Lots of good games to make up for the industry’s setbacks
The video game industry will have evolved at full speed in 2025, and not only for the better. One would have thought that after the explosion of the Covid bubble and the tens of thousands of layoffs announced in the aftermath, the first reflex of this sector would not have been to jump on a technology which threatens thousands of other jobs. And yet, generative AI has made quite a place for itself in video games, perhaps even more than in other entertainment industries.
Many went there gropingly, if only to test the public’s level of tolerance, while some studios employed great damage control by playing the good Samaritan through a very partial use of technology, while ensuring that no position was threatened. This is what many CEOs promise, whose words are the only ones relayed while the artists at the bottom of the ladder cannot have the same echo, while they are the first threatened by this “tool”, which we know in advance will never be used with caution if limits are not established today.
But that was not the only upheaval we witnessed. How not to talk about Microsoft’s amazing year (if that’s the right word)which made a more than surprising turn for Xbox. Wanting to see it everywhere, and especially anywhere via its slogan “This is an Xbox”, the brand abandoned its exclusives to offer them to Sony and Nintendo, while promising not to leave the world of hardware.
The proof with a ROG Xbox Ally which seems to be a test console for Microsoft, before designing its own portable machine. On the sidelines of this, Xbox Game Pass saw its price skyrocket, layoffs continued at Microsoft, Perfect Dark and many projects were thrown into the trash, but don’t panic, Phil Spencer said it himself: everything is fine for Xbox. Of course. Fortunately, there was still plenty to do at Xbox Game Studios, with Obsidian in great shape having delivered two RPGs in the same year (not to mention the early access of Grounded 2), A South of Midnight perhaps too underestimated and a Keeper enchanting.
Sony is doing a bit better on its side with PS5 sales which are at the level of expectationseven if we will still note a fairly discreet year on the part of the manufacturer. At least on communication, the fault of a rather unconvincing State of Play and a long-awaited line-up, the fault of numerous canceled service games for which we now have to pay the bill. We will still largely console ourselves with the enthusiastic Ghost of Yotei and the impressive Death Stranding 2or even with two games that are more confidential to the public but which will have marked the year of the PS5, like Sword of the Sea (Or Journey 2 if you prefer).
It is therefore undoubtedly Nintendo doing best in 2025 thanks to the launch of its Switch 2which is selling like hotcakes, whatever one may think of the machine. What the manufacturer owes to a Mario Kart World certainly not always exciting, but sufficiently popular and successful to trigger a real commercial tidal wave, while Donkey Kong Bananza And Kirby Air Riders came to fill in as best they could a fairly unmemorable line-up (which is always the case when a machine is launched anyway). We can bet that 2026 will be more stocked on this new console.
And behind the transactions that undermine morale (the takeover of EA by Saudi Arabia) and the closures of certain studios, impossible to be choosy with the avalanche of excellent games from third-party and independent publishers that have arrived this year.
Hades II And Hollow Knight Silksong were already enough to make us have a good year, and that was without counting completely unexpected surprises like the global phenomenon that has become Chiaroscuro: Expedition 33of a Blue Prince captivating, or even via the spectacular rebirth of the Telltale formula with a Dispatch particularly pleasing. Listing all these beautiful people would take a lot of time (and it’s already done anyway), but you will soon be able to celebrate these games yourselves by voting for them in our AG Awards, which arrive in January, along with numerous lists of games not to be missed and our usual review of each member of the team.
Tired, but still standing
A perfect transition to tell you a little about us. In 2025, the challenges will have been the same as in previous years for ActuGaming, the fault of a capricious Google which also tends to highlight everything that has not been written by a human and which favors the most sensational titles possible (and believe us, we do our best to avoid that for you). Behind the scenes, everything is done to maintain our editorial line, whether in the choice of articles, the treatment of current events, the relevance of our tests, and this despite certain compromises that are quite inevitable for a completely free site such as sponsored articles chosen with a little more care than in the past. Believe me, every decision is heavily weighed, that questioning occurs daily, and that debates are constant within the team to arrive at compromises that allow us to move forward without ever betraying your trust or wasting your precious time.
The survival of a site like ours is therefore quite a challenge in this era.it must be said, quite demoralizing. The whole thing is not helped by a growing xenophobia, sometimes seen even in our comments, the opportunity to remind you that it has no place here (or elsewhere) and that the slightest remark (even implied) of this kind will be removed by moderation. Fortunately, it is not in the majority and we can only thank you for bringing the community space to life with joy and good humor even when the news can be gloomy.
Our team did everything to overcome the tough times this year and will have won a good number of victories, as evidenced by an AG French Direct once again crowned with successwhich would not have been possible without you, our loyal community, nor without the talented partner studios who once again agree to play the game with boundless enthusiasm. Five years after its launch, the bet still seems crazier every year, but so galvanizing.
Our YouTube channel will have even passed the 110,000 subscriber markdespite a turbulent end to the year. If you are one of the faithful, you will undoubtedly have noticed the unforeseen absence of Julien, our beloved good chef (who is doing very well and who will be back soon, rest assured), who was replaced on the fly and brilliantly by people whose pen you are more used to reading than hearing their voices, like Matheus and FloRizzo, a shock duo who allowed the channel to not take a break. A temporary transition that was not easy for the team to manage, but our subscribers continued to respond to help the channel reach a new essential level.
All this means that, in the end, thanks to all of you and our incredible team, we are doing not too badly, if not quite well. At least enough for a video game news site in 2025, which is no small feat. And this even if some projects have been postponed due to these unexpected changes. Whether it is a possible premium formula without advertising or new columns (as well as a newsletter), all of this is still relevantprovided that the year 2026 is a little kinder to us. We believe in it, and this is above all essential for our future in order to offer you an ever more qualitative site.
So let’s end by thanking you again for your presence throughout this year. Whether you have planned a festive evening or to stay quietly under a blanket, and that is the best plan, all we have to do is wish you a very happy new year 2026 (health and all that), full of good games and, hopefully, better news for this industry that we love so much. Have a happy holiday!