The gaming landscape is shifting yet again and, here in 2025, the changes are bigger than ever. It’s already proving to be a fascinating year for digital experiences—we’re seeing major studios investing in innovative tech, while bold new ideas are emerging that stand to completely change the ways in which we play.
Whether it’s Ubisoft quietly rolling out an NFT-driven title or Samsung dreaming up radical new hardware, the industry is in the middle of a transformation.
Then, of course, there are the games themselves. There’s plenty of them. In fact, some of the most highly anticipated titles of the decade are dropping this year.
Whether you’re a casual player or someone who can’t last a day without a marathon gaming session, you need to keep on top of what’s happening in the gaming world. Let’s take a closer look at what’s unfolding right now…
Ubisoft’s Sleeper NFT Release
Ubisoft, one of the biggest names in cutting edge video game development, has taken another step into Web 3.0 with Grimoria Chronicles, an NFT-based strategy game that’s largely flown under the radar.
During its official release last October, there was no grand marketing push and no high-profile reveal. Instead, despite several months of build-up, the game was quietly unveiled—perhaps hinting at how even blockbuster publishers are still testing the waters with Web3 gaming.
The game itself, billed as a “PVP tactical RPG game”, also allows players to collect and trade digital assets. It’s the evolution of a concept that Ubisoft first toyed with in Quartz, its NFT project from 2021.
What makes Grimoria Chronicles different is the shift towards fusing premium gameplay with player-driven economies. This approach is certainly revolutionary, but widespread adoption still remains a question, despite several other major brands investing in the decentralized space.
A Power Move for this Strategic Mindsport
In the realm of competitive online gaming, we’re used to eSports being the most dominant sector. Here in 2025, though, online poker is having quite a moment, as a major iGaming brand has bucked the trend for short term tournaments and promotions.
The lines between conventional video gaming and iGaming are becoming increasingly blurred of late, with features like multi-stage tournaments crossing over from the realm of MMORPGs (think: World of Warcraft) to online poker.
Originally a time-limited offer, PokerStars Power Path is now a permanent fixture on the iconic platform, giving players the opportunity to earn entries into major poker events such as the EPT via a structured qualification route.
Players can start their journey at several different buy-in levels to move up through the ranks and compete for silver and gold packages. It’s a power move that taps into the growing demand for consistency and progression across competitive gaming markets.
The Muse of the Moment?
Artificial Intelligence is another hot topic in gaming, with many studios aiming to capitalize on the procedural generation trend. Microsoft has already made its intentions for this emerging tech well known, and now the company is making serious moves into AI-powered game development. Muse, its fledgling Artificial Intelligence model, marks the very beginning of the tech giant’s Xbox-centered AI initiative.
Launched in February 2025, this new system has been designed to generate everything from in-game environments to entire levels. The release serves as a pretty big hint of a future where games could be fully created by machine learning algorithms. At least, that’s how Microsoft sees it.
While there’s been a surge of curiosity about Muse, many in the video games development community are understandably cautious. AI-generated assets and environments can certainly streamline production, but there’s skepticism around whether a machine can craft truly compelling gameplay with no human input. Can an AI design a world that not only feels alive, but holds gamers’ attention for hours at a time?
Samsung’s Futuristic Hardware Concepts
Now, moving now on to the hardware that we’re using to play games. How does a stretchable screen sound?
Samsung, never shy about pushing boundaries, has unveiled a trio of futuristic gaming devices, including the aforementioned screen, a foldable games console, and even a TV that transforms into a briefcase. The console, in particular, feels like a direct challenge to the dominant Nintendo Switch. But, as for stretchable screens…?
Far from being the wacky inventions of a mad scientist, Samsung’s move into Flex Gaming instead suggests a future where hardware adapts dynamically to player needs. It’s radical, and largely inaccessible to the masses right now, but certainly raises talking points about how tech can be shaped to fit our individual needs and lifestyles.
