RIP, BioWare October 21, 2026
Posted by Maniac in Editorials.Tags: BioWare
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It is my unfortunate duty to report to all of you that EA’s BioWare studio has just announced that they will be closing.
I first became aware of BioWare leading up to the release of Neverwinter Nights for the PC. At the time, I was not very familiar with Dungeons & Dragons, but I was very interested in playing an immersive RPG designed specifically for the PC. BioWare had already proven themselves to be the gold standard for delivering well-polished RPGs for the western audiences, and I was willing to take the chance on the game after learning about its interesting preorder campaign.
I found Neverwinter Nights to be a very in-depth adaptation of D&D’s Third Edition rules, and the game would spawn many official expansion packs alongside fan-made modules. I was later floored by their console release Star Wars: Knights of the Old Republic, and remember purchasing it day one when the game received a PC release shortly after the Xbox version broke sales records. Shortly after, I picked up an original Xbox console, and replayed the game on that platform. BioWare followed that up with Jade Empire, which I am ashamed to admit is often overlooked in their game release catalog. I found myself enjoying it tremendously when it launched on the Xbox, and later picked up the PC release.
When the successor to the Xbox, the Xbox 360, was being prepped for release BioWare was charged to bring the story-based RPG gameplay they started in KOTOR and later polished in Jade Empire to HD-capable game consoles. That’s when we were all introduced to Mass Effect.
Mass Effect went on to break records for the Xbox 360 console (a difficult feat for a console that had been set up for games like Halo 3). It was later followed by two tremendously successful sequels that were released on multiple platforms. RPG enthusiasts who were more interested in a more classic sword and sorcery RPG would later find a lot to like in the Dragon Age series, but gamers were divisive on later releases of the franchise.
With today’s closure announcment comes the abrupt cancellation of the next Mass Effect game the studio had been reportedly working on. I am truly upset by this news, and wish the best to everyone still involved with the studio.
Massive Cyberpunk Updates Coming After Release of Edgerunners Season 2 October 21, 2026
Posted by Maniac in Game News.Tags: cyberpunk
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Yesterday, Netflix released all ten episodes of Cyberpunk: Edgerunners Season 2, our most anticipated Netflix content this year based upon the game Cyberpunk 2077. The release of that show has literally opened the dam on a whole bunch of incredible Cyberpunk news
First up, the team at Weirdco, responsible for the Cyberpunk 2077 TCG which is just about to enter its retail phase, held an eight-hour stream yesterday where influencers from all over the world were invited to play the retail game. If you would like to give the event a watch, we’ve embedded it below.
During the stream, Weirdco made the announcement that Burn Bright, an expansion based upon the Edgerunners series, will be the name of the second wave of the Cyberpunk 2077 TCG, and the art looks PHENOMENAL!
Second, the team at CDPR, responsible for the multiplatform video game Cyberpunk 2077 that so much of these announcements are based on, will be releasing a free update they’re calling the “Edgerunners 2” 2.5 patch on the 22nd. Details on the full contents of the update can be read here, and we’ve got new features, new missions, new music, and a dual-wielding option to be coming to the game. The update will be pushed to PC/Mac through Steam/GOG, Xbox Series X/S, and PS5 editions of the game first, followed shortly by the Nintendo Switch 2 and Mac App Store editions. If you’d like to see a more detailed description of all the enhancements, check out today’s livestream of the new patch!
But what is the news from Cyberpunk’s creator, R. Talsorian Games? At midnight last night, they released a highly anticipated actual play of Cyberpunk RED which was filmed during this past year’s Origins Game Fair. The event is GM’ed by Mike Pondsmith, and the players are made up of the real-life voice cast of Cyberpunk Edgerunners season 1!
Well, in just a few days, our most anticipated Cyberpunk product this year, the story-based card game Cyberpunk Legends will be launching.
Set in 2012, Cyberpunk Legends will allow a maximum of four players, each of a different class, to work together to overcome four story-based scenarios. After several manufacturing delays, the game is currently expected to start shipping, first to Kickstarter backers and then to your Friendly Local Game Shops on October 25th, 2026. The team behind it, Night Crew Games, have confirmed that RTG will be releasing this month’s free DLC to complement the characters from Legends and allow them to be brought into the world of Cyberpunk RED 2045.
Cyberpunk 2077: Ultimate Edition is out now for PC, Xbox Series X/S, PS5, Mac, and Switch 2.
Remnants – Apple Immersive Horror Film Review October 19, 2026
Posted by Maniac in Reviews, Site Videos.Tags: Apple, Vision Pro
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On Friday, Apple released the first-ever “Immersive Horror” film exclusively on the Vision Pro, and we just had the pleasure to watch it. Here’s Apple’s official trailer:
Remnants is a twenty-six minute horror film Written/Directed by Ti West shot entirely with Apple’s immersive cameras. In the film, a woman is tasked by her employer to settle the affairs of a deceased heiress with the intention to recoup their losses on the property. However, the estate’s caretaker is adamant no one enter the home, as there were reports of the owner performing disturbing rituals leading up to her death.
So how is it? Is it as scary as it looks? Maniac recorded his initial thoughts immediately following his first watch of the film, and you can hear his thoughts on it below. Note: The review is SPOILER FREE!
Cyberpunk Edgerunners Season 2 Final Trailer October 17, 2026
Posted by Maniac in Game News.Tags: cyberpunk
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Netflix is days away from releasing the second season of the coolest anime adaptation I have seen in a long time, Cyberpunk Edgerunners. Featuring a new crew and a new objective in the ever-shifting world of Night City 2077. To celebrate, here’s the final launch trailer for the show!
Cyberpunk Edgerunners 2 will start streaming October 20th, 2026 on Netflix. You can still watch season one right now!
Grand Theft Auto VI – Launch Trailer October 15, 2026
Posted by Maniac in Game News.Tags: GTA6
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We’re a little over a month away from the launch of the most anticipated third party multiplatform game this year, and one of the most anticipated games of the literal decade, Grand Theft Auto VI. To celebrate the impending launch, here’s the game’s official launch trailer.
I have to admit, I wasn’t super interested in this game until Netflix posted their early exclusive preview of the game about a month ago. I loved Grand Theft Auto III and Grand Theft Auto Vice City when they launched on the PC back in the mid-00s, and seeing Vice City again after literal decades away is hitting me in just the right spots. I can’t wait to see how this game turns out.
Grand Theft Auto VI is coming November 19th, 2026 to PS5 and Xbox Series X/S.
Cyberpunk 2077 TCG Holophone Announced October 11, 2026
Posted by Maniac in Game News.Tags: cyberpunk
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We’ve been talking about the imminent official release of Cyberpunk 2077 TCG for quite some time here on the website. Following an incredible record breaking Kickstarter campaign, the game is slowly shipping out to Friendly Local Game Shops everywhere.
For some time, gamers have been wondering how the game’s story is meant to tie into Cyberpunk 2077, or the greater Cyberpunk universe created by R. Talsorian Games. Now, we have our answer. The game’s developers, in partnership with Cyberpunk 2077’s developers, have just announced Holophone.
If you’re looking for more details on the game, or where you can find local game stores in your area selling cards, check out their official website.
Nintendo Switch Sports Resort – Overview Trailer October 11, 2026
Posted by Maniac in Game News.Tags: Sports Resort
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Wii gamers will never forget Wii Sports, the pack-in launch title for the Nintendo Wii. It set the bar for what motion controllers were capable of, and introduced active gaming to a new generation of gamers. I will make it no secret I fell absolutely in love with Wuhu Island when I first entered it upon first launch of the sequel game Wii Sports Resort. I would seriously spend all my time flying around the island trying to discover every Easter Egg in the open resort environment. In fact, I picked up Pilotwings Resort for the Nintendo 3DS just so I could revisit the game on a 3D screen.
Later this month, Nintendo will be releasing the next game in the Sports Resort series, and this time it is meant to take full advantage of the Nintendo Switch 2. What games can we expect to play and how will they be played? Nintendo has you covered with this new overview trailer, enjoy!
Nintendo Switch Sports Resort is coming October 22nd, 2026 exclusively for the Nintendo Switch 2.
Japan Travel Tips – Unique Gaming Themed Cafes October 6, 2026
Posted by Maniac in Japan Travel Tips, Uncategorized.Tags: Japan
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It’s Tuesday, and that means its time for another Japan Travel Tips, where we share some of the best independently produced videos we’ve found that we think will be useful for gamers interested in visiting Japan. Today, we’re going to feature a great video produced by a YouTube that literally set the bar on Pokémon content creation! Tama Hero was a pioneer of Pokémon Fandom on YouTube for as long as I can remember, and recently she’s been posting videos she produced during a recent trip she’s taken to Japan.
Everyone loves food, and gamers certainly love to eat. In Japan, gamers eat very well, as in-universe cafes themed around various gaming properties operate on a year-round basis throughout the country. So what kind of cafes are out there? In the video below, Tama looks at three, one themed around Kirby, one for Pokemon, and one for Monster Hunter. Let’s take a look and see how it went!
I can also attest that over the years I’ve seen other themed restaurants including ones for Resident Evil (Biohazard), and Dragon Quest. However, many of these venues are only open for a limited time (and others may close due to lack of traffic), so the options we mentioned above may not be the same options available to you when you attempt to seek out these cafes to check out for yourselves during your vacation.
Important things to remember from Tama’s Video:
- Do as much research as you can to discover what cafes are currently open that appeal to you.
- If a cafe is only open for a limited window, you may need to direct your plans to make sure you’re in the country during that window. I’m not kidding, some heavy travelers will book their trip dates so they can
- Book Early. You may have to choose to prioritize your most
- Arrive on time for your reservation
Microsoft Releases Disc To Digital Features on Xbox Platforms September 30, 2026
Posted by Maniac in Game News.Tags: Xbox
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This is absolutely lighting up the internet, and we wanted to finally discuss this. Yesterday, Microsoft started rolling out a firmware update on the Xbox platform that will begin to allow all their users to register the unique identifiers stamped into Xbox game discs made since the Xbox One era to use their games digitally. This feature has been in testing for a few weeks now and received plenty of positive support!
After updating your console to the latest version, simply insert a disc made since the Xbox One era into your console. This will register the unique identifiers stamped into your disc to your Xbox Live account, and allow you to play the game without a disc. Just be aware that digital game licenses can be revoked from your account if the physical disc is ever used on a different person’s Xbox console.
As someone who has covered the game industry for a VERY long time, this feature is likely possible due to Microsoft’s initial anti-consumer plans for the Xbox One platform that it made a compete u-turn on when they realized nobody would preorder a console that refused game borrowing or resale. Now it seems that Microsoft is actually using their powers to be pro-consumer.
We have not tested this new function as of this time, but we fully intend to very soon. We had heard that UbiSoft has denied Microsoft the ability to enable the feature on any of their games, and has endured a massive online backlash for that decision (on top of their ongoing existing backlashes for previous anti-consumer decisions they’ve made). We will also report if that is indeed the case later on.
Apple Releases OS 27.0.1 September 29, 2026
Posted by Maniac in Game News.Tags: Apple
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A minor update has just been released for practically every device Apple makes (with the exception of the Apple TV). The new update, 27.0.1 fixes known freezing issues on iPhone and iPad devices, alongside bug fixes and optimizations to OS 27.
The update is small and should only weigh in around a few hundred MB depending on your device.
