PCGamesN Saturday, June 21, 2025 3:00 PM When you use a VPN, you expect software that you can trust. Unfortunately, it isn't always as straightforward as that. Although the term "VPN" might give you peace of mind as you connect to the internet, not all VPN services are what they claim, with some of them secretly being based in China. If you know anything about international privacy laws, that will be a pretty shocking revelation. Continue reading Are you unwittingly using a Chinese VPN? MORE FROM PCGAMESN: Best graphics card, Best gaming PC, Best SSD for gaming |
PCGamesN Saturday, June 21, 2025 12:58 PM June 21, 2025: Two new Blue Lock Rivals codes are in for the King awakening update. What are the new Blue Lock Rivals codes? While your metavision may let you play the perfect pinpoint pass, you'll need a little extra assistance perceiving all the freebies the Roblox game offers. Blue Lock Rivals throws you into world soccer's biggest pressure cooker, putting your skills to the test as you channel the playstyles of the hit series' biggest hitters on the field. You'll need to be on your A-game to succeed in this Roblox experience. Read on to find out the anime game's latest codes and how to redeem them. Continue reading Blue Lock Rivals codes June 2025 MORE FROM PCGAMESN: Best Roblox games, Roblox promo codes, Roblox music codes |
PCGamesN Saturday, June 21, 2025 12:37 PM Batman: Arkham Knight turns ten this week. The fourth in the Arkham series and third of Rocksteady's trilogy, it's a mighty action game that delivers a worthy finale to the arc. I still remember my first playthrough; back in 2015, the PC port was plagued by performance problems and crashes, though I was lucky enough to avoid the worst of it. Nowadays, however, it's probably the best way to play the beloved superhero saga, and it's about to get a major upgrade with a wealth of new features, albeit from an unofficial source. MORE FROM PCGAMESN: Arkham Knight System Requirements, Best Batman games, Best superhero games |
PCGamesN Saturday, June 21, 2025 12:40 PM June 21, 2025: There's a new Mugen code in for release.
Looking for other popular games to grind on the platform? Check out the latest Blox Fruits codes to jump into a mainstay, or Attack on Titan Revolution codes if you're after a slight change of pace. And if you want something massively different, try Grow a Garden codes instead. Continue reading Mugen codes June 2025 MORE FROM PCGAMESN: Best Roblox games, Roblox promo codes, Roblox music codes |
Rock Paper Shotgun Latest Articles Feed Saturday, June 21, 2025 5:54 PM  A little over three years since it was announced, Dreamsettler, the spiritual sequel to Hypnospace Outlaw, has been cancelled. Yesterday, lead developer Jay Tholen shared a video simply titled "Dreamsettler is canceled", where he explained some of his reasoning behind the decision. "This is not a joke, and I'm sorry everyone," Tholen wrote in the description of the video. |
Rock Paper Shotgun Latest Articles Feed Saturday, June 21, 2025 4:28 PM  Ever since Gravity Rush 2 came out eight years ago (let's not focus too hard on how much time that actually is for my mental health), I have, unfortunately, not been able to stop thinking about it. It is a game with a world full of whimsy, video game ass mechanics, and, most interestingly of all, a plot that quite directly deals with topics like class. What more can you want! And yet a sequel has never materialised. Lucky for me, just yesterday a new gravity shifting game entered the scene: Metro Gravity. |
Rock Paper Shotgun Latest Articles Feed Saturday, June 21, 2025 2:59 PM  I know this is a PC games focused outlet, but I'd like to present to you the most PS3 coded game I've seen in a long while: Chains of Lukomoyre. Now, to be clear I mean this in the most loving of ways possible. That era of video games obviously set the foundations for the rinse and repeat we see in a lot of triple-A games these days, but there was still the occasional oddity out there that just had the right vibe. And I think Chains of Lukomoyre fits that vibe quite well. |
Rock Paper Shotgun Latest Articles Feed Saturday, June 21, 2025 1:57 PM  Unfortunately, it's that time of the month again. Yesterday, Splitgate 2 developer 1047 Games shared a post on LinkedIn announcing that layoffs had taken place at the company. It was described as a "small group of valued 1047 Games team members," but as is par for the course for games industry layoffs, there was no mention of how many have been laid off - though of course the usual spiel about "redirecting resources" to make the game better. You know, classic corporation speak. |
Siliconera Saturday, June 21, 2025 3:00 PM
When you get a Switch or Switch 2, you're basically getting two controllers with it that can work in a pinch, but the Pro Controller options always appeared as something of an extra luxury. If you aren't planning on prioritizing handheld mode, play more intensive and competitive games, or will play with other people, it's always recommended. While I love the Switch 2 and think it is an upgrade in almost every way, I also feel like this time around a Pro Controller is a necessary expense.
A big part of why I think the Switch 2 Pro Controller isn't optional is due to the launch library. While we've seen a lot of Nintendo console debuts with really intensive games, I think this one especially prioritizes experiences that rely upon precision and the kind of investment that also means a lot of hours spent with titles. Mario Kart World is the big draw and, while it is fine with a Joy-Con 2, the level of demand it places on a player means a Pro Controller is way more comfortable. Cyberpunk 2077 Ultimate Edition, Fantasy Life i: The Girl Who Steals Time, Split Fiction, Street Fighter 6, and Yakuza 0 Director's Cut involve a level of intensity with inputs that makes it way more comfortable to rely on the larger grips, better button spacing, and GL and GR buttons for extra mapping.
Said button layout is also a big deal. Now, for a sense of scale, I am an adult woman with I guess normal size hands? From the tip of my pointer finger to the base of my palm on each one, it's about nine inches. Basically, my hands are just big enough to make playing on a Joy-Con 2 alone or with the two together for a long period uncomfortable with certain games. It's especially bad with Mario Kart World, Cyberpunk 2077, and Street Fighter 6. The spacing for the buttons on the Pro Controller is absolutely perfect, and the tactile nature and the feedback resistance is really satisfying. It's basically building upon the already great original model for the Switch. There's no texture on the grips, which I miss a bit, and I also appreciated the translucent touch to other Pro Controller models. Still, this is incredibly comfortable to hold and use.
I also love the placement of the new buttons on the controller. The C button for GameChat is perfectly placed. It doesn't get in the way of the Home and Screenshot buttons I use frequently. The height and placement of the d-pad and right analog stick meant my thumbs never accidentally slipped off and grazed it. At the same time when I do need it, it is in easy reach without disrupting muscle memory from other controller layouts. And if I do ever forget somehow, it's directly above the 3.5mm audio jack as a reminder.
As for GL and GR, a person's left and right middle fingers naturally fall into position on them due to the positioning of the grips. There's texture on the lettering on them, so you can tell where they are. But at the same time, neither one is an intrusive or obvious lump disrupting the lines of the grip on the Switch 2 Pro Controller. Assigning it is so easy too, as you can do so by pressing and holding the Home button while in-game or via the main menu options. I honestly love and prefer the in-game one, since otherwise you need to go to Button Mapping in the Accessibility menu. Doing so while in-game allows an opportunity to experiment and play around with the setting to make sure it feels comfortable. Though if you do go through Accessibility options, you can save the mapping as a preset, which is convenient.
I really just love everything about the Switch 2 Pro Controller. It feels great and offers a degree of comfort that many of the launch games are begging for. The design of it is fantastic and comfortable for adult-sized hands. The new buttons for GameChat and GL/GR mapping also fit perfectly into the layout and really add to the experience. Especially since assigning the GL/GR buttons is such a seamless, painless process. There are only pros and no cons with the Switch 2 Pro Controller.
The Switch 2 Pro Controller is available now.
The post Nintendo Switch 2 Pro Controller Feels Like a Necessity appeared first on Siliconera. |
Siliconera Saturday, June 21, 2025 1:00 PM
Four days after setting the social media account and YouTube channel for Nijisanji Vtuber Twisty Amanozako and removing her from the official site and storefront on June 17, 2025, Anycolor announced it terminated the contract with the performer. It cited "instances of discriminatory speech" in the formal notice on its Nijisanji EN Official account.
Here is a copy of the full statement from Anycolor made on the account.
"Announcement Regarding Twisty Amanozako's Contract Termination
NIJISANJI EN has terminated its contract with Twisty Amanozako due to confirmed instances of discriminatory speech, which is in direct violation of our contract terms and is not tolerated in our community.
We appreciate your continued support as we grow together, and we remain committed to fostering a community built on mutual respect, creativity, and accountability.
Thank you for your understanding."
Prior to being terminated, Twisty Amanozako hadn't been streaming for Anycolor, as the Nijisanji Vtuber was on an indefinite hiatus. She did return briefly in January 2025 for her birthday celebration and show uo at events. The one-year anniversary Denauth merchandise, which featured the performer and fellow members of her generation Klara Charmwood and Ryoma Barrenwort, initially included her as well. Now only the two others appear in that line.
This means there are still two situations regarding Nijisanji English with no statements from Anycolor. One is the absence of Vtuber Vtuber Aster Arcadia. Following accusations about his character and behavior, he's been completely absent with no hiatus notice and his remaining "My First Cooking Stream + Special Announcement" stream being continually delayed. The other is Anycolor's findings from an official "third-party investigation" into sexual harassment and information leaking regarding employees and Vtubers at the company.
Twisty Amanozako was a Nijisanji English member between May 2024 and June 2025, and she was part of the Denauth generation alongside Klara Charmwood and Ryoma Barrenwort. Both of her gen-mates remain active.
The post Anycolor Terminated Nijisanji Vtuber Twisty Amanozako appeared first on Siliconera. |
Destructoid Saturday, June 21, 2025 4:00 PM
The Pandora's Lunchbox, just like its name, is a confusing item in PEAK, as it comes with random effects.
It's one of those items that you can never be sure what it does until you've opened it. Understanding how the item works is important, as you can't control the random outcomes.
How does the Pandora's Lunchbox work in PEAK?
The effects of Pandora's Lunchbox are completely random. Upon further inspection, I found more details about it from this detailed guide by pharmacomaniac on Steam forums.
While the original guide has plenty of details based on simulation runs, here's an easy explainer of what to expect.
You can read the full guide (as linked above) for more details about the underlying simulation. Simply put, Pandora's Lunchbox can remove all kinds of effects on your character and inflict new ones in PEAK. The degree and nature of the new effect(s) will vary based on your luck. I feel the best time to open it is to remove Curse, because what do you have to lose at that point?
The post What does Pandora's Lunchbox do in PEAK? appeared first on Destructoid. |
Destructoid Saturday, June 21, 2025 3:25 PM
BitLife's Time After Time challenge focuses entirely on romance. As your character ages and meets new people, she'll realize her partners aren't as bad as they seemed, causing a few relationships to rekindle. Either that, or she wants a chaotic life. I won't judge either way.
Table of contents
BitLife Time After Time challenge guide
BitLife's Time After Time challenge has five objectives to complete:
You won't need any special career packs or expansions for this challenge. Instead, you need to be persistent with dating others, leaving them, and getting back together with them later.
Be born a female
Your first task is to create a character who is born female. Whether you make a new playthrough or use a pre-existing one is up to you, as you don't have to worry about getting locked out of specific objectives.
You also don't have to worry about your stats for this particular challenge. As long as your character dates at least one person, the rest is up to determination and patience.
Break up with someone
Your next task is to date and break up with someone. You can start dating someone by heading into Activities, Love, and Date, and then selecting any option you wish. To make things easier, choose someone with high craziness.
Once you've met someone, head into Relationships, select your partner, and then break up with them. Doing this makes them your character's ex, knocking out this objective and preparing you for future tasks.
Get back together with an ex
Now that you have your ex, it's time to get back together with them. In almost all break-ups, your relationship stats with the ex will drop to zero percent, requiring you to befriend them again before asking them out a second time. The easiest way to do this is to gift them items such as Bitizenship ($5 in-game cash, not the real-life version,) a few bottles of alcohol, or anything else that is remotely expensive.
Over time, as you talk to them and give them gifts, their relationship bar will gradually increase. If you're lucky enough to find a Bitizenship option, this will guarantee success, making the process easier overall. Once they're friendly with you again, you can ask them out, break up again, and repeat the process one more time to complete this task.
Marry an ex
Now that your BitLife character has left and gotten back together with an ex, it's time to get married. Do the same thing you did before to raise their relationship, but this time, don't break up with them again. You'll instead want to propose and marry them.
You have two options for this. You can either start dating and wait for them to propose or buy an expensive ring and initiate the proposal yourself. They likely won't accept if you go cheap here, so don't be afraid to spend over $10,000 on a ring to get it done and over with. If your funds are low, there's usually no harm in waiting for them to ask.
From here, you just need to have the wedding and decide whether to sign a prenup before getting married. You don't need the prenup for this challenge, but you can sign one if you wish. It's completely up to you.
Have two children with the ex you married
The last task of BitLife's Time After Time challenge is to have two children with the ex you married. Now that you're married, the process of having children is the same as usual. Head into your Relationships tab, select your partner, and choose to make love. If everything goes well, you'll have a child the following year. Do this once more to have a second child, knocking out the last task of the challenge and rewarding you with a cosmetic item for your BitLife characters.
The post How to complete the Time After Time challenge in BitLife appeared first on Destructoid. |
Destructoid Saturday, June 21, 2025 2:07 PM
The Right Back to Basics Evolution is now live in EA FC 25, and it can offer some excellent upgrades to a card of your choice.
The latest evolution might seem like a weak one at first, but it's more than that. For starters, availing the upgrades is free. Secondly, the card you choose will be rated 95 after the evolution is complete. You can apply a fourth playstyle+ of your choice if you have an extra one in Ultimate Team.
Table of contents
EA FC 25 Right Back to Basics Evolution requirements
Here are the requirements of the Right Back to Basics Evolution in EA FC 25.
EA FC 25 Right Back to Basics Evolution upgrades
There are four levels of upgrades, and here are the requirements.
Level 1 upgrades
Level 2 upgrades
Level 3 upgrades
Level 4 upgrades
Level 1 upgrade conditions
Level 2 upgrade conditions
Level 3 upgrade conditions
Level 4 upgrade conditions
Best players to use in Right Back to Basics Evolution
Here are some of the best players to use in this evolution.
Your club's evo chain candidates can provide unique solutions exclusive to your Ultimate Team squad.
The post Best players to use in EA FC 25 Right Back to Basics Evolution appeared first on Destructoid. |
Destructoid Saturday, June 21, 2025 1:31 PM
The Cursed Skull is one of the most useful items to find in PEAK, and timing its use could be the difference between your team's win or loss.
The Cursed Skull is best used when one or more of your allies have fallen in the race to the top. Let's look at what the item does exactly and when to use it.
Table of contents
How does the Cursed Skull work in PEAK?
The Cursed Skull's main use is to revive all your allies who are dead in PEAK, as long as you're near them. Once revived, all your allies will have full health, and all negative effects on them will be removed. The revived players will also get full stamina. However, true to its name, this item should be used precisely.
While your teammates will be revived, you'll be dead. Simply put, you will sacrifice yourself to have a bigger team. Statistically, this increases your chances of survival, assuming you're reviving more than one ally with the item. However, you'll be sitting out for the remainder of the round.
When should you use the Cursed Skull in PEAK?
Let's consider a situation where you're the last person on your team. Chances are that you alone won't be able to scale the summit (you can, but the statistical odds won't be in your favor). Having more of your allies, theoretically, should work better.
The location of your lost allies also falls under consideration since the goal is to reach the center. To scale the mountain, you'll also need allies (at least, I haven't figured out how you can go solo entirely). Using the Cursed Skull to revive all your teammates is the smarter decision in such situations.
The post What does the Cursed Skull do in PEAK? appeared first on Destructoid. |
Destructoid Saturday, June 21, 2025 1:16 PM
2025 has been amazing so far for indie games, and we're only halfway into the year. This makes it ridiculously difficult to pick the very best when indie developers have graced us with banger after banger.
We highly recommend ENDER MAGNOLIA: Bloom in the Mist, but only after playing ENDER LILIES: Quietus of the Knights, so it's not on this list. You can expect many more indie gems to release this year and the next, but we've taken a look at our favorites from Winter 2024 to Summer 2025. So, let's get into the best indie games you can play on PC.
Recent indie games on PC that we can't stop playing
10 Dead Doves
Release date: Dec. 13, 2024
A surreal adventure, it's hard to appropriately summarize 10 Dead Doves without sounding mad. This highly unique horror is full of comedic moments and eerie atmosphere that'll surely stay with you. Yes, you may never truly understand what exactly is going on, but you'll be entranced by its story, characters, and bizarreness that you'll want to see the game through to the bitter end. A strange story centered around a father's regret, there's nothing quite like the 10 Dead Doves experience.
Blue Prince
Release date: April 10, 2025
Reaching Room 46 isn't so simple when RNG is actively working against you. Three doors greet you at the estate entrance, but can you find your way and uncover your great uncle's secrets? Brace yourself for the ultimate roguelite puzzle game that is cozy yet ominous, and is sure to keep the cogs in your brain forever turning. Replayability is through the roof. Blue Prince keeps its hooks in you by its premise alone, and it'll burrow into your ego, for nothing matters outside of finding out what could possibly be hiding inside the 46th room of a 45-room estate.
DELTARUNE
Release date: June 4, 2025
DELTARUNE grows from strength to strength with its unforgettable characters, dialogue, and legendary soundtrack. What initially looks like a flat, pixelated world is vibrant in its subtle yet satisfying art and character design. Everything stands out, for every pixel is purposely placed to make DELTARUNE entertaining, memorable, and poignant at times. This episodic RPG is nostalgic both in how it looks and plays, yet it is able to transform itself into a fantasy realm like no other. While the plot and genre are basic on paper, its execution lets you decide what kind of hero you want to be, making it no ordinary RPG.
Duck Detective: The Ghost of Glamping
Release date: May 22, 2025
Who wants to cosplay as Sherlock Holmes when you could be a Duck Detective? Charmingly witty, this short mystery game will put a smile on your face and warm your heart. We all need a cozy game once in a while—a place to visit and wind down to after a long day's work. With iconic voice acting, cute cardboard cutout art design, and jazzy music, Duck Detective is a quirky mystery adventure that doesn't take itself too seriously, and you shouldn't either. Meet suspects, build your case, and solve the mystery, all while waddling around as a divorced (and very masculine-sounding) duck.
Homicipher
Release date: Nov. 1, 2024
If you ever wanted to get into linguistics, then here is where to begin. This tame horror game is a visual novel with a twist. Homicipher places you in a completely foreign land, where entities are there to either greet or kill you. You won't know what the outcome will be until you make a choice, but how are you supposed to when you can't tell what anyone's saying? This point-and-click adventure asks you to decipher a made-up language, promising replayability, creepy and (at times) friendly characters, with various pathways to travel down as you try to make sense of the labyrinth you're entrapped in, and the residents it houses.
KARMA: The Dark World
Release date: Mar. 27, 2025
Investigating the minds of criminals by diving head-first into their memories, KARMA: The Dark World is a cinematic indie horror experience inspired by Orwell's 1984. While it isn't particularly scary, its story is truly unforgettable. Yes, it takes a while to truly understand what is going on. But when it hits, it really hits. I left this game feeling content as I applauded while the credits rolled. KARMA plays like an interactive film created by minds as complex as the late and great David Lynch. Although it doesn't do anything special in its gameplay as it's mostly a walking sim, there is so much to unpack in its mind-bending story.
Look Outside
Release date: Mar. 21, 2025
Can you survive an otherworldly epidemic where neighbors surrounding you on both sides have transformed into cosmic creatures, looking to make you one of them? Endure 15 days and know that you must never—at all costs—Look Outside. Perfectly capturing the Lovecraftian aesthetic, Look Outside blends turn-based horror and survival elements to create a terrifyingly claustrophobic experience with awesome art design. Terror awaits at your doorstep, but you must step outside into the great unknown if you want to make it out alive.
Sorry We're Closed
Release date: Nov. 14, 2024
The most in-your-face survival horror you can play, Sorry We're Closed demands your attention in its bright neon lights. A game about learning what it's like to truly love, this grungy world grows in size and color because of its vibrant cast, fantastic dialogue, and nostalgic combat. Multiple perspectives, fixed camera angles, and signature gameplay mechanics give Sorry We're Closed a strong identity. Transported to another realm for rejecting a demon's advances, Sorry We're Closed feels like a throwback to classic Silent Hill and Resident Evil, but with a rockstar twist.
The Alters
Release date: June 13, 2025
It's easy to get distracted by the stunning sci-fi landscapes of The Alters, but the reason to press on is for its unique take on survival and strategy, as you need to manage your tiny colony's happiness and keep morale up, raising the moral question on whether creating clones of yourself can ever be ethical. All born from the same memories, each Alter is given their function, all for the name of survival. The ultimate game about managing resources, mining is just one part of The Alters, and it pales in comparison to the decisions you need to make for yourself and your alters (clones), which ultimately shift who they are as people.
The Midnight Walk
Release date: May 8, 2025
There's so much beauty in The Midnight Walk as it captures the mental hurdles we must overcome in order to reach the inevitable light in what feels like never-ending darkness. Standing out for its gorgeous art design, The Midnight Walk is a passion project handcrafted from clay. Bring your little flame and change the lives of those you meet along the way, all while overcoming the darkness that surrounds you. We all travel along this path alone, and sometimes it takes an entire lifetime to see the light. But there's always that hope to hold on for a better day—for you never know what tomorrow might bring.
What have been your favorite indie games of 2025 so far? Do you think any could possibly be GOTY contenders, or are we all thinking the same thing? Surely one particular game will be crowned victorious—and that's Clair Obscur: Expedition 33.
The post Best indie games on PC (2025) appeared first on Destructoid. |
Destructoid Saturday, June 21, 2025 12:06 PM
College Football 26's first gameplay deep-dive focused on the new changes to this year's game, and the defense has been handed a complete overhaul.
According to the developers, there was a general feeling that defense needed more depth and presence. This year's gameplay will offer far better defensive control and responsiveness than College Football 25. At the core of it will be the new Physics-based tackling system.
Table of contents
College Football 26 Defensive Overhaul explained
Last year, EA Sports introduced a new tackle system in Madden NFL 25. This year, the technology makes its way over to College Football 26, and at its core will be the Physics-Based Tackling (PBT).
Your defenders' ratings will matter more as the better ones will win more tackles and do so cleanly. Similarly, weaker defenders are likelier to lose the tackles, so focusing on your college recruitment will be necessary. Additionally, there will be new tackle types in this year's game.
You can also expect better mechanics in general defense.
College Football 26 Stunts explained
Stunts and Twists will no longer be limited to four-man rushes. Instead, you can have more freedom to disrupt assignments and create chaos on the field. Open the new sub-menu to access all available stunts and twists for a specific call. 12 unique stunt types, based on real-life tactics, will be provided for you to choose from.
Here's what you can do with the help of the stunts and twists.
You will also access the Block Steering foundational trench feature, which allows both the AI and the players to influence the direction of a block. The Block Steering system has over 700 new animations to make the gameplay feel authentic. It comes with smarter blocking mechanics, an improved targeting system, and a better understanding of gaps on the field.
Plus, plenty of defensive playbooks allow you to employ new formations and tactics to stop the opposition's offense.
College Football 26 Real Time Coaching 2.0 explained
Real-time coaching has been upgraded this year, changing how the AI-controlled teams will operate. In simpler words, the AI will be far more dynamic regarding decision-making and reacting to situations.
In short, expect the AI to be much shrewder when countering your offense.
The post College Football 26 Defensive Overhaul, Real Time Coaching 2.0, and more appeared first on Destructoid. |
Gaming Instincts – Next-Generation of Video Game Journalism Saturday, June 21, 2025 4:36 PM According to a recent presentation. The post Persona 4 Revival and STRANGER THAN HEAVEN Release Windows Revealed appeared first on Gaming Instincts - Next-Generation of Video Game Journalism. |
Gaming Instincts – Next-Generation of Video Game Journalism Saturday, June 21, 2025 4:03 PM Revealed on the PlayStation website. The post Monster Hunter Wilds Title Update 2 Release Date Revealed appeared first on Gaming Instincts - Next-Generation of Video Game Journalism. |
Gaming Instincts – Next-Generation of Video Game Journalism Saturday, June 21, 2025 3:49 PM Accidently revealed in a PDF. The post SEGA Mistakenly Reveals Game Sales Numbers For Several Atlus Games appeared first on Gaming Instincts - Next-Generation of Video Game Journalism. |
MonsterVine Saturday, June 21, 2025 7:07 PM To celebrate the longest day of the year, The Blood of Dawnwalker stepped out of the shadows with a gritty, atmospheric gameplay presentation that gave players their first real taste of Rebel Wolves' debut RPG. The 15-minute showcase, captured from a pre-beta build on PC, dives into how protagonist Coen's dual nature shapes combat, exploration, […] |