DATASTREAM OVERLOAD: THEY'RE STILL MAKING GAMES, BELIEVE IT OR NOT.

Dusting Off the Relics: A Look at the Current State of Play - By Grimbly31

Alright, settle in, youngbloods. Old Grimbly’s gotta stretch these thumbs and report on what’s been flickering across the datascreens lately. Seems like a lot of shiny distractions, but a few things worth noting, even for a digital fossil like myself.

First off, the usual hardware hustle. The Switch 2 is practically breathing down our necks. Bundles with Mario Kart popping up like mushrooms after a rainstorm – smart move, Nintendo, lure ‘em in with the classics. It’s a tactic as old as gaming itself. Reminds me of when they'd pack in a free lightgun with every Virtua Cop cartridge... ah, the good ol' days.

Speaking of the classics, Skyblivion – that Skyrim remake mod gone ambitious – is pushed to 2026. Disappointing, sure, but honestly, good on ‘em for not rushing it. Modders always had the best ideas, and sometimes, they actually deliver. I saw some early builds… it’s going to be something special.

Now, let’s talk about the big iron. Elden Ring: Nightreign is getting patched – predictable. Those DLCs are always a little rough around the edges at launch, but FromSoftware usually gets it sorted. Meanwhile, Once Human is slinging out cosmetics. Gotta keep the revenue streams flowing, right? It's the way of things.

Industry-wide, things are getting…complicated. I’m seeing whispers of Saudi money circling around EA. Always makes you uneasy when a new power player enters the arena. And Sony and Tencent duking it out in court? That’s a battle you don’t want to underestimate. Corporate squabbles rarely end well for the players.

On the bright side, Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 seems to have broken some records on Game Pass. Good to see a new IP getting some love. Microsoft's pushing the AI angle with Game Pass too. Honestly, still skeptical about that one, but we’ll see. Remember when everyone thought FMV cutscenes were the future? Yeah…

Now, the specific games. Fallout’s getting a free stream of Season 1 before Season 2 drops, and a new physical release. Good timing. Call of Duty’s underperforming with a new portal-filled map. Sounds…busy. Cyberpunk 2077 had a fake anniversary tease. The internet had a collective sigh. Monster Hunter devs don’t want the series to end with Wilds – good, because a lot of us still remember the days of struggling with Rathalos.

MLB The Show is coming to mobile. World of Warcraft finally has housing…with issues. Hollow Knight: Silksong has DLC planned. And Red Dead Redemption is getting a modern upgrade. It’s a lot to keep up with, honestly.

Honestly, the sheer volume of content being thrown at us is exhausting. Makes a digital hermit long for the days of a single cartridge and a pixelated princess. But hey, that’s progress, right? Just remember to take a break, step away from the screen, and appreciate the fact that we're all still playing games. And maybe, just maybe, learn a little something about the history of it all.

Grimbly31, signing off. Now, if you'll excuse me, I have some ancient consoles to tinker with.