After the bonkers bonanza of Game of the Year and holidays and wrapping up everything in a neat little bow that happens at the end of every year, the slate is finally wiped clean for 2023. This is, arguably, one of the most exciting times in gaming — when the year is fresh and unblemished like newly-fallen snow, and we can dream of what might happen next.
Here at Nintendo Life, we don’t have a crystal ball, but we do have many years of experience, and that’s better than nothing when it comes to predicting what’s next for Nintendo, indies, and the dear ol’ Switch. And fear not, we (mostly) won’t be mentioning the existence or non-existence of the Sw*tch P*o in here — no hardware, only software!
CES always brings exciting new developments in hardware, and never more so when it comes to gaming devices. CES 2023 is no exception, bringing us early looks at portable-but-powerful laptops, beefy home rigs, future-proofed AI chips, and more. With that in mind, we’ve rounded up a sampling of the new Windows 11 PCs announced at CES 2023 from several of our top partners.
Each one is designed to run the newest, most demanding games, not least from PC Game Pass. Even better, every single computer listed below comes with at least one free month of Xbox Game Pass Ultimate included*, helping you jump straight into a game the moment you get your hands on your new device.
CyberPower
CyberPower’s new Prism 360V features a wide-open front and side glass panel so you can see all your components. The company also introduced the 7th generation of its Tracer Edge Laptop Series with optional Liquid Cooling add-on unit. It comes with a 17-inch 240Hz 100% SRGB IPS display, 13th Gen Intel Core i9-13900HX Processor, up to an NVIDIA GeForce RTX 4090 Graphics and a full mechanical keyboard with Cherry switches.
MSI
MSI announced a new laptop and desktop product lineup at CES 2023, including its gaming flagship Raider GE78 built for enthusiasts, pushing the peak of performance and innovation with the latest NVIDIA GeForce RTX 40 series GPUs and up to 13th Gen Intel Core HX series processors. The Raider GE78 also comes with up to i9 HX and RTX 4090 with maximized CPU-GPU combined power and MUX Design, as well as a 16- or 17-inch 16:10 QHD+ 240Hz 100%DCI-P3 display, with a new matrix bright bar and per-key RGB gaming keyboard. MSI also announced new Content Creation series laptops.
Razer
Power meets precision and portability with the new Razer Blade 16. Engineered to push performance to new places, it comes equipped with the innovative dual mode 4K mini-LED display or blazing fast QHD+ 240Hz option.
iBUYPOWER
To kick off 2023, iBUYPOWER will introduce its new line of custom gaming and content creation PCs to the market. With the launch of the new HYTE Y40 case, iBUYPOWER will introduce both custom configured and RDY systems for customers looking for out-of-the-box PC solutions featuring the Y40. The Creator RDY Y40BG201 will feature the new mid-tower case from iBUYPOWER’s sister brand, HYTE, an Intel Core i9 13900KF, RTX 4090, Z790 motherboard, 2TB M.2 SSD and Windows 11 pre-installed for easy setup.
Acer
The Predator Helios 16and Predator Helios 18 are two new Windows 11 gaming laptops revealed at CES 2023, with new designs and upgraded thermals. They come with the latest 13th Gen Intel Core mobile processors and NVIDIA GeForce RTX 40 Series GPUs, making them Acer’s most powerful gaming laptops to date.
ROG
ROG has redesigned the ultra-sleek 2023 Zephyrus M16 from the ground up, retaining a thin-and-light design but now including an improved cooling system featuring Tri-Fan Technology, which routes air from three fans through precisely calculated cutouts toward the heatsink for more efficient cooling. This allows the device to run 25 watts higher compared to last year’s model — providing even more power to the Intel Core i9 13900H CPU and NVIDIA GeForce RTX 4090 Laptop GPU and NVIDIA Advanced Optimus in this flagship gaming machine.
Alienware
Alienware’s most powerful laptop, the m18, has 13th Gen Intel Core HX processors that harness up to 65W (compared to previous-gen 45W), the full stack of NVIDIA GeForce Next-Gen Laptop GPUs and dual user-replaceable DDR5 SO-DIMM slots. Additionally, AMD Advantage models will be powered by next-gen AMD Ryzen Processors and Radeon Graphics for mobile.
HP
The OMEN 17 Laptop, HP’s most powerful gaming laptop, has up to 13th Gen Intel Core i9-13900HX and latest NVIDIA GeForce graphics, which utilizes OMEN Tempest Cooling Technology for desktop-caliber gaming. This PC is HP’s first to feature optical mechanical keys, which are 25 times faster than traditional keys.
Lenovo
To give gamers an advantage, Lenovo has developed an AI chip for gaming laptops, including for its Lenovo Legion Pro 7i. The chip uses software machine learning, deployed through Lenovo Vantage, to help monitor in-game FPS and dynamically adjust for the highest performance output.
Find out more about these and other new gaming PCs from Acer, ASUS, Dell, HP and Lenovo that were highlighted this week on the Microsoft CES microsite.
*Xbox Game Pass Ultimate not available in all regions. Learn more about supported regions at https://www.xbox.com/regions.
The developer behind Konami’s Silent Hill 2 Remake is “faithfully” sticking to the original game’s story but updating outdated gameplay mechanics.
Speaking to Dread XP (and spotted by Siliconera), Bloober Team’s chief marketing officer Anna Jasińska promised the development team isn’t “missing the point” on the remake.
“We are focusing on bringing the distinct, visceral atmosphere back in the modernized Silent Hill 2,” said Jasińska. “Longtime fans shouldn’t worry about us missing the point while we’re livening up the title.
“We faithfully stick to the traditional story canon while remaking the gameplay and updating the graphics from the ground up. These are the reasons why Konami entrusted us with the remake in the first place.”
Exactly what would change in the remake was a little unclear when Konami first announced it, with director Mateusz Lenart only saying that Bloober Team would “make everything that made the game a timeless classic”.
Jasińska reiterated just how committed the team is, adding that they “take a very safe approach to any changes. We remain faithful to the original title. Nonetheless, we are applying adjustments to certain areas where things need modernizing due to the passage of time.”
One thing changing is the addition of the over-the-shoulder camera, but other enhancements including new challenges and updated sound design are also coming in the Silent Hill 2 Remake. Fans will have to be patient in finding out what else will change, however, as the game currently has no release date.
Ryan Dinsdale is an IGN freelancer and acting UK news editor. He’ll talk about The Witcher all day.
Suzerain have announced their follow-up, a narrative RPG called The Conformist. It’s set in the same universe and fictional country as Suzerain, although it takes place before the events of that game. Instead of leading the country of Sordland, this time players will guide the government propagandist Orwin through the city of Holsord, as you make tough decisions, befriend NPCs, and keep your family safe.
Apex Legends with some pals, but otherwise, all I did was watch an eclectic mix of anime and TV: Mob Psycho 100, Better Call Saul, and Somebody Feed Phil. Granted, my gaming tastes wax and wane over a year, with lengthy JRPG stints rolling inevitably into junk food like Assassin’s Creed Valhalla. No matter what, my one constant is an FPS or ‘competitive’ game, I suppose. Games like Apex, or Warzone, or even Fortnite.
And yet, for whatever reason, I don’t consider them as candidates for the Bestest Best games of any year. I might pour hundreds, possibly thousands of hours into them and they won’t even make it into my personal list of absolute faves. That’s reserved for games, not games.
Puzzle Bobble 2 & 3 and Metal Black get the S-Tribute treatment.
Days after teasing its 2023 plans, Taito’s Puzzle Bobble series and Metal Black are coming to the Switch thanks to City Connection and its S-Tribute series (thanks, Gematsu!).
Resolve to have more fun this year! Get started this weekend during Free Play Days. Cricket 22, For the King, and Saints Row are all available this weekend for Xbox Live Gold and Xbox Game Pass Ultimate members to play from Thursday, January 5 at 12:01 a.m. PT until Sunday, January 8 at 11:59 p.m. PT.
How to Start Playing
Find and install the games on each of the individual game details page on Xbox.com. Clicking through will send you to the Microsoft Store, where you must be signed in to see the option to install with your Xbox Live Gold or Xbox Game Pass Ultimate membership. To download on console, click on the Subscriptions tab in the Xbox Store and enter the Gold member area to locate the Free Play Days collection on your Xbox One and Xbox Series X|S.
Keep the Fun Going
Purchase the game and other editions at a limited time discount and continue playing while keeping your Gamerscore and earned achievements during the event! Please note that discounts and percentages may vary by title and region.
Step on to the field for the most comprehensive cricket game ever! With more licenses, a narrative-driven career mode, and 4K visuals, Cricket 22 is a true next-generation sporting experience. All-new control options make the game more accessible to players of all skill levels, while Big Ant Studios’ authentic recreation of every aspect of the sport provides hundreds of hours of hyper-realistic cricket action for fans. Lead your team to glory, your way!
For the King
Gather your friends and prepare for war! For the King is a strategic RPG blending tabletop and roguelike elements in a challenging adventure that spans the realms. Set off on a single player experience or play cooperatively both online and locally.
Saints Row
It’s the American dream to be your own boss, but this startup hits different! Witness the birth of the Saints as you fight to the top of the criminal underworld in the Weird, Wild West of Santo Ileso. Explore a vast urban playground in blockbuster action filled with thrills, customization, violence, and humor. Take on the campaign with a friend, complete missions and progress together…or play a wicked prank on them just for the hell of it.
Don’t miss out on this exciting Free Play Days for Xbox Live Gold and Xbox Game Pass Ultimate member! Learn more about Free Play Days here and stay tuned to Xbox Wire to find out about future Free Play Days and all the latest Xbox gaming news.
Sony has announced that its PlayStation 5 console has now surpassed more than 30 million units sold, and that the console shortage is now essentially over.
“We truly appreciate the support and patience of the PlayStation community as we managed unprecedented demand amid global challenges over the past two years,” Ryan said.
“PS5 supply improved toward the end of last year, and I’m happy to share that December was the biggest month ever for PS5 console sales and that we have now sold than 30 million units through to consumers worldwide.”
Confident that supply issues are now solved completely, Ryan added that “everyone who wants a PS5 should have a much easier time finding one at retailer globally, starting from this point forward.”
A crippling semiconductor chip shortage seriously restricted the creation of new PS5 consoles but this didn’t stop the PS5 from surpassing 20 million units sold as of June 2021, at which point Sony executive Veronica Rogers announced that the company was “planning on a significant ramp-up in PS5 production”.
Ryan Dinsdale is an IGN freelancer and acting UK news editor. He’ll talk about The Witcher all day.
Mortal Shell, in which case all you have to do is wait a month for the title to be re-added. The fantasy Soulslike had left the service on November 30th last year, but now it’s back, this time with the Enhanced Edition.
Suzerain have announced their follow-up, a narrative RPG called 
Apex Legends with some pals, but otherwise, all I did was watch an eclectic mix of anime and TV: Mob Psycho 100, Better Call Saul, and Somebody Feed Phil. Granted, my gaming tastes wax and wane over a year, with lengthy JRPG stints rolling inevitably into junk food like 
Persona 5 recently, fans understandably had some strong reactions, particularly over the placing of best boy Ryuji.
Mortal Shell, in which case all you have to do is wait a month for the title to be re-added. The fantasy Soulslike had left the service on November 30th last year, but now it’s back, this time with the Enhanced Edition.