Latest Gaming News

đź“…December 17, 2025 at 1:00 PM
Key gaming headlines today: award winners, major studio investor day reveals, big updates/patches, AI in games, industry year-in-review, and notable releases/maintenance.
1

Game Informer readers name Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 their top game of 2025

Game Informer readers voted Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 as their favourite game of 2025 and it reportedly won Game of the Year at The Game Awards, topping the publication's reader poll of the year’s best titlesSource 1.

2

Snail, Inc. unveils $USDO stablecoin and ARK DLC at 2025 Investor Day

Snail, Inc. revealed advancements to its digital ecosystem including a new stablecoin called $USDO and showcased ARK franchise plans — teasing the ARK: Lost Colony DLC slated for December 18, 2025 during its Investor Day in New YorkSource 2.

3

Ball x Pit highlighted as a standout indie of 2025

ScreenHub’s columnist named BALL x PIT a favourite game of 2025, praising its addictive design and player appeal as part of the year’s notable indie successesSource 3.

4

Major scheduled update for MapleStory today

Nexon announced a scheduled MapleStory game update beginning December 17, 2025, with maintenance windows and patch deployment times posted for players to prepareSource 5.

5

Game Developer publishes 2025 wrap-up of the industry's defining events

Game Developer released a year-in-review listing ten events that shaped 2025 — covering acquisitions, delays, layoffs, regional investment shifts, and notable industry controversiesSource 6.

6

Industry firms publish 2025 corporate reviews and retrospectives

Studios and service providers including Virtuos issued 2025 'in review' pieces outlining company highlights, strategic pivots, and lessons from the year as the sector adapts to changing development modelsSource 7.

7

AI’s growing role in game development and design

Coverage and analysis across outlets highlight AI’s rapid integration into games — from smarter NPCs and generative content to machine-learning-assisted development workflows that promise more dynamic player experiencesSource 8.

8

Tabletop retailer Warehouse 23 promotes holiday gaming picks

Steve Jackson Games’ Warehouse 23 promoted gift certificates and seasonal product suggestions for hobby gamers as part of broader holiday shopping activity in tabletop and role‑playing marketsSource 9.

9

Analytics and industry data firms sum up 2025 gaming metrics

Companies such as Slotegrator and other B2B analysts published year-end metrics and business summaries reflecting restructuring, growth areas, and regulatory impacts across gaming verticals in 2025Source 12.

10

MGM Resorts surpasses 2,000 GameSense advisors — responsible gaming milestone

MGM Resorts announced it exceeded 2,000 trained GameSense advisors, marking a responsible-gaming milestone tied to its player-support programs and public reporting for 2025Source 13.

11

The Elder Scrolls VI development progressing, Bethesda says

Bethesda developers, including Todd Howard, stated The Elder Scrolls VI is 'progressing really well,' with a large portion of the studio engaged and continued long pre-production and polish cycles emphasizedSource 11.