will come with new perks and upgrades, but sometimes will open a new side quest as well.

One fun fact about developer Goat Gamez – they were co-founded by Robert Lewandowski. Yes, I’m pretty sure it is Robert Lewandowski, the star Polish soccer player.

Publisher Daedalic Entertainment and developer Billionworlds are bringing 4X strategy game Yield! Fall of Rome to Steam on January 20^th, promising an accessible yet deep strategy experienced designed at its core for the Steam Deck. As a gamer that only plays PC games on Steam Deck, that is certainly music to my ears, but it also looks neat in action, as you can see in the new launch trailer.

Yield! Fall of Rome is a streamlined experience that focuses on making impactful choices and not requiring hours upon hours to learn how to play. It also features procedurally generated bite-sized campaigns to keep things fast and fresh. As far as modes are concerned, you can play solo, co-op, or in asynchronous multiplayer, which sounds interesting.

Sometimes games come along and just speak directly to you, which is to say that Yield! Fall of Rome has already hit my Steam wishlist.

BouncyBrain Studio has announced its debut title, a co-op roguelite beat ‘em up called FULL STEAM: Fluffy X Machina (FXM) where players control cute critter pilots and their mechs in a fight against an evil corporation in a diesel-punk setting. FXM does not have a release date but will launch on PC, Xbox Series X|S, PlayStation 5, and Nintendo Switch(es) when it is ready. A free demo will be hitting Steam soon as well.

BouncyBrain Studio was founded by Hollywood animation veterans with credits on films like Kung Fu Panda, The Mario Movie, and Minions. The team is tapping into that experience to provide a roguelite with charming characters and high-level voice performances. On the gameplay side of things, you can seamlessly jump between critter combat and mech combat, with new mechs unlocked by completing runs. If you get tired of wrecking the CPU, you can fight against three other players in a PvP arena battle mode.

Check out the announcement trailer below:

2K Sports and developer HB Studios have announced PGA Tour 2K25, the next entry in 2K’s golf simulation franchise, releasing February 28^th for Xbox Series X|S, PlayStation 5, and Steam. Tiger Woods headlines a trio of PGA Tour stars as cover athletes; he is joined by Max Homa and Matt Fitzpatrick.

For the first time in the series, the PGA Championship, U.S. Open, and The Open will all be available to play, as well as 29 licensed courses, including Oakmont Country Club, Quail Hollow Club, Royal Portrush Golf Club, and The Old Course at St. Andrews arriving post-launch. MyCAREER is still the main game mode, with improvements made to the EvoSwing system, including new shot types, ball flights, physics, and visuals. And of course, you can create your own custom MyPLAYER, which also sees improvements to the attribute points system, skill trees, and a new equipment progression system.

On the multiplayer front, cross-platform Societies are being introduced, which let you challenge your friends across several match types such as Stroke Play, Match Play, or Scramble, regardless of what platform they play on. Additionally, post-launch seasons and premium Clubhouse Passes will add even more courses, real-life pros, and equipment over time. A most welcome feature is that Clubhouse Passes will not expire, allowing you to progress through them at your own pace.

PGA Tour 2K25 comes in three editions – Standard, Deluxe, and Legend – which you can read more about below, but the biggest takeaway is that pre-ordering any version grants you Chris McDonald, otherwise known as Shooter McGavin from the film Happy Gilmore, as a playable character.

PGA TOUR 2K25 Standard Edition:

• Physical and digital versions for Xbox Series X|S and PlayStation®5 consoles, as well as the digital-only version for PC, include the base game;
• Players who pre-order any version of the Standard Edition will receive the Extra Butter x adidas Pack******, which includes playable character Chris McDonald, Shooter Collection Hat, Shooter Collection Jacket, and Shooter Collection Shoes;
• Players who pre-order the Standard Edition (digital) will receive the PGA TOUR 2K23 base game (digital)*******.

PGA TOUR 2K25 Deluxe Edition (available in digital format only):

• Available on Xbox Series X|S, PlayStation®5, and PC, includes the base game, as well as the Extra Butter x adidas Pack, the Birdie Pack, and the Starter Pack;
• The Birdie Pack includes a Titleist GT4 Driver, Titleist Golf Ball Cosmetic, Footjoy Premiere Series Shoes, Umbrella Hat, and 3 Golf Ball Fittings;
• The Starter Pack includes 1,800 VC (Virtual Currency), one Evo Tool, three Ball Fittings, five Club Fittings and 5 Level-Up Tokens;
• Players who pre-order any version of the Deluxe Edition will receive the PGA TOUR 2K23 base game (digital version only) and be entitled to seven days early access, allowing them to play the game beginning Friday, February 21, 2025.

PGA TOUR 2K25 Legend Edition (available in digital format only):

• Includes all the contents of the Standard and Deluxe Edition for the purchased platform;
• Includes the Member’s Pass – which unlocks the Clubhouse Pass Premium for the first five Seasons and the Clubhouse Gear Pack, which contains 1 outfit per body type per Season delivered at the start of each Season;
• Includes the Malbon Bucket Ball Pack - with three Malbon cosmetics balls
• Includes the Sun Day Red Pack – which includes the Red 3 Button Polo, Black Ballcap, Black Pants, White Gloves, and TaylorMade Driver Qi10;
• Players who pre-order any version of the Legend Edition will receive the PGA TOUR 2K23 base game (digital version only) and be entitled to seven days early access, allowing them to play the game beginning Friday, February 21, 2025

Today, oddly at 5:58pm EST, Mai Shiranui's gameplay trailer was released, and whomever out there is saying that Street Fighter 6 is dying has so much explaining to do. The trailer starts off with her against Chun Li, and has a special flair to it. Off the top, I'm wondering if this is coming in a new update to make it more personal between character matchups. Moving on, Mai comes out swinging, showing off what she's bringing over from the Fatal Fury universe. 

The Fan Toss is here, and can be thrown with a fire modifier. She can also lane change like Terry can. She has an air super, and fire modifiers for even more moves. Her critical art ends very cinematic, similar to Jamie's, and her win pose is going to test the wills of your eyeballs. I've watched the trailer too many times already. Street Fighter 6 is cooking, with the exception of no release date. YO NIPPONICHI! (Which is NOT "Me Bouncy", you nasty people)

Awesome Games Done Quick is a yearly fund raiser. The whole idea from it is to raise money to fight cancer, while watching users speed run games. But this isn't just beating Super Mario Bros. in under 5 minutes. This week long event is usually highlighted by some zany ways to speed run games. Someone beat Punch Out blindfolded. Someone else played NEW Super Mario Brothers, while playing the soundtrack to NEW Super Mario Bros. on the piano, with Joycon's strapped to his feet and head. And as cool as that was, what I discovered was absolutely insane. 

Chuckles825 introduces himself and tells us that he is going to play the Crazy Box game mode for Crazy Taxi for the Sega Dreamcast. Then he introduces us to the live band singing and playing the soundtrack LIVE. The Offspring and Bad Religion are represented here, and because I want you to watch the video, I won't give you too much more. However, the band even stops when the stage is complete, or at any failures, even in mid lyric. Check it out! And hopefully we'll get some new info on the new Crazy Taxi here soon. 

SMITE 2 is getting ready to finally enter it's free to play open beta and they recently had a big patch which added the returning Assault game mode, more SMITE 1 gods including Geb, Mulan, Ullr and Agni and a brand new updated Conquest map.

Today we get one final update before the big launch and it includes the new Joust game mode and the newest character to join the roster, Aladdin. Aladdin brings some game changing elements to the game and some abilities that weren't possible in the original SMITE. For starters he has a brand new movement ability with the ability to wall run and the idea behind his ultimate was basically "1v1 me bro" as he throws his genie lantern and traps himself and an enemy inside the lantern to have a 1v1 face off with an opponent. 

Also available today is the new Joust map with an Arthurian theme which looks amazing. Joust is a smaller 3v3 game mode with a single lane and a very small side jungle. The objective remains the same as you need to take down your opponents single tower, Phoenix and then their Titan for the win. 

SMITE 2 enters an open free to play beta tomorrow where everyone will be able to download and play the game for free without the need of an access key or by buying one of the Founder's packs. 

It's no secret that Marvel Rivals has taken the PvP world by...Storm. With the one time only paid for battle pass, two new characters, two new stages, and all the modes of a very good hero shooter, NetEase has done the impossible. They have struck gold. They're bringing more for you, too. They're not going to give you time to complain. 

Season 1, that's right, season ONE, brings you double the content from Season 0, and includes 10 costumes. Eternal Night Falls brings costumes from the Dark Hold, and also comes with a whole lot of sprays and emotes. Additionally, the Sanctum Sanctorum, and the Midtown Map are also here. It's the game that keeps on giving. Of course, completing the battle pass gets you some of the in game currency back, to buy even more. Marvel Rivals is killing it. If you haven't played it yet, I really think you should.