What a strange change. If clown award farming was such a problem, Valve should have disable point transfer, for that award specifically. And that would be enough.

If Valve's goal was for me to care even less about anything on Steam outside install/launch button then they certainly succeed...

:(.

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So nothing about rumored Radeon 9080/9090, and not even Ryzen 9950x3d2? I'm in the middle of building a new PC now and I was really counting on them... For me it's the worst showcase in the last five years.

P.S. Before anyone asked: I got lucky to buy my RAM in advance around August 2025. So at least it is that, yea. Still sulking about the showcase.

:(.

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Steam replay says I played 202 different games this year and of course I'm not able to remember most of them. :). The Top was split between different Paradox grand strategies and Underrail, but those are not 2025 games.If we concentrate on the games of this year I will probably mention two, both very recent: Of Ash and Steel [External Link] and Swordhaven [External Link].

Of Ash and Steel [External Link] is a very immersive Gothic (or Risen)-style ARPG that "don't hold your hand" (meaning, among other things, that you won't even have a map in the first 1/3 of the game and will need to remember surroundings yourself and find quest locations by their descriptions). The game had a very rough start a month ago but now, with 1.05 patch, developers seems to fix at least the most critical bugs and have a good roadmap to move forward.

Swordhaven [External Link] is an isometric-style CRPG from the developers of ATOM RPG.The game was only released recently and I didn't play that much yet but the beginning got me hooked with reactivity and good writing and I have a long-established faith in developers. Also, the game has a Linux version, which is always nice.

Obviously I can't name anything GOTY without finishing at least most of it first but those two games seems to have a potential so far.

:).

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If anybody interested - my replay is here [External Link].
In short - 16% in 2025 releases, Top 5 most played games are Hearts of Iron IV, Europa Universalis IV, Underrail, Stellaris & Gothic 1.

:).

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Do I understand it right and Paramount is still more or less "classical" film company? I know they have a Paramount+ service but they seems to continue to release a lot of movies in cinemas. If so, I will definitely root for them.

Paramount, fighto!

:).

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Quoting: Eike

Quoting: ElectricPrism☑ Optical CD/DVD/HD/BluRay Drive on Laptops
☑ Ethernet Port in many cases gone necessitating USB-C Hub
☑ Anything outside a single USB-C

Not true. Have it in my laptop I bought this year.

Oh, you bought a notebook with an ODD this year? Regardless of ElectricPrism predictions those *are* becoming more and more scarce and harder to find. Did you bought it for gaming or office work? Was it good? Can you please tell the model?

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This change seems to have another important consequence: the game is now available in some countries where it wasn't before. :). (Probably countries where PSN is not launched officially).

Those countries still have no access to this new multiplayer DLC, but at least the base game is now available.

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Though I am also hoping that future DLC will finally concentrate on fleshing out and enhancing existing content and systems. The game feels overly broad right now, but quite shallow.

Paradox had published a survey this year which revealed what they are discussing internally for the next few years (and asking players opinion on those plans). There was some completely new systems (like a proper trade system which I'm very interested in) but also plans to refresh and expand existing systems (I remember ideas on Christianity and laws and internal working of feudal realm).

So there are such plans but unfortunately we don't know the results of the survey and whats was popular there, so we don't know what they will do next...

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One of a few rare Steam game news that, two days after publishing, still has exactly zero likes while having hundreds (300+) of comments. :).

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Another article on topic: EA will be a very different company under private ownership [External Link]. Short version:

- A giant $20 billion debt will motivate company management to concentrate on cutting costs & less-risk-and-sure return products (so selling IP's, layoffs, live services and microtransactions). My estimation: 90% chance.
- Freedom from obligatory quarterly reports to shareholders (where they need to show more and more earnings each quarter) may allow company management to concentrate more on long-term investments and allow taking risks and longer development cycles. Maybe. If management choose to go this route. My estimation: 10% chance.

Now, formally those focuses are not mutually exclusive and can be pursed together as different mid- and long-term goals. But that will require a very good management and planing. We will see. :).

Edit: While I was writing this the link to the article was already provided. Ups, sorry. :).

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