NEWS THIS WEEK

• ‘Lord Of The Rings’ game ‘Tales Of The Shire’ delayed again
• Marvel Rivals apparently hit with significant layoffs despite "incredibly successful" launch: "This is such a weird industry"
• NetEase’s Billionaire CEO Ding Slashes Jobs, Games in Profit Push
• Tony Hawk's Pro Skater Announcement Teased as Fans Spot Easter Egg in Call of Duty: Black Ops 6
• Nintendo is killing the My Nintendo Gold Points program

‍RELEASE RADAR

• GLOVER - 27 February 2025 - PC, Xbox Series X|S, Xbox One, PlayStation 5, PlayStation 4, Switch
• YU-GI-OH! EARLY DAYS COLLECTION - 27 February 2025 - PC, Switch
• MONSTER HUNTER WILDS - 28 February 2025- PC, PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X|S

‍Pocket Casts: You can now rate the show on Pocket Casts, give us a five star review learn more by heading here https://pocketcasts.com/ratings 

Apple Arcade: Enjoy unlimited access to over 200 incredibly fun games with no ads and no in-app purchases. From puzzle and adventure games to sports, racing, and multiplayer action games, everyone can count on finding something to love. Head to sifter.com.au/arcade to start your free trial* of Apple Arcade today and you'll be supporting independent video games journalism. *New subscribers only. AU$9.99/month after free trial. Plan automatically renews after trial until cancelled.

You can support SIFTER's independent gaming journalism by

☕ Tipping us on KoFi https://www.ko-fi.com/sifterHQ

👕 Wearing our merch https://sifter.store/

💬 Talking to us on the SIFTER Discord https://www.sifter.com.au/discord

SIFTER is produced by Kyle Pauletto, Fiona Bartholomaeus, Courtney Smith, Adam Christou and Chris Button. Mitch Loh is Senior Producer and Gianni Di Giovanni is our Executive Producer. Thanks to Audio Technica Australia and Apple for their support of SIFTER.

NEWS THIS WEEK

• Everything Announced At The February 2025 PlayStation State Of Play
• Overwatch 2 is bringing loot boxes back from the dead
• Valve ban advertising-based business models on Steam, no forced adverts like in mobile games
• Homebound, At Last. Afterlove EP is out now 
• Inaugural Olympic Esports Games will now take place in 2027‍

RELEASE RADAR

• AVOWED - 18 February 2025 - PC, Xbox Series X|S
• LOST RECORDS: BLOOM AND RAGE: PART 1 - 18 February 2025 - PC, Xbox Series X|S, PlayStation 5
• LIKE A DRAGON: PIRATE YAKUZA IN HAWAII - PC, Xbox Series X|S, Xbox One, PlayStation 5, PlayStation 4
• PGA TOUR 2K25 - 21 February 2025 - PC, PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X|S

‍Pocket Casts: You can now rate the show on Pocket Casts, give us a five star review learn more by heading here https://pocketcasts.com/ratings 

Apple Arcade: Enjoy unlimited access to over 200 incredibly fun games with no ads and no in-app purchases. From puzzle and adventure games to sports, racing, and multiplayer action games, everyone can count on finding something to love. Head to sifter.com.au/arcade to start your free trial* of Apple Arcade today and you'll be supporting independent video games journalism. *New subscribers only. AU$9.99/month after free trial. Plan automatically renews after trial until cancelled.

You can support SIFTER's independent gaming journalism by

☕ Tipping us on KoFi https://www.ko-fi.com/sifterHQ

👕 Wearing our merch https://sifter.store/

💬 Talking to us on the SIFTER Discord https://www.sifter.com.au/discord

SIFTER is produced by Kyle Pauletto, Fiona Bartholomaeus, Courtney Smith, Adam Christou and Chris Button. Mitch Loh is Senior Producer and Gianni Di Giovanni is our Executive Producer. Thanks to Audio Technica Australia and Apple for their support of SIFTER.

NEWS THIS WEEK

• Nintendo says it’s making preparations for Switch 2 resellers
• Two beloved indie games have been mysteriously taken off Steam and Xbox
• Wizardry: Proving Grounds of the Mad Overlord (Original Game Soundtrack)
• Why a 43-year-old video game just won a Grammy
• Steam Adds A New Warning For Dead Early Access Games Like Unsung Story
• Pokémon TCG Pocket Estimated to Have Made Half a Billion Dollars in Less Than 3 Months

‍RELEASE RADAR

• CIVILIZATION VII - 11 February 2025 - PC, Xbox Series X|S, Xbox One, PlayStation 5, PlayStation 4, Switch
• THE LEGEND OF HEROES: TRAILS THROUGH DAYBREAK 2 - 14 February 2025 - PC, PlayStation 5, PlayStation 4, Switch
• TOMB RAIDER IV - VI REMASTERED - 14 February 2025 - PC, Xbox Series X|S, Xbox One, PlayStation 5, PlayStation 4, Switch

‍

Pocket Casts: You can now rate the show on Pocket Casts, give us a five star review learn more by heading here https://pocketcasts.com/ratings 

Apple Arcade: Enjoy unlimited access to over 200 incredibly fun games with no ads and no in-app purchases. From puzzle and adventure games to sports, racing, and multiplayer action games, everyone can count on finding something to love. Head to sifter.com.au/arcade to start your free trial* of Apple Arcade today and you'll be supporting independent video games journalism. *New subscribers only. AU$9.99/month after free trial. Plan automatically renews after trial until cancelled.

You can support SIFTER's independent gaming journalism by

☕ Tipping us on KoFi https://www.ko-fi.com/sifterHQ

👕 Wearing our merch https://sifter.store/

💬 Talking to us on the SIFTER Discord https://www.sifter.com.au/discord

SIFTER is produced by Kyle Pauletto, Fiona Bartholomaeus, Courtney Smith, Adam Christou and Chris Button. Mitch Loh is Senior Producer and Gianni Di Giovanni is our Executive Producer. Thanks to Audio Technica Australia and Apple for their support of SIFTER.

NEWS THIS WEEK

• Long-Gone Classics The Sims 1 And 2 Are Finally Coming Back To PC
• Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 Is So Popular the Dev Can't Meet Collector's Edition Demand
• Spider-Man 2 Debuts to 'Mixed' Steam Reviews Amid Serious PC Performance Problems
• Sony drops PSN account requirement for PC versions of PlayStation games

RELEASE RADAR

• KINGDOM COME: DELIVERANCE 2 - 4 February 2025 - PC, Xbox Series S|X, PlayStation 5
• RIFT OF THE NECRODANCER - 6 February 2025 - PC, Switch
• KEEP DRIVING - 6 February 2025 - PC

‍

Pocket Casts: You can now rate the show on Pocket Casts, give us a five star review learn more by heading here https://pocketcasts.com/ratings 

‍Apple Arcade: Enjoy unlimited access to over 200 incredibly fun games with no ads and no in-app purchases. From puzzle and adventure games to sports, racing, and multiplayer action games, everyone can count on finding something to love. Head to sifter.com.au/arcade to start your free trial* of Apple Arcade today and you'll be supporting independent video games journalism. *New subscribers only. AU$9.99/month after free trial. Plan automatically renews after trial until cancelled.

‍

You can support SIFTER's independent gaming journalism by

☕ Tipping us on KoFi https://www.ko-fi.com/sifterHQ

👕 Wearing our merch https://sifter.store/

💬 Talking to us on the SIFTER Discord https://www.sifter.com.au/discord

‍SIFTER is produced by Kyle Pauletto, Fiona Bartholomaeus, Courtney Smith, Adam Christou and Chris Button. Mitch Loh is Senior Producer and Gianni Di Giovanni is our Executive Producer. Thanks to Audio Technica Australia and Apple for their support of SIFTER.

NEWS THIS WEEK

• Celeste Teams' Next Game, Earthblade, Canceled
• Final Earthblade Update
• Marvel Snap is back online, dev seeks new publisher to ‘make sure this NEVER happens again’
• New 3D Mario And Zelda Remake Mentioned By A Retailer, But Don't Get Excited Yet
• Everything announced at Microsoft’s January Xbox Developer Direct
• CITIZEN SLEEPER is pure dystopian science fiction with a hopeful heart

‍

RELEASE RADAR

• CUISINEER - 28 January - PC, Xbox Series X|S, PlayStation 5, Switch
• MARVEL’S SPIDER-MAN 2 - 30 January - PC
• SNIPER ELITE: RESISTANCE - 30 January - PC, Xbox Series X|S, Xbox One, PlayStation 5, PlayStation 4
• CITIZEN SLEEPER 2: STARWARD VECTOR - PC, Xbox Series X|S, PlayStation 5, Switch

‍

Pocket Casts: You can now rate the show on Pocket Casts, give us a five star review learn more by heading here https://pocketcasts.com/ratings 

Apple Arcade: Enjoy unlimited access to over 200 incredibly fun games with no ads and no in-app purchases. From puzzle and adventure games to sports, racing, and multiplayer action games, everyone can count on finding something to love. Head to sifter.com.au/arcade to start your free trial* of Apple Arcade today and you'll be supporting independent video games journalism. *New subscribers only. AU$9.99/month after free trial. Plan automatically renews after trial until cancelled.

You can support SIFTER's independent gaming journalism by

☕ Tipping us on KoFi https://www.ko-fi.com/sifterHQ

👕 Wearing our merch https://sifter.store/

💬 Talking to us on the SIFTER Discord https://www.sifter.com.au/discord

SIFTER is produced by Kyle Pauletto, Fiona Bartholomaeus, Courtney Smith, Adam Christou and Chris Button. Mitch Loh is Senior Producer and Gianni Di Giovanni is our Executive Producer. Thanks to Audio Technica Australia and Apple for their support of SIFTER.

NEWS THIS WEEK

• A Nintendo Direct All About The Switch 2 Is Happening In April
• Bungie and PlayStation are working on a MOBA inspired by Nintendo's Smash Bros, claims report
• Report: The Elder Scrolls 4: Oblivion Remake Is Real; First Gameplay Improvement Details Revealed
• Ambitious Skyblivion project is nearing completion, with only one region of Oblivion left to remake with Skyrim's engine, but it still needs volunteers to help
• Hollow Knight: Silksong Dev Fuels Nintendo Switch 2 Direct Fever With a Picture of a Chocolate Cake‍

RELEASE RADAR

• THE DARK SIDE OF CECLON - 20 January 2025 - PC
• ENDER MAGNOLIA: BLOM IN THE MIST - 23 January 2025 - PC, Switch, PlayStation 4, PlayStation 5, Xbox Series S|X
• STAR WARS EPISODE I: JEDI POWER BATTLES - 23 January 2025 - PC, Switch, PlayStation 4, PlayStation 5, Xbox Series S|X
• FINAL FANTASY VII REBIRTH - 23 january 2025 - PC

Pocket Casts: You can now rate the show on Pocket Casts, give us a five star review learn more by heading here https://pocketcasts.com/ratings 

Apple Arcade: Enjoy unlimited access to over 200 incredibly fun games with no ads and no in-app purchases. From puzzle and adventure games to sports, racing, and multiplayer action games, everyone can count on finding something to love. Head to sifter.com.au/arcade to start your free trial* of Apple Arcade today and you'll be supporting independent video games journalism. *New subscribers only. AU$9.99/month after free trial. Plan automatically renews after trial until cancelled.

You can support SIFTER's independent gaming journalism by

☕ Tipping us on KoFi https://www.ko-fi.com/sifterHQ

👕 Wearing our merch https://sifter.store/

💬 Talking to us on the SIFTER Discord https://www.sifter.com.au/discord

SIFTER is produced by Kyle Pauletto, Fiona Bartholomaeus, Courtney Smith, Adam Christou and Chris Button. Mitch Loh is Senior Producer and Gianni Di Giovanni is our Executive Producer. Thanks to Audio Technica Australia and Apple for their support of SIFTER.

NEWS THIS WEEK

• Ghost of Tsushima anime coming from Crunchyroll and PlayStation
• Sony is working on Horizon Zero Dawn and Helldivers 2 movies 
• Lenovo Legion Go S official: $499 buys the first authorized third-party SteamOS handheld
• New 'Handheld' Gaming PC Is So Big You Could Kill Someone With It
• Assassin’s Creed Shadows Has Been Delayed Again
• Nintendo Comments on Latest Switch 2 Leak

RELEASE RADAR

• ALOFT - 16 January 2025 - PC
• ASSETTO CORSA EVO - 16 January 2025 - PC
• DONKEY KONG COUNTRY RETURNS HD - 16 January 2025 - Switch
• DYNASTY WARRIORS: ORIGINS - 17 January 2025 - PC, PlayStation 5, Xbox Series S|X

‍Pocket Casts: You can now rate the show on Pocket Casts, give us a five star review learn more by heading here https://pocketcasts.com/ratings 

Apple Arcade: Enjoy unlimited access to over 200 incredibly fun games with no ads and no in-app purchases. From puzzle and adventure games to sports, racing, and multiplayer action games, everyone can count on finding something to love. Head to sifter.com.au/arcade to start your free trial* of Apple Arcade today and you'll be supporting independent video games journalism. *New subscribers only. AU$9.99/month after free trial. Plan automatically renews after trial until cancelled.

You can support SIFTER's independent gaming journalism by

☕ Tipping us on KoFi https://www.ko-fi.com/sifterHQ

👕 Wearing our merch https://sifter.store/

💬 Talking to us on the SIFTER Discord https://www.sifter.com.au/discord

SIFTER is produced by Kyle Pauletto, Fiona Bartholomaeus, Courtney Smith, Adam Christou and Chris Button. Mitch Loh is Senior Producer and Gianni Di Giovanni is our Executive Producer. Thanks to Audio Technica Australia and Apple for their support of SIFTER.

NEWS THIS WEEK

• Astro Bot wins Game of the Year at 2024 Game Awards in Los Angeles — as it happened
• The biggest game announcements and trailers from The Game Awards 2024
• Itch.io back online after temporarily takedown by "bogus phishing report" from Funko
• Funko Calls itch.io Founder's Mother Following the "Trash AI" Situation
• Lego Fortnite is getting a big expansion with a GTA-style roleplaying city 
• The Nintendo Switch 2, as described by Dbrand 

RELEASE RADAR

• SQUID GAME: UNLEASHED - 17 December 2024 - Netflix
• ALIEN: ROGUE INCURSION - 19 December 2024 - PSVR 2, PC VR
• PALWORLD - FEYBREAK - 23 December 2024 - PC, PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X|S, Xbox One

Pocket Casts: You can now rate the show on Pocket Casts, give us a five star review learn more by heading here https://pocketcasts.com/ratings 

Apple Arcade: Enjoy unlimited access to over 200 incredibly fun games with no ads and no in-app purchases. From puzzle and adventure games to sports, racing, and multiplayer action games, everyone can count on finding something to love. Head to sifter.com.au/arcade to start your free trial* of Apple Arcade today and you'll be supporting independent video games journalism. *New subscribers only. AU$9.99/month after free trial. Plan automatically renews after trial until cancelled.

You can support SIFTER's independent gaming journalism by

☕ Tipping us on KoFi https://www.ko-fi.com/sifterHQ

👕 Wearing our merch https://sifter.store/

💬 Talking to us on the SIFTER Discord https://www.sifter.com.au/discord

SIFTER is produced by Kyle Pauletto, Fiona Bartholomaeus, Courtney Smith, Adam Christou and Chris Button. Mitch Loh is Senior Producer and Gianni Di Giovanni is our Executive Producer. Thanks to Audio Technica Australia and Apple for their support of SIFTER.

NEWS THIS WEEK

• You’ve got ten days to pick up the original Warcraft I & II from GOG before Blizzard pull them, but GOG will support their preservation forever
• Lenovo Legion Go S leak shows renders of the cheaper handheld gaming PC
• Elden Ring 2 is not in development, says FromSoftware's Miyazaki
• Players’ Voice Nominations are open

RELEASE RADAR

• INDIANA JONES AND THE GREAT CIRCLE - 9 December 2024 - PC, Xbox Series S|X
• LEGACY OF KAIN: SOUL REAVER 1 & 2 REMASTERED - 10 December 2024 - PC, Xbox Series X|S, Xbox One, PlayStation 5, PlayStation 4, Switch
• MIGHTY MORPHIN POWER RANGERS: RITA'S REWIND - 10 December 2024 - PC, Xbox Series X|S, Xbox One, PlayStation 5, PlayStation 4, Switch
• SPIRIT OF THE SAMURAI - 12 December 2024 - PC
• BRONANA - 13 December 2024 - PC

‍Pocket Casts: You can now rate the show on Pocket Casts, give us a five star review learn more by heading here https://pocketcasts.com/ratings 

Apple Arcade: Enjoy unlimited access to over 200 incredibly fun games with no ads and no in-app purchases. From puzzle and adventure games to sports, racing, and multiplayer action games, everyone can count on finding something to love. Head to sifter.com.au/arcade to start your free trial* of Apple Arcade today and you'll be supporting independent video games journalism. *New subscribers only. AU$9.99/month after free trial. Plan automatically renews after trial until cancelled.

You can support SIFTER's independent gaming journalism by

☕ Tipping us on KoFi https://www.ko-fi.com/sifterHQ

👕 Wearing our merch https://sifter.store/

💬 Talking to us on the SIFTER Discord https://www.sifter.com.au/discord

SIFTER is produced by Kyle Pauletto, Fiona Bartholomaeus, Courtney Smith, Adam Christou and Chris Button. Mitch Loh is Senior Producer and Gianni Di Giovanni is our Executive Producer. Thanks to Audio Technica Australia and Apple for their support of SIFTER.

NEWS THIS WEEK

• The 2K Launcher Is No More — You Can Now Launch 2K’s PC Games Directly in Steam
• Forget the PlayStation Portal, as now Sony is reportedly working on a new handheld that will let you play your PS5 games anywhere
• New Tencent Game Accused of ‘Ripping Off’ Sony’s Horizon Series
• Baldur’s Gate 3 will add cross-play, 12 subclasses and a photo mode next year‍

RELEASE RADAR

• INFINITY NIKKI - 5 December 2024 - PC, PlayStation 5
• MARVEL RIVALS - 6 December 2024 - PC, Xbox Series X|S, PlayStation 5
• PATH OF EXILE 2 - 6 December 2024 - PC, Xbox Series X|S, Xbox One, PlayStation 5

Pocket Casts: You can now rate the show on Pocket Casts, give us a five star review learn more by heading here https://pocketcasts.com/ratings 

Apple Arcade: Enjoy unlimited access to over 200 incredibly fun games with no ads and no in-app purchases. From puzzle and adventure games to sports, racing, and multiplayer action games, everyone can count on finding something to love. Head to sifter.com.au/arcade to start your free trial* of Apple Arcade today and you'll be supporting independent video games journalism. *New subscribers only. AU$9.99/month after free trial. Plan automatically renews after trial until cancelled.

You can support SIFTER's independent gaming journalism by

☕ Tipping us on KoFi https://www.ko-fi.com/sifterHQ

👕 Wearing our merch https://sifter.store/

💬 Talking to us on the SIFTER Discord https://www.sifter.com.au/discord

SIFTER is produced by Kyle Pauletto, Fiona Bartholomaeus, Courtney Smith, Adam Christou and Chris Button. Mitch Loh is Senior Producer and Gianni Di Giovanni is our Executive Producer. Thanks to Audio Technica Australia and Apple for their support of SIFTER.