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A rainy day at Liseberg usually means shorter queues for the rollercoasters and other outdoor attractions — and that was certainly the case. But inside, the three-story arcade Spelhuset was absolutely buzzing. Not only was it packed wall to wall with hundreds upon hundreds of arcade machines, but it was also teeming with people like never before.

The post Spelhuset at Liseberg in 2025 (10 Years Later) appeared first on AmigaGuru's GamerBlog.

Welcome to the second 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 Two) appeared first on AmigaGuru's GamerBlog.

Welcome to the first 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 One) appeared first on AmigaGuru's GamerBlog.

The Amiga version of Caveman Ninja came sort of late for an Amiga game (1993), was it worth the wait? How is the 2022 remake from Mr.Nutz Studios compared...

How was the original Arcade game?

The post New Joe & Mac Caveman Ninja vs. Original appeared first on AmigaGuru's GamerBlog.

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NBA 2K26 tip-off on PlayStation 5 is less than a month away; bringing a host of exciting gameplay innovations and presentation enhancements in the latest iteration of the NBA 2K franchise. This year, the Visual Concepts development team made another Eurostep forward in lifelike animations and authenticity, with heightened player fidelity, palpable arena atmosphere, energetic […]

NBA 2K26 tip-off on PlayStation 5 is less than a month away; bringing a host of exciting gameplay innovations and presentation enhancements in the latest iteration of the NBA 2K franchise. This year, the Visual Concepts development team made another Eurostep forward in lifelike animations and authenticity, with heightened player fidelity, palpable arena atmosphere, energetic commentary and captivating pageantry—let’s get into it. Player fidelity The weight of the moment combined with the wear and tear of each dribble, foul, and collision takes a physical toll over the course of a game. In NBA 2K26, the evolution of player fidelity is more noticeable thanks to a new shader that brings out the subtleties of each player’s skin. Get up close and see the sweat stream down the pores on players’ faces, the cracks in their lips from dehydration, and the improved muscle definition after a thunderous dunk. This new shading technology makes uniforms and shoes look even more detailed and stunning. The curvature of embroidered names on the back of jerseys boasts increased accuracy—you can even see the ultra-fine stitching. These minute details bring you closer to the action than ever before. Arena visuals Take in the grandeur of these larger-than-life NBA arenas with improved lighting, floor shading, and team-specific features in NBA 2K26. Improved arena lighting The lighting in NBA 2K26 has been redesigned to improve light intensity and color correction. Coupled with the new skin shader, the players shine and reflect like the stars they are as they dazzle under the bright lights of the arena. Improved court floors In addition to the new skin shaders, new floor shaders have been introduced to add more life and sheen to every court. The meticulously polished courts in 2K26 invite you to step on the hardwood and observe the uniqueness of each team’s home court. Depending on the camera angle you prefer, there’s a distinct contrast in wood grain color based on a higher or lower view. Team-specific features From the shape of each arena’s overhead spotlights to the Clippers’ towering “Wall,” all 30 arenas in NBA 2K26 have been designed to closely match their real-world counterparts. Teams around the league have different pregame rituals, like how they create specific patterns with their light shows or how they illuminate the court with team colors. For the teams that rely on pyrotechnics to fire up the crowd, a thin haze will fill the arena and progressively dissipate as the game gets underway. Dedicated fans of these teams will appreciate the level of authenticity and effort that went into capturing the true essence of every arena, like the Detroit Pistons’ courtside lounge behind the baseline. Arena atmosphere Feel the palpable energy of an NBA arena in NBA 2K26. Interact with diverse fanbases as a player and quiet the hecklers with sensational plays. Even the entertainers are putting on a show—mascots, hype crews, and national anthem singers are raising the bar during pregame and in between timeouts. Crowd variety & interaction Crowd variety and interactions were a big focus this year, and received major improvements and upgrades. Variety was greatly expanded with twice the number of unique character models, including more body types and heads. This represents a wider range of sizes, shapes, and ages. Clothing options are also expanded and now include current and historic player jerseys that feature a player’s name on the back of the jersey. We’re talking about over 60 historic players such as Jordan, Bird, and more; many of the top current players in the game have been included, as well. Fans in the crowd have been given rally towels, foam fingers and even rubber chickens to show their team spirit. Expect to see these deployed in key moments of special games, think NBA Cup and Playoffs games. Each fan will also wear an arena provided LED wristband that’s used to create light shows for player introductions, after big plays, and more. In MyCAREER, particularly passionate fans may heckle your MyPLAYER during the game. Listen to their chirps and use it as motivation to silence them with your skills on the court. In-arena entertainment During breaks in the action, new performers and entertainment will take the floor. From mascots on pocket bikes to choreographed dances, and more. There will never be a dull moment. All-new renditions of the U.S. and Canadian national anthems will be played pregame, prior to tip-off. Player interactions Player interactions in 2K26 set the scene before the game with an updated lower-bowl experience. Pregame shootaround includes fresh animations; players and trainers can be seen conducting drills and getting warmed up ahead of the game. When there’s a stoppage or break in the action—timeout, coach’s challenge, end of a quarter—players will see refreshed bench and huddle animations, as you make substitutions and draw up plays. Some players may even make their case to the officiating crew about potential foul calls. Late-game commentary Add to the memory of your clutch moments with eloquent commentary captured by the talented play-by-play and color commentary of the NBA 2K broadcast team. In the waning moments of a game, especially when it’s tightly contested, there will be a noticeable shift in tone from the commentators. As the clock ticks down and the intensity ratchets up, the heightened energy will feel much different from a blowout. Broadcast voices Returning to the broadcast booth in NBA 2K26 are the talented, iconic, and insightful crew of Kevin Harlan, Greg Anthony, Stan Van Gundy, Shams Charania, and more. In addition to this distinguished cast, new PA announcers, international correspondents, and the incredibly savvy Tim Legler have joined the mix. Tim Legler: Known for his high basketball IQ and deep Xs and Os knowledge, Tim Legler is in-game to provide game breakdowns and basketball analysis. PA Announcers: All-new talent that represents the real-world arena announcers for almost every team. For example, the electrifying sound of Shawn Parker’s voice has been recorded for Charlotte Hornets games. International: Team China features play-by-play announcer ZeYuan Guan and analysts Jian Yang and Qun Su, and Spanish commentators have recorded new audio as well. Big moments NBA history is defined by iconic individual seasons and clutch performances in big moments. NBA 2K26 is designed to capture the magnitude of these awards and moments by drawing you in with the pageantry and spectacle of it all. Dynamic banners Celebrate your championships properly with dynamic banners in NBA 2K26. As you win titles, you’ll see banners from those championship victories raised into the rafters, where they’ll hang to commemorate your milestone achievements. Year after year, as you add to your storied legacy, these banners will be a constant reminder of your place in NBA history and a crowning achievement of your success. NBA Cup Presentation now has full integration for the NBA Cup, including more detailed overlays in Cup games that educate you on the groups and how many points teams need to advance in this unique format. In addition, custom highlight reels will be played before NBA Cup games, featuring signature NBA Cup thematic music and special NBA Cup branding to make every moment feel more significant. Replays will utilize the unique ‘matrix cam,’ which shows a 360-degree replay that orbits around highlight moments. NBA Awards Celebrate your achievements with all 7 NBA regular season awards: MVP, Rookie of the Year, Defensive Player of the Year, Sixth Man of the Year, Most Improved Player, Clutch Players of the Year, and Coach of the Year. Your trophy will be presented to you in your first home game after winning the award. If you won more than one award, you’ll even see them presented together. Instant replay Capture your favorite show-stopping highlights with Instant Replay, Photo Moments, and Highlight Builder features. In NBA 2K26, you can now save filter presets for easy access when creating highlight reels. Put an artistic touch on your gravity-defying plays to give them a cinematic look and feel. From the rafters to the hardwood, and everything in between, NBA 2K26’s presentation enhancements raise the intensity inside the arena and make every game feel like it’s primetime. Pre-order NBA 2K26 Superstar or Leave No Doubt Edition and experience all of these authentic features for yourself during Early Access*, starting August 29! *Early access only available for NBA 2K26 Superstar and Leave No Doubt Editions (Digital) only available on PlayStation 5. Availability restrictions apply.

Some big new releases from last month included College Football 26, Abiotic Factor, Ninja Gaiden: Ragebound, and Shadow Labyrinth. Which earns your vote for July 2025’s best new game? How does it work? At the end of every month, PlayStation Blog will open a poll where you can vote for the best new game released […]

Some big new releases from last month included College Football 26, Abiotic Factor, Ninja Gaiden: Ragebound, and Shadow Labyrinth. Which earns your vote for July 2025’s best new game? How does it work? At the end of every month, PlayStation Blog will open a poll where you can vote for the best new game released that month. After the polls close we will tally your votes, and announce the winner on our social channels and PlayStation.Blog. What is the voting criteria? That’s up to you! If you were only able to recommend one new release to a friend that month, which would it be? Note: re-released games don’t qualify, but remakes do. We define remakes as ambitious, larger-scale rebuilds such as Resident Evil 4 (2023) and Final Fantasy VII Remake. How are nominees decided? The PlayStation Blog editorial team will gather a list of that month’s most noteworthy releases and use it to seed the poll.

THQ Nordic’s 2025 Showcase just wrapped, debuting new details on Tides of Tomorrow, Spongebob Squarepants: Titans of the Tide, Gothic 1 Remake, and more. Here is a breakdown of the upcoming titles.  The team at Tarsier, creators of Little Nightmares I & II, are creating an all-new horror adventure -Reanimal. The showcase gameplay trailer features […]

THQ Nordic’s 2025 Showcase just wrapped, debuting new details on Tides of Tomorrow, Spongebob Squarepants: Titans of the Tide, Gothic 1 Remake, and more. Here is a breakdown of the upcoming titles. Play Video The team at Tarsier, creators of Little Nightmares I & II, are creating an all-new horror adventure -Reanimal. The showcase gameplay trailer features a first look at new gameplay environments and characters, including new monsters and friends of the orphaned siblings. Their relentless journey to survive a hellish gamescape features a rich narrative and online and couch co-op multiplayer so players can share the scare. Play Video In more light-hearted gaming updates, the pre-order program for SpongeBob SquarePants: Titans of the Tide is now live. Confirmed for release on PS5 on November 18 of this year, this all-new adventure through Bikini Bottom allows players to play as both Patrick and SpongeBob to the song-stylings of the one and only David Hasselhoff. The ability to switch from SpongeBob to Patrick and back again has been a long-time request from SpongeBob gamers. Preorder any edition and receive the Natural Costume DLC free. The Ghostly Digital Edition includes the Tidal Season pass, also available separately. For the SpongeBob Collector, get all SpongeBob games and DLC in the digital Bikini Bottom Bundle or head to your favorite retailer for the Ghostly Edition featuring an exclusive Steelbook, collectible patch, keychain & lenticular prints. One genre we simply cannot get enough of at THQ Nordic is role-playing. Remaking the classic RPG Gothic is a true passion project for our Alkimia Interactive. Gothic 1 Remake is built for today’s most discerning RPG enthusiasts, including thoughtful expansions architected with Gothic veterans in mind. Starting today, gamers everywhere can return to the Valley of the Mines in the Gothic 1 Remake demo. Dive into the Nyras Prologue to experience the thrill of entering the Colony for the very first time — without encountering any spoilers. This demo will not be included in the final game. THQ Nordic will also release the Gothic Classics, 1, 2, and 3 for PS5 in 2026. Play Video Our all-new gameplay trailer for Eternal Life of Goldman reveals at least one life shattered by our protagonist Goldman. The vibrant yet dark platformer demands precision while encouraging exploration and a sense of discovery throughout the game world. Complex scenes and rich characters create The Eternal Life of Goldman’s layered story that is perfectly balanced to platform-style play. Play Video Tides of Tomorrow developer Digixart, the team behind Route 96, revealed new insights on the all-new asynchronous gameplay feature as part of today’s Showcase event. Tides of Tomorrow combines rich story-telling and collaborative gameplay for a first-of-its-kind experience. The colorful, post-apocalyptic universe is in the player’s hands as decision-making will determine the fate of the game world and all its inhabitants. The Wreckfest franchise is one of my favorite stress relievers. BugBear Entertainment is working on a long-awaited sequel to the high-octane, no-rules demolition derby and racing game. Made famous for its realistic damage model and unique blend of arcade and simulation style, the Wreckfest franchise requires that every driver drive hard to die last. Wreckfest 2 is racing to PS5 in 2026. We’re working on a sequel to another celebrated role-playing game – Titan Quest II. The ARPG best known for combining hack-n-slash combat, loot-based progression, and deep character customization in a rich, mythological setting is coming to PS5 in 2026. With a class-less character system, players can choose two masteries from a variety of options and freely combine them to create their own hero inspired by ancient mythology. Explore the realms of ancient Greece, visit places where no mortal has ever ventured, and face legendary creatures — and even gods themselves. Titan Quest II promises an adventure worthy of its own myth. Play Video The Burnout series was a favorite for PlayStation gamers for more than a decade. The team behind that racer have combined arcade racing with a toolbox full of customization options in a giant open world with Wreckreation. Players can choose from 60 different vehicles and use the Game DJ to change in-game parameters like music, vehicles, weather, time of day, traffic, and game world. And the best part? Players can instantly switch to the live mix building mode in real-time, constructing their own highways — complete with crazy jumps, loops, and hundreds of objects placed anywhere in the game world. Ever wanted to race your car over a dinosaur’s head? Wreckreation has got you covered. The new gameplay trailer shows off in-game racing and stunt challenges that can be created and shared with friends. Wreckreation is coming to PS5 later this year. We like to think we have something fun for just about every PlayStation gamer and can’t wait to give players a chance to play many of the games we previewed today at Gamescom in a few weeks.

Silent Hill f, a standalone spin-off of the Silent Hill series from developer NeoBards, comes to PlayStation 5 on September 25. We recently had the chance to play the game at its world premiere event in Tokyo, Japan. Psychological horror set in 1960s Japan The story begins when Hinako leaves her home to escape from […]

Silent Hill f, a standalone spin-off of the Silent Hill series from developer NeoBards, comes to PlayStation 5 on September 25. We recently had the chance to play the game at its world premiere event in Tokyo, Japan. Psychological horror set in 1960s Japan The story begins when Hinako leaves her home to escape from her upset father. Silent Hill f utilizes the same over-the-shoulder perspective as Bloober Team’s 2024 Silent Hill 2 remake, allowing players to move the camera with the right analog stick. Sharing a similar perspective to Hinako adds to the immersion and tension of the game. When you look around the forest surrounding her, you become acutely aware of the danger closing in and feel the overwhelming sense of isolation and entrapment. Navigate the fog-enshrouded town and survive the deadly horrors from an over-the-shoulder perspective The sky darkens as Hinako approaches a row of houses along the forestline, and a mysterious fog descends. The authentic 1960s Japanese town, depicted in vivid 4K visuals, evokes a sense of beauty and nostalgia. However, things take a turn after you meet Hinako’s childhood friends. The fog completely engulfs the town, and “higanbana” (red spider lilies) begin blooming from the ground. Worse yet, tentacle-like plants begin creeping and overflowing from the walls. The town’s dramatic transformation enthralled me. Navigating the maddening, twisting streets of Ebisugaoka Ebisugaoka features an array of narrow streets intertwining between clustered houses. Blind corners and varying verticality create a complex, maze-like layout. Unlike Silent Hill 2, there are no radios or items to warn you of approaching enemies, so you must remain vigilant and alert to every sound. Puzzles closely tied to the story Puzzles are a defining feature of the Silent Hill series, and they feature prominently in this title. During our playthrough, we were able to try out a variety of puzzles inspired by Japanese culture, such as locating the correct “ema” (small wooden prayer tablets) or finding scarecrows that matched certain criteria. Many of these puzzles are deeply connected to the story written by scriptwriter Ryukishi07, and it was intriguing to find out how they were linked to the characters’ emotions and identity. Close-range combat demands quick-thinking and strategy Hinako is an average Japanese teenager, so unlike previous titles in the series firearms aren’t an option here. Instead, Silent Hill f has a heavier focus on melee combat. During our demo we got our hands on an iron pipe, a sickle, a dagger, and a naginata polearm. Combat features a new Sanity mechanic and counterattacks to target vulnerable enemies. Pressing the R2 button during combat openings combat activates a counter. This doesn’t consume stamina, and if successful, the enemy will get knocked down. You’ll see a special effect appear on the enemy when you can execute the counter. Although Focus mode consumes Sanity, this state can slow down time and create a longer opening, making it easier to deliver a surprise counter. Also, when Hinako’s Focus gauge fills up she can unleash a powerful Focus Attack with the R1 button, which inflicts significant damage. However, the current Max Sanity will decrease, making it harder to go into Focus mode, so you’ll need to determine the prime moments to take advantage of this attack. Keep an eye on weapon durability Weapons in Silent Hill f have levels of durability and will break faster the more they’re used. Make sure you carry spare weapons or toolkits to repair their durability. However, weapons like the dagger and naginata, which can only be used in the Otherworld, have no durability and can be used to your heart’s content. Face-to-face with a formidable shrine maiden monster The demo concludes with an intense battle between Hinako and a grotesque monster dressed as a shrine maiden. Hinako calls this monster “Sakiko” when she confronts it in the Otherworld. The shrine maiden’s attacks span a wide range and will keep you on your toes from long range. The monster launches a long-distance attack that makes Hinako flinch while it simultaneously vanishes to cut down her Sanity. However, if you’re able to locate the monster right after it reappears you’ll have a chance to dash and strike while it’s vulnerable. I walked away from my time with Silent Hill f eager to confront more terrifying enemies and challenging puzzles, as well as explore new areas of the map when the game launches September 25 on PS5. 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Battlefield 6 has made its debut, with Electronic Arts providing the first big look at its sprawling first-person shooter, including hands-on with its often-enormous multiplayer mode. I engaged the enemy across four of the nine maps Battlefield 6 will include at launch, which took us through a range of battles: from the vehicle-filled All-Out Warfare […]

Battlefield 6 has made its debut, with Electronic Arts providing the first big look at its sprawling first-person shooter, including hands-on with its often-enormous multiplayer mode. I engaged the enemy across four of the nine maps Battlefield 6 will include at launch, which took us through a range of battles: from the vehicle-filled All-Out Warfare modes, to smaller, close-quarters battles. The franchise heads back to its roots with Battlefield 6, serving as a sort of spiritual successor to Battlefield 3 and Battlefield 4. It uses a modern setting of 2027 and, like the games it draws inspiration from, sees the return of character classes to the series—but with new twists on the old formulas. Battlefield 6 hits PS5 on October 10, but you don’t have to wait that long—there are also open beta weekends this August so you can try out the game’s new tricks yourself. Here’s everything from my boots-on-the-ground experience in Battlefield 6. Character classes Battlefield 6 brings back the class system that players know and love, but with adjustments that let you further dial in your specialty. The new Training system is Battlefield 6’s take on subclasses, expanding on the Specializations of Battlefield 3 and Field Upgrades of Battlefield 4. Classes also get buffs as you “level up” through a match by supporting teammates, defeating opponents, and playing objectives, which further amp up the things that make them unique. Eventually, they can charge up a special ability that’s specific to their Training. Assault — The run-and-gun class wields an assault rifle and combat stims, and with the Frontliner training, gains faster health regeneration, more stimulants, and more accuracy while moving. Recon — Best known for long-range shots and spotting enemy movement. The Sniper training marks enemies seen through your scope more quickly and for longer, while sniper shots stop enemy healing. Meanwhile, headshots drop enemies with a single round, without the possibility of being revived by a teammate. Engineer — The only class that can repair vehicles can also be a real menace to them, as well as to other infantry. The Anti-Armor training lets you wreck vehicles with extra rockets that also reduce their repair effectiveness. Support — The classic defensive class is a little more than a revive machine in Battlefield 6. Specializing in light machine guns, you can also place temporary cover and drop ammo for your teammates. The Combat Medic training also lets you dish out health for allies and regenerates health while you’re reviving teammates. Closed and open weapons — Classes get a signature weapon and specific gadgets, but whether weapons are open or closed depends on the playlist you’re playing. On closed playlists, you can only use certain weapons with certain classes. But on open playlists, you can swap to anything that works for you. Tactical destruction Map destruction is one of Battlefield’s defining features, but in Battlefield 6, destroying chunks of the map is part of your strategy and a weapon to use against the enemy. Blast a path — Thin obstacles like doors or windows can be crashed through or blasted apart to open a line of fire. You can also level walls with grenades or a handy sledgehammer. Emphasis on “tactical” — Thomas Andersson, Creative Director of the Battlefield Franchise, explained that destruction in Battlefield 6 is meant to be somewhat predictable so you can make use of it in firefights. Destroying the floor beneath your opponents or bringing a building down on their heads are viable strategies that are satisfying to pull off. Bring down the house — Standing in a building that’s coming down around you is shockingly loud and intense, but I couldn’t look away from Battlefield 6’s beautiful devastation. The best part, though, is finding cover in the rubble to continue the fight as the map changes around you. Kinesthetic combat Battlefield 6 makes firefights more dynamic and adaptive with the addition of the Kinesthetic Combat System. Peek and lean — Walk up to any corner in Battlefield 6 and you’ll get a contextual prompt that lets you hold R1 to lean out and fire, and lean back into cover when you let go, providing new tactical options in close-quarters engagements. No one left behind — Reviving comrades isn’t just a matter of holding down the Square button and hoping nobody shoots you. Now you can drag a downed teammate out of the line of fire while you revive them. As a dedicated medic fan, being able to pull a buddy out of danger saved my own life a few times, too. Hitch a ride — Vehicles never seem to have enough seats, but you can grab onto the outside of tanks or trucks to hitch a ride and stick with your squad. Fight the recoil — Battlefield developers said they know a lot of players don’t really know how to compensate for the recoil of most guns, but it’s a skill that can win firefights. Kinesthetic Combat telegraphs information about recoil by tilting your gun in the direction it moves as it fires, so you can learn to keep your shots on target—possibly without even realizing the game was teaching you. Maps The four maps I fought through gave a sense of Battlefield 6’s scale, as well as the intensity of its smaller locales. Battlefield 6’s more massive maps include locations within them called Combat Zones, which are smaller, carefully designed engagement areas that can also function as maps on their own for the game’s different modes. Liberation Peak — An enormous mountainside battlefield that’s great for vehicles of all kinds and excellent for snipers, especially once you start leveling buildings to create new, tough-to-spot positions. Siege of Cairo — A dense city where the fighting is fierce, and buildings are constantly at risk of being reduced to rubble. Siege of Cairo is big enough for tanks and vehicles, but also packs a Combat Zone where you’ll need to check your corners and keep on the move. Empire State — This infantry-only map takes the fighting to the streets of Brooklyn, pushing squads into open streets and tight alleyways. A shotgun is excellent for tight interiors, but make sure you’re checking the floors above you. Iberian Offensive — Gibraltar is home to some winding streets and quaint shops that make for hardscrabble advances through tight pathways, but with plenty of walls to wreck to expose the enemy. Modes The modes I played were broken up across Battlefield’s classic All-Out Warfare modes and two modes designed for smaller maps. Squad Deathmatch — Four squads compete in close-quarters combat on smaller maps in this revival of the mode from Battlefield: Bad Company 2. Working together, balancing your classes, and staying in constant communication are essential. Domination — Infantry battle over three control points, making for a series of push-and-pull firefights in close quarters. Conquest — Battlefield’s iconic All-Out Warfare mode finds two teams fighting to control points across the map, with huge armies and all available vehicles. Things can get chaotic and overwhelming, but just remember: Play the objective. Breakthrough — Attackers try to push forward across Battlefield 6’s big maps in this All-Out Warfare mode, dominating it sector by sector, while defenders do everything they can to stop them. With Battlefield 6, Battlefield Studios and EA are revitalizing some of the best elements of the series, while dialing up the devastation to levels it’s never reached before. You really haven’t played Battlefield until you’ve watched a tank shell collapse a building while you’re standing in it. But you can experience it all for yourself, and soon. You can join Battlefield 6’s open beta on two weekends this month: August 9-10 and August 14-17. The full game launches on October 10.

Hi, everyone. I’m Matt Bozon, director of the Shantae series. Today I’d like to fill you in on some exciting news about Shantae Advance: Risky Revolution, and share more details about the project! If you’re familiar with the Shantae video game series, you might have heard that the original Shantae game had an unfinished sequel […]

Hi, everyone. I’m Matt Bozon, director of the Shantae series. Today I’d like to fill you in on some exciting news about Shantae Advance: Risky Revolution, and share more details about the project! If you’re familiar with the Shantae video game series, you might have heard that the original Shantae game had an unfinished sequel that never saw the light of day. Shantae Advance: Risky Revolution is that long-lost sequel. The original production ended in 2004, leaving the game only half finished – but the story didn’t end there. A long-lost genie adventure Twenty years later the original Shantae Advance team was reunited thanks to WayForward and Limited Run Games. We opened our archives, dove into old files, and set out to complete the project in its original code base using the tools of a bygone era. It was a labor of love, preservation, and improvisation. Now, the project is finally complete after over two decades, and will be “Ret-2-Go” on PlayStation 4 and PlayStation 5. So, is Shantae Advance: Risky Revolution an old game or a new game? Is it game #2 in the series? Or game #6? Great questions. First and foremost, this is a brand-new, never-before-released Shantae game that was completed in 2025. But canonically, it’s the 2nd game in the series. The story takes place directly after the events of Shantae 1, but before Risky’s Revenge. The overall play style builds on lessons learned from all previous Shantae efforts. Combat and platforming are quick and snappy, writing and humor are on point, and quality-of-life elements are in line with the modern series. As for features, the game contains three stand-alone experiences; First, there’s the modern version built for PlayStation 4 and PlayStation 5, which contains high-resolution portrait artwork, UI, and cinematics. Second is Classic Mode, which preserves all of 2004-era pixel artwork in its original resolution, and can be played as a stand alone game – effectively bonus content. Third is Battle Mode, which is a two-to-four player local party game in which players try to clobber each other and collect power ups, while navigating a rotating arena. Play Video Shanae’s new costumes But wait, there’s more. All of the above is included in the Standard Edition, but we’re also offering a Deluxe Edition, which contains three exclusive costumes made especially for fans. See Shantae as you’ve never seen her before – in her Relic Hunter Costume, High Voltage Costume, and Sizzle Armor Costume. Not only do these costumes change Shantae’s in-world sprites, but they also change her high-res dialogue portraits and the properties of her magic attacks. With the Deluxe Edition, all three of these costumes are available from the get-go. Let’s dig in: The Relic Hunter Costume is inspired by Uncle Mimic’s old geezer friends, the Relic Hunters, who feature prominently in the game. For this costume we wondered what would happen if Shantae cosplayed as Uncle Mimic. She’d definitely want to make some adjustments of her own. What do you think? Wearing this adventurous getup grants a permanent power-up to Shantae’s Pike Ball Magic. The High Voltage Costume grants hyper energy to Shantae’s electrical Storm Puff magic. The modern style and holographic ponytail are as nonsensical as it gets – right down to the “1994” graphical text on the pant leg – signifying the year that Shantae was created. We thought it would be fun to give her a techwear-inspired outfit with dayglow colors. Last – and in this case, least – is the Sizzle Armor Costume. This impressive “swimsuit” of armor provides a significant boost to Shantae’s Fireball Magic. This design is inspired by 1980s anime bikini armor, with fluorescent reds, dragonslayer-esque plating, and gleaming gemstones and baubles. Shantae’s ponytail even changes into a fire-whip. So there you have it – all the details on the all-new Deluxe Edition content for Shantae Advance: Risky Revolution. Both the Standard Edition and the Deluxe Edition will be available to purchase and download on August 19 – less than a month away. After waiting 20 years to get this game into your hands, I can hardly believe it’s finally about to happen. I hope you all are as excited to play the game as we are. Thank you for supporting this series.

Rogue Factor’s mysterious and brutal action adventure, Hell is Us, is clawing its way out of our darkest dreams and onto PlayStation 5 September 4. With an atmospheric new trailer fresh from the depths, the game’s Creative and Art Director, Jonathan Jacques-Belletête took me through its secrets to reveal more about the game’s enemies, dungeons, […]

Play Video Rogue Factor’s mysterious and brutal action adventure, Hell is Us, is clawing its way out of our darkest dreams and onto PlayStation 5 September 4. With an atmospheric new trailer fresh from the depths, the game’s Creative and Art Director, Jonathan Jacques-Belletête took me through its secrets to reveal more about the game’s enemies, dungeons, and emotional commentary. What was the inspiration behind the Hollow Walker enemy designs and the strange blue Haze (around 1 minute in)? There’s no singular inspiration. I look more to creating themes that we want to explore. So we wanted the enemies to be a physical manifestation of human emotions, and I then started thinking about how those emotions behave. Hazes are expressions of the emotions, using Robert Plutchik’s emotion wheel as inspiration for their colours, and the Hollow Walkers are white and emotionless, acting as a sort of facsimile of a human being that is emotion’s anchor. We could have just made regular monsters that were expressions of emotion, like a rage monster, but I thought it would have been a little cliché. What if it was more cosmic horror, something unexplainable? How many types of Hollow Walkers can we expect in the game? There are five types – the Primeval, the Feral, the Protector, the Artillery and the Negator – each having three tiers, so a total of 15 variants. And then there are the Hazes, which are four emotions – grief, ecstasy, rage and terror – each with three tiers as well, which makes 12. So that gives us 27 enemies in the game. Which ones are you most fond of? So the Primeval, which is kind of the more basic and humanoid one, is the most iconic. I quite like it because it looked really cool in the early concept art. The Feral is cool too, because I’m always going to remember the motion capture sessions. They walk on these pointy, weird arms, so we hired dancers for them who literally had stilts on their hands for the mocap, which was really interesting. The Negator also has these weird ears that are actually his legs, and the way that he attacks with them is quite clever, but yeah, I think the Primeval is our little baby Hollow Walker, so that’s my favourite. Can you tell us a bit more about the Hollow Walker with multiple Hazes we see at the end of the trailer? It’s definitely one of the most memorable moments of that specific dungeon. The game isn’t really about typical bosses as such, but more about meaningful fights at key moments in the story. When multiple Hollow Walkers are connected to one Haze, we call it a Herder, but what we have at the end of the trailer is a Fervent, where a Hollow Walker – a Protector in this case – is attached to multiple Hazes. What you see at the end of the trailer is the end of Act One. That Act is very much about grief, so you’re going through all the stages of grief, with each Haze having a name based on those stages. The combat loop is that these Hazes split out after you kill one, a bit like enemy slimes from RPGs, and the final one goes inside the Protector, which you then have to kill. In the trailer we also see a dungeon which incorporates water wheels, while one is more like a mountain mine. Can you expand on the ideas behind these specific dungeons? Each dungeon has a theme, and they’re related to a specific emotion as well. That’s also tied to the story of why this particular place exists. What was very important for me at the beginning of the project was having dungeons which weren’t contemporary even though the game takes place in a contemporary setting. I wanted them to be these impressive, fantasy things that feel out of this world. And we wanted to have fun with the types of puzzles that we couldn’t have had in a realistic, contemporary dungeon, like an abandoned factory or metro station. Some of the dungeons have a lot more puzzles than others, some are more about combat, and some have a lot of environmental changes, like the one in the trailer where you have to play with the water levels and things like that. So they’re all different and tied to lore, which you sometimes need to understand in order to solve a puzzle. One of our themes is ‘history always repeats itself’, and even though you figure out these artefacts from ages ago, you realize that it relates to what’s going on right now. There’s lots to discover and play around with. What other details would you encourage players to take a closer look at in the trailer? So at around the 1.45 mark there’s a huge pile of something which you should maybe pay attention to. See what’s there. And then imagine how many things this represents. Because you could just think it’s a rocky hill in the middle of the dungeon, but if you pay attention to what it actually is, you start to ask questions. How did this happen? How did they create this? What was the machinery around this? It could be quite horrific, but interesting. There’s symbolism everywhere. Hell is Us launches on September 4.

In Season 5, the Rogue Black Ops team tracks down the final Pantheon moles to finish what they’ve started. Battle across new Multiplayer maps plus check out the thrilling conclusion of the Black Ops 6 Zombies storyline. In Verdansk, the Stadium is blown wide open, with high-tech secrets hiding within. The new content goes live […]

In Season 5, the Rogue Black Ops team tracks down the final Pantheon moles to finish what they’ve started. Battle across new Multiplayer maps plus check out the thrilling conclusion of the Black Ops 6 Zombies storyline. In Verdansk, the Stadium is blown wide open, with high-tech secrets hiding within. The new content goes live in Black Ops 6 and Warzone starting August 7. Multiplayer Overview New Maps Runway (Launch): Following a destructive pursuit in the Arzak Provincial Airport, wreckage and chaos have engulfed the terminal and the surrounding area. Exchange (Launch): Set in a vibrant Avalon marketplace, crash the party and unleash havoc on this small-sized three-lane map centered around the Deli. World Motor Dynasty (W.M.D.) (Launch), Remaster: First introduced in the original Call of Duty: Black Ops, W.M.D. is back as the reimagined World Motor Dynasty luxury Italian car manufacturer in Avalon. Jackpot (Mid-Season), Inspired by Black Ops 4: Using elements from the original Casino map from Black Ops 4 and partially inspired by the Heist mission from the Black Ops 6 campaign, this extensively reworked map takes place on the Casino Luttazzi floor. New and Returning Multiplayer Modes Aim High (New, Launch): Across a variety of game modes headshots land instant eliminations while full body armor minimizes damage dealt anywhere below the neck. Eliminate enemies and receive brief speed and health regeneration boosts. Snipers Only (Returning, In-Season): Operators spawn with only a Sniper Rifle in hand – Equipment, Secondary Weapons, and your Dedicated Melee Weapon are restricted. Cranked Moshpit (Returning, In-Season): Eliminations give you speed Perks and activate a bomb countdown on your Operator. Refresh the bomb timer with chain eliminations and earn twice the score for your team. Play Video Zombies Overview New Round-Based Zombies Map: Reckoning (Launch) The massive Janus Towers that dominate the Project Janus Headquarters are teetering on the verge of collapse. Face the final chapter of the Black Ops 6 Zombies story as the crew and Richtofen face off against S.A.M. in a race against time. New Elite Enemy and Other Entities The greatest new Project Janus threat is the Uber Klaus – a hulking robot encased in a tough, bulky exoskeleton, packed with lethal efficiency and super strength. Once the outer protection is shattered, a second form known as Uber Klaus Core appears. Keep an eye out for waves of daunting Kommando Klaus units, robot enforcers heralded by a mysterious red mist. These machines are programmed to seek and destroy, self-destructing upon contact. New Wonder Weapon: Gorgofex Buried deep within the Janus Towers is the Gorgofex, a grotesque new Wonder Weapon. This bio-aetheric weapon pulses with fungal, insectile, and floral traits and supports multiple variants for those willing to discover them. Additional Field Upgrade: Mister Peeks Summon the deadly and distracting bunny to bust out the moves and bash undead brains to a disco beat. Call of Duty: Warzone Overview Abyss Protocol Activated: Stadium Compromised Recon teams have uncovered the existence of a covert military base hidden inside the National Acropolis Arena, tied to the highly secretive Abyss Protocol. A looming threat may be buried within – Operators are advised to prepare for an imminent Stadium breach. New Contract: Satellite Hijack (Launch Window, Week One) Explode your way into the stadium with the multi-step Satellite Hijack Contract, available only during the first full week of the season. New LTMs Stadium Resurgence LTM (In-Season, Week Two): Operators will be able to access the Stadium via new rooftop entry points and participate in a fast-paced Resurgence mode with a seven-circle collapse General Overview New Weapons: In the Battle Pass, unlock two new free base weapons: the PML 5.56 LMG and ABR A1 Assault Rifle. Plus, earn additional new weapons via seasonal events. New Attachments: Bring the power to your favorite pistol with the 9mm PM Skull Splitter attachment available in the Battle Pass. And unlock an additional attachment at mid-season. Season 5 Battle Pass, Store Content Purchase the Battle Pass to immediately unlock rewards including a seasonal 10% Battle Pass XP Boost, the Stogie Sims Operator, the Infernous Legendary Blueprint for the Kilo 141 Assault Rifle, and more, providing access to over 110 pieces of unlockable content. Plus, Purchase BlackCell for the premiere Battle Pass Upgrade. Season 5 Launches August 7 Black Ops 6 is available now on PlayStation 5 and PlayStation 4. Experience the spy action thriller Campaign, the in-depth tactical chaos of Multiplayer, and soak in the gory glory of round-based Zombies!

Hi there, I’m Miki Majka, Game Producer at Rock Square Thunder. Today, I want to give you a first look at the official gameplay trailer for our upcoming game, I Hate This Place, which is coming to PlayStation 5 later this year. It’s a craft-based, isometric survival horror experience all wrapped in bold comic-style visuals […]

Hi there, I’m Miki Majka, Game Producer at Rock Square Thunder. Today, I want to give you a first look at the official gameplay trailer for our upcoming game, I Hate This Place, which is coming to PlayStation 5 later this year. It’s a craft-based, isometric survival horror experience all wrapped in bold comic-style visuals and soaked in a gritty 1980s horror atmosphere. I also want to take you a little deeper into how we’re using sound as more than just atmosphere. In I Hate This Place, silence isn’t simply golden — it can mean the difference between life and death. But first, let’s take a look at the gameplay trailer: Play Video These creatures hunt by sound As you probably noticed in the video, the world of I Hate This Place is filled with a lot of nightmarish, otherworldly creatures from a rather eerie and distorted world. But what might not be so clear is that many of these hulking monstrosities can barely see. Instead, they stalk their prey (you) by sound, so all your actions and movements need to be thought out. Every footstep, every gunshot, every clang of metal can give off your location. So whether you’re creeping through overgrown woods or navigating decrepit facilities, the surface beneath your sneakers matters. A slow, crouched shuffle across grass will likely be ignored. A careless stomp on broken glass, not so much. Verify your age to view this content. Verify your age to view this content. Making visual noise To take this system further and make it more clever to players, we also made sound into a visual language, where noise is color-coded. It’s a unique visual system inspired to tie in with the game’s comic book art style. For example: Green footsteps mean you’re quiet, crouched, moving slowly, minimizing risk Yellow signals you’re walking at a normal pace and making moderate noise Red means you’re running or being loud, and you’re a beacon for danger This color-coded feedback system doesn’t just apply to footsteps, though. Gunfire, thrown objects, even the howls and attacks of enemies all follow the same noise-visibility rules, helping you judge just how much noise all of your actions are creating. Sound as a weapon Just as sound can get you killed, it can also be used to your advantage and become your most useful weapon. With a bit of strategy and planning, you can lure monsters away from key areas or into your cleverly laid traps. Tossing an empty can down a hallway or into the underbrush might attract a nearby creature, giving you the opening you need to escape. With a bit more planning and thought, you can try to herd enemies together into the perfect spot to then toss that grenade or molatov cocktail you happened to scrounge. Stealth is your friend Combat in I Hate This Place is about choosing your battles wisely. Many of the creatures you’ll encounter are brutal, and even more so when night falls. Going in guns blazing is doable, but maybe not always the right move. Ammo is scarce, noise is dangerous, and enemies are unforgiving. Verify your age to view this content. Verify your age to view this content. So the next time you feel tempted to sprint across an open field or you think firing off a shotgun blast in a tight corridor is a good idea, think twice. In I Hate This Place, it is not just what you do, it is how loud you are when you do it. Instead, you can rely on stealth, movement, and manipulation. Using the terrain, sound cues, and enemy behavior against them becomes second nature as you learn to navigate the environment and survive it. Verify your age to view this content. Verify your age to view this content. That’s it for today’s deep dive about our combat and potentially sound-induced paranoia! Thank you so much for reading.

Battle macabre puppets in a twisted soulslike take on well-known children’s tale, use your wits to survive sprawling maps filled with threats and relive an iconic anime first-hand with the PlayStation Plus Monthly Games lineup for August. Lies of P, Day Z and My Hero One’s Justice 2 will be available to PlayStation Plus members […]

Battle macabre puppets in a twisted soulslike take on well-known children’s tale, use your wits to survive sprawling maps filled with threats and relive an iconic anime first-hand with the PlayStation Plus Monthly Games lineup for August. Lies of P, Day Z and My Hero One’s Justice 2 will be available to PlayStation Plus members from August 5. PlayStation 15th Anniversary Avatars As we announced a couple of weeks ago, the PlayStation Plus 15th anniversary celebrations are still going strong, and we’re excited to reveal a few more surprises! Starting August 5, PlayStation Plus members can claim a special set of 15th Anniversary Avatars, featuring fan-favorite titles like Cyberpunk 2077, Hogwarts Legacy, Diablo IV, God of War Ragnarök, and Twisted Metal, all available at no additional cost. View and download image Download the image close Close Download this image Lies of P | PS5, PS4 This macabre Soulslike draws its inspiration from an unlikely source: The Adventures of Pinocchio. In this grim reimagining of Carlo Collodi’s treasured tale, Pinocchio is trying to find the mysterious Mr. Geppetto. His journey takes him to Krat, a Belle Époque-inspired city whose humanity has been lost to madness and killer puppets. Pinocchio must battle for survival using a range of weapons and swappable Legion Arms with special abilities. He will also encounter non-hostile characters, but you will have to help him lie to fulfil his dream of becoming human. View and download image Download the image close Close Download this image Day Z | PS4 DayZ is a hardcore survival game where up to 60 players must strive to endure a post-apocalyptic world populated by frenzied infected and other survivors. DayZ includes the original iconic map of Chernarus and Livonia – the dense 163 km2 map which lets players experience the hardcore survival hit in a whole new environment. With no checkpoints or saves, when you die, you lose everything and have to start over. View and download image Download the image close Close Download this image My Hero One’s Justice 2 | PS4 My Hero One’s Justice 2, the over-the-top follow-up to the smash hit 3D arena fighter My Hero One’s Justice, makes its heroic debut! Make full use of characters’ Quirks as you clash head-to-head in epic battles across huge arenas! View and download image Download the image close Close Download this image Last chance to add PlayStation Plus Games for July to your library PlayStation Plus members have until August 4 to add Diablo IV, The King of Fighters XV and Jusant to their game library.

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NBA 2K26 tip-off on PlayStation 5 is less than a month away; bringing a host of exciting gameplay innovations and presentation enhancements in the latest iteration of the NBA 2K franchise. This year, the Visual Concepts development team made another Eurostep forward in lifelike animations and authenticity, with heightened player fidelity, palpable arena atmosphere, energetic […]

NBA 2K26 tip-off on PlayStation 5 is less than a month away; bringing a host of exciting gameplay innovations and presentation enhancements in the latest iteration of the NBA 2K franchise. This year, the Visual Concepts development team made another Eurostep forward in lifelike animations and authenticity, with heightened player fidelity, palpable arena atmosphere, energetic commentary and captivating pageantry—let’s get into it. Player fidelity The weight of the moment combined with the wear and tear of each dribble, foul, and collision takes a physical toll over the course of a game. In NBA 2K26, the evolution of player fidelity is more noticeable thanks to a new shader that brings out the subtleties of each player’s skin. Get up close and see the sweat stream down the pores on players’ faces, the cracks in their lips from dehydration, and the improved muscle definition after a thunderous dunk. This new shading technology makes uniforms and shoes look even more detailed and stunning. The curvature of embroidered names on the back of jerseys boasts increased accuracy—you can even see the ultra-fine stitching. These minute details bring you closer to the action than ever before. Arena visuals Take in the grandeur of these larger-than-life NBA arenas with improved lighting, floor shading, and team-specific features in NBA 2K26. Improved arena lighting The lighting in NBA 2K26 has been redesigned to improve light intensity and color correction. Coupled with the new skin shader, the players shine and reflect like the stars they are as they dazzle under the bright lights of the arena. Improved court floors In addition to the new skin shaders, new floor shaders have been introduced to add more life and sheen to every court. The meticulously polished courts in 2K26 invite you to step on the hardwood and observe the uniqueness of each team’s home court. Depending on the camera angle you prefer, there’s a distinct contrast in wood grain color based on a higher or lower view. Team-specific features From the shape of each arena’s overhead spotlights to the Clippers’ towering “Wall,” all 30 arenas in NBA 2K26 have been designed to closely match their real-world counterparts. Teams around the league have different pregame rituals, like how they create specific patterns with their light shows or how they illuminate the court with team colors. For the teams that rely on pyrotechnics to fire up the crowd, a thin haze will fill the arena and progressively dissipate as the game gets underway. Dedicated fans of these teams will appreciate the level of authenticity and effort that went into capturing the true essence of every arena, like the Detroit Pistons’ courtside lounge behind the baseline. Arena atmosphere Feel the palpable energy of an NBA arena in NBA 2K26. Interact with diverse fanbases as a player and quiet the hecklers with sensational plays. Even the entertainers are putting on a show—mascots, hype crews, and national anthem singers are raising the bar during pregame and in between timeouts. Crowd variety & interaction Crowd variety and interactions were a big focus this year, and received major improvements and upgrades. Variety was greatly expanded with twice the number of unique character models, including more body types and heads. This represents a wider range of sizes, shapes, and ages. Clothing options are also expanded and now include current and historic player jerseys that feature a player’s name on the back of the jersey. We’re talking about over 60 historic players such as Jordan, Bird, and more; many of the top current players in the game have been included, as well. Fans in the crowd have been given rally towels, foam fingers and even rubber chickens to show their team spirit. Expect to see these deployed in key moments of special games, think NBA Cup and Playoffs games. Each fan will also wear an arena provided LED wristband that’s used to create light shows for player introductions, after big plays, and more. In MyCAREER, particularly passionate fans may heckle your MyPLAYER during the game. Listen to their chirps and use it as motivation to silence them with your skills on the court. In-arena entertainment During breaks in the action, new performers and entertainment will take the floor. From mascots on pocket bikes to choreographed dances, and more. There will never be a dull moment. All-new renditions of the U.S. and Canadian national anthems will be played pregame, prior to tip-off. Player interactions Player interactions in 2K26 set the scene before the game with an updated lower-bowl experience. Pregame shootaround includes fresh animations; players and trainers can be seen conducting drills and getting warmed up ahead of the game. When there’s a stoppage or break in the action—timeout, coach’s challenge, end of a quarter—players will see refreshed bench and huddle animations, as you make substitutions and draw up plays. Some players may even make their case to the officiating crew about potential foul calls. Late-game commentary Add to the memory of your clutch moments with eloquent commentary captured by the talented play-by-play and color commentary of the NBA 2K broadcast team. In the waning moments of a game, especially when it’s tightly contested, there will be a noticeable shift in tone from the commentators. As the clock ticks down and the intensity ratchets up, the heightened energy will feel much different from a blowout. Broadcast voices Returning to the broadcast booth in NBA 2K26 are the talented, iconic, and insightful crew of Kevin Harlan, Greg Anthony, Stan Van Gundy, Shams Charania, and more. In addition to this distinguished cast, new PA announcers, international correspondents, and the incredibly savvy Tim Legler have joined the mix. Tim Legler: Known for his high basketball IQ and deep Xs and Os knowledge, Tim Legler is in-game to provide game breakdowns and basketball analysis. PA Announcers: All-new talent that represents the real-world arena announcers for almost every team. For example, the electrifying sound of Shawn Parker’s voice has been recorded for Charlotte Hornets games. International: Team China features play-by-play announcer ZeYuan Guan and analysts Jian Yang and Qun Su, and Spanish commentators have recorded new audio as well. Big moments NBA history is defined by iconic individual seasons and clutch performances in big moments. NBA 2K26 is designed to capture the magnitude of these awards and moments by drawing you in with the pageantry and spectacle of it all. Dynamic banners Celebrate your championships properly with dynamic banners in NBA 2K26. As you win titles, you’ll see banners from those championship victories raised into the rafters, where they’ll hang to commemorate your milestone achievements. Year after year, as you add to your storied legacy, these banners will be a constant reminder of your place in NBA history and a crowning achievement of your success. NBA Cup Presentation now has full integration for the NBA Cup, including more detailed overlays in Cup games that educate you on the groups and how many points teams need to advance in this unique format. In addition, custom highlight reels will be played before NBA Cup games, featuring signature NBA Cup thematic music and special NBA Cup branding to make every moment feel more significant. Replays will utilize the unique ‘matrix cam,’ which shows a 360-degree replay that orbits around highlight moments. NBA Awards Celebrate your achievements with all 7 NBA regular season awards: MVP, Rookie of the Year, Defensive Player of the Year, Sixth Man of the Year, Most Improved Player, Clutch Players of the Year, and Coach of the Year. Your trophy will be presented to you in your first home game after winning the award. If you won more than one award, you’ll even see them presented together. Instant replay Capture your favorite show-stopping highlights with Instant Replay, Photo Moments, and Highlight Builder features. In NBA 2K26, you can now save filter presets for easy access when creating highlight reels. Put an artistic touch on your gravity-defying plays to give them a cinematic look and feel. From the rafters to the hardwood, and everything in between, NBA 2K26’s presentation enhancements raise the intensity inside the arena and make every game feel like it’s primetime. Pre-order NBA 2K26 Superstar or Leave No Doubt Edition and experience all of these authentic features for yourself during Early Access*, starting August 29! *Early access only available for NBA 2K26 Superstar and Leave No Doubt Editions (Digital) only available on PlayStation 5. Availability restrictions apply.

Some big new releases from last month included College Football 26, Abiotic Factor, Ninja Gaiden: Ragebound, and Shadow Labyrinth. Which earns your vote for July 2025’s best new game? How does it work? At the end of every month, PlayStation Blog will open a poll where you can vote for the best new game released […]

Some big new releases from last month included College Football 26, Abiotic Factor, Ninja Gaiden: Ragebound, and Shadow Labyrinth. Which earns your vote for July 2025’s best new game? How does it work? At the end of every month, PlayStation Blog will open a poll where you can vote for the best new game released that month. After the polls close we will tally your votes, and announce the winner on our social channels and PlayStation.Blog. What is the voting criteria? That’s up to you! If you were only able to recommend one new release to a friend that month, which would it be? Note: re-released games don’t qualify, but remakes do. We define remakes as ambitious, larger-scale rebuilds such as Resident Evil 4 (2023) and Final Fantasy VII Remake. How are nominees decided? The PlayStation Blog editorial team will gather a list of that month’s most noteworthy releases and use it to seed the poll.

THQ Nordic’s 2025 Showcase just wrapped, debuting new details on Tides of Tomorrow, Spongebob Squarepants: Titans of the Tide, Gothic 1 Remake, and more. Here is a breakdown of the upcoming titles.  The team at Tarsier, creators of Little Nightmares I & II, are creating an all-new horror adventure -Reanimal. The showcase gameplay trailer features […]

THQ Nordic’s 2025 Showcase just wrapped, debuting new details on Tides of Tomorrow, Spongebob Squarepants: Titans of the Tide, Gothic 1 Remake, and more. Here is a breakdown of the upcoming titles. Play Video The team at Tarsier, creators of Little Nightmares I & II, are creating an all-new horror adventure -Reanimal. The showcase gameplay trailer features a first look at new gameplay environments and characters, including new monsters and friends of the orphaned siblings. Their relentless journey to survive a hellish gamescape features a rich narrative and online and couch co-op multiplayer so players can share the scare. Play Video In more light-hearted gaming updates, the pre-order program for SpongeBob SquarePants: Titans of the Tide is now live. Confirmed for release on PS5 on November 18 of this year, this all-new adventure through Bikini Bottom allows players to play as both Patrick and SpongeBob to the song-stylings of the one and only David Hasselhoff. The ability to switch from SpongeBob to Patrick and back again has been a long-time request from SpongeBob gamers. Preorder any edition and receive the Natural Costume DLC free. The Ghostly Digital Edition includes the Tidal Season pass, also available separately. For the SpongeBob Collector, get all SpongeBob games and DLC in the digital Bikini Bottom Bundle or head to your favorite retailer for the Ghostly Edition featuring an exclusive Steelbook, collectible patch, keychain & lenticular prints. One genre we simply cannot get enough of at THQ Nordic is role-playing. Remaking the classic RPG Gothic is a true passion project for our Alkimia Interactive. Gothic 1 Remake is built for today’s most discerning RPG enthusiasts, including thoughtful expansions architected with Gothic veterans in mind. Starting today, gamers everywhere can return to the Valley of the Mines in the Gothic 1 Remake demo. Dive into the Nyras Prologue to experience the thrill of entering the Colony for the very first time — without encountering any spoilers. This demo will not be included in the final game. THQ Nordic will also release the Gothic Classics, 1, 2, and 3 for PS5 in 2026. Play Video Our all-new gameplay trailer for Eternal Life of Goldman reveals at least one life shattered by our protagonist Goldman. The vibrant yet dark platformer demands precision while encouraging exploration and a sense of discovery throughout the game world. Complex scenes and rich characters create The Eternal Life of Goldman’s layered story that is perfectly balanced to platform-style play. Play Video Tides of Tomorrow developer Digixart, the team behind Route 96, revealed new insights on the all-new asynchronous gameplay feature as part of today’s Showcase event. Tides of Tomorrow combines rich story-telling and collaborative gameplay for a first-of-its-kind experience. The colorful, post-apocalyptic universe is in the player’s hands as decision-making will determine the fate of the game world and all its inhabitants. The Wreckfest franchise is one of my favorite stress relievers. BugBear Entertainment is working on a long-awaited sequel to the high-octane, no-rules demolition derby and racing game. Made famous for its realistic damage model and unique blend of arcade and simulation style, the Wreckfest franchise requires that every driver drive hard to die last. Wreckfest 2 is racing to PS5 in 2026. We’re working on a sequel to another celebrated role-playing game – Titan Quest II. The ARPG best known for combining hack-n-slash combat, loot-based progression, and deep character customization in a rich, mythological setting is coming to PS5 in 2026. With a class-less character system, players can choose two masteries from a variety of options and freely combine them to create their own hero inspired by ancient mythology. Explore the realms of ancient Greece, visit places where no mortal has ever ventured, and face legendary creatures — and even gods themselves. Titan Quest II promises an adventure worthy of its own myth. Play Video The Burnout series was a favorite for PlayStation gamers for more than a decade. The team behind that racer have combined arcade racing with a toolbox full of customization options in a giant open world with Wreckreation. Players can choose from 60 different vehicles and use the Game DJ to change in-game parameters like music, vehicles, weather, time of day, traffic, and game world. And the best part? Players can instantly switch to the live mix building mode in real-time, constructing their own highways — complete with crazy jumps, loops, and hundreds of objects placed anywhere in the game world. Ever wanted to race your car over a dinosaur’s head? Wreckreation has got you covered. The new gameplay trailer shows off in-game racing and stunt challenges that can be created and shared with friends. Wreckreation is coming to PS5 later this year. We like to think we have something fun for just about every PlayStation gamer and can’t wait to give players a chance to play many of the games we previewed today at Gamescom in a few weeks.

Silent Hill f, a standalone spin-off of the Silent Hill series from developer NeoBards, comes to PlayStation 5 on September 25. We recently had the chance to play the game at its world premiere event in Tokyo, Japan. Psychological horror set in 1960s Japan The story begins when Hinako leaves her home to escape from […]

Silent Hill f, a standalone spin-off of the Silent Hill series from developer NeoBards, comes to PlayStation 5 on September 25. We recently had the chance to play the game at its world premiere event in Tokyo, Japan. Psychological horror set in 1960s Japan The story begins when Hinako leaves her home to escape from her upset father. Silent Hill f utilizes the same over-the-shoulder perspective as Bloober Team’s 2024 Silent Hill 2 remake, allowing players to move the camera with the right analog stick. Sharing a similar perspective to Hinako adds to the immersion and tension of the game. When you look around the forest surrounding her, you become acutely aware of the danger closing in and feel the overwhelming sense of isolation and entrapment. Navigate the fog-enshrouded town and survive the deadly horrors from an over-the-shoulder perspective The sky darkens as Hinako approaches a row of houses along the forestline, and a mysterious fog descends. The authentic 1960s Japanese town, depicted in vivid 4K visuals, evokes a sense of beauty and nostalgia. However, things take a turn after you meet Hinako’s childhood friends. The fog completely engulfs the town, and “higanbana” (red spider lilies) begin blooming from the ground. Worse yet, tentacle-like plants begin creeping and overflowing from the walls. The town’s dramatic transformation enthralled me. Navigating the maddening, twisting streets of Ebisugaoka Ebisugaoka features an array of narrow streets intertwining between clustered houses. Blind corners and varying verticality create a complex, maze-like layout. Unlike Silent Hill 2, there are no radios or items to warn you of approaching enemies, so you must remain vigilant and alert to every sound. Puzzles closely tied to the story Puzzles are a defining feature of the Silent Hill series, and they feature prominently in this title. During our playthrough, we were able to try out a variety of puzzles inspired by Japanese culture, such as locating the correct “ema” (small wooden prayer tablets) or finding scarecrows that matched certain criteria. Many of these puzzles are deeply connected to the story written by scriptwriter Ryukishi07, and it was intriguing to find out how they were linked to the characters’ emotions and identity. Close-range combat demands quick-thinking and strategy Hinako is an average Japanese teenager, so unlike previous titles in the series firearms aren’t an option here. Instead, Silent Hill f has a heavier focus on melee combat. During our demo we got our hands on an iron pipe, a sickle, a dagger, and a naginata polearm. Combat features a new Sanity mechanic and counterattacks to target vulnerable enemies. Pressing the R2 button during combat openings combat activates a counter. This doesn’t consume stamina, and if successful, the enemy will get knocked down. You’ll see a special effect appear on the enemy when you can execute the counter. Although Focus mode consumes Sanity, this state can slow down time and create a longer opening, making it easier to deliver a surprise counter. Also, when Hinako’s Focus gauge fills up she can unleash a powerful Focus Attack with the R1 button, which inflicts significant damage. However, the current Max Sanity will decrease, making it harder to go into Focus mode, so you’ll need to determine the prime moments to take advantage of this attack. Keep an eye on weapon durability Weapons in Silent Hill f have levels of durability and will break faster the more they’re used. Make sure you carry spare weapons or toolkits to repair their durability. However, weapons like the dagger and naginata, which can only be used in the Otherworld, have no durability and can be used to your heart’s content. Face-to-face with a formidable shrine maiden monster The demo concludes with an intense battle between Hinako and a grotesque monster dressed as a shrine maiden. Hinako calls this monster “Sakiko” when she confronts it in the Otherworld. The shrine maiden’s attacks span a wide range and will keep you on your toes from long range. The monster launches a long-distance attack that makes Hinako flinch while it simultaneously vanishes to cut down her Sanity. However, if you’re able to locate the monster right after it reappears you’ll have a chance to dash and strike while it’s vulnerable. I walked away from my time with Silent Hill f eager to confront more terrifying enemies and challenging puzzles, as well as explore new areas of the map when the game launches September 25 on PS5. 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Battlefield 6 has made its debut, with Electronic Arts providing the first big look at its sprawling first-person shooter, including hands-on with its often-enormous multiplayer mode. I engaged the enemy across four of the nine maps Battlefield 6 will include at launch, which took us through a range of battles: from the vehicle-filled All-Out Warfare […]

Battlefield 6 has made its debut, with Electronic Arts providing the first big look at its sprawling first-person shooter, including hands-on with its often-enormous multiplayer mode. I engaged the enemy across four of the nine maps Battlefield 6 will include at launch, which took us through a range of battles: from the vehicle-filled All-Out Warfare modes, to smaller, close-quarters battles. The franchise heads back to its roots with Battlefield 6, serving as a sort of spiritual successor to Battlefield 3 and Battlefield 4. It uses a modern setting of 2027 and, like the games it draws inspiration from, sees the return of character classes to the series—but with new twists on the old formulas. Battlefield 6 hits PS5 on October 10, but you don’t have to wait that long—there are also open beta weekends this August so you can try out the game’s new tricks yourself. Here’s everything from my boots-on-the-ground experience in Battlefield 6. Character classes Battlefield 6 brings back the class system that players know and love, but with adjustments that let you further dial in your specialty. The new Training system is Battlefield 6’s take on subclasses, expanding on the Specializations of Battlefield 3 and Field Upgrades of Battlefield 4. Classes also get buffs as you “level up” through a match by supporting teammates, defeating opponents, and playing objectives, which further amp up the things that make them unique. Eventually, they can charge up a special ability that’s specific to their Training. Assault — The run-and-gun class wields an assault rifle and combat stims, and with the Frontliner training, gains faster health regeneration, more stimulants, and more accuracy while moving. Recon — Best known for long-range shots and spotting enemy movement. The Sniper training marks enemies seen through your scope more quickly and for longer, while sniper shots stop enemy healing. Meanwhile, headshots drop enemies with a single round, without the possibility of being revived by a teammate. Engineer — The only class that can repair vehicles can also be a real menace to them, as well as to other infantry. The Anti-Armor training lets you wreck vehicles with extra rockets that also reduce their repair effectiveness. Support — The classic defensive class is a little more than a revive machine in Battlefield 6. Specializing in light machine guns, you can also place temporary cover and drop ammo for your teammates. The Combat Medic training also lets you dish out health for allies and regenerates health while you’re reviving teammates. Closed and open weapons — Classes get a signature weapon and specific gadgets, but whether weapons are open or closed depends on the playlist you’re playing. On closed playlists, you can only use certain weapons with certain classes. But on open playlists, you can swap to anything that works for you. Tactical destruction Map destruction is one of Battlefield’s defining features, but in Battlefield 6, destroying chunks of the map is part of your strategy and a weapon to use against the enemy. Blast a path — Thin obstacles like doors or windows can be crashed through or blasted apart to open a line of fire. You can also level walls with grenades or a handy sledgehammer. Emphasis on “tactical” — Thomas Andersson, Creative Director of the Battlefield Franchise, explained that destruction in Battlefield 6 is meant to be somewhat predictable so you can make use of it in firefights. Destroying the floor beneath your opponents or bringing a building down on their heads are viable strategies that are satisfying to pull off. Bring down the house — Standing in a building that’s coming down around you is shockingly loud and intense, but I couldn’t look away from Battlefield 6’s beautiful devastation. The best part, though, is finding cover in the rubble to continue the fight as the map changes around you. Kinesthetic combat Battlefield 6 makes firefights more dynamic and adaptive with the addition of the Kinesthetic Combat System. Peek and lean — Walk up to any corner in Battlefield 6 and you’ll get a contextual prompt that lets you hold R1 to lean out and fire, and lean back into cover when you let go, providing new tactical options in close-quarters engagements. No one left behind — Reviving comrades isn’t just a matter of holding down the Square button and hoping nobody shoots you. Now you can drag a downed teammate out of the line of fire while you revive them. As a dedicated medic fan, being able to pull a buddy out of danger saved my own life a few times, too. Hitch a ride — Vehicles never seem to have enough seats, but you can grab onto the outside of tanks or trucks to hitch a ride and stick with your squad. Fight the recoil — Battlefield developers said they know a lot of players don’t really know how to compensate for the recoil of most guns, but it’s a skill that can win firefights. Kinesthetic Combat telegraphs information about recoil by tilting your gun in the direction it moves as it fires, so you can learn to keep your shots on target—possibly without even realizing the game was teaching you. Maps The four maps I fought through gave a sense of Battlefield 6’s scale, as well as the intensity of its smaller locales. Battlefield 6’s more massive maps include locations within them called Combat Zones, which are smaller, carefully designed engagement areas that can also function as maps on their own for the game’s different modes. Liberation Peak — An enormous mountainside battlefield that’s great for vehicles of all kinds and excellent for snipers, especially once you start leveling buildings to create new, tough-to-spot positions. Siege of Cairo — A dense city where the fighting is fierce, and buildings are constantly at risk of being reduced to rubble. Siege of Cairo is big enough for tanks and vehicles, but also packs a Combat Zone where you’ll need to check your corners and keep on the move. Empire State — This infantry-only map takes the fighting to the streets of Brooklyn, pushing squads into open streets and tight alleyways. A shotgun is excellent for tight interiors, but make sure you’re checking the floors above you. Iberian Offensive — Gibraltar is home to some winding streets and quaint shops that make for hardscrabble advances through tight pathways, but with plenty of walls to wreck to expose the enemy. Modes The modes I played were broken up across Battlefield’s classic All-Out Warfare modes and two modes designed for smaller maps. Squad Deathmatch — Four squads compete in close-quarters combat on smaller maps in this revival of the mode from Battlefield: Bad Company 2. Working together, balancing your classes, and staying in constant communication are essential. Domination — Infantry battle over three control points, making for a series of push-and-pull firefights in close quarters. Conquest — Battlefield’s iconic All-Out Warfare mode finds two teams fighting to control points across the map, with huge armies and all available vehicles. Things can get chaotic and overwhelming, but just remember: Play the objective. Breakthrough — Attackers try to push forward across Battlefield 6’s big maps in this All-Out Warfare mode, dominating it sector by sector, while defenders do everything they can to stop them. With Battlefield 6, Battlefield Studios and EA are revitalizing some of the best elements of the series, while dialing up the devastation to levels it’s never reached before. You really haven’t played Battlefield until you’ve watched a tank shell collapse a building while you’re standing in it. But you can experience it all for yourself, and soon. You can join Battlefield 6’s open beta on two weekends this month: August 9-10 and August 14-17. The full game launches on October 10.

Hi, everyone. I’m Matt Bozon, director of the Shantae series. Today I’d like to fill you in on some exciting news about Shantae Advance: Risky Revolution, and share more details about the project! If you’re familiar with the Shantae video game series, you might have heard that the original Shantae game had an unfinished sequel […]

Hi, everyone. I’m Matt Bozon, director of the Shantae series. Today I’d like to fill you in on some exciting news about Shantae Advance: Risky Revolution, and share more details about the project! If you’re familiar with the Shantae video game series, you might have heard that the original Shantae game had an unfinished sequel that never saw the light of day. Shantae Advance: Risky Revolution is that long-lost sequel. The original production ended in 2004, leaving the game only half finished – but the story didn’t end there. A long-lost genie adventure Twenty years later the original Shantae Advance team was reunited thanks to WayForward and Limited Run Games. We opened our archives, dove into old files, and set out to complete the project in its original code base using the tools of a bygone era. It was a labor of love, preservation, and improvisation. Now, the project is finally complete after over two decades, and will be “Ret-2-Go” on PlayStation 4 and PlayStation 5. So, is Shantae Advance: Risky Revolution an old game or a new game? Is it game #2 in the series? Or game #6? Great questions. First and foremost, this is a brand-new, never-before-released Shantae game that was completed in 2025. But canonically, it’s the 2nd game in the series. The story takes place directly after the events of Shantae 1, but before Risky’s Revenge. The overall play style builds on lessons learned from all previous Shantae efforts. Combat and platforming are quick and snappy, writing and humor are on point, and quality-of-life elements are in line with the modern series. As for features, the game contains three stand-alone experiences; First, there’s the modern version built for PlayStation 4 and PlayStation 5, which contains high-resolution portrait artwork, UI, and cinematics. Second is Classic Mode, which preserves all of 2004-era pixel artwork in its original resolution, and can be played as a stand alone game – effectively bonus content. Third is Battle Mode, which is a two-to-four player local party game in which players try to clobber each other and collect power ups, while navigating a rotating arena. Play Video Shanae’s new costumes But wait, there’s more. All of the above is included in the Standard Edition, but we’re also offering a Deluxe Edition, which contains three exclusive costumes made especially for fans. See Shantae as you’ve never seen her before – in her Relic Hunter Costume, High Voltage Costume, and Sizzle Armor Costume. Not only do these costumes change Shantae’s in-world sprites, but they also change her high-res dialogue portraits and the properties of her magic attacks. With the Deluxe Edition, all three of these costumes are available from the get-go. Let’s dig in: The Relic Hunter Costume is inspired by Uncle Mimic’s old geezer friends, the Relic Hunters, who feature prominently in the game. For this costume we wondered what would happen if Shantae cosplayed as Uncle Mimic. She’d definitely want to make some adjustments of her own. What do you think? Wearing this adventurous getup grants a permanent power-up to Shantae’s Pike Ball Magic. The High Voltage Costume grants hyper energy to Shantae’s electrical Storm Puff magic. The modern style and holographic ponytail are as nonsensical as it gets – right down to the “1994” graphical text on the pant leg – signifying the year that Shantae was created. We thought it would be fun to give her a techwear-inspired outfit with dayglow colors. Last – and in this case, least – is the Sizzle Armor Costume. This impressive “swimsuit” of armor provides a significant boost to Shantae’s Fireball Magic. This design is inspired by 1980s anime bikini armor, with fluorescent reds, dragonslayer-esque plating, and gleaming gemstones and baubles. Shantae’s ponytail even changes into a fire-whip. So there you have it – all the details on the all-new Deluxe Edition content for Shantae Advance: Risky Revolution. Both the Standard Edition and the Deluxe Edition will be available to purchase and download on August 19 – less than a month away. After waiting 20 years to get this game into your hands, I can hardly believe it’s finally about to happen. I hope you all are as excited to play the game as we are. Thank you for supporting this series.

Rogue Factor’s mysterious and brutal action adventure, Hell is Us, is clawing its way out of our darkest dreams and onto PlayStation 5 September 4. With an atmospheric new trailer fresh from the depths, the game’s Creative and Art Director, Jonathan Jacques-Belletête took me through its secrets to reveal more about the game’s enemies, dungeons, […]

Play Video Rogue Factor’s mysterious and brutal action adventure, Hell is Us, is clawing its way out of our darkest dreams and onto PlayStation 5 September 4. With an atmospheric new trailer fresh from the depths, the game’s Creative and Art Director, Jonathan Jacques-Belletête took me through its secrets to reveal more about the game’s enemies, dungeons, and emotional commentary. What was the inspiration behind the Hollow Walker enemy designs and the strange blue Haze (around 1 minute in)? There’s no singular inspiration. I look more to creating themes that we want to explore. So we wanted the enemies to be a physical manifestation of human emotions, and I then started thinking about how those emotions behave. Hazes are expressions of the emotions, using Robert Plutchik’s emotion wheel as inspiration for their colours, and the Hollow Walkers are white and emotionless, acting as a sort of facsimile of a human being that is emotion’s anchor. We could have just made regular monsters that were expressions of emotion, like a rage monster, but I thought it would have been a little cliché. What if it was more cosmic horror, something unexplainable? How many types of Hollow Walkers can we expect in the game? There are five types – the Primeval, the Feral, the Protector, the Artillery and the Negator – each having three tiers, so a total of 15 variants. And then there are the Hazes, which are four emotions – grief, ecstasy, rage and terror – each with three tiers as well, which makes 12. So that gives us 27 enemies in the game. Which ones are you most fond of? So the Primeval, which is kind of the more basic and humanoid one, is the most iconic. I quite like it because it looked really cool in the early concept art. The Feral is cool too, because I’m always going to remember the motion capture sessions. They walk on these pointy, weird arms, so we hired dancers for them who literally had stilts on their hands for the mocap, which was really interesting. The Negator also has these weird ears that are actually his legs, and the way that he attacks with them is quite clever, but yeah, I think the Primeval is our little baby Hollow Walker, so that’s my favourite. Can you tell us a bit more about the Hollow Walker with multiple Hazes we see at the end of the trailer? It’s definitely one of the most memorable moments of that specific dungeon. The game isn’t really about typical bosses as such, but more about meaningful fights at key moments in the story. When multiple Hollow Walkers are connected to one Haze, we call it a Herder, but what we have at the end of the trailer is a Fervent, where a Hollow Walker – a Protector in this case – is attached to multiple Hazes. What you see at the end of the trailer is the end of Act One. That Act is very much about grief, so you’re going through all the stages of grief, with each Haze having a name based on those stages. The combat loop is that these Hazes split out after you kill one, a bit like enemy slimes from RPGs, and the final one goes inside the Protector, which you then have to kill. In the trailer we also see a dungeon which incorporates water wheels, while one is more like a mountain mine. Can you expand on the ideas behind these specific dungeons? Each dungeon has a theme, and they’re related to a specific emotion as well. That’s also tied to the story of why this particular place exists. What was very important for me at the beginning of the project was having dungeons which weren’t contemporary even though the game takes place in a contemporary setting. I wanted them to be these impressive, fantasy things that feel out of this world. And we wanted to have fun with the types of puzzles that we couldn’t have had in a realistic, contemporary dungeon, like an abandoned factory or metro station. Some of the dungeons have a lot more puzzles than others, some are more about combat, and some have a lot of environmental changes, like the one in the trailer where you have to play with the water levels and things like that. So they’re all different and tied to lore, which you sometimes need to understand in order to solve a puzzle. One of our themes is ‘history always repeats itself’, and even though you figure out these artefacts from ages ago, you realize that it relates to what’s going on right now. There’s lots to discover and play around with. What other details would you encourage players to take a closer look at in the trailer? So at around the 1.45 mark there’s a huge pile of something which you should maybe pay attention to. See what’s there. And then imagine how many things this represents. Because you could just think it’s a rocky hill in the middle of the dungeon, but if you pay attention to what it actually is, you start to ask questions. How did this happen? How did they create this? What was the machinery around this? It could be quite horrific, but interesting. There’s symbolism everywhere. Hell is Us launches on September 4.

In Season 5, the Rogue Black Ops team tracks down the final Pantheon moles to finish what they’ve started. Battle across new Multiplayer maps plus check out the thrilling conclusion of the Black Ops 6 Zombies storyline. In Verdansk, the Stadium is blown wide open, with high-tech secrets hiding within. The new content goes live […]

In Season 5, the Rogue Black Ops team tracks down the final Pantheon moles to finish what they’ve started. Battle across new Multiplayer maps plus check out the thrilling conclusion of the Black Ops 6 Zombies storyline. In Verdansk, the Stadium is blown wide open, with high-tech secrets hiding within. The new content goes live in Black Ops 6 and Warzone starting August 7. Multiplayer Overview New Maps Runway (Launch): Following a destructive pursuit in the Arzak Provincial Airport, wreckage and chaos have engulfed the terminal and the surrounding area. Exchange (Launch): Set in a vibrant Avalon marketplace, crash the party and unleash havoc on this small-sized three-lane map centered around the Deli. World Motor Dynasty (W.M.D.) (Launch), Remaster: First introduced in the original Call of Duty: Black Ops, W.M.D. is back as the reimagined World Motor Dynasty luxury Italian car manufacturer in Avalon. Jackpot (Mid-Season), Inspired by Black Ops 4: Using elements from the original Casino map from Black Ops 4 and partially inspired by the Heist mission from the Black Ops 6 campaign, this extensively reworked map takes place on the Casino Luttazzi floor. New and Returning Multiplayer Modes Aim High (New, Launch): Across a variety of game modes headshots land instant eliminations while full body armor minimizes damage dealt anywhere below the neck. Eliminate enemies and receive brief speed and health regeneration boosts. Snipers Only (Returning, In-Season): Operators spawn with only a Sniper Rifle in hand – Equipment, Secondary Weapons, and your Dedicated Melee Weapon are restricted. Cranked Moshpit (Returning, In-Season): Eliminations give you speed Perks and activate a bomb countdown on your Operator. Refresh the bomb timer with chain eliminations and earn twice the score for your team. Play Video Zombies Overview New Round-Based Zombies Map: Reckoning (Launch) The massive Janus Towers that dominate the Project Janus Headquarters are teetering on the verge of collapse. Face the final chapter of the Black Ops 6 Zombies story as the crew and Richtofen face off against S.A.M. in a race against time. New Elite Enemy and Other Entities The greatest new Project Janus threat is the Uber Klaus – a hulking robot encased in a tough, bulky exoskeleton, packed with lethal efficiency and super strength. Once the outer protection is shattered, a second form known as Uber Klaus Core appears. Keep an eye out for waves of daunting Kommando Klaus units, robot enforcers heralded by a mysterious red mist. These machines are programmed to seek and destroy, self-destructing upon contact. New Wonder Weapon: Gorgofex Buried deep within the Janus Towers is the Gorgofex, a grotesque new Wonder Weapon. This bio-aetheric weapon pulses with fungal, insectile, and floral traits and supports multiple variants for those willing to discover them. Additional Field Upgrade: Mister Peeks Summon the deadly and distracting bunny to bust out the moves and bash undead brains to a disco beat. Call of Duty: Warzone Overview Abyss Protocol Activated: Stadium Compromised Recon teams have uncovered the existence of a covert military base hidden inside the National Acropolis Arena, tied to the highly secretive Abyss Protocol. A looming threat may be buried within – Operators are advised to prepare for an imminent Stadium breach. New Contract: Satellite Hijack (Launch Window, Week One) Explode your way into the stadium with the multi-step Satellite Hijack Contract, available only during the first full week of the season. New LTMs Stadium Resurgence LTM (In-Season, Week Two): Operators will be able to access the Stadium via new rooftop entry points and participate in a fast-paced Resurgence mode with a seven-circle collapse General Overview New Weapons: In the Battle Pass, unlock two new free base weapons: the PML 5.56 LMG and ABR A1 Assault Rifle. Plus, earn additional new weapons via seasonal events. New Attachments: Bring the power to your favorite pistol with the 9mm PM Skull Splitter attachment available in the Battle Pass. And unlock an additional attachment at mid-season. Season 5 Battle Pass, Store Content Purchase the Battle Pass to immediately unlock rewards including a seasonal 10% Battle Pass XP Boost, the Stogie Sims Operator, the Infernous Legendary Blueprint for the Kilo 141 Assault Rifle, and more, providing access to over 110 pieces of unlockable content. Plus, Purchase BlackCell for the premiere Battle Pass Upgrade. Season 5 Launches August 7 Black Ops 6 is available now on PlayStation 5 and PlayStation 4. Experience the spy action thriller Campaign, the in-depth tactical chaos of Multiplayer, and soak in the gory glory of round-based Zombies!

Hi there, I’m Miki Majka, Game Producer at Rock Square Thunder. Today, I want to give you a first look at the official gameplay trailer for our upcoming game, I Hate This Place, which is coming to PlayStation 5 later this year. It’s a craft-based, isometric survival horror experience all wrapped in bold comic-style visuals […]

Hi there, I’m Miki Majka, Game Producer at Rock Square Thunder. Today, I want to give you a first look at the official gameplay trailer for our upcoming game, I Hate This Place, which is coming to PlayStation 5 later this year. It’s a craft-based, isometric survival horror experience all wrapped in bold comic-style visuals and soaked in a gritty 1980s horror atmosphere. I also want to take you a little deeper into how we’re using sound as more than just atmosphere. In I Hate This Place, silence isn’t simply golden — it can mean the difference between life and death. But first, let’s take a look at the gameplay trailer: Play Video These creatures hunt by sound As you probably noticed in the video, the world of I Hate This Place is filled with a lot of nightmarish, otherworldly creatures from a rather eerie and distorted world. But what might not be so clear is that many of these hulking monstrosities can barely see. Instead, they stalk their prey (you) by sound, so all your actions and movements need to be thought out. Every footstep, every gunshot, every clang of metal can give off your location. So whether you’re creeping through overgrown woods or navigating decrepit facilities, the surface beneath your sneakers matters. A slow, crouched shuffle across grass will likely be ignored. A careless stomp on broken glass, not so much. Verify your age to view this content. Verify your age to view this content. Making visual noise To take this system further and make it more clever to players, we also made sound into a visual language, where noise is color-coded. It’s a unique visual system inspired to tie in with the game’s comic book art style. For example: Green footsteps mean you’re quiet, crouched, moving slowly, minimizing risk Yellow signals you’re walking at a normal pace and making moderate noise Red means you’re running or being loud, and you’re a beacon for danger This color-coded feedback system doesn’t just apply to footsteps, though. Gunfire, thrown objects, even the howls and attacks of enemies all follow the same noise-visibility rules, helping you judge just how much noise all of your actions are creating. Sound as a weapon Just as sound can get you killed, it can also be used to your advantage and become your most useful weapon. With a bit of strategy and planning, you can lure monsters away from key areas or into your cleverly laid traps. Tossing an empty can down a hallway or into the underbrush might attract a nearby creature, giving you the opening you need to escape. With a bit more planning and thought, you can try to herd enemies together into the perfect spot to then toss that grenade or molatov cocktail you happened to scrounge. Stealth is your friend Combat in I Hate This Place is about choosing your battles wisely. Many of the creatures you’ll encounter are brutal, and even more so when night falls. Going in guns blazing is doable, but maybe not always the right move. Ammo is scarce, noise is dangerous, and enemies are unforgiving. Verify your age to view this content. Verify your age to view this content. So the next time you feel tempted to sprint across an open field or you think firing off a shotgun blast in a tight corridor is a good idea, think twice. In I Hate This Place, it is not just what you do, it is how loud you are when you do it. Instead, you can rely on stealth, movement, and manipulation. Using the terrain, sound cues, and enemy behavior against them becomes second nature as you learn to navigate the environment and survive it. Verify your age to view this content. Verify your age to view this content. That’s it for today’s deep dive about our combat and potentially sound-induced paranoia! Thank you so much for reading.

Battle macabre puppets in a twisted soulslike take on well-known children’s tale, use your wits to survive sprawling maps filled with threats and relive an iconic anime first-hand with the PlayStation Plus Monthly Games lineup for August. Lies of P, Day Z and My Hero One’s Justice 2 will be available to PlayStation Plus members […]

Battle macabre puppets in a twisted soulslike take on well-known children’s tale, use your wits to survive sprawling maps filled with threats and relive an iconic anime first-hand with the PlayStation Plus Monthly Games lineup for August. Lies of P, Day Z and My Hero One’s Justice 2 will be available to PlayStation Plus members from August 5. PlayStation 15th Anniversary Avatars As we announced a couple of weeks ago, the PlayStation Plus 15th anniversary celebrations are still going strong, and we’re excited to reveal a few more surprises! Starting August 5, PlayStation Plus members can claim a special set of 15th Anniversary Avatars, featuring fan-favorite titles like Cyberpunk 2077, Hogwarts Legacy, Diablo IV, God of War Ragnarök, and Twisted Metal, all available at no additional cost. View and download image Download the image close Close Download this image Lies of P | PS5, PS4 This macabre Soulslike draws its inspiration from an unlikely source: The Adventures of Pinocchio. In this grim reimagining of Carlo Collodi’s treasured tale, Pinocchio is trying to find the mysterious Mr. Geppetto. His journey takes him to Krat, a Belle Époque-inspired city whose humanity has been lost to madness and killer puppets. Pinocchio must battle for survival using a range of weapons and swappable Legion Arms with special abilities. He will also encounter non-hostile characters, but you will have to help him lie to fulfil his dream of becoming human. View and download image Download the image close Close Download this image Day Z | PS4 DayZ is a hardcore survival game where up to 60 players must strive to endure a post-apocalyptic world populated by frenzied infected and other survivors. DayZ includes the original iconic map of Chernarus and Livonia – the dense 163 km2 map which lets players experience the hardcore survival hit in a whole new environment. With no checkpoints or saves, when you die, you lose everything and have to start over. View and download image Download the image close Close Download this image My Hero One’s Justice 2 | PS4 My Hero One’s Justice 2, the over-the-top follow-up to the smash hit 3D arena fighter My Hero One’s Justice, makes its heroic debut! Make full use of characters’ Quirks as you clash head-to-head in epic battles across huge arenas! View and download image Download the image close Close Download this image Last chance to add PlayStation Plus Games for July to your library PlayStation Plus members have until August 4 to add Diablo IV, The King of Fighters XV and Jusant to their game library.

In collaboration with OpenAI, NVIDIA has optimized the company’s new open-source gpt-oss models for NVIDIA GPUs, delivering smart, fast inference from the cloud to the PC. These new reasoning models enable agentic AI applications such as web search, in-depth research and many more. With the launch of gpt-oss-20b and gpt-oss-120b, OpenAI has opened cutting-edge models Read Article

In collaboration with OpenAI, NVIDIA has optimized the company’s new open-source gpt-oss models for NVIDIA GPUs, delivering smart, fast inference from the cloud to the PC. These new reasoning models enable agentic AI applications such as web search, in-depth research and many more. With the launch of gpt-oss-20b and gpt-oss-120b, OpenAI has opened cutting-edge models to millions of users. AI enthusiasts and developers can use the optimized models on NVIDIA RTX AI PCs and workstations through popular tools and frameworks like Ollama, llama.cpp and Microsoft AI Foundry Local, and expect performance of up to 256 tokens per second on the NVIDIA GeForce RTX 5090 GPU. “OpenAI showed the world what could be built on NVIDIA AI — and now they’re advancing innovation in open-source software,” said Jensen Huang, founder and CEO of NVIDIA. “The gpt-oss models let developers everywhere build on that state-of-the-art open-source foundation, strengthening U.S. technology leadership in AI — all on the world’s largest AI compute infrastructure.” The models’ release highlights NVIDIA’s AI leadership from training to inference and from cloud to AI PC. Open for All Both gpt-oss-20b and gpt-oss-120b are flexible, open-weight reasoning models with chain-of-thought capabilities and adjustable reasoning effort levels using the popular mixture-of-experts architecture. The models are designed to support features like instruction-following and tool use, and were trained on NVIDIA H100 GPUs. AI developers can learn more and get started using instructions from the NVIDIA Technical Blog. These models can support up to 131,072 context lengths, among the longest available in local inference. This means the models can reason through context problems, ideal for tasks such as web search, coding assistance, document comprehension and in-depth research. The OpenAI open models are the first MXFP4 models supported on NVIDIA RTX. MXFP4 allows for high model quality, offering fast, efficient performance while requiring fewer resources compared with other precision types. Run the OpenAI Models on NVIDIA RTX With Ollama The easiest way to test these models on RTX AI PCs, on GPUs with at least 24GB of VRAM, is using the new Ollama app. Ollama is popular with AI enthusiasts and developers for its ease of integration, and the new user interface (UI) includes out-of-the-box support for OpenAI’s open-weight models. Ollama is fully optimized for RTX, making it ideal for consumers looking to experience the power of personal AI on their PC or workstation. Once installed, Ollama enables quick, easy chatting with the models. Simply select the model from the dropdown menu and send a message. Because Ollama is optimized for RTX, there are no additional configurations or commands required to ensure top performance on supported GPUs. Testing OpenAI’s open models in Ollama is easy. Ollama’s new app includes other new features, like easy support for PDF or text files within chats, multimodal support on applicable models so users can include images in their prompts, and easily customizable context lengths when working with large documents or chats. Developers can also use Ollama via command line interface or the app’s software development kit (SDK) to power their applications and workflows. Other Ways to Use the New OpenAI Models on RTX Enthusiasts and developers can also try the gpt-oss models on RTX AI PCs through various other applications and frameworks, all powered by RTX, on GPUs that have at least 16GB of VRAM. NVIDIA continues to collaborate with the open-source community on both llama.cpp and the GGML tensor library to optimize performance on RTX GPUs. Recent contributions include implementing CUDA Graphs to reduce overhead and adding algorithms that reduce CPU overheads. Check out the llama.cpp GitHub repository to get started. Overall performance of the gpt-oss-20b model on various RTX AI PCs. Windows developers can also access OpenAI’s new models via Microsoft AI Foundry Local, currently in public preview. Foundry Local is an on-device AI inferencing solution that integrates into workflows via the command line, SDK or application programming interfaces. Foundry Local uses ONNX Runtime, optimized through CUDA, with support for NVIDIA TensorRT for RTX coming soon. Getting started is easy: install Foundry Local and invoke “Foundry model run gpt-oss-20b” in a terminal. The release of these open-source models kicks off the next wave of AI innovation from enthusiasts and developers looking to add reasoning to their AI-accelerated Windows applications. 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.

Two new open-weight AI reasoning models from OpenAI released today bring cutting-edge AI development directly into the hands of developers, enthusiasts, enterprises, startups and governments everywhere — across every industry and at every scale. NVIDIA’s collaboration with OpenAI on these open models — gpt-oss-120b and gpt-oss-20b — is a testament to the power of community-driven Read Article

Two new open-weight AI reasoning models from OpenAI released today bring cutting-edge AI development directly into the hands of developers, enthusiasts, enterprises, startups and governments everywhere — across every industry and at every scale. NVIDIA’s collaboration with OpenAI on these open models — gpt-oss-120b and gpt-oss-20b — is a testament to the power of community-driven innovation and highlights NVIDIA’s foundational role in making AI accessible worldwide. Anyone can use the models to develop breakthrough applications in generative, reasoning and physical AI, healthcare and manufacturing — or even unlock new industries as the next industrial revolution driven by AI continues to unfold. OpenAI’s new flexible, open-weight text-reasoning large language models (LLMs) were trained on NVIDIA H100 GPUs and run inference best on the hundreds of millions of GPUs running the NVIDIA CUDA platform across the globe. The models are now available as NVIDIA NIM microservices, offering easy deployment on any GPU-accelerated infrastructure with flexibility, data privacy and enterprise-grade security. With software optimizations for the NVIDIA Blackwell platform, the models offer optimal inference on NVIDIA GB200 NVL72 systems, achieving 1.5 million tokens per second — driving massive efficiency for inference. “OpenAI showed the world what could be built on NVIDIA AI — and now they’re advancing innovation in open-source software,” said Jensen Huang, founder and CEO of NVIDIA. “The gpt-oss models let developers everywhere build on that state-of-the-art open-source foundation, strengthening U.S. technology leadership in AI — all on the world’s largest AI compute infrastructure.” NVIDIA Blackwell Delivers Advanced Reasoning As advanced reasoning models like gpt-oss generate exponentially more tokens, the demand on compute infrastructure increases dramatically. Meeting this demand calls for purpose-built AI factories powered by NVIDIA Blackwell, an architecture designed to deliver the scale, efficiency and return on investment required to run inference at the highest level. NVIDIA Blackwell includes innovations such as NVFP4 4-bit precision, which enables ultra-efficient, high-accuracy inference while significantly reducing power and memory requirements. This makes it possible to deploy trillion-parameter LLMs in real time, which can unlock billions of dollars in value for organizations. Open Development for Millions of AI Builders Worldwide NVIDIA CUDA is the world’s most widely available computing infrastructure, letting users deploy and run AI models anywhere, from the powerful NVIDIA DGX Cloud platform to NVIDIA GeForce RTX– and NVIDIA RTX PRO-powered PCs and workstations. There are over 450 million NVIDIA CUDA downloads to date, and starting today, the massive community of CUDA developers gains access to these latest models, optimized to run on the NVIDIA technology stack they already use. Demonstrating their commitment to open-sourcing software, OpenAI and NVIDIA have collaborated with top open framework providers to provide model optimizations for FlashInfer, Hugging Face, llama.cpp, Ollama and vLLM, in addition to NVIDIA Tensor-RT LLM and other libraries, so developers can build with their framework of choice. A History of Collaboration, Building on Open Source Today’s model releases underscore how NVIDIA’s full-stack approach helps bring the world’s most ambitious AI projects to the broadest user base possible. It’s a story that goes back to the earliest days of NVIDIA’s collaboration with OpenAI, which began in 2016 when Huang hand-delivered the first NVIDIA DGX-1 AI supercomputer to OpenAI’s headquarters in San Francisco. Since then, the companies have been working together to push the boundaries of what’s possible with AI, providing the core technologies and expertise needed for massive-scale training runs. And by optimizing OpenAI’s gpt-oss models for NVIDIA Blackwell and RTX GPUs, along with NVIDIA’s extensive software stack, NVIDIA is enabling faster, more cost-effective AI advancements for its 6.5 million developers across 250 countries using 900+ NVIDIA software development kits and AI models — and counting. Learn more by reading the NVIDIA Technical Blog and latest installment of the NVIDIA RTX AI Garage blog series. Get started building with the gpt-oss models.

NVIDIA GPUs are at the heart of modern computing. They’re used across industries — from healthcare and finance to scientific research, autonomous systems and AI infrastructure. NVIDIA GPUs are embedded into CT scanners and MRI machines, DNA sequencers, air-traffic radar tracking systems, city traffic-management systems, self-driving cars, supercomputers, TV broadcasting systems, casino machines and game Read Article

NVIDIA GPUs are at the heart of modern computing. They’re used across industries — from healthcare and finance to scientific research, autonomous systems and AI infrastructure. NVIDIA GPUs are embedded into CT scanners and MRI machines, DNA sequencers, air-traffic radar tracking systems, city traffic-management systems, self-driving cars, supercomputers, TV broadcasting systems, casino machines and game consoles. To mitigate the risk of misuse, some pundits and policymakers propose requiring hardware “kill switches” or built-in controls that can remotely disable GPUs without user knowledge and consent. Some suspect they might already exist. NVIDIA GPUs do not and should not have kill switches and backdoors. Hard-Coded, Single-Point Controls Are Always a Bad Idea NVIDIA has been designing processors for over 30 years. Embedding backdoors and kill switches into chips would be a gift to hackers and hostile actors. It would undermine global digital infrastructure and fracture trust in U.S. technology. Established law wisely requires companies to fix vulnerabilities — not create them. Until recently, that policy was universally held and beyond question. When security researchers discovered vulnerabilities such as “Spectre” and “Meltdown” for CPUs, governments and industry responded with speed and unity to eliminate the risk. That principle still holds. There is no such thing as a “good” secret backdoor — only dangerous vulnerabilities that need to be eliminated. Product security must always be done the right way: through rigorous internal testing, independent validation and full compliance with global cybersecurity standards. Robust security is built on the principle of “defense in depth”: layering multiple safeguards so that no single-point vulnerability can compromise or shut down a system. For decades, that’s how NVIDIA and American industry have promoted innovation while protecting users and growing the economy. This is no time to depart from that winning formula. Historical Lessons: The Clipper Chip Debacle — a Policy and Technical Failure The cybersecurity community learned these lessons the hard way during the 1990s with the NSA’s Clipper Chip initiative. Introduced in 1993, the Clipper Chip was designed to provide strong encryption while maintaining government backdoor access through a key escrow system. The Clipper Chip represented everything wrong with built-in backdoors. Security researchers discovered fundamental flaws in the system that could allow malicious parties to tamper with the software. It created centralized vulnerabilities that could be exploited by adversaries. The mere existence of government backdoors undermined user confidence in the security of systems. Kill switches and built-in backdoors create single points of failure and violate the fundamental principles of cybersecurity. Promote Smart Software Tools, Not Dangerous Hardware Traps Some point to smartphone features like “find my phone” or “remote wipe” as models for a GPU kill switch. That comparison doesn’t hold water — optional software features, controlled by the user, are not hardware backdoors. NVIDIA has always supported open, transparent software that helps customers get the most from their GPU-powered systems — diagnostics, performance monitoring, bug reporting and timely patching — with the user’s knowledge and consent. That’s responsible, secure computing. It helps our customers excel, and industry stay ahead. Hardwiring a kill switch into a chip is something entirely different: a permanent flaw beyond user control, and an open invitation for disaster. It’s like buying a car where the dealership keeps a remote control for the parking brake — just in case they decide you shouldn’t be driving. That’s not sound policy. It’s an overreaction that would irreparably harm America’s economic and national security interests. Hardware Integrity Should Be Nonpartisan and Nonnegotiable For decades, policymakers have championed industry’s efforts to create secure, trustworthy hardware. Governments have many tools to protect nations, consumers and the economy. Deliberately weakening critical infrastructure should never be one of them. There are no back doors in NVIDIA chips. No kill switches. No spyware. That’s not how trustworthy systems are built — and never will be.

Interest in generative AI is continuing to grow, as new models include more capabilities. With the latest advancements, even enthusiasts without a developer background can dive right into tapping these models. With popular applications like Langflow — a low-code, visual platform for designing custom AI workflows — AI enthusiasts can use simple, no-code user interfaces Read Article

Interest in generative AI is continuing to grow, as new models include more capabilities. With the latest advancements, even enthusiasts without a developer background can dive right into tapping these models. With popular applications like Langflow — a low-code, visual platform for designing custom AI workflows — AI enthusiasts can use simple, no-code user interfaces (UIs) to chain generative AI models. And with native integration for Ollama, users can now create local AI workflows and run them at no cost and with complete privacy, powered by NVIDIA GeForce RTX and RTX PRO GPUs. Visual Workflows for Generative AI Langflow offers an easy-to-use, canvas-style interface where components of generative AI models — like large language models (LLMs), tools, memory stores and control logic — can be connected through a simple drag-and-drop UI. This allows complex AI workflows to be built and modified without manual scripting, easing the development of agents capable of decision-making and multistep actions. AI enthusiasts can iterate and build complex AI workflows without prior coding expertise. Build complex AI workflows without prior coding expertise in Langflow. Unlike apps limited to running a single-turn LLM query, Langflow can build advanced AI workflows that behave like intelligent collaborators, capable of analyzing files, retrieving knowledge, executing functions and responding contextually to dynamic inputs. Langflow can run models from the cloud or locally — with full acceleration for RTX GPUs through Ollama. Running workflows locally provides multiple key benefits: Data privacy: Inputs, files and prompts remain confined to the device. Low costs and no API keys: As cloud application programming interface access is not required, there are no token restrictions, service subscriptions or costs associated with running the AI models. Performance: RTX GPUs enable low-latency, high-throughput inference, even with long context windows. Offline functionality: Local AI workflows are accessible without the internet. Creating Local Agents With Langflow and Ollama Getting started with Ollama within Langflow is simple. Built-in starters are available for use cases ranging from travel agents to purchase assistants. The default templates typically run in the cloud for testing, but they can be customized to run locally on RTX GPUs with Langflow. Langflow provides a variety of built-in starters to test AI agents. To build a local workflow: Install the Langflow desktop app for Windows. Install Ollama, then run Ollama and launch the preferred model (Llama 3.1 8B or Qwen3 4B recommended for users’ first workflow). Run Langflow and select a starter. Replace cloud endpoints with local Ollama runtime. For agentic workflows, set the language model to Custom, drag an Ollama node to the canvas and connect the agent node’s custom model to the Language Model output of the Ollama node. Templates can be modified and expanded — such as by adding system commands, local file search or structured outputs — to meet advanced automation and assistant use cases. Watch this step-by-step walkthrough from the Langflow team: Get Started Below are two sample projects to start exploring. Create a personal travel itinerary agent: Input all travel requirements — including desired restaurant reservations, travelers’ dietary restrictions and more — to automatically find and arrange accommodations, transport, food and entertainment. Expand Notion’s capabilities: Notion, an AI workspace application for organizing projects, can be expanded with AI models that automatically input meeting notes, update the status of projects based on Slack chats or email, and send out project or meeting summaries. RTX Remix Adds Model Context Protocol, Unlocking Agent Mods RTX Remix — an open-source platform that allows modders to enhance materials with generative AI tools and create stunning RTX remasters that feature full ray tracing and neural rendering technologies — is adding support for Model Context Protocol (MCP) with Langflow. Langflow nodes with MCP give users a direct interface for working with RTX Remix — enabling modders to build modding assistants capable of intelligently interacting with Remix documentation and mod functions. To help modders get started, NVIDIA’s Langflow Remix template includes: A retrieval-augmented generation module with RTX Remix documentation. Real-time access to Remix documentation for Q&A-style support. An action nodule via MCP that supports direct function execution inside RTX Remix, including asset replacement, metadata updates and automated mod interactions. Modding assistant agents built with this template can determine whether a query is informational or action-oriented. Based on context, agents dynamically respond with guidance or take the requested action. For example, a user might prompt the agent: “Swap this low-resolution texture with a higher-resolution version.” In response, the agent would check the asset’s metadata, locate an appropriate replacement and update the project using MCP functions — without requiring manual interaction. Documentation and setup instructions for the Remix template are available in the RTX Remix developer guide. Control RTX AI PCs With Project G-Assist in Langflow NVIDIA Project G-Assist is an experimental, on-device AI assistant that runs locally on GeForce RTX PCs. It enables users to query system information (e.g. PC specs, CPU/GPU temperatures, utilization), adjust system settings and more — all through simple natural language prompts. With the G-Assist component in Langflow, these capabilities can be built into custom agentic workflows. Users can prompt G-Assist to “get GPU temperatures” or “tune fan speeds” — and its response and actions will flow through their chain of components. Beyond diagnostics and system control, G-Assist is extensible via its plug-in architecture, which allows users to add new commands tailored to their workflows. Community-built plug-ins can also be invoked directly from Langflow workflows. To get started with the G-Assist component in Langflow, read the developer documentation. Langflow is also a development tool for NVIDIA NeMo microservices, a modular platform for building and deploying AI workflows across on-premises or cloud Kubernetes environments. With integrated support for Ollama and MCP, Langflow offers a practical no-code platform for building real-time AI workflows and agents that run fully offline and on device, all accelerated by NVIDIA GeForce RTX and RTX PRO GPUs. 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.

August brings new levels of gaming excitement on GeForce NOW, with 2,300 titles now available to stream in the cloud. Grab a controller and get ready for epic adventures — nearly a dozen new games are coming to the cloud this month. Each week brings fresh titles for members to discover, stream and conquer. Get Read Article

August brings new levels of gaming excitement on GeForce NOW, with 2,300 titles now available to stream in the cloud. Grab a controller and get ready for epic adventures — nearly a dozen new games are coming to the cloud this month. Each week brings fresh titles for members to discover, stream and conquer. Get ready to shrink down for big fun — early access for Grounded 2, announced as a surprise in June at XBOX Games Showcase, will be available to stream on day one: tomorrow, Aug. 1. Plus, finish off July with the eight games available to stream this week, alongside the latest update for the acclaimed open-world action role-playing game Genshin Impact. The Park Is Calling Oops, shrunken again. Step into the wild, unpredictable world of Brookhollow Park — Grounded 2 is launching in early access in the cloud, and the backyard has never felt bigger or more alive. Shrink to the size of an ant, navigate towering blades of grass, uncover hidden secrets and face off against bugs that can be friend or foe. Craft weapons and armor from scavenged materials, build creative bases and raise Buggie companions to help explore and survive. Whether playing solo or with friends, every day brings new challenges and surprises. Grounded 2’s quirky humor and inventive gameplay make every moment an adventure, from dodging predators to racing Buggies through underground tunnels. Experience every detail rendered in stunning quality streaming from a GeForce RTX-powered gaming rig in the cloud. Jump into the game instantly — no downloads, installs or waiting. Whether on a low-powered laptop, Mac or mobile device, GeForce NOW brings the full power of high-end gaming hardware to members through the cloud. Arriving in August Welcome to the Easybreeze Holiday Resort. Genshin Impact Version 5.8, “Sunspray Summer Resort,” is now live in the cloud, letting players dive in instantly — no updates needed. Explore Natlan’s new Easybreeze Holiday Resort, filled with events, mini games and new exploration features. Meet Ineffa, the first Nod-Krai five-star electro polearm user, alongside returning favorites like Bennett and Venti, in a fresh Story Quest. The update includes limited-time rewards, an exclusive Claymore, new outfits and gameplay improvements. It also marks the start of the “Song of the Welkin Moon” storyline, expanding Natlan and Nod-Krai lore. Catch the games ready to play today: Grounded 2 (New release on Steam and Xbox, available on PC Game Pass, July 29) Achilles: Survivor (New release on Steam, July 29) Frosthaven (New release on Steam, July 31) Dead Take (New release on Steam, July 31) Farming Simulator 25 (New release on Xbox, available on PC Game Pass, Aug. 1) High on Life (Xbox, available on PC Game Pass) The King Is Watching (Steam) Ultimate Chicken Horse (Xbox, available on PC Game Pass) Catch the full list of games coming to the cloud in August: Mafia: The Old Country (New release on Steam, Aug. 8) Echoes of the End (New release on Steam, Aug. 12) Supraworld (New release on Steam, Aug. 15) VOID/BREAKER (New release on Steam, Aug. 20) Aztecs: The Last Sun (New release on Steam, Aug. 28) Among Us 3D (Steam) Funko Fusion (Steam) Field of Glory II: Medieval (Steam) The Rogue Prince of Persia (New release on Ubisoft) No Sleep for Kaname Date – From AI: THE SOMNIUM FILES (Steam) Say Bye to July In addition to the 20 games announced in July, an extra 15 joined over the month, including Achilles: Survivor, Frosthaven and Dead Take, newly added this week: Abiotic Factor (Xbox, available on PC Game Pass) Barony (Steam) BitCraft Online (Steam) He Is Coming (Xbox, available on PC Game Pass) Humanity (Xbox, available on the Microsoft store) Legion TD 2 (Epic Games Store) PEAK (Steam) RoboCop: Rogue City (New release on Xbox) SteamWorld Dig (Steam) SUPERVIVE (Steam) Tony Hawk’s Pro Skater 1 + 2 (Steam, Epic Games Store and Xbox, available on the Microsoft Store) WUCHANG: Fallen Feathers (Xbox, available on PC Game Pass) Call of Duty: Modern Warfare II and Call of Duty: Modern Warfare III were moved from the main Call of Duty HQ launcher and are now standalone downloads. Both games will be available to stream on GeForce NOW in the coming days. Check out this knowledgebase article for more information. What are you planning to play this weekend? Let us know on X or in the comments below. The cloud remembers everything. What was the very first game you streamed on GeForce NOW? — NVIDIA GeForce NOW (@NVIDIAGFN) July 29, 2025

Sharpen the blade and brace for a journey steeped in myth and mystery. WUCHANG: Fallen Feathers has launched in the cloud. Ride in style with skateboarding legends in Tony Hawk’s Pro Skater 1 + 2, now just a grind away. Or team up with friends to fend off relentless Zed hordes in the pulse-pounding action Read Article

Sharpen the blade and brace for a journey steeped in myth and mystery. WUCHANG: Fallen Feathers has launched in the cloud. Ride in style with skateboarding legends in Tony Hawk’s Pro Skater 1 + 2, now just a grind away. Or team up with friends to fend off relentless Zed hordes in the pulse-pounding action of Killing Floor 3. The adventures begin now with nine new games on GeForce NOW this week. Rise From Ruin Nothing is forever. Dive into the hauntingly beautiful world of Ming Dynasty China in WUCHANG: Fallen Feathers, where supernatural forces and corrupted souls lurk around every corner. Step into the shoes of Wuchang, a fierce warrior battling monstrous enemies and the curse of the feathering phenomenon. Every decision and weapon swing carves a path through a world that’s as treacherous as it is breathtaking. The game’s rich lore and atmospheric storytelling pull players into a dark, soulslike adventure where danger and discovery go hand in hand. Stream the game in all its gothic glory with GeForce NOW, no legendary hardware needed. Powered by a GeForce RTX gaming rig in the cloud, GeForce NOW enables members to stream instantly across devices and immerse themselves in epic combat and stunning visuals. Ultimate members can soar to new heights and stream at up to 4K resolution 120 frames per second or 240 fps for even smoother frame rates — all at ultralow latency. Gravity Is Optional Ollie on, game on. Drop in, grab a deck and get ready to grind — Tony Hawk’s Pro Skater 1 + 2 is kickflipping their way onto the cloud, joining the newly launched Tony Hawk’s Pro Skater 3 + 4. Drop back into the iconic skateboarding games with legendary pros, an era-defining soundtrack and insane trick combos. Whether chasing high scores in the warehouse or spelling out S-K-A-T-E in school, these classics deliver all the gnarly action and style that defined a generation. Skate as legendary pros, master iconic parks and pull off wild tricks in Tony Hawk’s Pro Skater. Tony Hawk’s Pro Skater 2 ups the ante with new moves, create-a-skater mode and even more legendary levels to conquer. With GeForce NOW, ollie into the action instantly — no installs, no updates, just pure skateboarding bliss across devices. Hit those perfect lines in crisp, high-resolution graphics, enjoy ultralow latency and keep progress rolling even on the go. It’s the ultimate way to shred, whether gamers are seasoned pros or just starting out. Adventure Time Face the horde. Descend into chaos in Killing Floor 3, a next-generation co-op first person shooter where players are humanity’s last defense against the relentless Zed horde, bioengineered monstrosities created by a sinister megacorporation. Take on the role of a Specialist, each with unique abilities, and face ever-evolving waves of smarter, faster enemies in atmospheric, gore-drenched arenas. Customize the arsenal, master new agile movement options and unleash powerful gadgets to turn the tide of battle. Use “Zed Time” to slow the action, exploit deadly environmental traps and upgrade gear while fighting for survival to stand strong. In addition, members can look for the following: Abiotic Factor (New release on Xbox, available on PC Game Pass, July 22) Wildgate (New release on Steam, July 22) WUCHANG: Fallen Feathers (New release on Steam, Epic Games Store and Xbox, available on PC Game Pass, July 23) Killing Floor 3 (New release on Steam, July 24) Legion TD 2 (Epic Games Store, Free July 24) Barony (Steam) He is Coming (Xbox, available on PC Game Pass) SUPERVIVE (Steam) Tony Hawk’s Pro Skater 1 + 2 (Steam, Epic Games Store and Xbox, available on the Microsoft store.) What are you planning to play this weekend? Let us know on X or in the comments below. You’ve avoided that one game boss long enough. Time to face your pixelated fears. — NVIDIA GeForce NOW (@NVIDIAGFN) July 21, 2025

For media company Black Mixture, AI isn’t just a tool — it’s an entire pipeline to help bring creative visions to life. Founded in 2010 by Nate and Chriselle Dwarika, Black Mixture takes an innovative approach to using AI in creative workflows. It built its visual reputation in motion design and production using traditional artistry Read Article

For media company Black Mixture, AI isn’t just a tool — it’s an entire pipeline to help bring creative visions to life. Founded in 2010 by Nate and Chriselle Dwarika, Black Mixture takes an innovative approach to using AI in creative workflows. It built its visual reputation in motion design and production using traditional artistry methods and has since expanded its breadth of work to educating artists who want to start incorporating AI tools into their own projects, curating custom AI resources and sharing tutorials on their YouTube channel. In recent years, Black Mixture has enhanced its creative workflows in apps with GPU-accelerated features. Today, the company has added new AI models and features to its toolkit, running the most complex AI tasks locally on an NVIDIA GeForce RTX 4090-equipped system. Black Mixture uses generative AI to create or enhance video footage and image assets. This week, RTX AI Garage dives into some of the apps and workflows the company uses, as well as some AI tips and tricks. Plus, NVIDIA Broadcast version 2.0.2 is now available, with up to a 15% performance boost for GeForce RTX 50 Series and NVIDIA RTX PRO Blackwell GPUs. An AI for Presentation Iteration is a critical part of the generative AI content creation process, with a typical project requiring the generation of up to hundreds of images. While models such as ChatGPT and Google Gemini can create a single image fairly quickly, artists like Nate and Chriselle Dwarika require much faster speeds and greater creative control. With on-device AI tools accelerated by RTX, that speed and control is achievable. Nearly all locally powered generative AI models are accelerated by NVIDIA GeForce RTX. Generating a standard 1024×1024 image in ComfyUI takes 2-3 seconds on my RTX 4090. When you’re batch-generating hundreds of assets, that’s the difference between an hour, an entire day or more.” — Nate Dwarika Using generative AI, the Black Mixture team can easily draw inspiration from a much wider variety of high-quality images than with manual methods, while refining outputs to their client’s preferred vision. Nate Dwarika uses the node-based interface ComfyUI in his text-to-image workflow. It offers a high degree of flexibility in the arrangement of nodes, with the ability to combine different characteristics of popular generative AI models — all accelerated by his GeForce RTX GPU. One such generative AI model is FLUX.1-dev, an image generation model from Black Forest Labs. When deployed in ComfyUI on an RTX AI PC, the model taps CUDA accelerations in PyTorch that significantly speeds an artist’s workflow. The image below, which would take about two minutes per image on a Mac M3 Ultra, takes less than 12 seconds to generate with a GeForce RTX 4090 desktop GPU. Made in seconds, not minutes, on RTX. Black Forest Labs also offers FLUX.1 Kontext, a family of models that allow users to start from a reference image or text prompt and guide edits with suggestions, without fine-tuning or complex workflows with multiple ControlNets, extensions that enable more precise control over the image structure, composition and more. Take the stunning dragon visual below. FLUX.1 Kontext enabled the artist to rapidly iterate on his initial visual, guiding the AI model with additional inputs like poses, edges and depth maps within the same prompt window. You’re scared. I’m not scared. FLUX.1 Kontext is also offered in quantized variants that reduces VRAM requirements so more users can run it locally. It makes use of hardware accelerations in NVIDIA GeForce RTX Ada Generation and Blackwell GPUs. Together with NVIDIA TensorRT optimizations, these variants provide more than double the performance. There are two levels of quantization: FP8 and FP4. FP8 is accelerated on both GeForce RTX 40 and 50 Series GPUs, while FP4 is accelerated solely on the 50 Series. Dwarika also uses Stable Diffusion 3.5, which supports FP8 quantization for the GeForce RTX 40 Series — enabling 40% less VRAM usage and nearly doubling image generation speed. With these visual AI tools, Black Mixture can create photorealistic, original visuals for its clients in a time- and cost-effective way. Nate and Chriselle Dwarika also use a variety of more traditional content creation tools — all accelerated by RTX. For video content, Nate Dwarika captures footage on OBS Studio using the NVIDIA encoder (NVENC) built into his GeForce RTX 4090 GPU. Because NVENC is a separate encoder, the rest of the GPU can focus on resource-intensive ComfyUI workflows without reducing performance, all while maintaining top encoding quality. The husband-and-wife duo completes final edits and touch-ups in Adobe Premiere Pro, which includes a wide variety of RTX-accelerated AI features like Media Intelligence, Enhance Speech and Unsharp Mask. They use GPU-accelerated encoding with NVENC to dramatically speed final file exports. Black Mixture’s next project is an Advanced Generative AI Course to help creators get started with using AI in their workflows. It includes a series of live trainings that explore generative AI capabilities, as well as NVIDIA RTX AI technology and optimizations. Attendees can expect 6-8 weeks of live sessions, 30+ hours of self-paced lessons, guest experts, a student showcase, exclusive AI toolkits and more. Next-Generation Streaming NVIDIA Broadcast version 2.0.2 delivers 15% faster performance for NVIDIA GeForce RTX 50 Series and NVIDIA RTX PRO Blackwell GPUs. With the performance boost, AI features like Studio Voice and Virtual Key Light can now be used on GeForce RTX 5070 GPUs or higher. Studio Voice enhances the sound of a user’s microphone to match that of a high-quality microphone, while Virtual Key Light relights a subject’s face to illuminate it as if it were well-lit by two lights. The Eye Contact feature — which uses AI to make it appear as if users are looking directly at the camera, even when glancing to the side or taking notes — is improved with increased stability for eye color. Additional enhancements include updated user interface elements for easier navigation and improved high contrast theme support. Download NVIDIA Broadcast. 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.

Marketing leaders are accelerating content pipelines with solutions built using OpenUSD, NVIDIA Omniverse and agentic AI.

In today’s fast-evolving digital landscape, marketing teams face increasing pressure to deliver personalized, brand-accurate content at scale and speed. Traditional content creation workflows are often time-consuming, costly and fragmented across multiple tools and teams. Universal Scene Description (OpenUSD), an open and extensible 3D framework, is helping teams overcome these challenges by streamlining how marketing content is created, managed and delivered. Global brands including Coca-Cola, Moët Hennessy, Nestlé and Unilever are harnessing innovative marketing solutions built on NVIDIA Omniverse — a platform for developing OpenUSD applications. These AI-based solutions dramatically accelerate content generation for advertising and consumer engagement: Moët Hennessy boosts local responsiveness by scaling over 3 million content variations globally, at double the speed. Nestlé reduces time and costs associated with advertising by 70% by scaling digital twins. Unilever’s content imagery is being created 2x faster and at half the cost of traditional methods, leading to 100% brand consistency and quicker content creation. By using the NVIDIA Omniverse Blueprint for precise visual generative AI, solution providers and software developers are enabling organizations to rapidly produce high-quality, brand-accurate, engaging visuals for local markets at scale, streamlining workflows and ensuring creative consistency across every channel. Accelerating Content Creation From Weeks to Minutes Industry leaders are already seeing the results of tapping AI and OpenUSD for marketing workflows. Accenture Song used OpenUSD in Omniverse to launch an AI-powered content service for Nestlé. The content service creates exact 3D virtual replicas of products for e-commerce and digital media channels, demonstrating the impact of digital twins and advanced 3D workflows. Accenture Song, Nestlé SKAI Intelligence, a global provider of AI-powered content creation solutions, recently debuted the world’s first end-to-end, retail-focused AI-generated content production pipeline built entirely on NVIDIA Omniverse. The browser-based, AI-native workflow automates the entire content generation process — from product scanning and modeling to animation, lighting and rendering — and delivers up to 95% faster production speeds versus traditional methods. Katana Studio, a real-time 3D content creation studio and developer behind the COATcreate tool, has used NVIDIA Omniverse to streamline automotive marketing for Nissan, significantly reducing asset creation timelines and costs. INDG, a digital content automation company, developed the software-as-a-service platform Grip on NVIDIA Omniverse and OpenUSD to empower global brands like Moët Hennessy and Coca-Cola to produce high-quality, brand-consistent content across markets. Grip, Moët Hennessy By centralizing OpenUSD asset libraries and creating digital twins of products, Grip enables teams to quickly assemble, adapt and deploy campaign-ready content in just minutes — rather than weeks. This approach directly addresses the challenges of slow, costly and inconsistent manual localization processes that have long hindered marketing efforts. Grip relies on rules-based AI, NVIDIA RTX GPUs and the NVIDIA AI Enterprise software platform to ensure brand consistency across diverse markets. The Grip platform also integrates Bria’s visual generative AI models to enhance automated content production at scale. Grip’s content engine acts as a virtual art director, codifying and enforcing brand guidelines for every asset while dynamically adjusting composition, lighting and product details. Dive deeper into Grip’s innovative approach at the company’s upcoming session at SIGGRAPH, a computer graphics conference taking place Aug. 10-14 at the Vancouver Convention Centre and online. Unilever, in collaboration with Collective World, is using Omniverse, OpenUSD and photorealistic 3D digital twins to accelerate content production. Unilever’s new content-creation workflow, powered by real-time 3D rendering, has cut production timelines from months to days, halved costs and enabled consistent brand experiences across markets with a 5x reduction in content duplication. Collective World, Unilever, Nexxus Monks, a digital-first marketing and technology services company, is also using Omniverse and OpenUSD to drive hyperpersonalized and collaborative product experiences. The technologies allow Monks’ services to empower brands to virtually explore and customize product designs in real time. Hear Monks representatives discuss how they’re building automated pipelines and agentic systems to ease deployment and scaling of AI-driven marketing operations across the enterprise: Get Plugged Into the World of OpenUSD Discover the future of 3D content creation and connect with the OpenUSD community by joining NVIDIA at SIGGRAPH. Highlights will include: A special address on Monday, Aug. 11, with NVIDIA AI research leaders Sanja Fidler, Aaron Lefohn and Ming-Yu Liu, who’ll chart the next frontier in computer graphics and physical AI. OpenUSD Day, taking place on Wednesday, Aug. 13, features sessions and a developer meetup where developers and industry leaders can explore how OpenUSD is adopted across every application, from content creation and simulation to physical AI. Hands-on OpenUSD training for all skill levels, including the first-ever in-person opportunity to receive USD certification. Discover why developers and 3D practitioners are using OpenUSD and learn how to optimize 3D workflows with the self-paced “Learn OpenUSD” curriculum for 3D developers and practitioners, available for free through the NVIDIA Deep Learning Institute. Explore the Alliance for OpenUSD forum and the AOUSD website. Stay up to date by subscribing to NVIDIA Omniverse news, joining the Omniverse community and following NVIDIA Omniverse on Instagram, LinkedIn, Medium and X. Featured image courtesy of Grip, Moët Hennessy.

With advancements in agentic AI, intelligent AI systems are maturing to now facilitate autonomous decision-making across industries, including financial services.

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. With advancements in agentic AI, intelligent AI systems are maturing to now facilitate autonomous decision-making across industries, including financial services. Over the last year, customer service-related use of generative AI, including chatbots and AI assistants, has more than doubled in financial services, rising from 25% to 60%. Organizations are using AI to automate time-intensive tasks like document processing and report generation, driving significant cost savings and operational efficiency. According to NVIDIA’s latest State of AI in Financial Services report, more than 90% of respondents reported a positive impact on their organization’s revenue from AI. AI agents are versatile, capable of adapting to complex tasks that require strict protocols and secure data usage. They can help with an expanding list of use cases, from enabling better investment decisions by automatically identifying portfolio optimization strategies to ensuring regulatory alignment and compliance automation. Where AI Agents Offer the Most Value in Financial Services To improve market returns and business performance, AI agents are being adopted in various areas that benefit greatly from autonomous decision-making backed by data. Elevated Customer Service Experiences According to the State of AI in Financial Services report, 60% of respondents said customer experience and engagement was the top use case for generative AI. Businesses using AI have already seen customer experiences improve by 26%. AI agents can help automate repetitive tasks while providing next steps, such as dispute resolution and know-your-customer updates. This reduces operational costs and helps minimize human errors. By handling customer inquiries and forms, AI chatbots scale support and ensure 24/7 availability, enhancing customer satisfaction. Employees can focus on higher-level, judgment-based cases, rather than performing case intake, data analysis and documentation. Advanced Fraud Detection In addition, AI agents are crucial for fraud detection, as they can detect and respond to suspicious transactions automatically. The State of AI report highlighted that out of 20 use cases, cybersecurity experienced the highest growth over the last year, with more than a third of respondents now assessing or investing in AI for cybersecurity. AI closes the time gap between detection and action, as a lack of action can result in significant financial loss. To combat fraud, AI agents can monitor transaction patterns in real time, learn from new types of fraud and take immediate action by alerting compliance teams or freezing suspicious accounts — all without the need for human intervention. Plus, teams of AI agents can work with other systems to retrieve additional data, simulate potential fraud scenarios and investigate abnormalities. Managing Digital Payments and Banking Transactions AI agents make financial management easier, especially for bill payment and cash flow management. Because agentic AI supports machine-to-machine interactions in digital ecosystems, it can ensure regulatory compliance by automatically maintaining detailed audit trails. This reduces compliance costs and processing time, making it easier for financial institutions to operate in complex regulatory environments. Intelligent Document Processing For capital markets, the most powerful investment insights are often hidden in unstructured text data from everyday document sources such as news articles, blogs and SEC filings. AI agents can accelerate intelligent document processing (IDP) to provide insight and investment recommendations for traders, enabling faster decision-making and reducing the risk of financial losses. In consumer banking, handling documents like loan records, regulatory filings and transaction records involves a lot of complex data. This amount of data is so large that it can be difficult and time-consuming to process and understand it manually. IDP helps solve this issue, using AI to identify document types, summarize documents, employ retrieval-augmented generation for answers and support, and organize data. The data-driven insights from multi-agent systems inform strategic business decisions as these systems continuously learn from customer and institutional data using a data flywheel. Examples of AI Agents in Financial Services Many industry customers and partners have benefited significantly from integrating AI into their workflows. For example, BlackRock uses Aladdin, a proprietary platform that unifies investment management processes across public and private markets for institutional investors. With numerous Aladdin applications and thousands of specialized users, the BlackRock team identified an opportunity to use AI to streamline the platform’s user experience while fostering connectivity and operational efficiency. Rapidly and securely, BlackRock has bolstered the Aladdin platform with advanced AI through Aladdin Copilot. Using a federated development model, where different teams can work on AI agents independently while building on a common foundation, BlackRock’s central AI team established a standardized communication system and plug-in registry. This allows the firm’s developers and data scientists to create and deploy AI agents tailored to their specific areas, improving intelligence and efficiency for clients. Another example is bunq’s generative AI platform, Finn, which offers users a range of features to help manage finances through an in-app chatbot. It can answer questions about money, provide insight into spending habits and offer tips on using the bunq app. Finn uses advanced AI to improve its responses based on feedback and, beyond the in-app chatbot, now handles over 90% of all users’ support tickets. Capital One is also assisting customers with Chat Concierge, its multi-agent conversational AI assistant designed to enhance the automotive-buying experience. Consumers have 24/7 access to agents that provide real-time information and take action based on user requests. In a single conversation, Chat Concierge can perform tasks like comparing vehicles to help car buyers find their ideal choice and scheduling test drives or appointments with a sales team. RBC’s latest platform for global research, Aiden, uses internal agents to automatically perform analysis when companies covered by RBC Capital Markets release SEC filings. Aiden has an orchestration agent working with other agents, such as the SEC filing agent, earnings agent and a real-time news agent. Designing an AI-Powered Finance Agent The building blocks of a powerful financial services agent include: Multimodal and Multi-Query Capabilities: These agents can process and respond to queries that combine text and images, making search processes more versatile and user-friendly. They can also easily be extended to support other modalities such as voice. Integration With Large Language Models: Advanced LLMs, such as the NVIDIA Llama Nemotron family, bring reasoning capabilities to AI assistants, enabling them to engage in natural, humanlike interactions. NVIDIA NIM microservices provide industry-standard application programming interfaces for simple integration into AI applications, development frameworks and workflows. Management of Structured and Unstructured Data: NVIDIA NeMo Retriever microservices enable the ingestion, embedding and understanding of relevant data sources, helping ensure AI agent responses are relevant, accurate and context-aware. Integration, Optimization and AutomationI: NVIDIA NeMo Agent toolkit enables building, profiling and optimizing AI agents through unified monitoring, detailed workflow profiling, and data-driven optimization tools that expose bottlenecks, reduce costs and ensure scalable, reliable agentic systems across popular frameworks and custom workflows. Guardrails for Safe, On-Topic Conversations: NVIDIA NeMo Guardrails are implemented to help ensure that conversations with the AI assistant remain safe and on topic, ultimately protecting brand values and bolstering customer trust. Learn more about how financial services companies are using AI to enhance services and business operations in the full State of AI in Financial Services report.

The University of Bristol’s Isambard-AI, powered by NVIDIA Grace Hopper Superchips, delivers 21 exaflops of AI performance, making it the fastest system in the U.K. and among the most energy-efficient globally.

Listen up citizens, the law is back and patrolling the cloud. Nacon’s RoboCop Rogue City — Unfinished Business launches today in the cloud, bringing justice to every device, everywhere. Log in, lock and load, and take charge with the ten games heading to the cloud this week. Plus, Cyberpunk 2077’s 2.3 update amps up the Read Article

Listen up citizens, the law is back and patrolling the cloud. Nacon’s RoboCop Rogue City — Unfinished Business launches today in the cloud, bringing justice to every device, everywhere. Log in, lock and load, and take charge with the ten games heading to the cloud this week. Plus, Cyberpunk 2077’s 2.3 update amps up the chaos in Night City while Zenless Zone Zero’s 2.1 update delivers summer vibes — all instantly playable in the cloud. Suit Up You have the right to remain excited. Step into the titanium boots of RoboCop, the ultimate cybernetic law enforcer. Whether a veteran of the force or a rookie looking to protect the innocent, players will encounter a fresh case file packed with explosive action, tough choices, and that signature blend of grit and dry wit in RoboCop Rogue City — Unfinished Business. Tackle a new storyline that puts players’ decision-making skills to the test, and wield the iconic RoboCop weapons while upholding the law. With GeForce NOW, players won’t need a high-tech lab to experience high visual quality and lightning-fast gameplay. Stream the game instantly on mobile devices, laptops, SHIELD TV, Samsung and LG smart TVs, gaming handhelds or even that old PC that’s seen better days. Night City, New Tricks See Night City in a whole new light. Cyberpunk 2077’s Update 2.3 is rolling out with a turbocharged dose of Night City attitude. Four new quests are dropping, each unlocking a fresh set of wheels — including the ARV-Q340 Semimaru from the “Cyberpunk Kickdown” comic and the Rayfield Caliburn “Mordred,” plucked from the personal collection of Yorinobu Arasaka himself. Getting around just got slicker, too, thanks to the new AutoDrive feature: Players can let their rides do the work while soaking in the neon skyline with cinematic camera angles. Those with eddies to burn can even call a Delamain cab to take them to their destination in style. Almost every ride in the game is getting an upgrade through the expanded CrystalCoat and TwinTone technologies that let players customize their vehicle’s colors. Plus, Photo Mode is getting a serious glow-up. Add new characters, poses, outfits, stickers and frames to shots, and change the time of day to get the perfect lighting. Those ready to hit the streets can stream Cyberpunk 2077’s latest update instantly on GeForce NOW and experience Night City’s new thrills from anywhere, on any device — at the highest-quality settings. No upgrades or fancy hardware needed, just pure, cutting-edge gameplay delivered straight from the cloud. New Games Assemble Time to make waves. Catch Zenless Zone Zero’s 2.1 update, “The Impending Crash of Waves,” in the cloud without having to wait for downloads. The update brings a wave of summer content to the game. Explore two new regions — Sailume Bay and the Fantasy Resort — while diving into a fresh chapter of the main story featuring the Spook Shack faction. The update introduces two new S-Rank agents, Ukinami Yuzuha and Alice Thymefield, plus the S-Rank Bangboo Miss Esme, alongside summer-themed events, mini games — like surfing and fishing — new outfits and quality-of-life improvements. In addition, members can look for the following: Stronghold Crusader: Definitive Edition (New release on Steam, July 15) The Drifter (New release on Steam, July 17) He Is Coming (New release on Steam, July 17) DREADZONE (New release on Steam, July 17) RoboCop: Rogue City (New release on Xbox, available on PC Game Pass, July 17) RoboCop: Rogue City — Unfinished Business (New release on Steam, July 17) Battle Brothers (Steam) BitCraft Online (Steam) Humanity (Xbox, available on the Microsoft store) SteamWorld Dig (Steam) What are you planning to play this weekend? Let us know on X or in the comments below. What game soundtrack do you still hear in your head—years later? — NVIDIA GeForce NOW (@NVIDIAGFN) July 15, 2025

Submissions for NVIDIA’s Plug and Play: Project G-Assist Plug-In Hackathon are due Sunday, July 20, at 11:59pm PT. RTX AI Garage offers all the tools and resources to help. The hackathon invites the community to expand the capabilities of Project G-Assist, an experimental AI assistant available through the NVIDIA App that helps users control and Read Article

Submissions for NVIDIA’s Plug and Play: Project G-Assist Plug-In Hackathon are due Sunday, July 20, at 11:59pm PT. RTX AI Garage offers all the tools and resources to help. The hackathon invites the community to expand the capabilities of Project G-Assist, an experimental AI assistant available through the NVIDIA App that helps users control and optimize NVIDIA GeForce RTX systems. Entrants gain the chance to win a GeForce RTX 5090 laptop, or a limited NVIDIA GeForce RTX 5080 or RTX 5070 Founders Edition graphics card, plus NVIDIA Deep Learning Institute credits. Finalists may also be featured on NVIDIA’s social media channels. Register for the hackathon and check out the curated technical resources below to bring these submissions to life. (G-)Assist With AI When in the heat of a gaming moment or the flow of a creative project, interrupting one’s focus to navigate complex PC settings menus is a common frustration. For example, manually tweaking GPU performance or optimizing system parameters often requires leaving the user’s current application, which breaks concentration. Enter Project G-Assist, which allows users to control their RTX GPU and other system settings using natural language. It’s powered by a small language model that runs on device and can be accessed directly from the NVIDIA overlay within the NVIDIA App — no need to tab out or switch programs. Users can also expand its capabilities via plug-ins and even connect it to agentic frameworks such as Langflow. G-Assist plug-ins can be built in several ways, including with Python for rapid development, with C++ for performance-critical apps and with custom system interactions for hardware and operating system automation. Project G-Assist requires a GeForce RTX 50, 40 or 30 Series Desktop GPU with at least 12GB of VRAM, a Windows 11 or 10 operating system, a compatible CPU (Intel Pentium G Series, Core i3, i5, i7 or higher; AMD FX, Ryzen 3, 5, 7, 9, Threadripper or higher), specific disk space requirements and a recent GeForce Game Ready Driver or NVIDIA Studio Driver. Cross the Finish Line As the hackathon’s submission deadline approaches this weekend, RTX AI Garage is providing resources that can help: Sydney Altobell, a senior software engineer at NVIDIA, offers tips and tricks for working with G-Assist plug-ins in this on-demand webinar. The presentation and Q&A are available on the NVIDIA Developer YouTube channel and embedded below. Fellow community developers are collaborating and sharing notes in the NVIDIA Developer Discord server. Altobell and the G-Assist engineering team have already answered many questions about plug-in submissions — keep the questions coming. Plus, explore NVIDIA’s GitHub repository, which provides everything needed to get started developing with G-Assist, including step-by-step instructions and documentation for building custom functionalities. Take inspiration from sample plug-ins, which include code for using G-Assist to integrate into Discord, IFTTT, Google Gemini and more. Learn more about the ChatGPT Plug-In Builder to transform ideas into functional G-Assist plug-ins with minimal coding. The tool uses OpenAI’s custom GPT builder to generate plug-in code and streamline the development process. NVIDIA’s technical blog walks through the architecture of a G-Assist plug-in, using a Twitch integration as an example. Discover how plug-ins work, how they communicate with G-Assist and how to build them from scratch. Find submission details and requirements on the Hackathon entry page. 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.

This month, NVIDIA founder and CEO Jensen Huang promoted AI in both Washington, D.C. and Beijing — emphasizing the benefits that AI will bring to business and society worldwide.  In the U.S. capital, Huang met with President Trump and U.S. policymakers, reaffirming NVIDIA’s support for the Administration’s effort to create jobs, strengthen domestic AI infrastructure and onshore Read Article

This month, NVIDIA founder and CEO Jensen Huang promoted AI in both Washington, D.C. and Beijing — emphasizing the benefits that AI will bring to business and society worldwide. In the U.S. capital, Huang met with President Trump and U.S. policymakers, reaffirming NVIDIA’s support for the Administration’s effort to create jobs, strengthen domestic AI infrastructure and onshore manufacturing, and ensure that America leads in AI worldwide. In Beijing, Huang met with government and industry officials to discuss how AI will raise productivity and expand opportunity. The discussions underscored how researchers worldwide can advance safe and secure AI for the benefit of all. Huang also provided an update to customers, noting that NVIDIA is filing applications to sell the NVIDIA H20 GPU again. The U.S. government has assured NVIDIA that licenses will be granted, and NVIDIA hopes to start deliveries soon. Finally, Huang announced a new, fully compliant NVIDIA RTX PRO GPU that “is ideal for digital twin AI for smart factories and logistics.” As Huang noted during his visits, the world has reached an inflection point — AI has become a fundamental resource, like energy, water and the internet. Jensen emphasized NVIDIA’s commitment to support open-source research, foundation models and applications, which democratize AI and will empower emerging economies in every region, including Latin America, Europe, Asia and beyond. “General-purpose, open-source research and foundation models are the backbone of AI innovation,” Huang explained to reporters in D.C. “We believe that every civil model should run best on the U.S. technology stack, encouraging nations worldwide to choose America.” 

Ceramics — the humble mix of earth, fire and artistry — have been part of a global conversation for millennia. From Tang Dynasty trade routes to Renaissance palaces, from museum vitrines to high-stakes auction floors, they’ve carried culture across borders, evolving into status symbols, commodities and pieces of contested history. Their value has been shaped Read Article

Ceramics — the humble mix of earth, fire and artistry — have been part of a global conversation for millennia. From Tang Dynasty trade routes to Renaissance palaces, from museum vitrines to high-stakes auction floors, they’ve carried culture across borders, evolving into status symbols, commodities and pieces of contested history. Their value has been shaped by aesthetics and economics, empire and, now, technology. This figure visualizes 20 representative Chinese ceramic craftsmanship styles across seven historical periods, ranging from the Tang Dynasty (618–907 AD) to the Modern era (1913–2025). These styles, including kiln-specific categories and decorative techniques, were selected for their historical significance and visual distinctiveness for the AI’s training dataset. Courtesy of Yanfeng Hu, Siqi Wu, Zhuoran Ma and Si Cheng. In a lab at University Putra Malaysia, that legacy meets silicon. Researchers there, alongside colleagues at UNSW Sydney, have built an AI system that can classify Chinese ceramics and predict their value with uncanny precision. The tool uses deep learning to analyze decorative motifs, shapes and kiln-specific craftsmanship. It predicts price categories based on real auction data from institutions like Sotheby’s and Christie’s, achieving test accuracy as high as 99%. Beyond form, the AI also analyzes the intricate decorative patterns found on Chinese ceramics, which are organized into six major categories: plant patterns, animal motifs, landscapes, human figures, crackled glaze patterns and geometric designs. The system annotates images at the category level based on the most visually dominant pattern types. Courtesy of Yanfeng Hu, Siqi Wu, Zhuoran Ma, and Si Cheng. It’s all powered by an NVIDIA GeForce RTX 3090, a consumer-grade GPU beloved by gamers, explains Siqi Wu, one of the researchers behind the project. Not a data center, not specialized industrial hardware, just the same chip pushing frame rates for gamers enjoying Cyberpunk 2077 and Alan Wake 2 across the world. The motivation is as old as the trade routes those ceramics once traveled: access, but in this case, access to expertise rather than material goods. The AI system employs a typological classification system for ceramic vessel shapes, based on modular morphological parts like the bottle neck, handle, shoulder, spout, body and base. This approach allows for detailed analysis and classification of shapes such as bottles, jars, plates, bowls, cups, pots and washbasins. Courtesy of Yanfeng Hu, Siqi Wu, Zhuoran Ma and Si Cheng. “Artifact pricing and dating still heavily rely on expert judgment,” Wu said. That expertise remains elusive for younger collectors, smaller institutions and digital archive projects. Wu’s team aims to change that by making cultural appraisal more objective, scalable and accessible to a wider audience. It doesn’t stop at classification. The system pairs its YOLOv11-based detection model with an algorithm that learned market value directly from years of real-world auction results. In one test, the AI assessed a Ming Dynasty artifact at roughly 30% below its final hammer price. It’s a reminder that even in an industry steeped in tradition, algorithms can offer new perspectives. Those perspectives don’t just quantify heritage, they extend the conversation. The team is already exploring AI for other forms of cultural visual heritage, from Cantonese opera costumes to historical murals. For now, a graphics card built for gaming is parsing centuries of craftsmanship and entering one of the world’s oldest and most global debates: what makes something valuable?

As one of the world’s largest emerging markets, Indonesia is making strides toward its “Golden 2045 Vision” — an initiative tapping digital technologies and bringing together government, enterprises, startups and higher education to enhance productivity, efficiency and innovation across industries. Building out the nation’s AI infrastructure is a crucial part of this plan. That’s why Read Article

As one of the world’s largest emerging markets, Indonesia is making strides toward its “Golden 2045 Vision” — an initiative tapping digital technologies and bringing together government, enterprises, startups and higher education to enhance productivity, efficiency and innovation across industries. Building out the nation’s AI infrastructure is a crucial part of this plan. That’s why Indonesian telecommunications leader Indosat Ooredoo Hutchison, aka Indosat or IOH, has partnered with Cisco and NVIDIA to support the establishment of Indonesia’s AI Center of Excellence (CoE). Led by the Ministry of Communications and Digital Affairs, called Komdigi, the CoE aims to advance secure technologies, cultivate local talent and foster innovation through collaboration with startups. Indosat Ooredoo Hutchison President Director and CEO Vikram Sinha, Cisco Chair and CEO Chuck Robbins and NVIDIA Senior Vice President of Telecom Ronnie Vasishta today detailed the purpose and potential of the CoE during a fireside chat at Indonesia AI Day, a conference focused on how artificial intelligence can fuel the nation’s digital independence and economic growth. As part of the CoE, a new NVIDIA AI Technology Center will offer research support, NVIDIA Inception program benefits for eligible startups, and NVIDIA Deep Learning Institute training and certification to upskill local talent. “With the support of global partners, we’re accelerating Indonesia’s path to economic growth by ensuring Indonesians are not just users of AI, but creators and innovators,” Sinha added. “The AI era demands fundamental architectural shifts and a workforce with digital skills to thrive,” Robbins said. “Together with Indosat, NVIDIA and Komdigi, Cisco will securely power the AI Center of Excellence — enabling innovation and skills development, and accelerating Indonesia’s growth.” “Democratizing AI is more important than ever,” Vasishta added. “Through the new NVIDIA AI Technology Center, we’re helping Indonesia build a sustainable AI ecosystem that can serve as a model for nations looking to harness AI for innovation and economic growth.” Making AI More Accessible The Indonesia AI CoE will comprise an AI factory that features full-stack NVIDIA AI infrastructure — including NVIDIA Blackwell GPUs, NVIDIA Cloud Partner reference architectures and NVIDIA AI Enterprise software — as well as an intelligent security system powered by Cisco. Called the Sovereign Security Operations Center Cloud Platform, the Cisco-powered system combines AI-based threat detection, localized data control and managed security services for the AI factory. Building on the sovereign AI initiatives Indonesia’s technology leaders announced with NVIDIA last year, the CoE will bolster the nation’s AI strategy through four core pillars: Some 28 independent software vendors and startups are already using IOH’s NVIDIA-powered AI infrastructure to develop cutting-edge technologies that can speed and ease workflows across higher education and research, food security, bureaucratic reform, smart cities and mobility, and healthcare. With Indosat’s coverage across the archipelago, the company can reach hundreds of millions of Bahasa Indonesian speakers with its large language model (LLM)-powered applications. For example, using Indosat’s Sahabat-AI collection of Bahasa Indonesian LLMs, the Indonesia government and Hippocratic AI are collaborating to develop an AI agent system that provides preventative outreach capabilities, such as helping women subscribers over the age of 50 schedule a mammogram. This can help prevent or combat breast cancer and other health complications across the population. Separately, Sahabat-AI also enables Indosat’s AI chatbot to answer queries in the Indonesian language for various citizen and resident services. A person could ask about processes for updating their national identification card, as well as about tax rates, payment procedures, deductions and more. In addition, a government-led forum is developing trustworthy AI frameworks tailored to Indonesian values for the safe, responsible development of artificial intelligence and related policies. Looking forward, Indosat and NVIDIA plan to deploy AI-RAN technologies that can reach even broader audiences using AI over wireless networks. Learn more about NVIDIA-powered AI infrastructure for telcos.

Grab a friend and climb toward the clouds — PEAK is now available on GeForce NOW, enabling members to try the hugely popular indie hit on virtually any device. It’s one of four new games joining the cloud this week. Plus, members can look forward to Tony Hawk’s Pro Skater 3 + 4 coming soon. Read Article

Grab a friend and climb toward the clouds — PEAK is now available on GeForce NOW, enabling members to try the hugely popular indie hit on virtually any device. It’s one of four new games joining the cloud this week. Plus, members can look forward to Tony Hawk’s Pro Skater 3 + 4 coming soon. Time to Climb There’s always gonna be another mountain. PEAK is a co-op climbing game that puts players in the shoes of lost nature scouts, ascending a mountain at the center of a mysterious island. Scavenge for food (even if it’s of questionable quality), manage injuries on the climb and help the squad summit safely. Members can play solo or survive together with up to four players. There’s a new island to survive on every day. And, with more than 100,000 concurrent players daily on Steam, there’s always a climbing buddy to join. GeForce NOW members are equipped for the challenge with an Ultimate membership, which powers the climb at up to 4K resolution and 120 frames per second. Ultimate members can play PEAK and more than 2,000 other games they already own with extended session lengths and ultralow latency on a GeForce RTX 4080 rig. Upgrade today for elevated gameplay. Get Hyped Old school, new tricks. Tony Hawk’s Pro Skater 3 + 4 is coming soon to GeForce NOW. The legendary franchise series that taught generations to ollie, grind and combo like maniacs is back, helping members hit the 900 from nearly any device. The Birdman and crew return, bringing all the classic parks, legendary skaters and iconic soundtrack gamers remember — now fully remade with a few wild surprises for players. Relive the glory days, whether grinding rails in the airport or pulling off insane combos in Los Angeles. New environments like a water park add a creative twist. The roster is stacked with original legends and new faces — plus a few unexpected guests. Career Mode delivers with heart-pounding runs, while New Game+ and Solo Tours keep the challenge alive. Take on friends and rivals in online multiplayer mode. The upgraded Create-a-Park and Create-a-Skater tools mean gamers can build, style and shred their way. With GeForce NOW, gamers will soon be able to skate anywhere, anytime — no console required. Enjoy the title in stunning 4K resolution and ultrasmooth frame rates with an Ultimate membership powered by GeForce RTX 4080 servers. Drop in instantly on any device, chase high scores with the lowest latency and keep the shred alive. The ultimate skate session is always just a click away. Every Day a New Game Fight as one, survive as many. Catch Every Day We Fight, a new roguelite, turn-based tactic game from Singla Space Lab and Hooded Horse, in the cloud with GeForce NOW. In this title, citizens from either side of an ongoing war must set aside their differences as a mysterious alien invasion threatens humanity — and time has come to a stop for all but a small band of freedom fighters. Caught in a seemingly endless loop, players must shape these ordinary civilians into heroes as they repeatedly fight and die. Real-time exploration, stealth and teamwork are essential to acquire new skills, seek out more powerful weapons, escape the time loop and save the world. Members can look for the following games to stream: Every Day We Fight (New release on Steam, July 10) Mycopunk (New release on Steam, July 10) Brickadia (New release on Steam, July 11) Peak (Steam) What are you planning to play this weekend? Let us know on X or in the comments below. Which game demands the fastest reflexes you’ve got? — NVIDIA GeForce NOW (@NVIDIAGFN) July 9, 2025

Coding assistants or copilots — AI-powered assistants that can suggest, explain and debug code — are fundamentally changing how software is developed for both experienced and novice developers. Experienced developers use these assistants to stay focused on complex coding tasks, reduce repetitive work and explore new ideas more quickly. Newer coders — like students and Read Article

Coding assistants or copilots — AI-powered assistants that can suggest, explain and debug code — are fundamentally changing how software is developed for both experienced and novice developers. Experienced developers use these assistants to stay focused on complex coding tasks, reduce repetitive work and explore new ideas more quickly. Newer coders — like students and AI hobbyists — benefit from coding assistants that accelerate learning by describing different implementation approaches or explaining what a piece of code is doing and why. Coding assistants can run in cloud environments or locally. Cloud-based coding assistants can be run anywhere but offer some limitations and require a subscription. Local coding assistants remove these issues but require performant hardware to operate well. NVIDIA GeForce RTX GPUs provide the necessary hardware acceleration to run local assistants effectively. Code, Meet Generative AI Traditional software development includes many mundane tasks such as reviewing documentation, researching examples, setting up boilerplate code, authoring code with appropriate syntax, tracing down bugs and documenting functions. These are essential tasks that can take time away from problem solving and software design. Coding assistants help streamline such steps. Many AI assistants are linked with popular integrated development environments (IDEs) like Microsoft Visual Studio Code or JetBrains’ Pycharm, which embed AI support directly into existing workflows. There are two ways to run coding assistants: in the cloud or locally. Cloud-based coding assistants require source code to be sent to external servers before responses are returned. This approach can be laggy and impose usage limits. Some developers prefer to keep their code local, especially when working with sensitive or proprietary projects. Plus, many cloud-based assistants require a paid subscription to unlock full functionality, which can be a barrier for students, hobbyists and teams that need to manage costs. Coding assistants run in a local environment, enabling cost-free access with: Coding assistants running locally on RTX offer numerous advantages. Get Started With Local Coding Assistants Tools that make it easy to run coding assistants locally include: Continue.dev — An open-source extension for the VS Code IDE that connects to local large language models (LLMs) via Ollama, LM Studio or custom endpoints. This tool offers in-editor chat, autocomplete and debugging assistance with minimal setup. Get started with Continue.dev using the Ollama backend for local RTX acceleration. Tabby — A secure and transparent coding assistant that’s compatible across many IDEs with the ability to run AI on NVIDIA RTX GPUs. This tool offers code completion, answering queries, inline chat and more. Get started with Tabby on NVIDIA RTX AI PCs. OpenInterpreter — Experimental but rapidly evolving interface that combines LLMs with command-line access, file editing and agentic task execution. Ideal for automation and devops-style tasks for developers. Get started with OpenInterpreter on NVIDIA RTX AI PCs. LM Studio — A graphical user interface-based runner for local LLMs that offers chat, context window management and system prompts. Optimal for testing coding models interactively before IDE deployment. Get started with LM Studio on NVIDIA RTX AI PCs. Ollama — A local AI model inferencing engine that enables fast, private inference of models like Code Llama, StarCoder2 and DeepSeek. It integrates seamlessly with tools like Continue.dev. These tools support models served through frameworks like Ollama or llama.cpp, and many are now optimized for GeForce RTX and NVIDIA RTX PRO GPUs. See AI-Assisted Learning on RTX in Action Running on a GeForce RTX-powered PC, Continue.dev paired with the Gemma 12B Code LLM helps explain existing code, explore search algorithms and debug issues — all entirely on device. Acting like a virtual teaching assistant, the assistant provides plain-language guidance, context-aware explanations, inline comments and suggested code improvements tailored to the user’s project. This workflow highlights the advantage of local acceleration: the assistant is always available, responds instantly and provides personalized support, all while keeping the code private on device and making the learning experience immersive. That level of responsiveness comes down to GPU acceleration. Models like Gemma 12B are compute-heavy, especially when they’re processing long prompts or working across multiple files. Running them locally without a GPU can feel sluggish — even for simple tasks. With RTX GPUs, Tensor Cores accelerate inference directly on the device, so the assistant is fast, responsive and able to keep up with an active development workflow. Coding assistants running on the Meta Llama 3.1-8B model experience 5-6x faster throughput on RTX-powered laptops versus on CPU. Data measured uses the average tokens per second at BS = 1, ISL/OSL = 2000/100, with the Llama-3.1-8B model quantized to int4. Whether used for academic work, coding bootcamps or personal projects, RTX AI PCs are enabling developers to build, learn and iterate faster with AI-powered tools. For those just getting started — especially students building their skills or experimenting with generative AI — NVIDIA GeForce RTX 50 Series laptops feature specialized AI technologies that accelerate top applications for learning, creating and gaming, all on a single system. Explore RTX laptops ideal for back-to-school season. And to encourage AI enthusiasts and developers to experiment with local AI and extend the capabilities of their RTX PCs, NVIDIA is hosting a Plug and Play: Project G-Assist Plug-In Hackathon — running virtually through Wednesday, July 16. Participants can create custom plug-ins for Project G-Assist, an experimental AI assistant designed to respond to natural language and extend across creative and development tools. It’s a chance to win prizes and showcase what’s possible with RTX AI PCs. Join NVIDIA’s Discord server to connect with community developers and AI enthusiasts for discussions on what’s possible with RTX AI. 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, digital humans, 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 forecast this month is showing a 100% chance of epic gaming. Catch the scorching lineup of 20 titles coming to the cloud, which gamers can play whether indoors or on the go. Six new games are landing on GeForce NOW this week, including launch day titles Figment and Little Nightmares II. And to make Read Article

The forecast this month is showing a 100% chance of epic gaming. Catch the scorching lineup of 20 titles coming to the cloud, which gamers can play whether indoors or on the go. Six new games are landing on GeForce NOW this week, including launch day titles Figment and Little Nightmares II. And to make the summer even hotter, the GeForce NOW Summer Sale is in full swing. It’s the last chance to upgrade to a six-month Performance membership for just $29.99 and stream top titles like the recently released classic Borderlands series, DOOM: The Dark Ages, FBC: Firebreak, and more with GeForce RTX power. Jump Into July Face your nightmares. In Figment, a whimsical action-adventure game set in the human mind, players guide Dusty — the grumpy, retired voice of courage — and his upbeat companion Piper on a surreal journey to restore lost bravery after a traumatic event. Blending hand-drawn visuals, clever puzzles and musical boss battles, Figment explores themes of fear, grief and emotional healing in a colorful, dreamlike world filled with humor and song. In addition, members can look for the following games to stream this week: Little Nightmares II (New release on Xbox, available on PC Game Pass, July 1) Figment (New release on Epic Games Store, free, July 3) Path of Exile 2 (Kakao Games) Clicker Heroes (Steam) Fabledom (Steam) Rogue: Genesia (Steam) Schedule I (Steam) Here’s what’s coming in the rest of July: The Ascent (New release on Xbox, PC Game Pass, July 8) Every Day We Fight (New release on Steam, July 10) Mycopunk (New release on Steam, July 10) Brickadia (New release on Steam, July 11) HUNTER×HUNTER NEN×IMPACT (New release on Steam, July 15) Stronghold Crusader: Definitive Edition (New release on Steam, July 15) DREADZONE (New release on Steam, July 17) The Drifter (New release on Steam, July 17) He Is Coming (New release on Steam, July 17) Killing Floor 3 (New release on Steam, July 24) RoboCop: Rogue City – Unfinished Business (New release on Steam, July 17) Wildgate (New release on Steam, July 22) Wuchang: Fallen Feathers (New release on Steam and Epic Games Store, July 23) Battle Brothers (Steam) June-tastic Games In addition to the 25 games announced last month, 11 more joined the GeForce NOW library: Frosthaven Demo (New release on Steam, June 9) Kingdom Two Crowns (New release on Xbox, available on PC Game Pass, June 11) Firefighting Simulator – The Squad (Xbox, available on PC Game Pass) JDM: Japanese Drift Master (Steam) Hellslave (Steam) Date Everything! (New release on Steam, June 17) METAL EDEN Demo (Steam) Torque Drift 2 (Epic Games Store) Broken Age (Steam) Sandwich Simulator (Steam) We Happy Few (Steam) What are you planning to play this weekend? Let us know on X or in the comments below. New month, new energy. What are your cloud gaming goals for July? — NVIDIA GeForce NOW (@NVIDIAGFN) July 2, 2025

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

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)

Not to be dramatic, but would you die for Hasan Piker?

For some of you, Hasan Piker needs no introduction. He is one of the leading voices in progressive political content online, boasting a massive 2.9 million followers on Twitch alone. He's polarizing, charismatic, and (kind of) a bro. And his fans love him. Just take this Instagram comment for example: "Not to be dramatic, but I'd die for this man lol."

With all the discourse about young men flocking to the political right because of online commentators like Joe Rogan and Theo Von, some have started asking if Piker is the Joe Rogan of the left? A fan on TikTok did refer to Piker as "the himbo gateway drug to leftist thought."

In this special episode, Brittany sits down with Hasan to get some perspective on what's going on with young men, and to find out what Hasan sees that the rest of us are missing.

Not to be dramatic, but would you die for Hasan Piker? For some of you, Hasan Piker needs no introduction. He is one of the leading voices in progressive political content online, boasting a massive 2.9 million followers on Twitch alone. He's polarizing, charismatic, and (kind of) a bro. And his fans love him. Just take this Instagram comment for example: "Not to be dramatic, but I'd die for this man lol." With all the discourse about young men flocking to the political right because of online commentators like Joe Rogan and Theo Von, some have started asking if Piker is the Joe Rogan of the left? A fan on TikTok did refer to Piker as "the himbo gateway drug to leftist thought." In this special episode, Brittany sits down with Hasan to get some perspective on what's going on with young men, and to find out what Hasan sees that the rest of us are missing.

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.

Nintendo has been a titan in the video game industry for decades, but that wasn't always the case. At its very core, Nintendo sees itself as a toy company which is evident in its products from the Nintendo Entertainment System (NES) to the Nintendo Switch 2.

Today on the show, we explore Nintendo's history and examine how a small playing card company in Japan became a multimedia giant.

Related episodes:
Forever games: the economics of the live service model
Designing for disability: how video games become more accessible
The boom and bust of esports
Work. Crunch. Repeat: Why gaming demands so much of its employees
Video Game Industry Week: The Final Level

For sponsor-free episodes of The Indicator from Planet Money, subscribe to Planet Money+ via Apple Podcasts or at plus.npr.org.

Nintendo has been a titan in the video game industry for decades, but that wasn't always the case. At its very core, Nintendo sees itself as a toy company which is evident in its products from the Nintendo Entertainment System (NES) to the Nintendo Switch 2. Today on the show, we explore Nintendo's history and examine how a small playing card company in Japan became a multimedia giant. Related episodes: Forever games: the economics of the live service model Designing for disability: how video games become more accessible The boom and bust of esports Work. Crunch. Repeat: Why gaming demands so much of its employees Video Game Industry Week: The Final Level For sponsor-free episodes of The Indicator from Planet Money, subscribe to Planet Money+ via Apple Podcasts or at plus.npr.org.

The annual Play Days showcase was far more interesting than the reveals themselves.

The annual Play Days showcase was far more interesting than the reveals themselves. (Image credit: Capcom)

The Switch 2 improves upon the first console in nearly every way. But is it worth the $450? We review how to get the best bang for your buck.

The Switch 2 improves upon the first console in nearly every way. But is it worth the $450? We review how to get the best bang for your buck. (Image credit: Nintendo)

Performers who do stunt and voice work for video games went on strike in July after reaching a stalemate in negotiations over how companies can use AI in game development.

Performers who do stunt and voice work for video games went on strike in July after reaching a stalemate in negotiations over how companies can use AI in game development. (Image credit: Valerie Macon)

Games. Culture. Criticism.

In this episode, Brad Covers: Ludocene Launches! Death Stranding Curious Expediton 2 Turbo Kid Discounty (demo) Time Flies Achilles: Survivor – REVIEW Lords of the Fallen 2.0 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!

Eugene Sax sits down with Owl Machine to chat about their upcoming pacifist bullet-hell title, Key Fairy.

Eugene Sax sits down with Owl Machine to chat about their upcoming pacifist bullet-hell title, Key Fairy. TRANSCRIPT: GameCritics.com: Hello everyone. Thank you so much for joining me once again. This is Eugene Sax for GameCritics.com. Today we have something a little different. I initially was looking through a lot of the Summer Game Fest stuff, and one in particular kind of caught my eye when it was initially announced here. This was on the Frosty Game Showcase. And by all means correct me if I’m wrong. I’m pretty sure that’s where you guys were first coming up here. But it was initially with a streamercalled NoHandsNZ and they had praised this game and the developers as far as their accessibility items and their kind of openness for how they were addressing accessibility for this game. So, I wanted to go ahead and give it a look and this really quickly became a game that I am really excited about here as well. So reached out to them and they were both more than happy to sit down here with me a little bit to talk about their game Key Fairy. Tex, Tex Barnes and Niosis, thank you so much for joining me today! Tex Barnes: Thanks for having us. Niosis: Yeah, thank you so much for having us. GC: Yeah, of course. So let’s go ahead and do the kind of easy easy questions here right off the top. We’ll go ahead either one of you who would like to start, can you go ahead and just give me a quick history from you both here? What is your background in games? What got you into gaming as a hobby? And kind of what are your roles here for Key Fairy? Tex:Yeah. Do you want to start with that, Niosis? Niosis: Yeah, sure. So I guess my history is that I got into like independent game development pretty early on. I’ve been actually into this since like high school. So like yeah, I got really enchanted with all the beautiful art that was coming out of the independent scene and like all of the kind of stranger approaches to game development. And ended up pursuing it from there. Yeah. Tex: Yeah. I I didn’t make games until like five years ago and then I got really into the like micro rapid development game jam space. GC: Mhm. Tex: And then I really wanted to make tiny little focused experiences and then worked back backwards into making larger things. Niosis: Yeah, we both kind of just like ended up turning going from like little small things to like slowly spiraling out to this. GC: Very cool. Very cool. So if memory serves here from kind of what I’m seeing here on the game, Tex, you’re kind of the I guess kind of head for programming and then Niosis, you are kind of more of the art side of this game for Keyfairy. Is that correct? Niosis: Yeah, that’s right. GC: Right. Perfect. Excellent. Tex: But with a studio of this size, we sort of just wiggle around in different roles. Niosis: Yeah. Yeah, I mean like yeah, Tex does a whole bunch of the like you know graphics programming stuff and I do every now and then like do a bit of graph programming and other things. Yeah. So it kind of mixes and matches. GC: Yeah. With a team of two that makes sense. You got to both of you got to wear a lot of hats, right? Niosis: Yeah. GC: Sounds good. Well, talk to me about Key Fairy, like what was the initial inspiration for it? Niosis: Yeah. Oh, I was going to say like I feel like a lot of it came out of specifically the idea of trying to make a game that explores like the theme of non-violence and how you make a game that is like energetic and fun to play in a kind of action oriented way but that isn’t just about like reskinning violence. And like trying to, yeah, communicate pacifism through the response that your character has to violence itself. GC: Mhm. Okay. Tex: Yeah. It’s from taking stuff away, right? Like is bullet hells are a very action heavy genre and all about like shooting things. But if you actually play a shoot them up or a bullet hell, you just sort of hold down the attack button and then dodge. And so you can just entirely refocus the game around evasion and then you get all of this different story stuff that can come out of it because you’re now playing this character who’s constantly defensive and never really attacks. Niosis: Yeah, there are plenty of bullet hells where like shooting is so default that you don’t even need to press a button for it. So if you’re not pressing a button for it, you can just skip it entirely. It was a little bit of it. Yeah. GC: Gotcha. That kind of went into my immediate next question there as well. So, it sounds as far as like ’cause exactly like you said, bullet hells, I always think of it as, you know, lots of bullets on screen, you’re shooting at everything all the time. And it sounds like, and definitely correct me if I’m wrong, but kind of the idea as far as making it that pacifist style was kind of I guess trying to break that norm of bullet hells, like specifically making it with a pacifist focused. Is that right? Tex: Yeah. Yeah, it’s I mean I think good games ask questions about genre and about like design and I think ultimately one of the big questions we’re asking is like do you need to be a character who’s constantly attacking? Does that actually add to the experience? And I think that’s what we’re sort of exploring in the in the game. But there is still a lot of like attacks on screen at points. It’s just not your attacks. GC: Mhm. Yeah. There was a part in the demo where you’re facing a couple of I guess we’ll call them ranged characters ’cause I’m not sure their exact name, but like the witches that kind of shoot out little bullets at you and then one of the one of the giant cubes that just throws itself around in the arena. And that one I got stuck on that for quite a bit of time. Tex: Yeah, it gets pretty hard. I mean like so a lot of pacifist games, a lot of non-violent games are really really cozy. It’s like you’ll play the Sims or something and it’s like you’re just chilling and that’s great and I like that experience, but I really like really fast play paced frenetic games and I struggle to get that experience without a character who’s just going through the world stabbing everything with their big sword. GC: Speaking of the big sword, the one that you specifically call out, no, you don’t attack with it, it is a sword. Niosis: Oh yeah. Yeah. Yeah, we were trying to come up with ideas for the game and early on we were like, “Oh, you know, be hilarious, right? Is you get a sword and then the sword it’s just for dashing.” Like, it’s just like, you know, you become a Dark Souls protagonist, but only the dodge roll part. GC: It’s so good. I love it. And and it is such a unique way, too, cuz it is this like especially compared to like your main character, it feels like a massive sword and it’s only half a sword cuz it’s broken when you initially get it, right? And the entire point is like, hey, no, this is this is a sword. It gives you the option to move around more, but you don’t attack with it. You specifically do not attack with it. Tex: Yeah. The whole focus is on movement. Like that’s the the the name of the game is just how can you move in more complicated and interesting ways? Because if you’re taking away the ability to attack, you need to replace it with something because otherwise it just feels like it’s less game. And I think we’ve replaced it with a more complicated movement system where you got a really floaty character and then you’ve got a grappling hook and then you’ve got a dash ability on top of that and it just becomes exponentially a really high skill ceiling for… GC: Right. Yeah, 100% agreed. Like I know when I was starting it, I was kind of just using the grapple hook and hooking onto the environment as far as like any of the walls and just trying doing like the straight line kind of around, but definitely in some of the like the trailers and that that are on your guys’ Steam page easily like Yeah. hook onto the enemy and just swing around them. You can you can do that. Nothing stopping you except for you know your skill. Tex: Yeah. I mean that’s why they drop stars. Initially, initially the idea was like maybe you just wait them out and then they calm down. But having them drop stars forces you to get really close to them. And so now you’re constantly trying to not get hit whilst getting as close as physically possible to the monsters so you can collect the stars that they drop before they despawn. Which weirdly makes it like in a lot of ways it makes it play harder than a traditional bullet hell where you’re constantly trying to like back away from everything and get into your little safe space. GC: Mhm. Tex: Yeah. GC: Very nice. Perfect. So let I want to go into the art a little bit there as well because I first off love the art. I love the very like black and whitevery stark colors and then how when you get into combat it does kind of encroach in a little bit. What what was some of the inspiration from you Niosis as far as the art from this game and the world design? Niosis: Yeah, well the art like I think the big inspirations come from like old tabletop role playing game art. Like if you look at original D&D, it’s all like Zines basically. Mhm. With this really stark kind of sketchy ink style as well as like you know old medieval woodblock paintings and fairy tale books and things like that. But also a little bit because like growing up I’ve been doing a lot of art and it’s all just been like ink traditional traditional ink art. And so when we were starting this game and we had two people we had to make this decision between like art that we could both make or just going really heavily on like a really stylized look. So I ended up becoming the dedicated artist. And yeah, it’s all just like things from my sketchbook that I find and then scan in. Was like the first chunk of the art was like literally just flicking through old sketchbooks and taking photos and editing it all up. GC: Gotcha. Very cool. Because I know like from the and from the like Steam page and all that like everything is like all about like kind of a folklore and everything like that. Were you drawing inspiration from any type of folklore in particular or just kind of a mismatch or? Niosis: Yeah, I mean not yet. But it’s basically Yeah, basically just been like the general storytelling style that that Folktale has. As well as like you know there’s a lot of things that that cut very close to real life fairy tales but we’ve also been trying to avoid like overt references as much as possible. Sure. And so like you know there was this moment where I really wanted Sleeping Beauty but then we ended up like reorientating you know so we’re trying to keep it agnostic in a way that feels a bit like timeless but also more rooted in like as well as like yeah rooted in like gothic fantasy and that kind of look of it. GC: Okay, understood. And yeah, I think the the black and white kind of from starting is definitely a good way to invoke kind of the Gothic style as well, just ’cause that’s, you know, I mean, that is kind of traditional as far as the like color palette, I guess. But definitely like I’m thinking right near the end of your demo with facing off against some of the like the princesses and that definitely I can see how that kind of invokes like the kind of fairy tale aspect to it. Niosis: Yeah. Yeah. I mean like fairy tales are all like this kind of interesting mix between spooky and whimsical, and I think you know like Tex brings the whimsical and I bring the spooky and it ends up like hitting the right niche. Tex: I think a lot of people when they’re like oh fairy tales are actually a lot weirder than you think. What they mean is that like they’re a lot darker. But if you actually read a lot of like spoken word folklore it’s just bizarre. It’s so bizarrely written in in both that it’s darker and that just characters act in these strange ways and talk in these strange ways that isn’t really replicated in a lot of modern storytelling, and we’re trying to bring some of that energy. GC: Gotcha. Yeah, that’s and that’s very cool. It definitely gives Key Fairy a very unique style and definitely its own like unique energy. I mean even just looking at the game, but yeah, actually sitting down and playing with it, I can definitely see that and that’s one of the things that stuck out to me with getting into it and why I really wanted to have this conversation. So, I think you knocked it out of the park with that. Niosis:Thank you. GC: But yeah, so I guess the let’s get into the little more of the meat and potatoes as far as kind of the reason why I wanted to have this conversation in the first place. So like I said at the top GameCritics.com we go out of our way to specifically like highlight any of the accessibility functions whether it is like for deaf and hard of hearing as far as like captions are concerned for any type of remappable controls or anything like that and with such a presence there as far as your openness to that accessibility I guess journey going through this game. Like I was reading a lot of your blog posts Tex about the accessibility function you wanted to add it in. But tell me a little more about it. Like what went into the planning for all of these accessibility options and how did you prioritize different ones over the other? Tex: Yeah, so I think accessibility seems like a big scary thing if you’re developing especially because it’s something that’s not really taught at university or whatever. But it’s not that tricky. There’s the big place is GA game accessibility guidelines. There’s a there’s a website where a bunch of researchers have gathered a a big long list of all of the major things that you should be looking out for. There’s other stuff that’s not on the list and it’s worth asking around and play testing a lot, but those are the big things to keep an eye out on and categorize them based on the level of impact and difficulty to implement. So, a lot of the really hard things to implement also only impact an extremely small percentage of the population. But that doesn’t mean they’re not worth doing. It’s just a thing to think about. You’re… we’re trying to think about what’s going to have the biggest impact for our audience, but also what’s core to the experience that we’re making and what elements are outside of that core experience, but could be a sticking point for some players. That’s a big thing to keep track of. Like if if this game isn’t a puzzle game, if there was a puzzle that some players were getting stuck on, they should be able to skip it because that’s not core to the experience and they shouldn’t be hampered from the main experience by this like random off side thing or like a fishing minigame shouldn’t be preventing you from progression or whatever. GC: Yeah. Tex: So in the initial planning phase when we were designing the game, we thought about what the games weaknesses would be in terms of accessibility and what its strengths would be. Because there’s a lot of things that the actual design of it works in its favor. It’s pretty good for color blindness that the game’s all black and white. It’s pretty good for people who are hard of hearing that all of the writing is just written on the screen. But then we added a bunch of random effects to the text. So, we also need to provide the options to simplify the font. And it’s just it’s just making a lot of lists, to be honest. It’s something you should be able to have an eye for if you’ve spent enough time developing games, understanding what’s going to be easy and what’s going to be hard for you, yeah. But then you just compile a list and figure out what’s easy and what’s going to have the most impact. Niosis: Yeah. I mean one thing like you’re talking about like prioritization a little part of it is yeah just having it in front of people and then every now and then someone will come to us and say like ah you know I want to be into this game but this thing is having I’m having trouble with this thing so like you know the the trees kind of sparkle in the background and that sometimes that’s too noisy for some people and so you know as soon as someone brings that up then that’s a pretty simple fix, and so like a lot of the changes have been like preemptive, but a lot of them have also been reactive to what we’re seeing in front of us. And just being like open to the feedback that like, yeah, there can be simple things that are not core to the experience that are just some side visual thing that we put in there for fun that doesn’t need to be there always or doesn’t need to be there at all and we can work around it, things like that, you know. GC: Okay, very cool. So I I’m assuming one of those was probably at least as far as the feedback was concerned, one of the big ones from your blog post was the camera and how it initially was sitting to follow the player, but now it’s been switched to in 99% of cases to where it’s just static for the room, right? Tex: Yeah. So, it we we initially had it be all static in all the rooms and then we wanted to have larger rooms and it made sense to have the follow camera and we sort of got too lost in the sauce. I got too lost in the sauce. Niosis kept being like you don’t need a follow camera in this room. I really like the follow camera ’cause it makes you super It makes it spooky. It gives it a horror game vibe in some of the rooms where you’ll enter a room and then a monster will just appear. But that experience isn’t actually core to the game. And so it’s pretty reasonable to add in an option at least that for almost all of the rooms, especially any room in which you have to do an engagement where a monster’s going to attack you, you should be able to lock that camera. Because it just gave people it gave some people motion sickness. Small percentage of people. And there’s no reason to prevent them from playing the game for their experience. GC: Yeah. Especially with having the grapple hook and having movement be such a core thing, I can imagine that with a moving camera, you’re moving really fast if you’re like doing chain grapples and all that. Yeah, I could see how that could trigger some motion sickness for people. Tex: There’s still some long tunnels where at this point it makes sense to keep the follow camera, but those are places where you’re just moving in a straight line and there’s nothing attacking you. And so I feel like that’s probably okay. But I might make it that the camera moves more linearly rather than sort of sliding around. GC: Okay, understood. Gotcha. So kind of piggybacking off of some of the like accessibility options there, what was the specific idea behind like some of the color palettes? I know you went into a little more in depth on it on the blog post, but I’m thinking like I’ve seen a lot of games where if they do different modes for color blind, like they’ll specifically call out like, “Hey, here is this very specific type of color blindness versus this one versus this one,” ’cause I know there’s a couple of different versions of it, right? Most of the color palette options that you all have starts out black and white, which is probably pretty safe to kind of cover most, vision impairments or anything like that, but then they don’t necessarily have the specific like I guess quote scientific name for the color blind. Tex: The color palettes aren’t really for color blindness ’cause as far as I’m aware, and we’ve play tested a fair amount, color blindness doesn’t impact your experience of the game. The the big issue with color blindness, this is actually a general design thing, if you’re making a game that isn’t black and white. The big issue with color blindness is if the only thing distinguishing two states or two objects is color. And so what you generally want to do isn’t just provide an option that swaps the colors. It’s put symbols on things, provide audio cues, provide a bunch of additional stuff that makes it clear that these are two separate objects. And so even if they look gray to a player or if they both look the same color to a player, they’ll be like, “Oh, this one’s got a triangle on it and this one’s got a square on it, so these are different.” Niosis: Yeah, there’s a lot of different parts. Like we’re finding that there’s a lot of different information that you can communicate that isn’t just color, like shape and value and noise versus the opposite of noise, I guess. And then we’re having to like you work around, you know, we’re having to do that anyway. And so that’s becomes just like part of the development is making it visually clear regardless of the colors of it. Tex: Yeah. The value of the pallets from an accessibility point though is eye strain actually. If you it’s easy to to get worn out essentially from just this really high contrast. And so we the the base pallets that we’ve provided reduce the contrast really heavily. So you can have it be like more gray or more like blues. But then it’s also just like a nice gameplay thing that you can unlock more pallets as you go along. And it makes it easier for me to play to be honest being able to change the palette every now and again ’cause I do get a little I’m going a little bit crazy. Niosis: Yeah, an entire year worth of only black and white. GC: Well, especially with how often you’re all looking at it day in day out doing the development for it, too. Like I I can imagine the eye train would be would be pretty intense. Tex: Yeah. Whenever I look at a game that has like color, it blows my my mind. GC: Well, very cool. Was there any other big I guess accessibility thing that either made it harder to develop the rest of it for or anything in particular that like oh I like the thing that comes to mind was when you were talking a little more about some of the stuff that you were borrowing from Celeste for instance and the like speed option that you implemented I know initially it’s for you know accessibility is like Hey, people, especially with a game being this fast, they may want to slow it down a little bit so that way they can more easily process and be able to follow along a little more, but then you even made the comment on your blog post as far as like, well, this is actually good for speedrunners as well. They could just boot it up to the max and they can just zip through anything. Was there any other similar stories like that when you’re programming in the accessibility stuff? Tex: A little bit. So like the Celeste has become the sort of cornerstone for good accessibility design because they make they do a bunch of really smart things. Especially putting a warning before the assist mode being like this is our intentions as designers. These options specifically could break the flow of the game if you don’t need them. But if you do need them, they’re here. And so I think that’s really good. And we have had friends who are like, I had to stop playing the game initially, but now I can continue playing it because I could tweak it ever so slightly so it would just be just be manageable. So that’s great. But the other thing that I think weirdly changed the experience for some people was the the one-handed options. We provided some options so that you can play it with just a mouse or just a keyboard or just like one joystick essentially. So it’ll all be using the buttons on that side, which is really useful if somebody only has one hand that they can use to play it, but also it sort of makes the game a little bit… On mouse and keyboard, the mouse has a lot more fluidity of movement because it can go in any direction whereas the keyboard is pretty four directional. And so it sort of feels more fluid to play just with the mouse for some people, even if they don’t need to, which I thought was funny. Niosis: Yeah. I mean, that’s the thing about like all accessibility settings is that, I think a lot of people miss the fact that, like disabilities aren’t something that exist outside of the context of the society that you live in. Like they exist within the world that you’re you’re in. and the the accessibility that exists within that. And as a result of that, accessibility settings and assistance can be useful to anyone like they don’t you don’t need like a special card to find them helpful to find them like enriching and fulfilling. Yeah, yeah. So I think we found that like it’s just useful to everyone this kind of stuff in different ways and for different people. GC: Yeah. At the end of the day, it’s about just getting your game to as many people who are interested in it and don’t have any type of blockers that would stop them from enjoying the experience, right? Niosis: Yeah. And like it’s just the case that like you know, every single person has their own needs and that like being able to tweak to those needs regardless of who you are is really valuable. Tex: Yeah, that’s the big thing is is providing a bunch of sliders and toggles and and options so that it can be tailored to the person because everybody’s different. GC: Yeah. Very cool. So, one of the last couple ones I have here. So, I know right now Key Fairy is still being developed. The demo is still available. So, everyone like go download it right now and go play it. It’s great. But what else do like what else do players have to look forward to as the game is being developed? Like is there going to be like a demo 2.0 or anything like that or…? Niosis: We’re currently debating on the 2.0 like we are looking forward to NextFest coming up which will be our next big thing as we get nearer and nearer to a release date announcement. Yeah. So, that’s coming sometime eventually in the future. Tex: Thich it is the thing that every demo takes time to make that you could otherwise be spending making the full game. And we’re getting quite close to the full game. GC: Oo, that’s exciting! Tex: We’ll have to see, keep your eyes peeled. GC: Excellent. I love a little bit of mystery. Well, perfect. Last thing I have for you all. So with de with all your demo work and all of your game developing, everything, I’m assuming you’ve probably take some time to kind of relax and take a break. Are there any games in particular that you are all enjoying currently? And what stands out to them as far as being kind of your go-to, go-to game? Tex: What have you been playing, Niosis? Niosis: Well, I just recently finished all that is currently out for Abiotic Factor, which is a New Zealand game. It’s a lot of fun. It’s like I have never played Half Life, but apparently it’s like Half Life. But like if it was kind of immersive sim cross survival sandbox. And it’s a lot of fun. Good old crunchy gameplay. GC: Excellent. Tex: I’ve been playing 100,000 demos from Steam NextFest and the Summer Games Festival. There was so many demos from all of our cool, smart friends. GC: Boy, ain’t that the truth. Tex: And they’re very good. GC: Yeah, very cool. Yeah, I know. Anytime the Steam NextFest comes up, I try to spend a little bit of time and do like try to do some demo recording as well and try to like play a whole bunch of demos and throw it out onto YouTube and tell people like, “Hey, go play these games. They look really good.” Key Fairy is no exception. Niosis: That’s really nice to hear. Yeah, cuz there’s so much beautiful stuff out there, isn’t there? Tex: There is. GC: So much, and not nearly enough time to play and highlight them all. Well, perfect. Anything else either of you two would like to share with our lovely audience before I let you both go? Niosis: Well, yes, there is actually. So there is this beautiful game that has been receiving absolutely no attention because Tex never mentions it, but Tex just released a game called Pogo Pogo and it’s very cute. And like… Tex: I cold released a game right after we did the summer games festival with Key Fairy. Niosis: If you’re looking for a second black and white game to play. Tex: A much smaller worse game, that’s an option. Also, I’m going to shout out a game so it’s not all on me. I think people should play the demo for Building Relationships because I think it’s amazing. The game where you’re a house going on a date. GC: Oh, I remember that one. Okay. Yeah. Yeah. Tex: It’s really good. GC: Well, perfect. So again, Niosis, Tex, thank you both so much for taking some time and talking about your game here. I am very look very much looking forward to full release. I’ve been kind of chomping at the bit waiting for some more. I’ve been hanging out in the Discord kind of waiting to see all the news or anything like that from it. So, I’m excited for a possible release date here coming up soon. Tex: Ooh. Keep your eyes peeled and your ears peeled. GC: Will do. And for everyone else as well, I will also go ahead and link some of the I’ll link the two blog post that I had mentioned before that Tex had wrote up as far as the accessibility journey and kind of going into more of a deep dive for that as well. A lot of good stuff on there. And again being so open about it like I think it is refreshing kind of seeing that seeing that openness through it as far as like what did that look like going from start to finish ’cause that’s not something that everyone takes the time to do. I think he even mentioned that in the blog post as well. It’s like some people only do it as far as like hey is it worth doing right as far as like a monetary standpoint but it’s not always the point. All righty. Well, we’ll go ahead and call it there. Thank you all so much for joining us here and definitely keep an eye out for any more future interviews, game trailers, and any more game reviews that we’ll have here on GameCritics.com. Tex, Niosis, again, thank you so much for joining me. Niosis: Thank you so much for having us. GC: All righty.

HIGH Appealing art.

LOW The lifestyle elements feel half-baked.

WTF One weapon is an... electric guitar?

Robotic Battle Buddies HIGH Appealing art. LOW The lifestyle elements feel half-baked. WTF One weapon is an… electric guitar? A world was on the brink of destruction, with climate change, pollution, and war the prime suspects for this horrid situation. A small group of robots saved the planet and led it into a utopia, but after the leader of the group becomes a tyrant, he goes to war with his former disciples. Lynked: Banner of the Spark takes place only a few years after this conflict starts. After a relatively grim dark opening, Lynked moves into a tonally lighthearted setting. Robots have taken over the world, sure, but the player’s human character meets a friendly bot known as Buddy who helps them escape their prison cell and abscond to a haven for themselves and their future robot friends. Narratively, it doesn’t have much to say past this opening. The story is about the player character and their buddy robot as they take down the former members of the now-evil Banner of the Spark. As for the mechanics, Lynked: Banner of the Spark has two gameplay sections – the campaign is split between a life sim and roguelite action. The life sim gameplay is akin to many other ‘cozy’ titles like Animal Crossing or Terraria. The player is given a large, open sandbox to craft things, set up shops, and mine resources. As the player progresses, they’ll unlock more shopkeepers, villagers, building materials and tools. The overworld is fittingly barren at first, giving players several locales around the map to use for their construction projects. Unfortunately, these lifestyle aspects of Lynked seem slightly half-baked. While Lynked has elements in common with other ‘cozy’ titles, many of them offer mechanics that ultimately deliver a more rewarding gameplay loop. For example, in Lynked, everything is almost instant. There are no time-based objectives, and no moment where I had to make a choice between two activities such as doing combat or selling my turnips for the best price that week. Instead, Lynked lets the player do everything at their own pace, in their own way without any stress or problem. While this might work for some, it struck me as not being brave enough to offer any friction or to make me be patient. In my view, I say let lifestyle aspects reflect real life. The action gameplay is divided into missions that take the form of level-based dungeons that require the player to teleport in and fight bad-bots in small rooms. These realtime, third-person battles are usually quick, first offering minor enemies that lead into more combat encounters that culminate in a boss encounter or rescuing a new robot friend. The missions are, like the lifestyle gameplay, a bit underdone. The gameplay in Lynked is attempting to evoke high-octane action, swift movement, and large amounts of weapons to use on each run. Unfortunately, while there are many different weapons to choose from, most of them — such as the great hammer or the electric guitar –aren’t interesting or practical for single players. Instead, they come across as being designed for combo-ing them with friends that can join in on missions via online co-op. Co-op functions were not available for testing during the review period, however the game supports three-player co-op during the campaign. It is very similar to the co-op functionality of games like Monster Hunter. All of these issues are on top of middling production values — a soundtrack that doesn’t have any infectious tunes, nor graphics that are anything above average. There are also performance issues even on low settings, with animation stuttering and freezing at or in-between load times. Lynked: Banner of the Spark feels like a game that wants to combine several elements into one dynamic package, but the attempts at high-speed action trip themselves up before they can even get started, and the lifestyle sim sections are sleep inducing. Rating: 6 out of 10 — Jahwon Corbett Buy Lynked: Banner of the Spark –PC – XB – PS Disclosures: This game is developed by Fuzzy Bot and published by Dreamhaven. It is currently available on XBX/S,PS5, and PC This copy of the game was obtained via Publisher and reviewed on PC. Approximately 20 hours of play were devoted to the single-player mode, and the game was not completed. 0 hours of play were spent in multiplayer modes Parents: According to the ESRB, this game is rated E10+ for Fantasy Violence, Users Interact and Language. This is an action game in which players assume the role of a human survivor battling evil robots. From a ¾-overhead perspective, players construct buildings, harvest materials, interact with characters, and battle robot in melee-style combat. Players use swords, blasters, spears, and robot allies to attack enemies. Combat is highlighted by impact sounds, colorful light effects, and small explosions. The word “bastards” appears in the game. Colorblind Modes: There are no colorblind modes available. Deaf & Hard of Hearing Gamers: The game has no voice acting, only subtitles. There are no significant audio cues needed for play. This game is fully accessible. Remappable Controls: Yes, this game offers fully remappable controls. Lynked Banner of the Spark features customizable controller mapping. Similar to other action games of its type, the left stick is used to move around the world, while the right stick is mostly used for small camera movements. Each button has an assigned action, such as the face buttons being used for attacking, dodge rolling, or using the in-game grappling hook. Shoulder buttons are used to swap between menu items, meanwhile the start and select buttons allow for engaging for an in-game menu and out-of-game menu.

HIGH The atmosphere is superb and the puppets are comically feral.

LOW Some severe framerate drops. Plentiful healing dials the tension down.

WTF Have you ever seen a depressed puppet?

Friendly, Friendly, FRIENDLY HIGH The atmosphere is superb, and the puppets are comically feral. LOW Some severe frame rate drops. Plentiful healing dials the tension down. WTF Have you ever seen a depressed puppet? Many survival horror titles thrive off of unexplainable cosmic horrors, the aftermaths of outbreaks, and other unpleasant events. My Friendly Neighborhood challenges the norms of the genre with a setting that’s less than threatening — a TV studio for a children’s program. Hardly scary, right? But that’s where most players will be wrong. In My Friendly Neighborhood, players assume the role of Gordon J. O’Brian, a handyman sent to a studio to stop the broadcast of the titular show from playing over the news and other programs. Upon entering the studio grounds, he finds that not only are things amiss technically, but almost all the puppets are moving around on their own and attacking anything that gets near them. In typical survival horror fashion, Gordon has to navigate numerous areas from a first-person perspective while scavenging for limited supplies, weapons, and keys to open new paths. What sets MFN apart is that almost all the weapons are something other than ordinary firearms — they’re typically shaped like a normal firearm, but they fire letters instead of bullets. These give Gordon’s adventure a lot of charm, as it’s comical to watch letter B’s and X’s getting shot at the puppets. The tokens I found during play were also interesting — they could function like an ink ribbon used to save the player’s game in classic Resident Evil, but they could also be used at healing stations to refill my health completely. They also acted as currency, being exchanged at vending machines for various boosts. This made these me have to use my one item for saves tactically. If I was low on tokens, I’d have to choose between being able to save and being able to heal if I was low on items. As for the main antagonists, these manic puppets would chase me down the moment I got too close. If they caught me, I’d receive a harmful hug and then be tossed violently to the ground. In a nod to the subject material, the violence here has been scaled back. While I wanted to avoid those hugs, the real threat came from the fact that puppets often reanimated after leaving an area. Thankfully, I could permanently restrain a downed puppet by using tape. However, tape was pretty rare, so I had to use it strategically — and within this scarcity lies MFN’s smart design. With such so many puppets around but no way to permanently remove all of them, a threat remained. Even ammo was limited, so I had to take into account where and when to use items and weapons. For example, I could easily juke some of the slower puppets, but could spend my precious tape on those that were faster, and therefore harder to get away from. Even when disposed of, the puppets would still chatter to themselves about topics ranging from the innocuous to the insane. This scripting gave them lots of character and juxtaposed them with the Sesame Street Muppets that they’re obviously based on. Something else I greatly appreciated about MFN were its numerous secret items weapons and areas. Apart from these things, there were also hidden ways to permanently and peacefully deal with puppets, and this usually involved finding specific items or backtracking through previously explored buildings. For example, in the earliest area, a large Big Bird-like puppet will prowl an area and stomp on me if I got close. When I found an item that they were looking for, they stopped moving around and were no longer hostile, removing their threat to me. However, in some cases, I had to wait to help them until I was able to explore an area further with new items from other locations. For those that finish My Friendly Neighborhood, there are cheats that can be used in subsequent playthroughs, enhancing replayability. One gave the player a one-hit kill weapon that violently jettisons puppets into the nearest wall. Another unlocked “Neighborhorde” mode which focuses on arcade-style score attack. There were also a number of unlockable characters with their own loadouts. Including a chicken man with grenades. In general, MFN is well-designed and well-made, though there were a few issues. The biggest offender was a drop in the frame rate in a couple of smaller, crowded rooms. Thankfully, these instances were extremely limited. There was also no way to auto-sort items in the menu, leading to me spending time rearranging things to make space — annoying. Another issue is that healing items were a little too plentiful. I constantly had bottles of healing juice stuffing my already-crowded inventory. While having access to heals isn’t a bad thing, survival horror thrives when there are limitations. Between those items and a machine that could heal me to full health in safe rooms, I felt like the potential tension was dulled a bit. Overall, MFN is an excellent survival horror title that attempts to, and mostly succeeds at, changing up the standard survival horror formula. While it could stand to have a few more teeth, I was still pleasantly on the edge of my seat the entire time. In a genre with too many developers copying each other’s homework, My Friendly Neighborhood offers a break from the norm with color and charm, and I suspect that fans of survival horror will want to play along. Rating: 8 out of 10 Buy My Friendly Neighborhood – Steam – PlayStation – Xbox Disclosures: This game is developed and published by John and Evan Syzmanski, and published by DreadXP. It is currently available on XBO/X/S, PS4, PS5, and PC. This copy of the game was obtained via publisher, and reviewed on PS5. Approximately 10 hours were devoted to the game, and it was completed with the true ending. There are no multiplayer modes. Parents: This game has an ESRB rating of E for Mild Fantasy Violence. Most of the weapons are some sort of typewriter-like instrument that shoots out letters, rather than bullets. The characters are never killed, but temporarily incapacitated. When attacked, the player is shaken and thrown about. While the rating states that this for everyone, young children (particularly viewers of Sesame Street) could become scared by the content. The puppets will also occasionally talk about wanting to commit violent actions. There are also cigarettes and bottles of alcohol in one area. As such, I would say that this is a game better suited for older kids, possibly teens. Colorblind Modes: There are no colorblind options. Deaf & Hard of Hearing Gamers: The game does offer subtitles, but only for cutscenes and dialogue from Gordon. Subtitles cannot be resized. There are no closed captions, which can make it hard for players to know that a threat is in the room. For example, all the puppets chatter when they’re conscious, and they’ll speak or vocalize differently when pursuing the player. This is a potential tell that could be missed by players with hearing issues. This game is not fully accessible. My Friendly Neighborhood_20250723072640 Remappable Controls: No, this game’s controls are not remappable. My Friendly Neighborhood_20250723055303

Today’s episode is something a little different! Carlos Rodela is back to chat about every secret, twist and turn in Death Stranding 2 — it’s the spoilercast! Be warned that once past the opening, the entire game is up for discussion, so please don’t listen to the show if you’re concerned about being spoiled on the story aspects of the game. The guys also give DS2 their final review scores as well — and they’re probably not what you expect! 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!

HIGH It’s a Zachlike by Zach. Wonderful theming.

LOW Might be too for the hardcore Zachheads

WTF Pachinko+Solitaire (but it rules)

Welcome Back, Zach HIGH It’s a Zachlike by Zach. Wonderful theming. LOW Might be too easy for the hardcore Zachheads WTF Pachinko+Solitaire (but it rules) If pressed to name the game designer I admire most, I’d probably say Zach Barth. Not because I enjoy his games the most (although I enjoy them a great deal) but because the Zachtronics oeuvre – beginning with SpaceChem with 2011, and concluding in 2022 with Last Call BBS – is probably the most consistent, artistically coherent body of work in the field. Big claim, but it’s true. The Zachtronics titles are the result of intense focus — of a team working entirely within their own self-discovered ludological world, cultivating a hitherto-unexplored corner of puzzle design so sui generis that we came up with a new name for them — Zachlikes. Every Zachtronics release (excluding a couple outliers) built off a core concept of open-ended, discovery-based automation and/or programming puzzles, in which players uncover their own unique solutions to each problem at a pace that, too, belongs to each player personally. Every Zachlike borrows pieces and parts from the prior ones, but adds something of its own, pilfered in its turn by the next one. After Last Call, Zachtronics disbanded – or rather metamorphosed into Coincidence, a company that’s the kind of outfit someone starts when they’ve made enough money to liberate themselves from the capitalist mill-wheel and can do whatever the hell they want. Coincidence released a couple of card games, an educational title to teach arithmetic, and even something called “Zach Attack!,” a scratch card-based logic affair. But sadly, nothing that could be called a Zachlike – until now. Kaizen: A Factory Story is not just something made by Zach Barth, but is a genuine Zachlike in the classical tradition. Not the most adventurous one, nor the longest, certainly not the hardest, but Barth and his crew are fully and gloriously back on their bullshit here, right down to the requisite solitaire game-within-a-game. Kaizen takes place in Japan in the late ’80s, when the country was riding an economic boom that resulted, amongst other things, in virtuosic consumer electronics manufacturing. As David Sugimoto, a young business graduate from Indiana who goes to Japan for a sales job but ends up shepherding production factories instead, players create assembly lines for appliances, computers, video game systems, and more – it’s a comforting, nostalgia-laced parade celebrating the most appealing of era of product design before later variants of the corporate psychosis leached all character and quality from consumer goods. (Do we really think anyone is going to look back fondly on the way the PS5 looks, for example?) The Zachtronics games don’t get enough credit for their atmospherics. Story and setting are peripheral, but realized with great taste and an eye for the historical (or fantastical) milieu being evoked. ’80s Japan is a low-hanging fruit in terms of aesthetic, but Kaizen pleases from top to bottom in this regard. The sonic landscape is a boppable city pop homage, the color palette and clean linework lifted straight from Nagai Hiroshi, and in the puzzles themselves, non-copyright-infringing homages to landmark electronics and appliances are rendered with an almost touching accuracy, down to the particular density of computer polymers, or the brushed metal of a camcorder square chassis. Even the degree to which the little red Power LEDs are recessed into the frames seems wholly convincing and accurate. This is the least abstracted, the most tangible, Zachlike puzzle pieces have ever been. Each puzzle is a work assignment — assemble a rice cooker, a computer, or a bidet. Starting with separate, sometimes unfinished components, players have to utilize different apparatuses to modify and manipulate these pieces into a finished product. Mechanical arms push, flip, and grab components; electric saws remove material; welders and riveters fuse disparate elements together. All of these mechanisms are assigned behaviors on a timeline at the bottom of the worktable. The challenge comes from the physicality of all of these pieces. An arm can’t be in the way of another arm, the saws will cut whatever passes through them indiscriminately, etc. As the Zachlike-likers know, much of the frisson comes from solving these micro-problems to reach a viable solution. After that, any solution can be tweaked to optimize for the three different metrics – time, cost, and size – and every solution is ranked on and compared to other players’ solutions with the signature Zachtronics histograms. This is the proven, beloved Zachlike format, and it works just as well in Kaizen as before. All this being said, there is something every so slightly insubstantial about this particular entry. It might be the first Zachlite, much easier and shorter than installments in the established Zachtronics canon. The Zachlikes are always joyful pain to me, as there is not a single neuron in brain with any sort of engineering bent, and I usually crawl through these games at a sub-testudinal pace — but I blazed through Kaizen. Sometimes I solved a puzzle in less than five minutes. Once, I noticed that another player had come up with more or less the exact same solution that I did – something that has never happened to me with prior Zachlikes. The difficulty does ramp up, but even later on there’s this nebulous feeling of limitation — almost as if the devs were holding back. I feel safe saying it’s intentional – in other words, not a symptom of fatigue or disinterest on the dev’s part, but rather a purposefully lighter take on the core Zachlike themes. It’s an approach I understand, even if I personally don’t endorse it. I may not be good at Opus Magnum or Infinifactory, but their bracing, permissive difficulty is part of what I love about them, and the relative lack of challenge in Kaizen gives it less mechanical character than its older siblings, and, I would guess, less staying power in the long run. If those prior games are vast, rich, brain-pain buffets, Kaizen is a light, spritzy cerebrum sorbet. Does that mean that I would recommend Kaizen to the Zach-curious out there? Yes and no. It’s a delightful experience, but I think newcomers would actually be better served doing what I did and jumping in at the deep end with one of Kaizen’s classic predecessors. Kaizen is best, I think, for the already-converted. It’s not on the same level as the older titles, but it’s a delightful dose of most of what made them special. A summer treat for the sickos. Rating: 7 out of 10 Disclosures: This game is developed by Coincidence and published by Astra Logical. It is available on PC. This copy of the game was obtained via publisher. Approximately 12 hours of play were devoted to the game, and it was not completed (I got hung up on the excellent Pachi-Sol solitaire minigame for while). There are no multiplayer modes. Parents: This game is not rated by the ESRB. There’s nothing troubling, dark, unpleasant, or violent in this game whatsoever. The vast majority of time is spent looking at a table of components and mechanisms, and the closest the game comes to toilet humor is in having players assemble a bidet. Colorblind Modes: There are no colorblind modes present. Deaf & Hard of Hearing Gamers: Dialogue for the dozen or so cutscenes are accompanied by subtitles, but the subtitles cannot be resized. Remappable Controls: The game is keyboard and/or mouse only. The controls are not remappable. Everything can be done with the mouse alone, but there are intuitive hotkeys (CTRL+Z for undo, etc.) for faster solution editing.

HIGH Charming pixel art, modern civilization fallen into ruin with Norse mythological backdrop

LOW Clunky movement, weak combat, wonky UI

WTF Why do I need to disconnect my controller just for the game to be able to launch?

Declining World, Declining Interest HIGH Charming pixel art, modern civilization fallen into ruin with Norse mythological backdrop LOW Clunky movement, weak combat, wonky UI WTF Why do I need to disconnect my controller just for the game to be able to launch? Vessels of Decay makes a good first impression. When I saw a gameplay video, I was instantly drawn in by the retro-inspired graphics, isometric action, RPG gameplay and a post-apocalyptic setting steeped in Norse mythology. The player follows the adventures of siblings Freja and Mud as they fight a wide variety of monsters on their quest to restore the world’s former glory, which entails navigating dilapidated city centers and mysterious Zelda-esque temples chock full of puzzles and challenges. When I finally set out on my hero’s journey, however, that first impression quickly soured due to a host of technical issues… starting with the game’s failure to launch. After trying to boot it up several times and failing, I took to the Internet to see if anyone else had encountered the same issue. Other players had already figured out that Decay wouldn’t launch if they had a controller connected, so I had to disconnect my controller, reboot, and then plug the controller back in once the main menu had loaded. The menu featured the same image used for the promo materials, and it captures what appealed to me in the first place — the two siblings standing on a precipice overlooking a vast landscape and facing what appeared to be a giant deer god. Honestly, it’s a scene worthy of being an album cover. Things were looking up again… for a little while, anyway. Getting back to controllers, Decay is poorly optimized for them. Even when I tried to rebind the controls, the UI was so clunky that I had to go through and reconfirm or reassign every input entirely (there’s no way to change one and back out) so I eventually just settled on the default settings, which detracted from the overall experience as the developers made many odd choices in determining which buttons to have the player use for certain actions. Past the controls, I wish I could say that Vessels of Decay lived up to my hopes and expectations, but truthfully, I’m struggling to find positive things to say about it. I liked the vibe and appreciated what I could glean from the few cutscenes and bits of dialogue (each chapter shifted perspective from one sibling to the other) but the way the story was presented made it a little tough to tell the different between dreams or visions and reality. Initially, I remember being enchanted by the ethereal synth music and the nostalgic pixel art throughout the city ruins which served as the tutorial area where (sadly) I experienced even more egregious technical difficulties. I was shown the ropes of combat soon after. The game offers heavy and light attacks, a parry, a dodge and executions, but the movement felt sluggish, even when “sprinting”, which was quite finicky. Platforming challenges like swinging from pole to pole across gaps were mired by inconsistent timing, particularly infuriating during a chase sequence when I was being pursued by a giant boar. Balancing on beams between buildings tended to be glitchy — sometimes I would still be walking as if I was on the beam after I had already jumped off and I would be forced to restart from the checkpoint. Once I made it to the first boss arena, I was disappointed to find that my opponent, the giant boar, was not necessarily challenging, but was still an incredibly repetitive and frustrating fight. There were many times when nothing was happening on-screen, yet the arena would ‘vibrate’ to signify that the boar was stomping around somewhere, so I would have to wander around the arena until I finally triggered its charge attack. Sometimes the boar wouldn’t make any noise as it did so, looking almost comical as it flew silently around the map trying to attack me. At other times, the camera would neither track me nor the boar, and would instead be fixed on a patch of trees somewhere. Such a viewpoint made it impossible for me to tell where I was or what was going on, so I would end up guessing and dodging blindly in a given direction. Miraculously, I managed to finally bring it down, but rather than feel accomplished, I mostly just felt relieved to have gotten past something that had been the source of so much frustration. As things progressed, I unlocked some satisfying abilities like the Thorn Stomp which allowed me to use what was essentially a spell slot to trigger far off switches or attack enemies from a distance. I also enjoyed the Charge Dash, though it caused me to get stuck in the wall on several occasions, requiring me to reload the game from a previous save. The various types of puzzles and challenges in each area weren’t anything that hasn’t been done before (I half-expected the item discovery sound effect from Zelda anytime I opened a chest) but the areas were aesthetically captivating, and at one point I came across a shopping mall which acted as the lair for a host of giants, goblins and trolls — an interesting location! At this point, I’m running out of positives to share. I had completely lost interest in the story by this point of the game and all of the persistent technical issues drowned out any enjoyment Vessels of Decay had managed to cultivate. To be perfectly frank, it’s unlikely that the developers will be able to address all of the issues that would need to be resolved to make Decay appeal to a wider audience. There are a handful of great ideas here, but the execution falls so wide of the mark that I hope the devs can take this as a learning experience and improve their next venture. Rating: 5.5 out of 10 Buy Vessels of Decay – PC – XBO/X/S – PS4/PS5 – Switch Disclosures: This game was developed by Simon Jakobsson and Aurora Punks and published by Headup. The game is currently available on PC, XBO/X/S, PS4, PS5 and Switch. It was obtained via publisher and reviewed for PC. Approximately 3.5 hours were devoted to the campaign mode. The game was not finished. There is no multiplayer mode. Parents: This game is not yet rated but it would likely be rated T for cartoon violence, blood and gore. Colorblind Modes: There are no colorblind modes available. Deaf & Hard of Hearing Gamers: This game has only text-based dialogue and no audio cues that impact the gameplay in any significant way making it fully accessible. Remappable controls: The controls can be remapped.

In this episode, Brad covers: – Missile Command Delta – Dungeons of Dreadrock 2 – Neon Noodles – Nova Hearts – Cats Away – Dustwind Resistance – Date Z – Curious Expedition 2 …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!

Fighting games were never my specialty. My childhood best friend would always beat me at Soulcalibur II, no matter which character I picked — Astaroth’s axe could only take me so far, and Raphael could never save me from defeat. However, despite my struggles, I still came back to it… and many others like it.

Fighting games were never my specialty. My childhood best friend would always beat me at Soulcalibur II, no matter which character I picked — Astaroth’s axe could only take me so far, and Raphael could never save me from defeat. However, despite my struggles, I still came back to it… and many others like it. While the competitive side of me wanted to improve at Soulcalibur, another part of me genuinely enjoyed the storytelling. Fighters might not seem like they have substance beyond the mechanical aspects needed for mastery, but many of these titles offer so much more than just that. In addition to wild combos and flashy finishers, devs frequently give us character arcs and varying perspectives, which I find fascinating. Soulcalibur was the first fighting game that won me over at a young age. From the first installment in 1998 to Soulcalibur VI in 2018, the plot has been compelling for over two decades. The first Soulcalibur revolves around Soul Edge, a cursed sword that taints its owner and offers unlimited power. The weapon has corrupted a knight named Siegfried, who has turned into a bloodlusting monster named Nightmare due to its influence. While he’s already succumbed, Siegfried is determined to redeem himself and break free from its control. The supporting cast have their own agendas. Heroes in Soul Edge want to destroy Nightmare and the sword, whereas others want to steal the sword’s power and claim glory for themselves. Ultimately, the only way to stop Soul Edge is to wield Soulcalibur, an opposing holy sword. Along the way and through various sequels, we meet characters like Ivy Valentine and Xianghua, who fight to destroy the evil weapon and protect others from it. The younger me enjoyed this plot, but focused more on the fighting aspect. However, the older and wiser version of me appreciates each game’s lore and how it all interconnects. With a wide cast typical of most fighting titles, players get different perspectives and viewpoints, enriching the experience. In a way, I also felt like I grew up with the franchise. For example, Soulcalibur II was the first one I played when I was a kid, and it introduced me to Greek warrior Sophitia Alexandra. By the fifth game, we got to see her children, Patroklos and Pyrrha. While Soulcalibur V wasn’t a huge success, it provided nostalgia and plot continuity that kept me coming back. While Soulcalibur was my first exposure, other titles made me appreciate the genre for more than just the battles. Tekken is one that has a special place in my heart. I remember playing it on my dad’s PlayStation when I was too young to really know what I was doing, and I certainly didn’t grasp the more serious plot points. However, as I went through grade school, I connected the dots and realized how excellent its storytelling has been. In this franchise we get plenty of drama worthy of a Shakespearean play with the Mishima and Kazama families. I remember my first time playing Tekken 2 and feeling shocked at seeing what Kazuya did to Heihachi — after defeating his father in the tournament, Kazuya threw Heihachi off a cliff, cementing a brutal cycle of betrayal and revenge within the Mishima family as one of the most important and frequently recurring plot points of the Tekken series. Further, each sequel expands on core concepts like the Mishima Zaibatsu’s global influence and how they use it to host the King of the Iron Fist Tournament. This competition (and the premise of every Tekken installment) is that the event brings in fighters from around the world to win fame and money, but it’s also a vessel for the family’s power struggles and world domination plans. That’s a plotline I’d expect from an HBO show like “Succession.” There are smaller stories in Tekken, though, to be sure. Take Anna Williams, who didn’t have much of a backstory in the first game. However, she quickly became an important figure when she thwarted her sister, Nina, from assassinating Heihachi in the Iron Fist Tournament. Through the franchise, we’ve seen expansion on her grudge against Nina, her life as a bounty hunter and a rekindling of the siblings’ intense rivalry in Tekken 5. Fast forward to Tekken 8, and her DLC return as the game’s 37th character features an Anna that has evolved drastically from the one we were introduced to years earlier. Anna and Nina have had a compelling rivalry for 30 years, and it hasn’t gotten old. I love seeing the clash of love-hate relationships in games, and while it might be relatable because of my own siblings… well, that’s beside the point. While the two sisters captured my attention, there are plenty of stories for everyone to get caught up in through other franchises as well, not least of all, Mortal Kombat. For years, I associated it with spending a couple of quarters after eating Chuck E. Cheese pizza or throwing bowling balls in the gutter, but it doesn’t take long to see that the story is a central asset of the franchise now. While the early titles were groundbreaking at the time thanks to digitized graphics and the controversial level of graphic violence, Mortal Kombat 9 is notable thanks to its improvements in the franchise’s storytelling abilities. The title takes you back to the period of the first three MK games, and the writers seized the opportunity to reboot the narrative. From plot holes to retold stories, the production gave gamers the kind of storytelling richness the MK characters deserved in the original ‘90s titles. For example, Mortal Kombat 9 provided more insight into martial arts fighter Liu Kang, who faced immense pressure to win the Mortal Kombat tournament and save Earth from invading forces from other dimensions. This would be crucial to the future of the series, as Liu Kang has quickly become the central focus of the new timeline. We also got to see more details about individual character relationships, such as the rivalry between royal daughters Kitana and Mileena, or more insights into Scorpion, who’s hell-bent on revenge. Altogether, the reboot makes the concepts and content from the original games more cohesive and engaging through excellent storytelling. Mortal Kombat 9 set the bar high, and the franchise has only improved since the 2011 release. Mortal Kombat 11 introduced Kronika, whose objective was to erase the existing timeline and bring more balance to the world. This gave us time travel and alternate versions of characters. Mortal Kombat 1 rebooted the series again, now in a new timeline entirely, with Liu Kang becoming the new godlike protector of Earth. Thanks to the time and effort put into the script, playing Mortal Kombat today is much different than when I mashed buttons back in the arcade. Now I’m paying more attention to the plots and feeling more invested in the characters than ever. As a child, I never thought I’d be secretly rooting for Scorpion to get his revenge or that I’d feel so satisfied when Raiden finally accepts his role as a protector. Despite “only” being fighting games, it’s easy to see the effort put into the Tekken, Mortal Kombat and Soulcalibur franchises. While some may only play these titles for their competitive or technical aspects, the plots have much to offer thanks to well-written and complex universes. From power struggles to sibling rivalries, the creativity of the writing in fighting games keeps me coming back for more, despite being nowhere near the top when it comes to competing. Now, with that said… let me call my friend to see if he’s up for a Soulcalibur II rematch. He doesn’t know I’ve been practicing for over 20 years! — Jack Shaw

HIGH The level design.

LOW In the sewers again, eh?

WTF Shouldn’t it be easier to hit enemies when aiming down the sights, not harder?

Half-Lite HIGH The level design. LOW In the sewers again, eh? WTF Shouldn’t it be easier to hit enemies when aiming down the sights, not harder? Nothing good ever happens in an underground science lab – whether it’s zombifying viruses, inter-dimensional hell portals, or just plain corporate greed run amok, these clandestine facilities inevitably court disaster. As a retro-styled first-person shooter, Kvark is the latest title to explore the consequences of subterranean scholarship. Set in Czechoslovakia during the late ’80s, Kvark tells the tale of an energy company attempting to branch into the weapons industry. By experimenting on their employees with a mysterious substance called Anethium, the corporation manages to prove the above hypothesis. Awakening in a cell on the bottom floor of the facility in the aftermath of a disaster, the player must fight their way to the safety of the surface. A slow, exploration-based shooter, Kvark is clearly inspired by the original Half-Life, and models much of its structure and play after that seminal 1998 release. While the similarities in theme and setting are obvious, the most interesting resonance is in the structure of the levels themselves. Many stages are constructed in a circular manner, causing areas to often be revisited from new perspectives. This design thesis is clearly established in the opening stage – shortly after exiting their cell into the multi-level prison, players will walk through a hallway with a barred, moss-covered window near the ceiling. A room is visible through the bars with barrels and boxes piled high. Several minutes (and many winding corridors) later I noticed that same barred window — this time near the floor — and realized I was looking back into the first hallway from the other side. This structural bookending, described as The Preacher Loop by GameCritics’ own Sparky Clarkson, defines the space by removing abstraction and reiterating its logical construction. Through recognizable landmarks and showing the same spaces from new vantage points, the player becomes keenly aware of their progress and orientation within the environment. As Sparky points out in his article, this design technique is a major factor in why Half-Life’s Black Mesa facility feels grounded and cohesive, and the effect is similar in Kvark. Unfortunately, this thoughtful design is let down by Kvark’s inconsistent aesthetic direction. The opening two thirds of Kvark take place in anonymous industrial spaces, sewers, and tunnels. Occasionally, the player will pop into offices and labs which feature a more noteworthy brutalist aesthetic with stark, chunky concrete architecture and wood paneling. These segments offer more visual interest and complement the recursive structure with more striking spaces. However, it seemed as though every time I entered one of these areas, Kvark was quick to direct me back into the mines and tunnels, losing much of its spark in the process. Compounding this issue are the repetitive mechanics. Armed with the typical assortment of shotguns, rifles, and machine guns, the player must battle through an army of robots, mutants, and evil scientists. While the play is functional, there’s little that sets it apart – the majority of encounters consist of enemies blindly charging after the player until they are eventually gunned down. Though there is an undeniable thrill in this and the over-the-top gore is a constant source of amusement, there are few surprises, and I quickly tired of the monotony. To be fair, the final third of Kvark is a marked improvement, and finally delivers on the promise of the clever level design. Gone are the claustrophobic passages and burrows, when my character finally emerges on the surface. These sections feature much wider spaces with a broader selection of enemies, and the encounters become more dynamic. Objectives are telegraphed by distant, concrete edifices barely visible through the fog. Airborne enemies pepper the player from above, their ground-based counterparts lobbing grenades as mutant rats charge out of the underbrush. In these late stages, Kvark finally comes into its own. In the end, Kvark shows an enormous amount of promise. However, its disparate elements coalesce too late in the runtime and are ultimately overshadowed by the uninspired combat and indistinct aesthetic direction. That being said, there is a sense of momentum in the final stages of Kvark, and if the developers can focus on that quality and carry it forward, I have high hopes for their subsequent releases. Rating: 5.5 out of 10 Buy KVARK – PS – XB – Switch – PC Disclosures: This game is developed by Latest Pass and published by Perun Creative. It is currently available on PS4/5, XBO/X/S, Switch, and PC. This copy of the game was obtained via publisher and reviewed on the XBX. Approximately 20 hours of play were devoted to the single-player mode, and the game was completed. There are no multiplayer modes. Parents: According to the ESRB, this game is rated M and contains Blood and Gore, Use of Tobacco, Violence. This game is a first-person shooter where humans, zombies, rats and robots are killed with guns. The visuals are presented in a blocky, low fidelity format, and are not photo-realistic. When enemies are shot blood sprays out and stains the wall. They can be decapitated, dismembered, and will occasionally explode into chunks of gore when killed. This is all presented in an over-the-top, unrealistic fashion but is still fairly graphic. Cigarette butts can be picked up from ashtrays and smoked. Normally this lowers the players health, but a perk can be obtained that heals the player when smoking cigarettes. There is no profanity or sexual content. 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. During gameplay, none of the enemy sounds are captioned or subtitled, and while there is no dialogue with the enemies, I did find that I was more susceptible to ambushes and attacks from behind when playing without sound. As such, this game is not fully accessible. Remappable Controls: No, this game’s controls are not remappable.

Fixes, Tutorials and Guides for Games

Minecraft is a popular sandbox video game enjoyed by millions worldwide, but it seems like Minecraft Launcher Error Code 0x87e5003a is giving headaches to a wide range number of fans. If you are facing this error, don’t worry; this guide will walk you through some proven methods to fix it and get you back to […]

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Minecraft is a popular sandbox video game enjoyed by millions worldwide, but it seems like Minecraft Launcher Error Code 0x87e5003a is giving headaches to a wide range number of fans. If you are facing this error, don’t worry; this guide will walk you through some proven methods to fix it and get you back to your block-building adventures. What is Minecraft error code 0x87e5003a? When encountering the Minecraft Launcher Error Code 0x87e5003a, users are often met with a pop-up error message indicating that the game failed to start, accompanied by the error code. This particular error code emerges and presents the gamer with the following message: “This game is already running. If you just quit the game, it should be ready to launch again in a moment”. While this could potentially be a passing glitch, more often than not, this generally indicates that the ability to partake in the game will remain unavailable even following a waiting period. How can I fix Minecraft Launcher Error Code 0x87e5003a? Check the live status Force closing the game Use an old Minecraft Launcher Reinstall Minecraft 1. Check the live status Open a web browser on your device. In the search bar, type Minecraft server status or a similar query and press Enter. From the search results, select a reliable website or service that offers real-time or updated information about Minecraft server status. Popular options include Minecraft Server Status or Mojang Status. On the chosen website, you may need to enter the server address (IP address or domain) you want to check. Click on the Check or Submit button to initiate the server status check. The website will then provide you with details about the server’s current status, whether it’s online, offline, or experiencing any issues. Review the information presented on the website to understand the current status of the Minecraft server. It might also display additional details about server performance and any ongoing incidents. If you want to cross-reference the information, you can also check official Minecraft community forums, social media accounts, or other community-driven platforms for updates on server status. 2. Force closing the game Time needed: 2 minutes It seems like forcing closing any active related instances is one of the best solutions to get rid of our today’s issue. Use the following keyboard shortcut: Windows + X Choose Task Manager. Make sure you’re in the Processes tab. Search for Minecraft or Minecraft Launcher, then select it, and click on the End task button. Restart your PC or console and check if you managed to get rid of the Minecraft Launcher Error Code 0x87e5003a. 3. Use an old Minecraft Launcher If the error persists on your display, you might consider utilizing the previous version of the Minecraft launcher. If you lack familiarity with this option, you can access the Minecraft alternatives to acquire comprehensive details, along with discovering alternative Minecraft launchers. 4. Reinstall Minecraft Hit the Windows key, then type Control Panel, and open the first result. Under the Programs section, choose to Uninstall a program. Locate and click on Minecraft in the list of installed apps, then click on the Uninstall button, just as we show you with the LoL example in the picture below. Follow the on-screen prompts to remove Minecraft from your system. After uninstalling, open the Microsoft Store and search for Minecraft. Click on the Install button to download and install Minecraft again. Once the installation is complete, launch the game to see if the error is resolved. Related articles: Minecraft Won’t Update: How to Force it to Update Properly Minecraft Packet Loss: How To Fix & Avoid It For Good Minecraft Error Code Creeper: Fix It Effortlessly Minecraft Error 403: How To Fix It Using Quick Solutions Minecraft Exception_Access_Violation 0xc0000005: How To Fix By following the methods mentioned in this guide, you should now be able to fix the Minecraft Launcher Error Code 0x87e5003a. Now, you can dive back into the fascinating world of Minecraft and enjoy your adventures without any hindrance. Happy gaming! In case you encounter any additional questions, feel free to leave a comment in the dedicated section below. The post Minecraft Launcher Error Code 0x87e5003a: Try These Fixes appeared first on Games Errors.

Fortnite has captivated millions of players with its exciting gameplay and vibrant world. However, encountering errors, like Fortnite Error code 0, can be frustrating and disrupt your gaming experience. It seems like this error is pretty popular among worldwide users, so have no fear! There are plenty of solutions to fix it without effort. In […]

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Fortnite has captivated millions of players with its exciting gameplay and vibrant world. However, encountering errors, like Fortnite Error code 0, can be frustrating and disrupt your gaming experience. It seems like this error is pretty popular among worldwide users, so have no fear! There are plenty of solutions to fix it without effort. In this comprehensive guide, we will walk you through various troubleshooting steps to help you fix Error 0 and get back to the Battle Royale action. How can I fix the Fortnite error code 0? Before getting into our main solutions, we recommend trying these fast fixes: Check your system specifications to see if it is meeting at least the minimum requirements to run the game. Because this error might occur due to missing or corrupted files, you should verify the integrity of game files in Epic Games Launcher. Now, in case you didn’t manage to solve the problem, move to the following solutions: Check the game server status Update the game Reset network settings Temporarily disable your antivirus software or any unnecessary apps 1. Check the game server status Navigate to the official Epic Games status website and check if the Fortnite status is Operational. You can also try to visit the official Fortnite social media channels and search for any notifications pertaining to server downtime or scheduled maintenance. If there’s a server issue, you may need to wait until it’s resolved. In the meantime, you can follow Fortnite’s social media for updates. 2. Update the game Open your Epic Games Launcher client. From the bottom left window pane, choose Settings. Go to the Manage Games section, then ensure to checkmark the box next to the Allow Auto-Updates option. Expand the menu for Fortnite, then make sure it has its Auto-update box checked. 3. Reset network settings Time needed: 3 minutes Resetting your network settings seems to be one of the most efficient solutions to fix Fortnite error code 0. Use the following keyboard shortcut to open Windows Settings: Windows + I. From the left window pane, click on the Network & Internet option. Then, look at the right side of the window and choose Advanced network settings. Now, navigate to Network reset. Once you reach the new window, click on the Reset now button. In the pop-up window, confirm the process by clicking on Yes. Wait a bit, then restart your PC. 4. Temporarily disable your antivirus software or any unnecessary apps Simultaneously press these keys: Windows + X. Select Task Manager from the pop-up menu. Make sure you’re in the Processes tab. Select each app/program you don’t necessarily need, then choose to End task. The error code 0 in Fortnite could refer to a variety of issues, such as problems with game files, network connectivity, or other technical glitches. Some users might suggest disabling antivirus software as a way to rule out the possibility that the antivirus is interfering with the game’s functionality. Related articles: How to Make Fortnite Run Better on PC: 7 Expert Tips to Try Fortnite This Client is Not Compatible: Why & How to Fix Fortnite Successfully Logged Out: Fix It in 3 Minutes Fortnite Unexpected Error Occured on Xbox: How to Fix Fortnite Update Stuck at 100% Xbox One [Easy Fix] Fortnite Error code 0 can be a minor setback, but with the troubleshooting steps provided in this guide, you should be able to fix the issue and jump back into the action-packed world of Fortnite. The below comment section is dedicated to you, so make sure you use it in case of having any other related questions or curiosities. The post Fortnite Error Code 0: Fix It Now appeared first on Games Errors.

Fortnite is a highly popular and addictive online battle royale game played by millions of players worldwide, but the 0xc0000005 error seems to sometimes generate headaches among fans. Like any other software, it can encounter various errors and issues that disrupt the gaming experience. The 0xc0000005 error is one of the most common occurrences for […]

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Fortnite is a highly popular and addictive online battle royale game played by millions of players worldwide, but the 0xc0000005 error seems to sometimes generate headaches among fans. Like any other software, it can encounter various errors and issues that disrupt the gaming experience. The 0xc0000005 error is one of the most common occurrences for some players. If you’re facing this error while trying to play Fortnite, don’t worry! This guide will walk you through several troubleshooting steps to help you resolve the issue and get back into the game. What is error code 0xc0000005 in games? Error code 0xc0000005 is a common Windows error that can occur when running various applications, including games. This error is officially known as the Access Violation error and indicates that an application attempted to access a memory address that it was not allowed to access. In simpler terms, it means that a program tried to read or write to a memory location that it doesn’t have permission to use, resulting in a crash or termination of the application. There are several reasons why this error can occur in games: Corrupted Game Files: If some game files are corrupt or missing, the game may try to access an invalid memory location, triggering the 0xc0000005 error. Outdated or Incompatible Drivers: Graphics drivers, audio drivers, or other hardware drivers that are outdated or incompatible with the game can lead to memory access issues. Faulty RAM: Problems with your computer’s RAM (Random Access Memory) can cause memory access violations in games, resulting in the error code 0xc0000005. Third-Party Software Interference: Certain third-party software, such as antivirus programs or system optimizers, may interfere with the game’s memory allocation and cause access violation errors. Compatibility Issues: Some games may not be fully compatible with certain versions of Windows or specific hardware configurations, leading to access violation errors. How can I fix the error code 0xc0000005 in Fortnite? Before going deeper into the main solutions, we suggest first ensuring these quick steps: Check if your system meets at least the minimum requirements to run Fortnite. Verify the game files on Epic Games Launcher, by using our expert guide. Now, if none of the above options worked, let’s discover some additional solutions you can try to get rid of the Fortnite 0xc0000005 Error. Update your drivers Run an SFC scan Scan PC with Windows Defender Disable third-party software 1. Update your drivers Time needed: 5 minutes Simultaneously hit the Windows and X keys, then choose Device Manager from the shown menu. Now, look for the Disk drivers section, then double-click on it. Once the section is expanded, right-click on the needed component, then choose to Update driver. Now, choose to Search automatically for drivers (Just as we show you in the example below). Wait until the process is completed, then check if our today’s issue is gone. 2. Run an SFC scan Hit the Windows key, type cmd, then choose to Run as administrator. In the opened window, type the following code, then press Enter: SFC/scannow Because the process might take a while, we recommend being patient until it is completed. 3. Scan the PC with Windows Defender Navigate to Windows Settings by using this keyboard shortcut: Windows + I. Go to Privacy & Security, then to Windows Security. Choose Virus & threat protection. Scroll down until you see the Current Threats option, then choose to perform a Quick Scan. You can also go for Scan options. There, you’ll find multiple alternatives from which you can choose. Initiate the scanning process. After completion, restart your system and follow additional instructions for virus removal in case any is detected. Then, run Fortnite and check if you’ve managed to get rid of the 0xc0000005 error. 4. Disable third-party software Open Task Manager by pressing simultaneously the following keys on your keyboard: Ctrl + Shift + Esc. There, make sure you’re in the Processes tab. Then, look for any app or program you don’t necessarily need or use while running Fortnite, and choose to End Task. Related articles: How to Make Fortnite Run Better on PC: 7 Expert Tips to Try Fortnite Successfully Logged Out: Fix It in 3 Minutes Fortnite This Client is Not Compatible: Why & How to Fix Fortnite Unexpected Error Occured on Xbox: How to Fix Encountering the Fortnite 0xc0000005 Error can be frustrating, but armed with the right troubleshooting steps, you can swiftly overcome this hurdle and get back to the exhilarating world of Fortnite. In case of facing any additional questions, feel free to use the comment section listed below. The post Fortnite 0xc0000005 Error: Try These Fixes appeared first on Games Errors.

Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 3 (MW3) is a cornerstone of the CoD franchise, offering intense multiplayer action and a gripping campaign. However, the gaming experience can sometimes be ruined by various errors, one of which is the notorious Dev Error 12502. This technical problem can stop players in their tracks, leaving many to wonder […]

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Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 3 (MW3) is a cornerstone of the CoD franchise, offering intense multiplayer action and a gripping campaign. However, the gaming experience can sometimes be ruined by various errors, one of which is the notorious Dev Error 12502. This technical problem can stop players in their tracks, leaving many to wonder about its nature and, more importantly, how to fix it. In this guide, we’ll explore what Dev Error 12502 is and provide you with reliable methods to get you back into the action as swiftly as possible. What is Dev Error 12502 in MW3? Dev Error 12502 is a common issue that players of Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 3 might encounter. This error generally signifies a problem related to the game’s files or settings that prevents it from running smoothly. It can be triggered by a variety of factors, including corrupted game files, outdated graphics drivers, or incorrect game settings. How Can I Fix MW3 Dev Error 12502? To resolve Dev Error 12502 and restore your gaming experience, consider the following preliminary solutions: Run the game as an administrator Close unnecessary background tasks Repair the game files Table of contents 1. Update the game 2. Adjust Your System’s Paging File Size 3. Disable Game Overlays 1. Update the game Updating your game is a crucial step in resolving MW3 Dev Error 12502, as developers often release patches to fix bugs and improve game performance. Here’s how you can ensure that Modern Warfare 3 is up to date: Open Your Game Launcher: Begin by launching the platform you use to play MW3, such as Steam, Battle.net, or your console’s home screen. These platforms typically manage game updates automatically. Navigate to Your Game Library: In your game launcher, locate your library or list of owned games. Here, you’ll find Modern Warfare 3 among your collection. Check for Updates: Highlight Modern Warfare 3 and look for any prompts or options indicating an available update. Launchers like Steam and Battle.net display update statuses directly on the game’s library entry. For consoles, selecting the game usually prompts an update check. Initiate the Update Process: If an update is available, you’ll typically see an “Update” button or similar. Click or select this to start downloading the update. On consoles, updates may start automatically upon selecting the game or may require you to confirm the update. Wait for the Update to Complete: Download and installation times will vary based on the update’s size and your internet connection speed. Ensure the process completes without interruption. On PC, avoid using other bandwidth-intensive applications to speed up the download. Launch the Game: After the update is installed, open MW3 to check if Dev Error 12502 has been resolved. Updated game versions often include fixes for common errors and might resolve your issue directly. Keeping MW3 and your game launcher updated ensures you have the latest content and fixes. If automatic updates are disabled in your launcher, consider enabling them to automatically receive these improvements in the future. 2. Adjust Your System’s Paging File Size Adjusting your system’s paging file size can be an effective way to fix MW3 Dev Error 12502, especially if the error is related to insufficient system memory. Follow these detailed steps to adjust your paging file size for Windows: Press Windows Key + R: This will open the Run dialog box. In the box, type sysdm.cpl and press Enter. This command opens the System Properties window. Navigate to Advanced System Settings: Once the System Properties window is open, click on the “Advanced” tab. Here, you’ll find performance, user profiles, and startup and recovery options. Access Performance Settings: Under the Performance section, click on “Settings” to open the Performance Options window. This window allows you to adjust various settings related to your computer’s performance. Modify Virtual Memory: In the Performance Options window, switch to the “Advanced” tab, and then click on “Change” under the Virtual memory section. Virtual memory is where your computer supplements its physical RAM by temporarily storing data on the hard drive. Adjust Paging File Size: By default, the “Automatically manage paging file size for all drives” option is selected. Uncheck this box to manually adjust the paging file size. Then, select the drive where your game is installed (typically the C: drive). Set Custom Size: After selecting the drive, choose the “Custom size” option. Here, you will input the initial size (MB) and maximum size (MB) for your paging file. It’s recommended to set the initial size to the amount of RAM your system has and the maximum size to double the amount of RAM. However, these values can vary based on your system’s specifications and the requirements of the game. Apply and Set: After entering your custom sizes, click on “Set” and then “OK” to apply the changes. You may be prompted to restart your computer for the changes to take effect. Restart Your Computer: Save any open files and close all applications, then restart your computer. This will ensure that the changes to the virtual memory settings are properly applied. Launch the Game: Once your computer has restarted, try launching MW3 again to see if the Dev Error 12502 has been resolved. Adjusting the paging file size can help accommodate games that require a lot of memory, like MW3, especially if you’re running several applications simultaneously or have limited RAM. If you’re unsure about the best settings for your system, it’s a good idea to consult Windows’ recommendations in the Virtual Memory window or seek advice from a knowledgeable source to avoid system instability. 3. Disable Game Overlays Disabling game overlays can significantly improve game performance and potentially resolve MW3 Dev Error 12502. Many gaming applications provide overlays that offer convenient features like FPS counters, instant messaging, and live streaming, but they can also cause conflicts or use valuable resources. Here’s how to disable the most common game overlays: For Nvidia GeForce Experience: Launch Nvidia GeForce Experience: Open the GeForce Experience application on your computer. Access the Settings: Click on the gear icon in the upper right corner to go to the settings. Disable In-Game Overlay: Find the “In-Game Overlay” option and toggle it off. This will disable the overlay that GeForce Experience provides in games. For Discord: Open Discord: Start the Discord app on your PC. Go to User Settings: Click on the cog icon near your username at the bottom left to access settings. Navigate to Overlay Settings: Select “Overlay” in the App Settings section. Toggle Off the Overlay: Ensure the “Enable in-game overlay” option is toggled off to disable Discord’s game overlay. For Steam: Open Steam: Launch the Steam client. Access Settings: Click on “Steam” in the upper left corner, then “Settings”. Find the In-Game Settings: Go to the “In-Game” tab in the settings menu. Disable the Steam Overlay: Uncheck the box labeled “Enable the Steam Overlay while in-game”. For Xbox Game Bar (Windows 10/11): Open Settings: Press the Windows key and type “Settings”, then press Enter. Navigate to Gaming: Click on “Gaming” to access the game bar settings. Go to Xbox Game Bar: Select “Xbox Game Bar” from the side menu. Toggle Off: Ensure the “Enable Xbox Game Bar for things like recording game clips, chatting with friends, and receiving game invites” is set to Off. For AMD Radeon Software: Launch AMD Radeon Software: Open the software through your desktop or search function. Access the Settings: Look for the gear icon or a similar settings menu. Disable Overlay: Find the overlay option and toggle it off to disable AMD’s overlay feature. After disabling these overlays, restart your game to see if Dev Error 12502 persists. Turning off these features can not only solve compatibility issues but also free up resources for a smoother gaming experience. If you’re not using a particular overlay feature, keeping it disabled during gameplay is generally a good practice. Conclusion Tackling Dev Error 12502 in Modern Warfare 3 feels a bit like detective work, doesn’t it? You’ve got your list of potential problems—outdated game versions, mischievous system settings, those sneaky overlays—and it’s all about patiently ruling them out one by one. The key is to keep calm and troubleshoot on, starting with the basics like ensuring your game is up to date, then maybe diving into the more techy stuff like tweaking your virtual memory settings if needed. And, if you ever feel lost, remember that Activision’s official support is like the detective’s handbook, always there to guide you with the latest insights. By methodically following these steps, you’re not just trying to fix an error; you’re ensuring your gaming setup is as robust as can be, ready for uninterrupted action. Here’s to smoother gaming ahead! The post How to Fix Dev Error 12502 in Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 3 appeared first on Games Errors.

The Call of Duty series has been a staple of the first-person shooter genre, offering players intense combat scenarios and a rich, narrative-driven experience. However, like any complex games, it’s not immune to technical problems. One such issue that has been a thorn in players’ sides is the MW3 Dev Error 5433, especially within the […]

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The Call of Duty series has been a staple of the first-person shooter genre, offering players intense combat scenarios and a rich, narrative-driven experience. However, like any complex games, it’s not immune to technical problems. One such issue that has been a thorn in players’ sides is the MW3 Dev Error 5433, especially within the game’s zombie mode.. This error can abruptly halt your gaming session, leaving you searching for solutions. What is Dev error 5433 in Modern Warfare 3? Dev Error 5433 in Modern Warfare 3 typically indicates an issue within the game’s system that prevents it from operating correctly. Such errors usually relate to problems with game files, graphics settings, system configurations, or compatibility issues with hardware or drivers. How to fix Dev error 5433? To fix Dev Error 5433, try disconnecting and then reconnecting your internet connection. This quick fix has helped some users, although it may not be a long-term solution. Additionally, run the game as an administrator and remove unnecessary background tasks. Table of contents 1. Verify the game files 2. Update the game 3. Update Windows & Drivers 4. Set Game Priority to High 5. Optimize your internet connection 1. Verify the game files Corrupted game files are a common cause of MW3 Dev Error 5433. Regularly checking the integrity of your game files can help prevent this issue. Here’s a simplified process: Open your game launcher and locate the executable file for MW3. Right-click on the file and choose “Properties.” Navigate to the “Local Files” tab within the Properties window. Select the option to “Verify the integrity of game files.” Allow the launcher to check and repair any corrupted files. Restart your game after the verification process to see if the error has been resolved. This method ensures your game files are intact and can often clear up errors related to file corruption. 2. Update the game Ensuring your game is up to date is another key strategy in resolving MW3 Dev Error 5433. Game developers frequently release updates that fix bugs and errors. Follow these steps to update the game: Open the game launcher (like Steam, Battle.net, or the console’s home screen). Navigate to Modern Warfare 3 in your game library. Look for any available updates. If there’s an update option, select it to initiate the update process. Wait for the update to download and install, which may take some time, depending on the size of the update and your internet speed. Once the update is complete, launch the game to see if the error persists. Keeping the game updated ensures you have the latest fixes and game improvements, potentially resolving the Dev Error 5433 and enhancing your gaming experience. 3. Update Windows & Drivers Keeping your operating system and drivers up-to-date is crucial for fixing MW3 Dev Error 5433. Updates often include patches for software bugs that could be causing the error. Here’s how to go about it: Update Windows: Go to Settings > Update & Security > Windows Update, and click on “Check for updates.” Install any available updates and restart your computer. Update Drivers: Specifically, your graphics card drivers should be kept up to date. You can do this by visiting the manufacturer’s website (e.g., NVIDIA, AMD, Intel) and downloading the latest driver for your model. Alternatively, you can use the device manager in Windows to check for driver updates. These updates can enhance system compatibility and performance, potentially resolving the Dev Error 5433 in MW3. 4. Set Game Priority to High Adjusting the game’s priority to high in your system’s task manager can potentially resolve MW3 Dev Error 5433 by allocating more system resources to the game. Here’s a simplified guide: Launch Modern Warfare 3. Press Ctrl + Shift + Esc to open the Task Manager. Go to the “Details” tab, find the game process (it might be listed as ModernWarfare3.exe or something similar). Right-click on the game process, hover over “Set priority,” and then select “High.” This action tells your computer to prioritize MW3’s operations over less critical processes running in the background, which could smooth out performance issues and mitigate the dev error. 5. Optimize your internet connection Optimizing your internet connection can play a critical role in preventing MW3 Dev Error 5433, especially in online play where a stable connection is vital. Here’s how to ensure your internet is in the best shape for gaming: Wired Connection: If possible, use a wired connection instead of Wi-Fi. Ethernet connections are generally more stable and offer faster speeds. Restart Your Router: Simply turning your router off for a minute and then back on can refresh your connection and improve stability. Limit Bandwidth Usage: Ensure no other devices are using the network for bandwidth-heavy tasks like streaming or downloading large files while you play. Update Router Firmware: Check your router’s manufacturer website for firmware updates that can improve performance and security. Adjust Game’s Bandwidth Settings: Some games allow you to limit how much bandwidth they use. Lowering these settings can make your connection more stable. Use a Gaming VPN: A VPN designed for gaming can sometimes reduce ping and packet loss by routing your traffic more efficiently than your ISP. Contact Your ISP: If you consistently have connection issues, your Internet Service Provider (ISP) may be able to help optimize your connection or troubleshoot problems on their end. By following these steps, you’re not just addressing Dev Error 5433 but also enhancing your overall online gaming experience. Fixing Dev Error 5433 on PS5 Restart Your PS5: Sometimes, a simple restart can clear temporary glitches causing the error. Check for Game Updates: Ensure MW3 and your PS5 system software are up to date. Go to the game on your dashboard, press the options button, and select ‘Check for Update.’ Rebuild Database: Boot your PS5 in Safe Mode and select the ‘Rebuild Database’ option. This can fix issues without deleting your data. Reinstall the Game: If the error persists, try uninstalling and then reinstalling MW3. This can resolve corrupted game data issues. Improve Internet Connection: Use a wired connection if possible and restart your router to ensure a stable online experience. Adjust PS5 Settings: Some users find that tweaking network settings or restoring default settings in the PS5 can help. These steps target the common causes of Dev Error 5433 on PS5, focusing on system and game software health, as well as network stability. Conclusion Navigating through the annoyance of Dev Error 5433, whether on PS5 or PC, requires a mix of system checks, game updates, and internet optimization. Each suggested solution targets a potential root cause, from software glitches and outdated files to unstable network connections. Implementing these fixes not only aims to resolve the specific error but also enhances the overall gaming experience by ensuring your system and network are optimized for performance. Remember, persistence is key; if one solution doesn’t work, move on to the next until you find the right fix for your situation. Happy gaming, and may your sessions be error-free! The post MW3 Dev Error 5433: How To Fix It Easily appeared first on Games Errors.

Many believe that Gaming and Esports industry has taken a hard hit as the offices reopened after COVID-19, and the downfall of this industry has begun. While we can say this about just the Esports industry, the Gaming industry is still booming, and if you are wondering how big it is, you can have a […]

The post Gaming vs. Movie Industry Revenue: Striking Revenue Gap Revealed appeared first on Games Errors.

Many believe that Gaming and Esports industry has taken a hard hit as the offices reopened after COVID-19, and the downfall of this industry has begun. While we can say this about just the Esports industry, the Gaming industry is still booming, and if you are wondering how big it is, you can have a look at the comparison between the revenue generated by the Movie Industry, which is widely considered as the wealthiest entertainment sector vs. Gaming Industry. Gaming vs. Movie Industry Revenue: Which Is Bigger? Gaming vs. Movie Industry Revenue Comparison. (Image via S-GAME/Universal Pictures) As per the report by SuperData Research, the Gaming Industry was valued at $159.3 billion in 2020; however, on the other side, the Movie Industry was worth $19.1 billion, which makes the Gaming Industry around eight times bigger than the Movie Industry. Moving forward in 2022, even though the global games market took a small hit of -5.1%, as per Newzoo, it was still the second biggest entertainment industry after the TV industry as it was worth $182.9 billion and once again surpassed the revenue generated by the Movie and Music Industry combined. Global Games Market Revenue in 2022. (Image via Newzoo) Some of the highest-selling video games include Animal Crossing, GTA 5, Minecraft, Call of Duty, and more; however, mobile games had the highest percentage of revenue (around 50% in 2022, as per Newzoo) among all. The reason behind this is the portability of mobile devices and their affordability compared to other gaming devices available out there. There are a bunch of other factors that contribute to the success of the Gaming Industry in comparison to the Movie Industry. One of the biggest factors is the immersive and attractive experience games offer. Unlike watching movies, playing video games will let you control your character in the game and experience the stories as you like, making it a more immersive experience than just consuming content through eyes and ears. Apart from this, it’s a social platform that will connect players from around the world and let them make friends across countries which is not possible in movies. Even in 2023, Activision Blizzard’s Diablo 4 made over $666 Million in just five days after its launch that became their fastest-selling game till date, while on the other hand, Modern Warfare 2 grossed $1 billion in 10 days after it got released, giving us an idea on how well the industry is performing. Global Games Market Revenue Forecast till 2025. (Image via Newzoo) Not only this but as per Newzoo’s report, the Gaming Industry will be worth $206.4 billion by 2025. Thus, it is safe to say that the Gaming Industry massively dominates the Movie Industry and is only projected to grow in the coming years. Related articles: The Legend of Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom: What is Different? Japanese Games VS Western Games: Understanding the Key Differences Diablo 4 Monetization: Microtransactions Discovered by Fans Diablo 4 Release: 5 Most Irritating Issues You May Encounter The post Gaming vs. Movie Industry Revenue: Striking Revenue Gap Revealed appeared first on Games Errors.

Apex Legends vs Fortnite. Which one is more popular and better? This question can arise in your mind. But, without proper analysis, it’s not possible to answer. Both of these games are known for their amazing multiplayer experience. But that’s not the complete story. We have looked far deeper than you can imagine and found […]

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Apex Legends vs Fortnite. Which one is more popular and better? This question can arise in your mind. But, without proper analysis, it’s not possible to answer. Both of these games are known for their amazing multiplayer experience. But that’s not the complete story. We have looked far deeper than you can imagine and found many surprising facts. In this analytical article, you will learn about fantastic stats, facts, and graphics that will satisfy your curiosity. Note: We’re excited to share an excellent article comparing Apex Legends and Fortnite. Our dedicated writer spent an incredible 10 hours crafting this outstanding research piece. The extensive research and knowledge poured into this exceptional article will captivate you. Apex Legends vs. Fortnite: A complete overview of Popularity Before we dive deeper, we should have some idea about the nature of these two games: System requirements Both of these games have apparent system requirements that give us a clear idea about the optimization level of these titles. Here are the system requirements for Apex Legends: Processor: Core i3 6th Gen/AMD FX-4350 or Better RAM: 6GB Graphics Card: NVIDIA GeForce GT 640/Radeon HD 7730 Disk Space: 22 GB+ Operating System: Windows 7 or higher After knowing the required specifications, you can see that a PC with basic hardware can run Apex Legends without any problem. Even the obsolete Windows 7 OS is also compatible. Though we don’t know for how long Windows 7 support will exist. Looking at Fortnite, we can see that this game is also compatible with PCs with basic hardware. Here are the system requirements for Fortnite: Processor: Core i3 3rd Gen RAM: 8GB Graphics Card: Intel HD 4000 on PC/AMD Radeon Vega 8 Disk Space: Not specified, but maybe around 40 GB Operating System: Windows 10 64-bit or Mac OS Mojave 10.14.6 Unlike Apex Legends, Fortnite doesn’t run on Windows 7. Also, it needs more disk space. But AL needs at least 6th gen Intel core i3 processor, whereas Fortnite can be played using the older i3 3rd gen processor. In fact, gamers can play both of these titles on very basic computers with minimum GPU power. Gameplay Mechanics Although both of these titles have many similarities, some key differences have made them unique from each other. Apex Legends is a First-Person shooter game, while Fortnite is Third-Person. This characteristic has created many more contrasts, particularly in the shooting, movement, and overall game mechanics. Fortnite has a built-in defense against enemy shootings. But, in the AL, the player needs to be more skillful to protect themself from enemy shooters. The movement mechanics in Fortnite is very basic. You can easily move and play. However, in Apex Legends, a gamer must be an expert and do more to move and fight. Both of these titles with cross-platform play capacity. Also, these two are getting regular updates which improve the stability and add new features to the game. Now, at this point, AL and Fortnite are not the same compared to the time when these were released. Total number of gamers Currently, Apex Legends have a total of approximately 136 million registered accounts and 114,580,698+ active players. On the other hand, Fortnite holds an estimated around 550 million registered accounts and 234,546,282+ active gamers. We have tagged a gamer active if he/she has played the game within the last 30 days. We may not get the whole story after seeing the active players. So, we have made some very specific statistics that represent the changes in the number of total players over the years in different ways. Source: ActivePlayer.IO, EsportsDriven Total number of registered gamers over the last 4 years: Here are the data of total registered player accounts in Million since 2019: Year Apex Legends Fortnite 2019 70 250 2020 90 350 2021 100 390 2022 130 450 2023 136 550 For your convenience, we have featured a graph that gives you a clear view of the total number of players in millions on both Apex Legends and Fortnite. The number in the above graph represents the total number of registered players in both games. This statistic may not be 100% accurate as no precise data is available on the official sources. So, based on the many unofficial sources and our analysis, we have estimated these numbers. The latest data is not precisely available on any recognizable forums or sources. So, we have made our estimation for 2023’s data in some cases. Source: reuters.com, Business of Apps, Statista The number of active gamers changes every month: In the following graph, you can see the number of active players over the years in every month. It shows the trend of the popularity of Fortnite and Apex Legends. The above graph is clearly showing that Apex Legends is slowly gaining popularity. On the other hand, Fortnite is losing its place even though it’s still the most popular battle royal game and far ahead of AL. However, to understand the scene from an even closer position, you should look at the other factors featured in the next parts of this post. Peak players by year: We may see different data if we look at the number of players who are active in the peak hour. Year Apex Legends Fortnite 2020 13,093,785 191,302,008 2021 67,563,911 338,845,462 2022 99,458,463 312,730,506 2023 17,333,097 71,906,471 The following smooth line graph shows the trend of active peak players over the last three years. However, we can exclude the 2023 part, as it’s the middle of the year. The above statistic clearly shows that if we exclude 2023, the number of active peak players of Apex Legends’ is increasing. But the opposite is happening for Fortnite. This information is based on the data available on ActivePlayer.IO. We have used data till April 2023. Average time spent by players: There is no exact data available about the average time spent by players on both of these games. However, according to various unofficial sources, on average, for both Apex Legends and Fortnite, gamers spent a few hours a week on these games. In Fortnite, most of the active players spend 6-10 hours a week; on Apex Legends, it’s around 7 or 8 hours. Platform preferences: Both Fortnite and Apex Legends are available on mobile, PC, and console. If we look at Fortnite, we can see that 69% of players play it on Console, which includes both Xbox and PlayStation. The PS is the most popular platform for this title, with around 40% of gamers. 46% of the players play on smartphones, and 28% play on PC. This percentage seems wrong to you. It is because some players play this title on both PC and Console or even all of these three platforms. Apex Legends’ player count per device has not yet been released by any official or unofficial channel. So, we are unable to give you an insight. Geographical distribution for Apex Legends and Fortnite: Undoubtedly, these two games are very popular around the world. In the USA, Apex Legends has 38.92% of its total number of players; for Fortnite, it’s 21.63%. We have also collected the percentage of other mentionable countries as well. Based on it, we can easily find an estimated number of gamers playing these titles in specific countries. And we did it. After calculation, we have found the following data Country Apex Legends Fortnite USA 44M 51M UK 8.2M 12.1M Russia 6.7M 18M Brazil 6.3M 13M For your convenience, we have made the following graph. It will help to understand the popularity of these two games in the countries mentioned in the above table: We can see that both of these games are very popular in the USA. Apex’s user count is particularly closer to Fortnite in this country. So, we don’t know if Fortnite can hold its position in the United States of America in the upcoming years or not. Demographical distribution for Apex Legends and Fortnite: 62.7% of Fortnite players are young. They belong to the 18-24 years age group. The 25-34 years age group’s percentage is 22.5, and the 35-44 is 12.7. On the other hand, Apex Legends doesn’t have this many statistics available. However, according to various sources, most of the players are below 18. The 18-34 age group has a significant number of players. The Apex Legends also don’t have any clear statistics on player count based on gender. But, it is indeed a male dominant FPS multiplayer where a significant number of gamers are also female. In Fortnite, 72.4% are male players, and 27.6% are female. Source: Exploding Topics Number of tournaments and prize pools for Apex Legends and Fortnite Each year, gamers attend tournaments for both Apex Legends and Fortnite. Some of these events are official. Here are some interesting stats and graphs about these events: The total number of tournaments: According to the Esports Charts, both Apex and Fortnite had many official and unofficial tournaments. The following tables show the number of tournaments for these two games from 2019 to 2022. Year Fortnite Apex Legends 2019 58 28 2020 109 155 2021 54 268 2022 72 293 2023 7 73 The above table shows that the number of Apex Legends tournaments is increasing each year. Even as of May 2023, this game has more tournaments held compared to Fortnite. In the following column chart, we have excluded the data from 2023. It will help to compare the number of the tournament for these two games over the last few years. Source of information: Esports Chart’s Apex Legends and Fortnite page. Prize Pool: Apex Legends vs Fortnite: If we look at the total prize pool per year for these two popular multiplayer games, we find the following data: Year Apex Legends Fortnite 2019 $2.1M $51.9M 2020 $6.6M $5.24M 2021 $5.3M $5.75M 2022 $1.71M $12.62M 2023 $2.27M $0.5M We can see that the tournament prize pool is very attractive for these two games. Fortnite is ahead. But Apex Legends’ ones are also impressive. The above data is based on the information found on Esports Chart. There may be errors as no precise information is available now. Revenue and Profit Margins: Since the release of Apex Legends, EA has made over 2 billion USD revenue from this game. Fortnite is much ahead. It’s making several billion a year. Here is the list of revenue in billion for these two popular battle royal games per year: Year Apex Legends Fortnite 2019-2020 0.4 5.1 2020-2021 0.6 5.8 2021-2022 1 6 The following scatter chart will help to understand the increasing trend in terms of revenue: For this statistic, we have used information from Thcsngogiatu.edu.vn, Demand Sage, Epic Games, and Statista. We have excluded the year 2023 as no complete data is available for this year yet. There is no clear information about the profit for these two titles. However, It’s hard to determine which one is more successful in increasing revenue. According to The Verge, Fortnite made $9 billion in revenue in its first two years, which is much higher than Apex’s 2 Billion in the first three years. During that period, Battle Royal games experienced a sudden spike in popularity which is also a factor. Most popular skin and character Two of these Battle Royal games have a wide range of choices when it’s skin and characters. If we look at the Apex Legends, Pathfinder, Octane, Wraith, Bangalore, Bloodhound, and Ballistic, are the most picked characters. On the other hand, if we look at Fortnite, The Foundation, Jonesy, The Visitor, Leviathan, Midas, The Reaper Fortnite Skin, Drift, etc., are very popular. Source: Dexerto, SportsKeeda, Fiction Horizon. Most viewed and streamed content If we look at the most viewed content for Fortnite, we find Travis Scott and Fortnite Present: Astronomical (Full Event Video) as the most watched content on any platform. It has gained 204 Million views. On Twitch, Fortnite Esports (0.372M views) and Kid jerks off in the Fortnite arena (0.86M views), getting the highest views. For Apex Legends, 【悲報】釈迦、漏らす – Twitch (1.99M views), LOVE_FuryXD Dies!?! (0.46M views); these are the two most popular Twitch content. If we compare the top 3 most watched videos on Twitch related to these two battle royale games, we can see the following data: Rank Fortnite Apex Legends 1 863,669 1,984,064 2 372,305 459,372 3 351,263 331,306 For your convenience, here is the graphical representation: To get an even better idea, we can have a look at the following graph based on the average views in thousand on Twitch: The above graph shows how the average monthly view counts have changed over the last three years. We can see that since January 2020, Apex Legends’ content has gotten more average views than Fortnite. Source: twitchmetrics.net and buzzrank.io, TwitchTracker Average Time-to-Kill (TTK) and Time-to-Survive (TTS) Determining the average TTK and TTS for these two games is tricky, as these depend on several factors. For Apex Legends, killing a player with 200 HP health takes 2.7 seconds on average and 2.4 seconds for 175 HP. For Fortnite, no such information is available right now. If we look at the Time-to-Survive data on Apex Legends, it may vary from player to player. Generally, a player’s survival time can be from a few seconds to several minutes. Fortnite is from a few to 20+ minutes, depending on many things. Factors that work behind the Popularity Apex Legends: We will find some interesting facts behind the scene of Apex Legends’ popularity. These are: Surprise release and announcement: Apex Legends was launched suddenly and surprised everyone. At that time, Fortnite and some other battle royal games were going through prime time. Apex Legends was a new addition with many unique and different features. That attracted young gamers. As a result, it gained a large player base within a few weeks of its release. Influencer partnerships: EA has partnered with many influencers and streamers for Apex Legends. This battle royal game was a very attractive choice for their many followers. Free-to-play model: Since Apex Legends was launched as a free-to-play game, anyone could test this title. Therefore, this title got a considerable player base within a short time. Other factors: Else, active social media presence, developer responsiveness to the players’ feedback, in-game rewards, and the amazing gameplay mechanisms developed by Respawn Entertainment hugely contributed to Apex Legends’ popularity. Fortnite: Like Apex Legends, Fortnite also got the advantage of being a free-to-play game. Apart from this, the following factors also have a significant role in its popularity: Early access and beta testing: The Fortnite beta was released before releasing the full version. That created hype among battle-royale lovers. Celebrity endorsements: To gain more player base, Epic Games have made deals with several mentionable celebrities like DJ Marshmello, Keanu Charles, Travis Scott, and many other people. Often we saw that gamers were playing Fortnite with celebrity skins and faces. In-game events and collaborations: Fortnite held many in-game events and collaborated with many popular franchises, including Marvel, DC, Star Wars, John Wick, etc., to bring their skins, themes, and characters into the game. Community Engagement: Epic Games’ engagement with the Fortnite community effectively increased player engagement. Cross-platform: One of the coolest things is Fortnite is available on multiple platforms, and gamers can have a cross-play facility, which also has increased its popularity. Else, cultural impact and social media integration, in-game challenges, community-created content, etc., have made a huge impact on Fortnite’s popularity. Fortnite has made a huge contribution to the increasing battle royal game in the industry. Apex Legends is not too far. While Epic Games is still enjoying the benefits of owning the most popular battle royal title even in 2023, EA is making its strategy to make its title more attractive and unique. We may see many interesting changes in the upcoming years when we compare Apex Legends vs Fortnite. But, the truth is Fortnite is still the most played and popular battle royal title in the industry. The post Apex Legends vs. Fortnite: Assessing Popularity in 2023 appeared first on Games Errors.

Packet loss severely impacts Counter Strike 2 and its players globally. Experiencing high ping and packet loss while playing CS2 can lead to frustrating delays and lagging. Aware of this problem, I made this guide to show you how to fix CS 2 Packet Loss. Unfortunately, I dealt with this problem a few times since […]

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Packet loss severely impacts Counter Strike 2 and its players globally. Experiencing high ping and packet loss while playing CS2 can lead to frustrating delays and lagging. Aware of this problem, I made this guide to show you how to fix CS 2 Packet Loss. Unfortunately, I dealt with this problem a few times since CS:GO turned into Counter Strike 2, but the solutions below helped me fix it in no time. What causes packet loss in CS2? Playing CS2 can be incredibly frustrating if you’re experiencing high ping and packet loss. These issues can cause lag and delay, making it difficult or impossible to play the game smoothly. Various factors could cause packet loss: Server issues Slow and unstable internet connection Corrupted game files DNS server issues Too many programs running in the background How do I fix packet loss in CS2? To fix packet loss in CS2, first make sure that your internet connection works as it should without any interruptions. We recommend starting with these simple steps: Check the Counter Strike 2 service status page. If servers have issues, you must wait until the servers are fully operational. Power cycling your network device. Ensure that your internet connection is steady and without any interruptions. Check with your ISP to see if the issue is on their side of the connection or above them in the network distribution company. Verify and repair game files. If you still encounter packet loss in Counter Strike 2, apply these tips: Update your network driver Flush your DNS Use launch options for the game Use a VPN 1. Update your network driver Packet loss in CS2 may indicate that you are using an outdated network driver. I encountered this problem on one of my older devices. To fix it, update your network driver as follows: Press the Win + R keys to open the Run dialog box. Type; “devmgmt.msc” and hit Enter to open Device Manager. Double-click on the Network adapters to expand. Right-click on your network card, and select Update driver. Follow the on-screen guide for installing the latest network driver. Disclaimer: We are affiliated with the following Driver Update Tool. We suggest utilizing PC HelpSoft to streamline the laborious process of updating your computer’s system drivers. This tool automates the task, guaranteeing a quicker and more dependable solution without requiring manual updates or scouring the internet for authentic drivers. ⇒PC HelpSoft 2. Flush your DNS If you are experiencing packet loss in Counter Strike 2, you can attempt to resolve the issue by flushing your DNS to clear the cache. This will remove any saved IP addresses and DNS records that may be causing connectivity issues. Follow these steps: 1. Press Win+R to show the Run dialog box. 2. Type; “cmd” and press Ctrl+Shift+Enter keys to open Command Prompt as administrator. 3. Type “ipconfig /flushdns” and press Enter. 4. Type “ipconfig /registerdns” and press Enter. 5. Type “ipconfig /release” and press Enter. 6. Type “ipconfig /renew” and press Enter. 7. Type “netsh winsock reset” and press Enter. 8. Reboot the PC, launch CS2, and check if the issue is gone. 3. Use launch options for the game Time needed: 1 minute We recommend entering commands in the game launch options that promote an efficient and stable connection to optimize the communication between your PC and the CS2 server. Open Steam launcher Right-click on the CS2 and choose Properties. Set Launch Options Enter the following command in the Launch Options: rate 128000 cl_cmdrate 128 cl_interp 0 cl_interpratio 1 cl_lagcompensation 1 Relaunch Steam Play CS2 to check if the issue is gone. 4. Use a VPN Improve your gaming experience with a reliable VPN like ExpressVPN. It can lower ping, avoid packet loss, and provide fast and stable connectivity. Choose from many servers in different countries for playing with friends online. It should be noted that a VPN can solely enhance your ping if your ISP imposes limits on your connection. 1. Download and install ExpressVPN. 2. During installation, provide your email address; you will get the code to access your ExpressVPN dashboard. 3. Click on Sign In. 4. Connect to a desired server. 5. Launch CS 2 and check if the issue is gone. Do you still have CS2 packet loss? Then, consider these extra methods: Update Windows to the latest version. Update DirectX, .NET Framework, and VCRedist. Update CS 2 Close unnecessary apps and downloads that are running in the background. Temporarily disable Windows firewall or antivirus. If you use WiFi, disable any devices that reduce your bandwidth. Use a wired connection instead of a wireless one. Use public DNS servers like Google’s. Reinstall CS2 Perform clean boot. Conclusion If you’re playing CS 2 and experiencing packet loss, it’s recommended that you first check for any server or internet connection issues. Other possible solutions include flushing your DNS, updating your network driver, using launch options for the game, disabling any unnecessary background apps, or utilizing a trustworthy VPN service. If you have any additional solutions, feel free to add them to the comments. We will test them on our devices, and add them to the list. The post Fix CS2 Packet Loss Easily [Simple Instructions] appeared first on Games Errors.

Get a Bolt of Gaming Now!

Based on Absurd Ventures' A Better Paradise, the title is a triple-A open-world sci-fi action adventure that's in early development.

Absurd Ventures, founded by former Rockstar Games co-founder Dan Houser, has announced an agreement with Smilegate to publish the company’s first game. Taking place in its A Better Paradise universe, it will be an open-world sci-fi action adventure with a triple-A scope. The unnamed title is in early development with Houser serving as the writer and creative director. Lazlow and Michael Unsworth, who have also worked with him in the past on Grand Theft Auto, are also part of the creative team. It’s also worth noting that while Smilegate made a strategic investment in the company last year, it’s planning “full-scale investment” and funding development on the new title. In a press release, Smilegate CEO Sung Joon-ho said, “We are thrilled to take on this new challenge in the global AAA game market alongside Dan Houser and Absurd. We are confident that the strong storytelling of the A Better Paradise universe, combined with the development capabilities of the Absurd team, will result in an outstanding title. “We are a company with a developer-first DNA and truly understand what development studios need. Through our partnership with Absurd, we will fully support the A Better Paradise game project and do our utmost to help create a new title that will be loved by players around the world. Smilegate will leverage its extensive experience and success in global markets to ensure the A Better Paradise project becomes a beloved success worldwide.” Houser added, “Absurd Ventures was set up to tell new and different kinds of stories, and to create what I hope are interesting and compelling original experiences. This new game is an opportunity to go somewhere entirely different and to take players on an entirely new adventure. I am excited to be going on this journey with the amazing team that we are building here at Absurd Ventures, and I am grateful that we are partnering with Smilegate, who really understand and support our vision.” The results may take a while to manifest, but it should be interesting to observe, especially in the wake of MindsEye’s failure. Helmed by former Rockstar North president and GTA producer Leslie Benzies, it launched to negative reviews from critics and players. There have been updates to address the many issues, but the promised Hitman collaboration is delayed, and Build A Rocket Boy’s employees are allegedly at risk of layoffs.

Tank damage with the Forgeshield, unleash throw elemental Forgeaxes or punch enemies into smithereens with the Forgefist.

After weeks of Vex and Rafa, it’s now Amon’s time to shine. Gearbox’s latest Borderlands 4 trailer focuses on the Forgeknight and his Action Skills, which comprise a hefty helping of tanking, damage and melee strikes. Check them out below. Amon’s Action Skills and trees are Crucible, Onslaught and Scourge. Crucible whips out two Forgeaxes, one dealing Incendiary damage and the other Cryo damage. Onslaught provides the Forgefist, which provides increased movement speed and increased shield regeneration speed while effectively serving as a rocket punch of sorts. Scourge is a Forgeshield that blocks damage from the front and accumulates Vengeance, granting damage resistance when the meter is full. Activating the skill again will unleash a wave of Cryo damage, with the damage increasing based on Vengeance. Overall, it’s hard not to see some resemblance to God of War’s Kratos and his arsenal. Borderlands 4 launches on September 12th for Xbox Series X/S, PS5, and PC, with the Switch 2 version coming on October 3rd.

After a delay to address feedback from its demo, Reikon Games' fast-paced futuristic shooter finally has a new release date.

Reikon Games has announced that its upcoming futuristic first-person shooter Metal Eden will launch on September 2nd for Xbox Series X/S, PS5, and PC. Previously slated for May 6th, it faced a delay to incorporate additional polish following feedback on the free demo. Check out the new release date trailer below, which also teases some more of the story. Metal Eden focuses on MOEBIUS, a city created by the Engineers to house humans in storage cells (which are slowly corroding), but has since gone rogue. As Hyper Unit ASKA, it’s your job to stop MOEBIUS while also unlocking her memories. She was seemingly once human and mysteriously turned into a killing machine for some unknown purpose. Pitted against security robots and environmental hazards, ASKA relies on enhanced mobility and powerful weapons to ultimately survive. This includes transforming into a Morph Ball-like Armored Ramball, a jetpack, and much more. Check out some more extensive gameplay and learn more about the demo here.

Overall, Bandai Namco's gaming division generated revenues of roughly $732 million, with around $147 million in operating profits.

Bandai Namco has revealed in its recent earnings report that Elden Ring Nightreign has been quite a successful release for the publisher. As caught by Automaton Media, sales figures for Elden Ring Nightreign helped Bandai Namco’s profits for the first quarter of the fiscal year between April 1 and June 30. Overall, Bandai Namco generated revenues of ¥300.43 billion (roughly around $2 billion) across its various divisions. Out of this, the company turned an operating profit of ¥51.921 billion (around $352 million). While the company has had a good first quarter, the revenue figures for its gaming division – dubbed the Digital Business division – accounted for revenues of roughly $732 million, with around $147 million contributing to operating profits. The revenue has been attributed to a number of titles, including Tamagotchi Puchi Puchi Omisecchi: Omachidosama!, SD Gundam G Generation ETERNAL, and Elden Ring Nightreign. Elden Ring Nightreign was released smack dab in the middle of the quarter in late May, and quickly proved itself to be incredibly popular. Despite coming out near the end of the month, the title quickly ended up topping sales charts in the US, and became the 11th best selling game in the country so far. By late July, Bandai Namco would confirm that Elden Ring Nightreign’s sales had surpassed 5 million shipments. Since its release, Elden Ring Nightreign has seen quite a bit of post-launch support by developer FromSoftware. The most recent one of these updates, released at the end of July, brought with it the ability for players to take on the game’s various challenges in two-player expedition. For context, prior to the update, players were limited to playing the title in either a 3-player party, or completely solo. The new two-player expeditions also feature rebalanced gameplay, with enemy health having been rebalanced to account for fewer players. Gearing up for the next major release slated to arrive this week, Elden Ring Nightreign will be getting its next Everdark Sovereign – Fissure in the Fog. Interestingly, a week later, the next bosses to get the Everdark Sovereign treatment will be Tricephalos and Equilibrius Beast. Taking on Everdark Sovereigns rewards players with Sovereign Sigils, which can then be traded with NPCs for special Relics. Elden Ring Nightreign is an interesting experiment for FromSoftware. While making use of some of the foundations laid by the original Elden Ring, Nightreign brings in co-op gameplay into the mix along with a game structure that is closer to that of a battle royale game mixed with some roguelite elements. Shortly after release, producer Yasuhiro Kitao thanked players for indulging the studio in its experiments. “Nightreign has some peculiar aspects to its game design and is different from our recent titles in various ways,” wrote Kitao. “Nonetheless, many of you have bravely jumped into this world, and for that we’re immensely grateful.” Elden Ring Nightreign is available on PC, PS5 and Xbox Series X/S. For more details about the game, check out our review. And while you’re at it, also check out our thoughts on ten weapons that we want added to the game.

In development since 2014, Ultizero Games' sleek action RPG is on track to launch on August 29th for PlayStation 5 and PC.

Celebrating a game’s gold status is common, but for Ultizero’s Lost Soul Aside, it’s a momentous occasion. After starting development in 2014 for PS4 and seeing multiple delays throughout the years, the action RPG has finally gone gold. Spotted by Okami13_ on Twitter through WeChat, the developer reaffirmed the release date and confirmed that all content has completed development. Ultizero is currently working on “final optimizations” to provide the “most seamless gaming experience possible.” Lost Soul Aside launches on August 29th for PS5 and PC. It follows Kazer, a member of the resistance group GLIMMER, and his plans to disrupt the Empire. However, plans abruptly change when the Voidrax invades, and Kazer’s sister, Louisa, is subsequently taken. Together with the mysterious Arena, he embarks on a journey to get her back. Inspired by Devil May Cry, Bayonetta, and Ninja Gaiden (not to mention Final Fantasy 15 when it was still Final Fantasy Versus 13), Lost Soul Aside focuses on fast-paced hack-and-slash action. Kazer can use four different weapons, each with unique abilities, to overwhelm enemies. Check out the weapons trailer for more details. Lost Soul Aside has officially gone gold! "Lost Soul Aside has completed all development and will release on August 29th as scheduled." Captured and machine translated via WeChat. pic.twitter.com/Zh8i0kqHaL — KAMI (@Okami13_) August 6, 2025

Tripwire Interactive's next update, which tackles issues with matchmaking and performance spikes, is planned for next week.

Killing Floor 3 may have launched in an iffy state (check out our review for more details), but alongside new content, Tripwire Interactive is committed to improvements. Its latest hotfix goes live today and provides improved stability for servers and players in “a variety of scenarios.” Issues with voice-over IP chat resulting from changes to privacy settings or players joining late have also been resolved. Gameplay-wise, late-joiners should now spawn in with the correct chosen weapon instead of a custom starter, and additional feedback has been added when crafting weapon mods. Shadows should also no longer incorrectly appear around Zed limbs and chunks. Tripwire has confirmed another patch for next week, which will address performance spikes, matchmaking issues, incorrect ammo consumption, and much more. Killing Floor 3 is available for Xbox Series X/S, PS5, and PC. Its first major content update, Rearmament, will arrive sometime this year and offers numerous quality-of-life changes, including decoupling Specialists from Perks. Head here for more details. Version 1.0.0.5 Patch Notes Bug Fixes Stability Issues Improved stability for both dedicated servers and clients in a variety of scenarios. VOIP: Resolved voice chat problems in multiplayer, particularly those stemming from in-game privacy setting changes and late joins. Gameplay & UI: Removed a brief delay between triggering command wheel actions and specialist dialog lines. Addressed problems with late-joining players spawning with their custom starter weapon, irrespective of their chosen weapon or operational budget. Resolved inconsistencies between tool stock value and active available charges at the trader. Corrected an issue where changes to tools in the Ready Up lobby were not applied for late-joining players entering the game. Fixed the Message of the Day Banner not being visible on the Start Menu. Added additional UI feedback at the end of weapon mod crafting. Visuals: Improved visual issues where shadows incorrectly appeared around Zed limbs and gore pieces.

Producer Riichiro Yamada spoke about the series' traditional three-button control scheme and how it was designed for accessibility.

While Next Virtua Fighter Project under development at Ryu Ga Gotoko Studio doesn’t even have an official title yet, producer Riichiro Yamada has revealed details about how the studio plans on hanging on to series creator Yu Suzuki’s vision of a fighting game that is easy for anybody to pick up and play. In an interview with IGN, Yamada was asked a question about whether we will see changes being made to the franchise’s traditional three-button gameplay setup. For context, Virtua Fighter games have typically had three buttons that formed their core control schemes – punch, kick, and block. When it comes to Next Virtua Fighter Project, however, we don’t quite know if the series will undergo a massive change by switching the three-button system out, or whether the title will hang on to the same control scheme. Ultimately, however, the decision behind the control scheme comes down to wanting to follow Suzuki’s original intent of having a fighting game where “anyone can play”. “So originally when Yu Suzuki created the Virtua Fighter, he did a lot of testing,” said Yamada. “He actually tested with more than three buttons, like a lot of buttons. But they came to the three button conclusion. At the time it was more of a Game Center (Arcade) focused game, so that was the best at the time.” “And the concept was that they wanted to create a game that was not too complicated and that anyone could enjoy. And so from that concept, I feel like, yes, I need to respect that concept. I want to create a game where anyone can play.” Yamada also brought up the fact that, when the original Virtua Fighter was under development leading up to its 1993 release, the game was meant for large arcade cabinets rather than home consoles. With the new game, however, the market has changed, and RGG Studio is focusing more on players at home rather than those that might step out to find arcade machines. “But currently, or moving forward, it’s not just a Game Center game, it’s more of a household game,” he explained. “So when you think about how people could enjoy playing this game in their living room or in their house, that’s when it kind of changes a little. So yes, the concept does stay the same, but… I’m not really focused on, oh, we need to keep it to three buttons. The more important thing is I want to create a game where anyone can play in their household when it comes to the new style.” While we can’t quite be sure about whether or not this means that Next Virtua Fighter Project might see a revamped control scheme, Yamada’s words do indicate that the studio is focused on making sure that the fighting game isn’t too difficult for newcomers. At Evo this last weekend, Ryu Ga Gotoku Studio had released a new video for Next Virtua Fighter Project that showed off not only the game’s training stage, but also a full bout of one-on-one combat. Check out the trailer and its details in our coverage.

Circana analyst Mat Piscatella refers to the current market as being like the Wild West, with big games available at different prices.

While video game prices may not all hit the $80 mark like Nintendo’s Mario Kart World did this year, Circana analyst Mat Piscatella believes that we will be seeing games getting expensive sooner rather than later. In an interview with GamesRadar, Piscatella referred to 2025 as “a little Wild West” when it comes to game pricing, since the most popular games of the year have covered a variety of price points. Ultimately, he notes that it comes down to the audience a game’s publisher might want to target, pointing out that they will have to decide if they want fewer buyers by making their games more expensive. “I think it’s a little Wild West right now,” said Piscatella. “We have more variability in launch pricing and strategies than we’ve ever had. We have a lot of titles trying to kind of nibble at the high end of that market, and we have many more that are launching at lower prices, and the size of the game and everything else [affects that] as well. But ultimately, publishers and developers are trying to find the sweet spot for their pricing strategy. And sometimes you think, ‘Okay, we go for a higher price. We may not get as many people, but we know that the ones we get will be very enthusiastic and dedicated.’ Or, ‘Maybe we need to come out at a lower price and cast a wider net.’” Piscatella also notes that even high-quality AAA games still have to ultimately compete with titles from across the pricing spectrum, bringing up the insanely popular and free-to-play titles Fortnite and Roblox. “I think everyone’s just trying to figure things out in a market environment where the biggest competitor to any new game isn’t the other new games launching in the release window like it used to be. It’s Fortnite and Roblox and trying to pull people out of those, because that’s the primary competition now, getting those 35% of active players on console that play Fortnite every week. How do you get them to not do that and instead go buy a different game?” As for current market realities, Piscatella believes that we are drifting further and further away from games having a “standard” price point, regardless of whether it is $60, $70, or $80. How some games handle post-launch monetisation also plays into this, since multiplayer games especially tend to feature extra things players can spend money on, like battle passes and cosmetics. Ultimately, he thinks that “every game is going to be a little bit different” when it comes to publishers figuring out their pricing strategies. “Really, it’s going to be different for every game,” he explained. “And you know, things like post-launch monetization strategies will come into play, even the release timing of the game could come into play, or the platforms it’s on. I just think there’s so many options available now. It used to be, this game is going to be $60 because every game is $60, that’s fine. That’s just not where we are anymore. Those days are long gone. So, yeah, I don’t think there is a standard or a sweet spot in general. I think every game is going to be a little bit different.” While some games, like for example Mario Kart World, have been able to hit the $80 price tag without seeing a problem in sales, Piscatella notes that, owing to these games already having dedicated fan bases, “price sensitivity, particularly at launch, is very low, meaning that people want to play this game no matter what it costs.” “So it’s kind of ticking that up a little bit. And I know a lot of people don’t like it, but people still buy these games at these high price points, so they’re going to keep getting made at high price points for the right game that can do that. The market is what it is, and you can always drop the price of the game, but you can’t really raise it. So we’ll see what happens over time.” Grand Theft Auto 6’s release on May 26, 2026 is also expected to have quite a profound effect on the market. While analysts believe that Rockstar and Take-Two Interactive might go for much higher price tags, Piscatella notes that all eyes are on the game at this point. “There’s going to be billions of eyes looking at everything Grand Theft Auto does next year, no matter what it is. So let’s throw that on the pile.”

References to players being able to fly their ships between planets in the same star system have been found in the files of Starfield.

While rumours have been swirling around Starfield getting a second expansion, some files discovered by dataminers in the most recent updates for the sci-fi RPG have indicated that Bethesda is bringing a fan-requested feature to the game. As caught by Reddit user Zealousideal-Buyer-7, references have been caught in the game’s code courtesy of recent updates that would indicate that players will be able to fly their in-game spaceships to different planets in the same star system. According to the references made to interplanetary travel to the game, players will still ultimately be limited to flying around in the same star system, and interstellar travel will still require players to go through the same sequence as they always had. Players will also not be able to directly land their spaceships on to the planet, and trying to do so will instead trigger a cutscene of the landing instead. It is worth noting that these are just references to a possible feature in the game’s code; Bethesda has made no announcements regarding interplanetary travel being a feature it has been working on for Starfield. The feature might even end up being cut out altogether if the studio is unable to get it to work right, and unused code often winds up in game files regardless of whether or not the feature actually makes it into the final product. If the feature does make it into Starfield, it will likely end up arriving with the rumoured second expansion for the RPG. Again, Bethesda hasn’t yet confirmed the development of this expansion. However, reports indicating that it might be in the works have been popping up since earlier this year. According to those reports, the expansion is slated to be announced some time this year. Interestingly, there have also been reports of Starfield potentially coming to PS5 alongside the release of the game’s second expansion. The report indicates that, for both the expansion as well as the PS5 release, Bethesda is targeting a launch window of Spring 2026. These reports have also indicated that Microsoft will be making an official announcement of the game coming to PS5, as well as of the expansion, during Gamescom later this month. Bethesda had previously stated that it had plans for Starfield in 2025, referring to these plans as being “exciting things”. The statement was made back in March, however, and the company hasn’t revealed any more details about what kinds of updates the game will be getting so far. “We know you’re eager for an update, and we truly appreciate your passion for Starfield,” the studio wrote. “The team has been hard at work, and while we’re not ready to share specific details just yet, we have a lot of exciting things planned for the game this year that we can’t wait to talk about when the time is right.” Starfield is currently available on PC and Xbox Series X/S. Since its release, the game has seen the release of one expansion – Shattered Space. For more details, check out our review of the base game as well as the expansion.

The prequel will also support 120Hz displays, but Hangar 13 has yet to specify the resolution of both graphics modes on consoles.

Hangar 13 has already confirmed two graphics modes for Mafia: The Old Country on Xbox Series X/S and PS5, but that’s not all. It will also be PS5 Pro Enhanced on day one, with a new tweet confirming support for 120Hz displays and Variable Refresh Rate on the console. Both Quality and Performance modes also benefit from a higher dynamic resolution. It hasn’t specified the base resolution for PS5 and Xbox Series X/S, or even the frame rate in Quality mode. Performance mode, however, will deliver an average of 60 frames per second. Mafia: The Old Country launches on August 8th for consoles and PC (check out the system requirements and graphics presets here). As a prequel to the first game, its story unfolds in San Celeste, Sicily, during the 1900s with Enzo Favara as the protagonist. Check out the latest gameplay trailer here and learn more about it in our interview with the development team. We're excited to confirm that Mafia: The Old Country will be PlayStation 5 Pro Enhanced at launch, featuring: 🟦 Support for Variable Refresh Rate 🟦 Support for 120Hz displays 🟦 Higher dynamic resolution in both Quality and Performance modes pic.twitter.com/3flhptPdQk — Mafia Game (@mafiagame) August 5, 2025

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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,...

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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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...

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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?

When your PCs reach the upper echelons of power, there is a fundamental shift in the kind of story you’re telling. So yes, if you want to send your PCs into dungeons, hunting for loot, or solving crimes, the characters are too powerful. The math does break. There aren't any challenges. But that’s because at level 20, the question is no longer “will they succeed.” The question is “How will they succeed?” And also maybe a little, “Will they be able to live with themselves after?”

“Superman is impossible to write…He’s too powerful…He’s as corny as Kansas in August…You’re better off with the other guy, the one with the pointy ears, narrow white eyes, and tragically dead parents lying next to rolling pearls.” – Tom King’s introduction to Superman Up In the Sky Like much of the movie-going world right now, I’m in love with Superman. Seeing the latest from DC and James Gunn has gotten me back into reading the comics. Specifically, Superman Up In the Sky written by Tom King with letters, illustrations, and colors by Andy Kubert, Sandra Hope, and Brad Anderson. The deluxe edition of this comic includes a short introduction by King. You can read an excerpt above, but I highly encourage you to seek out the full thing, because as I started reading it, my brain began connecting the dots between writing a good Superman story and running a high-level TTRPG. (Don’t worry, I’m gonna stay 100% spoiler-free for both the movie and the comic, but trust me, they’re both worth your time.) King was initially hesitant to write for Superman. “Superman is impossible to write…He’s too powerful.” It’s a common complaint about Big Blue, but it’s also a common fear about running high-level, d20, class-based games like D&D or Pathfinder 2E. “Level 20 characters are too powerful…The probability math breaks down…There aren’t any challenges…You’re better off running games in the 5-13 level range.” My response to those hesitations is the same response Mr. King had to tackling Superman: Bullshit. Now, it is true that when your PCs reach the upper echelons of power, there is a fundamental shift in the kind of story you’re telling. So yes, if you want to send your PCs into dungeons, hunting for loot, or solving crimes, the characters are too powerful. The math does break. There aren’t any challenges. But that’s because at level 20, the question is no longer “will they succeed.” The question is “How will they succeed?” And also maybe a little, “Will they be able to live with themselves after?” King discovered that “Superman is not impossible. He’s not even difficult. He’s, in fact, the easiest hero to write in modern myth. Superman just does what’s right, and all you have to do as a writer is follow where that truth leads.” And if you’re on the cusp of running a campaign up to level 20, then first, congratulations. That’s a huge accomplishment. But if you (like me) are scared of how you’ll handle the power levels, I suggest you follow King’s advice: “follow where that truth leads.” By level 20, your table has already gone big, gone bold, and gone freakin’ epic. Treasure doesn’t matter by this point. They’ve likely amassed enough gold to bankrupt several kingdoms. (Unless, of course, there’s a specific plot MacGuffin, but that’s another matter.) Experience doesn’t matter either, because your players’ builds are already set in stone. The other thing that happens at level 20? Everyone at the table kinda already knows their characters won’t actually die until the final climax. (Or a sufficiently appropriate story moment.) A random encounter isn’t likely to take out your 20th-level guy. Not only because it’s actually really freakin’ hard to kill 20th-level characters, but also because having that happen would be SUPER anticlimactic and a bummer for everyone at the table. Basically, by this point, you’re ride or die until the end game. You’re invested. But you know what? That’s not a bug that removes all the tension. It’s a feature that can create amazing stories. Back to King: “That’s not to say Superman doesn’t live in a morally complicated world full of all the usual slings and arrows of outrageous fortune. Superman forever flies through a sky of doubt and danger. But within that world, up in that sky, Superman finds the proper path, the hopeful way to a better tomorrow. As a writer, you simply create the chaos, then let him bring the order.” At level 20, you, the GM, have the freedom to bring the ultimate chaos and leave it to your players to solve it. When a world-consuming (totally didn’t base it on Galactus) God is coming to their world to consume all of their resources and turn every last sentient being into mindless servants, what good are swords and some fireballs? Time to find out! But it’s not just about the fight. (It is a little bit about that last big fight, but up until then it’s not JUST about it.) Because what challenges Big Blue? It’s not the physical confrontations. It’s not even the shame of wearing his red briefs on the outside of his pants—it’s the moral quandaries. So until you reach that end boss, write challenges that ask your players, “What are your characters willing to do to get there?” In Up in the Sky, Superman is faced with a simple problem — a little girl has been kidnapped by aliens, and he is the only person who can find her. Will he find her? Of course, he will, he’s Superman. BUT — can he leave a planet full of people that need him (aka Earth) to go chasing after one single person? That’s the question and the tension that lives at the heart of Up in the Sky. And that’s the kind of oomf you can bring to your level 20 games. Here’s an example from my current campaign: The BBEG is staging an invasion of the PC’s home from a pocket dimension. BBEG has amassed all of his troops into one place, assuming it is impervious to PC interference, but the PCs found a backdoor. Seeing what’s what, they decide to build a dimensional bomb that will collapse the pocket dimension and wipe out all of the BBEG’s troops in one go. Now, the PCs are super smart, super resourceful, very determined, and most importantly, they have the means and the magic to do this without rolling a single die. Where was the tension? It came in the form of a choice: they could make this bomb big and powerful and kill all of the BBEG’s soldiers. OR they could make the bomb non-lethal, and instead of blowing everyone up, they could shunt them back to their home dimensions. This would disrupt the invasion and give the baddies a chance to rethink their life choices. But it will also take more time to build. And during that time, the invasion will still be going on. And there isn’t a guarantee that it will make anyone change their minds. (That part I left to a die roll, and my players don’t know how those dice fell yet, so I’m not gonna say here.) Is it worth risking innocent lives to save the lives of killers? Is it right to kill enemy soldiers when they know they can just send them away? Those questions were the challenges my players had to overcome. And maybe your PCs or their players aren’t as moral as Superman. (Who is, really? Certainly not me.) But by level 20, there are certainly places or people or things out in your fantasy world that they care about. So pull on those emotional bonds. Make them choose between what’s easy and what’s right; between simple and sad; between the thing they want to do and the thing they know they should do. And then follow where that truth leads.

https://polygamero.us/wp-content/uploads/2025/07/CG_216-How-do-you-prep-final.mp3 Join Ang and JT as Matt leads the questions on how to prep for our games and how to make that easier for yourself. Links: Ashes and Embers Scapple JT’s D&D Tools

https://polygamero.us/wp-content/uploads/2025/07/CG_216-How-do-you-prep-final.mp3 Join Ang and JT as Matt leads the questions on how to prep for our games and how to make that easier for yourself. Links: Ashes and Embers Scapple JT’s D&D Tools

When forming a new group to play RPGs with, there are quite a few considerations to take into account. So many, in fact, that I don’t think I can hit them all. I’m also certain I can’t even think of them all. However, I have a list below that covers the major areas. Also, this […]

When forming a new group to play RPGs with, there are quite a few considerations to take into account. So many, in fact, that I don’t think I can hit them all. I’m also certain I can’t even think of them all. However, I have a list below that covers the major areas. Also, this list is formulated under the assumption that you are a GM building a brand new group. Schedule/Location Advertise your day/time/location up front. When advertising for a group, make sure you post a location and a set of days/times that will work for you. This will allow people to self-select out if they can’t make it to the location or aren’t available during those times. Once you have a sizable enough collection of responses, check with everyone on their best day/time and frequency of gaming. Once you have that list, finalize a good time to play and get that back to the group. If a few people can’t make the final time, but you still have enough people, you’re in good shape. Don’t make anyone feel bad because Real Life or Adulting gets in the way of the chosen time. Overall RPG Experience Check on the players’ comfort levels with RPGs. Once you have a solid group that can meet up, check with everyone to find out what their overall RPG experience is. This is not to play gatekeeper or to insult someone for being new (or completely fresh) to RPGs, but so you can tailor the experience you’re going to provide to everyone. People with less experience need to sit next to the more experienced players (or the GM) with the understanding that the veterans will assist the rookies as needed, but not stomp all over the agency of the new players at the table. Experience Within Chosen Genre Know your genre well. Do your players? I recommend having a genre, setting, and game system in mind before advertising for a new group. If you want to shift to something different after the group is established, that’s always an option. It’s good to know what exposure your players have to the chosen genre. This doesn’t have to be limited to RPGs. It can include any kind of media: TV, movies, comics, novels, short stories, anthologies, RPGs, graphic novels, and so on. Learning how comfortable your players are in your chosen genre will also allow you to tailor what tropes, cliches, ideas, and story elements you’ll bring to the table and how to bring them to the table in a clear manner. Experience With The Setting Be familiar with the setting. If you’re doing a home brew world, this section probably doesn’t apply to you. However, if you’re running in a published setting (Forgotten Realms, Firefly, Greyhawk, Blade Runner, The Expanse, and so on), it’s another good idea to learn how familiar the players are with the setting. This will allow you to judge what kind of introductory material to provide to the players in the form of brief setting details, handouts, references, and maybe some online resources for them to peruse before gaming starts up. Experience With The Game System How well do your players know the game? Since you’re coming to the table with a game system in mind, you’ll also want to know if the players have experience in the specific system you’ve chosen. Again, this will allow you to tailor rules references, handouts, cheat sheets, the player-facing side of the GM screen, and so on to the players. If they’re all veterans of the system, great. Dive in. Hit the rules heavy and fast. If not, you’ll want to customize the opening handful of scenes to slowly introduce rules and subsystems to the players, so they’re not completely overwhelmed by 300+ pages of rules. Why do they (want to) play RPGs? What are your players’ motivations for gaming? If someone has never played RPGs before, you’ll want to know what their expectations are of the game. If they have some misconceptions about how gaming really goes at the table (as opposed to watching highly-produced and curated actual play games online), then this is your chance to set expectations for them about what happens in reality without editors involved. If someone is a current (or returning) player, you’ll also want to know what they enjoyed about RPGs in the past and why they want to join the group. Stay positive here if possible. Everyone has a horror story from the trenches of RPGs, but try to guide the conversation into what they loved and currently desire out of the game with you. What experiences do they want? What do they want? Ask your players some guided questions about what experiences they want from the game via their characters. Do they want four-color comic vibes or the gritty street hero stories? Do they want epic fantasy where larger than life heroes take on powerful villains? Or do they want to be a team of thieves going on endless heists and solving puzzles? The choices here are near endless, and will only be constrained by the genre, system, and your collective imaginations. Lines and Veils Be safe! This is a strong safety tool to use at the table. These conversations are usually reserved for session zero, but I like having them as the new group forms. Collecting lines and veils from your new players will allow you to customize your adventures (published or self-written) to avoid areas of concern for your new players. This can be time-consuming, so I advise getting this information sooner than later to allow you the necessary time to make adjustments. Phil has a great article on safety tools in general, and he covers the concepts of lines and veil in that article. What Tropes/Cliches/Archetypes do you want included/excluded? What do they want in or out of the game? If your players can answer this question in an educated manner, listen to them. If they’re not sure what tropes or cliches exist within the chosen genre, that’s perfectly fine. They’ll quickly learn what they enjoy and don’t enjoy. If you do between-session feedback gathering, you can learn what they’re loving and not getting much out of. This will allow you to adjust your campaign material accordingly to provide the greatest chance at having fun with the group. Just as an example, I had a new player in a new group who very much up front told me, “No artifacts. No Elminster. No Liches.” It kind of surprised me, but he was so adamant in his exclusion list, I ran with those limitations and didn’t use any of those three. Unfortunately, he refused to take the “easy hook” I threw to the group at the start of the initial adventure. The rest of the group moved on with the adventure while he continued to argue with the “hook giver” about the veracity of the hook giver’s statements for why the PCs needed to go adventuring. At the end of a very contentious first session, I decided he wouldn’t fit. He got bumped from the group in a polite way, and the rest of us went on to clear a goblin scourge from Cormyr. (PS: Near the end of the campaign, they did kill a lich at Elminster’s request and found an artifact in the loot.) Conclusion Like I said at the top of the article, there are many more facets to starting up a new group, but this is what I have for you today. If you have other considerations to take into account, feel free to drop a comment below.

Part 3 of a 3 part series on dice analysis: a suggested analysis

Over the last few weeks we’ve been looking at the the analysis done for the Kickstarter for “Honest Dice | Precision Machined Metal Dice You Can Trust” as a case study. We’ve gone over the general idea of how one would go about testing dice and presenting results. We’ve also gone over the analysis that was done and what was wrong with it. This week we’re looking at how it might have been done and what conclusions we can actually draw from the testing that was done and the data that was collected. Using the template established earlier an ideal analysis would look something like this: The intent of our testing is to show that Honest Dice are fairer, that is closer to the ideal distribution than several other die options. Since we’re testing dice against each other, the appropriate test is the Chi Square Test of Homogeneity. This test is specifically designed to test if sets of dice or other phenomenon have the same distribution or not. Specifically this test checks the hypothesis H0: all dice have the same distribution. Statistical significance in this test will tell us that at least one of the dice has a different distribution. Since the base test only determines if at least one die is different, if a difference is detected in the D20s or the D4s, follow up tests of homogeneity will need to be performed to determine where the differences lie. While there are 6 possible pairings of dice that might be different for the d20s and 3 possible pairings for the d4s, each additional test increases our potential family wise error rate and we’re really only interested in differences between the Honest Dice and the other dice being tested if a difference is detected in the D20s, we’ll do three follow up tests: the Honest Dice D20 vs the three other D20 options. For the D4s, if a difference is detected we’ll do two follow ups: the Honest D4 vs each of the other D4 options. Finally, with these follow up tests, significance is still only showing a difference in the two dice, not which is better. In those cases, it’s finally time to do goodness of fit tests to test the two dice against another. In this final set of tests we don’t need to worry about thresholds or family wise error rates because we’re (finally! just looking to compare the two P-values. This comparison of P-values is only valid if the preceding tests showed significance.) For these tests, we’re going to use a .05 threshold for significance. This is a common middle of the road threshold. Given the probabilities involved in D20s (.05 chance of rolling any given side, a .1 threshold seems unreasonably high. .05 frankly seems high too, but because of limited data (see below) going with .01 seems unlikely to give a fair chance for finding significance. If I were designing this test from scratch, I would use a .01 threshold and simply increase sample size but that’s unfortunately not an option. For the follow up tests, since we have Family Wise Error Rate concerns, we need to pick an adjustment to our significance threshold to account for it. Since all of our follow up tests are going to be the Honest Die option vs another die, it’s reasonable to assume that if the Honest Die is the one with the different distribution then the follow up tests are not independent of one another. Thus for a raw threshold number, we’ll use the Bonferroni adjustment, which is to just to divide the intended threshold by the number of tests. Thus for the D20 follow ups with three tests, our threshold will be .05/3=.017 and for the D4 follow ups with two tests, our threshold will be .025. We’ll also use the Holm’s step down procedure which is similar to the Bonferroni adjustment and which makes fewer assumptions about distribution than alternative step tests. We don’t need to use two options, and in fact two options may give us conflicting results, but I’m interested in using both these techniques as I don’t have experience with them, and I don’t want to use both options and only report one. For our D20 tests, our sample size will be 2000, for our D6 tests we’ll use a sample size of 1000 and for our D4 tests we’ll use a sample size of 500. We’re using these sample sizes because that’s the size of the data set we have available, not because those are ideal minimum sample sizes. To determine ideal minimum sample sizes we need to know Effect size (.1), significance threshold (.05, .017, or .025 as appropriate), desired power (.05) and degrees of freedom ( faces-1*dice-1) for each test to feed them into G*Power. Thus for each test the ideal sample sizes I’d like to have for both .05 and .01 base threshold are: Test Threshold Degrees of Freedom Sample Size .05 Sample Size .01 D20 Test .05 (20-1)*(4-1)=57 4533 5647 D20 Follow ups .017 (20-1)*(2-1)=19 3571 4354 D6 Test .05 (6-1)*(2-1)=5 1979 2577 D4 Test .05 (4-1)*(3-1)=6 2086 2705 D4 Follow ups .025 (4-1)*(2-1)=3 1962 2491 Performing all these tests requires a data set. Others doing follow up analysis like this is precisely why providing your data set is a best practice. However, despite the fact that a data set was not shared, one can be reverse engineered from the graphs provided using the following method: Take the image of the graph provided and find the y coordinate of the pixel that forms the 0 line on the graph. For each bar, find the y coordinate of the pixel that forms the top of the bar. For each bar, subtract the top of bar coordinate from the 0 line coordinate. This gives you the height of each bar in pixels. Sum the total pixels for all bars. For each bar, divide the bar height by the total pixels for all bars. This gives you the proportion of all pixels contained in that bar. For each bar, multiply the proportion of pixels in the bar by the total number of rolls and round to a whole number. This gives an approximate number of rolls for that die result. Find the weighted average roll across all bars, compare to the reported mean roll of the die to verify that your estimated roll set closely approximates the original data. With everything planned, here is our test results: For the D20s, our first test is a Chi-Square test of homogeneity with 57 degrees of freedom. This test results in a Chi Square test statistic of 83.41 which equates to a p-value of .013. This is lower than our threshold of .05, so this result is statistically significant and we can say that evidence exists to reject the hypothesis that all D20s that were tested share the same distribution. Our next step is to do our three follow up tests. Each of these is a Chi-Square test of homogeneity with 19 degrees of freedom. To control for family wise error rate we’re using a threshold of .017 for each of these tests. Our test statistics for the Honest Dice D20 vs each of the other dice are 22.78 for CNC #1, which equates to a p-value of .247, 20.15 for CNC #2, which is a p-value of .386, and 31.85 for the plastic D20, which is a p-value of .032. None of these are lower than our threshold so none of these are significant and we cannot say there is any evidence that the Honest Dice D20 is any different than any of the other D20s. Test df Chi-Sq P-Val Threshold Conclusion All D20s 57 83.41 .013 .05 Evidence exists to suggest at least one difference vs CNC1 19 22.78 .247 .017 No evidence of difference vs CNC2 19 20.15 .386 .017 No evidence of difference vs plastic 19 31.85 .032 .017 No evidence of difference We come to the same conclusion with the Holms step-down procedure. With this procedure, we order our p-values lowest to highest, compare them to a set of increasing thresholds and reject the lowest p-values until we find one where the p value is greater than the threshold. Index Test p-val Threshold = .05/(3+1-index)) Conclusion – Fail to reject where: 1st where p-val > threshold and those after 1 vs plastic .032 .017 p-val > threshold: fail to reject 2 vs CNC1 .247 .025 failed to reject above: fail to reject 3 vs CNC2 .386 .05 failed to reject above: fail to reject How does this happen? How do we reject that all dice are the same, yet we don’t find any differences between individual dice? There are two possible explanations here. First, it’s possible that due to the sample size deficiencies, there simply is insufficient power to detect differences that are there. Another possibility is that since there are four dice included in the initial test of “at least one difference” but we’re only doing the three follow up tests that are of interest to minimize Family Wise Error Rate, that the difference is found in one of the three other combinations of dice that we didn’t test (CNC1 vs CNC2, CNC1 vs plastic, or CNC2 vs plastic). Given the p-values calculated in the follow up tests, it seems highly likely this is a sample size power issue caused by the higher level of precision required to avoid Family Wise Error Rate. In any case, further testing is recommended for these D20s. For the D6s, our first test is a Chi-Square test of homogeneity with 5 degrees of freedom. This test results in a Chi Square test statistic of 1.10 which equates to a p-value of .954. This is higher than our threshold of .05, so this result is not statistically significant and we have not found any evidence to suggest any difference between the two D6s tested. Test df Chi-Sq P-Val Threshold Conclusion All D6s 5 1.10 .954 .05 No evidence of difference For the D4s, our first test is a Chi-Square test of homogeneity with 6 degrees of freedom. This test results in a Chi Square test statistic of 17.18 which equates to a p-value of .009. This is lower than our threshold of .05, so this result is statistically significant and we can say that evidence exists to reject the hypothesis that all D4s that were tested share the same distribution. Our next step is to do our two follow up tests. Each of these is a Chi-Square test of homogeneity with 3 degrees of freedom. To control for family wise error rate we’re using a threshold of .025 for each of these tests. Our test statistics for the Honest Dice D4 vs each of the other dice are 1.98 for the CNC die, which equates to a p-value of .576, and 9.25 for the plastic die, which is a p-value of .026. Neither of these are lower than our threshold so neither of is significant and we cannot say there is any evidence that the Honest Dice D4 is any different than any of the other D4s. Test df Chi-Sq P-Val Threshold Conclusion All D4s 6 17.18 .008 .05 Evidence exists to suggest at least one difference vs CNC 3 1.98 .576 .025 No evidence of difference vs plastic 3 9.25 .026 .025 No evidence of difference We come to the same conclusion with the Holms step-down procedure. With this procedure, we order our p-values lowest to highest, compare them to a set of increasing thresholds and reject the lowest p-values until we find one where the p value is greater than the threshold. Index Test p-val Threshold = .05/(3+1-index)) Conclusion – Fail to reject where: 1st where p-val > threshold and those after 1 vs plastic .026 .025 p-val > threshold: fail to reject 2 vs CNC .576 .05 failed to reject above: fail to reject This is a very similar situation to the D20s. Evidence exists that suggests some difference between the dice tested, but not when follow up tests to determine where that difference is are performed. Again it seems highly likely that this is a sample size power issue caused by the higher level of precision required to avoid Family Wise Error Rate. Further testing is recommended for these D4s. Our final conclusion is fairly straightforward: Evidence exists to suggest some differences between dice but in general sample sizes were insufficient due to the demands of the Chi-square test of homogeneity and Family Wise Error Rate. Further testing with larger sample sizes is recommended. Hopefully this deep dive into the best practices of dice analysis will be helpful for those looking for a resource on how to do their own analysis in the future as well as those reading analysis put out by others. First week was part 1: General Approach. Second week was part 2: Review of the Honest Dice Analysis.

During your tenure GMing, your life is going to force you to change your GMing style several times. There are style changes, such as learning to run games a certain way. I am not talking about that; you can always change your style willingly, and honestly, it’s good to do so. I am talking about […]

During your tenure GMing, your life is going to force you to change your GMing style several times. There are style changes, such as learning to run games a certain way. I am not talking about that; you can always change your style willingly, and honestly, it’s good to do so. I am talking about times when your lifestyle is not congruent with your GMing style, and the friction of those things creates issues with your gaming. It could be too little time to prep, disruptions to concurrent sessions, changes in the kinds of games you run, or how you run them. For the vast majority of us, GMing is a hobby and as such, has to fit into the spaces within our lives that are unoccupied. The trick is not to resist the change and try to desperately hang onto how you’ve always done it, but rather, see the time for change and embrace it. So, let’s talk about it. When Change Arrives On Your Doorstep Change is a constant in life. As someone who adores constants, I am also wise enough to know that a constant is a calm stretch of road before the bumps and curves start again. You enjoy it while you have it. We rarely are proactive about the major changes in life that affect our gaming. Often, the change occurs, and then when we realize it is affecting our gaming and set about making changes. Only once in my GMing tenure did I get a warning about an upcoming change to my life that would necessitate a change to my GMing (that you can read in the foreword of Never Unprepared). In most cases, you are going to be reacting to what the change has done to your gaming. The most common sign is not having enough time for your prep or your game. Before, you had the time you needed to both prep and run the game. Now, you seem to always be strapped for time, which is creating a bit of stress to get the game going. That is what recently happened to me. Earlier this year, I was promoted to a management position and became part of the leadership team at my company. I was able to do so without a significant change to my work hours. I pretty much work the same amount of time each day. What I failed to recognize was the added stress and emotional labor of the position, which resulted in my getting home more drained than before the promotion. So while I had time to prep, I did not have the energy to do so, and it was getting harder to get sessions to the table. I was feeling the stress of trying to get the game together. At first, I did not recognize what was going on. Months went by, and I struggled to get games to the table, only aided by the fact that my group was having scheduling problems, resulting in a lot of missed sessions, giving me more time to get my prep done. … if things were working and now you are struggling, you may have encountered a change, and it might be time to re-evaluate. The takeaway is that if things were working and now you are struggling, you may have encountered a change, and it might be time to re-evaluate. Reflection Time Months after my promotion I realized that I was struggling to get my games to the table. I now needed to figure out what was wrong before I could fix it. So I sat and thought about it, and looked at my recent behavior and actions. This requires some time to think and to be honest with yourself. For me, the struggle was that I am literally the Never Unprepared guy. While my players don’t hold that over me, I do. I could not bear the idea that I could not get prepared for a game. So when I realized that it was prepping the game that was getting to me, I had to be honest and admit the problem. I did not have that flash of insight right away; in fact, it was the last insight I had. My first conclusions about my problems were external; I was blaming the lack of consistent sessions for dampening the emotional commitment to the game, leading to my struggling. But the more I picked at the issue, and the more honest I became, I realized that my issues were feeling like I did not have the time or energy to prep during the week. Listing Requirements Once I had discovered my problem, I was nearly ready to work on solutions. In order to better focus my efforts, I made a list of requirements and constraints. Requirements are things that I need, and constraints, the external factors that I have to work within. So my main requirement was that I needed a game that required low-to-no prep. I need a game that requires me to use less than 2 hours during the week to get a session together. There were two constraints I had to deal with. One, my group is going through a thing where not all of us can make it to the game, so the game we play has to be highly resistant to missing players, in both rules and play style. Second, my gaming group averages about 2.5-3 hours of play per session, based on when we can play and that we like to have a shared meal and socialize before the game. I did not want to, at this time, put any requirements or constraints on systems, genre, etc, but those are things you might need to list. The reason for having this list is so that you can be clear on what you are trying to fix and what things you need to factor into your solution. Work the Problem Starting with my requirement, I looked at what I would need to do to solve this problem; the need for a low-to-no prep game. The most obvious choice for me was to find a game that had this built in. A game whose mechanics supported this style of play. It’s not the only solution to this. I could have gone the route of keeping a system and making more drastic cuts to my prep. I could have also favored published adventures over anything homemade, but my experience is that there is still plenty of prep in a prepared adventure, it’s just different than writing one. With a solution in mind, I made a quick list of games that supported low-to-no prep, and quickly arrived at Forged in the Dark games. Their system is great for low-to-no prep gaming. Now I needed to see if my solution supported my constraints. First, 2.5-3 hr play sessions. FitD games work great in this timeframe, you can easily get through one Score, Downtime, and some Freeplay (for Blades) in that timeframe. Second, the missing player problem. The solution to this is to run a complete cycle of play each time we meet so that players who can’t make it to the next session are not stuck in the middle of the story. As mentioned above, if we run a full cycle each session, then the player can miss the following session. In addition, the Score does not require specific playbooks, so if someone is missing, the game won’t grind to a halt because of missing abilities. By coming up with a solution and making sure it fits inside your constraints, you ensure that your solution solves all your problems without creating others. My Solution After working the problem a bit and coming to the players with some game ideas, we eventually selected Blades in the Dark. We are going to structure our sessions to be one full play cycle (Score, Downtime, Free Play). We also set our Quorum to allow for more players to miss the sessions and keep the game running, even if multiple people can’t make it. I have some work to do about adapting my prep for this game, but my focus is going to be on only spending 1-2 hours to produce a session, which will be one play cycle. For running the game, I will have to make sure we keep good focus, to keep the sessions productive, so that we complete that cycle each session. Now’s The Time For Change People want to know the secret to remaining in the hobby for so long. Mine is to change with change. I have changed systems and styles of play over my 43 years of gaming. When life changes come, embrace the change, don’t resist it. If you are getting married, having a kid, starting your first career job, or taking that new position, recognize that with it, your life is going to change, and change your gaming so that it always has a place in your life. If you can be proactive, that is great, but even if you find yourself reacting, seeing yourself struggling to game, embrace the change. Take some time to reflect on what is and is not working, list your requirements and your constraints, and then work the problem. Make the necessary changes and keep a space in your life for gaming. When has your life changed in a way that affected how you gamed? What was the change? What did you change in your gaming?

Paragons of an honorable code, antisocial loners forced to socialize, and gremlins looking to set the world on fire. When I started the Challenging the Tropes series, I thought it would be a fun examination of character types. I didn't realize just how much it would teach me about improving the ways I run games and tell stories.

Paragons of an honorable code, antisocial loners forced to socialize, and gremlins looking to set the world on fire. When I started the Challenging the Tropes series, I thought it would be a fun examination of character types. I didn’t realize just how much it would teach me about improving the ways I run games and tell stories. During extended lulls in between sessions, I do my best to check in with my players. See how they’re enjoying the campaign. If there’s something they want to explore in more detail or a change they’d like to make. As a blogger, I do the same thing with long-running article series, and when I did that for this series, I was sort of surprised. Enough that I thought it was worth sharing with the whole class. So here’s “What I Did on My Summer Vacation: or How Diving Into Tropes Taught Me About Game Mastering.” The First Thing I Learned: What to ask in Session Zero So, I loooove session zeroes. Some people build extra characters in their free time. I read articles and listen to podcasts about session zeroes. There’s something about a group of people coming together to brainstorm a world into existence that gets my blood pumping. So trust me when I say there’s a lot of great information out there about running them. What these trope deep dives have taught me is that after safety talks and after you’ve aligned the table on setting expectations, the most important question you can ask your players is what they want to get out of their characters. To put it another way: What is their character fantasy? And then the important trick, I figured out, was to actually listen. Because, confession time, since I read and listen to a lot of GMing advice, I have a tendency to assume too much. When someone says, “I want to play a character based on Obi-Wan Kenobi,” my mind jumps to conclusions and I say, “Groovy. Let’s f’in go!” What I should be saying is, “What version of Obi-Wan?” The brash padawan? The Jedi Council investigator? Seasoned war veteran? Exiled hermit struggling with PTSD? The cheeky ghost? My point is that even when we’re using the same touchstones, our mental pictures can be widely different, and I need to get better at making sure what’s in my head matches what’s in my player’s noggin. The Second Thing I Learned: How to Break Down a Trope Once, probably eight years ago, I watched a Gordon Ramsey video tutorial on carving a chicken. Now, at every Thanksgiving, I’m in charge of carving the turkey. I feel the same thing happened when I started breaking down tropes for these articles. I learned how to do it more efficiently and take the best cuts for my session planning. When I was analyzing the three tropes — chaos gremlin, paladin, and loner — I found the most inspiration (the best meat) when I was coming up with lists of pop culture characters who fit into those tropes. This taught me (and hopefully it will now teach you) how to look at the characters more abstractly, like poring over a mechanical schematic made out of motivation and inspiration. If the world’s always ending, then the threat loses its teeth. Once you’ve talked with your players about their characters, brainstorm parallel characters in other forms of media that you’re familiar with and mine those pop culture references for inspiration for your players’ arcs. I’m not saying copy those arcs, but use them to figure out the bits that align with your player’s character fantasy. Then take the juiciest bits and turn them into obstacles. The Last Thing I Learned: How to Build a More Personal Obstacle The world is always ending in my games. Which is big, and it’s epic, but what it’s not is personal. If the world’s always ending, then the threat loses its teeth. It’s the epitome of the wonderfully fourth-wall-breaking quote from the Buffy the Vampire Slayer musical episode, “Dawn’s in trouble? Must be Tuesday.” This series was a well-needed reminder that we need to make the obstacles they face more personal, so we can give them a reason to connect with the world before it ends. Organizing the characters’ journeys by way of their tropes has helped me tailor-make obstacles specifically meant to challenge not just their mechanical skills, but their narrative arcs, allowing for a deeper connection to the setting and the story. And it’s also shown me ways I can plan for stories that aren’t world-shattering. Or, at least, not literally. Sometimes, shattering their personal worlds is just as effective, if not more effective, than threatening their actual world. Some Further Reading If you’re looking for some more ways of tapping into character arcs, I highly recommend checking out Monte Cook’s Your Best Game Ever (or Invisible Sun). Both have ways of systematizing character arc progression. Slugblaster is another more recent game that focuses heavily on the character’s arc and making sure it’s a key component of the campaign. If you’ve got suggestions for other tropes we can explore, leave them in the comments!

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Amazon's sci-fi flop contains a scene that perfectly sums up why the movie is being roasted online

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The Switch just went up in price but it's never been cheaper on eBay and Facebook Marketplace

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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

Arc Games and Snapshot Games have revealed new details about Chip ‘n Clawz vs. The Brainioids, the upcoming action-strategy hybrid from X-COM creator Julian Gollop. The studio announced a Friends Pass feature and full cross-platform play for PlayStation, Xbox, and PC, ensuring that teaming up with friends will be easier than ever. Friend’s Pass will […]

Ninja Gaiden: Ragebound is a fantastic return to the 2D roots of the Ninja Gaiden franchise. The gameplay is fast and sharp, the visuals are gorgeous, and the length is just right for this sort of game. I ran into a couple of small bugs, but it’s nothing that won’t be patched out pretty quickly. […]

Square Enix has published a brand-new developer interview for The Adventures of Elliot: The Millennium Tales, giving fans a deeper look at its world, gameplay systems, and design philosophy. Speaking with Tomoya Asano (Concept & Planning) and Naofumi Matsushita (Producer), the interview sheds light on why this marks the first action RPG in the HD-2D […]

SEGA has officially released Demon Slayer -Kimetsu no Yaiba- The Hinokami Chronicles 2, bringing the next chapter of the beloved anime series to life on PlayStation 5, PlayStation 4, Xbox Series X|S, Xbox One, and PC via Steam. The sequel builds on the success of its predecessor with new story arcs, enhanced combat, and post-launch […]

Windup Games and publisher Knights Peak have announced that Hela, their enchanting third-person open-world adventure inspired by Scandinavian folklore, is officially coming to Nintendo Switch 2 in 2026. Originally revealed for PC and next-gen consoles, the Switch 2 version was confirmed during the latest Nintendo Direct: Partner Showcase, accompanied by a brand-new trailer. Set in […]

Lyrical Media, the independent film and TV production company behind upcoming A24 features Onslaught and The Death of Robin Hood, is officially expanding into games. Today the company announced the launch of Lyrical Games, a new, privately funded publishing label focused on empowering developers of ambitious, high-quality indie titles. The new label is led by […]

3DClouds has announced that its historic open-wheel sim-cade racer, Formula Legends, will launch worldwide on September 18, 2025, for PC, Nintendo Switch, PlayStation 5, and Xbox Series X|S at $19.99. Designed for both casual players and hardcore motorsport fans, the game emulates over seven decades of racing history with eras, teams, and tracks inspired by […]

I was given the opportunity to take an early look at the new season of Nexon’s live-service “looter shooter” The First Descendant. Titled “Breakthrough,” the new Season offers a new zone, hoverbikes, large-scale raiding, and a new descendant. Along with the new season also comes a collaboration with NieR: Automata. Though I didn’t get a […]

Capcom made a splash at Evo 2025, announcing the return of C. Viper to the Street Fighter 6 roster, confirming Sagat’s arrival on August 5, and unveiling a swimsuit-themed Outfit 4 set for seven characters. The company also shared new details on Capcom Fighting Collection 2, arriving later this week. C. Viper Joins the Fight […]

Koei Tecmo and developer Gust have announced the Atelier Ryza Secret Trilogy Deluxe Pack, the definitive edition of the series that has sold over 2.5 million units worldwide. Launching November 13, 2025, for PS5, PS4, Nintendo Switch 2, Nintendo Switch, and PC via Steam, this collection features all three “Secret” games with new playable characters, […]

N4G: news feed

Bandai Namco announced its financial results for the first quarter of the fiscal year, related to the period between April and June 2025.

The pre-load for Xbox Game Studios and The Coalition's Gears Of War: Reloaded is now available, and the download size has been revealed.

MARVEL Cosmic Invasion first-hands impression leaves us wanting more of what might just be the best Marvel beat'em up to date.

Guardians are invited to join Eva Levante for her annual Solstice event in Destiny 2, taking place from today until August 19 and available to all players.

Nearly a decade after their last original story, the developers at Hangar 13 are taking a bold new step with Mafia: The Old Country. Set in early 20th century Sicily, the game rewinds the clock to explore the birth of organized crime, far from the familiar streets of Lost Heaven or Empire Bay. Sector sat down with Roman Hladík, General Manager of Hangar 13 in Brno, and Devin Hitch, Executive Producer, to discuss the studios ambitious vision, the challenges of leaving behind the iconic Mafia tropes, and how this historical prequel aims to welcome both veteran fans and new players into the world of Mafia.

Constantly shifting motivations and tumultuous overhauls have poisoned the well of Xbox's ecosystem.

Stormgates official Steam launch on August 5 isnt the endits the start of a long-term rollout of features, content, and tools, according to a newly released roadmap from developer Frost Giant Studios. The update lays out three phases: whats in Campaign One, whats coming in the Near Future, and whats On the Horizon.

Check out this guide for the best pilots tier list in Mecharashi, which will help you build the ultimate mecha team.

IEM Cologne 2025 was a Counter-Strike 2 brawl for the ages. Which team came out on top? We've got the full playoff recap right here.

IEM Cologne 2025 was Counter-Strike heaven - roaring fans, epic vibes, and unmatched rivalries. Cologne proved no one hosts like Germany.

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

The post The War Within: Ghosts of K’aresh is Now Live! appeared first on Xbox Wire.

Category: Games August 6, 2025 The War Within: Ghosts of K’aresh is Now Live! Danielle Partis The post The War Within: Ghosts of K’aresh is Now Live! appeared first on Xbox Wire.

The post Gaming Copilot (Beta) Begins Rolling Out to Xbox Insiders on Game Bar Today appeared first on Xbox Wire.

Category: Xbox Insider August 6, 2025 Gaming Copilot (Beta) Begins Rolling Out to Xbox Insiders on Game Bar Today Taylor O’Malley, Principal Program Manager at Xbox Gaming Copilot (Beta), the ultimate gaming sidekick, is available on Game Bar for Windows PC for Xbox Insiders enrolled in the PC Gaming Preview beginning today. Gaming is one of the only forms of entertainment where you can get stuck, and Gaming Copilot is designed to help get you past those obstacles so you can spend more time playing the games you love. This companion makes gaming with Xbox more seamless and personalized, helping you get to gameplay faster, sharpening your skills, and being there when you need it and out of the way when you don’t. While Gaming Copilot (Beta) is also available now for Xbox Insiders to try on Windows handhelds with limited functionality, further optimizations are underway for handhelds as we approach the launch of the ROG Xbox Ally and ROG Xbox Ally X. We recently brought an early test of Gaming Copilot to the beta version of the Xbox mobile app, where you can access Copilot on a second screen without distracting you from your core gameplay experience. We’re working hard to enhance our Gaming Copilot’s capabilities and extend its availability to more devices over time, incorporating increased functionality and features. With today’s rollout of Gaming Copilot to Game Bar, players will benefit from an even more integrated experience, with Copilot directly embedded into the PC gaming environment and accompanied by new and exciting features. Gaming Copilot knows what you’re playing and understands your Xbox activity to provide an experience centered around you. In addition to asking for help related to the game you’re playing while you’re playing it, the games you’re interested in or want to discover, or questions about your account, play history, and achievements, in the latest version of Gaming Copilot on Game Bar we also encourage you to try out the following features: Use Voice Mode while actively playing: Pin the Gaming Copilot widget and use Copilot in Voice Mode while you’re actively playing any game on PC. This lets you talk to Copilot and get help if you’re stuck or need tips, without breaking away from gameplay. To do this, navigate to the Gaming Copilot widget, select the “Microphone” from the left navigation bar, begin a conversation, pin the widget, and continue the conversation seamlessly and at any time while you return to your gameplay. Improved Understanding and Responses from Copilot: When you ask Gaming Copilot in Game Bar a question in Voice Mode, it can now use screenshots of your gameplay to provide you with more helpful responses. Now that Gaming Copilot has a better understanding of what’s happening on your screen during active gameplay and through your screenshots, you can refer to things happening in-game as they occur in Voice Mode, without needing to describe them in detail, and get even more relevant and timely support. You can manage your screenshot settings anytime under “Capture Settings” directly in the Gaming Copilot widget. The possibilities are almost endless, so ask Copilot anything you like and be sure to experiment across both text and voice! Deeper personalization, richer game assistance such as proactive coaching, and many more features will be coming to Gaming Copilot in the future. Trying Gaming Copilot on Game Bar To use Game Bar, make sure you have the Xbox PC app downloaded and installed on your Windows device and press the Windows logo key + G to open Game Bar over your game, app, or desktop. Once you open Game Bar, look for the Gaming Copilot icon in the Home Bar to open the widget and log into your Xbox account and access the full experience. This early preview of Gaming Copilot on Game Bar is available in English for Xbox Insiders aged 18 and older in the U.S., Australia, New Zealand, Japan, Singapore, and other regions. You can view the full list of regions where early testing on Game Bar is available below. We will continue to explore new ideas, experiment and bring new features like Gaming Copilot to you early and often. Feedback from Xbox Insiders will be critical in helping us shape and improve the feature as it expands to more Xbox surfaces. You can begin providing feedback on Gaming Copilot (Beta) directly by selecting “Give Feedback” directly in the experience, or by simply marking any incorrect responses from Copilot with a “thumbs up” or “thumbs down”. How to Get Xbox Insider Support and Share Your Feedback We want to thank all the Xbox Insiders for the feedback you share with us. Your feedback is a key part of our process. If you’re an Xbox Insider looking for support, please join our community on the Xbox Insider subreddit. Official Xbox staff, moderators, and fellow Xbox Insiders are there to help. We recommend adding to threads with the same topic before posting a brand new one. This helps us support you the best we can! If you aren’t part of the Xbox Insider Program yet and want to help create the future of Xbox and get early access to new features, join the Program today by downloading the Xbox Insider Hub for Xbox Series X|S & Xbox One or Windows PC. For more information on the Xbox Insider Program, follow us on Twitter at @XboxInsider and keep an eye on this blog for all the latest news. Other resources: Get the Xbox Insider Hub app Xbox Insider FAQ How to provide feedback as an Xbox Insider For more information: follow us on X/Twitter at @XboxInsider and this blog for announcements and more. And feel free to interact with the community on the Xbox Insider SubReddit. Related Stories for “Gaming Copilot (Beta) Begins Rolling Out to Xbox Insiders on Game Bar Today” Category: Playtests DUCKSIDE: Join the Playtest from July 24 – July 28 Category: Xbox Insider Now Available for Xbox Insiders: Your Cross-Device Play History and Easier Access to Your Cloud-Playable Console Games on PC Category: Playtests The Delta Force Technical Test is LIVE today for Xbox Insiders! The post Gaming Copilot (Beta) Begins Rolling Out to Xbox Insiders on Game Bar Today appeared first on Xbox Wire.

The post Wander Stars and the Power of Words: How the Japanese Belief of Kotodama Shaped a Battle System appeared first on Xbox Wire.

Category: Games August 6, 2025 Wander Stars and the Power of Words: How the Japanese Belief of Kotodama Shaped a Battle System Andie GalloArt Director & Narrative Designer, Wander Stars Summary Wander Stars is a turn-based JRPG where you can combine words to create powerful attacks. Kotodama is the Japanese belief that words and names have power of their own. Wander Stars will be available for Xbox Series X|S and Xbox on PC on September 19. Would you ever consider the idea that the words you use have the power to shape your reality? Well, in Wander Stars, words quite literally have power. In this turn-based JRPG inspired by ’90s anime, the goal is to collect as many words as you can to combine them into powerful attacks and defeat your enemies in Kiai battles. Kiai (気合, きあい) is a term we borrowed from Japanese martial arts, which describes the shouts and exhalations performed during an assault. It’s also used extensively in anime, with characters sometimes calling out their attacks – which is what inspired us to create the word-building gameplay mechanic for Wander Stars. Kiai itself also falls under the category of another Japanese concept called Kotodama (言霊, ことだま), which is the belief that words and names have power of their own. The term kotodoma is composed by the kanji for word (言) and soul/spirit (霊), and it’s often literally translated as “the spirit of language” or “the power of words”. It is closely tied to Shintoism – the worship of nature and spirits, considered to be Japan’s indigenous religion, which shares the belief that saying positive words can have a favorable impact and negative words can bring bad luck. Explore a Vast Universe The idea that words have power is not uniquely attributed to the Japanese. There are many examples in cultures across the world of magical words and incantations used in fantasy, religion and ancient rituals. In Wander Stars, we set out to create a multi-cultural universe in which our protagonists can run into many different characters and all sorts of situations, while also borrowing heavily from our own Latin American background and the sort of post-earth monoculture often seen in sci-fi where space travel becomes the norm like Cowboy Bebop and Star Wars. Our intention when we started developing Wander Stars was to have a game with two solid foundations: gameplay and narrative. The word-building gameplay mechanic came first, and it shaped the entire world of Wander Stars and the way the characters interact with it through the concept of Kiai and the power of words. This new word-building battle system is very much inspired by classic turn-based games like Dragon Quest and Pokemon, but instead of choosing from a list of predetermined moves, you actually get to create what your next move will be. The word-building mechanic can be divided into three different types of words, starting with Action Words that dictate what you do during your turn, like “punch” or “kick”. That’s followed by Elemental Words that add an elemental property to your action, like turning a simple kick into a “fire kick”, which can also inflict a status effect like burn. And, lastly, Modifier Words can add many different perks to any action, like “special,” which adds +2 damage, or “wide,” which lets you target two enemies instead of one. The words are simple and self-explanatory for the most part, so the act of combining them in many different ways can be a very fun and intuitive way to discover new strategies and effects. Ringo And Wolfe – Unlikely Allies For the narrative, we set out to explore a story where the characters navigate a world in which words can make or break the connections between them. Ringo is a young martial artist who lives with her grandma. Brash and quick-tempered, Ringo often says things she doesn’t really mean. She soon finds herself roped into an intergalactic adventure with the mysterious scoundrel Wolfe as her partner in the search for the Wanderstar map. In contrast to Ringo, Wolfe is quite sharp with his words and isn’t above lying and stealing to get his way. As he reluctantly accompanies Ringo in their quest, the truth about his character and motivations will become clear. As they travel through an endlessly expanding universe, Ringo and Wolfe will meet other characters who will join them in their adventure. Like the lines we make up to connect the stars and create constellations, they’ll learn how to give shape and meaning to their own connections through the power of words. Make sure you also join in the quest for the Wanderstar map as Wander Stars makes its way into Xbox Series X|S and Xbox on PC on September 19. Wander Stars Fellow Traveller ☆☆☆☆☆ ★★★★★ Get it now Join Ringo, a young martial artist looking for her brother, and Wolfe, a mysterious scoundrel running from his past, as they join forces in an unlikely partnership to collect the pieces of the fabled Wanderstar Map. Across 10 “episodes” of anime-inspired adventure, Ringo and Wolfe will have to work together to find answers, make up for past mistakes, and travel across the universe in search of their goal. And who knows, maybe they’ll learn how to get along at some point! Trained in the ways of Kiai, a magical form of martial art and also the universe’s most exciting form of televised entertainment, Ringo can combine words to create customized attacks in intense turn-based battles. Defeat or befriend a cast of fearsome space pirates, mysterious scoundrels, cute witches, high school delinquents, talking crows, and skilled martial artists on your way to becoming a Kiai master. USE YOUR WORDS Create custom attacks by combining words up to the limit of your spirit level. The more spirit you have, the more slots you have to place words into and the more powerful and complex actions you can take. All words have cool downs and opponents might be weak or strong against specific attacks or specific elements. You won’t know which until you engage them in battle so you need to be prepared to improvise. COLLECT THEM ALL With over 200 words to collect across the game there is a near infinite number of possible unique attacks to make. As you expand Ringo’s vocabulary you’ll need to carefully select which words you take into battle, building strategies around your mix of categories, blend of offensive and defensive words, giving yourself options to manage your opponents weaknesses and strengths, consider optimizing the juggling of cool downs and, of course, which attacks sound the coolest. The result is an accessible, immediately fun but deep combat system. STEP UP WITH PEP UPS The core ethos of the Kiai martial art is to fight with honor. Defeating an opponent with honor can turn the most heated of rivals into the fastest of friends! Befriend your rivals to earn their words of encouragement in the form of useful Pep Ups which can be equipped to give you special bonuses in combat. THE STARS CALL Travel the universe on a rollercoaster adventure as you seek the pieces of the Wanderstar map, Ringo’s lost brother and the answers to Wolfe’s mysterious past. UNLIKELY ALLIES Along the way you’ll build a found family of colorful characters, each with their own thing going on. They might not all get along at first, but that’s nothing a thrilling space adventure can’t fix! And even with the trail gone cold, take heart, for these wandering stars are bound to find each other… AN ANIME YOU CAN PLAY Inspired by anime the developers grew up watching, Wander Stars plays out across 10 “episodes”, each one taking between 60-90 minutes to complete. Each episode features a map to explore with procedurally generated battles, special events and other secrets to find along with the main story events. Play an episode at a time, or binge the whole thing in one go! You can even replay episodes to find all the side adventures, NPCs, and party member banter you might have missed! Try new paths as you explore ever-changing maps with randomized special events, lurking rivals, and tantalizing treasures. The experience is never quite the same! Related Stories for “Wander Stars and the Power of Words: How the Japanese Belief of Kotodama Shaped a Battle System” Category: Games The War Within: Ghosts of K’aresh is Now Live! Category: Games Exciting New Features of The First Descendant ‘Breakthrough’ Update – Available August 7 Category: Games Overwatch 2 x Nerf: Unlock New Blaster Skins Now The post Wander Stars and the Power of Words: How the Japanese Belief of Kotodama Shaped a Battle System appeared first on Xbox Wire.

The post Exciting New Features of The First Descendant ‘Breakthrough’ Update – Available August 7 appeared first on Xbox Wire.

Category: Games August 5, 2025 Exciting New Features of The First Descendant ‘Breakthrough’ Update – Available August 7 Beom-jun Lee, Producer, The First Descendant We’re just days away from The First Descendant Breakthrough update, launching August 7 – and I want to thank all of you who’ve been eagerly awaiting this major content drop. Your continued support means the world to us. Today, I’m excited to share an overview of the new season’s key features with our Xbox community. It’s a pleasure to connect with you directly and give you a closer look at what’s coming. The Story of Breakthrough In Breakthrough, the main villain, Karel, Commander of the Vulgus, finally steps into the spotlight. With the activation of “Iron Heart,” chaos spreads across the entirety of Ingris, and dimensional anomalies are even detected at Axion Plains near Albion. While Descendants investigate these strange phenomena, grotesque Legion of Breach and Mutants emerge, and to make matters worse, a Dimensional Wall opens—summoning Colossus. Following Karel’s invasion, humanity faces a crisis greater than ever before. But why does Karel refuse to halt his invasion? What is he trying to achieve through the Iron Heart? His hidden motives will finally be revealed in Breakthrough. Massive Field, Axion Plains Axion Plains is a massive field that will serve as a key feature in Breakthrough. True to its vast scale, it is home to a variety of new monsters whose formidable attacks will make your combat experience even more thrilling. Among Axion Plains’ most distinctive threats is the Legion of Breach—monsters that adapt to the elements used against them. This adaptive ability stems from their origin: the Breach Swarm Sac, which analyzes the elemental traits of Descendants and adjusts newly spawned Breach Creatures accordingly. This evolving threat can be reset by destroying Breach Swarm Sac or Swarm Tunnels, each affecting enemy adaptations differently. Alongside them, Assault Ships rain down enemies onto the battlefield and this can only be destroyed with specific skills or pickup weapons, adding a new layer of strategy and urgency to each encounter. New Ride, Hover Bike Hover Bike was created to help players travel quickly and smoothly across the wide Axion Fields, making exploration faster and more fun. We focused on making the riding experience feel natural, so you can get on and off while moving and even link it smoothly with actions like using the grappling hook. There are three types to choose from—Basic, Speed, and Balance—each upgradeable for better performance. You can also customize your Hover Bikes with different skins and, in the future, special attachments, so your ride can match your own style. 8 Player Co-op Colossus Raid, Wall Crasher One of the most spectacular features in the Axion Plains is the colossus Wall Crasher. This massive enemy is summoned at set intervals by a central Colossus Guided Device located in the heart of the battlefield. When the time comes, warning signs spread across the field and then, the Wall Crasher appears. Wall Crasher encounters take place in a special eight-player instance, offering a large-scale co-op battle. Towering over the battlefield, the Wall Crasher unleashes massive area attacks that demand constant movement and awareness. Despite its slow but heavy movements, players can read its patterns and react accordingly. Defensive Descendants like Ajax are especially helpful, using their skills to block key attacks and give teammates the space they need to focus on dealing damage. New Descendant, Nell The Breakthrough update also introduces a brand-new Descendant: Nell. Once known as the executive officer who stood by Alpha’s side in Albion Headquarters, Nell has now awakened as a full-fledged Descendant, with a completely new look and combat abilities. Living up to the excitement of players who have long awaited her playable debut, Nell features a bold and dynamic combat style that feels powerful and engaging. Nell now fights with telekinetic powers, allowing her to control the battlefield with both style and precision. Her combat style feels straight out of a sci-fi action movie—powerful and sharp! The First Descendant X NieR:Automata Crossover We’re thrilled to announce our first-ever crossover, and it couldn’t be with a more perfect partner: NieR:Automata. Iconic characters 2B and A2 arrive as stunning playable skins in The First Descendant—along with beloved elements like Pod, Virtuous Contract, and Type-4O Sword as back attachments. To top it off, two special social emotes are included to bring the full NieR:Automata experience to life. As fans ourselves, we can’t wait for you to jump in, gear up, and experience this unique crossover in the world of The First Descendant. We hope this article sparks even more excitement and interest among new and returning Descendants. See you on the battlefield on August 7! The First Descendant NEXON ☆☆☆☆☆ 908 ★★★★★ Get it now (As of June 19 2025, The First Descendant is no longer supported on Xbox One. An Xbox Series X|S is required to play this game and add-on content.) The First Descendant is a next-generation third-person co-op action RPG looter shooter featuring high-quality graphics created in Unreal Engine 5. Players become a Descendant whose mission is to combat alien invaders – The Vulgus who crossed dimensions over 100 years ago and brought with them the devastating Colossi and destruction – for the survival of humanity and to protect Albion and the continent of Ingris. Players will encounter spectacular stories of forces fighting over the Iron Heart as they grow stronger through various missions and raids. Encounter features that make The First Descendant's gameplay unique: a variety of characters with unique concepts and combat styles, massive boss battles with up to four player co-op, free movement and coordinated action with grappling hooks, a variety of weapons and compelling customization options. Related Stories for “Exciting New Features of The First Descendant ‘Breakthrough’ Update – Available August 7” Category: Games The War Within: Ghosts of K’aresh is Now Live! Category: Games Wander Stars and the Power of Words: How the Japanese Belief of Kotodama Shaped a Battle System Category: Games Overwatch 2 x Nerf: Unlock New Blaster Skins Now The post Exciting New Features of The First Descendant ‘Breakthrough’ Update – Available August 7 appeared first on Xbox Wire.

The post Overwatch 2 x Nerf: Unlock New Blaster Skins Now appeared first on Xbox Wire.

Category: Games Overwatch 2 x Nerf: Unlock New Blaster Skins Now Joe Skrebels, Xbox Wire Editor-in-Chief Published August 5, 2025 Related Stories for “Overwatch 2 x Nerf: Unlock New Blaster Skins Now” Category: Games The War Within: Ghosts of K’aresh is Now Live! Category: Games Wander Stars and the Power of Words: How the Japanese Belief of Kotodama Shaped a Battle System Category: Games Exciting New Features of The First Descendant ‘Breakthrough’ Update – Available August 7 The post Overwatch 2 x Nerf: Unlock New Blaster Skins Now appeared first on Xbox Wire.

The post Coming to Game Pass: Assassin’s Creed Mirage, 9 Kings (Game Preview), Rain World, and More appeared first on Xbox Wire.

Category: Games August 5, 2025 Coming to Game Pass: Assassin’s Creed Mirage, 9 Kings (Game Preview), Rain World, and More Megan Spurr, Senior Community Lead, Xbox Game Pass My favorite reminder for you all – games that you can play today, games coming soon, and even one we slipped in last week you might have missed. Make room in your download and pre-install queue and let’s get to the games! Available Today Rain World (Cloud, Console, and PC) Game Pass Ultimate, PC Game Pass, Game Pass Standard You are a nomadic slugcat, both predator and prey in a broken ecosystem. Grab your spear and brave the industrial wastes, hunting enough food to survive, but be wary – other, bigger creatures have the same plan… Coming Soon Citizen Sleeper 2: Starward Vector (Xbox Series X|S) – August 6 Now with Game Pass Standard Citizen Sleeper 2: Starward Vector is a dice-driven RPG in a human and heartfelt sci-fi world. You are an escaped android, with a malfunctioning body, a price on your head and no memory of your past. Get a ship, find a crew, and take on contracts while you navigate across the Starward Belt. Lonely Mountains: Snow Riders (Xbox Series X|S) – August 6 Now with Game Pass Standard Crash over and over until you master the mountain in the snowy follow up to Lonely Mountains: Downhill. Now supporting up to 8 players via cross platform multiplayer – work your way down the slopes as a group sharing a small number of checkpoints, or risk it all in a breakneck race to the base! MechWarrior 5: Clans (Xbox Series X|S) – August 6 Now with Game Pass Standard In MechWarrior 5: Clans, players become new Smoke Jaguar pilots in the Clan Invasion of the Inner Sphere. Lead a five-mech “Star” squad across diverse planets, engaging in an expansive campaign with immersive gameplay and intricate combat. Armed with customizable BattleMechs featuring cutting-edge technologies, players explore a wealth of tactical options and strategic possibilities. Orcs Must Die! Deathtrap (Xbox Series X|S) – August 6 Now with Game Pass Standard Orcs Must Die! Deathtrap is an action-packed, third-person shooter and trap defense game. Evolve as an orc-slaying War Mage through rogue-lite choices and obliterate, eviscerate, and incinerate massive hordes with up to four players. Assassin’s Creed Mirage (Cloud, Console, and PC) – August 7 Game Pass Ultimate, PC Game Pass Experience the story of Basim, a cunning street thief seeking answers and justice as he navigates the bustling streets of ninth-century Baghdad. Through a mysterious, ancient organization known as the Hidden Ones, he will become a deadly Master Assassin and change his fate in ways he never could have imagined. Aliens: Fireteam Elite (Cloud, Console, and PC) – August 12 Game Pass Ultimate, PC Game Pass, Game Pass Standard Returning to the Game Pass library and set in the iconic Alien universe, Aliens: Fireteam Elite is a cooperative third-person survival shooter that drops your fireteam of hardened marines into a desperate fight to contain the evolving Xenomorph threat. And don’t forget to watch Alien: Earth, starting August 12 on FX and streaming on Hulu. 9 Kings (Game Preview) (PC) – August 14 Game Pass Ultimate, PC Game Pass A fast-paced roguelike kingdom builder. Grow your empire and fight massive battles against powerful rival kings. Break the game with thousands of insane builds to become the King of Kings. In Case You Missed It Descenders Next (Game Preview) (Cloud, Console, and PC) – Available now Game Pass Ultimate, PC Game Pass It’s time to conquer the world of extreme sports. Grab your snowboard and tackle the steep, snowy slopes, or tear up the harsh, lush terrain with your mountainboard! Feel like taking on the challenge with a squad? Match up with Descenders players all around the world and master the mountain! He Is Coming (Game Preview) (PC) – Available now Game Pass Ultimate, PC Game Pass Deep in the forgotten corners of the world, a dark force stirs – the Demon King rises once more. Sharpen your wits, seek out powerful artifacts, and stand firm in the face of the apocalypse in this roguelite RPG auto battler. DLC / Game Updates EA Sports Madden NFL 26: Early Access Trial – August 7 Live every stadium-shaking moment built from Sundays with a 10-hour trial from Game Pass Ultimate and EA Play, including Xbox Cloud Gaming (Beta) on the Xbox app for PC. Save 10% on the full game, Madden Points, and other EA digital purchases with your EA Play membership. Score recurring rewards including Ultimate Team Packs. Plus, get a Welcome Pack by Sept 11. Senua’s Saga: Hellblade II Enhanced – August 12 Discover new ways to experience Senua’s brutal journey of survival with Xbox Series X performance mode, ‘Very High’ graphics preset on PC, Dark Rot combat challenge mode, an improved Photo Mode, and added Developer Commentary. Sea of Thieves:Season 17 – August 14 The Smugglers’ League have arrived, bringing risky Smugglers’ Runs that see crews ferrying valuable – and dangerous – new cargo. They’re also planning a daring heist in which pirates will play a key role, and with Skeleton Forts receiving fresh reinforcements, there’s excitement at every turn! In-Game Benefits Get in-game benefits with Game Pass Ultimate and PC Game Pass in some of the biggest free-to-play games. Smite 2: Phantom Seas Poseidon Drop (Cloud, PC, and Xbox Series X|S) – August 6 Game Pass Ultimate, PC Game Pass Rule the depths with spectral might. Claim this drop to get Poseidon, Greek God of the Oceans, and his Phantom Seas skin! Naraka Bladepoint: Phoenix Princess Bundle (Cloud, Console, and PC) – August 7 Game Pass Ultimate, PC Game Pass New Hero · Inor Wan Available now! Unlock exclusive Xbox headgear, Phoenix Princess Pack (Justina Gu), all-hero free trial including the new Hero and more in Naraka: Bladepoint. War Thunder: Game Pass Bonus (Cloud, Console, and PC) – August 12 Game Pass Ultimate, PC Game Pass Claim unique Snail Decal, +75% RP booster for 10 battles, +75% SL booster for 10 battles, 150 000 Silver Lions, 2 day of Premium Account and US Starter Pack! Enlisted: Game Pass Bonus (Cloud, PC, and Xbox Series X|S) – August 12 Game Pass Ultimate, PC Game Pass Get 5 soldier appearance and callsign orders, 2 change orders for squad upgrades, stock up with 2100 Silver, enjoy 7 days of premium account and kickstart your army with the USA Starter Pack. Call of Duty: Warzone – Game Pass Pack 3(Cloud, Console, and PC) – August 14 Game Pass Ultimate, PC Game Pass Get a free in-game bundle for Call of Duty: Black Ops 6 and Call of Duty: Warzone. Includes 2 Operator Skins, 3 Weapon Blueprints, 1 Weapon Charm, 1 Finishing Move, 2 Loading Screens, 1 Spray, 1 Large Decal, 1 2XP Token (1hr), and 1 2WXP token (1hr). Game Pass Ultimate Perks Sea of Thieves: Rare Ruby Emote – August 5 For a limited time, celebrate Rare’s 40th Anniversary with this Emote and show off a ruby encasing a timeless symbol. Leaving August 15 The following games are leaving the Game Pass library soon. Jump back in before they go or use your membership discount to save up to 20% on your purchase to keep them in your library. Anthem (Console and PC) EA Play Farming Simulator 22 (Cloud, Console, and PC) Persona 3 Reload (Cloud, Console, and PC) Don’t forget that we’re continuing to add more games over time to the stream your own game collection for Xbox Game Pass Ultimate members. Keep and eye on Xbox.com/Play for the current list of available cloud playable games to stream on supported devices if you own them. As always keep in touch with us on social over at Game Pass, PC Game Pass, or Xbox, and we’ll talk soon. Cheers friends! Related Stories for “Coming to Game Pass: Assassin’s Creed Mirage, 9 Kings (Game Preview), Rain World, and More” Category: Games The War Within: Ghosts of K’aresh is Now Live! Category: Games Wander Stars and the Power of Words: How the Japanese Belief of Kotodama Shaped a Battle System Category: Games Exciting New Features of The First Descendant ‘Breakthrough’ Update – Available August 7 The post Coming to Game Pass: Assassin’s Creed Mirage, 9 Kings (Game Preview), Rain World, and More appeared first on Xbox Wire.

The post Rare Celebrates 40 Years with Ruby-Themed Exclusives and More appeared first on Xbox Wire.

Category: Announcements Rare Celebrates 40 Years with Ruby-Themed Exclusives and More Adam ParkHead of Brand and Licensing, Rare Published August 4, 2025 1985 was the height of the British home computer scene; an era of games delivered on cassette tapes by young coders producing innovative titles straight out of their bedrooms. Among the most notable of these developers were Ultimate, already responsible for ground-breaking titles like Jetpac and Knight Lore – but the studio’s founders weren’t about to rest on their laurels. This was the year that Ultimate co-creators Tim and Chris Stamper would form Rare – an ambitious new studio intended to focus on dedicated video game consoles, which had already established themselves in Japan and were about to take the rest of the world by storm. 2025 marks the 40th ‘Ruby’ Anniversary of that bold endeavour, and Rare’s inviting everyone to join the celebration of this impressive milestone, offering free gifts, discounts and plenty of swag to claim in their shared-world pirate adventure, Sea of Thieves. Pictures, Plaques and Pressings Celebrations begin today, August 4, the official anniversary date, with the unveiling of a heritage plaque at the site of Ultimate’s first home in Ashby-de-la-Zouch. For those not within striking distance of the English Midlands, however, there are new gamerpics and an Xbox dynamic background (above) starring a who’s-who of Rare characters old and new. Fangamer are marking the occasion with a range of retro Rare merchandise, including a varsity hoodie, wireframe logo T-shirt and commemorative ruby pin. There’s also a limited edition wireless controller being unveiled courtesy of 8bitdo, shining in the studio’s signature colours and officially licenced by Xbox and Rare. Meanwhile, iam8bit will be opening pre-orders for their freshly-announced Rare 40th Anniversary vinyl collection later this week, while Evercade enthusiasts can look forward to a new cartridge collection of twelve vintage Rare titles spanning home computer, console and arcade. A huge heritage sale in Sea of Thieves’ Pirate Emporium begins on August 6, offering discounts on items inspired by classic Rare games, and beginning tomorrow, Xbox Game Pass Ultimate subscribers will be able to claim an exclusive Rare Ruby Emote as a Perk for use in-game. Ruby Rewards on the High Seas The party really starts in Sea of Thieves when its latest Season, Smugglers’ Tide, arrives on August 14, bringing even more anniversary antics in its wake. For a limited time, select Ancient Coin Packs acquired by spending Microsoft Rewards points will come bundled with a Rare Ruby Hat, which can also be earned via the Microsoft Rewards app. A 40th Anniversary bundle of cosmetics will be arriving on storefronts at the same time, while pirates logging into the game before the month is out will receive the Rare Ruby Eyepatch. An array of ruby-themed items will be arriving in the Outpost shops, while the Pirate Emporium plays host to the limited-time Ruby Reaper’s Mark sails and offers a Seasonal Plunder Pass, featuring Rare Regalia items with a similarly scarlet hue. Community Spirit Rounding out August with one last anniversary hoorah are Twitch Drops and Sea of Thieves’ Season 17 Community Weekend, which begins on August 30. Taking part will award players with the Community Weekend flag and Paper Cutout Emote, there’s a Ruby Legend Figurehead to earn from a global community goal, and there’ll be group activities like photo walls and Pop-Up Plunder to enjoy, too. There’s all this and more besides, including an updated Rare All-Stars EP hitting Spotify on August 15, so be sure to keep tabs on Rare’s social channels for the latest and be sure not to miss out — you only turn 40 once! Related Stories for “Rare Celebrates 40 Years with Ruby-Themed Exclusives and More” Category: Games Xbox July Update: More Ways to Play on PC – Stream Your Own Games via the Xbox PC App and More Category: Announcements Grounded 2: Celebrating Game Preview Launch with a Wild 10-foot Red Ant Plush Category: Announcements Minecraft Launches New Collaboration and DLC with Swarovski The post Rare Celebrates 40 Years with Ruby-Themed Exclusives and More appeared first on Xbox Wire.

The post THQ Nordic Gets You in the Game at 2025 Digital Showcase appeared first on Xbox Wire.

Category: Games August 1, 2025 THQ Nordic Gets You in the Game at 2025 Digital Showcase Melanie Klose, Marketing Director, THQ Nordic Today at the annual THQ Nordic Digital Showcase Event, we gave gamers fresh looks at gameplay for several upcoming titles, including Reanimal, Tides of Tomorrow, The Eternal Life of Goldman, and much more. We also unveiled a new demo for Gothic 1 Remake, which Xbox players can jump into from today! Let’s take a look at a recap of the event, including all of the major news and reveals making their way to Xbox. SpongeBob SquarePants: Titans of the Tide Pre-Order Live Today The pre-order program is now live for SpongeBob SquarePants: Titans of the Tide! Confirmed for release on Xbox Series X|S on November 18 of this year, this all-new adventure through Bikini Bottom allows players to play as both Patrick and SpongeBob to the song-stylings of the one and only David Hasselhoff. The ability to switch from SpongeBob to Patrick and back again has been a long-time request from SpongeBob fans. Pre-order today to receive the Natural Costume Pack DLC as a bonus. Check out the Ghostly Digital Edition and the Ultimate Edition for access to even more rewards, including the Tidal Season Pass, which includes two DLCs with new challenge levels and two themed costume packs (also available as a separate purchase). Gothic Remake Demo Available Today Starting today, gamers everywhere can return to the Valley of the Mines in the Gothic Remake demo. Dive into the Nyras Prologue to experience the thrill of entering the Colony for the very first time—without encountering any spoilers. Please note, this demo will not be included in the final game. Considered *the* pioneer RPG, this highly-anticipated remake is built for today’s most discerning RPG enthusiasts, including thoughtful expansions architected with Gothic veterans in mind. THQ Nordic will also release the Gothic Classics, 1, 2 and 3, for Xbox Series X|S in 2026. New Eternal Life of Goldman Trailer Reveal This all-new gameplay trailer reveals at least one life shattered by our protagonist Goldman. The vibrant yet dark platformer demands precision while encouraging exploration and a sense of discovery throughout the game world. Complex scenes and rich characters create The Eternal Life of Goldman’s layered story that is perfectly balanced with platform-style play. First Look at Reanimal Gameplay We showed an all-new reveal from Reanimal – the highly anticipated horror adventure from the creators of Little Nightmares I & II. The showcase gameplay trailer features a first look at new gameplay environments and characters, including new monsters and friends of the orphaned siblings. Their relentless journey to survive a hellish gamescape features a rich narrative, as well as online and couch co-op multiplayer. New Tides of Tomorrow Gameplay Trailer Hear directly from Tides of Tomorrow developer Digixart, the team behind Route 96, in a trailer that highlights the all-new asynchronous gameplay feature. Tides of Tomorrow combines rich story-telling and collaborative gameplay for a first-of-its-kind experience. The colorful, post-apocalyptic universe is in the player’s hands as decision-making will determine the fate of the game world and all its inhabitants. Wreckfest 2 Arriving in 2026 The high-octane, no-rules demolition derby and racing franchise is receiving a long-awaited sequel! Made famous for its realistic damage model and unique blend of arcade and simulation style, the Wreckfest franchise requires that every driver to drive hard or dive fast. Wreckfest 2 is racing to Xbox Series X|S in 2026. Titan Quest II Coming in 2026 Titan Quest II expands upon the ARPG best known for combining hack-n-slash combat, loot-based progression, and deep character customization in a rich, mythological setting. With a class-less character system, players can choose two masteries from a variety of options and freely combine them to create their own hero inspired by ancient mythology. Explore the realms of ancient Greece, visit places where no mortal has ever ventured, and face legendary creatures—and even gods themselves. Titan Quest II promises an adventure worthy of its own myth, and it’s heading to Xbox Series X|S in 2026. New Wreckreation Gameplay Trailer The creators of Burnout have combined arcade racing with a toolbox full of customization options in a giant open world! Wreckreation players can choose from 60 different vehicles and use the Game DJ to change in-game parameters like music, vehicles, weather, time of day, traffic, and game world. And the best part? Players can instantly switch to the live mix building mode in real-time, constructing their own highways—complete with crazy jumps, loops, and hundreds of objects placed anywhere in the game world. Ever wanted to race your car over a dinosaur’s head? Wreckreation has got you covered! The new gameplay trailer shows off in-game racing and stunt challenges that can be created and shared with friends. Wreckreation is coming to Xbox Series X|S later this year. We look very forward to seeing Xbox players at Gamescom at the end of the month. We’ll be offering hands-on with many of our upcoming releases including Reanimal and, of course, SpongeBob SquarePants: Titans of the Tide. Representatives from our development studios will be available for to share their personal insights on the games. Related Stories for “THQ Nordic Gets You in the Game at 2025 Digital Showcase” Category: Games The War Within: Ghosts of K’aresh is Now Live! Category: Games Wander Stars and the Power of Words: How the Japanese Belief of Kotodama Shaped a Battle System Category: Games Exciting New Features of The First Descendant ‘Breakthrough’ Update – Available August 7 The post THQ Nordic Gets You in the Game at 2025 Digital Showcase appeared first on Xbox Wire.

The post Next Week on Xbox: New Games for August 4 to 8 appeared first on Xbox Wire.

Category: Next Week on Xbox August 1, 2025 Next Week on Xbox: New Games for August 4 to 8 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 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! Mafia: The Old Country 2K ☆☆☆☆☆ ★★★★★ $49.99 Pre-order Mafia: The Old Country – August 8 Optimized for Xbox Series X|S Uncover the origins of organized crime in Mafia: The Old Country, a gritty mob story set in the brutal underworld of 1900s Sicily. Fight to survive as Enzo Favara and prove your worth to the Family in this immersive third-person action adventure set during a dangerous, unforgiving era. GRADIUS ORIGINS KONAMI ☆☆☆☆☆ ★★★★★ $39.99 $35.99 Pre-order Gradius Origins – August 7 This collection features 18 versions across all 7 arcade titles in the series, including the first-ever appearance of Gradius III AM Show Version on home consoles: Salamander III, Gradius, Salamander, Life Force, Gradius II: Gofer no Yabou, Gradius III: Densetsu kara Shinwa e, and Salamander II. Dark Steel Legends Ocean Media ☆☆☆☆☆ 2 ★★★★★ $14.99 Get it now Dark Steel Legends – August 5 When ambitions clash and destinies are written in blood, combat mastery has its price. That’s why mercenaries flock to the city of Ravenfell, seeking fortune and fame. Enter the world of Fight Legends, a fast-paced, action-packed medieval combat game where your skills and strategy will decide your fate. Demon Slayer -Kimetsu no Yaiba- The Hinokami Chronicles 2 SEGA ☆☆☆☆☆ 7 ★★★★★ Get it now Demon Slayer -Kimetsu no Yaiba- The Hinokami Chronicles 2 – August 5 Destroy demons with the power of forged bonds and Tanjiro Kamado’s battle continues to unfold on console. Play as Tanjiro and relive the Entertainment District Arc, the Swordsmith Village Arc, and the Hashira Training Arc from the TV anime, “Demon Slayer: Kimetsu no Yaiba!” Little Helper Cafe Xbox + Windows Bundle Afil Games ☆☆☆☆☆ ★★★★★ $10.49 $8.39 Get it now Little Helper Café – August 5 Optimized for Xbox Series X|S In Little Helper Cafe, you control a friendly pet hedgehog who loves helping in the café by pushing sugar cubes into coffee cups, filling holes with macarons, and sliding across honey-covered tiles. After all, every café needs a spiky little helper! Lost & Found Agency Collector's Edition Ocean Media ☆☆☆☆☆ ★★★★★ $9.99 Get it now Lost & Found Agency Collector’s Edition – August 5 Search for missing objects and go to fascinating locations full of riddles and mysteries. Explore dangerous places, decipher clues and uncover the secrets leading to the solution. Find the missing objects and solve the crime, confirming your abilities and intuition. This Collector’s Edition is filled with exclusive bonuses that you won’t find in the standard version. Witch It Barrel Roll Games ☆☆☆☆☆ 3 ★★★★★ $19.99 $15.99 Get it now Witch It – August 5 Optimized for Xbox Series X|S A multiplayer hide & seek game. Hunters are tasked with seeking hidden witches that blend in with the environment – trust no furnishing, grocery, or utensil! Explore and hide within humble villages, exotic islands, and peculiar forests brimming with secrets and surprises for you to discover. Each map contains a variety of prop arrangements, keeping matches unique and exciting every time you play! Alien Breakout Eastasiasoft Limited ☆☆☆☆☆ 1 ★★★★★ $4.99 $3.99 Get it now Alien Breakout – August 6 Optimized for Xbox Series X|S / Smart Delivery Step into the green-skinned role of an extraterrestrial as he attempts to escape from a human lab! Alien Breakout is a side-scrolling precision platformer presented in retro pixel art style. Run, leap and wall jump through 100 puzzling stages of increased complexity as you try to reach the door at the far end of each level. Bonk 'N Bash (Xbox Series X/S) Synnergy Circle Games ☆☆☆☆☆ ★★★★★ $4.99 Get it now Bonk ‘N Bash – August 6 Optimized for Xbox Series X|S A small and hard-headed dinosaur sets off on an adventure to break obstacles, defeat enemies and gather all the lost dinosaur eggs lost after the eruption started. Help our little friend continue the mighty dino lineage by saving all the eggs and avoiding total extinction! Destination Paradise Collector's Edition Ocean Media ☆☆☆☆☆ ★★★★★ $9.99 Get it now Destination Paradise Collector’s Edition – August 6 Players are invited on an immersive hidden object adventure across 20 meticulously crafted chapters, each unfolding in beautiful locations around the world. As you progress through the game, you’ll encounter three distinct scenes within each chapter, presenting a delightful array of challenges. Ringo's Roundup ©RedDeer.Games ☆☆☆☆☆ ★★★★★ $4.99 Get it now Ringo’s Roundup – August 6 Meet Ringo, the fluffiest post bunny this side of the mailbox! In Ringo’s Roundup, you’ll plan wild delivery routes by placing wacky Effect Tiles that twist, turn, and toss Ringo’s mail car through vibrant puzzle-packed landscapes! Parking World Aerosoft GmbH ☆☆☆☆☆ ★★★★★ Get it now Parking World – August 7 Optimized for Xbox Series X|S / Smart Delivery Finally, you are in charge, conquering the toils of car travel – create your perfect parking garage and carefully manage its operation and staff, overcome dynamic events, and get ready to solve everybody else’s parking problems in this sandbox economy simulator for automotive enthusiasts. But fear not eager entrepreneur, if you outgrow the sandbox, the world of parking has problems to solve plenty in stock! Slopecrashers byteparrot ☆☆☆☆☆ ★★★★★ Get it now Slopecrashers – August 7 Calling all freeriders, powder fanatics, and party-game lovers! Whether you’re chasing nostalgic snowboarding vibes or the thrill of epic races with friends, Slopecrashers has got you covered. Jump into easy-to-play, exhilarating-to-master snowboarding mayhem with a chaotic cast of customizable animal riders. Jewel Match Solitaire: Winterscapes 2 Collector's Edition Ocean Media ☆☆☆☆☆ ★★★★★ Get it now Jewel Match Solitaire Winterscapes 2 – August 7 Clear icy tableaus in frosty levels with classic and new solitaire variants like Genghis Khan, Lullaby, or Mammoth! Build fantasy locations in a picturesque winter wonderland with enchanting backgrounds, from a cozy cottage to a snow-covered palace. Undertake quests to collect exclusive winter decorations that bring festive life to the frozen scenes. Unicorns – The Troll Adventure Joindots GmbH ☆☆☆☆☆ ★★★★★ Get it now Unicorns – The Troll Adventure – August 7 Optimized for Xbox Series X|S / Smart Delivery Immerse yourself in an epic fantasy adventure full of magic, courage and unforgettable heroes! In a magical kingdom, noble unicorns guard the powers of light – until dark trolls led by the sinister Gruclock plunge everything into chaos. With Troy’s magical attacks and Sly’s flying skills, you will face dangerous opponents. Together they embark on a journey to save their kingdom and free their friends. Candy Trail Xbox Bundle Afil Games ☆☆☆☆☆ ★★★★★ Get it now Candy Trail – August 7 Optimized for Xbox Series X|S In Candy Trail, your mission is to guide smiling ice creams along the sweet trails of an enchanted kingdom to the most delicious celebrations of the year! Get ready to solve puzzles on a hexagonal map, where every tile you rotate or swap can mean the difference between a flavor explosion… or a sugar disaster. Detail Hunter Gametry LLC ☆☆☆☆☆ ★★★★★ Get it now Detail Hunter – August 7 Dive into Detail Hunter, the premier spot-the-difference game that will put your attention to detail to the test! Experience a world of vivid, cartoon-style visuals and challenging puzzles. Explore a variety of dynamic environments, select your difficulty level, and use hints wisely as you race against the clock. Reveal hidden secrets and sharpen your detective skills to become the ultimate detail hunter. Whether you’re aiming to unwind or challenge yourself, this game offers an immersive and exciting experience for keen observers everywhere. Fruitbus Silver Lining Interactive ☆☆☆☆☆ ★★★★★ $19.99 $17.99 Pre-order Fruitbus – August 7 Optimized for Xbox Series X|S Fruitbus is a cute culinary adventure, set in an open world where taste is everything. Upgrade your trusty truck and visit a whole world of new destinations together. Discover fresh fruits and vegetables on each island of the Gustum archipelago, learn their customs and cook meals that will make someone’s day. Mystery Hotel: Hidden Objects (Xbox One & Series) Two Cakes Studio ☆☆☆☆☆ ★★★★★ $9.99 $8.49 Pre-order Mystery Hotel: Hidden Objects – August 7 Optimized for Xbox Series X|S / Smart Delivery Try out the role of a detective – solve the riddle of the Hotel Noir! A quiet, picturesque nook, hidden in the highlands of Western Europe. Your arrival at Hotel is clouded by a mysterious murder and only you can get to the truth! CASE RECORDS: Fear of Abduction VALNAT LLC ☆☆☆☆☆ ★★★★★ $9.99 Pre-order Case Records: Fear of Abduction – August 8 Optimized for Xbox Series X|S / Smart Delivery A psychological horror game that is part of the universe of the games CASE: Animatronics and CASE 2: Animatronics Survival. The player must play as a 17-year-old female student and solve missing person mysteries by volunteering at the police station of Crowvale, a suburb of Aurora. Patrol and explore the dark corners of the city to solve its terrifying mysteries. DeviLevel: Try Again Kanuni Games Oyun Yazılım Pazarlama ve Ticaret Limited Şirketi ☆☆☆☆☆ ★★★★★ Get it now DeviLevel: Try Again – August 8 Optimized for Xbox Series X|S / Smart Delivery A trial of patience even hell would give up on! Are you ready to survive a dark world filled with demonic traps and deadly platforms? In this 2D hellish platformer, every step tests your reflexes, memory, and will. One wrong move… and it’s all over. But every death makes you stronger! Genopanic Mobirate ☆☆☆☆☆ ★★★★★ Get it now Genopanic – August 8 Optimized for Xbox Series X|S / Smart Delivery Explore a mysterious, abandoned space station crawling with mutated creatures and hidden dangers. Solve challenging puzzles, discover dark secrets, and uncover the truth behind genetic experiments that have gone wrong. Hex Cats Gray Boss Game Studio ☆☆☆☆☆ ★★★★★ Get it now Hex Cats – August 8 Optimized for Xbox Series X|S Twist and move hex pieces to connect yarn threads for playful felines. A charming twist on classic hex pipes puzzle! Featuring 50 handcrafted levels, an original soundtrack, five different scenarios, cute cats, and more. Knowledge, or know Lady NiuGamer ☆☆☆☆☆ ★★★★★ Get it now Knowledge, or know Lady – August 8 Optimized for Xbox Series X|S / Smart Delivery / Xbox Play Anywhere Knowledge, or Know Lady is a live-action romance simulation where you, by some ridiculous twist of fate, become the only guy at an all-girls university! Step into this first-person love comedy adventure, where sweetness and chaos await on campus. Pet Show QubicGames S.A. ☆☆☆☆☆ ★★★★★ Get it now Pet Show – August 8 Xbox Play Anywhere Take control of a brave little animal and uncover the adorable world hidden beneath the surface! As you move, you draw a line behind you—close the shape to reveal a piece of the cute picture underneath. From fluffy kittens to curious piglets, each level holds a surprise waiting to be uncovered. Pocket Rockets Entity3 Limited ☆☆☆☆☆ ★★★★★ Get it now Pocket Rockets – August 8 Optimized for Xbox Series X|S / Smart Delivery / Xbox Play Anywhere Strap in and get ready for Pocket Rockets, a retro-inspired arcade challenge where precision and strategy are key. Navigate your rocket through hazardous courses, avoid obstacles, collect coins, and manage your fuel to survive. With simple yet precise controls, every move counts as you race to the finish line. Mortal Glory 2 Redbeak Games ☆☆☆☆☆ ★★★★★ Get it now Mortal Glory 2 – August 8 Optimized for Xbox Series X|S / Smart Delivery Manage a team of traveling gladiators in this turn-based fantasy roguelike. Find the best recruits, discover powerful item combinations and come up with clever tactics on the battlefield. The tournament awaits those who desire mortal glory! Sokocat: Dungeon – Remastered Rising Moon Games ☆☆☆☆☆ ★★★★★ Get it now Sokocat: Dungeon – Remastered – August 8 Optimized for Xbox Series X|S / Smart Delivery Embark on a challenging feline adventure in the style of Sokoban, moving blocks, avoiding traps, and collecting precious artifacts with our furry protagonist! Get ready to unravel puzzles and explore dungeons full of surprises! Therapist Simulator Kanuni Games Oyun Yazılım Pazarlama ve Ticaret Limited Şirketi ☆☆☆☆☆ ★★★★★ Get it now Therapist Simulator – August 8 Optimized for Xbox Series X|S / Smart Delivery In this simulation game you work as a psychiatrist and try to help your clients solve their mental problems. However, this process is not just about conversations; each client has his/her own story, secrets and deep wounds waiting to be opened to you. Windborn – Wings of Fate EpiXR Games ☆☆☆☆☆ ★★★★★ $6.99 Pre-order Windborn – Wings of Fate – August 8 Optimized for Xbox Series X|S Embark on an exhilarating journey as a bird navigating the skies alongside your flock. In this beautifully crafted adventure, you will soar through 11 vibrant and diverse levels, each offering unique challenges and breathtaking landscapes. Your mission isn’t just about speed—it’s about staying connected with your flock as you all journey together, guided by instinct and unity. Zooparasite Ratalaika Games S.L. ☆☆☆☆☆ ★★★★★ Get it now Zooparasite – August 8 Optimized for Xbox Series X|S / Smart Delivery As a heroic agent, you’ve been assigned to investigate the toxic sewers below the city, and to cleanse the environment of strange, dangerous chemicals. Armed with only your wits and a flashlight, outmaneuver and outsmart grotesque mutated creatures lurking around every turn. As you progress deeper into the darkness, uncover the chilling truth behind the chemical spill and the horrifying experiments conducted in the shadows. Beware, the more you learn, the more sinister the truth becomes. Related Stories for “Next Week on Xbox: New Games for August 4 to 8” Category: Next Week on Xbox Next Week on Xbox: New Games for July 28 to August 1 Category: Next Week on Xbox Next Week on Xbox: New Games for July 21 to 25 Category: Next Week on Xbox Next Week on Xbox: New Games for July 14 to 18 The post Next Week on Xbox: New Games for August 4 to 8 appeared first on Xbox Wire.

The post What Do Greek Heroes Do After Death? Find Out Now in Achilles: Survivor appeared first on Xbox Wire.

Category: ID@Xbox July 31, 2025 What Do Greek Heroes Do After Death? Find Out Now in Achilles: Survivor Weronika “Roni” Jaszcz, Community Manager, Dark Point Games Summary Fight, build, die, evolve your godly powers, die again. A fast-paced roguelite set in Ancient Greece. Play it now on Xbox Series X|S and Xbox One. Imagine this:you’re enjoying a peaceful day in Ancient Greece. You’ve spent your entire life fighting, your name is known across the land… and then someone stabs you in the heel. It can happen to anyone. But what do you do next? Retire? Rest? Reflect? Achilles didn’t get the memo. At the end of Achilles: Legends Untold, our hero landed in Tartarus. But instead of staying dead like a sensible person, he decided to get out and pick another fight – this time with Hades’ entire army. No peace. No pension. Instead, he charges into wave after wave of skeletons, spiders, and explosive plant-things that would ruin even the nicest afterlife brochure. Welcome to Achilles: Survivor – available now on Xbox. So… What Do Greek Heroes Do After Death? Well, that depends on the hero. If you ask Achilles about his favourite pastime, the answer is obvious: he fights. He’s quite happy in this game, because your main job is to battle through swarms of mythological enemies using your weapon, four power slots, and a bit of luck. Prometheus, on the other hand, would prefer to sit this one out. Paris does his best to stay out of trouble (with mixed results). And Brontes… Brontes smashes and asks questions never. Every hero in Achilles: Survivor handles retirement a little differently. As you progress, you’ll unlock familiar faces like Hector, Steropes, and Agamemnon – each with a unique signature power, talent, starting stats, and a class-specific passive tree. Whether you enjoy magical chaos, structure-based control, or old-school brute force, you’ll find a Survivor who fits. Feel free to experiment – some powers are safer early on, while others really shine in the late game (looking at you, Pythia). My advice? Focus on upgrading one power early. The stronger your foundation, the better chance you’ll have of surviving the growing onslaught. At higher levels, you’ll unlock powerful transformations in the Forge, which evolve your core abilities into something deadlier. Take Phalanx, for example: his venomous spikes stick around longer and spread across multiple rows, turning chokepoints into death traps. Treat Your Build Like a Phalanx. Your main power is the spear at the front – strong, direct, and always advancing. But without coverage on the sides or back, one bad flank and you’re done. If your main power is using close-range attacks, pair them with powers that control space around you or hit enemies from a distance. You don’t need a perfect set of upgrades – just one that holds the line. And if you’re struggling with frontal powers, like Prometheus’ Fire Breath? Run in circles. Seriously. It might look ridiculous, but you’ll gain great AoE coverage! Speaking of Foundations… Combat is only half the story. The other half? Building. During each run, you’ll gather stone – a resource used to place structures across the map. Flame turrets, traps, healing shrines… and yes, a Trojan horse that spawns backup. Structures are vital for your survival. If you’re feeling overwhelmed or had no luck with upgrades, they’re here to bail you out. One of my favorite tactics? Luring enemies into a triangle of flame towers and enjoying the views. It’s oddly peaceful. A lot of players forget that structures also grant passive bonuses. If you’re running a status-focused hero like Tantalus, placing a few Ominous Visages can give a solid boost to your poison damage without you having to change anything else in your build. Keep an eye on map objectives (like “Get X armour” or “Get Y amount of Luck” – placing the right structure can complete a side task for you. And when in doubt? Especially on the first few maps, just spam flame turrets. They will do a lot of heavy lifting for you. (P.S. This section was definitely not sponsored by Diomedes, king of Argos, said to have built at least ten cities before he died.) Dying is a Feature Too Be careful. It’s a roguelite, so nothing is permanent (except maybe the pain). Stone runs out, and structures fall under the waves of enemies. You don’t want them to be destroyed before you kill the boss. Because you know what happens next? You’ll see this screen a lot… But here’s the good news: death is how you get stronger. Gods look favourably at your defeats. Or maybe they’re just bored. Each run earns you resources that go into meta progression – general and class specific upgrades that stay with you no matter how many times you die. You’ll also unlock new Survivors, buildings, game modes, and more by completing achievements and in-game challenges. It’s all part of your journey. You shouldn’t be gone for ten years, but some runs might feel like it. Start Your Afterlife Adventure To sum up, what do Greek heroes do after death? They build flame towers. Dodge very unfriendly plants. Complain to the gods about exploding spiders, then ask them for more power to defeat said spiders. As you can see, it’s not an easy feat: (after)life of a Greek hero. But whether you’re a roguelite veteran or just looking for some action to relax after another day at work, Achilles: Survivor has more enemies than the entire Trojan War. Achilles: Survivor is available now on Xbox Series X|S and Xbox One. Just remember: don’t get hit in the heel. Achilles: Survivor Dark Point Games S.A. ☆☆☆☆☆ 49 ★★★★★ $6.99 Get it now Every run writes your legend. Achilles: Survivor is a fast-paced, single-player bullet heaven set in Ancient Greece. Play as Achilles – or one of the legendary souls freed from Tartarus – and face relentless waves of enemies. Build deadly structures, evolve your powers, and grow stronger with every run. Defeat your enemies… or die trying. Are you ready for battle? DEFEAT YOUR ENEMIES… OR DIE TRYING Achilles has never faced monsters like this – and now it’s your turn. Dive into chaotic, action-packed runs and hold your ground against relentless waves of enemies. Pick from dozens of powers and transform them mid-run in the Forge. The deeper you go, the tougher it gets. No two runs are the same – and surviving means adapting fast. BUILD LIKE A STRATEGOS Drop flame turrets, raise healing shrines, or summon Myrmidons to fight at your side. Unlike other survivor-likes, your best weapon might be the map itself. Structures aren’t just defenses – they're tactical tools for crowd control, sustain, and damage that can turn the tide of battle. But remember – your resources are limited. Build smart, and you’ll live longer. WIELD THE MIGHT OF LEGENDARY HEROES Achilles made a bit of a mess escaping Tartarus. Now the world’s crawling with souls that shouldn’t be here – and you're one of them. Unlock and master a growing roster of heroes, each with a unique playstyle and signature power. From Achilles' raw melee strength to Paris' precise shots, Pythia’s devastating magic, or Brontes’ brute force – these are just a few of the heroes you can discover in the game. SURVIVE THE TRIALS OF THE OVERLORDS Every region throws new horrors at you – venomous beasts, relentless ranged attackers, and bosses that won’t give you a second chance. Learn their patterns, adapt your build, and survive escalating waves until it’s time to face an Overlord. These bosses don’t wait for you to get ready – they’ll punish weak strategies and reward smart structure placement. GET STRONGER WITH EVERY RUN Death isn’t failure – it’s part of your path. Complete challenges to unlock new characters, earn treasures and Favors, and improve your stats with long-term upgrades. The further you push, the more power you bring into your next run. EXPLORE ANCIENT GREECE Return to the world of Achilles: Legends Untold and slay them all! Battle across mythical arenas drawn from Greek legend, such as Troy and the sun-scorched coasts of Greece. Each map features unique objectives, building zones, and mythological threats waiting to be conquered. Special thanks… to YOU We’re a small team making the kind of games we love to play – and they wouldn’t be the same without your feedback. We're adding new content, improving systems, and optimizing performance with every update. Got suggestions, questions, or a wild build to show off? Join our Discord or drop us a message – we’re always listening. Thanks for being part of our journey. See you on the battlefield, Survivors! Related Stories for “What Do Greek Heroes Do After Death? Find Out Now in Achilles: Survivor” Category: Next Week on Xbox Next Week on Xbox: New Games for August 4 to 8 Category: ID@Xbox Cook Serve Forever Launches with a Banger Soundtrack and Celebrity Voice Actors Category: ID@Xbox Games for Your Summer Escape: Indie Selects for July 2025 The post What Do Greek Heroes Do After Death? Find Out Now in Achilles: Survivor appeared first on Xbox Wire.

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A simple 2D platformer, Vasilisa and Baba Yaga makes a cute way to introduce this traditional Russian folk tale to a new audience. It tells of a little girl, called

The post Review: Vasilisa and Baba Yaga (Nintendo Switch) appeared first on Pure Nintendo.

A simple 2D platformer, Vasilisa and Baba Yaga makes a cute way to introduce this traditional Russian folk tale to a new audience. It tells of a little girl, called Vasilisa, who is sent by her evil stepmother into the forest to collect fire from Baba Yaga. Armed only with the magical doll gifted to her by her late mother, she has to face the many dangers of the woods to prove herself worthy. The game has very simple mechanics. You mostly guide Vasilisa through the forest, sea and swamp, with simple movement broken up by a small amount of combat and puzzle solving. When you encounter an enemy, you switch to controlling the magic doll who fights the monsters to protect Vasilisa. When you reach Baba Yaga’s hut, the old witch tasks you with various chores you must complete via minigames during the day, otherwise she will eat you. At night, you explore the labyrinth beneath her hut, avoiding creatures lurking in the shadows and finding the treasures you need to escape. None of the different components are particularly challenging, but they are structured in such a way that the game doesn’t feel too repetitive. Most of the minigames require only a button or two to manage. You encounter monsters to fight in the forest and swamp, with boss battles where you play as the doll and have to prevent Vasilisa from getting captured by various threats. These are fairly simple; you hit them, dash away from them and throw salt at them to slow them down. It’s easy enough to figure out their patterns. There’s no exploring to look for what you need, everything is clearly laid out for you and there are visual indicators whenever you can interact with something. Vasilisa and Baba Yaga is predominantly a vehicle for the story to pass on to the next generation of children. There are times when the simplicity of the game is very effective. When you’re guiding Vasilisa through the terrifying forest, for instance, it generates a compelling sense of helplessness that enhances the emotion in the story. In another game, the lack of agency could get frustrating, but it works well for this story. The overall construction of the game is wonderfully crafted to be absorbing and atmospheric, with lovely aesthetics that draw you into the folklore. Woodcut stylised artwork is combined with a lovely soundtrack and gentle Russian voiceover narrating the subtitled tale. As you go through the story, you collect pages for your game’s encyclopaedia you can revisit to learn more about the mythical creatures and items you come across. The post Review: Vasilisa and Baba Yaga (Nintendo Switch) appeared first on Pure Nintendo.

KOEI TECMO America and developer Gust recently unveiled plans for DX versions of the games that comprise the Atelier Ryza Secret Trilogy. We now know "the definitive version of Ryza’s summer adventures," will arrive on Switch and Switch 2 on Nov. 13.

The post Atelier Ryza Secret Trilogy Deluxe Pack arrives in November appeared first on Pure Nintendo.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=h9mjPyVSYVw KOEI TECMO America and developer Gust recently unveiled plans for DX versions of the games that comprise the Atelier Ryza Secret Trilogy. We now know that Atelier Ryza Secret Trilogy Deluxe Pack, “the definitive version of Ryza’s summer adventures,” will arrive on Switch and Switch 2 on Nov. 13. Atelier Ryza Secret Trilogy Deluxe Pack will reintroduce fans to the summer adventures of fan-favorite alchemist Reisalin Stout and her friends in a collection featuring all three titles from the “Secret” series, which sold over 2.5 million units worldwide. The Deluxe Pack will include new content for each title, such as new playable characters, each with new character stills designed by artist Toridamono, and new story episodes written by Yashichiro Takahashi, scenario writer of the “Secret” series. Here’s a quick breakdown of what fans can expect from the DX version of each game in the trilogy: Atelier Ryza: Ever Darkness & the Secret Hideout DX: New playable characters including Agatha, Kilo and Romy. New events happening in parallel with the main storyline, such as the encounter of Kilo and Bos in the Underworld. New events that took place between Atelier Ryza: Ever Darkness & the Secret Hideout DX and Atelier Ryza 2: Lost Legends & the Secret Fairy DX. Atelier Ryza 2: Lost Legends & the Secret Fairy DX: Empel and Lila will now be playable characters. A new episode in which these two companions meet Ryza at the capital to help her in her journey as she explores a new map. Alchemist of the End & the Secret Key DX: New companions. Play as new characters from Atelier Ryza and Atelier Ryza 2, such as Clifford, Serri, and Kilo. New side story following Clifford and Serri after their separation from Ryza. The two will team up and embark on a journey to help each other achieve their own goals. New event that delves deeper into the relationship between Kilo and Bos. Explore a new island and its mysterious ruins. In addition to the game-specific additions, all entries will receive quality-of-life improvements and new features, including the addition of a “Custom Combat” mode in which they will be able to choose the level and combination of monsters they want to face. In Atelier Ryza 2, Fi will follow and support Ryza as she explores ruins, helping her find clues, or restoring a small amount of the party members’ health in battles. Atelier Ryza 3 will introduce a new mount, the “Wind Beast”, which automatically gathers ingredients during exploration. Previously provided free and paid DLC items for all three games—such as swimsuit costumes, maps, recipes, and more—will be available as part of the Deluxe Packs. Finally, those with saved game data for any of the three Atelier Ryza original releases will receive exclusive bonus items. More information on the games and the bonus materials can be found at atelier.games/secretdx/. That doesn’t yet include Nintendo Switch or Switch 2 pre-orders or pricing. There’s also no word on a physical release, but it does look like the DX versions will be available for individual purchase. We’ll be sure to keep you posted as more information is released by KOEI TECMO. The post Atelier Ryza Secret Trilogy Deluxe Pack arrives in November appeared first on Pure Nintendo.

This week on the Pure Nintendo Podcast, Jemma, Kirk, and Trev break down the latest Nintendo Direct Partner Showcase that premiered last week.

Last week, we talked about recent

The post We break down the latest Nintendo Direct! Pure Nintendo Podcast E123 appeared first on Pure Nintendo.

This week on the Pure Nintendo Podcast, Jemma, Kirk, and Trev break down the latest Nintendo Direct Partner Showcase that premiered last week. Last week, we talked about recent Switch 2 games after a bit of a drought, including the updated Mario Party Jamboree. This week, there’s a lot of games on the horizon! The Nintendo Direct presentation delivered news on 26 games, with 14 of those for Switch 2. We go through our high (and low) points. There’s some exciting new content, some ports, and plenty in between. We’d love to hear your thoughts on the Partner Showcase, too, so let us know! 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 over the coming months and years. There’s so much to look forward to in 2025 alone with the Nintendo Switch 2 out now. 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! We’re putting together the next issue of the Pure Nintendo Magazine, so stay tuned for when that will be heading to your mailbox in the near future! Until next time, game on everyone! The post We break down the latest Nintendo Direct! Pure Nintendo Podcast E123 appeared first on Pure Nintendo.

What’s happening on the Nintendo eShop this week? There’s Tales from the Shire, new SNES content, and a Donkey Kong x Tetris event, to name a few items of interest.

The post Tales of the Shire joins this week’s eShop roundup appeared first on Pure Nintendo.

What’s happening on the Nintendo eShop this week? There’s Tales from the Shire, new SNES content, and a Donkey Kong x Tetris event, to name a few items of interest. Let’s dig in! The highlighted title of this week is Tales from the Shire. This cozy adventure sounds a lot like a sim-style look into the life and times of those Hobbits who don’t chase magic rings. If gardening, cooking, decorating, and costume changes appeal to you – with Hobbits – then this might be up your alley. Meanwhile, Nintendo’s latest console brought many new features, including mouse controls. Old-school fans couldn’t help but be reminded of the SNES mouse – and Mario Paint. If that’s you, you’ll be pleased to see that the original Mario Paint is now available on the Switch Online collection of classic titles. Whether you played it back in the day or not, Mario Paint is a super-fun way to test out your mouse and show off some creativity at the same time. Plus, there’s a cool fly-swatter minigame; remember that? To coincide with the release of Mario Paint, you can also check out the soundtrack on the Nintendo Music app. If Donkey Kong and Tetris are more your thing, you’ll want to check out the latest Tetris Maximus event on Tetris 99. There’s a special Donkey Kong Bananza theme, naturally to coincide with the DK’s latest outing. Be sure to check out our Donkey Kong Bananza review as well. If that’s not enough, there are sales to tempt you as well as a long list of new titles to contemplate. Check out the full details below and let us know what you’re playing this week! Nintendo eShop highlights Tales of the Shire: A The Lord of the Rings Game – Welcome Home, Hobbit! In this cozy life sim, create your very own Hobbit and experience the idyllic life Tolkien envisioned in his books. Cultivate your own garden, reel in a big catch and forage for ingredients to cook up delicious meals for the residents of Bywater. Build relationships by solving the problems of your fellow furry-footed townsfolk. Express your individuality with various clothing options or outfit your home with furniture, decorations and more. Friendly Hobbits and familiar faces await your arrival. Tales of the Shire: A The Lord of the Rings Game is available now on Nintendo Switch! Super Nintendo Entertainment System – Nintendo Classics: Mario Paint – Experience the 1992 Super NES game that turns your system into a canvas, with an array of colors and drawing tools available to create digital works of art. Unlock your inner artist with simple mouse controls via Joy-Con 2 controllers on Nintendo Switch 2, or by using a compatible USB mouse (sold separately) on Nintendo Switch. You can even create animated sequences and write music to add to your collage! Mario Paint is available to play today for Nintendo Switch Online members. Nintendo Music Paint it Back – Get inspired to create with the Mario Paint soundtrack, now on the Nintendo Music app! Go back to the drawing board and vibe out with tracks for Gnat Attack: Level 1, Title Theme 1, Special Stamp and more. View more info. Activities Tetris® 99 48th MAXIMUS CUP: Donkey Kong Bananza Edition – Let’s go bananas! Channel your inner Donkey Kong and smash the competition when the Donkey Kong Bananza game that is exclusive to the Nintendo Switch 2 system collaborates with Tetris 99 for the MAXIMUS CUP event! Nintendo Switch Online members playing the online mode during the event period can collect 100 event points to unlock a new theme featuring art, music and Tetrimino designs inspired by the Donkey Kong Bananza game! The Tetris 99 48th MAXIMUS CUP event will run from 12 a.m. PT on Aug. 1 to 11:59 p.m. PT on Aug. 4. Nintendo eShop sales Check out the full list of deals available this week at https://www.nintendo.com/store/sales-and-deals. Also new this week Handy Hockey Dear me, I was … Also new this week on Nintendo eShop on Nintendo Switch: 2 in 1 crazy sports Ad Aquilonem – Seto’s Journey – AirJet Fighter : Sky Assault – Available Aug. 1 Alien Breakout – Available Aug. 6 Ants Empire Colony – Available Aug. 5 Astral Takers Boba Tea Merge Capybara and Friends Cozy Bundle – Available Aug. 1 Cats Visiting the Cinema Cloudy Valley – Available Aug. 1 Coffee Shop Simulator Cook Serve Forever Date with Devils Demon Slayer -Kimetsu no Yaiba- The Hinokami Chronicles 2 – Available Aug. 5 EGGCONSOLE Manhattan Requiem: Angels Flying In The Dark PC-8801 Escape Game:The Odd Crime Scene Esophaguys – Available Aug. 1 Find the Text! Galaxy Roll GROOVE COASTER FUTURE PERFORMERS Hidden Object Bundle Holo’s Hanafuda Hotel Simulator ION Shift Korean Drone Flying Tour Hangang Park Korean Drone Flying Tour Odong-do Dragon Cave Mini Wheels Racers – Turbo Toy Playground – Available Aug. 1 Missing Owner! Morgan: Metal Detective Motel Owner Simulator NINJA GAIDEN: Ragebound Paws and Whiskers Pinedrop Vale – Available Aug. 2 Pockettohiro – Available Aug. 1 Rookie Basketball Shoots – Available Aug. 1 SCP Foundation: Universe Horror Spell Disk Spy Drops Sunberry Valley Sunrest Oasis The Aquarium does not dance – Available Aug. 1 The Organized Capy God – Available Aug. 1 The Wizard of Bug Time Flies Tools Up! and Servonauts Bundle Troublemaker Turbo Kid – Available Aug. 5 Yosei Wars 鞭空翔～Whip/Sky/Fly～ The post Tales of the Shire joins this week’s eShop roundup appeared first on Pure Nintendo.

Drag x Drive is an upcoming game for Nintendo’s new Switch 2 console. It was one of the most surprising titles revealed in the console’s lineup, with little known about

The post Drag x Drive details revealed in new trailer appeared first on Pure Nintendo.

Drag x Drive is an upcoming game for Nintendo’s new Switch 2 console. It was one of the most surprising titles revealed in the console’s lineup, with little known about it aside from the wheelchair-based basketball using mouse controls. Now, Nintendo has released a special gameplay trailer that dives into the inner workings of this sports-based outing ahead of its August 14 launch. The robust trailer provides over 7 minutes worth of information on Drag x Drive (by the way, it’s pronounced Drag “and” Drive, according to the trailer). Highlights include how the controls work, tricks, and even what happens outside of the main arena. One of our biggest questions about the game on the Pure Nintendo Podcast was the kinds of modes we could expect aside from 3-on-3 matches. It’s now been revealed that players can partake in minigames between matches, which could add some exciting variety to proceedings. Apart from online play, there’s also a training mode, and the ability to play against bots. Here’s the official list of features from Nintendo: Hop into online lobbies for matches with players from near and far. Once 6 players join, a game will automatically start! Up to 12 people can join a Public Park. You can also get a group of friends together (with or without GameChat) to play in Friend Parks, which are private parks where you can pick and choose what you’d like to do. Make use of two courts for games and play matches with up to 6 players in one court. You can also compete against each other in additional challenges to try and earn the top spot on your park’s leaderboard! Offline, you can also play alone against computer-controlled opponents to hone your skills. Choose from a selection of three different drivers to suit your preferred play style: Guard, Center or Forward. Each driver has their own stats, so be sure to find the one that complements your game. Looking for a change of pace? Hop off the court and race around a track in the Circuit Sprint minigame, compete in shooting contests or Park-wide minigames like Rebound Scramble, jump rope to practice bunny hopping and more. Complete challenges to earn in-game trophies and unlock customizable helmets, which you can use to personalize your driver’s appearance. Match them up with your choice of armor, frames and tires, customize colors and add your preferred number to complete your look! We like the sounds of these features; what do you think? Will this new IP be a sleeper hit for Nintendo? Time will tell. In the meantime, let us know your thoughts on the trailer. Oh, and if you’re keen to get started before the release date, a Global Jam is set to give players a sneak peak from August 9-10. During these sessions, you can download the demo and shoot hoops with your friends in the leadup to the full release: August 9, from 3 am to 7 am PT August 9, from 5 pm to 9 pm PT August 10, from 9 am to 1 pm PT Let’s hope it’s a slam dunk when Drag x Drive hits the Switch on August 14. The post Drag x Drive details revealed in new trailer appeared first on Pure Nintendo.

Donkey Kong Bananza is the first major post-launch title for the Switch 2 developed by Nintendo. It also happens to be the first 3D outing for Donkey Kong since the

The post Review: Donkey Kong Bananza (Nintendo Switch 2) appeared first on Pure Nintendo.

Donkey Kong Bananza is the first major post-launch title for the Switch 2 developed by Nintendo. It also happens to be the first 3D outing for Donkey Kong since the Nintendo 64 era. Put these two elements together, and it’s either a formula for success or a potential for letting down legions of fans. So, how does this highly anticipated outing fare? Spoiler alert: really well. If you’ve seen the trailers, you’ll already know the plot. It’s so fun that I’m going to mention it again anyway. It seems our good friend Donkey Kong is busy mining for bananas in Ingot Mines along with his monkey friends. These Diddy Kong lookalikes get a fright when the mine collapses under a powerful earthquake; only this is no natural disaster. A malevolent group of business primates known as the Void Company is making its way to the Planet Core, destroying everything in its wake. Donkey Kong must make his way to the core to get to the surface (and stop the bad guys, obvs). On to adventure! The first thing to note about Donkey Kong Bananza is that it oozes charm. This becomes apparent when DK meets a small rock-like creature (not dissimilar to a Rock Pikmin). Of course, we already know this rock is actually Pauline, a younger version of the Mayor of New Donk City, but she sticks around in rock form for a lot longer than I expected. Or was that because I was too busy smashing rocks? (I’ll get to that addictive gameplay aspect soon). As for Pauline, not only does her presence neatly tie in with the development team’s Super Mario Odyssey roots, but it also provides an interesting narrative that builds this character’s background. Pauline is simply terrific; she slots into DK’s adventure perfectly. Her cuteness complements DK’s brawn, but they share a childlike goofiness that bonds them. They make a terrific pair, and one of my favorite parts of Donkey Kong Bananza is the dialogue between them when they take a well-deserved break to replenish their health. Pauline typically asks DK a question about their current environment, written with such innocence that it’s endearing without being corny. I can’t imagine this adventure without her. Oh, and her singing. Given her vocal prowess in Odyssey, it’s no surprise Pauline can sing here, too. She may be shy at this age, but her voice provides more than just a cool easter egg. For example, Pauline’s tunes can be used to find the next checkpoint, an extremely handy tool when you’ve lost yourself digging through the terrain (again, I’ll get to this). She can also break open certain seals, and her singing is part of acquiring DK’s special Kong powers. Basically, when she sings, it’s a powerful and beautiful thing. Ok, ok, let’s finally talk about DK’s smashing; his constant digging; his need to destroy the world around him (in a good way). Put simply: it’s fantastic. Not only is this one of the most satisfying gameplay mechanics I’ve ever played in a 3D platformer, it’s a technical feat. The team has created a gigantic world that’s almost entirely destructible. It’s no mean feat, and would have been much harder to achieve on the humble Switch. On the Switch 2, there’s no slowdown, no stuttering, no loading time; it just works. Kudos to the team. It’s also incredibly fun. My only problem with smashing through this world is that it constantly distracts me from DK’s current objective. Now, that’s entirely a me problem, and, if anything, adds even further to the game’s mojo. It certainly adds to the longevity and replayability. I could spend (and have spent) hours digging through this world. There’s something incredibly satisfying about smashing boulders. It’s so easy, too. DK can smash forward, down, and up with the touch of a button. The completionist in me even gets a surge of dopamine when I randomly find something hidden in the depths of the terrain. And, oh boy, there’s a lot to collect. One of my favorite aspects of Mario’s outings is the secondary objective of collecting coins, stars, or other special items within levels. Donkey Kong Bananza takes this concept and runs with it, providing a staggering 777 Banadium Gems and 696 fossils to discover. They can be challenging to find, but that’s only half the fun. They also serve a purpose to aid in DK’s quest. In the case of Banadium Gems, these get used to level up Donkey Kong. You can upgrade everything from health to strength. It’s a robust system that’s easy to use, with every five gems providing one skill point. And who doesn’t love a good upgrade? Fossils, on the other hand, provide a currency of sorts. These can be traded in for outfits. I’m a big fan of in-game costume changes, and DK doesn’t disappoint. Not only is it super fun to turn his fur all sorts of colors, but putting him in pants, ties, and other accessories is adorable. Oh, and they also add to his abilities, so there’s that, too. For example, some clothing helps DK swim faster or protects him from the cold. Pauline’s cute outfits provide similar enhancements. Graphically, Donkey Kong Bananza is one fantastic-looking game. Despite being set in a subterranean world, your eyes are constantly treated to wonderful new lands full of texture. The vivid colors pop, Donkey Kong looks terrific, and there’s a shiny quality to everything that makes it feel epic and sublime. There’s so much variety on offer, with each level as you dive further and further towards the core, a visual treat. Such creativity will keep you invested until the very end. As if that wasn’t enough, we haven’t even talked about bonus levels yet. These are scattered throughout the land and come in the form of timed battles, puzzles, collectathons, and more. Each well-designed level feels like the developers have been let loose to tinker with the world in creative new ways. Some of these finite spaces contain brain-tickling challenges, for example, with some downright difficult platforming on offer. There are even side-scrolling sections to hit that nostalgic sweet spot. These tough bonus stages should help appease anyone who finds the main quest on the easy side, giving more adept players a challenge. I should also mention the Kong powers, as these form a significant part of the gameplay. Transforming into one of these elder-gifted characters is super satisfying, providing new abilities and strength. Smashing as DK is one thing; Kong Bananza flicks through terrain like it’s made of paper. It’s like Popeye eating his spinach. There’s a timer, and for good reason; it’s pretty overpowered. Other transformations provide speed and flight, expanding the vast world even further. Add to that the way you unlock these powers – by collecting fragments of DJ discs and singing with Pauline – and it’s again clear that creativity and charm simply oozes throughout this game. Not content to be a perfectly wonderful solo adventure, Bananza also features a decent co-op mode. While there’s no split-screen action, you can control Pauline, who sits cheerily atop DK’s shoulder. It’s reminiscent of Pikmin 4’s co-op style, providing a fun way for a pal to join the action. As Pauline, you can expel blasts of sound to destroy the environment around you. These appear as on-screen words like GO!, BAM!, WOW! and YEAH! It’s also pretty overpowered, but it’s so enjoyable. Plus, you can target the terrain and turn your blasts into that compound, from dirt to gold. Since half the fun of this titles is destroying anything and everything, this is the perfect addition to turn things into a shared experience. Overall, Donkey Kong Bananza is one of the most creative and fun titles I’ve played. Ever. As a huge Mario fan, I was initially disappointed we weren’t treated to a new adventure for the bros.; but color me impressed with Donkey Kong’s latest outing. The smashing, the music, the upgrades. The smashing. This must-play Switch 2 title has set the bar for years to come. I cannot wait to see what’s next from this talented team. The post Review: Donkey Kong Bananza (Nintendo Switch 2) appeared first on Pure Nintendo.

I had high hopes when starting Shadow Labyrinth that the game would be as bizarre as presented in its announcement trailer. I'm happy to say it is. But I'm unhappy to say it also gets caught in what should have been avoidable traps of the 2D action/platformer genre.

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I had high hopes when starting Shadow Labyrinth that the game would be as bizarre as presented in its announcement trailer. I’m happy to say it is. But I’m unhappy to say it also gets caught in what should have been avoidable traps of the 2D action/platformer genre. This happens at the very start, where a confusing setup seems to have nothing to do with the events on hand. We know that Pac-Man is involved, but the game starts you off in mech combat. Then we get a glimpse of some hooded figure playing a game on a handheld device. Then a prisoner somewhere is rescued by a metallic-looking Pac-Man named PUCK (see what they did there, historians?). We’re that prisoner, referred to as Swordsman No. 8 (I wonder what happened to the previous seven). PUCK takes us to a sword we can’t use, but that’s easily solved by the floating robot arm that attaches itself to our body. Finally, our adventure begins. To what end? All we know is that PUCK has an agenda regarding the state of this planet and our positioning on it, and he’s hell-bent on executing that agenda. Of course, more is revealed as you play along, but the disjointed narrative never really picks up consistent momentum. I absolutely love that the developers have brought so much into the Pac-Man world, but it could have been presented in a more compelling manner. Still, aside from learning how Pac-Man met the Ms., storytelling was never really the series’ forte. Gameplay was what mattered, and Shadow Labyrinth sure does change that up. Gone are the mazes and ghosts, for the most part, replaced by Castlevania-like caverns and enemies of all shapes and sizes. Swordsman No. 8 will run, jump, dodge, and fight his way through numerous environments in typical 2D-action fashion, and it all works OK. The environments are more linear than fans of the genre may like, perhaps because enemies are quite difficult at the start. It seems like the game is less about exploring and more about dying, leveling up, and becoming strong enough to advance. Leveling up is handled at checkpoints and shops where you can purchase and craft key upgrades. You may not have the currency to buy them right away, but items you acquire down the road remain available after you die and return to a checkpoint. Unfortunately, not all checkpoints allow you to purchase upgrades. Worse, they’re really spread out; replaying areas isn’t rewarding in Shadow Labyrinth, it’s mandated. Worse still, not all of the boss battles have checkpoints right before them. When you’re defeated by one, it may take a while to get back to it. That’s the type of thing that will prompt me to just quit playing, hence the delay in this review. There are some unique elements to Shadow Labyrinth that will keep players going. First is the use of PUCK on what the game calls D-lines. These allow PUCK to become Pac-Man proper, attaching himself to rails he can slide along to munch on energy pellets, defeat enemies, and reach otherwise inaccessible areas. Movement is initially automatic as in regular Pac-Mac, but you can stop and even hop off or onto adjacent D-lines. It’s a fun twist, and I wish it would have been a greater focus of the game since it’s the part that really feels like Pac-Man (there’s even free DLC that converts this portion’s audio effects to the traditional Pac-Man arcade sound). I also wish the controls weren’t so awkward. Riding the D-Line is simple enough, but jumping from it and attacking is often imprecise, leading to unnecessary frustration. The other unique element is that defeated enemies can (and should) be devoured. Here, PUCK basically becomes the head of Shin Godzilla (see it in theaters this August) and eats the fallen, the point of which is to acquire parts for your upgrades. Doing this requires energy, however, that may be better used elsewhere, such as an emergency health replenishment. It’s very annoying when you waste that energy because the enemy disappeared before you could eat it or you just missed, which shouldn’t even be possible. The game does all perform well, though (I played Shadow Labyrinth for the Switch 2, available as a free upgrade if you start with the Switch version), and I really like the dark design with splashes of color. The visuals felt almost like proper Pac-Man in that regard (some fun, nostalgic nods pop up now and again, too). If you’re going to flesh out Pac-Mac’s world visually, this was a good approach to take. The actual characters seemed a bit robotic with their movements and presentation, but considering the game’s intro, that didn’t feel out of place. So, in some ways, I did get from Shadow Labyrinth what I’d hoped for. If you’re going to update a classic arcade game, I prefer you go crazy with it instead of just improving the visuals and adding achievements. That means, however, that many Pac-Man fans will be better served by Pac-Man Museum+ than this. Shadow Labyrinth is meant for 2D action/platformer fans, and even they will find things to gripe about. But the game presents enough unique elements to make it worth a trip to the arcade. The post Review: Shadow Labyrinth (Nintendo Switch) appeared first on Pure Nintendo.

With a 2D platforming mechanic, Everdeep Aurora focuses mostly on exploring underground dungeons, mansions, and much more. Solve puzzles, talk to fellow animals, and dig, dig, dig!

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In Everdeep Aurora, you play as a little kitten, Shell, in search of her mother. With a 2D platforming mechanic, the game focuses mostly on exploring underground dungeons, mansions, and much more. Solve puzzles, talk to fellow animals, and dig, dig, dig! You start at the surface where Ribbert, a friendly frog, helps guide you towards your next steps; giving you a drill and sending you below. Underneath the surface is a lot of stone, dirt, and materials. Using your drill, you can dig your way around, finding said materials and talking to locals in the hopes of finding your mother. At first, your drill is slow and takes a couple of hits before breaking blocks in your path. But there is a blacksmith who, with enough resources, will upgrade your drill for you. The more you drill, the more power you lose. However, you can replenish it with gems you get from digging. Also, if at any point you find yourself running out of power, you can always call Ribbert for help and he will take you to the nearest campfire. This goes for if you find yourself lost, as well. This is all Everdeep Aurora really asks of you, mechanically. Aside from moving around, of course, which includes walking, jumping, and wall climbing. However, gameplay doesn’t just stop at digging. It’s important for Shell to talk to those around her to progress the game. There are also multiple endings you can get, depending on how many characters you help. For example, earlier in the game a woman asks you for some flowers. While this isn’t directly related to finding your mom, finding the flowers and helping this woman out not only grants you access to better tools, it also helps more creatures around you. Another example would be helping a rat get a specific stone, which in turn grants you an upgrade to your radar map. The art style and music for this game are incredible as well, with a color palette that changes depending on where you are. The animations are great, the animals are cute, the scenes are fun to look at, and, overall, its vibe is insanely fun. Even Shell’s meow is the cutest thing ever. It makes the game even more interesting and hard to put down, as all of its properties are incredibly charming. The only troubles I had with Everdeep Aurora would be the game’s save system and map layout. As far as I could tell, the game really only saves when you tell it to. At first, I didn’t see this as a big deal, but then I found myself stuck in a dungeon, not lost, but unable to jump up to where I needed to go. After a while of trying, I eventually had to quit the game and start over, losing much of my progress along the way since there were no autosaves. Then, when trying to retrace my steps and collect the items I once had, I found that I had no idea where I was, or where anything else was, even with the map, which is just a bunch of pixels that showcases white dots for blocks, and black dots for open spaces, and a red dot for your character. If you don’t remember where certain things are, the map won’t really help you find them, at least early on in the game. On top of that, not much overall direction is provided. If you’re looking to fully complete the game, that can make that a little challenging. However, if you’re playing just to find Shell’s mom and call it a day, Everdeep Aurora provides a fun, explorative, and stress-free adventure that I can definitely recommend. The post Review: Everdeep Aurora (Nintendo Switch) appeared first on Pure Nintendo.

MotoGP 25 is the latest in the long-running motorcycle racing series. Seriously, it stretches back to the year 2000. It’s not even the first time the series has been on

The post Review: MotoGP 2025 (Nintendo Switch) appeared first on Pure Nintendo.

MotoGP 25 is the latest in the long-running motorcycle racing series. Seriously, it stretches back to the year 2000. It’s not even the first time the series has been on the Switch, with annual editions arriving since 2019. Now, as Milestone brings the 2025 racing season to Nintendo’s hybrid console, it’s time to ride like a champion for another year. First things first; this game looks great. The graphics are super impressive, especially on the humble Switch. We’re talking about an eight-year-old device that’s constantly (and unfavorably) compared to other more powerful consoles. The team at Milestone has done a fantastic job at getting the very best out of this humble system, akin to what Nintendo itself often accomplishes in its own games. It’s that slick and smooth. The realistic graphics are important because MotoGP is a racing simulation based on real-life athletes. And motorbikes. I might not recognise them personally, but the main players are all here, complete with the actual vehicles used on the circuits. It creates a sim experience that allows you to choose your favorite racers and work with them on becoming simply the best. Things begin with a simple tutorial that belies how tricky motorcycle riding really is. I’ll be frank; I haven’t played much in the way of bike-riding games (unless the two-wheeled options in Mario Kart count). I have, however, played my fair share of car-racing outings. Let me tell you right now, there’s a huge difference in the way these two types of vehicles handle. Practice makes perfect though, right? In the case of MotoGP 25, it really does. I appreciate that the difficulty curve comes mostly from my unfamiliarity with these beasts rather than anything to do with the game itself. In fact, the bikes handle really well overall; it’s just that they’re so fast! Cornering without falling takes a steady (and practiced) hand. Once the tutorial is over, it’s time to get racing. Most modes play more or less the same, allowing you to dip in and out of circuits on your own, locally, or online. The most robust way to play, though, is a rather solid career mode. Here you can choose your racer and hit the road to compete for glory. I love that each outing isn’t merely a race around a track; it’s like a whole weekend of racing. There are allocated times for practicing and time trials before the race even begins. We’re talking 30 minutes of dedicated riding to work out the kinks. You can always skip these if you prefer a speedier outcome, but when you first meet a circuit, it pays to practice as much as possible. It’s also strangely relaxing, with real-life motorcycle sounds accompanying your trip around and around. There’s actually little in the way of music to distract you, allowing you to become one with your bike and the track. No, really; it feels this good. Nailing a tight corner, though? Now that feels superb. Those hairpin curves are tricky to master, but working the brakes and accelerator soon becomes more natural. Having said that, one of my minor nitpicks with MotoGP 25 is the way lap times are forfeited if you misstep even slightly. I have no idea about the rules of racing, so when I see a disqualified notice because my tires went over a line somewhere, it’s perplexing and slightly annoying. Thankfully, it’s also easy enough to simply do another lap. Other stand-out features include the level of detail and customization on offer. While you can select from a roster of real-life racers, you can also create your own. The avatar-creation tool is relatively simple since you can’t see your face most of the time. However, you can certainly customize the color and style of your outfit, including stickers and sponsors. You can even choose your preferred cornering style; who knew there were so many options in this category! Overall, MotoGP 25 is a solid motorcycle racing sim that looks and plays well. It’s got everything an enthusiast needs, from real-life riders to customizable bikes. After some time with the game, I still prefer four-wheeled races, but I also have a new appreciation for these two-wheeled beasts. The post Review: MotoGP 2025 (Nintendo Switch) appeared first on Pure Nintendo.

This week on the Pure Nintendo Podcast, we have new Switch 2 games to talk about! At last!

Last week was all about Donkey Kong Bananza. This week, we

The post New Switch 2 games at last! Pure Nintendo Podcast E122 appeared first on Pure Nintendo.

This week on the Pure Nintendo Podcast, we have new Switch 2 games to talk about! At last! Last week was all about Donkey Kong Bananza. This week, we chat new Switch 2 games AT LAST! There’s a handful of new releases this week, including Mario Party Jamboree + Jamboree TV. We give our thoughts on the list, and detail our time with Mario Party’s new moves. Last week was the latest Pokémon Presents presentation, and we break it all down. New animated series, new theme park, new puzzle game, and a deeper look at Pokémon Champions and Pokémon Legends Z-A. What’s not to love? Meanwhile, there’s new Nintendo-themed LEGO to enjoy, Borderlands 4 gets a release date, and we go through our games of the week. Enjoy the show and let us know what you’re playing! 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 over the coming months and years. There’s so much to look forward to in 2025 alone with the Nintendo Switch 2 out now. 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! We’re putting together the next issue of the Pure Nintendo Magazine, so stay tuned for when that will be heading to your mailbox in the near future! Until next time, game on everyone! The post New Switch 2 games at last! Pure Nintendo Podcast E122 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: 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 to allow 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

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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

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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

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: Improved matchmaking performance Improved matchmaker behavior for users with less-than-ideal ping levels. The matchmaker should now be quicker to put you in the best available region. Improved matchmaker decision making for cross-region parties Added error messages when being ejected from the matchmaking queue due to connectivity or authentication failures, rather than the queue simply silently vanishing Fixed the matchmaking settings dialog frequently failing to display any datacenters Fixed multiple cases of in-progress casual matches abruptly terminating or failing to be assigned any new players if the game server ever loses connection to Steam Updated the Mountebank's Masque, Courtier's Collar, and Harlequin's Hooves cosmetic items to fix issues with their paint regions Updated cp_gravelpit_snowy Fixed a script issue Improved performance Improved clipping

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 Guano and Batbelt cosmetic items hiding the Scout's dog tags Fixed The Beacon from Beyond incorrectly hiding a bunch of bodygroups Fixed the Quoth cosmetic item hiding the Scout's headphones Fixed some broken materials for some props_farm gib models Adding "Hat" style for the Fuel Injector Updated the Clue Hairdo to fix broken smoke effect Updated koth_synthetic_event Edited nav mesh to minimize the Toastmaster running diving into the grinder/death pit Updated pd_farmageddon Revoked scarecrow gym membership which lowered their health from 500 to 350 Updated zi_atoll, zi_blazehattan, zi_devastation_final1, zi_murky, zi_sanitarium, and zi_woods Fixed an exploit allowing some players to respawn as a human or play as a human on the Zombie team

CD Projekt Red and Go On Board have announced The Witcher: Legacy, a new board game based on the Polish fantasy series focused on the School of the Wolf.
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CD Projekt Red and Go On Board have announced The Witcher: Legacy, a new board game based on the Polish fantasy series focused on the School of the Wolf. Read this article on TechRaptor

RedOctane, one of the studios behind the original Guitar Hero franchise, is returning under the stewardship of industry veteran Simon Ebejer.
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RedOctane, one of the studios behind the original Guitar Hero franchise, is returning under the stewardship of industry veteran Simon Ebejer. Read this article on TechRaptor

The Video Game History Foundation has announced that it has acquired the rights to Computer Entertainer, an influential gaming magazine from the 80s.
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The Video Game History Foundation has announced that it has acquired the rights to Computer Entertainer, an influential gaming magazine from the 80s. Read this article on TechRaptor

THQ Nordic and developer Grimlore Games have announced that their Greek myth-inspired action RPG Titan Quest II has hit a big sales milestone already.
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THQ Nordic and developer Grimlore Games have announced that their Greek myth-inspired action RPG Titan Quest II has hit a big sales milestone already. Read this article on TechRaptor

HoYoverse has announced that PS4 support for its open-world gacha action RPG Genshin Impact is coming to an end next year.
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HoYoverse has announced that PS4 support for its open-world gacha action RPG Genshin Impact is coming to an end next year. Read this article on TechRaptor

Kinetic Games has revealed a new Phasmophobia map, Nell's Diner, for later this year, and the Grafton Farmhouse rework has a release date as well.
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Kinetic Games has revealed a new Phasmophobia map, Nell's Diner, for later this year, and the Grafton Farmhouse rework has a release date as well. Read this article on TechRaptor

A new Nintendo Direct Indie World showcase has been announced for later this week, bringing around 15 minutes of indie info for Switch 2 and Switch.
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A new Nintendo Direct Indie World showcase has been announced for later this week, bringing around 15 minutes of indie info for Switch 2 and Switch. Read this article on TechRaptor

Bandai Namco has released its financials for the first quarter of the year, and Elden Ring Nightreign has given the studio another boost.
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Bandai Namco has released its financials for the first quarter of the year, and Elden Ring Nightreign has given the studio another boost. Read this article on TechRaptor

Wizards of the Coast has revealed new details on their Dungeons & Dragons Forgotten Realms supplements, including new adventures and player options.
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Wizards of the Coast has revealed new details on their Dungeons & Dragons Forgotten Realms supplements, including new adventures and player options. Read this article on TechRaptor

Larian has shared a bunch of fun stats about Baldur's Gate 3, including who the game's most respecced character is and more.
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Larian has shared a bunch of fun stats about Baldur's Gate 3, including who the game's most respecced character is and more. Read this article on TechRaptor

Koei Tecmo has announced that a major Dynasty Warriors: Origins DLC expansion is in the works, along with a remaster of one of the series' older games.
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Koei Tecmo has announced that a major Dynasty Warriors: Origins DLC expansion is in the works, along with a remaster of one of the series' older games. Read this article on TechRaptor

WWE and EDF studio Yuke's has acquired Aquaplus, the visual novel-centric developer behind titles like White Album and To Heart.
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WWE and EDF studio Yuke's has acquired Aquaplus, the visual novel-centric developer behind titles like White Album and To Heart. Read this article on TechRaptor

2K has reportedly canceled an unannounced BioShock remake, and BioShock 4 has apparently run into some trouble regarding its story.
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2K has reportedly canceled an unannounced BioShock remake, and BioShock 4 has apparently run into some trouble regarding its story. Read this article on TechRaptor

The Critical Role Direct not only revealed the release date of Campaign 4, but that Brennan Lee Mulligan will be taking over as GM
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The Critical Role Direct not only revealed the release date of Campaign 4, but that Brennan Lee Mulligan will be taking over as GM Read this article on TechRaptor

Mugen Gaming has announced that they will be producing an English localization of the highly influential Japanese TTRPG, Sword World RPG.
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Mugen Gaming has announced that they will be producing an English localization of the highly influential Japanese TTRPG, Sword World RPG. Read this article on TechRaptor

Abiotic Factor blends Half-Life and SCPs into a wacky, endlessly entertaining survival game experience. Read our Abiotic Factor review to learn more!
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Abiotic Factor blends Half-Life and SCPs into a wacky, endlessly entertaining survival game experience. Read our Abiotic Factor review to learn more! Read this article on TechRaptor

Nintendo has announced a price hike for the original Nintendo Switch and some of its accessories, although Switch 2 consoles are unaffected.
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Nintendo has announced a price hike for the original Nintendo Switch and some of its accessories, although Switch 2 consoles are unaffected. Read this article on TechRaptor

Atlus has revealed that its ground-up JRPG remake Persona 3 Reload has reached another major sales milestone across PC and consoles.
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Atlus has revealed that its ground-up JRPG remake Persona 3 Reload has reached another major sales milestone across PC and consoles. Read this article on TechRaptor

Nintendo has released its financials for the first quarter of the 2025-26 fiscal year, and Switch 2 sales are looking healthy, it seems.
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Nintendo has released its financials for the first quarter of the 2025-26 fiscal year, and Switch 2 sales are looking healthy, it seems. Read this article on TechRaptor

This Abiotic Factor Albatross Walkthrough will tell you how to navigate the final portal world in 1.0 and how to defeat The Wayfinder.
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This Abiotic Factor Albatross Walkthrough will tell you how to navigate the final portal world in 1.0 and how to defeat The Wayfinder. Read this article on TechRaptor

Our Abiotic Factor Divarication Walkthrough will help you navigate the alternate dimension of Botanics in the Residence Sector's Fragments zone.
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Our Abiotic Factor Divarication Walkthrough will help you navigate the alternate dimension of Botanics in the Residence Sector's Fragments zone. Read this article on TechRaptor

Our Abiotic Factor Residence Sector Walkthrough will help you navigate the frigid and fragmented block of apartments and escape the GATE Facility.
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Our Abiotic Factor Residence Sector Walkthrough will help you navigate the frigid and fragmented block of apartments and escape the GATE Facility. Read this article on TechRaptor

Our Abiotic Factor Praetorium Walkthrough will tell you how to get past the tank, find the Sun Disk, and move on to the Residence Sector.
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Our Abiotic Factor Praetorium Walkthrough will tell you how to get past the tank, find the Sun Disk, and move on to the Residence Sector. Read this article on TechRaptor

Our Abiotic Factor Shadowgate walkthrough will help you break into the Shadowgate Facility and ultimately make your escape from The Reactors.
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Our Abiotic Factor Shadowgate walkthrough will help you break into the Shadowgate Facility and ultimately make your escape from The Reactors. Read this article on TechRaptor

This Abiotic Factor Village Den da'ko Yeer Walkthrough will tell you how to get the Anti-Fungal Gelatin and survive against the Exors.
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This Abiotic Factor Village Den da'ko Yeer Walkthrough will tell you how to get the Anti-Fungal Gelatin and survive against the Exors. Read this article on TechRaptor

Our Abiotic Factor The Reactors Walkthrough will show you how to power up all four reactors and gain access to the WG-Intrados facility.
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Our Abiotic Factor The Reactors Walkthrough will show you how to power up all four reactors and gain access to the WG-Intrados facility. Read this article on TechRaptor

Our Abiotic Factor Teleporter Guide will tell you how Personal Teleporters and Teleporter Pads can be used to get around the GATE Facility quickly.
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Our Abiotic Factor Teleporter Guide will tell you how Personal Teleporters and Teleporter Pads can be used to get around the GATE Facility quickly. Read this article on TechRaptor

Our guide tells you how to open locked Crates in Abiotic Factor and what sort of loot you can expect to find inside these tantalizing treasure chests.
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Our guide tells you how to open locked Crates in Abiotic Factor and what sort of loot you can expect to find inside these tantalizing treasure chests. Read this article on TechRaptor

Monte Cook Games has announced a new edition of their Cypher RPG system. It will provide a more streamlined version of the popular, flexible TTRPG system.
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Monte Cook Games has announced a new edition of their Cypher RPG system. It will provide a more streamlined version of the popular, flexible TTRPG system. Read this article on TechRaptor

This Abiotic Factor Weather Guide will tell you how Weather Events work, how to survive their unique challenges, and when they end.
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This Abiotic Factor Weather Guide will tell you how Weather Events work, how to survive their unique challenges, and when they end. 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!

Feeling stressed? Put down the lavender oil and pick up a controller. From farming in Stardew Valley to power-washing filth in PowerWash Simulator, I've rounded up 20 scientifically soothing games to help you chill out, zone in, and maybe cry a little (looking at you, Spiritfarer). Whether you need gentle puzzles, cozy vibes, or just something with zero yelling, I've got your digital escape covered.

Arc System Works is launching a closed beta for Marvel Tokon: Fighting Souls on PlayStation 5 from September 5-7, featuring eight characters in 4v4 action. Registration does not guarantee participation.

THQ Nordic has confirmed Darksiders 4, set after the original game, featuring all four Horsemen as playable characters. The game promises engaging combat, exploration, and a continuation of the apocalyptic storyline.

The next BioShock game, in development since 2019, has faced significant setbacks, including a failed project review, management changes, and narrative issues, delaying its release and cancelling the planned remake.

EA has announced Plants vs Zombies: Replanted, remastering the original game for $19.99 on various platforms, launching October 23, 2025. It features local co-op, new game modes, and enhanced graphics, as the franchise reaffirms its roots.

The Monster Hunter Wilds endgame content expansion will release early on August 13, 2025, addressing player complaints. This move comes amid declining sales and ongoing performance issues affecting the game's reviews.

Capcom's recent fiscal quarter saw Devil May Cry 5 exceed 10 million sales, driven by an anime synergy, while Monster Hunter Wilds experienced a sharp sales decline. Resident Evil and Street Fighter franchises also reported strong performance.

In August, PS Plus Essential offers three games: the acclaimed souls-like Lies of P, updated survival game DayZ, and arena fighter My Hero One's Justice 2, appealing to diverse players.

Sony is suing Tencent for allegedly cloning the Horizon series while revealing that the games have sold over 38 million copies, boosted by recent releases, including Horizon Zero Dawn Remastered.

On July 25th, Sony sued Tencent over copyright and trademark infringement, claiming Tencent's game Light of Motiram closely resembles Horizon Zero Dawn, demanding damages and cessation of the game's release.

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

EMOTIONLESS: The Last Ticket is a first person liminal cosmic horror adventure set within an abandoned amusement park where reality frays at the edges.

In EMOTIONLESS: The Last Ticket, you step into the shoes of a young man called James Anderson as he searches for his missing father through the decaying remains of his greatest creation – a large abandoned amusement park. As you … Read More

The post EMOTIONLESS: The Last Ticket – Beta Demo first appeared on Alpha Beta Gamer.

Alien Strike: Blasting the Intruders is an explosive retro run ‘n gun action game where players slide, jump, and blast aliens in eight directions.

Playable in single-player of local co-op, Alien Strike is a Contra style run n gun side-scrolling shooter where you fend off an alien invasion. It features an Iron Meat style dynamic weapon system – equip two weapons and swap on the … Read More

The post Alien Strike: Blasting the Intruders – Beta Sign Up first appeared on Alpha Beta Gamer.

Wall World 2 is an ambitious sequel to the well received wall-climbing mining rogue-lite, where you pilot your customizable robospider up walls teeming with treasure and terror.

Wall World 2 expands on its predecessor with deeper mechanics and a living, ever-changing environment. Each expedition takes you through stunning biomes filled with valuable resources, lost technologies, and deadly anomalies that transform your journey.

Combat has evolved … Read More

The post Wall World 2 – Open Beta first appeared on Alpha Beta Gamer.

PIONER is an ambitious open-world MMO shooter where players explore a haunting alternative reality where abandoned Soviet structures dot a desolate 50+ square kilometer island.

Designed to prioritize realism over traditional gaming mechanics, PIONER eliminates things like health bars and character levels for a truly immersive experience. It promises a seamless blend of PvE storytelling and high-stakes PvP combat. Players will navigate faction relationships through … Read More

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

Nobody’s Left is a narrative-driven post-apocalyptic third person shooter set in a once-peaceful city transformed by war into a lawless wasteland.

In Nobody’s Left you’ll try to survive in a broken world with an unforgiving atmosphere and focus on protecting loved ones amid chaos. Stalkers lurk in shadows, waiting to ambush the unwary. Stealth missions require careful planning when enemies outnumber you. Combat promises to … Read More

The post Nobody’s Left – Beta Sign Up first appeared on Alpha Beta Gamer.

SECTOR ZERO is a physics-based dark sci-fi first person puzzle platforming adventure where an alien hive mind entity assimilates tech and stalks its way through a mining facility.

Drawing inspiration from classics like Portal and Alien vs. Predator, SECTOR ZERO challenges you to overcome security systems using your unique ability to corrupt and control human technology. You are part of “The Corruption,” – an … Read More

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

Out of Action is a bombastic PvP FPS wrapped in a dark ’90s anime aesthetic and set in a merciless cyberpunk world.

The fast paced FPS gameplay of Out of Action combines brutal combat mechanics with innovative “bullet time” multiplayer features that promise to revolutionize PvP encounters. Players can customize extensive loadouts with an arsenal of weapons, augmentations, and devices while mastering fluid movement systems … Read More

The post Out of Action – Open Alpha first appeared on Alpha Beta Gamer.

Fate Trigger is a beautiful Anime-styled tactical hero shooter where sharpshooters with extraordinary special skills navigate floating islands and battles in intense showdowns.

In Fate Trigger you can choose from a roster of diverse heroes – from Light Whisperers wielding vital beams to stealthy Seafarers with water-based invisibility. Build pixel fortresses as a timid bunny or charm enemies as an elegant scout – each character … Read More

The post Fate Trigger – Beta Sign up first appeared on Alpha Beta Gamer.

Cyber Rats is a brutal rogue-lite horror game where you control a lab rat trapped in a nightmarish AI-controlled testing facility.

In Cyber Rats death lurks around every corner as you attempt to find the cheese, avoid deadly traps, outsmart relentless Cyborg Hunters, and ultimately escape this mechanical hell. It’s a roguelite, but each failed attempt isn’t wasted – death is merely part of the … Read More

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

The Midnight Walkers is a hardcore FPS extraction shooter where players fight for survival in the zombie-infested mega-complex.

In The Midnight Walkers you’ll navigate treacherous floors including shopping malls, hospitals, and casinos, while battling relentless undead and hostile survivors. Successful extraction means keeping your hard-earned loot; death means losing everything. Scavenge valuable resources to craft weapons, armor, and consumables, or trade with other survivors through … Read More

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

Green Hawk Platoon is a toy soldier FPS that transforms childhood imagination into digital reality where everyday environments become epic war zones.

Playable in single-player or online multiplayer, in Green Hawk Platoon you take command of miniature heroes across familiar battlegrounds, from kitchen countertops to backyard wilderness. There’s a variety of different character classes, including Rifleman, Medic, Engineer, Heavy Machine-gunner, Rocket Man, or Commando – … Read More

The post Green Hawk Platoon – Beta Sign Up first appeared on Alpha Beta Gamer.

Sheepherds! is a charming co-op adventure that transforms players into playful sheepdogs guiding woolly flocks through vibrant meadows.

Previously featured on Alpha Beta Gamer back in February in Sheepherds! up to four friends can bark, bound, and herd together as they navigate sheep through colorful flower fields that dye their wool for crafting stylish outfits. The game has a focus on stress-free gaming. With no … Read More

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

Loaders is a 10v10 tactical shooter that puts you in command of an antigrav tank housing your uploaded consciousness, expendable yet essential in the endless conflict.

In Loaders, humanity’s future unfolds on a devastated Earth where rival Houses battle for Gold – the catalyst powering interstellar travel. Combat demands strategy, not reflexes. With high time-to-kill and no respawns, every decision matters. The fully destructible … Read More

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

Guardians of the Wild Sky is an open world sandbox survival adventure set in a breathtaking world of floating islands where magical creatures called Guardians become your most valuable companions.

In Guardians of the Wild Sky you’ll sail the cloud seas aboard your customizable airship, exploring vast biomes filled with treasures, ancient ruins, and formidable foes. The game’s heart lies in its Guardian system, where … Read More

The post Guardians of the Wild Sky – Beta Sign Up first appeared on Alpha Beta Gamer.

Toilet Hero is an absurdist idle RPG where true heroism happens one plunge at a time, as you wield your trusty plunger to extract legendary loot from the unlikeliest of places: toilets.

In Toilet Hero each flush rewards you with weapons, armor, gold, and bolts for upgrading your porcelain throne companions. You recruit a squad of bizarre heroes, from Explosive Paladins to Whimsical Witches, and … Read More

The post Toilet Hero – Open Beta first appeared on Alpha Beta Gamer.

Beta sign ups are now live for CloverPit – the nightmarish fusion of Balatro and Buckshot Roulette that traps you in a rusty cell with just two companions: a demonic slot machine and a merciless ATM.

Previously featured on Alpha Beta Gamer back in April, CloverPit is a twisted rogue-lite that demands you pay your debts each round or face a literal fall to ruin. … Read More

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

MISERY is a creepy co-op roguelite where 1-5 players struggle to survive in Zaslavie’s irradiated exclusion zone.

In MISERY, when nuclear war erupts, you have mere seconds to reach your bunker, then the real challenge begins. Daily expeditions into the Zone reveal procedurally-generated military bases, research stations, and ruined cities teeming with threats. You’ll face down desperate survivors, mutated creatures with unpredictable behaviors, and … Read More

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

Where Winds Meet is an open-world Wuxia action adventure set in tenth-century China’s tumultuous Five Dynasties period.

Playable in single-player or online co-op, in Where Winds Meet a mysterious young sword master, navigates political intrigue while uncovering your true identity across 20 distinct regions teeming with life. The game’s fluid combat system allows lots of customization as you wield traditional weapons like swords and spears … Read More

The post Where Winds Meet – Beta Sign Up first appeared on Alpha Beta Gamer.

Guidus Zero is a real-time grid-based action roguelite where players navigate the mysterious “Scar,” – a massive sinkhole that inexplicably appeared during ancient continental wars.

As one of the continent’s renowned explorers, in Guidus Zero you’ll delve deep into a mysterious sinkhole, moving strategically across a four-directional grid. Precise timing is essential to dodge enemy attacks, with perfect runs rewarding the most dedicated players.

The … Read More

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

StarRupture is a first-person open-world adventure that drops players onto a vast alien world ravaged by periodic cataclysms.

Playable in single-player or online co-op, StarRupture combines intricate base-building with intense combat against hostile extraterrestrial creatures. Players extract resources, develop complex industrial systems, and expand their bases while defending against relentless alien hordes.

The ever-changing landscape offers endless exploration opportunities, hiding valuable resources and ancient secrets … Read More

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

Shark Dentist is a horror roguelike where you perform high-risk dental procedures on massive ocean predators while they slumber in your dimly lit underwater clinic.

In Shark Dentist each session presents randomly generated dental challenges requiring precise tool selection (from drills to circular saws) as you delicately balance your patient’s stress levels with dwindling anesthetic supplies. The multitasking gameplay demands constant vigilance: monitor vital signs, … Read More

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

Eyes of Hellfire is a stylish co-op gothic horror game based on Ireland’s infamous Hellfire Club legends.

Trapped within an abandoned hunting lodge in the Dublin mountains, in Eyes of Hellfire you must illuminate the darkness with only your candelabra to guide you. Each player embodies a cursed individual with unique abilities, weaknesses, and hidden objectives.

While collectively working to escape the haunted grounds, personal … Read More

The post Eyes of Hellfire – Beta Sign Up first appeared on Alpha Beta Gamer.

Dollhouse of Dead is a co-op horror game where you and your team enter abandoned toy factories as underpaid “Scavengers” for the morally dubious Dollhouse Corp.

In Dollhouse of Dead your mission is to collect junk, extract valuable materials, and craft equipment while evading murderous AI toys gone rogue. The dilapidated factories house a nightmarish assortment of sentient playthings.

Some rabbits might trade with you … Read More

The post Dollhouse of Dead – Beta Sign Up first appeared on Alpha Beta Gamer.

DriftX blends realistic physics and arcade accessibility in a high-octane racing experience focused on the art of drifting.

Whether you’re a newcomer or veteran driver, DriftX promises intuitive controls that make sliding around corners both accessible and thrilling. The game features 8 meticulously designed tracks ranging from mountain passes to bustling cityscapes with live traffic. It has 16 iconic vehicles spanning American muscle, German engineering, … Read More

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

CUFFBUST is a multiplayer breakout simulator where chaos erupts when prison security fails and cell doors swing open.

Currently in development by Two Star Games (creator of In Choo Choo Charles), in CUFFBUST you and nine other “Jailiens” must escape before reinforcements arrive in this frantic multiplayer breakout simulator. The fully destructible environment is your playground – smash through walls with explosives, dig tunnels … Read More

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Militsioner is a Kafkaesque immersive sim where you’re an ordinary citizen wrongfully accused, desperately trying to escape town while being constantly observed by a towering policeman.

In Militsioner every action occurs under the gaze of a colossal policeman. There are multiple approaches to each obstacle. For example, if you need a train ticket, you could charm the cashier with a gift, sneak into the booth … Read More

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Delivery Pals is a quirky multiplayer survival game, players become cat couriers running an interplanetary food delivery service on an abandoned, monster-filled Earth.

The premise of Delivery Pals is delightfully absurd: aliens crave human cuisine, and you’re the only ones crazy enough to serve them. Operating from a modified train hub, up to seven players work together to process orders, scavenge ingredients, and cook meals … Read More

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Permafrost is a post-apocalyptic survival game where players face the harsh realities of life in a 2035 frozen wasteland.

After a catastrophic event known as “the shattering,” in Permafrost humanity struggles to survive in a world locked in perpetual winter. Players must navigate this unforgiving environment alongside a loyal canine companion, scavenging for precious resources like wood and batteries while battling hypothermia and hostile forces.… Read More

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KILLER INN promises a fresh twist on the social deduction genre, combining intense action gameplay with classic murder mystery elements.

Playable with up to 24-players, KILLER INN is an asymmetrical multiplayer game where players are divided into wolves and lambs for a night of suspense and survival. It promises an innovative approach to conflict resolution. Rather than relying on voting mechanics, players must physically confront … Read More

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DarkSwarm is an intense tactical co-op shooter genre that challenges players to defend humanity’s distant colonies from an alien threat.

As synthetically enhanced operators, in DarkSwarm teams of players must coordinate their unique class abilities to complete missions in procedurally generated environments. The game promises an emphasis on strategic gameplay. Players can approach objectives through stealth, hacking, or direct combat, with semi-destructible environments adding an … Read More

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Comics Gaming Magazine

Whatever your style - casual, social, or competitive — there’s a next-gen play format out there for you.

Let’s be honest: the way we unwind has changed. Back in the day, you either grabbed a controller or loaded up a game on your PC. In 2025, the way we play is shifting in some pretty exciting ways. It’s no longer just about sitting in front of a console. You can jump into a quick game on your phone, build your own world with the help of AI, or even get outside and enjoy an AR adventure. Play has become more than just gaming: it’s social, creative, and, honestly, a great way to unwind and take care of your mental health. This guide breaks down the new play experiences 2025 is serving up. We’ll look at cloud gaming, creative AI tools, cross-platform fun, cozy titles, and hybrid digital-physical entertainment. Whatever your style – casual, social, or competitive — there’s a next-gen play format out there for you. Cloud Gaming: Big Titles on Small Screens Remember when playing the newest games meant buying the latest console? Cloud gaming evolution has flipped that idea upside down. With services like Xbox Cloud, PlayStation Now and GeForce Now, you can play blockbuster games on basic devices: smartphones, tablets, even Chromebooks. Why Cloud Gaming Is Taking Over: No need for expensive hardware. Instant access to AAA titles. Play across devices. Game wherever you want.. How Cloud Gaming Compares to Traditional Gaming If expensive consoles or gaming PCs have ever held you back, you’re not alone. Now, you can dive into top-tier titles without the hefty price tag or worrying about hardware upgrades. The cloud gaming evolution is making play cheaper, faster, and more accessible, giving you a ticket to top-tier gaming without the cost. Generative AI: Your New Creative Playground Another huge shift is the rise of generative AI games — where players don’t just follow a story, they help build it. AI tools now let you: Design characters that react dynamically. Build levels and quests with simple prompts. Craft whole storylines with AI-powered plot generators. Games like Minecraft with AI mods, Roblox’s expanding creative toolkit, and brand-new titles using generative video engines are making every player a co-creator. Why It Matters: Creativity is part of the experience. Replay value is endless, every game session is different. Communities around user-made content are thriving. If you’ve ever wanted to make a game but didn’t know how to code, 2025 is your time to shine. Cross‑Platform and Social Play: Gaming Together, Anywhere Cross-platform play has finally become seamless. No matter if you’re playing on a console, PC, or your phone, the barriers between devices have pretty much disappeared. Games now come with things like voice chat, co-op missions, and live events that make it feel like you’re really hanging out together. Moreover, these live ops events with new challenges and rewards keep the fun going week after week. And if you’re curious about platforms that mix gaming and social play, you might want to check out places like CanadaCasino.ca, where social gaming experiences are evolving fast. Cozy Games: Mindful Play for Stress-Free Fun The cozy gaming movement has gained popularity because people seek relaxation, not stress. Think: Slow-paced farming in Stardew Valley Unpacking boxes in Unpacking Helping spirits move on in Spiritfarer Why Cozy Games Are Booming: Great for winding down after a long day Low pressure, no competition Welcoming to all ages and skill levels Often focus on creativity and gentle storytelling These games are ideal for mindfulness and make gaming more inclusive for those new to gaming or anyone who prefers a more relaxed experience. Hybrid Play: Phygital Experiences Are the Future “Phygital” — the blend of physical and digital — is one of the hottest hybrid entertainment formats to watch in 2025. Popular examples: AR games like Pokémon Go and Pikmin Bloom Fitness meets gaming with Zombies, Run! or AR cycling apps Interactive concerts where in-game actions influence real-world performances Real-life scavenger hunts linked to mobile apps These immersive play innovations are helping people stay active and socialize in-person while enjoying new experiences that blend reality with fantasy. What You Can Try Right Now Ready to dive into new play experiences 2025 offers? Here’s a simple guide to help you pick based on your mood and interests: Tips for Getting Started with 2025 Play Trends Not sure where to begin? Here’s a quick list to help: Explore free cloud gaming evolution trials – most platforms offer short-term free access. Browse game guides for cozy and hybrid games to see what fits your style. Join a Discord or Facebook group for AI creative tools; you’ll learn faster. Look for local AR or phygital events in your city – they’re growing in Canada. Test cross-platform play on titles like Rocket League or Minecraft with friends. There’s no pressure to try everything. Start small, experiment, and you might just discover a new favourite way to unwind. The Bottom Line: Play Is Bigger, Broader and More Personal The biggest takeaway from 2025 entertainment trends? Play is now built around you: your schedule, your interests, your need for connection or downtime. It’s about flexibility: Instant games through the cloud gaming evolution Endless creativity with generative AI games Connection through social gaming experiences Calm and comfort via the cozy gaming movement Active exploration with hybrid entertainment formats

After the Power Rangers and Halo Spartans reveal, Fortnite: Shock 'N Awesome has detailed the bug menace, and how to kill them.

After the reveal of Power Rangers and Halo Spartans coming to Battle Royale, Fortnite: Shock ‘N Awesome has detailed the bug menace players will face, and how to kill them. Although Fortnite let the cat out of the bag regarding big Power Rangers and female Halo Spartan outfits hitting the Battle Pass and Item Shop, today, Epic Games has revealed the bug menace players will encounter, their different species, and how to kill each of them. On top of that, new Points of Interest (POIs) will open up for Chapter 6 Season 4, and new weapons will drop into Battle Royale, giving combatants more tools to kill bugs or each other. Whichever comes first doesn’t matter; what does is the new trailer that can be seen below, showcasing all of the chaos that will ensue in Shock ‘N Awesome! Fortnite Battle Royale: Shock ‘N Awesome Key Features A New Battle Pass – The new battle pass will run 1,000 V Bucks which is not a surprise, but it will have three collaboration skins: the generic UNSC Spartan from Halo (an instant unlock upon getting the pass), and the last reward for the over-achievers is Power Rangers‘ Green Ranger outfit at the end of the linear pass, and a Dino Megazord will function as the mid-season drop. The Dino Megazord Outfit can be unlocked by completing in-game Quests starting September 16. The Bug Problem – fans will notice Fortnite has a bug problem, and they will make quite a nuisance for players trying to win the #1 spot. Bugs will come in three varieties: a swarmer, bomber, and the Queen herself will spawn in the field in an attempt to send combatants back to the menu screen. After killing a nest of swarmers and bombers, the Queen will appear, and you’ll have to take her down. The Match-rank System Returns – Killing bugs will net players OXR (Onimorph eXtermination Rangers) experience, and perks are better this time around for Fortnite’s ranking system. Ranking up will prompt the OXR to send you and your squad a drop pod full of weapons and supplies, and there will also be bunkers around the island to unlock at rank A. Three New POIs – OXR HQ, the good guys’ home base where the fight is led against the bugs; The Hive, where the bugs come from; and Ranger’s Ruin, an old OXR base where bugs may be found in droves. On top of the bug menace, Power Rangers, Halo Spartans and a mess of locations and new weaponry, fans will be able to hit the Item Shop for many outfits this season, including a Mighty Morphin pack that includes all five base rangers in one package. Fortnite Battle Royale: Shock ‘N Awesome will run until November 1.

Kelly Mack, a recurring character on The Walking Dead and who had roles in several films, TV series and commercials, died on August 2. She was 33.

Kelly Mack, a recurring character on The Walking Dead and who had roles in several films, TV series and commercials, died on August 2. She was 33. Kelly Mack was born as Kelley Klebenow, and she reportedly “passed away peacefully,” on August 2, according to her family member’s post on social media on Tuesday. Mack was back home in her hometown of Cincinnati, and the report was made after battling glioma of the central nervous system. According to a post on Caringbridge, a glioma is a type of tumour that affects the brain or spinal cord, and was ultimately the cause of death. The open letter from Kathryn Klebenow reads, “It is with indelible sadness that we are announcing the passing of our dear Kelley. Such a bright, fervent light has transitioned to the beyond, where we all eventually must go.” She adds, “Kelly’s legacy will live on through her contributions to film and television, and in the hearts of those who loved her. She will be deeply missed but forever remembered,” in the heartfelt message. Kelly Mack played the role of Addy in five Season 9 episodes of AMC’s The Walking Dead from 2018 to 2019. Her credits also include guest appearances on TV series such as 9-1-1, Chicago Med, the Modern Family spinoff Schooled, and her latest film, Universal, a sci-fi drama that just released on June 25, 2025 starred Mack as the aloof third wheel Ricky, who interrupts a romantic weekend getaway. She also appeared in feature films like Mr. Manhattan, proving her range as a multifaceted actress. It’s with immense sadness that we share the passing of Kelley Mack at the age of 33. Kelley is known to fans of #TheWalkingDead for portraying the character of Addy in Season 9. Our sincere thoughts are with her loved ones during this difficult time. pic.twitter.com/u810HeyGtX — The Walking Dead World (@TWalkingDWorld) August 5, 2025 A known fan account for The Walking Dead posted their condolences on X regarding the actress, and fans flooded the comments with outpouring support, with all of her fans virtually agreeing that she was gone too soon. Kelly Mack is survived by her mother and father, her brother and sister, Kathryn and Parker Klebenow, her grandmother and grandfather and her boyfriend Logan Lanier. A celebration of her life will occur on August 16, and a future celebration for all of her fans and friends to say goodbye will be held in Los Angeles at a later date.

A decade after redefining the RTS genre, Ashes of the Singularity is coming back—with bigger battles, deeper strategy, and humanity finally in the fight.

Back in 2016, Ashes of the Singularity made waves in the gaming landscape with its pioneering multi-core graphics engine, letting players command thousands of units across massive, continent-spanning skirmishes. It was a bold reimagining of what RTS could be in a time dominated by fast-paced shooters and open-world adventures—something CGMagazine writer Cole Watson captured well when he wrote, “Ashes of the Singularity is a good RTS that brought me back to my childhood days of PC gaming.” Now, Stardock and Oxide are returning to the franchise with a new entry. Ashes of the Singularity II drops players into a conflict that’s only grown more complex and dangerous. The futuristic United Earth Forces—an alliance combining NATO, China and Russia—are now fighting not just for far-flung planets and moons, but to reclaim key territories on Earth, including Australia and Africa, from the grip of hostile AI and powerful post-human adversaries. Set in a near-future 2031 that feels eerily plausible, the story explores a world where advanced technology and the human spirit collide on a massive scale. One of the biggest changes coming with Ashes of the Singularity II is the introduction of a fully playable human faction. “Ten years ago, we set a new, literal benchmark for RTS games with massive battles and groundbreaking technology,” said Brad Wardell, CEO of Stardock Entertainment. “With Ashes of the Singularity II, we’re raising the bar even higher, delivering strategic gameplay depth that RTS fans have always dreamed of.” Wardell noted that player feedback played a major role in shaping the sequel’s direction. “Obviously, in the first game, the number one request was to have a human faction,” he explained. “Back then, we just couldn’t support having thousands of organic, walking, squishy people in the world, and thus had to design in favour of machines. We’re really excited to bring the humans into the war and watch how they fare against the massive mechanical armies of the Substrate and PHC.” Ashes of the Singularity II boasts a significantly expanded development team and promises deeper, more intricate battlefield tactics, advanced units, and improved AI. The campaign will plunge players into a chillingly familiar reality, while multiplayer offerings look to provide both co-operative and fiercely competitive modes for seasoned tacticians and newcomers alike. Ashes of the Singularity II is being crafted by the same partnership that earned acclaim for technological innovation on the original title. With Stardock’s pedigree—bolstered by successes such as Sins of a Solar Empire and Galactic Civilizations—and Oxide Games’ reputation for cutting-edge engine technology, it’s hard not to be excited for a new entry in the franchise that was a major leap forward in RTS gaming when it first launched. Fans eager to join the fray can wishlist Ashes of the Singularity II now on Steam and join conversations with the development team through the official Discord. For more updates as humanity’s battle for survival approaches, visit the game’s official website and stay tuned to CGMagazine for all the latest announcements.

Every month, Xbox Game Pass ups its offerings to provide gamers with new gameplay experiences, and this month, Assassin's Creed Mirage is the headliner.

Every month, Xbox Game Pass ups its offerings to provide gamers with new gameplay experiences, and this month, Assassin’s Creed Mirage is the headliner. It’s that time of month again. The time when Xbox Game Pass adds nine new titles to the service and removes a few others to make room is here, and Xbox has rolled out the red carpet for Ubisoft royalty in August 2025. Fans have come to expect Game Pass updates in groups of two each month recently, as new releases drop onto the service typically twice each month since this year. Last month, Xbox Game Pass gave fans early access to Obsidian’s sequel to a backyard survival adventure title, Grounded 2, alongside Wuchang: Fallen Feathers. Last month, Xbox cleared space by removing Kunitsu-Gami: Path of the Goddess from its catalogue, and in August 2025, it will take the fan-favourite title, Persona 3 Reload, off the service. Ubisoft’s Assassin’s Creed Mirage headlines the nine new additions coming to Xbox Game Pass. CGMagazine’s review of Assassin’s Creed Mirage calls it “a fantastic return to form for the series,” adding that the developers’ idea of mixing gameplay with “more modern sensibilities” has brought the series back on the right track. Fans will have a chance to play Mirage at no extra cost with a Game Pass subscription this month. The additions to Game Pass are listed below, along with their release dates on the platform. Xbox Game Pass August 2025 Wave 1 Additions Available Today – Rain World Available Today – Descenders Next August 6 – Citizen Sleeper 2: Starward Vector (Xbox Series X|S) August 6 – Lonely Mountains: Snow Riders (Xbox Series X|S) August 6 – MechWarrior 5: Clans (Xbox Series X|S) August 6 – Orcs Must Die! Deathtrap (Xbox Series X|S) August 7 – Assassin’s Creed Mirage (Cloud, Console, and PC) August 12 – Aliens: Fireteam Elite (Cloud, Console, and PC) August 14 – 9 Kings (Game Preview) (PC) Xbox Game Pass is removing three titles from its service on August 15 to make up for the additions. Fans should make a note, as after they’re gone, there will be no word on when these titles will return to the service, so fans should finish up Persona 3 Reload if they’re closing in on the ending. The following titles will be removed on August 15: Anthem (Console and PC) EA Play Farming Simulator 22 (Cloud, Console, and PC) Persona 3 Reload (Cloud, Console, and PC) Fans have just 10 days remaining until Anthem, Farming Simulator 22 and Persona 3 Reload are taken off the service, so unless fans want to pay extra to continue playing these titles, they should finish up before the 15th.

Fortnite has finally uncorked the Chapter 6 Season 4 trailer, revealing Power Rangers and a Megazord on Battle Island.

After a torrent of leaks and speculation hit the internet, Fortnite has finally uncorked the Chapter 6 Season 4 trailer, revealing Power Rangers and a Megazord on Battle Island. Fortnite fans finally know the official identity of Chapter 6 Season 4, and it corroborates the deluge of leaks surrounding Power Rangers and Halo Spartans that have occurred up to the official announcement. The new reveal trailer proves the leaks, Power Rangers, and Megazords are coming to Battle Island, and it can be seen below. Previous leaks about the Fortnite Chapter 6 Season 4 Battle Pass revealed two major collaborations were coming to the battle royale ahead of today’s trailer launch. The official name of the season, “Shock and Awesome,” has now been confirmed, and it features a map-wide bug invasion along with the two collaborations. Leaks have also indicated the second collaboration includes female Halo Spartans. This marks the first time Halo has appeared in Fortnite since Master Chief debuted in 2020, and they are arriving alongside Power Rangers in the new season. Another social media post from the official account has also confirmed Halo in the Battle Pass. Yeah, we called the experts in for this one… pic.twitter.com/YYg0kSelxx — Fortnite (@Fortnite) August 2, 2025 With Epic Games seemingly confirming each leak that was shared before their official announcements, it’s possible the rest of the leaked materials will land in the battle pass as well. The datamined tier 100 reward on the battle pass is reportedly Tommy Oliver in either the White Ranger skin or the Green Ranger skin, as datamine reports have flip-flopped on the tier 100 offering, and a Megazord skin is also supposedly coming to fans through the premium battle pass. Fans can fight back against endless bugs in Chapter 6 Season 4 as the Power Rangers, with the Mighty Morphin Bundle coming soon to the item shop (pricing to be revealed on release). The bundle includes the Red Ranger, Black Ranger, Pink Ranger, Yellow Ranger and Blue Ranger outfits, along with accessories, in one package. Fortnite Chapter 6 Season 4: Shock ’N Awesome launches Thursday, Aug. 7.

CGM took a hands-on look at Daemon X Machina: Titanic Scion—an impressive sequel that changes a lot while maintaining what made its predecessor great.

It was quite a happy surprise to see Daemon X Machina: Titanic Scion during Nintendo’s April 2025 Direct, because it was honestly a game I didn’t think would get a sequel. Despite eventually finding its way to the PC in 2020, the original Daemon X Machina felt like this big, bold title that was meant to show off the Nintendo Switch’s relative power despite its small size. And while it was a very good game, it always felt more like a Switch showcase than something that would spin off into its own series. I’ve long been a fan of giant robot games, and as such, I loved the first Daemon X Machina, so I was genuinely excited for more when I saw the initial trailer for the sequel. However, what I didn’t expect was just how radically Marvelous First Studio would shift the feel and style of the game. Daemon X Machnia: Titanic Scion is a game that maintains the DNA of its predecessor but makes things tighter, faster, and much more stylish When I saw the initial trailer for Daemon X Machnia: Titanic Scion, I assumed the suits this game’s Outers were stepping into were just a normal kind of power armour. After all, the first game allowed players to run around on the ground if their Arsenal got destroyed, maybe this game was giving players a bit more of a boost if that happened. But no, this is Daemon X Machnia: Titanic Scion’s new gameplay development. Arsenals are now scaled down to fit the player character, maintaining the same variety of upgrades and equippable parts—but in a much more personal way. I actually found it funny that a game with the subtitle Titanic Scion would bring the action down to a more grounded form of combat. That said, the game doesn’t sacrifice its sense of scale or visual impact. If Daemon X Machina was comparable to Armored Core, then I’d say Daemon X Machina: Titanic Scion is closer to Xenoblade Chronicles X. This is largely due to Titanic Scion shifting from the original’s contained arenas to a large, open world that invites exploration. Players take on missions and engage with both monsters and mechas. And while it plays like an action game, it feels far more like an RPG—with a few interesting twists. Players can engage enemies in the field with an assortment of weapons; however, if downed enemies have loot to retrieve, players are only able to choose one item to take. It creates an interesting dynamic where players need to be considerate about what they’re grabbing from enemies and blends nicely with the style of a Mecha Game, as players still need to assemble their Arsenal in a way that is both effective and suits their preferred playstyle. “…the combat is what really makes Daemon X Machina: Titanic Scion stand out.” On top of their Arsenal, players can unlock genetic mutations by defeating powerful enemies. These mutations grant special abilities tied to specific weapons, enhance combat performance or provide passive upgrades. But there’s a catch—using them can alter your character’s physical appearance in strange, sometimes monstrous ways. While this ties into Daemon X Machina: Titanic Scion’s narrative to some extent—and some players might enjoy having a character that looks like a demonic horror—the appearance changes can be reset. Just be prepared to pay a hefty in-game fee if you want to return to normal. I’ve touched on it already, but the combat is what truly makes Daemon X Machina: Titanic Scion stand out. While its predecessor featured fast-paced, high-octane battles, it was still somewhat limited by the scale of its giant mechs—which, by design, had to move and handle in a way that felt heavy and intimidating. Titanic Scion captures that same mechanical weight but keeps things fast, fluid and incredibly engaging by making the player character human-sized. What’s more, where melee weapons in Daemon X Machina often felt like secondary tools compared to ranged options—much like in Armored Core—Titanic Scion gives bladed weapons the spotlight. They now feature extensive combo potential and even allow players to “clash” with enemies for a tactical advantage. The result is a combat system that’s not just deeper, but more intense and exciting. You can dash across the battlefield, pepper enemies with bullets from afar, then close in for a satisfying slash to finish the job. While this preview build had a few visual and technical hiccups, with a month to go before launch, I’m confident Marvelous First Studio will deliver the same level of polish they brought to the original. As it stands, Daemon X Machina: Titanic Scion feels dramatically different from its predecessor—but just as deep and even more fun to play.

MARVEL Cosmic Invasion promises to include a staggering 15 playable characters, putting it closer to a fighting game roster than a beat-em-up.

After the excellent Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: Shredder’s Revenge, I was eager to check out an early vertical slice of Tribute Games’ latest beat-em-up project, MARVEL Cosmic Invasion. Despite the demo build of MARVEL Cosmic Invasion including only two levels and nine playable characters, I came away from Dotemu’s recent presentation confident that fans have a lot to look forward to when the game launches later this year. Much like Shredder’s Revenge before it, MARVEL Cosmic Invasion features a bright, colourful retro aesthetic that fits the Marvel Comics brand perfectly. Unlike TMNT, however, it boasts a staggering 15 playable characters—bringing it closer to a fighting game roster than a traditional beat-’em-up. In the demo, I was able to try out Captain America, Nova, Storm, Venom, Wolverine, Phyla-Vell, Spider-Man, Rocket and She-Hulk. What stood out most was the mix of iconic mainstays and less typical inclusions. MARVEL Cosmic Invasion seems intent on striking a balance between familiar and fresh. Spider-Man, Venom and Captain America feel reminiscent of their Marvel vs. Capcom 2 counterparts, while newer heroes like Phyla-Vell, Rocket and Nova offer something entirely original. “MARVEL Cosmic Invasion seems intent on striking a balance between familiar and fresh.” That fighting game influence feels intentional. The sprite design and animation for characters like Venom, Spider-Man, Wolverine, Storm and Captain America appear to pay homage to Capcom’s legendary MVC series. In many ways, MARVEL Cosmic Invasion feels like it’s trying to recapture the spirit of Marvel vs. Capcom 2 in the same way Shredder’s Revenge honoured Turtles in Time. In terms of gameplay, MARVEL Cosmic Invasion features a two-character tag-team system, allowing players to switch between two heroes at any time by tapping the left bumper. Tapping the right bumper triggers an assist move while keeping your current hero in play. Holding the bumper activates a special attack—often with area-of-effect damage that’s perfect for crowd control. The available roster currently feels like it comes in two flavours: fast characters with a solid mix of mid- to long-range attacks, and heavy, deliberate brawlers whose chunky-feeling blows can melt bosses and keep enemy waves at bay. Some heroes, like Rocket Raccoon, Spider-Man and Storm, also use ammo-based or charge-up attacks tied to cooldowns—helpful distinctions that break up the monotony of straight punching and kicking. “On top of the pick-up-and-play online and local co-op, with each player having access to characters, I can see MARVEL Cosmic Invasion being one chaotic but fun beat-em-up when it sees release later this year.” Another strong point of MARVEL Cosmic Invasion’s already diverse roster is the clear distinction between flight-capable characters and grounded brawlers. Characters like Nova, Spider-Man and Venom can soar or swing around freely, while others like Wolverine stay closer to street level. With drop-in, drop-out online and local co-op, and every player getting access to the full character list, MARVEL Cosmic Invasion looks set to be a chaotic but undeniably fun beat-’em-up when it launches later this year. The first stage takes place in a New York City street-level setting that’s visually reminiscent of Shredder’s Revenge. Instead of fighting the Foot Clan, though, players battle waves of insectoid enemies—including one standout moment where a massive swarm nearly fills the screen, offering a fun and chaotic twist in an otherwise standard-feeling level. The stage wraps up with a boss fight against Beetle, a Kamen Rider–style villain pulled from the pages of MARVEL Cosmic Comics. The second and final demo level transports players to a helicarrier under siege by AIM forces. Players must push deep into the ship’s interior to find MODOK, who appears to need rescuing—though the full context wasn’t revealed. The setting is a refreshing break from the urban street level and brings a notable bump in challenge, with gun-wielding foes, explosive hazards and trap-filled corridors scattered throughout the crumbling aircraft. The final boss of this stage is none other than Taskmaster, another unique and well-chosen opponent for a mid-game brawl. With characters like Silver Surfer and Beta Ray Bill confirmed for the roster, and villains like Beetle and Annihilus already in the spotlight, it’ll be interesting to see whether any Fantastic Four characters make the cut by launch. Dotemu is seemingly ready to unleash two fantastic beat-em-ups into the world later this year, with the likes of Absolum shaping up to be a fantastic blending of genres, and MARVEL Cosmic Invasion is on track to follow suit.

A report regarding Fortnite's 'Disney Mode' landed this week, claiming frustration from Epic Games with Disney, and Tim Sweeney has debunked it.

A report about Fortnite’s lucrative “Disney Mode” was published this week by The Wall Street Journal, claiming frustration from Epic Games staff with Disney. Tim Sweeney has now debunked that claim. This week, a report was published by the Wall Street Journal claiming that the slow progress on the upcoming Disney Mode in Fortnite was due to a problem on Disney’s end (from an anonymous source), and now Epic Games’ Boss, Tim Sweeney, has come out and publicly slammed that claim. The original report said the new Disney Mode would not launch until “fall 2026 at the earliest,” with some Epic executives expressing frustration about the collaboration. One anonymous source said “the slow pace of the decision-making at Disney, with signoffs needed from so many different divisions,” was likely the driving factor behind the delays. https://twitter.com/TimSweeneyEpic/status/1952408004755591597 This is where Tim Sweeney comes in. Today, he publicly disparaged the remarks on his X account, calling them “BS.” In response to a known Fortnite collaborator who shared The Wall Street Journal’s findings, Sweeney said, “The speed of Disney and Epic collaborations like Darth Vader has been awesome and is around 10 times the ordinary speed of media company dealings in this business,” adding that he had provided a statement to the reporter who published the story, but they “chose not to” use it. It’s worth noting that the Disney and Fortnite collaboration was announced in 2024, when Disney invested $1.5 billion in Epic Games to acquire a stake in the company. The deal effectively paved the way for the new Disney x Fortnite gaming and entertainment experience. Disney Mode is one of the projects referenced in the comments from The Wall Street Journal and Sweeney. As of this post, the Wall Street Journal has not responded to the comments made by CEO Tim Sweeney, but it’s possible this isn’t the last back-and-forth Sweeney will have regarding Disney Mode.

Geo-blocking, once dismissed as a temporary relic of early streaming, has proved stubbornly durable.

Scroll through any social media feed in 2025, and you’ll notice an odd contradiction. On one hand, a teenager in Nairobi can share the same dance challenge with a retiree in São Paulo in real time. On the other hand, that same retiree can’t legally stream the series the teenager is referencing because episode four is locked behind the familiar “This content is not available in your region” screen. Geo-blocking, once dismissed as a temporary relic of early streaming, has proved stubbornly durable. Despite near-universal broadband, cheap cloud storage, and the rhetoric of a “borderless” internet, digital walls remain. And they matter. A survey by YouGov found that 47% of UK consumers admitted to illegally acquiring content because it wasn’t available through official channels, highlighting availability as a significant factor in piracy decisions. So how did we get here, and why is it so hard to leave those blocks behind? Geo-Blocking 101: What Happens Behind the Error Message When you hit Play, your request travels to a content delivery network (CDN) that checks the IP address against a constantly updated geolocation database. If your location isn’t on the “licensed territories” list, the CDN declines the stream, sometimes offering a local alternative, sometimes nothing. In 2025, the technology is far more precise than it was a decade ago: IPv6 ranges, GPS triangulation on mobile devices, and even Wi-Fi SSID fingerprints help platforms confirm where you are within a margin of a few kilometres. This extra accuracy delights rights holders, and frustrates travellers who used to sidestep blocks with a quick SIM swap. The experience of trying to access Hulu in Philippines serves as a prime example. Despite demand, users in the region are met with the same location-based restriction screens that have plagued global streamers for years. For many, Hulu’s extensive library remains locked away, visible only via VPNs or DNS tricks, a modern version of digital window shopping with the doors firmly shut. Behind that automated decision are three overlapping forces: contractual licensing zones, national regulation, and platform-level risk management. Remove any one pillar and the structure wobbles; remove all three and the geo-blocking collapses. Unfortunately, each pillar has only grown thicker. License Agreements: The Invisible Borders You Never Voted On Most global streamers still buy or sell content by territory, a practice traceable to 20th-century theatrical distribution. A series might have 180 separate deals, each specifying markets, languages, release windows, and ad rights. Consolidating those deals into a single worldwide license sounds simple until the spreadsheets hit reality. Revenue Maximization. A local broadcaster in Italy may pay a premium for exclusive first-window rights, offsetting production costs that a worldwide subscription model can’t guarantee. Risk Hedging. By slicing the globe into pieces, producers spread financial risk. If a show flops in one market, deals in others cushion the blow. Marketing Nuances. A pan-European rollout demands multilingual promo campaigns, local cultural consultants, and sometimes edited scenes. Licensing partners shoulder that expense. Regulation and Censorship: The State Steps In Even if every rights holder agreed to go global tomorrow, national governments could keep the gates partially shut. In 2025: EU Quotas. Since 2018, the AVMS Directive requires on-demand services available in the EU to ensure at least 30 % of their catalogue is European. Platforms remain subject to this rule in 2025, and non‑compliance can trigger fines or content‑blocking orders. India’s Tiered Certification. The 2023 amendment to the Cinematograph Act introduced refined U/A film-rating categories U/A 7+, U/A 13+, and U/A 16+ based on viewer age. China’s Imported-Episode Cap. Streamers still face a strict limit on foreign series episodes per quarter. The simplest compliance strategy is a separate regional catalogue. That inevitably means a show available in Canada might vanish once you cross a border into North Dakota, even though the underlying fibre route never changes. That’s where tools like usa-ip.com come in. By providing secure and consistent U.S.-based IP access, they allow users to maintain a stable content experience across borders without altering the content itself. It’s a modern workaround for a regulatory framework still catching up to the realities of global streaming. Cost of Localization: The Price Tag on Access Subtitles and dubs are cheaper than they were, thanks to AI-assisted translation, but “cheap” isn’t “free.” A premium drama can require 12 language tracks, quality control passes, and culturally adapted graphics. Multiply that by thousands of titles, and the bill balloons. For mid-tier content with uncertain return-on-investment, rights holders still ask: “Is Hungarian dubbing worth it?” If the answer is no, you’ll meet the geo-block wall. Cloud transcoding has reduced delivery costs, yet there’s another, quieter fee residual payments to voice actors, lyricists, and composers under regional collective agreements. Skipping a territory dodges those obligations. Until global unions standardize royalty frameworks, partial releases remain the path of least resistance. Consumer Impact: Fragmentation, FOMO, and the Piracy Boomerang When streaming promised “everything in one place,” many of us ditched cable. Fast-forward to 2025: you juggle four subscriptions, yet still borrow passwords or fire up a VPN. Geo-blocking aggravates three specific pain points: Fragmented Budgets. A 2025 PwC report pegs the average U.S. household at $74/month across streaming services. Add-on VPN fees or foreign app sideloads, and cord-cutting savings vanish. Cultural Exclusion. Global fandoms form on TikTok overnight. If the show isn’t legally available in your country, spoilers flood your timeline before you can even rent it, and social belonging takes a hit. Piracy Resurgence. Torrent traffic dropped between 2015 and 2020 but climbed 23% from 2021 to 2024, according to Sandvine. Users cited “no legal option in my country” as the top reason. Geo-blocking inadvertently fuels the very behaviour it was meant to prevent. Rights-Holder Rationale: The Other Side of the Screen Producers aren’t cartoon villains twirling mustaches; they confront genuine constraints: Financing Chains. A local TV channel in France might invest early money in a series in exchange for first-window exclusivity. That cash secures filming permits, craft services, and insurance. Break that promise, and the funding dries up for the next project. Data Discovery. Smaller markets offer test beds to gauge audience response before risking a global rollout. Geo-blocking is effectively A/B testing at a continental scale. Ad Market Realities. In ad-supported tiers, regional CPM rates differ wildly. Serving a high-budget U.S. show in a low-CPM market can wreck revenue forecasts. Understanding these pressures doesn’t make geo-blocking easier to swallow, but it clarifies why the lever isn’t simply set to “open.” Workarounds: VPNs, “Travel Mode,” and Their Shrinking Windows Consumers fight back with VPNs, smart DNS services, and, since the 2024 era, edge proxies that mimic travel sessions. Platforms respond by blacklisting IP ranges, demanding GPS permissions, or limiting concurrent streams outside “home” coordinates. The cat-and-mouse continues, but the mouse is tiring: Many paid VPNs now warn users which catalogue zones they can still unlock; the list gets shorter each quarter. Some credit-card issuers flag “foreign” addresses from recurring billing, leading to account holds. Crucially, Terms of Service remain clear: evade geo-blocks and the platform can ban you without refund. For frequent travellers, the news is mixed. Under the 2018 Portability Regulation (extended through 2032), EU subscribers can access their home‑country streaming catalogue anywhere in the EU for up to 30 days per year without additional geo‑restriction. Emerging Alternatives: Signs of a Thaw Not all news is bad. Several experiments in 2024–2025 hint at ways to narrow the divide: Global Licensing Pilots. Netflix’s “Day-and-Date” release strategy involves releasing content simultaneously across all regions, aiming to reduce piracy by eliminating regional release gaps. South Korean content has become increasingly popular on Netflix, with titles like Squid Game Season 3 achieving significant global viewership. Decentralized Distribution. Projects like AudiusTV use blockchain to register ownership and smart-contract royalties in real time, making global micro-licensing viable without armies of lawyers. The model is tiny today but technically promising. AI-Powered Localization. Tools such as DubSync cut dubbing time from weeks to days and provide automatic lip-sync. Lower costs mean fewer territories get left out purely on budget grounds. Each path addresses a distinct barrier to contract, accounting, or compliance, forming a mosaic of partial solutions rather than a single silver bullet. Policy Proposals: How to Melt Digital Borders Experts urge lawmakers, industry groups, and consumer advocates to tackle geo-blocking with coordinated action instead of wishful thinking: Cross-Border Royalty Clearinghouse. Imagine a digital “rights bank” where usage data flows in hourly and payouts flow out automatically, reducing resistance to worldwide licensing. Default Global Windows. Shift the burden studios would need to justify exclusive territorial windows, not the other way around. Interoperable Age-Rating Framework. A shared content-rating API could allow one piece of media metadata to satisfy India’s IT Rules, Europe’s AVMSD, and the U.S. FCC in a single stroke. The political will is uneven. The EU Parliament flirted with a cross-border clearance pilot in late 2024 but shelved it amid lobbying from local broadcasters. Still, the conversation is moving from “Should we?” to “How do we?” Practical Tips for Viewers in 2025 Until the system evolves, consumers can take measured, legal steps to minimize frustration: Audit Your Subscriptions. Rotate services every quarter instead of stacking them. Many platforms’ back catalogues grow slowly; binge, cancel, and revisit later. Exploit Free-Trade Zones. If you’re in the EU, download content to your device before leaving the bloc; roaming regulations protect your access for 30 days. Check Regional Digital Libraries. Services like Africa-Stream or LatinFlix aggregate locally produced shows often unavailable on U.S. giants. Vote With Feedback. Use in-app request forms. Anecdotal evidence from Disney+ shows that sustained regional requests helped fast-track the 2023 Japanese anime slate for Latin America. It’s not a guarantee, but silence guarantees nothing. What the Next Five Years Might Bring By 2030, observers expect a hybrid landscape. Blockbuster franchises with built-in global demand will negotiate unified licenses from day one, while niche or adult-themed content may remain region-fenced. Economic downturns or booms will nudge the dial in either direction. The wildcard? Regulatory shock. If one large market, say, the EU or U.S., mandates global licensing as a condition for tax incentives, dominoes could fall quickly. Conclusion: Bridging the New Digital Divide Geo-blocking in 2025 is not a mere technical glitch; it reflects financial calculus, regulatory borders, and cultural complexities. For viewers, it’s an everyday reminder that the promise of a fully open internet remains unfulfilled. Yet cracks are appearing in the walls: AI localization, blockchain royalties, and disruptive licensing experiments suggest alternative routes. The challenge is aligning incentives so that studios still get paid, governments still protect citizens, and audiences everywhere enjoy the same water-cooler conversation without having to spoof a Canadian IP address. The digital divide is narrower than it was in 2015, but until geography stops dictating what we can legally watch, the fight for a truly global screen goes on.

Inside stories of Digital Transformation

Customers are asking me: “Should I buy a new AI PC now or wait for AI technology to evolve?” My answer is always the same. Buy now. And I’ll tell you why.

Customers are asking me: “Should I buy a new AI PC now or wait for AI technology to evolve?” My answer is always the same. Buy now. And I’ll tell you why.

Award-winning innovation - discover how the Dell AI Data Platform transforms data management and empowers AI workflows.

Award-winning innovation - discover how the Dell AI Data Platform transforms data management and empowers AI workflows.

Experience the creative freedom of real-time animation with NVIDIA RTX 6000 GPUs and Dell Pro Max PCs.

Experience the creative freedom of real-time animation with NVIDIA RTX 6000 GPUs and Dell Pro Max PCs.

State lawmakers shape their communities by looking to the future. The decisions made today can redefine how states thrive tomorrow—creating …

State lawmakers shape their communities by looking to the future. The decisions made today can redefine how states thrive tomorrow—creating …

Explore how Dell’s secure cloud client software empowers organizations with simplified management and Zero Trust readiness.

Explore how Dell’s secure cloud client software empowers organizations with simplified management and Zero Trust readiness.

Discover how Dell & AGNTCY, now part of the Linux Foundation, are shaping open, interoperable AI for businesses worldwide.

Discover how Dell & AGNTCY, now part of the Linux Foundation, are shaping open, interoperable AI for businesses worldwide.

As cyber threats grow in sophistication, conventional security tools often fall short—particularly in the protection of backup data sets. Today, …

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Federal agencies must adopt secure 5G networks to meet communication demands vital for security, operations and public service.

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Unleash AI's potential with Red Hat OpenShift on Dell AI Factory, backed by NVIDIA, for scalable and secure enterprise solutions.

Unleash AI's potential with Red Hat OpenShift on Dell AI Factory, backed by NVIDIA, for scalable and secure enterprise solutions.

Achieve up to 5x GPU utilization, streamline AI operations, and scale confidently with Dell AI Factory featuring NVIDIA and Run:ai solutions.

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A Site About Video Games

In the never-ending war against hackers in PC gaming, top publishers are enforcing whatever tools they have at their disposal to keep games fair. Call of Duty will soon be joining Battlefield in this regard.

Activision announced today that Black Ops 7 will enforce Secure Boot on PC, in tandem with Trusted Platform Module (TPM 2.0) and its RICOCHET Anti-Cheat system, to hopefully curb the rampant cheating that's been happening in CoD for many years now.

Screenshot by Destructoid

"When you play multiplayer, your PC connects to our servers to enable online play," Activision explained. "If TPM 2.0 and Secure Boot are on, Windows runs a security check at startup. The results of that check are passed to us when you connect, confirming your system hasn’t been tampered with. The final check happens on our servers, making it harder to spoof and ensuring the process is secure from start to finish."

Activision was quick to assuage concerns by saying "this process doesn’t give us access to your personal files or information," but that it "only verifies that your system booted cleanly."

Some PC FPS players were greeted with a Secure Boot error when attempting to launch the Battlefield 6 open beta client earlier this week, so this may become the industry standard moving forward. Enabling Secure Boot requires entering your PC's BIOS and changing a setting, and it's left many confounded and annoyed.

Personally? I'm good on this Secure Boot stuff, because I can't really be bothered to tinker with my computer's settings. Games like Battlefield 6, and now BO7, will be console purchases for me from now on. I have to use that PS5 Pro for something, anyway.

"Protecting the Call of Duty experience is Team RICOCHET’s highest priority," Activision said. "Cheating and hacking are challenges affecting all major games, and we’re fully engaged in the industry-wide fight against unfair play. Our goal is clear: to be best-in-class in anti-cheat innovation and effectiveness. It's an ongoing battle, but we’re in it for the long haul – and we’re not backing down."

The post Just like Battlefield 6, Black Ops 7 will now require an extra security setting on PC to combat hackers appeared first on Destructoid.

In the never-ending war against hackers in PC gaming, top publishers are enforcing whatever tools they have at their disposal to keep games fair. Call of Duty will soon be joining Battlefield in this regard. Activision announced today that Black Ops 7 will enforce Secure Boot on PC, in tandem with Trusted Platform Module (TPM 2.0) and its RICOCHET Anti-Cheat system, to hopefully curb the rampant cheating that's been happening in CoD for many years now. Screenshot by Destructoid "When you play multiplayer, your PC connects to our servers to enable online play," Activision explained. "If TPM 2.0 and Secure Boot are on, Windows runs a security check at startup. The results of that check are passed to us when you connect, confirming your system hasn’t been tampered with. The final check happens on our servers, making it harder to spoof and ensuring the process is secure from start to finish." Activision was quick to assuage concerns by saying "this process doesn’t give us access to your personal files or information," but that it "only verifies that your system booted cleanly." Some PC FPS players were greeted with a Secure Boot error when attempting to launch the Battlefield 6 open beta client earlier this week, so this may become the industry standard moving forward. Enabling Secure Boot requires entering your PC's BIOS and changing a setting, and it's left many confounded and annoyed. Personally? I'm good on this Secure Boot stuff, because I can't really be bothered to tinker with my computer's settings. Games like Battlefield 6, and now BO7, will be console purchases for me from now on. I have to use that PS5 Pro for something, anyway. "Protecting the Call of Duty experience is Team RICOCHET’s highest priority," Activision said. "Cheating and hacking are challenges affecting all major games, and we’re fully engaged in the industry-wide fight against unfair play. Our goal is clear: to be best-in-class in anti-cheat innovation and effectiveness. It's an ongoing battle, but we’re in it for the long haul – and we’re not backing down." The post Just like Battlefield 6, Black Ops 7 will now require an extra security setting on PC to combat hackers appeared first on Destructoid.

Madden 26 goes live worldwide on Aug. 14 after a week-long early access, and you can play the game for free during that period if you have a functional EA Play membership.

The only sustained way of playing the early access is to get the Digital Deluxe Edition, which costs notably more than the Standard Edition. This allows you to play seven extra days, which begins on Aug. 7. However, there's an alternate way to play the game (for a limited playtime) for a reasonable amount or for free.

How to play Madden 26 with EA Play trial?

The EA Play trial doesn't allow you to endlessly play Madden 26. That should be possible later in the year if EA Sports follows the same trend of the last few Madden games and adds this to the EA Play catalog, too (making them free to play with the subscription).

While you might not be able to play as much as you want, your EA Play trial guarantees ten hours of gameplay. This includes all game modes available in Madden 26, and you can progress as much as you want (in that time frame).

Screenshot via Destructoid

You can access the trial on your consoles or on PC. If you're on console, complete the following steps.

• Open your respective console store.
• Make sure that you have an active EA Play membership. Xbox Game Pass Ultimate members won't require a separate membership.
• Once done, search Madden 26 and go to the store page.
• You'll find the trial to download and play (as long as your membership is valid).
• Alternatively, you can also find the trial under your EA Play membership in the Trials section.

The process is pretty much the same if you're on a PC.

• You'll need the EA Play app on your PC.
• Search the game, and you'll find the option to download the trial.

An important point: the trial version can't be pre-downloaded on any platform. You can download and play it only after early access goes live.

You can choose to convert your trial to a full version. You can do so by upgrading to the Digital Deluxe or Standard Edition. You'll also get a discount on your purchase, which applies to your EA Play membership. In that case, the price of your membership is automatically refunded (indirectly via the discount on your purchase).

If you have purchased the Standard Edition, you can use your trial to play up to 10 hours, and then continue when the full launch happens.

The post How to play Madden 26 for free (EA Play trial) appeared first on Destructoid.

Madden 26 goes live worldwide on Aug. 14 after a week-long early access, and you can play the game for free during that period if you have a functional EA Play membership. The only sustained way of playing the early access is to get the Digital Deluxe Edition, which costs notably more than the Standard Edition. This allows you to play seven extra days, which begins on Aug. 7. However, there's an alternate way to play the game (for a limited playtime) for a reasonable amount or for free. How to play Madden 26 with EA Play trial? The EA Play trial doesn't allow you to endlessly play Madden 26. That should be possible later in the year if EA Sports follows the same trend of the last few Madden games and adds this to the EA Play catalog, too (making them free to play with the subscription). While you might not be able to play as much as you want, your EA Play trial guarantees ten hours of gameplay. This includes all game modes available in Madden 26, and you can progress as much as you want (in that time frame). Screenshot via Destructoid You can access the trial on your consoles or on PC. If you're on console, complete the following steps. Open your respective console store. Make sure that you have an active EA Play membership. Xbox Game Pass Ultimate members won't require a separate membership. Once done, search Madden 26 and go to the store page. You'll find the trial to download and play (as long as your membership is valid). Alternatively, you can also find the trial under your EA Play membership in the Trials section. The process is pretty much the same if you're on a PC. You'll need the EA Play app on your PC. Search the game, and you'll find the option to download the trial. An important point: the trial version can't be pre-downloaded on any platform. You can download and play it only after early access goes live. You can choose to convert your trial to a full version. You can do so by upgrading to the Digital Deluxe or Standard Edition. You'll also get a discount on your purchase, which applies to your EA Play membership. In that case, the price of your membership is automatically refunded (indirectly via the discount on your purchase). If you have purchased the Standard Edition, you can use your trial to play up to 10 hours, and then continue when the full launch happens. The post How to play Madden 26 for free (EA Play trial) appeared first on Destructoid.

Roblox title Grow a Garden has a fresh cooking event for players to participate in and unlock different rewards, and there's a host of recipes to choose from.

The event caters to Chris P. Bacon's requests, who has a list of 12 different recipes. The recipes use different resources to make, which makes it crucial for players to know the exact details. This will help them make all the required food items and maximize their rewards from the new event.

All Grow a Garden cooking recipes

Grow a Garden already offers a vast array of vegetables and fruits for you to grow. You can mix and match your products to prepare new items and complete Bacon's wishes. You'll find all the required details in the table below. Most of the recipes have different tiers, and higher ones will need more recipes.

Recipe Cooking Recipe (Common) Cooking Recipe (Rare) Cooking Recipe (Legendary) Cooking Recipe (Mythical) Cooking Recipe (Divine) Cooking Recipe (Prismatic) Burger ______ 1 Pepper
1 Corn
1 Tomato
1 Mint 1 Corn
2 Tomato
2 Ember Lily 1 Pepper
1 Corn
1 Tomato
1 Bone Blossom 1 Corn
1 Tomato
3 Bone Blossom 3 Bone Blossom
1 Tomato
1 Corn Cake 1 Strawberry
1 Tomato
1 Corn
1 Apple 2 Watermelon
2 Corn 2 Banana
1 Blood Banana
1 Moon Melon
1 Soft Sunshine 1 Lucky Bamboo
3 Sugar Apple
1 Corn 1 Corn
2 Elder Strawberry
2 Sugar Apple 1 Banana
3 Bone Blossom Donut _____ 2 Corn
1 Tomato
1 Banana 1 Corn
1 Serenity
1 Sugar Apple 1 Corn
1 Sugar Apple 1 Sugarglaze
2 Sugar Apple 4 Bone Blossom
1 Sugarglaze Hot Dog _____ _____ 1 Pepper
1 Corn 2 Pepper
1 Corn 4 Ember Lily
1 Corn 4 Bone Blossom
1 Corn Ice Cream _____ 1 Watermelon
1 Corn 1 Banana
1 Watermelon 1 Banana
1 Sugar Apple 1 Sugar Apple
1 Sugarglaze 1 Sugar Apple
1 Sugarglaze
3 Bone Blossom Pizza 1 Strawberry
1 Pepper
1 Tomato
1 Corn _____ 1 Corn
1 Tomato
1 Pepper
1 Sugar Apple 1 Pepper
1 Tomato
1 Sugar Apple
1 Corn 1 Sugar Apple
1 Corn
1 Bone Blossom 1 Banana
1 Beanstalk
3 Bone Blossom Pie _____ 1 Crown Melon
1 Jalapeno 1 Pumpkin
1 Apple 1 Sugar Apple
1 Pumpkin 1 Coconut
1 Beanstalk 4 Bone Blossom
1 Pumpkin Sandwich 2 Tomato
1 Corn _____ 2 Tomato
2 Beanstalk
1 Corn 1 Tomato
1 Corn
1 Elder Strawberry 3 Bone Blossom
1 Tomato
1 Corn 3 Bone Blossom
1 Tomato
1 Violet Corn Salad 1 Bamboo
3 Carrot 1 Orange Tulip
1 Bamboo
1 Carrot
1 Tomato 2 Blood Banana
2 Tomato 1 Tomato
2 Pepper 4 Sugar Apple
1 Tomato 4 Bone Blossom
1 Tomato Soup 1 Carrot 1 Coconut
1 Elder Strawberry 2 Blood Banana
2 Tomato 1 Tomato
2 Pepper _____ _____ Sushi 4 Bamboo
1 Corn 1 Bamboo
2 Corn
1 Spike Mango 3 Bamboo
1 Corn
1 Maple Apple 2 Bamboo
1 Corn
2 Bone Blossom 1 Bamboo
1 Corn
3 Bone Blossom _____ Waffle _____ 1 Strawberry
1 Coconut 1 Coconut
1 Maple Apple
3 Banana 1 Tranquil Bloom
1 Starfruit
1 Coconut 1 Sugar Apple
1 Coconut 3 Bone Blossom
1 Sugar Apple
1 Coconut

Screenshot by Destructoid

The table above is a work in progress, and we will be adding new rarities when we find them. As you prepare the food for Chef Bacon, you unlock various rewards. Common offerings include Watering Cans, Fork Fence, and Mutation Spray Burn, while rarer items like Medium Toy and Gourmet Seed Packs are also on offer.

The post All recipes in Grow A Garden cooking update appeared first on Destructoid.

Roblox title Grow a Garden has a fresh cooking event for players to participate in and unlock different rewards, and there's a host of recipes to choose from. The event caters to Chris P. Bacon's requests, who has a list of 12 different recipes. The recipes use different resources to make, which makes it crucial for players to know the exact details. This will help them make all the required food items and maximize their rewards from the new event. All Grow a Garden cooking recipes Grow a Garden already offers a vast array of vegetables and fruits for you to grow. You can mix and match your products to prepare new items and complete Bacon's wishes. You'll find all the required details in the table below. Most of the recipes have different tiers, and higher ones will need more recipes. Recipe Cooking Recipe (Common) Cooking Recipe (Rare) Cooking Recipe (Legendary) Cooking Recipe (Mythical) Cooking Recipe (Divine) Cooking Recipe (Prismatic) Burger ______ 1 Pepper 1 Corn 1 Tomato 1 Mint 1 Corn 2 Tomato 2 Ember Lily 1 Pepper 1 Corn 1 Tomato 1 Bone Blossom 1 Corn 1 Tomato 3 Bone Blossom 3 Bone Blossom 1 Tomato 1 Corn Cake 1 Strawberry 1 Tomato 1 Corn 1 Apple 2 Watermelon 2 Corn 2 Banana 1 Blood Banana 1 Moon Melon 1 Soft Sunshine 1 Lucky Bamboo 3 Sugar Apple 1 Corn 1 Corn 2 Elder Strawberry 2 Sugar Apple 1 Banana 3 Bone Blossom Donut _____ 2 Corn 1 Tomato 1 Banana 1 Corn 1 Serenity 1 Sugar Apple 1 Corn 1 Sugar Apple 1 Sugarglaze 2 Sugar Apple 4 Bone Blossom 1 Sugarglaze Hot Dog _____ _____ 1 Pepper 1 Corn 2 Pepper 1 Corn 4 Ember Lily 1 Corn 4 Bone Blossom 1 Corn Ice Cream _____ 1 Watermelon 1 Corn 1 Banana 1 Watermelon 1 Banana 1 Sugar Apple 1 Sugar Apple 1 Sugarglaze 1 Sugar Apple 1 Sugarglaze 3 Bone Blossom Pizza 1 Strawberry 1 Pepper 1 Tomato 1 Corn _____ 1 Corn 1 Tomato 1 Pepper 1 Sugar Apple 1 Pepper 1 Tomato 1 Sugar Apple 1 Corn 1 Sugar Apple 1 Corn 1 Bone Blossom 1 Banana 1 Beanstalk 3 Bone Blossom Pie _____ 1 Crown Melon 1 Jalapeno 1 Pumpkin 1 Apple 1 Sugar Apple 1 Pumpkin 1 Coconut 1 Beanstalk 4 Bone Blossom 1 Pumpkin Sandwich 2 Tomato 1 Corn _____ 2 Tomato 2 Beanstalk 1 Corn 1 Tomato 1 Corn 1 Elder Strawberry 3 Bone Blossom 1 Tomato 1 Corn 3 Bone Blossom 1 Tomato 1 Violet Corn Salad 1 Bamboo 3 Carrot 1 Orange Tulip 1 Bamboo 1 Carrot 1 Tomato 2 Blood Banana 2 Tomato 1 Tomato 2 Pepper 4 Sugar Apple 1 Tomato 4 Bone Blossom 1 Tomato Soup 1 Carrot 1 Coconut 1 Elder Strawberry 2 Blood Banana 2 Tomato 1 Tomato 2 Pepper _____ _____ Sushi 4 Bamboo 1 Corn 1 Bamboo 2 Corn 1 Spike Mango 3 Bamboo 1 Corn 1 Maple Apple 2 Bamboo 1 Corn 2 Bone Blossom 1 Bamboo 1 Corn 3 Bone Blossom _____ Waffle _____ 1 Strawberry 1 Coconut 1 Coconut 1 Maple Apple 3 Banana 1 Tranquil Bloom 1 Starfruit 1 Coconut 1 Sugar Apple 1 Coconut 3 Bone Blossom 1 Sugar Apple 1 Coconut Screenshot by Destructoid The table above is a work in progress, and we will be adding new rarities when we find them. As you prepare the food for Chef Bacon, you unlock various rewards. Common offerings include Watering Cans, Fork Fence, and Mutation Spray Burn, while rarer items like Medium Toy and Gourmet Seed Packs are also on offer. The post All recipes in Grow A Garden cooking update appeared first on Destructoid.

Co-op PvP shooter Mage Arena is quickly gaining popularity among PC gamers, and players can find their teammates on the game's official Discord.

While it might not be common knowledge for most, there's an official Discord created by developer jrsjams. The Discord server is free and acts as your best go-to place for everything related to Mage Arena.

How to join the official Mage Arena Discord server

Joining the official server is free, but you must create your account (Discord) first. If you already have one, log in to it. Next, click on this link to get the invite, allowing you to join the server.

You can browse through different channels once you're in the Discord servers. All the available channels can be found on the left, serving various purposes. You can use the general channel to discuss the game with the community. This can be about general tips or something you'd like to discuss.

Screenshot by Destructoid

The Find a Party channel is the best place to get new teammates. Mage Arena's primary game mode is Capture the Flag, where two teams of four players battle against each other. You can join random lobbies, but communication is key. You can use Discord to find new allies if you don't have three other friends to team up with. You can also find a sparring partner to contest against in the Colosseum mode.

The channels under the Support section are also helpful, as Mage Arena is in early access. You can report a bug or leave a suggestion for the developers. You'll also find the patch notes for all updates under this section.

Multiple voice channels are also available. If you have teamed up with other players on Discord, you can use these channels to communicate with your allies. Communication is key to winning games in Mage Arena, as is learning the basics.

Always check out the FAQ section to learn more about concepts like spells, game modes, and more. There are 10 spells to learn and master to get one over your opponents. You'll explore different areas of the map to get more resources, but the main objective is to capture your enemy's base.

The post Mage Arena Official Discord link appeared first on Destructoid.

Co-op PvP shooter Mage Arena is quickly gaining popularity among PC gamers, and players can find their teammates on the game's official Discord. While it might not be common knowledge for most, there's an official Discord created by developer jrsjams. The Discord server is free and acts as your best go-to place for everything related to Mage Arena. How to join the official Mage Arena Discord server Joining the official server is free, but you must create your account (Discord) first. If you already have one, log in to it. Next, click on this link to get the invite, allowing you to join the server. You can browse through different channels once you're in the Discord servers. All the available channels can be found on the left, serving various purposes. You can use the general channel to discuss the game with the community. This can be about general tips or something you'd like to discuss. Screenshot by Destructoid The Find a Party channel is the best place to get new teammates. Mage Arena's primary game mode is Capture the Flag, where two teams of four players battle against each other. You can join random lobbies, but communication is key. You can use Discord to find new allies if you don't have three other friends to team up with. You can also find a sparring partner to contest against in the Colosseum mode. The channels under the Support section are also helpful, as Mage Arena is in early access. You can report a bug or leave a suggestion for the developers. You'll also find the patch notes for all updates under this section. Multiple voice channels are also available. If you have teamed up with other players on Discord, you can use these channels to communicate with your allies. Communication is key to winning games in Mage Arena, as is learning the basics. Always check out the FAQ section to learn more about concepts like spells, game modes, and more. There are 10 spells to learn and master to get one over your opponents. You'll explore different areas of the map to get more resources, but the main objective is to capture your enemy's base. The post Mage Arena Official Discord link appeared first on Destructoid.

Roblox title Forsaken lovers has a new MLG Chance skin for players to obtain, and everyone has a fair chance to add the cosmetic to their collection.

This skin is tied to an in-game achievement that has to be completed if you want to earn it. The new skin is available for Chance, one of the many characters available in Forsaken. Let's take a look at how you can get this cosmetic.

How to obtain the MLG Chance in Forsaken

While the skin is obtainable for free, the task is complex. You'll need to complete the Ohh, Baby A Triple! achievement, which involves killing the Killer and his two minions. However, here's the catch: you must kill all three with the same shot.

You can complete the task against any Killer, but your character of choice will also matter. Ideally, the task is to use a character who can skillshot all three simultaneously. As for the map, I've found out it doesn't matter as much. The Killer, on the other hand, has a say.

Screenshot by Destructoid

Of all possible killers to complete the task, Cook Kid is the easiest one (due to how his minions spawn around him). To make matters easier for you, you can play with friends, raising your chances of success.

Having friends will also prevent you from being killed, as the Killer will have multiple targets. Ensure that one of you focuses on the boss and its minions, while others distract him. Once you eliminate all three, the Ohh, Baby A Triple! will be complete. Every member in your party will get the skin.

The skin looks terrific, and so are its animations. It is an amazing item to add for free. Sure, it will take some time, but the job is doable. Having friends will also make the task a lot easier.

The post How to get MLG Chance in Forsaken appeared first on Destructoid.

Roblox title Forsaken lovers has a new MLG Chance skin for players to obtain, and everyone has a fair chance to add the cosmetic to their collection. This skin is tied to an in-game achievement that has to be completed if you want to earn it. The new skin is available for Chance, one of the many characters available in Forsaken. Let's take a look at how you can get this cosmetic. How to obtain the MLG Chance in Forsaken While the skin is obtainable for free, the task is complex. You'll need to complete the Ohh, Baby A Triple! achievement, which involves killing the Killer and his two minions. However, here's the catch: you must kill all three with the same shot. You can complete the task against any Killer, but your character of choice will also matter. Ideally, the task is to use a character who can skillshot all three simultaneously. As for the map, I've found out it doesn't matter as much. The Killer, on the other hand, has a say. Screenshot by Destructoid Of all possible killers to complete the task, Cook Kid is the easiest one (due to how his minions spawn around him). To make matters easier for you, you can play with friends, raising your chances of success. Having friends will also prevent you from being killed, as the Killer will have multiple targets. Ensure that one of you focuses on the boss and its minions, while others distract him. Once you eliminate all three, the Ohh, Baby A Triple! will be complete. Every member in your party will get the skin. The skin looks terrific, and so are its animations. It is an amazing item to add for free. Sure, it will take some time, but the job is doable. Having friends will also make the task a lot easier. The post How to get MLG Chance in Forsaken appeared first on Destructoid.

Titan Quest 2's early-access build allows you to inflict passive damage on enemies with the help of Ailments, which add status effects on the unfortunate enemies.

Unlike skills that always do direct damage, Ailments function directly. All of them apply different status effects to the enemy. While some of them deal damage over time, others are more focused on debuffs. Additionally, Ailments can also be inflicted on you by an enemy.

Table of contents

• All damage-dealing Ailments in Titan Quest 2
• All non-damage dealing Ailments in Titan Quest 2

All damage-dealing Ailments in Titan Quest 2

Ailments that deal damage function via different status effects in Titan Quest 2. If inflicted, you'll have to clear the status effects or keep taking (or doing) damage.

Status Effect How it works Bleed Saps away damage over time, caused mainly by melee weapons after their attacks pierce your armor. Burn Applies burn on enemies that continues to reduce their health. It can do more damage if the user's fire damage scales up. Chill Similar to Fire damage, but applies Cold damage instead. Also slows down enemies for a certain amount of time. Holy Spirit damage, mainly dealt from support-based attacks. Plague Poison damage done by skill attacks that are poison-based. Shock Lightning damage that can also stop enemies from performing actions. Shadow Not only does Shadow eat enemy health with time, but they can also work well with life drain-focused builds.

Screenshot via Grimoire Games

All non-damage dealing Ailments in Titan Quest 2

These Ailments might not affect the enemy's health, but they allow you to survive longer by disrupting the enemy.

Status Effect How it Works Disrupt Stops the enemy actions with stuns. You can also use it to stop enemy castings and skills. Stagger Slows down the enemy's movement and attack speed. Weaken Reduces enemy DPS and can scale up.

There are a few essential points to keep in mind about Ailments and the status effects they inflict.

• Ailments have an associated chance of determining when the status effects will be added to an enemy.
• The status effects, their durations, and damage can increase if they're based on skills that can be scaled up.
• Just like Spell Rage, Ailments have a soft and hard cap. The soft cap is set at 10, while the hard cap is set at 20.

The post All Ailments and Status Effects in Titan Quest 2 appeared first on Destructoid.

Titan Quest 2's early-access build allows you to inflict passive damage on enemies with the help of Ailments, which add status effects on the unfortunate enemies. Unlike skills that always do direct damage, Ailments function directly. All of them apply different status effects to the enemy. While some of them deal damage over time, others are more focused on debuffs. Additionally, Ailments can also be inflicted on you by an enemy. Table of contents All damage-dealing Ailments in Titan Quest 2 All non-damage dealing Ailments in Titan Quest 2 All damage-dealing Ailments in Titan Quest 2 Ailments that deal damage function via different status effects in Titan Quest 2. If inflicted, you'll have to clear the status effects or keep taking (or doing) damage. Status Effect How it works Bleed Saps away damage over time, caused mainly by melee weapons after their attacks pierce your armor. Burn Applies burn on enemies that continues to reduce their health. It can do more damage if the user's fire damage scales up. Chill Similar to Fire damage, but applies Cold damage instead. Also slows down enemies for a certain amount of time. Holy Spirit damage, mainly dealt from support-based attacks. Plague Poison damage done by skill attacks that are poison-based. Shock Lightning damage that can also stop enemies from performing actions. Shadow Not only does Shadow eat enemy health with time, but they can also work well with life drain-focused builds. Screenshot via Grimoire Games All non-damage dealing Ailments in Titan Quest 2 These Ailments might not affect the enemy's health, but they allow you to survive longer by disrupting the enemy. Status Effect How it Works Disrupt Stops the enemy actions with stuns. You can also use it to stop enemy castings and skills. Stagger Slows down the enemy's movement and attack speed. Weaken Reduces enemy DPS and can scale up. There are a few essential points to keep in mind about Ailments and the status effects they inflict. Ailments have an associated chance of determining when the status effects will be added to an enemy. The status effects, their durations, and damage can increase if they're based on skills that can be scaled up. Just like Spell Rage, Ailments have a soft and hard cap. The soft cap is set at 10, while the hard cap is set at 20. The post All Ailments and Status Effects in Titan Quest 2 appeared first on Destructoid.

Feeling like playing an old game, but not from the times when we talked about video games as "8-bit" or "16-bit"? I have some solid recommendations of great titles released on Steam in 2015 that are not as obvious as The Witcher 3 or Fallout 4. These ones I'll suggest are easy to pick up, cheap, and were decent hits when they released, with two of them becoming long-term franchises years later.

Crypt of the Necrodancer

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=u_avgU1u6yM

In 2015, Crypt of the Necrodancer sounded like the perfect mix for a fan of Guitar Hero and Spelunky like myself. It mixes the fast pace of electronic music with rogue-like elements and real-time tactics, forcing you to move around the map and attack monsters matching the beat of dark yet upbeat techno. The music builds up, and you get a damage boost as you stay in the rhythm, kill skeletons and slimes, and get close to running out of time on a stage.

Necrodancer forces you to react in its own timing, which is what makes it fun. It removes the planning during stages that some rogue-like players enjoy, but it's a nice challenge and twist on the genre. I was often caught by surprise by a massive red dragon spitting fire and coming out of my field of vision, which forced me to find the exact position I needed to be to attack it without getting roasted. Getting kills without missing a beat in a packed room is always rewarding.

All enemies have their own movement and attack patterns, so if you're a Souls-like nerd, you'll enjoy Necrodancer even more.

If you feel like you've heard about this game or played it before with another name, it's because it's from the same creators of Cadence of Hyrule, a spinoff themed after The Legend of Zelda and exclusive to the Nintendo Switch. It's essentially the same game as Crypt of the Necrodancer, but with a Zelda skin.

Also, Vocaloid fans will enjoy the original game's Hatsune Miku DLC.

Life is Strange

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mpRhaXfvG_0

The game that defined the "story-rich" tag for me, the original Life is Strange is a masterpiece. It received a remaster in 2022, so you can play it today with improvements.

You control Max, an aspiring photographer in school, who learns she can rewind time and change what she just witnessed. Life is Strange is mostly a narrative game where you watch the story unfold and make choices. It's unique because you can rewind time and undo your choices on the spot if you don't like the immediate consequences, so you don't need to save and reload the game if you're curious about more than one outcome. Since the game is about the conflict in the long-term consequences of your choices, which you can't undo, this time rewind mechanic doesn't spoil the story.

While the game is a teenage drama—with bullies, love, and identity as some of its main themes—the gameplay twist makes the plot more interesting even if you're well past your teenage years. The game's first episode is free on Steam, so there's no reason not to give it a try.

Life is Strange got sequels in Before the Storm, Life is Strange 2, Double Exposure, and True Colors, some with worse reviews than others. Luckily for you all new to the series, the original one I'm recommending is the highest-rated on Steam and Metacritic, so you don't need to worry about skipping the story to play the best game in the franchise.

Downwell

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rT_YHKL77hA

I actually stopped writing for a bit to play this one again. Downwell combines everything I love about rogue-likes: it's fast-paced, low stakes, has easy controls, and a difficult progression system with upgrades.

It's an action game where you progress by falling through a well with a white character wearing gun boots. If you shoot the boots, you damage enemies and destroy structures along the way while also slowing down your fall. Your goal is to survive the path to the bottom of each stage.

It's a super lightweight and cheap game on Steam. You'll see it looks like a great game to play on your phone, and you're right. It's also on Android and iOS, which always seemed like the perfect platforms to play Downwell. Not surprisingly, Destructoid gave the game the Best Mobile Game Award in 2015. The simple twist of falling down at high speed to win is enough to make the game interesting, and the randomized upgrades and maps make it timeless and worth spending a few hours on.

Despite being a great game and part of Devolver Digital's celebrated catalog, Downwell never got a sequel.

All the other games listed here are either much cheaper than titles released in 2025 or are constantly on sale. They'll remind you that 10 years wasn't so long ago and that this period had great games you might have missed.

The post A decade later, these 3 Steam games are still bangers appeared first on Destructoid.

Feeling like playing an old game, but not from the times when we talked about video games as "8-bit" or "16-bit"? I have some solid recommendations of great titles released on Steam in 2015 that are not as obvious as The Witcher 3 or Fallout 4. These ones I'll suggest are easy to pick up, cheap, and were decent hits when they released, with two of them becoming long-term franchises years later. Crypt of the Necrodancer https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=u_avgU1u6yM In 2015, Crypt of the Necrodancer sounded like the perfect mix for a fan of Guitar Hero and Spelunky like myself. It mixes the fast pace of electronic music with rogue-like elements and real-time tactics, forcing you to move around the map and attack monsters matching the beat of dark yet upbeat techno. The music builds up, and you get a damage boost as you stay in the rhythm, kill skeletons and slimes, and get close to running out of time on a stage. Necrodancer forces you to react in its own timing, which is what makes it fun. It removes the planning during stages that some rogue-like players enjoy, but it's a nice challenge and twist on the genre. I was often caught by surprise by a massive red dragon spitting fire and coming out of my field of vision, which forced me to find the exact position I needed to be to attack it without getting roasted. Getting kills without missing a beat in a packed room is always rewarding. All enemies have their own movement and attack patterns, so if you're a Souls-like nerd, you'll enjoy Necrodancer even more. If you feel like you've heard about this game or played it before with another name, it's because it's from the same creators of Cadence of Hyrule, a spinoff themed after The Legend of Zelda and exclusive to the Nintendo Switch. It's essentially the same game as Crypt of the Necrodancer, but with a Zelda skin. Also, Vocaloid fans will enjoy the original game's Hatsune Miku DLC. Life is Strange https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mpRhaXfvG_0 The game that defined the "story-rich" tag for me, the original Life is Strange is a masterpiece. It received a remaster in 2022, so you can play it today with improvements. You control Max, an aspiring photographer in school, who learns she can rewind time and change what she just witnessed. Life is Strange is mostly a narrative game where you watch the story unfold and make choices. It's unique because you can rewind time and undo your choices on the spot if you don't like the immediate consequences, so you don't need to save and reload the game if you're curious about more than one outcome. Since the game is about the conflict in the long-term consequences of your choices, which you can't undo, this time rewind mechanic doesn't spoil the story. While the game is a teenage drama—with bullies, love, and identity as some of its main themes—the gameplay twist makes the plot more interesting even if you're well past your teenage years. The game's first episode is free on Steam, so there's no reason not to give it a try. Life is Strange got sequels in Before the Storm, Life is Strange 2, Double Exposure, and True Colors, some with worse reviews than others. Luckily for you all new to the series, the original one I'm recommending is the highest-rated on Steam and Metacritic, so you don't need to worry about skipping the story to play the best game in the franchise. Downwell https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rT_YHKL77hA I actually stopped writing for a bit to play this one again. Downwell combines everything I love about rogue-likes: it's fast-paced, low stakes, has easy controls, and a difficult progression system with upgrades. It's an action game where you progress by falling through a well with a white character wearing gun boots. If you shoot the boots, you damage enemies and destroy structures along the way while also slowing down your fall. Your goal is to survive the path to the bottom of each stage. It's a super lightweight and cheap game on Steam. You'll see it looks like a great game to play on your phone, and you're right. It's also on Android and iOS, which always seemed like the perfect platforms to play Downwell. Not surprisingly, Destructoid gave the game the Best Mobile Game Award in 2015. The simple twist of falling down at high speed to win is enough to make the game interesting, and the randomized upgrades and maps make it timeless and worth spending a few hours on. Despite being a great game and part of Devolver Digital's celebrated catalog, Downwell never got a sequel. All the other games listed here are either much cheaper than titles released in 2025 or are constantly on sale. They'll remind you that 10 years wasn't so long ago and that this period had great games you might have missed. The post A decade later, these 3 Steam games are still bangers appeared first on Destructoid.

Black Ops 6 still has some juice left in the tank ahead of the next Call of Duty launching this fall, and season five is quite juicy.

With new weapons, maps, and modes coming to multiplayer, along with the final Zombies map launching on day one, season five is a good excuse to get the gang back together for some matches to beat the heat outside.

Here's everything coming in BO6's season five, likely its penultimate season, when it begins on Aug. 7.

Table of contents

• BO6 season 5 patch notes
  • New multiplayer maps and modes
  • Four new weapons
  • New Scorestreak
  • Weapon buffs and nerfs
  • New Zombies map
  • New events

BO6 season 5 patch notes

Before all eyes turn to Black Ops 7's full reveal and beta later in August, BO6's season five drops on Aug. 7 and rounds out the Zombies storyline while also bringing a plethora of other additions to multiplayer.

New multiplayer maps and modes

Image via Activision

Three new maps arrive at launch in season five, with one coming later at midseason. Runway (medium-sized), Exchange (small-sized), and Black Ops 1 remake W.M.D. are available at launch, while Jackpot (medium-sized) comes later on.

For those looking to try something a little different, new game modes Aim High, Snipers Only, and Cranked Demolition will refresh the fun. Cranked Moshpit, Ransack, and Blueprint Gunfight are returning modes that will appear throughout the season.

Four new weapons

Image via Activision

Three new weapons come to BO6 at the launch of season five, including the PML 5.56 light machine gun, ABR A1 assault rifle, and Boxing Gloves melee weapon, while the Gravemark .357 Revolver pistol will be added to the game during the mid-season event. Special new weapon attachments are also coming as part of event rewards.

New Scorestreak

Coming at mid-season, the Combat Bow will offer a new lethal Scorestreak option, returning for the first time since Black Ops Cold War.

• "Step out of the jungle and become a lone action hero, firing single-shot, explosive-tipped arrows that explode on impact, dealing incendiary damage to all enemies caught in its trajectory and leaving a trail of fire in its wake."

  • Type: Lethal
  • Score: 500

Weapon buffs and nerfs

Sick of the same old meta? Me too! Season five's patch has some changes for the multiplayer side of things, like buffs for the Goblin Mk2 and several shotguns, marksman rifles, sniper rifles, and pistols.

To see the full list of buffs, check out the CoD website for more.

New Zombies map

Image via Activision

The BO6 Zombies content comes to an end with the final map, Reckoning, on season five launch. The fun adventures of the Zombies crew finish up at the Project Janus Headquarters and will be available to play on Aug. 7 at 11am CT when season five begins.

The new map includes a new Elite enemy, Uber Klaus, which is a zombie in a giant mech suit. But there's also a new Wonder Weapon called Gorgofex, a hand cannon that fires "a slug of Aether-based energy."

Of course, there's a new main quest, special rewards, and other kinds of zombies to deal with. Grief mode and Directed Mode for Reckoning will be coming at mid-season, along with the new Mister Peeks Field Upgrade.

New events

Image via Activision

Free rewards are up for grabs throughout August and beyond in season five as part of playable limited-time events.

• '90s Action Heroes (in-season)

  • Total Rewards: 13, including the Boxing Gloves Melee Weapon and the Mister Peeks Zombies Field Upgrade

• Operation: Hell Ride (mid-season)

  • Rewards Include: Gravemark .357 Revolver

• Atomic Block Party (mid-season)

  • "It’s time to commemorate everyone’s favorite chaotic battleground! Engage in a Nuketown-inspired event full of rewards."

The post Black Ops 6 season 5 patch notes – New weapons, new Zombies map, new events, and more appeared first on Destructoid.

Black Ops 6 still has some juice left in the tank ahead of the next Call of Duty launching this fall, and season five is quite juicy. With new weapons, maps, and modes coming to multiplayer, along with the final Zombies map launching on day one, season five is a good excuse to get the gang back together for some matches to beat the heat outside. Here's everything coming in BO6's season five, likely its penultimate season, when it begins on Aug. 7. Table of contents BO6 season 5 patch notes New multiplayer maps and modes Four new weapons New Scorestreak Weapon buffs and nerfs New Zombies map New events BO6 season 5 patch notes Before all eyes turn to Black Ops 7's full reveal and beta later in August, BO6's season five drops on Aug. 7 and rounds out the Zombies storyline while also bringing a plethora of other additions to multiplayer. New multiplayer maps and modes Image via Activision Three new maps arrive at launch in season five, with one coming later at midseason. Runway (medium-sized), Exchange (small-sized), and Black Ops 1 remake W.M.D. are available at launch, while Jackpot (medium-sized) comes later on. For those looking to try something a little different, new game modes Aim High, Snipers Only, and Cranked Demolition will refresh the fun. Cranked Moshpit, Ransack, and Blueprint Gunfight are returning modes that will appear throughout the season. Four new weapons Image via Activision Three new weapons come to BO6 at the launch of season five, including the PML 5.56 light machine gun, ABR A1 assault rifle, and Boxing Gloves melee weapon, while the Gravemark .357 Revolver pistol will be added to the game during the mid-season event. Special new weapon attachments are also coming as part of event rewards. New Scorestreak Coming at mid-season, the Combat Bow will offer a new lethal Scorestreak option, returning for the first time since Black Ops Cold War. "Step out of the jungle and become a lone action hero, firing single-shot, explosive-tipped arrows that explode on impact, dealing incendiary damage to all enemies caught in its trajectory and leaving a trail of fire in its wake." Type: Lethal Score: 500 Weapon buffs and nerfs Sick of the same old meta? Me too! Season five's patch has some changes for the multiplayer side of things, like buffs for the Goblin Mk2 and several shotguns, marksman rifles, sniper rifles, and pistols. To see the full list of buffs, check out the CoD website for more. New Zombies map Image via Activision The BO6 Zombies content comes to an end with the final map, Reckoning, on season five launch. The fun adventures of the Zombies crew finish up at the Project Janus Headquarters and will be available to play on Aug. 7 at 11am CT when season five begins. The new map includes a new Elite enemy, Uber Klaus, which is a zombie in a giant mech suit. But there's also a new Wonder Weapon called Gorgofex, a hand cannon that fires "a slug of Aether-based energy." Of course, there's a new main quest, special rewards, and other kinds of zombies to deal with. Grief mode and Directed Mode for Reckoning will be coming at mid-season, along with the new Mister Peeks Field Upgrade. New events Image via Activision Free rewards are up for grabs throughout August and beyond in season five as part of playable limited-time events. '90s Action Heroes (in-season) Total Rewards: 13, including the Boxing Gloves Melee Weapon and the Mister Peeks Zombies Field Upgrade Operation: Hell Ride (mid-season) Rewards Include: Gravemark .357 Revolver Atomic Block Party (mid-season) "It’s time to commemorate everyone’s favorite chaotic battleground! Engage in a Nuketown-inspired event full of rewards." The post Black Ops 6 season 5 patch notes – New weapons, new Zombies map, new events, and more appeared first on Destructoid.

When Black Ops 6 fades into the past, I think it will go down as a memorable Zombies game in the Call of Duty franchise. And there's one more ride left to take before it's gone.

Here's everything we know so far about the final BO6 Zombies map, "Reckoning," and everything else coming in BO6 Zombies season five on Aug. 7.

Table of contents

• BO6 Zombies season 5 patch notes
  • New map: Reckoning
  • New Wonder Weapon: Gorgofex
  • New Elite enemy: Uber Klaus
  • New Field Upgrade: Mister Peeks
  • New weapons
  • Reckoning: Grief and Directed Mode incoming

BO6 Zombies season 5 patch notes

New map: Reckoning

Image via Activision

Take the fight to Janus Towers in BO6 Zombies' final map, Reckoning. The team arrives and all hell breaks loose, leaving the foursome to save the day once more as part of the ongoing CoD Dark Aether storyline.

"The towers’ systems appear to be critically damaged, and total failure is imminent," Activision said. "Stabilizing the Aether Reactors seems to be the initial overriding goal, before even greater threats must be faced."

The main quest for Reckoning goes live on Aug. 7 at 11am CT.

New Wonder Weapon: Gorgofex

Image via Activision

Reckoning's Wonder Weapon, Gorgofex, is a powerful hand cannon that has some unique capabilities.

"Combining fungal, floral, and insectile traits to deliver precise impact damage and gravity-defying disruption in close quarters, glowing membranes on the weapon show hints of motion and circulation under the surface," Activision said. "The weapon seems to pulse and breathe, with a beating central heart-like organ that 'pumps' energy through the weapon. Due to the saturation of Dark Aether and other unknown energies, the weapon is said to emit faint psychic vibrations."

Shooting Gorgofex will create an area-of-effect damage field that dissipates outward and inflicts damage in a wider area.

New Elite enemy: Uber Klaus

Image via Activision

The robot Klaus got a big upgrade for this final mission. Uber Klaus comes equipped with a giant mech suit as the map's new elite enemy, sure to throw a wrinkle in the team's plans.

"The secret Research and Development program of Project Janus appears to have been more evolved than originally thought, developing many more robots in the Klaus Assembly Lab than first anticipated," Activision explained. "The greatest of these threats is the Uber Klaus – a murderous automaton encased in a toughened, bulky exoskeleton – that maintains a cocky attitude, lethal efficiency, and super strength, all directed at newly-programmed threats"

New Field Upgrade: Mister Peeks

Image via Activision

Everyone's favorite demented plush bunny is a reward from an in-season event, and is a throwable Field Upgrade that "gleefully attracts normal and Special enemies and attacks any undead within his wandering radius, savaging foes until they explode in a shower of bright confetti. "

• Major Augments

  • Dance Party

    • Mister Peeks becomes the life of the party, attracting nearby zombies to him, before he detonates an Aether Pulse to thin out the crowd considerably.

  • Arcane Fury

    • Mister Peeks has become a master of the elements, enhancing his regular damage with a random Ammo Mod (with an Augment from that Ammo Mod).

  • Apex Hunter

    • Mister Peeks focuses all attacks on the strongest nearby enemy other than bosses. For example, Uber Klaus would be targeted over regular foes, with increased damage inflicted.

• Minor Augments

  • Social Butterfly

    • Increase Mister Peeks’ attraction radius.

  • Peeks’ Favor

    • Mister Peeks is good to have around Mystery Box locations. Get a free box spin if you’re near one during activation!

  • Party Animal

    • Increase Mister Peeks' dance duration.

New weapons

Image via Activision

Four new weapons in season five of BO6 include the PML 5.56 LMG, ABR A1 assault rifle, Boxing Gloves melee weapon, and Gravemark .357 Revolver (mid-season), all with their own camo challenges to unlock.

Reckoning: Grief and Directed Mode incoming

Both Grief and Directed Mode for Reckoning will be coming later on in season five, Activision confirmed.

For the full patch notes, including a large number of bug fixes, visit the CoD website for more info.

The post Black Ops 6 Zombies season 5 patch notes – Reckoning, new Wonder Weapon, Mister Peeks, and more appeared first on Destructoid.

When Black Ops 6 fades into the past, I think it will go down as a memorable Zombies game in the Call of Duty franchise. And there's one more ride left to take before it's gone. Here's everything we know so far about the final BO6 Zombies map, "Reckoning," and everything else coming in BO6 Zombies season five on Aug. 7. Table of contents BO6 Zombies season 5 patch notes New map: Reckoning New Wonder Weapon: Gorgofex New Elite enemy: Uber Klaus New Field Upgrade: Mister Peeks New weapons Reckoning: Grief and Directed Mode incoming BO6 Zombies season 5 patch notes New map: Reckoning Image via Activision Take the fight to Janus Towers in BO6 Zombies' final map, Reckoning. The team arrives and all hell breaks loose, leaving the foursome to save the day once more as part of the ongoing CoD Dark Aether storyline. "The towers’ systems appear to be critically damaged, and total failure is imminent," Activision said. "Stabilizing the Aether Reactors seems to be the initial overriding goal, before even greater threats must be faced." The main quest for Reckoning goes live on Aug. 7 at 11am CT. New Wonder Weapon: Gorgofex Image via Activision Reckoning's Wonder Weapon, Gorgofex, is a powerful hand cannon that has some unique capabilities. "Combining fungal, floral, and insectile traits to deliver precise impact damage and gravity-defying disruption in close quarters, glowing membranes on the weapon show hints of motion and circulation under the surface," Activision said. "The weapon seems to pulse and breathe, with a beating central heart-like organ that 'pumps' energy through the weapon. Due to the saturation of Dark Aether and other unknown energies, the weapon is said to emit faint psychic vibrations." Shooting Gorgofex will create an area-of-effect damage field that dissipates outward and inflicts damage in a wider area. New Elite enemy: Uber Klaus Image via Activision The robot Klaus got a big upgrade for this final mission. Uber Klaus comes equipped with a giant mech suit as the map's new elite enemy, sure to throw a wrinkle in the team's plans. "The secret Research and Development program of Project Janus appears to have been more evolved than originally thought, developing many more robots in the Klaus Assembly Lab than first anticipated," Activision explained. "The greatest of these threats is the Uber Klaus – a murderous automaton encased in a toughened, bulky exoskeleton – that maintains a cocky attitude, lethal efficiency, and super strength, all directed at newly-programmed threats" New Field Upgrade: Mister Peeks Image via Activision Everyone's favorite demented plush bunny is a reward from an in-season event, and is a throwable Field Upgrade that "gleefully attracts normal and Special enemies and attacks any undead within his wandering radius, savaging foes until they explode in a shower of bright confetti. " Major Augments Dance Party Mister Peeks becomes the life of the party, attracting nearby zombies to him, before he detonates an Aether Pulse to thin out the crowd considerably. Arcane Fury Mister Peeks has become a master of the elements, enhancing his regular damage with a random Ammo Mod (with an Augment from that Ammo Mod). Apex Hunter Mister Peeks focuses all attacks on the strongest nearby enemy other than bosses. For example, Uber Klaus would be targeted over regular foes, with increased damage inflicted. Minor Augments Social Butterfly Increase Mister Peeks’ attraction radius. Peeks’ Favor Mister Peeks is good to have around Mystery Box locations. Get a free box spin if you’re near one during activation! Party Animal Increase Mister Peeks' dance duration. New weapons Image via Activision Four new weapons in season five of BO6 include the PML 5.56 LMG, ABR A1 assault rifle, Boxing Gloves melee weapon, and Gravemark .357 Revolver (mid-season), all with their own camo challenges to unlock. Reckoning: Grief and Directed Mode incoming Both Grief and Directed Mode for Reckoning will be coming later on in season five, Activision confirmed. For the full patch notes, including a large number of bug fixes, visit the CoD website for more info. The post Black Ops 6 Zombies season 5 patch notes – Reckoning, new Wonder Weapon, Mister Peeks, and more appeared first on Destructoid.

The battle royale rages on in Call of Duty: Warzone, alongside Black Ops 6's season five, including an all-new contract that may be building up to something big.

Here's what Warzone fans can expect to play when season five goes live on Aug. 7.

Table of contents

• Warzone BO6 season 5 patch notes
  • New contract: Satellite Hijack
  • New guns
  • New limited time modes
  • Weapon nerfs and buffs
  • New Ranked Play rewards
  • Solos return, but only for NA and EU

Warzone BO6 season 5 patch notes

Season five for Warzone is a bit light on new content, but the build-up to Black Ops 7 should make things interesting over the coming months, including the opening of the Stadium POI with a new contract.

New contract: Satellite Hijack

Image via Activision

This new contract will only be available for the first week of the season, and due to its odd nature, it likely has a lot to do with BO7's reveal. Warzone events and gameplay have been used to unveil new CoD stuff over the past few years, so this year is no different.

"Breach the stadium in possibly the most impressively explosive way possible as you and other enemy squads attempt race (sic) to complete the multi-step Satellite Hijack Contract," Activision said. "Infiltrate the Stadium by any means necessary, confirming the nefarious operations and hidden compound within."

The contract includes some kind of special reward, which will be "available to every member of your squad and usable during the rest of the match as well as permanently placed in your Gunsmith."

New guns

Image via Activision

The PML 5.56 LMG, ABR A1 assault rifle, Boxing Gloves melee weapon, and Gravemark .357 Revolver (mid-season) will be entering loadouts all over Verdansk in season five.

New limited time modes

Image via Activision

Two new LTMs grace season five, including Stadium Resurgence and Deadline.

Stadium Resurgence is available in week two and includes 36 players dropping into the Stadium POI in short, 12-minute matches. Deadline is built for groups of four and includes both other players and bots in a unique new game type.

"Jump in with your squad and amass as many points as you can between each Circle Collapse," Activision said of the mode. "Naturally, racking up eliminations—by dispatching both human and Bot Hostile Agents— is a key method of increasing your points total, but you’re also rewarded with points by completing Contracts, looting supplies, and spending cash at Buy Stations."

Weapon nerfs and buffs

The meta should shift in the new season once weapons are tweaked to shake things up, including buffs for guns like the AK-74, AMES 85, AS VAL, C9, and Jackal PDW, with a nerf to the often-used LC 10.

For the full list of changes, visit the CoD website.

New Ranked Play rewards

Image via Activision

Ranked Play continues in season five, with new rewards to be earned by completing the following objectives:

• First Season Win: Weapon Charm
• Get 25 Eliminations: Elimination Sticker
• Get 100 Eliminations: Elimination Weapon Camo
• Get 250 Eliminations: Elimination SWAT 5.56 Weapon Blueprint
• Silver: “Ranked Season 5 – Silver” Emblem
• Gold: “Ranked Season 5 – Gold” Emblem and Calling Card
• Platinum: “Ranked Season 5 – Platinum” Emblem and Calling Card
• Diamond: “Ranked Season 5 – Diamond” Emblem and Calling Card
• Crimson: “Ranked Season 5 – Crimson” Emblem and Calling Card
• Iridescent: “Ranked Season 5 – Iridescent” Emblem and Calling Card
• Top 250: “Ranked Season 5 – Top 250” Emblem and Calling Card
• Season 05 Champion: “Ranked Season 5 – Top 250 Champion” Emblem

Solos return, but only for NA and EU

Solo BR is coming back in season five, but with a catch. Core Solos will only be available worldwide for 48 hours, and after that, the mode will only be available in the NA and EU regions. Casual BR Solos will be available permanently.

"In North America and Europe, Core Solos was marginally more sustainable than other regions in both phases of testing; however, the mode still suffered from match quality concerns (connection, match times) due to players preferring other available playlists," Activision explained. "In other regions, Core Solos was unable to deliver acceptable match quality. Casual Solos has proven itself to be the more approachable and globally sustainable mode. Keeping this mode live worldwide ensures that solo players everywhere have a healthy, high-quality match experience."

The post Warzone season 5 patch notes – New guns, Stadium opens up, new modes, and more appeared first on Destructoid.

The battle royale rages on in Call of Duty: Warzone, alongside Black Ops 6's season five, including an all-new contract that may be building up to something big. Here's what Warzone fans can expect to play when season five goes live on Aug. 7. Table of contents Warzone BO6 season 5 patch notes New contract: Satellite Hijack New guns New limited time modes Weapon nerfs and buffs New Ranked Play rewards Solos return, but only for NA and EU Warzone BO6 season 5 patch notes Season five for Warzone is a bit light on new content, but the build-up to Black Ops 7 should make things interesting over the coming months, including the opening of the Stadium POI with a new contract. New contract: Satellite Hijack Image via Activision This new contract will only be available for the first week of the season, and due to its odd nature, it likely has a lot to do with BO7's reveal. Warzone events and gameplay have been used to unveil new CoD stuff over the past few years, so this year is no different. "Breach the stadium in possibly the most impressively explosive way possible as you and other enemy squads attempt race (sic) to complete the multi-step Satellite Hijack Contract," Activision said. "Infiltrate the Stadium by any means necessary, confirming the nefarious operations and hidden compound within." The contract includes some kind of special reward, which will be "available to every member of your squad and usable during the rest of the match as well as permanently placed in your Gunsmith." New guns Image via Activision The PML 5.56 LMG, ABR A1 assault rifle, Boxing Gloves melee weapon, and Gravemark .357 Revolver (mid-season) will be entering loadouts all over Verdansk in season five. New limited time modes Image via Activision Two new LTMs grace season five, including Stadium Resurgence and Deadline. Stadium Resurgence is available in week two and includes 36 players dropping into the Stadium POI in short, 12-minute matches. Deadline is built for groups of four and includes both other players and bots in a unique new game type. "Jump in with your squad and amass as many points as you can between each Circle Collapse," Activision said of the mode. "Naturally, racking up eliminations—by dispatching both human and Bot Hostile Agents— is a key method of increasing your points total, but you’re also rewarded with points by completing Contracts, looting supplies, and spending cash at Buy Stations." Weapon nerfs and buffs The meta should shift in the new season once weapons are tweaked to shake things up, including buffs for guns like the AK-74, AMES 85, AS VAL, C9, and Jackal PDW, with a nerf to the often-used LC 10. For the full list of changes, visit the CoD website. New Ranked Play rewards Image via Activision Ranked Play continues in season five, with new rewards to be earned by completing the following objectives: First Season Win: Weapon Charm Get 25 Eliminations: Elimination Sticker Get 100 Eliminations: Elimination Weapon Camo Get 250 Eliminations: Elimination SWAT 5.56 Weapon Blueprint Silver: “Ranked Season 5 – Silver” Emblem Gold: “Ranked Season 5 – Gold” Emblem and Calling Card Platinum: “Ranked Season 5 – Platinum” Emblem and Calling Card Diamond: “Ranked Season 5 – Diamond” Emblem and Calling Card Crimson: “Ranked Season 5 – Crimson” Emblem and Calling Card Iridescent: “Ranked Season 5 – Iridescent” Emblem and Calling Card Top 250: “Ranked Season 5 – Top 250” Emblem and Calling Card Season 05 Champion: “Ranked Season 5 – Top 250 Champion” Emblem Solos return, but only for NA and EU Solo BR is coming back in season five, but with a catch. Core Solos will only be available worldwide for 48 hours, and after that, the mode will only be available in the NA and EU regions. Casual BR Solos will be available permanently. "In North America and Europe, Core Solos was marginally more sustainable than other regions in both phases of testing; however, the mode still suffered from match quality concerns (connection, match times) due to players preferring other available playlists," Activision explained. "In other regions, Core Solos was unable to deliver acceptable match quality. Casual Solos has proven itself to be the more approachable and globally sustainable mode. Keeping this mode live worldwide ensures that solo players everywhere have a healthy, high-quality match experience." The post Warzone season 5 patch notes – New guns, Stadium opens up, new modes, and more appeared first on Destructoid.

As a life-long Metal Gear Solid fan since I first beat MGS1 as a nine-year-old, I'm a little bit of a purist when it comes to the franchise.

I don't like spinoffs, I don't like the Twin Snakes remake on GameCube, and usually anything without Hideo Kojima's involvement isn't worth my time. Thankfully, Konami's new remake of the iconic MGS3, Metal Gear Solid Delta: Snake Eater, seems to be worth every second and cent thus far, judging from what I played today.

Image via Konami

I got about 40 minutes of hands-on gameplay time with MGS Delta at a special pop-up event in New York City today, and other than the obvious note that the game is gorgeous on Unreal Engine 5, I came away from the experience more excited for the full game than I thought possible.

We were unable to record any pictures or videos, but I got to play the opening moments of the game, which have been faithfully recreated in nearly every way when it comes to cutscenes and presentation. It's the same exact voiceovers and same cutscenes from 2004, but with an unreal coat of 2025 paint that shines with every detail down to the chin hairs on Snake's beard or mud remaining on his suit in cutscenes. And thankfully, the facial motions and mouth movements match up perfectly to the English voiceover, which is a lovely departure from the original title.

Starting out, you get to make the choice of which MGS is your favorite, just like in the original. This time, you can choose anything from MGS1 through MGS5, and each choice gives you unique starting items, such as specific camos or face paints. But then I got into the thick of it, with the clock ticking and little time to play.

Gameplay-wise, the controls have been overhauled and modernized, and they are very different from the original game, but for the better. You can choose between a new over-the-shoulder perspective or stick with the classic camera angles from the OG game, but the new controls are a bit wonky in that regard. Unfortunately, I did not have time to check if you can swap to a classic control scheme.

Playing on PS5 Pro, the new scheme uses L2 to aim (third-person view with an aiming reticle, but you can swap to first-person), R2 to shoot or attack, left and right on the d-pad for items and weapons respectively, and right analog stick to scroll through the options.

Image via Konami

Snake can crouch with O, roll with triangle, reload with square, and interact with X. Holding down L1 will make Snake walk very slowly and stealthily to sneak up on foes, and R1 switches Snake into first-person view, just like in the original.

The most intuitive and fun change, for me, is the ability to change uniforms and face paint on the fly, utilizing MGS3's famous Camo Index feature to swap your colors near-instantly (hold up on the d-pad to bring up the on-screen menu as shown above) to blend into the different environments. Snake's health, stamina, and camouflage percentage are at the bottom of the screen at all times, and swapping your camos is not only encouraged but necessary, especially on higher difficulties, as enemies seem to be able to see you from further away.

You can still open up the main menu to select your camouflages manually like in the original, but it's just so simple and easy to swap on the fly The enemy guards are reminiscent of those in Metal Gear Solid V: The Phantom Pain, which is not all that surprising, and they seem to be a bit more lethal when it comes to combat now, too.

I breezed through the Virtuous Mission portion of the game, saving those cutscenes for my big screen TV at home, but also because I wanted to play the game as much as I could. I messed around with sneaking through cover, using the camo index liberally, and fighting enemies where I could. The tranquilizer pistol has some serious bullet drop-off this time around, and CQC attacks can be done with one tap of the R2 button when you get in close, but I was only playing on Normal difficulty, so I would assume things are tougher on higher ones.

Playing with the new controls and camera angle makes MGS Delta feel like a different but familiar game. Snake feels weightier than before, moving methodically through the battlefield. I also think that tweaking things like the color filter to give it the same hues as the original, or even changing it up to one titled Action Movie, could make for many unique-feeling playthroughs, along with camera angle swaps, different masks and uniforms, and other silly changes.

As I skipped some cutscenes, the new opening credits played, including a newly-recorded version of the classic Snake Eater theme song, with singer Cynthia Harrell returning to put a different spin on it. It was as lovely as ever.

I was able to get to the end of the Ocelot Unit fight when someone in the venue turned on the lights and signified that my time was up, but I can't wait to play more as soon as possible. My main takeaway from my playtime, though, is that this is a very, very faithful remake of MGS3, but with enhancements to the gameplay that better the experience for all players.

Image via Konami

I'm sure the mega-purists will find stuff to take issue with (they always do), but for those of us looking to re-live MGS3 with some incredible new visuals, or new gamers who haven't played the original title from 2004, this is looking like a must-play for 2025.

Metal Gear Solid Delta: Snake Eater launches on PS5, Xbox Series X|S, and PC on Aug. 28.

The post Metal Gear Solid Delta: Snake Eater hands-on – A very faithful remake with lots new to look forward to appeared first on Destructoid.

As a life-long Metal Gear Solid fan since I first beat MGS1 as a nine-year-old, I'm a little bit of a purist when it comes to the franchise. I don't like spinoffs, I don't like the Twin Snakes remake on GameCube, and usually anything without Hideo Kojima's involvement isn't worth my time. Thankfully, Konami's new remake of the iconic MGS3, Metal Gear Solid Delta: Snake Eater, seems to be worth every second and cent thus far, judging from what I played today. Image via Konami I got about 40 minutes of hands-on gameplay time with MGS Delta at a special pop-up event in New York City today, and other than the obvious note that the game is gorgeous on Unreal Engine 5, I came away from the experience more excited for the full game than I thought possible. We were unable to record any pictures or videos, but I got to play the opening moments of the game, which have been faithfully recreated in nearly every way when it comes to cutscenes and presentation. It's the same exact voiceovers and same cutscenes from 2004, but with an unreal coat of 2025 paint that shines with every detail down to the chin hairs on Snake's beard or mud remaining on his suit in cutscenes. And thankfully, the facial motions and mouth movements match up perfectly to the English voiceover, which is a lovely departure from the original title. Starting out, you get to make the choice of which MGS is your favorite, just like in the original. This time, you can choose anything from MGS1 through MGS5, and each choice gives you unique starting items, such as specific camos or face paints. But then I got into the thick of it, with the clock ticking and little time to play. Gameplay-wise, the controls have been overhauled and modernized, and they are very different from the original game, but for the better. You can choose between a new over-the-shoulder perspective or stick with the classic camera angles from the OG game, but the new controls are a bit wonky in that regard. Unfortunately, I did not have time to check if you can swap to a classic control scheme. Playing on PS5 Pro, the new scheme uses L2 to aim (third-person view with an aiming reticle, but you can swap to first-person), R2 to shoot or attack, left and right on the d-pad for items and weapons respectively, and right analog stick to scroll through the options. Image via Konami Snake can crouch with O, roll with triangle, reload with square, and interact with X. Holding down L1 will make Snake walk very slowly and stealthily to sneak up on foes, and R1 switches Snake into first-person view, just like in the original. The most intuitive and fun change, for me, is the ability to change uniforms and face paint on the fly, utilizing MGS3's famous Camo Index feature to swap your colors near-instantly (hold up on the d-pad to bring up the on-screen menu as shown above) to blend into the different environments. Snake's health, stamina, and camouflage percentage are at the bottom of the screen at all times, and swapping your camos is not only encouraged but necessary, especially on higher difficulties, as enemies seem to be able to see you from further away. You can still open up the main menu to select your camouflages manually like in the original, but it's just so simple and easy to swap on the fly The enemy guards are reminiscent of those in Metal Gear Solid V: The Phantom Pain, which is not all that surprising, and they seem to be a bit more lethal when it comes to combat now, too. I breezed through the Virtuous Mission portion of the game, saving those cutscenes for my big screen TV at home, but also because I wanted to play the game as much as I could. I messed around with sneaking through cover, using the camo index liberally, and fighting enemies where I could. The tranquilizer pistol has some serious bullet drop-off this time around, and CQC attacks can be done with one tap of the R2 button when you get in close, but I was only playing on Normal difficulty, so I would assume things are tougher on higher ones. Playing with the new controls and camera angle makes MGS Delta feel like a different but familiar game. Snake feels weightier than before, moving methodically through the battlefield. I also think that tweaking things like the color filter to give it the same hues as the original, or even changing it up to one titled Action Movie, could make for many unique-feeling playthroughs, along with camera angle swaps, different masks and uniforms, and other silly changes. As I skipped some cutscenes, the new opening credits played, including a newly-recorded version of the classic Snake Eater theme song, with singer Cynthia Harrell returning to put a different spin on it. It was as lovely as ever. I was able to get to the end of the Ocelot Unit fight when someone in the venue turned on the lights and signified that my time was up, but I can't wait to play more as soon as possible. My main takeaway from my playtime, though, is that this is a very, very faithful remake of MGS3, but with enhancements to the gameplay that better the experience for all players. Image via Konami I'm sure the mega-purists will find stuff to take issue with (they always do), but for those of us looking to re-live MGS3 with some incredible new visuals, or new gamers who haven't played the original title from 2004, this is looking like a must-play for 2025. Metal Gear Solid Delta: Snake Eater launches on PS5, Xbox Series X|S, and PC on Aug. 28. The post Metal Gear Solid Delta: Snake Eater hands-on – A very faithful remake with lots new to look forward to appeared first on Destructoid.

The Hybrid Core evolution is now live in EA FC 25, and you have yet another chance to upgrade a lower-rated item for free.

The evolution lets you increase any item rated up to 95, and offers stat upgrades, new playstyles, roles, and more. With so many fantastic options, let's take a look at which card you should pick to include.

Table of contents

• EA FC 25 Hybrid Core evolution requirements
• EA FC 25 Hybrid Core evolution upgrades
• Best players to use in Hybrid Core evolution

EA FC 25 Hybrid Core evolution requirements

Here are the requirements of the Hybrid Core evolution in EA FC 25.

• Overall: Max 95
• PlayStyles: Max 10
• PlayStyles+: Max 4

EA FC 25 Hybrid Core evolution upgrades

There are five levels of upgrades, and here are the requirements.

Level 1 upgrades

• Overall: +4|97
• Acceleration: +4|94
• Crossing: +8|95
• Sprint Speed: +4|94
• Vision: +4|94
• PlayStyles: Slide Tackle|8

Level 2 upgrades

• Agility: +4|92
• Balance: +8|91
• Curve: +8|94
• Long Passing: +4|97
• Short Passing: +4|97
• PlayStyles: Technical|8

Level 3 upgrades

• Dribbling: +4|90
• Interceptions: +8|94
• Def. Aware: +6|94
• Stand Tackle: +6|95
• Composure: +8|91
• PlayStyles+: Quick Step|4

Level 4 upgrades

• Aggression: +8|92
• Jumping: +8|90
• Slide Tackle: +12|96
• Stamina: +10|92
• Strength: +4|90
• PlayStyles: Dead Ball|8

Level 5 upgrades

• Overall: +2|97
• Def. Aware: +6|94
• Stand Tackle: +6|95
• PlayStyles+: Intercept|4
• PlayStyles: Pinged Pass|8

Level 1 upgrade conditions

• Play 1 match in Rush, Rivals, Champions, or Squad Battles on Min. Semi-Pro using your active EVO player in game.

Level 2 upgrade conditions

• Win 1 match in Rush, Rivals, Champions, or Squad Battles on Min. Semi-Pro using your active EVO player in game.

Level 3 upgrade conditions

• Play 1 match in Rush, Rivals, Champions, or Squad Battles on Min. Semi-Pro using your active EVO player in game.

Level 4 upgrade conditions

• Win 1 match in Rush, Rivals, Champions, or Squad Battles on Min. Semi-Pro using your active EVO player in game.

Level 5 upgrade conditions

• Play 2 matches in Rush, Rivals, Champions, or Squad Battles on Min. Semi-Pro using your active EVO player in game.

Best players to use in Hybrid Core evolution

Here are some of the best players to use in this evolution.

• Ciro Immobile Shapeshifters
• Sergej Milinkovic-Savic TOTS
• Vanja Milinkovic-Savic Flashback
• Alvero FUTTIES
• Mapi Leon Shapeshifters
• Fermin Lopez Fantasy FC
• Adam Wharton Showdown
• Sam Kerr FUTTIES
• Hato FUTTIES
• Walsh Fantasy FC
• Fred TOTS

Your club’s evo chain candidates can provide unique solutions exclusive to your Ultimate Team squad.

The post Best players for EA FC 25 Hybrid Core evolution appeared first on Destructoid.

The Hybrid Core evolution is now live in EA FC 25, and you have yet another chance to upgrade a lower-rated item for free. The evolution lets you increase any item rated up to 95, and offers stat upgrades, new playstyles, roles, and more. With so many fantastic options, let's take a look at which card you should pick to include. Table of contents EA FC 25 Hybrid Core evolution requirements EA FC 25 Hybrid Core evolution upgrades Best players to use in Hybrid Core evolution EA FC 25 Hybrid Core evolution requirements Here are the requirements of the Hybrid Core evolution in EA FC 25. Overall: Max 95 PlayStyles: Max 10 PlayStyles+: Max 4 EA FC 25 Hybrid Core evolution upgrades There are five levels of upgrades, and here are the requirements. Level 1 upgrades Overall: +4|97 Acceleration: +4|94 Crossing: +8|95 Sprint Speed: +4|94 Vision: +4|94 PlayStyles: Slide Tackle|8 Level 2 upgrades Agility: +4|92 Balance: +8|91 Curve: +8|94 Long Passing: +4|97 Short Passing: +4|97 PlayStyles: Technical|8 Level 3 upgrades Dribbling: +4|90 Interceptions: +8|94 Def. Aware: +6|94 Stand Tackle: +6|95 Composure: +8|91 PlayStyles+: Quick Step|4 Level 4 upgrades Aggression: +8|92 Jumping: +8|90 Slide Tackle: +12|96 Stamina: +10|92 Strength: +4|90 PlayStyles: Dead Ball|8 Level 5 upgrades Overall: +2|97 Def. Aware: +6|94 Stand Tackle: +6|95 PlayStyles+: Intercept|4 PlayStyles: Pinged Pass|8 Level 1 upgrade conditions Play 1 match in Rush, Rivals, Champions, or Squad Battles on Min. Semi-Pro using your active EVO player in game. Level 2 upgrade conditions Win 1 match in Rush, Rivals, Champions, or Squad Battles on Min. Semi-Pro using your active EVO player in game. Level 3 upgrade conditions Play 1 match in Rush, Rivals, Champions, or Squad Battles on Min. Semi-Pro using your active EVO player in game. Level 4 upgrade conditions Win 1 match in Rush, Rivals, Champions, or Squad Battles on Min. Semi-Pro using your active EVO player in game. Level 5 upgrade conditions Play 2 matches in Rush, Rivals, Champions, or Squad Battles on Min. Semi-Pro using your active EVO player in game. Best players to use in Hybrid Core evolution Here are some of the best players to use in this evolution. Ciro Immobile Shapeshifters Sergej Milinkovic-Savic TOTS Vanja Milinkovic-Savic Flashback Alvero FUTTIES Mapi Leon Shapeshifters Fermin Lopez Fantasy FC Adam Wharton Showdown Sam Kerr FUTTIES Hato FUTTIES Walsh Fantasy FC Fred TOTS Your club’s evo chain candidates can provide unique solutions exclusive to your Ultimate Team squad. The post Best players for EA FC 25 Hybrid Core evolution appeared first on Destructoid.

Fortnite Chapter Six, season four is bringing a massive wave of bugs and fresh content to the island. Many of the most exciting additions are those featured on the shiny new battle pass.

This season's battle pass has quite a few collaborations featured on it, much more than there usually are, which means there are plenty of epic items you can unlock. If you aren't sure whether this pass is worth getting, reviewing everything it includes will make your choice much easier. Here are all the rewards featured in the Fortnite Chapter Six, season four Shock N' Awesome battle pass.

Table of contents

• Fortnite Shock N' Awesome battle pass
• Fortnite Shock N' Awesome battle pass secret skin
• Are Power Rangers on the battle pass in Fortnite?
• How long is the Shock N' Awesome battle pass available in Fortnite?

Fortnite Shock N' Awesome battle pass

Image via Epic Games

Image via Epic Games

Image via Epic Games

Image via Epic Games

Image via Epic Games

Image via Epic Games

Image via Epic Games

Chapter Six, season four is a regular season in Fortnite, which means there are eight skins you can unlock throughout the battle pass. These skins span across 14 pages, and you need 100 levels and to finish a few bonus quests for the secret skin to earn all of them. All of the outfits featured throughout this pass are as follows.

• UNSC Spartan – The first skin on the battle pass, and an iconic character from Halo. For this season, any players who reach level 100 on the battle pass, even those who don't purchase it, will be granted this skin for free starting on Aug. 26. If you do buy the pass or have Fortnite Crew, you unlock this outfit right away.
• Yoo-mi – The level 20 battle pass skin. She's an idol both on and off the battlefield.
• Agent Patch – The level 40 battle pass skin. He's a panda with an eyepatch.
• Battle Gamer Mae – The level 50 battle pass skin. She's a gamer girl harnessing her skills to help fight the bug infestation.
• Lt. Ripp Slade – The level 60 battle pass skin. He's a masked soldier working for the OXR.
• Onyx Winter – The level 80 battle pass skin. She's the OXR's formidable general.
• Green Ranger – The level 100 battle pass skin. He's also known as Tommy Oliver and is one of the key members of the Power Rangers.

Battle pass pages also always feature an array of accessory items, including Back Blings, Pickaxes, Emotes, and more. Once the pass is live, we'll add all other rewards you can earn here.

Fortnite Shock N' Awesome battle pass secret skin

The Dino Megazord outfit, an amalgam of all the Power Rangers, is the secret skin featured in Chapter Six, season four. Unlike all of the other styles, this one won't be obtainable until Sept. 16, when quests to unlock it will become available.

Image via Epic Games

Are Power Rangers on the battle pass in Fortnite?

Not all Power Rangers are included on the battle pass in Fortnite, but the Green Ranger and the Dino Megazord outfit, which is an amalgam of all the Rangers, are. The rest of the team, including the Red Ranger, Black Ranger, Pink Ranger, Yellow Ranger, and Blue Ranger, will arrive in the Mighty Morphin shop bundle sometime later in August.

How long is the Shock N' Awesome battle pass available in Fortnite?

The Shock N' Awesome battle pass is available to complete from Aug. 7 to Nov. 1. After this date, the battle pass will be removed and replaced by a new one. All items featured on the pass may be added to the shop later, but not until at least eight months have passed, and no items are guaranteed to show up.

If you're not sure what to do after reviewing this season's battle bass, you may want to learn how to favorite a creator, work on earning all Music Pass rewards, and learn how to jam alone using all instruments at once.

The post All Fortnite Chapter 6, season 4 battle pass rewards appeared first on Destructoid.

Fortnite Chapter Six, season four is bringing a massive wave of bugs and fresh content to the island. Many of the most exciting additions are those featured on the shiny new battle pass. This season's battle pass has quite a few collaborations featured on it, much more than there usually are, which means there are plenty of epic items you can unlock. If you aren't sure whether this pass is worth getting, reviewing everything it includes will make your choice much easier. Here are all the rewards featured in the Fortnite Chapter Six, season four Shock N' Awesome battle pass. Table of contents Fortnite Shock N' Awesome battle pass Fortnite Shock N' Awesome battle pass secret skin Are Power Rangers on the battle pass in Fortnite? How long is the Shock N' Awesome battle pass available in Fortnite? Fortnite Shock N' Awesome battle pass Image via Epic Games Image via Epic Games Image via Epic Games Image via Epic Games Image via Epic Games Image via Epic Games Image via Epic Games Chapter Six, season four is a regular season in Fortnite, which means there are eight skins you can unlock throughout the battle pass. These skins span across 14 pages, and you need 100 levels and to finish a few bonus quests for the secret skin to earn all of them. All of the outfits featured throughout this pass are as follows. UNSC Spartan – The first skin on the battle pass, and an iconic character from Halo. For this season, any players who reach level 100 on the battle pass, even those who don't purchase it, will be granted this skin for free starting on Aug. 26. If you do buy the pass or have Fortnite Crew, you unlock this outfit right away. Yoo-mi – The level 20 battle pass skin. She's an idol both on and off the battlefield. Agent Patch – The level 40 battle pass skin. He's a panda with an eyepatch. Battle Gamer Mae – The level 50 battle pass skin. She's a gamer girl harnessing her skills to help fight the bug infestation. Lt. Ripp Slade – The level 60 battle pass skin. He's a masked soldier working for the OXR. Onyx Winter – The level 80 battle pass skin. She's the OXR's formidable general. Green Ranger – The level 100 battle pass skin. He's also known as Tommy Oliver and is one of the key members of the Power Rangers. Battle pass pages also always feature an array of accessory items, including Back Blings, Pickaxes, Emotes, and more. Once the pass is live, we'll add all other rewards you can earn here. Fortnite Shock N' Awesome battle pass secret skin The Dino Megazord outfit, an amalgam of all the Power Rangers, is the secret skin featured in Chapter Six, season four. Unlike all of the other styles, this one won't be obtainable until Sept. 16, when quests to unlock it will become available. Image via Epic Games Are Power Rangers on the battle pass in Fortnite? Not all Power Rangers are included on the battle pass in Fortnite, but the Green Ranger and the Dino Megazord outfit, which is an amalgam of all the Rangers, are. The rest of the team, including the Red Ranger, Black Ranger, Pink Ranger, Yellow Ranger, and Blue Ranger, will arrive in the Mighty Morphin shop bundle sometime later in August. How long is the Shock N' Awesome battle pass available in Fortnite? The Shock N' Awesome battle pass is available to complete from Aug. 7 to Nov. 1. After this date, the battle pass will be removed and replaced by a new one. All items featured on the pass may be added to the shop later, but not until at least eight months have passed, and no items are guaranteed to show up. If you're not sure what to do after reviewing this season's battle bass, you may want to learn how to favorite a creator, work on earning all Music Pass rewards, and learn how to jam alone using all instruments at once. The post All Fortnite Chapter 6, season 4 battle pass rewards appeared first on Destructoid.

2XKO is back at Evo once again for 2025, and thankfully, we were able to talk to the game's director, Shaun Rivera, on all topics big and small, including one of the game's biggest questions—Yordle characters.

Yordles have been a sticking point for me in this game, as I even asked Shaun about it last year at Evo 2024. Back then, their height was still a difficulty, and he talked about how it would be frustrating losing to a character due to something the players were not doing at all, such as having to get over a height difference.

So, talking with him again, I needed to see if his mind has changed since last year regarding the future inclusion of Yordles in-game, and how the team could look at doing it. And it seems like he had a change of heart regarding the small creatures since our initial discussion.

"I'll say that one of the things we're not as excited about is when you're fighting against a character just because of their size, like, oh, man, they're so small that my combos drop, and I have to learn a whole new set of combos just for this one character, right?" Rivera told Destructoid. "And so I think there are tons of ways that we can make a small character work in our game, and we see this in all other kinds of fighting games as well (such as Granblue Fantasy Versus). There are all kinds of ways you can make them work in less frustrating ways."

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=quGZjIkigu4&ab_channel=2XKO

When I pushed for more information, I touched on a lot of fascinating topics I had seen from my previous interview a year ago on how the team could get around Yordles. One of those was the idea of using Lulu's ultimate to make Yordles bigger, but we both agreed that having larger-than-life Yordles for the sake of including them in-game wouldn't exactly look great visually. I also bought up the two Yordles in a trench coat, which Rivera could only laugh about.

"I think the topic of Yordles comes up a lot because they're really unique to the IP. You know, you love them or you hate them. They're very polarizing, too. And I think there's a real ask for this kind of weird character that people want to play." Rivera continued. "And again, like I mentioned before about the roster, we really want to deliver."

Once again, I had to press Rivera about adding Yordles into the game because of how much of a request there was, including simple ideas like Rumble in his mech. Rivera was coy in his answers, but he left me with a bit of hope.

"If people are like—we really want this type of gameplay or this character—we're gonna find a way."

So maybe there are hopes for Yordles after all, in all shapes and sizes.

Fingers crossed, my fellow Bandle City enjoyers.

The post 2XKO’s director is aware players want Yordles and hopes to find a way to include them if we really want them appeared first on Destructoid.

2XKO is back at Evo once again for 2025, and thankfully, we were able to talk to the game's director, Shaun Rivera, on all topics big and small, including one of the game's biggest questions—Yordle characters. Yordles have been a sticking point for me in this game, as I even asked Shaun about it last year at Evo 2024. Back then, their height was still a difficulty, and he talked about how it would be frustrating losing to a character due to something the players were not doing at all, such as having to get over a height difference. So, talking with him again, I needed to see if his mind has changed since last year regarding the future inclusion of Yordles in-game, and how the team could look at doing it. And it seems like he had a change of heart regarding the small creatures since our initial discussion. "I'll say that one of the things we're not as excited about is when you're fighting against a character just because of their size, like, oh, man, they're so small that my combos drop, and I have to learn a whole new set of combos just for this one character, right?" Rivera told Destructoid. "And so I think there are tons of ways that we can make a small character work in our game, and we see this in all other kinds of fighting games as well (such as Granblue Fantasy Versus). There are all kinds of ways you can make them work in less frustrating ways." https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=quGZjIkigu4&ab_channel=2XKO When I pushed for more information, I touched on a lot of fascinating topics I had seen from my previous interview a year ago on how the team could get around Yordles. One of those was the idea of using Lulu's ultimate to make Yordles bigger, but we both agreed that having larger-than-life Yordles for the sake of including them in-game wouldn't exactly look great visually. I also bought up the two Yordles in a trench coat, which Rivera could only laugh about. "I think the topic of Yordles comes up a lot because they're really unique to the IP. You know, you love them or you hate them. They're very polarizing, too. And I think there's a real ask for this kind of weird character that people want to play." Rivera continued. "And again, like I mentioned before about the roster, we really want to deliver." Once again, I had to press Rivera about adding Yordles into the game because of how much of a request there was, including simple ideas like Rumble in his mech. Rivera was coy in his answers, but he left me with a bit of hope. "If people are like—we really want this type of gameplay or this character—we're gonna find a way." So maybe there are hopes for Yordles after all, in all shapes and sizes. Fingers crossed, my fellow Bandle City enjoyers. The post 2XKO’s director is aware players want Yordles and hopes to find a way to include them if we really want them appeared first on Destructoid.

Living in New York is expensive as hell, no matter where in the state you are, but being in proximity to Manhattan has its perks, like being able to visit the Metal Gear Solid Delta: Snake Eater pop-up in Midtown today.

A few weeks ahead of the release of the MGS3: Snake Eater remake, fans were invited to come try out the game and enjoy some seriously awesome photo ops. I could not say no. I went as a fan, and I lived out a bit of a decades-long dream for an hour or so.

Photo by Scott Duwe

Walking down West 37th street, I immediately spotted an awning with the MGS3 logo from a distance, with a queue of people standing outside, including several in cosplay of Naked Snake, The Boss, EVA, and Ocelot. I felt immediately at home.

Stepping inside, a merch area was set up with exclusive on-site merchandise to pick up. Well, I needed to pre-order it to be shipped later, but the only way to buy them was to have location services turned on for your mobile device and place the orders there. I got a replica FOX unit beret, just like Snake/Big Boss wears at the end of the game. I had to!

Other exclusive merch included an OST vinyl variant, a camo jacket, a t-shirt, socks, and a fanny pack, and only those who showed up today were able to pick it up, or so we were told.

Photo by Scott Duwe

There were some additional items available, like an exclusive pin and a poster that was being signed live by the Konami artist who designed it, for about $85. I abstained, having already spent $25 on the beret and $29 on the train ticket.

Stepping into the next room is when the fun really began. The rectangular room had the iconic scene of Snake and The Boss meeting up in the flower fields before the final battle playing on a loop, projected onto the walls. In the middle of the room were some more flowers to make it feel like you were there, with 10 minutes left until MiGs come to bomb the hell out of the place.

Photo by Scott Duwe

As we waited to be told when our time to play the game was coming up, I was shocked to see none other than Lori Alan, voice actress for The Boss and many other iconic characters (Pearl in Spongebob, news anchor Diane Simmons in Family Guy, many more), step out from behind a curtain in full cosplay. She was greeting and taking pictures with fans, and I made sure to grab my own.

I thanked her for her sacrifice, told her she made me cry my eyes out at 15 years old when I beat MGS3 at launch in 2004, and she said it makes her cry too, but at least she was alive today. I grabbed a picture and then went downstairs to play some MGS Delta, and that capped off what was a whirlwind of a Wednesday morning in Manhattan.

As a lifelong fan of the franchise, it doesn't get much better than that, and I know this for a fact because I saw several people who were there to play the game and pick up some merch getting emotional for a game that clearly means a ton to us.

Photo by Scott Duwe

Although I do believe Snake actor David Hayter was actually on hand, as well. But in true Snake fashion, he kept us all waiting. Damn! I guess I'll have to reintroduce myself to him when the game drops on Aug. 28.

The post The Metal Gear Solid 3 remake pop-up in NYC was every fan’s dream mission appeared first on Destructoid.

Living in New York is expensive as hell, no matter where in the state you are, but being in proximity to Manhattan has its perks, like being able to visit the Metal Gear Solid Delta: Snake Eater pop-up in Midtown today. A few weeks ahead of the release of the MGS3: Snake Eater remake, fans were invited to come try out the game and enjoy some seriously awesome photo ops. I could not say no. I went as a fan, and I lived out a bit of a decades-long dream for an hour or so. Photo by Scott Duwe Walking down West 37th street, I immediately spotted an awning with the MGS3 logo from a distance, with a queue of people standing outside, including several in cosplay of Naked Snake, The Boss, EVA, and Ocelot. I felt immediately at home. Stepping inside, a merch area was set up with exclusive on-site merchandise to pick up. Well, I needed to pre-order it to be shipped later, but the only way to buy them was to have location services turned on for your mobile device and place the orders there. I got a replica FOX unit beret, just like Snake/Big Boss wears at the end of the game. I had to! Other exclusive merch included an OST vinyl variant, a camo jacket, a t-shirt, socks, and a fanny pack, and only those who showed up today were able to pick it up, or so we were told. Photo by Scott Duwe There were some additional items available, like an exclusive pin and a poster that was being signed live by the Konami artist who designed it, for about $85. I abstained, having already spent $25 on the beret and $29 on the train ticket. Stepping into the next room is when the fun really began. The rectangular room had the iconic scene of Snake and The Boss meeting up in the flower fields before the final battle playing on a loop, projected onto the walls. In the middle of the room were some more flowers to make it feel like you were there, with 10 minutes left until MiGs come to bomb the hell out of the place. Photo by Scott Duwe As we waited to be told when our time to play the game was coming up, I was shocked to see none other than Lori Alan, voice actress for The Boss and many other iconic characters (Pearl in Spongebob, news anchor Diane Simmons in Family Guy, many more), step out from behind a curtain in full cosplay. She was greeting and taking pictures with fans, and I made sure to grab my own. I thanked her for her sacrifice, told her she made me cry my eyes out at 15 years old when I beat MGS3 at launch in 2004, and she said it makes her cry too, but at least she was alive today. I grabbed a picture and then went downstairs to play some MGS Delta, and that capped off what was a whirlwind of a Wednesday morning in Manhattan. As a lifelong fan of the franchise, it doesn't get much better than that, and I know this for a fact because I saw several people who were there to play the game and pick up some merch getting emotional for a game that clearly means a ton to us. Photo by Scott Duwe Although I do believe Snake actor David Hayter was actually on hand, as well. But in true Snake fashion, he kept us all waiting. Damn! I guess I'll have to reintroduce myself to him when the game drops on Aug. 28. The post The Metal Gear Solid 3 remake pop-up in NYC was every fan’s dream mission appeared first on Destructoid.

I'm treating Metroid Prime: Remastered as a boring task like washing the dishes or doing paperwork.

The game released over two years ago on the Nintendo Switch, and there's nothing forcing me to play it except my curiosity.

Reddit threads about playing video games and keeping up with your backlog as an adult always end up with someone karma-farming in the comments with a reply like "Games aren't homework. If you don't want to play or are not having fun, don't play it." I could agree with these people, but then I'd also be wrong.

I'm not having fun with Metroid Prime: Remastered. I bought the game because I expected to feel excited about the masterpiece it supposedly is, since the original is the best-rated Game Cube title ever on Metacritic and this Switch remaster has a solid score of 93. On Destructoid, we gave it an 8.5 review score, saying it's "worth your time and cash."

Turns out Metroid Prime: Remastered is as fun as feeling sick during a swing ride. Its narrow passages make me feel claustrophobic. I feel trapped by Samus' suit. The first-person controls on a console are something I'll never get used to. And the non-linear exploration isn't my favorite way of playing any video game. I'll still force myself to play and finish it, though.

What makes me stick to the game isn't peer pressure or avoiding the feeling that I've wasted money on it. It's just curiosity.

The overwhelming interface of Metroid Prime: Remastered. I feel trapped in Samus' suit. Screenshot by Destructoid

Playing with a different mindset

Behind the endlessly respawning swarms of War Wasps and long corridors that lead to early dead ends, there's something in this game a lot of people love. My hope is that he empathy of trying to look at the game through someone else's point of view will make me see Metroid Prime: Remastered in a way I haven't yet. Maybe the fun is in getting lost because I will be happy when I find the right passage. Or despite all the optional content, the fun is in blitzing through rooms of enemies and getting to the main areas quickly. I don't know yet.

I want to explore the game and discover what makes people have fun with it, even if I don't feel the fun. I also like building that empathic connection with things like listening to death metal albums my friends send me, or watching movies I'd never pick if other people didn't tell me it's good.

That empathic connection is buried in what's a mostly unfun game for me, yes, but it's probably worth the price. I'll figure it out. It's not like Metroid Prime: Remastered is a painful experience. It's just boring and sometimes annoying, but I can handle being bored.

We all play boring games

While we think we should have fun all the time with video games, it doesn't happen. There are a lot of unfun moments in games that still keep us playing, and we do that because we know there will be a bigger payoff down the road.

If you've ever played a sixth ranked match of Dota 2 or LoL after a five-loss streak, you know it's not fun, but you still want to play it for mastery or to challenge yourself. I've played the arena brawler Battlerite with friends just to get together online, despite thinking the game is mid. I've farmed PVE maps for countless hours in Guild Wars 2 because I wanted legendary gear, and it wasn't fun at all. You surely had similar experiences farming gear in World of Warcraft, gathering materials in Genshin Impact, and completing the battle pass in Fortnite.

Playing because it's a habit is also incredibly powerful. That's how some people get to the tens of thousands in Candy Crush levels.

Chasing fun when in a video game is a trap. If we, as busy adults with family duties and jobs, think a game is only worth it if it's fun, we're setting ourselves up to be disappointed because not every game comes with that quick dopamine hit. This mindset can get us quickly into a spiral of questioning, "Ok, is this fun? Am I having fun? What is fun? Am I supposed to have fun now? Why am I not having fun? If I'm not having fun, are video games not for me anymore?"

How about games that are boring before they're fun? Veteran players of Diablo, Path of Exile, Pokémon, and many RPGs hate the campaigns and stories that block the endgame. But if everything was always maxed out and unlocked by default, would it be fun for new players to jump into the endgame with no experience or effort at all?

My curiosity with Metroid Prime: Remastered is paying off. Killing enemies and navigating the map will always be an annoying obstacle instead of fun, but I like figuring out the game like a puzzle and realizing where I have to go next to progress in the game. When I finally get to the right room and get a power-up, I understand why some people like playing it.

I also feel like it only happens because Metroid Prime: Remastered is a great game. I don't think I'd force myself to complete a bad game. Or maybe I would just like to learn what makes it so bad.

So, don't start a game or keep playing it, chasing fun. Instead, be open to the experience and think about whether there's anything else you value while playing. It can be getting together with friends despite playing an online game you suck at, or reliving the past by playing your favorite childhood game, or even exploring a complex RPG plot like a book.

The post Metroid Prime: Remastered reminded me fun isn’t the only reason to play a game appeared first on Destructoid.

I'm treating Metroid Prime: Remastered as a boring task like washing the dishes or doing paperwork. The game released over two years ago on the Nintendo Switch, and there's nothing forcing me to play it except my curiosity. Reddit threads about playing video games and keeping up with your backlog as an adult always end up with someone karma-farming in the comments with a reply like "Games aren't homework. If you don't want to play or are not having fun, don't play it." I could agree with these people, but then I'd also be wrong. I'm not having fun with Metroid Prime: Remastered. I bought the game because I expected to feel excited about the masterpiece it supposedly is, since the original is the best-rated Game Cube title ever on Metacritic and this Switch remaster has a solid score of 93. On Destructoid, we gave it an 8.5 review score, saying it's "worth your time and cash." Turns out Metroid Prime: Remastered is as fun as feeling sick during a swing ride. Its narrow passages make me feel claustrophobic. I feel trapped by Samus' suit. The first-person controls on a console are something I'll never get used to. And the non-linear exploration isn't my favorite way of playing any video game. I'll still force myself to play and finish it, though. What makes me stick to the game isn't peer pressure or avoiding the feeling that I've wasted money on it. It's just curiosity. The overwhelming interface of Metroid Prime: Remastered. I feel trapped in Samus' suit. Screenshot by Destructoid Playing with a different mindset Behind the endlessly respawning swarms of War Wasps and long corridors that lead to early dead ends, there's something in this game a lot of people love. My hope is that he empathy of trying to look at the game through someone else's point of view will make me see Metroid Prime: Remastered in a way I haven't yet. Maybe the fun is in getting lost because I will be happy when I find the right passage. Or despite all the optional content, the fun is in blitzing through rooms of enemies and getting to the main areas quickly. I don't know yet. I want to explore the game and discover what makes people have fun with it, even if I don't feel the fun. I also like building that empathic connection with things like listening to death metal albums my friends send me, or watching movies I'd never pick if other people didn't tell me it's good. That empathic connection is buried in what's a mostly unfun game for me, yes, but it's probably worth the price. I'll figure it out. It's not like Metroid Prime: Remastered is a painful experience. It's just boring and sometimes annoying, but I can handle being bored. We all play boring games While we think we should have fun all the time with video games, it doesn't happen. There are a lot of unfun moments in games that still keep us playing, and we do that because we know there will be a bigger payoff down the road. If you've ever played a sixth ranked match of Dota 2 or LoL after a five-loss streak, you know it's not fun, but you still want to play it for mastery or to challenge yourself. I've played the arena brawler Battlerite with friends just to get together online, despite thinking the game is mid. I've farmed PVE maps for countless hours in Guild Wars 2 because I wanted legendary gear, and it wasn't fun at all. You surely had similar experiences farming gear in World of Warcraft, gathering materials in Genshin Impact, and completing the battle pass in Fortnite. Playing because it's a habit is also incredibly powerful. That's how some people get to the tens of thousands in Candy Crush levels. Chasing fun when in a video game is a trap. If we, as busy adults with family duties and jobs, think a game is only worth it if it's fun, we're setting ourselves up to be disappointed because not every game comes with that quick dopamine hit. This mindset can get us quickly into a spiral of questioning, "Ok, is this fun? Am I having fun? What is fun? Am I supposed to have fun now? Why am I not having fun? If I'm not having fun, are video games not for me anymore?" How about games that are boring before they're fun? Veteran players of Diablo, Path of Exile, Pokémon, and many RPGs hate the campaigns and stories that block the endgame. But if everything was always maxed out and unlocked by default, would it be fun for new players to jump into the endgame with no experience or effort at all? My curiosity with Metroid Prime: Remastered is paying off. Killing enemies and navigating the map will always be an annoying obstacle instead of fun, but I like figuring out the game like a puzzle and realizing where I have to go next to progress in the game. When I finally get to the right room and get a power-up, I understand why some people like playing it. I also feel like it only happens because Metroid Prime: Remastered is a great game. I don't think I'd force myself to complete a bad game. Or maybe I would just like to learn what makes it so bad. So, don't start a game or keep playing it, chasing fun. Instead, be open to the experience and think about whether there's anything else you value while playing. It can be getting together with friends despite playing an online game you suck at, or reliving the past by playing your favorite childhood game, or even exploring a complex RPG plot like a book. The post Metroid Prime: Remastered reminded me fun isn’t the only reason to play a game appeared first on Destructoid.

TEKKEN 8 had a bunch of new reveals at this year's Evo, including the first gameplay trailer for Armor King, and the reveal of the final season two DLC Character, Miary Zo, who brings a distinct look, a stage, and a milestone for the TEKKEN series.

Before Miary Zo's official reveal, though, we at Destructoid got a sneak peek of the trailer at Evo 2025 and got to talk to multiple members of the TEKKEN 8 development team. This included Kohei Ikeda (Nakatsu), the chief producer and game director, and Katsuhiro Harada, producer and executive game Director on the TEKKEN Project. Producer Michael Murray translated for both Nakatsu and Harada during our interview.

The character's reveal over the weekend has been making headlines in Africa for helping to keep a centuries-old material art from Madagascar alive. Harada and the team told us at Destructoid that the team wanted to keep the authenticity of the region in TEKKEN 8.

"So we actually went to Madagascar, and Madagascar as a whole actually has a very vibrant TEKKEN community who are actively doing like tournaments. And so we, ahead of time, got in contact with some of the people in the community." Harada told Destructoid. "Once we went there, we got to talk to people on the ground, and then also even go to a school, to meet the students and faculty and ask questions about the local culture. At the time, no one knew that they were doing research for a new character."

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RBjhCpvBtyk&ab_channel=BandaiNamcoEntertainmentAmerica

Murray then went on to further explain Harada and Nakatsu's trip to the region (one which he said he couldn't sadly attend but wished he had), saying that Madagascar is a unique country because of its influences.

"They tried to make it authentic by working with some advisors in the community there to make sure that they're creating something that looks like it would be from that area," Murray told Destructoid. Harada then joined in, saying that "It was quite challenging, but we were able to create something pretty unique, because we actually had someone from the country do the voiceover for it, which was challenging, because it seems that in Madagascar, they don't have a huge industry for voice acting. It's mainly a few people who do voice dubs."

After Harada and the team discussed their process for creating the character and their trip, I wanted to understand the origin of the idea and why they chose Madagascar as the basis for a new original character. Harada and the team were quick in explaining their decisions, as well as how they went about creating characters as a whole.

"Sometimes it's a particular fighting style that we choose, or maybe a certain concept sketch from an artist that starts it off," Harada said. "But for this time, it was more locking in on that region first and deciding that we've never done someone from Africa, so we would like to try it. But then, even within that African area, Madagascar is itself quite unique. So although it's somewhere where most people have heard of before, no one knows a whole lot about it. So we thought that would be a really unique starting point, and that if they go there, they would get some kind of inspiration on a concept to flesh out."

Harada also continued to express his ideas on adding new characters to the game each season and what the team looks to do to make as many people as happy.

"We start off with a roster initially. And although there are many characters that we wanted to put in—we just couldn't, because of the amount of time and resources." Harada told us. "For Season One, the theme was story-based with [things like] the return of Heihachi, but then also, kind of the support characters, story-wise... But for season two, it was more trying to get those fan favorites that still weren't in the game yet, plus doing a new original character no one had seen before. Because we wanted to make something new for a change, but while also trying to please fans who are waiting for their favorite."

Harada also touched on the wider Tekken story when deciding DLC and new characters, considering the game is the longest-running story in video games. And while the story is quite important, it's not the "be-all end-all" when deciding which characters to make.

"The character has to feel unique and stand out, and then we find a way to make it work." Harada told us, but when I asked him further if we can trust his work moving forward considering for the longest time he said Heihachi was dead and would never come back to the game, only for him to appear as a season one DLC character, Harada only said he was "sorry that he did it on purpose" that it was "planned for a bit" to make it a surprise, and for how far we can trust him moving forward?

"It's hard to tell."

The post Harada on creating Miary Zo— TEKKEN’s first Madagascar representative appeared first on Destructoid.

TEKKEN 8 had a bunch of new reveals at this year's Evo, including the first gameplay trailer for Armor King, and the reveal of the final season two DLC Character, Miary Zo, who brings a distinct look, a stage, and a milestone for the TEKKEN series. Before Miary Zo's official reveal, though, we at Destructoid got a sneak peek of the trailer at Evo 2025 and got to talk to multiple members of the TEKKEN 8 development team. This included Kohei Ikeda (Nakatsu), the chief producer and game director, and Katsuhiro Harada, producer and executive game Director on the TEKKEN Project. Producer Michael Murray translated for both Nakatsu and Harada during our interview. The character's reveal over the weekend has been making headlines in Africa for helping to keep a centuries-old material art from Madagascar alive. Harada and the team told us at Destructoid that the team wanted to keep the authenticity of the region in TEKKEN 8. "So we actually went to Madagascar, and Madagascar as a whole actually has a very vibrant TEKKEN community who are actively doing like tournaments. And so we, ahead of time, got in contact with some of the people in the community." Harada told Destructoid. "Once we went there, we got to talk to people on the ground, and then also even go to a school, to meet the students and faculty and ask questions about the local culture. At the time, no one knew that they were doing research for a new character." https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RBjhCpvBtyk&ab_channel=BandaiNamcoEntertainmentAmerica Murray then went on to further explain Harada and Nakatsu's trip to the region (one which he said he couldn't sadly attend but wished he had), saying that Madagascar is a unique country because of its influences. "They tried to make it authentic by working with some advisors in the community there to make sure that they're creating something that looks like it would be from that area," Murray told Destructoid. Harada then joined in, saying that "It was quite challenging, but we were able to create something pretty unique, because we actually had someone from the country do the voiceover for it, which was challenging, because it seems that in Madagascar, they don't have a huge industry for voice acting. It's mainly a few people who do voice dubs." After Harada and the team discussed their process for creating the character and their trip, I wanted to understand the origin of the idea and why they chose Madagascar as the basis for a new original character. Harada and the team were quick in explaining their decisions, as well as how they went about creating characters as a whole. "Sometimes it's a particular fighting style that we choose, or maybe a certain concept sketch from an artist that starts it off," Harada said. "But for this time, it was more locking in on that region first and deciding that we've never done someone from Africa, so we would like to try it. But then, even within that African area, Madagascar is itself quite unique. So although it's somewhere where most people have heard of before, no one knows a whole lot about it. So we thought that would be a really unique starting point, and that if they go there, they would get some kind of inspiration on a concept to flesh out." Harada also continued to express his ideas on adding new characters to the game each season and what the team looks to do to make as many people as happy. "We start off with a roster initially. And although there are many characters that we wanted to put in—we just couldn't, because of the amount of time and resources." Harada told us. "For Season One, the theme was story-based with [things like] the return of Heihachi, but then also, kind of the support characters, story-wise... But for season two, it was more trying to get those fan favorites that still weren't in the game yet, plus doing a new original character no one had seen before. Because we wanted to make something new for a change, but while also trying to please fans who are waiting for their favorite." Harada also touched on the wider Tekken story when deciding DLC and new characters, considering the game is the longest-running story in video games. And while the story is quite important, it's not the "be-all end-all" when deciding which characters to make. "The character has to feel unique and stand out, and then we find a way to make it work." Harada told us, but when I asked him further if we can trust his work moving forward considering for the longest time he said Heihachi was dead and would never come back to the game, only for him to appear as a season one DLC character, Harada only said he was "sorry that he did it on purpose" that it was "planned for a bit" to make it a surprise, and for how far we can trust him moving forward? "It's hard to tell." The post Harada on creating Miary Zo— TEKKEN’s first Madagascar representative appeared first on Destructoid.

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

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

Table of contents

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

All Companion abilities in Disney Dreamlight Valley

Screenshot by Destructoid

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

• Baby Dragons, Owls, and Pegasus help with Snippets.
• Dogs will help with Sticks.
• Foxes and Crocodiles help with Fish.
• Rabbits help with Vegetables.
• Raccoons and Whimsical Creatures help with Gems.
• Ravens help with Soil.
• Snakes, Capybaras, and Monkeys help with Timebending Parts.
• Squirrels help with Fruit.
• Sunbirds help with Flowers.
• Turtles help with Seafood.

All Notable Companion rewards in Disney Dreamlight Valley

There are 11 Notable Companions you can unlock in DDV so far, all of which come with one exclusive reward item you can't get anywhere else. Only Notable Companions grant prizes you can't otherwise get.

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

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

All Companion rewards in Disney Dreamlight Valley

Screenshot by Destructoid

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

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

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

Iconic Disney characters are always accompanied by lovable sidekicks, and in Disney Dreamlight Valley, you can have one, too. There's quite a vast array of Companions you can unlock, all of which come with special abilities and rewards. It can be tough to choose which adorable Companion you want to have at your side, but knowing which ones have the abilities you're working on or the prizes you're most eager to unlock makes this decision much easier. If you want to learn everything there is to know about them, here are all Companion abilities and rewards in Disney Dreamlight Valley. Table of contents All Companion abilities in Disney Dreamlight Valley All Notable Companion rewards in Disney Dreamlight Valley All Companion rewards in Disney Dreamlight Valley All Companion abilities in Disney Dreamlight Valley Screenshot by Destructoid All regular Companion types have unique roles they can assist you with if you explore the valley with them at your side. All of the companion abilities you may encounter are as follows. Baby Dragons, Owls, and Pegasus help with Snippets. Dogs will help with Sticks. Foxes and Crocodiles help with Fish. Rabbits help with Vegetables. Raccoons and Whimsical Creatures help with Gems. Ravens help with Soil. Snakes, Capybaras, and Monkeys help with Timebending Parts. Squirrels help with Fruit. Sunbirds help with Flowers. Turtles help with Seafood. All Notable Companion rewards in Disney Dreamlight Valley There are 11 Notable Companions you can unlock in DDV so far, all of which come with one exclusive reward item you can't get anywhere else. Only Notable Companions grant prizes you can't otherwise get. Notable Companions also don't necessarily follow the expected roles and abilities, so we've listed all activities they help with here, too, to help you determine which Companion you want to have at your side. Companion Ability How to get Main reward All rewards Baby Pegasus Grains Was previously obtainable by purchasing the Magical Edition of DDV. This edition is no longer available. Mythical Cloud Throne furniture item Dinah Flowers Can be purchased from the Premium Shop. Pink Cat Shelves furniture item Figaro Fish Can be purchased from the Premium Shop. Decorative Fishbowl and Cabinet furniture item Heihei Stones Can be purchased from the Premium Shop. Coconut Garland Gate furniture item Magic Carpet Flowers Complete the Aladdin Realm quest Carpet Diem. Golden Agrabah Mirror furniture item Maleficent's Raven Soil Complete The Corvid Companion quest after unlocking Maleficent. Anchor Moment Pillar furniture item Max Sticks Can be purchased from the Premium Shop as part of the permanent Seafaring Sheepdog Max Bundle. Ship Bed furniture item Nana Sticks Can be purchased from the Premium Shop. Nana's Doghouse furniture item Pua Fruit Complete Moana's level eight friendship quest, The Search for Pua. Oar Wall Display furniture item R2-D2 Ore Can be purchased from the Premium Shop. R2-D2 Backpack clothing item The Footstool Wood Can be purchased from the Premium Shop. Cozy Castle Rug furniture item All Companion rewards in Disney Dreamlight Valley Screenshot by Destructoid Outside of the Notable Companions, all other critters you can befriend don't come with special rewards and instead grant you one Companion Decor Reward chest. Upon opening this item, you'll find a random piece of furniture from Scrooge McDuck's shop. It might be an item you already have, or something new. It's never an exclusive prize, and it can randomly be found and bought from the village shop, so it's not quite as exciting as the Notable Companion prizes. The post All Companion abilities and rewards in Disney Dreamlight Valley appeared first on Destructoid.

There's been a lot of powercreep in the Type Soul re-release with the Nimble and Overkill Schrifts being overpowered currently. Also, Commons and Rares seem to be outperforming base Legendaries and Mythics which is common for Shikai and Partial Res as well. With all of this in mind let's talk about all Quincy Schrifts and find the best one in my Type Soul Schrift tier list and guide.

Table of contents

• Type Soul Quincy Schrift Tier List
  • S-Tier Schrift
  • A-Tier Schrift
  • B-Tier Schrift
  • C-Tier Schrift
  • D-Tier Schrift

Type Soul Quincy Schrift Tier List

Image by Destructoid

This Type Soul Schrift tier list covers all Quincy Schrift options from best to worst except for Almighty. I don't know how to get that one yet so I haven't tested it. Other than that we seem to be getting a lot of powercreep from new Schrifts with Nimble and Overkill being OP right now for high-rank leaderboards. But there's still some awesome Schrift options from the old era that are doing good today so let's take a look. Below you'll find a detailed breakdown of all Type Soul Schrifts from best to worst.

Related: If you also play Soul Reaper/Shinigami check out our Shikai tier list and for Arrancar/Hollow we have a Partial Res tier list.

S-Tier Schrift

S-Tier Schrift Notes
Nimble • The new Schrift Nimble is quite OP due to its mobility and defensive potential
• The T move puts you in a stance where you get three free auto dodges which is power creep in my opinion especially coming from a Rare
• The G is also a good damage multi-hit dash forward that's difficult to parry because of the multi-hit and it also staggers on hit making it a good combo extender
• What's worse, for every single dodge you do you gain more speed so this either needs to get nerfed or some other options need to get hella buffed
• Combine with Hakuda or Speed for a lot of damage and mobility
Overkill • Similar to Nimble where it's a new Schrift but incredibly powerful dueling option despite it drawbacks
• Basically it replaces all your active moves with a powerful passive that boosts your stats slightly on grips/kills little by little, up to a maximum cap
• The cap is +40% Posture, +40% Rei, +30% Speed, +50% Damage and +20% Defense
• This is an incredibly powerful passive that will have you dealing tons of damage and tanking a lot too
• I highly recommend you just go to a low level area like Fullbringer world and you can even stack it on the NPC kills, not just players (You need ~200 grips/kills to max it out)
• Combine with pretty much anything like Kendo or Speed for a leaderboard worthy build
Heat • Overall Heat deals a lot of damage with the moves and the burn effect so it's a really competitive base Schrift
• The T also stuns for a long time if you land it at max range so you can true combo off of it if you can close the distance fast with mobility moves or combo into Kido
• G is a really great high-damage multi-hit guardbreak move that's amazing on Speed and Kendo
• You can't go wrong with Heat if you constantly land T at max range and can close the distance for a true combo
Wind • Wind is a Common Schrift but an S-Tier true combo master because the T move stuns and guardbreaks allowing for a true combo into G or Rising Swallow or Floating Strikes, etc. (True combo into fast moves)
• G also stuns and comboes well into many moves including G and then you can keep it going with fast attacks
Superstar • The T got a speed buff and you can pull off great combos with it using feints into a critical or something similar
• The G move guardbreaks and is incredibly good with Air Hakuda since you can do it midair to keep them in the air and combo extend
• The new "OKAY, JAMES!" passive from the re-release further buffs this Schrift's damage, defense and even heals you on landing moves
• Somewhere between A and S due to the James heal and combo potential

A-Tier Schrift

A-Tier Schrift Notes
Butterfly • They nerfed Butterfly G's cooldown and also made it so you can't movestack anymore back in September 2024
• That said G is still a really fast move that can combo into other attacks really well
• T is also pretty good since it's an AOE mini-stun that serves as a great combo extender
• Overall Butterfly has some great combo potential and is a viable pick in any rank
Explode • The T has guard break and ragdolls and is great for allowing you to extend into other moves like Fast Bang, Flash Cut, Black Claw, Earth Shatter, etc. (Great with Speed and Hakuda)
• The G is really good for maintaining a combo since it extends the air time on your opponent
• Overall I think it's very similar to Butterfly for comboing so I value them the same
Zombie • I mostly like Zombie for the G counter since it true combos into a lot of other Speed-Kendo-Kido moves
• Otherwise, the Zombie passive is really niche and virtually useless in high rank 1v1s though it is good in open world noob-stomping and team fights since it works like a Kyoka clone
• T doesn't have much synergy with other moves but is a pretty decent AOE cone damage in front of you
Balance • Balance has received numerous nerfs over the past months with the removal of hyperarmor, lessening the stun effect, etc.
• That said Balance is still pretty good since T still guardbreaks and gives you Order to heal with your passive
• G is the main heal that sustains you and buffs your team or deals damage if you hold but I wouldn't hold it since the heal is better
• Overall while it's not as good as it used to be it still offers excellent sustain in high rank PVP
Deathdealing • Deathdealing is such an awesome Schrift because it's so flexible and works on any build like Kido/Flash/Kenpo and even Ground Hakuda due to the G flashstep disable
• Your passive Lethal Dosage will ramp up a huge damage burst with your moves that explodes and ragdolls enemies when they reach 100 (Executes on low HP)
• T is an uncounterable move with high posture damage that just ramps up Lethal Dosage passive
• G is a great area control spell (both defensively in ganks or offensively for chasedown) since it disables flashsteps and also ramps up Lethal Dosage
• Just note that good players will always try to get out of G with stuff like Dropping Fang, Time Cut, Eviscerate, etc.

B-Tier Schrift

B-Tier Schrift Notes
Miracle • The T here is really fun to use even though it's easy to parry frontally since you can aim it behind the enemy block to bypass it
• If you land a T it blinds them so go for a combo fast, works great with a mobility move to close the distance if you're further away
• The G is good damage and massive ragdoll that comes from the left (their right) so it can be awkward to block
• Overall this is a balanced moveset that's not amazing but not bad so perfect for B-Tier
Glutton • You have a special grip here that restores meters which is good for team fights
• The T move is good for DOT damage and sustain if you can land it since it's a projectile but it's fast so it's not unreliable
• G is a great guardbreak lifesteal/mobility move that combos well into T since if you hit it immediately after T it procs all DOT damage right away and heals you more
• Really good for Kendo and Hakuda (G in air to extend comboes) but overall moves can be parried so B-Tier fits
Thunderbolt • Thunderbolt is all about landing T to link and then doing G to ragdoll players which sets them up for a true combo into any pretty much any move
• The problem is that T is really hard to land on experienced players unless you're using feints, other moves and free aim to land an unpredictable T
• Overall when it works it's a free true combo but it's hard to land T which is why it's B-Tier
Power • Power is overall good for combo extension since the moves here ragdoll enemies
• G is the powerhouse since it has hyperarmor, guardbreaks and has long range to ragdoll enemies
• You can combine it with Kendo, Speed and Hakuda but it's nothing broken so you'll have to practice combos to make it worthwhile
Iron • Iron is pretty decent overall since T cannot be canceled and it deals a lot of posture damage
• G is hard to land but if you do land it it's a true combo into Floating Strikes or Rising Swallow or any fast melee move
• The only reason Iron isn't A-Tier is because there's a lot of end lag on the moves meaning you can get punished easily

C-Tier Schrift

C-Tier Schrift Notes
Visionary • Visionary got massive nerfs in terms of not being able to movestack anymore so it kind of falls of heavily
• T no longer movestacks into other moves and is easy to parry
• G is pretty okay with the knockback but much slower and more easily punished since you can't hit enemies in front of you who get close and put pressure as it misses them
• The passives with the T damage reduction and ultra parry with G when on full Imagination is okay but not enough to place this higher than C-Tier for me personally
Fear • The main problem I have with Fear is that it's predictable since you can see the T move coming a mile away you can just block it or counter it
• That said if you can pull it off the T move does stun enough for a true combo into something like a Rising Swallow or Floating Strikes
• G doesn't do that much damage and its only real use is slowing
• Overall this is an underpowered Schrift but it's not useless for D-Tier

D-Tier Schrift

D-Tier Schrift Notes
Compulsory • While T has been buffed to increase its speed it's still a blockable move
• G doesn't even guardbreak even though it does good posture
• Overall this is a very weak Schrift but still more usable than Royal and X Axis
Royal • Royal really needs a buff since both T and G have huge windups/slow animations that are easily punished
• They are both hyperarmor and guardbreak moves but that isn't really worth since your opponent will have ages to dodge or punish you
• This might turn into an A-Tier or higher Schrift if they speed up the starting animations on the moves
X Axis • This is the ranged combat Schrift and the biggest problem with it is that Type Soul fights get real close real quick with lots of mobility moves
• That means that the T and G slow start-up animation like with Royal sucks since you'll just get punished
• As a base Schrift this is probably the worst one in the game

That's it for my Type Soul Schrift tier list and guide. Don't forget to check out our Type Soul codes for free rerolls and other goodies as well as the best clans in the game.

The post Ultimate Type Soul Schrift Tier List [RE-RELEASE] appeared first on Destructoid.

There's been a lot of powercreep in the Type Soul re-release with the Nimble and Overkill Schrifts being overpowered currently. Also, Commons and Rares seem to be outperforming base Legendaries and Mythics which is common for Shikai and Partial Res as well. With all of this in mind let's talk about all Quincy Schrifts and find the best one in my Type Soul Schrift tier list and guide. Table of contents Type Soul Quincy Schrift Tier List S-Tier Schrift A-Tier Schrift B-Tier Schrift C-Tier Schrift D-Tier Schrift Type Soul Quincy Schrift Tier List Image by Destructoid This Type Soul Schrift tier list covers all Quincy Schrift options from best to worst except for Almighty. I don't know how to get that one yet so I haven't tested it. Other than that we seem to be getting a lot of powercreep from new Schrifts with Nimble and Overkill being OP right now for high-rank leaderboards. But there's still some awesome Schrift options from the old era that are doing good today so let's take a look. Below you'll find a detailed breakdown of all Type Soul Schrifts from best to worst. Related: If you also play Soul Reaper/Shinigami check out our Shikai tier list and for Arrancar/Hollow we have a Partial Res tier list. S-Tier Schrift S-Tier Schrift Notes Nimble • The new Schrift Nimble is quite OP due to its mobility and defensive potential • The T move puts you in a stance where you get three free auto dodges which is power creep in my opinion especially coming from a Rare • The G is also a good damage multi-hit dash forward that's difficult to parry because of the multi-hit and it also staggers on hit making it a good combo extender • What's worse, for every single dodge you do you gain more speed so this either needs to get nerfed or some other options need to get hella buffed • Combine with Hakuda or Speed for a lot of damage and mobility Overkill • Similar to Nimble where it's a new Schrift but incredibly powerful dueling option despite it drawbacks • Basically it replaces all your active moves with a powerful passive that boosts your stats slightly on grips/kills little by little, up to a maximum cap • The cap is +40% Posture, +40% Rei, +30% Speed, +50% Damage and +20% Defense • This is an incredibly powerful passive that will have you dealing tons of damage and tanking a lot too • I highly recommend you just go to a low level area like Fullbringer world and you can even stack it on the NPC kills, not just players (You need ~200 grips/kills to max it out) • Combine with pretty much anything like Kendo or Speed for a leaderboard worthy build Heat • Overall Heat deals a lot of damage with the moves and the burn effect so it's a really competitive base Schrift • The T also stuns for a long time if you land it at max range so you can true combo off of it if you can close the distance fast with mobility moves or combo into Kido • G is a really great high-damage multi-hit guardbreak move that's amazing on Speed and Kendo • You can't go wrong with Heat if you constantly land T at max range and can close the distance for a true combo Wind • Wind is a Common Schrift but an S-Tier true combo master because the T move stuns and guardbreaks allowing for a true combo into G or Rising Swallow or Floating Strikes, etc. (True combo into fast moves) • G also stuns and comboes well into many moves including G and then you can keep it going with fast attacks Superstar • The T got a speed buff and you can pull off great combos with it using feints into a critical or something similar • The G move guardbreaks and is incredibly good with Air Hakuda since you can do it midair to keep them in the air and combo extend • The new "OKAY, JAMES!" passive from the re-release further buffs this Schrift's damage, defense and even heals you on landing moves • Somewhere between A and S due to the James heal and combo potential A-Tier Schrift A-Tier Schrift Notes Butterfly • They nerfed Butterfly G's cooldown and also made it so you can't movestack anymore back in September 2024 • That said G is still a really fast move that can combo into other attacks really well • T is also pretty good since it's an AOE mini-stun that serves as a great combo extender • Overall Butterfly has some great combo potential and is a viable pick in any rank Explode • The T has guard break and ragdolls and is great for allowing you to extend into other moves like Fast Bang, Flash Cut, Black Claw, Earth Shatter, etc. (Great with Speed and Hakuda) • The G is really good for maintaining a combo since it extends the air time on your opponent • Overall I think it's very similar to Butterfly for comboing so I value them the same Zombie • I mostly like Zombie for the G counter since it true combos into a lot of other Speed-Kendo-Kido moves • Otherwise, the Zombie passive is really niche and virtually useless in high rank 1v1s though it is good in open world noob-stomping and team fights since it works like a Kyoka clone • T doesn't have much synergy with other moves but is a pretty decent AOE cone damage in front of you Balance • Balance has received numerous nerfs over the past months with the removal of hyperarmor, lessening the stun effect, etc. • That said Balance is still pretty good since T still guardbreaks and gives you Order to heal with your passive • G is the main heal that sustains you and buffs your team or deals damage if you hold but I wouldn't hold it since the heal is better • Overall while it's not as good as it used to be it still offers excellent sustain in high rank PVP Deathdealing • Deathdealing is such an awesome Schrift because it's so flexible and works on any build like Kido/Flash/Kenpo and even Ground Hakuda due to the G flashstep disable • Your passive Lethal Dosage will ramp up a huge damage burst with your moves that explodes and ragdolls enemies when they reach 100 (Executes on low HP) • T is an uncounterable move with high posture damage that just ramps up Lethal Dosage passive • G is a great area control spell (both defensively in ganks or offensively for chasedown) since it disables flashsteps and also ramps up Lethal Dosage • Just note that good players will always try to get out of G with stuff like Dropping Fang, Time Cut, Eviscerate, etc. B-Tier Schrift B-Tier Schrift Notes Miracle • The T here is really fun to use even though it's easy to parry frontally since you can aim it behind the enemy block to bypass it • If you land a T it blinds them so go for a combo fast, works great with a mobility move to close the distance if you're further away • The G is good damage and massive ragdoll that comes from the left (their right) so it can be awkward to block • Overall this is a balanced moveset that's not amazing but not bad so perfect for B-Tier Glutton • You have a special grip here that restores meters which is good for team fights • The T move is good for DOT damage and sustain if you can land it since it's a projectile but it's fast so it's not unreliable • G is a great guardbreak lifesteal/mobility move that combos well into T since if you hit it immediately after T it procs all DOT damage right away and heals you more • Really good for Kendo and Hakuda (G in air to extend comboes) but overall moves can be parried so B-Tier fits Thunderbolt • Thunderbolt is all about landing T to link and then doing G to ragdoll players which sets them up for a true combo into any pretty much any move • The problem is that T is really hard to land on experienced players unless you're using feints, other moves and free aim to land an unpredictable T • Overall when it works it's a free true combo but it's hard to land T which is why it's B-Tier Power • Power is overall good for combo extension since the moves here ragdoll enemies • G is the powerhouse since it has hyperarmor, guardbreaks and has long range to ragdoll enemies • You can combine it with Kendo, Speed and Hakuda but it's nothing broken so you'll have to practice combos to make it worthwhile Iron • Iron is pretty decent overall since T cannot be canceled and it deals a lot of posture damage • G is hard to land but if you do land it it's a true combo into Floating Strikes or Rising Swallow or any fast melee move • The only reason Iron isn't A-Tier is because there's a lot of end lag on the moves meaning you can get punished easily C-Tier Schrift C-Tier Schrift Notes Visionary • Visionary got massive nerfs in terms of not being able to movestack anymore so it kind of falls of heavily • T no longer movestacks into other moves and is easy to parry • G is pretty okay with the knockback but much slower and more easily punished since you can't hit enemies in front of you who get close and put pressure as it misses them • The passives with the T damage reduction and ultra parry with G when on full Imagination is okay but not enough to place this higher than C-Tier for me personally Fear • The main problem I have with Fear is that it's predictable since you can see the T move coming a mile away you can just block it or counter it • That said if you can pull it off the T move does stun enough for a true combo into something like a Rising Swallow or Floating Strikes • G doesn't do that much damage and its only real use is slowing • Overall this is an underpowered Schrift but it's not useless for D-Tier D-Tier Schrift D-Tier Schrift Notes Compulsory • While T has been buffed to increase its speed it's still a blockable move • G doesn't even guardbreak even though it does good posture • Overall this is a very weak Schrift but still more usable than Royal and X Axis Royal • Royal really needs a buff since both T and G have huge windups/slow animations that are easily punished • They are both hyperarmor and guardbreak moves but that isn't really worth since your opponent will have ages to dodge or punish you • This might turn into an A-Tier or higher Schrift if they speed up the starting animations on the moves X Axis • This is the ranged combat Schrift and the biggest problem with it is that Type Soul fights get real close real quick with lots of mobility moves • That means that the T and G slow start-up animation like with Royal sucks since you'll just get punished • As a base Schrift this is probably the worst one in the game That's it for my Type Soul Schrift tier list and guide. Don't forget to check out our Type Soul codes for free rerolls and other goodies as well as the best clans in the game. The post Ultimate Type Soul Schrift Tier List [RE-RELEASE] appeared first on Destructoid.

Reading and gaming are my two favorite hobbies, and Tiny Bookshop packages them together in one perfectly cozy experience. It’s a small game with a big heart—part management sim, part storytelling, and entirely designed for players who find joy in books and relaxing vibes.

Tiny Bookshop is a cozy narrative management game where you leave everything behind to live a slow and tranquil life running a bookshop by the sea in Bookstonbury. While its slow pace and minimal challenge might not work for everyone, this game recognizes the appeal of curling up with a book—or in this case, curating a shop full of them—and turns that feeling into a peaceful yet purposeful gameplay loop you’ll love to get lost in.

Stocking shelves in a stunning seaside storybook

Screenshot by Destructoid

Bookstonbury is a beautiful coastal town brought to life by a uniquely charming art style. You can drive your tiny shop on wheels wherever you like, whether it’s the bustling Mega Marche, the scenic cliffside Lighthouse, or the warm Café Liberté in the heart of the town.

Each day, you choose where to set up, which items you want to have on and around your shop, and curate a selection of books to sell. Once your shop is ready to go, you can get selling. As you run your shop, you’ll meet a cast of quirky characters who slowly reveal more about themselves. These villagers also sometimes give you side quests to tackle. 

Your tiny bookshop is fully customizable, and the decor you use even has unique gameplay effects that can help or hinder your sales. Some items may boost certain genres’ sales, while others might be spooky or distracting, drawing customers' attention away from the books. Additional items can be found around the world, purchased from certain vendors, and earned during special events.

Books you know and love, plus those you don’t

Screenshot by Destructoid

The books you stock your shelves with are organized into seven different categories and are purchased in bulk from blind boxes, which means you never know what you might find. You may come across big titles and series like The Hunger Games, A Song of Ice and Fire, Strange Case of Dr Jekyll and Mr Hyde, and Shakespeare, or you might find fake books that only exist in Bookstonbury, many of which are quite silly, like Catching Carps by Nigel Carpum. 

The descriptions for all of the books are custom, and there are some pretty funny and relatable lines sprinkled throughout. If you come across A Dance with Dragons, for example, you’ll find the devs cheekily asking George R. R. Martin when he’s finally going to release The Winds of Winter. Neoludic Games is asking the real questions, here. 

Screenshot by Destructoid

Throughout each day, customers will sometimes ask for recommendations based on what they like, which means you need to know a bit about the books you have in stock. Luckily, they’re all categorized and have some key details you can review, making it easier to navigate. You may have to look a few up, but I found this process to be quite fun, and even ended up adding a few books to my want-to-read list. 

There are only two small issues I ran into while playing. The first, and biggest one, is that book recommendations were sometimes contradictory and seemingly impossible to fill. One customer asked me for a fantasy book with no magic, period, but then got upset that I recommended a book without magic. I also caught a few typos here and there, like a “healhty plant” that was for sale, which isn’t a massive deal, but did break the immersion a bit. Both instances happened more than once, but were minor issues in the grand scheme of things. 

Keep turning the pages—there’s more hidden between the lines

Screenshot by Destructoid

Tiny Bookshop is rich with secrets and fresh content to uncover. Whenever I thought I’d seen it all, I’d end up finding or unlocking even more. This includes special collectibles you can use to spruce up your shop, new interactables around the various spots you can visit, and fresh locations you can only explore on certain days or in certain seasons. 

What makes Tiny Bookshop stand out is how seamlessly it blends cozy shopkeeping with gentle storytelling. It respects your time without rushing you, offering a sense of progress without stress. How you choose to spend your days, build your shop, and curate your collection is really up to you, and it’s not just relaxing—it’s rewarding, too.

I can’t get enough of Tiny Bookshop, and it’s quickly become one of my favorite cozy games in recent memory. It’s earned a permanent spot on my (digital) bookshelf, and if you love cozy games, it deserves a spot on yours, too. 

The post Tiny Bookshop review – Cozy, clever, and endlessly charming from cover to cover appeared first on Destructoid.

Reading and gaming are my two favorite hobbies, and Tiny Bookshop packages them together in one perfectly cozy experience. It’s a small game with a big heart—part management sim, part storytelling, and entirely designed for players who find joy in books and relaxing vibes. Tiny Bookshop is a cozy narrative management game where you leave everything behind to live a slow and tranquil life running a bookshop by the sea in Bookstonbury. While its slow pace and minimal challenge might not work for everyone, this game recognizes the appeal of curling up with a book—or in this case, curating a shop full of them—and turns that feeling into a peaceful yet purposeful gameplay loop you’ll love to get lost in. Stocking shelves in a stunning seaside storybook Screenshot by Destructoid Bookstonbury is a beautiful coastal town brought to life by a uniquely charming art style. You can drive your tiny shop on wheels wherever you like, whether it’s the bustling Mega Marche, the scenic cliffside Lighthouse, or the warm Café Liberté in the heart of the town. Each day, you choose where to set up, which items you want to have on and around your shop, and curate a selection of books to sell. Once your shop is ready to go, you can get selling. As you run your shop, you’ll meet a cast of quirky characters who slowly reveal more about themselves. These villagers also sometimes give you side quests to tackle. Your tiny bookshop is fully customizable, and the decor you use even has unique gameplay effects that can help or hinder your sales. Some items may boost certain genres’ sales, while others might be spooky or distracting, drawing customers' attention away from the books. Additional items can be found around the world, purchased from certain vendors, and earned during special events. Books you know and love, plus those you don’t Screenshot by Destructoid The books you stock your shelves with are organized into seven different categories and are purchased in bulk from blind boxes, which means you never know what you might find. You may come across big titles and series like The Hunger Games, A Song of Ice and Fire, Strange Case of Dr Jekyll and Mr Hyde, and Shakespeare, or you might find fake books that only exist in Bookstonbury, many of which are quite silly, like Catching Carps by Nigel Carpum. The descriptions for all of the books are custom, and there are some pretty funny and relatable lines sprinkled throughout. If you come across A Dance with Dragons, for example, you’ll find the devs cheekily asking George R. R. Martin when he’s finally going to release The Winds of Winter. Neoludic Games is asking the real questions, here. Screenshot by Destructoid Throughout each day, customers will sometimes ask for recommendations based on what they like, which means you need to know a bit about the books you have in stock. Luckily, they’re all categorized and have some key details you can review, making it easier to navigate. You may have to look a few up, but I found this process to be quite fun, and even ended up adding a few books to my want-to-read list. There are only two small issues I ran into while playing. The first, and biggest one, is that book recommendations were sometimes contradictory and seemingly impossible to fill. One customer asked me for a fantasy book with no magic, period, but then got upset that I recommended a book without magic. I also caught a few typos here and there, like a “healhty plant” that was for sale, which isn’t a massive deal, but did break the immersion a bit. Both instances happened more than once, but were minor issues in the grand scheme of things. Keep turning the pages—there’s more hidden between the lines Screenshot by Destructoid Tiny Bookshop is rich with secrets and fresh content to uncover. Whenever I thought I’d seen it all, I’d end up finding or unlocking even more. This includes special collectibles you can use to spruce up your shop, new interactables around the various spots you can visit, and fresh locations you can only explore on certain days or in certain seasons. What makes Tiny Bookshop stand out is how seamlessly it blends cozy shopkeeping with gentle storytelling. It respects your time without rushing you, offering a sense of progress without stress. How you choose to spend your days, build your shop, and curate your collection is really up to you, and it’s not just relaxing—it’s rewarding, too. I can’t get enough of Tiny Bookshop, and it’s quickly become one of my favorite cozy games in recent memory. It’s earned a permanent spot on my (digital) bookshelf, and if you love cozy games, it deserves a spot on yours, too. The post Tiny Bookshop review – Cozy, clever, and endlessly charming from cover to cover appeared first on Destructoid.

A massive treasure-hunting-focused event has overtaken the village in Disney Dreamlight Valley. There's also a smaller spinoff of the main Treasure Hunt event you don't want to miss out on, though, which is The Great Social Treasure Hunt.

This mini event has an exclusive prize tied to it, so getting it done is essential if you're hoping to unlock everything included in the special summer festivities. It's quite different from most other events, though, so you may need to know how to complete The Great Social Treasure Hunt in Disney Dreamlight Valley.

Table of contents

• How to complete The Great Social Treasure Hunt in Disney Dreamlight Valley
• All The Great Social Treasure Hunt clues in Disney Dreamlight Valley
• The Great Social Treasure Hunt code in Disney Dreamlight Valley
• How to use The Great Social Treasure Hunt code in Disney Dreamlight Valley
• The Great Social Treasure Hunt reward in Disney Dreamlight Valley

How to complete The Great Social Treasure Hunt in Disney Dreamlight Valley

Screenshot by Destructoid

To complete The Great Social Treasure Hunt event, you need to piece together a series of clues hidden across various official DDV social channels. This mini-event is part of the larger Treasure Hunt, but the process for working through it is entirely different.

Up until Aug. 12, the DDV team will sometimes drop secret clues across social media. These will always contain a capitalized section, which is part of the code needed to complete this event.

All The Great Social Treasure Hunt clues in Disney Dreamlight Valley

Two pieces of The Great Social Treasure Hunt event code have been unveiled so far. Here are all of the parts of the code that the DDV team has revealed. We'll update this guide as the rest are shared.

Clue Source ARR "RemembARR… friends come in all shapes and sizes" in a post on X (formerly Twitter). PIRATE "We hope this treasure trail will insPIRATE you to explore every corner of our content — who knows what secrets might be hiding just out of sight?" in a blog post about this event.

The Great Social Treasure Hunt code in Disney Dreamlight Valley

Although all of the code pieces haven't been officially revealed yet, some players have already managed to solve it. You can redeem your prize early by using the "ARRPIRATETREASUREX" code.

https://www.reddit.com/r/DisneyDreamlights/comments/1meqktz/treasure_hunt_social_event_code/?utm_source=share&utm_medium=web3x&utm_name=web3xcss&utm_term=1&utm_content=share_button

How to use The Great Social Treasure Hunt code in Disney Dreamlight Valley

Screenshot by Destructoid

You can claim your reward by entering the special event code on the Help page. It can be a bit tricky to find if you aren't familiar with this process, so here's a full breakdown of how to get it done.

• Open the Settings page in DDV.
• Switch to the Help tab.
• Locate the code box near the middle of the menu and type or paste "ARRPIRATETREASUREX."
• Click the Claim button.
• Head to any mailbox around the valley to claim your reward.

The Great Social Treasure Hunt reward in Disney Dreamlight Valley

Completing The Great Social Treasure Hunt unlocks a special pirate frame for photo mode as a reward. You can use this item while taking pictures with your Phone, whether it be just random captures around the valley or official entries for the weekly DreamSnaps competition.

Screenshot by Destructoid

With this mini event out of the way, you can get back to focusing on the main parts of the Treasure Hunt event. There are plenty of clues and solutions you need to work through, like tip some purple caps somewhere swampy, beneath coral growth with a dazzling view, under a pile of bone in a sunlit place, and don’t forget to put out the fires.

The post The Great Social Treasure Hunt walkthrough in Disney Dreamlight Valley appeared first on Destructoid.

A massive treasure-hunting-focused event has overtaken the village in Disney Dreamlight Valley. There's also a smaller spinoff of the main Treasure Hunt event you don't want to miss out on, though, which is The Great Social Treasure Hunt. This mini event has an exclusive prize tied to it, so getting it done is essential if you're hoping to unlock everything included in the special summer festivities. It's quite different from most other events, though, so you may need to know how to complete The Great Social Treasure Hunt in Disney Dreamlight Valley. Table of contents How to complete The Great Social Treasure Hunt in Disney Dreamlight Valley All The Great Social Treasure Hunt clues in Disney Dreamlight Valley The Great Social Treasure Hunt code in Disney Dreamlight Valley How to use The Great Social Treasure Hunt code in Disney Dreamlight Valley The Great Social Treasure Hunt reward in Disney Dreamlight Valley How to complete The Great Social Treasure Hunt in Disney Dreamlight Valley Screenshot by Destructoid To complete The Great Social Treasure Hunt event, you need to piece together a series of clues hidden across various official DDV social channels. This mini-event is part of the larger Treasure Hunt, but the process for working through it is entirely different. Up until Aug. 12, the DDV team will sometimes drop secret clues across social media. These will always contain a capitalized section, which is part of the code needed to complete this event. All The Great Social Treasure Hunt clues in Disney Dreamlight Valley Two pieces of The Great Social Treasure Hunt event code have been unveiled so far. Here are all of the parts of the code that the DDV team has revealed. We'll update this guide as the rest are shared. Clue Source ARR "RemembARR… friends come in all shapes and sizes" in a post on X (formerly Twitter). PIRATE "We hope this treasure trail will insPIRATE you to explore every corner of our content — who knows what secrets might be hiding just out of sight?" in a blog post about this event. The Great Social Treasure Hunt code in Disney Dreamlight Valley Although all of the code pieces haven't been officially revealed yet, some players have already managed to solve it. You can redeem your prize early by using the "ARRPIRATETREASUREX" code. https://www.reddit.com/r/DisneyDreamlights/comments/1meqktz/treasure_hunt_social_event_code/?utm_source=share&utm_medium=web3x&utm_name=web3xcss&utm_term=1&utm_content=share_button How to use The Great Social Treasure Hunt code in Disney Dreamlight Valley Screenshot by Destructoid You can claim your reward by entering the special event code on the Help page. It can be a bit tricky to find if you aren't familiar with this process, so here's a full breakdown of how to get it done. Open the Settings page in DDV. Switch to the Help tab. Locate the code box near the middle of the menu and type or paste "ARRPIRATETREASUREX." Click the Claim button. Head to any mailbox around the valley to claim your reward. The Great Social Treasure Hunt reward in Disney Dreamlight Valley Completing The Great Social Treasure Hunt unlocks a special pirate frame for photo mode as a reward. You can use this item while taking pictures with your Phone, whether it be just random captures around the valley or official entries for the weekly DreamSnaps competition. Screenshot by Destructoid With this mini event out of the way, you can get back to focusing on the main parts of the Treasure Hunt event. There are plenty of clues and solutions you need to work through, like tip some purple caps somewhere swampy, beneath coral growth with a dazzling view, under a pile of bone in a sunlit place, and don’t forget to put out the fires. The post The Great Social Treasure Hunt walkthrough in Disney Dreamlight Valley appeared first on Destructoid.

Cooking is one of the most complex tasks you can tackle in Tales of the Shire, with over 100 recipes you can unlock and make. To cook up these dishes, you need to have access to all essential cooking ingredients.

There are also over 100 ingredients you can acquire from around Bywater, making it difficult to ensure your pantry is stocked with everything you need. If you want to be ready to cook any dish you come across, here are all cooking ingredients and where to get them in Tales of the Shire.

Table of contents

• All Tales of the Shire ingredients and where to find them
• All Fruit in Tales of the Shire
• All Vegetables in Tales of the Shire
• All Hearty Vegetables in Tales of the Shire
• All Seasonings in Tales of the Shire
• All Fish in Tales of the Shire
• All Miscellaneous ingredients in Tales of the Shire

All Tales of the Shire ingredients and where to find them

Screenshot by Destructoid

The many cooking ingredients you need are divided across six unique categories, including:

• Fruit
• Vegetables
• Hearty Vegetables
• Seasonings
• Fish
• Miscellanous

The process for acquiring different types of ingredients is unique, but interacting with all townsfolk who call Bywater home is essential for unlocking many of them. Here's a full breakdown of all ingredients you can acquire and use in cooking. This list is a work in progress and will receive updates with additional ingredients as we find and unlock them.

All Fruit in Tales of the Shire

Ingredient Season How to get Apricot Autumn Can be foraged from out in the wild. One spot you can visit to find some is far west of Orlo's house. Blackberry Summer and Autumn Can be foraged from out in the wild. One spot you can visit to find some is directly east of Willoww Took's workshop. Elderberry Summer and Autumn Can be foraged from out in the wild. One spot you can visit to find some is right between Lookout Hill and Orlo's home. Currant Summer Can be foraged from out in the wild. One spot you can visit to find some is far north of The Forest and northeast of Delphinium's tree. Peach Summer and Autumn Can be foraged from out in the wild. One spot you can visit to find some is slightly northeast of your home and north of Willow Took's workshop. Raspberry Summer Can be foraged from out in the wild. One spot you can visit to find some is far west of Orlo's home.

All Vegetables in Tales of the Shire

Screenshot by Destructoid

Ingredient Season How to get Box Peppers Summer Can be grown from seeds purchased at Farmer Cotton's shop. Butterfly Cups All seasons Can be foraged from out in the wild. One spot you can visit to find some is south of The Forest, near the bottom right corner of the map. Chanterelle Summer and Spring Can be foraged from out in the wild. One spot you can visit to find some is northeast of Delphinium's tree. Hops Summer Can be foraged from out in the wild. One spot you can visit to find some is slightly north of The Green Dragon. Lettuce Summer and Spring Can be grown from seeds purchased at Farmer Cotton's shop. Penny Bun Summer and Autumn Can be foraged from out in the wild. One spot you can visit to find some is near The Stone Bridge. Puffball Summer and Autumn Can be foraged from out in the wild. One spot you can visit to find some is northwestof Delphinium's tree. Rhubarb Summer and Spring Can be grown from seeds purchased at Farmer Cotton's shop. Wild Beef Summer and Autumn Can be foraged from out in the wild. One spot you can visit to find some is south of Willow Took's workshop.

All Hearty Vegetables in Tales of the Shire

Ingredient Season How to get Beans Summer Can be grown from seeds purchased at Farmer Cotton's shop. Brown Onion Autumn and Winter Can be grown from seeds purchased at Farmer Cotton's shop. Brown Tater Summer and Autumn Can be grown from seeds purchased at Farmer Cotton's shop. Maize Summer Can be grown from seeds purchased at Farmer Cotton's shop. Shallot Summer and Spring Can be grown from seeds purchased at Farmer Cotton's shop. Sperage Summer Can be foraged from out in the wild. One spot you can visit to find some is directly west of The Green Dragon.

All Seasonings in Tales of the Shire

Screenshot by Destructoid

Ingredient Season How to get Butter All seasons Can be purchased from Young Tom Cotton's stall. Hedge Mustard Summer and Autumn Can be foraged from out in the wild. One spot you can visit to find some is slightly north of your house, close to the Bywater sign. Pepperwort Summer and Spring Can be foraged from out in the wild. One spot you can visit to find some is slightly southeast of The Great East Road. Cinnamon All seasons Can be purchased from Hobson Hornblower's stall. Cloves All seasons Can be purchased from Hobson Hornblower's stall. Salt All seasons Can be purchased from Hobson Hornblower's stall. Lemon All seasons Can be purchased from Hobson Hornblower's stall. Rasins All seasons Can be purchased from Hobson Hornblower's stall. Sugar All seasons Can be purchased from Hobson Hornblower's stall.

All Fish in Tales of the Shire

Ingredient Season Preferences How to get Blue-Finned Gudgeon All seasons Afternoon, dry weather Can be fished out of Old Ruby's Pond. Bywater Bleak All seasons Afternoon, dry weather Can be fished out of Old Ruby's Pond. Dawn Dace All seasons Dawn, rainy weather Can be fished out of Old Ruby's Pond. Dunno Summer and Spring Evening, dry weather Can be fished out of Noakes' Jetty. Honeyed Chub All seasons Morning, rainy weather Can be fished out of Old Ruby's Pond. Little Beard Summer and Autumn Evening, rainy weather Can be fished out of Noakes' Jetty. Ruffle All seasons Evening, rainy weather Can be fished out of Old Ruby's Pond. Sad Rudd Summer and Autumn Afternoon, dry weather Can be fished out of the Cotton Farm Pond. Stone Loach All seasons Night, dry weather Can be fished out of Old Ruby's Pond.

All Miscellaneous ingredients in Tales of the Shire

Screenshot by Destructoid

Ingredient Season How to get Shirefield Cheese All seasons Can be purchased from Young Tom Cotton's stall. Bacon All seasons Can be purchased from Young Tom Cotton's stall. Beef All seasons Can be purchased from Young Tom Cotton's stall. Chicken All seasons Can be purchased from Young Tom Cotton's stall. Coney All seasons Can be purchased from Young Tom Cotton's stall. Mutton All seasons Can be purchased from Young Tom Cotton's stall. Pork All seasons Can be purchased from Young Tom Cotton's stall. Chestnut Autumn and Winter Can be foraged from out in the wild. One spot you can visit to find some is northwest of LookoutHill. Hazelnut Summer and Autumn Can be foraged from out in the wild. One spot you can visit to find some is south of Old Noakes' smial. Barley All seasons Can be purchased from Sandyman's shop. Egg All seasons Can be purchased from Young Tom Cotton's stall. Cream All seasons Can be purchased from Young Tom Cotton's stall. Flour All seasons Can be purchased from Sandyman's shop. Milk All seasons Can be purchased from Young Tom Cotton's stall. Oats All seasons Can be purchased from Sandyman's shop. Yeast All seasons Can be purchased from Sandyman's shop.

The post All cooking ingredients in Tales of the Shire and where to get them appeared first on Destructoid.

Cooking is one of the most complex tasks you can tackle in Tales of the Shire, with over 100 recipes you can unlock and make. To cook up these dishes, you need to have access to all essential cooking ingredients. There are also over 100 ingredients you can acquire from around Bywater, making it difficult to ensure your pantry is stocked with everything you need. If you want to be ready to cook any dish you come across, here are all cooking ingredients and where to get them in Tales of the Shire. Table of contents All Tales of the Shire ingredients and where to find them All Fruit in Tales of the Shire All Vegetables in Tales of the Shire All Hearty Vegetables in Tales of the Shire All Seasonings in Tales of the Shire All Fish in Tales of the Shire All Miscellaneous ingredients in Tales of the Shire All Tales of the Shire ingredients and where to find them Screenshot by Destructoid The many cooking ingredients you need are divided across six unique categories, including: Fruit Vegetables Hearty Vegetables Seasonings Fish Miscellanous The process for acquiring different types of ingredients is unique, but interacting with all townsfolk who call Bywater home is essential for unlocking many of them. Here's a full breakdown of all ingredients you can acquire and use in cooking. This list is a work in progress and will receive updates with additional ingredients as we find and unlock them. All Fruit in Tales of the Shire Ingredient Season How to get Apricot Autumn Can be foraged from out in the wild. One spot you can visit to find some is far west of Orlo's house. Blackberry Summer and Autumn Can be foraged from out in the wild. One spot you can visit to find some is directly east of Willoww Took's workshop. Elderberry Summer and Autumn Can be foraged from out in the wild. One spot you can visit to find some is right between Lookout Hill and Orlo's home. Currant Summer Can be foraged from out in the wild. One spot you can visit to find some is far north of The Forest and northeast of Delphinium's tree. Peach Summer and Autumn Can be foraged from out in the wild. One spot you can visit to find some is slightly northeast of your home and north of Willow Took's workshop. Raspberry Summer Can be foraged from out in the wild. One spot you can visit to find some is far west of Orlo's home. All Vegetables in Tales of the Shire Screenshot by Destructoid Ingredient Season How to get Box Peppers Summer Can be grown from seeds purchased at Farmer Cotton's shop. Butterfly Cups All seasons Can be foraged from out in the wild. One spot you can visit to find some is south of The Forest, near the bottom right corner of the map. Chanterelle Summer and Spring Can be foraged from out in the wild. One spot you can visit to find some is northeast of Delphinium's tree. Hops Summer Can be foraged from out in the wild. One spot you can visit to find some is slightly north of The Green Dragon. Lettuce Summer and Spring Can be grown from seeds purchased at Farmer Cotton's shop. Penny Bun Summer and Autumn Can be foraged from out in the wild. One spot you can visit to find some is near The Stone Bridge. Puffball Summer and Autumn Can be foraged from out in the wild. One spot you can visit to find some is northwestof Delphinium's tree. Rhubarb Summer and Spring Can be grown from seeds purchased at Farmer Cotton's shop. Wild Beef Summer and Autumn Can be foraged from out in the wild. One spot you can visit to find some is south of Willow Took's workshop. All Hearty Vegetables in Tales of the Shire Ingredient Season How to get Beans Summer Can be grown from seeds purchased at Farmer Cotton's shop. Brown Onion Autumn and Winter Can be grown from seeds purchased at Farmer Cotton's shop. Brown Tater Summer and Autumn Can be grown from seeds purchased at Farmer Cotton's shop. Maize Summer Can be grown from seeds purchased at Farmer Cotton's shop. Shallot Summer and Spring Can be grown from seeds purchased at Farmer Cotton's shop. Sperage Summer Can be foraged from out in the wild. One spot you can visit to find some is directly west of The Green Dragon. All Seasonings in Tales of the Shire Screenshot by Destructoid Ingredient Season How to get Butter All seasons Can be purchased from Young Tom Cotton's stall. Hedge Mustard Summer and Autumn Can be foraged from out in the wild. One spot you can visit to find some is slightly north of your house, close to the Bywater sign. Pepperwort Summer and Spring Can be foraged from out in the wild. One spot you can visit to find some is slightly southeast of The Great East Road. Cinnamon All seasons Can be purchased from Hobson Hornblower's stall. Cloves All seasons Can be purchased from Hobson Hornblower's stall. Salt All seasons Can be purchased from Hobson Hornblower's stall. Lemon All seasons Can be purchased from Hobson Hornblower's stall. Rasins All seasons Can be purchased from Hobson Hornblower's stall. Sugar All seasons Can be purchased from Hobson Hornblower's stall. All Fish in Tales of the Shire Ingredient Season Preferences How to get Blue-Finned Gudgeon All seasons Afternoon, dry weather Can be fished out of Old Ruby's Pond. Bywater Bleak All seasons Afternoon, dry weather Can be fished out of Old Ruby's Pond. Dawn Dace All seasons Dawn, rainy weather Can be fished out of Old Ruby's Pond. Dunno Summer and Spring Evening, dry weather Can be fished out of Noakes' Jetty. Honeyed Chub All seasons Morning, rainy weather Can be fished out of Old Ruby's Pond. Little Beard Summer and Autumn Evening, rainy weather Can be fished out of Noakes' Jetty. Ruffle All seasons Evening, rainy weather Can be fished out of Old Ruby's Pond. Sad Rudd Summer and Autumn Afternoon, dry weather Can be fished out of the Cotton Farm Pond. Stone Loach All seasons Night, dry weather Can be fished out of Old Ruby's Pond. All Miscellaneous ingredients in Tales of the Shire Screenshot by Destructoid Ingredient Season How to get Shirefield Cheese All seasons Can be purchased from Young Tom Cotton's stall. Bacon All seasons Can be purchased from Young Tom Cotton's stall. Beef All seasons Can be purchased from Young Tom Cotton's stall. Chicken All seasons Can be purchased from Young Tom Cotton's stall. Coney All seasons Can be purchased from Young Tom Cotton's stall. Mutton All seasons Can be purchased from Young Tom Cotton's stall. Pork All seasons Can be purchased from Young Tom Cotton's stall. Chestnut Autumn and Winter Can be foraged from out in the wild. One spot you can visit to find some is northwest of LookoutHill. Hazelnut Summer and Autumn Can be foraged from out in the wild. One spot you can visit to find some is south of Old Noakes' smial. Barley All seasons Can be purchased from Sandyman's shop. Egg All seasons Can be purchased from Young Tom Cotton's stall. Cream All seasons Can be purchased from Young Tom Cotton's stall. Flour All seasons Can be purchased from Sandyman's shop. Milk All seasons Can be purchased from Young Tom Cotton's stall. Oats All seasons Can be purchased from Sandyman's shop. Yeast All seasons Can be purchased from Sandyman's shop. The post All cooking ingredients in Tales of the Shire and where to get them appeared first on Destructoid.

Titan Quest 2 has a few challenging quests to complete, and Ancient Embers requires you to find a sufficient amount of Embers of Night.

You can farm and obtain this alternate currency in the early access build. For starters, Embers of Night is strongly associated with the Ancient Embers quest, which is one of the many side content inside the game. In the game's current build, there are reportedly plenty of Embers to find. Let's look at how to obtain them in the first place to complete the quest.

How do you get Embers of Night in Titan Quest 2?

You can obtain an infinite amount of Embers of Night in the current build of Titan Quest 2. You'll find a chest above the gambler NPC in the location marked on the screenshot below. Once you loot the chest, relog, and it will reset.

Screenshot via Grimoire Games

You can keep farming this chest till you hit the 60 Embers of Night mark. This is how many resources you'll need to complete the Ancient Embers quest in the early access. However, there's a bug as the quest fails to work as intended for players.

This typically happens during the latter stage when you must submit 120 Embers of Night. If you have the required amount of the resource, the NPC will be unclickable, which automatically means that the quest can't be finished.

But this seems random and might be fixed when you're reading this. Irrespective of the bug, you can keep farming Embers of Night and have as many as you want. The method is, quite literally, infinite as long as you don't mind relogging into the game and repeating the farm.

There are some extra ways to get Embers of Night if you don't want to go for the farming method.

• You'll find a smoke signal near the Girl on the Cliff NPC. Destroying the signal will grant you 15 Embers immediately, but it can be done only once.
• You'll find a village making chicken noises, leading a chicken to different locations if you hand them a Moly. It's a one-time activity, but completing it will land you 10 Embers, EXP, and Gold.

While these methods are useful, the farming method should be your go-to option, and more so if you're looking to complete Ancient Embers. If you're struggling with the farm, make sure to upgrade your Mastery skill trees to get new spells.

The post How to obtain Embers of Night (Ancient Embers) in Titan Quest 2 appeared first on Destructoid.

Titan Quest 2 has a few challenging quests to complete, and Ancient Embers requires you to find a sufficient amount of Embers of Night. You can farm and obtain this alternate currency in the early access build. For starters, Embers of Night is strongly associated with the Ancient Embers quest, which is one of the many side content inside the game. In the game's current build, there are reportedly plenty of Embers to find. Let's look at how to obtain them in the first place to complete the quest. How do you get Embers of Night in Titan Quest 2? You can obtain an infinite amount of Embers of Night in the current build of Titan Quest 2. You'll find a chest above the gambler NPC in the location marked on the screenshot below. Once you loot the chest, relog, and it will reset. Screenshot via Grimoire Games You can keep farming this chest till you hit the 60 Embers of Night mark. This is how many resources you'll need to complete the Ancient Embers quest in the early access. However, there's a bug as the quest fails to work as intended for players. This typically happens during the latter stage when you must submit 120 Embers of Night. If you have the required amount of the resource, the NPC will be unclickable, which automatically means that the quest can't be finished. But this seems random and might be fixed when you're reading this. Irrespective of the bug, you can keep farming Embers of Night and have as many as you want. The method is, quite literally, infinite as long as you don't mind relogging into the game and repeating the farm. There are some extra ways to get Embers of Night if you don't want to go for the farming method. You'll find a smoke signal near the Girl on the Cliff NPC. Destroying the signal will grant you 15 Embers immediately, but it can be done only once. You'll find a village making chicken noises, leading a chicken to different locations if you hand them a Moly. It's a one-time activity, but completing it will land you 10 Embers, EXP, and Gold. While these methods are useful, the farming method should be your go-to option, and more so if you're looking to complete Ancient Embers. If you're struggling with the farm, make sure to upgrade your Mastery skill trees to get new spells. The post How to obtain Embers of Night (Ancient Embers) in Titan Quest 2 appeared first on Destructoid.

2XKO is closing in on its closed beta on Sept. 9, and fans are eager to check out the eight starting characters, including VI. The roster, however, has faced criticism from some fans online, who claim the chosen characters are too similar and overly humanoid.

So, when Destructoid had the chance to talk to 2XKO's game director Shaun Rivera at Evo 2025, we had to ask precisely what was behind these eight humanoid characters and if he could talk about the direction when choosing which characters to add to the game.

When discussing the starting roster, Rivera was very candid about his aspirations for the team and what he would ideally like to achieve in the future.

"I wanna start by saying, of course, humanoids are easier, right?" Rivera told Destructoid. "And so, for us, we know everybody wants a larger roster, so we want to get a lot more characters into the game. We're working hard on that. But also I kind of want to take a step back for a second and recognize that League of Legends, the IP, has just an insane amount of variety when it comes to mechanics, thematics, and also size and shape, right? And I think over time, we want to take advantage of that."

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=B6Jntcnc6g8&ab_channel=IGN

Rivera also spoke about how so many characters for the starting eight are from Arcane, and Rivera agreed how the team couldn't not take advantage of the popular TV show when deciding who to add first.

"I think it would be unfair to say we don't consider that at all, but I think there's a reason that these characters are in Arcane to begin with, right?" Rivera commented. "They're relatable. They have amazing stories and kits. And when we see them, we're like, what could we do in a fighting game with them? We get mad, excited, you know? And so, I would say that's a small consideration. But really, we think these characters are freaking amazing."

Rivera went on to say that when creating a character, the team focuses on roles and characters that they believe people will fall in love with and make into their main focus. He feels the mechanics of each character are important as well as the thematic diversity, and used VI as an example of that, saying that "VI, for example, I love boxing. I just want to punch the hell out of somebody. I want to sway a little bit. This is my character, you know, and same with all of our characters, really, we want to find something that people will latch on to, that they'll they'll love, they'll be able to explore, and then go
from there."

Rivera stated that the ideal number of characters the team would want to be at was 10, and that it wants to make characters more quickly, especially during the closed beta period.

"It might be obvious, but I really want to call it out. This isn't like, you know, our fourth or fifth or sixth fighting game in the sense that, like, yeah, we have some designs we can use, and we can polish them up a bit, [but] we're making everything from scratch," Rivera said. "But we're also a team that's learning as we go, and we're going to learn a lot come September 9 in closed beta... We're growing as a team. We're making these from scratch, and we also want to make sure they're really deep, right? You can pick it up and have fun, but through playing, you can also explore a lot. So yeah, we want to make more quickly. We want to build that roster up for sure."

The post 2XKO director says he understands starting roster backlash, states humanoids are easier to make appeared first on Destructoid.

2XKO is closing in on its closed beta on Sept. 9, and fans are eager to check out the eight starting characters, including VI. The roster, however, has faced criticism from some fans online, who claim the chosen characters are too similar and overly humanoid. So, when Destructoid had the chance to talk to 2XKO's game director Shaun Rivera at Evo 2025, we had to ask precisely what was behind these eight humanoid characters and if he could talk about the direction when choosing which characters to add to the game. When discussing the starting roster, Rivera was very candid about his aspirations for the team and what he would ideally like to achieve in the future. "I wanna start by saying, of course, humanoids are easier, right?" Rivera told Destructoid. "And so, for us, we know everybody wants a larger roster, so we want to get a lot more characters into the game. We're working hard on that. But also I kind of want to take a step back for a second and recognize that League of Legends, the IP, has just an insane amount of variety when it comes to mechanics, thematics, and also size and shape, right? And I think over time, we want to take advantage of that." https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=B6Jntcnc6g8&ab_channel=IGN Rivera also spoke about how so many characters for the starting eight are from Arcane, and Rivera agreed how the team couldn't not take advantage of the popular TV show when deciding who to add first. "I think it would be unfair to say we don't consider that at all, but I think there's a reason that these characters are in Arcane to begin with, right?" Rivera commented. "They're relatable. They have amazing stories and kits. And when we see them, we're like, what could we do in a fighting game with them? We get mad, excited, you know? And so, I would say that's a small consideration. But really, we think these characters are freaking amazing." Rivera went on to say that when creating a character, the team focuses on roles and characters that they believe people will fall in love with and make into their main focus. He feels the mechanics of each character are important as well as the thematic diversity, and used VI as an example of that, saying that "VI, for example, I love boxing. I just want to punch the hell out of somebody. I want to sway a little bit. This is my character, you know, and same with all of our characters, really, we want to find something that people will latch on to, that they'll they'll love, they'll be able to explore, and then go from there." Rivera stated that the ideal number of characters the team would want to be at was 10, and that it wants to make characters more quickly, especially during the closed beta period. "It might be obvious, but I really want to call it out. This isn't like, you know, our fourth or fifth or sixth fighting game in the sense that, like, yeah, we have some designs we can use, and we can polish them up a bit, [but] we're making everything from scratch," Rivera said. "But we're also a team that's learning as we go, and we're going to learn a lot come September 9 in closed beta... We're growing as a team. We're making these from scratch, and we also want to make sure they're really deep, right? You can pick it up and have fun, but through playing, you can also explore a lot. So yeah, we want to make more quickly. We want to build that roster up for sure." The post 2XKO director says he understands starting roster backlash, states humanoids are easier to make appeared first on Destructoid.

Destiny 2's new Portal activities are peppered with modifiers. Some make your runs easier, while others set out to keep your sorties more challenging. Trade-off modifiers are somewhere in the middle, sometimes offering you benefits and downsides at the same time.

Trade-off modifiers have different effects, but they increase the challenge rating of an activity and raise your enemies' power by 10. If you need a bump to your rewards and don't mind some of the downsides, throw a trade-off modifier in the mix. They're also required to advance past Guardian Rank Six.

Not all modifiers are made equal, though. Volatile Shields can be fairly easy with good teammates or healing-based builds, but Low Gravity was so loathed that Bungie disabled it for playlists with random modifiers.

Here's how you can use trade-off modifiers in Destiny 2 and complete the Guardian Rank Six objective.

What is a Trade-Off Modifier in Destiny 2?

Volatile Shields can be hilarious with friends. Screenshot by Destructoid

These types of obstacles are found in multiple Portal activities, though their availability can vary. Here are the trade-off modifiers we've seen so far:

• Low Gravity: Gravity isn't as strong, so you, enemies, and pickups float in the air for longer. Yes, this includes ammo bricks, orbs of power, and Engrams, but admittedly, it's fun to watch Cabal Centurions hovering around. Only available in custom matches in Master and above.
• Volatile Shields: Your shields are stronger, but when they're broken, you start a detonation sequence. Teammates must defuse you before you explode. Healing yourself also cancels this effect. Not available in custom Solo Ops.
• Lightning Crystals: Arc and Stasis abilities have improved regen, but you take more damage from these two elements. Not selectable.
• Oscillation: Dealing damage with your kinetic and heavy weapons charges up your energy weapons and vice-versa. Freely available to pick on Normal and Advanced difficulties.

How to use Trade-Off Modifiers in Destiny 2

Pick the least intrusive one. Image via Bungie

You can add some trade-off modifiers to custom activities in the Portal, though your options vary depending on difficulty. Some may only be available in matchmade activities like Fireteam Ops and Pinnacle Ops.

You can also run a matchmade activity with preset modifiers, such as Volatile Shields and Lightning Crystals. For instance, we completed our Guardian Rank Six challenge by doing a Master matchmade Devil's Lair with the Volatile Shields modifier active.

The Guardian Rank Six challenge specifies you must complete it on Master difficulty or higher, so clears in Expert or below may not count for it. Regardless, the process is still the same: apply a modifier through the Customize tab or run an activity that already has one in place. If the challenge doesn't advance, try doing it on Master or using a different modifier.

The post Destiny 2 Trade-Off modifier, explained appeared first on Destructoid.