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Tomas Franzese

Tomas Franzese

A former Gaming Staff Writer at Digital Trends, Tomas Franzese now reports on and reviews the latest releases and exciting developments within the video game industry in a freelance capacity. Tomas is passionate about sharing game developers' stories, analyzing video game history, and contextualizing those things within the modern video game industry. He attends industry events like Summer Game Fest and appears on podcasts like ComicBook Nation’s Quick Save. Tomas' byline also appears on GameSpot.

Before Digital Trends, he was a Video Game News Writer at Inverse for two years. Prior to that, Tomas honed his skills at DualShockers for nearly four years, working his way up from Staff Writer to News Editor. As News Editor at DualShockers, he supervised and edited the website’s news coverage, and that experience still comes in handy at Digital Trends today. His favorite games include Star Wars: Battlefront II (2005) and Batman: Arkham City.

Based in Virginia, Tomas graduated from Old Dominion University in 2020 with a B.A. in Intercultural & International Communication. He returned to Old Dominion University in 2024 to pursue an M.A. in Lifespan & Digital Communication. Through his communication and media-related research, Tomas can better understand how video games and culture intertwine.

Gustave in Cliar Obscur: Expedition 33.

Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 is shaping up to be one of 2025’s big sleeper hits

We played a slice of Clair Obscur: Expedition 33, and it looks like it has to potential to be a breakout hit for fans of classic turn-based RPGs.
Gaming Features
Characters jump in Splitgate 2 art.

Splitgate 2 might have a little too much variety

Splitgate 2 offers a lot more variety than its predecessor, but that's not always a good thing.
Gaming Features
Kat in Lost Records Bloom and Rage

Lost Records: Bloom & Rage proves that narrative adventures can still innovate

Lost Records: Bloom & Rage brings innovation to a narrative adventure genre in desperate need of new ideas.
Gaming Features
Kai fights a Xaurip in Avowed.

Avowed review: Obsidian’s latest RPG is its best

Avowed embraces what works best about Obsidian's RPGs to offer an unforgettable adventure.
Gaming Reviews
A Zed in Killing Floor 3.

Is Black Ops 6 getting stale? Then you should check out Killing Floor 3

Killing Floor 3 embraces Unreal Engine 5 to create a substantial sequel to a standout co-op shooter.
Gaming Features
An army at the ready in Civilization 7.

Sid Meier’s Civilization VII review: a new age for a classic series

Sid Meier's Civilization VII reimagines fundamental aspects of the series with its new Ages system while retaining the core of what makes Civilization great.
Gaming Reviews
Key art for Exoborne.

I don’t like extraction shooters. Exoborne might be the one to win me over

Exoborne is a new extraction shooter from the developers of Vampire: The Masquerade - Bloodhunt and feels like a spiritual successor to The Division.
Gaming Features
Hazel sits cross-legged in South of Midnight.

How to watch January 2025’s Xbox Developer_Direct

Here's a roundup of everything you need to know before you tune into the Xbox Developer_Direct featuring Doom: The Dark Ages this Thursday.
Gaming News
Karl Fairburne in Sniper Elite 5.

3 PS Plus games you should play this weekend (January 17-19)

Get a refresher on some of the series coming back in early 2025 with these PS Plus Extra titles.
Gaming Features
Key art for Diablo 1.

3 new Xbox Game Pass games to play this weekend (January 17-19)

There are three new games that Xbox Game Pass subscribers should check out this weekend if they're looking for something to play.
Gaming Features
An army faces the ocean in Civilization 7.

I walked away from Civilization VII’s first 100 turns as a continent conqueror

My first 100 turns with Sid Meier's Civilization VII proved that this series is as good of a storytelling engine as ever.
Gaming Features
Save State promotional image with Rendering Ranger: R² [REWIND] key art.

This rare SNES game was lost to time. Now it’s getting a second life

Rendering Ranger: R² [Rewind] is set to launch in early 2025, and it's a shining example of the work being done to preserve even the most obscure games.
Gaming Features
Donkey Kong and Diddy Kong in Donkey Kong Country Returns HD key art.

Donkey Kong Country Returns HD is a boilerplate port, and that’s OK

Donkey Kong Country Returns HD is a fairly straightforward port that'll fill enough time on the road to the Switch 2.
Gaming Features
A group of Breakers in Hyper Light Breaker.

Hyper Light Breaker is starting early access on the right foot

Hyper Light Breaker enters early access tomorrow, and the bones of a great co-op action roguelike are already here.
Gaming Features
Key art for the Deathstroke season of Suicide Squad: Kill the Justice League.

3 new PS Plus games you should play this weekend (January 10-12)

Three games are available to PS Plus subscribers throughout the month of January, so you should check those out this weekend.
Gaming Features
Zoe from Road 96.

3 new Xbox Game Pass games to play this weekend (January 10 to 12)

New games are starting to come to Xbox Game Pass this year, so you should check those out.
Gaming Features
A Nintendo Switch OLED and a 2019 Switch model side by side.

The Nintendo Switch 2 reveal needs these 3 things to succeed

To craft a successful announcement trailer for the Switch 2, Nintendo should look back at the Nintendo Switch's excellent reveal trailer.
Gaming Features
The Game Boy in key art for Nintendo Switch Online.

Nintendo is still silent on Switch 2, so here’s a Lego Game Boy

Later this year, you'll be able to build Nintendo's iconic Game Boy handheld out of Lego.
Gaming News
One of the protagonists in Assassin's Creed Shadows.

Assassin’s Creed Shadows just got delayed by another month

Ubisoft will now release Assassin's Creed Shadows on March 20, rather than during a crowded February for video games.
Gaming News
Doom Guy in Doom: The Dark Ages.

Xbox’s next Developer Direct will spotlight Doom: The Dark Ages and more

January's Developer_Direct will feature upcoming Xbox Game Pass titles like Doom: The Dark Ages, South of Midnight, and Clair Obscur: Expedition 33.
Gaming News
Joker in Suicide Squad: Kill the Justice League.

Is Suicide Squad: Kill the Justice League worth revisiting one year later?

Suicide Squad: Kill the Justice League is now available through PS Plus, but is it worth checking out or revisiting almost one year after launch?
Gaming Features
Nvidia GeForce Now's app running on Steam Deck.

Nvidia GeForce Now is coming to Steam Deck, Apple Vision Pro, and more

Nvidia GeForce Now is about to get a dedicated app on Steam Deck and start supporting streaming via browser on several virtual and mixed reality headsets.
Gaming News
Key art for SMITE 2.

Smite 2 finally goes free-to-play next week

Smite 2 enters open beta and goes free-to-play on January 14 alongside a massive update that brings Aladdin to the game.
Gaming News
The Gamestation Retro Go

My Arcade’s Gamestation Retro devices play classic Capcom and Bandai Namco games

My Arcade unveiled three Gamestation Retro products at CES 2025, and people can use them to play classic Capcom and Bandai Namco games like 1942 and Pac-Man.
Gaming News
Key art for PlayerUnknown's Battlegrounds.

PUBG and inZOI are getting AI companion characters, courtesy of Nvidia

Krafton is using Nvidia Ace technology to implement AI-driven co-playable characters, or CPCs, into PUBG and inZOI.
Gaming News
Sony Pictures executives stand in front of key art for Ghost of Tsushima: Legends.

Helldivers 2 film, Ghost of Tsushima anime, and more teased at CES 2025

A Ghost of Tsushima anime, as well as films based on Helldivers 2 and Horizon Zero Dawn, were confirmed at CES 2025.
Gaming News
The Acer Nitro Mobile Gaming Controller.

Acer’s mobile gaming controller is a folding Backbone alternative

Acer unveiled the Nitro Mobile Gaming Controller, its answer to the Backbone One and Razer Kishi V2, at CES 2025.
Gaming News
Key art for Cloud Gaming through the Xbox app.

Xbox Game Pass is coming to your LG smart TV

LG smart TVs will get an Xbox app later this year, highlighting Xbox's continued push into cloud gaming.
Gaming News
A new controller called The Competitor from Hyperkin.

Hyperkin’s new controller is a PS5 DualSense for your Xbox

Hyperkin unveiled an Xbox controller that looks a lot like the PlayStation 5's DualSense at CES 2025.
Gaming News
A official image for the PlayStation 2 by Sony.

10 video game anniversaries worth celebrating in 2025

Several games and consoles are celebrating big birthdays in 2025. Here are 10 you don't want to miss.
Gaming Features
Lucia and her partner rob a store in GTA 6.

Grand Theft Auto 6 is just the tip of the iceberg for video games in 2025

While games like GTA 6 will dominate the gaming zeitgeist in 2025, remember to keep an eye out for the hidden gems launching throughout the year.
Gaming Features
Key art for Ghost of Tsushima: Director's Cut.

3 PS Plus games you should play this weekend (January 3-5)

With GTA 6, Ghost of Yotei, and Death Stranding 2 all set to release this year, it's a great time to try their predecessors on PS Plus.
Gaming Features
Key art for Doom Eternal

3 Xbox Game Pass games you should play this weekend (January 3-5)

You can prepare for Xbox's slate of first-party games in 2025 by checking out these three titles on Xbox Game Pass.
Gaming Features
Promotional image for Save State featuring a screenshot of Fatal Fury: City of the Wolves.

Retro gamers have a whole lot to look forward to in 2025

Retro gaming fans already have 50 games to look forward to in 2025, spanning remasters, remakes, reimaginings, and brand new titles.
Gaming Features
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