Doom Crushes, Expedition 33 Rules, and Fighting Games Falter

The past week, May 12–18, 2025, was a banger for gaming. Doom: The Dark Ages stormed onto screens, Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 kept its GOTY crown, and the Galaxies Games Showcase’s afterglow fueled indie hype. But Grand Theft Auto VI’s delay lingered, and fighting games hit a rough patch. Here’s what defined last week’s gaming pulse.Galaxies Games Showcase’s Echoes EndureThe Galaxies Games Showcase (April 17) still resonated last week, its 50+ reveals keeping X buzzing. Hosted by GamesRadar, it united Konami, Remedy, and Kepler Interactive for an indie-AAA spectacle. The Knightling, Saber Interactive’s fantasy action-adventure, saw its Steam demo thrive, hyping a summer 2025 launch across PC, PS5, Xbox, and Switch, per X posts. RuneScape: Dragonwilds, Jagex’s survival pivot, gained traction, while Remedy’s FBC: Firebreak teased chaotic co-op in the Control universe. Shadow drops like Bionic Bay and UNBEATABLE’s rhythm demo (music as rebellion) held strong, with X calling it “E3’s heir.”@pushsquarepegged Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 as the star, and its April 24 launch carried that weight into May, shaping the week’s vibe.Big Releases: Doom Leads the ChargeLast week’s releases were heavy-hitters:

• Doom: The Dark Ages (May 15, Xbox Series X|S, PC, PS5): This medieval Doom prequel, a Game Pass day-one title, unleashed skull-crushing chaos with weapons like the Reaver Chainshot. Early access kicked off May 12 at 8 PM EST, per@trixett, and X lit up—@Misery_AZdubbed it a GOTY contender alongside Expedition 33. Twitch streams exploded, and Steam charts show it rivaling Monster Hunter Wilds.
• WWE 2K25 (full release May 7, PS5, PS4, Xbox Series X|S, Xbox One, PC): Still riding high, this wrestling titan topped Steam, per X posts, with MyGM mode shining despite roster bloat complaints.
• Dredge (May 6, Cloud, PC, Xbox Series X|S): This eerie fishing adventure, a Game Pass hit, kept hooking players with its Lovecraftian seas, per@pcgamer.
• Dragon Ball Xenoverse 2 (May 7, Cloud, Console, PC): A Game Pass add, it fueled Dragon Ball nostalgia.
• Kulebra and the Souls of Limbo (May 17, PC): A new Steam indie, per@pcgamer, its quirky charm got overshadowed but earned early praise.

Clair Obscur: Expedition 33’s Reign ContinuesClair Obscur: Expedition 33 (April 24) ruled May, hitting 2 million copies sold, per@XBorgHQ. Sandfall Interactive’s RPG, a Galaxies standout, blends haunting visuals, turn-based combat, and a philosophical narrative that’s got X buzzing—@IGNcalled it a “genre-defining masterpiece” with a 92 Metascore, per@MortisWes. NVIDIA’s DLSS support, per@NVIDIAGeForce, made PC visuals pop. Last week, Sandfall’s summer epilogue tease, per X, kept GOTY chatter alive.@Misery_AZpaired it with Doom as May’s peak, proving indies can outshine AAA.Oblivion Remake Rumors Heat UpThe Elder Scrolls IV: Oblivion stayed hot after its April 22 remaster (PC, Xbox Series X|S, PS5), which topped PS5 charts, per@WindowsCentral. Leaks via@Eurogamerfueled 2027 remake talk, promising upgraded visuals and mod support. X was split—@RinoTheBouncerhyped a 4K Cyrodiil, but some feared a Skyrim clone. The remaster’s 4K/60 FPS, new lighting, and modern combat, per@JamieMoranUK, kept it trending, with@Asmongoldlamenting missing its drop. With The Elder Scrolls VI distant, per@GameSpot, Oblivion anchored nostalgia last week.GTA VI Delay’s Ripple EffectTake-Two’s May 6 bombshell—Grand Theft Auto VI delayed to May 26, 2026, from fall 2025—still stung, tanking shares 8%, per@Bloomberg. A second trailer, per@ChitoGamingLive, flaunted Vice City’s neon and Lucia’s lead, but X split: “Rockstar’s cooking” vs. “another year of torture.” Last week,@00williammorristied it to Take-Two’s bold forecast at GamesBeat Summit, keeping the delay front and center.Fighting Games Hit a Rough PatchFighting games stumbled last week. Fatal Fury: City of the Wolves faced a “disappointing run,” per@Twentytwo13news, while another title’s source code leaked illegally, stirring X drama. The genre’s struggles contrasted May’s highs, with Doom and WWE 2K25 stealing the spotlight. X posts mourned, but Persona 5 X’s global release date, per@MelooGaming, offered hope.Switch 2 and Xbox Handheld BuzzNintendo’s Switch 2 ($449.99, June 5 launch) kept pre-orders hot, with Mario Kart World and Kirby Air Riders driving hype, per X. Last week,@trixettnoted a longer-lasting battery option, boosting buzz. Xbox’s “Project Keenan” handheld (late 2025) leaked further, with@iHeartRadioCAciting a ROG-licensed portable. X dreamed of Halo on the go, but Xbox’s price hikes ($80 games, pricier consoles), per@ChitoGamingLive, drew fire. Game Pass, with Doom and Dredge, eased the pain, per@IGN.Indies Fight for SpaceBig drops overshadowed indies.@pcgamer’s May 12 list, including Kulebra and the Souls of Limbo (May 17), noted small titles struggling against Doom and WWE 2K25. Blue Prince (92 Metascore, per@MortisWes) and LLAMASOFT: The Jeff Minter Story (95% Steam rating) fought for scraps, echoing April’s indie woes, per@pcgamer. Expedition 33’s success was the exception, not the rule.The Wrap-UpMay 12–18 was electric: Galaxies Games Showcase kept The Knightling and Dragonwilds alive, Doom: The Dark Ages and WWE 2K25 crushed, and Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 reigned supreme. GTA VI’s delay and fighting game woes hurt, but Oblivion rumors and Switch 2 buzz lifted spirits.@Misery_AZnailed it—May 2025’s a gaming feast. What’s your pick—Doom’s carnage, Expedition 33’s depth, or an indie gem? Drop it below—I’m listening.