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Welcome to part eight of this PSVR2 review series where I try to review every single title released for the system since launch.

The post Almost Every PSVR2 Game Reviewed (Part Eight / Letter H) appeared first on AmigaGuru's GamerBlog.

Welcome to part seven of this PSVR2 review series where I try to review every single title released for the system since launch.

The post Almost Every PSVR2 Game Reviewed (Part Seven / Letter G) appeared first on AmigaGuru's GamerBlog.

Skinny Marley is a love letter to a dog: a charming puzzle game all the way from Brazil, a country that hasn’t produced many Amiga titles.

The post Skinny Marley Amiga Review appeared first on AmigaGuru's GamerBlog.

Welcome to part six of this PSVR2 review series where I try to review every single title released for the system since launch.

The post Almost Every PSVR2 Game Reviewed (Part Six / Letter F) appeared first on AmigaGuru's GamerBlog.

Welcome to part five of this PSVR2 review series where I try to review every single title released for the system since launch.

The post Almost Every PSVR2 Game Reviewed (Part Five / Letter E) appeared first on AmigaGuru's GamerBlog.

Welcome to part four of this PSVR2 review series where I try to review every single title released for the system since launch.

The post Almost Every PSVR2 Game Reviewed (Part Four / Letter D) appeared first on AmigaGuru's GamerBlog.

I keep seeing people on social media claiming that “there are no games for PSVR2.” Honestly, that’s nonsense.

The post Rant: The State Of The PSVR2 And The VR Industry In General appeared first on AmigaGuru's GamerBlog.

Welcome to the third part of this PSVR2 review series where I try to review every single title released for the system since launch.

The post Almost Every PSVR2 Game Reviewed (Part Three / Letter C) appeared first on AmigaGuru's GamerBlog.

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Email us at PSPodcast@sony.com! Subscribe via Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or download here Hey, everybody! Sid, Tim, and Brett are back this week to talk about the new indie darling Ball x Pit, the long journey to a Death Stranding 2 platinum, Silent Hill f, and the Battlefield series’ first battle royale foray. Stuff We Talked […]

Email us at PSPodcast@sony.com! Subscribe via Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or download here Hey, everybody! Sid, Tim, and Brett are back this week to talk about the new indie darling Ball x Pit, the long journey to a Death Stranding 2 platinum, Silent Hill f, and the Battlefield series’ first battle royale foray. Stuff We Talked About Next week’s releases: Satisfactory | PS5, PS4 Cairn | PS5 Unbeatable | PS5 I Hate This Place | PS5 Loulan: The Cursed Sand announced for PS5 — Loulan explores the tale of the archaeological discovery of the Xiaohe Princess. Learn about the gameplay inspirations for this action-adventure game of a mummy who wields the power of sand. Battlefield: Redsec — The new free-to-play battle royale mode allows up to 100 players to compete for dominance of the battlefield on their new map, Fort Lyndon, which features a wrecked Los Angeles. NBA The Run announced — A new arcade basketball game is coming to PS5 that combines streetball with the pick-up-and-play aspects of classic basketball titles from decades past. Resident Evil series history — Prepare for Resident Evil Requiem with a look back at the series’ history and its roots on PlayStation. See how one mansion redefined the horror genre. Thief VR: Legacy of Shadow release date — Lurking onto PS VR2 December 4, Thief evolves its toolset to take full advantage of the hardware. PlayStation Plus Monthly Games November Stray EA Sports WRC 24 Totally Accurate Battle Simulator The Cast View and download image Download the image close Close Download this image Sid Shuman – Senior Director of Content Communications, SIE View and download image Download the image close Close Download this image Tim Turi – Content Communications Manager, SIE View and download image Download the image close Close Download this image Brett Elston – Manager, Content Communications, SIE Thanks to Dormilón for our rad theme song and show music. [Editor’s note: PSN game release dates are subject to change without notice. Game details are gathered from press releases from their individual publishers and/or ESRB rating descriptions.]

Last week, we asked you to get in the spooky season spirit and share frightening moments from the game of your choice using #PSshare #PSBlog, including from this month’s PlayStation Plus selection. Here’s this week’s highlights: ibis_monk shares a foggy area with demon masks hanging in Ghost of Yōtei secondcapture shares a gigantic enemy head […]

Last week, we asked you to get in the spooky season spirit and share frightening moments from the game of your choice using #PSshare #PSBlog, including from this month’s PlayStation Plus selection. Here’s this week’s highlights: ibis_monk shares a foggy area with demon masks hanging in Ghost of Yōtei secondcapture shares a gigantic enemy head being faced in Mortal Shell MdeavorVP shares some frightening body modifications made in Cyberpunk 2077 wingsforsmiles shares Agent Saga Anderson shining a flashlight on an enemy in Alan Wake 2 PattyGnand shares the teen girls of Lost Records: Bloom & Rage levitating in a purple-lit circle call_me_xavii shares a creepy Poppy sighting through some blinds in Poppy Playtime Search #PSshare #PSBlog on Twitter or Instagram to see more entries to this week’s theme, or be inspired by other great games featuring Photo Mode. Want to be featured in the next Share of the Week? THEME: Costumes SUBMIT BY: 11:59 PM PT on November 5, 2025 Next week, let’s see those Halloween costumes. Share characters from the game of your choice wearing unique armor sets or anything outside their default outfit. Use #PSshare #PSBlog for a chance to be featured.

Since first launching in 1998, the Thief series of stealth games helped define the genre, maintaining notoriety across several games spanning nearly three decades. Steven Gallagher (Creative Director at Eidos-Montréal) and I are here to give PlayStation Blog readers the first glimpse into the next iteration of the franchise, Thief VR: Legacy of Shadow. Thief […]

Since first launching in 1998, the Thief series of stealth games helped define the genre, maintaining notoriety across several games spanning nearly three decades. Steven Gallagher (Creative Director at Eidos-Montréal) and I are here to give PlayStation Blog readers the first glimpse into the next iteration of the franchise, Thief VR: Legacy of Shadow. Play Video Thief VR is coming to PlayStation VR 2 on PlayStation 5 on December 4, available for pre-order on the PlayStation Store now. We’re also sharing the latest gameplay trailer captured on PS VR2. This trailer demonstrates how Thief VR is an opportunity to step into the boots of a Master Thief and embody what makes the franchise unique in a compelling new take by developer Maze Theory and publisher Vertigo Games, aided by the OG Thief creators at Eidos-Montréal. Takes a thief to make plans for a thief Every great Thief game includes an array of tools and challenges that naturally encourage avoiding combat using stealth, numerous solutions to any problem, and requiring close attention to your surroundings using all senses. It can be challenging at first, but taking your time can make it feel incredibly rewarding. Levels are fairly open and non-linear to support player agency—a trademark of the immersive sim genre. Allowing players to do what they want, not what they’re told, says Steven, is a staple in allowing their own unique narrative to emerge. Utilizing dark shadows to progress through darker plots, powerful, oppressive atmospheres, plus a bit of dry wit are all signature elements of Thief storytelling—and each aligns with the immersive simulation of VR. “The sense of presence VR provides makes the experience all the more intense and engaging,” says Steven. “The immediacy of being able to naturally use your head to watch your back as your hands pick locks with the help of haptic feedback, is as real as it gets to being in the City.” Darkness is a solo thief’s only ally. PS VR2 OLED lenses have a stronger, more natural contrast, giving a competitive advantage in the shadows. Next-gen sound integration helps players listen closely for danger. There’s a sense of tangible anticipation and intimacy created by sneaking around in the dark in VR —peeking around corners —before slipping in through a window with your actual head and hands. Feels like old times… Thief VR blends classic stealth gameplay with next-generation immersion. Players embody an up-and-coming thief named Magpie through the dystopian fantasy steampunk world known as the City. As Magpie, they will be encouraged to use their variety of tools, keen observation, and creativity to stealthily remain unseen from guard patrols as they infiltrate noble manors to steal ancient artifacts (and more?), while under the watchful eye of a familiar thief called Garret. Thief VR is made by fans for fans. Familiar ears will recognize the iconic Stephen Russell as Garrett, but there are plenty of other connections as well. For example, from a gameplay perspective, the stealth mechanics and engaging gameplay of Thief: The Dark Project (1998) and Thief II: The Metal Age (2000) were the main inspirations for the gameplay pillars of Thief VR. Together with Steven, we’re connecting Thief titles across time and console generations. Since joining Eidos-Montréal in 2008, his experience working on animation, cinematics, and, eventually, narrative design for Thief (2014) has been invaluable as the brand consultant for Vertigo and Maze Theory. He’s also kept a secret locked away in Thief’s VR history. “Towards the end of Thief (2014), Eidos-Montréal tried creating their own playable VR demo as part of Sony’s Project Morpheus, the first iteration of PlayStation VR”, Steven reveals. “Unfortunately, we weren’t particularly experienced in making VR back then, so the overall product ended up being a bit hard to play.” Since a great video game narrative is the result of the player and the protagonist feeling like one, VR has been and continues to be a natural choice for the franchise. We’re especially thrilled to have his help bringing Thief VR finally into the light of day, using the latest technology on PlayStation VR2. We’re not leaving without what we came here for Previous experience as a Thief isn’t necessary to feel like one yourself when playing Thief VR. Everyone is invited to become their own fully present Master Thief in a world created nearly 30 years ago. VR has unlocked a new level of the palpable tension that Thief games are known for. We’re looking forward to seeing how PS VR2 players get themselves in and out of suspenseful situations without getting caught starting December 4. Pre-orders are live now, and for a limited time, a 10% discount will be available.

It should be no surprise that there’s a terrifying-yet-terrific variety of high-profile essentials and indie classics available on PlayStation Plus via your PS4 and PS5. And with the spooky season upon us it’s only right to dive into some devilish delights that can turn your Halloween – and any future fangs-givings – into a night […]

It should be no surprise that there’s a terrifying-yet-terrific variety of high-profile essentials and indie classics available on PlayStation Plus via your PS4 and PS5. And with the spooky season upon us it’s only right to dive into some devilish delights that can turn your Halloween – and any future fangs-givings – into a night to remember. Grab a warm beverage, and make sure your blood is suitably chilled before we begin… Play Video Silent Hill 2 (PS5) | Game Catalog For fans of… Tense and psychologically brutal survival horrors. Why you should play: As remakes go, Silent Hill 2 is among the best. It modernises elements of its gameplay and controls, and revamps the presentation of the PlayStation 2 original without losing any of its sinister atmosphere and heart-thumping challenge. If you didn’t fear getting lost in unknown mists before…well, this will change everything. Game modes: A taut single-player mode with multiple endings keeps you coming back to this reborn classic. Play Video Until Dawn (PS5) | Game Catalog For fans of… Slasher flicks with an all-star Hollywood cast, and branching narratives where your choices really do matter. Why you should play: Eight friends trapped on a remote mountain retreat with a mysterious killer. If that setup isn’t enough to hook you, then Until Dawn seals the deal by forcing you to make decisions that can change the lives of the unlucky eight. If someone dies, the game continues without them, leaving you to carry the weight of your actions for the rest of the story. Ruthless? Absolutely. Utterly compelling? Always. Game modes: While designed as a single-player game, it’s easy to bring friends into Until Dawn by passing the DualSense wireless controller to a friend each time another character becomes the focus. Play Video V Rising | Game Catalog For fans of… Gothic open worlds, where you can indulge your action-packed, aristocratic vampire fantasy. Why you should play: If you ever wanted to become vampire royalty, then Stunlock Studios’ engaging blend of action role-playing and empire building should satisfy that moonlit craving. It’s not just about hard fought battles of blood, and skulking in the shadows to quench your weakened vampire’s thirst, but also rebuilding and personalizing your very own castle, complete with servants, treasure, and (of course) coffins. Game modes: You don’t have to wander the world of Vardoran alone. A flexible and vast online multiplayer mode lets you join forces with other human-controlled vampires – or go to war with them if your blood runs a little hotter. Play Video Alan Wake 2 | October Monthly Game (Available until Nov 3, 2025) For fans of… Twin Peaks-esque existential survival horror, where the meta narrative bleeds into the game’s main story. Why you should play: Surreal and darkly eldritch, Alan Wake 2 grabs you by the eyes and pulls you into a mind-bending adventure where reality is shaped by the horrors of our imagination. Between the dual protagonists of telepathic FBI agent Saga Anderson and trapped writer Alan Wake, you’re in for a nightmarish and gripping exploration of what it means to confront our own limitations. To say more would ruin the game’s many novel surprises. Game modes: With its focus on a nerve-wracking single-player, Alan Wake 2 rewards the game’s completion with a New Game Plus mode called The Final Draft, which features an expanded ending, along with a tweaked narrative, collectibles, and a new difficulty setting. Play Video Days Gone (PS4) | Game Catalog For fans of… Zombie style open worlds, where overwhelming odds are the order of the day. Oh, and bikes. Why you should play: A wild wilderness full of feral, flesh hungry Freakers, unpredictable weather, roving human gangs, and vicious animals? That’s what awaits you in this fast-paced, post-apocalyptic action-adventure, rife with explosive weapons, big set pieces and rip-roaring motorbikes. Game modes: Switching things up is the more action oriented Challenge Mode, which tests you to complete objectives under different conditions, such as defeating endless hordes. Play Video Dead by Daylight | Game Catalog For fans of… Terrifying yet fun multiplayer survival slasher romps. Why you should play: Don’t let Dead by Daylight’s seemingly simple hide and seek concept fool you – this 4vs1 asymmetrical multiplayer game captures the intense thrills of classic 80s monster movies. As four of you try to survive against one relentless killer, the procedurally generated environments ensure every run is brutally unpredictable. Game modes: Dead by Daylight’s bot-driven single-player is great for practicing, but its main online multiplayer is where the fun is, especially with friends. Look out for modifiers and variant modes like 2v8 and the darkness enveloping Lights Out. Play Video Outlast 2 | Game Catalog For fans of… Chilling survival horror, played via a Blair Witch-style found-footage perspective. Why you should play: Blending elements from both classic and modern horror films, Outlast 2 increases its tension by mostly removing the ability to fight back against its cultist antagonists. Combined with video camera style first-person perspective viewpoints, jump-scares and creepy flashbacks, this is a horror fan’s dream (…or nightmare, if you prefer). Game modes: Outlast 2 keeps its terror up close and personal with a finely honed single-player mode. Play Video Five Nights at Freddy’s: Help Wanted 2 | Game Catalog For fans of… One of the most iconic series going, but also those who like a little dark laughter with their slaughter. Why you should play: Virtual reality lends itself perfectly to horror, and what better setting for PlayStation VR2 than the macabre and ever disturbing animatronics world of Fazebear Entertainment? Tasks like managing food in the Pizzaplex and helping robotic performers prepare for their show might not sound scary, but believe me, in Five Nights it’s something that will haunt you forever. Game modes: While there’s no multiplayer mode, Five Nights at Freddy’s: Help Wanted 2 consists of 40 different minigames, with a variety of them only unlocked if others are completed first. Play Video Killer Frequency | Game Catalog For fans of… Puzzle-driven murder mysteries, soaked in the neon-lit 1980s. Why you should play: How many other games have you assume the role of a late-night radio talk-show host? But this isn’t just some drowsy dialogue with the denizens of Gallows Creek – they’re being hunted by an enigmatic killer and you’re they’re only hope. Every call can be the difference between life and death as you’re solving puzzles, gathering clues, and engaging in branching narrative with eccentric personalities. Game modes: The single-player mode features four different endings depending on how many callers you save and if certain characters survive, so there’s incentive for multiple playthroughs. Play Video The Dark Pictures Anthology: Man of Medan For fans of… Glossy and filmic branching narrative horror adventures. Why you should play: It’s not just the high quality production values which make Man of Medan so impressive. It refines the interactive drama genre into an enthralling paranormal horror where any of the five main characters can die. Your choices not only affect their fate, but their relationships, the main storyline, and how it ends, with intriguing premonitions of possible future events adding to the tension. Game modes: The single-player story mode is accompanied by Movie Night, a 2 to 5 player couch co-op which assigns a player to each character, and Shared Story for two online players. The Curator’s Cut also lets you see scenes through other characters’ perspectives, with new choices and scenes. Play Video Hello Neighbor | Game Catalog For fans of… Mischievous yet hair-raising stealth horrors. Why you should play: If you’ve ever wondered what your neighbors get up to, rest assured it’s not as mysterious as Mr Peterson’s attempts to stop you from discovering what’s in his basement. It’s easy to be caught off guard by the colourful visuals, but between the smart artificial intelligence of Peterson and the game’s reflective exploration of trauma, Hello Neighbor is a decidedly different type of scare. Game modes: Infiltrating Mr Peterson’s basement is a solitary affair, but a Friendly Mode makes it a bit easier. Resident Evil Director’s Cut / 2 / 3 | Premium Classics For fans of… Unadulterated and genre defining survival horror action. Why you should play: The unflinching franchise that became an instant classic. If you wanted to find out how Resident Evil began, there’s no better way than going back to the source of the fabled t-Virus. Flesh eating zombies, conspiracies and iconic characters – the first three titles of the series are fan favourites for a reason. Game modes: Resident Evil 2 features two single-player campaigns and several unlockable mini-game missions, such as The 4th Survivor and Tofu Survivor. Resident Evil 3 also has The Mercenaries – Operation: Mad Jackal, which is faster paced and more action heavy than the main mode. Siren | Premium Classics For fans of… Deliberately paced ghost stories that will stay with you longer after you’ve finished them. Why you should play: Stealth goes hand in hand with survival horror, so this unnerving voyage to survive the cursed mountain village of Hanuda strongly emphasises its unique Sightjack ability to see through the eyes of the corpse-like Shibito. Observing yourself via your undead stalkers is deeply unsettling, uniquely heightening the anxiety. Game modes: Completing Siren earns you access to Time Attack mode, which challenges you to speed run the game, while a secret puzzle mode called Brain Cell Revival / Zuno is also unlockable by picking up the relevant in-game archive. Play Video Crow Country | Game Catalog For fans of… Old school survival horrors inspired by ‘90s PlayStation classics. Why you should play: Taking its lead from some of the older titles on this list, Crow Country offers the best of both worlds, with its well considered and traditional sense of game design and aesthetics, dipped with options for modern controls and camera movement. The result is a challenging and suitably sinister nod to what made the genre popular in the first place. Game modes: In contrast to its regular Survival mode, Exploration mode removes enemies from the game. Conversely, Murder of Crows mode ramps up the difficulty.

We’re now just about four months out before Resident Evil Requiem arrives on February 27, and to celebrate, we’ve released a Road to Requiem video celebrating the history of the series, and opened pre-orders. Resident Evil Requiem Digital Deluxe Edition and pre-order details Plus, there’s a cool pre-order bonus featuring Grace’s Costume: Apocalypse. We also […]

We’re now just about four months out before Resident Evil Requiem arrives on February 27, and to celebrate, we’ve released a Road to Requiem video celebrating the history of the series, and opened pre-orders. Resident Evil Requiem Digital Deluxe Edition and pre-order details Plus, there’s a cool pre-order bonus featuring Grace’s Costume: Apocalypse. We also have a Deluxe Edition packed with extra content like 5 costumes including Grace’s Costume: Dimitrescu, 4 weapon skins, 2 screen filters, 2 charms, an audio pack, and additional files to find in-game. In Resident Evil Requiem, you’ll meet Grace Ashcroft, a new protagonist for the Resident Evil series. As an FBI agent, she possesses a sharp analytical mind that serves her well, yet she suddenly finds herself thrust into an extraordinary situation. You’ll also experience the series’ classic survival horror through combat, investigations, puzzles, and resource management. Gameplay allows you to freely switch between first and third-person views to face the horrors in a way that suits your playstyle. Even if you haven’t played a Resident Evil game before, you can jump right in, though long-time fans will notice plenty of familiar touches through the game. And on PlayStation 5, you’ll find yet another layer of immersion while playing thanks to the unique features of the DualSense controller such as its haptics and adaptive triggers. A Resident Evil series history To coincide with the start of Resident Evil Requiem pre-orders, we thought it fitting to talk a little about the history that Resident Evil has had with PlayStation. Mentioning everything would turn this blog post into a novel, because it’s quite lengthy. So instead let me touch upon some key moments. It starts from the way beginning almost three decades ago when the original Resident Evil was released on PlayStation in 1996. At the time it became one of PlayStation’s most popular games ever! It featured Chris Redfield and Jill Valentine searching for their missing teammates, but they end up stumbling across an abandoned mansion. Things went wrong. Zombies arrived. Resident Evil made its namesake. The next entries Resident Evil 2 and Resident Evil 3 were also released initially on PlayStation in 1998 and 1999 respectively and brought the action directly to Raccoon City from the eyes of Leon Kennedy, Claire Redfield, and Jill Valentine. Play Video When Resident Evil 4 was brought to PlayStation 2 in 2005, a special chapter called Separate Ways was added exclusively for the console. This allowed us to see Ada Wong’s side of the story during her own mission to research Los Illuminados. Moving forward in time, Resident Evil 7’s first demo was a timed PlayStation exclusive, and the Kitchen demo was released separately on PlayStation VR. This entry introduced Ethan Winters and the first-person perspective to the series. You could even play the entire game in PS VR as Ethan searched for his wife Mia. Resident Evil Village continued Ethan’s story as he searched for his daughter Rose. Similar to some past demos, the Maiden demo was released as a timed exclusive for PlayStation where you played as one of the servant girls trying to escape Castle Dimitrescu. Resident Evil 7 and Resident Evil Village are of course available now on PlayStation, alongside the reimagined remakes of Resident Evil 2, 3, and Resident Evil 4.We encourage you to experience these pivotal titles in the Resident Evil series for yourself if you’ve yet to have the chance. Resident Evil has had almost three decades worth of history with PlayStation, and it’s been fun taking a look back at some of those great moments. We’re happy to bring Resident Evil Requiem to PlayStation 5 on February 27, and we hope you’re looking forward to it. We definitely are.

Paw your way through a decaying cybercity, write (or rewrite) racing history and play commander of a wobbly army with the PlayStation Plus Monthly Games lineup for November. Stray, EA Sports WRC 24, and Totally Accurate Battle Simulator will be available to PlayStation Plus members from Tuesday November 4 until Monday December 1. Let’s take […]

Paw your way through a decaying cybercity, write (or rewrite) racing history and play commander of a wobbly army with the PlayStation Plus Monthly Games lineup for November. Stray, EA Sports WRC 24, and Totally Accurate Battle Simulator will be available to PlayStation Plus members from Tuesday November 4 until Monday December 1. Let’s take a closer look at the games. View and download image Download the image close Close Download this image Stray | PS4, PS5 Lost, injured and alone, a stray cat must untangle an ancient mystery to escape a long-forgotten city. Stray is a third-person cat adventure game set amidst the detailed neon-lit alleys of a decaying cybercity and the murky environments of its seedy underbelly. See the world through the eyes of a stray and interact with the environment in playful ways. Stray is developed by BlueTwelve Studio, a small team from south of France mostly made of cats and a handful of humans. View and download image Download the image close Close Download this image EA Sports WRC 24 | PS5 From the team that developed the award-winning Dirt Rally series comes the brand-new official game of the FIA World Rally Championship. Built on the foundations of over 25 years of Codemasters’ celebrated rally game heritage, EA Sports WRC lets you get behind the wheel of the WRC, WRC2 and Junior WRC cars from the 2024 season, complete with the current drivers, teams and liveries. Design and drive your dream rally car with the debut of Builder mode and rewrite history by racing in recreations of recent events and major historical highlights in Moments mode. Additional modes include Career, Championship, Time Trial, Cross-platform Multiplayer, Regularity Rally and a detailed livery editor, making for the complete WRC experience. View and download image Download the image close Close Download this image Totally Accurate Battle Simulator | PS4, PS5 Be the leader of red and blue wobblers from ancient lands, spooky places and fantasy worlds. Watch them fight in simulations made with the wobbliest physics system ever created. When you grow tired of the 100+ wobblers at your disposal you can make new ones in the unit creator. You can also send your wobblers to fight your friends or strangers in online multiplayer. View and download image Download the image close Close Download this image Last chance to add PlayStation Plus Games for October to your library PlayStation Plus members have until Monday November 3 to add Alan Wake 2, Goat Simulator 3 and Cocoon to their game library.

I grew up on arcade sports games that were simple, fun, and endlessly replayable — the kind you played with your friends for hours, laughing, competing, and discovering new ways to win. They weren’t about realism; they were about feel. That heartbeat of accessible, joyful sports gaming has guided me my entire career. I spent […]

I grew up on arcade sports games that were simple, fun, and endlessly replayable — the kind you played with your friends for hours, laughing, competing, and discovering new ways to win. They weren’t about realism; they were about feel. That heartbeat of accessible, joyful sports gaming has guided me my entire career. I spent 20 years working on some of the most influential sports games and franchises of all time. Now, with NBA The Run, I’ve come full circle — building the kind of game I’ve always wanted to play: fast, stylish, and social, made for both casual and hardcore players alike. When Scott Probst (PBP Founder and CEO) and I first discussed the concept for this game, we talked about the idea of bringing players together through the love of sport – creating experiences that players will remember forever. That conversation became the foundation of Play By Play Studios, and ultimately, NBA The Run. Play Video We drew inspiration from games that are easy to pick up, rewarding to master, and built around social play. Quick rounds, evolving strategies and creativity have been at the forefront of every game design discussion from the jump. We wanted to build a sports game that felt alive, inclusive, and endlessly replayable. Something that feels entirely new – a game with spirit, a game with soul. A new kind of street ball NBA The Run takes players on a world tour of legendary outdoor courts in an evolving 3v3 experience that celebrates style, connection, and competition. You’ll play with and against NBA stars and a roster of all-new Street Legends — fictional players with big personalities, wild skills, and stories to tell. Together, they form a living basketball universe that keeps growing over time. Defense as fun as offense Our mission was to design defense you can’t wait to play. In NBA The Run, defense brings a true rush — anticipation, timing, and impact. Massive blocks, lightning steals, shoves, dives — it’s all here. It’s aggressive, skill-based, and every bit as thrilling as offense. And on offense? It’s nonstop highlights! Double alley-oops, posterizing dunks, off-the-backboard passes, step-back threes, and ankle-breaking combos flow seamlessly through hand-keyed animations and buttery-smooth controls. Every possession feels like a highlight reel. Fluid, fast, and connected Built on true rollback netcode, NBA The Run plays as smooth as it looks — low-latency, cross-platform, and always in sync. Every movement feels immediate and expressive, never sluggish or scripted. Modern sports games often chase realism — how perfectly the sport looks or moves — but that can come at the expense of how it feels. We wanted to restore that sense of control and creativity, where you react on instinct, not animation timing. NBA The Run is built for that freedom — to let players flow, improvise, and make magic happen. Knockout Tournaments: Play, win, repeat At the heart of NBA The Run are Knockout Tournaments — bracket-style events you can play solo (controlling your full team) or in squads (one player per teammate). Rounds last 2 to 5 minutes, each featuring new Randomized Rules — from Dunkfest to Speed Round — keeping gameplay fresh, fast, and unpredictable – we’ve gotta keep you on your toes! Win and move on. Lose, and earn rewards to fuel your next run. It’s the perfect “one more round” game loop. Style, personality, and the global game Basketball is a universal language, and NBA The Run is its passport. Each court bursts with music, culture, and energy — from the eclectic Venice Beach to the tight-knit Tenement. It’s a celebration of basketball’s global heartbeat, where everyone can step onto the court and feel at home. Every animation is hand-keyed, every dunk, pass, and crossover brought to life with expressive detail. The art style bursts with attitude — bold outlines, exaggerated characters, and vibrant, stylized environments that make every moment pop. It’s not chasing photorealism; it’s chasing impact. And the voice calling the action? None other than Bobbito Garcia, legendary DJ, author, and the iconic voice of one of the most revered streetball video game series of all-time — adding his endless energy, enthusiasm and original sazón to every call. The next evolution We absolutely love the arcade classics — they were our touchstones. But we didn’t want just another nostalgic remake. We wanted to build something new: an arcade-style basketball experience for today’s players. At its heart, NBA The Run is about connection through competition — fast-to-fun gameplay and unforgettable moments. This is basketball — reimagined for every hoops fan across the world. See you on the courts.

Redsec is Battlefield’s first-ever free-to-play Battle Royale game, and it’s launching today. But it’s not just Battle Royale – this experience includes Gauntlet, a round-based elimination mode that samples from the franchise’s rich Multiplayer history, as well as Redsec’s Portal Community Creations, an ever-evolving sandbox from our community developers. However, your first steps into Redsec […]

Redsec is Battlefield’s first-ever free-to-play Battle Royale game, and it’s launching today. But it’s not just Battle Royale – this experience includes Gauntlet, a round-based elimination mode that samples from the franchise’s rich Multiplayer history, as well as Redsec’s Portal Community Creations, an ever-evolving sandbox from our community developers. Play Video However, your first steps into Redsec will more than likely come in the form of the Battle Royale Initiation playlist: Battle Royale initiation In BR Duos, eliminate hostels, track intel, and dodge the chemical ring on a condensed map. Battle Royale Initiation is built for new players as a low-stakes learning environment. In this variant, you and a squadmate can drop into a match with the following key differences: This version of Fort Lyndon is significantly smaller than its full version. Players who can access this mode are limited to newer players. A 48-player maximum, inclusive of Bots. Your path towards victory will involve the following: Dropping in Choose your class Assault – The ultimate frontline fighter, skilled at punching through enemy defenses. Dominate close to mid-range encounters and limit the enemy’s ability to fight. Engineer – The battlefield’s leading vehicle and equipment technician. Execute repairs to keep allies combat effective, or strike hostile armor with force to break their attack. Support – The backbone of any combat unit for defense and sustained fighting. Heal and resupply friendly forces, while fortifying defensive positions to keep them protected. Recon – The perfect intelligence and counterintelligence operative. Neutralize targets from a distance, or infiltrate, gathering intel and disrupting hostile forces. You also get to choose a Sidearm, a small personal defense weapon that is great in a pinch, but is not meant to carry you through an entire match. Next, get ready to parachute into Fort Lyndon. Either you or your duo will be labelled as the Squad Leader; when the Squad Leader calls for a jump, both of you will leap out of the infiltration plane. At any point, the non-Leader can break away from the formation and continue dropping on their own. However, we highly recommend that new players stay in formation. Your parachute will automatically deploy when you get close to the ground. Alternatively, you can manually deploy the parachute to delay landing in favor of a more intentional landing spot. Securing better weapons, ammo, and armor Scavenging for weapons, ammo, and armor become the tools for survival. These are all available through a variety of crates found in the map; look for giant rectangular boxes that are green (Common), red-and-black (Rare), or red with Class symbols (Class Chests). Look for vehicles that can be opened to contain more items, as well as locked vaults. Crates can also contain ammo, which is shared between all weapons in a given weapon category. While there are other ways to gain more ammo, like picking it off eliminated enemies or getting an Ammo Resupply Call-In, the easiest way to restock is to use the Support Class’ Supply Box. Completing Contracts Your primary mission in Battle Royale is to eliminate all enemies. Second are Contracts, objectives that can be accepted on your full map screen and reward powerful items. Whenever a Contract becomes available to choose, you will receive a prompt below the compass on your HUD. Avoiding the Circle of Death, respawning, and achieving victory The Circle of Death. One step into this area will near instantly down and eliminate you. Mind the red-shaded areas on your mini-map or heed the warnings on your HUD when it shows a red skull icon and a distance. In Battle Royale, death is not always finite. In the first few minutes of every match, you automatically get a Second Chance, redeploying immediately from the sky. If you don’t use your Second Chance, you get a sizable chunk of XP, which is great for ranking up and unlocking more Loadout items. Alternatively, Battle Royale includes Respawn Points where squad members can revive their allies. After activating a Respawn Point, stay within its radius for a short period of time to respawn all dead allies. If you are spectating from beyond, you are able to request a respawn. The last remaining Battle Royale squad wins the match. Tips for Battle Royal survival and victory At the end of your Initiation journey, you should be ready to drop into Battle Royale. Stick to your initiation zones. Learning the backstreets, rooftops, and corridors can give you an advantage over other new players who may be unaware of the surroundings. Know your class. Remember to use everything your Class offers and ask a battle buddy with more experience to walk you through its basics. Work with your team. Battle Royale is about surviving as a squad; don’t stray too far from squadmates, be sure to share enemy locations and precious high-value items, and remember to revive them whenever it is clear to do so. Gauntlet – round-based elimination multiplayer In Gauntlet, eight squads of four players each go head-to-head in a series of special operations that push every squad to their limit. If you like traditional Multiplayer FPS experiences, then you’ll love Gauntlet. Gauntlet involves creating a custom loadout and pits squads against each other in a series of high-octane missions. Every mode includes a helpful in-game description and demonstration of how to play, including what actions score points for your squad. Failure to secure enough points results in elimination, while winning four modes in a Gauntlet match means victory. Here are three quick tips to get started in this pick-up-and-play experience: Watch the briefing. The small sequence before each operation gives a short demonstration of how it is played, as well as the points earned for each action. Play the objective. Using what you learned in the briefing, focus on the actions that will score your team the most points. Communication is key. Use the ping system, voice chat and text chat to effectively plan and execute coordinated efforts, otherwise be prepared to be reassigned or get sent back to the start of the Gauntlet. See you in Fort Lyndon!

Loulan: The Cursed Sand is an action RPG set along the ancient Silk Road in the Western Regions of China. You play as the Cursed Sand, a skeletal warrior wielding the power of sand and sets out to explore the lost kingdom of Loulan, battle mighty foes, and search for his beloved princess. Inspired by […]

Loulan: The Cursed Sand is an action RPG set along the ancient Silk Road in the Western Regions of China. You play as the Cursed Sand, a skeletal warrior wielding the power of sand and sets out to explore the lost kingdom of Loulan, battle mighty foes, and search for his beloved princess. Inspired by the archaeological discovery of the “Xiaohe Princess,” the story follows the Cursed Sand, a royal guard resurrected after death, as he embarks on a tragic journey to find the lost Princess of Loulan. For the protagonist, we drew inspiration from the Loulan mummies and the iconic desert sand of the Western Regions, creating a dual-form warrior: In Sand Form, golden sand wraps his body — a balanced fighter who wields the power of sand. Play Video When he unleashes the sand and forges a massive sand blade, he shifts into Bone Form — a powerful stance built for one-versus-many combat. On his journey, he will face powerful factions ranging from the Loulan royal family, who embody the power of the sun, to the frost-bound spiders of the Western Regions. We’ve reimagined iconic landscapes of the western region through a fantastical lens, from vast deserts to flowing rivers of sand. Loulan is supported by SIE as part of the China Hero Project. We are a 16-member cross-regional team, aiming to deliver a rich, ancient Loulan world and a unique, immersive gameplay experience. Our core team is made up of veteran gamers born in the ’80s and ’90s. We grew up playing action games and were deeply inspired by classics like the original God of War and arcade action games. Many of us have worked on action titles at studios in the U.S. and Japan, including Santa Monica Studio, FromSoftware, and PlatinumGames. We’re truly passionate about this genre and dedicated to pushing its boundaries. At the same time, we’ve always been fascinated by fantasy worlds inspired by the ancient Silk Road — especially the mysterious and radiant kingdom of Loulan, once a shining jewel along that route. With this project, we aim to bring the beauty and enigma of ancient Loulan to life through a retro top-down camera perspective. Our goal is to blend classic arcade-style combat with modern gameplay innovations — such as the unique interaction between the protagonist and his sandblade. We truly hope players will enjoy the experience.

We are excited to announce PlayStation 11.11 Power Deals promotion featuring discounts on PS5 Consoles, PS5 Peripherals and PS5 Games, from 31st October till 13th November 2025  Some of the highlight from 11.11 Power Deals are: Now is the best time to have PlayStation 5, especially to play blockbusters that have come out in 2025: […]

We are excited to announce PlayStation 11.11 Power Deals promotion featuring discounts on PS5 Consoles, PS5 Peripherals and PS5 Games, from 31st October till 13th November 2025 Some of the highlight from 11.11 Power Deals are: PS5 Consoles (product availability varies by country): SGD 140 / MYR 480 / THB 3,600 / IDR 1,620,000 / VND 2,610,000 Off PlayStation Portal: SGD 28 / MYR 90 / THB 700 / IDR 340,000 Off DualSense Wireless Controllers: SGD 20.10 / MYR 54 / THB 500 / IDR 250,000 / VND 310,000 off PULSE Explore Wireless Earbud: SGD 39 / MYR 130 / THB 1,000 / IDR 470,000 / VND 750,000 off Discounts on PS5 titles, such as Death Stranding 2: On The Beach, Astro Bot, Marvel’s Spider-Man 2 and Stellar Blade Now is the best time to have PlayStation 5, especially to play blockbusters that have come out in 2025: Monster Hunter Wilds, Death Stranding 2: On The Beach, Ghost of Yōtei, Battlefield 6, as well as upcoming titles, like Resident Evil Requiem, SAROS, MARVEL Tōkon: Fighting Souls and Marvel’s Wolverine. The 11.11 Power Deals promotion will be available at participating retailers (https://www.playstation.com/local/retailers/) while supplies last. NOTE: While stocks last. Promotional price shown is available on selected PlayStation products on offer at participating retailers. Actual price and product availability varies by retailer. Offer starts on 31.10.25 and ends on 13.11.25. Please see below for the full promotion that includes offering for select games and peripherals in Singapore, Malaysia, Thailand, Indonesia, and Vietnam: Singapore PlayStation 5 Consoles Original SRP Promotion SRP PlayStation®5 SGD 799 SGD 659 PlayStation®5 console – Digital Edition SGD 669 SGD 529 PlayStation®5 Pro SGD 1,069 SGD 929 Peripherals Original SRP Promotion SRP DualSense Wireless controller – White SGD 107.00 SGD 86.90 DualSense Wireless controller – Midnight Black SGD 107.00 SGD 86.90 DualSense Wireless controller – Cosmic Red SGD 107.00 SGD 86.90 DualSense Wireless controller – Nova Pink SGD 107.00 SGD 86.90 DualSense Wireless controller – Galactic Purple SGD 107.00 SGD 86.90 DualSense Wireless controller – Starlight Blue SGD 107.00 SGD 86.90 DualSense Wireless controller – Gray Camouflage SGD 107.00 SGD 86.90 DualSense™ wireless controller – Volcanic Red SGD 114.00 SGD 93.90 DualSense™ wireless controller – Cobalt Blue SGD 114.00 SGD 93.90 DualSense™ wireless controller – Sterling Silver SGD 114.00 SGD 93.90 DualSense™ wireless controller – Chroma Teal SGD 114.00 SGD 93.90 DualSense™ wireless controller – Chroma Indigo SGD 114.00 SGD 93.90 DualSense™ wireless controller – Chroma Pearl SGD 114.00 SGD 93.90 PULSE Elite™ – White SGD 199.90 SGD 171.90 PULSE Elite™ – Midnight Black SGD 199.90 SGD 171.90 Pulse Explore Wireless Earbuds SGD 295.90 SGD 256.90 Pulse Explore Wireless Earbuds – Midnight Black SGD 295.90 SGD 256.90 DualSense Edge Wireless Controller SGD 295.90 SGD 256.90 DualSense Edge Wireless Controller – Midnight Black SGD 295.90 SGD 256.90 PlayStation Access Controller SGD 128.90 SGD 100.90 PlayStation VR2 Standalone SGD 649.00 SGD 509.00 PlayStation Portal™ Remote Player – White SGD 295.90 SGD 267.90 PlayStation Portal™ Remote Player – Midnight Black SGD 295.90 SGD 267.90 Game Titles (PS5) Original SRP Promotion SRP Astro Bot SGD 79.90 SGD 54.90 Gran Turismo® 7 SGD 97.90 SGD 40.90 God of War™ Ragnarök SGD 97.90 SGD 27.90 Marvel’s Spider-Man 2 SGD 97.90 SGD 40.90 Rise of the Ronin™ SGD 97.90 SGD 40.90 The Last of Us™ Part II Remastered SGD 67.90 SGD 40.90 The Last of Us™ Part I SGD 97.90 SGD 40.90 Ghost of Tsushima Director’s Cut SGD 97.90 SGD 40.90 Helldivers 2 SGD 54.90 SGD 40.90 Until Dawn SGD 79.90 SGD 40.90 Horizon Zero Dawn Remastered SGD 67.90 SGD 27.90 LEGO Horizon Adventures SGD 54.90 SGD 27.90 Stellar Blade SGD 97.90 SGD 54.90 Death Stranding 2: On The Beach SGD 97.90 SGD 67.90 Lost Soul Aside SGD 79.90 SGD 54.90 Malaysia PlayStation 5 Consoles Original SRP Promotion SRP PlayStation®5 MYR 2,499 MYR 2,019 PlayStation®5 console – Digital Edition MYR 2,069 MYR 1,589 PlayStation®5 Pro MYR 3,849 MYR 3,369 Peripherals Original SRP Promotion SRP DualSense™ wireless controller – White MYR 369 MYR 315 DualSense™wireless controller – Midnight Black MYR 369 MYR 315 DualSense™ wireless controller – Cosmic Red MYR 369 MYR 315 DualSense™ wireless controller – Nova Pink MYR 369 MYR 315 DualSense™ wireless controller – Galactic Purple MYR 369 MYR 315 DualSense™ wireless controller – Starlight Blue MYR 369 MYR 315 DualSense™ wireless controller – Gray Camouflage MYR 369 MYR 315 DualSense™ wireless controller – Volcanic Red MYR 399 MYR 345 DualSense™ wireless controller – Cobalt Blue MYR 399 MYR 345 DualSense™ wireless controller – Sterling Silver MYR 399 MYR 345 DualSense™ wireless controller – Chroma Indigo MYR 399 MYR 345 DualSense™ wireless controller – Chroma Pearl MYR 399 MYR 345 DualSense™ wireless controller – Chroma Teal MYR 399 MYR 345 PlayStation Portal™ Remote Player – White MYR 999 MYR 909 PlayStation Portal™ Remote Player – Midnight Black MYR 999 MYR 909 DualSense Edge White MYR 999 MYR 869 DualSense Edge Midnight Black MYR 999 MYR 869 PULSE Elite™ – White MYR 699 MYR 609 PULSE Elite™ – Midnight Black MYR 699 MYR 609 PULSE Explore™ – White MYR 999 MYR 869 PULSE Explore™ – Midnight Black MYR 999 MYR 869 PlayStation Access Controller MYR 449 MYR 359 PlayStation®VR2 MYR 2,099 MYR 1,619 Game Titles (PS5) Original SRP Promotion SRP Astro Bot MYR 249 MYR 169 Gran Turismo® 7 MYR 299 MYR 129 God of War™ Ragnarök MYR 299 MYR 89 Marvel’s Spider-Man 2 MYR 299 MYR 129 Rise of the Ronin™ MYR 299 MYR 129 The Last of Us™ Part II Remastered MYR 209 MYR 129 The Last of Us™ Part I MYR 299 MYR 129 Ghost of Tsushima Director’s Cut MYR 299 MYR 129 Helldivers 2 MYR 169 MYR 129 Until Dawn MYR 249 MYR 129 Horizon Zero Dawn Remastered MYR 209 MYR 89 LEGO Horizon Adventures MYR 169 MYR 89 Stellar Blade MYR 299 MYR 169 Death Stranding 2: On The Beach MYR 299 MYR 209 Lost Soul Aside MYR 249 MYR 169 Thailand PlayStation 5 Consoles Original SRP Promotion SRP PlayStation®5 THB 18,690 THB 15,090 PlayStation®5 console – Digital Edition THB 15,690 THB 12,090 PlayStation®5 Pro THB 29,490 THB 25,890 Peripherals Original SRP Promotion SRP DualSense™ wireless controller – White THB 2,590 THB 2,090 DualSense™wireless controller – Midnight Black THB 2,590 THB 2,090 DualSense™ wireless controller – Cosmic Red THB 2,590 THB 2,090 DualSense™ wireless controller – Nova Pink THB 2,590 THB 2,090 DualSense™ wireless controller – Galactic Purple THB 2,590 THB 2,090 DualSense™ wireless controller – Starlight Blue THB 2,590 THB 2,090 DualSense™ wireless controller – Gray Camouflage THB 2,590 THB 2,090 DualSense™ wireless controller – Volcanic Red THB 2,690 THB 2,190 DualSense™ wireless controller – Cobalt Blue THB 2,690 THB 2,190 DualSense™ wireless controller – Sterling Silver THB 2,690 THB 2,190 DualSense™ wireless controller – Chroma Indigo THB 2,690 THB 2,190 DualSense™ wireless controller – Chroma Pearl THB 2,690 THB 2,190 DualSense™ wireless controller – Chroma Teal THB 2,690 THB 2,190 PlayStation Portal™ Remote Player – White THB 7,790 THB 7,090 PlayStation Portal™ Remote Player – Midnight Black THB 7,790 THB 7,090 DualSense Edge White THB 7,790 THB 6,790 DualSense Edge Midnight Black THB 7,790 THB 6,790 PULSE Elite™ – White THB 5,190 THB 4,490 PULSE Elite™ – Midnight Black THB 5,190 THB 4,490 PULSE Explore™ – White THB 7,790 THB 6,790 PULSE Explore™ – Midnight Black THB 7,790 THB 6,790 PlayStation Access Controller THB 3,090 THB 2,390 PlayStation®VR2 THB 15,990 THB 12,390 Game Titles (PS5) Original SRP Promotion SRP Astro Bot THB 1,990 THB 1,290 Gran Turismo® 7 THB 2,290 THB 990 God of War™ Ragnarök THB 2,290 THB 690 Marvel’s Spider-Man 2 THB 2,290 THB 990 Rise of the Ronin™ THB 2,290 THB 990 The Last of Us™ Part II Remastered THB 1,690 THB 990 The Last of Us™ Part I THB 2,290 THB 990 Ghost of Tsushima Director’s Cut THB 2,290 THB 990 Helldivers 2 THB 1,290 THB 990 Until Dawn THB 1,990 THB 990 Horizon Zero Dawn Remastered THB 1,690 THB 690 LEGO Horizon Adventures THB 1,290 THB 690 Stellar Blade THB 2,290 THB 1,290 Death Stranding 2: On The Beach THB 2,290 THB 1,690 Lost Soul Aside THB 1,990 THB 1,290 Indonesia PlayStation 5 Consoles Original SRP Promotion SRP PlayStation®5 IDR 9,699,000 IDR 8,079,000 PlayStation®5 console – Digital Edition IDR 8,199,000 IDR 6,579,000 Peripherals Original SRP Promotion SRP DualSense™ wireless controller – White IDR 1,359,000 IDR 1,109,000 DualSense™wireless controller – Midnight Black IDR 1,359,000 IDR 1,109,000 DualSense™ wireless controller – Cosmic Red IDR 1,359,000 IDR 1,109,000 DualSense™ wireless controller – Nova Pink IDR 1,359,000 IDR 1,109,000 DualSense™ wireless controller – Galactic Purple IDR 1,359,000 IDR 1,109,000 DualSense™ wireless controller – Starlight Blue IDR 1,359,000 IDR 1,109,000 DualSense™ wireless controller – Gray Camouflage IDR 1,359,000 IDR 1,109,000 DualSense™ wireless controller – Volcanic Red IDR 1,449,000 IDR 1,199,000 DualSense™ wireless controller – Cobalt Blue IDR 1,449,000 IDR 1,199,000 DualSense™ wireless controller – Sterling Silver IDR 1,449,000 IDR 1,199,000 DualSense™ wireless controller – Chroma Indigo IDR 1,449,000 IDR 1,199,000 DualSense™ wireless controller – Chroma Pearl IDR 1,449,000 IDR 1,199,000 DualSense™ wireless controller – Chroma Teal IDR 1,449,000 IDR 1,199,000 PlayStation Portal™ Remote Player – White IDR 3,599,000 IDR 3,259,000 PlayStation Portal™ Remote Player – Midnight Black IDR 3,599,000 IDR 3,259,000 DualSense Edge White IDR 3,599,000 IDR 3,129,000 DualSense Edge Midnight Black IDR 3,599,000 IDR 3,129,000 PULSE Elite™ – White IDR 2,499,000 IDR 2,159,000 PULSE Elite™ – Midnight Black IDR 2,499,000 IDR 2,159,000 PULSE Explore™ – White IDR 3,599,000 IDR 3,129,000 PULSE Explore™ – Midnight Black IDR 3,599,000 IDR 3,129,000 PlayStation Access Controller IDR 1,649,000 IDR 1,309,000 PlayStation®VR2 IDR 7,799,000 IDR 6,179,000 Game Titles (PS5) Original SRP Promotion SRP Astro Bot IDR 879,000 IDR 579,000 Gran Turismo® 7 IDR 1,029,000 IDR 439,000 God of War™ Ragnarök IDR 1,029,000 IDR 289,000 Marvel’s Spider-Man 2 IDR 1,029,000 IDR 439,000 Rise of the Ronin™ IDR 1,029,000 IDR 439,000 The Last of Us™ Part II Remastered IDR 729,000 IDR 439,000 The Last of Us™ Part I IDR 1,029,000 IDR 439,000 Ghost of Tsushima Director’s Cut IDR 1,029,000 IDR 439,000 Helldivers 2 IDR 579,000 IDR 439,000 Until Dawn IDR 879,000 IDR 439,000 Horizon Zero Dawn Remastered IDR 729,000 IDR 289,000 LEGO Horizon Adventures IDR 579,000 IDR 289,000 Stellar Blade IDR 1,029,000 IDR 579,000 Death Stranding 2: On The Beach IDR 1,029,000 IDR 729,000 Lost Soul Aside IDR 879,000 IDR 579,000 Vietnam PlayStation 5 Console Original SRP Promotion SRP PlayStation®5 VND 13,300,000 VND 10,690,000 Peripherals Original SRP Promotion SRP DualSense™ wireless controller – White VND 2,099,000 VND 1,789,000 DualSense™wireless controller – Midnight Black VND 2,099,000 VND 1,789,000 DualSense™ wireless controller – Cosmic Red VND 2,099,000 VND 1,789,000 DualSense™ wireless controller – Nova Pink VND 2,099,000 VND 1,789,000 DualSense™ wireless controller – Galactic Purple VND 2,099,000 VND 1,789,000 DualSense™ wireless controller – Starlight Blue VND 2,099,000 VND 1,789,000 DualSense™ wireless controller – Gray Camouflage VND 2,099,000 VND 1,789,000 DualSense™ wireless controller – Volcanic Red VND 2,299,000 VND 1,989,000 DualSense™ wireless controller – Cobalt Blue VND 2,299,000 VND 1,989,000 DualSense™ wireless controller – Sterling Silver VND 2,299,000 VND 1,989,000 DualSense™ wireless controller – Chroma Indigo VND 2,299,000 VND 1,989,000 DualSense™ wireless controller – Chroma Pearl VND 2,299,000 VND 1,989,000 DualSense™ wireless controller – Chroma Teal VND 2,299,000 VND 1,989,000 DualSense Edge White VND 5,699,000 VND 4,949,000 DualSense Edge Midnight Black VND 5,699,000 VND 4,949,000 PULSE Elite™ – White VND 3,999,000 VND 3,479,000 PULSE Elite™ – Midnight Black VND 3,999,000 VND 3,479,000 PULSE Explore™ – White VND 5,699,000 VND 4,949,000 PULSE Explore™ – Midnight Black VND 5,699,000 VND 4,949,000 PlayStation Access Controller VND 2,599,000 VND 2,079,000 PlayStation®VR2 VND 12,990,000 VND 10,380,000 Game Titles (PS5) Original SRP Promotion SRP Astro Bot VND 1,499,000 VND 999,000 Gran Turismo® 7 VND 1,799,000 VND 749,000 God of War™ Ragnarök VND 1,799,000 VND 499,000 Marvel’s Spider-Man 2 VND 1,799,000 VND 749,000 Rise of the Ronin™ VND 1,799,000 VND 749,000 The Last of Us™ Part II Remastered VND 1,249,000 VND 749,000 The Last of Us™ Part I VND 1,799,000 VND 749,000 Until Dawn VND 1,499,000 VND 749,000 Horizon Zero Dawn Remastered VND 1,249,000 VND 499,000 LEGO Horizon Adventures VND 999,000 VND 499,000 Stellar Blade VND 1,799,000 VND 999,000 Death Stranding 2: On The Beach VND 1,799,000 VND 1,249,000 Lost Soul Aside VND 1,499,000 VND 999,000

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Email us at PSPodcast@sony.com! Subscribe via Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or download here Hey, everybody! Sid, Tim, and Brett are back this week to talk about the new indie darling Ball x Pit, the long journey to a Death Stranding 2 platinum, Silent Hill f, and the Battlefield series’ first battle royale foray. Stuff We Talked […]

Email us at PSPodcast@sony.com! Subscribe via Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or download here Hey, everybody! Sid, Tim, and Brett are back this week to talk about the new indie darling Ball x Pit, the long journey to a Death Stranding 2 platinum, Silent Hill f, and the Battlefield series’ first battle royale foray. Stuff We Talked About Next week’s releases: Satisfactory | PS5, PS4 Cairn | PS5 Unbeatable | PS5 I Hate This Place | PS5 Loulan: The Cursed Sand announced for PS5 — Loulan explores the tale of the archaeological discovery of the Xiaohe Princess. Learn about the gameplay inspirations for this action-adventure game of a mummy who wields the power of sand. Battlefield: Redsec — The new free-to-play battle royale mode allows up to 100 players to compete for dominance of the battlefield on their new map, Fort Lyndon, which features a wrecked Los Angeles. NBA The Run announced — A new arcade basketball game is coming to PS5 that combines streetball with the pick-up-and-play aspects of classic basketball titles from decades past. Resident Evil series history — Prepare for Resident Evil Requiem with a look back at the series’ history and its roots on PlayStation. See how one mansion redefined the horror genre. Thief VR: Legacy of Shadow release date — Lurking onto PS VR2 December 4, Thief evolves its toolset to take full advantage of the hardware. PlayStation Plus Monthly Games November Stray EA Sports WRC 24 Totally Accurate Battle Simulator The Cast View and download image Download the image close Close Download this image Sid Shuman – Senior Director of Content Communications, SIE View and download image Download the image close Close Download this image Tim Turi – Content Communications Manager, SIE View and download image Download the image close Close Download this image Brett Elston – Manager, Content Communications, SIE Thanks to Dormilón for our rad theme song and show music. [Editor’s note: PSN game release dates are subject to change without notice. Game details are gathered from press releases from their individual publishers and/or ESRB rating descriptions.]

Last week, we asked you to get in the spooky season spirit and share frightening moments from the game of your choice using #PSshare #PSBlog, including from this month’s PlayStation Plus selection. Here’s this week’s highlights: ibis_monk shares a foggy area with demon masks hanging in Ghost of Yōtei secondcapture shares a gigantic enemy head […]

Last week, we asked you to get in the spooky season spirit and share frightening moments from the game of your choice using #PSshare #PSBlog, including from this month’s PlayStation Plus selection. Here’s this week’s highlights: ibis_monk shares a foggy area with demon masks hanging in Ghost of Yōtei secondcapture shares a gigantic enemy head being faced in Mortal Shell MdeavorVP shares some frightening body modifications made in Cyberpunk 2077 wingsforsmiles shares Agent Saga Anderson shining a flashlight on an enemy in Alan Wake 2 PattyGnand shares the teen girls of Lost Records: Bloom & Rage levitating in a purple-lit circle call_me_xavii shares a creepy Poppy sighting through some blinds in Poppy Playtime Search #PSshare #PSBlog on Twitter or Instagram to see more entries to this week’s theme, or be inspired by other great games featuring Photo Mode. Want to be featured in the next Share of the Week? THEME: Costumes SUBMIT BY: 11:59 PM PT on November 5, 2025 Next week, let’s see those Halloween costumes. Share characters from the game of your choice wearing unique armor sets or anything outside their default outfit. Use #PSshare #PSBlog for a chance to be featured.

Since first launching in 1998, the Thief series of stealth games helped define the genre, maintaining notoriety across several games spanning nearly three decades. Steven Gallagher (Creative Director at Eidos-Montréal) and I are here to give PlayStation Blog readers the first glimpse into the next iteration of the franchise, Thief VR: Legacy of Shadow. Thief […]

Since first launching in 1998, the Thief series of stealth games helped define the genre, maintaining notoriety across several games spanning nearly three decades. Steven Gallagher (Creative Director at Eidos-Montréal) and I are here to give PlayStation Blog readers the first glimpse into the next iteration of the franchise, Thief VR: Legacy of Shadow. Play Video Thief VR is coming to PlayStation VR 2 on PlayStation 5 on December 4, available for pre-order on the PlayStation Store now. We’re also sharing the latest gameplay trailer captured on PS VR2. This trailer demonstrates how Thief VR is an opportunity to step into the boots of a Master Thief and embody what makes the franchise unique in a compelling new take by developer Maze Theory and publisher Vertigo Games, aided by the OG Thief creators at Eidos-Montréal. Takes a thief to make plans for a thief Every great Thief game includes an array of tools and challenges that naturally encourage avoiding combat using stealth, numerous solutions to any problem, and requiring close attention to your surroundings using all senses. It can be challenging at first, but taking your time can make it feel incredibly rewarding. Levels are fairly open and non-linear to support player agency—a trademark of the immersive sim genre. Allowing players to do what they want, not what they’re told, says Steven, is a staple in allowing their own unique narrative to emerge. Utilizing dark shadows to progress through darker plots, powerful, oppressive atmospheres, plus a bit of dry wit are all signature elements of Thief storytelling—and each aligns with the immersive simulation of VR. “The sense of presence VR provides makes the experience all the more intense and engaging,” says Steven. “The immediacy of being able to naturally use your head to watch your back as your hands pick locks with the help of haptic feedback, is as real as it gets to being in the City.” Darkness is a solo thief’s only ally. PS VR2 OLED lenses have a stronger, more natural contrast, giving a competitive advantage in the shadows. Next-gen sound integration helps players listen closely for danger. There’s a sense of tangible anticipation and intimacy created by sneaking around in the dark in VR —peeking around corners —before slipping in through a window with your actual head and hands. Feels like old times… Thief VR blends classic stealth gameplay with next-generation immersion. Players embody an up-and-coming thief named Magpie through the dystopian fantasy steampunk world known as the City. As Magpie, they will be encouraged to use their variety of tools, keen observation, and creativity to stealthily remain unseen from guard patrols as they infiltrate noble manors to steal ancient artifacts (and more?), while under the watchful eye of a familiar thief called Garret. Thief VR is made by fans for fans. Familiar ears will recognize the iconic Stephen Russell as Garrett, but there are plenty of other connections as well. For example, from a gameplay perspective, the stealth mechanics and engaging gameplay of Thief: The Dark Project (1998) and Thief II: The Metal Age (2000) were the main inspirations for the gameplay pillars of Thief VR. Together with Steven, we’re connecting Thief titles across time and console generations. Since joining Eidos-Montréal in 2008, his experience working on animation, cinematics, and, eventually, narrative design for Thief (2014) has been invaluable as the brand consultant for Vertigo and Maze Theory. He’s also kept a secret locked away in Thief’s VR history. “Towards the end of Thief (2014), Eidos-Montréal tried creating their own playable VR demo as part of Sony’s Project Morpheus, the first iteration of PlayStation VR”, Steven reveals. “Unfortunately, we weren’t particularly experienced in making VR back then, so the overall product ended up being a bit hard to play.” Since a great video game narrative is the result of the player and the protagonist feeling like one, VR has been and continues to be a natural choice for the franchise. We’re especially thrilled to have his help bringing Thief VR finally into the light of day, using the latest technology on PlayStation VR2. We’re not leaving without what we came here for Previous experience as a Thief isn’t necessary to feel like one yourself when playing Thief VR. Everyone is invited to become their own fully present Master Thief in a world created nearly 30 years ago. VR has unlocked a new level of the palpable tension that Thief games are known for. We’re looking forward to seeing how PS VR2 players get themselves in and out of suspenseful situations without getting caught starting December 4. Pre-orders are live now, and for a limited time, a 10% discount will be available.

It should be no surprise that there’s a terrifying-yet-terrific variety of high-profile essentials and indie classics available on PlayStation Plus via your PS4 and PS5. And with the spooky season upon us it’s only right to dive into some devilish delights that can turn your Halloween – and any future fangs-givings – into a night […]

It should be no surprise that there’s a terrifying-yet-terrific variety of high-profile essentials and indie classics available on PlayStation Plus via your PS4 and PS5. And with the spooky season upon us it’s only right to dive into some devilish delights that can turn your Halloween – and any future fangs-givings – into a night to remember. Grab a warm beverage, and make sure your blood is suitably chilled before we begin… Play Video Silent Hill 2 (PS5) | Game Catalog For fans of… Tense and psychologically brutal survival horrors. Why you should play: As remakes go, Silent Hill 2 is among the best. It modernises elements of its gameplay and controls, and revamps the presentation of the PlayStation 2 original without losing any of its sinister atmosphere and heart-thumping challenge. If you didn’t fear getting lost in unknown mists before…well, this will change everything. Game modes: A taut single-player mode with multiple endings keeps you coming back to this reborn classic. Play Video Until Dawn (PS5) | Game Catalog For fans of… Slasher flicks with an all-star Hollywood cast, and branching narratives where your choices really do matter. Why you should play: Eight friends trapped on a remote mountain retreat with a mysterious killer. If that setup isn’t enough to hook you, then Until Dawn seals the deal by forcing you to make decisions that can change the lives of the unlucky eight. If someone dies, the game continues without them, leaving you to carry the weight of your actions for the rest of the story. Ruthless? Absolutely. Utterly compelling? Always. Game modes: While designed as a single-player game, it’s easy to bring friends into Until Dawn by passing the DualSense wireless controller to a friend each time another character becomes the focus. Play Video V Rising | Game Catalog For fans of… Gothic open worlds, where you can indulge your action-packed, aristocratic vampire fantasy. Why you should play: If you ever wanted to become vampire royalty, then Stunlock Studios’ engaging blend of action role-playing and empire building should satisfy that moonlit craving. It’s not just about hard fought battles of blood, and skulking in the shadows to quench your weakened vampire’s thirst, but also rebuilding and personalizing your very own castle, complete with servants, treasure, and (of course) coffins. Game modes: You don’t have to wander the world of Vardoran alone. A flexible and vast online multiplayer mode lets you join forces with other human-controlled vampires – or go to war with them if your blood runs a little hotter. Play Video Alan Wake 2 | October Monthly Game (Available until Nov 3, 2025) For fans of… Twin Peaks-esque existential survival horror, where the meta narrative bleeds into the game’s main story. Why you should play: Surreal and darkly eldritch, Alan Wake 2 grabs you by the eyes and pulls you into a mind-bending adventure where reality is shaped by the horrors of our imagination. Between the dual protagonists of telepathic FBI agent Saga Anderson and trapped writer Alan Wake, you’re in for a nightmarish and gripping exploration of what it means to confront our own limitations. To say more would ruin the game’s many novel surprises. Game modes: With its focus on a nerve-wracking single-player, Alan Wake 2 rewards the game’s completion with a New Game Plus mode called The Final Draft, which features an expanded ending, along with a tweaked narrative, collectibles, and a new difficulty setting. Play Video Days Gone (PS4) | Game Catalog For fans of… Zombie style open worlds, where overwhelming odds are the order of the day. Oh, and bikes. Why you should play: A wild wilderness full of feral, flesh hungry Freakers, unpredictable weather, roving human gangs, and vicious animals? That’s what awaits you in this fast-paced, post-apocalyptic action-adventure, rife with explosive weapons, big set pieces and rip-roaring motorbikes. Game modes: Switching things up is the more action oriented Challenge Mode, which tests you to complete objectives under different conditions, such as defeating endless hordes. Play Video Dead by Daylight | Game Catalog For fans of… Terrifying yet fun multiplayer survival slasher romps. Why you should play: Don’t let Dead by Daylight’s seemingly simple hide and seek concept fool you – this 4vs1 asymmetrical multiplayer game captures the intense thrills of classic 80s monster movies. As four of you try to survive against one relentless killer, the procedurally generated environments ensure every run is brutally unpredictable. Game modes: Dead by Daylight’s bot-driven single-player is great for practicing, but its main online multiplayer is where the fun is, especially with friends. Look out for modifiers and variant modes like 2v8 and the darkness enveloping Lights Out. Play Video Outlast 2 | Game Catalog For fans of… Chilling survival horror, played via a Blair Witch-style found-footage perspective. Why you should play: Blending elements from both classic and modern horror films, Outlast 2 increases its tension by mostly removing the ability to fight back against its cultist antagonists. Combined with video camera style first-person perspective viewpoints, jump-scares and creepy flashbacks, this is a horror fan’s dream (…or nightmare, if you prefer). Game modes: Outlast 2 keeps its terror up close and personal with a finely honed single-player mode. Play Video Five Nights at Freddy’s: Help Wanted 2 | Game Catalog For fans of… One of the most iconic series going, but also those who like a little dark laughter with their slaughter. Why you should play: Virtual reality lends itself perfectly to horror, and what better setting for PlayStation VR2 than the macabre and ever disturbing animatronics world of Fazebear Entertainment? Tasks like managing food in the Pizzaplex and helping robotic performers prepare for their show might not sound scary, but believe me, in Five Nights it’s something that will haunt you forever. Game modes: While there’s no multiplayer mode, Five Nights at Freddy’s: Help Wanted 2 consists of 40 different minigames, with a variety of them only unlocked if others are completed first. Play Video Killer Frequency | Game Catalog For fans of… Puzzle-driven murder mysteries, soaked in the neon-lit 1980s. Why you should play: How many other games have you assume the role of a late-night radio talk-show host? But this isn’t just some drowsy dialogue with the denizens of Gallows Creek – they’re being hunted by an enigmatic killer and you’re they’re only hope. Every call can be the difference between life and death as you’re solving puzzles, gathering clues, and engaging in branching narrative with eccentric personalities. Game modes: The single-player mode features four different endings depending on how many callers you save and if certain characters survive, so there’s incentive for multiple playthroughs. Play Video The Dark Pictures Anthology: Man of Medan For fans of… Glossy and filmic branching narrative horror adventures. Why you should play: It’s not just the high quality production values which make Man of Medan so impressive. It refines the interactive drama genre into an enthralling paranormal horror where any of the five main characters can die. Your choices not only affect their fate, but their relationships, the main storyline, and how it ends, with intriguing premonitions of possible future events adding to the tension. Game modes: The single-player story mode is accompanied by Movie Night, a 2 to 5 player couch co-op which assigns a player to each character, and Shared Story for two online players. The Curator’s Cut also lets you see scenes through other characters’ perspectives, with new choices and scenes. Play Video Hello Neighbor | Game Catalog For fans of… Mischievous yet hair-raising stealth horrors. Why you should play: If you’ve ever wondered what your neighbors get up to, rest assured it’s not as mysterious as Mr Peterson’s attempts to stop you from discovering what’s in his basement. It’s easy to be caught off guard by the colourful visuals, but between the smart artificial intelligence of Peterson and the game’s reflective exploration of trauma, Hello Neighbor is a decidedly different type of scare. Game modes: Infiltrating Mr Peterson’s basement is a solitary affair, but a Friendly Mode makes it a bit easier. Resident Evil Director’s Cut / 2 / 3 | Premium Classics For fans of… Unadulterated and genre defining survival horror action. Why you should play: The unflinching franchise that became an instant classic. If you wanted to find out how Resident Evil began, there’s no better way than going back to the source of the fabled t-Virus. Flesh eating zombies, conspiracies and iconic characters – the first three titles of the series are fan favourites for a reason. Game modes: Resident Evil 2 features two single-player campaigns and several unlockable mini-game missions, such as The 4th Survivor and Tofu Survivor. Resident Evil 3 also has The Mercenaries – Operation: Mad Jackal, which is faster paced and more action heavy than the main mode. Siren | Premium Classics For fans of… Deliberately paced ghost stories that will stay with you longer after you’ve finished them. Why you should play: Stealth goes hand in hand with survival horror, so this unnerving voyage to survive the cursed mountain village of Hanuda strongly emphasises its unique Sightjack ability to see through the eyes of the corpse-like Shibito. Observing yourself via your undead stalkers is deeply unsettling, uniquely heightening the anxiety. Game modes: Completing Siren earns you access to Time Attack mode, which challenges you to speed run the game, while a secret puzzle mode called Brain Cell Revival / Zuno is also unlockable by picking up the relevant in-game archive. Play Video Crow Country | Game Catalog For fans of… Old school survival horrors inspired by ‘90s PlayStation classics. Why you should play: Taking its lead from some of the older titles on this list, Crow Country offers the best of both worlds, with its well considered and traditional sense of game design and aesthetics, dipped with options for modern controls and camera movement. The result is a challenging and suitably sinister nod to what made the genre popular in the first place. Game modes: In contrast to its regular Survival mode, Exploration mode removes enemies from the game. Conversely, Murder of Crows mode ramps up the difficulty.

We’re now just about four months out before Resident Evil Requiem arrives on February 27, and to celebrate, we’ve released a Road to Requiem video celebrating the history of the series, and opened pre-orders. Resident Evil Requiem Digital Deluxe Edition and pre-order details Plus, there’s a cool pre-order bonus featuring Grace’s Costume: Apocalypse. We also […]

We’re now just about four months out before Resident Evil Requiem arrives on February 27, and to celebrate, we’ve released a Road to Requiem video celebrating the history of the series, and opened pre-orders. Resident Evil Requiem Digital Deluxe Edition and pre-order details Plus, there’s a cool pre-order bonus featuring Grace’s Costume: Apocalypse. We also have a Deluxe Edition packed with extra content like 5 costumes including Grace’s Costume: Dimitrescu, 4 weapon skins, 2 screen filters, 2 charms, an audio pack, and additional files to find in-game. In Resident Evil Requiem, you’ll meet Grace Ashcroft, a new protagonist for the Resident Evil series. As an FBI agent, she possesses a sharp analytical mind that serves her well, yet she suddenly finds herself thrust into an extraordinary situation. You’ll also experience the series’ classic survival horror through combat, investigations, puzzles, and resource management. Gameplay allows you to freely switch between first and third-person views to face the horrors in a way that suits your playstyle. Even if you haven’t played a Resident Evil game before, you can jump right in, though long-time fans will notice plenty of familiar touches through the game. And on PlayStation 5, you’ll find yet another layer of immersion while playing thanks to the unique features of the DualSense controller such as its haptics and adaptive triggers. A Resident Evil series history To coincide with the start of Resident Evil Requiem pre-orders, we thought it fitting to talk a little about the history that Resident Evil has had with PlayStation. Mentioning everything would turn this blog post into a novel, because it’s quite lengthy. So instead let me touch upon some key moments. It starts from the way beginning almost three decades ago when the original Resident Evil was released on PlayStation in 1996. At the time it became one of PlayStation’s most popular games ever! It featured Chris Redfield and Jill Valentine searching for their missing teammates, but they end up stumbling across an abandoned mansion. Things went wrong. Zombies arrived. Resident Evil made its namesake. The next entries Resident Evil 2 and Resident Evil 3 were also released initially on PlayStation in 1998 and 1999 respectively and brought the action directly to Raccoon City from the eyes of Leon Kennedy, Claire Redfield, and Jill Valentine. Play Video When Resident Evil 4 was brought to PlayStation 2 in 2005, a special chapter called Separate Ways was added exclusively for the console. This allowed us to see Ada Wong’s side of the story during her own mission to research Los Illuminados. Moving forward in time, Resident Evil 7’s first demo was a timed PlayStation exclusive, and the Kitchen demo was released separately on PlayStation VR. This entry introduced Ethan Winters and the first-person perspective to the series. You could even play the entire game in PS VR as Ethan searched for his wife Mia. Resident Evil Village continued Ethan’s story as he searched for his daughter Rose. Similar to some past demos, the Maiden demo was released as a timed exclusive for PlayStation where you played as one of the servant girls trying to escape Castle Dimitrescu. Resident Evil 7 and Resident Evil Village are of course available now on PlayStation, alongside the reimagined remakes of Resident Evil 2, 3, and Resident Evil 4.We encourage you to experience these pivotal titles in the Resident Evil series for yourself if you’ve yet to have the chance. Resident Evil has had almost three decades worth of history with PlayStation, and it’s been fun taking a look back at some of those great moments. We’re happy to bring Resident Evil Requiem to PlayStation 5 on February 27, and we hope you’re looking forward to it. We definitely are.

Paw your way through a decaying cybercity, write (or rewrite) racing history and play commander of a wobbly army with the PlayStation Plus Monthly Games lineup for November. Stray, EA Sports WRC 24, and Totally Accurate Battle Simulator will be available to PlayStation Plus members from Tuesday November 4 until Monday December 1. Let’s take […]

Paw your way through a decaying cybercity, write (or rewrite) racing history and play commander of a wobbly army with the PlayStation Plus Monthly Games lineup for November. Stray, EA Sports WRC 24, and Totally Accurate Battle Simulator will be available to PlayStation Plus members from Tuesday November 4 until Monday December 1. Let’s take a closer look at the games. View and download image Download the image close Close Download this image Stray | PS4, PS5 Lost, injured and alone, a stray cat must untangle an ancient mystery to escape a long-forgotten city. Stray is a third-person cat adventure game set amidst the detailed neon-lit alleys of a decaying cybercity and the murky environments of its seedy underbelly. See the world through the eyes of a stray and interact with the environment in playful ways. Stray is developed by BlueTwelve Studio, a small team from south of France mostly made of cats and a handful of humans. View and download image Download the image close Close Download this image EA Sports WRC 24 | PS5 From the team that developed the award-winning Dirt Rally series comes the brand-new official game of the FIA World Rally Championship. Built on the foundations of over 25 years of Codemasters’ celebrated rally game heritage, EA Sports WRC lets you get behind the wheel of the WRC, WRC2 and Junior WRC cars from the 2024 season, complete with the current drivers, teams and liveries. Design and drive your dream rally car with the debut of Builder mode and rewrite history by racing in recreations of recent events and major historical highlights in Moments mode. Additional modes include Career, Championship, Time Trial, Cross-platform Multiplayer, Regularity Rally and a detailed livery editor, making for the complete WRC experience. View and download image Download the image close Close Download this image Totally Accurate Battle Simulator | PS4, PS5 Be the leader of red and blue wobblers from ancient lands, spooky places and fantasy worlds. Watch them fight in simulations made with the wobbliest physics system ever created. When you grow tired of the 100+ wobblers at your disposal you can make new ones in the unit creator. You can also send your wobblers to fight your friends or strangers in online multiplayer. View and download image Download the image close Close Download this image Last chance to add PlayStation Plus Games for October to your library PlayStation Plus members have until Monday November 3 to add Alan Wake 2, Goat Simulator 3 and Cocoon to their game library.

I grew up on arcade sports games that were simple, fun, and endlessly replayable — the kind you played with your friends for hours, laughing, competing, and discovering new ways to win. They weren’t about realism; they were about feel. That heartbeat of accessible, joyful sports gaming has guided me my entire career. I spent […]

I grew up on arcade sports games that were simple, fun, and endlessly replayable — the kind you played with your friends for hours, laughing, competing, and discovering new ways to win. They weren’t about realism; they were about feel. That heartbeat of accessible, joyful sports gaming has guided me my entire career. I spent 20 years working on some of the most influential sports games and franchises of all time. Now, with NBA The Run, I’ve come full circle — building the kind of game I’ve always wanted to play: fast, stylish, and social, made for both casual and hardcore players alike. When Scott Probst (PBP Founder and CEO) and I first discussed the concept for this game, we talked about the idea of bringing players together through the love of sport – creating experiences that players will remember forever. That conversation became the foundation of Play By Play Studios, and ultimately, NBA The Run. Play Video We drew inspiration from games that are easy to pick up, rewarding to master, and built around social play. Quick rounds, evolving strategies and creativity have been at the forefront of every game design discussion from the jump. We wanted to build a sports game that felt alive, inclusive, and endlessly replayable. Something that feels entirely new – a game with spirit, a game with soul. A new kind of street ball NBA The Run takes players on a world tour of legendary outdoor courts in an evolving 3v3 experience that celebrates style, connection, and competition. You’ll play with and against NBA stars and a roster of all-new Street Legends — fictional players with big personalities, wild skills, and stories to tell. Together, they form a living basketball universe that keeps growing over time. Defense as fun as offense Our mission was to design defense you can’t wait to play. In NBA The Run, defense brings a true rush — anticipation, timing, and impact. Massive blocks, lightning steals, shoves, dives — it’s all here. It’s aggressive, skill-based, and every bit as thrilling as offense. And on offense? It’s nonstop highlights! Double alley-oops, posterizing dunks, off-the-backboard passes, step-back threes, and ankle-breaking combos flow seamlessly through hand-keyed animations and buttery-smooth controls. Every possession feels like a highlight reel. Fluid, fast, and connected Built on true rollback netcode, NBA The Run plays as smooth as it looks — low-latency, cross-platform, and always in sync. Every movement feels immediate and expressive, never sluggish or scripted. Modern sports games often chase realism — how perfectly the sport looks or moves — but that can come at the expense of how it feels. We wanted to restore that sense of control and creativity, where you react on instinct, not animation timing. NBA The Run is built for that freedom — to let players flow, improvise, and make magic happen. Knockout Tournaments: Play, win, repeat At the heart of NBA The Run are Knockout Tournaments — bracket-style events you can play solo (controlling your full team) or in squads (one player per teammate). Rounds last 2 to 5 minutes, each featuring new Randomized Rules — from Dunkfest to Speed Round — keeping gameplay fresh, fast, and unpredictable – we’ve gotta keep you on your toes! Win and move on. Lose, and earn rewards to fuel your next run. It’s the perfect “one more round” game loop. Style, personality, and the global game Basketball is a universal language, and NBA The Run is its passport. Each court bursts with music, culture, and energy — from the eclectic Venice Beach to the tight-knit Tenement. It’s a celebration of basketball’s global heartbeat, where everyone can step onto the court and feel at home. Every animation is hand-keyed, every dunk, pass, and crossover brought to life with expressive detail. The art style bursts with attitude — bold outlines, exaggerated characters, and vibrant, stylized environments that make every moment pop. It’s not chasing photorealism; it’s chasing impact. And the voice calling the action? None other than Bobbito Garcia, legendary DJ, author, and the iconic voice of one of the most revered streetball video game series of all-time — adding his endless energy, enthusiasm and original sazón to every call. The next evolution We absolutely love the arcade classics — they were our touchstones. But we didn’t want just another nostalgic remake. We wanted to build something new: an arcade-style basketball experience for today’s players. At its heart, NBA The Run is about connection through competition — fast-to-fun gameplay and unforgettable moments. This is basketball — reimagined for every hoops fan across the world. See you on the courts.

Redsec is Battlefield’s first-ever free-to-play Battle Royale game, and it’s launching today. But it’s not just Battle Royale – this experience includes Gauntlet, a round-based elimination mode that samples from the franchise’s rich Multiplayer history, as well as Redsec’s Portal Community Creations, an ever-evolving sandbox from our community developers. However, your first steps into Redsec […]

Redsec is Battlefield’s first-ever free-to-play Battle Royale game, and it’s launching today. But it’s not just Battle Royale – this experience includes Gauntlet, a round-based elimination mode that samples from the franchise’s rich Multiplayer history, as well as Redsec’s Portal Community Creations, an ever-evolving sandbox from our community developers. Play Video However, your first steps into Redsec will more than likely come in the form of the Battle Royale Initiation playlist: Battle Royale initiation In BR Duos, eliminate hostels, track intel, and dodge the chemical ring on a condensed map. Battle Royale Initiation is built for new players as a low-stakes learning environment. In this variant, you and a squadmate can drop into a match with the following key differences: This version of Fort Lyndon is significantly smaller than its full version. Players who can access this mode are limited to newer players. A 48-player maximum, inclusive of Bots. Your path towards victory will involve the following: Dropping in Choose your class Assault – The ultimate frontline fighter, skilled at punching through enemy defenses. Dominate close to mid-range encounters and limit the enemy’s ability to fight. Engineer – The battlefield’s leading vehicle and equipment technician. Execute repairs to keep allies combat effective, or strike hostile armor with force to break their attack. Support – The backbone of any combat unit for defense and sustained fighting. Heal and resupply friendly forces, while fortifying defensive positions to keep them protected. Recon – The perfect intelligence and counterintelligence operative. Neutralize targets from a distance, or infiltrate, gathering intel and disrupting hostile forces. You also get to choose a Sidearm, a small personal defense weapon that is great in a pinch, but is not meant to carry you through an entire match. Next, get ready to parachute into Fort Lyndon. Either you or your duo will be labelled as the Squad Leader; when the Squad Leader calls for a jump, both of you will leap out of the infiltration plane. At any point, the non-Leader can break away from the formation and continue dropping on their own. However, we highly recommend that new players stay in formation. Your parachute will automatically deploy when you get close to the ground. Alternatively, you can manually deploy the parachute to delay landing in favor of a more intentional landing spot. Securing better weapons, ammo, and armor Scavenging for weapons, ammo, and armor become the tools for survival. These are all available through a variety of crates found in the map; look for giant rectangular boxes that are green (Common), red-and-black (Rare), or red with Class symbols (Class Chests). Look for vehicles that can be opened to contain more items, as well as locked vaults. Crates can also contain ammo, which is shared between all weapons in a given weapon category. While there are other ways to gain more ammo, like picking it off eliminated enemies or getting an Ammo Resupply Call-In, the easiest way to restock is to use the Support Class’ Supply Box. Completing Contracts Your primary mission in Battle Royale is to eliminate all enemies. Second are Contracts, objectives that can be accepted on your full map screen and reward powerful items. Whenever a Contract becomes available to choose, you will receive a prompt below the compass on your HUD. Avoiding the Circle of Death, respawning, and achieving victory The Circle of Death. One step into this area will near instantly down and eliminate you. Mind the red-shaded areas on your mini-map or heed the warnings on your HUD when it shows a red skull icon and a distance. In Battle Royale, death is not always finite. In the first few minutes of every match, you automatically get a Second Chance, redeploying immediately from the sky. If you don’t use your Second Chance, you get a sizable chunk of XP, which is great for ranking up and unlocking more Loadout items. Alternatively, Battle Royale includes Respawn Points where squad members can revive their allies. After activating a Respawn Point, stay within its radius for a short period of time to respawn all dead allies. If you are spectating from beyond, you are able to request a respawn. The last remaining Battle Royale squad wins the match. Tips for Battle Royal survival and victory At the end of your Initiation journey, you should be ready to drop into Battle Royale. Stick to your initiation zones. Learning the backstreets, rooftops, and corridors can give you an advantage over other new players who may be unaware of the surroundings. Know your class. Remember to use everything your Class offers and ask a battle buddy with more experience to walk you through its basics. Work with your team. Battle Royale is about surviving as a squad; don’t stray too far from squadmates, be sure to share enemy locations and precious high-value items, and remember to revive them whenever it is clear to do so. Gauntlet – round-based elimination multiplayer In Gauntlet, eight squads of four players each go head-to-head in a series of special operations that push every squad to their limit. If you like traditional Multiplayer FPS experiences, then you’ll love Gauntlet. Gauntlet involves creating a custom loadout and pits squads against each other in a series of high-octane missions. Every mode includes a helpful in-game description and demonstration of how to play, including what actions score points for your squad. Failure to secure enough points results in elimination, while winning four modes in a Gauntlet match means victory. Here are three quick tips to get started in this pick-up-and-play experience: Watch the briefing. The small sequence before each operation gives a short demonstration of how it is played, as well as the points earned for each action. Play the objective. Using what you learned in the briefing, focus on the actions that will score your team the most points. Communication is key. Use the ping system, voice chat and text chat to effectively plan and execute coordinated efforts, otherwise be prepared to be reassigned or get sent back to the start of the Gauntlet. See you in Fort Lyndon!

Loulan: The Cursed Sand is an action RPG set along the ancient Silk Road in the Western Regions of China. You play as the Cursed Sand, a skeletal warrior wielding the power of sand and sets out to explore the lost kingdom of Loulan, battle mighty foes, and search for his beloved princess. Inspired by […]

Loulan: The Cursed Sand is an action RPG set along the ancient Silk Road in the Western Regions of China. You play as the Cursed Sand, a skeletal warrior wielding the power of sand and sets out to explore the lost kingdom of Loulan, battle mighty foes, and search for his beloved princess. Inspired by the archaeological discovery of the “Xiaohe Princess,” the story follows the Cursed Sand, a royal guard resurrected after death, as he embarks on a tragic journey to find the lost Princess of Loulan. For the protagonist, we drew inspiration from the Loulan mummies and the iconic desert sand of the Western Regions, creating a dual-form warrior: In Sand Form, golden sand wraps his body — a balanced fighter who wields the power of sand. Play Video When he unleashes the sand and forges a massive sand blade, he shifts into Bone Form — a powerful stance built for one-versus-many combat. On his journey, he will face powerful factions ranging from the Loulan royal family, who embody the power of the sun, to the frost-bound spiders of the Western Regions. We’ve reimagined iconic landscapes of the western region through a fantastical lens, from vast deserts to flowing rivers of sand. Loulan is supported by SIE as part of the China Hero Project. We are a 16-member cross-regional team, aiming to deliver a rich, ancient Loulan world and a unique, immersive gameplay experience. Our core team is made up of veteran gamers born in the ’80s and ’90s. We grew up playing action games and were deeply inspired by classics like the original God of War and arcade action games. Many of us have worked on action titles at studios in the U.S. and Japan, including Santa Monica Studio, FromSoftware, and PlatinumGames. We’re truly passionate about this genre and dedicated to pushing its boundaries. At the same time, we’ve always been fascinated by fantasy worlds inspired by the ancient Silk Road — especially the mysterious and radiant kingdom of Loulan, once a shining jewel along that route. With this project, we aim to bring the beauty and enigma of ancient Loulan to life through a retro top-down camera perspective. Our goal is to blend classic arcade-style combat with modern gameplay innovations — such as the unique interaction between the protagonist and his sandblade. We truly hope players will enjoy the experience.

We are excited to announce PlayStation 11.11 Power Deals promotion featuring discounts on PS5 Consoles, PS5 Peripherals and PS5 Games, from 31st October till 13th November 2025  Some of the highlight from 11.11 Power Deals are: Now is the best time to have PlayStation 5, especially to play blockbusters that have come out in 2025: […]

We are excited to announce PlayStation 11.11 Power Deals promotion featuring discounts on PS5 Consoles, PS5 Peripherals and PS5 Games, from 31st October till 13th November 2025 Some of the highlight from 11.11 Power Deals are: PS5 Consoles (product availability varies by country): SGD 140 / MYR 480 / THB 3,600 / IDR 1,620,000 / VND 2,610,000 Off PlayStation Portal: SGD 28 / MYR 90 / THB 700 / IDR 340,000 Off DualSense Wireless Controllers: SGD 20.10 / MYR 54 / THB 500 / IDR 250,000 / VND 310,000 off PULSE Explore Wireless Earbud: SGD 39 / MYR 130 / THB 1,000 / IDR 470,000 / VND 750,000 off Discounts on PS5 titles, such as Death Stranding 2: On The Beach, Astro Bot, Marvel’s Spider-Man 2 and Stellar Blade Now is the best time to have PlayStation 5, especially to play blockbusters that have come out in 2025: Monster Hunter Wilds, Death Stranding 2: On The Beach, Ghost of Yōtei, Battlefield 6, as well as upcoming titles, like Resident Evil Requiem, SAROS, MARVEL Tōkon: Fighting Souls and Marvel’s Wolverine. The 11.11 Power Deals promotion will be available at participating retailers (https://www.playstation.com/local/retailers/) while supplies last. NOTE: While stocks last. Promotional price shown is available on selected PlayStation products on offer at participating retailers. Actual price and product availability varies by retailer. Offer starts on 31.10.25 and ends on 13.11.25. Please see below for the full promotion that includes offering for select games and peripherals in Singapore, Malaysia, Thailand, Indonesia, and Vietnam: Singapore PlayStation 5 Consoles Original SRP Promotion SRP PlayStation®5 SGD 799 SGD 659 PlayStation®5 console – Digital Edition SGD 669 SGD 529 PlayStation®5 Pro SGD 1,069 SGD 929 Peripherals Original SRP Promotion SRP DualSense Wireless controller – White SGD 107.00 SGD 86.90 DualSense Wireless controller – Midnight Black SGD 107.00 SGD 86.90 DualSense Wireless controller – Cosmic Red SGD 107.00 SGD 86.90 DualSense Wireless controller – Nova Pink SGD 107.00 SGD 86.90 DualSense Wireless controller – Galactic Purple SGD 107.00 SGD 86.90 DualSense Wireless controller – Starlight Blue SGD 107.00 SGD 86.90 DualSense Wireless controller – Gray Camouflage SGD 107.00 SGD 86.90 DualSense™ wireless controller – Volcanic Red SGD 114.00 SGD 93.90 DualSense™ wireless controller – Cobalt Blue SGD 114.00 SGD 93.90 DualSense™ wireless controller – Sterling Silver SGD 114.00 SGD 93.90 DualSense™ wireless controller – Chroma Teal SGD 114.00 SGD 93.90 DualSense™ wireless controller – Chroma Indigo SGD 114.00 SGD 93.90 DualSense™ wireless controller – Chroma Pearl SGD 114.00 SGD 93.90 PULSE Elite™ – White SGD 199.90 SGD 171.90 PULSE Elite™ – Midnight Black SGD 199.90 SGD 171.90 Pulse Explore Wireless Earbuds SGD 295.90 SGD 256.90 Pulse Explore Wireless Earbuds – Midnight Black SGD 295.90 SGD 256.90 DualSense Edge Wireless Controller SGD 295.90 SGD 256.90 DualSense Edge Wireless Controller – Midnight Black SGD 295.90 SGD 256.90 PlayStation Access Controller SGD 128.90 SGD 100.90 PlayStation VR2 Standalone SGD 649.00 SGD 509.00 PlayStation Portal™ Remote Player – White SGD 295.90 SGD 267.90 PlayStation Portal™ Remote Player – Midnight Black SGD 295.90 SGD 267.90 Game Titles (PS5) Original SRP Promotion SRP Astro Bot SGD 79.90 SGD 54.90 Gran Turismo® 7 SGD 97.90 SGD 40.90 God of War™ Ragnarök SGD 97.90 SGD 27.90 Marvel’s Spider-Man 2 SGD 97.90 SGD 40.90 Rise of the Ronin™ SGD 97.90 SGD 40.90 The Last of Us™ Part II Remastered SGD 67.90 SGD 40.90 The Last of Us™ Part I SGD 97.90 SGD 40.90 Ghost of Tsushima Director’s Cut SGD 97.90 SGD 40.90 Helldivers 2 SGD 54.90 SGD 40.90 Until Dawn SGD 79.90 SGD 40.90 Horizon Zero Dawn Remastered SGD 67.90 SGD 27.90 LEGO Horizon Adventures SGD 54.90 SGD 27.90 Stellar Blade SGD 97.90 SGD 54.90 Death Stranding 2: On The Beach SGD 97.90 SGD 67.90 Lost Soul Aside SGD 79.90 SGD 54.90 Malaysia PlayStation 5 Consoles Original SRP Promotion SRP PlayStation®5 MYR 2,499 MYR 2,019 PlayStation®5 console – Digital Edition MYR 2,069 MYR 1,589 PlayStation®5 Pro MYR 3,849 MYR 3,369 Peripherals Original SRP Promotion SRP DualSense™ wireless controller – White MYR 369 MYR 315 DualSense™wireless controller – Midnight Black MYR 369 MYR 315 DualSense™ wireless controller – Cosmic Red MYR 369 MYR 315 DualSense™ wireless controller – Nova Pink MYR 369 MYR 315 DualSense™ wireless controller – Galactic Purple MYR 369 MYR 315 DualSense™ wireless controller – Starlight Blue MYR 369 MYR 315 DualSense™ wireless controller – Gray Camouflage MYR 369 MYR 315 DualSense™ wireless controller – Volcanic Red MYR 399 MYR 345 DualSense™ wireless controller – Cobalt Blue MYR 399 MYR 345 DualSense™ wireless controller – Sterling Silver MYR 399 MYR 345 DualSense™ wireless controller – Chroma Indigo MYR 399 MYR 345 DualSense™ wireless controller – Chroma Pearl MYR 399 MYR 345 DualSense™ wireless controller – Chroma Teal MYR 399 MYR 345 PlayStation Portal™ Remote Player – White MYR 999 MYR 909 PlayStation Portal™ Remote Player – Midnight Black MYR 999 MYR 909 DualSense Edge White MYR 999 MYR 869 DualSense Edge Midnight Black MYR 999 MYR 869 PULSE Elite™ – White MYR 699 MYR 609 PULSE Elite™ – Midnight Black MYR 699 MYR 609 PULSE Explore™ – White MYR 999 MYR 869 PULSE Explore™ – Midnight Black MYR 999 MYR 869 PlayStation Access Controller MYR 449 MYR 359 PlayStation®VR2 MYR 2,099 MYR 1,619 Game Titles (PS5) Original SRP Promotion SRP Astro Bot MYR 249 MYR 169 Gran Turismo® 7 MYR 299 MYR 129 God of War™ Ragnarök MYR 299 MYR 89 Marvel’s Spider-Man 2 MYR 299 MYR 129 Rise of the Ronin™ MYR 299 MYR 129 The Last of Us™ Part II Remastered MYR 209 MYR 129 The Last of Us™ Part I MYR 299 MYR 129 Ghost of Tsushima Director’s Cut MYR 299 MYR 129 Helldivers 2 MYR 169 MYR 129 Until Dawn MYR 249 MYR 129 Horizon Zero Dawn Remastered MYR 209 MYR 89 LEGO Horizon Adventures MYR 169 MYR 89 Stellar Blade MYR 299 MYR 169 Death Stranding 2: On The Beach MYR 299 MYR 209 Lost Soul Aside MYR 249 MYR 169 Thailand PlayStation 5 Consoles Original SRP Promotion SRP PlayStation®5 THB 18,690 THB 15,090 PlayStation®5 console – Digital Edition THB 15,690 THB 12,090 PlayStation®5 Pro THB 29,490 THB 25,890 Peripherals Original SRP Promotion SRP DualSense™ wireless controller – White THB 2,590 THB 2,090 DualSense™wireless controller – Midnight Black THB 2,590 THB 2,090 DualSense™ wireless controller – Cosmic Red THB 2,590 THB 2,090 DualSense™ wireless controller – Nova Pink THB 2,590 THB 2,090 DualSense™ wireless controller – Galactic Purple THB 2,590 THB 2,090 DualSense™ wireless controller – Starlight Blue THB 2,590 THB 2,090 DualSense™ wireless controller – Gray Camouflage THB 2,590 THB 2,090 DualSense™ wireless controller – Volcanic Red THB 2,690 THB 2,190 DualSense™ wireless controller – Cobalt Blue THB 2,690 THB 2,190 DualSense™ wireless controller – Sterling Silver THB 2,690 THB 2,190 DualSense™ wireless controller – Chroma Indigo THB 2,690 THB 2,190 DualSense™ wireless controller – Chroma Pearl THB 2,690 THB 2,190 DualSense™ wireless controller – Chroma Teal THB 2,690 THB 2,190 PlayStation Portal™ Remote Player – White THB 7,790 THB 7,090 PlayStation Portal™ Remote Player – Midnight Black THB 7,790 THB 7,090 DualSense Edge White THB 7,790 THB 6,790 DualSense Edge Midnight Black THB 7,790 THB 6,790 PULSE Elite™ – White THB 5,190 THB 4,490 PULSE Elite™ – Midnight Black THB 5,190 THB 4,490 PULSE Explore™ – White THB 7,790 THB 6,790 PULSE Explore™ – Midnight Black THB 7,790 THB 6,790 PlayStation Access Controller THB 3,090 THB 2,390 PlayStation®VR2 THB 15,990 THB 12,390 Game Titles (PS5) Original SRP Promotion SRP Astro Bot THB 1,990 THB 1,290 Gran Turismo® 7 THB 2,290 THB 990 God of War™ Ragnarök THB 2,290 THB 690 Marvel’s Spider-Man 2 THB 2,290 THB 990 Rise of the Ronin™ THB 2,290 THB 990 The Last of Us™ Part II Remastered THB 1,690 THB 990 The Last of Us™ Part I THB 2,290 THB 990 Ghost of Tsushima Director’s Cut THB 2,290 THB 990 Helldivers 2 THB 1,290 THB 990 Until Dawn THB 1,990 THB 990 Horizon Zero Dawn Remastered THB 1,690 THB 690 LEGO Horizon Adventures THB 1,290 THB 690 Stellar Blade THB 2,290 THB 1,290 Death Stranding 2: On The Beach THB 2,290 THB 1,690 Lost Soul Aside THB 1,990 THB 1,290 Indonesia PlayStation 5 Consoles Original SRP Promotion SRP PlayStation®5 IDR 9,699,000 IDR 8,079,000 PlayStation®5 console – Digital Edition IDR 8,199,000 IDR 6,579,000 Peripherals Original SRP Promotion SRP DualSense™ wireless controller – White IDR 1,359,000 IDR 1,109,000 DualSense™wireless controller – Midnight Black IDR 1,359,000 IDR 1,109,000 DualSense™ wireless controller – Cosmic Red IDR 1,359,000 IDR 1,109,000 DualSense™ wireless controller – Nova Pink IDR 1,359,000 IDR 1,109,000 DualSense™ wireless controller – Galactic Purple IDR 1,359,000 IDR 1,109,000 DualSense™ wireless controller – Starlight Blue IDR 1,359,000 IDR 1,109,000 DualSense™ wireless controller – Gray Camouflage IDR 1,359,000 IDR 1,109,000 DualSense™ wireless controller – Volcanic Red IDR 1,449,000 IDR 1,199,000 DualSense™ wireless controller – Cobalt Blue IDR 1,449,000 IDR 1,199,000 DualSense™ wireless controller – Sterling Silver IDR 1,449,000 IDR 1,199,000 DualSense™ wireless controller – Chroma Indigo IDR 1,449,000 IDR 1,199,000 DualSense™ wireless controller – Chroma Pearl IDR 1,449,000 IDR 1,199,000 DualSense™ wireless controller – Chroma Teal IDR 1,449,000 IDR 1,199,000 PlayStation Portal™ Remote Player – White IDR 3,599,000 IDR 3,259,000 PlayStation Portal™ Remote Player – Midnight Black IDR 3,599,000 IDR 3,259,000 DualSense Edge White IDR 3,599,000 IDR 3,129,000 DualSense Edge Midnight Black IDR 3,599,000 IDR 3,129,000 PULSE Elite™ – White IDR 2,499,000 IDR 2,159,000 PULSE Elite™ – Midnight Black IDR 2,499,000 IDR 2,159,000 PULSE Explore™ – White IDR 3,599,000 IDR 3,129,000 PULSE Explore™ – Midnight Black IDR 3,599,000 IDR 3,129,000 PlayStation Access Controller IDR 1,649,000 IDR 1,309,000 PlayStation®VR2 IDR 7,799,000 IDR 6,179,000 Game Titles (PS5) Original SRP Promotion SRP Astro Bot IDR 879,000 IDR 579,000 Gran Turismo® 7 IDR 1,029,000 IDR 439,000 God of War™ Ragnarök IDR 1,029,000 IDR 289,000 Marvel’s Spider-Man 2 IDR 1,029,000 IDR 439,000 Rise of the Ronin™ IDR 1,029,000 IDR 439,000 The Last of Us™ Part II Remastered IDR 729,000 IDR 439,000 The Last of Us™ Part I IDR 1,029,000 IDR 439,000 Ghost of Tsushima Director’s Cut IDR 1,029,000 IDR 439,000 Helldivers 2 IDR 579,000 IDR 439,000 Until Dawn IDR 879,000 IDR 439,000 Horizon Zero Dawn Remastered IDR 729,000 IDR 289,000 LEGO Horizon Adventures IDR 579,000 IDR 289,000 Stellar Blade IDR 1,029,000 IDR 579,000 Death Stranding 2: On The Beach IDR 1,029,000 IDR 729,000 Lost Soul Aside IDR 879,000 IDR 579,000 Vietnam PlayStation 5 Console Original SRP Promotion SRP PlayStation®5 VND 13,300,000 VND 10,690,000 Peripherals Original SRP Promotion SRP DualSense™ wireless controller – White VND 2,099,000 VND 1,789,000 DualSense™wireless controller – Midnight Black VND 2,099,000 VND 1,789,000 DualSense™ wireless controller – Cosmic Red VND 2,099,000 VND 1,789,000 DualSense™ wireless controller – Nova Pink VND 2,099,000 VND 1,789,000 DualSense™ wireless controller – Galactic Purple VND 2,099,000 VND 1,789,000 DualSense™ wireless controller – Starlight Blue VND 2,099,000 VND 1,789,000 DualSense™ wireless controller – Gray Camouflage VND 2,099,000 VND 1,789,000 DualSense™ wireless controller – Volcanic Red VND 2,299,000 VND 1,989,000 DualSense™ wireless controller – Cobalt Blue VND 2,299,000 VND 1,989,000 DualSense™ wireless controller – Sterling Silver VND 2,299,000 VND 1,989,000 DualSense™ wireless controller – Chroma Indigo VND 2,299,000 VND 1,989,000 DualSense™ wireless controller – Chroma Pearl VND 2,299,000 VND 1,989,000 DualSense™ wireless controller – Chroma Teal VND 2,299,000 VND 1,989,000 DualSense Edge White VND 5,699,000 VND 4,949,000 DualSense Edge Midnight Black VND 5,699,000 VND 4,949,000 PULSE Elite™ – White VND 3,999,000 VND 3,479,000 PULSE Elite™ – Midnight Black VND 3,999,000 VND 3,479,000 PULSE Explore™ – White VND 5,699,000 VND 4,949,000 PULSE Explore™ – Midnight Black VND 5,699,000 VND 4,949,000 PlayStation Access Controller VND 2,599,000 VND 2,079,000 PlayStation®VR2 VND 12,990,000 VND 10,380,000 Game Titles (PS5) Original SRP Promotion SRP Astro Bot VND 1,499,000 VND 999,000 Gran Turismo® 7 VND 1,799,000 VND 749,000 God of War™ Ragnarök VND 1,799,000 VND 499,000 Marvel’s Spider-Man 2 VND 1,799,000 VND 749,000 Rise of the Ronin™ VND 1,799,000 VND 749,000 The Last of Us™ Part II Remastered VND 1,249,000 VND 749,000 The Last of Us™ Part I VND 1,799,000 VND 749,000 Until Dawn VND 1,499,000 VND 749,000 Horizon Zero Dawn Remastered VND 1,249,000 VND 499,000 LEGO Horizon Adventures VND 999,000 VND 499,000 Stellar Blade VND 1,799,000 VND 999,000 Death Stranding 2: On The Beach VND 1,799,000 VND 1,249,000 Lost Soul Aside VND 1,499,000 VND 999,000

Amidst Gyeongju, South Korea’s ancient temples and modern skylines, Jensen Huang hit the stage at the APEC Summit with historic news: South Korea is leaping into the future with sovereign AI supported by more than a quarter-million NVIDIA GPUs. “It’s vital that we build the ecosystem, not just the AI infrastructure, of Korea,” he said. Read Article

Amidst Gyeongju, South Korea’s ancient temples and modern skylines, Jensen Huang hit the stage at the APEC Summit with historic news: South Korea is leaping into the future with sovereign AI supported by more than a quarter-million NVIDIA GPUs. “It’s vital that we build the ecosystem, not just the AI infrastructure, of Korea,” he said. With that, NVIDIA’s founder and CEO unveiled a sweeping initiative to build out South Korea’s AI ecosystem and infrastructure — a national-scale deployment of GPUs across sovereign clouds and industrial AI factories. The announcement marks one of the largest national investments in agentic and physical AI to date, and it’s backed by a coalition of Korea’s top organizations: the Ministry of Science and ICT (MSIT), Samsung Electronics, SK Group, Hyundai Motor Group, NAVER Cloud, LG and more. The effort also comes as world leaders, including President Trump and President Xi, are among 21 APEC nations — the U.S., China, South Korea, Japan, Australia, Vietnam, Singapore and others — gathered nearby for a separate APEC Summit. Celebrating 25 Years of GeForce in Korea The news is a continuation of NVIDIA’s decades-long history of building a rich ecosystem with Korea. The country has played an outsized role as a nation that spearheaded esports and helped drive the PC-bang boom. Kindling that tradition, NVIDIA celebrated GeForce’s 25-year run in Korea with a GeForce Gamer Festival in Seoul this week. The festival featured the latest GeForce RTX technology, with NCSOFT giving attendees an exclusive hands-on with unreleased games AION 2 and CINDER CITY, both featuring NVIDIA DLSS 4 with Multi-Frame Generation. KRAFTON showcased PUBG Ally, an AI co-playable character powered by NVIDIA ACE, for its global hit PUBG:Battlegrounds. There were also giveaways, live esports matches including a special StarCraft match between legendary pro gamers Hong Jin-ho (YellOw) and Lee Yoon-yeol (NaDa), and performances by renowned taekwondo group K-TIGERS and international K-POP sensation LE SSERAFIM. Developing a New Kind of Infrastructure South Korea, with a heritage of rapid technology-driven progress, is taking the next big step with its AI industrial revolution. At the center of the effort is a sovereign AI infrastructure program led by MSIT, which will deploy as many as 50,000 of the latest NVIDIA GPUs through cloud providers NHN Cloud, Kakao Corp. and NAVER Cloud. The initial wave includes 13,000 NVIDIA Blackwell GPUs, with more to follow in the coming years. Building AI Factories: Korea’s Industrial Titans The scale of private-sector investment is staggering. Samsung, SK Group and Hyundai Motor Group are each building AI factories with up to 50,000 NVIDIA GPUs apiece, while NAVER plans to deploy more than 60,000. This is forming the backbone for Korea’s AI-powered transformation across manufacturing, mobility, telecommunications and robotics. Samsung is using NVIDIA CUDA-X, cuLitho, Nemotron models and Omniverse to build digital twins for semiconductor manufacturing, while advancing its robotics portfolio with NVIDIA Cosmos and Isaac GR00T. SK Group is designing an AI factory capable of hosting up to 60,000 GPUs, including an AI cloud powered by NVIDIA RTX PRO 6000 Blackwell Server Edition GPUs. SK Telecom will offer sovereign infrastructure for domestic manufacturers and startups to build digital twins and robotics applications. Hyundai Motor Group is collaborating with the Korean government and NVIDIA to build an NVIDIA AI factory with 50,000 NVIDIA Blackwell GPUs to enable AI model training, validations and deployment for manufacturing, autonomous driving and robotics. The company plans to use NVIDIA DRIVE AGX Thor, NeMo, Nemotron and Omniverse to simulate factory operations. NAVER is adding another 60,000 GPUs to its NVIDIA AI infrastructure, targeting sovereign and physical AI workloads. It plans to develop industry-specific models for shipbuilding, security and AI services for Korean citizens. Korean Language Models and Quantum Research The Korean government is also investing in foundational AI research. MSIT is leading a Sovereign AI Foundation Models project in collaboration with LG AI Research, NAVER Cloud, NC AI, SK Telecom, Upstage and NVIDIA. The initiative will use NVIDIA NeMo software and open NVIDIA Nemotron datasets, tapping local data to develop Korean language models with reasoning and speech capabilities. NVIDIA and LG are collaborating to support academia and startups with LG’s EXAONE models, including the EXAONE Path healthcare model — built with the MONAI framework — to support cancer diagnosis. The company is also working with NVIDIA to support physical AI startups and academic research. Meanwhile, the Korea Institute of Science and Technology Information (KISTI) is partnering with NVIDIA to establish a Center of Excellence for quantum computing and scientific research. Using its sixth-generation HANGANG supercomputer and the NVIDIA CUDA-Q platform, KISTI will explore hybrid quantum computing, physics-informed AI models and scientific foundation models built with the NVIDIA PhysicsNeMo framework. AI-RAN and 6G: The Next Frontier In a move to drive next-generation mobile networks, NVIDIA is collaborating with Samsung, SK Telecom, ETRI, KT, LGU+ and Yonsei University to develop AI-RAN and 6G infrastructure. The intelligent, low-power network technology offloads GPU computation from devices to base stations, reducing energy costs and extending battery life — a critical enabler for widespread robotics adoption. Fostering Innovation With Startups and Training To support Korea’s next generation of AI companies, NVIDIA is expanding the NVIDIA Inception program with a new startup alliance. Members will gain access to accelerated computing infrastructure from partners like SK Telecom, along with support from VC firms including IMM Investment, Korea Investment Partners and SBVA. A new Center of Excellence powered by NVIDIA RTX PRO 6000 Blackwell GPUs will help startups build physical AI applications, while the NVIDIA Deep Learning Institute will offer AI upskilling programs to train Korea’s future workforce. Rewiring a Nation for Artificial Intelligence The scale and ambition of Korea’s AI initiative is nearly unprecedented. It’s not just about deploying GPUs. It’s about rewiring a nation’s industrial base for intelligence. From sovereign clouds to quantum labs, autonomous factories and AI agents — Korea is building the infrastructure of the future. See notice regarding software product information.

An unassuming van driving around rural India uses powerful AI technology that’s enabling low-cost, high-quality breast cancer screenings for thousands of women. Run by the nonprofit Health Within Reach Foundation, the Women Cancer Screening Van runs an AI solution by MedCognetics, a Dallas, Texas-based company that’s part of the NVIDIA Inception program for startups. The Read Article

An unassuming van driving around rural India uses powerful AI technology that’s enabling low-cost, high-quality breast cancer screenings for thousands of women. Run by the nonprofit Health Within Reach Foundation, the Women Cancer Screening Van runs an AI solution by MedCognetics, a Dallas, Texas-based company that’s part of the NVIDIA Inception program for startups. The digital mammography machine aboard the van has to date screened mammogram data from more than 3,500 patients — 90% of whom had never had a mammogram before. This data is triaged onsite with the help of the AI solution by MedCognetics. “Developing countries generally have a lot of load on their existing healthcare institutions,” said Dr. Mudassar Shaikh, chief medical officer of the Health Within Reach Foundation. “This tech-enabled mobile healthcare program is solving a lot of healthcare access problems because, with the help of AI, we are able to bring high-quality care to peoples’ doorsteps.” Of the thousands of mammograms the foundation has conducted in the last year in rural areas surrounding Pune, India, about 8% — 300 or so — returned abnormal findings. The foundation refers these patients to expert doctors in the city for further testing. “Using our software built with NVIDIA technology, they identified 24 cancer-positive patients and connected them to treatment before the disease could progress further,” said Ron Nag, CEO and president of MedCognetics. “This is the way I want to see AI implemented around the world, to help people.” MedCognetics Advances AI Screening Capabilities MedCognetics produces AI systems that are FDA-cleared as software as a medical device. They can be deployed on the NVIDIA IGX Orin industrial-grade edge AI platform with the NVIDIA Holoscan platform for real-time sensor processing — or on NVIDIA Tensor Core GPUs hosted in the cloud. The company’s suite of software for breast cancer screening includes algorithms for cancer triage, as well as features being prepared for regulatory submission such as cancer detection, breast density assessment and a risk analysis model that forecasts a patient’s likelihood of contracting breast cancer within a year. With the integration of IGX Orin, the team is developing additional capabilities including image denoising, also being prepared for regulatory submission. Enhanced digital mammography requires two separate images to be captured, increasing the likelihood of patient motion causing artifacts on the image. MedCognetics’ AI models can help realign the images to present radiologists with a clearer view. Image on left does not include motion suppression — image on right does. Edge AI Bridges the Healthcare Accessibility Gap MedCognetics’ critical contribution to the Health Within Reach Women Cancer Screening Van is rapid inference using India-based cloud resources, which lets staff quickly identify high-risk cases and connect to radiologists for prioritized reporting. “Radiologists don’t travel with the cancer screening vans — once the van comes back to its urban hub, the mammogram images are uploaded onto our system for radiologist review,” Shaikh said. “In the future, fast AI analysis through hardware on the van could let us triage patients onsite, even at the remotest of areas were connectivity is lacking.” When the MedCognetics software flags a potential tumor, the Health Within Reach team prioritizes that patient and immediately connects with a radiologist, sharing the patient’s mammography images for detailed analysis. This enables the radiologist to decide if additional imaging is needed and ensures that high-probability cases are escalated and attended to faster. “One of the biggest challenges is finding small tumors,” Nag said. “When we started, all the radiologists we spoke to said they didn’t want AI to help them see tumors the size of raisins or golf balls — they wanted AI to help them see the tumors that are so small they might easily be missed.” For the nearly two-thirds of the Indian population residing in rural areas, future edge AI deployments could expand the reach of high-quality care to communities where preventative healthcare is rarely sought out. “Breast cancer tumors are generally painless, so there is a propensity for women in communities where healthcare is expensive or hard to access to postpone screenings or further investigation,” Shaikh said. “The majority of new cases are diagnosed in advanced stages, a factor that directly affects patient survival rates. That’s where regular, affordable and easily accessible mammogram screenings can make a significant difference.” Learn more about NVIDIA AI for healthcare and life sciences.

Get ready, raiders — the wait is over. ARC Raiders is dropping onto GeForce NOW and bringing the fight from orbit to the screen. To celebrate the launch, gamers can score ARC Raiders for free with the purchase of a 12-month Ultimate membership — a bundle packed with everything needed to jump into the resistance. Read Article

Get ready, raiders — the wait is over. ARC Raiders is dropping onto GeForce NOW and bringing the fight from orbit to the screen. To celebrate the launch, gamers can score ARC Raiders for free with the purchase of a 12-month Ultimate membership — a bundle packed with everything needed to jump into the resistance. This week also brings 10 games, including the next big adventure in The Outer Worlds 2, the mystical new “Visions of Eternity” expansion for Guild Wars 2 and Ghost Trick: Phantom Detective, a clever classic from Capcom. Amsterdam and Montreal will be the next regions to light up with GeForce RTX 5080-class power. Sofia, Bulgaria, is the latest region to get GeForce RTX 5080-class power, with Amsterdam and Montreal coming up next. Stay tuned to GFN Thursday for updates as more regions upgrade to Blackwell RTX. Those who want to follow along can track latest progress on the server rollout page. The Cloud Suits Up The resistance — now in 5K. In ARC Raiders, survival means banding together against overwhelming odds. Set in a retro‑futuristic world under siege, the game blends squad-based strategy with explosive firefights wrapped in a striking ‘80s-inspired sci-fi style. The story is simple but relentless: mysterious mechanical invaders, the ARC, rain down from orbit to strip Earth bare. Battling them takes teamwork, scavenged weapons and quick thinking across sprawling environments. Every encounter feels like a desperate stand where improvisation and cooperation turn the tide. With a GeForce NOW Ultimate membership, ARC Raiders hits with full force, streaming at GeForce RTX 5080-class power. That means cinematic visuals at up to 5K resolution, silky-smooth 120-frames-per-second action and real-time ray tracing on nearly any device. It’s the closest thing to stepping into the fight — not just watching from the sidelines. A special launch offer makes this drop even bigger: ARC Raiders is included with every purchase of a new 12-month GeForce NOW Ultimate membership, now through Thursday, Nov. 20. Take advantage of the cloud’s most powerful tier and drop into the fight with premium performance from virtually anywhere. Supplies are limited, so join now and suit up before the skies get any darker. The Cloud Is Out of This World Space just got sassier. Obsidian Entertainment takes players to a new colony with The Outer Worlds 2, a first-person sci-fi role-playing game brimming with cosmic chaos, corporate satire and unforgettable oddballs. With new worlds to explore and even more questionable choices to make, it’s everything fans loved from the first game — turned up to 11. This time around, players explore a new frontier teeming with alien life, rival factions and moral gray areas that would make any space explorer sweat. Build a crew, shape the story with choices both heroic and hilariously self-serving, and survive a galaxy where every decision sparks consequences — often explosive ones. On GeForce NOW, The Outer Worlds 2 shines brighter than ever. Stream the adventure at GeForce RTX 5080 power with ray-traced worlds, crisp visuals and silky-smooth performance, no matter the orbit. Grab a snack, make a bad choice and let the cloud do the rest. Sacrifice for Power Come for the adventure and discover the hidden knowledge. Guild Wars 2 is setting sail for adventure with its latest expansion, Visions of Eternity, whisking players off to the mysterious island of Castora for a fresh year filled with epic stories, new regions to explore and tons of magical mayhem. This sixth expansion brings new elite specializations for all professions, shiny legendary treasures to hunt, a revamped skimmer mount and the much-anticipated addition of homesteads and fashion templates. Jump in to tackle bizarre creatures, navigate uncharted lands and face off in unified raids and strike missions. Whether polishing up a new build, decorating the homestead or chasing down legendary loot, gamers will find no shortage of ways to shape the story. Plus, new story chapters and major updates throughout the year mean the adventure is always evolving. Play Guild Wars 2: Visions of Eternity on GeForce NOW and skip past the grind of waiting for downloads or patches. Seamlessly log in and play on any supported device to get right to the action. No Tricks, Just Treats Solve crimes from beyond the grave. Gamers can solve a puzzle-packed murder case in Ghost Trick: Phantom Detective — the quirky, mystery classic from Capcom, directed by Shu Takumi, creator of the Ace Attorney series — now featuring high-definition visuals and upgraded sound. BANG! A single bullet rings out in the dark city. But as one life ends, the story is just getting started. Sissel wakes up as a ghost and realizes he’s lost his memory along with his life. With only a few hours until sunrise — and oblivion — to uncover these answers, Sissel must solve the mystery of his own murder, starting with the detective who may have witnessed the crime. Using the powers of the dead, players can possess and manipulate objects, and even rewind time, as they work to solve brainteasing puzzles in a story chock-full of quirky humour and charming characters. In addition, members can look for the following: Escape Simulator 2 (New release on Steam, Oct. 27) Wreckreation (New release on Steam, Oct. 28) Outbreak Island (New release on Steam, Oct. 28) Dark Moon (New release on Steam, Oct. 29) Earth vs. Mars (New release on Steam, Oct. 29) The Outer Worlds 2 (New release on Steam, Battle.net and Xbox, available on PC Game Pass, Oct. 29, GeForce RTX 5080-ready) ARC Raiders (New release on Steam, Oct. 30, GeForce RTX 5080-ready) Ghost Trick: Phantom Detective – Demo (Steam) Ghost Trick: Phantom Detective (Steam) Keeper (Steam and Xbox, available on PC Game Pass) The Microsoft Store version of Ball x Pit was put into maintenance and will be removed from the library due to a technical issue. The Steam version of the game will continue to be available to members What are you planning to play this weekend? Let us know on X or in the comments below.

Physical AI models — which power robots, autonomous vehicles and other intelligent machines — must be safe, generalized for dynamic scenarios and capable of perceiving, reasoning and operating in real time.

Editor’s note: This post is part of Into the Omniverse, a series focused on how developers, 3D practitioners and enterprises can transform their workflows using the latest advances in OpenUSD and NVIDIA Omniverse. Physical AI models — which power robots, autonomous vehicles and other intelligent machines — must be safe, generalized for dynamic scenarios and capable of perceiving, reasoning and operating in real time. Unlike large language models that can be trained on massive datasets from the internet, physical AI models must learn from data grounded in the real world. However, collecting sufficient data that covers this wide variety of scenarios in the real world is incredibly difficult and, in some cases, dangerous. Physically based synthetic data generation offers a key way to address this gap. NVIDIA recently released updates to NVIDIA Cosmos open world foundation models (WFMs) to accelerate data generation for testing and validating physical AI models. Using NVIDIA Omniverse libraries and Cosmos, developers can generate physically based synthetic data at incredible scale. Cosmos Predict 2.5 now unifies three separate models — Text2World, Image2World and Video2World — into a single lightweight architecture that generates consistent, controllable multicamera video worlds from a single image, video or prompt. Cosmos Transfer 2.5 enables high-fidelity, spatially controlled world-to-world style transfer to amplify data variation. Developers can add new weather, lighting and terrain conditions to their simulated environments across multiple cameras. Cosmos Transfer 2.5 is 3.5x smaller than its predecessor, delivering faster performance with improved prompt alignment and physics accuracy. These WFMs can be integrated into synthetic data pipelines running in the NVIDIA Isaac Sim open-source robotics simulation framework, built on the NVIDIA Omniverse platform, to generate photorealistic videos that reduce the simulation-to-real gap. Developers can reference a four-part pipeline for synthetic data generation: NVIDIA Omniverse NuRec neural reconstruction libraries for reconstructing a digital twin of a real-world environment in OpenUSD, starting with just a smartphone. SimReady assets to populate a digital twin with physically accurate 3D models. The MobilityGen workflow in Isaac Sim to generate synthetic data. NVIDIA Cosmos for augmenting generated data. From Simulation to the Real World Leading robotics and AI companies are already using these technologies to accelerate physical AI development. Skild AI, which builds general-purpose robot brains, is using Cosmos Transfer to augment existing data with new variations for testing and validating robotics policies trained in NVIDIA Isaac Lab. Skild AI uses Isaac Lab to create scalable simulation environments where its robots can train across embodiments and applications. By combining Isaac Lab robotics simulation capabilities with Cosmos’ synthetic data generation, Skild AI can train robot brains across diverse conditions without the time and cost constraints of real-world data collection. Serve Robotics uses synthetic data generated from thousands of simulated scenarios in NVIDIA Isaac Sim. The synthetic data is then used in conjunction with real data to train physical AI models. The company has built one of the largest autonomous robot fleets operating in public spaces and has completed over 100,000 last-mile meal deliveries across urban areas. Serve’s robots collect 1 million miles of data monthly, including nearly 170 billion image-lidar samples, which are used in simulation to further improve robot models. Learn more about how Serve Robotics uses Isaac Sim to accelerate development, testing and deployment of its sidewalk delivery robots by watching the below livestream. Beyond bringing people meals, Serve recently used its robots to deliver compute power — dropping off brand-new NVIDIA DGX Spark personal AI supercomputers to Refik Anadol, Will.I.AM and Ollama. With 1 petaflop of AI performance, DGX Spark offers developers desktop capabilities for workflows from AI model prototyping and model fine-tuning to inference and robotics development. Autonomous drone delivery company Zipline also participated in the DGX Spark drop, with Chief Hardware Officer Jo Mardall receiving a DGX Spark by drone at the company’s headquarters and testing facility in Half Moon Bay, California. Zipline uses the NVIDIA Jetson edge AI and robotics platform for its drone delivery systems. See How Developers Are Using Synthetic Data Lightwheel, a simulation-first robotics solution provider, is helping companies bridge the simulation-to-real gap with SimReady assets and large-scale synthetic datasets. With high-quality synthetic data and simulation environments built on OpenUSD, Lightwheel’s approach helps ensure robots trained in simulation perform effectively in real-world scenarios, from factory floors to homes. Data scientist and Omniverse community member Santiago Villa is using synthetic data with Omniverse libraries and Blender software to improve mining operations by identifying large boulders that halt operations. Undetected boulders entering crushers can cause delays of seven minutes or more per incident, costing mines up to $650,000 annually in lost production. Using Omniverse to generate thousands of automatically annotated synthetic images across varied lighting and weather conditions dramatically reduces training costs while enabling mining companies to improve boulder detection systems and avoid equipment downtime. https://blogs.nvidia.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/10/omni-haul-truck-ito-clip.mp4 FS Studio partnered with a global logistics leader to improve AI-driven package detection by creating thousands of photorealistic package variations in different lighting conditions using Omniverse libraries like Replicator. The synthetic dataset dramatically improved object detection accuracy and reduced false positives, delivering measurable gains in throughput speed and system performance across the customer’s logistics network. Images courtesy of FS Studio Robots for Humanity built a full simulation environment in Isaac Sim for an oil and gas client using Omniverse libraries to generate synthetic data, including depth, segmentation and RGB images, while collecting joint and motion data from the Unitree G1 robot through teleoperation. Image courtesy of Robots for Humanity. Omniverse Ambassador Scott Dempsey is developing a synthetic data generation synthesizer that builds various cables from real-world manufacturer specifications, using Isaac Sim to generate synthetic data augmented with Cosmos Transfer to create photorealistic training datasets for applications that detect and handle cables. Get Plugged Into the World of OpenUSD Learn more about OpenUSD, Cosmos and synthetic data for physical AI by exploring these resources: Train using the “Getting Started With Isaac Sim” learning path, which covers Isaac Sim for robot simulation, ROS 2 integration, synthetic data generation and more. Explore the generative AI reference workflow for synthetic data generation. Build with the step-by-step workflows, technical recipes and concrete examples for AI development in the NVIDIA Cosmos Cookbook. Read this NVIDIA technical blog to learn how to use an iPhone to capture a scene and reconstruct it using NVIDIA Isaac Sim. Watch videos from this YouTube playlist for a workflow on creating synthetic data. Explore NVIDIA Brev to access fully configured GPU environments and prebuilt launchables for physical AI development. Stay up to date by subscribing to NVIDIA Omniverse news, joining the Omniverse community and following Omniverse on Discord, Instagram, LinkedIn, Threads, X and YouTube. Explore the Alliance for OpenUSD forum and the AOUSD website.

Monday, Oct. 27, 12:30 p.m. ET How Medium-Sized Cities Are Tackling AI Readiness 🔗 A panel discussion today at GTC Washington, D.C., highlighted a public-private initiative to invigorate the economy of Rancho Cordova, California, with a focus on AI. To bolster innovation, the city is working with the Human Machine Collaboration Institute and NVIDIA on Read Article

Monday, Oct. 27, 12:30 p.m. ET How Medium-Sized Cities Are Tackling AI Readiness L to R: Mark Muro, senior fellow at Brookings Metro; Micah Runner, city manager of Rancho Cordova; Sadie St. Lawrence, CEO of the Human Machine Collaboration Institute; and Frankie McDermott, chief operating officer of the Sacramento Municipal Utility District. A panel discussion today at GTC Washington, D.C., highlighted a public-private initiative to invigorate the economy of Rancho Cordova, California, with a focus on AI. To bolster innovation, the city is working with the Human Machine Collaboration Institute and NVIDIA on an economic development strategy that includes AI education initiatives, investments in AI infrastructure and support for small businesses adopting AI. “We’re the city of Rancho Cordova. We are not experts in artificial intelligence. We are not experts in semiconductors,” said Micah Runner, city manager of Rancho Cordova. “And so you find good partners, and you have to trust them in the space that they know and they’re responsible for.” The city sees its strategy as one that can be replicated nationwide. “There are only 20 large cities in the country, but there are tens of thousands of medium and small cities — and I think we have to figure out how to create an equal playing field for all of those communities,” Runner said. Monday, Oct. 27, 9 a.m. ET AI Day of Education: GTC Kicks Off With Training Workshops, Gear Store Truck Tours Universities GTC Washington, D.C., begins with a series of full-day developer workshops at the Walter E. Washington Convention Center covering agentic AI, accelerated data science, large language models and physical AI. Meanwhile, an NVIDIA Gear Store truck filled with swag — including the popular engineering ruler — is making stops at three universities around Washington, D.C. The Gear Store truck stopped by George Mason University on Friday. Locations include: American University, 9:30–11:30 a.m. ET Howard University, 12:30–2:30 p.m. ET University of Maryland, 3-5 p.m. ET Setup is underway for the main event — NVIDIA CEO Jensen Huang’s keynote — taking place Tuesday at 12 p.m. ET. Friday, Oct. 24, 5 p.m. ET Countdown to GTC Washington, DC: What to Watch Next Week Next week, Washington, D.C., becomes the center of gravity for artificial intelligence. NVIDIA GTC Washington, D.C., lands at the Walter E. Washington Convention Center Oct. 27-29 — and for those who care about where computing is headed, this is the moment to pay attention. The headline act: NVIDIA founder and CEO Jensen Huang’s keynote address on Tuesday, Oct. 28, at 12 p.m. ET. Expect more than product news — expect a roadmap for how AI will reshape industries, infrastructure and the public sector. Before that, the pregame show kicks off at 8:30 a.m. ET with Brad Gerstner, Patrick Moorhead and Kristina Partsinevelos offering sharp takes on what’s coming. But GTC offers more than a keynote. It provides full immersion: 70+ sessions, hands-on workshops and demos covering everything from agentic AI and robotics to quantum computing and AI-native telecom networks. It’s where developers meet decision-makers, and ideas turn into action. Exhibits-only passes are still available. Bookmark this space. Starting Monday, NVIDIA will live-blog the news, the color and the context, straight from the floor.

Leading technology companies in aerospace and automotive are accelerating their engineering design processes with the NVIDIA DoMINO NIM microservice, part of the NVIDIA PhysicsNeMo AI physics framework. By integrating GPU-accelerated computing, NVIDIA PhysicsNeMo and interactive digital twin technologies, enterprises are accelerating their modeling and simulation workflows by up to 500x over traditional methods, speeding innovation Read Article

Leading technology companies in aerospace and automotive are accelerating their engineering design processes with the NVIDIA DoMINO NIM microservice, part of the NVIDIA PhysicsNeMo AI physics framework. By integrating GPU-accelerated computing, NVIDIA PhysicsNeMo and interactive digital twin technologies, enterprises are accelerating their modeling and simulation workflows by up to 500x over traditional methods, speeding innovation and shortening development cycles. NVIDIA PhysicsNeMo empowers users to accelerate simulating physical systems like automobiles, airplanes, heavy machinery and more in near real time for faster time to market. Such simulation of complex physical systems unlocks incredible speedups and gives solutions providers the freedom to explore groundbreaking designs at previously inconceivable scales and accuracy. Synopsys Achieves 500x Leap in Computational Engineering With NVIDIA AI Physics Simulation software providers like Ansys, part of Synopsys, are using NVIDIA PhysicsNeMo to achieve up to 500x speedups in computational engineering. This enormous speedup comes from multiplying the benefits of GPU acceleration by the performance and accuracy of AI physics. The framework offers a new way to start fluid simulations with a highly accurate initial state — typically a computationally expensive task that requires numerous iterations — and with low runtime cost. Fluid simulations can be up to 50x faster than traditional methods when performed with NVIDIA GPU-accelerated tools like Ansys Fluent. Using NVIDIA PhysicsNeMo pretrained models to initialize the simulation multiplies that GPU-powered 50x speedup by an additional 10x due to the higher accuracy of the initial solution. Unlocking Real-Time Aerospace Design Leading aerospace technology companies are using NVIDIA GPU-accelerated workflows and PhysicsNeMo to speed the design and optimization of advanced aircraft and automotive systems. Northrop Grumman and Luminary Cloud are using accelerated compute and AI-driven physics to accelerate spacecraft thruster nozzle design. With Luminary’s high-speed, NVIDIA CUDA-X-accelerated computational fluid dynamics solver, Northrop generated a large training dataset to build a surrogate nozzle model on Luminary’s cloud platform, which is powered by NVIDIA PhysicsNeMo. This dataset enabled Northrop’s engineers to rapidly explore thousands of design options and identify the optimal solution Aerospace pioneer Blue Origin is using NVIDIA PhysicsNeMo and advanced AI modeling to design next-generation space vehicles. PhysicsNeMo enables Blue Origin to use existing and augmented datasets to train models that rapidly explore potential design candidates, leading to ones that can be then validated with high-fidelity, CUDA-X-accelerated solvers. Building on Computational Engineering Breakthroughs GPU Acceleration These latest AI physics breakthroughs further NVIDIA’s work in computational engineering to advance simulation with GPU acceleration. Cadence is pushing real-time simulation in aerospace through its Cadence Fidelity computational fluid dynamics platform, using NVIDIA CUDA-X libraries. By tapping into GPU acceleration, Cadence enables leading aerospace manufacturers to quickly build large-scale AI training datasets using its Millennium M2000 supercomputer. This lets engineers interactively explore and optimize designs, enhancing system efficiency and speeding time to market. A global leader in energy solutions used Cadence Fidelity LES Solver and NVIDIA Grace Blackwell-accelerated simulation platforms to rapidly iterate designs and run high-fidelity multiphysics simulations. This significantly shortens design cycles and optimizes turbine performance, enabling greater efficiency, emissions management and reliability for next-generation energy systems. Watch the GTC Washington, D.C., keynote from NVIDIA founder and CEO Jensen Huang and explore sessions.

To democratize access to AI technology nationwide, AI education and deployment can’t be limited to a few urban tech hubs — it must reach every community, university and state. That’s why NVIDIA is working with cities, states and educational institutions to embed AI education and innovation across the U.S., with the goal of helping the Read Article

To democratize access to AI technology nationwide, AI education and deployment can’t be limited to a few urban tech hubs — it must reach every community, university and state. That’s why NVIDIA is working with cities, states and educational institutions to embed AI education and innovation across the U.S., with the goal of helping the next generation of American developers, researchers and engineers lead the global AI economy. These initiatives — which span state-level AI factories, municipal strategies for AI-driven economic development and educational initiatives for students of all ages — have the potential to change generational outcomes by driving workforce development and economic growth in communities nationwide. At NVIDIA GTC Washington, D.C., running through Wednesday, Oct. 29, government and educational institutions including the State of Utah, the City of Rancho Cordova and Miles College are discussing recent collaborations with NVIDIA to spur AI training and innovation. Utah Launches First State AI Factory The University of Utah recently unveiled an AI factory initiative with NVIDIA and HPE that will more than triple the university’s computing capacity with a $50 million investment of public and philanthropic funds into AI infrastructure. Jacobus (Kobus) Van der Merwe, professor in the School of Computing at the University of Utah. The multiyear effort will support the university’s healthcare and scientific research, including projects focused on Alzheimer’s, cancer, genetics and mental health. “With this initiative, we aim to build the AI infrastructure needed to fuel a strong ecosystem of developers, students and researchers across the state,” said Taylor Randall, president of the University of Utah. “This boost in compute availability will help drive research and entrepreneurship across scientific disciplines.” Utah is also among a growing number of states — including California, Mississippi and Oregon — collaborating with NVIDIA to enhance AI education efforts and boost regional economic development. Utah’s Silicon Slopes tech hub Through an initiative announced earlier this year, Utah is equipping educators at the state’s universities, community colleges and adult education programs with AI skills and certification through the NVIDIA Deep Learning Institute University Ambassador Program. It’s part of a broader effort to ensure the state’s educational system is preparing teachers and students with AI skills. The AI Ecosystem as a Policy Engine: Rancho Cordova’s Municipal Innovation Strategy Rancho Cordova, California — a city of about 85,000 residents located less than 15 miles from Sacramento — is collaborating with NVIDIA and the Human Machine Collaboration Institute (HMCI) to boost the city’s AI capabilities with AI infrastructure, workforce upskilling and student training. Cordova High School students learning robotics skills. In this critical period of AI advancement, the city aims to generate economic value by developing an AI and robotics ecosystem that will attract AI businesses to Rancho Cordova with reliable power infrastructure and workforce pipelines from local colleges and universities. The city then plans to reinvest revenue from the new AI businesses into building its local AI ecosystem with workforce development programs, research and additional AI infrastructure. “Rancho Cordova is charting new territory by developing an AI ecosystem that unites industry, education and government to shape the future of economic growth,” said Rancho Cordova City Manager Micah Runner. “In collaboration with NVIDIA and HMCI, we’re exploring how cities can use AI to drive innovation, strengthen the economy and expand opportunities for our community.” As a research institution, HMCI sees the Rancho Cordova initiative as a flagship example that can be shared with other cities to fuel their local economies. “It’s essential that every city is thinking about how they can adapt and change with AI,” said Sadie St. Lawrence, founder and CEO of HMCI. “In Rancho Cordova, we’re showing that you don’t have to be one of the Silicon Valleys of the world to start to infuse AI technology into your ecosystem.” Scaling AI Education Through College and University Partnerships To help prepare students for careers in the evolving AI landscape, NVIDIA is working with educational platforms for high schools, colleges and universities nationwide, as well as professional organizations, to integrate AI education for learners of all backgrounds. Miles College, a historically Black college (HBCU) located in Fairfield, Alabama, is collaborating with NVIDIA to integrate AI across academic programs, faculty research and community engagement. NVIDIA is providing access to Deep Learning Institute resources, frameworks and development tools to expand the college’s AI curriculum — and help train and certify faculty and students in AI and accelerated computing. The company will also work with Miles College to identify and position resources and partnerships to catalyze innovation and economic development for surrounding communities. Miles College campus in Fairfield, Alabama “We’re implementing AI fluency to be a core competency for every Miles College graduate — no matter what field they’re in — so that they’re prepared not only for success in their careers, but for leadership in their communities,” said Bobbie Knight, president of Miles College. “This initiative is about inspiring innovation and expanding opportunity, not just within the walls of Miles College but throughout the state — because when our students thrive, our entire region grows stronger.” Miles College is already implementing AI campus-wide, with nearly half of faculty regularly integrating AI into course design and student learning modules, and about 60% of the college’s research supported by AI. Knight last year established the 2150 Center for Innovation, Commercialization and Growth, an initiative to champion HBCU tech and boost innovation in the region with resources to support founders and entrepreneurs and fuel successful businesses. The presidents of the University of Utah and Miles College will join leaders from Coppin State University and Houston City College in a GTC Washington, D.C., panel Wednesday. The session will showcase how colleges and universities across the country integrate AI into their curricula, supporting state and regional economic goals while preparing students for high-demand job sectors. NVIDIA is working with other American educational institutes and professional organizations including: California College of the Arts: The nonprofit art and design college is collaborating with NVIDIA to integrate AI and GPU-accelerated computing into visual art, architecture and interactive media — and provide AI education through the NVIDIA Deep Learning Institute. Black Tech Street: This Tulsa, Oklahoma-based organization is working with NVIDIA to catalyze AI innovation and train up to 10,000 people in AI through collaborations with educational institutions and community organizations. Black Women in Artificial Intelligence: A three-year agreement with NVIDIA aims to expand access to AI education and professional networks to innovative organizations in the AI industry. StudyFetch: This AI-powered educational platform, a member of the NVIDIA Inception program for startups, is bringing NVIDIA Academy to high-school students nationwide, starting with the AI for All course. The initiative launches today with students from the Washington, D.C.-based Friendship Public Charter School and Richard Wright Public Charter Schools. “Our mission is to make sure every student everywhere can succeed,” said Sam Whitaker, vice president of social impact and strategic initiatives at StudyFetch. “With AI, we have the chance to close opportunity and workforce readiness gaps across the country. That work starts right now.” The StudyFetch collaboration is the first milestone in NVIDIA’s K-12 AI education plan, which was announced earlier this year with StudyFetch and CK-12, another leading K-12 learning platform. The effort is aligned with the White House executive order Advancing Artificial Intelligence Education for American Youth. Watch the GTC Washington, D.C., keynote from NVIDIA founder and CEO Jensen Huang and explore sessions.

Along the Pacific Ocean in Monterey, California, the Naval Postgraduate School (NPS) is making a splash all the way to Washington, D.C.: It’s using artificial intelligence to solve operational challenges while educating tomorrow’s leaders in AI skills. Like Silicon Valley, it’s not uncommon for NPS, the U.S. Navy’s flagship academic graduate university, to hold hackathons, Read Article

Along the Pacific Ocean in Monterey, California, the Naval Postgraduate School (NPS) is making a splash all the way to Washington, D.C.: It’s using artificial intelligence to solve operational challenges while educating tomorrow’s leaders in AI skills. Like Silicon Valley, it’s not uncommon for NPS, the U.S. Navy’s flagship academic graduate university, to hold hackathons, creating advances in autonomy, space operations, ocean research, decision tools and much more. Supporting those efforts, NVIDIA has granted an NVIDIA DGX GB300 system to help NPS play a leading role in the U.S. government’s AI race. Supercharging its AI efforts, NPS will use an NVIDIA DGX GB300 and NVIDIA Mission Control software to support over 1,500 in-resident students, 600 faculty and thousands of external partners, with plans to expand its infrastructure in the future. The system is being put to work empowering the new NVIDIA AI Technology Center at NPS for applications in everything from complex mission planning to autonomous systems simulations to disaster recovery so that U.S. service members and partners are better positioned strategically to lead with AI. “First, with this DGX GB300 system, we should be able to support model training and inference capability with our own NPS GPT,” said retired Col. Randolph Pugh, NPS AI Task Force lead and AI Portfolio director. “It will give us on-premises capability for added privacy to provide a generative AI large language model tool for people to use.” NPS has partnered on many technical challenges with nonprofit organization MITRE, which develops technologies and solutions for the government and public interest with federally funded research and development centers. Sometimes that involves transferring technology, such as powerful weather models that NPS can develop further. Studying the sea in support of naval operations has always been a focus of NPS. Tackling AI Strategic Challenges With a Three-Computer Solution MITRE recently shared with NPS its Advanced Simulation for Planning and Enhanced Navigation (ASPEN) simulation framework, which it developed on the NVIDIA Omniverse platform. ASPEN provides a high-fidelity digital twin environment for simulating — using the NVIDIA Isaac Sim framework for robotics — with unmanned underwater vehicle (UUV) navigation, obstacle avoidance and real-time decision-making under uncertain conditions like currents, low visibility and acoustic interference. MITRE’s ASPEN 3 Network brings in real-world data from its BlueTech Lab, an indoor pool maritime test facility, which helps validate autonomous systems and actions in water. ASPEN is used to develop environmental models around wind, temperature, salinity, current and water depth. It works with models for sonar, inertial measurement unit devices, compass readings, lidar and cameras. Computing for UUVs runs on NVIDIA Jetson AGX modules at the edge to process data. MITRE harnesses an NVIDIA DGX SuperPOD to train large language and weather forecast models in its Federal AI Sandbox. The AI Sandbox is a secure environment for federal agencies to experiment, prototype and deploy advanced AI. MITRE’s use of accelerated computing — across NVIDIA Jetson AGX, Omniverse and DGX — encompasses NVIDIA’s three-computer solution for developing physical AI. Accelerating Weather and Environmental Modeling at NPS With NVIDIA DGX GB300 Understanding and accurately predicting ocean operational environments remains critical to effective naval planning and readiness. Understanding the environment that the Navy operates within is important to help keep ships and their crews safe at sea. After training the foundational models on DGX GB300, NPS can run simulations using NVIDIA Isaac Sim to help understand environments where the Navy operates and further train in ASPEN. “We need to predict environmental changes by understanding the atmosphere, the sea surface, subsurface and seabed for maximum mission effectiveness and crew safety,” said Pugh. ASPEN works with physics-based models and can incorporate real-time vehicle position and orientation data for hardware-in-the loop model training and mission prediction. Modeling the World and Beyond ASPEN offers efficient generation of propagation environments for sensor modeling with NVIDIA fVDB, an open-source, GPU-accelerated deep learning framework. It’s used for processing massive 3D datasets with spatial intelligence, enabling generative physical AI by accelerating 3D machine learning tasks for applications such as digital twins. The NVIDIA fVDB framework can be harnessed to build high-fidelity digital twins of many different environments. This requires processing datasets from sources such as telemetry, sonar, satellite data and other sensor reports to create virtual representations of the ocean floor, water column, atmosphere and even space. Using these kinds of AI simulation environments enables NPS to detect and understand what’s normal and what’s not. “For example, should a spacecraft lose its capability to maneuver, or something crashes into something, it creates debris, and we’d like to predict where every little thing goes because the uncontrolled satellites or debris fields can be extremely dangerous,” said Pugh. Developing Real-World Naval Applications While Learning AI Across all curricula at NPS, AI is enabling its military students to earn their graduate degrees and conduct hands-on applied research with AI by developing real-world applications that benefit the Naval and Joint Force. “We can spin up something born out of an independent study or a hackathon project or funded research, with faculty leveraging students as part of that, and we can connect them with the fleets that are going to fund them or operationalize them,” said U.S. Navy Captain Michael Owen, NPS AI Task Force Deputy. NVIDIA is also providing resources through the NVIDIA Deep Learning Institute and has established an NVIDIA AI Technology Center at the university’s Monterey campus to give the faculty at NPS cutting-edge resources that enhance the institution’s unique defense-focused graduate education and research. “We’ve appreciated the access to the NVIDIA Deep Learning Institute for its instructor toolkits,” Pugh said. “It’s proving critical in helping NPS educate tomorrow’s leaders in AI.” Watch the GTC Washington, D.C., keynote from NVIDIA founder and CEO Jensen Huang and explore sessions.

The race to bottle a star now runs on AI. NVIDIA, General Atomics and a team of international partners have built a high-fidelity, AI-enabled digital twin for a fusion reactor with interactive performance, with technical support from San Diego Supercomputer Center at UC San Diego School of Computing, Information and Data Sciences, the Argonne Leadership Read Article

The race to bottle a star now runs on AI. NVIDIA, General Atomics and a team of international partners have built a high-fidelity, AI-enabled digital twin for a fusion reactor with interactive performance, with technical support from San Diego Supercomputer Center at UC San Diego School of Computing, Information and Data Sciences, the Argonne Leadership Computing Facility (ACLF) at Argonne National Laboratory and National Energy Research Scientific Computing Center (NERSC) at Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory. The effort, announced today at the NVIDIA GTC Washington, D.C., conference, used Polaris at the ALCF and Perlmutter at NERSC supercomputing systems to train three distinct AI surrogate models at scale. This groundbreaking project uses the NVIDIA Omniverse platform, NVIDIA CUDA-X libraries and data center GPUs to help researchers tackle one of science’s toughest problems: making fusion energy work on Earth. Here’s why this matters: fusion promises virtually limitless, clean energy by replicating the process that powers the sun. “The ability to explore scenarios virtually through this interactive digital twin is a game-changer,” said Raffi Nazikian, fusion data science lead at General Atomics. “Working with NVIDIA, we can now test, refine and verify our ideas orders of magnitude faster, accelerating the path toward practical fusion energy.” But controlling plasma at extreme temperatures — think hundreds of millions of degrees — and predicting its behavior fast enough to keep reactors running is a massive challenge. Plasma is the fourth state of matter, a swirling soup of charged particles that behaves like a living thing. It’s what stars are made of. In fusion reactors, plasma is the fuel — the stuff that, if tamed, could power cities with the energy of the sun. Imagine trying to bottle a star. That’s the metaphor fusion scientists love, and for good reason: it’s poetic and accurate. That’s where AI comes in. By reducing simulation times from weeks to seconds, AI enables researchers to interact with the reactor virtually, exploring scenarios that may damage the reactor without risk, and accelerate the path to commercial fusion power. At the forefront of this effort, General Atomics is developing an AI-enabled digital twin as part of their research at the US Department of Energy’s DIII-D National Fusion Facility to push fusion research forward. AI: Turning Weeks to Seconds Traditionally, simulating plasma behavior takes weeks on even the fastest supercomputers. General Atomics is now using AI surrogate models — trained on decades of real-world data — to predict plasma behavior in seconds, all of which continue to be improved. These models, including EFIT (for plasma equilibrium), CAKE (for plasma boundary) and ION ORB (for heat density of escaping ions), can help operators keep the plasma stable in real time, reducing the risk of damage and speeding up research. Running on NVIDIA GPUs, these models deliver accurate predictions faster than physics-based simulations. They’re among the many models used to help simulate the behavior of fusion reactors and control them, which can be accelerated by AI. The Digital Twin NVIDIA and General Atomics are building a fully interactive digital twin of the DIII-D inside NVIDIA Omniverse, powered by NVIDIA RTX PRO Servers and NVIDIA DGX Spark, with supporting contributions from San Diego Supercomputer Center, ALCF and NERSC. This virtual reactor dynamically fuses sensor data, physics-based simulations, engineering models and AI surrogate models — creating a unified, real-time interactive environment that can quickly inform decisions. The digital twin is synchronized with the physical DIII-D, allowing the international team of 700 scientists from 100 different organizations to test ideas and run “what-if” scenarios without touching the real machine. Key controls can be explored in the digital twin to refine the science before running real experiments, enabling rapid optimization and faster progress toward commercial fusion. Why It Matters This approach fundamentally shifts fusion research from a pure physics challenge to one also powered by computing and smart algorithms. By moving from weeks-long simulations to near-real-time, interactive answers in seconds, the digital twin acts as a true “fusion accelerator” — a platform to rapidly test new ideas, optimize reactor designs and put commercial fusion energy on a faster track. Learn more about how NVIDIA and partners are advancing AI innovation in the U.S. by watching the NVIDIA GTC Washington, D.C., keynote by Jensen Huang.

NVIDIA is delivering the telecom industry a major boost in open-source software for building AI-native 5G and 6G networks. NVIDIA Aerial software will soon be released as open source, making it available on a variety of NVIDIA platforms, including on NVIDIA DGX Spark. With open-source software and a powerful and accessible supercomputer to run it Read Article

NVIDIA is delivering the telecom industry a major boost in open-source software for building AI-native 5G and 6G networks. NVIDIA Aerial software will soon be released as open source, making it available on a variety of NVIDIA platforms, including on NVIDIA DGX Spark. With open-source software and a powerful and accessible supercomputer to run it all, AI-RAN and wireless researchers can go from rapid prototyping to product development in hours versus months or years. That means next-generation AI-native mobile networks can be built at the pace of AI for open, widespread collaboration, unlike previous generations where innovation was constrained by access to licensed software and proprietary hardware. Rewriting the Wireless Playbook With Open Source Open source is reshaping industries by breaking down barriers to innovation and accelerating collaboration, enabling breakthroughs that would be impossible under closed, proprietary systems. NVIDIA is a leading contributor to open source, including for the telecom industry. Previously open-sourced NVIDIA Sionna software has already surpassed 200,000 downloads and 500 citations. Now, NVIDIA is open sourcing its Aerial software, including Aerial CUDA-Accelerated RAN, Aerial Omniverse Digital Twin (AODT) and the new Aerial Framework. These resources — previously limited to a small group — are expected to be available on GitHub under Apache 2.0 licensing starting this December, with AODT release in March 2026, empowering developers to build full-stack, AI-native 5G and 6G RAN solutions. They can experiment and build AI-native network solutions without restrictions, accelerating the transition from research to real-world deployment. The upcoming Aerial open-source release is packed with capabilities, including: Aerial Framework for converting Python code into high-performance CUDA code to run on NVIDIA Aerial RAN computer platforms. AI-powered neural models, such as advanced channel estimation for significantly improving wireless performance. A dApp framework to provide third-party applications with access to real-time physical layer data through secure application programming interfaces. Developers can deploy AI-powered dApp algorithms that can modify RAN behavior in real time. Customizable pipelines with modules that developers can selectively modify or replace with their own code to build full-stack RAN software. Such features have enabled the first made-in-America AI-native wireless stack, showcasing early 6G applications including spectrum agility and integrated sensing and communications. This move expands access to powerful CUDA-accelerated wireless software and boosts the global movement toward AI-native 5G and 6G solutions. It opens doors to developers beyond the telecom industry, making it easy for them to build new applications for mobile networks, including agentic and physical AI applications that need mission-critical performance. This shift amplifies U.S. leadership in open source and fundamentally rewrites the way the telecom industry innovates — sparking knowledge-sharing and an implementation-first approach at a global scale. DGX Spark: The Desktop Supercomputer for Wireless R&D NVIDIA DGX Spark, the world’s smallest AI supercomputer, is now available for AI-native 5G and 6G research. It delivers the performance to run NVIDIA Aerial or Sionna software in a cost-effective small footprint. Whether procured through manufacturers or accessed via NVIDIA DGX Cloud, DGX Spark empowers teams to prototype complete wireless networks and continuously train and refine their AI models using real-world data gathered across diverse radio environments. The NVIDIA Sionna Research Kit now supports DGX Spark, in addition to NVIDIA Jetson AGX Orin, offering an AI-native 6G lab in a box for rapid prototyping. It brings together every component, from user equipment and antennas to radio systems and core networks, that developers need to research and validate AI/ML algorithms’ performance over the air — and to do so in one afternoon, from unboxing to setting a live 5G network. Researchers can test their algorithms anywhere with the ultraportable kit, instead of being confined to a lab. The NVIDIA Aerial Testbed now supports DGX Spark in addition to NVIDIA GH200 Grace Hopper Superchips, enabling over-the-air testing of CUDA-accelerated, full-stack 5G and 6G networks. Designed to accelerate commercial product development, it provides seamless integration between network digital twin and live deployment. Dell Technologies is introducing Dell Pro Max with GB10, a DGX Spark-based system designed to empower researchers and developers across a wide range of AI applications, including the demanding needs of global telecom research. The platform delivers proven performance for handling intensive 5G and 6G workloads, offering a stable and powerful environment for testing, simulation and validation while enabling researchers to tackle the complex challenges of 6G. Collaborators Building AI-Native 6G on NVIDIA The NVIDIA AI Aerial portfolio — spanning accelerated computing platforms, software libraries and tools — gives developers the means to build, train, simulate and deploy full-stack AI-native RAN systems faster than ever. Thousands of wireless innovators around the world are already tapping into the NVIDIA AI Aerial portfolio for research and development, including leading U.S. institutions Northeastern University, Virginia Tech, Arizona State University and DeepSig, and researchers from WINSLab and LIDS at MIT, who are working on AI-driven breakthroughs that will define 6G technology and shape global standards. The AI-RAN Alliance is shaping the core architecture of AI-native wireless networks, bringing together over 100 telecom industry pioneers through work groups, labs, benchmarking and live demonstrations — many of which have been developed using NVIDIA AI Aerial. “With NVIDIA’s open-source Aerial software and DGX Spark, developers can create modular, software-defined wireless systems and experiment freely — from labs to live environments,” said Alex Jinsung Choi, chairman of the AI-RAN Alliance. “This is a critical enabler for fueling AI-RAN innovations that boost spectrum efficiency, enhance network performance and power new AI applications — at a pace the industry has never experienced.” A New Chapter in Wireless Innovation for the AI Era By breaking down barriers and inviting participation from developers far beyond traditional wireless, NVIDIA is catalyzing a wave of 5G and 6G collaboration that will shape national competitiveness and global standards. NVIDIA’s commitment to open access and global collaboration marks this as a pivotal milestone for the telecom industry, enabling a fully inclusive, software-defined and AI-powered future where innovation moves at the speed of AI. Watch the GTC Washington, D.C., keynote from NVIDIA founder and CEO Jensen Huang and explore sessions. See notice regarding software product information.

Lilly, a pioneer in medicine, is deploying the largest, most powerful AI factory wholly owned and operated by a pharmaceutical company —the world’s first NVIDIA DGX SuperPOD with DGX B300 systems.

AI is moving from the digital world into the physical one. Across factory floors and operating rooms, machines are evolving into collaborators that can see, sense and make decisions in real time. To accelerate this transformation, NVIDIA today unveiled NVIDIA IGX Thor, a powerful, industrial-grade platform built to bring real-time physical AI directly to the edge, Read Article

AI is moving from the digital world into the physical one. Across factory floors and operating rooms, machines are evolving into collaborators that can see, sense and make decisions in real time. To accelerate this transformation, NVIDIA today unveiled NVIDIA IGX Thor, a powerful, industrial-grade platform built to bring real-time physical AI directly to the edge, combining high-speed sensor processing, enterprise-grade reliability and functional safety in a small module for the desktop. Delivering up to 8x the AI compute performance of its predecessor, NVIDIA IGX Orin, IGX Thor enables developers to build intelligent systems that perceive, reason and act faster, safer and smarter than ever. Early adopters include industrial, robotic, medical and healthcare leaders, Diligent Robotics, EndoQuest Robotics, Hitachi Rail, Joby Aviation, Maven and SETI Institute, while CMR Surgical is evaluating IGX Thor to advance its medical capabilities. The NVIDIA IGX Thor Developer Kit Mini. IGX Thor Delivers Breakthrough Performance for Edge AI Applications Medical and industrial companies have historically faced limitations advancing applications for medical imaging, surgical robotics and industrial AI automation due to edge systems lacking the speed and capacity to process real-time data or securely run multiple generative AI models without sacrificing performance. IGX Thor overcomes these challenges by delivering robust, reliable AI compute tailored for industrial and medical environments. It provides real-time intelligence, seamless data connectivity, and built-in safety and security. The platform features two types of NVIDIA Blackwell GPUs — an integrated GPU (iGPU) and a discrete GPU (dGPU) — delivering 5,581 FP4 teraflops of AI compute with 400 GbE connectivity. Compared with NVIDIA IGX Orin, IGX Thor provides up to 8x higher AI compute on iGPUs, 2.5x higher AI compute on dGPUs and 2x better connectivity to seamlessly run large language models and vision language models at the edge. The industrial-grade platform comes with a 10-year lifecycle and long-term support for the NVIDIA AI software stack, keeping enterprise and physical AI applications accelerated and secured even in the most challenging conditions. IGX Thor runs the NVIDIA AI Enterprise software stack, including NVIDIA NIM microservices, which accelerate physical AI application development from the cloud to the edge, NVIDIA Isaac for robotics, NVIDIA Metropolis for visual AI and NVIDIA Holoscan for sensor processing. In addition, NVIDIA IGX Thor integrates elements from the NVIDIA Halos full-stack safety system to embed functional safety into robotics, medical and industrial AI systems — tapping into onboard and infrastructure sensors to ensure both traditional and outside-in safety for safe human collaboration. NVIDIA Partner Ecosystem Accelerates the Industrial and Medical Edge Global industrial and robotic leaders Hitachi Rail, Maven, SETI Institute and Joby Aviation are adopting IGX Thor to build and deploy advanced AI solutions that enhance safety, improve efficiency and enable new levels of automation in factories, warehouses and transportation systems. Hitachi Rail is using IGX Thor to deploy advanced predictive maintenance and autonomous inspection systems on rail networks, boosting operational efficiency and reliability. “AI and data are transforming railways,” said Giuseppe Marino, group CEO of Hitachi Rail. “By adopting NVIDIA IGX Thor, we are bringing the world’s most powerful industrial-grade, real-time AI performance directly to the edge, enabling operators to better optimize their railways and infrastructure. This capability will strengthen reliability, efficiency and optimization for passengers and operators alike.” Maven Robotics will integrate NVIDIA IGX Thor into its next-generation industrial robots to unite advanced embodied-AI performance with built-in safety and real-time decision-making at scale. “Maven Robotics is bringing general-purpose robots to industrial environments, partnering with leading global manufacturing and logistics organizations to deploy at scale,” said Hamza Derbas, CEO of Maven Robotics. “NVIDIA Thor IGX sits at the core of our next-gen robots, pairing safety-rated compute with the performance to run advanced embodied-AI models so capability and compliance move forward together.” Global medical device and healthcare pioneers Diligent Robotics and Endoquest Robotics are adopting IGX Thor. CMR Surgical is evaluating IGX Thor to power advanced AI capabilities within its surgical robotics systems, enabling real-time analysis and adaptive decision-making in the operating room. The platform’s safety, reliability and compute performance support CMR’s vision to deliver intelligent assistance that enhances surgical precision, improves efficiency and results in better patient outcomes. “Precision and patient safety are at the heart of every procedure,” said Chris Fryer, chief technology officer of CMR Surgical. “With IGX Thor, we have the potential to deploy next-generation AI assistants and real-time surgical guidance that process high-fidelity data in real time, allowing us to simplify complex procedures and enable safer, more intelligent minimal-access surgery.” NVIDIA’s partner ecosystem of equipment manufacturers, including Advantech, ADLINK, ASRock Rack, Barco, Curtiss-Wright, Dedicated Computing, EIZO Rugged Solutions, Inventec, NexCOBOT – a NEXCOM company, Onyx, WOLF Advanced Technology and YUAN, provides a range of IGX Thor-powered edge servers, customized carrier boards, design services, cameras and sensors, along with AI and system software to speed solution development. The NVIDIA IGX Thor platform includes two production-ready systems — the NVIDIA IGX T5000 module and the NVIDIA IGX T7000 board kit — built for diverse physical AI applications with functional safety. The IGX Thor production systems and developer kits are expected to be available in December. Watch the GTC Washington, D.C., keynote from NVIDIA founder and CEO Jensen Huang and explore sessions.

Governments everywhere are racing to harness the power of AI — but legacy infrastructure isn’t built for the velocity, complexity or trust that mission-critical action now demands. Massive data streams, cyber threats and urgent operations require a new blueprint for creating AI factories purpose-built for the public sector’s unique standards and scale. At NVIDIA GTC Read Article

Governments everywhere are racing to harness the power of AI — but legacy infrastructure isn’t built for the velocity, complexity or trust that mission-critical action now demands. Massive data streams, cyber threats and urgent operations require a new blueprint for creating AI factories purpose-built for the public sector’s unique standards and scale. At NVIDIA GTC Washington, D.C., NVIDIA today unveiled the NVIDIA AI Factory for Government reference design, in collaboration with software and services leaders, to enable federal agencies and regulated industries to build and deploy new AI platforms and intelligent agents. The reference design provides guidance for deploying full-stack AI infrastructure using the latest NVIDIA AI Enterprise software — now designed to meet stringent security standards for FedRAMP-authorized clouds and high-assurance environments. Industry Leaders Tap NVIDIA AI Factory for Government NVIDIA AI Factory for Government runs on recommended hardware configurations from NVIDIA Enterprise Reference Architectures, based on the NVIDIA Blackwell architecture, including NVIDIA RTX PRO Servers and NVIDIA HGX B200 systems. It also includes NVIDIA Spectrum-X Ethernet, the NVIDIA BlueField platform, NVIDIA-Certified Storage, the latest NVIDIA AI Enterprise software and NVIDIA Nemotron open models. Building on the NVIDIA Enterprise AI Factory validated design announced at COMPUTEX, the AI Factory for Government reference design features NVIDIA AI Enterprise software, which is now built to meet rigorous security standards. NVIDIA AI Enterprise includes new capabilities like advanced code scanning, vulnerability management and continuous monitoring to ensure the highest levels of security. This enables AI workloads to remain configured, regularly updated and ready for mission-critical deployments across federal and high-assurance environments. NVIDIA is working with leading technology platform providers to operationalize AI with the latest NVIDIA AI Enterprise software, helping serve the needs of the public sector and other highly regulated industries. Palantir and NVIDIA are building a first-of-its-kind integrated technology stack for operational AI that integrates Palantir Ontology — the core of the Palantir AI Platform (AIP) — with NVIDIA data processing and route optimization libraries, open models and accelerated computing to speed up AI deployments for enterprises and government. AIP will integrate NVIDIA AI Enterprise software, NVIDIA Nemotron and other AI capabilities included in the AI Factory for Government reference design to power domain-specific intelligence and AI agents for the complex operating environments of highly regulated industries. To strengthen cybersecurity in AI factories, CrowdStrike will expand its Agentic Security Platform to support the NVIDIA AI Factory for Government reference design, enabling organizations to build and deploy AI agents in federal and high-assurance environments. CrowdStrike will also integrate NVIDIA Nemotron open models, NVIDIA NeMo Data Designer and the NVIDIA NeMo Agent Toolkit through Charlotte AI AgentWorks to deliver autonomous, continuously learning AI agents for real-time threat detection and response across cloud, data center and edge environments. ServiceNow is integrating the latest NVIDIA AI Enterprise software in the ServiceNow AI Platform for U.S. federal customers — suitable for FedRAMP-authorized clouds and high-assurance, on-premises environments — to boost productivity and drive savings for public sector agencies. ServiceNow also announced today its Apriel 2.0 model — the latest in its Apriel Nemotron model family, engineered to deliver frontier-level AI reasoning and multimodal capabilities to enterprises in a faster, smaller, more cost-efficient footprint. Astris AI, a Lockheed Martin company, is integrating the latest NVIDIA AI Enterprise software into its Astris AI Factory to enable accelerated, secure AI deployments for classified and mission-critical environments, in alignment with strict federal security standards. The Astris AI Factory has been used internally at Lockheed Martin for more than five years. Now commercially available, Astris AI will use the latest NVIDIA AI Enterprise software to develop and deploy internal AI agents in industries that rely on trust and precision. “Success in complex missions depends on AI that’s secure and reliable,” said Jim Taiclet, chairman, president and CEO of Lockheed Martin. “By working with Astris AI and using the latest NVIDIA AI Enterprise tools, we’re speeding up how we develop and deliver AI systems that improve precision and performance in critical operations.” Northrop Grumman is deploying an AI factory powered by NVIDIA RTX PRO Servers, Spectrum-X Ethernet networking and government-ready NVIDIA AI Enterprise software for deploying secure enterprise AI services, enabling development of advanced AI capabilities and boosting productivity and operational efficiency across its workforce of nearly 100,000 employees. Partner Ecosystem Readies AI Factories to Accelerate AI Agents NVIDIA partners are helping enable the world’s organizations to rapidly build and deploy AI agents and applications across federal and enterprise organizations with the NVIDIA AI Factory for Government reference design. Developers deploying AI agents on their AI factory infrastructure can tap into partner platforms from Dataiku, DataRobot, Domino Data Lab and H2O.ai to build, orchestrate, operationalize and scale agentic and predictive AI workflows. In addition, the reference design supports vector databases from Elastic and EnterpriseDB to help agents store, search and retrieve data. Enterprises can secure their AI factories with software from observability and security partners including Dynatrace, Fiddler, JFrog, Protopia AI, Trend Micro and Weights & Biases. Customers can also secure their agentic AI applications by adding NVIDIA Confidential Computing to their hybrid and on-premises AI factories through data security platform partners such as Fortanix. Software infrastructure and deployment partners including Canonical, Mirantis, Nutanix, Red Hat, Spectro Cloud and Broadcom can help enterprises seamlessly scale and manage AI agent workloads across complex, high-assurance, on-premises environments. Cloud providers including CoreWeave and Oracle Cloud Infrastructure are supporting the AI Factory for Government reference design so their government customers can build and deploy government-ready AI factories in secure cloud environments. Leading server manufacturers including Cisco, Dell Technologies, HPE, Lenovo and Supermicro will offer full-stack AI factory offerings using the NVIDIA AI Factory for Government reference design to further accelerate AI deployments for the public sector and highly regulated industries. Watch the GTC Washington, D.C., keynote from NVIDIA founder and CEO Jensen Huang and explore sessions. See notice regarding software product information.

Furthering its deep commitment to open source, NVIDIA is unveiling new open-source AI technologies for language, robotics and biology — contributing to an open ecosystem that broadens access to AI and fuels U.S. innovation. These open technologies will empower developers worldwide and strengthen economic growth through efficient reasoning, high-fidelity world generation and interactive physical AI Read Article

Furthering its deep commitment to open source, NVIDIA is unveiling new open-source AI technologies for language, robotics and biology — contributing to an open ecosystem that broadens access to AI and fuels U.S. innovation. These open technologies will empower developers worldwide and strengthen economic growth through efficient reasoning, high-fidelity world generation and interactive physical AI systems accelerated on NVIDIA infrastructure. The new open models, data and tools are part of the NVIDIA Nemotron family for AI reasoning, the NVIDIA Cosmos platform for physical AI, NVIDIA Isaac GR00T for robotics and NVIDIA Clara for biomedical AI. NVIDIA is contributing these models, data and training frameworks to Hugging Face to make AI research and development more accessible. As a top contributor to Hugging Face, with more than 650 open models and 250 open datasets now available, NVIDIA continues to expand access to cutting-edge AI resources for the global developer community. “Open models are catalysts to AI innovation, making AI accessible, transparent and responsible,” said Clément Delangue, CEO of Hugging Face. “NVIDIA’s contributions to the open model ecosystem, commitment to open research for AI and Hugging Face’s ecosystem will empower millions of developers to build advanced AI — together and in the open.” NVIDIA Nemotron Brings Ultra-Efficient Reasoning to Specialized AI Agents AI agents use multiple models to see, retrieve, generate and reason. The latest open models in the NVIDIA Nemotron family unify these capabilities, enabling developers to build specialized, intelligent agents. Nemotron Nano 3 uses a hybrid mixture-of-experts architecture to improve reasoning throughput for areas like software development, customer service and IT support. Nemotron Nano 2 VL provides document intelligence, image reasoning and video analysis. Nemotron Parse extracts text and tables from documents to take actionable insights. Nemotron Safety Guard adds culturally aware multilingual moderation capabilities, detecting harmful content across 23 safety categories in nine languages. Nemotron retrieval-augmented generation (RAG) models now feature advanced document extraction and unified retrieval across text, images, audio and video data sources. NVIDIA also released new open-source Nemotron datasets — including on multimodal training, multilingual personas and privacy-preserving synthetic personal information — for specialized model development. In addition, new NVIDIA NeMo tools, including NeMo Data Designer for synthetic data generation and NeMo-RL for advanced post-training and reinforcement learning, give developers greater control over model customization. Leading Software Companies Building Agentic AI on Nemotron Open-source models enable developers to build and adapt AI for their domains, transforming software into agentic systems that use tools, not just provide them. Leading software and services companies are building agentic software platforms using NVIDIA Nemotron. Building on the success of the Apriel Nemotron model family that’s post-trained with NVIDIA and ServiceNow-provided data, ServiceNow introduced its new Apriel 2.0 multimodal reasoning model that brings intelligence to cross-enterprise workflows for every industry, including regulated sectors like financial services, healthcare and telecom. “Open models are driving the next wave of enterprise transformation,” said Joe Davis, executive vice president of platform engineering and AI at ServiceNow. “Apriel 2.0 represents one of the first open-weight multimodal reasoning models built for the enterprise — combining text, document and data understanding to power real-world workflows across industries. Together with NVIDIA, we’re pairing reasoning transparency with performance efficiency, bringing explainable, secure and scalable AI to sectors where trust and compliance matter most.” Additional leading software companies are adopting NVIDIA’s latest reasoning models to power their next-generation AI applications: Palantir is making Nemotron available via its Ontology in Foundry and AIP to support an integrated technology stack with NVIDIA for operational AI. Cadence is accelerating chip designer productivity with its JedAI Platform and Nemotron open technologies. CrowdStrike is building autonomous, continuously learning AI agents into its Agentic Security Platform with NVIDIA Nemotron. PayPal is boosting the throughput and cost efficiency of its AI services by 50% with Nemotron. Synopsys is collaborating with NVIDIA to develop chip-design agents with the NVIDIA NeMo Agent Toolkit and Nemotron open models and data, used by NVIDIA engineers. Zoom is utilizing Nemotron for customized agentic capabilities to align with the specific workflows of its customers. Cosmos and Isaac GR00T Open Models and Data for Physical AI and Robotics To accelerate the training of robotic systems with humanlike reasoning and cognition, NVIDIA introduced major updates to its open models for physical AI, including Cosmos world foundation models and Isaac GR00T robot foundation models: Cosmos Predict 2.5: Unifies three models into one for rapid world simulation, generating 30-second videos from a single frame. Cosmos Transfer 2.5: Produces higher-quality, photorealistic data from 3D scenes at one-third the size of Cosmos Transfer 1. Cosmos Reason: A reasoning vision language model, now available as an NVIDIA NIM microservice, for advanced multimodal understanding. Cosmos Dataset Search: Enables instant retrieval of training scenarios, cutting post-training cycles from months to days. Isaac GR00T N1.6: Enhances reasoning, generalization and whole-body control for humanoid robots. NVIDIA also released the world’s largest open-source dataset for physical AI, now featuring 1,700 hours of multimodal driving sensor data from across the U.S. and Europe as well as GR00T training data, which has risen to the top 10 most-downloaded Hugging Face datasets of all time. Leading companies — including Agility Robotics, Amazon Robotics, Figure AI, Skild AI, Milestone Systems and Uber — are adopting Cosmos or Isaac GR00T N models to generate synthetic data, teach robots new behaviors and deploy real-world and physical AI agents at scale. NVIDIA Clara Open Models for Healthcare and Life Sciences New open models joining NVIDIA Clara, a family of models, tools and recipes built for accelerating scientific discovery, analyzing medical images and more, include: Clara CodonFM: Learns the rules of RNA to reveal how changes in its code can improve the design of therapies and medicine. NVIDIA will contribute open models like CodonFM to the Chan Zuckerberg Initiative’s virtual cells platform, accelerating open-source collaboration and model evaluation. Clara La-Proteina: Creates 3D protein structures atom by atom at twice the length and complexity of previous models, enabling the design of better medicines, enzymes and materials. Clara Reason: A vision language model enabling chain-of-thought reasoning for radiology and medical imaging to advance explainable AI medical research. Get Started With NVIDIA Open Models Select NVIDIA Nemotron and Cosmos open models, trained on NVIDIA DGX Cloud, are available on build.nvidia.com, Hugging Face, OpenRouter and Microsoft Azure AI Foundry, and are coming soon to Google Vertex AI Platform and other cloud service providers. NVIDIA Clara and Isaac GR00T are available on Hugging Face. The models are available as NVIDIA NIM microservices for secure, scalable deployment on DGX Cloud or any NVIDIA-accelerated infrastructure for maximum privacy and control. Learn more about how NVIDIA and partners are advancing AI innovation in the U.S. by watching the NVIDIA GTC Washington, D.C., keynote by Huang.

During the GTC Washington, D.C., keynote today, NVIDIA founder and CEO Jensen Huang introduced NVIDIA Omniverse DSX, a comprehensive, open blueprint for designing and operating gigawatt-scale AI factories — validated at the new AI Factory Research Center at Digital Realty’s site in Manassas, Virginia. The blueprint brings together ecosystem partners across the industry that are Read Article

During the GTC Washington, D.C., keynote today, NVIDIA founder and CEO Jensen Huang introduced NVIDIA Omniverse DSX, a comprehensive, open blueprint for designing and operating gigawatt-scale AI factories — validated at the new AI Factory Research Center at Digital Realty’s site in Manassas, Virginia. The blueprint brings together ecosystem partners across the industry that are tapping into NVIDIA Omniverse libraries and OpenUSD to set a new standard for building and operating gigascale AI factories. For the first time, the building, power and cooling can be codesigned with NVIDIA’s AI Infrastructure stack — and the process of the Virginia research center build out is captured as a scalable, repeatable recipe validated in a real-world deployment. OpenUSD and SimReady Asset Adoption Accelerate the Design Process It starts with the digital twin, where engineering and construction partner Jacobs can design the building, then optimize compute density and overall layout to maximize token throughput according to power constraints. Jacobs engineers aggregate SimReady OpenUSD assets for power, electrical and cooling equipment from partners including Siemens, Schneider Electric, Trane Technologies and Vertiv into PTC’s product lifecycle management system — allowing cross-functional teams to collaborate in real time on photorealistic 3D models, accelerate design decisions and reduce development risk with shared, version-controlled product data. The advancement of SimReady assets from hardware partners and growing adoption of OpenUSD across industries plays a crucial role in the acceleration of building out these highly complex designs. The Cadence Reality Digital Twin platform has been purpose-built on top of the blueprint, with integrated Omniverse libraries and accelerated by NVIDIA CUDA. This allows engineers to simulate thermals and electricals in a high-fidelity, physically accurate 3D environment to test designs, predict failures and optimize operations in the digital twin before construction. Physical Build-Out and Operations Optimized With Digital Twins Once the AI factory has been designed virtually, NVIDIA partners like Bechtel and Vertiv deliver prefabricated modules that are factory built, tested and ready to plug in. This significantly reduces build time and allows for modular scalability, helping achieve faster time to revenue. The architecture of the DSX blueprint means once the physical AI factory comes online, the digital twin can be used as an operating system to monitor, inspect and further optimize processes. For example, AI agents from partners including Phaidra and Emerald AI are trained in the digital twin, and then allow engineers to prompt and optimize power consumption to reduce strain on both the AI factory and the power grid. Phaidra AI agents continuously optimize power, cooling and workloads, turning the AI factory digital twins into a self-learning system that boosts grid flexibility, resiliency and energy efficiency. Emerald AI integrates its reference design in DSX to enable utilities to unlock underutilized grid capacity. What DSX Delivers DSX maximizes GPU productivity and energy efficiency across the compute fabric with a single digital twin environment that can be simulated, optimized and used for operations. Prefabricated modules from infrastructure partners prove how AI factories can be designed, assembled, validated and expanded with speed and consistency. Three Pillars of DSX: DSX Flex – Dynamic Grid Collaboration: Balances energy demand with real-time grid conditions using Omniverse telemetry and AI agents, improving efficiency and grid cooperation to help tap some of the 100 gigawatts of underutilized grid capacity. DSX Boost – Performance-Per-Watt Optimization: Applies NVIDIA’s power-optimization technologies at the data center level, running workloads at Max-Q efficiency — the point of optimal performance per watt — for up to 30% higher GPU throughput within the same power envelope. DSX Exchange – Unified IT/OT Integration: Acts as the secure data and control fabric linking operational systems for power, cooling and safety with NVIDIA’s software stack and Omniverse digital twins through real-time application programming interfaces and partner integrations. Why It Matters Scalability: Common architecture for AI factories from 100 megawatts to multi-gigawatts. Efficiency: DSX Boost maximizes token throughput per megawatt. Sustainability: DSX Flex enables renewable generation and adaptive grid balance. Integration: DSX Exchange unifies digital twins, facility systems and operations. Together with energy and equipment specialists — Eaton, GE Vernova, Hitachi, Schneider Electric, Siemens Energy, Trane Technologies and Vertiv — DSX combines expertise in power, cooling and grid interaction to deliver resilient, efficient operations optimized for the NVIDIA Grace Blackwell and Vera Rubin platforms. This ecosystem extends beyond hardware, to software and AI solution providers, with Cadence, Emerald AI, Phaidra, PTC, Schneider Electric ETAP, Siemens and Switch collaborating to build agentic digital twin solutions. Their adoption of OpenUSD and Omniverse libraries help to power dynamic simulation, autonomous control and end-to-end optimization for every stage of the AI factory lifecycle. Designed to scale to multi-gigawatt capacity, DSX accelerates design cycles and validates infrastructure before deployment. Watch the Omiverse DSX demo and read the full press release to learn more about how NVIDIA is shaping the era of gigascale AI factories. Learn more about how NVIDIA and partners are advancing AI innovation in the U.S. by watching the NVIDIA GTC Washington, D.C., keynote by Huang. See notice regarding software product information.

AI factories continue to grow at unprecedented scale, processing structured, unstructured and emerging AI-native data. With demand for trillion-token workloads exploding, a new class of infrastructure is required to keep pace. At NVIDIA GTC Washington, D.C, NVIDIA revealed the NVIDIA BlueField-4 data processing unit, part of the full-stack BlueField platform that accelerates gigascale AI infrastructure, Read Article

AI factories continue to grow at unprecedented scale, processing structured, unstructured and emerging AI-native data. With demand for trillion-token workloads exploding, a new class of infrastructure is required to keep pace. At NVIDIA GTC Washington, D.C, NVIDIA revealed the NVIDIA BlueField-4 data processing unit, part of the full-stack BlueField platform that accelerates gigascale AI infrastructure, delivering massive computing performance, supporting 800Gb/s of throughput and enabling high-performance inference processing. Powered by software-defined acceleration across AI data storage, networking and security, NVIDIA BlueField-4 transforms data centers into secure, intelligent AI infrastructure — designed to accelerate every workload, in every AI factory. It’s purpose-built as the end-to-end engine for a new class of AI storage platforms, bringing AI data storage acceleration to the foundation of AI data pipelines for efficient data processing and breakthrough performance at scale. NVIDIA BlueField-4 combines an NVIDIA Grace CPU and NVIDIA ConnectX-9 networking to deliver 6x the compute power and support AI factories up to 4x larger than possible with NVIDIA BlueField-3, accelerating gigascale AI infrastructure. BlueField-4 also features multi-tenant networking, rapid data access, AI runtime security and cloud elasticity with native support for NVIDIA DOCA microservices — containerized services that secure, scale and simplify AI deployment and operations. The NVIDIA BlueField-4 platform supports a multiservice architecture with native service function chaining, enabling seamless integration and management of multiple network, security and storage services within a single, unified framework. Security is anchored by the NVIDIA BlueField Advanced Secure Trusted Resource Architecture, enabling service providers to create secure, bare-metal compute instances with zero-trust tenant isolation and full software-defined infrastructure control. The NVIDIA BlueField platform delivers consistent performance, efficiency and security across the entire NVIDIA AI infrastructure portfolio, from computing systems like NVIDIA RTX PRO Servers, NVIDIA HGX, NVIDIA DGX, NVIDIA GB200 and NVIDIA GB300 systems to data-center-scale designs including the NVIDIA Enterprise AI Factory validated design built on NVIDIA Enterprise Reference Architectures, the NVIDIA AI Data Platform reference design, NVIDIA DGX SuperPOD and the NVIDIA Cloud Partner reference architecture. NVIDIA ConnectX-9 SuperNICs deliver ultralow-latency, 800Gb/s networking to maximize efficiency in gigascale AI infrastructure. Built for NVIDIA Spectrum-X Ethernet, ConnectX-9 SuperNICs accelerate data movement, optimize RoCE performance, and enable consistent and predictable networking for the most demanding AI workloads. Growing Ecosystem Adopts NVIDIA BlueField, Powered by NVIDIA DOCA AI infrastructure and cybersecurity pioneers will continue their track record of wide NVIDIA BlueField adoption and use BlueField-4 to build the next generation of accelerated, secure and software-defined data center platforms. Through DOCA, applications accelerated on today’s BlueField platforms will run seamlessly on BlueField-4, delivering substantial performance gains. Server and storage leaders including Cisco, DDN, Dell Technologies, HPE, IBM, Lenovo, Supermicro, VAST Data and WEKA are building next-generation servers and AI storage platforms with BlueField — with planned adoption of BlueField-4 — to enable secure and efficient data movement at scale. Cybersecurity leaders including Armis, Check Point, Cisco, F5, Forescout, Palo Alto Networks and Trend Micro are building new solutions with the NVIDIA BlueField platform and planning to integrate NVIDIA BlueField-4 to deliver zero-trust, AI runtime security and real-time threat protection across service provider and enterprise environments. Cloud and AI providers such as Akamai, CoreWeave, Crusoe, Lambda, Oracle Cloud Infrastructure, Together.ai and xAI are building on NVIDIA DOCA microservices to accelerate multi-tenant networking, speed data movement and enhance security in AI factories and supercomputing clouds. Cloud-native and infrastructure software platform providers Canonical, Mirantis, Nutanix, Rafay, Red Hat, Spectro Cloud and SUSE are looking to integrate BlueField-4 to automate networking, storage and security for AI-ready clouds and data centers. Global systems integrators Accenture, Deloitte and World Wide Technology are working with NVIDIA to bring BlueField-powered AI infrastructure and cybersecurity services to enterprises, governments and manufacturers worldwide, as well as preparing to offer BlueField-4 when it arrives. NVIDIA BlueField-4 is expected to launch in early availability as part of NVIDIA Vera Rubin platforms in 2026. Watch the GTC Washington, D.C., keynote from NVIDIA founder and CEO Jensen Huang and explore sessions.

This year’s ROSCon conference heads to Singapore, bringing together the global robotics developer community behind Robot Operating System (ROS) — the world’s most widely adopted open framework for building robots. At the conference, running through Wednesday, Oct. 29, NVIDIA announced collaborations with partners and the Open Source Robotics Alliance (OSRA), as well as new robotics Read Article

This year’s ROSCon conference heads to Singapore, bringing together the global robotics developer community behind Robot Operating System (ROS) — the world’s most widely adopted open framework for building robots. At the conference, running through Wednesday, Oct. 29, NVIDIA announced collaborations with partners and the Open Source Robotics Alliance (OSRA), as well as new robotics software to advance open standards and accelerate robotics development. NVIDIA is supporting OSRA’s new Physical AI Special Interest Group — focused on real-time robot control, accelerated AI processing and better robotics tools for autonomous behavior. It’s all part of efforts to make ROS 2 the open, high-performance framework of choice for real-world robotic applications. NVIDIA is contributing GPU-aware abstractions directly to ROS 2, enabling it to understand and efficiently manage different types of processors, from CPUs to integrated and discrete GPUs. This ensures consistent, high-speed performance and future-proofs the entire ROS ecosystem, allowing ROS to keep pace with rapid hardware innovation. To help developers optimize robot performance and reliability, NVIDIA is also open-sourcing Greenwave Monitor, a tool that enables developers to quickly identify performance bottlenecks, accelerating robot development. In addition, NVIDIA announced that NVIDIA Isaac ROS 4.0 — a new collection of ROS-compatible, GPU-accelerated libraries and AI models — is now available on the NVIDIA Jetson Thor platform for deploying physical AI and robotics. Developers can access and run Isaac CUDA-accelerated libraries, AI models and workflows for robot manipulation and mobility. Industry Leaders Tap NVIDIA AI, Accelerated Computing and Open-Source Technologies NVIDIA’s open-source contributions are already empowering developers and partners across the globe to train, simulate and deploy the next generation of robots. AgileX Robotics is using NVIDIA Jetson modules to power AI autonomy and vision in its mobile robots, as well as tapping NVIDIA Isaac Sim, an open-source, reference robotic simulation framework built on NVIDIA Omniverse, for simulation. Canonical is simplifying robot development and offering a demo of a fully open observability stack for ROS 2 devices on Ubuntu, now available for the NVIDIA Jetson AGX Thor platform for robotics and edge computing. Ekumen has integrated NVIDIA Isaac Sim into its robotics development workflows, enabling high-fidelity simulations for testing and validation of real systems, and photorealistic synthetic data generation for machine learning purposes. Intrinsic is integrating NVIDIA Isaac foundation models and Omniverse simulation tools into its Flowstate platform to enable advanced robot-grasping capabilities, real-time digital twin visualization and seamless AI-driven automation for industrial robotics. KABAM Robotics’ Matrix robot uses NVIDIA Jetson Orin and NVIDIA Triton Inference Server on ROS 2 Jazzy for advanced security and facility management in complex outdoor environments. At ROSCon, Open Navigation will showcase NVIDIA technologies, including NVIDIA Isaac Sim and NVIDIA SWAGGER, during a keynote by Open Navigation founder Steve Macenski titled, “On Use Of Nav2 Route” — demonstrating advanced route navigation for autonomous mobile robots. Robotec.ai and NVIDIA are collaborating on a new ROS simulation standard, now integrated in Isaac Sim, to streamline cross-simulator development and enable more robust, automated testing for robotics. ROBOTIS uses NVIDIA Jetson for on-board computing and Isaac Sim for simulation and validation. Its AI Worker, powered by the Isaac GR00T N1.5 model, delivers greater autonomy and scalable edge AI. Stereolabs’ ZED cameras and ZED SDK deliver full compatibility with the NVIDIA Jetson Thor platform, supporting high-performance, multi-camera capture, low-latency perception and real-time spatial AI vision for general-purpose robotics. From core contributions to powerful simulation tools and production-ready hardware, NVIDIA is committed to providing the open-source community with the platform needed to build the future of physical AI. Learn more about the latest robotics advancements by joining NVIDIA at ROSCon.

As Open Source AI Week comes to a close, we’re celebrating the innovation, collaboration and community driving open-source AI forward. Catch up on the highlights and stay tuned for more announcements coming next week at NVIDIA GTC Washington, D.C. Wrapping Up a Week of Open-Source Momentum 🔗 From the stages of the PyTorch Conference to Read Article

As Open Source AI Week comes to a close, we’re celebrating the innovation, collaboration and community driving open-source AI forward. Catch up on the highlights and stay tuned for more announcements coming next week at NVIDIA GTC Washington, D.C. Wrapping Up a Week of Open-Source Momentum From the stages of the PyTorch Conference to workshops across Open Source AI Week, this week spotlighted the creativity and progress defining the future of open AI. Here are some highlights from the event: Honoring open-source contributions: Jonathan Dekhtiar, senior deep learning framework engineer at NVIDIA, received the PyTorch Contributor Award for his key role in designing the release mechanisms and packaging solutions for Python software and libraries that enable GPU-accelerated computing. CEO of Modular visits the NVIDIA booth: Chris Lattner, CEO of Modular and founder and chief architect of the open-source LLVM Compiler Infrastructure project, picks up the NVIDIA DGX Spark. Seven questions with founding researcher at fast.ai: Jeremy Howard, founding researcher at fast.ai and advocate for accessible deep learning, shares his insights on the future of open-source AI. In his keynote at the PyTorch Conference, Howard also highlighted the growing strength of open-source communities, recognizing NVIDIA for its leadership in advancing openly available, high-performing AI models. “The one company, actually, that has stood out, head and shoulders above the others, and that is two,” he said. “One is Meta…the creators of PyTorch. The other is NVIDIA, who, just in recent months, has created some of the world’s best models — and they are open source, and they are openly licensed.” vLLM Adds Upstream Support for NVIDIA Nemotron Models Open-source innovation is accelerating. NVIDIA and the vLLM team are partnering to add vLLM upstream support for NVIDIA Nemotron models, transforming open large language model (LLM) serving with lightning-fast performance, efficient scaling and simplified deployment across NVIDIA GPUs. vLLM’s optimized inference engine empowers developers to run Nemotron models like the new Nemotron Nano 2 — a highly efficient small language reasoning model with a hybrid Transformer-Mamba architecture and a configurable thinking budget. Learn more about how vLLM is accelerating open model innovation. NVIDIA Expands Open Access to Nemotron RAG Models NVIDIA is making eight NVIDIA Nemotron RAG models openly available on Hugging Face, expanding access beyond research to include the full suite of commercial models. This release gives developers a wider range of tools to build retrieval-augmented generation (RAG) systems, improve search and ranking accuracy, and extract structured data from complex documents. The newly released models include Llama-Embed-Nemotron-8B, which provides multilingual text embeddings built on Llama 3.1, and Omni-Embed-Nemotron-3B, which supports cross-modal retrieval for text, images, audio and video. Developers can also access six production-grade models for text embedding, reranking and PDF data extraction — key components for real-world retrieval and document intelligence applications. With these open-source models, developers, researchers and organizations can more easily integrate and experiment with RAG-based systems. Developers can get started with Nemotron RAG on Hugging Face. Building and Training AI Models With the Latest Open Datasets NVIDIA is expanding access to high-quality open datasets that help developers overcome the challenges of large-scale data collection and focus on building advanced AI systems. The latest release includes a collection of Nemotron-Personas datasets for Sovereign AI. Each dataset is fully synthetic and grounded in real-world demographic, geographic and cultural data — with no personally identifiable information. The growing collection, which features personas from the U.S., Japan and India, enables model builders to design AI agents and systems that reflect the linguistic, social and contextual nuance of the nations they serve. NVIDIA earlier this year released the NVIDIA Physical AI Open Datasets on Hugging Face, featuring more than 7 million robotics trajectories and 1,000 OpenUSD SimReady assets. Downloaded more than 6 million times, the datasets combines real‑world and synthetic data from the NVIDIA Cosmos,  Isaac, DRIVE and Metropolis platforms to kickstart physical AI development. NVIDIA Inception Startups Highlight AI Innovation At the PyTorch Conference’s Startup Showcase, 11 startups — including members from the NVIDIA Inception program — are sharing their work developing practical AI applications and connecting with investors, potential customers and peers. Runhouse, an AI infrastructure startup optimizing model deployment and orchestration, was crowned the 2025 PyTorch Startup Showcase Award Winner. The Community Choice Award was presented to CuraVoice, with CEO Sakhi Patel, CTO Shrey Modi, and advisor Rahul Vishwakarma accepting the award on behalf of the team. CuraVoice provides an AI-powered voice simulation platform — powered by NVIDIA Riva for speech recognition and text-to-speech, and NVIDIA NeMo for conversational AI models — for healthcare students and professionals, offering interactive exercises and adaptive feedback to improve patient communication skills. Shrey Modi, CTO of CuraVoice, accepts the PyTorch Startup Showcase Community Choice Award. In addition to CuraVoice, other Inception members, including Backfield AI, Graphsignal, Okahu AI, Snapshot AI and XOR, were featured participants in the Startup Showcase. Snapshot AI delivers actionable, real-time insights to engineering teams using recursive RAG, transformers and multimodal AI. The company’s platform taps into the NVIDIA CUDA Toolkit to deliver high-performance analysis and rapid insights at scale. XOR is a cybersecurity startup offering AI agents that automatically fix vulnerabilities in the supply chain of other AIs. The company helps enterprises eliminate vulnerabilities while complying with regulatory requirements. XOR’s agentic technology uses NVIDIA cuVS vector search for indexing, real-time retrieval and code analysis. The company also uses GPU-based machine learning to train models to detect hidden backdoor patterns and prioritize of high-value security outcomes. From left to right: Dmitri Melikyan (Graphsignal, Inc.), Tobias Heldt (XOR), Youssef Harkati (BrightOnLABS), Vidhi Kothari (Seer Systems), Jonah Sargent (Node One) and Scott Suchyta (NVIDIA) at the Startup Showcase. Highlights From Open Source AI Week Attendees of Open Source AI Week are getting a peek at the latest advancements and creative projects that are shaping the future of open technology. Here’s a look at what’s happening onsite: The world’s smallest AI supercomputer: NVIDIA DGX Spark represents the cutting edge of AI computing hardware for enterprise and research applications. Humanoids and robot dogs, up close: Unitree robots are on display, captivating attendees with advanced mobility powered by the latest robotics technology. Why open source is important: Learn how it can empower developers to build stronger communities, iterate on features, and seamlessly integrate the best of open source AI. Accelerating AI Research Through Open Models A study from the Center for Security and Emerging Technology (CSET) published today shows how access to open model weights unlocks more opportunities for experimentation, customization and collaboration across the global research community. The report outlines seven high-impact research use cases where open models are making a difference — including fine-tuning, continued pretraining, model compression and interpretability. With access to weights, developers can adapt models for new domains, explore new architectures and extend functionality to meet their specific needs. This also supports trust and reproducibility. When teams can run experiments on their own hardware, share updates and revisit earlier versions, they gain control and confidence in their results. Additionally, the study found that nearly all open model users share their data, weights and code, building a fast-growing culture of collaboration. This open exchange of tools and knowledge strengthens partnerships between academia, startups and enterprises, facilitating innovation. NVIDIA is committed to empowering the research community through the NVIDIA Nemotron family of open models — featuring not just open weights, but also pretraining and post-training datasets, detailed training recipes, and research papers that share the latest breakthroughs. Read the full CSET study to learn how open models are helping the AI community move forward. Advancing Embodied Intelligence Through Open-Source Innovation At the PyTorch Conference, Jim Fan, director of robotics and distinguished research scientist at NVIDIA, discussed the Physical Turing Test — a way of measuring the performance of intelligent machines in the physical world. With conversational AI now capable of fluent, lifelike communication, Fan noted that the next challenge is enabling machines to act with similar naturalism. The Physical Turing Test asks: can an intelligent machine perform a real-world task so fluidly that a human cannot tell whether a person or a robot completed it? Fan highlighted that progress in embodied AI and physical AI depends on generating large amounts of diverse data, access to open robot foundation models and simulation frameworks — and walked through a unified workflow for developing embodied AI. With synthetic data workflows like NVIDIA Isaac GR00T-Dreams — built on NVIDIA Cosmos world foundation models— developers can generate virtual worlds from images and prompts, speeding the creation of large sets of diverse and physically accurate data. That data can then be used to post-train NVIDIA Isaac GR00T N open foundation models for generalized humanoid robot reasoning and skills. But before the models are deployed in the real world, these new robot skills need to be tested in simulation. Open simulation and learning frameworks such as NVIDIA Isaac Sim and Isaac Lab allow robots to “practice” countless times across millions of virtual environments before operating in the real world, dramatically accelerating learning and deployment cycles. Plus, with Newton, an open-source, differentiable physics engine built on NVIDIA Warp and OpenUSD, developers can bring high-fidelity simulation to complex robotic dynamics such as motion, balance and contact — reducing the simulation-to-real gap. This accelerates the creation of physically capable AI systems that learn faster, perform more safely and operate effectively in real-world environments. However, scaling embodied intelligence isn’t just about compute — it’s about access. Fan reaffirmed NVIDIA’s commitment to open source, emphasizing how the company’s frameworks and foundation models are shared to empower developers and researchers globally. Developers can get started with NVIDIA’s open embodied and physical AI models on Hugging Face. Llama‑Embed‑Nemotron‑8B Ranks Among Top Open Models for Multilingual Retrieval NVIDIA’s Llama‑Embed‑Nemotron‑8B model has been recognized as the top open and portable model on the Multilingual Text Embedding Benchmark leaderboard. Built on the meta‑llama/Llama‑3.1‑8B architecture, Llama‑Embed‑Nemotron‑8B is a research text embedding model that converts text into 4,096‑dimensional vector representations. Designed for flexibility, it supports a wide range of use cases, including retrieval, reranking, semantic similarity and classification across more than 1,000 languages. Trained on a diverse collection of 16 million query–document pairs — half from public sources and half synthetically generated — the model benefits from refined data generation techniques, hard‑negative mining and model‑merging approaches that contribute to its broad generalization capabilities. This result builds on NVIDIA’s ongoing research in open, high‑performing AI models. Following earlier leaderboard recognition for the Llama NeMo Retriever ColEmbed model, the success of Llama‑Embed‑Nemotron‑8B highlights the value of openness, transparency and collaboration in advancing AI for the developer community. Check out Llama-Embed-Nemotron-8B on Hugging Face, and learn more about the model, including architectural highlights, training methodology and performance evaluation. What Open Source Teaches Us About Making AI Better Open models are shaping the future of AI, enabling developers, enterprises and governments to innovate with transparency, customization and trust. In the latest episode of the NVIDIA AI Podcast, NVIDIA’s Bryan Catanzaro and Jonathan Cohen discuss how open models, datasets and research are laying the foundation for shared progress across the AI ecosystem. The NVIDIA Nemotron family of open models represents a full-stack approach to AI development, connecting model design to the underlying hardware and software that power it. By releasing Nemotron models, data and training methodologies openly, NVIDIA aims to help others refine, adapt and build upon its work, resulting in a faster exchange of ideas and more efficient systems. “When we as a community come together — contributing ideas, data and models — we all move faster,” said Catanzaro in the episode. “Open technologies make that possible.” There’s more happening this week at Open Source AI Week, including the start of the PyTorch Conference — bringing together developers, researchers and innovators pushing the boundaries of open AI. Attendees can tune in to the special keynote address by Jim Fan, director of robotics and distinguished research scientist at NVIDIA, to hear the latest advancements in robotics — from simulation and synthetic data to accelerated computing. The keynote, titled “The Physical Turing Test: Solving General Purpose Robotics,” will take place on Wednesday, Oct. 22, from 9:50-10:05 a.m. PT. Andrej Karpathy’s Nanochat Teaches Developers How to Train LLMs in Four Hours Computer scientist Andrej Karpathy recently introduced Nanochat, calling it “the best ChatGPT that $100 can buy.” Nanochat is an open-source, full-stack large language model (LLM) implementation built for transparency and experimentation. In about 8,000 lines of minimal, dependency-light code, Nanochat runs the entire LLM pipeline — from tokenization and pretraining to fine-tuning, inference and chat — all through a simple web user interface. NVIDIA is supporting Karpathy’s open-source Nanochat project by releasing two NVIDIA Launchables, making it easy to deploy and experiment with Nanochat across various NVIDIA GPUs. With NVIDIA Launchables, developers can train and interact with their own conversational model in hours with a single click. The Launchables dynamically support different-sized GPUs — including NVIDIA H100 and L40S GPUs — on various clouds without need for modification. They also automatically work on any eight-GPU instance on NVIDIA Brev, so developers can get compute access immediately. The first 10 users to deploy these Launchables will also receive free compute access to NVIDIA H100 or L40S GPUs. Start training with Nanochat by deploying a Launchable: Nanochat Speedrun on NVIDIA H100 Nanochat Speedrun on NVIDIA L40S Andrej Karpathy’s Next Experiments Begin With NVIDIA DGX Spark Today, Karpathy received an NVIDIA DGX Spark — the world’s smallest AI supercomputer, designed to bring the power of Blackwell right to a developer’s desktop. With up to a petaflop of AI processing power and 128GB of unified memory in a compact form factor, DGX Spark empowers innovators like Karpathy to experiment, fine-tune and run massive models locally. Building the Future of AI With PyTorch and NVIDIA PyTorch, the fastest-growing AI framework, derives its performance from the NVIDIA CUDA platform and uses the Python programming language to unlock developer productivity. This year, NVIDIA added Python as a first-class language to the CUDA platform, giving the PyTorch developer community greater access to CUDA. CUDA Python includes key components that make GPU acceleration in Python easier than ever, with built-in support for kernel fusion, extension module integration and simplified packaging for fast deployment. Following PyTorch’s open collaboration model, CUDA Python is available on GitHub and PyPI. According to PyPI Stats, PyTorch averaged over two million daily downloads, peaking at 2,303,217 on October 14, and had 65 million total downloads last month. Every month, developers worldwide download hundreds of millions of NVIDIA libraries — including CUDA, cuDNN, cuBLAS and CUTLASS — mostly within Python and PyTorch environments. CUDA Python provides nvmath-python, a new library that acts as the bridge between Python code and these highly optimized GPU libraries. Plus, kernel enhancements and support for next-generation frameworks make NVIDIA accelerated computing more efficient, adaptable and widely accessible. NVIDIA maintains a long-standing collaboration with the PyTorch community through open-source contributions and technical leadership, as well as by sponsoring and participating in community events and activations. At PyTorch Conference 2025 in San Francisco, NVIDIA will host a keynote address, five technical sessions and nine poster presentations. NVIDIA’s on the ground at Open Source AI Week. Stay tuned for a celebration highlighting the spirit of innovation, collaboration and community that drives open-source AI forward. Follow NVIDIA AI Developer on social channels for additional news and insights. NVIDIA Spotlights Open Source Innovation Open Source AI Week kicks off on Monday with a series of hackathons, workshops and meetups spotlighting the latest advances in AI, machine learning and open-source innovation. The event brings together leading organizations, researchers and open-source communities to share knowledge, collaborate on tools and explore how openness accelerates AI development. NVIDIA continues to expand access to advanced AI innovation by providing open-source tools, models and datasets designed to empower developers. With more than 1,000 open-source tools on NVIDIA GitHub repositories and over 500 models and 100 datasets on the NVIDIA Hugging Face collections, NVIDIA is accelerating the pace of open, collaborative AI development. Over the past year, NVIDIA has become the top contributor in Hugging Face repositories, reflecting a deep commitment to sharing models, frameworks and research that empower the community. https://blogs.nvidia.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/10/1016.mp4 Openly available models, tools and datasets are essential to driving innovation and progress. By empowering anyone to use, modify and share technology, it fosters transparency and accelerates discovery, fueling breakthroughs that benefit both industry and communities alike. That’s why NVIDIA is committed to supporting the open source ecosystem. We’re on the ground all week — stay tuned for a celebration highlighting the spirit of innovation, collaboration and community that drives open-source AI forward, with the PyTorch Conference serving as the flagship event.

NPR explores the latest in games and gaming culture — from the latest digital titles to what's on our tabletops.

The Charlotte Chess Center, where Naroditsky trained and worked as a coach, announced his death, calling him "a talented chess player, educator, and beloved member of the chess community."

The Charlotte Chess Center, where Naroditsky trained and worked as a coach, announced his death, calling him "a talented chess player, educator, and beloved member of the chess community." (Image credit: Kelly Centrelli/Charlotte Chess Center)

The Xbox Ally X isn't the handheld console the name implies. But it's still sold out, despite debuting as fans rage against price increase to Game Pass.

The Xbox Ally X isn't the handheld console the name implies. But it's still sold out, despite debuting as fans rage against price increase to Game Pass. (Image credit: Microsoft/ASUS)

NPR's Leila Fadel speaks with Cynthia Miller-Idriss, director of the Polarization and Extremism Research and Innovation Lab, about links between online gaming communities and violence.

NPR's Leila Fadel speaks with Cynthia Miller-Idriss, director of the Polarization and Extremism Research and Innovation Lab, about links between online gaming communities and violence.

Pokémon Legends: Z-A feels like a mega evolution for the whole series — a colossal achievement that runs splendidly on the Switch 2 after the buggy disappointments of Pokémon Scarlet and Violet.

Pokémon Legends: Z-A feels like a mega evolution for the whole series — a colossal achievement that runs splendidly on the Switch 2 after the buggy disappointments of Pokémon Scarlet and Violet. (Image credit: Nintendo)

Electronic Arts, the video game publisher behind titles like "Madden NFL" and "The Sims," says it has agreed to be acquired by a group of investors in a deal worth $55 billion.

Electronic Arts, the video game publisher behind titles like "Madden NFL" and "The Sims," says it has agreed to be acquired by a group of investors in a deal worth $55 billion.

Silent Hill f stands among the series best by prioritizing atmosphere and storytelling.

Silent Hill f stands among the series best by prioritizing atmosphere and storytelling. (Image credit: Konami)

Hollow Knight was a Kickstarter-backed project that obliterated expectations. Now, after years of rumors, memes and anticipation, the three-person indie developer Team Cherry has delivered the sequel.

Hollow Knight was a Kickstarter-backed project that obliterated expectations. Now, after years of rumors, memes and anticipation, the three-person indie developer Team Cherry has delivered the sequel. (Image credit: Team Cherry)

The long-awaited sequel to the wildly popular indie video game is finally out, six years after fans learned one would come along.

The long-awaited sequel to the wildly popular indie video game is finally out, six years after fans learned one would come along.

The annual event pits some of the trading card and video game's most seasoned players against each other — and it demonstrates how Pokémon has maintained its grip on pop culture.

The annual event pits some of the trading card and video game's most seasoned players against each other — and it demonstrates how Pokémon has maintained its grip on pop culture. (Image credit: Jamal Michel)

The Metal Gear video game series is known for its innovations in game design, as well as stories that confront heavy philosophical themes — like the relationship between people and technology.

The Metal Gear video game series is known for its innovations in game design, as well as stories that confront heavy philosophical themes — like the relationship between people and technology.

Games. Culture. Criticism.

HIGH Surfing a missile into a building is rad as hell.

LOW There's a suboptimal amount of downtime in the stage design.

WTF Joe's eloquent way with words.

The post Shinobi: Art Of Vengeance Review appeared first on Gamecritics.com.

Go Ninja, Go Ninja, Joe! HIGH Surfing a missile into a building is rad as hell. LOW There’s a suboptimal amount of downtime in the stage design. WTF Joe’s eloquent way with words. Are videogame bad guys deliberately stupid? It’s a question I’m sure nobody on the planet has ever asked before, but the bad guy in Shinobi: Art of Vengeance, Lord Ruse, comes across as a prime example of being a blithering dum-dum. First, he’s a bad guy gunning for domination in a world where Sega’s premiere bad guy-killing ninja Joe Musashi exists. He then intentionally attacks Joe’s home while he’s chilling with his wife, dog and students, confidently relegating the killing of said super ninja to his most inept followers and leaving before the job’s done — so now Joe has to prioritize killing the bastard in a personal way. Players will rely on Joe’s trusty katana during this 2D side scrolling quest, as well as a pocket full of throwing knives and an understated ability to dive-kick dudes in the face. Over time he’ll acquire new moves and additional gear, but don’t expect new weapon types. Blowing fire and summoning snake gods are all well and good, but Joe’s ultimately a katana guy through and through. In his pursuit of vengeance, Joe will discover amulets that improve or modify certain abilities. He can equip some that cause enemies to drop more money or better healing items, while others offer rechargeable barriers that absorb a single attack or give significant damage buffs as his combo meter rises. Naturally there are a ton of bad guys to meet and defeat along the way, from low level ninja to far more competent ‘elite’ demons, robots and skilled swordsmen. Most enemies have two damage gauges to keep track of — their basic health and a stun meter that opens them up for an instant execution marker which will see Joe bullet across the screen turning every vulnerable enemy a into bloody mist. It should be mentioned that doing these instakills never, ever gets old and is heavily encouraged by showering players who use it with more resources than normal kills. To get specific for a moment, there’s an excessive amount of hitstop on attacks, causing the action to briefly freeze as blade meets flesh. Most titles usually reserve this for heavy or perfectly-timed hits, but Shinobi: Art of Vengeance liberally applies it to pretty much everything. It’s a double-edged approach, with many combos feeling weighty and powerful in nature, but this staccato rhythm of sword swipes staggers the flow of combat and lingers just a little too long when the player takes damage from enemies. With that said, for the most part the action feels solidly enjoyable with plenty of scope for player expression and experimenting with flamboyant combos that brutalize enemies halfway across the screen, their broken corpses flopping around like pincushions full of kunai. However, I’m also curious to see how the same combat engine would fare if the hitstop was completely absent. Something that’s more of a clear issue is that Joe commits to certain attacks, meaning that he can’t roll or jump to safety until the attack completed. It leads to the master ninja feeling less sprightly than he probably should, tanking hits with his face instead of swiftly sweeping out of range, making performing certain moves more unsafe than they probably should be. Not that enemies are particularly deadly for the most part, many of them putter through their standard attack animations without much regard for what Joe’s up to. Bosses are the usual motley crew of idiots who think that they can take on Joe Musashi and live, though series veterans will recognize a few returning faces. They’re fine, but rarely standout – most of them are punching bags, honestly. That’s not to say that they don’t have attack patterns that require avoiding, but Joe can absolutely body them for the most part. In terms of presentation, Shinobi looks great — absolutely fantastic in places, even, with a hand-drawn art style that continually impresses from the first scene in a gorgeously sunlit field, all the way to later stages storming through rain-slick cities, towering mountain passes, underground secret bases and the welcome return of an awesome surfboarding section. That said, I do find the overly angular stage design to detract from things somewhat, though I’m sure the choice was made to make surface areas more easily recognizable. Shinobi: Art of Vengeance takes a psuedo-metroidvania approach to level design. It isn’t all one large interconnected world to explore, but rather a bunch of levels peppered with secrets that can only be fully explored when bringing back tools and skills acquired in later levels — things like walls requiring climbing claws to scale, updrafts that necessitate the use of a glider, or anchor points that Musashi will need a grappling hook to latch onto. Despite this, Shinobi: Art of Vengeance doesn’t take full advantage of the approach. Players will often return with new gear only to pick up a single item or perform a short platforming sequence instead of uncovering new areas to explore, enemies to kill and bosses to defeat. It’s largely disappointing when compared to other games that utilize the approach well, though there are portals known as Ankou rifts that offer more challenging subrooms filled with enemies or tougher platforming sections. The puzzles on offer generally exist to slow the proceedings down. Flipping switches to open doors is rarely an exhilarating gameplay mechanic, and pushing heavy objects across a floor to block a laser or power a device doesn’t exactly scream high-speed ninja action. Little of this is significantly additive, instead leading to far more downtime than is desired. I generally enjoyed Shinobi: Art of Vengeance just fine. On the upside, the combat engine is fluid and satisfying to experiment with, and for the most part Shinobi: Art of Vengeance generally offers a reasonably good time. However, as a longtime series fan I expected an absolutely awesome outing, and it never quite hit the heights I was hoping for. Rating: 6.5 out of 10 Disclosures: This game is developed by Lizardcube and published by DotEmu. It is currently available on XBX/S/PS5/Switch and PC. This copy of the game was obtained via publisher and reviewed on the XBX. Approximately 20 hours of play were devoted to the single-player mode, and the game was completed. There are no multiplayer modes. Parents: According to the ESRB, this game is rated T and contains Blood and Violence. The good stuff! The official description reads: This is an action-platformer in which players assume the role of a ninja leader trying to save the world from an evil corporation. From a 2D/sideways perspective, players explore levels while fighting various enemies (e.g., ninjas, soldiers, monsters). Players use swords, throwing stars, and dramatic special moves to kill enemies in frenetic combat; fighting is highlighted by cries of pain, brief slow-motion effects, and frequent blood splatter. One boss fight allows players to dive inside the creature and slash at a giant heart. Colorblind Modes: There are no colorblind modes available. Deaf & Hard of Hearing Gamers: This game offers subtitles. The subtitles cannot be altered and/or resized. I don’t recall any instances where lack of sound would be a problem. I’d say it’s fully accessible without audio. Remappable Controls: Yes, this game offers fully remappable controls. The post Shinobi: Art Of Vengeance Review appeared first on Gamecritics.com.

HIGH  Greatly improved on-the-field presentation. Added features for Franchise mode

LOW Still suffers from wonky AI and bugs.

WTF Why did my center line up as a receiver?

The post Axis Football 2026 appeared first on Gamecritics.com.

That One Moved The Chains HIGH Greatly improved on-the-field presentation. Added features for Franchise mode LOW Still suffers from wonky AI and bugs. WTF Why did my center line up as a receiver? The Axis Football franchise has had its share of ups and downs over the past few years. 2023’s incarnation was a standout featuring a new physics engine and gameplay tweaks that led to its highest score ever at GameCritics. Major setbacks plagued the 2024 campaign, including rubber-banding AI, graphical glitches, and inaccurate, repetitive commentary. After forgoing the 2025 season (a rebuilding year, if you will) wholesale changes were made to every aspect of the experience, and now Axis Football returns for 2026. On the field, players look even better than ever, with more detailed models including wrinkles on jerseys. The new stadiums are lovely, giving the feeling of a real home team advantage, including new crowd chants and fans decked out in team colors. New animations make it much easier to see holes in a defensive line for a running back to slip through, or why a pass was broken up by a wily safety. There are still times when it appears that a blocker can almost teleport to make a play on a ballcarrier, but the new instant replay mode often shows players behaving realistically, greatly enhancing the experience. New commentary has been recorded, including team-specific lines when scoring and so on. It can still get repetitive, especially after playing a large number of games, but the new dialogue was certainly welcome. Play calling has also been enhanced with a new create-a-play feature in case the current team playbook is too limiting. Off the field, Axis Football 2026 still has one of the deepest franchise modes in videogame football, and as before, the player has complete control over the organization. With a few button clicks, I can hire and fire coaches, scout future potential draft picks, and purchase upgrades for my stadium, such as luxury boxes and fitness and rehabilitation gear for my players. These things are key, as Axis Football makes players work to improve their teams, and the salary cap is no joke. I often had to think long and hard about signing a stud free agent or saving the cap space for the offseason when I had to re-sign my core team. Moments like this are exhilarating, and when I finally led my squad to the Axis Bowl Championship, I felt like I earned it with my shrewd decision-making. While the new modes, character models, animations, stadiums, create-a-play, and improved play-by-play are as impressive as an off-balance, one-handed grab in the end zone, Axis Football 2026 still has its share of problems that negate forward progress. As of the time of writing, the visuals are locked at a resolution of 1920 x 1080, even if a monitor is capable of much higher settings. A controller and mouse tend to cancel each other out when manipulating menus, which is especially frustrating when trying to navigate settings or interact with the UI outside of on-the-field gameplay, such as accepting trades or drafting players. Additionally, setting up a team’s 53-man roster can be more difficult than it should be — the option to place the best players on the field at all positions automatically should be included. On the field, the AI still struggles with basic concepts. I’ve watched special teams’ players streak right past the return man straight into the endzone on kickoffs, allowing the ballcarrier to gain far more yards than should have been possible. In one particularly bizarre scenario, I had a center line up as a receiver on multiple plays during a drive, eliminating a checkdown option for my QB. I’m also still not able to tell if the dreaded catchup AI from the 2024 campaign has returned — suspicions were raised when I noticed opposing teams coming back from serious deficits, even when my Philadelphia Express significantly outmatched them. Since building my team of stars took six seasons’ worth of heartbreak and failure, it’s frustrating to win against obvious chumps, when I should have steamrolled them. The simulation mode has issues as well. While losing one game by a point with seconds left on the clock, I ended manual play and allowed the computer to simulate the final moments. Somehow, I wound up winning that game even though there was no possible way to do so. (It was also snowing in Miami during that game in early October…) While not quite matching its previous heights, Axis Football 2026 has made marked improvements over the last incarnation and shows that it’s still a title worthy of taking the field. With the right bug fixes and continued improvement, it could once again become a solid contender in the increasingly-crowded football market. Axis Football 2026 is worth the time and the price of admission, but there’s definitely room for this franchise to tighten things up. Rating: 7.5 out of 10 Disclosures: This game is developed and published by Axis Games. It is currently available on XBO, XBX/S/PS4/PS5/PC. This copy of the game was obtained via publisher and reviewed on the PC. Approximately 11 hours of play were devoted to the single-player mode, and multiple seasons were completed. There are no multiplayer modes. Parents: According to the ESRB, this game is rated E. The game is a realistic simulation of American Football. Players are tackled and knocked to the ground, or may be pushed/shoved to the ground by blockers or a stiff-arm. Injuries to players are briefly described in text form (such as Player X sustained a leg injury) and whether or not they will return to play. There are no visual depictions of injuries. Colorblind Modes: There are no colorblind modes available. Deaf & Hard of Hearing Gamers: This game does not offer subtitles. The game is playable without sound, as there are visual representations of all in-game activities. However, there are no subtitles for any commentary or player chatter (snap counts, etc.). While the game does provide a quick summary of the previous play (tackle for loss, rushing gain of 17 yards and so on) so much of the experience is lost. Remappable Controls: No, this game’s controls are not remappable. The post Axis Football 2026 appeared first on Gamecritics.com.

The So... Videogames! Podcast · So Videogames Episode 459

The post So Videogames Episode 459 appeared first on Gamecritics.com.

In this episode, Brad covers: Yet Another Zombie Survivors Ball x Pit Spindle Bye, Sweet Carole Ila: Frosty Glide Detective Dotson Bounty Star …And more! You can also hear the show on iTunes Please send feedback and mailbag questions to SoVideogamesPODCAST (at) gmail (dot) com, or post them in the comments section below. Thanks! The post So Videogames Episode 459 appeared first on Gamecritics.com.

HIGH Great voice acting and humorous writing.

LOW Clunky puzzle-solving between characters.

WTF How hard the devs go on Date's 'pervert' character quirk.

The post No Sleep For Kaname Date VIDEO Review appeared first on Gamecritics.com.

A Case Of Split Personality HIGH Great voice acting and humorous writing. LOW Clunky puzzle-solving between characters. WTF How hard the devs go on Date’s ‘pervert’ character quirk. TRANSCRIPT: Hi everyone! Eugene Sax here with another review from GameCritics.com! The Somnium Files are a series of visual novels that put players in the role of Kaname Date. He’s part of an elite police force known as ABIS who take on criminal cases through a process called Psyncing. This technique has Date and his AI construct partner Aiba hop into the dreams of subjects to obtain clues the subject may be only subconsciously aware of. The catch is that they have only six minutes to find as much as they can in these dreams — otherwise they’ll cause massive damage resulting in the death of both Psyncer and subject. In this third entry, Date is back at it again — but stay with me here, because it’s a wild start. Players in No Sleep begin with teen idol Iris Sagan trapped in a UFO above a strange planet in a sexy bunny costume… for reasons. A reptilian alien with a lizard tail and a third eye reveals that she’s looking for those worthy to survive the “Great Reset” of Earth. Those who can complete something called the “Third Eye Games” will be deemed worthy, and Iris is one of the first to make the attempt. She is allowed one contact with Earth to help her succeed, and who better to help than Kaname Date? No Sleep is a midquel that takes place between the first two Somnium titles, with this case focusing on how Iris was abducted and who’s behind the Third Eye Games. As in the previous entries, players will use Date to investigate locations in Tokyo and talk with those around to gather information about the case. He’ll also go into people’s psyches to probe the unique mindscape of each subject, find clues and solve puzzles. The writing and the characters still are still on point, as in the previous entry — Aiba is equal parts quippy, logical, and protective of Date. Iris is innocent and naive in a way that’s endearing. Date himself is a proud pervert, but also is willing to put everything on the line to protect those he cares about. While there are still a fair number of crude jokes which should be expected from the series at this point, the significantly shorter run time means there’s less time for that aspect to become grating, and fewer opportunities for the perv factor to take away from the story as a whole. Where No Sleep largely differs from the rest of the series is the inclusion of the Third Eye Games, which amount to an elaborate escape room. Players will control iris to explore the room, find items and clues, and solve puzzles in order to escape. Sometimes items can be combined to create new things — a broken staff and a metallic idol make a hammer — and other objects will solve riddles of varying kinds. There are also narrative “tension scenes” where the music ramps up and players have to solve a puzzle within a time limit or else fail the escape. While these escape room sections are an interesting angle, I didn’t ultimately feel like they paid off because they become a bit unruly as more of the cast get pulled into them. At first it’s just Iris, but then the sections split between multiple characters, with each having only a part of the answer a puzzle. For example, I would locate half of an answer to a puzzle with a first person, switch to another to find the second half, and then switch to yet another character to use those bits of information and actually solve the puzzle. Once it got this complicated, it felt more like friction than fun to find answers. These puzzle rooms also fell flat for me in terms of story — there’s no development for anyone involved in these sections, as doing them doesn’t have any effect when we return to the visual novel side of things. It’s like they’re disconnected sidestory “time outs” that don’t touch the rest of the experience. On another note, I have problems with some of the UI and mechanics. The settings page for accessibility options (font size, volume, hints, etc) is microscopic on a television screen, and even worse playing the Switch in handheld mode. Also, No Sleep swapped between Japanese text and English text when I completed objectives (finishing a chapter, finding collectables, etc). Similarly, I think think there were localization issues as well, as there was some dialogue and phrasing that didn’t quite make sense. No Sleep has its faults, but I can’t say that I was disappointed revisiting the series, even if trying something new didn’t end up working in its favor. Thankfully, the runtime is half the length of the other two, so it’s not as much of a commitment and the missteps are slightly more excusable as there’s less of them than there would be otherwise. Ultimately though, I would only recommend playing No Sleep if series fans have already been through the other two and are desperate for a fix. For me, No Sleep for Kaname Date gets 7.5 character swaps out of 10. Rating: 7.5 out of 10 Disclosures: This game is developed and published by Spike Chunsoft Co., Ltd. and is currently available on Switch/Switch 2 and PC. This copy of the game was obtained via publisher and reviewed on the Switch. Approximately 14 hours of play were devoted to the single-player mode, and the game was completed. There are no multiplayer modes. Parents: According to the ESRB, this game is rated M and contains Blood, Strong Language, Sexual Themes, Use of Alcohol, and Violence. Lots of F*** throughout, and many curse words. One of the main characters is in a sexy bunny outfit the entire time, with no narrative reason. Date’s character flaw is how perverted he is, and that comes across loud and clear in jokes and some of the dialogue. Definitely not for younger players. Colorblind Modes: There are no colorblind modes available. Deaf & Hard of Hearing Gamers: Sound is not needed to complete the game. Captions for character dialogue can be resized, but not for all UI elements. Remappable Controls: The controls are not remappable, and there is no control diagram. Players will use the left stick to move the character and make decisions for dialogue choices, right stick to move the camera, A to interact with items, Y to open the menu, X to open a mini map, L to check the log of dialogue, R to turn off and on the auto advance for dialogue. All of these buttons will also be used individually for quicktime events. The post No Sleep For Kaname Date VIDEO Review appeared first on Gamecritics.com.

The So... Videogames! Podcast · So Videogames Episode 458

The post So Videogames Episode 458: Halloweeners appeared first on Gamecritics.com.

We’re nearing the end of October, so you know what that means! Yep, it’s time for a quick divergence into spooky movie recommendations to celebrate the spookiest season! There’s no major games discussion here, but Carlos Rodela comes aboard to share our (sort-of) top 10s and related tangents! Enjoy! You can also hear the show on iTunes Please send feedback and mailbag questions to SoVideogamesPODCAST (at) gmail (dot) com, or post them in the comments section below. Thanks! The post So Videogames Episode 458: Halloweeners appeared first on Gamecritics.com.

HIGH The Dark Grip power up is a blast.

LOW It's a roguelike, so expect some runs to be complete write-offs.

WTF Dashing forwards doubles as a deflecting move?

The post Absolum Review appeared first on Gamecritics.com.

Roguelike’s Gallery HIGH The Dark Grip power up is a blast. LOW It’s a roguelike, so expect some runs to be complete write-offs. WTF Dashing forwards doubles as a deflecting move? Absolum takes place in a fantasy world where certain types of magic are militarily suppressed by a tyrant known as the Sun King who enforces his rule by locking up or murdering anyone who gets in the way of his ambition. Our heroes set off on an adventure to fight back and topple this system, only for things to go badly wrong roughly ten minutes into their mission. Said heroes do have an ace up their sleeve though — while they can technically die, it doesn’t last long until they’re reborn in a sanctuary hidden away from prying eyes. So, after being stabbed, bludgeoned, bitten or burnt to death, they’re able to dust themselves off, power themselves up with various goodies from their previous attempt, and have another crack at taking down the Sun King. Most of the enemies are a standard fantasy medley of orcs, goblins and humans poking at things with spears for the most part. That description also fits the playable characters who are a decent enough cast of misfits, and personable enough once they get talking. That said, Blaze Fielding levels of character design excellence are not to be seen here. My main choice was the sword knight Galandra, a strong all-rounder. There’s also a Dwarf with stone-hard fists and a blunderbuss, a frog sorcerer who floats around the battlefield unleashing magical justice and a patchwork rogue type who seems the optimal choice for anyone looking to perform freeform combos. The first two are available from the outset, the latter two must be discovered on the journey. While Absolum is definitely a roguelike, it offers a mostly-traditional 2D side-scrolling approach. Stroll from the left side of the screen to the right mangling anything that gets in the way, pick up gems and loot to either help in current or future runs, and choose a preferred path through the chaos. If the setup is standard side scrolling fare, then it’s fair to say that the developers have pretty much nailed the combat. Players can run around, dash towards enemies to deflect their attacks, dash up or down to avoid them as well, and use a large variety of special moves to mince through enemy hordes. There’s even the occasional Golden Axe-style mount for added lethality and protection. One twist to this formula is the addition of Rituals. After nearly every encounter in a given location, the player is offered various rewards ranging from gold and gems to Rituals that can substantially change their playstyle with tweaks such as punches setting foes aflame or well-timed dodges blasting them with lightning. There are also character-exclusive perks like the Dark Grip, which I fell completely in love with since it turns out that strangling dudes in Absolum is totally awesome. Stroll up to some dirty-looking malcontent, hoist them up into the air by their throat and wait until they turn blue and die, coughing up large chunks of mana in the process. It should be mentioned that the benefits of some options aren’t always exactly clear, as Absolum is often missing basic information in info panels such as how much damage being choked actually does (lots) to enemies or how effective a floating spectral sword is at stabbing dudes, but experimenting with new discoveries is all part of the experience. In fact, ‘discovery’ is a watchword here as Absolum shows strength through the variety of things hurled at players. Especially in the early runs, there’s almost always some twist coming out of nowhere to open up new routes, make new friendships or reveal new enemies and bosses lurking in the shadows. One time I was waiting for a lift to another area, only to have a bunch of grenades hurled at me instead. I’m not sure if this was due to the character I picked or not, but my Dwarf didn’t get a warm welcome in that zone. Of course, this variety in conjunction with the random nature of roguelikes has a downside. When scavenging for life-replenishing food after rough battles, it’s often (literally) a feast or a famine — pointlessly abundant one run with waste aplenty, then an absolute void of sustenance the next. The same goes for abilities and power-ups — one run offers perfectly synchronized Rituals that complement each other, and the next is nothing but a ramshackle collection of redundant nonsense that doesn’t mesh. If I had a complaint besides the random awful luck of roguelikes, I’d have to say that I’m getting sick of seeing boss characters that borderline cheat by being slathered in hyperarmor that allows them to ignore player attacks until it shatters. It comes across as a bit lazy, honestly — there’s one Warlord boss in particular that takes nasty advantage of this with huge grab windows that last too long, able to snatch players out of combos, mid-attack. It’s not exactly game breaking, but I’d be happy to see it toned down or binned completely moving forward. I’d also hoped for something to add replay value after killing the true final boss, but Absolum doesn’t introduce any new features that I’m aware of– no randomizers, no new skill tree unlock, and no surprise bonus characters. Given how generous the devs are with content up to that point, it’s a little strange to see the content feed suddenly stop dead like that. Rolling credits feels almost anticlimactic a result. Minor quibbles aside, Absolum is an excellent beat-’em-up full of cool combos, neat build variations, random events and enjoyable roguelike power evolution spearheaded by a team that Absolumetely knows what they’re doing when it comes to crafting quality content. For fans of roguelikes or side-scrollers, this is one to check out. Rating: 8 out of 10 Disclosures: This game is developed by Guard Crush/Supamonks and published by DotEmu. It is currently available on XBX/S/PS5/Switch and PC. This copy of the game was obtained via publisher and reviewed on the PC. Approximately 17 hours of play were devoted to the single-player mode, and the game was completed. 0 hours of play were spent in multiplayer modes due to lack of available players pre release. Parents: According to the ESRB, this game is rated E10+ and contains Fantasy Violence, Mild Blood, Mild Language, and Use of Tobacco. The official description reads: Absolum is rated E10+ for Everyone 10+ by the ESRB with Fantasy Violence, Mild Blood, Mild Language, and Use of Tobacco. This is an action-adventure game in which players assume the roles of rebel heroes battling a fantasy villain. From a 2D side-scrolling perspective, players use swords, spells, and melee-style attacks to defeat creatures and human enemies (e.g., goblins, raptors, captains, ghosts) in “beat-’em-up”-style combat. Battles are highlighted by impact sounds, colorful light effects, and cries of pain. A red puddle of blood is depicted on one ground level. One character is seen smoking a pipe. The words “damn” and “hell” appear in the game. Colorblind Modes: There are no colorblind modes available. Deaf & Hard of Hearing Gamers: This game offers subtitles that cannot be altered or resized. I don’t recall anything in the game that would require the use of hearing for successful play, so I’d say it’s fully accessible. Remappable Controls: Yes, this game offers fully remappable controls. The post Absolum Review appeared first on Gamecritics.com.

HIGH The art style and comic dialogue in an oppressive setting.

LOW The difference between the two difficulty levels is big.

WTF Every time we save the game, we need to pay?

The post Artis Impact Review appeared first on Gamecritics.com.

AI Will Not Steal Our Joy! HIGH The art style and comic dialogue in an oppressive setting. LOW The difference between the two difficulty levels is big. WTF Every time we save the game, we need to pay? Artis Impact is set in a post-apocalyptic future, destroyed by artificial intelligence. The land is ravaged, the towns are decadent, populations live isolated, most places are abandoned, and aggressive AI robots roam the map. In this sense, Artis Impact could be just another game about how AI will doom us all, but luckily it decided to be more than that, as this pessimistic setting contrasts with the colorful, cozy aesthetics and the joyful tone of the characters. This contrast between what we feel as a player and what’s really going on in the world was well-thought-out and executed, becoming the axis of the player experience. While the urban atmosphere is vivid and the interaction with the other human characters is often expressed through humorous dialogue and funny scenes, the outside world, dominated by AI robots, is designed to be intimidating, depressing and dangerous, painted in darker colors. This is the intended message, I believe — that happiness lies only between humans, while AI makes the world sadder. The world of Artis Impact is cozy. It’s a pixelated project expressed in various 2D ways, but it’s colorful and it feels dynamic. The movements are fluid, the animations are satisfactory to watch, we can interact with almost everything in the world like mailboxes, faucets, and drawers. The transitions between scenes and loading pauses are smooth. The developers clearly paid attention to the details and were able to give warm vibes to this dangerous world — despite the overall destruction and the decayed infrastructure, we often find ourselves in inviting environments like drinking tea in a comfy chair, taking a hot bath, doing part-time jobs, or just doing light-hearted daily activities in Japanese-style streets. Artis Impact is full of situations that will bring a smile to the player’s face despite the larger oppressive framing. In this dichotomy we play as Akane, a friendly, extroverted, and almost wacky woman – a perfect personality to portray ‘found happiness in a hopeless world.’ For a pixelated 2D character, Akane is full of personality. She works for an organization tasked to combat the AI threat, and she’s always accompanied by a small bot that serves as a guide and as support in combat. Akane’s journey revolves around battling machines, uncovering secrets, discovering treasures, and experiencing bright interactions with the many charismatic characters we meet, while also dealing with philosophical questions found within the cold and depressing world of AI. It’s inevitable that we make comparisons with things like Nier: Automata. Besides the post-apocalyptic environment and the robotic enemies, Akane holds strong similarities with 2B (the white hair, black clothes, cube-shaped bot companion, an exquisite sword, fighting prowess) and Artis Impact deals with the same core philosophical questions about what it is to be human, contrasting the division of human behavior and AI emulation. However, unlike Nier: Automata, Artis Impact offers a joyful, whimsical, and colorful mosaic. Akane, unlike 2B, embodies the light of joy in a hopeless world — she saves a bunny, gives coins to a homeless guy, clumsily lights a fireplace with a bomb, or comically reviews the places where she sleeps. Despite the large strokes of both settings appearing the same, the message that the protagonist portraits is different and more optimistic, which is a welcome approach. The combat in Artis Impact is turn-based. However, instead of being slowly tactical with complex strategies, the turn-based nature of the design feels fluid and moves with a quick pace. The animations are top-notch and the automatic HP restorations, fire support from the bot companion, and counterattack moments are dynamic. Although this combat is engaging, Artis Impact is fundamentally a narrative-focused experience. While the potential was there to have these sequences drag on by asking the player to little more than press a button and advance dialogue, the story is fulfilling, with peppy punch lines, comedy and drama, in addition to genuinely interesting philosophical questions. What does it mean to be human? What does AI want? One interesting final detail about Artis Impact is that enemies are represented as shadow-like creatures. We don’t clearly see them, and we might wonder if this is an implicit message from the developers that Akane’s journey is not truly about fighting AI. Indeed, at the end of the adventure, it felt more like a personal journey for Akane, as well as for us. What is our place in an ever-changing world? What do we cherish the most when everything collapses? I won’t spoil the most revealing moments, but Artis Impact is indeed a work that seeks to humanize a world that’s lost everything except its humanity. Rating: 8 out of 10 Disclosures: This game is developed by Mas and published by Feuxon. It is currently available on PC. This copy of the game was obtained via publisher and reviewed on the PC. Approximately 12 hours of play were devoted to the single-player mode, and the game was completed. There are no multiplayer modes. Parents: As of press time, this game was not rated by the ESRB. Artis Impact contains strong language that may be offensive to some players and is not suitable for children, primarily adult humor. There are two available modes – the normal mode and the super safe mode. The latter reduces the sensitive content. Colorblind Modes: There are no colorblind modes available. Deaf & Hard of Hearing Gamers: This game offers subtitles. (See example above.) The subtitles cannot be altered and/or resized. The only audio this game uses are the soundtrack, the ‘gibberish’ talking noises and some environmental sounds. This game is fully accessible. Remappable Controls: Yes, this game offers fully remappable controls. The post Artis Impact Review appeared first on Gamecritics.com.

HIGH Great production values and an '80s MTV aesthetic.

LOW Writing that reminded me how old I am.

WTF Classic channel scrambling from the '80s and '90s is here, too.

The post Blippo+ Review appeared first on Gamecritics.com.

Don’t Doomscroll! Channel Surf Instead! HIGH Great production values and an ’80s MTV aesthetic. LOW Writing that reminded me how old I am. WTF Classic channel scrambling from the ’80s and ’90s is here, too. Back when I was a kid in the late ’80s and early ’90s, I’d watch a lot of TV via cable, antenna, and satellite, depending on where I was living at the time. During this era, there were a number of weird and unusual shows that would always catch my eye, and that experimental vibe is what attracted me to Blippo+. It reminded me of this bygone and, frankly, halcyon era of absolutely bonkers TV. Plainly put, Blippo+ is a full-motion video (FMV) intergalactic cable simulator — and yes, that’s a mouthful. As such, it’s not really a game in the traditional sense, but what’s here is still incredibly fascinating and entertaining to watch. Originally released as a Playdate console exclusive, what makes this new version unique is that it’s now in color, which the PlayDate is incapable of displaying. There are a variety of channels and shows to watch on this fictional TV service. There are talk shows, science discussions (with brains in jars), psychic weather reports, kids TV, and so much more. Every program is on in real time, so just like watching TV back in the days before on-demand streaming, if something was missed, the only solution was to wait for it to repeat later. Thankfully, each channel only has about five minutes of content, so I never had to wait long to catch a show I was interested in. The production values are out of this world, and it’s evident that the team behind this project put a lot of effort into Blippo+, even going so far as to use analog cameras, costumes and the like to give the shows a period-distinct appearance that will be familiar to anyone old enough to recall the late ’80s and early ’90s. It carries a lot of nostalgia for me, as that era of TV was commonly experimental and weird. For example, Boredome and Party Music Nonstop really made think about classic MTV shows. Countertop kind of reminded me of old sitcoms, but not necessarily any specific one. Each show was definitely influenced by something from American TV shows of the past, and it was such a lovely trip down memory lane. And I loved almost everything that was on each channel. I think some of my favorite shows were things like Quizzards, a game show blended together with a Dungeons & Dragons session. Or Realms Beyond, which was an often comical minute-long take on The Twilight Zone. There was even a funny version of General Hospital, called Clone Trois, with clones taking on various roles, all played by the same actress. I think the best show was Bushwalker, a peaceful hiking simulation with a knife and axe in each hand for some reason. The Exquisite Telethon, a literary experiment read by the host, and fueled by callers to the show, was also excellent. Oh, and for anyone wondering if there’s a story surrounding all of this — don’t worry, there is. The narrative is told piecemeal over time, which is a great way to tell it, and it made me feel a bit like a character as well. Blippo+ definitely evoked the nostalgic feeling of channel surfing on the kind of weird, risky old school TV before all the buyouts and mergers happened. There aren’t many problems with the experience overall, though there were a couple of minor grievances I had. One program was the same dance through different camera angles, which needed more variation. Another was a channel with an AI character slowly going insane, and the Max Headroom-like character was a bit grating. I also wish that there had been a few more shows per channel. I guess wanting more isn’t necessarily a bad thing, but I was always craving more to watch — five minutes always felt a bit short. While Blippo+ isn’t a traditional video game, it’s still a great fit for gaming platforms. The programs are funny, and they expertly riff on the shows they parody. With the era of TV it evokes moving further and further into the past, it’s a nice reminder of what TV, video games, and all manner of entertainment can and should be — weird, and not afraid of trying something different. Rating: 8 out of 10 Buy Blippo+ – Steam – itch.io – Nintendo Disclosures: This game is developed by YACHT, Telefantasy Studios, and Noble Robot and published by Panic. It is currently available on Switch and PC. This copy of the game was obtained via publisher and reviewed on PC. Approximately 6 hours were devoted to the game, and it was completed. There is no multiplayer mode. Parents: This game has an ESRB rating of T for Blood, Sexual Themes, Use of Alcohol and Tobacco, and Violence. Most of the sexual themes are innuendo, particularly the Zest “adult” channel, which is completely scrambled, save for the credits version, and even that isn’t all that sexual. Colorblind Modes: There are no colorblind options. Deaf & Hard of Hearing Gamers: The game offers subtitles in the form of closed captioning for the programming. (See examples above.) Subtitles cannot be resized. This game is not fully accessible, as the captions were small to read at times. Similar issues were found with the program notes that appear on-screen when a new program starts or when switching channels. Remappable Controls: No, this game’s controls are not remappable. The post Blippo+ Review appeared first on Gamecritics.com.

HIGH Franchise is once again the centerpiece of the Madden banquet table.

LOW The load times are unbearable for this console generation.

WTF Even digitally, the NY Giants seem lost and confused.

The post Madden NFL 26 Review appeared first on Gamecritics.com.

This Veteran Has Something To Show You HIGH Franchise is once again the centerpiece of the Madden banquet table. LOW The load times are unbearable for this console generation. WTF Even digitally, the NY Giants seem lost and confused. Please allow me to pull back the curtain on how things run at GameCritics headquarters. For years, our esteemed editor has questioned higher scores when a corresponding review indicated otherwise, and for years, I pushed back, arguing that the whole often exceeded the sum of its parts. While I stand behind every review I’ve ever published, from now on, I plan to approach scoring a little differently. Madden NFL 26 is the reason why. Last year, I awarded Madden 25 an 8 out of 10, citing steady, if minor improvements — and by and large, it was a good, solid football sim. After playing Madden NFL 26, I no longer want to see incremental upgrades. Nor do I want to review more ‘solid’ games. I want to see more of this. Madden NFL 26 is the revelation football enthusiasts have wanted, breaking the cycle of minor fixes to deliver a monumental leap in immersion, atmosphere, and controls, and the largest refinement came where it was needed most — the criminally-overlooked Franchise Mode. After years of wondering if EA was pushing all users toward the microtransaction-focused Ultimate Team, it’s clear the developers listened to fan feedback, because Franchise feels like the heart of Madden once more. For starters, the updated week-to-week tactical approach lets gamers design strategies on the fly, tailored to each opponent’s strengths and weaknesses. In turn, a new XP-based progression system personalizes the player development process, and the “Wear & Tear” mechanic (borrowed lovingly from College Football) forces users to make tough decisions about how to rest stars and manage rosters across a long season. Another key development was the introduction of coaching archetypes, which allows players to choose whether to lead their team as an Offensive Guru, Defensive Genius, or Development Wizard. Each path provides unique skill trees and gameplay benefits, deepening the strategic investment. Combine this with enhanced scouting, revamped menus, and a more robust broadcast package, and Franchise has become a destination rather than an afterthought. Gamers asked for it, and EA delivered in a big way. This realism is matched by the gameplay, which is both quicker and more realistic than before. Madden NFL 26 strikes a delicate balance between accuracy and responsiveness, creating a pace that is fast enough to excite without delving into arcade territory. The much-hyped “QB DNA” system brings more personality to quarterbacks and receivers by amplifying pocket passing/scrambling tendencies, receiver route discipline, and overall situational awareness, so the results better reflect what fans see on Sundays. Defensive play has also improved, albeit not by the same leaps and bounds. Still, Madden’s AI shows more intelligent formation reads and more realistic animations for blocking and tackling. A lot of this will be missed by the casual player, but there’s a sense of fluidity and realism that enhances the immersion in each session. One thing sports fans always seem to do is compare the current Madden series with the beloved NFL 2K titles, especially when it comes to broadcast quality, Well, Madden NFL 26 feels like a true primetime production with unique looks for Thursday night, Sunday afternoon, and Monday night football, right down to lighting that shifts with the time of year. Maybe the commentary isn’t quite as memorable as the first time we heard Dan Stevens on our Dreamcasts, but there’s little repetition or inaccuracy. In turn, entertaining cutaways and postgame coverage match the old TV spirit of NFL 2K, delivering trivia, highlights, and halftime visuals for authenticity and immersion. It’s been a long time, but this year’s Madden finally captures the gravitas and flair of the NFL’s expanded weekly product. Even Madden Ultimate Team (MUT), long criticized for its money-hungry grind, benefits from smarter (if subtle) quality-of-life updates. Yes, the annoying pay-to-win structure remains, so MUT is still best suited for those comfortable with its monetization design. However, it’s also more welcoming to those who want to dabble before opening the wallet, which is a step in the right direction. Superstar Mode has made a significant move forward by revisiting basic RPG-like elements. Maybe this isn’t exactly “Sunday Stadium Skyrim,” but this notably revamped mode now features career chapters, evolving player relationships and ongoing customization, showing an honest attempt to make the journey feel more personal. Though it still doesn’t quite reach the depth of Franchise, nor does it dabble in melodrama like the NBA 2K series, EA’s attempts at storytelling no longer feel half-baked, and I’m already looking forward to next year’s efforts. Also, it should be noted that graduating seniors from the College Football series can be imported and drafted in Madden 26. This is handled well, and it’s enjoyable to watch a dominant college player adapt to the improved talent facing him in the pro ranks. It’s also a nice way to enhance the value of owning both titles, since there is no limit to how many created superstars can find their way into the hallowed halls of Madden NFL. Even though readers probably know I’m about to laud this title with a stellar score, I do need to call out one odd, unexpected complaint — loading times. Both offline and online, I found myself staring at loading screens for far longer than I should with my Xbox Series X. Online, I’m willing to forgive these delays in the short term, as servers were understandably packed at the time of review. That said, jumping from mode to mode shouldn’t be timed by an hourglass. EA will hopefully patch this soon, if they haven’t already. So, to bring this discussion full circle, Madden NFL 26 is a shining example of why it’s important to read full reviews, not just scores. Why? Even when discussing two games in a series made one year apart, there’s a world of difference between last year’s 8 and this year’s 9.5. Those waiting for Madden to finally make true forward progress can exhale, because the moment has come. Rating: 9.5 out of 10 Disclosures: This game is published by EA Sports and developed by EA Orlando. It is available on XBO/X/S, PC, SW2, and PS4/5. This game was obtained via publisher and reviewed on the XBX. Approximately 13 hours of play were devoted to the single-player mode, and the game was not completed. Approximately 4.5 hours of play were devoted to online multiplayer. Parents: According to the ESRB, this game is rated E. This is a realistic representation of full-contact professional football. Some tackling animations and injuries may concern some parents. Colorblind Modes: Colorblind modes are available in the Game Settings menu. Deaf & Hard of Hearing Gamers: Madden NFL 26 features subtitles, speech-to-text, and numerous tactile feedback features in all modes. (See examples above) The game is easily playable without sound and is fully accessible. Remappable Controls: No, the game’s controls are not remappable. The post Madden NFL 26 Review appeared first on Gamecritics.com.

HIGH The payoff of the 'rare scrap collector' storyline.

LOW Locking quests by accidentally moving the plot forward.

WTF So we're just not going to explain the zombie robots?

The post Robots At Midnight Review appeared first on Gamecritics.com.

The Dead (Robots) Walk! HIGH The payoff of the ‘rare scrap collector’ storyline. LOW Locking quests by accidentally moving the plot forward. WTF So we’re just not going to explain the zombie robots? In an age of bloated development and enormous open-world maps, I can’t remember the last time I got to the end of a game and found myself thinking wait… is that all there is? So, if nothing else, at least Robots at Midnight found an exciting new way to disappoint. I’m being glib, of course. As a 3D action-adventure with Souls-inspired combat, there’s plenty to like about Robots at Midnight. However, the further I got into the experience, the more I found myself thinking that this couldn’t possibly be the whole game that the developers set out to make. Set in the distant future after all life on earth has been wiped out by some kind of an electrical event, the player controls a teenage girl who was thrown into twenty years of stasis to protect her from rogue bots. She’s now awake and has a chance to explore the rusted-out and overgrown remains of an extremely small section of the world’s surface. There are only four distinct areas in the adventure, with each one featuring the same basic threats as the one before it. As with most titles that broadly fit into the soulslike format – explore a wrecked location, kill enemies with mostly melee combat, reset monsters at campfires – there’s not much content here other than combat, and it’s extremely simple combat at that. Robots at Midnight‘s fighting involves locking onto enemies and using basic combos, then blocking when enemies attack or parrying to stagger them and set them up for a vicious counterattack. There’s an arsenal of weapons, but they don’t have major differences — just variations in damage, attack speed, and stamina usage while performing the same set of attacks. Over the course of the adventure, the player can unlock three special techniques that offer concrete combat advantages. The first is a super punch that interrupts any enemy attack, ragdolling even bosses. The second is a laser blast that’s perfect for wiping out groups of foes, and the last is a ‘super-parry’ with timing so fiddly that I rolled credits before getting the hang of it — although Robots at Midnight‘s extremely brief running time was a factor in that. To the game’s credit, it has some genuinely interesting creature design. All of the killer robots have seen better days — decades without humans to run the factories that make their parts have left them struggling to cobble together whatever repairs they can. These robots don’t fight with high-tech energy blades, they stumble around with nailbats and clubs built from bundles of rebar they’ve crudely welded together. The fact that the enemies are barely holding it together reinforces that this is a world on the edge of collapse. This precarity is only heightened by the titular midnight. It’s not just what comes after 11:59 PM, it’s also when a horrible beam of red energy sweeps across the planet and gremlins reanimate all of the robot corpses, turning them into mindless killing machines – moreso than they already were, anyway. Which brings me to the most frustrating part of the experience – just how underexplained the story is. There are a lot of strange elements here – the aforementioned zombie robots, a robot cult that worships the light beam, a leather-clad robot who ultimately serves as the main villain… even for a Souls-inspired game, Robots at Midnight does a terrible job of explaining any of these pieces. The main character is very interested in figuring out what’s going on the in world – she just never has the chance to do so. Robots at Midnight is promising, and if this were an Early Access title, I’d be excited to see where it’s going. The combat is solid (if basic) the art style offers a cartoony take on a world post-collapse, and the mechanics of exploration were satisfying from moment to moment. Still, the whole thing feels like an idea for a game, as what was in front of me for review felt miles away from being a full, complete experience. Rating: 5 out of 10 Disclosures: This game is developed by Finish Line games and published by Snail Games USA. It currently available on PC/PS5/XBS-X. This copy of the game was obtained via publisher and reviewed on the PS5. Approximately 10 hours of play was devoted to the single-player mode. The game was completed. The game contains no multiplayer modes. Parents: This game was rated T by the ESRB, features Violence. There’s constant human-on-robot violence and the game is set in a post-apocalypse, but there’s noting particularly traumatic about it. After all, it’s not like the player is ever introduced to any of the billions of people who were presumably killed offscreen. It’s fine for even younger teens to play. Colorblind Modes: There are no colorblind modes. Deaf & Hard of Hearing Gamers: I played almost the entire game without sound and encountered zero difficulties. All information is provided via text, which cannot be resized. The game is fully accessible. Remappable Controls: No, the game’s controls are not remappable. The post Robots At Midnight Review appeared first on Gamecritics.com.

Fixes, Tutorials and Guides for Games

Fix the Out of the Park Baseball 26 window not opening on Mac with our easy step-by-step troubleshooting guide. Get back to gaming!

The post How To Fix Out Of The Park Baseball 26 Window Doesn’t Open On Mac (Easy Fix) appeared first on Games Errors.

If you’re a fan of Out of the Park Baseball 26 and have encountered issues with the window not opening on your Mac, you’re not alone. Many users face this frustrating problem, but fortunately, there are several methods to troubleshoot and resolve the issue. This guide will provide you with a step-by-step approach to get your game up and running smoothly again. When the game window fails to open, it can stem from various reasons, including software compatibility, system settings, or corrupted game files. By following the outlined solutions, you can quickly pinpoint the cause and apply the appropriate fixes. Whether you’re a seasoned player or new to the game, these steps will help ensure you return to managing your baseball team in no time. Why Won’t Out of the Park Baseball 26 Open on Mac? Check System Requirements Before diving into more complex solutions, it’s essential to verify that your Mac meets the minimum system requirements for Out of the Park Baseball 26. Ensure your macOS version, RAM, and graphics card are compatible with the game. Update Your Game and macOS An outdated game or operating system can lead to compatibility issues. Check for updates for both Out of the Park Baseball 26 and your macOS. Updating can often resolve unexpected issues and improve performance. Adjust Security & Privacy Settings Sometimes, macOS security settings may prevent applications from launching. Navigate to System Preferences > Security & Privacy, and ensure that Out of the Park Baseball 26 is allowed to run. Look for any warnings about blocked applications and adjust the settings accordingly. Delete Preferences Files Corrupted preferences files can interfere with how the game operates. To delete these files, go to Finder > Go > Go to Folder, type ~/Library/Preferences/, and look for any files related to Out of the Park Baseball 26. Move them to the trash and restart the game. Reinstall the Game If all else fails, reinstalling Out of the Park Baseball 26 might be your best option. First, remove the game from your Applications folder, then download a fresh copy from the official website or your digital distribution platform. Check for Background Applications Sometimes, other applications running in the background can interfere with the game. Close any unnecessary applications and try launching Out of the Park Baseball 26 again. Tips for Troubleshooting Always back up your save files before deleting or reinstalling the game. Ensure your graphics drivers are up to date. Consider checking forums and community discussions for additional user experiences and solutions. The above steps should help you troubleshoot the Out of the Park Baseball 26 window not opening on your Mac. Each of these solutions targets common issues faced by players, so you can find the right fix for your situation. To further assist you, here are some frequently asked questions regarding this issue. FAQs Q: What should I do if the game still doesn’t open after following all the steps? A: If the game still fails to open, consider contacting the game’s support team for further assistance. Q: Are there any known bugs with Out of the Park Baseball 26 on Mac? A: Yes, some users have reported bugs related to specific macOS versions. Checking the official forums may provide updates and fixes. Q: Can I run Out of the Park Baseball 26 on older versions of macOS? A: It is recommended to use a version of macOS that meets or exceeds the game’s system requirements for optimal performance. Q: How can I ensure my game files are not corrupted? A: Verifying the integrity of the game files through the platform you purchased it from can help identify and fix corrupted files. Related reading How To Fix Out Of The Park Baseball 26 Achievements Not Unlocking (Quick Fix) How To Fix Out Of The Park Baseball 26 Roster Import Not Working (Easy Fix) How To Fix Out Of The Park Baseball 26 Online Leagues Not Working (Quick Fix) How To Fix Out Of The Park Baseball 26 Cloud Save Not Syncing (Quick Fix) How To Fix Out Of The Park Baseball 26 Save Corrupted (Easy Fix) The post How To Fix Out Of The Park Baseball 26 Window Doesn’t Open On Mac (Easy Fix) appeared first on Games Errors.

Fix resolution issues in Out of the Park Baseball 26 with simple methods to enhance your gaming experience.

The post How To Fix Out Of The Park Baseball 26 Can’t Change Resolution (Simple Methods) appeared first on Games Errors.

If you’re experiencing issues with Out of the Park Baseball 26 where the resolution settings won’t change, you’re not alone. Many players face this frustrating problem, which can hinder your gaming experience. Fortunately, there are several straightforward methods to address this issue. In this article, we will explore effective solutions to help you adjust the resolution settings so you can enjoy the game as intended. Resolution problems can arise from various factors, including game settings, display configurations, or even graphics driver compatibility. Understanding these potential causes can make it easier to pinpoint the issue and apply the right fix. Below, we’ll outline the steps you can take to resolve the resolution issue in Out of the Park Baseball 26. Can You Change the Resolution in Out of the Park Baseball 26? If you’re wondering whether it’s possible to change the resolution in Out of the Park Baseball 26, the answer is yes. However, the process can sometimes be complicated due to various factors. Here are the steps you can follow to change the resolution effectively: Check In-Game Settings Begin by launching the game and navigating to the settings menu. Look for the “Display” or “Graphics” tab where you can adjust the resolution settings. Ensure that you select the desired resolution and save your changes before exiting the menu. Update Graphics Drivers Outdated graphics drivers can prevent the game from properly applying resolution settings. Check if your graphics card drivers are up to date by visiting the manufacturer’s website (NVIDIA, AMD, or Intel) and downloading the latest drivers. Install them and restart your computer to see if this resolves the issue. Modify Configuration Files Sometimes, the resolution settings may be hardcoded in the game’s configuration files. You can locate these files by going to the game’s installation directory. Look for a file named “config.ini” or similar. Open it with a text editor and find the resolution settings. Change them to your desired resolution and save the file. Restart the game to see if the changes take effect. Check Display Settings on Your PC It’s essential to ensure that your PC’s display settings match the resolution you want to use in the game. Right-click on your desktop and select “Display settings.” Adjust the resolution here to match what you are trying to set in the game. Sometimes, having mismatched settings can prevent the game from applying the desired resolution. Run the Game in Compatibility Mode If you’re still having trouble, try running the game in compatibility mode. Right-click on the game’s executable file, select “Properties,” and navigate to the “Compatibility” tab. Check the box for “Run this program in compatibility mode for” and select an earlier version of Windows. This can sometimes resolve conflicts that hinder resolution changes. Tips for Better Gaming Experience Ensure your monitor supports the desired resolution. Avoid using custom resolution settings that exceed your monitor’s limits. If you’re using multiple displays, try launching the game on the primary monitor. Regularly update the game to the latest version for optimal performance. Consider adjusting other graphics settings in the game to improve overall performance. It’s important to remember that resolution issues can be a result of multiple factors, and a trial-and-error approach may be necessary to find the right solution for your setup. Adjusting Resolution in Out of the Park Baseball 26 By following these steps, you should be able to successfully change the resolution settings in Out of the Park Baseball 26. If the problem persists, consider reaching out to the game’s support community for further assistance. FAQs Q: Why can’t I change the resolution in Out of the Park Baseball 26? A: This issue can occur due to outdated graphics drivers, incorrect display settings, or hardcoded configurations in the game files. Q: How do I update my graphics drivers? A: Visit the official website of your graphics card manufacturer and download the latest drivers for your model. Q: Can I change resolution settings through configuration files? A: Yes, you can modify the game’s configuration files to manually set your desired resolution. Q: What should I do if the game still won’t change resolution? A: Try running the game in compatibility mode or check for any game updates that may resolve the issue. Related reading How To Fix Out Of The Park Baseball 26 Achievements Not Unlocking (Quick Fix) How To Fix Out Of The Park Baseball 26 Roster Import Not Working (Easy Fix) How To Fix Out Of The Park Baseball 26 Online Leagues Not Working (Quick Fix) How To Fix Out Of The Park Baseball 26 Cloud Save Not Syncing (Quick Fix) How To Fix Out Of The Park Baseball 26 Save Corrupted (Easy Fix) The post How To Fix Out Of The Park Baseball 26 Can’t Change Resolution (Simple Methods) appeared first on Games Errors.

Resolve achievement issues in Out of the Park Baseball 26 with our quick fixes and tips to unlock your hard-earned rewards.

The post How To Fix Out Of The Park Baseball 26 Achievements Not Unlocking (Quick Fix) appeared first on Games Errors.

If you’re a fan of Out of the Park Baseball 26 (OOTP 26) and have encountered issues with achievements not unlocking, you’re not alone. Many players find themselves frustrated when they complete the necessary tasks only to see no recognition for their efforts. Understanding the common reasons behind this problem can help you troubleshoot effectively. In this article, we will guide you through potential fixes and tips to resolve the issue of achievements not unlocking. Unlocking achievements in OOTP 26 can depend on various factors, including game settings, bugs, and specific player actions. By following the steps outlined below, you can increase your chances of successfully unlocking those elusive achievements. What Causes Achievements to Not Unlock in OOTP 26? Several reasons may prevent achievements from unlocking in Out of the Park Baseball 26. Below are some common causes and their respective solutions to ensure you can enjoy the full experience of the game. Check Game Settings Ensure that your game settings are configured correctly. Sometimes, achievements can be disabled if certain options are turned off. Navigate to your settings and verify that achievements are enabled. Verify Steam Cloud Sync If you are playing on Steam, check that the Cloud Save feature is enabled. This allows your achievements and progress to sync properly. If syncing is disabled, achievements might not register as completed. Update the Game Make sure you are running the latest version of OOTP 26. Developers frequently release updates to fix bugs, including achievement issues. Check for updates regularly on your platform. Restart the Game Sometimes, a simple restart can resolve persisting issues. Close the game completely and relaunch it. This can refresh the game state and allow achievements to unlock. Check for Known Bugs Stay informed about any known bugs that may affect achievements. Visit the official forums or community pages for OOTP 26 to find discussions about similar issues. Developers may provide solutions or workarounds. Complete Requirements Accurately Ensure that you are meeting the specific requirements for each achievement. Sometimes, the criteria can be misinterpreted. Double-check the requirements for the achievements you are attempting to unlock. Use Safe Mode Try running the game in Safe Mode. This mode can help eliminate conflicts with mods or custom settings that might interfere with achievements. Contact Support If you’ve tried all of the above and still can’t unlock achievements, consider reaching out to the game’s support team. Provide them with detailed information about your issue for better assistance. Tips for Troubleshooting Achievement Issues Regularly check for updates and patch notes from the developers. Join the OOTP community forums to share issues and solutions with other players. Keep a list of achievements and track your progress to ensure you’re meeting all requirements. Achieving success in Out of the Park Baseball 26 can be immensely satisfying, especially when it comes to unlocking achievements. By following the steps outlined above, you can troubleshoot common issues and enhance your gaming experience. FAQs Q: Why are my achievements not unlocking? A: Achievements may not unlock due to game settings, bugs, or unmet requirements. Q: How can I check if achievements are enabled? A: Go to your game settings and ensure that achievements are turned on. Q: What should I do if the game is up to date but achievements still won’t unlock? A: Try restarting the game or running it in Safe Mode to eliminate potential conflicts. Q: Where can I find help for unresolved achievement issues? A: Visit the official OOTP forums or contact the game’s support team for assistance. By following these guidelines, you can resolve issues with Out of the Park Baseball 26 achievements not unlocking, ensuring a smoother gaming experience. Related reading How To Fix Out Of The Park Baseball 26 Roster Import Not Working (Easy Fix) How To Fix Out Of The Park Baseball 26 Online Leagues Not Working (Quick Fix) How To Fix Out Of The Park Baseball 26 Cloud Save Not Syncing (Quick Fix) How To Fix Out Of The Park Baseball 26 Not Launching (Quick Fix) How To Fix Atomfall Black Screen On Launch (Easy Fix) The post How To Fix Out Of The Park Baseball 26 Achievements Not Unlocking (Quick Fix) appeared first on Games Errors.

Fix Out of the Park Baseball 26 roster import issues with easy troubleshooting steps and get back to managing your team seamlessly.

The post How To Fix Out Of The Park Baseball 26 Roster Import Not Working (Easy Fix) appeared first on Games Errors.

If you’re encountering issues with the roster import feature in Out of the Park Baseball 26, you’re not alone. Many players have experienced difficulties when trying to import their rosters, leading to frustration and confusion. Understanding the reasons behind these issues and knowing how to resolve them can greatly enhance your gaming experience. In this article, we will explore effective solutions to fix the roster import problem, ensuring you can get back to managing your team with ease. When dealing with the "Out of the Park Baseball 26 roster import not working" issue, it’s essential to identify common causes such as file format errors or compatibility issues. By following the steps outlined below, you can troubleshoot and resolve these problems efficiently. Let’s dive into the solutions that will help you successfully import your roster. Why is My Roster Import Not Working? Check File Format Compatibility Ensure that the roster file you are trying to import is in the correct format. Out of the Park Baseball 26 typically supports CSV files. Any deviation from this format can lead to import failures. If your file is in a different format, convert it to CSV before attempting to import again. Validate the Roster File Before importing, validate the content of your CSV file. Look for any missing data, incorrect delimiters, or malformed entries. A corrupted roster file can cause the import function to fail. Use a text editor to open the CSV file and check for any discrepancies. Update the Game Ensure that your game is updated to the latest version. Sometimes, bugs or compatibility issues can be resolved through updates. Check for any available patches or updates for Out of the Park Baseball 26 and install them. Reboot the Game Occasionally, the game may encounter temporary glitches. Restarting Out of the Park Baseball 26 can refresh its system and resolve minor bugs that might be causing the import issue. Clear Cache and Preferences If the problem persists, consider clearing the game’s cache and resetting its preferences. This can help eliminate any corrupted settings that could be affecting the import process. Navigate to the game settings to find the option to restore defaults. Seek Community Support If you’ve tried all of the above and still face issues, reach out to the Out of the Park Baseball community forums. Other players may have experienced similar problems and can offer solutions and insights. Tips for Successful Roster Imports Always back up your existing roster before attempting any imports to avoid losing valuable data. Keep your game and files organized to easily retrieve and manage your roster files. Regularly check for updates or patches from the game developers to ensure smooth functionality. In addressing the roster import issue in Out of the Park Baseball 26, players can effectively troubleshoot and resolve any problems they encounter. Roster Import Issue Resolved The solutions provided should help you successfully navigate the "Out of the Park Baseball 26 roster import not working" challenge. Implementing these steps will ensure that you can import your rosters without hassle and continue enjoying your gameplay. FAQs Q: What file format should my roster be in for successful import? A: Your roster should be in CSV format for proper importation into Out of the Park Baseball 26. Q: What should I do if my roster file is corrupted? A: If your file is corrupted, try creating a new roster or downloading a fresh version of the roster file. Q: How do I check for game updates? A: You can check for updates through the game launcher or by visiting the official Out of the Park Baseball website. Q: Can community forums help with this issue? A: Yes, community forums can provide valuable insights and solutions from other players who have experienced similar issues. Related reading How To Fix Atomfall Black Screen On Launch (Easy Fix) How To Fix Atomfall Crashing On Startup (Quick Fix) How To Fix Atomfall Not Launching On PC (Easy Fix) How To Fix Assassin’s Creed Shadows Language Change Issue (Easy Fix) How To Fix Assassin’s Creed Shadows Achievements Not Unlocking (Easy Fix) The post How To Fix Out Of The Park Baseball 26 Roster Import Not Working (Easy Fix) appeared first on Games Errors.

Resolve Out of the Park Baseball 26 online league issues quickly with our practical troubleshooting guide and get back to the game.

The post How To Fix Out Of The Park Baseball 26 Online Leagues Not Working (Quick Fix) appeared first on Games Errors.

If you’re an avid player of Out of the Park Baseball 26 (OOTP 26), you might have encountered issues with the online leagues not functioning as expected. This can be frustrating, especially when you’re eager to participate in your favorite virtual baseball experience. Luckily, there are several steps you can take to troubleshoot and resolve these issues effectively. In this guide, we’ll explore common causes and practical solutions to get your online leagues back up and running smoothly. When dealing with online gaming issues, it’s essential to consider various factors that might be affecting your experience. From server problems to local network issues, understanding the root cause can help streamline the troubleshooting process. Below are the steps you should follow to diagnose and fix the issues with your OOTP 26 online leagues. What Are the Common Reasons for OOTP 26 Online Leagues Not Working? Check Server Status Before diving into complex troubleshooting, it’s wise to start by checking the official server status for OOTP 26. Sometimes, scheduled maintenance or unexpected outages can prevent access to online leagues. Visit the game’s official website or community forums to see if there are any announcements regarding server issues. Verify Your Game Files Corrupted game files can lead to various issues, including problems with online leagues. If you’re using Steam, you can easily verify the integrity of your game files. Open your Steam library, right-click on OOTP 26, and select "Properties." From there, navigate to the "Local Files" tab and click on "Verify Integrity of Game Files." This process will automatically fix any corrupted files. Check Your Internet Connection A stable internet connection is crucial for online gaming. Ensure that your connection is not only active but also strong enough to support online play. You can perform a speed test to check your connection quality. If you’re experiencing issues, try resetting your router or connecting via a wired connection instead of Wi-Fi for better stability. Update the Game Keeping your game updated is vital for optimal performance. Developers frequently release patches that fix bugs and improve functionality. Check for any available updates for OOTP 26 through your gaming platform and install them. This simple step might resolve many issues related to online leagues. Disable Firewall or Antivirus Software Sometimes, firewall or antivirus software may inadvertently block the game from accessing online features. Temporarily disable these programs to see if that resolves the issue. If it does, you may need to add OOTP 26 to the exceptions list in your firewall or antivirus settings to prevent future conflicts. Reinstall the Game If all else fails, a complete reinstallation of OOTP 26 might be necessary. Uninstall the game, restart your computer, and then reinstall it. This step can clear up any lingering issues or conflicts that may be affecting online league functionality. Tips for Smooth Gameplay Always keep your game and system software updated to avoid compatibility issues. Regularly check community forums for tips and updates related to OOTP 26. Ensure that your internet connection is reliable before starting your gaming sessions. In summary, if you find yourself facing issues with Out of the Park Baseball 26 online leagues not working, follow the steps outlined above to troubleshoot effectively. From checking server status to reinstalling the game, these solutions should help you get back to enjoying your online baseball experience. FAQs Q: What should I do if the server is down? A: If the server is down, you’ll need to wait until the developers address the issue. Check official channels for updates. Q: How can I check if my game files are corrupted? A: Use the “Verify Integrity of Game Files” feature in Steam to check for and repair corrupted files. Q: Is a wired connection better than Wi-Fi for gaming? A: Yes, a wired connection typically provides a more stable and faster internet connection, reducing lag and disconnections. Q: What if reinstalling the game doesn’t work? A: If reinstalling doesn’t solve the problem, consider reaching out to OOTP support for further assistance. Related reading How To Fix Atomfall Black Screen On Launch (Easy Fix) How To Fix Atomfall Crashing On Startup (Quick Fix) How To Fix Atomfall Not Launching On PC (Easy Fix) How To Fix Assassin’s Creed Shadows Language Change Issue (Easy Fix) How To Fix Assassin’s Creed Shadows Achievements Not Unlocking (Easy Fix) The post How To Fix Out Of The Park Baseball 26 Online Leagues Not Working (Quick Fix) appeared first on Games Errors.

Fix Out of the Park Baseball 26 cloud save syncing issues with our quick troubleshooting guide for a seamless gaming experience.

The post How To Fix Out Of The Park Baseball 26 Cloud Save Not Syncing (Quick Fix) appeared first on Games Errors.

If you’re a fan of Out of the Park Baseball 26, you know that having your game data synced properly is crucial for enjoying a seamless gaming experience. However, many players encounter issues with cloud saves not syncing, which can be frustrating and prevent you from accessing your saved games. In this guide, we’ll walk you through some straightforward steps to troubleshoot and resolve the syncing issues you might be facing with your cloud saves. Understanding the root of the problem is essential to finding a solution. Syncing issues can occur due to various factors, such as connectivity problems, software glitches, or misconfiguration in your game settings. By following the steps outlined below, you can effectively address these issues and get back to enjoying Out of the Park Baseball 26 without further interruptions. What Are the Steps to Fix Out of the Park Baseball 26 Cloud Save Not Syncing? Check Your Internet Connection A stable internet connection is vital for cloud syncing. Ensure that your device is connected to the internet and that the connection is stable. You can do this by running a speed test or trying to access other online services. Restart the Game and Your Device Sometimes, the simplest solution is the most effective. Close Out of the Park Baseball 26 and restart your device. This can help reset any temporary glitches and re-establish the connection to the cloud save service. Verify Game Settings Ensure that cloud saves are enabled in your game settings. Navigate to the settings menu in Out of the Park Baseball 26 and check for any options related to cloud saves. Make sure it is turned on. Update the Game Keeping your game updated is important for smooth performance. Check for any updates for Out of the Park Baseball 26 and install them. Updates often include bug fixes and improvements, including issues related to syncing. Check Cloud Storage Space Verify that you have enough cloud storage space available. If your cloud storage is full, new saves may not sync correctly. You may need to delete old saves or increase your cloud storage capacity. Re-link Your Cloud Account If the above steps do not resolve the issue, try unlinking and then re-linking your cloud account from the game. This can reset the connection and may solve syncing problems. Contact Support If none of the above steps work, it may be time to contact Out of the Park Baseball support. They can provide additional troubleshooting steps or identify if there are any ongoing server issues affecting cloud saves. Tips for Successful Cloud Saving Always ensure a strong and stable internet connection when playing. Regularly check for game updates to avoid bugs. Make backups of your saves locally, if possible, to prevent data loss. Keeping your cloud saves in sync is essential for a smooth gaming experience. By implementing these steps, you can troubleshoot and resolve the issues you’re facing with Out of the Park Baseball 26. Smart Variation of Main Keyword for Conclusion Fixing Your Cloud Save Issues FAQs Q: Why are my cloud saves not syncing? A: Cloud saves may not sync due to internet connectivity issues, game settings, or insufficient storage space. Q: How can I check if my internet connection is stable? A: You can use online speed test tools to check your connection stability and speed. Q: What should I do if I have enough cloud storage but still face issues? A: Try restarting the game and your device, and ensure that cloud saves are enabled in the game settings. Q: How do I contact Out of the Park Baseball support? A: You can reach out to their customer support through their official website for assistance. Related reading How To Fix Atomfall Black Screen On Launch (Easy Fix) How To Fix Atomfall Crashing On Startup (Quick Fix) How To Fix Atomfall Not Launching On PC (Easy Fix) How To Fix Assassin’s Creed Shadows Language Change Issue (Easy Fix) How To Fix Assassin’s Creed Shadows Achievements Not Unlocking (Easy Fix) The post How To Fix Out Of The Park Baseball 26 Cloud Save Not Syncing (Quick Fix) appeared first on Games Errors.

Fix corrupted saves in Out of the Park Baseball 26 with our easy guide. Restore your progress and get back to managing your team.

The post How To Fix Out Of The Park Baseball 26 Save Corrupted (Easy Fix) appeared first on Games Errors.

Experiencing a corrupted save in Out of the Park Baseball 26 can be frustrating, especially when you’ve invested a significant amount of time into your team and season. Fortunately, there are several methods you can try to recover your save data and get back to managing your dream baseball franchise. This guide will walk you through the steps you can take to potentially fix your corrupted save files and restore your gaming experience. Corruption in save files can occur due to various reasons, including software crashes, improper shutdowns, or issues during file transfers. Understanding how to address these issues can save you from losing your progress. Below, we will outline a series of steps to help you navigate this problem effectively. How Can I Fix a Corrupted Save in Out of the Park Baseball 26? Check for Backup Saves Before diving into more complex solutions, check if you have a backup of your save files. Out of the Park Baseball often creates automatic backups, which can be located in the game’s directory. If you find a backup file, you can easily restore your progress by replacing the corrupted save with the backup. Verify Game Files If you’re playing on platforms like Steam, you can verify the integrity of your game files. This process checks for any corrupted or missing files and replaces them automatically. To do this, right-click on Out of the Park Baseball 26 in your Steam library, select ‘Properties’, go to the ‘Local Files’ tab, and click on ‘Verify Integrity of Game Files’. Use Save Recovery Tools There are various third-party save recovery tools available that can help fix corrupted save files. Programs like "Save Wizard" or "Game Save Manager" specialize in restoring and repairing save data. Ensure you follow the instructions carefully and use reputable software to avoid further issues. Manually Edit Save Files If you’re comfortable with a little technical work, you can open your save files in a text editor to manually inspect for errors. Look for any unusual characters or data that seems out of place. However, this method requires caution, as any changes might exacerbate the corruption. Reinstall the Game As a last resort, you might consider uninstalling and reinstalling Out of the Park Baseball 26. This process can help eliminate any game-related issues that might be affecting your saves. However, be cautious with this approach and ensure you back up your current saves before proceeding. Tips for Preventing Save Corruption Regularly back up your save files to an external drive or cloud storage. Avoid sudden shutdowns or crashes by ensuring your system is stable. Keep the game and your operating system updated to the latest versions. If you follow these steps, you stand a good chance of recovering your corrupted saves in Out of the Park Baseball 26. It’s important to take preventive measures to safeguard your progress in the future. Smart Fix for Save Corruption in OOTP 26 FAQs Q: What causes save files to become corrupted in Out of the Park Baseball 26? A: Save files can become corrupted due to software crashes, improper shutdowns, or issues during file transfers. Q: How can I find backup save files for my OOTP 26 game? A: Backup saves are typically located in the game’s installation directory. Check the "saves" folder for any automatic backups. Q: Are there any tools specifically designed for recovering corrupted save files? A: Yes, there are third-party tools like Save Wizard and Game Save Manager that can assist in recovering corrupted save data. Q: Will reinstalling the game delete my saved data? A: Reinstalling the game can potentially delete your saved data unless you back it up beforehand. Always ensure your saves are secured before uninstalling. Related reading How To Fix Out Of The Park Baseball 26 Not Launching (Quick Fix) How To Fix Atomfall Black Screen On Launch (Easy Fix) How To Fix Atomfall Crashing On Startup (Quick Fix) How To Fix Atomfall Not Launching On PC (Easy Fix) How To Fix Assassin’s Creed Shadows Language Change Issue (Easy Fix) The post How To Fix Out Of The Park Baseball 26 Save Corrupted (Easy Fix) appeared first on Games Errors.

Fix the black screen issue on launch for Out of the Park Baseball 26 with these easy troubleshooting steps and get back to gameplay.

The post How To Fix Out Of The Park Baseball 26 Black Screen On Launch (Easy Fix) appeared first on Games Errors.

If you are experiencing a black screen when launching Out of the Park Baseball 26, you’re not alone. Many players encounter this frustrating issue, which can prevent them from enjoying their favorite baseball simulation. Fortunately, there are several steps you can take to resolve the problem and get back to managing your team. In this guide, we’ll explore effective solutions that can help eliminate the black screen issue and ensure a smooth gaming experience. First, it’s important to understand that the black screen can be caused by a variety of factors, including graphics settings, software conflicts, or outdated drivers. By following the steps outlined below, you can troubleshoot the issue and restore functionality to the game. What Causes the Black Screen on Launch of Out of the Park Baseball 26? Check System Requirements Before diving into troubleshooting, ensure your system meets the minimum requirements for Out of the Park Baseball 26. Insufficient hardware can lead to performance issues, including a black screen. Review the requirements on the official site to confirm compatibility. Update Graphics Drivers Outdated graphics drivers can often lead to display issues. To update your graphics drivers, follow these steps: Open Device Manager on your computer. Expand the “Display adapters” section. Right-click on your graphics card and select “Update Driver.” Choose “Search automatically for updated driver software.” Run the Game in Compatibility Mode Running the game in compatibility mode can sometimes resolve launching issues. To do this: Right-click on the Out of the Park Baseball 26 shortcut. Select “Properties,” then navigate to the “Compatibility” tab. Check the box for “Run this program in compatibility mode for” and select an earlier version of Windows. Disable Full-Screen Optimization Some players find that disabling full-screen optimization can help. To do this: Go back to the “Compatibility” tab in the properties. Check “Disable full-screen optimizations.” Click “Apply” and then “OK.” Verify Game Files Corrupted game files can lead to issues at launch. If you’re using a platform like Steam, you can verify the integrity of the game files: Open your Steam Library. Right-click on Out of the Park Baseball 26 and select “Properties.” Navigate to the “Local Files” tab and click on “Verify integrity of game files.” Check for Software Conflicts Other software running in the background can sometimes conflict with the game. Close unnecessary applications and background processes, especially those that utilize graphics resources. Reinstall the Game If none of the above steps work, reinstalling the game may be the best option. This ensures that you have a fresh installation without any corrupted files: Uninstall Out of the Park Baseball 26 from your system. Download and install it again from your game library. Tips for Preventing Future Issues Once you successfully resolve the black screen problem, consider these tips to prevent it from happening again: Keep your graphics drivers up to date. Regularly check for game updates and patches. Ensure your system meets the required specifications for optimal performance. Avoid running too many applications simultaneously while gaming. Out of the Park Baseball 26 should now run smoothly without the black screen issue. By following these troubleshooting steps, you can ensure a better gaming experience. FAQs Q: What should I do if the black screen persists after trying all the steps? A: If the issue continues, consider reaching out to the game’s support team for further assistance. Q: Can I play Out of the Park Baseball 26 on lower-end hardware? A: It’s recommended to meet or exceed the minimum system requirements for the best experience. Q: Is there a way to check if my drivers are up to date without Device Manager? A: Yes, you can use software tools or the manufacturer’s website to check for the latest driver versions. Q: Should I disable my antivirus while trying to launch the game? A: Sometimes, antivirus software can interfere with game launches. If you suspect this is the case, temporarily disabling it may help, but ensure to enable it afterward. Related reading How To Fix Out Of The Park Baseball 26 Crashing On Startup (Quick Fix) How To Fix Out Of The Park Baseball 26 Not Launching (Quick Fix) How To Fix Atomfall Black Screen On Launch (Easy Fix) How To Fix Atomfall Crashing On Startup (Quick Fix) How To Fix Atomfall Not Launching On PC (Easy Fix) The post How To Fix Out Of The Park Baseball 26 Black Screen On Launch (Easy Fix) appeared first on Games Errors.

Get a Bolt of Gaming Now!

The classic game is back, and it’s still an engaging play.

With Dragon Quest 12 nowhere in sight at the moment, it was decided to dig into the earliest recesses of the series’ past to keep the series’ audience engaged in the interim. And for Dragon Quest, its earliest past means the earliest past for not just Dragon Quest, but for RPGs as a whole, and among the earliest outings for role playing games in general. The original Dragon Quest is the very first JRPG there was, the one that wrote the rulebook on the genre’s norms and conventions, and the one that all other RPGs since have descended from, and are defined with respect to. And in fact, owing to RPGs’ influence on other genres and games, the sheer amount of influence that can be traced back to this one game boggles the mind. So that’s the game that has been modernized here. The original Dragon Quest, which was initially localized in North American regions as Dragon Warrior, as well as its much lesser known and lesser celebrated, though by no means lesser in quality, sequel. And as influential as both of these games were, RPGs have seen a lot of evolution and movement in the very literal decades since they initially came out, which begs the question – are these two games, even combined into a single package, substantial enough to merit a modern full-priced release? "The game’s story has also been fleshed out more, with new and expanded scenes as well as voice acting." It’s certainly a fair and valid concern. A lot of improvements and updates has been made to the seminal original game, both in this specific HD2D reimagining, as well as over the years in the various remakes, remasters, and re-releases it has had. For example, this is ultimately still a game where you only ever control one character, the Hero, and no one else – this game is so old that it quite literally predates the concept of parties. It is also from an era where storytelling in games was extremely sparse – partly by limitation, partly because in the medium’s earliest days, the convention of storytelling were not yet laid down. And, it is ultimately a fairly short game, so short, in fact, that you can play through it start to finish in a fraction of the time that it would take you to do a full chapter in several RPGs that have released this year. There has been some work done to address these concerns; for example, while you still only ever have a character party of one in the original Dragon Quest, fights and encounters are still more engaging because you can have multi-character and type trash mobs ganging up on you. Spells and abilities that were introduced in later games of the series have also been back ported into the original game, allowing more avenues for you to take on the foes you come across. Interestingly enough, these abilities that were ostensibly not designed for this game don’t really break its balance either. The game’s story has also been fleshed out more, with new and expanded scenes as well as voice acting. It doesn’t really bring the narrative here on par with even a modern Dragon Quest game (which many genre fans would argue is itself not as narrative heavy as the average modern RPG can be), but it does certainly flesh out characters and interactions, flesh things out to where the contextualization feels credible as a story rather than just an excuse to send you adventuring across the land, and also plays up the game’s connection to Dragon Quest 3, which is the prequel to 1 and 2, more. While I wouldn’t argue Dragon Quest 1 is a must-play RPG in 2025, I will absolutely argue that, especially with the sum total of these changes that it has accrued in this release as well as several prior ones, it is a very good one, even today. It’s very short, and very basic, but with this release, it has a lot of critical QoL such as the ability to speed up battles, and a generous autosave; and more importantly, its core design still feels compelling today. The first few Dragon Quest games almost play out like Dungeons and Dragon campaigns, where the player is given some general suggestions of where they should be going and what they should be doing, but everything else that happens is driven by the player, their curiosity, and their ability to put information together. That design is still here, and still very compelling and fun, and it stands as unique enough from most other modern RPGs that there is inherent appeal to it through sheer novelty. Even if you turn on objective markers, which this re-release allows you to, the first Dragon Quest simply does such an effective job of making you feel like a hero on a quest to save the world and help everyone else along the way, that it’s a great, brisk, light hearted adventure that is absolutely worth playing. "There are new scenes, new locations, and entire new plot lines here to deepen out the existing story, and that story also has other characters of note in addition to the Hero." The recommendation is especially easier to make because one of Dragon Quest 1’s biggest weaknesses – its overall brevity – is addressed with the inclusion of Dragon Quest 2, which means there is no danger of you not getting bang for your buck with this purchase. This is especially the case because a lot of the things I praised Dragon Quest 1 for also apply to 2, and because Dragon Quest 2 makes improvements to the formula of its own, and because Dragon Quest 2 HD2D makes its own improvements on top of that. For example, Dragon Quest 2 had a much stronger story focus than the original game, which is then further fleshed out and expanded via similar improvements and updates as Dragon Quest 1’s HD2D reimagining. There are new scenes, new locations, and entire new plot lines here to deepen out the existing story, and that story also has other characters of note in addition to the Hero. Which brings us to one of this game’s biggest improvements (or innovations, at the time), in that it has a full playable party. Much like the original Dragon Quest game, or Dragon Quest 3, Dragon Quest 2 plays out like a very cool Dungeons and Dragons campaign. Meaning the whole appeal that playing through the original Dragon Quest holds, that also applies to Dragon Quest 2. In fact, it has better encounters, a better story, and better dungeons, which makes this arguably the better game of the two; my only contention is it lacks the purity and briskness of the original. If anything, that is to its credit, but it’s still something worth pointing out. There is also Dragon Quest 2’s infamous difficulty to consider. This was a famously brutal game, particularly in the back half. Thankfully, Dragon Quest 2 HD2D does enough to allow players to mitigate the difficulty, should they wish to. Like all modern Dragon Quest releases, you can change the difficulty level up or down at any time, so if the game is feeling out of hand, you can knock it down to Dracky Quest and continue having at it. Similarly, if it ever gets too obscure, you can check the listed objectives or turn on objective markers to figure out where you need to go and what you need to do. Once a lot of that early jank and obscurity has been ironed out, there is an argument to be made that there isn’t a lot of complexity left to these games. However, the games have addressed that – as I’ve mentioned, it has new spells and abilities, allowed multi-mob battles in the original game, and even expanded the Sigil system from the original Dragon Quest 2 to both of these games, to allow players more options in terms of character builds, passive bonuses, and move load outs. "The updates aren’t just limited to the mechanics, the story, and the storytelling either." The updates aren’t just limited to the mechanics, the story, and the storytelling either. The eponymous HD2D visuals are absolutely gorgeous and breathtaking, and really update the visuals depicting the iconic worlds and locations of these games without losing the spirit or the soul that the limitations of the era bred into the audiovisual presentation of these games at the time. The music, too, is great orchestral renditions of the original themes. In a way it’s remarkable, because there is a very strong case to be made that Dragon Quest 1 and 2 HD2D is the best, most definitive version of these games to date – something that is hard to achieve when you are working with games of this stature, and doubly so when those games have had as many varying re-releases over the years as these two have had, and all of which have their own various fans and detractors. I feel like they bring together all the best parts of the previous releases of the game, add their own modern updates on top, wrap it all up in absolutely gorgeous audiovisual presentation, and do all of this without losing all the various merits, whether intended or borne out of the limitations that come from being a pioneer. And cumulatively, I think that makes both of these gams well worth checking out in 2025. They are not the best Dragon Quest games, they are not the best RPGs you can play today – but they are still very much worth playing. This game was reviewed on PlayStation 5.

The new battle royale isn't without its missteps or annoyances, but it's a solid start that feeds your appetite for destruction.

The world – or Southern California, as Battlefield Studios tells me following its extended logo reveal – has changed. What seems like an innocuous disaster originating from Fort Lyndon could be a larger attack by the Pax Armata (aka those other guys you shot during the campaign). Your job is to jump, obtain intel and get out before other teams can stop you. Is this the most original approach for Battlefield: RedSec, EA’s new free-to-play battle royale mode and the series’ second stab at the genre following the underrated but ultimately underperforming Firestorm? Well, no. But, man, if it doesn’t make for a stunning sight when dozens of helicopters swoop in over the ruined landscape, with military chatter buzzing through your headset. The same goes for the imaginatively-named Circle of Death – a slowly advancing wave of explosions that offers actual fear from instant death if caught inside. "The movement and weapon feel carry over from the base game in respectable fashion, and discovering an airstrike and completely demolishing a building, eliminating an opposing team’s high ground, is just the icing on top." It further extends to the sheer atmosphere of a zone that’s gradually descending into chaos, punctuated by jets racing overhead as by airstrikes and crumbling architecture. All the core tenets feel like a refreshing entree with that contemporary Battlefield sheen, but does the main course offer anything worth recommending over its competitors? Well, sort of. If you’ve played a battle royale title before, then RedSec offers a familiar start. Select your Class from the base game’s four options, customize your loadout while waiting alongside a squad, drop in by air, and begin scouring locations for loot. Weapons, armor, grenades, tacticals – anything that can provide an edge. There are 100 players divided into 25 squads of four each – dying allows for redeployment, which scales weapon quality to your training path level, but you also get a second chance if the squad is wiped. Keep track of the ring – sorry, the Circle of Death. Move when appropriate. Survive. Don’t feed. Custom Weapon Drops offer a chance for better loot, assuming the rest of the map doesn’t gank you in the process. Contracts offer different mission objectives – decrypting beacons, data extraction, etc, each with unique rewards, and I like how each is catered to a different part of outfitting your character (like Weapons Cache for unearthing better armaments). Missions refresh periodically, creating a decent sense of tension as you decide to either hold on to your position or take a risk for a potential power spike. Since some rewards can include keycards for vehicles, including tanks, they’re worth mulling over. Now combine all this with the destruction mechanics and core gameplay of Battlefield 6, and RedSec is off to the races. The movement and weapon feel carry over from the base game in respectable fashion, and discovering an airstrike and completely demolishing a building, eliminating an opposing team’s high ground, is just the icing on top. Fort Lyndon is also, unlike so many other maps in the game, actually big and sprawling, facilitating vehicular play with its real estate but offering enough avenues for infantry combat to thrive. Massive buildings, warehouses, golf courses – it’s a varied canvas with some unique points of interest, and it all naturally flows together. "I’m also somewhat iffy on loadouts, since players can essentially bypass some of the core mechanics, like Weapon Upgrade Kits, in favor of obtaining their favorite weapons with the required attachments." Until you get shot, that is. Battlefield: RedSec’s shooting feels great, but the time to kill occasionally feels iffy. An enemy outright shreds you, even with armor, but you’re not quite as lucky, mostly due to dodgy hit registration. Neither scenario happens all the time – it’s the inconsistency that adds to the frustration, lowering the incentive to push in fights where you might have the advantage. Considering it’s been an issue in the base game since launch – which DICE is aware of and working on – it will likely be addressed sooner than later. When things feel right, the time to kill is manageable, for the most part. Alongside Squads, you can roll into Fort Lyndon as Duos. There’s also Gauntlet, a more objective-focused mode where eight teams of four players compete for points in each of its four modes. The squad that fails to secure enough is eliminated, so while kills are key in one mode, playing the objective and supporting your team are mandatory above all else. However, one glaring absence stands out above all else: The lack of a Solos mode. You can’t queue as a solo player in RedSec. You can separate from your squad and go all lone wolf in a Duos or Squads game, but you are at risk of being taken down by other teams (and also dragging the rest of your squadmates down by default). How this was omitted from RedSec’s launch, especially after months of testing, is completely mind-boggling. Heck, the whole premise of Battle Royale – the movie and the game mode – is to be the last person standing in a playing field where everyone has the same start (more or less). The lack of a dedicated playlist to facilitate this at launch feels like a massive oversight. Again, something to be addressed in the weeks and months to come, but a disappointing oversight all the same. I’m also somewhat iffy on loadouts, since players can essentially bypass some of the core mechanics, like Weapon Upgrade Kits, in favor of obtaining their favorite weapons with the required attachments. Warzone had a similar practice, to its ultimate detraction, but due to how things play out in RedSec, it doesn’t feel like a huge red flag just yet. Ultimately, time will tell. Also, as a side note: Why do Battlefield 6 players have to engage with RedSec to complete challenges to progress through the Battle Pass? Why is Battlefield Pro even a thing with the number of benefits it provides (exclusive assignments, for a start), and why does it cost a whopping $25? This is more of a critique of EA than anything else, which probably falls on deaf ears at this point, but both of these are in the game and terrible regardless. "For now, Battlefield: RedSec earns a single thumbs-up – it won’t change your mind on the genre as a whole, and if you’re a multiplayer fan pining for larger maps, it will doubtless infuriate. Yet for a Battlefield BR, the development team has hit the ground running." Despite these core issues and my general disdain for Battlefield 6’s other problems, which carry over – the UI is still awful and needs some serious changes – RedSec is a promising endeavor. Even with my enthusiasm for battle royales evaporating over the years, it captures the thrill of dropping into a map, not knowing what to expect and eager to discover a location’s treasures. Mixed with the controlled chaos and methodical pace of Battlefield, it feels like a unique experience, even if it’s lacking in several areas. The real test begins now, however. Will something that overperforms in multiplayer get the nerf bat and become less oppressive but totally useless in RedSec? Will the landscape expand with new POIs and Contracts to keep things interesting? How will the meta shake out once players have completely learned the map and can obtain their best loadouts? Can we expect additional areas as the map evolves? Will it even change over time? Battlefield Studios hasn’t gone into too much detail on all of this, and while it’s once again a long-term concern, it’s a concern all the same, considering how other battle royales have shaken out over the years. For now, Battlefield: RedSec earns a single thumbs-up – it won’t change your mind on the genre as a whole, and if you’re a multiplayer fan pining for larger maps, it will doubtless infuriate. Yet for a Battlefield BR, the development team has hit the ground running. This game was reviewed on PC.

FM returns after a year long hiatus with a largely successful series reinvention.

Sports Interactive has been churning out excellent Football Manager entries year after year with admirable consistency for a long time now, and after an off year, the series has now returned with what’s been purported as a landmark entry. For the first time in years, with Football Manager 26, the management sim series is moving to a new engine and overhauling many of its core elements and systems, in the hopes of delivering a yet more improved and evolved version of FM’s tried and tested formula. The end result? A largely successful reinvention thanks to some key improvements and shake ups, even if it does admittedly stumble in some areas. Built on the Unity engine for the first time in the series’ history, one of Football Manager 26’s headlining changes is a completely overhauled matchday experience. This has never been the series’ strong suit – which, of course, has always been understandable given its absolute focus on the actual management and tactics side of things – but FM 26 makes some big upgrades. There’s a handful of swanky new camera angles and cutscenes to build up the excitement before matches, stadiums and crowds look better and more detailed, and most importantly, significantly better and more realistic animations and physics make matches much more enjoyable to witness. "In a nutshell, in addition to having an overarching scheme of tactics that you train your team in, you now also set tactics for both, when your team is in and out of possession.." Don’t get me wrong- the on-pitch visuals still very much look behind the times when compared to something like the EA Sports FC series- but then again, that has never quite been the point as far as Football Manager is concerned. In spite of the marked improvement in the matchday experience, FM 26 is still first and foremost about everything that goes on off the pitch, so with that in mind, the new matchday engine comes across as an impressive upgrade over past years. You’ll still see some frustrating physics and animation glitches that’ll be familiar to anyone who has put considerable time into Football Manager over the years, but given the fact that FM 26 is still built on Sports Interactive’s long-standing codebase in spite of switching to a new engine, that doesn’t necessarily come as a massive surprise. And what about the aforementioned aspects of the Football Manager experience that the series has always been known for first and foremost- the tactics and management simulation? On those fronts, Football Manager 26 is an unaspiringly engaging, true to the series’ reputation- though interestingly enough, it goes about achieving those results in a number of new ways that shake up the series’ familiar formula quite meaningfully. The biggest of those changes is Football Manager 26’s shift in focus to tactics that are largely formation-driven, rather than positioning-driven. In a nutshell, in addition to having an overarching scheme of tactics that you train your team in, you now also set tactics for both, when your team is in and out of possession. FM 26 tasks managers with choosing separate formations, roles, and directions for each scenario, and it’s something that you’ll find yourself constantly fiddling with during games. "The other department where Football Manager 26 makes radical changes is the user interface- which might be the area where the game stumbles most prominently." It’s essentially a different avenue to the same destination, allowing players to micromanage and get really zoomed in with their mid-game tactical switches and strategies. That also means experimenting with different playing styles and philosophies in preparation of specific matches (or, say, during pre season training camps) feels somewhat more viable than it has in the past- though of course, ultimately, you’re going to want to stick with a specific vision if you really want to become successful with your team. Outside of the switch in the core tactics system, Football Manager 26 also introduces a variety of smaller tweaks and changes to everything from transfers and recruitment to training and more, though in those areas, the experience won’t feel as significantly changed to past players from past years. That, of course, means that the same brand of addictive, detail driven management sim experience that Football Manager games have always been known for has been carried over successfully in this reinvention- though so, too, have some of the series’ more enduring flaws, like frequently ineffectual player interactions and media interviews that quickly become repetitive and end up not contributing much to the gameplay experience (besides turning into busywork). The other department where Football Manager 26 makes radical changes is the user interface- which might be the area where the game stumbles most prominently. In the lead up to its release, FM 26 has drawn plenty of not so positive attention during its beta period due to its new UI and the many issues that it comes with- and it does unfortunately come with plenty of those. For a game like Football Manager, some of those issues aren’t particularly easy to overlook. There is, of course, the fact that for anyone coming off of prolonged exposure to past Football Manager games, the new UI is going to take some getting used to. That has certainly been my experience. FM games have obviously made UI adjustments here and there in the past, but after having stuck to largely the same core interface, FM 26’s complete UI overhaul is a bit disorienting at first. For new players, it’s not going to be an issue, but if you’re coming in as a series veteran, you’re going to have to rewire your brain on more than a few occasions. "At its core, Football Manager 26 is another solid management sim experience that football fanatics are going to have no trouble pouring dozens (if not hundreds) of hours into." Beyond that, however, the UI does also have plenty of maddening issues. From basic quality of life features being missing to some of past games’ legitimately useful tools having been done away with and more, several issues come together to make navigating FM 26’s menus quite a frustrating experience from time to time. Given how much time you spend scrolling and sifting through menus, submenus, graphs, lists, charts, and what have you in a Football Manager game, such flaws feel doubly troublesome. My hope, of course, is that with time and updates, Sports Interactive will be able to iron out at least the most significant of these wrinkles, because beyond the problematic UI, there really is quite a lot to love in Football Manager 26. Speaking of much needed updates, FM 26 is also going to need at least a handful of those to address some of its more prevalent technical issues. From buttons and links randomly not functioning and instances of unreadable text to frequent frame rate drops during matches and a startling amount of jarring freezes, the game has a number of technical issues that mar the experience somewhat. In isolation, they’re rarely game-breaking, but put together – especially with the aforementioned UI issues also taken into account – they could easily detract from the experience. At its core, Football Manager 26 is another solid management sim experience that football fanatics are going to have no trouble pouring dozens (if not hundreds) of hours into. It comes with some notable issues, some of which are to be expected from an engine change and a gameplay reinvention- though the more significantly of those should ideally be tackled with updates at the earliest to bring those aspects of the experience up to the same level of quality as the rest of the game. Even as it stands, however, FM 26 is a predictably engaging and addictive experience that lays down exciting foundations for the series’ next era. This game was reviewed on the PC.

A post-apocalyptic party in the Rust Belt, Embark Studios' latest is an engrossing invitation to the genre unlike any other.

This one time in ARC Raiders, while scrounging around for resources, a regular rooftop stroll turned into a battle with ARC and a squad wipe at the hands of another team who used our own zipline against us. Another time in ARC Raiders, we ventured into the forest and went up against a Leaper – unprepared, it promptly wiped two of us out before cleaning up the third in their desperate bid to revive me. Yet another time in ARC Raiders, we engaged in a tense sniper shoot-out – I went down in a lame attempt to flank them from below, but a timely rez on an ally before my escapade contributed, however little, to our team ultimately escaping. I’m not the biggest extraction shooter aficionado on the planet, but Embark Studios’ latest, which should be available by the time this is live, had me thoroughly engrossed. Even while releasing among titans like Battlefield 6 and Call of Duty: Black Ops 7 – a venerable repeat, if you will, of the Great Titanfall 2 Tragedy – I can confirm: You need to play ARC Raiders. Naturally, I need more time, especially on live servers, to truly outline everything that I like (and the few things that I don’t) about the experience. A recent preview event helped put those thoughts into clearer focus, however. Solo practice runs through Dam Battlegrounds were strangely not to be – our first game as a team took us to The Spaceport, all abandoned shuttles and decrepit launch facilities. Massive sightlines collided with elevated structures that required ascending and descending for extended periods via ziplines. If you weren’t coveting the high ground of neighboring buildings, using their corridors and pillars as cover against the ARC (and hostile players), you were rummaging through extended tunnels. So be it, I thought. Rats can survive the apocalypse. However, the two other maps that I experienced – Buried City and Blue Gate – offered fundamentally different experiences. The ruins of a city amid the dunes – it sounds so simple on paper. And yet, ARC Raiders made it feel like so much more. Ageing, half-buried windows led into houses where families seemingly developed (and probably died together). Rooftops hid potential ambushes from other players navigating the sands for that coveted supply drop. Even a trip down the metro was harrowing due to the Fireball ARCs running around. Blue Gate, the scene of my failed flanking play, is almost as deceptive at first glance. Its sprawling mountainous terrain catches you off guard with its serenity. Then it starts raining and all pretense is thrown out the window with the thunder, as we desperately try to survive a sniper ambush (with the ARC, of all things, buying us some time by targeting our enemies first). And that’s one of the many things that I enjoyed in my time with ARC Raiders. In any competitive multiplayer shooter, but especially battle royale and extraction titles, figuring out the map is essential for gathering resources and gearing up. Then you weigh the risks of certain locations, especially since other players may have beaten you to the punch. Make no mistake – it’s downright essential, especially in a game like this where you can lose pretty much everything on your person. Survival is gamified, which both adds to and detracts from the overall experience. In ARC Raiders, however, the maps feel less like competitive battlegrounds and more like once-living, once-breathing spaces. Echoes of a humanity long past, replaced by an ecosystem that’s as fascinating as it is deadly. Layers upon layers of details to unravel, either in service of your objective or just a cool discovery that could help somewhere down the line. The usual tenets of the experience remain, for sure – gather materials to complete quests or have something better than your current loadout, and extract with all limbs intact – but there’s this carte blanche on exploration. Danger can easily find you – not a single other team was keen on mercy during the preview event. But there’s a certain atmosphere in those moments of calm where it feels like anything can happen, for better or worse, and it kept me coming back, again and again, even after all the failures. Granted, those failures can be frustrating, especially for players who aren’t used to the extraction shooter format. To that end, I’m equally impressed with how Embark Studios addresses this. In Speranza, the last bastion of humanity (that we know of), different vendors sell ammo, weapons, and even resources. You can also make a crafting bench and churn out your own weapons and supplies. But what if you don’t want to risk losing it all in the next expedition? Say hello to Free Loadouts, which populate your inventory with a weapon, healing items, and ammo. It’s enough to get you started, but not nearly enough to PvP with the best of them. If you’re looking to learn more about the map, or just extract enough materials to advance your quests, however, it’s simply fantastic. Of course, that’s not all. Scrappy, a mysterious yet loveable rooster, hangs around in Speranza and will provide various resources after every round (which increase in quality as you train him further). Then there’s the skill tree with various passives – like not being slowed down as much with a shield, or revealing loot faster when searching containers, or simply consuming less stamina when moving. The fact that you get XP for looting, fighting ARC, and so on all contribute at a fairly strong clip towards advancing your build, and providing even more of an edge in subsequent expeditions. You might not be downing several enemy players or destroying the biggest machines that the ARC can throw at you (and based on the launch trailer, even bigger threats than The Queen await), but these systems ensure that you’re making progress. Gaining knowledge, and maybe, ultimately, getting better at the game as a whole. There’s so much about ARC Raiders that I could rave about. The feel of the weapons, especially the Anvil – a hand cannon which hits like a truck, each round chambered realistically before letting loose. The ARC, which goes above and beyond the typical PvE threat, offers a real challenge. If you don’t know the difference between a Hornet and a Wasp, it’s all too easy to find yourself incapacitated and gunned down. Their overwhelming threat means that stealth is extremely viable, but their vigilance also creates opportunities to turn them against other players. Just be careful when moving around abandoned cars – some of them have enough battery power left to start honking and potentially attracting ARC if you get too close. All throughout my time with ARC Raiders, I kept coming back to the term “extraction adventure” and how much it really fit the experience. For once, it didn’t feel like the end goal was to enter a match and leave with the most loot (that is, after getting over the hump of being able to extract at all). The thrill of discovering what each map had to offer, pushing against boundaries but still working towards something, felt perfectly in sync with the overall tone of the universe. Hopeful, even among overwhelming odds, and excited at what each new day could hold, even if it meant risking it all. Note: The views expressed in this article are those of the author and do not necessarily represent the views of, and should not be attributed to, GamingBolt as an organization.

While the studio hasn't made any official statement or announcement yet, the lay-offs were reported by employees affected by them.

Heart Machine, the studio behind Hyper Light Drifter and Hyper Light Breaker, has announced a second set of lay-offs for October. While the developer is yet to make any official announcement about this, a report by GameDeveloper indicates that four workers have been impacted by this latest round of lay-offs, which seemingly took place earlier this week. Among the employees that have been affected by these lay-offs include Myriame Lachapelle, who was serving as producer on Possessor(s), 3D animator Jordan Campbell, VFX artist Ivan Phu, and senior gameplay manager Justin Beales. All three confirmed that they were affected by the lay-offs through posts on social media platform Bluesky. While Lachapelle will continue to work with the studio until the development of Possessor(s) is done, Phu, Campbell and Beales were seemingly let go on a more immediate basis. “My heart is heavy & I might have more to say on that later, but I’ve got news today that my time at Heart Machine will come to an end after Possessor(s) ships,” wrote Lachapelle in a post. “I’m honestly too busy… literally shipping the game to start actively looking for work, but I’ll be looking for my next gig in December.” “My time at Heart Machine has sadly come to a rather abrupt end,” wrote Campbell. “I was there for almost 6 years, & had been working on Breaker since summer 2020. It was a pleasure working with them! Now, a new chapter begins.” “I just wanted to post, I’m laid off,” wrote Beales. “Just shouting into the void of the internet! It was a beautiful and wonderful team of people to work with at [Heart Machine].” “Unfortunately my time with the lovely teams of Hyper Light Breaker and Possessor(s) is coming to an end tomorrow,” wrote Phu. “It was a great time working with such passionate and talented individuals on this team and I’m wishing everybody a whole lot of luck and perseverance with job hunting in these hard times” Heart Machine had announced lay-offs earlier this month, noting that the decision was made due to “broader forces beyond our control.” In its statement, a spokesperson for the studio noted that, after the lay-offs, the studio would still maintain a “smaller core team” while still making sure that those affected would be supported. The studio had announced its next game, Possessor(s), all the way back in June 2024. The title is being developed for PC and is set for release later this year. However, with this latest round of lay-offs, the current state of the game is currently unknown. Possessor(s) has been described by Heart Machine as a side-scroller that takes place in a mega-city that has been hit by an “interdimensional catastrophe”. The story revolves around two characters – Luca and Rehm – who will both cope with the events of the game in their own distinct ways. In the meantime, check out our review of Hyper Light Breaker, which came out as an Early Access game earlier this year on PC. https://bsky.app/profile/mllepilgrim.bsky.social/post/3m4c2kazjfk2n My time at Heart Machine has sadly come to a rather abrupt end. I was there for almost 6 years, & had been working on Breaker since summer 2020. It was a pleasure working with them!Now, a new chapter begins. — Virum (@virum.bsky.social) 2025-10-29T14:05:31.448Z I just wanted to post, I'm laid off. Just shouting into the void of the internet! It was a beautiful and wonderful team of people to work with at HM. — Burnrate (@burnrate.bsky.social) 2025-10-28T20:06:11.352Z Unfortunately my time with the lovely teams of Hyper Light Breaker and Possessor(s) is coming to an end tomorrow. It was a great time working with such passionate and talented individuals on this team and i'm wishing everybody a whole lot of luck and perseverance with job hunting in these hard times — Kuro on Blue~ (@kurothemoop.bsky.social) 2025-10-30T22:36:49.257Z

CCO Stefan Strandberg said that Embark Studios has no plans to replace real actors, but rather to work with them and AI together.

Just a day after the launch of PvPvE extraction shooter ARC Raiders, developer Embark Studios has clarified that generative AI was not used in the game’s development. In an interview with GamesRadar, studio CCO and co-founder Stefan Strandberg revealed that the closest the developers got to using AI was making use of certain technology for text-to-speech voices. Strandberg stated that about as much AI was used in ARC Raiders as there is in the studio’s other shooter, THE FINALS. Rather, the studio’s process for using these tools revolve around recordings of real actors combined with text-to-speech tools. “We use a combination of recordings of real actors and TTS,” he said. “So that’s true for this game as well.” As for long-term plans, Strandberg noted that the studio does not intend to swap out the real actors in its games with AI tools. He said, “there’s no end goal in replacing any actors.” This is because, according to him, there is “something fantastical that happens when you bring real actors in, and they are contributing to the lore, as well as of this game world.” When it comes to the text-to-speech tools, Strandberg said that it is part of the studio’s attempts to create larger worlds for its games despite the team itself being relatively small. “We are trying to maximize what we can, being a small team trying to get make rich worlds right, but still staying small… but we don’t use generative AI in other domains across the game,” he said. ARC Raiders has only recently come out on PC, PS5 and Xbox Series X/S, and the launch has seemingly been incredibly successful for Embark Studios. On PC alone, the title managed to hit a concurrent peak of 165,888 players within a matter of hours. This number has since gone even higher, with an all-time peak of the last 24 hours coming in at 264,673 concurrent players. It is worth noting that these figures don’t take either of the console player bases into account. While Embark Studios will continue to work on ARC Raiders with post-launch updates and other content planned, the developer has also noted that it has other projects in the works. In an interview earlier this week, CEO Patrick Söderlund mentioned that it had two projects in development that hadn’t been revealed yet. While confirming that online gaming is “just ingrained in our DNA,” Söderlund also noted that this doesn’t necessarily mean that they’re online games. “That doesn’t mean that they’re online necessarily games the same way as THE FINALS or ARC Raiders,” said Söderlund. “One of the concepts we have has a lot more edge to it than THE FINALS or ARC Raiders does. The other one is a little bit more conventional.” In the long term, Söderlund wants Embark Studios to be known for being a curious studio that also respects the players of its games. He said that the goal was “that we’re seen as a studio that is doing something positive for the industry, where our obvious goal is to try and treat the players that play our game with the deepest respect. To listen to them on a continuous basis, and to try and adapt and improve the games as such.”

The Wicked Grin skin has been criticised by Battlefield 6 players for its overtly-blue colour scheme that clashed with the game's visuals.

Much like Battlefield Studios had done earlier this month with another one of the skins in Battlefield 6, the team of studios has now also silently removed the controversial Wicked Grin skin from the shooter. Genre-centric social media account Shooter Intel noticed the removal of the skin, as at the time of publishing, Battlefield Studios is yet to make any official statement or announcement about the matter. The Wicked Grin skin had been the subject of several criticisms from the community of Battlefield 6, with many players noting that the saturated nature of the skin’s blue colour made it stand out quite a bit from the other, more realistically-coloured skins. Many also noted that Battlefield Studios had said that it would feature more realistic skins as part of the available cosmetics in Battlefield 6. “So, weren’t we supposed to have realistic skins for some time? Something that someone would really wear during a war? Yet it seems that with the start of season 1, everything will turn to colorful mess, with no way of differentiating teams based on uniforms, the game will look more like a Paintball or ASG event. Colorful weapons with pictures, colorful camos with neon accents, weird mix of things that are supposed to look cool, but end up simply weird,” wrote Reddit user Ohforfk on the Battlefield subreddit just last week in a thread that has since been locked. Earlier this week, Battlefield Studios had taken a similar step with another skin – System Override – which was also criticised for being an overly-green colour that reminded players of cans of Monster Energy. While System Override wasn’t removed from Battlefield 6 entirely, the developers had instead toned down on its use of the colour green. This move was seen celebrated by fans of the game, with some proclaiming that “They’re listening”. In light of the recent removal of the Wicked Grin skin, some have taken to further criticise the skin having existed in Battlefield 6 to begin with. Social media user Christian Arrington, for instance, noted that Battlefield Studios could have adapted skins based on uniforms of real-world special forces units like SEALs and GIGN, among others rather than creating original skins with garish colour schemes. “It’s simply not a good skin,” noted Arrington. “You have special forces units like the SEALs, Rangers, GIGN, SAS, Spetznas or even classic BF3/BF4 skins etc. they can build from that stick to the ‘grounded’ feeling they promised themselves. If they didn’t promise it. It wouldn’t matter.” Interestingly, the Call of Duty franchise has also been subject to similar criticisms in recent times, especially with some of the skins that were released for Call of Duty: Black Ops 6. Things got bad enough that developers Raven Software and Treyarch announced that these skins and Operators wouldn’t carry over into the upcoming Call of Duty: Black Ops 7. “We know there’s been a lot of conversation recently about the identity of Call of Duty,” acknowledged Raven Software and Treyarch. “Some of you have said we’ve drifted from what made Call of Duty unique in the first place: immersive, intense, visceral and in many ways grounded. That feedback hits home, and we take it seriously. We hear you.” Battlefield 6, in the meantime, is available on PC, PS5 and Xbox Series X/S. For more details, check out our review. Also check out details about the shooter’s recently-launched Season 1. Battlefield 6 devs have silently removed the controversial "Wicked Grin" skin after the backlash. No official statement has been made so far. pic.twitter.com/n0SWvjerLH — Shooter Intel (@ShooterIntel) October 30, 2025 It’s simply not a good skin. You have special forces units like the SEALs, Rangers, GIGN, SAS, Spetznas or even classic BF3/BF4 skins etc. they can build from that stick to the “grounded” feeling they promised themselves. If they didn’t promise it. It wouldn’t matter. — Christian Arrington (@CoachArrington_) October 31, 2025

The turn-based role-playing series is the latest to adopt a $70 price tag, with the Premium Edition retailing for a whopping $100.

Not satisfied with proclaiming pre-orders for one franchise, Capcom has announced that you can now pre-purchase Monster Hunter Stories 3: Twisted Reflection. The Standard Edition, as usual, retails for $69.99 and offers the base game, while the Deluxe Edition sets you back $89.99 and includes various cosmetics for side characters and a side story for Rudy due in Fall 2026. Pre-orders can also dress up Eleanor in Skyscale Rathalos armor, though you’ll need to progress enough to equip it. If that’s not enough cosmetic goodness, the $99.99 Premium Edition packs in the Aristocratic Air DLC pack for even more companion outfits. In the meantime, check out the latest trailer below, which teases shocking reveals (including the rider of the other, clearly villainous Rathalos). Perhaps even more surprising is that Yama Tsukami, a moss-covered, octopus-like Elder Dragon introduced in 2006’s Monster Hunter 2, appears as one of the main threats. Monster Hunter Stories 3: Twisted Reflection launches on March 13th, 2026, for Xbox Series X/S, Nintendo Switch 2, PC, and PS5. Check out the previous trailer, which showcases some Monster Hunter Wilds‘ monsters, here.

Both of the bugs addressed in the upcoming update can end up being progression-blocking, since side mission rewards get bugged.

Developer Game Freak has announced that it will be releasing an update for Pokémon Legends: Z-A in November. While no release date for this update has been announced for now, the developer has noted that it will address two core known issues that revolve around side missions and the first time players take on a Rogue Mega Evolution in battle. The core bug affecting the first Rogue Meta Evolution battle in Pokémon Legends: Z-A only occurs if the player’s Pokémon Boxes become full before the fight. If the boxes had not been at any point before being filled up, subsequent Pokémon capture events “will always fail”. Similarly, a side mission that rewards players with a Pokémon will end up getting completing without the reward. The other bug is much more difficult to actually execute; in some side missions, if a move hits its target at the exact time when the in-game day switches to night time, the target becomes impossible to hit afterwards. This means that the entire side mission can’t be progressed any further. Pokémon Legends: Z-A was released on Nintendo Switch and Nintendo Switch 2 earlier this month. Much like its predecessor Pokémon Legends: Arceus, Z-A revolves around players capturing Pokémon and exploring their surroundings. This time around, the game takes place in the Kalos Region, and more specifically in Lumiose City. As players explore the game’s world, capturing and battle Pokémon along the way, they will also have to face off against Rogue Mega Evolutions of Pokémon, which are much tougher challenges than other things that players might face along the way. The title proved to be an incredible hit right off the bat, with The Pokémon Company announcing through a press release last week that it had sold more than 5.8 million copies of Pokémon Legends: Z-A in the title’s first week alone. While this sales figure might be lower than the last mainline entry in the franchise – Pokémon Scarlet and Violet – it is still an impressive launch regardless. When it comes to regional performance, Pokémon Legends: Z-A fell short of its predecessor’s sales performance in Europe by around 28 percent. It was still the best-selling game for its launch period in the region, however. Sales figures for the week ending on October 19 also indicated that the latest title sold quite a few more units on the Nintendo Switch 2 than the original Switch. As for the US, recent sales data has indicated that Pokémon Legends: Z-A has been the biggest physical launch of the game in the country since the release of The Legend of Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom back in 2023. Reports have indicated that a major part of sales of the game can be attributed to the Nintendo Switch 2 console bundles that were launched alongside the title. For more details about Pokémon Legends: Z-A, check out our review, where we gave the game a score of 8 out of 10. We praised its detailed depiction of Lumiose City, as well as its real-time action battle system, while criticising the overall weak presentation, especially when it comes to its visual aspects.

The next mainline Halo title will reportedly feature multiplayer, but Microsoft is seemingly continuing on the remake path until then.

Run, run, as fast as you can in the upcoming Halo: Campaign Evolved because it’s reportedly a blueprint for the future. According to Halo Leaks on Twitter, Halo 2 and 3 are also allegedly getting “full remakes” with sprint included. And unfortunately, much like the first game’s remake, there won’t be competitive multiplayer. Halo 7 will reportedly include the latter, but Halo Studios has yet to officially announce it, instead confirming “multiple” new Halo titles in the works. It’s worth noting that the leaker previously revealed that Halo: Combat Evolved was getting a Resident Evil-style remake before its official announcement, when others alleged it would be a one-to-one remaster. In the meantime, Halo: Campaign Evolved is slated to arrive in 2026 for Xbox Series X/S, PS5, and PC. Alongside sprinting, it features four-player campaign co-op, three weapons from other entries in the series, and level changes, which haven’t sat well with original level designer Jamie Griesemer. On the flipside, however, co-creator Marcus Lehto thinks the remake looks “gorgeous.” Halo 2 & Halo 3 are being remade, yes they will have sprint. No multiplayer, only campaign. Full remakes. Multiplayer is going to be Halo 7. pic.twitter.com/gD8DNKLT3V — Halo Leaks (@leaks_infinite) October 30, 2025

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I preordered the new Samsung Galaxy XR Headset. My primary reason for wanting this device was seeing the pass through ability and native Google play store apps so knowing Google Translate would be part of this, I envisioned being able to translate my Japanese Otome games into English with a larger screen and with less...

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Geeky Sweetie Gets Airplay on VRT Radio 1 in Belgium with “Even ChatGPT Said It – Must Be True” Independent artist Geeky Sweetie just hit a major international milestone—her playful and thought-provoking track “Even ChatGPT Said It – Must Be True” received radio airplay on VRT Radio 1, one of Belgium’s most prominent public radio...

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Hey sweeties, So, the Nintendo Switch 2 finally got its big reveal and… whew. I have a lot of feelings. Some good. Some not-so-good. Some why even bother bro. Let’s just rip the band-aid off: I’m kinda disappointed. I mean yeah, there’s some exciting stuff in the mix—a new Zelda (yes please), a new Donkey...

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Last night, I had the chance to see the dress rehearsal for Sailor Moon Super Live in Pittsburgh, and it was a surprisingly fun and memorable experience! A Night of Good Food & Magical Nostalgia The evening started off with an amazing dinner at Gaucho Parrilla Argentina—highly recommend it if you’re ever in Pittsburgh! Great...

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The Long Wait is Over: AIR Officially Releases in English A Shocking, Unbelievable Surprise Imagine my utter shock, surprise, and amazement when I clicked to start exploring a Steam queue—and there it was. I had heard nothing about its release, and just days or weeks ago, I was literally chatting with a friend about how...

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So you may be wondering why I haven’t updated my website lately. I’ve been using most of my free time to create AI Generated Music using an app called Suno AI. I have been using Suno for about 6 months now and here are my thoughts and some of my favorite creations so far. I’m...

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Omg, I loved Here with Tom Hanks! Critics and fans might give it low ratings, with scores around 20-30% out of 100, but I’m here to say, don’t let that fool you! This movie is not garbage at all—it’s thought-provoking, moving, and exactly the type of film that makes you think. If you’re the type...

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Do not read this review if you do not want to hear spoilers for the new 2024 Joker 2: Joker folie à deux. Again this will contain spoilers Leave now this is your last warning. Spoiler Warning: This review contains major spoilers and personal reflections on Joker: Folie à Deux. We went to see Joker:...

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Apple’s recent event was packed with exciting new releases and updates across its product lines. Here’s a roundup of everything announced, including details on the iPhone 16 and iPhone 16 Pro, the new Apple Watch models, updated AirPods, and iOS 18. iPhone 16 and iPhone 16 Pro We’re all excited about the new color options...

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Hold onto your hats, ghost lovers! The ending of Beetlejuice Beetlejuice is so bonkers it’s igniting some of the wildest theories on the internet. Did Lydia really marry Beetlejuice? Is Astrid a figment of Lydia’s imagination, or—get this—is Lydia actually dead and doesn’t know it? Spoiler Warning! This article is packed with juicy details and...

Read More “Is Lydia Deetz Dead? Crazy Fan Theories About Beetlejuice Beetlejuice That Will Change How You See the Movie Forever!” »

Introduction: When I first heard about A Ghost Story (2017), the hype was real. The critics were raving, the trailer hinted at deep existential themes, and the movie seemed to have collected awards like a ghost in a haunted house. But does it live up to the buzz? I dove in, prepared for an emotional...

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Welcome to Fields of Mistria, a game that captures the essence of ’90s JRPGs and fuses it with the best elements of farming sims to create a unique, cozy experience. From the moment you step into its pixel-perfect world, the game feels like a nostalgic journey back in time, yet it offers a fresh twist...

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Nintendo recently announced that Animal Crossing: Pocket Camp, the popular mobile game, will be shutting down its online services on October 31, 2024. While this news may come as a disappointment to many fans, there’s a silver lining—your progress and campsite aren’t going anywhere. Nintendo is launching a new offline version of the game, allowing...

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Sailor Moon Cosmos has finally landed on Netflix in North America, and for fans of the beloved franchise, this marks a monumental moment. Whether you’ve been a Sailor Moon devotee since the 90s or are just now discovering the magic, this two-part film adaptation of the final arc, known as “Sailor Stars,” promises to be...

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The Debate Over Machine Language Translations: A Look at Hanaemu Kare to & Bloom on the Japanese Nintendo eShop The world of otome games is vast and full of unique titles that often remain exclusive to Japan. As an avid fan of this genre, I’ve always faced the challenge of accessing games that never make...

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The Ultimate Guide to the Best Laptops for InZoi – Perfect for Gamer Girls As the release date for InZoi draws near, it’s time to start thinking about upgrading your gaming setup to ensure you’re ready for the ultimate experience. Whether you’re a casual gamer or a hardcore enthusiast, having the right laptop is essential...

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Welcome to GeekySweetie.com! Today, we’re diving deep into the world of the 14-inch MacBook Pro with the M3 Pro chip, focusing on what makes this machine an excellent choice for gamer girls, creatives, and anyone who loves a balance of power, portability, and style. This review will cover everything from the unboxing experience to the...

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Top 20 80s Anime with Complex Relationships and Tragic Romance The 1980s was a golden era for anime, offering a range of series that delved into the depths of human emotions, complicated relationships, and often tragic romances. For fans of intricate storytelling, these anime are a must-watch. Here are the top 20 80s anime that...

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The Gaming Blog

In my current Blades in the Dark game, I started to post preludes in our Slack channel a few days before the game. These preludes are short narrative pieces, centered on one of the characters, and convey some information to the players about the upcoming session. It is not the first time I have employed […]

In my current Blades in the Dark game, I started to post preludes in our Slack channel a few days before the game. These preludes are short narrative pieces, centered on one of the characters, and convey some information to the players about the upcoming session. It is not the first time I have employed this technique, but I have not done it in a while. So I thought I would talk about it today. The Prelude By definition, a prelude is: an action or event that serves as an introduction to something more significant. In RPG terms, it is a small scene that acts as the introduction to the session. Typically, the scene is a short narrative piece that the players read; however, there may be cases where this is an actual playable scene between the GM and one or two players. For simplicity, let’s stick to a short narrative piece. What Does a Prelude Do? There are a few things that a prelude will do in your game. The first, and most obvious, is that it introduces the coming session. The second is that it can convey information. Third, it is a form of metagame (the game outside of the game), which is a tool for creating emotional investment. Fourth, it helps to get the game started. Let’s talk about each of these in more detail: Introduction of the Coming Session The prelude introduces the coming session. It is a free scene to frame out the coming adventure. It helps set the tone, set up the first scenes at the table, and foreshadow things to come in the game. Conveying Information The prelude is a place where you can infodump useful information for the session. You can name NPCs, provide facts that might be commonly known, etc. By including information here, the players arrive at the game with that information, without you having to do it at the table. The Metagame If you release your prelude days before your session, then your players are engaging with it and thinking about the game before the game starts. Preludes are playing the game outside of the session, which is a great way to build engagement in the game between sessions. If you release your prelude days before your session, then your players are engaging with it and thinking about the game before the game starts. It can often be a struggle to get players to think about the game outside of the session; the prelude is a way to jump-start that process. Getting the Game Started You can use the prelude to get out of the way of slower narrative parts, and let you start the game closer to the action. You can have a prelude that describes the characters facing down their enemy as the enemy monologues (infodump), and then when you start your session, you can go in media res, and jump right into an initiative roll for combat, which will make the start of your game far more exciting. This also works great for things like missions and heists, where the prelude can infodump some of the more common facts, allowing the game to start closer to beginning the mission or heist. This is how I use it for Blades. Creating A Prelude Now that we have discussed what goes into a prelude, we can look at how to create one. My personal favorite for this is a small piece of flash fiction, just a few paragraphs long. I like this form for a few reasons. One, it’s not too much work to prep, and you can make them entertaining. I will always work as much information as I can into the prelude so that I don’t have to find ways to inject that information into the session. Once you have your prelude set, you need to get it to your players. In this day and age, you most likely have an electronic forum where you can share this — Discord, Slack, Group Chat, etc. Drop it into that. The more important consideration is when. You want to do it a few days before your session, so that people who do not check the Discord all the time will have time to check it before the game. At the same time, you do not want to do it so early that everyone sees it, and then enough time passes to forget what was written…that will undo all the benefits of the prelude. I find two days before the session is nice. It is within the window where people start checking the group chat heading into the game, far enough out from the game that if someone were to post a question about the prelude, I would have time to answer it, and close enough to the session that people will remember it. Prelude vs. Recap These two things are different. The prelude is the introduction to the coming session, while the recap is an infodump about what happened last time. It is possible to do both of these online, but it’s more work for you. If you want to use both a recap and a prelude, I would do your prelude online, because it builds engagement, and do your recap while people are setting up for the session and getting settled in. Recaps are good to do in person because if there are questions or discrepancies, the group can address them in real time. The Man Stepped out of the Shadows… The prelude is a simple tool that can help start your sessions. It is a bit of extra work to create, but it has a number of benefits for your session and your campaign. It is not something you need to use every game, but like any good spice, its occasional use spices up your upcoming session. Do you employ a prelude for your game? What form does it take? How often do you use them?

How large is your RPG group? Small? Large? Average? What are the ramifications of each size of group? Do you have too few players? Too many? It all depends on what you’re looking for in your games and sessions. Back in early high school, the largest group I was part of had 15 players and […]

How large is your RPG group? Small? Large? Average? What are the ramifications of each size of group? Do you have too few players? Too many? It all depends on what you’re looking for in your games and sessions. Back in early high school, the largest group I was part of had 15 players and 22 characters spread across those 15 players. Joe, our wonderful GM, ran it all with ease and style. He did have a co-GM sitting at the far end of the table to wrangle the players and help keep them focused. Joe made all final rules arbitrations, but if a rule was clearly written (kinda rare in those days of the late 1980s), then the co-GM could make a ruling for his end of the table. Joe handled all story elements and NPC interactions. Of course, this is an extreme example of a large group. Then again, people think that my current group of 7 players (plus the GM) “too large,” but it works very well for us. We can continue playing even if 2 or 3 of the players have to miss for various reasons. We like being able to consistently get together on a weekly basis for our 6-9 hour sessions. Yeah. You read that right. Our “short” sessions are 6 hours long, and it’s not unusual for us to hit 9 hours of game time on Saturday. However, the length of sessions is a topic for another day. Today, I’ll be talking about how group size changes up how the sessions are played and managed. While talking about “group size,” I’m working with the assumption of a single GM and the numbers presented below are the player count. Size Definitions I’ll be using the phrasing of “small,” “average,” and “large” to describe group sizes. For the purposes of this article, a small group has less than 4 players. A large group has 6 or more players. This leaves the middle ground of 4-5 players being average. These numbers area all based on what I’ve seen across 41 years of tabletop RPG experience. Spotlight Time How much time do you spend with each PC? Small groups allow for more spotlight time for each PC during a session. It can also cause the spotlight to change or cycle between PCs in a faster fashion than with larger groups. This high level of attention being quickly moved about leads to less boredom, downtime, or lack of involvement with each player. This is generally considered a good thing, which is why recommended group sizes have shrunk over the decades since those days of yore when a dozen players could be called typical. Larger groups are on the other end of the spectrum. Even if the spotlight cycles quickly between players, there are more cycles to get through as a player waits their turn. This is not just during combat, but during all other facets of the game. This puts some more weight on the GM to be aware of when a player has not had the spotlight in quite a while. Average-sized groups seem to be the sweet spot for spotlight time. The GM can spend a little more time with each PC to get things accomplished with that PC before shifting to another PC. Also, each player doesn’t have to wait overly long before their turn to get the attention comes along. Threat Level How deadly are your encounters and situations? With smaller groups, the threat level has to be carefully considered and balanced by the GM. Even one monster too many in a combat can leave the entire party in danger. This is especially true if the monster has some method to neutralize a PC (or more than one!) with a single action. Things like hold person, paralysis, petrification, knock-out poisons and such like that can remove one-quarter (or more!) of the party’s potency in a fight. This can turn an “easy” fight into a “difficult” one or even up to a “deadly” one. Larger groups don’t suffer from this as much since the still-standing characters can fill the gap of the fallen character, or come to the rescue to revive them and get them back into the fight. Taking out a large percentage of the party’s firepower in one fell swoop is much more difficult in larger groups. Of course, this means the GM will need to increase the power level or numbers of enemies found in a published adventure. Trying to stick with the average party sizes works well for published adventures since this is the expectation in modern games and their published adventures. A good adventure will have advice throughout for scaling the adventure up/down based not only on character power levels, but the number of PCs involved in the adventure as well. Energy Levels How high is your player energy level? Here, I’m talking about the player energy levels. Smaller groups can exhaust everyone (player and GM alike) more quickly since they don’t have as much mental downtime between actions or spotlight time. This can lead to shorter sessions, more breaks, or a need to just pause for a bit to let everyone catch their breath. Larger groups usually don’t have this problem, except for the GM. Juggling 6, 7, or 8 players’ desires and actions and reactions and consequences and abilities can be mentally taxing for a GM. I personally can’t run Fate because I can’t remember (even with cheat sheets) the aspects for 3 PCs let alone more than that. I couldn’t imagine trying to run Fate with 6+ PCs at the table. I’d completely and totally melt. The GM energy levels might dictate shorter sessions like with small groups. This can lead to the players leaving the game session amped up and ready for more while the GM just needs a glass of wine and a hot bath to recover from juggling all that was in front of them. Like with above, average-sized groups are perfect for maintaining the energy levels of everyone involved. There’s just a good balance there for downtime, activities, and allowing the GM mental space to track the PC vitals (just the vitals, not every little detail). Plot Complexity Complexity can lead to plot confusion. This area gets tricky. With fewer PCs, the GM can inject more complex plot elements into the story because there are fewer details to track and get involved with on the players’ side of the screen. With more PCs, the plot can naturally be complex and deeply interwoven as each player brings their character’s goals and motivations to the story. With larger groups, the GM might have to let the PC’s desires and goals direct the flow of the game. There is nothing wrong with a PC-driven plot. With an average number of players, everyone (including the GM) can get involved in putting things into the plot elements of the story. While some will float up to be an “A plot” and others are relegated to “B plots” and “C plots,” everyone is involved in the story. This is another article topic on juggling plot elements, but don’t let one PC’s goal become the “A plot” for too horribly long unless several other characters have their backstory or other aspects wrapped into the A plot as well. Let the A, B, and C plots shift and change position on the priority scale as makes sense and to allow different PCs to have “story spotlight.” Conclusion As you can see, there are many different things that come out of having different groups of different sizes. There’s lots to handle and juggle here, but I hope this insight and information can help you be better prepared for what you present to your group (regardless of size), how you manage the group at the table, and how to be a better GM (and player!) within your cohort of gamers at the table.

https://polygamero.us/wp-content/uploads/2025/10/GC_223_Getting-spooky-with-Bridget-Jefferies_final.mp3 Join Ang as she chats with guest Bridgett Jeffries about all things spooky and scary games. Need some insight into how to bring the best of horror to your table during this spooky season? Listen to Bridgett! Links: Contact Bridgett at Chaosium Symphony Entertainment

https://polygamero.us/wp-content/uploads/2025/10/GC_223_Getting-spooky-with-Bridget-Jefferies_final.mp3 Join Ang as she chats with guest Bridgett Jeffries about all things spooky and scary games. Need some insight into how to bring the best of horror to your table during this spooky season? Listen to Bridgett! Links: Contact Bridgett at Chaosium Symphony Entertainment

The problem isn’t the mechanic. It’s the framing. Rerolls are inherently dramatic — a refusal to accept failure, a desperate second chance — but most games treat them as paperwork. The solution is simple: give rerolls a ritual.

When it came to Auto Polo, I think the failed roll came long before this was taken. “I’ve got a bad feeling about this…” Famously uttered by space smuggler Han Solo as he approached a planet killing weapon in Star Wars, this line has appeared in nearly every Star Wars project since that first film. It’s very likely you’ve heard the line before; probably dozens of times. Just a handful of words, but they carry decades of cinematic weight. Everyone knows how to deliver it. Everyone knows what it means. Drop it into a roleplaying session and you’ll get chuckles, groans, or knowing nods. It’s shorthand for one thing: something’s about to go wrong. That’s the power of a well-timed line. It makes the audience lean in. It transforms a moment from procedural into cinematic. And tabletop roleplaying games are full of moments that should carry that weight — but often don’t. Among the most overlooked: the humble reroll. Admitting The Problem with Flat Rerolls Rerolls exist in almost every system. D&D has Inspiration. Savage Worlds uses Bennies. Fate has Fate Points. Call of Cthulhu lets you “push” a roll. Dozens of narrative systems let players spend currency or invoke aspects for another try. The shape is always the same: roll the dice, spend a resource, roll again. Mechanically, this works great. Rerolls soften bad luck, protect characters from catastrophe, and give players agency. But narratively? It usually sounds like this: “I’m gonna spend a point and reroll.” “Cool, roll again.” The dice clatter, the result changes or doesn’t, and the story lurches forward. The moment rarely lingers. That’s ironic, because the reroll might be the most important roll of the night — the one that keeps the story alive. The problem isn’t the mechanic. It’s the framing. Rerolls are inherently dramatic — a refusal to accept failure, a desperate second chance — but most games treat them as paperwork. Fixing the Problem with Invocation Rerolls The solution is simple: give rerolls a ritual. Before a player rerolls, they speak a line. That’s it. No new math. No rules rewrite. Just a phrase that reframes the reroll as performance. The line could be lifted from pop culture — a weary “Oh, crap” like Hellboy, a defiant “Not today” like Arya Stark, or the classic “I can do this all day.” Or it could be original, something players tie to their characters in Session Zero: a paladin growling “I shall not fall,” or a spy whispering “Trust me.” Of course, there’s always the genre-agnostic fallback: “Failure is not an option.” Other Ways to Invoke The “bad feeling” line is just one approach. Invocation doesn’t have to hinge on a single phrase. Players can bring it into the fiction in different ways without slowing the game down: Signature Quote: A personal catchphrase that shows up whenever the stakes spike (“Not this again” or “Time to roll the hard way”). Environmental Cue: Pointing to a detail in the scene — flickering lights, a distant rumble — and tying it to the reroll. Character Habit: A nervous tick or ritual like cracking knuckles, flipping a coin, or checking a weapon. Table Callback: A communal phrase or in-joke everyone recognizes, reinforcing group identity. Meta-Acknowledgment: Saying the trope out loud (“This is the part where everything goes wrong, right?”). Whatever option the group picks, consistency matters. The content of the phrase is less important than delivery. Short, repeatable, tied to the tone of the game, and spoken like it matters. That little ritual transforms a reroll from a mechanical do-over into a dramatic beat. A Brief History of Rerolls Why do rerolls show up everywhere? Because they’re one of the oldest tools for narrative agency. Even early miniatures rules let players spend morale points for a second chance. House rules for rerolls appeared in D&D almost immediately. Deadlands made them tactile with poker chips. Fate built them into its core with Aspects. All of them recognized the same instinct: players want to say, “Not like that.” Invocation Rerolls follow in that tradition. They don’t replace mechanics; they highlight the drama that was always there. What this Looks Like at the Table So what does this look like at the table? Val’s gonzo space opera tracks rerolls with plastic battery tokens. When Rook blows a roll in a firefight, his player tosses a blue battery on the table: “I’ve got a plan.” The reroll fails again. He smirks: “I’ve got 8% of a plan.” The table roars. By the next week, the line has become a running gag. Morgan’s noir detective game uses plastic dimes. When the detective flubs an interrogation, the player flicks a dime across the table: “Luck’s just another kind of debt.” The coin spins, the dice tumble, and the moment feels ripped from a paperback novel. Tamara’s pirate campaign uses plastic pieces of eight. In the middle of a naval battle, the captain slams one down: “Hoist the colours high!” In defiance of fate. The crew responds, “Never shall we die!”, the dice fly, and suddenly the reroll feels like mutiny made flesh. And beyond those? In superhero games, players slam chips down with “I could do this all day.” In post-apocalyptic ones, survivors whisper “If I’m gonna die, I’m gonna die historic!” In romantic fantasy, an elven ranger invokes “I would rather spend one lifetime with you than face all the ages of this world alone.” (It’s a long one… Maybe just “One life time…” but it’s a great quote, nonetheless. The props and phrases change, but the pattern is the same: the ritual makes the reroll memorable. Tips and Pitfalls Get buy-in early. Session Zero is a perfect place to set tone. Shared phrases unify the group; individual ones give characters personality. Keep it short. A good Invocation is 3–6 words, a short sentence. Anything longer bogs down the beat. (But there are exceptions to this.) Props help. Poker chips, beads, coins, or scraps of paper make the ritual tactile. Adapt online. In VTTs, players can type their lines, use macros, or play sound clips. Mind the tone. Humor works if everyone’s on board, but check in to avoid breaking immersion. Don’t force it. Some players will warm up slowly. Let them see it in action first. The Payoff Invocation Rerolls elevate rerolls in three ways: Success feels sweeter. When a line lands and the dice succeed, the table cheers like destiny just stepped in. Failure feels richer. When the dice flop after an Invocation, it’s not wasted — it becomes a beat of gallows humor, tragedy, or irony. Table culture grows. Invocations become inside jokes, mantras, or rallying cries. They stop being mechanics and become part of the campaign’s shared language. And the best part? They’re free. No rebalancing, no new subsystems. Just a ritual layered on top of what you already play. We started with a line you already knew: “I’ve got a bad feeling about this.” Alone, it’s just words. At the table, it sets tone, builds anticipation, and makes everyone lean in. That’s exactly what Invocation Rerolls do. They take the most mechanical of beats — the reroll — and turn it into a story moment worth remembering. The phrase, the token, the dice: together they say more than “try again.” They say: this matters. And once your group adopts them, those Invocations stop being rules. They become culture. The lines you’ll quote weeks later. The rituals you’ll carry into new campaigns. The heartbeat of the game. So the next time your players stare down failure, don’t just give them a reroll. Give them a chance to make it memorable. Let them drop the token. Let them say the line. Because sometimes the most important part of a reroll isn’t the dice. It’s what your players say before they roll.

Kobold Press sent me a review copy of The Art of Kobold Press, a book showcasing the artwork used by the company over the course of its lifespan. That gives me the perfect opportunity to recall my connection to RPG art over the years. I was really fortunate to play RPGs in an era when […]

Kobold Press sent me a review copy of The Art of Kobold Press, a book showcasing the artwork used by the company over the course of its lifespan. That gives me the perfect opportunity to recall my connection to RPG art over the years. I was really fortunate to play RPGs in an era when some amazing artists were first defining the look of fantasy roleplaying. When I started reading comics, I developed the ability to pick up on specific artists that I enjoyed, and could recognize their work before I even looked at the credits in the comics. This translated into my growing hobby of RPGs. The more I looked at the covers of various Dungeons & Dragons products, or the covers of Dragon Magazine, the more I saw details that would define an artist in my mind. I am definitely of the generation for whom Larry Elmore defined the Dragonlance saga with his art, and Keith Parkinson’s Gods of Lankhmar painting is burned into my brain. The Mind’s Eye The RPG hobby is predicated on imagination. Many of us love to envision things in our mind’s eye, creating a visual reality only we can see, based on images evoked by words. But the RPG hobby has also been an extremely visual one. That doesn’t rob us of our ability to synthesize our own unique view of the fantasy worlds that we explore, but it gives us a broader palette from which to pull imagery that populates our waking dreams. I’ve been drawn to RPG art books from the time I first realized they existed. One of the earliest I remember was The Art of Dragonlance, which collected many of the iconic pieces of Dragonlance art that had appeared in the adventures, novels, and sourcebooks up to that time. The Art of Dragon Magazine collected ten years of cover art, which represented a staggering variety of fantasy art. I’ve picked up art books like this for years, including a new version of The Art of Dragon Magazine, this one looking at 30 years of art instead of 10, from the Paizo era of the publication. My copy of Dungeons & Dragons: Art & Arcana is sitting across from me next to cover compilations of DC and Marvel comics, and Star Wars: Propaganda. The Visual March of Time Viewing the art a company produces over the years tells a story, and anchors the progression of time. But most of these art books are, well, books, and they literally tell a story as well as presenting the visual evolution of a game or a company. The Art of Kobold Press is no different in that regard. In addition to pages and pages of art from the company’s publications, there is interspersed commentary about the company and the context of the art being produced. While it is an interesting look at the company’s art over time, it’s not an exhaustive treatment of the company’s history. You can glean a lot from it, but the purpose isn’t to discuss the pioneering of crowdfunded RPG projects before the rise of Kickstarter, starting with Open Design, for example. For the art that is reproduced, the earliest Open Design projects account for much of the page count, moving fairly quickly into the Pathfinder era products and the covers of Kobold Quarterly, which already shows that Kobold Press was in step with industry artwork and keeping up with the high end of fantasy art standards. The bulk of the volume is dedicated to the 2014 SRD era products, especially the art from the Tome of Beasts line of books, the Midgard campaign setting, and the various adventures published at the time. The last third of the book is dedicated to the Tales of the Valiant era of the company, which includes some discussion about standardizing visual elements and decisions about what needs to be front and center to showcase a new product line. It was a happy surprise to see the Riverbank RPG get six pages to showcase the divergent art style of that game, including a beautiful two page spread. Stan!’s artwork for the Necromancer card game also gets a few pages to shine. I was very happy to see the cosmological map from the Labyrinth Worldbook get a page dedicated to it as well. Looking Forward The art in the book includes a preview of the art that will appear in the upcoming Player’s Guide 2, including the class artwork for the new(ish) Theurge, Witch, and Vanguard classes. Seeing that art reminded me of something I wish was present in the book, a more explicit discussion of iconic characters in RPG art. It’s something Dungeons & Dragons has largely left behind (if you don’t count characters from other D&D media getting showcased for marketing purposes) since the 3rd edition era, but Kobold Press partially revived the trend in its art orders for Ghosts of Saltmarsh, has used iconic parties in their art for the Scarlet Citadel and Empire of the Ghouls adventures, and has a new set of iconic characters with the class artwork in Tales of the Valiant. That’s not to say there isn’t any discussion of the decisions behind how the art is produced. Marc Radle, the art director of Kobold Press, provides much of the narrative, with additional insights from others at the company like Wolfgang Baur and Celeste Conowitch, as well as some commentary from game designers and artists related to the projects shown. At worst, it means that there is room for a History of Kobold Press someday in the future, that can dig into that kind of material more thoroughly. What I appreciate most about a book like this is that it allows me to get back into the habit of putting names to artwork. One thing that is evident in a book like this is that the modern landscape of RPG artwork is much different than my early days in the hobby. When I was first entering the hobby, it was obvious when someone new like Fred Fields, Gerald Brom, or Tony DiTerlizzi began producing art for TSR. There are so many artists represented in this book that I don’t want to do a disservice to any of them by calling out just a few, but that I know who created some of my modern favorites now is something for which I am grateful.

“Everything’s a reboot. There’s nothing original anymore.” Boring statements. Defeatist. Ironically, not even original complaints. “Everything’s a remix.” Punk as hell. Creates opportunities. Empowering. Whether we’re talking about Marvel movies, the latest Disney live-action reboot, or an American remake of a popular foreign film, the idea that we’ve “run out of ideas” runs rampant amongst […]

“Everything’s a reboot. There’s nothing original anymore.” Boring statements. Defeatist. Ironically, not even original complaints. “Everything’s a remix.” Punk as hell. Creates opportunities. Empowering. Whether we’re talking about Marvel movies, the latest Disney live-action reboot, or an American remake of a popular foreign film, the idea that we’ve “run out of ideas” runs rampant amongst those of us who hang out in creative spaces or care deeply about the stories we consume. And while I don’t think this article will save us from the ump-teenth reboot of Batman’s origin story, I do think there’s something important we can take away from this storyteller’s lament — if nothing’s original any more (and really, it hasn’t been original since before Classical times) then everything’s a remix, and all stories are fodder for our stories. So, in the punk spirit of DIY, I’m gonna tell you how to steal a story and get away with it. HOW IT’S DONE To steal a story, you have to step back and train your brain to look at stories like recipes. You know how a good cook can taste a dish and tell you the ingredients that went into it? (And how great cooks can then give suggestions for substitutions that would transform the food into a completely new experience?) That’s what we need, and that’s what we’re gonna learn how to do. So, if you’re new to this deconstruction thing, start by taking notes on five key elements of the story: the characters, the situation they find themselves in, their goals, the obstacles that prevent them from completing those goals, and your favorite thing about the story. (For the rest of this article, my go-to example will be my current obsession: K-Pop Demon Hunters, or as I like to call it, “Hannah Montana meets Buffy the Vampire Slayer.”) The more we study stories and how they work, the easier it will be to come up with our own. Characters You know these folks. They’re the heroes, the sidekicks, the villains, and bystanders. When we’re thinking about stealing a story for our table, the characters in your target story are important, but a lot less so than you might think. That’s because your players should be the main characters, but you can’t expect your players to make the same choices those characters did. And that’s a good thing. If you expect your infernal pact warlock to hide their contract from the party the way Rumi hides her demonic heritage from the other members of HUNTR/X, then you’re making some huge assumptions about your players and taking away a lot of their agency. So what will this ingredient be good for? NPCs, of course. Especially villains. Hell, you can twist it around so your players end up fighting the world’s favorite supernatural idol group. Situation You may be tempted to call this “the plot,” but I want to veer away from that word because plot and story tend to be synonyms in most people’s minds. I don’t want us prescribing the route our players will take through the adventure. Instead, think of the situation as the context for the action. It’s all of the various external events that bring the players together and propel them towards the climax. For example, if we say, “a demonic boy band is using their music to steal the souls of their fans,” we’re giving our players context for the situation without dictating how they should solve it. Depending on the length of the story you’re stealing, the characters could find themselves in a lot of different situations. Make note of them, and save them for our synthesis phase (coming up shortly). What happens if you mix up Star Wars with Downton Abbey? Or Edgerunners with Fraggle Rock? Goals When you’re analyzing your story, look at the characters’ goals — what they want. Rumi, for example, wants to energize the Honmoon so she can banish all of the demons in the world and live a normal life. Ideally, your players’ goals should be determined by the players themselves, but the more you train your brain to think about the goals of the characters within your favorite stories, the easier it will be for you to pull out the appropriate elements. Then, when your paladin player comes to you with a tragic backstory and says, “My paladin is hunting her father, who betrayed his knightly order and brought shame to my character’s family,” you’ll know where you can situate that character within the rest of the story. A traitorous father is not the same as a secret shame, but it’s close enough that you’ll know what to do when the time comes. And by that, I mean… Obstacles Now we’re getting into the real meat and potatoes of what it means to steal a story. Obstacles are the things that get in the way of the characters from achieving their goals. A demonic love interest, for example, forces a character to realize there are shades of gray in a world she once thought of as black and white. Or having your secret shame outed in front of a room of people you’ve been lying to for years. These are the roadblocks that create delicious, delicious conflict. The kind that keeps our players on the edges of their seats, wondering how they’re going to get out of this one. When you combine the situation with character goals and obstacles, that’s where the “plot” develops. Where the story comes to life. And studying the kinds of roadblocks your favorite stories throw in the path of their protagonists will help you port those obstacles into your campaigns. Your Favorite Thing Maybe it’s a derpy demon tiger. Or themes of found family and self-discovery. Or really cool outfits. Make note of your favorite thing(s) in your favorite stories. It doesn’t have to be big and important — like the way all of the Saiyans are named after vegetables in Dragon Ball Z — but it can be a big thing too — warp technology in Star Trek. I want you to note your favorite things for a couple of reasons, but mostly because they’re the elements that draw you back into the story. So, regardless of how important the tiger is to the plot, it’s important to your heart. And if you can find ways to incorporate Derpy into your campaign, well, that’ll give you even more investment, and your excitement will spill over into your players, creating a wonderful feedback loop of awesome. Take this list and go through three or four of your favorite stories, making the notes I mentioned above. Once you’ve done that, come back here because… IT’S TIME TO GET WILD Now that you’ve got a stack of notes about characters and goals and giant blue tigers, it’s time to start synthesizing them and turning them into your next game session. How do you do that? Well, you pick up your elements like they were action figures in a toy chest, and you smash ’em together and make ’em kiss. This technique works best when you mash up two stories from different genres. Take my “Hannah Montana/Buffy the Vampire Slayer” joke above. From Hannah Montana, we’re taking elements of musical acts and the pull between two lives — one very public and one very private — and we’re mixing that up with the supernatural demon slaying from Buffy. What happens if you mix up Star Wars with Downton Abbey? Or Edgerunners with Fraggle Rock? I don’t know, but it sounds like fun! And when you’ve broken down your stories into their elemental components, you get to find out. Use the goals and the situations to create hooks. Then lean on the obstacles to create your encounters. Sprinkle in NPCs from the characters you’ve studied and bam! Your campaign is ready to rumble. Just add players and chase your favorite things through the new story you totally didn’t steal. THE CONCEIT If you’ve made it this far, you’ve probably figured out that I’m not really talking about heisting a story like it’s a diamond in a vault. I’m talking inspiration. Where we find it. How we call on it. And most importantly, how we can teach our brains to find it even when we’re not feeling inspired. The more we study stories and how they work, the easier it will be to come up with our own. Original or not, it doesn’t matter. What matters is that we love them, even a little, and that our players are having fun. What are the wildest mashup ideas you can think of? Leave them in the comments and let’s figure out how to turn them into campaigns!

https://polygamero.us/wp-content/uploads/2025/10/GC_222_Combating-Analaysis-Paralaysis-final.mp3 Join Ang along with Jared and JT as they talk about how to combat analysis paralysis! What do you do when your players get stuck overthinking and overanalyzing things and start dragging the game down! Links: Cyberpunk Legends Kickstarter DM Andy’s Maps Invincible RPG by Free League

https://polygamero.us/wp-content/uploads/2025/10/GC_222_Combating-Analaysis-Paralaysis-final.mp3 Join Ang along with Jared and JT as they talk about how to combat analysis paralysis! What do you do when your players get stuck overthinking and overanalyzing things and start dragging the game down! Links: Cyberpunk Legends Kickstarter DM Andy’s Maps Invincible RPG by Free League

Your weapons are more than just damage dice.

You don’t need me to tell you there are A LOT of RPGs out there. There is a huge, diverse, and wildly creative selection to choose from. Just counting those that involve medieval (ish) combat, this is still true. But despite the huge variety of mechanics, trends in modern game design, and dramatic reimagining of these games, there is one mechanic that is remarkably consistent: variable dice damage for weapons. All d20 systems, as far as I know, but also percentile systems and a whole slew of other games, use different damage dice for different weapons and nothing else. That’s all you get to distinguish a short sword from a lance. And that’s not a problem if you want your combat abstracted and you like what you know. You might be perfectly happy that nobody ever uses a spear in your games, even though they were the most used weapon for thousands of years. Or that the half dozen or so blunt weapons in your game are all but redundant, bar fighting undead. Apart from the fact that I find it fundamentally unconvincing that a blow from a short sword would hurt less than a blow from a long one, should it strike me, there is an intrinsic disadvantage to variable dice. It doesn’t take long for the modifiers your player characters get to outweigh the difference between those die types. The difference in the medium results of a d6 and a d8 is only 1 (3.5 and 4.5 respectively). Your d8 wielding player character only benefits from his choice of weapon one in four die rolls (I know I’m simplifying the laws of probability here, but you get the gist…). And once other rules kick in, especially with level-based progression, that 1 to 2 points of damage soon vanishes beneath the avalanche of bonuses, additional damage dice, magic weapons, or increased Attributes. Soon enough, the weapons are just flavour. Which is fine. I guess. Sometimes more is better. But to me it seems a wasted opportunity. In 2014, 5e introduced Qualities to its weapons. It wasn’t the first system to use the idea, and they mainly took the place of pre-existing rules. Still, they added some interest, but they were fairly limited. They didn’t change the way players thought about their characters’ weapons. I am well aware that most people don’t want to bog down their combat with complex rules, cross-referencing weapon types with armours, as I tried to do with homebrew rules back when I was young and foolish and didn’t know better. But Reach and what a weapon does on a critical success, can easily make combat more interesting. And fun! In fact, in many ways, the other stuff can do more to distinguish one weapon from another, more to add flavour to the fight, more to make your character stand out, and more to make a fight, well, interesting, than different-shaped dice. Ever get the feeling that some (or all?) of your players are ‘tuning out’ when it isn’t their turn in combat? That might be because it’s predictable. And I mean that the process of resolving combat has become predictable, not just the outcome. Think about it: most of these sorts of games, whether d20 based or not, generally tend towards the ‘roll dice, add modifiers, hit a target number, roll damage, modify, end’. Sometimes there is an option to parry, or to dodge, or you might compare scores, like in Runequest, to see the outcome. But it matters little whether you’re swinging a longsword or a war hammer. The weapon you are using is unlikely to alter the outcome of the fight, other than its duration. Not really. So, what can we do about it? First off, let’s think about Reach. Weapons vary a lot in length. If you know what you’re doing with one, that can really impact how easy or difficult it is to strike your opponent or, more importantly, for them to strike you. I got some first-hand experience of this when my son was little, and we fenced with garden canes. Yeah, cute, right? Until he picked up the garden hoe and I realised I was in trouble! Because it is incredibly difficult to ‘parry’ a long, sharp, stabby thing with a one-handed, short, stabby thing (or slashy or bashy thing), unless you have a big round woody thing. Even if you stop them hitting you, you have to get past that to hit them. Sure, a swordsperson could get past a spear-wielder and strike, if they are nimble, I hear you say. Well yes… maybe that should be part of the game? Axes are often portrayed as particularly destructive in RPG combat systems. They have a tendency to sever things… Modiphius’ “Conan: Adventures In An Age Undreamed” (2016, now out of print) used Reach scores of 1 to 4, assigned individually to weapons. Where Reach scores differed, the lower was subtracted from the higher and the difference became a disadvantage to the wielder of the shorter weapon. When I ported this rule to a d20 game, I assigned scores of 1 to 5, because that way, I could easily give a score of 5 to weapons already listed as having Reach. After play-testing, only a Pike would ever get Reach 5 in practice. If a Pike has Reach 5 and bare hands have a Reach of 0, you can pretty well fit other weapons to the scale: dagger and short sword have Reach 1, normal sword Reach 2, bastard sword Reach 3, two-hander Reach 4. You can work out most weapons from that kind of scale. In practice, you immediately start seeing the humble spear getting picked up a lot more, with its Reach 4. In a game I ran recently, two stalwart adherents to the axe and shield model suddenly realised my NPC guards were getting a big advantage from the reach their spears gave them. As soon as they (eventually) dispatched them, they snatched up those spears like they were yreasure! Which, of course, they were… Weapon Qualities are another thing altogether. Dungeons & Dragons 3.5, which had its issues, varied the Critical Threat range of its weapons, which was fun. Swords all critted on 19-20 but axes had a crit damage multiplier of 3. Nice. But another way to distinguish weapons entirely is to label each weapon with a single one-word descriptor of what it is good at and use existing rules to resolve critical hits. For example – ‘Thrown’, which most systems will already use. If war hammers and mauls have the ‘Knockdown’ quality, which results in the victim being knocked Prone, suddenly new opportunities open up for how a fight might evolve or end. Whether you still multiply damage or not is up you or your table. ‘Stun’ is another obvious one – but not just for rogues knocking out guards; being stunned in most rulesets makes you an easy target for a potentially killing blow, maybe even a coup de grace, or else prevents you from attacking. Perhaps in your game a ‘stunned’ target takes a penalty to their armour or defence score? The trusty cudgel. A stalwart of the medieval world. But are they underrated in your game? I recommend you try this out in your own game and see what happens. Don’t worry about trying to introduce too many Qualities at once. You only really need to assign Qualities to the weapons your player characters have and to those most popular with NPCs. Let your players get used to a couple first. Make sure you don’t stack too many qualities in a single weapon: it will soon become the only one players use. Here are some examples of Qualities I have used: A ‘Savage’ weapon automatically inflicts more damage. How much depends on your system – perhaps an additional hit point or hit die. ‘Mounted’ might get a bonus to hit and to damage when used from horseback; lances or scimitars might have this. ‘Brutal’ might get an increase in critical multiplier or automatically score maximum damage or get a bonus when rolling on the critical table. ‘Armour Piercing’ reduces the effectiveness of armour – either the Armour Class or the amount damage is reduced by. The infamous ‘bollock dagger’ of the Middle Ages was designed to fit through the gaps in plate armour. ‘Parrying’ can be applied to daggers, maybe, or swords, giving a bonus to the parry skill or an additional parry attempt per turn, or simply add to a defensive score such as Armour Class. ‘Cover’ might be a quality given to shields, which enables them to parry arrows – allowing an attempt to avoid the hit entirely instead of increasing an armour score or just reducing the damage. ‘Fearful’ weapons are intimidating and require a Will save or equivalent, to not take a small to hit penalty due to being intimidated. The best Qualities are the ones that require the player character to do something in order to take effect. The ‘Ruthless’ quality (perhaps attached to certain daggers or a crossbow) might mean that if the player character spends a round eyeing up the target by making the equivalent of a Perception/Observation/Spot check, then the weapon gains other qualities – maybe ‘Brutal’ or ‘Savage’ or both, from above. But only if you make the skill test to spot the gaps in their armour or the patterns in their movement. Qualities and Reach should be about encouraging players to engage with their characters’ weapons and enabling them to do more than just ‘roll to hit’ time after time. They are about putting a fork in the road of the combat, making outcomes less predictable and letting different characters shine in different ways. As with anything, try it out and see how it works at your table.

NPCs in your RPGs come in all shapes, sizes, purposes, abilities, and reasons. It’s near impossible to enumerate all of the facets of an NPC or why they are in the storyline. Despite the Herculean task before me, I’ve done my best to outline what I think are the basic elements of NPCs in your […]

NPCs in your RPGs come in all shapes, sizes, purposes, abilities, and reasons. It’s near impossible to enumerate all of the facets of an NPC or why they are in the storyline. Despite the Herculean task before me, I’ve done my best to outline what I think are the basic elements of NPCs in your games. Purpose: Provide Information (Rumors/Clues) The rumor mill is hot tonight! NPCs can provide information to the PCs. This information can be true or false, somewhere in-between, or a little of both. It can be helpful, sidetracking, direct, or indirect. The NPC might actually know things that can help the party. On the other hand, the NPC might have heard from his cousin’s best friend’s ex-girlfriend’s former roommate that something is going down on Elm Street at night. These kinds of rumors need to be couched as such instead of having them being presented as full truths. The exception to this is if the NPC absolutely believes in the truth of what they are saying. One the point of providing information that sidetracks the PCs, this might fall into the category of a “red herring” depending on how the information is delivered and if the PCs can detect if the NPC is trying to intentionally deflect the party from the main goal or mission. Tread carefully with information that will intentionally throw the party off the main trail, especially if it will take a long time to resolve the sidetracked nature of the information. Purpose: Provide Support Help is just around the corner. NPCs can also be supportive to the party. This could be as simple as a shopkeeper staying open late to allow the PCs to reequip at the last second before delving back into the Forest of Tears as the sun goes down. The support can also be monetary or with aid from other NPCs. Factions go a long way into playing into a support structure for the PCs. NPCs can also provide non-monetary support in the form of favors asked, owed, or due. This could be free henchmen/hirelings, cheap mercenaries, the loan of a powerful item, free/cheap healing potions, or a handy map that will lead them down the safest path through the Forest of Tears to reach the Necromancer’s Citadel in the heart of the forest. Purpose: Provide Inspiration NPCs don’t have to be cheerleaders. Rah! Rah! Rah! You can do it! No. Not that kind of inspiration… kinda. What I’m talking about here is to give the PCs motivation to go forth and be the Big Darn Heroes of the story. This can be a quest giver, a mission handler, a faction leader, or someone else that will put the party on the path to greatness. These don’t always have to be people in positions of power. The lonely orphan on the street begging for loose change so he can pay for a cure disease spell to help out his headmaster can inspire the party to delve into the orphanage to cure the headmaster, and/or find out what dire events are plaguing the orphanage. Purpose: Provide Opposition The NPCs can hurt the PCs, too. NPCs can also oppose the efforts of the party. This is usually in the form of minions, lieutenants, bosses, the BBEG, monsters in the way, and other things that can result in combat. This doesn’t always have to be the case, though. It could be that the old lady in the back of the tavern is the bandit captain’s mother. She might not be proud of her son, but she doesn’t want to see him dead at the tip of a PC’s sword, either. She might misdirect the party or sabotage their equipment while they drink it up or sleep it off. Purpose: Fill in the World Extras are vital as scenery. Lastly, there are more non-important people in the world than important people. At least, this is true of storytelling efforts. Each person is the hero of their own story, but you’re only telling the story of the players’ heroes. If an NPC doesn’t fulfill an important role, they fill the world with their presence. This will make your world, setting, tavern scene, or street movements feel authentic by having people present. They don’t need to be named or detailed or even given descriptions, but they still need to be mentioned as being there. A street devoid of people is an oddity that the PCs might get interested in… even if you don’t want them to. Features: Notable Appearance Details What do they look like? Give each important NPC two or three appearance details. Clothing, facial hair, hair style, jewelry, level of cleanliness, smells, and so on are important to keep your NPCs memorable in the minds of the players and important to the attention of the characters. This is one reason the “affectation” chart in Cyberpunk 2020 is so incredibly potent. I just wish the list were longer, so there would be fewer repeats. The solo with the cybershades and three interface ports on his forehead is more memorable than the rockerboy with a chromed guitar. Though (and this is from one of my CP2020 games from ages ago), a rockerboy in full chromed-out, hardened body armor is certainly memorable, especially while on stage under all those lights. Features: Personality Quirks Pick one unique thing about important NPCs. Give your NPCs a quirk. Maybe they don’t make eye contact, or they make intense eye contact at all times. Maybe they don’t blink much at all. Always smiling is another good trait. Then again, so is never smiling. Popping knuckles is a good one. Maybe the NPC has a phobia or hates the taste of ale or has zero-g sickness. Pick an appropriate quirk for your setting and apply it to your NPC. I recommend only one quirk per NPC, and I only recommend spending your time coming up with that quirk if the named NPC is going to directly interact with the party or intersect with the story arc in some manner. Features: Accents/Speech Patterns Speech patterns are more vital than accent usage. I can’t do accents. Period. Full stop. I don’t even try. If you can pull off accents, go for it! Yay! Though, not everyone is going to have that “odd” accent, so don’t overdo it. You might find yourself using the wrong accent for the wrong NPC or driving the players batty trying to remember which NPC had which accent. I fall back to using speech patterns. Rapid-fire speech. Run-on sentences are good (especially if from the mouths of young children). Fragments getting used all the time. Delayed or hesitant speech. A long, thoughtful pause before answering a question or delving into a conversation. Using lots of contractions… or none at all. Another good one to use is someone saying, “umm” or “errr” or “hrmm” before each paragraph like they’re trying to piece together what they want to say. Applying a stutter to an NPC’s speech pattern will call them out as being memorable as well. As an example, I had a great uncle who would start every affirmative statement with, “Yep, yep, yep.” He would also start every negative statement with, “Nope, nope, nope.” This happened without fault, and I found it quite endearing. My grandfather, however, found it annoying. Regardless of how we perceived my uncle’s speech trait, it was memorable. Features: Goals Everyone needs something. Everyone has goals. Period. Full stop. It could be to turn a coin or make a buck by the end of the day to pay for rent. That’s minor, applies to almost everyone, and is important, but it’s also a goal. The goal could be to conquer the neighboring nation, or as personal as finding their lost cat. Each NPC that impacts the story (meaning just a handful of them) or has an important encounter with the PCs needs to have at least one goal in mind for their interactions. The more important NPCs could have as many as three goals. Yep. Three of them. I learned from the great author, Kevin Ikenberry, that important characters in a story should have a professional, personal, and private goal. Each of those are subtly different and may have some overlap in them. The professional goal is how the NPC is going advance their position in their job, society, faction, or similar arenas. The personal goal is what the NPC holds dear in their heart to cross off their bucket list before the last day comes for them. The private goal is one they attempt to accomplish, but will never tell another soul about. Features: Motivations Why do they need that thing? Each goal must have a motivation attached to it. Just trying to accomplish something is hollow. It doesn’t ring true. There are motivations behind every goal, so when you attach a goal to an NPC, you need to attach a motivation to that goal. Just ruling the world for the sake of ruling the world creates a “mustache-twirling evil person,” and you want something deeper than that to drive your plot, your story, and your PCs into action. Features: Secrets Can you keep a secret? Most people have secrets. Not all of them will impact your party or the story you’re telling. If that’s the case, don’t worry about generating a secret for the NPC. However, if the NPC secretly supports the bandit captain (see the mother example above), then that’s probably going to be kept secret by the NPC. If the secret never comes out in front of the PCs, that’s okay. It doesn’t need to. However, if it doesn’t, then it must drive the NPC’s actions, reactions, goals, and motivations. This indirect influence on the NPC will make the NPC feel more authentic and three-dimensional. Conclusion What did I miss? Are there any other facets of NPCs that you feel are important? Let us know!

Every week, I run a game on Sunday evenings. Currently, I am running Blades in the Dark and Neon City Blues on alternating weeks. Every Sunday afternoon, I start my pre-game so that I am ready for game night. What makes up my pre-game changes depending on the game, where it is being played, etc, but […]

Every week, I run a game on Sunday evenings. Currently, I am running Blades in the Dark and Neon City Blues on alternating weeks. Every Sunday afternoon, I start my pre-game so that I am ready for game night. What makes up my pre-game changes depending on the game, where it is being played, etc, but there is always a pre-game. Let me tell you about it. Getting Ready to Play I try to be very organized in my gaming. Some of it comes from genetics, some from childhood trauma, and a bit comes from my time as a college DJ, where it was impressed upon me that you never have dead air. Never. I try to carry that through to my gaming by making sure everything is prepared. Now in the prep life-cycle, pre-game is the second-to-last step. The first steps involve session and campaign prep. I talk about those a lot in Never Unprepared and with Walt in Odyssey. The last step is mise en place, when you set up your gaming space. Back to pre-game. It is your final chance to get things in order so that you can come to the table ready to play. Things to Consider There are two components to pre-game: mental and physical. The Mental For me, this is the time when I take a final look at my session prep and start loading it into short-term memory The mental part of pre-game is to get your mind ready to run the game. For me, this is the time when I take a final look at my session prep and start loading it into short-term memory. I have prepped the game some time before Sunday, typically at the start of the week, so I don’t always remember every detail of what I came up with. With the game only hours away, it’s now safe to put all the details into my short-term memory. That is accomplished by reading my session prep and imagining how various scenes will look, or how NPCs will sound. Based on this, I may add a few last-minute notes to my prep. I will also use this time to check any notes (mine or the players) on the past session to also refresh myself on what happened at the last session. Finally, this is the time to check any rules that may come up or just browse the rule book to reinforce the mechanics of the game. For newer games, this may be sitting down and re-reading the rules; for games I am more familiar with, it could be just looking up some specific rules, powers, or spells that are going to come up. The Physical On the physical side, this is the time to get the physical components together for the game. Depending on whether your game is at your place or another place, this will vary. If you are playing at your place, this may also be a time to prepare your physical gaming space, cleaning or tidying up. If you are playing online, this is the time to prepare your VTT. Here are several possible activities you may need to do, depending on where your game is played and what game is being played. This list isn’t comprehensive, I am sure you can think of a few more things… Cleaning and preparing the gaming space Deciding what books you will need at the table Gathering minis or making tokens for the encounters planned in the session Getting together maps (physical or digital) for the session Printing handouts Gathering props to be used in the game Packing your gaming materials for transport Uploading assets to your VTT Determining what aids you need for the game (cards, name lists, etc) Charging electronics (tablets, laptops) Making a playlist or loading a soundboard for the session Pro-tip: If you are using any electronics, run updates during your pre-game. Nothing kills the flow of a game like a device that starts to update when you get to the table. During pre-game, check for updates and run them while your devices are charging. My Game Day Rituals For both my games, my session is on Sunday evenings, so my pre-game happens early Sunday afternoon. It is just a few hours before the game, so I have ample time to run through all the items on the list without feeling rushed. For my Blades game, I am running at a friend’s house. So my pre-game looks like this: Read the session notes – load into short-term memory. Optional – re-read parts of the rulebook. Charge my iPad and Apple Pencil. Confirm the sync of my Obsidian database from my desktop to my iPad. Confirm the sync of my OneNote session notes from my desktop to my iPad. Set up session notes pages in my Blades Good Notes notebook, and put a heading and page number on them. Gather my physical materials – Character sheets, rule book, Clock Cards, etc. Pack my game bag. For my Neon City Blues game, my pre-game looks like this: Clear my dining room table. Read the session notes – load into short-term memory. Review the open mysteries. Charge my iPad and Apple Pencil. Confirm the sync of my Obsidian database from my desktop to my iPad. Confirm the sync of my OneNote session notes from my desktop to my iPad. Set up session notes pages in my NCB Good Notes notebook, and put a heading and page number on them. Gather my physical materials – Character sheets, rule book, Clock Cards, etc. Put everything on my rolling cart in the office (it gets rolled out to the dining room table after we eat). Preparing for Success The pre-game is an important step in being prepared to run your session. It gets you organized mentally and physically to come to the table and run a great game. What goes into your pre-game will be a mix of your style, the game you are playing, and where you are playing. Come up with a pre-game (and even make it a checklist if you need to), and you will be prepared to run your session. Also, one last time — run your updates before your session starts! Do you pre-game? When do you do it? What is in your pre-game?

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If you want to get ahead during your time playing Arc Raiders, you need to...

The post Things You’ll Wish You Knew Before Playing ARC Raiders appeared first on Into Indie Games.

If you want to get ahead during your time playing Arc Raiders, you need to... The post Things You’ll Wish You Knew Before Playing ARC Raiders appeared first on Into Indie Games.

A ’90s survival horror experience that rewards observation, memory, and patience. Tormented Souls 2 is...

The post Tormented Souls 2 Review appeared first on Into Indie Games.

A ’90s survival horror experience that rewards observation, memory, and patience. Tormented Souls 2 is... The post Tormented Souls 2 Review appeared first on Into Indie Games.

Welcome to our walkthrough hub of Flesh Made Fear, a game developed by Tainted Pact...

The post Flesh Made Fear – Walkthrough Hub appeared first on Into Indie Games.

Welcome to our walkthrough hub of Flesh Made Fear, a game developed by Tainted Pact... The post Flesh Made Fear – Walkthrough Hub appeared first on Into Indie Games.

Rotwood Forest is the first area in Flesh Made Fear. Depending on the character that...

The post Flesh Made Fear – Rotwood Forest Walkthrough appeared first on Into Indie Games.

Rotwood Forest is the first area in Flesh Made Fear. Depending on the character that... The post Flesh Made Fear – Rotwood Forest Walkthrough appeared first on Into Indie Games.

Arc Raiders is the new extractor shooter that you can play with your friends. Whether...

The post Arc Raiders – Guides Hub appeared first on Into Indie Games.

Arc Raiders is the new extractor shooter that you can play with your friends. Whether... The post Arc Raiders – Guides Hub appeared first on Into Indie Games.

Welcome to our guide for Arc Raiders, where we help you tackle and complete the...

The post Arc Raiders – Trash Into Treasure Quest Guide appeared first on Into Indie Games.

Welcome to our guide for Arc Raiders, where we help you tackle and complete the... The post Arc Raiders – Trash Into Treasure Quest Guide appeared first on Into Indie Games.

Gaming Reviews, News, Tips and More.

This 1500W power station crashes to half price in Amazon's early Black Friday sale.

The post Forget the Stinky Gas Generator, Jackery’s 1500W Power Station Is Going for Pennies on Amazon appeared first on Kotaku.

The post Forget the Stinky Gas Generator, Jackery’s 1500W Power Station Is Going for Pennies on Amazon appeared first on Kotaku.

Love and Deepspace’s lighting is clearly not optimized for every skin tone

The post One Of The Biggest Games In The World Responds To Criticism That Its Dark-Skinned Characters Are ‘Invisible’ appeared first on Kotaku.

The post One Of The Biggest Games In The World Responds To Criticism That Its Dark-Skinned Characters Are ‘Invisible’ appeared first on Kotaku.

Arc Raiders is blowing up the Steam charts, but these smaller indie games are just as good

The post Here Are 3 Great New Games You Need To Try This Weekend appeared first on Kotaku.

The post Here Are 3 Great New Games You Need To Try This Weekend appeared first on Kotaku.

Rockstar Games says they were fired for 'gross misconduct'

The post <i>GTA 6</i> Denies Union Busting After Firing Dozens Of Developers appeared first on Kotaku.

The post <i>GTA 6</i> Denies Union Busting After Firing Dozens Of Developers appeared first on Kotaku.

Treat yourself to some indie horror darlings this Halloween

The post <i>Mouthwashing</i> Bundle Features 13 Great Horror Games For Just $13 appeared first on Kotaku.

The post <i>Mouthwashing</i> Bundle Features 13 Great Horror Games For Just $13 appeared first on Kotaku.

Liam Hemsworth makes little impression

The post Reviews For Netflix’s <i>Witcher</i> Season 4 Are Pretty Bad appeared first on Kotaku.

The post Reviews For Netflix’s <i>Witcher</i> Season 4 Are Pretty Bad appeared first on Kotaku.

Ghosts were once rare, but the Pokémon series has added so many creepy monsters over the years we had to choose the best

The post It’s Halloween Again, Let’s Rank The Best Ghost-Type Pokémon appeared first on Kotaku.

The post It’s Halloween Again, Let’s Rank The Best Ghost-Type Pokémon appeared first on Kotaku.

From horror flicks like Saw and Pulse to camp classics like Hocus Pocus and The Addams Family , we've got the best movies to watch this fall

The post 31 Terrific Movies That Are Perfect For Spooky Season appeared first on Kotaku.

The post 31 Terrific Movies That Are Perfect For Spooky Season appeared first on Kotaku.

The ‘Investigating with Shuppet’ quest starts out suspect, then turns it back on the cop

The post <em>Pokémon Legends: Z-A</em> Tells Negligent Cop He Might Be The Problem appeared first on Kotaku.

The post <em>Pokémon Legends: Z-A</em> Tells Negligent Cop He Might Be The Problem appeared first on Kotaku.

Enjoy immersive visuals that make you feel like you're a part of the game.

The post Lenovo Drops Its Best Selling 27″ Legion Gaming Monitor, Now Going for Pennies on Amazon appeared first on Kotaku.

The post Lenovo Drops Its Best Selling 27″ Legion Gaming Monitor, Now Going for Pennies on Amazon appeared first on Kotaku.

Plus: Fortnite gets pets, Turok 2 gets some new ports, and more layoffs hit the industry

The post Looks Like Xbox Is Finally Getting The <i>Silent Hill 2</i> Remake appeared first on Kotaku.

The post Looks Like Xbox Is Finally Getting The <i>Silent Hill 2</i> Remake appeared first on Kotaku.

The 'Crab Hand' conspiracy has become quite popular online in South Korea among men

The post <i>Stellar Blade</i> Dev Weighs In On Controversy About Mocking Small Penises appeared first on Kotaku.

The post <i>Stellar Blade</i> Dev Weighs In On Controversy About Mocking Small Penises appeared first on Kotaku.

Polymarket gambling on The Game Awards 2025 has begun

The post Betting Markets Have Decided <i>Silksong</i> Doesn’t Have A Chance In Hell Of Winning Game Of The Year appeared first on Kotaku.

The post Betting Markets Have Decided <i>Silksong</i> Doesn’t Have A Chance In Hell Of Winning Game Of The Year appeared first on Kotaku.

You don't have to blow your budget to grab a solid gaming laptop from a known brand.

The post HP Drops Early Black Friday Deal, 16″ Gaming Laptop Going for Nearly Free on Amazon appeared first on Kotaku.

The post HP Drops Early Black Friday Deal, 16″ Gaming Laptop Going for Nearly Free on Amazon appeared first on Kotaku.

Save $200 on the LG UltraGear 27-Inch gaming monitor for a limited time at Amazon.

The post LG UltraGear 27″ Gaming Monitor 40% Off, Now Selling for the Price of a Basic No-Name Monitor appeared first on Kotaku.

The post LG UltraGear 27″ Gaming Monitor 40% Off, Now Selling for the Price of a Basic No-Name Monitor appeared first on Kotaku.

The boss-deleting device keeps getting reworked

The post <i>Borderlands 4</i>‘s Infamous Crit Knife Is Back, Bugged, And Badder Than Ever appeared first on Kotaku.

The post <i>Borderlands 4</i>‘s Infamous Crit Knife Is Back, Bugged, And Badder Than Ever appeared first on Kotaku.

Save space without compromising on power with this mini PC.

The post Forget the Mac Mini, This Ryzen 7 Mini PC With 1TB SSD Drops to New Record Low on Amazon Only appeared first on Kotaku.

The post Forget the Mac Mini, This Ryzen 7 Mini PC With 1TB SSD Drops to New Record Low on Amazon Only appeared first on Kotaku.

Don't let low storage and slow speeds hold you back.

The post Amazon Is Offloading Samsung’s SSDs Before Black Friday, 990 EVO Plus Now Going for Peanuts appeared first on Kotaku.

The post Amazon Is Offloading Samsung’s SSDs Before Black Friday, 990 EVO Plus Now Going for Peanuts appeared first on Kotaku.

The artists for both RPGs reimagined each other’s characters in their style

The post Here’s The <em>Clair Obscur</em> X <em>Final Fantasy</em> Crossover You Didn’t Know You Needed appeared first on Kotaku.

The post Here’s The <em>Clair Obscur</em> X <em>Final Fantasy</em> Crossover You Didn’t Know You Needed appeared first on Kotaku.

The player of pirated games like Mario & Luigi: Brothership lost the lawsuit

The post Guy Who Streamed Pirated Switch Games And Told Nintendo ‘Capitalism Is Cancer’ Must Now Pay It $17,500 appeared first on Kotaku.

The post Guy Who Streamed Pirated Switch Games And Told Nintendo ‘Capitalism Is Cancer’ Must Now Pay It $17,500 appeared first on Kotaku.

AMD TechTalk provides insight on data center to edge innovation that helps IT managers optimize today's deployments and tomorrow's infrastructure planning. Hosted by AMD's director of server competitive marketing, Jim Greene, and featuring leading technologists from AMD and the industry, AMD TechTalk features discussion on servers, cloud computing, AI, HPC and more.

Join AMD TechTalk host Jim Greene, Director of EPYC Product Marketing, in conversation with Darrick Horton, Co-Founder and CEO of TensorWave. Darrick discusses how TensorWave is reimagining cloud infrastructure for the AI era—designing it from the ground up to deliver speed, scalability, and flexibility for today’s most demanding AI workloads. He shares how TensorWave’s NeoCloud model leverages Supermicro servers powered by AMD Instinct™ GPUs and AMD EPYC™ CPUs, combining open-source innovation with customer choice to make high-performance AI compute more accessible. The discussion highlights how agility, collaboration, and open ecosystems are shaping the next generation of AI infrastructure.

Join AMD TechTalk host Jim Greene, Director of EPYC Product Marketing, in conversation with Varun Chhabra, Senior Vice President of Product Marketing at Dell Technologies. Varun shares how Dell and AMD are working together to help enterprises adopt AI while managing real-world constraints around cost, power, and space. From consolidating infrastructure with Dell PowerEdge servers powered by 5th Gen AMD EPYC processors to scaling GPU-heavy workloads with AMD Instinct accelerators, this discussion explores how balanced architectures, open ecosystems, and joint innovation are shaping the next generation of AI data centers.

Join host TechTalk host Jim Greene, Director, EPYC Product Marketing in a conversation with Gina Rosenthal, Principal at Digital Sunshine Solutions, as she discusses the ever-evolving IT landscape. With over 20 years of experience, Gina shares insights into managing the challenges of IT inflation, the adoption of new technologies like AI and virtualization, and how businesses are navigating the rapidly changing digital economy. Tune in as we explore the impact of automation, data center hygiene, and the role of infrastructure in supporting innovation.

Join TechTalk host Jim Greene, Director, EPYC Product Marketing, in conversation with Necole Lin, Product Marketing and Development Manager at ASRock Rack, as she discusses the company's role in the server industry and how its solutions are shaping the future of small and medium-sized businesses (SMBs). Necole explores trends in cloud, hybrid infrastructures, and AI adoption, as well as ASRock Rack’s innovative approach to energy-efficient, scalable, and affordable server solutions.

AMD TechTalk host Jim Greene, Director, EPYC Product Marketing, chats with Jon Stevens, CEO of Hot Aisle about his journey from pioneering large-scale Ethereum mining to founding Hot Aisle, a company focused on democratizing enterprise compute power. Discover how Jon's vision is reshaping the data center space, his insights on AMD's role in AI innovation, and the future of scalable infrastructure

AMD TechTalk host Jim Greene chats with Piotr Weglicki, Global Telco Lead in AMD’s Server Business Unit, about the biggest telecom trends at MWC 2025—from AI-driven infrastructure to energy-efficient compute.

AMD TechTalk host Jim Greene chats with Carrie Wang, data center lead at Giga Computing, about the evolving demands of AI infrastructure, the future of data center cooling, and how Giga Computing and AMD are collaborating to drive data center computing innovation.

AMD TechTalk host Jim Greene chats with Arun Nandi, Head of Data and Analytics at Unilever, about the rise of AI tokens, the impact of DeepSeek, and how tokenization is reshaping enterprise AI adoption.

AMD TechTalk host Jim Greene sits down with Elio Van Puyvelde, founder and CEO of ElioVP, to discuss how deep hardware optimization can enhance AI performance, improve efficiency, and reduce power consumption. They discuss the evolution from GPU overclocking to AI workload tuning, the challenges of AI infrastructure, and the future of AI model efficiency.

AMD TechTalk host Jim Greene chats with Madhura Maskasky, Co-Founder & VP of Product at Platform9, about the future of private cloud, seamless VMware migrations, and optimizing AI-ready infrastructure.

AMD TechTalk host Jim Greene chats with Arun Nandi, Head of Data and Analytics at Unilever, about how AI and Gen AI are driving smarter decision-making, optimizing sustainability, and creating real business impact across Unilever’s global operations.

AMD TechTalk host Jim Greene chats with Neeraj Kumar, Chief Data Scientist at PNNL, about how AI is accelerating discovery across scientific research, energy efficiency, and healthcare.

AMD TechTalk host Jim Greene chats with Iddo Kadim, Field CTO at NeuReality, about the rapid evolution of AI, the future of enterprise deployment, and the infrastructure changes driving innovation.

AMD TechTalk host Jim Greene chats with Todd Koelling, Senior Director of Product and Solutions Marketing at Synopsys about how AI is reshaping the semiconductor industry and how the partnership between AMD and Synopsys led to the fastest ramping product in AMD history.

AMD TechTalk host Jim Greene chats with Steen Graham, founder of Metrum AI, to explore the evolving world of AI infrastructure, testing, and enterprise solutions.

AMD TechTalk host Jim Greene chats with Mahdi Ghodsi, Director of Engineering at Aupera Technologies about how edge AI is transforming video processing across industries like retail, security, and smart cities.

AMD TechTalk host Jim Greene chats with Eric Herzog, CMO of Infinidat about how it leverages cutting-edge technology to revolutionize enterprise storage, AI, and cybersecurity.

AMD TechTalk host Jim Greene chats with Linda Yang, the Senior Solution Manager at Supermicro about the transformative impact of AI on computing infrastructure and the sustainable innovative solutions Supermicro is providing to meet these demands.

TechTalk Host Jim Greene chats with Meena Arunachalam, AMD's AI Systems Engineering Director and Fellow, about how RAG is paving a simpler path to AI adoption in the enterprise and delivering capability to ensure an enterprise-class reliability to AI solutions.

Tech Talk host Jim Greene chats with Alan Czeszynski, VP of Product at BeeKeeperAI, about how BeeKeeperAI's EscrowAI platform enables secure collaboration between algorithm developers and data stewards, preserving data privacy and intellectual property. Jim and Alan explore the technology, its applications across industries, and the future of AI and data security.

TechTalk host Jim Greene chats with Robert Daigle, Director of Global AI Business at Lenovo about how AI is evolving in the enterprise, challenges organizations are currently facing to deploy AI solutions, gaps in sustainable infrastructure solutions, and how Lenovo is positioning itself to help customers deploy technology right sized for responsible delivery of AI at scale.

TechTalk host Jim Greene chats with Oii co-founder and CEO, Bob Rogers, about how his organization is tapping AI to bring new levels of insight and control to supply chains, and how infrastructure optimization is critical to fully unleash the potential of Oii solutions.

AMD TechTalk host Jim Greene chats with the VP of Sales and Alliances at RadiusAI, Robert Hubbard, about how they're transforming the retail checkout game with AMD EPYC CPUs. With AI-assisted checkout, RadiusAI is lowering shrink and food waste, and increasing employee retention and customer satisfaction.

AMD TechTalk host talks with Oracle's VP of Mission-Critical Database Product Management, Ashish Ray, about how his organization is shaping the future of enterprise data management and how Oracle is tapping AMD EPYC processors to deliver the performance required by enterprise customers.

AMD TechTalk host Jim Greene chats with Chaos' Director of Media and Entertainment and Strategic Products, Albena Ivanova about how her company is disrupting the world of media and entertainment with new software capabilities that tap AMD EPYC performance.

AMD TechTalk host Jim Greene chats with Geico's Rebecca Weekly about how her organization tackles compute innovation to serve corporate requirements and customer needs and how AI's advancement represents new opportunity for IT innovation

AMD TechTalk host Jim Greene chats with GigaIO CEO Alan Benjamin about his company's unique take on delivering SUPERNODE, a scalable platform alternative that fast tracks company deployment of AI workloads.

TechTalk host Jim Greene chats with IronYun's Paul Sun about how his company is infusing AI into analytics solutions that yield breakthrough results for customers and how the IronYun team has worked with AMD to deliver improved performance and efficiency for customer deployments.

TechTalk host Jim Greene chats with Ateme's Director of Technology and Standards, Jan Outters, about how the company is transforming media delivery with AI infused encoding innovation.

AMD TechTalk host Jim Greene chats with Altair's Fatma Kocer-Poyraz about how her company is driving unique engineering solutions to market by tapping the confluence of AI and data science.

AMD TechTalk host Jim Greene chats with Ansys's Wim Slagter about how his company is tapping AI to improve simulation and comments on the deep collaboration between Ansys and AMD in driving the highest performance solutions to customers.

AMD TechTalk host Jim Greene sits down with Cadence's Dan Lee to discuss the Spectre simulation suite and how the company is helping to advance silicon design with the help of AMD EPYC processor performance.

TechTalk host Jim Greene chats with AMD's Server Solutions Group CVP Ravishankar Kuppuswamy about changing computing requirements in the AI era and how AMD EPYC processors will deliver core capabilities to customers as they implement generative AI models.

AMD Tech Talk host Jim Greene chat's with Hexagon's Vicky Tsianika about the company's multi-physics and fluid dynamics solutions, how these markets are being re-shaped by AI, and how Hexagon has tapped AMD EPYC processors to fuel improved performance for their customers.

AMD TechTalk host Jim Greene chats with security expert Sally Eaves on the latest requirements for data center security in the AI era and how a hardware root of trust is becoming even more important for trusted environments.

AMD TechTalk host Jim Greene chats with IT veteran Ramki Balasubramanian about challenges facing IT professionals with today's workloads and how his organization approaches infrastructure modernization including use of AMD EPYC processors.

TechTalk host Jim Greene chat's with Clarify 360 analyst Jo Peterson on her view of the state of data center security, new opportunities and threats posed by AI, and how a hardware root of trust can help data center managers best protect their organizations.

AMD Tech Talk host Jim Greene chats with Cloudflare VP Rebecca Weekly about her organization's challenges in delivering to customer demands at the edge, where industry innovation is headed to deliver the performance required to fuel AI workloads, and how her company has tapped AMD EPYC processors to fuel innovation.

AMD Tech Talk host Jim Greene chats with Charles Luzzato, SIMULIA Industrial Equipment Industry Process Director, at Dassault Systèmes about how SIMULIA taps data to improve data center performance and efficiency, and how AMD EPYC processors deliver a performance foundation for SIMULIA deployments.

AMD Tech Talk host Dylan Larson sits down with tech guru Jason Collier to chat about the realities of managing virtualized environments and how AMD EPYC platforms can help IT managers drive innovation into the enterprise.

In this episode, TechTalk host Dylan Larson chats with Lynn Comp, AMD Vice President of Server Technology Marketing, about the unique opportunity new infrastructure represents in freeing IT resources for innovation.

TechTalk host sits down with the TechArena's Allyson Klein to discuss performance characteristics of multi-cloud environments and infrastructure evolution with the shift to distributed computing environments across cloud and edge.

AMD TechTalk host Dylan Larson chat's with CTO Advisor Keith Townsend on the hidden costs of IT inaction in modernizing data center infrastructure and what can be done to spur innovation.

In this episode AMD TechTalk host Dylan Larson chats with AMD's Server System Architect Mahesh Wagh about disruptive innovation coming to server platforms and how technologies like CXL will create new opportunity for memory capacity scaling and system design flexibility. Learn more at www.amd.com

Join AMD TechTalk host Jim Greene, Director of EPYC Product Marketing, in conversation with Rohit Badlaney, General Manager of IBM Cloud Product and Industry Platform Group. Rohit shares how IBM Cloud is advancing enterprise transformation with a hybrid-by-design approach and the integration of AI at scale. From meeting security and compliance requirements in regulated industries to expanding AI infrastructure in partnership with AMD, this discussion highlights how enterprises can balance flexibility, performance, and trust in today’s hybrid multi-cloud era.

Video Game Reviews, Features, and Gaming News

Publisher Akupara Games has officially announced a new partnership with developer Mango Factory for their upcoming murder-mystery horror title, Kumitantei: Old-School Slaughter. Drawing heavy inspiration from Danganronpa and classic ‘80s anime like Urusei Yatsura, the game transports players to an alternate version of 1989 Japan, where a group of sixteen “Absolute Students” is trapped in […]

Blumhouse Games and Vermila Studios have unveiled the first episode in a brand-new behind-the-scenes video series for their upcoming psychological horror title, Crisol: Theater of Idols, which is set to launch in early 2026. The series promises an in-depth look into the eerie inspirations, lore, and design process behind one of next year’s most disturbing […]

Fumi Games and PlaySide Studios are teaming up with pop culture titan Funko for the first-ever merchandise collaboration tied to the upcoming 1930s cartoon-inspired FPS Mouse: P.I. For Hire. The collaboration brings the game’s hardboiled protagonist, Jack Pepper, to life as an official Funko Pop! collectible figure, marking the first piece of merchandise for the […]

WayForward is doubling down on fan excitement this week with two major reveals from Limited Run Games’ LRG3 2025 presentation: the announcement of a brand-new Shantae game and an enhanced modern version of the cult Game Boy Advance gem Sigma Star Saga. The long-running indie studio confirmed that Shantae 7, the next entry in the […]

Ziggurat Interactive and Strictly Limited Games are resurrecting a fan-favorite from the early 2000s with BloodRayne: Definitive Collection, a complete, physical compilation of the entire BloodRayne action-horror saga for PlayStation 5 and Nintendo Switch. For the first time, fans can own the entire enhanced trilogy in a single release, featuring all three mainline entries in […]

Sunny Lab and Silver Lining Interactive are ready to serve up something sweet and spellbinding next year. The cozy adventure RPG The Witch’s Bakery is officially expanding to PlayStation 5 and Xbox Series X|S in 2026, joining its previously announced platforms on PC and Nintendo Switch. A Parisian Adventure Stirred with Magic and Emotion Set […]

Vertigo Games, in collaboration with Maze Theory and Eidos-Montréal, has announced that Thief VR: Legacy of Shadow will launch on December 4, 2025, for PlayStation VR2, Meta Quest, and PC VR via Steam for $29.99. Pre-orders are now available across all platforms, offering a 10% discount ahead of release. A Classic Reimagined for VR For […]

Bohemia Interactive has released Update 1.6 for Arma Reforger, marking the tactical shooter’s biggest update yet. Available now across all platforms, the update introduces an entirely new map, a reworked conflict mode, single-player scenarios, and an expanded arsenal that deepens the series’ signature realism. Return to Kolguyev Fans of the Arma franchise will instantly recognize […]

Robot Monkey Brain’s upcoming strategy RPG Bounce Castle is celebrating spooky season with its first-ever Steam playtest. Running from October 29 through November 20, the limited-time “Graveyard Playtest” invites players to sling, bounce, and battle their way through haunted arenas filled with ghosts, skeletons, and necromancers — all wrapped in the game’s quirky, physics-driven combat. […]

Mortal Kombat: Legacy Kollection does a lot of things well, but its peculiar launch online choices and varying game quality might make it a tougher sell for those who aren’t familiar with earlier Mortal Kombat games. Still, there are a few great titles included in this collection, and an impressive amount of bonus content, so […]

N4G: news feed

VRKiwi has unveiled Aztec-themed puzzle adventure Sunstone of Time coming to Meta Quest, PlayStation VR 2, and SteamVR in 2026

Supercell, the team behind Clash of Clans and Clash Royale, is shutting down mobile game Squad Busters, with a final update coming in December.

Mount & Blade II: Bannerlord's War Sails expansion will deliver naval battles to the strategy/action RPG in late November.

GOG writes: "Resident Evil HD Remaster and Resident Evil 0 are now available fully DRM-free on our platform and are also joining the GOG Preservation Program! Were thrilled to continue this journey with Capcom and expand the Program with two survival horror icons. Thank you, Capcom, for believing in video game preservation, and to all the passionate people within the company who have dedicated a significant amount of their energy to making these releases possible."

The Epic Games Store continues the Halloween season with two more free titles.

This looks like a fun fusion that collectors and Retro fans may enjoy.

Football Manager returns after a hiatus with an entirely different engine and a lot of changes. Will the purists give it a warm welcome or a red card? JDR kicks off today's review.

The Game Awards have begun their ticket sales.

Worthy updates to originals and a showcase of what makes the series so endearing.

"Today, indie studio Unison Games revealed their first title, Descent of Lunaris, a genre-bending sci-fi dungeon crawler with a haunting narrative, immersive first-person exploration, and hybrid combat system, coming soon to Steam." - Unison Games.

Your source for news, information, product releases, events, sports, entertainment & exclusive content relating to Xbox

The post Full Screen Experience Expands to More Windows 11 Handhelds via Windows Insiders Program appeared first on Xbox Wire.

Category: Announcements Full Screen Experience Expands to More Windows 11 Handhelds via Windows Insiders Program Joe Skrebels, Xbox Wire Editor-in-Chief Published October 31, 2025 Related Stories for “Full Screen Experience Expands to More Windows 11 Handhelds via Windows Insiders Program” Category: Announcements Xbox October Update: ROG Xbox Ally Available Now, Handheld Compatibility Program, and More Category: Announcements Turning the Moon into The Moon Man’s Playground with Snapchat for The Outer Worlds 2 Category: Games Halo: Campaign Evolved – Answering the Big Questions About This Ambitious Remake The post Full Screen Experience Expands to More Windows 11 Handhelds via Windows Insiders Program appeared first on Xbox Wire.

The post How Every Kilometer Tells a Story in Truck Driver: The Dutch Connection appeared first on Xbox Wire.

Category: Games October 31, 2025 How Every Kilometer Tells a Story in Truck Driver: The Dutch Connection Ashwin Chauthi, Operations Manager, Soedesco Summary Experience a narrative-driven trucking adventure about mentorship, family, and belonging in Truck Driver: The Dutch Connection, is available today for Xbox Series X|S Follow Felix, a veteran driver, and Lucas, a rookie chasing his first big break. Explore a Dutch-inspired fictional world built in Unreal Engine 5 with ray tracing, dynamic weather, and steering-wheel support. Truck Driver: The Dutch Connection takes place in a new era of trucking, where AI dispatchers work alongside human drivers. The trucking industry is thriving, and the open road has never felt more alive. The third entry in Soedesco’s trucking franchise keeps the authentic feel of hauling cargo but adds something rare for the genre: a story. You’ll meet Felix, a veteran driver with over thirty years behind the wheel, and Lucas, a newcomer eager to prove himself and make his mark. What begins as mentorship soon becomes a father-and-son bond forged through shared passion, countless kilometers, and midnight deliveries. The Story Behind the Wheel Truck Driver: The Dutch Connection tells its story through the eyes of two drivers, letting you experience Felix’s seasoned expertise alongside Lucas’s passion and eager ambition. After quitting school to chase his lifelong passion, Lucas sets out to prove himself behind the wheel. Thousands of kilometers away from home, seasoned trucker Felix has his own reasons for moving to Europe. Every haul, rest stop, and repair reveals new layers of their relationship. It’s an emotional story told through gameplay, not just cutscenes but quiet reflections in the cab, tense deliveries through storms, and conversations that linger long after the engine shuts off. Showing how mentorship, experience, and trust grow in a trucking life. Every route advances both plot and character: a stormy highway tests Felix’s patience, while a long night on the road helps Lucas find confidence in his abilities. The storytelling emerges organically, allowing you to feel the connection and truly the trill of the open road. Inspired by the Beauty of the Netherlands and Europe Cruise through a richly detailed open world in this fictional world inspired by the Netherlands and other parts of Europe. From rolling fields and charming villages to iconic windmills turning gracefully in the breeze, every road offers a new sight worth admiring. Built on Unreal Engine 5, it captures every texture — rain streaking across mirrors, neon lights reflecting off wet asphalt, and sunlight filtering through morning fog. Ray tracing and dynamic weather ensure no two drives feel the same. The Feel of Authenticity The Dutch Connection isn’t a strict simulator; it’s a driving game that blends believable physics with pick-up-and-play handling. Every truck responds with weight and nuance, and steering wheel support adds a deeper level of immersion by putting you right in the driver’s seat. The sensation grounds the story, reminding you that connection here is physical as much as emotional. Two Ways to Travel You can choose Story Mode, following Felix and Lucas’s narrative arc across structured routes, or Freedom-to-Roam Mode, exploring at your own pace while completing jobs. Adding a playful twist, the Vista System turns exploration into a mini treasure hunt. Scattered across world are hidden locations, statues, and other iconic sights. You can use drone images in a dedicated menu as hints, then search the world to snap the perfect in-game photo. This system blends sightseeing, puzzle-solving, and photography, adding an engaging side adventure to Freedom-to-Roam for those who want more than cargo missions. Both modes encourage introspection, a rare invitation to slow down, breathe, and appreciate the meditative rhythm of driving. The Road Ahead While Truck Driver: The Dutch Connection is a complete experience from day one, it’s also built with growth in mind. The development team at Kyodai has plans to continue supporting the game with updates and new content, just as they did with Truck Driver: The American Dream. You can look forward to ongoing improvements and new ways to connect with the world and its stories in the months ahead. The road doesn’t end here, it’s just beginning. Truck Driver: The Dutch Connection is available today for Xbox Series X|S, available digitally and in physical editions. Whether you’re a longtime fan of the franchise or a newcomer experience the thrill and depth of trucking, this journey invites you to find the beauty in stillness, the humanity in hard work, and the connection in every kilometer. Truck Driver: The Dutch Connection SOEDESCO ☆☆☆☆☆ 1 ★★★★★ $39.99 $35.99 Get it now Step into the cab and hit the European roads in Truck Driver: The Dutch Connection! Set in a fictional world inspired by the iconic beauty of the Netherlands, the game presents a new era of trucking, where AI dispatchers work alongside human drivers and the trucking industry is thriving. Old friends return, new alliances form, and every journey demands heart, skill, and adaptability. Follow the intertwined journey of Lucas, a newcomer eager to prove himself, and Felix, a veteran with over 30 years behind the wheel. Together, they navigate busy schedules, tough loads, and personal struggles, forming a father-and-son bond in this next evolution of the Truck Driver franchise. The following steering wheels are all confirmed to be supported: Logitech G923 Logitech G920 HORI DLX THRUSTMASTER T128 THRUSTMASTER T248 THRUSTMASTER Ferrari 458 Many more wheels are expected to be compatible but are unconfirmed at this time. Related Stories for “How Every Kilometer Tells a Story in Truck Driver: The Dutch Connection” Category: Next Week on Xbox Next Week on Xbox: New Games for November 3 to 7 Category: Games Setting the World Stage for Virtua Fighter’s Return to Xbox Category: ID@Xbox How the Bard Found His Way into Halls of Torment The post How Every Kilometer Tells a Story in Truck Driver: The Dutch Connection appeared first on Xbox Wire.

The post Next Week on Xbox: New Games for November 3 to 7 appeared first on Xbox Wire.

Category: Next Week on Xbox October 31, 2025 Next Week on Xbox: New Games for November 3 to 7 Will Fulton, Xbox Wire Editor Welcome to Next Week on Xbox! In this weekly feature we cover all the games coming soon to Xbox Series X|S, Xbox One, Xbox on PC, and Game Pass! Get more details on these upcoming games below and click their profiles for further info (release dates subject to change). Let’s jump in! 1000xRESIST Fellow Traveller ☆☆☆☆☆ ★★★★★ Get it now 1000xResist – November 4 Game Pass / Optimized for Xbox Series X|S / Xbox Play Anywhere The three-time IGF award nominated 1000xResist is a thrilling sci-fi adventure. 1000 years in the future, humanity is all but extinguished and a disease spread by an alien occupation keeps the survivors underground. You are Watcher. You dutifully fulfil your purpose in service of the Allmother, until the day you learn a shocking secret that changes everything. Farming Simulator 25: Year 1 Bundle GIANTS Software GmbH ☆☆☆☆☆ 339 ★★★★★ $89.99 $71.99 Get it now Farming Simulator 25: Highlands Fishing Edition GIANTS Software ☆☆☆☆☆ 321 ★★★★★ $59.99 $47.99 Pre-order Farming Simulator 25: Highlands Fishing Edition – November 4 Farming Simulator 25: Highlands Fishing Edition bundles both the acclaimed main game and the Highlands Fishing Expansion. Enjoy 26 crops, 4 maps, 400+ machines, over 150 real brands and aquaculture in addition to agriculture, forestry, and animal husbandry. Build a farm along winding rivers and historic grain elevators in North America, surrounded by ponds in Central Europe, in a lush East Asian landscape filled with rice paddies, or in the Scotland-inspired town of Kinlaig – a lush paradise of rolling green hills and open waters! Football Manager 26 SEGA ☆☆☆☆☆ ★★★★★ Get it now Football Manager 26 – November 4 Game Pass New foundations set the stage for you to define your football destiny. Built on the Unity engine, FM26 is the legacy, redefined and where storytelling evolves, placing you at the heart of the beautiful game. A reimagined interface and more immersive matchday experience brings you closer to the action and combine to elevate every decision and match-defining moment. Transform your squad with advanced transfer tools and craft your footballing philosophy like never before with new innovations that deliver unrivalled game-changing tactical realism. Football Manager 26 Console SEGA ☆☆☆☆☆ ★★★★★ $59.99 $53.99 Pre-order Football Manager 26 Console – November 4 Game Pass / Optimized for Xbox Series X|S / Xbox Play Anywhere / Smart Delivery New foundations set the stage for you to shape your football destiny. Built on the Unity engine, FM26 Console places you at the heart of the beautiful game. This is the legacy, redefined. Delivering effortless, instinctive console control, a redesigned user interface combines with the most immersive matchday experience in series history to bring you closer to every match-defining moment. Egging On Alibi Games ☆☆☆☆☆ ★★★★★ Get it now Egging On – November 6 – Game Pass / Optimized for Xbox Series X|S / Xbox Play Anywhere You’re an egg – and you’ll feel every wobble, roll, and crack. Master the art of egg physics as you navigate challenging climbing environments with a twist. Synchronize your jump with your roll-cycle, and when you’re at the tip, leap for maximum height! Miss a jump, and you could be back at the bottom, dripping yolk. Syberia – Remastered Microids ☆☆☆☆☆ ★★★★★ $29.99 Pre-order Syberia – Remastered – November 6 Optimized for Xbox Series X|S More than 20 years after its original release, Syberia is reborn in a fully modernized version. Rediscover its iconic locations and unforgettable characters through a stunning visual overhaul, redesigned gameplay, and the same captivating storytelling that made it a classic. Kate Walker, a brilliant lawyer from New York, is sent to a remote village in the French Alps to finalize the sale of an old automaton factory. But what begins as a routine assignment soon turns into an extraordinary journey across Eastern Europe and its snow-covered landscapes. Whiskerwood (Game Preview) Hooded Horse ☆☆☆☆☆ ★★★★★ Get it now Whiskerwood (Game Preview) – November 6 Game Pass Carve mountains, traverse seas, and explore untamed new lands as you build grand cities – the ingenuity of the humble mouse is on full display in Whiskerwood as you establish elaborate automation systems to efficiently run complex production chains, all while dealing with the oppressive demands of your cat overlords. Dark Deity 2 indie.io ☆☆☆☆☆ ★★★★★ Get it now Dark Deity 2 – November 7 Optimized for Xbox Series X|S Dark Deity is back! A quarter of a century has passed, as Irving and the Eternal Order carefully rebuilt Verroa to protect it against a future war. Their efforts will be put to the test far too soon as a new threat looms on the horizon. The neighboring Holy Asverellian Empire needs new lands to grow, and the fractious, fragile Verroa seems ripe for the taking. All that stands in its way is the Order and twenty scrappy heroes-to-be. Voidtrain HypeTrain Digital ☆☆☆☆☆ ★★★★★ $29.99 $22.49 Pre-order Voidtrain – November 7 Game Pass / Optimized for Xbox Series X|S / Xbox Play Anywhere You are an engineer thrust into the strange and mysterious Void, a world with its own history, rules and future. Build and upgrade your own train, craft powerful weapons, fight various enemies and survive the surreal landscapes of the Void alone or together with friends. Another Bar Game Arik Games ☆☆☆☆☆ ★★★★★ $6.89 Pre-order Another Bar Game – November 4 Optimized for Xbox Series X|S Have you never worked in a bar? No problem – Frank has! Help him serve craft beer to thirsty and picky clients, wash glasses, clean tables and keep everybody happy! Remember to check which beer the bar guests order. Is it the new IPA on tap, that weird pineapple milkshake sour or just a pilsner? Somebody has waited too long and is complaining? Serve popcorn to keep them happy. Let's Sing 2026 PLAION GmbH ☆☆☆☆☆ ★★★★★ Get it now Let’s Sing 2026 November 4 The global karaoke party returns with Let’s Sing 2026, your ultimate ticket to fun-filled nights and unforgettable performances. Whether you’re warming up your vocal cords solo, teaming up in duets, or competing with friends, Let’s Sing 2026 delivers an unbeatable playlist, and endless entertainment! Featuring 35/40 chart-topping songs there’s something for everyone — from modern hits to timeless classics. Lucha Align Afil Games ☆☆☆☆☆ ★★★★★ Get it now Lucha Align – November 4 Optimized for Xbox Series X|S Get ready for the most exciting fight of your life in Lucha Align, the puzzle game where every piece is a luchador ready for action! Your mission is clear: fit the champions and completely fill the ring to claim victory in style. With 40 levels full of action, each match brings new shapes, new challenges, and even more excitement. From the first training sessions to the ultimate battles, you’ll need strategy, quick thinking and the spirit of a champion to master every grid and earn the special stars. Master Lemon: The Quest for Iceland Pepita Digital ☆☆☆☆☆ ★★★★★ Get it now Master Lemon: The Quest for Iceland – November 4 Optimized for Xbox Series X|S / Smart Delivery Master Lemon is a tribute to my polyglot friend who tragically passed away in an accident while pursuing his dream of living in Iceland. Experience his legacy in this narrative adventure. Harness the power of words and creativity to transform reality and save the world. Biped 2 META Publishing ☆☆☆☆☆ ★★★★★ Get it now Biped 2 – November 5 Optimized for Xbox Series X|S / Smart Delivery Biped 2 is the sequel to the exciting game about two charming bipedal robots, Aku and Sila, who have each other’s backs and embark on incredible adventures side by side. Dive into this groovy co-op action-adventure game, full of puzzles, friendship, support and fun! Boxes: Lost Fragments Snapbreak Games ☆☆☆☆☆ ★★★★★ $14.99 $13.49 Pre-order Boxes: Lost Fragments – November 5 Optimized for Xbox Series X|S / Smart Delivery As a legendary thief, your next assignment lures you into a grand and lavish mansion. There you find a series of puzzle boxes, designed for an unknown purpose. Inspired by the cryptic atmosphere, intricate machinery and smooth controls of the best room escape games, we have created a diverse set of original puzzle levels that will test your resolve and skills to navigate this mysterious and compelling journey. Each level is beautiful, unique and a true delight to explore and figure out. Cairn Pollocrudo Games ☆☆☆☆☆ ★★★★★ Get it now Cairn – November 5 Cairn puts you in the boots of Daisy, a brave explorer whose mission is to climb an immense, never-ending tower. As you ascend, you encounter strange creatures that grant you the power to manipulate the terrain. This unique ability lets you literally shape the path, leaving your mark on the tower itself. The core of the game is a moral choice: will your alterations help future climbers, or will they just add more chaos to the towering structure? Dark Quest 4 Brain Seal Ltd ☆☆☆☆☆ ★★★★★ Get it now Dark Quest 4 – November 5 Dark Quest returns with its fourth installment – a turn-based strategy adventure inspired by the legendary HeroQuest board game. Enter a realm of perilous dungeons, cunning traps, and powerful magic as you lead your party of heroes against the forces of the Dark Sorcerer. Dead Static Drive Reuben Games ☆☆☆☆☆ ★★★★★ Get it now Dead Static Drive – November 5 Optimized for Xbox Series X|S / Xbox Play Anywhere / Smart Delivery Dead Static Drive is Grand Theft Cthulhu—a survival-horror road trip through a nightmare version of 1980s Americana. Scavenge, fight, and sneak your way across small towns and eerie highways as reality begins to unravel. Heroes of Mount Dragon indie.io ☆☆☆☆☆ ★★★★★ Get it now Heroes of Mount Dragon – November 5 Optimized for Xbox Series X|S / Xbox Play Anywhere Step into the mystical world of Üna, where ancient power stirs and chaos rises. As one of eight dragon-bound champions, battle through monster-infested lands, master unique fighting styles, and transform into awe-inspiring dragons to reclaim balance. Whether you’re flying solo or brawling alongside friends, prepare for a fiery showdown! My Life: Farm Vet Markt+Technik Verlag GmbH ☆☆☆☆☆ ★★★★★ $19.99 Pre-order My Life: Farm Vet – November 5 Optimized for Xbox Series X|S / Smart Delivery Your job as a passionate vet is to examine sick farm animals, make the right diagnosis, treat them accordingly and nurse them back to health. Build up trust with the small and large two- and four-legged friends so that they soon feel better again. Your help is called for on the farm! Spot The Pup Jolly Lobster Interactive ☆☆☆☆☆ ★★★★★ Get it now Spot the Pup – November 5 Optimized for Xbox Series X|S Get ready to put your eyes to the test and your heart on full display in Spot the Pup, the ultimate hidden object adventure for dog lovers! Each scene bursts with charm, color, and chaos as you hunt for ten mischievous pups tucked into unexpected places. Whether you’re racing the clock in Challenge Mode or taking a relaxed stroll through Casual Mode, every level promises a delightful mix of discovery, relaxation, and pure puppy joy. Twilight Parade: Moonlit Mononoke Eastasiasoft Limited ☆☆☆☆☆ ★★★★★ Get it now Twilight Parade: Moonlight Mononoke – November 5 Optimized for Xbox Series X|S / Smart Delivery Crash the yokai party in Twilight Parade: Moonlit Mononoke! Play as the uninvited oni twins and their friends in this bullet-hell shooter with vibrant pixel art. Choose from four unique characters, each with distinct abilities and assistants, then blast through 5 chaotic stages across Japan. Dodge enemy swarms, battle massive bosses, and get revenge in style! Dollmare Feardemic ☆☆☆☆☆ ★★★★★ Get it now Dollmare – November 6 Optimized for Xbox Series X|S / Smart Delivery Not in the mood to be chased and screamed at by monsters? Tired of jump scares and endless fights for survival? Dollmare is just for you. It’s still a horror game – you’ll get scared, feel uneasy and constantly sense that something is watching you. There’s no telling what might happen … but something definitely will. Kanjozoku Game & Turbo Dash Kart Midnight Works ☆☆☆☆☆ 63 ★★★★★ $17.99 $14.39 Pre-order Kanjozoku Game & Turbo Dash Kart – November 6 Optimized for Xbox Series X|S Kanjozoku Game & Turbo Dash Kart brings together two radically different racing experiences for those who live for challenge and control. Whether you’re sliding between traffic at night or battling rivals on wild, unpredictable tracks, this collection offers variety, excitement, and pure velocity. Kentum V Publishing ☆☆☆☆☆ ★★★★★ Get it now Kentum – November 6 Optimized for Xbox Series X|S / Xbox Play Anywhere Stranded in the year 10,000, Kent—an average Joe turned clone—must survive, explore, and rebuild civilization with the help of his quirky robot companion. Craft, farm, and automate in this 2D craftervania adventure as you uncover Earth’s secrets and kickstart humanity, one machine at a time. Saving Princess of Mars Ocean Media ☆☆☆☆☆ ★★★★★ Get it now Saving Princess of Mars – November 6 Saving Princess of Mars is a stylish action platformer featuring puzzles to solve and ton of enemies to eliminate. Our main protagonist is lumberjack Jack from Earth who surprisingly spawns on Mars where he’s trying to save its princess. Toad Slide (Xbox Series) Afil Games ☆☆☆☆☆ ★★★★★ Get it now Toad Slide – November 6 Optimized for Xbox Series X|S Get ready to slide into an enchanted swamp full of magical puzzles! In Toad Slide, a Sokoban-inspired 2D pixel-art puzzle, you control a mystical toad who must move runic stone blocks and place them onto magic circles to restore balance to the swamp. With 30 carefully crafted levels, 15 by day and 15 by night, the game blends clear logic, smooth gameplay and gradually increasing challenges that invite you to think precisely and act strategically. UNBEATABLE Playstack ☆☆☆☆☆ ★★★★★ Get it now Unbeatable – November 6 Optimized for Xbox Series X|S Unbeatable is an anime-juiced rhythm adventure where you (figuratively) destroy on stage while you (literally) destroy on stage. During rhythm gameplay, you only need two buttons: a button for up and a button for down. Simple to understand! The complicated part is doing it. Try not to get destroyed yourself. Anima: Gate of Memories I&II Remaster Anima Project ☆☆☆☆☆ ★★★★★ $29.99 $26.99 Pre-order Anima: Gate of Memories I & II Remaster – November 7 Optimized for Xbox Series X|S Experience the original Anima: Gate of Memories and its companion story Anima: The Nameless Chronicles — both fully remastered with improved visuals and gameplay. Explore a rich fantasy universe inspired by the Anima Beyond Fantasy tabletop RPG saga, filled with deep lore, fast-paced combat, and branching storylines shaped by your choices. Whether you’re new to the saga or returning, this is the ultimate way to discover the world of Anima. A Pizza Delivery Dolores Entertainment ☆☆☆☆☆ ★★★★★ Get it now A Pizza Delivery – November 7 Optimized for Xbox Series X|S / Xbox Play Anywhere A Pizza Delivery is a narrative exploration game with puzzle elements focused on connecting with people. Share pizza with charming characters to uncover their stories—and your own. Drive and explore a strange, meditative world filled with secrets. Step into the dreamlike journey of “B”, a pizza delivery rider on her final order of the day. Ride through a surreal world, navigating strange landscapes, sudden shifts in scenery and moments of quiet introspection. Build a Bridge! BoomBit ☆☆☆☆☆ ★★★★★ $9.99 Pre-order Build a Bridge! – November 7 Optimized for Xbox Series X|S / Xbox Play Anywhere / Smart Delivery Test your engineering and improvisation skills in a puzzle game where the stakes are as high as they get. It is you who will construct bridges for cars, trucks, buses … and sometimes even monster trucks. Gather your wits and get on with the construction! Carrot Smash (Xbox Series) Magnific Studios ☆☆☆☆☆ ★★★★★ Get it now Carrot Smash – November 7 Optimized for Xbox Series X|S Take control of a brave carrot on a mission to protect its territory in this exciting pixel art platformer. Face challenging enemies and obstacles, using powerful punches, double jumps and the Dash to overcome action-packed, precise levels. With fast-paced gameplay, responsive controls, and appealing retro visuals, Carrot Smash delivers a fun and addictive platforming experience from start to finish. Celestial Fall EpiXR Games ☆☆☆☆☆ ★★★★★ $9.99 Pre-order Celestial Fall – November 7 Optimized for Xbox Series X|S In this game, you follow the protagonist who initially fell from heaven back into the sky. The game is a unique combination of a third-person platformer and a light-hearted exploration game with philosophical storytelling. It is highly stylized and surprises with breathtaking environments, a surreal world full of beauty and grace and a couple of small environmental puzzles that blend perfectly into the peaceful yet stunning environments. Will you be able to make it back into heaven? Find out. Contraband Police PlayWay S.A. ☆☆☆☆☆ ★★★★★ Get it now Contraband Police – November 7 Optimized for Xbox Series X|S The year is 1981, and as a young officer trainee, you are assigned to work at a border post in the mountainous region of Karikatka. Entry into the Acarist People’s Republic is strictly regulated by the party and your every move is monitored! The situation at the border escalates when your comrade is killed during one of the interventions … Always be ready to intervene in an emergency. Solve crime puzzles, support your comrades and thwart the Blood Fist rebels. Make decisions that will determine the future of Acaristan. Hide 'N Seek! QubicGames S.A. ☆☆☆☆☆ ★★★★★ Get it now Hide ‘N Seek! – November 7 Xbox Play Anywhere Remember the good old game of hide and seek? Prepare for something a little more extreme! Dive into classic gameplay where you can hide or seek. Count down before setting off to find the Hiders, or blend into the environment, stay silent and outsmart the Seeker to win! HOP'N'HOARD YUME GAME STUDIO ☆☆☆☆☆ ★★★★★ Get it now Hop’n’Hoard – November 7 Hop’n’Hoard is an addictive platform game where your goal is to collect all the coins scattered across the level to unlock the exit. But be careful! Deadly traps are everywhere, ready to stop you from completing your mission. You’ll also need to use all your wits to navigate through mysterious portals and create magical boxes under your feet, allowing you to reach places that would otherwise be impossible to climb. House Fighters: Total Mess Revulo Games LLC ☆☆☆☆☆ ★★★★★ $7.99 Pre-order House Fighters: Total Mess – November 7 House Fighters: Total Mess is a PvE aerial arcade shooter where toy planes battle in everyday spaces. Weave between furniture, lamps, and engage in fast-paced dogfights in a vibrant, nostalgia-filled world. No complicated controls, just pure, lighthearted aerial chaos. ION Shift Flynn's Arcade ☆☆☆☆☆ ★★★★★ $5.59 $4.47 Pre-order Ion Shift – November 7 Optimized for Xbox Series X|S / Smart Delivery Ion Shift delivers fast, high-stakes gameplay with precision controls and a unique sandbox-style approach to combat arenas. The campaign progressively challenges the player through evolving level design, tight mechanics, and a focus on player-driven mastery. Peachy Derby Cattingames PTE. LTD. ☆☆☆☆☆ ★★★★★ $14.99 Pre-order Peachy Derby – November 7 Optimized for Xbox Series X|S / Smart Delivery This is a casual racing game where the girl Natsuki is forced to join the “Ninja Racing Tournament” to pay off her debt. Include 10 playable girls, 600 Japanese voices, 16 story chapters. The Visitor Effect: Not an experiment Pdpartid@games ☆☆☆☆☆ ★★★★★ $12.99 $11.69 Pre-order Square Brothers – November 7 Optimized for Xbox Series X|S / Smart Delivery Two sly siblings, one crazy platforming heist- ready to steal everything that shines? Team up with two green-skinned burglar brothers on a quest for glittering gold. Switch between the tall, lanky thief to reach elevated platforms, and his short, stocky accomplice to slip under narrow gaps. Only by using their unique shapes together can you collect every shiny treasure, snag the key, and escape to the exit. Static Dread: The Lighthouse Games Harbor ☆☆☆☆☆ ★★★★★ $12.99 Pre-order Static Effect: The Lighthouse – November 7 Optimized for Xbox Series X|S / Smart Delivery Play as a lighthouse keeper and guide ships safely into the harbor using your radio. Survive the presence of something impossible, and don’t let the shadows consume you! In the aftermath of a global cataclysm, the harbor authorities reactivated an ancient lighthouse, hoping to keep the seas navigable amidst the growing chaos. A lone keeper is dispatched to the forsaken island, tasked with manning the beacon. The fate of passing vessels and the nearby town now rests in his hands. Far away, a wife and daughter wait for his return. The Visitor Effect: Not an experiment Pdpartid@games ☆☆☆☆☆ ★★★★★ $12.99 $11.69 Pre-order The Visitor Effect: Not an Experiment – November 7 Optimized for Xbox Series X|S You are R3D, an alien robot trapped in a strange simulation. You don’t know who’s pulling the strings—or why—but something feels off. Every move you make might lead you closer to the truth… or deeper into the deception. How far are you willing to go to break free? Related Stories for “Next Week on Xbox: New Games for November 3 to 7” Category: Next Week on Xbox Next Week on Xbox: New Games for October 27 to 31 Category: Next Week on Xbox Next Week on Xbox: New Games for October 20 to 24 Category: Next Week on Xbox Next Week on Xbox: New Games for October 13 to 17 The post Next Week on Xbox: New Games for November 3 to 7 appeared first on Xbox Wire.

The post Setting the World Stage for Virtua Fighter’s Return to Xbox appeared first on Xbox Wire.

Category: Games October 30, 2025 Setting the World Stage for Virtua Fighter’s Return to Xbox Zachary ReeseComms Manager, Sega Ready? Go! Virtua Fighter 5 R.E.V.O. World Stage officially launches today for Xbox Series X|S, marking its triumphant return to the Xbox platform after an almost 20-year absence. A lot has happened with Virtua Fighter over those many years, and the timing couldn’t be more perfect for Xbox players to get back into the ring to compete in what we feel is the most refined Virtua Fighterentry yet. Not only did we add some long-awaited features that fighting game fans have been asking us for, such as cross-play support, rollback netcode, an expanded training mode, and the return of series antagonist Dural as a downloadable character. But we are also adding a brand-new single-player mode to the game – World Stage! On that topic, we have asked the Legacy Virtua Fighter Project producer, Seiji Aoki, to talk more about World Stage mode and what it adds to Virtua Fighter 5’s enduring legacy. “When we originally released Virtua Fighter 5 R.E.V.O. earlier this year, a lot of fans who bought the game really wanted to see single-player content get added to the game. The new World Stage mode was created in response to this. In a way, we wanted to prove to fans that we are always listening to them, and to that end, we wanted to make this new release the best Virtua Fighter yet. “Perhaps the older Virtua Fighter fans may remember that in Virtua Fighter 4 Evolution, a game I worked on, there was this feature called Quest Mode which quickly became a fan favorite. There, you had to fight your way through these arcades inside this city. From there, you would then start to make a name for yourself by competing in local tournaments. The CPU players you faced were based on real-life player data taken from Japanese game centers (or arcades). “World Stage mode was directly inspired by Quest Mode. Here, you will participate in this huge tournament where you can name your opponents and play against CPUs based on real-life professionals, with real names you may recognize! “On top of that, the team spent a lot of time packing this new mode with plenty of content so they can stay engaged for a very long time. For example, there is a list of challenges featured in this mode that includes objectives such as climbing through the many ranks, that will unlock in-game items that players will be able to customize their characters with. There are also side tournaments that will feature their own unique rivals you can compete to win exclusive titles you can use online. “In our eyes, this mode is an easy recommendation both for those new to the franchise and those returning to the game, so the team is really excited to see how players will react to it. “Features like the World Stage mode and multi-platform cross-play support (a first for the Virtua Fighter franchise) are all thanks to our amazing community which has been supporting us all this time, giving us all this great feedback and comments that allow us to improve upon the game. We would love it if they kept sharing us their thoughts, and we will continue to appreciate their support as always.” Virtua Fighter 5 R.E.V.O. World Stage 30th Anniversary Edition SEGA ☆☆☆☆☆ 24 ★★★★★ $49.99 Get it now Celebrate the 30th anniversary of the first 3D fighting series – this edition includes exclusive costumes, pre-production artwork, soundtracks, and more. 30th Anniversary Edition contains: "Virtua Fighter 5 R.E.V.O. World Stage" Base Game VF 30th Anniversary Swimsuit Costume Set VF 30th Anniversary Soundtrack Collection VF Pre-Production Artwork DLC: Legendary Pack & Yakuza Series Collaboration Pack VF 30th Anniversary Ranking Titles The pioneer 3D fighting series continues to evolve as Virtua Fighter 5 R.E.V.O. World Stage arrives on Xbox Series X|S. Virtua Fighter 5 R.E.V.O. World Stage takes the gameplay of Virtua Fighter 5 to new heights: Rollback Netcode and Cross-play support let you take on any challenger, anywhere, across the globe in the most intense battles yet. A brand-new single-player mode, "World Stage": Challenge powerful rivals on a solo quest to become the ultimate fighter Enhanced replay functionality and improved training tools. Related Stories for “Setting the World Stage for Virtua Fighter’s Return to Xbox” Category: Games How Every Kilometer Tells a Story in Truck Driver: The Dutch Connection Category: Next Week on Xbox Next Week on Xbox: New Games for November 3 to 7 Category: ID@Xbox How the Bard Found His Way into Halls of Torment The post Setting the World Stage for Virtua Fighter’s Return to Xbox appeared first on Xbox Wire.

The post How the Bard Found His Way into Halls of Torment appeared first on Xbox Wire.

Category: ID@Xbox October 30, 2025 How the Bard Found His Way into Halls of Torment Paul Lawitzki – Code and Game Design, Chasing Carrots Halls of Torment is out on Xbox and we’re super excited to share some insight about the content we’ve added to the game for this special occasion. For quite some time during the development we’ve planned to reward our players with a special treat once they manage to beat the final Lord in the base game – the base game being the game without additional DLCs. But initially we struggled to determine what this special reward should be. Players always got excited when we added new playable characters to the game, since this opened up new playstyles and new character builds to explore. Every time a new figure appeared in front of the camp fire, the excitement was high and the urge to give the Halls of Torment another spin rekindled. So it became clear to us what would be an adequate response to our players’ final achievement: a unique and fun character for doing victory laps. And we knew just the right fantasy archetype that would fit perfectly in this position: the Bard. Contrasting the otherwise dark and grim world of Halls of Torment with a cheerful trickster that didn’t fight with lightning or steel but with music seemed like the proper send-off to us. The Bard should stand out both thematically and mechanically from all other playable characters. From there our ideas ran wild and an increasingly clear vision for the Bard formed in our heads. Halls of Torment is a very metal game. The environments, characters, and themes are all things you could hear a power metal band make songs about. Even the key art would make a convincing metal album cover or band shirt print. Hence, designing the Bard in the image of a medieval metalhead made perfect sense: long hair, a gold and silver studded lute, a swaggering stance and our medieval musical prodigy was born. The battlefield would be his stage and the armies of the underworld would be his (unintentional) crowd. This of course would also have implications for what abilities the Bard would use while fighting against the hordes of the Halls. Having a music-based character created another requirement for the game: new music. It would’ve been a missed opportunity to have a metalhead character without any proper electric guitars in the game’s score. The Halls of Torment soundtrack is moody and orchestral, and it serves the purpose of underlining the ambience of each world in the game. But it isn’t exactly metal. So we decided to add new tracks specifically for the Bard. We hired a team of professional music producers who helped us out and created a set of three tracks that don’t wear out too quickly even after repeated and prolonged listening. To spice things up a little bit we decided to produce each of the three tracks in three intensity variations. Once you would reach a certain character level, the game would fade to a higher-intensity variation of the currently played track. Knowing that the Bard would be an outlier in the cast of player characters, we decided to give him his own exclusive set of abilities. Usually, all abilities are shared and interchangeable between all characters. This is where we’ve made an exception. The Bard wouldn’t use any of the standard abilities, and all other characters wouldn’t be able to use the Bard’s music-themed abilities; at least not under normal circumstances. All abilities for the Bard are inspired by rock concert tropes: mosh pits, pyrotechnics, killer riffs, you name it. And since they are brought to you alongside a set of awesome metal tracks, why not have some more fun with it? We implemented the Bard abilities in a way so they’d match the different instrumental rhythms of the music. This is how we wound up implementing a music cue system that would sync all Bard ability triggers with instrumental events in each of the tracks. For reasons of balancing and aesthetics we had to author these music cues manually but it was worth all the effort. Now, when you enter the Halls with the Bard, all combinations of his abilities will result in a glorious light show that will put most stage engineers to shame. To top off all of this, we’ve added a bunch of new Bard-themed artifacts that create new challenges via the Shrine of Torment. You’ll also be able to equip the Bard’s Mark with all the other characters – once you’ve unlocked it – which will allow you to pick one of the Bard’s abilities at the start of your run. Overall, we’re pretty happy with how this addition to our group of heroes has turned out. Bringing the Bard to the campfire felt like finding a missing piece for a jigsaw puzzle. Halls of Torment is available now on Xbox. Alongside the base game you’ll also be able to grab the Boglands DLC which contains two additional characters, an extra swamp stage, and a slew of new items and abilities. We hope you’ll enjoy it! Halls of Torment Chasing Carrots ☆☆☆☆☆ 145 ★★★★★ $9.99 $7.99 Get it now PC Game Pass Xbox Game Pass Halls of Torment is a horde survival game with a pre-rendered retro look reminiscent of RPGs from the late 90s. Choose one of many hero characters and descend into the deadly Halls of Torment. Fight unholy horrors from beyond and survive wave after wave of enemies until you face one of the tormented Lords. Strengthen your hero with character traits, abilities, and items. Create a new powerful build during each run. Explore various underground expanses and find new powerful items that enable you to venture even deeper into the abyss. Includes the premium features “Alternative Character Skins”, “Supporter HUD Skins” and the “Training Grounds” with the latest update: Bardcore! Bardcore Includes: – New Character: The Bard – 6 New Abilities – 6 New Endgame Artifacts – 3 Metal Music Tracks – Music Selection per Stage – Manual Level Ups Related Stories for “How the Bard Found His Way into Halls of Torment” Category: Next Week on Xbox Next Week on Xbox: New Games for November 3 to 7 Category: ID@Xbox Indie Selects for October 2025: Games to Get You Through Spooky Season Category: ID@Xbox Mouse: P.I. for Hire Is Much More Than It Appears The post How the Bard Found His Way into Halls of Torment appeared first on Xbox Wire.

The post Free Play Days – Call of Duty Black Ops 6 (MP & Zombies), Dragon Ball Xenoverse 2, Dead by Daylight, CATAN, and More appeared first on Xbox Wire.

Category: Games October 30, 2025 Free Play Days – Call of Duty Black Ops 6 (MP & Zombies), Dragon Ball Xenoverse 2, Dead by Daylight, CATAN, and More Kyle OceanMarketing Manager, Xbox Editor’s Note (October 31): Yes, Your Grace is no longer part of Free Play Days For All and has been removed from the post. Before we leave October, here’s a mammoth selection of titles for you try with Free Play Days! Call of Duty: Black Ops 6 (MP + Zombies), Dragon Ball Xenoverse 2 (Console + PC), Dead by Daylight, Catan and Warhammer 40,000: Rogue Trader (Console + PC) are available this weekend for Xbox Game Pass Ultimate, Premium and Essential members to play from Thursday, October 30 until Sunday, November 2. Post Trauma is free for all Xbox members to try (Xbox Game Pass Ultimate, Premium and Essential membership not required) with a 2-hour timed trial. How To Start Playing Scroll down and find and install the games on each of the individual game details pages on Xbox.com. Clicking through will send you to the Microsoft Store, where you must be signed in to see the option to install with your Xbox Game Pass Ultimate, Premium and Essential membership. To download on console, click on the Subscriptions tab in the Xbox Store and navigate down to the Free Play Days collection on your Xbox One or Xbox Series X|S. Keep The Fun Going Purchase the game and other editions at a limited time discount and continue playing while keeping your Gamerscore and achievements earned during the event! Please note that discounts, percentages, and title availability may vary by title and region. Free Play Days (Game Pass Membership Required) Call of Duty®: Black Ops 6 – Cross-Gen Bundle Activision Publishing Inc. ☆☆☆☆☆ 873 ★★★★★ $69.99 $55.99 Get it now Xbox Game Pass Call of Duty Blacks Ops 6 (Multiplayer and Zombies) For a limited time from October 28th to November 3, play Multiplayer and Zombies in Call of Duty: Black Ops 6 for FREE. This Free Trial will include all of Multiplayer with more than 40 Multiplayer maps, including Gravity, Mothball, and Rig, which are brand-new in Season 06. In Zombies, partake in the thrilling Zombies saga with access to all six Round-Based Zombies maps. DRAGON BALL XENOVERSE 2 BANDAI NAMCO Entertainment ☆☆☆☆☆ 998 ★★★★★ $19.99 $7.99 Get it now PC Game Pass Xbox Game Pass Free Trial Dragon Ball Xenoverse 2 Optimized for Xbox Series X|S, Smart Delivery, Xbox Play Anywhere Go Super Saiyan this weekend with Dragon Ball Xenoverse 2! Immerse yourself in the largest and most detailed Dragon Ball world ever developed: train with all iconic characters such as Goku, Vegeta, Piccolo, Gohan, Trunks, Cell, Frieza and more to create your perfect fighter and protect the history of the Dragon Ball universe. Join an online hub of up to 300 players from around the world to team up on raid missions and measure your strength! Dead by Daylight Behaviour Interactive Inc. ☆☆☆☆☆ 1739 ★★★★★ $29.99 $11.99 Get it now Xbox Game Pass Dead by Daylight Optimized for Xbox Series X|S, Smart Delivery Play Dead by Daylight for free this Halloween weekend! From October 30th to November 2nd, celebrate the season by stepping into The Fog free of charge, or save big with the Shocktober sales event to get a 60% discount on the base game and up to 50% off select DLCs, until November 2nd. CATAN® – Console Edition Dovetail Games ☆☆☆☆☆ 211 ★★★★★ $16.99 $3.39 Get it now Catan – Console Edition Optimized for Xbox Series X|S, Smart Delivery Play the official video game of Catan on Console! Acquire resources, master new strategies, and build your settlements across a board that comes to life. Challenge friends in your living room or play against smart & dynamic AI to become the winning Catanian, then take these skills online with full cross-play compatibility! Warhammer 40,000: Rogue Trader Owlcat Games ☆☆☆☆☆ 262 ★★★★★ $49.99 $22.49 Get it now PC Game Pass Xbox Game Pass Warhammer 40,000: Rogue Trader Optimized for Xbox Series X|S, Xbox Play Anywhere Made in a close partnership with Games Workshop, Warhammer 40,000: Rogue Trader is a story-rich classical RPG from Owlcat Games. Begin your adventure aboard your personal, giant voidship, traveling between the multitude of systems within the Koronus Expanse, a barely charted and incredibly perilous region of space. Free Play Days For All Post Trauma Raw Fury ☆☆☆☆☆ 41 ★★★★★ $14.99 $9.74 Get it now Free Trial Post Trauma Xbox Play Anywhere Post Trauma is a modern-day survival horror, inspired by genre-defining classics. You awaken to find yourself in a twisted reality full of mind-bending puzzles, breathtaking tension, and unspeakable nightmares. Can you face your greatest fears and find your way home? Don’t miss out on these exciting Free Play Days for Xbox Game Pass Ultimate, Premium and Essential members! Learn more about Free Play Days here and stay tuned to Xbox Wire to find out about future Free Play Days and all the latest Xbox gaming news. Related Stories for “Free Play Days – Call of Duty Black Ops 6 (MP & Zombies), Dragon Ball Xenoverse 2, Dead by Daylight, CATAN, and More” Category: Games How Every Kilometer Tells a Story in Truck Driver: The Dutch Connection Category: Next Week on Xbox Next Week on Xbox: New Games for November 3 to 7 Category: Games Setting the World Stage for Virtua Fighter’s Return to Xbox The post Free Play Days – Call of Duty Black Ops 6 (MP & Zombies), Dragon Ball Xenoverse 2, Dead by Daylight, CATAN, and More appeared first on Xbox Wire.

The post Xbox October Update: ROG Xbox Ally Available Now, Handheld Compatibility Program, and More appeared first on Xbox Wire.

Category: Announcements October 30, 2025 Xbox October Update: ROG Xbox Ally Available Now, Handheld Compatibility Program, and More Dean Shimabukuro, Senior Product Marketing Manager, Xbox Services Marketing Contents Here’s What’s New: ROG Xbox Ally handhelds now available and Handheld Compatibility Program PC Gaming Updates: Faster download speeds on the Xbox PC app so you jump to your games quicker Xbox Console Updates: Game Hubs updated on all consoles In Case You Missed It: The Outer Worlds 2-themed controllers via Xbox Design Labs, and new Dynamic Backgrounds on console for Battlefield 6, Keeper, The Elder Scrolls Online, and The Outer Worlds 2 Game Additions: Advanced Shader Delivery for ROG Xbox Ally games, Xbox Play Anywhere, Stream Your Own Game, Retro Classics, Mouse and Keyboard and Touch Controls Over the Summer we’ve introduced a wave of new features and devices designed to make gaming more seamless, personalized, and rewarding – whether you’re at home, on the go, or diving into cloud play. As we move into the Fall, we continue our quest to add improved innovation for our players. First up, the ROG Xbox Ally and ROG Xbox Ally X, portable gaming handhelds that deliver premium gaming performance for PC gaming, are now available to purchase. We also launched the Handheld Compatibility Program, making it easier to identify which games are optimized for handheld play. On PC, we’ve improved download speeds and optimized bandwidth usage, making it easier to jump into your games faster and with fewer slowdowns. Game Hubs have been updated on Xbox consoles with new modules that surface Official Club news and Game Pass benefits, so players can stay plugged into publisher updates and unlock more value from their subscriptions. And in case you missed it, new The Outer Worlds 2 controllers are available and Xbox Series X|S consoles have new dynamic backgrounds. Read about these and much more below. Here’s What’s New ROG Xbox Ally and ROG Xbox Ally X – Available Now Experience seamless PC gaming on the go with the ROG Xbox Ally and ROG Xbox Ally X. Whether you’re all-in on performance or just want to jump into the action, the new ROG Xbox Ally handhelds have you covered. The ROG Xbox Ally delivers a smooth PC gaming experience for casual players and enthusiasts alike, while ROG Xbox Ally X is built for those who demand top-tier performance. On both devices, you can get help, insights, and recommendations from Gaming Copilot with the press of a button. These handhelds deliver everything you need to play your way – grab yours now! Handheld Compatibility Program – Helping Players Play Smarter We’ve introduced the new Handheld Compatibility Program to make it easier for you to identify which games are optimized for handheld play. This update is now visible on product detail pages across all Windows devices and featured in the handheld compatible channel on Home on supported Windows handhelds. To support informed choices, a compatibility notification will appear before installation or purchase if a game is not currently Handheld Optimized, helping you understand how a game will play on handheld. [Back to Top] PC Gaming Updates Faster Downloads, Sharper Experience We’ve rolled out updates to the Xbox PC app that improve download speeds so you can jump into your games faster. These changes are rolling out now to Xbox Insiders and will be available to all players soon. We’ve made improvements to the download tool, allowing the app to better optimize your PC’s internet connection. That means fewer slowdowns and smarter bandwidth usage, especially on high-speed networks. This is part of our ongoing commitment to making Xbox on PC faster, more responsive, and tuned to player feedback. We’ll continue listening to feedback and monitoring performance as the rollout expands. [Back to Top] Xbox Console Updates Official Clubs and Game Pass Benefits Update Stay plugged into publisher updates and unlock more value with Game Pass. Game Hubs now include two new modules designed to keep you informed and engaged. The first provides the latest news from Official Clubs (where available), while the second highlights any Game Pass in-game benefits tied to the title. These updates have started to roll out and will soon appear alongside existing modules like Your game stats and Available add-ons, making it easier than ever for you to discover what’s new and take advantage of what’s included. [Back to Top] In Case You Missed It Xbox Accessories – The Outer Worlds 2 Xbox Wireless Controller and Xbox Elite Wireless Controller Series 2 Step into the sequel with gear that’s ready for the mission. The Outer Worlds 2 Xbox Wireless Controller and Xbox Elite Wireless Controller Series 2 bring bold new designs inspired by The Moon Man and the galactic rifts threatening humanity’s survival. These aren’t just controllers; they’re your ultimate weapon in the Arcadia system. Available now through Xbox Design Lab, both options let players gear up with style and purpose. Xbox Console – Dynamic Backgrounds Battlefield 6, Keeper, The Elder Scrolls Online, and The Outer Worlds 2 all introduced new dynamic backgrounds for Xbox Series X|S consoles, allowing you to customize your console and celebrate these exciting new games. [Back to Top] Game Additions ROG Xbox Ally: Advanced Shader Delivery – Launch Faster, Play Smoother, Game Smarter. We’re making your gaming experience even better with advanced shader delivery – now available for supported titles on ROG Xbox Ally and ROG Xbox Ally X. This new feature preloads game shaders during download, so select games launch up to 10x faster, run more smoothly, and use less battery on first play. Today, advanced shader delivery is supported on select titles, with more coming soon. Here is the list of current supported games: Ark Survival Ascended Avowed Call of Duty: Black Ops 6 Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 Control Dead Island 2 Deep Rock Galactic Farming Simulator 25 Forspoken Final Fantasy XVI Forza Horizon 5 Forza Motorsport Gears of War: Reloaded Gears Tactics Grounded 2 Grand Theft Auto V Enhanced Lies of P Metro Exodus Microsoft Flight Simulator 2024 Monster Hunter Rise Persona 3 Reload Resident Evil 2 (2019) Resident Evil 3 S.T.A.L.K.E.R. 2: Heart of Chornobyl Sea of Thieves Sniper Elite: Resistance South of Midnight The Elder Scrolls: Oblivion Remaster Ninja Gaiden 4 The Callisto Protocol The Outer Worlds 2 Silent Hill f Keeper Hogwarts Legacy Xbox Play Anywhere – Buy once, play anywhere Over 1,000 games now support Xbox Play Anywhere, making it easier than ever to switch between PC, console, and supported handhelds, at no extra cost to you. Jump into games like Hollow Knight: Silksong and Silent Hill f now. Your progress travels with you, including saves, add-ons, and achievements. Just sign in with your Xbox account on any device and pick up right where you left off. These are the games added to the Xbox Play Anywhere collection in September: Agatha Christie – Death on the Nile Alphadia III Baki Hanma: Blood Arena Bio Block Bratz Rhythm & Style Brews & Bastards Car Mechanic Shop Simulator Creepy Redneck Dinosaur Mansion 3 Dead Reset Deep Rock Galactic Survivor DeTechtive 2112 Detective Dotson Double Dangerous Dragon Ruins DreamWorks Gabby’s Dollhouse: Ready to Party Echoes of Light: Child of the Balance Echoes of the Plum Grove Firefighting Simulator Ignite Formula Legends Full Throttle Parking Giant Rush Green Soldiers Heroes: Extreme Bikers Hanoi Puzzles: Flip Match Heian City Story Hollow Knight: Silksong Hot Stakes Casino – American Roulette Hotel Barcelona Ink Enigma: Hidden Object Challenges Kairobotica Karma: The Dark WorldMeow Moments: Celebrating Beats & Books Moon Mystery My Horse Stories Nachtmahr Napoleon Maiden Episode.1 A maiden without the word impossible NBA Bounce Nicktoons & The Dice of Destiny Not Not 2 – A Brain Challenge Otherwar Overpowered 1 – Mars Infestation Romancing SaGa 2: Revenge of the Seven Rudolph The Red Nosed Reindeer Scar-Lead Salvation Silent Hill f Skyline Bowling Slime Rancher 2 Sokocat: Islands – Remastered Spot Challenge 3D SpotCat vs The Cheddar Mafia In Asia Stylist Girl Sworn Theme Park Jam Totally Normal Journey: The Interactive Musical Train Sim World 6 Wander Stars Check out the full list of available games that players can enjoy anywhere. Stream your own game – Over 1000+ games We’re continuing to grow the Stream your own game collection in Xbox Cloud Gaming. Game Pass Ultimate, Premium, and Essential members can now stream from a library of 1000+ games they own, across supported devices. That includes titles like ARC Raiders and Jurassic World Evolution 3. More games, more flexibility, and more ways to play – wherever you may be. Recently added: ARC Raiders Children of Morta Danganronpa 2: Goodbye Despair Anniversary Edition Danganronpa V3: Killing Harmony Anniversary Edition Five Nights at Freddy’s: Sister Location Jurassic World Evolution 3 King of Meat Pinball FX3 SongPop Party Syberia – The World Before Talisman: Digital Edition The Jackbox Party Pack 9 Vampire The Masquerade: Bloodlines 2 XIII …and many more! Check out the full list of cloud-playable games available to stream on supported devices here. For more information on Stream your own game, learn more here. [Back to Top] More games added to Retro Classics Great games deserve to stick around, and we’re making sure they do. Xbox and Antstream Arcade are bringing retro favorites to modern devices with Retro Classics available on Game Pass, so players can keep enjoying the classics. With over 1 million players already diving into Retro Classics, here’s a look at the titles that have been recently added to Retro Classics. BattleTech: The Crescent Hawk’s Inception (Amiga) BattleTech: The Crescent Hawk’s Revenge (DOS) Ice Hockey Moonsweeper Game Pass members can join weekly tournaments like the Maze Reaper tournament happening now, take on community challenges and enjoy a growing library of Activision and Blizzard games with the Retro Classics collection set to expand to more than 100 titles over time. Click here for more information on Retro Classics. Xbox adds mouse and keyboard and touch controls for more games Xbox supports the use of wired USB mice and keyboards for navigation in select games and apps, as well as across Xbox and Windows devices. For players enjoying Xbox games on mobile, Xbox touch controls deliver a controller-free experience for hundreds of titles. Today, there are 130+ games with mouse and keyboard support active on cloud and 230+ games with touch controls available on cloud, giving you more ways to play than ever before. Some games even provide custom control overlays or render their own touch layouts, creating a tailored experience for each title’s unique gameplay. Learn how to set up and customize your touch controls here. [Back to Top] Here are the latest titles added this month: Mouse and keyboard: ABRISS – build to destroy Astro Miner Biz Builder Delux Chess Royal Cozy Designer CyberTD Dolmenjord – Viking Islands Dragon Takers Dream Town Island Dungeon Village 2 Eldgear Elemental War Clash Forest Golf Planner GRAPPIN Hatsune Miku – The Planet of Wonder and Fragments of Wishes HexaScape: Cyber Defense Last Escape: Dead Complex Mayhem Heroes Meow Moments: Celebrating Geeks & Athletes Midnight Remastered Narcissus Penguin’s Road Pocket Harvest Pocket League Story Post Trama Roofcats Band – Suika Style Pool Slide Story Snooker Blitz SokoNature Spot Challenge Vol. 1 The Thaumaturge To the Sky Touch: Keeper Immortals of Aveum Tales of Kenzera: ZAU For support on setting up devices, see here for more details. Help Shape the Future of Xbox Stay tuned to Xbox Wire for future updates and the latest and greatest Xbox news. For support related to Xbox updates, visit the official Xbox Support site. We love hearing from the community, whether it’s a new feature idea or feedback on something we can improve upon. Xbox is always evolving, and your input helps shape what’s next. If you’d like to help create the future of Xbox and get early access to new features, join the Xbox Insider Program today by downloading the Xbox Insider Hub for Xbox Series X|S & Xbox One or Windows PC. [Back to Top] Happy gaming! Editor’s Note (October 30): We’ve clarified in the Faster Downloads, Sharper Experience section that the download speeds update for the Xbox app for PC is only rolling out for Xbox Insiders for now. We also corrected the Forza Motorsport game title listed in the Advanced Shader Delivery section. Related Stories for “Xbox October Update: ROG Xbox Ally Available Now, Handheld Compatibility Program, and More” Category: Announcements Full Screen Experience Expands to More Windows 11 Handhelds via Windows Insiders Program Category: Announcements Turning the Moon into The Moon Man’s Playground with Snapchat for The Outer Worlds 2 Category: Games Halo: Campaign Evolved – Answering the Big Questions About This Ambitious Remake The post Xbox October Update: ROG Xbox Ally Available Now, Handheld Compatibility Program, and More appeared first on Xbox Wire.

The post Arc Raiders Invites Us Into the Extraction Shooter appeared first on Xbox Wire.

Category: Games October 30, 2025 Arc Raiders Invites Us Into the Extraction Shooter Will Fulton, Xbox Wire Editor Summary PvPvE extraction shooter Arc Raiders is available today for Xbox Series X|S and Xbox on PC as an Xbox Play Anywhere title. The risk of losing your stuff, the danger of the robots, and the unpredictability of other raiders makes for an overall tense experience. But thoughtful quality-of-life enhancements and a charming ’70s retrofuturist aesthetic help it go down more easily, inviting in genre-curious players. My favorite shooters accommodate a wide range of players. I didn’t have the fastest twitch reflexes as a teenager, let alone now nearing 40, so I’ll never do well in a straight battle of headshots and KDR. But I’ve poured hundreds of hours into Overwatch and Helldivers 2 because they reward strategic thinking and offer an interesting range of different playstyles, which in turn produces a more compellingly wide range of stories. They also allow me to play alongside more skilled friends without feeling like anyone is compromising their fun. Arc Raiders may be the next shooter to pull me in. I played for 3 hours across 3 different maps, both solo and in a squad, in a recent closed preview event of the whole game for journalists and influencers. This upcoming PvPvE extraction shooter is set in a future reminiscent of “The Matrix” – rogue robots called Arc have devastated humanity, driving the survivors to hide deep underground in a last stronghold city, Speranza (“hope”). As the eponymous raiders, players make runs to different zones on the surface, pillaging the ruins of civilization for usable materials while navigating the threats of both Arc robots and their fellow raiders, then making it safely home with whatever they can carry back to base to sell, scrap, craft, or use on subsequent raids. It’s chasing the microgenre du jour, extraction shooters, which are built around the same general risk/reward loop of going into a hostile area, completing objectives, and extracting with goodies that will fuel future runs. If you’ve enjoyed the likes of Escape from Tarkov and Hunt: Showdown, Arc Raiders is aiming to be your next obsession – and if you haven’t dipped a toe into extraction shooters yet, this is shaping up to be a gorgeous entry point. Tension Management As befits the genre, the dominant feeling throughout my time with Arc Raiders was tension. Any encounter going wrong could mean not just the opportunity cost of whatever new spoils we hoped to take home, but also losing all the equipment we brought in with us. That kind of high-stakes resource pressure, where one’s ability to make progress depends on building and maintaining momentum that can be easily lost, is part of the appeal for the genre’s hardcore fans, but also adds a certain prickliness that could deter other prospective players. Arc Raiders graciously smooths this out with free loadouts that let you jump into a raid with a minimum viable kit and no risk of loss, helping players that might be stuck treading water while they get their bearings in the game. Every raider also has “Scrappy,” a pet rooster that collects a steady drip of basic materials for them while out on raids, ensuring they can always craft basic necessities like bandages and bullets. Completing objectives during a raid, whether they extract or not, also nets skill points that can be distributed between three different trees. This all allows for a baseline of progression and character growth/specialization, even if players are struggling to survive most of their runs. The greatest source of tension, however, was from other people. Unlike a conventional PvP competitive shooter, where the constant pressure of other players is the engine driving gameplay, the rate of encounters was much more variable here. Individual raids across my session varied widely based on the map and happenstance. Some were dominated by long, quiet stretches of scavenging through buildings and sneaking past robots, punctuated by a handful of staccato encounters. Other times we found ourselves stumbling from firefight to firefight as robot engagements drew the attention of opportunistic raiders, and vice versa. Besides never quite being sure exactly when we would encounter other players, another juicy source of tension was whether our fellow raiders would be hostile or friendly. Over my session I experienced a full spectrum of interactions, from being shot on sight to having lighthearted chats, leading sometimes to them giving crucial help later in the match, other times to betrayal. In that way it reminded me of Sea of Thieves, which cultivates a similar sense of vulnerability by pairing the possibility of losing all your new stuff with the black box of strangers’ intentions. Granting that a closed session of journalists and influencers is likely to be as friendly as the game is going to get, I’ll be very curious to see how the player community’s norms develop once the game is released to the wider public. The Enemy of my Enemy One element that might help encourage players to work together is the genuine threat posed by the Arc robots. Far from being rote cannon-fodder, the non-human enemies are dynamic and dangerous, keeping us on our toes throughout, even when other human players weren’t in sight. Developer Embark is no doubt helped here by the fact that Arc Raiders started as purely PvE experience before settling into its current extraction form, which means real development time and resources went into making Arc enemies feel like the star of the show, and not just a supporting player. Part of this that really stood out to me was how, as the developers have discussed previously, the movement and behaviors for the Arc were not traditionally keyframed and hand-crafted by animators, but rather trained through machine learning applied to physics simulations. It’s essentially the same kind of process used by many real-world roboticists to train their creations in the complex task of navigating physical space, like the robot apocalypse abettors at Boston Dynamics. The Arc were lively and unpredictable. Shooting out an assault drone’s rotor didn’t send it crashing down like I’d hoped, but rather it awkwardly swung down before compensating with the others and swooping back around to continue the fight in a way that felt compellingly organic. Stray, small Arc were easily manageable in isolation, but add a few more (or just a single large one) and the situation could quickly get out of hand. The genuine threat posed by the Arc will hopefully help keep pressure on players to at least consider temporary alliances and keep the game more socially vibrant and variable. Yesterday’s Tomorrow, Today! Arc Raiders needs no help being aesthetically vibrant, however. Following from the graphic design of the logo, the game has a charming ’70s retrofuturism look. This is especially true in the character cosmetics, which were fun and colorful, and had a nice variety of silhouettes – I gave my raider a bright green motorcycle helmet, leather flight jacket, and tight jeans with a stripe up the side. Compared to its peers in the genre, Arc Raiders’ more colorful and playful design sensibility (like unlockable hats for Scrappy – he got a matching little motorcycle helmet) goes a long way to piquing my interest. It doesn’t approach the full dayglo hyperpop palette of fellow upcoming extraction shooter, Marathon, though, and grounds it with a realistic layer of post-apocalyptic wear and tear. Light and sound do a lot to support immersion as well; stalking our way through flashlight-lit underground tunnels crammed with rusted-out cars while muffled gunfire echoes above, or darting from shadow to shadow of bombed out apartment buildings across a plaza lit brightly by the midday sun, keeping an ear out for the ominous beeps of Arc sentries in the distance. The spaces were evocative, with a pleasing range of environments (residential, industrial, claustrophobic, open, flat, vertical, etc.), both within and between maps, which helped fuel the interesting variety of encounters we had. Smoothed Edges Arc Raiders has definitely caught my attention, as I’m always on the lookout for good session-based co-op games that I can use for catching up with friends. The game’s fun visual design, tight core loop, and quality-of-life mechanics have smoothed over some of the extraction shooter’s sharper edges, which may give it a real shot at bringing the genre to a wider audience. Arc Raiders comes to Xbox Series X|S and Xbox on PC as an Xbox Play Anywhere title today on October 30. ARC Raiders – Deluxe Edition Embark Studios ☆☆☆☆☆ 238 ★★★★★ Get it now *Pre-order the ARC Raiders Deluxe Edition and receive the exclusive Astro Cosmetic Pack including the following cosmetic items: – “G-suit” Legendary Outfit, – “Salvager” Backpack, – “Spaceship Souvenir” Backpack Attachment, – Outfit color variants. ARC Raiders Deluxe Edition includes the base game and the following content: The Wanderer Cosmetic Pack, including the following cosmetic items: – “Valente” Legendary Outfit – “Pathfinder” Backpack – “Blanket Roll” Backpack Attachment Plus: Character Cosmetic Finger Gun Rapid Fire Emote Scrappy Skin 2 400 Raider Tokens ARC Raiders – Standard Edition Embark Studios ☆☆☆☆☆ 252 ★★★★★ Get it now Pre-order now and get access to ARC Raiders. Secure your copy of the game as the Standard or Deluxe Edition, and receive the Lucky Duck Bundle pre-order bonus at launch! The Lucky Duck Bundle contains the exclusive Hatchling Backpack and Golden Rubber Duck Backpack Charm. ABOUT THIS GAME SCAVENGE, SURVIVE, THRIVE In ARC Raiders, gameplay flows between the surface ruled by lethal machines, and the vibrant underground society of Speranza. Craft, repair, and upgrade your gear in the safety of your own workshop, before venturing topside to scavenge the remnants of a devastated but beautiful world. Play solo or in parties up to three, navigating the constant threat of ARC's machines and the unpredictable choices of fellow survivors. In the end, only you decide what kind of Raider you are – and how far you’ll go to prevail. EXPLORE AN IMMERSIVE WORLD Explore four distinct maps at launch, with more to be revealed as the underground society evolves and expands its reach. Each destination carries the weight of a world twice-destroyed, and the scars of conflicts both old and new. Sift through the remnants for valuable loot, and piece together the past as it's slowly reclaimed by nature. Evolving map conditions ensure that no two runs are the same, with varying weather, enemies, and mechanics adding unpredictability and danger. STAKE YOUR CLAIM In a society built on boldness and bravado, it is up to you to stake your claim as a Raider. The loot you scavenge can be sold for coin or crafted into all-new gear, allowing you take on increasingly lethal dangers head-on. Through both victories and hardships, you'll gain valuable experience; unlocking varied skills that enable all-new ways of play. In addition, you'll complete quests for Traders with differing motives and agendas; uncovering both the friction and comradery of a community under constant threat of collapse. BEWARE THE MACHINES Lethal machines known as ARC rule the surface, ranging from unrelenting drone swarms to mechanical giants that obliterate everything in their path. Their origins remain a mystery, but their ever-present danger is felt with every step you take. Each machine comes with distinct strengths and tactics, forcing you to pinpoint their weak spots and constantly think on your feet. And remember: the noise of battle carries. Other Raiders may be listening; eager to claim what you leave behind. FORGE YOUR OWN PATH Raiders survive by kitbashing scavenged materials; using long-lost tech and looted ARC parts to craft weapons, gadgets, and gear. Upgrade your workshop stations and learn blueprints to craft even more advanced items, or improvise quick fixes in the field to get yourself out of a bind. As you make a name for yourself, you'll be able to measure your skill against other Raiders by taking on Trials; rising through the leaderboards to earn valuable rewards. QUESTS In Speranza, everyone has an agenda, and the Traders are no different. They’ll send you topside on missions in exchange for rewards, slowly revealing more about who they are and what they want for Speranza’s future. Complete quests to earn gear, crafting materials, and XP to level up your Raider and unlock new skill points. SKILL TREE The ARC Raiders skill tree branches into three paths: Survival, Mobility, and Conditioning. Spend your points to shape your playstyle. Loot faster and move quieter with Survival skills. Outmaneuver your opponents and threats with Mobility. And enhance your Strength and Stamina with Conditioning. Choose how you grow and what your Raider brings to the battle. BUILD YOUR ARSENAL Whether you’re preparing to take down specific ARC enemies or fend off rival Raiders, there's a choice of weaponry for every fight. Cater to your style with a range of firearms including SMGs, rifles and shotguns, as well as more advanced options such as railguns and energy weapons. Grenades, traps, ziplines and deployables offer the tactical depth needed to outsmart your enemies, while augments allow you to tailor your loadout to your preferred playstyle; unlocking dedicated inventory slots and additional gameplay perks." Related Stories for “Arc Raiders Invites Us Into the Extraction Shooter” Category: Games How Every Kilometer Tells a Story in Truck Driver: The Dutch Connection Category: Next Week on Xbox Next Week on Xbox: New Games for November 3 to 7 Category: Games Setting the World Stage for Virtua Fighter’s Return to Xbox The post Arc Raiders Invites Us Into the Extraction Shooter appeared first on Xbox Wire.

The post The Outer Worlds 2 Is Available Today appeared first on Xbox Wire.

Category: Games October 29, 2025 The Outer Worlds 2 Is Available Today Shyla Schofield, Senior Communications Manager, Obsidian Entertainment Summary The Outer Worlds 2 brings back its signature Perks and Flaws system, giving you the freedom to decide what you’re great at, and what you’ll regret later. The worlds of Arcadia are built on sprawling reactivity, bending the story to your every choice and making it nearly impossible for any two journeys to match. The Outer Worlds 2 is available today for Xbox Series X|S, Xbox on PC, ROG Xbox Ally handhelds, Battle.net, Steam, and PlayStation 5. It is an Xbox Play Anywhere title and available day one with Xbox Game Pass Ultimate and PC Game Pass. It’s time, Commander. Arcadia’s waiting — and so is everything that’s trying to destroy it. In The Outer Worlds 2, you step into the boots of an Earth Directorate agent sent to investigate how skip drives are causing rifts that are threatening all of the colonies, including Arcadia, and every faction has its own idea of how to control “fix” them. The Order of the Ascendant wants to study the rifts, believing they hold the key to solving the Universal Equation—for the good of all, of course. Auntie’s Choice wants to control them, seeing an opportunity to dominate trade routes across the galaxy and boost profit margins. And the Protectorate? They want to control the rifts to keep the others out. Fortunately, anyone who calls that out will be mentally refreshed into perfect agreement. Everyone thinks they’re right, and they’ve got the speeches to prove it. Who is right or wrong is up to you to determine. This is your story after all… The Outer Worlds 2 brings back its signature Perks and Flaws system, giving you the freedom to decide what you’re great at, and what you’ll regret later. Perks sharpen your edge; Flaws keep you humble, offering tempting trade-offs that can turn a weakness into an opportunity… or just a funny story. The worlds of Arcadia are built on sprawling reactivity, bending the story to your every choice and making it nearly impossible for any two journeys to match. And if they do, you can be mentally refreshed until they don’t. For those who want something extra from their experience with The Outer Worlds 2, the Premium Edition and Premium Edition Upgrade are available now. They include the Moon Man’s Corporate Appreciation Prize Pack, a digital artbook, the game’s soundtrack, and an Expansion Pass featuring two upcoming story add-ons. Consider it your official Earth Directorate field upgrade — because in Arcadia, even heroes need a little help from marketing. The rifts are unstable, the factions are restless, and your choices will shape the colony’s fate. Whether you stand with order, faith, or profit, one thing’s certain: Arcadia won’t survive without interference. Good luck, Commander. The Universe needs a hero, but you’ll have to do. The Outer Worlds 2 is available today for Xbox Series X|S, Xbox on PC, ROG Xbox Ally handhelds, Battle.net, Steam, and PlayStation 5. It is an Xbox Play Anywhere title and available day one with Xbox Game Pass Ultimate and PC Game Pass. The Outer Worlds 2 Premium Edition Xbox Game Studios ☆☆☆☆☆ 12 ★★★★★ $99.99 Get it now The Outer Worlds 2 Premium Edition includes: – The Outer Worlds 2 base game – DLC Pass for 2 future story expansions* – Moon Man’s Corporate Appreciation Premium Prize Pack – Access to The Outer Worlds 2 Digital Artbook & Original Soundtrack * Story expansions available as released The Outer Worlds 2 is the eagerly-awaited sequel to the award-winning first-person sci-fi RPG from Obsidian Entertainment (just look at the exciting number of dashes in this sentence!). Time to clear your calendar – get ready for an action-packed adventure with a new crew, new weapons, and new enemies in a new colony! So much newness! As a daring and most likely good-looking Earth Directorate agent, you must uncover the source of devastating rifts threatening to destroy all of humanity. Your investigation leads to Arcadia, home of skip drive technology, where the fate of the colony, and ultimately the entire galaxy, rests on your decisions – your strengths, your flaws, your crew, and the factions you choose to trust. Explore a New Frontier The Arcadia colony is engulfed in a factional war, as the Protectorate’s so-called benevolent rule is challenged by the rebellion of their religious order and a corporate invasion. As destructive rifts spread across the colony, each faction fights to control or close them for their own ends. Navigate diverse zones, uncover hidden lore, and shape the fate of a system on the brink! Your Commander, Your Way Build your character with the abilities and choices that reflect your playstyle. The colony reacts to your every move, crafting a narrative that’s yours to own -whether you’re a disciple of diplomacy, an astute strategist, a crusader for chaos, or something different altogether. And yes, you can dumb! Enlist Your Companions Recruit companions with unique traits, backgrounds and goals. Whether you choose to help them achieve their ambitions or steer them toward your own objectives, your influence shapes their growth (or death), making them an integral part of the immersive story you create together. The Outer Worlds 2 Premium Upgrade Xbox Game Studios ☆☆☆☆☆ 11 ★★★★★ $30 Get it now Upgrade* from Standard Edition and receive the following content: – DLC Pass for 2 future story expansions** – Moon Man’s Corporate Appreciation Premium Prize Pack – Access to The Outer Worlds 2 Digital Artbook & Original Soundtrack *Requires base game or Xbox Game Pass membership (PC or Ultimate only), all sold separately. The Outer Worlds 2 is the eagerly-awaited sequel to the award-winning first-person sci-fi RPG from Obsidian Entertainment (just look at the exciting number of dashes in this sentence!). Time to clear your calendar – get ready for an action-packed adventure with a new crew, new weapons, and new enemies in a new colony! So much newness! As a daring and most likely good-looking Earth Directorate agent, you must uncover the source of devastating rifts threatening to destroy all of humanity. Your investigation leads to Arcadia, home of skip drive technology, where the fate of the colony, and ultimately the entire galaxy, rests on your decisions – your strengths, your flaws, your crew, and the factions you choose to trust. Explore a New Frontier The Arcadia colony is engulfed in a factional war, as the Protectorate’s so-called benevolent rule is challenged by the rebellion of their religious order and a corporate invasion. As destructive rifts spread across the colony, each faction fights to control or close them for their own ends. Navigate diverse zones, uncover hidden lore, and shape the fate of a system on the brink! Your Commander, Your Way Build your character with the abilities and choices that reflect your playstyle. The colony reacts to your every move, crafting a narrative that’s yours to own -whether you’re a disciple of diplomacy, an astute strategist, a crusader for chaos, or something different altogether. And yes, you can dumb! Enlist Your Companions Recruit companions with unique traits, backgrounds and goals. Whether you choose to help them achieve their ambitions or steer them toward your own objectives, your influence shapes their growth (or death), making them an integral part of the immersive story you create together. The Outer Worlds 2 Xbox Game Studios ☆☆☆☆☆ 217 ★★★★★ $69.99 Get it now PC Game Pass Xbox Game Pass The Outer Worlds 2 is the eagerly-awaited sequel to the award-winning first-person sci-fi RPG from Obsidian Entertainment (just look at the exciting number of dashes in this sentence!). Time to clear your calendar – get ready for an action-packed adventure with a new crew, new weapons, and new enemies in a new colony! So much newness! As a daring and most likely good-looking Earth Directorate agent, you must uncover the source of devastating rifts threatening to destroy all of humanity. Your investigation leads to Arcadia, home of skip drive technology, where the fate of the colony, and ultimately the entire galaxy, rests on your decisions—your strengths, your flaws, your crew, and the factions you choose to trust. Explore a New Frontier The Arcadia colony is engulfed in a factional war, as the Protectorate’s so-called benevolent rule is challenged by the rebellion of their religious order and a corporate invasion. As destructive rifts spread across the colony, each faction fights to control or close them for their own ends. Navigate diverse zones, uncover hidden lore, and shape the fate of a system on the brink! Your Commander, Your Way Build your character with the abilities and choices that reflect your playstyle. The colony reacts to your every move, crafting a narrative that’s yours to own—whether you’re a disciple of diplomacy, an astute strategist, a crusader for chaos, or something different altogether. And yes, you can dumb! Enlist Your Companions Recruit companions with unique traits, backgrounds and goals. Whether you choose to help them achieve their ambitions or steer them toward your own objectives, your influence shapes their growth (or death), making them an integral part of the immersive story you create together. Related Stories for “The Outer Worlds 2 Is Available Today” Category: Games How Every Kilometer Tells a Story in Truck Driver: The Dutch Connection Category: Next Week on Xbox Next Week on Xbox: New Games for November 3 to 7 Category: Games Setting the World Stage for Virtua Fighter’s Return to Xbox The post The Outer Worlds 2 Is Available Today appeared first on Xbox Wire.

The post Indie Selects for October 2025: Games to Get You Through Spooky Season appeared first on Xbox Wire.

Category: ID@Xbox October 29, 2025 Indie Selects for October 2025: Games to Get You Through Spooky Season Raymond Estrada, Jessica Ronnell, Oscar Polanco, Deron Mann, Steven AllenID@Xbox Paranormal Hotline Every Wednesday, dive into the Indie Selects Hub—your gateway to a fresh, curated indie collection plus four themed spotlights that rotate weekly! You can always find this collection hub in the Xbox Store and on Xbox.com/IndieSelects. It’s spooky season, which means scary movies and creepy vibes are in full swing. If you’re not quite ready to face the dark alone, no worries — the ID@Xbox team has handpicked 6 awesome indie games to keep you company. Some of these are in keeping with the dark vibes of October, but others are far from it – if you’re easily scared, we have some friendlier picks, too. Whether you want to team up with friends for a space raid, enjoy some alone time tending crops, explore strange buildings with even stranger gameplay, or solve wild puzzles in new lands, there’s something here to keep the shadows at bay. Here’s more on what we’ve got for you this month (in no particular order): Jump Space Jump Space (formerly Jump Ship) delivers one of the most thrilling sci-fi co-op experiences I’ve played in a while. This mission-based PvE co-op game puts up to four players in charge of crewing a spaceship with seamless transitions between ship management and on-foot missions. You and your crew head out on roguelike missions traveling across a chosen path gathering resources, engaging in cargo raids, and more – all with the hopes of bringing permanent upgrades back to your base. Aside from taking on quests to progress the narrative, you’ll also be doing side quests for the various vendors in the Hangar to earn credits, spacesuits, and Materia Ingots for upgrades. The gameplay loop is simple yet engaging: explore space, customize your ship and gear, and survive intense deep-space encounters together – and, if you’re lucky, upgrade. After spending around 12 hours traveling the stars, I really enjoyed what’s here. Each mission is a roguelike journey made up of multiple jumps, where each choice affects future paths and rewards. Strategic route selection is key to optimizing both short-term success and long-term gains for your base. From what I’ve experienced so far, Jump Space truly shines when played with a group, because even in the most desperate situations, smart teamwork and a bit of luck can lead to the most exhilarating, last-second escapes. Jump Space is still in Game Preview, but it’s already showing incredible promise. If you’re into games like Void Crew or Wildgate, this is an easy recommendation. But even fans of the spacefaring elements in No Man’s Sky or Starfield might be surprised by how much they enjoy it. I’m genuinely excited to see how it evolves over time – Raymond Estrada Jump Space (Game Preview) Keepsake Games ☆☆☆☆☆ 239 ★★★★★ $19.99 Get it now Free Trial This game is a work in progress. It may or may not change over time or release as a final product. Purchase only if you are comfortable with the current state of the unfinished game. Jump Space is a mission based co-op PvE for 1-4 players, where you are the crew of a spaceship. Transition seamlessly from crewing the ship to on-foot exploration and space walks. Explore, upgrade, and survive intense encounters in deep space together. Full details on the latest status of the game, how you can give feedback and report issues can be found at https://jumpspacegame.com Echoes of the Plum Grove Echoes of the Plum Grove, my comfy farming obsession. Picture this: you wake up, the sun’s shining, and your biggest dilemma is whether to plant carrots or go chat with the quirky neighbor who keeps gifting you turnips. That’s Echoes of the Plum Grove in a nutshell—a charming farming and life-sim game that feels like a warm hug with a side of strategy. It’s all about growing crops, crafting, and building a life in a world that moves at your pace. From the moment I started, I was hooked. There’s something magical about watching your little farm transform season by season. Sure, winter can sneak up on you (pro tip: stockpile food!), but that’s part of the fun—planning ahead becomes its own cozy challenge. And the townsfolk? They’re full of personality, making every interaction feel like a mini story. If you’ve played Stardew Valley or a Harvest Moon game, you’ll feel right at home here. But Echoes adds a cool twist: generational gameplay. Your choices echo (pun intended!) through time, which makes every decision feel meaningful. I’ve spent countless hours tending crops, exploring hidden paths, and laughing at unexpected events. It’s the kind of game that makes you lose track of time—in the best way – Jessica Ronnell Echoes of the Plum Grove indie.io ☆☆☆☆☆ 16 ★★★★★ $19.99 Get it now A new life awaits you in Honeywood! After washing onto the island's shores, you'll find yourself the newly minted owner to a humble plot of land. Pull up your sleeves, grab your tools, and get to work building a farm that will last not only a lifetime, but span generations! Echoes of Plum Grove is a casual, cozy farm simulator where your decisions have consequences! What to plant, what to stock for the winter, and who to befriend will shape not only the town of Honeywood, but the island itself. Detective Dotson Detective Dotson is a mystery adventure game set in a vibrant pixelated version of modern India. The story follows a detective uncovering clues to solve various cases, each one revealing new details about the mysterious death of his father. The story is engaging as each case, no matter how small it might look, provides a new piece of the larger puzzle about the mystery of his father’s sudden passing. The game rewards exploration, you gather clues by interacting with the colorful cast of charismatic characters and engage in fun mini games – my favorite being dancing. Masala Games perfectly captured nuances, vibes, and expressions of the characters and fun environments. The world is inviting and stimulating, I love spending time exploring to discover countless details in the background, from street vendors and people celebrating the Festival of Colors, to the hilarious moment when a guard throws a sandal at trespassers. It’s clear this is a labor of love, the lively soundtrack and top-tier voice acting elevate the experience even further, making the world of Detective Dotson a joy to explore. There’s also a 60 minute movie available for free on YouTube that serves as prologue to the story. You don’t need to watch it to enjoy the game, but I recommend it if you want to dive deeper into Detective Dotson’s universe. Overall, Detective Dotson is a charming, engaging experience that combines mystery and humor, with puzzles and mini-games. It’s a game that invites you to linger, explore, and return to catch the little details you missed the first time – Oscar Polanco Detective Dotson Masala Games Private Limited ☆☆☆☆☆ ★★★★★ $14.99 Get it now A cozy mystery game about a detective with Bollywood dreams. It's the first adventure game set in the colorful streets of India. Engage with adorable 2D characters living in a 3D world. Find clues and solve the evidence board. With each case, a larger mystery unfolds. Play gully cricket, dance at weddings or help a cute grandma find hidden objects. Everything is always at your own pace in Detective Dotson. Enjoy the wholesome vibes but don't forget to bargain, for everything! Creepy Redneck Dinosaur Mansion III Creepy Redneck Dinosaur Mansion III is a wild mash-up of genres that includes Metroidvania-style progression, Match-3 puzzle “combat”, and visual novel presentation. You’ll make your way through dozens of branching paths as the seemingly cookie-cutter maybe-game hero, J.J. Hardwell, in order explore the eponymous mansion while stumbling upon some seriously goofy, deeply meta story elements that keep this firmly footed in comedy rather than creepy. Spoiler alert: While this game has a “3” at the end of its title, this isn’t a sequel to any real-world existing game series. That fact alone should tip you off to the fact that the always clever minds behind CRDM3 at Strange Scaffold (I Am Your Beast, Clickolding, etc.) have cooked up a game that continually surprises in a way that I found absolutely compelling and entertaining. Each confrontation in the mansion – be it with a pterodactyl in clown make-up or a foul-mouthed tiny angry dino with a pistol – is solved through Match-3-style puzzle “fights”, each with unique attacks/abilities based on lining up colored gems or other symbols. I can’t say I’ve seen this type of mechanic used in this particular way to such silly, smartly written, and yet challenging effect. I loved every minute of it. The systems in the game go much deeper than just “Candy Crush but with dinosaurs,” including branching dialogue choices that unlock “traits” which in turn give you access to new areas that you weren’t able to explore before. If you’re on board to dive into a wildly unhinged, hilarious, and very inventive interactive love letter to indie game development (and being “always online”), then look no further than this oddball delight. It may have all the trimmings of being a (fantastic) joke-filled romp on its surface, but ultimately there’s an earnest heart (especially for game creators in a tough, relentless industry) beating beneath all those layers of absurdity. Creepy Redneck Dinosaur Mansion 3 Strange Scaffold ☆☆☆☆☆ 4 ★★★★★ $19.99 Get it now Creepy Redneck Dinosaur Mansion 3 is "committing to the bit" so hard that it hurts. It's a sequel to a game series that doesn't exist, complete with lore and a fictional development team. It's a game where match-3 is used not just for combat, but for lockpicking doors, debating robots, and swallowing a bunch of diamonds in front of a notorious gem thief so that he can't steal them first. It is, all genre elements considered, a match-3 survival horror comedy RPG metroidvania, and it's rad as hell. 20 years ago, Creepy Redneck Dinosaur Mansion emerged as a smash-hit genre fusion, casting fan-favorite protagonist Jack Briar in a fast-paced puzzle adventure. 8 years ago, Creepy Redneck Dinosaur Mansion 3 was announced on the biggest stage in gaming. This is what happened next. Hotel Barcelona Hotel Barcelona feels like a hidden gem from the early 2000s, mixing 2.5D roguelike action with a wild blend of ’90s anime and ’80s horror. You play as Justine, a U.S. Marshal sharing a body with the soul of serial killer Dr. Carnival, on a mission to avenge her father. After a bizarre crash and a run-in with two hitchhikers, she ends up at Hotel Barcelona — a place she can’t leave thanks to a witch’s curse and a bunch of trapped serial killers. To survive, Justine and Dr. Carnival team up for fast-paced, over-the-top combat against waves of killers, bosses, and the witch herself. I think the story beats are what kept me locked in, especially after an intense interaction between the hotel manager (easily my favorite character) and Dr. Carnival. I desperately needed to understand their connection. Honestly, nearly every character interaction was entertaining, and I found each character charming in their own unique way. As for the actual gameplay, it’s pretty challenging and I found myself dying on the first stage… a lot. However, there are several difficulty options, along with the ability to play co-op with friends to ease things up a bit. There’s a ton of variety such as run modifiers, skill & weapon upgrades, unlockable costumes, mini-games, and a unique Slasher Phantom system – allowing players to follow the steps of their previous run but also leverage their phantom’s attacks to fight enemies if properly strategized. Hotel Barcelona is an entertaining roguelike, packed with inventive take on combat, some nice narrative touches, and a cast of delightfully unhinged characters. If you’re into horror, you’ll appreciate exploring the hotel and diving into the story — the game wears its weird, grindhouse vibes loud and proud – Deron Mann HOTEL BARCELONA CULT Games ☆☆☆☆☆ 30 ★★★★★ $29.99 Get it now Justine, a rookie U.S. Marshal, thought this was just another routine case. But when her car crashes in a freak accident at the edge of nowhere, she finds herself trapped in a twisted new world: HOTEL BARCELONA. Seven serial killers. One haunted hotel. And a second personality living inside her head… Meet Dr. Carnival: murderer, psychopath, devastating ancient monster. THIS FALL… DEATH HAS A ROOM KEY In this blood-soaked 2.5D sidescroller straight from your nightmares: Battle through insane horror-themed floors! Face killers inspired by the nastiest corners of your local video store! Every time you die, your past self fights beside you – like a ghost with a grudge! BLOOD IS POWER The more you kill, the stronger you become. But let the blood stop flowing… and you're next. CARNIVAL’S AWAKENING Unleash the brutal power of the serial killer in your mind. Turn the tide of battle. Become a legend. Not recommended for: Individuals with weak stomachs Fans of quiet indie puzzle games People afraid of mirrors Anyone still emotionally recovering from Twin Peaks: Fire Walk With Me Lego Voyagers There’s something timeless about sitting down to play with someone you care about — a shared laugh, a moment of discovery, that unspoken rhythm of working together. Lego Voyagers, from Light Brick Studio and Annapurna Interactive, captures that feeling perfectly. It’s a quiet, heartfelt co-op adventure that invites two players to journey through breathtaking Lego worlds where imagination and friendship guide every step. With no dialogue or instructions, the story unfolds naturally through play — a gentle reminder that connection doesn’t always need words. Each puzzle feels like a conversation between two people. You’ll build bridges, balance across floating platforms, and find joy in the smallest details — the sound of a brick clicking into place, the light dancing off translucent pieces, the simple pride of solving something together. Lego Voyagers isn’t just about reaching the end; it’s about slowing down, communicating without speaking, and rediscovering the quiet magic of creating side by side. It’s a story that resonates long after the controller is set down, because it’s really about the people holding them. Lego Voyagers shines with crisp visuals, soothing sound, and seamless co-op play — locally or online. Thanks to the Friend’s Pass, only one player needs a copy, making it easy to share the experience with anyone you’d like to reconnect with. Short, warm, and beautifully made, this is more than a game — it’s a shared memory waiting to be built – Steven Allen LEGO® Voyagers Annapurna Interactive ☆☆☆☆☆ 44 ★★★★★ $24.99 Get it now From the makers of LEGO® Builder's Journey comes a new 2-player co-op adventure about friendship and play. When two friends make it their mission to rescue an abandoned spaceship, they embark on a journey beyond their wildest dreams, ultimately learning the value of being connected. ● Experience what it feels like to be a LEGO brick. Tumble, jump, snap together, and build your way through rich brick worlds. ● Unravel a poetic, non verbal narrative, set in beautiful brick built environments, supported by an atmospheric soundtrack. ● Cooperatively solve the game's many challenges and discover how two bricks are better than one. Play locally on the same screen, or online. ● Invite a friend to join your adventure for free with the Friend’s Pass. As long as one of you owns LEGO Voyagers, you can both play the full co-op experience together. LEGO Voyagers asks open questions about building friendships, sharing dreams, and giving space. It reminds us that while playing and being creative is for all shapes and sizes, it’s always better when you share it with a friend. Related Stories for “Indie Selects for October 2025: Games to Get You Through Spooky Season” Category: Next Week on Xbox Next Week on Xbox: New Games for November 3 to 7 Category: ID@Xbox How the Bard Found His Way into Halls of Torment Category: ID@Xbox Mouse: P.I. for Hire Is Much More Than It Appears The post Indie Selects for October 2025: Games to Get You Through Spooky Season appeared first on Xbox Wire.

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Lumiose City awaits new and returning trainers in Pokémon Legends: Z-A. As somebody who started playing Pokémon games relatively late, with 2013’s Pokémon Y, I was excited to revisit and

The post Review: Pokémon Legends: Z-A (Nintendo Switch 2) appeared first on Pure Nintendo.

Lumiose City awaits new and returning trainers in Pokémon Legends: Z-A. As somebody who started playing Pokémon games relatively late, with 2013’s Pokémon Y, I was excited to revisit and see this city translated to HD on bigger screens. I was even more excited to see the Legends sub-series continue. For better or worse, Legends: Z-A keeps you within the city limits. It’s not an open-world game, but it is an open metropolis one. How “thriving” the city is by contemporary standards is debatable. But certainly compared to its 3DS origins, there’s a good amount here. Thankfully, Lumiose is no longer troubled by subpar camera angles either. This improvement goes a long way towards making the game’s visual shortcomings seem minor. Like past Pokémon games, Legends: Z-A does not prioritize visuals. Don’t get me wrong, it’s a fine-looking title, especially if playing in handheld mode, but this isn’t a Switch 2 game that will wow you on a big screen television. While clean and well-lit, it doesn’t look like something the original Switch couldn’t do with Pokémon. In fact, it does, as this is a cross-platform release. That said, anyone comparing this to PS2-era graphics should have their eyes (and possibly heads) examined. The resolution, vibrant colors, and improvements to framerate and load times that Switch 2 brings should satisfy all but the most jaded Pokémon fans who value graphics above gameplay. And the beautiful music is above reproach. The gameplay is a proven winner, and Legends: Z-A tweaks it in fun ways. One of my issues with older Pokémon games was how every battle felt drawn out and sluggish. Legends: Z-A continues the recent effort to speed things up by introducing real-time battles. You and your Pokémon team (mine led by starter Totodile) can move within a limited radius. And Pokémon can be swapped out with barely a blink of the eye (be mindful of letting animations finish to limit any feeling of a delayed response). The approach might take some initial adjustment, but various wild zones scattered about the city will allow you to quickly get a handle on it. Urban redevelopers designed said zones so the growing Pokémon population could live comfortably amidst the city. Additional wild zones get introduced the further you progress through the main tale, and are fast-paced and strategic. The plot has you ostensibly trying to climb the ranks of the Z-A Royale competition to drum up business for Hotel Z, a lodging struggling to attract guests, tucked in a hard-to-reach alley of the city. Structurally, this design slightly resembles the tradition of earning badges from gym fights. But while the latter format could get repetitive and stale (even more so for long-time series fans), here it comes off fresh, thanks to better pacing, much more variety, and emphasis on story beats. I won’t dare spoil anything, but don’t expect the first few competition matches to be reflective of the later ones. Engagement is consistent. To even qualify for a ranked match, you must acquire enough points in a battle zone to earn a ticket. Battle Zones appear at night, as Lumiose City transforms with other trainers seeking the same outcome as you. Fighting through these reminds me of working your way from town to town in older games. Except it’s a much less linear process. A lot of fun comes from seeing a trainer wandering about one path, and realizing you can stealthily sneak up on them and strike early by taking a different path. Once you’ve hit the point goal, it maxes out until your fight, so don’t think you can sprint through battles and grind your way through multiple ranks quickly. You will keep earning currency, though, which is always addictive and useful. Besides battling your way through the story (which soon gives way to rogue mega evolved Pokémon and the mystery of Prism Tower), Legends: Z-A has entertaining side quests galore that send you all over the city. Many of the people milling about the streets of Lumiose will want to battle you, for various reasons. Some also have more puzzle-type requests for a welcome change of pace. These add a lot of playtime and rewards. Alphas (high-level) Pokémon also return, providing a real challenge. They’re not just in wild zones either, something I quickly discovered as I started stumbling upon them during my back alleys and rooftop scampers. While Legends: Z-A retains my favorite feature of Legends: Arceus (catching Pokémon sans battle with a well-timed throw), this does not apply to Alphas. Expect a tough, but rewarding fight. Returning to Lumiose City as a whole, it’s not as small as you might think. Yes, you run across it reasonably quickly, and the number of buildings you can enter is a tad limited for my liking (although they increase in time). But navigating (and eventually gliding over) the rooftops grows in fun and proves integral to your adventure. You’ll even roam the sewers, accessing parts of the city you couldn’t previously. If you’re a completionist, there’s more than enough to occupy your time in this city under urban redevelopment with a gradually filling map. This map can guide (or warp) you to your next key destination, but it can also be put out of your mind if you want to be distracted trying to fill your pokedex. Not to mention the time you can spend shopping for outfits and other things. Many surprises await. Of course, you aren’t just looking to fill your pokedex, although Legends: Z-A does a better job of making me want to do so than any game prior. You’ll meet people in your travels who you’ll help, and who will help you. These allies are a bit of a mixed lot, and I admit that in early game hours, I identified them by things unrelated to character development. Emma is the tight pants-wearing detective. Naveen is the fashion designer with a resting sulk face. Corbeau is the dude with Hunger Games attire. And so forth. Still, each major player eventually has a chance to shine (no spoilers), and I give credit for that. I’m not nuts about $30 DLC on an already $70 game. I hope the start of it will account for players’ experience. The first couple of hours of this main game are hand-holdy. A valid complaint (one of a few), but in the end, it’s all about as far from a dealbreaker as possible. I’m focused not on ultimately minor stuff like this, but on the sheer fun I’m having. I hope many players can think similarly, and not rob themselves of a fun time. If you prioritize up-to-the-minute aesthetics, Pokémon Legends: Z-A — and arguably any title in the series — isn’t for you. Still, I can’t deny how much fun I’ve had playing this game. Its addictiveness triumphs over any minor issues. Real-time battles and entertaining side quests shine in Lumiose City. Launching at $70 with $30 of DLC might give some pause. But if you have a spouse or kids who will play this one too, the value is there, with dozens of hours of thoroughly satisfying adventuring. Don’t miss this release. The post Review: Pokémon Legends: Z-A (Nintendo Switch 2) appeared first on Pure Nintendo.

I'm not sure why Full Metal Schoolgirls is set in 2089. A powerful mega-corporation forces its employees to work unreasonable hours so its executives can acquire even more power in an already corrupt world? You think that's 65 years off, do you, Yuke's?

The post Review: Full Metal Schoolgirl (Switch 2) appeared first on Pure Nintendo.

I’m not sure why Yuke’s—the developers of Full Metal Schoolgirl—felt the need to set the game in 2089. A powerful mega-corporation forces its employees to work unreasonable hours so its executives can acquire even more power in an already corrupt world? You think that’s 65 years off, do you, Yuke’s? Maybe, because the employees at Meternal Jobz are cyborgs. And they apparently care enough about their positions to protect the company from a teenage “machine girl” hell bent on revenge after the death of her father. I’m not sure if the “working dead” are programmed for this loyalty or if they just really don’t want to lose their dress-down Fridays and office vending machines. Full Metal Schoolgirl starts with you selecting your…full metal schoolgirl. Ryoko Arahabaki is the one with the dead dad. Akemi Minamiazabu is her buddy, and her dad has only gone missing. The two decide to infiltrate the Meternal Jobz corporate tower to cause chaos and get some answers, but you can only pick one girl; the other disappears at the start. Armed with a gun and a sword, you break into the first floor of the 100-story building and start your rampage. The working dead put up little resistance early on, allowing you to shoot and slash your way up the building. Breaking from tradition, the gun is actually the more useful weapon in Full Metal Schoolgirl, as the game often allows you to clear out the opposition before you reach them. You also have a drone that hovers near you and can be used to fire upon the enemy. It has a cooldown period, though, so you’ll want to save it for trickier moments. Chests along the way allow you to switch to more powerful or radically different weapons. They’re not that important in the initial run, however. What matters here is that you can’t survive. A laser turret takes you out, and you die…kind of. Rather than ending up in a dumpster below the building, your cyborg body is somehow whisked away to the lab of your creator: Professor Hakase. She was at one time an engineer at Meternal Jobz, and has turned herself into a cyborg. She fixes you up, and takes the materials you’ve acquired in exchange for power-ups, including a shield that can block the attacks of laser turrets. That, then, is your gameplay loop. Each time you enter the building, the floors change. The available weapons change. You progress as far up as you can go, you die, you level up, and you begin again. Of course, this being a roguelike, climbing floors is as difficult as climbing the corporate ladder. When you die, most of the materials you’ve acquired are taken away. You can eventually buy power-ups that mitigate this (acquire more materials as you progress, lose fewer when you’re defeated), but the bulk of your resources come from online donations. Your progress is being streamed, and your followers will wire you money if you keep them entertained. That, you get to keep. This is especially important in the game’s challenge rooms, where your viewers will increase their donations if you perform tasks such as clearing out the enemies within a set time limit or without recharging your battery (life). If you’re up for it, you can offer to increase their challenges for even greater rewards, but you risk getting nothing if you can’t pull them off. No matter how you choose to progress, it’s important to do so with style. And believe me, Full Metal Schoolgirl has plenty of style. Most of it comes from the enemies—broad, robotic caricatures of your standard corporate employees. They dress, behave, and speak as you’d expect the working dead to dress, behave, and speak, and that satire is often very, very funny. This is one of those rare cases where I’ll recommend the English voice audio so you don’t miss the jokes (although the Japanese is pretty funny based on delivery alone). The visual gags are great, too, like the cyborg couple making out in the “privacy” of the stairwell between levels. I didn’t see that it’s directly addressed, but I’m sure inner-office romances are against the Meternal Jobz corporate policy. The machine girls provide plenty of flair, too. Their stylish outfits (with plenty of DLC options) stand in contrast to the cyborgs they’re eliminating, and they get their share of slick moves to pull off as they make their way upwards. Sadly, though, not even our machine girls can escape the fatigue of corporate life. 100 floors is a lot, and the building is not set up in a way that rewards your successes. When you’re finally powerful and skilled enough to take out a boss, you’ll get an elevator key to directly access the floor just above the boss you defeated. That’s great, except it can only be used once. If (by which I mean “when”) you die ahead of or against the next boss, you have to start from scratch. You’re better equipped to beat the boss each time you beat it, sure, but victory is never guaranteed. They require not only to learn their attack patterns and discover their weaknesses, but also to be equipped with the right weapon. That will often come from the chests you find on your way up, so whether you get what you need is a crapshoot. Thankfully, the ability to start with better weapons is a purchasable upgrade, and you can select from an array of weapons on the ground floor. Not the greatest idea for building security. Still, all the upgrades in the world can’t save you from doing the same thing over and over and over. The combat mechanics never really progress, the scenery doesn’t change much, and the common enemies become increasingly annoying. Platforming obstacles are also introduced to add to your consternation. This all eventually beats down the game’s upbeat presentation and goofy charm. If that’s part of the satire on corporate life, it maybe hits a little too close to home. That said, I’m still going to recommend Full Metal Schoolgirl to action gamers. Like many of the roguelikes I’ve come to enjoy, it’s fun to pick up and play for a bit just to see how far you can get. You never know when you’re going to acquire the right weapon upgrades or get lucky against a troublesome boss to find yourself higher than you’ve been before. That can make the accessible combat rewarding. It likely won’t happen enough to keep you going for prolonged periods, but maybe that’s for the best. Don’t you have your own job to get to? The post Review: Full Metal Schoolgirl (Switch 2) appeared first on Pure Nintendo.

Particle Heart's narrative is very loose and cryptic, allowing the player to perceive it as they please. The game instead focuses more on exploration and puzzle-solving than on the story line, but what a wonderful world to explore.

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Particle Hearts opens with a scene of the main character being chased by wolves, barely making it out alive. This sets up the plot, in which it appears to be your responsibility to find whoever is in need of saving. However, the narrative is very loose and cryptic, allowing the player to perceive it as they please. The game instead focuses more on exploration and puzzle-solving than on the story line. After this opening scene, you find yourself in a giant field, with little direction on what to do. At first, there seems to be three priorities: explore the open world, find wind chimes, and complete puzzles. Exploring the game is the easiest thing you can do, as it’s so incredibly fascinating to look at; the graphics are entirely made up of floating particles. You’re soon told to find the wind chimes hidden around the area, and doing so slowly reveals your past. You’ll also find large, white, glowing structures. When you head inside of these, you’re teleported to another world that consists of 3D platform puzzles. There, your goal is to get from the starting point to the end. You do this by running, jumping, and dashing. You’ll also come across buttons that shift the platforms so you can access new areas. Each level has a couple of different puzzles to solve, and they grow more difficult as the game progresses. To finish a level, you must finish all of its puzzles, but you can jump back and forth between levels. You will also come across different animals who have stories and secrets of their own. Like the wolves who chase you in the beginning, some of the animals have bad intentions, while others are the opposite. One of the first animals you’ll meet during your play through will be deer, who help you discover some of your purpose in the game and provide a peaceful environment rather than a dangerous one. Both are equally important to the game, and add different layers of story telling, emotion, and challenges. The controls of the game are pretty basic. You run around with the left stick, jump with B, and dash with A. If you ever miss a jump in a puzzle, you just restart from the beginning. The complications in Particle Hearts come not from the controls, but rather from your patience and logic skills, which are very much required for this game. A lot of Particle Hearts includes running around with no direction, searching for what to do next. However, due to the game’s calming nature and amazing visuals, the slower parts don’t feel too boring at all. Each level feels a little different, as well, which keeps the game from growing repetitive. Although Particle Hearts isn’t the most action-packed or narratively-captivating game, it still stands out not only for its visuals, but also for how independently it can be played. If you like games that tell you exactly what to do and when, this one could seem a bit challenging. However, being able to discover the game’s secrets at your own pace is one of its best features. The post Review: Particle Hearts (Nintendo Switch) appeared first on Pure Nintendo.

Cladun X3 is another 16-bit dungeon crawler that provides all the dungeon running, monster destroying, gold grabbing, level grinding goodness you would expect, but there is much more. And the "more" will either make or break the game for you.

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Greetings, villain! It may sound weird, but get used to it; in Cladun X3 you are one of several villains recruited for some…let’s call it “fun and games.” Your new boss seems like a nice…jellyfish? I guess we’ll just roll with it. Cladun X3 is another 16-bit dungeon crawler with some interesting mechanics. You get all the dungeon running, monster destroying, gold grabbing, level grinding goodness you would expect, but there is much more. The “more” part involves character setup and a thing called Magic Circle, and these will either make or break the game for you. Before we get to that, let’s take a stroll through the sights and sounds. The visuals are a mix of textures and colors rendered in mid-def, 16 bit pixels. For the nostalgic and retro lovers out there, it’s really nice. For those who prefer a smoother look to a game, this is still tolerable. There’s a good use of color and contrast with enough definition to easily tell what you’re looking at, unless the game wants to make it hard to notice a thing (like traps, go figure…). Before you start on your dungeon crawl, you have some decisions to make. You can choose your avatar from dozens of options; you can even choose how your avatar stands and waits (front, oblique, still, bouncy, etc.). The audio is interesting. You can let the game run with the stock music plan, or you can select songs from a list. There is even a sound editor if you really want to get deep into the details. Moving around in the game is fairly easy. You have your joystick for moving up, down, left, and right. You also get the obligatory jump button as well as a slide feature for when you feel a need to limbo under certain traps. Along with the myriad settings with which you can tinker, you can set how the joystick treats walk vs. run (you’ll be doing a lot of running). One thing you will notice quickly (even if it’s when your hit point has run to zero) is that when you are running, your defense statistic goes down. It may sound cruel, but it is actually realistic; your best defense is when you have a steady stance, so this is just another facet of the game to keep in mind. Now for the big thing: Magic Circles. This is where the game will either confuse and frustrate you or suck you into its own brand of detailmania. This feature is how the game lets you create personal buffs, defenses, and shields. Oddly, one of the shields which can take damage before you take the hits comes in the form of another person. You can place a secondary character in your Circle to act as a source of mana and to take hit points for you. As you and your secondary level up, you will get access to new Circles. Indeed, the first Magic Circle you can use is really a straight line, but we’ll let it slide. Different shapes of Magic Circle allow for different buffs and different mana paths. As you will have guessed, each layout has advantages. You will need to do some serious leveling to get access to the advanced Circles, and some more leveling to get all the options filled. Another feature of the Magic Circle is that this is where you can equip your weapons, armor, and so on. There are plenty of features so you can fiddle with settings to your heart’s content. Speaking of leveling up, this game has a significant amount of level-grinding to get the necessary experience, gold, and so on to make significant progress. The game starts easy enough, and the introductory dungeons are a good training ground. Once you get through the first few dungeons (which are brief and limited in size), the game will open up new dungeons and features. This is where the exploration and settings mania really get going. It will still take plenty of dungeon grinding to level up to make serious progress; the weapon, armor, etc. improvements are small, and even the buffs from your Magic Circle are not the monster crushers you might want them to be. So, there is still plenty of challenge in getting through the advanced dungeons. Cladun X3 provides a great variety of elements for the player to customize. Most of them will have an impact on gameplay, while some are just for fun. This isn’t a walk in the park, so you will need to consider your strategy. The game encourages a ”run the gauntlet” approach to getting to the exit for each dungeon (faster is better for points and prestige) but there are still hidden things to find. There are lots of interesting monsters and bad guys to defeat. There are quick-run dungeons and more story-based dungeons. There are friend-foes with split personalities, a slowly unfolding backstory, and all sorts of interesting characters with which you can interact. The game packs plenty of detail management and replayability into a pleasantly whimsical world, but I wish there was an easier way to change the amount of detail and customization required to be successful. The post Review: Cladun X3 (Nintendo Switch) appeared first on Pure Nintendo.

Persona 3 Reload is a blast from start to finish, maintaining a balance and focus that many less ambitious adventures have trouble executing. It's not a title I'd recommend to everyone, but those who are open to its concepts will be thrilled.

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Persona 3 Reload is a blast from start to finish. The gameplay and story expand in many directions, but the game maintains a balance and focus that many less ambitious adventures have trouble executing. It’s not a title I’d recommend to everyone, but those who are open to its concepts will be thrilled. Originally released for PS2 back in 2006, this “Reload” is a complete overhaul of the visuals and the gameplay, complete with many new features…I’m told. I didn’t play the original. In fact, the only proper Persona game I’ve ever played is Persona 5 Royal for the Switch. This means I can take Persona 3 Reload for what it is, not what it was, and it is a compelling, often thrilling, and sometimes emotional adventure. You play the role of a high school transfer student with the ability to enter the “Dark Hour” (a period hidden between one day and the next). Most people enter coffins during this time, and come out of it with no knowledge that it happened. A few others who share your abilities have already formed a group—SEES (Specialized Extracurricular Execution Squad)—to counter the Dark Hour threat, and you’re quickly recruited to join. But also, high school! The balance between demon hunting and the trials of teenage life is common literary fare, sure, but that’s because teenagers continue to have demons to battle. We can all relate, and we can hope that we have a group of friends like the SEES members to help us along. Throughout the day, our hero attends classes at Gekkoukan High School. Gameplay there involves everything from answering quiz questions to eavesdropping on fellow students to buying lukewarm taiyaki to store in your dorm’s fridge. You’ll also develop friendships with students outside of SEES, and will help them work through everything from sports injuries to romantic relationships with teachers. I mean, the narrative actually does the helping, you just weigh in from time to time for relationship points. There’s the nightlife, too, when you get time to study, play games at the arcade, take on jobs, try new foods, etc. There’s a lot to do and plenty of opportunities to do it, but there’s also a deep strategy to it all. Your choices affect your character’s charm, courage, and intelligence, all of which increase your abilities and open access to different story beats as you level up. There’s no real right or wrong to how you progress, but a balanced life is as good at GHS as it is in your reality. If this sounds stressful, don’t panic; the game gives you the ability to rewind your decisions to a certain point if you don’t like the results. Also, these activities are structured into specific time periods: before school, after school, and evenings. The story often skips over some of these periods or opens up others, but the basic structure remains intact; you’ll spend your days and nights leveling up, improving your relationships, and earning cash, then you’ll take it all into battle. The combat mostly takes place in the Tartarus during the Dark Hour. This is a constantly changing tower rife with demons, and exploring it is SEES’s main objective. You get full freedom of movement through each short level, acquiring treasures and battling enemies until you find the stairs to the next level. Those battles are turn-based, and they usually involve a party of four SEES members (including yourself). All members are equipped with a “persona”—a characterized power they call out by shooting themselves in the head (yes, I know, but it’s a visual metaphor, and writers are allowed to use metaphors). Each character’s persona has specific strengths and weaknesses, and you’ll need to use them effectively in combat—exploit an enemy’s weakness with the proper attack, defend your own weaknesses, apply buffs and debuffs as warranted. It helps that your character is able to shuffle through multiple personas that have been acquired via the story or demon fusion. Now, demon fusion is a whole thing that’s a bit too complicated to detail here. Basically, you can combine demons you’ve acquired to create a new, more powerful demon. You can determine which active and passive traits are passed through, you can release demons to make room for others, you can buy them back…it can take up a lot of your time (and in-game funds) as you seek to optimize the demons at your disposal. Anyone familiar with Persona or Shin Megami Tensei knows how this works. If not, it’s pretty well explained in the game, although you’re on your own (or on the Internet) for strategies. Eventually, you’ll reach a point in the tower that’s blocked off, and then it’s back to the daily grind. If you’re able to get there in one shot, great; you’ve now got more time for the social aspects. If not, you can leave and return with refreshed health and SP for your special persona attacks. I found it easier to complete full sections in Persona 3 than in Persona 5, but whether that’s because it’s simpler or I’ve just become more experienced, I can’t say. This only scratches the surface of the abilities you’ll gain and the tasks you’ll complete in and out of the Tartarus. One of Persona 3 Reloaded’s greatest feats is its ability to keep gameplay fresh over its approximately 100-hour runtime. Both high school life and the demon hunting are repetitive by nature, but the game’s stellar story and the demon compendium continually give you something to look forward to. Solving a character’s problems and awakening his or her persona always makes for a great moment. (And, of course, you get to romance some of those characters, too.) The remake’s visuals are pretty solid. The anime cutscenes are great, and the varying designs within the Tartarus (not to mention the enemies along the way) are fascinating. Having played Persona 5 Royal first, however, I felt the overall presentation here was a step back. So was the energy level. This doesn’t harm the experience, however. What will is the fact that the game is Switch 2-compatible only. I don’t see anything here that would make a Switch version impossible, but I’m not a programmer. Where the game does get too repetitive is with the music. The pop songs sprinkled throughout are fine, but not good enough for the number of times you’ll hear them. How could they be considering the rate at which they’re played? I’d point out again that this is rarely an issue with symphonic scores, but the pop style is inherent in Persona’s identity; hearing the music, my wife asked why I was playing Persona 5 again. All of these elements (and others I didn’t mention) add up to create a slick, exciting, highly memorable gaming experience. Persona 3 Reload is the kind of game you spend the day waiting to get back to. And now that I’ve finished both it and 5, I’ll spend the day waiting for the next Persona remake, reload, rehash, whatev-Re. The post Review: Persona 3 Reload (Switch 2) appeared first on Pure Nintendo.

Nintendo has announced a free update for the lovely Pikmin 4, bringing new Pikmin styles, modes, and more. The new content will be released next month.

Pikmin 4 was originally

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Nintendo has announced a free update for the lovely Pikmin 4, bringing new Pikmin styles, modes, and more. The new content will be released next month. Pikmin 4 was originally released in July 2023. Two-and-a-bit years later, we’ve all been expecting an updated Switch 2 version. When will we learn to temper our expectations when it comes to Nintendo? Instead, Nintendo has surprised us all with a free update to the original Switch version that merges a few features with the mobile title, Pikmin Bloom. Let’s break it down. Firstly, the incredibly cute Decor Pikmin from Pikmin Bloom are making their first console appearance by joining the Pikmin crew. These adorable Pikmin wear various objects, like a donut around their body or ice cream on their head. Some even wear a cardboard bus cutout. Seriously, they are the definition of charming. These new Pikmin will be dotted around the environment, allowing you to search and discover them for yourself. Not only will the Decor Pikmin be discoverable in Pikmin 4, but there’s also a new Pikmin Bloom connection that allows you to send your new critters to the mobile app. We love a good integration! Additionally, Pikmin 4 will receive a couple of new ways to play. A new Photo Mode will allow players to capture the perfect moment astride Oatchi or among their Pikmin tribe. You can add your own stickers and frames, too. Frankly, we’re surprised this welcome feature wasn’t already included. In the difficulty department, a couple of new options will also be available. First up, you’ll be able to play at your leisure in the new Relaxed mode. This chill approach allows you to walk right by an enemy without it attacking. If you attack, they will retaliate, but they’re also much easier to defeat. You can even pose for a photo with enemies like a Bulborb in the aforementioned Camera Mode! If you’re after something a little more spicy, the Fierce Mode might be more your style. This mode ramps up the difficulty, perfect for experts looking for a new challenge. Check out the trailer below to see the new features in action. But wait, there’s more! Pikmin Blloom is also receiving a little extra love (apart from the Decor connectivity). We can expect to see Ice Pikmin wandering around our neighborhoods in the near future, too. The Pikmin 4 and Pikmin Bloom updates are slated for sometime in November. While no specific date has been announced, it won’t be too long before we’re snapping pics of cute Pikmin wearing odd costumes. In the meantime, check out our glowing review of Pikmin 4. For those new to the series or still on the fence, there’s a free demo available so you can give it a try. The demo will be updated in November to show off some of the new features, too. Which is your fave Pikmin? Let us know if you’re partial to Rock, Ice, Glow, or one of the many colored variations! The post Pikmin 4 and Pikmin Bloom to get free update this November appeared first on Pure Nintendo.

There are many ways to describe video games. The genre. The graphics. The story and characters. OFF is one of those games that somehow defies a simple definition. Sure, it’s

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There are many ways to describe video games. The genre. The graphics. The story and characters. OFF is one of those games that somehow defies a simple definition. Sure, it’s an RPG with turn-based battles. It’s also a top-down adventure full of tricky puzzles. But despite those descriptions, OFF is not easy to categorize. I’m not even sure why it’s called OFF. It’s off-kilter, that’s for sure. To say this game is a little out there is an understatement. It’s weird. It’s very weird. Thankfully, it’s also fun. Let’s step back a second to explain what’s going on here to see if you can make sense of things. OFF is actually a 2008 Windows game that’s been remade for the Nintendo Switch and Steam. It’s hailed as a bit of a cult classic, one of the indie darlings that inspired countless devs to create other classics like Deltarune. Somehow, I hadn’t even heard of this before picking it up for the purposes of this review. When I saw it described as a turn-based RPG, I assumed I understood it. I’m here to tell you it’s much more than that. The premise is relatively simple. You play the role of The Batter, a baseball player who’s been tasked with cleansing the land of demons. A standout feature is the fourth wall references throughout the story, whereby The Batter seems to know he’s being controlled by you. You provide your name up front, but this is not the character’s name (that’s The Batter, remember); this is your name, and several characters will speak directly to you. It’s unnerving, and sets the scene for an outing that’s a little off. The game consists of five zones to work through. Everything feels odd, like you’re trapped in another dimension. The characters look and act like NPCs, but they seem hypnotized or self-aware. It’s hard to describe, but OFF somehow creates a feeling of making you, both as the player and The Batter, feel like a stranger in this world. You don’t belong here. Neither do the evil spirits infiltrating each zone. You’ll face off against all sorts of odd creatures via randomized battles. I’m not a huge fan of being forced to fight this way, but that’s a personal preference. This is a relatively short game, so the fights don’t become too annoying. On the plus side, you will unlock several allies and upgrade your skills along the way, helping to keep the battles interesting as you progress. OFF also features some of the most interesting puzzles I’ve even come across in a game. They’re tricky, relying on environmental clues to help you decipher them. There’s a strong emphasis on numbers, so pay attention to your surroundings. I needed help more than a few times, but there’s nothing that can’t be solved with a bit of patience. A pen and a piece of paper (if you’re feeling old school) or snapping pics of relevant sections (if you’re more digitally inclined) is highly recommended to keep track of everything. The graphics accentuate the feeling of the game’s strangeness by using bright tones coupled with a washed-out pastel look. It’s jarring at times, soothing at others, but never conventional. It does its best to stand out in this area, too. It’s a game I won’t soon forget, from the creepy sound the NPCs make to the distorted and often gross-looking enemies in battles. It won’t be for everyone, but if you’re after something different, you will find it here. The post Review: OFF (Nintendo Switch) appeared first on Pure Nintendo.

Primarily text-based, Roadwarden offers a story of exploration, survival, and mystery wrapped in a low-fantasy blanket. It’s a story that succeeds, but it's hobbled by the limitations of the Switch interface.

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Roadwarden is a retro-RPG that’s been made with a lot of care. Primarily text-based, it’s a story of exploration, survival, and mystery wrapped in a low-fantasy blanket. With its detailed writing, it attempts to put you in the well-worn boots of a lone adventurer in a strange, forbidding world. It’s a story that succeeds, but it’s hobbled by the limitations of the Switch interface. You play as a Roadwarden, and your job is to secure the savage roads of a peninsula for travelers and traders. With only your horse and skills (more on that in a bit), you start exploring, finding what few settlements remain (and the remains of those that don’t), fighting beasties, and encountering the weird and strange artifacts that dot the land (“Oh, a giant tree, partially submerged in front of a stone altar? This merits attention…”) The setup of the game offers you flexibility and replayability. You can choose your class (Scholar, Mage, or Warrior) and various starting perks, as well as your background and motivation, which can give you bonuses to interactions throughout the game. The merchant’s guild has sent you, but what’s your real reason for exploring? What do you hope to gain? Are you an altruist who seeks to help the human colonies connect, or… something else? Once you start on the road, the first movement of the game is about exploration and worldbuilding. Set in a Dark-Ages-esque kingdom of magic and monsters, you’ll encounter the humans who eke out a living by whatever means they can. Dialogue is mostly decision-tree based; you see the list of topics you can ask, and most of the time you’ll get a stock answer. Sometimes people will refuse to answer questions until they trust you more or you offer something they want in return, but your tone can also affect these relationships. Do you want to make a joke or take a sterner tone, leaning on your authority? These decisions will matter because while there’s a lot of exploration to be done in Roadwarden, and you’ll come back to the main settlements time and again, unlocking information that wasn’t available before. If you survive, that is. Because a big component of Roadwarden is survival—not just survival in combat, but the day-to-day hassle of keeping your mind and body together while living in that world. You have not just your health to worry about, and the condition of your armor and weapons, but also your nourishment (don’t starve to death) and your cleanliness. Diseases can kill, sure, but failing to bathe (with soap, a consumable resource) can affect your interactions. The tone of Roadwarden is so incredibly strong. The text (and there’s a lot of text) spells out not only what you’re dealing with, but the feel of being there: body language, smells, the vibe of the weird, burnt-out fields you’re forced to wander. In addition, the nearly-monochrome pixel art that accompanies the words really adds an oomph! to it all. You come across a destroyed settlement, but a fog of war only reveals the part of the town that you’ve chosen to explore. Do you go around or through? It smells terrible, your stomach is turning (are you getting sick?) and the sun is getting lower in the sky. That’s another aspect of the game to keep track of: time. Sure, your job is to tame the roads, but don’t be foolish enough to think you can spend the night outdoors. You can ride from town to town during the daylight, but make sure you find a safe spot to stay at night. And there’s another ticking clock; you only have 40 days to explore before you must return to the merchant’s guild and give your report (and solve whatever other agendas you may have). All of this is incredibly immersive for a game with such a minimalist presentation, but the biggest problem is that it runs into its greatest foe: the Nintendo Switch interface. Roadwarden has a lot of information to keep track of: all of your stats, your equipment, the time of day, the map, the dialogue, and your on-screen decisions. And figuring out how to highlight the thing you want to do is a freaking pain. You can use the left stick to move about the screen to what you’re trying to select, but if you’re not using the left D-pad, you’re a fool. It’s incredibly frustrating to be at a crucial decision point and finally make your choice, only (bottom center) to find that the game is concerned that you don’t remember what your character name is or your class (upper left). Why are you telling me my armor is half-gone (which I can see on the middle right) when I’m trying to tell the merchant the gossip I discovered? And don’t even get me started on trying to move out of a location and into a new, unexplored area on the map. Another big problem is that on my series-one Switch, the selections frequently just don’t register. I have it highlighted, I hit the A button and…nothing. The other issue, of course, is that Roadwarden is a text-based game, and for my Old Guy Eyes, playing it on the switch screen is a recipe for headaches and eyestrain. Docked has to be the way to go. Also, you’ll want to keep a notebook handy. Roadwarden is a game of details and names. The text will bold names and concepts that are important (and keeps them in an in-game journal you can refer to), but there’s so much information that you’ll need your own, real-world resources to keep track of what’s important for use in the dialogue trees where you can type in your own actions and topics (another area in which the Switch interface isn’t ideal). That being said, Roadwarden’s contained world offers a lot of entertainment to those who take the time to explore (and re-explore) every nook and cranny. The post Review: Roadwarden (Nintendo Switch) appeared first on Pure Nintendo.

Of all the sports games available to us, I've always preferred basketball. This is despite the fact I don't care to watch the actual game—it's too squeaky and harshly lit. But I'm enjoying NBA 2K26 on the Switch 2.

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Of all the sports games available to us, I’ve always preferred basketball. This is despite the fact I don’t care to watch the actual game—it’s too squeaky and harshly lit. But I still play Super Pro Basketball on the Intellivision, and I’m now enjoying NBA 2K26 on the Switch 2. This involves dealing with some flaws that I’ll address up front. First, the game doesn’t really look all that great on the Switch 2. I’m fine with it only running at 30fps, which it does smoothly and consistently. I’m not fine, however, with the blurry appearance. NBA 2K26 doesn’t look bad, but I could never shake the feeling that the developers were focused on something other than visuals. And that “something other” may have been ads. You’re constantly pressed to spend more money on a game that will have already set you back $70 (on sale for $49 at press time). It’s almost as annoying as the gambling-app ads in actual sports broadcasts. And this is going on in an already extremely cluttered UI. Is NBA 2K26 the product or the commercial for the product? Once you’re able to focus within the din, however, you’ll discover a game that’s quite fun to play. It helps that 2K doesn’t assume you’ve been playing the series forever, offering a helpful and enjoyable tutorial. I played quite a few sports in my youth, and basketball was the only one that was fun to practice. That carries over here, so learning ball-handling, shooting, defending, etc. doesn’t feel like a necessary evil to get you up to speed. And if that’s taking longer than you’d like, you’re able to adjust the AI skill level in multiple ways to make sure you’re not embarrassing yourself. If I had that ability in real life, I may have continued playing for the Arrows beyond 7th grade. After you’ve learned (or reacquainted yourself with) the basics, hopping into Play Now is the best way to see how fun the game can actually be. I spent a while here playing in both the NBA and WNBA, continuing to view it all as practice. But it wasn’t long before I was able to quickly utilize the skills I’d been taught and rack up some wins. Again, it helps that the game is so active and quickly paced, forcing you to repeat the necessary button combos until they’re second nature. NBA 2K26 is a surprisingly easy game to learn despite its controller complexities. This makes the game rewarding, too. Basketball is a sport of chest-thumping, and that carries over into the video-game world. Unfortunately, Switch 2 players will mostly be relegated to boasting over AI opponents; there wasn’t a lot of activity online when I checked. Hopefully, you’ll have buddies you can meet up with for pick-up games if single-player action isn’t your thing. If not, NBA 2K26 gives you plenty of historical data and gameplay modes to keep you entertained even on your own. My Career allows you to create a player and take him/her from obscurity to the pros, but you’re required to be online to do it. Also, be ready to either spend time grinding or to dump more money into the game. This feels invasive and unnecessary to me. Have younger gamers become accustomed to it? There’s the MyGM mode that turns the game into more of a team management sim than an arcade-sports sim. MyNBA takes this even further, allowing you to oversee league decisions, staff salaries, training schedules, etc. for multiple eras of the sport. These features aren’t for basketball fans, they’re for basketball nuts. Managing a sports league (or even a team) isn’t why I play video games, but there’s a lot of depth here for those willing to dive in. And again, that’s good because it means you don’t have to bother with online play and microtransactions to get your (already exorbitant) money’s worth. As mentioned, it’s not too hard to get up to speed, allowing you to show off quickly against the AI or a local multiplayer opponent. I’m sure NBA 2K26 is better on other platforms. It would have to be. If you have access to those systems, stay there; the ability to play in handheld mode isn’t worth the visual downgrade (especially considering it’s well nigh impossible to read some of the text on the Switch 2 screen). I wonder if the developer, Visual Concepts, will get the Switch 2 figured out in time for NBA 2K27 and provide us with better visuals and performance. It may be worth holding out just to see if they do, as dropping $70 a year into this franchise doesn’t make much sense, especially considering all the money 2K hounds you for every time you boot it up. I no more want to deal with that than I’d want to deal with carnival barkers on my way to a pickup game at the park. But I do, because when you actually make it to the court, NBA 2K26 is fun…squeaks and all. The post Review: NBA 2K26 (Switch 2) appeared first on Pure Nintendo.

This week on the Pure Nintendo Podcast, Jemma, Trev, and Kirk discuss the latest Pokémon adventure for the Nintendo Switch and Nintendo Switch 2. And we’re really enjoying our time

The post Pokémon Legends Z-A is here! Pure Nintendo Podcast E134 appeared first on Pure Nintendo.

This week on the Pure Nintendo Podcast, Jemma, Trev, and Kirk discuss the latest Pokémon adventure for the Nintendo Switch and Nintendo Switch 2. And we’re really enjoying our time with it so far! On last week’s episode, we talked about upcoming Ninendo games like Pokémon Legends Z-A, Metroid Prime 4: Beyond, Kirby Air Riders, and Hyrule Warriors: Age of Imprisonment, all of which we played at PAX Aus 2025. This week, the first of these big hitters has been releassed! It’s time to talk Pokémon Legends Z-A. We also take a look at the latest news, with some interesting sales data around Nintendo’s mobile offering, and an Atari/Intelliviision update. Plus, we continue countding down to Halloween with some spooky recommendations, and we delve into the games we’re playing, including the fantastic Ball X Pit. It’s all happening on the Pure Nintendo Podcast, your weekly dose of all things Nintendo! With well over 100 episodes down, we’re excited to bring you more Nintendo content each and every week. There’s so much to look forward to in the rest of 2025 alone with Metroid Prime 4 and Hyrule Warriors yet to come our way. So be sure to tune in each and every Monday for the latest dose of all things Nintendo on the Pure Nintendo Podcast! Support us on the Pure Nintendo Podcast! And don’t forget to follow us on Blue Sky to keep up to date with our news and reviews, and support us over at Patreon.com/PureNintendo! Our next issue of the Pure Nintendo Magazine has just been shipped, so keep your eyes on your mailbox for your copy! Until next time, game on everyone! The post Pokémon Legends Z-A is here! Pure Nintendo Podcast E134 appeared first on Pure Nintendo.

All Steam news, all the time!

An update to Team Fortress 2 has been released. The update will be applied automatically when you restart Team Fortress 2. The major changes include: Reverted recent Thermal Thruster change

An update to Team Fortress 2 has been released. The update will be applied automatically when you restart Team Fortress 2. The major changes include: Fixed regression in itemtest Fixed some Botkiller Flame Thrower weapons not drawing the pilot light Fixed crash in CEntityBird::SpawnRandomBirds caused by recent change (GitHub fix from Bitl) Fixed collection checklists incorrectly marking some items as 'owned' (GitHub fix from rabscootle) Fixed Vaccinator resist icons persisting when a player changes team (GitHub fix from Bakugo) Fixed memory leak in sprite model (GitHub fix from CosminPerRam) Fixed memory leak in server browser blacklist check (GitHub fix from CosminPerRam) Fixed exit teleporters not using mult_teleporter_recharge_rate attribute (GitHub fix from The Fatcat) Fixed Thermal Thruster passives not being removed if it's unequipped during use or player is a Medic (GitHub fix from Bakugo) Reverted Gas Passer respawn room fixes (GitHub fix from Bitl) Updated CTeamControlPoint to allow null caller on SetOwner input (GitHub fix from megascatterbomb) Updated CTFBot to allow use of the Wrap Assassin's alt-fire (GitHub fix from Bitl) Updated/Added some tournament medals

An update to Team Fortress 2 has been released. The update will be applied automatically when you restart Team Fortress 2. The major changes include: Fixed crash related to KeyValues Added 'No Bullets' style for the Paka Parka Fixed Widowmaker not giving metal when Spy is disguised as their own team (GitHub fix from Grampa Swood) Fixed on-hit attributes not triggering when Spy is disguised as their own team (GitHub fix from Grampa Swood) Fixed game mode prefix check failing when loading maps from the Workshop (GitHub fix from LizardOfOz) Added null pointer checks for recent casual doors fix (GitHub fix from Bitl) Fixed a bug where Gas Passer gas can cover players with gas in spawn rooms (GitHub fix from Bitl) Fixed typo in logical expression (GitHub fix from Ian Brun) Fixed Vaccinator charge sounds playing multiple times per tick (GitHub fix from treacherousfiend) Fixed event text leak in CTFHudPasstimeBallStatus (GitHub fix from Dmitry Tsarevich) Fixed Minigun barrel movement being updated multiple times per tick (GitHub fix from Marioiscool246) Fixed CHealthAccountPanel not using NegativeColor for negative values (GitHub fix from Bradasparky) Improved the random class selection algorithm to reduce the chance of failure (GitHub fix from Bradasparky) Fixed KeyValues memory leak in birds (GitHub fix from CosminPerRam) Fixed Team Spirit Footprints BLU team coloring (GitHub fix from Herobrine0412) Fixed animation playback in the class selection menu (GitHub fix from Hunter Kvalevog) Updated Mann Co. Catalog controls to mimic Workshop dialog (GitHub fix from Liam Stone) Updated the Globetrotter to fix the second style using the wrong BLU team skin Updated/Added some tournament medals Updated the Seamann's Stubble Fixed the normal map for better shading Updated the backpack icon Updated arena_afterlife Fixed a rare regression bug that could cause players in Hell to count as alive Updated koth_dusker Fixed being able to build in RED spawn Fixed a perch spot outside of BLU spawn Added a visual delimitation for the capture zone Updated zi_atoll, zi_blazehattan, zi_devastation_final1, zi_murky, zi_sanitarium, and zi_woods Fixed an exploit that allowed Zombie Spies to disguise as Survivors Updated ctf_doublecross_event Took significant steps towards improving FPS on the map, especially around the bridge Reduced particle and prop usage around the map Removed the ability to roll the minify spell and replaced it with the teleport spell with one charge (Thanks Lizard of Oz) Added extensions to the window frames looking through each opposing team's base and made the raised shacks slightly more symmetrical to block Sniper sightline Removed the two spell books from just outside of the doors of each base Increased the respawn time of the rare spell book slightly Added Gargoyle spawns Fixed a number of minor visual issues and clipping bugs (Thanks Lilly, The Rat Man, Dr. Maxi, and everyone else who reported these!)

An update to Team Fortress 2 has been released. The update will be applied automatically when you restart Team Fortress 2. The major changes include: Updated the Sandy Unusual effect Fixed incorrect texture for the sand cloud particles when moving Reversed previous idle state changes

An update to Team Fortress 2 has been released. The update will be applied automatically when you restart Team Fortress 2. The major changes include: Updated the Mad Drip to fix a problem with LODs Updated cp_cowerhouse to fix regression from the previous update Updated the Sandy Unusual effect Movement State Changed sand clouds to be a camera depth bias of 0 instead of 5, this will help with the dust clouds unintentionally occluding the player model in some cases Idle State Changed idle sand clumps to lock rotation, so the sand falling isn't influenced by camera position Changed camera depth bias for idle clouds to 5 instead of 10, so that it doesn't occlude player model at unintended angles Updated the Sizzling Unusual effect Changed sequence random value from 4 to 3, in order to prevent steam sprites from spinning rapidly at random

An update to Team Fortress 2 has been released. The update will be applied automatically when you restart Team Fortress 2. The major changes include: Added 'No Bullets' style for the Commissar's Coat Added missing string for Cowerhouse contracts Updated/Added some tournament medals Updated the Mad Drip to fix LOD problems with a couple of the styles Updated the Candle Flame Unusual effect to fix a bug where flame's direction point wasn't placed correctly Updated the Viscera Visor to fix missing flex animation for the surgical hood mesh Updated Cigarillo Caballero to fix some clipping on the scarf when worn with the poncho Updated the El Gigante's Gunbelt Fixed some minor clipping, Fixed a gap on the back with another bullet Slightly scaled up belt buckle Updated the Poncho del Pesado Fixed "No Bullets" style not hiding the bullets Fixed some minor clipping on both styles Updated the Buzz Kill Fixed hair normals and improved texturing Updated backpack icon Updated the Torn Terror and the Ripped Runts Fixed AO problems and improved texture Improved mesh to fix clipping Updated arena_afterlife Fixed additional issues causing rounds to last or restart indefinitely Added two new Devil voicelines during preround Prevented players from going above the clocktower in Hell Fixed Devil voicelines overlapping each other Fixed players being able to cancel taunts or levitate by attempting to change class mid-round Fixed players being able to fall into the lava in Hell and survive Rounds are now best-of-3 minirounds instead of best-of-5 Removed crumpkins Updated cp_cowerhouse Reworked the implementation of the BLU last control point gantry: ragdolls no longer fall through, Engineers' buildings can be placed as intended, and players can properly fall to their demise after the gantry has opened in the post-round finale Prevented ragdolls from falling through the RED last control point pit Moved the soul gargoyle spawn that used to be underwater to be above-water on the debris buildup at the MID control point Shifted the boards on the upper waterfall-side RED barricade in MID to more closely match the height of its BLU counterpart Applied minor performance-related optimiztions throughout the map, namely: combined some groups of prop_dynamics each into one prop_static, disabled bone followers on static robots (& gibs), combined several func_nobuilds, and converted a few prop_dynamics to prop_static Adjusted a playerclip in the BLU spawn near the rear exit door Adjusted the playerclip around the BLU battlement's painting depicting the RED village on fire to more effectively prevent players from getting caught on the edge along the wall Mentioned in the changelog (because it wasn't being in nearly enough matches) that shooting each wood cow standin in the RED stable (near the MID control point) will result in them returning to haunt as ghost cows

An update to Team Fortress 2 has been released. The update will be applied automatically when you restart Team Fortress 2. The major changes include: Added missing style for the One-Man Convoy Fixed regression in vbsp Fixed broken styles for the Professor Photon Renamed Feathered Villain to Feathered Foe Updated the Pyromantic Plumage to fix a clipping problem Updated the backpack image for the Fused Plates Updated arena_afterlife Fixed the bug that caused the round to never end Fixed some of the default announcer lines not being replaced with the Devil Updated koth_dusker Lighting and fog adjustments Fixed displacement seam Fixed perch spot on blue mountain Fixed being able to build in the death pit Adjusted timing of voicelines Updated sd_marshlands Reduced pumpkin bomb amount Removed spell pickup from the mid shack Adjusted trigger_push speed on top of the bridge Reduced respawn time

An update to Team Fortress 2 has been released. The update will be applied automatically when you restart Team Fortress 2. The major changes include: Scream Fortress XVII has arrived! Featuring 5 new community maps: Cowerhouse, Dusker, Afterlife, Devilcross, and Marshlands Added the Spectral Stash Case Contains 23 new community-created cosmetic items that make up the Spectral Stash Collection Has a chance to give one of 4 new community-created Halloween-restricted items as a bonus item Has a chance to give a taunt Unusualifier as a bonus item Added 3 new community-contributed taunts to the Mann Co. Store Taunt: Heartbreaker Taunt: Healthcare Hog Taunt: Ring King Added 15 new community-created Unusual effects 7 new effects for Unusual hats 8 new effects for Unusual taunts All players who launch the game will receive a Soul Gargoyle if they don't already have one Grants access to Merasmissions and Halloween item transmutations Tracks Merasmissions completed and souls collected All Halloween Contracts have been reset, allowing them to be completed again Added new Contracts for this year's featured community maps Completing a Halloween Contract will give players a classic Halloween item and the chance for a Spectral Stash Case Continue last year's event by collecting the souls of dead players for your Soul Gargoyle by killing enemies, doing map objectives, or collecting the Soul Gargoyles that spawn in the maps All cosmetic and taunt Cases will grant Halloween 2025 Unusual effects instead of their normal Unusual effects during the event. This does not include Crates. Join Halloween matches by using the Special Events category in Casual Scream Fortress XVII runs through November 7th, 2025 General Added (VSH) and (ZI) extensions to the community game mode map names to help identify them Fixed self-illum settings for capture point materials (community fix from Horiuchi) Fixed The Weather Master not cloaking properly Fixed an issue with props and team colors when taunting with the Mutated Milk Updated several strings with consistency fixes Updated the ConTracker to allow community map contracts to be completed in any order Updated the Dusk Duster to add "No Bullets" styles and fix an issue with missing triangles under the right lapel Updated the Fully Charged and Overcharged Unusual effects to improve performance Updated Randolph the Blood-Nosed Caribou to fix missing self-illum setting for the BLU team Updated pl_camber Fixed forward spawn again Updated pl_citadel Adjusted prop placement around the C checkpoint Clipping fixes and adjustments Visual fixes and adjustments Updated koth_demolition Updated steam whistle sounds Reduced ambient_generic across the map to avoid problems with sounds not playing Adjusted RED side wooden signs on the lower flank to match BLU side Adjusted spawn points to point at the main door Removed trimp spot on the crane platform Moved healthpack on the crane platform forward so players don't need to make an U turn to reach the control point Added jump pad on the crane platform to allow less mobile classes to get back to the control point if they get stuck there Added critical hit particles to the "evil deer" when it kills players Added collision to some pipes near the control point platform so players can stand on them Adjusted nav mesh to accommodate the new changes (thanks again Katsu)

An update to Team Fortress 2 has been released. The update will be applied automatically when you restart Team Fortress 2. The major changes include: Fixed a physics crash whenever a ragdoll is spawned

An update to Team Fortress 2 has been released. The update will be applied automatically when you restart Team Fortress 2. The major changes include: Added 'No Bullets' styles for the Tsar Platinum, Siberian Sweater, Heavy Metal, and Bigger Mann on Campus Updated the Tsar Platinum to fix some clipping issues when using the 'No Bullets' style Updated/Added some tournament medals Updated pl_citadel Further adjustments to payload collision Adjusted cover near first checkpoint gate Made drawbridge less prone to crushing players while opening Fixed some projectiles colliding with the bounding box of func_brush entities Fixed an exploit that allowed buildings to be placed under terrain Fixed an exploit that allowed BLU players to enter RED spawn Improved navmesh (community fix from Koi) Visual fixes and adjustments Clipping adjustments Updated cp_gravelpit_snowy Enabled radial fog Repositioned weather particles Adjusted holiday events Fixed displacement seams Fixed footstep sounds on clipping brushes Updated pl_aquarius Fixed underwater speed boost conflicting with several item effects Fixed some cases where players could get stuck in payload lifts Fixed case where Megalodon could eat the payload without final being capped (Thanks Chaos!) Adjusted layout of catwalk area over A to improve flow and navigation Full ammo on B reduced to medium Slightly raised rubber catwalk over C lift Blocked dead end cubby near point C D shortcut platform given short barrier and easier pipe jump

An update to Team Fortress 2 has been released. The update will be applied automatically when you restart Team Fortress 2. The major changes include: Added 'No Bullets' style for the Heavy Tourism, the Combat Casual, the Sleeveless in Siberia, and the Siberian Tigerstripe Fixed point_camera transmit state in multiplayer (GitHub fix from ficool2) Fixed CVoiceStatus::UpdateServerState not sending the correct vban state from the client (GitHub fix from FlaminSarge) Updated the Team Cap to fix some clipping problems Updated/Added some tournament medals Updated cp_fortezza Managed problematic sniper sightline on point A Updated koth_boardwalk Fixed a missing window in Mad Manor Restored missing signage along the shoreline boardwalk Fixed the funhouse mirrors breaking under extreme circumstances

An update to Team Fortress 2 has been released. The update will be applied automatically when you restart Team Fortress 2. The major changes include: Added 'No Bullets' styles for the Brute's Braces and the Hunter Heavy to support the new 'bullets' bodygroup Updated cp_fulgur Added an extra dropdown path between B and C Fixed particle manifest naming Updated cp_fortezza Managed sniper sightlines on last Added new cover object to first point Improved clipping in areas Updated koth_demolition Fixed a prop on the RED helipad building being inside a wall Fixed two props missing particle effect on the helipad buildings Fixed a small bug with the shortcuts where sometimes they stayed closed after players exited them even when other players were on the trigger Fixed nav mesh (thanks Katsu for editing it) Added missing spectator cameras around the map Added the "evil deer" on the boat hanging above the sea, do not touch it Raised the water kill trigger slightly Changed the type of the water kill trigger from drown to fall so it displays the message " fell to a clumsy and painful death" Reduced the damage of the water kill trigger from 9999 to 2000 to avoid issues with physic objects Notes missed from the previous update: Fixed the Taunt: Bear Hug not always playing the correct animations

An update to Team Fortress 2 has been released. The update will be applied automatically when you restart Team Fortress 2. The major changes include: Added missing Engineer audio for the Taunt: The Final Score Fixed an issue with props and team colors when taunting with Australium weapons Updated the Le Morne Uniforme to fix some clipping problems Updated the Kapitan's Kaftan to hide the Heavy's bullets Updated the Fully Charged and Overcharged Unusual effects to fix a refraction bug Updated the Esprit De Corps to improve the rigging Updated the Blindin' Bonnett and Shady Shelby to adjust their team colors Updated/Added some tournament medals Updated the Fat Friar Improved rig Adjusted mesh to compensate for lack of bullets bodygroup Removed misplaced ambient occlusion and light generators from the texture Removed normal map artifacts Updated backpack icon to represent above changes Updated pl_citadel Adjusted payload collision Reduced radius of payload spawn exit explosion Updated various decorative particles to not render on low graphics settings Updated pl_odyssey Added 60 seconds to the round timer when the final control point is activated Fixed some projectiles colliding with the bounding box of func_brush entities Visual fixes and adjustments Updated koth_blowout Added Experimental Cage around the maps central Blowout Preventer This change aims to make the cover around the point feel more consistent and prevents players from shooting through small gaps or from behind unfair cover Improved Optimization Fixed kill trigger delay in finale sequence Fixed some Unintended Sightlines Improved Detailing and Visual Clarity in some areas Updated koth_boardwalk Fixed being able to smuggle enemy Spies into spawn Reduced ambient soundscape music Added new voice lines for the Barker Fixed a visible hall-of-mirrors error in the water by the Sawmill of Love Fixed visible nodraw under the shoreline boardwalk Updated cp_cargo Added bullet block to prevent Red from being able to shoot into blue spawn Added bullet block to the last point wires Fixed the setupgoal text Extended the fence next to red spawn slightly Updated cp_fortezza Added more cover to Last Added defensive hold for Engineer's holding valley between A and B Rebalanced pickups in some areas Lighting improvements Reduced file size of the map Updated koth_demolition Replaced pillars under the crane using the red texture with ones using the yellow texture Fixed the HDR so lights aren't super bright Replaced the helicopters with ones not using the Yeti Park logo Replaced the Coaltown frames with new ones using newspapers talking about story of the oilrig Added a decal showing the oilrig name (Fort Water Rig No. 2) next to the spawns Updated the luxel scale in multiple places of the map Replaced old blockbullets with new blockbullets for better footsteps sfx Replaced the health and ammo pack stands with new ones, metal for outdoors and wooden for indoors Added a mini ammo on the furnace rooms Added new clipping on top of the furnace rooms to avoid demos and soldiers spamming the point from far away Improved the clipping on the spawn platforms to not allow stickies to stick mid air Added a wooden sign pointing to the shortcut and long path Added new signs that toggle depending on the state of the shortcut to help players navigate the map Reworked the art pass inside the helipad platform Added a new catwalk behind the furnace buildings to give players more routes on the map Adjusted the stairs inside the office building Clipped the open window inside the office building so demos can lob pipes through it Moved a prop on BLU spawn to prevent it from clipping inside a floor light Changed the lights on the shortcuts to be more vibrant and have better illumination and fading

An update to Team Fortress 2 has been released. The update will be applied automatically when you restart Team Fortress 2. The major changes include: Reverted the change to the Taunt: Texan Trickshot Updated koth_boardwalk Fixed players being able to spam the Barker's voice lines when approaching the shooting galleries Fixed a set of missing handrails Improved ambient lighting Fixed missing shoreline visible from the far end of the pier

An update to Team Fortress 2 has been released. The update will be applied automatically when you restart Team Fortress 2. The major changes include: Fixed Wrangler shield not moving with parented Sentry Gun (GitHub fix from ficool2) Fixed missing sounds for Taunt: The Final Score Fixed sound effect being clipped for the Taunt: Bear Hug Reduced the taunt attack range for the Taunt: Texan Trickshot Updated the Esprit De Corps to fix a clipping issue on the shoulder Updated the Short Fuse to fix an issue with the normal map Updated the in-game item importer to support the new 'bullets' bodygroup Updated the Fully Charged and Overcharged Unusual effects to fix problems with DirectX80 Updated the Iconic Outline and Subtle Silhouette Unusual effects Added path to fallback material for refract texture to prevent rendering issues for dx80 users Lowered depth bias value of refraction to mitigate rendering issues on taunts that do not move their default control point with the model Updated pl_aquarius Fixed skybox Updated soundscapes Updated cp_conifer Fixed missing poster texture Fixed outdated loading screen pictures Updated cp_fulgur Fixed clipping in the exterior area Replaced one of the outdated spytech assets with newer version Updated pl_citadel VScript stability improvements

An update to Team Fortress 2 has been released. The update will be applied automatically when you restart Team Fortress 2. The major changes include: Summer 2025! Featuring 10 new community maps: Citadel, Aquarius, Fulgur, Cargo, Conifer, Boardwalk, Blowout, Mannhole, Demolition, and Pressure Added the Summer 2025 Cosmetic Case Contains 23 new community-contributed items Added 4 new community-contributed taunts to the Mann Co. Store Taunt: The Final Score Taunt: Bear Hug Taunt: Texan Trickshot Taunt: Flying Colors Added 14 new community-created Unusual effects 7 new effects for Unusual hats 7 new effects for Unusual taunts All cosmetic and taunt cases will grant Summer 2025 Unusual effects instead of their normal Unusual effects during the Summer event. This does not include crates. The Summer event runs through September 15th, 2025 General Fixed the Frontline Field Recorder not using its normal map Fixed The Texas Half-Pants not fully using rimlight Fixed the Das Hazmattenhatten's materials not using its normal map Fixed The Bazaar Bargain's scope being painted when using the Saccharine Striped, Team Detail, Gobi Glazed, and Team Charged war paints Fixed some outdated in-game tips Reduced default value for ConVar 'tf_mm_next_map_vote_time' from 30s to 15s Updated materials for The Candy Cane to fix consistency issues Updated lightwarptexture setting for the blood version of the Half-Zatoichi Updated the Strasbourg Scholar to improve clipping Updated the Heavy's model to add a 'bullets' bodygroup for cosmetics Updated/Added some tournament medals Updated cp_fortezza Reworked routes between Point A and Last Improved lighting and visuals across the map Clipping fixes Updated vsh_distillery, vsh_maul, vsh_nucleus, vsh_outburst, vsh_skirmish, and vsh_tinyrock Big thanks to Whurr, Starfall and Bradasparky for reporting bugs and suggesting changes. Balance changes Consecutive Wall Climbs no longer cut your preexisting speed Mini-Sentries now deal 80% damage (up from 50%) Crit-boosted Miniguns now deal 70% damage (up from 60%) Reduced the Mighty Slam's damage at point-blank range Rebalanced Hale's damage against buildings Level 1 buildings are destroyed with a single punch Level 2 and 3 buildings now require two punches The Wrangler Shield adds an additional punch to the required count Ability-based damage to buildings is unchanged Bugfixes Fixed a crash caused by the string pool overflowing over time Fixed Hale's attacks applying knockback in the wrong direction Fixed dead players being flagged as AFK and kicked for idling during long rounds Fixed the round timer resetting to 60 seconds if it was lower when the number of alive Mercs dropped to 5 Fixed Hale being able to punch immediately as the Sweeping Charge ends. Fixed Hale's punch knockback being too strong against Demoman, Heavy, and Medic Fixed healing effects from the Warrior's Spirit and the Powerjack erasing overheal Fixed the Quick-Fix occasionally failing to mirror the patient's Wall Climbing Fixed a rare bug at the start of a round where Hale couldn't move Fixed being able to Wall Climb off of projectiles

SCUM is Now Available on Steam! Traverse punishing environments, looting, crafting and evading the constant threats to your life. The unprecedented levels of character customization and progression are your ultimate tools for survival.

An update to Team Fortress 2 has been released. The update will be applied automatically when you restart Team Fortress 2. The major changes include: Fixed some players not being able to start Friends Only servers

An update to Team Fortress 2 has been released. The update will be applied automatically when you restart Team Fortress 2. The major changes include: Re-enabled all players to be able to use voice commands and party chat Added more detailed options for server visibility and privacy when creating a server The "Use Steam Networking" checkbox has been replaced with a dropdown, allowing the creation of Local, Friends Only, Unlisted and Listed servers -- defaulting to Unlisted Using map command by default will no longer create a join-able game Fixed a crash on exit under Linux

An update to Team Fortress 2 has been released. The update will be applied automatically when you restart Team Fortress 2. The major changes include: Fixed HUD scope animation exploit (GitHub fix from mastercoms) Fixed case where the door model for Match Status HUD wasn't initialized before setting the submodel (GitHub fix from rabscootle) Fixed money not automatically being collected in Mann vs. Machine respawn rooms (GitHub fix from mastercoms) Fixed stuck Mann vs. Machine bots sometimes causing spawn softlocks (GitHub fix from Mentrillum) Fixed Mann vs. Machine ammo canteens not affecting energy weapons (GitHub fix from Mentrillum) Fixed 'Shell Extension' achiemevent not working for energy weapons (GitHub fix from Mentrillum) Fixed not being able to deploy parachute after landing and becoming airborne without jump button (GitHub fix from FlaminSarge) Fixed some heap allocated KeyValues leaks (GitHub fix from Dmitry Tsarevich) Relaxed in-game chat restrictions for certain accounts

Darrington Press releases its official Daggerheart Blood Hunter playtest, bringing Matt Mercer's beloved character class to the fantasy TTRPG.
Read this article on TechRaptor

Darrington Press releases its official Daggerheart Blood Hunter playtest, bringing Matt Mercer's beloved character class to the fantasy TTRPG. Read this article on TechRaptor

11 bit studios has announced that the first major piece of paid Frostpunk 2 DLC, Fractured Utopias, will bring new factions and more in December.
Read this article on TechRaptor

11 bit studios has announced that the first major piece of paid Frostpunk 2 DLC, Fractured Utopias, will bring new factions and more in December. Read this article on TechRaptor

Fantasy Flight and Asmodee have announced a digital adaptation of Lovecraftian tabletop game Eldritch Horror, and it's coming to PC next year.
Read this article on TechRaptor

Fantasy Flight and Asmodee have announced a digital adaptation of Lovecraftian tabletop game Eldritch Horror, and it's coming to PC next year. Read this article on TechRaptor

Square Enix has revealed that Final Fantasy XIV Patch 7.4 will arrive in December, bringing with it a new dungeon, a new Trial boss, and more.
Read this article on TechRaptor

Square Enix has revealed that Final Fantasy XIV Patch 7.4 will arrive in December, bringing with it a new dungeon, a new Trial boss, and more. Read this article on TechRaptor

Para Bellum Games has announced a new Conquest Nepenthe Campaign box set. This includes a new Lore Campaign Pack and a Two-Player set.
Read this article on TechRaptor

Para Bellum Games has announced a new Conquest Nepenthe Campaign box set. This includes a new Lore Campaign Pack and a Two-Player set. Read this article on TechRaptor

Microsoft's latest financial results are in, and Xbox hardware sales are still in freefall, but software is proving a little more resilient.
Read this article on TechRaptor

Microsoft's latest financial results are in, and Xbox hardware sales are still in freefall, but software is proving a little more resilient. Read this article on TechRaptor

Chief Rebel and Arc Games have revealed dungeon-delving MMO Fellowship's first seasonal event, The Haunting of Stronghold, and it's live right now.
Read this article on TechRaptor

Chief Rebel and Arc Games have revealed dungeon-delving MMO Fellowship's first seasonal event, The Haunting of Stronghold, and it's live right now. Read this article on TechRaptor

A group of developers who worked on Mediatonic's hit platformer-battle-royale game Fall Guys have banded together to found new UK studio Panic Stations.
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A group of developers who worked on Mediatonic's hit platformer-battle-royale game Fall Guys have banded together to found new UK studio Panic Stations. Read this article on TechRaptor

Nintendo has announced a Switch 2 Edition upgrade for Animal Crossing: New Horizons, as well as a free update, and they both land in January.
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Nintendo has announced a Switch 2 Edition upgrade for Animal Crossing: New Horizons, as well as a free update, and they both land in January. Read this article on TechRaptor

14 years since the last mainline title, RENGAME have an uphill battle refreshing the Katamari series for the masses. Is Once Upon a KATAMARI a "rollaway" success? Read our review to find out more.
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14 years since the last mainline title, RENGAME have an uphill battle refreshing the Katamari series for the masses. Is Once Upon a KATAMARI a "rollaway" success? Read our review to find out more. Read this article on TechRaptor

Maestro Media's Disney Afternoon Rewind Kickstarter campaign went live, raising more than four times its initial funding goal in a single day.
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Maestro Media's Disney Afternoon Rewind Kickstarter campaign went live, raising more than four times its initial funding goal in a single day. Read this article on TechRaptor

Last week we got to discuss Dispatch with the cast and ask them about voicing multiple timelines and roleplaying superheroes!
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Last week we got to discuss Dispatch with the cast and ask them about voicing multiple timelines and roleplaying superheroes! Read this article on TechRaptor

Episodes 3 and 4 of Dispatch dig deeper into the various heroes of the world and puts some big choices in your hands.
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Episodes 3 and 4 of Dispatch dig deeper into the various heroes of the world and puts some big choices in your hands. Read this article on TechRaptor

A new Snapchat lens is letting you bring The Outer Worlds 2's Moon Man mascot to life by scanning the moon, no matter where you are.
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A new Snapchat lens is letting you bring The Outer Worlds 2's Moon Man mascot to life by scanning the moon, no matter where you are. Read this article on TechRaptor

Lost Records: Bloom & Rage developer Don't Nod is working on a new narrative adventure game based on a "major" Netflix IP.
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Lost Records: Bloom & Rage developer Don't Nod is working on a new narrative adventure game based on a "major" Netflix IP. Read this article on TechRaptor

Last week, I sat down with well-known actor Samantha Béart to discuss their start in video games, industry misconceptions, and how they're trying to shed light on everyone in game-making.
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Last week, I sat down with well-known actor Samantha Béart to discuss their start in video games, industry misconceptions, and how they're trying to shed light on everyone in game-making. Read this article on TechRaptor

FBC: Firebreak may well not be long for this world, if comments made by Remedy's new interim CEO Markus Mäki are anything to go by.
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FBC: Firebreak may well not be long for this world, if comments made by Remedy's new interim CEO Markus Mäki are anything to go by. Read this article on TechRaptor

Amazon has announced that development on PvP-focused MMORPG New World is coming to an end as thousands of Amazon employees lose their jobs.
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Amazon has announced that development on PvP-focused MMORPG New World is coming to an end as thousands of Amazon employees lose their jobs. Read this article on TechRaptor

Modiphius has launched its Kickstarter campaign for the Doom Arena Board Game, a tabletop adaptation of id Software's iconic shooter franchise.
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Modiphius has launched its Kickstarter campaign for the Doom Arena Board Game, a tabletop adaptation of id Software's iconic shooter franchise. Read this article on TechRaptor

We have new MTG Avatar: The Last Airbender cards to show, info on why there are no precon Commander decks, and everything else you want to know.
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We have new MTG Avatar: The Last Airbender cards to show, info on why there are no precon Commander decks, and everything else you want to know. Read this article on TechRaptor

We check out two brand new Star Wars Legion Starter Sets timed to coincide with the launch of a new rules refresh, serving as a new hope for new players!
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We check out two brand new Star Wars Legion Starter Sets timed to coincide with the launch of a new rules refresh, serving as a new hope for new players! Read this article on TechRaptor

Francis Coulombe and Devolver Digital have announced a major new update for pixel RPG Look Outside, and it brings new quests, new monsters, and more today.
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Francis Coulombe and Devolver Digital have announced a major new update for pixel RPG Look Outside, and it brings new quests, new monsters, and more today. Read this article on TechRaptor

Team Soda and bilibili have announced that Escape from Duckov has hit yet another big sales milestone, further cementing its status as a hit.
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Team Soda and bilibili have announced that Escape from Duckov has hit yet another big sales milestone, further cementing its status as a hit. Read this article on TechRaptor

A Crash Bandicoot animated series is reportedly in development at Netflix, with Sonic Prime's WildBrain Studios apparently working on the show.
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A Crash Bandicoot animated series is reportedly in development at Netflix, with Sonic Prime's WildBrain Studios apparently working on the show. Read this article on TechRaptor

Surely DOOM can't have all the fun, and Anshar Studios seem to agree, as Painkiller has returned after 13 years spent in Purgatory. Is it destined for Heaven, or are we hellbound? Read our Painkiller review to find out more.
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Surely DOOM can't have all the fun, and Anshar Studios seem to agree, as Painkiller has returned after 13 years spent in Purgatory. Is it destined for Heaven, or are we hellbound? Read our Painkiller review to find out more. Read this article on TechRaptor

To promote the new Dungeons & Dragons 2024 Forgotten Realms books, Wizards of the Coast is releasing The Tenebrous Stone on D&D Beyond for free.
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To promote the new Dungeons & Dragons 2024 Forgotten Realms books, Wizards of the Coast is releasing The Tenebrous Stone on D&D Beyond for free. Read this article on TechRaptor

The Combined Army has always been a mix of alien races, and now that mix includes humans as the narrative evolves with the Infinity Next Wave Action Pack.
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The Combined Army has always been a mix of alien races, and now that mix includes humans as the narrative evolves with the Infinity Next Wave Action Pack. Read this article on TechRaptor

Rumored battle royale spinoff-slash-gameplay mode Battlefield Redsec is official, it's free-to-play, and it's launching tomorrow.
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Rumored battle royale spinoff-slash-gameplay mode Battlefield Redsec is official, it's free-to-play, and it's launching tomorrow. Read this article on TechRaptor

Netflix has shut down its subsidiary Boss Fight Entertainment, best known for the global mobile smash hit Squid Game: Unleashed.
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Netflix has shut down its subsidiary Boss Fight Entertainment, best known for the global mobile smash hit Squid Game: Unleashed. Read this article on TechRaptor

Sharkmob has revealed that its battle royale game Vampire: The Masquerade - Bloodhunt will be going offline in April next year.
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Sharkmob has revealed that its battle royale game Vampire: The Masquerade - Bloodhunt will be going offline in April next year. Read this article on TechRaptor

These impressions will be spoiler free After years of speculation and multiple delays, The Assassin’s Creed franchise finally made it to Japan. With the stealth gameplay and assassination combat style, it only made sense to incorporate ninjas and samurai into the Assassin’s Creed world. In Assassin’s Creed Shadows, you play as a dual protagonist, the […]The post https://thegamefanatics.com/a-tale-of-two-warriors-assassins-creed-shadows-impressions/ appeared first on The Game Fanatics,.

With the growing popularity of mobile and cloud gaming, many have been on the hunt for the perfect controller. The Backbone and Razer Kishi have done a great job making mobile gaming more portable and accessible but I always felt like something was missing. The MCon controller from Ohsnap aims to address everything that is […]The post https://thegamefanatics.com/is-the-mcon-the-best-smart-phone-controller-yet/ appeared first on The Game Fanatics,.

Every year CES comes around and every year, LG has a great booth. They may be one of the most consistent companies when it comes to showing technology at the trade show. For years they have continued to improve incrementally and this year it has really paid off. From transparent televisions and projectors to small […]The post https://thegamefanatics.com/lg-at-ces-2025/ appeared first on The Game Fanatics,.

Six Days in Fallujah was originally announced in 2009. It is a first-person shooter based on the 2004 conflict in Iraq. It was met with much opposition because it is based on modern real-world events. This may not seem like a big deal in 2024 but things were slightly different in the years following 9/11. […]The post https://thegamefanatics.com/real-warfare-with-six-days-in-fallujah/ appeared first on The Game Fanatics,.

Mad Catz, the company known for their fight sticks, is releasing a new force feedback racing wheel. The Mad Catz M.2.X. Pro force feedback racing wheel is the perfect plug-and-play solution that works with your consoles and PC. In the box you get the racing wheel, a six speed shifter, foot pedals and all the […]The post https://thegamefanatics.com/level-up-you-racing-experience-with-the-mad-catz-m-2-x-pro-racing-wheel/ appeared first on The Game Fanatics,.

When Fortnite was initially released in 2017, it was a PVE defense game that didn’t seem like it would be around for long. With the growing popularity of games in the battle royale genre, Fortnite decided to throw its hat in the ring. Soon it would become not only the most popular battle royale but […]The post https://thegamefanatics.com/how-fortnite-hurt-the-gaming-industry/ appeared first on The Game Fanatics,.

https://youtu.be/Cagxj2RchQI?si=_fFf3fs_fsh7d0Fq Many people have a gaming franchise that changed their life in some way. I have life-long friendships that have been formed while playing games like Mario Kart and Golden Eye late into the night. Halo is the franchise that shaped a good portion of my gaming life. Halo 2 strengthened my passion for the […]The post https://thegamefanatics.com/what-halo-infinite-should-have-been/ appeared first on The Game Fanatics,.

https://youtu.be/EVSbA2Yxx2k?si=G2KXmPguAB_45u5n Meta recencetly heald their Meta Connect conference and announced some excited things if you’re into VR and AR. The Meta Quest 2 was once the hottest item in their lineup be we have some new tech on the horizon. It looks like the Meta Quest 2 is no longer being sold but it may […]The post https://thegamefanatics.com/should-you-buy-a-meta-quest-3s/ appeared first on The Game Fanatics,.

https://youtu.be/a2CCRgycbLI?si=3juhSUwirUTpKWoJ There have been rumors for years about what is next for Halo. Today during the Halo World Championships, we got our answers. 343 Industries will now be known as Halo Studios. This is exciting because it let’s the fans know that Xbox/Microsoft has not given up on the franchise. The long rumored move to […]The post https://thegamefanatics.com/what-is-the-future-of-halo/ appeared first on The Game Fanatics,.

It may surprise many, but there has never been a Power Rangers arcade beat ’em up game. (I know right!?!?!) Mighty Morphin Power Rangers: Rita’s Rewind is a passion project from people who felt the Power Rangers deserved their shine. You and four friends can join up to go against classic enemies from the Power […]The post https://thegamefanatics.com/mighty-morphin-power-rangers-ritas-rewind-developer-interview/ appeared first on The Game Fanatics,.

Going into PAX West 2024, I knew that I was going to enjoy ‘Jay and Silent Bob: The Chronic Blunt Punch’, but I did not know it was going to be my game of the show. Some may remember the retro style ‘Jay and Silent Bob: Mall Brawl’ game that was released in 2020. Well, The […]The post https://thegamefanatics.com/jay-and-silent-bob-the-chronic-blunt-punch-pax-west-2024/ appeared first on The Game Fanatics,.

Ash Habib has a true passion for boxing and Undisputed is his love letter to the sport. ‪@PlayUndisputed‬ aims to be both a technical and fun boxing game. The game is currently in early access and will have over 70 boxers, you can also create your character in a deep career mode. I had a […]The post https://thegamefanatics.com/undisputed-at-pax-west-2024/ appeared first on The Game Fanatics,.

Star Wars games have been around for longer than many gamers have been alive at this point. You have played as clone troopers, Jedi, fighter pilots, and now in Star Wars Outlaws, you will be playing as a scoundrel. This is a slightly more grounded story than the ones many players have experienced before and […]The post https://thegamefanatics.com/is-star-wars-outlaws-any-good-review-in-progress/ appeared first on The Game Fanatics,.

There has been some rumor and speculation that we would be getting a PS5 Pro as soon as this year. We are halfway through the year and past ‘E3’ season and there is still no word. With the lack of console price drops, is the mid-gen refresh still a thing? There are some people who […]The post https://thegamefanatics.com/where-is-the-ps5-pro/ appeared first on The Game Fanatics,.

I’ve been playing the Marvel Rivals for a couple of weeks and there are a ton of things to dissect here. The game is a ton of fun but it is definitely not perfect. If you enjoy games like Overwatch, then this will definitely be a game for you. The gameplay loop is very similiar […]The post https://thegamefanatics.com/is-marvel-rivals-any-good/ appeared first on The Game Fanatics,.

In Hive Jump 2: Survivors, try to survive as long as you can against what seems like endless waves of aliens. With many weapons and jumpers to unlock, be prepared for hours of fun. This is a smaller game that packs a big punch. Hive Jump 2 takes a lot of the weapons and enemies […]The post https://thegamefanatics.com/lets-play-hive-jump-2-survivors/ appeared first on The Game Fanatics,.

The long rumored price increase of Xbox Game Pass has finally been confirmed and we have a detailed breakdown of the pricing structure. With these new prices and a new tier, is this still the best deal in gaming? I believe that there are a couple of different ways to assess the value of Game […]The post https://thegamefanatics.com/the-price-of-xbox-game-pass-is-going-up/ appeared first on The Game Fanatics,.

If you missed it, Xbox is bringing its cloud gaming services to Amazon Fire TV devices. There have been talks about an Xbox streaming device for years now. With the partnership, will we still get streaming hardware from Microsoft? Is this the best way to get Xbox games in more homes? Let’s talk about it.The post https://thegamefanatics.com/xbox-cloud-gaming-is-coming-to-amazon-devices/ appeared first on The Game Fanatics,.

Ubisoft just released season 1 of XDefiant and it comes with a ton of content. If you are not aware, XDefiant is a free-to-play shooter that ties in characters and abilities from various Ubisoft games. XDefiant Preseason was originally released in May of 2024 and it garnered a lot of attention. Some even went as […]The post https://thegamefanatics.com/xdefiant-season-01-is-here/ appeared first on The Game Fanatics,.

Nintendo’s most recent direct delivered a ton of games and I am sure there was something for everyone here. From HD Remakes to long awaited sequels, Nintendo made sure that there was a reason for lapsed players to dust off that Switch. Now I have to admit, I am one of those lapsed players who […]The post https://thegamefanatics.com/nintendo-gave-the-people-what-they-wanted/ appeared first on The Game Fanatics,.

During the most recent Xbox showcase, they announced three new SKUs of the Xbox Series X|S consoles. While we didn’t get an announcement of a new handheld like many were hoping there may still be a possibility in the future. Phil Spencer was questioned about this during IGN live and he seemed excited about the […]The post https://thegamefanatics.com/what-is-the-future-of-xbox-hardware/ appeared first on The Game Fanatics,.

If you are not familiar, SolForge Fusion is a CCG (Collectable Card Game) created by Richard Garfield (Magic The Gathering) and Justin Gary (Ascension). It started as a physical card game and it is now making its way over to Steam. I have been having the best time in its single-player campaign mode. It reminds […]The post https://thegamefanatics.com/a-collectable-card-battler-lets-play-solforge-fusion/ appeared first on The Game Fanatics,.

For those who are not aware, Gigantic was originally released in 2017. It is a third-person MOBA Hero hero shooter originally developed by Motiga and published by Perfect World Entertainment. I had a ton of fun with the game when it was originally released but unfortunately, the servers shut down a year late. Now, in […]The post https://thegamefanatics.com/gigantic-is-back-and-you-should-be-playing-it/ appeared first on The Game Fanatics,.

Most people who have used a PC or had some sort of laptop bag have heard of Targus. They are a well-known name in the PC peripheral space and have been around since 1983. Targus has continued to innovate when it comes to laptop bags and things like PC docking stations. We saw a ton […]The post https://thegamefanatics.com/targus-targets-sustainability-and-innovation-with-their-ecosmart-line-of-products/ appeared first on The Game Fanatics,.

Many people are most familiar with Moon Studios from their games in the Ori universe. Those games are filled with some of the best and most complex platforming mechanics and amazing art. With No Rest For The Wicked, Moon Studios is partnering with Private Division for a totally new experience. They will be applying their […]The post https://thegamefanatics.com/no-rest-for-the-wicked-launch-trailer/ appeared first on The Game Fanatics,.

People have questioned the benefit of Game Pass since its original release in 2017. Subscription services can have amazing benefits for the consumer but does it negatively impact developers? The amount of content that is available continues to grow (along with the prices of said content) but people’s time and budgets continue to stay the […]The post https://thegamefanatics.com/are-subscription-services-like-xboxs-game-pass-good-for-developers/ appeared first on The Game Fanatics,.

When we say that Shidosha has an interesting taste in games, we are not exaggerating. Are you into bullet hell shooters? How about dating sims? Well if that piques your interest, Kamikaze Lassplanes may be a game you need to check out. This may not be the style of game you expect from a Polish […]The post https://thegamefanatics.com/a-plane-dating-sim-kamikaze-lassplanes-pax-east-2024/ appeared first on The Game Fanatics,.

No Love Lost is a new extraction shooter from Ratloop Games Canada. You are dropped onto an alien world and have to compete against not only the enemy team but the environment as well. The concept of an extraction shooter is not new but the team-based competitive elements make things feel a little fresh. There […]The post https://thegamefanatics.com/a-colorful-competitive-extraction-shooter-no-love-lost-pax-east-2024/ appeared first on The Game Fanatics,.

PAX continues to deliver new and unique gaming experiences. This year, one of our favorite games was Heartworm, a PS1 style horror game with Tank controls. Inspired by games like Silent Hill, Resident Evil, and Dino Crisis, Heartworm aims to scratch that nostolgic itch that some many people have been feeling. You play as Sam, […]The post https://thegamefanatics.com/a-ps1-styled-masterpiece-heartworm-pax-east-2024/ appeared first on The Game Fanatics,.

Digital Extremes held their most recent Devstream live during PAX East 2024, celebrating 11 years of Wareframe. One of the most exciting bits of news was the deeper look into the upcoming Warframe 1999. This included a new cinematic trailer launching later this year: Jade Shadows. Here you are introduced to the 57th Wareframe, Jade […]The post https://thegamefanatics.com/warframe-and-soulframe-make-an-apprearance-at-pax-east-2024/ appeared first on The Game Fanatics,.

It’s been a while since we first got word that the great Amy Hennig was working on a new Black Panther and Captain America game. After creating something like Uncharted, many couldn’t wait to see what was next from Amy. Her highly anticipated Star Wars game was canceled so many were delighted when they got […]The post https://thegamefanatics.com/get-a-closer-look-at-the-new-black-panther-and-captain-america-game-marvel-1943/ appeared first on The Game Fanatics,.

I have been on the search for a decently priced wireless keyboard and there is no shortage these days. Our friends over at Mad Catz sent over their S.T.R.I.K.E. 11 mechanical keyboard for us to try out. The first thing you will notice is its unique design. The red and black colorway is striking (no […]The post https://thegamefanatics.com/mad-catz/ appeared first on The Game Fanatics,.

Nanoleaf has been one of the market leaders in the gaming lighting space for years now. They have a variety of products to level up not only your office space but your entertainment system. The Nanoleaf 4D kit is definitely one of the best led kits that I have tried. The camera takes the immersion […]The post https://thegamefanatics.com/level-up-your-set-up-with-nanoleaf/ appeared first on The Game Fanatics,.

Final Fantasy 7 Rebirth is the next big game set for release and the rumor mill has been set ablaze with talks of Xbox going multi-platform. We take a few minutes to talk about our past with the Final Fantasy franchise and Brandon gives us his thoughts on what he thought of the State of […]The post https://thegamefanatics.com/final-fantasy-7-rebirth-and-whats-next-for-xbox-lets-chat/ appeared first on The Game Fanatics,.

AR and VR were some of the bigger topics during this year’s CES. Last year I was able to go hands-on with the Pimax Portal but this year it was all about the Pimax Crystal. The Pimax Crystal has some of the highest quality when it comes to VR headsets on the market. Each eye […]The post https://thegamefanatics.com/the-pimax-crystal-8k-vr-headset-ces-2024/ appeared first on The Game Fanatics,.

Reviewing all the coolest, newest games for Xbox, Playstation, Switch & PC!

Microsoft is planning to remake Halo 2 and Halo 3 with campaign-only features, including sprinting, while focusing multiplayer efforts on Halo 7, according to leaks from Halo insiders.

In November, PlayStation Plus Essential offers new games: Stray, an adorable cat adventure; EA Sports WRC 24, the last from Codemasters; and Totally Accurate Battle Simulator, featuring whimsical battles. Enjoy!

Amazon Gaming will cease new content for New World: Aeternum, which attracted a modest player base. The game will operate until the end of 2026, but its future remains uncertain.

Battlefield REDSEC, a free-to-play battle royale based on Battlefield 6, launches tomorrow at 8:00 PT / 15:00 UTC, alongside Season 1 content, and will feature numerous microtransactions.

The remake of Halo: Combat Evolved will launch on PS5, confirming future Halo titles will also be available on PlayStation. Community director Brian Jarrad stated this marks a new era for Halo.

Halo: Campaign Evolved, a remake of the original Halo, will launch in 2026 for PlayStation, Xbox, and PC. It introduces new missions, co-op gameplay, and enhanced graphics, along with nostalgic elements.

Microsoft Gaming CEO Phil Spencer clarified that there's no AI usage mandate for Xbox teams. AI is mainly utilized for operational purposes, such as security and moderation, not creativity.

Ghost of Yotei has surpassed 2.5 million sales in three weeks, outperforming Assassin's Creed: Shadows on PS5, which took seven months to reach 2.4 million copies sold.

Bethesda announces Fallout 4: Anniversary Edition, releasing on November 10, 2025, for multiple platforms. It includes DLC and Creation Club content but disappoints fans with no special features or physical release.

A report by Jason Schreier indicates Microsoft demands Xbox achieve a 30% profit margin, prompting job cuts and price increases. This goal contrasts with previous targets, raising concerns over Xbox's financial viability.

Free Video Game Alpha & Beta Tests. The Worlds Biggest Beta Testing Site

Haunted Paws is a spooky co-op adventure that blends cozy pet simulation with gentle horror as you and a friend become puppies on a mission to rescue your kidnapped human from a haunted mansion.

In Haunted Paws you can customize your canine character by selecting breed, fur color, and accessories – even recreating your real-life pet – before embarking on a heartwarming yet eerie journey. … Read More

The post Haunted Paws – Beta Sign Up first appeared on Alpha Beta Gamer.

Steel Effigy is a frenetic co-op third-person hack-and-slash set in a steampunk world dominated tyrants who command legions of enslaved machines.

In Steel Effigy you are a customizable Effigy warrior, who must cleave through mechanical hordes alone or with up to three allies in roguelite runs that never play the same way twice. You can modify your dual weapons mid-run with powerful augments that dramatically … Read More

The post Steel Effigy – Open Beta first appeared on Alpha Beta Gamer.

Dinoblade is a ridiculous (and surprisingly good) soulslike action RPG where you wield a sword in your mouth and battle other dinosaurs.

In Dinoblade evolution takes an unexpected turn when a cosmic cataclysm arms dinosaurs with weapons and ancient powers. As a young Spinosaurus wielding a massive great sword, you’ll battle through a prehistoric world on the brink of extinction.

The combat doesn’t have quite … Read More

The post Dinoblade – Alpha Demo first appeared on Alpha Beta Gamer.

Static Dread: The Submarine is a Lovecraftian horror game that plunges players into a claustrophobic nightmare where isolation becomes your constant companion.

Taking place in the same world as Static Dread: The Lighthouse, Static Dread: The Submarine looks like a very different style of adventure, but with similar Lovecraftian themes. Played in first person, you’ll navigate narrow corridors and failing systems while utilizing unique … Read More

The post Static Dread: The Submarine – Beta Sign Up first appeared on Alpha Beta Gamer.

Name of the Will aims to reinvent horror by replacing darkness with blinding sunlight, and jump scares with suffocating social pressure.

In Name of the Will you are a model cult member with a spotless record and no memory. You have no idea what the cult is or why you’re there, but you’ll need to blend in to stay safe. Your greatest threat isn’t monsters … Read More

The post Name of the Will – Beta Demo first appeared on Alpha Beta Gamer.

The Mailroom is a mail-sorting horror game where you diligently sort mail in the basement of a shady demonic corporation.

In The Mailroom you’ve been “lucky” enough to land a job in the mailroom of a weird old building (even though you don’t recall applying for the job in the first place). The job is fairly simple – collect the mail from a very creepy … Read More

The post The Mailroom – Beta Demo first appeared on Alpha Beta Gamer.

SunderBound is a co-op shooter where survival means ascending through a brutalist mega-tower after a catastrophic weather weapon shattered the world.

In SunderBound you’ll take part in tactical floor-by-floor combat where cover matters, ammo counts, and split-second decisions separate victory from defeat. Whether playing with a friend online, side-by-side in couch co-op, or alongside an adaptive AI companion, coordinated teamwork defines every firefight.

You can … Read More

The post SunderBound – Beta Sign Up first appeared on Alpha Beta Gamer.

Monk Took Book is a co-op action memory game where bookkeeping becomes a perilous adventure on a secluded island monastery.

In Monk Took Book players organize an ever-expanding collection of uniquely illustrated tomes by day, then retrieve specific volumes by night – when something decidedly unholy stalks the shelves. The game tests your spatial recall as you categorize books across a hand-crafted library campus. Spend … Read More

The post Monk Took Book – Beta Sign Up first appeared on Alpha Beta Gamer.

The Secret of Weepstone is a hand drawn black-and-white dungeon crawler that resurrects the spirit of 1980s D&D tabletop roleplaying.

Taking place in the desperate village of Weepstone, in The Secret of Weepstone six ordinary villagers venture into a foreboding keep to uncover the source of their lord’s mysterious illness. The game embraces old-school RPG mechanics with physical dice rolls determining your fate during combat … Read More

The post The Secret of Weepstone – Beta Demo first appeared on Alpha Beta Gamer.

Chunky JUMP! is a clever pixel art horror game that blends platforming and multitasking horror as you play a strange old handheld game while working at a gas station.

Created by Pichon Games (creator of The Bunny Graveyard) Chunky JUMP! sees you running a gas station by day and fending off monsters at night. Key to this is a handheld Bird Boy console where … Read More

The post Chunky JUMP! – Beta Demo first appeared on Alpha Beta Gamer.

Far Far West is a chaotic co-op FPSwhere six-shooters meet sorcery as robot cowboys hunt dangerous bounties across a twisted version of the Wild West.

Playable with up to four players, Far Far West takes place in a Wild West populated by reanimated skeletons, haunted mines, and even a giant ghost train. Combat blends traditional gunslinging with magical abilities – switch between revolver fire and … Read More

The post Far Far West – Open Beta first appeared on Alpha Beta Gamer.

Crude Survivor TD blends FPS and tower defense gameplay as humanity’s mutation into oil-hungry biomechanical horrors leaves you stranded on an isolated rig.

The gameplay in Crude Survivor TD takes place on a day/night cycle – strategically place defenses and upgrade your core oil intake during daylight hours, then unleash hell with first-person combat when darkness falls. Resource balancing is key – increase oil production … Read More

The post Crude Survivor TD – Beta Demo first appeared on Alpha Beta Gamer.

Ruin and Rebirth is a factory builder where machinery gives way to living creatures as you restore a world shattered by divine apocalypse.

In Ruin and Rebirth you are the last survivor of the apocalypse, and you must tame, breed, and evolve fantastical beings to rebuild civilization from the gods’ remains. Lemmules – tiny creatures marching in formation – replace conveyor belts, while boulder-like Terramites … Read More

The post Ruin and Rebirth – Beta Sign Up first appeared on Alpha Beta Gamer.

Slumber Party is a 4-player horror game that transforms childhood sleepover fears into a thrilling cooperative nightmare.

In Slumber Party your innocent slumber party takes a terrifying turn, and you and friends are pulled into shared nightmares where survival depends on teamwork and quick thinking. Each nightmare presents unique objectives in distinctly themed worlds, with difficulty scaling infinitely the longer you survive. Coordinate through proximity … Read More

The post Slumber Party – Beta Sign Up first appeared on Alpha Beta Gamer.

Black Jacket is a card-based roguelite, where traditional blackjack transforms into a supernatural battle for freedom.

In Black Jacket you are a damned soul gambling your way through hell, challenging other lost spirits to win enough coin to bribe the ferryman. The familiar “hit or stand” mechanics evolve with cards that manipulate the very rules of the game – force opponents to overcommit, decrease their … Read More

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GladiEATers in a creature battler that blends cooking minigames with strategic 6v6 turn-based combat as seven quirky Combat Chefs compete for supremacy in the CALosseum.

In GladiEATers you’ll chop, boil, and fry ingredients into 65+ battling food creatures, each with hand-animated abilities and synergies. Master your timing in bite-sized cooking challenges to evolve fighters into more powerful forms.

The game’s narrative depth revolves around interconnected … Read More

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Pulp Action Shotgun is an adrenaline-fueled boomer shooter that throws you into a pulp comic nightmare armed with nothing but your trusty pump-action.

The world of Pulp Action Shotgun fuses 1940s comic aesthetics with Quake-inspired gameplay, creating a uniquely stylized slaughter-fest. Your shotgun isn’t just for demon disposal – its powerful kickback doubles as a traversal mechanic. A well-placed blast at your feet sends you … Read More

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Dark Light: Survivor is a dark Sci-Fi roguelike shooter where you become one of humanity’s final Dark Hunters in a post-apocalyptic cyberpunk world.

In Dark Light: Survivor you board the Phantom Train – a marvel of celestial quantum technology traversing fractured universes in search of legendary Elysium. Each dimension harbors both vital energy to fuel your next jump and nightmarish creatures born from the Dark … Read More

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Shards of Order is a beautiful dark fantasy RPG where death itself has unraveled and you must restore cosmic order.

In Shards of Order the Laws governing reality lie shattered, leaving behind a world where memories fade and corpses refuse eternal rest. You’ll lead a band of survivors – each with unique abilities and personal arcs – through decaying landscapes as you attempt to restore … Read More

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Living Dead House promises a pixel-perfect throwback to arcade zombie survival with some modern touches.

In Living Dead House you’re barricaded in an abandoned home with waves of undead clawing at the doors, your only goal is simple: survive until dawn. The game will feature 20 increasingly frantic stages where resource management is as crucial as your trigger finger. You’ll master six unique weapons while … Read More

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ZOMBUTCHER is a darkly humorous stealth action simulator where you’re not fighting zombies – you’re one of them, and you run a shop that caters to their dietary needs.

In ZOMBUTCHER you’re an undead butcher in Louisiana, you manage a peculiar shop catering to monsters who hunger for human flesh. By day you maintain appearances by processing regular meat for human customers. By night you … Read More

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Bubsy 4D is the world’s first great Busby game – the wise cracking bobcat may finally have a game that allows him to stand shoulder to shoulder with Sonic and Mario (or Sonic at least).

Gaming’s most notorious bobcat returns in an unexpected 3D adventure that embraces its protagonist’s infamous reputation. Bubsy 4D launches our feline friend into space when Earth’s sheep – transformed into … Read More

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Terrifier: The ARTcade Game is an incredibly gory retro side-scrolling beat ‘em up based on the popular Terrifier movie franchise.

In Terrifier: The ARTcade Game you take control of Art and three other pals as they go on a bloody rampage through the city streets. The core gameplay is very much a traditional old school beat ‘em up, with you able to punch, run, jump, … Read More

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House 2 is a brutal hand-drawn horror adventure where two girls are tormented by monsters as they spend a night watching TV and playing games.

A sequel to the excellent 2020 original, House 2 swaps the pixel art style of the first game for a beautiful hand-drawn artwork. It follows on from the story of the original, with the hero of the first game now … Read More

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REANIMAL is a horror adventure from the creators of Little Nightmares, that plunges players into unprecedented dread.

Playable in single-player or co-op, in REANIMAL two orphaned siblings navigate a hellish island, desperately searching for missing friends while confronting monstrosities born from their own fractured memories. Unlike traditional horror games focused solely on terror, REANIMAL aims to weave hope through its narrative as the brother and … Read More

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Tingus Goose is an incredibly weird idle game where you nurture towering goose-trees that grow out of human bodies, and harvest bouncing babies for profit.

Featuring the surreal artwork of MasterTingus, Tingus Goose is a surreal idle game where you strategically position “Blossoms” in a goose tree to maximize cash generation as newborns tumble down their neck. You can add and arrange different specimens to … Read More

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Satellite Odyssey: Jupiter is a Sci-Fi survival horror adventure that thrusts players into a nightmarish fight for survival where your only reliable ally is a modified nail gun.

Taking place on Europa’s frozen surface, beneath Jupiter’s imposing gaze, Satellite Odyssey: Jupiter sees you exploring an abandoned Soviet space installation that hides unspeakable horrors. You’ll navigate through deteriorating corridors of this forgotten outpost, solving intricate puzzles … Read More

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Blood Reaver is an intense round-based FPS with strategic depth, for solo players or teams of up to four, where the ultimate soldier of a dying legion facing hell’s endless hordes

In Blood Reaver you unleash devastation through an arsenal of 26 unique weapons and forbidden blood magic abilities. You harvest demons’ blood for materials to upgrade your equipment, creating powerful variants and crafting relics … Read More

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YAPYAP is a wickedly fun co-op horror game where you and five friends become low-level wizard minions tasked with vandalizing an archmage’s tower.

In YAPYAP you are wizards who are armed with barely enough magic to be annoying, your goal is simple: create maximum chaos before escaping. Pee on expensive rugs, smash magical artifacts, and misplace important items to reach your vandalism quota. Discover wands … Read More

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Final Sentence is a tense typing battle royale horror game that drops up to 100 players into a virtual hangar, each facing a typewriter with a revolver pressed against their temple

Previously featured on Alpha Beta Gamer during the closed Beta sign up, Final Sentence is a nerve-shredding battle royale where your keyboard becomes a weapon and every typo could be your last – one … Read More

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Comics Gaming Magazine

As Dark Horse approaches its 40th anniversary, co-founder Mike Richardson reflects on the company’s legacy, its evolution, and why the creative spirit that built it still matters today.

Dark Horse is a name that needs no introduction if you know the comics industry. They are the people behind such franchises as Hellboy, The Umbrella Academy, and even The Mask, and still today remain one of the most influential publishers in the comics industry. It’s hard to overestimate how influential they have been to the creator-focused comic world we live in today, being one of the early champions for giving fair compensation to the talent who helped bring their books to life. Yet, it was the management behind the scenes that helped shape Dark Horse into the juggernaut we all know and love today. One of those people is the co-founder of the studio, Mike Richardson, who helped shape its vision and the focus they have held onto all these years. While at Lucca Comics & Games 2025, we had the pleasure of taking some time to sit down with Mike and talk about his role in comics, his love for what Dark Horse has built, and a bit about what new creatives should look out for when they’re looking to dive into the world of comics. That’s all right. Since we’re at Luca, why don’t we start with Luca? You mentioned that you’ve been here several times. What keeps you coming back? What keeps you coming back to Luca? What makes you want to come? Mike Richardson: Well, I come back to Italy a lot. It started when I—you, well, first of all, it started when I came to the Cannes Film Festival. We would bring movies there. We brought The Mask there in ’94 and ended up driving to Italy—to Portofino—afterwards, through Genoa. The following year was Barb Wire with Pam Anderson, and we came. And by the way, I’ll write a book someday about taking Pam to the Cannes Film Festival. She was the number one celebrity in the world at the time, and the mobs there were unbelievable. They told us at the time that the biggest crowd they had ever had at Cannes for any celebrity was for Madonna. They said Pam’s was about a third larger. So it was a crazy time, and lots of stuff happened that was a lot of fun. It was really fun. Barb Wire – Dark Horse Comics So we go all around Italy, but we always try to stay here. I like the idea of the walled city. They told me the Romans came here, and the courtyard area was built in the year two or something like that, and so, wow, that was interesting. It’s close to a lot of things—it’s close to Pisa if you want to take your kids over to see the Leaning Tower. I got two tickets there last time, because, just so you know, if you ever go over there and you follow the guy down, it takes you down streets you’re not allowed to drive. We didn’t know it, but I got two tickets to find out. But anyway, it’s just in a nice location. We like the city. It feels like Italy. You know, Milan—great city, wonderful city—but not that much fun to go to great restaurants and that type of thing. It’s like a lot of big cities. When you come to Lucca, it’s the walled city. There’s a restaurant that I’m trying to get into tonight on the wall. When I went to that restaurant, I didn’t know that. And I’ve been here a number of times. Underneath the city—I found this out one of the earlier times I was here—there’s a store that, if you ask them, “Can I go down to see the wine cellar?” there’s a wine cellar under the whole city that goes back hundreds of years. Yeah, stuff like that—little discoveries. We just discovered that angel on top there. There are always little surprises. Those little things that show up all the time—it’s just a wonderful city to come and visit. Italy, in general, is a terrific place. I’ve never been to the east—well, I’ve been up to Venice and Slovenia—but I’ve never visited the east side. I don’t know what’s there, because we keep going to wine country on the west side. Now we’ve started going down to Sorrento and Positano and those places, but I still like the northwest. Lucca 2025 You mentioned that next year is the 40th anniversary for you, and you’re planning to celebrate it at Lucca. Is there anything you can tell us about that yet, or is it still very early? Mike Richardson: I don’t know that it’s officially announced. They’ve asked me if I would be willing, and I said, “Yeah, that’d be great.” I get to come back again next year. If we do it, we’ll set up over in one of the tents, we’ll set our course, and we’ll have something fun to make everybody come to—absolutely something awesome. Now I want to pick your brain a little bit. In 2025, what do you think about the current state of comics? Do you think they’ve grown in popularity, changed how they are experienced? Are they less popular? Mike Richardson: Well, I think it’s just going through an evolution. I think that, you know, we had Black September about a year after we launched, and I don’t know—about 50 comic book companies went out of business. We had the crash of the market, the speculator crash of the ’90s. There have been cycles. It feels like every eight years something bad happens—and it’s around eight years. But comics themselves have changed. You know, the pamphlet keeps getting more expensive, like the movies. They can talk about box offices, this or that, but they’re talking different dollars with different value. If you went just by actual value of money, Gone With the Wind is still, by far, the most-seen movie ever—at least in this country (USA). I believe in the world, too. Resident Alien – Dark Horse Comics Comics have gone through an evolution just like the film business and, you know, the book business—everything has changed. Computers really started to change things. When we first started, we actually had a discussion about whether we wanted to waste $300 on a fax machine. Of course, we did—and then we thought it was great. And then computers came. We’ve tried to be in front of that. I think we were the first one in the comic business to put up our own website. We went through a couple of iterations of what it looked like because we were trying to find our way. Originally, I was doing animation—we had our team doing animation on it—and you’d come into a Dark Horse city, and their characters were running around. The Mask was running around and saying, “Smokin’!” And then you learn as you go, because we found out that if somebody comes into the site, they only stay there for a certain number of seconds—not minutes, seconds—and if they don’t get something right away, they leave. So we trashed all that, and then we changed it. We’ve been evolving ever since. We were the first ones to bring colour in-house. I didn’t like the colour we were getting back in the early ’90s, and I finally got ahold of the head of the company that did our colour. He said, “What do you care? It’s only comics.” Dumb thing to say, right? Even if you think it. So we brought it in-house, and I think we were the first comics company to do that. We had a digital site. We ended up closing it down only because we have 13 sites that sell our comics digitally, and it seemed like we could get away from the overhead and let them do what they do, as opposed to trying to license it out at the same time we were competing. The Umbrella Academy – Dark Horse Comics You’ve worked on some of the most popular franchises in the world. Do you have any that really stand out to you personally, or that you think really made a special mark on the industry and the world? Mike Richardson: Well, certainly The Mask was big for us. I mean, there’s no one—I still get asked questions about it. Aliens vs. Predator, Frank Miller’s Sin City, Mike Mignola’s Hellboy—Hellboy has been our most consistent property ever. Mike owns it. He’s stuck with us all these years. There are a lot of these. I mean, Geoff Darrow’s art—I love Big Guy and Rusty the Boy Robot. Now he’s doing Shaolin Cowboy. You know, there are artists, there are people—of course, Frank Miller—you heard me say that when he came, that broke down the door for major creators coming to Dark Horse, and just in general realizing they didn’t have to be at Marvel and DC. And I can tell you, you know, the Image guys noticed that. Todd and Jim noticed that they didn’t need to be there anymore—they went off and started Image. And I know because they talked to us; they talked to me about it back then—what would happen, you know? Shaolin Cowboy – Dark Horse Comics And creator rights now are standard. People can still work for Marvel or DC, and they can go off and create something and bring it to us, or to Image, or one of the other companies. So there’s more creative freedom for the writers. Frank does his favorite character, Batman, but he’ll come and do something with us at the same time. Over the years, it’s given us the opportunity to go—as an independent. Now, before, I never knew what “independent” meant, except independent of Marvel or DC, because we have a building, people come to work, you know, we sell our comics in the same places they do. But one thing that has changed, particularly for us, is that most—about 90%—of our business goes through bookstores, and we’re seeing fewer and fewer comic shops. The comic shops—the direct sales market, you’re familiar with that term—really saved comics. Phil Seuling’s idea of changing the way comics were purchased—the non-returnable model so retailers got a better discount and could track each title—really made a difference. We did that religiously, particularly back in those days. You could make more money that way. It allowed publishers like me—we didn’t have to print 100,000 to sell 25 in spin racks. We could go through the comic shops, get an order, and ship exactly that. The thing that causes problems for publishers—one of the things—is inventory. You don’t want to sell out, and yet you don’t want a lot of books left. So you have to walk that tightrope, and the non-returnable model actually helped publishers deal with that at the time. Hellboy – Dark Horse Comics Now, when it comes to creative rights, what would you tell a new artist who’s wanting to get started? You obviously run things a little differently than other companies, so what should they know about their rights and creative rights? Mike Richardson: They should—first of all—if they’re not experienced legally, they should always have a lawyer take a look at a contract. They should give them what they want to achieve. If they’re creating the property, they should have a lawyer take a look at it. They should give them what they want to achieve. If they’re creating the property, they should try to get as close as they can to their ideal situation. So, you know, one of the challenges we have is that we deal with every creator. We don’t have a standard contract like some companies do. We try to tailor it the best we can to that particular creator. For our accounting department, it’s a nightmare, because we have thousands of writers, artists, letterers, colorists, inkers—and they have to go through all these. It takes a lot to do that. It would be much easier if we just had one contract, but then we couldn’t deal with each creator as though he owns his work and has his say. Look, if you’re talented, you can stand your ground—you’re going to get work somewhere. That’s the great thing now. And there’s a whole slew of new publishers coming into comics. There’s a resurgence. I don’t know that this is the best time to do it—I wouldn’t want to start a company now. And I say that having already done it. If I wanted to do it and I hadn’t done it, and I was young, I’d probably ignore that—but it’s a tough time for somebody to start a new company. Still, I think comics will be around. I don’t know about the floppies, because they’re, like I said, 20 pages. So you get a story that continues every 30 days. There’s got to be something really compelling to get somebody to follow along with that—especially when they’re now, you know, five bucks, $4.99. The Mask – Dark Horse Comics Most comics have gone into that range. I mean, they used to be a dime. And even with the difference in value—when I was a kid, I could go down and buy 10 comics for a buck. I could go out, make a dollar, and get 10 comics. Now, 10 comics cost you what—$50? Well, young people may use that $50 on a video game or something else. There’s a lot of competition for disposable income there. But in bookstores, where 90% of our business is, you’re dealing with an older, probably more affluent reader who has more disposable income. And if he sees a book he wants at $25, $30, $40, $50—he’s going to pick it up. We have to let you go. But thank you so much. You’ve been really interesting.

TMNT co-creator Kevin Eastman sat down to a Q&A at Lucca Comics & Games to talk all things Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles.

Lucca Comics & Games is notorious for bringing some of our favourite childhood artists to Italy for its yearly festival. CGMagazine was lucky to sit in on a Q&A with one of the creators of the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles, Kevin Eastman. In 2024, we were able to chat with R.L. Stine and the creators of Tetris. In 2023, it was Frank Miller and Naoki Urasawa. And now, in 2025, sitting in the stunning Auditorium San Romano in Lucca, Italy, we were able to gain insight into how TMNT came to be, some of Eastman’s inspirations, and we were even treated to a special live drawing in between translations. @cgmagazine #TMNT co-creator Kevin Eastman draws #Raphael live at #LuccaComicsandGames #TeenageMutantNinjaTurtles #lucca ♬ Powerful dark futuristic science fiction film music(1536393) – Azure Glitch Kevin Eastman took the stage to speak with a moderator, through a translator, in front of a packed audience. Of course, they started at the beginning, “The Ninja Turtles were inspired by my love and passion for American comics and wanting to tell my own stories. My hero was Jeff Kirby growing up, and the fact that I found my co-creator, Peter Laird—we both write and draw together—we came up with this crazy idea named after Renaissance artists. We made one issue thinking that there would never be another one, so here we are 41 years later, and I’m in Lucca.” @cgmagazine #TeenageMutantNinjaTurtle co-creator Kevin Eastman on the very early creation of #TMNT #LuccaComicandGames #Lucca #LuccaCG25 #lucca25 ♬ original sound – CGM The Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles sparked from nothing more than a joke, though, according to Eastman, “The first turtle was Michael Angelo. I have the drawing here on my hat. The Turtles came from…I was a big fan of Bruce Lee, and I thought if Bruce Lee was an animal, what would be the silliest? A fast-moving martial arts, slow-moving turtle, and that was the joke I made, and I put the drawing on Pete’s desk, and I said, ‘This is going to be the next big thing,’ you know, ‘Ha ha ha,’ and that was the spark that started the evolution.” TMNT has an underdog story written all over it. Eastman explained that they never expected to succeed and were just happy to put out one issue, but we now know that one issue sparked years of content across various mediums. TMNT spans generations of comic fans now, but Eastman told us about the early days, “It was very surprising when we did put out the first issue because we wrote it, drew it, borrowed some money from my uncle to make 3000 copies, and we weren’t sure we were going to even be able to sell those. It sold out in 2 weeks, we were like ‘Oh wow!’ and fans kept writing and asking for a second issue. So we did the second issue when it came out in January of 1985. We sold enough copies that we could pay our rent, eat all the pizza we wanted, and draw comics, and that to us was the dream had come true, you know, we could not be more happy.” @cgmagazine #TMNT co-creator Kevin Eastman on the early success of the #TeenageMutantNinjaTurtles at #LuccaComicsandGames #Luccacg25 #Lucca #Lucca25 ♬ original sound – CGM As a viewer in the audience of Lucca Comics & Games, I could see the passion behind Kevin Eastman, even after 41 years. And it isn’t lost on him either. Several times, he motioned to the room around him, shocked that he was doing this here in Lucca. He spoke about his experience of sharing the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles all over the world, “We did a signing in Russia, St. Petersburg, years ago and never thought I’d experience that. They couldn’t communicate their love for the Turtles, so it was grown people, lots of crying and hugging. And so that is so emotionally overwhelming and satisfying that you’ve had an effect on people. That’s you; if you weren’t there, I couldn’t be up here, so thank you.” Though Eastman talked about being inspired by Jack Kirby in the early days, he also talked about influences like Frank Miller, even later in TMNT’s success, “I’m thankful to Frank Miller, with his project Ronin, he really introduced a lot of Americans like myself to manga with being inspired by Lone Wolf and Cub and those kinds of things that sort of opened the door to those comics. We’ve seen US comics and European comics, but I fell in love with manga and anime so much. So, I think it’s great that the Turtles can collaborate with Ghostbusters and Naruto and so many things and work. A huge family.” During the Q&A at Lucca Comics & Games, Kevin Eastman wasn’t only looking at the history of the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles, he also talked about future TMNT movies, and most notably, to me, a future collaboration he is hoping for: “One of my dream collaborations for the Ninja Turtles is Daredevil. My favourite comic when I was growing up, the Turtle’s origin is intertwined with Daredevil’s, so that would be a dream.” The big takeaway from Eastman’s time at Lucca Comics & Games was just how humble and grateful he seems to be, even after all this time. He touched on what it is like bringing joy to generations of people, “It’s humbling in that thinking where we started, and then we now have become this generational idea that we have the original fans that gave us this success, and then when it’s introduced to this new group of fans…The fact that we’re finding new generations of fans coming on board to all things Turtles, with the original fans.” To end on a positive note, Kevin Eastman doesn’t take for granted that he is getting to follow his dreams, “I get to fulfil my childhood dream of drawing comic books, and for 41 years, and as long as you guys let me, I’ll keep doing it.” Lucca Comics & Games runs from October 29 to November 2, 2025, in Lucca, Italy.

This year for Halloween, we take a look at the Top 10 Best Horror Games as rated objectively by critics!

It’s almost that time again. Another year, another Halloween to celebrate spooks, ghouls and even skeletons! And, like I’ve said repeatedly in the past, there’s really no better way to experience the genre of horror than through video games. Sure, scary movies can be fun and even cerebral, but there’s nothing quite like an interactive medium to really get the heart racing and the spine a’tinglin. But how exactly does one really rank a horror game, let alone create a Top 10 list about it? Horror, unlike other genres, is really much more subjective than others. While I happen to think Hideo Kojima’s P.T. is one of the scariest things ever crafted, I know plenty of people who don’t seem to think it’s all that great. So, for the purpose of this list, I’ve decided to look at the highest-rated horror games—as best as I could—and cross-reference that with my own opinion as a professional critic. 10. Fatal Frame II – Crimson Butterfly (81/100) The Fatal Frame series was definitely one of the most inventive horror games when it was initially released back in 2001. While Resident Evil and Silent Hill had set the tone for how survival horror games should play, Fatal Frame completely changed the game thanks to its unique Camera Obscura mechanic. In order to banish the ghosts that would attack the player, they had to actively allow them to get close enough to capture in the camera, creating a unique sense of tension that other games hadn’t really achieved. However, while the first Fatal Frame was released to humble reviews, it was its sequel that would really impress critics. Fatal Frame II – Crimson Butterfly is regarded by most critics as “one of the scariest games ever made” and received near universal acclaim when it was released. Praised for its unique and unnerving gameplay mechanics, foreboding atmosphere and superb presentation. And while it only ranks lower on this list for its 81/100 score, the Xbox Director’s Cut received an impressive 84/100—updating the graphics, as well as adding new cinematics and gameplay mechanics. 9. Alan Wake (83/100) I really struggled with what to put on the back half of this list because so many decent horror games were floating around the mid-80 range, but I really think Alan Wake deserves a spot on this list, not just for its objective quality, but for its legacy within the genre. When you go back and look through the years of gaming, Alan Wake may very well be the last attempt at an “AAA” horror game after the industry declared the genre dead. It was certainly a unique moment because if you hadn’t really been paying attention to the indie scene—little though it was—you may have well-believed horror games just weren’t coming out anymore. I remember renting Alan Wake one weekend, and outside of my confusion about all the Energizer and Verizon product placement, I thought it was genuinely atmospheric and could be pretty spooky at times. Critics agreed, praising Alan Wake for its unique combat, intriguing story and authentic worldbuilding. The game’s sequel would go on to surpass its predecessor, scoring an 89/100 due in large part to its expanded lore, greater focus on horror and some outright bizarre show-stealer moments. 8. Amnesia: The Dark Decent (85/100) I was genuinely surprised to see Amnesia: The Dark Decent sitting at the score it has, and not higher. For one of the games that arguably relaunched the genre of survival horror, as well as igniting the horror indie scene, you’d expect it to be in the high 90 range for everything it was able to accomplish, yet here it sits at a modest 85/100. Joking aside, it really is worth considering just how much Amnesia: The Dark Decent changed the horror game. It’s easy to forget that this game came out in 2010, but I didn’t really hear anyone talking about it probably until its console release in 2016. Praised by critics for its strong focus on the unseen, utilizing sound and darkness to instill a distinct sense of terror in the play, as well as being one of the best examples in modern horror games of creating fear by giving the player no ways to defend themselves, Amnesia: The Dark Decent paved the way for games like Outlast or Visage. 7. Five Nights at Freddy’s: Into the Pit (87/100) I really thought Five Nights at Freddy’s would end up on this list, but I was genuinely surprised how—despite its near-universal acclaim by gamers and its wildfire popularity spread through screaming Youtubers, the original Five Nights at Freddy’s had a respectable score of 78/100—good, but not good enough to make this list. And while I respect the original Five Nights at Freddy’s for how it shifted the landscape of horror games, every subsequent sequel and even its first attempt at a reinvention wasn’t particularly well received by critics—I think even some fans were getting a bit exhausted with the derivative gameplay. I don’t know if I’ve been as interested in the series as I was with Into the Pit. Praised by critics for its unique style, tense gameplay and eye-catching 16-bit aesthetic, Five Nights at Freddy’s: Into the Pit was a true evolution of the series—capturing both the tension and terror of its namesake while invoking the style of classic horror games, most notably Clock Tower. It reminded me of a lot of games like Fran Bow or Bulboy, where as long as the core mechanics are strong and the atmosphere is tense, you really don’t need a lot of fancy bells and whistles to make a really solid game. 6. Silent Hill 2 (89/100) Now, this one genuinely shocked me. Silent Hill 2 is almost universally regarded as The. Best. Horror. Game. Ever. Something that was praised not just when it was released but to this very day. I thought for sure this would’ve been number one on this scary game’s list. But even when it was released back in 2001, Silent Hill 2 couldn’t seem to get into the 90th percentile, despite critics praising it for its incredible atmosphere, deep storytelling, and genuinely impressive scares. By now, almost every gamer knows, to some degree, the legacy and pedigree that Silent Hill 2 holds. It was so good that not even its subsequent sequels—both of which some gamers regard to be better—would see progressively lower scores. It’s been the source of inspiration for several modern horror games, and it was even good enough to receive a from-the-ground-up remaster on this very month of spooks. Funnily enough, while the Silent Hill 2 remake is considered to be a pretty solid game, it actually scored a bit lower—sitting at an 87/100—proving that true genius is incredibly difficult to recapture. 5. Dead Space II (90/100) Visceral Game’s 2008 Dead Space was an amazing horror experience. Taking inspiration from sci-fi horror films like Aliens and Event Horizon, it built a genuinely memorable world with the USG Ishimura, had a plethora of interesting monsters and was defined by its unique limb-cutting mechanic. However, for how good the first game was, Dead Space II was a true evolution of the series. Dead Space II expanded almost every aspect of the predecessor. The protagonist, Issac Clark, was much more fleshed out, and given spoken dialogue, the world and narrative were much more fleshed out, spread across multiple locations, and the newly included Necromorph types were truly terrifying—I’ll still never get over my first encounter with The Pack. As such, critics praised its dynamic storytelling, incredible sound design and vastly improved gameplay. Furthermore, almost every critic universally praised the infamous “Eye Surgery” scene for its intense horror and stressful execution. 4. Eternal Darkness: Sanity’s Requiem (92/100) Now we get to the real sweet meat. Eternal Darkness: Sanity’s Requiem was one of the crown jewels of the GameCube library. Not only did it make full use of what was great about the survival horror genre, it cranked the knob to 11 and tore it off the panel. And while it wasn’t the first game to introduce sanity mechanics, it was the first to really explore the idea in a captivating way. The gameplay was likely the element most praised by critics, particularly for its variety—including a host of characters, combat that mixed melee, magic and limb-targeting, and distinct levels set across multiple time periods. Every critic agreed, however, that the game’s unique Sanity mechanic, which introduced strange and sometimes meta events to terrify players, was what set it apart from any other game at the time—and, in many ways, even to this day. Honestly, the fact that Eternal Darkness: Sanity’s Requiem and the stellar Resident Evil remake came out within three months of each other still astounds me. We really were spoiled for good horror games on the Gamecube. 3. System Shock 2 (92/100) To this day, System Shock 2 has long been debated as, if not one of the best horror games ever made, then one of the best video games, period. Its perfect blend of incredibly unnerving atmosphere, survival horror mechanics and deeply thought-provoking narrative have rarely been replicated—not just by others inspired by it, but arguably by its own spiritual successor. There is no shortage online of articles analyzing what makes System Shock 2 such an effective horror experience—from the sterile and mechanical design of its world to the way it uses its visual and sound design to allow the player’s imagination to enhance the horror, and above all the game’s “open-ended” gameplay that allows players a lot of creative freedom in how they play, similar to an immersive sim. 2. Resident Evil 2 (93/100) It’s worth remembering that while the 2002 Resident Evil remake is largely considered a masterclass in horror design, it was also quite a departure from the original. While it definitely had scary moments, those were often undercut by goofy cutscenes—like the infamous “Master of Unlocking” or “You were almost a Jill Sandwich!” Resident Evil 2, however, was regarded as a genuine step forward in almost every way. Even when it was released in 1998, it had a much more serious tone, an expanded scope and some truly terrifying moments. It was universally praised by critics for its gameplay, setting, voice acting and atmosphere, which at the time was genuinely impressive. Resident Evil 2 was the first in the series I played, and even though it was the inferior Nintendo 64 version, I was still gripped by its unforgettable setting and intense survival horror gameplay. From the first time you encounter a Licker to hearing the moans of zombies in the distance when outside the RPD station, it’s a game that stays with you from the moment you start. It’s no surprise that the 2019 remake—which itself was almost completely redesigned from the original—received similar acclaim, sitting at a 91/100 on Metacritic. 1. INSIDE (93/100) Tied for the top score but most deserving of the top spot, INSIDE is genuinely one of the best examples of horror in the modern day. Not simply beloved by critics for its evolution of style and mechanics seen in Limbo, the game is a genuine masterpiece. Praised by critics for its deeply engaging gameplay and puzzle mechanics, unsettling visual style and above all a compelling narrative that unfolds through compelling visual storytelling, it’s no wonder it won the Best Art Direction and Best Independent Game at the 2016 Game Awards. To experience INSIDE is to experience horror as a true work of art. Almost every moment of the game is punctuated by tension—from avoiding relentless guard dogs to trying to outswim a strange aquatic child. But INSIDE’s real hook is its story, which continuously unfolds to the player in a foreboding and truly interpretive way. It traps the player in a surreal world, one that feels like a nightmare but is truly an engaging treatise on the nature of self and the loss of individuality. Like the greatest horror games, INSIDE is consistently stressful, deeply terrifying on both an immediate and metaphysical level and provokes thought well after you finish it. It stays with you in a way only true horror games can, which is why it remains (objectively) one of the best horror games ever made.

Amazon decided to stop further updates for New World: Aeternum, and a developer has shared where fans can find a message saying farewell to fans.

Amazon decided to stop further updates for New World: Aeternum amid layoffs, and a developer has shared that fans can find a heartfelt message from the development team saying goodbye to fans. While it may have come as a complete shock that Amazon is ending updates for their MMO, New World: Aeternum, developers have left something in the title for fans to discover while the game remains up. For the uninitiated, this week, Amazon Games made significant layoffs (part of the massive 14,000 job cuts announced by Amazon) to its workforce, reflecting “strategic changes” at the company. This included “the difficult decision to halt a significant amount of our first-party AAA game development work—specifically around MMOs.” This announcement included the MMO, New World: Aeternum, which has been confirmed to receive no further content updates. With that designation, Aeternum could be gone completely by the end of 2026. While the stop work notice on New World: Aeternum was a surprise to fans, developers have snuck in a farewell message to fans, as if they knew the writing was on the wall before the final Season 10 and Nighthaven update launched. Senior game designer Rachel Barnum posted the location of the note (on her official X account), which can be found on an island near the Tower of Strength in Nighthaven. Barnum credits the note to game designer Jason Bowes, and the post can be seen below. "We did it all for you dear adventurer. Thank you for so many amazing stories, triumphs, and fits of laughter. …. Good luck, and good night."https://t.co/z46r6HlXba — Rachel Barnum (@OhThatRachel) October 28, 2025 The farewell note (found by PC Gamer) says, “Through it all we watched. We delighted. We revelled in your enjoyment of every perfect moment, every carefully crafted story, and we even bore witness to the joining of two souls who met here in Aeternum. We did it all for you dear adventurer,” in a solemn sign-off from the developers. The recently released Nighthaven expansion will be the last addition to New World. Although the writing is on the wall, Amazon has promised to keep the servers “live through 2026.”

Riot Games' new League of Legends Trading Card Game, Riftbound, released its first set Origins today—for the first time globally in English and we spoke to the team at Lucca Comics & Games.

Riot Games’ new League of Legends Trading Card Game, Riftbound, released its first set Origins today—for the first time globally in English. Taking the world of Legends of Runeterra off the screen and into real life. Riot Games’ new League of Legends Trading Card Game (TCG), Riftbound, released its first set Origins today—for the first time globally. This marks Riot Games’ debut in the physical TCG, bringing League of Legends champions, locales, and items to life in a tabletop format. Riftbound: Origins is the first set of the two announced sets, but the first one offers everything a player needs to begin playing in this new TCG space. CGMagazine also gained more insight into the new TCG by speaking with Riftbound EMEA Lead Nicola Cencherle at Lucca Comics & Games 2025. Riftbound brings the deep lore and iconic champions of Runeterra into a strategic, competitive format. Designed for both new players and veterans in the TCG community, Riftbound blends accessible mechanics with rich deck-building complexity, offering fresh ways to engage with the League of Legends universe. Players will build powerful decks from across the factions of Runeterra, unleash champion-led strategies, and battle for dominance in fast-paced, decision-heavy matches. Whether you’re outwitting your opponent in the 1v1 format or discovering synergies in 2v2 or the 4-person free-for-all modes, this game delivers an ever-evolving experience shaped by regular updates and new expansions. Cencherle stated, “Our approach to gameplay formats was centered on finding the right balance between competitive gameplay and casual fun. We focused on making sure players could interact in meaningful ways, creating memorable moments not just through gameplay mechanics, but through the social aspect as well.” The game is designed for both competitive and social play. Riftbound supports 1v1, 2v2, and free-for-all multiplayer formats. Origins features over 300 cards, including ready-to-play Champion Decks for Jinx, Lee Sin, and Viktor, and the Proving Grounds starter box for new players. Each Champion Deck includes 56 cards across a variety of types such as units, legends, champions, spells, gear, runes, and battlegrounds. Riftbound: Proving Grounds is designed for 2–4 players and provides an accessible way to learn and play. Players can expand their collections with 14-card booster packs featuring a variety of rarities, which are available at launch. When asked about differentiating this TCG from others and creating an esports scene out of this new TCG, Cencherle specified: “While the competitive TCG space is certainly growing, we believe our deep League of Legends roots allow us to offer something uniquely aligned with esports culture and competitive play. While we’re focused on delivering an exceptional global community experience and online tournaments in the short term, we definitely see the potential for larger-scale esports events in the future. The engagement and passion we’ve seen from fans of League of Legends and Valorant give us a strong foundation to build on, and we’re constantly evaluating how to bring competitive Riftbound to a wider stage. League of Legends TCG has only been tested in Chinese markets so far. But on a global scale, this could be very interesting to watch and witness if this will get more people around the world into the TCG world. Much like Cencherle’s sentiments, hopefully the League of Legends name and lore will entice new and returning TCG players. Cencherle also went on to talk about how they are already monitoring for evolving the meta builds that competitive and community players are using. He mentioned how they want to “foster diversity in deck builds.” But if the adapting meta changes in this TCG follow Riot Games’ video games, players can expect some reasonable changes and weird ones. One of the most troubling concerns across the TCG market and communities has been related to market inflation, scalping, and supply shortages. Cencherle reassured players, they are already “working to ensure that card availability and pricing remain in line with the game’s core values of accessibility and community. For example, [they’re] leveraging digital tools to help prevent scalping and ensure that players can get their hands on cards without overpaying.” He added that as the game grows, they will continue monitoring these issues and adjust accordingly. This is not the best answer to hear, but it is the right one for now. Cencherle also highlighted that they are “exploring options for online play and digital rewards so that players can enjoy a great experience without worrying about the physical scarcity of cards.” As someone who does not typically play TCGs but collects the cards, I hope there are benefits to both the physical and digital spaces. Otherwise, it just makes sense to keep collecting solely physical cards. Also, those who loved Netflix’s Arcane world can expect characters and skins from those worlds. At Lucca Comics & Games 2025, Cencherle spoke about how he and his team (along with Riot Games as a whole) were “excited to hear directly from the players and gather valuable feedback on the experience. Our main goal is to ensure that players feel engaged and excited about what’s to come with the launch. This event gives us a chance to fine-tune things like game balance, player engagement, and community support, all while continuing to build excitement for Riftbound’s official global debut. When asked about what Cencherle personally loves about Riftbound, he said it was “deck-building freedom.” Diving deeper, he explained, “I love how you can experiment with different strategies and playstyles, whether you’re going for an aggressive deck, a control-heavy build, or a combo strategy. Also, the artwork and the world of Runeterra come to life in ways that are really exciting to see on the tabletop. The visual storytelling of each card and how it ties back to the broader League of Legends lore is something I hope players will really appreciate.” Players can purchase Riftbound: Origins Proving Grounds starter boxes ($29.99 USD MSRP), booster boxes ($119.99 USD MSRP for a set of 24 packs), Champion Decks ($19.99 USD MSRP), and other accessories on the Riot Games Merch Store or at select local game shops. Be sure to secure Set 1 before the second set, Spiritforged receives its English release on February 13th, 2026. Riot Games noted that players can expect about four sets per year.

Capcom is bringing the goods for the Nintendo Switch 2 version of Resident Evil Requiem, including a special Amiibo and a Switch 2 Pro controller on launch.

Capcom is delivering everything it can for the Nintendo Switch 2 version of Resident Evil Requiem, including a special Amiibo and a Switch 2 Pro controller on launch. Preorders for the latest Resident Evil Requiem are now live (on Halloween, no less), and Capcom has released a bunch of information regarding the game’s release versions and what comes with each version, including the Nintendo Switch 2. The company also revealed it will release a Resident Evil Requiem-flavoured Switch 2 Pro controller and the first-ever Resident Evil Amiibo compatible with Nintendo consoles. The first-ever Resident Evil amiibo is on its way with the announcement of Requiem coming to Nintendo, and it will portray the Requiem protagonist, Grace Ashcroft. The amiibo is due out in summer 2026, and fan speculation has wandered around whether Leon will be playable in Requiem or not, so fans are wondering if a Leon amiibo is also under wraps. The new Nintendo Switch 2 Pro controller will run users $99.99, and more information on the amiibo will be available soon. With the extra announcements today, a new Road to Requiem overview trailer has been revealed and can be seen below. Firstly, Resident Evil Requiem preorders (and previews) are now live, and in-game bonuses for the Deluxe Edition have been confirmed. The Deluxe Edition includes five costumes (one of which is a Resident Evil Village Lady Dimitrescu costume for Grace) and two screen filters. The deluxe edition also comes with four weapon skins, two charms, a custom Raccoon City Classic sound pack, and additional in-game files that expand the lore of the universe. The ninth installment of the Resident Evil franchise, Resident Evil Requiem, arrives for Nintendo Switch 2, PC, PlayStation 5 and Xbox Series X and S on February 27, 2026.

Another October has arrived, and with it comes the excitement of another Halloween. It feels like every year, a lot of media outlets—CGM included—tend to focus on the many scary games of the past and forget to consider the many great horror games that release in the same year as the Halloween taking place! Obviously, […]

Another October has arrived, and with it comes the excitement of another Halloween. It feels like every year, a lot of media outlets—CGM included—tend to focus on the many scary games of the past and forget to consider the many great horror games that release in the same year as the Halloween taking place! Obviously, horror was a much more serviced genre back in the 90s and early 2000s, and as such had more than just the Indie Scene to keep it alive. This year, however, we’ve seen a lot of really solid contenders in the spookiest genre, so we’ve compiled a list of the Top Five Scary Games to Play This Halloween. Reader beware…you’re in for a scare! Look Outside When I finished playing Look Outside back in March 2025, I ended my review by saying, “I never want to play [the game] ever again, and I mean that as the highest compliment.” It’s a game that is so well-crafted, so effective, and so genuinely scary that it stayed with me for weeks, causing me serious existential dread every time I looked up at the sky. That’s a pretty impressive feat for something that was made in RPG Maker. Look Outside uses simple and effective methods to really amplify its scares. Its plot is mind-bending and deeply unsettling. Its settings are claustrophobic yet ever-changing and labyrinthine. Its combat system mixes classic turn-based RPG rules with a perspective system—where enemies that are further away are obscured by darkness, until they reveal the twisted aberrations they’ve become. If you’re a fan of eldritch horror, or want something DEEPLY scary to play this Halloween, you owe it to yourself to take a look at this one. Silent Hill f Silent Hill f was something of a genuine surprise to me. I think it’s no secret that Konami has been on a bit of a bad run when it comes to modern interpretations of their seminal franchises, so when the announcement came that they would be doing a brand-new Silent Hill, I was immediately skeptical—if not completely worried based on their previous attempt. When I sat down to play it, after Brendan Frye’s recommendation, I almost couldn’t believe what I was seeing. Strange story that withholds information for player interpretation? Check. Bleak, haunting atmosphere? Check. Engaging puzzles? Check. Disturbing enemies that represent the protagonist’s fragile psyche? Check. Unbelievable soundtrack by Akira Yamaoka? 100x Check on that one. While it’s not completely flawless, Silent Hill f absolutely nailed the fundamentals on what makes the series such a nail-bitingly tense experience. There were so many moments where I would see something, make the Tina Belcher “Everything is Okay” face and say, “Oh, I don’t like that…” Chronos: The New Dawn Staying somewhat within the same thematic realm here, Chronos: The New Dawn was yet another genuine surprise because I have not been shy about criticizing Bloober Team’s horror output in the past. But it was a welcome surprise to hear that, for a studio that clearly loves horror, they finally delivered a game of outstanding quality. Absolutely dripping in atmosphere, Chronos: The New Dawn delivers an experience which many compared to the original Dead Space. Players are thrown into a strange and horrific version of Poland after a horrific pandemic. True to Bloober form, the game has ideas with real-world parallels, but rather than beat you over the head with them, they let the game do the talking with its foreboding atmosphere and genuinely grotesque creature design. This is highlighted by a serious lack of ammunition and an interesting charge mechanic that makes every shot count and every fight tense. It’s a callback to classic horror games like Resident Evil while still feeling new and wholly relevant. Little Nightmares III Little Nightmares III could’ve made the amateur mistake a lot of horror games make with its gameplay by adding a second player to the proceedings—much like F.E.A.R. 3 or Dead Space 3. But the foundation upon which Little Nightmares III was built was so solid that sharing the horrifying experience with a second player only works to its benefit. After all, why be scared alone when you can be scared with a friend? Little Nightmares III continues the incredible world design and atmosphere of its predecessors, trapping its players in a world that’s as dreamlike as it is nightmarish. Players run through a crumbling carnival, an otherworldly necropolis and other horrorific locales that are made much more intimidating by their sense of size and scale. Average items like chairs or boxes tower over the players and enhance the feeling that they are a small part of this hostile world. If you have a friend this Halloween and are looking for a spooky game that will test your nerves as much as it will test your mind, then Little Nightmares III is the game for you! Honourable Mention: Dying Light: The Beast While Dying Light: The Beast does trend a little too actiony for my taste, I felt it at least deserved an honourable mention on this list. Despite being a parkour master who can literally become a monster to turn zombies into papier-mache, Dying Light: The Beast still manages to maintain a certain degree of tension and horror while being beset upon by massive groups of undead nightmares. While skilled players might find avoiding the hordes a bit too easy, one wrong mistake and you’re as good as brain food. Dying Light: The Beast does a lot with its setting and atmosphere to really bring its more terrifying elements to life. Being set in a large forest rather than the usual suburban setting makes things a little more grounded and even more tense when night falls and the hordes become even more powerful. If you’re looking for something relatively scary, but a little more fast-paced and power-granting, then this is for you. Post Trauma When I first saw Post Trauma, my first thought was “this is giving me some serious Silent Hill 4: The Room vibes.” Reading up on the game, I was a bit confused as critics seemed very divided on it—with a majority of complaints being around the fixed camera and clunky combat, seemingly forgetting horror games utilize these things to make the player feel helpless. But playing it was a different story altogether. Post Trauma is a fantastic callback to the old-school days of survival horror—most notably the original Silent Hill. While it’s not perfect, it captures almost every element that made PS2 horror games really shine. The fixed camera constantly keeps the player off balance—and is used to some genuinely creepy effect as if you’re being watched by unseen eyes. The sound design creates a tense atmosphere that always keeps you guessing, and the story is bizarre and surreal. All backed by some genuinely creepy visuals that wrap fleshy tendrils around modernistic settings to make the whole experience feel like a descent into hell. It’s a genuinely solid first attempt by RED SOULS GAMES and certainly worth a look this Halloween if you’re nostalgic for classic PS2 horror.

Neve Campbell is returning to end the killing (once again) in a team-up with her daughter in Scream 7 and some familiar faces will make an appearance.

After her absence in Scream VI, Neve Campbell is returning to end the killing (once again) in a team-up with her daughter in Scream 7, and some familiar faces will make an appearance. Following the success of Scream VI, the seventh installment was announced in August 2023, and that announcement has finally turned into a first trailer. In the anticipated first official trailer for Scream 7, Neve Campbell reprises her role as Sidney Prescott, and the iconic “Hello Sidney,” is heard in the trailer. It will be her first time back in the cast of the slasher film franchise since 2022’s Scream. The first trailer has been released, and it can be seen below, showcasing Prescott’s return with a new character in tow, her daughter Tatum (played by Isabel May). Scream 7 is directed by Kevin Williamson, who wrote the scripts for the original Scream, Scream 2, and Scream 4. The seventh installment will follow Sidney’s storyline as a mom. Campbell returns as the lead after being absent in Scream VI, and she wasn’t in that film due to an ugly salary dispute. Another returning character to the franchise is the ever-determined reporter Gale Weathers (Courteney Cox), who survived a brutal attack from Ghostface in Scream VI, and is seen in the new trailer briefly. Also set to reprise their roles in the iconic slasher franchise are co-Ghostface actors, Matthew Lillard and Skeet Ulrich, who played both Stu Macher and Billy Loomis in the first movie. Newcomers to the franchise include Joel McHale, Anna Camp, McKenna Grace, Isabel May, Michelle Randolph, Ethan Embry, Mark Consuelos, Jimmy Tatro, Celeste O’Connor, Asa Germann and Sam Rechner. Melissa Barrera and Jenna Ortega (who starred as survivors in Scream VI) aren’t returning for the seventh installment. Scream 7 is set to land in theatres on February 27, 2026.

Kicking off its 27th season, EA announces Apex Legends: Amped, featuring a revamped Olympus map, many character buffs, gameplay updates, and more. 

Kicking off its 27th season, EA announces Apex Legends: Amped, featuring a revamped Olympus map, many character buffs, gameplay updates, and more. Launching on November 4, 2025, EA and Respawn Entertainment unveil everything that will be arriving in Apex Legends’ 27th season, Amped. As players return to the chaotic hero-shooter game, many new updates await, including a revamped Olympus map with four new Places of Interest, movement updates for mantling and the Trident vehicle, characters buff, and many more. Released in November 2020, Apex Legends is a Hero Shooter and Battle Royale game, featuring rosters of Legendary Characters with powerful abilities to harness. Working toward fame and glory, players must collaborate with their team to strategize tactics, discover the optimal combinations for their abilities, and utilize their surroundings in various maps to emerge victorious in Battle Royale, as the game is intense and fast-paced. Although the Battle Royale is the core game mode, Apex Legends also offers Wildcard mode and Mixtape mode, rotating between Control, Gun Run, and Team Deathmatch. The biggest update to arrive at Apex Legends: Amped is the revamped Olympus map, featuring an updated lore and four new POIs (Place of Interest). During the past seasons, Olympus was known for randomly appearing throughout the Outlands, colliding with the Stasis Net on Broken Moon before it could vanish yet again. However, as of now, Olympus has been discovered again in the snows of Pagos, leaving questions regarding its origin, with Mary “Horizon” Sombres believing it is the future version of Olympus that has travelled back in time. As Horizon and the Syndicate collaborate to restore Olympus to its optimal form by utilizing new gravitational technology to lift it back into the sky, the Apex Game has been relocated from Olympus Prime to this version of Olympus for safety reasons. Unlike its predecessor, the new Olympus features four new POIs. The POIs included are: Somers University – Built by Horizon and honouring her son, Somers, the Somers University is used to explore the mystery of the universe. Replacing the Orbital Cannon with new architecture and high-flying lifts, the relics from the crash site provide insight into this version of Olympus. Gravity Engine – Replacing the Energy Depot as Olympus’ new heart, the Gravity Engine utilizes the Branthium power to help keep the city afloat. As Legends step into the Gravity Engine, they can make use of the lifts, zip rails, and verticality collide. Stabilizer – Replacing the Docks, the Stabilizer is responsible for keeping the Olympus aligned. The rocks floating beneath the planet provide a path to its outer ballast structures. Dockyard – Set near the Hydroponics, the Dockyard combines nostalgic elements from the original Olympus with a new focus on vertical gameplay. Alongside the updated Olympus map, Apex Legends: Amped will be buffing Valkyrie, Rampart, and Horizon. The buff each Legend will receive is: Valkyrie – Valkyrie VTOL Jets received a speed boost and recharge three times faster, and her Skyward Dive Ultimate has a shorter takeoff time. Additionally, her Missile Swarm Tactical now inflict zero self-damage, has no height restriction, scans enemies on hit, and puts the movement Passives on cooldown. Lastly, her upgrades can expand missile patterns, reduce fuel consumption while improving horizontal speed, and massively boost her Ultimate takeoff time. Rampart – Improving her Amped Cover Tactical, Rampart walls gain health as Evo level increases, provide speed boosts, and include a roof. Additionally, her upgrade now includes fast reloads and infinite ammo when shooting from the Amped Cover, and regenerates wall health out of combat. Horizon – Horizon Gravity Lift Tactical receives a shorter cooldown and lift speed improvements, alongside additional health for Black Hole Ultimate. Her upgrade buffs focus on providing more opportunities for aerial movement, such as fast-fall by crouching mid-air or gliding out of gravity lifts for extended aerial control, and receiving an additional Gravity Lift charge on knockdowns. Designed to make the Alternator SMG more devastating in Apex Legends: Amped, players will be introduced to the “Double Tap” Hop Up attachment. With the attachment equipped, the Alternator can fire from both barrels at once, causing massive damage at close range. Focusing on the Movement updates in Apex Legends: Amped, season 27 unveils the Mantle Boost, giving players a forward movement boost when climbing from ledges or walls. Alongside the Mantle Boost, the Trident vehicle received improved collision and dedicated vehicle health, including visual effects. From November 18 to December 16, the Supersonic Event will introduce many updates arriving in the Wildcard mode. From reaching peak performance in the new Olympus map to speed-bosting through the Wild Card upgrades, here are the updates that players can look forward to during the event: Olympus – A new Wildcard map, focusing on enhancing the performance with more ziplines, gravity cannons, and more ways to take flights and be crowned victorious. Mythic R-99 weapon – Aquiring from Rampart Care Packages, the Mythic R-99 borrows abilities from Valkyrie’s Missile Swarm, and comes with extra movement and zipline speed bonuses. Wild Card upgrades – Burning Rubbers enhances Legends’ speed and leaves fire trails to burn enemies. Extra Zippy replenishes shield and speed boosts on ziplines and ziprails. Eyes in the Sky highlights enemies in the sky, while the Quick and the Dead reveals enemies on the ground. For speed, Get up and the Go provides speed bursts after reviving a teammate in critical moments, and Along for the Slide offers faster, longer slides. Supersonic Event Packs and Apex Packs – Potentially unlock Legendary Skins for Horizon, Crypto, Sparrow, Mirage, and Catalyst, alongside matching weapons in the Supersonic Event Packs—lastly, the Death Duet Universal Melee, a set of duel katanas. Before wrapping up, the new Amped Battle Pass tiers will offer plenty of rewards for players to anticipate as they step into the Apex Legends 27th season. Breaking down each tier, here are the rewards that will be available: Split 1 Premium – Players can earn Legendary Skins for Valkyrie and Wattson, a new Legendary weapon skin for the Spitfire, 10 Exotic Shards, and the Reactive Sentinel skin at Tier 60. Split 1 Ultimate – On top of the Premium Battle Pass rewards, instantly unlock 1200 Crafting Metals and eight Apex Packs, including a Legendary Pack. Split 1 Ultimate+ – On top of the Ultimate Battle Pass rewards, players can unlock Ultimate+ Skin variants for Valkyrie and Wattson, and instantly unlock 1200 Crafting Metals, eight Apex Packs and a Legendary Pack, 10 extra Battle Pass Levels, and 10 additional Exotic Shards. Not to mention, all the Legends will be playable during Battle Pass Split 1. That’s about everything arriving at Apex Legends: Amped. As the 27th season arrives on November 4, players can dive into the game on PlayStation 4 and 5, Xbox One/Series X|S, Nintendo Switch and Switch 2, and PC via EA App, Epic Games Store, and Steam.

Nintendo has announced a Nintendo Switch 2 version of Animal Crossing: New Horizons, and a free update for the base game is coming on January 15.

Nintendo has announced a Nintendo Switch 2 version of Animal Crossing: New Horizons, and a free update for the base game is coming on January 15. The Animal Crossing: New Horizons – Nintendo Switch 2 Edition version of the game is coming to the Nintendo Switch 2 console, with enhanced features such as higher resolution visuals, mouse controls, and an in-game megaphone that uses the system’s built-in microphone. Online play will be extended for up to 12 players, and CameraPlay will also be compatible with the Switch 2 version. An extended trailer has been launched with the Switch 2 announcement, and it can be seen below. The announcement doesn’t just detail the Nintendo Switch 2 version of Animal Crossing: New Horizons; fans returning to their original islands can check out what the free update version 3.0 adds to player islands. This update features a new hotel resort run by Kapp’n’s family, new themed items and characters, exclusives like Slumber Island for Nintendo Switch Online members and more. Both the regular and Nintendo Switch 2 versions of the title can play this content update. The content update includes an array of new content for Villagers to dive into, starting with quality-of-life improvements. Resetti is on hand in the new update with a convenient Reset Service to help tidy up player islands. Players can also now upgrade their home storage to hold up to 9,000 items, and storage can now hold trees, shrubs and flowers. Players with a Nintendo Switch Online membership can design and save up to three islands and play with friends online with those islands in Slumber Island. This new mode allows friends to select the size and layout of an island, and build and design it collaboratively. Residents from player islands can be invited to Slumber Island, and inventory items can be brought to spruce things up. The free update and Animal Crossing: New Horizons – Nintendo Switch 2 Edition launch Jan. 15, and it will be available for $64.99. It’s worth noting that if fans already have the game for Nintendo Switch, a paid upgrade pack will also be available for $4.99.

Inside stories of Digital Transformation

Discover how Agentic AI transforms higher ed with smarter student support, efficient operations, and scalable innovation.

Discover how Agentic AI transforms higher ed with smarter student support, efficient operations, and scalable innovation.

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Mechanical Components are one of the many resources you can find in ARC Raiders, and farming them will be immensely helpful for different reasons.

Mechanical Components, like other items in the game, are found in different locations. However, you can also get them from recycling stuff that you don't need from your inventory. Additionally, you can also craft them from the correct raw materials.

This guide will explain both methods, along with shedding light on how to use them.

How to get Mechanical Components in ARC Raiders

The easiest way to get Mechanical Components is by crafting them from the Refinery. You can use the Refinery at your Workshop to create Mechanical Components, and these are the items that you'll require:

• 7 Metal Parts
• 3 Rubber Parts

Both Metal Parts and Rubber Parts are common items that you can find all over the map. They're among the most common loot to get, so finding them won't be a problem. If you upgrade Scrappy, he will also help you find the two items that we are discussing.

You can also get Metal Parts and Rubber Parts by salvaging scrap. The quantity you get from the process will be random, but you should have enough.

Incidentally, you can also get Mechanical Components directly from recycling your weapons. However, you'll have to recycle Uncommon weapons or Uncommon mods. You can also recycle upgraded versions of certain weapons to gain Mechanical Components.

In general, recycling weapons to get Mechanical Components is an inefficient way. Given how common Metal Parts and Rubber Parts are, it's better to use your Refinery.

How to use Mechanical Components in ARC Raiders

Mechanical Components are beneficial when it comes to upgrading and tuning your weapon parts. You can craft various weapon parts with it first, and then use Mechanical Components with other items to upgrade them.

However, Mechanical Components are also required to upgrade to Gunsmith 2, which is exceptionally crucial when you're starting in ARC Raiders. Hence, always salvage as many Metal Parts and Rubber Parts as you can, but make sure to extract successfully to bring them to your Workshop.

The post How to find and use Mechanical Components in ARC Raiders appeared first on Destructoid.

Mechanical Components are one of the many resources you can find in ARC Raiders, and farming them will be immensely helpful for different reasons. Mechanical Components, like other items in the game, are found in different locations. However, you can also get them from recycling stuff that you don't need from your inventory. Additionally, you can also craft them from the correct raw materials. This guide will explain both methods, along with shedding light on how to use them. How to get Mechanical Components in ARC Raiders The easiest way to get Mechanical Components is by crafting them from the Refinery. You can use the Refinery at your Workshop to create Mechanical Components, and these are the items that you'll require: 7 Metal Parts 3 Rubber Parts Both Metal Parts and Rubber Parts are common items that you can find all over the map. They're among the most common loot to get, so finding them won't be a problem. If you upgrade Scrappy, he will also help you find the two items that we are discussing. You can also get Metal Parts and Rubber Parts by salvaging scrap. The quantity you get from the process will be random, but you should have enough. Incidentally, you can also get Mechanical Components directly from recycling your weapons. However, you'll have to recycle Uncommon weapons or Uncommon mods. You can also recycle upgraded versions of certain weapons to gain Mechanical Components. In general, recycling weapons to get Mechanical Components is an inefficient way. Given how common Metal Parts and Rubber Parts are, it's better to use your Refinery. How to use Mechanical Components in ARC Raiders Mechanical Components are beneficial when it comes to upgrading and tuning your weapon parts. You can craft various weapon parts with it first, and then use Mechanical Components with other items to upgrade them. However, Mechanical Components are also required to upgrade to Gunsmith 2, which is exceptionally crucial when you're starting in ARC Raiders. Hence, always salvage as many Metal Parts and Rubber Parts as you can, but make sure to extract successfully to bring them to your Workshop. The post How to find and use Mechanical Components in ARC Raiders appeared first on Destructoid.

Fortnite's new Simpsons-themed mini season is launching tomorrow after a playable event, and early looks released today tease an experience that looks absolutely awesome.

YouTuber NickEh30 posted a video today featuring early gameplay of the new map and season from a visit to Epic Games' headquarters, and the island itself is absolutely glorious. It genuinely kind of looks like Springfield ripped straight out of the cartoon with a cel-shaded aesthetic and points of interest from the show.

Screenshot by Destructoid via NickEh30

You can find Ned Flanders hanging out in his own house, the Springfield Nuclear Power Plant where Homer works, Kamp Krusty, and even Mr. Burns' Manor. It's all there, and for a fan of The Simpsons (who among us hasn't at least seen the show or played one of the games over the years?) it's a delight.

I haven't watched The Simpsons in many years, but I remember growing up watching it (the controversy around who shot Mr. Burns was the talk of my elementary school) and playing Simpsons video games. This is really awesome, but it's just par for the course for this game.

Fortnite does awesome stuff like this so often that it feels like we as gamers take it for granted, when it is still just pretty mindblowing to think about. The Simpsons is just the latest IP that has made its way into Fortnite, alongside just about anything else you can think about.

Star Wars? Yep. Spider-Man? Yes. Batman? Of course. Lady Gaga? Well, yes! At this point, if you can think of it, you can find it in Fortnite or at the very least imagine it coming to the game eventually. Years ago when big tech was discussing the metaverse that never quite came to fruition...well, I think it did in Fortnite.

It's about as Ready Player One as we've gotten so far, and collabs like this one only make that feel more real. I mean, even the YouTuber in the video has his own skin in the game. It's wild to sit and think about just how big this game is when it comes to random collaborations, which has become a bit of a meme in and of itself, but I feel like we should appreciate how cool this all is a bit more.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-a0TpiuBL9U

The Simpsons-themed battle pass has skins for Marge Simpson, Homer Simpson, Ned Flanders, and more, and it'll be available when the mini-season goes live tomorrow after the special live event at 10am CT.

The post Fortnite’s Simpsons season looks like Springfield sprung to life, and I think we take this kind of stuff for granted appeared first on Destructoid.

Fortnite's new Simpsons-themed mini season is launching tomorrow after a playable event, and early looks released today tease an experience that looks absolutely awesome. YouTuber NickEh30 posted a video today featuring early gameplay of the new map and season from a visit to Epic Games' headquarters, and the island itself is absolutely glorious. It genuinely kind of looks like Springfield ripped straight out of the cartoon with a cel-shaded aesthetic and points of interest from the show. Screenshot by Destructoid via NickEh30 You can find Ned Flanders hanging out in his own house, the Springfield Nuclear Power Plant where Homer works, Kamp Krusty, and even Mr. Burns' Manor. It's all there, and for a fan of The Simpsons (who among us hasn't at least seen the show or played one of the games over the years?) it's a delight. I haven't watched The Simpsons in many years, but I remember growing up watching it (the controversy around who shot Mr. Burns was the talk of my elementary school) and playing Simpsons video games. This is really awesome, but it's just par for the course for this game. Fortnite does awesome stuff like this so often that it feels like we as gamers take it for granted, when it is still just pretty mindblowing to think about. The Simpsons is just the latest IP that has made its way into Fortnite, alongside just about anything else you can think about. Star Wars? Yep. Spider-Man? Yes. Batman? Of course. Lady Gaga? Well, yes! At this point, if you can think of it, you can find it in Fortnite or at the very least imagine it coming to the game eventually. Years ago when big tech was discussing the metaverse that never quite came to fruition...well, I think it did in Fortnite. It's about as Ready Player One as we've gotten so far, and collabs like this one only make that feel more real. I mean, even the YouTuber in the video has his own skin in the game. It's wild to sit and think about just how big this game is when it comes to random collaborations, which has become a bit of a meme in and of itself, but I feel like we should appreciate how cool this all is a bit more. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-a0TpiuBL9U The Simpsons-themed battle pass has skins for Marge Simpson, Homer Simpson, Ned Flanders, and more, and it'll be available when the mini-season goes live tomorrow after the special live event at 10am CT. The post Fortnite’s Simpsons season looks like Springfield sprung to life, and I think we take this kind of stuff for granted appeared first on Destructoid.

The Reduced to Rubble is the first task you get in the Blue Gate region in ARC Raiders, and it can feel quite confusing.

The mission at first feels simple, but there's no exact guidance on where you have to be. You get the quest from Shani after you complete the First Foothold quest. The Reduced to Rubble quest involves searching for a highway and finding out why it collapsed in the first place.

This guide will help you to locate the Collapsed Highway and complete the quest without any hassle.

Table of contents

• Where is the Collapsed Highway in ARC Raiders?
• How to complete the Reduced to Rubble quest in ARC Raiders

Where is the Collapsed Highway in ARC Raiders?

Once you have gained access to the Blue Gate Area, head towards the southern part of the map. As you can see in the screenshot below, there's an area marked as Highway Collapse. This is where you have to be to spot and photograph the Collapsed Highway.

Screenshot and remix by Destructoid

The quest marker will directly take you to a section of broken roadway. Once you reach the position, you'll get a prompt to take a photo. You can use the binoculars to zoom in and find the location (provided by the quest). Make sure to reach the exact location to get the prompt for the photograph.

How to complete the Reduced to Rubble quest in ARC Raiders

Screenshot and remix by Destructoid

The next part of the mission is to travel to Broken Earth to find the remains of a gigantic ARC. The quest asks you to "follow the trail", but the actual job is to find the salvage. Approach the ARC, and the quest automatically updates. Complete the investigation to unlock the storyline objectives available at the Blue Gate location, which allows you to access more exploration-based quests in the area.

The post ARC Raiders Reduced to Rubble quest walkthrough – Collapsed Highway photography location appeared first on Destructoid.

The Reduced to Rubble is the first task you get in the Blue Gate region in ARC Raiders, and it can feel quite confusing. The mission at first feels simple, but there's no exact guidance on where you have to be. You get the quest from Shani after you complete the First Foothold quest. The Reduced to Rubble quest involves searching for a highway and finding out why it collapsed in the first place. This guide will help you to locate the Collapsed Highway and complete the quest without any hassle. Table of contents Where is the Collapsed Highway in ARC Raiders? How to complete the Reduced to Rubble quest in ARC Raiders Where is the Collapsed Highway in ARC Raiders? Once you have gained access to the Blue Gate Area, head towards the southern part of the map. As you can see in the screenshot below, there's an area marked as Highway Collapse. This is where you have to be to spot and photograph the Collapsed Highway. Screenshot and remix by Destructoid The quest marker will directly take you to a section of broken roadway. Once you reach the position, you'll get a prompt to take a photo. You can use the binoculars to zoom in and find the location (provided by the quest). Make sure to reach the exact location to get the prompt for the photograph. How to complete the Reduced to Rubble quest in ARC Raiders Screenshot and remix by Destructoid The next part of the mission is to travel to Broken Earth to find the remains of a gigantic ARC. The quest asks you to "follow the trail", but the actual job is to find the salvage. Approach the ARC, and the quest automatically updates. Complete the investigation to unlock the storyline objectives available at the Blue Gate location, which allows you to access more exploration-based quests in the area. The post ARC Raiders Reduced to Rubble quest walkthrough – Collapsed Highway photography location appeared first on Destructoid.

ARC Raiders' world is a living one with other players, menacing robot enemies, and even special events you can find and participate in.

One of these events happens near the Launch Towers on the Spaceport map, and properly executing what you need to do means high tier loot for you and your friends (or just you), and it involves finding Fuel Cells to power up a door so you can climb all the way up top.

Here's what you need to do to get it done.

ARC Raiders Fuel Cells Spaceport Launch Towers location

The image below showcases where the Fuel Cells spawn as part of the Launch Towers looting event on Spaceport.

Screenshot and remix by Destructoid

The Fuel Cells can be found around several of these entrances that lead to the underground area, as shown in the green circles on the map image above. They sometimes spawn along the outer concrete edges of the doorways themselves.

Screenshot by Destructoid

Once you grab a Fuel Cell, you can then carry the Fuel Cell to the Launch Towers zipline and place them into a generator to power up the locked doors so you can ascend to the very top of the tower.

Once you're in the tower, you can loot whatever is inside. If you keep going higher to the rooftop, you will find a button that you can press that will begin the event and spawn a number of flying ARC enemies. Defeat the bots and then loot the high-tier chest next to the button you pressed to begin the event to find high quality gear and blueprints. This YouTube video shows what the encounter looks like.

There's a chest on both towers, so use the zipline to loot both of them before heading back to Speranza with your quality gear. Good luck out there, Raider.

The post Where to find the Launch Towers Fuel Cells on Spaceport in ARC Raiders appeared first on Destructoid.

ARC Raiders' world is a living one with other players, menacing robot enemies, and even special events you can find and participate in. One of these events happens near the Launch Towers on the Spaceport map, and properly executing what you need to do means high tier loot for you and your friends (or just you), and it involves finding Fuel Cells to power up a door so you can climb all the way up top. Here's what you need to do to get it done. ARC Raiders Fuel Cells Spaceport Launch Towers location The image below showcases where the Fuel Cells spawn as part of the Launch Towers looting event on Spaceport. Screenshot and remix by Destructoid The Fuel Cells can be found around several of these entrances that lead to the underground area, as shown in the green circles on the map image above. They sometimes spawn along the outer concrete edges of the doorways themselves. Screenshot by Destructoid Once you grab a Fuel Cell, you can then carry the Fuel Cell to the Launch Towers zipline and place them into a generator to power up the locked doors so you can ascend to the very top of the tower. Once you're in the tower, you can loot whatever is inside. If you keep going higher to the rooftop, you will find a button that you can press that will begin the event and spawn a number of flying ARC enemies. Defeat the bots and then loot the high-tier chest next to the button you pressed to begin the event to find high quality gear and blueprints. This YouTube video shows what the encounter looks like. There's a chest on both towers, so use the zipline to loot both of them before heading back to Speranza with your quality gear. Good luck out there, Raider. The post Where to find the Launch Towers Fuel Cells on Spaceport in ARC Raiders appeared first on Destructoid.

Quests in ARC Raiders are one of the primary ways to progress, both in terms of upgrading your character and seeing the story unfold.

However, some quests are downright obscure, asking you to do things without clearly stating how you're to go about them, which includes the Greasing Her Palms quest issued by Celeste. One specific part of that quest, related to the Spaceport map, is confusing players through and through, but luckily has an easy, if hidden, solution.

Here's all you need to know.

How to complete the Greasing Her Palms quest in Spaceport

Screenshot by Destructoid

The Greasing Her Palms quest asks you to visit three distinct locations in ARC Raiders, each located on three different maps: Dam Battlegrounds, Buried City, and Spaceport. The first two are relatively easy, requiring you to enter specific areas, but the Spaceport one is quite confusing, not least because its required location is actually outside of the compound listed in the quest.

To do the "scope out the rocket thrusters outside the Rocket Assembly," you'll need to find two derelict rocket thrusters that are beyond the borders of the Rocket Assembly compound. Specifically, they're located near the top-right corner of the Control Tower compound and can be identified as two massive cylinders on the game's 3D map.

Screenshot by Destructoid

To "scope them out," you need to approach the left thruster and walk around it, which'll automatically mark this segment of the quest as complete. It's obscure, but you literally have to survey and see the thruster yourself. No extra prompts are necessary. The exact location where you need to stand is on the image above. If it doesn't trigger, go super close to the thruster and move to the left.

The post Where to ‘scope out the rocket thrusters outside the Rocket Assembly’ in ARC Raiders – Greasing Her Palms quest appeared first on Destructoid.

Quests in ARC Raiders are one of the primary ways to progress, both in terms of upgrading your character and seeing the story unfold. However, some quests are downright obscure, asking you to do things without clearly stating how you're to go about them, which includes the Greasing Her Palms quest issued by Celeste. One specific part of that quest, related to the Spaceport map, is confusing players through and through, but luckily has an easy, if hidden, solution. Here's all you need to know. How to complete the Greasing Her Palms quest in Spaceport Screenshot by Destructoid The Greasing Her Palms quest asks you to visit three distinct locations in ARC Raiders, each located on three different maps: Dam Battlegrounds, Buried City, and Spaceport. The first two are relatively easy, requiring you to enter specific areas, but the Spaceport one is quite confusing, not least because its required location is actually outside of the compound listed in the quest. To do the "scope out the rocket thrusters outside the Rocket Assembly," you'll need to find two derelict rocket thrusters that are beyond the borders of the Rocket Assembly compound. Specifically, they're located near the top-right corner of the Control Tower compound and can be identified as two massive cylinders on the game's 3D map. Screenshot by Destructoid To "scope them out," you need to approach the left thruster and walk around it, which'll automatically mark this segment of the quest as complete. It's obscure, but you literally have to survey and see the thruster yourself. No extra prompts are necessary. The exact location where you need to stand is on the image above. If it doesn't trigger, go super close to the thruster and move to the left. The post Where to ‘scope out the rocket thrusters outside the Rocket Assembly’ in ARC Raiders – Greasing Her Palms quest appeared first on Destructoid.

ARC Raiders might pit players against one another in the dilapidated, scorched lands, but everyone has a common enemy: the ARCs.

These are the AI-controlled enemies that roam the different spots of the map. While human enemies can choose when and whom to engage, there's no such privilege with the bots. Their entire mission appears to revolve around hunting you down with precision.

How to defeat all ARC enemies in ARC Raiders

Every ARC has certain weak points that you will want to target. Some ARC enemies are easier to take down, while others are far more ruthless.

Screenshot by Destructoid

ARC Weaknesses/Weak points Strategy Weapon Recommendations Wasp Thrusters Wasps move fast in the air, but they're easy to take down. Target the thrusters to disable their flight. They can flank you, so your aim should be to stay in cover. Energy Weapons
Precision Weapons Hornet Rear Thrusters Hornets are drone enemies that move fast, and they also attack you with rapid-firing projectiles and stunners. While they don't do much lethal damage, they can disable you and make you an easy target for other ARCs. Thankfully, you can swiftly target the thrusters on its back to bring it down for good. Heavy Rifles
Machine Guns Snitch N/A The Snitch is really easy to take down, and a few shots are usually enough. Their primary objective is to alert other ARCs about your presence and give out your location. They don't have a specific weak spot due to the lack of armor, but the smaller hitbox sometimes makes things difficult. Medium Rifles
SMGs
Heavy Rifles Pop N/A Pops are similar to Fireballs, and they try to self-destruct near you. Their health is really low, but you'll need to stop them before they can reach you. Heavy Rifles
Shotguns Tick N/A Fast enemies that try to jump and latch onto you. They will do continuous damage unless you remove them. They're really easy to kill, but they always appear in swarms. It's best not to waste your bullets on these machines. Melee weapons
Any weapon works because they're so weak Rollbot Exposed core when transmitting The Rollbot or the Surveyors scan your location and inform other ARCs. While they're not dangerous on their own, you should destroy them unless you want attention on yourself. Target its core as it tries to transmit the information to its fellow ARC. Explosives
Heavy Rifles Fireball Exposed core when firing Fireballs are smaller ARCs that try to burn you with fire after getting close. Thankfully, they don't have much health, and the core is exposed when it's attacking. Heavy Rounds Turret Power Cores Turrets are static, and they are found in ARC zones. While they might not move, they will shoot on sight. By shoot, I mean machine guns with near infinite range. Your aim should be to sneak past it and avoid its line of fire. If that's not possible, try taking down their power cores. Energy Weapons
Explosives Sentinel Shield Generators They're stationary enemies like Turrets, and guard vital locations for the enemy. Unlike Turrets, they have a longer range and also deploy shields. To take them down, target the shield generators. Their exoskeleton is pretty weak without the shields. The generators are on top of the gun. Heavy Rifles
Energy Rifles Bombardier Upper Chassis, Core The Bombardier's attacks have a long range, so try to keep your distance. You'll want to make it fire first, because it will be vulnerable while trying to reload. They're also pretty slow, and their weak spots are on the upper body. You can also try attacking the core, but make sure not to huddle together in front it. Heavy Rifles
Rocket Launchers Bastion Knees, Rear The Bastion is one of the most dangerous enemies you can come across. It has a lot of armor, and its machine gun can shred you to pieces. The first aim is to get into cover because you don't want to get caught in the open. Its major weak spots are the knees and the cylinder on its back. While moving in front of a Bastion is hard, it's really slow. Hitting it from the rear is going to make your life easier. Explosives
Grenade Launchers
Heavy Machine Guns Rocketeer Core under the Thrusters Rocketeers are the most dangerous form of drone ARCs you can come across. They will target you with guided missiles that do plenty of damage. The first task is never to get caught in the open. Target the glowing core right under the thrusters, which will slow it down. You can also use EMP blasts to disable it temporarily. Ultimately, you'll have to target the thrusters to bring them down, but pay attention to the lock-on sound cues to dodge the missiles. Rocket Launchers
Heavy Machine Guns
Energy Weapons Leaper Legs The Leaper is similar to the Tick, but does a lot more damage. It moves extremely fast and deals in melee damage. You'll want to keep your distance and target its limbs to slow it down. EMP blasts will also disable it temporarily, making it easier for you to target. Energy Weapons
Heavy Rigles The Queen Core The Queen is the endgame boss to take down, and she protects her Harvester. While she's easy to hit, you'll have to avoid her attacks at all costs. Wait for her to perform her attacks, and then shoot at the exposed core. She also summons ARCs that you should always take down first. Heavy Launchers
EMP Grenades
Energy Weapons

The post All ARCs in ARC Raiders and how to beat them appeared first on Destructoid.

ARC Raiders might pit players against one another in the dilapidated, scorched lands, but everyone has a common enemy: the ARCs. These are the AI-controlled enemies that roam the different spots of the map. While human enemies can choose when and whom to engage, there's no such privilege with the bots. Their entire mission appears to revolve around hunting you down with precision. How to defeat all ARC enemies in ARC Raiders Every ARC has certain weak points that you will want to target. Some ARC enemies are easier to take down, while others are far more ruthless. Screenshot by Destructoid ARC Weaknesses/Weak points Strategy Weapon Recommendations Wasp Thrusters Wasps move fast in the air, but they're easy to take down. Target the thrusters to disable their flight. They can flank you, so your aim should be to stay in cover. Energy Weapons Precision Weapons Hornet Rear Thrusters Hornets are drone enemies that move fast, and they also attack you with rapid-firing projectiles and stunners. While they don't do much lethal damage, they can disable you and make you an easy target for other ARCs. Thankfully, you can swiftly target the thrusters on its back to bring it down for good. Heavy Rifles Machine Guns Snitch N/A The Snitch is really easy to take down, and a few shots are usually enough. Their primary objective is to alert other ARCs about your presence and give out your location. They don't have a specific weak spot due to the lack of armor, but the smaller hitbox sometimes makes things difficult. Medium Rifles SMGs Heavy Rifles Pop N/A Pops are similar to Fireballs, and they try to self-destruct near you. Their health is really low, but you'll need to stop them before they can reach you. Heavy Rifles Shotguns Tick N/A Fast enemies that try to jump and latch onto you. They will do continuous damage unless you remove them. They're really easy to kill, but they always appear in swarms. It's best not to waste your bullets on these machines. Melee weapons Any weapon works because they're so weak Rollbot Exposed core when transmitting The Rollbot or the Surveyors scan your location and inform other ARCs. While they're not dangerous on their own, you should destroy them unless you want attention on yourself. Target its core as it tries to transmit the information to its fellow ARC. Explosives Heavy Rifles Fireball Exposed core when firing Fireballs are smaller ARCs that try to burn you with fire after getting close. Thankfully, they don't have much health, and the core is exposed when it's attacking. Heavy Rounds Turret Power Cores Turrets are static, and they are found in ARC zones. While they might not move, they will shoot on sight. By shoot, I mean machine guns with near infinite range. Your aim should be to sneak past it and avoid its line of fire. If that's not possible, try taking down their power cores. Energy Weapons Explosives Sentinel Shield Generators They're stationary enemies like Turrets, and guard vital locations for the enemy. Unlike Turrets, they have a longer range and also deploy shields. To take them down, target the shield generators. Their exoskeleton is pretty weak without the shields. The generators are on top of the gun. Heavy Rifles Energy Rifles Bombardier Upper Chassis, Core The Bombardier's attacks have a long range, so try to keep your distance. You'll want to make it fire first, because it will be vulnerable while trying to reload. They're also pretty slow, and their weak spots are on the upper body. You can also try attacking the core, but make sure not to huddle together in front it. Heavy Rifles Rocket Launchers Bastion Knees, Rear The Bastion is one of the most dangerous enemies you can come across. It has a lot of armor, and its machine gun can shred you to pieces. The first aim is to get into cover because you don't want to get caught in the open. Its major weak spots are the knees and the cylinder on its back. While moving in front of a Bastion is hard, it's really slow. Hitting it from the rear is going to make your life easier. Explosives Grenade Launchers Heavy Machine Guns Rocketeer Core under the Thrusters Rocketeers are the most dangerous form of drone ARCs you can come across. They will target you with guided missiles that do plenty of damage. The first task is never to get caught in the open. Target the glowing core right under the thrusters, which will slow it down. You can also use EMP blasts to disable it temporarily. Ultimately, you'll have to target the thrusters to bring them down, but pay attention to the lock-on sound cues to dodge the missiles. Rocket Launchers Heavy Machine Guns Energy Weapons Leaper Legs The Leaper is similar to the Tick, but does a lot more damage. It moves extremely fast and deals in melee damage. You'll want to keep your distance and target its limbs to slow it down. EMP blasts will also disable it temporarily, making it easier for you to target. Energy Weapons Heavy Rigles The Queen Core The Queen is the endgame boss to take down, and she protects her Harvester. While she's easy to hit, you'll have to avoid her attacks at all costs. Wait for her to perform her attacks, and then shoot at the exposed core. She also summons ARCs that you should always take down first. Heavy Launchers EMP Grenades Energy Weapons The post All ARCs in ARC Raiders and how to beat them appeared first on Destructoid.

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Packed with features, the FO32U2 is designed to give you an edge and simplify your setup:

• Versatile connectivity: Ready for next-gen consoles and PCs with two HDMI 2.1 ports, a DisplayPort 1.4, and a USB-C with up to 65W power delivery.
• Gaming utilities: Use Black Equalizer 2.0 to spot enemies in shadows, the customizable Crosshair for perfect aim, and the Dashboard to monitor system stats in-game.
• Convenient control: The built-in KVM switch lets you control multiple devices with one keyboard and mouse.

Fully ergonomic with 130mm height adjustment, pivot, swivel, and tilt, this monitor is built for marathon gaming sessions in comfort.

Stop the Compromise. Start Dominating.

The AORUS FO32U2 is the definitive upgrade for the discerning gamer. It’s the perfect conduit to unlock your high-end PC's power, offering a flawless fusion of immersive 4K clarity and competitive-grade speed.

Ready to experience the difference? Find the AORUS FO32U2 on Amazon for $859.99.

The post No compromise: The AORUS FO32U2 gaming monitor appeared first on Destructoid.

This article is written in partnership with GIGABYTE AORUS. Get the FO32U2 on sale with a $240 rebate from Nov. 1 to Nov. 19. You invested in a powerful graphics card for stunning visuals and high frame rates. Don't let a mediocre monitor be the bottleneck. The AORUS FO32U2 from GIGABYTE is engineered to unleash the full potential of your hardware, delivering a breathtaking 4K OLED experience without compromising on elite gaming performance. A 32-Inch 4K OLED Masterpiece Experience games as they were meant to be seen on a pristine 31.5-inch 4K UHD (3840 x 2160) OLED panel. It combines perfect per-pixel lighting for infinite contrast (1,500,000:1) with 99% DCI-P3 color saturation, resulting in incredibly rich, vibrant, and lifelike images. With factory calibration (△E<2) and VESA DisplayHDR True Black 400 certification, you're guaranteed exceptional color accuracy and stunning HDR highlights right out of the box. Elite Speed Meets Ultra HD Why choose between resolution and performance? The FO32U2 delivers both with a blistering 240Hz refresh rate and a near-instantaneous 0.03ms (GTG) response time. This VESA ClearMR 13000 certified combination ensures buttery-smooth motion and crystal-clear action, eliminating ghosting and smearing even in the most frantic competitive scenes. Built for the Modern Gamer Packed with features, the FO32U2 is designed to give you an edge and simplify your setup: Versatile connectivity: Ready for next-gen consoles and PCs with two HDMI 2.1 ports, a DisplayPort 1.4, and a USB-C with up to 65W power delivery. Gaming utilities: Use Black Equalizer 2.0 to spot enemies in shadows, the customizable Crosshair for perfect aim, and the Dashboard to monitor system stats in-game. Convenient control: The built-in KVM switch lets you control multiple devices with one keyboard and mouse. Fully ergonomic with 130mm height adjustment, pivot, swivel, and tilt, this monitor is built for marathon gaming sessions in comfort. Stop the Compromise. Start Dominating. The AORUS FO32U2 is the definitive upgrade for the discerning gamer. It’s the perfect conduit to unlock your high-end PC's power, offering a flawless fusion of immersive 4K clarity and competitive-grade speed. Ready to experience the difference? Find the AORUS FO32U2 on Amazon for $859.99. The post No compromise: The AORUS FO32U2 gaming monitor appeared first on Destructoid.

The Count's Command SBC has arrived in FC 26 Ultimate Team, and you can add one more guaranteed Ultimate Scream card to your squad.

While you get a bonus pack for completing the challenge, it gets you one step closer to unlocking the Lewis-Skelly Ultimate Scream card. With so much at stake, let's look at how to complete the challenge and unlock the rewards.

Table of contents

• FC 26 Count's Command SBC tasks
• FC 26 Count's Command SBC solutions

FC 26 Count's Command SBC tasks

The Count's Command SBC has only one task to complete. Here are the requirements.

Count's Command

• Min. 1 Players from: Romania
• Min. 4 Players from the same League
• Min. 4 Players: Rare
• Min. 8 Players: Gold
• Player quality: Min. Silver
• Min. Squad Total Chemistry Points: 31

The SBC is quite a stiff one to complete. While the overall ratings requirements are pretty negligible, you can get stuck on the total chemistry element. However, I have included a solution for you to try and complete the SBC without any issues.

FC 26 Count's Command SBC solutions

Here's a solution for you to try and complete the challenge. That said, always try to use cards from your inventory since it reduces the potential completion cost and raises the valuation of your rewards.

• Sanabria ST 76
• Osorio ST 69
• Gutierrez LM 69
• Boloca CM 74
• Samardzic CM 75
• Delprato RB 75
• Olivera LB 78
• Ndiaye CB 75
• Gatti CB 80
• Martirena RB 75
• Di Gregorio GK 81

Completing the challenge gets you an untradeable Prime Gold Players Pack. This pack includes 12 Gold Player items, with six of them guaranteed to be rare, with at least one card rated to be 82 or higher. If you're lucky, you can get a walkout/promo item from the pack. While that depends on your luck, completing the challenge gets you an extra Ultimate Scream card and Miles Lewis-Skelly in the near future.

The post FC 26 Count’s Command SBC tasks and solutions appeared first on Destructoid.

The Count's Command SBC has arrived in FC 26 Ultimate Team, and you can add one more guaranteed Ultimate Scream card to your squad. While you get a bonus pack for completing the challenge, it gets you one step closer to unlocking the Lewis-Skelly Ultimate Scream card. With so much at stake, let's look at how to complete the challenge and unlock the rewards. Table of contents FC 26 Count's Command SBC tasks FC 26 Count's Command SBC solutions FC 26 Count's Command SBC tasks The Count's Command SBC has only one task to complete. Here are the requirements. Count's Command Min. 1 Players from: Romania Min. 4 Players from the same League Min. 4 Players: Rare Min. 8 Players: Gold Player quality: Min. Silver Min. Squad Total Chemistry Points: 31 The SBC is quite a stiff one to complete. While the overall ratings requirements are pretty negligible, you can get stuck on the total chemistry element. However, I have included a solution for you to try and complete the SBC without any issues. FC 26 Count's Command SBC solutions Here's a solution for you to try and complete the challenge. That said, always try to use cards from your inventory since it reduces the potential completion cost and raises the valuation of your rewards. Sanabria ST 76 Osorio ST 69 Gutierrez LM 69 Boloca CM 74 Samardzic CM 75 Delprato RB 75 Olivera LB 78 Ndiaye CB 75 Gatti CB 80 Martirena RB 75 Di Gregorio GK 81 Completing the challenge gets you an untradeable Prime Gold Players Pack. This pack includes 12 Gold Player items, with six of them guaranteed to be rare, with at least one card rated to be 82 or higher. If you're lucky, you can get a walkout/promo item from the pack. While that depends on your luck, completing the challenge gets you an extra Ultimate Scream card and Miles Lewis-Skelly in the near future. The post FC 26 Count’s Command SBC tasks and solutions appeared first on Destructoid.

The Fast Like Adama Evolution has arrived in FC 26 Ultimate Team, and you can use the opportunity to upgrade an RM of your squad.

The evolution is free and offers some brilliant upgrades. This includes an increase in the overall rating, new playstyles, roles, and more. Let's quickly take a look at some of the best possible candidates based on the offered upgrades and requirements.

Table of contents

• FC 26 Fast Like Adama Evolution requirements
• FC 26 Fast Like Adama Evolution upgrades
• Best players to use in Fast Like Adama Evolution

FC 26 Fast Like Adama Evolution requirements

Here are the requirements of Fast Like Adama Evolution in FC 26.

• Overall: Max 83
• PlayStyle: Max 10
• Not Rarity: World Tour Silver Stars
• Position: RM
• Not Position: RB

FC 26 Fast Like Adama Evolution upgrades

The evolution has four levels of upgrades, and there are certain conditions to fulfill.

Level 1 upgrades

• Overall: +3|85
• Shooting: +4|82
• Acceleration: +8|93
• Reactions: +4|82
• Sprint Speed: +8|92
• Composure: +4|82

Level 2 upgrades

• Overall: +3|85
• Acceleration: +7|93
• Jumping: +5|80
• Sprint Speed: +7|92
• Stamina: +10|85
• Skills: +1|4

Level 3 upgrades

• Ball control: +10|88
• Dribbling: +10|88
• Strength: +7|88
• PlayStyles: Quick Step|5
• Roles: Inside Forward+

Level 4 upgrades

• Aggression: +5|80
• Agility: +7|85
• Balance: +7|86
• Strength: +8|88
• Roles: Winger++

Level 1 upgrade requirements

• Play 2 matches in Squad Battles on min. Semi-Pro difficulty (or Rush/Rivals/Champions/Live Events) using your active EVO Player in game.

Level 2 upgrade requirements

• Score 2 goals in Squad Battles on min. Semi-Pro difficulty (or Rush/Rivals/Champions/Live Events) using your active EVO Player in game.
• Play 1 match in Squad Battles on min Semi-Pro difficulty (or Rush/Rivals/Champions/Live Events) using your active EVO player in game.

Level 3 upgrade requirements

• Assist 1 goal in Squad Battles on min. Semi-Pro difficulty (or Rush/Rivals/Champions/Live Events) using your active EVO Player in game.
• Win 2 matches in Squad Battles on min. Semi-Pro difficulty (or Rush/Rivals/Champions/Live Events) using your active EVO Player in game.

Level 4 upgrade requirements

• Win 1 match in Squad Battles on min. Semi-Pro difficulty (or Rush/Rivals/Champions/Live Events) using your active EVO Player in game.
• Play 2 matches in Squad Battles on min. Semi-Pro difficulty (or Rush/Rivals/Champions/Live Events) using your active EVO Player in game.

Best players to use in Fast Like Adama Evolution

Here are some of my best recommendations for inclusion in the evolution.

• Gabriel Sera TOTW
• Carles Gil Cornerstones
• Muller TOTW
• Ryan Cherki
• Sadio Mane
• Crystal Dunn
• Morgan Rogers
• Brahim Diaz
• Nicolas Pepe Showdown

While the upgrades are significant, you will be able to include these cards in future evolutions to create a chain and evolve their stats further.

The post Best players for FC 26 Fast Like Adama Evolution appeared first on Destructoid.

The Fast Like Adama Evolution has arrived in FC 26 Ultimate Team, and you can use the opportunity to upgrade an RM of your squad. The evolution is free and offers some brilliant upgrades. This includes an increase in the overall rating, new playstyles, roles, and more. Let's quickly take a look at some of the best possible candidates based on the offered upgrades and requirements. Table of contents FC 26 Fast Like Adama Evolution requirements FC 26 Fast Like Adama Evolution upgrades Best players to use in Fast Like Adama Evolution FC 26 Fast Like Adama Evolution requirements Here are the requirements of Fast Like Adama Evolution in FC 26. Overall: Max 83 PlayStyle: Max 10 Not Rarity: World Tour Silver Stars Position: RM Not Position: RB FC 26 Fast Like Adama Evolution upgrades The evolution has four levels of upgrades, and there are certain conditions to fulfill. Level 1 upgrades Overall: +3|85 Shooting: +4|82 Acceleration: +8|93 Reactions: +4|82 Sprint Speed: +8|92 Composure: +4|82 Level 2 upgrades Overall: +3|85 Acceleration: +7|93 Jumping: +5|80 Sprint Speed: +7|92 Stamina: +10|85 Skills: +1|4 Level 3 upgrades Ball control: +10|88 Dribbling: +10|88 Strength: +7|88 PlayStyles: Quick Step|5 Roles: Inside Forward+ Level 4 upgrades Aggression: +5|80 Agility: +7|85 Balance: +7|86 Strength: +8|88 Roles: Winger++ Level 1 upgrade requirements Play 2 matches in Squad Battles on min. Semi-Pro difficulty (or Rush/Rivals/Champions/Live Events) using your active EVO Player in game. Level 2 upgrade requirements Score 2 goals in Squad Battles on min. Semi-Pro difficulty (or Rush/Rivals/Champions/Live Events) using your active EVO Player in game. Play 1 match in Squad Battles on min Semi-Pro difficulty (or Rush/Rivals/Champions/Live Events) using your active EVO player in game. Level 3 upgrade requirements Assist 1 goal in Squad Battles on min. Semi-Pro difficulty (or Rush/Rivals/Champions/Live Events) using your active EVO Player in game. Win 2 matches in Squad Battles on min. Semi-Pro difficulty (or Rush/Rivals/Champions/Live Events) using your active EVO Player in game. Level 4 upgrade requirements Win 1 match in Squad Battles on min. Semi-Pro difficulty (or Rush/Rivals/Champions/Live Events) using your active EVO Player in game. Play 2 matches in Squad Battles on min. Semi-Pro difficulty (or Rush/Rivals/Champions/Live Events) using your active EVO Player in game. Best players to use in Fast Like Adama Evolution Here are some of my best recommendations for inclusion in the evolution. Gabriel Sera TOTW Carles Gil Cornerstones Muller TOTW Ryan Cherki Sadio Mane Crystal Dunn Morgan Rogers Brahim Diaz Nicolas Pepe Showdown While the upgrades are significant, you will be able to include these cards in future evolutions to create a chain and evolve their stats further. The post Best players for FC 26 Fast Like Adama Evolution appeared first on Destructoid.

ARC Raiders has barely been out for over a day, but the game's devs at Embark Studios have already shown what to expect out of the next two months of content drops.

The living, expanding world of the game will get new content over time, like other live-service games before it, including new maps, new map conditions, new cosmetics, and quality-of-life updates that players may come to expect from a game like this.

Image via Embark Studios

It starts in November with the North Line update that includes the new map Stella Montis, and continues into December to close out 2025 with Cold Snap, both of which will add new gameplay elements and different updates to the game as it evolves and heads into the new year.

Here's a peek at what's coming to the game over the next few months, revealed by Embark Studios today:

• North Line (November)

  • New map: Stella Montis
  • Community Unlock Event
  • New ARC: Matriarch and Shredder
  • New gameplay items
  • New quests

• Cold Snap (December)

  • Snowfall map condition
  • Flickering Flames event
  • Expedition Departure Window
  • New Raider Deck
  • New quests

There's already a solid amount of content that most players have barely scratched the surface of in the game, which rewards exploration and cooperation while also incentivizing players to grief others and steal their loot to enrich themselves on their own journey.

Stella Montis is the first substantial content drop, offering a new location on top of the four already-playable available at launch. Each map offers different loot, enemy types, and quest-specific gear for players to seek out on their expeditions.

And then in December, the game's first "optional wipe" takes place as part of the Expedition Project feature, allowing players to opt in and reset their inventories for new items.

ARC Raiders 2025 roadmap

Image via Embark Studios

After the holiday season brings in the new year, Embark Studios will get back to work and continue working on future updates that will keep players coming back over time.

The post ARC Raiders just revealed its roadmap through the end of the year, and this game really is just getting started appeared first on Destructoid.

ARC Raiders has barely been out for over a day, but the game's devs at Embark Studios have already shown what to expect out of the next two months of content drops. The living, expanding world of the game will get new content over time, like other live-service games before it, including new maps, new map conditions, new cosmetics, and quality-of-life updates that players may come to expect from a game like this. Image via Embark Studios It starts in November with the North Line update that includes the new map Stella Montis, and continues into December to close out 2025 with Cold Snap, both of which will add new gameplay elements and different updates to the game as it evolves and heads into the new year. Here's a peek at what's coming to the game over the next few months, revealed by Embark Studios today: North Line (November) New map: Stella Montis Community Unlock Event New ARC: Matriarch and Shredder New gameplay items New quests Cold Snap (December) Snowfall map condition Flickering Flames event Expedition Departure Window New Raider Deck New quests There's already a solid amount of content that most players have barely scratched the surface of in the game, which rewards exploration and cooperation while also incentivizing players to grief others and steal their loot to enrich themselves on their own journey. Stella Montis is the first substantial content drop, offering a new location on top of the four already-playable available at launch. Each map offers different loot, enemy types, and quest-specific gear for players to seek out on their expeditions. And then in December, the game's first "optional wipe" takes place as part of the Expedition Project feature, allowing players to opt in and reset their inventories for new items. ARC Raiders 2025 roadmap Image via Embark Studios After the holiday season brings in the new year, Embark Studios will get back to work and continue working on future updates that will keep players coming back over time. The post ARC Raiders just revealed its roadmap through the end of the year, and this game really is just getting started appeared first on Destructoid.

Shiny hunting in Pokémon Legends: Z-A is fun. The grind to unlock the Shiny Charm is long, but the sound effects and sparkles that come out of wild Shiny Pokémon make the process feel extremely rewarding... until someone ruins it.

Taille, an NPC who gives you Side Mission 098 in front of Wild Zone 15, asks you to capture a Pumpkaboo of the Jumbo Variety, the largest one there is. When you accept her quest, she explicitly says, "I need you to catch a Jumbo Variety Pumpkaboo for me!"

Apparently, that wasn't clear enough for some players. One of them shared on Reddit that they had a Shiny Pumpkaboo of that variety, which is rare both for its base 1 in 4096 odds of spawning a Shiny and being a Jumbo. They offered it to Tallie, thinking she only wanted to see it. What happened instead was that the NPC kept the Shiny for herself, making the player lose a rare variety of Pumpkaboo forever. Others made that same mistake.

https://www.reddit.com/r/LegendsZA/comments/1okpog8/i_didnt_know_she_keeps_it/

What makes this an irreversible mistake is Legends: Z-A's autosave. This feature is always on and triggers at specific moments in the game, one of them being when you finish a side mission like Taille's. So, by the time you realize Taille is keeping your Pumpkaboo, the game has already saved your progress and made that a final decision. Your precious Shiny really is hers now.

This Side Mission only shows up late in the game, after you unlock Main Mission 35. Up until this point, every requester who asks to see a Pokémon will, at most, borrow it and return it to you, such as the lady who wants to make perfume out of Skiddo leaves and Vannilite snow. That's why it's natural to expect Taille will not keep your Pokémon as well if you ignore her dialogue.

When playing Legends: Z-A, remember one of the most important life lessons you were probably taught as a kid: don't let people borrow your valuable things—even if they're a video game character. You never know what they'll do with it.

The post Pokémon fans are having their Shinies stolen by an NPC in Legends: Z-A appeared first on Destructoid.

Shiny hunting in Pokémon Legends: Z-A is fun. The grind to unlock the Shiny Charm is long, but the sound effects and sparkles that come out of wild Shiny Pokémon make the process feel extremely rewarding... until someone ruins it. Taille, an NPC who gives you Side Mission 098 in front of Wild Zone 15, asks you to capture a Pumpkaboo of the Jumbo Variety, the largest one there is. When you accept her quest, she explicitly says, "I need you to catch a Jumbo Variety Pumpkaboo for me!" Apparently, that wasn't clear enough for some players. One of them shared on Reddit that they had a Shiny Pumpkaboo of that variety, which is rare both for its base 1 in 4096 odds of spawning a Shiny and being a Jumbo. They offered it to Tallie, thinking she only wanted to see it. What happened instead was that the NPC kept the Shiny for herself, making the player lose a rare variety of Pumpkaboo forever. Others made that same mistake. https://www.reddit.com/r/LegendsZA/comments/1okpog8/i_didnt_know_she_keeps_it/ What makes this an irreversible mistake is Legends: Z-A's autosave. This feature is always on and triggers at specific moments in the game, one of them being when you finish a side mission like Taille's. So, by the time you realize Taille is keeping your Pumpkaboo, the game has already saved your progress and made that a final decision. Your precious Shiny really is hers now. This Side Mission only shows up late in the game, after you unlock Main Mission 35. Up until this point, every requester who asks to see a Pokémon will, at most, borrow it and return it to you, such as the lady who wants to make perfume out of Skiddo leaves and Vannilite snow. That's why it's natural to expect Taille will not keep your Pokémon as well if you ignore her dialogue. When playing Legends: Z-A, remember one of the most important life lessons you were probably taught as a kid: don't let people borrow your valuable things—even if they're a video game character. You never know what they'll do with it. The post Pokémon fans are having their Shinies stolen by an NPC in Legends: Z-A appeared first on Destructoid.

Errors and bugs have become the norm in most games nowadays, especially those that launch to massive success, attracting countless players to their fun gameplay loops.

ARC Raiders is no exception, with many players encountering some issues preventing them from getting into the game, even if the developers tried their hardest to mitigate all potential problems.

One such error is the Outdated Game Client pop-up that appears to some players. So, here's everything you need to know about it.

What is the Outdated Game Client message in ARC Raiders

A new update seems to be causing issues for some players. Image via @ARCRaidersGame

When trying to start up the game, some ARC Raiders players have been encountering the "Outdated Game Client" message that is preventing them from playing solo or with their friends. It started showing up following the announcement of a new patch that came out on Oct. 31, bringing a host of fixes and improvements to game stability.

The update seems to be the culprit causing the message to show, though even those who've installed the patch are still seeing the issue. It should resolve itself as the patch rolls out to everyone, and the game's version is synced up with the servers. Sometimes updates and servers do not see eye to eye, leading to version mismatches.

Additionally, another minor hotfix might have come out while you were in-game, further desynchronizing you from the server. Even if it's a few kilobytes' worth of data, it can and will disrupt your connection, causing the client version mismatch and the error above.

Some platforms might receive updates later than others, preventing players on them from joining the game until the rollout is complete.

Ensure the game is fully updated and all files are verified to be 100 percent confident that your game is up to snuff. If all else fails, do a complete reinstall of the game and re-download the most recent version. It's frustrating, but this should resolve the problem.

The post ARC Raiders ‘outdated game client’ error, explained appeared first on Destructoid.

Errors and bugs have become the norm in most games nowadays, especially those that launch to massive success, attracting countless players to their fun gameplay loops. ARC Raiders is no exception, with many players encountering some issues preventing them from getting into the game, even if the developers tried their hardest to mitigate all potential problems. One such error is the Outdated Game Client pop-up that appears to some players. So, here's everything you need to know about it. What is the Outdated Game Client message in ARC Raiders A new update seems to be causing issues for some players. Image via @ARCRaidersGame When trying to start up the game, some ARC Raiders players have been encountering the "Outdated Game Client" message that is preventing them from playing solo or with their friends. It started showing up following the announcement of a new patch that came out on Oct. 31, bringing a host of fixes and improvements to game stability. The update seems to be the culprit causing the message to show, though even those who've installed the patch are still seeing the issue. It should resolve itself as the patch rolls out to everyone, and the game's version is synced up with the servers. Sometimes updates and servers do not see eye to eye, leading to version mismatches. Additionally, another minor hotfix might have come out while you were in-game, further desynchronizing you from the server. Even if it's a few kilobytes' worth of data, it can and will disrupt your connection, causing the client version mismatch and the error above. Some platforms might receive updates later than others, preventing players on them from joining the game until the rollout is complete. Ensure the game is fully updated and all files are verified to be 100 percent confident that your game is up to snuff. If all else fails, do a complete reinstall of the game and re-download the most recent version. It's frustrating, but this should resolve the problem. The post ARC Raiders ‘outdated game client’ error, explained appeared first on Destructoid.

Progression is crucial to any extraction shooter, and ARC Raiders is no exception. Everything you do topside brings its own host of rewards, boosting your raider's capabilities for each subsequent run.

But sometimes you might have chosen the wrong skill, gone down the suboptimal path, or overall changed your mind about your playstyle. And, for some reason, ARC Raiders makes respecing obscure and, ultimately, quite punishing.

So, here's all you need to know about skill tree resets in ARC Raiders.

ARC Raiders skill tree reset, explained

Expeditions are ARC Raiders' version of prestige. Screenshot by Destructoid

Currently, there is no real way to do a partial skill reset or respec. You cannot click a button to redistribute your skill points into different branches or skills. What you can do, however, is a complete wipe of your progression via the Expeditions that sets your character to level one and, as a result, takes away your hard-earned skills.

It's a punishing system to be sure, but not one without merit.

Instead of wiping the server and resetting everyone, ARC Raiders has a prestige system, not much unlike Hunt: Showdown, another extraction shooter where progress can be "reset" in exchange for some goodies. These are the Expeditions mentioned above.

This is everything you'll gain or lose when completing an Expedition. Screenshot by Destructoid

At level 20, you unlock these Expeditions, which are completed in five stages, with each stage requiring specific materials to be cleared. Once you've done all five, you can send your Raider beyond the Rust Belt, permanently losing them and resetting your progression to zero. Expeditions are eight weeks long, giving each player 60 days to do them in full and "prestige" their accounts.

And, while your overall progress will be back at first base, you retain every unlockable, like your Tokens, Cred, Decks, and so on. Quests, Workshops, Inventories, Stash upgrades, Coins, and Levels are totally wiped. Expeditions grant bonus level-ups, XP, and Stash slots after completion, ultimately boosting your subsequent leveling, making this total reset a bit less painful.

The post How to respec your skill tree in ARC Raiders appeared first on Destructoid.

Progression is crucial to any extraction shooter, and ARC Raiders is no exception. Everything you do topside brings its own host of rewards, boosting your raider's capabilities for each subsequent run. But sometimes you might have chosen the wrong skill, gone down the suboptimal path, or overall changed your mind about your playstyle. And, for some reason, ARC Raiders makes respecing obscure and, ultimately, quite punishing. So, here's all you need to know about skill tree resets in ARC Raiders. ARC Raiders skill tree reset, explained Expeditions are ARC Raiders' version of prestige. Screenshot by Destructoid Currently, there is no real way to do a partial skill reset or respec. You cannot click a button to redistribute your skill points into different branches or skills. What you can do, however, is a complete wipe of your progression via the Expeditions that sets your character to level one and, as a result, takes away your hard-earned skills. It's a punishing system to be sure, but not one without merit. Instead of wiping the server and resetting everyone, ARC Raiders has a prestige system, not much unlike Hunt: Showdown, another extraction shooter where progress can be "reset" in exchange for some goodies. These are the Expeditions mentioned above. This is everything you'll gain or lose when completing an Expedition. Screenshot by Destructoid At level 20, you unlock these Expeditions, which are completed in five stages, with each stage requiring specific materials to be cleared. Once you've done all five, you can send your Raider beyond the Rust Belt, permanently losing them and resetting your progression to zero. Expeditions are eight weeks long, giving each player 60 days to do them in full and "prestige" their accounts. And, while your overall progress will be back at first base, you retain every unlockable, like your Tokens, Cred, Decks, and so on. Quests, Workshops, Inventories, Stash upgrades, Coins, and Levels are totally wiped. Expeditions grant bonus level-ups, XP, and Stash slots after completion, ultimately boosting your subsequent leveling, making this total reset a bit less painful. The post How to respec your skill tree in ARC Raiders appeared first on Destructoid.

The Hatch Repairs quest is one of the simpler tasks to complete in ARC Raiders, and it teaches you one of the essential basics inside the game.

You'll gain access to this quest pretty early in the game, and the objective is all about extracting through a Raider Hatch. If you're still stuck on clearing this mission, read on to erase all your confusion.

Table of contents

• How to find a Raider Hatch in ARC Raiders
• How to complete the Hatch Repairs quest in ARC Raiders

How to find a Raider Hatch in ARC Raiders

You'll be able to find Raider Hatch in the very first location on Dam Battlegrounds. Hatches serve as one-person extraction points, which makes them perfect for solo players. To open the hatch, you're going to need a Hatch Key.

I've marked the location of all the Raider Hatches that you can find on the map. You can find a key from any building in the residential areas in ARC Raiders. Finding one is going to depend on your luck, but it's not a tough ask. Make sure to look carefully through the drawers and the cabinets for a higher chance of success.

Remix by Destructoid via Embark

Once you have obtained the key, reach the nearest HatchHatch. The next task will be to find a yellow pipe to complete the quest.

How to complete the Hatch Repairs quest in ARC Raiders

Once you reach the Hatch, interact with the pipe that goes into it. This will fix the leak and make the HatchHatch functional. However, you'll need to find a broken ARC drone. You can find this drone near the Raider Hatch, but the location will vary.

That said, you can find it pretty easily around the Raider Hatch. Once done, your Hatch Repairs quest will be complete. You'll get a decent amount of XP and valuable rewards to add to your inventory. You can also use the Hatch to extract successfully and preserve all the loot.

The post How to find Raider Hatch in ARC Raiders – Hatch Repairs quest walkthrough appeared first on Destructoid.

The Hatch Repairs quest is one of the simpler tasks to complete in ARC Raiders, and it teaches you one of the essential basics inside the game. You'll gain access to this quest pretty early in the game, and the objective is all about extracting through a Raider Hatch. If you're still stuck on clearing this mission, read on to erase all your confusion. Table of contents How to find a Raider Hatch in ARC Raiders How to complete the Hatch Repairs quest in ARC Raiders How to find a Raider Hatch in ARC Raiders You'll be able to find Raider Hatch in the very first location on Dam Battlegrounds. Hatches serve as one-person extraction points, which makes them perfect for solo players. To open the hatch, you're going to need a Hatch Key. I've marked the location of all the Raider Hatches that you can find on the map. You can find a key from any building in the residential areas in ARC Raiders. Finding one is going to depend on your luck, but it's not a tough ask. Make sure to look carefully through the drawers and the cabinets for a higher chance of success. Remix by Destructoid via Embark Once you have obtained the key, reach the nearest HatchHatch. The next task will be to find a yellow pipe to complete the quest. How to complete the Hatch Repairs quest in ARC Raiders Once you reach the Hatch, interact with the pipe that goes into it. This will fix the leak and make the HatchHatch functional. However, you'll need to find a broken ARC drone. You can find this drone near the Raider Hatch, but the location will vary. That said, you can find it pretty easily around the Raider Hatch. Once done, your Hatch Repairs quest will be complete. You'll get a decent amount of XP and valuable rewards to add to your inventory. You can also use the Hatch to extract successfully and preserve all the loot. The post How to find Raider Hatch in ARC Raiders – Hatch Repairs quest walkthrough appeared first on Destructoid.

ARC Raiders is Embark Studio's biggest game, eclipsing even its free-to-play sensation The Finals.

The devs have mastered the balance between style and substance, offering a fresh and flashy new take on the extraction shooter genre that both looks good and plays exceptionally well.

But a lot of folks today can't afford to fork over $40 for a single game, and may be wondering if subscription services like Game Pass will be enriched by ARC Raiders. Here's everything you need to know.

Is ARC Raiders on Game Pass?

ARC Raiders is one of the best extraction shooters ever made. Image via @ARCRaidersGame

As of writing, no, ARC Raiders is not available on the Xbox Game Pass. It's a paid, premium title that can be purchased and played on just about every platform out there, including Xbox Series S and X, Steam, and PlayStation 5. At the moment it costs $40, though it'll likely be discounted through sales as time goes on.

The developers have not clearly stated that ARC Raiders will never come to Game Pass. The Finals, Embark's previous game, was also added to Game Pass after some time, though that title is already free-to-play and thus a markedly different case than ARC.

Even so, a lot of studios have been adding their games to Xbox Game Pass, including both paid and free-to-play titles, which could eventually lead to ARC Raiders' inclusion, perhaps in 2026 or later. The Finals was added two years after launch, so we might be in for a long wait.

Given how you can buy and play the game via the Xbox app on PC and Console could indicate more integration, but currently no announcement of such a decision has been made.

If you already own ARC Raiders, check out our beginner builds for solo players or check out what the newest patch has changed and improved.

The post Is ARC Raiders coming to Game Pass? Potential release date, speculation, and more appeared first on Destructoid.

ARC Raiders is Embark Studio's biggest game, eclipsing even its free-to-play sensation The Finals. The devs have mastered the balance between style and substance, offering a fresh and flashy new take on the extraction shooter genre that both looks good and plays exceptionally well. But a lot of folks today can't afford to fork over $40 for a single game, and may be wondering if subscription services like Game Pass will be enriched by ARC Raiders. Here's everything you need to know. Is ARC Raiders on Game Pass? ARC Raiders is one of the best extraction shooters ever made. Image via @ARCRaidersGame As of writing, no, ARC Raiders is not available on the Xbox Game Pass. It's a paid, premium title that can be purchased and played on just about every platform out there, including Xbox Series S and X, Steam, and PlayStation 5. At the moment it costs $40, though it'll likely be discounted through sales as time goes on. The developers have not clearly stated that ARC Raiders will never come to Game Pass. The Finals, Embark's previous game, was also added to Game Pass after some time, though that title is already free-to-play and thus a markedly different case than ARC. Even so, a lot of studios have been adding their games to Xbox Game Pass, including both paid and free-to-play titles, which could eventually lead to ARC Raiders' inclusion, perhaps in 2026 or later. The Finals was added two years after launch, so we might be in for a long wait. Given how you can buy and play the game via the Xbox app on PC and Console could indicate more integration, but currently no announcement of such a decision has been made. If you already own ARC Raiders, check out our beginner builds for solo players or check out what the newest patch has changed and improved. The post Is ARC Raiders coming to Game Pass? Potential release date, speculation, and more appeared first on Destructoid.

Iconic Disney characters are always accompanied by lovable sidekicks, and in Disney Dreamlight Valley, you can have one, too. There's quite a vast array of Companions you can unlock, all of which come with special abilities and rewards.

It can be tough to choose which adorable Companion you want to have at your side, but knowing which ones have the abilities you're working on or the prizes you're most eager to unlock makes this decision much easier. If you want to learn everything there is to know about them, here are all Companion abilities and rewards in Disney Dreamlight Valley.

Table of contents

• All Companion abilities in Disney Dreamlight Valley
• All Notable Companion rewards in Disney Dreamlight Valley
• All Companion rewards in Disney Dreamlight Valley

All Companion abilities in Disney Dreamlight Valley

Screenshot by Destructoid

All regular Companion types have unique roles they can assist you with if you explore the valley with them at your side. All of the companion abilities you may encounter are as follows.

• Baby Dragons, Owls, and Pegasus help with Snippets (except for the Teal Baby Dragon, which helps with Ores instead).
• Dogs help with Sticks.
• Foxes and Crocodiles help with Fish.
• Rabbits help with Vegetables.
• Raccoons and Whimsical Creatures help with Gems.
• Ravens help with Soil.
• Snakes, Capybaras, and Monkeys help with Timebending Parts.
• Squirrels help with Fruit.
• Sunbirds help with Flowers.
• Turtles help with Seafood.
• Notable Companions all have unique abilities that look quite different from other critters.

All Notable Companion rewards in Disney Dreamlight Valley

There are 12 Notable Companions you can unlock in DDV so far, all of which come with one exclusive reward item you can't get anywhere else. Only Notable Companions grant prizes you can't otherwise get.

Notable Companions also don't necessarily follow the expected roles and abilities, so we've listed all activities they help with here, too, to help you determine which Companion you want to have at your side while performing important duties around the valley.

Companion Ability How to get Main reward All rewards Baby Pegasus Grains Was previously obtainable by purchasing the Magical Edition of DDV. This edition is no longer available. Mythical Cloud Throne furniture item Dinah Flowers Can be purchased from the Premium Shop for 3,000 Moonstones. Pink Cat Shelves furniture item Figaro Fish Can be purchased from the Premium Shop for 3,000 Moonstones. Decorative Fishbowl and Cabinet furniture item Heihei Stones Can be purchased from the Premium Shop for 3,000 Moonstones. Coconut Garland Gate furniture item Magic Carpet Flowers Complete the Aladdin Realm quest Carpet Diem. Golden Agrabah Mirror furniture item Maleficent's Raven Soil Complete The Corvid Companion quest after unlocking Maleficent. Anchor Moment Pillar furniture item Max Sticks Can be purchased from the Premium Shop as part of the permanent Seafaring Sheepdog Max Bundle for 4,500 Moonstones. Ship Bed furniture item Nana Sticks Can be purchased from the Premium Shop for 3,000 Moonstones. Nana's Doghouse furniture item Pua Fruit Complete Moana's level eight friendship quest, The Search for Pua. Oar Wall Display furniture item R2-D2 Ore Can be purchased from the Premium Shop for 2,500 Moonstones. R2-D2 Backpack clothing item The Footstool Wood Can be purchased from the Premium Shop for 3,000 Moonstones. Cozy Castle Rug furniture item Lucky Wood Can be purchased from the Premium Shop for 3,000 Moonstones. Dalmatian Dog House furniture item

All Companion rewards in Disney Dreamlight Valley

Screenshot by Destructoid

Outside of the Notable Companions, all other critters you can befriend don't come with special rewards and instead grant you one Companion Decor Reward chest. Upon opening this item, you'll find a random piece of furniture from Scrooge McDuck's shop.

It might be an item you already have, or something new. It's never an exclusive prize, and it can randomly be found and bought from the village shop, so it's not quite as exciting as the Notable Companion prizes.

The post All Companion abilities and rewards in Disney Dreamlight Valley appeared first on Destructoid.

Iconic Disney characters are always accompanied by lovable sidekicks, and in Disney Dreamlight Valley, you can have one, too. There's quite a vast array of Companions you can unlock, all of which come with special abilities and rewards. It can be tough to choose which adorable Companion you want to have at your side, but knowing which ones have the abilities you're working on or the prizes you're most eager to unlock makes this decision much easier. If you want to learn everything there is to know about them, here are all Companion abilities and rewards in Disney Dreamlight Valley. Table of contents All Companion abilities in Disney Dreamlight Valley All Notable Companion rewards in Disney Dreamlight Valley All Companion rewards in Disney Dreamlight Valley All Companion abilities in Disney Dreamlight Valley Screenshot by Destructoid All regular Companion types have unique roles they can assist you with if you explore the valley with them at your side. All of the companion abilities you may encounter are as follows. Baby Dragons, Owls, and Pegasus help with Snippets (except for the Teal Baby Dragon, which helps with Ores instead). Dogs help with Sticks. Foxes and Crocodiles help with Fish. Rabbits help with Vegetables. Raccoons and Whimsical Creatures help with Gems. Ravens help with Soil. Snakes, Capybaras, and Monkeys help with Timebending Parts. Squirrels help with Fruit. Sunbirds help with Flowers. Turtles help with Seafood. Notable Companions all have unique abilities that look quite different from other critters. All Notable Companion rewards in Disney Dreamlight Valley There are 12 Notable Companions you can unlock in DDV so far, all of which come with one exclusive reward item you can't get anywhere else. Only Notable Companions grant prizes you can't otherwise get. Notable Companions also don't necessarily follow the expected roles and abilities, so we've listed all activities they help with here, too, to help you determine which Companion you want to have at your side while performing important duties around the valley. Companion Ability How to get Main reward All rewards Baby Pegasus Grains Was previously obtainable by purchasing the Magical Edition of DDV. This edition is no longer available. Mythical Cloud Throne furniture item Dinah Flowers Can be purchased from the Premium Shop for 3,000 Moonstones. Pink Cat Shelves furniture item Figaro Fish Can be purchased from the Premium Shop for 3,000 Moonstones. Decorative Fishbowl and Cabinet furniture item Heihei Stones Can be purchased from the Premium Shop for 3,000 Moonstones. Coconut Garland Gate furniture item Magic Carpet Flowers Complete the Aladdin Realm quest Carpet Diem. Golden Agrabah Mirror furniture item Maleficent's Raven Soil Complete The Corvid Companion quest after unlocking Maleficent. Anchor Moment Pillar furniture item Max Sticks Can be purchased from the Premium Shop as part of the permanent Seafaring Sheepdog Max Bundle for 4,500 Moonstones. Ship Bed furniture item Nana Sticks Can be purchased from the Premium Shop for 3,000 Moonstones. Nana's Doghouse furniture item Pua Fruit Complete Moana's level eight friendship quest, The Search for Pua. Oar Wall Display furniture item R2-D2 Ore Can be purchased from the Premium Shop for 2,500 Moonstones. R2-D2 Backpack clothing item The Footstool Wood Can be purchased from the Premium Shop for 3,000 Moonstones. Cozy Castle Rug furniture item Lucky Wood Can be purchased from the Premium Shop for 3,000 Moonstones. Dalmatian Dog House furniture item All Companion rewards in Disney Dreamlight Valley Screenshot by Destructoid Outside of the Notable Companions, all other critters you can befriend don't come with special rewards and instead grant you one Companion Decor Reward chest. Upon opening this item, you'll find a random piece of furniture from Scrooge McDuck's shop. It might be an item you already have, or something new. It's never an exclusive prize, and it can randomly be found and bought from the village shop, so it's not quite as exciting as the Notable Companion prizes. The post All Companion abilities and rewards in Disney Dreamlight Valley appeared first on Destructoid.

ARC Raiders got me to use my microphone in a multiplayer game for the first time in years. And that's just one of the positives I can mention about the newest extraction shooter to take gamers by the throat.

Embark Studios' years-long passion project is finally out, and not only is it worth every cent of its $40 price tag, but it's the first game in the genre that has me wanting to play more after the initial hours.

A better world above

Image via Embark Studios

The entire basis of ARC Raiders, as is the case with any PvPvE game, is your interactions with the other players you meet. Although there is an emote wheel to communicate with others, this is is the first time I've felt like in-game VOIP is a necessity to maximize the experience.

Wandering around as a solo player or playing with up to two others and meeting friends-or-foes in the wild is a joy. The vast majority of my experience while playing ARC Raiders has been met with jolly cooperation as opposed to PvP grinders who shoot on sight. This may change over time (and likely will as the game advances) but the amount of gamers I've met who are willing to give peace a chance has inspired me.

Just about every time I go topside in ARC Raiders, I come across another solo player questing like I am. Some have teamed up with others they've found in the area, and I've done the same to take down AI enemies and help everyone involved get home to their loved ones underground. It makes me warm and tingly inside every time it happens.

This is part of what makes ARC Raiders so accessible to someone like me who isn't all that interested in PvP and is deathly afraid of losing my gear, as you are wont to do in a game in this genre. There's always the risk of the Raider you ran into emptying their clip into your back while you least expect it, but there's a lot to gain in working together, too, and I find that inspiring.

The worldbuilding in ARC Raiders is awesome, and the fight-or-befriend theme of the game shines through in it. The story beats available on day one drip-feed a plot that will likely evolve over time and unveil more of what happened to this universe where deadly robots called ARC have taken over the surface while humanity hides underground. These ARCs range in size from small spider bots to giant town-sized behemoths that can be battled in endgame, and they all make for a pretty uneasy vibe.

One of many friends made. Screenshot by Destructoid

I especially love its retrofuture aesthetic dripping with mystery and intrigue. How did all of this happen? How did the world come to this state? Play your quests and progress to find out, but every time you try, you could easily be taken down by the powerful ARCs or opportunistic Raiders who may or may not be looking to steal everything you have.

Unfortunately, those who are looking for glorious exposition will find ARC Raiders lacking, as the majority of the storyline is told through mission dialogue, quest descriptions, and items you find in the world. I love the concept of it, and I hope to see more interesting execution as I continue my journey.

Progression is just as slow if you play cautiously like I do, with the rewards for the most daring equating to better gear, and thus the ability to explore further, fight more menacing ARCs, and reap the rewards on your quest for glory. I'm taking my sweet time with the quests available, but you can blow through them fairly quickly if you have a good squad and the desire to grind.

ARC Raiders is not only the first extraction shooter, but one of very few games over the past few years, that I have gotten out of bed at night to play just a few more rounds because I was itching for it. I can't say enough about this: ARC Raiders is so fun to play, even if dying while geared up and losing everything still feels like a dropkick to the nuts every single time without fail.

A technological feat

Image via Embark Studios

A huge part of what makes ARC Raiders so easy to enjoy is how unbelievably optimized it is. On my years-old PC that has shown its age in 2025, the Unreal Engine 5 title runs flawlessly for me on the highest graphics settings where I've locked a sweet spot of 90 fps for buttery smooth gameplay.

I'm not sure how Embark Studios was able to pull this off when so many other AAA studios seem to be struggling with getting their games to perform well, but it must be commended. Being able to focus on the game itself and the dangerous world Raiders have to explore is a treat, as opposed to worrying about framerate hiccups or lag.

This helps to make ARC Raiders' third-person gameplay feel special, too. You start out with weak and ugly weapons, cobbled together from parts found in the world. As you build out your base, these weapons get better and stronger with upgrades, but how do you decide when to take it with you? It makes sense to take your best gear on a harder mission, but those harder missions also mean a higher chance to fail and lose it all. It's terrifyingly fun.

As ARC Raiders grows and evolves over time, Embark Studios will drop new weapons, missions, and more to grow the world and story, and I'm hoping to see some big risks taken in how it's all presented.

The post ARC Raiders review in progress – The accessible and friendly post-apocalyptic extraction shooter appeared first on Destructoid.

ARC Raiders got me to use my microphone in a multiplayer game for the first time in years. And that's just one of the positives I can mention about the newest extraction shooter to take gamers by the throat. Embark Studios' years-long passion project is finally out, and not only is it worth every cent of its $40 price tag, but it's the first game in the genre that has me wanting to play more after the initial hours. A better world above Image via Embark Studios The entire basis of ARC Raiders, as is the case with any PvPvE game, is your interactions with the other players you meet. Although there is an emote wheel to communicate with others, this is is the first time I've felt like in-game VOIP is a necessity to maximize the experience. Wandering around as a solo player or playing with up to two others and meeting friends-or-foes in the wild is a joy. The vast majority of my experience while playing ARC Raiders has been met with jolly cooperation as opposed to PvP grinders who shoot on sight. This may change over time (and likely will as the game advances) but the amount of gamers I've met who are willing to give peace a chance has inspired me. Just about every time I go topside in ARC Raiders, I come across another solo player questing like I am. Some have teamed up with others they've found in the area, and I've done the same to take down AI enemies and help everyone involved get home to their loved ones underground. It makes me warm and tingly inside every time it happens. This is part of what makes ARC Raiders so accessible to someone like me who isn't all that interested in PvP and is deathly afraid of losing my gear, as you are wont to do in a game in this genre. There's always the risk of the Raider you ran into emptying their clip into your back while you least expect it, but there's a lot to gain in working together, too, and I find that inspiring. The worldbuilding in ARC Raiders is awesome, and the fight-or-befriend theme of the game shines through in it. The story beats available on day one drip-feed a plot that will likely evolve over time and unveil more of what happened to this universe where deadly robots called ARC have taken over the surface while humanity hides underground. These ARCs range in size from small spider bots to giant town-sized behemoths that can be battled in endgame, and they all make for a pretty uneasy vibe. One of many friends made. Screenshot by Destructoid I especially love its retrofuture aesthetic dripping with mystery and intrigue. How did all of this happen? How did the world come to this state? Play your quests and progress to find out, but every time you try, you could easily be taken down by the powerful ARCs or opportunistic Raiders who may or may not be looking to steal everything you have. Unfortunately, those who are looking for glorious exposition will find ARC Raiders lacking, as the majority of the storyline is told through mission dialogue, quest descriptions, and items you find in the world. I love the concept of it, and I hope to see more interesting execution as I continue my journey. Progression is just as slow if you play cautiously like I do, with the rewards for the most daring equating to better gear, and thus the ability to explore further, fight more menacing ARCs, and reap the rewards on your quest for glory. I'm taking my sweet time with the quests available, but you can blow through them fairly quickly if you have a good squad and the desire to grind. ARC Raiders is not only the first extraction shooter, but one of very few games over the past few years, that I have gotten out of bed at night to play just a few more rounds because I was itching for it. I can't say enough about this: ARC Raiders is so fun to play, even if dying while geared up and losing everything still feels like a dropkick to the nuts every single time without fail. A technological feat Image via Embark Studios A huge part of what makes ARC Raiders so easy to enjoy is how unbelievably optimized it is. On my years-old PC that has shown its age in 2025, the Unreal Engine 5 title runs flawlessly for me on the highest graphics settings where I've locked a sweet spot of 90 fps for buttery smooth gameplay. I'm not sure how Embark Studios was able to pull this off when so many other AAA studios seem to be struggling with getting their games to perform well, but it must be commended. Being able to focus on the game itself and the dangerous world Raiders have to explore is a treat, as opposed to worrying about framerate hiccups or lag. This helps to make ARC Raiders' third-person gameplay feel special, too. You start out with weak and ugly weapons, cobbled together from parts found in the world. As you build out your base, these weapons get better and stronger with upgrades, but how do you decide when to take it with you? It makes sense to take your best gear on a harder mission, but those harder missions also mean a higher chance to fail and lose it all. It's terrifyingly fun. As ARC Raiders grows and evolves over time, Embark Studios will drop new weapons, missions, and more to grow the world and story, and I'm hoping to see some big risks taken in how it's all presented. The post ARC Raiders review in progress – The accessible and friendly post-apocalyptic extraction shooter appeared first on Destructoid.

There's nothing quite like involuntarily losing all the gear you have grinded for in a video game, and ARC Raiders is looking to change things up.

Account and inventory wipes are commonplace in extraction shooters where players can hoard gear to become all-powerful, so they have been viewed as a necessity up until now. But for Embark Studios, the devs behind ARC Raiders, a new method is afoot.

Here's everything there is to know about wipes in ARC Raiders and the special feature called Expedition Projects.

Table of contents

• Does ARC Raiders have wipes?
• ARC Raiders - What is an Expedition Project?
• ARC Raiders Expedition Project schedule
• ARC Raiders Expedition Project rewards

Does ARC Raiders have wipes?

Image via Embark Studios

Yes, ARC Raiders has something like a "wipe," but it's not a mandatory one forced upon all players. Instead, the game uses a system called Expedition Projects that make it optional.

"Just to make it clear, we absolutely see the benefits a global wipe provides," ARC Raiders design director Virgil Watkins explained. "Veteran players can experience the game fresh, the economy is reset to the baseline, and all players have about the same level of capabilities. At least for a little while."

This is because, according to Embark, mandatory wipes don't "respect the investment of those players who do not have as much time to play overall," so the studio is trying to strike a balance.

ARC Raiders - What is an Expedition Project?

When you reach level 20, you unlock the ability to "reset" your character's progress similarly to the Prestige system in Call of Duty, but with the flavor of "wipes" like in other extraction shooters such as Escape From Tarkov. If you don't want to do this, you don't have to.

Here's a quick outline of what you keep and what you lose when your Raider departs on an Expedition:

This is what is reset This is what is kept Stash Upgrade Progress
Inventory items
Blueprints
Coins
Player level
Skill Points
Raider Den
Workshop
Quests Unlocked maps
Unlocked Workshop Stations
Codex entries
Raider Tokens
Cred
Raider Decks progress
Active leaderboards
Trials
Cosmetics
Personal event progress
Bonus Skill Points earned from Expeditions
Bonus Stash Slots earned form Expeditions

"The Expedition Project will operate on a repeating cycle of roughly eight weeks," Embark explained. "During the course of these eight weeks, players can contribute toward and make progress on their Expedition Project, which will overall be a somewhat large time investment. At the start of the eighth week, the ability to finalize the project will become available and will remain available for that entire week. If a player has fulfilled all of the necessary stages of the project, they will be able to commit to completing the Expedition during this period."

Any Project not completed in the time period will have its progress moved to the next time phase window.

ARC Raiders Expedition Project schedule

The schedule for ARC Raiders' first Expedition Project is as follows:

• Oct. 30 to Dec. 14

  • Caravan Construction and Supply Phases available

• Dec. 15 to 20

  • Finalization Phase Opens

• Dec. 21

  • Completed Caravans depart

ARC Raiders Expedition Project rewards

Screenshot via NEXON

Embark Studios says it's still "finalizing" what you get when you depart on an Expedition, which is the entire point of wiping for those who wish to do so, but the dev has teased rewards such as this:

• Permanent account unlocks for each completed Expedition.
• Unique cosmetic rewards for each completed Expedition.
• Account “buffs” that are applied for the duration of the following Expedition cycle.

  • Sequential completions of the Expedition Project increase the magnitude of these buffs, up to a limit.

The post How do wipes work in ARC Raiders? Expedition Project, explained appeared first on Destructoid.

There's nothing quite like involuntarily losing all the gear you have grinded for in a video game, and ARC Raiders is looking to change things up. Account and inventory wipes are commonplace in extraction shooters where players can hoard gear to become all-powerful, so they have been viewed as a necessity up until now. But for Embark Studios, the devs behind ARC Raiders, a new method is afoot. Here's everything there is to know about wipes in ARC Raiders and the special feature called Expedition Projects. Table of contents Does ARC Raiders have wipes? ARC Raiders - What is an Expedition Project? ARC Raiders Expedition Project schedule ARC Raiders Expedition Project rewards Does ARC Raiders have wipes? Image via Embark Studios Yes, ARC Raiders has something like a "wipe," but it's not a mandatory one forced upon all players. Instead, the game uses a system called Expedition Projects that make it optional. "Just to make it clear, we absolutely see the benefits a global wipe provides," ARC Raiders design director Virgil Watkins explained. "Veteran players can experience the game fresh, the economy is reset to the baseline, and all players have about the same level of capabilities. At least for a little while." This is because, according to Embark, mandatory wipes don't "respect the investment of those players who do not have as much time to play overall," so the studio is trying to strike a balance. ARC Raiders - What is an Expedition Project? When you reach level 20, you unlock the ability to "reset" your character's progress similarly to the Prestige system in Call of Duty, but with the flavor of "wipes" like in other extraction shooters such as Escape From Tarkov. If you don't want to do this, you don't have to. Here's a quick outline of what you keep and what you lose when your Raider departs on an Expedition: This is what is reset This is what is kept Stash Upgrade Progress Inventory items Blueprints Coins Player level Skill Points Raider Den Workshop Quests Unlocked maps Unlocked Workshop Stations Codex entries Raider Tokens Cred Raider Decks progress Active leaderboards Trials Cosmetics Personal event progress Bonus Skill Points earned from Expeditions Bonus Stash Slots earned form Expeditions "The Expedition Project will operate on a repeating cycle of roughly eight weeks," Embark explained. "During the course of these eight weeks, players can contribute toward and make progress on their Expedition Project, which will overall be a somewhat large time investment. At the start of the eighth week, the ability to finalize the project will become available and will remain available for that entire week. If a player has fulfilled all of the necessary stages of the project, they will be able to commit to completing the Expedition during this period." Any Project not completed in the time period will have its progress moved to the next time phase window. ARC Raiders Expedition Project schedule The schedule for ARC Raiders' first Expedition Project is as follows: Oct. 30 to Dec. 14 Caravan Construction and Supply Phases available Dec. 15 to 20 Finalization Phase Opens Dec. 21 Completed Caravans depart ARC Raiders Expedition Project rewards Screenshot via NEXON Embark Studios says it's still "finalizing" what you get when you depart on an Expedition, which is the entire point of wiping for those who wish to do so, but the dev has teased rewards such as this: Permanent account unlocks for each completed Expedition. Unique cosmetic rewards for each completed Expedition. Account “buffs” that are applied for the duration of the following Expedition cycle. Sequential completions of the Expedition Project increase the magnitude of these buffs, up to a limit. The post How do wipes work in ARC Raiders? Expedition Project, explained appeared first on Destructoid.

Disney Dreamlight Valley's The Storybook Vale expansion has adorable Snippets and Companions for you to meet. From small frogs to tiny dragons, this critter list certainly takes a reward for some of the cutest video game animals I've ever seen.

However, depending on when you log into the game, you'll notice two mysterious critters who are particularly tricky to track down: the Teal Baby Dragon and Black Pegasus. How do you find them? What's their favorite meal? Let's dive into how to find Teal Baby Dragons and Black Pegasus in Disney Dreamlight Valley.

Table of contents

• Where to find the Teal Baby Dragon in Disney Dreamlight Valley
• Teal Baby Dragon schedule in Disney Dreamlight Valley
• Teal Baby Dragon favorite food in Disney Dreamlight Valley
• Teal Baby Dragon hangout bonus in Disney Dreamlight Valley
• Where to find the Black Pegasus in Disney Dreamlight Valley
• Black Pegasus schedule in Disney Dreamlight Valley
• Black Pegasus favorite food in Disney Dreamlight Valley
• Black Pegasus hangout bonus in Disney Dreamlight Valley

Where to find the Teal Baby Dragon in Disney Dreamlight Valley

Screenshot by Destructoid

The Teal Baby Dragon can be found wandering around The Wild Woods biome. This region is part of Everafter, the large area that covers most of the left side of The Storybook Vale. This critter isn't always there, though, as it has a specific schedule.

The Blue Baby Dragon also calls the same region home and looks extremely similar to the Teal Baby Dragon. It's quite easy to mix up these two based on their overall color, but the Teal Baby Dragon has bright orange eyes, so look for those to make sure you interact with the right one.

Teal Baby Dragon schedule in Disney Dreamlight Valley

Day Availability Sunday All day Monday N/A Tuesday N/A Wednesday All day Thursday All day Friday All day Saturday All day

Teal Baby Dragon favorite food in Disney Dreamlight Valley

Like all other Baby Dragons, the teal variant of this critter enjoys a collection of rare Gems as its favorite meal. Specifically, Pure Ice and Magma, as well as the Shiny Pure Ice and Shiny Magma versions. This Companion also likes all Gems and will be decently happy when fed any, but only absolutely loves Pure Ice and Magma.

Teal Baby Dragon hangout bonus in Disney Dreamlight Valley

The Teal Baby Dragon is the most unique version of this critter you can befriend, as its Companion hangout ability is picking up Ores while you mine. All other Baby Dragons have the pick up Snippets bonus, so it's a bit odd that this one is different.

It could be a mistake that's changed in future updates, so if it is, we'll update the information here. For now, though, this critter is a superb ally to have at your side while mining around the valley.

Where to find the Black Pegasus in Disney Dreamlight Valley

Screenshot by Destructoid

You can find the Black Pegasus wandering around The Elysian Fields region of Mythopia. This is one of the locations within the larger region near the right end of The Storybook Vale. The Pink Pegasus also wanders around this area, often at the same time, so make sure you check the color of the Pegasus you're interacting with before feeding them if you're focused on unlocking this one.

Black Pegasus schedule in Disney Dreamlight Valley

Day Availability Sunday All day Monday N/A Tuesday N/A Wednesday All day Thursday All day Friday All day Saturday All day

Black Pegasus favorite food in Disney Dreamlight Valley

The elusive Black Pegasus is a very fancy critter who loves four-star Vegetable meals and five-star Vegetable meals. Any dish that has at least one Vegetable in it and is four stars or better works to fulfill these requirements. This critter also likes three-star Vegetable meals, but not quite as much.

Black Pegasus hangout bonus in Disney Dreamlight Valley

Screenshot by Destructoid

The Black Pegasus has the same hangout bonus as all other Pegasus, which is the ability to pick up Snippets when hanging out. This skill is primarily only useful when exploring The Storybook Vale, as most Snippets are exclusive to this area.

The only exception to this is the rare White Bird Snippets found back in regular Dreamlight Valley. Regardless of which Snippets you're hunting for, it's always a great idea to have a Snippet companion at your side.

After you're done befriending these adorable and helpful critters, you might consider working on some important quests around the valley. Some good ones to get done are Spirit Hunters, The Circle of Friendship, Create a Bear, and The Fortress of Saditude.

The post How to find the Teal Baby Dragon and Black Pegasus in Disney Dreamlight Valley appeared first on Destructoid.

Disney Dreamlight Valley's The Storybook Vale expansion has adorable Snippets and Companions for you to meet. From small frogs to tiny dragons, this critter list certainly takes a reward for some of the cutest video game animals I've ever seen. However, depending on when you log into the game, you'll notice two mysterious critters who are particularly tricky to track down: the Teal Baby Dragon and Black Pegasus. How do you find them? What's their favorite meal? Let's dive into how to find Teal Baby Dragons and Black Pegasus in Disney Dreamlight Valley. Table of contents Where to find the Teal Baby Dragon in Disney Dreamlight Valley Teal Baby Dragon schedule in Disney Dreamlight Valley Teal Baby Dragon favorite food in Disney Dreamlight Valley Teal Baby Dragon hangout bonus in Disney Dreamlight Valley Where to find the Black Pegasus in Disney Dreamlight Valley Black Pegasus schedule in Disney Dreamlight Valley Black Pegasus favorite food in Disney Dreamlight Valley Black Pegasus hangout bonus in Disney Dreamlight Valley Where to find the Teal Baby Dragon in Disney Dreamlight Valley Screenshot by Destructoid The Teal Baby Dragon can be found wandering around The Wild Woods biome. This region is part of Everafter, the large area that covers most of the left side of The Storybook Vale. This critter isn't always there, though, as it has a specific schedule. The Blue Baby Dragon also calls the same region home and looks extremely similar to the Teal Baby Dragon. It's quite easy to mix up these two based on their overall color, but the Teal Baby Dragon has bright orange eyes, so look for those to make sure you interact with the right one. Teal Baby Dragon schedule in Disney Dreamlight Valley Day Availability Sunday All day Monday N/A Tuesday N/A Wednesday All day Thursday All day Friday All day Saturday All day Teal Baby Dragon favorite food in Disney Dreamlight Valley Like all other Baby Dragons, the teal variant of this critter enjoys a collection of rare Gems as its favorite meal. Specifically, Pure Ice and Magma, as well as the Shiny Pure Ice and Shiny Magma versions. This Companion also likes all Gems and will be decently happy when fed any, but only absolutely loves Pure Ice and Magma. Teal Baby Dragon hangout bonus in Disney Dreamlight Valley The Teal Baby Dragon is the most unique version of this critter you can befriend, as its Companion hangout ability is picking up Ores while you mine. All other Baby Dragons have the pick up Snippets bonus, so it's a bit odd that this one is different. It could be a mistake that's changed in future updates, so if it is, we'll update the information here. For now, though, this critter is a superb ally to have at your side while mining around the valley. Where to find the Black Pegasus in Disney Dreamlight Valley Screenshot by Destructoid You can find the Black Pegasus wandering around The Elysian Fields region of Mythopia. This is one of the locations within the larger region near the right end of The Storybook Vale. The Pink Pegasus also wanders around this area, often at the same time, so make sure you check the color of the Pegasus you're interacting with before feeding them if you're focused on unlocking this one. Black Pegasus schedule in Disney Dreamlight Valley Day Availability Sunday All day Monday N/A Tuesday N/A Wednesday All day Thursday All day Friday All day Saturday All day Black Pegasus favorite food in Disney Dreamlight Valley The elusive Black Pegasus is a very fancy critter who loves four-star Vegetable meals and five-star Vegetable meals. Any dish that has at least one Vegetable in it and is four stars or better works to fulfill these requirements. This critter also likes three-star Vegetable meals, but not quite as much. Black Pegasus hangout bonus in Disney Dreamlight Valley Screenshot by Destructoid The Black Pegasus has the same hangout bonus as all other Pegasus, which is the ability to pick up Snippets when hanging out. This skill is primarily only useful when exploring The Storybook Vale, as most Snippets are exclusive to this area. The only exception to this is the rare White Bird Snippets found back in regular Dreamlight Valley. Regardless of which Snippets you're hunting for, it's always a great idea to have a Snippet companion at your side. After you're done befriending these adorable and helpful critters, you might consider working on some important quests around the valley. Some good ones to get done are Spirit Hunters, The Circle of Friendship, Create a Bear, and The Fortress of Saditude. The post How to find the Teal Baby Dragon and Black Pegasus in Disney Dreamlight Valley appeared first on Destructoid.

Looting is the name of the game in ARC Raiders. And while it's fun to loot every single container you come across, special drops and stashes will net you a lot more for a lot less trouble.

That's where Supply Drops come in, alongside other special-issue loot containers like Field Depots. As opposed to the latter, Supply Drops are much easier to obtain and can net you a good chunk of extra items and resources, as well as complete a quest for you.

So, here's everything you need to know about ARC Raiders' Supply Drops.

What are Supply Drops in ARC Raiders and how can you get them?

Supply Call Stations tend to be guarded by powerful enemies like Rocketeers. Screenshot by Destructoid

Supply Drops are, as the name implies, big boxes of goodies that players can call in and loot at various locations around each of the game's maps. They contain a random amount of random-rarity items, including Quick Use Items (healing, shield regen, grenades, etc.), Ammunition, and Weapons. If you're near any of the Supply Call Stations required to, well, call them in, you might as well do it as there's no downside.

Except for maybe exposing yourself to the entire map.

To get a Supply Drop you need to visit a Supply Call Station, represented by an Antenna on the game's map. There are 10 Call Stations on the Dam Battlegrounds, the first map in ARC Raiders, and their positions are fixed and do not change between runs. This means you can always rush the nearest Call Station and get yourself some extra loot, so long as no enemy interrupts you.

Simply approach a Call Station and press the "Use" key to put the call in, and after about 45 seconds, you will have received the drop. This is a mandatory action for completing the A Better Use quest, that itself nets you additional rewards.

The post How to call in supply drops in ARC Raiders appeared first on Destructoid.

Looting is the name of the game in ARC Raiders. And while it's fun to loot every single container you come across, special drops and stashes will net you a lot more for a lot less trouble. That's where Supply Drops come in, alongside other special-issue loot containers like Field Depots. As opposed to the latter, Supply Drops are much easier to obtain and can net you a good chunk of extra items and resources, as well as complete a quest for you. So, here's everything you need to know about ARC Raiders' Supply Drops. What are Supply Drops in ARC Raiders and how can you get them? Supply Call Stations tend to be guarded by powerful enemies like Rocketeers. Screenshot by Destructoid Supply Drops are, as the name implies, big boxes of goodies that players can call in and loot at various locations around each of the game's maps. They contain a random amount of random-rarity items, including Quick Use Items (healing, shield regen, grenades, etc.), Ammunition, and Weapons. If you're near any of the Supply Call Stations required to, well, call them in, you might as well do it as there's no downside. Except for maybe exposing yourself to the entire map. To get a Supply Drop you need to visit a Supply Call Station, represented by an Antenna on the game's map. There are 10 Call Stations on the Dam Battlegrounds, the first map in ARC Raiders, and their positions are fixed and do not change between runs. This means you can always rush the nearest Call Station and get yourself some extra loot, so long as no enemy interrupts you. Simply approach a Call Station and press the "Use" key to put the call in, and after about 45 seconds, you will have received the drop. This is a mandatory action for completing the A Better Use quest, that itself nets you additional rewards. The post How to call in supply drops in ARC Raiders appeared first on Destructoid.

Update 1.000.005 is now live on ARC Raiders, and Embark has released the first post-release patch to fix some of the major issues that players have encountered on day one.

While the general performance on the first day has been pretty consistent, players have encountered occasional stutters, FPS drops, and server-related issues. Most of those problems should now be resolved. Let's look at what to expect from the new patch and how it could affect your gameplay.

Complete ARC Raiders Update 1.000.0005 patch notes

Most of the new patch is all about better optimization and quashing the bugs that players have encountered. While issues that caused crashes have been fixed, solutions have also been rolled out for the proximity voice feature.

• Fixed the robotic proximity voice.
• Fixed so the proximity VoIP UI always shows while speaking.

If you benefited from accidental key drops, look away as Embark has fixed such instances.

• Fixed incorrect drop chances for keys in certain circumstances.

Critical issues related to memory leaks have also been fixed, which were being caused by Steam avatars.

• Fixed a memory leak caused by Steam avatar pictures.
• Fixed a bug where Steam avatars wouldn't show up on the social tab.

Incidentally, Augments continue to remain a mess. While the latest patch had fixes for the problems, Embark has since then rolled back four changes.

• Fixed an issue where the Augment Effects didn't work.
• Fixed a bug where the Augment Effect wouldn't work when equipping another quick use item.
• Added charge progress hint for integrated shield repair.
• Fixed a bug where the health regen augment skills wouldn't work if triggered while DBNO.

As of writing, the update is yet to become available on Xbox. We don't know the reason, but Embark is actively working on the problems. A few more changes are part of this patch, and you can find the complete set of tweaks on the official Discord under game announcements.

The post ARC Raiders Update 1.000.005 patch notes: Server crash fixes and more appeared first on Destructoid.

Update 1.000.005 is now live on ARC Raiders, and Embark has released the first post-release patch to fix some of the major issues that players have encountered on day one. While the general performance on the first day has been pretty consistent, players have encountered occasional stutters, FPS drops, and server-related issues. Most of those problems should now be resolved. Let's look at what to expect from the new patch and how it could affect your gameplay. Complete ARC Raiders Update 1.000.0005 patch notes Most of the new patch is all about better optimization and quashing the bugs that players have encountered. While issues that caused crashes have been fixed, solutions have also been rolled out for the proximity voice feature. Fixed the robotic proximity voice. Fixed so the proximity VoIP UI always shows while speaking. If you benefited from accidental key drops, look away as Embark has fixed such instances. Fixed incorrect drop chances for keys in certain circumstances. Critical issues related to memory leaks have also been fixed, which were being caused by Steam avatars. Fixed a memory leak caused by Steam avatar pictures. Fixed a bug where Steam avatars wouldn't show up on the social tab. Incidentally, Augments continue to remain a mess. While the latest patch had fixes for the problems, Embark has since then rolled back four changes. Fixed an issue where the Augment Effects didn't work. Fixed a bug where the Augment Effect wouldn't work when equipping another quick use item. Added charge progress hint for integrated shield repair. Fixed a bug where the health regen augment skills wouldn't work if triggered while DBNO. As of writing, the update is yet to become available on Xbox. We don't know the reason, but Embark is actively working on the problems. A few more changes are part of this patch, and you can find the complete set of tweaks on the official Discord under game announcements. The post ARC Raiders Update 1.000.005 patch notes: Server crash fixes and more appeared first on Destructoid.

Mushrooms and Pillows are two necessary components in ARC Raiders that are required to complete Scrappy's final upgrade.

Both these items are available at different locations on the map, but roaming around aimlessly is going to make your life difficult. You'll find guaranteed spots for both Pillows and Mushrooms, and this guide will provide you with all the necessary information.

Table of contents

• How to get Mushrooms in ARC Raiders
• How to find Comfortable Pillows in ARC Raiders
• How to use Pillows and Mushrooms to upgrade ARC Raiders

How to get Mushrooms in ARC Raiders

Mushrooms are pretty elusive items that are easy to miss. Unlike Lemons, Mushrooms typically spawn on the surface of other items. I have also found them on tree trunks in specific locations. You can find them in the Dam Battlegrounds map.

Remix by Destructoid via Embark

Head into the Hydroponic Dome complex, and you should find some in the stagnant water. Alternatively, the mushroom spawn can happen right outside the Dome. They will always alter the two positions in their spawn.

I have also marked two additional locations. You'll find fallen tree trunks at those locations, and the Mushrooms will spawn on them.

These are the best spots to find the required amount of Mushrooms.

How to find Comfortable Pillows in ARC Raiders

While it's easier to find Pillows in ARC Raiders, the process can be grindy. You'll have to scout the residential areas and buildings in different locations. I found success in Buried City, but you can find it from any house building on any map. You just have to be lucky.

How to use Pillows and Mushrooms to upgrade ARC Raiders

You'll need 12 Mushrooms and three Very Comfortable Pillows to get the final upgrade for Scrappy. However, you'll also need Apricots (also required for an earlier upgrade for Scrappy). Once you have 12 Apricots and the rest of the resources, you can then use them to train and upgrade Scrappy to level five.

The post How to find and use Mushrooms and Pillows in ARC Raiders appeared first on Destructoid.

Mushrooms and Pillows are two necessary components in ARC Raiders that are required to complete Scrappy's final upgrade. Both these items are available at different locations on the map, but roaming around aimlessly is going to make your life difficult. You'll find guaranteed spots for both Pillows and Mushrooms, and this guide will provide you with all the necessary information. Table of contents How to get Mushrooms in ARC Raiders How to find Comfortable Pillows in ARC Raiders How to use Pillows and Mushrooms to upgrade ARC Raiders How to get Mushrooms in ARC Raiders Mushrooms are pretty elusive items that are easy to miss. Unlike Lemons, Mushrooms typically spawn on the surface of other items. I have also found them on tree trunks in specific locations. You can find them in the Dam Battlegrounds map. Remix by Destructoid via Embark Head into the Hydroponic Dome complex, and you should find some in the stagnant water. Alternatively, the mushroom spawn can happen right outside the Dome. They will always alter the two positions in their spawn. I have also marked two additional locations. You'll find fallen tree trunks at those locations, and the Mushrooms will spawn on them. These are the best spots to find the required amount of Mushrooms. How to find Comfortable Pillows in ARC Raiders While it's easier to find Pillows in ARC Raiders, the process can be grindy. You'll have to scout the residential areas and buildings in different locations. I found success in Buried City, but you can find it from any house building on any map. You just have to be lucky. How to use Pillows and Mushrooms to upgrade ARC Raiders You'll need 12 Mushrooms and three Very Comfortable Pillows to get the final upgrade for Scrappy. However, you'll also need Apricots (also required for an earlier upgrade for Scrappy). Once you have 12 Apricots and the rest of the resources, you can then use them to train and upgrade Scrappy to level five. The post How to find and use Mushrooms and Pillows in ARC Raiders appeared first on Destructoid.

If you're tired of Blue Lock Rivals-inspired football/soccer games, the Inazuma Strikers RPG is a breath of fresh air in the Roblox sports genre. Based on the Inazuma Eleven franchise, the game is a soccer RPG hybrid with an incredibly well-organized Trello for all the info you need. Check out the Inazuma Strikers Trello and Discord.

Inazuma Strikers Trello and Discord Guide

Image by Destructoid

Here's everything you need to stay informed on all things Inazuma Strikers:

• Inazuma Strikers Trello Board
• Inazuma Strikers Discord Server
• IS Roblox Community
• Inazuma Strikers Game Page

Since Inazuma Strikers combines soccer/football matches with open-world RPG mechanics, a Trello goes a long way to keep track of everything. Luckily, the Trello team which you can check out under the Trello Contributors card did an amazing job of organizing everything. You can find info on:

• The open world and all locations
• All usables and details
• All Equipment pieces and stats
• All Hissatsus with a video showcase
• All Stats and Elements

After that I would also check out the official Discord server because it is a treasure trove of information. First up the Announcement and Update-Log channels help you keep track of future updates and every piece of content, balancing and fix in that update. The Sneak Peeks give you an early look at everything.

Then the chatting channels allow you to get advice from testers and experienced players. It's also a place to ask more specific questions that the Trello might not be able to answer. Things like tier lists, rankings and opinions on the different Hissatsus.

That's it for my Inazuma Strikers Trello and Discord guide. Check out our Inazuma Strikers codes for a bunch of free goodies.

The post Official Inazuma Strikers Trello and Discord appeared first on Destructoid.

If you're tired of Blue Lock Rivals-inspired football/soccer games, the Inazuma Strikers RPG is a breath of fresh air in the Roblox sports genre. Based on the Inazuma Eleven franchise, the game is a soccer RPG hybrid with an incredibly well-organized Trello for all the info you need. Check out the Inazuma Strikers Trello and Discord. Inazuma Strikers Trello and Discord Guide Image by Destructoid Here's everything you need to stay informed on all things Inazuma Strikers: Inazuma Strikers Trello Board Inazuma Strikers Discord Server IS Roblox Community Inazuma Strikers Game Page Since Inazuma Strikers combines soccer/football matches with open-world RPG mechanics, a Trello goes a long way to keep track of everything. Luckily, the Trello team which you can check out under the Trello Contributors card did an amazing job of organizing everything. You can find info on: The open world and all locations All usables and details All Equipment pieces and stats All Hissatsus with a video showcase All Stats and Elements After that I would also check out the official Discord server because it is a treasure trove of information. First up the Announcement and Update-Log channels help you keep track of future updates and every piece of content, balancing and fix in that update. The Sneak Peeks give you an early look at everything. Then the chatting channels allow you to get advice from testers and experienced players. It's also a place to ask more specific questions that the Trello might not be able to answer. Things like tier lists, rankings and opinions on the different Hissatsus. That's it for my Inazuma Strikers Trello and Discord guide. Check out our Inazuma Strikers codes for a bunch of free goodies. The post Official Inazuma Strikers Trello and Discord appeared first on Destructoid.

Olives and Prickly Pears are two essential nature items in ARC Raiders that have multiple uses, which also include a vital Scrappy upgrade.

Scrappy, your rooster companion, helps you find more loot on your runs, and upgrading him will be immensely helpful. The third upgrade for Scrappy requires you to find six Olives and six Prickly Pears.

Table of contents

• How to find Olives in ARC Raiders
• How to find Prickly Pears in ARC Raiders
• How to use the Prickly Pears and Olives in ARC Raiders

How to find Olives in ARC Raiders

To get Olives easily, you'll want to head to the Blue Gate location. Go south from Checkpoint to follow the marked location on the screenshot below. This location is, after all, named Olive Grove, and you'll always find Olive trees here. You also don't need to rely on the Lush Bloom event to find the trees.

Screenshot and remix by Destructoid

You'll usually find Olives below the trees at the Olive Grove. Alternatively, kick the trees, and a few Olives will fall. While the extraction point is pretty close, you should still be very careful, as I have found plenty of enemies roaming at this spot.

How to find Prickly Pears in ARC Raiders

Screenshot and remix by Destructoid

The best location to find Pricky Pears is towards the north of the Dam Battlegrounds map. You'll find plenty of cactuses at the marked location near the Pattern House. Prickly Pears spawn on the cactuses, and you should be able to find a fair few by running around.

Unlike Olive Grove, not much seems to happen at this location, which makes it perfect for you to roam around and get the necessary quantity of Prickly Pears.

How to use the Prickly Pears and Olives in ARC Raiders

The primary use for the two resources will be to get the Level 4 upgrade for Scrappy. The upgrade requires you to use six Prickly Pears, six Olives, and one Cat Bed. Incidentally, Prickly Pear is also required to craft Fruit Mix, where you combine it with one Lemon and one Apricot. You can also consume it to regain +20 stamina temporarily

The post How to find and use Prickly Pears and Olives in ARC Raiders appeared first on Destructoid.

Olives and Prickly Pears are two essential nature items in ARC Raiders that have multiple uses, which also include a vital Scrappy upgrade. Scrappy, your rooster companion, helps you find more loot on your runs, and upgrading him will be immensely helpful. The third upgrade for Scrappy requires you to find six Olives and six Prickly Pears. Table of contents How to find Olives in ARC Raiders How to find Prickly Pears in ARC Raiders How to use the Prickly Pears and Olives in ARC Raiders How to find Olives in ARC Raiders To get Olives easily, you'll want to head to the Blue Gate location. Go south from Checkpoint to follow the marked location on the screenshot below. This location is, after all, named Olive Grove, and you'll always find Olive trees here. You also don't need to rely on the Lush Bloom event to find the trees. Screenshot and remix by Destructoid You'll usually find Olives below the trees at the Olive Grove. Alternatively, kick the trees, and a few Olives will fall. While the extraction point is pretty close, you should still be very careful, as I have found plenty of enemies roaming at this spot. How to find Prickly Pears in ARC Raiders Screenshot and remix by Destructoid The best location to find Pricky Pears is towards the north of the Dam Battlegrounds map. You'll find plenty of cactuses at the marked location near the Pattern House. Prickly Pears spawn on the cactuses, and you should be able to find a fair few by running around. Unlike Olive Grove, not much seems to happen at this location, which makes it perfect for you to roam around and get the necessary quantity of Prickly Pears. How to use the Prickly Pears and Olives in ARC Raiders The primary use for the two resources will be to get the Level 4 upgrade for Scrappy. The upgrade requires you to use six Prickly Pears, six Olives, and one Cat Bed. Incidentally, Prickly Pear is also required to craft Fruit Mix, where you combine it with one Lemon and one Apricot. You can also consume it to regain +20 stamina temporarily The post How to find and use Prickly Pears and Olives in ARC Raiders appeared first on Destructoid.

Looking for a list of all R.E.P.O monsters? As of writing, there are 29 monsters in R.E.P.O, all desperate to kill you or smash your treasure. Below, we've listed all monsters, their threat level, behavior, and the cash they drop if you manage to kill them.

Contents

• All R.E.P.O. monsters and what they do
  • Apex Predator
  • Animal
  • Banger
  • Bella
  • Birthday Boy
  • Bowtie
  • Chef
  • Cleanup Crew
  • Clown
  • Elsa
  • Gambit
  • Gnome
  • Headgrab
  • Headman
  • Heart Hugger
  • Hidden
  • Huntsman
  • Loom
  • Mentalist
  • Oogly
  • Peeper
  • Reaper
  • Robe
  • Rugrat
  • Shadow Child
  • Spewer
  • Tick
  • Trudge
  • Upscream
• R.E.P.O. monster tier list
  • S tier
  • A tier
  • B tier
  • C tier

All R.E.P.O. monsters and what they do

Apex Predator

Image by Destructoid

Don’t be fooled by this adorable ducky, he's hiding a dark alter-ego. The Apex Predator will appear as a toy duck and follow you around the map, desperately trying to get you to pick him up. If you do what he wants, however, he will become a spiky-toothed monster and chase you for approximately 10 seconds. While he's a cute nuisance, as long as you ignore this monster, he isn’t dangerous.

Animal

Image by Destructoid

These spider-like entities will wander around rather aimlessly across maps. It isn't until they spot you that they begin running erratically, crashing into anything and everything. They can knock over semibots and destroy valuables, both inside the C.A.R.T. or loose on the floor. They're capable of stunning themselves, but they're more of a nuisance than anything else.

Banger

Image by Destructoid

Bangers are walking skulls with dynamite stuffed inside of them. They will often roam in groups of three and set alight their fuses once they see a semibot. As expected, you’ll have a limited amount of time before the Banger explodes. It is possible to pick one up and throw it like a grenade, but you must do so within three seconds or the Banger will escape from your grasp. Anything caught in its explosive radius will get hurt, including monsters.

Bella

Screenshot by Destructoid

Riding around on a red bicycle, Bella is a poltergeist that's invisible until you anger her. Do not assume this bike moving on its own means it's a valuable you can pick up. Her bell rings if you're standing in her way. She'll reveal herself and speed up if you provoke her, where she rides over you repeatedly. She's capable of attacking you under whatever cover you're trying to hide in. Her attack lasts the same amount of time as the Apex Predator and Birthday Boy.

Birthday Boy

Screenshot by Destructoid

The Birthday Boy moves around the level, inflating red balloons. He cannot be thrown off the map as he'll use a balloon to levitate to the nearest surface. Birthday Boy is harmless if you don't pop his balloons. No matter where he is, he will know if one of his balloons is purposely popped. Valuables and the C.A.R.T. can pop them too. He will go into a close-range frenzy where he can easily climb onto and crawl under cover, making him an impossible monster to hide from.

Bowtie

Image by Destructoid

The Bowtie monster is a large, slow creature, less dangerous than others on this list. If spotted, they will emit a loud cry that will push you back. This can easily stun-lock you on a wall or send you flying off the map, killing you instantly. While the Bowtie doesn't deal that much damage and can harm other monsters, you don't want to scare the Bowtie. After blowing the house down, it'll stampede away which can hurt you if caught in its path.

Chef

Image by Destructoid

The Chef monster is a large mustachio-sporting frog that will smile once it spots you and rolls toward you with knives slashing outwards. He wants you to be on the dinner menu. Chef rolls around uncontrollably, making him an easy monster to avoid by using the environment as cover or to jump on top of. The Chef can hurt each other, monsters, and themselves if they accidentally fall into death pits or lava pools.

Cleanup Crew

Screenshot by Destructoid

The Cleanup Crew is an amalgamation of heads, where he sends one hurtling your way, which implodes after a short time. The head resembles the Rubber Ducky, capable of ricocheting off any structure, hoping it lands in your hands by the time it explodes. The Cleanup Crew can infinitely regenerate his head, but he moves around the map slowly, giving you time to leave the area so you don't get hit. He also has a close-range attack where his heads turn into spikes, expanding from his body to hit anything in its one-meter radius.

Clown

Image by Destructoid

The Clown monster is a shambling beast with a stretched-out clown face. Once it sees you it will emit a laser beam from its nose tip that will arc in a large horizontal line. If caught in the beam’s blast it’s pretty much game over, so watch out for the tell-tale thumping footprints and clown laughter to signal when this monstrosity is nearby. After its beam attack, it will slowly move towards a semibot and try to stomp on them. The Clown is one of the few monsters that has loud footsteps that shakes the camera and a distinct audio cue for its whereabouts—its giggle. It moves around the map slowly and doesn't have the best eyesight.

Elsa

Screenshot by Destructoid

Screenshot by Destructoid

Pet the dog if you want to survive. Elsa just wants some love. Like Lethal Company's Maneater or ARC-686 in The Classrooms, Elsa will transform into a killing machine should you neglect her. There's a warning when her eyes turn red that she hasn't been petted in a while. Elsa stays close to you like the Apex Predator, where clicking on her generates love hearts. She will eventually leave you alone, but if you don't pet her, Elsa transforms into a bipedal muscular beast that charges at those who neglected her.

Gambit

Screenshot by Destructoid

When the Gambit appears with its mouth concealed, it's rather docile and harmless. However, if you make yourself known or alert it in any way, the Gambit grabs you and starts to play a game with your life. You're forced to spin its colorful wheel and whichever it lands on determines if you get some money or lose your HP.

Gnome

Image by Destructoid

Gnomes can be an absolute pest. Not only will they stab you for low but consistent damage, but they will also make it their mission to destroy your loot. Often they will jump inside your C.A.R.T. and chip away at items until they shatter. Their fragile exterior means they're easy to deal with, but they will stop at nothing to ruin your day. If no valuable is around to destroy, they'll pickaxe you instead.

Headgrab

Screenshot by Destructoid

The Headgrab is a goblin that excels at martial arts. What he wants to do is take your friend's semibot head so you can't revive them. Headgrab doesn't want to fight unless provoked. He'd rather run away with your goods like a Hoarding Bug. He has close-range combos that you can counter or flee from, but he will spend most of his time running away from you.

Headman

Image by Destructoid

The Headman is a giant head that will float towards you, snapping its jaws with the sole goal of taking a bite out of you. This floating monstrosity moves around at a decent pace and is easy to avoid by utilizing cover. While its head stays in a fixed position, its eyes dart around, searching for movement. The Headman isn't too bothered about noise; it's more focused on motion detection.

Heart Hugger

Screenshot by Destructoid

Screenshot by Destructoid

The Heart Hugger can appear as a floating cartoonish heart that hypnotizes a semibot using a horizontal beam. If caught in it, you're reeled inwards, where the heart transforms into its true form of a Venus flytrap. This then chomps down, cutting into your HP. The Heart Hugger then recoils into the floor, where it'll pop up elsewhere, like Oogly and Peeper.

Hidden

Image by Destructoid

The Hidden is one of the hardest enemies to challenge because it is almost invisible. The only indication this creature is near is the dark fog cloud it projects during exhale and the footsteps it leaves behind. The Hidden will laugh and breathe erratically once it grabs you, forcing the semibot into Tumble animation. It then moves you around the map, being an absolute nuisance when you want to leave or are moving the C.A.R.T. to the next Extraction Point.

Huntsman

Image by Destructoid

The Huntsman is a blind shotgun-wielding opponent that has the world's greatest hearing. He uses his shotgun as a walking stick until swapping it to a powerful weapon if he hears you jump, talk, run, or drop an item. The walking stick can alert him to your whereabouts if it bumps into you. The shotgun can one-shot you in the early game. He's not particularly bright and often falls down stairs, but he's lethal if you're not paying attention. The Huntsman can be tricked into killing other monsters.

Loom

Screenshot by Destructoid

The Loom is the scariest monster in R.E.P.O. She can only target one player at a time, meaning anyone on their own is in for a fright. You'll know when Loom is tracking you as an overlayed image of her hands appear closing in on your screen. She will swap targets if she feels threatened. Loom stalks her prey, waiting until they're close enough to slam her hands together once they're caught between them. She knows where you are at all times, so hiding is useless.

Mentalist

Image by Destructoid

The Mentalist is a large-brained entity that floats around the map. It moves around the map slowly, looking for semibots to lift players from the ground with its anti-gravity dome. It then slams them back down, delivering large amounts of damage in one blow (one-shot without upgrades). They can also lift and damage your loot if it is near you during an attack.

Oogly

Screenshot by Destructoid

Oogly acts as the security system on levels, albeit a rarer monster than others. He can only be in one room at a time, and he doesn't stick around for long, circling the ceiling like a shark searching for prey. He uses a green light as a spotlight to detect any wandering semibots. If spotted, Oogly flies down and lifts you into the air, throwing you around every corner and eventually dropping you from a height. He can throw you off the map, into death pits and lava pool,s depending on the room Oogly is flying around in.

Peeper

Image by Destructoid

The Peeper is a giant eye that appears on ceilings. The eye immobilizes you and forces you to look at it, leaving you vulnerable to attacks by other monsters and deal consistent ticking damage. To shake it off, you must break its line of sight. Use nearby cover to escape the Peeper's gaze. It will disappear and spawn into another room, trying its luck again. The Peeper is known to spawn right outside the truck when you're leaving.

Reaper

Image by Destructoid

The Reaper appears as a scarecrow with knives for arms. When she spots you, she runs towards you, slashing her knives from side to side. Whilst she won't instantly kill you, you won’t be able to take many hits before you’re sliced to ribbons as she can easily stun-lock you. Thankfully, she gets distracted easily and loses track of your location quickly. Even a door can confuse her.

Robe

Image by Destructoid

The Robe entity is a ghost-like creature that floats across the map. The Robe will mostly leave you alone unless you look at it directly in the face. When this happens, the creature will shriek and chase you. Its bird-like screams mean it's attacking. Static shows when it's pursuing you but isn't going to strike unless you look at it again.

Rugrat

Image by Destructoid

Rugrats are toddlers running around looking for items to throw at semibots. Not only does this damage the player upon impact, but the items they throw are usually destroyed too. They run away after throwing an item, looking for the next valuable to destroy and hurt you with.

Shadow Child

Image by Destructoid

The Shadow Child is a nightmarish apparition that teleports around the map. You’ll know it’s in the vicinity when you hear a child’s laughter. Like the Enderman, the Shadow Child only hurts you if you look at its face for too long. It'll then grab and throw you across the map. Shadow Child disappears after a while if you're not looking at it. It'll then reappear in another room, like the Heart Hugger or Peeper.

Spewer

Image by Destructoid

The Spewer is a floating set of teeth that vomits on players, delivering acid damage. Their main goal is to latch onto semibots to hurt their teammates. This process lasts around 50 seconds. It can be used to hurt other monsters.

Tick

Screenshot by Destructoid

The Tick is harmless until you pick it up. You cannot drop it if you grab or hit it as it feasts on your health, leaving you weak to more aggressive monsters. The Tick's body fills to a large green ball, running away so you don't pop it like a balloon. The Tick cannot drop a life orb unless it's drained someone's health. The Tick also cannot drain again if its body is bulbous and green. This means you can safely pick it up and throw it without taking damage. If left alone, the Tick just slowly walks around the level, minding its business, but it will latch on if you knock into it with a valuable or weapon.

Trudge

Image by Destructoid

The Trudge is a large creature that carries around a mace and delivers large shock attacks to players. If spotted, he will pull you towards him by slamming the mace to the ground, lifting it to deal large explosive damage that sends semibots flying. Both the mace and the explosive damage can one-shot a player if they have no upgrades. The Trudge is appropriately named for how he slowly moves around the map.

Upscream

Image via Semiwork

The Upscream is a frantic spider-like monster that searches for semibots to scream at them. It moves incredibly fast once it spots you. You're then trapped looking at its screaming face, where it throws you upwards, dealing small damage. You can get stun-locked by it as Upscream will continue to do this move until eventually running off.

R.E.P.O. monster tier list

This list separates the monsters into threat level and difficulty to evade or kill because of their dangerous moves and high health pool.

• S tier - Deadly threat.
• A tier - High threat.
• B tier - Moderate threat.
• C tier - Low threat.

S tier

Monster Life orb cash drop Clown $6.4k Headman $6.4k Loom $6.1k Robe $6.1k Trudge $6.4k

A tier

Monster Life orb cash drop Heart Hugger $4.3k Huntsman $5.6k-7.2k Mentalist $4k Reaper $6.1k

B tier

Monster Life orb cash drop Animal $3.8k Bowtie $4k Chef $3.6k Cleanup Crew $5.6k Elsa $4k Gambit $3.6k Hidden $4k Headgrab $3.9k Oogly Being researched Shadow Child $3.9k Upscream $3.9k

C tier

Monster Life orb cash drop Apex Predator $2.4k Banger $0 Bella $2.7k Birthday Boy $3k Gnome $0 Peeper $2.9k Rugrat $4k Spewer $2.8k Tick $2.4k (if it drains HP)

The post All R.E.P.O. monsters listed appeared first on Destructoid.

Looking for a list of all R.E.P.O monsters? As of writing, there are 29 monsters in R.E.P.O, all desperate to kill you or smash your treasure. Below, we've listed all monsters, their threat level, behavior, and the cash they drop if you manage to kill them. Contents All R.E.P.O. monsters and what they do Apex Predator Animal Banger Bella Birthday Boy Bowtie Chef Cleanup Crew Clown Elsa Gambit Gnome Headgrab Headman Heart Hugger Hidden Huntsman Loom Mentalist Oogly Peeper Reaper Robe Rugrat Shadow Child Spewer Tick Trudge Upscream R.E.P.O. monster tier list S tier A tier B tier C tier All R.E.P.O. monsters and what they do Apex Predator Image by Destructoid Don’t be fooled by this adorable ducky, he's hiding a dark alter-ego. The Apex Predator will appear as a toy duck and follow you around the map, desperately trying to get you to pick him up. If you do what he wants, however, he will become a spiky-toothed monster and chase you for approximately 10 seconds. While he's a cute nuisance, as long as you ignore this monster, he isn’t dangerous. Animal Image by Destructoid These spider-like entities will wander around rather aimlessly across maps. It isn't until they spot you that they begin running erratically, crashing into anything and everything. They can knock over semibots and destroy valuables, both inside the C.A.R.T. or loose on the floor. They're capable of stunning themselves, but they're more of a nuisance than anything else. Banger Image by Destructoid Bangers are walking skulls with dynamite stuffed inside of them. They will often roam in groups of three and set alight their fuses once they see a semibot. As expected, you’ll have a limited amount of time before the Banger explodes. It is possible to pick one up and throw it like a grenade, but you must do so within three seconds or the Banger will escape from your grasp. Anything caught in its explosive radius will get hurt, including monsters. Bella Screenshot by Destructoid Riding around on a red bicycle, Bella is a poltergeist that's invisible until you anger her. Do not assume this bike moving on its own means it's a valuable you can pick up. Her bell rings if you're standing in her way. She'll reveal herself and speed up if you provoke her, where she rides over you repeatedly. She's capable of attacking you under whatever cover you're trying to hide in. Her attack lasts the same amount of time as the Apex Predator and Birthday Boy. Birthday Boy Screenshot by Destructoid The Birthday Boy moves around the level, inflating red balloons. He cannot be thrown off the map as he'll use a balloon to levitate to the nearest surface. Birthday Boy is harmless if you don't pop his balloons. No matter where he is, he will know if one of his balloons is purposely popped. Valuables and the C.A.R.T. can pop them too. He will go into a close-range frenzy where he can easily climb onto and crawl under cover, making him an impossible monster to hide from. Bowtie Image by Destructoid The Bowtie monster is a large, slow creature, less dangerous than others on this list. If spotted, they will emit a loud cry that will push you back. This can easily stun-lock you on a wall or send you flying off the map, killing you instantly. While the Bowtie doesn't deal that much damage and can harm other monsters, you don't want to scare the Bowtie. After blowing the house down, it'll stampede away which can hurt you if caught in its path. Chef Image by Destructoid The Chef monster is a large mustachio-sporting frog that will smile once it spots you and rolls toward you with knives slashing outwards. He wants you to be on the dinner menu. Chef rolls around uncontrollably, making him an easy monster to avoid by using the environment as cover or to jump on top of. The Chef can hurt each other, monsters, and themselves if they accidentally fall into death pits or lava pools. Cleanup Crew Screenshot by Destructoid The Cleanup Crew is an amalgamation of heads, where he sends one hurtling your way, which implodes after a short time. The head resembles the Rubber Ducky, capable of ricocheting off any structure, hoping it lands in your hands by the time it explodes. The Cleanup Crew can infinitely regenerate his head, but he moves around the map slowly, giving you time to leave the area so you don't get hit. He also has a close-range attack where his heads turn into spikes, expanding from his body to hit anything in its one-meter radius. Clown Image by Destructoid The Clown monster is a shambling beast with a stretched-out clown face. Once it sees you it will emit a laser beam from its nose tip that will arc in a large horizontal line. If caught in the beam’s blast it’s pretty much game over, so watch out for the tell-tale thumping footprints and clown laughter to signal when this monstrosity is nearby. After its beam attack, it will slowly move towards a semibot and try to stomp on them. The Clown is one of the few monsters that has loud footsteps that shakes the camera and a distinct audio cue for its whereabouts—its giggle. It moves around the map slowly and doesn't have the best eyesight. Elsa Screenshot by Destructoid Screenshot by Destructoid Pet the dog if you want to survive. Elsa just wants some love. Like Lethal Company's Maneater or ARC-686 in The Classrooms, Elsa will transform into a killing machine should you neglect her. There's a warning when her eyes turn red that she hasn't been petted in a while. Elsa stays close to you like the Apex Predator, where clicking on her generates love hearts. She will eventually leave you alone, but if you don't pet her, Elsa transforms into a bipedal muscular beast that charges at those who neglected her. Gambit Screenshot by Destructoid When the Gambit appears with its mouth concealed, it's rather docile and harmless. However, if you make yourself known or alert it in any way, the Gambit grabs you and starts to play a game with your life. You're forced to spin its colorful wheel and whichever it lands on determines if you get some money or lose your HP. Gnome Image by Destructoid Gnomes can be an absolute pest. Not only will they stab you for low but consistent damage, but they will also make it their mission to destroy your loot. Often they will jump inside your C.A.R.T. and chip away at items until they shatter. Their fragile exterior means they're easy to deal with, but they will stop at nothing to ruin your day. If no valuable is around to destroy, they'll pickaxe you instead. Headgrab Screenshot by Destructoid The Headgrab is a goblin that excels at martial arts. What he wants to do is take your friend's semibot head so you can't revive them. Headgrab doesn't want to fight unless provoked. He'd rather run away with your goods like a Hoarding Bug. He has close-range combos that you can counter or flee from, but he will spend most of his time running away from you. Headman Image by Destructoid The Headman is a giant head that will float towards you, snapping its jaws with the sole goal of taking a bite out of you. This floating monstrosity moves around at a decent pace and is easy to avoid by utilizing cover. While its head stays in a fixed position, its eyes dart around, searching for movement. The Headman isn't too bothered about noise; it's more focused on motion detection. Heart Hugger Screenshot by Destructoid Screenshot by Destructoid The Heart Hugger can appear as a floating cartoonish heart that hypnotizes a semibot using a horizontal beam. If caught in it, you're reeled inwards, where the heart transforms into its true form of a Venus flytrap. This then chomps down, cutting into your HP. The Heart Hugger then recoils into the floor, where it'll pop up elsewhere, like Oogly and Peeper. Hidden Image by Destructoid The Hidden is one of the hardest enemies to challenge because it is almost invisible. The only indication this creature is near is the dark fog cloud it projects during exhale and the footsteps it leaves behind. The Hidden will laugh and breathe erratically once it grabs you, forcing the semibot into Tumble animation. It then moves you around the map, being an absolute nuisance when you want to leave or are moving the C.A.R.T. to the next Extraction Point. Huntsman Image by Destructoid The Huntsman is a blind shotgun-wielding opponent that has the world's greatest hearing. He uses his shotgun as a walking stick until swapping it to a powerful weapon if he hears you jump, talk, run, or drop an item. The walking stick can alert him to your whereabouts if it bumps into you. The shotgun can one-shot you in the early game. He's not particularly bright and often falls down stairs, but he's lethal if you're not paying attention. The Huntsman can be tricked into killing other monsters. Loom Screenshot by Destructoid The Loom is the scariest monster in R.E.P.O. She can only target one player at a time, meaning anyone on their own is in for a fright. You'll know when Loom is tracking you as an overlayed image of her hands appear closing in on your screen. She will swap targets if she feels threatened. Loom stalks her prey, waiting until they're close enough to slam her hands together once they're caught between them. She knows where you are at all times, so hiding is useless. Mentalist Image by Destructoid The Mentalist is a large-brained entity that floats around the map. It moves around the map slowly, looking for semibots to lift players from the ground with its anti-gravity dome. It then slams them back down, delivering large amounts of damage in one blow (one-shot without upgrades). They can also lift and damage your loot if it is near you during an attack. Oogly Screenshot by Destructoid Oogly acts as the security system on levels, albeit a rarer monster than others. He can only be in one room at a time, and he doesn't stick around for long, circling the ceiling like a shark searching for prey. He uses a green light as a spotlight to detect any wandering semibots. If spotted, Oogly flies down and lifts you into the air, throwing you around every corner and eventually dropping you from a height. He can throw you off the map, into death pits and lava pool,s depending on the room Oogly is flying around in. Peeper Image by Destructoid The Peeper is a giant eye that appears on ceilings. The eye immobilizes you and forces you to look at it, leaving you vulnerable to attacks by other monsters and deal consistent ticking damage. To shake it off, you must break its line of sight. Use nearby cover to escape the Peeper's gaze. It will disappear and spawn into another room, trying its luck again. The Peeper is known to spawn right outside the truck when you're leaving. Reaper Image by Destructoid The Reaper appears as a scarecrow with knives for arms. When she spots you, she runs towards you, slashing her knives from side to side. Whilst she won't instantly kill you, you won’t be able to take many hits before you’re sliced to ribbons as she can easily stun-lock you. Thankfully, she gets distracted easily and loses track of your location quickly. Even a door can confuse her. Robe Image by Destructoid The Robe entity is a ghost-like creature that floats across the map. The Robe will mostly leave you alone unless you look at it directly in the face. When this happens, the creature will shriek and chase you. Its bird-like screams mean it's attacking. Static shows when it's pursuing you but isn't going to strike unless you look at it again. Rugrat Image by Destructoid Rugrats are toddlers running around looking for items to throw at semibots. Not only does this damage the player upon impact, but the items they throw are usually destroyed too. They run away after throwing an item, looking for the next valuable to destroy and hurt you with. Shadow Child Image by Destructoid The Shadow Child is a nightmarish apparition that teleports around the map. You’ll know it’s in the vicinity when you hear a child’s laughter. Like the Enderman, the Shadow Child only hurts you if you look at its face for too long. It'll then grab and throw you across the map. Shadow Child disappears after a while if you're not looking at it. It'll then reappear in another room, like the Heart Hugger or Peeper. Spewer Image by Destructoid The Spewer is a floating set of teeth that vomits on players, delivering acid damage. Their main goal is to latch onto semibots to hurt their teammates. This process lasts around 50 seconds. It can be used to hurt other monsters. Tick Screenshot by Destructoid The Tick is harmless until you pick it up. You cannot drop it if you grab or hit it as it feasts on your health, leaving you weak to more aggressive monsters. The Tick's body fills to a large green ball, running away so you don't pop it like a balloon. The Tick cannot drop a life orb unless it's drained someone's health. The Tick also cannot drain again if its body is bulbous and green. This means you can safely pick it up and throw it without taking damage. If left alone, the Tick just slowly walks around the level, minding its business, but it will latch on if you knock into it with a valuable or weapon. Trudge Image by Destructoid The Trudge is a large creature that carries around a mace and delivers large shock attacks to players. If spotted, he will pull you towards him by slamming the mace to the ground, lifting it to deal large explosive damage that sends semibots flying. Both the mace and the explosive damage can one-shot a player if they have no upgrades. The Trudge is appropriately named for how he slowly moves around the map. Upscream Image via Semiwork The Upscream is a frantic spider-like monster that searches for semibots to scream at them. It moves incredibly fast once it spots you. You're then trapped looking at its screaming face, where it throws you upwards, dealing small damage. You can get stun-locked by it as Upscream will continue to do this move until eventually running off. R.E.P.O. monster tier list This list separates the monsters into threat level and difficulty to evade or kill because of their dangerous moves and high health pool. S tier - Deadly threat. A tier - High threat. B tier - Moderate threat. C tier - Low threat. S tier Monster Life orb cash drop Clown $6.4k Headman $6.4k Loom $6.1k Robe $6.1k Trudge $6.4k A tier Monster Life orb cash drop Heart Hugger $4.3k Huntsman $5.6k-7.2k Mentalist $4k Reaper $6.1k B tier Monster Life orb cash drop Animal $3.8k Bowtie $4k Chef $3.6k Cleanup Crew $5.6k Elsa $4k Gambit $3.6k Hidden $4k Headgrab $3.9k Oogly Being researched Shadow Child $3.9k Upscream $3.9k C tier Monster Life orb cash drop Apex Predator $2.4k Banger $0 Bella $2.7k Birthday Boy $3k Gnome $0 Peeper $2.9k Rugrat $4k Spewer $2.8k Tick $2.4k (if it drains HP) The post All R.E.P.O. monsters listed appeared first on Destructoid.