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Happy New Year! The GBAtemp Staff wishes everyone a wonderful 2025! As we put a wrap on the previous year, we've decided to highlight the best of what we played throughout 2024, and recommend those games to you! Plenty of exciting indie games, localizations, and big budget games released this past year, so if you don't see your personal favorite mentioned, be sure to share it in the comments!

2025 is here, and that means it's a whole new year to look forward to video game releases. If you haven't already found a game from 2024 to pick up during the various winter sales, you can expect to see a handful of new releases out in January that ought to catch some attention and acclaim.

In late 2023, Lenovo took the plunge into the handheld PC market with their Legion Go device, which featured Windows 11. Now, its successor has been revealed at CES 2025 as the Lenovo Legion Go S, which will stand out from the crowd of other handhelds by being the first non-Valve hardware to offer SteamOS. The system is set for launch in January, but will only initially ship with Windows 11, as the SteamOS variant for the Go S isn't ready yet, and won't be until May. The Windows 11 version will feature 32GB of RAM and is priced at $729.99, while the SteamOS version will only come with 16GB of RAM, for $599.99. For now, the Steam Deck and Legion Go S are the only PC handhelds to officially offer SteamOS, though Valve is rumored to be working on a build of the operating system that would work on other devices, too.

Nintendo has remained completely quiet as to all details about the successor console to the Nintendo Switch. Despite that, information has been trickling out, in the form of reported leaks and mock ups from those who claim to have seen the prototype Switch 2 units. Dbrand provided 3D scans of the hardware they claim to be making decals for, implying that a release of the system is somewhat soon. To add fuel to the fire, accessory maker Genki took to CES 2025, showcasing what they say are official accessories for what might be simply named the Nintendo Switch 2. Genki also brought a mock up Switch 2 that aims to show off their accessories on what they claim is modeled on the real deal.

Nintendo Switch 2 rumors just won't stop; yet another major leak has dropped onto the internet, in the form of new renders from OnLeaks--a reputable leaker known for having a good track record with getting information about mobile products ahead of release. OnLeaks claims to have created an accurate 360-degree render of the Switch 2, alongside providing dimensions of the handheld. Their Joy-Con renders match what we've seen before from Genki's own renders, with the controllers still using the original Switch's four directional buttons instead of a d-pad, with a new button present on the right controller. Reportedly, the Switch 2 features a 3.5mm headphone jack, and the USB-C port has been moved from the bottom of the tablet to the top corner, allowing for easier use when charging and in tabletop mode.

Originally, Assassin's Creed Shadows was due to launch in November 2024. Citing issues with pacing and polish, Ubisoft pushed the game back to a February 2025 window. With its release imminent, Ubisoft has decided to delay the game yet again. This time, it appears that the company is undergoing major cost-cutting measures, after holiday sales were less than expected, in addition to poor reception on last year's Star Wars Outlaws. In an attempt to "deliver best-in-class player experiences, enhance operational efficiency and maximize value creation", Ubisoft will be delaying Assassin's Creed Shadows to March 20th.

The first big Nintendo release of the year also brings about the first big Nintendo game leak of the year. Leaked onto the internet two days before its release is Donkey Kong Country Returns HD for the Nintendo Switch. The game is a remaster of a 2010 Wii game, which also found its way onto the 3DS and even the Nvidia Shield TV in China. This version of the game offers extra levels first introduced in the 3DS port, HD graphics, and a "modern mode" which gives Donkey Kong an extra heart of health. Donkey Kong Country Returns HD will officially release on January 16th.

Ubisoft is undergoing a lot of change as of late, after delaying Assassin's Creed: Shadows for a second time, and doing a lot of internal restructuring within the company. However, it appears that Ubisoft has something quite familiar in the pipeline, as rumors are ramping up regarding an upcoming remaster. Last year, CEO Yves Guillemot stated that he wanted to "revisit" some of the older Assassin's Creed titles, hinting at potential remakes. An insider report a few months later confirmed that there was a remake on the way, particularly of Assassin's Creed IV: Black Flag.

Japan has harsh laws regarding trademark infringement, which has led to the recent arrest of a 58-year-old man who was selling modded Nintendo Switch consoles online. Fumihiro Otobe has been brought up on charges involving taking Switch units, soldering modchips onto them, and flipping them for around ¥28,000 ($180 USD). He also provided an option where he would install pirated copies of games for an extra fee. Otobe has pled guilty to the charges, offering a statement to the police of, "I was curious if people would think I was amazing if I sold modified consoles". Police have seized four hard-modded systems, and are looking into further infringements on the Trademark Act.

The Nintendo Switch 2 is real, and it'll be arriving sometime later this year. Everyone has thoughts on the latest Nintendo console, including the GBAtemp Staff team. So we'll be sharing our thoughts on the reveal, what we think Nintendo has in store, and other opinions. Of course, we also want to hear what the GBAtemp community thinks of the Nintendo Switch 2, so feel free to chime in and share your takes as well!