The writer of The Witcher 3's best quest has returned to CD Projekt a…

XThat the quest 'Family Matters' stands out as the best quest in The Witcher 3—a game filled with great storytelling and characters—is a true testament to the skill of its creators. That's why it's so exciting that one of the main forces behind it, writer Karolina Stachyra, has returned to CD Projekt after a decade away.

Stachyra's LinkedIn profile indicates that she's been working with the studio as a freelance consultant since February, and returned as a full-time writer in August. The quiet comeback went unnoticed until the weekend, though, when b0ysbrokenheart posted about it on X.

And here's the good stuff:

CD Projekt confirmed that Stachyra is indeed back in the fold, but declined to comment on what she's currently working on.

BlogCricket-Aufwärmtraining: So bereitest du dich optimal auf das Spiel vorCricket-Aufwärmprogramm für mehr Beweglichkeit und Stabilität Cricket ist ein Sport, der den Körper auf eine ganz besondere Weise fordert. Obwohl das Spiel oft als gemächlich wa...Öffnen →

WHY ARE PEOPLE EXCITED?

We laid it out in 2015: What appears to be a simple missing persons job for Geralt slowly, painfully unwinds into "The Witcher 3’s most emotional and disturbing quest," driven by the conflicted, compelling, and deeply tragic character of the Bloody Baron. As we put it back when all this was new:

"It takes very real, important subjects—alcoholism and domestic abuse—and deals with them in a brutal, heartbreaking, and honest way. But, thanks to the blood-curdling botchling, it still feels like part of The Witcher’s dark fantasy world. It’s superbly written, brilliantly acted, and the branching paths make it well worth replaying. It’s The Witcher 3 and developer CD Projekt RED at their absolute best, and was the highlight of the game for many players."

As the writer of the dialog and cutscenes in Family Matters, not to mention her work elsewhere in the game and on the Hearts of Stone and Blood and Wine expansions, Stachyra's return to CD Projekt—following turns as narrative director at Techland and GSC Game World—is great news for RPG fans, regardless of what game she's working on.

And since we're left to speculate on that, consider this: Ciri, the lead of the upcoming The Witcher 4, was a central character in the Family Matters quest and key to demonstrating the depth and nuance of the Bloody Baron, who treated her like a surrogate daughter. Might an adoptive family reunion be in the works? It's not the worst idea I've ever heard.

Turtle Beach's new Animal Crossing accessories are an adorable, stellar spectacle. The brand has added not one controller to its repertoire, but two new gamepad designs available for $49.88 each (via Amazon) to its Rematch line-up. They're both cute enough as is, but they each reveal a cute secret pattern once illuminated, including a starry night sky twinkling above the iconic K.K. Slider while he's strumming away.

The brand has also unveiled a pair of cases, and the K.K. Slider one even matches the dazzling display of its controller counterpart. I fully expected the cases just to be a simple copy-and-paste job, and that is what you'll find with the Timmy Tommy version. However, the glow-in-the-dark K.K Slider model goes the extra mile, and together, they're some of the best Switch 2 accessories I've seen inspired by New Horizons.

It's rare that I prefer a batch of US and UK-released Switch 2 peripherals over any Japan release, like Keys Factory's Animal Crossing lineup, and yet I undoubtedly do. By default, the blue and purple look of the officially licensed K.K. Slider gamepad is a pretty sight to behold. Often, Animal Crossing merch and gaming tech opt for green and earth-toned color palettes, which instantly makes this cool-colored controller stand out.

I am a little biased, as I adore K.K. Slider, and he's slapped on the right grip, giving a performance on his guitar, but I'd have been happy if any character was on there - especially as Celeste would have been more fitting. Just like the Mario and Luigi version of this accessory, the RGBs are what really sell it. Turning them on makes the stars twinkle and solidifies my admiration not just for Animal Crossing, but for RGB tech as a whole.

Besides its cute aesthetic, the Switch 2 controller isn't too bad either. I have a few of these kicking around, and am really fond of its TMR sticks, comfortable ergonomic fit, mappable back paddles, and 40-hour battery life. Having the RGBs on will drop those hours down to 12, which is pretty annoying, but you can turn them off if that becomes a big issue, and the USB-C charging port makes them easy to recharge.

You also don't need to worry about battery life with the case, as it's utilising some good old glow-in-the-dark science to match the controller's fancy light show. It includes the same purple-blue K.K. Slider design and happens to be a re-skin of one of the best Nintendo Switch 2 cases I've tested so far: the Turtle Beach PlayTrek Travel Case.

While I haven't had hands-on experience with this exact design, that means this version should be pretty robust and include plenty of accessory space, from a fabric mesh pocket to a slab built for up to 12 physical games. The only issue I had with the Mario Bricks version I tested was that the lenticular cover was prone to cosmetic damage, but that shouldn't be an issue with a glow-in-the-dark paint job.

If you do happen to prefer the typical green look of past Animal Crossing goodies, the Timmy & Tommy controller and case may be more your style. The controller is also a reskin of the Turtle Beach Switch 2 Rematch pad, but the faceplate art of the two Tanukis reveals a pattern of Animal Crossing trees and foliage. It's not quite as clever as the light-up starry sky, and the PlayTrek case unfortunately doesn't glow, but the more designs, the merrier.

Both sets of Turtle Beach Animal Crossing Switch 2 accessories are available from the official Turtle Beach online store, or from Amazon US and Amazon UK.

• View all Turtle Beach Nintendo Switch 2 accessories at Amazon

Creating the ultimate Switch 2 setup? Check out our guides to the best Nintendo Switch headsets, the best Nintendo Switch 2 cases, and the best Nintendo Switch 2 controllers while you're here.

Avengers: Doomsday is releasing early in some countries, and fans have valid concerns over spoilers: "We’re going to have the entire film online"

As confirmed by several cinema outlets, Avengers: Doomsday will be released in the UK and some other territories on December 16, as early as 6:00 AM GMT (1:00 AM Eastern). In the US and Canada, the movie is still locked in for December 18.

"They really have to do December 16 screenings in US/Canada too," one concerned fan wrote on Twitter. "We’re going to have the entire film online by the time the first screening in North America happens."

"Sorry USA brace yourself for spoilers to be online," another commenter said, summing up the mood of a social media contingent that will have to do their level best to avoid spoilers and leaks for at least 48 hours in the lead-up to release.

"The UK will spoil it for us all!" another added, perhaps mindful of Spider-Man actor Tom Holland's penchant for revealing major Avengers story details ahead of time.

From across the pond, it's safe to say fans are stoked. One joked, "Being from the UK does have its benefits after all." Another declared it an "absolute win", using Smart Hulk's iconic Endgame reaction GIF to help reflect their feelings.

Wherever you are in the world, though, those social media concerns are definitely valid. Avengers: Endgame Encore's bonus scenes that help set up Doomsday were leaked ahead of its US release by fans around the world who were lucky enough to watch it early.

The lack of a simultaneous worldwide release is something that has dogged Marvel blockbusters in recent years. There have been early UK releases for several MCU movies, back to the likes of Captain America: Brave New World. On the flip side, Brits will surely remember the insanity of Ant-Man and the Wasp coming to cinemas over a month later than the US because of the World Cup.

While it's not that bad, it does seem like those in the US will need to put up every social media barrier possible to avoid Avengers: Doomsday spoilers before December 18. Good luck with that.

For more on the MCU, check out our guide to upcoming Marvel movies – including Doomsday. There's even a Marvel timeline to help you make sense of events stretching back decades.