GamersHeroes Tuesday, August 12, 2025 3:15 PM The list of confirmed guests for FAN EXPO San Francisco 2025 keeps growing, with four-legged icon Peggy (aka Dogpool) making an appearance at the happening event. The post FAN EXPO San Francisco 2025 to Feature Dogpool appeared first on GamersHeroes. |
GamersHeroes Tuesday, August 12, 2025 3:03 PM Homework can wait - four-player co-op action awaits with today's release of Gylee Games' lane-based 2D sidescroller Ra Ra BOOM for PC and consoles. The post Action Sidescroller Adventure Ra Ra BOOM Now Available appeared first on GamersHeroes. |
GamersHeroes Tuesday, August 12, 2025 1:03 PM BAFTA-nominated game studio Scriptic today announced that acclaimed actor Ralph Ineson (The Fantastic Four: First Steps) will star in the studio's upcoming interactive thriller. The post Ralph Ineson Starring in New Game from BAFTA-Nominated Scriptic appeared first on GamersHeroes. |
GamersHeroes Tuesday, August 12, 2025 12:41 PM Combining third-person action with real-time strategy (RTS) gameplay, Arc Games and Snapshot Games' Chip 'n Clawz vs. The Brainioids is set to release for PC and consoles August 26. The post Chip 'n Clawz vs. The Brainioids Launching August 26 appeared first on GamersHeroes. |
GamersHeroes Tuesday, August 12, 2025 10:27 AM Step into an atmosphere drenched in psychological dread with Horrified Triangles, Iphigames, and Serafini Productions' first-person psychological horror title Haunted Bloodlines with a new overhauled demo for the title. The post Haunted Bloodlines Overhauled Demo Now Available appeared first on GamersHeroes. |
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 2:51 PM
Oh, and Epic should add Weird Al and Agent 47 to the popular battle royale game, too The post Give Me Grimace With A Gun: <i>Kotaku's Fortnite</i> Character Wishlist appeared first on Kotaku. |
Kotaku Tuesday, August 12, 2025 2:28 PM
The heyday of the '90s internet service provider is worth remembering The post AOL Dial-Up Ending Reminds Us That All Empires Collapse Eventually appeared first on Kotaku. |
Kotaku Tuesday, August 12, 2025 1:16 PM
You might be surprised how little playtesting goes into the popular Dropout game show The post How Sam And His Crew Design All The Devious <i>Game Changer</i> Episodes appeared first on Kotaku. |
Kotaku Tuesday, August 12, 2025 1:03 PM
Krafton filed its response denying allegations in a breach of contract lawsuit by former employees The post <i>Subnautica 2</i> Publisher Says It Fired Cofounders To Avoid Another <i>Kerbal Space Program 2</i> Debacle appeared first on Kotaku. |
Kotaku Tuesday, August 12, 2025 12:24 PM
Modern Pokémon games have struggled quite a bit on the original Switch, so how does it fare with new hardware? The post Everything You Need To Know About Playing <i>Pokémon Scarlet & Violet</i> On Switch 2 appeared first on Kotaku. |
Kotaku Tuesday, August 12, 2025 11:52 AM
Palland is a clone of the survival crafting sim without the Poké Balls The post <i>Palworld</i> Slop Arrives On Switch Despite Nintendo's Ongoing Legal Battle With The Original appeared first on Kotaku. |
Kotaku Tuesday, August 12, 2025 11:37 AM
The pop star announced her new album, The Life of a Showgirl, in a more low-key way than usual The post Taylor Swift Is Music's Best Game Master appeared first on Kotaku. |
Kotaku Tuesday, August 12, 2025 10:57 AM
This gorgeous remake of a classic didn't receive a Switch 2-specific version, but does it run better anyway? The post Everything You Need To Know About Playing <i>The Legend Of Zelda: Link's Awakening</i> On Switch 2 appeared first on Kotaku. |
Kotaku Tuesday, August 12, 2025 10:47 AM
Deadzone nails the thrills of racing through corridors and killing everything in sight, all while steadily increasing your power The post This Roguelike FPS Is Like <i>Warframe</i> And <i>Destiny</i> In One appeared first on Kotaku. |
Kotaku Tuesday, August 12, 2025 10:34 AM
The arcade patron got her hand stuck in a child's snowball game The post Don't Do What This Woman Did At A Chuck E. Cheese Last Week appeared first on Kotaku. |
Kotaku Tuesday, August 12, 2025 10:09 AM
Plus updates on the Max Payne remakes and a new retro handheld that plays N64 and Dreamcast games The post <i>Marvel Rivals</i> Swears It's Not Manipulating You Into Playing More appeared first on Kotaku. |
Kotaku Tuesday, August 12, 2025 10:07 AM
Helldivers 2 arrives on Xbox on August 26 and might come with some extra support The post New <i>Helldivers 2</i> Xbox Trailer Includes Jazzy <i>Halo 3 ODST</i> Teaser appeared first on Kotaku. |
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. |
PCGamesN Tuesday, August 12, 2025 3:52 PM August 12, 2025: Keep your streak going with new free Bingo Blitz credits links. What are the new free Bingo Blitz credits? You won't be playing much bingo without them, that's for sure. Even if you've exhausted your usual free credits in Bingo Blitz through login rewards and premium subscriptions, the secret to playing another round is through our Bingo Blitz credits links. New Bingo Blitz free credits links work in much the same way as Monopoly Go dice links. One click and your account is automatically topped up with credits ready to be used on multiple rounds or one big blow-out session with multiple cards. The choice is yours. Continue reading Free Bingo Blitz credits August 2025 MORE FROM PCGAMESN: Bingo Blitz credits, Best card games, Best PC board games |
PCGamesN Tuesday, August 12, 2025 1:48 PM Sure, a glitzy, top-to-bottom remake of an ageing game can really hit the spot - I've just been carving it up in Tony Hawk's Pro Skater 3 and 4, and it's fantastic to see it reimagined in new levels of detail. But sometimes, a light-touch remaster that brings a classic to modern platforms can land just as sweetly. A frame rate boost here. A UI rethink there. Perfection. That's exactly what two iconic DnD games from the mid-2000s just received. Remember Dungeons and Dragons Dragonshard and Forgotten Realms Demon Stone? Well, they've both just been revived on Steam. |
PCGamesN Tuesday, August 12, 2025 12:34 PM You spend a lot of time staring at the map in most grand strategy games, so it's important that they look good. Whether that's the simplicity of Civilization, with hex-based grids to aid comprehension in fraught multiplayer scenarios, or the sheer cosmic beauty of Stellaris, with beautiful vistas of galaxies near and far to stimulate the imagination, looking good is key. Crusader Kings 3 is no slouch in this regard, but developer Paradox has announced that it is upping the ante in its next DLC, All Under Heaven. As well as expanding the map to encompass all of Asia, the entire world is getting a glow-up. MORE FROM PCGAMESN: Crusader Kings 3 DLC guide, Best Crusader Kings 3 mods, Crusader Kings 3 review |
PCGamesN Tuesday, August 12, 2025 12:22 PM Intel is reportedly planning to support four generations of CPUs with its forthcoming LGA1954 socket, ditching its previous strategy of only supporting one or two generations before gamers need to upgrade their motherboard. According to the latest rumor, the new LGA1954 Intel CPU socket will not only support the forthcoming Nova Lake lineup of CPUs, but also the next-gen Razer Lake, Titan Lake, and Hammer Lake chips as well. It's a strategy that mirrors what we've seen from AMD, where the AM4 socket was used for Zen, Zen+, Zen 2, and Zen 3 CPUs, giving gamers an upgrade path that doesn't require them to buy a new motherboard just to upgrade their CPU. This strategy has worked well for AMD, with all the company's chips on our best gaming CPU guide using the same AM5 motherboard socket, while Intel chips from the last two years currently use both the LGA1700 and LGA1854 sockets, with LGA1954 reportedly coming next. MORE FROM PCGAMESN: Intel Core Ultra 7 265K review, Best gaming CPU, Core i9 14900K review |
PCGamesN Tuesday, August 12, 2025 12:17 PM Another tale of a burned-out Nvidia GeForce RTX 5090 has reached our ears, with a claim that a Zotac-branded RTX 5090 caught fire just 10 seconds into playing a match in the Battlefield 6 open beta. The card was reportedly aflame for at least 10 seconds before the fire could be put out, leaving behind a scorched mess in the owner's PC. Tales of failing Nvidia graphics cards have been popping up since the RTX 5090 first launched back in January 2025. We've seen everything from melted RTX 5090 cables to fire-damaged RTX 5090 PCs since, but Nvidia hasn't publicly commented on the issue. The RTX 5090 sits in our best graphics card guide for performance, but with a 575W power draw this flagship GPU can cause some serious damage when it fails catastrophically. MORE FROM PCGAMESN: Nvidia GeForce RTX 5090 review, Nvidia GeForce RTX 5080 review, Best graphics cards |
PCGamesN Tuesday, August 12, 2025 12:06 PM What does the strange gem do in Peak? The latest update has arrived, and with it is a new desert biome that adds plenty of new items and hazards to prevent you from reaching the peak! When you reach the peak, though, you'll notice that the strange gem is back; you might recognize this glowing pink orb from previous versions of Peak, and now it's arrived in the Mesa update for the co-op game. It's the large gem found nestled in the statue behind the mountain at the very top. Here's what it does and why sacrificing it to the kiln won't work. Continue reading Peak strange gem explained MORE FROM PCGAMESN: Peak capybara location, How to revive in Peak, Peak bugle explained |
PCGamesN Tuesday, August 12, 2025 12:03 PM What does the Peak Scout Cannon do? There are so many ways to traverse the various mountains in Peak, some admittedly more dangerous than others. You have rope cannons, magic beans, even an item that defies gravity - but one of the newest items in Peak will have you gaining ground faster than most. Before you get to grips with the Scout Cannon, you might want to brush up on how to revive in Peak and also the Scoutmaster, as you may encounter these two things quite quickly if things go wrong. You'll go far with the Peak Scout Cannon, so long as you know how to use it correctly. Continue reading How to use the Peak Scout Cannon MORE FROM PCGAMESN: Peak capybara location, How to revive in Peak, Peak bugle explained |
PCGamesN Tuesday, August 12, 2025 12:12 PM What are the best Terraria mods? Whether you're new to Terraria and want to tweak the experience slightly, or you've got years of experience and need a new challenge, these Terraria mods range from complete overhauls to minor improvements on existing content. One of the best crafting games available, Terraria has a lot of content to sink your pickaxe into. These Terraria mods add even more possibilities, including beefier boss battles, new biomes to explore, and fresh items to tinker with, that allow Terraria to go toe-to-toe with the best PC games today. With those, plus some more subtle mods listed below, there's sure to be something to give your Terraria experience a boost. Continue reading The best Terraria mods 2025 MORE FROM PCGAMESN: The best Terraria mods, Terraria happiness guide, Terraria bosses guide |
PCGamesN Tuesday, August 12, 2025 11:58 AM How do you earn the 24 Karat Badge by offering the kiln a worthy sacrifice in Peak? Now that a new biome has arrived alongside items and achievements, here's everything you need to know about what to sacrifice to the kiln. When you get to the peak, you can offer the kiln a worthy sacrifice to get the 24 Karat Badge in Peak. By now, you might have tried throwing all sorts of items in there, from the frisbee to Bingbong, and the strange gem you find at the top of the peak behind the mountain. None of these work; the kiln demands a WORTHY sacrifice, and a plush just isn't going to cut it. Continue reading How to offer the kiln a worthy sacrifice in Peak MORE FROM PCGAMESN: Peak capybara location, How to revive in Peak, Peak bugle explained |
PCGamesN Tuesday, August 12, 2025 12:07 PM Which League of Legends skins are currently on sale in the store? LoL is a free-to-play game in the truest sense - you can enjoy everything the MOBA offers for absolutely nothing. Now, if you were to ask a seasoned League player if that were true, they'd probably have to stifle a few tears as they check how much their bank account has suffered buying skins since they started battling on the Rift. Riot rotates a series of skins in the store, with the savviest of us holding out until the cosmetic they want ends up in the discount section of the store or even the League of Legends Mythic shop. The shiny new cosmetics are only available briefly, so act fast if you want to snag the new hotness. Here is every League of Legends skin on sale right now if you want to know what's in the store without booting up the client. Continue reading Which League of Legends skins are currently on sale? MORE FROM PCGAMESN: League of Legends ranks explained, League of Legends Mythic shop rotation, LoL tier list |
PCGamesN Tuesday, August 12, 2025 11:28 AM The Battlefield 6 open beta is going down an absolute treat with seasoned veterans and new recruits alike, breaking records and sparking delight in all who have been racking up the headshots on Liberation Peak (myself included). I feel like Gordon Ramsey, going from regurgitated liveservice slop to some good fuckin' food, feasting on dopamine with every noob tube fired and tank exploded. The second course of the Battlefield 6 beta is set for this weekend, and EA has prepared quite the banquet. MORE FROM PCGAMESN: Battlefield 6 preview, Battlefield 6 release date, Battlefield 6 weapons |
PCGamesN Tuesday, August 12, 2025 11:49 AM The AMD Radeon RX 9060 non-XT has already been put through its paces in a new online review, just a week after it was quietly unveiled with no fanfare by the chipmaker. Although reports have suggested this entry-level graphics card is unlikely to go on general sale, it still looks to be a powerful option for budget gamers, with performance that shoots well ahead of the Nvidia GeForce RTX 5050. AMD has knocked it out of the park with its current gaming GPU lineup, with cards such as the RX 9060 XT already featuring in our best graphics card guide. We fully expected the company to prepare a GPU that could compete with the $249 Nvidia GeForce RTX 5050, but this review seems to suggest that the RX 9060 could even deliver performance that was close to the RTX 5060 in some games. MORE FROM PCGAMESN: Ryzen 7 9800X3D review, Best gaming CPU, Radeon RX 9070 XT review |
PCGamesN Tuesday, August 12, 2025 11:22 AM What are the best Madden 26 playbooks for offense and defense? Whether you are crushing Ultimate Team or trying to bring the Lombardi trophy back home in franchise mode, having great plays and the best Madden 26 playbooks will help you score touchdowns and force turnovers. With more than 80 playbooks in Madden 26, and many getting a total refresh in this year's sports game, it can be hard to know where to start. We've tested them all and picked out a few on both offense and defense that will have you raining down points and frustrating your opponents. Continue reading Best Madden 26 playbooks - offensive and defensive MORE FROM PCGAMESN: Madden 26 system requirements, Best football and soccer games, Best sports games on PC |
PCGamesN Tuesday, August 12, 2025 11:31 AM How do you make pizza in Grow a Garden? If you need to cook up fine Italian cuisine, let us guide you through all the options you have. Chris. P likes his crusts as his name suggests, and we have the Roblox Grow a Garden pizza recipes to please his belly in the cooking event and beyond. When making pizza in Grow a Garden, you'll need to keep an eye on your pepper reserves. Use a Grow a Garden stock tracker to get alerted when those seeds are stocked. You can also see where Gourmet egg hatches rank on our Grow a Garden pets tier list to see if they're worth the struggle. We also have a breakdown of all Grow a Garden recipes if you're after something else. Continue reading How to make pizza in Grow a Garden MORE FROM PCGAMESN: Best Roblox games, Roblox promo codes, Roblox music codes |
PCGamesN Tuesday, August 12, 2025 11:10 AM It's an exciting time in the indie and double-A space right now. As players continue to turn their noses up at the MTX-filled liveservice behemoths and triple-A releases that betray their hefty price tags with uninspired gameplay, there is a collective yearning for 'the good ol' days' of gaming. The recent success of Expedition 33 speaks for itself, with Sandfall Interactive's JeRPG proving you don't need billion-dollar budgets and hundreds of developers to craft something exceptional. Myrkur Games is hoping to recreate the magic with Echoes of the End, a new ARPG that will scratch your God of War itch, set in an world inspired by the Icelandic studio's homeland. MORE FROM PCGAMESN: Best action-adventure games, Best fantasy games |
PCGamesN Tuesday, August 12, 2025 10:43 AM I can forgive game design flaws like Elden Ring Nightreign's frustrating solo experience, but I cannot excuse FromSoftware hampering its PC ports. From has relied on the modding community to fix its games on PC for over a decade now, and Nightreign is the latest entry in a long line of middling (Elden Ring) to outright bad (Dark Souls) ports from the legendary studio. What makes this specific port particularly egregious is that modding (read: adding basic PC functionality to) the multiplayer game triggers its anti-cheat system, stopping you from booting it up. MORE FROM PCGAMESN: Elden Ring Nightreign review, Elden Ring Nightreign class, Elden Ring Nightreign bosses |
PCGamesN Tuesday, August 12, 2025 10:25 AM Few multiplayer games have captured our collective imaginations like Helldivers 2 in recent years. From the exciting missions against hordes of angry bugs, to the sensibly-priced battle passes, to the fact we can squad up with our mates to re-enact the scenes of Starship Troopers, it was an instant hit. Developer Arrowhead Game Studios has supported it well, crafting a deft overarching narrative as players defend Super Earth and democracy. Nearly 18 months after the game first released on PC and Playstation, Xbox players will soon finally get in on the action, and they might be bringing the console's mascot with them - Arrowhead has teased a Helldivers 2 and Halo crossover. MORE FROM PCGAMESN: Helldivers 2 weapons, Helldivers 2 stratagems, Helldivers 2 system requirements |
PCGamesN Tuesday, August 12, 2025 10:25 AM What's the full Grow a Garden recipes list? If you're hoping to grab every cosmetic, seed, pet, and whatever else Chris P. and his rat buddy offer for your meals, you'll need to act fast. Match a meal to a craving or mutation with the Roblox Grow a Garden recipe list below to rush through the rewards. The Grow a Garden recipe list below walks you through the ingredient types required to cook up a storm in Chris P.'s pot in Roblox. With it, you should be able to create your own GaG recipes. Don't want to take the risk of turning your hard-earned crops into a hodge-podge soup? We'll have exact recipes linked below each dish. For the best freebies, check out the latest Grow a Garden codes. Continue reading Grow a Garden recipes list MORE FROM PCGAMESN: Best Roblox games, Roblox promo codes, Roblox music codes |
PCGamesN Tuesday, August 12, 2025 10:22 AM Few genres explore the soul better than horror. It prides itself on plumbing the darkest depths of the human experience, hauling our worst fears up and out into the light to be dissected. And while there's nothing more unsettling than facing inconvenient truths, the best lessons can be taken from doing so. Death Stranding showcased the importance of togetherness, and what happens if we disconnect from our humanity. Rogue Factor's upcoming ARPG, Hell is Us, utilizes its demonic entities in a similarly metaphorical manner, though its concern is eminently focused on how human emotion feeds a perpetual cycle of violence. It's a distinctively dark affair, and right now you can get stuck in ahead of launch. |
PCGamesN Tuesday, August 12, 2025 10:19 AM What are the best Fortnite skins? Everyone has their personal preference, but in the years since the debut of Fortnite, Epic has rolled out tons of iconic original skins and partnered with artists, movies, and TV shows to attract more fans to the multiplayer game. The sheer amount of Fortnite skins is astounding, giving players a near-endless way to express themselves in the battle royale game before they've fired a single shot. Each event and update brings multiple skins to help cosmetic lovers stack up their inventory, and then there are Fortnite Festival skins and Lego Fortnite skins to boot. So, to help you figure out who to buy when they next appear in the Item Shop, here are over 100 of the best Fortnite skins ever. Continue reading The best Fortnite skins August 2025 MORE FROM PCGAMESN: Fortnite map, Fortnite skins, Fortnite weapons |
PCGamesN Tuesday, August 12, 2025 10:16 AM A recent driver update has yet again teased a new unannounced Intel graphics card that could be a new Battlemage card. Reports suggest that it is linked to BMG-G21, the Intel GPU used in recent cards like the Intel Arc B580, adding to the list of other Intel cards rumored to be in the works. Intel has been pretty quiet about its future graphics card plans, although speculation has been rife for some time that new Intel Arc Battlemage GPUs are on the way. We've also seen recent Intel gaming GPU rumors suggesting that new GPUs could launch late this year, hopefully with the power to compete with the models in our best graphics card guide Continue reading A brand new Intel Battlemage gaming GPU could be unleashed soon MORE FROM PCGAMESN: Intel Core Ultra 7 265K review, Best gaming CPU, Core i9 14900K review |
PCGamesN Tuesday, August 12, 2025 10:07 AM Localization is a key part of the game development process. If you want your game to be enjoyed by players across the world, then you need to meet them in their own language. This is especially true for text-driven games, RPGs, and the like, but it's also the case for action-adventures, FPS games, and grand strategy titles. The Pegasus Expedition fits the latter descriptor, and prior to this week was available in English, Russian, and Simplified Chinese. This covers plenty of the globe, but there are a lot of players who don't speak any of these three languages. Luckily, developer Kalla Gameworks is adding every other language to exist. Kind of. MORE FROM PCGAMESN: Best space games, Best strategy games, Best grand strategy games |
PCGamesN Tuesday, August 12, 2025 10:27 AM What is the current and next Honkai Star Rail banner? If you want to pick up the best five-star characters for your team, then wishing on banners is your best bet. HSR banners rotate regularly, so it can be difficult to decide whether to go all-in on the current banner or wait for the next one. Our banner schedule includes everyone you can pull during the current update, plus the banners slated to appear in the next update and beyond. The Honkai Star Rail banner system allows you to trade in your hard-earned Star Rail passes for the opportunity to pull the best Honkai Star Rail characters. If you're new to HoYoverse's gacha-driven free PC games, our crash course to Honkai Star Rail Warps is invaluable for understanding banners and how they work, as well as the latest Honkai Star Rail codes to redeem currency. Now that we've got you up to speed, here's the lowdown for the current and next banner in Honkai Star Rail. Continue reading Honkai Star Rail current banner, next banner, and 3.6 banners MORE FROM PCGAMESN: Honkai Star Rail review, Honkai Star Rail codes, Honkai Star Rail tier list |
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 |
Rock Paper Shotgun Latest Articles Feed Tuesday, August 12, 2025 12:05 PM  Still troubled by Monster Hunter Wilds' stubbornly sedate PC performance, even after multiple patches claiming to grease its framerate gears? The good news is that Capcom have committed to pushing through performance and stability updates into, at the very least, Winter 2025. The bad news is that Capcom also say they won't have finished their performance and stability improvements until, at the earliest, Winter 2025. |
Rock Paper Shotgun Latest Articles Feed Tuesday, August 12, 2025 12:02 PM  Following Itch.io's mass delisting of adult games in response to pressure from payment processors, a new report includes claims from LGBTQ+ devs that safe-for-work titles with lesbian or yuri themes have also been affected. Both Itch and Valve changed their rules on adult content last month, with the issue evolving into a complex pointing of fingers which traced from the storefronts, to credit card companies, and on to an Australian protest group. That group, Collective Shout, claimed responsibility for exerting the initial pressure that got the ball rolling. Itch.io have since allowed free adult games back onto the platform, but paid ones currently remain on the naughty step as the storefront seeks new payment processors. |
Rock Paper Shotgun Latest Articles Feed Tuesday, August 12, 2025 10:07 AM _PrbEVZr.png?width=1920&height=1920&fit=bounds&quality=70&format=jpg&auto=webp) Please, for the love of all that can be side-swiped into oncoming traffic, make a new Burnout game. This has been one of the five thoughts that fill my head on a daily basis for years at this point, and thanks to a website that's letting people draw pixel art all over Google Maps, I've been given yet another outlet via which to let it out. That site is wplace, and it'll look familiar if you've been partial to the now defunct Reddit thread r/place at any point. Basically, anyone can hop into its map and colour in pixels to doodle over the top of any place on Earth, creating vast canvases of cool art and scrawled messages to whomever might be watching. |
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. |
Twinfinite Tuesday, August 12, 2025 8:36 AM  |
Siliconera Tuesday, August 12, 2025 4:00 PM
In Digimon Story Time Stranger, we'll actually be able to ride certain characters as mounts with the DigiRide system once we team up with them, and Bandai Namco highlighted how this works in a new trailer. While things start with a scene showing the player avatar riding on the back of Garurumon, it eventually shows about 30 who we can ride with or be carried by when exploring the world.
While some of the characters go by fairly quickly or are somewhat hard to see, here's a list of some of the Digimon mounts that appear as DigiRide units in Digimon Story Time Stranger in the order they appear. It seems bipedal characters tend to carry the player on their shoulder. However, this isn't a hard-and-fast rule, as Beelzebumon will be on a motorcycle and we will ride behind the Digimon. Note that I'm also only going by personal knowledge and who characters appear to be.
Here's the full Digimon Story Time Stranger "Who Will You DigiRide With?" trailer.
One of the past trailers went over the story and its characters.
Digimon Story Time Stranger will come to the PS5, Xbox Series X, and PC via Steam on October 3, 2025.
The post Digimon Mounts Appear in Digimon Story Time Stranger DigiRide Trailer appeared first on Siliconera. |
Siliconera Tuesday, August 12, 2025 3:00 PM
Smart Falcon is now permanently part of the Umamusume: Pretty Derby roster, with her focus banner live until August 22, 2025. To help better illustrate who she is and what she's like, Cygames shared two trailers. One is a more extensive video showing her in different situations, while the other is a brief YouTube Short.
First, here's the YouTube Short for Smart Falcon. It is a brief clip of the snippet we see if we manage to summon her on her focus banner. (It will also display on ensuing banners when she is pulled as well.)
The other video is the more extended Tracen Academy Student Introduction Umamusume: Pretty Derby trailer that gives us a chance to hear Smart Falcon's Japanese voice actress and see some gameplay clips. We see her running, doing Guts training, and part of the clip from when her Unique Skill Sparkly Stardom triggers.
Hitomi Owada voices Smart Falcon, and she might sound familiar. She's the voice of Klaudia Valentz in the Atelier Ryza games and anime adaptation. She's also the Japanese voice actress for Nia in Xenoblade Chronicles 2 and 3. She also plays Koyori Tanemura in the Wataten anime
The next new Trainee to join Umamusume: Pretty Derby is Narita Brian. She debuts on August 20, 2025.
Umamusume: Pretty Derby is available on the PC and mobile devices.
The post Umamusume: Pretty Derby Trailers Introduce Smart Falcon appeared first on Siliconera. |
Siliconera Tuesday, August 12, 2025 2:00 PM
A Hatsune Miku Cinnamoroll Pop Up Corner will appear at the Sanrio Anime Store Ikebukuro P'Parco in Japan starting on August 15, 2025, and Sanrio shared the new merchandise that will appear there on social media. There's no word yet regarding whether or not we'll see the items worldwide.
As in the past, the items feature the Vocaloid and Sanrio mascot posing together. In many of the designs on the acrylic keychains, acrylic stand keychains, acrylic cards, and badges, she is wearing her normal outfit. However, the BIG acrylic stand and hologram one, shikishi board, and ticket feature her in a new blue dress with starry theme and matching outfit for him.
Here is the full list of all the Hatsune Miku Cinnamoroll Pop Up Corner merchandise and the prices. The acrylic keychains, badges, and cards are blind box random grabs, unless you buy the full set.
The full teaser image showing all the different items also appeared online. You can see that below.
Since the collaboration's first reveal, we've seen a lot of different kinds of Hatsune Miku Cinnamoroll merchandise. There's a Nendoroid, general figures, plush, and bags.
The Sanrio Anime Store Ikebukuro P'PARCO in Japan will host the Hatsune Miku Cinnamoroll Pop Up Corner starting on August 15, 2025.
The post New Hatsune Miku Cinnamoroll Merchandise Revealed appeared first on Siliconera. |
Siliconera Tuesday, August 12, 2025 1:00 PM
HoYoVerse shared a trailer introducing the new playable Chrysos Heir Hysilens (Helektra), and it teases the new story involving her and the Traveler Stelle and role of Cerydra as a villain in it. Both characters will be playable after 3.5 arrives.
The Hysilens trailer began by establishing her identity. She's a sea siren who left the ocean. Once she did, she met the Traveler Stelle. The two then went around the city, with Stelle introducing Hysilens to various concepts. However, word of the siren reached the Imperator Cerydra, who sent her troops after the two of them.
Here's the "Daughter of the Sea" Hysilens Honkai: Star Rail trailer:
This Hysilens Honkai: Star Rail trailer further built up similarities between Cerydra and Furina from Genshin Impact. Both are characters with blue color schemes. Each one features a person in a position of power. In both cases, they're initially hostile against the player character. Also, like Furina, she's strongly associated with the law of the land and doling out judgment, with her acting as the Imperator and apparently being behind the exile.
Honkai: Star Rail is available for the PS5, PC, and mobile devices, and the 3.5 patch will arrive on August 13, 2025.
The post Honkai: Star Rail Hysilens Trailer Paints Cerydra as a Villain appeared first on Siliconera. |
Siliconera Tuesday, August 12, 2025 12:00 PM
Phoenix Labs updated the Steam product page for the PC version of Fae Farm to announce it will end support for the online multiplayer, restricting the experience to an offline, single-player one. This will happen at 11:59pm PT on September 10, 2025/2:59am ET on September 11, 2025. [Thanks, Delisted Games!]
The announcement appears both at the top of the listing under the Community Hub link and in an "Important Announcement" section between the Reviews and Editions sections. Each of the statements is quite short, and reads as follows:
"Fae Farm will be going offline September 10, 2025 at 23:59 Pacific Time. The online co-op service will no longer be available, and the game will receive no future updates. The single player offline mode will remain playable."
Fae Farm online multiplayer would allow someone to go from the offline single-player into an adventure with up to four players total. While the console versions would rely on your friends lists there, on Steam you would be using either that or the Phoenix Labs account system to bring friends over. Everything the group does affects the host's world, and likewise you rely on their unlocks for experiences.
As for other platforms, there aren't any notices. The Epic Games Store page is gone and returns a 404 result. There are no Microsoft Store or PlayStation Store updates. The Nintendo eShop also remains unchanged, however it does also note that folks playing on that console can use a LAN session to start local wireless co-op with up to four people and systems.
Fae Farm is available for the Switch, PS4, PS5, Xbox One, Xbox Series X, and PC, and the Steam page said online multiplayer support ends on 11:59pm PT on September 10, 2025/2:59am ET on September 11, 2025.
The post Fae Farm PC Online Multiplayer Ending, Will Be Single-Player Only appeared first on Siliconera. |
Siliconera Tuesday, August 12, 2025 11:00 AM
Don Quijote announced on social media that it will sell Sadako Bath Ball bath bombs featuring figures of the character from The Ring. They will start to appear on August 15, 2025. It also shared a list of 340 confirmed stores in Japan that will carry them. The price wasn't mentioned, however. It also seems they won't be sold outside of Japan.
The Sadako Bath Ball will be similar to other types of novelty bath bombs sold in Japan, and you'll actually need to use it to get The Ring figure inside. Each one will be sold inside a small bag with Sadako on the front. Opening it gets you a blue bath bomb. Placing that in a tub to use will eventually reveal one of six figures as it dissolves.
The first photo revealed five of the six figure designs. Each one will need to be assembled, as shown in the teaser. One features Sadako standing in front of a person. The other four all seem to be designed to hang or display as though she is climbing, hanging, leaning, or dangling from a glass or shelf.
Here's that first image teasing the arrival of the item:
While Sadako is a horror icon from The Ring series, she's also become something of a general mascot or icon in Japan. So much so that we've even seen figures of her like a Nendoroid and Bishoujo statue.
Sadako Bath Ball bath bombs with The Ring figures inside will show up in Don Quijote stores in Japan starting on August 15, 2025.
The post Sadako Bath Bomb Includes 1 of 6 The Ring Figures appeared first on Siliconera. |
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 3:27 PM
FUTTIES might be coming to an end soon in EA FC 25, but the Pre-Season promo is coming soon to Ultimate Team.
Being the last promo of Ultimate Team this year, it is expected to have some truly special cards. Based on the information we have from social media leaks, the promo will be themed around new transfers. In simpler words, expect to see special cards of footballers who have already made a switch in the summer transfer window.
Table of contents
All EA FC 25 Pre-Season promo players (predictions)
Here are my predictions about Pre-Season promo items we might get in Ultimate Team.
There are plenty of other candidates, as anyone who has been a part of the ongoing summer window will be part of this promo. I am expecting multiple teams to appear, and these are just my general predictions.
I also believe that we'll get new cards as part of SBCs and objectives. That said, bulk promo items should be available only in packs. Given the endgame period of Ultimate Team, expect to find plenty of 99-rated items with five playstyles.
EA FC 25 Pre-Season promo release date
The Pre-Season promo will be a direct replacement of the FUTTIES promo, as Team 5 leaves packs on Friday, Aug. 15. It should be the same day when Pre-Season items are added. However, the new season goes live one day earlier on Aug. 14. I am expecting to see a few promo items on the rewards track as well.
Once we have confirmation about the release date, we will update it on our guide.
The post All EA FC 25 Pre-Season promo players (leaks and predictions) and release date appeared first on Destructoid. | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Destructoid Tuesday, August 12, 2025 3:25 PM
If I'm lucky, 50 hours is just enough time for me to pick something to watch on Netflix. The past weeks, however, I spent that time grinding in Destiny 2's newest expansion. It was a mind-numbing slog, but a part of me is almost glad I did it. Almost.
My armor is finally good enough to have over 100 in primary stats without needing to dump other attributes. My weapons drop with two enhanced perks on each column. My favorite builds just got even more powerful.
Now that high-quality loot is within my reach, The Edge of Fate is showing its potential at last. It's a shame it's locked behind a frustrating 50-hour buy-in.
When you start playing, all your drops will be tier one (T1), with the occasional T2. That is abysmal compared to what we had just a couple of weeks ago: T1 armor drops with 52 to 57 stat points, compared to the old standard of good armor being above 63-65 depending on who you ask. T1 weapons only have one perk in each column and can't ever be enhanced, so there's no way to upgrade them.
In the new expansion, you can only get higher-tier loot normally by raising both your power level and your Guardian Rank. In practice, this means you must grind what you need before you can grind what you want. That's bad enough on its own, but in true Destiny fashion, Bungie will also reset your power level to 200 in December and your Unstable Cores will disappear in a few months. Talk about way too many obstacles.
Doing some napkin math here, it took me almost six hours to go from 330 to 350 with four-minute Solo Ops runs, which I did almost exclusively since other mission types weren't nearly as rewarding, between steep bonus requirements and needlessly annoying modifiers.
Going off that number, the grind from 300 to 350 alone could take you 10 to 15 hours. The journey between 200 and 300 is more forgiving, so with two hours per 10 levels, that's still another 15-20 hours. Add to that the time I spent doing the campaign and grinding to reach 200 in the first place, and that's in the neighborhood of 50 hours, though the real number is probably much higher. That's a pretty big time investment until my drops actually started to matter.
Grinding power is generally easy in Edge of Fate, but for the most part, it's a very bureaucratic endeavor. Think of it as the world's longest meeting that could have been an email. You're doing mindless tasks that barely reward you, so that a few dozen hours from now, you can start chasing what actually matters, because we know that 54-stat armor won't make your build come together. It's like Sisyphus reaching the top of the hill and finding a second rock and a steeper mountain.
Sometimes, the pendulum swings the other way, and it becomes more annoying than actually engaging. Reaching certain breakpoints (approximately every 20 levels) requires a bigger reward score, so I had to fight enemies at a power delta while throwing in modifiers like no HUD or no starting ammo to advance. It's just as much busywork as it was the last time, except I had to jump through more hoops to get there.
All that happens in the Portal, which is one sterile, restaurant menu-esque interface of most activities in the game. Kepler is basically irrelevant for grinding gear until you get at least to 350, when your drops start reaching T4 on Mythic, and two guaranteed T5s a week from missions, so the Portal is your one-stop shop for power leveling/gear farming needs.
Except the lion's share of the Portal is old or reissued, so your long grind will take place in those activities you've been doing for months, if not years, like the 2021 Battlegrounds, Encore, or The Devils' Lair.
Ironically, Caldera—which we're probably all guilty of farming—is one of the few new activities there.
Even if your new gear is worse than what you've gathered throughout your playtime, you still need to save some of it. A select few activities require you to use new gear to advance your Guardian Rank and stay the course toward any gear that's not a downgrade. Using new and featured gear also gives you a bigger reward score in the Portal, plus some boosts to firepower and damage reduction.
As much of a slog as it was, I did it. I pushed to 350. I bought the first Kepler tier upgrade, which means every drop on Mythic is a T4, and I get two guaranteed T5s a week from the featured missions. I could finally farm some high-level loot reliably to make my builds come together, and I only had to do more Caldera than advisable by the World Health Organization.
My drops got even better after I reached 400, which took another dozen or so hours. I probably wouldn't have done it if not for the generous bonuses from Solstice. It's incredible: every basic Solo Ops clear gets me at least one T4 item, plus a guaranteed T5 from the event. I'm having to take a chainsaw to my vault so I can save my good drops, which might be the best problem I've ever had in the game. It's been years since playing D2 has felt so rewarding.
Yet I know that, not long from now, I'll have to redo most of what got me here. With the Star Wars-inspired Renegades expansion in December, Bungie is resetting us back to 200, and we'll have a host of other new gear to chase. The Kepler upgrade, thankfully, is permanent, but the new/featured gear bonuses are bound to make for another slog in a few months. Unstable Cores, too, are going away, for no apparent reason other than making us stockpile them again.
The bright side is, Bungie plans to tone down the grind starting in the next few weeks, but what shape that will take is still vague. One of its goals is to "generally increase the speed of progression for most players," though that doesn't inspire that much faith, seeing how the grind seems more like policy than accident. Going from, say, 60 hours to 30 is certainly faster, but it's still one hell of an investment before you can get gear actually worth using.
The length of the grind isn't the only problem, either. Many of the upgrades we received this season will go away with Renegades. While we'll always have our gear, it may not be new or featured in a few months, and we'll need to re-earn the permission to grind anything remotely worth keeping.
Yes, there have always been power level resets, but this is the first time we'll go back to only earning low-quality gear—and the first time we're actually being penalized for using "legacy" weapons and armor, even if they're just six months old.
The Edge of Fate set up a new foundation of systems for D2, with gear tiers, armor 3.0, and the Portal, but power grind is the core of the content right now—and that's unacceptable. The true gear chase doesn't kick in until dozens of hours; until then, it's all some extremely interactive red tape. I enjoy a reasonable, rewarding grind, but for the investment it requires, leveling in Edge of Fate is neither.
There's still room for improvement, of course. Ash & Iron arrives in September, opening up more activities and softening the grind. But if it takes three months and a major update to make the content feel worthwhile, then that's already a failure.
Luckily, Bungie has plenty of dials to shift until December. The most important, at least for me, is making higher-tier gear far more accessible across the board. I'd love to grind because I want to, not because I have to—and spending dozens of hours as a prelude to chasing weapons and armor is certainly in the latter category. I'd like to chase armor because of set bonuses and weapons that have unique perks or archetypes, and not because it's just another step in the content treadmill. It'll take a lot of incentive to ditch my current well-rolled gear.
The optimist in me likes to think they'll eventually get it right, but the realist in me says it might take longer than I'd like it to. Just last month, the studio nerfed a popular farm and attempted to up the difficulty for raids and dungeons for the second time this year, getting enough backlash to quickly U-Turn it both times. There's time to course-correct, but it doesn't inspire much confidence considering the grind seems more calculated than collateral.
At least if that happens again, maybe I'll finally find something to watch on Netflix.
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Destructoid Tuesday, August 12, 2025 3:07 PM
Nintendo announced a partnership with the Interstate Scholastic Esports Alliance (ISEA) to bring friendly competitions of Switch titles to students in 23 states in the U.S.
Small tournaments of Mario Kart 8 Deluxe, Super Smash Bros. Ultimate, and Splatoon 3 will be held in schools from 4th to 12th grade to "help students build healthy relationships that can last a lifetime" in "a fun experience that is open to everyone."
Nintendo's press release from Aug. 12 says this partnership is about "not-for-profit, small-scale community tournaments," which shuts down any hopes that it could be the building blocks of the company's first real modern competitive circuit.
The esports partnership isn't problematic, but it's not a sign of good things to come if you're into competitive gaming. When we picture what's happening, it feels a lot more like a big marketing move rather than something intended to create an organized esports ecosystem like Valve does with Counter-Strike 2 and Dota 2, Riot Games does with League of Legends and Valorant, and Epic Games does with Fortnite.
What sets esports apart from games that are simply competitive is the ecosystem. Usually, the company that holds the game rights, like Nintendo, would create a full season of tournaments, big and small, with prize pools and a qualifying system that would allow players and teams to fight for spots in major tournaments. For example, you would probably play a bunch of local Mario Kart 8 tournaments to get points to play an international or world championship.
Esports have live broadcasts of tournaments, and loyal fans encourage teams to form and gather sponsors, which fund players so they can dedicate some of their time to improving at the game. The payoff for the company organizing all that is outreach: the bigger their esports circuit, the more eyes are on their game, and the higher the chances that their existing players will stick to the game and new people will get drawn in.
These competitive circuits boil down to a complicated marketing initiative, but they still fund a competitive environment.
That's what The Pokémon Company does with the Play Pokémon! program, where you can get points for the World Championship in your local game store, just like you can in Regional and International championships.
When Nintendo says its new partnership is building competitive gaming by providing "a large quantity of Nintendo Switch Online memberships and digital game download codes at no cost," it's not enough. This ISEA partnership is no different than setting up a Nintendo booth at a mall and letting couples take their two kids to play Princess Peach: Showtime for free for 15 minutes on a Switch Lite. All it foments is kids' desire to buy the console and the games.
This Nintendo partnership isn't setting the stage for a competitive environment or a growing community of competitors. It's a marketing move to get more children and teens to play its games, so they buy a console later.
Even if that's not Nintendo's intention, what happens after these kids leave school, if they're into competitive gaming? Mario Kart 8 Deluxe tournaments, which were rare, are soon to be replaced by Mario Kart World. Splatoon 3 had no World Championship in 2025. Super Smash Bros. Ultimate tournaments are mostly held and funded by the community. Also, none of these had junior or senior divisions like Pokémon has.
Nintendo is allowed to make marketing moves. It's just out of place to see this partnership labeled as an esports initiative when it clearly isn't stirring up any scene.
But most esports are dead, anyway. I don't blame Nintendo. Maybe marketing is just the late stage of esports. Of course, this is all just my humble opinion.
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Destructoid Tuesday, August 12, 2025 2:52 PM
The flying disc might have been added as part of an older update in PEAK, but it has come to the limelight during the Mesa update.
The first major content expansion of PEAK has added plenty of new badges for players to complete and unlock new rewards. The Ultimate badge has a peculiar requirement that requires you to use the frisbee, or the flying disc, over a certain distance.
As of writing, the badge seems to be bugged, but the process remains the same.
Table of contents
How to get the Ultimate Badge in PEAK?
The Ultimate badge requires you to collect the flying disc. Either you or your friend will need to get the item, which is always located at the crash site.
If you're unsure about the distance between you and your friend, you can use a mod that displays the exact figure. While I first thought that the distance between me and my buddy wasn't enough, there seems to be a more serious issue.
Why can't you complete the Ultimate Badge in PEAK?
If you're doing everything right and still can't complete the badge, you're not alone. As of writing on Aug. 12, the badge appears bugged as of writing. Irrespective of the distance, the badge can't be completed, which means that the associated cosmetic reward is also unobtainable.
This seems to be a result of an earlier bug fix, when players were reportedly able to throw any item and complete the task. That said, the 24 Karat badge had a major bug that has been addressed as of writing. Once we get a bug fix for this, repeat the steps mentioned above, and you should have completed the Ultimate badge.
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Destructoid Tuesday, August 12, 2025 1:57 PM
Mega Dragonite is the only confirmed new Mega Evolution coming to Pokémon Legends: Z-A in October, but we know there will be more. We don't know how many and which Pokémon will get the Mega treatment first in Pokémon X and Y. But thanks to talented fans, we get to see what some Pokémon could look like if they were included in that list.
I've picked my five favorite Pokémon from IcyBoy33's art. They made their Mega Pokémon concepts based on an alleged leak posted on 4chan five months ago, where someone claims they have insider information on Pokémon Legends Z-A and shared descriptions of all 26 upcoming Mega Evolutions.
While the list includes Pokémon like Starmie and Skarmory, which never got an alternate or regional form in any game, there are some much more exciting versions of megas than them. Sorry, Victreebel, you're nothing special, and we don't need a new Starmie.
Mega Chandelure
Mega Chandelure looks like one of those massive dining-room chandeliers that alone cost more than my house. This Mega has more arms that hold extra flames to absorb and burn even more spirits than base Chandelure. The flames also look stronger and more menacing, as if ready to burn that same dining room to the ground and turn it into a gigantic pyre. I would love to see Chandelure getting a signature fire move with this Mega.
Mega Dragalge
Base-form Dragalge already looks like a Seadra that was poisoned in the ocean. This Mega Dragalge is being taken over by poison as if it were a living parasite, making the Pokémon more dangerous with its sharper upper limbs and antennas. I want to see Dragalge getting a strong ability like Corrosion so that it can poison Steel and Poison-type Pokémon as well, because if that poisonous dragon can't poison everything, I don't know what can.
Mega Floette
Mega Floette would be the first Pokémon to mega-evolve in its base form rather than in its latest evolution stage, Florges. A red and black flower seems to be decaying in this form, with Floette becoming part of the flower instead of just holding it. The contrast between the dark tones of the death flower and Floette's innocent smile is what makes this concept a great one. If this Mega turns out to be real, it's probably only available to Floette's Eternal Flower form, which can't evolve.
Mega Drampa
Drampa loses its calm and friendly look to become a dark dragon, lord of the sky and thunder. Its standard Pokédex description says it loses its collected look when it becomes angry, so a Mega Drampa would probably lean on that change. What I love about the design is, once again, the contrast between its base form, like a grandpa welcoming you in his house with hot tea and cookies, and the angry face of its mega form that's pissed that you broke his ancient teapot. Its Normal-Dragon typing is underwhelming, but I don't see it changing unless The Pokémon Company gives it strong moves of other types like Electric.
Mega Zygarde
Nothing could be more suited to the star of Pokémon Legends: Z-A, Zygarde, than a Mega Evolution that gives it an enormous energy cannon five times its size. If that form comes true, it has to feature a new signature move related to that cannon. This Mega Zygarde concept reminds me of Eternatus in its epic Dynamax form in Pokémon Sword and Shield. I hope PLZA brings a fight against Zygarde in its mega form to close out a story arc.
None of these Pokémon are confirmed to get a Mega Evolution in Pokémon Legends: Z-A, so it's all speculation and wishful thinking for now. The list of ALL rumored Pokémon that could get mega versions is:
Of course, these are just rumors, and I'd love to know from you, Destructoid, which Pokémon would you love to see get the Mega treatment?
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Destructoid Tuesday, August 12, 2025 1:22 PM
Another limited time event has already arrived in Black Ops 6, one week after the launch of season five.
The latest Call of Duty Zombies map, Reckoning, now has a leaderboard-style event to accompany its launch, giving players the chance to earn some free loot and keep their GobbleGum collections topped up in BO6.
Here's everything we know so far about The Reckoning limited-time event in BO6 Zombies, thanks to data mines.
All rewards in BO6 Zombies The Reckoning event
The Reckoning in BO6 Zombies is a leaderboard event that tracks passively as you play, so you only need to play the new Reckoning map and kill Zombies to earn rewards. Each player is sorted into a leaderboard of 30 global players, and those who finish at the top can earn the most rewards.
Here's how to score points to rank up the leaderboard by playing Reckoning once the event begins on Aug. 14:
Get your kills and then climb the leaderboard with your points to unlock these rewards based on your placement, according to data mined info by realityuk:
On top of the leaderboard rewards, there are also individual challenges, and everything is relegated to Zombies mode and the Reckoning map. Here's what you need to do to complete them and what you can get from them:
Additional rewards are available for getting kills, but they will be revealed when the event goes live on Aug. 14.
This article will be updated with new information whenever it becomes available.
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Destructoid Tuesday, August 12, 2025 12:52 PM
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 was locked for a long time following the Mesa update on Aug. 11. As of writing, the bug seems to have been fixed, and you should be able to complete it by following the correct steps.
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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, and it won't be open on every day. Hence, the entrance is supposed to be locked on occasions, and this isn't a bug at all.
How to complete 24 Karat badge in PEAK?
To unlock the badge, you'll have to reach the Kiln. But first, you'll need to get to the TOMB. This is a secret area on the island, and again, the entrance might be locked for you if you aren't lucky. The TOMB is located in the first part of the Mesa map, and it's more like a hole on a cliff (surrounded by higher hills) leading underground.
Definitely 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 a slab where the Ancient Idol is placed. You have to carry and throw the Idol into the lava to complete the 24 Karat badge. But first, get the idol and exit the tomb. To do so, take the door in the screenshot below. It's located right below the level from where you pick up the Ancient Idol.
Despite its weight, the item can protect you against plenty of debuffs. After exiting the TOMB, throw it in the lava, and your objective with be complete.
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Destructoid Tuesday, August 12, 2025 12:47 PM
PEAK's "the Mesa" update introduced a desolate new biome, a campervan's worth of new items, and a fresh set of badges for all of us aspiring scouts to collect.
Every new badge in PEAK's "the Mesa" update, and how to get them
The Mesa update added ten new badges to PEAK, bringing the total number of badges in the game from 32 to 42. As you can probably guess, you can only unlock most of the new badges while playing in the MESA, a craggy, sun-bleached desert full of natural perils and hidden secrets. Here's how to unlock every new badge in PEAK.
What's more, unlocking these badges will also reward you with new cosmetics in PEAK, so check out our article on the topic if you're interested.
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Destructoid Tuesday, August 12, 2025 12:43 PM
A fresh event has arrived in Disney Dreamlight Valley, and it's time to explore the village like a pirate to uncover buried treasure. The Treasure Hunt event is one of the trickiest events we've seen yet, so you may need some help working through it.
There are some special prizes you can't get anywhere else, so fully finishing all of the tasks featured in this event is crucial if you're hoping to obtain some new items. Here are all the Treasure Hunt event duties and rewards in Disney Dreamlight Valley.
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Treasure Hunt event duties in Disney Dreamlight Valley
There are two duties featured in this event. Only one of them is listed on the official Collection page, while the other is simply the general quest you need to embark on and complete to obtain all event prizes. The missions you need to get done are as follows.
Treasure Hunt event rewards in Disney Dreamlight Valley
There are only two reward items featured in the Treasure Hunt event. This one is a lot smaller than most others, but the prizes featured in it are exclusive, so if you're interested in either one, tackling the event quests is the only way to unlock them.
The Pirate Mast furniture item is the grand prize in this event. It's a bit of a special one since it's a Touch of Magic item, so you can fully customize and recolor the flag of this mast with any Disney Motifs you like.
How to complete Treasure Hunt event in Disney Dreamlight Valley
To complete the Treasure Hunt event, you need to piece together a memory by solving riddles buried around the village. This is a pretty tricky undertaking, so here's a full breakdown of how to tackle this process.
There's no way to know which biome the gold crack will spawn in each day, so you need to carefully scour all of them to find it. They're similar in appearance to the Cheshire Cracks from the past Cheshire Chaos event, but larger and brighter, making them overall easier to spot.
Treasure Hunt event memory location
Once you have all four pieces of the memory, you need to venture to Ariel's secret island to dig up the treasure buried there. This is the location featured in the memory you pieced back together. Even if you recognize it without all four pieces, the treasure won't appear until you have completed the full image.
To access Ariel's island, head down to the small island just off the coast of Dazzle Beach, right by Skull Rock. Walk over to the north end of this island to find a small wooden raft. Interact with the raft to sail off to Ariel's island.
On the island, head slightly right and look down to find the golden treasure spot. Equip your Royal Shovel to dig it up and claim the Pirate Mast reward. Once you have this item unlocked, you're done with the event.
How long is the Treasure Hunt event in Disney Dreamlight Valley?
The Treasure Hunt event is available to complete from July 30 to Aug. 12. This means you only have about two weeks to get it done, so getting started as soon as possible is crucial if you want to claim all available prizes.
If you're not sure what to do next after finishing this event, there are plenty of quests to work on around the valley. You might consider tackling The Two Flames United, Collateral Damage, and Rekindling the Fire.
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Destructoid Tuesday, August 12, 2025 12:13 PM
How are you enjoying your Nintendo Switch 2, gamers? Are you ready for the next exclusive to drop?
There's a handful of games coming out this week, and the most interesting one is definitely Drag x Drive, a new game for the Switch 2. Utilizing the JoyCon mouse controllers, it's a wheelchair basketball game where you swipe the mice back and forth like you would the wheels on the wheelchair. It's a very interesting premise.
Nintendo says matches are quick, lasting about three minutes, so it may end up being a fun multiplayer game to pick up and play online with friends. The overview video above shows that there are different position archetypes to play as, too, so you may strategize with pals on who plays what.
Will you go up the ramp for a dunk, or roll backwards and go for a three-pointer? Will you be picking up the game at all, or did the recent demo this past weekend turn you off from the game entirely? The game is priced at $20, so it could provide decent value.
Let us know in the comments and poll below what you think about this unique motion-control game, because I'm genuinely curious what others think about it.
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Destructoid Tuesday, August 12, 2025 12:08 PM
Fortnite Chapter Six, season four has a new map, and you can find different NPCs across the various regions. Like in previous seasons, some of these NPCs will offer him valuable services, while the rest of them can be hired to fight by your side.
To unlock these characters' offerings, you have to manually visit their locations on the map and interact with them first. Tracking them down can be fairly tricky, so here are all NPC locations in Fortnite Chapter Six, season four.
All NPCs and where to find them in Fortnite Chapter 6, season 4
There are 18 NPCs you can find across the island in Fortnite Chapter Six, season four. While more might be added later when the season is live, the table below has all of the characters who are on the island so far.
Most of the characters this season offer OXR Patch Ups and Rifts, which have to be unlocked first by raising your OXR Rank. You can then use the services to heal yourself. Some characters, like Peely and Cuddle Team Leader, can provide specialist services to increase the chances of your survival.
With helpful characters at your side, you can now take on some of the tougher challenges around the island. You might try slaying the Queen, collecting items from Hive Stashes, and discovering the swarm's access point to the island.
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Destructoid Tuesday, August 12, 2025 11:55 AM
PEAK's Mesa update has a host of new badges for players to complete, and you'll be rewarded with unique cosmetics for your efforts.
The new badges are all tied directly to the fresh items that are part of the Mesa update. Additionally, some of them are related to enemies and challenges that are part of the Mesa biome. Let's take a look at all the new cosmetics that you can obtain, and the respective badges that reward them to you.
How to get all new cosmetics in PEAK Mesa update?
The table below has details about all the new badges and the cosmetics associated with them.
Out of all the achievements, the 24 Karat Badge can be a confusing one, as it had a bug that stopped players from completing it in the first place. Thankfully, the problem at hand has been resolved, and the badge now works as intended.
Do note that there's an additional cosmetic that has undergone a significant change. The Gold Crown, rewarded for unlocking all badges, has now become harder to obtain. If you have completed all badges on the previous version, you'll already have it in your collection. If not, earning the Crown will require you to complete all new badges added as part of the Mesa update.
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Destructoid Tuesday, August 12, 2025 11:37 AM
To save the island from the massive bug swarm that's overrun it in Fortnite, you need to learn more about how it happened. One of the key quests in this process is discovering the swarm's access point to the island.
This is one of the tougher missions you'll come across since the access point you need to find is quite small and not at an easy location. It's an essential one to get done, though, so here's how to discover the swarm's access point to the island in Fortnite.
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Where is the swarm's access point to the island in Fortnite?
The swarm's access point you need to find for the Welcome to the Infestation quest series is a swirling purple portal situated on a small mountain north of Demon's Domain, west of Utopia City, and east of Foxy Floodgate. It's slightly southeast of the center of the island.
Since this portal isn't located at any major POI and instead is situated at a fairly random spot out in nature, it's tough to find. If you're having trouble getting to the right spot, focus on looking for the U-shaped bend along the train tracks right below it.
There's also a small brown house right up against the hill the portal is on, so using these two landmarks together, you should have an easier time finding it. Once you're within range of the access point, it will be marked by a white diamond icon. Follow the icon up the hill to reach the right spot for this quest.
Discover the swarm's access point to the island in Fortnite
To discover the swarm's access point to the island, you need to find the purple portal and interact with it. Once you're at the right spot, approach the access point and press the button that appears when you're next to it.
Some missions have a few extra steps that make them more complex to get done, but for this one, all you need to do is interact with the portal once to finish it. Finding the right spot is the only tough part of this quest.
As soon as you interact with the access point, it will change from purple to red, and this quest will be complete. We'll likely have to complete additional missions related to the access point in the future, but for now, you're done with it.
With this quest now complete, you can move on to tackling other key missions around the island. Next, you might find and open OXR Bunkers, grab some Exotic weapons, collect items from Hive Stashes, and claim Capture Points.
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Destructoid Tuesday, August 12, 2025 10:40 AM
Getting Vox Seas Race V2 for all races is always a similar quest process where you'll have to get a specific weapon, fruit or fighting style and kill a certain number of NPCs/Bosses. Below you'll find an in-depth guide for all races with locations, details and the NPCs you need. Here's how to get all Vox Seas Race V2.
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How to Get Race V2 in Vox Seas
You unlock Race V2 in Vox Seas by doing specific quests for your race which usually include killing certain NPCs/Bosses with certain equips which I'll talk about individually below. Here are some notes before we start with V2 methods for each race:
Without further ado, let's get those Race V2s below.
How to Get Human V2 in Vox Seas
For Human V2 you'll need the Dark Step/Black Leg fighting style so follow the steps below:
How to Get Angel V2 in Vox Seas
Angel V2 is all about getting Divine Pole and farming Enel/Thunder God so here's how:
How to Get Mink V2 in Vox Seas
For Mink V2 we first need the Electric Claw fighting style which I'll go into and then we'll talk about the actual Mink V2 progress:
How to Get Dragon V2 in Vox Seas
For Dragon V2 you'll need the Blaze Fruit and here's how to get V2:
How to Get Shark V2 in Vox Seas
Similar to Mink and Human, for Shark V2 you'll need a fighting style which is Water Kung Fu so follow the steps below:
How to Reroll Race in Vox Seas
To reroll your race in Vox Seas simply go to Central Town island in the middle of the map. Then, go into the cafe building at the center of the island and talk to the barkeep. He is the Race Spin NPC behind the bar and he'll let you randomly spin and reroll your race for Fragments.
That's it for my Vox Seas Race V2 guide. Check out our sword and gun tier list for more Vox Seas guides.
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Destructoid Tuesday, August 12, 2025 9:17 AM
Story quests are the toughest missions to get done in Fortnite, as they often ask you to interact with enemies, items, and other such assets you might not be familiar with. In Chapter Six, season four, the Welcome to the Infestation quests are the first ones you need to complete.
Since these are the first story-focused tasks you get, finishing them is crucial if you want to progress the main storyline and keep up with what's going on around the island. There are some decently difficult missions in this quest series, so here's how to complete all Welcome to the Infestation quests in Fortnite.
Table of contents
All Welcome to the Infestation quests in Fortnite
There are six missions you need to get done throughout the Welcome to the Infestation quest series in Fortnite. All of the tasks you must navigate are as follows.
Eliminate bugs in Fortnite
Your first task is to eliminate a total of 50 bugs. You can find these hostile enemies all around the island, but it's best to look at either Infested Outposts or Queen Colonies, which is where you can slay the Queen. Both of these locations are marked with special icons on the map, making them easy to find in each match.
Hanging around Hive Stashes and the purple nests near them is especially useful for this task, as bugs respawn near them quite frequently. I got this task done in just two rounds by sticking close to the purple nests and killing the bugs that spawned out of them every 10 seconds or so. Even if you strategize carefully for this mission, it will likely still take you at least a few rounds to get this task done.
Talk to Onyx Winter about joining OXR in Fortnite
Next, you need to find and chat with Onyx Winter to see if you can join OXR. She's one of the many NPCs you can find around the island. Onyx Winter hangs out at OXR HQ and can specifically be found standing up in a tower with Agent Patch and Lt. Ripp Slade near the west end of this location. Interact with her and select the diamond icon with an exclamation point to progress through this quest.
Defend an Outpost in Fortnite
Your next quest is to successfully defend an Outpost. Pick one of the locations marked with an Infested Outpost icon and venture to it. Once you're there, get to work defeating 20 bugs to save the outpost from the infestation. This might take a bit, but most bugs are fairly easy to eliminate with any weapon, so just keep at it until the task is done.
Eliminate opponents at The Hive or Ranger's Ruin in Fortnite
Venture to The Hive or Ranger's Ruin to complete your next quest, which is to eliminate 30 opponents at either location. Because this task says "opponents" rather than "enemy players," you can take out either map enemies or players you come across.
30 enemies are quite a lot to kill, so I recommend focusing on eliminating bugs again for this trial. You've already fought a lot of them throughout this quest series, so just venture to one of the two required spots and hang out near a purple next to wait for them to respawn over and over. Ensure you have some solid weapons and loot in your inventory to make this task easier. A Bug Blaster is especially useful here.
Talk to Hope or Jones about the tentacle in Fortnite
You've learned a lot, so it's now time to meet up with either Hope or Jones to chat about what you know. You'll specifically discuss the massive tentacle left on the island following the live event. Hope and Jones can be found near the east end of Supernova Academy, hanging out in a bunker right below it.
Discover the swarm's access point to the island in Fortnite
Your final mission is to discover the swarm's access point to the island. To do so, you need to venture to a small mountain north of Demon's Debris and west of Utopia City. At this location, you'll find a mysterious purple portal you can interact with.
Interacting with the portal turns it dark red and completes this task. There will likely be more to come with this strange portal in the future, but for now, you're done with all Welcome to the Infestation quests.
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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.
Table of contents
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 us 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 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, the countdown timer below should be accurate. We've set it 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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