Jun 02, 22:00


GamersHeroes Monday, June 2, 2025 9:47 PM
    

The team at Siege Camp is releasing a limited time Massive Battle Demo for their medieval war MMO Anvil Empires that will give players the chance to take part in a large scale siege battle alongside hundreds of others.

The post Medieval War MMO Anvil Empires Part of Steam Next Fest appeared first on GamersHeroes.


GamersHeroes Monday, June 2, 2025 6:24 PM
    

The team at IO Interactive announced that the livestreamed and in-person IOI SHOWCASE will put the spotlight on HITMAN, MindsEye, and 007 First Light June 6 at 6pm PT.

The post IOI SHOWCASE Happening June 6 appeared first on GamersHeroes.


GamersHeroes Monday, June 2, 2025 5:52 PM
    

Set to release June 27, learn more about Bandai Namco's TAMAGOTCHI PLAZA different gameplay mechanics with the latest trailer for the title.

The post TAMAGOTCHI PLAZA Basic Gameplay Trailer Released appeared first on GamersHeroes.


GamersHeroes Monday, June 2, 2025 5:43 PM
    

Learn more about the combat system coming to Lizardcube and SEGA's Shinobi: Art of Vengeance with the combat trailer for the title.

The post Shinobi: Art of Vengeance Combat Trailer Released appeared first on GamersHeroes.


Kotaku Monday, June 2, 2025 5:10 PM
    

Alien is one of the most iconic sci-fi horror franchises of all time. But the director who started it all is not only done with the franchise, but is a bit disappointed in how its legacy turned out. In an interview with ScreenRant, Ridley Scott explained how he's done with the franchise, and reveals his true feelings…

Read more...


Kotaku Monday, June 2, 2025 4:55 PM
    

Pow! Bam! Boom! Zam! And so on. You get it. There's a big DC video game sale happening on Steam, and a ton of great (and not so great) Batman games are discounted right now. Hence that very funny opening gag at the start of this paragraph.

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Kotaku Monday, June 2, 2025 4:45 PM
    

June is officially here which means Geoff Keighley-palooza 2025 is just around the corner. E3 might be dead, but Summer Game Fest will be kicking off its fifth year running this week with a crowded field of other gaming showcases riding its coattails. Below you'll find the schedule for each of them, including when…

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Kotaku Monday, June 2, 2025 3:30 PM
    

Actor Jonathan Joss, who voiced John Redcorn on King of the Hill, was killed in a shooting over the weekend in San Antonio, Texas. Joss was 59 years old.

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Kotaku Monday, June 2, 2025 3:10 PM
    

After the massacre at the end of Gen V's first season, and the governmental coup at the end of The Boys' fourth, sophomore year at Godolkin University will be nothing like the one before. By the looks of the newly released trailer, the new season will be focused on seeing the superhero students turn into soldiers.

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Kotaku Monday, June 2, 2025 2:55 PM
    

With its blend of the soulslike and roguelike genres, Elden Ring Nightreign can be an overwhelming game to adjust to. It takes time to figure out how everything works and where to spend your time most wisely on the map.

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Kotaku Monday, June 2, 2025 2:45 PM
    

The Nintendo Switch 2 is launching later this week. Many people have pre-ordered the console and are eagerly checking to see if their new machine is beginning its journey from a warehouse to their home. But unfortunately, many people are seemingly discovering that their Switch 2 order has been canceled just days…

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Kotaku Monday, June 2, 2025 2:36 PM
    

Among Elden Ring Nightreign's eight character classes to choose from, there's one class that's arguably best-suited for beginners: Wylder. This is a jack of all trades class that's perfect if you're trying to learn the basic mechanics of the game. If you've played previous soulslike games before, Wylder will feel the…

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PCGamesN Monday, June 2, 2025 7:05 PM
    

XDefiant was a game that always had the odds stacked against it, despite the wealth of FPS experience on its development team and major IP like Far Cry and Assassin's Creed it could lean on. Ubisoft was already on a run of putting out underperforming games. The general live service space is a brutal, unforgiving one. The demand for new, fresh content is painfully high. And then it had to face off against one of the best annual Call of Duty launches we've seen in years with Black Ops 6. When you lay everything out in such a way, a rapid shutdown - which arrives this week just over a year after launching - always seemed highly likely. Inevitable, to some. But that doesn't mean it was a bad FPS game by any stretch. While not perfect, I'll remember XDefiant as a game that provided me with a few months of fun and a welcome reminder of the glory days of Call of Duty.

MORE FROM PCGAMESN: Best XDefiant loadouts, All XDefiant factions, Best XDefiant weapons

PCGamesN Monday, June 2, 2025 5:01 PM
    

It's time to sound the 'free game alert' siren once again, because it's just been revealed that dark fantasy dungeon crawler Hellslave is completely free to keep on Steam for a limited time. Fresh off of the reveal of its upcoming sequel, this hidden gem of an RPG, which has an air of Darkest Dungeon about it, can be claimed right now and will stay in your library for the rest of days.

MORE FROM PCGAMESN: Best turn-based RPGs, Best RPGs, Best single-player games

PCGamesN Monday, June 2, 2025 4:24 PM
    

It's time for Microsoft and the Xbox brand to stop playing chicken with its fans and reveal what it has planned in regards to a Steam Deck rival. Whether it's a major software update to present a revamped version of Windows on gaming handhelds, or the Asus ROG Ally 2 with dedicated Xbox guide controls, the upcoming Xbox Games Showcase feels like the perfect time to reveal all, mainly because no one will be expecting it.

The ongoing 'will they, won't they' rhetoric with Microsoft and handhelds has become rather comedic, so the time has come to show whether an Xbox alternative to the Steam Deck is in fact coming, or whether we're still no way near a potential release date. The latest leak suggested that the Asus ROG Ally 2 was, in fact, going to arrive with Xbox-specific design features, but nothing has been officially revealed since.

MORE FROM PCGAMESN: Microsoft DirectX Raytracing, Microsoft Hololens hands-on, Windows Game Mode preview

PCGamesN Monday, June 2, 2025 2:03 PM
    

Hell is Us has a free demo available to play on Steam right now, and we jumped straight in to see whether the game's performance is as shaky as its concerning hardware requirements suggest it may be. Unfortunately, hitting a stable frame rate north of 60fps is proving hard without using some form of upscaling.

The Hell is Us system requirements already had us on high alert, but this demo has offered the chance to put its graphical settings to the test, and the results are somewhat disappointing so far. Using our Nvidia GeForce RTX 4070 testing rig, the game struggled to hit a stable 60fps without the aid of upscaling at 1440p, suggesting you will need one of the best graphics cards to play the full game at high resolutions with a strong frame rate.

MORE FROM PCGAMESN: Best graphics card, Best gaming PC, Best SSD for gaming

Twinfinite Monday, June 2, 2025 2:01 PM
    
The Force is strong with you, but not strong enough! Use Roblox Force codes to get the best rewards in a Galaxy Far, Far Away.

Siliconera Monday, June 2, 2025 9:00 PM
    

street fighter 6 luke manga rising

A manga version of Street Fighter 6 focusing on Luke, aptly named Street Fighter: Luke Rising, will start serialization from June 29, 2025 in CoroCoro Comic. Yoshio Mokomokomaru Masao will draw the manga.

In the announcement Tweet from the official CoroCoro Comic X (formerly Twitter) account, we can see the artist's take on Luke and Ryu. There is also a rougher page of Luke posing, with other characters behind him in smaller panels. Yoshio Mokomokomaru Masao previously worked on Gaming Ojou-sama, as well as contributed multiple one-shot comics, which you can read on the Shonen Jump website.

This collaboration between Capcom and CoroCoro is to commemorate the second anniversary of Street Fighter 6. The game came out in early June 2023 for the PS4, PS5, Xbox Series X, and Windows PC. The arcade version of the game came out in December of the same year. Luke is the poster boy of Street Fighter 6, and he debuted in the series as a DLC character for V. He was also a major character in Street Fighter 6's story, which is likely why he's headlining a new manga series.

The Street Fighter: Luke Rising manga will start serialization from the June 29, 2025 issue of CoroCoro Comic. Street Fighter 6 is readily available on the PS4, PS5, Xbox Series X, and Windows PC. It is also in arcades. The Nintendo Switch 2 version will come out on June 5, 2025.

The post Street Fighter 6 Manga to Star Luke appeared first on Siliconera.


Siliconera Monday, June 2, 2025 7:00 PM
    

Genshin Impact Keqing Figure Wears Resplendent Feast Costume

Myethos announced its next Genshin Impact figure will be a take on the five-star Electro character Keqing in a Resplendent Feast costume. It will cost ¥7,260 (~$51). Worldwide shipping is available from the official online store via Buyee. It is expected to ship sometime in February 2026. Pre-orders will remain open until July 31, 2025. 

This Genshin Impact Keqing figure in a Resplendent Feast costume is part of the Myethos Gift+ line. She is a static figure at 1/8 scale. This means she's almost eight and a half inches tall (215mm). There's a base included, and it's made of translucent plastic. There are also some translucent elements to her bows in her hair and on her dress. 

Here's a closer look at her from various angles:

Other HoYoVerse characters in the Myethos Gift+ line include Mobius: Daughter of Corals from Honkai Impact 3rd and March 7th: The Hunt from Honkai: Star Rail

While Keqing can't wear this outfit in-game, there are two costumes for her in Genshin Impact. One is her default look that you get if you get the character. That's called Piercing Thunderbolt. The other is called Opulent Splendor. That debuted in 2.4 in 2022. It's a Lantern Rite look, and it costs 1,680 Genesis Crystals. 

Genshin Impact is available for the PS4, PS5, Xbox One, PC, and mobile devices, and the Keqing Resplendent Feast Myethos figure will debut in February 2026. 

The post Genshin Impact Keqing Figure Wears Resplendent Feast Costume appeared first on Siliconera.


Siliconera Monday, June 2, 2025 6:00 PM
    

First Persona 5: The Phantom X Characters and Phantom Idols Shared

Atlus started releasing profiles and art for different Persona 5: The Phantom X characters and Phantom Idols ahead of its June 2025 launch. The characters are members of our avatar's immediate group who attend Kokatsu Academy high school alongside us. Meanwhile, the Phantom Idols are summoned by Merope in the Velvet Room when we go to visit Igor and also act as additional playable characters.

The five main profiles go over the Persona 5: The Phantom X characters who all go to the same school. Our avatar has Janosik as a Persona. He's voiced by Koki Uchiyama and has the Phantom Thief name Wonder. Lufei the owl mascot is voiced by Ai Nonaka, has the Robroy Persona, and has the code name Cattle. Kaede Hondo plays Motoha Arai, who has the Awilda Persona and is known as Closer. Katsuyuki Konishi voices Shun Kano, aka Soy, and uses Mandrin. Finally, Riko "Wind" Tanemura is played by Atsumi Tanezaki, and she possesses the Chiyome Persona. 

Here are all the profile images showing the characters in their Kokatsu Academy uniforms.

As for Phantom Idols, Atlus revealed five on the official site and official art for two of them on social media. Here is a list of details going over each one, their codename, and their Persona.

  • Kotone "Mont" Montagne, with the Persona Terpsichore
  • Leo "Leon" Kamiyami, with the Persona Erytheia
  • Seiji "Fleuret" Shiratori, with the Persona Leucothea
  • Yaoling "Rin" Li, with the Persona Meng Po
  • Yukimi "Yuki" Fujikawa, with the Persona Styx

And here is the official art for Fleuret and Yuki.

Persona 5: The Phantom X will come to the PC and mobile devices on June 26, 2025.

The post First Persona 5: The Phantom X Characters and Phantom Idols Shared appeared first on Siliconera.


Siliconera Monday, June 2, 2025 5:00 PM
    

Blue Archive Steam Page Opens for PC Client

Back in April 2025, Nexon announced that we'd be able to play Blue Archive on a PC via a new launcher, and the Steam product page for the client is now online. Note that it is age-gated, so you will need to be logged into your Steam account to view it.

Details are still a bit slim about this PC version of Blue Archive on Steam. The listing does note it is a single-player title with in-app purchases. You will need a Nexon account to play. There will be a EULA to sign as well. The supported languages for that client are English, Japanese, Korean, Thai, and Traditional Chinese. Steam Deck compatibility isn't confirmed yet too.

However, the page does note there is a Blue Archive Steam Wishlist Doki Doki Heart Milestone event in effect. This runs until the game's launch. If certain numbers of people wishlist the game, everyone gets in-game items when it launches. Here's the list of possible rewards:

  • 25,000: 20 Superior Activity Reports and 50 Advanced Activity Reports
  • 50,000: 15 Advanced Tech Notes Choice Boxes, 20 Normal Tech Notes Choice Boxes, 25 Beginner Tech Notes Choice Boxes
  • 75,000: 4,000 Expert Permits
  • 100,000: a 10-Recruitment Ticket

Blue Archive is available for mobile devices, and the PC client is headed to Steam in 2025. There is also an anime based on it.

The post Blue Archive Steam Page Opens for PC Client appeared first on Siliconera.


Siliconera Monday, June 2, 2025 4:00 PM
    

See Kotobukiya's Metaphor: ReFantazio Hulkenberg Figure

We're one step closer to seeing the full release of the Eiselin Burchelli Meijal Hulkenberg figure, as Kotobukiya shared an in-progress photo of the Metaphor: ReFantazio character on social media. This is a fully-painted prototype, and the announcements confirmed pre-orders will open soon. However, there's no exact date for pre-orders or its launch.

Hulkenberg is holding a polearm for the figure, and it is the same one that's shown up in official art and images. She's wearing her standard suit and armor from the game. This is a more casual pose for the character, even though she is holding a lance, as her left hand is on her hip and it looks like she is walking.

Here's the full prototype photo of Hulkenberg:

To compare, here's official character art of Hulkenberg Atlus released ahead of the game's launch.

This Hulkenberg figure is one of multiple Kotobukiya collectibles based on characters from Metaphor: ReFantazio. First, a Gallica one appeared. After that, it shared one based on Junah. This means Eupha is the only female party member to not get a figure from the company yet.

In addition to figures, we're seeing other sorts of merchandise based on the game. SuperGroupies made a coat and bag based on the protagonist, which are being sold worldwide.

Metaphor: ReFantazio is available on the PS4, PS5, Xbox Series X, and PC. The manga based on it is running now worldwide, and there's no release window for the Eiselin Burchelli Meijal Hulkenberg figure from Kotobukiya yet. 

The post See Kotobukiya's Metaphor: ReFantazio Hulkenberg Figure appeared first on Siliconera.


Siliconera Monday, June 2, 2025 3:00 PM
    

Sega Selling Yakuza Temporary Tattoo Sleeve Arm Covers

Ryu ga Gotoku Studio social media account announced that Sega is selling temporary tattoo sleeves, which are fabric arm covers with, with designs based on tattoos of Yakuza and Like a Dragon game characters Kazuma Kiryu, Goro Majima, Ichiban Kasuga, Daigo Dojima, and Taiga Saejima. These cost 1,540円 (~$11) and are expected to ship in July 2025. Ebten does support shipping worldwide via WorldShopping. 

Each of the sleeves are 40cm long, which is about 15 inches. These are unisex items anyone could wear. Each package comes with ones to wear on a person's left and right arms. Each package is based on the tattoo that appears on a character's back in the series. So the tattoo sleeves for Kazuma Kiryu feature his dragon, while Daigo Dojima's has the Fudo Myoo design. The Goro Majima tattoo is of the Hannya mask. Taiga Saejima's is of his tiger. Meanwhile, Ichiban Kasuga's features the fushion of the koi and dragon.

Here's a gallery showing each of the available designs. There are also two photos from Ebten that showed people wearing the Kiryu and Kasuga ones.

This comes as Yakuza 0 Director's Cut is about to debut. This extended version of the game will be a Switch 2 launch game. A new trailer highlighted its gameplay. Sega also announced a 1-888-YAKUZA0 phone line for information about it.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=U2nhjslX9as&feature=youtu.be

The Yakuza and Like a Dragon tattoo sleeves arm covers based on five characters from the game series will debut in Japan in July 2025, following the Switch 2 debut of Yakuza 0 Director's Cut on June 5, 2025. 

The post Sega Selling Yakuza Temporary Tattoo Sleeve Arm Covers appeared first on Siliconera.


Destructoid Monday, June 2, 2025 3:25 PM
    

SGF 2025 logo art

It's that time once again when the temperatures rise and the gaming industry comes together to show off what we'll all be playing over the next few years and months.

Summer Game Fest returns for another offering in 2025, hosting a slew of reveals, trailers, world premieres, gameplay demos, and more as gamers look to what's next. Geoff Keighley's SGF showcase is the centerpiece of it all, but there are a lot more showcases to tune in for than just that.

https://twitter.com/summergamefest/status/1929201399792902497

Nintendo is dropping its own new console smack dab in the middle of SGF, Xbox has its own showcase over the weekend, and PlayStation is currently M.I.A., but there's plenty to be shown and announced regardless, I'm sure.

Rumors are flying about what's going to be shown off (Resident Evil 9 and Marvel's Wolverine, please), and there's already a bunch of confirmed games (a new 007 James Bond game from HITMAN devs, Death Stranding 2, and more), but we want to know what you're looking forward to hearing about.

Are you dying for a release date for Silksong? Do you need more information about Metroid Prime 4? Are you frothing at the mouth to see what's coming next for Call of Duty? Let us know in the comments below about what you hope will show up during the showcases.

Here's a sneak peek at the SGF 2025 schedule so you can pencil yourself in for some deserved "time off" to watch them all.

Summer Game Fest 2025 schedule

Sam Porter Brides and Bridge Baby
Image via Kojima Productions

June 3

  • 8:30am CT: State of Unreal at Unreal Fest Orlando 2025

June 6

  • 4pm CT: Summer Game Fest
  • 6pm CT: Day of the Devs
  • 7pm CT: BALL x PIT Showcase by Devolver Digital

June 7

  • 11am CT: Wholesome Direct 2025
  • 12pm CT: Women-Led Games
  • 1pm CT: Latin American Games Showcase
  • 2pm CT: Southeast Asian Games Showcase
  • 3pm CT: Green Games Showcase
  • 6pm CT: Frosty Games Fest
  • 8pm CT: IO Interactive Showcase

June 8

  • 12pm CT: Xbox Games Showcase and The Outer Worlds 2 Direct
  • 2pm CT: PC Gaming Show
  • 9pm CT: Death Stranding 2 Game Premiere

June 9

  • 11am CT: Black Voices in Gaming Showcase


For links and more info on the shows, check out the SGF website.

The post Summer Game Fest is upon us. What are you hoping to see? appeared first on Destructoid.


Destructoid Monday, June 2, 2025 3:00 PM
    

Disney Dreamlight Valley Dug and Mine Cart buckets

If you've played Disney Dreamlight Valley's Dreamlight Parks Fest event in the past, you'll be more than familiar with the various popcorn buckets that you craft with buttons. The 2025 edition of this event introduces two new variants—the Dug Mine Cart Popcorn Buckets.

But there's a catch: you can't make these buckets right away. Unlike other versions that only require collecting buttons and crafting, these two have a few additional prerequisites. Here's how to craft the Dug and Mine Cart popcorn buckets in Disney Dreamlight Valley's Dreamlight Parks Fest event.

How to craft the Dug Pupcorn Bucket in Disney Dreamlight Valley Parks Fest

Below is the exact recipe for creating the Dug Pupcorn Bucket during Disney Dreamlight Valley's Dreamlight Parks Fest event:

  • Green Buttons (40)
  • Blue Buttons (15)
  • Flower Buttons (20)
  • Purple Buttons (5)

Disney Dreamlight Valley Dug pupcorn bucket recipe
Screenshot by Destructoid

Previously, the Dug Pupcorn Bucket was locked behind Mirabel's Critter Snaps quest. However, Gameloft has since released the recipe with every Disney Dreamlight Valley player, along with some buttons in your in-game mailbox.

The most likely reason for this is time constraints with squirrel spawn times. Since one squirrel type, the White Squirrel, only appears once a week for a few hours, it can be challenging for anyone who works during the weekend or has other weekly commitments to make time online for this task. Aware of this issue, Gameloft provided an alternative method for obtaining the popcorn bucket but still allows you to complete the quest to unlock its recipe if you want an added challenge.

How to craft the Mine Cart Popcorn Bucket in Disney Dreamlight Valley Parks Fest

Alongside the Dug Pupcorn Bucket, you can also make a Mine Cart version during the Disney Dreamlight Valley's Dreamlight Parks Fest event. Below is its crafting recipe:

  • Green Buttons (40)
  • Blue Buttons (15)
  • Red Buttons (10)
  • Purple Buttons (5)

Disney Dreamlight Valley Mine Cart Popcorn Bucket in the collection log
Screenshot by Destructoid

The Mine Cart version requires completing a specific quest series to unlock. Below is a list of every confirmed quest involved in this process so far:

In this case, you need to progress through Scrooge McDuck's Dig It mission by hanging out with Scrooge McDuck and mining for minerals. Completing this will lead to a follow-up quest, Ovals, two days later. Since they're time-gated, you won't be able to create this popcorn bucket until you complete every related Scrooge McDuck mission.

How to use the Dug and Mine Cart Popcorn Buckets in Disney Dreamlight Valley Parks Fest

Crafting any popcorn bucket type will reward you with furniture item versions you can place in your Dreamlight Valley village. During the 2025 version of the Dreamlight Valley Parks Fest event, you can now receive handheld variants to carry around as you explore the world. You unlock these handheld buckets by completing each bucket's matching Village Duty.

Disney Dreamlight Valley Dreamlight Parks Event task list
Screenshot by Destructoid

In the case of the Dug and Mine Cart popcorn buckets, crafting them will let you complete the Squirrel and Mine Time tasks, respectively. Redeeming their rewards will grant you two handheld buckets to hold whenever you wish, which you can access through your wardrobe menu under Accessories.

The post How to craft Dug and Mine Cart Popcorn Buckets in Disney Dreamlight Valley Parks Fest appeared first on Destructoid.


Destructoid Monday, June 2, 2025 2:41 PM
    

Ballerina BO6 Ana de Armas skin

The world of John Wick, the High Table, Continental Hotel, and its assassins have finally come to Call of Duty. But don't get too excited about seeing Keanu Reeves just yet.

Ballerina, a spin-off movie set within the John Wick universe, is first up when it comes to CoD collabs. The titular character of the upcoming movie, played by Ana de Armas, is joining Black Ops 6 and Warzone as part of an Operator bundle, but a limited-time event is also set to celebrate the occasion.

The Ballerina event in BO6 and Warzone features 10 free rewards to earn, plus one more if you own the season four BlackCell battle pass, and they can all be grabbed simply by playing the game and picking up the iconic High Table Coins used by Wick and other assassins in the film franchise.

Here's everything there is to know about the upcoming Ballerina event in BO6 and Warzone.

Ballerina BO6 and Warzone event: All rewards

Ballerina Tracer Pack in Bo6 and Warzone
Image via Activision

Like other special events before it, the Ballerina event only requires players to pick up High Table Coins that drop from enemies in BO6 multiplayer, Zombies, and Warzone. Collected High Table Coins go into your inventory, which can then be spent on purchasing all of the items available.

Once all 10 items are purchased, players gain access to the Essex Model 07 marksman rifle, the newest weapon in BO6 in season four. Here are all the rewards to unlock and how many High Table Coins it takes to get them:

Reward Requirement
30 minute double XP token 5 High Table Coins
45 minute double weapon XP token 5 High Table Coins
One hour double XP token 10 High Table Coins
"En Pointe" Epic weapon charm 10 High Table Coins
Double battle pass XP token 10 High Table Coins
"Lux In Tenebris" large decal 10 High Table Coins
"Bullet Ballet" Epic calling card 20 High Table Coins
"Pay the Price" Epic emblem 20 High Table Coins
"Phoenix Up" Legendary GobbleGum for BO6 Zombies 30 High Table Coins
"Coin Trick" Legendary emote 50 High Table Coins
- Essex Model 07 marksman rifle
- "Decora Tenebris" nunchaku blueprint (BlackCell exclusive)
Unlock all 10 base rewards

From the World of John Wick: Ballerina is in theaters everywhere on June 6. The in-game event runs from June 5 to 12, so make sure to grab all of the rewards before they're gone for good once it ends.

The post All Ballerina event rewards in Black Ops 6 and Warzone appeared first on Destructoid.


Destructoid Monday, June 2, 2025 2:13 PM
    

Star Wars Battlefront 2 Hoth

All the craze surrounding Star Wars: Battlefront 2, and my getting caught up in the mass return to EA's 2017 title, scratched an itch I had long forgotten. The humming of lightsabers, iconic blaster sounds, and a brilliantly beautiful alien galaxy spurred me to revisit this classic franchise.

As a kid, I was a Star Wars buff like any other. I owned a lightsaber myself, though not one as cool as in the movies. It was plastic and had to be pointed towards the ground to unravel its cones. But to me, it was real, as was Jabba the Hutt, his palace, Tatooine, and every other bit and part of that galaxy far, far away. I watched and rewatched the movies countless times as a child and spent countless hours on the classic Star Wars: Battlefront 2, the one launched in 2005, which brought me ever closer to that unique and strange world.

An Assault Class trooper in Star Wars Battlefront 2.
2017's Battlefront 2 was a mess at launch but seems to have found reignited appreciation. Image by Destructoid

But then, around the time the sequels started coming out, Star Wars faded from my life. It wouldn't be until my friends mentioned everyone crawling back to the "new" Battlefront 2 during a mundane match of Dota 2. YouTubers, streamers, players—it seemed for a moment that the entire gaming sphere simply stopped and collectively thought: why don't we play Battlefront 2 anymore? And upon coming back to the currently available version of the game, the one that has none of the borderline predatory microtransactions and impossible progression systems, everyone realized that it was, in fact, a very good game.

I've already spent dozens of hours playing the title and watching up close the world of Star Wars unravel before me. Hell, I even fired up the original trilogy and binge-watched it all three in a row, as I was finally back into my earliest years of childhood, where Jabba and Boba Fett and Darth Vader were realistic and almost tangible. The combat and massive fights across the many realms in Galactic Assault elevated the scale of the Star Wars universe to what it was all those years ago before the incredible franchising and Disney's purchase of the IP ruined just about most of it.

My tenure with EA's most recent attempt at recreating the charm of the olden days also led me to purchase Star Wars: Battlefront 2 Classic. Not EA's re-release that ruined the original experience, but the actual 2005 title that, to my surprise, was as alive as ever. About 400 people were online when I joined one late evening, and full servers were readily available for anyone to hop on and duke it out on its many awesome maps, maps which EA also tried to put into its game but, well, didn't really capture them.

I will say that, although they lack the grittiness of the original, the maps in the 2017 Battlefront 2 are awesome in their own right and provide enough ground for an amazing experience that rivals Battlefield 1, and I don't compare games to that masterpiece lightly.

Cover of Star Wars Battlefront 2 (2005) featuring a clone trooper, Obi Wan Kenobi, and Darth Vader, with a futuristic city and a volcano in the background.
The original Battlefront 2, for all its age, had many advanced gameplay systems, many of which are ahead even of 2017's reboot. Image via LucasArts

Even so, I was awestruck at how much more content and fluidity the old Battlefront had over the new one. You could fight in ships in space and crash land into the enemy hangar and start fighting them inside, or merely hop into another X-wing and fly out to take the fight to the stars. Jedis, heroes, and villains felt like real rarities and unique moments whenever someone got them, whereas the new Battlefront has them available for points, and there's a handful active on the map at any given moment.

And that's when I sort of understood that it wasn't only childhood memories: game development, and Star Wars franchise management, were on a higher artistic level back then than they are now. The original trilogy was a fun ride; the prequels not so much. Other shows and films in the universe just kept getting worse the more I looked into them, or rather, the newer they were. Highlights exist here and there, such as the recent Andor, but they are few and far between.

The original Star Wars, which I am now once again a passionate fan of, was ironically re-introduced to me via a game that EA more or less abandoned and killed with their mismanagement and Disney's indifference to how its franchise is handled (the most recent major update was five years ago). I love Star Wars as it was, gritty, conditioned by the 1970s and 80s lack of technology and limited future predictions, lacking most modern conventions and understandings.

And EA has more than a shot, once again, to make that once great Star Wars the mainstream again. The interest is clearly there, and DICE and adjacent EA teams certainly have the talent to pull it off. So, here's hoping that I get a real chance to love the franchise again. Only this time, without having to look back.

The post The Battlefront 2 resurgence made me realize how much I love Star Wars appeared first on Destructoid.


Gaming Instincts – Next-Generation of Video Game Journalism Monday, June 2, 2025 6:58 PM

Gaming Instincts – Next-Generation of Video Game Journalism Monday, June 2, 2025 6:18 PM
    

An app showcasing the upcoming console.

The post Nintendo Switch 2 Welcome Tour Gets New Overview Trailer appeared first on Gaming Instincts - Next-Generation of Video Game Journalism.


Gaming Instincts – Next-Generation of Video Game Journalism Monday, June 2, 2025 5:37 PM

Gaming Instincts – Next-Generation of Video Game Journalism Monday, June 2, 2025 4:48 PM

iDev Games Feed Monday, June 2, 2025 3:10 PM
     John Wick is going on Adventure of revenge. He does parkour and fights enemies to try and get revenge for his dog. He has to Fight people, get bullets, get on...

MonsterVine Monday, June 2, 2025 4:30 PM
     Skeleton Crew Studio and Devolver Digital are back with a frosty new reveal for their upcoming tactical kung fu action game Forestrike. A brand-new trailer has been unveiled for the Cold Eye School—a brutal combat path centered on enduring pain and retaliating with overwhelming force. Even better, players can now try it firsthand in the […]

MonsterVine Monday, June 2, 2025 3:30 PM
     Grab a friend and get ready to color the world back to life—Popucom, the charming co-op 3D platformer from global publisher Gryphline, is officially available now for PC via Steam and the Epic Games Store. Players can dive into the colorful chaos today with either the Standard Edition for $19.99 or the Deluxe Edition for […]

MonsterVine Monday, June 2, 2025 3:00 PM
     June is here! Soon, you'll be inundated with hot takes about the Nintendo Switch 2. No doubt, everyone who gets one will be insufferably talking about how much they love playing games on their Nintendo Switch 2. But what about those of us not keen on Nintendo's misgivings? Well, there's still plenty of indies you […]

MonsterVine Monday, June 2, 2025 2:30 PM
     Funcom has confirmed that Dune: Awakening will offer private server support starting June 5, the same day the game's head start period begins. The full launch arrives just days later on June 10, but players eager to shape their own experience in the spice-filled sands of Arrakis now have reason to celebrate. Available via third-party […]