New Games 2025: September Week 4.5 + October Week 1 Gaming Roundup

Welcome back to our weekly gaming coverage! September has opened with a remarkably diverse slate of releases that should satisfy virtually every gaming preference, from arcade fighting purists to atmospheric horror enthusiasts. Before diving into this week's standout new games 2025 offerings, make sure to check out our esports predictions and analysis for comprehensive tournament coverage across multiple competitive scenes. This week also brought us major showcases from both PlayStation and Xbox, revealing exciting developments that will shape the gaming landscape through 2026.

Game Releases

Mortal Kombat: Legacy Kollection

Platforms: PC, Nintendo Switch, Nintendo Switch 2, PS5, PS4, Xbox Series X/S, Xbox One

Release Date: September 29, 2025

Digital Eclipse continues their masterful approach to fighting game preservation with this comprehensive celebration of Mortal Kombat's formative years. Rather than simply dumping ROMs into an emulator, Legacy Kollection presents the franchise's evolution through their acclaimed interactive documentary format, featuring extensive interviews with original developers Ed Boon, John Tobias, John Vogel, and Dan Forden.

The collection spans the iconic arcade originals alongside carefully curated home versions and rare releases that many players never experienced firsthand. The addition of rollback netcode transforms these classic fighters into viable online experiences, maintaining the precision timing that made them legendary while enabling seamless matches across vast distances. The ability to unlock all secret characters instantly and access buried developer menus provides unprecedented insight into the creative process behind these groundbreaking games.

What elevates this beyond mere nostalgia is the comprehensive lore exploration, complete with character histories and narrative timelines that trace the epic saga through Earthrealm, Outworld, and Edenia. For longtime fans, this represents the definitive way to experience Mortal Kombat's arcade era, while newcomers gain valuable context for understanding how these games revolutionized the fighting game genre and sparked nationwide conversations about video game content.

Alien: Rogue Incursion Evolved Edition

Platforms: PC, PS5

Release Date: September 30, 2025

Originally designed for VR platforms, Alien: Rogue Incursion receives a comprehensive overhaul for traditional gaming setups while retaining the claustrophobic intensity that made it compelling. Players step into the role of Zula Hendricks, navigating the terrifying events between the original Alien and Aliens films on the remote planet Purdan.

The narrative focuses on investigating a Weyland-Yutani blacksite overrun by Xenomorphs, delivering the corporate conspiracy elements that fans expect from quality Alien media. The Evolved Edition enhances the experience with 60fps performance, 3D audio implementation, and adaptive trigger functionality that makes every weapon interaction feel distinct and purposeful.

What distinguishes this from other Alien games is its emphasis on unpredictable Xenomorph behavior patterns. These creatures don't follow scripted patrol routes or predictable attack sequences. Instead, they adapt to player movement and tactics, creating genuine tension where every encounter feels dangerous rather than routine. The inclusion of synth companion Davis 01 provides strategic depth without undermining the isolation that defines effective Alien horror.

Nicktoons & The Dice of Destiny

Platforms: PC, Nintendo Switch, PS5, Xbox Series X/S

Release Date: September 30, 2025

This ambitious crossover reimagines beloved Nickelodeon characters as classic RPG archetypes, transforming SpongeBob into a spatula-wielding warrior and Katara into a water-bending spellcaster. The concept could easily devolve into mindless nostalgia pandering, but the developers demonstrate genuine understanding of both source material and RPG mechanics.

Real-time combat emphasizes character-specific abilities and strategic positioning rather than button-mashing approaches. Each hero possesses distinct movesets that reflect their animated origins while fitting naturally into fantasy combat scenarios. The progression system allows meaningful customization without overwhelming younger players who might be unfamiliar with complex RPG mechanics.

Environmental design cleverly adapts iconic Nickelodeon locations into fantasy settings, creating "Bikini Bottomshire" and other whimsical interpretations that maintain visual coherence. The inclusion of four-player local cooperative play addresses the social gaming preferences of the target demographic while providing experienced players with tactical coordination opportunities. Boss encounters featuring reimagined villains like Azula and Plankton promise memorable setpiece battles that should satisfy both franchise fans and action-RPG enthusiasts.

Ghost of Yōtei

Platforms: PS5

Release Date: October 2, 2025

Sucker Punch Productions ventures beyond their established Tsushima setting with this spiritual successor that introduces protagonist Atsu and the expansive wilderness of Ezo. Rather than simply recycling successful formulas, Ghost of Yōtei explores themes of healing and redemption that extend beyond traditional revenge narratives.

The Yōtei Six serve as primary antagonists, each possessing distinctive combat styles that will challenge players to adapt their approach throughout the campaign. From The Snake's unpredictable katana mastery to The Oni's towering ōdachi techniques, these encounters promise varied tactical experiences that build upon the combat foundation established in the previous game.

Cultural immersion receives significant attention through activities like onsen bathing, shrine visits, and sumi-e painting that provide respite from intense combat sequences. The camping system creates opportunities for meaningful character interactions and equipment preparation, while chance encounters with travelers offer organic worldbuilding moments that flesh out the historical setting.

The grappling hook addition expands traversal possibilities without undermining the grounded movement that defined the original experience. Combined with wildlife tracking mechanics and environmental storytelling, these elements create exploration loops that reward curiosity and thorough investigation of the beautifully realized landscape.

Happenings in the Gaming World

Krafton Escalates Legal Battle Over Alleged Subnautica 2 Asset Theft

The ongoing dispute between Krafton and former Unknown Worlds executives, which we mentioned last week, has intensified following revelations about extensive file downloads preceding their termination. Court documents reveal that Ted Gill, Charlie Cleveland, and Max McGuire allegedly performed mass downloads of confidential materials, including hundreds of Subnautica Maya files containing proprietary 3D modeling data.

Forensic technology firm Alvarez & Marsal discovered systematic downloads occurring throughout June and July 2025, suggesting coordinated data extraction rather than routine file access. The scope includes not only Subnautica development assets but also comprehensive documentation for the failed Moonbreaker project, including monetization strategies and internal feedback reports.

Krafton's legal team argues these files constitute "a blueprint for a game," representing intellectual property theft that could enable unauthorized game development. The company has requested court intervention to preserve the downloaded data, claiming the former executives have threatened deletion. This escalation occurs against the backdrop of a disputed $250 million bonus tied to Subnautica 2's development milestones, adding financial stakes to the intellectual property concerns.

PlayStation State of Play Showcases 2026 Roadmap

Sony's September State of Play broadcast revealed an impressive lineup spanning first-party exclusives and major third-party partnerships. Housemarque's Saros received extensive gameplay coverage, showcasing the narrative roguelite mechanics that build upon their Returnal expertise with protagonist Arjun's story scheduled for March 2026.

The showcase's climax featured Insomniac's Wolverine debut, presenting visceral combat sequences that embrace the character's brutal nature while maintaining the studio's signature traversal and environmental interaction systems. Supporting characters including Omega Red, Mystique, and Sentinels suggest a narrative scope that extends beyond typical superhero game conventions.

Third-party announcements demonstrated PlayStation's continued strength in securing diverse content, from Microsoft Flight Simulator 2024's console debut to Deus Ex Remastered's comprehensive overhaul. The inclusion of PSVR2 support for Flight Simulator indicates ongoing commitment to the platform despite mixed market reception.

Xbox Tokyo Game Show Emphasizes Japanese Market Engagement

Microsoft's Tokyo Game Show presentation strategically emphasized partnerships with Japanese developers while showcasing Western studios' appreciation for Japanese gaming culture. Playground Games' Forza Horizon 6 announcement, set in Japan, represents significant cultural localization efforts that extend beyond simple environment changes.

The broadcast highlighted continuing relationships with established Japanese studios through Fatal Frame II: Crimson Butterfly Remake updates and Dragon Quest I & II HD-2D Remake demonstrations. IO Interactive's 007: First Light received substantial coverage, featuring Gemma Chan as Dr. Selina Tan alongside the intriguing Bruce Lee collaboration for Hitman's Elusive Target missions.

The Japanese-themed content trend across multiple Xbox properties suggests coordinated marketing efforts to strengthen brand presence in the region. From Call of Duty: Black Ops 7's new multiplayer maps to Age of Mythology's Heavenly Spear expansion, this approach demonstrates understanding that cultural authenticity requires more than superficial aesthetic choices.

That concludes our September week one coverage! Which of these releases caught your attention, and are you anticipating any of the 2026 titles revealed during the recent showcases? If competitive gaming interests you more than single-player experiences, don't miss our comprehensive tournament analysis and predictions covering Dota 2 and Counter-Strike 2 events. Our Pick'ems system offers opportunities to predict match outcomes and potentially win valuable Steam marketplace items. Ready to test your esports knowledge? Give it a try today.