The Community Spotlight 2025.05.31

Welcome to the latest edition of the Giant Bomb Community Spotlight! I, @zombiepie, am once again honored to be your host as we look back at the site-related news and best community creations from the previous week.Now, let's not dance around it, the big talking point this week is all about Giant Bomb's Summer Game Fest plans (a.k.a. Not-E3 2025). Presently, GB@Nite is happening, but things are still being planned, discussed, and organized as we speak. I know that some of you noticed that during UPF Dan was joking about "adding a third night" due to all the calls he's getting from people wanting to be on the couch. Just be aware, plans can change. Things are a little bit different this year for obvious reasons.What is quickly taking shape are the planned conferences for that summer week. Many thanks to @marino for making an incredibly handy Not-E3 2025 Time Zone Chart™ article, but if anyone wants to save the direct link to the chart, here you go. Also, feel free to drop comments to any recently announced conferences that are not on the sheet or date/time updates.E3 is Dead, All Hail Not-E3!Moving on, some of you caught Kinda Funny interacting with Giant Bomb thanks to Elden Ring Nightreign. If you want to see things from their perspective, you can do so with KF's VOD over here. Also, Giant Bomb's UPF 5/31/2025 VOD is on YouTube.Equally good news, Calvinball, the author of the Giant Bomb QOL web extension, has come out of retirement to publish the 5.0 version of the extension after a nearly one year hiatus. If you notice any bugs with the feature, feel free to drop a comment.by KoneNext, keep @chucktowski posted about any technical issues or site-breaking bugs you encounter and feel free to send emails to support@giantbomb.com about any issues with merchandise bought from the Emporium or any questions you have about your Premium Subscription. A growing number of community members have noticed they were billed the old rate for Premium and not the new one and they'd like to do their part to keep the staff together. If that applies to you consider pinging Rorie (mrorie) on the "site-tech-issues" channel on the Giant Bomb Discord.And as always, send what support you can, if you have not done so already, through one of these channels:Giant Bomb Premium Subscriptions ($9.99/month or $99.99/annual)Tip Giant Bomb on Ko-Fi (one-time only or monthly)Subscribe on Twitch here! (ad-free viewing + emotes)Giant Bomb's YouTube channel (send Super Chats once they are enabled)ArtFriendship Hotdog Sticker Design + Mike Minotti Mock Album Cover (By: NickToilet)NickToilet continues to be on a roll with fun and hilarious designs of the Giant Bomb staff and this week they made a mock sticker design of Jan in hotdog form as well as . You can also catch a timelapse of them making the hotdog sticker as well as a timelapse of the mock album cover.Mike Rascal Blight Club Stand-ins (By: @jearum)Jearum decided to take the stand-in screens for Mike's maddening descent into Rascal and share them on social media. If you wanted the opportunity to save this artwork for your personal collection, now is the perfect time for that.Gallery Tit Rascal Sicko Meme + Wayne's World Bakalar (By: @kone)As Kone put it so succinctly, with a character named "Tit Rascal," this merger of memes had to be done, right? Likewise, Bakalar is a known lover of Wayne's World so Kone decided to merge them into one of their favorite comedies.Rascal But Mike (By: SlaminKablamin)Over on the Giant Bomb Discord SlaminKablamin made this game cover in honor of Mike's current Blight Club struggles with Rascal. I think we can all agree that they absolutely nailed it! Also, feel free to use the link to join the Discord so you can enjoy works of art like these went they first hit.Grubb x Bubsy At Accolade HQ (By: psford)Over on BlueSky, Frank Cifaldi found an old promotional image from Accolade showcasing a man in a Bubsy suit posing next to the executives at the company. After Dan asked for someone to do something with this involving Grubb, psford made the magic happen.Bluesky VideosTip Team: Finding An Extra Life In Rascal (By: @turboman)The Tip Team is back baybeeeee, but thanks to friend of the site, TurboMan! If you want to watch and enjoy their go at making a modern version of PlayStation's world-class Tip Team, have this video clip a go!ActivitiesJoin The New GB Album Club Cycle!!! (By: @unclejam23)Let's listen to some Summer JAMS together! Some of you have been asking for a direct link to join the Discord for the Giant Bomb Album of the Week Club and in this thread, you can find exactly that! In fact, I'll include the direct invite link to the group RIGHT HERE! Also, feel free to share this link to anyone whom you think would be interested.Mullet Mad Jack Is The 5th Game Of UUGPGC Year 4! Finish By June 1! Spoilers are OPEN! (By: @bigsocrates)Nothing stops the Giant Bomb Game P

Jun 1, 2025 - 03:40

Welcome to the latest edition of the Giant Bomb Community Spotlight! I, @zombiepie, am once again honored to be your host as we look back at the site-related news and best community creations from the previous week.

Now, let's not dance around it, the big talking point this week is all about Giant Bomb's Summer Game Fest plans (a.k.a. Not-E3 2025). Presently, GB@Nite is happening, but things are still being planned, discussed, and organized as we speak. I know that some of you noticed that during UPF Dan was joking about "adding a third night" due to all the calls he's getting from people wanting to be on the couch. Just be aware, plans can change. Things are a little bit different this year for obvious reasons.

What is quickly taking shape are the planned conferences for that summer week. Many thanks to @marino for making an incredibly handy Not-E3 2025 Time Zone Chart™ article, but if anyone wants to save the direct link to the chart, here you go. Also, feel free to drop comments to any recently announced conferences that are not on the sheet or date/time updates.

Moving on, some of you caught Kinda Funny interacting with Giant Bomb thanks to Elden Ring Nightreign. If you want to see things from their perspective, you can do so with KF's VOD over here. Also, Giant Bomb's UPF 5/31/2025 VOD is on YouTube.

Equally good news, Calvinball, the author of the Giant Bomb QOL web extension, has come out of retirement to publish the 5.0 version of the extension after a nearly one year hiatus. If you notice any bugs with the feature, feel free to drop a comment.

Next, keep @chucktowski posted about any technical issues or site-breaking bugs you encounter and feel free to send emails to support@giantbomb.com about any issues with merchandise bought from the Emporium or any questions you have about your Premium Subscription. A growing number of community members have noticed they were billed the old rate for Premium and not the new one and they'd like to do their part to keep the staff together. If that applies to you consider pinging Rorie (mrorie) on the "site-tech-issues" channel on the Giant Bomb Discord.

And as always, send what support you can, if you have not done so already, through one of these channels:

Giant Bomb Premium Subscriptions ($9.99/month or $99.99/annual)
Tip Giant Bomb on Ko-Fi (one-time only or monthly)
Subscribe on Twitch here! (ad-free viewing + emotes)
Giant Bomb's YouTube channel (send Super Chats once they are enabled)

Art

Friendship Hotdog Sticker Design + Mike Minotti Mock Album Cover (By: NickToilet)

NickToilet continues to be on a roll with fun and hilarious designs of the Giant Bomb staff and this week they made a mock sticker design of Jan in hotdog form as well as . You can also catch a timelapse of them making the hotdog sticker as well as a timelapse of the mock album cover.

Mike Rascal Blight Club Stand-ins (By: @jearum)

Jearum decided to take the stand-in screens for Mike's maddening descent into Rascal and share them on social media. If you wanted the opportunity to save this artwork for your personal collection, now is the perfect time for that.

Tit Rascal Sicko Meme + Wayne's World Bakalar (By: @kone)

As Kone put it so succinctly, with a character named "Tit Rascal," this merger of memes had to be done, right? Likewise, Bakalar is a known lover of Wayne's World so Kone decided to merge them into one of their favorite comedies.

Rascal But Mike (By: SlaminKablamin)

Over on the Giant Bomb Discord SlaminKablamin made this game cover in honor of Mike's current Blight Club struggles with Rascal. I think we can all agree that they absolutely nailed it! Also, feel free to use the link to join the Discord so you can enjoy works of art like these went they first hit.

Grubb x Bubsy At Accolade HQ (By: psford)

Over on BlueSky, Frank Cifaldi found an old promotional image from Accolade showcasing a man in a Bubsy suit posing next to the executives at the company. After Dan asked for someone to do something with this involving Grubb, psford made the magic happen.

Bluesky

Videos

Tip Team: Finding An Extra Life In Rascal (By: @turboman)

The Tip Team is back baybeeeee, but thanks to friend of the site, TurboMan! If you want to watch and enjoy their go at making a modern version of PlayStation's world-class Tip Team, have this video clip a go!

Activities

Join The New GB Album Club Cycle!!! (By: @unclejam23)

Let's listen to some Summer JAMS together!

Some of you have been asking for a direct link to join the Discord for the Giant Bomb Album of the Week Club and in this thread, you can find exactly that! In fact, I'll include the direct invite link to the group RIGHT HERE! Also, feel free to share this link to anyone whom you think would be interested.

Mullet Mad Jack Is The 5th Game Of UUGPGC Year 4! Finish By June 1! Spoilers are OPEN! (By: @bigsocrates)

Nothing stops the Giant Bomb Game Pass Game Club! The group is still up and running and the current pick is Mullet Mad Jack! Share your thoughts of the game as well as your tips for people that have yet to beat it over here!

Blogs

Our Life: Beginnings & Always, a.k.a. The Visual Novel Equivalent of ASMR (By: @atheistpreacher)

AtheistPreacher has another visual novel review and this one tackles Our Life: Beginnings & Always! Read why they think the game is adored by its fans and is an incredibly special work in the field of visual novels.

Indie Game of the Week 421: 1000xResist +

May no Monogatari: Part Three (PlayStation) (By: @mento)

Moderator Mento is jumping on the Kojima zeitgeist by playing and discussing Policenauts on the PlayStation! Read what they think of this cult classic on Giant Bomb and if it still holds up or is all nostalgic hype these days!

Likewise, this edition of their "Indie Game of the Week" looked at 1000xResist and they share why they already think this game should have made their 2024 GOTY list despite only being on Chapter 8.

PokéGenerated: Crystal (Gen 2) (By: @daavpuke)

What was it like dusting off the old Game Boy Color to play some Pokémon Crystal? daavpuke decided to give it a shot and you can read all about how that went and if they reignited their classic portable gaming itch with this recent adventure!

Congratulations To Double Fine & Psychonauts' 20th Anniversary! That Said, The Xbox Era Sure Hasn't Generated Much! (By: @zombiepie)

As mentioned in a previous edition of the Community Spotlight, Psychonauts recently celebrated its 20th anniversary! With that in mind, ZombiePie decided to examine their weird radio silence the past few years and theorize what might be up.

Eastern Echoes of Western Terror (By: @pauljeremiah)

The remake was a 2024 GOTY contender, but pauljeremiah decided to boot up the original version of Silent Hill 2 recently and discusses at how they game manifests Eastern/Western ethos in a deeply haunting world.

Reject Switch 2, Return to DS (By: @jeremyf)

Speaking of portable gaming fun, jeremyf also decided to reject modernity and instead of pre-ordering a Switch 2, they have decided to get back into playing games on their Nintendo DS. Does the DS's library still hold up?

Discussion Threads

EA Is The Worst Its Ever Been (By: @treethan)

What will the future hold for Codemasters?

With the cancellation of its Black Panther game and Codemasters apparently in the lurch, this seems like the worst EA has looked in a long while. What are your thoughts and do you think this is all EA's management's fault or is there a different culprit?

During The 2025 Xbox Summer Showcase, Is This The Year We See A PS5 or Sony Logo During World Premiers Or Release Trailers? (By: @zombiepie)

There's been a ton of rumors and speculation about what to expect for Xbox's Summer Showcase, but do you think this is the year we see a PlayStation or PS5 mention at a showcase? Even if it is to announce games that are already announced for multiplatform releases, is this too much for Microsoft?

The WRC Licensing Is Going Back From EA And Codemasters To Nacon And Kylotonn (By: @gtxforza)

The WRC licensing is going back from EA and Codemasters to Nacon and Kylotonn! Is this good or bad news and what do you think is going to happen to Codemasters at this point? Are you already expecting another round of brutal layoffs led by EA executives?

Why Are These Sort Of Games On Game Pass? (By: @doubledaddydan)

With Game Pass and video game streaming here to stay, have any of you noticed the glut of shovelware now hitting Game Pass and PSN? Was this always bound to happen on streaming platforms and can you think of any pre-cautions that could stop or slow this?

The Greatest Video Game Trailer Of All Time Has Dropped For Former Amico Exclusive Finnigan Fox (By: @bigsocrates)

Of course we have a thread about Amico stuff

There's new Intellivision Amico news and it isn't entirely about the modern state of Tommy Tallarico! let's talk about Happy Home Games and Finnigan Fox coming to Steam! That's right, the Giant Bomb forums are STILL your place for BREAKING NEWS about the Amico!

Rascal sucks. (By: @adam24)

Well, just look at how Mike Minotti has played an indirect role in inspiring people to make new discussion threads! The independent era is already looking like a new golden age of Giant Bomb on the forums!

Did Grubb Ever Find The Iblis Trigger? (By: @treethan)

Similarly, it seems like Grubb and his hijinks are also inspiring people to make goofy threads on the site. Nonetheless, as the topic posits, do you want the staff to delve deeper into Sonic lore?

Lists

Elements To A Good Immersive Sim (By: @m_kolibri)

Don't tell m_kolibri that the immersive sim is dead.

m_kolibri just published a new list and this one is titled "Elements to a Good Immersive Sim." Whether it be common stand-bys in older or newer games, read all about the items, weapons, tools, and mechanics they would want in their "dream" immersive sim.

Cancelled Games (By: @seanjhealy)

There are a handful of games that got announced and never came out that seanjhealy can't help but lament never came out. Here's a list of the games they most regret got cancelled and feel free to make your own version of this list concept when you can.

Reviews

What niggling nitpicks annoy you about this game?

@nateandrews' Metaphor: ReFantazio review goes over why they definitely think the game is a worthwhile experience but also not guilt-free of some unevenness and pacing issues.

Wiki Of The Week

WarioWare Twisted!

This game and its weird tilt sensor sure were something!

Giant Bomb has always been a pro-WarioWare website, so, WarioWare Twisted! recently celebrating its 20th anniversary seems like a good enough reason to highlight its wiki page for this edition of the Wiki of the Week. Give the page a read and learn all about the many micro games in it.