The transition from 2025 into 2026 marks one of the most exciting windows in the gaming calendar. As the holiday season reaches its peak and the New Year approaches, developers are rolling out massive updates, limited-time modes, and exclusive rewards that you simply cannot miss.
Whether you are looking to finish your Battle Pass, hunt for rare shiny creatures, or snag a legendary weapon blueprint, this week is packed with opportunities. This guide covers the best online gaming events this week across major platforms like PC, PlayStation, Xbox, and mobile, ensuring you know exactly where to spend your gaming hours.
Steam Winter Sale 2025: The Final Stretch
For PC gamers, the most significant event is undoubtedly the Steam Winter Sale. This annual tradition is the perfect time to clear your wishlist or find a hidden gem to start your New Year.
Dates and Platforms
The Steam Winter Sale 2025 is currently live and runs until January 5, 2026. This event is exclusive to the Steam platform on PC, Mac, and Linux (including Steam Deck).
Discounts and Highlights
While thousands of titles are on sale, some of the standout deals this week include:
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Elden Ring: 35% off – Perfect for those looking to conquer the Lands Between before the year ends.
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Warhammer 40,000: Space Marine 2: 75% off – A massive discount for one of the year’s best action titles.
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Cyberpunk 2077: Ultimate Edition: 50% off – Experience the complete Night City story at its lowest price yet.
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Kingdom Come: Deliverance 2: 80% off – A deep discount for a high-fidelity RPG experience.
Fortnite Winterfest 2025: Last Call for Free Gifts
Epic Games has turned the Island into a winter wonderland, and if you haven’t been logging in daily, you are falling behind on some of the best free cosmetics of the year.
Event Overview
Fortnite Winterfest 2025 is in full swing, featuring the return of the Winterfest Cabin. Players can visit the lodge via the snowflake icon in the main menu to unwrap a new gift every 24 hours.
Rewards and Bonuses
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Free Skins: You can unlock the Glacial Dummy and Cheeks skins by opening enough presents in the cabin.
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Unvaulted Items: Take advantage of the Snowball Launcher, Blizzard Grenades, and the Icy Feet effect to gain a tactical edge in Battle Royale.
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Holiday Quests: Complete the Winterfest questline to earn massive chunks of XP, helping you reach Tier 100 before the season ends.
Pokémon GO New Year’s 2026 Celebration
Mobile trainers have a busy week ahead as the Best Online Gaming Events This Week list includes the official Pokémon GO New Year 2026 event.
Event Dates
The celebration begins on Wednesday, December 31, 2025, at 10:00 AM and runs through Sunday, January 4, 2026, at 8:00 PM local time.
Exclusive Bonuses
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2x Stardust and 2x XP: Earn double rewards for every Raid Battle completed during the event.
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Costumed Pokémon: Hunt for Pikachu wearing a party top hat and Hoothoot in a New Year’s outfit. If you are lucky, you might even find their shiny variants.
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Lucky Trades: The limit for guaranteed Lucky Pokémon in trades has been permanently increased, and trading Pokémon from 2020 or earlier now guarantees a Lucky result until you reach the new limit of 45.
Call of Duty: Naughty & Nice Event
For fans of Black Ops 7 and Warzone, the Naughty & Nice event provides a unique two-path progression system that rewards both aggressive and team-oriented playstyles.
How it Works
Players choose between the Naughty Path (focused on eliminations and killstreaks) and the Nice Path (focused on revives, objectives, and support).
Key Rewards
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Sokol 545 LMG: Unlocked by completing all challenges in the Naughty Path.
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Snowfall Animated Camo: A stunning winter-themed weapon wrap earned by finishing the Nice Path.
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Festive Modes: Jump into Sleighjacked (a holiday version of Hijacked) or Snowfight, where you battle using only snowballs.
GTA Online: Festive Surprise Takeover
Los Santos is currently covered in snow, and Rockstar Games is giving away a hoard of digital goods to anyone who logs in this week.
Login Rewards and Discounts
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Free Vehicle: Claim a free Buckingham SuperVolito Carbon helicopter from Elitás Travel through December 29.
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Holiday Gear: Log in to receive the New Year Fireworks Bodysuit, the Snowball Launcher, and a Firework Launcher with 20 rockets.
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Business Bonuses: Take advantage of 2x GTA$ and RP on Weed Sell Missions and selected Adversary Modes to boost your bank account for 2026.
Tips to Get the Most Out of the Events
To maximize your efficiency during these limited-time windows, follow these strategies:
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Prioritize Daily Logins: Games like Fortnite and GTA Online offer rewards just for opening the app. Even if you don’t have time to play a full match, log in to claim your daily gifts.
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Stack Your Bonuses: In Pokémon GO, use a Lucky Egg during Raid Battles to turn that 2x XP bonus into a 4x XP gain.
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Focus on Limited Blueprints: In Call of Duty, focus on the weapon blueprints first, as these often have unique stats or attachments that are harder to replicate once the event ends.
Why These Events Are Worth Playing
This week is a rare moment where almost every major live-service game is offering its “Best of 2025” content. Whether you are a competitive shooter fan or a casual mobile gamer, the rewards available during this window are often of higher quality than standard seasonal drops. Many of these items, such as the New Year’s costumed Pokémon or the specific Winterfest skins, may never return to the game once the clock strikes midnight on January 4.
Conclusion
The best online gaming events this week offer a perfect way to celebrate the end of the year and the start of 2026. From the deep discounts of the Steam Winter Sale to the festive challenges in Fortnite and Call of Duty, there is no shortage of loot to claim. Make sure to log in, complete your challenges, and secure those exclusive rewards before they disappear for another year.
Which event are you most excited to grind this week? Jump into the action now and start your 2026 gaming journey with a win.
FAQ: Frequently Asked Questions
What happens if I miss a daily gift in Fortnite Winterfest? In the 2025 event, daily presents in the Winterfest Cabin do not stack. You must log in every 24 hours to claim your gift, or that specific window will close.
Is the Pokémon GO Lucky Trade update permanent? Yes. The increase in the guaranteed Lucky Pokémon limit from 35 to 45 is a permanent change starting with the New Year 2026 event.
When does the Steam Winter Sale officially end? The sale concludes on January 5, 2026, at 10:00 AM PT / 1:00 PM ET. Be sure to finalize your purchases before the prices revert to normal.
