GamersHeroes Tuesday, August 12, 2025 9:39 AM Inspired by the 16- and 32-bit era greats, Super Item Studios announced that their cozy platformer Dono's Tale is set to launch next year. The post Cozy Platformer Dono's Tale Launching Next Year appeared first on GamersHeroes. |
Kotaku Tuesday, August 12, 2025 9:38 AM
Brendan Greene's Prologue is now available to play ahead of its Early Access The post <i>PUBG</i> Creator's New Survival Sim Reveals Surprise Free Open Beta appeared first on Kotaku. |
Kotaku Tuesday, August 12, 2025 9:03 AM
A major update and new marketing campaign intend to save FBC: Firebreak The post <i>Alan Wake</i> Devs Plan A Big Relaunch For Failing Co-Op Flop appeared first on Kotaku. |
Kotaku Tuesday, August 12, 2025 8:00 AM
From Civilization to Sins of a Solar Empire via Masters of Orion, there's all the grand strategy you could hope for The post The Best 4X Games Ever Made Are All On Sale Right Now appeared first on Kotaku. |
PCGamesN Tuesday, August 12, 2025 9:57 AM Who should you trade for in Madden 26 franchise mode? Great players make winning games easier, but you'll never be able to pry Patrick Mahomes, Justin Jefferson, or Micah Parsons away from their teams. However, some less well-known players are easy to get in Madden 26 and can make a big impact on your team. As long as you are prepared to part with some of your backup players and mid-round picks, you can make big improvements to your team in the sports game and make the most out of your Madden 26 playbooks. Continue reading Best Madden 26 franchise mode trade targets MORE FROM PCGAMESN: Madden 26 system requirements, Best football and soccer games, Best sports games on PC |
PCGamesN Tuesday, August 12, 2025 9:41 AM As a long-time Deep Rock Galactic veteran, I'm not surprised to see that the Abyssus system requirements demand very little of your gaming laptop or PC. Both games offer procedurally-generated roguelite experiences and a four-player co-op experience, but Abyssus brings an underwater twist and some Hades-style elements I can't wait to get stuck into. Abyssus could well become one of the best co-op games on PC and dominate the next few weeks of my life if the full release lives up to the demo and the gameplay trailers. The combat has a very Doom-like vibe, but with all the customization options I came to love in Deep Rock Galactic. However, time will tell if Abyssus can rise to the surface among a sea of other co-op roguelites, or sink to the abyss in obscurity, especially as you'll need a fairly decent if not the best gaming CPU you can afford from our buying guides to play the game at its best. Continue reading Abyssus system requirements MORE FROM PCGAMESN: Best graphics card, Best gaming PC, Best SSD for gaming |
PCGamesN Tuesday, August 12, 2025 9:29 AM A new Asus mini gaming PC has just been announced with a powerful set of specs. The Asus ROG 15 Performance manages to squeeze an Nvidia GeForce RTX 5070 gaming GPU into its interior, alongside a huge 24-core Intel gaming CPU, inside a tiny three-liter case. Asus quietly released the specs for this new Asus NUC mini PC nearly three months ago, but this official announcement brings it closer to a wide-scale launch. Filled with those powerful Nvidia and Intel components, we're expecting this Asus entry to be a strong candidate for our best gaming mini PC guide, depending on how well it performs in the real world. MORE FROM PCGAMESN: Asus ROG Zephyrus G16 review, Asus ROG Ally X review, Best gaming motherboard |
PCGamesN Tuesday, August 12, 2025 9:16 AM What are the best Black Ops 6 Zombies Gobblegums? Treyarch brought the Gobblegum system back from Black Ops 3 for their latest zombie game, providing you with a range of upgrades to aid you on your journey. Gobblegum dispensers appear on each map in Black Ops 6, and interacting with one could be pivotal in your goal to survive. Even with the best Black Ops 6 weapons in your loadout, the hordes of undead can be a real challenge, luckily there are plenty of ways to boost your chances of survival in Black Ops 6 Zombies. Alongside perks and Augments, there are deadly Black Ops 6 Wonder Weapons that can be pushed even further with Gobblegums. Here are all the Black Ops 6 Zombie Gobblegums, including how to use them, and which are the best. Continue reading Black Ops 6 Zombies Gobblegums explained MORE FROM PCGAMESN: Black Ops 6 guns, Black Ops 6 review, Black Ops 6 loadouts |
PCGamesN Tuesday, August 12, 2025 9:06 AM After creating a whole new genre with PUBG, Brendan 'PlayerUnknown' Greene is turning his hand to a hardcore survival game. Prologue has been in the works for a while now, quietly being refined by PlayerUnknown Productions and its team of community playtesters. But now the time has come to open its doors a little wider - the Prologue open beta has been announced, and it drops, well, right now. MORE FROM PCGAMESN: Best survival games, Best open-world games, Best single player games |
PCGamesN Tuesday, August 12, 2025 7:45 AM Dev streams can be a bit of a slog to sit through at the best of times. Oftentimes I'm watching along, tuning in and out of needless yapping before realizing I've missed an important piece of information that I'd inevitably have to re-read in the patch notes later on. Diablo 4's Public Test Realm Campfires are one of the worst offenders, and players have consistently made it known that Blizzard's efforts aren't delivering the goods. The studio agrees, and has now canned its update livestreams until it can provide something more substantial in return for our watch hours. MORE FROM PCGAMESN: Diablo 4 builds, Diablo 4: Vessel of Hatred review, Diablo 4 classes |
PCGamesN Tuesday, August 12, 2025 7:32 AM What is Black Ops 6 Zombies Perk-A-Cola? Any FPS game worth its salt (and lime) includes some sort of perk system, allowing to players to put their focus on an area or areas in which they excel - or often fail. Stealth player? Make yourself quieter. Bad at aiming? Reduce your recoil. And so on and so forth. Even the Zombies more in Black Ops 6 is no stranger to perks, and the classic Perk-A-Cola system returns from previous games in the series. Here are the refreshing details you need to know about BO6 Perk-A-Colas. When you're looking at the best BO6 loadouts to equip for zombies mode, and the best field upgrades to go with them, you're preparing yourself before you drop into the zombie game. Zombies maps are full of in-game items to boost your play as well. You don't overlook the Black Ops 6 Pack-A-Punch machine, and you certainly shouldn't overlook Perk-A-Colas. Continue reading All Black Ops 6 Zombies Perk-A-Colas MORE FROM PCGAMESN: Black Ops 6 guns, Black Ops 6 review, Black Ops 6 loadouts |
PCGamesN Tuesday, August 12, 2025 8:05 AM What's the best Warhammer game you've ever played? There's a lot of love for Space Marine 2 at the moment but, despite loving calling in a Dreadnought in Siege Mode, I think recency bias might be at play here. Do you remember whiling away the hours playing Dawn of War? The Soulstorm DLC in particular was my jam, but that whole first game was a masterpiece encased in ceramite armour. However, there might be one game that surpasses it. Owlcat Games' Warhammer 40k: Rogue Trader has so many opportunities for roleplay that it has every right to be called the best Warhammer game ever made. And if you haven't played it, now is the perfect time. MORE FROM PCGAMESN: Best Warhammer 40K games, Best RPGs, Best space games |
PCGamesN Tuesday, August 12, 2025 7:19 AM What are Black Ops 6 Augments? Augments were a new mechanic that arrived with BO6 Zombies that allow you to customize Perk-A-Colas, Ammo Mods, and Field Upgrades. For the most part, there are different Augments for different playstyles and abilities, but there are also some stand-out options, and we've listed our top picks below. We've also listed every single BO6 Augment available for each of the Black Ops 6 Perk-A-Colas, Ammo Mods, and Field Upgrades, and which work well together, so you need look no further for help with this new mechanic in the multiplayer game. You can't take on hordes of the undead with just perks and Field Upgrades, though, so don't forget to kit yourself out with the best Black Ops 6 weapons, too. Continue reading Black Ops 6 Zombies Augments explained MORE FROM PCGAMESN: Black Ops 6 guns, Black Ops 6 review, Black Ops 6 loadouts |
PCGamesN Tuesday, August 12, 2025 6:44 AM It's only natural that players will rush to complete any new quest that a live-service game throws at them. As one of the original subscription-based games, World of Warcraft is no different. With every new update, players scramble to access new story content, level up their characters, and get all the best gear. However, following the release of Ghosts of K'Aresh, some adventurers have encountered a problem with one new quest - a problem that's getting them banned. Blizzard has handed out numerous ten-day suspensions to players who have apparently exploited game mechanics, although a lot of people have taken to social media to profess their innocence. MORE FROM PCGAMESN: Best MMORPGs, WoW The War Within review, The best WoW addons |
PCGamesN Tuesday, August 12, 2025 6:35 AM There are some things I hate in online videogames. Cheaters are the obvious one, smurfs are another, but boosting is a real pet peeve. While relatively commonplace in League of Legends, Riot confirmed in its recent dev diary that it's bringing down the hammer on boosted accounts coming into Season 3, specifically with patch 25.18. One booster, however, has taken to X (formerly Twitter) to criticize Riot's plans to clamp down, earning themselves a particularly scathing response from head of product Drew Levin that may go down in history as one of the spiciest game dev replies. MORE FROM PCGAMESN: League of Legends ranks explained, League of Legends Mythic shop rotation, LoL tier list |
PCGamesN Tuesday, August 12, 2025 6:32 AM What are all the Black Ops 6 Zombies maps? Treyarch's Round-based Zombies returned with a bang to Black Ops 6 following the widely unloved MWZ extraction mode. Starting with two fantastic maps at launch, Liberty City and Terminus, the list of BO6 zombies maps was rounded out to a grand total of six. The six BO6 Zombies maps available in the zombie game feature operators from Black Ops Cold War as their story continues six years later, bringing a few new faces along for the ride. You can play as any of the BO6 operators, but picking one specially made for the Black Ops 6 Zombie mode reveals special voice lines, filling in details about the maps and story. Continue reading All Black Ops 6 Zombies maps |
PCGamesN Tuesday, August 12, 2025 6:26 AM How do you get the Grounded 2 Scarlet Aegis? If you and your friends take buggies into battle, this powerful shield can set your team up for success with a single perk. Follow the steps below and you should be able to grab this hidden Grounded 2 weapon (well, shield) without much trouble. Once you have the Scarlet Shield, consider pairing it with the Crimson Avenger—another hidden weapon you can snag for nothing. And if you still need a few upgrades before taking on bigger bugs around the Grounded 2 park, seek the many Milk Molar locations around the park for some powerful perks to help you conquer the survival game. Continue reading How to get the Grounded 2 Scarlet Aegis shield |
PCGamesN Tuesday, August 12, 2025 6:24 AM How do you get the Pinch Whacker in Grounded 2? This weapon has been designed for bug-brawling soldiers, the type of person who isn't afraid to fend off the feelers of four stinging scorpions at a time. Once you get your hands on the Pinch Whacker, there isn't much in the game that can stand in your way. If you're looking for more powerful weapons like the Pinch Whacker, you may want to head out to Pine Hill beyond the Picnic Table to loot the Bushwacker. With it, you'll boost your team's chances in this survival game by having a powerful way to stop mosquitoes, bees, and butterflies in the Grounded 2 park. Continue reading How to get the Grounded 2 Pinch Whacker |
PCGamesN Tuesday, August 12, 2025 6:23 AM How do you get Heatwave in Grounded 2? This powerful Sizzling Orb staff is a must-have for anyone looking to roast cockoackes and burn bombadier beetles. But without proper prep, you'll feel the burn whenever you try to grab it. Here's where to find the Heatwave staff and how to survive its red-hot wrath before you cook yourself on a fool's errand. Given you'll need a Grade II Omni-Hammer to bust your way into where the Heatwave weapon is hiding, you may need to reconsider your journey. Other free Grounded 2 weapons, like the Gloom Skewer and Bushwacker, can be obtained as soon as you have your first buggy. Continue reading How to get the Grounded 2 Heatwave weapon |
PCGamesN Tuesday, August 12, 2025 6:16 AM What are the best InZOI mods? Though you can do practically anything you want in InZOI, people always want more. Thankfully, the devs have given the community the green light to create mods for the simulation game, opening up a world of possibilities. The InZOI release date won't be arriving until the early access period ends, and that likely means we'll be waiting until late 2026 at the earliest. Judging by the InZOI roadmap, there are plenty of helpful features on the horizon, but until then, we've got a plethora of InZOI mods to choose from. From new control schemes, additional graphics options, and much more, our list of InZOI mods will make you want to add something new to the life game. Continue reading The best InZOI mods MORE FROM PCGAMESN: Inzoi cheats, Inzoi roadmap, Inzoi system requirements |
PCGamesN Tuesday, August 12, 2025 6:10 AM When FBC Firebreak was first announced, I couldn't hide my excitement. Remedy Entertainment's penchant for the 'new weird,' packaged up as a Helldivers 2-style co-op shooter was quite the hook. Unfortunately, it didn't live up to expectation, and was panned by players and critics alike. In its latest financial report, the studio doesn't hide its disappointment, but insists that there's plenty more to come from its Firebreakers. MORE FROM PCGAMESN: Best co-op games, Best FPS games, Best Game Pass games |
PCGamesN Tuesday, August 12, 2025 6:05 AM As the back to school sales start popping up, it can be hard to distinguish between the all of the good laptop deals and those that aren't worth your time. Fortunately, we have plenty of options to suit a range of budgets, that based on our experience and testing, our some of the top choices to grab right now. While some manufacturers or retailers will require verification to prove that you're in education still (so you can get the back to school discount), other storefronts will do a general sale, with discounts for anyone heading to the classroom or those looking for a powerful laptop for their videogames. Some of the best gaming laptops, including the impressive Razer Black 16 model for 2025 are currently on sale, so there's a decent selection to choose from. We've curated a list full of the best deals we've found when scouring the internet, but if you're looking to make your own decision, you can also use our handy list of retailers to jump to the latest discounts and grab your favorite option. Continue reading Our favorite laptop deals to grab during back to school sales 2025 MORE FROM PCGAMESN: Best graphics card, Best gaming PC, Best SSD for gaming |
PCGamesN Tuesday, August 12, 2025 5:41 AM If you're well overdue for a big mouse upgrade, then this Razer gaming mouse deal couldn't have come at a better time. The Razer Deathadder V3 Hyperspeed is on sale at Amazon right now with a 25% discount, bringing the price down to just $75.99. We tested the wired version of this mouse in our Razer Deathadder V3 review, where we praised it for its performance, build quality, and its lightweight shell. This wireless Razer Hyperspeed alternative is even lighter at 55g, making it one of the lighter options for gaming you could choose, even compared to some of the options in our best gaming mouse guide. MORE FROM PCGAMESN: Razer Blade 16 2025 review, Razer DeathAdder V3 review , Best gaming mouse |
PCGamesN Tuesday, August 12, 2025 5:25 AM When is the next Monopoly Go Golden Blitz? This special, limited-time event allows players to trade two, usually locked golden stickers during a 24-hour period. This is an ideal solution for grabbing elusive missing stickers and completing albums before they come to an end. There's no official schedule for Monopoly Go's Golden Blitz event, so we can only estimate the date of the first Summer Escape Golden Blitz based on previous events and official sticker polls. However, we check daily for official word on the next trade. While you wait, be sure to participate in other Monopoly Go events for a chance to earn rare sticker packs, and keep on top of freebies with our free Monopoly Go dice rolls guide, which is updated regularly with the newest links. Continue reading When is the next Monopoly Go Golden Blitz event? MORE FROM PCGAMESN: Best board games, Monopoly Go events, Monopoly Go dice |
PCGamesN Tuesday, August 12, 2025 5:22 AM What are the Elden Ring Nightreign Everdark Sovereign events? As if Nightreign wasn't difficult enough, the developers have added a new mechanic to the game that strengthens specific Night Lords at the end of each expedition. The rewards for taking down these enemies can drastically change your builds, so it's definitely worth pursuing to become significantly stronger. These supercharged Elden Ring Nightreign bosses appear on a weekly schedule; if you want to take them all down, you're going to need to do it sooner rather than later. The Elden Ring Nightreign events in the co-op game are currently available for a limited time, but FromSoftware has said they will be made permanent at a later date. Continue reading Elden Ring Nightreign Everdark Sovereign explained MORE FROM PCGAMESN: Elden Ring Nightreign review, Elden Ring Nightreign class, Elden Ring Nightreign bosses |
PCGamesN Tuesday, August 12, 2025 5:11 AM Donkey Kong had only just started lobbing barrels at a chunky Mario as he climbed up wonky ladders, Ronald Regan had recently taken over the white house, and the very first Duran Duran album had just rolled off the vinyl press. It's August 12, 1981, and IBM has just released the foundation for the PCs we know and love today, the IBM PC 5150. IBM certainly didn't envision the best gaming PC designs on our buying guide today when it developed the 5150, but with its early Intel x86 CPU, onboard RAM, and its own dedicated storage system, the IBM PC 5150 broke the mold, creating a powerful computer that could operate independently. In this feature, I chat to IBM about how the PC was first created, and also dismantle an original specimen. Continue reading How the IBM PC 5150 was made, and a look inside the very first PC MORE FROM PCGAMESN: Intel Core Ultra 7 265K review, Best gaming CPU, Core i9 14900K review |
PCGamesN Tuesday, August 12, 2025 5:56 AM Where is Tophat Gudetama in Hello Kitty Island Adventure? Once you've befriended Pochacco in Hello Kitty Island Adventure, he lets you know that fan-favorite Sanrio character Gudetama can be found dotted around the island as small figurines. While many of these can be found posed in different situations, some very special Gudetamas are key to the Laziest Egg weekly quest. Once you have triggered the Laziest Egg quest with Pochacco in Hello Kitty Island Adventure, the weekly quest appears in your log automatically to find Gudetama wearing a top hat. Only one of these Gudetamas spawns each week, and, luckily, its location is on a simple rotation, and we've got them all right here. Take a look below to find the Tophat Gudetama location this week, or browse where it might appear in the relaxing game in the future. Continue reading Hello Kitty Island Adventure Tophat Gudetama location MORE FROM PCGAMESN: Best relaxing games, Games like Animal Crossing, Best life games |
PCGamesN Tuesday, August 12, 2025 5:07 AM What are the best Roblox games? Games aren't just better than ever for kids; the means of creating them are, too. The best example of that is Roblox: a massively multiplayer online game creation platform. Its user-generated creations allow you to weather the threat of a natural disaster, try your hand as a pizza maker, or take a break with a fishing adventure full of exploration and discovery. From sims and RPGs to tower defense and grand adventure titles, we've highlighted the best Roblox games to enjoy with over 100 million other pals in online games. Think of it like Minecraft and LittleBigPlanet smooshed together to create one of the best free PC games available. Below, you can find the best Roblox games and more about this exciting platform. Continue reading The best Roblox games in 2025 MORE FROM PCGAMESN: Best Roblox games, Roblox promo codes, Roblox music codes |
PCGamesN Tuesday, August 12, 2025 6:00 AM What are the best games like The Sims? Suppose you're fed up with setting your Sims on fire, watching them struggle to control their bladder, or seeing them wash their dinner plate in the bathroom sink. In that case, these games are very similar to The Sims but offer a nice alternative to EA's Truman Show simulator. You might be able to grab The Sims 4 for free these days, but sometimes it's fun to try something different. While there are plenty of exciting life games on the horizon, some of the best PC games available take their cue from Maxis. Join us as we run the gamut of games like The Sims on PC, from managing budgets in Two Point Hospital to forging relationships in Stardew Valley. Continue reading The best games like The Sims in 2025 MORE FROM PCGAMESN: Cities Skylines 2 review, Cities Skylines 2 roads, Cities Skylines 2 maps |
Rock Paper Shotgun Latest Articles Feed Tuesday, August 12, 2025 9:21 AM  We've covered a few deals on the RTX 5070 from various manufacturers in recent days, but today we've spotted its big brother, the RTX 5080, up for almost 20% off. |
Rock Paper Shotgun Latest Articles Feed Tuesday, August 12, 2025 6:49 AM  Right, stop eating your mate for a minute. Peak's had a big update from developers Aggro Crab and Landfall Games, and it adds a new Monument Valley-esque location for you to scale the cliffs of. Before you can go mountaineering among the sandy cacti and roaring tornadoes, though, you'll want to put on some suncream. Yes, I know you now do the cannibalism thanks to co-op climber's most recent patch, but you've still got to take your skincare seriously. Come on, at least take a parasol. |
Rock Paper Shotgun Latest Articles Feed Tuesday, August 12, 2025 6:00 AM  While admitting that FBC: Firebreak's launch on Steam "underperformed", developers Remedy have re-iterated their commitment to the co-op shooter in their latest financial report, saying that it remains "a solid game to build on" and confirming that a previously announced major update will arrive in late September. The report also gives quick mini-updates on the development of Control 2 and the combined Max Payne 1 & 2 remake, both of which remain on course. |
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Siliconera Tuesday, August 12, 2025 10:00 AM
At the end of July 2025, Capcom announced it would add the planned increased difficulty and end-game content update in August 13, 2025 instead of September 2025, and now Director Yuya Tokuda talked more about the 9-star monsters heading to Monster Hunter Wilds. These monsters will show up alongside the set of new quests and talismans in the game. You do need to be at HR 100 to start seeing them. However, once you do, you can get Glowing Stone appraisal items that can be turned into Appraised Talismans.
Initially, the version 1.021 Monster Hunter Wilds update announcement noted there would be "new level of quest difficulty" and "new rewards system (talisman)," with the nine-star monsters not even mentioned. Nine of them will appear initially. All of them will be Tempered Monsters. Based on the initial teaser photo, it looks like these will be Jin Dahaad, Lagiacrus, Mizutsune, Nu Udra, Gore Magala, Rathian, Rey Dau, Seregios, and Uth Duna. More will join them in September 2025 with Title Update 3. The Appraised Talismans they drop will have random skills, including weapon and armor ones, and decoration slots. Those can't be upgraded, however. In general, hunting rewards will also be adjusted for them.
Tokuda also went over additional changes that will come alongside the higher difficulty changes for HR 100 hunters in Monster Hunter Wilds. He started by mentioning meal effects will last longer, to balance things out since hunts will take longer. The announcement noted that Apex Predators will appear in regions even when when there isn't the inclemency. When Title Update 3 arrives, those nine-star monsters could crash Event Quests. There will also be more instances where we'll face larger groups, and he specifically mentioned "hunts targeting packs of monsters."
Here are some additional screenshots Capcom shared showing changes:
We also know the other two additions coming in the patch this week. There will be weapon balance adjustments and various improvements and adjustments coming this week too.
Monster Hunter Wilds is available for the PS5, Xbox Series X, and PC, and nine-star difficulty monsters arrive in a patch on August 13, 2025.
The post 9-Star Difficulty Monsters Head to Monster Hunter Wilds appeared first on Siliconera. |
Siliconera Tuesday, August 12, 2025 9:00 AM
One of the reasons 2025 is looking to be a strong game for folks who enjoy otome games or titles with romantic elements is because of games like Nippon Cultural Broadcasting eXtend Inc's BUSTAFELLOWS season 2. A near direct follow-up to the previous adventure, it again combines drama and elements of an investigative thriller with a heroine who's now in an established relationship with one of the leads from the previous game. To learn more about its development, Siliconera spoke with eXtend Producer and Scenario Writer minetaka about both the original game and the sequel.
Jenni Lada: When did development on BUSTAFELLOWS season 2 begin?
minetaka: Originally, we had no plans to create a sequel to BUSTAFELLOWS, as we considered it a complete, standalone story.
After the game's release, however, we were overwhelmed by heartfelt feedback from players, along with countless messages filled with love for the characters. As I read through them, I found myself wanting to return to the city of New Sieg and see them once again.
At that stage, I hadn't even thought about a release schedule. I simply approached the original team and said, "I can't stop thinking about making a sequel. Would you be willing to work on it with me again?" Fortunately, everyone was enthusiastic and open to the idea. They all shared the same desire to return to the world of BUSTAFELLOWS and create something together once more.
That's why, on December 19, 2020, the first anniversary of the original game's release, we officially announced the development of Season 2.
At that moment, we had nothing in place: no outline, no production plan, and no clear scenario in my mind. Normally, creating a visual novel requires a considerable amount of time, both in planning and production, so beginning development from that point was especially challenging.
Knowing that BUSTAFELLOWS season 2 would be released worldwide, how did that influence the game's development?
minetaka: From a creative standpoint, there was no particular impact.
Whether the game would be released only in Japan or internationally did not affect the worldbuilding or the way we approached the story.
Of course, when it comes to entertainment, I believe there are many cultural elements that should be acknowledged and respected. But that does not mean that, 'we don't have to take them into consideration because it is for Japan.' From the very beginning, the city of New Sieg was created as a place where diverse races, cultures, and beliefs coexist.
Nowadays, even if we release a Japanese language version for the Japanese market, it can be accessed and played by people from all over the world. I'm truly grateful that we often hear feedback from international players who have enjoyed the Japanese version. Given this, there is no creative impact on whether the game is for the Japanese or global market.
One thing I've always wondered, as someone born and raised in Japan, is how my portrayal of a fictional "American" city is perceived by people who actually live in the U.S. We didn't aim to create a perfectly accurate representation, but I do worry that it might unintentionally come across as disrespectful from a local's perspective. I genuinely love American culture and have great respect for it, so I would be very happy if that appreciation shines through in the game.
What was your goal when preparing a sequel to the original BUSATFELLOWS?
minetaka: When it comes to the sequel, around 90% of players will have already played the first game. This means the most people picking it up are those who found the original interesting or grew to love the characters.
It's incredibly challenging to create something that meets the expectations of those players.
If we made something similar to the first game, it would risk feeling repetitive. On the other hand, going too far in a new direction might not be what players were hoping for. As someone who enjoys watching drama series, I know many of us have felt this before: "Season 2 wasn't as good as I'd hoped." Maybe it felt too similar to the first season, or maybe it changed so much that it no longer felt like the same show.
When it comes to a sequel, finding the right balance can be difficult.
If our goal was just to make something acceptable, it wouldn't be nearly as difficult. We could take the feedback from the first game, keep the parts that were popular, cut out any unpopular elements, and produce something that's easy to enjoy or at least not disliked.
This is not what we wanted to create. We weren't trying to make a "three-star" game.
We wanted to focus on creating something we truly believed in and to depict the world we wanted to bring to life. We knew this approach might not connect with everyone, but at the same time, we believed it could deeply resonate with others. This kind of creative risk, which could lead to either one-star or five-star reviews, puts us on a path that we felt would allow our work to grow and evolve.
A new flowchart will be added to BUSTAFELLOWS season 2. Could you share how you came up with this design and what you focused on to ensure a smooth and comfortable gameplay experience?
minetaka: When it comes to UI design, I tried to avoid making it look too "game-like." For example, displaying the protagonist's face icon next to the text window helps convey emotions more clearly and makes the screen more visually engaging. But in real life, we don't talk while watching our own facial expressions, do we? Instead, we want players to imagine the atmosphere and emotions of a scene through the words of other characters or the protagonist's inner monologue. Having a face icon constantly display different expressions might disrupt a player's ability to imagine the scene for themselves.
Although it might be easier for the player, and it might feel more "game-like," in terms of immersion, I believe it's more important not to disrupt the player's imaginative engagement. That's why we chose not to give the protagonist a face icon.
When their expression does play a crucial role in a scene, I find other ways in showing it on the screen. Nonetheless, while I place great importance on narrative immersion, at the end of the day, this is still a game.
If it's difficult to play, then it simply won't be enjoyable. That's why features like the flowchart are important. They help players understand the overall story structure and provide a convenient way to revisit specific parts.
We wanted people to enjoy the story for a long time and thought it was a necessary feature for them to play the game repeatedly.
As for the UI design itself, it was once again handled by Chiaki Sasame, who also worked on the original BUSTAFELLOWS and Side Kicks! beyond. They consistently maintain a thoughtful balance between functionality, making the game easy to play, and helping players fully immerse themselves in the world.
In Season 2, the concept is built around the idea that the player is "logging into" the artificial intelligence anima, which was created by Scarecrow.
How did you incorporate fan feedback into Bustafellows season 2's development?
minetaka: Feedback related to the usability of gameplay has always been a priority to us. While we do our best to put ourselves in the player's position and go through a lot of trial and error, no matter how we approach it, we can never truly be in the same position as the player. We often get feedback from players on areas we didn't realise or perspectives we hadn't thought of ourselves. Much of what we overlook as developers often becomes clear through player feedback, which is incredibly valuable to us.
At the same time, we pay close attention to both positive and negative feedback regarding the game's content, story, and characters, while being careful not to let it influence our own vision. Some players may interpret the story exactly as intended and others may see it in a completely different way. Whether the interpretation is positive or negative, incorporating the feedback directly into our work can be risky.
What a creator wants to express and communicate does not necessarily reach everyone in the same way, this is what makes storytelling interesting.
When it comes to Season 2, there are some story developments that are challenging. It was pointed out to me that these developments might be "disliked'' by many players. Despite this, I stood by my original vision and kept the story as I had originally created it.
All the characters are charming, but none of them are perfect. It's their flaws, mistakes, and sometimes unlikable actions that make them feel truly alive.
That said... Once the game was released, I have to admit, I watched over it for reactions with a bit of anxiety holding my breath a little. (laughs)
Although BUSTAFELLOWS is classified as an otome game, it also incorporates adventure elements within the visual novel format. For BUSTAFELLOWS season 2, what design choices did you implement to appeal to a wider audience?
minetaka: This is something I have held as a belief for a long time. I never really set out to make a so-called "otome game." When I say "so-called," I'm referring to the fact that players often make assumptions on the game before even beginning to play it. I believe that categorising a game as an "otome game" based on preconceived notions narrows the scope of the genre itself.
Before release, I often get questions from fans like:
And of course, I understand where that comes from.
Knowing that kind of information in advance can help players enjoy the game more efficiently, especially for players who would like to focus on the characters. However I also think this takes away the surprise of meeting the characters for the first time and discovering for yourself who they are and what kind of stories unfold around them.
That initial experience can be lost when too much is revealed beforehand.
To be clear, I am not against the otome genre classification.
I think it is important that meaningful genres are established. However, I do not agree with a playstyle that takes away the surprise and the benefits of being a game in that genre.
What I hope for is a broader experience that isn't limited by definition, where people can approach the story and the world with a fresh perspective, regardless of labels.
Wouldn't it be wonderful if more people could just enjoy these amazing titles released under the "otome" genre with an open mind, and not bound by expectations?
When creating BUSTAFELLOWS, we've made a conscious effort to not limit ourselves by convention but to offer something new and emotionally impactful.
When someone starts Bustafellows Season 2, you get an option to pick whose "route" you will be on. How did you come up with that decision to start the game?
minetaka: BUSTAFELLOWS is a multi-ending game,so which character's ending is considered the 'official' story depends entirely on the player's choice.
Since Season 2 is a sequel, we felt it was important to offer multiple starting points, allowing each player to experience a true continuation of their story.
But, as I mentioned before, we didn't want it to have a typical 'game-like' design.
If you were only thinking of it as a game and wanted the quickest, easiest way to find out, you might just ask, "Whose episode would you like to read?"
In Season 1 of BUSTAFELLOWS, the name of the cat the protagonist owned changed depending on which character's episode it was with.
In Season 2, we used that idea by asking, "What's your cat's name?", a simple question that helps each player feel like they're continuing their story.
We could have created a prologue that averaged out all of the episodes from Season 1, or we could have reset all the characters' relationships and had players start fresh. But since Season 2 is a true sequel, we focused on designing the game to build directly on the previous season, allowing each story to continue exactly where it ended. As a result, the game turned into "five entirely different stories" right from the prologue, which made the production far more demanding than we expected.
But I really do believe that the more challenging the production is, the more interesting the result can be.
Still, I truly believe that when you push through a tough production process, you often come out with something much more interesting. I think we created something truly engaging and it turned out the way we wanted it to be.
You released demos for both BUSTAFELLOWS and BUSTAFELLOWS season 2. What kind of reaction did you get after releasing the demo versions? How difficult was it to prepare these demo versions?
minetaka: We didn't create a demo for people to play and decide whether they feel the game is interesting or not. We made it with the intention of inviting people to "try it even if you're not sure. "I promise you'll want to see what happens next." That said, we knew there would be some people who might try the demo and feel it wasn't for them, so of course we had concerns about that.
But when asking players to invest both their money in purchasing the game and their time in experiencing a long story, we felt it was important for them to engage with the game itself and to offer more than just illustrations, text, or videos shared on our official website or social media.
To be honest, we released the demo version with the confidence that anyone who played it would want to continue with the full game.
What do you think of the possibilities for BUSTAFELLOWS season 3? If you were to make a third entry, what would you like to explore or try?
minetaka: Just like with the first release, we have put everything we wanted to do and express into Season 2, so we haven't left any ideas or plans for what comes next.
We gave it our all.
But this is the same as after the release of Season 1, I received a lot of feedback and messages, and I have the same feeling in me that I want to go back to the city of New Sieg.
I don't have any specific ideas for what kind of story I want to write next. However, the fact remains that these characters are still living in New Sieg, so if you go looking, I believe the story will naturally begin to reveal itself.
If I had the opportunity to, I would be interested in making a prequel. I'd like to explore the stories before Teuta and the others met. For example: before Limbo became a lawyer, when Shu was working alongside his mentor as a killer of killers, before Helvetica became a cosmetic plastic surgeon, when Mozu had just become a Coroner, when Scarecrow was a genius hacker or when Teuta, Luka and Adam were in their school days. I see many possibilities for stories.
Given the nature of BUSTAFELLOWS, its story, and sometimes cinematic nature, how would you feel about other adaptations of it such as an anime?
minetaka: The story was originally created for the game, so if we were to adapt it into other forms, like an anime, comic, or novel, I believe it would need to be rebuilt for the specific platform.
Each platform has its own format and way to be enjoyed.
I think it would be very interesting to expand the world of BUSTAFELLOWS in the world of anime. I'd love to see that world brought to life in a new way myself.
It would make me very happy to see the world of BUSTAFELLOWS continue to grow and reach people through all sorts of different forms in the future.
BUSTAFELLOWS and BUSTAFELLOWS season 2 are available for the Switch and PC worldwide.
The post Interview: Preparing BUSTAFELLOWS season 2 appeared first on Siliconera. |
Destructoid Tuesday, August 12, 2025 8:58 AM
If you think you've mastered the art of ghost hunting in Phasmophobia, you may be ready to put your skills to the test. Weekly challenge modes are a great way to see just how good you are.
These special trials modify how the game works, usually with rules that make the experience a lot harder. Successfully finishing the challenge gets you plenty of XP and cash, so it's well worth the effort. Here's the weekly challenge in Phasmophobia and everything you need to know to beat it.
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Phasmophobia weekly challenge mode (Aug. 10 to 17)
From Aug. 10 to 17, the weekly challenge is Do As I Command in Phasmophobia. In this challenge, you have to work extra hard to get the ghost to grant you evidence. Luckily, you're given plenty of powerful tools to make this process easier.
How to complete the weekly challenge in Phasmophobia
To finish the weekly challenge mode in Phasmophobia, you need to correctly identify the ghost present on the featured map three times. The specific changes present in each trial mode vary, but your goal is always the same.
All Do As I Command weekly challenge modifiers in Phasmophobia
This challenge mode has several specific rules that modify the way the contract functions. Here are all the key details you need to know about this trial.
Phasmophobia Do As I Command weekly challenge mode tips
The Do As I Command challenge is one of the trickier ones you can attempt in Phasmophobia, so here are some of the best tips to help you get it done.
When does the challenge mode change in Phasmophobia?
The challenge mode changes every Monday at 12am UTC, which translates to 7pm CT every Sunday. You have a full week to tackle each challenge mode when it's available. All challenge modes return regularly since they're on a rotating schedule, so if you don't get to finish one, you can always try it again in the future.
Next weekly challenge mode in Phasmophobia
The next weekly challenge mode, which will run for a full week from Aug. 17 to 24, is Tortoise and the Hare: Hare. This trial begins as soon as this week's challenge, Do As I Command, ends.
All weekly challenge modes in Phasmophobia
There are 27 challenge modes in Phasmophobia. A different one is available to complete each week, and the challenge order stays exactly the same, so it's easy to know which one is coming next. Here are all of the challenges you may face in Phasmophobia.
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Destructoid Tuesday, August 12, 2025 8:14 AM
It's time to get in touch with your emotions in Disney Dreamlight Valley, and some iconic characters from Inside Out are set to arrive soon. The Emotional Rescue update is also bringing a new Realm to explore, so there's plenty to dive into as soon as it's live.
Fresh updates always promise some massive, exciting additions to explore, so you'll likely want to know exactly when this one will be available to play so you can be ready to start exploring. Here's the exact time and date when the Emotional Rescue update will be released for Disney Dreamlight Valley.
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When is the Emotional Rescue update in Disney Dreamlight Valley?
The Emotional Rescue update for DDV will officially arrive on Aug. 20. An exact launch time is never shared ahead of any updates, but based on most previous ones, we can almost certainly expect it to go live at precisely 8am CT.
This is when almost all updates have been released, with the exception of a few very early on when the game was first launched, so as long as everything stays on track, it's likely when this one will release, too. We've set our countdown to precisely 8am CT, and translated this time across major time zones, so you can check back here leading up to the update to see how much longer is left before it arrives.
What's included in the Emotional Rescue update in Disney Dreamlight Valley?
The Emotional Rescue update is packed with new content, including two new villagers, a new Realm, a new Star Path event, and more. Here's a breakdown of everything we know it includes so far.
There's likely much more we don't know about this update yet that will be revealed leading up to it or on the day it goes live. While you wait for it to arrive, you may want to learn about all Companion abilities and rewards, complete The Two Flames United quest, and catch some White Bird Snippets.
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Destructoid Tuesday, August 12, 2025 8:02 AM
Phasmophobia's Grafton Farmhouse map underwent a rework and officially launched with an entirely new design on Aug. 12, 2025. Although the basic bones of the previous structure remain, everything else about it feels entirely new, so you may need some help navigating through it.
Jumping into exploring a fresh location without knowing what you're in for can be tough, so it's best to prepare before you go in to avoid getting caught in dangerous situations. To ensure you're ready for whatever the ghost throws your way, here's a guide to everything you need to know about the reworked Grafton Farmhouse map in Phasmophobia.
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Grafton Farmhouse guide in Phasmophobia
The Grafton Farmhouse rework modified the original structure to change it from a simple, rustic home to an eerie, dilapidated mess. Walls are falling in, furniture is broken, many items are covered with creepy sheets, and the entire place is a whole lot spookier.
The basic shell of the original map remains, but it feels brand new. There's a lot to learn about this location, so here's a full breakdown of everything you need to know about the new and improved Grafton Farmhouse.
Grafton Farmhouse map in Phasmophobia
The reworked Grafton Farmhouse map has 14 rooms and three floors, but it feels a lot larger than it sounds when you're investigating it. Many of the rooms around this house were previously multiple distinct spaces that have now become one, as the house has fallen apart.
Grafton Farmhouse Cursed Possession locations in Phasmophobia
There are seven spawn locations you can check to find a Cursed Possession around Grafton Farmhouse. Depending on the specific trial or difficulty level you're playing, the amount of Cursed Items present varies. Generally, though, only one of the seven is present.
Grafton Farmhouse fuse box location in Phasmophobia
I've played lots of rounds on the Grafton Farmhouse map, and so far, I've only come across one possible fuse box spawn location. The only spot I've seen it appear is in the small hallway leading from the landing to the attic on the second floor.
Across all maps, the fuse box location is randomized in every contract between a few set spots. This means it's possible there are more locations I haven't had it appear yet, so if we uncover any additional locations as we play more, we'll add them here. You can also check for the green icon with a small lightning bolt on the map in the truck to see where it is in some contracts, although certain trials, like some weekly challenges, hide this marker.
Grafton Farmhouse hiding spots in Phasmophobia
There are plenty of great places to hide around the reworked Grafton Farmhouse map. Different difficulty levels and weekly challenge modes will alter how many of them are available to you, but overall, here are some of the best spots you can hide around this location.
The attic is also a great spot to loop around during a hunt, especially if you're trying to watch the ghost's unique behaviors and patterns. This area is a circle with a wardrobe near the back, so it's the perfect spot to run to in a hunt since it gives you great support for both running and hiding.
Grafton Farmhouse Easter eggs and secrets in Phasmophobia
I've explored Grafton Farmhouse pretty thoroughly and come across a few small secrets scattered throughout. The first one is that the dolls around the doll room on the second floor have special voice lines. You might sometimes just hear them menacingly giggle, while other times they might give you a full line of dialogue like "Take me with you." These dolls also sometimes change position or move around the map.
Inside the workshop, the mannequins situated around the area sometimes move. They can change positions a lot if the ghost decides to interact with them, and there's always a wooden sound that plays to let you know this has happened.
Outside, close to the truck, you can find a small chicken coop. While you can't actually venture inside to see any live chickens, you might hear some chicken noises if you hang around close to this location for a bit.
Another Easter egg that may also just be a coincidence is the single tree you can spot from just about anywhere you're exploring around Grafton Farmhouse. This tree really reminded me of the one featured in The Conjuring, as it's a singular, large, twisted tree close to a farmhouse in an otherwise fairly barren area. I'm not sure if it's an intentional Easter egg or just a happy accident, but considering other maps have other direct references to horror icons like Slenderman, Friday the 13th, and The Blair Witch Project, I think it's a real possibility.
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Destructoid Tuesday, August 12, 2025 8:02 AM
Grafton Farmhouse is one of the most terrifying locations you can investigate in Phasmophobia. It's dilapidated, dark, and dangerous, with many deadly Cursed Possessions hidden around for you to find.
As of Aug. 12, the old Grafton Farmhouse is no more, which means all previous locations you could visit to find Cursed Items are gone. They've moved around quite a bit, so if you're hoping to use one, you need to know all Cursed Possession locations around the Grafton Farmhouse rework in Phasmophobia.
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All Phasmophobia Grafton Farmhouse Cursed Item locations
There are seven Cursed Possessions you can find throughout Grafton Farmhouse. They're scattered across all three floors of this home, so you have to do quite a bit of traversing to find them all.
In all regular contracts, only one of these seven items will be present for you to find at Grafton Farmhouse. This varies in custom and weekly challenge modes, though, so you should always check the rules for the trial you're attempting before you begin. If you're not sure how many Cursed Objects are present, you can also just check all possible spawn locations to find out.
Grafton Farmhouse Monkey Paw location
The Monkey Paw can be found on a side table in the dining room on the first floor. To find this room, enter through the front door, walk straight through the entryway, and head back into the dining room.
Just before you reach the broken dining table in this room, turn left and approach the table up against the wall. In the middle of this table, right in front of some stacked plates, you'll spot the Monkey Paw.
Grafton Farmhouse Tarot Cards location
You can find the Tarot Cards sitting on a desk in the messy library on the first floor. To find this room, head through the entryway and into the dining room. Turn right in this area to enter a small hallway, then head through the door on your left, which is slightly obscured by a tall shelf covered by a sheet.
Once you're inside this room, head straight, then look left when you spot the light green armchair. Scan the desk to find the Tarot Cards sitting on the table close to a black typewriter.
Grafton Farmhouse Voodoo Doll location
The Voodoo Doll is sitting on top of some supplies on a table in the seamstress's workshop on the first floor. Enter through the front door, go straight through the entryway, and walk into the dining room.
As soon as you enter this room, make a sharp right to enter a small hallway. Here, you'll find three doors. Head through the door on your right to enter the workshop. Go slightly right when you enter and look down at the table to spot the Voodoo Doll.
Grafton Farmhouse Summoning Circle location
The Summoning Circle is drawn on the ground in the doll room on the second floor. Head up the stairs in the entryway to access the second level of this ruined home. At the top of the stairs, turn right, then make another sharp right immediately after.
Walk down to the end of the hall and turn left to enter the doll room. Look down near the right corner of this area to spot the Summoning Circle drawn on the ground on top of a patterned circular rug.
Grafton Farmhouse Haunted Mirror location
You can find the Haunted Mirror sitting on a table in the master bedroom on the second floor. Go up the stairs in the entryway of Grafton Farmhouse to reach the second floor. At the top of the stairs, make an immediate left.
Proceed down to the end of the hallway and open the last door to enter the master bedroom. Walk to the back wall and look down at the table to find the Haunted Mirror sitting on it by a knocked-over candelabra.
Grafton Farmhouse Music Box location
The Music Box is sitting on an end table right by the bed in a small bedroom on the second floor. Head up the stairs in the entryway, make a right at the top, and head straight through the door you find there.
Turn right again to open another door immediately after entering. Walk over to the other side of the bed on your left, close to the wardrobe. Look down at the end table to check for the Music Box.
Grafton Farmhouse Ouija Board location
You can find the Ouija Board sitting on the ground up in the cluttered attic on the third floor. Go up the stairs in the entryway, turn right at the top, and head through the door. In the small room you find on the other side, go straight through the open archway and up the stairs to access the attic.
At the top of these stairs, turn left and walk straight into the heart of the attic maze. Go forward slightly to find the Ouija Board sitting on the ground, leaning up against some furniture covered by sheets.
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Destructoid Tuesday, August 12, 2025 7:35 AM
There are numerous cosmetics to unlock in PEAK, and getting the Gold Crown, or simply the Crown, is one of the most challenging tasks.
Incidentally, this cosmetic isn't exclusively part of the Mesa update, and it has always been obtainable. However, the process of obtaining the Gold Crown has become a lot harder, so let's get down to it.
How to obtain the Gold Crown in PEAK?
The Gold Crown is the ultimate reward given to players for their commitment. There are numerous badges that you have to obtain in the game. The Gold Crown is obtained when you complete every achievement that's available in PEAK.
Every achievement in PEAK unlocks a particular cosmetic as a reward. When you complete all of them, you'll get the Gold Crown. The crown will be added automatically to your collection when you unlock the final badge in your collection.
If you completed all the badges before the Mesa update arrived, you'll already have the Gold Crown in your collection. You can complete the new badges to unlock the fresh cosmetics, but you won't get a new Gold Crown (since it's the same crown that you already have).
If you didn't get the Gold Crown in the previous version, you'll have to complete all the new badges to as well if you want to get your hands on it.
Sadly, the Gold Crown can't be obtained as of writing, due to a bug with the 24 Karat Gold badge. This badge should be obtainable in the near future, but the current bug prevents it from being completed. If you obtained the Gold Crown in the past, thank your lucky stars.
Aside from 24 Karat Gold, the Aeronautics badge is quite tricky to complete since it requires you to get six balloons and use them all at once. The Needlepoint badge is easy to get if you know what to do with the cactuses that get stuck on you.
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Destructoid Tuesday, August 12, 2025 7:35 AM
The new Mesa update has introduced plenty of new items to PEAK, but it's the Strange Gem from previous days that's leaving many players confused.
The item, which has been present in previous versions, has confused many with its potential use. It can be obtained once again from its old location. Let's find out how to get it if you haven't found the Strange Gem yet in PEAK, and if it has any use at all.
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How to get the Strange Gem in PEAK?
As you move your ascent from the Shore to the top, you'll come across different locations of the island. One such spot includes the statue, which is located at the peak. The statue is located at the back of the mountain, so make sure to look for it.
Approach the statue and you'll find the Strange Gem in its hands. The Strange Gem is very easy to spot due to its bright colors, and it shines kind of like an energy source. To pick it up, you'll first have to get close to it. Then, pick it up like any other item. You can carry it in your hands or place it in the inventory (or backpack).
How to use the Strange Gem in PEAK?
Once again, the Strange Gem doesn't appear to have any practical use in the current build of the game. For starters, it's pretty safe to touch, and it's not a hazard like Dynamite, which can explode in your hands. However, I haven't found any use for it.
Funnily enough, the item can be aimed at and thrown like a Frisbee or Dynamite. I expected it to explode like Dynamite, but that's not the case. If you're not careful, you can end up throwing it over the cliff. In that case, it's likely going to be lost on your run.
If we do end up finding an actual use for the Strange Gem, it will be updated in this guide.
The post What does the Strange Gem do in PEAK? appeared first on Destructoid. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Destructoid Tuesday, August 12, 2025 7:28 AM
The Grafton Farmhouse rework is here, and this iconic Phasmophobia map has never looked both better and worse. It's in shambles and ruin, making it a superbly scary spot to go ghost hunting. There's plenty of fresh content packed into this update.
If you're eager to start exploring everything this update includes, you'll want to know all of the additions included in this one. It can sometimes be a bit tricky to figure out what's been added on your own, so here are all of the new features in Phasmophobia's Grafton Farmhouse rework update.
Phasmophobia Grafton Farmhouse rework update patch notes
As the name of it suggests, the Grafton Farmhouse rework update focuses entirely on overhauling the previous version of this location. Throughout this home, there are plenty of fresh features to uncover, including new locations for Cursed Possessions, new rooms, new creepy dolls, and much more. Here's a breakdown of everything included in this update.
There may be some additional features included in this update, as there are often hidden ones that take a bit to uncover. As we discover any new additions or changes, we'll add them here. You also may want to check out the official Grafton Farmhouse rework patch notes.
Now that you know all of the features included in this update, you can get to work tackling the weekly challenge, hunting down all Grafton Farmhouse Cursed Possessions, and capturing unique evidence.
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Destructoid Tuesday, August 12, 2025 6:36 AM
When it comes to the best sword and gun in Vox Seas guns were so overpowered on launch and while they have been nerfed, they're still strong. That said, swords are a bit more balanced now so you can't go wrong with both depending on if you're looking for PVP or PVE options. I'll show you the best weapons for both PVP and PVE in this Vox Seas Sword and Gun tier list.
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Vox Seas Weapons Tier List
While the best weapon in Vox Seas are usually guns for PVE, swords are usually better for PVP. That said, there are some great PVE swords and some guns are amazing for PVP too. This tier list goes into both playstyles to find the best sword and gun for you. S-Tier are swords and guns who are good at both, A-Tiers usually specialize in one and B-Tier are great secondary options. I would replace C and D-Tiers for higher ones when you can. Check out my analysis for each weapon individually below and you can also learn their locations below the tier list.
S-Tier Weapons
A-Tier Weapons
B-Tier Weapons
C-Tier Weapons
D-Tier Weapons
How to Get All Swords and Guns in Vox Seas
Using the map above as a location guide for islands, here's how to get all weapons in Vox Seas:
That's it for my Vox Seas Sword and Gun tier list and guide. Don't forget to check out our Vox Seas codes for free EXP boosts but also stat rerolls if you want to switch around the Sword and Gun stats.
The post Vox Seas Sword and Gun Tier List – Best Weapons [RELEASE] appeared first on Destructoid. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Destructoid Tuesday, August 12, 2025 6:03 AM
Survival co-op adventure title PEAK might not be a live service title, but the Mesa update has introduced a unique Discord-based quest for all players to complete.
This limited-time quest went live earlier on Aug. 11 with the launch of the Mesa update, and it will be available until Aug. 17. The quest is available for free as long as you already have a copy of the game (since the other part only requires a free Discord account).
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How to get the PEAK Discord quest?
Unlike other in-game quests and achievements, the Discord quest can be found, you guessed it, in Discord. To find and complete this quest, it's better to use the Discord client (I found it to be the preferred way).
Go to the Discover section on Discord by clicking on the applicable icon at the bottom left of your screen. This compass-like icon will help browse through all the available quests, including the one that's currently live in PEAK. Once you accept the quest, you can attempt to complete it.
How to complete the PEAK Discord quest?
Completing the PEAK Discord quest is really simple. After accepting the quest, keep your Discord client open (another reason why I used the client). With the client open, start playing PEAK. You'll have to complete at least 15 minutes of gameplay. You can do whatever you want inside the game, but make sure that your gaming client and the Discord client remain open during your session.
Once you have completed the 15-minute mark, the quest will be complete. You can obtain a unique reward by completing the quest.
PEAK Discord quest rewards
Completing the quest will unlock a Bing Bong-themed avatar that you can equip on your Discord account. Once redeemed, the reward will be available in your account for the next two months. It's a really cool cosmetic to get for minimal effort, so make sure not to miss out on it.
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Destructoid Tuesday, August 12, 2025 4:13 AM
The Mesa update of PEAK has added a host of new badges for players to earn, and the 24 Karat Badge has left many scratching their heads.
The official clue we get is cryptic to begin with, which only adds to the confusion. Secondly, the actual entrance to the location of the Kiln is locked (either intentionally or due to a bug) as of writing on the early hours of Aug. 12. Thankfully, there are mods that you can use to unlock the entrance, and then complete the badge.
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What is a worthy sacrifice to the Kiln in PEAK?
This is the first major point of confusion that arises for many. The game just tells you to sacrifice something worthy. It's never clear what that particular item is. In this case, you'll have to sacrifice an idol that's found at the TOMB (the area with the seemingly blocked entrance). Actually, the entrance has an RNG element to it (rumored to be around 25%), so it's likely designed to open only some of the time.
How to complete 24 Karat badge in PEAK?
We want to preface that this achievement is bugged. Some players have tried to get it through unofficial mods that enable them to clip into the tomb. But even then, completing the action required doesn't unlock the achievement. The information below is based on hacks and mods that have gotten the trophy to pop up, but we will update the information in the future when it is fixed.
To unlock the badge, you'll have to reach the Kiln. To access the area, you'll need to get to the TOMB. This is a secret area on the island, and again, the entrance is locked (glitched?) for most players.
If you use mods to get inside, you should pick up a couple of torches, since the initial area is quite dark. Use the torches to light your way, and follow a narrow track until it ends. While the path is narrow and dark, you can't get lost. Try not to fall along the way. Continue until the path ends and you find a massive abyss in front of you (screenshot below).
You'll spot a door at the other end of the abyss. Use the ledges on either side to reach the door. Please ensure that your stamina is as high as possible to pass the abyss without falling to your death. You'll need two items to ease your journey in this area: the Parasol and the Chain Launcher. The Parasol will allow you to glide and reach the ledges, while the Chain Launcher will get you to the door once you're close enough to it.
Follow the path, and you'll reach the Kiln. You'll also find the Ancient Idol, and here's the catch. Ideally, you should throw the Ancient Idol into the lava, as it is crucial for completing the 24 Karat badge. Instead, getting the idol will open the exit from the Tomb. Even if you throw it in the lava, nothing will happen (and this is the main bug, I believe).
For now, it's best to carry the Ancient Idol with you. Despite its weight, the item can protect you against plenty of debuffs. Once the lava is back and we can enter TOMB normally, the Ancient Idol can be sacrificed to complete the 24 Karat Gold badge.
The post How to offer The Kiln a worthy sacrifice in PEAK – 24 Karat Badge appeared first on Destructoid. |
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