One of Nintendo’s “old guard” appears to be retiring. Spare Marine 2‘s new multiplayer class is almost here. And fans are expected to shell out $685 for a gaming chair that looks like it was made out of Pikachu’s skin. It’s another edition of Moring Checkpoint, Kotaku‘s daily roundup of gaming news, rumors, and culture. Hey, it’s morning somewhere, right? Here’s what an early, third-person prototype of Cyberpunk 2077 supposedly looked like.
Metroid Prime 4: Beyond was Kensuke Tanabe’s last game
That’s according to a new interview with Japanese magazine Nintendo Dream that was uploaded to Weibo. “Furthermore, I have confirmed that I will no longer be involved in the production of the series moving forward,” he said according to VGC. “Whether a sequel will be made is still uncertain, but I sincerely hope that one day, Ms Tabata and Retro Studios will be able to tell this story completely and bring it to a close.” “Ms Tabata” refers to fellow veteran Risa Tabata who will likely succeed him. Tanabe is 62 and his time at the Mario maker dates back to directing Super Mario Bros. 2.
Beyond Good & Evil 2 escapes another round of cancellations
Insider Gaming reports that it’s one of the ongoing projects at Ubisoft that remains safe, even if it still might not ship for a couple more years. Kotaku previously reported that the project had a new creative lead back in 2024. Assassin’s Creed IV: Black Flag remake, meanwhile, might show up a year later than previously planned.
Dragon Ball Xenoverse 2‘s developer admits it’s confusing as hell
👉 Discover your ideal DLC with this flowchart and find what fits your playstyle best! #DBXV2 pic.twitter.com/fvmPZcK2of
— Dragon Ball Games (@dragonballgames) January 22, 2026
“Dragon Ball Xenoverse 2 has a massive selection of DLC, and choosing the right one can be overwhelming,” the game’s official X account acknowledged yesterday (via TheGamer). The post-launch content roadmap is so convoluted publisher Bandai Namco even released a flowchart to guide fans on what to purchase based on what part of Dragon Ball they actually care about.
Warhammer 40,000: Space Marine 2 reveals its next playable class
Techmarines will join the game in Patch 12 later this winter. “Like all classes, the Techmarine comes with a unique Combat Skill (an “ult,” so to speak) and his own perk tree with 25 levels to unlock,” reads a new post on Xbox Wire. “But more than anything, what makes him special are the mechanical arms and automatic turret bolted directly onto his Power Pack.”
The latest Helldivers 2 update adds a new mission type
Patch 5.0.2 is live today and brings Commando missions that place players “deep behind enemy lines where their normal reliance on air superiority is no longer an option.” The description notes that, “Reinforcements have to be deployed in advance and destroyer support is a risky business with limited time.” Other changes include an overhaul of suppressed weapons to make stealth more effective. There’s a new Warbond, too.
Pokémon TCG Pocket‘s next set adds more Mega Evolution ex cards
After almost a year away I’m curious to come back. Maybe the Fantastical Parade expansion is what will make it happen. It goes live on January 29 alongside a new messaging feature and random battles mode.
Gamer chairs are so back
Speaking of Pokemon, Back Pain, Inc., otherwise known as Secret Lab, has revealed three new Pokémon-themed chairs based on Pikachu, Gengar, and Eevee. They start at $685.