Osiris New Dawn's Discovery update adds new biomes, flora investigation, and space station building

Most of the time in games, a discovery system usually involves aiming a scanner at something and hitting a button. In the Discovery update for sci-fi survival title Osiris: New Dawn, discovery involves players hitting multiple buttons — as well as actually finding out more about the plant they're testing. The discovery system in question […]

Gear and house deco await Oblivion portal plunderers in Elder Scrolls Online's Blackwood

Elder Scrolls Online players might be buzzing about Blackwood's companion system and the chance to drag an NPC all over Tamriel to keep them alive, but the chapter is a lot more than that. To wit: ZeniMax Online Studios has dropped another dev blog today, this one focused on the actual Oblivion portals that gave […]

WoW Factor: What would it take for big changes in World of Warcraft?

The last time I wrote an installment of this column, it was in specific response to an interview that contained no small number of tone-deaf and kind of community-enraging statements, the sort of thing that doesn't really seem like a good idea. Today, as I'm writing, we're just on the edge of another interview, containing […]

Bless Unleashed's final PC beta has begun, and yes you can play right now

If you've got a Steam account and played an older version of Bless (ahem), you might have noticed that your account has been flagged for PC Bless Unleashed beta access on the platform. Go on and check because that final beta begins today and runs the whole weekend, open to everyone with a Steam account […]

Four Winds: Final thoughts on Elyon's first closed beta test

Elyon's closed beta test came and went, and boy am I happy with what I played. It was unfortunate that the test fell on Mother's day weekend, since I couldn't play as much as I wanted. But in the time I did get to play, I was thoroughly impressed. In my initial impressions, I argued […]

Neverwinter's Sharandar module wraps up in June with The Odious Court

Just in case you haven't been tracking it, Neverwinter has been rolling out its Sharandar module not as a all-in-one package but rather in multiple patches. With two such "episodes" under its belt, the D&D title is getting ready to unleash Episode 3 in "early June." The third episode, called The Odious Court, will take […]

Blade & Soul's Winds of Rage is live with new heroic dungeon and events

As promised, Blade & Soul's Winds of Rage update is live this week. The 12.1 patch includes the titular 6-perspon heroic dungeon Thornwind Cavern in both easy and hard modes, as well as a quartet of new events, the new daily perks login calendar system, updated dailies and weeklies, and new accessories from the Dragon […]

Destiny 2 brings the Season of the Splicer online with unintentional cross-play functionality

A funny thing happened on the way to an update in Destiny 2. As the game's Season of the Splicer went live this past Tuesday, it arrived with some server-based bumpiness, an error that prevented players from accessing the new content, and oh yeah, the addition of cross-play features. Several players reported the ability to […]

WoW Classic will re-enable character transfers after Burning Crusade Classic's pre-patch goes live

WoW Classic players scrambling to get ready for Burning Crusade Classic's release in a few weeks may be feeling some anxiety over being locked down on their current servers. The good news is that Blizzard confirmed character transfers are going to come back next week — and that players will be able to take 5,000 […]

The Daily Grind: What's your ideal play session length in an MMO?

One of the things that always strikes me as interesting is the different opinions regarding what an MMO play session should look like. Some people are upset if a game doesn't offer a good reason to log in and stay logged in for a couple of hours every night. Other people are upset if you can't […]

Valheim gets a mod to bring the World of Warcraft landscape into the game

If you've ever found yourself playing World of Warcraft and wishing that it were a little bit more like Valheim, or (perhaps more accurately) wandering around in Valheim wishing that your character was up in Southshore, this mod is for you. A user by the name of Kromek has brought the WoW map into Valheim, allowing players to explore, craft, […]

The Stream Team: SWTOR's Shroud, the sequel

Massively OP's Larry and MJ finally beat SWTOR's The Shroud… nope! After finally completing the lair, it turns out the only defeated a double. Now, the duo will be doing the Shroud of Memory bonus chapter. Join us live at 7:00 p.m. for Shroud, the sequel. What: Star Wars: The Old Republic Who: Larry Everett […]

Overwatch 2 plans to discuss PvP gameplay in a livestream on May 20 and host an AMA on May 24

If you've been worried by the abject silence coming out of Overwatch 2, then your worries may be eased starting later next week. The shooter's new game director Aaron Keller has hosted a brief development update video announcing a PvP-focused livestream on Thursday, May 20th, and an AMA shortly after on Monday, May 24th. During […]

Profane delays a couple of alpha roadmap features thanks to a player movement bug

When bugs attack, they can upend a few things in game development. That sort of fate has befallen Profane, the PvP sandbox MMO that has been awash with Twitter updates, including this most recent thread that talks about a few shifted items in its alpha roadmap because of a bug, marking the second such time […]

MMO Business Roundup: Q1 2021 financials for Roblox, Nexon, and Star Stable

Welcome back to another quick roundup of MMO and MMO-adjacent industry news. Star Stable: I'm frankly just as surprised as anyone to be starting this roundup with a dive into the financials of Star Stable Entertainment – you know it as the company that runs kid-friendly horse MMORPG Star Stable, which is actually pretty dang […]

Legion: The Eternal War promises a medieval-style sandbox MMORPG, offers a demo to backers

Care for another medieval-themed fantasy sandbox MMORPG that's in development? Well you're getting one in the form of Legion: The Eternal War, a new game being put together by Canada-based Nexus Division Entertainment, which we first highlighted back in 2018. Things have updated a bit since then, though the game promises features we've all heard […]

Black Desert prepares for a 'comprehensive balance patch' on PC, adds a treasure system to mobile

It's time for another gaggle of Black Desert news, and while mobile updates are on the radar, easily one of the more impactful stories coming from the game is an incoming update on May 26th, which is bringing a "comprehensive balance patch that will make improvements (major and minor) to every class in Black Desert." […]

Ubisoft's Skull and Bones has been delayed for at least the fourth time

Ubisoft's Skull and Bones isn't dead, but it may as well be, given how long this thing has lingered in development. It was announced and demo'd at E3 in 2017 (yep we liked it), but it's seen one delay after another, putting to rest any worries we might have had about butting up against Sea of Thieves […]

Elite Dangerous Odyssey and Horizons PC players won't be able to share a game session until console launch

If you have friends who are buying in to the Elite: Dangerous Odyssey expansion and you're going to remain playing in the Horizons base game, you might want to consider coordinating your time together, because when the Odyssey expansion launches on May 19th for PC, Horizons players will effectively be locked out from playing with […]

The Stream Team: The birds and the bees in Trove's Spring Fling

Why should spring events be relegated to bunnies? Trove knows the real deal: ducks! The spring fling is underway and Massively OP's MJ gets to start it all off by talking to a Sir Dapper Duckington. How couldshe ever pass that up?! She'll even bring out her Chloromancer! Join live at 1:00 p.m. to chit […]

Amazon's New World posts big May alpha update, plans July 6 alpha end

Amazon's New World is heading into a transition period this summer as the company shifts from alpha to closed beta and then to launch. Game Director Scot Lane explains in a new dev blog today that following the May alpha update, the alpha will run until July 6th as the developers are "focused on bugs, […]

Choose My Adventure: How guidance made all the difference in MapleStory

Boy, am I glad I read the comments. That's not an admission that I very often make when it comes to my online life, but it certainly held true this week as I continued on in MapleStory. Specifically, a comment from reader Michael Kossyrev, who suggested that I watch some guides by YouTuber Coppersan. And […]

Swords of Legends Online previews its first five dungeons in new video drops

Gameforge has already dropped a ton of trailers for Swords of Legends Online, but today's batch might be the clearest look at what you'll actually be doing in the game, as Wangyuan Shengtang and Aurogon preview the game's first five dungeons. The dungeons include Yemo City in Wuzhao, Frostbitten Path, Nightmare Temple of Mercy, Chou […]

Perfect Ten: 10 places you visit in every MMORPG

MMOs are places of great imagination, where developers take fantastic concepts and make them real (in a sense). MMOs are also places of great copycatting because tropes are so strong and it's really dang hard to be 100% original. Plus, consciously or subconsciously, devs draw upon other games when they make their own because that's […]

World of Warcraft's lead system designer Morgan Day talks about Torghast, raid design, and class tuning

When is patch 9.1 arriving for World of Warcraft? According to a new interview with lead system designer Morgan Day, the answer is still "soon." The recap of the interview covers a lot more ground than that, though, starting with the fact that there are no plans to allow leveling or add more non-cosmetic rewards to […]

Elder Scrolls Online offers Blackwood backstory in a dramatic new lore trailer

Blizzard might be trying to horn in on its launch window, but Elder Scrolls Online is marching onward anyway with hype for the Blackwood chapter. Today, ZeniMax Online Studios has dropped yet another trailer, this one beginning with a dramatic and painterly peek into the second era lore that explains the foul daedric pact that […]

EverQuest II has launched its new PvP time-locked progression server

Always an MMO that's up for experimenting with different server rulesets, EverQuest II has a brand-new offering that may excite the competitive players in its fanbase. The Tarinax shard went live yesterday, combining both time-locked expansion progression with the constant strife of PvP. The Ancient Gaming Noob notes that Tarinax marks a notable return to […]

Lord of the Rings Online ends Windows XP support

If for whatever reason you're playing Lord of the Rings Online and still running Windows XP, you may want to consider the following news strong incentive to upgrade. Standing Stone Games announced this week that it's just about ready to end its support of the ancient operating system in the MMO. "The Lord of the […]

The Daily Grind: Why won't World of Warcraft add player housing?

Out of all of the many frustrating decisions that Blizzard has made, its stubborn refusal to add a proper player housing system to World of Warcraft ranks up there as one of the most infuriating. To me, it seems like such a no-brainer: It's a system that could last beyond a single expansion, it's quite […]

The Stream Team: Daring The Desolation during the Guild Wars 2 griffon search

After wrapping up the last of the Elon Riverlands griffon egg hunt in Guild Wars 2, Massively OP's MJ is moving on to the Desolation. It sounds like a lovely place to look for eggs, no? Join us live at 8:00 p.m. as MJ gets even closer to her own mount to soar the skies […]

Reborn Promisance is a fan-operated version of a turn-based multiplayer strategy MUD from 26 years ago

If you're looking for retro, it doesn't get more retro than a rebuilt version of a text-based multiplayer online empire strategy game. That's what Reborn Promisance is offering: a fan-operated version of the original open-source Promisance game originally created by the late Paul C. Purgett, which itself is a concept inspired by the similarly-styled Earth: […]

Final Fantasy XI brings back Mandragora Mania for its 19th anniversary

After 19 years of operation, Final Fantasy XI no doubt finds anniversary celebrations just a little bit tedious. It's been 19 years! There's a ton of game to explore already! On some level the game is supposed to be in maintenance mode, even though it's still receiving monthly updates and more story content! But an anniversary […]

Path of Exile issues a fix-filled patch, talks about the creation of the Trialmaster and game sounds

Grinding Gear Games is just chock-full of information related to Path of Exile. In terms of game-related details, the game's next upcoming patch will apply a ream of fixes to general gameplay and microtransactions. It will also increase the size of the in-game cursor, which is always nice for those of us (read: me) who […]

Massively OP Podcast Episode 321: Bespin and Burning Crusade

Justin and Bree SWG Legends Bespin, WoW Classic Burning Crusade's launch date, Blizzard's financials, Elyon's beta, Elder Scrolls Online's Blackwood, Corepunk, and adventures in DDO, plus a mailbag topic on why people leaving MMOs.

World of Warships introduces a limited-time event and special ship packs to celebrate Godzilla vs. Kong

So what would happen if Godzilla and King Kong didn't slug it out kaiju-to-kaiju and instead joined their country's respective navies and commanded battleships instead? This is, effectively, the scenario that sets up the latest limited-time event in World of Warships. Because Wargaming will enter into a transmedia contract with pretty much everyone and somehow […]

Old School RuneScape outlines the next steps for its upcoming clan creation system

Bad news for Old School RuneScape players that were hoping to register their clan name: That process is now closed. The good news, however, is that means things can move forward to the next steps. Unless the bad news is so bad you don't care about the next steps, in which case, sorry. First off, […]

Grab a free Super Squad key for this weekend's closed beta test event

Is there room in the MOBA genre for one more? Indie devhouse Bad Fox Studios hopes so because it's brought Super Squad to play, though technically, this game's a MOSH aka a multiplayer-online-shoot-'em-up pitting two teams of five against each other. Bad Fox says it hopes to fill a more casual and cutesy MOBA "niche […]

Monster Hunter Rise fan crafts 1000 items for charity while wishing for ducks from the 2019 MMO

What drives a man to craft 1,000 Origami Switch Axes in Monster Hunter Rise? Is it for the challenge? For the laughs? Insanity? In the case of one fan and livestreamer, it's for the ducks. And for charity. This is the saga of a streamer by the name of Ceph0rend, an avid Monster Hunter fan […]

Casually Classic: Yeah, those Burning Crusade Classic prices are stupid high

If there's anything that Blizzard excels in doing these days, it's taking a slam-dunk publicity announcement and turning it into a hurricane of poop. As a fan of MMOs in general, I hate it when I see studios totally botching what should be a moment of shared excitement. I mean, hey, we have a date […]

Phantasy Star Online 2: New Genesis opens up client downloads for its beta test via the Windows Store

Eager for the Phantasy Star Online 2: New Genesis closed beta? The good news is that it's just around the corner, with invites already going out to people and the client available for download. The bad news? Well, remember that store front that everyone disliked because it made installing the basic game a nightmarish exercise in […]

Guild Wars 2 memorializes Stan LePard in-game in today's big balance patch

Back in February, we shared the sad news that composer Stan LePard had passed away. LePard was a renowned musical artist who'd penned music for a whole roster of video games, including more than 40 tracks for Guild Wars 2 over the last decade. For MMO players, his crowning achievement was surely the Metal Legion […]

Project Gorgon pops up on Nvidia GeForce NOW's supported games list

Sharp eyes with plenty of time to spare enjoy looking over different lists on the internet. And one particular pair of eyes happened to spot a familiar name pop up over on Nvidia's website: Project Gorgon. Indeed, the beloved indie MMORPG appeared as one of the new games that was added to Nvidia GeForce NOW's […]

Hands-on with Amazon's New World first expedition, Amrine Excavation

The funny thing about our ongoing pandemic is that it didn't really change the way video game previews are done. It turns out that the problem with preview events wasn't the travel expenses, the noise of the crowds, the limitations of a new PC setup, or the exhaustion of the developers. The problem is just […]

Here's how animals in Kingdoms and Chronicles of Elyria will work

Soulbound Studios is back once again this week with a devblog about the animals of both Chronicles of Elyria and Kingdoms of Elyria, the latter of which has been getting most of the company's attention since it said it resumed work on the crowdfunded game at the end of 2021. Today's post explains that animals […]

Free access codes to Crowfall's closed beta begin popping up across the internet

Looking to try out the beta version of Crowfall but don't want to pay for guaranteed access? Then you might be interested in knowing that an access code is floating around out there, offering players the chance to play the beta build of the game for free. The code in question has popped up in […]

WoW Classic begins one final massive Burning Crusade test tomorrowday

With just three weeks to go until the launch of WoW Classic's Burning Crusade jaunt, Blizzard is firing off beta invites like mad. If you're getting in, this is the big one, folks. Then again, this expansion is over 14 years old, so did you really need to test it again? "On Wednesday, May 12, […]

Ashes of Creation delays alpha because of ESO Blackwood and WoW Classic Burning Crusade

Oh no! You've got a big band-aid on your knee! Let's quickly rip that puppy off and see what's underneath it… yeah, just a quick yank and… oh. Bummer. Ashes of Creation just delayed its big Alpha One test from June to July. That's got to sting. "Some recent developments have caused me to reevaluate […]

The Daily Grind: What's the best age-agnostic MMO?

A while back, GamesIndustry.biz ran a piece from game dev Raj Pathmanathan discussing age-agnostic games. While the littlest kids are still happy in fluffy cutesy games aimed squarely at them, slightly older kids are gravitating toward titles that are made for, well, adults. I assume they can see "kid games" coming from a mile away […]

Ragnarok Online dev studio begins hiring for new 3-D mobile Ragnarok title

For those who are eager for a new Ragnarok Online title, we also hope you're eager for it to be on mobile. Gravity Neocyon, the subsidiary company under the game's original developer Gravity that developed mobile titles like Puzzle and Dragon, is reportedly beginning a hiring blitz for a new mobile MMO based on the […]

The Stream Team: The madness of Elder Scrolls Online map completion

After discovering that she was missing nearly all the many achievements in the various Elder Scrolls Online Zone, Massively OP's MJ knew she had to step it up and start completing some! But with so many, where does she start? Should she aim to complete all delves, find all the crafting stations, or just go […]

Red and Black DualSense Controllers are Coming Next Month

Shut up and take our money.

The post Red and Black DualSense Controllers are Coming Next Month appeared first on GameSpew.



Hood: Outlaws & Legends Review

Hood: Outlaws & Legends, pits one team of Robin and his merry men against another, competing to steal treasure from under the Sheriff's nose.

The post Hood: Outlaws & Legends Review appeared first on GameSpew.



The 10 Best Simpsons Games of All Time

Grab some Duffs, and snack so much that you'll need a muumuu. This is the ultimate list of the best Simpsons games.

The post The 10 Best Simpsons Games of All Time appeared first on GameSpew.



The Resident Evil Village Nightmare Continues With Baby-Headed Chris Redfield

He got a big face!

The post The Resident Evil Village Nightmare Continues With Baby-Headed Chris Redfield appeared first on GameSpew.



Borderlands 3's True Trials Mini-Events Begin Today

Played Borderlands 3 to the end and fancy a bigger challenge? A six week series of "True Trial" mini-events start today.

The post Borderlands 3's True Trials Mini-Events Begin Today appeared first on GameSpew.



DariusBurst Another Chronicle EX+ Blasts Onto PS4 and Switch This June

DariusBurst Another Chronicle EX+ brings the wide-screened shoot-em-up to Switch and PS4, extra monitors not included.

The post DariusBurst Another Chronicle EX+ Blasts Onto PS4 and Switch This June appeared first on GameSpew.



Rambo is Joining Call of Duty: Warzone This Month

War. It's fantastic!

The post Rambo is Joining Call of Duty: Warzone This Month appeared first on GameSpew.



Assassin's Creed Valhalla: Wrath of the Druids is Out Today

Fancy a trip to Ireland? Assassin's Creed Valhalla has got you covered.

The post Assassin's Creed Valhalla: Wrath of the Druids is Out Today appeared first on GameSpew.



Rocket League Trading Guide for Beginners

SPONSORED: Do you want to start trading items in Rocket League? Here is everything you need to know to get you started with Rocket League Trading.

The post Rocket League Trading Guide for Beginners appeared first on GameSpew.



Minecraft Gets How to Train Your Dragon Themed DLC

Minecraft players can purchase Dreamworks How to Train Your Dragon DLC from today, adding in all-new adventures to the blocky game.

The post Minecraft Gets How to Train Your Dragon Themed DLC appeared first on GameSpew.



The Best Relaxing Games on Nintendo Switch

Want to unwind with an easy-going game? We've got you covered;.

The post The Best Relaxing Games on Nintendo Switch appeared first on GameSpew.



Layers of Fear 2 Sails Onto Nintendo Switch Next Week

Fancy a trip on a doomed ocean liner? Ship-based horror Layers of Fear 2 will be steaming onto the Nintendo Switch next week.

The post Layers of Fear 2 Sails Onto Nintendo Switch Next Week appeared first on GameSpew.



Scarlet Nexus Preview: Brain Training

Launching next month on consoles and PC, Scarlet Nexus is a very promising action RPG that casts players into a wonderfully unique world.

The post Scarlet Nexus Preview: Brain Training appeared first on GameSpew.



The Big Con is a Quirky 90s-Themed Crime Adventure, Coming to Xbox and PC this Summer

The Big Con is a 90s themed adventure about saving your family's video store by pilfering money in any way that you can.

The post The Big Con is a Quirky 90s-Themed Crime Adventure, Coming to Xbox and PC this Summer appeared first on GameSpew.



Solasta: Crown of the Magister Launches This Month, and CRPG Fans Are in For a Treat

With the full release of Solasta: Crown of the Magister, CRPG fans are in for a treat later this month.

The post Solasta: Crown of the Magister Launches This Month, and CRPG Fans Are in For a Treat appeared first on GameSpew.



Resident Evil Village Has Shipped Over Three Million Copies

Resident Evil Village has shipped a massive three million copies in the space of only five days.

The post Resident Evil Village Has Shipped Over Three Million Copies appeared first on GameSpew.



Lucasfilm Games is Resurrecting Zombies Ate My Neighbours and Ghoul Patrol

Ghoul's out for Summer.

The post Lucasfilm Games is Resurrecting Zombies Ate My Neighbours and Ghoul Patrol appeared first on GameSpew.



The Latest Xbox Series S/X Update Adds a Resume Menu and Old School Theme

The latest Xbox Series S/X update offers up a few surprises.

The post The Latest Xbox Series S/X Update Adds a Resume Menu and Old School Theme appeared first on GameSpew.



EA Play Live is Back, Could Old School EA Be Back Too?

What's in a logo?-

The post EA Play Live is Back, Could Old School EA Be Back Too? appeared first on GameSpew.



Subnautica: Below Zero Review

A fun, fulfilling and sometimes frightening trip into the depths.

The post Subnautica: Below Zero Review appeared first on GameSpew.



Subnautica: Below Zero Review – Frigid Depths

2017's Subnautica was a special game. Combining survival gameplay with the allure of exploring a beautiful and seemingly endless ocean, it delivered one of the most unique and immersive experiences of its kind. Its sequel, Subnautica: Below Zero, attempts something similar, while attempting to go bigger and better (as most sequels do), and once again, Unknown Worlds display a knack for crafting an experience with engaging exploration set in a mysterious, beautiful, and haunting world.

Subnautica: Below Zero sees you playing as Robin, who arrives on planet 4546B, in search of answers about her sister's death. Officially, Sam, your sister, died through her own fault while studying and researching the environments of the planet, but Robin feels strongly for more than a few reasons that the truth is something else, setting her off on a journey of uncovering mysteries great and small. Below Zero puts a much greater emphasis on storytelling than its predecessor did, and for the most part, the story does its job really well. It might not be the biggest draw of the game, but it will definitely keep you interesting in making progress to see what happens next.

"It's an immediately compelling loop. It works on a very basic level right from the get go, and it only grows in complexity as you progress further, as you're able to unlock new and better crafting recipes to allow you to cobble up an increasingly more complex and impressive home base."

The biggest draw in Below Zero, of course, is exploration and crafting, just as it was in its predecessor. After crash-landing on the planet, you'll head to your underwater base – just a single, cramped room in the beginning with a storage locker and a fabricator – and head out into the depths to learn more about your environment and to grow your arsenal of tools and equipment. The core gameplay loop here will be familiar to anyone who's played Subnautica. You cook the fish you get your hands on to maintain your health and thirst, you explore and mine minerals and chop up plants, among other things, to gain access to new materials and crafting components.

The more of these you find, the more crafting recipes you unlock, and the more crafting recipes you unlock, the better equipped you become to head out farther and deeper from your home base. Craft a flipper and a high capacity oxygen tank for yourself in the opening hours, for instance, and you'll be able to dive much deeper on account of having a faster swimming speed and more oxygen to breath. That, in turn, will enable you to head to new, deeper areas and find more new and possibly rare materials to collect, bring back to your base, and craft even more useful equipment. It's an immediately compelling loop. It works on a very basic level right from the get go, and it only grows in complexity as you progress further, as you're able to unlock new and better crafting recipes to allow you to cobble up an increasingly more complex and impressive home base. Exploration and progression go hand-in-hand in Below Zero, just as they did in its predecessor, and the two work very well together.

And exploring has its own innate rewards. Finding new materials that will help you craft better gear always feels rewarding, of course, but for me, the biggest draw of exploration was to witness beautiful alien locations. Unknown Worlds Entertainment don't need to prove themselves when it comes to crafting beautiful and awe-inspiring locations to explore, so Subnautica: Below Zero's strengths in this area aren't really surprising. But it is gratifying to see the sequel excel just as much here as its predecessor did, with gorgeous areas exhibiting hypnotic beauty and sporting surprising variety across the entire game. Uncovering new life forms, whether its small fish or quirky creatures like the mischievous Sea Monkeys or the larger, more dangerous aquatic creatures that will set your heart racing is also always a delight.

subnautica below zero

"It is gratifying to see the sequel excel just as much here as its predecessor did, with gorgeous areas exhibiting hypnotic beauty and sporting surprising variety across the entire game."

If there's one issue I have with the exploration, it's that sometimes, it's a bit too easy to get lost, even with navigation tools equipped. You can place a beacon (if you have one in your inventory) to make getting back to that location easier later on, but it's a bit frustrating that the game doesn't have a mapping feature, which would cut out so much of the aimless and repetitive parts of exploration as you tried to get back to an area you had been to before but couldn't find it. Meanwhile, some of Below Zero's survival mechanics also feel like unwanted elements at times. Your hunger and thirst meters aren't too demanding of your attention, but you do still have to keep an eye on them, and at times it feels like they get in the way of exploration, which, honestly, is the best part of the game. Thankfully, the game does give you the option of playing without the hunger and thirst meters at the outset, so there is that.

Subnautica: Below Zero also expands on its predecessor by having proper land exploration, where the primary and most constant threat you face is the frigid temperatures of the environments you find yourself in. While managing your oxygen is your chief concern when you're exploring underwater locations, on the ground, you have to make sure to keep yourself warm, by finding hotspots, taking shelter in caves and indoor environments, and more. Land exploration isn't nearly as elaborate as underwater exploration is, and the environments that you find yourself in, though well designed and beautiful in their own way, aren't nearly as interesting as the depths of the sea that you explore. Still, the vast bulk of Below Zero is set underwater, and for what it is, land exploration functions well enough- even if most of the time you'll be thinking about getting back underwater (and in turn, back to the game's best parts) as soon as possible.

On a technical level, Below Zero has a few issues. Pop in and stuttering frame rate can be occasional problems, while booting up the game or reloading your saves also takes you into long load times (which was surprising, since I played on an Xbox Series X). None of these are major issues though, and in the audio-visual areas, the game deserves a ton of credit. Below Zero's beauty is propped up by wonderful art design, while audio design is also top notch, from the ambient sounds of the ocean to the distant cries of alien aquatic creatures.

Subnautica Below Zero_05

"In the audio-visual areas, the game deserves a ton of credit. Below Zero's beauty is propped up by wonderful art design, while audio design is also top notch, from the ambient sounds of the ocean to the distant cries of alien aquatic creatures. "

Subnautica: Below Zero is a great game, one that builds on the solid foundations of its predecessor in smart and interesting ways. Expanded ideas and quality of life improvements make crafting and exploration as engaging as you'd want, and the beautiful underwater world you find yourself in is an absolute joy to explore and exist in. Some minor issues can get in the way of the game's best parts at times, but in the grand scheme of things, these feel like blips in an otherwise memorable underwater journey.

This game was reviewed on the Xbox Series X.


Guilty Gear Strive – New Starter Guide Video Spotlights I-No

Guilty Gear Strive - I-No

Following Anji Mito's starter guide, Arc System Works has published a video for Guilty Gear Strive that outlines I-No's moveset. I-No is touted as a fast-paced character with a unique offense capable of some interesting mix-ups. Check out some of her abilities below.

"Antidepressant Scale" is the name of her projectile and is capable of dealing more hits when launched from a distance. "Chemical Love" is a high-hitting projectile that's good for poking foes from mid-range (though it loses out against low-striking enemies). Perhaps I-No's most interesting move is "Sultry Performance" which allows for diving at an opponent from mid-air.

Depending on the button pressed, her trajectory can change, and holding the button down allows for a more damaging attack. Along with Anji, I-No will be available to play when the second open beta test for Guilty Gear Strive goes live today. The full game is out on June 11th for PS4, PS5 and PC so stay tuned for more details in the coming weeks.


Dragon Quest 35th Anniversary Stream Set for May 26, Upcoming Games to be Announced

dragon quest 11 s

2021 is the year for anniversaries, it seems. From The Legend of Zelda, Metroid, and Pokemon to Sonic, Resident Evil, and many more, quite a few notable gaming properties are celebrating major anniversaries this year. One more is Dragon Quest, and Square Enix seems to have a special stream planned.

A special anniversary celebration livestream has been announced for Wednesday, May 26, about two weeks from now, at 8:30 PM PDT / 11:30 PM EDT. May 27 is Dragon Quest Day, or the series' anniversary, so expect something special. Sure enough, Square Enix says the stream will be "introducing the upcoming line-up in the Dragon Quest series," with series co-creator Yuji Horii also confirmed to be attending. The stream will also feature live Japanese to English interpretations, which will be a first for Dragon Quest streams.

Dragon Quest 11 launched in Japan nearly four years ago, so the hope is that Dragon Quest 12 gets announced soon. Over a year ago, Horii said that the next game in the series was still a little while away, but here's hoping it's close enough for an announcement now. Meanwhile, the Dragon Quest Builders team also said over a year ago that they were working on something new, so it should be interesting to see what that is (or if it's even related to Dragon Quest).

For what it's worth, Horii said earlier this year that Square Enix would be making "all sorts of announcements" to celebrate Dragon Quest's 35th anniversary, so hopefully, there's good stuff headed our way on May 26. Stay tuned, and we'll keep you updated.


Days Gone – New PC Gameplay Showcases Combat and Exploration in 4K

Days Gone_PC

Sony Bend Studio's Days Gone has received 28 minutes of gameplay footage from the PC version courtesy of GameSpot, showcasing the title's fidelity in 4K/60 FPS. Along with some of the opening, it features Deacon St. John as he attempts to survive in post-apocalyptic Oregon. Check it out below.

Initially released in 2019 for PS4, Days Gone releases on May 18th for PC. Along with all of the post-launch updates, it features a new Super Resolution Photo Mode and support for 21:9 Ultrawide monitors. Level of details, foliage draw distances and FOV have also been improved along with being able to play at unlocked framerates.

For more details on the hardware requirements, head here. Sony Bend Studio also recently confirmed that the PC version won't support DLSS or include ray tracing. PS4 and PS5 players won't be able to transfer their save data either. Stay tuned for more details and in the meantime, check out our review for the PS4 version here.


Resident Evil Series Has Sold 110 Million Units, Monster Hunter Has Sold 72 Million

resident evil

Resident Evil and Monster Hunter are by far Capcom's most valuable properties, not just because they consistently keep putting out excellent games for fans of both, but also because each new mainline instalment in both series is pretty much guaranteed to sell like hot cakes. In their recent quarterly fiscal report, Capcom provided updated cumulative sales for both franchises, and it doesn't seem like they're going to lost steam any time soon.

Resident Evil's series sales are at 110 million units worldwide, while Monster Hunter is at 72 million, with both having seen a significant jump from their respective cumulative sales at the end of the previous quarter. It's also worth mentioning that these figures are as of March 31, so both numbers have probably climbed, with Resident Evil Village and Monster Hunter Rise both contributing significantly.

As of the end of April, Monster Hunter Rise has shipped 6 million units, while Resident Evil Village shipped 3 million units over its launch weekend. Meanwhile, Capcom have also provided updates sales figures on other recent releases in the series, with Monster Hunter World having topped 17 million units sold, and Resident Evil 7 at 9 million sold. Read more on that through here.


Horizon Forbidden West – PS5 DualSense Allows for Feeling Grass During Stealth

Horizon Forbidden West (5)

In a recent interview with Wired, PlayStation Studios head Hermen Hulst revealed some interesting news on upcoming PS5 titles. He confirmed that the company had over 25 games in development for the console with almost half being new IPs. However, there were also some bits about Horizon Forbidden West, Guerrilla Games' upcoming open world epic.

Studio director Angie Smets talked briefly about the PS5's DualSense and how the haptic feedback contributes to the experience. "If you want to take a stealth approach to a combat situation and you dive into long grass, you can feel those long grass leaves." Till now, we've only really known about how the controller's adaptive triggers will make weapons "feel even more unique and satisfying to use."

Hulst was also happy with the state of the game which he revisited recently after "seven or eight months." "I spent some time yesterday with Horizon Forbidden West for the first time in seven or eight months. To step away and to come back to it? Talk about giving me a gift." While this doesn't tell us much about the quality of the game, it does mean that development is progressing at a steady pace.

Horizon Forbidden West is currently slated to release later this year for PS4 and PS5. Ads for the PS5 indicated that it would arrive in "late 2021" but thus far, no release window has been provided (though Sony feels "pretty good" about a release this year). Stay tuned for more details and updates in the meantime.


Monster Hunter World Sales Top 17 Million, Resident Evil 7 at 9 Million

resident evil 7

It's been something of a trend in recent years that Capcom's major releases don't just enjoy strong sales at launch, they also continue to see sustained sales across prolonged periods of time, with the likes of Monster Hunter and Resident Evil in particular benefitting from this. That doesn't seem to be showing any signs of slowing down. In their recent quarterly fiscal report (via David Gibson on Twitter), Capcom confirmed that Monster Hunter World has now sold 17.1 million, up from 16.8 million at the end of the previous quarter.

Meanwhile, Monster Hunter World: Iceborne's cumulative sales stand at 7.7 million units, which means that World and Iceborne have now collectively sold almost 25 million units. The newest entry in the series' are also mentioned as 4.8 million in Capcom's presentation, but it's worth pointing out that these figures are as of March 31. At the end of April, Capcom had announced that Monster Hunter Rise had shipped over 6 million units worldwide.

Resident Evil is continuing to fare strongly as well. The launch of Resident Evil Village clearly kicked up interest in recent releases once more, with Resident Evil 7 jumping from its 8.5 million sales at the end of the previous quarter to an impressive 9 million cumulative sales now. This doesn't come as a surprise, seeing as Resident Evil 7 is still shipping a million copies a year, four years on from its launch. Meanwhile, Resident Evil 2 is at 8.1 million units, while Resident Evil 3 has also topped 4 million in a little less than a year of its launch.

Resident Evil Village recently launched, and shipped 3 million copies over its launch weekend.


Microsoft is Working on New IP That Will "Blow Your Mind" – Xbox Exec

xbox game studios

With nearly two dozen first party studios now under its belt, Microsoft's future output is looking exciting. The likes of Halo Infinite and (hopefully) Starfield are not so far away, rumours have been circling about Forza Horizon 5and others like Fable, Perfect Dark, Forza Motorsport, Fable, and Avowed are also in the works. But there's plenty more in the pipeline as well, including entirely new properties.

And speaking recently with GamesRadar, Xbox's head of gaming services Ben Decker briefly talked those up, saying that in addition to known quantities, Xbox's first party studios are also working on new IP that are "gonna blow your mind."

"We have 23 studios across Xbox and Bethesda, working on Halo, Forza, Fallout, and new IP that we haven't even talked about yet that is gonna blow your mind," Decker said.

Of all of Microsoft's current first party studios, we know that Arkane is working on a new fantasy IP, while inXile Entertainment is also working on something new. Leaks have also said that IO Interactive – which, of course, is not an Xbox studio – is working with Microsoft on an Xbox exclusive RPG currently called Project Dragon. The Coalition is also reportedly working on a new IP, one that's going to be smaller and more experimental in nature.


Resident Evil Village Guide – How to Solve All Puzzles

Resident Evil Village - map

Resident Evil Village has its fair share of action and tense moments. However, it also has a number of puzzles to solve. While some may be easy, others could take a bit of work. Here's a quick rundown of all the different puzzles and their locations.

  • Brazier puzzle (Hall of War)
  • Statue puzzle (Hall of Ablution)
  • Piano puzzle (Opera Hall)
  • Portrait and bells puzzle (Atelier Dimitrescu)
  • Labyrinth puzzle (Castle Dimitrescu)
  • Hanging brazier puzzle (Special Chambers)
  • Safe code (Village Workshop)
  • Doll puzzle (House Beneviento)
  • Music box puzzle (House Beneviento)
  • Film puzzle (House Beneviento)
  • Sealed door (House Beneviento)
  • Garden Labyrinth (en route to House Beneviento)
  • Maestro's Collection safe code (near West Old Town)
  • Lever puzzle (Reservoir)
  • Sluice Gate puzzle (Reservoir)
  • The Reservoir Labyrinth puzzle
  • Factory Labyrinth puzzle (Heisenberg's Factory)
  • Relief of a horse puzzle (Heisenberg's Factory)

For solutions to all of the puzzles, check out the videos below by WoW Quests and Sipder.


Resident Evil Village Guide – How to Find All Files and Goats of Warding

resident evil village reservoir

Throughout Resident Evil Village, you'll find various files, ranging from memos to diary entries. Some of them can provide some insight into different characters while others could contain a few revelations. Certain files can be missed (since you won't return to some locations later in the game) so grab them while you can. Let's take a look at all of the files locations here:

  • Fridge Memo – Located in the Kitchen of the Winters Home. Can be missed.
  • Old News Clipping – Found in the Spare Bedroom of the Winters Home. Can be missed.
  • Ethan's Diary – Located in the Winters Home Office. Can be missed.
  • Medical Checkup Report – Found in the drawer of the bedroom while in the Winters Home. Can be missed.
  • Mission Briefing – Near the car crash in the forest. Can be missed.
  • Scribbled Note – In the home in the Village Square. Can't be missed.
  • Goat of Warding Placard – Near the Maiden of War statue in a shrine. Located underneath the first Goat Totem. Can't be missed.
  • Dangerous Creature – In Luiza's home. Can't be missed.
  • Guest Book – Found at the entrance of Castle Dimitrescu. Can't be missed.
  • The Labyrinths – In the Merchant's Room in Castle Dimitrescu. Can't be missed.
  • Winemaking History – Located in the Wine Room of Castle Dimitrescu. Can't be missed.
  • A Maid's Diary – In the basement of Castle Dimitrescu. Can be missed.
  • Treatment Candidates – Located in Castle Dimitrescu's prison. Can be missed.
  • Observation Report – Also found in the prison of Castle Dimitrescu. Can be missed.
  • A Cook's Diary – Found in the kitchen of Castle Dimitrescu. Can be missed.
  • Alcina Dimitrescu's Diary – Found in Lady Dimitrescu's chambers. Can be missed.
  • Grand Chambermaid's Notice – Found in the foyer of the Opera Hall in Castle Dimitrescu. Can be missed.
  • Further Observations – In Castle Dimitrescu's Opera Hall, look for this in the upper balcony. Can be missed.
  • Insect Observations Journal – In the upper balcony of the Opera Hall in Castle Dimitrescu. Can be missed.
  • Rumors of a Dagger – Located in the attic of Castle Dimitrescu. Can be missed.
  • Craftsman's Note – Outside of Castle Dimitrescu, inside of a hut with a save point. Can't be missed.
  • Leonardo's Message – Near the house with the red chimney, there should be a large house. Look inside for this message. Can be missed.
  • Note on Luthier's House – Inside of Luthier's House in the village. Can be missed.
  • Eugen's Diary – In the house with the red chimney. Can't be missed.
  • Church Computer – Located in the back of the Village Church. Can't be missed.
  • Gardener's Diary – Inside the gardener's house near House Beneviento. Can't be missed.
  • Vasile's Final Testament – In East Old Town, a werewolf will throw Ethan into a building. Scrounge around inside for this note. Can be missed.
  • The Reservoir and Giant Fish – Inside the boathouse of the Reservoir. Can be missed.
  • Changing the Cranks – Outside of the house with the save point near the Reservoir, look for an old truck. Can be missed.
  • Moreau's Diary 1 – Once the fishing village has been drained and when pursuing Moreau, look inside of a shack for the diary. Can be missed.
  • Moreau's Diary 2 – Inside of the room where Moreau is first spotted.
  • Moreau's Diary of Experiments – Upon exiting the Reservoir, check inside of a house near the mountain, right next to where the M1851 Wolfsbane Revolver is located. Can be missed.
  • Analysis Results – Take a boat towards the Reservoir in the south. Before entering the tunnel at the dead end, look for the file to the right. Can be missed.
  • Ernest's Diary – Found in the cannibal's storehouse. Can be missed.
  • Officer's Diary – In the Stronghold, check at the bottom of the staircase. Can be missed.
  • Experiment Notes – Upon exiting the boat in the Stronghold, look for a stairwell on the left. Head down it until you find a table with the file on it. Can be missed.
  • Development Note 1 – On level B4 in a storeroom in the Factory. Can be missed.
  • Development Note 2 – On level B2 in the Factory, this is found after the room with the large grinder. Can be missed.
  • Sturm – Found in a storeroom on level B1 of the Factory. Can be missed.
  • Heisenberg's Diary – Following the fight with Sturm, look in the next room for the file. It should be right next to a cigar. Can be missed.
  • Chris's Computer – Found in the Scrapheap of the Factory. Can't be missed.
  • Moreau's Medical Report – Found in Miranda's Lab. Can't be missed.
  • Dimitrescu's Medical Report – Found in Miranda's Lab. Can't be missed.
  • Heisenberg's Medical Report – Found in Miranda's Lab. Can't be missed.
  • Donna's Medical Report – Found in Miranda's Lab. Can't be missed.
  • Spencer's Letter – Found in Miranda's Lab. Can't be missed.
  • Miranda's Diary – Found in Miranda's Lab. Can't be missed.

How to Find All Goats of Warding

Of course, there are also various other collectibles like toy goats that you can find throughout the game. Referred to as Goats of Warding, there are 20 in total and they must be destroyed (shooting or cutting them with the knife works). While destroying all of them won't provide any unique unlocks, it will provide 16,000 CP which can be used to purchase items from the Extra Content Shop.

Here are the locations for all of the Goats of Warding. If you listen careful, you may be able to hear them as well:

  1. Inside a shrine behind the Maiden of War statue in the Village square.
  2. On the roof of the Village Church.
  3. When entering Luiza's home, look to the left of the gate. The goat should be on a stone wall in the upper left side of the field.
  4. Before encountering The Duke, there will be a vineyard near the castle with scarecrows. Check near the walls until you find the goat.
  5. Near the entrance of the Distillery of Castle Dimitrescu, look for some candles to spot the goat.
  6. Upon reaching Castle Dimitrescu's attack, look behind the ladder for some boxes until you find it.
  7. Near the docks with the lycan (on the Lone Road), look for a small room.
  8. Behind the Village Church is a cemetery with some mausoleums. The goat will be behind on of them in the top right, though the Iron Insignia Key is needed to reach it.
  9. Search between Luthier's house and a shack until you find a pile of firewood.
  10. When traveling to House Beneviento, you'll have to cross a suspension bridge. Before doing so, however, look to the left. There will be another bridge in the fog with a goat on it.
  11. Just before entering into House Beneviento, look out to the cliff. Near the fence will be a goat.
  12. Upon entering the Reservoir, check near the log pile of the first windmill.
  13. When inside the mine-cart building, use the sniper rifle to see a broken windmill. There will be wooden beams sticking out with a goat on top.
  14. After dealing with Moreau and exiting from the mill, look to the left among the rocks for a goat.
  15. Located in a small shrine underneath Otto's Mill.
  16. At the bottom of the stairwell in the Stronghold, look to the right on the railing.
  17. When situated on the top of the Grinder Shaft, look for some bulldozer parts for the goat.
  18. Upon riding the lift from B1 to B3, look outside the door. You'll see some red girders with the goat on top. If you miss it, simply take the ladder outside of the lift on B3 to head back up and shoot it.
  19. After the fight with Sturm in the room with Heisenberg's Diary, look for a vent. There will be a goat on top of the barrel.
  20. At the megamycete after setting the explosives, look to the right. There will be a statue in some water. The last goat is located at its base.

To better spot all of the files and Goats of Warding, check out the videos below from 100% Guides and Somewhat Awesome Games.