Table of Contents
November 10–16, 2025
The post-GTA delay hangover lingered, but this week delivered redemption with Call of Duty: Black Ops 7's blockbuster launch and a VR showcase packed with surprises. Indies faced a rough spotlight at G-STAR, while strategy and RPG fans got fresh fixes. Full scoop as of 4:12 PM EST, November 17, 2025.
🎮 Call of Duty: Black Ops 7 Drops – Warzone Integration Wows, But Campaign Divides
Treyarch's Black Ops 7 hit shelves (and Game Pass) on November 13, pulling 25 million players in its first weekend—smashing Modern Warfare III's record. Set in a near-future cold war, it reunites David Mason from BO2 with omni-movement mechanics and a revamped Zombies mode.
- X Buzz: "BO7's campaign is peak CoD storytelling" vs. "Too short, paywall vibes." Multiplayer shines with 16 new maps; Warzone's "Return to Verdansk" teaser leaked mid-week.
- Sales Spike: $1B+ projected in Q4, per Activision.
Pro Tip: GeForce NOW day-one support means cloud warriors can jump in sans beefy rigs.
🥽 VR Renaissance? New Titles Launch Amid Showcase Hype – Mixed Bag Reception
The VR Games Showcase on November 13 lit up Meta Quest, PS VR2, and SteamVR with 20+ announcements, but releases this week stole the show. Highlights: Deadpool VR (November 12, Meta/PC VR) and Forefront (November 14, Quest/PS VR2)—both earning solid early praise for immersive chaos.
Fresh VR Drops & Vibes
| Game | Date | Platforms | Reception |
|---|---|---|---|
| Deadpool VR | Nov 12 | Quest, PC VR, PS VR2 | "Merc with a mouth in VR is gloriously unhinged" – 92% positive on Steam (300+ reviews). Katanas feel weighty; humor lands harder in first-person. |
| Forefront | Nov 14 | Quest, PS VR2 | Tactical shooter sequel scores 85%—praised for gunfeel, dinged for short campaign. "Feels like Ready or Not in VR." |
| Demeo: Definitive Edition Update | Nov 11 | All VR | Free 2.0 overhaul adds co-op twists; "Board game VR perfected" – 95% thumbs up, but matchmaking glitches frustrate. |
- Showcase Scoop: Vampire Survivors VR, Gunman Contracts, Orcs Must Die! VR teased for Q1 2026. Among Us 3D and Aerosurfer got crowd cheers, but Reddit calls the event "pretty weak overall—too many ports, not enough innovation."
- Trend: Quest 3S bundles with Deadpool flew off shelves; PS VR2 sales up 15% post-show.
😩 G-STAR 2025: Indie Spotlight Fizzles – "Visibility Crisis" Hits Devs Hard
Seoul's G-STAR 2025 (Nov 13-16) promised an indie renaissance but delivered disappointment for smaller studios. Amid AAA dazzle from Nintendo and Sony, indies struggled for eyes—many booths saw "near-zero foot traffic," per devs on X.
- The Flop Factors: Overcrowded floor (500+ exhibitors), poor signage, and AAA favoritism left gems like procedural roguelike Echoes of Exile and cozy sim Pixel Hearth overlooked. One dev tweeted: "Spent $10K to demo to 12 people. Disaster."
- Silver Lining: A few breakouts, like Korean horror Whispers in the Fog, snagged publisher deals. Critics slam organizers: "Indie support was lip service—2026 needs a dedicated zone."
- Broader Echo: Mirrors 2025's indie woes, with Steam wishlists down 20% YOY for non-AAA titles.
Dev Advice: Pivot to digital showcases like Steam Next Fest—October's event crushed it with 2,900+ demos and "hidden gems" galore.
📦 Key Releases: RPGs & Simulators Rule the Week
Beyond VR and CoD, here's the slate:
| Game | Date | Platforms | Quick Hit |
|---|---|---|---|
| Fallout 4: Anniversary Edition | Nov 10 | PC, PS5/Xbox, Legacy | Mod overhaul + perf boosts; "Essential for Nuka-World fans," but PS4 crashes irk. |
| Anno 117: Pax Romana | Nov 13 | PC | Roman city-builder shines—95% positive: "Civ meets Total War." |
| Inazuma Eleven: Victory Road | Nov 13 | PC, PS4/5, Xbox, Switch | Soccer RPG with 5K+ chars; "Anime fever dream" – 88% Steam. |
| Hyrule Warriors: Age of Imprisonment | Nov 14 | Switch | Zelda musou prequel; "Fills TOTK lore gaps" – early access raves. |
| Assetto Corsa Rally (EA) | Nov 13 | PC | Off-road racer; "Physics god-tier," but UI clunky. |
- Indie Spotlights: Rue Valley (Nov 11, PC) – narrative adventure, 82% positive.
🛡️ Next Week's Heat (Nov 17-23)
| Game | Date | Platforms | Why Play? |
|---|---|---|---|
| Kirby Air Riders | Nov 18 | Switch 2 | Kirby on hoverboards—co-op chaos. |
| Demonschool | Nov 20 | PC | Tactical RPG; "Shin Megami vibes." |
| Satisfactory 1.0 | Nov 21 | PC | Factory sim full release—automation heaven. |
| Syberia: The World Before | Nov 19 | Consoles | Point-and-click classic ports. |
📈 Industry Intel: Layoffs Lull, But AI Debates Rage
- Square Enix AI Push: 70% QA automation plan draws fire—"Kills jobs, not bugs," says BG3 lead. (From prior week, but echoes.)
- Switch 2 Milestone: 15M units shipped—backwards compat key to dominance.
- Xbox Shift: Multiplat focus pays off; revenue up 5% QoQ.
⏰ What's Next?
Game Awards noms drop soon—Clair Obscur leads. VR's momentum builds, but indies need better spotlights.
Daggerless dives deeper next week. Deadpool VR your jam, or G-STAR woes hit home? Tag @Daggerless on X. Stay sharp, gamers.
— The Daggerless Crew
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