Fresh Look Examines Highguard’s Sudden Shutdown and the Live Service Problem
The upcoming shutdown of Highguard only weeks after launch highlights a growing problem in the game industry. As more titles adopt the live service model, players are increasingly expected to treat them like daily obligations rather than entertainment.
Save State: Revisiting Night City and the Best Switch 2 Upgrades
A deep discount pulls columnist Vincent Mahoney back into Cyberpunk 2077, where the surprisingly strong Switch 2 port sparks a broader look at upgraded editions across Nintendo’s newest system.
Fresh Look Examines the Polarizing Effect of Soulslikes
Columnist Neal Sayatovich reluctantly steps into the punishing world of soulslikes this week. Despite his reluctance, he discovers why this brutally difficult and challenging genre inspires both fierce loyalty and total burnout.
Save State: From Mobile JRPGs to Roguelite Mastery in Overrogue
Save State’s Vincent Mahoney writes about Kemco’s roguelite card battler Overrogue. Its smart deck synergies and tactical party rotation shine, though stingy meta progression and grinding may test a player’s patience.
Fresh Look: What Games Should Hollywood Adapt Next?
Video game movies and shows are finally getting it right, and that raises an obvious question: what should be adapted next? In this Fresh Look column, Neal Sayatovich runs through five titles, from cult classics to forgotten oddities, that could shine as movies or TV shows in today’s golden age of game-based storytelling.
Save State Cleaves Through Hyrule Warriors: Age of Imprisonment
Save State’s Vincent Mahoney writes this week about Hyrule Warriors: Age of Imprisonment, which takes the familiar Warriors formula and folds it directly into the canon of Tears of the Kingdom, delivering fast, flashy combat alongside expanded Zelda lore.
Fresh Look’s Appreciation of Innovation in the Industry Amidst Ubisoft’s Slump
As winter weather bears down and industry headlines pile up, Fresh Look’s Neal Sayatovich looks at Ubisoft’s recent business moves and what they say about the modern AAA game industry. He examines everything from AI experimentation and live-service models to the slow erosion of creative risk-taking.
Save State Enjoys Mega Dimension DLC Until RNG Crashes the Pokemon Party
Save State columnist Vincent Mahoney writes this week about enjoying the new DLC Mega Dimension for Pokemon Legends Z-A right up until the end when random number generation ruins all of the carefully built-up fun.
Fresh Look: Why AI Efficiency Could Affect the Very Soul of Gaming
Artificial intelligence is being sold as a way to make game development faster and cheaper, but at what cost? Fresh Look columnist Neal Sayatovich explores how the growing push toward AI-driven content creation could undermine creativity and leave players with games that feel efficient but empty.
Save State Finishes the Quest With Vincent’s Favorite RPG Developers, Part Two
Save State’s Vincent Mahoney returns to his column this week to wrap up his two-part feature on his top five favorite RPG developers. This week he highlights two more of his favorite RPG developers and some honorable mentions.