Grasping the Aim and Role of This Item

Leaks and analyst predictions have enthusiasts excited about the potential for one last surprise content update to *The Witcher 3*. *Helldivers 2* will keep evolving in astonishing ways. An older mobile JRPG that inspired two fantastic console spin-offs is at last making its way to PC in the West next year. This is the latest version of Morning Checkpoint, *Kotaku*’s daily summary of gaming news and culture.

With only a few days remaining in 2025, I’ll be dedicating at least one of those to cleaning my PS5. It powered down from overheating three times during my *Nightreign* session last night. The Everdark Balancers couldn’t compete with the massive dust bunnies lurking inside my console.

## Speculation continues about new *Witcher 3* DLC

Polish insider Borys Nieśpielak initially suggested this past summer that the long-standing game would receive more content, noting earlier this month that he anticipated some form of teaser at the Game Awards. We didn’t see one, but that hasn’t silenced the speculation. Now Polish Noble Securities analyst Mateusz Chrzanowski is predicting a new DLC as well.

“We foresee an additional paid expansion (DLC) for *The Witcher 3* to be launched in May 2026. We predict sales of 11 million copies at USD 30 each next year. We estimate the production costs at PLN 52 million,” he stated in a memo earlier this month, according to a Google translation (via *Dexerto*). “The release should initiate the actual marketing campaign for *The Witcher 4*.”

This seems both hard to accept and not entirely impossible. The only known update CD Projekt Red is currently pursuing for the 2015 open-world RPG is mod support for the console edition. A new content expansion, regardless of its size, would undoubtedly help increase sales of the current-gen version while the studio develops *The Witcher 4*. The sequel still seems so distant it might be a PS6 title.

## The original *Granblue Fantasy* is at last arriving on Steam over a decade later

The 2014 mobile RPG that led to spin-offs *Granblue Fantasy Versus: Rising* and *Granblue Fantasy: Relink* will be accessible for the first time in the West on PC starting March 10, 2026. It’s a turn-based game with summons, classes, and multiplayer raids that features contributions from former *Final Fantasy* composer Nobuo Uematsu and art director Hideo Minaba.

## Nvidia’s GeForce Now streaming service broadens its monthly limits

A 100-hour monthly cap used to apply solely to new subscribers. Now it will apply to all users, *PCMag* reports. GeForce Now participants will need to pay an additional fee each month to continue streaming games beyond that limit. The cost will be $3 for an extra 15 hours on the performance plan ($10 a month) and $6 for another 15 hours on the Ultimate plan ($20 a month). This shift indicates Nvidia is likely to seek to manage costs as the program expands.

## *Helldivers 2* may introduce “sequel-level” features such as eight-player missions

“There’s actually a lot of [new features], and I believe the community is quite adept at identifying the direction they want the game to take considering the sequel-like approach,” creative director Johan Pilestedt remarked during a recent Arrow Game Studios livestream (via *Gamesradar*). “Eight-player missions would be one of those,” he added. “Larger open-world maps where you might encounter other Helldiver teams to tackle greater challenges together. Operations that influence other teams as well would represent those kinds of high-level features.”

## Will we catch a glimpse of Arkane’s *Blade* game in 2026?

Most likely not, but one should never say never. “The team is diligently working, and everyone is incredibly proud and pushing themselves,” director Dinga Bakaba mentioned on X during the holiday break in response to a fan. “Please be patient; it will be a special game, and we all hope it meets the high standards we’ve set for ourselves and for you all.” We will likely still see it before the actual movie escapes Hollywood’s development limbo.

## *Nier* fans are bracing for letdown

Series producer Yosuke Saito recently hinted at something for the game’s ninth anniversary. “We’re also preparing just a little something, so please don’t get too excited with anticipation,” he told *4Gamer*, according to *Gematsu*’s translation. Perhaps it’s only a “little something” because Square Enix is finally allowing director Yoko Taro full creative freedom to produce his next game.

## *Avatar: Frontiers of Pandora* is

Santa Ragione have announced that they’ve repaid all the money they borrowed to develop their Surrealist horror game Horses, despite being denied release on Steam and the Epic Games Store. It’s a better outcome than expected, given Steam’s centrality to PC gaming, and a strong demonstration of support for art that is prepared to disregard taboos and investigate something profoundly ugly. It’s also, however, not enough to keep Santa Ragione operational.

As warned when they broke their silence about the Steam ban last month, the developers are suspending operations and looking for other work. It’s possible they’ll get the band back together down the road, but this “will not be easy”.

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### LEGO Star Wars Millennium Falcon: A Collector’s Fantasy for the Festive Season

Children will be raking in LEGO sets this holiday season, just as theyhave for years. But what about the adult LEGO enthusiasts who remain kids at heart, particularly those dedicated to LEGO Star Wars? There are numerous offers available for them too, with none better than [this Amazon discount on the LEGO Star Wars Millennium Falcon A New Hope 25th Anniversary Collectible Model, currently at 20% off.](https://shop.kotaku.com/go/4190/)

This meticulously crafted, display-worthy 921-piece commemorative version of the legendary Millennium Falcon is an incredible $68 find for LEGO Star Wars aficionados aged 18 and older. Long after enjoying the process of constructing the LEGO Falcon, it will likely still hold a proud spot in your home, marked by its unique LEGO Star Wars 25th Anniversary brick that identifies it as a collectible.

#### All the Facts

The LEGO Star Wars Millennium Falcon’s design encompasses all the detailed features that Star Wars fans would demand, including the ship’s cockpit, satellite dish, and cannons. With 921 pieces comprising a model that measures 5 by 9.5 by 7.5 inches when fully assembled, it boasts a lot within a relatively compact footprint.

The LEGO Star Wars Millennium Falcon includes a display stand that enables you to position the ship at dynamic angles for a more visually appealing effect. It isn’t designed for play, so it should be kept away from younger children. However, when it stands on its base with an angle that mimics it soaring through space, it becomes a stunning focal point.

#### Soothing and Fulfilling

The joy of the Falcon extends beyond mere display. The most fulfilling aspect is the actual building experience. Constructing the LEGO Star Wars Millennium Falcon is a careful endeavor that allows for deep engagement with the task. The process can be compared to assembling vintage ship-in-a-bottle kits or detailed projects that require glue and paint.

Nevertheless, the LEGO model provides a much more lenient experience than those traditional hobbies. If you relish the construction phase, it’s LEGOs—you can always disassemble it and reassemble it as many times as desired.

The 25th anniversary of the LEGO Star Wars series has given rise to an extensive range of mid-scale buildable figures from the Star Wars universe, but perhaps none is as legendary as the Millennium Falcon. This kit makes a remarkable gift for the Star Wars fan in your life or a delightful indulgence for yourself. [Seize it now on Amazon while it’s available for $68.](https://shop.kotaku.com/go/4190/)