George Yang

George is a freelance writer specializing in video games and other entertainment.

Selected Works

The Ringer •

How ‘Call of Duty’ Got Dethroned in 2025

There are very few constants in the video game industry. The decades-long console wars waged by PlayStation, Xbox, and Nintendo are winding down. Business models are evolving to prioritize subscription services, free-to-play games, and microtransactions. And our gaming libraries are increasingly digital, with physical copies becoming collector’s items. But if there’s one thing that you could always count on amid the upheaval, it was Call of Duty’s overwhelming dominance. That is, until 2025, when the shortcomings of the online shooter’s latest incarnation, combined with a concerted attack by two rival games, conspired to take Call of Duty down.
The Guardian •

Can boba tea be high-protein and tasty? I tested 14 flavors to find out

Americans are obsessed with protein, but they’re not all gulping raw eggs out of a glass like Rocky. The last decade has given us protein bars, shakes, cereal, pancakes, chips, crackers, jerkies. More recently, Asian American entrepreneurs have made their own contribution to this protein bonanza: protein boba tea.Boba tea (or bubble tea, as it’s also called) originated in Taiwan in the 1980s before becoming a phenomenon in the United States in the last decade.
Rolling Stone •

How Hidetaka Miyazaki Made 'Elden Ring: Shadow of the Erdtree,' His Biggest Expansion Yet

Elden Ring was undoubtedly 2022’s Game of the Year, winning numerous awards across different shows and publications. With its dark fantasy atmosphere, punishing combat, and challenging difficulty, players keep coming back for more. It was also developer FromSoftware’s first open-world game, so it needed to have more content than any game that the studio had made before.
Variety •

‘The Boys’ Star Karen Fukuhara Makes Her Video-Game Debut With ‘The Callisto Protocol’

Developed by Striking Distance Studios, “The Callisto Protocol” is a survival horror game set in the Black Iron Prison on one of Jupiter’s moons, Callisto. Players assume the role of an inmate named Jacob Lee, played by “Transformers” and “Shotgun Wedding” star Josh Duhamel. He meets Dani Nakamura, the leader of a resistance group called Outer Way, and together they must uncover the Black Iron Prison’s dark secrets and escape with their lives. Dani is portrayed by “The Boys” star Karen Fukuhara.
Digital Trends •

The Mega Man Battle Network esports scene is thriving in 2023

Imagine that your Nintendo Switch didn’t have the ability to connect online and that the competitive game you’re currently playing only supported local multiplayer. It’s a little hard to picture in 2023, right? That’s what Mega Man Battle Network fans had to deal with during the early 2000s. If you wanted to have a battle with your friend during Nintendo’s Game Boy Advance days, they’d have to be within your immediate vicinity and have a Link Cable available to connect two GBAs.
Complex •

The Live-Action ‘Halo’ Series Delivers High Impact Sci-Fi Storytelling

Taking video game plotlines and adapting them for television has had a shaky past. What kind of story should the series portray? Should it be an exact retelling of the source material? If so, why not just play the game itself? For gamers and television fanatics, it’s important that a new experience is created that’s appropriate for the medium. This challenge is what Paramount+ has taken on with the critically acclaimed Halo series (streaming now on the platform). Taking the iconic Xbox franchise
NPR •

'Shadow Warrior' tries to mend its flawed history with race by recasting its hero

Shadow Warrior 3 is the latest in a series of blood-soaked action games following assassin Lo Wang. It's got plenty of gunplay, sword fights, and fantastical monsters, but for the first time in its 25-year history, it now features an Asian actor to voice its Asian protagonist. For years, Lo Wang was played by Jason Liebrecht, a white man, but for this title, publisher Devolver Digital and developer Flying Wild Hog tapped Hollywood actor Mike Moh for a more authentic cultural portrayal.
IGN •

Why Japanese Games Are Increasingly Releasing at the Same Time Across The Globe

Since time immemorial, Japanese video games have followed a typical release schedule. Launch in Japan first, followed by a localized release for other countries a few months, or even years, later. But this trend shifted dramatically in 2021. Many high-profile Japanese games such as Tales of Arise, Shin Megami Tensei V, and both Monster Hunter Rise and Monster Hunter Stories 2 have been launched day-and-date worldwide.

So, what has changed? A simultaneous global ship date allows Japanese games t
The Verge •

‘The little handheld that could’: examining the Vita’s impact a decade later

Christian Phillips still remembers the most jaw-dropping moment he experienced on the PlayStation Vita — and it was something that was never actually released.

Phillips, a former senior director at Sony, describes a tech demo that ultimately led to the PS4 game Days Gone. Sometime after shipping Uncharted: Golden Abyss, Bend Studio showed leadership the Vita tech demo that was similar to the famous Jerusalem scene in the movie World War Z.

The demo had a scene with a horde of zombies scramblin
Wired •

Orientalism, 'Cyberpunk 2077,' and Yellow Peril in Science Fiction

2020 has been one of the most tumultuous years in recent memory, but at least, in a few days, the most anticipated game of the year will come out. That game, Cyberpunk 2077, has already drawn both praise and criticism, but one of those criticisms is of how it handles different cultures—especially Asian culture, which is inextricably tied to the cyberpunk genre.

The Origins of the Cyberpunk Genre

The origins of the cyberpunk genre involve Western anxieties about the East. Techno-orientalism is
Washington Post •

How some savvy fans are preserving the PS3’s multiplayer games

It wasn’t hard to understand why players reached this conclusion. Although “Mercenary’s” servers eventually came back online (the reason for the shutdown is still unknown) Sony has earned a reputation over the past several years for unceremoniously shutting down multiplayer service for its first party franchises. In October, Sony announced that it was updating the PlayStation Network webstore to only feature PlayStation 5 and PlayStation 4 titles for purchase, effectively locking away PS3, PS Vi
Polygon •

The personal experiences that Lev and Yara’s actors brought to The Last of Us Part 2

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Both Ian Alexander and Victoria Grace had never worked on a video game before, and neither had any prior experience with performance capture. However, in a recent interview with Polygon, both agreed that playing the Seraphite siblings in The Last of Us Part II was one of the most transformative experiences they ever had.

Alexander plays Lev, a former member of the in-game extremi

Latest Work

Anime News Network •

Persona 4 Revival Preview: More of What You Love

With the release of Persona 3 Reload back in 2024, Atlus is back with another remake, this time of Persona 4 Golden, called Persona 4 Revival. I'm one of those who thinks that the game doesn't necessarily need a remake, but I won't say no to revisiting one of my favorite games of all time.

I played about an hour of Persona 4 Revival, and it's pretty much the same as I remember of Golden, along with a shiny coat of paint and some interesting new battle mechanics.
MMORPG.com •

Preview: Roco Kingdom is a Comfy Mix Between Pokemon and Genshin Impact

Game developers have tried to recapture the global phenomenon that is Pokémon. Some franchises like Digimon, Ni No Kuni, and Persona have put their own spin on the creature-collecting genre, while others have worn their inspirations on their sleeves more often. Palworld, anyone?

In fact, publisher Tencent and developer Morefun Studios have already jumped into the fray with Roco Kingdom! The series is hugely popular in China and has been around since 2010.
Stardust Magazine •

Inside Head in the Clouds 2026: XG, KATSEYE and More Take Over LA

After the Head in the Clouds 10th anniversary festival last year, I was excited to see that this year’s show was condensed to only one day. Of course, I had a blast seeing artists like G-Dragon and 2NE1, but bracing the hot June summer heat for two whole days was taxing. I still had to endure LA’s heat wave this year; however, a lineup stretching from ONE OR EIGHT and KiiKii to XG and KATSEYE gave me plenty of reason to stick it out.
Anime News Network •

Splatoon Raiders Game Review

Splatoon was always a series that I had a fleeting interest in. With each new entry, I'd play it for a week or two before never coming back again. Granted, it's mainly because I'm not a multiplayer person, not because the games were bad or anything.

But Splatoon Raiders is the first single-player-focused entry, taking the best aspects of the series like the shooting and weapons to create a fun mission-focused campaign mowing down tons of enemies. But some parts that made Splatoon initially stand out are missing here, namely visual customization. Still, Splatoon Raiders is a gnarly experience.
Nintendo Life •

Preview: Onimusha: Way Of The Sword Is Capcom's Next Banger

Capcom is having a massive 2026, with hits like Pragmata, Resident Evil Requiem, and Monster Hunter Stories 3. The studio is now closing out the year with another highly anticipated game, Onimusha: Way of the Sword.

I spent almost three hours playing Way of the Sword, splitting my time between the PS5 and Nintendo Switch 2 versions. I came away incredibly impressed by the feel of the game, as well as the performance on Nintendo’s handheld.
MMORPG.com •

Preview: Swords of Legends Just Might Be Your Next Favorite Chinese ARPG

With games like Black Myth: Wukong and Wuchang: Fallen Feathers, Chinese games are becoming increasingly popular overseas. Later this year, the highly anticipated action RPG Phantom Blade Zero will make its way over to the west.

But there’s one series that predates all of them: GuJian. With three games and a now-defunct MMO called Swords of Legends Online, developer Aurogon is looking to make another splash globally with Swords of Legends. Formerly known as GuJian 4, it’s an action RPG that’s acting as a reboot of GuJian, aiming to join the ranks of greats like The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt and God of War Ragnarok.
Crunchyroll •

Beast of Reincarnation Director Kota Furushima on Developing Worlds, Companions and Hair

Game Freak is best known for its worldwide smash-hit, Pokémon. However, the developer has been working with other publishers like Sega and Rising Star Games to release other titles like 2015’s Tembo the Badass Elephant and 2019’s Giga Wrecker Alt. These were departures from the turn-based monster-collecting games that Game Freak worked on, as they were both platformers — they were steps toward Game Freak’s next evolution.

Game Freak has stepped up to the plate with its most ambitious project yet, Beast of Reincarnation. It follows a young girl named Emma as she travels through a post-apocalyptic Japan that’s been ravaged by a deadly blight. Koo, her dog companion, walks alongside her as she uncovers the dark secrets behind humanity’s destruction.

I spoke with game director Kota Furushima about working on Beast of Reincarnation’s real-time action battle system, the realistic art direction compared to Game Freak’s past animation style, and the studio’s history of designing monsters.
Mashable •

Review: ‘Beast of Reincarnation’ is fun, but it's no ‘Pokémon’

Game Freak’s enduring legacy is being the developer of the Pokémon franchise alongside Nintendo. While that certainly has its perks like keeping the office lights on, it shouldn’t be surprising that Game Freak wants to branch out. It’s been done so over the years with smaller games like Giga Wrecker Alt, Little Town Hero, and Tembo the Badass Elephant.

Now, Game Freak is back with the action-adventure game Beast of Reincarnation. It’s the studio’s biggest game yet, but is it big enough to step out from Pokémon’s massive shadow?
Crunchyroll •

Danganronpa 2x2 Writer Kazutaka Kodaka and Producer Shohei Sakakibara on Developing the Remake

The Danganronpa series has cultivated a passionate fan following since the series landed in 2010. The concept of seeing talented kids forced into a death game really enraptured us. With themes of hope, betrayal, and truth, Danganronpa kept us sticking through the many sequels, spin-offs, anime adaptations, and light novels that expanded the universe’s lore over the years.

Now, developer Spike Chunsoft is revisiting the series with Danganronpa 2x2, a retelling of the second game, Danganronpa 2: Goodbye Despair, complete with a brand new alternative storyline called Slayhem that’s even longer than the original.
Bloody Disgusting •

'Gears of War: E-Day' Preview: Horde Siege Makes Co-Op Bigger and Better Than Ever

I haven’t played any kind of Gears of War multiplayer since Gears 5 back in 2019. I briefly hopped onto the servers and had my share of fun playing its Horde mode, where players fend off waves of enemies in a desperate fight for survival, but I eventually set it aside for new games.

As a casual Gears fan, I was excited to see what the next installment, Gears of War: E-Day, would bring. As a prequel, you’d think that developer The Coalition would scale back. But that’s not the case, as the studio is making its multiplayer bigger than ever. I spent five hours playing E-Day’s newest iteration of the franchise’s Horde mode, called Horde Siege. It feels like a natural evolution, as it has expanded to include 12 total players, up from five in Gears 5. It’s also got approachable options that respect your time.
TechRadar •

Silent Hill: Townfall goes retro with analog horror

Having been put on Konami’s backburner for over a decade, Silent Hill’s resurgence has been nothing short of extraordinary.

A tepid start with Ascension and The Short Message was counterbalanced by the excellent Silent Hill 2 remake from Bloober Team and the homegrown Japanese horrors of Silent Hill f from NeoBards. The series seems like it’s now heading further in the right direction with the next game, Silent Hill: Townfall.
Shacknews •

Culdcept Begins review: Reshuffling the deck

Video games with card games are all the rage these days. Slay the Spire, Balatro, and Marvel’s Midnight Suns are some great ones, just to name a few. Even card games in real life are becoming more popular, even if a lot of it is related to collecting or scalping. But there’s one card-based video game that shouldn’t go under your radar: Culdcept Begins. While its story is nothing to write home about, the combination of Monopoly-style board movement and compelling card-battling mechanics makes for a fun concoction of strategic gameplay.
Anime News Network •

Sonic the Hedgehog Producer on Celebrating Game's 35th Anniversary and the Future of the Series

Sonic the Hedgehog is celebrating its 35th anniversary this year. The Blue Blur has been an iconic gaming staple since the beginning. To this day, Sonic continues to draw in both old and new audiences with SEGA's ever-expanding lineup of games, as well as efforts outside of them, such as the Sonic the Hedgehog movies. SEGA also launched the Switch 2 version of Sonic Frontiers, bringing its critically acclaimed open-zone game to Nintendo's latest handheld.
The Outerhaven •

Denshattack! Review – All Gas, Some Brakes, and One Wild Ride

When I booted up Denshattack! on my Steam Deck and was greeted by the main menu song, I knew I was in for a treat. It was “Black & Yellow” by Canadian musician Sean Bialo. The guitar chords, warbling synths, and DJ scratches radiated feelings of heroism and hope, like I was goddamn Superman or something.

From that point on, Denshattack! grabbed my attention and never once let go. With its chaotic gameplay, inspiring soundtrack, and memorable style, I loved every moment I played. It’s all gas and no brakes. Well, some brakes if you want to drift properly.
Eurogamer •

All Ultimate Ship Upgrade locations in AC Black Flag Resynced

In Assassin’s Creed Black Flag Resynced, there are Ultimate Ship Upgrades for the Jackdaw. You’ll need to find their blueprints in order to upgrade the ship, and some require a treasure map first.

In most cases, their locations are the same as in the original Black Flag, but there are a few that are slightly different, and one that is completely different. So older Black Flag guides for the original may not completely help you. However, we’ve compiled the locations of all 12 Ultimate upgrades in...
Kotaku •

Echoes Of Aincrad Is A RPG Changeup For Sword Art Online Fans

It’s no surprise that Sword Art Online fans think that the first arc, Aincrad, is the best. After all, if you ask fans of any show or game what their favorite season or entry is, it’s most likely the first one. 13 years after the release of the first Sword Art Online video game, Sword Art Online: Infinity Moment, the developers over at Bandai Namco are creating an action RPG that focuses on the Aincrad arc, aptly called Echoes of Aincrad. “Throughout the games of Sword Art Online, we’ve never re...
MMORPG.com •

Assassin's Creed Black Flag: Resynced Review

Assassin’s Creed IV: Black Flag is lauded as one of the best entries in the series post-Desmond Miles. Its strong character writing and emphasis on oceanic exploration made it stand out compared to other Assassin’s Creed tales that were firmly planted in past events. Black Flag captured the exciting atmosphere of the Golden Age of Piracy, but was able to tell its own story without being weighed down by an historical anchor. Even so, there were few red flags that were ironed out by this series’s first remake, Assassin’s Creed Black Flag: Resynced.
IGN •

Echoes of Aincrad Review

On paper, Echoes of Aincrad is the Sword Art Online game you've been waiting for if you loved the anime. It takes place during the Aincrad arc, the very first one in the series, which is easily the most memorable and iconic. As your own created character, you get to experience Aincrad without having to retread the path of series protagonist Kirito. He also doesn’t have a huge role in the story, allowing Echoes of Aincrad to carve out its own identity with a brand new cast of characters in a single-player action-RPG.
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