Video game releases for December 2017

Here are the top video game releases for the month of December 2017. Also, check out the list we put together of our most anticipated games of 2017 and subscribe to Polygon's YouTube channel for more gaming videos. And here are the free games you get this month with an Xbox Live Gold and PlayStation Plus subscriptions.

What are you looking forward to playing? Did we miss anything? Let us know in the comments.

Note: This is not a comprehensive list of releases and only games with specific dates are listed below. Some games are announced for December but have no firm release date.

December 1:

Bethesda

Doom VFR (PlayStation 4 and HTC Vive) — Doom VFR is a unique Doom experience based on the recent reboot of the franchise, which was released in 2016. On the PlayStation 4, the game can be played with either the traditional DualShock 4 controller or the Move controllers, and uses teleportation to move players through the environment. A PlayStation 4 VR bundle will be available on release day.

Read our review of the original release.

Image: Nintendo

Xenoblade Chronicles 2 (Nintendo Switch) — Xenoblade Chronicles 2 takes place in a world “where the last remnants of civilization live on the backs of colossal beasts called Titans,” according to the publisher. Players will get to explore the story of Rex and his new friend, Pyra, “a mysterious being known as a Blade who grants him tremendous power.” Pyra and Rex will journey to try and find a utopian paradise, known as Elysium, which is considered the “ultimate paradise” for all of humanity.

This 30-minute video includes commentary from the game’s designers breaking down the combat system and story, but the highlight of the game is watching Pyra and Rex take on a series of monsters. The combat system looks new, meaning that it might take fans of Xenoblade Chronicles, which was released in 2010, a bit of time to get used to.

December 5:

Dead Rising 4: Frank’s Big Package (PlayStation 4) — Frank’s Big Package brings Dead Rising 4 to the PlayStation 4 along with all of its downloadable and bonus content. In a new mode called Capcom Heroes, Frank assumes the powers and abilities of Dante from Devil May Cry, Cammy from Street Fighter, X from Mega Man and many more.

In the trailer for Dead Rising 4’s Capcom Heroes mode, we get a look at those characters — and another, Ghost Trick: Phantom Detective’s Sissel — as well as some classic Dead Rising characters. The Frank of Dead Rising 4 will also be playable as Classic Frank from the first game in the franchise, as well as Adam the Clown and Zombie Frank, in Capcom Heroes. The game will also include a number of game mechanic updates based on fan feedback.

Read our review.

Destiny 2: Curse of Osiris (PlayStation 4, Windows PC and Xbox One) — Bungie kicked off its Curse of Osiris expansion livestreams in November with “New Stories to Tell.” In that hourlong event, the studio detailed the expansion’s campaign — which focuses on a legendary Warlock named Osiris and the Guardians’ quest to stop the Vex threat on Mercury — as well as the planet itself and its Infinite Forest. In addition, Bungie revealed a new mode called a “raid lair,” an expansion to the Leviathan raid that will debut in Curse of Osiris.

Read our Destiny 2 review.

The Walking Dead: The Telltale Series Collection (PlayStation 4 and Xbox One) — The Walking Dead: The Telltale Series Collection will include seasons one, two and three (A New Frontier) as well as the anthology 400 Days and the three-part Michonne mini-series. Telltale offered a peek at the visual upgrade coming to earlier seasons and included side-by-side comparison shots, which you can check out in the gallery.

December 9:

LocoRoco 2 (PlayStation 4) — LocoRoco 2 first launched in North America back in 2009, although it came to other regions at the end of 2008. This remaster will look better than ever, thanks to an updated 4K resolution. Earlier this year, Sony re-released the original LocoRoco on PS4 as well.

December 12:

Fallout 4 VR (Windows PC) — The game, first announced at last year’s Bethesda E3 showcase, is coming to the HTC Vive. From the minute-plus trailer, the familiar, barren landscapes from the 2015 game can be seen, as well as all the crafting and customization options.

What looks different is the protagonist’s Pip-Boy, as there aren’t exactly hands in Fallout 4 VR’s trailer. Bethesda seems to have built a workaround system to avoid some of the more tricky hand-tracking systems of virtual reality. Here’s our write-up on the game and Doom VFR.

Read our review.

Okami HD (PlayStation 4, Windows PC and Xbox One) — The remaster of Okami, Clover Studio’s stylish action-adventure game originally released in 2006, will support 4K resolution on PlayStation 4 Pro, Windows PC and Xbox One X. Players will have the option of widescreen 16:9 or original 4:3 aspect ratio. Check out a quartet of 4K screenshots of Okami HD in the gallery.

Playerunknown’s Battlegrounds (Xbox One) — Playerunknown’s Battlegrounds is joining Microsoft’s Xbox Game Preview program. “We’re approaching development on Xbox One with the same community-driven focus that we’ve taken with the game on PC,” Chang Han Kim, CEO of PUBG Corp., said in a post on the Xbox website. “As a result, the ultimate battle royale experience that fans play on Xbox One will be slightly different than what players know today on PC.”

Bluehole said it also plans to launch the 1.0 version of Playerunknown’s Battlegrounds on PC by sometime in late December. For more on the game, read Polygon’s cover story about PUBG and its creator, Brendan “Playerunknown” Greene.

Resident Evil 7: End of Zoe and Not a Hero (PlayStation 4, Windows PC and Xbox One) — Not A Hero stars Resident Evil series veteran Chris Redfield. The episode, which will be released for free, was originally planned for release this past spring, but was delayed. Here you can read up on the new content’s official synopsis. The second episode, End of Zoe, will be included as part of Resident Evil 7’s season pass. It can be purchased separately for $14.99. Capcom says the “shocking installment” will reveal Zoe Baker’s fate and introduce new enemies and a swamp-filled area.

December 13:

Final Fantasy 15: Episode Ignis (PlayStation 4 and Xbox One) — Sony showed a new trailer for the latest story expansion during the pre-show for Paris Games Week. Just as Episode Prompto and Episode Gladiolus gave Noctis’ other bros their starring turns, Episode Ignis will do the same for the smartest member of the group.

Read our review.

Star Wars Battlefront 2: The Last Jedi Season (PlayStation 4, Windows PC and Xbox One) — On Dec. 5, players can choose to ally themselves with either the Resistance or the First Order, as the season turns its attention to The Last Jedi's movie release on Dec. 15. Various challenges will be released, accruing faction rewards, so picking the right side has consequences.

On Dec. 13, characters Finn (Resistance) and Captain Phasma (First Order) will be purchasable with in-game credits. The side with the most points will also win upgrades for their character. Planetary map Crait and Starfighter shooter map. D’qar will also be released, as well as ships such as Tallie Lintra's RZ-2 A-wing.

Read our review.