There’s a slight breeze and a comforting glow coming from the crack’s in today’s calendar door, the sound of merriment and many accents from all over the world. Better join in the campfire revelry, because whoever’s there won’t be staying for long.
Holly *and* Jolly? In this economy?
Christmas is right around the corner and we’re feeling sufficiently merry and bright, so it’s time for another edition of What Are You Playing!
This week on Nintendo Life, we all questioned our sanity as we checked out our Nintendo Switch Year in Review, a new Pokémon Trading Card Game Pocket expansion had us heading back to the packs, we ran through the very best games you should pick up in Europe’s latest eShop sale and even more ‘Switch 2’ rumours came out to play (because of course they did).
Read the full article on nintendolife.com
%2C_frontispiece_-_BL.jpg?width=1920&height=1920&fit=bounds&quality=80&format=jpg&auto=webp)
Happy weekend all. Due to the intervention of Dark Powers and also, half the Treehouse already being on holiday, we neglected to do a round-up of staff Xmas plays before signing off for the year. Well, I’m pretty sure nobody did one. I can’t see anything scheduled in the RPS Post-A-Tron, but the RPS Post-A-Tron is an unreliable beast, full of malice and deceit. If I publish this and it turns out we have two, please divide into rival factions and have a comments war over which is the real one. Apologies! Normal service will resume next year.
Download it now.
Following its release in October, Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: Mutants Unleashed has received a new update.
It adds a new colour blind mode with three options and also “responds to fan demand” for increased gameplay difficulty and other quality-of-life improvements. Here’s the full rundown, courtesy of the PR:
Read the full article on nintendolife.com
The crossover fighter returns.
Well, here’s a surprise – Falcom and refint/games have announced they’re reviving the crossover fighting game bringing together Ys. and Trails in the Sky.
Ys vs. Trails in the Sky: Alternative Saga will be coming to the Switch and multiple other platforms worldwide in 2025. This game was originally released on the PlayStation Portable in 2010 and was exclusive to Japan.
Read the full article on nintendolife.com
The Team Fortress 2 comic has just released its newest update, seven years since the last issue and seemingly the finale to this long journey.
Team Fortress 2 Issue 7 “The Days Have Worn Away” is the first update to the online digital comic series since January 10, 2017, and it looks like it might just be the comic’s finale based on this tweet from Valve writer Erik Wolpaw.
Pic from the last tf comics meeting ever. (not pictured: Ira Crosby) pic.twitter.com/snfI2KiM27
— Erik Wolpaw (@Wolpaw) December 20, 2024
“Did you know the construction of the Leaning Tower of Pisa was one hundred and ninety nine years late? Literally everyone alive when construction started was dead by the time it finished,” The Team Fortress 2 team writes in a blog post announcing the new issue. A perhaps more extreme example of something taking a long time to complete than this comic, but an apt analogy.
For fans of Team Fortress 2, you’ll find the gang all here including a newly married Soldier and even a maskless Spy. The issue also has a dedication to Rick May, the voice of Soldier who died in 2020 at the age of 79. The story itself concludes a long, winding journey that TF2 fans have been waiting a long time to see updated, so I won’t spoil the rest of the comic here.
The comics have served as an invaluable tome to find out more about the different TF2 characters, especially background characters like Miss Pauling and The Administrator. The comics are very much worth a full read if you haven’t checked them out already.
Valve is continuing the trend of emerging from what seems like some kind of gaming hibernation, first with the release of the Steam Deck and the testing of its new hero shooter, Deadlock. This new comic issue serves that Valve creatives are still tinkering in the background, working on new stories for our favorite games.
Matt Kim is IGN’s Senior Features Editor. You can reach him @lawoftd.
There’s less than a week left before Christmas, but Best Buy is still pushing out more gaming deals for December. Right now, you can pick up the professional-grade Xbox Series X Elite Series 2 Wireless Controller for only $119.99 after a 33% off instant discount. Better yet, you can still get it delivered by 12/25. That’s a great deal for the original Elite Series 2 controller that includes the component pack, unlike the Elite Series “Core” controllers. The component pack retails for $60.
Includes component pack
The Xbox Elite Series 2 Core controller features better build quality and lots more customizability than the stock controller that comes with the Xbox Series X console. Some of the more significant pro gaming features include adjustable-tension thumbsticks, wrap-around rubberized grip, and shorter hair trigger locks. The component pack, which is bundled with this controller, includes an extra sets of paddles, thumbsticks, D-pad, and case.
The original Xbox Elite Series 2 controller is rarely discounted. I usually see more deals on the Elite Series “Core” models, which don’t include the component pack. However, one of the biggest advantages of getting this controller over the standard controller is the customizability. Without those extra accessories in the component pack to modify the controller to your liking, there’s less of a reason to spend so much more than the already excellent non-Elite controller.
Eric Song is the IGN commerce manager in charge of finding the best gaming and tech deals every day. When Eric isn’t hunting for deals for other people at work, he’s hunting for deals for himself during his free time.
Subscribe via Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or download here
Hello folks! This week, the crew shares their favorite games of the year in the final show of 2024. Plus, Kristen returns to share her top games from past PlayStation console generations to celebrate the 30th anniversary.
Thank you to all the developers who made this such a special year in gaming and to all the listeners for coming along for the ride. Here’s to a great year in gaming for 2025!
Stuff We Talked About
Kristen Zitani – Senior Content Communications Specialist, SIE
Tim Turi – Content Communications Manager, SIE
O’Dell Harmon Jr. – Content Communications Specialist, SIE
Thanks to Dormilón for our rad theme song and show music.
[Editor’s note: PSN game release dates are subject to change without notice. Game details are gathered from press releases from their individual publishers and/or ESRB rating descriptions.]
Anime-inspired tower defense Roblox experience Anime Defenders just got its Christmas Update, and with it comes holiday maps, a new battle pass, units, and more.
Developer Small World Games published the latest patch for its popular take on tower dense strategy for fans across all devices to help celebrate the season. Although December is quickly coming to a close, the update adds more than enough winter-themed distractions to keep players preoccupied for weeks to come. Highlights include various Christmas decorations and maps, hidden presents to find, a new Gold Shop, and Leaderboard Season 5.
Those hopping into Anime Defenders after the Christmas Update will first notice the snow, presents, and trees that now pollute the lobby. These are more than just festive trinkets, though, as the added clutter has been used to carefully hide presents that, once acquired, unlock some of those new maps. Completing additional Santa Claus quests can unlock even more goodies, with daily quests also gifting players with rewards should they continue to log in between now and December 26. There’s also a limited Christmas Banner, which contains six new units to collect.
In addition to every new holiday item added as part of the Anime Defenders Christmas Update, players can take advantage of a new trading currency: Emerald. While the introduction of a new currency is exciting, Small World does clarify that most items, with the exception of gifts, are now untradable.
Anime Defenders is one of many Roblox experiences choosing to celebrate the holidays with special Christmas updates. Blade Ball launched into its winter plans earlier this month with its Festivities Update. Christmas may only be one week away, but developers will surely continue to add more themed content throughout December. In the meantime, you can see our full list of every active Anime Defenders code here.
You can check out the full patch notes from the Christmas Update below.
This update contains a whole lot of content, including new maps, units, and more!
New Limited Christmas Banner!
Contains Units:
Uses Snowflake Currency
You can convert your Gems and Relics into Snowflakes!
New Christmas Maps!
Santa Claus Quests
Daily Quests with Exciting Rewards!
New Christmas Battlepass!
New Unit Skins!
New Christmas Bundles!
New Christmas Gift Items!
New Gold Shop
New Leaderboard Season!
New Trading Changes: Emerald
Merry Christmas, Defenders!
Michael Cripe is a freelance contributor with IGN. He started writing in the industry in 2017 and is best known for his work at outlets such as The Pitch, The Escapist, OnlySP, and Gameranx.
Be sure to give him a follow on Twitter @MikeCripe.
Tower Defense Simulator is sending in a wave of winter presents for Roblox players with its gargantuan 1.46.0 patch a.k.a. the Frost Invasion update, including the new Outpost 32 map, two new event towers, a new battle pass, and so much more.
Developer Paradoxum Games has spent the last week teasing a massive update, and patch notes for today’s update suggest Frost Invasion may have been worth the hype. There are plenty of rewards for both free and premium players in the event’s chilly battle pass, with some highlights for the latter including a Double Chunk Chocolate Cookie emote, the Dark Frost Electroshocker, and a Frost Legion Mercenary Base. Tower Defense Simulator update 1.46.0 also comes with the long-awaited Sandbox Mode for those looking to experiment as well as an Enemy Index, which can be used to keep track of and learn more about your foes.
Frost Invasion itself injects some story background into the world of Tower Defense Simulator. A description from Paradoxum explains that the event takes place in the research facility known as Outpost 32 and involves the genius Professor V.
“However, during a routine test on the portal, a catastrophic malfunction occurred—tearing a rift to the Frost Dimension,” the description says. “Now, waves of Frost Invaders are pouring through, threatening to obliterate the facility and its vital research.”
To help fight back against the Frost Spirit and his army, Tower Defense Simulator players have been granted access to two new event towers: the Elementalist Tower and the Snowballer Tower. The former can be unlocked by beating Frost Invasion on hard mode, while beating easy mode is all that’s required to unlock the latter.
Paradoxum has given players the gift of more content this holiday season, and it’s a gift that should keep everyone preoccupied for the near future. Whether you’re looking to save the world from the Frost Spirit as a newcomer or veteran tower defender, you can click here to see our full list of all active Tower Defense Simulator codes. Finally, you can see the patch notes for the Frost Invasion update below.
In the wake of the Hexscape incident, our brightest mind, Professor V, has been leading classified research into the enigmatic science of cross-world travel. Outpost 32, our most advanced facility, has been repurposed for these critical experiments.
However, during a routine test on the portal, a catastrophic malfunction occurred—tearing a rift to the Frost Dimension. Now, waves of Frost Invaders are pouring through, threatening to obliterate the facility and its vital research.
The Frost Spirit and his army are invading! Protect Outpost 32 and its critical research—failure is not an option.
· Frost Spirit Boss
· Outpost 32 Map
NEW EVENT TOWERS!
Elementalist Tower (Hard Mode)
Prepare for a frosty adventure with the Frost Invasion Battle Pass! Two tracks are available: Free and Premium (500 Robux). Unlock limited-time skins, emotes, name tags, and exclusive items as you progress!
Free Rewards Include:
· Chilly Sticker
· Frost Legion Sniper
· Dark Frost Soldier
· Frost Legion Freezer
· Cozy Camp Farm
· Snowman Emote
· Dark Frost Trapper
· Nut Cracker Minigunner
· Santa Commander
· Frost Commander Charm
· Rudolph Brawler
Premium Rewards Include:
· Jolly Tree Emote
· Goofy Sledger Sticker
· Snowballer Charm
· Double Chunk Chocolate Cookie Emote
· Dark Frost Crook Boss
· Elementalist Charm
· Dark Frost Warden
· Elf Present Sticker
· Dark Frost Mortar
· Frost Spirit Charm
· Caroling Emote
· Frost Spirit Sticker
· Dark Frost Electroshocker
· Cultist Ramiel Charm
· Dark Frost Engineer
· Krampus Sticker
· Snowball Emote
· Frost Legion Mercenary Base
HOLIDAY CONSUMABLE CRATE
Spread the holiday cheer with the Holiday Consumable Crate! Unbox 5 random holiday-themed items for just 32 Robux, or earn crates by participating in the Frost Invasion event.
· Festive Tree
· Fruit Cake
· Santa’s Air Strike
· Present Cluster Bomb
· MOLTEN MONSTER
SANDBOX MODE
Sandbox Mode is finally here! Available to players Level 250+, this mode lets you experiment with unlocked enemies, maps, towers, and items however you like. Push the boundaries of creativity and strategy!
Want even more control? Grab the Admin Commands Gamepass to take Sandbox Mode to the next level with exclusive features!
Features:
ADMIN COMMANDS GAMEPASS
Unlock the ultimate power and take Sandbox Mode to its limits! Enjoy 20% off for the Holidays, knocking the price down from 8,000 Robux to 6,400 Robux!!
· Instant access to Sandbox Mode (no level requirement).
· Assign up to 3 admins to join your party.
· Mega servers: Play with up to 5 or 6 players.
· Spawn any enemies, including legacy enemies.
· Legacy gamemodes: Relive iconic T.D.S. challenges.
· Full game rule control: Edit and customize everything.
· Unlimited towers: Build without restrictions.
· Spam consumables for maximum chaos.
· And much more!
ENEMY INDEX
The Enemy Index has arrived in T.D.S.! Track your conquests and complete your Log Book by defeating enemies. Each enemy has a random chance to drop their entry log upon death, unlocking their story and secrets.
Discover Lore: More enemy lore entries will be added in 2026 for deeper insights into their origins.
Sandbox Mode: Unlocking an entry allows you to spawn that enemy in Sandbox Mode for testing and strategizing.
Frost Mortar finally gets added to the frost crate
Small Changes
Elementalist
Snowballer
Michael Cripe is a freelance contributor with IGN. He started writing in the industry in 2017 and is best known for his work at outlets such as The Pitch, The Escapist, OnlySP, and Gameranx.
Be sure to give him a follow on Twitter @MikeCripe.
