Game Informer

Game Informer

Monster Hunter Stories 2 Review And 2021 Games We're Excited to Play – GI Show

Posted: 08 Jul 2021 03:55 PM PDT

monster hunter stories 2 review

In this week's episode of The Game Informer Show, we discuss a handful of games we've been digging recently, including Griftlands, Monster Hunter Stories 2: Wings of Ruin, Shape of the World, Oxenfree, and more. After talking about what we've been enjoying, we then spend a good part of the show talking about the games we're most excited to play for the rest of the year, including Metroid Dread, Battlefield 2042, Back 4 Blood, and Halo Infinite.

It's a full show, but we make time for another round of fantastic community emails. So please join John Carson (@John_Carson), Liana Ruppert (@DirtyEffinHippy), Alex Van Aken (@itsVanAken), and Ben Reeves (@Benjaminreeves) for a new wild and ever-entertaining episode!

Thanks for listening! Please make sure to leave feedback below and share the episode if you enjoyed it. You can watch the video above, subscribe and listen to the audio on iTunes or Google Play, listen on SoundCloud, stream it on Spotify, or download the MP3 at the bottom of the page. Be sure to also send your questions to podcast@gameinformer.com for a chance to have them answered on the show!

Our thanks to The Rapture Twins for The Game Informer Show's intro song. You can hear more of their music on their website.

To jump to a particular point in the discussion, check out the time stamps below.

00:00:00 - Introduction

00:02:00 - Monster Hunter Stories 2 Review Impressions

00:11:35 - Griftlands

00:24:45 - Shape of the World

00:28:26 - Destiny 2

00:32:56 - Fortnite Chapter 2 Season 7

00:35:34 - Oxenfree

00:36:45 - 2021 Games We're Excited to Play

01:00:06 - Listener Emails

Please note that due to technical complications there will be no video version of The Game Informer Show this week, but you can resume your normal podcast routine next week.

This posting includes an audio/video/photo media file: Download Now

Death Stranding Director's Cut's New Trailer Sets A Release Date

Posted: 08 Jul 2021 03:45 PM PDT

Today's PlayStation State of Play provided a look at the changes coming to Death Stranding Director's Cut as well as a release date of September 24. The new trailer didn't tease like the one at the Summer Game Fest kickoff, and instead got right to the point showing off gameplay enhancements and additions all while leaning into some classic Kojima quirkiness.  

Showing the game running at a buttery-smooth 60fps, this new look at Death Stranding's enhancements for PlayStation 5 calls this version "the definitive edition." Kojima Productions is adding a little more action with new advanced combat mechanics. This includes a flashy melee maneuvers like high knee strikes, cross-body dives and drop kicks. Sam's weapon variety is also growing. He was shown stunning enemies from afar with a new electricity spewing Maser Gun and mowing down foes with an armored mounted machine gun. There's even a new firing range to practice with the slate of new and existing weaponry.

Being a Porter, Sam not only needs weapons for protection, but also effective ways to complete his deliveries over vast swaths of America. Luckily, the Director's Cut has him covered there as well. Joining the tools this one-man delivery service uses are some new robotics, one of which is a support skeleton to allow for carrying larder loads. Buddy Bot on the other hand is a new robot friend consisting of a pair of cybernetic legs with a platform at the waist; perfect for stacking up cargo or letting Sam ride on himself. Also joining the delivery arsenal is a massive cargo cannon which can turn deliveries into huge projectiles for speedy delivery.

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Next were shots of a big new ramp to place in the world allowing for sweet motorcycle jumps over vast canyons and chasms, and a surprising racecourse called the Fragile Circuit where Sam can race against in vehicles against other player's ghosts. Even with all the strange goings on within Death Stranding, this was one of the weirder, yet surprising and fun additions shown.

Finally, we got a look at various areas and the promise of new story missions. Death Stranding Director's Cut is right around the corner and is available for pre-order on PS5 right this second.

Are the changes to Death Stranding, a game our own Blake Hester says is one of the best games of the generation, going to pull you in for the first time? How about if you're a lapsed Porter? Let us know what you think in the comments!

Demon Slayer Game Trailer From Sony State Of Play Lacks The Anime's Magic

Posted: 08 Jul 2021 03:23 PM PDT

I've been following the Demon Slayer video game – now known as The Hinokami Chronicles – for a while, mainly because I'm such a huge fan of the anime. During today's State of Play, more gameplay and narrative footage was shown, this time, chronicling (see what I did there?) the Tsuzumi Mansion arc when Tanjiro first meets the hot-tempered Inosuke. The artwork is pretty spot on, but the in-game location looks barren and the English voice acting is lackluster (real anime fans only watch/play the sub!). Jokes aside, this latest trailer lacks the magic that the anime is known for. You can watch the trailer from the State of Play below. 

Click here to watch embedded media

That isn't to say that the combat wasn't visually interesting. CyberConnect2, the team behind the Naruto Ultimate Ninja Storm games, is helming the project. Sword strikes and super attacks triggered visual effects and cutscenes that evoked the anime in all the best ways. I know that The Hinokami Chronicles will have linear exploration sections, but I'm not sure if the mansion will live up to the iconic moments from the show that bookends it; namely, the Asakusa, Tokyo and Natagumo Mountain Arcs. I suppose we'll get a better idea of how Tanjiro's confrontation with Kyogai plays out when the game releases on October 15 for consoles and PC. 

If you don't know much about Demon Slayer: Kimetsu no Yaiba – The Hinokami Chronicles, I've compiled a list of all the features that have been revealed so far, including a lesser-known mobile game called Demon Slayer: Blood-Stench Blade Royale. 

What did you think of the State of Play trailer? Has it made you more excited for the release or warier?

Rocket League Brings Back Knight Rider Car Today

Posted: 08 Jul 2021 03:14 PM PDT

Remember the Knight Rider Car Pack that dropped a little over a year ago? Guess what: it's back...well, the vehicle at least! Now, you can relive your inner David Hasselhoff fantasies while taking to the arena against unsuspecting opponents. The famous KITT vehicle is a customized Pontiac Trans Am, and in-game, you'll spot the midnight-black paint job and flashing red siren lights to boot. Unfortunately KITT's arch-nemesis KARR is nowhere to be found, but that would still be a pretty cool addition (hopefully someone over at Psyonix sees this article!). You can get a good look at KITT in the Twitter post below as well as its apparent in-game price that someone kindly threw up in the comments. 

In any case, Rocket League has always been well-known for its many events. Last month, Dominic Toretto's Dodge Charger, the Nissan Skyline, and the Pontiac Fiero roared into the stadium with Rocket League's Fast and Furious event. Additionally, a Super Bowl-inspired spectacle took place at the start of the year. Despite being around for a long time, Rocket League continues to have a dedicated player base because of the high number of rotating content. 

Editor in Chief Andrew Reiner loves Rocket League, and dubbed it the right game for right now (as in, during the quarantine):

"I don't know how long we'll stick with Rocket League, but it's the right game for right now, and is a unique ray of light in the violence-filled competitive landscape. Matches are fast, matchmaking has been great for pairing skill levels, and learning how to fly in a car has been an incredible experience. Last week, I talked about how the pandemic is changing my gaming tastes and habits – mostly in moving away from stressful experiences for more lighthearted entertainment. Rocket League fits that bill perfectly."

Are you going to nab the KITT skin immediately or do you already own it? Are there any crossovers that you want to see next? Throw down those takes in the comments section.

New Lost Judgement Gameplay Trailer Premieres At State Of Play

Posted: 08 Jul 2021 02:46 PM PDT

The Yakuza spin-off, Judgement, is getting a sequel, titled Lost Judgement. During today's State of Play, we got a new trailer that showcases what players can expect to see and do in the game, including parkour exploration and a bevy of Yakuza-inspired wacky minigames.

While exploring the underbelly of Kamurocho and Ijincho, you'll correspond with several friends and enemies, investigate crime scenes for clues to piece together multi-layered mysteries, intensely jump from rooftop-to-rooftop to chase perpetrators, man-handle said perpetrators with wild martial arts combos, and partake in wild extracurricular activities like skateboarding or street motorcycle racing. Despite the ludicrousness of Lost Judgement's minigames and characters, there still seems to be a relatively dark story to play through. 

Jeff Cork enjoyed his time with the original Judgement, concluding his review with, "Even though I wasn't in love with all of Yagami's investigatory tools, I had a great time seeing the Yakuza formula from a fresh perspective. Judgment tells a sprawling, action-packed story that veers dangerously close to melodrama without falling apart. It has some genuinely shocking moments and proves that you don't need Kiryu or Majima as tour guides to have a great time in Kamurocho." Judgment also recently launched for next-gen consoles and Stadia, so if you haven't dropped into Yagami's first arc yet, you have no excuses!

For those curious, the Lost Judgement synopsis reads as follows:

"From the studio that brought you the Yakuza series, Lost Judgment weaves elements of detective sleuthing, noir narrative, and action combat into one mystery thriller starring private eye Takayuki Yagami who defends those the law fails to protect. Yagami is called to revisit an impossible case of two crimes committed at once, but as victims pile up and Yagami unravels the truth, will the scales of justice tip in favor of defending the law or enacting vengeance?"

Lost Judgement launches for current and last-gen consoles on September 24.

Arcadegeddon Is A Flashy Hip Hop Concert Of Cooperative And Competitive Multiplayer

Posted: 08 Jul 2021 02:45 PM PDT

If Arcadegeddon were an animal (roll with me here), it'd be a hip-hop banging phoenix rising from the ashes of a near disaster. After releasing Friday: The 13th and Predator: Hunting Grounds, developer IllFonic moved on to a new licensed multiplayer project that, unfortunately, was cancelled while deep in development – the day after last year's Christmas, no less. 

"I'm pretty sure I was looking in the mirror … and I was like 'Oh s***,'" says IllFonic Art Director Izaak Moody while discussing the cancelation. 

It was a major blow, but IllFonic's creative head, Jarred Gerritzen, saw an opportunity to turn tragedy into triumph. He hunkered down in the solitary of quarantine and concocted the concept for a new, original game built upon the framework they'd already created. This new project would incorporate the team's love of electronic hip hop and punk-rock culture as well as employ their multiplayer expertise to form a game they couldn't get enough of playing. With a deadline that didn't change despite the massive directional shift, IllFonic pulled together to create Arcadegeddon, a fresh blend of cooperative and competitive multiplayer that hopes to wow players with its unique gameplay and stylish presentation.

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What Is Arcadegeddon? 

Let's start with the premise. It all begins with Gilly, a lovable arcade owner whose business becomes threatened by Fun Fun Co. Despite the cute name, this ruthless corporation wants to bring Gilly's Arcade down and uses a virus to infect his most beloved arcade game. You and your buddies won't stand to see the last arcade standing go belly up like this, so you decide to take the fight to Fun Fun Co. by zapping into the game to take on the virus. 

You'll begin Arcadegeddon by creating your custom character (which can rock over 700 cosmetic combinations), then make your way to Gilly's Arcade. This hot spot serves as the game's primary hub area. From here you can link up with friends, check the global leaderboards, purchase gear, accept gang challenges (more on that later), among other diversions. After a brief tutorial, you're ready to bring the fight to Fun Fun Co. 

Gerritzen describes Arcadegeddon as easy enough for anyone to quickly pick up and play but difficult to master, much like the classic arcade games that inspired it. Players battle their way level to level either alone or with up to three friends, blasting apart enemies in third-person combat using a variety of firearms, both conventional and absurd, while completing objectives such as capturing points or destroying designated targets. The game is run-based in that you and your friends have one shot to progress through a world's many levels as far as you can. 

It didn't take long for me to feel at home with Arcadegeddon's combat thanks to its comfortably tight gunplay. Blasting apart gun-toting robots packs a satisfying punch. I also enjoyed the dodge roll, which can be used offensively to plow into enemies and send them flying backwards. On top of this, I got a kick out of using a running slide to trip up enemies or gun them down John Woo-style.  

While completing run after run is the name of the game, Arcadegeddon reduces repetition with its procedurally laid out rooms. Levels are randomly rearranged, so while you may recognize a certain area, don't expect to explore it in the same order. As players get further in a run, the difficulty tiers rise organically to perpetually stack the odds. IllFonic wants to continually challenge players, believing that the drive to get better and earn greater rewards is what ultimately keeps them returning to a game over and over. 

To that end, the truly skilled/masochistic can also spend coins to increase the challenge themselves by visiting a terminal between rounds. This is a one-way street, though; you can't lower the difficulty, so make sure you and your squad agree on the change. Or jack it up without their consent because you're a greedy jerk. Regardless, the promise of more cash and rarer loot could be worth the effort.

Getting further also fills up a meter that opens a boss battle. When unlocked, players can choose to take on this foe at any time, but losing the fight forces players to earn their way back in all over again. My squad took on Fun Fun Co's CEO, who sicced waves of enemies on us while shielding himself in a protective bubble that we had to shatter before dealing real damage. After a tense, back-and-forth battle, we managed to best the dastardly businessman and were rewarded with high-quality weapons and cash. 

Cooperatively Competitive 

Arcadegeddon blends PvE and PvP elements to allow players to cooperate while simultaneously fighting for top honors. In terms of working together, you can trade weapons and ping objects to notify everyone of, say, the quality loot you found. Capturing an objective point occurs faster when everyone holds down the fort together, further encouraging teamwork. Your overall score reflects the cumulative performance of the group, which appears in dedicated leaderboards for every type of team for single, duos, triples, and quads. 

One of the big competitive elements is the scoring at the end of rounds. Individual performances are graded with each player ranked, such as who revived the most allies or scored the most kills. The higher your rank, the more goodies you net for yourself, such as special tickets used to buy new cosmetic items and weapon skins from Gilly. In my time playing multiplayer matches, I found this dynamic creates a friendly sense of competition where my squad worked together for the good of the group, but we also weren't shy about, say, stealing the occasional kill to inflate our own stats. 

Minigames

One of Arcadegeddon's most unique aspects is its competitive minigames. These can be engaged during a run and further break-up the routine with fun, bite-sized challenges that turn friend into foe. One that I played was Glitch Ball, which divided my squad into teams of two fighting to shoot balls into the opponent's goal while slowing each other down with bat and shotgun attacks. Think of it like a futuristic version of Slam Ball, but somehow more ridiculous. 

Another minigame is the deathmatch-style Battle Brawl. As the name suggests, it pits teammates against each other plus AI mobs in an every-player-for-themself fight for supremacy. This mode alone can feature various stipulations. For example, one variant gives every player a precision laser cannon, making battlefields resemble the laser grid in Mission: Impossible. Arcadegeddon will feature 30 of these minigames, and emerging victorious means you're treated to powerful weapons. What's great is you're free to give these prizes to other players once you're back into the game, so theoretically, everyone could walk out a winner. 

Weapons & Abilities 

While players can mow down foes using conventional weapons such as shotguns, SMG's, sniper rifles, and the like, Arcadegeddon's zanier weaponry offers more creative methods of defeating enemies. The Pixel Popper can inflate targets with air, causing them to comically swell until exploding and damaging their nearby allies. Another gun fires discs that slice targets in half and ricochet off surfaces. Weapons can also be imbued with elemental effects. In one game, I had an ice-buffed RPG that froze enemies solid, leaving them vulnerable for me to shatter to icy bits with the bat. 

On top of the arsenal, players wield special powers called Surge Gauntlet abilities. These powerful attacks come in many forms (I had an explosive fireball, for example) and can help turn the tide during dire situations. These powers operate on a cooldown timer, and you can unlock more by completing challenges for the nine colorful gang leaders hanging out in Gilly's Arcade. These challenges can be as simple as opening a certain number of chests or as challenging as besting a boss or defeating dozens of a specific enemy type.  

Furthermore, you can augment your character by collecting Hacks. These usually appear in chests alongside weapons and currency and provide passive stat buffs such as faster ally revival or increased movement speed and you can carry a large number of these at once. Best of all, duplicate enhancements stack their abilities. 

 

Biomes

At launch, Arcadegeddon will release with three maps, called biomes: Nerve Center, Mystic Isles, and Aftermath. The neon-soaked Nerve City serves as the focal point of Gilly's game as well as the primary target of Fun Fun Co.'s assault. Mystic Isles features temple-laden tropical beaches and would look at home on a vacation postcard. The same can't be said for Aftermath, a war-torn city reclaimed by nature that presents a tonal contrast to the otherwise upbeat tone of the game. 

A Killer Soundtrack

You don't often see multiplayer games place heavy emphasis on music, but it's another area where Arcadegeddon stands out. After all, IllFonic's CEO Charles Brungardt is a Grammy-winning producer with an extensive musical background, primarily in hip hop and electronic trap. Thus, Arcadegeddon boasts a deep soundtrack of futuristic hip-hop beats (some composed by Brungardt himself) as well as licensed music from artists such as Getter, UZ, Thook, Halogenix, Milano, South, and Swrly. 

The game's colorful presentation and funky character designs draw stylistic influences from games such as Jet Set Radio and music artists like Gorillaz. When describing the visual look of the cast themselves, Gerritzen says, "They're essentially punk rock Muppets." 

Early Access Launch And The Road Ahead

Arcadegeddon launches in Early Access on PlayStation 5 and the Epic Games Store today for $19.99. As you can see from the content roadmap above, the team is already hard at work on features such as crossplay, additional maps, new abilities, and more. IllFonic plans to keep Arcadegeddon in Early Access for at least seven months, with the full launch scheduled for 2022. When it does arrive, it will cost $29.99 and will likely be available on other yet-to-be-revealed platforms. 



I had a fun time blasting through Arcadegeddon and I'm impressed with what IllFonic has put together given the quick development cycle. The multiplayer shooter market is a historically crowded one and it's hard to stand out, but the team hopes that their unique mix of style and gameplay can attract a sustainable audience. By going into Early Access, the team has a great opportunity to take player feedback and improve the game in real-time to ensure it's exactly what players want once 1.0 rolls around. But even now, IllFonic seems confident that they've made something special. 

"This is the first game, truly the first game in the past 20 years that I've developed on, that I still catch myself playing after work," says Gerritzen. "This shooter space is always cramped, but when you put a screenshot with this game, and you say it's a third person shooter, it's X, Y, and Z like all these other games, you can look at and go 'Wow, that looks different. I watched the videos, [and] that plays different. That sounds different. So, I feel like it is one of those things where it'll stand out in this space."

Watch 9 Minutes Of New Deathloop Gameplay, Courtesy Of PlayStation's Latest State Of Play

Posted: 08 Jul 2021 02:36 PM PDT

Arkane Lyon has been hard at work on Deathloop, its new IP that offers a stylistic shooter experience with a western/cyberpunk twist. Originally slated to release this May, the ongoing global pandemic, among other contributing factors, has caused the team to delay. With Deathloop on the horizon for September, Arkane is showing off even more footage courtesy of PlayStation's latest State of Play showcase. 

In Deathoop, players will be able to assassinate foes in style. It's a tale that centers around a secret society on the cusp of an eternal timeloop within Northern Europe. Those that are trapped within the timeloop don't remember previous loops, entrapping those poor souls in a seemingly incapable prison. Not Colt, though. Colt wants to escape and he's ready to do anything he has to in order to do just that. Turns out, he must use the fact that he can remember previous loops to his advantage and kill each of the eight leaders of the mysterious and illusive Aeon program. 

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With a mix of powers, such as the Shift that allows him to switch places with an enemy and teleport, and his knowledge of various cycles, Colt has a real shot at freedom. Maybe even at ending the timeloop curse. It's going to be a dangerous road, however, one that will likely be filled with many deaths for players. Don't worry, you can bring him back with one simple caveat: any gear, including weapons, acquired during a specific loop disappears upon death. 

Pretty wild, right? The latest gameplay seen during the most recent State of Play showcases more about how powers work in this world, as well as more about the various characters players will meet during their journey. Also, cannibalistic subplots, because that's normal. 

Neck snaps, weapon swaps, the verticality of the way it feels to traverse through the world that Arkane built, the latest extended walkthrough is yet another detailed look at what shooter fans can expect. 

We've learned a lot about Arkane's latest adventure over the last several months, even more so with a previous month's issue of Game Informer Magazine. To catch up on all of the latest and greatest regarding what Deathloop will have to offer Arkane fans, you can check out our exclusive Game Hub right here. You can also learn even more about the story being told with Deathloop with our previous deep dive. 

Deathloop arrives on PlayStation 5 and PC on September 14, 2021. 

What did you think about our latest look at Deathloop gameplay? Is this a day one buy for you, or are you going to wait u until reviews hit? Sound off with your thoughts in the comment section below! 

Mass Effect Legendary Edition Mod Restores Original Trilogy Miranda Butt Scenes

Posted: 08 Jul 2021 01:53 PM PDT

Before you ask: yes, I do have a folder of Mass Effect mods solely with the purpose of writing up in an effort to keep geeking out with the Mass Effect fans in our community. Moving on: after I shared the weirdest of the weird mods with a "Juicy" sexy Hanar mod, I found another modding project that I knew would be a big hit with some of readers based on the way too many comments we get about it. In various scenes in the Mass Effect remaster, shifts in camera angles can be seen, including one infamous scene regarding Cerberus' Miranda Lawson. This mod restores the original Mass Effect trilogy Miranda "butt shots" but with an added joke twist.

Miranda Buttgate 2021, the new Puddlegate of a generation. There was a scene, in particular, that was addressed in the Mass Effect Legendary Edition where Commander Shepard and Miranda are discussing the fate of her twin sister, a sister that her father is looking to kidnap. It's a very emotional scene and it's a discussion that lets the player see a more vulnerable side to this character throughout the events of the second game. So when almost the entire heartfelt convo happens, the camera panned to the below angle, and the angle that BioWare's Kevin Meek says was not originally intended, but it wasn't addressed either.

When the trilogy was first released, the conversation of the weird camera angle was a big talking point in the community. Not from a censorship angle, more just talking about how it was bizarre. There are a few scenes like that, and not just with Miranda. Close-ups of Thane, Jacob, and even Zaeed's assets were prevalent throughout the series, making comedic camera angles something that could potentially break the immersion for some. So BioWare fixed it with the remaster, for not just Miranda, but all characters, with camera angle changes. This was seen in the first Mass Effect when Nihlus, Anderson, and Shepard are preparing to offboard on Eden Prime. It's also present with the Miranda heart-to-heart. 

When news of the revised scenes hit before the release of the remaster, so many gamers were upset. Videos, articles, long threads all over the internet were calling for the remaster to be canceled over censorship claims. It was a whole thing. Now, it doesn't have to be, if that's your fancy. 

For those that are itching for booty, this mod right here restores all of the Miranda scenes from both Mass Effect 2 and Mass Effect 3. The mod's author had just one simple message to say about the mod: "Steel your eyes, and pinch your nose! Now you can enjoy the sight of this woman's backside as she talks about extremely sad and serious things, just like you used to. *Brrrrrap, brap*"

Enjoy, there's a surprise when you play with it installed. Volume up. 

New Baldur's Gate 3 Update Includes New "Game-Changing" Mechanics, Fine-Tuned Roleplaying, And More

Posted: 08 Jul 2021 01:17 PM PDT

It's been a hot minute since we've covered Baldur's Gate 3 news. Luckily, the latest Panel From Hell showcase gives us a reason to break that silence because Larian Studios just gave fans an update on what they can expect from a new Baldur's Gate 3 update dropping next week. 

The latest Panel From Hell is the third entry into this video series, and it's a solid place to give the D&D community an update on what's being done behind the scenes to get Baldur's Gate 3 out of Early Access. The newest update for the role-playing game is set to go live on July 13 and will include notable changes to the gameplay experience in several key ways. 

From a bigger focus on roleplaying to changes to the AI, here is a brief overview of what players can expect come next week.

The Active Roll System

According to Larian, the upcoming update will give players more agency regarding their skill checks. Active Roll allows players to utilize certain spells and apply particular buffs to their rolls in order to increase the odds of passing a skill check. In conjunction with other UI updates, the Active Roll will also let players see any modifiers and status effects directly through the game's UI. 

Camp Supplies

When you're ready to end the night and eager to progress in the story, you can rest that customized head of yours in the Long Rest camp area. Forgetting for a second how it very much feels (in the most wonderful way possible) like the camp interactions in Dragon Age Origins, Larian is making it even easier to get cozy with companions with a new Camp Resources feature. Making the Long Rest more effective, Patch 5 will utilize spare scraps and food found while exploring the world to make resting a little bit more strategic and less wasteful. Larian jokingly added, "Finally, a use for your giant hoard of dead fish!" 

Mini Camps are also on the horizon, offering players a different way to rest than the usual camp site.  According to Larian, "From the Chapel near the Ravaged Beach to the Underdark, we've recreated every landmark as its own isolated location that can be accessed when you're ready to hunker down for your Long Rest."

What Are Background Goals?

You know how when you're making your character, you can choose a specific background? You can be the Acolyte, the Folk Hero -- you can be whatever you choose to be! Now, Larian is taking that step further by adding Background Goals. Background Goals are what players will see with the next patch, giving characters their own secret miniquests to complete depending on which background was chosen during creation. 

When talking about how this works, Larian kept it simple, saying: "When a Folk Hero does something Folksy and Heroic or an Urchin does something Urchiny, they'll be rewarded. It's a new way to encourage role-playing, with players directly benefiting from acting as their characters would in any given scenario."

AI Tweaks

Patch 5 will also include changes made to the game's AI. According to Larian, it's a "serious tune-up" that makes enemies more intelligent, unarmed enemies able to pick up discarded weapons, and goblins a way to  heal one another by gifting health potions. "Wonder as your NPC companions make sensible, self-perserving decisions," Larian added. 

End On A Tease

Larian ended the reveal with a small tease, "There are a huge number of other improvements we've made for Patch 5, including Non-Lethal Attack Mode, old-school point-and-click dialogue, and some very intriguing new story content around a certain party member..."

A plethora of other AI tweaks will be revealed when the full official patch notes release on the same day the update drops: July 13. 

Next Apex Legends Event Adds New Arenas Map And More

Posted: 08 Jul 2021 12:33 PM PDT

Hot off the tail end of Apex Legends' Genesis Collection Event, comes a new spectacle that'll be directly focused on Season 9's most interesting game mode: Arenas. Not only will there be a new map to play on, there will also be weekly challenges to unlock exclusive cosmetics for legends as well as firearms. 

Called the "Thrillseekers Event," the latest locale to come to the Apex Games is a perilous lava-pumping factory: "Overflow." As the post on the official website says, "The floor is lava! Well, some of it, anyway." Overflow is so different from other battlefields because it prioritizes lanes. And with larger mechanical pillars, small rooms, and looming structures obstructing numerous sightlines, it can be hard to capitalize on early mistakes. Long-range appears to be a no-go, but let's be honest, Apex Legends is all about close quarters combat anyway. You can learn more from the trailer below. 

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Unlockables will be distributed by way of weekly reward tracks. Week 1 is all about claiming that new legendary Rampart skin, Week 2 grants Battle Pass boosters and apex packs, and Week 3 comes with a new Bangalore cosmetic. As long as you're playing Arenas, you're guaranteed to build enough reward points to claim all of the collectibles. There will also be rotating sales in the store, so keep an eye out for any interesting bundles.

The Thrillseekers Event kicks off on July 13 and ends on August 3. The "Summer Splash Sale" ends on July 27. 

If you're an avid Apex Legends fan like me, then you've likely heard that the game was recently hacked over the holiday weekend of July 4. While the situation has been resolved, there still appears to be some underlying technical issues happening in the Titanfall communities. A dev at Respawn responded on what the team is doing to handle the dilemma. You can read about that here.

Deathloop Sony State Of Play Watch Along With Game Informer

Posted: 08 Jul 2021 11:47 AM PDT

Just because E3 is in the rearview doesn't mean the video game industry is done rolling out the news. Nintendo took over the headlines earlier this week with the announcement of the new Switch OLED model, setting the internet ablaze with takes on the new additions (and lack thereof). But the Big N isn't the only company looking to make a splash. Sony has announced the company's latest State of Play, this time featuring the PS5-exclusive Deathloop, plus looks at more third-party titles!

Click here to watch embedded media

But what fun is a live stream without friends to talk over it? That's right folks, if you couldn't get enough of them during all the E3 coverage, the Council of Alexes (Stadnik and Van Aken) is back to geek out over the new look at Deathloop and hopefully a few surprises along the way as well! The crew will be going live at 3:45 p.m. Central exclusively on Twitch to talk about their hopes and dreams for the show before Sony officially kicks the video off at 4 p.m. Central!

In a refreshing trend for a video game industry that usually likes to play things incredibly close to the chest, Sony has already set expectations for what we'll see. God of War, Horizon Forbidden West, and PlayStation VR2 will not be making an appearance today, which hopefully leaves room for looks at some of the exciting indie and third-party titles the numerous development teams have cooking. Personally, I'm very much hoping for looks at Solar Ash, Little Devil Inside, and Kena: Bridge of Spirits, but will that dream come to fruition? Tune in to find out.

If you're excited for Deathloop and want to know more then you're absolutely in the right place. Arkane's new shooter graced the Game Informer cover earlier this year, and we have a huge look at the title, including a Rapid-Fire interview with the game director, an exclusive peek at the weapons, and information on how the multiplayer works.

Bloober Team Debunks Silent Hill Concept Leaks, Confirms Two New Games Are In Development

Posted: 08 Jul 2021 11:38 AM PDT

Bloober Team was very quick to deny Silent Hill rumors, but the verbiage is very much about the specific concepts leaked, not the fact that the game itself is rumored to be in development with the Polish studio at the helm. Bloober CMO Tomasz Gawlikowski also confirmed that it has two other projects they are working on, each even more ambitious than The Medium. 

But first, let's talk the leak. A leak by EU's Creative Europe website shared three projects under the Bloober helm, one many believed being in relation to Silent Hill. Three projects were noted in the leak, all with codenames. Here's a quick breakdown of what's what: 

  • Codename H20
    • Real name Layers of Fear 2
  • Codename Black
    • "Presented from a first person perspective, the gameplay is a mixture of exploration, survival and combat. The players take in the world by exploring the environment, interacting with characters and taking part in story-driven setpieces. As the story progresses, they shape the narrative by making a series of moral choices that will lead to one of at least two endings."
  • Codename Dum Spiro
    • A "horror game, which title comes from a Latin sentence "dum spiro, spero" - it means "while I breathe, I hope" and expresses main theme of the game: that even in the face of certain death people are still capable of deciding about their lives, defining its meaning through their actions towards the end and even triumph the evil in a symbolic way. Story takes places during years 1941-44 in Litzmannstadt Ghetto – a World War II ghetto established for Polish Jews, the second-largest ghetto in all of German-occupied Europe. Player takes role of the imprisoned boy who struggles against all odds in order to hide and save his little sister."

Each listing, hyperlinked to the source, provides a detailed description of each codename's purpose: what type of gameplay, an overview of the story — details of the like. Feel free to check out those links, if you're interested in learning more. 

Sitting down with IGN, Gawlikowski addressed the EU leaks and talked more about online speculation and plans for the future of the studio in light of the Konami Project collaboration. 

"We have also applied for two other projects, codenamed respectively Dum Spiro and Black," Gawlikowski told the site. "After numerous iterations of Dum Spiro, we've concluded we can't at the moment deliver it in a form that is appropriately sensitive to the topic and commercially viable at the same time. In short, Dum Spiro is no longer in active development at the moment. Similarly, the initial idea for Black has also been shelved, and while we're still developing a game under this codename, it's now a much different project than what you could read on the web in the past few days."

He added, "At Bloober Team we have two active internal projects, one in the production phase and one in the pre-production phase. Both are going to be bigger in scope than The Medium, however, neither of them is based on themes or premises that have been circulating online in the last days."

Silent Hill has been a source of rumors for quite some time now, more so after the nature of Hideo Kojima's departure became known. Those rumors only intensified when Bloober announced that it was partnerning with Konami for future projects, which instantly added more fuel to the fire. A previous report from Video Game Chronicles stated that "people with knowledge of Bloober's plans" told the site that the "strategic partnership" between the two companies was centered around a Silent Hill-related project. 

In relation to the leak and reports that followed, Gawlikowski shut down the concepts expressed with the associated codenames, though he did say that the team is still very much working on two new games. He also didn't confirm that the Konami project is a new Silent Hill game, but he didn't confirm it wasn't, either. Regarding the two new games have yet to be fully revealed, but he did say that both are larger than the scope of The Medium, which was its own undertaking when creating a dual-reality experience. 

So? Thoughts? Do you think the deliberate phrasing around the specific concepts leaked is indicative of a roundabout way of skirting the question of Silent Hill, or do you think that there is way too much time invested in things we know so little about? Shout out those spicy takes in the comments below! 

Game Informer Live – Dark Souls III

Posted: 08 Jul 2021 11:15 AM PDT

It's Thursday, which means a Game Informer Live stream! Join us at 2 p.m. CT on Twitch as we'll be braving Dark Souls III and its new-gen update on Xbox consoles. The incredible Alex Stadnik will be on the sticks while I, the amazing Marcus Stewart, will provide commentary, moral support, as well as interacting with you, the viewer at home. 

Click here to watch embedded media

Today, the game received a performance update for Xbox Series X/S that bumps the framerate up to a smooth 60 fps. If you're an Xbox owner, there's never been a better time to either revisit Dark Souls III or tackle it for the first time.

Dark Souls III released in 2016 to critical acclaim and stands as, arguably, the high point for the trilogy. Editor Dan Tack said in his review that "Dark Souls III successfully replicates the winning formula of the Souls series, a wondrous combination of majestic boss battles, incredibly layered environments full of secrets, and precise combat that can make other action RPGs difficult to play once you've mastered the art. If you've never played the series, this is a great place to begin, offering a bit more direction in the early game before opening up. If you've already played the series, you can feel confident that From Software hasn't lost its touch."

Alex has never finished Dark Souls III, and while that won't be changing today (unless he really praises the sun), he'll still give it his all to survive its challenges for as long as possible. Be sure to tune in to cheer him on and goof around with us. Our Twitch streams are like a digital hootenanny with all manner of celebration and shenanigans taking place. 

If you can't catch us on Twitch, don't despair! You can watch the archived stream on the Game Informer YouTube channel 24 hours later.

SPONSORED: Turtle Beach Stealth Gen 2 600 And 700 Offer Affordable Premium Console Gaming Audio

Posted: 08 Jul 2021 11:00 AM PDT

There's nothing worse than getting yourself a fancy next-gen console like the Xbox Series X or PlayStation 5, only to take it home and realize that your home audio solution is primitive in comparison to your new set.

If it's time to boost your audio game, then it's time to upgrade to some high-quality, high-performance Turtle Beach headphones.

Stealth Gen 2 600

The Stealth Gen 2 600 (MSRP $99.99) features powerful, amplified audio via expertly tuned 50mm speakers paired with refined ear cup acoustics. Basically, that means the Gen 2 600 sounds fantastic and keeps unwanted noises out of your headphones. It also includes advanced audio features like Variable Mic Monitoring that lets you hear your own voice when you speak to ensure that you sound okay in the microphone.

The included high-performance flip-to-mute mic lets you flip the microphone up in order to mute yourself. It slots right into the design of the headset when flipped up, making it a super neat and space-efficient feature.

The Stealth Gen 2 600 also features a robust construction value, with a strengthened headband and hinge design to ensure that it doesn't break down over time and with repeated use within normal parameters. Its 15-hour battery life ensures that you can get a solid 15 hours of gaming between charges, after which you simply need to plug in the USB-C charging cable.

Its bigger fit means that it gives off better sound. It features ear cushions made of a soft and breathable material that keeps you comfortable for as long as you need to stay in the headphones; whether to game, watch movies, or take Discord calls.

You can find the Stealth Gen 2 600 at the GameStop store for $99.99 today.

Purchase

 

Stealth Gen 2 700

The Stealth Gen 2 700's built-in high-performance Nanoclear™ speakers are a step up from the basic 50mm drivers they replace from the 600. Size isn't everything, but these drivers are even more realistic-sounding and powerful than their previous counterparts. Now you can hear even more of those critical details in intense competitive game modes, but with even more granularity. Whether it's the location of an enemy squad or the direction of gunfire, your Gen 2 700 can provide incredibly realistic sound imaging that breathes life into your favorite games.

The Turtle Beach Stealth Gen 2 700 is also a step up from its 600 counterpart in another major way. It includes Aerofit™ cooling gel-infused ear cushions for maximum comfort. These ear cushions contain memory foam that's infused with a layer of Aerofit™ cooling gel, which keeps you chilled during long sessions of play. It's important to keep your cool under pressure, which is why going for the Stealth Gen 2 700 may be the best option.

It keeps the flip-to-mute mic, glasses friendliness, Superhuman Hearing®, easy access to audio presets, variable mic monitoring, and 50mm drivers of its previous iteration. It also has a 20-hour wireless battery life vs. the 600's 15-hours. This means that you can play your game for up to almost a full day straight before ever needing to charge the Stealth Gen 2 700 via USB-C cable. Its audio presets are super useful in order to tailor the exact audio experience you're looking for as well; you can choose between Bass Boost, Signature Sound, Treble Boost, and Vocal Boost.

You can find a Stealth Gen 2 700 at the GameStop store for $149.99 today!

Purchase

Apex Legends Director Talks Next Character Ahead Of EA Play Showcase, 'Interesting And Unique'

Posted: 08 Jul 2021 10:48 AM PDT

EA Play Live kicked off today with "The Future of FPS" Spotlight. We got a look at some highly-anticipated Battlefield 2042 content as well as a lot of new details about Apex Legends from Chad Grenier, the game's director. As we all know, Apex Legends has garnered overwhelming success since its release in 2019. Javy Gwaltney loved the battle royale when he reviewed it, and I continue to play it every day. With 100 million total players worldwide, it's only natural that the game would get its own slot during the Spotlight. 

July 22 is when the main EA Play Event is showcased, so Grenier (alongside Respawn Entertainment founder Vince Zampella), decided to let us in on some sneak peek info to keep things interesting leading up to the future of Apex Legends. And let me tell you, that future is looking bright. The new Arenas mode looks to push the game to other horizons beyond the tried and true battle royale formula. Grenier confirmed today that Apex Legends Season 10 will come with a ranked version of Arenas so that the best duelists in the world can finally work forward to seeing their names on the leaderboard. Additionally, we'll be getting some new info on the next character to join the roster. Grenier says that "he [as in, the character's pronoun] is very interesting and unique."

Click here to watch embedded media

What makes Apex Legends so special is the fact that it launched without any prior marketing. Grenier humorously stated during the Spotlight that the team was inspired by the "Beyonce drop" which happened in 2013 with the sudden release of her acclaimed self-titled album. Apex Legends, in its own way, has followed suit with a bevy of positive reviews and a burgeoning player base. Events have become commonplace and new seasons bring the promise of new playable legends and maps. Season 9 has been a fun ride, and EA as well as Respawn have plans to continue the excitement in the coming months (and, hopefully, years).

EA Play 'The Future Of FPS' Showcase Talks Battlefield 2042 And The Franchise's History

Posted: 08 Jul 2021 10:21 AM PDT

Battlefield 2042 is an FPS experience set in the near future that challenges players to become something called a Non-Patriot after a refugee crisis overtakes what we know to be everyday life. The multiplayer experience is also going back to what Battlefield has done best in the past: giving players ultimate freedom with map verticality. 2042 is bringing the series back to its roots, now with weaponized tornadoes, and during the EA Play Future of FPS showcase, we got a closer look at what the FPS has in store. 

When asked by IGN's Stella Chung "what's the secret to making a good FPS," Respawn founder Vince Zampella replied with a simple yet effective: "A good team." This is also the driving strategy behind the recent rebranding of DICE LA to Ripple Effect Studios. Once called DICE LA, Ripple Effect will take that same team and make it even bigger with members from all sorts of creative backgrounds. This fresh perspective on game development is perfect given that Ripple Effect has confirmed that it is working on another project in conjunction with Battlefield 2042, adding a multitude of voices to creatively drive new experiences for the future. 

Ripple Effect Studios general manager Oksar Gabrielson talked a little more about Hazard Zone in Battlefield 2042, a "high-stakes" co-op mode, something that is really "contemporary." He said that this is not a standard battle royale experience, it's more in-line with what Battlefield fans will expect while relying on being good on your feet. Digitally speaking. 

In the video below, the first half is largely dedicated to Battlefield, with gameplay being shown off as the developing team chats: 

Click here to watch embedded media

There are more surprises on the way for Battlefield 2042, including a yet-to-be-revealed third mode that players can look forward to. We'll be learning more about that on July 22.

As for the EA Play schedule going forward, here's what's ahead: 

  • July 13 at 10 a.m. Pacific with an indies focus
    • Hazelight's Josef Fares is a part of this showcase alongside Zoink's Olov Redmalm, Silver Rain's Mel Philips and Abubarker Salim, and Velan's Guha Bala
  • July 19 at 4 p.m. Pacific with Madden NFL 22
  • July 20 at 10 a.m. Pacific with a focus on EA Sports 
  • July 22 at 10 a.m. Pacific for other "surprises"
    • WWE's Austin Creed will be featured

The latest Battlefield does things a little bit differently this time around, eschewing the usual single-player vs. multiplayer component, and instead offers players a hybrid experience. When I first learned that there was no single-player, I felt disappointed, but the more I learned about 2042, the more I understood what the vision was going into this new game. On the online side of the equation, DICE is pushing this shooter to the limit by upping the player count to 128 on PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X, and PC. PS4 and Xbox One players are downsized to 64 to preserve the experience, though the studio promises that the lower player count will not impact the game's overall style and feel. 

If you're interested in learning more about the upcoming Battlefield title, be sure to mosey on over and check out our preview with our behind-the-scenes look at 2042. 

2021 Video Game Release Schedule

Posted: 08 Jul 2021 08:37 AM PDT

If you're wondering what games are coming up in 2021, we've put them all in one convenient location. This list will be continually updated to act as a living, breathing schedule as new dates are announced, titles are delayed, and big reveals happen. This should help you plan out your next several months in gaming and beyond.

As the gaming calendar is constantly changing, we highly recommend you bookmark this page. You'll likely find yourself coming back to this to find out the most recent release schedule for the most anticipated games across PC, consoles, handhelds, and mobile devices. If you notice that we've missed something, feel free to let us know! Please note that games will not get assigned to a month until they have confirmed release dates.

Hitman 3

January

Cobra Kai: The Karate Kid Saga Continues (PC) – Iron Conflict (PC) – MXGP 2020 (PlayStation 5) – Scott Pilgrim vs. The World: The Game - Complete Edition (PlayStation 4, Xbox One, Switch, Stadia, PC) – Hitman 3 (PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X/S, PlayStation 4, Xbox One, Switch, Stadia, PC) –  – Read review Teratopia (PlayStation 4, Xbox One, PC) – Dyson Sphere Program (PC) – Ride 4 (PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X/S) – Shing (Xbox One, Switch) – Gravity Heroes (PlayStation 4, Xbox One, Switch, PC) – Nuts (Switch, PC, iOS) – Cyber Shadow (PlayStation 5, PlayStation 4, Xbox One, Switch, PC) –  – Read review Main Assembly (PC) – Stronghold: Warlords (PC) – The Sims 4: Paranormal Stuff Pack (PlayStation 4, Xbox One, PC) – Ryte - The Eye of Atlantis (PC) – The Dark Eye: Chains of Satinav (PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X/S, PlayStation 4, Xbox One, Switch) – The Dark Eye: Memoria (PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X/S, PlayStation 4, Xbox One, Switch) – Disjunction (PlayStation 4, Xbox One, Switch, PC) – Madden NFL 21 (Stadia) –  – Read review Olija (PlayStation 4, Xbox One, Switch, PC) –  – Read review Sword of the Necromancer (PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X/S, PlayStation 4, Xbox One, Switch, PC) – The Medium (Xbox Series X/S, PC) –  – Read review The Yakuza Remastered Collection (Xbox One, PC) – TOHU (PlayStation 4, Xbox One, Switch, Stadia, PC) – Bonkies (PlayStation 4, Xbox One, Switch, PC) – Gods Will Fall (PlayStation 4, Xbox One, Switch, Stadia, PC) – Re:ZERO -Starting Life in Another World- The Prophecy of the Throne (PlayStation 4, Switch, PC) – Turrican Flashback (PlayStation 4, Switch) –
Super Mario 3D World + Bowser's Fury

February

Control (PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X/S) –  – Read review Destruction AllStars (PlayStation 5) –  – Read review Ys IX: Monstrum Nox (PlayStation 4) – Blue Fire (Switch, PC) – Werewolf: The Apocalypse - Earthblood (PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X/S, PlayStation 4, Xbox One, PC) –  – Read review Kinetic Edge (PC) – Nioh 2 Remastered - The Complete Edition (PlayStation 5, PlayStation 4) – Nioh Remastered - The Complete Edition (PlayStation 5) – The Nioh Collection (PlayStation 5) –  – Read review Little Nightmares II (PlayStation 4, Xbox One, Switch, PC) –  – Read review Super Mario 3D World + Bowser's Fury (Switch) –  – Read review Fallen Legion Revenants (PlayStation 4, Switch) – The Sinking City (PlayStation 5) –  – Read review Curse of the Dead Gods (PlayStation 4, Xbox One, Switch, PC) –  – Read review Horned Knight (PlayStation 4) – Persona 5 Strikers (PlayStation 4, Switch, PC) –  – Read review Rogue Heroes: Ruins of Tasos (Switch, PC) –  – Read review We Were Here (Series) (PlayStation 5, PlayStation 4) – Horned Knight (Xbox One) – Cotton Reboot (PlayStation 4, Switch) – Darius Cozmic Revelation (PlayStation 4, Switch) – Forward to the Sky (Switch) – Ghosts 'n Goblins: Resurrection (Switch) –  – Read review Hellpoint (Switch) – Wrath: Aeon of Ruin (PlayStation 4, Xbox One, Switch, PC) – Bravely Default II (Switch) –  – Read review Horned Knight (Switch, PC) – RetroMania Wrestling (PC) –
Yakuza: Like A Dragon Yakuza: Like A Dragon

March

Harvest Moon: One World (Switch) – Maquette (PlayStation 5, PlayStation 4, PC) –  – Read review Neptunia Virtual Stars (PlayStation 4) – Yakuza: Like A Dragon (PlayStation 5) –  – Read review Puyo Puyo Tetris 2 (PC) – Ar Nosurge DX (PlayStation 4, Switch, PC) – Ciel Nosurge DX (PlayStation 4, Switch, PC) – Loop Hero (PC) –  – Read review Sea of Solitude: Director's Cut (Switch) – Two Point Hospital: Jumbo Edition (PlayStation 4, Xbox One, Switch) – Apex Legends (Switch) –  – Read review Gensou Skydrift (PlayStation 4) – Crayta (PC) – Crash Bandicoot 4: It's About Time (PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X/S, Switch) –  – Read review Core (PC) – Kingdoms Of Amalur: Re-Reckoning (Switch) – Monster Energy Supercross: The Official Videogame 4 (PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X/S, PlayStation 4, Xbox One, Stadia, PC) – Mundaun (PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X/S, PlayStation 4, Xbox One, Switch, PC) –  – Read review R.B.I. Baseball 21 (Xbox Series X/S, PlayStation 4, Xbox One, Switch, PC, iOS, Android) – Samurai Shodown (Xbox Series X/S) –  – Read review Saviors of Sapphire Wings & Stranger of Sword City Revisited (Switch, PC) – Stubbs the Zombie in Rebel Without a Pulse (PlayStation 4, Xbox One, Switch, PC) – Adios (Xbox Series X/S, Xbox One, PC) – Red Ronin (PC) – Cartel Tycoon (PC) – DARQ: Complete Edition (Switch) – Jack Jeanne (Switch) – Maglam Lord (PlayStation 4, Switch) – Marvel's Avengers (PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X/S) –  – Read review Can't Drive This (PlayStation 5, PlayStation 4, Xbox One, Switch, PC) – Plants vs. Zombies: Battle for Neighborville (Switch) –  – Read review Root Film (PlayStation 4, Switch) – Overcooked: All You Can Eat (PlayStation 4, Xbox One, Switch, PC) – Story of Seasons: Pioneers of Olive Town (Switch) –  – Read review Love Live! School Idol Festival: After School Wai-Wai! Home Meeting!! (PlayStation 4) – Paradise Lost (PlayStation 4, Xbox One, PC) – Black Legend (PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X/S, PlayStation 4, Xbox One, Switch, PC) – Crash Bandicoot: On the Run (iOS, Android) – Dandy Ace (PC) – DARQ: Complete Edition (PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X/S) – El Hijo - A Wild West Tale (PlayStation 4, Xbox One, Switch) – Yakuza 6: The Song of Life (Xbox One, PC) –  – Read review Balan Wonderworld (PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X/S, PlayStation 4, Xbox One, Switch, PC) – Genesis Noir (Xbox One, Switch, PC) – It Takes Two (PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X/S, PlayStation 4, Xbox One, PC) –  – Read review Monster Hunter Rise (Switch) –  – Read review Tony Hawk's Pro Skater 1 And 2 (PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X/S) –  – Read review Neptunia Virtual Stars (PC) – Auto Chess (PlayStation 5) – Disco Elysium: The Final Cut (PlayStation 5, PlayStation 4, Stadia, PC) –  – Read review Evil Genius 2: World Domination (PC) –  – Read review Kingdom Hearts 2.8 Final Chapter Prologue (PC) –  – Read review Kingdom Hearts HD 1.5 Remix (PC) –  – Read review Kingdom Hearts HD 2.5 Remix (PC) –  – Read review Kingdom Hearts III (PC) –  – Read review Kingdom Hearts III Re Mind (PC) –  – Read review Kingdom Hearts Melody of Memory (PC) –  – Read review Narita Boy (PlayStation 4, Xbox One, Switch, PC) –  – Read review Tennis World Tour 2 (PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X/S) – Drive Buy (Switch, PC) – The Binding Of Isaac: Repentance (PC) –
Outriders

April

Outriders (PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X/S, PlayStation 4, Xbox One, PC) –  – Read review What Comes After (Switch) – World of Demons (iOS) – Lost Words: Beyond the Page (PlayStation 4, Xbox One, Switch, PC) –  – Read review Oddworld: Soulstorm (PlayStation 5, PlayStation 4, PC) –  – Read review Star Wars: Republic Commando (PlayStation 4, Switch) – Pac-Man 99 (Switch) –  – Read review Before Your Eyes (PC) –  – Read review Borderlands 3: Director's Cut DLC (PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X/S, PlayStation 4, Xbox One, PC) – Cozy Grove (PlayStation 4, Xbox One, Switch, PC) – Scarlet Hood and the Wicked Wood (PC, Mac) – What The Dub?! (PlayStation 4, Xbox One, Switch, PC) – The Legend of Heroes: Trails of Cold Steel IV (Switch, PC) – Poison Control (PlayStation 4, Switch) – Fez (Switch) –  – Read review Ashwalkers (PC) – Drifters Loot the Galaxy (PC) – SaGa Frontier Remastered (PlayStation 4, Switch, PC, iOS, Android) – Super Meat Boy Forever (PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X/S, PlayStation 4, Xbox One) –  – Read review Tribal Pass (PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X/S, PlayStation 4, Xbox One, Switch) – MLB The Show 21 (PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X/S, PlayStation 4, Xbox One) –  – Read review Atelier Mysterious Trilogy Deluxe Pack (PlayStation 4, Switch, PC) – Buildings Have Feelings Too! (PlayStation 4, Xbox One, Switch, PC) – Immortals Fenyx Rising: The Lost Gods DLC (PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X/S, PlayStation 4, Xbox One, Stadia, PC) – ScourgeBringer (PlayStation 4, PlayStation Vita) – Turnip Boy Commits Tax Evasion (Switch, PC) – Judgment (PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X/S, Stadia) –  – Read review Nier Replicant ver. 1.22474487139 (PlayStation 4, Xbox One, PC) –  – Read review Death end re; Quest (Switch) – Genshin Impact (PlayStation 5) –  – Read review The Sinking City (Xbox Series X/S) –  – Read review Total War: Rome Remastered (PC) – New Pokémon Snap (Switch) –  – Read review R-Type Final 2 (Xbox Series X/S, PlayStation 4, Xbox One, Switch, PC) – RetroMania Wrestling (PlayStation 4, Xbox One, Switch) – Returnal (PlayStation 5) –  – Read review Terminator Resistance: Enhanced (PlayStation 5) –
Resident Evil Village

May

Sayri: The Beginning (PC) – The Colonists (PlayStation 4, Xbox One, Switch) – Skate City (PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X/S, PlayStation 4, Xbox One, Switch, PC) – Baldur's Gate: Dark Alliance (PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X/S, PlayStation 4, Xbox One, Switch) – Resident Evil Village (PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X/S, PlayStation 4, Xbox One, PC) –  – Read review Hood: Outlaws And Legends (PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X/S, PlayStation 4, Xbox One, PC) – Destiny 2: Season of the Splicer (PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X/S, PlayStation 4, Xbox One, PC) – Assassin's Creed Valhalla: Wrath of the Druids DLC (PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X/S, PlayStation 4, Xbox One, Stadia, PC) – Before We Leave (PC) – Famicom Detective Club: The Girl Who Stands Behind (Switch) – Famicom Detective Club: The Missing Heir (Switch) –  – Read review Mass Effect Legendary Edition (PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X/S, PlayStation 4, Xbox One, PC) –  – Read review Subnautica (Switch) –  – Read review Subnautica: Below Zero (PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X/S, PlayStation 4, Xbox One, Switch, PC) –  – Read review Days Gone (PC) –  – Read review Divinity: Original Sin 2 (iOS) –  – Read review SnowRunner (Switch) – Aerial_Knight's Never Yield (PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X/S, PlayStation 4, Xbox One, Switch, PC) –  – Read review Elite Dangerous: Odyssey (PC) – Manifold Garden (PlayStation 5) – The Wild At Heart (Xbox Series X/S, Xbox One, PC) – Knockout City (PlayStation 4, Xbox One, Switch, PC) –  – Read review Miitopia (Switch) – Rust (PlayStation 4, Xbox One) –  – Read review Biomutant (PlayStation 4, Xbox One, PC) –  – Read review Final Fantasy XIV (PlayStation 5) – King of Seas (PlayStation 4, Xbox One, Switch, PC) – Maneater (Switch) –  – Read review Shin Megami Tensei III Nocturne HD Remaster (PlayStation 4, Switch, PC) – Maid Of Sker (PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X/S) – Earth Defense Force: World Brothers (PlayStation 4, Switch, PC) – Oddworld: Collection (Switch) – The Idolmaster: Starlit Season (PlayStation 4, PC) – The Longest Road on Earth (PC) – Song of Horror Complete Edition (PlayStation 4, Xbox One) –  – Read review Wonder Boy: Asha in Monster World (PlayStation 4, Switch, PC) – World's End Club (Switch) –  – Read review
Mario Golf: Super Rush

June

Ghosts 'n Goblins: Resurrection (PlayStation 4, Xbox One, PC) –  – Read review Operation: Tango (PlayStation 5, PlayStation 4, PC) – Stonefly (PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X/S, PlayStation 4, Xbox One, Switch, PC) – The Elder Scrolls Online: Gates of Oblivion (Stadia, PC) – World of Warcraft: Burning Crusade Classic (PC) – Wreckfest (PlayStation 5) –  – Read review Pro Cycling Manager 2021 (PC) – Tour De France 2021 (PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X/S, PlayStation 4, Xbox One, PC) – Evergate (PlayStation 5) – Sniper Ghost Warrior Contracts 2 (PlayStation 4, Xbox One, PC) – The Last Kids on Earth and the Staff of Doom (PlayStation 4, Xbox One, Switch, PC) – The Persistence (PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X/S) – Mighty Goose (PlayStation 4, Xbox One, Switch, PC) – Backbone (PC) – Chivalry 2 (PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X/S, PlayStation 4, Xbox One, PC) – Edge of Eternity (PC) – The Elder Scrolls Online (PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X/S) – The Elder Scrolls Online: Gates of Oblivion (PlayStation 4, Xbox One) – Alba: A Wildlife Adventure (PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X/S, PlayStation 4, Xbox One, Switch) –  – Read review No More Heroes (PC) – No More Heroes 2: Desperate Struggle (PC) –  – Read review Phantasy Star Online 2: New Genesis (Xbox Series X/S, Xbox One, PC) – Chicory: A Colorful Tale (PlayStation 5, PlayStation 4, PC) – Final Fantasy VII Remake Intergrade (PlayStation 5) –  – Read review Ninja Gaiden: Master Collection (PlayStation 4, Xbox One, Switch, PC) – Game Builder Garage (Switch) – Guilty Gear -Strive- (PlayStation 5, PlayStation 4, PC) – Ratchet & Clank: Rift Apart (PlayStation 5) –  – Read review Star Wars Jedi: Fallen Order (PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X/S) –  – Read review Wave Break (Switch, PC) – Among Us (Xbox Series X/S, Xbox One) –  – Read review Strange Brigade (Switch) – Heliborne (Xbox Series X/S, Xbox One) – Wingspan (Xbox Series X/S, Xbox One) – Dungeons & Dragons: Dark Alliance (PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X/S, PlayStation 4, Xbox One, PC) –  – Read review Ender Lilies: Quietus of the Knights (Switch, PC) –  – Read review Lego Builder's Journey (Switch, PC) –  – Read review Olympic Games Tokyo 2020 – The Official Video Game (PlayStation 4, Xbox One, Switch, Stadia, PC) – Worms Rumble (Xbox Series X/S, Xbox One, Switch) – Alex Kidd in Miracle World DX (PlayStation 5, PlayStation 4, Xbox One, Switch, PC) – Legend of Mana (PlayStation 4, Switch, PC) – Roguebook (PC) – The Eternal Castle Remastered (PlayStation 5, PlayStation 4) –  – Read review Mario Golf: Super Rush (Switch) –  – Read review Scarlet Nexus (PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X/S, PlayStation 4, Xbox One, PC) –  – Read review Tony Hawk's Pro Skater 1 And 2 (Switch) –  – Read review Ender Lilies: Quietus of the Knights (Xbox Series X/S, Xbox One) –  – Read review Curved Space (PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X/S, PlayStation 4, Xbox One, PC) – Destroy All Humans (Switch) –  – Read review Disgaea 6: Defiance of Destiny (Switch) – Doom Eternal (PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X/S) –  – Read review Sky: Children Of The Light (Switch) –  – Read review Spirit of the North (Xbox Series X/S, Xbox One) – Doki Doki Literature Club Plus (PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X/S, PlayStation 4, Xbox One, Switch, PC) – GreedFall (PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X/S) –  – Read review
The Legend of Zelda: Skyward Sword HD

July

Blaster Master Zero (Xbox Series X/S, Xbox One) –  – Read review Operation: Tango (Xbox Series X/S, Xbox One) – A Plague Tale: Innocence (PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X/S, Switch) –  – Read review Ys IX: Monstrum Nox (Switch, PC) – Sam & Max: This Time It's Virtual! (Quest) – Monster Hunter Stories 2: Wings Of Ruin (Switch, PC) –  – Read review Curved Space (Switch) – Where the Heart Leads (PlayStation 5, PlayStation 4) – Lost At Sea (PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X/S, PC) – F1 2021 (PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X/S, PlayStation 4, Xbox One, PC) – Observer: System Redux (PlayStation 4, Xbox One) – Space Jam: A New Legacy (Xbox Series X/S, Xbox One) – The Legend Of Zelda: Skyward Sword HD (Switch) – Akiba's Trip: Hellbound & Debriefed (PlayStation 4, Switch, PC) – Cris Tales (PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X/S, PlayStation 4, Xbox One, Switch, Stadia, PC) – Death's Door (Xbox Series X/S, Xbox One, PC) – Monster Harvest (PlayStation 4, Xbox One, Switch, PC) – Last Stop (PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X/S, PlayStation 4, Xbox One, Switch, PC) – Orcs Must Die 3 (Xbox Series X/S, PlayStation 4, Xbox One, PC) – Contra Returns (iOS, Android) – Microsoft Flight Simulator (Xbox Series X/S) – Neo: The World Ends With You (PlayStation 4, Switch) – Samurai Warriors 5 (Xbox Series X/S, PlayStation 4, Xbox One, Switch, PC) – The Great Ace Attorney Chronicles (PlayStation 4, Switch, PC) – Tribes Of Midgard (PlayStation 5, PlayStation 4, PC) – Chernobylite (PC) – Nier Reincarnation (iOS, Android) – The Forgotten City (PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X/S, PlayStation 4, Xbox One, PC) – Final Fantasy Pixel Remaster Series (PC, iOS, Android) – The Ascent (Xbox Series X/S, Xbox One, PC) – Alone With You (Switch) –  – Read review
New World

August

In Sound Mind (PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X/S, PC) – Lemnis Gate (PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X/S, PlayStation 4, Xbox One, PC) – The Falconeer (PlayStation 5, PlayStation 4, Switch) – Godfall (PlayStation 4) –  – Read review Icarus (PC) – Foreclosed (PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X/S, PlayStation 4, Xbox One, Switch, Stadia, PC) – Naraka: Bladepoint (PC) – SkateBIRD (Xbox One, Switch, PC, Linux) – Hades (PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X/S, PlayStation 4, Xbox One) –  – Read review Greak: Memories Of Azur (PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X/S, Switch, PC) – Humankind (PC) – 12 Minutes (Xbox Series X/S, Xbox One, PC) – RiMS Racing (PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X/S, PlayStation 4, Xbox One, Switch, PC) – Ghost of Tsushima Director's Cut (PlayStation 5, PlayStation 4) – Madden NFL 22 (PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X/S, PlayStation 4, Xbox One, Stadia, PC) – Aliens: Fireteam Elite (PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X/S, PlayStation 4, Xbox One, PC) – Hoa (Switch, PC) – Kena: Bridge of Spirits (PlayStation 5, PlayStation 4, PC) – King's Bounty II (PlayStation 4, Xbox One, Switch, PC) – Psychonauts 2 (PlayStation 4, Xbox One, PC) – No More Heroes 3 (Switch) – KeyWe (PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X/S, PlayStation 4, Xbox One, Switch, PC) – New World (PC) –
Deathloop

September

Lake (Xbox Series X/S, Xbox One, PC) – Pathfinder: Wrath of the Righteous (PC) – Riders Republic (PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X/S, PlayStation 4, Xbox One, Stadia, PC) – WRC 10 (PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X/S, PlayStation 4, Xbox One, PC) – Big Rumble Boxing: Creed Champions (PlayStation 4, Xbox One, Switch, PC) – The Medium (PlayStation 5) –  – Read review F.I.S.T.: Forged In Shadow Torch (PlayStation 5, PlayStation 4) – Sonic Colors: Ultimate (PlayStation 4, Xbox One, Switch, PC) – Life is Strange: True Colors (PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X/S, PlayStation 4, Xbox One, Switch, Stadia, PC) – Tales of Arise (PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X/S, PlayStation 4, Xbox One, PC) – WarioWare: Get It Together! (Switch) – Deathloop (PlayStation 5, PC) – Rainbow Six Extraction (PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X/S, PlayStation 4, Xbox One, PC) – Aragami 2 (PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X/S, PlayStation 4, Xbox One, PC) – Ni no Kuni II: Revenant Kingdom (Switch) –  – Read review Diablo II: Resurrected (PC) – Sable (Xbox Series X/S, Xbox One, PC) – Death Stranding Director's Cut (PlayStation 5) – Dragon Ball Z: Kakarot (Switch) –  – Read review Lost Judgment (PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X/S, PlayStation 4, Xbox One) – Ghostrunner (PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X/S) – Astria Ascending (PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X/S, PlayStation 4, Xbox One, Switch, PC) – Hot Wheels Unleashed (PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X/S, PlayStation 4, Xbox One, Switch, PC) – Life is Strange Remastered Collection (PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X/S, PlayStation 4, Xbox One, PC) –
Back 4 Blood

October

Super Monkey Ball: Banana Mania (Switch) – Far Cry 6 (PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X/S, PlayStation 4, Xbox One, Stadia, PC, Mac) – Metroid Dread (Switch) – Back 4 Blood (PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X/S, PlayStation 4, Xbox One, PC) – Demon Slayer: The Video Game (PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X/S, PlayStation 4, Xbox One, Switch, PC) – A Little to the Left (PC) – The Dark Pictures Anthology: House of Ashes (PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X/S, PlayStation 4, Xbox One, PC) – Battlefield 2042 (PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X/S, PlayStation 4, Xbox One, PC) – Marvel's Guardians of the Galaxy (PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X/S, PlayStation 4, Xbox One, Switch, PC) – Age of Empires IV (PC) – Mario Party Superstars (Switch) –
Final Fantasy XIV: Endwalker

November

Just Dance 2022 (PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X/S, Xbox One, Switch, Stadia) – Forza Horizon 5 (Xbox Series X/S, Xbox One, PC) – Grand Theft Auto V (PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X/S) –  – Read review Shin Megami Tensei V (Switch) – Pokémon Brilliant Diamond (Switch) – Pokémon Shining Pearl (Switch) – Farming Simulator 22 (PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X/S, PlayStation 4, Xbox One, Switch, Stadia) – Final Fantasy XIV: Endwalker (PlayStation 5, PlayStation 4, PC, Mac) –
Dying Light 2: Stay Human

December

Advance Wars 1+2: Re-Boot Camp (Switch) – Dying Light 2 Stay Human (PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X/S, PlayStation 4, Xbox One, PC) –
Stray

To Be Announced

Abandoned (PlayStation 5) Among Us (PlayStation 5, PlayStation 4)  – Read review Anno: Mutationem (PlayStation 4, PC) art of rally (Switch) As Dusk Falls (Xbox Series X/S, Xbox One, PC) Away: The Survival Series (PlayStation 4, PC) Axiom Verge 2 (PlayStation 5, PlayStation 4, Switch, PC) Aztech Forgotten Gods (PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X/S, PlayStation 4, Xbox One, Switch, PC) Babylon's Fall (PlayStation 5, PlayStation 4, PC) Backbone (PlayStation 4, Xbox One, Switch) Baldo (PlayStation 4, Xbox One, Switch, PC) Balsa Model Flight Simulator (PC) Bear and Breakfast (Switch), Beast Breaker (Switch, PC) Black Book (PC) BloodRayne Betrayal: Fresh Bites (PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X/S, PlayStation 4, Xbox One, Switch, PC) Blue Fire (PlayStation 4, Xbox One) Boundary (PC) Braid: Anniversary Edition (PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X/S, PlayStation 4, Xbox One, Switch, PC, Mac, Linux) Bright Memory: Infinite (PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X/S, PC) Bullet Age (Switch, PC) Card Shark (Switch, PC) Chernobylite (PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X/S, PlayStation 4, Xbox One) Chorus (PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X/S, Xbox One, Stadia, PC) Circuit Superstars (PlayStation 4, Xbox One, Switch, PC) Commander Keen (iOS, Android) Crimson Desert (PC) CrossfireX (Xbox Series X/S, Xbox One) Crysis Remastered Trilogy (PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X/S, PlayStation 4, Xbox One, Switch, PC) Cyber Knights: Flashpoint (PC, Mac, Linux, iOS, Android) Cyberpunk 2077 (PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X/S)  – Read review Danganronpa Decadence (Switch) Danganronpa S: Ultimate Summer Camp (Switch) Dangerous Driving 2 (PlayStation 4, Xbox One, Switch, PC) Destiny 2: The Witch Queen (PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X/S, PlayStation 4, Xbox One, Stadia, PC) Devolver Tumble Time (iOS, Android) Digimon Survive (PlayStation 4, Xbox One, Switch, PC) Dirt 5 (Stadia)  – Read review Disco Elysium: The Final Cut (Xbox Series X/S, Switch)  – Read review Dual Universe (PC) Dungeon Defenders: Awakened (PlayStation 4, Xbox One, Switch) Dustborn (PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X/S, PC) Earth Defense Force 6 Eastward (PC, Mac) Echo Generation (Xbox Series X/S, Xbox One, PC) Edge of Eternity (PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X/S, PlayStation 4, Xbox One) Elite Dangerous: Odyssey (PlayStation 4, Xbox One) Encased (PC) Ender Lilies: Quietus of the Knights (PlayStation 5, PlayStation 4)  – Read review Endling (PlayStation 4, Xbox One, Switch, PC) Epic Chef (PC) Evil Dead: The Game (PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X/S, PlayStation 4, Xbox One, Switch, PC) Evil West (PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X/S, PlayStation 4, Xbox One, PC) Eville (PC) Exo One (Xbox Series X/S, PC) ExoMecha (Xbox Series X/S, Xbox One) Fall Guys: Ultimate Knockout (Xbox Series X/S, Xbox One, Switch)  – Read review Far: Changing Tides (PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X/S, PlayStation 4, Xbox One, Switch, PC) Fatal Frame: Maiden of Black Water (Switch)  – Read review Final Fantasy VII The First Soldier (iOS, Android) Five Nights at Freddy's: Security Breach (PlayStation 5, PlayStation 4, PC) Frozen Flame (PC) Garden Story (Switch, PC) GhostWire: Tokyo (PlayStation 5, PC) Golf Club Wasteland (PlayStation 4, Xbox One, Switch, PC) Goodbye Volcano High (PlayStation 5, PlayStation 4, PC) Halo Infinite (Xbox Series X/S, Xbox One, PC) Haven (PlayStation 4, Switch)  – Read review Heavenly Bodies (PlayStation 5, PlayStation 4, PC) Hello Neighbor 2 (Xbox Series X/S, Xbox One, PC) Hindsight (Switch, PC, iOS) Hollow Knight: Silksong (Switch, PC) Horizon Forbidden West (PlayStation 5, PlayStation 4) Humanity (PlayStation 4) Hunter's Arena: Legends (PlayStation 5, PlayStation 4) Hyper Scape (PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X/S)  – Read review Hytale (PC, Mac) Imposter Factory (PC) Industries Of Titan (PC) Inscryption (PC) Jack Move (Switch, PC) Jett: The Far Shore (PlayStation 5, PlayStation 4) Jurassic World Evolution 2 Know By Heart (PC) Last Days of Lazarus (Xbox One, Switch, PC) Lawn Mowing Simulator (Xbox Series X/S, PC) League of Legends: Wild Rift (iOS, Android) LEGO Star Wars: The Skywalker Saga (PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X/S, PlayStation 4, Xbox One, Switch, PC) Let's Build a Zoo (PC) Life is Strange Remastered Collection (Switch) Little Devil Inside (PlayStation 5, PlayStation 4, PC) Little Witch in the Woods (PC) Lost Ark (PC) Lost in Random (PlayStation 4, Xbox One, PC) Madison (PC) Magic: Legends (PlayStation 4, Xbox One, PC) Martha Is Dead (PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X/S, PC) Marvel Future Revolution (iOS, Android) Metal: Hellsinger (PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X/S, PlayStation 4, Xbox One, PC) Mineko's Night Market (Switch, PC, Mac) Neo: The World Ends With You (PC) Neon White (Switch) No Place For Bravery (Switch, PC) Nobody Saves the World (Xbox Series X/S, Xbox One, PC) Nour: Play With Your Food (PlayStation 5, PC) Open Roads (PC) Oxenfree II: Lost Signals (Switch, PC) Panzer Dragoon VR Paranoia: Happiness Is Mandatory (PlayStation 4, Xbox One, PC) Phantom Breaker: Omnia (PlayStation 4, Xbox One, Switch, PC) Pokémon Unite (Switch, iOS, Android) ProtoCorgi (Switch, PC) Puzzle Quest 3 Puzzling Places (PlayStation VR, Rift) Rawmen (PC) Read Only Memories: Neurodiver (PlayStation 4, Xbox One, PC) Recompile (PlayStation 5, PC) Road 96 (Switch, PC) Rogue Lords (PlayStation 4, Xbox One, Switch, PC) Roller Champions (PlayStation 4, Xbox One, Switch, PC) Rune Factory 5 (Switch) Scavengers (PC) Scorn (Xbox Series X/S) Second Extinction (Xbox Series X/S, Xbox One) Seed of Life (PC) Session (Xbox One, PC) Shadow Warrior 3 (PlayStation 4, Xbox One, PC) She Dreams Elsewhere (Xbox One, Switch, PC) Sherlock Holmes: Chapter One (PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X/S, PlayStation 4, Xbox One, PC) Shredders (Xbox Series X/S) Skater XL (Switch) Smash Ball (PC) Solar Ash (PlayStation 5, PlayStation 4, PC) Song in the Smoke (PlayStation VR, Rift, Quest) Sons of the Forest (PC) Soup Pot (Xbox Series X/S, PC) Spelunky (Switch)  – Read review Spelunky 2 (Switch)  – Read review Star Wars: Hunters (Switch) State of Decay 3 (Xbox Series X/S, Xbox One) Stray (PlayStation 5) Surviving The Aftermath (Xbox One, Switch, PC) System Shock Remastered (PC) Temtem (Xbox Series X/S, Switch) The Academy: The First Riddle (PlayStation 4, Xbox One, Switch) The Anacrusis (Xbox Series X/S, PC) The Artful Escape (Xbox One, PC) The Big Con (Xbox Series X/S, Xbox One, PC) The Binding Of Isaac: Repentance (PlayStation 5, PlayStation 4, Switch) The Forgotten City (Switch) The Good Life (PlayStation 4, Xbox One, Switch, PC) The Gunk (Xbox Series X/S, Xbox One, PC) The House of the Dead: Remake (Switch) The Invincible (PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X/S, PC) The King of Fighters XV (PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X/S, PlayStation 4, PC) The Last Friend (PC) The Outlast Trials (PC) The Riftbreaker (PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X/S, PlayStation 4, Xbox One, PC) The Settlers (PC) The Slormancer (PC) The Stanley Parable: Ultra Deluxe (PC) The Walking Dead: Survivors (iOS, Android) The Waylanders (PC) The Witcher: Monster Slayer (iOS, Android) Those Who Remain (Switch) Thymesia (PC) Total War: Warhammer III (PC) Tunche (PlayStation 4, Xbox One, Switch, PC) Tunic (Xbox Series X/S, Xbox One, PC) Ultimate Fishing Simulator 2 (PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X/S, PlayStation 4, Xbox One, Switch, PC) Ultimate Rivals: The Court (iOS) UnDungeon (PC) Unknown 9: Awakening (PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X/S, PC) Unpacking (Switch, PC) Valheim (PC) Vampire: The Masquerade - Swansong (PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X/S, PlayStation 4, Xbox One, Switch, PC) Warhammer 40,000: Darktide (Xbox Series X/S, PC) Way to the Woods (Xbox One, PC) We Are The Caretakers (PC) Weird West (PC) Where Cards Fall (Switch, PC) White Shadows (PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X/S, PC) WWE 2K22

Madison Challenges You To Survive A Demonic Ritual One Photo At A Time

Posted: 08 Jul 2021 08:31 AM PDT

If you're a horror fan looking for a new experience to give you the heebie jeebies, Madison may be worth putting on your radar. This newly revealed psychological horror game comes from Nosebleed Games, a two-person team based in Argentina. If you enjoy unnerving adventures that mess with your mind like Fatal Frame, P.T., or Devotion, Madison appears to be striking similar chords. 

As protagonist Luca, you awaken in a dark room covered in blood. You're not sure what's up other than you're at the mercy of a demon named Madison who tortures Luca to force him into finishing a bloody ritual that began decades prior. What's the nature of this ceremony and why are you the unlucky soul tasked with conducting it? Unfortunately, getting those answers will be easier said than done.

Armed with just a Polaroid camera, you'll capture photos to solve puzzles and explore the unsettling surroundings while being stalked by seemingly all manner of malevolent phenomena. Madison doesn't appear to be for the faint of heart, but you can judge for yourself by watching the debut trailer below. Be warned, it does contain a couple of jump scares. 

Click here to watch embedded media

Madison is currently slated to launch for PC sometime this year. 

If you need even more potential horror goodness to look forward to, you can read this recent report that Konami has tapped The Medium developer Bloober Team for a new Silent Hill project. Speaking of Silent Hill, the series' creator, Keiichiro Toyama, is working on an original horror game with his new team at Bokeh Game Studio. Finally, we've got our list of promising upcoming horror games slated to launch this year where you can find some smaller projects to keep an eye on. 

What do you think of Madison? Share your first impressions down in the comments!

Nintendo Drops New The Legend Of Zelda: Skyward Sword HD Trailer

Posted: 08 Jul 2021 08:23 AM PDT

The release for The Legend of Zelda: Skyward Sword HD on Nintendo Switch is just around the corner, and to celebrate, Nintendo just dropped a brand new trailer showing off what Zelda fans can expect. The latest trailer features Link front and center, as he takes on all of the various enemies that can be encountered. It also shows off even more of the updated visuals for the HD version of the game and what sort of changes players can experience in the world of Hyrule. 

The previous trailer we received for The Legend of Zelda: Skyward Sword HD was a detailed video showcasing the various enhancements made to the game, specifically going into the most overt changes that will be seen. It also showed off more Quality of Life changes like skippable cutscenes, Fi support, and more. This new trailer is more of a "be excited; it's one week away" type of look, which is A-okay for those amped up to see what else looks different. 

Click here to watch embedded media

The Legend of Zelda: Skyward Sword was loved by many, despite what comment sections like to say presently. At the time, players enjoyed the adventure that Link underwent, and there were many positive reviews reinstating that this was a strong entry in the Legend of Zelda franchise. 

With the HD version coming out just next week, players can look forward to optimized control options, additional help from Fi, better framerates for a smoother gameplay experience, a more streamlined means of inventory management, skippable cutscenes, fast-forwardable dialogue, and other tweaks made to the environment to make it a little bit more immersive. 

Back when the original was released, we gave Skyward Sword a perfect 10. "Nintendo has talked about Skyward Sword as the title that shows how Zelda can evolve, and as a lifelong fan of this franchise, I feel confident saying that the game does just that," reads our original review. "From a gameplay and story standpoint, this is the biggest shift the series has ever seen, grafting remarkably fresh additions onto the classic structure."

The adventure begins (again) on July 16 for Nintendo Switch. 

Are you excited to dive back into Zelda: Skyward Sword with the HD version? Will this be your first time with the game? Sound off with those Link-fueled thoughts in the comment section below; Fi would want you to. 

Honoring The Inspiration Behind Fallout 4's Dogmeat, Xbox And Bethesda Raise Money For Humane Society

Posted: 08 Jul 2021 07:54 AM PDT

At the tail-end of June, River, the real-life dog inspiration behind Fallout 4's Dogmeat, passed away. We wrote up our own tribute to the fallen puppers, but Xbox and Bethesda are taking celebrating River's life to a whole new level by raising money for the Humane Society.

We learned of River's passing through a post on Twitter shared by Fallout 4 senior designer Joel Burgess. Burgess offered a sweet, heartfelt thread that gave us a look into River's eventful life, a life filled with inspiring games, all the treats she could ever want, and the belly rubs that this good puppers deserved. River was loved and well cared for, but that's, unfortunately, not the case for all animals. Many are left abandoned in shelters, hoping to be picked up by a loving family to show them what being cared for means. Sometimes, these animals find their forever homes but others? Not so much. It's heartbreaking to think about, which is why Xbox and Bethesda teamed up to help by raising money for the Humane Society to give all animals a shot at the love that animals like River received. 

Not only did the two companies donate $10,000 dollars to the Human Society in Montgomery County, but the dual studios also encouraged gamers around the world to do the same with this donation link. Not sure what the Humane Society is? It's an organization with the mission statement of "We fight for all animals." Crowd-supported, this organization doesn't just house and rehabilitate animals, they actively go out and try to stop abuse and cruelty before it even happens. "We're working to end puppy mills, factory farms, trophy hunts, animal testing, and other cruel industries so we can achieve the vision behind our name: a humane society," reads the official website. 

It's a phenomenal organization, one I've worked with on numerous occasions when looking to provide a safe haven for animals, especially those that can't defend themselves against the horrors that are possible in the real world. In the words of Preston, "Another settlement needs your help," but this time? It's the animals that just want to live and those that want to be loved and feel safe. 

Major kudos to both Xbox and Bethesda for taking on this initiative and I hope to see many more like this in the future. 

Netflix's The Witcher TV Series Blood Origin Casts Its Éile, Filming Begins Next Month

Posted: 08 Jul 2021 07:06 AM PDT

Netflix's The Witcher TV series called Blood Origin continues to add to its cast of characters bringing this prequel show to life. With the recent confirmation that Michelle Yeoh joined the cast, Netflix has revealed yet another actress lending her talents to this adaptation. Meet Éile, a warrior-turned-musician that will be played by Sophia Brown. 

You may know Brown from 2017's Beauty and the Beast and 2019's The Capture, but now she's joining the world of Witchers as the latest character revealed for the upcoming show. According to Netflix, Éile is an "elite warrior-turned-nomadic musician who is forced to return to the way of the blade after a grand reckoning on the Continent sends her on a quest for vengeance and redemption. 

Deadline confirmed in an earlier report that filming on the upcoming show will begin in August. 

Blood Origin a six-part live-action spinoff show from the mainstay live-action take that is preparing to launch season two. The prequel series is being led by Declan de Barra alongside Netflix's The Witcher showrunner Lauren Schmidt Hissrich. 

"As a lifelong fan of fantasy, I am beyond excited to tell the story The Witcher: Blood Origin," mentioned executive producer Declan de Barra when the prequel was first revealed. "A question has been burning in my mind ever since I first read The Witcher books – What was the Elven world really like before the cataclysmic arrival of the humans? I've always been fascinated by the rise and fall of civilizations, how science, discovery, and culture flourish right before that fall."

Hissrich added, "I am so thrilled to collaborate with Declan and the Netflix team on The Witcher: Blood Origin. It's an exciting challenge to explore and expand The Witcher universe created by Andrzej Sapkowski, and we can't wait to introduce fans to new characters and an original story that will enrich our magical, mythical world even more."

With Netflix's The Witcher season 2  bracing for its release sometime later this year on top of Blood Origin also in development, there will be many opportunities to toss those coins at your Netflix service. 

What do you think about the latest casting decision for Netflix's The Witcher: Blood Origin? Are you excited to learn more about the world of Witchers not centered around Geralt? Sound off with your thoughts in the comment section below. 

DICE LA Rebrands While Working On Battlefield 2042, New Project Also In Development

Posted: 08 Jul 2021 06:45 AM PDT

DICE LA has been hard at work on Battlefield 2042 and with a new project also in the works, it's time for a fresh start for a bright future. That's why the studio has officially rebranded to become Ripple Effect Studios under the leadership of Christian Grass. In addition to the news of the new name, it was also confirmed that the studio will be sharing a first look at the "highly-anticipated next major experience" during EA Play on July 22. 

The studio itself is one that wants to encourage more ideas, more innovation. With Battlefield 2042 bringing back the series to what fans loved most -- freedom -- this team wants to explore new ways to bring creative gaming experiences to the world. "At Ripple Effect Studios, innovation and quality are at the forefront of every project as even the smallest idea can change the world. This is the defining characteristic behind the studio's new name," said Grass. "We're so proud of our work as DICE LA and the DICE team will forever be a part of our DNA, but over the past eight years, we've developed our own culture and our own way of doing things. We're excited to look towards the future, expand the team and establish our own identity." 

Respawn Entertainment founder Vince Zampella continues on in his leadership role that was cemented in 2020 to overlook the structure of Ripple Effect Studios, working alongside Grass to grow this team with even more talent to bring their visions to life. "The studio has a great track record and is set to grow into another stronghold of high-quality games," said Zampella. "With an amazing new campus coming to Los Angeles and remote positions available, now is a great time to consider joining us."

Both Zampella and Grass wi ll be present during EA Play Live's Spotlight: The Future of FPS, which is going down today at 1 p.m Easter. There, they are expected to talk more about what's in store for the road ahead, including talking about plans for Apex Legends and Battlefield 2042. To watch along and see what's on the way, you can check that showcase out on EA's official Twitch channel here.

Thoughts on DICE LA's rebranding to Ripple Effect Studios? What do you hope this team's secret new project is? Sound off with your thoughts and predictions in the comment section below! 

Netflix's Resident Evil TV Series 'Infinite Darkness' Is Now Available

Posted: 08 Jul 2021 06:35 AM PDT

One of several Resident Evil adaptations is now available for all to enjoy. For those excited about Netflix's Resident Evil TV series called Infinite Darkness, now is the time to don those comfy sweatpants once more because the anime is now available to watch on the streaming platform.

Resident Evil: Infinite Darkness is set in the year 2006, two years post-Resident Evil 4. The new show starts off with the U.S. President, Ashley's father, having to evacuate the White House after yet another hostile takeover takes place. In the universe that can't seem to find its chill, fans of the iconic horror series from Capcom have a new adventure to partake in starting today. 

The new show is produced by Capcom's Hiroyuki Kobayashi from the Resident Evil game franchise. TMS Entertainment, which also has a history with various anime series, also produced the series, while Quebico, led by Kei Miyamoto, the producer of Resident Evil: Vendetta, led the full 3DCG animation production.

With it just going live today, we haven't had a chance ourselves to watch it, but it will be interesting to see how fans of the iconic horror franchise take to the new series. From everything we've seen leading up to launch, it looks like this just could be the adaptation we have been searching for, but if it nails that vision? That's something we'll just have to watch to find out. 

Netflix also released a new video for the TV series, which you can see below: 

Click here to watch embedded media

This isn't the only Resident Evil adaptation either. There is also a new live-action movie on the way as well, though we'll have a little more to wait on that one. If interested in learning more, check out our previous coverage here. 

What do you think about  Netflix's Resident Evil Infinite Darkness? Do you feel hopeful about this adaptation and have plans to watch it anytime soon? Sound off with your thoughts in the comment section below!
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