Lately, FromSoftware and its legendary IP feel more relevant than ever, with an Elden Ring movie in the works (a sentence that still shocks me to read) and Elden Ring Nightreign providing a brand new multiplayer Soulslike experience for players to enjoy. This beloved new entry into the FromSoft legacy has introduced a plethora of new characters, both playable and boss, to the Souls lexicon, many of which have captured the imagination of the community and become as timeless and recognizable as long-standing characters in the franchise. One such boss in Nightreign stands above the rest, however, being incredibly respected by the community for its unique mechanics, as well as feared and loathed for a difficulty some argue rivals even the game’s final boss.

Enter Libra, the most iconic boss from Nightreign and the game’s poster-boy goat-eye-thing. Chances are, if you’ve spent any time in the Nightreign side of social media, you’ve seen fan art and references made to this instantly recognizable monster. So just why has Libra captured the attention of the community so much that the boss is discussed more than any others in the game, and is even more recognizable than the game’s titular antagonist?

One of the more obvious reasons for this character’s fame (or infamy, but we’ll touch on that in a bit) can be attributed to their fantastic design and intriguing lore. Libra, Creature of Night, or known better as the Equilibrious Beast, has an incredibly striking design, drawing attention to his goat-like silhouette and massive, golden eyes. The character’s appearance clearly resonates with players, as Libra receives far more fan art than any of the game’s other Nightlords.

If you’ve played Nightreign and encountered this Nightlord yourself, than I don’t have to tell you that this boss also sticks to you due to his incredibly unique mechanics. If you’re unfamiliar, before each battle with Libra players are offered a deal. The character’s quote, “Make your choice,” is instantly recognizable to any Nightreign players as preluding one of the more interesting mechanics and player designs in the game.

The deal that Libra offer you just before his fight is a series of powerful enhancements to your build, but at a cost. Anything from maximizing one stat while shrinking the others, receiving a powerful weapon at the cost of levels, leveling up but losing a level every time you use a flask, and more are presented to players as incredibly interesting ways to mix up the fight each time you try it, making Libra one of the most replayable bosses in the game.

The offers themselves can be kinda confusing, but thankfully, players on the Nightreign subreddit have put together a cheat sheet if you need a bit of help for your next run.

As cool as his design and unique mechanic are, Libra has not earned his reputation in the community for these reasons alone. Much of the attention Nightreign characters have paid this character is due to a fairly popular community consensus, that Libra, Creature of Night is perhaps the hardest boss in the game, even outdoing Heolstor, the final boss in Nightreign.

Libra’s insane difficulty are often attributed to two mechanics in his moveset: his use of spells/glyphs and his proc of Madness on players.

Libra, who plays as a magic-heavy boss, will occasionally throw a series of glpyhs and spells at the player, very similar to Golden Order incantations. One such glyph, Rain of Light, sees Libra summoning a glyph in the sky, which then rains down a hail of projectiles all over the map. I personally found this attack hard to dodge, as the hitbox on the light projectiles just felt a little bit off.

RELATED: If You Love Sekiro, You Need to Try This Elden Ring Nightreign Class

Worse, however, is Libra’s application of madness, a status affect that, like many others in Elden Ring Nightreign, deals damage when fully stacked. Though at many points during the fight the rate at which Libra procs this effect seems rather low, certain abilities can fill the whole bar at once if you don’t have the proper resistances. A madness proc, in my experience, is more or less always an instant health bar wipe.

“I’ve defeated each boss at least twice, but this guy humiliates me every run,” says one Reddit user. Yeah, I felt that buddy.

Intentional or not, Libra, Creature of Night, has captured the imagination of Nightreign players in a way no other boss in the game has. With his iconic mechanics, appearance, and terrifying difficulty, this character will likely continue to feel like the poster boy for Nightreign’s antagonists to many players, and I have to wonder if he’ll be making any kind of cameo in the upcoming movie.

The post Elden Ring Nightreign Players Fear This Encounter More Than the Final Boss appeared first on ComicBook.com.

Halo Studios is teasing more information on its next Halo game for later this year. The team behind Halo hasn’t released a new game since 2021 when it dropped Halo Infinite, a game that was actually supposed to release a year prior as an Xbox Series X launch title. Of course, 343 Industries, now known as Halo Studios, has been working on post-launch support for the game. It wasn’t until late 2022 that Halo Infinite even had a co-op campaign, so clearly the studio has been busy with the most recent game even after its release. Still, there are more plans for new Halo games.

Last year, it was announced that Halo Studios moved to Unreal Engine 5, an engine that will not only allow more ease when it comes to recruiting and onboarding new staff, but also streamline development on the next game. Rumors indicate that the studio is working on a new remake of Halo: Combat Evolved for the game’s 25th anniversary next year, but nothing has been firmly announced. Many hoped to see the next Halo project announced at the recent Xbox showcase, but the show came and went without any concrete mention of the franchise’s future. It did seem like Phil Spencer teased the Halo remake, but that’s just fans trying to read between the lines.

New Halo Game Reveal Coming This Year

With that said, it sounds like we will hear more sometime this year. In a recent Halo Waypoint blog post, Halo Studios commented on recent speculation about the future of the franchise. Although they typically don’t engage in speculation, the team felt it was important to set some expectations and noted that at last year’s Halo World Championship, they talked about the future of the series. Fans can expect another tease for the future of Halo at this event this October, but it’s unclear if it will be another behind the scenes look or a more concrete reveal like a trailer for the next game.

“Over the past few weeks, there’s been a fair amount of speculation about when and where more details might emerge about any of the multiple projects Halo Studios is actively working on,” reads the blog post. “We don’t usually comment on such matters, but this time we want to enter the chat and share a little more perspective for Halo fans who might be on the fence about whether to attend this year’s event. Last year at HaloWC, we premiered “A New Dawn” where we talked about the switch to Unreal Engine, gave you a behind the scenes look at Project Foundry, and debuted our evolution to Halo Studios as we enter a new chapter for Halo. For us, “A New Dawn” was just the beginning – at this year’s HaloWC, we look forward to continuing the conversation.”

It’s nice of Halo Studios to come out and be so upfront with fans, especially since speculation like this tends to go on for months and even years with other games. It drives fans to the point of insanity and generally fosters an unhealthy community. It’s good to set expectations and hopefully, this reveal will answer the questions fans have for what’s next for Halo. It’s also rumored that Halo is coming to PS5 in some capacity, so hopefully we get more details on that here as well.

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Not even the summer doldrums can stop the flow of video games. The July 2025 video game releases cover a wide variety of genres, from sports to Soulslikes. There’s undeniably something for everyone, so here are the 10 biggest games coming out in July 2025.

1) EA Sports College Football 26

RELATED: EA Sports College Football 26 Hands-On Preview: Key Upgrades Change the Game

EA Sports College Football 25 was the second best-selling game of 2024 — outselling even Madden NFL 25 — and it’s likely its sequel will hit similar numbers. Players will undoubtedly flock to it again just because it’s college football, but developer EA Orlando has still added over 2,700 new plays, 10,000 more players, and over 300 coaches, as well as improved AI, better blocking and coverages, dynamic substitutions, mechanical ways to emulate home team advantage, and cross-platform play.

Release Date: July 10th via PS5 and Xbox Series X|S

2) Patapon 1+2 Replay

Patapon lives. This bundle is yet another remaster of the seminal first two PSP games, but it has more features than the bare-bones ports PlayStation put out for the PS4. Replay has difficulty settings and adjustable timing, both of which were sorely missing in those aforementioned ports. The lag inherent in many modern TVs also meant they were hard to control and the dated difficulty spikes in those two original games forced players to grind. Given how Patapon 1+2 Replay is smoothing out these wrinkles, it might be the best time to play these strange rhythmic strategy games.

Release Date: July 11th via PS5, Nintendo Switch, and PC

3) Tony Hawk’s Pro Skater 3+4

Tony Hawk’s Pro Skater also lives. After reportedly being canned by Activision despite the explosive success of the 1+2 remasters, Tony Hawk’s Pro Skater 3+4 is a collection of two remasters based on the third and fourth entries in the series but with the modern amenities of the prior remaster. It’s still all about the tricks and fluidly setting up a long combo, but with a bigger roster of skaters, expanded customization options, the ability to create a park, and cross-platform multiplayer. Some have been miffed over its changes it making to the originals, but THPS 3+4 still has a lot going for it.

Release Date: July 11th via PS5, PS4, Xbox One, Xbox Series X|S, Nintendo Switch, Nintendo Switch 2, and PC (will launch on Game Pass)

4) Destiny 2: The Edge of Fate

Destiny 2‘s The Final Shape was received well and sent that decade-long story out with a bang, and now The Edge of Fate is here to mark a brand-new beginning for the narrative and kick off a multi-year saga. Like past expansions, The Edge of Fate will add a slew of new weapons, missions, and gear, as well as a raid, so this is mostly of those who already love Destiny 2. But given the reception of The Final Shape and how many players it brought back to Bungie’s looter shooter, that’s still for a whole lot of people.

Release Date: July 15th via PS5, PS4, Xbox One, Xbox Series X|S, and PC

5) Shadow Labyrinth

Shadow Labyrinth is a Pac-Man game. It’s tough to get that from the title and maybe the key art, but it’s an action platformer take on the classic arcade phenomenon complete with upgrades and, strangely, the ability to turn Pac-Man into a pilotable mech. This gritty reimagining is coming out in a crowded genre, but, at the very least, it’ll be worth checking out in some capacity because of its novelty as a different kind of Pac-Man game.

Release Date: July 17th via PS5, Xbox Series X|S, Nintendo Switch, Nintendo Switch 2, and PC

6) RoboCop: Rogue City – Unfinished Business

RoboCop: Rogue City was a surprisingly well-received first-person shooter and developer Teyon is giving players another helping with Unfinished Business. This standalone expansion has players controlling both RoboCop and Alex Murphy, meaning it’ll give a peek at what Murphy’s life before his accident, as well as the walking tank, ED-209. It brings new enemies that pack more powerful gear, some of which — like the self-explanatory Cryo Cannon — RoboCop gets to wield. It’s already building from an established base, so this one seems primed to deliver.

Release Date: July 17th via PS5, Xbox Series X|S, and PC

7) Donkey Kong Bananza

Nintendo’s first-party Switch 2 trickle continues with Donkey Kong Bananza, the new console’s second huge exclusive. This platformer stars a slightly redesigned ape as he smashes and bashes around big levels. This player-driven approach to traversal driven by destruction seems quite liberating and has given it the colloquial name of “Red Faction: Gorilla.” It’s a novel idea, one that seems like it’ll take advantage of the Switch 2’s higher technical abilities.

Release Date: July 17th via Nintendo Switch 2

8) Wuchang: Fallen Feathers

Wuchang: Fallen Feathers is yet another action Soulslike set within various Asian mythology. However, it’s also another promising version of one of those types of games. Like Nioh, Wuchang is on the faster side and balletic movement, as protagonist Bai Wuchang can flip and roll around quite effortlessly. She not only has a long skill tree and access to around 25 unique weapons and about 40 spells, but she can also take moves from enemies, further building out her combat repertoire. It’s a new team tackling a crowded genre, so there’s room to be skeptical, but it’s still one to look out for.

Release Date: July 24th via PS5, Xbox Series X|S, and PC (will launch on Game Pass)

9) Tales of the Shire: A The Lord of the Rings Game

Most The Lord of the Rings games are about stabbing or, tragically, playing as Gollum. Tales of the Shire: A The Lord of the Rings Game is quite different in that it is a cozy game based in the popular universe. Players create their own Hobbit in Hobbiton and garden, pick plants, trade, fish, cook meals, warm up to the locals, and customize their own home. Its release also marks the 71st anniversary of The Fellowship of the Ring to the day. And while it looks to be quite thematically different from those books, it, like Shadow Labyrinth, demonstrates the benefits of going someplace unexpected with an established franchise.

Release Date: July 29th via PS5, Xbox Series X|S, Nintendo Switch, iOS, Android, and PC

10) Ninja Gaiden: Ragebound

Developer The Game Kitchen cut its teeth on the two Blasphemous games, and while both have plenty of action, the two also have a fair bit of methodical Soulslike DNA in them. Ninja Gaiden: Ragebound is a way for the team to stretch into full action territory and it’s shaping up to be a shift the team was more than prepared for. This 2D action title looks to pull from the original NES Ninja Gaiden games, but with a modern coat of paint, a coat that’s taking advantage of The Game Kitchen’s talented artists. It remains to be seen if it’ll be the best Ninja Gaiden game of 2025, given how it’s coming months after Ninja Gaiden 2 Black and a bit before Ninja Gaiden 4, but it’s sure making one hell of a push to take that top spot.

Release Date: July 31st via PS5, PS4, Xbox One, Xbox Series X|S, Nintendo Switch, and PC

The post 10 Video Games Releasing in July 2025 You Shouldn’t Miss appeared first on ComicBook.com.

Rockstar Games has surprised fans by confirming that it will be releasing new Red Dead Online content this week and it may tease zombie content. Back in 2018, Rockstar Games fans were elated to see Red Dead Redemption 2 would get its own online mode similar to GTA Online. Unfortunately, the mode didn’t meet expectations and Rockstar struggled to put content out for it and was hindered by COVID in what would’ve been the game’s second year. Players were left feeling frustrated by the game’s lack of meaningful support, especially as GTA Online continued to thrive and it felt like it just didn’t live up to its potential.

By 2022, Rockstar confirmed that Red Dead Online would no longer be receiving any major content updates as the developer was focusing its efforts on GTA 6 going forward. It was disappointing and left many wondering about what could’ve been, but it wasn’t in the cards. Although Red Dead Redemption 2 is one of the best selling games of all-time, it never received single player DLC either which bummed fans out who enjoyed the first game’s Undead Nightmare expansion. It seemed that fans would just have to be content with the core game, but Rockstar is teasing some surprise content.

Despite Rockstar clearly being deep in development on GTA 6 with it due out in less than a year, they’ve found a way to add some new missions to Red Dead Online this week. Rockstar Games has confirmed to community members such as videotechuk_ on Twitter that it will be releasing new missions in Red Dead Online with single player character Theodore Levin at the center of them. He will ask players to help him investigate some bizarre, unexplained mysteries in the West that involve them tracking down beasts and looking into an “undead plague.”

“Author Theodore Levin needs your help investigating the bizarre and unexplained in Strange Tales of the West — a new set of four eerie Telegram Missions available tomorrow in Red Dead Online,” reads Rockstar’s description of the update. “Track down undead plagues, rogue automations, swamp beasts, and more by collecting Mr. Levin’s letter from any Post Office or your Camp’s Lockbox, or by launching Telegram Missions from the Player Menu.”

Of course, this only entices players who have been longing for some zombie content in Red Dead Redemption 2. Whether this is just a one-off occasion or something that hints at a larger update or DLC this fall remains to be seen. Red Dead Redemption 2 is rumored to be getting a remaster this fall for Xbox Series X|S, PS5, and Nintendo Switch 2. Perhaps there’s a chance it will come with a new DLC or added content that features zombies.

Only time will tell, but we do urge you to be cautious in hyping yourself up too much. Rockstar is pretty pre-occupied with GTA 6, so it would definitely be a bit of a longshot if this was some massive new update or DLC, but one can hope!

Do you want to see an Undead Nightmare-like DLC for Red Dead Redemption 2? Let me know in the comments.

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Backyard Baseball is a classic franchise that many children of the late 90s and early 2000s got the chance to play on their family’s very first PC. The franchise has recently seen a massive resurgence in popularity thanks to the release of Backyard Baseball ’97, a remaster of the very first game in the series. While we knew Backyard Baseball ’01 was coming as well, we now have an official release date, and fans won’t have to wait very much longer to play it.

The enhanced remaster was officially confirmed via an announcement on X today by the Backyard Sports account. In the post, the developers list the release date for the game as July 8th, specifying that it will be available for PC and mobile devices. It is currently unclear if the game will receive a console port later like Backyard Baseball ’97 did.

“We’re honored to partner with MLB to bring this iconic game to modern gaming devices for the first time,” said Lindsay Barnett, CEO of Playground Productions, in a new statement today. “Backyard Baseball ‘01 was a game-changer in many ways—introducing some of the sport’s biggest legends into the Backyard universe. We can’t wait for fans to relive the joy of building their dream team with both our beloved original characters and baseball’s greatest pros from that unforgettable era.”

RELATED: These MLB Stars Need to Be in the Next Backyard Baseball

A list of returning features and highlights are listed on the Steam page and include:

• 30 Charming Backyard kids
• Legendary MLB Players
• MLB Team Marks
• Hilarious Bloopers
• 8 Classic Ballparks 
• 9 Pitching Power-ups and 4 batting Power-ups
• Lively commentary from Sunny Day and Vinnie

“At our core, we are fans first – not just of video games, but of the Backyard Sports franchise,” says the game’s description. “Fans have asked for accessible and legal ways to play their original Backyard titles for years, and we are excited to deliver. Backyard Baseball ‘01 runs well, looks better than ever, is stacked with Steam achievements, includes new bonus features to test your mettle, and creates a new installation for digital preservation within the Backyard Sports catalog that allows the next generation of fans to fall in love with the game.”

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Just because Zelda games have become open-world with Breath of the Wild and Tears of the Kingdom doesn’t mean that traditional Zelda games like Ocarina of Time, The Wind Waker, and Twilight Princess are outdated and need to come to an end. When visual fidelity and the upgraded technology allowed for 3D Zelda games to be produced, that didn’t result in the end of top-down versions of Zelda. Hits like The Legend of Zelda: A Link Between Worlds and The Legend of Zelda: Echoes of Wisdom are still great additions to the franchise and don’t detract from the experience. There is still an audience of players who are excited about top-down Zelda games, and the same is likely true for the traditional non-open-world experience as well.

For audiences that are still of the mindset that The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time is the best Zelda game ever, the recent Zelda games perhaps leave an itch that is left unscratched. As a result, here are five reasons why Nintendo should continue making traditional Zelda titles moving forward.

1) The Relevancy of Music to Gameplay

The music of the open-world Zelda games offer hauntingly beautiful music that fits the natural adventure of Breath of the Wild and Tears of the Kingdom. The soundtracks for these games leave you with a feeling of melancholy and the desire to explore the world around you. However beautiful the music in the open world, it is missing one important detail within the Zelda franchise. A core talent of Link, separate from his swordmanship or the ability to shoot a bow, is also his ability with musical instruments.

Across the different adventures, Link has played several instruments like the Spirit Flute, the Harp of Ages, and the Ocarina of Time. The music played is intertwined and relevant to the gameplay, impacting things like the flow of time, the weather, the movement of the sun, fast travel, and more. While top-down and linear Zelda games have built a marriage between the gameplay and music, this is inherently missing in the open-world adventures. While one could consider it a one-off with Breath of the Wild, after the release of Tears of the Kingdom, there realistically seems to be an inherent mismatch between the open-world settings and music-based gameplay. If so, then it only gives more cause to believe that traditional Zelda games still have something to offer fans that the open-world games are missing.

2) The Challenge of the Dungeons

Breath of the Wild and Tears of the Kingdom forgo the traditional dungeons and instead opt for a plethora of smaller shrines. A world can exist where in-depth and difficult dungeons exist side-by-side with the shrines. However, in the current generation of Zelda games, dungeons are easy and not something to look forward to anymore. Instead, dungeons are merely an obstacle that sits in the way of story progression or is secondary to the world exploration itself. That exploration does offer a state of bliss and sits at the core of the open-world experience, but also misses audiences looking for a challenging combat experience from the enemies, dungeons, and final bosses to defeat.

Zelda dungeons usually incorporate puzzles, like the shrines, that offer one element of challenge, but also incorporate combat challenges. Each room and floor of a temple or dungeon comes with a variety of new enemies to contend with, a mini-boss at the halfway point, and new items of power to acquire before progressing to the main boss. Therein, each dungeon is like an allegory of the Triforce itself, requiring wisdom to complete the puzzles, the courage to face unknown enemies and environments, and the power to defeat those foes. If the open world is missing that balance, perhaps that value can instead be found in bringing dungeons back in a major way in the future.

3) The Gift of Opening a Chest

Next to the importance of a gritty and in-depth dungeon is the relevance of traditional dungeon items. If most items and equipment are breakable or consumable, the intrinsic value of each item collected is overall reduced. More customization options are available in Breath of the Wild and Tears of the Kingdom, which give more ownership to how Link is outfitted best for the adventure, and more control to individual playstyles, but they miss out on the excitement and pleasure of finding a unique equipment chest.

The loss is no greater felt than with the loss of the animation and music associated with opening an important chest from older Zelda games. While there may be value to the philosophy that the journey is sometimes greater than the reward, prior Zelda titles made a pretty great case for the reward being just as valuable as the journey itself. Those chests offered up items of great importance for story progression and usually added new gameplay mechanics that, up until that chest was opened, were unavailable to the player. In that sense, the world exists in one fashion before the chest, and is a completely different place after the chest.

4) The Intrinsic Value of the Master Sword and Hylian Shield

Items that are breakable or consumable also come with another impact on a few other items of great import to the Zelda franchise: the Master Sword and Hylian Shield. While both Breath of the Wild and Tears of the Kingdom offered meaningful adjustments, the value pales in comparison to prior iterations like Twilight Princess or Majora’s Mask. The Master Sword, while still a key item, loses energy and becomes unavailable for ten minutes instead of breaking. Meanwhile, the Hylian Shield is neither a main quest nor a side quest item that can easily be missed in an entire playthrough, which feels like a tremendous loss given how iconic it is to Link’s character.

In comparison, traditional Zelda games typically offer mainline or side quests that saw the Master Sword or Hylian Shield as something that you had to earn or grow into using. The Hylian Shield is perhaps the best example. The narrative usually begins with a wooden shield that burns and takes damage easily, but as you grow into the hero’s role, you can equip a shield worthy of the role. In Ocarina of Time, that shield is something Link truly has to grow into, and in Skyward Sword, a plethora of lore behind the value of the Hylian Shield and Master Sword is revealed.

5) Story Density

The Legend of Zelda games always come with a rich level of story behind each game to uncover. A facet that is quite strong within the open-world stories of Breath of the Wild and Tears of the Kingdom is the memories that are scattered throughout. They provide a rich tapestry to collect and better understand the characters involved and their motivations, and do so in ways that aren’t covered in a linear or top-down Zelda game. Those memories, at times, offer glimpses into the lives of Link and Zelda that show strong character development and a sense of nostalgia.

However, inversely, those moments if never found are never experienced. By making each moment a collectible spread throughout the entire open world, it leaves space for moments of impact to be left unnoticed. At times, the moments occur so spread out that the narrative is broken, fragmented, and postmarked, so that the audience is left in a space to forget what the central story is about. A linear narrative leaves audiences in a place where likely everyone plays the same story, and is concentrated over a smaller timeframe. Less room is left to forget about the main goal or central narrative when key milestones and objectives are kept at the focal point. While an open world comes with a host of opportunities and challenges, it also comes with more distractions and opportunities to lose sight of the story itself.

The post 5 Reasons Nintendo Needs to Return to Making Traditional Zelda Games appeared first on ComicBook.com.

It appears that Nintendo is preparing fans for a price increase on the Nintendo Switch. The Nintendo Switch is one of the best selling consoles of all-time just behind the PlayStation 2 and Nintendo DS. It was a huge win for Nintendo when it was released back in 2017 as the company took a big hit with the Wii U, a console that failed commercially despite being generally well-liked by Nintendo fans. Thankfully, the Switch was a huge hit largely thanks to it being a console/portable hybrid that allowed fans to take console-quality games on the go. Of course, there were some compromises to keep it affordable and it would show there’s demand for other things like Steam Deck, but it was a huge hit.

Now, the Nintendo Switch 2 is here and it has been a huge hit so far. It is a much more powerful version of its predecessor, allowing players to play big games like Hitman and Cyberpunk 2077 on the go while retaining solid performance. There are still plans for Nintendo to keep supporting the Switch 1, as games like Metroid Prime 4 are slated to come to the console at launch later this year. It’s unclear how long this support will last, but Switch 1 fans will have some time to upgrade without missing on too much stuff.

Nintendo Switch Price Increase in Canada Teased by Nintendo

With that said, if you’re looking to buy a Nintendo Switch in hopes that the price is going to drop after the release of the Switch 2, don’t hold your breath… especially if you’re in Canada. Nintendo has announced that the Nintendo Switch will be getting a price change due to “market conditions” in Canada and more information will be revealed in August. Unfortunately, this will apply to all versions of the Nintendo Switch as well as games and accessories. The one upside is this does not apply to the Nintendo Switch 2.

“Pricing for the original Nintendo Switch family of systems and products in Canada will change based on market conditions,” said Nintendo. “These include Nintendo Switch – OLED Model, Nintendo Switch, Nintendo Switch Lite, physical and digital Nintendo Switch games and Nintendo Switch accessories. Other Nintendo products, including amiibo and Nintendo Switch Online memberships will also experience price changes. Please note: This pricing change does not apply to the Nintendo Switch 2 system, accessories, or software.”

Given the heads-up and the wording of Nintendo’s statement, it seems to be teasing a price increase for the console as a price drop wouldn’t be teased like this nor would it feel so ominous. Furthermore, if it was a price drop, it wouldn’t make sense for games and accessories to all drop at the same time as well. It likely indicates a price increase across the board. This only applies to Canada right now, but we’ll keep you posted if this changes for other countries or if there’s a price increase on the Nintendo Switch 2 in the future. Some fans feared a Switch 2 price increase prior to release due to tariffs, but that didn’t end up coming to fruition.

The post Nintendo Switch Teases Imminent Price Increase in Some Countries appeared first on ComicBook.com.

July 2025’s first big release is out this week, on July 2, and ahead of this release date the PC game has been Verified on Steam Deck. Verified, for those that don’t know, means Valve has tested the game on the handheld machine, and can confirm it is both fully playable and functional on Steam Deck. This means it works great with the built-in display and controls, and requires no settings configuring on the user front.

As for the Steam game in question, it is Mecha Break from Amazing Seasun Games. The multiplayer third-person shooter has been earning lots of attention and anticipation in its pre-release period, and looks poised to be perhaps the biggest Steam release of the month. And the moment it releases it will be available for Steam Deck users to enjoy and enjoy knowing it has been tested by Valve.

“After the Catastrophe, humanity harnassed the power of Corite — a mysterious carbon-silicon mineral driving rapid technological recovery,” reads an official description of the game for those unfamiliar with it. “But its pathogenic nature and relentless spread threaten to consume Earth’s last habitable spaces. In just decades, Corite is projected to engulf the globe. Humanity must find a way to preserve civilization before the countdown reaches zero. Resist. Adapt. Escape. Or follow Corite’s call and forge a new path. Uncover the secrets of Corite and fight for the future! Join S.H.A.D.O.W., pilot third-generation BREAK Strikers, and deploy now!”

The game’s official Steam description continues: “Choose your mecha—assault, melee, sniper, reconnaissance, or support. Battle at breakneck speed across three action-packed modes: Ace Arena (3v3), Operation VERGE (6v6), and Operation STORM (PvPvE). Dodge beams, weave through explosions, and dominate the battlefield!”

Mecha Break is set to be the sophomore release of Amazing Seasun Games, at least on Steam. Previously, the studio put out Snowbreak: Containment Zone in 2023. And like this game, Mecha Break is going to be free-to-play. That said, Mecha Break looks poised to be far more popular than its 2023 predecessor based on beta numbers and Internet anticipation.

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For more Steam Deck coverage — including all of the latest Steam Deck news, all of the latest Steam Deck rumors and leaks, and all of the latest Steam Deck deals — click here.

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Pokemon Scarlet and Violet players have a new surprise coming soon in the form of a Mass Outbreak event. For Pokemon trainers, this Mass Outbreak will kick off later this week on July 3rd and will run through July 6th. This time around, the event will feature many Electric-type cuties to capture, like Dedenne, Morpeko, Pawmi, and more.

The Mass Outbreak Event for Pokemon Scarlet and Violet is specific towards the Pikachu family of Pokemon, the electric rodents. Players will be able to find Dedenne and Pawmi in Paldea, Morpeko and Pachirisu in Kitakami, and Plusli & Minun in Blueberry Academy. All of these different Pokemon will also have an increased likelihood of being Shiny. To boost your chances of obtaining a shiny Pokemon, equip the shiny charm or make a sandwich!

The event is starting on Friday, July 3rd at 8:00 pm ET/5:00 pm PT and ends Sunday, July 6th at 8:00 pm ET/5:00 pm PT. This Mass Outbreak event on Pokemon Scarlet and Violet will not have a repeat run, so if you’re fetching to catch an all-star team to build your perfect fan team, now is the time. To participate in the event, make sure your Nintendo device is connected to the internet and refresh the Poke Portal News before venturing outwards. To download the latest Poke Portal News, select ‘Poke Portal’ from the X menu, select ‘Mystery Gift’, and then click ‘Check Poke Portal News’.

This event follows closely on the heels of Pokemon Scarlet and Violet‘s Baxcalibur Tera Raid Event, which just completed the second round on June 29th. The last Mass Outbreak Event occurred in February to celebrate Pokemon Day and featured Red, Green, and Blue Pokemon like Scyther, Lapras, and Charcadet.

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EA Sports’ F1 25 video game has gotten a new update that adds content from Brad Pitt’s F1: The Movie. The sport of F1 isn’t the most popular thing here in the United States given so many of the races happen at odd hours here, but there’s a pretty dedicated following for it here and it was big enough worldwide for EA Sports to begin making its own video game series out of it with longtime F1 game developer Codemasters. It’s been a pretty lucrative franchise for the publisher and it’s likely only going to get bigger with the sport becoming more popular thanks to things like Brad Pitt’s F1: The Movie which is crushing it right now.

The new movie raked in $140 million at the box office during its first week and has garnered a strong reception from critics. It immerses fans into the driver’s seat of a Formula 1 car and uses technology developed for Top Gun: Maverick‘s jet sequences to create a thrilling experience of sitting in a fast race car. Of course, EA Sports’ F1 video game is featured briefly in the film and that seems to be a result of EA and F1 doing a special partnership to have crossover content from the movie in the game.

F1 25 Adds Content from Brad Pitt’s F1: The Movie

F1 25 has gotten a brand new update that adds “chapters” based on scenes and races from F1: The Movie. Additionally, music from the film from Ed Sheeran, Chris Stapleton, Don Toliver & Doja Cat, and Roddy Ricch has also been added to the game. These chapters are sold separately for those who didn’t pre-order the F1 25 Iconic Edition, but there is one “preview” chapter for those who want a taste of the action. Those who complete all six chapters will get Sonny Hayes’ (Brad Pitt’s character) helmet for use in-game. Additionally, Brad Pitt’s likeness is used in game as a playable driver and players can drive the APXGP F1 cars for those looking to properly relive the film’s thrilling races.

“Get behind the wheel of the APXGP car and experience the key moments of F1® The Movie through immersive in-game chapter scenarios inspired by the film, through a cinematic blend of storytelling and high-octane gameplay. Purchasing this content also unlocks Joshua Pearce’s helmet for use in My Team and Driver Career. Completing all six chapters unlocks Sonny Hayes’ helmet. F1® 25 players who did not pre-order the Iconic Edition can purchase the Chapter Scenarios add-on separately.”

This F1 25 update doesn’t make any changes to gameplay or fix any bugs, it’s only adding new content from the film to the game. It’s a pretty fun crossover for those who are either already fans of F1 25 or are maybe picking it up after seeing the film and looking to relive some of the glory of that movie. F1: The Movie is in theaters now and F1 25 is out on Xbox Series X|S, PS5, and PC as well. There is also speculation that F1 25 will come to Nintendo Switch 2 in the future.

The post F1 25 Adds Content from New Brad Pitt Movie in Latest Update appeared first on ComicBook.com.

A feature missing from GTA 5 may finally be added with the release of GTA 6, or so some GTA 6 fans think. Until GTA 6 releases next year, Grand Theft Auto V remains the latest Grand Theft Auto game. However, it is 12 years old. Since then, Rockstar Games has released Red Dead Redemption 2 and the industry has changed dramatically. The expectation is now that GTA 6 will not just be GTA 5 but far more advanced, but it will come with a laundry list of new features. For example, Grand Theft Auto fans are hoping Rockstar Games is going to finally add one-handed shooting.

For starters, this is a feature of Red Dead Redemption 2, so you would assume it is going to be a part of Rockstar Games’ gameplay going forward. Meanwhile, in promotional material for the game, protagonist Jason can be seen holding a pistol with one hand. This would seemingly confirm the feature, if not for the fact a GTA 5 trailer had the same exact thing, but with Franklin. And obviously, one-handed shooting wasn’t in GTA 5 at release and it has never come to GTA 5 either.

“Do you think NOW we’ll get one hand shooting,” reads a new post on the GTA 6 Reddit page. “We had trailer photos for GTA V where we could see that franklin holds pistol in one hand but we never got this option in the final release (besides being inside car, of course) Maybe in GTA 6 we will be finally able to hold a pistol in 1 hand?”

Unfortunately, as some of the comments point out, in the game’s leaks pistols are always held with two hands, never one, seemingly ruling out this potential feature. However, the leaks are from a very old build of the game, and thus are nowhere representative of what the game will be like at release.

In addition to this, it has been pointed out that with Jason’s military background, holding a gun with one handed would be odd because it is far from the optimal way to shoot a gun and would go against his training. That said, with RDR2 having one handed shooting and it featuring in promotional material so far, some Grand Theft Auto fans remain hopeful.

The post GTA 5 Missing Feature May Finally Be Added in GTA 6 appeared first on ComicBook.com.

Resident Evil Requiem was officially revealed at Summer Game Fest a few weeks ago, and the game looks quite a bit different from what rumors had suggested. Prior to Capcom’s announcement, several rumors had been circulating online, suggesting things like an open-world setting, and even some kind of online multiplayer focus. When rumors like this don’t pan out, many fans assume that they were made up, or incorrect. However, it seems both of these elements were in consideration at Capcom, before the developers decided to go in a different direction. In a Creator’s Message video, director Koshi Nakanishi elaborated on why these ideas were scrapped.

“You might have heard some of the rumors. Things like an online Resident Evil, or an open-world Resident Evil, which we spent some time experimenting with. But in the end, although we had some interesting concepts, we realized it wasn’t what fans wanted to see or play. So we went back to the drawing board and created what led to Resident Evil Requiem,” said Nakanishi.

For Resident Evil fans, this change of direction will likely come as something of a relief. These concepts might have worked for a Resident Evil spin-off, but probably wouldn’t have delivered the kind of experience fans have come to expect from the series. Resident Evil fans have been open to some major changes, like the first-person focus in the last two games. However, those changes were made in service to the horror concept, and the results were largely embraced by players. By contrast, an open-world or online multiplayer elements could have detracted from the horror experience.

The comments from Nakanishi are a testament to how much can change during a video game’s development cycle. Sometimes when leaks don’t pan out, it’s not that they were fake (though that certainly does happen), but instead because leakers are working on information that proves to be outdated. In the case of Resident Evil Requiem, that wasn’t just the open-world setting or the online multiplayer elements; the developers had also considered Leon as a protagonist, but ended up going with Grace Ashcroft in the lead instead.

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Resident Evil Requiem is set to be released on February 27, 2026, so fans won’t have to wait too much longer to see how these decisions might have benefitted the overall game. The last original game in the series was 2021’s Resident Evil Village, and fans have been eagerly anticipating the next mainline entry. It remains to be seen whether Resident Evil Requiem will deliver a truly great experience, but reception has been pretty positive since the game was officially announced. Capcom still seems to be keeping a lot of secrets, but with the game set to be released early next year, we can likely expect to see more details and information over the coming months.

Are you happy that Capcom went in a different direction? Do you think an open-world Resident Evil would have worked? Share your thoughts with me directly on Bluesky at @Marcdachamp, or on Instagram at @Dachampgaming!

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Handheld consoles are a pastime in gaming and are becoming a larger part of its future as more competitors enter the handheld market to challenge the crownbearer and market leader: Nintendo. Nintendo has had many competitors throughout its lifespan in handheld gaming, but at every turn, it has (generally) defeated the competition. In this current generation, the competition is perhaps the most fierce with players like Valve and the Steam Deck, the ASUS ROG Ally, and even smaller devices like the Playdate. However, even with new competition, the Nintendo Switch 2 is already setting records in its first month, showing just how firm Nintendo’s grip remains on the handheld space.

With such an extensive history when it comes to handhelds, here is every portable Nintendo system ranked from worst to best.

7) Nintendo Game Boy Advance

The Game Boy Advance honored the roots of backwards compatibility and allowed for cartridge-based games from the Game Boy Color and the original Game Boy to function on its system. The design of the console also set the stage for all later handheld consoles like the Nintendo DS, 3DS, and even arguably the Nintendo Switch.

However, the Game Boy Advance (at least in its original version) still lacked a backlight for the screen that prevented any form of visual clarity except in well-lit rooms. Eventually, the Game Boy Advance got upgraded to the Game Boy Advance SP. The GBA SP was everything that the original was not, which made ownership of the first model more intolerable, knowing that all of its key problems were resolved by the SP two short years later. The Game Boy Advance SP had the clamshell design for screen protection, an extended battery life from the internal rechargeable battery, and a backlight for the screen to improve visibility in different settings. The Game Boy Advance SP was backward compatible with all other handheld cartridge games, making it a true powerhouse for handheld gaming.

6) Nintendo Game Boy Color

The Game Boy Color had a relatively short lifespan of only three years, but it brought the handheld Game Boy gamers out of the world of grey/green screens into the world of distinctive colors. The Game Boy Color offered a larger screen than the Game Boy Pocket, but still kept the design more compact than the original Game Boy.

The Game Boy Color was also backwards compatible, allowing it to tap into the 1000+ game cartridge library associated with the Game Boy. The Game Boy Color also came with some fantastic Pokémon exclusives like Pokémon Gold, Pokémon Silver, and Pokémon Crystal.

5) Nintendo DS

The Nintendo DS was a bold step for the Nintendo handheld market and perhaps a gamble in terms of design and style that saw the Game Boy brand removed from the naming convention. Regardless, the DS system was a commercial success.

The console was exceptionally innovative with its dual-screen setup (indeed, DS is an acronym for dual-screen) and offering touch screen technology. With a high adoption rate, a lot of developers were willing to support the handheld console, which also offered a lot of creativity with game design. Realistically, the DS system was the foundation for all the later iterations of the DS handheld devices that remained in production until the 3DS XL.

4) Nintendo Switch 2

The launch of the Nintendo Switch 2 could have gone better from a sentiment standpoint. From a sales standpoint, though, the Switch 2 immediately set records for Nintendo.

While it’s still early, the Nintendo Switch 2 is already a fantastic console. With better visual fidelity, frame rates up to 120 fps, and a larger screen, the Switch 2 feels and looks more premium, putting it on the higher end of Nintendo handhelds in the company’s history.

3) Nintendo Game Boy

The Nintendo Game Boy and Game Boy Pocket are where the journey began for many folks with handheld gaming. Nintendo wanted to build on the success of the Game & Watch single-game handheld consoles with a system that allowed for interchangeable cartridges. In that vein, the Game Boy and Game Boy Pocket were exceptionally successful. These handheld consoles became the staples of the ’90s and early ’00s across school life, roadtrips, and gaming on the go in general.

The screen’s display of four shades of green/grey supported a significantly better battery life against more advanced handheld systems of the time, like the Sega Game Gear or Atari Lynx. Some of these more simplistic features also supported a lower price tag for the Game Boy, allowing for a much higher rate of adoption by the general public. The handheld exclusives also gave the Game Boy higher street cred, as the Game Boy was the only place to play Pokémon Red and Blue, Super Mario Land, and Tetris.

2) Nintendo 3DS

If the handheld exclusive console era had to come to an end, it ended on a high note with the Nintendo 3DS and 3DS XL/2DS XL family of consoles. The 3DS console debuted during a time when pop culture was fixated on 3D technology, probably due in part to the success of James Cameron’s Avatar, setting the stage for what was supposed to be the next era of film, television, and gaming. And the 3D gimmick resonated exceptionally well with audiences. Moreover, the console itself was exceptionally well designed, especially the later 3DS XL and 2DS designs.

The 3DS also had a tremendous lineup of games that gave the handheld console significant longevity for playthroughs, even well into the timeframe that the Nintendo Switch was on the market. The 3DS was home to The Legend of Zelda: A Link Between Worlds, several great Pokémon titles, Super Smash Bros. for Nintendo 3DS, and the 3D versions of Ocarina of Time and Majora’s Mask. The console had backward compatibility as well to keep older DS games alive and relevant.

1) Nintendo Switch

With the launch of the Nintendo Switch 2, the Nintendo Switch will eventually have its sunset moment, where it rides off into the horizon with Joy-Cons in tow. The Nintendo Switch had a hell of a ride. Debuting in 2017, the Nintendo Switch has been the top platform from Nintendo for nearly a decade. Across the gaming landscape, that kind of longevity is harder and harder to come by.

The Nintendo Switch, as both a console and a handheld, inevitably cannibalized the DS/3DS era of gaming. With the Nintendo Switch serving both audiences, it left little room in the market for both. And while there is a certain nostalgic past that is lost from a world that will see the Game Boy and DS systems slowly fade away, the Nintendo Switch, in its own words, offered up the best versatility. The Nintendo Switch also restored audience faith in Nintendo as the next-generation console after the Wii U, which was underpowered, gimmicky, and lacked support from third-party publishers and meaningful first-party launch titles. The Nintendo Switch truly built a pipeline that continues to see Nintendo remain relevant in the modern gaming landscape.

The post Every Nintendo Handheld Console, Ranked appeared first on ComicBook.com.

It has been years since Electronic Arts took on a basketball simulation game. Specifically, the last time the company released a realistic basketball game was NBA Live 19, which wasn’t the worst iteration of the franchise, but didn’t spark enough interest for the series to continue. Before that, NCAA Basketball brought March Madness to video games, which hasn’t had an entry since 2009’s NCAA Basketball 10. However, it looks like EA is looking to bring the madness back to gaming, according to its latest tease.

In a recent X (formerly Twitter) post from the official EA Sports account, they teased a new NCAA Basketball game. However, the post uses the hashtag “CBB” which seems to indicate the return to college hoops will probably be named EA Sports College Basketball. There really isn’t too much to go on from the post beyond that. The image shared is just a basketball with the EA Sports logo branded on the ball.

Although it may be a welcome surprise for fans of college basketball, EA’s return to March Madness comes after the success of EA Sports College Football 25. Not only was it a critical success, but it did incredibly well financially. According to review aggregate site Metacritic, the revival of the beloved football franchise garnered an average score of 83 and was the best-selling sports game of all time, according to Circana’s November 2024 report. Additionally, it is also one of the top 50 best-selling video games ever.

There is also the rising popularity of the actual sport to take into account. This year’s March Madness reached record viewership when it aired last March. Around 9.1 million viewers tuned into the tournament’s first round across the available networks. This was up 6%, with its primetime window seeing an average of 12.2 million viewers. The second round averaged 9.4 million viewers, which was the best viewership the tournament has seen since 1993.

RELATED: EA Should Bring March Madness Back to Gaming With a New College Basketball Game

This increase in viewership also extends to Women’s basketball. While it’s not as high as the Men’s division, the Women’s March Madness tournament saw an increase in viewership compared to 2023. According to ESPN, the first round saw an average of 367,000 viewers across all networks, which is up 43% from 2023.

Now is as good a time as ever for EA to return to basketball. The NBA 2K franchise has seen some middling scores in the past few entries. The last time the franchise averaged an 80 or higher on Metacritic was 2018’s NBA 2K19. There is space for another realistic basketball game, and with the rising popularity of college basketball, this could be another sports gaming hit for EA if it can hit similar highs as College Football 25.

Are you excited for EA to make a return to college basketball? Would you pick this up over a new NBA 2K game? Let us know all your thoughts in the comments below.

The post EA Sports Teases College Basketball Game appeared first on ComicBook.com.

Hollow Knight fans can continue to follow the trail wherever it may lead to find out the latest news on when Hollow Knight: Silksong may finally be released. To say the fanbase is restless for an official confirmation would be a deep understatement. Hollow Knight: Silksong was anticipated to be released back in 2023, and now, two short years later, we remain without a firm launch date. The latest news on Hollow Knight: Silksong and its release date is now here, but it comes from an unexpected source: the Australian Center for the Moving Image.

The ACMI is hosting a special event that will be kicking off later this year with the Game Worlds exhibition. This exhibition runs from September 18, 2025, through to February 8th, 2026. As an Australian-based development studio, Team Cherry, the creators of Hollow Knight and Hollow Knight: Silksong, are taking part. In preparation for the event, the ACMI is also heavily promoting the key partners that are taking part, such as Team Cherry. Recently, a few different pieces of concept art were found on the ACMI’s Instagram account, giving fans even more reason to speculate about Silksong’s upcoming release.

The partnership between the ACMI and Team Cherry was revealed back in early May with the important revelation that Hollow Knight: Silksong will have a playable version of the game directly at the Game Worlds exhibition. Additionally, fans will be able to learn more about the history behind the development of Silksong, the design, and artistic direction while touring through the dedicated exhibit.

Hollow Knight: Silksong was also teased during the recent Xbox Games Showcase during a trailer for ROG Ally Xbox. The tease left audiences to speculate that, with the ROG Ally Xbox coming in late 2025, Silksong would likely be launching within a similar window, given that it will also be part of Game Pass on day one. Now with the playable version of Silksong coming to the Game Worlds exhibit in September, more speculation is being theorized that perhaps the game will be available during, or shortly after, the kick-off of this event.

For now, all that’s known with certainty is that Hollow Knight: Silksong is set to come to a variety of platforms that include PS5, PS4, Xbox Series X/S, Xbox One, Nintendo Switch 2, Nintendo Switch, and PC whenever it does arrive.

The post New Hollow Knight: Silksong Teases Drive Fans Wild appeared first on ComicBook.com.

A brand new Ghost Recon game is reportedly in the works and it may not be as far away as you’d think. Ubisoft’s Ghost Recon franchise has been a staple of the company for decades, initially focusing more on being a tactical military shooter. The series has always been rooted in a near-future aesthetic with co-op play that allows players to breach rooms together and plan out their attacks with precision. With that said, the series took on a bit of a soft reboot in the late 2010s with Ghost Recon: Wildlands, the first fully open-world game in the series that ditched the futuristic setting in favor of a modern day one focused on taking down drug cartels.

That was quickly followed up with Ghost Recon Breakpoint which took the open-world sandbox and tired to infuse more futuristic concepts with things like drones. Unfortunately, that game wasn’t received very well upon launch. The series has laid dormant for a while now with little word from Ubisoft about what the future of the series looks like. Far Cry has been in a similar position for a few years, but it’s expected that Far Cry 7 is in the works at Ubisoft and probably isn’t too far away.

With that said, Insider Gaming has reported that it has heard that the next Ghost Recon game, codenamed Ovr, will enter an internal alpha stage later this year. After that, it’s expected to shoot for a fall 2026 release and likely get revealed sometime next summer during a Ubisoft showcase event around the time of Summer Game Fest. As for what the game might look like, it seems Ubisoft is moving away from the Wildlands era of the series and moving back toward where the series began.

Ubisoft is reportedly planning to make the next Ghost Recon a milsim-focused first-person shooter that emphasizes a more realistic or tactical vibe. Gameplay seen by Insider Gaming apparently resembles something along the lines of the Modern Warfare games and the tactical SWAT shooter Ready or Not, which is making its way to consoles in just a couple of weeks. The new Ghost Recon will take place in a fictional war, but it’s interesting to hear that it’s moving away from the sandbox-y gameplay of the last two entries as they were quite popular.

However, I do think creating a more focused and tactical experience will scratch an itch. Rainbow Six is exclusively focused on multiplayer these days and it leaves a gap for those longing for a tactical shooter. While there will likely be co-op in Ghost Recon, making it a story-driven experience rather than a PVP one will likely appeal to a lot of people who long for an old-school Rainbow Six or Ghost Recon game.

The post New Ghost Recon Game Leaked for 2026 Release appeared first on ComicBook.com.

Pokemon Go Fest 2025 has come to an end, and Niantic is already teasing big things to come in the future. The company has released a new trailer for an event called the Pokemon Go Fest 2025 Max Finale, which will take place on August 23rd and 24th. It should be noted that those dates did not previously appear on this season’s event calendar. The trailer offers little in the way of information, but it does provide some big hints about things to come. The video shows Crowned Sword Zacian and Crowned Shield Zamazenta, both of which just made their debuts in Pokemon Go. The two seem to be responding to some kind of threat that’s darkening the skies above.

While the trailer avoids showing this threat, it’s likely that the Pokemon Go Fest 2025 Max Finale will put a focus on Eternatus. The Legendary Pokemon played a key role in the narrative for Pokemon Sword and Shield, nearly causing the destruction of Galar not once, but twice. The intervention of Zacian and Zamazenta helped to prevent the Darkest Day from obliterating the region. From the small tease shown, it sure looks like Eternatus will appear in Pokemon Go this August. The trailer for this event can be found below.

It remains to be seen how Eternatus will be handled in Pokemon Go, but it’s a safe bet that we’ll see the character’s Eternamax form appear. Eternamax Eternatus was a major boss fight at the end of Pokemon Sword and Shield, but players could not actually change the Pokemon into this form once they caught it. It will be interesting to see if that changes for Pokemon Go, or if this restriction from the mainline games is kept intact.

In Pokemon Sword and Shield, Eternatus is the source for the Dynamax and Gigantamax phenomenon in Galar. Since last fall, Pokemon Go has made Max Battles a big part of the game, though some elements have fallen flat for players. It makes sense to have Eternatus appear after a year largely focused on Dynamax and Gigantamax, and this should make for a pretty big way to end the Delightful Days season, which is set to run through September 2nd.

With Pokemon Go seemingly adapting one of the last major events from Pokemon Sword and Shield, it will be interesting to see the plans for the follow-up season. Pokemon Legends: Z-A is set to be released in October, so it’s possible we could see a season that puts a big focus on Mega Evolutions. There are still a handful of existing Mega Evolutions that haven’t been added to Pokemon Go yet, and Pokemon Legends: Z-A will likely bring in even more. It’s possible we could even see Pokemon Go used to build hype ahead of the new game’s release, which is something we saw done with Pokemon Scarlet and Violet back in 2022.

Are you excited for the Pokemon Go debut of Eternatus? What do you think we’ll see during the next season of the game? Share your thoughts with me directly on Bluesky at @Marcdachamp, or on Instagram at @Dachampgaming!

The post Pokemon Go Trailer Teases Major New Event Happening This Summer appeared first on ComicBook.com.

GameStop has discounted a AAA Ubisoft game from 2021 to just $5 for a limited time. The retailer does not disclose the availability of the deal, but we do know it is limited to pre-owned copies of the Ubisoft game. More than this, the deal is only available to Xbox Series S and Xbox Series X users. The PS5 version, meanwhile, has only been discounted to $15.

As a pre-owned deal via GameStop, the Ubisoft game, aka Far Cry 6, is a part of the retailer’s buy two, get one free promotional sale. That said, the sale automatically makes the cheapest game free, so those that want to take advantage of both this deal and the promotional sale will need to find two other games discounted to roughly $5.

Developed by Ubisoft Toronto, Far Cry 6, like the games in the series before it, is an open-world first-person shooter and the successor to 2018’s Far Cry 5. Unfortunately for both Ubisoft and Far Cry fans, the sixth and latest mainline installment failed to deliver commercially and critically. While it wasn’t a commercial flop, it sold far fewer copies than its predecessor. Meanwhile, it was greeted to Metacritic scores in the 70s, far below the critically-acclaimed heights of the franchise. To this end, it would be the worst modern Far Cry game if Far Cry: New Dawn didn’t exist. That said, it is the latest installment in the series, and at $5, a great deal for those curious in checking it out.

“Welcome to Yara, a tropical paradise frozen in time,” reads an official description of Far Cry 6. “As the dictator of Yara, Antón Castillo is intent on restoring his nation to its former glory by any means necessary, with his son, Diego, following in his bloody footsteps. Their oppressive rule has ignited a revolution. Play as Dani Rojas, a local Yaran, as you fight alongside a modern-day guerrilla revolution to liberate Yara. Play the full game solo or with a friend in co-op.”

Those that decide to check out Far Cry 6 via this deal should expect to dump at least 25 hours into the Ubisoft game. Those that want to experience the game’s plethora of side content, meanwhile, will need closer to 40 hours with the first-person shooter. Lastly, completionists will need more like 60 hours with Far Cry 6.

For more GameStop coverage — including all of the latest GameStop news, all of the latest GameStop rumors and leaks, and all of the latest GameStop deals — click here.

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This week, Nintendo Switch 2 users will get to play a new GameCube game via Nintendo Switch Online. If you’re still playing the original Switch, you might be feeling a little left out, since the GameCube Nintendo Classics app is exclusive to the new system. Thankfully, there’s a sale currently happening on the eShop that runs through July 9th, and it allows buyers to scoop up two beloved games originally released on the system at a significant discount. For those that owned Nintendo’s purple box, or those that missed out on the era, this is a deal worth looking into.

For just $19.99, Switch owners can get Baten Kaitos I & II HD Remaster, which normally retails for $49.99. The compilation includes two RPGs originally released as GameCube exclusives: Baten Kaitos: Eternal Wings and the Lost Ocean and Baten Kaitos Origins. Not only is this the lowest price ever for the compilation, but it also effectively makes each game just $10, which is a great deal. Those RPGs were both well-received upon their original release, so fans of the genre might want to check them out while the discount is active.

Baten Kaitos might not be well known to those who didn’t grow up with the GameCube, but the developer might be a little familiar to Switch owners; both games were created by Monolith Soft. Nintendo acquired Monolith Soft from Bandai Namco in 2007, not long after the release of Baten Kaitos Origins. In 2010, the studio would release the original Xenoblade Chronicles on Wii, launching an RPG series that has continued on through the Switch era. Unfortunately, the Baten Kaitos series has largely come to an end as a result of that acquisition, but there are some references to the games in Super Smash Bros. Ultimate.

Baten Kaitos I & II HD Remaster is compatible with Nintendo Switch 2 in addition to the original system, so even those that have upgraded can take advantage. As of this writing, neither of the games included in the compilation has been announced for Nintendo Switch Online’s GameCube app. It’s possible that could change at some point in the future, though it seems somewhat unlikely, given the existence of this compilation. A lot of third-party publishers have offered limited support for Nintendo Switch Online’s Classics apps, in order to push sales towards their own compilation games instead.

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While the Nintendo Classics GameCube app remains exclusive to Nintendo Switch 2, many of the best games released on the purple box have been made available on the eShop over the years. Baten Kaitos I & II HD Remaster is just one example, and there’s actually a whole lot more to find. From first-party classics like Metroid Prime and Pikmin, to third-party games like Cel Damage and Star Wars: Bounty Hunter, GameCube actually received pretty good representation on the original Switch. It might not be as nice as a dedicated app, but it still gives players a chance to experience some of the best games the system had to offer.

Are you planning to take advantage of this discount while it’s available? Did you play either Baten Kaitos game on the original GameCube? Share your thoughts with me directly on Bluesky at @Marcdachamp, or on Instagram at @Dachampgaming!

The post Two GameCube Classics Hit Lowest Price Ever on Nintendo Switch appeared first on ComicBook.com.

Sony is raising prices on PS4 games and PS5 games on the PlayStation Store for some PSN users. Thankfully, those in the United States do not have to worry about raising game prices on the PlayStation Store, but these new regional chances could indicate that a broader price increase is coming in the future. As you may know, PlayStation has yet to follow in the footsteps of Xbox and Nintendo and charge $80 for its PS5 games. It may be gearing up for this though.

It is being reported that in both Brazil and in Turkey, PlayStation has increased the prices of PS4 and PS5 games on the PS Store. That said, it appears the price increases are limited right now. Reports out of Brazil, specifically, claim that some exclusive PS5 games, as well as a few third-party games, are now roughly $73 USD, a $3 increase. That said, in a market in Brazil where gaming is already very expensive in relation to how much Brazilians make, games getting more expensive is going to make the current-gen gaming market even harder to access.

Meanwhile, in Turkey prices are even worse, with first-party PS5 games from PlayStation now costing $88 USD, which is much more than they cost in the United States, which continues to retain the $70 USD price point.

It is not uncommon for Sony to make price updates in specific regions based on the conditions of said market. And often these are narrow, limited changes specifically for certain regions. In other words, whether this is indicative or a larger change coming that will be across the board, we don’t know, but it is not a positive sign as it shows Sony is willing to raise prices. Right now though, not in its biggest markets. Meanwhile, this comes as Sony is being sued over PlayStation Store prices and practices, which could leave it gun shy to scale these regional increases into a larger global increase.

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PS5 Owners Warned Their Consoles May Die in a Couple Years

At the moment of publishing, PlayStation has not commented on these latest developments in any capacity. We do not expect this to change for a few reasons, but if it does, we will be sure to update the story accordingly. In the meantime, for more PlayStation coverage — including all of the latest PS5 news, all of the latest PS4 news, and all of the latest PS Plus news — click here.

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A new update has been released for Monster Hunter Wilds, and is now live on all of the game’s platforms, including PS5, Xbox Series X|S, and PC via Steam. In terms of content, this update seems to be a pretty significant one. The game’s developers have brought in new monsters, new missions, new equipment, and a whole lot more. For fans that have been looking for some new reasons to spend time with the game, this should make them pretty happy. A number of bugs have also been fixed with this new update, while Capcom continues to tweak the balance on several weapons.

Monster Hunter Wilds has been a source of frustration for a lot of users on PC, with the game recently getting review bombed on Steam as a result. The majority of the frustration has come from the game’s performance on PC, and it doesn’t seem that the new title update has done a lot to improve that. The other major complaint from players is that the game simply lacks the level of difficulty they’ve come to expect from the Monster Hunter series. Judging from the early reactions, it does seem like the new fights with Lagiacrus and Seregios are helping in that regard, but we’ll have to see if Capcom can continue to offer greater challenges. Full patch notes from the game’s official website can be found below:

MAJOR ADDITIONS AND CHANGES

Monsters

• – Lagiacrus has been added and is available in an extra mission. To unlock the extra mission, you must be at least HR 31 and have had completed both the main mission “A World Turned Upside Down” and the side mission “Forest Doshaguma.”
• – Tempered Lagiacrus has been added and will appear when you are HR 41+ after completing the Lagiacrus extra mission.
• – Seregios has been added and is available in an extra mission. To unlock the extra mission, you must be at least HR 31 and have had completed the main mission “A World Turned Upside Down.”
• – Tempered Seregios has been added and will appear when you are HR 41+ after completing the Seregios extra mission.
• – Arch-tempered Uth Duna has been added. (It will be made available in a future Event Quest.)
• – Tempered monsters will now appear in monster herds.

Player

• – New equipment and skills have been added.
• – New pendants and stickers have been added.
• – New voice lines, pose sets, and gestures have been added.
• – New Seikret decorations have been added.
• – Hunter and Palico layered weapons have been added.
• – The β sets of hunter armor have been added to layered armor settings. For any α versions you have already unlocked, you will also automatically obtain the β versions.
• – Added new backgrounds, poses, nameplates, and titles to hunter profiles.
• – Added new Support Hunters—Mina (Sword & Shield) and Fabius (Lance)—which will become available to join quests after completing the main mission “A Hunter’s Pride.” Fabius will only be available during a limited-time seasonal event.
• – Added a feature at the Quest Counter that allows the player to select which Support Hunters will join you when using an SOS flare.

Bases and Facilities

• – Added item boxes outside of the hunter’s tent in each base camp and the Grand Hub.
• – Added an outdoor item box as a camp gear option that can be set at Pop-up Camps.
• – The Change Lobby Menu can now be accessed at your tent in base camps or Pop-up Camps.
• – You can now choose to switch your handler from Alma to Erik, or vice versa. This feature is unlocked after completing the Lagiacrus mission.
• – A function has been added to the Provisions Stockpile that allows you to trade for seasonal event items.
• – A new Festival of Accord event will be held from July 23 to August 6, 2025.
• – The following features will be temporarily modified during the Festival of Accord: the Handler’s Outfit; Seikret decoration; the Diva’s song list; the Grand Hub decorations; the Canteen menu; Barrel Bowling and Barrel Bowling Bombs. (Erik’s and Gemma’s outfits can also be changed.)
• – Barrel Bowling now has additional reward slots, as well as new special arrangements for seasonal events. Barrel Bowling Bombs during seasonal events also behave differently than normal Large Barrel Bombs, making for a unique challenge.
• – New limited bounty types have been added (“Research Help: Fishing” and “Research Help: Endemic Life”).
• – New ranking categories have been added (fish, endemic life).
• – Added a feature that automatically selects Armor Spheres when upgrading armor at the Smithy, which also converts excess points into Armor Spheres.
• – Added a feature that automatically selects reinforcement materials when reinforcing Artian weapons at the Smithy, which also converts excess points into materials.

Miscellaneous

• – The extra mission “Trembling Blue Currents” has been added. (This mission becomes available after leaving the Scarlet Forest and going to another locale, after having completed the main mission “A World Turned Upside Down” and the side mission “Forest Doshaguma.”)
• – The extra mission “Clear with a Chance of Sandstorm” has been added. (This mission becomes available after having completed the main mission “A World Turned Upside Down.”)
• – The side mission “New Fashion, Old Feelings” has been added. (This mission becomes available after having completed the main mission “A World Turned Upside Down” and the side mission “Smithy’s Seal of Quality.”)
• – A new area has been added to the Scarlet Forest. (This area becomes available at a certain point in the extra mission Trembling Blue Currents.)
• – A new key dialogue has been added for Ferdinand in the Windward Plains Base Camp. Speak with him and complete the conditions to get a new pendant.
• – The Environment Overview can now be checked in the Grand Hub, and includes notifications on when events are currently being held, such as the Festival of Accord.

Steam

• – Warning dialogue now appears when trying to launch the application when your GPU drivers are out of date, your OS is not supported, or you are currently using compatibility mode.
• – New customizable keyboard configuration controls have been added.
• – DLSS4 and FSR4 is now supported for graphics upscaling. DLSS4 requires an NVIDIA RTX 2000 series or higher GPU, and FSR4 requires an AMD Radeon 9000 series or higher GPU. [Updated 2025/06/27]
• – NVIDIA DLSS now supported for multi-frame generation in the frame generation graphics settings. If you are using an NVIDIA RTX 5000 series or higher, you can set the frame increase to 2-4 times, or to “NVIDIA DLSS Auto” which dynamically turns the frame generation function on or off depending on the load.
• – The upscaling and frame generation settings in the graphics settings have been separated, so frame generation can now be set regardless of the upscaling setting. For example, with NVIDIA RTX 3000 hardware, you could potentially choose NVIDIA DLSS upscaling with AMD FSR frame generation, and other similar mixed settings.
• – You can now copy the Lobby ID/Hunter ID via the Start Menu.
• – You can now copy the Squad ID via the Squad Menu.

• – A new graphics setting was added that allows you to disable the screen distortion effects caused by underwater or lava areas.
• – Added a feature that lets you quickly restock the item pouch and ammo pouch.
• – The ammo pouch is now automatically restocked when activating an item loadout.
• – Added a “Take All” feature to Nata’s Material Retrieval facility.
• – Added a “Remove All Decorations” function to the “Edit Decorations” sub-menu.
• – Added the ability to check the Squad Leader’s hunter profile from the Squad Card.
• – Added an option that allows you to display the elapsed time of arena quests (and related time-attack-type quests) in the objectives. You can now also check your previous best times.
• – Equipment Appearance can now be viewed via Equipment Info or Palico Info in the Start Menu.
• – Added options for “Effects” and “Character Display” in photo mode. Gestures and poses can now also be selected while in first-person view.
• – Added an “All Non-Arena Quests” category in the hunter profile quest completion count page, which excludes total weapon usage from the count. The existing “All Quests” category has been moved to the bottom of the list. We’ve also added functionality to reset weapon usage counts from the target quest category.
• – You can now delete your “Best Times” data for arena quests recorded on the hunter profile and quest board. (Times submitted to the Expedition Record Board’s rankings cannot be deleted.)
• – The following options have been added:
  – A “Health Gauge Warning” option.
  – A “Fixed” display option under “Display Elapsed Time for Some Quests”.
  – An “Activate Skill/Item Effects” option.
  – An “Equipped Talisman Effect” option.
  – A “Support Hunter Damage Display” option.
  – An “Excess Item Gathering Settings” option.

BUG FIXES AND BALANCE ADJUSTMENTS

Bases and Facilities

• – Fixed an issue where performing certain steps while Barrel Bowling could cause the game to no longer accept inputs.
• – Made it less likely for the same Barrel Bowling pin setups to occur on consecutive days.
• – Fixed an issue where stumps would sometimes appear floating in the sky in the Grand Hub.
• – Material Retrieval item requests can now be performed during Inclemencies in Kunafa and Azuz , and item gathering will still continue to progress during Inclemencies.

Monsters

• – Adjusted how often monsters will discover Pop-up Camps.
• – Tempered wounds in future Free Challenge Quests will now be found in fixed locations.
• – Fixed an issue where the size of the target monster would change when accepting an investigation with only one remaining attempt.

PLAYER

General

• – You now regain control of your character slightly faster after starting a quest.
• – Player gathering actions have been adjusted to be more responsive overall, particularly while riding the Seikret.
• – Crouched movement now also benefits from faster recovery time for the bleeding status effect.
• – Fixed an issue where the effect of the skill Slicked Blade would not disappear when entering or exiting the training area.
• – Fixed an issue where players could have multiple types of Large Barrel Bombs in their item pouch if they retrieved a previously placed Large Barrel Bomb while in possession of a Blossom Barrel Bomb.
• – Fixed an issue where if the dash control had been switched to a single press, then dashing from a crouching position would result in the character starting a “run” motion instead of a “dash” when standing up.
• – Fixed an issue where the webbed state would not be properly removed by Purewasp Delivery.
• – Other minor fixes and related adjustments have been made for all weapon actions.

Sword & Shield

• – Shield Attack, Shield Bash, and Hard Bash raw damage and stun values have been slightly increased.
• – Perfect Rush’s finishing portion has had its raw damage slightly increased.
• – Adjusted it to make it harder to consecutively chain the Guard Slash move into itself.
• – Slightly decreased the invulnerability window for Sliding Swipe.
• – Chop and Side Slash raw damage have been slightly decreased.
• – Counter Slash raw damage has been decreased.
• – Fixed an issue where Focus Strikes could be unintentionally performed on the same wounds more than once on certain monsters.

Dual Blades

• – You can now change your movement direction mid-movement when entering Demon Mode right after a dodge.
• – While in Demon Boost Mode (during Demon Mode), chaining a dodge into a Blade Dance now chains into a Blade Dance II instead. (However, this will default to a Blade Dance I if there is not enough Demon Gauge left.)
• – Blade Dance II responsiveness has been improved.
• – Movement speed during Demon Mode has been increased.
• – Basic moves like Sixfold Demon Slash, Demon Flurry Rush, and Demon Flurry have had their raw damage increased.
• – Screw Slicer raw damage, elemental scaling, and ailment scaling have been greatly increased.
• – Focus Strike: Turning Tide raw damage has been increased.
• – Heavenly Blade Dance raw damage has been increased.
• – Blade Dance elemental scaling and ailment scaling have been slightly decreased, and raw damage has been increased.
• – The raw damage boost from Demon Boost Mode has been slightly decreased, and the elemental scaling boost has been increased.
• – Fixed an issue where the Power Prolonger skill was making the duration of Demon Boost Mode buffs last longer than intended.
• – Fixed an issue where the camera would shake unintentionally during Demon Mode.

Long Sword

• – Elemental scaling for Crimson Slash II has been significantly increased.
• – Raw damage and elemental/ailment scaling for Crimson Slash III has been increased.
• – Crimson Slash III now chains faster into Spirit Blade I.
• – Spirit Release Slash raw damage has been slightly increased.
• – Spirit Roundslash raw damage has been increased when the Spirit Gauge is red.
• – Spinning Crimson Slash raw damage has been increased.
• – Iai Spirit Slash raw damage has been increased when the Spirit Gauge is white and yellow.
• – Elemental/ailment scaling for Crimson Slash I has been decreased.

Hammer

• – You can now chain into a special follow-up move after a monster has been significantly staggered from a successful offset attack.
• – You can now chain from a Focus Blow: Earthquake into a Charged Side Blow.
• – Offset effects have been added to Charged Upswing and Mighty Charge Upswing.
• – Charge levels now increase faster after chaining into a Charged Step from a dodge.
• – Charged Big Bang raw damage has been increased.
• – Mighty Charge Slam raw damage and elemental scaling have been increased.
• – The hit boxes for certain attacks, such as Big Bang, have been adjusted.
• – Fixed an issue where the damage display would appear twice for Big Bang IV.

Hunting Horn

• – Performing Focus Strike: Reverb with precise timing now plays an additional note at the end of the attack.
• – Performing Focus Strike: Reverb with precise timing now sets an Echo Bubble at the end of the attack. (You can prevent the Echo Bubble by holding R2 (PS5) / RT (Xbox) / R key (default, PC) at the end of the action.)
• – Hitting a monster with a single hit of Resounding Melody now triggers a soundwave.
• – Your Seikret no longer stops when performing while mounted.
• – The damage hitbox for Echo Bubble has been significantly increased.
• – The evade window for Offset Melody have been increased.
• – Fixed an issue where switching from one hunting horn to another would incorrectly display melodies that had not been played as an Encore.
• – Fixed an issue where connecting with Offset Melody would sometimes fail to successfully offset attacks.
• – Fixed an issue where stocked notes would not properly reset when chaining into a Special Performance.

Lance

• – You can now chain into a Charge Counter from Focus Strike: Victory Thrust.
• – Adjusted the hitbox of Focus Strike: Victory Thrust to make it easier to land.
• – Fixed an issue where certain shield attacks during Focus Strike: Resolve could unintentionally break monster wounds.

Gunlance

– Fixed an issue where, when a critical hit occurs during multiple hits of certain actions, such as Multi Wyrmstake Full Blast, there was an unintended high chance that subsequent hits would also be critical hits.

Switch Axe

• – It is now easier to adjust your distance to monsters when using Unbridled Slash and Full Release Slash while in Focus Mode.
• – The backward movement triggered by Element Discharge Finisher can now be reduced slightly by tilting the left stick in the player character’s direction.
• – Significantly increased the elemental scaling of follow-up explosions from sword attacks when using Element Phials.
• – Significantly increased the elemental scaling of follow-up explosions from Unbridled Slash, Full Release Slash, and Axe: Follow-up Morph Slash when using Element Phials.
• – Axe: Follow-up Heavy Slam and Axe: Follow-up Morph Slash raw damage has been increased.
• – The amount of Switch Gauge recovered when performing basic attacks in Axe Mode has been increased.
• – Increased the raw damage and Amp Gauge recovery of Axe: Morph Rising Double Slash, and reduced its Switch Gauge consumption.
• – Sword: Triple Slash raw damage and amp gauge recovery amount have been increased.
• – The amount of Switch Gauge consumed when performing Sword: Overhead Slash has been decreased.
• – Fixed an issue where the damage scaling from the Rapid Morph skill was not being applied to Jumping Morph Slash when performed upon landing.

Charge Blade

• – Guard points now have Perfect Guard detection, and you can now chain into Savage Axe Slash upon a successful Perfect Guard from a guard point.
• – Explosive phial raw damage from chaining into Super Amped Element Discharge from certain attacks (such as Amped Element Discharge) has been increased.
• – Raw damage for Amped Element Discharge and Super Amped Element Discharge has been increased.
• – Weak Slash, Return Stroke, and Shield Thrust raw damage have been slightly increased.
• – Explosive phial raw damage for Axe: Element Discharge, Axe: Amped Element Discharge, and Axe: Super Amped Element Discharge have been increased.
• – Impact Phial explosion raw damage has been increased while in Sword Boost Mode.
• – Axe: Element Discharge now chains more quickly into other basic axe moves like Axe: Dash Slam or Axe: Lateral Fade Slash.
• – The raw damage for multi-hit attacks while in Power Axe Mode has been decreased.
• – Fixed an issue where the phial explosion damage boost would not be applied when performing Element Discharge I or similar attacks with an Impact Phial while phials were enhanced.
• – Fixed an issue where sharpness would decrease more than normal when performing a guard point while Elemental Boost was activated.
• – Fixed an issue where the damage scaling from the Rapid Morph skill was being incorrectly applied to certain jumping attacks in axe mode.

Heavy Bowgun

• – Increased the amount of Ignition Gauge recovered when firing Spread Ammo 1 and Spread Ammo 2. [Updated 2025/06/27]
• – Fixed an issue where it was difficult to evade after firing Slicing Ammo.
• – Fixed an issue where the Burst skill would activate with fewer hits than intended when using Cluster Bombs or Wyvernblast Ignition.

Bowguns

– Fixed an issue where the skill Airborne would not activate correctly for spread ammo.

Bow

– Fixed an issue where bow coatings would unintentionally switch to “Unequip” under certain conditions.

Support Hunters

• – Fixed an issue where Support Hunters mounted on Seikret would leave cover earlier than intended during Jin Dahaad’s large area-of-effect attack, causing them to take damage.
• – Increased the attack power of Support Hunters for when the quest leader is at HR 100 or higher.
• – Adjusted the behavior of Support Hunters when mounting a monster.
• – Added a follow-up move for when Olivia successfully performs an offset attack.

Seikret

• – Improved the speed of response when calling your Seikret.
• – Improved the response speed for controlling your Seikret after mounting from a Seikret call.
• – Fixed an issue where, while riding your Seikret in auto-move, they would circle around the area if you arrived before the large monster.
• – Item use inputs while mounted on a Seikret have been made more responsive in the following situations:
  – After switching weapons while mounted
  – When using an item after closing the map
  – When using an item immediately after another item
• – It is now possible to dismount from the Seikret while drifting.

Palico

– Fixed an issue where Palicoes would stop using Vigorwasp Delivery under certain conditions.

MISCELLANEOUS

System

• – Increased the amount of Guild Points awarded for delivering a Wyvern Egg.
• – The Skill Info window can now be quickly opened in various screens.
• – Changed the Investigations sub-menu option “Delete Investigation” button.
• – Changed the Arena Quests and Challenge Quests sub-menu option “Available Equipment Details” button.
• – Food Skills can now be viewed in the Skill Info window via Equipment Info in the Start Menu.
• – The detailed effects of Food Skills can now be viewed in the Active Skills page of the Skill Info window.
• – You can now Accept & Depart (Quick Start) a quest directly from a Quest Invite Notification in the important chat notifications.
• – Removed the skip function from important chat notifications and made it so that the map can now be opened even while the notifications are still active.
• – Adjusted the map so that it no longer automatically switches levels when focusing on a large monster.
• – Lobby Info can now be viewed in the upper-right corner of the Start Menu and Quest Counter screens.
• – The Monster Field Guide can now be viewed in the Quest Menu while in your tent.
• – Fixed an issue where decorations not intended to be equipped in certain slots could still be equipped.
• – Fixed an issue where obtained nameplates would sometimes not appear in the Hunter Profile settings.

Steam

• – Adjusted the amount of VRAM used with texture streaming, resulting in reduced overall VRAM usage.
• – Fixed an issue where the Estimated VRAM Usage in the Display/Graphics settings was calculated lower than the actual value. (As a result, the estimated VRAM usage will appear higher, but thanks to a separate optimization, actual VRAM usage has been reduced, so the current minimum and recommended system requirements remain unchanged.)
• – Fixed an issue where the VRAM usage displayed incorrect values for the Distant Shadow Quality option in Graphics settings.

• – Fixed an issue where the hunter’s chest armor would not display when selecting the Display Armor setting in Display Options in the Change Appearance menu.
• – Fixed an issue where performing certain actions such as eating or forging weapons/armor in the Grand Hub would reset the cooldown for mantles.
• – Fixed an issue where repeatedly fast traveling in the Training Area would reset certain statuses, such as cooldowns for mantles.
• – Improved the response time for using items after exiting a tent.
• – Fixed an issue where blocked users were not properly removed from the Followers list.
• – Fixed an issue where incorrect icons would appear for offline members in the Member List.
• – Fixed an issue in the Equipment Appearance menu so that focus will now stay on the equipped layered armor.

Quests

• – Accepting and joining quests will be possible from the quest counter during an Environment Link.
• – Made adjustments to reduce interruptions when joining a quest via an invite notification.
• – Adjusted the unlock conditions for the “Social Butterfly” Hunter Highlight.
• – Fixed an issue where an SOS Flare would be sent automatically when starting a quest with Max Members set to 1 and Automatic SOS Flare turned ON.
• – Fixed an issue where the departure animation wouldn’t finish if the target quest ended at a specific moment during the animation, leaving the player unable to control their character.
• – Fixed an issue where the Lucky Voucher’s effects would not apply to the target quest when accepting a quest invitation from a Link Member during an ongoing quest.
• – Fixed an issue where, during a non-Field Survey in your own environment, a Great Hunt (a hunt with multiple monsters) could be generated even if one of the monsters hadn’t appeared in that environment.
• – Fixed an issue where players could significantly reduce a monster’s health with poison or other similar ailments before starting a Field Survey.
• – Fixed an issue where completing a Free Challenge Quest while offline would prevent the game from saving properly, causing lower-ranking times to display incorrectly at the Quest Counter.
• – Fixed an issue where a target monster would sometimes fail to appear in multi-target Investigations.
• – Fixed an issue where, if multiple players joined an Arena Quest simultaneously, the number of participants would register incorrectly in the rankings.
• – New preventative measures have been put in place for invalid or fraudulent investigations.
• – Quest completion times that are obviously fraudulent will not be registered in the rankings, and users in question will be automatically subject to suspension or feature restrictions.

Other

• – Fixed an issue where some voice lines would not trigger properly.
• – Fixed various text issues.
• – Fixed other miscellaneous issues.

How do you feel about this new update for Monster Hunter Wilds? Are you happy with the new content that was added? Share your thoughts with me directly on Bluesky at @Marcdachamp, or on Instagram at @Dachampgaming!

The post Monster Hunter Wilds Title Update 2 Out Now, Here Are the Patch Notes appeared first on ComicBook.com.

A new, potential Pokemon Gen 10 leak has surfaced online with what may be our first look at the new Pokemon game on the Nintendo Switch 2. Unfortunately, the leaked media is not very exciting, but it does potentially reveal the first Pokemon for the game. The exact origins of the potential Pokemon Gen 10 leak are currently unknown, but it is being shared by Pokemon accounts such as Hidden Power Podcast.

The leak features what is claimed to be a debugged screenshot from a battle environment test for the Nintendo Switch 2 game. The screenshot features Rock and Steel type Aron and its evolution Lairon. The third and final evolution, Aggron, is not included, but if the first two are in the game then it is no doubt also in the new Pokemon game.

Beyond this, the leaker claims to have — but does not show — two other images featuring Charjabug and Butterfree. The former would also confirm Grubbin and Vikavolt. Meanwhile, Butterfree being in the game would also mean Caterpie and Metapod are also in the game.

For now, this is the extent of the leak, which has not been verified. In other words, remember to take what is here with a grain of salt. Nothing here is official, and even if the leak is legit, it doesn’t confirm these Pokemon will end up being in the Nintendo Switch 2 game whenever it ends up releasing. Again, assuming this is real, these Pokemon could be for testing purposes only or if indeed part of the Pokedex, swapped out at some point during development.

At the moment of publishing, none of the implicated parties — Nintendo, The Pokemon Company nor Game Freak have commented on this new potential Pokemon Gen 10 leak. The trio rarely comments on rumors, leaks, or speculation so we do not expect this to change. If it does, we will be sure to update the story accordingly.

For more Pokemon coverage — including all of the latest Pokemon Gen 10 news, all of the latest Pokemon Gen 10 rumors and leaks, and all of the latest Pokemon Gen 10 speculation — click here.

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A DC game from 2022 is being permanently removed from sale. There is no exact word of the delisting date, but it is happening “soon,” and it is going to impact Nintendo Switch, PC, PS4, PS5, Xbox One, Xbox Series S, and Xbox Series X users as the DC game is available on all of these platforms, at least digitally. And once it is gone, the DC game is never going to return. However, those who own it will still be able to download it and play the game as normal.

The DC game in question is DC League of Super-Pets: The Adventures of Krypto and Ace, which is being removed from sale by publisher Outright Games due to an expiring license agreement that it and DC decided to not renew. And this is probably because the game flopped, as evident by non-existent sale figures, lack of Metacritic data, and underwhelming and uncommon user reviews.

“We wanted to let you know that DC League of Super-Pets: The Adventures of Krypto and Ace is now leaving the Steam store, as our licensing agreement for the title has come to an end,” reads an official statement from Outright Games. “If you’ve already purchased the game, don’t worry, it will remain in your library and will be fully playable even after it’s removed from sale. Thank you for your continued support, and for joining Krypto and Ace on their adventure!”

Now, all that is mentioned in this statement is the Steam Store, however, the title post says it is leaving “stores.” Meanwhile, if the licensing agreement is coming to an end it will impact the game on all platforms. In other words, it will be vanished from every digital storefront on every platform

For those unfamiliar with the DC game, DC League of Super-Pets: The Adventures of Krypto and Ace was released on July 15, 2022 by developer PHL Collective, a studio whose past is all licensed games.

“Suit up as super-dogs Krypto and Ace and get ready to soar through the skies and protect the streets of Metropolis in this pet rescue adventure inspired by the movie,” reads an official description of the game for those who haver never heard of it. “When Superman and Batman’s favorite caped canines uncover Lex Luthor’s plot to pet-nap Metropolis’ strays, these four-legged fighters aren’t just going to roll over. So, unleash Krypto’s Heat Vision and Arctic Bark powers, or Ace’s Batarangs and Shoulder Charge attacks, to bring the evil LexBots to heel. Rescue animals along the way, before they’re locked up in LexCorp Zoo and prepare for the ultimate battle with Lex and his high-tech War Suit.”

Unfortunately, the DC game has not been discounted ahead of its imminent delisting, which means those on Nintendo Switch, PC, PlayStation, or Xbox that want to purchase it before the opportunity to do so is gone forever will need fork over $40, a hefty price point considering the game’s quality.

The post DC Game From 2022 Is Being Permanently Removed From Sale appeared first on ComicBook.com.

One of the best Nintendo Switch games of 2023 is getting a free Nintendo Switch 2 upgrade. Details on the upgrade are currently scarce, including when it will release. Right now, it is promised the update will release “in a few months,” but this is the extent of the specificity. Meanwhile, the only pertinent detail shared about the free Nintendo Switch 2 upgrade, so far at least, is that there will be a higher frame rate. The Nintendo Switch game in question runs at at 30 FPS, so this will presumably be a 60 FPS or better upgrade.

As for the Nintendo Switch game in question, it is Dave the Diver from South Korean developer Mintrocket, which just got free DLC last week. For those unfamiliar with the game, Dave the Diver is an action-adventure game meets simulation game that upon release garnered a 90 on Metacritic, which makes it one of the highest-rated games of 2023. And for about a year it was actually a Nintendo Switch console exclusive, because it didn’t coming to any other console platforms until 2024. Speaking of 2024, as of November 2024, the game has surpassed five million units sold, making it a breakout success for the aforementioned Mintrocket.

Not only did Dave the Diver recently get free DLC, and not only is it getting a free upgrade on Nintendo Switch 2, there are some other odds and ends in the works to celebrate the game’s 2nd anniversary.

What there is still no word of is a sequel to the game. It feels relatively safe to assume a sequel is in the works, likely for Nintendo Switch 2 and other platforms, but for now this is just an assumption.

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Meanwhile, how much Dave the Diver will cost on Nintendo Switch 2 for those that don’t own the Nintendo Switch version, Mintrocket has not said. It will presumably cost the same as it does on the Nintendo eShop currently, $19.99, but perhaps the upgrade will make it cost more. Right now, we do not know. For what it is worth, it could even get a price drop considering it is not as new anymore, but given it is only two years old and given the popularity of the game, we do not expect this to happen.

For more coverage on the new Nintendo console — including all of the latest Nintendo Switch 2 news, all of the latest Nintendo Switch 2 rumors and leaks, and all of the latest Nintendo Switch 2 deals — click here.

The post One of the Great Nintendo Switch Games Getting Free Switch 2 Upgrade appeared first on ComicBook.com.

HBO Max, HBO’s subscription streaming service, has a new surprise for Mortal Kombat fans coming on July 1, aka coming tomorrow. Tomorrow, the second month of summer begins, and right when it begins HBO will release a major update to HBO Max that both adds a collection of movies and TV shows, and removes a collection of movies and TV shows from the streaming service. To this end, Mortal Kombat fans without an active HBO Max subscription may want to reconsider for the month of July 2025.

More specifically, on July 1, the entire Mortal Kombat movie series will begin streaming on HBO Max. This includes Mortal Kombat (1995), Mortal Kombat (2021), Mortal Kombat Legends: Battle of the Realms, Mortal Kombat Legends: Cage Match, Mortal Kombat Legends: Scorpion’s Revenge, Mortal Kombat Legends: Snow Blind, and Mortal Kombat: Annihilation.

For those that don’t know, Mortal Kombat: Annihilation, Mortal Kombat (2021), and Mortal Kombat (1995) are the three live-action movies in the series. Meanwhile, Mortal Kombat Legends: Battle of the Realms, Mortal Kombat Legends: Cage Match, Mortal Kombat Legends: Scorpion’s Revenge, and Mortal Kombat Legends: Snow Blind are all animated movies.

It is unclear how long these Mortal Kombat movies are going to be available to stream via HBO Max as HBO does not disclose how long they’ve been added to the streaming service. That said, considering they have all been added together, they will presumably all leave together.

The additions come ahead of the release of Mortal Kombat II, the sequel to the aforementioned Mortal Kombat (2021). The highly-anticipated sequel is set to premier in theaters on October 24, 2025. There is no word of it coming to HBO Max right now.

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HBO Max, for those that don’t have an active subscription, costs at least $9.99 a month/$99.99 annually. This is for a subscription with ads. Those that want ad-free, meanwhile, need to fork over $16.99/$169.99. And then those that want the most expensive tier, which grants 4K Ultra HD and Dolby Atmos access, will need to pay $20.99/$209.99.

For more Mortal Kombat coverage — including all of the latest Mortal Kombat news, all of the latest Mortal Kombat rumors and leaks, and all of the latest Mortal Kombat deals — click here.

The post HBO Max Has a New Surprise for Mortal Kombat Fans appeared first on ComicBook.com.

PlayStation Plus subscribers on PS5 and PS5 Pro have 24 hours to get 4 games for free. The same applies to PS Plus subscribers on PS4, but with three games. Meanwhile, this is true no matter the tier of PS Plus subscription. Whether you are a PS Plus Essential subscriber, a PS Plus Extra subscriber, or a PS Plus Premium subscriber, the PS5 and PS4 games are free, but that will change on July 1 because on July 1, June’s free PlayStation Plus games will be replaced with July’s free PS Plus games.

More specifically, the following PS5 games are free to download and keep with a PS Plus subscription until July 1: Bomb Rush Cyberfunk, Alone in the Dark, NBA 2K25, and Destiny 2: The Final Shape. Minus Alone in the Dark, the same offer is also available to PS Plus subscribers on PS4.

As always, with PlayStation Plus, not only is an active subscription required to access these free game downloads, but to retain them as well. If your subscription to the Sony subscription service lapses, you will lose access to these four games, and other games you downloaded for free courtesy of PS Plus, until you subscribe back up.

Bomb Rush Cyberfunk

About: “Team Reptile brings you Bomb Rush Cyberfunk, one second per second of highly advanced funkstyle. In a world from the mind of Dion Koster, where self-styled crews are equipped with personal boostpacks, new heights of graffiti are reached. Start your own cypher and dance, paint, trick, face off with the cops and stake your claim to the extrusions and cavities of a sprawling metropolis in an alternate future set to the musical brainwaves of Hideki Naganuma.”

Alone in the Dark

About: “Return to Derceto Manor in this reimagination of Alone in the Dark, a love letter to the 90s cult classic horror game. Discovering that her uncle has gone missing, Emily Hartwood goes looking for him with the help of private investigator Edward Carnby. Arriving at Derceto Manor, a home for the mentally fatigued, they encounter strange residents, portals to nightmarish worlds, dangerous monsters—and ultimately a plot of rising evil and its followers.”

NBA 2K25

About: “Compete your way as you define your legacy in MyCAREER and MyTEAM, and experience MyNBA and The W or MyLEAGUE. Express your personality with an array of customization options and explore an all-new City or urban metropolis in the Neighborhood.”

Destiny 2: The Final Shape

About: “The Final Shape looms—a nightmarish calcification of reality into the Witness’s twisted design. Embark on a perilous journey into the heart of the Traveler, rally the Vanguard, and end the War of Light and Darkness.”

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For more PlayStation Plus coverage — including all of the latest PS Plus news, all of the latest PS Plus rumors and leaks, and all of the latest PS Plus deals — click here.

The post PlayStation Plus Users Have 24 Hours to Get 4 Games for Free appeared first on ComicBook.com.

PlayStation has confirmed that it won’t be following in the footsteps of Xbox Game Pass. PlayStation and Xbox are often seen as huge rivals, though it seems like that rivalry is softening a bit as time goes on. Xbox has put key games on PlayStation, including one of its tentpole titles in Gears of War. PlayStation hasn’t necessarily returned the favor unless you count MLB The Show, though that seemed to be on MLB’s part rather than PlayStation’s. Nevertheless, Xbox and PlayStation are still competitors in a sense, but they are doing their own very unique things. Xbox wants to be everywhere that has a screen through streaming, native gameplay, and more. PlayStation is still operating traditionally, though.

Xbox really shook things up last generation with the introduction of Xbox Game Pass, a Netflix-like subscription that gives you hundreds of video games at no extra cost. The library is always rotating new games in and out and all of Xbox’s first-party games, including Call of Duty, are made available to Xbox Game Pass subscribers on day one. It’s a big swing and one that has led many to wonder how both Xbox and developers are even making any money on this thing.

PlayStation introduced its own PlayStation Plus catalog that is similar to Game Pass and brings in some great older games every month. It’s a great service that allows players to play on a budget, discover new games, and dip into older games they may have missed. However, PlayStation has always separated itself in one distinct way: none of the PlayStation Studios games are available on the service day one. If you want to play a great new game like Death Stranding 2, you have to cough up the $70 to buy it. It seems that won’t be changing anytime soon either.

PlayStation Won’t Put Any PS5 Exclusives on PS Plus On Day One

When speaking to Game File, PlayStation vice president of global services Nick Maguire revealed that it has no plans to put any of its games on PlayStation Plus on day one or even shortly after their release. Instead, PlayStation has focused on independent games that they can platform through the service and putting those on the subscription service on release day.

“We’ve sort of stayed true to our strategy across the board, where we’re not looking to put games in day and date,” Maguire said. “[…] Our strategy of finding four or five independent day-and-date titles—and using that to complement our strategy of bringing games in when they’re 12, 18 months old or older—that balance for us is working really well across the platform.”

Years have passed before a PS5 game has been added to PlayStation Plus as God of War Ragnarok came to the service in early 2025 after releasing on PS5 in November 2022. It clearly means that not only does PlayStation have faith in it service without these big heavy hitters, but it also likely means that these games are selling for months and even years after their release and there’s no reason to give it away in mass.

What do you think of PlayStation’s decision to not put any games on PlayStation Plus on day one? Let me know in the comments below.

The post PlayStation Confirms It Won’t Copy a Big Game Pass Feature appeared first on ComicBook.com.

It seems like Ubisoft’s remake of Assassin’s Creed 4 may be on the way after a tease from Edward Kenway actor Matt Ryan. The Assassin’s Creed series is one of gaming’s most successful franchises out there, often serving as Ubisoft’s golden child. The franchise was a fresh idea back when it debuted in 2007, allowing players to immerse themselves in iconic parts of history, meet and even fight historical figures, and experience the cultures/worlds as they were back then. It has led to some really great action/adventure games with Assassin’s Creed 4: Black Flag often being viewed as the pinnacle of the series thanks to its pirate them.

Assassin’s Creed 4 utilized its pirate premise to prominently feature sailing and ship combat, a feature that was introduced in the prior game but only brief bursts. Now, it was front and center and a big piece of why the game worked as well as it did. Ironically, Ubisoft steered away from ship combat after that game and tried to spin it off into its own thing that would later become the ill-fated Skull and Bones. Fortunately, it has been rumored for a while now that Ubisoft is remaking Assassin’s Creed 4. We have no idea what on earth that means since it’s still very playable on modern consoles and runs great, but these rumors are getting even more traction.

Assassin’s Creed 4 actor Matt Ryan, who plays protagonist Edward Kenway, was signing merchandise at a convention recently and teased the heavily rumored Assassin’s Creed remake. Ryan asked the fan if they had beaten Assassin’s Creed 4 before and when they said they had, he noted that they “may want to beat it again”. The fan then asks “Is it true?”, likely asking about the remake without naming it directly, to which Ryan gives a little bit of a smile. The actor noted that there’s a reason he says that, but can’t elaborate any further.

All of this raises more questions about the rumored Assassin’s Creed 4 remake. Typically for a project like this, the developer would just use the old voice recordings because they’re still of a good quality. Ryan would likely still be informed about his work being used on a new project, but perhaps he has gone in to record new material. Only time will tell, but there’s certainly a lot of buzz around this remake. It’s unclear what exactly Ubisoft is doing to this version of the game to warrant a whole new release, especially since the game runs at 60FPS and looks great on Xbox Series X|S and PS5. If there’s no meaningful work done to Assassin’s Creed 4‘s remake, it will likely get a lot of criticism. Either way, hopefully we will hear more about the project soon.

What changes do you want to see in this remake? Let me know in the comments.

The post Assassin’s Creed 4 Remake Teased by Edward Kenway Actor appeared first on ComicBook.com.

The team behind the Halo games were able to lend a helping hand on The Outer Worlds 2 to improve its gunplay. Xbox owns a lot of video game studios, some of which are homegrown such as 343 Industries (now known as Halo Studios) and The Coalition while others were bought and paid for like Ninja Theory and Bethesda. Xbox went on a big buying spree over the last decade, swallowing up major video game developers and publishers in a sort of arms race against Sony. PlayStation had a strong first-party line-up on the PS4 generation and it showed the disparity between PlayStation and Xbox, prompting Xbox to try and find proven talent with beloved IP.

One of its smartest purchases was Obsidian Entertainment, an RPG developer known for Fallout: New Vegas, Pillars of Eternity, and more. The developer was the right size for an acquisition meaning not big enough to anger too many people, but also sizable enough to draw some eyes toward Xbox’s first-party ambitions. Obsidian put out Avowed earlier this year to a decent reception from fans and critics, praising it as a nice companion to something like The Elder Scrolls series and now, the studio is gearing up for the release of The Outer Worlds 2 this fall.

The Outer Worlds 2‘s Combat Was Improved by Halo Studios

The Outer Worlds was a 2019 game that was a nice mid-sized RPG. It wasn’t so big that you’d spend hundreds of hours trying to complete everything, it was just a nice experience that gave you something to do for a couple of weeks. It had a great tone, strong writing, and a fun world to explore, prompting excitement for a potential sequel. However, the gunplay was a bit cookie cutter, as that’s not really where Obsidian historically operates. For The Outer Worlds 2, Obsidian utilized its colleagues at other Xbox studios to figure out how to strengthen the game.

Game director Brandon Adler told The Guardian (via Rebs Gaming on Twitter) that it looked at other shooters to improve its gunplay and even spoke to the team over at Halo Studios who provided constructive feedback on how to make the game better. To their credit, The Guardian writer Alyssa Mercante noted that the game’s combat felt a lot better and the difference wasn’t minor in the slightest.

“We did a full breakdown on Destiny, because we love how that felt,” said Adler. “We also talked to the Halo folks … They gave us a huge list of stuff and said, ‘You guys should target this … you should add that to your weapon configurations.’”

The Outer Worlds 2 is looking like it will be a promising 2025 release and help fill out a pretty strong year for Xbox, something necessary since it is an $80 release. If combat is improved, it could end up being one of the best shooters or RPGs of the year as well as the first game was already pretty strong in other departments. The jury is still out on this one, but it’s good to see Obsidian making the most of its resources under a massive umbrella like Xbox.

The Outer Worlds 2 will release for Xbox Series X|S, PS5, and PC on October 29th, 2025.

The post How Halo Studios Helped Improve The Outer Worlds 2 appeared first on ComicBook.com.

Gearbox boss Randy Pitchford has released a poll asking players about their feelings on making games like Borderlands 4 exclusive to storefronts like Epic Games Store. Steam has been the dominant PC storefront for many, many years as it was one of the first places you could buy digital games on your PC. It was a very simplified, streamlined experienced that has only improved over time with achievements, friends lists, and of course, the glorious Steam Deck. It’s generally the preferred place to play if you play on PC, but competitors have popped up over the years such as Epic Games Store which has competed with incredible free games and exclusive titles.

Great games like Alan Wake 2 have been locked to Epic Games Store on PC, as Epic helped publish the game. One could argue the game wouldn’t exist at all without Epic, but it has still frustrated players who don’t want to play on Epic Games Store. There are a lot of reasons why people don’t like EGS, namely because it uses way more system resources than it needs, criticism over Epic money hatting certain games, and lackluster customer service. Of course, it’s all subjective and some people really love the storefront as well.

Borderlands 4 Boss Holds Poll Asking About Steam and Epic Games Store Exclusivity

With that said, Gearbox Software boss Randy Pitchford has revealed that “suits” either at Gearbox or parent company Take-Two Interactive are discussing the idea of exclusives between Epic Games Store and Steam. He asked fans to vote on a poll on if they pre-order Borderlands 4 on their favorite platform if they knew it would influence exclusivity decisions. To be clear, Borderlands 4 is releasing on both Steam and Epic Games Store, so there’s nothing to worry about there. However, these discussions will likely impact future games and it seems like these executives are going to look at sales/pre-order data to make these kinds of decisions.

53% of the nearly 10,000 people who voted stated they would pre-order it on Steam with this knowledge while 37.8.% said no, they would not pre-order it on Steam. The numbers for Epic users were much, much smaller with 2.7% saying yes and 5.6% saying no. Ultimately, it seems like Steam users aren’t too bothered by the idea that games may become exclusive to Steam, but there was still a vocal minority that voted against such a notion.

Ultimately, it’s likely that the bulk of Borderlands 4‘s PC sales will probably be on Steam given it’s the dominant platform. As of right now, we’ll just have to wait and see what happens, but Borderlands 4 is expected to be one of the biggest releases of the year. It makes sense that executives are taking note of its performance across platforms to make these kinds of decisions.

Borderlands 3 was a timed exclusive for Epic Games Store for the first six months of its release on PC. Epic paid just shy of $150 million for this deal, but recouped its money in the end. It was a pretty lucrative deal and shows that gamers will flock to other platforms to play games if it’s a big enough deal. Borderlands 4‘s collector’s edition is also exclusive to GameStop, so there are some exclusivity deals being made, but far less meaningful ones by comparison. Whether or not future Borderlands or Gearbox games are exclusive like this remain to be seen.

Borderlands 4 will release on Xbox, PS5, PC, and even Nintendo Switch 2 on September 12th.

The post Heated Borderlands 4 Poll Asks Players to Choose Between Steam and Epic Games Exclusivity appeared first on ComicBook.com.

In 2019, Paramount revealed the first trailer for the company’s live-action adaptation of Sonic the Hedgehog. The reaction was universally negative, with fans old and new alike dumbfounded by the character’s design. The reaction was so bad that Paramount decided to completely redesign Sonic, giving him a new look that more closely resembled his appearance in the Sega video games. More than five years after the first movie’s release, screen grabs of test footage featuring the original design have leaked online. These new images come from a poster on X/Twitter by the user name Doctor Caboose. This user apparently obtained the images through “my old job with a company that no longer exists.”

Based on that description, some assume that Doctor Caboose may have worked at Moving Picture Company, a Vancouver based studio that closed back in 2019. Moving Picture Company worked on the redesign for Sonic the Hedgehog before closing down. That would help to explain how this person gained access to early CGI material that would otherwise be pretty tough to obtain. In addition to the screen grabs, Doctor Caboose claims to still have the full video as well, and has plans of sharing it, “but I have to edit out any personal/identifying information first.” The first post in the X/Twitter thread can be found right here.

In the screen grabs, fans can see early takes on several key scenes from the movie. One image shows Sonic alongside the owl Longclaw, while another shows him riding in Tom Wachowski’s car. The thread also offers a very early look at the mushroom planet where Doctor Robotnik finds himself stranded at the end of the movie. For anyone that has watched the original Sonic the Hedgehog, it’s easy to see where all of these moments fit in, though the take on the titular character is different than what showed up in the finished movie.

The screen grabs offer a compelling look at what could have been. It’s impossible to say how things might have played out had Paramount and Sega stuck to the initial Sonic the Hedgehog design, rather than going back to the drawing board. However, many fans have assumed that the series would not have proven as popular as it has. These days, the original Sonic movie design has become a punchline; “ugly Sonic” even appeared as a major character in the 2022 Chip ‘n Dale: Rescue Rangers movie, where he was voiced by Tim Robinson.

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Following the redesign, Sonic the Hedgehog went on to gross more than $320 million at the global box office. The movie proved so successful that it spawned two sequels and a live-action spin-off series on Paramount+. A fourth movie is currently in production, and is set to be released in 2027.

Are you happy to see these early production images from the first Sonic the Hedgehog movie? Do you think the movie would have been a success with the original design? Share your thoughts with me directly on Bluesky at @Marcdachamp, or on Instagram at @Dachampgaming!

The post Sonic the Hedgehog Leaks Show More of Sonic’s Scrapped Movie Design appeared first on ComicBook.com.

Title Update 1.0.6 was recently released for Assassin’s Creed Shadows, adding several welcome improvements to the game. Notably, the developers added a new nightmare difficulty, a Critical Role collaboration, and more. Generally speaking, it seems to be a pretty decent update overall between new content and quality of life improvements. However, there’s one change that has gotten quite a bit of negative attention from players. Typically when that happens with these types of updates, it’s because the developers added a feature that players feel shouldn’t be present. However, in this case, Ubisoft has added an option much later than current players would have preferred.

The new Assassin’s Creed Shadows feature causing a bit of a stir right now is the ability to toggle headgear in cutscenes. Prior to the new update, cutscenes would play out with the default headgear for both Yasuke and Naoe, regardless of what the player had either character wearing. Now players can change this in the game’s settings, allowing the characters to appear as they do throughout the rest of the player’s run. As one player put it on X/Twitter, “this is actually great, because I like making my characters look goofy when a serious story moment is happening.”

The reason so many other people are irritated by this addition is that it was added more than three months after the launch of Assassin’s Creed Shadows. For many people, there isn’t going to be an opportunity to watch these scenes play out, unless they go back and revisit the game from the start. For those just getting started on Assassin’s Creed Shadows, or those planning to get the game at some point in the future, this is a welcome addition. Unfortunately, those that have already spent a significant amount of time with the game can’t be blamed for wishing this had been included in the first place.

Some players are already noting that they’ll have to wait for the upcoming DLC to see this option in action for themselves. It might not matter to everyone, but it is nice when a game shows the player’s style in a cutscene. It makes those style choices feel connected to the overall experience. In a way, it helps to sell the overall immersion when a character is wearing the same thing in the cutscenes that they have on during the gameplay.

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Hopefully Assassin’s Creed Shadows players will end up with plenty more options to see their fashion choices appear in the game. On top of the DLC, players can always use this as an excuse to check out the new nightmare difficulty level. Of course, many people are still awaiting the release of a new game plus option, which would similarly give players an excuse to go back.

Are you disappointed that this option wasn’t in Assassin’s Creed Shadows from the beginning? Have you already finished everything in the game’s campaign? Share your thoughts with me directly on Bluesky at @Marcdachamp, or on Instagram at @Dachampgaming!

The post Assassin’s Creed Shadows Update Adds New Feature Players Say Is “A Little Too Late” appeared first on ComicBook.com.

Since the original Fallout launched in 1997, companions have been an integral part of the series’ gameplay and story. While not all of them are hits (we’re looking at you, Myron), many companions have become fan favorites, especially as the developers have fleshed out their storylines with personal quests.

There have been nearly 50 companions across all of the Fallout games, but we’re only interested in ranking the best of the best. Here are the ten best companions in the Fallout series.

Honorable Mention: Dogmeat

A version of Dogmeat has been in almost every Fallout game. It’s always a different dog, making it hard to rank him on the list, but it’s worth noting that it’s almost not a Fallout game if Dogmeat isn’t involved. He’s undeniably important. We just didn’t want to do the mental math of ranking several different versions.

10) Tycho – Fallout 1

Some might want Ian on this list as the first companion you can recruit in the original Fallout, but Tycho is the better character. His grandfather was a Texas Ranger, and he’s learned everything there is to know about survival, weapons, and combat from his family. With his vast knowledge of vaults and pre-War military bases, he is an important source of info for the Vault Dweller. Tycho was a great way to show Fallout fans what companions would become across the series’ long history.

9) Curie – Fallout 4

When you first meet Curie, she’s a Miss Nanny robot, but you can help her put her consciousness into a synth body to help her with her medical pursuits. It’s a touching story that represents some of the best character work in Fallout 4, but it’s worth noting that she’s a great partner in the field, especially if you max out her affinity to get her Combat Medic perk that instantly heals you once per day when your health falls below 10%.

8) Lily Bowen – Fallout: New Vegas

There have been several memorable super mutant companions over the years, but Lily is near the top of that list. Technically, she is a Nightkin, which is a group of elite super mutants created by the Master. However, Lily is a bit different because she was 75 years old when she was given FEV and turned into a nightkin.

When you meet her, she’s taking anti-psychotic drugs that help block out the voice of “Leo,” who tells her to do “terrible things.” However, when she takes the medication, her long-term memory goes away. She doesn’t want to lose the memories of her grandchildren, and stops taking the full dose. You have to help her decide if she’s going to continue with the meds or not, making for one of the more gut-wrenching decisions of New Vegas.

7) Goris – Fallout 2

When most players first see a Deathclaw, they run away in abject terror. Which is a fair response, unless that Deathclaw is Goris. In Fallout 2, you can meet up with an intelligent Deathclaw who is a budding scholar. He wears large, brown robes to disguise his appearance, though he’s not afraid to toss them off when joining a battle. While other companions have much more affecting stories, you can’t get a more powerful ally than a Deathclaw.

6) MacCready – Fallout 4

We love a redemption story. You first meet MacCready as the 12-year-old mayor of Little Lamplight in Fallout 3. By the time you meet him in Fallout 4, he’s grown up from being a foul-mouthed rascal into a young father. During your journey together, you can help him find the cure for his son Duncan, earning MacCready’s forever trust.

5) Marcus – Fallout 2

Marcus was a dedicated follower of the Master in the original Fallout, though you never see him in the original game. By Fallout 2, he’s working as the sheriff of Broken Hills alongside his friend Jacob, a knight of the Brotherhood of Steel. He joins the Chosen One’s party to help end the threat of the Enclave. Marcus later moves to the Mojave Wasteland and establishes Jacobstown, where players can meet up with him again in Fallout: New Vegas.

4) Fawkes – Fallout 3

When you meet Fawkes in Fallout 3, you’ll quickly note how smart he is compared to the rest of the super mutants in the Capital Wasteland. He quickly becomes one of the best companions, thanks in no small part to how great he is in combat. While the number of weapons you can give him is limited, if he can use it, he’ll use it well.

On top of all that, he also plays an important part in Fallout 3‘s endgame. As a radiation-resistant companion, he can safely start the purifier (as long as you have the Broken Steel DLC installed). Rightfully, the game brands him as a “True Hero” for this act.

3) Veronica – Fallout: New Vegas

Veronica was born into the Brotherhood and has been groomed to become a scribe since her earliest days. However, when you take her on as a companion, she begins to see another life for herself. She even remembers her love for Christine Royce, which was stopped by Elijah in the name of “reproduction.”

She proves to be one of the most well-written and rounded characters in Fallout’s history. Her story is filled with nuance and demonstrates the difficulties of living under the Brotherhood of Steel’s rules. And, she does it all with her trademark sharp humor and upbeat attitude.

2) Nick Valentine – Fallout 4

Nick Valentine is, in many ways, the main companion of Fallout 4. That means he has a ton of character development through his questline, including his starring role in the Far Harbor DLC.

During your travels with Nick, you slowly learn that he is one of two prototype Gen 2 synths who implanted himself with an artificial personality based on recordings of pre-war humans. His “brother,” DiMA, was allowed to develop his own personality, which caused Nick much distress upon uncovering the truth about his origin.

Even without the intriguing backstory that helps develop Nick as a character, he’s a great companion. It was such a good choice to add a film noir-like detective into the post-apocalypse, and Nick has easily become a fan favorite.

1) Craig Boone – Fallout: New Vegas

When you meet Boone, he quickly proves himself to be an adept marksman who excels at combat. That, on its own, isn’t enough to catapult him to the top of this list, but he’s one of the strongest companions to have at your back when things get hairy.

However, the reason we have Boone at the top of his list is that he’s one of the most tortured companions you meet and still able to find the good in the Wasteland. The Bitter Springs Massacre was deeply affecting for Boone and eventually led him into the arms of his wife, Carla.

Unfortunately, Legion slavers took Carla from under Boone’s nose. His pregnant wife was sent to be sold by the group, but Boone decided to end her life with a bullet before she had to endure what was coming.

Thankfully, you’re able to help him get some level of revenge through his personal quest, but Boone’s story remains one of the most memorable tales the Fallout series has ever given us.

The post 10 Best Fallout Companions Ever appeared first on ComicBook.com.

You don’t always have to spend a pretty penny if you want to be scared or inspired. Free horror games may act as a passion project for the developer or a good place to start as they’re learning the ropes to game design, testing the water on any brave folk willing to take a dip. These short tales may seem incomplete, rushed, or unpolished, but some stand out for their storytelling and terrifying delivery.

Yes, these horror games may be on the shorter side, but they cost no money and don’t take much of your time to complete. Win-win! Here are the very best free horror games on Steam which have suspense, jump scares, good atmosphere, great sound design, and the occasional but unforgettable dark theme that has lasting effects.

1) Clap Clap

It may have a ridiculous name, but this short horror is effective with its simple design. The PS1-style aesthetics matched with the sound and light design allow it to focus on what truly matters: scaring you. Putting a horror spin on the very real and pretentious clapping to turn indoor lights on feature, the entity in Clap Clap uses the darkness against you, giving you something to fear and putting the control in its hands. It is an easy game to pick up, enjoy, and shouldn’t terrify you aside from a few jump scares and an intense climax.

2) Cry of Fear

This legendary indie horror won’t ever be forgotten for its immersive world and narrative, delivered in a Half-Life mod. Feeling panic, lost, and hopeless is an awful concoction that’s often felt throughout Cry of Fear as you’re transported to a nightmarish realm, having to deal with demons, while navigating around your own. It’s a mix of Silent Hill and Condemned, but holds tightly onto its own identity for its intricate level and terrifying sound design, enemy variety, puzzles, and morbid storytelling.

3) Discussion Over Dinner

This anxiety simulator coerces you into dinner with the creepiest host alive, for refusing him in any way will result in your demise. Surviving the evening takes the perfect balance of eating your steak, holding conversation, and swiping starving rats off the dinner table. Ignore the screams coming from the basement door, or you’ll be next. Discussion Over Dinner may be basic in its art design and storytelling, but this bite-sized horror will surely make you squirm and knock out any social confidence you might have had. It’s a dinner you’ll never forget.

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4) Doki Doki Literature Club!

A visual novel romance on paper, there’s something far more sinister lurking under the aesthetically pleasing surface. Having a normal school life isn’t on the agenda for choosing your girlfriend takes precedent, and the wrong choice could get a girl killed. So what’s a hormonal kid gotta do? A twisted take on the slice of life genre, Doki Doki Literature Club shows the limitless power of illustration and anime, being equally beautiful and disturbing. It’s clever horror delivered in an everyday setting, which only makes its contents severely more unsettling.

5) Fears to Fathom – Home Alone

If you’re like me, the fear of someone breaking into your home is far scarier than any demon or ghost. Home Alone, the first in the Fears to Fathom series, is a bite-sized horror for anyone to pick up. The storytelling in this 15-minute game is impressive for its believability as most of the terror is delivered through the device we rely on far too much: our mobile phone. Paranoia and tensions are high in this installment. A figure may walk past the corner of your eye as you’re watching TV, and an image of a stranger surveying the house could send chills down your spine. Are you safe in the very place you call your home?

6) Mimic Search

This short horror demands you face the threat head-on as the only authoritative figure in this neck of the woods that has some semblance of firepower. Where you’d normally be defenceless against these fake humans, here’s the chance to get back at these imposters (and I don’t mean throwing them out of the airlock). Investigate an ongoing crime scene, speak to the locals, and whatever you do, don’t go out in the woods at night. Mimic Search is a good little horror game that effectively builds tension.

7) Missing Hiker

You follow in your friend’s footsteps after he went missing on a hiking trip to the mountains. Stories that people have mysteriously vanished after camping nearby have spread like wildfire in the community. Something is taking these people, but what? It may be bravery or blind stupidity leading you down the same path your friend made, but what outcome will you get? Missing Hiker is a 15-minute horror game that slowly builds, as the chances of your friend’s survival become slimmer and slimmer the closer you get to his last whereabouts.

8) TELEFORUM

RELATED: 5 Upcoming Horror Games That Will Frighten You To Your Core

Are the stories true? Is there something on that tape that made those people who previously had it in their possession suddenly go missing? You have to find out. TELEFORUM is Ringu meets Videodrome, an eerie and mind-bending horror that won’t take up too much of your time. Is what you’re seeing real or are you a part of this? Conducting your own investigation out of curiosity or to go viral will only get you killed, so are you sure you want to take the risk and watch that tape for yourself?

9) the static speaks my name

You see your immediate future (or past) through a cosmic being, who tells you how you’re going to die. Its themes are realistic and something too many of us can sadly relate to, making it a difficult game to finish, even though its contents are far more disturbing than what the average person sees and experiences. The words “today will be a better day” are haunting as your front door and windows are boarded up from the inside, where televisions are playing and static on screen acts as your only comfort. the static speaks my name is a macabre 10-minute tale and is one of the darkest games you can play, so viewer discretion is absolutely advised.

10) The Windows Are Gone

Grief manifests in different ways, but moving to a new house in a secluded neighborhood may be the fresh start you need to see a shift. You can’t remain trapped in the past, but it won’t let you escape that easily. Your home sweet home isn’t so sweet as moving in takes a dark turn. Where did I misplace that vase? Hang on, The Windows Are Gone. Your past is seeping into your new place. There’s no rest or moment of clarity for every minute is a reminder. This short horror game cleverly captures loss and how it holds onto you, trapping you inside.

11) Ultimate Custom Night

Whether you’ve played through Five Nights at Freddy’s or are looking for a good place to test those reflexes of yours, Ultimate Custom Night is the best training ground for Fazbear employees. Forget Aim Labs, this game will surely improve your reaction time. Customize your time in the security office by bringing aboard any animatronic, old and new. They may distract you, obscure your vision, or brutally end you, but there are so many combinations you can try and see if you can survive until 6am. If you want the ultimate point-and-click challenge, then why look anywhere else?

The post 11 Best Free-to-Play Horror Games on Steam appeared first on ComicBook.com.

Ready or Not is getting an update that will censor both the console and PC versions of the game. Ready or Not is one of the most beloved tactical shooters on PC, as it is a co-op focused game that allows players to fill the shoes of SWAT officer and clear houses, buildings, and other areas to free hostages and take down bad guys. It’s a remarkably tense game and one that has been demanded by console players for years now. However, developer VOID Interactive has never made a console game and Ready or Not has a lot of complex controls/is a pretty demanding game performance-wise, so it wasn’t an easy thing to do. Even other games like Arma Reforger have struggled with this.

With that said, Ready or Not is coming to Xbox and PS5 on July 15th after much anticipation. The console version will come with all of the released content for the game and there’s even a deluxe edition that will give players access to future DLC as it releases. The console release of Ready or Not does come with a hefty price tag of $49.99 for a game that has been out for years, but nevertheless, it will still likely be a big hit and a game that only grows its player base with future sales. However, some fans of the game may be a bit annoyed over a new piece of news.

Ready or Not Censors Nudity, Illicit Child Content, and More For Console Release

Ready or Not developer VOID Interactive has confirmed that the game will be censored on both consoles and PC to meet standards held by Sony and Microsoft. Although Ready or Not is rated M and there is nudity/extreme violence in a lot of games, the context of all of that in this game is likely viewed differently by the platform holders. The reason the PC version has to also be censored is because it creates parity with the console versions and therefore ensures there won’t be unique bugs created for one version with future updates and ensures players see the same stuff when playing crossplay.

“If the in-game assets were not the same it would make crossplay unusable; the game content must be equal or basically equal for multiplayer to work,” explained the developer. “Different versions of assets affects multiplayer replication, which is the ability for the server to understand what’s happening in-game and host players in the same lobby/server.”

Ready or Not‘s console release will also be making slight adjustments to nudity by covering up certain civilians and one suspect, toning down character art involving torture, and making it so players can’t dismember characters after they have already died. Gore hasn’t actually been changed, it just can’t happen once someone is dead. Similarly, Ready or Not has removed images/assets that implied illicit and illegal acts against children, but there’s enough context clues that players will still be able to easily understand what’s happening in the game.

VOID claims that the changes are small enough that most people wouldn’t even know without it being pointed out, but wanted to be transparent with their players. Ready or Not is a pretty dark game that deals with some heavy subject matter, even featuring a level with a school shooting. The fact that is able to make it in there should indicate the core experience has remained untouched, but there were some details that were a bit too intense for Microsoft and Sony to allow on their consoles.

What do you think of Ready or Not‘s censorship? Let me know in the comments below.

The post Ready or Not Censors Controversial Content for Console Release appeared first on ComicBook.com.

Dead by Daylight players have an opportunity to help shape the game’s future. Behaviour Interactive has launched a new website that allows players to vote on different aspects related to a new Survivor and Killer for an upcoming DLC chapter. Voting is live right now, but there are only two questions available, one per each character. The first round of voting will close on June 30th at 12 p.m. ET. New rounds will take place every two weeks, offering a different set of options for fans to vote on.

The first entry in the Grimoire focuses on a new Survivor that has been plucked from their world, and dragged into the Fog. Those who participate in the voting will be able to decide what kind of world this character hails from. The four options include an ordinary world like our own, a collapsed world decimated by “chaos and ruin,” a touched world where supernatural occurrences are “rare but undeniably real,” and an arcane world where “what you call the arcane is our science.” Each of these options are pretty different from the rest, and should greatly shape how this character reacts to the horrors that await them in the next Dead by Daylight chapter.

After determining the new Survivor’s world, participants will then be prompted to answer the first question related to Dead by Daylight‘s upcoming Killer. For this character, the developers are offering four initial options for the villain: grounded, supernatural, otherworldly, or chimeric. The grounded option will be a normal human, albeit “an unhinged, cold-blooded” one, and the rest will all offer different takes on various monster types. For supernatural, the developers say the Killer will be a “dark presence with powers unknown,” similar to The Plague and The Wraith. Voting for otherworldly will result in a Killer that’s more Lovecraftian in nature. Finally, the Chimeric option will give the game a monstrous Killer that is “a twisted creation of nature,” such as a werewolf.

It will be interesting to see the final results from the first round of voting. Both questions really help to shape the initial direction for both of these new Dead by Daylight characters, but there are a lot of great potential follow-ups that could build on each framework. At the very least, this should be a fun way for the game’s community to participate and feel like they’re making some kind of difference. Live-service games like Dead by Daylight can only thrive as long as they maintain an engaged audience, so this is a good way to get players invested and interested in plans for the future.

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Sometimes when companies offer voting opportunities, it’s easy to see a predetermined outcome. In this case, it will be interesting to see how things play out, because we could get a radically different combination of characters for this Dead by Daylight chapter, and that could help determine the narrative direction. A Survivor from a collapsed world might be largely unfazed by an Eldritch Horror, but one from an ordinary world certainly would! Readers interested in participating in the voting can do so right here.

Are you planning to participate in this round of voting? What do you want to see from the game’s new Survivor and Killer? Share your thoughts with me directly on Bluesky at @Marcdachamp, or on Instagram at @Dachampgaming!

The post Dead by Daylight Players Can Now Vote on Upcoming DLC Chapter appeared first on ComicBook.com.

Bandai Namco is one of the world’s biggest video game publishers. The company has a lot of notable games in the works right now, many of which will be released in 2025. On Wednesday, July 2nd, fans will get a closer look at several of these games thanks to the Bandai Namco Summer Showcase. The event will be streamed on the company’s official YouTube channel at 12 p.m. PT. Viewers can expect to learn new information for many titles that have already been announced, and they’ll also see a brand-new game based on My Hero Academia revealed.

As of this writing, a name has not been announced for the My Hero Academia game, but a trademark for the title All’s Justice was filed back in March. That was our first hint about a new game in the works based on the series, and we even saw a leaked logo and key art for the game earlier in the month of June. Now it looks like we’ll finally be getting a full reveal at the Bandai Namco Summer Showcase. A trailer for the event can be found below.

As laid out in the trailer, Bandai Namco will be using this event to showcase several other games, as well. Little Nightmares 3 will show up, following the recent release date announcement. We can also expect to learn more about Shadow Labyrinth, Code Vein II, The Blood of Dawnwalker, and Towa and the Guardians of the Sacred Tree. The showcase will also include a “gameplay deep dive” for Digimon Story: Time Stranger, and there will be something related to Tekken 8. Since the latter game is supposed to get the DLC fighter Fahkumram soon, it’s possible we could see a closer look at how he plays.

The Bandai Namco Summer Showcase will offer a look at two games based on PlayStation properties. Earlier this year, it was announced that Bandai Namco will be publishing Everybody’s Golf Hot Shots and Patapon 1+2 Replay. Unlike previous games in those respective series, both games will be released on non-PlayStation platforms, notably PC and Nintendo Switch. This is a new thing for Sony, and it already has some people speculating about whether we could see a similar treatment for other dormant PlayStation franchises.

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All in all, it looks like the Bandai Namco Summer Showcase should have a lot to look forward to. Unfortunately, the publisher has not revealed how long the livestream will last, so it’s impossible to say just how much information we can expect to see. Since many of these games are set to be released within the next few months though, this could offer a great opportunity for Bandai Namco to highlight what it has on the way. The company might be able to win over some viewers that might be on the fence about these games right now.

Are you planning to check out the Bandai Namco Summer Showcase? Which of these games are you most eager to see during the event? Share your thoughts with me directly on Bluesky at @Marcdachamp, or on Instagram at @Dachampgaming!

The post New My Hero Academia Game and More to Appear at Bandai Namco Summer Showcase appeared first on ComicBook.com.

Death Stranding 2 players are loving a new mechanic that drastically changes how you can traverse the environment. Death Stranding has been criticized for years for being a “walking simulator”, which in some way it is. The bulk of the gameplay is walking, but it’s more of a delivery simulator, a game where you have to overcome the obstacles in front of you with whatever you have on hand or whatever has been left behind by other players. It’s more than walking, it’s climbing, balancing, driving, and much more. It’s about planning out a route and trying to bring as many tools as you can to help you deliver your cargo.

You can bring ladders and rope to help you climb or descend otherwise unreachable areas, but they add more weight to your cargo which can slow you down and make things harder. Death Stranding 2 generally improves upon everything from the first game and makes it a lot better. It’s still the same core gameplay, but it’s a much more refined experience that makes Kojima’s vision a lot more digestible. As a result, the game is getting significantly better reviews than the first one, including from players who weren’t all that into the first game at all.

New Death Stranding 2 Feature Is Being Praised by Fans

One of the big new features being praised by Death Stranding 2 players is that players can now connect two ladders together to make one really long one. There were many times when playing the first game where you’d get up to a mountain or have a big cavern that you couldn’t cross because your ladder just wasn’t long enough, forcing you to have to find another way around. However, Death Stranding 2 fixes this by allowing you to connect two ladders (so long as you have two in your inventory) and overcome larger gaps. It’s a life saver and a feature that players are praising up and down.

The only downside is the ladders have to be connected before it’s placed, you can’t connect a second ladder to one that has already been put down, which would be even better. I personally recommend carrying about four ladders with you at any given time so you can extend them if needed, it’s a great way to get out of a jam or improvise a new route.

Death Stranding 2 offers all kinds of new ways for traversing its map beyond just ladders. There’s a monorail that players can develop over the course of the game and it will take players around the entire map once it is fully built. There are all kinds of great Death Stranding 2 features that are changing how the game is played and enjoyed. Although Hideo Kojima wants more divisive receptions to his games, it doesn’t seem like he’s going to get it with this one as Death Stranding 2 is being hailed as a masterpiece by just about everyone who is playing it.

Death Stranding 2 is out now on PS5.

The post Death Stranding 2 Players Agree New Mechanic Is a Game Changer appeared first on ComicBook.com.

In the past decade, FromSoftware has changed the action-adventure game genre. Now, whenever a studio makes an action game, it needs to be challenging. Bloodborne, Sekiro, and Dark Souls, these games have shown how to balance difficulty and provide players with a sense of satisfaction. Not many studios can capture that feeling.

Today, more and more players are looking to get into Soulslike games. And what better way could there be than to start with FromSoftware’s catalog? In total, FromSoftware has made seven Soulslikes to date. None of them can be called bad by any means. They were amazing titles when they first came out, but things have only improved over time. While all of them are still considered great, there is still a pecking order in terms of features, freedom, and gameplay. As such, below you’ll find every FromSoftware Soulslike game ranked.

7. Demon’s Souls

Nobody knew it at that time in 2009, but Demon’s Souls would be looked upon in retrospect as a milestone for the gaming industry. Demon’s Souls is where it all began. It ushered in the era of Soulslikes. Games that had underpowered protagonists facing off against broken bosses who forced you to learn their attack patterns. 

The rage-inducing enemy design, difficult platforming areas, and hidden traps, everything in Demon’s Souls was sure to punish the player. But the satisfaction of overcoming the challenges far surpassed the feeling of failure. Demon’s Souls introduced the formula to reform action games. However, with FromSoftware’s succeeding Soulslikes being better in every way, you just have to put Demon’s Souls in last place. Not out of disrespect, but rather because of how FromSoftware has only kept on improving the genre since.

6. Dark Souls 2

Compared to Demon’s Souls, Dark Souls 2 is a major step up. But compared directly to its predecessor, Dark Souls 1, there are differing opinions. While Dark Souls 2 is larger, its design choices aren’t as respectable. 

The quality of bosses, for instance. There are many of them, but many of them also just appear to be reskinned mobs. The levels are too linear, unlike the first game. The hitboxes are wonky, being a major downgrade from the first game, too. But there are also those who love Dark Souls 2. They love how PvP is an improvement over the first game and how there are more build options. Dark Souls 2 is a bit of a black sheep of the family, but it’s still a treat nonetheless.

5. Dark Souls

The world in Dark Souls is interconnected and not linear like Dark Souls 2. The atmosphere is better in Dark Souls, too. The color palette and climate make the world appear coherent. In Dark Souls 2, it was as if different levels were thrown in together. Combat is barebones compared to the latter, but design-wise, Dark Souls is believed to be superior. 

Dark Souls has fewer bosses, but they are more creatively designed. The NPCs are just more interesting as well, and their questlines have better unexpected twists. Dark Souls was the first game in the series. It introduced many players to the Soulslike experience and left an everlasting impression on them. Dark Souls 2 improves on its predecessor in many aspects. Yet overall, its predecessor outshines it because of better design choices.

4. Bloodborne

Mechanically, 2015’s Bloodborne is similar to Dark Souls 1 and 2. But there are a few differences that make it more enjoyable. One, you now have a gun to stun-lock enemies when you time your shot correctly. And second, Bloodborne wants players to be aggressive, so the combat is fluid as a result. But that still isn’t why Bloodborne is placed higher than the Soulslikes mentioned so far. You’d have to credit Bloodborne’s atmosphere for that.

Bloodborne has Lovecraftian elements about it. They are best perceivable in the gothic visuals, creepy enemy design, and eerie art style. Bosses vary greatly from monsters to mysterious evils that trap you in labyrinths. Compared to FromSoftware’s earlier titles in the genre, NPC quest design was also much more detailed in Bloodborne. Bloodborne was a major improvement over FromSoftware’s previous Soulslikes, and that’s why it’s placed higher than all of them released up until 2015.

3. Dark Souls 3

Dark Souls 3 and Bloodborne are similar in more ways than one. Both have a similar number of bosses, map size, and enemy variety. However, where Dark Souls 3 pulls ahead is that it has over a hundred more weapons and more armor sets. This, in turn, boosts build variety.

The combat also isn’t as aggressive as Bloodborne’s. You can be aggressive if you’re really good, but Dark Souls 3 promotes a balanced playstyle. The online PvP system is a bit more developed as well. Having said that, Dark Souls 3 and Bloodborne are neck to neck. One has more weapon variety, but the other boasts better atmosphere and visuals. In the end, you can boil it down to personal preference.

2. Sekiro: Shadows Die Twice

Sekiro: Shadows Die Twice is in a league of its own when compared to FromSoftware’s Soulslikes mentioned till now. Sekiro focuses on parrying rather than dodging. When you parry the dozens of incoming strikes and then counterattack quickly, a melodious rhythm of sword clashing manifests. Fighting feels like dancing, and you are hooked from the get-go.

Another reason Sekiro is different from FromSoftware’s other Soulslikes is because of its setting. It isn’t totally fictitious. Most regions in Sekiro are inspired by Japanese architecture, so you’ll see giant dojos and countryside areas you’d expect to see in real life. At the same time, there are monsters and superpowered enemies in the game as well. Sekiro masterfully blends together an amazing aesthetic, classy combat, and memorable boss fights. It easily surpasses almost all of FromSoftware’s catalog, falling behind only one game.

1. Elden Ring

Elden Ring is the pinnacle of FromSoftware’s Soulslikes. All the maps of FromSoftware’s previous games combined don’t hold a candle to the size of Elden Ring’s open world. It’s gigantic with countless unique threats roaming around. Even though the world is huge, each corner has been meticulously decorated and designed, so everything looks beautiful.

You could argue Sekiro has the better combat, but then Elden Ring has hundreds of weapons with hundreds of unique abilities. There’s an option to summon NPCs or other players in any boss bottle. There are over 200 bosses in Elden Ring alone. With Elden Ring, FromSoftware pulled off many impossibilities. They made a Soulslike set in a massive open world, they kept it action-packed with 200+ boss fights, and they kept its beauty coherent with the lore. Given that, you just can’t argue about Elden Ring not being the best Soulslike FromSoftware has made to date.

The post Every FromSoftware Soulslike Game, Ranked appeared first on ComicBook.com.

Fans had been waiting a very long time for Nintendo Switch 2‘s arrival. The original system was on the market for 8 years, and many users were more than ready for a more powerful take on the hardware. Unfortunately, the wait was a little bit longer for some, compared to others. Many of those who preordered a Switch 2 system through Target were kept waiting on a delivery, in some cases several days after launch. Fortunately, the retailer is making it up to those that experienced a delivery delay in the form of a $50 gift card for the Nintendo eShop.

Not everyone who experienced a delay from Target qualifies for the free gift card; apparently, the retailer is only giving it to those who preordered a Nintendo Switch 2 and received a delivery on June 8th or later. The system launched on June 5th, so if Target delivered yours on that day, the 6th, or the 7th, you won’t be eligible for the free gift card. Those who qualify should find the deal automatically entered in their Target Circle account, and they’ll have to redeem the offer by July 31st. Images of the offer and details can be found in the Reddit post below.

Readers should note that, while they have to redeem the Target Circle offer by July 31st, the eShop currency has no expiration. That means it can be used to purchase games right away, or saved for a future date. For those who don’t need a game because they’re busy playing Mario Kart World or Cyberpunk 2077, that should come as a relief so it can be put towards something that they really want to buy.

That said, $50 in eShop currency is enough to fully purchase some of the games already released for Nintendo Switch 2, including Kunitsu-Gami: Path of the Goddess, Puyo Puyo Tetris 2S, and Bravely Default Flying Fairy HD Remaster. Considering how expensive it is just to buy a new video game system, this might be a nice incentive to grab a launch game that users might not have otherwise. You could even get a few games with that $50 gift card, like Fast Fusion (priced at $14.99) and Nintendo Switch 2 Welcome Tour (priced at $9.99). If you went that route and bought both of those games, you’d even still have enough left over to grab Drag x Drive when it comes out in August!

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Of course, many Nintendo Switch 2 early adopters that qualify for this deal might want to hold on to that $50 eShop currency for later this year. There are several major games in the pipeline for the system, including Donkey Kong Bananza on July 17th, and Pokemon Legends: Z-A on October 16th. There are also several big 2025 games that don’t have a release date yet, such as Metroid Prime 4: Beyond, Kirby Air Riders, and Hyrule Warriors: Age of Imprisonment.

Did you preorder a Nintendo Switch 2 from Target? What games do you plan on buying with your eShop gift card? Share your thoughts with me directly on Bluesky at @Marcdachamp, or on Instagram at @Dachampgaming!

The post Nintendo Switch 2 Buyers Get Free eShop Gift Card Due to Late Deliveries appeared first on ComicBook.com.

Despite nearly a decade of gameplay, Pokemon Go‘s mechanics have remained fairly bare-bones compared to the video game franchise the mobile app was based on. Pokemon fans have begged and hoped for developers to consider adding other mechanics to the game, with the requests largely falling on unhearing ears – until Go Fest 2025. After nine years, the game has finally introduced a Bottle Cap Hyper Training system, but the excitement of the addition has been snuffed due to the hurdles required to access it.

For those new to the deeper mechanics of the main video game franchise, Bottle Caps are used for a special mechanic call Hyper Training. This system, added during Sun and Moon, allowed trainers to raise the IVs, or stats, of their Pokemon team members without the need for breeding. The debut of a stat-boosting feature in Pokemon Go is game-changing, and could finally address the accessibility problems in competitive battling, where Hundos are primarily obtained by those in heavily populated areas who can grind Raids and releases effectively in large groups.

In Pokemon Go, the Golden Bottle Caps were introduced as part of a new type of reward structure. These Go Passes are devlish, locking the majority of content behind painful paywalls. While a typical Deluxe Go Pass will put players back by $8 or the local currency equivilant, special Deluxe Go Passes like the one paired with Ancients Recovered are a painful $20, and that isn’t even the worst part.

Despite the need for this mechanic, Pokemon Go‘s Golden Bottle Caps will never be worth it for the following reasons.

The Most Expensive Stat Reroll in Pokemon Go

If you thought the bundles, boxes, tickets, and extras in Pokemon Go were expensive, the Go Pass costs are on a new level. The Go Pass locks rewards behind “Ranks” that can range between one and 100. All players can access the “basic” Go Pass, but the rewards are laughable, containing mostly Stardust and other uninteresting items. To get the really good stuff, the Deluxe Go Pass is required. This premium version offers some better items, but the grind to get to the higher levels isn’t ideal for most casual players.

This is where things get costly when trying to get the Golden Bottle Cap, which allows players to Hyper Train one Pokemon’s undesirable stats to that of a Hundo. The Golden Bottle Cap, at this time, can only be obtained via the Deluxe Go Pass: Ancient Recovered route. It isn’t automatic either. Players will choke up $20 for the pass, and then have to grind to Rank 100 to obtain it. These ranks are not easy to work through, with the deluxe pass plus even allowing players to skip the first 10 levels to give them a head start if they are willing to pay $25.

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In addition to this, the Deluxe Go Pass has a time limit, and will only be active from June 23 through June 29. This only gives players a week to grind all the tasks required to gain ranks in Pokemon Go. For many, they may pay for the pass and never even reach Rank 100, making the purchase for the Golden Bottle Cap a waste.

There are so many things wrong with this mechanic being locked behind paywalls and unrealistic milestone requirements. It is the definition of pay-to-win content, and specifically leaves out younger players, those without the financial means to waste money on a gamble, and anyone unwilling to throw money in a blender to Hundo their favorite buddy. But that’s not even the worst part of how Bottle Caps function.

Golden Bottle Caps Are Designed To Waste Time

At first glance, Golden Bottle Caps seem like a fun and interesting way to make perfect-stat Pokemon more accessible. However, the devil is in the fineprint with this expensive item. Those who manage to actually earn the Golden Bottle Cap in Pokemon Go are in for a nasty surprise, as all it does is unlock “Hyper Training” for the Pokemon it is used on.

Now, in the main series games, Hyper Training doesn’t actually require anything. Once you have the Bottle Cap or Golden Bottle Cap, you trade it in to the required NPC and then select the companion you’d like to spruce up. The exchange is made, stats are improved, and the player goes on their way.

Related: Pokemon Go Announces July Community Day Plans

In Pokemon Go, things are never that simple. The Golden Bottle Cap can be applied to a single Pokemon, and then a series of tasks become available to raise each of the stats: Attack, Defense, and HP. In order to complete these tasks, players must keep the Hyper Training Pokemon as a Buddy and drug it everywhere. They will have to battle with it, walk with it, explore with it, completing inane requirements with no real value for hours of playtime.

Those who fail to complete the required “training” after 365 days will lost the Golden Bottle Cap effects, as the Hyper Training will expire. However, it isn’t clear how long it will actually take to complete the training required for each Pokemon.

Pokemon Go loves to lock things like rewards or bonuses behind task walls. Nearly every paid Shiny Mythical is buried under requirements like “Catch 100 Ghost Types” or “walk until you can’t anymore”. However, with the Golden Bottle Cap, this feels cruel. Players have already paid for the item, spent hours trying to earn it off a Rank reward tier, and now they have to grind even more, just to nudge a few stats over a line. At this point, it would be easier to just go catch the same thing until you get a perfect stat catch.

A Painful Investment With a Time Limit

The worst thing by far about the Golden Bottle Cap in Pokemon Go, and the thing that truly makes it not worth spending a dime on, is the fact that it will expire almost immediately after getting it.

After spending all that money, dumping all that time into grinding for it, the Golden Bottle Cap will expire instantly on June 29 at 11:59 PM if it has not been used. Players won’t be able to hold onto it and use it on a Pokemon they really like or have hunted specifically for use with the cap. They won’t be able to think about how to best apply it to their team. Instead, they must fling it at whatever seems like the best option in the moment, potentially wasting it if they don’t use it correctly.

With items like these, which require so much money and effort, putting an expiration date on them is beyond cruel. It’s mercenary. It shows little to no interest in the effort of the player, and no respect for the money being spent to support the app. There is no reason why the Golden Bottle Cap should expire, and it makes no sense at all. They don’t expire in the main games. Rare items like Master Balls don’t expire in Pokemon Go. This one key fact should be enough to convince players not to waste their money or time and focus on other elements of Go Fest instead.

Pokemon Go has shown time and again how little it cares for its players, but the Deluxe Go Pass and the introduction of the worthless Golden Bottle Cap mechanic are icing on a miserable cake. This feature could have been an amazing way to create inclusion, it could have been a primary drop for all players during Go Fest, it could have been a much-needed peace offering from developers to help create a more equal and fair experience while playing.

Instead, it has become the latest cash grab by an app very willing to lock almost all decent content behind paywalls and microtransactions that just aren’t reasonable for most players. As a longtime fan of Pokemon Go, this is extremely disappointing and may be the final straw that leads me to quit the game for good. There is nothing that could make the Golden Bottle Cap worth it, and if this is how new mechanics will be introduced in the future, there is no reason to hope the game will add content that is free to play for everyone.

For those who attempt to embark on the journey required to obtain a Golden Bottle Cap in Pokemon Go, be aware that the price won’t stop at the Go Pass ticket. Items, time, and energy will also be spent on grinding the ranks required to complete the Deluxe Go Pass before it expires. It should also be noted that most of the drops included in the rank rewards are Candy and Candy XL, so players are paying to spin a wheel on the possibility of obtaining a Golden Bottle Cap and little else. It’s a risky gamble, and not one I would suggest to anyone thinking about participating in upcoming Pokemon Go events.

The post Pokemon Go’s Golden Bottle Cap Will Never Be Worth It for 3 Reasons appeared first on ComicBook.com.

PS5 owners have been warned that their consoles could be dying and dead within a couple of years due to a manufacturing issue. Back in 2023, word first emerged from hardware experts that PS5 consoles had a substantial problem. The problem involves the PS5’s use of liquid metal, which was actually supposed to be hardware upgrade for the Sony console and was anticipated to be one. However, according to new reporting, the liquid metal issues of the PS5 — especially with early models — may be becoming more widespread and problematic. To this end, it is being claimed some PS5 consoles are in danger of dying in the next couple of years.

For those out of the loop, it has been reported that when vertical, the PS5’s liquid metal — which is in the the console to help keep it cool, which it does and does well — ends up dripping down the console, causing dry spots on the APU. This in turn can cause problems such as forced shutdowns.

At the time this issue was first reported, it was believed to be rare, but it is now being reported that it may be more widespread than previously thought. The latest about the issue comes the way of Alderon Games founder Matthew Cassells, who revealed on the Moore’s Law Is Dead YouTube channel, that they believe the problem is the culprit behind reports that the developer’s game, Path of Titans, is causing PS5 consoles to shutdown.

The good news is Sony is aware of this problem, and made tweaks to the PS5 Slim and PS5 Pro that are designed to alleviate any issues caused by the console’s liquid metal dripping. However, those on launch PS5s and earlier models will have to hope this potential problem doesn’t rear its head. In the meantime, these same PS5 users may want to keep their console horizontal.

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As you would expect, PlayStation has not talked about the PS5’s liquid metal issues publicly. And for now, it remains unclear how much of a problem it is going to be. In the present though, it is not a very relevant problem, but there is the potential for a larger problem here, or so some think. Whatever the case, the issue is clearly substantial enough that Sony felt the need to make changes with later models.

For more coverage on the PlayStation 5 — including all of the latest PS5 news, all of the latest PS5 rumors and leaks, and all of the latest PS5 deals — click here.

H/T, Wccftech.

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Xbox players across Xbox One, Xbox Series S, and Xbox Series X have roughly 48 hours left to grab an exclusive Xbox game for free. The Xbox game in question hails from the summer of 2020, which means it hails from the very end of the Xbox One generation, as the Xbox Series S and Xbox Series X released a couple months later on November 10. Despite releasing so close to the current-gen Xbox consoles, the Xbox One game in question has never received an Xbox Series X|S version, but it is playable on the Xbox Series consoles via backward compatibility.

The Xbox exclusive game is Tell Me Why from developer Dontnod Entertainment, the French studio that has released a collection of games since its founding in 2008. It is no doubt best known for the Life Is Strange series though. Meanwhile, the publisher of Tell Me Why was actually Xbox Game Studios. In other words, it was a second-party release. While some Xbox games over the years have come to other platforms, especially recently, Tell Me Why has never come to any other console platforms. The only other place it is available is PC, which has been the case since its launch.

Unfortunately for Dontnod Entertainment and Xbox Game Studios, Tell Me Why failed to perform at the highest level. To this end, on Metacritic it has scores in the 70s. Meanwhile, sale figures have never been provided, but it is understood to have sold poorly.

All of that said, until July 1 the Xbox game — which normally costs $20 — is free for everyone via the Microsoft Store. Those that trigger this offer should expect to sit down the episodic adventure for about 9 to 15 hours, depending on factors such as playstyle and completion rate.

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“Tell Me Why is the latest narrative adventure game from Dontnod Entertainment, the studio behind the beloved franchise, Life is Strange,” reads an official description of the game for those unfamiliar with it. “In this intimate mystery, reunited twins Tyler and Alyson Ronan use their supernatural bond to unravel the memories of their loving but troubled childhood. Set in beautiful small-town Alaska, Tell Me Why features true-to-life characters, mature themes and gripping choices. As you conjure up memories of the past, your choices will affect the twins’ relationship, determine the strength of their bond, and shape the course of their lives.”

For more coverage on all things Xbox — including all of the latest Xbox One news, all of the latest Xbox Series X news, and all of the latest Xbox Game Pass news — click here.

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The Nintendo 64 was a large paradigm shift for most gamers. It was a gaming revolution that moved video games from the limitations of a 2D world, which had been fundamentally built out during the NES and SNES, into a 3D space. The N64 was Nintendo’s first 3D console, and the first video game console with a 64-bit CPU. And the quality of games during the N64 marked a great era in gaming, whether with first-party titles like Super Mario 64 or third-party games like Perfect Dark.

In the current gaming landscape, a lot of publishers and developers have learned the value of remastering games from the ground up for modern players. Not only does this bring in audiences who replay these titles for nostalgic value, but it also serves up these great hits to many unfamiliar with the brand.

To that end, here are five Nintendo 64 games we still think badly need to be remastered for modern platforms.

1) Donkey Kong 64

Donkey Kong 64 was similar to 3D platformers like Super Mario 64 and Banjo-Kazooie, but offered many distinct advantages. Donkey Kong 64 contained many more characters to rotate through and play, like Lanky Kong and Chunky Kong. The game also had distinctive musical instruments and fruit-shooting weaponry for every character in support of building out their unique personalities.

With the latest Nintendo Direct showcasing Donkey Kong Bananza, the timing is ideal to offer fans a remaster of the first 3D Donkey Kong game to drive and drum up hype further for the next DK game. However, given the release date of Donkey Kong Bananza is set for next month on July 17th, perhaps it’s wishful thinking for a remaster of this title in the near future.

2) Pokémon Stadium

LEGO and Nintendo are competing in the market for party games, like LEGO Party and Super Mario Party Jamboree, but games like Pokémon Stadium get missed in the current gaming landscape. Pokémon Stadium wasn’t just a place to battle Pokémon, but was a hub of activities and different modes for all player types. Stadium Mode was featured to battle across four competitive cups, Kids Club was for fun Pokémon mini-games, Free Battle was for multiplayer battles, and more.

Pokémon Stadium truly built an ecosystem for the Pokémon community that was more accessible for bringing friends together. Pokémon Stadium also offered cross-platform play with the integration of Game Boy cartridge games on the Nintendo 64 console (although limited to playing Pokémon Red, Blue, and Yellow). While the integration for Game Boy Tower in Pokémon Stadium is fully aged out, there are other means to remaster Pokémon Stadium for modern audiences on the Nintendo Switch 2.

3) Jet Force Gemini

Rare had a direct link to the hearts and souls of gamers during the SNES and Nintendo 64 era of gaming. So much so that three of the games on this list belong to Rare’s portfolio, but one that often gets overlooked was Jet Force Gemini. It was a shooter that let players fight insectoid enemies called Mizar with a host of different and cool weapons in a semi-open world environment. The largest pitfall of the game revolved around saving the Tribals. The Tribals were a race of creatures enslaved by the Mizar that the player should save; “should” being the wrong word choice. To fully beat Jet Force Gemini, every single Tribal in the game requires saving. This amounted to the collection component of the game being a forced requirement, taking away some of the fun of finishing it.

Despite the Tribal pitfall, Jet Force Gemini stood out well as a Nintendo 64 exclusive and was a unique addition to Rare’s portfolio of games. However, similar to GoldenEye 007, going back and playing the game with outdated shooter controls that feel cumbersome hasn’t led to Jet Force Gemini not aging well, despite its solid foundation.

4) Mega Man 64

Mega Man 64 is an underrated Mega Man adventure that brought much more narrative and story behind the iconic blue blaster hero. This version of Mega Man transferred the game into 3D environments, but still provided Mega Man with a fun host of weapons to acquire, modify, and upgrade. And the boss battles against the Bonne family were exceptionally memorable, like the tanks in the town square battle.

However, Mega Man 64 is more difficult to go back and visit, as the world feels very flat and empty in comparison to how games are stylized and filled out today. Visiting the main city, Uptown, feels empty with the flat walls, locked houses, and so few locals traveling around. These decisions made sense at the time of development for Mega Man 64, but now would require significant updating and polishing to feel appropriate for a modern remaster. Given the significance of Mega Man in gaming history, this would be time well spent for fans.

5) Banjo-Kazooie & Banjo-Tooie

To round the corner on Rare-related games is the one most of us think of immediately with the Nintendo 64: Banjo-Kazooie and Banjo-Tooie. The Banjo-Kazooie games brought to life each world that players could visit. Older games might have the feeling at times of too much space or feeling barren, but Banjo-Kazooie brought a healthy level of depth to each level that still makes the game easy to revisit today. However, considering the sharp polygon angles and the difficult camera controls, the Banjo-Kazooie games are not without showing their age.

The fact that Banjo and Kazooie have been left out in the cold for modern gamers, outside of the cameo in Super Smash Bros. Ultimate, is nothing short of a tragedy. Remastering and rebuilding both Banjo-Kazooie and Banjo-Tooie is a service towards preserving this video game history, as well as offering up a chance to see if there is enough audience appetite to warrant another sequel in the future.

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With only months left until the release of Pokemon Legends: Z-A, fans have been hungry to get their hands on any new content they might be able to find. With several trailers offering a deeper look into gameplay, leak and speculation season has kicked into full gear. However, some social media posts that have claimed to share leaked footage or images have sparked a division in the fanbase.

One of the most anticipated features confirmed for Pokemon Legends: Z-A is the return of Mega Evolution. The fan-favorite gimmick enables certain Pokemon to gain an extra, temporary evolutionary stage with powerful perks. The mechanic was first introduced in X and Y, and has been a heavily demanded option by players since it vanished after Let’s Go, Pikachu and Let’s Go, Eevee.

However, leaks that have seemingly confirmed new Mega Evolution options have been met with scrutiny by players, with many calling out a possible use of AI to manipulate the images.

Mega Dragalage “Leak” Called Out for Possible AI

In a recent social media post shared by the occasionally credible Centro Leaks account, the leaker has included an image of what could be a Mega Dragalge. The Dragon/Poison-type was originally introduced in the Kalos region but was not included in the original Mega-capable lineup.

While the image looked amazing at first glance, players in the comments were quick to call out the strange background, inconsistent design, and odd coloration of the alleged leak. One Pokemon fan has commented, “Just some context for the comment section: It looks like an image was put through an AI program, like Mega Starmie. I honestly don’t know why these leakers keep doing this,” while another has added, “this looks totally AI generated, i don’t think this is a real leak.”

Others have been less concerned about the leak’s credibility, calling out Centro Leaks for not putting a warning label or shield over the image to prevent spoilers for the upcoming game.

Dragalge has remained a popular Pokemon up through recent games due to its unusual typing and powerful moves. The Dragon/Poison-type has a whimsical design with bits of algae-like embellishments over its body. Mega Evolution typically enhances the base look of the Pokemon without changing the core of its Second Stage evolution dramatically. For example, Mega Alteria gains additional fluffy clouds while Mega Lucario gets some additional embellishments to its base design, as well as some additional color.

The alleged leak shared on Centro Leaks dramatically changes the look of Dragalge, giving it what appears to be swaths of hair, antlers, and a lack of eyes. This doesn’t appear to be a real leak, due to the missing details from the original design.

At this time, no new Mega Evolutions have been revealed for Pokemon Legends: Z-A. While this doesn’t mean they won’t be a surprise reveal closer to the launch, there is also the possibility that new Mega options won’t be included as part of the title. This could be a way to manage the Mega Stone mechanic and keep the number of super-powered Pokemon limited.

However, with new starters being used throughout gameplay, as well as the inclusion of Pokemon from more recent generations of the series, it would be exciting to see additional Mega-capable companions in Pokemon Legends: Z-A. While leaks have been a great way to get inside information about upcoming games in the past, it seems his won’t be the case the return to Kalos, and players should be extra critical about the information they see online, even if it is from leakers who have had reliable posts in past years. The best way to know if something is AI or not is to keep up on official sources and watch the newest trailers and streams when they come out.

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An acclaimed horror game from the past is getting a surprising new remaster later in 2025. Over the past few years, horror games have been getting a lot of love when it comes to remakes and remasters. EA brought back the original Dead Space, Konami partnered with Bloober Team to remake Silent Hill 2, and Capcom revamped arguably its most popular game in history with 2023’s Resident Evil 4. Now, this trend will be continuing once again with publisher Bandai Namco, which is remastering a horror game that went on to spawn a much larger franchise.

Set to arrive this October, Bandai Namco recently revealed Little Nightmares: Enhanced Edition. Originally released in 2017, Little Nightmares was a surprise hit for Bandai Namco and developer Tarsier Studios. While it didn’t set the world on fire upon its release, positive word of mouth for Little Nightmares continued in the years to come and eventually resulted in Little Nightmares 2 in 2021 and Little Nightmares 3, which arrives later this year.

Now, in tandem with Little Nightmares 3, Bandai Namco has opted to go back to the first installment to improve it further. Little Nightmares: Enhanced Edition will release alongside Little Nightmares 3 on October 10th and is set to come to PS5, Xbox Series X/S, Nintendo Switch 2, and PC.

“(Re)-Discover the dark whimsical tale of Little Nightmares, now enhanced in stunning 4K resolution and 60 frames per second,” says the game’s new description. “Little Nightmares: Enhanced Edition lets you choose between Quality or Performance Mode to favor either the visuals or the framerate depending on your preferences. Enjoy improved visual effects, including RTX reflections, water effects, more particles, and volumetric lighting. Additional helpers have been added for an overall better experience.”

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The best thing about Little Nightmares: Enhanced Edition is that it can actually be played right away for those who are willing to spend some money. Rather than having to wait until October to experience this remastered version of Little Nightmares, Bandai Namco is granting immediate access to the game to anyone who pre-orders Little Nightmares 3 digitally. While it won’t be purchaseable on its own until a few more months, those who were looking to grab Little Nightmares 3 right away might as well pre-order the game now to experience the Enhanced Edition of the first entry to help tide themselves over.

What do you think about Little Nightmares getting a new remaster for modern platforms? And is this remaster going to prompt you to pre-order Little Nightmares 3? Let me know for yourself in the comments section!

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It’s not uncommon for popular creature-collecting games to spawn their own anime. After all, Pokemon and Digimon were both games before they were anime. However, newer entries like Palworld haven’t yet had the honor of turning into full-length animated series. But the trailer animations for the latest Palworld update have fans begging to see what an anime version of the survival game would look like.

This week, Palworld released its highly anticipated Terraria collab update. The massive free content update added not only crossover content, but new Pals, islands, and more for gamers to explore. And while we’ve been enjoying the new Palworld gaming goodness, the trailer’s animation style is what’s really been capturing fan attention. Rather than a trailer made with gameplay footage, PocketPair instead leaned into anime-style animation featuring the game’s protagonist and several Pals. And gamers can’t get enough of it.

Cattiva and Foxparks are both adorably shocked in this still image one Redditor screengrabbed from the animated trailer. The entire trailer features cute, iconic animations that really add a new layer of personality to the Pals. As one fan puts it, “Idk who they found to animate this, but they hit GOLD.” Shortly after releasing the trailer, PocketPair shared another short animated video called The Best Sushi with Pals. It shows several beloved Pals enjoying sushi together. Combined, these animations have fans hoping PocketPair is working its way up to a full-blown anime.

Palworld Entertainment Could Grant Fan Wishes for a Palworld Anime

After seeing the art style for the Palworld x Terraria trailer, many fans are calling for an anime using the same vibes. As one Redditor puts it, “it’s such a beautiful and amazing art style that it’ll be a shame if they used it only once…”

Indeed, PocketPair has been sharing animated versions of Palworld critters in action more often in recent months. And fans might not be off base thinking it could be leading up to something big. Last year, PocketPair partnered with Sony Music Entertainment and Aniplex to form Palworld Entertainment. This entity was created wtih the goal to “expand and develop new businesses associated with the hit game.”

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Since the Palworld Entertainment announcement, we haven’t heard much about what the new entity has been working on. However, an anime is certainly in the realmof possibility. PocketPair has previously mentioned the idea of translating the game into a manga series. So, these animations could well be part of testing the waters for an animated story featuring the characters and Pals from Palworld.

And from where we’re sitting, the water looks fine. There’s clearly interest in seeing more animated stories that bring the Pals and human characters from Palworld to life. Cattiva in particular has become an instant star from its appearance in the brief animated trailer. With the animated trailer and sushi video coming within a single week, could PocketPair be teasing a big announcement? For now, we can only hope so.

Would you be interested in watching a Palworld anime? Let us know your thoughts in the comments below!

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The Elder Scrolls IV: Oblivion Remastered has been out on PC, PS5, and Xbox Series X|S for a couple months, giving Elder Scrolls fans a substantial amount of time with the Bethesda RPG. For some this is their first time playing the classic RPG. For others it is the first time playing since the original game was released in 2006 on Xbox 360 and PC. And for some, this new release has provided one of many playthroughs of the RPG. That said, as you would expect, there are some surprises for fans of the original game in the new remaster, some of which players are still discovering.

To this end, one of the top posts on Oblivion Reddit page right now, is a post about the A Brush With Death quest in the remaster. For those unfamiliar with this quest, it is located in Cheydinhal. In it, you help a distraught woman help find her husband, a famous painter, who has gone missing. In order to trigger the quest, you need to listen to rumors in the city about the missing painter, before eventually meeting the wife, Tivela, in their house.

The set up for the quest is the same as the original version in the original game, but in the remaster there is a new filter that gives the Painted World, which players eventually find themselves in, an appropriate painted look. Meanwhile, it is the only part of the game where the aforementioned duo left in the original troll design.

“It’s heart-warming to see. I really like that they’ve reused the original troll model for the Painted Trolls,” reads the post in question. “There’s also a filter applied to make the Painted World look more like a painting.”

The comments of the post reveal a variety of players had no idea this quest was changed in the remaster, while others point out it is more accurate to the story of the quest now because during the quest it is revealed the painter was drawing things differently than normal. In the original version of the question, this is not realized, but in the remastered version it is.

“Haven’t made it there in my playthrough yet, but this warms my heart,” reads one of the comments. Another adds: “I literally just finished this quest. It’s good to see other people enjoying the remaster as much as I am”

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As always, feel free to leave a comment letting us know what you think. Did you catch this change and detail in the new Oblivion remaster? Meanwhile, for more coverage on the Bethesda RPG — including all of the latest Oblivion news, all of the latest Oblivion rumors and leaks, and all of the latest Oblivion deals — click here.

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There is no shortage of golf simulation games out there. From the PGA Tour series to Mario Golf, gamers have options when it comes to virtual golf. But for many, the unique anime twist offered by the Everybody’s Golf series simply can’t be beat. The beloved games, also known as Hot Shots Golf, combine humor, anime-inspired characters, and surprisingly realistic physics. A new entry in the series, Everybody’s Golf Hot Shots, is headed our way this September. But gamers on one platform can already pre-order it with a pre-release discount.

Everybody’s Golf Hot Shots will release on September 5th for PS5, Nintendo Switch, and Steam. This multi-platform release is an exciting change for the series, which has previously been primarily available on PlayStation consoles. This latest and more widely available rendition brings back the classic three-button shot gameplay that virtual golfing fans love. But there’s also an exciting new mode called Wacky Golf for gamers who want a bit more variety. Everybody’s Golf Hot Shots will also offer solo and multiplayer modes, with up to four players being able to compete in one room or online.

The Standard Edition of Everybody’s Golf Hot Shots is typically $39.99 on all platforms. It’s available for pre-order now on PS5, Switch, and Steam. But Steam gamers have a unique opportunity to snag a discount on the PC version of the golfing game thanks to a new deal via Fanatical.

Fanatical Deal Offers Pre-Order Discount on Everybody’s Golf Hot Shots

Fanatical offers discounts and bundles for Steam games, and those sometimes include pre-release deals. That’s the case for the Fanatical deal on Everybody’s Golf Hot Shots, which marks the game down by 16%. That makes the game just $33.59 on Steam. It’s a modest discount, but considering the game isn’t even out yet, it’s not too bad!

Pre-orders through Fanatical will get you a Steam code to redeem, which should arrive on or before the game’s September 5th release. Best of all, ordering through Fanatical at a discount will still secure your pre-order bonuses. In the case of Everybody’s Golf Hot Shots, that’s a familiar face as a playable character. Gamers who pre-order the game will be able to unlock Pac-Man as a playable character in Everybody’s Golf Hot Shots.

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This deal doesn’t have a specific expiration date listed. Fanatical will have limited keys available, however, so the deal will go away once all keys have been claimed. Since it’s a pre-order campaign, it likely won’t be available once the game releases on September 5th.

If you’re planning to play Everybody’s Golf Hot Shots on PC via Steam, now is a great time to secure your copy on sale. You can review the PC specs for the game via Steam to make sure it will run well on your computer. Steam Deck compatibility for the game is still unknown, but may be updated closer to release. We do know it will offer full controller support, so PC gamers will be able to perfect their swings.

The post Everybody’s Golf Hot Shots Gets Early Discount Ahead of Release appeared first on ComicBook.com.

Capcom is making a change to Monster Hunter Wilds that fans of the PC, PS5, and Xbox Series X|S game have been begging for. The change is specifically coming on June 30 alongside the release of Title Update 2, a substantial update to the Monster Hunter game. Naturally, there is a ton to the update that has MHW fans excited, but one smaller part of the update, in particular, has caught the attention of many fans over on the Monster Hunter Wilds Reddit page.

To this end, one of the top new posts on the Reddit page dedicated to the Capcom game is a post highlighting a specific part of the update. More specifically, the changes coming to Charge Blade. Previously, Monster Hunter fans have lamented that the Charge Blade is not viable or fun to use. It appears Capcom has heard these cries because it is making many significant changes to the Charge Blade, all of which have many Monster Hunter Wilds fans excited.

One of the more notable changes involves Guard Points. With Title Update 2, Guard points will have perfect guard detection, and now there will be the ability to chain into Savage Axe Splash upon a successful Perfect Guard from a guard point.

“Depending on the damage increase, this might mean SAED playstyle is back and if tuned right means you can choose between SA or SAED which is wonderful. Also Guard Points **** yeah lets goooooooo,” reads the top comment on the post above.

Another popular comment adds: “Thank. You. Jesus. Now I can play Charge Blade the way I want to. SAED AND GPs are back on the menu, boys!”

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This is obviously not the biggest part of the update, but it has been singled out by fans as one of the more exciting details. Only time will tell though if Capcom got all the above changes right though.

Monster Hunter Wilds is available via PC, PS5, Xbox Series S, and Xbox Series X. For more coverage on the new Capcom game — including all of the latest MHW news, all of the latest MHW rumors and leaks, and all of the latest MHW deals — click here.

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