Category: Uncategorized

One of my most useful tech purchases in recent times hasn’t been anythng big or flashy, but a humble Ugreen SSD enclosure. It essentially takes any spare M.2 drive you might have laying around and turns it into a fast external SSD, with minimul fuss and for a lot less cash than just buying a whole new portable drive. I’ve done this with a 2TB Crucial P310 I had left over, and it’s worked a treat for the last year. At Amazon, it’s down to £16 in the UK and $16 in the USA. The latter is for Amazon’s Spring Sale in the States, while the one in the UK is more of a cyclical discount, judging by the price history.

Read more

### 2025 Metacritic Game Publisher Rankings: A Year of Surprises

The yearly Metacritic Game Publisher Rankings have been disclosed, highlighting a competitive environment in the gaming sector, along with some unexpected results for 2025. This year’s rankings illustrate the critical acclaim of various publishers based on the number and quality of the games they launched in the previous year.

#### Overview of the Rankings

Metacritic, the prominent review aggregation platform, offers insights into the performance of non-mobile game publishers annually. Their approach evaluates the quality of game releases, classifying them as good, great, or bad, and compiles this information to create a ranked list. This year’s rankings featured 28 publishers, with the top 12 being:

1. **Square Enix** – 9 releases, 100% good or great
2. **Gamirror Games** – 5 releases, 100% good or great
3. **Capcom** – 7 releases, 93% good or great
4. **Thunderful** – 6 releases, 90% good or great
5. **Xbox** – 21 releases, 81% good or great
6. **Take-Two Interactive** – 7 releases, 80% good or great
7. **Sega** – 17 releases, 84% good or great
8. **EA** – 12 releases, 79% good or great
9. **Dotemu** – 8 releases, 76% good or great
10. **Raw Fury** – 9 releases, 77% good or great
11. **Ubisoft** – 8 releases, 81% good or great
12. **Nintendo** – 18 releases, 68% good or great

This list presents some surprising rankings, particularly with Square Enix achieving the top spot for the first time in Metacritic’s 16 years of publisher evaluations.

#### Key Highlights

**Square Enix’s Surprising Rise**
One of the most remarkable features of the rankings is Square Enix’s unforeseen ascent to the top. Despite not being a major focus for industry observers throughout the year, the publisher successfully released a lineup of games that resonated positively with critics. This accomplishment underscores a year marked by consistent quality output that often went unnoticed.

**Capcom Continues Its Strong Streak**
Capcom’s position within the top three comes as no shock, given its established reputation for releasing high-quality games, including hits like *Resident Evil Requiem*. The publisher has displayed impressive consistency in producing titles that garner both player and critical praise.

**Xbox’s Competitive Performance**
Xbox’s ranking is enhanced by the inclusion of titles from Activision, Blizzard, and Bethesda, marking a significant year for the platform. The launch of games like *Forza Horizon 5* across multiple platforms has positively influenced their overall score.

#### Notable Fallouts

**Nintendo and PlayStation’s Decrease in Rankings**
In a surprising development, Nintendo, celebrated for its reliable top-tier releases, found itself outside the top 10 after launching the eagerly awaited Switch 2. Likewise, PlayStation was positioned 21st out of 28, marking its lowest rank in several years. The highest-rated game from PlayStation was *The Last of Us Part 2 Remastered*, which notably debuted on PC.

Both companies faced scrutiny regarding their approaches in 2025, raising questions about whether their concentration on live-service games and established franchises has hindered the introduction of new, innovative titles.

#### Conclusion

The 2025 Metacritic Game Publisher Rankings unveil a transforming landscape where traditional giants encounter challenges from unforeseen rivals. As the gaming industry progresses, the triumph of publishers will increasingly hinge on their ability to adapt and offer high-quality experiences in a competitive environment. Historically, the rankings have been influenced by various publishers each year, reflecting the continuously shifting dynamics of the gaming sector, with Square Enix now at the forefront.

Atomic this, Atomic that.

The post Sailor Piece Abyss Sigil – Atomic Sword Obtainment appeared first on Gamezebo.

I’ve been through much with my Razer Wolverine V3 Pro. Malenia, Blade of Miquella. Groal the Great. The bit in Dispatch where you have to choose a favourite doughnut and “Chocolate” isn’t an option. Then there’s the psychic shock of having a game controller than costs more than, say, 40 quid to begin with – it’s not something that immediately feels right.

The Wolverine V3 Pro itself, however, feels very right indeed. It’s a solid and endlessly comfortable wireless pad, whose buttons are enriched with the pleasant mechanical clickiness of a high-end mouse. Cost-wise, it’s also a lot less now than when I got mine: Amazon US has it at 35% off during their Spring sale, while in the UK, Scan has it down from £190 to £130. Still premium, but worth it, in my eyes. And hands.

Read more

### Pokémon Champions: A Fresh Chapter in Competitive Play

Pokémon Champions, launching on April 8, is set to revolutionize the competitive Pokémon landscape. This battle simulator for Switch and mobile promises substantial alterations that will reshape player interactions with the franchise, especially in tournament settings. Recent comments from director Masaaki Hoshino emphasize key changes to traditional gameplay mechanics that will influence all competitive participants.

#### Transformations in Pokémon Training

A major shift is the removal of the Individual Value (IV) system for Pokémon obtained within Pokémon Champions. Traditionally, IVs resembled genetic traits in Pokémon, affecting their combat effectiveness based on innate stat distributions. Consequently, players could capture numerous Pokémon of the same kind yet discover disparities in speed or special attack primarily due to varying IVs. For competitive gamers, this inconsistency frequently influenced tactical decisions, rendering the IV system a core element of preparation and team construction.

Hoshino’s choice to eliminate IVs is intended to ease the competitive experience, rendering Pokémon training more approachable for newcomers. This decision follows extensive consultations with Shigeki Morimoto, a pivotal figure in Pokémon’s design legacy, indicating a conscious move toward inclusivity in competitive environments.

#### Streamlined Effort Value System

Along with the IV adjustments, Pokémon Champions will present a revamped Effort Value (EV) system. Previously, this system enabled players to boost specific stats through focused training. In the new structure, players can allocate an extra 66 points across different stats, simplifying the process and diminishing the complexity often linked to classic EV training. This overhaul is anticipated to facilitate character customization, encouraging strategic planning without diving deeply into the typically complex mechanics of Pokémon training.

#### Pokémon Options and Competitive Approaches

Even with the modifications to training systems, Pokémon Champions will launch with a restricted lineup. Initially, players will only have access to fully-evolved Pokémon, allowing fan favorites like Charizard and Blastoise to be viable, while their pre-evolved counterparts, such as Charmander and Squirtle, will not be available. Interestingly, Pikachu will remain accessible despite its incomplete evolution. This limitation could spark discussion among players, as pre-evolved Pokémon can often utilize certain items, like the Eviolite, which boosts the stats of non-evolved Pokémon, enabling distinct competitive strategies.

#### Community Feedback and Future Outlook

As Pokémon Champions prepares for its debut, the competitive community’s reaction to these extensive changes is yet to be determined. Traditionalists who have depended on established rules and mechanics may perceive this new structure as disruptive. In contrast, newcomers might embrace the more user-friendly aspects that Pokémon Champions offers.

The game aspires to serve both experienced players and foster a welcoming environment for those new to competitive gaming. As the launch date nears, excitement is tangible, along with conversations about how these innovations will shape the future of Pokémon encounters.

In conclusion, with Pokémon Champions set for release on April 8, it is poised to challenge the existing norms of competitive gaming, urging both new and seasoned players to adapt to its innovative systems and features as they gear up for an exhilarating era of Pokémon encounters.

RIP 2009-2026.

The post RIP Roblox Classic Faces: Documenting The Sad End To An Era of Self-Expression appeared first on Gamezebo.

It takes a lot to get me interested in anything tower-defensive these days, and I’m getting pretty grouchy about paper-based aesthetics, too, but “minimalist strategy game” Painted Kingdoms combines them to promising effect. It takes place in a living book, where each chapter is illustrated according to a different cultural heritage, extending from Europe to China.

As a roving general-hero, your job is to build a settlement by filling in the blank pages with your magic brush, giving rise to both fortifications and lovely wild spaces. Then, you must fight off waves of badniks who threaten to set the paper alight, reducing your pop-up terrain to ash.

Read more

### Tomodachi Life: Living the Dream – A New Chapter of Creative Liberty

**Introduction**

The eagerly awaited social simulation title, *Tomodachi Life: Living the Dream*, has stirred excitement this morning with an unexpected demo release that offers players a glimpse into its vast and limitless gameplay. Expanding on the groundwork established by its predecessor, this latest version seems to adopt a more flexible stance on creativity and player expression.

**An Adaptive Mii Creation Framework**

A key highlight of *Living the Dream* is its Mii creation feature, which enables users to customize their virtual characters to an extraordinary extent. Unlike the original *Tomodachi Life*, which received feedback for its constraints regarding gender and relationship options, *Living the Dream* presents numerous choices. Players can define the gender, pronouns, and romantic inclinations of their Miis, along with selecting formal outfit styles and distinct nicknames. This enhanced customization provides gamers the opportunity to forge intricate and varied relationships among their Miis.

**Uncensored Dialogue and Comedy**

The game’s commitment to freedom goes beyond character creation to encompass the dialogue and interactions players can facilitate. The demo has showcased a surprising absence of a language filter, allowing Miis to partake in unrestricted conversations. This feature resonates with the chaotic, meme-generating moments that characterized the original title, such as the notorious “I’m sucking my own dick and dying” song, which became viral on platforms like Vine. With this new iteration, *Living the Dream* establishes itself as a stage for unpredictable humor and outrageous scenarios.

**Social Media Potential**

Early feedback from players underscores an ongoing intrigue with the lack of a profanity filter, igniting conversations on platforms such as Twitter. Despite Nintendo’s ambiguous rules regarding content sharing, the demo indicates that players are easily sharing comedic incidents. This paves the way for the game’s potential to produce viral moments on social media, akin to the previous edition’s influence.

**Community Involvement and Memes**

With the game set to launch next month on the original Nintendo Switch, the accessibility of *Living the Dream* could draw a wider audience, including those eager to create and circulate memes. The humor and social dynamics within the game position it as an excellent candidate for generating shareable content, particularly among younger users on platforms like TikTok.

**Conclusion**

*Tomodachi Life: Living the Dream* is poised to offer a more liberated and engaging experience compared to its predecessor, enabling players to shape their aspirations through their Miis. With its extensive customization opportunities, unfiltered dialogue, and prospects for community-generated content, the game is set to enchant the imagination of both fans and newcomers. As the launch date draws nearer, the anticipation surrounding *Living the Dream* continues to intensify, signaling a lively era of creativity and humor in the *Tomodachi Life* franchise.

Time to grind for Tower Tokens.

The post Sailor Piece Infinite Tower – Tower Keys, Tower Tokens, and the Tower Shop appeared first on Gamezebo.

Slay the Spire 2‘s multiplayer component is a lovely, sociable game of tactical chemistry and unity in the face of hideous door-based lifeforms, but inevitably, the modders are trying to ruin the bonhomie by adding PvP.

Read more