Dead Rising is set for a new sequel, featuring Frank West, returning to a Hollywood movie set. The game will emphasize familiar mechanics and a new context involving a crazed director.
The Xbox Series X|S and PC gamepads have consistently hit our best PC controllers list, and you can now save up to 39% off of two special edition models.
I was precisely whelmed when Fatshark revealed the mohawked, chem-huffing Hive Scum as Warhammer 40,000: Darktide's next class; most of the existing player characters being unwashed crims as it is. Turns out, however, they make good company when it counts. Having played about six hours of Hive Scum, ahead of launch on December 2nd, I'm convinced the class offers something new – and even those who don't drop the requisite $12 on it will still, on the same day, get a rollicking new mission type that delves into properly muddy 40K ground warfare.
I never bought a Lenovo Legion Go S, or even slotted it into our best handheld PCs list, though it's funny how much a fat Black Friday price cut can massage the desirability gland. And it helps that these savings cover not just the budget Ryzen Z2 Go model I originally reviewed, but the top-of-the-line Z1 Extreme version with an upgraded 32GB of RAM – and the same SteamOS, instead of fiddly Windows. That extra memory's probably worth about four billion quid by itself, though while it lasts, the primo Legion Go S is going for £599 in the UK (a £100 saving) and $650 in the US (a $250 saving).
Of steel is my spirit, of thunder my bones. I am the hawk's justice, the quadrapedal crucible of oil and atrocity in which the future is forged. BEHOLD, ye strategy simulation enthusiasts. Behold my unabashed phallic symbolism menacing the gates of heaven, while my hissing hydraulics uncipher the coordinates of my prey.
Many are my supplicants, strangers from near and far who seek to beguile me and aim my blessed ordnance, but mine is the judgement, and mine the tactile gratifications of levers and gears and dials. You were getting bored of turrets in war games? Fools! You have never experienced one from the inside. Come, surrender yourself to the dieselpunk folds and surprisingly jaunty background music of my ironclad majesty. (Here's a trailer.)
Still fresh off of being bought from Riot and revived by a team lead by Hypixel co-founder Simon Collins-Laflamme, Hytale now has an early access release date. The Minecrafty sandbox emerges from the cave it's spent years exploring early next year, with pre-orders kicking off next month.
If you've been struggling lately with the thought that everybody you interact with online is a closet serial killer, why not fire up Killer Chat, which will remove all uncertainty from your brain and flood it with delicious, sexy fear. Hitherto available on Itch.io, and just released on Steam, it casts you as a reporter researching a book on serial killers.
Convention tells us that to be a PC gamepad, the gamepad in question must follow the layout – or, at least, match the button glyphs – of the Xbox controller's ABXY design. Even the new Steam Controller is doing it. To convention, though, I say: appreciate you're an important component of usability design but also get lost. One of the best PC controllers right now is the PS5-pattern DualSense, which today's Black Friday deals have brought down to its lowest price in months.
Prime Video's Fallout TV series has been followed around by a buzzing swarm of canon chatter hornets since the moment its first series emerged from the vault. Such a thing's natural and healthy - people care enough about the games to have thoughts about how this adaptation portrays the world in which they take place. It goes double when when you head to locations which have played host to entries especially beloved for how much say they let the player have in how their stories play out.
Some days, I think I'd rather gouge my eyes out than read another email about a new roguelike or roguelite. This confuses me, because many of favourite games are roguelikes or roguelites, including Dead Cells, Balatro, FTL: Faster Than Light, and the recent Morsels, a reeking procedural dumpsite that speaks to the overproduction of Rogue/rogue derivatives at large.
Roguish games are everywhere right now. According to SteamDB, 1602 games tagged "roguelike" were published in 2024 out of 18567 total, versus 312 out of 9655 in 2020. Stir in roguelites and the countless games that advertise themselves as having "roguelike mechanics", and I sincerely worry that you're describing the majority of PC releases from the past couple of years.
I, erm, write about the Steam Deck a lot, and keen eyed readers may have spotted a recurring theme among the accompanyingphotographs: a lurking Ugreen logo. That's the Ugreen 9-in-1 Steam Deck Dock, aND what it lacks in sexy naming, it makes up for by being just the nicest little stand/port extender combo that a handheld PC could ask for. It's also a mere £36/$40 on Black Friday, up to a third off its usual price.
When it comes to shopping for PC games, it's difficult to really consult any one guide, as Steam, Epic Games Store, and GOG often feature multiple ones and aren't 100% reliant on Black Friday. So there will definitely be special deals around November 28, 2025, but we know the Steam Winter Sale for the year starts on December 18, 2025. It means keeping an eye out is wise, but it might also be smart to consider holding off on some gifts until we get closer to the December holidays. Still, it never hurts to be prepared and aware!
In terms of systems, it's usually best to actually consult with the recipient before just springing a PC on them. Especially if you are going with a desktop or laptop, since you'll want to keep compatibility in mind. If you're going with a handheld, it's easier. Someone could get a Lenovo Legion Go S on sale for Black Friday for $579.99. A Steam Deck 256GB LCD model is $319.20 as of time of writing, and the 512GB OLED is always $549.
A good option to keep in mind for PC game gifting is GOG, as there are some exclusive releases there and we also get DRM-free games from that platform. The company also will offer updates to ensure compatibility, which is handy. Here are some suggestions we have for games you can find there at pretty good prices around the holiday shopping season, as well as their Black Friday 2025 deals.
But in general, a lot of games are on sale on Steam and other storefronts! Including some good deals on 2024 games that didn't get major price drops until now. So here are some PC games to consider when shopping for 2025 gifts or picking up items for yourself.
Also, don't forget to check Epic Games Store every Thursday! Free games are given away, and you can bulk up your library and give yourself something to play over holiday breaks that way.
Assassin's Creed Shadows' 1.1.6 update has introduced a new quest called A Puzzlement, and it involves opening a glyph door by finding different sigils.
While you can complete A Puzzlement by finding only one glyph (the first one), there are 12 more to be found across the map. This guide will provide you with a location to find all of them without any hassle. Some of them are relatively easy to find, while others are hidden from the plain sight.
All glyph door locations in Assassin's Creed Shadows
Let's look at how you can find all 13 glyph locations in Assassin's Creed Shadows. You'll want to have the Beacon equipped to find the locations easily once you're at the correct location. To find the first one, you can read our detailed guide about the A Puzzlement quest. This is also the closest one from the Isu door which unlocks only after you find all 13 of them.
Glyph of the Arch
Screenshot and remix by Destructoid
Screenshot by Destructoid
Located on a small island in the Lake Suigetsu area, towards the west of Wakasa.
Glyph of the Lost
Screenshot and remix by Destructoid
Screenshot by Destructoid
Located in the Ogura Pond area of Yamashiro.
Glyph of the Mists
Screenshot and remix by Destructoid
Screenshot by Destructoid
The glyph is located towards the south of Okishima lookout on the island of Lake Biwa.
Glyph of the River
Screenshot and remix by Destructoid
Screenshot by Destructoid
Go to Wakasa, and then travel to the Mount Uchinako Area to find the location.
Glyph of the Sakura
Screenshot and remix by Destructoid
Screenshot by Destructoid
Located near the Yamazaki Castle in Yamashiro.
Glyph of Silence
Screenshot and remix by Destructoid
Screenshot by Destructoid
Located in the Tamba Highlands part of the Tamba region, close ot hte ruins of the Kumoryuji Temple.
Glyph of the Sky
Screenshot and remix by Destructoid
Screenshot by Destructoid
Located in the Onyu Pass area in Wakasa.
Glyph of the Ship
Screenshot and remix by Destructoid
Screenshot by Destructoid
Located on the Shattered Coast area of the Wakasa region.
Glyph of the Stone
Screenshot and remix by Destructoid
Image via Ubisoft
Located in the southeast area of Kameyama town in Tamba.
Glyph of the Tide
Screenshot and remix by Destructoid
Screenshot by Destructoid
Located in the northeast part of the Omizo Castle.
Glyph of the Watchtower
Screenshot and remix by Destructoid
Screenshot by Destructoid
Located at Mount Hiei in the Omi region.
Glyph of the Waterfall
Screenshot and remix by Destructoid
Screenshot by Destructoid
Located near the Mount Peak viewpoint on the Takashima Shores of the Omi region.
Once you find all 13 glyphs, you can open the Glyph Door and access everything the place has to offer. You'll reach a hall with a statue of Kasandra, along with a chest that offers the following items.
ARC Raiders is a phenomenon, that much we all knew. But it's rare for modern games to step out of their digital boundaries and enter the actual, thus becoming cornerstones of our contemporary culture. But ARC Raiders has done it, naturally in collaboration with one of the most iconic cultural products of our time.
In a surprising twist, ARC Raiders has collaborated with South Park, making a small but meaningful appearance in the show's fourth episode Turkey Trot. In the episode, one character, called Tolkien Black, is playing ARC Raiders on his Xbox while Cartman is begging him to join the annual Turkey Trot race that is sponsored by, surprise, surprise, Saudi Arabia. The whole episode pokes fun at various aspects of contemporary culture and is oddly relevant to gaming on a deep level.
ARC Raiders primarily features as background noise, but there are a few actual gameplay snippets that appear, which were provided to South Park's creators by Embark Studios itself. Ashley St. Germain, Embark's marketing lead, said on LinkedIn that it took only a couple of days to set the collab up after South Park reached out to the studio this Monday.
ARC Raiders' gameplay footage can be seen and heard in the background of a few scenes in S28 E4 of South Park. Image via Comedy Central
"On Monday South Park inquired if a character could play ARC Raiders in an upcoming episode, on Tuesday we provided footage, and on Wednesday we were in S28's "Turkey Trot" episode, she wrote.
This is a major achievement for ARC Raiders, given how much cultural impact South Park has. The show is always in touch with the latest phenomena in global and American life, and it warms my heart to see a great game and studio be recognized as culturally relevant enough to feature in one of the episodes. It could've been Battlefield 6 or even Call of Duty, but as they always do, the creators of South Park recognized who's the most deserving of a highlight.
It's a small "token" of appreciation to Embark Studios, and one it fully deserves.
The episode did not stop there. Saudi Arabia gets made fun of a ton, being represented as a country that gives money to anyone who asks for it, in exchange for some sweet promotion.
EA Games, one of the biggest gaming publishers, was recently acquired by the Saudis, and they have also ventured into the world of esports, and even cooperated with Ubisoft on a new Assassin's Creed update. Saudi Arabia is gunning for cultural influence and impact on the global stage, and it's no wonder it was specifically targeted by South Park.
Thankfully, ARC Raiders isn't the byproduct of nefarious collaborations with authoritarian regimes. Even so, the shadow of Saudi Money looms heavily on video games, and it's likely only going to keep getting darker.
Black Friday Flash Challenge SBC has arrived in FC 26 Ultimate Team, and we have the fourth one to complete and win free rewards.
Unlike traditional fodder challenges, there will be new ones coming out hourly. Every version will have different requirements and rewards. As of writing, we have the fourth one available for the community to complete. Let's look at how you can complete it to unlock the rewards.
How to complete FC 26 Black Friday Flash Challenge 4 SBC
The Black Friday Flash Challenge 4 SBC has one task, and here are its requirements.
Black Friday Flash Challenge 4 SBC
Max. Leagues in Squad: 4
Min. 4 Players from the same Nation
Min. 3 Players from the same Club
Min. 3 Players: Rare
Min. Team Rating: 77
Min. Squad Total Chemistry Points: 31
Black Friday Flash Challenge 4 SBC solutions
Here's a solution you can use to complete the fourth Flash challenge.
Gordon LW 83
Daly ST 81
Louchet RM 71
Asseyi LM 82
Adeline CM 65
Elliott CM 78
Sylvestre RM 65
Cresswell CB 74
Biumla CB 70
Patten CB 75
Trafford GK 76
Completing the challenge will earn you an untradeable Rare Players Pack.
How to complete FC 26 Black Friday Flash Challenge 3 SBC
The Black Friday Flash Challenge 3 SBC has one task, and here are its requirements.
Black Friday Flash Challenge 3 SBC
Min. Leagues in Squad: 5
Max. Nationalities in Squad: 6
Min. 3 Players from the same Club
Exactly 11 Players: Rare
Player quality: Min. Gold
Min. Squad Total Chemistry Points: 24
Black Friday Flash Challenge 3 SBC solutions
Here's a solution you can use to complete the third Flash challenge.
Miedema ST 85
Kerolin Nicoli ST 80
Toone CM 85
Larsson CDM 78
Casemiro CM 80
Asseyi LB 82
Bjorn CB 79
Janssen CDM 83
Deslandes CB 80
Singo CB 80
Bergwijn 80
Completing the challenge will earn you an untradeable 83+ 3 Rare Gold Players Pack.
How to complete FC 26 Black Friday Flash Challenge 2 SBC
The Black Friday Flash Challenge 2 SBC has one task, and here are its requirements.
Black Friday Flash Challenge 2 SBC
Max. 4 Players from the same League
Min. Nationalities in Squad: 3
Min. 4 Players: Gold
Min. 3 Players: Rare
Min. Team Rating: 70
Min. Squad Total Chemistry Points: 24
Black Friday Flash Challenge 2 SBC solutions
Here's a solution you can use to complete the second Flash challenge.
Zivokovic LW 78
Giakoumakis ST 76
Yoon Jong Gyu RW 64
Samardzic CM 75
Yuksek CM 77
Laci CM 74
Visinsky 68
Kottas CB 63
Heo Yul ST 63
Choi Seok Hyun CB 57
Gorgen GK 65
Completing the challenge will earn you a Tradeable Prime Mixed Players Pack.
How to complete FC 26 Black Friday Flash Challenge 1 SBC
The Black Friday Flash Challenge 1 SBC has just one task, and here are its requirements.
Black Friday Flash Challenge 1 SBC
Min. Nationalities in Squad: 2
Min. Clubs in Squad: 3
Min. 3 Players from the same League
Min. 7 Players: Rare
Player quality: Min. Silver
Min. Squad Total Chemistry Points: 14
The requirements for the first one are relatively simple, and you should have the required fodder already available in your club.
Black Friday Flash Challenge 1 SBC solutions
Chances are less that you'll get stuck trying to complete this fodder challenge. However, I have included a template solution for you to use before the first Flash challenge expires from Ultimate Team.
Gutlbauer 66
Vietto ST 73
Gho LM 67
Aaron Martin 74
Giani CM 71
Vera RM 70
Kafaji 72
Haspolat 74
Ivan Gill 71
McGlynn 73
Devecchi GK 70
The first Flash challenge will reward you with a Premium Electrum Playes Pack, which has six Silver and six Gold items. At least three of those six items are guaranteed to be Rare, and there's a chance for the pack to feature a walkout/promo card. With the Best of Re-Release cards now available, there's never been a better time to open packs.
Once we have more challenges available to complete, we will have the detailed solutions in this guide.
Octopath Traveler 0 could be one of the big hits in the last month of the year, and not much time is left for its release.
We have known the release date for quite some time. However, this guide will keep you updated about the exact release time based on your platform of choice.
Octopath Traveler 0 release countdown
Octopath Traveler 0 goes live globally on Dec. 4 on PC and consoles, but the launch schedule will be different. If you're playing on consoles, you'll have to wait for midnight in your local region. If you're on PC, however, you'll need to abide by the following countdown.
[hurrytimer id="1148176"]
The countdown is based on the following timings.
10am PST
12pm CST
1pm EST
6pm GMT
7pm CET
3am JST (Dec. 5)
5am AEST (Dec. 5)
7am NZST (Dec. 5)
If you're on console, you can take advantage of the New Zealand method. This allows you to change the time of your console (if you're on Xbox) and get a few extra hours of gameplay. If you're on PlayStation, you'll need a New Zealand-based account. You'll also need to have Octopath Traveler 0 available on that account.
However, there's a valid way to get a head start ahead of the official launch. You can try out the Prologue Demo available for free.
This edition offers up to three hours of game content. Once you purchase the full version of the game, you can continue from where you stopped playing the demo. It's an excellent option for those who want to get a head start.
While Octopath Traveler 0 is available in different editions, there's no advanced or early access of any type. If you're PC, there's no way to play ahead of launch (aside from the prologue demo). If you're on console, you could try the New Zealand trick to get a few extra hours.
EA Sports has released the Song of Toure Evolution to celebrate Black Friday in FC 26 Ultimate Team, and you can upgrade a midfield card of your choice.
While the evolution is expensive (costs 50,000 coins), your chosen card will receive some massive upgrades. This includes stat boosts, new playstyles, and roles. Let's look at the best possible choices for the evolution if you decide to spend the coins to unlock it.
FC 26 Song of Toure Evolution requirements
Here are the requirements of Song of Toure Evolution in FC 26.
Overall: Max 85
PlayStyle: Max 10
PlayStyle+: Max 1
Not Rarity: World Tour Silver Stars
Position: CDM
FC 26 Song of Toure Evolution upgrades
The evolution has five levels of upgrades, each with certain conditions to fulfill.
Level 1 upgrades
Overall: +15|87
Aggression: +20|80
Balance: +20|78
Jumping: +15|75
Roles: Deep-Lying Playmaker+, Holding++
Level 2 upgrades
Pace: +10|80
Crossing: +20|75
Long Passing: +20|86
Short Passing: +20|91
Stamina: +20|90
Vision: +20|90
Level 3 upgrades
Shooting: +20|83
Reactions: +20|85
Strength: +20|90
Weak Foot: +2|4
Skills: +2|4
PlayStyles: Enforcer|6
Level 4 upgrades
Defending: +15|80
Agility: +15|78
Curve: +20|85
PlayStyles+: Incisive Pass|1
PlayStyles: Press Proven|6
Roles: Box Crash
Level 5 upgrade requirements
Pace: +10|80
Agility: +15|78
Ball control: +20|88
Dribbling: +20|82
Free Kick: +20|84
Composure: +20|85
Level 1 upgrade requirements
Play 2 matches in Squad Battles on min Semi-Pro difficulty (or Rush/Rivals/Champions/Live Events) using your active EVO player in game.
Level 2 upgrade requirements
Play 1 match in Squad Battles on min. Semi-Pro difficulty (or Rush/Rivals/Champions/Live Events) using your active EVO Player in game.
Level 3 upgrade requirements
Play 1 match in Squad Battles on min. Semi-Pro difficulty (or Rush/Rivals/Champions/Live Events) using your active EVO Player in game.
Level 4 upgrade requirements
Play 1 match in Squad Battles on min Semi-Pro difficulty (or Rush/Rivals/Champions/Live Events) using your active EVO player in game.
Level 5 upgrade requirements
Play 1 match in Squad Battles on min Semi-Pro difficulty (or Rush/Rivals/Champions/Live Events) using your active EVO player in game.
Best players to use in Song of Toure Evolution
Here are some of my best recommendations for inclusion in the evolution.
Unai Lopez Primetime
Carlos Pobega TOTW
Marten de Roon Cornerstones
Khephrem Thuram Cornerstones
Ryan Yates Cornerstones
Hojberg Captains
Leon Goretzka Flashback
Pape Gueye Ratings Reload
While the upgrades are significant, you will be able to include these cards in future evolutions to create a chain and evolve their stats further.
Valve has recently made a few moves delisting games for various reasons, which has, once again, sparked accusations of censorship. However, a peep at the Steam storefront reveals a different picture, one completely incompatible with Valve's recent decisions.
Valve has always been a rather liberal company when it comes to what it allows to be hosted on its store. Just taking a look at what's new and trending on Steam is proof enough. There, you can find both serious titles, indie outputs, various attempts at greatness, but also borderline pornography, hentai games alongside stuff featuring full, uncensored nudity and sex as core "gameplay" mechanics.
As I'm writing this, I have the tab open, and the likes of Fetish Locator: S&M Studio or Girls, I just want to get paid! are there, in plain view of anyone old enough to use the platform. Opening their respective store pages does prompt you to select your age (which you're more than likely to answer untruthfully), and voila: you're given complete, unrestricted access to very mature content and "games."
The stuff I've described here is so openly pornographic that I can't share it here, so use your imagination. Image via Steam
And these aren't the only examples. There is a literal "franchise" of games called Sex With Hitler, with several installments all readily available on Valve's storefront, with not a single modicum of censorship to be found, even if most European countries would, I wager, take offense at these titles and their content (and especially their name).
So, one could gather that Valve is by no means a restrictive company, nor that Steam is prone to censorship and "artistic" limitations. But that appears to be far from the truth. Recently, Valve has blocked an indie arthouse horror game called Horses, where players on a farm ride naked human horses. It's much deeper and more disturbing than that (which is by no means a bad thing), but that's about the gist of it. And Valve seems not to have liked that concept one bit.
One scene supposedly involves a child riding a naked "horse" woman, which Valve took offense at. It blocked the game from appearing on Steam. Per PC Gamer, this decision was made all the way back in 2023, when Valve told the developers that it does not allow "content that appears, in our judgment, to depict sexual conduct involving a minor."
The developers claimed the scene in question, which may have triggered Valve's response, had "since been changed," and that it wasn't even "sexual" in nature to begin with, but Steam remains by its stance and will not ship the game. Valve's own judgment here seems to be the only thing that matters, which, in my opinion, does not always result in the most accurate assessment of any given game.
Horses' art style is captivating, even if grim and dark. Image via Santa Ragione
Sure, Horses is rather disturbing, but that is not grounds for removal. A lot of games, movies, books, and so on, great ones in fact, deal with disturbing, uncomfortable, and borderline disgusting themes and subjects. Dealing with these topics must be done, and art is probably our only means of doing so.
The fact that games I've mentioned above (alongside countless others, especially the hentai ones that sometimes have rather dubious characters whose age is indeterminate) are allowed to sell thousands of copies and rake in a ton of cash, providing little more than pornographic gratification, feels wrong to me. At least it does because games, whose subject matter is grim and disturbing, are banned, even if they're trying to artistically (and critically) approach their content.
Whereas earlier we had Valve banning games when pressured by payment processors (which does constitute actual censorship), this time around it's Valve itself making value judgments. And that'd be fine, if it weren't for games that are far and beyond more "harmful" flooding the platform day in and day out.
One of them literally lets you own a pornography studio, i.e., to be part of an industry that has hurt and ruined too many lives to count. How does that, on any moral compass, point in the right direction?
It gives the sense that Steam is a dice roll: you can publish almost anything, but if a review board gets wind of it, anything can also happen. You can get published, get rejected, get censored, because your artistic vision could be taken the wrong way.
Destiny 2's next expansion looms, and some guardians are already engaging in their usual rituals before the new content drops. If you didn't get everything you wanted, you can still farm some weapons before Renegades kicks off on Dec. 2.
Our usual pre-expansion rituals include getting our builds ready, keeping a clean inventory, and figuring out the seasonal fashion—arguably the most important part. Farming gear is a part of the preparations: it's a good way to guarantee certain items before their drop sources see potential alterations, and it also offers powerful gear that should be in any guardian's arsenal.
For instance, you shouldn't drop into Renegades without a Mint Retrograde in your vault, after all, even if you're probably swapping it out for some of the Star Wars-inspired guns in the expansion. Here are the top weapons we recommend farming before Renegades lands on Tuesday, Dec. 2.
We couldn't leave this one out of the list. Screenshot by Destructoid
Source: Pinnacle Ops
The gun that's at the top of the food chain in the current Destiny 2 sandbox is, unsurprisingly, at the top of our list of the best weapons to farm before the next expansion. Mint Retrograde will maintain its high damage but take a nerf to its ammo economy in Renegades, so you can still keep it glued to your Kinetic slot—just like the other 45 percent of guardians using this weapon, as per Bungie's own stats.
Unfall
The cooler Drang. Screenshot by Destructoid
Source: Portal
Rocket sidearms may not be as much of a big-ticket item as they were when the archetype was born in late 2023, but they're still in quite a comfortable place in the sandbox. Bungie added Unfall in the Ash & Iron update, bringing with it a new perk pool, synergy with Sturm, and a New Gear tag. This weapon performs just fine without its Exotic counterpart, though. It doesn't roll Voltshot like Indebted Kindness, but it does bring Jolting Feedback and Master of Arms to the mix.
Returned Memory from the Crucible is another great option—good enough to make the cut into the list, thanks to a little help from Zavala.
MIDA Mini-Tool
Return of the King. Kind of. Screenshot by Destructoid
Source: Portal
After the reissued CALUS Mini-Tool made a splash in Season of the Haunted, it's time for the post-Edge of Fate MIDA Mini-Tool to shine. This SMG is a powerful workhorse weapon with some best-in-slot perks and Solar synergy. Heal Clip and Incandescent, the usual suspects, now have a new sibling in Burning Ambition, and the Mini-Tool can roll with all of those—plus old favorites such as Attrition Orbs, Frenzy, and Master of Arms.
The MIDA Mini-Tool is a good weapon to get before Renegades, especially if you're using a Solar build. Odds are you won't ditch a god-rolled Yeartide Apex for it, but this SMG is the best option if you missed Solstice's most coveted gun.
Outrageous Fortune
Don't blow yourself up. Screenshot by Destructoid
Source: Pinnacle Ops
Grenade launchers have stayed steady in the meta for a couple of years now, so Outrageous Fortune is a great option to bring into your first run of the Renegades campaign. This powerful heavy weapon can roll Envious Arsenal paired with Bait and Switch, which is top-tier for damage, and it comes with a New Gear tag to match.
Submersion or Synanceia
We're getting another one of these, but no harm in grabbing one early. Screenshot by Destructoid
Eager Edge can always come in handy. Screenshot by Destructoid
The Call to Arms weapons aren't farmable, but they're still obtainable. Opening the daily event chest in the Tower awards all sorts of gear, with a chance of dropping your attuned weapon. Change your attunement by speaking to Devrim.
Out of the event weapons, Submersion is arguably the most important, though we're getting a Void heavy crossbow with Renegades based on videos from content creators. Synanceia is also a good option for a New Gear sword with Eager Edge (y'know, in case you need to endlessly run Salt Mines again for the next Call to Arms).
Returned Memory
No PvP required. Screenshot by Destructoid
Rocket sidearms are never out of style, and Returned Memory is another entry to this weapon family. This Crucible gun comes with great perks such as Heal Clip and Impulse Amplifier paired with Redirection, Incandescent, Burning Ambition, and One For All.
If you'd rather not set foot in PvP, however, Zavala is selling this as the featured weapon this week. While none of his rolls have all those perks at the same time, the offerings are still quite spicy.
Theodolite
It's not The Mountaintop, but it'll do. Image via Bungie
Source: Pinnacle Ops
The Mountaintop has a younger sibling, and this time, it goes on your Energy slot. Theodolite is the new Arc-aligned micro-missile frame with strong damage potential for Majors. Aim for Reconstruction or Blast Distributor with Voltshot, Reaper's Tithe, Frenzy, or Elemental Honing for big damage numbers.
Lionfish-4FR
Lives up to the Veist name. Screenshot by Destructoid
Source: Portal
Even now, over three years after its debut, Riptide is basically synonymous with Stasis fusion rifles, so Lionfish-4FR has some big shoes to fill. And it seems up to the task.
Lionfish has Reconstruction paired with Chill Clip, an improvement on Riptide's Auto-Loading Holster/Chill Clip. It also rolls with Controlled Burst, Elemental Honing, or Reservoir Burst in the fourth column, which you can use for a more damage-based role.
Honorable mention: Smoke Jumper armor
The little sirens light up, in case you were wondering. Screenshot by Destructoid
The Smoke Jumper armor is, by most definitions of the word, not a weapon. That said, it's one of the most popular and powerful new sets in Edge of Fate. Community figure TheAegisRelic put this "disgustingly OP" set in the S-Tier in their endgame list, which is high praise. Since this list is about grabbing good gear before Renegades, Smoke Jumper couldn't be off the menu, even if just as an honorable mention.
The best part of the Smoke Jumper set by far is Ride Together, Die Together, its two-piece bonus. It gives a short-lived damage reduction when picking up orbs of power, which are easy to generate in the current sandbox. The four-piece isn't bad (Aegis gave it a B), but grab at least two well-rolled pieces of armor before Renegades.
Hytale has officially been saved and is on its way to our machines after seven long years of waiting.
It spent half a decade in limbo at Riot Games stuck in a drawer somewhere probably, and had to be re-purchased by the same people who sold it to that corporate giant. Now, in the hands of its rightful owners, Hytale is in full development and is actually coming out.
Here's everything you need to know about a potential release date, the platforms it will be available on, and more.
Hytale release date countdown
Hytale comes out in early access on Jan. 13, 2026. The game, which was only revived officially on Nov. 17 following its reacquisition by Simon Collins-Laflamme, also known as hypixel, appears to be releasing sooner than anticipated, though its new-old owner did say he wants to see it in players' hands as soon as possible.
Our timer is going to aim for Jan. 13 at midnight CT, as official release times are yet to be revealed. Once we do get more information, we'll update the timer to reflect it.
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Hytale will cost $19.99 for the base game, with several supporter editions available for more if you wish to pitch in and help the studio develop the title. Pre-orders are opening on Dec. 13, though the lead developer advises you not to pre-order if you aren't willing to put up with jank, bugs, and unfinished content that are going to be present in the game for a while.
What platforms will Hytale be on?
Hytale is upping the ante for voxel survival games. Image via Hypixel
Hytale was originally planned to be a PC-exclusive game, especially for Windows. This tracks with the game being inspired by Minecraft, specifically the Hypixel server, which was primarily a PC-only experience. It'll probably have its own launcher, but we might see it come to Steam and Epic Games as well.
Though Mojang's title eventually branched out to just about every platform under the sun, it's safe to assume that Hytale will release on PC and Windows first, followed by potential ports to consoles and mobile devices.
With the rise of the SteamOS and Valve's major push for Linux gaming, we could also see Hytale launch on Linux natively, and even on Apple's macOS. All of these are part of the broader PC family and would play more or less the same, but it remains to be seen if Hypixel will focus on moving the game beyond Windows before finishing its 1.0 development cycle.
Many of its planned features are very much work-in-progress, and Hytale invites the community to join the fun and help develop various aspects of the game, pitch features, and collaborate with the developers to make Hytale into the game it was meant to be.
The broad scope of development is likely to impede potential release dates and platform ports, but it's better to have a good game come late than a bad one rushed to us early.
Full details of planned features can be found here, and from what we can gather, it looks rather promising.
The Target Practice Evolution has arrived to celebrate Black Friday celebrations in FC 26 Ultimate Team, and you can use it to upgrade a card of your choice.
While the evolution is available for free, you can use at most one item. Hence, you'll have to be highly selective with the card you put in the evolution. This guide will list the best possible choices based on the requirements and offered upgrades.
Here are the requirements for the Target Practice Evolution in FC 26.
Overall: Max 85
PlayStyle: Max 10
Not Rarity: World Tour Silver Stars
Not Position: GK
FC 26 Target Practice Evolution upgrades
The Target Practice Evolution has two levels of upgrades. To obtain the boosts, you'll need to complete specific tasks.
Level 1 upgrades
Overall: +2
Penalties: +12|87
Shot Power: +12|87
Volleys: +12|87
Level 2 upgrades
Finishing: +12|87
Long Shots: +12|87
Positioning: +15|89
Weak Foot: +1|4
PlayStyles: Finesse Shot|6
Level 1 upgrade requirements
Play 1 match in Squad Battles on min Semi-Pro difficulty (or Rush/Rivals/Champions/Live Events) using your active EVO player in game.
Level 2 upgrade requirements
Play 2 matches in Squad Battles on min. Semi-Pro difficulty (or Rush/Rivals/Champions/Live Events) using your active EVO Player in game.
Best players for Target Practice Evolution in FC 26
You can include plenty of different cards in this evolution. I have considered those items that are best suited for the offered upgrades.
Unai Lopez Primetime
Leroy Sane Flashback
Zielenski Captains
Hojberg Captains
Leon Goretzka Flashback
Timothy Weah Ultimate Scream
Rafael Leao
Francisco Conceicao Ratings Reload
Jeremy Doku TOTW
These are arguably some of the best options you can include in this evolution. You don't have to put them in any older evolutions, and they should be eligible for more upgrades in the future.
The Elite Control Evolution is a fresh Flash evo that you can use in FC 26 Ultimate Team to upgrade a card of your choice, and there are plenty of fantastic options.
While the evolution is free to use, you can upgrade only one card. Hence, you'll have to make the best possible choice, and this guide will help you with that. Let's look at the best candidates based on the requirements and the upgrades.
Here are the requirements for the Elite Control Evolution in FC 26.
Overall: Max 85
Pace: Max 89
PlayStyle: Max 10
Not Rarity: World Tour Silver Stars
Not Position: GK
FC 26 Elite Control Evolution upgrades
The Elite Control Evolution has only two levels of upgrades. To obtain the boosts, you'll need to complete specific tasks.
Level 1 upgrades
Overall: +2
Agilit: +12|87
Balance: +12|87
Skills: +1|4
Level 2 upgrades
Ball control: +12|88
Dribbling: +12|87
Reactions: +15|90
Composure: +12|88
PlayStyles: Technical|6
Level 1 upgrade requirements
Play 1 match in Squad Battles on min Semi-Pro difficulty (or Rush/Rivals/Champions/Live Events) using your active EVO player in game.
Level 2 upgrade requirements
Play 2 matches in Squad Battles on min. Semi-Pro difficulty (or Rush/Rivals/Champions/Live Events) using your active EVO Player in game.
Best players for Elite Control Evolution in FC 26
You can include plenty of different cards in this evolution. I have selected those cards that will benefit the most from the upgrades.
Yeremy Pino Primetime
Unai Lopez Primetime
Zielenski Captains
Hojberg Captains
Timothy Weah Ultimate Scream
Leon Goretzka Flashback
James McLean MOTM
Brown Primetime
Tarciane World Tour
Khephrem Thuram Cornerstones
These are arguably some of the best options you can include in this evolution. These are all fresh candidates that will be eligible to be included in future evolutions so that you can boost their stats and add more roles/playstyles.
Path of Exile 2 is still in development, and though it's supposed to become a free-to-play experience like its predecessor, there's still a long way to go until then.
The next major update, patch 0.4.0, brings along the long-awaited Druid class, as well as introducing a new league. Called The Last of the Druids, this patch is yet another stepping stone toward the full PoE 2 release, and one players have been really been eager for.
Here's everything you need to know about when it comes out, alongside a countdown timer to that very moment.
Path of Exile 2 Update 0.4.0 release date countdown
Path of Exile 2 The Last of the Druids comes out on Dec. 12at 1pm CT. It will introduce the highly anticipated Druid class that is set to expand the game's already substantial set of classes, further adding to the replayability and complexity of the game.
It's also another major milestone that brings us ever so closer to the full release that is going to turn the game into a free-to-play experience, much like the first game was.
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If you aren't yet part of the early access program and unwilling to dish out $30 for an unfinished game, developer Grinding Gear Games is hosting a free-to-play weekend for Path of Exile 2. It starts alongside the new patch on Dec. 12 at 1pm CT and ends Dec. 15 at 1pm CT, giving players a chance to try the game out with no strings attached, including The Last of the Druids update and the Fate of the Vaal league.
It's a good way to get a taste of what PoE 2 has to offer over its predecessor, and just might get you to opt into the early access scheme.
The Ball Movement Evolution is now live in FC 26 Ultimate Team, and the flash upgrade allows you to improve a card of your choice.
The latest evolutions offer decent stat boosts, new playstyles, and roles. This guide will help you figure out the best options based on the requirements and the offered upgrades.
Here are the requirements for the Ball Movement Evolution in FC 26.
Overall: Max 85
PlayStyle: Max 10
Not Rarity: World Tour Silver Stars
Not Position: GK
FC 26 Ball Movement Evolution upgrades
The Ball Movement Evolution has only two levels of upgrades. To obtain the boosts, you'll need to complete specific tasks.
Level 1 upgrades
Overall: +2
Crossing: +12|87
Free Kick: +12|87
Weak Foot: +1|4
Level 2 upgrades
Curve: +12|88
Long Passing: +12|88
Short Passing: +15|90
Vision: +12|90
PlayStyles: Incisive Pass|6
Level 1 upgrade requirements
Play 1 match in Squad Battles on min Semi-Pro difficulty (or Rush/Rivals/Champions/Live Events) using your active EVO player in game.
Level 2 upgrade requirements
Play 2 matches in Squad Battles on min. Semi-Pro difficulty (or Rush/Rivals/Champions/Live Events) using your active EVO Player in game.
Best players for Ball Movement Evolution in FC 26
You can include plenty of different cards in this evolution. I have considered those items that are best suited for the offered upgrades.
Hegazi FC Pro Live
Unai Lopez Primetime
Zielenski Captains
Hojberg Captains
Khephrem Thuram Cornerstones
Gabriel Silva World Tour
Antonio Nusa TOTW
Cabal Ultimate Scream
These are arguably some of the best options you can include in this evolution. They don't depend on older evolutions, but you can use the upgraded versions in future chains to further boost the stats and quality of the card.
I'll guide you through the best Ore Traits in The Forge for weapons and armor with individual ranking reasons. This guide will also include the best end-game combination for weapons and armor in terms of traits. Here's my The Forge Ore Trait tier list and guide.
The best Ore Traits in The Forge depend on whether you're making an end-game Weapon or Armor. Below you'll find a full list of Ores and their Traits along with which are for Armor and which are for Weapons. As for rankings, I rated those that are always active and useful higher. The lower tiers usually have traits that have proc chances, don't reliably trigger or are underpowered. There's individual ranking reasons below as well.
Ore Traits Explained: When including Ores with Traits in a weapon or armor you need to have at least 10% of that Ore when forging for the Trait to be active. That said you want 30% of that ore in the components for the optimal effects listed below. This means that your Weapon/Armor builds should have 30%/30%/30% of the best Traits and one 10% as support since you can stack multiple traits. Of course, you can always include a majority of high multiplier ores with no traits for a higher damage boost.
S-Tier Ore Traits
Ores & Traits
Ranking Reason
Effect
Obsidian (Armor) Epic 1/333 Volcanic Rock 2.35x
The best Defense boost in the game for Armor and a must-have as a 30% slot
30% extra defense on Armor
Eye Ore (Weapon and Armor) Legendary 1/1333 Basalt Rock, Basalt Core, Basalt Vein, Volcanic Rock 4x
The most flexibile DPS trait for both weapons and armor as a 30% Good on both weapons and armor
-10% health, +15% damage boost on Weapons/Armor
Rivalite (Weapon) Epic 1/569 Basalt Vein, Volcanic Rock 3.33x
Combines well with Rune Crit Chance boosts An excellent DPS boost Be careful of the lower modifier so make sure this isn't the highest quantity if you're putting better mod Ores
+20% critical strike chance on Weapons
Magmaite (Weapon) Legendary 1/3003 Volcanic Rock 5x
Potentially better than Rivalite on higher base damage weapons for fighting multiple enemies That said, Rivalite is better for single target if you stack it with Runes that boost crit chance
50% AOE explosion damage with 35% chance on-hit on Weapons
Demonite (Armor) Mythical 1/3666 Volcanic Rock 5.5x
It's a decent trait but the problem is you don't want to be taking damage in this game Since Reapers and Deathaxes deal so much damage so it's not worth it to have An on-damage effect since you want to focus on Parry and Dodge
It's a decent trait still since it also deals damage but not the best in the game More of a supporting choice
20% burn for 2 seconds with 15% chance on-hit & 25% chance to burn the enemy when damage is taken
Uranium (Armor) Legendary 1/777 Basalt Vein 3x
An excellent secondary trait for armor for extra damage I like it more than Demonite but Demonite has better multipliers
5% of player max health as AOE damage while in combat, on Armor
Fireite (Weapon) Legendary 1/2187 Volcanic Rock 4.5x
A decent alternative or support Trait for weapons Better for Daggers for a faster attack speed and more chances for procs
20% burn for 2 seconds with 30% chance on-hit on Weapons
B-Tier Ore Traits
Ores & Traits
Ranking Reason
Effect
Mythril (Armor) Legendary 1/813 Basalt Vein 3.5x
A supporting pick since it's weaker than Obsidian That said it's still an excellent choice as a final 30% or 10% for armor
15% extra defense on Armor
C-Tier Ore Traits
Ores & Traits
Ranking Reason
Effect
Darkryte (Armor) Mythical 1/5555 Volcanic Rock 6.3x
Not a fan of Darkryte since the chance to trigger the dodge is low And you have to take a hit so it's more for fixing mistakes which you don't want to make either way
That said it has value for those moments when you do make mistakes and you get lucky I would still only use it as a 10% though unless you realy want the high multiplier
Armor Only: Upon taking damage, there is 15% chance to turn into a shadow to dodge the attack
D-Tier Ore Traits
Ores & Traits
Ranking Reason
Effect
Poopite (Weapon) Epic 1/131 Pebble, Rock, Boulder 1.2x
Similar reasons for Darkryte and Demonite where you don't want to get hit And this only triggers if you're low so you're not seeing much use if you play well
The effect is more of a save button that fears monsters and allows you to escape Than it is useful
Deal % poison damage around you for X seconds, fearing enemies. Activates when below 35% HP and has a 15 second cooldown.
A trademark for CONTROL: Resonant hints at a possible new game in Remedy's universe, raising anticipation for a reveal at the Game Awards. Remedy faces financial challenges and seeks a successful project.
Gaming Instincts – Next-Generation of Video Game Journalism Friday, November 28, 2025 1:01 PM
In the grim darkness of the far future, there is only war. Thankfully, Fatshark, the team behind Warhammer 40,000 Darktide, is aiming to make surviving easier with its newly added class, Hive Scum. For those unaware of what they are, in short, they are people who live in compact worlds (Hive Worlds). They are usually […]
