Another live service game is getting the plug pulled on future content and Rocksteady have announced that Suicide Squad: Kill the Justice League's next update and character, Deathstroke, in January 2025 will be the final content drop for the game. That was the bad news however there was some really good news with this announcement as well. 

The good news is that the game will be getting an offline mode. This means that players will be able to enjoy all of the content in the game including the main story campaign, characters, updates, missions and more without needing an internet connection, at least after the update is downloaded. Rocksteady states that they do not have plans on ending support for online servers at this time so playing online and online co-op will still be available for the time being. This will be great for when the servers inevitably do come offline one day in terms of games preservation as players will be able to download and play the game in the future and enjoy all the content in a single player offline mode. 

Sadly this news doesn't come as a surprise as the game seems like it's been on life support ever since it was released. At the same time this really seems like once again Publishers not being able to read the room and chasing after that live service money with online games that fans weren't asking for in the first place. 

A full blog about Deathstroke, offline mode along with an FAQ can be found on their official website.

If you're all about attacking the darkness, then you should be rolling initiative against Elemental Evil. In the Dungeons & Dragons 2024 Dungeon Master's Guide, the included Greyhawk campaign setting comes with three primary enemies:

• Chromatic Dragons: red, green, blue, black, white
• Iuz the Evil, a cambion demigod super bad guy
• Elemental Evil, a classic, faceless adversary

Two out of three bad guys in Greyhawk apparently show up with "Evil" already in the name. Perfect. It's good to fight the good fight against black-and-white evil. None of this tiring shades-of-gray kind of villain, which has finally been done to death.

Just kidding. It's still a good trope. Someone named Iuz the Evil that is maybe not entirely evil? Chromatic dragons that play against type? And what if the Elemental Evil in your game tells a complex story that doesn't fit neatly inside of an alignment chart? It's your game, Dungeon Master. Though it sounds like designer Chris Perkins wants to assure you that at least Iuz and all of his followers are evil and beyond redemption. 

Elemental Evil is a "classic, faceless adversary" in Greyhawk. It's perpetuated by secret cults operating underground, learning evil lore, and doing their best to reintroduce these evils to the world of Greyhawk wherever possible. This elemental evil is made up of demon lords, primordial beings, and other nihilistic beings that just want to watch the world burn. 

If you're wondering whether or not the new Dungeon Master's Guide is for you, by virtue of the fact that you're even wondering about that question means the answer is: yes. That's just how it works sometimes. Becoming a Dungeon Master in the first place often means you're the only person willing to do it. Don't worry. The new DM's Guide is written for you.

Skip to 11:35 in the video below if you'd like to get straight to the Elemental Evil discussion over at Wizards of the Coast.

Imagine Ready or Not in the perspective and style of Hotline Miami. Now open your eyes, and what you have is Phantom Squad from developer CTRL Freak and publisher Super Rare Originals. I haven’t played it, so I’m not saying it is as good as either of those games (yet), but at first glance, the top-down tactical shooter passes the eye test. Phantom Squad has a vague 2025 release window currently, but a free demo is currently available on Steam through December 16^th.

In Phantom Squad, a team of one to four players work to complete intense missions using proper planning, strategy, and equipment. Prior to each mission you can scout routes, enemy locations, and objectives to be as efficient as possible. Stealth is advisable, with the goal being to craft and execute the perfect tactical plan. But when you and your team are compromised, all hell (and I mean all hell) breaks loose.

I’m keen to check this one out. Take a look at some of the key features and new gameplay trailer below:

Gameplay Features

• Planning & Strategy - Scout routes, mark objectives and set and exit points before each mission. Engage in direct combat or prioritise stealth, you call the shots on how to finish the job. 
• Real-Time Tactics - Issue real-time commands to the squad, directing them to take cover, hold positions, and engage specific enemies. Your commands can ensure your squad finishes the mission intact, or put them in the enemy's line of fire.
• Gadgets & Equipment  - Utilize cameras, door wedges and other specialised tools in the Phantom Squad’s arsenal to transform how each mission plays out, giving the squad options beyond direct confrontation and rewarding careful use of resources. 
• Co-op Teamwork - Join other players online to form the optimal Phantom Squad. Each member of the squad has a specialised role, making team composition key to executing specific strategies

Not sure if this one was flying under the radar or just the GN radar but I can announce not only that Dog Man: Mission Impawsible is bringing the popular Dave Pikey comic into the world of video games, but it's even out already! My elementary school-aged kid loves the Dog Man comics and we're already penciled in to see the upcoming film when it hits theaters in January and now all the platforms are getting the action platformer game in time for the holidays. 

The game appropriately brings the Supa Buddies lineup to the screen with Dog Man, Lil' Petey, and 80-HD donning their alter-egos as The Bark Knight, Cat Kid, and Lightning Dude. Players make use the teamwork and various heroes' abilities to traverse and problem solve the levels. 

• 50 Levels of Adventure – Embark on a journey through Dog Man’s world, packed with platforming challenges across familiar locales.
• Supa Buddy Teamwork – Swap between Dog Man, Li’l Petey, and 80-HD to unleash their Supa Buddy forms: The Bark Knight, Cat Kid, and Lightning Dude.
• Unlockable Gadgets – Discover new gadgets like rocket boots and grappling hooks to navigate and uncover secrets in each level.
• Replayability and Collectibles – Revisit levels with new abilities to access hidden areas, rescue Comic Club members, and earn more rewards.
• Comic-Inspired Animation – Enjoy animation pulled directly from Pilkey’s iconic style, with comic sound effects and visual humor.

Dog Man: Mission Impawsible is out for PS4 and PS5, Xbox One and Series X|S, Switch, and PC. 

Well, it doesn't get much better than that headline. I didn't get into any of the betas for Marvel Rivals, though we were supposed to do a Gaming Nexus plays, but all kinds of busy work was in the way. Needless to say that this was my first time playing Marvel Rivals, for launch, and I have some...thoughts. 

The great news is that yes, all 33 heroes are available. The game is free to play, so you don't even need a battle pass. If you do get one, it's one and done. You never have to pay for a battle pass again. Everything here for purchase is cosmetic, from the banners, to the animated intros. You don't have to spend a dime on this game. The opening chapter is called Doom's Rise, and yes...it's about the multiverse. The game is available for Steam and Epic Game Store, Xbox Series, and the Playstation 5. Season 0 is a month long, and also launches with 8 maps for Quick Match and competitive, and even practice modes for all around, and per character. 

Twitch Drops, and even a Iron Man costume is available now, and NetEase promises more through out the season. There's even a soundtrack on Spotify and Apple Music. There was no problem getting into the game, nor were there hardly any wait times. Of course, this season 0, so people are already saying (insert character here) is broken. Regardless, Marvel and NetEase went all out here.

I tend to worry about live service games presently. Suicide Squad, (who just announced Season 4?), Concord, Redfall, and now Xdefiant are all going or gone. And Marvel Rivals is...well let me just rip the band-aid off...Marvel's Overwatch. Punisher sounds a LOT like Soldier 76, and even the cooldown sounds are the same. It is a fun game. I just hope that Blizzard let's NetEase ease into the hero shooter foray. Otherwise, it's going to be Nintendo VS Palworld all over again. 

Free-to-play gacha game Zenless Zone Zero is introducing massive changes to multiple systems with its version 1.4 update on December 18^th. The ZZZ team at HoYoverse revealed the changes in a lengthy livestream today, which you can see an abbreviated version of below. The update is so big, that even the TL;DR version is nearly nine-minutes long, just to give you an idea of how much is being touched in 1.4.

For starters, the main story will push aside the TV mode feature in lieu of more immersive combat and exploration experiences. This essentially solves my biggest issue with the game – it was too busy talking to me about the narrative rather than letting me enjoy its top-tier gameplay. The TV sequences can still be experienced, should you choose, so don’t fret.

A couple of other highlights include the introduction of two new agents – Hoshimi Miyabi and Asaba Harumasa – with an S-tier version of the latter being given to players for free. Additionally, two new areas are being added – Port Elpis and Reverb Arena – as well as a new free roam mode, a dating feature, and much more. Zenless Zone Zero is also adding support for PlayStation 5 Pro to include native 4K resolution and 60 frames per second with ray tracing and some other graphical bells & whistles.

For a full rundown, check out the 1.4 teaser trailer:

Canadian indie studio Paper Cult, the developer of Bloodroots, has revealed a new gameplay trailer for its medieval hack ‘n slash roguelike game called Tears of Metal, which is set to launch for PC in 2025. After watching the trailer, I think we can safely call this a Scottish musou game – and it looks wonderful.

In Tears of Metal, you’ll fight through hordes of enemies to reclaim your island with the assistance of your battalion of Scottish warriors. During each run, you can give your troops permanent upgrades as they gain experience and level up. Choose wisely, however, because if they die in battle, they are gone forever. You yourself will also be able to choose from several playable heroes and combinations of powerful upgrades. In addition to improving yourself and your troops between runs, you will also be able to expand your settlement to unlock new shops, or even greater challenges. And finally, Tears of Metal can be played solo or with friends in co-op, though I can’t seem to find how many players it supports.

Publisher NetEase Games has revealed a new gameplay trailer for its free-to-play open-world PRG ANANTA, which was previously known as Project Mugen. Originally announced in 2023, the RPG looks incredible in this new trailer, featuring all manner of activities to engage in. I’ve seen some people refer to it as “anime GTA” on social media, and honestly, it’s kind of hard to argue with that.

ANANTA lets players explore Nova City as an agent of the Anti-Chaos Directorate (anti agent of chaos) where you can expect to encounter interesting characters, exhilarating action RPG-style combat, car chases, and…toilets racing through the streets. It also features elements of life sim games as well, with opportunities to enjoy life in the urban environment, including visiting the Whalebone Library or partying at the Sonic Boom Club.

You really need to see the new trailer below to truly appreciate how good the game looks. If it grabs your attention, you can pre-register now over on the game’s website. There's no release date yet, but ANANTA will come to PC, PlayStation, and mobile platforms.

Highly anticipated Middle Ages RPG, Kingdom Come: Deliverance II, has released a new story trailer which sets the stage for the upcoming sequel. In addition, developer Warhorse Studios and publisher PLAION announced that the game is releasing one week earlier, now launching on February 4^th. KC:D2 has also gone gold, which means primary development is complete and the studio is in the bug-squashing sprint to the finish line.

The new trailer shows us what a mess protagonist Henry finds himself in. Surrounded by political conspiracies amid seeking justice for the murder of his parents, his journey in the sequel looks to be an epic one, where your choices as the player will have massive consequences.

Lastly, Warhorse Studios has revealed the specs for both PC and consoles:

PC Specifications

Console Specifications

Yellow Brick Games, a new independent studio based in Canada, announced that its action RPG Eternal Strands is set to launch on January 28^th for PC, PlayStation 5, and Xbox Series X|S, and Xbox Game Pass. They also announced a free post-launch collaboration between Square Enix’s Creative Studio III (Final Fantasy 14 and 16) that will feature a new boss creature, new weapons, and new armor set.

In Eternal Strands you play as Brynn, a warrior with the ability to bend the environment and elements to her will to take down enemies. Light things on fire, freeze enemies in place, or throw just about any object with telekinesis thanks to an advanced physics system. As you explore the gorgeous world, you will encounter colossal enemies that will require ingenuity in battle to defeat them.

Check out the new release date trailer below: