We’re at the end of May, and with that come a slew of hard-hitting news and major game releases, especially if you’re into search action titles with Game Boy Advance-style graphics and roguelites in The Lands Between.

The Big Picture

Last week, we brought up movie and live-action adaptations of video games (and even animated) being in a great place in this generation. 

But what happens if you adapt a game that’s heavily narrative-driven and cinematic, as well as has most of its script already made and laid out? Almost like as if it’s a movie? 

As critically acclaimed as HBO Max’s The Last of Us adaptation was, the first season was based on the universally-acclaimed first title. The second title was a mixed bag, with various arguments all leading to the game being just another revenge plot that arguably went nowhere and damaged a number of its lead characters. 

The Last of Us season 2 adapted part of the second game’s story up to a certain point, with its viewership being lower than season 1’s. This isn’t surprising: critics loved it, audiences are mixed about it, non-gamers are confused about the second season’s ending, and the resolution to the cliffhanger will only air in 2027. 

As much as I appreciated The Last of Us Part 2’s gameplay, its narrative left a lot to be desired and doesn’t hit the same highs as the first. If the HBO Max version does not make any significant changes and just coast along the same beats from start to finish, I don’t know if there would even be a Season 4 at this point. 

Short Beats

Three voice actors, Yuri Lowenthal, Erin Fitzgerald and Amanda Winn Lee, have allegedly confirmed the existence of the Persona 4 remake; they also won’t be reprising their roles as Yosuke, Chie, and Yukiko respectively in said remake. 

HBO’s The Last of Us Season 2’s finale aired on 26 May, with a viewership of 3.7 million. Compared to Season 2’s premiere it’s a 30% drop and with Season 1’s finale it’s a 55% drop. However, Season 2 is averaging 37 million viewers per episode globally. 

EA has cancelled its Marvel’s Black Panther game. The studio that made it has also shut down. 

Cyberpunk 2 is officially in preproduction. Previously, the Cyberpunk 2077 sequel was codenamed Project Orion. Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 has sold 3.3 million copies within 33 days.

Op Eds

We covered Indie Quest 2025, which revealed 40+ upcoming Japanese role-playing games from small dedicated teams. 

We also covered all the games featured on the OTK Games Expo 2025, a games showcase from a number of big-time Twitch and YouTube content creators. 

Here is a highlight reel of the best plays in this year’s Combo Breaker 2025, a fighting game esports tournament featuring titles like Street Fighter 6 and Fatal Fury: City of the Wolves.

Games Out This Week

Elden Ring: Nightreign is an action-adventure roguelite co-op game set in the Elden Ring universe. Fight your through the nightmarish invaders plaguing the Lands Between. 

Pipistrello and the Cursed Yoyo is a 2D-pixel art metroidvania title where you play a young anthropomorphic bat boy named Pippit who fights enemies with a yoyo. Together with the spirit of his aunt stuck in the yoyo, he embarks on a quest in New Jolt City in search of the Mega Batteries to help her. Fuga: Melodies of Steel 3 is a tactical role-playing game where you play as a group of orphans who aim to take down the world’s oppressive empire to rescue their friend Malt. It is the third and final entry in the Fuga trilogy.

Fuga: Melodies of Steel 3 is a tactical role-playing game where you play as a group of orphans who aim to take down the world’s oppressive empire to rescue their friend Malt. It is the third and final entry in the Fuga trilogy.

Recommended Viewing

Kantan Games CEO and game industry analyst Serkan Toto has published a video detailing the activist investment that is pursuing Square Enix, and whether it affects the latter’s release pipeline and strategy in the long run.