Dailyposts

With Fortnite Chapter 7 Season 1 , there is a new map, which means new characters . source https://www.polygon.com/fortnite-character-locations-specialist-chapter-7-c7s1/

Jeremy Jordan and Christian Borle face off in Vox Populi at the end of season 2. source https://www.polygon.com/video/hazbin-hotel-vox-populi-sam-haft-interview/

The Fortnite Chapter 7 Season 1 battle pass goes Battlewood as it features iconic characters from hit movies and a few skins with a West Coast style. source https://www.polygon.com/fortnite-chapter-7-season-1-battle-pass-skins-list/

Fortnite Chapter 7 Season 1 , also known as Pacific Break , is officially here, and you'll explore the Golden Coast, which is based off of the west side of the United States. source https://www.polygon.com/fortnite-chapter-7-season-1-pacific-break-map-weapons-loot-poi/

Pokémon Go is having a Pikipek Community Day event on Sunday, Nov. 30 from 2-5 p.m. in your local time. source https://www.polygon.com/pokemon-go-pikipek-community-day-shiny-toucannon-moveset/

Stranger Things is finally gearing up for its swan song, with season 5 rolling out in two parts: one arriving this Thanksgiving week, the other on New Year’s Day. It’s wild to think how far the series, and its once-preteens stars, have come since its 2016 premiere. Those fresh-faced kids are now bona fide movie stars, Millie Bobby Brown is married, and the show’s place in pop culture is all but cemented (see: Netflix’s plans for multiple spinoffs). Though it’s widely celebrated for its '80s-infused, coming-of-age sci-fi flair, many have forgotten that the series’ central character pulls from an anime you might not expect. source https://www.polygon.com/stranger-things-anime-the-duffer-brothers-eifen-lied-akira/

I think way too much about one of my favorite PlayStation 4 exclusives from a decade ago. source https://www.polygon.com/the-order-1886-wishing-for-a-sequel-decade-later/

Vampires, in literature and folklore, were much like zombies, fairies, and other monsters. They hurt people and drank blood because that's just what they existed to do. They were creatures people should fear, not complex beings with personalities and motivations to build a story around. Bram Stoker's Dracula (the actual character Dracula, not Francis Ford Coppola's Bram Stoker's Dracula ) marked a turning point in vampire storytelling, as his Dracula is a lot like your stereotypical depiction of a callous aristocrat: entitled, selfish, prone to wrecking things just to satisfy some whim or urge. Good versions of Dracula hone in on those and other pieces of his personality, like his menace or seductiveness, and do something worthwhile with them. That includes Castlevania 's take on Dracula, which, despite being a story-light video game series, often gets the vampire villain right in ways that films struggle with. source https://www.polygon.com/castlevania-dracula-a...

Composer Sam Haft reveals an Easter Egg in Sir Pentious' song, Live to Live, as performed by Alex Brightman. source https://www.polygon.com/video/sir-pentious-alex-brightman-song-season-2-hazbin-hotel/

Black Friday is here, meaning now is your best chance to save some cash when picking up the best games of the year. Not sure what the best games are? Look no further than The Game Awards, which revealed its nominees Nov. 17. While the nominating body ultimately snubbed some of our favorites , the whole swath of nominees presents a great snapshot of the best of the best for 2025. source https://www.polygon.com/game-awards-tga-nominees-black-friday-sales-discounts/

This Black Friday season is a bit of a godsend for gamers. With hardware costs rising in 2025 and games now flirting with $80 price points, we were in need of a big sales event to help make the holidays a little more affordable. While this year’s Black Friday won’t do much to bring down the cost of a Nintendo Switch 2, it will at least give you a break if you’re trying to catch up on games or nab some accessories for your consoles. source https://www.polygon.com/black-friday-gaming-deals-2025/

With Christmas coming up, it's always a great idea to take advantage of the Black Friday sale and grab the video games you've missed out on. And if that's Final Fantasy VII Rebirth , then you're in luck. source https://www.polygon.com/square-enix-black-friday-deals-ff7-rebirth/

Disney’s animated sequel Zootopia 2 has a post-credits scene, and it isn’t a blink-and-you’ll-miss-it moment, either: It’s simultaneously a capper on the movie’s events, a direct callback to the first Zootopia , and a playful tease at the possible focus of Zootopia 3 . Disney hasn’t green-lit another Zootopia sequel yet, though Zootopia 2 ’s promisingly energetic early box-office performance and Disney’s sequel obsession all but guarantee a third movie will eventually be made. Zootopia and Zootopia 2 co-directors Jared Bush (also Disney’s current chief creative officer) and Byron Howard tell Polygon they think the Zootopia setting has “endless” potential for sequels. source https://www.polygon.com/zootopia-2-post-credits-scene-explained-director-interview-sequel/

Pokémon Go trainers will be able to experience everything the Kalos region has to offer next year thanks to the upcoming Pokémon Go Tour: Kalos. Announced Wednesday, the celebrationwill first have two in-person events in late February, followed by a global one in which all players can participate. Special shiny Pokémon, Mega Pokémon, and more will be a part of the event. source https://www.polygon.com/pokemon-go-tour-2026-kalos-event/

You thought you’d never see the day, but as the Super Mario 64 to PS1 port proves, nothing is impossible in the eyes of a fearless modder. Nintendo’s Super Mario classic, originally released in 1996 on the Nintendo 64 console, can now be played on a PlayStation — or a PlayStation 1 emulator, rather. source https://www.polygon.com/super-mario-64-playstation-port/

Rian Johnson ’s Knives Out movies play great with a crowd. They’re crafted with the kind of attention to visual scheme and clever writing that rewards a big-screen experience. That said, they’re also an easy fit for Netflix’s stubbornly streaming-forward model — not because they look or act like TV movies (though television does have a rich whodunit history, as Johnson himself has tapped into with his Peacock series Poker Face ) but because for so many people, murder mysteries are perfect cozy entertainment for a night on the couch. That’s still probably true of Wake Up Dead Man , the third installment in the series starring Daniel Craig as dryly eloquent Southern detective Benoit Blanc. But Johnson also challenges the coziness of his own creation by bringing some horror back into the subject of serial murders. source https://www.polygon.com/wake-up-dead-man-netflix-review/

Let’s start with a confession: I downloaded Winter Burrow based on its looks (and Game Pass availability), and nothing more. Sometimes I need some convincing to play a certain game, but other times, one glance at an image of an adorable snow-shoe-wearing mouse in a winter wonderland will do the trick. Just look at that adorable knitted cap, tough-as-nails facial expression, and homely little house! How could anyone resist? source https://www.polygon.com/winter-burrow-cozy-game-impressions/

The top prize of the night is, of course, Game of the Year — and there are clear indicators of what makes a Game of the Year at The Game Awards , based on eleven years of data. We used these metrics to correctly predict last year’s winner, Astro Bot . We also used them to correctly call all six nominees for Game of the Year, which were announced alongside all the other categories on Nov. 17. Below, we pick the likely winner and rank the rest of the six nominees in order of their likeliness to win. The latter part is somewhat arbitrary, as this year there is a very, very clear favorite. We’ll find out whether there will be a shock upset at The Game Awards on Dec. 11. source https://www.polygon.com/awards/546327/game-of-the-year-game-awards-2025-frontrunners/

The last Far Cry game the audience ventured into was Far Cry 6 , which featured Giancarlo Esposito as the antagonist, Antón, and was released back in Oct. 6, 2021. As a series, it's known for embracing violence and madness with equal glee, all while telling captivating, politically driven stories. No wonder then that FX's new order for a Far Cry anthology series pulled in two creators whose work has embodied all of those things. source https://www.polygon.com/far-cry-tv-series-hulu-alien-earth/

That number will soon grow to two with Scott Pilgrim EX . The latest game from Tribute Games, the team behind Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: Shredder’s Revenge , is something of an unofficial follow-up to 2010’s Scott Pilgrim vs. The World: The Game . It’s an old-school beat-’em-up built from chunky pixel art, just like the games that inspired the comics. As a studio that’s built its name on paying respects to the 8-bit era of gaming, Tribute Games wasn’t going to miss its shot to go full homage mode. source https://www.polygon.com/scott-pilgrim-ex-art-interview/

When Jesper Myrfors posted a short “for the record” post on Facebook shortly before Halloween, he didn’t expect it to go viral. He certainly didn’t expect a screenshot of it to blow up on the r/magicTCG subreddit to the tune of 2,600 upvotes. source https://www.polygon.com/mtg-the-dark-31-years-satanic-panic/

The fifth episode of It: Welcome to Derry is jam-packed with new information, and the show's clearest look at Bill Skarsgård as Pennywise yet . Still, with so much baked into one episode, one of the more subtle reveals could have been missed entirely, and it's something that needs to be discussed. source https://www.polygon.com/welcome-to-derry-episode-5-ingrid-mrs-kersh-madeleine-stowe/

The hottest new tabletop role-playing game on Backerkit is without a doubt Twilight Sword , a new venture from Italian studio Two Little Mice (2LM). Since launching on Nov. 20, the game smashed through its €10,000 fundraising goal, raising more than €300,000 in 24 hours. source https://www.polygon.com/twilight-sword-backerkit-zelda-inspirations/

A faint light glows from the back of a medieval tavern, with a crowd of people huddled around it. They’re all watching one of the patrons at a mysterious machine, built perhaps by a madman or a wizard, enthralled as the contraption whirs its gears at each pull of the lever. Suddenly, the crowd erupts in cheers — they’ve rolled a critical hit! source https://www.polygon.com/slots-daggers-slay-the-spire-impressions/

Hazbin Hotel creator Vivienne Medrano says Lute's conclusion is yet to come. source https://www.polygon.com/video/hazbin-hotel-lute-season-2/

If Rockstar uses anything from Red Dead Redemption 2 in GTA 6 , I hope it's the camp feature. Or multiple camp features, one for each protagonist — a club, a "home base," something that roots Lucia and Jason in Leonida more firmly. "Why're you talking about this now? GTA 6 is still so far away," you might say. But look, between the delay news and the Red Dead Redemption port announcement that came shortly after, it just got me thinking about what GTA could stand to borrow from Red Dead (other than better satire ). source https://www.polygon.com/gta-6-red-dead-redemption-2-camp/

The Game Awards announced its 2025 nominees for Game of the Year on Monday, and while it’s safe to say that 2025 will go down as a banner year, there was one glaring omission. Like many fans of puzzle games, I raised an eyebrow at Blue Prince ’s absence from the list. Back in March, I started my adventure through Mt. Holly estate. I explored every room, scrutinized each miniscule detail, reached the alluring Room 46, and the next thing I knew, it was already late April (in the real world, not in-game). source https://www.polygon.com/blue-prince-goty-localization-sequel/

At this point, L. Frank Baum’s The Wizard of Oz is better known for its adaptations than the core text. MGM’s 1939 classic The Wizard of Oz, starring Judy Garland, continues to inspire countless films (and is currently filling The Sphere in Las Vegas). But reimaginings like The Wiz , starring Dianna Ross and Michael Jackson, and Wicked , starring Ariana Grande and Cynthia Erivo, have proved just as popular. But anyone who thinks they’ve seen it all when it comes to takes on Oz really owes it to themselves to see the 1982 anime version. I was not prepared for the mind-melting that was to come. source https://www.polygon.com/the-wizard-of-oz-1982-anime-movie-review-fever-dream/

A version of this review was published in conjunction with the world premiere of Sisu: Road to Revenge at Fantastic Fest in September 2025. It has been updated for the film's theatrical release. source https://www.polygon.com/sisu-road-to-revenge-review/

It’s a big week for horror at home as The Conjuring: Last Rites , which had the biggest opening weekend in horror movie history, lands on streaming for the first time on HBO Max. Good Boy , a haunted house story from the perspective of a dog, comes home to Shudder. source https://www.polygon.com/new-movies-on-streaming-the-conjuring-last-rites-blue-beetle/

Extraction shooters are all the rage right now, with Arc Raiders putting up ridiculous numbers on Steam — and for good reason, just check out our review — while Escape From Tarkov , the grandaddy of the genre, has just been released on Steam. source https://www.polygon.com/pubg-black-budget-alpha-playtest-arc-raiders-competitor/

Dan Trachtenberg ’s Predator: Badlands is a Predator movie like no other, and not just because it broke box-office records for the franchise : This time, a Predator (or Yautja, as they call themselves) is the protagonist. Dek (Dimitrius Schuster-Koloamatangi), described as the “runt” of his Yautja clan, has to prove himself to his fearsome father (Reuben De Jong) in order to claim his name and his place on his homeworld, Yautja Prime. That quest involves a journey to a different planet, a battle against a fearsome monster, and an alliance with a synthetic human, Thia (Elle Fanning). It also involves facing off against his father in the film’s finale. source https://www.polygon.com/predator-badlands-original-ending-behind-the-scenes-interview/

Since 2018, Tabletop Vacations has been organizing immersive events where professional dungeon masters run Dungeons & Dragons games in historic castles in England and the Landoll’s Mohican Castle resort in the United States. The all-inclusive trips are popular with forever DMs who have few opportunities to actually play the game, and they often want to ask the pros for advice on everything from improv to puzzle design to handling difficult situations at the table. So the organizers began thinking of a way to answer those questions and came up with the concept of Dungeon Master University , which will hold its first session Jan. 2-3, 2026 at Oglethorpe University in Atlanta. source https://www.polygon.com/dungeon-master-university-keith-baker-monte-cook/

Kirby Air Riders is an extremely unique racing game, as the meat of the game isn't its actual racing game mode, but the City Trial mode that shoves you onto a huge island to collect buffs and items before you have to complete a minigame challenge. This game is chaotic, as your vehicles (called "machines") can get fast and out of control very quickly — but that's part of the charm. source https://www.polygon.com/kirby-air-riders-beginners-tips-tricks-city-trial-road-trip/

Struggling to learn your way around all the Black Ops 7 multiplayer maps ? Even though the game has gone back to a three-lane map design philosophy , and as outlined in our Black Ops 7 multiplayer review , the maps this time around are actually very good. Learning new maps can be a pain — especially when you consider where various objectives will be in any given mode, such as bomb sites in Search & Destroy or flags in Domination. source https://www.polygon.com/map/call-of-duty-black-ops-7-blops-multiplayer-interactive-maps/

Sharpen your katana, because Ghost of Yōtei is set to give you a reason to head back to Ezo for another revenge-filled journey. Sucker Punch Productions and Sony Interactive Entertainment announced Wednesday the open-world adventure will receive a New Game Plus mode on Nov. 24. as part of a free patch. source https://www.polygon.com/ghost-of-yotei-new-game-plus-mode/

Guillermo del Toro and James Cameron’s friendship is one of Hollywood’s purest, and recently, del Toro shared a brief story about when the two bunked together. source https://www.polygon.com/guillermo-del-toro-james-cameron-alita-battle-angel-gunnm/

Last week, the monkey’s paw curled for Metroid fans. After years of waiting, we finally got extensive gameplay impressions for Metroid Prime 4: Beyond and a host of new details ahead of its Dec. 4 release. Previews painted a picture of a traditional Metroidvania cut from the same cloth as the original GameCube classic. But there was a big surprise: It introduces a new character in Myles MacKenzie , a quippy nerd from the Galactic Federation who Samus must assist during her mission. All hell broke loose from there. source https://www.polygon.com/metroid-prime-4-beyond-myles-mackenzie-npcs/

We'd sit on the floor, looking up at the massive living room TV, completing every box on the in-game checklist of achievements. Once we were done, we moved the save file onto my memory card (Remember when you could do that!?), and spent hours upon hours roleplaying different scenarios on the various maps in the game, soaring around on Flight Warp Star, and seeing how quickly we could expertly collect both legendary machines in one City Trial round. source https://www.polygon.com/kirby-air-riders-review/

Ubisoft’s free-to-play fighting game Brawlhalla has been declining in popularity after more than 10 years, but the publisher is looking to cultivate a new audience with the release of Brawlhalla: The Card Game , which kicks off a crowdfunding campaign on Kickstarter Nov. 18. source https://www.polygon.com/brawlhalla-card-game-kickstarter-maestro-media/

The Game Awards nominees have landed, and six games will jostle for the prized Game of the Year honor: Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 , Death Stranding 2: On the Beach , Donkey Kong Bananza , Hades 2 , Hollow Knight: Silksong , and Kingdom Come: Deliverance 2 . This year’s nominees have made history for the award show, now over a decade old, with multiple indie games vying for the top prize for the first time. source https://www.polygon.com/clair-obscur-expedition-33-sandfall-indie-the-game-awards-nominations/

The saying “never meet your heroes” has never applied to me more than when it comes to Harry Potter . As a kid, I floated along the series’ whimsy and matured alongside Harry, year by year. As an adult, I came to understand that J.K. Rowling's worldviews clashed with the expectations I had formed from her early writing. source https://www.polygon.com/harry-potter-goblet-of-fire-movie-20-anniversary-voldemort-better-book/

With Thanksgiving just around the corner, so comes the reveal of some of the balloons that will take part in the 99th Macy's Thanksgiving Day parade. KPop Demon Hunters fans are in for a treat, with Derpy Tiger and Sussie both planned to make an appearance. The parade takes place in New York City every year, with different balloons across a range of pop-culture media (varying from SpongeBob to Scooby-Doo and even anime such as Dragon Ball and One Piece ) making appearances. source https://www.polygon.com/kpop-demon-hunters-macys-thanksgiving-balloons-pictures/

Critical Role came out swinging from the get-go, with its new dungeon master Brennan Lee Mulligan introducing the epic new world of Aramán, with all the bells and whistles expected from a fantasy Dungeons & Dragons campaign. With its 13-player cast however, the group has adapted a West Marches -style approach, splitting the players into three different groups after its four-episode overture. source https://www.polygon.com/critical-role-campaign-4-episode-6-soldiers-starting-point/

*Ahem* source https://www.polygon.com/marvels-deadpool-vr-review/

Kingdom Come: Deliverance 2 contains all the necessary ingredients of a great RPG: A brilliant story, captivating side quests, a gorgeous open world, and wonderful characters who frequently belt out inspiring quotes like “Time to get boozing,” “Not every man of Hungary is a crazy fuck,” and “Are you yanking my noble pizzle?” But where another RPG might’ve been content with those ingredients and declared the game finished, Kingdom Come: Deliverance 2 went a couple of steps (or miles) further and presented a world that’s not just meant to be played in, but lived in. source https://www.polygon.com/kingdom-come-deliverance-2-best-rpg-2025/

If you’ve spent time in YouTube’s puzzle scene, you’ve probably encountered Fleb, whose gentle sense of humor and analytical mind made him a perfect guide to the history of brain-teasers . Strange Jigsaws feels like the ultimate distillation of that brain: a game that starts with jigsaw puzzles and then gleefully mutates them into something much weirder and funnier. source https://www.polygon.com/strange-jigsaw-fleb-interview/

Vivziepop discusses the role of the divine in her hit animated series. source https://www.polygon.com/video/god-hazbin-hotel-season-two-vivienne-medrano-interview/

After Walt Disney’s 1966 death, Walt Disney Productions went through a period of decline , with many of its releases getting beaten at the box office by Universal Pictures movies like The Land Before Time and An American Tale . The studio turned things around with the 1989 release of The Little Mermaid , kicking off a period of hits known as the Disney Renaissance , which included beloved films like Beauty and the Beast , Aladdin, and The Lion King . source https://www.polygon.com/the-rescuers-down-under-anniversary/

Pokémon Go 's final premier event for the year, the Wild Area , is taking place on Saturday, Nov. 15 and Sunday, Nov. 16 from 10 a.m. until 6 p.m. in your local time . source https://www.polygon.com/pokemon-go-wild-area-2025-schedule-habitat-bonuses-ticket-start-time/

George A. Romero used zombie horror to comment on American consumerism and racism, and his daughter, Tina Romero, gets equally political with her directorial debut, Queens of the Dead , which is about the queer community eating itself . The horror comedy shambles onto VOD this weekend. You can also visit a creepy abandoned amusement park from the safety of your living room in Shelby Oaks , the directorial debut of YouTube critic Chris Stuckmann. source https://www.polygon.com/new-movies-on-streaming-queens-of-the-dead-shelby-oaks/

The best city layout in Anno 117: Pax Romana should fulfill citizens’ needs, activate buffs, and remain manageable as the empire expands. While there are many ways to set up a new city that meets these criteria, it can be overwhelming to get started as a new player. How many woodcutters should you have? What size is ideal for residential quarters? How do you manage industrial production lines? source https://www.polygon.com/anno-117-pax-romana-best-city-layout-early/

Until the North Line update in Arc Raiders released on Thursday, Nov. 13 — so yesterday, at the time of writing — and introduced the Matriarch, the Queen was the game's toughest foe. A huge, six-legged, metal spider-like boss, the Queen guards the Harvester, and is only available during specific in-game events. source https://www.polygon.com/arc-raiders-queen-one-hit-blaze-grenade-trap/

Anime and video game adaptations are two of the biggest fronts in the streaming wars, and Disney is seeking to bolster its position in both with an anime based on Hideo Kojima’s Death Stranding series. Kojima will serve as executive producer on the show, tentatively called Death Stranding Isolations , which will stream exclusively on Disney Plus in 2027. source https://www.polygon.com/disney-death-stranding-isolations-anime/

Electronics accessory maker Dbrand is helping the new Steam Machine feel closer to its Valve roots with a Companion Cube skin. Currently listed on the site's limited edition section , players can sign up to be notified of when the possibly-sentient cube goes on sale. source https://www.polygon.com/steam-machine-portal-companion-cube/

The Call of Duty: Black Ops 7 campaign is one of the biggest steps backward I can recall seeing in Call of Duty. They've always varied in success, with some of the low points being Modern Warfare 3 and Black Ops 3 , while personal highlights include Call of Duty 4: Modern Warfare , World at War , and Black Ops 6 . The latter did some very interesting things mechanically, leading to a refreshing take on mission structures and what a Call of Duty campaign looks like, or needs to be. Unfortunately, Black Ops 7 takes all of those learnings, lines them up in front of a firing squad, and shreds them to bits. source https://www.polygon.com/black-ops-7-review-campaign/

As part of a story mission in the Fortnite Simpsons mini season , you'll need to collect dangerous objects in a donut storm . Just based off the quest's name, the objective can be a little vague. What exactly is a dangerous object? What are donut storms? Even without knowing what they are, the quest itself sounds, well, dangerous! You'll have to bob and weave around donuts falling from the sky and avoid other players trying to complete the quest at the same time. source https://www.polygon.com/fortnite-collect-dangerous-objects-donut-storm/

After that mind-bending ending to the first season of Alien: Earth , it felt like it was only a matter of time before news of a renewal would be just around the corner. Thankfully, viewers didn't have to wait long. As reported by Deadline , FX Chairman John Landgraf announced on Nov. 11 that FX and Disney have signed a new deal with Alien: Earth's creator, Noah Hawley, for a second season. Moving from filming in Thailand, the cast and crew are set to begin filming in London sometime next year. source https://www.polygon.com/alien-earth-season-2-renewed/

The first Octopath Traveler was released in 2018, and marked the first time Square Enix used its HD-2D design aesthetic. Seven years later, and after a series of classic titles remade using the same technology, we now have a new game in the series, Octopath Traveler 0 . Although most of its elements come from previous titles, giving it a familiar feel, the few changes are enough to make Octopath Traveler 0 a unique game — for better and for worse. source https://www.polygon.com/octopath-traveler-0-preview/

Elden Ring Nightreign players will get new DLC — including new bosses, new areas to explore, and new playable Nightfarers — sooner than expected . During Tuesday's State of Play livestream, FromSoftware and Bandai Namco revealed Elden Ring Nightreign: The Forsaken Hollows , an expansion for the cooperative multiplayer survival game that will arrive on Dec. 4. source https://www.polygon.com/elden-ring-nightreign-dlc-release-date-trailer-forsaken-hollows/

During Tuesday's State of Play showcase , Sony announced a Japanese-language-only PlayStation 5 to be sold in Japan for 55,000 yen (about $357) starting Nov. 21. The digital edition PS5 currently retails for 72,980 yen, meaning the new price point is nearly 25% cheaper. Japan's new PS5 model will be region-locked to Japan and will only work with a Japanese PlayStation account, according to the Financial Times . source https://www.polygon.com/playstation-5-ps5-japan-exclusive-edition-sony/

If you left James Gunn's Superman with the desire to see more of the unexpected ladies' man that was Skyler Gisondo as the newspaper reporter and photographer of the Daily Planet, Jimmy Olsen, you're in luck: a TV show focusing on Olsen is on the way. source https://www.polygon.com/superman-jimmy-olsen-tv-show-spin-off/

After four years of regularly introducing news maps, gameplay modes, and equipment for Halo Infinite , Halo Studios has announced that it is releasing the last major update for the game on Nov. 18. source https://www.polygon.com/halo-infinite-final-update/

New Critical Role Dungeon Master Brennan Lee Mulligan has been laying the foundations for a truly epic and complex Campaign 4, sowing the seeds of an ambitious plot set in a godless world, sparked by the tragedy of hero and scoundrel Thjazi Fang’s execution. In the first four episodes, we’ve traipsed through the deliciously intricate playground of Dol-Makjar, a city full of political intrigue and dodgy dealings. However, last Thursday night we got to see the first non-Overture episode of Critical Role Campaign 4, and with it the first good look at the world outside Dol-Makjar. source https://www.polygon.com/critical-role-campaign-4-episode-5-world-araman-npcs/

Nintendo has a new Nintendo Direct coming this Wednesday, Nov. 12, but this one won't be about games. (Sorry to the Kirby Air Riders fans hoping for another hour with Masahiro Sakurai.) Instead, Nintendo will debut the first official trailer for The Super Mario Galaxy Movie , next year's sequel to The Super Mario Bros. Movie , during the next Nintendo Direct. source https://www.polygon.com/nintendo-direct-super-mario-galaxy-movie/

Surprise! There'll be a new PlayStation State of Play showcase this week. State of Play Japan, a broadcast "curated for" players in Japan and Asia, will stream on Tuesday, Nov. 11 at 5 p.m. EST/2 p.m. PST. (That's 7 a.m. on Wednesday, Nov. 12 in Japan.) source https://www.polygon.com/sony-playstation-state-of-play-november-2025/

A controversial take I often floor people with is that I dislike the early career comedies of Jim Carey and Adam Sandler . Nothing grinds my gears more about the early '90s than unrealistic, idiotic, screwball characters in movies like Ace Ventura , Billy Madison , Dumb and Dumber , and Happy Gilmore . But somewhere during the mid-to-late ‘90s, both comedians mellowed and went on to make films I regard as their best: The Cable Guy, The Truman Show , The Wedding Singer , Big Daddy , and more. And during this “earnest guy” era of Sandler, wedged in between Big Daddy and Mr. Deeds (both mega hits at the box office) is the underrated flop known as Little Nicky . source https://www.polygon.com/little-nicky-2000-review-adam-sandler-retrospective/

The joy of It: Welcome to Derry is how the HBO prequel series expands on the terrifying story created by Stephen King and brought to the big screen by Andy Muscietti. Now, three episodes in, we know how the Hanlon family wound up in Derry, which character connects the Maine town to the Overlook Hotel of The Shining , and even met a horrifying non-Pennywise version of It in the latest episode. And while that's all great world-building, there’s also a line when it comes to creating new lore in the King universe. Unfortunately, Welcome to Derry might have just crossed it. source https://www.polygon.com/it-welcome-to-derry-episode-3-slingshot-lore/

Face it: There are so many Pokémon. As of this writing, there are more than 1,000 unique Pokémon in the National Pokédex, and if you’re coming to this article years after we’ve published, there’s a solid chance that number is way higher. Personally, the days of being able to name every Pokémon off the top of my head are long gone — I can just about do the original 151, albeit not in order — and while that's partially due to how many there are, it's also because some of them are just so damn forgettable. source https://www.polygon.com/worst-pokemon/

It looks like any other contraption, jumbled together in a neon whir will inevitably push Link forward. Steadily, the giant fan cuts through the water as Link holds on to the steering wheel. What's this? The ship is about to hit a wall. Why isn't Link pulling away? source https://www.polygon.com/hyrule-engineers-autobuild-creations-qr-code-perfect-bike/

Lucifer has a duck fetish and made a species of bird-demons. Is it a coincidence? source https://www.polygon.com/video/hazbin-hotel-vivziepop-lucifer-goetia-creation-duck-fetish/

Bryan Bertino weighs in on the trend of horror movies that are metaphors for trauma. source https://www.polygon.com/video/the-strangers-bryan-bertino-horror-trauma/

Predator: Badlands lands in theaters on Nov. 7, bringing the Predator franchise back to the big screen for the first time since Shane Black’s The Predator in 2018. The death planet of Genna looks great on the big screen, as do the hungry monsters our young Yautja Dek (Dimitrius Schuster-Koloamatangi) must fight to survive. Even better, you don’t need to have watched any previous Alien or Predator films to go see it now. But if you want to wait to hold a Predator marathon with Predator: Badlands director Dan Trachtenberg’s two Hulu originals, Prey and Predator: Killer of Killers , here’s our best guess for when you’ll be able to watch Predator: Badlands in your living room. source https://www.polygon.com/predator-badlands-streaming-dan-trachtenberg/

The roster of playable characters in Hyrule Warriors: Age of Imprisonment is a big one. You've got the sages from Tears of the Kingdom , a Hylian warrior who excels at parrying, Zora fighters, and even a character whose fighting style plays out like a miniature rhythm game. And no, Gannondorf is not playable in Age of Imprisonment , not via any means we've found anyway. source https://www.polygon.com/hyrule-warriors-age-of-imprisonment-all-playable-characters-unlock/

Rockstar Games' next Grand Theft Auto has been a long time coming. Grand Theft Auto 5 is now more than a decade old, spanning three console generations and 215 million copies sold, in large part due to the popularity of Grand Theft Auto Online . After an atypically long wait, Grand Theft Auto 6 is slated to finally arrive — fingers crossed — in November 2026. source https://www.polygon.com/gta-6-release-date/

It would be the understatement of the year to say that 2025 is the year of KPop Demon Hunters . The animated sensation from Sony Animation and Netflix has been on everyone's minds since its June debut this year. KPop Demon Hunters follows fictional girlband Huntr/x, global K-pop superstars by day and demon slayers and world protectors by night. The film has become so beloved — breaking records, inspiring fanfic, cosplay, and even new toys — that it's no wonder everyone is looking forward to a sequel. source https://www.polygon.com/kpop-demon-hunters-2-sequel-2029/

There’s a moment in The Legend of Zelda: Wind Waker that I’ve never been able to forget. Midway through the seafaring adventure, Link discovers the remains of Hyrule Castle hidden underneath the Great Sea. Inside its walls is a battle in stasis. Moblins and Darknuts are frozen in place, locked in the midst of an assault on the castle at the behest of Ganondorf. We come to discover that it was an act of divine intervention, as the gods flooded Hyrule and placed the castle in a protective, time-freezing barrier. The moment Link pulls the Master Sword within the castle from its pedestal, everything springs to life. It’s his job to finish a battle that was first fought ages ago. source https://www.polygon.com/hyrule-warriors-age-of-imprisonment-review/

There are a number of different supply drop locations in Arc Raiders , but to call one, you'll need to first find a call station , which is essentially a small antenna. source https://www.polygon.com/arc-raiders-supply-drop-locations-how-to-call/

The Mighty Nein , the newest animated adventure from Critical Role , revealed a new, exciting introductory sequence. It features our favorite cast of misfits, outcasts, and criminals kicking ass and taking names, while also hinting at several agonizing backstories for characters, such as Liam O'Brien's wizard Caleb, and Travis Willingham's orc warlock, Fjord. source https://www.polygon.com/the-mighty-neins-opening-sequence-picked-the-wrong-critical-role-song/

One of the biggest complaints about the otherwise stellar Steam Deck is that it can't finish downloading games or updates while in sleep mode, compared to a PS5, Xbox Series X, or Nintendo Switch, all of which can. source https://www.polygon.com/steam-deck-update-low-power-mode-downloads/

An official Nintendo Store app has finally been released on mobile, allowing players to shop games, accessories, and other merchandise on their phone. The Android and iOS app was previously only available in Japan, but has now launched for most major regions, excluding Australia and New Zealand. source https://www.polygon.com/nintendo-store-app-launch-game-activity/

Hidden gags are scattered around Springfield Island in the Fortnite Simpsons mini season, and they're essentially exactly what they sound like — little easter eggs for Simpsons fans to find. source https://www.polygon.com/fortnite-hidden-gag-locations-milestone-quest/

Walmart is making life harder for scalpers of The Pokémon Trading Card Game starting this week, officially placing a limit on how many cards customers can buy at one time. The policy was shared on a ResetEra thread, which revealed an announcement on OneWalmart — an online portal for employees — stating that, as of Nov. 5, a "maximum of five packs and/or boxes" of trading cards can be bought in stores. source https://www.polygon.com/pokemon-walmart-purchase-limits-scalpers/

Electronic Arts says it will "maintain creative control" and its "track record of creative freedom and player-first values" under its planned new ownership . That's according to an updated employee-focused FAQ that addresses questions about "culture change" coming as part of a deal to take the game publisher private. source https://www.polygon.com/ea-creative-control-saudi-arabia-private-equity-new-owners/

Homer's house , also known as the Simpsons' house, has arrived in Fortnite , and you can visit it along with a bunch of other locations from the show. source https://www.polygon.com/fortnite-homers-house-location-where-to-find/

Toei Animation, the Japanese studio behind classic anime such as Dragon Ball and One Piece , has just announced a massive expansion plan that will turn it into a global anime powerhouse in the next five years. Shared through an official document called Vision 2030 , which was translated and posted online by fans such as @Venixys on X , Toei's big plan for the future may have meaningful consequences for anime fans. source https://www.polygon.com/toei-animation-expansion-global-one-piece-dragon-ball-anime/

1000xResist does not waste time. It starts by showing a character, clad in a futuristic blue sci-fi suit, stabbing another in the back. The game then flashes backward, ostensibly to show the journey of how a clone murdered her progenitor. source https://www.polygon.com/1000xresist-ps5-xbox-game-pass-impressions/

Since November 2024, streamer Jesse Keighin, known online as EveryGameGuru, has been in a legal battle with Nintendo for streaming pirated material. Keighin, who repeatedly taunted the company throughout the lawsuit, once stated he could "do this all day." However, a final judgment reported by TorrentFreak has proven that he could not, in fact, do so — a Colorado federal judge has ordered Keighin to pay Nintendo $17,500 in damages. source https://www.polygon.com/nintendo-streamer-lawsuit-win/

That story was one that the brains behind 2K Games’ Mafia series had been dying to tell for a while. Developer Hangar 13 (and the former 2K Czech team that was folded into it in 2017) had told plenty of tales about gangsters roaming around fictional American cities in the first three Mafia games, but the trilogy didn’t do much to root all the bloodshed in real Italian history. That changed earlier this year with Mafia: The Old Country . The action-adventure game left the United States for Sicily in order to create an origin story of sorts — not one for any of its characters, but for the concept of Italian organized crime itself. source https://www.polygon.com/mafia-the-old-country-italy-sicily-research-interview/

At the start of 2025, it was unanimously expected that one game was set to win Game of the Year at The Game Awards, and there was nothing anybody else could do about it. That game was Grand Theft Auto 6 . In May, Rockstar’s opus was delayed into 2026 and out of contention for this year’s award. In theory, the GOTY race was blown wide open. source https://www.polygon.com/goty-game-of-the-year-frontrunner-six-months-later/

The Fortnite Simpsons mini season is officially here, and it's bringing everything you know and love from the iconic TV show into the battle royale. source https://www.polygon.com/fortnite-simpsons-chapter-6-mini-season-2-map-weapons-loot-poi/

The Outer Worlds 2 did something no RPG has managed to do before: It cured my tendency to be a goody two-shoes in video games. As usual, my first hours in The Outer Worlds 2 were spent as a gallant intergalactic hero; I ran errands, saved lives, said kind words to everyone, and even refused payment on occasion. But soon enough, irritation started to creep in. source https://www.polygon.com/outer-worlds-2-best-way-to-play-supervillain/

Distributors and local theaters are once again getting in on the action, from Criterion Channel’s November noir programming to Noirvember slates in repertory theaters around the country. But most of us are likely to celebrate Noirvember at home. Check out our 2023 and 2024 guides to the best classic noir, neo-noir, and lesser-known noir gems to stream this November, and if you’ve already watched all of those, here’s a new batch of Noirvember streaming recommendations. source https://www.polygon.com/noirvember-streaming-what-to-watch-classics-neo-noir-recommendations/

For me, the Forgotten Realms are Dungeons & Dragons . I grew up with R. A. Salvatore’s Drizzt novels , and Ed Greenwood’s Elminster in Hell remains one of my favorite fantasy books. The Forgotten Realms Campaign Setting from 3e is one of my most prized possessions. I’ve played Baldur’s Gate 2 more times than I want to admit. I enjoy and appreciate other settings too, but you can imagine the level of expectation I had for Adventures in Faerûn and Heroes of Faerûn , the two books that will be released on Nov. 11 but are already available for Master Tier D&D Beyond subscribers. source https://www.polygon.com/dungeons-dragons-dnd-forgotten-realms-adventures-heroes-review-impressions/

The Witcher season 4 is packed with large-scale battles featuring magic, monsters, and sword fighting. But the season’s best and most ambitious episode, “The Joy of Cooking,” is actually a break in the action. It focuses on Geralt (Liam Hemsworth) and his ragtag group of companions swapping stories while recovering from their injuries and prepping a meal. source https://www.polygon.com/the-witcher-season-4-episode-5-musical-animation/