Welcome, reader!

It’s 2026, and the GZ Chop Shop is back! After a nice break, we are returning with a bigger and better gaming newsletter for everyone. The latest gaming news updates, upcoming releases, promo codes, and of course, podcast episodes are all right here.

Table of Contents

• GZ CHOP SHOP PODCAST

• UPCOMING GAME RELEASES

• GAMING NEWS

• Dragon Quest VII Reimagined Launches on February 5 …

• The PlayStation Holiday Sale Continues Until Janua …

• Apex Legends: Amped Mid-Season Update Brings The W …

• EXPLORE THE WORLD OF CODE VEIN II IN NEW WALKTHROU …

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UPCOMING GAME RELEASES

This list is from GAMEINFORMER and is updated constantly, so be sure to check it often.

• DuneCrawl (PC) – January 5

• Suika Game Planet (Switch 2, Switch) – January 5

• StarRupture (Early Access) (PC) – January 6

• Heartopia (PC, iOS, Android) – January 7

• Pathologic 3 (PC) – January 9

• Big Hops (PlayStation 5, Switch, PC) – January 12

• Animal Crossing: New Horizons (Switch 2) – January 15

• The Legend of Heroes: Trails Beyond the Horizon (PlayStation 5, Switch 2, PlayStation 4, Switch, PC) – January 15

• Code Vein II (PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X/S, PC) – January 30

• Front Mission 3: Remake (PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X/S, PlayStation 4, Xbox One, PC) – January 30

• Dispatch (Switch 2, Switch) – January 28  

GAMING NEWS

Dragon Quest VII Reimagined Launches on February 5th, 2026

DRAGON QUEST VII Reimagined is a modern remake of DRAGON QUEST VII, which originally launched on PlayStation in 2000. In this new reimagined version of the game, the core concept of the original title remains, but the battle mechanics, graphics, and story have all been updated and improved, providing players with a more streamlined and focused experience. In particular, the graphics in the game were completely overhauled from the original, using real-life doll figures for the characters and monsters that were scanned into the game to create stunning hand-crafted visuals. This definitive version of the game is perfect for fans who want to revisit the beloved story or newcomers who are diving into the world for the first time.

The PlayStation Holiday Sale Continues Until January 21st

The holidays may be over, but the game sales are still going strong. Players can grab tons of game titles from the PlayStation Store until January 21st. Games like the hit Lies of P are up to 50% off.

Apex Legends: Amped Mid-Season Update Brings The Winter Wipeout Event, Now Live!

Suit up and head for the slopes, Legends! Arriving with the Apex Legends: Amped mid-season update, the all-new Winter Wipeout Event is live now until January 27. During Winter Wipeout, players can shred their way into Olympus using new Hoverboards and freeze out the competition with new Wild Cards! Additionally, the mid-season patch tunes up Octane, Crypto, and Newcastle for peak performance with new meta updates.

Check out the chilling Winter Wipeout Event trailer here:

• Shred Through Enemies in Wildcard

  • Drop into Wildcard and shred Olympus with new Hoverboards! Legends can carve across cover, wall-ride out of danger, and throw down tricks mid-air, with every trick earning a speed boost and EVO rewards – shell out epic combos for even more rewards!

• Reach Peak Performance with Legend Meta Updates

  • Octane heals faster with low health and gains access to Stim Surge, a new protective ability that only triggers on low health. His Launch Pad now starts stronger with double jumps, double pads, and smoother aerial control, alongside new Upgrades that add even more mobility, including ally Stim boosts and Launch Pad triple jumps. 

  • Crypto enhances his recon game with expanded vision from his Surveillance Drone, faster deployment, and quicker switching. His EMP now shuts down enemy Amps, along with several former upgrades now becoming part of his base kit, opening space for new Upgrades like Digital Trailblazer for ally mobility and Power Coupling for faster Ultimate charge through scans.

  • Newcastle dominates, holding down the line as his Mobile Shield now increases in speed and has a shorter cooldown, while his Castle Wall now blocks more incoming projectiles. New Upgrades grant Newcastle an offensive and defensive boost, including a permanently charged Stronghold, auto-loading weapons, and full shield regen on revives. He now fires immediately after finishing a revive from his fast-activating Ultimate, allowing for quicker critical saves.  

• New Wild Cards Freeze Out the Competition

  • Master the ultimate cold-shoulder with new Wild Cards built for frightful battles: Brain Freeze deals bonus headshot damage while slowing opponents, Love Potion provides nearby teammates consumable effects, and Protective Launch grants shield regeneration every time a player hits a jump pad.

• Chilling Rewards & Drops

  • Stock up on Glint throughout the event to unlock Winter Wipeout items from the Reward Shop. Bundle up this winter in style with winter sports aesthetic Legendary Skins and matching weapons for Bloodhound, Alter, and Fuse – all available from possible drops in Winter Wipeout Event Packs! Additionally, Horizon shines with her new Apex Stellaris Prestige Skin, complete with dive trail and finisher animation.

Apex Legends: Amped is available now for PlayStation 4, PlayStation 5, Xbox One, Xbox Series X|S, Nintendo Switch, Nintendo Switch 2, and PC via the EA App, Epic Game Store and Steam. For more news about Apex Legends, check out the game’s official X, Instagram, TikTok and YouTube pages or visit www.playapex.com for the latest updates.

EXPLORE THE WORLD OF CODE VEIN II IN NEW WALKTHROUGH TRAILER AND CHARACTER CREATOR DEMO ANNOUNCEMENT

Bandai Namco Entertainment America Inc. today announced that a playable Character Creator Demo for CODE VEIN™II will be available starting January 22, 2026 on PC via Steam® and January 23, 2026 on PlayStation®5 and Xbox Series X|S. A new walkthrough trailer was also released today, highlighting Revenant Josée Anjou and offering a deeper look at the world and story of CODE VEIN II. Developed by Bandai Namco Studios Inc., CODE VEIN II sends players on an epic narrative-driven journey where they wield time as a weapon, explore past and present versions of a collapsing world, and join forces with companions through the game’s dynamic Partner System. CODE VEIN II is launching on January 30, 2026, and is available now for pre-orders on PlayStation®5, Xbox Series X|S, and PC via Steam®. For more information, visit www.playcodevein.com. 
 
The trailer takes players 100 years into the past, where the Revenant Hunter protagonist joins Josée Anjou on a mission to save the Sunken City and uncover the truth behind its crisis. Haunted by guilt, Josée’s story reveals the heavy burden she carries, and the epic battles that await. The trailer introduces the Sunken Pylon, a vast dungeon that holds the key to purifying the Sunken City. As they explore, players will experience combat across seven distinct weapon types ranging from agile dual blades to the devastating power of the halberd. The trailer also further highlights the Restorative Offering, a mechanic where partners can restore the fallen Revenant Hunter with recovered health, though a cooldown leaves them temporarily incapacitated and unable to assist in battle.
 
Ahead of launch, players can dive into the CODE VEIN II Character Creator Demo starting on January 22, 2026. Offering 64 save slots that transfer directly into the final game, the Character Creator Demo allows players to experience the game’s deep customization system for the game’s protagonist Revenant Hunter, where players can customize their characters to perfection with a vast array of settings for body type, hairstyle, facial expressions, accessories, makeup and more. Players can also visit the hot spring at the MagMell Institute to view their character in different lighting environments and use Photo Mode to capture and save their creations.
 
CODE VEIN II features a deep narrative where players and characters are bound by blood, fate, and destiny, set in a future where the last remnants of humanity and Revenants struggle against a world on the verge of collapse. The player’s journey will span across haunting, post-apocalyptic landscapes including the flooded ruins of the Sunken City, The Undead Forest, the isolated MagMell Island, and more. As the story unfolds, players will encounter legendary heroes, Revenants whose destinies intertwine with the world’s survival. The game also features distinctive gameplay for an action RPG, where players use blood drained from enemies to unlock a variety of powerful skills, build strategy for combat with Blood codes, and use unique weapons and equipment called Jails to overcome challenging foes and epic bosses. 

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