Today’s Gaming News Roundup
The gaming industry seems to be in high gear, with accessories like the Turtle Beach VelocityOne and niche games like One Gun Guy gaining traction. Escape From Tarkov has reached new levels of popularity, perhaps fueled by our collective desire for immersive experiences. Today, we’re diving into how these trends could shape the market as we look to close out the year!
Turtle Beach VelocityOne F-RX Formula Wheel Review
Turtle Beach has revealed an exciting upgrade to its racing with the release of the VelocityOne Stand. This new addition is designed to enhance the gaming experience for racing enthusiasts. It’s compatible with the VelocityOne Flight and Racing Wheels, providing a sturdy and adjustable setup for gamers. The stand is priced at $199.99 and is available for purchase starting November 10, 2023. This upgrade signals Turtle Beach’s commitment to expanding its presence in the racing accessories market.
The VelocityOne Stand aims to provide greater stability and customization for players, addressing previous user feedback on comfort and positioning. With this move, Turtle Beach is definitely positioning itself as a serious contender in the gaming peripherals space. Could this mean more innovations from them by 2025? Time will tell.
One Gun Guy is a rad 2D retro platformer that’s free on Steam
Heads up, gamers. A limited-time deal is on until December 18. Get your hands on the latest gaming bundle, featuring 10 epic titles for just $30. This offer includes fan-favorites like “Cyber Knights” and “Starlit Adventures.” That’s right, it’s a steal for all you game collectors out there.
Why is this important? Well, these games usually retail for over $100, so you’re saving big. Plus, it’s a great chance to expand your library before the holiday rush. Don’t miss out on snagging this bundle while it’s hot. Ready to level up your gaming collection?
Escape From Tarkov Has Reached A Major Sales Milestone
Escape from Tarkov hit its 1.0 release on November 15, after eight years in beta. It sold over 1 million copies in just a month. Players had to re-buy the game on Steam, even if they owned it from Battlestate. The $250 pre-order edition sparked pay-to-win debates, offering an exclusive PVE mode.
The devs at Battlestate introduced a bunch of new maps and weapons with the 1.0 release to keep things fresh. Fans are active about the improved AI, which makes the NPCs even trickier to deal with. There’s still some debate in the community over the game’s steep learning curve, but when has that ever scared us off?
Twitch’s Controversial, Gambling-Heavy Rival Just Got An App On Xbox
Kick, a platform known for its gambling-heavy content, just launched an app on Xbox. This partnership with Xbox was announced recently, marking a big move for Kick in expanding its reach. The app’s arrival on Xbox comes amidst ongoing debates about Kick’s controversial content and approach, particularly its rivalry with Twitch. This collaboration could boost Kick’s user base by tapping into Xbox’s vast audience.
However, it raises questions about content moderation and the type of streaming experiences that will be prioritized. As Kick continues to challenge Twitch, will it carve out a unique niche in the gaming world, or will controversies overshadow its growth? The Xbox app lets us stream our favorite Kick content directly from the console, making it easier for us to catch up on the action without switching devices.
Following controversial bans from Steam and Epic, Santa Ragione’s Horses has sold 18k copies and repaid debts
Santa Ragione’s game, Horses, faced distribution challenges as Steam and Epic both banned it. Founder Pietro Righi Riva expressed concerns about the studio’s future. The game’s success is critical to prevent potential closure. This news comes just before the game’s release.
Righi Riva mentioned that the bans were due to content that the platforms deemed inappropriate. Even with the bans, Santa Ragione is looking into alternative distribution methods to reach its audience. The team is hoping to rally support from the indie gaming community to keep the studio afloat.
Video Game Hardware And Physical Software Sales This Year Had The Worst November Since 1995 In The US
Hey fellow gamers, we’ve got some interesting news about video game sales to discuss. November 2025 turned out to be a bit of a bummer for video game hardware and physical software sales in the U.S., marking the worst November since 1995. According to Circana’s latest report, led by Mat Piscatella, only 1.6 million hardware units were sold. That’s even lower than in 1995 when 1.4 million units found homes.
Despite the usual Black Friday craze, hardware spending dropped by 27% from November 2024, down to $695 million, and physical software spending fell by 14%. Piscatella highlighted that this is the lowest hardware spending for a November since 2005, when it was $455 million. It’s kind of wild considering how much the gaming market has grown, right?
Smarter than the Steam Frame: inside the VR mod that’s brought virtual reality to hundreds of games
Valve just shook up the VR scene with the Steam Frame. This Quest 3-style standalone headset not only streams games from a beefy PC but also runs less demanding games on its own. The twist? It uses SteamOS, meaning it can play any Steam game in your library, not just VR titles, as long as the hardware can handle it. No need for base stations or an expensive desktop setup.
This makes the Steam Frame an option for gamers looking for a smooth VR experience. Interestingly, the hottest thing in VR isn’t even hardware, it’s a mod. Praydog’s UEVR, or Universal Unreal Engine VR, has revolutionized VR gaming by turning hundreds of Unreal Engine games into room-scale VR experiences. Since its release, this mod has quietly expanded the VR game library, offering more immersive experiences without the need for new hardware. So, while the Steam Frame is exciting, UEVR is proving that sometimes the newest solutions come from the community, not the companies.
Original report: Rock Paper Shotgun
Hard Void is a chilling 4X strategy game inspired by Stellaris and Master of Orion, where FTL travel risks getting Cthulhu’s attention
Hard Void’s soundtrack is a heart-pounding techno experience. The music is reminiscent of a 3 am club scene from the past. Unlike typical 4X games, there’s no grand orchestral or choir music. The demo and trailer emphasize a futuristic, intense vibe.
The bouncer in this imaginary club has Lovecraftian pupils. Curious about more? The soundtrack was composed by Martin Stig Andersen, the genius behind the eerie soundscapes of Inside and Limbo.
Will you pick up Escape from Tarkov?
I’ve watched a bit of Escape from Tarkov on Twitch, and it looks pretty interesting. I’ve enjoyed a few extraction shooters in my time, like Scavengers, but never got into Escape. It always seemed a bit too intimidating and inaccessible. I’m wondering if the recent attention will drive more newbies into the game. If you’ve already played it, leave your top tips in the comments!
