Code Vein II Tells A Time-Traveling Story That Will Tug On Your Heartstrings

We recently had a chance to play the next Code Vein game during The Game Awards, and we were really impressed. The combat feels much smoother, and the new way they handle summoning is a fresh take on a familiar idea. But the biggest surprise was the story – it’s genuinely moving. The first Code Vein was good, but this sequel suggests the series has truly found its footing.

Code Vein II may just be succeeding for me where the original failed

We recently got to play a two-hour demo of the game on a standard PlayStation 5, around the same time as The Game Awards. The demo included the beginning of the game, a section later on, and two boss battles, both of which we really liked. A big reason for this was the improved character customization. The game still uses Blood Codes, but they’ve been updated to give you more freedom in how you build your character. Now, you can use any weapon with any Blood Code, though some combinations will naturally be more effective than others based on their stats.

Sega co-founder David Rosen dies aged 95

As a long-time fan of classic arcade games, I was really saddened to hear about the passing of Bernie Rosen. He was a huge part of getting Sega off the ground in the early days, and honestly, he helped build the entire Japanese arcade scene after the war – which eventually led to the global gaming industry we know and love today. He passed away peacefully in Los Angeles on December 25th, 2025, at the age of 95, surrounded by his family, according to RePlay Magazine. It’s a real loss for all of us who grew up enjoying the games he helped bring to life.

007 First Light Has Been Delayed

Late last month, Hakan Abrak from IO Interactive described their new 007 game, First Light, as their most ambitious project yet, promising classic Bond elements like exciting car chases, cool gadgets, and adventures in locations around the world. He also announced the game’s delay, explaining that the extra time will allow them to deliver a polished, high-quality experience for players from the start.

Reminiscence of Gusuku: Card and Explore launches for PC via Steam on January 9

Okay, so I’m dropped onto this island called Gusuku, and it’s totally overrun with monsters. The whole game revolves around card battles – you build a deck and fight with it. Luckily, I can get new cards by winning battles or stumbling across events. And it’s not just me against the world; I’ll meet some friendly characters along the way who’ll help me out in different ways, even if they’re not directly fighting with me.