Fans of Bungie’s online first-person shooter Destiny can now take their looting and shooting on the go, as the company has partnered with mobile gaming giant NetEase for the franchise’s first free-to-play live service mobile title, Destiny: Rising, which translates the hectic massively multiplayer online shooting action into an accessible, portable, and still immensely engaging handheld format.

Much like its two console and PC game counterparts, Destiny: Rising once again thrusts players into a war between humanity and alien invaders, but this time, it’s taking a leap into the past. Set multiple years before the events of 2014’s Destiny, the game is set in an alternate timeline and follows a character called Wolf, who is revived by a Ghost as a Lightbearer, humans capable of wielding special Light powers, in a quest to fight back against the alien threat and restore human civilisation.

Featuring gameplay most fans should feel right at home with, Destiny: Rising offers players the choice between traditional first-person perspective or over-the-shoulder third-person shooting, now with intuitive touch controls and some additional quality-of-life options to ease those new to the shooter genre, such as the ability to automatically aim down weapon sights when pressing the fire button. Additionally, the game features a plethora of options to tweak controls, such as gamepad support, key remapping and even controller dead-zone and sensitivity options players can adjust to suit their preferences.

Apart from taking on its main quests, players can also join others around the world in PvE raids or even PvP matches, with a fair play system that reduces everyone’s Character Relic level to one, ensuring a level playing field. Unlike the mainline games, Destiny: Rising lets players choose from a roster of playable characters, each with their own unique abilities and stories. Additionally, the game also features some systems not seen in past titles, like racing, the ability to dual-wield weapons, and various mini-games like a Flappy Bird-style side scroller or a collectable card game named Shadowshaper Duels.

As a free-to-play title, players might justifiably have concerns about its in-game monetisation systems, and while they are present, fans can rest easy knowing that it isn’t as egregious as most other mobile titles. Weapons are primarily obtained via gameplay, while its gacha system to get new characters definitely benefits paying players more, but all characters can be attained just by playing the game. Additionally, players should expect the live-service mainstays like battle passes and an energy system, with the latter currently being addressed by the development team to provide more freedom and fewer restrictions while still maintaining game balance.

Monetisation and gacha aside, Destiny: Rising is still an ambitious gaming undertaking that has largely succeeded in scratching that looter shooter itch even while on the go, with many players even remarking that it’s a return to form to the days of the OG Destiny. The developers’ commitment to player feedback, alongside the game being completely playable even for players who don’t spend a single cent – at least for now – means that this is one mobile title worth checking out, especially if you are a Destiny or looter shooter fan.

Destiny: Rising is now available for free on the Google Play Store and Apple App Store.

Kevin Low

Kevin is a reformed PC Master Race gamer with a penchant for franchise “duds” like Darksiders III and Dead Space 3. He has made it his life-long mission to play every single major game release – lest his wallet dies trying.

The post App Of The Month — Destiny: Rising (Nov 2025) appeared first on Geek Culture.

As video game developers seemingly run out of ideas for new titles, the industry has seen a game remake boom in recent years, with studios banking on the power of nostalgia by revitalising older titles for the modern audience. 

And it’s no wonder, since gamers are spending more on older games than new ones. According to a September 2025 report by insights consultancy firm MTM, 90 per cent of PC and console gamers have played a remaster or remake in the last 12 months.

For those wondering about the distinction between a video game remake or a remaster, a remake serves as a reimagining of an original game, but is built from scratch with updated graphics, gameplay and even story, while a remaster is merely an enhanced version of the original game, with improved visuals, sound effects, and voice recordings, but with no changes to the core gameplay.

Which means that unlike remasters, which tend to provide a mere boost in resolution or framerate, remakes are far more exciting, as titles are often built from the ground up while preserving the original’s core gameplay experience, meaning players don’t just get to experience older and less accessible titles, but a fresh spin on a classic title with overhauled visuals and sometimes even new content, allowing players to fall in love with them all over again.

And it’s not the appeal of nostalgia that brings older gamers to older classics, as MTM’s research indicated that 85 per cent of those who played a remaster or remake in the last year never played the original, which means they were attracted to the classic title based on reputation alone. 

Lastly, the research also shows that 76 per cent of 1,500 console/PC gamers in the US and UK (750 in each) indicated their desire for remakes and remasters by saying these games were  appealing, which explains the likes of Tomb Raider 4-6 Remastered, Metal Gear Solid Delta: Snake Eater, and Tony Hawk’s Pro Skater 3 + 4 hitting shelves in 2025. 

But are remakes and remasters the same? According to a November 2025 report by entertainment research firm Ampere Analysis, which tracked data from January 2024 to September 2025, video game remakes produced around 2.2 times the amount of consumer spending as remasters did during that time frame 

Take Xbox, for example, which recently announced Halo: Campaign Evolved, a remake of the original Halo: Combat Evolved’s (2001) campaign, now rebuilt from the ground up with high-definition visuals and cutscenes, alongside adding new content. Furthermore, the Halo franchise’s second and third games are also set to see remakes of their own, at least according to insider leaks, signalling a shift in the studio’s strategy to bring the classic shooter series to a new generation.

Of course, Halo is far from the only video game franchise set to see a revival, as here are 10 remakes to keep an eye out for in 2026 and beyond. Let’s just hope that these titles won’t end up worse than the originals.

Dragon Quest VII Reimagined

Release Date: 6 February 2026
Original Release: 26 August 2000
Developer: Square Enix, Hexadrive
Platforms: PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X|S, Nintendo Switch 1 & 2, PC

Framed as a reimagining of the original 2000 JRPG instead of just a mere remake, like its name suggests, Dragon Quest VII Reimagined overhauls the classic 2D experience into a new 3D hand-crafted aesthetic, bringing the characters designed by the legendary Akira Toriyama to life in a whole new light alongside a charming diorama art style.

It isn’t just about looks, though, as gameplay is set to receive a much-needed modernising with battle speed adjustments, an auto-battle feature, and a new Moonlighting mechanic to assign characters with two vocations at once. The original title’s notoriously complex narrative will also be streamlined, making the journey more accessible to newcomers.

Yakuza Kiwami 3 + Dark Ties

Release Date: 12 February 2026
Original Release: 26 February 2009
Developer: Ryu Ga Gotoku Studio
Platforms: PlayStation 4, PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X|S, Nintendo Switch 2, PC

RGG Studio is finally set to give perhaps the weakest entry in the Yakuza franchise the modernising it so desperately needs, as not only will Yakuza Kiwami 3 feature the same overhauls seen in past Kiwami titles, it’s getting a bunch of fresh content too.

Leading man Kazuma Kiryu will now have two fighting styles at his disposal, a revamped version of his original The Dragon of Dojima Style, alongside a new Ryukyu Style, which arms him with eight different Okinawan weapons. What’s more, the game is also set to launch with an entirely new chapter, Dark Ties, which shines the spotlight on fan-favourite villain Yoshitaka Mine in his own prequel adventure.

Halo: Campaign Evolved

Release Date: 2026
Original Release: 15 November 2001
Developer: Halo Studios
Platforms: PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X|S, PC

The aforementioned Halo: Campaign Evolved is possibly the boldest move by Xbox in a long while, as the remake will mark the franchise’s first appearance on Sony’s PlayStation platform since its debut in 2001.

This means all console fans can look forward to experiencing the classic shooter, now rebuilt from the ground up in Unreal Engine 5 and boasting a ton of additions and reworks such as redesigned levels, gameplay and narrative additions to reflect later Halo titles, two-player splitscreen and four-player online co-op, and most notably, three brand-new missions set before the events of the game featuring Master Chief and Sgt. Avery Johnson.

Fatal Frame II: Crimson Butterfly Remake

Release Date: 12 March 2026
Original Release: 27 November 2003
Developer: Koei Tecmo Games
Platforms: PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X|S, Nintendo Switch 2, PC

As perhaps the most unique horror franchise of the early 2000s, Fatal Frame (also known as Project Zero in Europe and Australia) made waves for its signature photography-based ghost-hunting gameplay. The franchise might have quietened down in recent years, but that’s not stopping developer Koei Tecmo Games from revitalising the classic titles with remasters of both its fourth and fifth entries, Maiden of Black Water and Mask of the Lunar Eclipse.

Now, the franchise’s second entry, which is often lauded as one the its best, is getting the same treatment, but this isn’t a simple resolution boost this time around, as Fatal Frame II: Crimson Butterfly Remake will boast a complete overhaul from its graphics to gameplay system, updating the iconic Camera Obscura mechanic for a more engaging experience across exploration and combat. Oh, and the game’s sisters, Mio and Mayu, can now hold hands too, amazing.

Gothic 1 Remake

Release Date: Q1 2026
Original Release: 15 March 2001
Developer: Alkimia Interactive
Platforms: PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X|S, PC

When it launched back in 2001, Gothic redefined the RPG genre with its groundbreaking exploration, alongside being one of the first in the genre to feature fully voiced dialogue. It was far from perfect, though, heavily criticised for its bugs and poor control scheme, something Alkimia Interactive intends to address this with its upcoming remake.

Rebuilt in Unreal Engine 5, the Gothic 1 Remake is set to be a faithful recreation of the genre-defining title, which apart from the usual visual overhaul, will most importantly modernise its combat system to fix the original’s greatest flaw. Best of all, a playable prologue demo is now available on Steam, offering a glimpse of what’s to come.

Prince of Persia: The Sands of Time

Release Date: 2026
Original Release: 28 October 2003
Developer: Ubisoft Montreal
Platforms: PlayStation 4, PlayStation 5, Xbox One, Xbox Series X|S, Nintendo Switch, PC

It’s safe to say that Ubisoft’s upcoming remake of its classic action-adventure title, Prince of Persia: The Sands of Time, has had a rough time since its announcement in 2020. Initially developed by Ubisoft Pune/Mumbai, things quickly fell apart upon the reveal of its first trailer, which was ridiculed for its unimpressive graphics. 

Following two delays, first by two months and then indefinitely, development was subsequently taken over by the far more experienced Ubisoft Montreal, with an expected release date now sometime in 2026. Looking at the troubled remake’s track record and the recent kerfuffle with Tencent, it will honestly be quite a miracle if the title even meets this deadline, but for a series as loved as Prince of Persia, Ubisoft should just take as much time as needed to get it right.

Star Wars: Knights of the Old Republic

Release Date: TBA
Original Release: 15 July 2003
Developer: Saber Interactive
Platforms: PlayStation 5, PC

We are now heading into rather rocky territory, with a bunch of remakes that have simply been announced, but don’t feature any concrete gameplay details at the point of writing. First up is Star Wars: Knights of the Old Republic, the iconic RPG originally helmed by BioWare, which was announced to be receiving a remake back in 2021, with barely any news since.

Initially worked on by Aspyr, development soon stalled one year after its announcement, followed by reports that the project had switched hands to Saber Interactive, and then, nothing, like the game itself had fallen to the literal dark side. Cut to 2025, Saber studio head Matthew Karch came forward to reassure fans that “the game is alive and well”, so who knows when we’ll actually see a first proper look at the title.

Max Payne 1 and 2 Remake

Release Date: TBA
Original Release: 24 July 2001 (Max Payne 1), 14 October 2003 (Max Payne 2)
Developer: Remedy Entertainment
Platforms: PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X|S, PC

Remedy Entertainment, a studio well-known for its expertise in making shooters with excellent narratives such as Control and Alan Wake, stirred excitement in the gaming community when it announced that it was teaming up with Rockstar to remake the first two games of the latter’s classic shooter franchise, Max Payne. 

The remake is set to combine both games into a single package, and while details are scarce, the project was reported to be in “full production” as of August this year, with Remedy CEO Markus Maki describing that the game has been hitting its milestone goals in a recent quarterly investor report, so hopes are high that we will be able to learn more about the Bullet Time pioneers revival in the coming months.

Silent Hill Remake

Release Date: TBA
Original Release: 23 February 1999
Developer: Bloober Team
Platforms: TBA

Fresh from the success of its 2024 remake, Silent Hill 2, Bloober Team is set to give the horror franchise’s debut entry the same treatment.

Apart from its initial announcement trailer revealed during the Konami Press Start Showcase in June this year, which offered no other details other than the fact that the remake was in development, the only information we know about the upcoming project is that it’s currently in full production, with one of Bloober’s two internal first-party production teams being entirely dedicated to its development, meaning fans will just have to sit tight and wait for the fog to clear on the elusive title. 

The Witcher Remake

Release Date: TBA
Original Release: 26 October 2007
Developer: Fools Theory, CD Projekt Red
Platforms: TBA

CD Projekt Red is certainly keeping busy, as apart from working on its massive RPG follow-up, The Witcher 4, the studio is also looking to the past and remaking the first game in the series.

Developer Fool’s Theory is in charge of the remaking efforts, with creative supervision from The Witcher series staff and CD Projekt Red, with the game built in Unreal Engine 5. Apart from that, nothing else is known about the title, so it remains to be seen how the studio will modernise the original game’s infamous rhythm-based combat system, or if it will forgo it altogether for a more standard system seen in later titles, but one thing’s for sure, with the unfortunate downward spiral of Netflix’s series adaptation, fans need a good Geralt adventure now more than ever.

Bonus: Splinter Cell Remake

Release Date: TBA
Original Release: 18 November 2002
Developer: Ubisoft Toronto
Platforms: TBA

This is one title that fans have been yearning for for ages, as following the release of Splinter Cell Blacklist in 2013, the iconic stealth franchise has remained in the shadows since, with Ubisoft seemingly ignoring fans’ pleas to revive what was once the studio’s flagship franchise, instead content with disappointing them by simply having protagonist Sam Fisher cameo in other games like Ghost Recon and Rainbow Six Siege.

Imagine fans’ surprise when it was announced back in 2021 that a remake of Sam Fisher’s first outing was in development, and now imagine their subsequent disappointment when the game would go radio silent for the next four years, with the only news about the remake after being the unfortunate exit of its director, David Grivel. With no indication of whether the project is even alive at this point, Ubisoft is really taking Fisher’s mantra of stealth and silence a little too far.

Kevin Low

Kevin is a reformed PC Master Race gamer with a penchant for franchise “duds” like Darksiders III and Dead Space 3. He has made it his life-long mission to play every single major game release – lest his wallet dies trying.

The post 2026 & Beyond – Top 10 Video Game Remakes & Revivals Of Ageing Classics appeared first on Geek Culture.

Xbox has once again shone the spotlight on its upcoming third-party games at its Partner Preview showcase, with a barrage of titles shown off in a quick-fire 30-minute livestream.

Featuring a good mix of trailers for both highly anticipated triple-A releases like IO Interactive’s 007 First Light and Eclipse Glow Games’ Tides of Annihilation, as well as surprising indie follow-ups like Vampire Crawlers, here’s a handy breakdown of everything announced at the show:

Tides of Annihilation

Hailing from Chinese studio Eclipse Glow Games, Tides of Annihilation made waves upon the release of its reveal trailer back in February for its beautiful fantasy aesthetic and its equally gorgeous main protagonist, Gwendolyn. Its latest combat trailer gives a better look at the game’s combat, which looks to be an interesting mix of Bayonetta and Devil May Cry, with a unique system where players can control both Gwendolyn and her summoned ally, Lamorak, simultaneously during battle.

007 First Light

This might not be the next big gameplay trailer fans were hoping for, but hey, any news is good news for such a highly-awaited game like 007 First Light. Taking on the role of Bond, players will no doubt need some fancy cars while on their missions, such as the Aston Martin Valhalla showcased in the trailer, featuring a hybrid twin-turbo V8 engine alongside a Q-Type 7.62mm machine gun turret. Now that’s something you don’t see every day.

Zoopunk

If this upcoming hack-and-slasher’s anthropomorphic bunny main hero looks familiar, that’s because Zoopunk is by the same team behind the 2021 metroidvania, F.I.S.T.: Forged In Shadow Torch. This time, the game seems to play out more like a traditional third-person action title, with its trench coat-clad rabbit hero using dual blades to slice up nasty beasties. The game will also allow players to swap between characters, such as a raccoon or a rhino.

Raji: Kaliyuga

Now this is a sequel no one saw coming, as the 2020 action-adventure Raji: An Ancient Epic is getting a follow-up in Raji: Kaliyuga, and while its reveal trailer only features a bunch of cinematics, it does offer a look at the game’s new secondary character, Raji’s brother Darsh, who joins her journey this time around. According to the game’s description, Raji will once again wield acrobatic martial arts and her Trishul, while her brother will use Siddhi powers that control gravity, time, and energy, as the duo journey to the Eternal Summit to save or destroy the universe.

Reanimal

Tarsier Studios, the original team behind the Little Nightmares franchise before Supermassive Games took over for Little Nightmares III, has revealed the next gameplay trailer for its upcoming survival horror platformer Reanimal, which offers a first look at its myriad of gameplay systems apart from running and hiding. Players will be able to traverse over water via a boat, alongside what appears to be melee combat, wielding a pipe. The co-op adventure has also released a demo and opened pre-orders ahead of its launch on 13 February 2026.

Vampire Crawlers

As a spin-off of the worldwide sensation Vampire Survivors, Vampire Crawlers takes the concept and transforms it into a casual first-person turn-based dungeon-crawler with roguelite elements. This title is planned for release sometime in 2026 and will be available day one on Xbox Game Pass.

Hitman World of Assassination – Eminem vs. Slim Shady

Much like Thanos gathering the infinity stones, IO Interactive’s Hitman World of Assassination has been steadily adding more outrageous celebrity cameos, from Conor McGregor to Jean-Claude Van Damme and now Eminem, and it’s a double-whammy too, as the DLC will see Agent 47 teaming up with Eminem to face off against his younger alias, Slim Shady. Talk about Eminem-ception!

Armatus

One look at the main character design of Armatus and some gamers might instantly recognise its development team, Counterplay Games, better known as the guys who made the ambitious but ultimately failed live-service slasher Godfall. Now, they’re taking another stab at glory, this time with a third-person shooter set in the demon-infested ruins of Paris. And since it’s 2025, the game will also be a roguelite, because of course it is.

The Mound: Omen of Cthulhu

Based on Lovecraftian horror, The Mound: Omen of Cthulhu is a first-person survival shooter that’s set to feature co-op, psychological horror, and Indiana Jones-esque exploration, as players use old-timey weapons like flintlocks, bows and blades to fend off supernatural entities and possessed humans alike, with what seems to be a trust system that can turn a player’s allies against them.

Total Chaos

Here’s one to add to the growing list of survival/psychological horror titles to check out, as Total Chaos seems to be a blend of Resident Evil, Call of Cthulhu, and Doom, featuring intense first-person melee and ranged combat with tight, eerie corridors and no shortage of grotesque foes. Best of all, the game is out right now on PC, Xbox and Game Pass.

Dave The Diver on Xbox + In The Jungle DLC

The iconic pixel-art deep-sea diving adventure is back, as Mintrocket’s Dave The Diver heads to Xbox consoles ahead of the release of its upcoming DLC, In The Jungle, which is set to launch in 2026, bringing a new forested setting alongside additional underwater beasts to face like a giant crocodile.

Crowsworn

Hoping to reach the same heights of success as Hollow Knight: Silksong, Crowsworn is yet another side-scrolling 2D platformer which features a plague doctor-like character in a tophat wielding a giant scythe.

Echo Generation 2

As a sequel to the 2024 turn-based adventure, Echo Generation 2 is set to shake up the formula by turning the series into a deckbuilding RPG, and follows Jack, an ordinary Dad on a mission to escape a mysterious dimension.

Roadside Research

Here’s a goofy one, as in Roadside Research, four players will take on the roles of aliens trying to blend in and prepare for an invasion by running a petrol station, which will no doubt lead to plenty of co-op shenanigans.

Erosion

As yet another upcoming roguelike, Erosion combines pixel graphics with sci-fi and wild west themes in a twin stick shooter package, taking cues from 2021’s Sifu with a time-based mechanic where every death leads to the world advancing by a decade.

Clover Pit on Xbox

The nightmarish slot-machine-based roguelike Clover Pit heads to Xbox consoles, letting a whole new system of players live out the thrill of gambling – without any actual gambling – with a supernatural twist that lets them manipulate the machine to turn the odds in their favour.

Kevin Low

Kevin is a reformed PC Master Race gamer with a penchant for franchise “duds” like Darksiders III and Dead Space 3. He has made it his life-long mission to play every single major game release – lest his wallet dies trying.

The post ‘Tides of Annihilation’ & ‘Vampire Crawlers’ Headline Xbox Partner Preview For Nov 2025 appeared first on Geek Culture.

Comic book fans, cosplayers, toy collectors – the list goes on but if you embrace pop culture and smile when referred to as a geek, the biggest international geek convention, Singapore Comic Con (SGCC) is back for the legion of fans in the country, and this year, it’s primed to be the biggest yet! Not only will it encompass over 400 exhibiting companies and brands from around the world, spread out across 250,000 square feet of pop-culture celebration space at the Marina Bay Sands Expo and Convention Centre on 6 and 7 December, this year’s run will also mark the debut of an Ultimate Preview Night before the main festivities, offering an exclusive fan experience that’s not to be missed.

Kicking things off on the evening of 5 December, the Ultimate Preview Night offers a one-night-only fan spectacular, featuring a packed line-up of live art showdowns and behind-the-scenes talks with over 50 guest appearances such noted Marvel Comics and DC Comics’s artist Stanley “Artgerm” Lau, tattoo legend turned comic book art sensation Dr Rocke, Malaysian comic book artist Lipwei, illustrator Warrick Wong, and more, making it a once-in-a-lifetime chance for fans to get up close and personal with their favourite artistes!

SGCC’s Ultimate Preview Night is exclusive to invited guests and Platinum ticket holders (limited to 300 pax) who will also get their hands on an exclusive Platinum Pack during the preview event, loaded with limited-edition merchandise and event exclusives to celebrate SGCC 2025, including a themed bomber jacket and Art Prints featuring Power Rangers Time Force actors Jason Faunt and Erin Cahill. Additionally, each Platinum Pack also doubles as a Super Lucky Bag, with rare prizes such as a Sabermach N-Pixel Saber, Epic Dreams signed prints, as well as Infinity Studio statues distributed randomly across all packs.

Fans can get their Platinum tickets, alongside all the other event ticket tiers, on the SGCC 2025 official site, but one thing’s for certain, all event goers are in for an unforgettable weekend of immersive experiences, exclusive merchandise, and most important of all, geeky fun.

For those looking to join SGCC on the weekend, the event will be host to around 60 well-known celebrities, including Power Rangers actors Erin Cahill and Jason Faunt, both from Power Rangers Time Force, and noted comic book artists, including Eisner Award winning artist Joe Rubinstein, Simone Di Meo (Marvel Comics, DC Comics), Mico Suayan (DC Comics, Image Comics, BOOM! Studios), Marco Failla (Hasbro, Asmodee, DC Comics, Image Comics, Marvel Comics), Simone Bianchi (Marvel Comics, DC Comics), Santa Fung (DC Comics, Image Comics, BOOM! Studios) and much more.

Here’s a peek at the top exhibitor highlights that await you at SGCC 2025.

Bandai

The Tamashii Nations booth (L1-B03) once again presents a haven for fans of anime and manga collectibles, and this year’s headliner figures include the S.H. Figuarts Ultimate Shining Ultraman Zero (Ultraman New Generation Stars Ver.), a gold and silver-tinted variant of the iconic hero that was the winner of the S.H.Figuarts New Generation Ultraman Vote, which was held in celebration of the release of over 2,000 S.H.Figuarts models.

Ultraman isn’t the only famous hero receiving the spotlight this year, as S.H.Figuarts is also commemorating the 40th anniversary of Dragon Ball with the S.H.Figuarts Son Goku & Dragon – 40th Anniversary Edition, which reproduces the iconic cover illustration of the 1985 Jump Comics issue, Dragon Ball Vol. 01.

For Gunpla fans, head down to the Bandai Hobby booth (L1-B07) to grab exclusive limited-edition items and merchandise available only at the event, including four Gundam Base Limited Burning model kits: The MG Gundam Dynames (Clear Colour), MG Gundam Kyrios (Clear Colour), MG Destiny (Heine Westenfluss Custom) and the RG Burning Gundam Hyper Mode. Enthusiasts and newcomers alike can also go hands-on at the showfloor itself by taking part in Gunpla Workshop Activities sure to scratch that model-building itch. 

Finally, TCG fans can head over to Basement 2 and take part in the Bandai Card Games Fest 25-26, a must-attend event for fans of popular trading card games like the One Piece Card Game, Digimon Card Game, Dragon Ball Super Card Game, Gundam Card Game, Battle Spirits and Union Arena. Fans will also be able to take part in activities for each title, with special commemorative products available for purchase.

Queen Studios (L1-C05)

Following the global gaming phenomenon that was 2024’s Black Myth: Wukong, Queen Studios is bringing the Destined One to life, literally, with the life-sized 1/1 Black Myth: Wukong – Great Sage Armor Set statue, faithfully reimagining the iconic Journey to the West character’s Phoenix-Winged Crown, Golden Chainmail, and Cloud-Stepping Boots. Capturing his in-game look with stunning accuracy and incredible detail, this magnificent showpiece will be available for pre-order exclusively at SGCC 2025.

InArt (L1-C05)

Owners of InArt’s Batman (TDKR) Deluxe 1/12 Scale Figure will soon be able to take their Dark Knight to the next level with this event-exclusive Accessory Pack, letting them further customise their figures with an additional cowl variant, a high-tech backpack, a poseable wired cape, an interchangeable chest armor piece and two new faceplates, offering increased options for movie-accurate dynamic poses.

Heat Boys (L1-C05)

Specialising in premium stylised action figures, Heat Boys is bringing the heat to SGCC 2025 with three new product displays, including the HB0083 MechaHeat Stellar Expansion Spartacus, a die-cast mecha figure standing at 28cm tall and boasting over 50 points of articulation, allowing for dynamic and combat-ready poses.

With an expertise in crafting action figures based on Nickelodeon’s Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles series, it’s no surprise that they are bringing not one, but two brand new TMNT figures to the showfloor, the first being the HB0095 MechaHeat Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles Raphael 40th Anniversary Ver, which takes the iconic red-bandana-wearing brother and equips him with two intimidating mecha dragon-head cannons on each shoulder and a deadly Cross Spear inspired by his classic twin Sai.

Next up is the HB0103 HEATFIG Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles Leonardo, which marks a departure from Heat Boys’ usual mecha style design and instead adopts the look of the classic animated series, recreating the leader of the turtles’ iconic appearance from his signature cape to his various ninja gear. The figure also comes with classic accessories such as katana swords, throwing stars, a skateboard, and multiple interchangeable facial expressions and hands, letting collectors display it to their heart’s content.

ThreeZero (L1-B02)

As perhaps the most iconic creators of high-end collectables, especially in the Transformers fandom, ThreeZero will be rolling out two new ultra-detailed Optimus Prime variants, the DLX Nemesis Prime, a celebratory figure marking the company’s 25th anniversary that stands at 11.2 inches tall and features 53 points of articulation, alongside the DLX Optimus Primal (Beast Wars Universe Edition), which is similar in scale with 74 points of articulation. Additionally, ThreeZero will also debut the ROBO-DOU Scopedog Heavy Weathering Version, its latest addition to its mecha line-up based on iconic Japanese anime properties. These three figures are exclusively available at SGCC, so don’t miss your chance to snag these limited-edition masterpieces!

Yolopark (L1-B02)

SGCC 2025 is set to be a treasure trove for Transformers fans, as Yolopark will also be debuting the next Deception in its AMK Pro Series, the SGCC-Exclusive Transformers: Generation 1 – Starscream Model Kit (Transparent Version), decking out Megatron’s treacherous second-in-command in a sleek, clear look complete with die cast joints, three modes of eye lighting effects, interchangable faces, and multiple effects parts, allowing him to truly take flight. The figure will also be part of a global limited release of 1,000 units, making it an even more valuable addition to any collection.

The Loyal Subjects (L1-B02)

Talk about a blast from the past, as The Loyal Subjects is celebrating an iconic toyline from the mid-1980s with two event-exclusive M.A.S.K. figures, the MASK Mobile Defense Unit Limited Edition with Scott & T-Bob, and the MASK Mobile Defense Unit 40th Anniversary Black & Gold Edition. Outfitted with the toyline’s iconic vehicel-weaponsing gimmick, there’s no better way to relive your childhood battles with V.E.N.O.M., or introduce your kids to the legacy of M.A.S.K.

Faceless (L1-C02)

Ever wanted to see what the legendary Three Kingdoms icons might look like in a modern fit? Faceless has got you covered with its latest line-up of art toys, including the SGCC-exclusive Zhuge Liang (limited to 180 pieces), the debut of its Hot Blooded Three Kingdoms Series Blind Box featuring the likes of Liu Bei, Guan Yu, and Zhou Yu, alongside pre-orders for its upcoming Cao Cao 300% figure. The Romance of the Three Kingdoms never looked so stylish!

Kenshop SG (L1-C02)

Event goers can take home a piece of Singapore’s public transport history, as Kenshop SG will be debuting two exciting collectables on the show floor: The ComfortDelGro Toyota Prius Taxi with light feature (Blue and Yellow), and the C851E NEL MRT Train, which comes packed with play features such as sounds, lights, opening doors and a pull-back motor. The recognisable duo will make their first-ever appearance at SGCC and celebrate Singapore’s everyday icons.

KAYOU (L1-C06)

SGCC 2025 will mark the debut appearance of the China trading card company KAYOU, with a spotlight on two powerhouse IPs within Southeast Asia – Free Fire and Mobile Legends: Bang Bang (MLBB). KAYOU will bring their trading card collection for both franchises to the show floor, offering fans a unique collectable to celebrate their favourite mobile game.

SGCC X Collexi-Con

Pop culture and trading cards collide in this special collaboration between the two long-running conventions, and fans can look forward to meeting their favourite artists and creators, such as Kouki Saitou and Sunohara, alongside TCG vendors, exclusive merch drops and live activities.

Happening at Basement 2, SGCC X Collexi-Con allows con-goers to trade, collect, cosplay, and connect with fellow fans, sharing their passion for all things comics, anime, trading cards and collectables.

Luo Xiao Hei (L1-B17)

As one of China’s most beloved animation IPs, Luo Xiao Hei is going global and making an appearance at SGCC 2025, unveiling a brand-new range of merchandise available first and exclusively in Southeast Asia at the event in celebration of The Legend of Luo Xiao Hei 2, a hit animated film which premiered in China in July, and will hit Singapore cinemas on 6 November 2026.

SGCC Cosplay Competition

For those looking to unleash their inner heroes, villains or everything in between, SGCC will be hosting a cosplay competition suitable for all levels of experience, be it handmade, bought, or borrowed costumes. Held on 7 December, the competition will not only provide the opportunity to show off your creativity, passion and craftsmanship, but also the chance to walk away with amazing prizes, with the grand prize worth S$4,800 and comprised of an Infinity Studios Digimon: Yagami Taichi & Wargreymon statue, Bandai Namco’s S.H.Figuarts SON GOKU & DRAGON – 40th Anniversary Edition, a one-night stay at Marina Bay Sands Singapore and more. The competition will also be judged by well-known cosplayers Riiyuukii (@riiyuukii_cos), Shirogane Sama (@shirogane_sama) and Kiyo (@kiyocosplay).

This year’s SGCC is poised to be a landmark event for all things pop culture, sure to please comic connoisseurs, seasoned collectors and TCG enthusiasts alike. Sounds like your cup of tea? Get your tickets now and head down to the Marina Bay Sands Expo and Convention Centre on 6 and 7 December, and for Platinum Ticket holders, don’t miss out on the Exclusive Preview Night happening on 5 December, 6 to 10pm. We’ll see you there!

Kevin Low

Kevin is a reformed PC Master Race gamer with a penchant for franchise “duds” like Darksiders III and Dead Space 3. He has made it his life-long mission to play every single major game release – lest his wallet dies trying.

The post Singapore Comic Con (SGCC) 2025: Ultimate Preview Night Sneak Peek + Exhibitor Highlights appeared first on Geek Culture.

This interview has been edited for clarity.

To the modern players, video game remakes are a dime a dozen these days, but only a few truly satisfy. When remaking an older video game for a new generation, especially one that is a part of a beloved franchise, special care must be taken to ensure that any new additions or modifications don’t overshadow the original experience, but rather, help to elevate it to new heights while retaining its core identity.

Such is the case for Dragon Quest, often considered as one of the most iconic JRPG (Japanese Role-Playing Game) franchises in history. Comprising 11 mainline titles since its debut way back in 1986 and with a majority of them released between 1986 to the early 2000s, it’s no wonder that many of them deserve, and have received a new lease of life for the modern gaming generation. 

With perhaps the original trio of titles, also known as the Erdrick Trilogy, already reintroduced for the modern era in the form of this year’s Dragon Quest I & II HD-2D Remake and 2024’s Dragon Quest III HD-2D Remake, where does that leave the remainder of the series in the remaking efforts? 

As indicated earlier, rather than simply releasing remakes in chronological order, developers Square Enix and Hexadrive are instead skipping and jumping forward a few titles, and next up on the remake list is 2000’s Dragon Quest VII, and for good reason too. The original release made history as the best-selling PlayStation game in Japan then and this time, the team isn’t content with a mere HD-2D fidelity boost. Instead, the team is rebuilding its visuals from the ground up, while also offering notable tweaks to its gameplay and narrative with the aptly named Dragon Quest VII Reimagined.

Despite looking like a completely new title on the surface, the team has taken the steps to ensure it remains faithful to what fans of the 2000 original will remember, and Geek Culture had the opportunity to chat with game producer Takeshi Ichikawa, alongside other Southeast Asia media, to get a better understanding of what this entailed.

Perhaps the most pertinent question is about the game’s unique naming convention, and why it is choosing to label itself as a “reimagining”, rather than a straight remake. 

“While this work is based on the original version, all elements have been completely revised so that it can be enjoyed in today’s world,” explains Ichikawa, adding that the team consulted with Yuji Horii, the creator of the Dragon Quest franchise, to get his blessing to use the “reimagined” subtitle, to further drive home the idea that this isn’t just a simple remake, but rather a complete reassessment and revamp of the game at a fundamental level.

So how did the team go about fulfilling this lofty goal? According to Ichikawa, the team focused on rebuilding the game’s three major pillars – its visual style, combat and narrative.

Even in its original state, Dragon Quest VII already presented a unique visual flair, especially when it came to its characters. Designed by the legendary manga artist Akira Toriyama of Dragon Ball fame, characters in the game differed from other mainline titles in the franchise as they were drawn shorter and more adorably, leading to a “doll-like” look. It was this well-established visual identity that birthed the idea for the remake’s hand-crafted look.

“For the main characters, we actually created dolls and scanned them to create game models,” explains Ichikawa. “We then created the other NPCs, monsters, and backgrounds directly using CGI to match the visual expressions and overall art direction of the scanned models.”

Dragon Quest VII Reimagined’s hand-crafted style extends far beyond just its characters, as the game’s many sprawling world environments, which were previously presented as simple 2D overlays, have now been completely redone in a unique diorama style to match the doll-like nature of characters and monsters, something that, as described by Ichikawa, effectively fit with the original’s top-down camera angle.

On the gameplay front, the remake’s additions may not be as in-your-face, but are equally important nonetheless. In this aspect, the team decided not to focus on adding grand new additions to switch up the core experience, but instead to tweak it in small but notable ways to improve the gameplay flow.

The best example of this is Dragon Quest VII Reimagined’s new “Moonlighting” system, which now allows characters to hold two vocations, also known as classes or jobs, at once, allowing them to swap between the two on the fly, as compared to the original, where players needed to enter an area known as Alltrades Abbey and complete a quest line to unlock an NPC who manages vocation changes.

“The previous job system posed a dilemma when changing jobs from a maximum proficiency state, as the character would temporarily become weaker,” explains Ichikawa, “By adding the ability to hold multiple jobs this time, we’ve made it easier to not only change jobs, but provides a deeper job system overall that’s a little different from the original version,” adding that the team has been careful in adjusting the title’s overarching balance to match this new dual job system.

Apart from Moonlighting, Dragon Quest VII Reimagined’s other gameplay additions similarly tackle the themes of accessibility, and mostly serve to address one of the original’s most debated aspects, its massive duration, which saw players pouring over 100 hours in a single playthrough.

One way to streamline this was the inclusion of combat aids seen in some later JRPGs, such as the ability to adjust battle speeds, an auto-battle function, and even a way to skip battles completely just by attacking foes on the field once the level gap between the player and enemies hits a certain level. 

“One of the visions that we had for combat was that we wanted the standard, normal battles to proceed quickly, but also to encourage players to take the time to deliberate and strategise their approach for more challenging encounters like boss battles,” adds Ichikawa.

Furthermore, basic navigation while exploring the game’s world is set to be much more streamlined, something we experienced in our hands-on preview session held during Gamescom Asia X Thailand Game Show 2025 in Bangkok. Unlike the original title or other early entries, which mostly relied on organic exploration with minimal or no guidance from the game as to what to do next, Dragon Quest VII Reimagined now provides players with directional cues to make navigating its massive world more streamlined and, most importantly, more accessible to franchise or even genre newcomers.

While the team has taken the steps to ensure players won’t get lost as easily, they still understand that some might see it as a positive, and desire the game’s original trial-and-error way of doing things, and hence will include the option to disable directional cues, offering an experience closer to the original game.

Finally, in terms of the game’s narrative, what Ichikawa refers to as its “scenario”, Dragon Quest VII Reimagined will maintain the original’s surprisingly dark storyline, albeit in a different structure. As explained by Ichikawa, the original game was structured as a series of short stories, so in the remake, they are switching things up “by rearranging the order of each scenario, making some optional or even cutting some scenarios that had little relevance to the main plot”, adjusting the pace to provide a “more intense scenario experience” and helping to ease the “bloated” nature of the original title.

With the changes and enhancements seen in these three pillars of Dragon Quest VII Reimagined, the revamped classic is set to enjoy the best of both worlds, capturing that same feeling of the original while offering tweaks that not only make it feel fresh but also lower the hurdles to entry and allow for more gamers to experience a legendary piece of JRPG history.

Dragon Quest VII Reimagined is set to release on 5 February 2026 for all major platforms.

Kevin Low

Kevin is a reformed PC Master Race gamer with a penchant for franchise “duds” like Darksiders III and Dead Space 3. He has made it his life-long mission to play every single major game release – lest his wallet dies trying.

The post ‘Dragon Quest VII Reimagined’ Is More Than Just A Remake Notes Producer Takeshi Ichikawa appeared first on Geek Culture.

In the case of long-standing franchises like Dragon Quest, it’s inevitable for some instalments to receive more love and attention than others. Reverence for the Erdrick Trilogy, which concluded its modern retelling with the October 2025 release of Dragon Quest I & II HD-2D Remake (Dragon Quest III HD-2D Remake was released last November), remains undisputed, since the first three games established the identity of the JRPG genre, creating a sense of legacy through a strong overarching story that connected all three titles thematically.

Momentum for the series continued through to Dragon Quest VII, marking a major milestone for the franchise. Not only was it the first mainline entry to launch outside Japan since 1992’s Dragon Quest IV, it also made history as the best-selling PlayStation game in Japan while also introducing tweaks to the series’ formula, where the party travels to separate continents instead of exploring one large world. The huge size, spanning over 100 hours in a single playthrough, would later become both a strength and a point of contention among fans, ultimately spawning a more streamlined experience in the form of a 2013 remake for the Nintendo 3DS (2016 for the English version).

Dragon Quest VII Reimagined is Square Enix’s latest shot at breathing new life into the beloved series, and as the title suggests, it looks to introduce fresh elements that align more with modern expectations. Coming from a 90-minute preview held during gamescom asia X Thailand Game Show 2025 in Bangkok, it’s obvious that developer Square Enix wants to make the series more accessible, as the updated, intuitive gameplay presents a convincing case for series veterans to relive the journey, and especially for newcomers to get started without the creakiness of the original. 

Establishing a distinctive visual flair right off the bat, the hands-on demo covered two segments of the existing story: Emberdale and Wetlock. The signature HD-2D aesthetic featured in the Erdrick Trilogy remake has been replaced with a handcrafted 3D look, bringing a doll-like quality to the characters and diorama elements to the field. Rather than an immediate charmer, it slowly eases players into a muted colour palette that may appear incongruous with the series’ bright, lively design, but it makes sense from a particular standpoint – the game is known for its dark narrative overtones, which would be a neat thematic fit. 

Moving into the Emberdale scenario, the plot remains unchanged from before. The player is quickly (re)introduced to the Hero and his allies, Maribel and Keifer, who arrive in the titular village as it prepares for a deity-honouring festival known as the Return of Fire Ritual, which involves a pilgrimage up the volcano, Burnmont, to return the flame to its core. It’s here that the resident clairvoyant Palmela reveals a premonition, with her response serving as a taste of the brand of humour to expect from the remake, if players choose to doubt her claims: “Shut up! I wasn’t asking you!” (sorry, geez). 

Naturally, exploring Burnmont leaves the trio open to combat encounters that sport revamped mechanics. Following Dragon Quest tradition, battles unfold in a turn-based sequence, where commands, comprising Attack, Skills, Items, and Defend, are assigned to and executed by party members. Each of them is tied to a specific vocation, the franchise’s version of the job system, with the Hero, Maribel, and Keifer classified as Fledging Fisherman, Mini Mayoress, and Heir Apparent, respectively, and carrying their own set of strengths and weaknesses. 

It’s familiar territory for fans, except this time, every vocation boasts a signature ability ranging from receiving a huge attack boost to defensive capabilities like greatly reducing the damage taken. In Dragon Quest VII Reimagined, these power-ups can be activated when the character becomes worked up and enters Let Loose mode – triggering the Hero’s Ocean’s Devotion, for instance, will neutralise the next strike for all allies. The all-new addition injects a bit more depth into gameplay, as players have to decide when to save or use them, especially in the showdown against the Glowering Inferno in Burnmont.

A bigger change is the cheekily named Moonlighting feature, the central focus of the Wetlock section in the preview. Unlike before, where characters were only limited to one vocation at a time, multiple assignments are now supported, turning them into hybrid builds: Sailor / Thief for the Hero, Pristress / Mage for Maribel, Martial Artist / Warrior for Ruff, who steps into Keifer’s role here, and Destiny’s Dancer / Troubadour for Aira (localised as Aishe in the Western release), who was originally absent from this scenario. 

As old-timers would know, the sword fighter only joined the group after the completion of the first three major island arcs, and her early recruitment in Dragon Quest VII Reimagined brings a fresh sense of vigour and synergy. Alongside a versatile physical loadout, her Troubadour vocation unlocks Encore, a move that temporarily reduces all allies’ MP costs to zero and is a godsend for the magically inclined Maribel, while Ruff’s Art of Chivalry provides cover for the member with the lowest HP and delivers a counterattack. 

Moonlighting, alongside other quality-of-life improvements, such as auto-battle and fast forward, tightens the pace of combat and makes it feel more dynamic, which sits better with modern audiences. As with Emberdale, the major beats for Wetlock are all retained, following the party’s search for the source of the flood that inundated the entire island, and their descent into an underground temple where another major fight lies in wait. 

Navigation is also more accommodating, especially when compared to Dragon Quest I & II HD-2D Remake. Where the latter is rooted in organic exploration (otherwise known as the lack of signage), Dragon Quest VII Reimagined guides players with directional cues, as demonstrated in Burnmont, and still keeps the hand-holding in check, requiring them to figure out the next course of action by themselves during some gameplay portions. That’s not to say that the trial-and-error process is bad – in fact, it should be encouraged – but there’s merit to trimming the fat for such a long journey (Did we mention that the completion of side quests doesn’t count towards the over 100 hours of play time?). 

While pacing adjustments remain to be seen, and that will be the make-or-break factor for the game’s return as one of its biggest flaws back in the day, the remaster appears to have a firm grasp over honouring legacy and, well, reimagining. It feels much of the same, and some parts are different, including a previously announced new ending, held together by a modernised sheen that gelled well enough in the preview. For newcomers, Dragon Quest VII Reimagined is shaping up to be its most enjoyable and intuitive yet.

Dragon VII Reimagined is scheduled to release on 5 February 2026 for all major platforms. 

Si Jia

Si Jia is a casual geek at heart – or as casual as someone with Sephiroth’s theme on her Spotify playlist can get. A fan of movies, games, and Japanese culture, Si Jia’s greatest weakness is the Steam Summer Sale. Or any Steam sale, really.

The post ‘Dragon Quest VII Reimagined’ Revisits Classic Adventure Through Modern Lens appeared first on Geek Culture.

[Snapdragon flew us out to San Diego for Snapdragon X Deep Dive Architecture 2025. All experiences were hosted, but no additional compensation was received.]

As the leading chipset supplier for flagship smartphones, Qualcomm is no stranger to the world of high-performance mobile gaming, and since its rollout, the Snapdragon 8 Series has been a constant, steady force in pushing the limits of mobile play. But even as Qualcomm improves on the chipset that allows users to enjoy their favourite games on the go, it’s now setting its sights on something bigger – gaming on ultraportable PCs, without the hassle of an external setup. 

Building on its current expertise and momentum, the tech juggernaut is looking to make strides in PC gaming, even as the presence of long-standing industry players and rivalry brings its own set of challenges. 2024’s Adreno X1 integrated GPU served as the springboard for Qualcomm’s efforts – itself subsequently outfitted across various models, including Dell and ASUS – and now, its successor will keep the ball rolling. 

Enter the Adreno X2 processor, first unveiled during this year’s Snapdragon Summit in September in Hawaii. Touted as the largest and fastest GPU built by the company to date, it claims to deliver up to a 2.3 times increase in speed and 125 per cent more efficiency per watt than the previous generation, with the gains translating to improved frame rates across a selection of games.

On paper, the average frames per second (FPS) count is 2.3 times higher than before, making it 50 per cent and 29 per cent faster than the Intel Core Ultra Series 2 and AMD Ryzen AI 9, respectively. Black Myth: Wukong, for instance, clocked 33 FPS at medium quality at 1080p (without Super Resolution), versus 21 FPS on the latter two, while Cyberpunk 2077 recorded 53 FPS at the same settings, compared to 31 and 39 FPS. For esports titles like Dota 2, Counter-Strike 2, Overwatch 2, and Fortnite, the numbers stand at 87 FPS (versus 95 and 87 FPS), 103 FPS (88 and 122 FPS), 121 FPS (31 and 60 FPS), and 111 FPS (68 and 92 FPS). 

Those figures were put to the test during an office tour of Snapdragon Studios in San Diego, held as part of the Snapdragon X Series Architecture Deep Dive 2025 event, where several of the above titles were running in real-time. At low graphical settings with AMD FidelityFX Super Resolution 3.0 (FSR) enabled, Cyberpunk 2077 and Black Myth: Wukong averaged 146 FPS and 90 FPS. Overwatch 2, which currently only supports FSR 2.2, saw an average of 175 FPS. 

According to Qualcomm, the Adreno X2 is also 70 per cent faster than its predecessor at the same power, featuring a built-in Ray Tracing Unit, or RTU, that offers ray tracing functionality for all current and upcoming games that support it. As previously announced, the GPU is built on a new architecture utilising a modern 3-nanometre process, and comes as part of the Snapdragon X2 Elite Extreme chip, alongside a Qualcomm Hexagon NPU with 80 TOPS for AI tasks. 

A separate session at the company’s headquarters offered some hands-on time with benchmarking performance, yielding the following results on Geekbench AI and 3DMark’s Solar Bay, on a 16-inch test laptop running on 48GB of memory and 1TB of storage:

• Geekbench AI – 2070 (Single Precision Score), 33,424 (Half Precision Score), 89,813 (Quantised Score)
• Solar Bay via 3DMark (plugged in) – 23,932, 91.00 FPS
• Solar Bay via 3DMark (unplugged) – 22,505, 85.57 FPS

Notably, the small difference between the plugged and unplugged state of the Adreno X2 is impressive, painting an (theoretical) optimistic picture for both work and play. The PC gaming push doesn’t stop there, as Qualcomm continues to expand its ecosystem.

Already available are graphics driver updates for machines running Windows on Snapdragon, which bring performance improvements, bug fixes and new features, as well as validated support for “thousands of Windows games and applications”. The newly available Snapdragon Control Panel will add to the list, serving as a companion app to Adreno-powered devices that keeps GPU drivers up to date and automatically optimises game settings. 

Additionally, users can expect native anti-cheat tools and systems, including Easy Anti-Cheat via Epic Games Online Services, Tencent ACE, Denuvo by Irdeto, and more – a high-priority implementation that saw the company engaged with “over 100 of the top game studios in the world”. 

“We’re engaged with over 100 of the top game studios in the world, so it’s a global system. The first thing we really tackled was just knocking out all the anti-cheat solutions,” shared Dave Durnil, head of Gaming Ecosystems and Technologies at Snapdragon Studios, in an open Q&A held for the event.

Specifically for Epic Games, more than 15 years of collaboration have worked in the team’s favour. “They’re all in on Windows on Snapdragon, and bringing over not just the Easy Anti-Cheat but also the whole Epic Games service – I think it’s a really strong testament in terms of everything that we’ve been able to do and showing how we can work with developers,” he added.

With faster and more powerful processors like Apple silicon proving that Intel and AMD have an arms race on their hands, Qualcomm is looking to flank the others by focusing on what it does best – power the experience through a new chip based on its legacy of mobile processors and performance. Earlier this year, the company claimed that 10 percent of Windows PC sales in the U.S., priced above US$800, are powered by Snapdragon X chips, and the Adreno X2 looks set to raise that…unless Intel and AMD find a way to respond.

Si Jia

Si Jia is a casual geek at heart – or as casual as someone with Sephiroth’s theme on her Spotify playlist can get. A fan of movies, games, and Japanese culture, Si Jia’s greatest weakness is the Steam Summer Sale. Or any Steam sale, really.

The post Qualcomm’s Adreno X2 Integrated GPU Targets Intel & AMD, Takes Aim At PC Gaming Ambitions appeared first on Geek Culture.

It began with the latest blockbuster movies at a fixed monthly fee, before full seasons of the most recent TV shows were available at the touch of a finger and now, streaming services have added the latest live sports programming to their schedule, pulling audiences further away from the cable TV and free-to-air viewing model that has dominated the home entertainment space for the last 70 years.

From the latest wrestling matches, American NFL (National Football League) football games to NBA (National Basketball Association) basketball matches, streamers such as Netflix and Amazon Prime Video are putting the smackdown on cable and free TV models, scoring heavily against a traditional linear TV viewing model that has seen diminishing audiences in the last decade. 

Since January 2025, Netflix has been showing the latest WWE (World Wrestling Entertainment) matches, from NXT, Raw, SmackDown and Survivor Series for global audiences, with the only catch that audiences around the world have to deal with being the time difference in the US. For fans of American football, the world’s biggest streamer has been showing NFL games since acquiring the rights for NFL games in 2017 and come Christmas, international audiences can revel in the American tradition of watching football during the holiday season, with Dallas Cowboys vs. Washington Commanders, and Detroit Lions vs. Minnesota Vikings games both available live on Christmas 2025… in US time that is. 

Meanwhile, Amazon Prime. Video has been flexing its strength with the NBA, making live NBA and WNBA games available since 2022, which are currently in their 79th and 29th seasons, respectively.

In recent years, this availability has grown globally, as more international audiences get to enjoy the best of American live sports, mostly without paying extra for cable TV add-ons for sports shows. While most live sporting broadcasts on streaming platforms are currently limited to the US or Europe, things are gradually heading across the ocean to APAC, backed by the rise in the region’s live sports streaming market. 

Netflix, for example, recently announced its first-ever live sports event from APAC as part of an exclusive media rights partnership with World Baseball Classic, Inc. (WBCI), where it will deliver live coverage of the World Baseball Classic exclusively in Japan in 2026. It also announced that the next two FIFA Women’s World Cup tournaments will stream exclusively on Netflix in the US and Canada. Similarly, Prime Video has also brought the NBA to India with the launch of the NBA League Pass in October 2025, as an add-on subscription to the service.

The goal of course, is for streamers to dominate the TV consumption trend as it has done in the US, where consumption of streaming content has outpaced that of linear TV and cable, as a recent study found that 60 per cent of all TV time in the United States was consumed via streaming in 2025. 

Meanwhile, live broadcasting, and live sports in particular, still remains a strong draw for linear TV viewership, with massive live events like the Super Bowl garnering huge audiences year by year. With this in mind, it’s no wonder that streamers are starting to recognise the potential of the live format, especially since it can be a highly lucrative market. The global Live Streaming for Sports Market, for example, has seen significant growth this year at US$36.99 billion, compared to 2024’s US$27.93 billion, and is projected to rise even further to US$350 billion by 2033.

In a way, offering live-broadcast options alongside their usual services means streamers can provide the best of both worlds, and this shift, although gradual, signifies a growing global trend of live TV being brought over to streaming services, and it’s not just about sports alone, as streamers are dipping their toes further into the world of live reality TV, bringing live entertainment, concerts and potentially, live-voting to a global audience. 

Netflix started with its first live event with the Chris Rock stand-up comedy special in March 2023, before moving into The Roast of Tom Brady, which originally aired live in May 2024, followed by the November 2024 live boxing match between Mike Tyson and Jake Paul, and the rematch fight between Katie Taylor and Amanda Serrano in July this year.

The streamer, with a reported 310 million global subscriber base, also recently announced its revival of Star Search, the popular talent show from the ‘80s and ‘90s responsible for kicking off the careers of icons like Beyoncé, Britney Spears and Dave Chappelle. In addition to the reboot, the streamer will also debut real-time voting for its contestants, introducing that element of interactivity that traditional TV can’t provide. Due to the nature of voting, it’s highly likely that, like most live programs on the platform, Star Search will be region-locked to the Americas or the EMEA, but that could potentially change in the future.

When contacted, both Netflix and Amazon declined to provide any comments on its live broadcast push in APAC or SEA due to the infancy of its live programming journey in this region, but Netflix’s CTO (Chief Technology Offier), Elizabeth Stone, recently spoke about the streamer’s live content plans during TechCrunch Disrupt 2025, explaining that it is “expanding on both content types and in business models so that [it has] more to offer to members” while making the streaming experience more personalised, interactive and immersive. 

Still, Stone noted that live content was still just a small part of the streamer’s overall line-up, and that it served as a “complementary relative to the video on demand”.

In the same vein, Prime Video has made its mark on the live performance space with Amazon Music Live, the streamer’s annual music showcase series. Available only in select regions, the series features performances from some of the biggest artists, with its latest season, which premiered on 23 October this year, featuring acts like K-pop sensation Aespa, American rock band Foo Fighters, genre-bending rapper Shaboozey, and Mexican band Fuerza Regida. 

With streaming platforms adding the live TV notch on their belts, where does that leave traditional television? 

It’s safe to say that TV will never truly die as long as there are people around the world with limited to no access to the internet, but as the more tech-savvy generation slowly takes over, and as streamers like Netflix or Prime Video steadily gain the upper hand by providing a service once exclusive to the traditional platform, there’s a chance that linear TV, including cable, is fast seeing the end credits roll a lot quicker, especially under the live spotlight. 

Kevin Low

Kevin is a reformed PC Master Race gamer with a penchant for franchise “duds” like Darksiders III and Dead Space 3. He has made it his life-long mission to play every single major game release – lest his wallet dies trying.

The post Netflix & Amazon Prime Video Add Live Sports In Asia, As Streamers Encroach More On Linear TV And Cable Space appeared first on Geek Culture.

From selling bobble head figurines since its inception in 1998, to selling 1 billion of its well-known pop vinyl figures by September 2025, American toy company Funko is recognised as a modern success story among toy collectors and pop culture fans looking to own a piece of movies, TV shows, anime, manga, comic books and more, so it was a surprise when the company announced at a recent earnings call that the company has seen a steep drop in sales, and might not survive another year.

Much like the multitude of social media trends we see nowadays that explode on the scene and then slowly get forgotten and replaced by the inevitable next batch of brainrot, the world of toys and collectables has had its own fair share of crazes over the years, with companies hitting the jackpot with their latest innovations, only to fail at maintaining their audience’s interest as the times go by.

While today’s main form of entertainment undoubtedly comes from mobile phones, this wasn’t always the case, as back before the days of smart devices, kids and adult collectors alike had to rely on the latest toys and gizmos to keep themselves entertained, and companies knew this, creating all manner of plastic knick-knacks with the hopes that it would kick off a global sensation.

For some, this gamble pays off, as seen with the likes of Hasbro’s Transformers or Mattel’s Barbie or Masters of the Universe, served by additional content including animated series, video games and movies, or LEGO building blocks, which offer licensed sets from popular pop culture intellectual properties including Star Wars, Marvel Comics and DC Comics. Then there are the toys-of-the-moment – the ones that have a quick claim to fame but fail to capitalise on its hot reputation for long, before the toys fizzled out. 

Current toy trends that seem to be on the same trajectory include the Labubu doll from Pop Mart, which has seen prices for its collectables fall in the secondary market, fueled by speculators who snap up the dolls in the hope of reselling them at a higher price.  

Here are 11 toys that initially took the world by storm, only to fade into obscurity as the years went by. While some of these toys are still around, they are a pale shadow of their former selves, but given the cycle of recycle, we expect that some of these lines to get revived eventually.

Sea-Monkeys

Manufacturer: Transcience LLC and Sea-Monkeys USA
First release: 1960

Sea-Monkeys are probably the most novel of all the toys in this list, due to the fact that they could hardly be described as toys at all. Instead, these are actually living organisms known as brine shrimps, sold in packets of eggs alongside often intricately designed mini aquariums. Buyers simply needed to add water to hatch the eggs for an instant, low-maintenance novelty pet.

Interestingly, the product didn’t immediately gain worldwide recognition when it launched, but rather became a cultural icon due to its ads being printed on the back of millions of comic books, famously picturing the critters as mermaid-like humanoid creatures living in grand underwater palaces, sparking kids’ imaginations and soon became a staple in the toy industry between the 1970s to 1990s. Sea-Monkeys also offered the unique selling proposition of not just selling kids an entertaining novelty “toy”, but also teaching them the valuable life lesson of basic animal care.

Today, Sea-Monkeys are still being sold in some major toy chains like Toys ”R” Us, itself a toy icon that died and came back under new management, although with the rise of smart toys and high-tech interactive gadgets, owning a “toy” you actually have to care for no longer holds the same appeal.

Cabbage Patch Kids

Manufacturer: Coleco Industries
First release: 1982

As one of the longest-running doll franchises, Cabbage Patch Kids is a line of cloth dolls with plastic heads inspired by Xavier Roberts’ “The Little People” soft sculptured dolls, and even came with their own fantasy backstory, where creatures known as BunnyBees would pollinate special cabbages using magical crystals, “giving birth” to the dolls. Each doll also came with birth certificates and adoption papers, adding to the fantasy that owners were adopting the characters instead of just buying toys.

The doll brand set every toy industry sales record for three years running, and was one of the most popular lines of children’s licensed products in the 1980s. Their popularity was so immense that it even gave rise to the Cabbage Patch riots in 1983, where customers attacked each other, sometimes with weapons like baseball bats, all to obtain a doll for their children, which were limited in stock.

Today, the Cabbage Patch Kids remain one of the most iconic toy lines, with the toys even being inducted into the National Toy Hall of Fame in 2023, although, at least compared to the 1980s craze, their peak popularity has certainly passed.

Beanie Babies

Manufacturer: Ty Inc.
First release: 1993

Often referred to as the world’s first internet sensation, Beanie Babies are a line of stuffed toys most recognised by their heart-shaped tag featuring the logo of manufacturer Ty Inc. These toys were stuffed with plastic pellets (“beans”) rather than conventional soft stuffing and came in many different animal forms. Unlike other soft toys from the time, Beanie Babies were also deliberately under-stuffed, allowing for greater posability and making them seem more realistic.

While nothing special from your everyday stuffed animal, Beanie Babies’ popularity exploded in late 1995 due to the company’s genius strategy of deliberate scarcity, producing each new design in limited quantities and retiring designs regularly, leading to a surge in sales and starting a trend where buyers would collect and resell them at inflated prices. 

Like any fad, this success eventually waned, and despite the brand’s efforts to replicate it with the launch of offshoots like Beanie Boo’s, which are still being sold today, these adorable little critters are nowhere near as sought after or relevant as they used to be.

B-Daman

Manufacturer: Takara-Tomy
First release: 1993

Inspired by the iconic Bomberman series, Takara’s B-Daman took the marble shooting concept to new heights when it launched in 1993 with a simple yet effective addition, customisation. Just like Bomberman, these humanoid figurines featured a round cavity in their abdomen that houses a marble, which can be launched via a spring-loaded trigger on their back, but takes playability to the next level with the ability to outfit figures with attachments and accessories.

What’s more, these attachments served more than just cosmetics, some were able to change the figure’s effectiveness, such as trigger kits featuring a larger or longer spring, making shots more powerful. Coupled with bundles that included multiple B-Daman and even custom arenas with extra targets for multiplayer possibilities, the toys were an immediate hit, spawning not just animated shows like 1998’s Bomberman B-Daman Bakugaiden, but also seven generations of toylines from the 90s to 2013, such as Battle B-Daman and Cross Fight B-Daman.

Despite its best efforts to revitalise the marble shooting figures with each generation, B-Daman’s low-tech concept ultimately couldn’t stand the test of time, with Cross Fight B-Daman (2011-2013) being the toy franchise’s final attempt before it vanished from relevance completely.

Furby

Manufacturer: Tiger Electronics, Hasbro
First release: 1998

Now this is one toy that has thankfully never caught on in the modern age. Launched in 1998, the mechanical monstrosities were marketed as a toy that could combine robotics and personality, with the creepy sugar glider-like creature outfitted with sensors for touch, sound, and motion, even able to “speak” on its own using a language called Furbish.

Despite their massive, dead eyes and overall eerie look, these toys somehow rose to popularity in the late 1990s, selling over 40 million units worldwide within the first three years of launch. Unsurprisingly, due to their ability to react to sounds, Furbies even sparked the Spy Toy Controversy, where the National Security Agency (NSA) banned the toy from its offices, fearing that they could record conversations, with the incident becoming a well-known example of the early tech panic surrounding smart toys.

By the early 2000s, interest in Furbies had declined, although the franchise did inspire a multitude of memes and horror stories online due to their eerie ability to react to their surroundings. In recent years, the brand has seen many reboots, often incorporating increasingly complex technologies like LCD eyes, which thankfully made them less creepy, and the ability to control them via smartphones, but in all, this is one toy brand that should just be left in the past, or a landfill, either is fine.

Heelys

Manufacturer: Heelys Inc.
First release: 2000

What if you could walk… but faster? Those who grew up in the early 2000s would surely recognise these wheeled shoes that, while technically not a toy, became a cultural icon among kids and teens by enabling them to effortlessly slide along the ground, undoubtedly looking really cool while doing so.

It was this very “cool factor” that propelled the shoes to global popularity, as kids no longer needed to buy bulky skateboards to perform tricks and show off to their friends, with Heelys becoming a must-have holiday gift by 2007. This craze didn’t last, however, as safety concerns started to be raised by the late 2000s, with some malls, schools and even airports banning the products due to the risks they came with, and sales started to decline. 

By 2012, hype faded significantly, with the shoes only maintaining relevance today due to their nostalgic appeal.

Mighty Beanz

Manufacturer: Moose Toys
First release: 2002

Who knew that tiny little bean-shaped toys could cause such a global phenomenon, but that was exactly what Moose Toys achieved with the Mighty Beanz, which spread like wildfire when they were launched in 2002. Each “Bean” was fitted with a weighted metal ball within, allowing them to wobble, roll and flip in unpredictable ways, with each also designed with a cartoonish and often humorous depiction of anything from animals to iconic Marvel characters or even famous people like Steve Irwin or Elvis Presley.

In addition to releasing five main series of Beanz, Moose Toys also launched a selection of rare, limited-edition Beanz like Albino Bean or Medusa Bean. Since the Beanz were sold in blind packs, it quickly surged in popularity as collectors rushed to snag up precious rare variants, fueling the collecting craze between 2003 to 2005.

Over the years that followed, Moose Toys tried to keep the momentum going by introducing modern revivals of the franchise, with the latest being in 2019, but could never quite reach the heights of its initial success.

Crush Gear

Manufacturer: Bandai
First release: 2001

Who doesn’t love ramming toy cars into one another? Crush Gear, a toy line manufactured by Bandai, leveraged this very concept, comprised of spinning motorised battle vehicles named Gears that could be customised with drills, blades, armour and other weaponry to ram into opponents within an arena.

A staple of early 2000s anime toy culture, particularly in Southeast Asia, Crush Gear rose to fame in the model-building community for its more visceral battle mechanics compared to other similar toys of the time, like Beyblade or Tamiya car racing. The toy even spawned two anime adaptations, Crush Gear Turbo (2001) and Crush Gear Nitro (2003).

By the mid-2000s, the franchise faded as toy sales began to decline, although it has still managed to retain a loyal but niche following in some regions, particularly in Indonesia, where tournaments are still held. 

Bakugan

Manufacturer: Spin Master
First release: 2006

Ask any kid who grew up playing trading card games like Pokémon or Yu-Gi-Oh! what was one thing they wished the game would provide, and chances are, they’ll tell you it’s the ability for the monsters to somehow come to life when they play like the anime, instead of having to use their imaginations. This was exactly what made Spin Master’s Bakugan toyline so intriguing to begin with, as it provided this very prospect.

Based on the Bakugan Battle Brawlers anime series by TMS Entertainment, the toy line featured ball-shaped figurines alongside metal trading cards, and what made them so special where the figures’ ability to transform from a ball into monsters using magnets, with players needing to roll the balls on the cards for the magnet to activate, essentially bringing the beast on the cards to life.

Between 2006 to 2013, these little transforming balls were all the rage, with the franchise even undergoing two relaunches in 2015 and 2023 to shake up its line-up, introducing gimmicks along the way like larger, more complex figures and even some that combined to form a giant beast, but it seems efforts were all in vain, as the series was officially cancelled in 2024.

Tamagotchi

Manufacturer: Bandai
First release: 1996

Less a toy and more of a digital pet that owners cultivate as a simulation, a Tamagotchi is a small egg-shaped handheld video game with three buttons, and the goal is to raise the pet as it goes through different life stages. Owners could clean, feed and play with their Tamagotchi using the buttons, and these actions would determine the growth of the creature that they could name.

The name itself is a portmanteau of the Japanese word (たまご) tamago, which means ‘egg’, and (ウオッチ) uotchi or ‘watch’, as the original product was worn on the wrist, like a watch. Bandai never imagined that the product, originally targeted to females, would catch on, and it even led to the introduction of the Digital Monster, a male counterpart that could do battle and was targeted at boys. This ultimately led to the creation of the Digimon media franchise.

The fad led to many clones, and its popularity waned in 1998. Bandai revived the toy line in 2004, and while it continues to have a fanbase, it never retained the cultural impact it achieved at the beginning.

Fidget Spinners

Manufacturer: Multiple
First release: 2014

This one needs no introduction, as these three-pronged spinning toys rose to viral fame not too long ago in 2017. Tracing its roots back to the 1990s, the toy first began as an invention by Catherine Hettinger for her daughter to cope with ADHD, although her design looked rather different from the fidget spinners we know today, featuring a lightweight disc with looks reminiscent of a UFO that could be spun around a finger.

In late 2016, manufacturers began producing three-pronged fidget spinners made with ball bearings that allowed them to spin smoothly, marketed as a stress-relieving toy or a focus aid for people with ADHD or anxiety. By mid-2017, the spinners were literally everywhere, becoming a social media phenomenon and even giving rise to controversy, as schools started to ban them due to the toys causing distraction instead of aiding focus, with some experts even questioning the claims that they helped with ADHD or anxiety.

The fidget spinner craze would decline as sharply as it peaked by the end of 2017, although it still remains a symbol of 2010s pop culture, and inspired a broader range of fidget toys like fidget cubes or sensory rings, which some still use today as part of stress management.

Bonus: Pet Rock

Manufacturer: Gary Dahl
First release: 1975

As perhaps the most well-known example of fad products, the idea of pet rocks was created in 1975 by Gary Dahl after he realised that a joke he made to his friends about a rock being the perfect low-maintenance pet actually had potential. After sourcing smooth rocks from a supply yard in Mexico, Dahl launched the product that same year, which instantly became a massive hit due to its novelty.

The genius of pet rocks wasn’t the product itself, but rather how they came packaged, each including a cardboard “pet carrier” box with holes, a “nest” made of straw, and even a 32-page “training manual” filled with deadpan humour, like teaching your rock how to sit, stay or play dead. Fueled by media coverage and its understandably cheap price, the fad skyrocketed from late 1975 to early 1976, where Dahl reportedly earned over US$1 million within a matter of months. 

Like any fad, pet rocks would completely disappear by early 1976 as the novelty wore off, but remain one of the world’s most successful joke products and are still used as case studies in marketing classes today, proving that it’s not what you are selling that is important, but how you sell them.

Kevin Low

Kevin is a reformed PC Master Race gamer with a penchant for franchise “duds” like Darksiders III and Dead Space 3. He has made it his life-long mission to play every single major game release – lest his wallet dies trying.

The post 11 Sensational Toy Crazes That Quickly (And Mostly) Faded Into Obscurity appeared first on Geek Culture.

With every smartphone maker aiming for hardware performance that outshines the competition, China’s OPPO is adopting a slightly different approach to tackle the long-term performance of its devices, to combat  signs of wear with an enduring quality that lasts after the dazzle of fleeting upgrades. With its Apex Guard suite of benchmarks, the company’s vision is to deliver devices that retain their original performance and reliability over time, ensuring users enjoy the same seamless experience year after year.

Announced at the company’s global headquarters and R&D hub at the new Binhai Bay Campus in China to a select group of exclusive media from around the world, Apex Guard is a comprehensive technology suite aimed at redefining smartphone quality across hardware and software and represents OPPO’s latest commitment to elevating user experience and extending product lifespans.

Apex Guard introduces three pillars of innovation. In design, OPPO has developed Ultra-High-Strength Steel and AM04 aerospace-grade aluminum alloy, alongside structural features like Armour Shield, to protect devices from water damage, drops, and daily wear. In battery technology, the OPPO Silicon-Carbon Battery extends cell life by 400 cycles, ensuring long-term performance and safety.

To uphold its rigorous standards, OPPO partners with global testing authorities such as TÜV Rheinland, TÜV SÜD, and SGS. Devices undergo over 180 tests throughout their lifecycle, including extensive material assessments and precision manufacturing checks. OPPO’s after-sales services also exceed industry norms, reinforcing its dedication to quality beyond the point of sale.

Recognising that smooth performance is one of the most tangible indicators of quality, OPPO has introduced a suite of advanced technologies in ColorOS 16 to ensure both immediate responsiveness and long-term reliability.

At the heart of this upgrade is the new Luminous Rendering Engine, which debuts the first Unified Animation Architecture for Android. This breakthrough delivers fluid app launches and seamless transitions across the system. Devices also undergo extensive aging simulations, spanning 48 to 72 months, to ensure they remain smooth and responsive over time.

The OPPO Smoothness Baseline Test assesses performance across hundreds of real-world scenarios, while the Parallel Animation Standard 6 Zero sets a new benchmark with zero lag, latency, flicker, crash, mislaunch, and freeze during home-screen interactions. These innovations apply across OPPO’s entire lineup, from the A Series to the flagship Find Series, reinforcing the brand’s commitment to delivering a consistently smooth and reliable user experience.

With Apex Guard, OPPO sets a new industry benchmark, promising users a worry-free, enduring smartphone experience built on innovation and trust.

A Visit To OPPO’s New Binhai Campus

Geek Culture managed to take a brief tour of OPPO’s Binhai Campus, to take a closer look at how the company delivers on its commitment to quality. The campus houses advanced labs including Materials, Intelligent Terminal Testing, Power Consumption, and Communication Labs. Each of these labs play a vital role in ensuring reliable hardware and seamless software performance.

The Materials Lab is a cutting-edge research facility responsible for over 380 patents that drive innovation in OPPO smartphones. It is equipped with more than 200 high-precision instruments, including one of the industry’s most advanced spectrometers, enabling OPPO to conduct world-class material analysis. Some notable breakthroughs include ultra-thin nanocrystal glass with 400% improved drop protection, a steel hinge that withstands one million folds, and ultra-strong, lightweight aircraft-grade fibers that are 50% thinner yet 4 times stronger.

The Intelligent Terminal Testing Lab is the industry’s largest software testing facility, spanning over 2,000 square metres and capable of testing tens of thousands of devices simultaneously. Operating 24/7 with highly automated systems, requiring minimal human oversight. The lab rigorously verifies all code and applications before release, validating nearly one million lines of code and testing over 10,000 third-party apps monthly to ensure stability, security, and compatibility across devices and system versions.

The Power Consumption Intelligent Lab is OPPO’s AI-driven hub for ensuring smooth and stable device performance. Outfitted with over 100 advanced instruments and powered by proprietary automation software, the lab operates around the clock, supporting over 100 devices to simulate real-world scenarios and optimise power efficiency.

The Communication Lab serves as the testing ground for cutting-edge technologies like AI LinkBoost, 360° Surround Antenna Design, and OPPO’s proprietary communication chips. To simulate real-world scenarios, the Live Network Wireless Lab recreates environments such as elevators, while the Automated Microwave Lab, an industry-first nonstop OTA testing system, uses robotic arms and high-precision machine vision to ensure continuous, error-free reliability testing.

Yonk

Yonk is a geek who is fortunate enough to have an equally geeky Star Wars fan for a wife, who owns a LEGO Millennium Falcon encased in a glass coffee table as their home’s centre-piece.

The post OPPO Sets Hardware & QC Benchmark Standards Across Ecosystem, Focusing On ‘Apex Guard’ Durability appeared first on Geek Culture.

The festive season is all about celebrating with the people who matter, and Suntec City is embracing the spirit of the festive period with an attraction of its own – Pokémon-themed installations, experiences, and activities from now until 28 December at Suntec City Atrium (Tower 1 & 2), to embrace the holiday joy in its own style.

Instead of the usual festive decorations, the vast offerings make it ideal for different visitor types, from longtime franchise fans to those simply looking to soak up the experience, and even visitors in Singapore, to create new memories together with their loved ones. For aspiring Trainers, the Holiday Cabin is a fun, mixed reality interactive experience that invites them to step into the shoes of a true Pokémon Trainer – by pitting them in a thrilling race against time. Groups of 15 players must uncover beloved Pokémon like Pikachu, Snorlax, and Eevee. Suntec+ App members will enjoy the perk of free entry, but non-members don’t need to fret, for registration is quick and comes at no extra cost.

Swinging by the Dance Patio on a weekend opens up the opportunity to catch the trio in the flesh at 5pm, as they rotate through a meet-and-greet lineup that also includes the Generation 9 starters of Sprigatito, Fuecoco, and Quaxly. On 15 and 22 November, and 13 and 20 December at 3pm, high-energy dance performances by Pikachu and friends are set to light up the space, with inflatable installations of Tepig, Chikorita, and Totodile (the starter trio of Pokémon Legends: Z-A, the newest game in the series) situated here on other days for photo-taking moments.

Pokémon encounters are only part of the training life, however. After all, it’s through exploring uncharted territory that new bonds and experiences are forged, with this spirit of discovery translating to the New Trainer Journey initiative, available to Pokémon Trading Card Game (Pokémon TCG) newcomers. Located at the Trading Card Game Zone, it serves as the first step into the world of the highly popular Pokémon TCG, where beginners are assigned a same-day slot for their training session after registering for and collecting their physical tickets. A fair word of warning – slots will be limited daily from 22 November, so be sure to act fast!

Upon completing the 30-minute playthrough, each participant will receive a starter kit comprising a deck case, a deck shield, a demo deck of 30 cards, a playmat flyer, and a voucher. As for seasoned players, get ready to face the heat as the space transforms into a gathering ground for casual battles, so remember to bring along your strongest deck, or put the other ones to the test.

Marking a departure from turn-based tradition, Pokémon Legends: Z-A features full real-time combat that fans can get a taste of in a trial experience on the Nintendo Switch and Nintendo Switch 2. These tryouts, open to all visitors, follow the same dates as the Trading Card Game Zone, serving as a two-in-one invitation to participate in some hands-on fun and embark on a new journey this season.

The thrills don’t stop there, as Pokémon Go players get their blood pumping further by taking on the Gym with their strongest team, or join forces to participate in Raid Battles to gain experience points (XP). Rewards aren’t just reserved for the battle-hungry, though – those who stop by Event PokéStops scattered around Suntec City or complete Timed Research tasks will walk away with rewards ranging from more XP to higher chance encounters with the starter trio of Pokémon Legends: Z-A.

Back at the Atrium, daily fun puzzles based on “Who’s That Pokémon?” will also be unveiled on the three-metre Advent Christmas Tree from now to 25 December, inviting visitors to put their knowledge to the test and stand a chance to win a Pokémon Trading Card Game Fun Pack and S$30 Suntec City e-Voucher. Longtime fans, it’s time for you to shine!

Don’t forget to visit the retail pop-up to grab some Pokémon keepsakes and take home a part of the experience, with the selection ranging from trading cards to collectibles and more.

Before heading off, snap a photo or two at the other themed installations around Suntec City, including a six-metre Pikachu inflatable at the entrance of Esplanade MRT, a 12-metre Christmas tree and snowfall show at Suntec Plaza, and Pokémon-themed photo zones featuring festive AR filters on the first and second floors of the mall.

And just like how the holiday joy is spread throughout the mall, there will be no shortage of festive shopping excitement. Whether it’s for yourself or others, spending is its own reward, with different tiers offering delightful redemptions that include a Holiday Edition Pokémon Gift Bag Set and Holiday Edition Pokémon Rug, Suntec City e-Vouchers, and more, as detailed below (limited to one single same-day receipt):

• Minimum spending of S$60
  • Holiday Edition Pokémon Gift Bag Set (2-pc)
  • S$3 Carpark Dollars
  • Retailer’s e-Voucher
• Minimum spending of S$120
  • Additional S$5 Suntec City e-Voucher
  • Additional HSBC Cards Exclusive: S$10 Suntec City e-Voucher
• Minimum spending of S$180
  • Additional Holiday Edition Pokémon Rug (available from 1 December)
• Accumulated S$1,000 spend from now to 30 November
  • Additional S$80 Suntec City e-Voucher+

With a variety of digital-led and physical experiences, installations, and charming merchandise in store, Suntec City looks set to make this a special November and December to remember. The Pokémon cheer will make franchise veterans and casual enthusiasts feel right at home, but everyone else can take comfort in a sense of warmth and joy, as new memories are forged with their loved ones. Be sure to check out Suntec City’s Catch the Holiday Magic website for the full lowdown on all the fun-filled activities and special rewards from now till 28 December!

Si Jia

Si Jia is a casual geek at heart – or as casual as someone with Sephiroth’s theme on her Spotify playlist can get. A fan of movies, games, and Japanese culture, Si Jia’s greatest weakness is the Steam Summer Sale. Or any Steam sale, really.

The post Catch The Holiday Magic & Spread Pokémon Joy At Suntec City Singapore This November appeared first on Geek Culture.

Blokees have fully boarded the Studio Khara train, as following the release of its debut Neon Genesis Evangelion model kit, the EVA-01, the Chinese hobby company has brought two more of the 1995 anime’s mechs into the fold with the release of the EVA-00 and EVA-02 Action Edition.

Set in a similar scale to the EVA-01, the two new model kits come with a host of character-specific accessories, with the EVA-00 even featuring a much larger box due to its massive shield (more on that below). Both units promise the same impressive levels of articulation Blokees fans have come to expect, and mark a promising continuation of what hopefully would become a full line-up of all the Evangelion mechs, and most importantly, their pilots too.

In terms of runner count, the EVA-00 clocks a total of 33 runners and six bags of additional loose parts, plus an additional massive effect piece to complement the mechs’ equally impressive Enchanted Shield of Virtue (ESV Shield), which is even taller than the unit itself. The EVA-02, on the other hand, comes in 32 runners and five bags of loose parts, with its headliner accessory being the GB-012 Thunder Spear rifle, which even includes a neat gimmick where it can be transformed to seamlessly stow its attached bayonet. Check out how all the pieces come together in the video above, which covers the unboxing, building process, and impressions for both kits.

The Blokees EVA-00 Action Edition is now available via online retailers at prices starting from US$49.99, while the EVA-02 Action Edition costs US$39.99.

Kevin Low

Kevin is a reformed PC Master Race gamer with a penchant for franchise “duds” like Darksiders III and Dead Space 3. He has made it his life-long mission to play every single major game release – lest his wallet dies trying.

The post Blokees Neon Genesis Evangelion EVA-00 & 02 Action Edition – Unboxing & Building appeared first on Geek Culture.

In 1987, action superstar Arnold Schwarzenegger ran for his life as Ben Richards in The Running Man, a dystopian action epic centred on the participants of a deadly high-stakes game show. Almost 40 years on, Glen Powell (Hit Man, Top Gun: Maverick) takes on the iconic role in Paramount Pictures’ latest same-name rendition, and this time, the stakes have never been higher.

Directed by Edgar Wright (Hot Fuzz, Shawn of the Dead), The Running Man marks the second adaptation of the 1982 novel by Stephen King, and features a brand new cast, including Josh Brolin (Weapons), Colman Domingo (Fear the Walking Dead), Emilia Jones (Locke & Key), Michael Cera (Scott Pilgrim vs. the World), and Jayme Lawson (The Batman), with over 150 lucky fans able to witness the high-stakes action unfold during Geek Culture’s premiere screening on 11 November.

Held at Shaw Lido in collaboration with UIP Singapore, fans of the 1987 original and newcomers alike were able to catch the chaos unfold onscreen, joining Powell’s Richards on his harrowing journey as he gets relentlessly hunted down over 133 minutes of thrilling action.

Much like the novel and 1987 film, The Running Man invites viewers on a trip to a near-future society where television is ruled by the titular game show, where contestants must survive 30 days while being hunted by professional assassins in hopes of a life-changing cash reward. Desperate to save his sick daughter, Richards enters the game as a last-ditch effort, but soon finds himself as the unexpected underdog as he faces not just a barrage of killers, but a nation addicted to watching him fail.

The Running Man opens in cinemas in Singapore on 13 November 2025.

Kevin Low

Kevin is a reformed PC Master Race gamer with a penchant for franchise “duds” like Darksiders III and Dead Space 3. He has made it his life-long mission to play every single major game release – lest his wallet dies trying.

The post ‘The Running Man’ Premiere Screening Draws Over 150 Singapore Fans For Most Dangerous Game Show appeared first on Geek Culture.

Video game records are set through a myriad of ways, from sales, concurrent players, longest gameplay, high scores, largest collection, and so on, and Tencent’s Honor of Kings MOBA (multiplayer online battle arena) has just marked a new one, with a Guinness World Record for the largest attendance in a single esports match. 

It’s truly a title fit for a king, considering that the decade-old game, which grossed US$2.6 million globally in 2024, was recently crowned the highest-grossing mobile game in the world as well. 

The weekend of 8 November marked the Honor of Kings King Pro League (KPL) 2025 Grand Finals, held at Beijing’s iconic Bird’s Nest Stadium, which was transformed into a coliseum of lights and robust energy as 62,196 fans helped the game set a new Guinness World Record for the largest attendance in a single esports match. The crowd roared as two of China’s most celebrated singers, Zhou Shen (周深) and Han Hong (韩红), took the stage, with the latter performing the KPL 2025 theme song “神驰的属地” to the arena.

Originally released in 2015, the TiMi Studio title started as a China-only title before the fantasy mobile game, which borrows heavily from Chinese history, mythology, and traditional culture, took off overseas under the title Honor of Kings, where it has been launched in several key markets, including North America and Brazil. And while MOBA games have faced perceptions of being less prestigious than their PC esports counterparts, the KPL Grand Finals are now making their mark on the global stage with this record. Every warm seat in the 80,000-seater event space is a testament to the cultural and competitive power of the game.

The best-of-seven showdown featured the two finalist teams – AG Super Play and Wolves – two of the most disciplined and skilled Honor of Kings teams in China. From the opening game, Wolves pressed aggressively, securing early kills and controlling the map. Meanwhile, AG struggled initially by falling behind in kills and territory, and having their base almost wiped out by their opponent, but ultimately, their resilience shone through. By the eighteenth minute of Game One, AG turned the tide around with an impressive display of skill and defence, capturing the crucial lord and clinching the first victory in a match that set the tone for the evening.

Games Two through Five were a rollercoaster of momentum as Wolves’ aggressive early game strategies repeatedly tested AG’s composure, while AG demonstrated calmness and strategic adaptability. Fans witnessed spectacular plays, ambushes, and nail-biting close calls. 

In Game Six, the tension peaked as AG’s jungler Zhong Yi / Zoe (钟意), well-known for being the top jungler in Honor of Kings, selected his 100 per cent win-rate hero Augran (大司命), a choice reflecting confidence and trust in his own mastery, while Wolves countered with a similar strategy. Their roamer Yi Sheng / One (一 笙) picked DongHuang (东皇太一), also the players’ 100 per cent win-rate hero. Naturally, the crowd went wild over the selection of heroes, as one would have to lose their perfect hero win rate to the other at the end of the game. 

Ultimately, AG emerged victorious in a 4–2 victory to claim the championship and the top prize of ¥20,000,000 (S$3,600,000), part of a ¥70,000,000 (S$12,800,000) prize pool, with YINUO (一诺) delivering an MVP-worthy performance to earn the FMVP (Finals’ Most Valuable Player) title.

Beyond the competition, we were provided a glimpse into the meticulous preparation behind one of these elite Honor of Kings teams. Players from JDG, such as NoFear and Rong, underwent rigorous professional training, with selection processes spanning multiple phases. Rituals and preparation range from something as simple as warming up hands to a more tedious reviewing and analysing opponent footage. In JDG’s Home City, a specially made training program is made for their players to test their reflex, speed, awareness, and memory, highlighting the discipline and precision required at the highest level.

JDG’s team manager emphasised the qualities they seek in players – expertise, willingness to learn, strong communication, and an unwavering desire to win. This trait can be seen in various players across different teams.

The scale and ambition of the Honor of Kings extend far beyond China. Deputy CEO and COO of the Esports World Cup Foundation, Mike McGabe, described the KPL as unique, both locally and globally, citing its diverse fandom. To them, it was incredibly important to include Honor of Kings in their list of games in EWC (Esports World Cup), and it was an easy decision, seeing how big this game is. Chief Games Officer Fabian Scheuermann noted that the growth and support for KPL clubs in China serve as a benchmark, which they hope international teams can strive for similar stability.

Tencent’s global esports vision continues to shape these milestones. Global Esports Senior Director James Yang stressed that Honor of Kings is not about exporting a copy of the KPL, but about sharing its DNA with teams worldwide. Partnerships, mentorship programs, and international competitions help close the gap between Chinese players and the global community. 

Despite Malaysia being praised as the up-and-coming country with the most potential to beat a Chinese team by Yang, Team NOVA Esports Director Tsai “Rainer” Cheng-Bang highlighted the steep learning curve. The Malaysian market’s only advantage is that it plays 王者荣耀 (China’s version of Honor of Kings), which gives them a slight edge because of its advanced server with more features, content, and a more developed player base over regional competitors like the Philippines and Indonesia, who rely on the global version. Navigating the Chinese ranking system requires creating accounts under a Chinese IP address, a hurdle that underscores the challenge of bridging regional skill gaps.

That doesn’t stop Honor of Kings from constantly pouring in effort to diversify. This year’s Women’s Open tournament in Malaysia is a prime example, providing a platform for female competitors to showcase their skills and gain international exposure. Initiatives like this not only highlight the growing presence of women in esports but also signal the game’s commitment to cultivating talent across all demographics.

The KPL 2025 Grand Finals not only crowned AG as champions but also reaffirmed the magnitude of the impact mobile esports has made on a global scale. With a record-breaking attendance, the grand finals reinforced the message that Honor of Kings is a cultural phenomenon.

Debbi Koh

Living multiple lives, Debbi is a singer-songwriter and music coach by day, FPS gamer and variety streamer by night. Let’s not forget being a full-time dog mom to her Cavapoo, Buddy. With life like this, who needs a multiverse?

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Ten years after it made its debut in China, Tencent’s epic MOBA (Multiplayer Online Battle Arena) title, Honor of Kings, is now a gaming kingdom with no equal. What began as a local phenomenon has turned into a worldwide movement, as the game, from developer TiMi Studio, recently garnered 100 million monthly active users outside China in August 2025, and in just under two months, the fantasy game based heavily on Chinese history, mythology, and traditional culture, has now become the world’s most played mobile game.

In 2024, the game grossed US$2.6 million, making it the highest-grossing mobile game in the world at the time, and it wasn’t because of the larger Chinese population. Just this month, the company announced that the game surpassed 260 million global monthly active users (MAUs) across more than 200 countries and regions, with China hitting a record 139 million daily active users (DAUs), surpassing the previous record of 100 million DAUs set in 2024.

At the global Honor of Kings World Championship Grand Final or King Pro League (KPL) over the weekend, which sold out 60,000 seats in 12 seconds, Tencent announced that the event had reached a Guinness World Record of the largest attendance for an esports event – 62,196 attendees.

But this rise isn’t built on numbers alone. Behind the spectacle lies a clear mission – to build a global ecosystem where players, professionals, and communities can grow together, where the gap between international and Chinese players continues to close. Yes, there are cultural nuances in the game’s narrative that hamper the full enjoyment of non-Chinese players, which explains the stronger rollout of programs to win over more gamers from around the world. 

The game comes in 2 versions – the Chinese Version, 王者荣耀, which is limited to mainland China and a few select markets, and the global version, Honor of Kings, now available in more than 160 countries across Asia, Europe, America, the Middle East, and North Africa.

“We are not trying to copy the KPL to the world. We are sharing our Honor of Kings DNA and hope that it can be inherited,” explains Tencent’s Global Esports Senior Director James Yang,

Through initiatives like the Global Esports Power Up Program, teams around the world receive structured training and mentorship directly from China’s top-tier ecosystem and coaches. 

According to the Head of KPL Cheng Huang, the aim is to “strengthen communication channels across the world with China” by fostering an open environment where teams can learn, adapt to game mechanics, and ultimately rise to the same standard of play as the Chinese.

And the success is showing, as players from countries such as Malaysia have emerged as rising powerhouses, challenging long-held expectations of China’s dominance. For Tencent, that’s a success story in itself. 

“We want to see a global team beat us,” Cheng Huang shares. “When that happens, it means we are doing something right.”

While the competitive scene grows, the cultural heartbeat of Honor of Kings remains just as crucial. Known for its heroes inspired by Chinese mythology and folklore, the game’s expansion required more than just language translation but cultural reimagination and adjusting to an international audience.

Honor of Kings Game Producer Dean Huang explained that the goal was to always ensure that each hero “resonates and feels familiar to the rest of the world” while preserving the heart of its original story. This philosophy has led to regionally inspired heroes like Indonesia’s Garuda Khageswara and Brazil’s Luara, designed with local aesthetics that align with each country’s identity. Think of how global games infuse their pool of characters with those from different nationalities and cultures – Tencent and TiMi Studio follows the established practice made by countless developers before them, but also understands that this balance between authenticity and adaptation defines Honor of Kings’ global charm, where it’s still deeply Chinese at its core, but speaks in the language of every culture it touches.

To sustain this global movement, Tencent has invested US$15 million into developing the game’s international esports infrastructure. From professional leagues to grassroots programs, there are now seven regional professional leagues across the globe, led by the KPL in in China, followed by the MY Honor of Kings League in in Malaysia, Indonesia’s Kings Laga, Philippine’s Kings League, the Major East League (Japan, Korea, MENA and South Asia), the Major West League (America and Europe), and Brazil’s Honor of Kings League, all of which are complemented by initiatives like the Open Series and Campus Series, which provides new players a chance to learn directly from professionals.

Already, the effort looks to be paying off, as feedback from the grassroots community has been overwhelmingly positive, with players praising the mentorship programs and accessibility. Even the AI companion coach, which uses large language models to help players analyse their performance, has been met with enthusiasm. 

“This is only the beginning,” promises Honor of Kings KPL Operations and Development Lead Jiaxin, who reveals the system will continue to evolve and refine how players train. For established pro players, competition is also becoming more exciting, though the team recognises that with the long headstart that Chinese teams have, it’s unlikely that international teams have the capabilities to offer much of a challenge… for now, that is. 

“We do hope that every country will have the opportunity to beat us,” Jiaxin commented. “If a strong team defeats China’s pros, we want others to learn from them.”

There’s also the potential of the various professional leagues to become more than just events for like-minded players from the community to gather as in China, the KPL has evolved from a tournament to a celebration, as each KPL Grand Final transforms into a carnival for the growing fandom, with board games, music, comics, and crafts creating a festival-like experience that goes beyond the mobile screen.

This celebratory spirit has now reached the global stage with the Esports World Cup (EWC), where Honor of Kings made its debut as one of the core titles in 2025. Deputy CEO and Chief Operating Officer of the Esports World Cup Foundation, Mike McCabe, says it was “an incredibly easy decision” to include the game. 

“The KPL is truly unique, not just locally but globally. It’s on a different scale, one that is very diverse from an audience standpoint. When we look at it, we look at the fandom that inspired us to create the Superfans Program and work in partnership with clubs. The KPL clubs are on a different level.”

Chief Games Officer Fabian Scheuermann echoes the sentiment, pointing to the massive influence of the KPL. “We looked at the sheer size of its fanbase. The support and growth of the clubs globally is incredible, and we’re hoping that international teams will also achieve the same stability and growth as the ones in China.”

The partnership has already shown tangible results in Saudi Arabia, where the EWC introduced a new market and gave fans the opportunity to witness KPL’s best players live. “We saw a 20 to 25 per cent increase in attendance numbers, with over 460,000 visits on site,” says Fabian. “We wanted people to experience the impact and scale that Honor of Kings brings.”

For Tencent, EWC isn’t just another tournament. It’s a platform to share knowledge and raise standards worldwide. McCabe shared that the team has taken great inspiration from China’s approach to esports production, from ceremonial design to player welfare. “We look at China’s player lounges, their resilience in technology and broadcast, and even their metrics. All of which have inspired us. It’s not competition, it’s appreciation.”

Inclusivity remains another pillar of growth. James Yang notes that the Honor of King’s women’s tournament in Malaysia is just the beginning, with the team “working on the ecosystem first” to ensure long-term sustainability. Fabian also emphasises that the team is “supporting ecosystems where women are already present and creating more opportunities for them to compete on the big stage.” With plans to expand the Women’s Open and ensure aspiring female players receive equal opportunities, Honor of Kings is championing diversity on every level.

The pro players, too, are treated like professional athletes. Top-tier clubs such as JDG, Wolves, AG, Weibo, Hero Esports, and LGD train in dedicated Home City Venues equipped with gyms, wellness spaces, and recovery rooms. The focus on mental and physical support reflects Tencent’s commitment to nurturing its players as competitors and individuals.

As Honor of Kings enters its next chapter, the momentum shows no sign of slowing down. The KPL will mark its 10th anniversary in 2026, celebrating a decade of growth at Beijing’s iconic Bird’s Nest Stadium, a fitting stage for a game that has redefined mobile esports. It will also return to the Esports World Cup 2026 and the Asian Games 2026, cementing its place in the global competitive landscape.

Debbi Koh

Living multiple lives, Debbi is a singer-songwriter and music coach by day, FPS gamer and variety streamer by night. Let’s not forget being a full-time dog mom to her Cavapoo, Buddy. With life like this, who needs a multiverse?

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