Best of 80 LEVEL — December 2025

1. 1
   Article

   80 LEVEL·23w

   Steam: $16B+ in 2025, Nearly Half of 19,000 Games Got Under 10 Reviews

   Steam generated over $16.2 billion in revenue during the first eleven months of 2025, marking its strongest year ever. However, nearly half of the 19,000 games released on the platform received fewer than 10 reviews, indicating severe discoverability challenges. Only 6.2% of releases surpassed 500 reviews, a threshold for broader visibility. The data reveals a platform thriving commercially through a small number of successful titles while the majority of games struggle to gain traction, creating a difficult environment for smaller developers.

   37

   12
2. 2
   Article

   80 LEVEL·23w

   Metacritic Reveals the 10 Worst Video Games of 2025

   Metacritic released its list of the 10 worst video games of 2025, with MindsEye from Build a Rocket Boy scoring lowest at 28 points based on critic reviews. However, user scores tell a different story, with Call of Duty: Black Ops 7 receiving the lowest player rating at 1.6/10, while familiar titles like EA Sports games and Football Manager 26 also ranked poorly. The significant discrepancy between critic and user scores highlights the divide between professional reviewers and actual players in evaluating game quality.

   27

   4
3. 3
   Article

   80 LEVEL·24w

   Assassin's Creed Black Flag Remake is Now Confirmed by PEGI

   PEGI has officially listed Assassin's Creed Black Flag Resynced, effectively confirming the long-rumored remake after over a year of leaks and indirect confirmations from Ubisoft employees. The game received a PEGI 18 rating, with concerns arising over the inclusion of in-game purchases not present in the original. An official announcement is expected at The Game Awards.

   27

   5
4. 4
   Article

   80 LEVEL·21w

   Particle Simulator Controlled by Hand Gestures

   David Katz created a browser-based particle simulation controlled by hand gestures using only a webcam. The project uses MediaPipe for hand tracking and Three.js for rendering 100,000 particles that react to hand movements in real-time. The setup demonstrates how accessible gesture-controlled interactive graphics have become with modern web technologies.

   20

   4
5. 5
   Article

   80 LEVEL·22w

   GTA in Tokyo "Almost Actually Happened"

   A former Rockstar technical director revealed that a GTA game set in Tokyo nearly happened but would have been developed by an external Japanese studio using Rockstar's code. The project never materialized, and the developer explains that as GTA budgets have grown into the billions and development cycles stretch to 12 years, the studio is unlikely to take risks on non-American settings. Other considered locations included Rio de Janeiro, Moscow, Istanbul, and Bogota, but financial stakes make familiar American cities the safer choice.

   18

   4
6. 6
   Article

   80 LEVEL·21w

   Take-Two Takes Down Browser Version of GTA: Vice City

   Take-Two Interactive issued a DMCA takedown notice to DosZone, forcing removal of a browser-based version of GTA: Vice City. The company cited its strict policy against unauthorized modifications, derivative works, emulations, or alternative implementations of its games. The browser version, which allowed users to play the classic game directly in a web environment, has been taken down and replaced with a link to the developers' Telegram channel.

   17

   6