GamersHeroes Friday, April 3, 2026 1:48 PM An award-winning 4X strategy game set within the Avatar universe, Tilting Point and AN Games' Avatar Legends: Realms Collide is celebrating its one-year anniversary with its biggest update to date. The post Avatar Legends: Realms Collide Celebrating One Year Anniversary appeared first on GamersHeroes. |
GamersHeroes Friday, April 3, 2026 1:14 PM Bringing classic arcade energy to the heart of baseball, PAC-MAN is teaming up with the Los Angeles Angels with the opening of the new PAC-MAN Chomp Stop concession stand. The post PAC-MAN X Los Angeles Angels Collaboration Revealed appeared first on GamersHeroes. |
GamersHeroes Friday, April 3, 2026 12:16 PM Three epic showdowns await players this Friday with today's release of the SEGA Villains Stage DLC for Lizardcube's SHINOBI: Art of Vengeance. The post SHINOBI: Art of Vengeance SEGA Villains Stage DLC Live appeared first on GamersHeroes. |
GamersHeroes Friday, April 3, 2026 11:20 AM A deceptively simple first-person horror roguelite, NightByte Games and Behaviour Interactive's It Has My Face has officially left Steam Early Access. The post First-Person Horror Roguelite It Has My Face 1.0 Now Available appeared first on GamersHeroes. |
Kotaku Friday, April 3, 2026 3:37 PM  The latest Mario movie will leave you hungry for adventures in the Mushroom Kingdom. Here are some of the most appropriate ones |
Kotaku Friday, April 3, 2026 2:06 PM  So many gamers claim to hate live-service games, but then complain about a lack of free updates |
Kotaku Friday, April 3, 2026 1:50 PM  This super-smart collection of puzzles is short but very sweet |
Kotaku Friday, April 3, 2026 12:49 PM  Esquire Singapore opted to run the Zoro actor's previous interviews through Copilot and Claude, as Mackenyu couldn't attend an in-person chat |
Kotaku Friday, April 3, 2026 12:12 PM  Sucker Punch also explained how it built an online co-op game within a big single-player RPG |
Kotaku Friday, April 3, 2026 11:59 AM  A twin-stick Zelda-like that gets incredibly close to perfection |
Kotaku Friday, April 3, 2026 11:45 AM  Also: test audiences get a glimpse of the new Resident Evil movie |
Kotaku Friday, April 3, 2026 11:23 AM  The zombie survival sim is calling for fans to try out the sequel |
Kotaku Friday, April 3, 2026 11:19 AM  The Super Mario Galaxy Movie is giving gay Bowser truthers ammunition |
Kotaku Friday, April 3, 2026 11:02 AM  Shaun Escayg's cryptic 'research' post is giving Uncharted fans hope Naughty Dog is working on a fifth mainline game in the series |
Kotaku Friday, April 3, 2026 9:41 AM  It also sounds like the next PlayStation could be imminent |
Kotaku Friday, April 3, 2026 9:26 AM  Sony is still selling the all-digital edition at the old sale price |
Kotaku Friday, April 3, 2026 8:14 AM  In a GDC talk, Impulse creator Larry Kuperman explained how the retail chain bet the farm on brick and mortar |
PCGamesN Friday, April 3, 2026 12:47 PM Long-awaited zombie survival game State of Decay 3 is hosting a series of alpha playtests, and you can sign up now if you want to take part. |
PCGamesN Friday, April 3, 2026 12:05 PM The Battlefield 6 Hunter/Prey update launches on Tuesday April 14, and includes a progression overhaul and the powerful new Portal Gadget. |
PCGamesN Friday, April 3, 2026 10:36 AM Black Ops 7 Season 3 is underway, and PvE co-op mode Endgame is being made temporarily free-to-play, as part of Call of Duty Warzone. |
PCGamesN Friday, April 3, 2026 10:17 AM Check out the latest Apex Legends minimum and recommended specs for PC to see whether you can chase victories in this epic battle royale game. |
Rock Paper Shotgun Latest Articles Feed Friday, April 3, 2026 9:00 AM  The human colony on Tau Ceti IV has been abandoned for half a century, as far as anyone can tell. The only exports leaving the planet are those nabbed by Runners in mechanical bodies, like fruit pickers at the end of the universe. But there are imports, too, of a sort: elements pulled in from other extraction shooters, which reveal the kind of experience Bungie wanted to make. Namely, a stealth game. |
Siliconera Friday, April 3, 2026 4:00 PM
Square Enix and Taito announced that the Dragon Quest Bubble Slime computer mouse will come back again in Japan, and this time it will be joined by a Bubble Slime variant. There's no exact release date for it yet, but both will be available as arcade prizes starting in early April 2026. While Square Enix has sold official Metal Slime merchandise on storefronts like Amazon in the past, we haven't seen this product appear officially from it or Taito worldwide yet. However, other retailers like Aitai Kuji did carry the Metal Slime variant in the past and may be a place to check for this latest run.
Each of these are basically a replica of either a Dragon Quest Metal Slime or Bubble Slime as a mouse. Both of them are just over four inches long and are wired peripherals. Each one has left and right buttons to the left of the monster's head, with a scroll wheel between them. Specs, such as the DPI and IPS, aren't available. Aitai Kuji also pointed out the past model was compatible with Windows 8 and 10, and Taito's product page didn't note OS support for these two new variants now that Windows 7, 8.1, and 10 support ended in October 2025.
Here's the official photo of the two new mice.
This is the third time we've seen the Metal Slime version of this device appear now. It first launched in September 2023. A rerun of it showed up in October 2024. Both it and the Bubble Slime version have been Dragon Quest series staples for years, appearing as monsters in mainline games and spin-offs.
The Dragon Quest Metal Slime and Bubble Slime computer mouse prizes will show up in Japanese arcades again in April 2026. Since past versions of the Metal Slime were never released via official storefronts worldwide, people interested in the rerun will have to turn to online auctions or smaller stores to get one.
We may earn a commission if you purchase from certain links. Learn more here.
The post Dragon Quest Metal Slime Computer Mouse Returns With Bubble Slime appeared first on Siliconera. |
Siliconera Friday, April 3, 2026 3:00 PM
Square Enix announced the full stage and stream schedule for the US installment of the FFXIV Fan Festival 2026, and as usual it involves a keynote with Director and Producer Naoki Yoshida and concerts with people like Sound Director Masayoshi Soken's The Primals. Everything starts at 10am PT on April 24, 2026 at the Anaheim Convention Center in California. It will be streamed on Twitch and YouTube, with the YouTube placeholders for Day 1 and Day 2 already live.
First, here's the list of everything people can expect on April 24, 2026. That's the day with the keynote that could cover major announcements related to the MMORPG.
As for what to expect from the second day of the event, here's the schedule for day 2 of the FFXIV Fan Festival on April 25, 2026.
We already know about what kinds of merchandise to expect from the US. Pre-orders even opened for some via official Square Enix storefronts.
Final Fantasy XIV is available for the PS4, PS5, Xbox Series X, and PC, and the US FFXIV Fan Festival runs April 24-25, 2026 at the Anaheim Convention Center in Anaheim, California. Tickets are sold out.
The post US FFXIV Fan Festival 2026 Schedule Shared appeared first on Siliconera. |
Siliconera Friday, April 3, 2026 2:00 PM
Back in February 2026, Ufotable teased an announcement related to the Tales of series and its 30th anniversary, however it turns out it is working with Production IG on 188 character illustrations rather than a new anime. The promised April 3, 2026 reveal involved a YouTube trailer confirming the new art and that the first series that will be depicted will be Tales of Phantasia and Tales of Xillia. It didn't note when those images will start to appear, and comments are turned off on the video. An official social media account is also open for this project.
The announcement did explain a few details about the 188 illustrations we'll see referencing Tales of games characters from entries like Phantasia and Xillia. Two artists confirmed to be part of it are Akira Matsushima and Tokuyuki Matsutake. The former worked on both the anime adaptations of Tales of Symphonia and Tales of Zestiria, as well as Maria Watches Over Us and Demon Slayer. The latter worked on the Tales of Phantasia and Vesperia anime, Sailor Moon Eternal the Movie, Psycho-Pass, and Kingdom. Ufotable and Production IG didn't note if there will also be merchandise featuring the 188 illustrations.
Here is the announcement trailer for the Ufotable and Production IG Tales of character illustration project. At the end, we see Mint Adenade, Cress Albane, Milla Maxwell, and Jude Mathis from behind.
In terms of game news, the next release is a Switch 2 version of Tales of Arise. That port will launch on May 22, 2026. It will include the DLC expansion.
The Ufotable and Production IG Tales of 30th anniversary character illustration project is underway and will start with art based on Phantasia and Xillia.
The post Ufotable and Production IG Working on Tales of Character Illustrations appeared first on Siliconera. |
Siliconera Friday, April 3, 2026 1:00 PM
While there's still some time before the Monster Hunter Stories 3 free update with post-game Royal Monsters, Capcom already explained how to unlock them in-game. These will be true endgame encounters, as we will need to beat the game once to gain access to the new fights. However, there are still no details about how they'll work mechanically or if it will involve different visual changes to the characters.
Capcom first brought up the free Monster Hunter Stories 3 update at the end of March 2026 and confirmed the stronger-than-usual Royal Monsters will be the main addition. These will be much more challenging fights that will appear in the field in every area, and the company said level 90 units will be needed to help handle them. Basically, to unlock them, you need to beat the Final Battle, then go through it a second time at an even higher difficulty.
The announcement explained how it worked. Once the patch for the update arrives, you can reload the save made before the Final Battle after finishing it to fight the boss at an even higher difficulty. After you win, Royal Monster versions of every kind of creature in the game will appear.
Monster Hunter Stories 3: Twisted Reflection is on the Switch 2, PS5, Xbox Series X, and PC, a demo is available, and the free Royal Monsters update arrives in Summer 2026.
The post Here's How to Unlock Royal Monsters in Monster Hunter Stories 3 appeared first on Siliconera. |
Siliconera Friday, April 3, 2026 12:00 PM
Ingrid will join Street Fighter 6 as the last piece of Year 3 DLC in Spring 2026, after not showing up since Street Fighter Alpha 3 Max, and a new trailer shows what to expect. She will still remain an enigmatic, otherworldly type of figure when she debuts in Spring 2026. She'll also appear alongside something called a Monoid. However, while the video highlights her new appearance, it doesn't show any of her new moveset.
While the Street Fighter 6 trailer doesn't bring up her past as a Code Holder, it does show she possesses unusual powers. She meets a player avatar and refers to them as a "Terran." When doing so, she also mentions that person somehow ending up in "another world" and takes it upon herself to destroy that place to solve the situation. She also sees a Monoid with the avatar, mentions she's collecting them, and confirms that our fates our linked due to that meeting.
Here's the Street Fighter 6 Ingrid trailer.
Ingrid follows fellow returning character Alex in the Street Fighter Year 3 Season Pass. He ended up being controversial following his launch. This is due to the way his story ended up going. As a character, it's established that older cousin Tom, who is also his manager, raised him after Alex's parents died. Tom had a daughter named Patricia, who's also come up in past storylines. In his new story mode, we learn Alex and Patricia got married and are expecting their first daughter. This led to an additional Buckler's Boot Camp story to attempt to explain it and a promise of a patch from Director Takayuki Nakayama to "revise certain text passages."
Street Fighter 6 is available for the Switch 2, PS4, PS5, Xbox Series X, and PC, and Ingrid will appear as DLC in Spring 2026. She's the last Year 3 Season Pass add-on, so after her debut we'll likely see a Year 4 announcement.
The post Ingrid Erases a World in a Street Fighter 6 Trailer appeared first on Siliconera. |
Siliconera Friday, April 3, 2026 11:00 AM
Cover announced that, while it will support "individual activities," it will be pulling back on support of its Holostars male Vtubers. This means it could actually end up stop some support efforts involving projects and merchandise, though it didn't go into extreme details. It cited "an executive decision aiming to optimize overall business" as the reason for the way it will respond in the coming fiscal year. The announcement specifically referenced the 12 Japanese members of the agency and not the 10 English members of the agency, though members of that division also took to social media to ask for continued support going forward.
Essentially, Cover is making this "management structure" decision as a result of cost saving to invest the Holostars money that would have gone into the male Vtubers' division and groups as a whole into other efforts. However, the announcement seems to suggest that individual members would still be supported on a case-by-case basis. There are no specific examples and the company is vague about how drastic the changes and cuts will be, making it difficult to gauge how different things will look going forward. It also didn't note if this will lead to graduations of existing members, as the company said it is talking with performers. However, Kageyama
For example, Cover said that the Holostars cuts will affect things like original songs, merchandise, the male Vtubers getting to use the company studios for their streams or concerts, and major efforts that it would plan, fund, organize, and promote. It only said those could "be limited" in some situations, so it's unknown which of those we could see end completely. However, Kageyama Shien's statement suggested all of that type of outreach and those performances will end.
So, this choice could affect the creation of things like the Holostars short from Hololive Super Expo 2026.
Things like the White Day 2026 release would be the sort of element affected.
Again, this messaging did seem to suggest it affects the Holostars Vtubers in Japan more than the English members due to the wording, though members of both divisions expressed sadness and requests for support in statements on social media.. Those members are Aragami Oga, Arurandeisu, Astel Leda, Hanasaki Miyabi, Kageyama Shien, Kanade Izuru, Kishido Temma, Minase Rio, Rikka, Utsugi Uyu, Yatogami Fuma, and Yukoku Roberu. The English branch active members are Axel Syrios, Banzoin Hakka, Crimzon Ruze, Gavis Bettel, Goldbullet, Josuiji Shinri, Jurard T Rexford, Octavio, Machina X Flayon, and Regis Altare. Cover asked people not ask individuals about the company's decision out of respect for them.
The post Cover Will Pull Back and End Some Holostars Male Vtubers Support appeared first on Siliconera. |
Siliconera Friday, April 3, 2026 10:00 AM
Bandai Spirits has announced that it will release a new DX Chogokin action figure that features a crossover between Macross Frontier and Top Gun: Maverick. This figure will feature a VF-25 Messiah Valkyrie variable fighter with a custom livery intended for Pete "Maverick" Mitchell, and it will be available in September 2026 at ¥26,400 (~$165.40).
The Japanese press release also includes descriptions in English. But even though it notes that the information is specific to Japan, the official Tamashii Web page for this figure confirms that it will be available worldwide. The sales area indicators are greenlit for not only Japan but also Asia, the US, Europe, and Latin America.
This VF-25 Messiah action figure will come pre-built, but it will also let the owner transform the variable fighter between its Fighter, Gerwalk, and Battroid modes. The unit's head in Battroid mode also has a particular design inspired by Maverick's pilot helmet.
Here are some of the sample images for the upcoming transformable action figure:
Global releases for most of the Macross franchise have become possible ever since Bigwest and Harmony Gold signed a historic deal in 2021. Macross Delta has also appeared in Super Robot Wars Y, which Bandai Namco released worldwide in 2025. As of early 2026, Sunrise is still working on a brand-new Macross entry after it held a heroine audition in 2025.
The DX Chogokin figure of Macross Frontier's VF-25 Messiah Valkyrie with Top Gun: Maverick crossover livery will be available worldwide in September 2026.
The post Macross Frontier Top Gun Maverick Crossover Figure Announced appeared first on Siliconera. |
Siliconera Friday, April 3, 2026 9:00 AM
Idea Factory and Otomate are pretty great about releasing different types of otome visual novels that cover various themes, and they're well known for their historical ones. I mean, they're responsible for titles like Birushana and Hakuoki. Players who adore otome games with historical elements and combat will find Homura: The Crimson Warriors offers exactly what they're looking for with Sengoku period romances. Those in search of a more comedic or romantic routes might want to go for something like Cupid Parasite or My Next Life as a Villainess.
As I mentioned earlier, this is a Sengoku era game, which takes place after the Battle of Sekigahara. Following the deaths of Masayuki Sanada and Rokuro Mochizuki, those who supported them suffer a major setback. Rokuro's daughter Mutsumi inherited his gift of reading the ring of energy and essence of the living (and dead) and trained as a ninja under Hakuunsai Tozawa, hoping to one day be of use to the exiled Nobushige (Yukimura) Sanada. After being sent by her master to assist Nobushige and his allies in their continued support of the Toyotomi, she finds a chance to be useful and perhaps fall in love with him or one of his allies as they prepare to face the Tokugawa shogunate and Ura Yagyu. However, that also means facing the unnatural Onibi Warriors.
Remember how I said Homura: The Crimson Warriors is probably a game for folks who liked otome like Hakuoki earlier? Well, I'm guessing you see why now. Historical setting. Love interests based on real people like Juzo Kakei, Kamanosuke Yuri, Saizo Kirigaku, Sasuke Sarutobi, and Yukimura Sanada. Supernatural elements. Replace the Furies/Rasetsu with Onibi. Lots of focus on the conflict. It can feel very similar. That means if you enjoy these types of romantic visual novels that do pay attention to historical elements and weave them in with some fantasy elements, you are in for a treat. Especially since there is the Ring energy to see and take into account when making choices.
Don't take that to mean it feels like it is retreading old ground. Homura: The Crimson Warriors does feel unique. Its characters don't feel like they're copying the Shinsengumi from Hakuoki. It's just a similar sort of style and approach.
It also means that the more historical and dramatic elements can take precedence over actual relationship development sometimes and in some routes. It can be romantic for sure, and there are some paths where you can really see relationships develop well. (Specifically, I liked the Saizo and Kamanosuke ones best, though the Nobushige one is pretty good as long as the age gap doesn't bother you too.) I never felt like the romance came out of nowhere when it came to any of the love interests. Just expect a lot to happen that involves current conflicts in that time period. Especially when you get to Nobushige, which does feel like the "main" route and one you should play last.
I will say that after playing an Idea Factory and Otomate otome game that lacked quality of life features recently, it's great to come back to one that does have them with Homura: The Crimson Warriors. There is a glossary, which is a godsend given all the historical references and terms that come up as you play. It's very helpful and, since my Sengoku knowledge did come from other video games, I did make use of it. The ninja scroll chapter summaries are handy too. I didn't need that, since I went through three routes in a row basically. However, I could see that being handy if you return to play another storyline after stepping away for a bit. There is a love catch system available too. Again, another always handy option to see if you're making progress with the right person.
Homura: The Crimson Warriors is also a very pretty otome game, and the artistic direction does bring to mind Hakuoki and Birushana again. The fact that there are also alternate costumes for character for some portraits is a nice touch as well. The voice acting is fantastic. Also, it feels like a solid localization too.
Homura: The Crimson Warriors feels like an otome game for folks who loved Birushana and Hakuoki. The narrative and themes all follow similar courses. However, it does feel unique and like its own thing even with the whole supernatural enemy, warriors fighting back and rebelling, all while the sole female member of the group ends up being the sort of woman all of them could fall for. It's a fun story for folks who like a little history and supernatural side to their love stories.
Homura: The Crimson Warriors is available for the Nintendo Switch.
The post Review: Homura: The Crimson Warriors Is Another IFI Historical Otome appeared first on Siliconera. |
Destructoid Friday, April 3, 2026 3:50 PM
Operation Atramentum has finally begun in Warframe, and there's a decent amount of rewards to be earned. While there was an initial delay around the event's launch, there are plenty of days for you to get all the available items.
Let's quickly look at all the key information you'll need to know before diving into the mode.
Table of contents
How to get Nightmare Tatters in Warframe
Operation Atramentum revolves around farming Nightmare Tatters. This is an event-exclusive currency that you can spend at Aspirant Zorba in the Relay. Doing so will help you get rewards and goodies that aren't available elsewhere.
The most convenient way to earn Nightmare Tatters is to complete Nightmare missions. You get 10 Nightmare Tatters from every mission that you complete.
You can also gain them from Follie's Hunt.
If you have a hard time finding medallions, Follie's Hunt will feel a lot less rewarding. Personally, the Nightmare missions feel like a far more consistent method. You also get additional mods from the mode, which is always handy.
However, there's a cap on how many Nightmare missions you can farm. There's a total of 17 available missions at a given time, and they refresh every 8 hours. If you min-max the process, you can finish 51 missions in total. However, that can feel like a massive grind.
Operation Atramenutum duration in Warframe
Based on the original schedule, Operation Atramentum should be live until Apr. 23, 8:30am PT/10:30am CT/11:30am ET. However, it could get slightly extended since there were delays at the time of launch. If there's any change, I will duly update it on this guide.
All Operation Atramenutum rewards in Warframe
Once you go to Aspirant Zorba, you can check all the rewards. There are three Ephemeras that are gated beyond community progression.
Here's a list of all the new rewards that weren't part of any previous event.
Here's a set of returning cosmetic rewards. They were originally part of older operations, so it's a good set of choices for those who have missed out on previous events.
The post Warframe Operation Atramentum event guide: Rewards, best farming method, and more appeared first on Destructoid. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
Destructoid Friday, April 3, 2026 3:19 PM
After rumors cropped up suggesting PlayStation was moving away from PCs and back into the warm embrace of exclusivity, it appears the company is now actively retconning its webpages by omitting any mention of PC it can, instead promoting exclusive games and its own platform.
As spotted by Game Observer, Sony seems to be refreshing its online presence, shifting from a lenient stance towards the PC platform to one that promotes exclusivity first and foremost. As that outlet says, PlayStation has removed mentions of defunct studios and apparently also scrubbed mentions of PC wherever it could.
"The biggest change, however, is the removal of nearly all mentions of PC from the descriptions of PlayStation's Studios. Only Nixxes Software, which focuses on PC ports, still includes the platform in its profile," Game Observer reports.
User Zuby_Tech said on X that Sony, on top of moving away from PC, also began using more specific language targeting PlayStation exclusivity. XDEV's page, for example, went from vaguely talking of "external studios across the globe," to studios making "exciting, exclusive titles for PlayStation."
All of this comes after rumors started circulating that Sony is actively looking to distance itself from the PC market after spending several years porting its mainline franchises and titles to the platform. While it has never been confirmed, the company has been making moves that strongly suggest that this is the case, especially as Xbox now wants to incorporate PC into its upcoming console and with Steam making tremendous strides to capture as much of the gaming market as possible via Steam Machine, Steam Deck, and other solutions.
Sony previously also said that it wants to keep some of its franchises permanently exclusive to sell consoles, but it seems we're in for a repeat of the 2000s, when Sony kept everything under wraps and solely available on PlayStation, leading to situations where games spent decades stuck on its consoles with no ports in sight.
With the closure of Bluepoint and now this, I'm confident Sony is going to return to exclusivity as its primary strategy, leaving PC players in the dust once again.
The post It seems PlayStation is scrubbing any mention of 'PC' from its websites—gee I wonder why appeared first on Destructoid. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
Destructoid Friday, April 3, 2026 1:54 PM
The Two Way Player 1 Evolution is a brilliant option to consider in FC 26 if you're looking to power-up a card from scratch. This free evolution offers some useful boosts to the chosen card's stats, playstyles, and roles.
Let's look at the best options to consider for this evolution based on the offered upgrades.
Table of contents
FC 26 Two Way Player 1 Evolution requirements
Here are the requirements of Two Way Player 1 Evolution in FC 26.
FC 26 Two Way Player 1 Evolution upgrades
The evolution has five upgrade levels, each with specific conditions to meet.
Level 1 upgrades
Level 2 upgrades
Level 3 upgrades
Level 4 upgrades
Level 5 upgrades
Level 1 upgrade requirements
Level 2 upgrade requirements
Level 3 upgrade requirements
Level 4 upgrade requirements
Level 5 upgrade requirements
Best players to use in Two Way Player 1 Evolution
Here are some of my best recommendations for inclusion in the evolution.
The post Best players for the FC 26 Two Way Player 1 Evolution appeared first on Destructoid. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
Destructoid Friday, April 3, 2026 1:35 PM
Take-Two Interactive, Rockstar Games' owner, is laying off its head of AI and the majority of its AI department following an apparent cost-cutting initiative, months after its chief executive doubled down on generative technologies.
As per Dexerto, it was Lucke Dicken, the AI department chief in question, who broke the news via a LinkedIn post last night. "It's truly disappointing that I have to share with you that my time with T2—and that of my team—has come to an end," Dicken wrote.
According to Dicken, people working in "procedural content for games," "machine learning," and other, more technical AI-adjacent technologies were affected by the layoff. Though he doesn't clearly state how many people were let go from the company, it seems to have been the entire AI department, or at least the majority of its staff.
Take-Two chief executive Strauss Zelnick was a huge proponent of generative AI prior to these layoffs. He expressed his full support for the technology a few months ago, particularly praising its potential to "reduce costs" and increase workplace efficiency. Now, it seems the tables have turned. It could be that Take-Two gave its sincere attention to AI and found that, instead of reducing headaches, it induced them and wasn't worth the trouble in the long run.
That's pure speculation, though, but I'm fairly certain that this AI department was very expensive to maintain and develop, especially considering the current state of the tech landscape. AI companies are now scrambling to find more funding and use cases and are becoming a lot more liable than ever before, which could be driving their corporate users to reconsider if and how they'll utilize these novel solutions.
The post Like poetry: Take-Two fires its AI department to cut costs appeared first on Destructoid. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
Destructoid Friday, April 3, 2026 1:24 PM
The Empress of the Box Evolution is now live in FC 26, and you can spend 100,000 coins for huge boosts to a card of your choice. There are substantial upgrades on offer, which make the evolution extremely well worth your coins.
Table of contents
FC 26 Empress of the Box Evolution requirements
Here are the requirements of Empress of the Box Evolution in FC 26.
FC 26 Empress of the Box Evolution upgrades
The evolution has five upgrade levels, each with specific conditions to meet.
Level 1 upgrades
Level 2 upgrades
Level 3 upgrades
Level 4 upgrades
Level 5 upgrades
Level 1 upgrade requirements
Level 2 upgrade requirements
Level 3 upgrade requirements
Level 4 upgrade requirements
Level 5 upgrade requirements
Best players to use in Empress of the Box Evolution
Here are some of my best recommendations to include in the evolution.
The post Best players for FC 26 Empress of the Box Evolution appeared first on Destructoid. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
Destructoid Friday, April 3, 2026 11:45 AM
Witches represent special NPCs that you can find all over Pywel in Crimson Desert, and they play a crucial role in gear upgrades. Unlike regular vendors, witches won't reveal their locations immediately. You'll first need to reach their spots manually in order to find them.
This guide will help you with the locations of every witch in Crimson Desert.
Table of contents
How to find every witch in Crimson Desert
The first witch for almost anyone will be the Hermit Witch, aka Sylvia. While she teaches you the basics about NPCs, she isn't tied to the Sanctum progression. You also don't need to take any extra steps to find her, as she's part of the main campaign.
Witch of Wisdom (Elowen)
You'll first meet Elowen in Chapter 5 when she is in her disguised form in Witchwoods. You'll find her in a hut that's covered by vines. Her true form can be found near the marked location, and you'll need to travel north to find the other hut.
Witch of Humility (Lyselia)
You'll first find her disguised form near a broken bridge in the Beighen region in Chapter 7. To find her, you'll need to help an NPC who hangs from the edge, which triggers an interaction. To find her true form, you've traveled far south in the Serpent Marsh.
Witch of Kindness (Bari)
You can find Bari once you unlock the Pailune region. She takes the form of an old woman in a shelter located east of Wayward Woods. If you want to reveal her true form, find a lantern to warm her up. She will then disappear, and you'll find her true form in the middle of a lake in the Silver Wolf Mountains.
Witch of Strength (Areciel)
Once you unlock the Crimson Desert region, you can find Areciel's fake form of a child near the northern outskirts in Tommaso. Once you hand the kid some money, it will start an interaction. The fake form will then disappear, and you can find the true form near the World's Navel area. She's located in a house along the cliff.
White Crow
Once you have completed every witch-related objective, you can then head to the locked hut in Pailune. Finishing the objectives is necessary as you'll need all the tokens. Use them to unlock the door and then head inside to find the White Crow.
The post All witch locations in Crimson Desert appeared first on Destructoid. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
Destructoid Friday, April 3, 2026 10:56 AM
Pokopia has been out for nearly a month now, and Dittos around the world are rebuilding habitats and ushering in lavish new Pokémon ecosystems. Though some people have already built impressive skyscrapers and intricate villages, others may be searching for a bit of inspiration for their next big build.
If that sounds like you, you've come to the right place. We've put together a list of 10 incredible Pokopia designs from players around the world to spark inspiration for anyone facing a creative block.
Recreating scenes from Kanto
Pokopia is technically based in Kanto, but it doesn't always feel like it because of how overgrown the region has become. That's why some players are putting in the work of rebuilding famous buildings, landmarks, and other features of the region that you could find in FireRed or LeafGreen.
Take this one Reddit user, for instance, who rebuilt the Team Rocket Underground Base. It may look like an unassuming casino at first, but when you open up the nearby manhole cover and hop down, you'll find the offices of the secret organization that was hellbent on stealing people's Pokémon.
Colorful Seaside Market
If you're a fan of a colorful, yet realistic aesthetic, this one might just make your jaw drop.
YouTuber @may_orangeto flipped the Bleak Beach into what they dubbed a "Colorful Seaside Market," complete with fruit stalls, river canals, and mini cafes for your Pokémon—and it's absolutely stunning. All the buildings are a different color with bright flowers and plenty of greenery to spruce things up.
And luckily for those of you who want to replicate the style, may_orangeto made a YouTube video tutorial to show you how.
The Game Boy House
Anyone who's been a Pokémon trainer since the series' beginning will remember how we had to trade Pocket Monsters in the early days: the Cable Link. If you're one of those people, get ready to feel nostalgic.
One X user built what they coined as "The Game Boy House," featuring two giant Game Boys with a white bridge connecting them. Poké Balls sit on the bridge, representing two Pokémon being traded between the handheld devices. And those Game Boys aren't just for show, either; they're fully decked out with furniture where the screens would be, acting as mini apartments for Pokémon to live.
It's a beyond-cute idea, and as a longtime fan of the franchise, one that definitely spurs the nostalgia in me.
Underground City
There's a ton of really cool underground cities in fiction, but now you can bring them to life in Pokopia.
YouTuber HamsDDatG showed off their underground cyberpunk city in a short video posted to the social media platform, featuring Ditto descending into the city via elevator. Though we didn't get a full tour, the clip is more than enough to get those creative juices flowing, showing off neon signs, cozy restaurants, and lamp-lit roads waiting beneath the earth.
Jurassic Park
What's something Steven Spielberg's Jurassic Park and the Pokémon universe have in common? Well, a lot of things, actually—but the answer I was looking for was "dinosaurs"!
In Pokopia, you can befriend both Tyrantrum and Aurorus, two of the most dinosaur-like Pokémon in the entire franchise. So why not make them a home based on one of the most famous dinosaur movies of all time? And you're in luck: there are a few different videos showing off ideas for your very own dinosaur enclosures online, like this one from jaychang0127 on Instagram.
Spirited Away Bath House
Okay, so maybe Jurassic Park wasn't your favorite movie. How about Spirited Away? If you prefer Studio Ghibli to Steven Spielberg, this next one's for you. But be warned: It looks like quite a bit of work.
In a clip posted to Reddit, a Pokopia player by the name of marymerryhappy showed off their build of the bath house from Spirited Away—and it's quite impressive. The intricate design features the front of the multi-story structure from the movie, complete with wooden balconies and a flower garden.
Mario Kart, but make it Pokémon
This one's for all you Mario Kart fans out there.
You might not think Pokopia can be a racing game, but one player is here to prove that theory wrong. Reddit user flamin_sheep created a racetrack for Ditto's Graveler transformation, complete with obstacles, tight turns, and narrow lanes. It's giving us Rainbow Road vibes, except there's no Lakitu who will pick you up if you fall off the track.
Maximum security prison
People new to the world of Pokémon are getting their first real experience with the series in Pokopia, but one Pocket Monster is freaking some people out.
Mr. Mime has gone viral for seemingly all the wrong reasons. Some people think he's creepy—and to be honest, it makes complete sense with his weird, clown hairstyle and strange movements. That's why one Pokopia player created a maximum security prison for the Psychic type.
The manhole takes the player down beneath the ground in Withered Wasteland and drops them into a long, metallic corridor with barrels and pools of lava. At the end of the hallway, behind two sets of automatic doors, is a small jail cell where Mr. Mime lives. Some may say it's cruel, but otherwise will say it's the perfect home for the mime. Either way, a prison might just be the best solution for Pokémon you don't like, since there's no real way to evict them from your town once they move in.
A concert stage for DJ Rotom
When you've reached a certain point in Pokopia's main storyline, you'll meet DJ Rotom, who will blast music for all your get-togethers and parties.
He's quite the aspiring entertainer, so why not build him a concert stage to let his talents truly shine? Reddit user NegativeCreeq showed off their own venue, giving players a little bit of inspiration for what their concert halls could look like. They also packed it with dozens of dancing Inflatable Sudowoodos, which act as the perfect concert-goers.
Storage room
Though the other designs are gorgeous, this last one is all about efficiency and practicality.
Pokopia is a crafting game, which means you'll forever be collecting materials, building items, and managing storage space. It can get pretty hectic, especially considering how you'll be going from one location to the next, which can cause your storage box management to get all jumbled up.
But Pokopia players are sharing their storage rooms online, showing off ways to keep all your crafting materials neat and tidy. Take alexiaray's idea, for example. In a clip posted to Instagram, she shows how to make her crafting room, where each storage box has a label for all the items you could need in your builds. All the boxes are arranged in a staircase-like system, which makes accessing them much easier than simply stacking them. It's a stellar idea, and one I'll likely be taking into my own builds soon.
The post Need a bit of Pokopia inspo? Check out these 10 amazing design ideas appeared first on Destructoid. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
Destructoid Friday, April 3, 2026 9:03 AM
There are several special, bonus styles you can unlock on the Fortnite battle pass, but the process for getting each one looks different. One of the trickier outfits you can acquire is the Icebreaker Foundation look.
Since what needs to be done to unlock different bonus skins varies, figuring out how to get your hands on this one can be pretty tough. If you're struggling to work through it, here's how to get Icebreaker Foundation in Fortnite.
Table of contents
How to unlock Icebreaker Foundation in Fortnite
To unlock the Icebreaker Foundation style, as well as all of his corresponding bonus accessories, you need to obtain his two battle pass skins, unlock his quest series, and complete all of the missions in it. You need to get quite a lot done to get him, so this process will likely take you some time to complete. Luckily, you have the entire season to get it done, so there's no rush.
How to unlock Icebreaker Foundation quests in Fortnite
To unlock the quests tied to the Icebreaker Foundation look, which is The Foundation (Reforged) quest series, you need to obtain all the Foundation Outfits from the battle pass. This includes his two base looks, which are The Foundation (Reforged) and New Classic Foundation.
You can't get both without unlocking the accessory items across these pages, too, so in total, you'll need to gain enough levels to acquire 12 battle pass rewards. Once you've got all these items unlocked, the quest series that's tied to the Icebreaker Foundation look will unlock, allowing you to get started on getting him.
How to complete all The Foundation (Reforged) quests in Fortnite
There are seven quests to tackle in The Foundation (Reforged) series. You must complete all of these missions to unlock everything included in the Icebreaker Foundation set. Here's how to get each one done.
There are plenty of other unlockable rewards featured on this season's battle pass, and if you still need more XP to get them, lots of missions you can work through after this one. Next, you might try learning how to open the New Sanctuary Vault, riding on a player's shoulders to gather intel on their movements, decrypting a recording from The Imagined at a holotable, and collecting all Chaos Cubes.
The post How to get Icebreaker Foundation in Fortnite Chapter 7, season 2 appeared first on Destructoid. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
Destructoid Friday, April 3, 2026 8:33 AM
Year 8 Season 1, aka Rise Up, is now live in The Division 2, and it brings a new batch of exotic weapons and gear for you to grind. All new Exotics have their own share of talents that make them unique to use.
This guide will provide you with a list of all the new Exotics. While some of them are immediately available, a few will be made available later throughout the season.
All Exotic weapons in The Division 2 Y8S1
There are two new Exotics that you can grind in the new season. The table below has information about both of them, along with their talents.
All Exotic gears in The Division 2 Y8S1
The new season has a brand new Exotic mask that you can collect to add to your collection.
The post All new Exotic weapon and gear talents in The Division 2 Y8S1 Rise Up appeared first on Destructoid. |
Gaming Instincts – Next-Generation of Video Game Journalism Friday, April 3, 2026 12:07 PM Through a new video. The post State of Decay 3 Alpha Tests Announced appeared first on Gaming Instincts - Next-Generation of Video Game Journalism. |
Gaming Instincts – Next-Generation of Video Game Journalism Friday, April 3, 2026 11:10 AM Available now. The post First Three Resident Evil Games Now Available On Steam With DRM appeared first on Gaming Instincts - Next-Generation of Video Game Journalism. |
Gaming Instincts – Next-Generation of Video Game Journalism Friday, April 3, 2026 10:36 AM Revealed in a recent interview. The post The Last of Us Online Was Cancelled 24 Hours Before It Was Announced appeared first on Gaming Instincts - Next-Generation of Video Game Journalism. |
Gaming Instincts – Next-Generation of Video Game Journalism Friday, April 3, 2026 10:02 AM The company announced. The post Sony Officially Acquires Cinemersive Labs appeared first on Gaming Instincts - Next-Generation of Video Game Journalism. |
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