A playable prototype of a canceled Game Boy Advance game has surfaced, thanks to a game preservation group, allowing fans to experience an unreleased Animaniacs game. As the focus on game preservation intensifies among enthusiasts, especially for older titles that are becoming harder to access, canceled games often remain some of the most elusive.

The gaming community has seen notable instances of canceled prototypes resurfacing, like a recently uncovered prototype for a discontinued LEGO Minecraft game. Now, a lost Animaniacs GBA game is available for fans online.

The Animaniacs animated series debuted in 1993 and quickly became a significant success, featuring the adventures of siblings Yakko, Wakko, and Dot. It won multiple Daytime Emmy Awards and ran for five memorable seasons.

The show even had a revival in 2020, which added three more seasons and continued to capture Emmy accolades. The emergence of the Animaniacs GBA game prototype offers a glimpse into what could have been a dynamic addition to the franchise.

According to reports by Time Extension, the video game preservation group Hidden Palace has uncovered a prototype for “Animaniacs: Hollywood Hypnotics.” This build combines point-and-click gameplay with platforming segments, where players assist the Warner siblings in thwarting Pinky and the Brain’s scheme to turn their water tower home into a rocket. Originally developed by Conspiracy Entertainment, which later became Swing Entertainment, the game was slated for release in 2003, the same year Swing Entertainment folded.

The available prototype not only allows fans to play but also sheds light on the game’s history with Conspiracy Entertainment. Full Fat, contracted for the project, still lists the game on its website, indicating that “Hollywood Hypnotics” was completed but remains somewhat unfinished.

The resurfacing of this prototype is a significant victory for game preservation advocates, especially amidst ongoing discussions about high-profile game cancellations in the industry.

Marvel Rivals has recently released an exciting teaser that suggests the introduction of the Phoenix and a new Klyntar map. This announcement marks the game’s continued expansion into various iconic areas of the Marvel Comics universe, promising fresh characters and environments to captivate players.

Season 0 of Marvel Rivals centered on Doctor Doom’s experiments, highlighting the creation of four Chronoverses, which engage with the popular Multiverse concept familiar to Marvel enthusiasts. As Season 1 commenced, players witnessed Dracula harnessing the power of Chronovium alongside the eagerly anticipated addition of The Fantastic Four.

Season 2 shifted focus to a beloved storyline, featuring the Hellfire Gala theme. Players are now buzzing with anticipation for upcoming developments, especially following a recent social media post hinting at exciting new features.

On Twitter, Marvel Rivals teased the addition of Phoenix and a Klyntar map set to debut in Season 3. The post read, “Klyntar is about to ignite,” with a brief video showcasing a golden egg recognized by fans as the Phoenix Egg.

In comic lore, this egg symbolizes the rebirth of the Phoenix Force, famously linked to characters like Jean Grey, who is expected to join Season 3. Players can also look forward to a Klyntar map, rumored to be playable in Domination mode.

While there’s already a map based on the symbiote planet, this Convergence mode map conforms to speculation about the theme of Season 3 regarding the prison world of supervillain Knull. Additionally, Blade’s anticipated arrival, a character previously introduced in Season 1, adds further excitement as recent leaks hint at his abilities.

Marvel Rivals invites players to assemble a powerful team from a wide array of characters and engage in dynamic, fast-paced 6v6 action across destructible environments. With constant updates and new content each season, players can look forward to endless adventures and strategic gameplay.

The synergy between characters enhances tactical options, making every encounter in the Marvel universe unique and exhilarating.

Halo Studios has announced that it will share more information about its latest project in the Halo franchise on October 24, during the Halo World Championship in Seattle. Previously known as 343 Industries, the developer rebranded to Halo Studios during last year’s championship and revealed that future Halo games would utilize Unreal Engine 5. Fans have eagerly anticipated updates, and this announcement provides a definitive timeline for when they can expect to hear more. Speculation about major Halo announcements had been circulating, fueled by a conversation an attendee had with a Halo Studios representative at the Halo Championship Series Open in Dallas.

The representative hinted at a significant revelation set for 2025, confirming the excitement surrounding the franchise’s future. Recent communications from Halo Studios support these rumors, leading fans to wonder about the accuracy of other speculations floating around. Historically, Halo games have maintained a complicated relationship with the extensive Halo literature, but this connection may deepen in light of the upcoming Halo 7. A blog post from Halo Studios stated that fans can anticipate learning more about Project Foundry and the franchise’s direction at the upcoming event.

While they remain tight-lipped about specifics, they have clarified the timing and platform for these updates. In addition to the game announcements, a new book titled Halo: Edge of Dawn is also on the horizon, adding to the excitement. Halo Studios has acknowledged fan speculation, emphasizing that the Halo World Championship will be the prime opportunity for fans to receive authentic updates. Given that 2025 marks the 25th anniversary of the franchise, the anticipation for a significant announcement is heightened.

Xbox has previously hinted at grand plans for the anniversary in 2026, making the upcoming event crucial for die-hard fans.

A dedicated Pokemon enthusiast has created an impressive handcrafted puppet of Dratini, making it appear as if the iconic Dragon Pokemon is sitting on their shoulders. The Pokemon franchise has captivated fans for years, introducing over 1,000 unique creatures, which has sparked a wave of creativity.

Fans have produced everything from new Pokemon designs and evolutions to apparel and home decor influenced by the franchise. This recent puppet project highlights the artistic talents of a Pokemon lover, focusing on a classic character.

Dratini is one of the original 151 Pokemon and represents a significant part of the Dragon type lineage, being one of only three Dragon Pokemon introduced at the beginning. As part of its evolution line, Dratini was one of the first “pseudo-legendary” Pokemon, notoriously hard to find in the Kanto region, with the powerful Dragonite as its ultimate form.

The popularity of Dratini has led to various fan creations, including mini wood carvings, but this innovative puppet design takes it to another level. Worldwarallen, a Reddit user, showcased their extraordinary Dratini puppet on the official Pokemon subreddit.

The puppet is designed to rest on their shoulders, with the user’s right hand and arm manipulating the puppet’s neck and head. Notably, the puppet features a fake arm, enhancing the illusion that Dratini is moving independently.

This project is not Worldwarallen’s first foray into Pokemon cosplay; they previously created a Pidgeotto animatronic that garnered accolades at a convention. Fans have lauded the puppet and suggested ways to make it even more lifelike.

Ideas included enhancing the fake arm’s appearance and adding sound effects, like a squeaking device to replicate Dratini’s in-game cry. Meanwhile, excitement continues to build in the Pokemon community, with game developer Game Freak preparing to release Pokemon Legends: Z-A and revamp the Trading Card Game with new features this Fall, keeping fans eagerly engaged with the franchise.

Capcom has announced an exciting collaboration between its popular fighting game, Street Fighter 6, and the renowned K-pop band Aespa. This partnership will introduce a new bonus outfit for players, but with a reminder to take note of its limited availability. Street Fighter 6 was originally launched in 2023 and later saw a release on the Nintendo Switch 2 alongside the console’s debut. Built using Capcom’s RE Engine, the game includes cross-platform play and rollback netcode, featuring three main modes: Fighting Ground, World Tour, and Battle Hub.

Capcom is committed to keeping players engaged with fresh content, recently sharing details on Sagat, the next downloadable content (DLC) character. This announcement adds to the excitement as players have the opportunity to take part in this limited-time collaboration. Street Fighter 6 allows players to customize their Avatar characters, enhancing their overall experience. The collaboration was made public through the official Street Fighter Twitter account, revealing various themed items that will be available.

These include a new commentator from visual artist Naevis and a special outfit for Juri accompanied by a K-pop-inspired remix of her theme music, along with Aespa-themed visual effects before matches. Earlier this year, Street Fighter 6 had also collaborated with Capcom’s Monster Hunter Wilds and featured a crossover with Overwatch, further expanding its gaming universe. However, players should note that Juri’s outfit will only be available for one year, specifically from July 4, 2025. While some fans had hoped that the K-pop collaboration might offer free items, most comments about Juri’s skin were positive, with many agreeing that it looked stylish.

Looking ahead, the Capcom community can anticipate more DLC characters in Street Fighter 6’s Year 3 release schedule. Following Sagat’s introduction, C. Viper is set to join the roster this year, while Alex and Ingrid are confirmed for a 2026 release. Players are reassured that all four DLC characters will still appear in the Masters mode within the World Tour, even without the Year 3 character pass.

Sega has effectively dashed any hopes of revisiting the beloved game, Sonic Adventure 2, in the near future. Originally launched in 2001, this game remains a fan favorite and is regarded as one of the best titles released on the Dreamcast.

Over the years, Sega has experienced various ups and downs, from being a significant competitor to Nintendo in the early ’90s to ultimately exiting the hardware market shortly after the new millennium began. Despite these changes, Sonic the Hedgehog has consistently been a cornerstone of Sega’s identity.

A series of successful games featuring this iconic character has cemented his place in pop culture, alongside film adaptations that have performed well at the box office. Among the standout titles in Sonic’s extensive library is Sonic Adventure 2, but hopes for a remastered version were recently extinguished by Sega’s Takashi Iizuka, head of Sonic Team.

During a discussion with Shacknews, Iizuka confirmed that there are “no plans” for a remaster or remake. He emphasized that updating the Dreamcast classic to modern gaming standards would require as much effort as creating a new game, leading him to choose the latter.

This response fundamentally closed the door on any potential revival of Sonic Adventure 2, a game that was delisted in several regions in November 2024. While the lack of a remaster is disappointing for many avid fans, Sega is not entirely looking back.

They are poised to release Sonic Racing: CrossWorlds across PC and consoles on September 25. This new game has generated excitement among fans with its unique crossovers and gameplay opportunities.

Players can engage in a quest for the Chaos Emeralds, choosing sides between heroes and villains, as well as partake in various racing and competitive modes. Additionally, fans can raise their own Chao pets, enhancing their abilities through mini-games and missions across numerous action-packed stages.

Borderlands 4 fans are excited to claim a free in-game cosmetic, but there is a slight catch that might deter some. The highly anticipated release date of September 12 is fast approaching, and Gearbox’s marketing efforts are intensifying, building excitement among fans.

Recently, it has been confirmed that the game will include a Photo Mode, although this feature will not be available at launch. As the countdown continues, players hope Gearbox will reveal more features while keeping some surprises for the game’s release.

In a recent blog post on Steam, Gearbox announced that players who own Borderlands 4 can claim the Hazard Pay weapon skin ahead of its launch. To obtain this cosmetic, fans must subscribe to newsletters and digital marketing through their SHiFT account and link their preferred platform accounts on the SHiFT website.

Once the game launches, players can log into their SHiFT account in-game to receive the free weapon skin. While the requirement to sign up for newsletters may not sit well with everyone, players will find that there’s no rush to claim the cosmetic.

The offer for the Hazard Pay skin remains available until 11:59 PM PT on December 31, 2030. This timeline ensures that even those who choose not to pre-order can still receive the skin after the game launches.

However, the lead-up to Borderlands 4’s launch has not been without controversy. Gearbox CEO Randy Pitchford’s comments about the game’s price have raised concerns among the community.

For fans looking to get their looter-shooter fix before September 12, Borderlands 3 is currently on sale for just $2.99 as part of the Steam Summer Sale, which runs until July 10.

The Nintendo Switch 2 version of The Legend of Zelda: The Wind Waker introduces subtle yet significant changes that benefit speedrunners. Speedrunning has long been a popular activity among Zelda fans, though certain entries in the franchise are notably easier to complete quickly. With the updates on Switch 2, The Wind Waker becomes more approachable, making it easier for players to enjoy speedrunning.

Nintendo announced the arrival of The Wind Waker on Switch 2 during its April 2 Direct event. Unlike full remakes or remasters, this version makes use of an emulator, with various improvements that fans have started to explore. YouTuber and speedrunner Linkus7 illustrated these enhancements on June 25, highlighting key changes that make speedrunning more accessible.

One of the most significant updates concerns a glitch that previously allowed players to pass through out-of-bounds areas and interact with chests to skip sections of dungeons. In the original version, landing on the chest caused the level not to load, and attempting to play the Song of Passing would result in a game crash. This issue has been resolved in the Switch 2 version, allowing players to effectively utilize the glitch and the song to progress through dungeons more swiftly.

While not as groundbreaking as the skips in Ocarina of Time, this adjustment still significantly saves time for speedrunners. The second update involves the manual super-swimming mechanic, in which players can make Link swim rapidly to build speed across the map. On the GameCube, this process was challenging.

However, the button remapping functionality in the Switch 2 has made it easier for players to execute super-swimming by quickly changing directions. While The Wind Waker remains one of the more complex Zelda games to fully complete, these enhancements facilitate a faster gameplay experience, even for novice speedrunners. The full impact of these updates on the Zelda speedrunning community remains to be seen, but the Switch 2 may herald a new chapter for Wind Waker runs.

This classic Zelda adventure begins with Link facing a family crisis as his sister is abducted by a monstrous bird. His quest leads to an expansive world filled with unique animation and revolutionary gameplay elements, building upon the successes of Ocarina of Time and Majora’s Mask. Characters express a wide range of emotions, creating a vibrant atmosphere that immerses players further into the action.

Additionally, players enjoy the intuitive control system that the Zelda series is known for, allowing them to engage with the game in a familiar and satisfying way.