Gaming

Amiga Games

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) 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) appeared first on AmigaGuru's GamerBlog.

The original PSVR launched back in October 2016 and went on to receive more than 600 releases, with around 300 of those also appearing on physical media. A last goodbye to the game changing medium.

The post PSVR – The End Of An Era? appeared first on AmigaGuru's GamerBlog.

Official PlayStation Blog for news and video updates on PlayStation, PS5, PS4, PS VR, PlayStation Plus and more.

I’m Baiyon, the director of Dreams of Another and a multimedia artist. The release date for the game, October 10, is fast approaching. In this post, I’d like to share the inspiration behind the themes of the game, the ideas behind the object dialogues, which is one of the aspects that makes the game special, […]

I’m Baiyon, the director of Dreams of Another and a multimedia artist. The release date for the game, October 10, is fast approaching. In this post, I’d like to share the inspiration behind the themes of the game, the ideas behind the object dialogues, which is one of the aspects that makes the game special, and my personal dedication to the soundtrack I created. Play Video How did the theme “no creation without destruction” come about? Dreams of Another is built around the philosophical theme of “no creation without destruction.” Rather than destroying objects by shooting, as in traditional shooting games, here, your shots materialize and create the world around you. I have a memory about “destruction and creation” that has stayed with me. It happened during my middle school cultural festival. According to the school rules, everyone had to prepare some kind of exhibit, and my friend and I collected cardboard to make and display a cardboard sculpture. When the chime signaling the end of the one-day festival rang and cleanup began, I lightly started punching and breaking the sculpture. Since it was going to be thrown away anyway, perhaps it was a lighthearted thought born of youth: “If it’s going to be cleaned up anyway, let’s have some fun.” At first, my friend laughed as he watched, but after a while, I felt a pain in my back. When I turned around, I saw my friend, with an angry face, kicking my back. From there, it escalated into a full-on fight, and a teacher, noticing, came into the classroom and shouted at me, “Are you making something to destroy it?!” Those words stayed with me in a way different from the teacher’s original intent. I think I understood that the teacher meant I should take care of what I create, but I kept thinking, “It’s going to be thrown away anyway…” Yet I found this human contradiction somehow interesting. That feeling has always run deep in my approach to creating things, and this game allowed it to take shape. Unique dialogue with objects like trees and doors In this game, you can not only interact with people in the dream world but also talk with objects such as trees and doors. One of the game’s major charms is being able to hear their sentiments and experience their emotions. For example, when I am thinking about ideas for this door’s dialogue, I first realized that even when we say “door,” there are many kinds and positions. Doors in public places, such as buildings, schools, or shopping malls, doors in one’s home, doors of the living room or bedrooms of children and teens, the door of the family home lived in for decades, or the door of a grandmother’s house after losing her husband… Each door is connected to human life, and I imagined that, like us, they might feel pride or even envy other doors. If I were a door, I would want to be a door that is there for an individual’s personal space, rather than merely a being that separates spaces. At the same time, some doors might actually feel comfortable being roughly used by a large family in a living room, while others might feel suited to existing for strangers in a public facility. Imagine doors having a variety of preferences and ways of thinking. In the dialogues, nothing is imposed as “right” or a conclusion. I wanted players to reflect on their own environment, access past memories, and have a moment of reflection. In this way, the dialogues are not just flat and one-dimensional—they can be experienced in a multi-layered way, from various perspectives, and connected to one’s own memories. Of course, it’s perfectly fine to enjoy it simply as a door saying something a little strange. That playfulness and unexpectedness of the dialogues are part of the unique charm of this dream world. A unique approach to composing the soundtrack I have worked on various game soundtracks alongside my own projects over the years, but this time, I felt especially the sense of “I made the music for a game.” I wanted to create music that resonated with the scenarios and dialogues I wrote myself, as well as the situations and atmosphere of each scene, which made me approach the music in a way different from before. For each scene, I composed music with the intention of evoking certain feelings in the player and expressing particular emotions myself. Additionally, a key theme was to convey the instability and ambiguity of the dream world with music. One thing I consciously tried to avoid was being “too polished.” As a musician, this approach is somewhat challenging, but instead of creating compositions that are overly tight or densely structured, I aimed for music that flows. Also, for example, For a particular river scene inspired by my own memories and experiences, I actually spent a long time traveling to the location for field recordings to compose the music for the scene, capturing sounds such as flowing water and stones being rubbed together—the latter of which I then incorporated as rhythmic elements. These particular touches may go unnoticed by anyone, but for me, the focus was on keeping things genuine. By incorporating elements drawn from the source of inspiration as much as possible, I believe it could enrich the experience. I think there are many sounds that aren’t often heard during gameplay. While playing, I hope you take a moment to listen closely to these subtle details—they might lead to small discoveries or interesting experiences. Dreams of Another will launch on October 10 for PS5 and PS VR2. A special bundle is also available for pre-order, which includes the previous game I directed, PixelJunk Eden 2. If you’re interested, please check out the store page. I truly look forward to you enjoying this special experience.

The thing that makes Battlefield feel like Battlefield is the enormous scope of its maps and the many ways you’ll fight your way across them. After Battlefield 6’s open beta test, I got another hands-on chance to play the game—this time, on two of its biggest maps and with the game’s full slate of vehicles […]

The thing that makes Battlefield feel like Battlefield is the enormous scope of its maps and the many ways you’ll fight your way across them. After Battlefield 6’s open beta test, I got another hands-on chance to play the game—this time, on two of its biggest maps and with the game’s full slate of vehicles strafing through combat. While my first hands-on experience with Battlefield 6 gave a sense of weapons, the return of character classes, and the variety in map design, this look focused completely on Battlefield at its biggest and most explosive. Here’s everything I saw through the four-hour play session, including the return of Operation Firestorm and the new Escalation mode. New maps, new mode This hands-on session featured two of Battlefield 6’s biggest All-Out Warfare maps: Mirak Valley and Operation Firestorm. It also featured the new Escalation mode, which makes excellent use of those huge maps, with players fighting spread-out battles in the beginning of a match, only for the area of operation to become smaller to make for more intense skirmishes. Mirak Valley — Battlefield 6’s largest map at launch is set in Tajikistan, just like the Liberation Peak map. It combines wide-open spaces with a big, burgeoning construction zone in the center and a small village at the far side, supporting both close-quarters infantry gameplay in and around the structures, and plenty of vehicle combat outside of them. Trenches cut through part of the map to allow infantry to move around while keeping their heads down to avoid snipers, although staying out of the sights of tanks is tougher. Operation Firestorm — Operation Firestorm turns an oil field and refinery into a huge combined-arms battlefield with a mix of wide-open outdoor areas, high smokestacks that are great sniper nests, and lots of interior spaces. What was most notable was the application of Battlefield 6’s new destruction system to this revived Battlefield 3 map. There are plenty of buildings for infantry to fight in and use for cover, but with tanks, fighter jets, and attack helicopters on the prowl, you can never take the safety of four walls for granted. Escalation — This mode is new for Battlefield 6, combining elements of Conquest and Breakthrough to offer both a wide-open approach to a battle, but with some more strategic aspects. The game starts with capture points littered across the map. When one team holds the majority of capture points, they start to “capture territory,” with a bar filling up on the screen. If the team manages to hold the majority of capture points until the bar fills completely, they score a point. The first team to score three points this way wins, but each time a team scores, one capture point is removed from the map. That forces players closer together, making them fight harder for fewer capture points. Class training Choose your class training — When I went hands-on with Battlefield 6 at its multiplayer reveal, I only got to see half of the class “Training” elements that will launch with the game. These are specializations that let you alter a particular class’s focus and role. Each class has two training options. Assault: Frontliner and Breacher — The Frontliner training puts focus on damage recovery and a faster capture rate on objectives, while the Breacher training gives you additional grenades and a faster reload for room-clearing weapons like the Incendiary Shotgun and Breaching Launcher. Support: Combat Medic and Fire Support — Everybody knows Support’s focus on keeping other players alive, but if you don’t like running around with defibrillators to resurrect squaddies as a Combat Medic, you can also go the Fire Support training route. Its focus is on creating defensible positions, providing suppressing fire, and dropping smoke to cover allied movements. Engineer: Anti-Armor and Combat Engineer — Engineers’ Anti-Armor training gives them an advantage in taking down opposing vehicles, providing extra rockets and dampening the effects of enemy repairs. If you’re not a fan of always carrying a rocket launcher, however, there’s the Combat Engineer training, which can boost the rest of your team’s gear to make it more effective and enhance the repair capabilities of your tools. Recon: Sniper and Spec Ops — The Sniper training gives Recon players better awareness, spotting targets at a longer range and dropping players with headshots so their teammates can’t revive them. With the Spec Ops training, you’re harder to detect, producing less sound when you move and leaving the In Combat state faster when you’re prone, so your teammates can spawn in on your location more quickly. Adjustments since the beta The Battlefield team has taken on a lot of feedback from players since its open beta in August, and we saw some of those adjustments in matches. Tactical movement with less momentum — In the open beta, players could be pretty quick and pretty bouncy with the new Kinesthetic Combat system. Momentum has been dialed back a bit since then so that players can’t chain so many quick movements together. Moving around maps still feels quick and responsive thanks to lots of options, like sliding, diving, and moving more quickly when you put your weapons away. A little less sniper dominance — There are some very long sightlines on both Mirak Valley and Operation Firestorm, and snipers were a major force in all the matches I played. That said, both maps have been designed with a wide variety of terrain and structures that provide a lot of cover. Snipers have also been tuned down a bit; they’re still dangerous, but you’re a little less likely to get dropped before you know you’re under fire. Verify your age to view this content. Verify your age to view this content. More weapons feel useful — You can also feel the adjustments the Battlefield team has made to some of the weapons. In my first hands-on with the game, some guns didn’t feel especially viable; the light machine gun that’s default for the Support class, for instance, felt like it struggled to secure kills at any range. I’m happy to report that Medics can now secure a few kills as well as lay down covering fire for teammates. And the M87A1 Shotgun that dominated the beta is now a little less terrifying, but still feels great when clearing corners or a trench. Speedy vehicles — The variety of vehicles in Battlefield 6 makes for some very intense and surprising moments, especially with its destruction system. All ground vehicles now also have a brief boost, which is especially great for dodging fire or getting heavy tanks over treacherous terrain. Battlefield 6‘s launch is quickly approaching—it hits PS5 on October 10—so you won’t have to wait long to jump into a tank or a helicopter and try some of those new maps, modes, and adjustments for yourself.

We’re thrilled to show you the newest playable characters in our galaxy-spanning adventure: Black Panther and Cosmic Ghost Rider! Here at Tribute Games, we’ve always loved beat-em ups and it’s been a pleasure to work in that genre for the last couple of years. We feel extremely lucky to get to do it again in […]

We’re thrilled to show you the newest playable characters in our galaxy-spanning adventure: Black Panther and Cosmic Ghost Rider! Here at Tribute Games, we’ve always loved beat-em ups and it’s been a pleasure to work in that genre for the last couple of years. We feel extremely lucky to get to do it again in the Marvel Universe. We’re relishing the challenge of not only repeating what we’ve done before on our previous titles but try to push back the limits of the genre. Play Video In Marvel Cosmic Invasion, one of our biggest features is our playable character roster boasting 15 Super Heroes! But a deep bench of Marvel’s biggest icons and lesser-known fan favorites were not enough. We wanted to make our playable champions distinct and offer different gameplay opportunities. Following their comic book and animated portrayals, some heroes fly while some are grounded. Some have ranged attacks while others can grab and throw enemies using their mighty strength. Agile characters dodge assaillants effortlessly where sturdier fighters block attacks and parry. In order to fully engage with this rich lineup, we’ve devised the cosmic swap maneuver. Inspired by the first Captain Marvel’s Quantum Swap ability (from 1968’s Captain Marvel #17, of course) players can switch from two previously chosen Super Heroes from at any time during the battle! With one push of a button, you can switch from one Marvel hero to another and mix up your offensive against Annihilus’ minions. If you combine the swap with any of the action buttons, the other half of your titanic tandem can now be summoned for an assist depending on the action! Carefully choosing fighters with different skills is a great way to get the most out of your character combo! Today, we’re revealing two new characters from our cavalcade of heroes: Black Panther and Cosmic Ghost Rider. One of our key mission statements in developing Marvel Cosmic Invasion is to make the characters feel like their four-colored counterparts. As such, King T’Challa is a formidable martial artist, with a precise fighting style and a feline agility that allows him to quickly strike the enemy hordes or swiftly avoid their attacks! The Panther isn’t just a close-quarter combatant! The Wakandan hero can fling vibranium daggers at his opponents. These blades deal delayed sonic damage that will stagger any enemy within range! Players have to be careful: daggers will need a few moments to recharge their sonic payload. When the insectoid horde gets too much, T’Challa can unleash his special move: the Panther Slash! Using the kinetic energy charged up in his suit, Black Panther can cut across the screen and slice the opposition with his vibranium claws! From the agile strikes of the Panther, we move onto the biker brawler brawn of the Cosmic Ghost Rider. Wielding both hellfire and the Power Cosmic, this future version of Frank Castle is a wild, explosive character. After serving both Mephisto and Galactus, this time-lost Spirit of vengeance deals punishment against the guilty across the cosmos. Cosmic Ghost Rider is the perfect character for the player who wants to control the battlefield with extra power. We wanted to bring the unruly energy of CGR to contrast with our other characters: where Black Panther attacks with polished martial strikes, the Rider swings around the flaming chains of cytorak to break up enemy swarms. Faraway enemies can be easily punished using CGR’s stellar firepower! While finite, these cosmic blasters quickly reload. Up close, the Rider is a formidable threat, ending his own combo strikes with a massive Penance blast–using his own head as a weapon. But he’s not all offense: this Rider can use his Power Cosmic bracelets to block and parry any enemy strike. And of course, what would be a Spirit of Vengeance without his ride? In case of emergency, CGR can call on his Cosmic Cycle to run roughshod over the bad guys. We hope you’ve enjoyed this showcase on our newly revealed characters. Marvel Cosmic Invasion is set to be released later this year on PlayStation 5 and PlayStation 4. Annihilus Beware!

Hello, everyone. Yuzo Koshiro of Ancient here. It is with immense excitement that I can finally share some truly fantastic news with you all. On September 18, after years of hard work, my development partner Makoto Wada and I will release our passion project, Earthion, on PlayStation 4 and PlayStation 5. When we first began […]

Hello, everyone. Yuzo Koshiro of Ancient here. It is with immense excitement that I can finally share some truly fantastic news with you all. On September 18, after years of hard work, my development partner Makoto Wada and I will release our passion project, Earthion, on PlayStation 4 and PlayStation 5. Play Video When we first began developing Earthion, it was born from a deep love for the 16-bit era and a desire to revisit one of my favorite consoles ever, the Sega Genesis/Mega Drive. I wanted to see what could be achieved on the original hardware with today’s advanced tools and three decades of gained knowledge. The response to the initial prototype was overwhelmingly positive, and it became clear this was a project we had to see through. We made the conscious decision to build Earthion natively for Sega’s 16-bit hardware, pushing it to the limit with stunning pixel art and a frenetic soundtrack, which I composed using its FM sound chip. We were not simply making a “retro-inspired” game; we were making a true 16-bit title for the modern age. I’m thrilled that PlayStation 4 and PlayStation 5 owners will soon be able to enjoy Earthion. Although it hails from a later era of gaming, PlayStation has been home to countless classic shooters that have pushed the boundaries of what was possible across its 30-year history. PlayStation continues to embrace retro arcade experiences, allowing them to reach new audiences. In creating Earthion, we drew on a lineage of shmup masterpieces from the 80s and 90s. We took cues from the very best the genre has to offer, creating a game that feels both familiar and fresh. The care we took in developing for 16-bit hardware has been extended to the PlayStation 4 and PlayStation 5 releases. Working with Limited Run Games, we have gone to great lengths to ensure that the authentic experience is perfectly preserved for modern consoles. For those who want to feel like they are playing on a CRT television, we have included a suite of configurable scanline and screen filters. This allows players to replicate the nostalgic glow and visual fidelity of a classic setup, ensuring that the pixel art is displayed exactly as we intended—without a single detail lost. And of course, Earthion supports PlayStation Trophies for fans who want to put their skills to the test. Earthion is more than just a game to us; it’s a love letter to the golden age of shmups and the hardware that made them possible. We poured our hearts and souls into every pixel and every sound. We hope that when you get your hands on it on September 18, you feel the passion we have for this genre. Thank you for your support, and we can’t wait for you to experience this intergalactic adventure for yourselves.

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 discuss the release of Borderlands 4, indie hit Hollow Knight: Silksong, and 30 years of PlayStation memories. Stuff We Talked About The Cast Thanks to Dormilón for our rad theme song and […]

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 discuss the release of Borderlands 4, indie hit Hollow Knight: Silksong, and 30 years of PlayStation memories. Stuff We Talked About Next week’s releases: Borderlands 4 | PS5 (out today) LEGO Voyagers | PS5, PS4 Frostpunk 2 | PS5 Towa and the Guardians of the Sacred Tree | PS5 Dying Light: The Beast | PS5 Trails in the Sky 1st Chapter | PS5 Digimon Story: Time Stranger hands-on — New details revealed on the combat system and tropical Abyss Area. Hollow Knight: Silksong hands-on — Discover what’s new in the anticipated sequel, like mid-air healing, mantling on ledges, more challenging encounters, and more. Announcing PlayStation 30th Memories — We’re celebrating PlayStation history and you’re invited to be a part of it by sharing your memories. Head to PS blog for more details PlayStation Family App — This new mobile app gives parents more tools to guide their family’s PlayStation experience. 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.]

This month, step into the ring and dominate the squared circle in WWE 2K25, lead the Phantom Thieves in a new turn-based strategy adventure in Persona 5 Tactica, survive the unforgiving wilderness of the Amazonian jungle in Green Hell, or partake in a Holy Grail War set in Edo Japan in Fate/Samurai Remnant. Meanwhile, Legacy […]

This month, step into the ring and dominate the squared circle in WWE 2K25, lead the Phantom Thieves in a new turn-based strategy adventure in Persona 5 Tactica, survive the unforgiving wilderness of the Amazonian jungle in Green Hell, or partake in a Holy Grail War set in Edo Japan in Fate/Samurai Remnant. Meanwhile, Legacy of Kain: Defiance brings vampiric action-adventure to PlayStation Plus Deluxe.  PlayStation Plus Extra and Deluxe | Game Catalog View and download image Download the image close Close Download this image WWE 2K25 | PS5, PS4 “The Wiseman” Paul Heyman hosts The Bloodline’s Dynasty, a new 2K Showcase celebrating one of the most historic family dynasties in wrestling. Relive legendary showdowns and create dream matches between The Bloodline and WWE Superstars and Legends. Intergender wrestling makes its long-awaited WWE 2K debut, alongside the return of chain wrestling, Underground and Bloodline Rules match types, barricade diving and more. Take control of your Superstar from the women’s or men’s divisions in a singular multi-gender MyRISE storyline where WWE Superstars infiltrate NXT and attempt to take control of the WWE universe. Discover new brawl environments, unlockable arenas, characters, ally storylines and more. * WWE 2K25 is releasing on September 16. View and download image Download the image close Close Download this image Persona 5 Tactica | PS5, PS4 Persona 5 Tactica is a turn-based strategy game, featuring an all-new story, the return of fan-favourite characters and brand-new allies and foes. After a strange incident, the Phantom Thieves wander into a bizarre realm where its citizens are living under tyrannical oppression. Surrounded by a military group named Legionnaires, they find themselves in grave danger until a mysterious revolutionary named Erina rescues them and offers an enticing deal in exchange for their help. What truth lies behind Erina and the deal she offers to the Phantom Thieves? Join the group as they lead an emotional revolution in this thrilling combat adventure. *Persona 5 Tactica is releasing on September 16 (except for Thailand). View and download image Download the image close Close Download this image Green Hell | PS5, PS4 Green Hell is an Open World Survival Simulator set in the unique and uncharted setting of the Amazonian rainforest. Plunge into the open world survival simulation set in the extreme conditions of the unforgiving Amazon jungle. Use real-life survival techniques to craft, hunt, fight, and gather resources. Build a makeshift shelter or raise a fortress, but always remember to tend to your wounds and maintain mental health. Survive on your own, or try your chances in an up-to-4-player online co-op mode. *Green Hell is releasing in Singapore on September 30 and on September 16 in other Southeast Asia markets. View and download image Download the image close Close Download this image Fate/Samurai Remnant | PS5, PS4 “Your wish shall perish…” A Holy Grail War begins in Edo Japan. The curtain rises on a new Fate, an action RPG presented by Type-Moon and Koei Tecmo Games. The 4th year of the Keian Era, Edo Period. It has been several decades since the end of a turbulent, blood-soaked era. People were enjoying peace and tranquility, but a battle between seven pairs of Masters and Servants is about to begin as the “Waxing Moon Ritual” unfolds in the shadows. Miyamoto Iori, a young man in Asakusa, finds himself caught in the violence of a Holy Grail War. * Fate/Samurai Remnant is releasing on September 16 View and download image Download the image close Close Download this image Crow Country | PS5, PS4 The creators of celebrated point-and-click murder mystery Tangle Tower return with a retro-inspired survival horror set in an abandoned theme park. The year is 1990 and Edward Crow, the owner of the Crow Country theme park, is missing. Two years after he suddenly closed his park, a mysterious young woman called Mara Forest arrives to explore the abandoned property and find its lost owner. Why did Crow really shut down Crow Country and what is Mara Forest’s connection to him? *Crow Country is releasing in Singapore on September 30 and on September 16 in other Southeast Asia markets. View and download image Download the image close Close Download this image The Invincible | PS5 You are a highly qualified, sharp-witted astrobiologist named Yasna. Being entangled in a space race, you and your crew end up on the unexplored planet Regis III. The scientific journey quickly turns into a search mission for lost crewmates. Follow its trail, but be fully aware that every decision you make can bring you closer to danger. On her journey, Yasna will face decisions that will shape the outcome of the story. Help her make difficult choices and witness one of 11 possible endings to the deeply philosophical story. *The Invincible is releasing in Singapore on September 30 and on September 16 in other Southeast Asia markets. View and download image Download the image close Close Download this image Conscript | PS5 Conscript is a survival horror game inspired by classics of the genre, blending all the punishing mechanics of older horror games into a cohesive, tense, and unique experience. Set in 1916 during the Great War, you play as a French soldier searching for his missing-in-action brother during the Battle of Verdun. Will you be able to search twisted trenches, navigate overrun forts, and cross no-mans-land to find him, and ensure a home goes unbroken? Survive in an intense, harrowing atmosphere boosted by a unique pixel art aesthetic and oppressive sound design. Navigate intricate level design that promotes item management and route planning, whilst solving complex environmental puzzles. *Conscript is releasing in Singapore on September 30 and on September 16 in other Southeast Asia markets. PlayStation Plus Deluxe View and download image Download the image close Close Download this image Legacy of Kain: Defiance | PS5, PS4 Continue Kain and Raziel’s epic conflict in this faithful emulation of the classic PS2 action-adventure title, Legacy of Kain: Defiance, playable on PS4 and PS5 for the first time. Take control of two powerful and highly evolved vampires: Kain, Emperor of Nosgoth and near-demigod, and Raziel, a wraithlike angel of death. Each equipped with their own legendary sword, Kain & Raziel must battle through a world poisoned by conflict and intrigue as they attempt to unravel their destinies and defeat the dark forces that seek to condemn their world to eternal damnation. * Legacy of Kain: Defiance is releasing on September 16 *PlayStation Plus Game Catalog and PlayStation Plus Deluxe lineups may differ by region. Please check PlayStation Store on release day.

At Sony Interactive Entertainment, we’re committed to providing safe play for gamers of all ages, including enhancing ways for parents to manage their children’s gaming experience. This includes the current parental control features available on the PS5 and PS4 console, such as playtime settings and age restriction settings for games. Today, we’re pleased to announce […]

At Sony Interactive Entertainment, we’re committed to providing safe play for gamers of all ages, including enhancing ways for parents to manage their children’s gaming experience. This includes the current parental control features available on the PS5 and PS4 console, such as playtime settings and age restriction settings for games. Today, we’re pleased to announce our next step in this commitment with PlayStation Family, a new dedicated parental control mobile app available on iOS and Android devices*. PlayStation Family app will be launching around the world starting today. PlayStation Family app is a new experience to help parents set up and manage their children’s gaming experience on PlayStation – straight from their supported mobile device. The app includes a number of new customizable features for parents to manage their children’s playtime, including an activity report, more visibility into what their children are playing, and approving extra playtime requests – all at the tap of a finger. Play Video Here’s a look at the features from PlayStation Family app: Guided Onboarding – Enjoy a thoughtfully guided experience setting up a child account easily with PlayStation Family app. Real-Time Notifications – Get notified what game a child is playing in real time. Approve or decline a child’s requests for extra playtime, restricted games, and communicate from a mobile device – you have the final say. Activity Reports – Review daily and weekly activity reports at a glance. Parents can see up-to-date information about a child’s playtime and activity. Manage Playtime – Set playtime limits for each day of the week. Children can enjoy more flexibility by requesting additional playtime from the console, while parents can approve or decline their requests from a phone or tablet. Manage Spending – Manage spending activity by adding funds, viewing balances, and setting a monthly spending limit for a child to buy content from the PlayStation Store. Content Filters – Choose and configure age appropriate content with a tap of a button. We’ve included presets that automatically apply recommended settings for different age groups, and every setting can also be customized individually to best suit each child. Social Interactions- Customize privacy settings and how your children connect and play. Manage access to social features. PlayStation Family app is available for download on the App Store and Google Play in most markets starting today. We’re excited to bring an easy way for parents to manage their children’s gaming directly from their mobile devices. This is just the beginning with our new mobile app – we’ll plan to continue adding enhancements to PlayStation Family app to evolve the experience over time. We hope you’ll enjoy it and we look forward to your feedback. *PlayStation Family app is compatible with iOS version 14 and Android 8 or higher.

This month, step into the ring and dominate the squared circle in WWE 2K25, lead the Phantom Thieves in a new turn-based strategy adventure in Persona 5 Tactica, survive the unforgiving wilderness of the Amazonian jungle in Green Hell, or partake in a Holy Grail War set in Edo Japan in Fate/Samurai Remnant. All these […]

This month, step into the ring and dominate the squared circle in WWE 2K25, lead the Phantom Thieves in a new turn-based strategy adventure in Persona 5 Tactica, survive the unforgiving wilderness of the Amazonian jungle in Green Hell, or partake in a Holy Grail War set in Edo Japan in Fate/Samurai Remnant. All these titles and more will be available Tuesday, September 16 in this month’s PlayStation Plus Game Catalog lineup*. Meanwhile, Legacy of Kain: Defiance brings vampiric action-adventure to PlayStation Plus Premium.  PlayStation Plus Extra and Premium | Game Catalog View and download image Download the image close Close Download this image WWE 2K25 | PS5, PS4 “The Wiseman” Paul Heyman hosts The Bloodline’s Dynasty, a new 2K Showcase celebrating one of the most historic family dynasties in wrestling. Relive legendary showdowns and create dream matches between The Bloodline and WWE Superstars and Legends. Intergender wrestling makes its long-awaited WWE 2K debut, alongside the return of chain wrestling, Underground and Bloodline Rules match types, barricade diving and more. Take control of your Superstar from the women’s or men’s divisions in a singular multi-gender MyRISE storyline where WWE Superstars infiltrate NXT and attempt to take control of the WWE universe. Discover new brawl environments, unlockable arenas, characters, ally storylines and more. *Both PS4 and PS5 versions of WWE 2K25 will be download only View and download image Download the image close Close Download this image Persona 5 Tactica | PS5, PS4 Persona 5 Tactica is a turn-based strategy game, featuring an all-new story, the return of fan-favourite characters and brand-new allies and foes. After a strange incident, the Phantom Thieves wander into a bizarre realm where its citizens are living under tyrannical oppression. Surrounded by a military group named Legionnaires, they find themselves in grave danger until a mysterious revolutionary named Erina rescues them and offers an enticing deal in exchange for their help. What truth lies behind Erina and the deal she offers to the Phantom Thieves? Join the group as they lead an emotional revolution in this thrilling combat adventure. View and download image Download the image close Close Download this image Green Hell | PS5, PS4 Green Hell is an Open World Survival Simulator set in the unique and uncharted setting of the Amazonian rainforest. Plunge into the open world survival simulation set in the extreme conditions of the unforgiving Amazon jungle. Use real-life survival techniques to craft, hunt, fight, and gather resources. Build a makeshift shelter or raise a fortress, but always remember to tend to your wounds and maintain mental health. Survive on your own, or try your chances in an up-to-4-player online co-op mode. View and download image Download the image close Close Download this image Fate/Samurai Remnant | PS5, PS4 “Your wish shall perish…” A Holy Grail War begins in Edo Japan. The curtain rises on a new Fate, an action RPG presented by Type-Moon and Koei Tecmo Games. The 4th year of the Keian Era, Edo Period. It has been several decades since the end of a turbulent, blood-soaked era. People were enjoying peace and tranquility, but a battle between seven pairs of Masters and Servants is about to begin as the “Waxing Moon Ritual” unfolds in the shadows. Miyamoto Iori, a young man in Asakusa, finds himself caught in the violence of a Holy Grail War. View and download image Download the image close Close Download this image Crow Country | PS5, PS4 The creators of celebrated point-and-click murder mystery Tangle Tower return with a retro-inspired survival horror set in an abandoned theme park. The year is 1990 and Edward Crow, the owner of the Crow Country theme park, is missing. Two years after he suddenly closed his park, a mysterious young woman called Mara Forest arrives to explore the abandoned property and find its lost owner. Why did Crow really shut down Crow Country and what is Mara Forest’s connection to him? View and download image Download the image close Close Download this image The Invincible | PS5 You are a highly qualified, sharp-witted astrobiologist named Yasna. Being entangled in a space race, you and your crew end up on the unexplored planet Regis III. The scientific journey quickly turns into a search mission for lost crewmates. Follow its trail, but be fully aware that every decision you make can bring you closer to danger. On her journey, Yasna will face decisions that will shape the outcome of the story. Help her make difficult choices and witness one of 11 possible endings to the deeply philosophical story. View and download image Download the image close Close Download this image Conscript | PS5 Conscript is a survival horror game inspired by classics of the genre, blending all the punishing mechanics of older horror games into a cohesive, tense, and unique experience. Set in 1916 during the Great War, you play as a French soldier searching for his missing-in-action brother during the Battle of Verdun. Will you be able to search twisted trenches, navigate overrun forts, and cross no-mans-land to find him, and ensure a home goes unbroken? Survive in an intense, harrowing atmosphere boosted by a unique pixel art aesthetic and oppressive sound design. Navigate intricate level design that promotes item management and route planning, whilst solving complex environmental puzzles. PlayStation Plus Premium View and download image Download the image close Close Download this image Legacy of Kain: Defiance | PS5, PS4 Continue Kain and Raziel’s epic conflict in this faithful emulation of the classic PS2 action-adventure title, Legacy of Kain: Defiance, playable on PS4 and PS5 for the first time. Take control of two powerful and highly evolved vampires: Kain, Emperor of Nosgoth and near-demigod, and Raziel, a wraithlike angel of death. Each equipped with their own legendary sword, Kain & Raziel must battle through a world poisoned by conflict and intrigue as they attempt to unravel their destinies and defeat the dark forces that seek to condemn their world to eternal damnation. *PlayStation Plus Game Catalog and PlayStation Plus Premium/Deluxe lineups may differ by region. Please check PlayStation Store on release day.

There’s a very specific moment in Little Nightmares III that encapsulates the game so perfectly that it sticks with me long after I’ve finished my hands-on. Bandai Namco’s demo, ahead of the game’s PS5 and PS4 release on October 10, knew exactly what it was doing. Picture the scene: I’ve assumed the pigtailed Alone, partner […]

There’s a very specific moment in Little Nightmares III that encapsulates the game so perfectly that it sticks with me long after I’ve finished my hands-on. Bandai Namco’s demo, ahead of the game’s PS5 and PS4 release on October 10, knew exactly what it was doing. Picture the scene: I’ve assumed the pigtailed Alone, partner to the raven-masked Low, who is controlled by Bandai Namco’s Global Project Manager Lina Chaghouri. About 40 minutes in, we’re trapped in a shadow-soaked room containing an eerily unmoving man lying in a magician’s box – the type that typically has the magician sawn in half but still miraculously remains whole at the end of the performance. Our only way out? Via an exit too high to reach. After a minute, I realise that the body’s exposed feet act as a handle. Grim. So I guide Alone over to it and pull. With Lina’s help, the box eventually splits into two, but so does the man. His entrails messily leak out as we guide the box to the end of the room so we can escape. It’s macabre, darkly humorous, and demonstrates the essential co-operation that makes Little Nightmares III so wonderfully compelling. Expanding from Little Nightmares II It also happens to be a favourite moment of Coralie Feniello, Bandai Namco’s Global Producer on the game. “In concept, it’s quite simple – pulling, pushing, picking up stuff are all tactile actions that make you feel like a child in that world. And this one is just pulling two boxes, but the setup and the setting of the place makes it memorable. I love having the player do something which is kind of immoral, but it’s the only way for them to get out of a situation.” Fans of the popular horror puzzle platformer series will find these sorts of gruesome scenarios familiar. But what separates Little Nightmares III – thankfully without the entrails – from its siblings is the game’s focus on co-op play. While Little Nightmares II eventually allowed you to journey with an AI companion, its sequel not only has this feature from the start but also lets a second player control either Low or Alone, as a fully-fledged two-player game. “We learned things from Little Nightmares II and did a lot of playtests,” reveals Coralie. “We basically had to design the game three times, including adding things like cute flavour animations that are specific to single player. We started by designing the multiplayer first, because we wanted to make sure that the AI would behave like a human player. And through every playtest we’ve done, we’ve been checking the player’s enjoyment.” Balancing horror with a friend Chances are, another frightening thought might now be creeping into your head – does the addition of human co-op diminish the scares? “Maintaining horror during co-op can be complicated and was something we thought about a lot at the beginning of development,” says Coralie. “Supermassive Games has been doing multiplayer on the Dark Pictures Anthology for years now, and so it was good for us to work with them on that aspect. “From early playtests, we found that it was fine, and actually created a different type of atmosphere. Sometimes you’ll have players who will get scared because the other player is scared, out of empathy. You’ll also share laughs and experience a wider range of emotions, but I don’t think it’s breaking the scariness.” This tallied with my experience, where the presence of another player created a co-dependency that brought its own sense of dread. Little Nightmares III is driven not just by its creaking, rain-swept, and murky atmosphere but also by tense set pieces where poor collaboration leads to a speedy death. The enemies in the Carnevale demo, both misshapen and grotesque giants and terrifyingly quick puppets, caught Lina and I lacking many times. Sometimes it was because I wasn’t quick enough to smash the decapitated skulls that Lina shot off as the headless puppets stalked her. Another time was an elaborate multi-tiered hide and seek section, which required us to sneak around a kitchen while a giant fed the guts of a corpse to his screaming puppet child. We needed to grab a crank while they were distracted, and I either was too slow to grab it or to find a hiding space after snatching it, resulting in a swift end. I’m used to stomaching my own mistakes, but the pressure to ensure my partner didn’t suffer from my slights only added to the tension. “What’s interesting is that things sometimes take longer to solve in multiplayer,” says Coralie. “You’d think that having two brains makes you go faster, but instead you fight or discuss. It’s not necessarily easier to solve a puzzle.” The power of visual storytelling Despite its intimidating rooms of sudden lightning flashes, rabid chattering puppets, and unidentified things being beaten like a piñata, there are plenty of other, less horrifying moments in Little Nightmares III that rely on fun cooperation. During my time, we hoisted each other up to platforms, repeatedly jumped on a stubborn trapdoor to break through it, and one part had Low open a furnace hatch in order for me to throw coal into it, which activated platforms for us to proceed. A reliance on each other and keenly observing the environment was essential to staying alive, given that the series’ creative choice of keeping its characters mostly voiceless is continued here. “That was quite complicated when conveying moments of the story,” says Coralie. “So we put more elements into the environment instead of having a lot of cutscenes.” It’s a design philosophy extended to the creation of its characters, too. “We always start with a shape,” explains Coralie. “So pigtails for Alone, and the beak for Low. Then you really need also to have some bright colors like the blue cape and green jumpsuit, because that’s super important in a dark environment, but that’s a core pillar of what we call a ‘charming horror’ game, where the children are a ray of hope in it all.” It’s essential to hang on to that hope when you’re surrounded by terrifying, wide-eyed puppets that lurk and loom. You and a friend will be able to see for yourself when Little Nightmares III launches on October 10.

Hello! I’m Blake from the Ironwood Studios team and we’re proud to introduce Whispers in the Woods, a major narrative and gameplay expansion to Pacific Drive. When Pacific Drive first launched in February 2024, players joined their trusty station wagon to brave the haunting, anomaly-filled Olympic Exclusion Zone. The game’s unique blend of driving, tense […]

Hello! I’m Blake from the Ironwood Studios team and we’re proud to introduce Whispers in the Woods, a major narrative and gameplay expansion to Pacific Drive. When Pacific Drive first launched in February 2024, players joined their trusty station wagon to brave the haunting, anomaly-filled Olympic Exclusion Zone. The game’s unique blend of driving, tense exploration, and scrappy car maintenance quickly resonated with fans of car and survival games alike. Now, we are excited to bring players back to the driver’s seat and back to the Zone in Whispers in the Woods, coming later this year for Playstation 5. Play Video Return to the Zone Whispers in the Woods takes you on a brand-new adventure back into the Olympic Exclusion Zone. Available after your first few hours in the game, the expansion can be pursued alongside your main campaign and explores the rise of a terrifying group of anomaly obsessed fanatics hidden deep within the depths of the forests. With their appearance, the expansion brings a change to the woods of The Zone unlike anything you’ve seen before. Not only do new anomalies roam the forests, but massive effigies adorned with cryptic symbols fill the landscape as the game’s atmosphere takes on a darker more horror focused tone. “From the very beginning, we knew we wanted to take the mysteries of the Olympic Exclusion Zone in a new direction for this Expansion.” says Cassandra Dracott, Creative Director at Ironwood Studios. “We had heard so much feedback and so many stories about the fear people had experienced in Pacific Drive and in With Whispers in the Woods, we knew we wanted to lean hard in that direction.” It’s not just a tonally different experience either. We’ve added an entirely new fully voiced narrative in the expansion and with it, we are able to continue building on the world of the game and the surreal nature of the Zone. We’ll leave you to theorize what happens next – but it wouldn’t be Pacific Drive if we weren’t also giving you new experiences to have with your 4 wheeled companion. Discover Artifacts Whispers in the Woods brings more of everything you’d hope for in a Pacific Drive expansion. New items, car parts, cosmetics, junction types, and anomalies await. We’ve even added new behaviors to old anomalies to help keep you on your toes. The largest and most significant addition however, are the brand new Artifacts. “As you collect these mysterious objects, you will have to contend with their unpredictable car and world altering effects, forcing you to constantly adapt and change your strategy on the fly.” adds Richard Weschler, Lead Designer on Whispers in the Woods. Created by our mysterious group of fanatics, Artifacts are the expansion’s gameplay centerpiece. Inspired by our quirk system, each Artifact is imbued with a condition and an effect said condition creates. Perhaps every time you jump, your car horn honks. Maybe when your car horn honks it also takes damage. While some may grant you strange advantages, others will add twists and turns to how you play. Artifacts can even play off of each other to create chain reactions. It is up to you to figure out which Artifacts are the right ones for your time in the Zone. No matter what type of Artifact you and your wagon find, two things are true: collecting many of them will be critical to your time in the Whispering Woods, and if you hold too many, much more dangerous things deep within the forests will slowly awaken. A major expansion for new and returning players Since its release, we are proud to have more than one million players globally. In the 18 months since launch, we’ve continued to support the game with multiple free updates like April 2025’s Endless Expeditions update, which added endless trips into the Zone, doubled the size of the radio tracklist, and added the suspend run feature. Whispers in the Woods however, is the studio’s most ambitious update yet. With hours of new gameplay and story content, plus an explorable region close to one-third the size of the base game, the expansion represents a significant step forward for both new and returning fans and we’re incredibly excited for everyone to experience it. “We see this release as both for our longtime players and a welcome sign for newcomers,” Cassandra adds. “If you’ve been driving through the Zone since day one, Whispers in the Woods is going to add a brand new, more terrifying take on the Olympic Exclusion Zone. And if you’re just starting out, this expansion marks the best version of the game to date with new systems and content to find and explore.” Whether you’re returning to your familiar station wagon or starting fresh on your first trip into the Zone, Pacific Drive: Whispers in the Woods offers a haunting new journey and we can’t wait for you to experience it later this year on Playstation 5.

Official PlayStation Blog for news and video updates on PlayStation, PS5, PS4, PS VR, PlayStation Plus and more.

I’m Baiyon, the director of Dreams of Another and a multimedia artist. The release date for the game, October 10, is fast approaching. In this post, I’d like to share the inspiration behind the themes of the game, the ideas behind the object dialogues, which is one of the aspects that makes the game special, […]

I’m Baiyon, the director of Dreams of Another and a multimedia artist. The release date for the game, October 10, is fast approaching. In this post, I’d like to share the inspiration behind the themes of the game, the ideas behind the object dialogues, which is one of the aspects that makes the game special, and my personal dedication to the soundtrack I created. Play Video How did the theme “no creation without destruction” come about? Dreams of Another is built around the philosophical theme of “no creation without destruction.” Rather than destroying objects by shooting, as in traditional shooting games, here, your shots materialize and create the world around you. I have a memory about “destruction and creation” that has stayed with me. It happened during my middle school cultural festival. According to the school rules, everyone had to prepare some kind of exhibit, and my friend and I collected cardboard to make and display a cardboard sculpture. When the chime signaling the end of the one-day festival rang and cleanup began, I lightly started punching and breaking the sculpture. Since it was going to be thrown away anyway, perhaps it was a lighthearted thought born of youth: “If it’s going to be cleaned up anyway, let’s have some fun.” At first, my friend laughed as he watched, but after a while, I felt a pain in my back. When I turned around, I saw my friend, with an angry face, kicking my back. From there, it escalated into a full-on fight, and a teacher, noticing, came into the classroom and shouted at me, “Are you making something to destroy it?!” Those words stayed with me in a way different from the teacher’s original intent. I think I understood that the teacher meant I should take care of what I create, but I kept thinking, “It’s going to be thrown away anyway…” Yet I found this human contradiction somehow interesting. That feeling has always run deep in my approach to creating things, and this game allowed it to take shape. Unique dialogue with objects like trees and doors In this game, you can not only interact with people in the dream world but also talk with objects such as trees and doors. One of the game’s major charms is being able to hear their sentiments and experience their emotions. For example, when I am thinking about ideas for this door’s dialogue, I first realized that even when we say “door,” there are many kinds and positions. Doors in public places, such as buildings, schools, or shopping malls, doors in one’s home, doors of the living room or bedrooms of children and teens, the door of the family home lived in for decades, or the door of a grandmother’s house after losing her husband… Each door is connected to human life, and I imagined that, like us, they might feel pride or even envy other doors. If I were a door, I would want to be a door that is there for an individual’s personal space, rather than merely a being that separates spaces. At the same time, some doors might actually feel comfortable being roughly used by a large family in a living room, while others might feel suited to existing for strangers in a public facility. Imagine doors having a variety of preferences and ways of thinking. In the dialogues, nothing is imposed as “right” or a conclusion. I wanted players to reflect on their own environment, access past memories, and have a moment of reflection. In this way, the dialogues are not just flat and one-dimensional—they can be experienced in a multi-layered way, from various perspectives, and connected to one’s own memories. Of course, it’s perfectly fine to enjoy it simply as a door saying something a little strange. That playfulness and unexpectedness of the dialogues are part of the unique charm of this dream world. A unique approach to composing the soundtrack I have worked on various game soundtracks alongside my own projects over the years, but this time, I felt especially the sense of “I made the music for a game.” I wanted to create music that resonated with the scenarios and dialogues I wrote myself, as well as the situations and atmosphere of each scene, which made me approach the music in a way different from before. For each scene, I composed music with the intention of evoking certain feelings in the player and expressing particular emotions myself. Additionally, a key theme was to convey the instability and ambiguity of the dream world with music. One thing I consciously tried to avoid was being “too polished.” As a musician, this approach is somewhat challenging, but instead of creating compositions that are overly tight or densely structured, I aimed for music that flows. Also, for example, For a particular river scene inspired by my own memories and experiences, I actually spent a long time traveling to the location for field recordings to compose the music for the scene, capturing sounds such as flowing water and stones being rubbed together—the latter of which I then incorporated as rhythmic elements. These particular touches may go unnoticed by anyone, but for me, the focus was on keeping things genuine. By incorporating elements drawn from the source of inspiration as much as possible, I believe it could enrich the experience. I think there are many sounds that aren’t often heard during gameplay. While playing, I hope you take a moment to listen closely to these subtle details—they might lead to small discoveries or interesting experiences. Dreams of Another will launch on October 10 for PS5 and PS VR2. A special bundle is also available for pre-order, which includes the previous game I directed, PixelJunk Eden 2. If you’re interested, please check out the store page. I truly look forward to you enjoying this special experience.

The thing that makes Battlefield feel like Battlefield is the enormous scope of its maps and the many ways you’ll fight your way across them. After Battlefield 6’s open beta test, I got another hands-on chance to play the game—this time, on two of its biggest maps and with the game’s full slate of vehicles […]

The thing that makes Battlefield feel like Battlefield is the enormous scope of its maps and the many ways you’ll fight your way across them. After Battlefield 6’s open beta test, I got another hands-on chance to play the game—this time, on two of its biggest maps and with the game’s full slate of vehicles strafing through combat. While my first hands-on experience with Battlefield 6 gave a sense of weapons, the return of character classes, and the variety in map design, this look focused completely on Battlefield at its biggest and most explosive. Here’s everything I saw through the four-hour play session, including the return of Operation Firestorm and the new Escalation mode. New maps, new mode This hands-on session featured two of Battlefield 6’s biggest All-Out Warfare maps: Mirak Valley and Operation Firestorm. It also featured the new Escalation mode, which makes excellent use of those huge maps, with players fighting spread-out battles in the beginning of a match, only for the area of operation to become smaller to make for more intense skirmishes. Mirak Valley — Battlefield 6’s largest map at launch is set in Tajikistan, just like the Liberation Peak map. It combines wide-open spaces with a big, burgeoning construction zone in the center and a small village at the far side, supporting both close-quarters infantry gameplay in and around the structures, and plenty of vehicle combat outside of them. Trenches cut through part of the map to allow infantry to move around while keeping their heads down to avoid snipers, although staying out of the sights of tanks is tougher. Operation Firestorm — Operation Firestorm turns an oil field and refinery into a huge combined-arms battlefield with a mix of wide-open outdoor areas, high smokestacks that are great sniper nests, and lots of interior spaces. What was most notable was the application of Battlefield 6’s new destruction system to this revived Battlefield 3 map. There are plenty of buildings for infantry to fight in and use for cover, but with tanks, fighter jets, and attack helicopters on the prowl, you can never take the safety of four walls for granted. Escalation — This mode is new for Battlefield 6, combining elements of Conquest and Breakthrough to offer both a wide-open approach to a battle, but with some more strategic aspects. The game starts with capture points littered across the map. When one team holds the majority of capture points, they start to “capture territory,” with a bar filling up on the screen. If the team manages to hold the majority of capture points until the bar fills completely, they score a point. The first team to score three points this way wins, but each time a team scores, one capture point is removed from the map. That forces players closer together, making them fight harder for fewer capture points. Class training Choose your class training — When I went hands-on with Battlefield 6 at its multiplayer reveal, I only got to see half of the class “Training” elements that will launch with the game. These are specializations that let you alter a particular class’s focus and role. Each class has two training options. Assault: Frontliner and Breacher — The Frontliner training puts focus on damage recovery and a faster capture rate on objectives, while the Breacher training gives you additional grenades and a faster reload for room-clearing weapons like the Incendiary Shotgun and Breaching Launcher. Support: Combat Medic and Fire Support — Everybody knows Support’s focus on keeping other players alive, but if you don’t like running around with defibrillators to resurrect squaddies as a Combat Medic, you can also go the Fire Support training route. Its focus is on creating defensible positions, providing suppressing fire, and dropping smoke to cover allied movements. Engineer: Anti-Armor and Combat Engineer — Engineers’ Anti-Armor training gives them an advantage in taking down opposing vehicles, providing extra rockets and dampening the effects of enemy repairs. If you’re not a fan of always carrying a rocket launcher, however, there’s the Combat Engineer training, which can boost the rest of your team’s gear to make it more effective and enhance the repair capabilities of your tools. Recon: Sniper and Spec Ops — The Sniper training gives Recon players better awareness, spotting targets at a longer range and dropping players with headshots so their teammates can’t revive them. With the Spec Ops training, you’re harder to detect, producing less sound when you move and leaving the In Combat state faster when you’re prone, so your teammates can spawn in on your location more quickly. Adjustments since the beta The Battlefield team has taken on a lot of feedback from players since its open beta in August, and we saw some of those adjustments in matches. Tactical movement with less momentum — In the open beta, players could be pretty quick and pretty bouncy with the new Kinesthetic Combat system. Momentum has been dialed back a bit since then so that players can’t chain so many quick movements together. Moving around maps still feels quick and responsive thanks to lots of options, like sliding, diving, and moving more quickly when you put your weapons away. A little less sniper dominance — There are some very long sightlines on both Mirak Valley and Operation Firestorm, and snipers were a major force in all the matches I played. That said, both maps have been designed with a wide variety of terrain and structures that provide a lot of cover. Snipers have also been tuned down a bit; they’re still dangerous, but you’re a little less likely to get dropped before you know you’re under fire. Verify your age to view this content. Verify your age to view this content. More weapons feel useful — You can also feel the adjustments the Battlefield team has made to some of the weapons. In my first hands-on with the game, some guns didn’t feel especially viable; the light machine gun that’s default for the Support class, for instance, felt like it struggled to secure kills at any range. I’m happy to report that Medics can now secure a few kills as well as lay down covering fire for teammates. And the M87A1 Shotgun that dominated the beta is now a little less terrifying, but still feels great when clearing corners or a trench. Speedy vehicles — The variety of vehicles in Battlefield 6 makes for some very intense and surprising moments, especially with its destruction system. All ground vehicles now also have a brief boost, which is especially great for dodging fire or getting heavy tanks over treacherous terrain. Battlefield 6‘s launch is quickly approaching—it hits PS5 on October 10—so you won’t have to wait long to jump into a tank or a helicopter and try some of those new maps, modes, and adjustments for yourself.

We’re thrilled to show you the newest playable characters in our galaxy-spanning adventure: Black Panther and Cosmic Ghost Rider! Here at Tribute Games, we’ve always loved beat-em ups and it’s been a pleasure to work in that genre for the last couple of years. We feel extremely lucky to get to do it again in […]

We’re thrilled to show you the newest playable characters in our galaxy-spanning adventure: Black Panther and Cosmic Ghost Rider! Here at Tribute Games, we’ve always loved beat-em ups and it’s been a pleasure to work in that genre for the last couple of years. We feel extremely lucky to get to do it again in the Marvel Universe. We’re relishing the challenge of not only repeating what we’ve done before on our previous titles but try to push back the limits of the genre. Play Video In Marvel Cosmic Invasion, one of our biggest features is our playable character roster boasting 15 Super Heroes! But a deep bench of Marvel’s biggest icons and lesser-known fan favorites were not enough. We wanted to make our playable champions distinct and offer different gameplay opportunities. Following their comic book and animated portrayals, some heroes fly while some are grounded. Some have ranged attacks while others can grab and throw enemies using their mighty strength. Agile characters dodge assaillants effortlessly where sturdier fighters block attacks and parry. In order to fully engage with this rich lineup, we’ve devised the cosmic swap maneuver. Inspired by the first Captain Marvel’s Quantum Swap ability (from 1968’s Captain Marvel #17, of course) players can switch from two previously chosen Super Heroes from at any time during the battle! With one push of a button, you can switch from one Marvel hero to another and mix up your offensive against Annihilus’ minions. If you combine the swap with any of the action buttons, the other half of your titanic tandem can now be summoned for an assist depending on the action! Carefully choosing fighters with different skills is a great way to get the most out of your character combo! Today, we’re revealing two new characters from our cavalcade of heroes: Black Panther and Cosmic Ghost Rider. One of our key mission statements in developing Marvel Cosmic Invasion is to make the characters feel like their four-colored counterparts. As such, King T’Challa is a formidable martial artist, with a precise fighting style and a feline agility that allows him to quickly strike the enemy hordes or swiftly avoid their attacks! The Panther isn’t just a close-quarter combatant! The Wakandan hero can fling vibranium daggers at his opponents. These blades deal delayed sonic damage that will stagger any enemy within range! Players have to be careful: daggers will need a few moments to recharge their sonic payload. When the insectoid horde gets too much, T’Challa can unleash his special move: the Panther Slash! Using the kinetic energy charged up in his suit, Black Panther can cut across the screen and slice the opposition with his vibranium claws! From the agile strikes of the Panther, we move onto the biker brawler brawn of the Cosmic Ghost Rider. Wielding both hellfire and the Power Cosmic, this future version of Frank Castle is a wild, explosive character. After serving both Mephisto and Galactus, this time-lost Spirit of vengeance deals punishment against the guilty across the cosmos. Cosmic Ghost Rider is the perfect character for the player who wants to control the battlefield with extra power. We wanted to bring the unruly energy of CGR to contrast with our other characters: where Black Panther attacks with polished martial strikes, the Rider swings around the flaming chains of cytorak to break up enemy swarms. Faraway enemies can be easily punished using CGR’s stellar firepower! While finite, these cosmic blasters quickly reload. Up close, the Rider is a formidable threat, ending his own combo strikes with a massive Penance blast–using his own head as a weapon. But he’s not all offense: this Rider can use his Power Cosmic bracelets to block and parry any enemy strike. And of course, what would be a Spirit of Vengeance without his ride? In case of emergency, CGR can call on his Cosmic Cycle to run roughshod over the bad guys. We hope you’ve enjoyed this showcase on our newly revealed characters. Marvel Cosmic Invasion is set to be released later this year on PlayStation 5 and PlayStation 4. Annihilus Beware!

Hello, everyone. Yuzo Koshiro of Ancient here. It is with immense excitement that I can finally share some truly fantastic news with you all. On September 18, after years of hard work, my development partner Makoto Wada and I will release our passion project, Earthion, on PlayStation 4 and PlayStation 5. When we first began […]

Hello, everyone. Yuzo Koshiro of Ancient here. It is with immense excitement that I can finally share some truly fantastic news with you all. On September 18, after years of hard work, my development partner Makoto Wada and I will release our passion project, Earthion, on PlayStation 4 and PlayStation 5. Play Video When we first began developing Earthion, it was born from a deep love for the 16-bit era and a desire to revisit one of my favorite consoles ever, the Sega Genesis/Mega Drive. I wanted to see what could be achieved on the original hardware with today’s advanced tools and three decades of gained knowledge. The response to the initial prototype was overwhelmingly positive, and it became clear this was a project we had to see through. We made the conscious decision to build Earthion natively for Sega’s 16-bit hardware, pushing it to the limit with stunning pixel art and a frenetic soundtrack, which I composed using its FM sound chip. We were not simply making a “retro-inspired” game; we were making a true 16-bit title for the modern age. I’m thrilled that PlayStation 4 and PlayStation 5 owners will soon be able to enjoy Earthion. Although it hails from a later era of gaming, PlayStation has been home to countless classic shooters that have pushed the boundaries of what was possible across its 30-year history. PlayStation continues to embrace retro arcade experiences, allowing them to reach new audiences. In creating Earthion, we drew on a lineage of shmup masterpieces from the 80s and 90s. We took cues from the very best the genre has to offer, creating a game that feels both familiar and fresh. The care we took in developing for 16-bit hardware has been extended to the PlayStation 4 and PlayStation 5 releases. Working with Limited Run Games, we have gone to great lengths to ensure that the authentic experience is perfectly preserved for modern consoles. For those who want to feel like they are playing on a CRT television, we have included a suite of configurable scanline and screen filters. This allows players to replicate the nostalgic glow and visual fidelity of a classic setup, ensuring that the pixel art is displayed exactly as we intended—without a single detail lost. And of course, Earthion supports PlayStation Trophies for fans who want to put their skills to the test. Earthion is more than just a game to us; it’s a love letter to the golden age of shmups and the hardware that made them possible. We poured our hearts and souls into every pixel and every sound. We hope that when you get your hands on it on September 18, you feel the passion we have for this genre. Thank you for your support, and we can’t wait for you to experience this intergalactic adventure for yourselves.

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 discuss the release of Borderlands 4, indie hit Hollow Knight: Silksong, and 30 years of PlayStation memories. Stuff We Talked About The Cast Thanks to Dormilón for our rad theme song and […]

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 discuss the release of Borderlands 4, indie hit Hollow Knight: Silksong, and 30 years of PlayStation memories. Stuff We Talked About Next week’s releases: Borderlands 4 | PS5 (out today) LEGO Voyagers | PS5, PS4 Frostpunk 2 | PS5 Towa and the Guardians of the Sacred Tree | PS5 Dying Light: The Beast | PS5 Trails in the Sky 1st Chapter | PS5 Digimon Story: Time Stranger hands-on — New details revealed on the combat system and tropical Abyss Area. Hollow Knight: Silksong hands-on — Discover what’s new in the anticipated sequel, like mid-air healing, mantling on ledges, more challenging encounters, and more. Announcing PlayStation 30th Memories — We’re celebrating PlayStation history and you’re invited to be a part of it by sharing your memories. Head to PS blog for more details PlayStation Family App — This new mobile app gives parents more tools to guide their family’s PlayStation experience. 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.]

This month, step into the ring and dominate the squared circle in WWE 2K25, lead the Phantom Thieves in a new turn-based strategy adventure in Persona 5 Tactica, survive the unforgiving wilderness of the Amazonian jungle in Green Hell, or partake in a Holy Grail War set in Edo Japan in Fate/Samurai Remnant. Meanwhile, Legacy […]

This month, step into the ring and dominate the squared circle in WWE 2K25, lead the Phantom Thieves in a new turn-based strategy adventure in Persona 5 Tactica, survive the unforgiving wilderness of the Amazonian jungle in Green Hell, or partake in a Holy Grail War set in Edo Japan in Fate/Samurai Remnant. Meanwhile, Legacy of Kain: Defiance brings vampiric action-adventure to PlayStation Plus Deluxe.  PlayStation Plus Extra and Deluxe | Game Catalog View and download image Download the image close Close Download this image WWE 2K25 | PS5, PS4 “The Wiseman” Paul Heyman hosts The Bloodline’s Dynasty, a new 2K Showcase celebrating one of the most historic family dynasties in wrestling. Relive legendary showdowns and create dream matches between The Bloodline and WWE Superstars and Legends. Intergender wrestling makes its long-awaited WWE 2K debut, alongside the return of chain wrestling, Underground and Bloodline Rules match types, barricade diving and more. Take control of your Superstar from the women’s or men’s divisions in a singular multi-gender MyRISE storyline where WWE Superstars infiltrate NXT and attempt to take control of the WWE universe. Discover new brawl environments, unlockable arenas, characters, ally storylines and more. * WWE 2K25 is releasing on September 16. View and download image Download the image close Close Download this image Persona 5 Tactica | PS5, PS4 Persona 5 Tactica is a turn-based strategy game, featuring an all-new story, the return of fan-favourite characters and brand-new allies and foes. After a strange incident, the Phantom Thieves wander into a bizarre realm where its citizens are living under tyrannical oppression. Surrounded by a military group named Legionnaires, they find themselves in grave danger until a mysterious revolutionary named Erina rescues them and offers an enticing deal in exchange for their help. What truth lies behind Erina and the deal she offers to the Phantom Thieves? Join the group as they lead an emotional revolution in this thrilling combat adventure. *Persona 5 Tactica is releasing on September 16 (except for Thailand). View and download image Download the image close Close Download this image Green Hell | PS5, PS4 Green Hell is an Open World Survival Simulator set in the unique and uncharted setting of the Amazonian rainforest. Plunge into the open world survival simulation set in the extreme conditions of the unforgiving Amazon jungle. Use real-life survival techniques to craft, hunt, fight, and gather resources. Build a makeshift shelter or raise a fortress, but always remember to tend to your wounds and maintain mental health. Survive on your own, or try your chances in an up-to-4-player online co-op mode. *Green Hell is releasing in Singapore on September 30 and on September 16 in other Southeast Asia markets. View and download image Download the image close Close Download this image Fate/Samurai Remnant | PS5, PS4 “Your wish shall perish…” A Holy Grail War begins in Edo Japan. The curtain rises on a new Fate, an action RPG presented by Type-Moon and Koei Tecmo Games. The 4th year of the Keian Era, Edo Period. It has been several decades since the end of a turbulent, blood-soaked era. People were enjoying peace and tranquility, but a battle between seven pairs of Masters and Servants is about to begin as the “Waxing Moon Ritual” unfolds in the shadows. Miyamoto Iori, a young man in Asakusa, finds himself caught in the violence of a Holy Grail War. * Fate/Samurai Remnant is releasing on September 16 View and download image Download the image close Close Download this image Crow Country | PS5, PS4 The creators of celebrated point-and-click murder mystery Tangle Tower return with a retro-inspired survival horror set in an abandoned theme park. The year is 1990 and Edward Crow, the owner of the Crow Country theme park, is missing. Two years after he suddenly closed his park, a mysterious young woman called Mara Forest arrives to explore the abandoned property and find its lost owner. Why did Crow really shut down Crow Country and what is Mara Forest’s connection to him? *Crow Country is releasing in Singapore on September 30 and on September 16 in other Southeast Asia markets. View and download image Download the image close Close Download this image The Invincible | PS5 You are a highly qualified, sharp-witted astrobiologist named Yasna. Being entangled in a space race, you and your crew end up on the unexplored planet Regis III. The scientific journey quickly turns into a search mission for lost crewmates. Follow its trail, but be fully aware that every decision you make can bring you closer to danger. On her journey, Yasna will face decisions that will shape the outcome of the story. Help her make difficult choices and witness one of 11 possible endings to the deeply philosophical story. *The Invincible is releasing in Singapore on September 30 and on September 16 in other Southeast Asia markets. View and download image Download the image close Close Download this image Conscript | PS5 Conscript is a survival horror game inspired by classics of the genre, blending all the punishing mechanics of older horror games into a cohesive, tense, and unique experience. Set in 1916 during the Great War, you play as a French soldier searching for his missing-in-action brother during the Battle of Verdun. Will you be able to search twisted trenches, navigate overrun forts, and cross no-mans-land to find him, and ensure a home goes unbroken? Survive in an intense, harrowing atmosphere boosted by a unique pixel art aesthetic and oppressive sound design. Navigate intricate level design that promotes item management and route planning, whilst solving complex environmental puzzles. *Conscript is releasing in Singapore on September 30 and on September 16 in other Southeast Asia markets. PlayStation Plus Deluxe View and download image Download the image close Close Download this image Legacy of Kain: Defiance | PS5, PS4 Continue Kain and Raziel’s epic conflict in this faithful emulation of the classic PS2 action-adventure title, Legacy of Kain: Defiance, playable on PS4 and PS5 for the first time. Take control of two powerful and highly evolved vampires: Kain, Emperor of Nosgoth and near-demigod, and Raziel, a wraithlike angel of death. Each equipped with their own legendary sword, Kain & Raziel must battle through a world poisoned by conflict and intrigue as they attempt to unravel their destinies and defeat the dark forces that seek to condemn their world to eternal damnation. * Legacy of Kain: Defiance is releasing on September 16 *PlayStation Plus Game Catalog and PlayStation Plus Deluxe lineups may differ by region. Please check PlayStation Store on release day.

At Sony Interactive Entertainment, we’re committed to providing safe play for gamers of all ages, including enhancing ways for parents to manage their children’s gaming experience. This includes the current parental control features available on the PS5 and PS4 console, such as playtime settings and age restriction settings for games. Today, we’re pleased to announce […]

At Sony Interactive Entertainment, we’re committed to providing safe play for gamers of all ages, including enhancing ways for parents to manage their children’s gaming experience. This includes the current parental control features available on the PS5 and PS4 console, such as playtime settings and age restriction settings for games. Today, we’re pleased to announce our next step in this commitment with PlayStation Family, a new dedicated parental control mobile app available on iOS and Android devices*. PlayStation Family app will be launching around the world starting today. PlayStation Family app is a new experience to help parents set up and manage their children’s gaming experience on PlayStation – straight from their supported mobile device. The app includes a number of new customizable features for parents to manage their children’s playtime, including an activity report, more visibility into what their children are playing, and approving extra playtime requests – all at the tap of a finger. Play Video Here’s a look at the features from PlayStation Family app: Guided Onboarding – Enjoy a thoughtfully guided experience setting up a child account easily with PlayStation Family app. Real-Time Notifications – Get notified what game a child is playing in real time. Approve or decline a child’s requests for extra playtime, restricted games, and communicate from a mobile device – you have the final say. Activity Reports – Review daily and weekly activity reports at a glance. Parents can see up-to-date information about a child’s playtime and activity. Manage Playtime – Set playtime limits for each day of the week. Children can enjoy more flexibility by requesting additional playtime from the console, while parents can approve or decline their requests from a phone or tablet. Manage Spending – Manage spending activity by adding funds, viewing balances, and setting a monthly spending limit for a child to buy content from the PlayStation Store. Content Filters – Choose and configure age appropriate content with a tap of a button. We’ve included presets that automatically apply recommended settings for different age groups, and every setting can also be customized individually to best suit each child. Social Interactions- Customize privacy settings and how your children connect and play. Manage access to social features. PlayStation Family app is available for download on the App Store and Google Play in most markets starting today. We’re excited to bring an easy way for parents to manage their children’s gaming directly from their mobile devices. This is just the beginning with our new mobile app – we’ll plan to continue adding enhancements to PlayStation Family app to evolve the experience over time. We hope you’ll enjoy it and we look forward to your feedback. *PlayStation Family app is compatible with iOS version 14 and Android 8 or higher.

This month, step into the ring and dominate the squared circle in WWE 2K25, lead the Phantom Thieves in a new turn-based strategy adventure in Persona 5 Tactica, survive the unforgiving wilderness of the Amazonian jungle in Green Hell, or partake in a Holy Grail War set in Edo Japan in Fate/Samurai Remnant. All these […]

This month, step into the ring and dominate the squared circle in WWE 2K25, lead the Phantom Thieves in a new turn-based strategy adventure in Persona 5 Tactica, survive the unforgiving wilderness of the Amazonian jungle in Green Hell, or partake in a Holy Grail War set in Edo Japan in Fate/Samurai Remnant. All these titles and more will be available Tuesday, September 16 in this month’s PlayStation Plus Game Catalog lineup*. Meanwhile, Legacy of Kain: Defiance brings vampiric action-adventure to PlayStation Plus Premium.  PlayStation Plus Extra and Premium | Game Catalog View and download image Download the image close Close Download this image WWE 2K25 | PS5, PS4 “The Wiseman” Paul Heyman hosts The Bloodline’s Dynasty, a new 2K Showcase celebrating one of the most historic family dynasties in wrestling. Relive legendary showdowns and create dream matches between The Bloodline and WWE Superstars and Legends. Intergender wrestling makes its long-awaited WWE 2K debut, alongside the return of chain wrestling, Underground and Bloodline Rules match types, barricade diving and more. Take control of your Superstar from the women’s or men’s divisions in a singular multi-gender MyRISE storyline where WWE Superstars infiltrate NXT and attempt to take control of the WWE universe. Discover new brawl environments, unlockable arenas, characters, ally storylines and more. *Both PS4 and PS5 versions of WWE 2K25 will be download only View and download image Download the image close Close Download this image Persona 5 Tactica | PS5, PS4 Persona 5 Tactica is a turn-based strategy game, featuring an all-new story, the return of fan-favourite characters and brand-new allies and foes. After a strange incident, the Phantom Thieves wander into a bizarre realm where its citizens are living under tyrannical oppression. Surrounded by a military group named Legionnaires, they find themselves in grave danger until a mysterious revolutionary named Erina rescues them and offers an enticing deal in exchange for their help. What truth lies behind Erina and the deal she offers to the Phantom Thieves? Join the group as they lead an emotional revolution in this thrilling combat adventure. View and download image Download the image close Close Download this image Green Hell | PS5, PS4 Green Hell is an Open World Survival Simulator set in the unique and uncharted setting of the Amazonian rainforest. Plunge into the open world survival simulation set in the extreme conditions of the unforgiving Amazon jungle. Use real-life survival techniques to craft, hunt, fight, and gather resources. Build a makeshift shelter or raise a fortress, but always remember to tend to your wounds and maintain mental health. Survive on your own, or try your chances in an up-to-4-player online co-op mode. View and download image Download the image close Close Download this image Fate/Samurai Remnant | PS5, PS4 “Your wish shall perish…” A Holy Grail War begins in Edo Japan. The curtain rises on a new Fate, an action RPG presented by Type-Moon and Koei Tecmo Games. The 4th year of the Keian Era, Edo Period. It has been several decades since the end of a turbulent, blood-soaked era. People were enjoying peace and tranquility, but a battle between seven pairs of Masters and Servants is about to begin as the “Waxing Moon Ritual” unfolds in the shadows. Miyamoto Iori, a young man in Asakusa, finds himself caught in the violence of a Holy Grail War. View and download image Download the image close Close Download this image Crow Country | PS5, PS4 The creators of celebrated point-and-click murder mystery Tangle Tower return with a retro-inspired survival horror set in an abandoned theme park. The year is 1990 and Edward Crow, the owner of the Crow Country theme park, is missing. Two years after he suddenly closed his park, a mysterious young woman called Mara Forest arrives to explore the abandoned property and find its lost owner. Why did Crow really shut down Crow Country and what is Mara Forest’s connection to him? View and download image Download the image close Close Download this image The Invincible | PS5 You are a highly qualified, sharp-witted astrobiologist named Yasna. Being entangled in a space race, you and your crew end up on the unexplored planet Regis III. The scientific journey quickly turns into a search mission for lost crewmates. Follow its trail, but be fully aware that every decision you make can bring you closer to danger. On her journey, Yasna will face decisions that will shape the outcome of the story. Help her make difficult choices and witness one of 11 possible endings to the deeply philosophical story. View and download image Download the image close Close Download this image Conscript | PS5 Conscript is a survival horror game inspired by classics of the genre, blending all the punishing mechanics of older horror games into a cohesive, tense, and unique experience. Set in 1916 during the Great War, you play as a French soldier searching for his missing-in-action brother during the Battle of Verdun. Will you be able to search twisted trenches, navigate overrun forts, and cross no-mans-land to find him, and ensure a home goes unbroken? Survive in an intense, harrowing atmosphere boosted by a unique pixel art aesthetic and oppressive sound design. Navigate intricate level design that promotes item management and route planning, whilst solving complex environmental puzzles. PlayStation Plus Premium View and download image Download the image close Close Download this image Legacy of Kain: Defiance | PS5, PS4 Continue Kain and Raziel’s epic conflict in this faithful emulation of the classic PS2 action-adventure title, Legacy of Kain: Defiance, playable on PS4 and PS5 for the first time. Take control of two powerful and highly evolved vampires: Kain, Emperor of Nosgoth and near-demigod, and Raziel, a wraithlike angel of death. Each equipped with their own legendary sword, Kain & Raziel must battle through a world poisoned by conflict and intrigue as they attempt to unravel their destinies and defeat the dark forces that seek to condemn their world to eternal damnation. *PlayStation Plus Game Catalog and PlayStation Plus Premium/Deluxe lineups may differ by region. Please check PlayStation Store on release day.

There’s a very specific moment in Little Nightmares III that encapsulates the game so perfectly that it sticks with me long after I’ve finished my hands-on. Bandai Namco’s demo, ahead of the game’s PS5 and PS4 release on October 10, knew exactly what it was doing. Picture the scene: I’ve assumed the pigtailed Alone, partner […]

There’s a very specific moment in Little Nightmares III that encapsulates the game so perfectly that it sticks with me long after I’ve finished my hands-on. Bandai Namco’s demo, ahead of the game’s PS5 and PS4 release on October 10, knew exactly what it was doing. Picture the scene: I’ve assumed the pigtailed Alone, partner to the raven-masked Low, who is controlled by Bandai Namco’s Global Project Manager Lina Chaghouri. About 40 minutes in, we’re trapped in a shadow-soaked room containing an eerily unmoving man lying in a magician’s box – the type that typically has the magician sawn in half but still miraculously remains whole at the end of the performance. Our only way out? Via an exit too high to reach. After a minute, I realise that the body’s exposed feet act as a handle. Grim. So I guide Alone over to it and pull. With Lina’s help, the box eventually splits into two, but so does the man. His entrails messily leak out as we guide the box to the end of the room so we can escape. It’s macabre, darkly humorous, and demonstrates the essential co-operation that makes Little Nightmares III so wonderfully compelling. Expanding from Little Nightmares II It also happens to be a favourite moment of Coralie Feniello, Bandai Namco’s Global Producer on the game. “In concept, it’s quite simple – pulling, pushing, picking up stuff are all tactile actions that make you feel like a child in that world. And this one is just pulling two boxes, but the setup and the setting of the place makes it memorable. I love having the player do something which is kind of immoral, but it’s the only way for them to get out of a situation.” Fans of the popular horror puzzle platformer series will find these sorts of gruesome scenarios familiar. But what separates Little Nightmares III – thankfully without the entrails – from its siblings is the game’s focus on co-op play. While Little Nightmares II eventually allowed you to journey with an AI companion, its sequel not only has this feature from the start but also lets a second player control either Low or Alone, as a fully-fledged two-player game. “We learned things from Little Nightmares II and did a lot of playtests,” reveals Coralie. “We basically had to design the game three times, including adding things like cute flavour animations that are specific to single player. We started by designing the multiplayer first, because we wanted to make sure that the AI would behave like a human player. And through every playtest we’ve done, we’ve been checking the player’s enjoyment.” Balancing horror with a friend Chances are, another frightening thought might now be creeping into your head – does the addition of human co-op diminish the scares? “Maintaining horror during co-op can be complicated and was something we thought about a lot at the beginning of development,” says Coralie. “Supermassive Games has been doing multiplayer on the Dark Pictures Anthology for years now, and so it was good for us to work with them on that aspect. “From early playtests, we found that it was fine, and actually created a different type of atmosphere. Sometimes you’ll have players who will get scared because the other player is scared, out of empathy. You’ll also share laughs and experience a wider range of emotions, but I don’t think it’s breaking the scariness.” This tallied with my experience, where the presence of another player created a co-dependency that brought its own sense of dread. Little Nightmares III is driven not just by its creaking, rain-swept, and murky atmosphere but also by tense set pieces where poor collaboration leads to a speedy death. The enemies in the Carnevale demo, both misshapen and grotesque giants and terrifyingly quick puppets, caught Lina and I lacking many times. Sometimes it was because I wasn’t quick enough to smash the decapitated skulls that Lina shot off as the headless puppets stalked her. Another time was an elaborate multi-tiered hide and seek section, which required us to sneak around a kitchen while a giant fed the guts of a corpse to his screaming puppet child. We needed to grab a crank while they were distracted, and I either was too slow to grab it or to find a hiding space after snatching it, resulting in a swift end. I’m used to stomaching my own mistakes, but the pressure to ensure my partner didn’t suffer from my slights only added to the tension. “What’s interesting is that things sometimes take longer to solve in multiplayer,” says Coralie. “You’d think that having two brains makes you go faster, but instead you fight or discuss. It’s not necessarily easier to solve a puzzle.” The power of visual storytelling Despite its intimidating rooms of sudden lightning flashes, rabid chattering puppets, and unidentified things being beaten like a piñata, there are plenty of other, less horrifying moments in Little Nightmares III that rely on fun cooperation. During my time, we hoisted each other up to platforms, repeatedly jumped on a stubborn trapdoor to break through it, and one part had Low open a furnace hatch in order for me to throw coal into it, which activated platforms for us to proceed. A reliance on each other and keenly observing the environment was essential to staying alive, given that the series’ creative choice of keeping its characters mostly voiceless is continued here. “That was quite complicated when conveying moments of the story,” says Coralie. “So we put more elements into the environment instead of having a lot of cutscenes.” It’s a design philosophy extended to the creation of its characters, too. “We always start with a shape,” explains Coralie. “So pigtails for Alone, and the beak for Low. Then you really need also to have some bright colors like the blue cape and green jumpsuit, because that’s super important in a dark environment, but that’s a core pillar of what we call a ‘charming horror’ game, where the children are a ray of hope in it all.” It’s essential to hang on to that hope when you’re surrounded by terrifying, wide-eyed puppets that lurk and loom. You and a friend will be able to see for yourself when Little Nightmares III launches on October 10.

Hello! I’m Blake from the Ironwood Studios team and we’re proud to introduce Whispers in the Woods, a major narrative and gameplay expansion to Pacific Drive. When Pacific Drive first launched in February 2024, players joined their trusty station wagon to brave the haunting, anomaly-filled Olympic Exclusion Zone. The game’s unique blend of driving, tense […]

Hello! I’m Blake from the Ironwood Studios team and we’re proud to introduce Whispers in the Woods, a major narrative and gameplay expansion to Pacific Drive. When Pacific Drive first launched in February 2024, players joined their trusty station wagon to brave the haunting, anomaly-filled Olympic Exclusion Zone. The game’s unique blend of driving, tense exploration, and scrappy car maintenance quickly resonated with fans of car and survival games alike. Now, we are excited to bring players back to the driver’s seat and back to the Zone in Whispers in the Woods, coming later this year for Playstation 5. Play Video Return to the Zone Whispers in the Woods takes you on a brand-new adventure back into the Olympic Exclusion Zone. Available after your first few hours in the game, the expansion can be pursued alongside your main campaign and explores the rise of a terrifying group of anomaly obsessed fanatics hidden deep within the depths of the forests. With their appearance, the expansion brings a change to the woods of The Zone unlike anything you’ve seen before. Not only do new anomalies roam the forests, but massive effigies adorned with cryptic symbols fill the landscape as the game’s atmosphere takes on a darker more horror focused tone. “From the very beginning, we knew we wanted to take the mysteries of the Olympic Exclusion Zone in a new direction for this Expansion.” says Cassandra Dracott, Creative Director at Ironwood Studios. “We had heard so much feedback and so many stories about the fear people had experienced in Pacific Drive and in With Whispers in the Woods, we knew we wanted to lean hard in that direction.” It’s not just a tonally different experience either. We’ve added an entirely new fully voiced narrative in the expansion and with it, we are able to continue building on the world of the game and the surreal nature of the Zone. We’ll leave you to theorize what happens next – but it wouldn’t be Pacific Drive if we weren’t also giving you new experiences to have with your 4 wheeled companion. Discover Artifacts Whispers in the Woods brings more of everything you’d hope for in a Pacific Drive expansion. New items, car parts, cosmetics, junction types, and anomalies await. We’ve even added new behaviors to old anomalies to help keep you on your toes. The largest and most significant addition however, are the brand new Artifacts. “As you collect these mysterious objects, you will have to contend with their unpredictable car and world altering effects, forcing you to constantly adapt and change your strategy on the fly.” adds Richard Weschler, Lead Designer on Whispers in the Woods. Created by our mysterious group of fanatics, Artifacts are the expansion’s gameplay centerpiece. Inspired by our quirk system, each Artifact is imbued with a condition and an effect said condition creates. Perhaps every time you jump, your car horn honks. Maybe when your car horn honks it also takes damage. While some may grant you strange advantages, others will add twists and turns to how you play. Artifacts can even play off of each other to create chain reactions. It is up to you to figure out which Artifacts are the right ones for your time in the Zone. No matter what type of Artifact you and your wagon find, two things are true: collecting many of them will be critical to your time in the Whispering Woods, and if you hold too many, much more dangerous things deep within the forests will slowly awaken. A major expansion for new and returning players Since its release, we are proud to have more than one million players globally. In the 18 months since launch, we’ve continued to support the game with multiple free updates like April 2025’s Endless Expeditions update, which added endless trips into the Zone, doubled the size of the radio tracklist, and added the suspend run feature. Whispers in the Woods however, is the studio’s most ambitious update yet. With hours of new gameplay and story content, plus an explorable region close to one-third the size of the base game, the expansion represents a significant step forward for both new and returning fans and we’re incredibly excited for everyone to experience it. “We see this release as both for our longtime players and a welcome sign for newcomers,” Cassandra adds. “If you’ve been driving through the Zone since day one, Whispers in the Woods is going to add a brand new, more terrifying take on the Olympic Exclusion Zone. And if you’re just starting out, this expansion marks the best version of the game to date with new systems and content to find and explore.” Whether you’re returning to your familiar station wagon or starting fresh on your first trip into the Zone, Pacific Drive: Whispers in the Woods offers a haunting new journey and we can’t wait for you to experience it later this year on Playstation 5.

AI is no longer solely a back-office tool. It’s a strategic partner that can augment decision-making across every line of business. Whether users aim to reduce operational overhead or personalize customer experiences at scale, custom AI agents are key. As AI agents are adopted across enterprises, managing their deployment will require a deliberate strategy. The Read Article

AI is no longer solely a back-office tool. It’s a strategic partner that can augment decision-making across every line of business. Whether users aim to reduce operational overhead or personalize customer experiences at scale, custom AI agents are key. As AI agents are adopted across enterprises, managing their deployment will require a deliberate strategy. The first steps are architecting the enterprise AI infrastructure to optimize for fast, cost-efficient inference and creating a data pipeline that keeps agents continuously fed with timely, contextual information. Alongside human and hardware resourcing, onboarding AI agents will become a core strategic function for businesses as leaders orchestrate digital talent across the organization. Here’s how to onboard teams of AI agents: 1. Choose the Right AI Agent for the Task Just as human employees are hired for specific roles, AI agents must be selected and trained based on the task they’re meant to perform. Enterprises now have access to a variety of AI models — including for language, vision, speech and reasoning — each with unique strengths. For that reason, proper model selection is critical to achieving business outcomes: Choose a reasoning agent to solve complex problems that require puzzling through answers. Use a code-generation copilot to assist developers with writing, changing and merging code. Deploy a video analytics AI agent for analyzing site inspections or product defects. Onboard a customer service AI assistant that’s grounded in a specific knowledge base — rather than a generic foundation model. Model selection affects agent performance, costs, security and business alignment. The right model enables the agent to accurately address business challenges, align with compliance requirements and safeguard sensitive data. Choosing an unsuitable model can lead to overconsumption of computing resources, higher operational costs and inaccurate predictions that negatively impact agent decision-making. With software like NVIDIA NIM and NeMo microservices, developers can swap in different models and connect tools based on their needs. The result: task-specific agents fine-tuned to meet a business’ goals, data strategy and compliance requirements. 2. Upskill AI Agents by Connecting Them to Data Onboarding AI agents requires building a strong data strategy. AI agents work best with a consistent stream of data that’s specific to the task and the business they’re operating within. Institutional knowledge — the accumulated wisdom and experience within an organization — is a crucial asset that can often be lost when employees leave or retire. AI agents can play a pivotal role in capturing and preserving this knowledge for employees to use. Connecting AI to data sources: To function at their best, AI agents must interpret a variety of data types, from structured databases to unstructured formats such as PDFs, images and videos. Such connection enables the agents to generate tailored, context-aware responses that go beyond the capabilities of a standalone foundation model, delivering more precise and valuable outcomes. AI as a knowledge repository: AI agents benefit from systems that capture, process and reuse data. A data flywheel continuously collects, processes and uses information to iteratively improve the underlying system. AI systems benefit from this flywheel, recording interactions, decisions and problem-solving approaches to self-optimize their model performance and efficiency. For example, integrating AI into customer service operations allows the system to learn from every conversation, capturing valuable feedback and questions. This data is then used to refine responses and maintain a comprehensive repository of institutional knowledge. NVIDIA NeMo supports the development of powerful data flywheels, providing the tools for continuously curating, refining and evaluating data and models. This enables AI agents to improve accuracy and optimize performance through ongoing adaptation and learning. 3. Onboard AI Agents Into Lines of Business Once enterprises create the cloud-based, on-premises or hybrid AI infrastructure to support AI agents and refine the data strategy to feed those agents timely and contextual information, the next step is to systematically deploy AI agents across business units, moving from pilot to scale. According to a recent IDC survey of 125 chief information officers, the top three areas that enterprises are looking to integrate agentic AI are IT processes, business operations and customer service. In each area, AI agents help enhance the productivity of existing employees, such as by automating the ticketing process for IT engineers or giving employees easy access to data to help serve customers. AI agents in the enterprise could also be onboarded for: For telecom operations, Amdocs builds verticalized AI agents using its amAIz platform to handle complex, multistep customer journeys — spanning sales, billing and care — and advance autonomous networks from optimized planning to efficient deployment. This helps ensure performance of the networks and the services they support. NVIDIA has partnered with various enterprises, such as enterprise software company ServiceNow, and global systems integrators, like Accenture and Deloitte, to build and deploy AI agents for maximum business impact across use cases and lines of business. 4. Provide Guardrails and Governance for AI Agents Just like employees need clear guidelines to stay on track, AI models require well-defined guardrails to ensure they provide reliable, accurate outputs and operate within ethical boundaries. Topical guardrails: Topical guardrails prevent the AI from veering off into areas where they aren’t equipped to provide accurate answers. For instance, a customer service AI assistant should focus on resolving customer queries and not drift into unrelated topics such as upsells and offerings. Content safety guardrails: Content safety guardrails moderate human-LLM interactions by classifying prompts and responses as safe or unsafe and tagging violations by category when unsafe. These guardrails filter out unwanted language and make sure references are made only to reliable sources, so the AI’s output is trustworthy. Jailbreak guardrails: With a growing number of agents having access to sensitive information, the agents could become vulnerable to data breaches over time. Jailbreak guardrails are designed to help with adversarial threats as well as detect and block jailbreak and prompt injection attempts targeting LLMs. These help ensure safer AI interactions by identifying malicious prompt manipulations in real time. NVIDIA NeMo Guardrails empower enterprises to set and enforce domain-specific guidelines by providing a flexible, programmable framework that keeps AI agents aligned with organizational policies, helping ensure they consistently operate within approved topics, maintain safety standards and comply with security requirements with the least latency added at inference. Get Started Onboarding AI Agents The best AI agents are not one-size-fits-all. They’re custom-trained, purpose-built and continuously learning. Business leaders can start their AI agent onboarding process by asking: What business outcomes do we want AI to drive? What knowledge and tools does the AI need access to? Who are the human collaborators or overseers? In the near future, every line of business will have dedicated AI agents — trained on its data, tuned to its goals and aligned with its compliance needs. The organizations that invest in thoughtful onboarding, secure data strategies and continuous learning are poised to lead the next phase of enterprise transformation. Watch this on-demand webinar to learn how to create an automated data flywheel that continuously collects feedback to onboard, fine-tune and scale AI agents across enterprises. Stay up to date on agentic AI, NVIDIA Nemotron and more by subscribing to NVIDIA AI news, joining the community and following NVIDIA AI on LinkedIn, Instagram, X and Facebook. Explore the self-paced video tutorials and livestreams.

The U.K. was the center of the AI world this week as NVIDIA, U.K. and U.S. leaders announced new initiatives toward making the nation an AI superpower. NVIDIA founder and CEO Jensen Huang’s visit to the U.K. this week culminated in an NVIDIA AI ecosystem celebration today at Vision Hall in London, where he welcomed Read Article

The U.K. was the center of the AI world this week as NVIDIA, U.K. and U.S. leaders announced new initiatives toward making the nation an AI superpower. NVIDIA founder and CEO Jensen Huang’s visit to the U.K. this week culminated in an NVIDIA AI ecosystem celebration today at Vision Hall in London, where he welcomed U.K. Prime Minister Keir Starmer and U.K. Secretary of State for Science, Innovation and Technology Liz Kendall on stage to discuss the nation’s “Goldilocks moment” where world-class universities, researchers, startups and venture capitalists converge to create a golden network for building out the nation’s AI. Huang also highlighted plans for the U.K.’s AI infrastructure on a panel with Peter Kyle, U.K. Secretary of State for Business and Trade, and Howard Lutnick, U.S. Secretary of Commerce. Panel with U.K. Secretary of State for Business and Trade Peter Kyle, U.S. Secretary of Commerce Howard Lutnick and NVIDIA founder and CEO Jensen Huang. The United Kingdom was the birthplace of the industrial revolution, Huang said. Now, it’s the world’s third largest AI market — home to 3,700 companies and 60,000 employees, a powerhouse of talent and enterprise — making it an ideal ecosystem for pushing forth the next industrial revolution driven by AI. “This is the biggest-ever tech agreement between the United States and the United Kingdom,” said Starmer. He highlighted that the U.K’s work with NVIDIA and the U.S. government is focused on using AI for security and safety for both countries, in addition to business and trade. “[AI], which some people find strange and confusing, can open doors,” said Secretary Kendall. “The role of this government is to open doors … and together with [NVIDIA], we can open those doors and give that hope to people in this country.” U.K. Secretary of State for Science, Innovation and Technology Liz Kendall with NVIDIA founder and CEO Jensen Huang. “This isn’t just about London,” Secretary Kyle said, highlighting the collaboration’s reach will span Belfast, Manchester, Edinburgh and other parts of the country. “What you’re seeing is the renewal, the refocus and crucially, the modernizing of the special relationship [between the U.K. and U.S.],” he said. That modernization taps into AI and digital infrastructure. Secretary Lutnick emphasized the importance of building this infrastructure, highlighting how the U.S. is bringing more energy online to power the AI factories that will make this transformation possible. “One of the things we need to do is to build — and that’s part of our philosophy: to build sufficiently at home so that we have the capacity to care for ourselves and the rest of the world if we need to,” Lutnick said. Combining supercomputing hyperscale facilities and AI investments in Britain will result in incredible scientific exploration and discovery — and crucially, the commercialization of it, Kyle added. “I believe the greatest natural resource of the U.K. is the incredible researchers and scientists,” Huang said. “It is really quite extraordinary. Your universities are creating critical thinkers, independent thinkers, creative thinkers — and they invent amazing things.” Over 500 attendees from startups, venture capital companies, higher education and industry came together at the event to forge connections, exchange ideas and catalyze new growth opportunities at the forefront of AI. NVIDIA Announces Investment in the UK Huang announced NVIDIA’s £2 billion investment in partnership with venture capital firms that have a longstanding U.K. presence, including Accel, Air Street Capital, Balderton Capital, Hoxton Ventures and Phoenix Court — all of which attended the AI ecosystem celebration. Designed to foster the U.K. AI startup ecosystem and scale AI’s impact across industries, the investment will act as an economic catalyst, bringing more innovative technologies and AI applications to market through new companies and jobs. Read more about other AI makers leading innovation in the U.K. More Key Announcements From the Week NVIDIA and partners are deploying 120,000 NVIDIA Blackwell GPUs — the largest AI infrastructure rollout in U.K. history, 100x more powerful than today’s top supercomputers. By 2026, up to 60,000 GPUs will power new AI factories with Microsoft, Nscale, OpenAI and CoreWeave, enabling the next wave of U.K. innovation. NVIDIA and Oxford Quantum Circuits are building a quantum-GPU supercenter — advancing the U.K.’s leadership at the frontier of science. With techUK and QA, NVIDIA is launching a robotics R&D hub to train and upskill the next generation of AI talent. Built on NVIDIA Grace Hopper Superchips, Isambard-AI — the U.K.’s most powerful AI supercomputer, based at the University of Bristol — is accelerating national projects including for healthcare, climate science and public services. Learn more about NVIDIA’s collaboration with the U.K. to fuel innovation, economic growth and jobs.

NVIDIA Blackwell is the core of an entire system architecture designed specifically to power AI factories that produce intelligence through inference using the largest and most complex AI models.

GeForce NOW is packing a monstrous punch this week. Dying Light: The Beast, the latest adrenaline‑fueled chapter in Techland’s parkour‑meets‑survival‑horror saga, is clawing its way into the cloud — ready for members to stream instantly. That’s just the start. Head back to class with SEGA’s wacky management simulation games Two Point Campus and Two Point Read Article

GeForce NOW is packing a monstrous punch this week. Dying Light: The Beast, the latest adrenaline‑fueled chapter in Techland’s parkour‑meets‑survival‑horror saga, is clawing its way into the cloud — ready for members to stream instantly. That’s just the start. Head back to class with SEGA’s wacky management simulation games Two Point Campus and Two Point Museum, then slip into the shadows for the new “Claws of Awaji” expansion in Ubisoft’s Assassin’s Creed Shadows. It’s all part of 11 new games joining the GeForce NOW library. Also this week, Dying Light: The Beast joins the lineup of GeForce RTX 5080-ready titles, alongside Kingdom Come: Deliverance II and Monster Hunter Wilds, which are already available on the service. Look for the “GeForce RTX 5080 Ready” row in the app or check out the full list. Japan is the latest region to get GeForce RTX 5080-class power. Stay tuned to GFN Thursday for updates as more regions upgrade to Blackwell RTX. Those who want to follow along can track progress on the server rollout page for the latest. Japan is live now, with Warsaw and Miami up next. And don’t miss out on getting Borderlands 4 for free with the purchase of a new 12-month Ultimate membership. Unleash the Beast Dying Light: The Beast is clawing its way into the cloud — and it’s hungry. Survival of the fastest. Gamers know the Dying Light series isn’t about taking it easy — it’s about sprinting across rooftops and drop‑kicking zombies in the face to survive the night. Dying Light: The Beast cranks that up to 11 with new abilities, terrifying encounters and more ways for players to flex their inner apex predator. New enemy types keep the tension high, creating a world that feels more threatening than ever. Play solo to test survival instincts, or team up in co‑op mode to turn the undead into a highlight reel of creative takedowns. Players can leap into infected streets, scale rooftops with fluid parkour and battle through relentlessly terrifying nights — all without worrying if their gaming rigs can handle the apocalypse. With GeForce NOW, members can stream the chaos across their devices with GeForce RTX 5080-class performance, enabling cinematic visuals, fast load times and ultra‑responsive gameplay straight from the cloud. Degrees of Delight Where learning gets weird. For gamers who love simulation and strategy games with quirky humor, Two Point Campus and the new Two Point Museum provide tickets to all the fun. These gems from publisher SEGA put players in charge of building, customizing and running their own campus and museum, filled with eccentric characters and unpredictable events. In Two Point Campus, design sprawling college grounds, hire lively staff, schedule offbeat courses and watch students thrive or chaos unfold. In Two Point Museum, curate wild exhibits, draw crowds and manage mishaps while crafting the ultimate cultural destination. Both games blend classic simulation mechanics with fresh, whimsical stories. Fire them up on GeForce NOW to gain instant access to imaginative worlds, smooth animations and vibrant visuals on any screen, wherever members are. New Shadows Claws out. The latest Assassin’s Creed Shadows expansion is here, streaming day‑and‑date on GeForce NOW. The shadows grow sharper in the “Claws of Awaji” expansion, which takes Assassins to the Awaji Islands, introducing a dangerous enemy faction. Players can dive into a fresh storyline packed with story, challenging contracts and a new set of stealth‑focused tools that reward creative approaches. The expansion also adds new enemy types, gear and assassination techniques to master, plus side quests that reveal hidden secrets of the region. In addition, members can look for the following: Fata Deum – The God Sim (New release on Steam, Sept. 15) Town to City (New release on Steam, Sept. 16) Goblin Cleanup (New release on Steam, Sept. 18) Project Winter (New release on Epic Games Store, Sept. 18) Dying Light: The Beast (New release on Steam, Sept. 18, GeForce RTX 5080-ready) Warborne Above Ashes (New release on Steam, Sept. 18) Jump Space (New release on Steam, Sept. 19) Call of Duty: Modern Warfare III (Steam, Battle.net, and Xbox, available on PC Game Pass) Field of Glory II: Medieval (Steam) Two Point Campus (Steam, Epic Games Store) Two Point Museum (Steam, Epic Games Store) New GeForce RTX 5080 Ready games, in addition to Dying Light: The Beast: Kingdom Come: Deliverance II (Steam and Epic Games Store, GeForce RTX 5080-ready) Monster Hunter Wilds (Steam, GeForce RTX 5080-ready) What are you planning to play this weekend? Let us know on X or in the comments below. If you could be a protagonist from a video game, who would you be and why? — NVIDIA GeForce NOW (@NVIDIAGFN) September 17, 2025

Today’s creators are equal parts entertainer, producer and gamer, juggling game commentary, scene changes, replay clips, chat moderation and technical troubleshooting — all while trying to play their best. Agentic AI presents huge potential for creators. The technology can power intelligent collaborators that can help cohost, produce or troubleshoot livestreams in real time to make Read Article

Today’s creators are equal parts entertainer, producer and gamer, juggling game commentary, scene changes, replay clips, chat moderation and technical troubleshooting — all while trying to play their best. Agentic AI presents huge potential for creators. The technology can power intelligent collaborators that can help cohost, produce or troubleshoot livestreams in real time to make space for what matters most: connecting with audiences. At Logitech G PLAY 2025, Streamlabs released its Intelligent Streaming Agent, an AI assistant developed using technologies from NVIDIA and Inworld, that helps livestreamers produce high-quality broadcasts with remarkable ease. From Solo Producer to AI-Powered Streams First previewed at the CES trade show in January, the Streamlabs Intelligent Streaming Agent, now in Streamlabs Desktop, acts as a cohost, producer and technical expert. The cohost can step in as a 3D avatar, powered by NVIDIA RTX technologies, to help keep the conversation going when chat is quiet and answer questions so livestreamers don’t need to alt-tab out of their games. The avatar’s animations are created with the NVIDIA ACE Audio2Face software development kit and its performance is enhanced with NVIDIA DLSS technology. “With NVIDIA ACE Audio2Face integrated into Streamlabs, creators can bring lifelike avatars and real-time intelligence to their streams, enabling them to deliver more engaging content right from their NVIDIA GeForce RTX AI PCs,” said Jason Paul, vice president of GeForce platform technology at NVIDIA. The AI agent makes streams more dynamic by acting as a producer, changing scenes where needed or running audio or video cues. Production assistance is fully customizable, allowing users to define triggers to achieve their desired stream outcome. “Streamlabs has always focused on building tools that empower creators,” said Ashray Urs, head of Streamlabs. “Now, with the Intelligent Streaming Agent, we’re opening the door to the future of AI-powered livestreaming, where creators can host novel interactive experiences while enjoying seamless production support. From custom avatars to responsive overlays and automated production support, the power to create is in their hands.” The agent can also act as a technical assistant to help answer questions or troubleshoot errors users may experience in Streamlabs. It uses real-time vision models that can detect gameplay events such as eliminations, victories and health drops. Accelerated by NVIDIA GeForce RTX GPUs, these models run locally to ensure low-latency responsiveness and seamless interaction. With the Intelligent Streaming Assistant, even new livestreamers still learning to engage with their audiences and game at the same time can create dynamic, interesting streams with minimal complexity. Professional Streaming Made Simple With RTX Not long ago, livestreaming required expensive gear: dual-PC setups, XLR microphones, DSLR cameras and more. NVIDIA has steadily lowered the barrier of entry to livestreaming with enhancements to: Encoding: The NVIDIA encoder and optimizations to livestreaming apps enable high-quality streaming from a single NVIDIA RTX GPU system. Audio and Video: NVIDIA Broadcast applied AI to microphones and webcams enables high-quality audio and video even with affordable devices. Distribution: Twitch and OBS created Enhanced Broadcast, a feature that lets smaller, non-partnered channels generate different stream quality levels on their own computers, so viewers can watch in the quality that works best for their internet speed. The Intelligent Streaming Assistant builds on these enhancements, making it easier for newcomers to start streaming and helping creators elevate their productions. Check out the Streamlabs Intelligent Stream Agent How-To Guide for instructions on getting started. Each week, the RTX AI Garage blog series features community-driven AI innovations and content for those looking to learn more about NVIDIA NIM microservices and AI Blueprints, as well as building AI agents, creative workflows, productivity apps and more on AI PCs and workstations. Plug in to NVIDIA AI PC on Facebook, Instagram, TikTok and X — and stay informed by subscribing to the RTX AI PC newsletter. Follow NVIDIA Workstation on LinkedIn and X. See notice regarding software product information.

The U.K. is driving investments in sovereign AI, using the technology to advance industries like manufacturing, life sciences and more. During NVIDIA founder and CEO Jensen Huang’s visit to the U.K. this week, NVIDIA highlighted how it is working with a broad ecosystem of AI makers across the nation on applications in physical and agentic Read Article

The U.K. is driving investments in sovereign AI, using the technology to advance industries like manufacturing, life sciences and more. During NVIDIA founder and CEO Jensen Huang’s visit to the U.K. this week, NVIDIA highlighted how it is working with a broad ecosystem of AI makers across the nation on applications in physical and agentic AI, robotics and healthcare. Such partner advancements support the U.K.’s AI Action Opportunities Plan, published earlier this year, which includes these key pillars: Advancing the UK Technology Ecosystem Work to build the U.K.’s AI foundation has already begun, with support from the nation’s rich research and startup ecosystem along with technology leaders. Funded by U.K. Research and Innovation and built on NVIDIA Grace Hopper Superchips, Isambard-AI — the U.K.’s most powerful AI supercomputer based at the University of Bristol, which launched in July — is accelerating national projects including: UK-LLM, a large language model project developed by University College London, Bangor University and NVIDIA. UK-LLM uses NVIDIA Nemotron reasoning models to support national languages like Welsh, as well as English, to improve public service delivery in sectors like healthcare and education. Nightingale AI, a sovereign, multimodal health foundation model led by Imperial College London and trained on U.K. and US health data, which is designed to be used for numerous health applications including earlier diagnoses and personalized care. PolluGen, a new high-resolution pollution dispersion model developed by the University of Manchester, using NVIDIA CorrDiff and Earth-2 Studio. The model can use regional health and other data to help inform citizens and policymakers of air-quality impacts. The Ultrasound Foundation Model, led by researchers at Queen Mary University of London. The model is built for ultrasound imaging, focusing on rheumatoid arthritis patient analysis and creating a reproducible, publicly accessible AI model for medical imaging. Gen Model in Ego-Sensed World, led by researchers at the University of Bristol, is analyzing visual data from more than 900 participants to train an AI model to better understand everyday tasks. The AI model could help predict future real-world interactions and support memory to aid independent living for dementia patients. Electrostatics-aware foundation models, developed by researchers at the University of Cambridge in collaboration with NVIDIA. These are being trained as the first foundation models for atomic interactions that understand electrostatics in chemistry at the atomic level. To do this, the researchers are using more than 200 million molecular and material structures from the OMOL and OMAT databases with NVIDIA’s cuEquivariance library. The model will allow scientists to simulate materials and molecules that were previously too large or complex to handle. In addition, SCAN — a technology solutions provider with a strong focus on community, education and innovation — is collaborating with NVIDIA to address the growing AI skills gap across the U.K. through NVIDIA Deep Learning Institute courses and SCAN Springboard U.K., a community-driven initiative designed to foster peer-to-peer learning, market awareness, and mass training in AI and specialized workloads. AI for Robotics NVIDIA announced separately today it is collaborating with techUK, alongside educational autonomous systems leader Quanser and training provider QA, to strengthen the U.K.’s robotics and AI ecosystem. NVIDIA is also working with other leading U.K. robotics leaders to advance industries with physical AI. Extend Robotics is accelerating safe, scalable robot deployment in vehicle manufacturing by combining extended reality-based teleoperation and advanced training systems — powered by NVIDIA Jetson AGX Orin modules, the NVIDIA Isaac Lab framework and NVIDIA Isaac GR00T models — enabling rapid skill acquisition and boosting safety and productivity. Humanoid is developing a modular humanoid robot called HMND 01 for general tasks in warehouses and retail spaces. The robot is designed for seamless integration with human environments. Materials Innovation Factory at the University of Liverpool is using NVIDIA tools and libraries to train a foundations model to predict material properties, as well as train robot scientists using NVIDIA Jetson Orin Nano modules to test these hypotheses within a fully automated lab environment. The National Robotarium, a U.K. hub for robotics innovation, is using NVIDIA robotics and AI frameworks to support cutting-edge, practical research and help early-stage robotics businesses grow. Opteran is creating autonomy algorithms for robots that mirror how the brains of insects and animals process information, harnessing knowledge on 600 million years of evolution to make robotic systems as robust and efficient as nature. Oxa is creating full-stack AI self-driving software for industrial and commercial fleets with the NVIDIA DRIVE platform. The software works in all weather and locations — even where GPS is unreliable. Through its collaboration with NVIDIA, Oxa is able to generate vast amounts of diverse and realistic synthetic data to support training and validation — significantly accelerating the development and deployment of its solutions. Wayve is pioneering end-to-end deep learning for autonomous driving. Its next-generation AV2.0 Platform enables vehicles to quickly and safely adapt its driving intelligence to new, unseen environments without needing expensive sensors and high-definition maps. AI for Life Sciences Many U.K.-based life sciences companies are using NVIDIA technologies to take an AI-first approach to drug discovery, simulating therapies and drug design to achieve faster treatment testing. Basecamp Research’s BaseData — a proprietary evolutionary dataset that’s 10x larger than comparable public sources — is now powering a new generation of large foundation models across diverse biological data types, accelerating the development of curative, programmable medicines. U.K. CEiRSI — the U.K. Centre of Excellence for In-Silico Regulatory Science and Innovation, headquartered at the University of Manchester — is developing complex digital twins with NVIDIA technologies to test new treatments on large and diverse patient populations. Isomorphic Labs has built a leading AI drug design engine comprising foundational AI models that can work across multiple therapeutic areas and drug modalities. Peptone is pioneering a new class of safer, more effective medicines by applying its physics-driven AI platform to unlock the therapeutic potential of the entire proteome, with a focus on historically “undruggable” intrinsically disordered proteins. Latent Labs’ generative AI model, Latent-X, allows scientists to create and test therapeutic molecules in silico, speeding up drug design for researchers. Relation Therapeutics offers a foundational AI platform for target drug discovery, integrating lab-in-the-loop experimentation to understand disease biology and accelerate the discovery and development of new therapies. Hologen AI, a spinout with cofounders from University College London and King’s College London, represents a new breed of AI-native companies — ones harnessing the power of AI to model complex human biology and medical interventions with high precision, making new drugs available for patients rapidly and at lower cost. Oxford Nanopore is delivering information-rich, rapid, affordable and accessible molecular information — such as DNA and RNA sequence data — to scientific researchers, as well as users in clinical, biopharma and applied industrial communities. Agentic and Generative AI Innovations AI model builders and startups are working with NVIDIA to transform the U.K. technology sector with agentic and generative AI tools that advance productivity, from financial large language models to AI voice agents. Aveni created a financial LLM using the NVIDIA NeMo software suite to power its next-generation agentic framework that can interact with live financial systems, communicate with customers and advise on risk outcomes while ensuring compliance, transparency and control. ElevenLabs develops AI voice technology that generates natural, ultrarealistic speech in over 70 languages using NVIDIA software and NVIDIA DGX B200 systems. Its models power real-time conversational agents, localization, storytelling and accessibility tools for people who have lost their voices, in addition to voicing audiobooks and animating video game characters. PolyAI deployed advanced conversational AI agents using NVIDIA Riva automatic speech recognition NVIDIA NIM microservices. The AI agents automate customer support, speak naturally over the phone and handle complex tasks such as authentication, order management, billing and reservations on a massive scale. Recraft is producing state-of-the-art image generation and editing models, built with advanced design capabilities to support professional creative workflows. Recraft is using the NVIDIA TensorRT software development kit, enabling users to generate and edit images and graphics to speed workflows such as producing marketing materials, generating product mockups and editing visual content. Speechmatics developed speech-to-text software using NVIDIA Dynamo-Triton and NVIDIA cuDNN software. Its automatic speech recognition software lets businesses and developers convert spoken language into written text, with support for dozens of languages. Synthesia built an enterprise-focused AI video platform using NVIDIA Dynamo-Triton and other NVIDIA software. With the platform, businesses create professional-quality training, marketing, sales and customer support videos from text, using AI avatars and voiceovers in over 140 languages. Learn more about how NVIDIA is bolstering Europe’s technology ecosystem.

Celtic languages — including Cornish, Irish, Scottish Gaelic and Welsh — are the U.K.’s oldest living languages. To empower their speakers, the UK-LLM sovereign AI initiative is building an AI model based on NVIDIA Nemotron that can reason in both English and Welsh, a language spoken by about 850,000 people in Wales today. Enabling high-quality Read Article

Celtic languages — including Cornish, Irish, Scottish Gaelic and Welsh — are the U.K.’s oldest living languages. To empower their speakers, the UK-LLM sovereign AI initiative is building an AI model based on NVIDIA Nemotron that can reason in both English and Welsh, a language spoken by about 850,000 people in Wales today. Enabling high-quality AI reasoning in Welsh will support the delivery of public services including healthcare, education and legal resources in the language. “I want every corner of the U.K. to be able to harness the benefits of artificial intelligence. By enabling AI to reason in Welsh, we’re making sure that public services — from healthcare to education — are accessible to everyone, in the language they live by,” said U.K. Prime Minister Keir Starmer. “This is a powerful example of how the latest AI technology, trained on the U.K.’s most advanced AI supercomputer in Bristol, can serve the public good, protect cultural heritage and unlock opportunity across the country.” The UK-LLM project, established in 2023 as BritLLM and led by University College London, has previously released two models for U.K. languages. Its new model for Welsh, developed in collaboration with Wales’ Bangor University and NVIDIA, aligns with Welsh government efforts to boost the active use of the language, with the goal of achieving a million speakers by 2050 — an initiative known as Cymraeg 2050. U.K.-based AI cloud provider Nscale will make the new model available to developers through its application programming interface. “The aim is to ensure that Welsh remains a living, breathing language that continues to develop with the times,” said Gruffudd Prys, senior terminologist and head of the Language Technologies Unit at Canolfan Bedwyr, the university’s center for Welsh language services, research and technology. “AI shows enormous potential to help with second-language acquisition of Welsh as well as for enabling native speakers to improve their language skills.” This new model could also boost the accessibility of Welsh resources by enabling public institutions and businesses operating in Wales to translate content or provide bilingual chatbot services. This can help groups including healthcare providers, educators, broadcasters, retailers and restaurant owners ensure their written content is as readily available in Welsh as they are in English. Beyond Welsh, the UK-LLM team aims to apply the same methodology used for its new model to develop AI models for other languages spoken across the U.K. such as Cornish, Irish, Scots and Scottish Gaelic — as well as work with international collaborators to build models for languages from Africa and Southeast Asia. “This collaboration with NVIDIA and Bangor University enabled us to create new training data and train a new model in record time, accelerating our goal to build the best-ever language model for Welsh,” said Pontus Stenetorp, professor of natural language processing and deputy director for the Centre of Artificial Intelligence at University College London. “Our aim is to take the insights gained from the Welsh model and apply them to other minority languages, in the U.K. and across the globe.” Tapping Sovereign AI Infrastructure for Model Development The new model for Welsh is based on NVIDIA Nemotron, a family of open-source models that features open weights, datasets and recipes. The UK-LLM development team has tapped the 49-billion-parameter Llama Nemotron Super model and 9-billion-parameter Nemotron Nano model, post-training them on Welsh-language data. Compared with languages like English or Spanish, there’s less available source data in Welsh for AI training. So to create a sufficiently large Welsh training dataset, the team used NVIDIA NIM microservices for gpt-oss-120b and DeepSeek-R1 to translate NVIDIA Nemotron open datasets with over 30 million entries from English to Welsh. They used a GPU cluster through the NVIDIA DGX Cloud Lepton platform and are harnessing hundreds of NVIDIA GH200 Grace Hopper Superchips on Isambard-AI — the U.K.’s most powerful supercomputer, backed by £225 million in government investment and based at University of Bristol — to accelerate their translation and training workloads. This new dataset supplements existing Welsh data from the team’s previous efforts. Capturing Linguistic Nuances With Careful Evaluation Bangor University, located in Gwynedd — the county with the highest percentage of Welsh speakers — is supporting the new model’s development with linguistic and cultural expertise. Welsh translation of: “The aim is to ensure that Welsh remains a living, breathing language that continues to develop with the times.” — Gruffudd Prys, Bangor University Prys, from the university’s Welsh-language center, brings to the collaboration about two decades of experience with language technology for Welsh. He and his team are helping to verify the accuracy of machine-translated training data and manually translated evaluation data, as well as assess how the model handles nuances of Welsh that AI typically struggles with — such as the way consonants at the beginning of Welsh words change based on neighboring words. The model, as well as the Welsh training and evaluation datasets, are expected to be made available for enterprise and public sector use, supporting additional research, model training and application development. “It’s one thing to have this AI capability exist in Welsh, but it’s another to make it open and accessible for everyone,” Prys said. “That subtle distinction can be the difference between this technology being used or not being used.” Deploy Sovereign AI Models With NVIDIA Nemotron, NIM Microservices The framework used to develop UK-LLM’s model for Welsh can serve as a foundation for multilingual AI development around the world. Benchmark-topping Nemotron models, data and recipes are publicly available for developers to build reasoning models tailored to virtually any language, domain and workflow. Packaged as NVIDIA NIM microservices, Nemotron models are optimized for cost-effective compute and run anywhere, from laptop to cloud. Europe’s enterprises will be able to run open, sovereign models on the Perplexity AI-powered search engine. Get started with NVIDIA Nemotron. Welsh translation: Ymestyn Ar Draws yr Ynysoedd: Mae DU-LLM yn Dod â Deallusrwydd Artiffisial i Ieithoedd y DU Gyda NVIDIA Nemotron Wedi’i hyfforddi ar yr uwch gyfrifiadur Isambard-AI, mae model newydd a ddatblygwyd gan University College London, NVIDIA a Phrifysgol Bangor yn manteisio ar dechnegau a setiau data ffynhonnell agored NVIDIA Nemotron i alluogi rhesymu Deallusrwydd Artiffisial ar gyfer y Gymraeg ac ieithoedd eraill y DU ar gyfer gwasanaethau cyhoeddus gan gynnwys gofal iechyd, addysg ac adnoddau cyfreithiol. Ieithoedd Celtaidd — gan gynnwys Cernyweg, Gwyddeleg, Gaeleg yr Alban a Chymraeg — yw ieithoedd byw hynaf y DU. Er mwyn grymuso eu siaradwyr, mae menter Deallusrwydd Artiffisial sofran y DU-LLM yn adeiladu model Deallusrwydd Artiffisial yn seiliedig ar NVIDIA Nemotron a all resymu yn Saesneg a Chymraeg hefyd, iaith a siaredir gan tua 850,000 o bobl yng Nghymru heddiw. Bydd galluogi rhesymu Deallusrwydd Artiffisial o ansawdd uchel yn y Gymraeg yn cefnogi’r ddarpariaeth o wasanaethau cyhoeddus gan gynnwys gofal iechyd, addysg ac adnoddau cyfreithiol yn yr iaith. “Rwyf am i bob cwr o’r DU allu harneisio manteision deallusrwydd artiffisial. Drwy alluogi deallusrwydd artiffisial i resymu yn y Gymraeg, rydym yn sicrhau bod gwasanaethau cyhoeddus — o ofal iechyd i addysg — yn hygyrch i bawb, yn yr iaith maen nhw’n byw ynddi,” meddai Prif Weinidog y DU, Keir Starmer. “Mae hon yn enghraifft bwerus o sut y gall y dechnoleg dddiweddaraf, wedi’i hyfforddi ar uwch gyfrifiadur deallusrwydd artiffisial mwyaf datblygedig y DU ym Mryste, wasanaethu lles y cyhoedd, amddiffyn treftadaeth ddiwylliannol a datgloi cyfleoedd ledled y wlad.” Mae prosiect DU-LLM, a sefydlwyd yn 2023 fel BritLLM ac a arweinir gan University College London, wedi rhyddhau dau fodel ar gyfer ieithoedd y DU yn flaenorol. Mae ei fodel newydd ar gyfer y Gymraeg, a ddatblygwyd mewn cydweithrediad â Phrifysgol Bangor Cymru ac NVIDIA, yn cyd-fynd ag ymdrechion llywodraeth Cymru i hybu defnydd gweithredol o’r iaith, gyda’r nod o gyflawni miliwn o siaradwyr erbyn 2050 — menter o’r enw Cymraeg 2050. Bydd darparwr cwmwl Deallusrwydd Artiffisial yn y DU, Nscale, yn sicrhau bod y model newydd ar gael i ddatblygwyr trwy ei ryngwyneb rhaglennu rhaglenni (API). “Y nod yw sicrhau bod y Gymraeg yn parhau i fod yn iaith fyw, sy’n anadlu ac sy’n parhau i ddatblygu gyda’r oes,” meddai Gruffudd Prys, uwch derminolegydd a phennaeth yr Uned Technolegau Iaith yng Nghanolfan Bedwyr, canolfan y brifysgol ar gyfer gwasanaethau, ymchwil a thechnoleg y Gymraeg. “Mae deallusrwydd artiffisial yn dangos potensial aruthrol i helpu gyda chaffael y Gymraeg fel ail iaith yn ogystal â galluogi siaradwyr brodorol i wella eu sgiliau iaith.” Gallai’r model newydd hwn hefyd roi hwb i hygyrchedd adnoddau Cymraeg drwy alluogi sefydliadau cyhoeddus a busnesau sy’n gweithredu yng Nghymru i gyfieithu cynnwys neu ddarparu gwasanaethau sgwrsfot dwyieithog. Gall hyn helpu grwpiau gan gynnwys darparwyr gofal iechyd, addysgwyr, darlledwyr, manwerthwyr a pherchnogion bwytai i sicrhau bod eu cynnwys ysgrifenedig yr un mor hawdd ar gael yn y Gymraeg ag y mae yn Saesneg. Y tu hwnt i’r Gymraeg, mae tîm y DU-LLM yn anelu at gymhwyso’r un fethodoleg a ddefnyddiwyd ar gyfer ei fodel newydd i ddatblygu modelau Deallusrwydd Artiffisial ar gyfer ieithoedd eraill a siaredir ledled y DU fel Cernyweg, Gwyddeleg, Sgoteg a Gaeleg yr Alban — yn ogystal â gweithio gyda chydweithwyr rhyngwladol i adeiladu modelau ar gyfer ieithoedd o Affrica a De-ddwyrain Asia. “Mae’r cydweithrediad hwn gydag NVIDIA a Phrifysgol Bangor wedi ein galluogi i greu data hyfforddi newydd a hyfforddi model newydd mewn amser record, gan gyflymu ein nod o adeiladu’r model iaith gorau erioed ar gyfer y Gymraeg,” meddai Pontus Stenetorp, yr athro prosesu iaith naturiol a dirprwy gyfarwyddwr y Ganolfan Deallusrwydd Artiffisial yn University College London. “Ein nod yw cymryd y mewnwelediadau a gafwyd o’r model Cymraeg a’u cymhwyso i ieithoedd lleiafrifol eraill, yn y DU ac ar draws y byd. Manteisio ar Seilwaith Deallusrwydd Artiffisial Sofran ar gyfer Datblygu Model Mae’r model newydd ar gyfer y Gymraeg yn seiliedig ar NVIDIA Nemotron, teulu o fodelau ffynhonnell agored sy’n cynnwys pwysau, setiau data a ryseitiau agored.Mae’r tîm datblygu DU-LLM wedi manteisio ar fodel 49-biliwn-paramedr Llama Nemotron Super a model 9-biliwn-paramedr Nemotron Nano, gan eu hôl hyfforddi ar ddata iaith Gymraeg. O’i gymharu ag ieithoedd fel Saesneg neu Sbaeneg, mae llai o ddata ffynhonnell ar gael yn y Gymraeg ar gyfer hyfforddiant Deallusrwydd Artiffisial. Felly, er mwyn creu set ddata hyfforddi Cymraeg ddigon mawr, defnyddiodd y tîm ficrowasanaethau NVIDIA NIM ar gyfer gpt-oss-120b a DeepSeek-R1 i gyfieithu setiau data agored NVIDIA gyda dros 30 miliwn o gofnodion o’r Saesneg i’r Gymraeg. Defnyddion nhw glwstwr GPU drwy blatfform NVIDIA DGX Cloud Lepton ac yn harneisio cannoedd o Uwchsglodion NVIDIA GH200 Grace Hopper ar Isambard-AI — uwchgyfrifiadur mwyaf pwerus y DU, gyda chefnogaeth £225 miliwn o fuddsoddiad gan y llywodraeth ac wedi’i leoli ym Mhrifysgol Bryste — i gyflymu eu llwythi gwaith cyfieithu a hyfforddi. Mae’r set ddata newydd hon yn ategu data presennol yr iaith Gymraeg o ymdrechion blaenorol y tîm. Cipio Naws Ieithyddol Gyda Gwerthusiad Gofalus Mae Prifysgol Bangor, sydd wedi’i lleoli yng Ngwynedd — y sir gyda’r ganran uchaf o siaradwyr Cymraegs — yn cefnogi datblygiad y model newydd gydag arbenigedd ieithyddol a diwylliannol. Mae Prys, o ganolfan Gymraeg y brifysgol, yn dod â thua dau ddegawd o brofiad gyda thechnoleg iaith ar gyfer y Gymraeg i’r cydweithrediad. Mae ef a’i dîm yn helpu i wirio cywirdeb data hyfforddi a gyfieithir gan beiriannau a data gwerthuso a gyfieithir â llaw, yn ogystal ag asesu sut mae’r model yn ymdrin â naws Gymraeg y mae Deallusrwydd Artiffisial fel arfer yn cael trafferth â nhw — megis y ffordd y mae cytseiniaid ar ddechrau geiriau Cymraeg yn newid yn seiliedig ar eiriau cyfagos. Disgwylir i’r model, yn ogystal â’r setiau data hyfforddiant a gwerthuso’r Gymraeg, fod ar gael i fentrau a’r sector cyhoeddus eu defnyddio, gan gefnogi ymchwil ychwanegol, hyfforddiant modelu a datblygu rhaglenni. “Mae’n un peth cael y gallu Deallusrwydd Artiffisial hwn yn bodoli yn y Gymraeg, ond mae’n beth arall ei wneud yn agored ac yn hygyrch i bawb,” meddai Prys. “Gall y gwahaniaeth cynnil hwnnw fod y gwahaniaeth rhwng y dechnoleg hon yn cael ei defnyddio ai peidio.” Defnyddio Modelau Deallusrwydd Artiffisial Sofran Gyda NVIDIA Nemotron, Microwasanaethau NIM Gall y fframwaith a ddefnyddiwyd i ddatblygu model DU-LLM ar gyfer y Gymraeg fod yn sylfaen ar gyfer datblygu Deallusrwydd Artiffisial amlieithog ledled y byd. Mae modelau, data a ryseitiau Nemotron, sy’n cyrraedd y brig, ar gael yn gyhoeddus i ddatblygwyr er mwyn iddynt adeiladu modelau rhesymu sydd wedi’u teilwra i bron unrhyw iaith, parth a llif gwaith. Wedi’u pecynnu fel microgwasanaethau NVIDIA NIM, mae modelau Nemotron wedi’u hoptimeiddio ar gyfer cyfrifiadura cost-effeithiol a rhedeg yn unrhyw le, o liniadur i’r cwmwl. Bydd mentrau Ewrop yn gallu rhedeg modelau agored, sofran ar y peiriant chwilio Perplexity wedi’i bweru gan Ddeallusrwydd Artiffisial. Dewch i ddechrau arni gyda NVIDIA Nemotron.

GeForce NOW Blackwell RTX 5080-class SuperPODs are now rolling out, unlocking a new level of ultra high-performance, cinematic cloud gaming. GeForce NOW Ultimate members will see GeForce RTX 5080 performance arriving to a server near them, enabling even richer experiences in blockbuster titles like DUNE: Awakening, Borderlands 4, Hell Is Us, Dying Light: The Beast, Read Article

GeForce NOW Blackwell RTX 5080-class SuperPODs are now rolling out, unlocking a new level of ultra high-performance, cinematic cloud gaming. GeForce NOW Ultimate members will see GeForce RTX 5080 performance arriving to a server near them, enabling even richer experiences in blockbuster titles like DUNE: Awakening, Borderlands 4, Hell Is Us, Dying Light: The Beast, Cronos: The New Dawn, Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 and more. They all come with breathtaking graphics and lowest-latency gameplay, thanks to NVIDIA DLSS 4 technology and next-generation AI features. Experience the new Cinematic-Quality Streaming mode for stunning color and fidelity across the latest devices. Look at all the room for activities gaming. The new Install-to-Play feature is expanding the cloud library to nearly 4,500 games for Ultimate and Performance members. This week kicks it off with three new games, including the launch of Borderlands 4. GeForce NOW is the ultimate way to play the Borderlands franchise’s latest entry — free with the purchase of a new 12-month Ultimate membership bundle. Make sure to follow along on GFN Thursdays for server updates. Blackwell to the Future Game-changer. The future of cloud gaming has arrived. With the NVIDIA Blackwell RTX upgrade, GeForce NOW brings GeForce RTX 5080-class performance to the cloud for the first time. Ultimate members can harness DLSS 4 Multi-Frame Generation, cutting-edge AI enhancements and ultralow click-to-pixel latency, enabling up to 5K at 120 frames per second for premium, responsive gameplay. Members will also see the GeForce NOW library instantly double. Over 2,200 Steam titles opted in by publishers for cloud streaming are hitting the cloud today, with more to come, letting members build and manage their own cloud gaming library. Alongside new Install-to-Play titles, GeForce NOW will continue to roll out ready-to-play titles each week. Coming to a zone near you. NVIDIA Blackwell RTX servers are starting to power up worldwide, so more members can start streaming with unprecedented performance on virtually any device, including PCs, Macs, Chromebooks, LG TVs (4K at 120Hz) and even Steam Decks (now up to 90 fps). Keep an eye on GFN Thursday updates and check the server rollout webpage for new regions going live. Ultimate members will soon see GeForce RTX 5080 performance in their area, with AAA titles like DUNE: Awakening, Borderlands 4, Hell Is Us, Dying Light: The Beast, Cronos: The New Dawn, Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 and more playable at ultimate quality. Look for the new “GeForce RTX 5080 Ready” row in the app for the full list of GeForce RTX 5080-optimized games, updated weekly with fresh additions. New row, who ‘dis? Don’t let this cloud pass by. The Blackwell RTX upgrade is ready for gamers to secure their spots — no downloads, no hardware upgrades, just next-level gaming for the same $19.99 per month. Or members can choose to subscribe to the 12-month membership for $199.99 — providing more value at less than $17 a month. Break Free With ‘Borderlands 4’ Welcome to Border-LOL-lands. Get ready for a blast of chaos, color and fun as Borderlands 4 launches on GeForce NOW. The galaxy’s wildest looter shooter is back, sending four new Vault Hunters on a loot-crazed rampage jam-packed with quippy dialogue and sci-fi shenanigans, all wrapped in the franchise’s signature mayhem. Gameplay turns the dial to 11 with new double jumps, dashes, grappling hooks and air-glide moves that make every firefight a circus act. Experience a world with sprawling landscapes and nonstop dynamic events. Build the perfect Vault Hunter with deep skill trees and use different weapons — each with unique behaviors and effects, now with a revamped loot system where every Legendary feels special. Play it solo or with up to three friends. Play the frantic co-op looter shooter on GeForce NOW with the NVIDIA Blackwell RTX upgrade for cinematic-quality visuals, ultrafast load times and stunning performance. Enjoy NVIDIA DLSS 4-fueled graphics and low-latency gameplay streaming from GeForce RTX 5080 gaming rigs in the cloud. The cloud is the best way to play. The title lands in the cloud on Thursday, Sept. 11. Gamers who upgrade to or purchase a 12-month GeForce NOW Ultimate membership — between now and Tuesday, Sept. 25 — will get the title for free, available to play as soon as it launches. Unleash chaos across the galaxy with outrageous weapons, irreverent humor and the signature co-op action that makes this iconic looter-shooter franchise a fan favorite. Game On Set sail for moonlit mystery in Nod-Krai. Genshin Impact “Version Luna I: Song of the Welkin Moon” is available to play instantly on GeForce NOW — no need to wait for downloads or updates. Head on a new adventure through the magical new region of Nod-Krai, where the story, exploration and battles are all shaped by the mysterious power of the moon. Play as three new characters — animal-loving Lauma, energetic Flins and inventive Aino — as they face off against rival factions, unravel secrets and wield creative new abilities in a world full of quirky creatures and vibrant islands. Plus, anniversary rewards await for everyone who jumps in. In addition, members can look for the following: Firefighting Simulator: Ignite (New release on Steam, Sept. 9) Borderlands 4 (New release on Steam and Epic Games Store, Sept. 11) Professional Fishing 2 (New release on Steam, Sept. 11) What are you planning to play this weekend? Let us know on X or in the comments below. Keep your responses coming—win this bundle! Steam Deck, @ASUS ROG Swift 27" 4K 240Hz G-SYNC Monitor, @Logitech G920 racing wheel, & more! How to enter: 1. Follow @NVIDIAGFN 2. Reply using #BlackwellonGFN 3. Share: What device are you turning into an RTX 5080 GPU? pic.twitter.com/TwSpTyFUze — NVIDIA GeForce NOW (@NVIDIAGFN) September 8, 2025

At this week’s IAA Mobility conference in Munich, NVIDIA Vice President of Automotive Ali Kani outlined how cloud-to-car AI platforms are bringing new levels of safety, intelligence and trust to the road. NVIDIA and its partners didn’t just show off cars at the conference — they showed off what cars are becoming: AI-defined machines, built Read Article

At this week’s IAA Mobility conference in Munich, NVIDIA Vice President of Automotive Ali Kani outlined how cloud-to-car AI platforms are bringing new levels of safety, intelligence and trust to the road. NVIDIA and its partners didn’t just show off cars at the conference — they showed off what cars are becoming: AI-defined machines, built as much in the data center as they are in the factory. Kani framed this shift during his IAA keynote today: vehicles are moving from being dependent on horsepower to compute power, from mechanical systems to software stacks. In Germany and around the world, automotive engineering is now infused with silicon acceleration, as automakers and suppliers adopt NVIDIA’s cloud-to-car platform to drive safety, intelligence and efficiency into tomorrow’s vehicles. NVIDIA is the only company that offers an end-to-end compute stack for autonomous driving. Its three AI compute platforms critical for autonomy are: NVIDIA DGX for training AI in data centers NVIDIA Omniverse and Cosmos to simulate worlds and generate synthetic data for testing and validation NVIDIA DRIVE AGX in-vehicle computers to process sensor data in real time Together, these platforms form a feedback loop for learning, testing and deployment that tightens the cycle of innovation while keeping safety front and center. It’s All About Safety: NVIDIA Halos Sets the Standard Safety is a core theme at IAA. NVIDIA Halos is a full-stack, comprehensive safety system that unifies vehicle architecture, AI models, chips, software, tools and services to ensure the safe development of autonomous vehicles, from cloud to car. NVIDIA Halos brings together safety-assessed systems-on-a-chip, the safety-certified NVIDIA DriveOS operating system and the DRIVE AGX Hyperion architecture into a unified platform for autonomous driving. This platform is backed by the NVIDIA Halos Certified Program and its AI Systems Inspection Lab, which deliver rigorous validation to ensure real-time AI operates with end-to-end reliability. With AI-driven workflows and high-fidelity sensor simulations built with NVIDIA Omniverse and Cosmos, automakers can train, test and safely validate vehicle performance — even under conditions that are hard to experiment with in the real world, such as rare or hazardous traffic situations and edge-case events, and in complex environments. Simulation tools are increasingly critical for advancing safe, scalable autonomous vehicle development. The popular autonomous driving simulator CARLA now integrates the NVIDIA Cosmos Transfer world foundation model, along with NVIDIA Omniverse NuRec reconstruction libraries, to bring diverse, high-fidelity simulations directly into autonomous vehicle testing pipelines. Capgemini and TCS are already tapping into this integration to expand their simulation capabilities and push the boundaries of software-defined vehicle development. Expanding the Ecosystem: Automotive Leaders Embrace Cloud-to-Car AI Automotive leaders are embracing NVIDIA’s cloud-to-car AI platform to transform their next-generation vehicles. Lucid headlined the IAA showcase with its all-electric Lucid Gravity SUV, which is accelerated by the NVIDIA DRIVE AGX platform, uses the NVIDIA Blackwell architecture and operates on NVIDIA DriveOS. Mercedes-Benz introduced its all-new GLC with EQ-technology and announced expansions to its CLA family with the first fully electric shooting brake — all built on NVIDIA AI, DRIVE AV software and accelerated compute. Lotus is featuring the all-electric Eletre SUV, the hyper-GT Emeya and the Theory 1 concept — all accelerated by NVIDIA DRIVE AGX to deliver high-performance, AI-driven functions for intelligent and safer mobility. ZYT is showcasing its autonomous vehicle software platforms built on NVIDIA DRIVE AGX, highlighting how this advanced technology accelerates safer and smarter mobility. Volvo Cars highlighted its ES90 Single Motor Extended Range Ultra and EX90 Twin Motor Performance Ultra models, equipped with enhanced safety and driver-assistance capabilities and powered by NVIDIA DRIVE AGX and DriveOS for improved AI performance and safety. XPENG showcased how NVIDIA DRIVE AGX underpins its G6, G9 and X9 models, delivering XPILOT smart driving assistance, advanced autonomy and intelligent cockpit features. Global Tech Leaders Accelerate Software-Defined Vehicles With NVIDIA Beyond automakers, technology leaders across the globe are building on NVIDIA AI to accelerate the development of software-defined vehicles. MediaTek is working closely with NVIDIA to bring GPU-powered intelligence into its Dimensity Auto Cockpit solutions, enabling advanced in-car experiences through premium graphics and intelligent assistants. ThunderSoft introduced its new AI Box built on DRIVE AGX, designed to run large-scale AI models for intelligent cockpits. The AI Box is complete with personalized copilots, safety monitoring and immersive cabin experiences. Cerence is presenting its xUI AI assistant at IAA, built on CaLLM models and running on NVIDIA DRIVE AGX with DriveOS. With NVIDIA NeMo Guardrails, it ensures safe, context-aware, brand-specific voice interactions across both edge and cloud. ZF Group is showcasing its ProAI supercomputer accelerated by NVIDIA DRIVE AGX. The supercomputer unifies advanced driver-assistance systems, automated driving or chassis control into a scalable architecture to unlock capabilities, from entry-level deployments to full autonomy. RoboSense is integrating its high-performance automotive-grade digital lidar with the DRIVE AGX platform, enhancing system performance, while Desay SV is showcasing its NVIDIA DRIVE Thor-based domain controller, a next-generation smart mobility solution shaped by advanced AI. Magna is showcasing its future-ready, centralized advanced driver-assistance system platform designed for flexibility and scalability. This advanced system integrates a comprehensive suite of sensors, accelerated by NVIDIA DRIVE AGX Thor. Watch Kani’s IAA keynote to see how NVIDIA is accelerating the future of autonomous driving with a cloud-to-car platform. Plus, watch the session on generative and agentic AI in the automotive industry by Sri Subramanian, global head of generative AI, automotive, at NVIDIA, as well as the session on industrial AI for the automotive industry by Norm Marks, vice president of automotive enterprise at NVIDIA. Learn more about NVIDIA’s work in autonomous vehicles and the NVIDIA automotive partner ecosystem. Follow NVIDIA DRIVE on LinkedIn and X.

Inference performance is critical, as it directly influences the economics of an AI factory. The higher the throughput of AI factory infrastructure, the more tokens it can produce at a high speed — increasing revenue, driving down total cost of ownership (TCO) and enhancing the system’s overall productivity. Less than half a year since its Read Article

Inference performance is critical, as it directly influences the economics of an AI factory. The higher the throughput of AI factory infrastructure, the more tokens it can produce at a high speed — increasing revenue, driving down total cost of ownership (TCO) and enhancing the system’s overall productivity. Less than half a year since its debut at NVIDIA GTC, the NVIDIA GB300 NVL72 rack-scale system — powered by the NVIDIA Blackwell Ultra architecture — set records on the new reasoning inference benchmark in MLPerf Inference v5.1, delivering up to 45% more DeepSeek-R1 inference throughput compared with NVIDIA Blackwell-based GB200 NVL72 systems. Blackwell Ultra builds on the success of the Blackwell architecture, with the Blackwell Ultra architecture featuring 1.5x more NVFP4 AI compute and 2x more attention-layer acceleration than Blackwell, as well as up to 288GB of HBM3e memory per GPU. The NVIDIA platform also set performance records on all new data center benchmarks added to the MLPerf Inference v5.1 suite — including DeepSeek-R1, Llama 3.1 405B Interactive, Llama 3.1 8B and Whisper — while continuing to hold per-GPU records on every MLPerf data center benchmark. Stacking It All Up Full-stack co-design plays an important role in delivering these latest benchmark results. Blackwell and Blackwell Ultra incorporate hardware acceleration for the NVFP4 data format — an NVIDIA-designed 4-bit floating point format that provides better accuracy compared with other FP4 formats, as well as comparable accuracy to higher-precision formats. NVIDIA TensorRT Model Optimizer software quantized DeepSeek-R1, Llama 3.1 405B, Llama 2 70B and Llama 3.1 8B to NVFP4. In concert with the open-source NVIDIA TensorRT-LLM library, this optimization enabled Blackwell and Blackwell Ultra to deliver higher performance while meeting strict accuracy requirements in submissions. Large language model inference consists of two workloads with distinct execution characteristics: 1) context for processing user input to produce the first output token and 2) generation to produce all subsequent output tokens. A technique called disaggregated serving splits context and generation tasks so each part can be optimized independently for best overall throughput. This technique was key to record-setting performance on the Llama 3.1 405B Interactive benchmark, helping to deliver a nearly 50% increase in performance per GPU with GB200 NVL72 systems compared with each Blackwell GPU in an NVIDIA DGX B200 server running the benchmark with traditional serving. NVIDIA also made its first submissions this round using the NVIDIA Dynamo inference framework. NVIDIA partners — including cloud service providers and server makers — submitted great results using the NVIDIA Blackwell and/or Hopper platform. These partners include Azure, Broadcom, Cisco, CoreWeave, Dell Technologies, Giga Computing, HPE, Lambda, Lenovo, Nebius, Oracle, Quanta Cloud Technology, Supermicro and the University of Florida. The market-leading inference performance on the NVIDIA AI platform is available from major cloud providers and server makers. This translates to lower TCO and enhanced return on investment for organizations deploying sophisticated AI applications. Learn more about these full-stack technologies by reading the NVIDIA Technical Blog on MLPerf Inference v5.1. Plus, visit the NVIDIA DGX Cloud Performance Explorer to learn more about NVIDIA performance, model TCO and generate custom reports.

At this week’s AI Infrastructure Summit in Silicon Valley, NVIDIA’s VP of Accelerated Computing Ian Buck unveiled a bold new vision: the transformation of traditional data centers into fully integrated AI factories. As part of this initiative, NVIDIA is developing reference designs to be shared with partners and enterprises worldwide — offering an NVIDIA Omniverse Read Article

At this week’s AI Infrastructure Summit in Silicon Valley, NVIDIA’s VP of Accelerated Computing Ian Buck unveiled a bold new vision: the transformation of traditional data centers into fully integrated AI factories. As part of this initiative, NVIDIA is developing reference designs to be shared with partners and enterprises worldwide — offering an NVIDIA Omniverse Blueprint for building high-performance, energy-efficient infrastructure optimized for the age of AI reasoning. Already, NVIDIA is collaborating with scores of companies across every layer of the stack, from building design and grid integration to power, cooling and orchestration. It’s a natural evolution for the company, scaling beyond chips and systems into a new class of industrial products — so complex and interconnected that no single player can build them alone. NVIDIA, along with a deep bench of industrial and technology partners, is reactivating decades of infrastructure expertise to build this new class of AI factories. Among those partners, Jacobs serves as the design integrator, helping to coordinate the physical and digital layers of the infrastructure to ensure seamless orchestration. The embodiment of the reference design will be a digital twin of the AI factory. This digital twin integrates the IT systems inside the data center with the operational technology for power and cooling systems inside and outside the data center. The new initiative expands the digital twin to integrate local power generation, energy storage systems, cooling technology and AI agents for operations. Longtime collaborators in power and cooling — Schneider Electric, Siemens and Vertiv — have been instrumental in shaping resilient, high-efficiency environments tailored for AI-scale workloads. Siemens and Siemens Energy plays a critical role in on-premises power delivery, supporting the need for rapidly deployable, continuous power to meet the gigawatt-scale energy demands of these facilities. GE Vernova collaborates in power generation and electrification to the rack. These companies, along with a growing ecosystem of specialists in infrastructure design and simulation, and orchestration — including Cadence, Emerald AI, E Tech Group, phaidra.ai, PTC, Schneider Electric with ETAP, Siemens and Vertech — are helping NVIDIA activate a system-level transformation. At the heart of this vision lies a fundamental challenge: how to optimize every watt of energy that enters the facility so that it contributes directly to intelligence generation. In today’s data center paradigm, buildings are often designed independently of the compute platforms they house, leading to inefficiencies in power distribution, cooling and system orchestration. NVIDIA and its partners are flipping that model. By designing the infrastructure and technology stack in tandem, the company enables true system-level optimization — where power, cooling, compute and software are engineered as a unified whole. Simulation plays a central role in this shift. Companies will be able to share simulation-ready assets, allowing designers to model components in Omniverse using AI factory digital twins even before they’re physically available. These digital twins not only optimize AI factories before they’re built — they also help manage them once they’re operational. By adopting the OpenUSD framework, the simulation platform can accurately model every aspect of a facility’s operations, from power and cooling to networking infrastructure. This open and extensible approach allows for the creation of physically accurate assets, which in turn leads to the design of smarter, more reliable facilities. And the complexity doesn’t stop at the facility walls. AI factories must be plugged into broader systems — power grids, water supplies and transportation networks — that require careful coordination and simulation throughout their lifecycle to ensure reliability and scalability. This work has already begun. Earlier this year, NVIDIA introduced an Omniverse Blueprint for AI factory digital twins. This blueprint connects platforms like Cadence and ETAP, allowing partners to plug in their core tools to model gigawatt-scale facilities before a single physical AI factory site has even been selected. More recently, the company expanded its ecosystem with integrations from Delta, Jacobs, Siemens and Siemens Energy, enabling unified simulation of power, cooling and networking systems. When this blueprint is complete next year, it will allow partners to plug into the system via application programming interfaces and simulation-ready digital assets, enabling real-time collaboration and orchestration across the entire lifecycle — from design to deployment to operation. Thanks to this work, where traditional facilities operated in isolation, AI factories will be designed for composability, resilience and scale. Call to Action: Join developers, industry leaders, and innovators at NVIDIA GTC Washington, D.C., to explore the latest breakthroughs in AI infrastructure and learn from expert sessions, hands-on training, and partner showcases. See notice regarding software product information.

ComfyUI — an open-source, node-based graphical interface for running and building generative AI workflows for content creation — published major updates this past month, including up to 40% performance improvements for NVIDIA RTX GPUs, and support for new AI models including Wan 2.2, Qwen-Image, FLUX.1 Krea [dev] and Hunyuan3D 2.1. NVIDIA also released NVIDIA TensorRT-optimized Read Article

ComfyUI — an open-source, node-based graphical interface for running and building generative AI workflows for content creation — published major updates this past month, including up to 40% performance improvements for NVIDIA RTX GPUs, and support for new AI models including Wan 2.2, Qwen-Image, FLUX.1 Krea [dev] and Hunyuan3D 2.1. NVIDIA also released NVIDIA TensorRT-optimized versions of popular diffusion models like Stable Diffusion 3.5 and FLUX.1 Kontext as NVIDIA NIM microservices, allowing users to run these models in ComfyUI up to 3x faster and with 50% less VRAM. Plus, an update to NVIDIA RTX Remix — a platform that lets modders remaster classic games — launched today, adding an advanced path-traced particle system that delivers stunning visuals to breathe new life into classic titles. ComfyUI v3.57 Gets a Performance Boost With RTX NVIDIA has collaborated with ComfyUI to boost AI model performance by up to 40%. To put this in perspective, GPU generation upgrades typically only deliver a 20-30% performance boost. Measured on a GeForce RTX 5090 with Intel Core i9 14900K. All models run on ComfyUI using 20 steps at 1024×1024 resolution. Developers interested in optimizing performance and efficiency of diffusion models on their apps can read more on how NVIDIA helps accelerate these workloads in the developer forum. State-of-the-Art AI Models, Accelerated by RTX Incredible models for AI content creation have been released in the last weeks, all of which are now available in ComfyUI. Wan 2.2 is a new video model that provides incredible quality and control for video generation on PCs. It’s the latest model from Wan AI — a creative AI platform offering an impressive lineup of AI models, including Text to Image, Text to Video, Image to Video and Speech to Video. GeForce RTX and NVIDIA RTX PRO GPUs are the only GPUs capable of running Wan 2.2 14B models in ComfyUI without major delays in output. Check out the example below created with the single prompt: “A robot is cracking an egg, but accidentally hits it outside the bowl.” Qwen-Image is a new image generation foundation model from Alibaba that achieves significant advances in complex text rendering and precise image editing. It excels at rendering complex text, handling intricate editing and maintaining both semantic and visual accuracy in generated images. The model runs 7x faster on a GeForce RTX 5090 vs. Apple M3 Ultra. Qwen-Image excels in text generation across numerous languages, as well as image generation. Black Forest Labs’ new FLUX.1 Krea [dev] AI model is the open-weight version of Krea 1, offering strong performance and trained to generate more realistic, diverse images that don’t contain oversaturated textures. Black Forest Labs calls the model “opinionated,” as it offers a wide variety of diverse, visually interesting images. This model runs 8x faster on a GeForce RTX 5090 vs. Apple M3 Ultra. Black Forest Labs’ new FLUX.1 Krea [dev] model offers more realistic, diverse imagery. Hunyuan3D 2.1 is a fully open-source, production-ready 3D generative system that transforms input images or text into high-fidelity 3D assets enriched with physically based rendering materials. Core components include a 3.3-billion-parameter model for shape generation and a 2-billion-parameter model for texture analysis to quickly generate more realistic materials. It all runs faster on Blackwell RTX GPUs. Go from image to 3D model quickly with Hunyuan3D 2.1. Get Started With Advanced Visual Generative Techniques Visual generative AI is a powerful tool, but getting started can be difficult even for technical experts and learning to use more advanced techniques typically takes months. ComfyUI makes it easy to get started with advanced workflows by providing templates or preset nodes that achieve a specific task, like keeping a character constant throughout different generations, adjusting the light of an image or loading a fine-tuning. This allows even non-technical artists to easily use advanced AI workflows. These are 10 key techniques to get started with generative AI: Guide video generation by defining the start frame and end frame: Upload a start and end frame, as well as how a video clip should begin and end. Wan 2.2 can then generate a smooth, animated transition, filling the in-between frames to create a coherent animation. It’s ideal for making animations, scene shifts or defining poses. Edit images with natural language: Use FLUX.1 [dev] KONTEXT to edit specific text sections of an image. Upscale images or videos: Take image or video at a lower resolution and increase its resolution and detail quality by adding realistic, high-frequency details. Control area composition: Assume more granular control over image generation by controlling the arrangement and layout of visual elements within specific regions of an image. Restyle images: Use FLUX Redux to create different variations of images while preserving core visual elements and details. Tap image-to-multiview-to-3D models: Use multiple images of an object captured from different angles to create a high-fidelity, textured 3D model. Transform sound to video: Create video clips or animations directly from audio inputs such as speech, music or environmental sounds. Control video trajectory: Automatically guide the motion of objects, camera or scenes within videos. Edit images with inpainting: Fill in or alter missing or unwanted parts of a digital image in a visually seamless, contextually consistent way with surrounding areas. Expand the canvas with outpainting: Generate new image content to extend the boundaries of an existing image or video footage, add detail to cropped sections or complete a scene. Follow ComfyUI on X for updates to creative templates and workflows. Expand Your ComfyUI Zone ComfyUI plug-ins enable users to add generative AI workflows into their existing applications. The ComfyUI community has started building plug-ins for some of the top popular creative applications. The Adobe Photoshop plug-in complements Photoshop’s native Firefly models by allowing users to run their own flows and select specialized models for specific tasks. Local inference also enables unlimited generative fill with low latency. The Blender plug-in — featured in the NVIDIA AI Blueprint for 3D-guided generative AI — allows users to connect 2D and 3D workflows. Artists can use 3D scenes to control image generations or create textures in ComfyUI and apply them to separate 3D assets. The Foundry Nuke plug-in — similar to the Blender — enables a connection between 2D and 3D workflows so users don’t have to alt-tab and swap between applications. The Unreal Engine plug-in enables ComfyUI nodes directly in the Unreal Engine user interface to quickly create and refine textures for scenes using generative diffusion models. See the example below. Run Hyper-Optimized Models for NVIDIA RTX GPUs in ComfyUI The best way to use NVIDIA RTX GPUs is with the TensorRT library — a high-performance deep learning inference engine designed to squeeze maximum speed out of the Tensor Cores in NVIDIA RTX GPUs. NVIDIA has collaborated with the top AI labs to integrate TensorRT in their models, such as Black Forest Labs’ models and Stability AI’s models. These models are also available quantized — a compressed version of the network that uses 50-70% less VRAM and offers up to 2x faster inference while maintaining similar quality. TensorRT-optimized models can be run directly in ComfyUI through the TensorRT node, which currently supports SDXL, SD3 and SD3.5, as well as FLUX.1-dev and FLUX.1-schnell models. The node converts the AI model into a TensorRT-optimized model, and then generates a TensorRT-optimized engine for the user’s GPU — a map of how to execute that model with optimal efficiency for their particular hardware — providing significant speedups. Quantizing models, however, takes a bit more work. For users interested in running quantized and TensorRT-optimized models, NVIDIA offers preconfigured files in a simple container called a NIM microservice. Users can use the NIM node in ComfyUI to load these containers and use quantized versions of models like FLUX.1-dev, FLUX.1-schnell, FLUX.1 Kontext, SD3.5 Large and Microsoft TRELLIS. Remix Update Adds a Path-Traced Particle System A new RTX Remix update released today through the NVIDIA app, adding an advanced particle system that enables modders to enhance traditional fire and smoke effects, as well as more fantastical effects, like those in the video game Portal. With RTX Remix, legacy particles from classic games could be interpreted as path-traced, enabling them to cast realistic light to enhance the appearance of many scenes. But ultimately, these particles were still over 20 years old, lacking detail, flair and fluid animations. RTX Remix’s new particles have physically accurate properties and can interact with a game’s lighting and other effects. This enables particles to collide, accurately move in response to wind and other forces, be reflected on surfaces, cast shadows and assign their own shadows. For a complete breakdown of the new particle system, read the GeForce article. Each week, the RTX AI Garage blog series features community-driven AI innovations and content for those looking to learn more about NVIDIA NIM microservices and AI Blueprints, as well as building AI agents, creative workflows, productivity apps and more on AI PCs and workstations. Plug in to NVIDIA AI PC on Facebook, Instagram, TikTok and X — and stay informed by subscribing to the RTX AI PC newsletter. Join NVIDIA’s Discord server to connect with community developers and AI enthusiasts for discussions on what’s possible with RTX AI. Follow NVIDIA Workstation on LinkedIn and X. See notice regarding software product information.

The Jülich Supercomputing Centre’s JUPITER — Europe’s first exascale supercomputer — is officially live.

NVIDIA today announced new AI education support for K-12 programs at a White House event to celebrate public-private partnerships that advance artificial intelligence education for America’s youth. The commitment comes after recent NVIDIA announcements to support AI education and academic research, including a $30 million contribution to the National AI Intelligence Research pilot and a Read Article

NVIDIA today announced new AI education support for K-12 programs at a White House event to celebrate public-private partnerships that advance artificial intelligence education for America’s youth. The commitment comes after recent NVIDIA announcements to support AI education and academic research, including a $30 million contribution to the National AI Intelligence Research pilot and a U.S. National Science Foundation partnership in support of academic research. Over the last five years, NVIDIA has invested $125 million in higher education and academic research in the United States. Pledging $25 million in support with AI education programs, NVIDIA is partnering with Study Fetch and CK-12 — two leading K-12 learning platforms — to tailor the NVIDIA Deep Learning Institute (DLI) and NVIDIA Academy content offerings to meet the instructional needs of U.S. K-12 classrooms. The NVIDIA effort aligns with the White House executive order Advancing Artificial Intelligence Education for American Youth, announced in April. Additionally, in support of the executive order, NVIDIA signed the White House’s Pledge to America’s Youth: Investing in AI Education, committing to delivering AI literacy, credentialing and educator enablement. Supporting America’s Educators in Driving AI Literacy In the first year, NVIDIA will support curriculum adaptation, platform integration, educator training, institutional engagement and ecosystem-wide outreach. The NVIDIA DLI program integrations with Study Fetch and CK-12 will make available NVIDIA’s industry-leading training materials to help empower high school educators in applying DLI Teaching Kits. NVIDIA DLI courses are geared toward teaching professional skills to developers. NVIDIA is partnering with Study Fetch and CK-12, which will curate the course material content for high school students to get hands-on experience with AI, aiming to spark curiosity, build practical skills and prepare the next generation of job seekers to thrive in the AI-driven economy. The NVIDIA partnership aims to reach 1 million K-12 students within three years. Preparing the Next Generation for AI Leadership The White House initiative and NVIDIA commitments are united on a central mission to drive American leadership in AI. Winning the AI Race: America’s AI Action Plan was announced in July by the White House, supported with executive orders to accelerate federal permitting of data center infrastructure and promote exportation of the American AI technology stack. Aligned with the White House AI Action Plan, NVIDIA and the U.S. National Science Foundation recently committed $152 million in support to Ai2 for the development of open AI models to drive U.S. academic and nonprofit scientific leadership.

AI agents are expected to be involved in most business tasks within three years, with effective human-agent collaboration projected to increase human engagement in high-value tasks by 65%.

Editor’s note: This post is part of the AI On blog series, which explores the latest techniques and real-world applications of agentic AI, chatbots and copilots. The series also highlights the NVIDIA software and hardware powering advanced AI agents, which form the foundation of AI query engines that gather insights and perform tasks to transform everyday experiences and reshape industries. AI agents are expected to be involved in most business tasks within three years, with effective human-agent collaboration projected to increase human engagement in high-value tasks by 65%. AI agents can help achieve and exceed efficiency goals as they learn, reason and adjust based on context and outcomes. As they become increasingly central to business strategies, understanding where they deliver impact and justify investment is essential for leaders. Here are six ways agentic AI boosts team performance — and practical tips for measuring its impact. 1. Accelerating Software Development With AI Agents AI agents can act as intelligent copilots, helping automate code generation, testing and deployment. They can pinpoint errors early, resulting in higher-quality, faster releases, and speed onboarding of new engineers by providing AI-curated information and context on documentation. For example, NVIDIA ChipNeMo — a team of specialized agents built on custom large language models (LLMs) and trained on NVIDIA’s internal chip design data — helped 5,000 NVIDIA engineers in design, verification and documentation save 4,000 engineering days in just one year. Since deployment, ChipNeMo has: Learn about building agents with NVIDIA Nemotron and improving AI code generation using NVIDIA NeMo Agent Toolkit. 2. Driving Data-Backed Decision-Making Agents can help businesses across industries easily glean insights from complex, time-sensitive data for critical decision-making, such as on investments or business strategy. BlackRock’s Aladdin Copilot — an embedded AI assistant serving thousands of users across hundreds of financial institutions — lets teams garner portfolio insights, assess investment research and monitor available cash balances through simple text prompts. It’s helped reduce research time from minutes to seconds while enhancing data-driven investment decisions. VAST Data uses agents to rapidly gather and synthesize information from internal and external sources. For its sales teams, this means faster access to useful, up-to-date insights on client accounts. 3. Optimizing IT Operations Agents excel at maintaining IT operations, including by proactively monitoring infrastructure and automating decision-making. AI agents in IT operations offer: In fast-paced telco environments, agents can help manage networks by analyzing real-time performance indicators and predicting service failures. For example, Telenor Group integrated the NVIDIA Blueprint for telco network configuration to deploy intelligent, autonomous networks that meet the performance demands of 5G and beyond. 4. Streamlining Industrial and Manufacturing Operations Able to interact with the physical world, video analytics AI agents can monitor assembly lines for quality checks and anomaly detection. Pegatron developed the PEGA AI Factory platform to accelerate the development of AI agents across the company by 400% in the last four years. In addition, the company’s digital twin platform PEGAVERSE was built on the NVIDIA Omniverse platform and lets engineers virtually simulate, test and optimize production lines before they’re built, cutting factory construction time by 40%. Pegatron also augmented its assembly process using video analytics AI agents, powered by NVIDIA AI Blueprint for video search and summarization, and saw a 7% reduction in labor costs per assembly line and a 67% decrease in defect rates. Siemens is bringing generative AI into their solutions with the Industrial Copilot to tap real-time factory data to guide maintenance technicians and shopfloor operators. Interviews with maintenance engineers indicate that this could save on average 25% reactive maintenance time. Foxconn uses digital twins and AI agents to optimize its production lines, reducing deployment time by 50%, as well as to simulate robots and monitor quality and safety in real time. 5. Enhancing Customer Service Agents excel at handling customer service at scale, reducing customer wait times by handling thousands of inquiries simultaneously. AT&T employees and contractors use a generative AI solution called “Ask AT&T,” which has over 100 solutions and agents in production. Built with LLMs served by NVIDIA NeMo and NIM microservices, Ask AT&T helps fetch relevant documentation and autonomously resolve routine inquiries. Offering 24/7 personalized support, Ask AT&T shares context-relevant suggestions by recalling organizational information from emails, meetings and past transactions. And to continuously improve agent performance, real-time feedback loops are built into the system using a data flywheel. These automated services resulted in 84% lower call center transcript analytics costs. 6. Delivering Personalized Education AI agents are making individualized learning support more accessible, scalable and effective while freeing up instructors for more in-depth teaching. Faced with surging class sizes and a shortage of teaching assistants, Clemson University developed an AI-powered TA — built with the NVIDIA Blueprint for retrieval-augmented generation — to guide students through challenging concepts. Rather than simply providing answers, the virtual TA walks students through problems step by step, encouraging active problem-solving and critical thinking to promote deeper understanding and academic integrity. The assistant also personalizes feedback and hints in alignment with course content, assignment deadlines and student submissions. It operates 24/7, giving every student timely, tailored support regardless of enrollment size. How Can the Success of AI Agents Be Measured? Measuring the impact of AI agents isn’t just a box to check — it’s essential to maximizing investment. The way users define success will directly shape how well these systems deliver value. Too often, businesses deploy agents without a clear measurement framework, making it difficult to prove return on investment or identify areas for improvement. When setting up an evaluation strategy, users should consider which metrics matter most for their goals. For example: Adoption and engagement: Track whether the technology is being embraced. Metrics include how many eligible users interact with the agent — and how frequently — along with how long the sessions last. High engagement means the agent is routinely providing effective support. Task completion: Look beyond usage to outcomes. Measure how many tasks or requests the agent handles and what portions are fulfilled without human intervention. In software development, users can measure the automated code generation rate to see how much of the software is being developed by an agent. A high automated task completion rate means employees are freed up for higher-value work. Productivity and efficiency gains: Quantify time saved. Metrics like time to resolve IT issues, report generation time for decision-making and average handling time for customer service interactions help demonstrate clear efficiency improvements. Business outcomes: Connect agent performance to bottom-line results. This could mean cost per interaction in support, time to market in software development or unplanned downtime reduction in IT operations. High-quality user experience: Ensure the system is both trusted and effective. Consider a code quality score for developers, prediction accuracy in data-backed decision-making or customer satisfaction scores in service scenarios. The key takeaway: measuring AI agent success goes far beyond a single number. Adoption, efficiency, accuracy and business impact all matter. By choosing the right mix of metrics upfront, businesses can validate success while continually refining and improving how agents deliver value. Read more stories on how customers are adopting AI applications to reshape their daily operations and increase their return on investment. Stay up to date on agentic AI, NVIDIA Nemotron and more by subscribing to NVIDIA news, joining the community and following NVIDIA AI on LinkedIn, Instagram, X and Facebook. Plus, explore self-paced video tutorials and livestreams.

NVIDIA Blackwell RTX is coming to the cloud on Wednesday, Sept. 10 — an upgrade so big it couldn’t wait until a Thursday. Don’t miss a special early GFN Thursday next Wednesday as GeForce NOW begins lighting up the globe with GeForce RTX 5080-class power streaming from the cloud. With this upgrade, cloud gaming is Read Article

NVIDIA Blackwell RTX is coming to the cloud on Wednesday, Sept. 10 — an upgrade so big it couldn’t wait until a Thursday. Don’t miss a special early GFN Thursday next Wednesday as GeForce NOW begins lighting up the globe with GeForce RTX 5080-class power streaming from the cloud. Get ready to watch the map light up. With this upgrade, cloud gaming is about to level up. NVIDIA Blackwell RTX brings GeForce RTX 5080-powered streaming to GeForce NOW, unlocking the highest resolutions and frame rates ever in the cloud. Play games with unmatched visual fidelity, tap into a massive library of over 2,200 new Install-to-Play titles, take advantage of new high-performance modes like competitive 360 frames per second and 240 fps at sub-30-millisecond low latency, and much more. Plus, the highly anticipated shooter Battlefield 6 is launching in the cloud in October. But first — this month is stacked with 17 fresh games to keep members busy. Look out for Hell Is Us, announced at Gamescom and the first AAA title to hit the cloud at launch, along with the eagerly awaited Hollow Knight: Silksong, part of the five new games in the cloud available this week. Unravel the Uncanny Curiosity meets catastrophe. Hell Is Us offers a visually stunning, narrative-driven action game that blends exploration, combat and psychological storytelling into a bold new adventure. Play as a lone protagonist unraveling secrets behind supernatural phenomena in a closed country plagued by civil strife and haunting mysteries. The gameplay brings together mysterious tools and decision-driven storylines among surreal landscapes and chilling lore. Explore the title at peak fidelity across devices on GeForce NOW with rich lighting and haunting scenery streamed instantly across devices. It’s an ideal way to get immersed in this uncanny world, no matter the rig or gaming setup. Roll Out Tank you very much. Rolling onto GeForce NOW, World of Tanks 2.0 is a multiplayer online action game that puts players in command of massive, legendary tanks for team-based battles across historic arenas. The 2.0 release amps up the tank warfare with revamped sounds, user interfaces and battle mechanics, as well as new Tier XI vehicles . Choose among favorite armored vehicles, strategize with the squad and outmaneuver opponents in fast-paced skirmishes. Whether diving into solo showdowns or coordinating all-out assaults, every match is packed with explosive action. Play it on GeForce NOW and experience every tank clash in crystal-clear detail and fluid motion, streamed effortlessly to devices. See enhanced explosions, rich textures and lag-free combat — no downloads or updates required. Falling for New Games It’s Hornet’s world now. Get ready for one of the most anticipated launches of the year: Hollow Knight: Silksong is launching on GeForce NOW. Slip into the role of Hornet and explore a breathtakingly vibrant world that’s even faster, prettier and more challenging than the original. With razor-sharp action, new combat moves and jaw-dropping hand-drawn environments, Silksong will have every explorer and boss-battler hooked from the first divekick. Stream it instantly across devices and dive into epic battles, cunning platforming and secrets lurking in every corner. Whether a series veteran or new to Hallownest’s legacy, GeForce NOW members can stream the title when it launches in the cloud without waiting for downloads or updates. Catch the games ready to play today: Hell Is Us (New release on Steam, Advanced Access on Sept. 1, general availability Sept. 4) METAL EDEN (New release on Steam, Sept. 2) Hollow Knight: Silksong (New release on Steam and Xbox, available on PC Game Pass, Sept. 4) Cataclismo (New release on Xbox, available on PC Game Pass, Sept. 4) Cronos: The New Dawn (New release on Steam, Advanced Access Sept. 3, general availability Sept. 5) Catch the full list of games coming to the cloud in September: Firefighting Simulator: Ignite (New release on Steam, Sept. 9) Borderlands 4 (New release on Steam and Epic Games Store, Sept. 11) Fata Deum – The God Sim (New release on Steam, Sept. 15) Dying Light: The Beast (New release on Steam, Sept. 19) Jump Space (New release on Steam, Sept. 19) Warborne Above Ashes (New release on Steam, Sept. 19) ENDLESS Legend 2 (New release on Steam, Sept. 22) Baby Steps (New release on Steam, Sept. 23) Aztecs: The Last Sun (New release on Steam, Sept. 23) Lost Rift (New release on Steam, Sept. 25) CloverPit (New release on Steam, Sept. 26) Predecessor (Steam) Time to Leaf August Behind In addition to the dozen games announced in August, an extra 22 joined over the month: Assassin’s Creed Mirage (Xbox, available on PC Game Pass) Amnesia: The Dark Descent (Epic Games Store) Blacksmith Master (Xbox, available on PC Game Pass) Chip ‘n Clawz vs. The Brainioids (Steam) Crash Bandicoot 4: It’s About Time (New release on Steam and Battle.net) Gatekeeper (Steam) Gears of War: Reloaded (Steam and Xbox, available on PC Game Pass) Guntouchables (Steam) Heretic + Hexen (Steam and Xbox, available on PC Game Pass) HUNTER×HUNTER NEN×IMPACT (Steam) Knightica (Steam) Make Way (Free on Epic Games Store) Stick It to the Stickman (Steam) Titan Quest II (Steam) Total War: MEDIEVAL II – Definitive Edition (Steam) Total War: ATTILA (Steam) A Total War Saga: Troy (Steam) Total War: NAPOLEON – Definitive Edition (Steam) Total War: EMPIRE – Definitive Edition (Steam) Total War: PHARAOH DYNASTIES (Steam) Total War: ROME REMASTERED (Steam) Total War: SHOGUN 2 (Steam) Field of Glory II: Medieval didn’t make it to the cloud in August. Stay tuned to GFN Thursday for updates. What are you planning to play this weekend? Let us know on X or in the comments below. How good are your in-game navigation skills? — NVIDIA GeForce NOW (@NVIDIAGFN) September 3, 2025

3D artists are constantly prototyping. In traditional workflows, modelers must build placeholder, low-fidelity assets to populate 3D scenes, tinkering and adjusting the core elements until they’re in place. From there, visuals can be refined, detailed and finalized. Prototyping is time consuming and often comprises throwaway work, forcing artists to spend time on tedious modeling rather Read Article

3D artists are constantly prototyping. In traditional workflows, modelers must build placeholder, low-fidelity assets to populate 3D scenes, tinkering and adjusting the core elements until they’re in place. From there, visuals can be refined, detailed and finalized. Prototyping is time consuming and often comprises throwaway work, forcing artists to spend time on tedious modeling rather than on creative exploration. Generative AI assists artists by expediting intermediate tasks like suggesting and generating draft objects to prototype a scene. But it can be technically challenging to connect multiple AI models to unleash these accelerated workflows. NVIDIA AI Blueprints help address this challenge by providing sample workflows so users can skip the hypertechnical stages and quickly benefit from advanced generative AI techniques. Plus, AI Blueprints can be tailored for each user’s particular needs. NVIDIA today released the AI Blueprint for 3D object generation — a workflow that lets 3D artists create up to 20 3D objects to prototype a scene from a simple text prompt. In addition, the new Microsoft TRELLIS NVIDIA NIM microservice works within the AI Blueprint for 3D object generation to generate high-quality 3D assets 20% faster than with the native model. Generate, Prototype, Repeat 3D projects start with an idea’s genesis, followed by the careful consideration of visual details such as themes, locations, decors, colors, textures and more. Even after populating a scene with assets, artists must review and edit individual and collective visuals multiple times. The new NVIDIA AI Blueprint for 3D object generation gives users a pipeline to automate the prototyping process. Start by providing an artistic idea through a prompt, and the blueprint’s built-in large language model (LLM) will brainstorm 20 possible objects to include in the scene. The Llama 3.1 8B NVIDIA NIM microservice accelerates the results. Sample object previews generated by the AI Blueprint for 3D object generation. Pro tip: The LLM powered by the Llama 3.1 8B NIM microservice can generate ideas for objects to be included in scenes, as well as prompt suggestions, increasing creative productivity even for artists without extensive prompt experience. NVIDIA SANA — a text-to-image framework that quickly synthesizes high-resolution images — generates previews to showcase the potential objects. Each object can be regenerated, modified or discarded, giving the artist complete creative control. Then, artists can convert each object from a high-quality preview into a ready-to-use 3D model with the new Microsoft TRELLIS NVIDIA NIM microservice, which simplifies deploying this state-of-the-art model and accelerates it by 20%. In addition, the collection of up to 20 3D assets are primed for instant use or further refinement in Blender, an open-source 3D platform, which the AI Blueprint for 3D object generation automatically exports to. Artists can also export to other popular 3D applications. This 3D scene in Blender is populated with objects generated by the AI Blueprint for 3D object generation. Setting up this series of workflows would normally take time and require technical knowledge, as well as experimentation with different models to select a suitable pipeline. NVIDIA AI Blueprints ease the process of getting started by preselecting proven workflows, simplifying deployment on NVIDIA GeForce RTX and RTX PRO GPUs by packaging the required components together. Microsoft TRELLIS Microsoft TRELLIS, a cutting-edge 3D asset generation model developed by Microsoft Research, is capable of generating richly detailed 3D assets, complete with complex shapes and textures, from text or image prompts. It’s especially useful for game design, architecture and digital media production, as it can produce preview-ready materials and product-level objects. High-quality text-to-image 3D models available for consumer use tend to be difficult to set up. The Microsoft TRELLIS NIM microservice seamlessly integrates within the NVIDIA AI Blueprint for 3D object generation, saving considerable time for artists. When used in the blueprint, the Microsoft TRELLIS NIM microservice is 20% faster with PyTorch optimizations that unlock even quicker iteration. The average time saved is approximately 6 seconds per object generated on an NVIDIA GeForce RTX 5090 GPU. For 3D freelancers generating hundreds of assets across dozens of scenes, these are extraordinary savings. The Microsoft TRELLIS NIM microservice is supported on all NVIDIA GeForce RTX 50 Series and 40 Series GPUs — desktop and laptop — with 16GB or more. Ready, Aim, Deploy Get started with the NVIDIA AI Blueprint for 3D object generation by following these instructions: Load up the blueprint, including models. Type in a simple scene idea (e.g. “night market” or “sunny day at the beach”). Twenty image previews will generate automatically. Replace any unwanted objects by clicking the refresh icon located below the image. Tip: Gain more control over the replacement image by clicking on the pencil icon below the image to edit the original prompt. Delete unwanted objects by clicking the trash can icon under the image. Convert individual images using the “->3D” icon under the image. Convert all previews to 3D using the “Convert all to 3D” button at the bottom. Tip: Click “Start over with a new scene prompt” to start a new scene. This erases current progress, so be sure to save first. Export files to Blender using the built-in button at the bottom of the page to continue refining the 3D models. Detailed instructions and necessary files can be found on NVIDIA Build and GitHub. Explore a variety of expertly curated AI Blueprints, including the AI Blueprint for 3D-guided generative AI, and NIM microservices today. Plus, attendees of the IFA consumer electronics and home appliances trade show can attend a session on “How AI Is Changing Content Creation” on Saturday, Sept. 6, at 2pm CET to hear Sean Kilbride, director of professional visualization technical marketing at NVIDIA, and other panelists discuss how creators are integrating AI into their workflows to unlock new creative approaches, speed up production and push the boundaries of content creation. Each week, the RTX AI Garage blog series features community-driven AI innovations and content for those looking to learn more about NVIDIA NIM microservices and AI Blueprints, as well as building AI agents, creative workflows, productivity apps and more on AI PCs and workstations. Plug in to NVIDIA AI PC on Facebook, Instagram, TikTok and X — and stay informed by subscribing to the RTX AI PC newsletter. Join NVIDIA’s Discord server to connect with community developers and AI enthusiasts for discussions on what’s possible with RTX AI. Follow NVIDIA Workstation on LinkedIn and X. See notice regarding software product information.

For more than a century, meteorologists have chased storms with chalkboards, equations, and now, supercomputers. But for all the progress, they still stumble over one deceptively simple ingredient: water vapor. Humidity is the invisible fuel for thunderstorms, flash floods, and hurricanes. It’s the difference between a passing sprinkle and a summer downpour that sends you Read Article

For more than a century, meteorologists have chased storms with chalkboards, equations, and now, supercomputers. But for all the progress, they still stumble over one deceptively simple ingredient: water vapor. Humidity is the invisible fuel for thunderstorms, flash floods, and hurricanes. It’s the difference between a passing sprinkle and a summer downpour that sends you sprinting for cover. And until now, satellites have struggled to capture it with the detail needed to warn us before skies crack open. A team from the Wrocław University of Environmental and Life Sciences (UPWr) may help change that. In a paper published this month in Satellite Navigation, researchers describe how deep learning can transform blurry global navigation satellite system (GNSS)-based snapshots of the atmosphere into sharp 3D maps of humidity, revealing the hidden swirls that shape local weather. The secret? A super-resolution generative adversarial network (SRGAN), a kind of AI best known for making grainy photos look crisp. Instead of celebrities or landscapes, researchers trained the network on global weather data and powered by NVIDIA GPUs. The result: low-resolution readings from navigation satellites get “upscaled” into high-resolution humidity maps with far fewer errors. In Poland, the technique cuts errors by 62%. In California, it delivers a 52% cut in errors, even in rainy conditions when forecasts are most likely to get slippery. Compared with older methods that smeared details into a watercolor blur, the AI produced sharp gradients that actually matched what ground instruments saw. And because weather prediction is as much about trust as accuracy, the team added a twist: explainable AI. Using visualization tools like Grad-CAM and SHAP, they demonstrated where the model “looked” when making decisions. The AI’s gaze landed, reassuringly, on storm-prone areas — Poland’s western borders, California’s coastal mountains — exactly where forecasters know the atmosphere can turn nasty. “High-resolution, reliable humidity data is the missing link in forecasting the kind of weather that disrupts lives,” said lead author Saeid Haji-Aghajany, assistant professor at UPWr. “Our approach doesn’t just sharpen GNSS tomography — it also shows us how the model makes its decisions. That transparency is critical for building trust as AI enters weather forecasting.” The implications could be enormous. Feed these sharper humidity fields into physics-based or AI-driven weather models, and you get forecasts that can catch sudden downpours or flash floods before they hit. Communities living under skies that turn dangerous in minutes could gain crucial lead time. And it all hinges on an element that too often gets ignored. Not the thunder. Not the lightning. It’s the humidity. Reference: DOI: 10.1186/s43020-025-00177-6

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

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.

In the past decade or so, actors and comedians have adopted D&D as a performance medium. Podcasts and web series have expanded into stadium tours – and fueled growing interest in the game more broadly.

In the past decade or so, actors and comedians have adopted D&D as a performance medium. Podcasts and web series have expanded into stadium tours – and fueled growing interest in the game more broadly. (Image credit: Andrew Max Levy)

People all over TikTok and Instagram are using the word "clanker" as a catch-all for robots and AI. Here's a deep dive into the origins of the pejorative and an explanation of why it's spreading.

People all over TikTok and Instagram are using the word "clanker" as a catch-all for robots and AI. Here's a deep dive into the origins of the pejorative and an explanation of why it's spreading. (Image credit: Leon Neal)

Hasan Piker likes fitness, gaming, and progressive politics, and millions of young men flock to him for his opinions. Is he the Joe Rogan of the left that Democrats are looking for? Hasan says no.

Hasan Piker likes fitness, gaming, and progressive politics, and millions of young men flock to him for his opinions. Is he the Joe Rogan of the left that Democrats are looking for? Hasan says no. (Image credit: Courtney Theophin / NPR)

SEGA revives a franchise that began in 1980s arcades with Shinobi: Art of Vengeance. From the developers of the gorgeous Streets of Rage 4, the new game bursts with striking animation and snappy action.

SEGA revives a franchise that began in 1980s arcades with Shinobi: Art of Vengeance. From the developers of the gorgeous Streets of Rage 4, the new game bursts with striking animation and snappy action. (Image credit: SEGA)

A new video game just debuted within the Pac-Man universe. It's called Shadow Labyrinth and it's very different from the pellet-chomping game that once dominated arcades.

A new video game just debuted within the Pac-Man universe. It's called Shadow Labyrinth and it's very different from the pellet-chomping game that once dominated arcades. (Image credit: Bandai Namco)

From indies like Blue Prince to big console exclusives like Donkey Kong Bananza, NPR staff and contributors round up their favorite games of the year so far.

From indies like Blue Prince to big console exclusives like Donkey Kong Bananza, NPR staff and contributors round up their favorite games of the year so far.

Games. Culture. Criticism.

HIGH Superlative physics. Big trucks. Gnarly vistas.

LOW Saber's UI design continues to be nightmarish.

WTF A restaurant on one of the maps is named "The Smell Out"

The post Roadcraft Review appeared first on Gamecritics.com.

The Open Road HIGH Superlative physics. Big trucks. Gnarly vistas. LOW Saber’s UI design continues to be nightmarish. WTF A restaurant on one of the maps is named “The Smell Out” In 2021, Saber Interactive made history when they released Snowrunner, the greatest videogame ever made. Bafflingly, in the years that followed, developers continued to make games despite the fact that the ultimate expression of the art form had been achieved. Saber themselves have engaged in this quixotic act, first in 2024 with the release of Expeditions (a spin-off focused on exploration) and earlier this year, Roadcraft, a construction company simulator that, like Expeditions, has been met with a somewhat mixed reception by the Snowrunner community. I am not active in this community but, by dint of having dedicated hundreds of hours to Snowrunner, I do consider myself an honorary member, in the same way that people are awarded degrees from universities they never went to for unrelated things they did elsewhere. As such, I came into Roadcraft expecting something half-baked and disappointing — but it is not half-baked, and it is not disappointing. Itâ€s also not Snowrunner 2. What is Roadcraft? A sloppy, weird, frustrating, brilliant, addictive, fresh-feeling title that takes core elements of its illustrious predecessor and builds on them in wild ways. Like Snowrunner, Roadcraft is a collection of freeform levels, sandbox maps with main and side objectives to complete. As the seemingly sole on-the-ground employee of an emergency response construction company, players are deployed to disaster-stricken regions and tasked with restoring basic infrastructure, thereby laying the groundwork for regular life to begin again. Thus, in comparison to Snowrunner, the gamut of possible tasks has been expanded beyond haulage — there quarries to be drained, town documents to be recovered, map-spanning pipelines to fix, and, of course, roads to be crafted. It’s a drawn-out process, this making of roads, and requires both four steps and the specialized brawn of four construction vehicles. First, sand has to be poured, done with a dump truck. Then a bulldozer needs be brought in to plane the sand to a fine and even level. Next, a paver pours steaming asphalt onto the sand. Then, finally, a roller can be brought on-site to compress that hot, bituminous slurry into a smooth and tractable asphalt causeway. Road crafted. Keep in mind that each of these steps (usually) needs to be done by the player, including bringing each vehicle to the worksite, which is often no small task in itself. Building a short stretch of road can take 20 minutes, depending on the terrain, and the roadcrafting in Roadcraft is a perfect synecdoche for virtually every job in the campaign. This is a slow experience, slower than Snowrunner, quite possibly the most ponderous game I’ve ever played. It’s Minecraft at molasses speed, terraforming at a pace that will, frankly, turn off all but the most degenerate of sickos“ which, happily, I am. All of Roadcraft‘s vehicular and logistical misadventures are conducted on the deep physics engine that Saber has been working with across their four previous titles. These cumbrous trucks have actual weight, their suspensions rock and shift, tires deform over rocks and rubble. Players will learn to fear steep grades or narrow passes or tight turns. Building materials can and will tumble out of flatbeds into roadside mire. Constant attention has to be paid to both the player vehicle, and the environment. It makes things feel real, every small bit of progress earned in some bone-deep and convincing way that most other virtual accomplishments simply cannot equal. The physics system is what made Snowrunner the unbelievable thing it was, and it gives vibrant life to Roadcraft too. And so, once acclimated to its, shall we say stately rhythm, the epic length of Roadcraft stops being vexing and becomes, instead, the central gyre of its charm and addictiveness. It is decompressed and utterly chill. The relaxation is heightened by beautiful environs. The maps in Roadcraft are just stunning. It’s not a matter of fidelity, but of scene-setting. The vistas and setpieces players will stumble on as they crawl across these ravaged landscapes have an almost FromSoft level of stagecraft to them, lushly framed and baroquely, obsessively detailed. There are ruined towns half-submerged in water, a graveyard of rusted excavators sunk into a silt-clogged quarry, a cratered steel mill with broken, bare girders flung up into the air like the upturned legs of a dead spiders… Some mechanical things are unbeautiful, to be sure. Quite a few things, actually. The Saber team has earned their place in gaming Valhalla, but they’re still incapable of making menus that that are not demonic. I’m not even sure how someone designs a UI this wonky — maybe by having a nightmare about a traffic jam in Hell and then, upon waking, committing that vision directly to interface code. In addition to all I’ve described, Roadcraft is also wild, wooly, and full of ideas. It’s an exploratory and experimental title for Saber, and it feels like some of the systems are in their prototyping phase. See, for instance, the sub-game about drawing routes that NPC trucks then drive. I understand why it’s here, as it means that players have to find, and then make! – routes these smaller trucks, less capable than the player’s fleet, can traverse. However, the AI itself is bad. If the route waypoints are not laid with aching exactitude, the automated drivers can fumble, even if the trail for them to follow is an adequate one, which means players have to jump back into the Stygian abysses of the Roadcraft menus and redraw the route. With that said, rough edges are to be expected in something that’s not only niche, but experimental. Roadcraft is not a game for everyone, and it’s not even for every Snowrunner fan — but that’s what makes it brilliant for those willing to tune in, and the number of potential fans is probably larger than one might guess. So, despite how eager I am for the return of the Chosen One in Snowrunner 2, I also will be keenly watching where Roadcraft goes. I can’t think of anything in the double-A space that’s more interesting, or has more potential, than this game. Rating: 8 out of 10 Disclosures: This game is developed by Saber Interactive and published by Focus Entertainment. It is available on PC, PS5, and Xbox X/S. This copy of the game was obtained via publisher. Approximately 33 hours of play were devoted to the game, and it was not completed. No time was spent in multiplayer (but I think it’s safe to say it would be great). Parents: According to the ESRB, this game is rated E and contains Mild Language. The ESRB summary is as follows: This is a simulation game in which players restore infrastructures in areas after disasters have struck. Players can operate trucks, cranes, and bulldozers to complete various tasks (e.g., clearing debris, rebuilding roads). The word “hell” appears in the game. Colorblind Modes: There are no colorblind modes present. Deaf & Hard of Hearing Gamers: All of the (sparse) dialogue is accompanied by on-screen text, but the subtitles cannot be resized. No action requires audio cues to successfully complete. I played the game with the sound down for most of my 30 hours with it, and didn’t have any issues. This game is fully accessible. Remappable Controls: KB+M controls are fully remappable. There are four different gamepad control presets available, but they are not remappable beyond that. Steering Wheels are partially supported, but not ideal for this game. The post Roadcraft Review appeared first on Gamecritics.com.

HIGH Great atmosphere, engaging story. Memorable companions.

LOW Frequent bugs and glitches. Crashes to desktop. Basic features don’t work.

WTF My Druid has a dinosaur as an animal companion!

The post Dungeons & Dragons Neverwinter Nights 2: Enhanced Edition Review appeared first on Gamecritics.com.

Sometimes The Dragon Wins HIGH Great atmosphere, engaging story. Memorable companions. LOW Frequent bugs and glitches. Crashes to desktop. Basic features don’t work. WTF My Druid has a dinosaur as an animal companion! In 2003, I was looking for a Dungeons and Dragons experience for my PC. I was interested in trying something like World of Warcraft, but hesitant about the subscription model and didn’t want to turn it into a part-time job. I discovered Neverwinter Nights, determined it was exactly what I was looking for, and then happily spent dozens of hours playing through its campaign and the user-made modules. It’s fair to say I’ve always been a fan of the series, and I own multiple copies of both titles. As such, I was overjoyed to review the latest remaster from Aspyr, Dungeons & Dragons Neverwinter Nights 2: Enhanced Edition to see how this seminal role-playing experience held up in 2025… Spoiler: not well. Near the city of Neverwinter on the Sword Coast of Faerun, evil forces have conquered and despoiled the lands. As the adopted child of an adventurer in a backwater town, the player learns of their role as the Shard-Bearer — possessor of an artifact the Shadow King requires to complete his dastardly agenda. Setting forth alone, the player must gather allies to thwart the Shadow King. Will the Shard-Bearer be a savior, or a more powerful evil to blight the land? Only the player can decide.. Dungeons & Dragons Neverwinter Nights 2: Enhanced Edition is an isometric, third-person role-playing game where the player selects or creates a character from one of the many races and classes available, ranging from a Half-Elven Rogue to a Dwarven Cleric of Tyr. The player directly controls the character’s movement and then uses a hybrid menu system for combat where battles are strategic and turn-based. For instance, the player may click on a target or select one using the Enhanced Edition‘s newly implemented controller inputs to select the next action which will take place on the next turn. There’s also a pause feature which allows more refined control over the character (or party) where the player can select several turns’ worth of actions to take place sequentially. Outside of combat, the player faces a multitude of dialogue choices, both large (should I aid the village in its time of need?) and small (should I demand a few more gold as a reward for my actions?). There is no right or wrong answer, only what feels appropriate to the player. It’s important to note that all choices feel important and have a lasting effect on the party members and any other characters the player meets along the way. Speaking of which, a cast of memorable faces are ready to travel with the player — some favorties included a Dwarven Fighter looking to become a monk, a Tiefling who steals whatever isn’t nailed down, and a cranky human sorceress with an inflated ego — but also with the fireballs to back it up. Party member interactions are a highlight of Neverwinter Nights 2, and learning more about them by gaining their confidence is always a treat. Characters gain experience via combat and exploration, and can readily purchase or craft gear. Progression is steady, and it’s generally easy to earn the coin needed for upgrades. While things get off to a roaring start and this version has a great base to work from, Neverwinter Nights 2: Enhanced Edition squanders the goodwill its writing and mechanics earn almost immediately. While the improved graphics make character models sharper and slightly more detailed, they still look tremendously dated. Worse, bugs are glitches are rampant. Ten minutes after starting the game, my character got stuck in place and I had to try numerous fixes to continue on my way. Hardly an isolated occurrence, this ‘stickiness’ happens frequently during exploration and required me to quickly select a new character or click on a faraway destination to remedy. During combat, my character frequently teleported outside of any room I was in. Also during combat, clicking an action doesn’t always work, even if the appropriate icon appears in the combat menu. Also, players need to spend a good deal of time micro-managing their party to get them to behave usefully in battle — dysfunctional behaviors like running around in circles, refusing to follow the main character into a room, or launching spells from nowhere near a fight. Even basic things like sound effects don’t work properly. The clash of steel against armor or shield is notably missing from all battles, and I also suffered several crashes to desktop, causing me to repeat lengthy sections. I will give the save system specifically a mixed review. Neverwinter Nights 2 allows me to save whenever and wherever I want, which longtime readers will know is something I harp on constantly — so I approve. However, when trying to load a saved game, I’m asked if I want to save first. The first time this happened, I had just suffered a total party kill, requiring me to load an earlier save. Not paying attention, I accidentally saved this graceless defeat over my good save I was trying to get back into! Why on earth would anyone want to save right after they’d been killed? Dungeons & Dragons Neverwinter Nights 2: Enhanced Edition could have been something truly special to share with modern-day players. This classic does a great job of worldbuilding and gives a player true stakes, a sense of progression, and a realistic party of companions to interact with. Sadly, the rife bugs and glitches along with a general sense of being unfinished make it impossible to recommend, especially as there seem to be no patches incoming. It’s tremendously disappointing, and hopefully either Aspyr can do something about it in the future, or ardent fans will come to rescue and save this title from a fate worse than death. Rating: 3.5 out of 10 Disclosures: This game is developed and published by Aspyr Media. It is currently available on XBX/S, PS5, Switch, Switch 2, and PC. This copy of the game was obtained via publisher and reviewed on the PC. Approximately 24 hours of play were devoted to the single-player mode, and the game was not completed. While there are multiplayer modes which offer features such as the ability to turn PVP on and off, I was not able to join any sessions. Player sessions are password protected, and I did not know anyone currently playing the game. Parents: According to the ESRB, this game is rated T and contains Blood, Mild Language, Suggestive Themes, Use of Alcohol, Violence. The official description reads: This is a role-playing game in which players can create characters to engage in popular D&D campaigns set in the Forgotten Realms. From a third-person perspective, players explore fantasy locations while interacting with characters, performing quests/missions, and battling enemies. Players use swords, arrows, and magic spells to kill various enemies (e.g., ogres, bandits, animals, elves, dwarves). Combat is highlighted by cries of pain, small explosions, and large splatters of blood. A handful of walls/floors are also stained with blood. Female characters are sometimes depicted wearing low-cut tops that reveal large amounts of cleavage; players can develop relationships with others, sometimes resulting in suggestive dialogue (e.g., “I thought perhaps we could get some sleep. Together”; “I have no intention of letting you sleep.”). Tavern sequences depict drunk characters slurring and hiccupping; background characters also drink alcohol. Players’ character can consume ale, wine, and spirits, resulting in status/skill effects. The word “bastard” appears in the game. 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. All gameplay critical sound effects have a visual component. However, characters casting spells, attacking, or making non-gameplay critical utterances do not have accompanying subtitles. Remappable Controls: Yes, this game offers fully remappable controls. The post Dungeons & Dragons Neverwinter Nights 2: Enhanced Edition Review appeared first on Gamecritics.com.

Daniel Weissenberger sits down to chat with John and Rob Doncan -- the two-man group behind development studio Bad Viking. They released Strange Horticulture in 2022 to rave reviews, and now they're on the verge of releasing their new title, Strange Antiquities. We chat about design, how puzzles fit into a world with items, and which cat is best. Be sure to keep an eye out for Strange Antiquities which releases September 17th for Steam and Switch!

The post VIDEO INTERVIEW: Bad Viking on Strange Antiquities appeared first on Gamecritics.com.

Daniel Weissenberger sits down to chat with John and Rob Doncan — the two-man group behind development studio Bad Viking. They released Strange Horticulture in 2022 to rave reviews, and now they’re on the verge of releasing their new title, Strange Antiquities. We chat about design, how puzzles fit into a world with items, and which cat is best. Be sure to keep an eye out for Strange Antiquities which releases September 17th for Steam and Switch! TRANSCRIPT: GameCritics.com: Today on GameCritics, we’re talking to Bad Vikings John and Rob Doncan. The developers responsible for the instant classic puzzle game Strange Horticulture. Their new game, Strange Antiquities, is a sequel of sorts set in the same world, but moving the action to a shop for rare and mysterious artifacts. All right, we’re joined today by John and Rob, the two man developer team responsible for the Strange franchise. Is that what you guys refer to it as? Rob: Yeah. Yeah, I think that’s what we’d call it. Yeah. GC: In 2022, they gave us Strange Horticulture, a game about sorting and finding rare and mysterious plants. And now upcoming is the sequel, Strange Antiquities. So, can I start right at the beginning? What were your big influences in kicking off the Strange franchise? Like I can go to your website and look at your library and there’s a lot of action games in there and if I looked at the end of the four games you made beforehand. Strange Horticulture is quite a departure. Rob: Yeah, it it is. But there’s like… there is history there as well. Like you know kind of point and click games we played growing up and we made a couple of those as well. So kind of puzzly stuff was always in our blood, I think. You know, we… we grew up with games like Mist and Riven and, in particular the Discworld series as well. We loved those games, which obviously kind of more humor, than we necessarily have ended up doing here. But yeah, so I think there is, you know, there’s some history there. And then another thing that we were really inspired by was board games. So I mean you might be able to see behind me. GC: Katan and Gloomhaven. Rob: Yeah, got a little board game collection going on here. So I think specifically stuff like Eldritch Horror and there’s a game called Sherlock Holmes: Consulting Detective which you have, if you haven’t played, there’s a similar sort of map mechanic in it where you go around London solving crimes. And so we kind of borrowed that slightly for Strange Horticulture. Obviously, there’s a map in it and you can… you solve puzzles to find your way around to find plants and and uncover the story, that sort of stuff. So yeah, board games, old adventure games and point and click games and puzzle games kind of always been there for us. GC: Okay. John: Yeah. I think I think… I think with… basically when we came to making Strange Horticulture, we were sort of… we’ve been toying around with loads of ideas for like a year. We kind of had a bit of a failure when we tried to make a sort of artillery game for Steam that didn’t do so well. And we were… we were toying with a board game idea. We were toying with a point and click adventure game set in a town called Undermere. And then it was Rob who came he he went out one day on a dog walk and came back saying I’ve seen an advert for some gardening company or I don’t know what it was exactly but he he he I think it had the word “horticulture” in it and he came back and he pitched he said I’ve had an idea called Strange Horticulture and it’s like about running an occult plant shop and what do you think and I I just said you know what that sounds really cool can we let’s make that game ’cause you know we we we hadn’t latched on to anything in a kind any kind of strong way. We… and we were desperate for a kind of… like… you know something some kind of source of inspiration and that just seemed really cool like I I could instantly kind of see something in that. So we dropped everything else and then it’s funny how like you start borrowing things. If you take the setting from the point and click game that we were sort of half working on, the map from Rob says Sherlock Holmes: Consulting Detective, but we’d actually put that into our own little board game thing. And we took… we took that from there and and suddenly we built up this kind of world and obviously we’re just a two man team so we’re like let’s try and keep you know play to our strengths. We really liked the concept of the what they’ done with… what Lucas Pope had done with Papers, Please and having it all on one screen and kind of the tactile feel of the you know stamping documents and opening books and things like that. And we were like that could work really nicely here and having it in a single sort of screen layout. So let’s borrow that kind of game design. But like you’re… you’re studying books and studying law and and trying to find out about plants and yeah, it’s amazing how these kinds of things (work) together. But yeah, if you look at our sort of game history, it’s not the most obvious like of moves, but sometimes you got to move in tangents in this industry and hey, look, now we’re making strange games and having fun with it. GC: Oh man. Okay. Now here’s just a game… just a question about playing the game. Am I not playing it right if the minute I started I turned on auto-label? Rob: No, I mean look, that’s obviously we kind of know that there’s a subset of people that are going to love labeling their plants and it’s really interesting. We’ve watched a lot of playthroughs, particularly of people playing the demo of Strange Antiquities. Um, and there’s a lot of people who see the popup saying, you can turn on autolabeling if if labeling items isn’t your thing. And a lot of people who say, “No, it really is my thing. I don’t want to turn on autolabeling.” And then equally, there’s a lot of people who say, “Yeah, it’s not my thing. It’s not for me.” And they turn it on. So, yeah, I don’t know what the split is necessarily. Like it kind… I think this kind of game does appeal to people who like sort of organizing stuff, but it’s not that’s not what it’s about. That’s kind of a a side quest if you like, but yeah, you’re not cheating if you turn on auto labeling. That’s why we put it there. John: Yeah. But it was always our intention to offer that side of it. It’s like, you know, for people that want to arrange their shelves how they want to arrange them and they want to give each… each plant or each item its own label, you know, there’s something kind of quite fun about that in a weird kind of… like organizational way. Like I think some people get a lot out of that. So, it’s definitely Yeah, it’s just two types of player and some people want to turn them auto labeling on and others would rather label their own plants. And which… either camp you’re in, we just offer different… that play style to both. And it’s up to you. And that’s the great thing about being able to choose. Rob: The… I will say that the steam thread of how to arrange your plants on Strange Horticulture is the longest thread in the whole back end… in the whole discussion section. So yeah, people get quite into it. The favorite… my favorite one that someone posted was that they arranged them by smell so the nice… the nice smelling ones are near the customers as they come in. GC: That’s fantastic. Sorry, that’s very good. It did not occur to me with No, I… I will say that I would have had a much easier time in the endgame if I had sorted them all by what kind of thematic resonance they gave off early in the game. Rob: Right. Yeah. GC: Like if there’s one tip to make the game a lot easier, it’s the minute you get that lens, put on the labels what kind of… what kind of resonance they have ’cause that is going to save you a ton of time. Rob: Yeah. Yeah. yeah. I think again some people are kind of naturally more organizational and they’ll just do that instinctively. Again, you see it watching people just playing the demo that, you know, different labeling systems. Some people are really organized and other people are just chaotic. I think John and I, well certainly me, I would be in the more chaotic camp. John: Yeah. I mean I was I… I think… I don’t think I’ve ever even put on auto labels or done any labeling, but that’s because I know I know the item sort of off by heart. So I just like where’s my thingy? Yeah, I’ll go find that. So yeah, like I think if I was playing it myself from scratch, I’d be an auto labeler to be honest. GC: Okay, good. I’m not alone. Is that a real cat’s purr on the soundtrack? Rob: I assume so. It’s a licensed sound effect. So… JOhn: It certainly will be a real cat’s pur. Rob: I’d be surprised if it’s not… not my, not our cats, though. GC: (Iâ€m) really wondering if you recorded it live. Rob: That would have been cool. Yeah. GC: Is it the same purr in both games? Rob: No. A new purr for a new cat. GC: Okay. Alright. It sounded different to me. I just had no idea if that was just my ears playing tricks. Alright, at what point did you start coming up with the idea of doing Strange Antiquities? Were you… Did it happen during the development of Strange Horticulture or after it was finished? John: Oh, after like we… Strange Horticulture was like… We were so focused on Strange Horticulture all the way through like we didn’t even think about what to do after ’cause we had no idea like how it was going to be received or anything like that. So the focus was entirely let’s get make for us it was about making the best game that we could with our resources. I mean one of the kind of ideas we had during development was let’s make try and make somebody’s favorite game. That was like a concept we were… we were working with rather than trying to make something that’s like going to make loads of money or is going to be critically acclaimed or let’s make one person’s favorite game and see where it goes. So we… we tried that. We made the best game we possibly could and then we released it and gosh the reception was so much bigger than anything we could have imagined like in terms of the feedback, the reviews the audience were they just seem to really enjoy it. And so after that we were like well makes sort of sense to do another strange game I think. Um, and we still felt we had more stories to tell in Undermere. Rob: …but we kind of felt like we… we’d maybe exhausted like, not exhausted, but we put all our best plant ideas into Strange Horticulture and we wanted to try something a bit different. So, I don’t think we thought too much. Correct me if I’m wrong, John, but I don’t think we took too long to decide it was going to be Antiquities. I think that strange like occult artifacts kind of made sense to us pretty quickly. John: Yeah, we were brainstorming ideas for a follow-up. And honestly, it was quite a short list. I think it was like sort of occult items, cryptic creatures, there might have been something else, but basically the natural progression for us felt like yeah, antiquities. Yeah, you know, you go into museums and there’s cursed items and items about witchcraft and all sorts of that. So, it… it works in the world really well. GC: Okay. Next question. Now, you’ve already mentioned and gave a wonderful shout out to Papers, Please, Lucas Pope’s just amazing simulator. Were there any other games that really you felt influenced you in designing this one? Rob: I mean that Papers Please was definitely the biggest one I think. I mean although it’s interesting we probably get compared more to Lucas Pope’s other big game, the Return to Obra Dinn. GC: Return. Yeah. Rob: Because the gameplay is perhaps more similar to that… that sort of deductive reasoning. GC: …looking at all of the oblique clues to put together the answer. Rob: Yeah. Yeah. Exactly. but that wasn’t really intentional. we kind of yeah that just sort of happened. but yeah I I can’t think of any other specific games that we were in by.. John: I think thematically we you know we had come across things like Cultist Simulator and Fallen London games and things like that and we sort of we we didn’t… Rob’s played Cultist Simulator, I haven’t played these games, but it… it was kind of like looking into those kind of like cultish occult things, we just felt like there was something cool there. And when we started and that was like always the idea, right? It was going to be occult plants. And then we started researching it and kind of looking into it more and you kind of come across things like well in the 15th century that there was a famous botanist in the in in Britain called Nicholas Culpepper and he wrote something called complete herbal which was like a guide to like pharmaceutical plant use and and other uses you know mystical uses more spiritual uses I guess and you sort of get we got a copy of it and you kind of go oh it’s got the plant. The sketch of the plant and like a description of the plant and then what does it do? And you know it can be how from like settling stomach to warding off spirits. And we were like that’s… that’s really cool. Like why don’t we just take that kind of concept and just you know go our go even more sort of supernaturally occulty like fun with it. and that’s kind of what we did. So yeah, those are the kinds of things we were inspired by. less probably like specific games just… Rob: There was also well as I mentioned earlier the board games but there was also a game called Coffee Talk which itself was kind of inspired by Papers, Please and a game called Va-11 Hall-A, I assume as well which… Coffee Talk is about you know being a barista in a kind of fantasy setting not sure what you’d call it exactly but that that kind of taught us that you can have this kind of slower paced game play. and like it can be kind of chilled and you know it doesn’t… doesn’t need to be fast-paced or frantic or anything like that. You can do quite a lot with a little. GC: Okay. Yeah. All right. On the website for the game, Rob is listed as coding and designing. John is doing the art and designing. Who is writing the character dialogue and book entries because there’s so many of them in the game. Rob: Yeah, true. Well, that’s Yeah, that’s pretty much all me. Oviously with some help from John as well. And actually John’s wife wrote some of the like flavor text for some of the locations that you can visit in the first game, I believe. John: I think… Well, yeah, we sat down together, Steph and I, and just like just took locations and just started writing descriptions and stuff. So, yeah, I think most when I say game design is, you know, it’s a collaborative process and that includes things like the story, we we we come up with some ideas, we we talk about it like and then but most of the writing is definitely Rob’s side of it, but that doesn’t mean to say I don’t get involved. I’ve… I’ve done a few little bits in the game like I think most of the epilogue entries I think are more me in… in the game. So it is a collaborative process. it’s just our main roles are art and code and then we also have loads of other hats that we put on, you know, like sound design, animator, narrative designer, marketing, social media, community stuff. We do… we do so much just as just the two of us. GC: Okay. All right. So specifically about the text, what challenges did you face in coming up with the kind of word puzzles that are in the entries? I have to imagine it’s kind of difficult writing these entries that tow the line between legitimately sounding like a description of the item and the history of the item without just giving away what it is… Rob: Right? Yeah. Yeah. Very challenging. And much more challenging designing those puzzles on strange antiquities than it was on Strange Horticulture. Partly because obviously plants all share similar properties, right? So you can describe a plant’s leaves as being heart-shaped or whatever and that could apply to any plant and you have to go and check all of your plants on your shelf and see if they have heart-shaped leaves. Whereas you can’t really do that with items. Like if you say it has a handle or whatever then okay yeah that could apply to a couple of items but not many. If you say well yeah so it’s about like trying to use those broader terms. So trying to… trying to find those broader descriptive terms. So like using the material maybe or you know we might say it’s a pendant or it’s a totem or something. You’ve got lots of those on your shelves. So that’s kind of what we try and do is… is give a broader descriptive clue or maybe try and use a sketch or something like that that could apply to more than one item. And then we’ll try and have other clues peppered in there that will help you narrow it down. where you might have to use some other tools to help you do that. So, you might have to inspect the item in some way, see if it makes a sound or has a threatening aura or something like that. Or you might have to weigh it or use some other items in your shop to kind of help you get there. But yeah, that was… that was certainly a challenge this time round. But I think by working through that challenge, we perhaps came up with some more interesting ideas this time around, and hopefully some more interesting puzzles came out of that process. John: Yeah, I mean it took longer like… the process way longer than in Strange Horticulture to come up with one all these items visually like plants because they’re similar. You… I just started drawing plants and then you just draw the next one and you kind of find some way of comparing them and making (them) interesting. It’s almost like we designed the puzzles first and then designed the items and then… then you also have to come back and try and throw in little bits of red herrings for other puzzles. And like it’s, you know, it’s about creating a putting in a few clues into the description like as Rob said, one that’s a broader sort of clue, one that’s more of a like narrow it down and a clincher. And but also making it sort of vague enough and interesting enough and appealing enough law-wise that it sort of like it has this richness to it in the game as well. So it’s… it’s an incredibly difficult process. I think it… it’s when we come up with a way that’s to do a puzzle that is unique and completely different to how you’re used to kind of using your book looking for and those are the ones which are, I think, land the best on the player as well. So the more of those we can put in the better really. Rob: And some of my favorite ones are the ones where it’s like one small sentence. So you… you know you get ones that are like have three or four quite maybe disguised clues but like… GC: The insanity card where it’s just like I don’t know what the entry is something (like) “This is as mysterious as insanity in the mind itself.” Thanks. Hugely helpful. Rob: Doesn’t give you much to go on, but then you know once you crack it, I think… GC: Very satisfying. Exactly. Rob: Right. Yeah. Great. GC: How much and well when you’re writing tests… texts this complex to work as puzzles, how much testing of that do you have to do, right? Do you have people you’d normally test this stuff on? Rob: Yeah, I mean obviously as as much as possible is the answer, but that is hard because well one of the biggest problems that we face with a game like this is that it doesn’t really fall into place until quite close to the end of the game like end of development in the sense that as John says you know in designing the items one item on its own is not a puzzle. You need 10 items on your shelf that you haven’t identified yet so that there can be ones to compare it against. So until you’ve kind of designed those other items that might be red herrings, you know, you can’t and… you’ve designed the… the tools to identify these items, you can’t show it to someone and say, “Is this working or isn’t it?” So yeah, that obviously came quite late in development. GC: You have to make the game before you know if it’s any good. John: Yeah, basically. Yeah. Yeah, it’s not a game that we could like… Even with Strange Horticulture, it’s not a game that we were able to prototype and sort of and test out on people and say, “Does this work?” We… we just had to go with sort of like a gut instinct and and as you say, just basically make the game and then try it out on people and hope that it works… Rob: But obviously once then once you do try it out on people, you find out, okay, this one is too hard, this one’s too easy or whatever. And then you can kind of go back in and tweak them all and add in more red herrings where required or clarify certain bits here and there. So we’ve done a lot of that obviously and that’s where yeah play testers come into it. John: Yeah, especially like you know we… when we launched the demo one of the things obviously it’s only the first two days but all those are the… the easier side of the puzzle. So it’s, you know, we can see how people are interacting with it, where the points of friction are, try and smooth it through, and then you kind of go, okay, that’s how they’re playing. Is there anything else we need to do further up in the game? Like that will just ease people’s frictions. And we’re never going to get it perfect. Like we… we try our hardest to balance the game as as well as we can. Like not too easy, not too hard. You know, I always sort of try and lean towards making it hard and then we realize we’ve we it’s too hard. We got to go… have to go back the other way. But then we were… we were discussing some feedback and a puzzle yesterday and Rob found a quote by Ron Gilbert who did um… GC: Monkey Island. John: Yeah. And he was like, you know, stick stick to hard basically. I can’t remember exactly what it was. Rob: He said yeah he is on the side of making it too hard. What he doesn’t want to do is like, you know, if… if you’ve given the players the tools to work something out and there’s a wrench on the table was his specific quote. Don’t be tempted to make the wrench bounce up and down and flash in their face ‘cause part of the fun of these kind of games is figuring that stuff out for yourself. And you know not… you don’t have to make every puzzle easier. It’s just the ones where you know if… if every single play tester trips up on it, that’s obviously you know that’s a flag. But you know some… some things some people are going to find a bit harder and some people will breeze through it and that’s okay. John: But it’s about creating those aha moments where you know where you… you know if it’s too easy you don’t get that reward. If it and it’s if it’s too hard, you also and it doesn’t really make sense, you don’t get that reward. But if it’s hard enough that you can work it out and then you do work it out, the sense of satisfaction you get from that is much greater. GC: Oh, I agree completely. There’s a lot of really satisfying moments in the game. There’s some… there’s some tough ones, but when you figure it out, it just feels fantastic. Rob: Awesome. GC: I was thinking about one particularly difficult one, but I’m not going to spoil it here. I tell you later. All right. Do you guys each have a favorite character in the game? Rob: For me, I think it’s got to be Verona Green. Partly because she is a returning character from Strange Horticulture. So, if you played that game, you might recognize her. And I mean, she’s kind of… she’s pretty central in both games. She’s… she’s kind of half based on a kind of Granny Weatherwax sort of character from Discworld, if you’re familiar with her. She’s just… Yeah, she’s kind of the… the beating heart of Undermere. I think she kind of keeps everything ticking over. John: I mean, like, it would be remiss if I said my favorite character wasn’t the cat because my favorite character is the cat, you know? He’s the central kind of character throughout the game. Well, both games, obviously. It’s a different cat now. But he’s the constant throughout like, he’s always there. He’s minding his own business. You know, he runs the place basically. You, you’re just like… so yeah definitely I would say the cat Jupiter. GC: Okay. Yeah, one thing I did love about Jupiter is when he’s napping if you hit the… if you hit the bell, of course he’s alarmed that you woke him up but if you pet him first he’ll be awake and he won’t mind the bell. John: Yeah that’s like something from Strange Horticulture which was a happy accident just how it was set up like and then people loved it or found it, found out about it and loved it so much and then when we released the demo it didn’t have that and people were like excuse me can you fix that please! Rob: We added that back in. GC: Fantastic! Do you have a favorite one of the items in the game? Rob: I think I’m going to go with an item called the Bloodbeck which I have to be careful here to not give away any sort of puzzle. But it is this kind of mysterious item that has whispered voices and you don’t know if they’re the voices of the dead or the voices of the mysterious nameless gods. John: I mean honestly, I don’t know the items like inherently by name or by what they do but I do like as the artist is… is for me it’s how they resonate visually. So, I can say like my favorites there are like there’s a wooden doll item with some markings on his head, which I’ve… I don’t know why. I’ve just always liked it. Like I think it’s cool. It could… I can see it in a museum or something. And there’s also one which has… is it’s like a… a sort of doll, a wooden doll with earrings and a big… GC: …Disc headdress on top. John: Yeah. Yeah. I just… I just like it those… those ones visually like I don’t know. Like and so when… when I did some stickers for Strange Horticulture for Gamescom recently those… those are ones that got printed up. So yeah like um… GC: Okay. Yeah, there they are. And of course the skull and the flower that use… John: Well, that’s kind of in the game’s loading screen. Rob: Yeah, it’s quite an iconic one. John: Yeah, it became like early on it it was one of the sort of earlier designs and it became like kind of the the insignia for the game like the emblem and…and so it’s… it’s kind of on the the Steam small banner and we kind we kind of use it as our kind of icon I guess. GC: Yeah. No, it… it’s quite an image because it ties things of course back to Strange Horticulture. You got the plant right there. John: That’s it. There’s a little bit of that and I think like the kind of skull and like the way it is it kind of feels occult and so which it’s a cool… it’s just a cool design. I love it. Yeah. Yeah. GC: All right. Now, here’s a question. How did you decide on the yacht dice minigame as a way of punishing players for just random clicking? Rob: That was… I’m not sure exactly where that idea came from. Well, so we had something similar in Strange Horticulture where yeah, if you fill up your rising dread meter, we call it and you get a game over. You have a little puzzle to solve to get back in. And we got some really good feedback on that. Some players really loved it. And then I think the players that hit it quite a lot found it quite frustrating that they were just doing the same puzzle over and over again, which yeah, fair enough. We… we take that on board. So we wanted to do something that could be more replayable. Which is a real challenge when you want it to be something quite simple like not take too long and get you back into the game you know within a minute or two, max 5 minutes, something like that. So yeah it went through quite a few iterations but I think we went with a dice game partly because again inspired by board games and those kind of mechanics. Partly because I think visually it’s… it looks cool having, you know, the 3D dice in there, I think it works really well. And partly because it introduces a luck factor. So, there’s that kind of randomizing element. But then balancing that and making sure because the first iteration we did of it, we, you know, we sent it off to our publishers and like, oh, what do you think of this? And they absolutely hated it because it was just way too hard. And they were just getting so frustrated that they couldn’t just get back into the game. So, we tweaked it quite a lot and made it easier. And we also added in a fun little feature where… so if you roll X’s, that’s kind of like a bad thing. You don’t want to roll those. But if you roll two or more of them, Jupiter can swipe his paw across and reroll them for you, which is, kind of nice. GC: It’s a delightful surprise. Is the first time it happened. Yeah. Just reached in to help me out. Rob: Yeah. John: It’s for us like that… the mini game like the game, we call it the game over minigame internally. And it’s basically… it’s needed in the game to stop people just trying every item on the shelf systematically and brute forcing every puzzle. We want people to actually try and work out the right item. So, we have to have something that takes people out so there’s an incentive to try and get the right item first time round. And obviously, if you’re playing the game correctly, you should never see the game over mini game. You should be able to go through the whole game without seeing it. But it’s there like as… and it’s got to fit sort of thematically like does it does it work like does it work within this world? It’s got to be kind of simple to play. And then we also wanted to try and make it so that if you are coming back to it regularly like you can kind of learn how to play it and then we try and increase the difficulty a little bit as you go along. So it becomes almost like a game in itself which you can kind of have… have and there is some sort of strategy to it. So yeah, I think whether people like it or not, we… we don’t, it’s going to be hard to judge until it comes out, but it’s… it’s the best we were able to come up with for that yeah, that section of the game. GC: Yeah. As you say, to keep people from just brute forcing every puzzle because it takes you out of the experience if you’re just click click click. Okay, well that doesn’t work, that doesn’t work. Okay. No, it… it absolutely had a great effect there as does the hint system. Did you discuss whether you wanted to have a hint system in the game or was that always the plan? John: The… the hint system is there again for, like, people who get to a point where they’re really stuck and they’re going to quit the game and never come back to it. And it’s like, you know, why are we trying to punish people if they’re having a hard time? like let’s give them clues and rather than just telling them the answer, let’s try and like give a, you know, a simple clue and then if they’re still struggling another clue and then if they’re still struggling it maybe a final clue that really hints at it. But like it’s about providing as seamless an experience for everyone. And so having the hints, is something we always plan to do in Strange Horticulture and then for this absolutely we would… we definitely added it. And we’ve done another thing this time round which we didn’t do previously which is we kind of we talked a lot about it and then we’ve just decided to do it anyway is when you solve a puzzle and you identify an item in the in the screen that comes up there’s a popup and we we list the reason… GC: What the clues were. John: What the clues were. The idea being that if someone wasn’t entirely sure why that was the right answer, we’ve given them the clues so that they can go, “Ah, okay, that makes sense.” And also maybe get into the way we think and how we’re setting puzzles, GC: Teaching them what to look for in future puzzles. Rob: Right, exactly. Yeah. Yeah, that was the thinking behind it. Sure. GC: Well, that makes a lot of sense. I mean, and that’s what it… that’s the effect it had on me. So, I confirm that works. You say the game is largely not humorous, and I think that’s true, but there are a lot of moments of levity in there, like at the time I clicked, you know, to feel what the texture of a bottle’s label was, and the answer was papery. Rob: Right? Yeah. Oh, yeah. Sure. GC: Is there stuff that from there that, like, really makes you guys laugh? Rob: Yeah. So when I said (it) is less humorous, I guess I was meaning in contrast to something like Discworld, which is very silly like super British sarcastic kind of humor. We do… we do have some of that kind of dry humor in there as well. You can probably tell from our accents that we’re British and… and that’s yeah, that’s kind of in our DNA there. So yeah, we did put a few things in. I’m struggling to think of any good examples off the top of my head, but yeah, I think certainly Verona adds that partly that’s why I like Verona Green because she adds a bit of that sort of wit to her um… GC: ..in her interactions. John: Yeah. when we… when we can be witty, we we’ll try and add some wit in just ‘cause it… it works well with the kind of it’s… it’s about a counterpoint to the dark kind of more sinister stuff going on when you can provide moments of levity and I think they’re important. So… GC: Okay. All right. Now, you’re you’ve already told me that when you’re designing the quests, ‘cause it’s funny, I wrote out my question and it’s like, what comes first? The character who has a problem solved or the item you want to use, but it seems to me the real organ order you’re doing this is you come up with a puzzle you want to do first and then the other two fold into that. That a fair way of describing it? Rob: Yes, pretty much, I’d say. Yeah, I think that’s kind of how we approached it was design as many or… or come up with as many puzzles as we could. Like, yeah, I’ve got kind of pages of notebooks filled of just different ideas for item puzzles and… and then you kind of design an item around that. And then because you can you can kind of like not always, but you can kind of tweak the use case of an item to fit where you need it. But yeah, I mean, honestly, this was a real headache for us because yeah, we… we’ve got a narrative going on there as well. So, anyone who comes into your shop, ‘cause it’s not a narrative where you’re kind of necessarily driving it yourself by going out into the world and speaking to different characters, that sort of stuff. It’s more that you… you’re kind of yeah, you’re in your shop and characters come to you and they might propel the narrative forward with a little snippet of dialogue here and there. But then those characters that come in, they… they have to come in for a reason generally. You know, sometimes the character will come in, you know, where we just could not think of an item that this person would need at that point and they just go away and there was no real purpose to their visit other than they wanted to come in and talk to you. But that’s… there’s not too many of those. So yeah, trying to come up with a reason for every single visit and fitting in those use cases for each item. Yeah, real real headache for us and took us quite a long time to kind of unravel that. GC: Now, for… from a replayability standpoint, at the end of the game, I won’t spoil what happens, but you let us know what happened to all of the characters. How many different character end states did you end up putting in the game? Rob: That’s a good question. I… I don’t actually know off the top of my head. Yeah. So, there are… I was going to say there are 10 character characters who kind of have a more central role in the story and that you… give you have bios of them. I think it’s 10. And then there are a couple more who don’t have bios, but they do show up in that endgame summary because they, you know, got intertwined in the story somehow and… and you might want to find out how they turned out. So yeah each of those has you know at least two or three different end states but some of them have quite a few. John: Yeah, obviously like you know feeding into that the game has branching points where you have to make choices. And like a character will come in and there’ll be… it’ll be a choice of two items that you can give her and obviously then the narrative branches and we sort of go in different directions and I think we’ve got eight possibly eight eight endings maybe nine endings in the game. And you know, each one has different end states for each of the characters, but it’s based off the end. I think there can only ever be nine separate endings like each one with that kind of summary sheet. GC: Okay. John: Where some people might… Rob: No, the summary sheet will be different. John: Oh, really? Rob: (For like ) the same ending. Yeah. Because there are, you know, there are some characters that… minor characters that you might have made a different choice with. GC: So that doesn’t meaningfully affect the main ending. Rob: Right, yeah. GC: Okay. Wow. So there’s the nine big endings and then that can have an assortment of character outcomes within the big ending. Rob: Right, exactly. GC: That is a huge amount of branching. Rob: Yeah. Yeah. It’s not… it’s slightly less complicated than it sounds perhaps in terms of the branching. It’s you know there yeah there are certain decision points during the game as John says and again like you know that branch branching it is really really difficult again because you don’t want to run into a scenario where you know you you might need an item on one branch and you whatever like it it yeah it’s complicated fitting it into this sort of framework but we obviously We we kind of learned how to do that from Strange Horticulture to a degree and kind of.. John: Yeah. But you make it sound like that we learned and it made it easier but it’s a tool like I think arguably it was harder this time round. Again I… I don’t know why but it was. GC: All right. Now this is just a detail that I absolutely loved and I got to know how it ended up in the game. If I look left and right in the shop, it’s not like I’m turning my eyes. It’s like I’m picking up the whole shop and moving it because all of the hanging items swing back and forth. Why is that in the game? Rob: I kind of… I almost don’t want to admit this because well, no, obviously I will, but it was… it was basically an accident. I didn’t intend for it to be like that. I put the code for pendulums swinging into the game and I noticed that it was doing this and it was only afterwards and and but I, you know, I saw it and I was like, well, it shouldn’t technically be doing that, but it does look kind of cool, so I think I’m just going to leave it in. And yeah, the reason is that instead of ‘cause… so I can either move the camera right in the back end, I can move the camera around the shot or I can move the shelves. But because when you go down to the desk, that’s… that moves the camera down. But then moving the shelves is like a separate thing. I don’t want to move the camera across when I’m on the desk view. So, the easy solution there is to simply move the shelves, which means that by a happy accident, I’m moving the whole world, which means that the pendulums start swaying just because they… their position moves in the world. John: But it creates this kind of like extra tactile quality to everything, you know, like just having things like moving and stuff and like there’s something about Strange Horticulture. We had the plants were all swaying and stuff, but these are static items. It’s like how can we create life? And one of the… the things I think that does that is just having the… the talisman, the pendants kind of just sway when you pick them up and put them down and when you move the shop around. And I just yeah, it feels… I don’t know. It feels more enjoyable as a player when you’re kind of navigating it around. Even though maybe it doesn’t entirely make sense. Though that said, we’ve always maintained like the shop itself is an… is a thing is almost like an entity. I mean, there are some puzzles which require I mean, it’s not a spoiler to say there are some plinths in the counter and that one of the puzzles involves putting items on plinths and then you can go to other locations in your shop and the way we do that is we slam the shelves together and you mysteriously get to a different bit. I mean, so it’s… there is a kind of like, I don’t know, magical quality to the way the shop sort of moves around. GC: Well, according to the lore, the town was built around the shop, so that’s not a huge surprise. Rob: Yeah. Yeah. And nobody really knows who built it or how old it is. GC:There you go. Actually, when you’re talking about moving up and down to your… the desk you look down at, I did notice that the controls are much more, kind of, intuitive and user friendly than they were in Strange Horticulture. Like the way you… you put the… the magnifying glass on the mouse wheel this time. So, it’s very easy to just zip into that. The ambidextrous controls in the keyboard. Was that based on feedback from people who played Strange Horticulture? Rob: I mean partly that just came out of extending the layout. ‘Cause obviously Strange Horticulture is just that single screen. But this time we wanted to put the characters front and center and have the dialogue text a little bit bigger so it’s, you know, not quite as hard to read on smaller devices. so then you know as an extension of that then the desk goes below the main shop window so now you have to move it around. But then yeah so it kind of came out of that, and yeah obviously there… there was some feedback on Strange Horticulture that we had tried to address as well. And some feedback from people playing the demo of Strange Antiquities that we’ve already been able to address. You know stuff like people struggled with exiting various menus. They wanted to press escape, which I always thought that the default for escape would be to bring up the you know the system menu. But we’ve made it so that that will also exit menus and then it will only bring up the system menu if you’re kind of if you’re not in one of those… GC: And you’re… you’re in the neutral screen. Okay. Rob: Yeah, yeah. GC: Yeah. I did hit escape a lot. You’re right. Yeah. Rob: Yeah. Well, yeah. Players… players wanted it. So, yeah. So obviously having as much play testing as possible allows, you know, enables us to find those kind of points of friction and… and allows us to smooth them out as much as we can. You know, we’re not going to be able to get everything, but we do the best we can. GC: Okay. What kind of work went into designing the game’s maps? Like you talked about some of the inspirations with Consulting Detective, but what I was intrigued by was that all three of the maps you’ve chosen to do in completely different art styles. John: Yeah, I mean, well, I mean, it’s funny you say that. I never intended them to be different art styles, but I suppose, like, they’re designed by different map designers. What we… the key thing was we wanted each map to feel different to the last one, right? And… and that extends back to Strange Horticulture as well. We… When we designed that map, you know, when you’re going out looking for flowers, it always felt like it needed to be a wide area. And we set our game in the Lake District in the UK and you go up The Fells and you find rare plants and you bring them back to your shop. And it was all done on a grid- based layout and the puzzles were all all around this kind of grid system. We kind of were like, well, we’ve done that grid layout. We did as many grid kind of based puzzles as we could think of in that game. And we were like, we don’t want to do that again. So what can we do differently? And I mean early on we were like well we’ll just set this in Undermere itself like focus it makes more sense. And (I) really like the idea of doing a street layout map for that. And then we kind of like people loved exploring the maps. Let’s add more. What else can we do? And it was just about trying to find other ideas which would offer us the ability to do different kinds of puzzles. So yeah, again like we don’t want to entirely spoil it for people because I think part of what’s fun playing the game is coming across the different maps as you go through the game and like oh what’s this one got in it and it’s like cool. GC: Well, there is definitely a… a spoilery question I would like to ask you about the… the underground map, but I’m definitely not going to do it here. Rob: Okay. Sure. GC: It was a… it was such a delight to come on that third map and just doing everyone has its own completely different kind of puzzle because for the… the town map it kind of makes sense. You’re asking people who lives across from where? What are the streets named, right? What is north, south, east, and west of place? But then the… for the mansion, right, you’re suddenly asking yourself, okay, now I’m imagining myself walking through this space. Whereas when you get into the underground, it’s all about lore and history. And it’s because it’s interesting because it’s not just three different locations, it’s three different kinds of puzzles. John: Yeah. Yeah. And then on top of it, there’s another puzzle, which is when you get a clue card, we don’t tell you which map it is, so you have to kind of analyze it and work out which one we’re talking about. GC: Yeah, that was a lot of fun, not going to lie, getting through all the clue cards. Well, the embarrassing part is, you know, you get the first clue card before you know, you get it right away and you’re like, what the… what does this mean? Is this a story thing? What is going on? Rob: Yeah. GC: It took me an embarrassingly long time to figure out it was a map reference. Rob: That’s that’s interesting. Yeah. GC:Yeah. Rob: Obviously, yeah. Well, that’s again that’s part of the game and that’s part of, you know, it’s that coming back to that Ron Gilbert quote of we don’t want to tell people that, we… we don’t want to signpost it. We want players to have those ah kind of moments and and work it out for themselves. GC: Oh, and all right, here’s… here’s a kind of related question just for the player experience. Have you considered adding in a new game plus mode where after they’ve gotten the trophy for unlocking every single item when they restart the game, they can just have everything pre-labeled so they can speedrun getting the different endings they want? Rob: So yes, we have considered it. I mean, if it’s just a case of pre-labeled, uh, that’s certainly a lot easier. The part of the reason that we haven’t done that yet, as in, so that feature doesn’t exist yet, is because there’s just two of us and making a game and finishing a game is a lot of work. And that is obviously like there’s… for the big fan for the you know our core fans of the game. We want to be able to give them those sorts of features but it’s not necessarily a core feature for the game. So they’re kind of like really nice to haves but yeah we’re not going to prioritize it until we’ve kind of done everything else basically. So yes, we… we would like to add those sorts of features but they’re not there yet. John: There… I would also like (to) point out for anyone playing that is interested in trying to find the different endings, it doesn’t require you to always restart the game from the beginning. We… in the save system, we do have save points at every day. So you can kind of go back in to a maybe where if you make a note of where a branch was or like certainly at the end like when you get to the end of the game there’s kind of a choice to make on where you go to kind of do your ending. Like there’s like different places where ending points can happen. So you can kind of try out the… those different branches by just going back a day and trying them different. You don’t have to play the whole game through again. It’s just like some of the more… Rob: If you have… if you have, you know, set up the choices to be able to unlock that ending at all, but yes. John: That’s true. Yeah, I forget that… there are other bits further back like that can have an impact on where you can go at the end. And… GC: I definitely did not have a choice of where to go at the end. So, obviously, I screwed something up. Okay. Do you guys have a third installment in the series in mind? Can fans expect to be like running a strange pet shop or a strange bakery in 2028? Rob: We, I mean, we… Yeah, we’re not committing to anything at this point, but I don’t want to think that we’re done with Strange or we’re done with Undermere in particular. So, yeah, we… we hope to come back to it, but we’re yeah, we’re… we’re you know, we’re we’re toying with ideas behind the scenes definitely. John: At the same time, we’ve been working in… on the strange universe now for five years and part of us is kind of like exhausted with it and needs to kind of maybe park it for a bit. So whether we go straight into, like, thinking about that or whether we sort of pivot for a bit, I don’t know. It’s like this is, you know, we’ve been so focused on finishing Strange Antiquities, getting it out, making the best game we could make. That kind of those conversations about what we do for a third game like we have like had them like little ones from time to time but nothing like properly serious like we are definitely going to do that next you know so it’s like we we we do obviously really hope and especially like well it depends kind of like how people see perceive Strange Antiquities when it comes out if people are loving it and want more and there’s a real appetite for it. It kind of makes us feel like…like well we… we ought to, you know, but if it’s really disappointing, well, may… maybe we’ve had enough. GC: Well, you’ve been living in this world for 5 years, So like, roughly how much work have you done on the lore and backstory of this world? Like how much do you know about this world that has never been revealed in the games? Rob: To be honest, I think most of that does go into the game in some way. The… Yeah, we… Yeah, I think I think it goes into the game. Like there’s… there’s some lore and stuff that we’ve written that doesn’t obviously, but… John: But those are more like story ideas that we had like that have been dropped. We’re not like the kind of I guess like TV show designers that have planned out series 1 to 5 and they know where it’s going. We… we’ve made series 1, we’ve made series 2, and now the network says, you need to do three more series. Oh, right. Like, yeah, maybe we need to think about it some more. GC: You’re building the railroad as you’re going down it. John: Yeah, I think I think that’s definitely more of the approach. We, you know, like, I love the idea of sort of Undermere adjacent stories and, like, and things like that… that you know, writing some stories about the world like that kind of go into the history a bit more and stuff like that. That’ll be really cool to do. Rob: One certainly one thing that we have really enjoyed this time round is because it’s a sequel, we can kind of reference back to Strange Horticulture. So there’s quite a few little references dotted back to that game in this one. so you know for fans of the first game, I think you’ll spot a few of those things. Um… GC: it was nice to be able to go to Strange Horticulture in the (game) Rob: Yes. Well, exactly. So that’s… that’s one of one of the little Easter eggs. You can actually visit the shop in this one. And there’s yeah, there’s quite a few little things like that and some like… Yeah, I really enjoyed putting those extra lore elements in there that tie back into the first game and kind of some of them might answer some questions. Like I think one of my favorite ones, I guess I don’t want to spoil it too much, but it’s not a big spoiler. There is the great oak in Strange Horticulture, which is never really explained. It’s just something that’s marked on your map. It’s this huge oak tree. And if you are paying attention in this game, you know, there are some small clues about where that came from. Which, you know, it’s… it’s a minor detail, but we really enjoyed peppering those sorts of things in. GC: Yeah, lots of mysterious items with oak handles in the game. Rob: Right? GC: Definitely tying in if you were go through the book carefully. All right, Sophie’s choice time. You have to pick one cat. Hellebore or Jupiter. Rob: Oh gosh, what are you doing to us? It’s… I think it’s Jupiter for me. I think… John: Oh, you see, I would… Rob: I’m sorry. (Iâ€m sorry Hellebore) John: I mean, Jupiter now, like it’s hard to I do love Jupiter with his heterachromia and, obviously my he looks quite… a substantially better visually. My art stuff has improved and things, but I do still really have a soft spot for Hellebore. Especially ‘cause he was such, like, a last minute addition to Strange Horticulture. He’s he was not, you know, there from the start. It was like when we were we basically had the game mostly there like in terms of you know… GC: All the mechanics, all the content? JOhn: All the mechanics and all the not all the content but like certainly all the mechanics and then we were like something’s missing like what is it? And it’s like, yeah, a cat obviously like that. It’s got to have a cat. Like… And then we like, well, can it just be a cat that just didn’t… it doesn’t really have anything to do with the game, but it’s just there. Yeah, why not? Like, just throw it in. And like, it just… it was such a… a winning addition. I genuinely believe that Strange Horticulture would not have seen the success it has if Hellebore had not been a part of it. Rob: Yeah, it’s… it’s kind of shocking how long it took us to realize that this game needed a cat. GC: Well, I’m glad you did because that purr and that petting is… is always a pleasure to do. Rob: Yeah. John: Yeah. GC: And of course, Jupiter has a bigger role, which I won’t spoil in this game, than Hellebore had in that one. Big question though, the game is coming out. What is the most important thing that you want people to know about the game? Like what is the thing like this is what makes this special to us and this is why we are desperate to share it with you. What are you most excited for people to see? Rob: That is… that is an incredibly difficult question to answer. I think just the love that we have poured into this over, you know, three years of hard work. And yeah, I think, you know, I just I hope it comes through in all the little details that we’ve put into the game. John: Yeah. I mean, we’re just incredibly excited to share it now with people. It gets to a point where you start like you… you’re really proud of your work and then the more you work on it, it starts to, like, go the other way and you kind of want to kick it into the sun at times. And now I I’m just I really wanted to get it to people to show like one the progression like that we’ve made ‘cause I think whilst you know I look back at Strange Horticulture I think we made a pretty good game and obviously you know from people’s perception of it like it clearly resonated with a lot of people but I think we have just taken that and you really improved it on almost in every aspect. Well, at least from my point of view. Like visually, it’s a step up. Like in terms of like the puzzles and the way those (are) done, it’s a step up. Like I just so I just hope people see that as well and enjoy and enjoy it as much as Strange Horticulture and hopefully more. GC: Okay. Well, thank you so much for doing this. I’ve learned a lot about the game and as someone who just finished it, I can confirm that it is very much just… Everything you loved about Strange Horticulture has just been moved a leap forward in design this time around. Everything… Rob: (Thatâ€s) very very kind of you to say so. Thank you so much. GC: Of course! John: Yeah, that obviously that is what we were hoping for but it’s… it’s lovely to hear honestly. GC: No, but I mean the design it’s… it’s so much more playable and so much more in-depth without losing any of the charm. That’s the thing. It really feels like an extension of the world. Yeah. While all of the gameplay mechanics have just taken an amazing leap forward. So, congratulations on how it turned out. Rob: Thank you so much. GC: Okay. and of course, when is the game releasing and what can people play it on? Rob: It’s out on September 17th. And it’s coming to Steam and Switch first, and hopefully other platforms later. GC: Okay. Thank you so much for your time and I encourage everybody if they haven’t yet, check out the demo immediately. You don’t have the exploration gameplay, but you do have everything, all the other main parts of the game. Rob: Uh, yeah. Well, the exploration is there as well. You just, you know, you have to find that map first, but it’s there. GC: Oh, it is. Oh my god. You’re kidding me. Rob: No, it’s there. GC: I thought it wasn’t there. Oh my god. Rob: That but that’s again. Yeah, some people don’t find it. Some people do. GC: Apparently, I’m also bad at the demo. Oh, thanks so much. Thanks for watching. Be sure to check out the links for more accessible reviews, interviews, and features at Gamecritics. Also, like the video and subscribe so you get notified whenever new content drops. We’ll see you back here for more. But until then, au revoir! The post VIDEO INTERVIEW: Bad Viking on Strange Antiquities appeared first on Gamecritics.com.

The post So Videogames Episode 452 appeared first on Gamecritics.com.

In this episode, Brad covers: Discounty Is This Seat Taken? Grit & Valor Lords of the Fallen 2.0 Otherwar Cronos: the New Dawn Hollow Knight: Silksong …And more! You can also hear the show on iTunes and Spotify! 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 452 appeared first on Gamecritics.com.

HIGH A unique take on the genre. Some unusual locales.

LOW Nasty stuttering often occurs in the late game.

WTF Sharp-eyed explorers will spot a neat Resident Evil Easter egg.

The post Heartworm Review appeared first on Gamecritics.com.

A Photo Safari Into Turmoil HIGH A unique take on the genre. Some unusual locales. LOW Nasty stuttering often occurs in the late game. WTF Sharp-eyed explorers will spot a neat Resident Evil Easter egg. When we experience the death of a loved one, weâ€re often lost and might not know how to express our grief. For some, life may lose all sense of meaning. We may try like Sam, our young protagonist, to find answers anywhere we can — even if it leads to mysterious locations and danger. Heartworm is a third-person survival horror set in the 1990s that follows a young woman seeking knowledge about the afterlife. She hears a rumor about a house that may have answers, but no one whoâ€s gone in has ever returned. Thatâ€s not going to stop Sam though — but once sheâ€s there, she’s soon trapped in a nightmare based on increasingly-warped locales from her past. In order to survive, she has to solve puzzles and learn more about herself. Sam is only armed with a 35mm camera, but in this realm, that proves to be one of the most powerful weapons possible. By snapping photos, Sam damages the digital specters, mannequins, spiders, and more that stand in her way. Most enemies can be avoided, thankfully, saving those precious film rolls. However, escape isn’t always possible, as I did have to engage with a couple of enemies (excluding bosses) that would trap me, either by boxing me in or by erecting a circle of stones that would prevent me from fleeing. When not dealing with combat, each of Heartwormâ€s three major locales gave a good glimpse into Samâ€s past — but more importantly, her psyche. Sam, understandably, is feeling lost after the death of her only remaining family member. Sheâ€s also dealing with unresolved childhood trauma, as well as the earlier death of her mother. While many parts of these areas are common fodder for survival horror — schools, hospitals, childhood homes, etc. — one caught me off-guard. There’s a peaceful and scenic wilderness that seems out-of-place at first, but it was a great change of pace from the tropes we often see in horror. In this particular case, it was fitting, as the seemingly idyllic location held unnerving memories for Sam. Ultimately Samâ€s memories are unclear, so this creates an intriguing idea about how memories are often unreliable narrators, and we sometimes can’t trust ourselves when we tell our own stories. While piecing this all together, Sam will encounter some satisfying puzzles stashed throughout the nightmarish interpretations of her memories. One required me to run the bases of a baseball diamond to open the way to a pitcherâ€s mound. Another had me memorize specific words to use at a statue to open the way forward. These puzzles helped break up the exploration in a way that wasn’t simply getting keys, which I appreciated. They also helped fleshed out Sam as a character. The aforementioned baseball puzzle led to Sam discussing her recently-passed grandfather, who was a Little League coach. While Heartworm‘s premise is good and I was interested in Sam’s journey, there were a number of issues that cropped up for me along the way. The biggest issue was that a frame-pacing issue marred the late stages of the adventure. At times, Sam would start to jump around, making it look like she was teleporting across locations. This tended to happen when there was a lot happening visually on screen, and it unfortunately extended to the area with the final boss, where it never stopped. This issue was especially bad in later cutscenes, which also caused the video and audio to noticeably desync — sometimes pushing the audio 10-15 seconds ahead of what was happening. Thereâ€s also an issue where the camera can sometimes be zoomed too far out, which made it difficult to see where I was. There was also one point at which I got stuck behind some terrain and couldnâ€t get back out. I had to reload the game, and lost quite a bit of progress as a result. Finally — and this is more of a nitpick — but the first area is too slow and goes for far too long. An intro area shouldnâ€t be a sprawling puzzle hunt while players are trying to learn the game and find their footing. Also, the unlock method for the best ending can be hard to figure out, since backtracking to pick up needed items is impossible after certain points. All in all, Heartworm is a fascinating look at memories, trauma, and our experiences in dealing with both. The limited combat options meant that the disempowerment of needing to avoid combat when possible helped to serve the feeling of unease. Unfortunately, there are some issues that bring down the experience as a whole, and I wish they would have been fixed before release. Even so, Samâ€s quest for meaning in the face of anguish is a relatable one, and that’s where this adventure truly shines. Rating: 6.5 out of 10 Buy Heartworm – Steam Disclosures: This game was developed by Vincent Adinolfi and published by DreadXP. It is currently available on PC. This copy of the game was obtained via publisher and reviewed on PC. Approximately 8 hours was devoted to the game, and it was completed. There is no multiplayer mode. Parents: This game is not rated by the ESRB. There are comments and memos from Sam throughout the game that imply that she is somewhat suicidal and suffered from childhood trauma in the past. Sam can be killed by various creatures, but blood and gore is nearly non-existent. Colorblind Modes: There are no colorblind options. Deaf & Hard of Hearing Gamers: The game offers subtitles. Subtitles cannot be resized. This game is not fully accessible. While closed captioning appears for some scenes, there are times when someone could miss an audio cue, like when an enemy is on the attack. Furthermore, some subtitles could be a bit difficult to read at times. Remappable Controls: No, this gameâ€s controls are not remappable. The post Heartworm Review appeared first on Gamecritics.com.

This is a transcript excerpt covering the score awarded to the Lies of P: Overture DLC on the So Videogames Podcast, Episode 443. For further coverage leading up to this review, please listen to Episode 442 and Episode 441.

The post SVG REVIEW Lies Of P: Overture appeared first on Gamecritics.com.

This is a transcript excerpt covering the score awarded to the Lies of P: Overture DLC on the So Videogames Podcast, Episode 443. For further coverage leading up to this review, please listen to Episode 442 and Episode 441. Starting off with the DLC I mentioned last week, and I believe the week before — Lies of P: Overture. This is the expansion to Lies of P, the souls like featuring a theme that is kind of based around a fantastical version of Pinocchio coming to us from Korean developer, I believe their name is Neowiz. I think, the main game. Incredible stuff. I think it’s one of the, one of the only developers, I think, that really can hold their own with from when it comes to like, level design and just general gameplay flow. They’re not reinventing the Dark Souls wheel as other people have done, and which I think is a fine idea. I certainly don’t think every game in the souls like genre has to be like Dark Souls. but neo is are clearly fans and lies of P. The base game is a pretty fantastic experience. It can be difficult, although I will say that this new DLC has included difficulty levels so it can be done. It can be done in souls like everybody pay attention. There’s easy, medium and hard and they work. They do not break the game. They do not, make things terrible. It takes the experience away from no one. the hard level is fucking hard. The medium level still pretty challenging. The easy level. It’s not a cakewalk, folks. It’s still difficult, but it is significantly easier than the hard level. So hats off, number one. Just right out of the gate. Hats off to neo is for adding goddamn difficulty levels. I know that all the get goods like whine and moan and kick and scream and no one wants the difficulty level and the souls like, but neo is proves you can do it and do it properly and successfully. It is great. I love, love, love that there are difficulty levels in this. It’s still a fucking great game. It doesn’t matter what difficulty, it’s still a great game. The mark of a great game, still a great game. Here it is. Okay. That said, okay, so the DLC is a I feel like it’s 15 or 20 hours at least, and it takes the main character P back in time. So it acts as a prequel of sorts. And I, you know, it’s been a while since I played the base game of Lesa P. I didn’t remember the story beats, I didn’t remember the details. So as I was going through Lies of P: Overture, I was like, I kind of remember this, and I kind of sort of remember this. But when we got to the end of the DLC, it really brought things together and I was really quite impressed. But I’m watching my wife go back through Lesa P now. Quick throwback. If anybody was listening back then or if you know me or I’ve, I’ve talked about this a couple times. My wife was playing the base game of lies and P a while ago when it dropped. And there’s one portion of Lies of P, there’s only one, only one time in the entire game where they take away your bonfires, where you cannot leave the level, you cannot go and level up. You cannot go back and resupply. You just have to make it through the next battle. You have to, otherwise you cannot progress. And my wife got stuck. She was playing the game. She was low on supplies. She was in a bad way. She was actually going back to the hotel, which acts as your hub to respec as she got caught in this trap and she got so frustrated that she quit the game, but she saw me playing it. She’s like, oh man, I wish I had finished that game. And I’m like, yeah, you had a good time, you should come back to it. So she did. Had to talk her into it a little bit, but I sold her when she knew that there were difficulty levels. And plus we knew where that catch point was. Right. So we knew it was coming. It wasn’t a surprise anymore. So she was well prepared this time. Went into it, blew through that boss like on the second attempt, no problem. And she got past it. Huge weight off her shoulders. I was so proud of her for coming back. And now she’s pushing on into the main game doing the DLC. But I bring this up because as I’m watching the wife go through the story, I’m kind of watching her play the main game again. I was like, oh, right. Like I remember all the characters and I remember all the narrative ties and all of the things. And so it’s making me really appreciate Lies of P much more. I, you know, I, I don’t necessarily advocate for replaying games unless you swing that way. I very rarely replay games, but if you are, or if you haven’t played lines up for a while, or if you’ve never played it it the DLC will make so much more sense and will be so much more meaningful. If you have recently played through the base game of lies and and your memory is fresh on all the characters and all the plot beats, because the developers really go overboard and in a good way, in a good way. Not a bad way, a good way. On the story in Lies of P: Overture, the story beats are great, and in general I really celebrate lies. because not only do they break the mold by adding a difficulty level, they break the the from soft mold by telling a story that is very easy to follow and easy to understand, and they don’t make it cryptic. I mean, there’s item descriptions to read if you want to, but basically there’s tons of characters all around and they’re like, hey man, here’s what’s happening. And they just fucking tell you. And it works. It works well, the lies of PR world is amazing. It’s really well fleshed out and believable and full of atmosphere. It just proves you do not need to hold back all the information in order to make a compelling experience. Neowise proves you can just straight up tell people what the fuck is going on, and even give them a difficulty setting to, and it’s still a fucking great game. So I love them for breaking the mold that way as well. The story stuff in overture is amazing, especially when you get to the end. I thought it was quite touching and quite sad, and I very rarely feel that way about games in general, and certainly not much about souls likes, but they really lean into the narrative and the characterization, and I really appreciate what they did there. I’m not going to spoil anything, but it was really well told. There were lots of callbacks to stuff in the main campaign. Lots of characters made a reappearance, lots of like lots of those moments where you’re like, oh, that’s where that dude came from. Or oh, I remember that guy. So that’s how that happened. And you get like a lot of those moments which stitched up together really well, which I think is great. I love it a lot. So the DLC gives you an easy mode, which is great or, you know, difficulty levels. let’s see, what else do they give you? I don’t know, there’s like a lot of stuff. I think that just lines up does really well. Like for example, there’s lots of quality of life touches. They change little things. Like when you have enough experience to gain a level, it changes the display. So you know right away if you can. So you’re not wasting your time going back to your bonfire. They also tell you how many levels you have saved up, in case you don’t want to risk going to the next section, which I think is great. you could find that out already, but having it right there, on the screen just makes it so much easier. They go above and beyond to make sure you can finish the side quests. Every time you get a new item or a side quest item, an icon appears on the fast travel menu. So let’s say, for example, you’re in whatever level and you get a new item and you’re like, oh, right, this goes to so-and-so back wherever they were. If you go back to the bonfire like you’re about to fast travel, they’ll tell. They straight up tell you they’re like, this is the guy. They show you a little icon of the character, and all the characters in the game have little face icons and you recognize them. So you’re like, oh, it’s the shopkeeper, and he’s over on this street. They tell you literally where to go Exactly. And it just saves you so much fucking time. You don’t have to like YouTube it all the time or look it up. They just are like, here, this is where we want you to go, and you go and fucking do it. And I will say that in terms of level design, they are very conscientious about making these side quests easy to finish, because most of the time the guy or girl or robot or whoever that you need to talk to is very close to the bonfire that you go to. So like, it’s not like you got to like, dig deep in the hinterlands and keep going and like, you’re gonna get on. It’s like most of the time it’s like, just go to the hotel or go to the street and there’s a guy standing right there. Or like, you go to this room, there’s a guy right there. And I fucking love that. Like, it’s like it doesn’t take away from the game at all. It makes it very easy to fix these, fix these things you need to fix. Solve these problems, help these people out, get these side quests done. It’s great. It’s like a quality of life thing that I think is amazing. I will say that.. What else? They also are really nice about giving you warnings to, like, if you’re about to get into a not in the main game. I think they’ve added this after that happened, I think they probably got some pushback on that. The thing that trapped my wife, I think a lot of people were kind of mad about that. but like now, when I was about to go into the final leg of the game, like, big warning comes up, hey, man, you’re about to go into the final leg. This is the end of the game. Are you sure you want to do this? I appreciate that, don’t trick me. Don’t let me. Don’t let me make a mistake I don’t want to make. So I like that a lot. so that’s good stuff. They add a bunch of new weapons. The bow, which is the first truly ranged weapon of Liza P, which is amazing. I love the bow. It does not break the game, but it is just so useful and helps out so much. It’s probably why there’s always a ranged weapon in every fucking souls game ever, because sometimes you just need it. They add a boss rush and a boss replay mode. I didn’t mess around with those very much, but they’re there if you want to. overall, I mean, so it’s the same base game of Dark Souls third person combat, really tuned, really tight. I think it works well. Great atmosphere, great story, great character. lots of quality light stuff. It’s really, really good stuff. I’m not perfect, though. It’s not perfect. So I will say a couple of things. really quickly that could be improved. I feel like, For whatever reason, I got backed into corners more often here than I ever did before. Like, I would be rolling around and, you know, dodging, fighting some guy and I would find myself backed into a corner and then the enemies would close in, and then I couldn’t leave the corner and I would just get, like, trapped, you know, corner trapped. And I was stuck. That happened like a notable amount of times. And I don’t know if that’s like level design or it might have something to do with how many of the enemies in Lies of P, especially Overture, are extremely, like, overly aggressive. I found that to be quite true. And it’s not just my imagination. As I was watching my wife play the game, she was rolling around and dodging guys and getting back stabs pretty easily. And that was all going fine. And then when she got to the DLC, she was not able to do that anymore. Like the dodges weren’t working. She couldn’t get the backstab in. I think they have really reduced the ability for me to move around. They want you to parry more often, which is a bad idea. so I think that, I got trapped in corners more often than I would have liked. That was not fun. I’ll say also that some of the bosses are just like so fucking super aggressive. Like, it’s really it’s really annoying. I did complete the DLC and I can think of like 2 or 3 bosses that just like they’re in your face constantly, like you barely have room to breathe. You barely have room to, like, use a health potion. And in lines of pee, you have to juggle a couple things, like you have to sharpen your weapon during a battle. You have to take like life potions. If you have any other supporting items, you have to kind of like mess around with the D-pad to kind of navigate those. And when you’ve got a guy stabbing you in the face with a sword 17,000 times and he never backs off, it’s really hard to do it. So I feel like the bosses were a little bit too aggressive. a couple in particular, but overall I think they just turned up the aggression too much and they don’t give the player enough time to breathe. And that kind of goes hand in hand with the paring and the dodging. I think both these things need to be fixed. I don’t know exactly what’s going on, but like, when you try to dodge Eliza, it’s, like, impossible. I feel like you can’t dodge anything anymore. you have to be, like. Like pixel perfect with your dodge to get that tiny ass little window of iframe invincibility frames. But like I was, was not dodging anything. And in fact, I was failing to dodge so often I had to change my play style. And P, his left arm is,mechanical and you can swap it out for different things. And there’s a shield arm, which I barely ever used in the main game. I only used it for like, I think two bosses and I never touched it otherwise. But in this I actually equipped it and left it on the whole time because I was having such a tough time dodging that I needed like an extra shield to kind of get through some of these sections, which to me feels wrong. I feel like that you should be able to dodge out of the way. That should be a viable, tactic. I mean, that’s pretty viable for most souls games. It’s kind of a basic fundamental principle. So I feel like the dodging needs to be tweaked. You need more iframes or to make the animation quicker or something. It needs to be tweaked because dodging just does not feel viable. And I will also say the parrying Is tough. The timing on it is really tight and it’s also very unimpressive when you do it now. We have recently talked about Expedition 33 on the show. It’s definitely going to be one of my games of the year for sure. It’s a wonderful experience, but they take pairing to a whole new level where you just parry everything, and when you do, you get these awesome animations. Feels amazing and I feel like they have just raised the bar on parrying every game from this point forward from now until the end of time. If you’re going to do a parrying, it’s got to be a badass parry. Otherwise, why do it? And in P they don’t do badass parries. It’s like you. You parry, and if you do it correctly, you get like this tiny little flash of like red light. And honestly, it’s kind of tough to tell that you even parried. Like the enemies often don’t rock back, they don’t get stunned. There’s not much that happens other than the fact that P does not take damage, so it’s kind of like a survival tactic, but it’s not cool. It’s not impressive, it doesn’t feel flashy when you do it, and it’s just not good enough anymore. They you need to parry, and when you parry, it’s got to be fucking like, stylish and flamboyant and badass. It’s got to be on the par of, like, expedition 33. They have just they have changed pairing forever. So props to Sandoval Interactive for that. And coming back to to doing pairing and PM like am I even pairing? Is this even happening? What’s even going on? I don’t understand anymore. It’s not enough. So they need to like fix that for sure. What else? Anything else? the only other thing that I kind of want to complain about, just to just to get it off my chest is. It’s like a, it’s like a, it’s a hit and a miss. It’s a hit in that like, developers let you respect so many things you can respect, you can disassemble your weapons, you can mix and match your weapons to make weapons that fit you. You can respec your own skill tree. You can respect the items that go into your mechanical arm. And if you want to rearrange those things, you can, which I think is great. You can basically respec anything in the game except weapon upgrade materials, which drives me fucking crazy. I don’t know why they would let you respect basically everything, but not this because you find so many weapons and sometimes you just want to, like, experiment with them, right? So like, for example, my wife started out with the strength based weapons and she spect for that. And then after a while she’s like, oh, you know, I really like this. I like the agility weapons better. And I’m like, yeah, I like agility as well. So she respect. But she had sunk a lot of materials into strength based weapons by this point already. And you can alter them a little bit, but you can’t just fully respect them. I’m talking about get all your fucking materials back and just put those materials into something else. Why not? You went all the way on all these other systems, which is great and I love it and I respect you for that. Why would you not go all the way on the final system? I don’t see the logic here. And what I think it is, is adherence to the formula that FromSoftware laid out. I think they’re following it for whatever reason. They were willing to break the mold on so many things, but on this one, they were not willing to break the mold. And I just have to I have to say it’s a bad call, because you find so many weapons that you want to experiment with them all. You want to try them all, find favorites. They’re great weapons, and especially in the DLC, there’s so many cool weapons to use that I wanted to try every one of them, but I didn’t have enough materials for all of them. And so I feel like just give me the materials back. Like let’s say for example, you can only maximum upgrade, maybe like three weapons. Okay, that’s fine, I can leave the other ones on upgraded, but if I want to switch, I will take my mats back and I will still only have three upgraded weapons. And honestly, what does it matter anyway? What? Does he even fucking care? I mean, you made these weapons. Do you want me to use them? Do you not like why did you create them if you don’t want me to use them? What is the value of locking me into weapons? When you let me change basically everything else in the game, it doesn’t make sense. I think it’s a mistake. I think it’s a genuine mistake. And I think, neo needs to fix that for next time. If you could take your weapon material upgrades back, that would be the fucking perfect thing, because then you could really mix and match and change your build and explore how the game plays and find something that really works. Why don’t you want to do that? I think you should do that. They’ve gone three quarters of the way. You might as well go all the way. So that’s one of my other complaints. Other than that, I mean, so all that stuff said, all the stuff I’ve just ranted about, I think Lies of P: Overture is a pretty amazing DLC. It’s chunky. It took me, I believe, 15 to 20 hours, which felt like just the right length. It had story ties that were absolutely strongly tied to the main campaign. This wasn’t just like a tossed off, like one off. It was like it really called back to like, central characters to things that happened. Like it made sense. It explained a lot of plot holes that people thought were plot holes before. It plays well, it adds great weapons. I mean, the bow itself makes the DLC worth it, but like the Wolverine claws or the exploding sword, or the gun blade and stuff, or the arm that shoots blades, like there’s all sorts of stuff that I think are amazing you can take back to the main campaign. Overall, Lies of P: Overture delivers a lot of value. Great story, great gameplay, lots of new weapons to play with and it was a good length, too. Ultimately, I felt very satisfied by the time I finished it. It was a little bit on the difficult side. A little bit. Enemies that are too aggressive. And I got backed into corners a little bit too often. Could have polished up some of the spots, but you know those are those are small things. Lies of P: Overture is pretty outstanding stuff, and this is a great way to do DLC. Other developers who make soulslikes should pay attention to how it was done here. And the score for this content is 8.5 out of ten. Excellent stuff. Rating: 8.5 out of 10 Disclosures: This content was developed by Neowiz Games and Round8 Studio, and published by Neowiz Games. It is currently available on PC, PS4/5, and XBO/S/X. This copy of the DLC was obtained via paid download and reviewed on the XBX. Approximately 18 hours of play were devoted to the single-player mode, and the content was completed. There are no multiplayer modes. Parents: This game has received an M rating from the ESRB and contains Blood and Violence. The official summary reads: “This is an action role-playing game in which players assume the role of the puppet Pinocchio in his search to become human. From a third-person perspective, players explore environments, collect items, and battle various enemies (e.g., puppets, mechanoid creatures) in melee-style combat. Players use swords and mechanical arms with ranged attacks (e.g., Puppet String, Flamberge) to kill enemies. Boss battles depict more prolonged combat against larger enemies. Battles are highlighted by slashing sounds, cries of pain, and large blood-splatter effects. Some environments depict bloody corpses and large blood stains on the ground.” Colorblind Modes: There are no colorblind modes available. Deaf & Hard of Hearing Gamers: Every line of dialogue is accompanied by written text, and I personally found the font size to be easily readable. Sound is completely unimportant for playing and enjoying this game since there are no audio-only cues for incoming attacks. I played it for some time with the volume turned fully off and had no problems. This game is fully accessible. Lies of P_20230909133217 Remappable Controls: This game offers a controller diagram and the controls are remappable. The default scheme is similar to other soulslikes, meaning we use the circle button to run/roll/dodge, the shoulder buttons are for light and strong attacks, the square button is for using items, the left stick is for movement and the right stick handles the camera. The post SVG REVIEW Lies Of P: Overture appeared first on Gamecritics.com.

HIGH Wiping out a giant zombie with a shotgun in one hand and revolver in the other.

LOW Having suiciders spawn right on top of me over and over again.

WTF That buckethead zombie is getting up to some weird stuff.

The post Zombie Army VR Review appeared first on Gamecritics.com.

Evil Never Dies HIGH Wiping out a giant zombie with a shotgun in one hand and revolver in the other. LOW Having suiciders spawn right on top of me over and over again. WTF That buckethead zombie is getting up to some weird stuff. The Zombie Army franchise has been chugging along for over a decade now, giving players a chance to blast apart hordes of the undead using weapons and mechanics from the the Sniper Elite games. Four titles in, ZA has developed its own cast and lore, and with Hitler finally destroyed at the end of Dead War, the developers at Rebellion are looking to expand the world beyond the Nazi demonology that had driven the plot until now. This time around the threat is of a more eldritch nature. In a plot largely cribbed from the film The Keep, an allied bombing raid has released an incredibly powerful horror from its prison beneath a German castle, and it’s up to the player to end its reign of terror before the whole world is consumed. Despite the new premise and justification for the action, the game is built entirely out of assets from Zombie Army 4, ensuring that there will be plenty of familiar Nazi zombies to blast. Unfortunately, the transition to VR has proven a little bumpy for the franchise. Rather than simply adding a VR perspective and manual weapon handling – a formula that has worked fantastically for Capcom in recent years – the decision was made to offer an original and significantly scaled-down experience. Most of the series’ classic weapons appear, including the delightful triple-barreled shotgun, which is an absolute beast to use. This is a good thing. The enemies, on the other hand, suffer from an extremely reduced roster. There are regular zombies, tank zombies, machine gun zombies, snipers, grenadiers, and dynamite-clad suiciders – but that’s it for standard enemies. No sneaky creepers, monstrous butchers, or vomiting water zombies. The iconic zombie shark – tragically – appears only as a taxidermied specimen on a wall. From a mechanical standpoint, the gameplay is almost perfect. Weapons are intuitive, and movement options are varied enough to make sure everyone from newbies to the most experienced VR players are satisfied. Ironically it’s the sniping that keeps it from being fully functional. Miming a two-handed weapon is never completely effective, which led me to having a shakier aim when looking down the scope than I would have liked. Other VR sniping titles have offered motion smoothing to make the aiming feel right – and considering that Zombie Army includes the main franchise’s ‘hold breath to slow time’ mechanic, and while the game claims to offer this feature, I could detect no difference in aim shakiness whether it was turned on or off.. It feels somehow wrong that I found myself relying mainly on handguns to deal with most of the threats in a Sniper Elite spinoff. However, the biggest issue here has is the inability to offer the overwhelming threat that the franchise is known for. Zombie Army has historically been about desperate battles against hordes of zombies, with the player leaning on the raw power of their sniper rifle to level half a dozen bunched-up corpses with a single bullet. ZAVR, by comparison, has a hard limit of six zombies in the world at a time. Now, that may not sound like a lot, but that’s only because it absolutely isn’t. Given the arsenal the player is armed with – at any point they’ll have a pistol, machinegun and sniper rifle, as well as up to three grenades or landmines – six zombies just aren’t very threatening. The developers try to compensate for this limitation by forcing the player to spend most of their time in tight quarters. While it’s a workable solution and leads to plenty of intense, close-up skirmishes, the result is that the sniper rifle – the weapon that the entire franchise is built around – feels largely irrelevant to most of the action. For me, the sniper rifle only came out when my other weapons ran dry, and even then I mostly fired it from the hip. There are only a handful of areas in the campaign that allow the player to fire from a good distance away, allowing players to enjoy the classic tactics of setting up mines to defend approaches and thinning the ranks as the horde draws close. Of course, there are no hordes in ZAVR, so these sniper sequences let me wipe out every zombie before they ever had a chance of getting near. While the combat may not feel like franchise material fans expect, the developers have done a great job of building battlefields that justify the frantic fighting. There are cluttered graveyards where zombies can pop up at any moment, mazelike crypts with threats around every turn, and the standout — a mad science bunker full of strange machinery and piping that the zombies can use to corner the player. These environments look great and are packed with collectibles and interesting details. The franchise has always done a great job of depicting a European theatre absolutely wrecked by the zombie apocalypse, and ZAVR doesn’t disappoint from an art design standpoint. The only drawback is that the graphics have clearly been dialed back to ensure that the game will work on all headsets, meaning that I never really felt as if I was getting the full experience out of my PSVR2. Zombie Army VR isn’t a failure by any means – the zombie shooting is certainly thrilling in its brutality, even if it still feels like a bit of a missed opportunity. The relative paucity of zombies, the fact that the sniper rifle feels like a secondary weapon, and the lack of any of the franchise’s crazier elements, like magical combat abilities or zombified vehicles, conspire to make it feel like half of the experience it should be. Maybe we’ll get extremely lucky and when Rebellion gets around to making Zombie Army 5 they’ll consider developing a VR version alongside it so that we’ll finally get a chance to truly inhabit this world. Rating: 6 out of 10 Disclosures: This game is developed by Rebellion and Xtended Realities and published by Rebellion. It is currently available on PC/Quest 3/PSVR2. Copies of the game was obtained via publisher and reviewed on the PSVR2. Approximately 10 hours of play were devoted to the single-player mode. The game was completed. Multiplayer modes were not sampled. Parents: According to the ESRB, this game is rated M and contains Blood and Gore, Intense Violence, and Language. The swearing isn’t too bad, although the violence absolutely is. Not to mention the presence of a bunch of Nazi iconography and the fact that the player has to work with ‘heroic’ Nazis to battle the villain. Keep children far away from it. Colorblind Modes: There are colorblind modes. Deaf & Hard of Hearing Gamers: While the dialogue is subtitled, there are no visual cues present to assist with offscreen threats. This is especially troubling because suiciders can one-shot the player if they get too close, and the only warning players get about their approach are their famous screams. Consider playing the game on easy difficulty only. Remappable Controls: No, the game’s controls are not remappable. There is no control diagram. Players use one thumbstick to control movement and the other to change facing — they can decide which controller does which in the settings. The post Zombie Army VR Review appeared first on Gamecritics.com.

HIGH Linking seamlessly flamboyant chains of acrobatics and death.

LOW No rapid-fire option for automatic sword swings can wear on the thumb.

WTF Super Express to Hell!

The post Ninja Gaiden: Ragebound Review appeared first on Gamecritics.com.

Be Always Awesome HIGH Linking seamlessly flamboyant chains of acrobatics and death. LOW No rapid-fire option for automatic sword swings can wear on the thumb. WTF Super Express to Hell! Ninja Gaiden‘s been on vacation for a while at this point. Well, break time’s over, bastards — The Game Kitchen, developers of the highly regarded Blasphemous series, have decided to cook up a delicious new entry in this legendary IP. Despite Ninja Gaiden typically being known for its bloodsplatteringly vicious 3D combat entries, Ninja Gaiden: Ragebound instead hearkens back to the classic NES trilogy with a modernized take on the 2D ninja platforming that got the ball rolling in the first place. After a short playable prologue, Ragebound’s new protagonist Kenji Mozu scoots through a quick obstacle and tutorial course introducing the most important mechanics and subsequently gets Izuna Dropped on his head by the legendary Ryu Hayabusa as a reward for completing his trial. Things suddenly kick off in a serious way, Ryu has to leave for America in a hurry, and series veterans will undoubtedly be pleased to hear that the Hayabusa Ninja Village continues its longstanding tradition of being razed to the ground by demons every other week. Before long, Kenji joins forces with Kumori, a Black Spider Ninja Clan operative with a penchant for hurling razor sharp kunai into the faces of anyone she deems unpleasant. The catch is that they have to literally fuse into a single body to survive, so while Kenji emerges from this joining as the dominant character, Kumori aids him as a powerful spectral sidekick capable of hurling projectiles and using ninpo magic to annihilate any fiends standing in their way. I found these two new protagonists to be great, playing off one another as mismatched partners facing impossible odds — one full of zeal and righteousness, the other cynical and pragmatic. They may be original characters, but players familiar with the franchise are likely to recognize certain parallels in their design and combat style right away. Kenji is basically a greener, brasher approximation of Ryu Hayabusa and Kumori carries herself as an infinitely cooler version of Ayane from the Dead or Alive series. As someone who may or may not be dead, Kumori is also able to step into the Demon Realm whenever Kenji comes across demon statues dotted throughout the stages. These tend to be where the toughest platforming challenges take place, but even though Kumori has to complete her tasks on a strict timer before being recalled, she won’t die if she takes too much damage or drops down a pit which allows for as many retries as the player needs to succeed. Combat is slick, speedy and satisfying thanks to perfectly responsive controls. Kenji can kill many enemies with a single sword slash, cut through incoming projectiles, or kickflip off nearly every enemy or attack in the game using a technique known as the Guillotine Boost — and it isn’t just an optional extra thrown in to spice things up. Players will be required to frequently make use of it to cross yawning chasms filled with airborne baddies or to bounce their way towards secret areas and items tucked just out of reach. The other major new addition is the ability to Hypercharge Kenji and Kumori’s attacks by killing specific enemies in sequence or sacrificing a little health, allowing them to slice through most enemies’ defenses to dispatch them in one murderously powerful blow. It’s exceptionally useful, and in order to fully leverage it, players will have to think quickly about the optimal approach to many situations. It’s important to note that Ninja Gaiden: Ragebound isn’t a metroidvania or a roguelike — it’s a traditional stage-based action-platformer in the vein of the original NES titles. Nearly every stage looks fantastic in a chunky pixel art manner, with plenty of detail and great animation throughout as players follow Kenji and Kumori’s journey through burning temples, mountain pathways, across the tops of high-speed trains and more. I only disliked the design of one stage, a sickly and unpleasant biolab which simply didn’t hold up to the quality of the others. Also of note is the amount of variations throughout each stage to help spice gameplay up. Whether fleeing from a demon who somehow learned how to operate a bulldozer, speeding across the countryside on a motorbike or having to take cover from powerful explosions in the background of an unfinished construction yard, there are plenty of neat setpieces to help keep things interesting. The journey may not always be an easy one, but I absolutely loved it. It’s just… Goddamn, my thumb really hurts now. Given that Kenji and Kumori have fixed stats, players can’t simply level up by killing minions to overcome challenges through brute force. That said, there are numerous Golden Scarabs and Crystal Skulls tucked away in each stage which can be used to purchase items from a shop between stages. Obtaining new projectiles and super arts, and equipping up to two talismans that help or hamper their chances of succeeding in each level can make a real difference. Positive effects can include healing on chain kills and obtaining Hypercharge attacks from linking multiple Guillotine Boosts together, whereas negative ones may involve not healing at checkpoints or restarting the entire stage upon death in exchange for higher completion ranks at the end. Every stage has a rank associated with it, and challenges can range from trivialities such as deflecting a few projectiles to more challenging ones such as beating Ryu Hayabusa in a duel fresh out of the tutorial. Make no mistake, Ninja Gaiden: Ragebound can be a tricky game, even on the Normal difficulty setting. However, it also allows players to make the experience as easy or as hard as they like, whether through unlockable weapons and talismans or by using an in-game accessibility menu that can slow down overall speed, reduce taken damage or even make players invincible to pretty much anything other than falling off the map — so while it’s a tough game by default, pretty much anyone should be able to succeed through tweaking various settings. There’s also no antiquated ‘lives’ system looming overhead, and plenty of checkpoints to quickly return to. In fact, about the only real complaint I have about Ragebound is that there’s no rapid-fire option in the menus for repeated sword slashes. Some of these bosses can take a real pounding, so after a few deaths and hammering away at the melee button like a madman each time, my thumb started to feel somewhat abused. It’s not typically a concern while making headway through each stage, but some bosses have massive health pools to be whittled down, leading to serious physical fatigue. Aside from that one issue, it’s hard to fault anything about Ninja Gaiden: Ragebound. It’s damn near perfect, and offers an immensely satisfying experience with plenty of replayability — it’s so good, in fact, that after completing it for the first time, I sat down and immediately completed it again on Hard Mode. Rating: 9 out of 10 Disclosures: This game is developed by The Game Kitchen and published by DotEmu. It is currently available on XBO, XBX/S/PS4/PS5/Switch and PC. This copy of the game was obtained via publisher. Approximately 20 hours of play were devoted to the single-player mode, and the game was completed twice with all achievements earned. There are no multiplayer modes. Parents: According to the ESRB, this game is rated T and contains Blood and Gore, Mild Language, Mild Suggestive Themes, and Violence. The official description reads: This is a 2D action-platformer based on levels and characters from the Ninja Gaiden universe. Players control small ninjas as they battle enemies (e.g., human commandos, ninjas, demons) in fast-paced combat. Players use swords, thrown weapons, and magic skills to kill enemies. Combat is highlighted by impact sounds, cries of pain, and blood-splatter effects. Some attacks allow players to dismember or behead enemies, and a handful of boss creatures are depicted with exposed organs and/or skinless, flesh/sinewy bodies. Some female enemies are designed with revealing outfits (e.g., low-cut tops, a lot of cleavage). The word “a*s” appears in the game. Colorblind Modes: There are no colorblind modes available. Deaf & Hard of Hearing Gamers: This game offers subtitles. All dialogue is delivered through text. The subtitles can be altered and/ or resized, though seemingly not enlarged. This game is fully accessible. Remappable Controls: Yes, this game offers fully remappable controls. The post Ninja Gaiden: Ragebound Review appeared first on Gamecritics.com.

HIGH The karakuri system adds a fresh, welcome twist to combat and exploration.

LOW I'm not in love with most of the crafted armor set designs.

WTF Japanese words scattered throughout the translation at random. Sou desu ne?

The post Wild Hearts S Review appeared first on Gamecritics.com.

Are Wa Kemono Da! HIGH The karakuri system adds a fresh, welcome twist to combat and exploration. LOW I’m not in love with most of the crafted armor set designs. WTF Japanese words scattered throughout the translation at random. Sou desu ne? A few years ago, a nifty little hunting title known as Wild Hearts was released on most modern platforms, back before the Switch 2 was a thing. Released under the EA Originals banner, reportedly poor PC performance and quickly losing support meant that it never got the recognition I feel it deserved as a lovingly-crafted Monster Hunter-style adventure with a fresh tool-building twist intelligently grafted on to it. Over the years I’ve made no secret of the fact that I thought Wild Hearts kicked ass. Now it’s back for another shot on Switch 2, dropping the EA umbrella and coming in hot with all previous DLC from the Karakuri Edition and post-release updates included as standard at launch. Taking place in the gorgeously portrayed feudal Japan-themed Azuma across large hunting areas based on the four seasons, a critical imbalance in nature is causing gigantic monstrosities known as Kemono to venture outside of their usual territory and clash with the woefully-unprepared humans around the besieged hunter stronghold of Minato. It’s a story that delicately examines the subtle interpersonal relationship between man and nature, eventually coming to one inevitable conclusion — nature needs to get kicked right back into its hole, one squad of hunters at a time. Ooo-rah! That said, while players will have to kill the vicious troublemakers endangering the lives of everyone in Minato, I knew I was going to love Wild Hearts almost immediately during one of the tutorial sequences where players are encouraged to stealthily sneak up behind a docile, passive animal and… pet the absolute hell out of it. Who’s a beautiful little abomination of nature? Is it you? Yes, it’s you! Awww, lookit your cute little face! Rampaging monsters the size of a house trying to chew villagers in half don’t get off so lucky though, so it’s a good thing players have plenty of awesome weaponry to unlock and utilize against them whilst playing through the story. There’s a total of eight weapon types on offer, which are varied, effective and almost uniformly cool as hell. For instance, the seemingly traditional Katana transforms into a ridiculously awesome bladed murderwhip threshing machine capable of whittling unfortunate kemono to bits at the touch of a button, and the Claw Blades allow hunters to hook into their target before dancing through the air, swooping in and out of range to avoid attacks while tearing into enemies with the same casual disregard for gravity usually seen in something like House of Flying Daggers. Even the Bow, rather than being a slow and precise single shot ranged option, is instead a relentless artillery machine capable of embedding dozens of arrows into hapless enemies before a charged shot detonates the lot at once. Having been infused with a karakuri device at the start of the adventure, players are also able to use various resources to conjure up wonderful contraptions that make hunting more convenient and enjoyable. From permanent ziplines ferrying hunters up sheer cliff faces and across canyons, to gliders and launchpads helping them soar towards distant targets, various skills unlocked along the way make getting around each area a breeze. Even better, there’s a wide range of camp amenities to help players mould the world of Azuma to their advantage. Tents can be placed to allow fast travel anywhere the player desires. Forges let players tinker with their equipment while away from headquarters. My own favorite camp was located on a lovely sandy beach where I had set up a kitchen to refine meals while passively harvesting fish from the sea nearby. It lends the world a sense of ownership not seen in many competing titles. The karakuri aren’t just handy for getting around, though. Usually while fighting a boss for the first time, players will be struck by inspiration towards the latter stages of the battle, with an onscreen prompt flashing up to introduce a new tactic for overcoming deadly attacks or exploiting a weaknesses. The first time a giant boar performs its stampede attack only to be comically flipped fifty feet into the air by a hastily conjured bulwark is a gaming moment I’ll forever treasure. There are a lot of these tactically-beneficial constructions to discover, from anti-air firework artillery blowing enemies out of the sky, to giant mallets smashing kemono sniping perches. They’re not necessary to succeed during hunts, but they certainly make things easier and are incredibly gratifying when used properly. By the end of the adventure some truly insane devices are at players’ disposal. Special mention goes to the Celestial Cannon, which is complete overkill in some circumstances but never fails to raise a grin. As expected, the selection of beasts in Wild Hearts S gets more menacing as players progress. Initial encounters with giant rats and boars give way to gigantic lava-infused monkeys, glacial wolves and colossal tigers. There are a number of reskinned fights scattered across the four main lands of Azuma, but the variety seen in the enemy roster is still pretty decent. Successful hunts naturally mean harvesting parts from these giant bosses in order to make new gear — and here’s where Wild Hearts S disappoints a little. While the new equipment is undoubtedly useful, most of the armor sets look middling on a visual level. This led to me using the wooden ninja skin originally included in the Karakuri Edition from the start of the campaign all the way to the end. That one looks pretty awesome, unlike most of the craftable sets. Still, the stat boosts and bonus skills naturally make crafting worthwhile, conferring abilities like more effective healing, physical and elemental protections and various tweaks to stamina usage, evasion and special attacks. Performance on the Switch 2 is generally decent. It’s not a locked 60fps, but it holds up better than I was expecting given the performance complaints leveled at the original on every platform. For what it’s worth, I thought it ran perfectly well on the Series X and this Switch 2 version didn’t have me balk at the comparison, so that’s a positive outcome for this port. Wild Hearts S is a welcome and surprisingly capable port of what I always considered to be a truly fantastic and criminally underappreciated title when it launched a few years ago. EA may have dropped support for Wilds Hearts in a hurry, but I’d absolutely love if Omega Force continued to forge ahead with this IP independently. Azuma ain’t gonna save itself, after all, and it’s far too charming a world to leave to its own devices. Rating: 8.5 out of 10 Disclosures: This game is developed by Omega Force and published by Koei Tecmo America. It is currently available on Switch 2, with a very similar original release on XBX/S/PS5 and PC. This copy of the game was obtained via publisher and reviewed on the Switch 2. Approximately 30 hours of play were devoted to the single-player mode, and the game was completed, alongside three full playthrough and hundreds of hours on the Series X version. 6 hours of play were spent in multiplayer in this version, with two entire playthroughs spent alongside friends on the previous platform. Parents: According to the ESRB, this game is rated T and contains Users Interact, Use of Alcohol and Violence. The official description reads: This is an action-adventure game in which players assume the role of a character that hunts down demonic creatures. As players traverse a fantasy world, they can complete quests, interact with characters, and battle large fantastical creatures (e.g., giant rats, demonic boars, ice wolves) in melee-style combat. Players use swords, claw blades, hand cannons, and bows to kill enemy creatures in fast-paced combat. Battles are accompanied by impact sounds, slashing and particle effects, and cries of pain. The game contains references to alcohol in the dialogue (e.g., “I’ve got some sake with your name on it”; “It’s a strong spirit that brings inebriation with a single sip”; “Drunk again”), and a handful of scenes depict characters drinking sake. Colorblind Modes: Colorblind modes are present. It should be noted that the accessibility settings found in Wild Hearts / S are extremely comprehensive, with a wide range of options to suit. Deaf & Hard of Hearing Gamers: This game offers subtitles. The subtitles can be altered and/ or resized. The only thing I’d say Deaf players might have an issue with is locating hidden Tsukumo by their unique clacking sound. However, a later upgrade to the hunting towers allow for their locations to be revealed on the map screen, so this is a temporary issue. Remappable Controls: Yes, this game offers fully remappable controls. The post Wild Hearts S Review appeared first on Gamecritics.com.

HIGH Absolutely breathtaking vistas and art style.

LOW The amount of backtracking.

WTF Jesus Christ that’s a LOT of blood.

The post Hell Is Us Review appeared first on Gamecritics.com.

Who’s The Real Monster In A Civil War? HIGH Absolutely breathtaking vistas and art style. LOW The amount of backtracking. WTF Jesus Christ thatâ€s a LOT of blood. Every videogame teased in 2025 with a sword-wielding protagonist, believe it or not, is actually Dark Souls. To call the third-person action-adventure subgenre overplayed is an understatement – and few recent titles do enough to differentiate themselves from their medium-defining forefathers. Hell is Us is the first time Iâ€ve played a new title that takes notes from the soulslike genre, but instead of lurking under its shadow, walks in a different direction proudly. The player assumes the role of Remi, a career soldier who was shipped away from the civil-war-ridden country of Hadea as a young boy. Now, his personal mission is to get back into Hadea, find his family, and uncover the mystery of a society-altering calamity that sent demon-like creatures to prey on Hadeans on both sides of their civil war. These creatures are the single plot device that keeps the story moving forward and leave the player asking all kinds of questions – what are they? Why do these beings move so weirdly? Why are they all white with a gaping hole where a face should be? The player must untangle this puzzle by talking to Hadean residents, picking up clues, and solving puzzles that take Remi across the country. Instead of going the typical soulslike route and focusing on combat, Hell is Us lives and dies by committing to the soulslike form of quest design. This means other than the opening dialogue sequce and talking to characters about what they need, itâ€s up to Remi and the playerâ€s intuition alone to find quest items or the way forward. Puzzles require a little extra brainpower, whether itâ€s for a main quest, side content called “good deeds” to help civilians around Hadea, or when solving puzzles to get items. I can understand that this type of quest design may not work for everyone. Sometimes Iâ€d go for entire hours of gameplay before Iâ€d find an item and try to think “Who does this go to? Was it that person asking for ID cards? But Iâ€m also not sure this is the right item?” It can feel like a mental balancing act at times. But other than a few sections prone to lots of backtracking as I got used to the quest design, like the beginning Acasa Marsha area and the hills where Remi learns more about his father, Hell is Us sold me with less handholding. Itâ€s established early on that everything in Hell is Us†map pulls on mystical and religious lore to set the backdrop for the countryâ€s conflict — entire towns were set ablaze, gigantic temples worshipping false gods were constructed, and civilians were ruled by hatred. The world of Hadea is broken beyond repair, and itâ€s easy to see why Remi was sent away by his parents. Easily the strongest point of Rogue Factorâ€s design philosophy was putting the carnage of Hadeaâ€s civil war on full display. Corpses line the streets of towns, blood runs through buildings, countless bodies hang limp from the little remaining vegetation that was left between bombings and flamethrower attacks. Among all of these depictions of carnage are smaller, more intimate moments — things like a vista looking across a mountain lake next to a field of azure flowers, or a massive statue of a creature and its gaping maw where a mouth should be. A burning town in the distance creating a nearly perfect sunset was haunting. Among the civilians, soldiers, and religious iconographies shrouded in smoke are the bright contrasts of Hadea — the creatures. Violently thrashing about like drunkenly-controlled marionettes painted white, they are so inhuman in nearly every way, and fighting these creatures highlights Hell is Us†inspired combat system. Iâ€m not leaving it for last because of any quality knock. It can easily stand on its own and is a treat to engage with in its own right. Like a typical soulslike, thereâ€s a strike, dodge, and block button, but every encounter has an added wrinkle. Every time Remi deals damage to an enemy, he can heal some of that damage back if the player times a button press correctly. Other dimensions include a drone that allows Remi to attack from above or spin in a whirlwind of blows, and “elemental” imbued attacks from enhanced weapons make combat encounters more engaging than a simple hack-and-slash. The mystical enemies come in all shapes and sizes. Some shoot projectiles, some disable Remiâ€s drone, some spawn enemies attached to them via an umbilical cord of sorts, making the player prioritize them before killing their host. A note I will make on Hell is Us†combat — if players experienced with soulslikes want to get the most out of the mechanics and consumables, play it on Hard Mode. While many combat encounters inspired me to think creatively, by the end of Hell is Us, I felt like I was mowing down enemies easily on Normal Mode while filling up a bag of consumables I never used once. Ultimately, the thing about Hell is Us that ties it all together is the title. The combat and exploration are merely a distraction from the real conflict happening in front of the playerâ€s eyes — humans on both sides of the civil war (and those manipulating the war from behind the scenes) have committed far worse atrocities than the creatures ever have. Score: 8 out of 10 Buy Hell is Us – PC – XB – PS Disclosures: This game is developed by Rogue Factor and published by Nacon. It is currently available on PC, XBX/S, and PS5. This copy of the game was obtained via publisher and was reviewed on PC. Approximately 19 hours of play were devoted to the single-player mode, and the game was completed. There are no multiplayer modes. Parents: This game is rated M for Strong Language, Violence, Blood, Drug References, and Suggestive Themes. It is a very visceral depiction of a civil war with modern technology, so this game is not meant for kids whatsoever, including bodies hanging from trees, staircases lined with blood and human remains, and a colossal pile of human skeletons. Colorblind Modes: There are colorblind modes available, including a setting to toggle color deficiency type and a slider with color deficiency compensation. Deaf & Hard of Hearing Gamers: This gameâ€s story has subtitles which can be resized. Some puzzles do have audio cues to make it easier for players to find quests, but Hell is Us compensates with visual directional audio cues. The game is fully accessible. Remappable Controls: The gameâ€s controls are fully remappable. The post Hell Is Us Review appeared first on Gamecritics.com.

Fixes, Tutorials and Guides for Games

Fix *The Elder Scrolls IV: Oblivion Remastered* launch issues on PC with these quick troubleshooting steps and get back to gaming.

The post How To Fix The Elder Scrolls IV Oblivion Remastered Not Launching On PC (Quick Fix) appeared first on Games Errors.

Experiencing issues with The Elder Scrolls IV: Oblivion Remastered not launching on your PC can be frustrating, especially for avid gamers who are eager to dive back into the expansive world of Tamriel. Various factors, such as software conflicts, outdated drivers, or corrupted game files, can prevent the game from starting properly. Fortunately, there are several straightforward solutions to troubleshoot and resolve this common problem. In this guide, we’ll walk you through the most effective steps to get Oblivion Remastered up and running again. Whether you’re encountering loading errors, crashes, or simply a failure to launch, these solutions will help you identify and fix the underlying issues. Let’s dive into the troubleshooting steps. What Can I Do If The Elder Scrolls IV Oblivion Remastered Won’t Launch? Verify Game Files One of the first steps you should take is to verify the integrity of the game files through your game launcher (e.g., Steam, Bethesda). This process checks for any missing or corrupted files and replaces them automatically. To do this, follow these steps: Open your game launcher. Navigate to your library and right-click on Oblivion Remastered. Select "Properties" and go to the "Local Files" tab. Click "Verify Integrity of Game Files" and wait for the process to complete. Update Graphics Drivers Outdated or incompatible graphics drivers can cause launching issues. To update your drivers: Go to the website of your graphics card manufacturer (NVIDIA, AMD, or Intel). Download the latest driver version compatible with your operating system. Install the driver and restart your PC. Run the Game in Compatibility Mode Sometimes, running the game in compatibility mode can resolve launching issues. Here’s how: Locate the game executable file (usually in the game installation folder). Right-click the file and choose "Properties." Go to the "Compatibility" tab and check "Run this program in compatibility mode for." Select an earlier version of Windows (such as Windows 7 or 8) and click "Apply." Disable Background Applications Certain background applications can interfere with the game’s launch. Temporarily disable any unnecessary applications, especially overlays or recording software like Discord or GeForce Experience, before trying to launch the game again. Check for Windows Updates Keeping your Windows operating system updated is crucial for optimal performance. Ensure that your PC has the latest updates installed: Open the Settings app and navigate to "Update & Security." Click "Check for updates" and install any available updates. Tips for Troubleshooting Game Launch Issues Always ensure your PC meets the minimum system requirements for Oblivion Remastered. Check for any recent changes to your system that may have affected game performance, such as new hardware installations or software updates. Consider temporarily disabling your antivirus software if you suspect it may be blocking the game. If you follow these steps and your game still does not launch, you may want to consider reinstalling the game entirely as a last resort. Exploring the vast world of The Elder Scrolls IV: Oblivion Remastered can be an enriching experience, but technical issues can hinder your journey. By applying the aforementioned solutions, you should be able to troubleshoot and resolve the launching problems effectively. FAQs Q: What should I do if the game still doesn’t launch after following the steps? A: If Oblivion Remastered still won’t launch, consider reinstalling the game, ensuring all game files are intact. Q: Can I play the game without updating my drivers? A: While it’s possible, outdated drivers may lead to performance issues and crashes, so it’s highly recommended to keep them updated. Q: Is there a specific compatibility mode I should use? A: Compatibility modes for Windows 7 or 8 often work best for older games like Oblivion Remastered. Q: How do I find my game’s installation folder? A: Typically, you can find it in the game launcher under properties, or it may be in the default installation path in your Program Files. Related reading How To Fix Roadcraft Launch Option DX11 DX12 (Quick Fix) How To Fix Roadcraft Requires SSD To Run (Quick Fix) How To Fix Roadcraft Freezes After 5 Minutes (Quick Fix) How To Fix Roadcraft Crashes With Steam Overlay (Quick Fix) How To Fix Roadcraft Crashing On Startup (Quick Fix) The post How To Fix The Elder Scrolls IV Oblivion Remastered Not Launching On PC (Quick Fix) appeared first on Games Errors.

Eliminate lag spikes in Fatal Fury: City of Wolves with these quick fixes for smoother gameplay and enhanced performance.

The post How To Fix Fatal Fury City Of Wolves Lag Spikes (Quick Fix) appeared first on Games Errors.

Lag spikes in "Fatal Fury: City of Wolves" can be incredibly frustrating, especially during crucial moments in gameplay. Many players have reported experiencing these interruptions, which can lead to a less enjoyable gaming experience. Understanding the causes of these lag spikes and knowing how to address them is essential for anyone looking to enhance their gameplay. This guide will walk you through some effective methods to minimize or eliminate lag spikes in "Fatal Fury: City of Wolves." To tackle lag spikes, we need to consider several factors that might be affecting performance. This includes system requirements, network stability, and software optimizations. Here’s a step-by-step approach that can help you smooth out your gameplay experience. What Causes Lag Spikes in Fatal Fury: City of Wolves? Check System Requirements Begin by ensuring that your system meets the necessary requirements for "Fatal Fury: City of Wolves." Low-end hardware may struggle to run the game smoothly. Confirm that your CPU, GPU, and RAM meet or exceed the game’s minimum specifications. Optimize Graphics Settings Adjusting the in-game graphics settings can significantly reduce lag spikes. Lower settings such as resolution, texture quality, and shadow details can enhance performance. Start with the following adjustments: Set resolution to 720p or lower. Reduce texture quality to medium or low. Disable shadows or set them to low. Close Background Applications Running multiple applications can strain your system’s resources. Close any unnecessary background applications before starting the game. This includes web browsers, music players, and any other software that may consume CPU and RAM. Update Drivers Keeping your graphics drivers updated can resolve compatibility issues and improve performance. Visit the manufacturer’s website (NVIDIA, AMD, or Intel) to download the latest drivers for your GPU. Check Network Connection A stable internet connection is crucial for online gaming. If you’re experiencing lag spikes, consider the following: Use a wired connection instead of Wi-Fi for better stability. Test your internet speed to ensure it meets the requirements for online gaming. Restart your router and modem to refresh the connection. Adjust Network Settings Modifying your network settings can also help reduce lag. Try the following adjustments: Change your DNS settings to Google DNS (8.8.8.8 and 8.8.4.4). Enable Quality of Service (QoS) settings on your router to prioritize gaming traffic. Install Game Updates Developers often release patches to fix bugs and improve performance. Ensure that your game is updated to the latest version. Check for updates in the game launcher or platform (Steam, for example). Reinstall the Game If none of the above solutions work, consider reinstalling the game. This can resolve any corrupted files that may be causing performance issues. Tips for Smooth Gameplay Regularly clean your system: Dust and debris can cause overheating, leading to performance issues. Regularly clean your PC components. Monitor system temperatures: Use software to monitor CPU and GPU temperatures to ensure they are not overheating. Consider upgrading hardware: If you continuously experience lag spikes, it may be time to upgrade your hardware components like RAM or GPU. Improving your experience in "Fatal Fury: City of Wolves" requires understanding the potential causes of lag spikes and implementing the right solutions. By following these steps, you should notice a significant improvement in your gameplay. Achieving Better Performance in Fatal Fury For players experiencing lag spikes in "Fatal Fury: City of Wolves," applying these solutions can lead to a smoother gaming experience. Addressing hardware, software, and network issues can help reduce interruptions and enhance your overall gameplay. FAQs Q: What should I do if my game still lags after following these steps? A: If the lag persists, consider checking forums for community solutions or reaching out to technical support for further assistance. Q: Can lag spikes affect game performance in offline mode? A: Yes, lag spikes can occur due to hardware limitations and might affect performance even in offline mode. Q: Is it necessary to have a gaming PC to play without lag? A: While high-end hardware can enhance performance, optimizing settings and system resources can allow you to play on lower-end PCs with minimal lag. Q: How often should I update my drivers? A: It’s a good practice to check for graphics driver updates every few months or whenever you encounter performance issues. Related reading How To Fix Roadcraft Launch Option DX11 DX12 (Quick Fix) How To Fix Roadcraft Requires SSD To Run (Quick Fix) How To Fix Roadcraft Freezes After 5 Minutes (Quick Fix) How To Fix Roadcraft Crashes With Steam Overlay (Quick Fix) How To Fix Roadcraft Crashing On Startup (Quick Fix) The post How To Fix Fatal Fury City Of Wolves Lag Spikes (Quick Fix) appeared first on Games Errors.

Fix the black screen issue in Fatal Fury: City of Wolves after matches with these quick troubleshooting steps. Get back to gaming fast!

The post How To Fix Fatal Fury City Of Wolves Black Screen After Match (Quick Fix) appeared first on Games Errors.

In the world of gaming, encountering technical issues can be frustrating, especially when you’re eager to dive into a match. Players of "Fatal Fury: City of Wolves" have reported a common problem: experiencing a black screen after completing a match. This issue can disrupt your gaming experience, leaving you with unanswered questions and a desire for a quick resolution. Fortunately, understanding the root causes and applying simple fixes can help restore your gameplay to normal. This article will guide you through effective troubleshooting steps to fix the black screen issue in "Fatal Fury: City of Wolves." By following these methods, you can get back to enjoying the thrilling battles and character dynamics that this game has to offer. What Causes the Black Screen Issue in Fatal Fury: City of Wolves? Experiencing a black screen after completing a match in "Fatal Fury: City of Wolves" can stem from various factors. Identifying the specific cause is crucial for applying the right fix. Here are some common reasons: Graphics Settings: Sometimes, high graphics settings can overwhelm your system, leading to a black screen. Outdated Graphics Drivers: Outdated or corrupted drivers may not support the game’s latest updates, causing display issues. Game Files Corruption: Corrupt game files can result in unexpected behavior, including black screens. Compatibility Issues: Running the game on an unsupported operating system or hardware can lead to various display problems. Here’s how to approach each issue systematically to restore your gameplay. 1. Adjust Graphics Settings Reducing the graphics settings in the game can help alleviate the black screen problem. Here’s how to do it: Launch the game and navigate to the Settings menu. Select Graphics and lower the settings to Medium or Low. Save the changes and restart the game to see if the issue persists. 2. Update Graphics Drivers Keeping your graphics drivers up to date is essential for optimal performance. Follow these steps: Open the Device Manager on your computer. Locate Display Adapters and right-click on your graphics card. Select Update Driver and follow the prompts to check for updates. Once updated, restart your computer and try running the game again. 3. Verify Game Files Corrupted game files can lead to display issues. Here’s how to verify and repair them: If you are using a platform like Steam, right-click on "Fatal Fury: City of Wolves" in your library. Select Properties, then go to the Local Files tab. Click on Verify Integrity of Game Files. This process will check for any corrupted files and replace them. 4. Check Compatibility Settings Running the game in compatibility mode can help if there are issues with your operating system. Here’s how: Right-click on the game 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. Apply the changes and launch the game. Tips for Avoiding Future Issues Regularly update your graphics drivers to ensure compatibility with new games and updates. Monitor your system performance to avoid overwhelming your hardware with high graphics settings. Keep your game files organized and regularly verify their integrity. Incorporating these practices can enhance your gaming experience and help prevent technical issues in the future. Resolving the Black Screen Problem in Fatal Fury By following these steps, you can effectively address the black screen issue in "Fatal Fury: City of Wolves" and continue enjoying the game without interruption. Implementing these fixes not only resolves the current issue but also equips you with knowledge for managing future technical challenges. FAQs Q: Why does my game show a black screen after a match? A: The black screen may be caused by high graphics settings, outdated drivers, or corrupted game files. Q: How can I check if my graphics drivers are up to date? A: You can check for updates in the Device Manager under Display Adapters. Q: What should I do if verifying game files doesn’t fix the issue? A: If the problem persists, consider reinstalling the game or checking for system compatibility issues. Q: Can adjusting graphics settings really help? A: Yes, lowering graphics settings can reduce the load on your system, potentially preventing black screen issues. Related reading How To Fix Roadcraft Launch Option DX11 DX12 (Quick Fix) How To Fix Roadcraft Requires SSD To Run (Quick Fix) How To Fix Roadcraft Freezes After 5 Minutes (Quick Fix) How To Fix Roadcraft Crashes With Steam Overlay (Quick Fix) How To Fix Roadcraft Crashing On Startup (Quick Fix) The post How To Fix Fatal Fury City Of Wolves Black Screen After Match (Quick Fix) appeared first on Games Errors.

Fix *Fatal Fury: City of Wolves* startup crashes with these quick troubleshooting steps for a smooth gaming experience.

The post How To Fix Fatal Fury City Of Wolves Crashing On Startup (Quick Fix) appeared first on Games Errors.

Experiencing crashes when trying to launch Fatal Fury: City of Wolves can be incredibly frustrating. Many players encounter this issue, which can stem from a variety of causes, ranging from hardware incompatibility to software conflicts. Understanding the reasons behind these crashes and knowing the right steps to resolve them can help you get back into the game quickly. In this guide, we’ll explore practical solutions to ensure a smooth gaming experience. To ensure that you can enjoy Fatal Fury: City of Wolves without interruptions, follow these troubleshooting steps. Each step addresses a common cause of startup crashes and provides a clear solution to resolve the issue effectively. What Causes Fatal Fury City of Wolves to Crash on Startup? Update Your Graphics Drivers Outdated graphics drivers can lead to compatibility issues with newer games. Ensure your graphics drivers are updated to the latest version. You can do this by visiting the manufacturer’s website (NVIDIA, AMD, or Intel) and downloading the latest drivers. Verify Game Files Sometimes game files can become corrupted or missing. If you’re using a platform like Steam, right-click the game in your library, select ‘Properties’, navigate to the ‘Local Files’ tab, and click on ‘Verify Integrity of Game Files’. This will check for any issues and repair them automatically. Run as Administrator Running the game with administrative privileges can resolve permission-related issues. Right-click the game executable or shortcut, select ‘Run as administrator’, and see if this resolves the crashing problem. Disable Background Applications Other applications running in the background can interfere with game performance. Close unnecessary programs, especially overlays from applications like Discord, GeForce Experience, or screen recorders, as these can cause conflicts. Check System Requirements Ensure your PC meets the minimum system requirements for Fatal Fury: City of Wolves. If your hardware is below the required specifications, consider upgrading or optimizing your current setup. Adjust Compatibility Settings If you’re running an older version of Windows, you may need to adjust compatibility settings. Right-click the game executable, select ‘Properties’, go to the ‘Compatibility’ tab, and choose an earlier version of Windows to run the game. Tips for Preventing Future Crashes While the steps above should help you resolve the crashing issue, there are a few additional tips to keep in mind: Regularly update your operating system and drivers. Maintain enough free space on your hard drive for optimal performance. Consider using a gaming optimization tool to manage your game settings. By following these steps and tips, you should be able to enjoy Fatal Fury: City of Wolves without the annoyance of crashes. Optimize Your Gameplay Experience If you are still facing issues after trying these solutions, consider checking forums and community discussions for any specific fixes related to your hardware or software configuration. Engaging with the gaming community can provide additional insights and solutions tailored to your setup. FAQs Q: Why does Fatal Fury City of Wolves keep crashing on my PC? A: Crashes can be caused by outdated drivers, corrupted game files, or system incompatibility. Following the troubleshooting steps can help resolve these issues. Q: How can I check if my system meets the game requirements? A: You can find the system requirements on the game’s official website or store page. Compare these with your PC’s specifications using the System Information tool in Windows. Q: Can I fix the crashing issue without reinstalling the game? A: Yes, most issues can be resolved through updates, file verification, and adjusting settings without needing to reinstall the game. Q: What should I do if none of these solutions work? A: If the problem persists, consider seeking help from the game’s support team or community forums for more specific advice related to your situation. Related reading How To Fix Fatal Fury: City Of Wolves Ultrawide Not Supported (Quick Fix) How To Fix Fatal Fury City Of Wolves Input Delay PC (Quick Fix) How To Fix Fatal Fury City Of Wolves Controller Not Detected (Quick Fix) How To Fix Fatal Fury City Of Wolves Crossplay Not Working (Easy Fix) How To Fix Fatal Fury City Of Wolves Rollback Netcode Stutter (Quick Fix) The post How To Fix Fatal Fury City Of Wolves Crashing On Startup (Quick Fix) appeared first on Games Errors.

Fix ultrawide support issues in Fatal Fury: City of Wolves with these quick steps for a better gaming experience.

The post How To Fix Fatal Fury: City Of Wolves Ultrawide Not Supported (Quick Fix) appeared first on Games Errors.

If you’ve recently tried to play Fatal Fury: City of Wolves on an ultrawide monitor, you might have encountered some frustrating issues. Many players have reported that the game does not support ultrawide resolutions, leading to distorted visuals or an inability to play in full-screen mode. Fortunately, there are several steps you can take to address this problem and enhance your gaming experience. Below, we’ll outline simple methods to help you successfully run the game on your ultrawide display. To start, let’s explore the main reasons behind the ultrawide support issue and how you can potentially resolve them. While Fatal Fury: City of Wolves may not be optimized for ultrawide monitors, you can still make adjustments to your settings and configuration. Follow these steps to get the game up and running smoothly. Why Is Fatal Fury: City of Wolves Not Supporting Ultrawide? Game Resolution Settings Often, the game may default to a standard resolution, which can cause issues on ultrawide monitors. Check the in-game settings to see if you can change the resolution to match your display. Graphics Driver Updates Outdated graphics drivers can hinder your gaming performance. Make sure your GPU drivers are updated to the latest version. This may help the game recognize the ultrawide resolution. Game Configuration File Sometimes, adjusting the game’s configuration files can force it to support ultrawide resolutions. Locate the configuration file in the game’s directory and look for resolution settings that you can modify. Third-Party Programs There are applications like Borderless Gaming or DisplayFusion that can help force a game into a borderless windowed mode, which can mimic ultrawide support. Community Patches Check if the gaming community has released any unofficial patches that enhance ultrawide support. These can often resolve issues related to display settings. Tips for Optimal Performance While these steps can help fix the ultrawide issue, here are some additional tips to ensure the best performance: Always back up your configuration files before making changes. Keep your graphics settings at an optimal level to avoid performance drops. Monitor forums and community discussions for the latest solutions and patches. With these solutions in mind, you should be better equipped to tackle the ultrawide display issue in Fatal Fury: City of Wolves. Important Considerations It’s essential to understand that not all games support ultrawide displays natively. If you continue to experience issues after trying these methods, it may be worth checking with community forums or the game’s support channels for more tailored advice. FAQs Q: Can I play Fatal Fury: City of Wolves in windowed mode? A: Yes, playing in windowed mode can sometimes alleviate issues related to ultrawide displays. Q: What should I do if the game crashes after changing settings? A: If the game crashes, revert to the original settings or configuration file and try again. Q: Are there any known compatibility issues with specific graphics cards? A: Some players have reported issues with older graphics cards, so ensure yours is compatible with modern games. Q: How do I find the game’s configuration file? A: You can usually find the configuration file in the game’s installation directory, often under a folder named "config" or similar.** Related reading How To Fix Roadcraft Launch Option DX11 DX12 (Quick Fix) How To Fix Roadcraft Requires SSD To Run (Quick Fix) How To Fix Roadcraft Freezes After 5 Minutes (Quick Fix) How To Fix Roadcraft Crashes With Steam Overlay (Quick Fix) How To Fix Roadcraft Crashing On Startup (Quick Fix) The post How To Fix Fatal Fury: City Of Wolves Ultrawide Not Supported (Quick Fix) appeared first on Games Errors.

Eliminate input delay in Fatal Fury: City of Wolves on PC with these quick fixes for smoother gameplay and precise moves.

The post How To Fix Fatal Fury City Of Wolves Input Delay PC (Quick Fix) appeared first on Games Errors.

Experiencing input delay while playing Fatal Fury: City of Wolves on PC can be frustrating, especially when you’re trying to execute precise moves against opponents. Input lag can ruin the gaming experience, making it difficult to perform combos and respond to your enemy’s actions in real-time. This article will guide you through effective solutions to reduce input delay, ensuring that your gameplay is as smooth as possible. Understanding why input delay occurs is crucial for troubleshooting. Factors like system performance, game settings, and even your hardware can contribute to lag. By systematically addressing these areas, you can significantly enhance your gaming experience. What Causes Input Delay in Fatal Fury: City of Wolves? Input delay can stem from various sources. Here are the main culprits to consider: System Performance: Slow processors or insufficient RAM can hinder performance. Graphics Settings: High graphics settings may overburden your system. V-Sync Settings: This feature can sometimes introduce additional delay. Input Device Issues: Faulty controllers or keyboards can also cause lag. By identifying and addressing these issues, you can mitigate input delay effectively. Steps to Fix Input Delay in Fatal Fury: City of Wolves Check System Requirements Ensure your PC meets or exceeds the game’s minimum requirements. Upgrading hardware like RAM or the GPU can significantly improve performance. Adjust Graphics Settings Lowering your graphics settings can help reduce input lag. Navigate to the graphics settings in the game menu and set options like resolution and texture quality to lower levels. Disable V-Sync If V-Sync is enabled, it may introduce additional lag. Disable this setting in the graphics options to see if it improves responsiveness. Update Drivers Ensure your graphics drivers are up-to-date. Manufacturers frequently release updates that improve performance and fix bugs. Optimize Input Devices Use a wired connection for controllers or keyboards, if possible. Wireless devices can introduce latency. Also, consider testing with different devices to rule out hardware issues. Close Background Applications Running too many applications can consume system resources. Close unnecessary programs while gaming to free up memory and processing power. Adjust Game Mode Settings Windows has a Game Mode feature that optimizes your PC for gaming. Ensure that it’s enabled to prioritize game performance. Tips for Better Performance To further enhance your gaming experience, consider these additional tips: Regularly check for game updates, as developers may release patches that improve performance and fix lag-related issues. Consider using game optimization software to streamline your system settings specifically for gaming. Experiment with different configurations and monitor their impact on performance to find the best setup for your system. To achieve the best performance in Fatal Fury: City of Wolves, it’s important to assess and adjust various aspects of your gaming environment. Play Without Input Delay By following the steps outlined above, you can significantly reduce input delay in Fatal Fury: City of Wolves, creating a smoother and more enjoyable gaming experience. FAQs Q: What is input delay? A: Input delay refers to the lag between a player’s actions and the game’s response, often caused by hardware or software issues. Q: Can input delay be fixed by changing settings? A: Yes, adjusting graphics settings, disabling V-Sync, and ensuring your system meets the game’s requirements can help. Q: Does using a wired controller reduce input delay? A: Generally, yes. Wired controllers tend to have lower latency compared to wireless devices. Q: How often should I update my graphics drivers? A: It’s best to check for updates every few months or whenever you notice performance issues in games. Related reading How To Fix Roadcraft Launch Option DX11 DX12 (Quick Fix) How To Fix Roadcraft Requires SSD To Run (Quick Fix) How To Fix Roadcraft Freezes After 5 Minutes (Quick Fix) How To Fix Roadcraft Crashes With Steam Overlay (Quick Fix) How To Fix Roadcraft Crashing On Startup (Quick Fix) The post How To Fix Fatal Fury City Of Wolves Input Delay PC (Quick Fix) appeared first on Games Errors.

Resolve controller detection issues in Fatal Fury: City of Wolves with quick and effective solutions in this comprehensive guide.

The post How To Fix Fatal Fury City Of Wolves Controller Not Detected (Quick Fix) appeared first on Games Errors.

If you’re a fan of retro fighting games, you might find yourself diving into "Fatal Fury: City of Wolves" on your PC. However, many players encounter the frustrating issue of their controllers not being detected. This can be a significant setback, especially when you’re ready to jump into a match. Fortunately, there are several solutions you can try to get your controller recognized and functioning properly. In this guide, we’ll walk you through easy and effective methods to fix this issue. Why Is My Controller Not Detected? There could be various reasons why your controller isn’t recognized by "Fatal Fury: City of Wolves." It could be a simple connection issue, outdated drivers, or even game settings that need adjustment. Understanding the potential causes can help you effectively troubleshoot the problem. Steps to Fix Fatal Fury City of Wolves Controller Not Detected Check the Connection Ensure that your controller is properly connected to your PC. For wired controllers, check the USB port for any damage or dirt. If you’re using a wireless controller, make sure it’s charged and paired with your PC. Update Your Drivers Outdated or incompatible drivers can prevent your controller from being detected. Go to the Device Manager on your PC, find your controller under "Human Interface Devices," right-click, and select "Update driver." You can also visit the manufacturer’s website to download the latest drivers. Configure Game Settings Sometimes, the game itself may not recognize the controller due to incorrect settings. Launch the game and navigate to the options menu. Look for controller settings, and ensure that your controller is selected and properly configured. Use Compatibility Mode Running the game in compatibility mode can sometimes resolve controller detection issues. Right-click on the game’s executable file, select "Properties," go to the "Compatibility" tab, and choose a previous version of Windows to run the game. Test with Other Games or Software To determine whether the issue lies with your controller or the game, try using it with other games or software. If it works elsewhere, the problem likely lies within "Fatal Fury: City of Wolves." Reinstall the Game If none of the above solutions work, reinstalling the game may resolve any corrupted files that could be causing the issue. Uninstall the game, restart your PC, and then reinstall it fresh. Tips for Preventing Future Issues Always keep your controller firmware and drivers updated. Regularly check connection ports for damage or debris. Experiment with different USB ports for wired controllers. If using a wireless controller, ensure it is within range and charged. By following these steps, you should be able to troubleshoot and fix the controller detection issue in "Fatal Fury: City of Wolves." Enjoy your gaming experience without interruptions! Play Smoothly Again With the above methods, your controller should now be detected, allowing you to immerse yourself in the world of "Fatal Fury: City of Wolves." If problems persist, consider reaching out to the game’s support forums or community for additional assistance. FAQs Q: What should I do if my controller still isn’t recognized after trying all the steps? A: If your controller is still not recognized, consider testing it on another PC to rule out hardware issues. You might also want to reach out to customer support for your controller or the game. Q: Can I use a third-party controller for Fatal Fury: City of Wolves? A: Yes, third-party controllers can work, but ensure they are compatible and have the necessary drivers installed. Q: Will using a different USB port help with detection issues? A: Yes, sometimes USB ports can become faulty. Trying a different port can help resolve detection issues. Q: What if my controller is detected but not functioning in the game? A: Check the game settings to ensure the controller is configured correctly. You may also need to adjust in-game control settings. Related reading How To Fix Roadcraft Launch Option DX11 DX12 (Quick Fix) How To Fix Roadcraft Requires SSD To Run (Quick Fix) How To Fix Roadcraft Freezes After 5 Minutes (Quick Fix) How To Fix Roadcraft Crashes With Steam Overlay (Quick Fix) How To Fix Roadcraft Crashing On Startup (Quick Fix) The post How To Fix Fatal Fury City Of Wolves Controller Not Detected (Quick Fix) appeared first on Games Errors.

Resolve crossplay issues in Fatal Fury: City of Wolves with our easy troubleshooting steps and get back to gaming with friends.

The post How To Fix Fatal Fury City Of Wolves Crossplay Not Working (Easy Fix) appeared first on Games Errors.

In the world of gaming, crossplay functionality has become increasingly important, allowing players from different platforms to enjoy games together. However, players of Fatal Fury: City of Wolves have reported issues with crossplay not functioning correctly. This can be frustrating, especially when you’re eager to jump into a match with friends on different systems. In this article, we will explore some effective steps to troubleshoot and resolve the crossplay issues you may be experiencing in Fatal Fury: City of Wolves. Whether you’re playing on console or PC, understanding the common problems and solutions can help get you back into the game quickly. We’ll break down the potential causes of crossplay issues and provide clear, actionable steps you can take to fix them. Why Is Fatal Fury City of Wolves Crossplay Not Working? There are several reasons why crossplay might not be functioning as expected in Fatal Fury: City of Wolves. These can include network problems, game settings, or compatibility issues between different platforms. Below are some common troubleshooting steps to help you resolve these issues. 1. Check Your Internet Connection Before diving into more complex solutions, it’s essential to ensure that your internet connection is stable. A weak or unstable connection can cause problems with crossplay functionality. How to Check: Run a speed test on your device to check for any connectivity issues. Ideally, you should have a stable connection with a minimum of 3 Mbps for online gaming. 2. Verify Game Settings Sometimes, the game settings can prevent crossplay from working correctly. Make sure that crossplay is enabled in your game settings. How to Check: Navigate to the game settings menu and look for an option related to crossplay or online play. Ensure that it is turned on. 3. Update the Game Outdated versions of games can lead to compatibility issues. Make sure you have the latest version of Fatal Fury: City of Wolves installed. How to Update: Check for updates on your gaming platform, whether it’s Steam, PlayStation, or Xbox, and install any available updates. 4. Restart Your Game and Device Restarting your game or your gaming device can resolve temporary glitches that may be causing crossplay issues. How to Restart: Exit the game completely and restart your console or PC. Open the game again and check if the crossplay feature works. 5. Check Server Status Sometimes, crossplay issues can be related to server problems. Check if there are any outages or maintenance activities. How to Check: Visit the official game website or community forums to see if other players are experiencing similar issues. Tips for Resolving Crossplay Issues While the above steps often resolve crossplay issues, here are some additional tips to consider: Adjust Firewall Settings: Ensure that your firewall or antivirus software is not blocking the game. Reinstall the Game: If all else fails, consider reinstalling Fatal Fury: City of Wolves to ensure that all files are intact. Getting crossplay to work can be straightforward with the right troubleshooting steps. Here’s a summary of what to do when you encounter issues. Get Back to Playing Together If you follow these steps, you should be able to resolve any crossplay issues in Fatal Fury: City of Wolves. By ensuring your internet connection is stable, checking game settings, and keeping your game updated, you can enjoy seamless gaming experiences with friends on different platforms. FAQs Q: What should I do if crossplay is still not working after following all the steps? A: If the issue persists, consider reaching out to the game’s support team for further assistance. Q: Can I play with friends on different platforms? A: Yes, Fatal Fury: City of Wolves supports crossplay, allowing you to play with friends on various platforms. Q: Is there a way to check for server issues? A: Yes, you can visit the official game website or check community forums for any announcements regarding server status. Q: How often does the game receive updates? A: Update frequency can vary; it’s best to check the developer’s announcements for details on patches and updates. Related reading How To Fix Roadcraft Launch Option DX11 DX12 (Quick Fix) How To Fix Roadcraft Requires SSD To Run (Quick Fix) How To Fix Roadcraft Freezes After 5 Minutes (Quick Fix) How To Fix Roadcraft Crashes With Steam Overlay (Quick Fix) How To Fix Roadcraft Crashing On Startup (Quick Fix) The post How To Fix Fatal Fury City Of Wolves Crossplay Not Working (Easy Fix) appeared first on Games Errors.

Get a Bolt of Gaming Now!

The Xbox Series X will cost $50 more starting next month alongside other increases due to "changes in the macroeconomic environment."

Following price increases for Xbox Series X/S consoles worldwide in May, Microsoft has announced further hikes for those living in the United States. Starting on October 3rd, the Xbox Series X will cost $649.99, up from $599.99, and its digital-only version will cost $599.99 instead of the current $549.99. The Xbox Series S 512 GB will cost $399.99 (up from $379.99), and the 1 TB variant will cost $449.99 (up from $429.99). However, it’s the Xbox Series X 2 TB Galaxy Black Edition that sees the largest price increase, costing $799.99 (a $70 increase over its current price). Controllers, headsets and “products in all other markets” (likely referring to games) will remain the same. As for the reason behind the second hike, Microsoft cited “changes in the macroeconomic environment” in the United States. While it understood these to be “challenging,” they’ve been decided after “careful consideration.” Console prices have been in turmoil for the past several months, with Nintendo and Sony also announcing increases for the Switch 1 and PS5. Of course, there could be further hikes in the coming months, so stay tuned for more updates.

Compete in graffiti battles against rival crews, performing tricks to fuel your boost pack, all in the name of interpreting the Hyper.

Bomb Rush Cyberfunk developer Team Reptile has announced what looks to be a sequel titled HYPERFUNK. As an “extreme trick and graffiti game,” it’s in development for consoles and PC with a release date to be announced. Check out the first trippy teaser trailer below. HYPERFUNK is set in a world where various “graffiti crews” are caught up trying to interpret the Hyper, an “online space.” Like Bomb Rush Cyberfunk, the Jet Set Radio-inspired cel-shading is on point, and you can choose between skateboards, BMX, rollerblades, and more to traverse the city. However, you also have a boost pack, which is fueled by performing tricks. Higher trick combos equal faster boost speeds, but there’s also multiplayer support where crews can battle it out in real-time. There are four types of graffiti to choose from, but if you want to explore the city, unlocking new styles and music tracks, that’s also an option. Stay tuned for more details in the future, and in the meantime, check out our review for Bomb Rush Cyberfunk. It’s not quite on the level of Sega’s classic franchise, but it still offers an enjoyable time.

The trailer gives us a lowdown on Midgar, Shinra, the Turks, and Avalanche ahead of the Switch 2 and Xbox Series X/S launch in January.

Getting ready for the Nintendo Switch 2 and Xbox Series X/S release of Final Fantasy 7 Remake Intergrade on January 22, 2026, Square Enix has released a new trailer for the action RPG. Rather than focusing on the gameplay or visuals, the trailer instead provides a primer on the world of Final Fantasy 7 Remake as well as the different factions all working together or against each other. Check it out below. As the trailer notes, Final Fantasy 7 Remake Intergrade takes place entirely in the dystopian city of Midgar. One of the members of Avalanche, Jesse, explains the city, its layout, and how the city is powered by Mako reactors. The primary antagonist in the game is the Sinra Electric Power Company, which runs the Mako reactors and itself is run by CEO and president Shinra, with his son Rufus taking on the role of vice president. Shinra itself is also supported by the Turks – essentially a crew of black ops operatives that can step in when the company needs to get its hands dirty without taking too much negative publicity. These factions are opposed by Avalanche – referred to in Midgar as an extremist eco-terrorists, and the game itself kicks things off with protagonist Cloud joining Avalanche on a mission to bomb one of the Mako reactors. The central antagonist of the overall Final Fantasy 7 story is Sephiroth—a legendary SOLDIER who was regarded as a hero but was thought to have died in the line of duty five years before the events of the game. Final Fantasy 7 Remake Intergrade is the first major step that Square Enix is taking with the trilogy in bringing it to more platforms. In a social media post earlier this month, the company had confirmed that it would be bringing the rest of the trilogy to more platforms as well. This means that we’re likely to see a Switch 2 and Xbox Series X/S release for Final Fantasy 7 Rebirth as well. The company’s wording in its statement also implied that the eventual third game in the Final Fantasy 7 Remake trilogy will also eventually make its way on to multiple platforms right from launch. This means that it won’t just come out exclusively on PlayStation before then getting ported to other platforms over the course of a year or two, as we saw with Remake and Rebirth. For Nintendo Switch 2 users who are looking forward to playing Final Fantasy 7 Remake Intergrade, it is worth noting that the title will need almost 90 GB of free storage space on the system. Even the physical release won’t offer much relief here, since the game will be sold on a Game-Key Card, which ultimately still needs its files to be downloaded over the Internet. For more details about Final Fantasy 7 Remake Intergrade, check out our review from when it was first released on PS5. Also check out our review of its sequel, Final Fantasy 7 Rebirth, while you’re at it.

The rhythm-focused side-scrolling adventure launches with five worlds and co-op, with plans to remain in early access for 6-12 months.

After suffering a delay for more polish, Ratata Arts’ Ratatan, a spiritual successor to the cult classic Patapon series, is now available on PC via Steam Early Access. Check out the “Welcome to Rataport” animation below. Similar to Patapon, players lead a motley group of creatures (known, unsurprisingly, as Ratatan) to the Hereafter in a side-scrolling, rhythm-based adventure. Alongside support for more than 100 characters, it offers online co-op for up to four players. The response has been positive thus far, with an 89 percent “Very Positive” rating based on 422 user reviews. Ratatan will remain in early access for about six to 12 months, which could change depending on the progress of development. It currently offers five worlds, various weapons and skills, boss battles, progression, and multiplayer, with Version 1.0 expanding on all this further (and introducing endgame content). While the final price hasn’t been decided, it could increase once Ratatan leaves early access. Stay tuned for more updates and check out the launch FAQ.

Capcom is allegedly gearing up to reveal the long-rumored secondary protagonist, according to known insider AestheticGamer.

Tokyo Game Show 2025 is coming up, and there have been various rumors about what to expect, including a new Forza Horizon announcement. It wouldn’t be a major show without something Resident Evil Requiem-related, and it seems Capcom is gearing up for a big reveal. Insider AestheticGamer, aka Dusk Golem, has heard “multiple times in the grapevine” that Leon S. Kennedy, long-rumored to be the secondary protagonist, will be revealed next week. “I don’t know Capcom’s marketing plans from direct sources, so I can’t confirm, but it’s LOUD behind the scenes right now.” While they lack a “direct connection” for details on marketing, the “murmurs of Leon being revealed next week are very loud, to the point I don’t doubt it.” He also responded to another user about what Leon could look like, alleging a black jacket but a “more rugged” appearance overall. Of course, this report is interesting considering that Capcom announced no new details for Requiem during its upcoming Online Special Program on September 24th. A new trailer could arrive during the alleged upcoming State of Play or even at the Play! Play! Play! TGS 2025 Special Stage with PlayStation on September 28th. Stay tuned for more details, as always. Resident Evil Requiem launches on February 27th, 2026, for Xbox Series X/S, PS5, PC, and Nintendo Switch 2. I've been hearing multiple times in the grapevine that Leon's being revealed next week. I don't know Capcom's marketing plans from direct sources so I can't confirm, but it's LOUD behind the scenes right now. Think several who follow me have heard the same murmurs even by now. https://t.co/wnWgjsWhLC — AestheticGamer aka Dusk Golem (@AestheticGamer1) September 16, 2025 Yup. Again, I don't have a direct connection to know details of Capcom marketing, but I have a pretty decent pulse on the grapevine & what's being murmered behind-the-scenes. And yeah, the murmurs of Leon being revealed next week are very loud, to the point I don't doubt it. https://t.co/LIDlbMhI9W — AestheticGamer aka Dusk Golem (@AestheticGamer1) September 18, 2025 Closer to the left since he has a black jacket on. But not precisely like either because he's more rugged than either of these. https://t.co/shnsp9LK4v — AestheticGamer aka Dusk Golem (@AestheticGamer1) September 18, 2025

Mega Man will join SpongeBob SquarePants, Minecraft, Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: Mutant Mayhem and Pac-Man, among other franchises.

While Sonic Racing: CrossWorlds is getting closer to its September 25 release date on PC, PS4, PS5, Xbox One, Xbox Series X/S, Nintendo Switch and the Switch 2, it looks like another classic video game character will part of the kart racer’s roster. As caught by VideoGamesChronicle, Reddit user Wrong-Minute-1319 managed to get their hands on an early physical copy of Sonic Racing: CrossWorlds and revealed that Mega Man will be one of the DLC characters coming tot he game. In a picture posted by the Reddit user that advertises all of the upcoming crossover racers for Sonic Racing: CrossWorlds, joining already-confirmed IPs like Minecraft, SpongeBob SquarePants, Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: Mutant Mayhem, Avatar: Legends and Pac-Man is also Mega Man. While this likely means that the eponymous protagonist of the Mega Man franchise will likely be a playable character, he could also be joined by a wide variety of supporting characters, like Tempo, Beat, Dr. Wily or Protoman. According to a website that focuses on news surrounding the Sonic franchise, The Sonic Stadium, the packaging for Sonic Racing: CrossWorlds also indicates that another long-forgotten Sega character will also be returning as a guest racer in the upcoming game—Nights. The website also showed off the same flyer as the Reddit user, which would corroborate its authenticity. While Sonic Racing: CrossWorlds is still around a week away, in the meantime, players can check out the single-player demo that was released earlier this week. The demo, available on PC, PS5, Xbox Series X/S and Nintendo Switch, features 4 characters and 8 courses, the latter of which have been split into 3 main courses and 5 CrossWorlds. With a focus on showcasing single-player gameplay, the demo does not include any local or online multiplayer. However, any progression that a player experiences can be carried over into the full game. As for the full release of Sonic Racing: CrossWorlds, it is slated to kick things off with 24 tracks and 15 CrossWorlds at launch, along with an expansive roster of characters and 45 unique vehicles. Over the course of a race, players can make use of 23 different items that can be used to give them the extra edge they need to win. Vehicles can also be customised with gadgets, with 70 different ones being available at launch. It is worth noting that, while Sonic Racing: CrossWorlds will feature plenty of crossover characters, franchise head Takashi Iizuka has confirmed that DLC characters will not have any voiced dialogues in the game. “There is no dialogue for collaboration characters,” said Iizuka. “Because of the IP, the voice dialogue is limited to the 24 Sonic characters.” Along with crossover characters from other companies facing this fate, even non-Sonic characters that are nonetheless owned by Sega will also be subject to the same problem. This means that characters like Yakuza: Like a Dragon protagonist Ichiban Kasuga will also lack any voice acting in the game. For more details about Sonic Racing: CrossWorlds, here is everything you need to know. And while you’re at it, check out our review as well.

The remake of the beloved Trails in the Sky FC, offering overhauled visuals and combat, is playable on PS5, PC, and Nintendo Switch.

Falcom’s Trails in the Sky 1st Chapter, a remake of The Legend of Heroes: Trails in the Sky FC, is out now on Nintendo Switch, PS5, and PC. A launch trailer is available, showcasing the revamped visuals, cutscenes and combat, which you can check out below. As the starting point for the long-running Kiseki series, Trails in the Sky 1st Chapter follows Estelle and Joshua as they join the Bracer Guild and venture through Liberl. What initially starts as a journey to become Senior Bracers results in the discovery of a conspiracy that could threaten the kingdom. Overall, it’s estimated to last 80 hours, which is more than double the original. Alongside fully 3D visuals, it offers the same battle system as Trails through Daybreak. Players can choose between command battles and real-time combat, switching between them as required. Follow-Ups and Chain Attacks have also been added alongside the Overdrive mechanic. As for the future, the next entry in the series, Trails Beyond the Horizon, launches on January 15th, 2026, for PS4, PS5, Nintendo Switch 2 and PC.

Reports also note a small-scale 2.5D metroidvania spin-off of God of War is in development that is slated for release in 2026.

While there have been rumours going around of a smaller-scale new God of War game being developed that would explore more of protagonist Kratos’ backstory, a new report indicates that a new mainline game will feature the character using a new kind of weapon entirely. According to Insider Gaming’s Tom Henderson, the next mainline entry in the God of War franchise will have Kratos wielding an ancient Egypt-styled curved sword, like a scimitar. “There is a the metroidvania game in development, and then there’s also a new mainline God of War game in development,” noted Henderson in a recent episode of the Insider Gaming podcast. “Which has kind of similar themes I think like God of War, but Kratos this time has an Egyptian sword, you know, like a curved Egyptian sword. Like what Prince of Persia has got.” He also noted that the rumoured State of Play event by Sony will also be the event where the smaller-scaled metroidvania God of War game will be unveiled. Along with this, he also speculated that Marathon might get a new trailer at the event. Reports of the smaller God of War game first started coming around back in March, with rumours at the time indicating that it was slated for release some time this year. According to Giant Bomb’s Jeff Grubb, the title will take the story back to Greece, like the original God of War games, but with an all new side-story. Rumours since then have noted that this title, expected to be a 2.5D metroidvania-styled action adventure game, has had its release window pushed back from 2025 to next year. The title is expected to focus on a younger version of Kratos, and will explore the relationship he had with his father. “Apparently the storyline has more to do with his relationship with his father and all that kind of stuff,” said Henderson back in February. As for developer Sony Santa Monica, it is reportedly working on its “next big thing”, which is slated to be a reinvention of an older IP. A report from back in July indicates that the scale of this reinvention would be similar to the changes we saw in 2018’s God of War when compared to the classic PS2 and PS3-era games. “I’ll put it this way: it’s not a new IP but it might feel like one,” wrote Bloomberg’s Jason Schreier in a discussion about the studio’s new project. “Maybe that’s why people are confused. Please don’t ask me more questions about this – if I wind up reporting more information at any point in the future, it’ll be in an article, not on a forum.” The project, according to Schreier, is also being headed up by Cory Barlog, and development on it has reportedly been going quite well as of a few months ago. It is worth noting that neither Sony nor Santa Monica have officially announced either of the rumoured God of War projects, and the studio is yet to officially confirm what its next project is going to be.

The job of a Lead Network Engineer would involve working on network architecture and infrastructure for seamless online experiences.

A new job listing for the position of Lead Network Engineer at CD Projekt RED indicates that the in-development sequel to Cyberpunk 2077 might include some multiplayer aspects. The job listing directly refers to Cyberpunk 2, with the description of the position noting that the person in the role would be in charge of designing and implementing online systems for the title. “CD Projekt RED is currently seeking a Lead Network Engineer to join our team working on Cyberpunk 2, the next mainline Cyberpunk 2077 game,” wrote the company in describing the position. “As a Lead Network Engineer, you and your team will play a pivotal role in designing and implementing the network architecture and online systems. You will lead and manage a team of talented engineers, working collaboratively to ensure seamless and robust online systems.” Among the responsibilities of the Lead Network Engineer to ensure that players get low-latency and high-performance online experiences, which would also indicate some sort of real-time multiplayer game mode. There are also mentions of matchmaking systems, latency, bandwidth usage and server performance. These multiplayer features might not be silo-ed off into a separate mode either, with another responsibility being to integrate network features with other gameplay aspects. The fact that the job listing is relatively new would also indicate that the Cyberpunk 2077 sequel is still fairly early in development. The studio had announced just last month that the team working on the sequel, as well as the team working on The Witcher 4, have been steadily growing. In an H1 report, CD Projekt RED noted that Cyberpunk 2’s development team had grown from 96 as of April 30 to 116 as of July 31. “Our recruitment efforts have significantly sped up over the last three months and as a result the total number of talented developers working across our projects has grown by 10% reaching almost 800 people,” said joint-CEO Michał Nowakowski in a presentation to investors. “This growth was primarily driven by our two largest development teams.” “The Witcher 4 team grew to over 440 developers while the Cyberpunk 2 project which transitioned into pre-production recently in Q2 as you may remember added 20 new team members. We anticipate further gradual growth in our total developer headcount by the end of the year, particularly for the teams working on projects in the most advanced stages of production.” While the development of Cyberpunk 2 has been an open secret, CD Projekt RED itself has noted that the game won’t necessarily be called that. Rather, PR manager Ola Sondej said that the name was to indicate that it would be a new release in the franchise. For some additional context, the sequel is internally referred to as Project Orion. As for what we can expect from the game when it finally comes out, senior writer and coordinator at CD Projekt RED, Magda Zych, noted that it doesn’t even necessarily have to take place in Night City. She noted that these types of stories could take place anywhere, since its anti-capitalist themes are fairly universal.

The three co-founders referred to Krafton's recent moves as being a "disorganised retreat" that "raises more questions than answers".

In the midst of an ongoing lawsuit between Krafton and the founders of Subnautica developer Unknown Worlds—Charlie Cleveland, Ted Gill and Max McGuire—the trio has accused the company of changing its story in the middle of litigation. As caught by GamesIndustry.biz, new court papers have these statements by the three co-founders. According to the trio, Krafton’s original allegation revolved around firing the three of them because of their “supposed intention to proceed with a premature release of Subnautica 2.” Due to this, Krafton also allegedly “withdrawn game readiness as a grounds to justify its actions.” Further in the statement, they note that the company has “pivoted to a new theory that it admittedly came up with only after the fact: that it terminated the Founders and seized control because the Founders backed up files they were entitled to access in their work for Unknown Worlds.” “Krafton’s disorganized retreat raises more questions than answers,” noted the three in their filing. “To say Krafton’s new theory is a Hail Mary would be an understatement – both because the downloads were not wrongful and because Krafton claims not to have learned of them until after it had fired the Founders. The downloads cannot have been the actual motivation for termination.” The statement, which had the three request that the court should deny Krafton’s request for a forensic inspection, ultimately led to the court doing so. Their statement noted that this request came on the grounds of the company’s “shift in theories”. The court denied Krafton’s forensic inspection request without prejudice back in September 12. The fact that it was denied “without prejudice” means that Krafton could try for another forensic inspection request down the line. While this lawsuit has been going on from back in July, with the three co-founders accusing Krafton of a “months-long” campaign to delay the Early Access release of Subnautica 2. The title, originally slated for release this year, was pushed back to 2026, with Krafton noting that it wasn’t yet ready for release. The decision also led to the ousting of the three co-founders, who insisted that it was, in fact, ready for release. Later in July, the current CEO of Unknown Worlds, Steve Papoutsis, spoke about the lawsuit, noting that, contrary to the allegations by the co-founders, he didn’t see Krafton as withholding money it owed to the studio and the three co-founders. “I don’t think that’s the case,” said Papoutsis. “Personally, what was presented to me when I was asked to participate and help the team was nothing but encouragement for making a great game from Krafton.” “A commitment to players, a commitment to the creative process, a commitment to ensuring that, when we do choose to go to Early Access, it meets players’ expectations. That is all that’s ever been discussed to me, and that is a huge part of why I felt good about stepping in and accepting this opportunity.” Subnautica 2 recently got a new developer vlog that showcased one of its new additions: the Collector Leviathan.

The Best Anime RPG Games For Girls

Alternate Theory Breakdown: Is Rachel the Real Villain in Trap? We rewatched Trap last night (saw it in theaters when it came out but forgot a lot — it’s been over a year). Now I can’t stop thinking about it. Here’s why I believe that — at least for Spencer’s abduction — it might be Rachel,...

Read More “Spoiler Fan Theory: Who is the Real Butcher in M Night Shymalan’s Trap Movie?” »

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...

Read More “Geeky Sweetie Gets Airplay on VRT Radio 1 in Belgium with “Even ChatGPT Said It – Must Be True”” »

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...

Read More “Nintendo Switch 2 Reveal – Excited? Disappointed? A Little of Both.” »

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...

Read More “Review: Sailor Moon Super Live – North America Tour (Pittsburgh, PA)” »

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...

Read More “AIR is Finally in English—A Dream Come True for Visual Novel Fans” »

2025: The Best Year EVER for Gamer Girls! OMG, fellow gamer girls, I have NEVER been this excited for a year in gaming! 2025 is absolutely stacked with amazing releases, re-releases, and next-gen consoles that will make our hearts burst with happiness! Whether you’re into visual novels, JRPGs, or cozy simulation games, this year has...

Read More “Is 2025 The Best Year Ever For Gamer Girls? I Think So. Here’s Why:” »

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...

Read More “Can AI Music Create an Emotional Response From The Listener?” »

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...

Read More “Movie Review: Here Starring Tom Hanks – A Deeply Emotional and Philosophical Journey” »

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:...

Read More “Joker 2: Joker Folie a Deux Review: SPOILER WARNING” »

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...

Read More “Apple’s Latest Event: IPhone 16 and All the New Announcements You Need to Know” »

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...

Read More “A Ghost Story Review: A Bizarre Journey to an Unexpectedly Profound Ending” »

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...

Read More “Is Fields of Mistria the Ultimate Nostalgic Farming Sim for ’90s JRPG Fans?” »

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...

Read More “Animal Crossing: Pocket Camp is Shutting Down—Here’s What You Need to Know About the Transition and the Future of the Franchise” »

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...

Read More “Sailor Moon Cosmos: An Ultimate Guide for Fans Old and New—What Makes It Shine?” »

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...

Read More “How Machine Translations Are Giving Small Japanese Developers a Chance to Reach English-Speaking Gamers” »

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...

Read More “Top Laptops That Can Run InZoi: Minimum and Recommended Specs Explained” »

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...

Read More “Unboxing and Setup Overview: MacBook Pro (14-inch, M3 Pro) for Gamer Girls” »

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...

Read More “Top 20 80s Anime with Complex Relationships and Tragic Romance” »

I’ve had the Steam Deck since its launch, and it’s been a mostly positive experience. However, a few quirks and challenges remain. Here’s my take after using it for a few years. Finding The Sims 4 CC Custom Content Mod Folder One thing that many players, especially Sims 4 fans, might wonder is where to...

Read More “Is the Steam Deck Still Worth It in 2024? A Cozy Gamer Girl’s Guide” »

The Gaming Blog

https://polygamero.us/wp-content/uploads/2025/09/GC_221_in_person-v-virtual-final.mp3 Join Ang along with Josh and Jared as they talk about the pros and cons of playing virtually online versus playing in person face-to-face. Listen to them talk about what they love about both ways of playing! LINKS: Coyote & Crow Digital Kickstarter CzePeku 2 Minute Tabletop Tom Cartos Afternoon Maps

https://polygamero.us/wp-content/uploads/2025/09/GC_221_in_person-v-virtual-final.mp3 Join Ang along with Josh and Jared as they talk about the pros and cons of playing virtually online versus playing in person face-to-face. Listen to them talk about what they love about both ways of playing! LINKS: Coyote & Crow Digital Kickstarter CzePeku 2 Minute Tabletop Tom Cartos Afternoon Maps

Last month, I started a new way to manage the information for my campaigns, and I have been excited about it. Excited enough, that I started doing something that in my 40 years of gaming I have not really done before, that is to have a post-session debrief. It happened by accident, the first time, […]

Last month, I started a new way to manage the information for my campaigns, and I have been excited about it. Excited enough, that I started doing something that in my 40 years of gaming I have not really done before, that is to have a post-session debrief. It happened by accident, the first time, but then I caught on and made it more formal, and now I think I might be on to something. So, let’s talk about it. Disclaimer: I may have just been late to the party… The internet being what it is, I suspect I am not the first person to discover this, but I do think that those of us doing this are in the minority. What is a Post-Session Debrief? First, for the sake of this article, let’s go with PSD (back off Adobe). Ok, the definition… the PSD is where the GM performs a set of activities after a session has been played and before they prep the next session. This activity ideally takes place directly after or shortly after the season. If done too far from the end of the last session, this winds up more like prep. What kind of activities make up a PSD? There are a number of different activities that could occur in this space. Rather than list them individually, I will try to lay out some categories: Knowledge Documentation We know that during the course of a game, a story is generated, and depending on your style of GMing, many campaign elements could be created at the table – such as NPCs, locations, items, etc. In addition, notable events may have occurred during the game that have changed the campaign world. This information needs to be cataloged and stored so that it can be called upon in future sessions. This will often take the form of updating your campaign notes or database. Engaging Inter-Session Mechanics Some games have inter-session mechanics, things that the GM needs to do between sessions. For instance, in Blades in the Dark, the GM is to review the various factions that are in play and advance any clocks. They can do this on their own or make Fortune rolls. The outcomes of these mechanics need to be documented and may be communicated in upcoming sessions. Updating the Session Notes Depending on your style of prep, you may prep more material than you play in a given session. After a session has been played, the actions of the characters may cause changes to your original prep. This is a good time, while the ideas are fresh, to make those changes to your prep for the upcoming session. Reminders for the Next Session During the course of play, the actions of the characters may set into motion future consequences from NPCs or other forces. Rather than forgetting these things, during the PSD, this information can be captured to be included in the upcoming session. What is the function of the PSD? If your campaign notes and inter-session mechanics are updated, then you have less to prep for your next session. There are reasons why the PSD is a valuable activity, rather than pushing these activities into the prep for the next session. First, and most important, everything is still fresh in your mind. You just played the session, and all the details that you did not write down are fresh in your mind, so you can take the time to document them. Second, if you do have inter-session mechanics, doing them in the PSD allows you to ruminate on them before you start the prep for the next session, giving you time to elaborate on them and work them into your next session. Third, it shortens your prep. If your campaign notes and inter-session mechanics are updated, then you have less to prep for your next session. Being deliberate about your PSD In order to get the most out of your PSD, consider creating a checklist of activities to perform. This will make your PSD more efficient and consistent. You can start the list with some simple tasks, such as “document any NPCs created”. Then, after you have a short list, you can try it out, adding on to it as needed. Your checklist will be a function of your information tools, your game, and your GMing style. Some activities will be pervasive between games, and other activities will change due to the type of game you are running. As an example, here is the list of my PSD for my Blades in the Dark campaign: Transfer a PDF copy of my session notes (in GoodNotes) to OneNote. Create Obsidian entries for any new elements (NPCs, Factions, Locations, etc). Fill in a score page if a score was completed this session. Update Faction Statuses from the score (inter-session mechanic) NPC & Faction Downtime (inter-session mechanic) Step 1 is to ensure that my session notes are merged with my prep for the session. I like to have everything for a session in one place, after the game. The bulk of my work during the PSD is step 2, as I create the entries in Obsidian for the things created during the session. These are then the elements I can reference in future prep and future sessions. The last two steps are from the Blades rules, so that I don’t forget to do them. Do you PSD? In the 40 years I have been gaming, I have never done a PSD. I ran my sessions, captured my session notes, and “future Phil” took care of all of that stuff when I would prep the next session. It was fine, I got by with it for a long time, but in the past few weeks, I have noticed how much easier my prep is when my campaign management system is updated, and I have finished my inter-session mechanics before I sit down to prep. Now I am working on creating PSD checklists for all my campaigns. What about you? Do you have a post-campaign debrief? If you do what goes into yours? If you don’t, are you considering it?

https://polygamero.us/wp-content/uploads/2025/08/CG_219-Fabula-Ultima-review-Final.mp3 Josh and Chris take over the Gnomecast as Ang is on her Gnomecation. They talk JRPGs and the JRPG TTRPG Fabula Ultima. They played through a session 0 and four four hour sessions. Now they’re here to give you their thoughts and feelings on the game. Links: DIE by Kieran Gillen and Stephanie Hans […]

https://polygamero.us/wp-content/uploads/2025/08/CG_219-Fabula-Ultima-review-Final.mp3 Josh and Chris take over the Gnomecast as Ang is on her Gnomecation. They talk JRPGs and the JRPG TTRPG Fabula Ultima. They played through a session 0 and four four hour sessions. Now they’re here to give you their thoughts and feelings on the game. Links: DIE by Kieran Gillen and Stephanie Hans Draw Steel released

Does the word GMPC even mean anything anymore? Let’s find out. Tally Tally is one of my favorite characters ever. He also happens to be an NPC. He was a hobgoblin from a space prison ship my group ran into during session one of a new campaign. They found a crashed part of a prison […]

Does the word GMPC even mean anything anymore? Let’s find out. Tally Tally is one of my favorite characters ever. He also happens to be an NPC. He was a hobgoblin from a space prison ship my group ran into during session one of a new campaign. They found a crashed part of a prison spaceship on their fantasy planet and a bunch of alien prisoners had escaped. These aliens were about to start causing havoc in an attempt to create a way to get back up to the rest of the prison ship where they had started a prison break. Tally was a mercenary before being incarcerated. He wasn’t interested in fighting the party, was happy to be free, but understood he had nothing on this planet. Hearing Tally’s story, one of the player characters decided to hire him as a bodyguard. Tally was part of that party from levels 1 – 11 when we eventually stopped playing that campaign. Now when I say he was part of the party I mean he fought alongside them, saved other party members, put forth ideas and opinions, and was listened to just like anyone else in the group. He also had his own quirks and desires, and eventually became the romantic interest of one of the other player characters via that player’s romantic advances. He was an important and valued member of the group. I didn’t intend him to be that. It just happened through play and the unpredictability of RPGs. I made Tally as an NPC, potentially even one that showed up for one scene and was never heard from again, but in the end he served the same function as what is commonly known as the GMPC. With that experience I thought to try and replicate the end result, which is having an NPC that’s a beloved and functional member of the party. Not a mascot, not a sidekick, but someone who is a true part of the group, and I have. Many times over the last decade. You can even hear a more recent version of it on The Heroes of Hovel’s Way actual play podcast. Sylpharia and Monte would sit in that role in that game. Do we need GMPCs? That’s made me question if the term GMPC has a place anymore. I don’t think it does. The term itself is an oxymoron. Game Master Player Character. I guess you can take both roles at the same time but wouldn’t that just make the GMPC the same thing as an NPC and therefore an unnecessary and meaningless term? I’m also pretty sure the ttrpg internet hivemind believes the GMPC to be the character a Game Master puts into the party to play because they’re not able to get to play as a PC in a game. The worst offenders are the ones whose characters can do anything and everything that the PCs collectively could do, and probably do it better. It’s very much in the vein of the Mary Sue or Marty Stew archetype. The Allied NPC For my money I’d call them allied NPCs or allied GMCs (Game Master Characters) if you prefer. I don’t. I like a classic. The only thing that makes them different from other NPCs is the role they play in the game, which is as a member of the group. These kinds of NPCs can be there from the beginning. They can join up in the middle. They can come and go. They can die. They can become enemies. They can do all the things any other character in the game can do. They just happen to be members of the party and NPC’s. That said, there is a set of best practices to make sure your allied NPCs are actually enjoyed and embraced by the PCs. First – Role Allied NPCs need to fulfill a role in the group that other characters can’t fulfill. I’m not a big niche protection person but in the case of an allied NPC this is hugely important. They can be good at healing if there’s no healer. They can be an excellent hacker if no one is any good at hacking. If someone built a parkour second story styled character, the allied NPC best not be better than that PC. They need to fill a role, not overshadow a role. To make sure you get this right is pretty easy. Just understand what your party needs and what your party has and fill in the gaps. Wanna make it more palatable to the PCs? Have them help you decide what kind of allied NPCs they want to fill in the gaps, either using the game’s rules to build those characters, or just some general questions they can answer, so you can craft the allied NPCs from the adversary rules your game has. Second – Motivation The allied NPC should have their own motivations. This gives them reasons for hanging out with the party other than because they’re the party. To figure out their motivations, answer the following questions as your starting point and then fill in until you believe you understand why the NPC wants what they want, and what they’re willing to do and not do to get it. What are two or three things this NPC wants? What lines are they willing to cross and not willing to cross to get what they want? Why do they want these things and have these lines? Third – Personality Traits Give them a couple of personality traits to help guide how we can present them. You can choose to give them more since people are many faceted, but I’d start with two and let the others come through play. Now when I mention personality traits, I’m thinking things like the allied NPC is dour and aggressive, or silly and curious. I like trying to find ones that could be both good and bad depending on the situation but once you have them, using the information you got from motivations filtered through the personality traits will give your allied NPC a distinct personality and voice. Fourth – Have an Opinion In play the allied NPC needs to have their own opinions. These characters should also have a say in how the group functions. The thing is, that input needs to be from the allied NPCs point of view and not the GMs. That’s the important thing. And it’s doable. But to do it you need to be a little self aware because the problem is, as game masters, we know everything that’s going on in the background. We shouldn’t let that information leak into the allied NPCs’ conversations and actions unless it makes sense. Now by filtering the context of the game at any moment through the motivations and personality traits of the allied NPC, you’ll be having them taking actions, saying things, and having their own opinion in play. With these four ideas we have a pretty good basis for a character that’ll be more than a mascot and have a good chance at fitting into the party. Here’s an example of that: Alice Our allied NPC is Alice. Alice is a healer because I’ve heard the term cleric on a stick so many times, I kind of hate it, and I would like Alice to be more than that. She wants money so she can open up a bar, and serve people food and drinks for the rest of her life. That’s her motivation that pushes her to be an adventurer. Alice won’t commit any illegal acts, especially around her hometown, because that’s where she wants to open the tavern. Now Alice would cross that line if it meant protecting someone she loved, but she’d first look for other solutions. She’s an adventurer because she is willing to risk her life for a way to get money faster to open her tavern instead of working in someone else’s tavern to make the money slowly over many years. Alice’s reason for opening the tavern is that her parents owned the previous tavern in town before it burned down. She loved the place, grew up there, saw how happy it made people, and how much she enjoyed just watching the life of the townsfolk pass through the tavern on a daily basis. The memory of how her parents made the townsfolk lives a little better has stuck with her all this time. Alice doesn’t like defying the law because it was an escaped prisoner who burned down her parents’ tavern and a lawman who saved her from the fire. It gave her a great deal of respect for the profession of law enforcement. In fact, when she sees law enforcement abusing their power it angers her greatly. Alice lost her dad in the fire and her mom was hurt pretty bad. That loss makes it hard for her to think of losing others so she’s willing to go pretty far to keep those she cares about safe. Now we know a lot about Alice: What’s important to her – people she cares about. Things she’s interested in – business, food recipes, drinks and drink recipes. Where her emotional triggers are – how she feels about the law and abuse of it, why loss hits her so hard, and how it can affect her. For personality traits I like sincere and sociable. Tying that to her motivations and the reasons behind them you can fill in some more of her story for yourself if you’d like, but playing her is even easier now. She’s willing to help since she’s a healer, will be a pretty open book as far as her feelings are concerned, and enjoys talking to people. This last bit gives the GM playing Alice a reason to chime in often with how she feels about things and just to be a part of the party’s conversations. Going Deeper? You can go even deeper on this if you want by giving the allied NPC a flaw and a need. This would give you the pieces so they can have a personal story arc, but what we have here is plenty to provide you with a solid foundation to play the character. Let Them Choose Last thing – and probably the biggest hack to this concept. Sometimes the players just won’t like someone, especially if you force the allied NPC on the players. The easiest way I’ve found for this type of NPC to become a member of the party is to let the party choose them. When they do, you can flesh them out as described above, but in the many times I’ve done this, the party choosing the allied NPC to be a part of their group has worked every time. In Summary Ok, the summary, or thing to refer back to in the future: Give the allied NPC a role that fills a role that isn’t filled. Figure out what motivates the allied NPC and why. Give them a couple of personality traits. Make sure they have their own opinions. With those steps you’ll have a way to get allied NPCs into your groups that’ll have some depth, be easier to play, and have a greater chance of being enjoyed by the party. But I want to hear from you. What are your tips for getting NPCs that stick around and are enjoyed by the party? How would you improve this methodology? What do you think about the term GMPC? Is it still relevant? Does it even matter?

https://polygamero.us/wp-content/uploads/2025/08/CG_218-Niche-protection_final.mp3 Join Ang along with Jared and JT as they revisit a topic they discussed way back in episode 80: Niche Protection! When is it important to make sure that each PC has a specialty that is theirs alone? When can you ignore that worry? They discuss it all again! Links: Ginny Di on Sympathetic […]

https://polygamero.us/wp-content/uploads/2025/08/CG_218-Niche-protection_final.mp3 Join Ang along with Jared and JT as they revisit a topic they discussed way back in episode 80: Niche Protection! When is it important to make sure that each PC has a specialty that is theirs alone? When can you ignore that worry? They discuss it all again! Links: Ginny Di on Sympathetic Villains JT Evans Novels Streets of Jade

You ever just realize everything about something you love changed when you weren’t paying attention? It’s happened to me twice when it comes to tabletop Roleplaying Games. In 2014 Dungeons and Dragons 5th edition released to the public and took the ttrpg space by storm. It was a throwback, self-referential, nostalgic game that built on […]

You ever just realize everything about something you love changed when you weren’t paying attention? It’s happened to me twice when it comes to tabletop Roleplaying Games. In 2014 Dungeons and Dragons 5th edition released to the public and took the ttrpg space by storm. It was a throwback, self-referential, nostalgic game that built on every edition that came before it, but what made it stick was the gameplay was really good. Simple enough, easy to understand, enough complexity to keep that crowd interested, but with a flexible core set of mechanics that let the people playing the game really play. People loved that game, and all the stuff around it (Stranger Things, Critical Role). But it wasn’t until 2016 when I was sitting in a theater watching Acquisitions Incorporated via Fathom events, and that theater had a lot of people in it, that I realized things had changed. A lot of people were into D&D, and it only grew from there. Now let’s fast forward to 2025. D&D has had some rough years under WotC. OGL stuff, AI controversy, quality of products released, a movie that was really good but didn’t make enough money at the box office, some cancelled video games, TV shows that never got out of preproduction, and a failed 3D virtual Tabletop. In that time we’ve had a number of companies developing games that are now releasing. The three most impactful ones, in my opinion, are Draw Steel, The Cosmere RPG, and Daggerheart. They’re all fantasy-based RPGs similar in some ways to D&D but differing in mechanics and playstyle – but more importantly, they all have fairly prominent media personas associated with them. Matt Colville is synonymous with learning how to GM from his running the game videos on YouTube. Brandon Sanderson is one of the most famous fantasy authors…yeah, just one of the most famous fantasy authors. And then there’s the Critical Role crew and their presence covering comic books, novels, board games, roleplaying games, story games, video games, animated shows where they’re voice actors and writers, actors in film in TV, the most popular actual play around, and three seasons of a highly regarded animated TV show where they portray the characters from their actual play. I’m sure I’m forgetting some things. Now I’m a Sanderson fan and $12 million on Kickstarter is pretty intense. I also enjoy me some Colville, plus Draw Steel and what James Introcaso and that team put together is a lot of fun. I also quite enjoyed Age of Umbra, it was a dark good old time. Plus, Darrington Press can’t seem to keep Daggerheart on the shelves. All that is impressive and interesting and a push towards changing the landscape of the TTRPG space, but it was GenCon 2025 that made me realize that things had changed again in the form of The Daggerheart Showcase and Critical Role Direct. I’m a nerd. I love watching the panels and presentations from San Diego ComiCon. They have an energy about them, a presence that gets you excited. Something that just gives you that spark of excitement for what’s coming out next from Marvel, DC, or a project you weren’t even expecting. It fires the imagination and creates anticipation. The Critical Role crew brought that feeling to GenCon. Entertaining, funny, informative, spectacle, excitement, anticipation – those are the words I would use to describe it, and it’s the closest I’ve come to the feeling I had when watching Acquisitions Incorporated in 2016. But the difference is, it had nothing to do with D&D. So yeah, I think we’re living in the midst of the RPG Revolution as a couple of guys who Master some Dungeons said. And no, I don’t think D&D is going away. I just think that over the next four or five years Critical Role and Darrington Press will be sharing the throne with D&D and WotC when it comes to TTRPGs and TTRPG-related media and games. I guess that’s a hot take. Take it for what you will. Or ignore it. I’ll figure out if I was right in a few years. Either way I’ll have a bunch of fun games to play in the meantime. Speaking of fun games, where’s Arkham Herald…

Handwavium is a neat concept in fiction that can be applied to tabletop RPGs. It can be used as a McGuffin for a goal. It can be used as a solution for an esoteric problem at hand. It can be used as part of a riddle or clue. It can even be used to give […]

Handwavium is a neat concept in fiction that can be applied to tabletop RPGs. It can be used as a McGuffin for a goal. It can be used as a solution for an esoteric problem at hand. It can be used as part of a riddle or clue. It can even be used to give a person, location, setting, or event some mysterious properties. Definition and Discussion Any hypothetical but unobtainable material with desirable engineering properties. Handwavium (noun): Any hypothetical but unobtainable material with desirable engineering properties. Let’s break that down a bit: Hypothetical: This means it could be a real thing in your setting, but has yet to prove itself to be a fact. It could remain hypothetical during the entire story arc, or it could be discovered to be true (or false) during the course of the story. Unobtainable: This means you can’t actually get your hands on it, but for the effects of storytelling (either in fiction or at the RPG table), it might be obtainable. This descriptor is optional in my book. It just depends on what you need in your story. Material: Some physical object, item, or substance. I’m going to expand this one to be an effect (whether magical or supernatural or advanced science or psionic or whatever) that can change the course of the story as well. Desirable: The PCs (and maybe the NPCs) will want to get their hands on this supposedly unobtainable material. Engineering: As we all know, any sufficiently advanced technology is indistinguishable from magic. (Thank you Mr. Clarke for your third law.) This means an “engineering” bit of handwavium could be magical in nature as well. It could also be completely bogus engineering that solves an equally bogus technological problem. General Use in Fiction Star Trek uses lots of handwavium. So do most sci-fi shows. Most likely, the most common usage of handwavium in fiction is in Star Trek. They’re constantly reversing the polarity on the crystals that power the genesis machine that drives shuttles through wormholes… or something like that. A quick search for “Star Trek Jargon Generator” came up with this generator. It actually comes up with some pretty cool handwavium styled phrases. I like it. If anyone out there has read my Modern Mythology novels or short stories, you’ll notice that Marcus Barber (my immortal Roman centurion bounty hunter) is constantly pulling gear and his father’s journals from his sea bag. Yeah. The bag is huge (’cause they are), but I make sure to not stretch the limits of what could be in there. If he needs a spare magazine for his Glock, it’s in the bag. If he needs some binoculars or a burner cell phone or a notepad or some other small gear, it’s in the bag. If he needs a bazooka, well, he’s gotta look elsewhere for that gear. This is my flavor of handwavium in an urban fantasy setting. The bag isn’t magical, but it’s a convenient storage container for my protagonist to have on hand. General Use in Games Can work well in any genre. I’m currently a player in a 1st Edition AD&D game. We’re running through (and almost done with) an older adventure called Baltron’s Beacon. In exchange for a reincarnation cast on our magic-user/thief, we agreed to take on a mission to take some “feral seeds” across a swamp to a remote keep in order to “bake them in the black flame.” What are the seeds? What is the black flame? Big Shrug. We don’t know. We didn’t really care. (Other than to follow the strict instructions to not touch the black flame.) We’re on a quest to repay a wizard for bringing our friend back from the dead. The seeds and the flame are all handwavium to us. It works and works quite well. This style of handwavium can work quite well in almost any genre. Go find this magical artifact and bring it back (or throw it in the volcano). Go find this indecipherable, advanced technology at the far reaches of known space and turn it on with this blue crystal energy source. Delivery this encrypted thumb drive to a drop point and wait to see who picks it up before reporting back their identity. Hack this network on the Ultranet, fetch a data payload with this PIN after breaching the ICE protecting the network, and upload the data payload to a Russian server on the other side of the world. All of the above examples leave gaps in the knowledge of the PCs. They might ask questions, but at face value, everything in the above examples is packed with handwavium elements. When and Why to Use Handwavium Handwavium is a powerful spice of mystery. If you want to build an air of powerful mystery around the story’s goals or mission objectives, injecting a bit of handwavium is potent. However, handwavium is a very potent spice to use in your preparation of your story. Don’t overuse it. It might lead to confusion or frustration in your players. It might also lead to too many questions from your PCs that you’re not ready to (or able to) answer. Additionally, some PCs might refuse a mission with huge unknowns involved, so you’ll need to be prepared for this to happen. Having said all this, I like using handwavium from time-to-time for extra flair and the sense of discovery as the PCs work their way through the mystery. Killing monsters is fine for giving a sense of accomplishment, but solving mysteries can be even more powerful for getting the players to earn that confidence and sense of doing something to move the story forward with success. Conclusion As you can tell, I like the concept of handwavium. Like with all elements of tabletop gaming and storytelling, don’t overuse it or abuse it. Expect questions from your PCs to get clarification on what the material (or effect) will do when found, activated, destroyed, or otherwise interacted with. PCs love to ask questions, so be ready for them. I think if you open this chest of mysterious, hypothetical materials, you’ll find some great elements of mystery to add to your game.

Not too long ago, I was in an online roleplaying community hangout where I was the only woman and the conversation turned to the types of the people that play roleplaying games. The prevalence of men vs. women in the hobby came up and one guy commented sadly that his wife used to be a […]

Gamer moms raise gamer kids… Not too long ago, I was in an online roleplaying community hangout where I was the only woman and the conversation turned to the types of the people that play roleplaying games. The prevalence of men vs. women in the hobby came up and one guy commented sadly that his wife used to be a gamer but doesn’t play anymore. I asked him if she stepped back from RPGs around the time they started a family. The sudden realization on his face was pretty telling. The demographics of who plays RPGs has become more inclusive over the decades I’ve played, but there are still more men than women. A couple of recent polls I found put it at 60% vs 39%, or in one that offered non-binary as an option, 54% vs. 38%. I can’t attest to the accuracy of these polls, but it does line up with what I generally see in various gaming communities. One part of this that I’ve noticed over the years is that women who start a family are more likely to withdraw from playing or running roleplaying games. Anytime someone has a baby, it’s a dramatic and life altering event and things are going to have to adjust to accommodate the new tiny human. But new fathers are far more likely to find the time to keep up with their hobbies, while new mothers are the ones that stay home with the little ones. Plenty of people, not just women, give up the hobby once they transition from the freedom of a young adult life to one with more responsibilities like family and work. As incomprehensible as it is to me, for some people gaming isn’t a lifetime hobby. I do know several men that put gaming aside once they started full-time professional jobs or had kids, but it seems more of a forced choice for women with babies. When you combine the expected gender roles of parenting with gaming, you end up with plenty of couples where dads are back gaming soon after the baby was born (if they ever took a break at all) and moms who have to wait several years to play again, or even never come back to the gaming table. Let me state for the record, I’m not a mother. I absolutely adore kids, but with the way my life played out, kids weren’t in the cards, and I’m not really upset at that. I’m perfectly content being the fun aunt or pseudo-aunt to all the kids in my life. When I decided to write this article, though, I wanted to talk to some gamers that also happen to be mothers. Their stories are varied but carry some similar themes. The first mom I talked to admitted that she had to put RPGs on hiatus when her kiddo was born. While the dad claimed he was helping, he was only doing about 10% of the caring for their child. He immediately resumed his hobbies, but she wasn’t able to play again until their child was well into grade school. During those years, she consoled herself with reading RPG books to stay on top of what was happening in the hobby, but there was no playing. No time at the table with friends rolling dice. Eventually she did get back into the hobby, and divorced that husband. When I spoke to the second mom, her situation was a bit different. While she did end up taking a hiatus from gaming, it wasn’t because of her husband’s lack of help, but from their gaming group rejecting the addition to their family. The group refused to game at their house once the baby was born, making it impossible for her to continue playing with them while her children were very young. She did say it was her choice to stay at home and let her husband go to game night, but it still forced her to give up gaming for a time. Eventually, when the kids were slightly older, the longing to play got too much for her so she started arranging for babysitters so she could rejoin the group. For many years, that was the status quo, but eventually other issues with that group not wanting kids around, even when they were college-aged and legitimate nerds in their own right, caused a rift and now she and her husband have moved on to other gaming options. Another mom I chatted with was the dominant gamer in the couple from the beginning. While her husband was absolutely a nerd, she introduced him to RPGs and was his first GM. When their kids were very little, they would play after the kids were in bed, with her GMing and her husband and brother playing. Ultimately, they had a good balance in sharing parental responsibilities with the kids, so when 5th edition came out and online gaming was a viable possibility, it was no issue for her to start up a larger group playing online through Roll20. The next mom met her husband in college where they played together with friends. Around the time they started their family, many of their college gaming friends were moving out of the area, breaking up the gaming group. Between the birth of the first kiddo and the second, she ran a campaign at their house for her husband and a bunch of friends. After the birth of their second child, they put their focus on getting their RPG fix at a couple of conventions throughout the year while grandparents would babysit. Mom said that the only real hurdle she ran into when the kids were babies was that the second kiddo decided to be born during Origins, causing them to miss the convention that year. When it comes down to it, because of the way they prioritized things, she found she had to make more sacrifices with her hobbies when the kids were older and needed to be ferried to various activities. She’s curated several great groups to play online, so there is no shortage of gaming nowadays. The very last mom I spoke to is a shiny, brand new mother. A couple of months before the baby arrived, she took a step back from gaming due to being exhausted. Making a human is hard work. Now that the baby is here, she and her husband are going through all of the fun chaos of adjusting to life with a tiny human. While they both have nerdy hobbies, she’s the one that’s into RPGs. Right now, they have a plan that will let both of them continue participating in their hobbies and provide for their new little buddy. She’s expecting to dive back into playing in a few months when the baby is a bit older. So, what am I getting at here? There are a lot of rabbit holes we could go down discussing the dichotomy of expectations for parents based on their gender and how that affects participation in the RPG hobby, but that’s honestly a deeper topic than I want to get into. While there are plenty of people who choose to leave the hobby for a variety of reasons, let’s be aware of how the choice can be taken away from some women once they start having a family. I just want to talk about the struggles gaming moms face so maybe we can work a little harder to do better and make space for them at the gaming table. If you’ve got gamers in your group that are new parents or about to be, try and be aware of how that is going to affect things and approach the situation with some compassion. In my long running group, we have always made it a policy of playing at the house of the person with the youngest kids for as long as we needed to keep that person in the group. Having kids is a life altering experience, but it shouldn’t have to mean anyone leaves the hobby forever. After all, where are our future gamers going to come from?

https://polygamero.us/wp-content/uploads/2025/07/GC_217_GM-Burnout-final.mp3 Join Ang along with Chris and special guest Carl Lehmann as they talk about GM Burnout. How it happens, what to do when you’re in the middle of it and how to prevent it. LINKS: Symphony Entertainment Fultimator

https://polygamero.us/wp-content/uploads/2025/07/GC_217_GM-Burnout-final.mp3 Join Ang along with Chris and special guest Carl Lehmann as they talk about GM Burnout. How it happens, what to do when you’re in the middle of it and how to prevent it. LINKS: Symphony Entertainment Fultimator

Over the past few months, I had been in a bit of a gaming slump. Of my two groups, neither group was gaming well, and I was starting to get those detached feelings that typically come from when I am not getting emotionally fed from my games. This was not my game or game group’s […]

Over the past few months, I had been in a bit of a gaming slump. Of my two groups, neither group was gaming well, and I was starting to get those detached feelings that typically come from when I am not getting emotionally fed from my games. This was not my game or game group’s fault. A lot of things have been going on, this first half of the year, and it was all just piling up. Recently, things started to change. Both of my groups picked new games to play, and I had a revelation about the kinds of games I needed to run. Things were starting to click. That was when I thought, “Why not shake everything up and re-evaluate how I manage information for my campaigns?” So let’s talk about that. Types of GM Information For the sake of this article, we are going to focus on information, primarily text and images, and avoid things like minis and props. A GM has to manage a good deal of information for an ongoing campaign. That information falls into three broad areas: Campaign Management Session Prep Session Notes Campaign Management includes world building. This is the part of GMing where you create a world or worlds, and populate it with NPCs, events, locations, items, lore, etc. This information helps to create and establish the setting in which the game takes place. In addition, the GM may need to track “off-screen” events, such as the actions of various factions, advancement of plots, etc. Some portion of this gets shared with the players, but more of it will remain the purview of the GM. Session Prep is the information you need to get to your session to the table. This can come in many forms, but at its most pure, it is notes about what is going to happen in the session. From there, you can add in maps and stat blocks, rules text, etc. Session prep is built from some amount of campaign information as well as the creation of new elements to run the story you have planned. Those new elements, generated here, flow back into Campaign Management. Session Notes are the information that is generated during the session – what decisions the characters made, what events occurred in the session, etc. This is important information because it can add to or alter information in Campaign Management. Information Management These three areas are linked together and there is a natural flow between them. Information from Campaign Management is being used to prep sessions (and new elements from prep are going back to Campaign Management) and the Session Prep is being used to run the game, which generates Session Notes, which then also have to go back to Campaign Management. If this flow of information is disrupted (or non-existent), then you can wind up with continuity errors in your game or omissions that can create problems maintaining a shared narrative space. One can rely on just keeping everything in their head, but that runs its risks. Memory is fallible, and age and complexity of life erode memories away. In the earliest days of GMing, there really was only one information management tool, good old pen and paper. For me it was the Trapper Keeper, peak 80s Information Management. Pen and paper are still perfectly serviceable tools today, but in the 21st century, we are blessed with a variety of tools beyond physical media, which come at the price of having to evaluate and select your tools, as well as compatibility. The Need for Good Tools The productivity expert, David Allen, said that having good tools was important to productivity because if you are excited about your tools, you will engage your tools more often. And the reverse is true; if your tools are difficult or unreliable, you won’t want to engage them. This is also true for GM Information Management. You need to select tools that are going to be exciting to use. What then makes a good tool? There is no simple answer to this. Tools have to meet your needs, but in order to know that, you need to know your needs first. Take some time to brainstorm your needs. Here are a few questions to help guide you: Do you need tools for all areas, or do you need to fill in some gaps? Do you want to use physical tools or electronic? What data do you need at your game table? What parts of your system need to be portable? Do you have any issues with power and internet connectivity? Are there cost limitations? An important question is, do you want one tool to manage all three areas of GM information, or do you want to use a best-in-class solution for each area? Once you have some ideas of your needs, you can set out to find some tools. If you are looking for pen and paper solutions I highly recommend JetPens.com. For electronic tools, the field is large and varied. I recommend some searching through social media and YouTube. To highlight some of these questions above, I will do it by reviewing my old system that I just moved away from, and then detailing my new system. My Old System My old system was overly focused on Session Prep (surprise) and was pretty minimal on the other two. For Session Prep, I used OneNote. I really like the levels of organization (notebook, section, page, etc) and I like the freeform mix of text and images on a given page. Also, this app has existed as a desktop and web app, with syncing, for many years, allowing me to prep at my desk and run my game from an iPad. For Campaign Management, I did not have a single tool. Often I would add pages to OneNote but also sometimes I would write up Google Docs with my info, and the worse cases I did both. In fact, I was pretty bad about maintaining Campaign Data during the campaign. I would do a bunch of world-building, often in Google Docs, to start the campaign, and then rely on my OneNote Session Prep to hold any other elements that were created, mostly in the sessions where they were created. For Session Notes, I used index cards and a pencil, writing down notes during play. At the end of a session I would scan the index cards using Microsoft Lens, and then import them back into OneNote. That was my system that served me for many years. Using it was second nature, but I was so used to it that I was numb to where it was weak. My New System Requirements I recently bought a new iPad, and I wanted to update my system to take advantage of having a more modern device. In doing research and some reflection, I came upon a few important requirements: The system had to exist on my desktop but also sync to the iPad. My preference is for doing Campaign Management and Session Prep from my desktop, with large monitors, a big desk, and a full keyboard. But I prefer to run my games from a small footprint; the iPad not a laptop. I wanted to take advantage of my Apple Pencil. I decided that rather than having one app that would do one thing well and the other things to a lesser degree, I wanted an app for each area of information that was best for that kind of information. I still wanted to use OneNote for my Session Prep, but was open to other apps for the other areas. Since we were going with three apps, I needed to be able to export and import data between any apps used. After doing a lot of research, watching videos, etc. I came up with a new system. My New System Here is what makes up my new system and how it works. Campaign Management — Obsidian Obsidian is a personal information manager. It is free, and uses folders and markup text files to create a personal wiki. It is highly customizable, and as long as you put the files into a cloud folder it will sync between desktop and app. This app has been used by a lot of role players and you can find tons of videos on YouTube. Session Prep – OneNote As mentioned in the requirements, I wanted to keep OneNote for its flexibility for creating my prep in a way that is useful to me at the table. While one could easily do their Session Prep in Obsidian, it is a bit too rigid for me in the way that I like to place text, sidebar text, and images. Session Notes – GoodNotes 6 I decided to skip having physical index cards to digitize and move right to writing my season notes into my iPad. GoodNotes is a top-in-class note-taking app for the iPad. It has spell check for handwritten notes, and can correct spelling mistakes. It also syncs to the cloud, and it can export its pages into PDF, directly into OneNote. While OneNote does have writing support, it is not as robust as GoodNotes. My New Workflow Starting with Campaign Management, I keep all my campaign information in Obsidian, and create new notes after a session for anything that was created at the table, using the exported session notes from GoodNotes. New notes are put into specific folders (NPC, locations, etc) and are hyperlinked together, as well as tagged. This is my campaign database. My Obsidian Database has a homepage that contains links to the two other apps, the Google Drive folder with my PDFs, and the player’s Google Drive folder where they keep their notes, character keeper, etc. I can also include any other useful links, like name generators and the like. When it is time to prep a session, I work in OneNote and pull items from Obsidian as needed. If I create anything new during session prep, I can add it into Obsidian as I work. When it is time to head to the table, I make sure everything is synched up with my iPad. On the iPad, I have the Obsidian app, OneNote, and GoodNotes, as well as a PDF reader for any rule books I need electronically. I run my session by referencing OneNote. If I need to check something from Obsidian, I can switch apps and check the campaign database. When I need to take Session Notes, I can write them directly into GoodNotes. App switching is easy and quick. At the end of the session, I take the GoodNotes notes and export them to PDF and place them with the session notes in OneNote so that the prep and session notes are together. Feel The Flow…Its Circular The result of shaking up my GM information system was twofold. One, I think I have better apps for the way that I want to work. Each of them does what I need them to do in their respective context, making my prep more robust. Two, I am excited to be working in a new system, so I am spending more time working on my games. Specifically, I am investing a lot of time to learn Obsidian. There is a lot of information out in the world about it, and I am only scratching the surface. How do you manage the information in your games? Do you use one tool, or do you use a suite of them? What were some of your requirements?

All things Indie Games

Dive into Arctic Awakening with our Episode 2 walkthrough. Discover secrets of Holly and Naomi and find out what really happened here.

The post Arctic Awakening Walkthrough – Episode 2 appeared first on Into Indie Games.

Welcome to Arctic Awakening, where survival isn’t just about braving the cold—it’s about piecing together... The post Arctic Awakening Walkthrough – Episode 2 appeared first on Into Indie Games.

Welcome to our walkthrough for The House of Tesla. This section covers the entirety of...

The post The House of Tesla Walkthrough – Tesla Factory Ground Floor appeared first on Into Indie Games.

Welcome to our walkthrough for The House of Tesla. This section covers the entirety of... The post The House of Tesla Walkthrough – Tesla Factory Ground Floor appeared first on Into Indie Games.

Step inside Nikola Tesla’s mysterious world of machines, memories, and intricate puzzles. The House of...

The post The House of Tesla Complete Walkthrough appeared first on Into Indie Games.

Step inside Nikola Tesla’s mysterious world of machines, memories, and intricate puzzles. The House of... The post The House of Tesla Complete Walkthrough appeared first on Into Indie Games.

Hey! That makes sense! The House of Tesla walks a fine line between challenging puzzles...

The post The House of Tesla Review appeared first on Into Indie Games.

Hey! That makes sense! The House of Tesla walks a fine line between challenging puzzles... The post The House of Tesla Review appeared first on Into Indie Games.

Welcome to our walkthrough for The House of Tesla. This guide covers the second chapter...

The post The House of Tesla Walkthrough: Tesla Factory Upper Floors appeared first on Into Indie Games.

Welcome to our walkthrough for The House of Tesla. This guide covers the second chapter... The post The House of Tesla Walkthrough: Tesla Factory Upper Floors appeared first on Into Indie Games.

Welcome to our walkthrough for The House of Tesla. This guide covers the first chapter...

The post The House of Tesla Walkthrough – Personal Office of Nikola Tesla appeared first on Into Indie Games.

Welcome to our walkthrough for The House of Tesla. This guide covers the first chapter... The post The House of Tesla Walkthrough – Personal Office of Nikola Tesla appeared first on Into Indie Games.

Little Witch in the Woods features Ellie, a young apprentice witch, who has been helping...

The post Little Witch In The Woods Walkthrough – Repairing The Fountain In Act 1 appeared first on Into Indie Games.

Little Witch in the Woods features Ellie, a young apprentice witch, who has been helping... The post Little Witch In The Woods Walkthrough – Repairing The Fountain In Act 1 appeared first on Into Indie Games.

Explore the full Arctic Awakening walkthrough, uncovering mysteries and surviving in the frozen north with Kai and his therapy bot, Alfie.

The post Arctic Awakening Walkthrough – Episode 1 appeared first on Into Indie Games.

Welcome to Arctic Awakening, where survival isn’t just about braving the cold—it’s about piecing together... The post Arctic Awakening Walkthrough – Episode 1 appeared first on Into Indie Games.

Learn a Step-by-step walkthrough for Easy Delivery Co. and how to complete all the goals to complete the story and choose the best ending.

The post Easy Delivery Co. Walkthrough appeared first on Into Indie Games.

Easy Delivery Co. is a chill package delivery game where you play as a cat,... The post Easy Delivery Co. Walkthrough appeared first on Into Indie Games.

Little Witch in the Woods features Ellie, an Apprentice Witch, who has found herself in...

The post Little Witch In The Woods Walkthrough – Restoring The Temple And Roy’s House In Act 1 appeared first on Into Indie Games.

Little Witch in the Woods features Ellie, an Apprentice Witch, who has found herself in... The post Little Witch In The Woods Walkthrough – Restoring The Temple And Roy’s House In Act 1 appeared first on Into Indie Games.

Gaming Reviews, News, Tips and More.

Here's a few quick tips for playing Gearbox's latest first-person sci-fi looter shooter

The post 12 Tips To Know Before Playing <i>Borderlands 4</i> appeared first on Kotaku.

The post 12 Tips To Know Before Playing <i>Borderlands 4</i> appeared first on Kotaku.

This is the monitor that slips into your bag and goes everywhere with you.

The post Amazon Is Going Nuts, This 15″ Gaming Portable Monitor for Xbox and Switch Is Selling for Pennies appeared first on Kotaku.

The post Amazon Is Going Nuts, This 15″ Gaming Portable Monitor for Xbox and Switch Is Selling for Pennies appeared first on Kotaku.

You can run and hide but you don't have to play along

The post I Know What’s Going On And So Does Everyone Else appeared first on Kotaku.

The post I Know What’s Going On And So Does Everyone Else appeared first on Kotaku.

This week we’re enjoying rhythmic strategy, a quest to save some puppers, some chill potion brewing, and ripping apart zombies in beast mode

The post <i>Kotaku’</i>s Weekend Guide: 4 Great Games We Can’t Wait To Get Back To appeared first on Kotaku.

The post <i>Kotaku’</i>s Weekend Guide: 4 Great Games We Can’t Wait To Get Back To appeared first on Kotaku.

These days, every laptop really needs a multiport adapter to be complete.

The post Two USB-C Ports, Two USB-A Ports and an HDMI: This 7-in-1 Adapter Is Going for Pennies on Amazon appeared first on Kotaku.

The post Two USB-C Ports, Two USB-A Ports and an HDMI: This 7-in-1 Adapter Is Going for Pennies on Amazon appeared first on Kotaku.

A single Discord ping on Friday afternoon caused a few minutes of complete and utter chaos

The post Rockstar Just Made 65,000 <i>GTA</i> Fans Panic For No Reason appeared first on Kotaku.

The post Rockstar Just Made 65,000 <i>GTA</i> Fans Panic For No Reason appeared first on Kotaku.

This is the ultimate power bank built to keep all your devices running.

The post This 140W Laptop Power Bank Is a Dream Buy Now That Amazon Has It Back at Black Friday Price appeared first on Kotaku.

The post This 140W Laptop Power Bank Is a Dream Buy Now That Amazon Has It Back at Black Friday Price appeared first on Kotaku.

he robot vacuum plus its docking station is the dream team of cleaning.

The post Roborock Doesn’t Want You Struggling With Housework, It’s Selling Its Latest Model With No Margin appeared first on Kotaku.

The post Roborock Doesn’t Want You Struggling With Housework, It’s Selling Its Latest Model With No Margin appeared first on Kotaku.

Microsoft cites ‘changes in the macroeconomic environment’ for the decision

The post Microsoft Reveals The First $800 Xbox With Another Round Of Price Hikes appeared first on Kotaku.

The post Microsoft Reveals The First $800 Xbox With Another Round Of Price Hikes appeared first on Kotaku.

The open-world RPG sequel teases work on matchmaking and other features

The post <i>Cyberpunk 2077</i> Sequel Experimenting With Multiplayer As CDPR Embraces Online Gameplay appeared first on Kotaku.

The post <i>Cyberpunk 2077</i> Sequel Experimenting With Multiplayer As CDPR Embraces Online Gameplay appeared first on Kotaku.

The upcoming ports on Switch 2 and Xbox feature an easy mode that has me wondering what the point of playing the game even is

The post <i>Final Fantasy 7 Remake</i> On Switch 2 And Xbox Has New Options To Make The Game Much, Much Easier appeared first on Kotaku.

The post <i>Final Fantasy 7 Remake</i> On Switch 2 And Xbox Has New Options To Make The Game Much, Much Easier appeared first on Kotaku.

It’s cheap, and it can totally change your iPhone videos.

The post This iPhone Gimbal Costs Peanuts, Amazon Is Clearing Out DJI’s Budget Model appeared first on Kotaku.

The post This iPhone Gimbal Costs Peanuts, Amazon Is Clearing Out DJI’s Budget Model appeared first on Kotaku.

Void Interactive says it is focused on 'fostering a respectful and professional community'

The post <i>Ready Or Not</i> Community Manager Fired For Responding To Charlie Kirk Assassination With ‘Nothing Of Value Was Lost’ appeared first on Kotaku.

The post <i>Ready Or Not</i> Community Manager Fired For Responding To Charlie Kirk Assassination With ‘Nothing Of Value Was Lost’ appeared first on Kotaku.

The Deep of Night's first balance patch offers fans some small mercies

The post <i>Elden Ring: Nightreign</i>‘s New Hard Mode Is Kicking Players Asses So Much They Can Now Choose To Derank Themselves appeared first on Kotaku.

The post <i>Elden Ring: Nightreign</i>‘s New Hard Mode Is Kicking Players Asses So Much They Can Now Choose To Derank Themselves appeared first on Kotaku.

Gearbox proves it’s once again the best at making looter shooters, but it still struggles with good endings and stability

The post <i>Borderlands 4</i>: The <i>Kotaku</i> Review appeared first on Kotaku.

The post <i>Borderlands 4</i>: The <i>Kotaku</i> Review appeared first on Kotaku.

Races kick off with a quick rap battle in Sega's new kart racer

The post <em>Sonic</em> Characters Are Excellent At Talking Trash In <em>Crossworlds</em> appeared first on Kotaku.

The post <em>Sonic</em> Characters Are Excellent At Talking Trash In <em>Crossworlds</em> appeared first on Kotaku.

This power bank will keep your new iPhone charged up again and again.

The post This 50,000mAh Fast Charger Hits Final Sale, Now Down 83% on Amazon appeared first on Kotaku.

The post This 50,000mAh Fast Charger Hits Final Sale, Now Down 83% on Amazon appeared first on Kotaku.

One of the top Windows-loaded mini PCs is this Intel-powered GMKtec, and for a limited time it's on sale for 36% off.

The post Amazon’s Giving Away This Mini PC Alternative to the Mac Mini for Pennies on the Dollar appeared first on Kotaku.

The post Amazon’s Giving Away This Mini PC Alternative to the Mac Mini for Pennies on the Dollar appeared first on Kotaku.

We speak to Puzzle Quest and Warlords creator Steve Fawkner about how a disc retrieved from the trash launched a career

The post The Match-3 RPG That Started It All Is Back And We Talk To Its Legendary Creator appeared first on Kotaku.

The post The Match-3 RPG That Started It All Is Back And We Talk To Its Legendary Creator appeared first on Kotaku.

ABC has pulled the talk show off the air after a monologue regarding the death of Charlie Kirk

The post MCU Actors Call For Disney Boycott Following Jimmy Kimmel Fiasco appeared first on Kotaku.

The post MCU Actors Call For Disney Boycott Following Jimmy Kimmel Fiasco 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 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

Video Game Reviews, Features, and Gaming News

Indie publisher Fellow Traveller and developer Paper Castle Games have released Wander Stars, a Saturday morning anime-inspired RPG now available on PC, PlayStation 5, Nintendo Switch, and Xbox Series X|S. To celebrate launch week, the game is 10% off on Steam, and players who purchase before October 2, 2025, will receive the Digital Sketchbook and […]

Amazing Seasun Games has officially launched Season 1: Pulse of the Indigo Stone for their free-to-play third-person mech shooter, Mecha Break, available now on PC via Steam and Xbox Series X|S. This first post-launch season introduces two brand-new Strikers, a suite of seasonal weapons, new missions, and an improved Battle Pass system. The update also […]

Square Enix, alongside developer Tactic Studio and TBS Games, has announced the second Closed Beta Test (CBT2) for its upcoming murder mystery action game Killer Inn. The beta will run from October 3–13, 2025, with players able to experience a wide range of gameplay updates, new features, and quality-of-life improvements based on community feedback from […]

Square Enix has released a fresh batch of Final Fantasy VII Remake Intergrade screenshots, giving fans a closer look at the game’s systems, characters, and environments ahead of its launch on January 22, 2026, for Nintendo Switch 2, Xbox Series X|S, and PC. Streamlined Progression for Newcomers and Veterans The new images showcase the Streamlined […]

Swedish indie publisher Raw Fury and Irish developer Spooky Doorway (The Darkside Detective series) have revealed that their next supernatural mystery, The Seance of Blake Manor, will launch on October 27 for PC. Players can wishlist the game now on Steam. Set in Victorian Ireland, the game follows Detective Declan Ward as he investigates the […]

Devolver Digital and solo developer Sam Eng have announced that Skate Story will be launching on Nintendo Switch 2 later this year, joining its previously confirmed PlayStation 5 and PC platforms. Players will soon be able to shred through the underworld on the go, in one of the most surreal skating experiences yet. In Skate […]

Publisher Dotemu, alongside co-developers Guard Crush Games and Supamonks, has unveiled a new gameplay trailer for their upcoming fantasy beat ’em up, Absolum. Launching October 9 on PC, Nintendo Switch, PlayStation 5, and PlayStation 4, the game blends classic brawling action with modern design elements like meta progression, build customization, and branching pathways. Meet the […]

Developer Chief Rebel and publisher Arc Games have announced that Fellowship, the first-ever Multiplayer Online Dungeon Adventure (MODA), has entered Open Beta on Steam. Players can jump in starting today, September 18, until September 23, ahead of the game’s Steam Early Access launch on October 16 for $24.99. Following a breakout demo during February’s Steam […]

Indie studio Binary Phoenix and publisher Assemble Entertainment have announced that the pixel-art puzzle platformer Forgotten Fragments will launch on Steam for PC on September 24, 2025, priced at €12.99. With 120 handcrafted levels, epic boss battles, and cooperative play, this debut blends puzzle-solving, platforming, and storytelling into one cohesive adventure. Two Campaigns, Two Stories […]

After more than five years in development, solo dev Jack Breen of Studio Hybrid and publisher Akupara Games have announced that Gigasword will officially launch on Nintendo Switch, PlayStation, Xbox, and PC on November 13, 2025. Originally slated as a PC-only release, the team chose to unite all platforms under one date so no player […]

N4G: news feed

The Epic Games Store has two more free games ready to add to your library.

The spirit of Alpha Centauri lives on.

In anticipation of his upcoming collaborative project with Suda51, Hotel Barcelona, we had a chance to throw a few questions to White Owls CEO Swery.

Towa and the Guardians of the Sacred Tree Review: Brownies Inc. has crafted a roguelite with engaging combat and even forging.

Marvel Rivals devs address stuttering, crashes, and optimization in new technical update from director Fanfan.

The Little Nightmares 3 demo reveals stronger visuals on PS5, with Switch 2 limited to 30fps and visual cutbacks compared to Xbox Series S.

Sega and Sonic Racing: CrossWorlds fans have hijacked Nintendo's promotional posts with screenshots from an ad that mocks Mario Kart World.

Baiyon writes: "In this post, Id like to share the inspiration behind the themes of the game, the ideas behind the object dialogues, which is one of the aspects that makes the game special, and my personal dedication to the soundtrack I created."

This update improves stability on PC, smooths out progression, and updates the Gilded Glory Pack loot and rewards for a more seamless experience. Please restart your game to ensure that the update goes through and to prevent connection errors in matchmaking.

Xbox console prices are about to go up once again in the United States beginning October 3rd. Xbox Series S 512GB: $399.99 (up $20 from $379.99) Xbox Series S 1TB: $449.99 (up $20 from $429.99) Xbox Series X Digital: $599.99 (up $50 from $549.99) Xbox Series X: $649.99 (up $50 from $599.99) Xbox Series X 2TB Galaxy Special Edition: $799.99 (up $70 from $729.99)

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

The post How Mecha Break’s New Strikers Change the Battlefield in Season 1: Pulse of the Indigo Stone appeared first on Xbox Wire.

Category: Games September 19, 2025 How Mecha Break’s New Strikers Change the Battlefield in Season 1: Pulse of the Indigo Stone Jay Curtis, Senior Brand Marketing Manager, Mecha Break Summary Mecha Break Season 1: Pule of the Indigo Stone is now available for Xbox Series X|S and Xbox on PC. New Strikers Hel and Alphard bring new abilities and tactics to competitive play New ace pilots, striker designs, outfits, and in-game events give new and returning players more content and more rewards than ever before. The new season of Mecha Break is here! Season 1: Pulse of the Indigo Stone brings thrilling new updates to the game in the form of new events, ace pilots, and of course, new mecha. Mecha Break launched earlier this year and invited players to compete in high-octane battles across three unique game modes. This season, we’re giving players more ways to style their pilot, personalize their strikers, and enjoy their time in a new sci-fi universe. At the heart of this season are two powerful new strikers ready to shake up the battlefield: Hel and Alphard. Hel – A True Master of Disguise Hel is a medium-sized attacker with abilities that allow it to counter enemy attacks and utilize deception like no striker has before. Designed for players who want to ambush and surprise opponents, they can turn the tide of battle in an instant. At the core of its arsenal are two powerful drones: Pulse Trap Drone — This drone staggers any enemy who enters its field. The pulse trap drone enters stealth upon deployment, making it a great way to ambush any opponent who falls into the trap. It only triggers when HEL is nearby, so timing and placement must be considered for a precision strike. Reflector Drone — This clever device doesn’t just block incoming fire — it sends it right back to your opponent. Position it strategically to shield yourself and counter enemy attacks. Perhaps its most unique ability is arguably its deception kit, which can fully disguise Hel as an enemy striker. This prevents opponents from being able to target or even attack you as long as you’re locked onto an enemy. This illusion breaks as soon as you attack, making it crucial for you to choose the perfect moment to attack an unsuspecting opponent. These awesome abilities make HEL a powerful force on the battlefield. With the right strategy and execution, it can act as a silent predator — once revealed, it may already be too late. Alphard – Sending a Shock to the Battlefield While Hel rewards deception and precision strikes, Alphard can shake up a match with devastating, team-wide attacks. As a fellow medium attacker, it utilizes long-range assault capabilities and powerful attacks to pierce through enemy lines. What really sets them apart from other strikers is its Rapid Assault Mode. This high-speed charge breaks enemy lock-ons and makes foes vulnerable to powerful follow-up attacks. Once rapid assault mode is activated, Alphard can unleash its signature move: Electro-Tail – Deploys an explosive wire that can devastate any enemy in its path, bypassing fluid armor, dealing physical damage, and staggering nearby enemies. On top of this, electro-tail also emits a dangerous smoke that inflicts interference on enemy strikers and can even destroy nearby drones. These compounding factors make it necessary to use great caution the moment an opposing Alphard enters its rapid assault mode. New Strikers. New Styles. New Ways to Play. Hel and Alphard are just two of the exciting new updates coming to Mecha Break. New events, ace pilots, progression rewards, striker designs, and features make this the best time to play. Pilots, to your stations! Mecha BREAK Amazing Seasun ☆☆☆☆☆ 295 ★★★★★ Get it now PC Game Pass Xbox Game Pass Mecha BREAK is a multiplayer mech game that allows players to choose from diverse mechs, customize appearances, and battle colossal war machines on treacherous terrain. Get ready for the ultimate showdown—blitz, brawl, blaze! Related Stories for “How Mecha Break’s New Strikers Change the Battlefield in Season 1: Pulse of the Indigo Stone” Category: ID@Xbox Explore the Magical Origins of a British Gaming Icon—with a Dash of Sarcasm Category: Xbox Game Pass Play Your Way in EA Sports FC 26 with the EA Play 10-hour Trial Category: Games How to Survive Your First Nights in Dying Light: The Beast The post How Mecha Break’s New Strikers Change the Battlefield in Season 1: Pulse of the Indigo Stone appeared first on Xbox Wire.

The post Explore the Magical Origins of a British Gaming Icon—with a Dash of Sarcasm appeared first on Xbox Wire.

Category: ID@Xbox September 19, 2025 Explore the Magical Origins of a British Gaming Icon—with a Dash of Sarcasm Carl Itari, Inside Sales Manager, ININ Summary Simon the Sorcerer returns in a prequel. A cauldron full of magical stuff launching October 28. Preorder available today with a bonus DLC. Hi there! We’re ININ Games, an indie publisher renowned for keeping the essence of retro and quirky video gaming alive—right from the heart of Kirchheim/Teck in Baden-Württemberg, Germany. Yes, that’s right. Among the home of long-established luxury car makers and engineering legends, we’re doing something a bit different: publishing indie and retro games crafted with passion, love and intent. And today, we have a special announcement to share with the Xbox community. Drumroll, please… Simon the Sorcerer: Origins – Digital Deluxe Edition is officially coming to Xbox One and Xbox Series X|S on October 28, 2025. Whether you’re a devoted nostalgist of the original 1990s point-and-click classic or discovering Simon’s magical world for the first time, both this edition as well as the standard edition are ideal for you. For a strange kind of fashion there’s a wrong and right! What is Simon the Sorcerer: Origins? A prequel to the iconic adventure series, Simon the Sorcerer: Origins takes players back to the very beginning and beyond. There ain’t no mistaking: Step into the shoes (and cloak) of a younger Simon before he became the sarcastic sorcerer you might be familiar with and love. With a magically hand-drawn art style, modernized gameplay, and storytelling packed with quintessentially British humour and razor-edged banter, this game is a love letter to fans of classic adventures and newcomers alike. Developed by the multi-talented Italian studio Smallthing Studios, and heavily inspired by British comedy legends, the game unites nostalgic charm with a fresh dynamic flavour. Plus, we’re beyond excited that Chris Barrie (Yes, the original voice actor!) will return to bring the titular, sassy, sarcastic, legendary apprentice sorcerer back to life. And it’s not just English-speaking sorcerers who get to celebrate. Germany will be rejoicing too: Erik Borner, who voiced Simon and lent him his signature sarcasm in the 1990s, is also making a comeback! No AI, no black magic, no smoke and mirrors, no gimmicks..it’s really them, back again! About the Digital Deluxe Edition So, what exactly is included in the Digital Deluxe Edition? We’re delighted you asked: Official Soundtrack Let the melodies of Simon’s world enchant and transport you straight into Simon’s magical world with a spellbinding assortment of tracks. From imaginative village tunes to the otherworldy mood of mystical realms, this soundtrack is designed to captivate. Digital Art Book Delve deeper behind the scenes with a skillyfully crafted art book. It features concept art, character designs, early environments, magical relics, and hinterto unseen content from the game’s progression. The Full Game Of course, you’ll receive the full Simon the Sorcerer: Origins experience—packed with brainteasers, unexpected twists, enigmas, narrative surprises and Simon’s unmistakable sass. Transcending Borders and Cultures This game isn’t just a throwback—it’s a truly multicultural unified effort —brought to you by German, Turkish, Italian, Nigerian and Japanese professionals, Gen-Xers, Gen-Zers and Millenials, men and women, all working together to bring a British character’s tale to life. Simon hails from the West Midlands, but his adventure transcends borders—just like our sales, graphics and development team. It’s a project that underlines the universal themes of fun, humor, magic and sarcasm! A Reimagined Legacy ININ Games has a penchant for titles that blend nostalgia with modern enhancements. If you’ve played our previous releases like Shadow of the Ninja Reborn, Bud Spencer & Terence Hill: Slaps and Beans 2, or any of the Cottons, you’ll know what we mean. Our mandate is to breathe new life into classic franchises whilst honouring their legacy, the zeitgeist of the time and infusing modern elements to suit contemporary preferences. Simon the Sorcerer: Origins is no exception. Expect smart, dreamy riddles, charmingly bizarre characters, and fourth-wall-breaking humor—all delivered in a fresh, visually rich world. There ain’t no mistaking! Pre-Orders Available Now Before the official launch on October 28, 2025, both the Standard Edition and Digital Deluxe Edition of Simon the Sorcerer: Origins can now be pre-ordered in the Microsoft Xbox Store. Free Pre-Order Bonus: Simon the Sorcerer: Origins – Pony DLC This unique portable cassette player provides the musical backdrop to your quest. Relive the magic by jamming to the iconic original soundtrack of the home computer classic Simon the Sorcerer (1993). So grab your wizard hat, prepare for a snarky spell or two, and get ready to explore the origins of a true British gaming legend. It’s destiny calling! We can’t wait for you to meet young Simon. He never (really) gives up or lets you down, for his mind is a beacon in the middle of the night! Simon the Sorcerer: Origins – Digital Deluxe Edition ININ Games ☆☆☆☆☆ ★★★★★ Get it now Step into a world of wonder and whimsy—This version includes not only the fantastic main game, but also the official soundtrack, a spellbinding collection of melodies that will dance through your mind and stir your soul. But that’s not all! Accompanying it is a truly enchanting artbook, bursting at the edges with breathtaking illustrations, forgotten relics, curious characters, and behind-the-scenes glimpses into the heart of Simon's story. It's a treasure trove of imagination, crafted to delight dreamers, collectors, and adventurers alike! A New Journey Begins! Thirty years after his first appearance on the screen, Simon is drawn into a foreign world by an ancient prophecy, that will tell his origins. This world is populated by powerful yet mostly useless wizards and strange creatures. On his journey, Simon must solve a series of tricky puzzles, operate alchemical devices, and learn powerful spells. And yes, he also has to taste a few disgusting stews! Puzzles, Magic, and Simon’s Humor Whether you're visiting the Magical World for the first time or returning once again – Simon is back, along with his unique sense of humor and a completely new graphic style. Simon the Sorcerer Origins brings the charm of the original saga back in a completely hand-drawn graphic style, blending classic gameplay mechanics with a fresh, new world of magic. Your Adventure, Your Puzzles Solve loads of tricky puzzles, test your wits, and face a variety of absurd situations and quirky characters. Combine items and clues to unravel the big mystery and become the legendary wizard you were always meant to be. Features: – Official prequel to the cult series: Find out what Simon was up to just before his first magical misstep into the fantasy world, long before he started insulting talking doors. – A story with heart, humour, and a hat: Between motherly love, a forced move, and a healthy dose of chaos, Simon’s journey to becoming an (unwilling) hero begins. – Hand-drawn art style & iconic voice: Featuring lovingly hand-drawn graphics and Simon’s original voice, performed by British voice actor Chris Barrie, this feels like a trip back to the ’90s, just with far better resolution. – Between magic spells and cogs: Classic point-and-click gameplay meets modern mechanics. Solve quirky puzzles, crack ancient mechanisms, and collect (as always) way too many items. – Sarcasm, slapstick, and eccentric wizards: Encounter bizarre characters, delight in even odder conversations, and revel in Simon’s unmistakable wit: equal parts cheeky banter and “very British” humour. – Alchemy, magic & other mishaps: Tinker with spells, fiddle with alchemical contraptions, and dabble in questionable recipes. With a sprinkle of luck, the thing you were trying to do could very well happen. History Artbook Celebrate the brand new, magical comic art of Simon the Sorcerer Origins with this digital artbook and discover all the secrets behind the return of the most famous wizard in video game history! Official Soundtrack The complete soundtrack of Simon the Sorcerer Origins – more than 50 minutes of new and rearranged music from Simon the Sorcerer, by renowned composer Mason Fisher. Related Stories for “Explore the Magical Origins of a British Gaming Icon—with a Dash of Sarcasm” Category: Next Week on Xbox Next Week on Xbox: New Games for September 22 to 26 Category: ID@Xbox Tiny Lands Deluxe Edition from Beginning to End Category: ID@Xbox City-Building in Your Hands: Adapting Frostpunk 2’s Depth to a Gamepad The post Explore the Magical Origins of a British Gaming Icon—with a Dash of Sarcasm appeared first on Xbox Wire.

The post Play Your Way in EA Sports FC 26 with the EA Play 10-hour Trial appeared first on Xbox Wire.

Category: Xbox Game Pass September 19, 2025 Play Your Way in EA Sports FC 26 with the EA Play 10-hour Trial Juliet NiczewiczSenior Director, Corporate Communications, EA Summary The EA Sports FC 26 10-hour EA Play trial is available on Xbox Series X|S, Xbox One, and Xbox on PC via Game Pass Ultimate and PC Game Pass. Play your way with an overhauled gameplay experience powered by community feedback. Score a Welcome Pack through October 30 and in-game rewards, such as Ultimate Team Draft Tokens and Clubs rewards. Game Pass Ultimate and PC Game Pass members can live the most true-to-football experience ever for up to 10 hours in EA Sports FC 26. If they decide to buy, their progress carries over to the full game, so they can pick up the season right where they left off. Members can save 10% on the full game, FC Points, and other EA digital purchases. Plus, grab a Welcome Pack in addition to recurring rewards, like Ultimate Team Draft Tokens. Feel the difference with a variety of game-wide changes to key fundamentals and much more in EA Sports FC 26. Overhauled Gameplay EA Sports FC 26 changes the game with two distinct gameplay presets. Competitive Gameplay is tailored for online head-to-head play in Football Ultimate Team and Clubs, introducing competitive positioning, fewer auto-tackles, increased passing speed, and more. Authentic Gameplay, however, delivers unrivaled authenticity in Career with more intelligent defenders, corner kicks tuned to match real-world success rates, a sense of real-world excitement during goalmouth scrambles, and more. Football Ultimate Team Put your dream squad to the test with Tournaments and Live Events, as well as a refreshed Rivals and Champs experience. Test your skills with up to 4 rounds of knockout football, or add variety with themed competitions and content all season long. New Bounties let you earn additional rewards or accelerate your weekly progress. Manager Live Manager Live is a new, always-online content delivery hub that adds a new dimension to Manager Career. Take on a variety of real-world and alternative scenarios throughout the new season, ranging from a few minutes of play to multiple seasons. Whether it’s managing your team after the latest high-profile transfer, starting the season strong with 5 straight wins, or writing your name into the history books by winning a treble, Live Challenges will test all aspects of your managerial prowess. The EA Sports FC 26 10-hour EA Play trial is available Xbox Series X|S, Xbox One, and Xbox on PC via Game Pass Ultimate and PC Game Pass. Conditions, limitations and exclusions apply. See EA Play Terms for details. Related Stories for “Play Your Way in EA Sports FC 26 with the EA Play 10-hour Trial” Category: Next Week on Xbox Next Week on Xbox: New Games for September 22 to 26 Category: Games Free Play Days – Synduality Echo of Ada, Matchpoint Tennis Championships, Ship of Fools and Townscaper Category: Games Keeper: Double Fine Has Been Holding Back a Secret – Exclusive First Hands-on The post Play Your Way in EA Sports FC 26 with the EA Play 10-hour Trial appeared first on Xbox Wire.

The post How to Survive Your First Nights in Dying Light: The Beast appeared first on Xbox Wire.

Category: Games September 19, 2025 How to Survive Your First Nights in Dying Light: The Beast Tymon Smektała, Dying Light Franchise Director Summary Dying Light: The Beast is available now for Xbox Series X|S and features relentless zombies, brutal combat, and some of the scariest nights. Kyle Crane is has returned — but something has changed in him. Game Director Nathan Lemaire shares essential tips you should know before you play. Today is a very special day for us at Techland. After years of hard work, we are thrilled to finally unleash the next chapter of the Dying Light franchise – Dying Light: The Beast! This game is the culmination of everything we’ve learned in more than a decade, pushing the boundaries of survival horror, action and parkour to their limits. You’ll step into the shoes of Kyle Crane – the hero of the original Dying Light – once more, but he’s a changed man. Captured and tortured for years, he’s been subject to brutal experiments that have twisted his DNA. They tried to break him. They created the Beast. Turned into a hybrid of human and monster, you’ll have inhuman strength, allowing you to rip zombies apart with your bare hands and leap further than ever before. But these powers come with a price: you’re constantly on the verge of losing control, and the world outside the lab is a hell of its own. With a dynamic day & night shift you’ll need to keep an eye on your wristwatch – better don’t be surprised when night falls! Welcome to Castor Woods, a stunning yet deadly open world where every corner holds a new story of survival. We’ve poured our hearts into creating a truly immersive environment, from an old touristy town – the perfect parkour paradise – to dense forests and swamps – taking your fear to the next level if night creeps up on you while you’re out there. The dynamic weather and lighting systems make this world feel alive, and the tension is palpable. When the sun sets and the true horrors come out, you’ll feel that shift from hunter to hunted in your bones. The Volatiles are back and they are more relentless than ever. They’re faster, smarter, and deadlier than ever with increased senses making it easier for them to notice you and once they do, hunt you in packs. You’ll really need to run, hide or fight. And you haven’t even met the deadliest enemies of all – the Chimeras. Just like Kyle, they were twisted experiments from Baron’s lab – meaty monstrosities with one purpose only: kill! Everything about them tells you to run, but you need their blood to unlock new Beast skills of your own… Chimeras are big, meaty bosses whose DNA was twisted by the same experiments Kyle endured. What You Should Know Before You Start When you step into Castor Woods, you will feel the grounded realism and nail-biting survival horror – Dying Light: The Beast is not just another action game, you need to be smart to survive. To help you get started on your journey, our Game Director Nathan Lemaire shared some of his top tips for new players. Be careful of Biters: Kyle has been weakened by years of experiment and isolation. While a biter alone poses no threat, in groups they are deadly. Think before engaging a bigger group and don’t hesitate to use crowd control tools such as Molotov or decoys. Be smart, not dead: Remember that Dying Light is a survival horror game. Your sharpest weapon is not a blade or a gun or a saw-blade launcher (even though this one is much fun!) – it’s your brain. In a world where everything wants to kill you, you need to pick your fights wisely. Use your parkour skills or stealth because every sound might attract more zombies to your location and an easy situation can quickly turn into an uncontrollable fight for survival. Sometimes it’s smarter to lure enemies away with decoys and be stealthy than to pick a fight – zombies tend to come in packs and can easily outnumber you Crafting is the key: Crafting tools and weapons are very important to survive and expand your abilities to tackle harder challenges. Explore Dark Zones, where you will find many components to craft. Each Dark zone also contains a unique item, for people who like collecting! Safe Zones are your beacons in the darkness of nights: While exploring Castor Woods, you will find abandoned safe zones or safe spots ready to be activated again. They will provide you a safe haven, where you will be able to pass time, check your stash, and access a workbench to expand your crafting capabilities. Watch out for these and unlock them so they are prepared when you need them – don’t wait until it’s too late! Look out for Fuel: Fuel is important to keep your vehicles running, but also to craft munition for your flamethrower. Fortunately, old vehicles across the valley may have some left in their tank. And if you would like a good supply, look out for gas stations. Plowing through hordes of zombies is fun – but loud sounds make others aware of your location, they break after a while and if you don’t refuel them, you might be stranded with nowhere to hide. Change your pace at Night: During the Night, Volatiles are roaming. They are all around you and are attracted to noises and your flashlight. When venturing out at night, you need to slow down the pace and be mindful of your surroundings to avoid them spotting you. And if they spot you and start chasing you, run as fast as you can, try to lose them, or run to the closest safe zone or safe spot. We can’t wait for you to experience Kyle’s newest adventure and to reveal all the secrets we carefully hid all over the Castor Woods. Get ready to unleash the Beast within you! Dying Light: The Beast is available today for Xbox Series X|S. Dying Light: The Beast Deluxe Edition Techland ☆☆☆☆☆ 209 ★★★★★ $69.99 Get it now Take your Dying Light: The Beast experience to another level with the Deluxe Edition. You'll receive the Official Soundtrack, wallpapers, and the Castor Woods Prepper Bundle, as well as a detailed tourist map that highlights locations worth exploring. Dying Light: The Beast Techland ☆☆☆☆☆ 209 ★★★★★ $59.99 Get it now **Important: Anyone who purchased the Ultimate Edition of Dying Light 2 Stay Human will receive Dying Light: The Beast at no additional charge.** Pre-order the Standard Edition now to get the exclusive Hero of Harran Bundle, which contains: – Ultimate Survivor Outfit – Harran Combat Knife (+ Upgradable Blueprint) – The Follower Crossbow (+ Upgradable Blueprint) – In Jade’s Memory Pistol (+ Upgradable Blueprint) – Castor Woods Patrol You are Kyle Crane. After being captured by the Baron and enduring his painful experiments for years, you escape. But the scars remain. Left on the edge of humanity with both human and zombie DNA, you struggle to control your inner beast and the conflict that comes with it. But you’ll need to, if you want to get your revenge on the man who did this to you. A unique blend of open world and action survival horror, Dying Light: The Beast is set in the beautiful, yet dangerous valley of Castor Woods that’s now overrun with zombies rather than tourists. To take your former captor down, you’ll need to form fragile alliances, as well as utilize all the combat and traversal options in your arsenal. But be careful: out here, each step is a fight for survival, especially once the sun sets and the tension heightens as the true horrors come out at night! Half Beast, Half Survivor Become Kyle Crane, a unique hero with DNA of a survivor… and a beast. Switch between two playstyles and experience a fierce inner conflict between man and monster, leading to the ultimate embrace of unstoppable strength. Primal Brutality Take the raw savagery of Dying Light’s combat to the extreme and push brutality beyond human limits as you crush skulls, rip heads off, and tear enemies in half struggling to control the hero's constantly evolving, rage fueled, beast-like powers. Own the day, fear the night A signature of the Dying Light series – two vastly different experiences of day and night merge into one unforgettable whole. Scavenge and explore by day, mindful of the constant tension of the moving clock – as when the sun sets, the night unleashes horrors that leave you with only three choices: run, hide, or fight for your life. Run the Rooftops, Rule the Roads Feel the rush of best-in-class first-person parkour as you jump from rooftop to rooftop and climb over any obstacle using a movement system accessible to all, yet rewarding those who master it. Then take the wheel of an off-road vehicle and plow through hordes of zombies enjoying unparalleled freedom of open world traversal. Beautiful Zombie Apocalypse Breathtaking next-gen visuals bring the handcrafted zombie apocalypse to life, where every detail tells a story of survival. Get lost in the majesty of Swiss-Alps inspired valley of Castor Woods with various biomes – tourist town, industrial area, national park, farm fields, swamps – full of beauty… and decay. Share the adventure Band together in up to 4-player co-op to take on the dangers of Castor Woods, where every fight, every discovery and every twisting step of the story can be faced as a group. Use shared progression to conquer the entire adventure side by side, as you face relentless enemies, scavenge for resources and save each other from the brink of death. Related Stories for “How to Survive Your First Nights in Dying Light: The Beast” Category: Games How Mecha Break’s New Strikers Change the Battlefield in Season 1: Pulse of the Indigo Stone Category: ID@Xbox Explore the Magical Origins of a British Gaming Icon—with a Dash of Sarcasm Category: Xbox Game Pass Play Your Way in EA Sports FC 26 with the EA Play 10-hour Trial The post How to Survive Your First Nights in Dying Light: The Beast appeared first on Xbox Wire.

The post Next Week on Xbox: New Games for September 22 to 26 appeared first on Xbox Wire.

Category: Next Week on Xbox September 19, 2025 Next Week on Xbox: New Games for September 22 to 26 Mike Nelson, 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! EA SPORTS FC 26 Ultimate Edition Xbox One & Xbox Series X|S Electronic Arts ☆☆☆☆☆ 210 ★★★★★ $99.99 $89.99 Get it now EA SPORTS FC 26 Standard Edition Xbox One & Xbox Series X|S Electronic Arts ☆☆☆☆☆ 210 ★★★★★ $69.99 $62.99 Pre-order EA Sports FC 26 – September 26 Smart Delivery The Club is Yours in EA Sports FC 26. Play your way with an overhauled gameplay experience powered by community feedback. The new Authentic Gameplay option delivers the most true-to-football experience ever in Career, while the Competitive Gameplay option—driven by refined fundamentals, added consistency, and enhanced responsiveness—is tailor-made for play in Football Ultimate Team and Clubs. SILENT HILL f – Deluxe Edition KONAMI ☆☆☆☆☆ ★★★★★ $79.99 Pre-order SILENT HILL f KONAMI ☆☆☆☆☆ ★★★★★ $69.99 Pre-order Silent Hill f – September 25 Optimized for Xbox Series X|S / Xbox Play Anywhere In 1960s Japan, Shimizu Hinako’s secluded town of Ebisugaoka is consumed by a sudden fog, transforming her home into a haunting nightmare. As the town falls silent and the fog thickens, Hinako must navigate the twisted paths of Ebisugaoka, solving complex puzzles and confronting grotesque monsters to survive. Discover a new chapter in the Silent Hill series, blending psychological horror with a haunting Japanese setting. HOTEL BARCELONA CULT Games ☆☆☆☆☆ ★★★★★ Get it now Hotel Barcelona – September 26 Optimized for Xbox Series X|S / Xbox Play Anywhere 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. In this blood-soaked 2.5D sidescroller straight from your nightmares, you’ll battle through insane horror-themed floors, face killers inspired by the nastiest corners of your local video store, and every time you die, your past-self fights beside you – like a ghost with a grudge! Sonic Racing: CrossWorlds Digital Deluxe Edition SEGA ☆☆☆☆☆ 5 ★★★★★ $89.99 Pre-order Sonic Racing: CrossWorlds SEGA ☆☆☆☆☆ 5 ★★★★★ $69.99 Pre-order Sonic Racing: CrossWorlds – September 25 Speed to victory solo or as a team in a variety of offline and online modes and compete against players from around the world. Build the ultimate vehicle to match your racing style, unlock gadgets to gain the upper hand, and unleash power-up items to bring home the win! ENDLESS Legend 2 (Game Preview) Hooded Horse ☆☆☆☆☆ ★★★★★ Get it now Endless Legend 2 (Game Preview) (Xbox on PC) – September 22 Game Pass A fantasy strategy game where you lead wildly varied factions as they build grand empires and wage planet-spanning wars on an ever-evolving ocean world at the brink of extinction. Cataclysmic events have wrought havoc on natural order, and the very world will change as time goes on revealing new opportunities for exploration and conquest to the bold and daring. Slime Rancher 2 Monomi Park ☆☆☆☆☆ 445 ★★★★★ $29.99 Get it now Free Trial Slime Rancher 2 (1.0) – September 23 Optimized for Xbox Series X|S / Xbox Play Anywhere A sequel to the award-winning, smash-hit original that has been enjoyed by over 10 million fans worldwide. Continue the adventures of Beatrix LeBeau as she journeys to Rainbow Island, a mysterious land brimming with ancient technology, unknown natural resources, and an avalanche of wiggling, jiggling, new slimes to discover. SWORN Team17 ☆☆☆☆☆ 1 ★★★★★ $29.99 $23.99 Pre-order Sworn – September 25 Game Pass / Optimized for Xbox Series X|S A 1-4 player co-op action rogue-like. Explore and reclaim a fallen Camelot from the reign of a corrupted Arthur and his Knights of the round table. Play solo or unite with friends to stand off against the Knights of the Round Table. Combine the strengths of your characters in surprising ways and master abilities to become knights worthy of standing off against Arthur himself. NBA BOUNCE Outright Games Ltd. ☆☆☆☆☆ ★★★★★ $49.99 Pre-order NBA Bounce – September 26 Optimized for Xbox Series X|S / Smart Delivery / Xbox Play Anywhere Ready to step onto the court with your favorite team? Choose from 30 NBA teams like the Boston Celtics, Chicago Bulls, New York Knicks, Golden State Warriors, Los Angeles Lakers, Denver Nuggets, and more as you dribble, and dunk to victory. Play on team-themed courts with energetic mascots and crowds. Can you beat the buzzer? PAC-MAN WORLD 2 Re-PAC Deluxe Edition Pre-order Bandai Namco Entertainment America Inc. ☆☆☆☆☆ ★★★★★ $39.99 Pre-order PAC-MAN WORLD 2 Re-PAC Pre-order Bandai Namco Entertainment America Inc. ☆☆☆☆☆ ★★★★★ $29.99 Pre-order Pac-Man World 2 Re-Pac – September 26 Optimized for Xbox Series X|S / Smart Delivery Pac-Man World 2 has been modernized, enhanced, and upgraded! The Ghosts snuck into PAC-Village and stole the Golden Fruit, unwittingly freeing the all-powerful ghost king, Spooky! PAC-MAN must venture across PAC-LAND to reclaim the Golden Fruit and put a stop to the dastardly Spooky! Baseless First Break Labs ☆☆☆☆☆ ★★★★★ Get it now Baseless – September 22 Optimized for Xbox Series X|S Baseless is a challenging planet-jumping shooter. Blast from planet to planet with 360° gravity, creatively demolishing every enemy in your path. Fire powerful weapons, rescue cute friends, and discover a galaxy worth fighting for! Brews & Bastards Mune Studio Limited ☆☆☆☆☆ ★★★★★ Get it now Brews & Bastards – September 22 Optimized for Xbox Series X|S / Xbox Play Anywhere Brews & Bastards is an intoxicating dungeon crawler, overflowing with action-packed combat, potent brews and outlandish bosses. Select from a group of inebriated heroes and blast your way through hordes of drunken demons in search of the stolen Brew Stone. SpotCat vs The Cheddar Mafia In Asia Lucky Raccoon Games ☆☆☆☆☆ ★★★★★ $4.49 Get it now SpotCat vs The Cheddar Mafia In Asia – September 22 Optimized for Xbox Series X|S / Smart Delivery A thrilling “Find-the-Difference” game with a hidden object twist. The notorious Cheddar Mafia is spreading chaos across Asia, and only SpotCat can stop them. Explore vibrant, hand-drawn scenes from different countries, spot the subtle differences, and stay sharp—mafia rats can appear when you least expect it. Hyper Team Recon Top Hat Studios, Inc. ☆☆☆☆☆ ★★★★★ Get it now Hyper Team Recon – September 23 Optimized for Xbox Series X|S / Smart Delivery Hyper Team Recon is an adorable 3D platformer about three aliens and their adventure across Earth! Three energetic alien slimes, Ember, Penny and Lite, are tasked to travel to Earth to learn more about the lifeforms inhabiting the planet, using their species’ unique morphing abilities to disguise themselves as girls to keep a low profile! Forgive Me Father 2 Fulqrum Publishing ☆☆☆☆☆ ★★★★★ Get it now Forgive Me Father 2 – September 23 Optimized for Xbox Series X|S Journey once again into a malevolent world inspired by H.P Lovecraft’s myths where madness awaits on every corner. Embark on a path to salvation as you continue the story of the Priest character from the first installment. How long can you balance on the edge of sanity? Will your sins be forgiven, or your soul consumed by madness? Kingdom Shell – White Temple Edition Top Hat Studios, Inc. ☆☆☆☆☆ ★★★★★ Get it now Kingdom Shell – White Temple Edition – September 23 Optimized for Xbox Series X|S / Smart Delivery The magical Shell that has protected the Kingdom for centuries has been shattered. Hordes of nightmarish creatures now overrun the Kingdom, terrorizing its inhabitants. The White Temple, which has stood guard over the Kingdom for centuries, cannot face this threat alone. Explore the lands of the Kingdom, fight hordes of nightmarish creatures and powerful bosses, find secrets, help inhabitants in distress and stop the impending catastrophe. Radiant: Guardians Of Light CHORRUS GAMES S.L. ☆☆☆☆☆ ★★★★★ $19.99 Pre-order Radiant: Guardians of Light – September 23 Optimized for Xbox Series X|S / Smart Delivery Radiant: Guardians of Light is a fast-paced co-op action adventure where magic, teamwork, and powerful gear come together to decide the fate of a kingdom. The kingdom of Helia is under threat, and only the Guardians can push back the darkness. Explore stunning hand-crafted worlds, face massive bosses, and master elemental powers as you fight to rescue those you love. Edgar Poe: Hidden Objects Game Crisp App Studio ☆☆☆☆☆ ★★★★★ $11.99 $9.59 Pre-order Edgar Poe: Hidden Objects Game – September 24 Optimized for Xbox Series X|S / Smart Delivery Do you know who pioneered the world of detective fiction and whose legacy still leaves us guessing? Discover the eerie genius of Edgar Allan Poe in The Fall of the House of Usher, reimagined as a thrilling hidden object adventure – now fully optimized for Xbox! INK ENIGMA: Hidden Object Challenges Avgam ☆☆☆☆☆ ★★★★★ $5.99 Pre-order Ink Enigma: Hidden Object Challenges – September 24 Optimized for Xbox Series X|S / Smart Delivery / Xbox Play Anywhere Ink Enigma: Hidden Object Challenges turns every hand-drawn puzzle page into your personal sketchbook. Scan the scene, circle each secret, and watch the artwork come alive with your own signature ink. Full Throttle Parking Lucky Raccoon Games ☆☆☆☆☆ ★★★★★ Get it now Full Throttle Parking – September 24 Optimized for Xbox Series X|S / Smart Delivery / Xbox Play Anywhere Full Throttle Parking is a 100% physics-based arcade racing game. Your mission is clear: speed through tricky obstacle courses, collect every checkpoint, and park your car precisely in the marked spot — all in the fastest time possible. Emerald Huntress Old School Vibes ☆☆☆☆☆ ★★★★★ Get it now Emerald Huntress – September 24 Optimized for Xbox Series X|S Precision. Speed. Survival. Dive into a deadly forest in this fast-paced action platformer. Battle fierce enemies, dodge traps, and uncover hidden emeralds across 10 challenging stages. Master melee, ranged, and aerial attacks to survive escalating threats and unlock powerful upgrades. Only the sharpest reflexes will reveal every secret. Bunny Pit Stop (Xbox Series) Afil Games ☆☆☆☆☆ ★★★★★ Get it now Bunny Pit Stop – September 24 Optimized for Xbox Series X|S Get ready to hop into action in Bunny Pit Stop, a puzzle game where a clever rabbit mechanic takes center stage. Inspired by the classic push-and-place style, your mission is simple but tricky: push cars into their maintenance bays and keep the garage running smoothly. Electronics Puzzle Lab 2 Eastasiasoft Limited ☆☆☆☆☆ ★★★★★ Get it now Electronics Puzzle Lab 2 – September 24 Optimized for Xbox Series X|S / Smart Delivery Learn circuitry and electronics engineering in a fun way with concepts simple enough for beginners but engaging for enthusiasts! Awaken your inner engineer once again with the brainteasing circuitry of Electronics Puzzle Lab 2! In this fun and educational 3D puzzle game, your task is to inspect circuit boards and adjust power LED lights. Take a seat at your workbench, cut wires, flip switches and more as you trace the path of the current. Start with basic puzzles and progress to advanced challenges that will test your limits in logic and electronic knowledge. Meow Moments: Celebrating Beats & Books Mens Sana Interactive ☆☆☆☆☆ ★★★★★ Get it now Meow Moments: Celebrating Beats & Books – September 24 Optimized for Xbox Series X|S / Smart Delivery / Xbox Play Anywhere Join the Celebration! In this cozy hidden-object adventure, cats and friends gather to explore creativity, connection, and self-expression across two lively scenes. Every detail invites you to imagine stories unfolding in a world where music and learning bring everyone together. Endoparasitic Pineapple Works ☆☆☆☆☆ ★★★★★ Get it now Endoparasitic – September 25 Optimized for Xbox Series X|S / Smart Delivery A tactical survival horror game where you must manually do every action from reloading to moving. Juggle movement and firing and plan entrances to avoid getting swarmed. Drag yourself through the corridors of a secret research lab on a remote asteroid, fight off horribly mutated monsters, inject countless syringes of vaccines, and survive at all costs. Frozen Rune Fa Games ☆☆☆☆☆ ★★★★★ Get it now Frozen Rune – September 25 Frozen Rune is a challenging 2D platformer with 30 levels full of traps and obstacles designed to test your precision and skill. The goal is simple, but far from easy: collect the powerful Ice Rune to open the magic door and advance to the next level. Each stage introduces new progressive challenges, where a single mistake is costly — if you take damage, you must restart the level. This mechanic increases the intensity of the experience, turning every achievement into true overcoming. Super Long Cat © 17Studio LLC. ☆☆☆☆☆ ★★★★★ $14.99 $11.99 Pre-order Super Long Cat – September 25 Optimized for Xbox Series X|S / Smart Delivery Meet the cat who loves milk… and with every sip he gets longer and longer! Mommy Cat asks you to return the lost kittens home, which means you must use your unusual talent to get through tricky puzzles, jump over traps and reach the most unexpected corners of the levels. Collect milk, become longer and help Daddy Cat reunite the whole furry family. Meow! Agatha Christie – Death on the Nile Microids ☆☆☆☆☆ ★★★★★ $39.99 Pre-order Agatha Christie – Death on the Nile – September 25 Optimized for Xbox Series X|S In Death on the Nile, a peaceful cruise on the Nile is disrupted by a terrible crime. Thankfully, famous detective Hercule Poirot is onboard. Meanwhile, a private detective is tracking a murderer, leading her from London to Majorca, New York, and finally to Egypt. The two investigations collide at Abu Simbel. The dynamic duo will solve a complex case full of twists and turns. But the story doesn’t end with the book, and it still holds many mysteries and twists, even for Agatha Christie fans. Extremely Powerful Capybaras PM-Studios, Inc. ☆☆☆☆☆ ★★★★★ Get it now Extremely Powerful Cabybaras – September 25 Optimized for Xbox Series X|S Extremely Powerful Capybaras features multiple exciting stages, hilarious (and deadly) foes, and the action will keep you busy for a long time with epic difficulty challenges and modifiers to make each run a thrill! Brave the chaos solo or with up to 4 friends in local and online multiplayer, forge your path through hordes of enemies, gather capy-powering weapons & skills and embrace your inner capybara in this action-packed bullet heaven frenzy! Mamorukun ReCurse! Clear River Games ☆☆☆☆☆ ★★★★★ Get it now Mamorukuen ReCurse! – September 25 Wipe out smaller enemies and clear projectiles from the screen, or power up larger enemies, making them harder to defeat… The greater the risk the higher you’ll score, and you can even curse yourself to increase your damage to overcome more challenging enemies. Pilot Sports (Xbox Series) Z-Software GmbH ☆☆☆☆☆ ★★★★★ Get it now Pilot Sports – September 25 Optimized for Xbox Series X|S Brilliant gaming fun for the whole family! Split screen mode for up to 4 players, over 50 different courses, the widest variety of aircraft and thrilling challenges provide for all sorts of gaming enjoyment! Republic of Pirates PQube ☆☆☆☆☆ ★★★★★ Get it now Republic of Pirates – September 25 Optimized for Xbox Series X|S In the heart of the Caribbean during the Golden Age of Piracy lies the Republic of Pirates, a powerful alliance of crews united by their shared ideology and collective ambitions. But while the early days of the confederacy were prosperous, greed and jealousy soon spread, leading to a vicious mutiny and a final bloody breakup. Napoleon Maiden Episode.1 A maiden without the word impossible moesoft ☆☆☆☆☆ ★★★★★ $21.99 Pre-order Napoleon Maiden Episode.1 A maiden without the word impossible – September 26 Optimized for Xbox Series X|S / Smart Delivery / Xbox Play Anywhere Shoichi Sakikawa was a normal, second-year high school student. Or, he was, until he woke up from a car accident only to find himself trapped in mid-revolution 19th century France. What saved him from an onslaught of bullets was a girl armed with a sword. “I am Napoleon Bonaparte. And one day I shall be ruler of all France.” Having been saved by this “Napoleon” in the form of a girl, Shoichi ends up accompanying her on her quest. But in this world, not only is the past distorted, but the gods grant chosen girls the gift of greatness, who in turn fight one another using superhuman abilities known as “Apocalypse.” Crystal Veins PedroFStudio ☆☆☆☆☆ ★★★★★ Get it now Crystal Veins – September 26 Crystal Veins is a charming 2D platformer adventure that blends lighthearted cartoon visuals with intense subterranean challenge. Players take control of Toby, a rookie miner who wakes up trapped deep underground after a mysterious cave-in. With only his pickaxe, helmet, and a flickering lantern, he must dig, dodge, and dash his way through a forgotten mine full of secrets and dangers. Hanoi Puzzles: Flip Match Hanoi Studios ☆☆☆☆☆ ★★★★★ Get it now Hanoi Puzzles: Flip Match – September 26 Optimized for Xbox Series X|S / Smart Delivery / Xbox Play Anywhere Assemble towers by flipping pieces to get the right color on top, stack pieces of the same color to assemble a tower in a mysterious futuristic atmosphere. Use the rules of the famous Tower of Hanoi puzzle, where a larger piece cannot be on top of a smaller one. Grief like a stray dog Sometimes You ☆☆☆☆☆ ★★★★★ $9.99 $7.99 Pre-order Grief like a stray dog – September 26 A short interactive play about a young postwoman in a tight-knit rural community. In the outside world, WW2 rages at its apex. Nadia is thirteen. She delivers papers, letters. And death notifications to families of those killed in action. Liquid Cat Phoenix Reborn Games ☆☆☆☆☆ ★★★★★ Get it now Liquid Cat – September 26 Embrace two forms in this unique puzzle-platformer! As a solid cat, leap and run through treacherous platforming challenges. Then, dive into a pipe and transform into a liquid cat! Rotate the pipes to solve intricate puzzles and create a safe path to the exit. With 40 progressively difficult levels, Liquid Cat offers a refreshing blend of fast-paced action and brain-bending logic. Airborne Justice Ratalaika Games S.L. ☆☆☆☆☆ ★★★★★ Get it now Airborne Justice – September 26 Optimized for Xbox Series X|S / Smart Delivery Join pilot protagonists Rock and Stan for an arcade sky battle experience built for one or two players. Control a military helicopter capable of rapid fire and maneuver through the clouds while harnessing incredible firepower. Obtain devastating weapons and bombs, shoot down imposing bosses, and unlock 3 additional modes of play. Become an ace fighter pilot and take down five intense levels of enemy air force! Giant Rush QubicGames S.A. ☆☆☆☆☆ ★★★★★ Get it now Giant Rush – September 26 Xbox Play Anywhere Run and collect stickmen of your color to grow bigger and more powerful! Outsmart traps, avoid danger, and smash everything in your path. The bigger you grow, the more unstoppable you become! My Horse Stories QubicGames S.A. ☆☆☆☆☆ ★★★★★ Get it now My Horse Stories – September 26 Xbox Play Anywhere Put on those cowgirl boots, style your new horse, and start racing like a champ! You were looking forward to chilling this summer in NYC, but your plans have changed. You’re sent to middle-of-nowhere Kentucky to spend the summer with your grandma on a star-stable horse farm. Soon, you realize that this summer adventure holds untold potential! The horse farm becomes your heaven, and with each passing day, you grow closer to your loyal companion – a graceful horse with whom you’ll weave your own unique horse-riding tale! Related Stories for “Next Week on Xbox: New Games for September 22 to 26” Category: Next Week on Xbox Next Week on Xbox: New Games for September 15 to 19 Category: Next Week on Xbox Next Week on Xbox: New Games for September 8 to 12 Category: Next Week on Xbox Next Week on Xbox: New Games for September 1 to 5 The post Next Week on Xbox: New Games for September 22 to 26 appeared first on Xbox Wire.

The post Tiny Lands Deluxe Edition from Beginning to End appeared first on Xbox Wire.

Category: ID@Xbox September 18, 2025 Tiny Lands Deluxe Edition from Beginning to End Manuel Marco, PR manager, Hidden Trap A long, long time ago, in a faraway land, a group of indie developers from El Salvador landed in Spain with great excitement in their luggage. After making connections and overcoming hardships, they finally managed to settle in Barcelona and begin their adventure to “Turn nostalgic games into beautiful experiences!” With this in mind, HyperThreeStudio team formed by brothers Isaac and Abraham got to work. Their condition as twins became the inspiration for the main theme of their game, where the player will have to “spot the differences” between two almost identical 3D dioramas. With the theme decided, the team could start working, although there were still many critical points to settle first, such as the game’s core gameplay, the style to use, the type of rewards for the player, and countless other details they gradually worked their way through. The process of creating new levels is slow and requires a great deal of attention, as all the models used in the different 3D dioramas are unique and are manually created by Abraham, the main person responsible for bringing the models to life. With the game taking shape and the “No Penalty” concept in mind, they were certain that the game’s mechanics and levels had to be pleasant and relaxing. With BigRicePiano’s talent at the melody, combined with the beautiful 3D dioramas, the team achieved the calming atmosphere they were aiming for. From there, it was just a matter of continuing to create more models and levels featuring tiny people, tuned controls for both gamepad and mouse, adding snow and wind particle effects, ambient sounds of seagulls, many other small but cozy details so the player only has to sit back and enjoy. The team wanted to offer a complete game, packed with levels and differences, with a personal charm and also affordable for everyone and guess what? Their formula was a success! Tiny Lands was released on Steam in January 2021 and boasts 92% “Very Positive” reviews, which led the team to fully commit to creating more levels and DLCs for their community. In this way, over the following years, HyperThreeStudio kept creating and adding levels to the game, which already had 100 levels in its base version. After releasing the DLCs Expansion Pack 1, Expansion Pack 2, Expansion Pack 3, and The Final Challenge, the game reached a total of 200 levels, every single one handcrafted and with no repeated models! And that’s how we arrive at the release of Tiny Lands: Deluxe Edition on Xbox, offering the entire collection of levels in a single product, with no additional purchases or annoying installations. Just relaxation, peace, and plenty of differences! Will you be able to find them all? The HyperThreeStudio team is currently working on the game’s sequel, applying all the feedback and experience gained from the first version. Stay tuned in their socials for more information, and pick up Tiny Lands Deluxe Edition on Xbox today! Tiny Lands – Deluxe Edition Hidden Trap ☆☆☆☆☆ ★★★★★ Get it now Tiny Lands – Deluxe Edition is a relaxing 3D game about finding the differences between two handcrafted dioramas. If you are looking for a game that allows you to just sit back and play Tiny Lands is for you! Tiny Lands – Deluxe Edition includes all DLC worlds: – Desert mysteries – City lifestyle – Warmy christmas – Traditional food – Cozy interiors – Fairy tales – Fish tanks – Amusement park – Pirates This also includes the “Final Challenge” special world for those who are ready for the ultimate Tiny Lands experience. Over 100 additional handcrafted dioramas are waiting for you! Related Stories for “Tiny Lands Deluxe Edition from Beginning to End” Category: ID@Xbox Explore the Magical Origins of a British Gaming Icon—with a Dash of Sarcasm Category: Next Week on Xbox Next Week on Xbox: New Games for September 22 to 26 Category: ID@Xbox City-Building in Your Hands: Adapting Frostpunk 2’s Depth to a Gamepad The post Tiny Lands Deluxe Edition from Beginning to End appeared first on Xbox Wire.

The post City-Building in Your Hands: Adapting Frostpunk 2’s Depth to a Gamepad appeared first on Xbox Wire.

Category: ID@Xbox September 18, 2025 City-Building in Your Hands: Adapting Frostpunk 2’s Depth to a Gamepad Igor Skibiński, Production Coordinator, 11 Bit Studios Summary Out now and available day one with Xbox Game Pass. Fully reworked control scheme and interface tailored for gamepads. Complex strategy gameplay translated into an intuitive console experience. With many intuitive solutions carried over from the original Frostpunk’s console UI and control scheme, one might assume that porting its sequel to Xbox Series X|S would be a simpler task. After all, the groundwork was already there – a society survival city-builder adapted for gamepad and big-screen play instead of traditional mouse and keyboard. But Frostpunk 2 is a significantly different game. Leaning further into grand strategy, with more interconnected systems demanding player attention, it quickly became clear that the control scheme needed to evolve into something more robust. Many of the core UI structures – including the radial menu system – still served as a reliable foundation. Circles are practically sacred in Frostpunk’s design language. In the original game, the city was built in rings around the Generator, nestled within a crater, with survival radiating outward from its warmth. But “settlement” may no longer be the right word. In Frostpunk 2, set 30 years after the Great Storm that concluded the first game’s story, players guide the fate of a growing city – one less focused on day-to-day survival and more on shaping the ideological future of humanity. With nature somewhat constrained, human nature becomes the greater threat. Political conflict, ideological division, and competing visions for the future define the challenge ahead. A new UI feature – the Command Radial – serves as the top layer of interaction. Activated by pressing the left trigger, it presents a three-option wheel for navigating the Idea Tree, Frostland Exploration, and the Council. The Idea Tree lets players choose which faction to support and which research to invest in, pushing the city toward a specific ideological path. Exploration remains somewhat familiar to returning players – you send Scouts into the frozen wilds – but with a twist: you can now found outposts and colonies, connected to New London by rail. The Council is an all-new feature. With the Captain from the original game dead, New London takes a tentative step toward democracy. Laws are passed via voting, but political maneuvering is far from straightforward. Some factions refuse to compromise. The Command Radial is designed to be fast and responsive. It temporarily hides most HUD elements with a blurred background, focusing the player’s attention. It also displays progress indicators for active research, council recesses, and ongoing exploration missions. But Frostpunk 2 demanded more than one radial. The team introduced a Quick Radial, accessed with the right trigger, for contextual interactions. Hover over frozen terrain, and you’ll see the Frostbreaking option. Highlight a buildable area, and you can go directly to the District menu. Trigger it on an existing district, and you’ll see options related to Special Buildings or Hubs. While active, the Quick Radial also color-codes districts, aiding orientation and quick decision-making. Both radial menus pause time automatically. Players can also pause or adjust game speed using the D-pad. The Extended City View (accessed with X) also freezes time, and allows players to scroll through HUD icons using the up/down buttons, giving deeper insight into the city’s condition. From a visual standpoint, the UI was crafted to match Frostpunk 2’s aesthetic. The art team leaned into industrial textures: thick-lined, mechanical wheels, worn-out surfaces, and some use of gold – a color from the game’s original visual pitch that stands in contrast to the grimness of oil, a new and thematically vital resource in the sequel. Frostpunk 2 is out now on Xbox Series X|S, and available with Xbox Game Pass. Frostpunk 2 11 bit studios ☆☆☆☆☆ 57 ★★★★★ $44.99 $35.99 Get it now PC Game Pass Xbox Game Pass The Xbox version of Frostpunk 2 does not feature Mods created by the players community. Only the PC version currently enables those Mods. Frostpunk 2 elevates the city-survival genre to a new level. Take the role of a Steward and lead your city through a cascade of calamities taking place in a postapocalyptic, snowy setting. Build large city districts with their string of endless needs and demands. Navigate through conflicting interests of factions that populate your metropolis. As the needs of the city grow and factional power at its core rises, only you can steer the society towards an uncertain future. The city grows The world is overtaken by an ever present winter, which makes expansion of the city the only way for the survival of mankind. In order to grow, the metropolis needs resources like coal and oil, just like its citizens require food and warmth. In Frostpunk 2, it's your job to tackle this never ending circle of supply and demand. City districts Your city is divided into zones serving different purposes, such as housing or extraction. It’s up to you to build new ones and make sure that those already existing work in perfect unison. Special buildings In time, you will have to build places like City Hall or Research Institute. Inside these buildings, you will put forth laws and projects to ensure that your city develops in the proper direction. Colonies To ensure that your city growth will not falter, you have to venture into the frostland. There, you can build extensive colonies that will provide all the necessary resources. Perlis of human nature The number of your citizens steadily grows, making the task of governing them and satisfying their demands all the more challenging. As the Steward you will have to maneuver carefully across the interests of many groups inhabiting the city. New Londoners Your citizens can form communities and factions, each with different ideas for the city’s future. In the Council Hall you’ll put forth laws and negotiate them with the faction’s delegates. Council Hall Support of every faction inside the Council Hall costs dearly, as one’s faction ascension breeds discontent among others. That means you have to carefully think through every alliance. Towards progress The Research Institute is where you forge the city's future. Each new project must be entrusted to a faction, forcing you to maneuver and form strategic alliances. Factions People of your city want to have a voice in how you run things. Each faction has its own ideology and ideas for the future, yet they also have one thing in common – insatiable thirst for power. Choose your allies in the Council Hall wisely. Story Mode and Utopia Builder The story of Frostpunk 2 introduces a multi-chapter saga set in the frozen wastes. Spanning across the life of the Steward this campaign lets you feel the burden of leadership as you take the responsibility for thousands of lives. At the same time, the sandbox mode called Utopia Builder with infinite play time leaves you room for boundless social and infrastructural experiments. Related Stories for “City-Building in Your Hands: Adapting Frostpunk 2’s Depth to a Gamepad” Category: ID@Xbox Explore the Magical Origins of a British Gaming Icon—with a Dash of Sarcasm Category: Next Week on Xbox Next Week on Xbox: New Games for September 22 to 26 Category: ID@Xbox Tiny Lands Deluxe Edition from Beginning to End The post City-Building in Your Hands: Adapting Frostpunk 2’s Depth to a Gamepad appeared first on Xbox Wire.

The post Your Personal Gaming Sidekick Awaits: Gaming Copilot (Beta) is Coming to Windows PC and Xbox on Mobile appeared first on Xbox Wire.

Category: Announcements September 18, 2025 Your Personal Gaming Sidekick Awaits: Gaming Copilot (Beta) is Coming to Windows PC and Xbox on Mobile Taylor O’MalleyPrincipal Program Manager, Xbox Summary Gaming Copilot will begin rolling out to players aged 18 and older on PC Game Bar today and for the Xbox app on mobile in October, with regional support everywhere except mainland China. Players trying Gaming Copilot for the first time are encouraged to try Voice Mode, get help with what’s happening on their screen, or ask for recommendations, their achievements or play history. We’ll continue to explore and experiment with new features as we bring this AI-powered assistant to more players and continue to optimize it for handheld devices and Xbox consoles in the near future. AI has the potential to unlock new and exciting possibilities in how we work, learn, and play. At Xbox, we’re focused on how our innovations in AI can enhance and create more personalized experiences for players, save them time, and ultimately let them focus more on playing the games they love. Today marks a major step in our journey to bring these AI-powered experiences to players. We’re excited to announce that Gaming Copilot, your personal gaming sidekick – which provides recommendations, help, insights, and more – is officially coming to Windows PC and Xbox on mobile. Starting today, PC players will begin seeing Gaming Copilot integrated directly into their Game Bar experience as the feature rolls out gradually over the next few weeks. It will then come to the Xbox mobile app on Apple and Android next month, where players will be able to access this personalized companion via a second screen without distracting from their gameplay. The Journey So Far Since announcing Gaming Copilot earlier this year, we’ve been experimenting with how to make Copilot more useful – to be there when you need help, and out of the way when you don’t. With the support and feedback from players on mobile and members of our Xbox Insiders program, we’ve since introduced new features to Gaming Copilot such as deeper in-game assistance, improved Voice Mode, and a better understanding of what’s happening on your game screen. During this preview phase, the number one way we saw players using Gaming Copilot was to improve their gameplay, answering their questions around quests, strategies, builds, and more so they can stay in the game. Now, any Xbox player on PC or with the Xbox app on mobile will be able to leverage Gaming Copilot’s capabilities while playing, with new features and improvements like deeper insights and coaching to come as we continue to gather feedback and learn from our community. Tips for Getting Started For players trying Gaming Copilot for the first time, here are a few tips and suggestions to get started: Try Voice Mode for a more seamless gameplay experience: When actively playing games on Xbox, use Voice Mode on either PC or mobile to talk to Copilot directly, get help about the game you’re playing, and ask questions without breaking away from gameplay. On PC, there are multiple ways to interact with Gaming Copilot in Voice Mode: Push to Talk – when you’re mid-game and want to quickly ask Gaming Copilot for help then jump back into the game, try the new “Push to Talk” feature. To do this, go to the “Hardware and Hotkeys” settings page where you can set your own key bind shortcut to “Push to Talk”. Mini Mode – for a long-running voice conversation, try pinning the Gaming Copilot widget. To do this, launch and pin the Gaming Copilot widget, click on “Talk” in the left navigation bar to start a conversation, and click the upward arrow on the bottom right to minimize the widget. Now you can continue the conversation once you return to your gameplay, all while taking up minimal space on your screen. In the Xbox mobile app, simply navigate to the Gaming Copilot tab, push the “Microphone” icon to talk, and ask Copilot any question or prompt to begin a seamless conversation. In Voice Mode, get help by asking Copilot about what’s happening on your screen: Gaming Copilot not only knows the game you’re playing but can also understand what you’re doing in the game in real-time. Want to learn more about that new enemy you just encountered? Use Voice Mode to ask Copilot about what you’re seeing and any tips for taking it down. Can’t remember anything about that NPC you’re currently speaking to? Use Voice Mode to ask Copilot for a summary of who they are, when you first encountered them, or for their backstory. Want to learn more about that new enemy you just encountered? Use Voice Mode to ask Copilot about what you’re seeing and any tips for taking it down. Ask for recommendations, or about achievements and play history: Gaming Copilot is also here to help with your gaming library, achievements, and play history! If you’re new to Xbox, tell Copilot about your favorite genres and let it recommend new games to play, or ask it for game recommendations based on your play history. Copilot also knows what achievements you’ve already unlocked, so you can also ask it for help hunting down the next achievement to unlock in your favorite game. We’ll continue to explore and experiment with new features for Gaming Copilot as we bring this AI-powered assistant to more players and continue to optimize it for handheld devices, such as the ROG Xbox Ally and ROG Xbox Ally X launching on October 16, and Xbox consoles in the near future. How to Start Using Gaming Copilot Gaming Copilot will begin rolling out to players aged 18 and older on PC Game Bar today and for the Xbox app on mobile in October, with regional support everywhere except mainland China. To use Gaming Copilot in Game Bar, make sure you have the Xbox PC app installed on your Windows device. Press Windows logo key + G to open Game Bar over your game, app, or desktop. Look for the Gaming Copilot icon in the Home Bar, open the widget, and log into your Xbox account for the full experience. To use Gaming Copilot on mobile, download the latest version of the Xbox mobile app, navigate to the Copilot section, and simply have the app open on your device for real-time, distraction-free support while you play. You can visit our support page for more information about Gaming Copilot. Help Us Shape the Future of Gaming Copilot Your feedback is critical as we continue to develop Gaming Copilot and make it even more helpful for players’ needs and preferences. Anyone is welcome to share feedback directly in the experience by selecting “Give feedback” or by simply marking incorrect responses from Copilot with a “thumbs up” or “thumbs down”. You can also provide direct feedback to Team Xbox by following the steps here under the “Report a problem online” section. Related Stories for “Your Personal Gaming Sidekick Awaits: Gaming Copilot (Beta) is Coming to Windows PC and Xbox on Mobile” Category: Announcements Xbox Game Camp Africa Returns for 2025 Category: Announcements Seamlessly Access Your Gaming Library, Apps, and Play History in One Place with Xbox on Windows PCs and Handheld Category: Announcements ¡Somos El Futuro! Celebrating Hispanic Heritage Month with Xbox The post Your Personal Gaming Sidekick Awaits: Gaming Copilot (Beta) is Coming to Windows PC and Xbox on Mobile appeared first on Xbox Wire.

The post Free Play Days – Synduality Echo of Ada, Matchpoint Tennis Championships, Ship of Fools and Townscaper appeared first on Xbox Wire.

Category: Games September 18, 2025 Free Play Days – Synduality Echo of Ada, Matchpoint Tennis Championships, Ship of Fools and Townscaper Kyle Ocean, Marketing Manager, Xbox Lock in and clear your weekend plans, you’ve got plenty to play with Free Play Days! Synduality Echo of Ada and Matchpoint Tennis Championships are available this weekend for Xbox Game Pass Ultimate, Standard and Core members to play from Thursday September 18 until Sunday, September 21. Additionally, Ship of Fools and Townscaper are free for all Xbox members to try, each with a 2-hour timed trial. (Xbox Game Pass Game Pass Ultimate, Standard and Core membership not required). How To Start Playing Find and install the games on each of the individual game details page 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, Standard and Core 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 and 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 SYNDUALITY Echo of Ada Bandai Namco Entertainment America Inc. ☆☆☆☆☆ 201 ★★★★★ $39.99 $19.99 Get it now Synduality Echo of Ada Optimized for Xbox Series X|S Fight for survival in a post-apocalyptic world as you pilot your own mech, team up with your AI partner, and battle deadly creatures and rival players in the hunt for resources. Take on the role of a Drifter and survive on the surface with new areas, weapons, rewards, and more in Season 2: Punishing Lands available now! Synduality Echo of Ada is on sale now for a limited time during this Free Play Days Weekend. Matchpoint – Tennis Championships Kalypso Media ☆☆☆☆☆ 227 ★★★★★ $49.99 $19.99 Get it now Matchpoint Tennis Championships Optimized for Xbox Series X|S, Smart Delivery Prepare for new challengers, old rivalries, heartbreaking defeats, and soaring victories in Matchpoint – Tennis Championships. Create a unique 3D tennis star and guide them to victory against iconic tennis stars such as Nick Kyrgios, Daniil Medvedev, and Taylor Fritz. Play through a deep career mode where you’ll work closely with expert coaches to improve your abilities and enhance your gameplay. As you rise through the ranks using a unique merit-based system, you’ll unlock new gear that reflects your status as an elite player, allowing you to dominate on the court and claim a Grand Slam victory. Ship of Fools Team17 ☆☆☆☆☆ 181 ★★★★★ $21.99 Get it now Free Trial Ship of Fools Optimized for Xbox Series X|S Grab your most trusted friend and get ready to sail some seriously rough seas in Ship of Fools. This co-op roguelike sees you in command of a mighty vessel and going toe-to-toe with some ‘Aquapocalyptic’ enemies. Chart a deadly course through ever increasing challenges as you try to save the world from catastrophe. Solo captains can brave the ocean too but we recommend picking your most foolish friend, just try not to throw them overboard. Townscaper Raw Fury ☆☆☆☆☆ 222 ★★★★★ $4.99 $1.99 Get it now Townscaper Optimized for Xbox Series X|S, Smart Delivery, Xbox Play Anywhere No goal. No real gameplay. Just plenty of buildings and plenty of beauty. That’s it. Townscaper is an experimental passion project. More of a toy than a game. Pick colors from the palette, plop down colored blocks of houses on the irregular grid and watch Townscaper’s underlying algorithm automatically turn those blocks into cute little houses, arches, stairways, bridges, and lush backyards, depending on their configuration. Don’t miss out on these exciting Free Play Days for Xbox Game Pass Ultimate, Standard and Core 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 – Synduality Echo of Ada, Matchpoint Tennis Championships, Ship of Fools and Townscaper” Category: Games How Mecha Break’s New Strikers Change the Battlefield in Season 1: Pulse of the Indigo Stone Category: ID@Xbox Explore the Magical Origins of a British Gaming Icon—with a Dash of Sarcasm Category: Xbox Game Pass Play Your Way in EA Sports FC 26 with the EA Play 10-hour Trial The post Free Play Days – Synduality Echo of Ada, Matchpoint Tennis Championships, Ship of Fools and Townscaper appeared first on Xbox Wire.

The post Jump Space Blasts Onto Xbox Game Preview Tomorrow, Mixing FPS and Space Combat to Wild Effect appeared first on Xbox Wire.

Category: Games September 18, 2025 Jump Space Blasts Onto Xbox Game Preview Tomorrow, Mixing FPS and Space Combat to Wild Effect Joe Skrebels, Xbox Wire Editor-in-Chief Summary Jump Space comes to Xbox Series X|S and Xbox One as an Xbox Game Preview title tomorrow, September 19. Previously called Jump Ship, this four-player co-op PvE game blends FPS, space combat, manic management, and a roguelike structure. We played it at gamescom – find out more below. There’s a unique kind of excitement you get from a really good early access game – it’s not just “this is fun”, it’s also, “imagine how much more fun this could get.” Jump Space meets the criteria. Drawing from a melting pot of influences as wide as Sea of Thieves, Left 4 Dead, Helldivers 2, FTL, and even a touch of Resident Evil inventory management, Jump Space emerges as a game all its own – a rolling series of action-packed missions that ask you and your friends to cope with constantly shifting objectives and needs. For each round, you’ll assemble a crew at a hub (using the party leader’s personal spaceship), gear up, and choose a mission together – but the key here is that your core objective is an endgoal, not the be-all-and-end-all. Each mission will generate what amounts to a roguelike map of stops along the way. That title, Jump Space, is the clue: you’re taking your ship on a series of faster-than-light trips across the galaxy to reach your mission. Each stop might feature enemies to fight, resources to collect, or secrets to uncover – your goal is to get as strong (and take as little damage) as possible before you reach your final destination. But it’s in the thick of the action that Jump Space shows how far it could go. Even the most basic starter ship comes with multiple stations to deal with – your crew will need a pilot, a gunner, someone to run engineering (every system and upgrade on the ship is a physical object, and needs to be plugged into your power grids to function) and, often, someone to simply fight off intruders. Flitting between these roles is entirely seamless – sit in the pilot seat, and you’ll switch to a view of the ship – get out of it, and you’re back on the bridge. Even more impressive is that you’re by no means stuck within your ship – you can head to an airlock (or, even more fun, an ejection tube) and enter deep space at any time. Perhaps you’ve had an alert that mines have been attached to your hull? Get out of the ship, magnetize your boots to the outside, and get clearing. Up against a vessel you simply can’t deal with in ship-to-ship combat? Park behind an asteroid and blast out, using your jetpacks to board and cripple it from within. Inspired by Left 4 Dead, developer Keepsake Games have created an “AI Director” that will shift the parameters as you hit each mini-mission – if you’re doing poorly, it might ease up a little, and if you’re breezing past areas, it might send in an armada to put you to the test. It means that even simple-sounding tasks can become wild action sequences – you stop in an asteroid field, using your ship scanner to locate resources (your in-game currency is used not just to buy things, but to craft items and perform repairs, meaning you constantly need to accrue it), but find that automated turrets are scattered throughout the area. Suddenly, you’re all simultaneously flying to find a safe space, trying to put out fires in your ventilation system, blasting out to collect the goods, and violently removing turrets from your path. And this is before you reach the mission you came here to do. In my demo of the game, we’d been sent to provide support for an allied ship under attack. But it wasn’t just a case of fighting off other ships – instead, we needed to fend off a wave, head out of the ship to a series of factory installations, take down robots in tense FPS combat, deactivate their systems, then head back to our ship to tackle newly-arrived threats elsewhere. There’s simply no downtime, making each run an adrenaline-fuelled series of reactions to whatever new problem needs solving. And when you do finally get a breather, completing your mission and blasting back home, your rewards can be used to unlock new upgrades, new weapons, new gadgets, and whole new ships – each one tempting you back into space to try them out. Even in its earliest form, it’s a loop that begs you to have one more go – not to mention one that opens so many doors for Keepsake to add more ideas to the mix. I have a feeling I’ll be returning again and again to see what’s new. Jump Space (Game Preview) Keepsake Games ☆☆☆☆☆ ★★★★★ $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 Related Stories for “Jump Space Blasts Onto Xbox Game Preview Tomorrow, Mixing FPS and Space Combat to Wild Effect” Category: Games How Mecha Break’s New Strikers Change the Battlefield in Season 1: Pulse of the Indigo Stone Category: ID@Xbox Explore the Magical Origins of a British Gaming Icon—with a Dash of Sarcasm Category: Xbox Game Pass Play Your Way in EA Sports FC 26 with the EA Play 10-hour Trial The post Jump Space Blasts Onto Xbox Game Preview Tomorrow, Mixing FPS and Space Combat to Wild Effect appeared first on Xbox Wire.

Pure Nintendo and Pure Nintendo Magazine are your sources for the latest news on the Wii U, 3DS, and all things Nintendo.

As a “lost chapter” restored, Shantae Advance: Risky Revolution has to balance the reality of being a 20-year-old game that’s also polished and updated to modern sensibilities. It falls short

The post Review: Shantae Advance: Risky Revolution (Nintendo Switch) appeared first on Pure Nintendo.

As a “lost chapter” restored, Shantae Advance: Risky Revolution has to balance the reality of being a 20-year-old game that’s also polished and updated to modern sensibilities. It falls short in that regard, but the game still offers the sort of high-quality entertainment I’ve come to expect from WayForward. For the record, this is only the third Shantae game I’ve played amongst the series and its many ports. I’m a big WayForward fan, but not as much a Shantae one. Pirate’s Curse on the Nintendo DS was my first Shantae game, and I enjoyed it well enough. The loss of her genie powers and needing to rely on her own resourcefulness clicked with me. My next one was Half-Genie Hero, which I eventually grabbed on the Switch mainly because it was our Wii U cover story back in PNM #27. The approach of that game (less “Metroidvania”, more action) also appealed to me somewhat. I say this not to pad out a review, but as a disclaimer for those seeking comprehensive comparisons to past entries. I have my limits. Of course, Risky Revolution has both Shantae’s genie powers and the traditional series gameplay at the fore. As a sidescrolling platformer, Shantae uses her ponytail to eliminate monsters of all sorts and even solve puzzles. This is always good fun. She’ll also use her aforementioned transformations when backtracking to prior areas to access new parts, something I’m more divided on. I blame an early bug when I was in crab form, for one. Somehow, I fell under the level, but it wasn’t exploration that led to a fun secret. Eventually, I heard Shantae scream, only to respawn immovable. I have run into glitches in other Shantae games, but this was probably the earliest. Another update patch would be beneficial, though your confidence in the series shouldn’t be shaken because of this, only the land. Yes, this game’s plot finds Sequin Land facing a unique foundation-shaking threat. Risky Boots, the series’ pirate provocateur, is using mechanical devices to rock the town’s groundwork itself, twisting pillars to move inland areas to the coast for painless plundering. The stories in these Shante games tend to be of minimal importance to me, but this is one of the more intriguing tales. Risky Revolution has an interesting difficulty. Hearts are generous, and heart holders increase your health. Save spots are conveniently frequent. The enemies tend to be easy. Even the bosses’ patterns are quickly learned. The challenge seems to stem more from the hit detection being a tad off (at least compared to some other entries) and the navigation itself. Backtracking is central, for better or worse. Repeatedly, I entered a cave only to discover I’d been there before and wasn’t due back yet. Areas can look and play quite similarly. The game started to remind me of an old point-and-click game where some puzzles boiled down to trying everything. It feels a bit unbalanced, and even surprisingly dull on occasion. It circles back to my initial mention of Risky Revolution needing modern sensibilities, which wasn’t a personal wish that I pulled out of the air. Series director Matt Bozon (whom PN has worked with more than once) said that this game would be “modernized with our current sensibilities.” This brings me to my elephant in the room, and no, I’m not talking about Shantae’s elephant transformation. This game has no map. A map would’ve been so appreciated for a game like this that straddles the line between clever and mazy. I’d argue it should’ve been expected, given not just its subgenre but also past games in the series. The argument that this is a GBA game at heart (Limited Run even did a physical release cartridge, long sold out) simply doesn’t fly as an excuse because a lack of a map would’ve felt dated even if this were released on the GBA twenty years ago. Today, it feels antiquated. Combined with the removal of town pointers to nudge you in the right direction, Shante’s newest feels like one of her oldest. Don’t get me wrong, even being left to your own devices, you’ll still have some fun as you “Spin and shift Front Yard and Back Yard playfields to create new routes and solve puzzles!” It doesn’t take long to get used to, reminding me of Virtual Boy Wario Land (which I covered in PNM #35) and by curious coincidence, is coming back via the Switch Online Nintendo Classics.) But Risky Revolution certainly would’ve been better with more options to live up to the game’s full promise. I’m confident I’d have gotten more out of this game had I experienced the entire series because, at the end of the day, this is both the second entry and the sixth one. Enthusiasts won’t mind some conversations overstaying their welcome, as these characters are old friends. If their attention turns elsewhere, it will probably be to other Shantae games. They’ll wanna hunt down every secret squid, and might not miss directions in the form of a map or gentle hints. This is likely the Shantae game for them. However, a couple of the “Key Features” in this game are big letdowns for fans old and new. One is the battle mode. Not only does it not have online, it doesn’t even have the option to challenge computer players! I can understand the former, but there’s no excuse for the latter. Even budget battlers give you the option to challenge the CPU. It feels incomplete. The other is the DLC. A Deluxe Edition of this game (for $10 more) includes a trio of costumes that can’t even be changed on the fly. Not too exciting. But aesthetically, the game succeeds. The GBA style is very nostalgic for a generation of gamers, and the humble hardware was capable of producing some great-looking games. Risky Revolution is no exception. Just remember, Shantae earns her teen rating by showing ample skin. Musically, I admit to missing the Jake Kaufman compositions. Maddie Lim does some solid tracks, a few being catchy, but I might prefer some of her work on Vitamin Connection. That said, the Lava Town tune is great. And that area as a whole is quite humorous. Shantae Advance: Risky Revolution is a well-made, quality game that’ll prove mostly entertaining for fans well-versed in the series. But it reflects plenty of choices here that are tough to wrap one’s head around, especially when other Shantae games surpass this one in both pace and polish. The restrictive 4-player mode disappointingly fails to live up to the hype. And the inexplicable lack of a map (or any typical hint system) makes this game feel antiquated next to its other entries. Thus, what should be a great game is just a good one. Wait for a sale, and make this Shantae your Half-Price Hero. The post Review: Shantae Advance: Risky Revolution (Nintendo Switch) appeared first on Pure Nintendo.

Persona 3 Reload is scheduled to arrive for Nintendo Switch 2 on October 23rd, giving you just over a month to prepare your senses of justice and style. We already knew a demo is available to assist with that, but how about a music video, too?

The post Prepare for Persona 3 with a demo and a song appeared first on Pure Nintendo.

Persona 3 Reload is scheduled to arrive for Nintendo Switch 2 on October 23rd, giving you just over a month to prepare your senses of justice and style. We already knew a demo is available to assist with that, but how about a music video, too? ATLUS has produced and released a video for “It’s Going Down Now,” a song from the game’s award-winning soundtrack. The song has over 100 million plays on Spotify, and now it has a video featuring performances from Lotus Juice, Azumi Takahashi, and ATLUS SOUND team’s Toshiki Konishi. If you think that’s slick, wait until you the play the game…which you don’t have to do because the Switch 2 demo is available now in the eShop. The demo lasts up to the game’s first boss, showing players student life at Gekkoukan High School and the turn-based battle systems they’ll encounter in the game’s Dark Hour dungeons. As for the game’s story and setting, players will… Step into the shoes of a transfer student thrust into an unexpected fate when entering the hour “hidden” between one day and the next. Awaken an incredible power and chase the mysteries of the Dark Hour, fight for your friends, and leave a mark on their memories forever. Persona 3 Reload is a captivating reimagining of the genre-defining RPG, reborn for the modern era. That rebirth will take place for Switch 2 owners on October 23rd. The game will be available in standard, deluxe, and premium editions, but digitally only for all three. For more information, visit sega.com/persona/persona-3-reload. The post Prepare for Persona 3 with a demo and a song appeared first on Pure Nintendo.

It’d be easy to take as gospel the statement that “The Bubsy games are bad.” People say they’re bad, sometimes frequently and loudly, so it must be true. Perhaps it

The post Review: Bubsy in: The Purrfect Collection (Nintendo Switch) appeared first on Pure Nintendo.

It’d be easy to take as gospel the statement that “The Bubsy games are bad.” People say they’re bad, sometimes frequently and loudly, so it must be true. Perhaps it is. But this collection, thoughtfully compiled by Atari and Limited Run, will allow many gamers to finally have an informed opinion, rather than simply parroting gaming chatter. What’s interesting is that critics back in the ‘90s differed from those of today. Perhaps it was not being burdened by what they perceived to be mass reception (the Internet, as we know it, was barely in its embryonic stage). The first 16-bit Bubsy game, Claws Encounters of the Furred Kind, originally received broadly positive review coverage. I remember reading about the bobcat in Electronic Gaming Monthly, GamePro, Game Informer, and any magazine I could get my young hands on (my love of gaming print media started early). While I didn’t pick up the game as a kid, mostly because platformers were plentiful, and the big ad campaign paradoxically lessened my hype, the fact that the series endured demonstrates that many others did. A similar reception was met with its sequel, which improves in several ways while worsening in others, something I’ll elaborate on shortly. It was only with the third home console entry that Bubsy’s reception started becoming very mixed, and understandably so (again, stay tuned for elaboration). By the time of the infamous Bubsy 3D, reviews were firmly mixed to negative. Of course, our gaming sensibilities have grown over the last 30 years. The first two Bubsy games are no longer critically acclaimed with reflective coverage. The latter ones are now widely considered poor across the board. Time can be cruel, and I genuinely believe it has been to Bubsy. But the team behind this collection is just as aware of this as I am, and has updated the games in this collection with features to help. Infinite time. I’ve rarely enjoyed timers in platform games, and feel that they add little if anything. Especially in Bubsy, with considerable levels (a bit too convoluted for their own good). Also, infinite lives are another respectful thing I appreciate in line with modern sensibilities. Add in the ability to rewind and save anywhere—no more passwords needed—and these games are arguably as good as they could ever hope to be, save getting full-blown remakes. If you play these games in order, you’ll quickly realize that, in his debut, Bubsy has an odd inertia. I imagine ‘90s kids likening it to what we call controller drift now. Combine that with one-hit fails, and you have your answer to “what could possibly go wrong.” Was potential profit prioritized over playability? It takes getting used to, and I can see many not wanting to be bothered nowadays. It’s frustrating, but not for reasons that ultimately lead to satisfaction. Being a character in the Sonic mold, born of the desire to add another edgy mascot to the ’90s gaming scene, the speed openly does no favors here. Maybe if those balls of yarn acted similarly to Sonic’s rings instead of just points (a universal wish), but the design philosophy feels disjointed and far less tolerable 30 years later. At least the animations when you lose a life are humorous. Despite being criticized by the original creator, the sequel refreshingly improves a sizable amount, in some ways. It’s less linear, delivers more diversity, offers more two-player options, and—most importantly, and I’d argue necessarily—Bubsy can absorb a couple of hits. His movement has been improved as well, with floatiness and slippiness lessened. Although floating/gliding is still needed, as Bubsy is one fragile bobcat that does not always land on his feet. Still, it feels like it was approached with less modest aims. It remains a simpler platform game, though not simple in gameplay, as it’s still plenty challenging. Adjust to the even bigger maze-like levels, though, and you might find a more favorable experience, at least in terms of fundamentals. Bubsy in Fractured Furry Tales came out just a couple of months after the sequel, and it’s no surprise it sold so poorly. Not only was it exclusive to the awful-selling Jaguar, but it also jettisons many of the improvements of its predecessor, as slippery control and one-hit fails return. Often, it’s impossible to see what actually hurts Bubsy (and his odd hitbox), as the losing animations are either too quick or aren’t played at all. Bizarrely, this is also the only game in this collection that doesn’t offer the option to enable invincibility against enemies. While admittedly, this would not be my first choice, if any game needs it, it’s this one. I haven’t used a rewind functionality this much since playing Trevor McFur in the Crescent Galaxy in the Atari 50th collection. You’ll burn through your nine lives quickly, unless you ignore Bubsy’s speed en masse and sluggishly make your way to a checkpoint in these huge levels. Owning a Jaguar as a kid, I can appreciate this entry’s modest improvements in color and music. But this game is clearly poor, a real step back, holding the distinction as the worst Bubsy game of all time. But wait, surely Bubsy 3D on the PlayStation is worse? Nope. Forget that this pioneer had the ambition to move beyond the 16-bit sidescrollers. But for the purposes of this collection, that original might as well no longer exist. It’s still here to be played once and never again, thanks to Bubsy 3D Refurbished Edition. Now there’s camera movement that doesn’t reflect its origins as one of the first 3D platformers (development started in early 1995 with D-pad controls). This doesn’t elevate the game to greatness, but this exploratory collectathon is less rough and more playable than ever. Flat-shaded polygons and general weirdness appeal to my retro sensibilities, and I suspect they will also appeal to any other curious players. Even Bubsy’s voicework is tolerable, albeit no Gex. Additional extras include a “Meowseum” for viewing advertisements, box art, manuals, and more. Curiously, most system identifiers are edited out (Super Nintendo is now just called “Super”, Game Boy is referred to as “Portable”), looking like bootlegs meant to trick grandma at the checkout. Only one game retains its hardware designation, the Jaguar. Even though Atari today barely resembles the one of the ‘90s, they still show some love to the system. Well, except for giving its game invincibility. Video highlights include, but aren’t limited to, interviews with Bubsy artist Ken Macklin (Loom, Maniac Mansion, The Dig) and the cartoon pilot that I covered way back in PNM Issue #32. I haven’t found a way to pause or rewind these, so these thoughtful inclusions would’ve benefited from more attention to detail, perhaps forthcoming in a patch. I appreciate that everything is available from the start, as I imagine any unlock criteria would leave much of this inaccessible. There’s also a “Mewsic” player. The Bubsy games have become unpopular as time has passed, but his collection does its best to make them more playable than they’ve ever been. You can relive the nostalgia of the first two 16-bit games, roll your eyes at that Jaguar entry, and experience the refurbished version of Bubsy 3D that makes the original no longer relevant, all with modern updates and extras. I’m happy to see Atari and Limited Run compile these games and make them available on modern hardware, even if they fall short of their titular “Purrfect” designation. Subjectively, their individual appeal might be narrow (one’s trash is another treasure), and some might not be convinced to join Bubsy’s small fandom. But collectively, this release does plenty right, and those with appreciative mindsets will find value here. It’s better than the sum of its parts. The post Review: Bubsy in: The Purrfect Collection (Nintendo Switch) appeared first on Pure Nintendo.

VARLET is billed as a "school life RPG," and I'm obviously too far removed from that life to find it terribly interesting—even with the turn-based battles against everyone's negative emotions.

The post Review: Varlet (Nintendo Switch) appeared first on Pure Nintendo.

I doubt I ever waited so long for something compelling to happen in a video game as I did when playing VARLET. It’s billed as a “school life RPG,” and I’m obviously too far removed from that life to find it terribly interesting—even with the battles against everyone’s negative emotions. You play as a protagonist you get to name, a young chap who just transferred to Kousei Academy. Weird things happen there, and you quickly find yourself (and your growing circle of friends) at the center of it. To make it through, you’ll need to grow not only as a digital warrior, but also as a real-life companion to your classmates. If this sounds kind of familiar, that’s because it is. VARLET very much draws inspiration from Persona, but without all the drama and style. It’s Persona-lite, really. For some, that’ll be a good thing; this is a more approachable, relatively stress-free game. Unfortunately, that means it’s also less fun for those seeking more bite. Gameplay is split between your daily high school routine and the turn-based combat. Our hero joins the SSS (Student Support Services) and is tasked with completing various objectives around the school grounds: finding lost items, hanging flyers, etc. This involves running around the campus gardens and hallways while hitting the R button to activate your rader. Find the item, mission done. Put up a flyer, mission done. It’s all very easy to do, even without the hints you can pick up by listening to others’ conversations or locating scattered memos. Occasionally, you’ll also find an item that presents you with a morality conundrum. A journal may provide information you need, but is it OK to invade someone’s privacy like that? Turning in lost keys or a phone may be the right thing to do, but if you hand the item directly to its owner, you can leverage your kindness to get her contact info. Your choice will affect your Light and Dark Triad statuses. This, in turn, will affect your passive battle skills and unlock further dialogue options. Regardless of how you’re growing as a person, it’s not terribly compelling to witness. Thankfully, the campus also contains “glitches,” which are digital manifestations of your classmates’ negative emotions or desires, I think? Regardless of why they’re there, you can enter these realms for some turn-based combat, which proves a bit more interesting. Whether you’re closing glitches on campus or working through the lengthier and more intense story-based scenarios (complete with the occasional quiz, so be sure to remember what you’ve learned about the characters), combat is timeline-based, and pretty basic. Enemy moves are forecasted, allowing you to prepare accordingly. If they’re gearing for a powerful strike, you can try to get in some quick attacks before guarding. The latter delays your next turn, however, allowing them to get in more turns of their own. It’s usually a better idea to break the enemies, which stuns them and prevents their powerful attacks. And if you time it right, you can also bind them while they’re stunned or launch special combos for heavy damage (very important against bosses). It’s a simple flow to get into, and that leads to simple battles. Even against the bosses, it was rare that I had to resort to using a health item, and I never came close to losing. I was playing on normal mode, so consider going with a higher difficulty if you have any experience at all with turn-based combat. I wouldn’t have minded the simplicity if the game had developed in other ways, but it really doesn’t. The glitch monsters largely look the same throughout, as do the settings. Was high school really this mundane? Of course it was, but I’m so used to the way school life is presented in poorly written TV shows and movies that I guess I’d forgotten that. Thankfully, the characters are able to keep things interesting. The growing team of warriors is a fun group with some nice dynamics, and you’ll be juggling those relationships throughout. You can advance friendships by choosing with whom to head home from school and picking activities to share. Doing so gives you skill points that you can assign in each character’s skill tree. Whether you keep everyone at the same level or choose to OP just a few is up to you, and I’m not sure there’s a right or wrong method. Again, the game is too easy to worry much about how you’re building and equipping your party. And although the plot points will be very familiar, the story runs through them at a crisp pace. I was genuinely interested in learning how things would turn out for these students. I didn’t mind my time playing VARLET; gameplay is smooth and stable, the graphics are colorful (albeit messy in the glitches), and the audio effects and music are solid. But I am left wondering exactly who the game is for, especially at its $60 asking price. It’s not going to challenge fans of turn-based JRPG combat, so I’m more likely to recommend it to fans of visual novels or those seeking downtime from a more intense JRPG. Either way, you may want to wait for a sale. The post Review: Varlet (Nintendo Switch) appeared first on Pure Nintendo.

PAX Aus is fast approaching, and the team has just announced its lineup for the main gaming floor. And it’s an exciting list, with a huge presence from none other

The post PAX Aus 2025 exhibitors announced appeared first on Pure Nintendo.

PAX Aus is fast approaching, and the team has just announced its lineup for the main gaming floor. And it’s an exciting list, with a huge presence from none other than Nintendo itself. Yes, Nintendo Australia is officially taking part in the gaming festivities from October 10-12, bringing some terrific content to the table. This year’s exciting booth features the likes of Pokémon Legends: Z-A – Nintendo Switch 2 Edition, giving players a chance to preview the game ahead of its release on 16 October. The long-awaited Kirby Air Rders, releasing 20 November, will also be playable. But that’s not all. Nintendo will also be showcasing demos of two huge upcoming titles: Hyrule Warriors: Age of Imprisonment and Metroid Prime 4: Beyond – Nintendo Switch 2 Edition. Both titles are releasing at the end of this year, with release dates announced just last week. It’s exciting to think we’ll be able to get our first hands-on impressions of both massive titles in just a few short weeks. Apart from first-party content, the booth also promises plenty of third-party content. Attendees will be able to experience the lovely looking Hades II, due out later this month, and Hollow Knight: Silksong, which debuted a couple of weeks ago. More third-party titles will also be available. Other major players announced in the mix of exhibitors includes XBox, Bethesda, Devolver Digital, Ubisoft, and Aftershock. Devolver Digital is of particular note, providing fans with the first chance in the world to go hands-on with the brand-new Cult of the Lamb DLC, Woolhaven. Expect a booth full of surprises, from gameplay to merch, plus you can have your photo taken with The Lamb in the Temple from the game. What’s not to love? There’s plenty more on offer at PAX Aus. Apart from gaming, there’s a huge tabletop area welcoming colossal franchises and fan-favourite experiences, as well as leagues of special guestslike Amelia Tyler, Ify Nwadiwe, Luke Dale, Josh Sawyer, Joshua Mills, and Storytime speaker, Gavin Verhey. Pure Nintendo will be at the event to cover the exciting gaming discoveries across the long weekend from 10-12 October. Will you be at PAX Aus this year, too? Let us know what you’re most looking forward to playing! The post PAX Aus 2025 exhibitors announced appeared first on Pure Nintendo.

Even though Wild Hearts S sat in our review queue unclaimed for weeks (usually a sign that a game is nothing special), my wife and I haven’t been able to

The post Review: Wild Hearts S (Nintendo Switch 2) appeared first on Pure Nintendo.

Even though Wild Hearts S sat in our review queue unclaimed for weeks (usually a sign that a game is nothing special), my wife and I haven’t been able to put it down. This release is one of my biggest surprises this year. Please read on to learn why. While the title might sound like it belongs to a romantic visual novel, Wild Hearts S takes undeniable inspiration from the Monster Hunter franchise. Initially, that worried me, as I’m not a big fan of the Capcom series. I’ve dabbled with a few, but the only one I really enjoyed was the spinoff, Monster Hunter Stories. Yet my worries were unfounded, as I’ll share. Just don’t expect any sort of detailed comparisons between the games. I’m approaching Wild Hearts S in essentially uncharted territory. After customizing your hunter from top to bottom, you’re dropped into Azuma, a land under rampage by Kemono, “giant-nature infused beasts.” If you’re a Simpsons fan, think of the Treehouse of Horror segment “Fly vs. Fly”, except here it’s critters and shrubbery getting tangled in Professor Frink’s matter transporter. Some look cute enough, others horrifying, but equip your weapons (which will strengthen in time) and take these wild beasts out before they uproot the human population. Also, be sure to take advantage of technology, namely Karakuri tech. It’s one thing to slice up a beast with a sword or slowly pick them off with an arrow. It’s another to create a giant wall from thin air and have the beasts slam into it, stunning and knocking them down. Or creating a catapult, flinging yourself through the air, and striking them for considerable damage from above. Victory is always rewarding, but the tech makes it even more satisfying and entertaining. Don’t hesitate to experiment. All this isn’t to say your basic weapons-based combat isn’t enjoyable. But, in my experience, some powerful on-paper combinations often prove impractical in the heat of battle, due to the animations. It reminds me almost of a cinematic platformer, where your follow-up controls are locked out until the animation of your initial control input plays out, if that makes sense. Thankfully, it’s fun to test the different moves and upgrades. Using the terrain to your advantage can also limit any frustration. In fact, the terrain plays a sizable role. During the big fights, monsters tend to scamper to regroup and lick their wounds after absorbing a certain amount of damage. You may begin a skirmish with the advantage of higher ground, or start in a dilapidated town where you can hide in nooks and crannies a monster can’t reach. But upon reengaging, you’re now in a more open field, and their size advantage gives the beasts a speed and nimbleness edge you can’t match. By all means, be encouraged if you see them limping, but also keep your guard up, as they have surprises when flight is no longer a practical option. Because while certain terrain can stop them, they will destroy as much as possible, probably more than you suspect. The fights are bona fide theatrical and can play out lengthily before victory is obtained. Thankfully, you can strategically set up camps in the large world to limit time spent navigating, and the fights themselves rarely seem repetitive. And while there are a lot of intimidating menus (expected for this style of game), the moment-to-moment gameplay doesn’t really have them, keeping the action near the forefront. The fact that my wife, who has never played a Monster Hunter game or even any game resembling this, could quickly learn and start positively owning some of these intimidating beasts speaks to the game’s surprising intuition. Speaking of, I hoped to play the game cooperatively alongside my wife. Unfortunately, multiplayer is limited to having multiple Switch 2 systems (impractical at $500 a pop) or playing online. The latter got me an “Unable to connect” message. But as I’ve little desire to go online, this fluke was just a blip on my radar. For those excited about online play (up to four players on Switch 2), I’ve heard positive experiences. I suppose I was spoiled by 2010s Monster Hunter Tri having splitscreen on the humble Wii. Still, we had fun trading off various battles. I’m also able to hand off the controller for some errands in the town of Minato that I’m less excited about (buying and selling, figuring out materials for upgrades, and the like). Minato itself can be engaging. It’s a cliffside town, primarily consisting of those fleeing problematic lives under Samurai (the inspiration from feudal Japan is prominent in this game). Here you can chat with other characters, get side quests, and slowly bring more life to the town through your hunting exploits. While combat is the focus, I believe the overall story beats and characters make the most of their appearances. The vocal work is a mixed bag, but at its best, it gives the game a real professional air. Looking to catch your breath after a painful hunt? Minato is an enjoyable and picturesque respite. Interacting with people going about their daily lives not only combats any loneliness, but it also reminds me of why I’m fighting: to protect them. While I recognize it’s rare in this subgenre, I wish Wild Hearts S would let you power the player character beyond their weapon and armor strength. Such immediate reward could help maintain motivation if/when repetition starts setting in, although the aforementioned side quests also help. In any case, it could just be an extra way to add balance and diversity to the game, not that it’s lacking much in that regard. Visually, Wild Hearts S looks pretty good, although there is a measure of inconsistency. Some of the characters look a bit lifeless. Others are uncannily real, especially to someone like me who’s been gaming exclusively on underpowered Nintendo hardware for several generations. I’m sure there are those jarred by certain textures, brief fuzziness, and framerate inconsistencies playing in handheld mode. But as I type, I only remember the positive. And honestly, how interesting is a review if it fixates on graphical comparisons at the expense of glossing over the gameplay? Because let’s be honest, how many Nintendo players played through the original 2023 game? It didn’t exactly light up the sales charts. But hopefully, it finds a new audience on Switch 2. As someone with limited experience with games of this nature, Wild Hearts S has proved surprisingly addictive. Check out the demo if you’re curious, but I really believe it’ll be a game that grows on you. Even though I feel like there are certain respects where I’ve only scratched the surface (dozens of hours in, no less), the game is intuitive in the areas it needs to be. Such approachable depth that avoids the overwhelming trappings makes this game a winner and a keeper. The post Review: Wild Hearts S (Nintendo Switch 2) appeared first on Pure Nintendo.

This week on the Pure Nintendo Podcast, Jemma, Kirk, Trev, and Justin delve into the latest Nintendo Direct presentation, which revealed a LOT of information and new games for fans.

The post Nintendo Direct breakdown! Pure Nintendo Podcast E129 appeared first on Pure Nintendo.

This week on the Pure Nintendo Podcast, Jemma, Kirk, Trev, and Justin delve into the latest Nintendo Direct presentation, which revealed a LOT of information and new games for fans. How exciting! Last week, we were enamoured with Silksong. This week, we have so much more to look forward to . Mario’s 40th Anniversary made up the first part of the Direct, with Miyamoto himself showcasing the second Mario movie, along with a Mario Galaxy package. There’s a new Mario Tennis game, a Mario Wonder update, and a brand-new Yoshi outing to look forward to. We go through it all! The Direct also touched on plenty of other Switch and Switch 2 content. We talk about our fqavorite moments, from the Virtual Boy to Fire Emblem Fortune’s Weave. Oh, and Metroid Prime 4 finally has a release date! 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 – and now with release dates! 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 gone to print, so keep your eyes on your mailbox for your copy! Until next time, game on everyone! The post Nintendo Direct breakdown! Pure Nintendo Podcast E129 appeared first on Pure Nintendo.

Ruffy and the Riverside is a 3D platformer for the Nintendo Switch. If you like your retro gaming set squarely in the polygonal times of the late ‘90s, then this

The post Review: Ruffy and the Riverside (Nintendo Switch) appeared first on Pure Nintendo.

Ruffy and the Riverside is a 3D platformer for the Nintendo Switch. If you like your retro gaming set squarely in the polygonal times of the late ‘90s, then this throwback will be right up your alley. The game follows the adventures of Ruffy, a bear on a quest to save his homeland from a dark entity known as Groll. Along the way, he meets many varied characters, all of whom are brimming with personality. There’s a lot of dialogue to get through initially, but the set up is promising as Ruffy begins his journey through various lands to chase Groll down, and save the world. Graphically, Ruffy and the Riverside sports a retro 3D look reminiscent of the Nintendo 64 era. This is a relatively rare style for new games, so fans will have an absolute field day. It successfully thrusts the player back into the glory days of the ‘90s visually, while providing a few new tricks to keep it feeling fresh. Despite the blocky, 3D look of the game, Ruffy himself is 2D. It’s a little like Paper Mario found himself in Mario 64’s world. It works well enough, with cute designs. There’s a deliberate throwback to the games of yesteryear that you’ll either love or hate. I found Ruffy’s constant bobbing up and down during character interactions a little distracting, personally, but it’s all in good fun, and the developers have done a great job recreating that old-school vibe. As with any platformer worth its weight in salt, Ruffy needs a gimmick to set gameplay apart from every other hero. And Ruffy delivers, sporting a special power that allows him to copy the texture of surrounding objects and use it to change other areas. It’s a copy-and-paste mechanic, really. For example, a waterfall can be transformed into long, green vines, making the cliffside accessible. Metal could become wood. You get the idea. It’s a creative way to play that opens the path for plenty of puzzles and collectibles. The characters are interesting in a scruffy kind of way, though the enemies are a little on the underwhelming side in their design. There’s a slight performance issue, too, with some framerate drops and general sluggishness in certain sections of the game. This is present when playing on the Switch 2, also. It’s not a deal-breaker, but it’s not optimized as well as it could be. Overall, Ruffy and the Riverside is a retro-inspired 3D romp full of color and creativity. Its appeal is mainly in its retro style, though the texture-swapping ability is a unique concept that adds an interesting flair. It’s not going to appeal to everyone, but the decent story and satisfying gameplay make up for the slight performance issues. The post Review: Ruffy and the Riverside (Nintendo Switch) appeared first on Pure Nintendo.

Button Factory Games and CobraTekku Games (CTG) have announced that their GameBoy-esque RPG The Edge of Allegoria—originally released for Windows in December 2024—is now available on Nintendo Switch.

The post Switch gamers can now walk The Edge of Allegoria appeared first on Pure Nintendo.

There’s a Nintendo Direct tomorrow, but the good news for Switch gamers starts today. Button Factory Games and CobraTekku Games (CTG) have announced that their GameBoy-esque RPG The Edge of Allegoria—originally released for Windows in December 2024—is now available on Nintendo Switch. The Edge of Allegoria may look like it would fit on the GameBoy, but its huge world and unabashedly crude sense of humor are better aligned with modern-day RPGs. That trailer is light on story, so here you go: After a devastating midlife crisis, the protagonist in The Edge of Allegoria embarks on a journey through the land of Allegoria. He explores the land, learns about its pitfalls, and discovers more about the history and secrets that Allegoria hides. Players can explore the expansive map, delve into dungeons, battle monsters, and perfect the sophisticated mastery system. The unique monochrome artwork makes the turn-based combat a real nostalgic journey with modern twists and turns, where there’s plenty of swearing. Here comes to the handheld what has always belonged on the handheld. Actually, the press release doesn’t tell us much, either. The eShop listing? Well… There’s a story in there somewhere… it’s just buried under layers of madness and debauchery. OK, but it has to mean something, right? It’s literally there in the title! Absolutely! Does it matter? No! It’s a video game! Just enjoy it and stop worrying about what kind of subliminal messaging the developer is trying to inject into your subconscious… Understood. Here are the the game’s key features: The Edge of Allegoria offers a classic role-playing world full of monsters and magic and, as a 2D single-player game, provides a familiar gaming experience with modern ideas and touches. 145 monster types, 41 boss fights, 31 dungeons and 6 divine beings await in their own overworld domain. Players can look forward to many hours of gameplay and constant variety on the screen. 96 unique weapons, each offering unique combat skills. Players can equip their weapons over the course of several battles, and—with enough weapon experience—the skill and stats of the weapon are permanently retained by the player. The mission is clear; find all the weapons, learn all the skills and become overpowered! A GameBoy retro look. The game’s developer, Joe Picknell, grew up with the aesthetic and knew straight away that he wanted this look for his debut work: an unusual nostalgic pixel artwork. The Edge of Allegoria is available now in the Nintendo eShop for $24.99. For more information, visit cobratekku.games. The post Switch gamers can now walk The Edge of Allegoria appeared first on Pure Nintendo.

We're only a week into the 2025 NFL season, and we've already had a player ejected for spitting on an opponent. So, the big question for the Switch 2 release of Madden NFL 26 has to be whether players can spit on Dak Prescott. "Spit's in the game," right EA Sports?

The post Review: Madden NFL 26 (Switch 2) appeared first on Pure Nintendo.

We’re only a week into the 2025 NFL season, and we’ve already had a player ejected for spitting on an opponent. So, the big question for the Switch 2 release of Madden NFL 26 has to be whether players can spit on Dak Prescott. “Spit’s in the game,” right EA Sports? It’s not—at least, not that I’ve found—but plenty more is. The last Nintendo-compatible version of Madden was ’13 for the Wii U, and a lot has changed since then. More than I’m able and willing to cover here. As such, this review is for people like me; football fans who don’t care about Madden ’26s latest improvement anymore than they care about how those improvements look and perform on other platforms. It’s for people who haven’t touched a Madden game in so long that they may as well be coming into it new…because that’s pretty much what I did. In fact, let’s start there. It’s no secret that EA Sports games revel in realism, which is marketing-speak for complexity. Not only do you have numerous controls to learn for different positions, you have to learn football strategies, football business, football playbooks. A new feature this year allows you to shape your team based on your preferred coaching method: offensive, defensive, developmental, etc. So, before you’re even on the field, you’re controlling how the game will be played. Then, factor in weather, player stamina, depth charts, collision types… It’s a lot to take in for those of us who haven’t played a new version since 2012. Some of it feels like EA making desperate attempts to justify asking players to buy a whole new version every year. “No, see, this version is new and better…kicking and stadium lights are more realistic than ever!” But honestly, it’s all pretty fun once you start getting good at it. Madden is a game to study and learn, and it’s not built for new players. There are no options to just hop right in and have fun if you’ve never played the game before. There are no tutorial games to help you along. Play Now allows you to hop right in with AI that adjusts to your skill level, but it doesn’t tell you how to do anything. For that, you’ll need to practice plays, positions, and situations in the training room. Not a fun way to begin a game when all you want to do is select your favorite team and correct the wrongs of the past week. Some of these options had odd bugs, too, such as the two-minute drill in which the player in motion would go out for a pass before I hiked the ball. Was the game telling me to snap the ball sooner? Maybe. Or maybe my receiver needs to be cut. Once you get your training time in, however, things pick up considerably. There are many modes to play through, my favorite of which are Quick Play and Superstar, despite being on opposite ends of the spectrum. Quick Play is great when you want to just hop in and run through a game or two. It’s an easy way to learn about the strengths of other players and experience different stadiums. You’re also under no pressure to win since you’re not aiming for a Super Bowl or trying to impress the upper office. Superstar is meatier. It includes more interesting aspects such as practicing to prove yourself as a player and keeping a healthy relationship with the team, trainers, coaches, etc. Of course, you can also go online to play others…to an extent. Whereas the PC and other console versions are fully cross-compatible, the Switch 2 version is not. And the online play within the Nintendo universe is spotty. When looking for a matchup, I was mostly just met by a loading screen that questioned whether I wanted to keep trying. Maybe Madden NFL 26 includes a feature that prevents you from embarrassing yourself online? The Switch 2 may not be able to deliver proper online gameplay, but it does come through where it matters most: graphics and performance. It’s been so long since I’ve played one of these games that I wasn’t aware of how much better they looked. The player motions are still a bit jerky and the collision physics are off (I have a rather humorous video of a QB throwing a defender five yards downfield with his non-passing arm), but everything from the player models to the turf texture to the weather effects all look great. The dome lighting seemed weird to me, but I can’t say I’ve ever been on a field to experience it in real life. Even better, the Switch 2 provides the power to keep the action flowing nicely. Madden NFL 26 runs quite well in docked mode and well enough in handheld mode. I did occasionally run into framerate issues in the latter, and loading times can be a bit long, but gameplay itself is largely unaffected by processing issues. On the field, I found defense was awkward to control. DBs, especially, would get caught in a stumbling animation that would allow receivers to get open too easily, and all defenders would occasionally zip right past a runner when the tackle should’ve been easy. The blocking AI is shoddy, too. Not as shoddy as the commentary, however. The voices are annoying, and they’re quite often wrong about what just happened on the field. My biggest complaint, though, is that the EA marketing is almost as annoying as the gambling app commercials during actual NFL games. You have to create an EA account to save progress or get rewards, and you’re constantly bombarded by pop-ups to try this or buy that for the ultimate team. I guess that’s true of the NFL marketing machine, too. If you want to just enjoy football, you have to go all the way down to the high school level where the worst thing you have to deal with is that treacly Kenny Chesney song during warmups. (Mojo Nixon offered a more honest and accurate reminiscence.) But listen; no matter where you’re at with your Madden skills, what’s important here is that Nintendo players finally have the ability to play it again. The only feature that’s really missing on Switch 2 is cross compatibility. It’s probably good that EA is giving us time to get better against our own, but I’m hoping I can spit on Xbox and PS5 QBs in the opening week of Madden NFL 27. The post Review: Madden NFL 26 (Switch 2) 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: 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

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 string for the PNG filter when using the Decal Tool Added missing newline to the 'Unable to initialize sound capture' console message Added IsNextBot() method (GitHub fix from Bitl) Added support for custom mission briefings in vsh and zi game modes (GitHub fix from Gamer_X) Added convar to control max Mann vs. Machine robots (GitHub fix from ficool2) Added prediction for Thermal Thruster + self-stun (GitHub fix from wgetJane) Fixed crash with game_round_win in KOTH (GitHub fix from doclic) Fixed Mann vs. Machine status HUD not using the mini boss background for enemies in the Support group Fixed Medieval Mode Auto-RP not matching lowercase input unless it begins with an 'a' Fixed backpack page buttons putting the 'New' label behind the button Fixed character info panel not being positioned correctly Fixed The Front Runner using the wrong team color for the headset on the Stylin' style Fixed Announcer VO with static at the end of the sound (community fix from Lindon) Fixed missing lightwarp setting for the Conniver's Kunai and The Half-Zatoichi (community fix from Lindon) Fixed The Bazaar Bargain's scope being painted when using the Elfin Enamel war paint Fixed commentary text not displaying Fixed TFBot VScript methods SetBehaviorFlag, ClearBehaviorFlag, IsBehaviorFlagSet, SetMission, SetPrevMission, GetMission, GetPrevMission, and HasMission using 'unsigned int' by mistake Fixed overlapping internal font names causing one font to overwrite the other for Linux clients (GitHub fix from RoseyLemonz) Fixed Casual late-joiners seeing Competitive logo on Match Status HUD doors (GitHub fix from rabscootle) Fixed Spy bots using human voice lines in Mann vs. Machine (GitHub fix from John Kvalevog) Fixed crash on VGUI menu bar button cursor entrance (GitHub fix from RGBACatlord) Fixed Mann vs. Machine bomb carrier voice line playing during normal CTF with bots (GitHub fix from mastercoms) Fixed organ props spawning from non-Vita-Saw damage (GitHub fix from Thomas Kain) Fixed uninitialized field use in CParticleEffectBinding (GitHub fix from Thomas Kain) Fixed type cast warning caused by pointer size mismatch (GitHub fix from SanyaSho) Fixed typo in Mann vs. Machine score calculation (GitHub fix from HalfMatt) Fixed missed break in logging character field save data causing incorrect logging (GitHub fix from Dmitry Tsarevich) Fixed Engineer bots soft locking on CTF maps (GitHub fix from AwfulRanger) Fixed middle mouse kicking you in PASS Time (GitHub fix from ficool2) Fixed radial fog not being enabled in 3D sky on official maps (GitHub fix from ficool2) Fixed PLAYER_FLAG_BITS truncating m_fFlags sent to clients (GitHub fix from copperpixel) Fixed prediction for jumping when The Huntsman is charged/released (GitHub fix from wgetJane) Fixed prediction for Force-A-Nature jumps (GitHub fix from wgetJane) Increased PLAYER_FLAG_BITS to 32 Removed temporary player jingle files if tf_delete_temp_files (GitHub fix from AndrewBetson) Removed MFC dependency in the launcher exe (GitHub fix from Slartibarty) Updated the ConTracker 'Back' button to accommodate longer localization strings Updated plr_hacksaw_event Fixed erroneous and asymmetric clipping across the map Fixed pumpkin bomb quota being too low

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 files for Taunt: The Travel Agent Added No Hat styles for the Cozy Cover-Up Added VScript support for HIDEHUD_MATCH_STATUS flag to hide the Match Status panel Added a borderless window option to video settings Added bicubic lightmaps (from Half-Life 2: 20th Anniversary Update) Added radial fog (from Half-Life 2: 20th Anniversary Update) Added support for Steam Networking Made the default server name for listen servers include the player's name Made the game launch in native resolution by default instead of 640x480 Client-side prediction fixes (these fix 'jank'/rollback in certain situations) Fixed a prediction bug where if the player was moved on the client, their input-based movement for that tick was not taken into account in non-player actions Improved prediction for walking on props and other entities Made certain client-side entities only trigger local prediction errors e.g. If the viewmodel experiences a prediction error, the player will not experience a prediction error Fixed prediction of viewmodel sway Fixed a prediction error regarding weapon idle animations Fixed certain breakable props not gibbing correctly Fixed an issue where certain variables like position would not be updated correctly to match the server in certain situations Fixed the player's base velocity (eg. conveyors, moving items etc.) getting subtly out of sync from client/server Fixed players being able to spam duel cancellation messages for a duel that doesn't exist Fixed not being able to join community servers via Steam invites or game info Fixed lighting position discrepancies for cosmetic items, weapons, and viewmodels (community fix from ficool2) Fixed Equipped label overlapping attribute icons in the loadout menu (community fix from Lindon) Fixed an issue with props and team colors when taunting with Australium weapons Fixed the Voices from Below effect not working when taunting with the Highland Hound set equipped Fixed player voice commands being abruptly ended when the player enters shallow water Fixed incorrect number on the Geneva Contravention achievement icon Fixed the Military Style for The Surgeon General to stay properly semi-visible at all angles Fixed some classes missing the BLU team material for That '70s Chapeau Fixed the Spanish-Latin America option being displayed as English in the Settings menu Fixed the MOTD dialog not working for Spanish-Latin America Updated attribute descriptions for The Scottish Resistance and the Stickybomb Jumper to use 'stickybomb' instead of 'pipebomb' Updated equip_region settings for The Little Bear, The Heavy-Weight Champ, The Grand Duchess Tutu, and the Combat Slacks to fix unnecessary conflicts Updated the Spooky Night and Ominous Night Unusual taunt effects to fix a visual bug (Thanks Kiffy!) Updated koth_overcast_final to improve optimization Updated ctf_applejack Added block bullets to some stores Unblocked a window at mid, allowing Snipers to shot across the middle hut Removed the missing texture in BLU spawn Gave a chicken a friend, because friendship is magic Updated cp_fortezza New radio model for spawn rooms Changed sentry shack ammo pack on last to a medium Adjusted health pickups throughout the map Changed kill volume on cap A double doors to be more consistent with visuals Improved bot support (Thanks Star Bright) Detail pass Updated pl_patagonia [Stage 1] Fixed some RED bots stuck forever trying to make an impossible jump on the stairs outside spawn Fixed the cart not capping the first point on extremely rare occasions [Stage 2] Improved optimization Fixed a nodraw floor near the first BLU spawn train bridge waterfall Fixed 3D skybox looking pitch black for players using mat_hdr_level 2 [Stage 3] Improved optimization Fixed wrap assassin baubles colliding with a solid func_brush bounding box outside BLU spawn Removed the platform above the open choke of the last point Added an additional path to the window overlooking the open choke of the last point Fixed RED bots getting stuck on a solid fence outside the RED spawn Fixed 3D skybox looking pitch black for players using mat_hdr_level 2

Foundation is Now Available on Steam and is 25% off!* Foundation is a grid-less, laidback medieval city-building game with a focus on organic development, monument construction and resource management. *Offer ends February 7 at 10AM Pacific 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: Fixed the Battle Balaclava's "No Gloves" style hiding the Heavy's hands Fixed broken materials for The Westcoat's "Ugly" style Added smoke effect to The Checkered Past Update the Buck's Brim's "Bad" style Fixed broken materials Added smoke effect Updated cp_fortezza Detail improvements Improved clipping Updated koth_cachoeira Fixed players being able to get stuck in certain displacements Various clipping improvements throughout the map Various miscellaneous fixes (Thanks Midnite!) Improved bot navigation (Thanks 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: Updated the Brain Cane to fix problems with the texture and phong value Updated The Battle Music Added missing Hat style Fixed the models due to clipping on Heavy's ears and misalignment on Engineer Improved and strengthen the Noise Cancellation Updated the materials to fix it not being shiny Updated the backpack icon to reflect the materials change Updated cp_gravelpit_snowy Fixed potential incompatibility with external VScript files (thanks Le Codex!) Re-implemented cubemap reflections in ice cave Fixed perch spots Updated vsh_distillery, vsh_maul, vsh_nucleus, vsh_outburst, vsh_skirmish, and vsh_tinyrock Restored Hale's resistance to knockback back to 75% Reduced bonus flame damage against Hale from 50% to 25% Hale can now do 1 extra Brave Jump before the Jump Fatigue kicks in (thanks Wendy) Weighdown is no longer blocked by the Jump Fatigue (thanks Wendy) Removed area-of-effect of Hale's normal punches (thanks Wendy) Demoman shields now absorb 70% of Saxton Punch! damage (compared to normal 50%) to make the following launch into the stratosphere survivable Fixed Hale taking mini-crits from Direct Hit and Reserve Shooter while underwater (thanks Bradasparky) Fixed airborne mini-crits of Direct Hit and Reserve Shooter applying against the wielder (thanks Bradasparky) Fixed Hale being able to stomp while underwater (thanks Bradasparky) Fixed Sweeping Charge not working against underwater opponents Fixed the bug that prevented Quick-Fix from mirroring a patient's wall climbing (thanks Bradasparky) Fixed Hale's faulty ground detection (thanks Bradasparky) Fixed Baby Face's Blaster's loss of boost not applying correctly (thanks Whurr and MilkMaster72) Fixed the voice lines refusing to play sometimes Updated pl_patagonia Stage 1 Fixed the cart going under the elevator in extremely rare occasions (Thanks Shocked) Fixed sometimes hearing outside soundscapes inside blue spawn Fixed being able to build in a very high rooftop after point A Fixed being able to build in blue spawn Cart elevator is no longer the glitchiest thing in the universe Fixed cart not rolling back after completing the elevator descent sequence Now, if the cart is rolling into the elevator in overtime, the round timer will be set to 5 seconds left, to avoid unfair loses for blue. Timer will resume once the cart reaches the bottom (Thanks I. C. Wiener). Stage 2 Removed rollback from the train container ramp in last point (Thanks b4nny) Gave blue more high ground for last point Added an additional dropdown for blue for last point Fixed being able to be teleported into red spawn as blue after capping point A Removed long hill rollback before point C Fixed bots getting stuck on the closed train doors after cap B Fixed being able to leave stickies inside blue last spawn Fixed being able to get stuck in the point C shortcut door for red. If you get trapped, it will kill you. Fixed a pop-in issue relating to areaportals below point B Fixed being able to enter the last blue spawn as red Birdie (Thanks Explocivo808) Stage 3 Added a fenced section for the long wood cover wall in last point (Thanks b4nny) Mirrored the window sniper spot in last point choke Fixed being able to build behind a displacement rock wall in last point Removed troll teleport spot in last point ending ramp All Stages Slightly lowered sun brightness and slightly raised skylight brightness Improved skybox transitions The cart no longer tries to defy the law of physics Ninjaneers have more freedom to be ninjas The bots have learned how to play the map Gave the cart another coronación de gloria

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 Dapper Noel to fix an issue with the mesh Updated vsh_maul Fixed broken areaportals Changed some props in the upper area that could be mistaken for a large ammo pack

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 No Gloves style for the Consigliere's Coverup Added missing Versus Saxton Hale kill icons Added some tournament medals Fixed Taunt: Curtain Call voice lines overlapping with other Spy voice lines Fixed the Playful Aurora and Frisky Morning Unusual effects not moving correctly Updated Aurora Skies Unusual effect to fix a timing issue Updated the Necroprancer to fix an issue with the materials Updated the Dusk Duster to fix an issue with the materials Updated the Dapper Noel Remade normal map to be compatible with OpenGL Re-baked Diffuse & updated backpack icon to reflect above changes Removed misplaced ambient occlusion Fixed problematic face flexes Fixed an issue where Engineer's beard was protruding from his goggles Fixed an issue with the jigglebones being disabled Rigged Sniper's hat to be compatible with his melee taunt Updated Scrooge McDoc Transparent lenses are rigged to the correct bone (prp_glasses instead of bip_head) so it should now work correctly with taunts that move the glasses Improved scarf rigging and positioning to allow for better compatibility with shirt cosmetics Updated the backpack icon Updated koth_overcast_final Fixed an issue with the models/materials Added back snow coverings (now using displacements) to some props that were missing them Fixed misaligned textures in various places Fixed weird lighting bug on a wall in blue spawn Fixed 'Hotel' sign not displaying properly Added back indicators under some health and ammo kits that were missing them Updated cp_fortezza Removed sniper window leading into last Fixed Engineer being able to build in some doors Fixed some props being solid Slight art pass update Updated vsh_maul Players can no longer hide from Saxton in the dark Fixed props inside other props Fixed z-fighting brushes Fixed missing particle effects for the water feature Fixed orientation of water feature particles Minor lighting changes around the cinema Adjusted LOD change distances for Cinema sign Updated VSH logic Grounded levitating props Aligned misaligned textures Fixed mis-textured walls Clipped upper metal beams Fixed clip brushes sticking out from walls that could be walked on Players will now be pushed off of the fire bell Adjusted cinema sign shadow Used spell check on Saxton's Package sign Updated how music is activated and deactivated Fixed clipping on the hanging big ornaments

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: Happy Smissmas 2024! All players who play TF2 during the event will receive a Stuffed Stocking as a gift! Stockings contain goodies for good little Mercenaries. Featuring 6 new community maps: Overcast, Fortezza, Penguin Peak, Patagonia, Cutter, and Maul Added the Winter 2024 Cosmetic Case Contains 23 new community-contributed items The Festivizer can be found as a bonus drop when opening the case Added 3 new community-contributed taunts to the Mann Co. Store Taunt: Fore-Head Slice Taunt: Peace! Taunt: Curtain Call Added 18 new community-created Unusual effects 9 new effects for Unusual hats 9 new effects for Unusual taunts All cosmetic and taunt cases will grant Smissmas 2024 Unusual effects instead of their normal Unusual effects during the event. This does not include crates. Mann Co. Store winter sale! Smissmas runs through January 7th, 2025 General Fixed a client crash when previewing imported items in the Workshop dialog Fixed showing an error model when equipping the Scottish Resistance Fixed The Executioner not hiding the Scout's dog tags Updated the Mountebank's Masque to fix a problem with the materials Updated/Added some tournament medals Updated vsh_distillery, vsh_nucleus, vsh_outburst, vsh_skirmish, and vsh_tinyrock General Added the gamemode intro movie (made by Lacry, thanks) Improved the delivery of VSH-related voice lines for Soldier, Engineer and Sniper Updated some VSH-related voice lines for Saxton, Soldier, Engineer and Sniper (thanks The Rat Man) Added Hale's kill icons Visual improvements to Hale's Ability HUD (thanks Funicular) Added a visual cue signaling an upcoming Saxton Punch! Minor visual improvements to Saxton Hale and his particle effects Fixed the boss bar sometimes starting invisible Fixed a rare crash caused by seeing blood decals on Hale while playing on low graphics quality settings Fixed a rare bug when Hale's Ability HUD textures become missing Balance Changes - Saxton Hale Added Brave Jump Fatigue. Each consecutive jump will be less powerful, requiring a short break to restore to full strength Weightdown ability is disabled during Jump Fatigue Increased Hale's health by ~100HP per opponent Adjusted Hale's health formula against 24+ opponents - Hale now gains 2000HP for every opponent past 23 (thanks Megascatterbomb) Hale's resistance to knockback reduced from 75% to 35% Head Stomp damage now scales with Hale's downward speed, dealing between 64 and 193 damage (previously dealt flat 195 damage) Balance Changes - Mercenaries Explosives and fire now deal 50% more damage against Hale The 40% minigun damage penalty now applies to full crits only Broken Demoman shields now retain the charge ability Demoman shields now absorb only 50% of the incoming damage upon breaking (a would-be-lethal blow will leave the Demo at 1HP) Greatly decreased sticky trap damage reduction Removed Scottish Resistance's 20% damage penalty Baby Face's Blaster now loses 20% of its boost upon Wall Climbing Updated vsh_tinyrock (additional changes) Improved performance Fixed odd clipping at one of the spawns Updated vsh_distillery (additional changes) Improved performance Updated vsh_nucleus (additional changes) Fixed setup time ending five seconds too early Improved detailing in some areas Improved clipping on staircases Increased control point capture time to 15 seconds Removed collision on some lights Changed damage model and damage amount of the toxic waste pit and puddles Updated vsh_skirmish (additional changes) Fixed setup time ending five seconds too early Fixed an issue where Engineers could build in the crocodile pit Fixed not being able to wall climb certain trees in the main arena Fixed some lighting issues on stalactites and other props Parts of Hale's intro sequence no longer play while waiting for players Improved optimization and detailing in some areas Improved clipping on spiral stairs (Thanks Aar!) Updated security system Updated cp_brew The shortcut from RED spawn to the "A" point now has a nobuild trigger Added floor indicator for the health kit in the "A" point wooden shack Adjusted "A" point wooden shack to allow more breathing room Fixed getting stuck on the "A" gate's frame Fixed teletrap near "A" point ditch route Fixed being able to place buildings inside an out-of-bounds room outside "A" point Fixed some stuck spots near "B" point Fixed being able to shoot through a crack in the BLU forward spawn Fixed floating props in the diner Fixed one way door not forcing itself closed Cleaned up some collisions and clipping across the map Improved lighting on all of the archways Updated koth_krampus Fixed missing trees in skybox Improved look of waterfall texture near full health-kit Fixed minor visual errors Minor NPC clipping changes Fed krampus some oats Updated pl_emerge Switched on the cart light Fixed RED players being able to sit on the edge of an exit of BLU's starting spawn Fixed some doors showing incorrect textures Fixed the final capture point displaying an incorrect string Fixed the map occasionally playing incorrect ambient sounds Minor visual and performance tweaks Updated cp_carrier The Carrier now has full crits rather than mini-crits The Carrier now uses the robot voice lines Improved hearability of the Carrier's voice lines and footsteps Fixed visual bugs with the boss bar Fixed the Carrier sometimes becoming invisible while taunting Fixed animation glitches when a Demoman Carrier holds a Stickybomb Launcher Fixed occasional phasing through the elevator platform at BLU spawn Decreased size of the frog

Wizards of the Coast has listened to player feedback and has released an Unearthed Arcana update for several Dungeons & Dragons player options.
Read this article on TechRaptor

Wizards of the Coast has listened to player feedback and has released an Unearthed Arcana update for several Dungeons & Dragons player options. Read this article on TechRaptor

Deep Rock Galactic: Survivor is an exercise in excess, a spinoff that provides you loads of challenges to complete with inventive twists on the bullet heaven formula.
Read this article on TechRaptor

Deep Rock Galactic: Survivor is an exercise in excess, a spinoff that provides you loads of challenges to complete with inventive twists on the bullet heaven formula. Read this article on TechRaptor

Bomb Rush Cyberfunk developer Team Reptile has announced its new game Hyperfunk, and it's very much continuing its predecessor's work.
Read this article on TechRaptor

Bomb Rush Cyberfunk developer Team Reptile has announced its new game Hyperfunk, and it's very much continuing its predecessor's work. Read this article on TechRaptor

The Persona series has received its first ever music video, and it's for one of Persona 3 Reload's most iconic (and ubiquitous) battle themes.
Read this article on TechRaptor

The Persona series has received its first ever music video, and it's for one of Persona 3 Reload's most iconic (and ubiquitous) battle themes. Read this article on TechRaptor

The newest trailer for Critical Role Campaign 4 has dropped, providing fans a glimpse into the game's new setting created by Brennan Lee Mulligan.
Read this article on TechRaptor

The newest trailer for Critical Role Campaign 4 has dropped, providing fans a glimpse into the game's new setting created by Brennan Lee Mulligan. Read this article on TechRaptor

Valve has revealed that Steam will soon lose support for systems running 32-bit instances of Windows 10, but don't worry: that's probably not you.
Read this article on TechRaptor

Valve has revealed that Steam will soon lose support for systems running 32-bit instances of Windows 10, but don't worry: that's probably not you. Read this article on TechRaptor

Towa and the Guardians of the Sacred Tree is an impressive roguelite with a gripping story and plenty of Hades-like action.
Read this article on TechRaptor

Towa and the Guardians of the Sacred Tree is an impressive roguelite with a gripping story and plenty of Hades-like action. Read this article on TechRaptor

2K and Gearbox have announced that more updates to address Borderlands 4's PC performance are on the way, calling the issue their "top priority".
Read this article on TechRaptor

2K and Gearbox have announced that more updates to address Borderlands 4's PC performance are on the way, calling the issue their "top priority". Read this article on TechRaptor

Two new GBA classics, Klonoa: Empire of Dreams and Mr. Driller 2, are being added to the Nintendo Switch Online catalog next week.
Read this article on TechRaptor

Two new GBA classics, Klonoa: Empire of Dreams and Mr. Driller 2, are being added to the Nintendo Switch Online catalog next week. Read this article on TechRaptor

If you're enjoying Hollow Knight: Silksong, check out these six Metroidvania titles next! These are great games to play after Silksong.
Read this article on TechRaptor

If you're enjoying Hollow Knight: Silksong, check out these six Metroidvania titles next! These are great games to play after Silksong. Read this article on TechRaptor

Bloodlines 2 publisher Paradox and IP owner White Wolf have removed the controversial paywall on the Toreador and Lasombra clans.
Read this article on TechRaptor

Bloodlines 2 publisher Paradox and IP owner White Wolf have removed the controversial paywall on the Toreador and Lasombra clans. Read this article on TechRaptor

Paizo launched its crowdfunding campaign for Pathfinder Quest on Backerkit. The project was fully funded in 90 minutes and is quickly hitting stretch goals.
Read this article on TechRaptor

Paizo launched its crowdfunding campaign for Pathfinder Quest on Backerkit. The project was fully funded in 90 minutes and is quickly hitting stretch goals. Read this article on TechRaptor

We got to learn from the team behind AdHoc how Dispatch came about, how they're iterating on Telltale's formula, and who they were most surprised the internet thirsted over from the demo...
Read this article on TechRaptor

We got to learn from the team behind AdHoc how Dispatch came about, how they're iterating on Telltale's formula, and who they were most surprised the internet thirsted over from the demo... Read this article on TechRaptor

Battlefield 6's multiplayer sees new improvements as we go hands-on with large-scale maps, including Mirak Valley and the remade Operation Firestorm.
Read this article on TechRaptor

Battlefield 6's multiplayer sees new improvements as we go hands-on with large-scale maps, including Mirak Valley and the remade Operation Firestorm. Read this article on TechRaptor

The existence of Yakuza Kiwami 3 appears to have been inadvertently confirmed by none other than developer Ryu Ga Gotoku Studio.
Read this article on TechRaptor

The existence of Yakuza Kiwami 3 appears to have been inadvertently confirmed by none other than developer Ryu Ga Gotoku Studio. Read this article on TechRaptor

Square Enix has announced Dragon Quest Smash/Grow, a mobile roguelite RPG that features tons of classic Dragon Quest enemies for you to slay.
Read this article on TechRaptor

Square Enix has announced Dragon Quest Smash/Grow, a mobile roguelite RPG that features tons of classic Dragon Quest enemies for you to slay. Read this article on TechRaptor

Asmodee and Red Square Games have revealed Twilight Imperium Digital, and it is, believe it or not, a Steam version of the legendary tabletop game.
Read this article on TechRaptor

Asmodee and Red Square Games have revealed Twilight Imperium Digital, and it is, believe it or not, a Steam version of the legendary tabletop game. Read this article on TechRaptor

With its depictions of paranoia and apocalyptic scenarios, No, I'm Not a Human has all eyes on Trioskaz to bring the goods home, but is it something you'll want to invite into your home? Read our review to find out more.
Read this article on TechRaptor

With its depictions of paranoia and apocalyptic scenarios, No, I'm Not a Human has all eyes on Trioskaz to bring the goods home, but is it something you'll want to invite into your home? Read our review to find out more. Read this article on TechRaptor

The Game Manufacturers Association has announced the new Game Store Day event. An annual event intended to support FLGS retail stores.
Read this article on TechRaptor

The Game Manufacturers Association has announced the new Game Store Day event. An annual event intended to support FLGS retail stores. Read this article on TechRaptor

In this guide, we'll tell you how to get a boat in Voyagers of Nera and how you can use it to travel to other regions of the map and transport heavy cargo.
Read this article on TechRaptor

In this guide, we'll tell you how to get a boat in Voyagers of Nera and how you can use it to travel to other regions of the map and transport heavy cargo. Read this article on TechRaptor

In this guide, we'll tell you how to get a glider in Voyagers of Nera and how you can use it to travel long distances and reach great heights.
Read this article on TechRaptor

In this guide, we'll tell you how to get a glider in Voyagers of Nera and how you can use it to travel long distances and reach great heights. Read this article on TechRaptor

This guide tells you how to get a Skimmer in Voyagers of Nera and how you can use the Basic Skimmer to quickly travel over water.
Read this article on TechRaptor

This guide tells you how to get a Skimmer in Voyagers of Nera and how you can use the Basic Skimmer to quickly travel over water. Read this article on TechRaptor

This guide tells you how to unlock the Voyagers of Nera Ancient's Gate and how you can use it to instantly fast-travel between regions on the map.
Read this article on TechRaptor

This guide tells you how to unlock the Voyagers of Nera Ancient's Gate and how you can use it to instantly fast-travel between regions on the map. Read this article on TechRaptor

This guide tells you how the Voyagers of Nera Corruption and explains what you need to do to destroy the Abyssal Spires plaguing the land.
Read this article on TechRaptor

This guide tells you how the Voyagers of Nera Corruption and explains what you need to do to destroy the Abyssal Spires plaguing the land. Read this article on TechRaptor

In this guide, we explain how the Voyagers of Nera building system works and how you can use it to build a base and make shortcuts in the world.
Read this article on TechRaptor

In this guide, we explain how the Voyagers of Nera building system works and how you can use it to build a base and make shortcuts in the world. Read this article on TechRaptor

This guide lists all of the Voyagers of Nera Knowledge unlocks and tells you how to get more Knowledge Points to upgrade your character.
Read this article on TechRaptor

This guide lists all of the Voyagers of Nera Knowledge unlocks and tells you how to get more Knowledge Points to upgrade your character. Read this article on TechRaptor

This guide explains how the Voyagers of Nera crafting system works and lists all of the crafting recipes that you can unlock in the game.
Read this article on TechRaptor

This guide explains how the Voyagers of Nera crafting system works and lists all of the crafting recipes that you can unlock in the game. Read this article on TechRaptor

Our Voyagers of Nera Cooking and Food Guide tells you how to find food, how cooking works, and provides you with a full list of all cooking recipes!
Read this article on TechRaptor

Our Voyagers of Nera Cooking and Food Guide tells you how to find food, how cooking works, and provides you with a full list of all cooking recipes! Read this article on TechRaptor

In this guide, we'll tell you how a Voyagers of Nera Spirit Anchor works and what you'll need to upgrade it to higher levels and gain greater buffs.
Read this article on TechRaptor

In this guide, we'll tell you how a Voyagers of Nera Spirit Anchor works and what you'll need to upgrade it to higher levels and gain greater buffs. Read this article on TechRaptor

This Voyagers of Nera Spirit Abilities Guide tells you how to unlock Spirit Abilities and Forms and how you can use them to power up your character.
Read this article on TechRaptor

This Voyagers of Nera Spirit Abilities Guide tells you how to unlock Spirit Abilities and Forms and how you can use them to power up your character. 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 Flight Simulator 2024 may debut on PS5 in November, as reported by a Polish source. The game might include a boxed edition and could attract a dedicated fan base.

Mars Attracts gleefully turns the cult chaos of Mars Attacks into a theme-park sim where you abduct, display and ‘care for’ humans from every era. Even in Early Access it’s a solid, if familiar, management game that lets you balance Martian wallets, human misery and a lot of ack-ack charm.

Kratos is expected to face Ra in a new God of War game, potentially set in ancient Egypt. A metroidvania spin-off may be announced soon, linking themes and gameplay elements.

Borderlands 4 has sold 2 million copies, mainly on Steam, but this is less than half of Borderlands 3's launch sales. Technical issues and CEO's reactions have impacted its performance negatively.

Details about an Assassin's Creed IV: Black Flag remake indicate substantial changes, including a release window in early 2026, a new engine, RPG mechanics, and the removal of modern-day segments for enhanced storytelling.

Sony is launching a new power-saving feature for PS5 on September 17, which reduces console performance to lower power consumption. It supports select games and aligns with Sony’s 'Road to Zero' environmental plan.

Rumors suggest a PlayStation presentation next week, likely unveiling Insomniac's Wolverine game. Additional announcements could include Ghost of Yotei, a God of War spin-off, and other game reveals.

A tiny apprentice, a giant magical shield and a kingdom to save. The Knightling nails its platforming and world-building but its combat and pacing never quite reach the same heights. A sweet, slightly clumsy action-platformer about stepping out of your mentor’s shadow.

Insomniac's Wolverine game is set for a 2026 release, while the Venom spin-off remains in development, with uncertainties about its progress and potential narrative featuring Eddie Brock as Venom.

Joe Wusashi may have the name of an accountant, but in Shinobi: Art of Vengeance he proves once again why he’s gaming’s grunting ninja legend. With razor-sharp controls, stylish combat, and Lizard Cube’s signature 2D artistry, this is a slick and satisfying revival — even if the story is thin as a shoji screen.

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

Cheat Death is a horror roguelite where you use arcane cards to navigate a hex board shrouded in occult mystery, each step bringing you closer to the dark heart of mortality itself.

In Cheat Death, Death sits across the table, shuffling a deck of forbidden knowledge. The wager? Your very soul. Your only weapons: arcane cards collected from ghostly encounters, each one a stolen … Read More

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

Geamana Village is an eerie horror mystery adventure that invites players to document a communist-era environmental disaster where an entire community was sacrificed to mining operations in 1977.

In Geamana Village you navigate the eerie stillness of half-submerged ruins, where a church spire rises from poisonous waters as silent testimony to what was lost. Your camera becomes both tool and witness, capturing details invisible to … Read More

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

The Temple of Children is a haunting hand-drawn horror adventure about a young girl from rural Russia whose reality transforms into a nightmare.

Questioning what lurks beneath childhood’s surface, in The Temple of Children you delve into the dark secrets children hide behind seemingly innocent games like hopscotch. The game combines unique hand-drawn 2D art with stop-motion animation to create an unsettling atmosphere inspired by … Read More

The post The Temple of Children – Beta Demo first appeared on Alpha Beta Gamer.

The Lift is a first person supernatural handyman adventure where you have to fix up an old abandoned facility that’s been corrupted by a mysterious black sludge.

In The Lift, you are a maintenance worker (called a Keeper) who was accidentally left in cryogenic suspension for a VERY long time. The Institute was once a pinnacle of research – until a catastrophe left it … Read More

The post The Lift – Open Beta first appeared on Alpha Beta Gamer.

Roadside Research is a hilariously chaotic co-op simulator where a group of extraterrestrial spies gather intel for a coming invasion by working at a gas station.

Playable solo or with up to three fellow aliens in co-op, in Roadside Research you balance mundane human tasks like restocking shelves and refueling vehicles with your true mission: scanning unsuspecting customers for valuable research data. Just don’t let … Read More

The post Roadside Research – Beta Demo first appeared on Alpha Beta Gamer.

Jackal is an ultraviolent Hotline Miami inspired top-down shooter where you and Anubis, the God of Death, commit drug-infused massacres in 1970s Vegas hotels.

Currently in development by Michał Marcinkowski (creator of Soldat, Maniac and Butcher), Jackal is a brutal top-down shooter inspired by Hotline Miami, OTXO, I Am Your Beast, John Wick, Pulp Fiction, Fear and Loathing In Vegas, Goodfellas and Cowboy Bebop… Read More

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

Blind Bluff is a high-stakes game of bluffing where your greatest weapon isn’t the cards you hold – it’s your ability to read minds.

Playable with up to four players, Blind Bluff is an intense psychological card game where players deduce their own hidden cards while detecting the subtle tells that betray their opponents. When someone whispers, “You’ve got a 1, just FOLD!” can you … Read More

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

Ars Notoria is an ambitious fantasy RPG, your journey begins as a humble beggar drafted to battle the Enthralled – creatures corrupted by shards of spiritual energy.

In Ars Notoria you are thrust into a vast open world where mastering magical abilities determines your survival. The game’s unique Soul Binding system lets you absorb and instantly swap between four distinct adventurers mid-combat, creating devastating magical … Read More

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

Pathogenic is a biological twin-stick shooter where you become the deadliest enemy humanity has ever faced – a parasite waging microscopic warfare inside a living host.

Flipping traditional gaming narratives by casting you as the disease, Pathogenic sees you fighting to spread and conquer from within. You’ll hunt down immune cells, harvest their organelles, and graft them onto your evolving body. Create devastating combinations – … Read More

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

Ardem is an open-world survival game where humanity’s remnants struggle against rogue AI in a sprawling 64km² landscape reclaimed by nature.

In Ardem players are dropped into a meticulously handcrafted world where decaying infrastructure and overgrown wilderness create the perfect backdrop for a fight for survival. Scavenge abandoned settlements for resources while evading mechanical hunters. Build intricate bases with unprecedented freedom – electrify your sanctuary … Read More

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

Killing Dead is a relentless top-down shooter with wave-based zombie-slaying action that rewards tactical thinking and resource management over mindless gunplay.

In Killing Dead you’ll need to position strategically between cover points while managing precious ammunition to maximize your survival chances. After each blood-soaked wave, choose from powerful buffs that shape your playstyle – enhancing weapons, movement speed, or defensive capabilities as threats intensify.

The … Read More

The post Killing Dead – Open Beta first appeared on Alpha Beta Gamer.

Pinnacle Point is an Alan Wake-esque atmospheric third-person survival horror game where you infiltrate an island where a shadowy corporation has been conducting experiments.

In Pinnacle Point you return to an island where you used to stay, in search of your missing brother. However, it appears some human experimentation has been going on there, and now the island is filled with horrifying tentacled abominations. … Read More

The post Pinnacle Point – Alpha Download first appeared on Alpha Beta Gamer.

Drownlight is an atmospheric city-builder that demands strategic resource management as you construct a radial settlement, balancing survival needs against limited supplies.

In a world consumed by endless ocean, Drownlight challenges players to build humanity’s last refuge around a solitary lighthouse – the final beacon in a drowned civilization. Your lighthouse beam attracts drifting survivors while mysteriously warding off unseen horrors that lurk beyond its … Read More

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

The Light of the Darkness: Origins aims to reinvent the metroidvania formula with its unique physics-based flight system that transforms exploration and combat alike.

In The Light of the Darkness: Origins, players become Sephius – a hybrid born of Light and Darkness – navigating the seamless Lands of Oblivion without a single loading screen. You’ll soar through interconnected environments using fluid, cooldown-free flying mechanics … Read More

The post The Light of the Darkness: Origins – Open Beta first appeared on Alpha Beta Gamer.

Melted Time is a spooky cinematic puzzle platforming adventure where you become a sentient candle slowly dripping away with each passing second.

In Melted Time your inevitable demise is a core mechanic – your wax body literally melts in real-time as you navigate atmospheric environments. Survival demands mastery of time-bending abilities that allow you to manipulate your surroundings. Freeze moments to traverse impossible gaps, rewind … Read More

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

WALKER transforms the co-op multiplayer haunted house formula by placing the terror inside a moving fortress crucial to humanity’s survival.

In WALKER you and four fellow pilots navigate a colossal armored transport across Earth’s devastated landscape. Abnormal Entities have infiltrated your vessel, hiding within shadows and sabotaging critical systems. Your team must track, capture, and contain these creatures to fulfill your quota – humanity depends … Read More

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

Foobar Zero is an anime-inspired multiplayer shooter that drops players into a futuristic virtual simulation where wall-jumping, dodging, and split-second decisions determine survival.

In Foobar Zero strategic depth comes from the skill system featuring passive abilities, active skills, and game-changing ultimates like Bubble Shield and Tornado. You’ll battle across diverse environments ranging from familiar locations to alien spacecraft in 6v6 team matches or chaotic 12-player … Read More

The post Foobar Zero – Open Beta first appeared on Alpha Beta Gamer.

Marines Vs God is an asymmetric multiplayer action game that pits four marines against a giant all-powerful god.

Set in the year 2400, In Marines Vs God, four heavily armed space marines face off against a single all-powerful deity. As marines,you’ll coordinate with teammates to collect precious artifacts while surviving an onslaught of supernatural threats before escaping the planet. Choose specialized roles – Defender, … Read More

The post Marines Vs God – Beta Sign Up first appeared on Alpha Beta Gamer.

BrokenLore: UNFOLLOW is a first-person psychological horror experience that forces players to confront disturbing creatures – each a manifestation of your character’s personal demons – while unraveling a dark mystery.

Previously featured one Alpha Beta Gamer last year, in BrokenLore: UNFOLLOW players step into the fractured psyche of Anne, a bullying victim trapped in a harrowing nightmare realm shaped by social media trauma. The game … Read More

The post BrokenLore: UNFOLLOW – Beta Sign Up first appeared on Alpha Beta Gamer.

Odd Town is a compact open-world mystery with retro visuals and Twin Peaks-inspired strangeness as you get in trouble after your car breaks down in a small French town.

In Odd Town your car has broken down in the small town of Saint Sectaire, and what begins as misfortune quickly spirals into a surreal nightmare. You’ll navigate cobblestone streets populated by eccentric locals who remember … Read More

The post Odd Town – Kickstarter Demo first appeared on Alpha Beta Gamer.

Vitrified is an immersive open-world adventure that drops you into a hostile desert landscape where giant mutated creatures roam freely.

In Vitrified, you awaken stranded in a vast post-nuclear wasteland with one mission: find your way home. Your unlikely savior? ALAN, a resourceful robot companion essential to your survival. Scavenge for supplies, manage critical resources, and upgrade ALAN’s capabilities to enhance your chances of … Read More

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

Mistfall Hunter is a PvPvE extraction action RPG where every expedition risks total loss as you do battle in a world devastated by fallen gods.

In Mistfall Hunter, you become a Gylden Hunter – an immortal warrior resurrected by the mysterious Dew to battle in a world devastated by fallen gods. Their divine blood has transformed into the corrosive Gyldenmist, warping creatures into nightmarish … Read More

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

Rebounder is a precision platformer with a very unique four-ink, pulp-print aesthetic inspired by vintage sci-fi comics and printing imperfections.

In Rebounder players control a weary off-world worker whose job involves grabbing explosive spores and bouncing through increasingly complex industrial hazards. The game’s core mechanic revolves around grab-throw-bounce sequences that create satisfying trick-shot ricochets reminiscent of speedrunning techniques from Kaizo ROM hacks. Quick levels with … Read More

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

WILL: Follow The Light is an emotionally charged first-person adventure where a lighthouse keeper embarks on a desperate search for his missing son across the harsh northern seas.

In WILL: Follow The Light disaster strikes your hometown and your son goes missing. You must now navigate treacherous waters aboard your yacht, confronting both external dangers and internal demons. The game features a multi-generational narrative exploring … Read More

The post WILL: Follow The Light – Beta Sign Up first appeared on Alpha Beta Gamer.

All Our Broken Parts presents a poignant cyberpunk narrative adventure where players assume the role of a robot doctor treating mechanical patients with surprisingly human ailments.

Set in a mysterious city populated entirely by robots, All Our Broken Parts explores what it means to be alive when consciousness exists within circuits and steel. The game’s emotional core lies in its diverse cast of broken souls … Read More

The post All Our Broken Parts – Beta Sign Up first appeared on Alpha Beta Gamer.

Roach Race is an asymmetrical cooperative first-person battle royale horror game where up to 44 players attempt to escape from a digital hell.

In Roach Race you have discovered a mysterious torrent file created by developers who claim they were cursed to complete an abandoned project. It contains “quantum code” that traps sinners’ souls as punishment for 10,000 years, with each character representing a terrible … Read More

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

Mr. Nomad combines survival base-building with tower defense mechanics in a post-apocalyptic world where your aging RV becomes humanity’s last mobile fortress.

In Mr. Nomad you are a resourceful wanderer who must transform their camper into an impervious stronghold while navigating zombie-infested wastelands. The game’s dual-layer construction allows building both above and underground. Surface fortifications handle combat while underground bunkers protect essential resources and enable … Read More

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

Backrooms: Lost Runners promises to transform the infamous liminal space Backrooms concept into a deeply cooperative survival horror game where even whispers can doom your team.

The gameplay in Backrooms: Lost Runners merges voice-reactive AI with challenging puzzles, creating an atmosphere where communication becomes both essential and dangerous. The game features an adaptive threat system – entities respond dynamically to sound, light, and movement, forcing … Read More

The post Backrooms: Lost Runners – Beta Sign Up first appeared on Alpha Beta Gamer.

Hiding is an adrenaline-fueled arena FPS action where the rules change every 20 seconds, alternating between stealth looting phases and explosive combat showdowns.

Set in gritty 90s hip-hop-inspired urban environments, Hiding creates unique tactical dynamics through its innovative visibility system. The core mechanic revolves around phase-shifting gameplay – players become invisible during looting periods where players hear every footstep and reload, followed by full-visibility combat … Read More

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

March of Giants is a 4v4 MOBA that casts players in a colossal war where Giants lead massive armies across ravaged urban landscapes.

March of Giants features 4v4 hero-based gameplay in large-scale tactical battles where Giants serve as both powerful combatants and strategic commanders. Each Giant offers distinct specializations from crowd control to sustained damage, requiring teams to coordinate diverse abilities for battlefield dominance.

The … Read More

The post March of Giants – Beta Sign Up first appeared on Alpha Beta Gamer.

Comics Gaming Magazine

GKIDS started the hype train for JUJUTSU KAISEN: Execution, and launched a trailer showing what occurs before and during season 3.

GKIDS has started the hype train for JUJUTSU KAISEN: Execution and launched a trailer giving fans a glimpse of what the bridge between seasons 2 and 3 is all about. JUJUTSU KAISEN: Execution is an upcoming anime film that slots straight into the anime’s storyline and adapts the Shibuya Incident Arc from the series, aiming to prepare fans for the upcoming season 3 launch. With that being said, it’s worth mentioning that anime films have been gaining popularity and slamming box office charts with the release of films like Demon Slayer: Infinity Castle recently. Other popular series are apparently more than willing to follow suit with films that bridge the gap between two seasons of the base anime series narrative, like Demon Slayer, and that’s exactly what JUJUTSU KAISEN is doing with Execution. GKIDS has just launched the first trailer for the upcoming JUJUTSU KAISEN: Execution, and it can be seen below. JUJUTSU KAISEN saw recent success by returning to the anime’s already released seasons with a season 2 focus in the film JUJUTSU KAISEN: Hidden Inventory / Premature Death – The Movie, and the team is trying to capture lightning in a bottle twice by returning to season 2 in JUJUTSU KAISEN: Execution. The caveat regarding this new movie is that it also contains the entire first two episodes of the highly anticipated season 3, giving fans an easier onboarding ramp back into the series after the cliffhanger at the end of season 2. It will have been nearly two full years since season 2 concluded when Execution lands in theatres. GKIDS details the synopsis of JUJUTSU KAISEN: Execution, saying after the aftermath of The Shibuya Incident, “Ten colonies across Japan are transformed into dens of curses in a plan orchestrated by Noritoshi Kamo, the most wicked sorcerer in history. As the deadly Culling Game starts, Special Grade sorcerer Yuta Okkotsu is assigned to carry out Yuji’s execution for his perceived crimes,” which is where Execution will bring fans into season 3. JUJUTSU KAISEN: Execution comes to North American theatres nationwide beginning December 5th, and the film will show fans what occurs during season 3, which is set to land in January 2026, soon after the film drops.

More Dragon Quest remakes could be on the way, if recent comments by series creator Yuji Horii are to be believed.

The Dragon Quest series is in the deep end of remakes, with essentially four different remakes in the span of a year an half, between the HD-2D remakes of the first three games, and now Dragon Quest 7 Reimagined. It’s starting to feel like updating the entire series might be the goal, and if it is, you’ll probably notice Square Enix jumped out of order. And that’s a question that even the series creator, Yuji Horii, asked. As translated and reported by RPG Site, Horii commented on the fact on a YouTube channel where he does monthly streams, alongside Kazuhiko “Masharito” Torishima. Right after the 44-minute mark, Mashirito ask Horii why they’re jumping straight to seven, and it’s “not 4-5-6.” Horii answers, “A lot of things are moving around, but it was just done first by chance.” This remark seemed to take Masharito by surprise, as he quickly append “but VII was done first by chance.” He then follows up with “It’s like it does not mean that they are not doing 4-5-6,” to which Horii simply says “I didn’t say it.” But that’s not even the most suggestive bit of the video, as shorty after that segment, during a discussion with MC Naz Chris, this exchange happens. Horii: “As I said just now, we want to make them playable on ongoing platforms.” Naz Chris: “Does that mean VII is simply progressing smoothly?” Horii: Well, yeah there was also a period for [its] development… and we do have a lot of progress. Naz Chris” Like, for example, IV had a lot of chapter division, maybe that’s why it could be taking more time?” Horii: Well, well… *laughs* That seems about as close as you can get to confirming more remakes exist, without actually saying it. But as I said earlier, it does make sense considering Square Enix’s recent moves. From Final Fantasy 7 to Romancing Saga 2, remakes have become a major focus for the company, and Dragon Quest is the series that can arguably benefit from it the most. Considering how scattered Dragon Quest is across history and platforms, it’s possible the intent might be to simply make the entire franchise playable on modern platforms. But, ultimately, we’ll have to wait and see. Dragon Quest 7: Reimagined launches on February 5, 2026 for PS5, Xbox Series X|S, Nintendo Switch 1&2, and PC.

Goddess of Victory: Nikke's big crossover with Resident Evil finally has a date, and a flashy new trailer.

The popular mobile third-person shooter, Goddess of Victory: Nikke, has finally announced a date for its Resident Evil crossover, and you’ll be able to get your hands on it surprisingly soon. On September 24, Nikke will launch its “Reborn Evil” collaboration, adding a brand-new story to the game along with three new playable characters — Jill Valentine, Ada Wong, and Claire Redfield. Ironically, this is the first time we’ve seen Jill as a starring character since the original Resident Evil 3 (not counting the RE3 remake). Here’s an overview of the collaboration’s story, “The story unfolds in the ruins of a long-forgotten mansion, where a mysterious NEO-Virus infection has begun to spread. As the A.C.P.U. Squad, D, and the Commander investigate, the team encounters Jill Valentine and her allies. The newly released trailer teases haunting scenes – Poli attacked by a shadowy, mysterious hand, followed by Jill, Ada, and Claire appearing in a crimson-lit chapel, setting the stage for a tense and unforgettable showdown.” If you’ve never played Nikke before, it’s essentially a role-playing shooter with some heavy gacha elements, taking place in a post-apocalyptic world. You build your characters and outfit them with weapons, then fight through a number of battles where you deploy up to five characters. In each battle, your units are deployed in a line, and you swap between them while blasting enemies from a third-person view. You only need to aim the reticle and use special abilities, as reloading happens automatically. Of course, you need to obtain new characters via a gacha system, which costs in-game currency that you can acquire by playing or spending real money. Nikke is developed by Shift Up, the studio behind the sci-fi action game Stellar Blade — which it also recently had a crossover with. Goddess of Victory: Nikke is available on iOS, Android, and PC.

A new update is coming to Fortnite in December, and it will enable creators to sell in-game items to other players, as well as let players to pay for visibility.

A new update is coming to Fortnite in December, and it will enable creators to sell in-game Fortnite items directly to other players, as well as allow players to pay for visibility on the new marketplace. Starting this December, Fortnite players will be able to open their own marketplaces and sell their items directly from their own islands to other players. This new feature opens up new revenue potential, as well as letting players pay for spots on ‘Sponsored Row,’ to boost visibility of their marketplace. This update comes in on the heels of the V-Bucks update, which allows fans to purchase items for the exact amount of V-Bucks without having change left over. To celebrate the new announcement, Epic Games has announced that players will earn 100 percent of their earnings from sales on the marketplace through the end of 2026. Developers will ordinarily earn 50% of the V-Bucks value after the first year concludes. The announcement also details notable fees creators will have to pay to sell on the marketplace, which means when Epic Games says creators get 100 percent of their earnings through the end of 2026, they mean 74 percent (by their metric, 50 percent turns into 37 percent on in-game sales profit). This announcement follows the latest update to land on Battle Island, called Fortnite Delulu. The update lets players join limited-time game modes and hear each other through proximity chat. Items sold in the new in-game marketplace can include power-ups, weapons or cosmetic items, and they usually remain within the boundaries of the creator’s island. Along with the option to sell items, creators will be able to pay to advertise their storefronts in a new Sponsored Row, which gives them greater visibility in the game’s Discover menu. With the marketplace update, Fortnite is also changing its engagement payout formula to add user acquisition rewards. Creators will continue to receive payouts based on player engagement on their individual islands. The payout formula takes 40 per cent of net revenue from Fortnite’s Item Shop and related real-money purchases, and puts that amount into the engagement pool. Those funds are then distributed among creators and Epic’s islands. The engagement payout formula now covers the following components according to Epic Games: Minutes Played, New User Acquisition, Lapsed User Acquisition, Playtime Surrounding V-Bucks Spending, and Island Retention, making Fortnite islands operate similarly to other online economies. If a player brings more players into Fortnite, Epic Games will reward them. The new Fortnite update will land in-game in December 2025. Fans can check out all of the details over on the Epic Games website in the meantime.

Now that skate. has hit the open market, fans have given their first impressions of the newest entry into the EA series, and the reception has been cold.

Now that skate. has hit the open market, fans have given their first impressions of the newest entry into the EA series, and the reception has been cold. With claims that it feels empty and too much like Fortnite. The latest entry in the Skate franchise is out in early access after a 15-year wait for some fans. As previously announced, it is free-to-play. With no cost of entry, players have been joining in droves to see what the buzz is about, and SteamDB reports thousands have tried the game. With a peak of nearly 100,000 players in the past 24 hours, it is safe to say the title is reasonably popular, but many of those same players have voiced their opinions on Steam, and a large number are not happy. It’s worth mentioning skate. is still in early access and the developers have noted the following before the early access period launched on all platforms: “The Early Access launch features what we consider to be the essentials of skate. including the Flick-It trick system from previous games, which we’ve refined for modern players. There will also be tons of content to experience with other players in San Vansterdam. Our plan is that the “full” version will be an evolution of Early Access, with added challenges, features, live events, and gameplay improvements based on player feedback.” With that being said, on to the player feedback. With over 8,000 reviews currently on Steam (with a “Mixed” reception) and only two days since it launched, fans have really dug into why the newest title doesn’t mesh well with them. While nearly every review on the Steam page mentions the great ‘feel of the gameplay’ and how the trick system works well, it’s where everything else is concerned that has players scorned. One user, SadBoiStabler writes, “There is no skate culture here. There is no semblance of the street skating underground here,” claiming the game is a more sanitized version of what made the former trilogy great. Another fan, Lusk8, goes directly at the developers claims stating, “They received a lot of feedback in the last 2 or 3 years. I played the pre-alpha more than a year ago. They listened to the complaints? I don’t think so,” claiming the developers at Full Circle have had since 2020 to use player feedback from pre-alpha gameplay, but they decided to go in another direction. Fan Anakin Skywalker agrees, stating, “It’s almost like they didn’t listen to the fans.“ Both players (and everyone else who has left an impression) were slighted by the lack of gameplay modes like Hall of Meat, a story mode, and S.K.A.T.E. Death Races, which gave former titles a sense of identity, but most players have said skating does feel good. One reviewer, Ciri, really didn’t like what they played, stating, “You could’ve told me this is a new gamemode inside of Fortnite… and I would’ve believed you” echoing other players who dislike the Fortnite-esque art style of skate. On Reddit, fans have been saying largely the same thing. Fans have mentioned the lack of skate culture, the lack of a cohesive storyline, and just a lack of what made the former games great. Almost all fans from both platforms have noted the irony that there’s “no S.K.A.T.E.” in a game titled skate. All in all, fans seem to dislike the direction EA went in with the new skate. title, but it’s worth noting that the new title is two days old and still in early access (although it has been in development for much longer). There may be time for Full Circle and EA to right the ship before launch.

Meta Connect 2025 kicked off last evening, and to commemorate the occasion, Mark Zuckerberg shared the latest updates on Meta’s AI glasses.

Meta Connect 2025 kicked off last evening, and to commemorate the occasion, Mark Zuckerberg took to the stage to share the latest updates on Meta’s AI glasses. Meta Connect 2025 is Meta’s annual virtual event where the company unveils its latest innovations in augmented/virtual reality, AI, and the metaverse. Consumers can think of the event like a Meta-only version of The Game Awards ONL, where Meta gives everyone information on their newest products before the event begins. During the opening keynote, Mark Zuckerberg himself introduced the Meta world to “personal superintelligence,” the foundation of all three newly revealed smart glasses at Meta Connect 2025. In July 2025, Zuckerberg penned an open letter to Meta’s audience explaining the future of Meta and how it’s all-in on AI development. He claimed then, “The improvement is slow for now, but undeniable. Developing superintelligence is now in sight,” on AI advancements at Meta, adding, “In some ways, this will be a new era for humanity.” The keynote in its entirety can be seen below. Personal superintelligence refers to when AI becomes advanced enough to surpass human cognitive abilities across a spectrum of thought-based tasks, and it’s tailored to each user to improve individual lives. This technology is featured in the three new wearable AI Glasses unveiled by Meta to kick off Meta Connect 2025, and Mark Zuckerberg stated, “Meta’s vision is to bring personal superintelligence to everyone.” Meta Connect 2025 – Ray-Ban Meta (Gen 2) The next generation of Ray-Ban Meta glasses is here, with up to 2x the battery life compared to the previous generation. Ray-Ban Meta (Gen 2) offers up to eight hours of mixed use as well as ultra HD 3K video recording — providing more than double the previous number of pixels of Gen 1 — for sharper content capture. The Ray-Ban Meta (Gen 2) introduces a new feature, coming soon to the frames of the AI Glasses, called Conversation Focus. Conversation focus uses the onboard AI glasses’ open-ear speakers to amplify the voice of the person you’re talking to, and it will be made available in the next update for previous models as well as the new Gen 2. Meta’s focus is to bring “all-day AI” to users. It admits fans can only use live AI for an hour or two currently, as Meta AI transitions from a prompted help tool to “an always-available assistant.” With the Meta Connect 2025 announcement of the AI Glasses, the Ray Ban Meta (Gen 2) launched with three limited-time-only seasonal colours and a limited-edition Wayfarer Matte Transparent frame (complete with two lens colour options) to better tailor the Ray Ban Meta to users’ personal style. Ray-Ban Meta (Gen 2) is available now on meta.com and Ray-Ban.com, starting at $379. Meta Connect 2025 – Oakley Meta Vanguard The follow-up to the Oakley Meta HSTN is here. At Meta Connect 2025, Meta introduced the audience to the Oakley Meta Vanguard, performance-based AI Glasses that can go wherever the user goes, with the durability to withstand high-intensity sports and rugged outdoor adventures. Two new capture modes have been added to the Oakley Meta Vanguard — Hyperlapse and Slow Motion — so consumers can capture their travels in a myriad of different ways (this functionality is also included with the Ray Ban Meta (Gen 2) and the Oakley Meta HSTN). The Oakley Meta Vanguard deploys Meta’s most powerful open-ear speakers yet, which is six decibels louder than Oakley Meta HSTN, making these new AI frames a good choice to take on outdoor trips for hiking or a long run. These frames are in it for the long haul; the battery can last up to nine hours of mixed use and has an IP67 rating in case they get a little wet. Meta is integrating Garmin and Strava with the Meta AI app to take wearer performance to the next level. Wearers get real-time stats on the fly (hands-free), and Meta AI will give users workout summaries to help track progress over time. A new autocapture feature is included with Garmin that triggers the glasses to capture footage automatically based on workout stats and milestones. When reaching a set distance, the glasses can capture hands-free video without requiring you, the user, to ask. The Oakley Meta Vanguard comes with swappable Oakley PRIZM Lenses to change their appearance or in case one gets lost. Pre-orders are open now for the Oakley Meta Vanguard (at $499 USD), and they’ll hit shelves on October 21. Meta Connect 2025 – Meta Ray-Ban Display The last pair of AI Glasses introduced at Meta Connect 2025 are the first AI glasses with a high-resolution monocular display, the Ray-Ban Display, which combines the Ray-Ban style with the new Meta Neural Band. The display itself (large enough to read text messages or watch a small video) is slightly offset from the center of the lens to avoid disrupting the user’s view, and it disappears after a few seconds when not in use. At 42 pixels per degree (ppd), it’s a higher resolution than any of our consumer VR headsets (including Meta Quest 3). With a custom light engine and waveguide delivering brightness up to 5,000 nits, it works great indoors and outside, even on the brightest day outside. Each pair of Meta Ray-Ban Display glasses comes with a Meta Neural Band revealed at Meta Connect 2025. The Neural Band includes 18 hours of battery life and a water-resistant form factor. Its bracelet appearance allows users to silently control the Meta Ray-Ban Display glasses with subtle hand gestures, putting seamless, intuitive control of the Meta Ray-Ban Display at users’ fingertips. The Meta Ray-Ban Display will be available for purchase starting September 30 for $799, which includes the Meta Neural Band. Meta is also setting up demos for consumers to try out the Meta Ray-Ban Display, and fans can head here to set it up and check where the nearest location is. That wraps up the three new pairs of AI Glasses revealed at Meta Connect 2025’s keynote. Consumers can find all of the details over on the official Meta site, as well as more information on personal superintelligence and everything else Meta revealed on stage.

The Jackbox Party Pack 11 just announced the official release date, and to celebrate, we sat down with the Pack Lead, Rich Gallup, to learn more.

The Jackbox Party Pack has long been synonymous with, well, parties. Chances are that at some point or another you’ve pulled out your phone with a group of people and dived into one of their outrageous mini-games. With 10 official titles already in the series, and some additions like The Naughty Pack, developer Jackbox Games shows no signs of slowing down. Today, the team announced that the official release date for The Jackbox Party Pack 11 is October 23, 2025. With this release date, we also got a peek at five new, all-original games: Legends of Trivia, Suspectives, Doominate, Hear Say and Cookie Haus. In today’s release, Director of Production and Pack Lead on The Jackbox Party Pack 11, Rich Gallup, said, “This is the first Party Pack in years with no sequels, and that creative freedom really shines through. Each game began as a bold idea and grew through playtesting, collaboration, and a lot of laughter. Whether you’re recording the perfect goat bleat, interrogating your friends, slaying monsters with your wits, writing ruinous jokes, or decorating cookies for a stressed-out bakery boss, there’s something here for every kind of player.” Lucky for us, we got to pick Gallup’s brain via email ahead of the release date announcement about all things The Jackbox Party Pack 11. First, let’s get started by telling us a bit about your role with The Jackbox Party Pack 11. Rich Gallup: Hello! I’m the Director of Production for Jackbox Games as well as the Pack Lead for The Jackbox Party Pack 11. In the former role, I manage the amazing team of producers who shepherd our teams and games from ideation through launch. In the latter role, I oversee the entire pack and its schedule, make sure the teams have the support and resources they need, and generate official feedback and guidance alongside company stakeholders for the teams. Or, put another way, I talk to everybody about everything all the time and play the games a whole bunch! “So many people are involved with each new Jackbox game, all of the people!” How many people are involved with each new Jackbox game? Rich Gallup: So many people are involved with each new Jackbox game, all of the people! On a daily basis, the hands-on development team for an individual pack game ranges from 6-9 folks, but every game made at Jackbox includes the whole studio in some way. It starts with the pitch process, which is open to everybody. If you have the barest glimmer of a game idea, you are encouraged to explore it and pair up with others to expand it, regardless of your department or seniority. For Party Pack 11 we also held a game jam, where the studio was randomly split across 10 teams to generate playable pitches over a dedicated week. During official game production, design discussions are open and fully collaborative, with all ideas heard, considered, and often folded into the overall direction. You could call it “Yes, And…” development, thanks to Jackbox’s deep connection to Chicago’s improv comedy scene. It’s also common for an individual to be involved in multiple games in a pack. Cookie Haus For example, a game will have a lead writer, but the entire editorial department will share in that game’s writing effort. QA testers will be assigned to a primary game but will form up as a group regularly for multiplayer testing, and engineers from all over will lend a hand or fix bugs when needed. And then there’s the playtesting! Our games thrive due in no small part to our extensive playtesting; several times a week, we all crowd into our company Discord channels to play all of the Pack and share our thoughts and critiques. And we also thrive as individuals thanks to the welcoming, fun, and creative environment that is Jackbox Games. Building and caretaking such a great place to work is a constant effort unto itself; the people responsible for that deserve a ton of credit for our games, too. Not a lot of games get to throw an 11 at the end of the name. How does the team feel about bringing eleven different versions of Jackbox to gamers? Rich Gallup: That’s so many! Are we going to run out of room in the Jackbox Megapicker? I have been in the video games industry for over 20 years, and the output of this amazing studio is incomparably prolific for its size. We have several team members who have been here for every single Party Pack, and more than a few go as far back as You Don’t Know Jack in the 1990s! They’re incredibly humble about making so many beloved games, and we are all very much appreciative of the years of support of our fans through it all. In my experience, the past of Jackbox is most often brought up as a specific comparison point for current ideas and efforts, “We tried that once in Pack 6, maybe we should try it again?”, or when somebody has a funny anecdote to share, “So there we were, shooting a trailer in this van…”. Doominate How does the team keep things fresh after that many versions? Rich Gallup: Inclusion and iteration help us keep things fresh. The team at Jackbox is a fun, diverse group of people with a myriad of interests and ideas, and we have Slack channels full of chatter recommending video games, board games, TV shows, movies, art, music, comedy, you name it! There’s a lot to share and pull from. By including everybody in the creative process that I outlined above, and making the time and space to share all of our ideas, interests, experiences, and perspectives, we’re always finding new avenues to explore. And with our constant playtesting and iteration loops, each game, over time, finds its unique gameplay and presentation style. What can we expect from The Jackbox Party Pack 11? Any highlights you can share with us? Is the content all new, or will we see some nods to past favourites? Rich Gallup: The Jackbox Party Pack 11 features five brand new games, no sequels here, and what a line-up! As with previous packs, we are striving to provide a wide variety of gameplay and vibes to fit any and all parties and social gaming situations. If you are looking for a lively evening, Dominate is here with its iconic host, the most radical Jim Reaper. Serve up some words describing something you like and watch your friends make it worse, all in the name of comedy. If you are worried that sounds a little mean, the whole thing ends with a lovely upbeat round of un-ruining, complete with stunning rainbows, an angelic choir, rock music, and a farting unicorn, which is equally stunning. Hear Say Hear Say is another raucous game where, for the first time in Jackbox history, you are prompted to record short bits of audio, which are voted on and played back at the audio track for random and hilarious videos. It’s totally ridiculous. Guaranteed to make my kids completely bonker balls both during gameplay and for several hours afterwards. If you are surrounded by friends that you may or may not trust, play Suspectives, the social deduction game where you are a hardboiled detective in a room full of hardboiled detectives, with a jazz soundtrack that perfectly sets the mood. Which of you committed the crime? Under the hot lights of an interrogation, who will admit they don’t return their shopping cart!? Definitely not one of our writers! Trench coats not included, but encouraged! Cookie Haus is our cozy game where you must decorate cookies for a wild cast of customers while your manic boss, Moonique, shouts gentle…encouragement. It’s ok, she means well, she’s just a stressed-out small business owner. In this economy! Am I right? And finally, if you and your band of knowledgeable adventurers are feeling particularly epic, answer the call of Legends of Trivia! Reminiscent of a pub quiz, but with more weapons and death, this quest is a collaborative trivia game where you work together to answer tough questions, defeat monsters, solve riddles, and stuff your bags with countless gold on your path to Peak Knowledge (it’s both a mountain and a state of mind). It’s an awesome, awesome pack; the team kicked so much butt on it. Legends of Trivia Are there any past games that players are begging to see make a comeback? Rich Gallup: We have a great relationship with our fans, and they all have their favourites. We are incredibly grateful and appreciative that we have created games that people love so passionately. I encourage anybody who has thoughts on a potential sequel, general feedback, or is just looking for a cool group of people to hang out with to join our Discord. What is the process that the team goes through to decide which games go into a new edition of Jackbox? Rich Gallup: I mentioned our open and collaborative pitch process earlier. When it comes to deciding which of those pitches gets the green light, we have a committee of senior Jackbox employees who make the final calls. Forming a pack can start with a single idea, like a specific sequel we want to make or an overall theme. In Pack 11’s case, the desire was five all-new games, and the first pitches to receive the committee’s approval were Suspectives, Hear Say, and Legends of Trivia. “By rough count, we had over 40 separate game concepts in various stages of creation by the time we finalized Pack 11.” As a pack line-up starts to solidify, we look at the gameplay experiences it’s offering as well as the estimated scope and technical challenges they might bring in the year ahead. With those factors in mind for Pack 11, Doominate, with its quick-hitting joke writing and Cookie Haus’s cozy drawing mechanics, were picked as the perfect games to round out the pack. Were there any ideas left on the cutting room floor this time around? Rich Gallup: By rough count, we had over 40 separate game concepts in various stages of creation by the time we finalized Pack 11. As with previous years, all of these ideas are safely kept in our internal wiki, complete with all design docs, meeting notes, and pitch feedback. We’ll pull them back out in the days ahead for consideration in future Party Packs. Suspectives Last year, The Jackbox Naughty Pack was introduced. Is there any plan to bring that kind of content to The Jackbox Party Pack 11, or will that remain strictly separate? Rich Gallup: The Jackbox Party Pack is rated T for Teen, as many packs have been before, and we also have a Family Friendly toggle to hide a small handful of prompts that people might not want their kids to see. Nothing we provide in Pack 11 is at the M-rated level of The Jackbox Naughty Pack, but where you, your friends or your family take our prompts as players is up to you! One of the magical aspects of a Jackbox game is how the players power the vibe, how your input for each game sets the tone of your party, and our goal is always to create games that support that. Is there anything else you think people should know about The Jackbox Party Pack 11? Rich Gallup: At Jackbox, we are sometimes asked when we know a work-in-progress game is good, and while I can’t tell you exactly when we started feeling that way about Party Pack 11, I can tell you exactly when I knew it had been blessed by the gods. Specifically, the Bread Gods. On March 26, we had a big playtest at the Jackbox office in Chicago. I had flown in from Boston for it, and we had ordered some really, really good sandwiches for lunch. One of our game directors, Brooke Breit, took one look at that menu and zeroed in on ordering an entire loaf of sourdough bread. I mean, she got a salad too, but she knew the room would really benefit from a lot more bread. And she was right! We tore right into that sourdough, and it was delicious. We were about halfway through it when we started our next game, and the randomly generated room code for it? LOAF. It was a sign! So thank you for your blessing, Bread Gods. We hope this hilarious and fun quintet featuring five all-new games, crafted to fit the vibe of any party, is found by our players to be as satisfying as the sound of a crackling crust, as joyous as an airy and chewy crumb, and as fulfilling as a warm bite of balanced, tangy flavour. Doominate And just for fun, what is your favourite game in The Jackbox Party Pack 11? Rich Gallup: I love all five games in the pack! I am tempted to avoid answering with the cliché “Don’t make me pick, it would be like picking a favourite child!” But instead, I’ll say Cookie Haus. Specifically because my son is the voice of a secret customer that will only appear in the game on rare occasions, and working with him on recording that is a core memory for both of us. Now please don’t ask me if he’s my favourite child… The Jackbox Party Pack 11 releases on October 23, 2025, for $29.99 USD on Steam, Xbox, Nintendo Switch, PlayStation, Epic Games Store, Apple TV, iPad, the Mac App Store, Amazon Fire TV, and Amazon Luna (via the Jackbox Games channel). If you are looking to try it out early, players can try Doominate and Hear Say for free during Xbox’s Indie Demo Fest, available now until September 23.

With less than a year until launch, GTA 6 is shaping up to be Rockstar’s most ambitious and culturally tuned game yet.

With Grand Theft Auto VI less than a year away from its anticipated May 26, 2026, release, excitement is reaching a fever pitch. Rockstar’s return to Vice City promises the biggest, most immersive GTA experience yet—and recent leaks have only added to the hype. Newly registered domain names hint at clever app parodies, including what-up.app (WhatsApp), rydeme.app (Uber/Lyft), and BuckMe.app (subscription-based content services). Fans are thrilled because these aren’t just jokes. They suggest Rockstar is weaving modern digital culture into GTA 6’s gameplay and world-building. Set in the state of Leonida, players will follow dual protagonists Jason and Lucia as they navigate a sprawling criminal conspiracy across sun-soaked Vice City and beyond. But it’s not just the story that has fans talking. From leaked apps to reimagined missions, here are five things that have GTA fans more hyped than ever for the release date. A Massive, Nostalgia-Fueled Map Every GTA game lives and dies by its map, and GTA 6 is shaping up to deliver the biggest and most detailed digital playground in the series so far. While missions and characters drive the story, it’s the freedom to cruise, explore, and stumble into chaos that gives the franchise its staying power. Vice City returns with fully modernized locations like the Ocean View Hotel, North Point Mall, and possibly the Vercetti Estate, all rebuilt using Rockstar’s RAGE 9 engine. The result promises a world that’s not only bigger but genuinely alive—a playground where every street, alley, and landmark feels worth exploring. It’s not just about bigger, it’s about creating a world that feels genuinely alive and worth getting lost in. A Return To The Casino? Gambling has been a GTA staple since San Andreas’ Caligula’s Palace and returned as a fan-favorite in GTA 5’s Diamond Casino & Resort. Leaks suggest GTA 6 will expand on this, featuring slot machines, poker tables, and other casino experiences. Then there’s the possibility of app-based integration. A parody of popular betting platforms like Stake could allow players to earn casino bonuses directly from their in-game phone, turning mobile gaming habits into another layer of social commentary. Rockstar has a history of blending real-world habits with over-the-top chaos, and this could be the ultimate example. The Soundtrack Could Be Next Level Travis Scott dropped the 2000 Excursion music video recently with a Florida license plate reading “GTA6 VI6,” and while that’s probably just an Easter egg rather than confirmation he’s in the game, it’s got everyone talking about the soundtrack again. The rapper’s recent ventures in Fortnite and WWE have shown just how seamlessly he blends music, gaming, and pop culture, making him a natural fit for GTA 6, even if only as part of the soundtrack. Beyond potential celebrity involvement, Rockstar’s historical approach combines mainstream hits with carefully selected tracks from emerging artists. With the new app system, players might even build personalized playlists, giving them full control over the soundtrack that scores their chaotic adventures across Vice City. Taxi Missions Reimagined Taxi missions have been a GTA staple since the early days of Roman’s shop, but Rockstar looks set to reinvent them for modern times. The leaked rydeme.app, a clear parody of Uber and Lyft, suggests players will take on ride-sharing jobs instead of traditional taxi fares. That could mean picking up NPCs, navigating traffic, completing rides on time, and maintaining a five-star rating, all while dealing with the unpredictable chaos GTA is famous for. It’s the perfect example of Rockstar updating classic features to fit the world we live in today, turning everyday apps into hilarious gameplay opportunities. Varied NPCs One thing that stood out in the game’s second trailer was seeing female cops for the first time as regular NPCs in the series. It’s a small detail that hints at something bigger. Rockstar seems to be building a more diverse world that actually reflects reality. This isn’t just surface-level diversity. The game’s world feels refreshed, with more realistic, varied encounters and greater attention to how cities actually look and feel in 2026 With Lucia as a main character and various female NPCs in important roles, the game world is shaping up to feel more authentic and interesting, even after hours of playtime. As May approaches, talk around GTA 6 is no longer about just another sequel, but about Rockstar’s boldest, most relevant world yet. The map is massive and nostalgia-rich, the app system is clever, the music is set to keep the culture buzzing, the old gameplay is getting a smart update, and the world-building finally feels as inclusive and current as our own. These features aren’t just about fun; they tell a sharper, more connected story, pulling players even deeper into the life of Leonida’s neon-lit chaos. The only question left is what surprises Rockstar still has hidden, and how high the fever will get when Vice City opens its doors once again.

The team from CGM scoured the Toronto International Film Festival to bring you some of their Best of TIFF 2025 picks!

CGMagzine just spent the better part of two weeks in downtown Toronto seeing well over 50 movies at the Toronto International Film Festival. Dayna Eileen, Brendan Frye, Ridge Harripersad and Shakyl Lambert split up the hard work and went their separate ways at TIFF 2025, checking out movies across all genres and audiences. Whether it was a film featuring TIFF fan-favourite, Brendan Fraser, like Rental Family, a gruesome look at love and desire, like Obsession or a truly heartbreaking story about a classic historical figure like Hamnet, there was absolutely something for everyone. Each of us chose our top three films from TIFF 2025. Here is our Best of TIFF 2025: Charlie Harper Writer: Dayna Eileen Written by Tom Dean, who also wrote TIFF 2025’s Carolina Caroline, Charlie Harper was one of my Best of TIFF 2025 films for sure! It was one of the first movies I saw at the festival, and I knew it would make it onto this list. The story is two retellings of the love story of Charlie and Harper. The film is a series of clips—which Dean called a montage—of their relationship from beginning to end. The way each scene means something different after new details were introduced felt so smart to me, and it made me want to watch out for more of Dean’s work. He writes a great script! Eternity Writer: Dayna Eileen Lucky for me, I saw Eternity right after watching the devastating Hamnet. It was the perfect pick-me-up after something so heavy. Following a couple who need to choose how to spend eternity after they die a week apart, Joan (Elizabeth Olsen) has to choose between her husband of 65 years, Larry (Miles Teller) or her first husband, who died in the war, Luke (Callum Turner), who has been waiting for her for 67 years. Watching Teller and Olsen bicker as 80-somethings in 30-something bodies is worth the price of admission alone. Eternity was creative, hilarious and just an all-around great time. Hamnet Writer: Dayna Eileen I said it in my review, but Hamnet at TIFF 2025 was one of the best films I have seen at the festival to date. Going in on very little, I was absolutely floored by how truly tragic the story was. Jessie Buckley was at her best in a role that will forever be in her top credits. But the best of all was little Jacobi Jupe, who played the titular Hamnet. I don’t know where someone that young gets that good at acting, but he has a very serious future ahead of him. No wonder Hamnet won the people’s choice award at TIFF 50! Rental Family Writer: Ridge Harripersad If you want to feel good about life and humanity, Rental Family covers these themes. While there are some heartbreaking moments, watching Brendan Fraser help as many people as he can is like watching Ted Lasso spread positivity wherever he goes. HIKARI captures many issues that many Japanese face, including legalities with same-sex marriage and single mothers finding workarounds to provide for themselves and their child (without a husband or male partner). Bring some happy tissues to this one! The Christophers Writer: Ridge Harripersad Steven Soderbergh returns to TIFF with a chamber comedy, pitting the great Sir Ian McKellan’s long, rambunctious, and comical monologues against Emmy award-winning Michaela Coel’s quick-witted, deadpan, humorous zings. McKellen flawlessly embodied a self-aggrandizing artist of his time, showing a masterclass of an older man who only hypes himself up. Coel does not fade into the background; rather, she cleverly uses her deadpan humour to orchestrate a beautiful character who is grappling to understand a celebrity artist. Those looking for some intelligent humour and an entertaining premise that plays out throughout will find a lot of entertainment in this film. Tuner Writer: Ridge Harripersad Canadian director Daniel Roher brings jazz, comedy, romance, crime, thriller, and heartwarming moments—Tuner has it all. Starring Oscar-winning actor Dustin Hoffman, he plays the piano-tuning mentor role in a very charming manner. Leo Woodall is the star of this film, meticulously playing a character dealing with a hearing impairment along the lines of hyperacusis—a sensitivity to particular sounds and loud sounds. The two create an endearing relationship, contrasting with the raw and real antagonist role from Lior Raz. Part rom-com and part crime-thriller, this is a film that is a non-stop ride that will end sooner than you think. Normal Writer: Brendan Frye Normal stands out among TIFF 2025’s Midnight Madness selections, combining insane genre thrills with sharp social commentary, delivering one of the most fun films of this year’s festival. Ben Wheatley’s inverted neo-western explores a seemingly idyllic Midwestern town harbouring dark secrets, pitting Bob Odenkirk’s vulnerable lawman against an entire community steeped in corruption. Subverting classic Western tropes, Wheatley and screenwriter Derek Kolstad create a narrative where the criminals are unexpectedly sympathetic and the townsfolk threaten with explosive consequences. The supporting cast, including Lena Headey and Henry Winkler, helps flesh out a world both familiar and bizarre. Wheatley’s direction delivers a relentless pace and spectacle—bullets, blood, and betrayals abound—making for one of TIFF’s most entertaining rides. Normal won’t win points for introspection, but its vivid characters and genre-bending absurdism ensure it stands tall as pure, bombastic fun, with enough commentary on community complicity and moral reversals to keep the Midnight Madness and genre fans very happy. Obsession Writer: Brendan Frye Obsession delivers one of TIFF 2025’s most chilling and memorable horrors, transforming the classic monkey’s paw premise into a haunting exploration of desire and accountability. Curry Barker’s directorial debut moves swiftly from quirky romance to gut-punch terror, anchored by standout performances from Michael Johnston and Inde Navarrette. The story dives deep into the consequences of wishful thinking, as a supernatural gadget amplifies romantic longing into something disturbingly inhuman. Navarrette’s portrayal of Nikki, forced into obsessive devotion by Bear’s (Michael Johnston) wish, is both tragic and terrifying; Barker’s atmospheric direction sharpens each moment of dread. The film eschews easy thrills for a raw, uncompromising look at how the loss of autonomy twists both love and identity. Echoing the full review’s tone, Obsession lingers powerfully as a horror tale of ideas and emotions, a feverish exploration of the dangers of unchecked desire, leaving TIFF audiences shaken while never losing the core message in the process. Dead Man’s Wire Writer: Brendan Frye Gus Van Sant’s Dead Man’s Wire electrifies TIFF 2025 with its meticulous recreation of a true-crime standoff, balancing raw suspense and social critique. Bill Skarsgård delivers a standout, deeply human performance as Tony Kiritsis, a man whose fury against capitalist injustice spirals into a high-stakes hostage ordeal set in 1977 Indiana. Van Sant’s direction traffics in claustrophobic tension and period authenticity, turning familiar tropes and media spectacle into tools for both condemnation and empathy. Al Pacino and Colman Domingo enhance a supporting cast that fills out a world steeped in anxiety and opportunism. The film explores not only the extremes of desperation but also the human cost of ambition and the consequences of failed redemption. Dead Man’s Wire resonates for its relevant, unsettling questions about economic disillusionment, social compulsion and the real lives behind sensational headlines. It cements itself as one of the festival’s most gripping entries, one that is hard to forget. The Furious Writer: Shakyl Lambert Back in 2011, The Raid premiered at TIFF’s Midnight Madness and subsequently blew the doors off the action genre. I strongly believe The Furious will do the same thing. Directed by legendary action choreographer Kenji Tanigaki, The Furious is simple in story–Xie Miao and Raid alum Joe Taslim play a mute tradesman and a journalist on a warpath to take down a child trafficking ring– and the English dubbing is questionable at best. But neither of those things matters when The Furious is packed with gleefully over-the-top action sequences, all choreographed with precision by Kensuke Sonomura. The finale alone features a relentless five-man brawl that stands as one of the greatest displays of cinematic combat I’ve ever witnessed. There is even a Raid rematch between Taslim and perpetual scene-stealer Yayan Ruhian. Add in a high-energy score by Flying Lotus, and the result is an instant classic. Frankenstein Writer: Shakyl Lambert Guillermo del Toro loves his monsters. His empathy for misunderstood creatures has never been more apparent than in his adaptation of Mary Shelley’s classic novel. Divided into two distinct halves, del Toro frames the story as one of the sins of the father. Victor Frankenstein’s ambitious pursuit of cheating death defies his father’s teachings, yet he cannot help but repeat his father’s abusive methods with his own creation. As strong as Oscar Isaac is as the titular scientist, it is Jacob Elordi who delivers a truly phenomenal, awards-worthy performance as the monster. The combination of striking production design, an emotionally resonant throughline and even a splash of gnarly gore makes Frankenstein an easy choice as one of the standouts of TIFF 2025. No Other Choice Writer: Shakyl Lambert It is easy to read a description of No Other Choice and find similarities to another former TIFF selection, Bong Joon Ho’s Parasite. Yet even with both being darkly comedic capitalist satires, Park Chan-wook’s story of a former paper company manager who is suddenly fired and turns to murdering his competition to secure a new job feels like an entirely different beast. Man-soo’s obsession with maintaining his family’s cushy lifestyle proves to be as sad as it is laugh-out-loud funny, and Lee Byung-hun adapts seamlessly to the film’s shifting tones with his performance. The film also boasts some of the best camerawork and editing I have seen, not just at TIFF, but in any release this year.

Logitech G PLAY 2025 has brought the heat with new wheel technology, a focus on TRUEFORCE for immersion, a new team-up with McLaren and more!

Logitech G PLAY 2025 is finally here, and Logitech has brought the heat with new wheel technology, a focus on TRUEFORCE for immersion, a new team-up with McLaren and more! The annual Logitech G PLAY 2025 event is showcasing all the innovations Logitech has in store for gamers, with this year’s focus on advancements in the racing genre. Logitech racing peripherals are designed to deliver realism, control, customization and immersion, and the latest expansion of the popular Logitech modular Racing Series lineup reflects that goal, giving racers of all skill levels a chance to get behind the wheel. Logitech G has unveiled its newest innovation: the RS50 Direct Drive Wheelbase with TRUEFORCE and RS Pedals, launched alongside a major McLaren collaboration aimed at the most dedicated racing enthusiasts. For fans new to TRUEFORCE, here’s a crash course. The technology translates in-game physics into real-world forces through direct-to-player feedback designed to elevate the racing experience. This immersive system allows players to feel every detail of the track, from the grip of a tire off the starting line to the turbulence of a high-octane turn. TRUEFORCE is built into the new RS50 Direct Drive Wheelbase and works to simulate an authentic on-track experience. Richard Neville, senior global product manager for simulation at Logitech G, said: “Whether you’re taking the Parabolica at Monza at top speed or drifting in a rally stage, the level of torque, coupled with TRUEFORCE, ensures you feel every detail in traction and every bump in the road. Combine that with the unrivalled control of the RS Pedals, and it transforms every race into an intense, emotional ride. The RS50 isn’t just hardware. It’s the beating heart of your sim setup.” Below is everything announced at the Logitech G PLAY 2025 showcase. Logitech G PLAY 2025 – RS50 Wheelbase & System Setup The Logitech G RS50 System is the foundation of a complete sim racing setup. The bundle includes the RS50 Wheelbase, RS Wheel Hub, RS Round Wheel and the RS50 Table Clamp, giving players everything they need to hit the track. With all components combined, the system offers up to 2,700 degrees of rotation and provides a streamlined, all-in-one way to become immersed in their favourite racing titles. The RS50 Wheel Base is Logitech’s newest direct drive motor, developed with the consumer and ultimate immersion in mind. Unlike systems that rely on belts or gears to transmit force, Logitech G’s direct drive approach eliminates intermediary components. This allows the motor to deliver force feedback straight to the wheel, then straight to the player. The RS50 Wheelbase houses a motor that produces up to 8 Nm of torque, an optimal power level determined by expert racecar drivers during testing. The RS50 offers precise and more realistic force feedback, with faster responsiveness to give racers the ultimate edge. The Logitech G RS Wheel Hub, shown as part of the system at Logitech G PLAY 2025, was designed for maximum racing versatility, compatibility, and a more tailored approach to design. players can select between the RS Round Wheel, RS Track Wheel and MOMO x Logitech G Steering Wheels for their own comfort. Racers can further personalize their experience with customizable LED rev lights and adjustable gear shifters. With the Wheel Hub’s quick-release attachment, drivers can use one adapter with every steering wheel to seamlessly switch them out in seconds. The RS Round Wheel serves as the steering for the RS50, and offers full rotation and leather grips for the toughest tracks. TRUEFORCE feedback delivers immersion home to the entire system, giving racers a true on-track feeling experience. Includes an RS50 Table Clamp for an easier start and mounting for desk setups. The Logitech G RS50 System can be purchased as a bundle for $699.99 for PlayStation or Xbox, and it will be available on the Logitech G website. Enthusiasts also have the opportunity to buy the RS50 Wheelbase by itself for $349.99 for PC, and $449.99 for PS5, respectively. Logitech G Play 2025 – RS Pedals Key Features To further implement immersion for the RS50 System, the Logitech G PLAY 2025 event unveiled the new RS Pedals to go along with the TRUEFORCE-enabled RS50 System. The RS Pedals feature a load cell brake pedal (included as standard) for measuring the force applied, as opposed to the distance the pedal travels. Pressure-sensitive braking and customizable force settings give drivers ultimate control and let racers hit turns like a professional while maintaining momentum. As a plus, for those who have existing Logitech wheel setups, a racing adapter for G-Series wheels, or a USB for PC is included. The RS Pedals also have customizable pedal movement and resistance with damper and spacer combinations for customizable comfort. Fans can use G HUB, the OLED screen (PRO/RS50), or the Racing Adapter dial (G29/G920/G923 on console) for personalized force settings. Hall Effect Gas Pedal – Contactless design ensures long-term reliability, addressing key durability concerns from previous models. Pedal Modularity – Ability to customize the spacing between the brake and accelerator pedals, as well as the option to integrate the RS Clutch Module (which can be purchased separately for $44.99). Adjustable Pedal Length – Extenders allow users to optimize stability for desk or rig setups, adapting to carpet or hard floor. The RS Pedals shown at Logitech G PLAY 2025 will be made available for $159.99 on the Logitech G website. Three separate peripherals in collaboration with the legendary racing brand, McLaren, have also been developed by Logitech G, and unveiled at Logitech G PLAY 2025 to close out the racing announcements. Those devices and their features are listed below. Logitech G RS Formula Wheel McLaren Racing Edition – Based on the McLaren F1 Team’s MCL38 steering wheel, this wheel has been redesigned to fit the hands of all sim racers of all sizes, and to deliver comfort, along with the faithful steering wheel design of McLaren. This wheel will run consumers $129.99. Playseat Formula Instinct Logitech G McLaren Racing Edition – Designed in collaboration with Logitech G and McLaren Racing, the Playseat Formula Instinct delivers an authentic F1 driving position, bringing gamers and racing enthusiasts closer than ever to the sensations of a professional driver. Including features like a quick-release system offering robust support for the steering wheel, and an authentic racing feel with easy storage, this premium racing chair brings the track to the home, for a price of $599.99. Finally, the ASTRO A50 X McLaren Racing Edition Headset brings audio clarity to any racing setup, featuring the signature Papaya colourway of McLaren. This headset can work with any console or PC, and it comes with the signature ASTRO A50 headset mount in a matching colourway. More information regarding the ASTRO A50 headset, and specifically the McLaren variant, can be found on the official Logitech G website. That wraps all of the racing simulation news at Logitech G PLAY 2025. Racing enthusiasts searching for more info, pricing and how to purchase any of the racing offerings from Logitech can check out the Logitech G website.

Inside stories of Digital Transformation

Experience the energy of Dell Sales Academy—real-world training, teamwork and recognition that make every win matter.

Experience the energy of Dell Sales Academy—real-world training, teamwork and recognition that make every win matter.

Top 5 ways to drive enterprise success

Top 5 ways to drive enterprise success

Insights from Dell's John Roese and MIT's Pattie Maes on the transformative Potential of human-AI collaboration.

Insights from Dell's John Roese and MIT's Pattie Maes on the transformative Potential of human-AI collaboration.

AJ Wedding of Orbital Studios empowers filmmakers with tech that’s faster, smarter, and creative-first. Reinventing Hollywood, one pixel at a time.

AJ Wedding of Orbital Studios empowers filmmakers with tech that’s faster, smarter, and creative-first. Reinventing Hollywood, one pixel at a time.

Discover the Dell PowerEdge XE7740 with Intel Gaudi 3 PCIe accelerators, offering scalable AI acceleration and seamless integration into existing infrastructures with robust cost efficiency.

Discover the Dell PowerEdge XE7740 with Intel Gaudi 3 PCIe accelerators, offering scalable AI acceleration and seamless integration into existing infrastructures with robust cost efficiency.

Overconfidence is leaving organizations vulnerable—mature strategies show the path to true cyber resilience.

Overconfidence is leaving organizations vulnerable—mature strategies show the path to true cyber resilience.

Part 1 – AI Clusters Background For Networkers

Part 1 – AI Clusters Background For Networkers

Dell Technologies is the leader in all-flash storage vendor revenue per IDC.

Dell Technologies is the leader in all-flash storage vendor revenue per IDC.

AI’s biggest challenge isn’t data or algorithms, it’s energy. Here’s what CIOs need to know about the AI energy challenge.

AI’s biggest challenge isn’t data or algorithms, it’s energy. Here’s what CIOs need to know about the AI energy challenge.

Discover why Dell supports the new Agentic Payments Protocol (AP2) and how open standards are building an interoperable future for AI-driven commerce.

Discover why Dell supports the new Agentic Payments Protocol (AP2) and how open standards are building an interoperable future for AI-driven commerce.

A Site About Video Games

Following a trend in the gaming market, Microsoft is hiking the prices of all Xbox variants in the US, with one particular version of the Series X costing up to $800. That's the price of a solid PC, built from parts as old as the Xbox.

As announced on the Xbox support page, these new prices come into effect on Oct. 3. The Series S will run you $399.99 and $449.99 for the 512GB and 1TB variants, while the Series X will go for $599.99 and $649.99 for the Digital and Physical versions, respectively. The 2TB Galaxy Black Special Edition variant of the Series X now costs $799.99, which is a ludicrous price for five-year-old hardware that you'd expect to become cheaper over time.

In the case of consoles, that rule has no effect, and both Sony and Microsoft are steadily increasing the prices of their hardware despite their internal components remaining the same five-year-old parts they've had since the beginning. What's more, Sony's reportedly even cutting down drive space on its PlayStation consoles in Europe while maintaining the price, so it seems we're even getting worse hardware with time, but with the same or higher prices.

These Xbox costs have been driven by “changes in the macroeconomic environment,” which could mean just about anything, from the Trump Administration's new tariffs to supply chain issues. This also only affects US customers, with the rest of the world dodging the bullet.

$800 for a console? Only in 2025. Image via Microsoft / Xbox

No matter what, though, these are massive prices to pay for aged hardware since you could build fairly capable PCs for just about the same cost, given that graphics cards, CPUs, RAM sticks, and other components from 2020 are now dirt-cheap in second-hand markets.

With enough time and care, you could easily have a better machine for just as much money, or even less, and since Xbox games always simultaneously release on PC, there's an extra reason to avoid buying these machines at inflated prices.

Additionally, if you're in the market for a console specifically, you can still get the PlayStation 5 or PS5 Pro and play Xbox-exclusive titles, which are slowly but surely making their way to Sony's platform.

The only argument left for buying an Xbox would be Game Pass, but then again, you can build a more competent PC and still subscribe to the Game Pass service, so there's quite literally no point in forking over this much money for a near-last-generation machine.

Like our content? Set Destructoid as a Preferred Source on Google in just one step to ensure you see us more frequently in your Google searches!

The post Microsoft just upped the price of an old console to the point where you might as well get a good PC appeared first on Destructoid.

Following a trend in the gaming market, Microsoft is hiking the prices of all Xbox variants in the US, with one particular version of the Series X costing up to $800. That's the price of a solid PC, built from parts as old as the Xbox. As announced on the Xbox support page, these new prices come into effect on Oct. 3. The Series S will run you $399.99 and $449.99 for the 512GB and 1TB variants, while the Series X will go for $599.99 and $649.99 for the Digital and Physical versions, respectively. The 2TB Galaxy Black Special Edition variant of the Series X now costs $799.99, which is a ludicrous price for five-year-old hardware that you'd expect to become cheaper over time. In the case of consoles, that rule has no effect, and both Sony and Microsoft are steadily increasing the prices of their hardware despite their internal components remaining the same five-year-old parts they've had since the beginning. What's more, Sony's reportedly even cutting down drive space on its PlayStation consoles in Europe while maintaining the price, so it seems we're even getting worse hardware with time, but with the same or higher prices. These Xbox costs have been driven by “changes in the macroeconomic environment,” which could mean just about anything, from the Trump Administration's new tariffs to supply chain issues. This also only affects US customers, with the rest of the world dodging the bullet. $800 for a console? Only in 2025. Image via Microsoft / Xbox No matter what, though, these are massive prices to pay for aged hardware since you could build fairly capable PCs for just about the same cost, given that graphics cards, CPUs, RAM sticks, and other components from 2020 are now dirt-cheap in second-hand markets. With enough time and care, you could easily have a better machine for just as much money, or even less, and since Xbox games always simultaneously release on PC, there's an extra reason to avoid buying these machines at inflated prices. Additionally, if you're in the market for a console specifically, you can still get the PlayStation 5 or PS5 Pro and play Xbox-exclusive titles, which are slowly but surely making their way to Sony's platform. The only argument left for buying an Xbox would be Game Pass, but then again, you can build a more competent PC and still subscribe to the Game Pass service, so there's quite literally no point in forking over this much money for a near-last-generation machine. Like our content? Set Destructoid as a Preferred Source on Google in just one step to ensure you see us more frequently in your Google searches! The post Microsoft just upped the price of an old console to the point where you might as well get a good PC appeared first on Destructoid.

Earlier today, we learned how there's reportedly nothing happening at Sony regarding Bloodborne, which comes as no surprise to anyone. The game's been stuck in PS4 hell since its launch in 2015 and was never ported, updated, or remastered for modern machines. Thankfully, the community's got our back.

As our Scott Duwe already wrote up, Bloodborne is seemingly not moving an inch, with Sony apparently caring little about porting or remastering the title for the time being. That'd be funny if it weren't so confusing, as Sony seems willing to pour hundreds of millions of dollars into failed live-service projects like Concord rather than earning a bucket load of free cash by releasing Bloodborne on PC.

Anyhow, we've all heard that story today, and have been hearing similar ones for quite some time. Bloodborne is in stasis, strapped in the Hunter's Dream, never to come out, be updated, remastered, or ported. But what is out and progressing rapidly is PlayStation 4 emulation on PC, tailor-made to allow people to run Bloodborne on their machines.

I've followed ShadPS4, as the project is known, for over two years now, steadily scouting out how Bloodborne runs on PC these days. And I can tell you it's almost as good as it gets. With high resolutions, a frame rate the official version of Bloodborne can only dream of, and only a handful of audiovisual glitches that players have ways to solve, Bloodborne on PC is a perfectly viable way to play.

That is, if you have a machine capable of emulating one of the most complex architectures in the industry's history.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QJACcAJT1B4

And even if you don't, there are probably myriad patches, plugins, fixes, and tweaks you can employ to make Bloodborne run smoother, if not altogether perfectly. No matter how it runs, though, it's probably still miles ahead of the PS4 version of the game, which is stuck in a low 720p resolution that YouTube doesn't even consider HD nowadays, running at a locked 30 fps that it fails to maintain most of the time.

As the video above indicates (thanks GAMESMARK), you can have the game work at 4K, with mods improving graphical fidelity and lighting, as well as running at a smooth 60 fps. It's the superior experience, the issues you might encounter be damned. With time, Bloodborne on PC will only become better, and it has already surpassed the original version in more ways than one.

So, instead of waiting for Sony to remember it owns the IP, do yourself a favor and boot up Bloodborne via an emulator and enjoy the best Lovecraftian horror game you've ever experienced.

Note: Emulation itself is a legal practice, but pirating software is not. If you wish to play the game via emulation, you will have to procure the files from a legitimate copy you yourself have purchased and own. Destructoid does not approve of nor condone piracy. Buy the game, get the files, and play however you want.

Like our content? Set Destructoid as a Preferred Source on Google in just one step to ensure you see us more frequently in your Google searches!

The post As Bloodborne remains trapped in the Hunter’s Dream, the PC emulated version is almost as good as it gets appeared first on Destructoid.

Earlier today, we learned how there's reportedly nothing happening at Sony regarding Bloodborne, which comes as no surprise to anyone. The game's been stuck in PS4 hell since its launch in 2015 and was never ported, updated, or remastered for modern machines. Thankfully, the community's got our back. As our Scott Duwe already wrote up, Bloodborne is seemingly not moving an inch, with Sony apparently caring little about porting or remastering the title for the time being. That'd be funny if it weren't so confusing, as Sony seems willing to pour hundreds of millions of dollars into failed live-service projects like Concord rather than earning a bucket load of free cash by releasing Bloodborne on PC. Anyhow, we've all heard that story today, and have been hearing similar ones for quite some time. Bloodborne is in stasis, strapped in the Hunter's Dream, never to come out, be updated, remastered, or ported. But what is out and progressing rapidly is PlayStation 4 emulation on PC, tailor-made to allow people to run Bloodborne on their machines. I've followed ShadPS4, as the project is known, for over two years now, steadily scouting out how Bloodborne runs on PC these days. And I can tell you it's almost as good as it gets. With high resolutions, a frame rate the official version of Bloodborne can only dream of, and only a handful of audiovisual glitches that players have ways to solve, Bloodborne on PC is a perfectly viable way to play. That is, if you have a machine capable of emulating one of the most complex architectures in the industry's history. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QJACcAJT1B4 And even if you don't, there are probably myriad patches, plugins, fixes, and tweaks you can employ to make Bloodborne run smoother, if not altogether perfectly. No matter how it runs, though, it's probably still miles ahead of the PS4 version of the game, which is stuck in a low 720p resolution that YouTube doesn't even consider HD nowadays, running at a locked 30 fps that it fails to maintain most of the time. As the video above indicates (thanks GAMESMARK), you can have the game work at 4K, with mods improving graphical fidelity and lighting, as well as running at a smooth 60 fps. It's the superior experience, the issues you might encounter be damned. With time, Bloodborne on PC will only become better, and it has already surpassed the original version in more ways than one. So, instead of waiting for Sony to remember it owns the IP, do yourself a favor and boot up Bloodborne via an emulator and enjoy the best Lovecraftian horror game you've ever experienced. Note: Emulation itself is a legal practice, but pirating software is not. If you wish to play the game via emulation, you will have to procure the files from a legitimate copy you yourself have purchased and own. Destructoid does not approve of nor condone piracy. Buy the game, get the files, and play however you want. Like our content? Set Destructoid as a Preferred Source on Google in just one step to ensure you see us more frequently in your Google searches! The post As Bloodborne remains trapped in the Hunter’s Dream, the PC emulated version is almost as good as it gets appeared first on Destructoid.

Resident Evil Requiem is my most anticipated game, so every new report or leak that comes out about it further excites me and makes the wait for February more difficult. But then there's this latest one...oof.

Here's your spoiler warning, folks. Click away if you don't want to know more about RE9, even if the leak ends up being fake. You have been warned.

Image via Capcom

A supposed leaked image, originally posted on 4Chan (yeah, I know) and then re-posted to Reddit, shows a new look for one of the franchise's most popular characters, and one who is pivotal to the series' legacy in many ways, along with some Japanese text (translated by a Reddit user) describing Capcom's process of modeling characters in the RE Engine. And then there's some big red "CONFIDENTIAL" text in the top right, as always.

So, Leon S. Kennedy is likely going to be in Resident Evil Requiem. Leakers are saying so, and it would only be right for him to return as a send-off in this final chapter of the Umbrella story that Capcom looks to be telling in RE9. Chris has had plenty of time to shine (where are Claire and Jill?!), and so Leon is most likely to appear in this game. And that's exactly who we see in this purported leak.

Grace Ashcroft is probably just one of the playable characters in RE9. Most RE games had multiple. If we really are returning to Raccoon City to close that chapter, then Leon needs to be in it. Having said that, if in RE9 he looks like he does in this supposed leak, I'm pretty disappointed.

Image via Reddit/4chan

He's basically just Big Boss/Punished Snake/Venom Snake from Metal Gear Solid V: The Phantom Pain. The low-quality picture depicts a Zombie in an RPD vest, a weird two-headed monster, and then our main boy. The image has Leon with the same exact haircut that he had in 1998, but with some graying to it, and a slightly graying beard. And an eyepatch. What.

First, dude, get a haircut. Change your style. Rocking the Titanic-era DiCaprio cut 28 years after your first day at the RPD is ludicrous. This puts him at around 50 years old, give or take, depending on exactly when RE9 takes place. I'm all for expressing yourself stylistically, but you also have to be age-appropriate.

But then the eye patch? Why? I've been making jokes about an old Leon showing up like Old Snake in Metal Gear Solid 4: Guns of the Patriots, a grizzled veteran ready to fight his final battles, but this leak makes it look like Capcom took that idea a little too literally.

So far, we've only seen glimpses of Grace gameplay from an early section of RE9. With Tokyo Game Show coming up next week, along with a potential State of Play from PlayStation, I think we'll begin seeing Leon confirmation in some capacity to hype up the game over the next five months before it releases.

I'm fairly certain Leon will be in RE9 in some capacity, with the odds showing that he will be the second playable character and action horror foil to Grace's pure survival horror. But if he shows up looking like Kiefer Sutherland's Big Boss clone in RE9, it'll be just plain weird, so I'm hoping this "leak" is a well-made fake.

Image via Capcom

Give him the beard, sure, and throw in some graying hair for dramatic effect to remind us all how god damn old we are now (I played the original RE2 when I was 9). But change up the haircut and leave the eye patch on the cutting room floor. Let's give our man the send-off he deserves.

Update on Sept. 19 at 3:40pm CT: For what it's worth, the same leaker who's adamant about Leon being in RE9 says that the image is a fake. Thank Spencer.

https://twitter.com/AestheticGamer1/status/1969099369019224145

Like our content? Set Destructoid as a Preferred Source on Google in just one step to ensure you see us more frequently in your Google searches!

The post I really hope this supposed Leon S. Kennedy leak in Resident Evil Requiem is fake (UPDATE) appeared first on Destructoid.

Resident Evil Requiem is my most anticipated game, so every new report or leak that comes out about it further excites me and makes the wait for February more difficult. But then there's this latest one...oof. Here's your spoiler warning, folks. Click away if you don't want to know more about RE9, even if the leak ends up being fake. You have been warned. Image via Capcom A supposed leaked image, originally posted on 4Chan (yeah, I know) and then re-posted to Reddit, shows a new look for one of the franchise's most popular characters, and one who is pivotal to the series' legacy in many ways, along with some Japanese text (translated by a Reddit user) describing Capcom's process of modeling characters in the RE Engine. And then there's some big red "CONFIDENTIAL" text in the top right, as always. So, Leon S. Kennedy is likely going to be in Resident Evil Requiem. Leakers are saying so, and it would only be right for him to return as a send-off in this final chapter of the Umbrella story that Capcom looks to be telling in RE9. Chris has had plenty of time to shine (where are Claire and Jill?!), and so Leon is most likely to appear in this game. And that's exactly who we see in this purported leak. Grace Ashcroft is probably just one of the playable characters in RE9. Most RE games had multiple. If we really are returning to Raccoon City to close that chapter, then Leon needs to be in it. Having said that, if in RE9 he looks like he does in this supposed leak, I'm pretty disappointed. Image via Reddit/4chan He's basically just Big Boss/Punished Snake/Venom Snake from Metal Gear Solid V: The Phantom Pain. The low-quality picture depicts a Zombie in an RPD vest, a weird two-headed monster, and then our main boy. The image has Leon with the same exact haircut that he had in 1998, but with some graying to it, and a slightly graying beard. And an eyepatch. What. First, dude, get a haircut. Change your style. Rocking the Titanic-era DiCaprio cut 28 years after your first day at the RPD is ludicrous. This puts him at around 50 years old, give or take, depending on exactly when RE9 takes place. I'm all for expressing yourself stylistically, but you also have to be age-appropriate. But then the eye patch? Why? I've been making jokes about an old Leon showing up like Old Snake in Metal Gear Solid 4: Guns of the Patriots, a grizzled veteran ready to fight his final battles, but this leak makes it look like Capcom took that idea a little too literally. So far, we've only seen glimpses of Grace gameplay from an early section of RE9. With Tokyo Game Show coming up next week, along with a potential State of Play from PlayStation, I think we'll begin seeing Leon confirmation in some capacity to hype up the game over the next five months before it releases. I'm fairly certain Leon will be in RE9 in some capacity, with the odds showing that he will be the second playable character and action horror foil to Grace's pure survival horror. But if he shows up looking like Kiefer Sutherland's Big Boss clone in RE9, it'll be just plain weird, so I'm hoping this "leak" is a well-made fake. Image via Capcom Give him the beard, sure, and throw in some graying hair for dramatic effect to remind us all how god damn old we are now (I played the original RE2 when I was 9). But change up the haircut and leave the eye patch on the cutting room floor. Let's give our man the send-off he deserves. Update on Sept. 19 at 3:40pm CT: For what it's worth, the same leaker who's adamant about Leon being in RE9 says that the image is a fake. Thank Spencer. https://twitter.com/AestheticGamer1/status/1969099369019224145 Like our content? Set Destructoid as a Preferred Source on Google in just one step to ensure you see us more frequently in your Google searches! The post I really hope this supposed Leon S. Kennedy leak in Resident Evil Requiem is fake (UPDATE) appeared first on Destructoid.

If you're having a tough start to life in Ultimate Team, the World Tours Jessica Naz card is available to all FC 26 players for free.

Available as part of a new objective, you have slightly less than seven days at the time of writing this guide. To unlock the card, you'll have to complete any four of the five tasks that are part of the objective. This guide will help you understand the basics of the objective and how to complete it without any fuss.

FC 26 World Tours Jessica Naz objective guide

The new objective has five tasks. Once again, you'll need to complete any four based on your preference.

Task How to Complete Rewards Speed Attack Score 6 goals in Squad Battles on min. Semi-Pro difficulty (or Rush/Rivals/Live Events) using Players with 85+ Pace. 75+ Rated Rare Player WSL Winner Win 3 matches by 2 or more goals in Squad Battles on min. Semi-Pro difficulty (or Rush/Rivals/Live Events) while having min. 1 WSL Player in your starting 11. 78+ 2 Rare Gold Players Pack Playmaker Assist 5 goals in Squad Battles on min. Semi-Pro difficulty (or Rush/Rivals/Live Events) using a ST. 75+ 3 Rare Gold Players Pack English Excellence Win 5 matches in Rivals or Live Events while having min. 1 English Player in your starting 11. 81+ 2 Rare Gold Players Pack English Spark Win 7 matches in Squad Battles on min. Semi-Pro difficulty (or Rush) while having min. 1 English player in your starting 11. 80+ 3 Rare Gold Players Pack

You'll unlock the 83-rated Naz item the moment any four of the five tasks are complete. Here are the key stats of the card.

• Overall: 83
• Positions: ST, LM, CAM
• Pace: 86
• Shooting: 82
• Passing: 75
• Dribbling: 86
• Defense: 52
• Physicality: 72
• 3* Skills
• 4* Weak Foot

For a free card at the start of a new cycle, she seems pretty impressive. Good pace, decent shooting, and excellent dribbling make up for the poor weak foot rating. She also offers Tiki Taka, Power Shot, Rapid, and four specialized roles.

Ideally, the ST position is where you should play her, but she has the build to shine in wider areas as well if required. With an overall of 83, we should be able to use her soon in an upcoming evolution. If you have the fodder and coins to spare, the World Tours Reece James SBC is an excellent option to consider when shoring up your defense.

Like our content? Set Destructoid as a Preferred Source on Google in just one step to ensure you see us more frequently in your Google searches!

The post How to obtain World Tours Jessica Naz in FC 26 for free appeared first on Destructoid.

If you're having a tough start to life in Ultimate Team, the World Tours Jessica Naz card is available to all FC 26 players for free. Available as part of a new objective, you have slightly less than seven days at the time of writing this guide. To unlock the card, you'll have to complete any four of the five tasks that are part of the objective. This guide will help you understand the basics of the objective and how to complete it without any fuss. FC 26 World Tours Jessica Naz objective guide The new objective has five tasks. Once again, you'll need to complete any four based on your preference. Task How to Complete Rewards Speed Attack Score 6 goals in Squad Battles on min. Semi-Pro difficulty (or Rush/Rivals/Live Events) using Players with 85+ Pace. 75+ Rated Rare Player WSL Winner Win 3 matches by 2 or more goals in Squad Battles on min. Semi-Pro difficulty (or Rush/Rivals/Live Events) while having min. 1 WSL Player in your starting 11. 78+ 2 Rare Gold Players Pack Playmaker Assist 5 goals in Squad Battles on min. Semi-Pro difficulty (or Rush/Rivals/Live Events) using a ST. 75+ 3 Rare Gold Players Pack English Excellence Win 5 matches in Rivals or Live Events while having min. 1 English Player in your starting 11. 81+ 2 Rare Gold Players Pack English Spark Win 7 matches in Squad Battles on min. Semi-Pro difficulty (or Rush) while having min. 1 English player in your starting 11. 80+ 3 Rare Gold Players Pack You'll unlock the 83-rated Naz item the moment any four of the five tasks are complete. Here are the key stats of the card. Overall: 83 Positions: ST, LM, CAM Pace: 86 Shooting: 82 Passing: 75 Dribbling: 86 Defense: 52 Physicality: 72 3* Skills 4* Weak Foot For a free card at the start of a new cycle, she seems pretty impressive. Good pace, decent shooting, and excellent dribbling make up for the poor weak foot rating. She also offers Tiki Taka, Power Shot, Rapid, and four specialized roles. Ideally, the ST position is where you should play her, but she has the build to shine in wider areas as well if required. With an overall of 83, we should be able to use her soon in an upcoming evolution. If you have the fodder and coins to spare, the World Tours Reece James SBC is an excellent option to consider when shoring up your defense. Like our content? Set Destructoid as a Preferred Source on Google in just one step to ensure you see us more frequently in your Google searches! The post How to obtain World Tours Jessica Naz in FC 26 for free appeared first on Destructoid.

Ah, another week ends. If only it didn't mean we've lost five days of our fleeting lives that we'll never get back, and probably spent them sitting at a desk somewhere, contemplating what could have gone better in our lives.

But then we remember there's a tradeoff to this existential dread: weekends. Specifically, weekends reserved for video games (or games you play on a table, we don't judge here). And, like every weekend, we're here to ask you the ultimate contemplative question—what are you going to be playing?

Arkheron looks mighty fine, and is definitely getting hours sunken into it. Image via Bonfire Studios

I am currently recovering from severe muscle soreness, having blown my entire back out yesterday (not in that way) at the gym, trying to max out the cable pulldown rack. I'm slowly approaching the bottom, but still have a while to go before I can truly say I've made it on that machine.

Speaking of machines, there's this one game I'm going to be playing a bit of this weekend, since it's currently running a playtest. It's set in a dystopian world ruined and ruled by machines and sentient technology, and no, it's not Horizon. In fact, it's called Exoborne, an extraction looter-shooter that's been running tests for a while now, slowly but surely improving on its foundation to ensure it can compete with similar giants coming out this year and down the line, such as Arc Raiders.

Aside from Exoborne, another alpha test you can sign up for is currently underway for a game called Arkheron, a MOBA-battle royale-ARPG sort of blend, which you'll learn more of in some of my upcoming features, but I did break down its new trailer yesterday, so be sure to read up on that.

Lastly, I'm going to find some time to squeeze in a few hours of Cities: Skylines. Both of them, actually, with my primary focus being on the first, given its larger content library and exceptional mod support, which the latter currently lacks.

Destructoid sure does love its family-friendly games. Screenshot by Destructoid

The team is gearing up for some mighty gamin' time this weekend, too. There's a lot on everyone's plate this time around, so here goes.

My fellow writers are going for a mix of live-service and singleplayer vibes, from sports games to looter-shooters. Arka will stick to FC 26 this weekend, kicking the ball around and pretending EA's made a new game instead of slapping a new number on the old one; Hads is playing some Apex: Legends to satisfy their live-service cravings, because what would gaming in 2025 be without some free-to-play action?

Scott'll sprinkle on some LEGO Voyagers and Hello Kitty Island Adventure on top of his weekend to spend some quality time with his SO. Kacee is hopping back into Hogwarts Legacy, which is only the second-best Harry Potter game, behind Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets for the original PlayStation.

Madison is staying the course and playing the same games as last week, continuing her runs through Borderlands 4 and Baldur's Gate 3, where she's trying to clear Act Two and the Moonrise Tower (i.e., the best parts of the entire game).

Our editorial pair also has a packed weekend, and no, Luci is not just playing chess this time around. Though he is sinking a lot of time into moving pieces on a board, and probably doing it as I'm typing this, he might also get into Cyberpunk 2077. Rachel Samples, our editor-in-chief, is going for The Legend of Zelda Echoes of Wisdom, Pokémon Go, and The Sims 4, because it wouldn't be a “Whatcha playing” piece without some Nintendo love.

But that's enough about us, as I've rambled for far too long when only one thing really matters—you. With so many games out, whether as betas, alphas, or full releases, there are literally infinite options to choose from this weekend, so do be kind to tell us what you're gonna be playing.

And, as always, have a wonderful weekend from all of us at Destructoid.

Like our content? Set Destructoid as a Preferred Source on Google in just one step to ensure you see us more frequently in your Google searches!

The post Whatcha playing this weekend, Destructoid? (Sept. 19-21) appeared first on Destructoid.

Ah, another week ends. If only it didn't mean we've lost five days of our fleeting lives that we'll never get back, and probably spent them sitting at a desk somewhere, contemplating what could have gone better in our lives. But then we remember there's a tradeoff to this existential dread: weekends. Specifically, weekends reserved for video games (or games you play on a table, we don't judge here). And, like every weekend, we're here to ask you the ultimate contemplative question—what are you going to be playing? Arkheron looks mighty fine, and is definitely getting hours sunken into it. Image via Bonfire Studios I am currently recovering from severe muscle soreness, having blown my entire back out yesterday (not in that way) at the gym, trying to max out the cable pulldown rack. I'm slowly approaching the bottom, but still have a while to go before I can truly say I've made it on that machine. Speaking of machines, there's this one game I'm going to be playing a bit of this weekend, since it's currently running a playtest. It's set in a dystopian world ruined and ruled by machines and sentient technology, and no, it's not Horizon. In fact, it's called Exoborne, an extraction looter-shooter that's been running tests for a while now, slowly but surely improving on its foundation to ensure it can compete with similar giants coming out this year and down the line, such as Arc Raiders. Aside from Exoborne, another alpha test you can sign up for is currently underway for a game called Arkheron, a MOBA-battle royale-ARPG sort of blend, which you'll learn more of in some of my upcoming features, but I did break down its new trailer yesterday, so be sure to read up on that. Lastly, I'm going to find some time to squeeze in a few hours of Cities: Skylines. Both of them, actually, with my primary focus being on the first, given its larger content library and exceptional mod support, which the latter currently lacks. Destructoid sure does love its family-friendly games. Screenshot by Destructoid The team is gearing up for some mighty gamin' time this weekend, too. There's a lot on everyone's plate this time around, so here goes. My fellow writers are going for a mix of live-service and singleplayer vibes, from sports games to looter-shooters. Arka will stick to FC 26 this weekend, kicking the ball around and pretending EA's made a new game instead of slapping a new number on the old one; Hads is playing some Apex: Legends to satisfy their live-service cravings, because what would gaming in 2025 be without some free-to-play action? Scott'll sprinkle on some LEGO Voyagers and Hello Kitty Island Adventure on top of his weekend to spend some quality time with his SO. Kacee is hopping back into Hogwarts Legacy, which is only the second-best Harry Potter game, behind Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets for the original PlayStation. Madison is staying the course and playing the same games as last week, continuing her runs through Borderlands 4 and Baldur's Gate 3, where she's trying to clear Act Two and the Moonrise Tower (i.e., the best parts of the entire game). Our editorial pair also has a packed weekend, and no, Luci is not just playing chess this time around. Though he is sinking a lot of time into moving pieces on a board, and probably doing it as I'm typing this, he might also get into Cyberpunk 2077. Rachel Samples, our editor-in-chief, is going for The Legend of Zelda Echoes of Wisdom, Pokémon Go, and The Sims 4, because it wouldn't be a “Whatcha playing” piece without some Nintendo love. But that's enough about us, as I've rambled for far too long when only one thing really matters—you. With so many games out, whether as betas, alphas, or full releases, there are literally infinite options to choose from this weekend, so do be kind to tell us what you're gonna be playing. And, as always, have a wonderful weekend from all of us at Destructoid. Like our content? Set Destructoid as a Preferred Source on Google in just one step to ensure you see us more frequently in your Google searches! The post Whatcha playing this weekend, Destructoid? (Sept. 19-21) appeared first on Destructoid.

Hello there, fellow Destructoid readers, and welcome to Real Talk, a short discussion series where I ask questions about things people are discussing (or likely mad about) to see if anyone really cares about them, or if they're just joining the larger voices at work.

For this one, I wanted to bring back something that had a lot of hatred at the start of the year but feels to have fizzled out slightly over the past few months. That being the discourse of $80 games that heralded the launch of the Nintendo Switch 2 back in June, with Mario Kart World.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3pE23YTYEZM

Now, to be fair, there are still some vocal voices that appear on social media whenever an announcement has been made, especially recently, following the re-release of an updated version of Super Mario Galaxy 1 and 2 for Switch priced at $70, but the overall mass outrage doesn't appear to be quite there like it was before. So what on earth happened?

Have the masses just quietly accepted that $80 games are the new norm? Have people given up hope that Nintendo and other companies will listen? Or is the same heated debate and discussion still ongoing, but just isn't being given the attention to draw criticism? It's hard to tell, and while it's obvious there are still members of the gaming community trying to keep the discourse alive, I feel like it's hard to pinpoint why the conversation has become a bit more muted in recent months.

There are some caveats. For example, since Mario Kart World, Microsoft tried and failed to make The Outer Worlds 2 an $80 game before discourse forced Microsoft to drop its plans and price it at $70 instead. We also haven't seen any Nintendo game priced at $80 since the first reveal of Mario Kart World, with most new games being priced at or below $70. Sony has yet to show off a game that it has tried to price higher than its norm.

It feels like companies are unwilling to try to price their games at $80 following what happened the past few years, but it feels like it is only a matter of time until someone tries to test the waters again. And it feels like GTA 6 could be the one to test that price point, or even go beyond it, come next year when it finally releases.

But what do you think of the whole discussion? Let me know in the comments below!

Like our content? Set Destructoid as a Preferred Source on Google in just one step to ensure you see us more frequently in your Google searches!

The post Real Talk: Is anyone still mad about $80 games? appeared first on Destructoid.

Hello there, fellow Destructoid readers, and welcome to Real Talk, a short discussion series where I ask questions about things people are discussing (or likely mad about) to see if anyone really cares about them, or if they're just joining the larger voices at work. For this one, I wanted to bring back something that had a lot of hatred at the start of the year but feels to have fizzled out slightly over the past few months. That being the discourse of $80 games that heralded the launch of the Nintendo Switch 2 back in June, with Mario Kart World. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3pE23YTYEZM Now, to be fair, there are still some vocal voices that appear on social media whenever an announcement has been made, especially recently, following the re-release of an updated version of Super Mario Galaxy 1 and 2 for Switch priced at $70, but the overall mass outrage doesn't appear to be quite there like it was before. So what on earth happened? Have the masses just quietly accepted that $80 games are the new norm? Have people given up hope that Nintendo and other companies will listen? Or is the same heated debate and discussion still ongoing, but just isn't being given the attention to draw criticism? It's hard to tell, and while it's obvious there are still members of the gaming community trying to keep the discourse alive, I feel like it's hard to pinpoint why the conversation has become a bit more muted in recent months. There are some caveats. For example, since Mario Kart World, Microsoft tried and failed to make The Outer Worlds 2 an $80 game before discourse forced Microsoft to drop its plans and price it at $70 instead. We also haven't seen any Nintendo game priced at $80 since the first reveal of Mario Kart World, with most new games being priced at or below $70. Sony has yet to show off a game that it has tried to price higher than its norm. It feels like companies are unwilling to try to price their games at $80 following what happened the past few years, but it feels like it is only a matter of time until someone tries to test the waters again. And it feels like GTA 6 could be the one to test that price point, or even go beyond it, come next year when it finally releases. But what do you think of the whole discussion? Let me know in the comments below! Like our content? Set Destructoid as a Preferred Source on Google in just one step to ensure you see us more frequently in your Google searches! The post Real Talk: Is anyone still mad about $80 games? appeared first on Destructoid.

What better way to celebrate BitLife's birthday than to participate in the game's tenth scavenger hunt? For the next couple of weeks, you'll make new friends, go out clubbing, and even get to know some of your character's co-workers. The catch? Each objective involves specific ages.

Table of contents

• BitLife Birthday scavenger hunt guide
  • BitLife Buddy Badge
  • BitBurglar Badge
  • Down & Dirty Badge
  • Thrill Me Badge
  • Lucky Charm Badge
  • Nip-Tuck Badge
  • OG Badge
  • Indecent Proposal Badge
  • Pussy Cat Badge
  • VampLife Badge
  • Bustin' Out Badge

BitLife Birthday scavenger hunt guide

BitLife’s Birthday scavenger hunt features 11 badges you earn by completing various objectives. Each task is accompanied by an action and an age at which you complete it. Below is a list of every badge and its required objective:

Badge Answer BitLife Buddy Badge Make seven friends at Age 7 BitBurglar Badge Burgle a home at Age 14 Down & Dirty Badge Go clubbing at Age 21 Thrill Me Badge Purchase a haunted house at Age 28 Lucky Charm Badge Win a casino game at Age 35 Nip-Tuck Badge Get plastic surgery at Age 42 OG Badge Get a pet named Kevin at Age 49 Indecent Proposal Badge Hook up with a co-worker at Age 56 Pussy Cat Badge Get a cat named Nas at Age 63 VampLife Badge Donate blood at Age 70 Bustin' Out Badge Escape from prison at Age 77

Since this scavenger hunt has no location-specific objectives, you can complete these with any character as long as they meet each task's age requirements. Your best bet is to create a new character and gradually work on each badge as you approach their respective age milestone. If you miss a year, use the Time Machine to go back in time or hop onto another character and age them up.

Let’s dive deeper into how to obtain every BitLife Birthday scavenger hunt badge.

BitLife Buddy Badge

Screenshot by Destructoid

The first task of BitLife's Birthday scavenger hunt is to make seven friends once your character turns seven. Age up until your character turns seven, then head into your school menu, tap Class, and befriend their classmates. Start with those who already have high friendship stats with you, then work your way down the list by complimenting and talking to others until they're willing to be your friend. Repeat this seven times to earn your first badge.

BitBurglar Badge

Screenshot by Destructoid

Your next objective is to burgle a house once your character turns 14. As they reach this age, head into Activities, Crime, and Burgle before picking a random victim. You'll encounter a maze minigame where you can pick up items before navigating to an exit, allowing you to make money depending on what you grab.

The easiest way to complete this task is to grab the nearest item before quickly leaving. Police can enter the house after some time, so you'll want to slip in and out of the house as soon as you can. If there are multiple obstacles in your way, you can leave without grabbing anything and try again in another home. You'll claim this badge as soon as you have a successful attempt.

Down & Dirty Badge

With friendship and mischief out of the way, it's time to visit a club for the Down & Dirty badge. To do this, age up your character until they turn 21 before selecting Activities and Nightlife. Visiting a club will instantly knock out the task, making it one of the easier objectives to complete.

Thrill Me Badge

Following an easy objective is one of the most difficult in this entire scavenger hunt. The Thrill Me Badge requires purchasing any haunted property type in the game once your character turns 28. To do this, head into the Shopping menu's real estate listings. Search through them until you see a haunted property. If none appear, close and reopen the BitLife app.

More likely than not, it'll be expensive, so make sure to stockpile some cash a few years before committing to the purchase. You can also marry someone rich before buying the property with their money. Regardless of your method, you'll complete the task as soon as you purchase a haunted house.

Lucky Charm Badge

Screenshot by Destructoid

It's time to move on to our 30s with this next badge. The Lucky Charm badge is unlocked by heading to a casino through the Activities menu and winning any of its games after your character turns 35. For free-to-play players, this'll most likely be Blackjack, which has its own strategies that increase your odds of winning. If you're only worried about getting the badge, bet the lowest amount possible so you can do multiple attempts in the same year.

Nip-Tuck Badge

Now that our character is in their 40s, we're ready for our next objective. To do this, you'll need to age up your character until they turn 42 before getting plastic surgery through the Activities menu. You don't need anything expensive—even lower-cost options like Botox will work as long as you complete the procedure through this menu.

OG Badge

After your character turns 49, you'll be able to finish the OG Badge by adopting a pet and naming it Kevin. By heading to Activities and Pets, you can buy any pet you wish and change its name before confirming your choice. You can pick any species you'd like.

Indecent Proposal Badge

The Indecent Proposal badge can be very easy or challenging, depending on your luck. For it, you'll need to hook up with one of your character's co-workers once they turn 56. Having high looks makes this much easier to accomplish.

To do this, get a job, go into your Occupation menu, and select your co-worker list. Here, you can pick one, choose Hook Up, and hope the attempt works. If it leads to complications with HR, you can either try again with someone else or pursue another job and repeat the process.

Pussy Cat Badge

Screenshot by Destructoid

Despite this badge's peculiar name, its task is actually relatively simple, much like the previous OG badge. To complete it, you'll need to age up your character to 63 years old before adopting a cat and naming it Nas. The process to do so is the same as the OG badge's task, so you'll just need to repeat that and make the cat's name Nas instead of Kevin to knock out this objective.

VampLife Badge

The second-to-last task of this scavenger hunt requires heading into Activities, Doctor, and Donate Blood. As long as your character is healthy, has no underlying health conditions, and is exactly 70 years old, they'll have no trouble doing this.

Bustin' Out Badge

The final objective of BitLife’s Birthday scavenger hunt is to escape from prison after turning 77. To do this, commit any crime that lands your character in jail before choosing to escape. Doing so begins a minigame that you can either complete or skip by watching an ad.

Solving the minigame requires navigating a maze to avoid a guard who travels two tiles toward you unless they get stuck on a wall or in a corner. Low-security prisons make this much easier, but you can also complete it on maximum security if you have enough patience and familiarity with each layout.

Once you escape jail, you'll complete the final task of BitLife’s Birthday scavenger hunt, rewarding you with the Seventh Heaven Crown to use on future characters.

Like our content? Set Destructoid as a Preferred Source on Google in just one step to ensure you see us more frequently in your Google searches!

The post All Birthday scavenger hunt answers in BitLife appeared first on Destructoid.

What better way to celebrate BitLife's birthday than to participate in the game's tenth scavenger hunt? For the next couple of weeks, you'll make new friends, go out clubbing, and even get to know some of your character's co-workers. The catch? Each objective involves specific ages. Table of contents BitLife Birthday scavenger hunt guide BitLife Buddy Badge BitBurglar Badge Down & Dirty Badge Thrill Me Badge Lucky Charm Badge Nip-Tuck Badge OG Badge Indecent Proposal Badge Pussy Cat Badge VampLife Badge Bustin' Out Badge BitLife Birthday scavenger hunt guide BitLife’s Birthday scavenger hunt features 11 badges you earn by completing various objectives. Each task is accompanied by an action and an age at which you complete it. Below is a list of every badge and its required objective: Badge Answer BitLife Buddy Badge Make seven friends at Age 7 BitBurglar Badge Burgle a home at Age 14 Down & Dirty Badge Go clubbing at Age 21 Thrill Me Badge Purchase a haunted house at Age 28 Lucky Charm Badge Win a casino game at Age 35 Nip-Tuck Badge Get plastic surgery at Age 42 OG Badge Get a pet named Kevin at Age 49 Indecent Proposal Badge Hook up with a co-worker at Age 56 Pussy Cat Badge Get a cat named Nas at Age 63 VampLife Badge Donate blood at Age 70 Bustin' Out Badge Escape from prison at Age 77 Since this scavenger hunt has no location-specific objectives, you can complete these with any character as long as they meet each task's age requirements. Your best bet is to create a new character and gradually work on each badge as you approach their respective age milestone. If you miss a year, use the Time Machine to go back in time or hop onto another character and age them up. Let’s dive deeper into how to obtain every BitLife Birthday scavenger hunt badge. BitLife Buddy Badge Screenshot by Destructoid The first task of BitLife's Birthday scavenger hunt is to make seven friends once your character turns seven. Age up until your character turns seven, then head into your school menu, tap Class, and befriend their classmates. Start with those who already have high friendship stats with you, then work your way down the list by complimenting and talking to others until they're willing to be your friend. Repeat this seven times to earn your first badge. BitBurglar Badge Screenshot by Destructoid Your next objective is to burgle a house once your character turns 14. As they reach this age, head into Activities, Crime, and Burgle before picking a random victim. You'll encounter a maze minigame where you can pick up items before navigating to an exit, allowing you to make money depending on what you grab. The easiest way to complete this task is to grab the nearest item before quickly leaving. Police can enter the house after some time, so you'll want to slip in and out of the house as soon as you can. If there are multiple obstacles in your way, you can leave without grabbing anything and try again in another home. You'll claim this badge as soon as you have a successful attempt. Down & Dirty Badge With friendship and mischief out of the way, it's time to visit a club for the Down & Dirty badge. To do this, age up your character until they turn 21 before selecting Activities and Nightlife. Visiting a club will instantly knock out the task, making it one of the easier objectives to complete. Thrill Me Badge Following an easy objective is one of the most difficult in this entire scavenger hunt. The Thrill Me Badge requires purchasing any haunted property type in the game once your character turns 28. To do this, head into the Shopping menu's real estate listings. Search through them until you see a haunted property. If none appear, close and reopen the BitLife app. More likely than not, it'll be expensive, so make sure to stockpile some cash a few years before committing to the purchase. You can also marry someone rich before buying the property with their money. Regardless of your method, you'll complete the task as soon as you purchase a haunted house. Lucky Charm Badge Screenshot by Destructoid It's time to move on to our 30s with this next badge. The Lucky Charm badge is unlocked by heading to a casino through the Activities menu and winning any of its games after your character turns 35. For free-to-play players, this'll most likely be Blackjack, which has its own strategies that increase your odds of winning. If you're only worried about getting the badge, bet the lowest amount possible so you can do multiple attempts in the same year. Nip-Tuck Badge Now that our character is in their 40s, we're ready for our next objective. To do this, you'll need to age up your character until they turn 42 before getting plastic surgery through the Activities menu. You don't need anything expensive—even lower-cost options like Botox will work as long as you complete the procedure through this menu. OG Badge After your character turns 49, you'll be able to finish the OG Badge by adopting a pet and naming it Kevin. By heading to Activities and Pets, you can buy any pet you wish and change its name before confirming your choice. You can pick any species you'd like. Indecent Proposal Badge The Indecent Proposal badge can be very easy or challenging, depending on your luck. For it, you'll need to hook up with one of your character's co-workers once they turn 56. Having high looks makes this much easier to accomplish. To do this, get a job, go into your Occupation menu, and select your co-worker list. Here, you can pick one, choose Hook Up, and hope the attempt works. If it leads to complications with HR, you can either try again with someone else or pursue another job and repeat the process. Pussy Cat Badge Screenshot by Destructoid Despite this badge's peculiar name, its task is actually relatively simple, much like the previous OG badge. To complete it, you'll need to age up your character to 63 years old before adopting a cat and naming it Nas. The process to do so is the same as the OG badge's task, so you'll just need to repeat that and make the cat's name Nas instead of Kevin to knock out this objective. VampLife Badge The second-to-last task of this scavenger hunt requires heading into Activities, Doctor, and Donate Blood. As long as your character is healthy, has no underlying health conditions, and is exactly 70 years old, they'll have no trouble doing this. Bustin' Out Badge The final objective of BitLife’s Birthday scavenger hunt is to escape from prison after turning 77. To do this, commit any crime that lands your character in jail before choosing to escape. Doing so begins a minigame that you can either complete or skip by watching an ad. Solving the minigame requires navigating a maze to avoid a guard who travels two tiles toward you unless they get stuck on a wall or in a corner. Low-security prisons make this much easier, but you can also complete it on maximum security if you have enough patience and familiarity with each layout. Once you escape jail, you'll complete the final task of BitLife’s Birthday scavenger hunt, rewarding you with the Seventh Heaven Crown to use on future characters. Like our content? Set Destructoid as a Preferred Source on Google in just one step to ensure you see us more frequently in your Google searches! The post All Birthday scavenger hunt answers in BitLife appeared first on Destructoid.

The Rising Guard evolution allows you to improve two defensive units in your squad in FC 26 Ultimate Team, and you can enjoy them for free.

While the upgrades on offer are minor in nature, they can be pretty helpful at the start of a new cycle. Moreover, you can use the evolution twice, which makes it a lot more fun. There are plenty of good choices, which can be pretty confusing. This guide will help you narrow down the best possible decisions, and you can then go with the cards that you have.

FC 26 Rising Guard evolution requirements

Here are the requirements of the Rising Guard evolution in FC 26.

• Overall: Max 82
• Rarity Must Not be: World Tour Silver Stars
• Position Must Not be: GK

FC 26 Rising Guard evolution upgrades

The evolution has only one level of upgrades, and there are certain conditions to fulfil.

Level 1 upgrades

• Defending: +1 (capped to 82)

Level 1 upgrade requirements

• Play 3 matches 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.

Best players to use in Rising Guard evolution

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

• Ruben Loftus-Cheek
• Miguel Gutierrez
• Jang Seong Won TOTW
• Ederson
• Reinildo
• Zaire-Emery
• Bergvall TOTW
• Guendouzi

While the upgrades are minor, you will be able to include these cards in future evolutions to create a chain and upgrade their stats further. Any card you choose will have its overall intact, which raises the scope to be included in a future evolution.

Like our content? Set Destructoid as a Preferred Source on Google in just one step to ensure you see us more frequently in your Google searches!

The post Best players to use in FC 26 Rising Guard evolution appeared first on Destructoid.

The Rising Guard evolution allows you to improve two defensive units in your squad in FC 26 Ultimate Team, and you can enjoy them for free. While the upgrades on offer are minor in nature, they can be pretty helpful at the start of a new cycle. Moreover, you can use the evolution twice, which makes it a lot more fun. There are plenty of good choices, which can be pretty confusing. This guide will help you narrow down the best possible decisions, and you can then go with the cards that you have. FC 26 Rising Guard evolution requirements Here are the requirements of the Rising Guard evolution in FC 26. Overall: Max 82 Rarity Must Not be: World Tour Silver Stars Position Must Not be: GK FC 26 Rising Guard evolution upgrades The evolution has only one level of upgrades, and there are certain conditions to fulfil. Level 1 upgrades Defending: +1 (capped to 82) Level 1 upgrade requirements Play 3 matches 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. Best players to use in Rising Guard evolution Here are some of my best recommendations for inclusion in the evolution. Ruben Loftus-Cheek Miguel Gutierrez Jang Seong Won TOTW Ederson Reinildo Zaire-Emery Bergvall TOTW Guendouzi While the upgrades are minor, you will be able to include these cards in future evolutions to create a chain and upgrade their stats further. Any card you choose will have its overall intact, which raises the scope to be included in a future evolution. Like our content? Set Destructoid as a Preferred Source on Google in just one step to ensure you see us more frequently in your Google searches! The post Best players to use in FC 26 Rising Guard evolution appeared first on Destructoid.

The World Tours Reece James SBC is the first major player SBC to have been released in FC 26, and you can obtain him by submitting three squads.

The cost of completing the challenge isn't exorbitant, but it's not cheap. That said, the card on offer looks quite good in terms of stats, playstyles, and roles. Let's evaluate how you can obtain him in the cheapest fashion possible.

Table of contents

• How to complete FC 26 World Tours Reece James SBC
  • Requirements
  • Solutions

How to complete FC 26 World Tours Reece James SBC

Here are the requirements of the three tasks that are part of the challenge.

Requirements

83-Rated Squad

• Min. Team Rating: 83

England

• Min. 1 Players from: England
• Min. Team Rating: 84

Premier League

• Min. 1 Players from: Premier League
• Min. Team Rating: 85

Solutions

83-Rated Squad

• Akanji 82
• Gundogan 83
• Damaris 84
• Naschenweng 81
• Van de Donk 83
• Brahim 82
• Sorloth 84
• Zapata 82
• de Roon 81
• Freuler 81
• Lukaku 84

England

• Gundogan 83
• Damaris 84
• Nusken 84
• Fox 84
• van de Donk 83
• Palacios 84
• Dabritz 84
• Greenwood 84
• Milinkovic-Savic 84
• Sorloth 84
• Lukaku 84

Premier League

• Gundogan 83
• Katoto 88
• Damaris 84
• Giugliano 85
• Cuthbert 85
• Milinkovic-Savic 84
• Sorloth 84
• Zapata 82
• Xhaka 85
• Lukaku 84

The SBC is priced around 35,000 coins and offers an 85-rated RB that has Fullback+ and Falseback++. If you have the coins, I won't mind buying fodder with them to complete this SBC. RBs are pretty expensive on the market, and this SBC is actually affordable (as long as you have the coins). He can be a solid addition that sticks to the theme of the first season and what that has to offer.

Like our content? Set Destructoid as a Preferred Source on Google in just one step to ensure you see us more frequently in your Google searches!

The post FC 26 World Tours Reece James SBC tasks, solutions, and more appeared first on Destructoid.

The World Tours Reece James SBC is the first major player SBC to have been released in FC 26, and you can obtain him by submitting three squads. The cost of completing the challenge isn't exorbitant, but it's not cheap. That said, the card on offer looks quite good in terms of stats, playstyles, and roles. Let's evaluate how you can obtain him in the cheapest fashion possible. Table of contents How to complete FC 26 World Tours Reece James SBC Requirements Solutions How to complete FC 26 World Tours Reece James SBC Here are the requirements of the three tasks that are part of the challenge. Requirements 83-Rated Squad Min. Team Rating: 83 England Min. 1 Players from: England Min. Team Rating: 84 Premier League Min. 1 Players from: Premier League Min. Team Rating: 85 Solutions 83-Rated Squad Akanji 82 Gundogan 83 Damaris 84 Naschenweng 81 Van de Donk 83 Brahim 82 Sorloth 84 Zapata 82 de Roon 81 Freuler 81 Lukaku 84 England Gundogan 83 Damaris 84 Nusken 84 Fox 84 van de Donk 83 Palacios 84 Dabritz 84 Greenwood 84 Milinkovic-Savic 84 Sorloth 84 Lukaku 84 Premier League Gundogan 83 Katoto 88 Damaris 84 Giugliano 85 Cuthbert 85 Milinkovic-Savic 84 Sorloth 84 Zapata 82 Xhaka 85 Lukaku 84 The SBC is priced around 35,000 coins and offers an 85-rated RB that has Fullback+ and Falseback++. If you have the coins, I won't mind buying fodder with them to complete this SBC. RBs are pretty expensive on the market, and this SBC is actually affordable (as long as you have the coins). He can be a solid addition that sticks to the theme of the first season and what that has to offer. Like our content? Set Destructoid as a Preferred Source on Google in just one step to ensure you see us more frequently in your Google searches! The post FC 26 World Tours Reece James SBC tasks, solutions, and more appeared first on Destructoid.

Cristiano Ronaldo has reached the status of living legend in the world of modern football, and FC 26 allows you to emulate him on the pitch with not one, but two, of his iconic celebrations.

When it comes to CR7 and celebrations, who can ever forget his Siu? While the celebration has always been a popular choice in the community, you can now enjoy another variant made famous by the Portuguese. Many footballers, including Alejandro Garnacho, have performed the move in real life, and you can do so in FC 26.

Table of contents

• How to do Siu in FC 26
• How to do the Nap in FC 26

How to do Siu in FC 26

The controls for performing Siu remain the same as last year.

• Hold the R1 button and press Circle if you're on PlayStation.
• Hold the RB button and press RB if you're on Xbox.
• Hold the R button and press A if you're on Switch.

Like last year, you can perform this move with anyone, including Ronaldo himself. I doubt if the move's popularity will take a hit this year. While it's not considered toxic by any means, tread carefully before performing it against a stronger opponent.

If you're in for something new, try out this other one.

Screenshot by Destructoid

How to do the Nap in FC 26

While Siu has been the popular choice, many players have forgotten about the Nap. It has replaced The Griddy in this year's game, and the controls are pretty easy as well.

• Hold the R2 button and flick the RS up twice if you're on PlayStation.
• Hold the RT button and flick the RS up twice if you're on PlayStation.
• Hold the ZR button and flick the RS up twice if you're on PlayStation.

Screenshot by Destructoid

Executing this perfectly will help you perform the Nap, which is actually my favorite of the two.

Like our content? Set Destructoid as a Preferred Source on Google in just one step to ensure you see us more frequently in your Google searches!

The post How to do Cristiano Ronaldo’s Siu and Nap in FC 26 appeared first on Destructoid.

Cristiano Ronaldo has reached the status of living legend in the world of modern football, and FC 26 allows you to emulate him on the pitch with not one, but two, of his iconic celebrations. When it comes to CR7 and celebrations, who can ever forget his Siu? While the celebration has always been a popular choice in the community, you can now enjoy another variant made famous by the Portuguese. Many footballers, including Alejandro Garnacho, have performed the move in real life, and you can do so in FC 26. Table of contents How to do Siu in FC 26 How to do the Nap in FC 26 How to do Siu in FC 26 The controls for performing Siu remain the same as last year. Hold the R1 button and press Circle if you're on PlayStation. Hold the RB button and press RB if you're on Xbox. Hold the R button and press A if you're on Switch. Like last year, you can perform this move with anyone, including Ronaldo himself. I doubt if the move's popularity will take a hit this year. While it's not considered toxic by any means, tread carefully before performing it against a stronger opponent. If you're in for something new, try out this other one. Screenshot by Destructoid How to do the Nap in FC 26 While Siu has been the popular choice, many players have forgotten about the Nap. It has replaced The Griddy in this year's game, and the controls are pretty easy as well. Hold the R2 button and flick the RS up twice if you're on PlayStation. Hold the RT button and flick the RS up twice if you're on PlayStation. Hold the ZR button and flick the RS up twice if you're on PlayStation. Screenshot by Destructoid Executing this perfectly will help you perform the Nap, which is actually my favorite of the two. Like our content? Set Destructoid as a Preferred Source on Google in just one step to ensure you see us more frequently in your Google searches! The post How to do Cristiano Ronaldo’s Siu and Nap in FC 26 appeared first on Destructoid.

Another year has passed, and we’re now marching into the next chapter of the FC franchise with EA FC 26. 

September has held a special place in my life after I started my digital football journey with FIFA 08 nearly two decades back. And while this year's launch might feel routine, it's anything but that. After all, FC 25 didn't leave many fond memories; most of my 1,400 hours across the game's 11 months were more about frustration rather than enjoyment.

July made it clear I wasn't alone in those sentiments when EA Sports let us know that the team was listening. The first FC 26 trailer made grand promises, and then came its beta. It's one thing to make a promise and it's another to deliver on it, and in 2025, game studios making promises and subsequently failing on them isn't uncommon. But for EA Sports and FC 26, the early days are looking very positive.

FC 26 is the game we all deserved

When you first look at FC 26, you'll think it resembles FC 25. After all, it's the same game engine and has the same core fundamentals and gameplay mechanics. But the moment you kick the ball, you notice a key difference. First, it's just a pass. Then comes a tackle attempt, and you can see how the same animations feel just that tiny bit different. 

Animations have never been the franchise’s strong point, and I’ve always felt that they slowed down the gameplay at the cost of realism. FC 26 feels and moves like the fastest and smoothest among all annual launches of the last five years. It's not as arcadey as FIFA titles from the previous decade, but most of the animations no longer feel like a hindrance. If you’ve played FC 25, you'll feel the difference from the first minute of its successor. If you haven't—well, the gameplay is still going to feel more enjoyable.

Screenshot by Destructoid

I’ve long maintained that a good FC title with great gameplay will always incentivize the community to keep playing. That has been my exact experience with Ultimate Team; whether it was the competitive modes or against AI, I continuously craved “just one more game" even after a long session.

A large portion of my time with FC 26 went into the Ultimate Team. With new in-house modes, I finally got to spend more time outside Rivals and Squad Battles. The slower power curve truly hits home with reduced rewards, but it's not a bad thing. The value of your cards and the grind are intriguing. Getting an 84-rated Tchouameni feels like receiving a walkout, which is such a rewarding feeling for someone with over 1,000 hours in Ultimate Team last year.

Next comes Manager Career, which is arguably the most improved mode in FC 26. When I played FIFA 08, I loved managing my beloved club. Over the years, however, the mode lost its shine as the emphasis gradually shifted to Ultimate Team. The best addition to the Manager Career mode is the arrival of the Live Events. Instead of sticking with the same boring starts, you can replicate reality. I’m waiting to find out what EA Sports has planned for us, but the beginning couldn't have been brighter.

It's the same with Clubs after the introduction of Archetypes. In fact, there's a similar theme; the core content for every game mode has been retained, but something new has been introduced. Unlike last year, I didn't have to focus entirely on Rivals and Squad Battles to entertain myself or build my club aimlessly in Manager Career.

At the end of the day, having different game modes is one thing, and having enjoyable gameplay is another. Without good gameplay, having more modes seems redundant to me. That's where the most significant area of improvement comes in.

I can play FC 26 for hours without caring about the rewards

Who doesn't love a good dopamine hit? Luckily for prospective players, the rewards you get across game modes do just that. It didn’t take me long to lose interest in playing FC 25, but the rewards weren’t the problem. Instead, it was the gameplay that made me always play with half motivation. And when I say that FC 26 is better, there are many reasons behind it. 

Movement

As someone who watches football (or soccer, for all you American folks) matches almost daily, I could never make sense of what happened in FC 25. This year, things look much clearer. The AI moves better across every position on the field. While your defense stays in shape more tightly, it's the offense where the difference is more apparent.

It's not just about your allies making better runs, either. They seem to do so at a higher frequency and in better fashion. In fact, the runs they now make are much more logical than in the closed beta. For starters, the amount of proactiveness is noticeably higher. During the beta, my attackers would often run into an offside position. That problem seems to have been fixed, and the runs are also smarter relative to the opposition backline’s position. This is also universal, irrespective of the formation and tactics you're using.

Screenshot by Destructoid

Passing and Shooting

If you were fed up with conceding goals from green-timed Trivelas, there's relief in FC 26. Shooting, like your player movements, feels more reasonable, although I’m not in favor of the nerf to the low-driven shots from what they used to be. That said, the current balance of shooting precisely and scoring goals is in a good spot.

One area that improved massively is the passing. Unlike older games, passes happen quicker, and this results in better gameplay. Now, you can either try to beat your opponents with your skill moves or open them up with swift passing. Through passes are back in the meta big time, and it will be key to enact Tiki Taka against your opponents.

Defending and AI

I’m unsure if anyone liked the AI defending for them in the higher ELO games. But that seems to be no longer the case, as you'll have to come out and defend bravely. While AI will still aid you in defense, and playstyles like Anticipate, Bruiser, and Intercept will keep your backline secure, manually timing your tackles has never felt more important.

This change might seem negative to some, but it creates a skill gap. The new defensive meta will require you to learn the art of RS-switching, jockeying, and most importantly, when to tackle. This also affects how you can press the RB to use another defender for the second-man press. Naturally, I could enjoy spending some time with the ball without having to worry about being pick-pocketed by someone simply abusing the AI-based defending, which was prevalent in FC 25.

Playstyles and Roles

I’ve never been a fan of Roles, and they're far less influential this year. This also results in better movement, which I mentioned earlier. Yes, Role++ and Role+ work sharper, but players will still move reasonably well as long as they're played in their familiar positions. It's a positive change in my books, and something the community will appreciate.

While EA Sports did say a player's performance will be more reliant on their stats, I still felt playstyles have a bigger impact. Playstyles are more weighted, and this could affect your enjoyment of the game to some extent. Whether the situation changes in the future depends on what updates EA rolls out in the next few months.

All these improvements combine well when you’re challenging yourself against another human. Server responsiveness and “heavy” gameplay could be a thing of the past if the current performance can continue in the future. While the ping at the start of a match was the same from FC 25, the responsiveness behind every action on the pitch was quicker and sharper. 

The most crucial aspect of any FC/FIFA title has always been the gameplay, and that's where FC 26 shines the most. The fact that it comes right after the horrid FC 25 experience makes it feel sweeter. There's faster gameplay, more game modes, and much to explore. Ultimate Team, which is likely going to be the biggest game mode, has a slower power curve than everyone wanted, and EA Sports has promised much more.

There will be a lot more to watch in the future. The gameplay at the time of this guide is delightful and what I would love to have in an FC title. Whether it's online games or against the AI, games are smoother, much more exciting, and rely heavily on your skill level. But future updates will decide how the gameplay evolves, what kind of rewards we get, and most importantly, if EA Sports can refrain from making the same errors they did with the last few FC/FIFA titles.

The post FC 26 review – The comeback of the ages appeared first on Destructoid.

Another year has passed, and we’re now marching into the next chapter of the FC franchise with EA FC 26. September has held a special place in my life after I started my digital football journey with FIFA 08 nearly two decades back. And while this year's launch might feel routine, it's anything but that. After all, FC 25 didn't leave many fond memories; most of my 1,400 hours across the game's 11 months were more about frustration rather than enjoyment. July made it clear I wasn't alone in those sentiments when EA Sports let us know that the team was listening. The first FC 26 trailer made grand promises, and then came its beta. It's one thing to make a promise and it's another to deliver on it, and in 2025, game studios making promises and subsequently failing on them isn't uncommon. But for EA Sports and FC 26, the early days are looking very positive. FC 26 is the game we all deserved When you first look at FC 26, you'll think it resembles FC 25. After all, it's the same game engine and has the same core fundamentals and gameplay mechanics. But the moment you kick the ball, you notice a key difference. First, it's just a pass. Then comes a tackle attempt, and you can see how the same animations feel just that tiny bit different. Animations have never been the franchise’s strong point, and I’ve always felt that they slowed down the gameplay at the cost of realism. FC 26 feels and moves like the fastest and smoothest among all annual launches of the last five years. It's not as arcadey as FIFA titles from the previous decade, but most of the animations no longer feel like a hindrance. If you’ve played FC 25, you'll feel the difference from the first minute of its successor. If you haven't—well, the gameplay is still going to feel more enjoyable. Screenshot by Destructoid I’ve long maintained that a good FC title with great gameplay will always incentivize the community to keep playing. That has been my exact experience with Ultimate Team; whether it was the competitive modes or against AI, I continuously craved “just one more game" even after a long session. A large portion of my time with FC 26 went into the Ultimate Team. With new in-house modes, I finally got to spend more time outside Rivals and Squad Battles. The slower power curve truly hits home with reduced rewards, but it's not a bad thing. The value of your cards and the grind are intriguing. Getting an 84-rated Tchouameni feels like receiving a walkout, which is such a rewarding feeling for someone with over 1,000 hours in Ultimate Team last year. Next comes Manager Career, which is arguably the most improved mode in FC 26. When I played FIFA 08, I loved managing my beloved club. Over the years, however, the mode lost its shine as the emphasis gradually shifted to Ultimate Team. The best addition to the Manager Career mode is the arrival of the Live Events. Instead of sticking with the same boring starts, you can replicate reality. I’m waiting to find out what EA Sports has planned for us, but the beginning couldn't have been brighter. It's the same with Clubs after the introduction of Archetypes. In fact, there's a similar theme; the core content for every game mode has been retained, but something new has been introduced. Unlike last year, I didn't have to focus entirely on Rivals and Squad Battles to entertain myself or build my club aimlessly in Manager Career. At the end of the day, having different game modes is one thing, and having enjoyable gameplay is another. Without good gameplay, having more modes seems redundant to me. That's where the most significant area of improvement comes in. I can play FC 26 for hours without caring about the rewards Who doesn't love a good dopamine hit? Luckily for prospective players, the rewards you get across game modes do just that. It didn’t take me long to lose interest in playing FC 25, but the rewards weren’t the problem. Instead, it was the gameplay that made me always play with half motivation. And when I say that FC 26 is better, there are many reasons behind it. Movement As someone who watches football (or soccer, for all you American folks) matches almost daily, I could never make sense of what happened in FC 25. This year, things look much clearer. The AI moves better across every position on the field. While your defense stays in shape more tightly, it's the offense where the difference is more apparent. It's not just about your allies making better runs, either. They seem to do so at a higher frequency and in better fashion. In fact, the runs they now make are much more logical than in the closed beta. For starters, the amount of proactiveness is noticeably higher. During the beta, my attackers would often run into an offside position. That problem seems to have been fixed, and the runs are also smarter relative to the opposition backline’s position. This is also universal, irrespective of the formation and tactics you're using. Screenshot by Destructoid Passing and Shooting If you were fed up with conceding goals from green-timed Trivelas, there's relief in FC 26. Shooting, like your player movements, feels more reasonable, although I’m not in favor of the nerf to the low-driven shots from what they used to be. That said, the current balance of shooting precisely and scoring goals is in a good spot. One area that improved massively is the passing. Unlike older games, passes happen quicker, and this results in better gameplay. Now, you can either try to beat your opponents with your skill moves or open them up with swift passing. Through passes are back in the meta big time, and it will be key to enact Tiki Taka against your opponents. Defending and AI I’m unsure if anyone liked the AI defending for them in the higher ELO games. But that seems to be no longer the case, as you'll have to come out and defend bravely. While AI will still aid you in defense, and playstyles like Anticipate, Bruiser, and Intercept will keep your backline secure, manually timing your tackles has never felt more important. This change might seem negative to some, but it creates a skill gap. The new defensive meta will require you to learn the art of RS-switching, jockeying, and most importantly, when to tackle. This also affects how you can press the RB to use another defender for the second-man press. Naturally, I could enjoy spending some time with the ball without having to worry about being pick-pocketed by someone simply abusing the AI-based defending, which was prevalent in FC 25. Playstyles and Roles I’ve never been a fan of Roles, and they're far less influential this year. This also results in better movement, which I mentioned earlier. Yes, Role++ and Role+ work sharper, but players will still move reasonably well as long as they're played in their familiar positions. It's a positive change in my books, and something the community will appreciate. While EA Sports did say a player's performance will be more reliant on their stats, I still felt playstyles have a bigger impact. Playstyles are more weighted, and this could affect your enjoyment of the game to some extent. Whether the situation changes in the future depends on what updates EA rolls out in the next few months. All these improvements combine well when you’re challenging yourself against another human. Server responsiveness and “heavy” gameplay could be a thing of the past if the current performance can continue in the future. While the ping at the start of a match was the same from FC 25, the responsiveness behind every action on the pitch was quicker and sharper. The most crucial aspect of any FC/FIFA title has always been the gameplay, and that's where FC 26 shines the most. The fact that it comes right after the horrid FC 25 experience makes it feel sweeter. There's faster gameplay, more game modes, and much to explore. Ultimate Team, which is likely going to be the biggest game mode, has a slower power curve than everyone wanted, and EA Sports has promised much more. There will be a lot more to watch in the future. The gameplay at the time of this guide is delightful and what I would love to have in an FC title. Whether it's online games or against the AI, games are smoother, much more exciting, and rely heavily on your skill level. But future updates will decide how the gameplay evolves, what kind of rewards we get, and most importantly, if EA Sports can refrain from making the same errors they did with the last few FC/FIFA titles. The post FC 26 review – The comeback of the ages appeared first on Destructoid.

FC 26 offers a host of different celebrations after scoring a goal, and some of them can be quite complex.

While most of the celebrations from previous years have been retained, there are a few differences. Some celebrations have been eliminated, while others have been added. This guide will list the controls for every celebration inside the game, including ones that can be unlocked in the Clubs mode.

Table of contents

• All FC 26 celebrations
  • Basic
  • Running
  • Finishing
  • Pro Unlockables
  • FC Unlockables

All FC 26 celebrations

Celebrations in FC 26 can be divided into different categories. The easiest ones are in the Basic category.

Basic

• Signature Celebration: Press X
• Random Celebration: Press Circle
• Cancel Celebration: Press L1+R1

Running

Running moves have plenty of interesting options to pick from.

Celebrations Controls Thumb Suck Hold Square Arms Out Tap Square then hold Square Wrist Flick Tap Triangle then hold Triangle Aeroplane Hold R3 Point to Sky Hold RS up Telephone Hold RS down Can You Hear Me? Hold RS left Hands Out Flick RS right, then hold RS left Come On! Flick RS left, then hold RS right Blow Kisses Flick RS down, then hold RS up Double Arm Swing Flick RS up, then hold RS down Flying Bird Flick RS right, then hold RS right Hand on Head Flick RS left, then hold RS left Heart Symbol Flick RS down, then hold RS down Arms Pointing Up Flick RS up, then hold RS up Windmill Spin RS clockwise One Arm Raised Hold circle Finger Points Tap circle, then hold circle

Finishing

Finishing moves include several signature celebrations of superstars, along with generic ones available for all.

Celebrations Controls Signature Finishing Move Press X Finger Swipe Camera (CAM) Press X Cry Baby (CAM) Press X Selfie Press X when next to ad board Point to the Sky Hold L1, press Circle Show Respect Hold L1, double tap Circle Spanish Dance Hold L2, flick RS up twice Flex Hold L1, press Square All Ears Hold L1, press Triangle X Hold L1, flick RS down twice Who, Me? Hold L1, hold RS right Baby Hold L1, hold RS left Knee Slide 1 Hold L1, flick RS down then up Band Master Hold L1, flick RS right then up Mask Hold L1, flick RS up twice Knee Slide Spin Hold L1, spin RS clockwise Arms to Crowd Hold L1, spin RS counter clockwise Timber Hold L2, press Circle Cell Phone Hold L2, press Square Hypnosis Hold L2, press Triangle Think Hold L2, double tap Square Stir the Pot Hold L2, double tap Triangle Cabaret Hold L2, hold RS up I Can’t Hear You Hold L2, hold RS right Heart Symbol Hold L2, hold RS down Brick Fall Hold L2, hold RS left Driving Hold L2, flick RS down then up Pulse Hold L2, flick RS left then right Tea Hold L2, flick RS right then left Neighbourhood Hold L2, flick RS right twice Faking It Hold L2, flick RS left twice Guitar Hold L2, spin RS clockwise Twist Flip (agile players) Hold L2, spin RS anti-clockwise One Eye Hold R2 press R3 Boxing Hold R1 double tap Triangle Kiss the Ring Hold R2, double tap Triangle The Salute Hold R1, press Triangle Hop & Point Hold R2, flick RS left twice Swagger  Hold R1, double tap Circle Knee Slide Hold R1, flick RS left twice Giant Hold R1, flick RS up then down All in One Hold R1, spin RS anti-clockwise Nap Hold R2, flick RS up twice Slide Salute Hold R1, hold RS right Slides and Kisses Hold R1, hold RS down Gamer Hold R1, flick RS right then left Happy Walk Hold L1, hold RS down Chicken Dance Hold L1, flick RS right then left

Pro Unlockables

Celebrations Controls Hands Crossed Hold R2, hold RS up Kiss the Ground Hold R2, hold RS right Fists Hold R2, double tap Square Backflips Hold R2, double tap Square Peace Hold R1, double tap Square Pigeon Hold R1, press R3 Guitar Dance  Hold R1, flick RS up twice Hopping Hold R1, flick RS right twice Relax (offline only) Hold R2, hold RS left All in One Hold R1, spin RS anti-clockwise Uncontrolled Backflip Hold R2, spin RS clockwise Darts Hold R2, spin RS anti-clockwise Nap Hold R2, flick RS up twice Rowing on Knees Hold R2, flick RS left twice Dance & Spin Hold R2, flick RS right twice Picture Hold R2, press Square Cradle Swing Hold R2, press Triangle Kiss the Ring Hold R2, double tap Triangle High Kick Hold R1, hold RS up Slide Salute Hold R1, hold RS right Slides and Kisses Hold R1, hold RS down Ice Skating Hold R1, flick RS down then up Golf Swing Hold R1, flick RS left then right Run Hold R2, flick RS down then up Goggles Hold R2, flick RS up then down Dance 3 Hold R2, flick RS left then right Sleep Hold R2, flick RS right then left

FC Unlockables

Celebrations Controls KO Hold L1, double tap Square Right Here Right Now Hold R1, press Circle Low Fist Pump Hold L2, flick RS down then up Stand Tall Hold R1, hold RS left Timber Hold L2, double tap Circle Rock On Hold L2, press R3 Calm Down Hold L1, double tap Triangle Phone It In Hold L1, hold RS up Happy Walk  Hold L1, hold RS down Dance Hold L1, flick RS up then down Chicken Dance Hold L1, flick RS right then left Predator Hold L1, flick RS right twice Gamer Hold R1, flick RS right then left Stretch Hold R1, spin RS clockwise Ground Hit Hold R1, flick RS down twice Bye Hold L1, press R3

Like our content? Set Destructoid as a Preferred Source on Google in just one step to ensure you see us more frequently in your Google searches!

The post All FC 26 celebrations and how to perform them appeared first on Destructoid.

FC 26 offers a host of different celebrations after scoring a goal, and some of them can be quite complex. While most of the celebrations from previous years have been retained, there are a few differences. Some celebrations have been eliminated, while others have been added. This guide will list the controls for every celebration inside the game, including ones that can be unlocked in the Clubs mode. Table of contents All FC 26 celebrations Basic Running Finishing Pro Unlockables FC Unlockables All FC 26 celebrations Celebrations in FC 26 can be divided into different categories. The easiest ones are in the Basic category. Basic Signature Celebration: Press X Random Celebration: Press Circle Cancel Celebration: Press L1+R1 Running Running moves have plenty of interesting options to pick from. Celebrations Controls Thumb Suck Hold Square Arms Out Tap Square then hold Square Wrist Flick Tap Triangle then hold Triangle Aeroplane Hold R3 Point to Sky Hold RS up Telephone Hold RS down Can You Hear Me? Hold RS left Hands Out Flick RS right, then hold RS left Come On! Flick RS left, then hold RS right Blow Kisses Flick RS down, then hold RS up Double Arm Swing Flick RS up, then hold RS down Flying Bird Flick RS right, then hold RS right Hand on Head Flick RS left, then hold RS left Heart Symbol Flick RS down, then hold RS down Arms Pointing Up Flick RS up, then hold RS up Windmill Spin RS clockwise One Arm Raised Hold circle Finger Points Tap circle, then hold circle Finishing Finishing moves include several signature celebrations of superstars, along with generic ones available for all. Celebrations Controls Signature Finishing Move Press X Finger Swipe Camera (CAM) Press X Cry Baby (CAM) Press X Selfie Press X when next to ad board Point to the Sky Hold L1, press Circle Show Respect Hold L1, double tap Circle Spanish Dance Hold L2, flick RS up twice Flex Hold L1, press Square All Ears Hold L1, press Triangle X Hold L1, flick RS down twice Who, Me? Hold L1, hold RS right Baby Hold L1, hold RS left Knee Slide 1 Hold L1, flick RS down then up Band Master Hold L1, flick RS right then up Mask Hold L1, flick RS up twice Knee Slide Spin Hold L1, spin RS clockwise Arms to Crowd Hold L1, spin RS counter clockwise Timber Hold L2, press Circle Cell Phone Hold L2, press Square Hypnosis Hold L2, press Triangle Think Hold L2, double tap Square Stir the Pot Hold L2, double tap Triangle Cabaret Hold L2, hold RS up I Can’t Hear You Hold L2, hold RS right Heart Symbol Hold L2, hold RS down Brick Fall Hold L2, hold RS left Driving Hold L2, flick RS down then up Pulse Hold L2, flick RS left then right Tea Hold L2, flick RS right then left Neighbourhood Hold L2, flick RS right twice Faking It Hold L2, flick RS left twice Guitar Hold L2, spin RS clockwise Twist Flip (agile players) Hold L2, spin RS anti-clockwise One Eye Hold R2 press R3 Boxing Hold R1 double tap Triangle Kiss the Ring Hold R2, double tap Triangle The Salute Hold R1, press Triangle Hop & Point Hold R2, flick RS left twice Swagger Hold R1, double tap Circle Knee Slide Hold R1, flick RS left twice Giant Hold R1, flick RS up then down All in One Hold R1, spin RS anti-clockwise Nap Hold R2, flick RS up twice Slide Salute Hold R1, hold RS right Slides and Kisses Hold R1, hold RS down Gamer Hold R1, flick RS right then left Happy Walk Hold L1, hold RS down Chicken Dance Hold L1, flick RS right then left Pro Unlockables Celebrations Controls Hands Crossed Hold R2, hold RS up Kiss the Ground Hold R2, hold RS right Fists Hold R2, double tap Square Backflips Hold R2, double tap Square Peace Hold R1, double tap Square Pigeon Hold R1, press R3 Guitar Dance Hold R1, flick RS up twice Hopping Hold R1, flick RS right twice Relax (offline only) Hold R2, hold RS left All in One Hold R1, spin RS anti-clockwise Uncontrolled Backflip Hold R2, spin RS clockwise Darts Hold R2, spin RS anti-clockwise Nap Hold R2, flick RS up twice Rowing on Knees Hold R2, flick RS left twice Dance & Spin Hold R2, flick RS right twice Picture Hold R2, press Square Cradle Swing Hold R2, press Triangle Kiss the Ring Hold R2, double tap Triangle High Kick Hold R1, hold RS up Slide Salute Hold R1, hold RS right Slides and Kisses Hold R1, hold RS down Ice Skating Hold R1, flick RS down then up Golf Swing Hold R1, flick RS left then right Run Hold R2, flick RS down then up Goggles Hold R2, flick RS up then down Dance 3 Hold R2, flick RS left then right Sleep Hold R2, flick RS right then left FC Unlockables Celebrations Controls KO Hold L1, double tap Square Right Here Right Now Hold R1, press Circle Low Fist Pump Hold L2, flick RS down then up Stand Tall Hold R1, hold RS left Timber Hold L2, double tap Circle Rock On Hold L2, press R3 Calm Down Hold L1, double tap Triangle Phone It In Hold L1, hold RS up Happy Walk Hold L1, hold RS down Dance Hold L1, flick RS up then down Chicken Dance Hold L1, flick RS right then left Predator Hold L1, flick RS right twice Gamer Hold R1, flick RS right then left Stretch Hold R1, spin RS clockwise Ground Hit Hold R1, flick RS down twice Bye Hold L1, press R3 Like our content? Set Destructoid as a Preferred Source on Google in just one step to ensure you see us more frequently in your Google searches! The post All FC 26 celebrations and how to perform them appeared first on Destructoid.

The key difference between a win and a loss in FC 26 can often come down to your gameplay settings and how much you have mastered the controls of this year.

With new features in store, it's always crucial to be aware of the best settings inside the game. Gameplay settings refer to how your controller/keyboard usually works, and how much the AI will assist you in different situations. Then comes the aspect of knowing the controls and combining them to outclass your opponents.

Table of contents

• Best FC 26 gamelay settings
• FC 26 controller key bindings

Best FC 26 gamelay settings

The focus of these settings is to improve your performance in the game. While getting an assist against the AI could help you win a few more games, you're not going to improve.

• Preset: Competitive
• Shot Assistance: Assisted(beginners)/Precision
• Auto Flair Pass: Off
• Through Pass Assistance: Semi
• Lobbed Through Pass: Semi
• Ground Pass Assistance: Assisted
• Cross Assistance: Assisted
• Lob Pass Assistance: Assisted
• Pass Receiver Lock: Animation Start
• Precision Pass Sensitivity: Normal
• Clearance Assistance: Classic
• Defending: Advanced
• Professional Fouls: On
• Pass Block Assistance: On
• Auto Switching: On Air Balls and Loose Balls
• Auto Switching Move Assistance: None
• Right Stick Switching: Classic
• Right Stick Switching Reference: Player Relative
• Right Stick Switching Sensitivity: 4
• Next Player Switching: Closest to Ball
• Reaction Time Calibration: Off
• Player Lock: Off(beginners)/On
• Simplified Skill Moves: Off
• Save Assistance: Semi
• Camera Pan Speed: Default
• Analog Spring: Off
• Trigger Effect: Off
• User Vibration Feedback: Enhanced

Screenshot by Destructoid

FC 26 controller key bindings

Here are the default key bindings for your controller.

Attack

• Through Ball: Triangle
• Lob Pass/Cross/Header: Square
• Shoot/Volley/Header: Circle
• Short Pass/Header: X
• Player Run/Modifier: L1
• Finesse Shot Modifier: R1
• Protect Ball: L2
• Sprint: R2
• Move Player: LS
• Tactics: D-pad

Defense

• Rush GK (Hold Down): Triangle
• Sliding Tackle: Square
• Tackle/Push or Pull (When Chasing): Circle
• Contain: X
• Change Player: L1
• Teammate Contain: R1
• Jockey: L2
• Sprint: R2
• Move Player: LS
• Tactics: D-pad

The controls are the same if you're using an Xbox controller. The only changes will be in the button names. If you're on a PC, you can also use a keyboard and mouse, but I highly recommend using a controller instead.

Like our content? Set Destructoid as a Preferred Source on Google in just one step to ensure you see us more frequently in your Google searches!

The post Best FC 26 gameplay settings and all key bindings appeared first on Destructoid.

The key difference between a win and a loss in FC 26 can often come down to your gameplay settings and how much you have mastered the controls of this year. With new features in store, it's always crucial to be aware of the best settings inside the game. Gameplay settings refer to how your controller/keyboard usually works, and how much the AI will assist you in different situations. Then comes the aspect of knowing the controls and combining them to outclass your opponents. Table of contents Best FC 26 gamelay settings FC 26 controller key bindings Best FC 26 gamelay settings The focus of these settings is to improve your performance in the game. While getting an assist against the AI could help you win a few more games, you're not going to improve. Preset: Competitive Shot Assistance: Assisted(beginners)/Precision Auto Flair Pass: Off Through Pass Assistance: Semi Lobbed Through Pass: Semi Ground Pass Assistance: Assisted Cross Assistance: Assisted Lob Pass Assistance: Assisted Pass Receiver Lock: Animation Start Precision Pass Sensitivity: Normal Clearance Assistance: Classic Defending: Advanced Professional Fouls: On Pass Block Assistance: On Auto Switching: On Air Balls and Loose Balls Auto Switching Move Assistance: None Right Stick Switching: Classic Right Stick Switching Reference: Player Relative Right Stick Switching Sensitivity: 4 Next Player Switching: Closest to Ball Reaction Time Calibration: Off Player Lock: Off(beginners)/On Simplified Skill Moves: Off Save Assistance: Semi Camera Pan Speed: Default Analog Spring: Off Trigger Effect: Off User Vibration Feedback: Enhanced Screenshot by Destructoid FC 26 controller key bindings Here are the default key bindings for your controller. Attack Through Ball: Triangle Lob Pass/Cross/Header: Square Shoot/Volley/Header: Circle Short Pass/Header: X Player Run/Modifier: L1 Finesse Shot Modifier: R1 Protect Ball: L2 Sprint: R2 Move Player: LS Tactics: D-pad Defense Rush GK (Hold Down): Triangle Sliding Tackle: Square Tackle/Push or Pull (When Chasing): Circle Contain: X Change Player: L1 Teammate Contain: R1 Jockey: L2 Sprint: R2 Move Player: LS Tactics: D-pad The controls are the same if you're using an Xbox controller. The only changes will be in the button names. If you're on a PC, you can also use a keyboard and mouse, but I highly recommend using a controller instead. Like our content? Set Destructoid as a Preferred Source on Google in just one step to ensure you see us more frequently in your Google searches! The post Best FC 26 gameplay settings and all key bindings appeared first on Destructoid.

FC 26 offers many new visual optimizations to players, and those on PC can fully take advantage of them.

While gameplay and graphics feel more soothing to the eyes on consoles compared to FC 25, PC offers more options. Players can tweak these settings to their liking to get the best performance and an edge over their opponents. They should also go for a set of camera settings that will help them to observe wider areas.

This guide will help you master all the new additions introduced this year to the game.

Table of contents

• Best tips and tricks to get more fps in FC 26
• Best Graphics settings in FC 26
• Best camera settings in FC 26

Best tips and tricks to get more fps in FC 26

Compared to recent releases like Borderlands 4, FC 26 is much less resource-intensive. But you'll still want to get the basics correct to ensure smooth gameplay and, more importantly, prevent lag. Lag can be fairly problematic, as your opponent will gain an upper hand.

• Update your graphics drivers: Ensure your graphics drivers are updated to the latest editions. Whether you're using an Nvidia-based model or an AMD model, just use the official app to check for any available updates. This will make sure you have smoother performances and more fps.
• Cap the fps : Unless you have an extremely powerful hardware setup, it might be beneficial to cap the fps to 90 for smoother gameplay. You can increase the limit based on your hardware.

Let's now look at the best graphics settings to keep for high fps and prevent lag during gameplay.

Best Graphics settings in FC 26

My current setup combines an AMD Ryzen 5600 system with an RTX 3060 12GB and 16GB of DDR5 RAM. Here's what I have been using in the early hours, and things look fairly good as far as gameplay is concerned.

Screenshot by Destructoid

Display

• Display Mode: Full Screen
• Resolution: Native
• Refresh Rate: Native
• Frame Rate Limit: 90
• VSync: Off
• Cutscrene Performance: Half Frame Rate
• Render Scale: 100
• Dynamic Resolution Scaling: Off
• Dynamic Resolution FPS Target: 90 (should match your FPS limit)

Graphics

• Graphics Preset: Ignore
• Rendering Quality: High
• Strand Based Hair: Off
• Grass Quality: Medium
• Crowd Quality: Low
• Cloth Quality: Medium
• Ambient Occlusion Quality: Auto
• Motion Blur: Off

Let's look at the camera settings that you'll want to run.

Best camera settings in FC 26

You'll want to play with camera settings that make the entire field visible. This will allow you to improve both your offense and defense simultaneously.

Screenshot by Destructoid

• UT Competitive Camera: Enabled
• Single Player Camera: Tele
• Multiplayer Camera: Tele
• Player Career: Personal preference
• Clubs: Tele
• Rush: RushTactical
• Be-A-Goalkeeper: Tele
• Power Shot Zoom: Off
• Custom Camera Settings: Custom
• Height: 20
• Zoom: 4
• Pro Camera: 16
• Pro Camera Speed: 10
• Pro Camera Swing: 10

Like our content? Set Destructoid as a Preferred Source on Google in just one step to ensure you see us more frequently in your Google searches!

The post Best FC 26 graphics and camera settings for less lag and maximum fps appeared first on Destructoid.

FC 26 offers many new visual optimizations to players, and those on PC can fully take advantage of them. While gameplay and graphics feel more soothing to the eyes on consoles compared to FC 25, PC offers more options. Players can tweak these settings to their liking to get the best performance and an edge over their opponents. They should also go for a set of camera settings that will help them to observe wider areas. This guide will help you master all the new additions introduced this year to the game. Table of contents Best tips and tricks to get more fps in FC 26 Best Graphics settings in FC 26 Best camera settings in FC 26 Best tips and tricks to get more fps in FC 26 Compared to recent releases like Borderlands 4, FC 26 is much less resource-intensive. But you'll still want to get the basics correct to ensure smooth gameplay and, more importantly, prevent lag. Lag can be fairly problematic, as your opponent will gain an upper hand. Update your graphics drivers: Ensure your graphics drivers are updated to the latest editions. Whether you're using an Nvidia-based model or an AMD model, just use the official app to check for any available updates. This will make sure you have smoother performances and more fps. Cap the fps : Unless you have an extremely powerful hardware setup, it might be beneficial to cap the fps to 90 for smoother gameplay. You can increase the limit based on your hardware. Let's now look at the best graphics settings to keep for high fps and prevent lag during gameplay. Best Graphics settings in FC 26 My current setup combines an AMD Ryzen 5600 system with an RTX 3060 12GB and 16GB of DDR5 RAM. Here's what I have been using in the early hours, and things look fairly good as far as gameplay is concerned. Screenshot by Destructoid Display Display Mode: Full Screen Resolution: Native Refresh Rate: Native Frame Rate Limit: 90 VSync: Off Cutscrene Performance: Half Frame Rate Render Scale: 100 Dynamic Resolution Scaling: Off Dynamic Resolution FPS Target: 90 (should match your FPS limit) Graphics Graphics Preset: Ignore Rendering Quality: High Strand Based Hair: Off Grass Quality: Medium Crowd Quality: Low Cloth Quality: Medium Ambient Occlusion Quality: Auto Motion Blur: Off Let's look at the camera settings that you'll want to run. Best camera settings in FC 26 You'll want to play with camera settings that make the entire field visible. This will allow you to improve both your offense and defense simultaneously. Screenshot by Destructoid UT Competitive Camera: Enabled Single Player Camera: Tele Multiplayer Camera: Tele Player Career: Personal preference Clubs: Tele Rush: RushTactical Be-A-Goalkeeper: Tele Power Shot Zoom: Off Custom Camera Settings: Custom Height: 20 Zoom: 4 Pro Camera: 16 Pro Camera Speed: 10 Pro Camera Swing: 10 Like our content? Set Destructoid as a Preferred Source on Google in just one step to ensure you see us more frequently in your Google searches! The post Best FC 26 graphics and camera settings for less lag and maximum fps appeared first on Destructoid.

To face the danger that's plaguing the island in Fortnite, you need to loot up with the best items you can find. Medallions are some of the strongest assets you can have in your inventory, but they can be a bit tricky to find.

The process for earning Medallions looks a bit different this season, so it can be a tough process to master at first. If you're looking to add one of these powerful items to your inventory, here are all Medallions, how to get them, and the effects they grant in Fortnite Chapter Six, season four.

Table of contents

• All Fortnite Shock N' Awesome Medallions
• How to get all Medallions in Fortnite Chapter 6, season 4
• How to get Megazord Medallion in Fortnite
• How to get Surge Medallion in Fortnite
• How to get Springleg Medallion in Fortnite
• How to get Carapace Medallion in Fortnite

All Fortnite Shock N' Awesome Medallions

Image via Epic Games

There are four different Medallions you can obtain in Chapter Six, season four. All of these Medallions are earned by taking down bosses, but there are two different ones you can face, and certain locations you need to visit for each one.

Additional Medallions may be added as the season progresses, especially since they always bring back the Birthday Medallion in September, so as any new ones emerge, we'll add them here.

Icon Medallion Location Effect Availability Megazord Medallion Varies Occasionally marks nearby enemy. Available in all Battle Royale and Zero Build Modes. Surge Medallion The Hive Boosts your movement speed and grants a bonus burst of speed while sliding. Vaulted in regular Battle Royale and Zero Build, available in Ranked. Springleg Medallion Demon's Debris Grants you the ability to double jump with fall damage immunity. Vaulted in regular Battle Royale and Zero Build, available in Ranked. Carapace Medallion Ranger's Ruin Gives you 50 health each time you eliminate an enemy and passively restores three shield points up to 50 shield points in total. Vaulted in regular Battle Royale and Zero Build, available in Ranked.

How to get all Medallions in Fortnite Chapter 6, season 4

You can obtain all of the Medallions featured in Chapter Six, season four, except one, by slaying the Queen. She rules over three regions around the map, and you can acquire a Medallion by defeating her at any of these locations. The last one, Megazord Medallion, is acquired by being the player who deals the most damage against this foe.

To get the Queen to spawn, you need to attack all small bugs and pods around the area until the "Neutralize the threat!" health bar changes to the "Slay the Queen!" bar. Once it does, you can get to work taking her down with whatever weapons you have on hand. Although she might seem like an intimidating foe, the process for killing the queen is the same as fighting any regular enemy, so fire at her with everything you've got until she eventually perishes in battle.

The Queen only drops one Medallion at each location, so as soon as she's defeated, be sure to race to grab it as quickly as possible. If you're seeking a specific Medallion, you also need to make sure you venture to the location where it drops.

How to get Megazord Medallion in Fortnite

Screenshot by Destructoid

You can earn the Megazord Medallion by being the player on the island who deals the most damage against Megazord. To earn this item, you must not become Megazord, as you cannot deal damage against this boss when you are them.

Instead, make your way to wherever Megazord spawns, which varies in every round, wait for them to start moving, then start firing at them with everything you've got. Aim for the parts of this mechanical beast that are dark purple, as they're weak spots that pop up over time.

How to get Surge Medallion in Fortnite

The Surge Medallion is earned by defeating the Queen at The Hive POI. This location is found near the northwest end of the island, west of Swarmy Stash, northeast of Shiny Shafts, and east of Resistance Base.

How to get Springleg Medallion in Fortnite

Screenshot by Destructoid

You can get the Springleg Medallion by besting the Queen in battle at Demon's Debris. Venture to the far south end of the island to explore this area. Demon's Debris is the POI that was previously called Demon's Domain before Daigo destroyed it. It's situated directly east of Canyon Crossing and west of Kappa Kappa Factory.

How to get Carapace Medallion in Fortnite

The Carapace Medallion is earned by eliminating the Queen at Ranger's Ruin. This area is located near the far west end of the island, north of Canyon Crossing and south of Shiny Shafts.

With a Medallion now in your possession, you're ready to face whatever the massive bug invasion has in store. Next, you may want to work on collecting items from Hive Stashes, increasing your OXR Rank, claiming Capture Points, and finding OXR Armories.

Like our content? Set Destructoid as a Preferred Source on Google in just one step to ensure you see us more frequently in your Google searches!

The post All Medallions in Fortnite Chapter 6, season 4 appeared first on Destructoid.

To face the danger that's plaguing the island in Fortnite, you need to loot up with the best items you can find. Medallions are some of the strongest assets you can have in your inventory, but they can be a bit tricky to find. The process for earning Medallions looks a bit different this season, so it can be a tough process to master at first. If you're looking to add one of these powerful items to your inventory, here are all Medallions, how to get them, and the effects they grant in Fortnite Chapter Six, season four. Table of contents All Fortnite Shock N' Awesome Medallions How to get all Medallions in Fortnite Chapter 6, season 4 How to get Megazord Medallion in Fortnite How to get Surge Medallion in Fortnite How to get Springleg Medallion in Fortnite How to get Carapace Medallion in Fortnite All Fortnite Shock N' Awesome Medallions Image via Epic Games There are four different Medallions you can obtain in Chapter Six, season four. All of these Medallions are earned by taking down bosses, but there are two different ones you can face, and certain locations you need to visit for each one. Additional Medallions may be added as the season progresses, especially since they always bring back the Birthday Medallion in September, so as any new ones emerge, we'll add them here. Icon Medallion Location Effect Availability Megazord Medallion Varies Occasionally marks nearby enemy. Available in all Battle Royale and Zero Build Modes. Surge Medallion The Hive Boosts your movement speed and grants a bonus burst of speed while sliding. Vaulted in regular Battle Royale and Zero Build, available in Ranked. Springleg Medallion Demon's Debris Grants you the ability to double jump with fall damage immunity. Vaulted in regular Battle Royale and Zero Build, available in Ranked. Carapace Medallion Ranger's Ruin Gives you 50 health each time you eliminate an enemy and passively restores three shield points up to 50 shield points in total. Vaulted in regular Battle Royale and Zero Build, available in Ranked. How to get all Medallions in Fortnite Chapter 6, season 4 You can obtain all of the Medallions featured in Chapter Six, season four, except one, by slaying the Queen. She rules over three regions around the map, and you can acquire a Medallion by defeating her at any of these locations. The last one, Megazord Medallion, is acquired by being the player who deals the most damage against this foe. To get the Queen to spawn, you need to attack all small bugs and pods around the area until the "Neutralize the threat!" health bar changes to the "Slay the Queen!" bar. Once it does, you can get to work taking her down with whatever weapons you have on hand. Although she might seem like an intimidating foe, the process for killing the queen is the same as fighting any regular enemy, so fire at her with everything you've got until she eventually perishes in battle. The Queen only drops one Medallion at each location, so as soon as she's defeated, be sure to race to grab it as quickly as possible. If you're seeking a specific Medallion, you also need to make sure you venture to the location where it drops. How to get Megazord Medallion in Fortnite Screenshot by Destructoid You can earn the Megazord Medallion by being the player on the island who deals the most damage against Megazord. To earn this item, you must not become Megazord, as you cannot deal damage against this boss when you are them. Instead, make your way to wherever Megazord spawns, which varies in every round, wait for them to start moving, then start firing at them with everything you've got. Aim for the parts of this mechanical beast that are dark purple, as they're weak spots that pop up over time. How to get Surge Medallion in Fortnite The Surge Medallion is earned by defeating the Queen at The Hive POI. This location is found near the northwest end of the island, west of Swarmy Stash, northeast of Shiny Shafts, and east of Resistance Base. How to get Springleg Medallion in Fortnite Screenshot by Destructoid You can get the Springleg Medallion by besting the Queen in battle at Demon's Debris. Venture to the far south end of the island to explore this area. Demon's Debris is the POI that was previously called Demon's Domain before Daigo destroyed it. It's situated directly east of Canyon Crossing and west of Kappa Kappa Factory. How to get Carapace Medallion in Fortnite The Carapace Medallion is earned by eliminating the Queen at Ranger's Ruin. This area is located near the far west end of the island, north of Canyon Crossing and south of Shiny Shafts. With a Medallion now in your possession, you're ready to face whatever the massive bug invasion has in store. Next, you may want to work on collecting items from Hive Stashes, increasing your OXR Rank, claiming Capture Points, and finding OXR Armories. Like our content? Set Destructoid as a Preferred Source on Google in just one step to ensure you see us more frequently in your Google searches! The post All Medallions in Fortnite Chapter 6, season 4 appeared first on Destructoid.

The upcoming Resident Evil movie adaptation by Barbarian and Weapons director Zach Cregger will not feature one of the franchise's most popular characters. Cregger wishes to create a new story while still adhering to game canon and conventions, leaving out traditional characters.

Speaking to Entertainment Weekly, Cregger said his RE adaptation will be “an entirely original story,” that is very much his own. “It's just [that] it takes place in the Resident Evil world. I don't think fans of the games are gonna be bummed,” he said.

Cregger added that, his story being original, it won't feature popular franchise characters, including Leon Kennedy. “I'm not gonna steal Leon and put him in an original story. I think that would be presumptuous,” he said, adding, “I respect the games enough where I'm gonna like tell a Resident Evil story in the Resident Evil canon that still leaves everything they love intact from the games.”

Leon is one of the most popular and present characters in the history of Resident Evil. Image via Capcom

So, we're getting a Resident Evil story without the poster boy making an appearance, which honestly could be a good thing for the series. After all, Leon and other characters have at least shown their face in just about every Resident Evil game over the past 30 years, and it's high time new, fresh faces take up the torch and carry the franchise's legacy. It's an unfortunate truth that nothing lasts forever, including the spark of unique characters such as Claire Redfield, Leon Kennedy, Chris Redfield, and others.

Zach Cregger is best-known for his work in comedy and horror, with his breakthrough in the latter coming after the release of Barbarian, which stands among the best and most refreshing horror films I've ever seen. Most recently, Cregger directed Weapons, a critically and commercially successful horror film about a class of children who go mysteriously missing one night.

He's now set to direct the newest Resident Evil movie adaptation, hopefully continuing his successful run in the genre.

Like our content? Set Destructoid as a Preferred Source on Google in just one step to ensure you see us more frequently in your Google searches!

The post The most popular Resident Evil character won’t be in new film adaptation, director says appeared first on Destructoid.

The upcoming Resident Evil movie adaptation by Barbarian and Weapons director Zach Cregger will not feature one of the franchise's most popular characters. Cregger wishes to create a new story while still adhering to game canon and conventions, leaving out traditional characters. Speaking to Entertainment Weekly, Cregger said his RE adaptation will be “an entirely original story,” that is very much his own. “It's just [that] it takes place in the Resident Evil world. I don't think fans of the games are gonna be bummed,” he said. Cregger added that, his story being original, it won't feature popular franchise characters, including Leon Kennedy. “I'm not gonna steal Leon and put him in an original story. I think that would be presumptuous,” he said, adding, “I respect the games enough where I'm gonna like tell a Resident Evil story in the Resident Evil canon that still leaves everything they love intact from the games.” Leon is one of the most popular and present characters in the history of Resident Evil. Image via Capcom So, we're getting a Resident Evil story without the poster boy making an appearance, which honestly could be a good thing for the series. After all, Leon and other characters have at least shown their face in just about every Resident Evil game over the past 30 years, and it's high time new, fresh faces take up the torch and carry the franchise's legacy. It's an unfortunate truth that nothing lasts forever, including the spark of unique characters such as Claire Redfield, Leon Kennedy, Chris Redfield, and others. Zach Cregger is best-known for his work in comedy and horror, with his breakthrough in the latter coming after the release of Barbarian, which stands among the best and most refreshing horror films I've ever seen. Most recently, Cregger directed Weapons, a critically and commercially successful horror film about a class of children who go mysteriously missing one night. He's now set to direct the newest Resident Evil movie adaptation, hopefully continuing his successful run in the genre. Like our content? Set Destructoid as a Preferred Source on Google in just one step to ensure you see us more frequently in your Google searches! The post The most popular Resident Evil character won’t be in new film adaptation, director says appeared first on Destructoid.

As you work your way through the many quests you need to get done in Fortnite Chapter Six, season four, you'll come across a few that ask you to collect Boons. These items are quite rare and difficult to find, so you might need some help with this mission.

Boons are some of the best items you can get, but they're also often overlooked since they're small, tough to find, and easy to forget about. You need this item to get some missions done, and they're also great for giving you an edge over your opponents, so here's how to collect Boons in Fortnite.

Table of contents

• What are Boons in Fortnite?
• How to find Boons in Fortnite
• Collect Boons in Fortnite

What are Boons in Fortnite?

Screenshot by Destructoid

Boons are essentially special buffs you can unlock in each round. Once you've acquired one, its effects are permanent for the rest of the match. Boons reset in every round, so to gain their special powers back, you need to find them again.

The exact buff you get varies depending on which Boon you come across, as there are many unique Boons waiting to be found around the island. Some Boons grant ammo, some enhance your mobility, and some have other effects entirely. All Boons supply some kind of useful boost that's guaranteed to make your life a bit easier, though, so they're certainly worth getting.

How to find Boons in Fortnite

All Boons are primarily earned by completing special objectives in Chapter Six, season four. In past seasons, you could sometimes come across them while looting randomly, but this is very rarely the case in season four. Instead, your best bet is to focus on tackling key tasks to get them, including:

• Increasing your OXR Rank to open OXR Drop Pods. All drop pods are guaranteed to contain a Boon, making them the overall most reliable means of acquiring these items.
• Dealing damage to Megazord. Players who dish out damage against this boss are granted Rita Repulsa's Boon as a reward.
• Opening Hive Stashes. These orange pods sometimes have a Boon inside, but not always, so they're not the best means for trying to acquire this item.
• Defend Bug Outposts. You might earn a Boon for successfully protecting these special zones.

Image via Epic Games

Collect Boons in Fortnite

For missions that ask you to collect Boons, all you need to do is pick them up whenever you come across them. They don't appear in your hotbar like most weapons and gear, and instead exist in the background, similar to Medallions.

You cannot have more than one of the same Boon in your inventory, so finishing any mission that asks you to tackle this task may take a few rounds if you keep finding the same ones. All missions that ask you to gather Boons can be worked on across multiple rounds, so there's no rush to get them done in one go.

Like our content? Set Destructoid as a Preferred Source on Google in just one step to ensure you see us more frequently in your Google searches!

The post How to collect Boons in Fortnite Chapter 6, season 4 appeared first on Destructoid.

As you work your way through the many quests you need to get done in Fortnite Chapter Six, season four, you'll come across a few that ask you to collect Boons. These items are quite rare and difficult to find, so you might need some help with this mission. Boons are some of the best items you can get, but they're also often overlooked since they're small, tough to find, and easy to forget about. You need this item to get some missions done, and they're also great for giving you an edge over your opponents, so here's how to collect Boons in Fortnite. Table of contents What are Boons in Fortnite? How to find Boons in Fortnite Collect Boons in Fortnite What are Boons in Fortnite? Screenshot by Destructoid Boons are essentially special buffs you can unlock in each round. Once you've acquired one, its effects are permanent for the rest of the match. Boons reset in every round, so to gain their special powers back, you need to find them again. The exact buff you get varies depending on which Boon you come across, as there are many unique Boons waiting to be found around the island. Some Boons grant ammo, some enhance your mobility, and some have other effects entirely. All Boons supply some kind of useful boost that's guaranteed to make your life a bit easier, though, so they're certainly worth getting. How to find Boons in Fortnite All Boons are primarily earned by completing special objectives in Chapter Six, season four. In past seasons, you could sometimes come across them while looting randomly, but this is very rarely the case in season four. Instead, your best bet is to focus on tackling key tasks to get them, including: Increasing your OXR Rank to open OXR Drop Pods. All drop pods are guaranteed to contain a Boon, making them the overall most reliable means of acquiring these items. Dealing damage to Megazord. Players who dish out damage against this boss are granted Rita Repulsa's Boon as a reward. Opening Hive Stashes. These orange pods sometimes have a Boon inside, but not always, so they're not the best means for trying to acquire this item. Defend Bug Outposts. You might earn a Boon for successfully protecting these special zones. Image via Epic Games Collect Boons in Fortnite For missions that ask you to collect Boons, all you need to do is pick them up whenever you come across them. They don't appear in your hotbar like most weapons and gear, and instead exist in the background, similar to Medallions. You cannot have more than one of the same Boon in your inventory, so finishing any mission that asks you to tackle this task may take a few rounds if you keep finding the same ones. All missions that ask you to gather Boons can be worked on across multiple rounds, so there's no rush to get them done in one go. Like our content? Set Destructoid as a Preferred Source on Google in just one step to ensure you see us more frequently in your Google searches! The post How to collect Boons in Fortnite Chapter 6, season 4 appeared first on Destructoid.

If you took a straw poll among gamers asking what kind of game they'd like to see get remastered or ported to PC, I feel like Bloodborne would be at or near the top of the list of answers.

The 2015 PlayStation 4-exclusive From Software masterpiece is a true fan-favorite for anyone who's played it. That specific twist on the Soulslike formula, adding weapons like guns to parry enemies and other slight tweaks to what makes those games so great, is just immaculate.

Image via PlayStation

Earlier this year, the game's 10 year anniversary passed us by with no news about a remaster or port to modern day tech. I had hope that this would be the year, but my hope is fading, and now, it's over. In the latest episode of Jeff Grubb's Game Mess, Grubb has finally killed the remnants of whatever hopium and copium I had left for Bloodborne's revival, at least any time soon.

"Anything beyond, From Software would have to be involved and they're not gonna do it right now, I don't know," the in-the-know reporter said of a potential remaster. "But that's my understanding of the situation, and it continues to be that way. Checked in on it relatively recently, and kind of continued to hear nothing is happening with Bloodborne, so don't expect that."

In this particular segment of the podcast, Grubb and co-host Mike Minotti were discussing potential PlayStation exclusives that could come to PC, like so many others before them. The Giant Bomb duo mentioned games like Gran Turismo 7 and Demon's Souls as potential candidates, but Bloodborne is apparently not currently on the table.

And at this point, I give up. It seems like such a slam dunk for both From Software and Sony to come together on some sort of remaster, and it doesn't even need to be one that's on the level of Demon's Souls as a full-fledged remake. A PC port alone would do massive numbers, especially with the success of other recent games by the dev like Elden Ring and the Dark Souls franchise.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kxNM4_Ahndg&t=1725s

Alas, Sony has instead decided to focus its attention in the PS5 generation on live-service titles like Concord and Marathon. Either way, for this to happen, both From and Sony would have to find some middle-ground and desire to get it done, and Grubb says that's not in the cards at the moment. MASSIVE bummer.

I'm really hoping for some big news out of the rumored State of Play that could be happening next week, but I have zero hope that Bloodborne will be included in that discussion, and that just bloody sucks.

Like our content? Set Destructoid as a Preferred Source on Google in just one step to ensure you see us more frequently in your Google searches!

The post The latest Bloodborne remaster update has finally killed all of my hope. I’m waking up from this nightmare appeared first on Destructoid.

If you took a straw poll among gamers asking what kind of game they'd like to see get remastered or ported to PC, I feel like Bloodborne would be at or near the top of the list of answers. The 2015 PlayStation 4-exclusive From Software masterpiece is a true fan-favorite for anyone who's played it. That specific twist on the Soulslike formula, adding weapons like guns to parry enemies and other slight tweaks to what makes those games so great, is just immaculate. Image via PlayStation Earlier this year, the game's 10 year anniversary passed us by with no news about a remaster or port to modern day tech. I had hope that this would be the year, but my hope is fading, and now, it's over. In the latest episode of Jeff Grubb's Game Mess, Grubb has finally killed the remnants of whatever hopium and copium I had left for Bloodborne's revival, at least any time soon. "Anything beyond, From Software would have to be involved and they're not gonna do it right now, I don't know," the in-the-know reporter said of a potential remaster. "But that's my understanding of the situation, and it continues to be that way. Checked in on it relatively recently, and kind of continued to hear nothing is happening with Bloodborne, so don't expect that." In this particular segment of the podcast, Grubb and co-host Mike Minotti were discussing potential PlayStation exclusives that could come to PC, like so many others before them. The Giant Bomb duo mentioned games like Gran Turismo 7 and Demon's Souls as potential candidates, but Bloodborne is apparently not currently on the table. And at this point, I give up. It seems like such a slam dunk for both From Software and Sony to come together on some sort of remaster, and it doesn't even need to be one that's on the level of Demon's Souls as a full-fledged remake. A PC port alone would do massive numbers, especially with the success of other recent games by the dev like Elden Ring and the Dark Souls franchise. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kxNM4_Ahndg&t=1725s Alas, Sony has instead decided to focus its attention in the PS5 generation on live-service titles like Concord and Marathon. Either way, for this to happen, both From and Sony would have to find some middle-ground and desire to get it done, and Grubb says that's not in the cards at the moment. MASSIVE bummer. I'm really hoping for some big news out of the rumored State of Play that could be happening next week, but I have zero hope that Bloodborne will be included in that discussion, and that just bloody sucks. Like our content? Set Destructoid as a Preferred Source on Google in just one step to ensure you see us more frequently in your Google searches! The post The latest Bloodborne remaster update has finally killed all of my hope. I’m waking up from this nightmare appeared first on Destructoid.

Fortnite quests regularly task you with finding and interacting with unique items around the island. It's oftentimes tricky to track them down, as you're given no guidance to do so, as is the case with Meteors.

Some missions you encounter may ask you to search for and open Meteors, but not when or where to find these strange items. Knowing what you're searching for is essential, so here's how to find Meteors in Fortnite.

Table of contents

• Where to find Meteors in Fortnite
• Search Meteors in Fortnite

Where to find Meteors in Fortnite

Screenshot by Destructoid

Meteors fall down to the island after a player becomes Megazord in Fortnite. There are no set locations for them to spawn, and they can fall from the sky just about anywhere, but they tend to pop up fairly close to wherever Megazord is.

Because of this, you should head to Megazord's location to have the best shot at finding them. Once you're in the general vicinity of this character, look up and watch for bright orange trails falling from the sky. When you see one, make your way over to where it's headed.

If you're playing as Megazord, you can also use your stomping ability to instantly crush one. This action contributes progress to the Megazord quest that asks you to search Meteors, so it's a quick and easy way to advance this mission.

Search Meteors in Fortnite

You can search Meteors by approaching them and selecting the interact button that appears next to one. It varies by platform, but it's always displayed when you're standing close to one. You can also just fire at them with everything you've got or swing at them with your Pickaxe if you prefer to use one of these methods instead.

Meteors are essentially special versions of chests that contain loot designed to help you take down Megazord so you can claim the special Boon or Medallion. The exact items each one drops varies, but you'll generally find a powerful weapon or two, like the Leadspitter, some ammo, and some other goodies.

Screenshot by Destructoid

With some powerful new loot at your disposal, you're ready to take on tricky endeavors all around the island. You might try working on some of the tougher missions you need to get done, like completing a Hunter SHADOW Briefing, using an Ascender and a Zipline in the same match, and finishing all Egg-cellent Observations story quests.

Like our content? Set Destructoid as a Preferred Source on Google in just one step to ensure you see us more frequently in your Google searches!

The post How to find Meteors in Fortnite Chapter 6, season 4 appeared first on Destructoid.

Fortnite quests regularly task you with finding and interacting with unique items around the island. It's oftentimes tricky to track them down, as you're given no guidance to do so, as is the case with Meteors. Some missions you encounter may ask you to search for and open Meteors, but not when or where to find these strange items. Knowing what you're searching for is essential, so here's how to find Meteors in Fortnite. Table of contents Where to find Meteors in Fortnite Search Meteors in Fortnite Where to find Meteors in Fortnite Screenshot by Destructoid Meteors fall down to the island after a player becomes Megazord in Fortnite. There are no set locations for them to spawn, and they can fall from the sky just about anywhere, but they tend to pop up fairly close to wherever Megazord is. Because of this, you should head to Megazord's location to have the best shot at finding them. Once you're in the general vicinity of this character, look up and watch for bright orange trails falling from the sky. When you see one, make your way over to where it's headed. If you're playing as Megazord, you can also use your stomping ability to instantly crush one. This action contributes progress to the Megazord quest that asks you to search Meteors, so it's a quick and easy way to advance this mission. Search Meteors in Fortnite You can search Meteors by approaching them and selecting the interact button that appears next to one. It varies by platform, but it's always displayed when you're standing close to one. You can also just fire at them with everything you've got or swing at them with your Pickaxe if you prefer to use one of these methods instead. Meteors are essentially special versions of chests that contain loot designed to help you take down Megazord so you can claim the special Boon or Medallion. The exact items each one drops varies, but you'll generally find a powerful weapon or two, like the Leadspitter, some ammo, and some other goodies. Screenshot by Destructoid With some powerful new loot at your disposal, you're ready to take on tricky endeavors all around the island. You might try working on some of the tougher missions you need to get done, like completing a Hunter SHADOW Briefing, using an Ascender and a Zipline in the same match, and finishing all Egg-cellent Observations story quests. Like our content? Set Destructoid as a Preferred Source on Google in just one step to ensure you see us more frequently in your Google searches! The post How to find Meteors in Fortnite Chapter 6, season 4 appeared first on Destructoid.

The Power Rangers have arrived to help deal with the bug chaos plaguing the island in Fortnite. These powerful heroes are great allies to have at your side, but finding them can be a bit tricky.

These characters are some of the best NPCs you can find around the island, so knowing where to look for them is useful. If you're struggling to meet up with these mighty heroes, here are all Power Ranger locations in Fortnite.

Table of contents

• Where to find all Power Rangers in Fortnite
• Green Ranger location in Fortnite
• Pink Ranger location in Fortnite
• Blue Ranger location in Fortnite
• Yellow Ranger location in Fortnite
• Black Ranger location in Fortnite
• Red Ranger location in Fortnite

Where to find all Power Rangers in Fortnite

Screenshot by Destructoid

There are six Rangers you can find around the island in Fortnite, all of which offer unique services. Inetarcting with these characters is crucial for several key quests, so here's where to find each one.

Name Location Services Green Ranger OXR HQ Offers OXR Patch up and Rift. Pink Ranger The Hive Can be hired for 600 gold bars and is a Scout Specialist. Blue Ranger North of OXR HQ Can be hired for 600 gold bars and is a Supply Specialist. Yellow Ranger South of Swarmy Stash Can be hired for 600 gold bars and is a Medic Specialist. Black Ranger West of The Hive Can be hired for 600 gold bars and is a Heavy Specialist. Red Ranger Shining Span Can be hired for 600 gold bars and is a Supply Specialist.

Green Ranger location in Fortnite

The Green Ranger can be found near the north end of OXR HQ. There are a few different NPCs you can meet around this location, so to make sure you're heading toward the right one, head directly to the north end of this outpost. His services are the least useful out of all the rangers, as he offers the same OXR Patch Up and Rift granted by all other NPCs.

Pink Ranger location in Fortnite

The Pink Ranger can be found in a small bug-infested area located near the very south end of The Hive. She's also east of Shiny Shafts and north of Ranger's Ruin. She can be hired as a Scout Specialist.

Screenshot by Destructoid

Blue Ranger location in Fortnite

You can find the Blue Ranger wandering around a small area slightly north of OXR HQ. This location was known as Pumped Power in previous seasons, but is now an unnamed region. This ranger can be hired as a Supply Specialist.

Yellow Ranger location in Fortnite

The Yellow Ranger can be found hanging around north of Foxy Floodgate and south of Swarmy Stash. She's also slightly east of where you can find the Pink Ranger. You can hire the Yellow Ranger as a Medic Specialist.

Black Ranger location in Fortnite

The Black Ranger is close to a gas station that's found west of The Hive. This location is also north of Shiny Shafts and south of Resistance Base. He can be hired as a Heavy Specialist.

Screenshot by Destructoid

Red Ranger location in Fortnite

The Red Ranger can be found just south of the Shining Span bridge, close to a small OXR setup with some equipment and barricades scattered about. He's a Supply Specialist who offers you ammo occasionally while fighting by your side.

With some mighty heroes ready to fight at your side, you can now get to work tackling tricky quests around the island. Some good ones to work on are talking to Championship Surf Witch about FNCS, completing all Egg-cellent Observations story quests, and using an Ascender and a Zipline in the same match.

Like our content? Set Destructoid as a Preferred Source on Google in just one step to ensure you see us more frequently in your Google searches!

The post All Power Ranger locations in Fortnite Chapter 6, season 4 appeared first on Destructoid.

The Power Rangers have arrived to help deal with the bug chaos plaguing the island in Fortnite. These powerful heroes are great allies to have at your side, but finding them can be a bit tricky. These characters are some of the best NPCs you can find around the island, so knowing where to look for them is useful. If you're struggling to meet up with these mighty heroes, here are all Power Ranger locations in Fortnite. Table of contents Where to find all Power Rangers in Fortnite Green Ranger location in Fortnite Pink Ranger location in Fortnite Blue Ranger location in Fortnite Yellow Ranger location in Fortnite Black Ranger location in Fortnite Red Ranger location in Fortnite Where to find all Power Rangers in Fortnite Screenshot by Destructoid There are six Rangers you can find around the island in Fortnite, all of which offer unique services. Inetarcting with these characters is crucial for several key quests, so here's where to find each one. Name Location Services Green Ranger OXR HQ Offers OXR Patch up and Rift. Pink Ranger The Hive Can be hired for 600 gold bars and is a Scout Specialist. Blue Ranger North of OXR HQ Can be hired for 600 gold bars and is a Supply Specialist. Yellow Ranger South of Swarmy Stash Can be hired for 600 gold bars and is a Medic Specialist. Black Ranger West of The Hive Can be hired for 600 gold bars and is a Heavy Specialist. Red Ranger Shining Span Can be hired for 600 gold bars and is a Supply Specialist. Green Ranger location in Fortnite The Green Ranger can be found near the north end of OXR HQ. There are a few different NPCs you can meet around this location, so to make sure you're heading toward the right one, head directly to the north end of this outpost. His services are the least useful out of all the rangers, as he offers the same OXR Patch Up and Rift granted by all other NPCs. Pink Ranger location in Fortnite The Pink Ranger can be found in a small bug-infested area located near the very south end of The Hive. She's also east of Shiny Shafts and north of Ranger's Ruin. She can be hired as a Scout Specialist. Screenshot by Destructoid Blue Ranger location in Fortnite You can find the Blue Ranger wandering around a small area slightly north of OXR HQ. This location was known as Pumped Power in previous seasons, but is now an unnamed region. This ranger can be hired as a Supply Specialist. Yellow Ranger location in Fortnite The Yellow Ranger can be found hanging around north of Foxy Floodgate and south of Swarmy Stash. She's also slightly east of where you can find the Pink Ranger. You can hire the Yellow Ranger as a Medic Specialist. Black Ranger location in Fortnite The Black Ranger is close to a gas station that's found west of The Hive. This location is also north of Shiny Shafts and south of Resistance Base. He can be hired as a Heavy Specialist. Screenshot by Destructoid Red Ranger location in Fortnite The Red Ranger can be found just south of the Shining Span bridge, close to a small OXR setup with some equipment and barricades scattered about. He's a Supply Specialist who offers you ammo occasionally while fighting by your side. With some mighty heroes ready to fight at your side, you can now get to work tackling tricky quests around the island. Some good ones to work on are talking to Championship Surf Witch about FNCS, completing all Egg-cellent Observations story quests, and using an Ascender and a Zipline in the same match. Like our content? Set Destructoid as a Preferred Source on Google in just one step to ensure you see us more frequently in your Google searches! The post All Power Ranger locations in Fortnite Chapter 6, season 4 appeared first on Destructoid.

To boost your chances of securing a victory royale, you'll want to grab all the best loot available around the island in Fortnite. Boons are some of the most useful items you can get, as they grant you special buffs and boost your abilities.

Since there are quite a few unique Boons you can acquire, you might not be sure what they do. You don't always have the time to closely inspect them in the heat of the battle, so here are all the Boons you can earn and what they do in Fortnite Chapter Six, season four.

Table of contents

• All Shock N' Awesome Boons and what they do in Fortnite
• How to get Boons in Fortnite Chapter 6, season 4

All Shock N' Awesome Boons and what they do in Fortnite

Screenshot by Destructoid

There are eight Boons you can find and equip around the island in Fortnite. You can have one of each Boon equipped, which means you can stack all of the unique abilities together if you manage to find them all. Here are all the available Boons and their effects.

Boon Effect Rita Repulsa's Boon. Grants you ammo over time. Agile Aiming Boon When aiming down sights, your spread and recoil are slightly reduced. You also retain more of your movement speed. Extended Magazine Boon Increases your clip size across all weapons. Storm Forecast Boon The next storm circle is always visible to you. Super Soldier Boon: Rank B Boon Decreases energy consumption while sprinting. Super Soldier Boon: Rank A Boon Increases reload speed. Super Soldier Boon: Rank S Boon Reduces weapon spread and recoil. Super Soldier Boon: Rank S+ Boon Enhances sprint speed and grants unlimited energy.

How to get Boons in Fortnite Chapter 6, season 4

Boons can be earned in quite a few different ways throughout Chapter Six, season four. The process for getting them looks different from how it did in past seasons, so you have to get used to some new gameplay elements to add them to your inventory. Here are all of the ways you can unlock them this season.

• Open OXR Chests. These are special rectangle chests packed with loot to aid your fight against the bug infestation you can find around the island, primarily at OXR bases and outposts.
• Increase your OXR rank. All of the Super Soldier Boons are tied to this gameplay mechanic, so working on your overall level is a great way to ensure you eventually unlock some powerful Boons.
• Open Drop Pods. These special loot containers drop when you increase your OXR Rank, but you can also sometimes find ones left behind by other players around the island. Always loot these pods since you never know what you might find inside.
• Open Hive Stashes. These bountiful orange sacs are always guarded by bugs, but contain a chest that might grant you a Boon. You'll have to fight to open it, so make sure you have at least one solid weapon before attempting to loot one.
• Complete special objectives. Finish important tasks, like defending an Outpost from bug invasions, to have a chance of receiving one.
• Deal damage against Megazord. Attacking this boss grants you Rita Repulsa's Boon. No other Boons are earned using this method.

Screenshot by Destructoid

With some powerful Boons now in your arsenal, you can get to work tackling some of the tougher trials around the island. You might consider working on slaying the Queen, claiming Capture Points, tackling some SHADOW Briefings, and discovering the swarm's access point to the island.

Like our content? Set Destructoid as a Preferred Source on Google in just one step to ensure you see us more frequently in your Google searches!

The post All Boons in Fortnite Chapter 6, season 4 appeared first on Destructoid.

To boost your chances of securing a victory royale, you'll want to grab all the best loot available around the island in Fortnite. Boons are some of the most useful items you can get, as they grant you special buffs and boost your abilities. Since there are quite a few unique Boons you can acquire, you might not be sure what they do. You don't always have the time to closely inspect them in the heat of the battle, so here are all the Boons you can earn and what they do in Fortnite Chapter Six, season four. Table of contents All Shock N' Awesome Boons and what they do in Fortnite How to get Boons in Fortnite Chapter 6, season 4 All Shock N' Awesome Boons and what they do in Fortnite Screenshot by Destructoid There are eight Boons you can find and equip around the island in Fortnite. You can have one of each Boon equipped, which means you can stack all of the unique abilities together if you manage to find them all. Here are all the available Boons and their effects. Boon Effect Rita Repulsa's Boon. Grants you ammo over time. Agile Aiming Boon When aiming down sights, your spread and recoil are slightly reduced. You also retain more of your movement speed. Extended Magazine Boon Increases your clip size across all weapons. Storm Forecast Boon The next storm circle is always visible to you. Super Soldier Boon: Rank B Boon Decreases energy consumption while sprinting. Super Soldier Boon: Rank A Boon Increases reload speed. Super Soldier Boon: Rank S Boon Reduces weapon spread and recoil. Super Soldier Boon: Rank S+ Boon Enhances sprint speed and grants unlimited energy. How to get Boons in Fortnite Chapter 6, season 4 Boons can be earned in quite a few different ways throughout Chapter Six, season four. The process for getting them looks different from how it did in past seasons, so you have to get used to some new gameplay elements to add them to your inventory. Here are all of the ways you can unlock them this season. Open OXR Chests. These are special rectangle chests packed with loot to aid your fight against the bug infestation you can find around the island, primarily at OXR bases and outposts. Increase your OXR rank. All of the Super Soldier Boons are tied to this gameplay mechanic, so working on your overall level is a great way to ensure you eventually unlock some powerful Boons. Open Drop Pods. These special loot containers drop when you increase your OXR Rank, but you can also sometimes find ones left behind by other players around the island. Always loot these pods since you never know what you might find inside. Open Hive Stashes. These bountiful orange sacs are always guarded by bugs, but contain a chest that might grant you a Boon. You'll have to fight to open it, so make sure you have at least one solid weapon before attempting to loot one. Complete special objectives. Finish important tasks, like defending an Outpost from bug invasions, to have a chance of receiving one. Deal damage against Megazord. Attacking this boss grants you Rita Repulsa's Boon. No other Boons are earned using this method. Screenshot by Destructoid With some powerful Boons now in your arsenal, you can get to work tackling some of the tougher trials around the island. You might consider working on slaying the Queen, claiming Capture Points, tackling some SHADOW Briefings, and discovering the swarm's access point to the island. Like our content? Set Destructoid as a Preferred Source on Google in just one step to ensure you see us more frequently in your Google searches! The post All Boons in Fortnite Chapter 6, season 4 appeared first on Destructoid.

Megazord has arrived on the island, and this amalgamation of the Power Rangers has brought with them many new mechanics to explore in Fortnite. Completing all Megazord quests is a great way to uncover everything that's new.

You need loads of XP to earn all Megazord rewards and advance your way through the battle pass, so tackling all tasks you come across is crucial. If any of these missions have you stumped, here's how to complete all Megazord quests in Fortnite.

Table of contents

• All Megazord quests in Fortnite
• Witness Megazord's arrival in Fortnite
• Hit opponents with Megazord or the Blade Blaster in Fortnite
• Search Meteors or Premium Supply Drops in Fortnite
• Talk to the Green Ranger in Fortnite
• Deal damage to or as Megazord in Fortnite
• Hire one of the Power Rangers before the second storm forms in Fortnite

All Megazord quests in Fortnite

Screenshot by Destructoid

There are six Megazord quests you can tackle in Fortnite, all of which are different from the Megazord community quests you likely already tackled, despite them sharing nearly the same name. These missions aren't necessary for progression, but they're an easy way to quickly earn lots of XP, helping you swiftly claim all Megazord rewards. Here's how to get all of these quests done.

Witness Megazord's arrival in Fortnite

Your first mission is to witness Megazord's arrival. This one will auto-complete on its own the first time you're in a match where Megazord spawns in. If it doesn't get checked off right away, head closer to wherever Megazord is on the island until it's complete.

Hit opponents with Megazord or the Blade Blaster in Fortnite

Next, you need to hit opponents with Megazord or the Blade Blaster. This mission requires you to deliver 20 hits while piloting Megazord or using the Blade Blaster gun. It's a pretty high number of strikes, so it's best to use both methods to work through it quickly. You can attack both enemy players and enemy NPCs, including bugs, to make progress in this quest.

Screenshot by Destructoid

Search Meteors or Premium Supply Drops in Fortnite

You need to search a total of 20 Meteors or Premium Supply Drops to finish the next quest. Meteors fall from the sky randomly once someone has assumed control of Megazord, and Premium Supply Drops are any OXR Drop Pods that pop up around the island. You can make more pods spawn by increasing your OXR Rank.

Talk to the Green Ranger in Fortnite

Have one discussion with the Green Ranger about what's going on around the island to finish this quest. You can find the Green Ranger hanging out around the far north end of OXR HQ, which is situated slightly north of the middle of the map.

Deal damage to or as Megazord in Fortnite

Dish out a total of 10,000 damage against Megazord, or deal this much while playing as them to complete the next quest. You're extra powerful when you become Megazord, so consider starting with this method first, then dealing any additional damage that's needed from the ground against other Megazords in future rounds.

Hire one of the Power Rangers before the second storm forms in Fortnite

Screenshot by Destructoid

The last quest you need to tackle is hiring one of the Power Rangers before the second storm forms. Venture to one of the Power Ranger locations around the island and spend 600 gold bars to hire any of these NPCs. You need to finish this task very early on in the round, so it's best to head to one of their spawn locations straight out of the battle bus.

Like our content? Set Destructoid as a Preferred Source on Google in just one step to ensure you see us more frequently in your Google searches!

The post How to complete all Megazord quests in Fortnite Chapter 6, season 4 appeared first on Destructoid.

Megazord has arrived on the island, and this amalgamation of the Power Rangers has brought with them many new mechanics to explore in Fortnite. Completing all Megazord quests is a great way to uncover everything that's new. You need loads of XP to earn all Megazord rewards and advance your way through the battle pass, so tackling all tasks you come across is crucial. If any of these missions have you stumped, here's how to complete all Megazord quests in Fortnite. Table of contents All Megazord quests in Fortnite Witness Megazord's arrival in Fortnite Hit opponents with Megazord or the Blade Blaster in Fortnite Search Meteors or Premium Supply Drops in Fortnite Talk to the Green Ranger in Fortnite Deal damage to or as Megazord in Fortnite Hire one of the Power Rangers before the second storm forms in Fortnite All Megazord quests in Fortnite Screenshot by Destructoid There are six Megazord quests you can tackle in Fortnite, all of which are different from the Megazord community quests you likely already tackled, despite them sharing nearly the same name. These missions aren't necessary for progression, but they're an easy way to quickly earn lots of XP, helping you swiftly claim all Megazord rewards. Here's how to get all of these quests done. Witness Megazord's arrival in Fortnite Your first mission is to witness Megazord's arrival. This one will auto-complete on its own the first time you're in a match where Megazord spawns in. If it doesn't get checked off right away, head closer to wherever Megazord is on the island until it's complete. Hit opponents with Megazord or the Blade Blaster in Fortnite Next, you need to hit opponents with Megazord or the Blade Blaster. This mission requires you to deliver 20 hits while piloting Megazord or using the Blade Blaster gun. It's a pretty high number of strikes, so it's best to use both methods to work through it quickly. You can attack both enemy players and enemy NPCs, including bugs, to make progress in this quest. Screenshot by Destructoid Search Meteors or Premium Supply Drops in Fortnite You need to search a total of 20 Meteors or Premium Supply Drops to finish the next quest. Meteors fall from the sky randomly once someone has assumed control of Megazord, and Premium Supply Drops are any OXR Drop Pods that pop up around the island. You can make more pods spawn by increasing your OXR Rank. Talk to the Green Ranger in Fortnite Have one discussion with the Green Ranger about what's going on around the island to finish this quest. You can find the Green Ranger hanging out around the far north end of OXR HQ, which is situated slightly north of the middle of the map. Deal damage to or as Megazord in Fortnite Dish out a total of 10,000 damage against Megazord, or deal this much while playing as them to complete the next quest. You're extra powerful when you become Megazord, so consider starting with this method first, then dealing any additional damage that's needed from the ground against other Megazords in future rounds. Hire one of the Power Rangers before the second storm forms in Fortnite Screenshot by Destructoid The last quest you need to tackle is hiring one of the Power Rangers before the second storm forms. Venture to one of the Power Ranger locations around the island and spend 600 gold bars to hire any of these NPCs. You need to finish this task very early on in the round, so it's best to head to one of their spawn locations straight out of the battle bus. Like our content? Set Destructoid as a Preferred Source on Google in just one step to ensure you see us more frequently in your Google searches! The post How to complete all Megazord quests in Fortnite Chapter 6, season 4 appeared first on Destructoid.

The Megazord Mythic has arrived on the island in Fortnite, so if you're lucky, you can harness its massive potential to unleash devastating damage on your foes. To have a shot at doing so, you need to know how to become Megazord.

This special power isn't available to everyone, and only one player or team can gain these abilities per round. If you're hoping to get the chance to experience it, here's how to become Megazord in Fortnite.

Table of contents

• How to get Megazord Mythic in Fortnite
• Where to find Megazord Portal in Fortnite
• When does Megazord spawn in Fortnite?
• How to use Megazord Mythic in Fortnite

How to get Megazord Mythic in Fortnite

Screenshot by Destructoid

You can earn the Megazord Mythic by being the first one to reach and interact with the Megazord Portal, otherwise known as Zordon. This character appears on the ground in a tube, acting as the portal you need to interact with to pilot Megazord. The massive amalgamation of the Power Rangers kneels nearby, waiting for the first player or team to interact with Zordon and assume control.

The first player or team who reaches Zordon gets to witness an epic cutscene transitioning them into Megazord with some fun scenes that place their character straight into the world of Power Rangers. Once these scenes are over, the fun begins, as you gain full control over this massive mechanical beast.

Where to find Megazord Portal in Fortnite

The Megazord Portal can spawn anywhere around the island, but you can pinpoint its location a bit ahead of when it actually spawns by looking for blue lightning in the sky. This special storm starts slightly before the message pops up, letting all players know that Megazord is spawning in, granting you a bit of a head start if you manage to catch it.

To prepare for this arrival and give yourself the best shot at becoming Megazord, I recommend stocking up on a few loot items early on, but mainly focusing on getting a quick traversal method. My vehicle of choice was a classic car, but a Roly Poly or Hammerhead Choppa works too.

Screenshot by Destructoid

Once you have your vehicle, drive up a mountain somewhere close to the middle of the island. If you're in a car, switch to the passenger seat once you're parked to turn it off. After this, spin around in circles to watch the sky for that lightning and take off toward the right location as soon as you spot it.

When does Megazord spawn in Fortnite?

Megazord doesn't spawn until a fair way into each round, specifically, after the second storm circle has formed. At this point, there are usually around 50 or fewer players left in the round.

How to use Megazord Mythic in Fortnite

Megazord's got four epic abilities you can use while commanding this boss. All of these powers are displayed in the bottom right corner alongside the button you need to press to activate them.

• Megazord's first ability allows you to scan and scout the nearby area, highlighting all enemies you can take out.
• Megazord's second ability is a powerful cannon you can fire at opponents to unleash devastating damage.
• Megazord's third ability is a strong stomp you can use to crush enemies on the ground.
• Megazord's fourth ability is a sharp swing of their massive sword that deals a devastating blow.

Screenshot by Destructoid

There's plenty more Power Ranger-themed fun to be had around the island after you're done playing as Megazord. Next, you might find and use the Mythic Blade Blaster, work on earning all Megazord rewards, and venture to all Power Ranger locations.

Like our content? Set Destructoid as a Preferred Source on Google in just one step to ensure you see us more frequently in your Google searches!

The post How to become Megazord in Fortnite Chapter 6, season 4 appeared first on Destructoid.