Atlus enthusiasts have enjoyed a remarkable surge of releases over the past year, with Metaphor: ReFantazio standing out as the crown jewel. As a fresh intellectual property from Atlus, the game has garnered immense critical acclaim, solidifying its position as a breakthrough title. Its success was underlined at The Game Awards 2024, where it clinched accolades such as Best RPG, Best Narrative, and Best Art Direction. Given this level of achievement, discussions among fans about a sequel’s potential trajectory have reached a fever pitch. The game’s director, Katsura Hashino, has stated that there are no definitive plans to turn the title into a franchise, though he expressed hope for such a development in the future. Despite this, the groundwork laid by Metaphor: ReFantazio makes it an excellent candidate for expansion. Speculation abounds, with some fans believing a follow-up could serve as a spiritual successor rather than a direct continuation. However, the game’s finale contains unresolved narrative threads that hint strongly at a direct sequel.

Krafton Inc., the South Korean publisher behind PUBG: Battlegrounds, has outlined a bold 2025 business roadmap. This strategy emphasizes IP expansion, first-party game development, and optimized resource management. Known for titles like The Callisto Protocol and Moonbreaker, Krafton plans to ramp up investments in its 14 creative studios and embrace second-party publishing to nurture both new and existing IPs.CEO Kim Chang-han highlighted a mission to secure a major new franchise IP to build on PUBG's success. With projects like Subnautica 2 and inZOI on the horizon, Krafton aims to diversify its portfolio, targeting sustainable growth across genres and platforms. Despite setbacks like The Callisto Protocol, the company continues to position itself for market leadership through strategic partnerships, studio acquisitions, and innovative ventures.

The reveal trailer for the Dragon Ball: Sparking Zero Super: Super Hero DLC pack has confirmed an exciting update—Ultimate Gohan is now a transformation rather than a standalone character.While Sparking Zero boasts an impressive roster covering nearly every era of Dragon Ball, some fans have grown weary of its handling of certain forms. One long-standing issue has been the game’s tendency to treat specific transformations as separate characters, preventing players from transitioning naturally between forms. Examples like Goku’s Ultra Instinct Sign and Mastered forms, as well as the absence of fan-favorites like Super Saiyan Rage Trunks, highlight this frustration. However, perhaps the most notable oversight has been Ultimate Gohan, a transformation widely recognized in Dragon Ball media but previously treated as a standalone fighter in the game.

Sony has officially halted development on two unannounced live-service games from Bend Studio (Days Gone) and Bluepoint Games (Demon’s Souls remake), as per a Bloomberg report. Jason Schreier suggests Bluepoint’s project could have been a live-service God of War game. Despite these cancellations, Sony clarified that neither studio will be closed, and their next projects are under discussion.