GamersHeroes Wednesday, August 13, 2025 1:48 PM The team at EA SPORTS has unveiled the official incoming class of EA SPORTS FC 26 ICONs - featuring the most fan-requested ICONs to-date! The post EA SPORTS FC 26 ICON Class Revealed appeared first on GamersHeroes. |
GamersHeroes Wednesday, August 13, 2025 1:06 PM A grimly humorous single-player tower defense roguelite, Ancient Well has announced their new title No Tithe for Olaf. The post Tower Defense Roguelite No Tithe for Olaf Announced appeared first on GamersHeroes. |
GamersHeroes Wednesday, August 13, 2025 11:58 AM A new full-service publisher for indie and A to AA studios, Berlin-based INSTINCT3 has launched Sidekick Publishing. The post Full-Service Game Publisher Sidekick Launched by INSTINCT3 appeared first on GamersHeroes. |
GamersHeroes Wednesday, August 13, 2025 11:57 AM Inspired by the improv storytelling style that makes tabletop RPGs so popular, the new social storytelling platform Hidden Door is now available in Early Access. The post Social Storytelling Platform Hidden Door Now in Early Access appeared first on GamersHeroes. |
GamersHeroes Wednesday, August 13, 2025 11:57 AM The team at NEXON's classic hack n' slash RPG Vindictus is back with its thrilling new "Season 4 Episode 12" update. The post Vindictus Season 4 Episode 12 Update Live appeared first on GamersHeroes. |
Kotaku Wednesday, August 13, 2025 1:33 PM
The popular battle royale shooter will stop working on the aging consoles in November The post Well, Bad News For <i>PUBG</i> Players On PS4 And Xbox One appeared first on Kotaku. |
Kotaku Wednesday, August 13, 2025 12:55 PM
Mortal Kombat and classic Resident Evil games are also part of the mix The post <i>Spider-Man</i> Finally Returns To PS Plus In A Stacked Month appeared first on Kotaku. |
Kotaku Wednesday, August 13, 2025 12:51 PM
Elden Ring Nightreign and Rematch are two other games this year that launched without cross-platform support The post It's 2025, Why Are We Still Getting Multiplayer Games Without Crossplay? appeared first on Kotaku. |
Kotaku Wednesday, August 13, 2025 11:22 AM
Mercy is still Overwatch 2's cash cow, so fans are paying close attention to her rising skin prices The post As Mercy Skins Become More Expensive, <em>Overwatch 2</em> Fans Are Bullying Her Players Again appeared first on Kotaku. |
Kotaku Wednesday, August 13, 2025 11:10 AM
Plus: Rumors of a new GTA Trilogy port on Switch, union news, Stalker 2 gets an upgrade, and bigger maps are coming to Battlefield 6 The post Attendees Call Florida Gamer Convention A Scam, But At Least It Had Camels To Pet appeared first on Kotaku. |
Kotaku Wednesday, August 13, 2025 11:07 AM
Sony's pre-Gamescom sale has some great deals on PS5 and PS4 The post A Ton Of Great RPGs Are Half-Price On PlayStation Right Now appeared first on Kotaku. |
Kotaku Wednesday, August 13, 2025 10:44 AM
Mario's open-world experience on the Switch often looked a bit blurry, but can you expect improvements on newer hardware? The post Everything You Need To Know About Playing <i>Super Mario Odyssey</i> On Switch 2 appeared first on Kotaku. |
Kotaku Wednesday, August 13, 2025 10:22 AM
The FX show successfully combines Alien And Aliens like nothing else since The post <i>Alien: Earth</i> Is Masterful, Deeply Unsettling Television appeared first on Kotaku. |
Kotaku Wednesday, August 13, 2025 10:06 AM
The survival crafting sequel was a joint venture with Deus Ex maker Eidos Montreal The post The Secret To <i>Grounded 2</i>'s Development Is A Great Sign For Xbox Fans appeared first on Kotaku. |
Kotaku Wednesday, August 13, 2025 7:52 AM
Chibi-Robo! is arriving on the Nintendo Switch Online subscription service later this month The post The Switch 2's GameCube Library Is Finally Getting A New Addition appeared first on Kotaku. |
PCGamesN Wednesday, August 13, 2025 1:48 PM There are some series that would rather see the heat death of the universe than miss their money-spinning annual release cycle. EA FC. Call of Duty. Madden. You know the ones. Among those is Football Manager, and despite having never skipped a beat since 2004, the delay and subsequent cancelation of FM25 saw that streak come to a shocking end. However, it's time to start afresh - Football Manager 26 has just been revealed, and it's set to bring all of the innovations of its scrapped predecessor to the dressing room. MORE FROM PCGAMESN: Best sports games, Best management games, Best simulation games |
PCGamesN Wednesday, August 13, 2025 1:04 PM While recent rumors might suggest that Half-Life 3 may not be as unlikely as we once thought, it's still not here. However, rather than going back to play the first two games again, why not try something new, like Abiotic Factor. This survival game delivers an enjoyable Half-Life-style experience that can be enjoyed solo or with friends. Right now, it's at its cheapest price since the major 1.0 update, so it's a great time to grab it, but you don't have a lot of time. MORE FROM PCGAMESN: Best co-op games, Best PC FPS games, Best classic PC games |
PCGamesN Wednesday, August 13, 2025 1:01 PM Recently my partner inherited several early editions of the Dungeons and Dragons player handbook. Tattered, battered, and loved, they're now the pride of our ever-expanding TTRPG book collection, musty and ancient when juxtaposed with the colorful Monster Manuals and expansion books that we have today. There's a certain majesty to these well-worn tomes, though, with their black-and-white, sketchy imagery feeling a little more 'human' when compared to WoTC's glossy artwork. The Secret of Weepstone, a new ARPG from the publisher of The Mortuary Assistant, seeks to bring those monochrome drawings to vibrant life, transforming them into a virtual campaign that feels straight out of classic DnD. MORE FROM PCGAMESN: Best indie games, New PC games, Best PC games |
PCGamesN Wednesday, August 13, 2025 1:02 PM Balancing games is important. It's no fun if one unit is overpowered, one character deals twice as much damage as another, or something is plain broken. That goes double for RTS games like Broken Arrow, which attempt to simulate army movements and intense warzones with equal parts efficiency and accuracy. However, Broken Arrow had a bit of a broken launch (nominative determinism at its finest there), receiving mixed reviews on Steam. Developer Steel Balalaika has been playing catch-up since. The latest attempt to listen to player feedback is Broken Arrow Patch 1.0.9, which rebalances pretty much all of the game's factions. MORE FROM PCGAMESN: Best war games, Best tank games, Best strategy games |
PCGamesN Wednesday, August 13, 2025 12:53 PM Clair Obscur Expedition 33 is certain to wind up among the year's most memorable games, but the stylish JRPG can also be an immensely tough experience at times. Its slick combat typically requires you to parry, or at least dodge, the hardest-hitting strikes of your foes in order to survive. The good news is that if you take the time to learn all of its encounters, you can beat the entire game without taking a single hit. One particularly enthusiastic soulslike veteran, however, has turned that challenge on its head with a Clair Obscur Expedition 33 'all hit' run, where they tank every single blow with no parries or dodging, and I'm seriously impressed by their ingenuity. MORE FROM PCGAMESN: Best Clair Obscur Expedition 33 weapons, Best Clair Obscur Expedition 33 builds, Best Clair Obscur Expedition 33 Pictos |
PCGamesN Wednesday, August 13, 2025 12:27 PM When is the next Monopoly Go Golden Blitz? This special, limited-time event allows players to trade two, usually locked golden stickers during a 24-hour period. This is an ideal solution for grabbing elusive missing stickers and completing albums before they come to an end. There's no official schedule for Monopoly Go's Golden Blitz event, so we can only estimate the date of the first Summer Escape Golden Blitz based on previous events and official sticker polls. However, we check daily for official word on the next trade. While you wait, be sure to participate in other Monopoly Go events for a chance to earn rare sticker packs, and keep on top of freebies with our free Monopoly Go dice rolls guide, which is updated regularly with the newest links. Continue reading When is the next Monopoly Go Golden Blitz event? MORE FROM PCGAMESN: Best board games, Monopoly Go events, Monopoly Go dice |
PCGamesN Wednesday, August 13, 2025 12:16 PM Hats off to whoever designed the Alienware Aurora case - from the iconic light-up alien head that doubles as a power button, to the smouldering ring of light behind the front panel, this curvy, space-age chassis really looks the part, and it's well made too. Dell is equipping its new Aurora PCs with the latest Nvidia GeForce RTX 5000 GPUs as well, and our sample comes with an RTX 5070 Ti, which is one of the better cards from the new Blackwell lineup. With a super-cool case and a decent GPU, this Alienware rig is already looking like an obvious contender for our best gaming PC guide. There are a few areas that hold it back from greatness, however, including an odd choice of CPU for a gaming machine, and a surprisingly messy interior that's at odds with the clean design of the case. I've been using the Alienware Aurora for a few weeks now, and I've tested it in a load of games, as well as benchmarking its rendering performance, and taking it apart to see what makes it tick. [site_jumplinks] MORE FROM PCGAMESN: Best graphics card, Best gaming PC, Best SSD for gaming |
PCGamesN Wednesday, August 13, 2025 12:16 PM How does Madden 26 scouting work? Taking the worst teams in the NFL all the way to the Super Bowl means rebuilding the roster through the draft. To do that, you need to ace your scouting and gather as much information as you possibly can. Madden 26's scouting is very limited, but it is easy to get wrong. So, if you want to turn over your roster and snatch up the best prospects around to make the most of your Madden 26 playbooks and not have to go after trade targets, you need to follow this scouting guide. Madden 26 is making a play to be one of the best sports games of the year. Continue reading Madden 26 scouting guide MORE FROM PCGAMESN: Madden 26 system requirements, Best football and soccer games, Best sports games on PC |
PCGamesN Wednesday, August 13, 2025 12:16 PM Who are the confirmed FC 26 Icons? The annual EA FC cycle has ticked round, and with it comes a new cohort of legendary soccer superstars who've earned immortalization through their dominance of the beautiful game. With the FC 26 release date on the horizon, EA has already confirmed new and returning faces for this year's instalment of the best soccer game series. Last year's inductees included phenoms like Gareth Bale and Nadine Angerer, and it already looks like FC 26 won't disappoint. Read on to find out who you'll be able to ball out with in your weekend league games this season. Continue reading FC 26 Icons list - all confirmed Icons MORE FROM PCGAMESN: EA Sports FC 26 system requirements, Best sports games, Best soccer games |
PCGamesN Wednesday, August 13, 2025 11:48 AM Finding the best Minecraft settings is about more than just graphical tweaks, as there are a lot of detailed menus to navigate. Whether you're an avid Minecraft fan looking to get the best out of the creative sandbox or a parent wanting to ensure your child has the best experience, we've got the settings and tips to help out. As you might expect, the Minecraft system requirements don't call for anything close to the most expensive options in our best graphics card buying guide, but you might want to consider a storage upgrade if you want to download a bunch of the best Minecraft mods. Elsewhere, playing Minecraft on the Steam Deck might prove more difficult than expected due to the game's lack of availability on Steam, but we've got you covered with a workaround. Continue reading Best Minecraft settings for PC and Steam Deck MORE FROM PCGAMESN: Minecraft seeds, Minecraft skins, Minecraft mods |
PCGamesN Wednesday, August 13, 2025 11:36 AM What are the new Fortnite weapons? Every new Fortnite season that arrives brings a whole heap of new content, among which the most important are the weapons. After all, picking up the best loot across Oninoshima island is essential to bagging a Victory Royale. Once you're done having a gander at the latest Fortnite map, brush up on the new Fortnite guns and weapons available in the battle royale game right now. Some of these are available from loot chests, others from special seasonal challenges, and, of course, you can obtain many of the best weapons from Fortnite NPCs. We all know grabbing a legendary early on can turn the game in your favor. Continue reading New Fortnite weapons - all the guns in Chapter 6 Season 4 MORE FROM PCGAMESN: Fortnite map, Fortnite skins, Fortnite weapons |
PCGamesN Wednesday, August 13, 2025 12:23 PM How do you get all the Grounded 2 secret weapons? Surviving the deadly sandbox that is Grounded 2's Brookhollow Park requires the most powerful weapons, the strongest armor, and some serious combat skill. You are surrounded by terrifying giant bugs, after all. As luck would have it, some great Grounded 2 gear can be found strewn around the survival game's setting, just waiting to be picked up by a plucky teenage adventurer like you. These hidden treasures might be among the best Grounded 2 weapons, but you'll need to gear up with craftable items before you can go looking for them, or you likely won't survive the trip. When you're ready, here's how to get every Grounded 2 secret weapon. Continue reading All Grounded 2 secret weapons MORE FROM PCGAMESN: How to get water in Grounded 2, How to clear dead roots in Grounded 2, Where to find grass seeds in Grounded 2 |
PCGamesN Wednesday, August 13, 2025 11:22 AM If you're wondering what a gaming handheld powered by an Nvidia GPU might look and play like, one modder has the answer. This enormous handheld has a 12.5-inch 4K display and RTX 4090 laptop GPU, and can even run on its built-in battery, just not while gaming. While this beast could easily claim a spot on our best handheld guide based on the in-game performance we've seen so far, it's not exactly suitable as a portable gaming device, at least in its current form. Cramming an Nvidia GPU, even a laptop one, into a handheld was always going to require some compromise, be it on power, cooling, or size, and it appears that all three have been accounted for in this design. MORE FROM PCGAMESN: Nvidia GeForce RTX 5090 review, Nvidia GeForce RTX 5080 review, Best graphics cards |
PCGamesN Wednesday, August 13, 2025 11:18 AM Where is the Tomb in Peak? The Mesa is a cruel, cruel place. A tornado prowls the landscape, ready to throw you into the nearest cactus cluster, tumbleweeds are determined to knock you off your feet, and that's not to mention the sun, which will burn you alive if given half a chance. Deep below the mesa, however, away from these hazards, is the Tomb - and a Golden Bing Bong. There have been plenty of exciting additions to Peak recently, with the Scout Cannon giving players an easy way to get airborne and the Peak balloons ensuring they don't splat on the way down. The Peak Tomb is a secret area of the Mesa map, and it's well worth seeking out, as it gives you one of the most powerful items in the co-op game. Continue reading How to find the Peak Tomb and Golden Bing Bong MORE FROM PCGAMESN: Peak capybara location, How to revive in Peak, Peak bugle explained |
PCGamesN Wednesday, August 13, 2025 11:01 AM The Battlefield 6 beta dominated my life last weekend, and I'm very much looking forward to doing it all over again come Thursday. Despite not being the finished product, BF6 already feels like a return to form for the series after the disappointment of Battlefield 2042. There are still some kinks to iron out, though, and for me one of the biggest is helicopters. I'm by no means a wizard with Battlefield's air vehicles, but helis felt rather hard to control and not very impactful when playing on the larger Liberation Peak map. I'm not alone in that analysis, either. Hearing the feedback, one of Battlefield 6's top devs has confirmed that a "large tuning pass" on helicopters is on the way, but it won't be ready for the final stint of the beta. MORE FROM PCGAMESN: Battlefield 6 preview, Battlefield 6 release date, Best Battlefield 6 weapons |
PCGamesN Wednesday, August 13, 2025 11:06 AM What are the best weapons in BF6? Games like Battlefield can live or die on their gunplay, with both the selection of firearms and the feel of using them key in ensuring a fun and rewarding experience. Thankfully, it looks like BF6 not only has a varied cast of guns, but Kinesthetic Combat looks to ensure a satisfying learning curve for any weapon you choose to pick up. With the Battlefield 6 release date not far off and the last of the Battlefield 6 beta weekends on our doorstep, players are starting to get themselves prepared to jump back into the fight for real. One way to prepare yourself is to get comfortable with the guns you'll be using to win matches and dominate your foes on your way to the top. Here are the best Battlefield 6 weapons. Continue reading Best Battlefield 6 weapons MORE FROM PCGAMESN: Battlefield 6 preview, Battlefield 6 release date, Best Battlefield 6 weapons |
PCGamesN Wednesday, August 13, 2025 10:58 AM What are the latest Fortnite map POIs? Continuing a very mismatched Fortnite season - we've had Japanese influence, a Galactic Battle, and a criminal empire - the Superheroes have descended. Perhaps they're here to return things to normal. Many existing POIs are still here, including the Rebellion and First Order bases, but the Supernova Academy now resides in the central north spot of the island. Since the battle royale game is constantly in flux, everything in this guide changes throughout the season. This also goes for the many Fortnite weapons and Fortnite NPCs across the map, and we'll update each of these guides to reflect those changes. Here's what the current Fortnite map looks like right now in C6S4: Shock 'N' Awesome. Continue reading Current Fortnite map - New Chapter 6 Season 4 POIs MORE FROM PCGAMESN: Fortnite map, Fortnite skins, Fortnite weapons |
PCGamesN Wednesday, August 13, 2025 10:54 AM After six months of outrageously high prices, the cost of buying an Nvidia GeForce RTX 5090 is thankfully now settling down to a much more normal level. It's still expensive, of course; we never expected this flagship GPU to be a bargain, but the RTX 5090 price has now dropped to its lowest level in the US since January, and it's even cheaper in the UK. As I found in my Nvidia GeForce RTX 5090 review, this mammoth gaming GPU offers an unprecedented amount of gaming power. While I'm not going to pretend that it's even remotely affordable for most people at its $1,999 MSRP, if you want the fastest graphics card you can buy for gaming, this Nvidia offering is undoubtedly the top-tier option in our guide to buying the best GPU right now. MORE FROM PCGAMESN: Nvidia GeForce RTX 5090 review, Nvidia GeForce RTX 5080 review, Best graphics cards |
PCGamesN Wednesday, August 13, 2025 11:04 AM What are the best BO6 weapons? Not all guns are made equal, especially in the frantic environment of a Black Ops 6 lobby, and it can be tough to choose exactly what you're going to run with. We've put together a BO6 weapon tier list so you can see what's especially effective and plan your attack accordingly. Before you step foot in the gunsmith to throw one of our best Black Ops 6 loadouts together, you'll need to know which weapons are strong right now and which to avoid. There is some bias involved here, of course, and certain Black Ops 6 weapons are more suited to specific BO6 maps than others, but if you find something is S-class, it's worth a try regardless of the situation. Continue reading Black Ops 6 meta - best weapons tier list MORE FROM PCGAMESN: Black Ops 6 guns, Black Ops 6 review, Black Ops 6 loadouts |
PCGamesN Wednesday, August 13, 2025 10:52 AM When is the Black Ops 6 Season 5 release date? After an action-packed year, we're finally at the end of what has to be considered the best Call of Duty in a long time. Here's what we got in Black Ops 6 Season 5. Season 5 introduced a new Zombies map - the last Zombies map before the next Call of Duty. Finishing strong, Black Ops 6 Season Five gave us a whole host of new maps, new modes, and a map-changing Verdansk experience. Continue reading Black Ops 6 Season 5 release date and latest news MORE FROM PCGAMESN: Black Ops 6 guns, Black Ops 6 review, Black Ops 6 loadouts |
PCGamesN Wednesday, August 13, 2025 10:34 AM How do you make Grow a Garden ice cream? Chris. P is asking for various dishes during the Roblox cooking event. We have some easy Grow a Garden ice cream recipes you can follow for some quick rewards whenever he asks for the popular dessert. While you're waiting for your cold ice cream to fly out of the bubbling vat, check out the Grow a Garden pets tier list to see if any new eggs are worth picking up in the Roblox game. If Chris suddenly asks for something else, check out our Grow a Garden recipes list for more help. Continue reading How to make ice cream in Grow a Garden MORE FROM PCGAMESN: Best Roblox games, Roblox promo codes, Roblox music codes |
PCGamesN Wednesday, August 13, 2025 10:36 AM What is the Battlefield 6 release date? When Battlefield is firing on all cylinders, it's a thing to behold: tactical, dynamic, and immersive, there isn't much else like it out there. Some games have tried to emulate the feel of Battlefield, admittedly with mixed results, so a brand new, numbered entry in one of the best FPS series is something to get excited about. The last Battlefield game that graced our screens was 2042, and it left a bitter taste for some, having eschewed some of the core principles that made the multiplayer game great. Battlefield 6 looks to learn from those mistakes, hopefully capturing some of that early magic, gathering old players and, with any luck, a new audience in the process. Continue reading Battlefield 6 release date, trailers, and latest news MORE FROM PCGAMESN: Battlefield 6 preview, Battlefield 6 release date, Best Battlefield 6 weapons |
PCGamesN Wednesday, August 13, 2025 10:22 AM How do you make Grow a Garden waffle? If Chris. P is craving another sweet treat, be ready with these waffle recipes. Whether you serve them with a sweet or savoury topping, you'll get some tasty rewards from the popular cooking event and beyond. Making a Legendary waffle requires two Mythical seeds. Set up a Grow a Garden stock tracker to nab those whenever they're restocked. For more recipe ideas, check out our complete Grow a Garden recipes list. And, as always, grab the latest Grow a Garden codes for more freebies. Continue reading How to make waffle in Grow a Garden MORE FROM PCGAMESN: Best Roblox games, Roblox promo codes, Roblox music codes |
PCGamesN Wednesday, August 13, 2025 10:39 AM Who are the latest Fortnite NPCs? Fortnite NPC locations change with every new season, much like everything else, with more added throughout the season as well. This makes it difficult to keep track of the latest NPC locations. That's where we come in. There are a few reasons you might want to find a Fortnite NPC location in the battle royale game. You can hire Fortnite NPCs for a helping hand, get a rift out of the storm, or buy some of the best Fortnite weapons and items. There are often new hostile Fortnite NPCs to defeat as well, but if you're looking for someone a little more friendly, we have every Fortnite NPC location right now marked on the Fortnite map, as well as a list of all of the special items or services you can buy in Chapter 6, Season 4. Continue reading All 18 Fortnite NPC locations this week - hireable characters C6S4 MORE FROM PCGAMESN: Fortnite map, Fortnite skins, Fortnite weapons |
PCGamesN Wednesday, August 13, 2025 10:07 AM How do you make Grow a Garden sushi? If Chris P is craving the traditional rice and fish cuisine, you may be wondering how you're expected to appease him. After all, there's no fishing in the Roblox Grow a Garden phenomenon. Fortunately, we have multiple vegetarian Roblox Grow a Garden sushi recipes below for the cooking event and beyond. So long as you've been keeping a close eye on the Grow a Garden seeds tier list, you should have what you need in the Roblox game. If not, use the latest Grow a Garden codes to get something worth trading for the correct crops. For more recipe ideas to satisfy cravings, check out our complete Grow a Garden recipes list. Continue reading How to make sushi in Grow a Garden MORE FROM PCGAMESN: Best Roblox games, Roblox promo codes, Roblox music codes |
Rock Paper Shotgun Latest Articles Feed Wednesday, August 13, 2025 10:58 AM  Whack out your not-at-all-weird-to-own spreadsheet of teenagers with incredible left feet, a Football Manager thing has happened. Namely, Football Manager 2026 has been announced by developers Sports Interactive, with a quick trailer. There's no release date as of yet. If you recall, Football Manager 2025 ended up being delayed and then cancelled, the studio admitting at the time that "the overarching player experience and interface is not where we need it to be." Refunds were issued to folks who'd pre-ordered the touchline-prowling sim, and the devs shifted their focus on to Football Manager 2026. |
Rock Paper Shotgun Latest Articles Feed Wednesday, August 13, 2025 9:57 AM  To me, the best part of Mafia: The Old Country is getting really into the idea of pretending you're living in 1900s Sicily and drinking in the gorgeous vistas that the game's world offers up like sips of wine. You can imagine, then, how keen I was to give its new first-person driving mod a go. Having already knife-fought my way through the main story, I thought this sounded like a pleasant change of perspective to take in when motoring around the Valle Dorata, hoovering up the last of those Explore Mode collectibles. I wasn't wrong either, the mod's great. Well, when it's not accidentally showing you the back of Enzo's teeth and eye sockets. |
Rock Paper Shotgun Latest Articles Feed Wednesday, August 13, 2025 9:00 AM  Into the Unwell is a cooperative hack n' slash roguelite where your characters – cartoonish yet barely upright lost souls, one and all – draw fighting prowess from their vices. My vice, it turns out, is booting sentient pizza slices off cliff edges. It certainly makes me feel better. |
Rock Paper Shotgun Latest Articles Feed Wednesday, August 13, 2025 7:34 AM  If you've tried to pay for something on Steam via PayPal over the past month and a bit, only to be told you can't, Valve have now offered an explanation as to why, pointing to a bank that previously handled PayPal transactions in certain currencies as having suddenly terminated its support. Folks in affected countries first noticed notifications informing them PayPal was "currently unavailable" in their part of the world around a month ago. There's been a steady stream of Reddit posts from folks who've gotten to checkout and been told this since then. |
Twinfinite Wednesday, August 13, 2025 8:15 AM  |
Twinfinite Wednesday, August 13, 2025 7:14 AM  |
Siliconera Wednesday, August 13, 2025 2:00 PM
MegaHouse announced the Variable Action Heroes: One Piece Nami Summer Vacation figure of the character in a swimsuit will be coming back. This marks her first return since her February 2018 debut, as its been seven years since she launched. She's set to arrive worldwide in December 2025. She'll cost ¥10,890 (~$74). No US storefronts are taking pre-orders yet, though Amazon is selling one of the other variants.
Like all the Variable Action Heroes figures of Nami, the One Piece heroine stands at almost seven inches tall (160mm). As it is an action figure, it is also fully articulated and comes with additional parts and accessories. She comes with three face plates, which are shown in the initial photos. One features her smiling, and two are variations of her smiling while winking. She seems to have extra hand parts, and she comes with a pink and white inner tube she can be displayed using or wearing. The swimsuit Nami wears references her role in the Straw Hat pirates, as it features a 3 showing she was the third member.
Here are the initial MegaHouse photos of the figure.
Nami appeared in this line multiple times. One involves her in her timeskip outfit, and that's been released four times before. That's the one that is still often available on stores like Amazon.
We'll see Nami get extra time in the spotlight in the future. During One Piece Day 2025, an anime adaptation of the One Piece Heroines series came up. She's one of the main characters there, alongside folks like Nico Robin.
The Variable Action Heroes: One Piece Nami Summer Vacation figure will release again worldwide in December 2025. The anime is on both Netflix and Crunchyroll. Viz Media handles the manga outside of Japan. The live-action adaptation is on Netflix.
The post One Piece Nami Summer Vacation Variable Action Heroes Figure Returns appeared first on Siliconera. |
Siliconera Wednesday, August 13, 2025 1:00 PM
Taito announced another Death Stranding 2: On the Beach piece of merchandise for its arcades, and it is a plush of the cat chiral creature constantly at Tarman's side in the game. It will show up as a prize in Japanese arcades in October 2025. There's no worldwide release window for it yet.
The Death Stranding 2 chiral creature is designed to look like a stylized version of Tarman's cat. It has the same yellow eyes, and there are the two small wings on the back. It is entirely black, signifying its nature as a chiral creature. It will sit at about nine inches tall (23cm).
Here's a larger photo of it. A person is holding it to provide a sense of scale.
This is the second piece of upcoming Death Stranding 2 merchandise headed to arcades. Taito already announced a Dollman sound figure. That will show up in December 2025. It will play voiced lines from the game, and it can be hung on a person's belt loop.
Death Stranding 2: On the Beach is available for the PS5, and the Tarman chiral creature cat plush will appear as a Taito prize in arcades in October 2025.
The post Death Stranding 2 Tarman's Chiral Creature Cat Turned Into Plush appeared first on Siliconera. |
Siliconera Wednesday, August 13, 2025 12:00 PM
Konami issued an update about the Metal Gear Solid Delta: Snake Eater Fox Hunter multiplayer mode on social media, and it confirmed this will not be a cross-play experience that allows people from all platforms to play together. The PS5, Xbox Series X, and PC versions will all be separated. So someone on a PS5 will only be able to play with others on that same system.
The announcement didn't explain any decisions for why Fox Hunt won't support cross-play, as it only offered an alert for Metal Gear Solid Delta: Snake Eater potential players to be aware of the multiplayer situation. There has been no follow-up to discuss if it could be considered or somehow possible. We likely won't know more about the situation for a while. After all, that mode will be a post-launch update and arrive in Fall 2025.
We do at least have an idea of how the multiplayer will work. It will rely on stealth elements. This means there will be some players who are hiding. Those of us playing will need to complete objectives while possibly also remaining unseen.
Metal Gear Solid Delta: Snake Eater will come out on August 28, 2025 for the PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X, and PC via Steam, and the Fox Hunt online multiplayer mode will debut sometime in Fall 2025. Standard and collector's editions will be available.
The post No Cross-play in Metal Gear Solid Delta Fox Hunt Multiplayer appeared first on Siliconera. |
Siliconera Wednesday, August 13, 2025 11:00 AM
HoYoVerse announced UGC gameplay system for Genshin Impact, which will involve a creation editor with tools that allow players to become creators of game stages or interact in social spaces. It is still in development, so there's no release window yet. However, the company did note that it will open up playtests for us to test out the features as time goes on.
In the announcement, HoYoVerse mentioned the Genshin Impact UGC element will be an editor that allows someone to create different kinds of game stages, much like we did in events like Divine Ingenuity, only with more varied options and assets otherwise found in the title as creation assets. It noted that some of the genres that will be possible will be adventure, party games, simulation, and survival challenges. It also said that we'll be able to make either single-player or co-op multiplayer stages. After making stages, we will be able to share them with others. However, it will also be possible to just play games others mode.
HoYoVerse also teased "shared social spaces." It said this will be a sort of multiplayer lobby. This will be designed to allow further connection between those who use the Genshin Impact UGC system.
Genshin Impact is available for the PS4, PS5, Xbox Series X, PC, and mobile devices, though the PS4 version will be delisted on September 10, 2025 and totally unsupported as of April 8, 2026.
The post Genshin Impact UGC Gameplay System Lets Us Make Game Stages appeared first on Siliconera. |
Siliconera Wednesday, August 13, 2025 10:00 AM
Chibi-Robo is finally back, as the GameCube game will return and be playable on the Switch 2 via the Nintendo Switch Online Expansion Pack tier. The adventure game will be playable on August 21, 2025. This will mark the first time that particular installment is playable on another console worldwide, as the New Play Control: Chibi Robo Wii version only appeared in Japan.
Nintendo shared a trailer to remind people how the game works. Chibi is a small robot purchased by a household to help make life easier. This means cleaning up with a small brush or collecting trash. The robot can also talk to toys around the house and help them. By taking care of folks and helping out, you can earn Happy Points, Moolah, and climb the Chibi- Ranking.
Here's how the Chibi-Robo GameCube entry will look on the Switch 2.
Chibi-Robo is the first of five games in the series, and one of three that follows the traditional goal of assisting a family in a household by cleaning up and helping everyone who lives there. The first three games all followed this pattern, though the third entry only appeared on the DS in Japan. The most recent two were the spin-offs Chibi-Robo: Photo Finder, an augmented reality title, and the platformer Chibi-Robo: Zip Lash.
Chibi-Robo is available for the GameCube, and it will join the Nintendo Switch Online Expansion Pack tier for Switch 2 owners on August 21, 2025.
The post Chibi-Robo GameCube Game Joins NSO for Switch 2 appeared first on Siliconera. |
Siliconera Wednesday, August 13, 2025 8:01 AM
Back when I first tested out Drag x Drive, I likened the 3v3 wheelchair basketball game to the 3v3 Blast Ball mode in Metroid Prime: Federation Force. At the time, I felt like it was more of a proof of concept for what the Switch 2 Joy-Con 2 mouse controls are capable of, but worried it might not go beyond a novel tech demo type of title. After spending about a week playing, I find I appreciate the concept and think it can work well, but it's largely unimpressive and too dependent on a playerbase I doubt it will find unless Nintendo decides to make it a Nintendo Switch Online incentive.
The idea behind Drag x Drive is fairly simple, as it is a fairly straightforward 3v3 wheelchair basketball game. Once you start the game, you're taken to a park that features two courts, a track around them, a "pool" for messing around with tricks and experimentation, and a random assortment of features like constantly rotating, giant jump ropes, bumps in the road, and bowling pins. When you first join, you'll be in a Public Park with up to 12 people. It is possible to go into a Friend Park with only people you know. You can start a game with bots. However, if there are enough people in a public park for games, then two will automatically start. (Bots can be subbed in if there aren't enough for 3v3, and 2v2 games are also possible.) In a Friend Park, the person hosting can make game decisions. It's also possible to set things so you can just spectate other games, opt out of automatically joining, or avoid minigames.
The wheelchair basketball games are the main attraction and they're quite short. Each one lasts only three minutes. Which is something of a blessing, given the unique control scheme and wear it might inflict on a player. You're automatically on teams of three, and your goal is to score baskets in the opponent's hoop like in actual basketball. You can get extra points for performing tricks, such as shooting from the three point line or using the wall to get some air or even dunk. (Those +0.2 can make a difference!) Once one team scores, anyone who isn't on the opposing team gets "blasted" out of the area of that basket to hand over control of the ball.
I sort of feel like Drag x Drive is in the weird place of being both merciless and a little too forgiving, as the wheelchair driving part does demand perfection and precision and the basketball part seems like it's a little too willing to be gracious with bad shots. The opening tutorial runs through controls, and they demand exact inputs. Hitting top speed involves long "strides" with each Joy-Con 2 in mouse mode. It's something easier on a desk or table. However, I found playing on my legs was far more comfortable and natural due to the angles. But since my legs weren't long enough, I wasn't getting top speed. That kind of power and force is also needed for running into an opponent to knock a ball out of their hands, so it's frustrating when your environment keeps you from the strides you need. Quick turns can be executed by moving one at a time or holding the brake on one controller abruptly. But you really need to get accustomed to the controls to make tight turns.
As for the shots, I felt like a minimum of 30% of the ones I actually made "shouldn't" have gone in. Drag x Drive is incredibly forgiving. I wonder if that is due to the fact that the camera actually ends up obscured or not showing the hoop due to the positions I'd get into with the mouse controls. When I would drive up the wall for the halfpipe air trick shot, I'd basically flick my wrist and hope for the best. It pretty much always went in. In the case of more standard shots, it seemed like that because everyone was in the "learning the ropes" situation, I had more time to make shots. But even then, if it didn't feel right to me, it seemed like it would still go in as expected.
Minigames Circuit Sprint and Rebound Scramble are also available for between-match excursions or triggered minigames in a Friend Park, and there are optional challenges on the edges of the park to play solo. The former puts everyone currently in the park into a race through the track along the outside of the two courts. It's fine, though some random obstacles are more of an issue than others. (That robotic jump rope is my arch enemy.) Rebound Scramble involves the ball being dropped from the sky and bouncing around the court, with the first person to get underneath it to "catch" it being the winner. These both are about speed and really knowing the controls. Again, they're okay. I found Rebound Scramble the more enjoyable of the two.
As for the extra challenges, you can try and jump rope, race, or perform shots. I sort of felt like these were more like advanced tutorials in a way. They definitely feel designed to teach someone effective techniques or help a person get comfortable with the mouse-based controls. I appreciated anything that helped with my movement, since responding and turning quickly were things I had most issues with in matches.
The problem with Drag x Drive is that it isn't very exciting and there's very little motivation to stick with it. Once you play a few rounds, it doesn't feel like there's much incentive to keep playing. Yes, you get a decorative ring for winning. But it's only a cosmetic for that session and you lose it if you lose a match or leave. There are additional helmet cosmetics you can unlock for playing and winning games. However, I liked the cat helmet available at the outset so much that I didn't feel a need to every change out of it. There are tricks you can perform, such as a bunny hop or going up on one wheel. But getting 0.2 to 0.3 added to a shot isn't a big deal and didn't feel worth the extra effort to me.
I'm also concerned about what the Drag x Drive community is going to look like at and a few weeks and months after launch. There are bots here. All of the ones after Standard level 05 difficulty are very good. (You get nine levels, with three at Easy, three at Standard, and three at Hard.) But the real excitement comes from facing other people. Considering that will rely on both people spending $20 on the game, subscribing to Nintendo Switch Online, then also choosing to play this over something like Mario Kart World, I'm not quite sure Nintendo will secure an audience with it.
I think Drag x Drive is interesting, and this wheelchair basketball game really highlights Joy-Con 2 mouse controller capabilities. It can be fun if you get a group of people who are invested together. Unfortunately, I don't think it offers enough of an incentive to get invested. Maybe if Nintendo included some sort of campaign, more customization options, or some sort of league features, I'd feel differently. But as is, it feels like a lot like Nintendo Switch 2 Welcome Tour. Drag x Drive is a technical showcase and experiment for what is possible, but it doesn't offer a strong reason to stick around.
Drag x Drive will come to the Nintendo Switch 2 on August 14, 2025.
The post Review: Drag x Drive Is an Experimental Novelty appeared first on Siliconera. |
Destructoid Wednesday, August 13, 2025 12:20 PM
With the first Battlefield 6 beta now over, it's time to summarize our feelings. The next one is just around the corner, but a quick breather and comment regarding this potentially amazing title is necessary, as there's a lot I love in here that's got me hooked.
Chaos, destruction, tension
Battlefield 6 outdid its predecessor in the most important of ways. It brought back chaos, and lots of it. Nearly everything you see in the game can be blown to smithereens, from massive apartment block buildings to small shacks. Now, the destruction is very much controlled, and the developers carefully picked out what can and cannot be destroyed to mitigate extreme levelution that flattens every map.
Even so, there's just so much going on. I usually never play Conquest in Battlefield, having been too conditioned by BF1's Operations. However, Battlefield 6 returned the good ol' ticket-based Conquest system that we all know and love, which, in combination with the mentioned chaos and destruction, screams Battlefield at every corner.
I've played countless matches of Conquest in the few days of the beta. I loved Liberation Peak the most, given its more open areas and healthy amount of small-scale warfare, but even Cairo and Gibraltar were fun experiences. They had great moment-to-moment gameplay (even with the lowered TTK), stuff was blowing up left and right, players were stuck in wide and tight areas alike, all trying to cap a point.
It was visceral, grueling, and with that V.A.L. War Tapes sound mixing it was just mint through and through.
That drag revive feature
Perhaps the most notable thing added in Battlefield 6 is that medics and squadmates can revive others by dragging them out of combat and into safety while the timer ticks down. It's the most fun feature ever added to Battlefield, in my opinion.
My friends and I were stuck in the thick of it countless times, with one of us going down and the others trying to drag him out of hell itself to the least bit of safety we could find. Everything around us is blowing up, tanks are exchanging fire, enemy engineers are launching rockets, assaults are smoking and pushing into cap points, all while we're dragging each other out, trying to revive.
It allowed for some of the most awesome and breathtaking moments I've ever experienced in Battlefield, the likes of which I haven't seen since Battlefield 1 and its Verdun map.
What's more, everything in the game seems geared towards reviving those iconic Battlefield Moments, which 2042 simply killed off in more ways than one. While still there, I don't remember them whatsoever, while the open beta provided me with so many memorable instances, and it's not even the full game yet.
Now, to play the devil for a moment, I must say BF6 does have a lot of issues. However, I don't want to make this op-ed a place for complaints, but rather allow myself to say that this time, EA and DICE really have something great on their hands.
If these issues are resolved by launch (too many small maps, cap point positions, TTK and sliding, inconsistent splash and ballistics, no server browser, etc.) Battlefield 6 could easily become one of my favorites, equal to Bad Company 2 and BF1 in raw awe.
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Destructoid Wednesday, August 13, 2025 11:48 AM
Football Manager 26 is no longer just a fever dream now that Sports Interactive has made the first major announcement after more than a year since the last official news.
Hearts were broken back in the spring of 2024 when news came out about Football Manager 25's delay. Eventually, the game was canceled permanently, as Sports Interactive stated that it didn't want to disappoint fans with an inferior product. Since then, it was complete radio silence until Aug. 13, when we got the first glimpses of what actual in-game footage currently looks like, and it appears that the wait has been worth our time.
Football Manager 26's first reveal looks quite promising
Those of us who've played the Football Manager games over the years will attest to the fact that the games have never been about looks. While the gameplay excels in terms of enacting the difficulties of being a football club manager, the graphics are aged at best in modern times.
This was expected to change last year, but alas, Football Manager 25 was canceled possibly for the same reason. Based on what Sports Interactive announced in 2024, it appeared the switch to a new game engine became too big a gap to bridge. Hence, Football Manager 25 was initially delayed and then canceled completely.
Earlier on Aug. 13, Sports Interactive showed the first look at what match day will look like in the game. Of course, Sports Interactive made sure to display their new league license for the Premier League to make matters more interesting. The clip has a mix of gameplay and real-life footage. Based on the claims, this is what match day experience is going to look like.
Yes, it's important to remember we shouldn't draw all conclusions from a video that's just 30 seconds long. Yet, I am excited, and you should be too. The matchday experience of Football Manager 24 looks completely different from what we have witnessed in the clip in the tweet above. It also showcases the potential of the new game engine on which Football Manager 26 is based.
While I am not expecting FC 26-like graphics, Sports Interactive has definitely been working hard, and we can now consider the tweet as a confirmation of Football Manager 26. A date is yet to be announced, but I will put my bets on the early November window (which has been a staple of the series).
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Destructoid Wednesday, August 13, 2025 11:32 AM
Rockstar Games and Remedy Entertainment are reuniting for Max Payne 1 and 2 remakes, which are "in full production." The latter sold the franchise to Rockstar owner Take-Two Interactive way back when, with Remedy's own Sam Lake acting as the face of these classic games.
According to an Insider Gaming report, Remedy's recent financial statement provided us with additional information regarding the upcoming Max Payne 1 and 2 remakes. The project is being handled by both Rockstar (whose owner holds the IP) and the series' original creator, Remedy Entertainment. The exact scope of the collaboration wasn't specified, but the report suggests the two studios are working hand-in-hand on the project.
The statement said Max Payne 1 and 2 remakes remain "in full production" and are progressing steadily. Remedy's "collaboration with Rockstar Games remains close and productive, ensuring alignment as the project advances toward its next major phase."
As said above, the statement didn't provide further information on how this cooperation looks like, but it surely seems like the companies are approaching this from a common angle, which could only turn out well.
Remedy created the Max Payne franchise, publishing the first installment in 2001. It was followed by Max Payne 2 in 2003, with the franchise subsequently being sold to Take-Two Interactive, owner of Rockstar Games. The latter developed Max Payne 3, which came out in 2012, but failed to reach a status as iconic as the first two games.
Sam Lake of Remedy wrote the story for the first two titles, and even gave his likeness to the titular character. The fact that Rockstar and Remedy are now reuniting to reinvigorate these old classics is certainly a welcome one, especially if Lake ends up being the face of the titles just like he was all those years ago.
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Destructoid Wednesday, August 13, 2025 11:03 AM
This most recent era of Call of Duty, which began in 2019 with Modern Warfare, has created a very different-feeling multiplayer experience.
The MW reboot introduced features like the seasonal battle pass and free content drops like maps and weapons, but the newer games have also had a trademark movement mechanic that has worn thin on gamers over the years, myself included.
Tactical Sprint has been a feature over the last several CoD games, and it's gotten a bit stale. To describe it, basically, there's a normal sprint speed, and then if you double-click the sprint button you will "Tactical Sprint" or run faster while holding your gun vertically for a short while.
This feature has resulted in destroyed analog sticks the world over, but it also makes the movement feel a bit stunted. The good news, for now, is the upcoming Black Ops 7 may have removed the mechanic entirely, which should create for a more fluid feeling for sprinting.
According to prolific CoD leaker Hope, the current build of BO7 multiplayer does not include Tactical Sprint at all. He went on to say "this decision is actually final and not just some offshoot test build."
But when it comes to movement fluidity, the reasons for excitement don't end there. Hope also teased that another controversial feature may also be getting removed, which are doors that players interact with across multiplayer maps.
"Supposedly a few maps have those automated doors sparsely around the map like BO4 had but I don't think anybody has a problem with this including myself," he said. "There's no doors you have to bash or interact with in the game."
The removal of Tactical Sprint and doors on the maps may make for an even more movement-focused gameplay style, of which Black Ops 6 already has plenty of with its omnimovement. BO7 may be an evolution of that style, creating for a somehow even more fast-paced feel.
BO7 is due for an official reveal next week at gamescom, but that will likely pertain to the game's campaign, if recent CoD unveilings are anything to go by. It may be another month or two before we see the multiplayer in action.
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Destructoid Wednesday, August 13, 2025 10:42 AM
If regular ghost hunts are getting old, Phasmophobia has several special challenges you can tackle to claim exclusive rewards. One of the many trials you can attempt is Farmhouse Fieldwork, and it's a tough one.
This challenge is one of the many special missions listed on the event board. It's a pretty tricky trial to get done, so if you're having trouble navigating through it, here's how to complete the Farmhouse Fieldwork challenge in Phasmophobia.
Table of contents
How to get the Farmhouse Fieldwork ID Card and Badge in Phasmophobia
To finish the Farmhouse Fieldwork challenge, you need to have a successful investigation on one of the farmhouse maps a total of 50 times. It's a pretty big undertaking with quite a few specific rules, so here's a breakdown of how to get it done.
Phasmophobia Farmhouse Fieldwork challenge tips
The Farmhouse Fieldwork trial can be fairly tricky to complete, especially if you're not used to tackling special challenges. There are plenty of ways to make it easier, though, so here are the best tips you can employ to make this process easier.
Learn the maps
Both Grafton Farmhouse and Bleasdale Farmhouse are medium-sized homes that are a bit bigger than the classic house maps but smaller than some of the larger community locations. They're not the hardest locations to investigate, but they aren't the easiest either, so it's best to start by learning the map layouts before you begin. To do so, create a custom match with the friendly ghost option turned on so you can explore without being worried about ghost hunts.
Play in Amateur mode
If you want to finish this trial as swiftly as possible, it's best to stick with Amateur mode since it's the easiest to get done. On higher difficulties, the modifiers make the contract more challenging, which means it's going to take you a lot longer to successfully finish contracts. You can make progress in any mode, so pick the one that you'll be able to get done fastest.
Gather all three pieces of evidence
Identifying the right ghost is crucial for this challenge, so make sure you catch all three pieces of evidence to identify the ghost. If you're missing even one piece and make a guess, you could be wrong and end up not progressing in this challenge. It's best to stick to the evidence and stay until you know for sure.
Investigate with friends
All ghost hunts are much easier to complete when you have allies helping you out. This tip applies not only to this trial, but also to other quests you might face, including weekly challenges.
Having additional ghost hunters helping you out means you can cover more ground, get more equipment down quickly, and have multiple sets of eyes watching for evidence. You can either create a lobby with friends or join up with other players using the matchmaking feature to initiate a multiplayer game.
Don't rush it
This challenge is permanent, so there's no need to rush it. 50 investigations is quite a lot, so it's generally best to slowly chip away at this one over time whenever you feel like investigating one of the two farmhouse maps.
Farmhouse Fieldwork challenge reward in Phasmophobia
Completing the Farmhouse Fieldwork trial gets you an ID Card and Badge. These items are exclusive, so fully finishing this mission is the only way to get them. You can modify the appearance of your ID Card and Badge at the main board in the middle of the lobby.
Farmhouse Fieldwork ID Card and badge appearance in Phasmophobia
The Farmhouse Fieldwork badge is light green and has the "Farmhand" title, a chicken badge, and dark green leaves blowing in the wind across it. It's not animated like some other badges and is instead a completely static ID Card.
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Destructoid Wednesday, August 13, 2025 10:40 AM
PEAK has an abundance of unlockable costumes and character expressions to show off your achievements by making your character look unique when climbing the mountain with friends. Still, with so many secrets, players want to know what is available and how to unlock everything.
Most unlockables are tied to the many achievements you can unlock, with a badge appearing on your character's sash as you complete certain objectives. So feel free to check out our list below to see what you can unlock and how you can get it.
Every unlockable cosmetic in PEAK
For the purpose of this guide, we are going to be listing the different unlockables instead of every cosmetic available, and what you need to do to unlock them.
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Destructoid Wednesday, August 13, 2025 8:44 AM
To boost your chances of securing a victory royale, you'll want to grab all the best loot available around the island in Fortnite. Boons are some of the most useful items you can get, as they grant you special buffs and boost your abilities.
Since there are quite a few unique Boons you can acquire, you might not be sure what they do. You don't always have the time to closely inspect them in the heat of the battle, so here are all the Boons you can earn and what they do in Fortnite Chapter Six, season four.
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All Shock N' Awesome Boons and what they do in Fortnite
There are seven Boons you can find and equip around the island in Fortnite. You can have one of each Boon equipped, which means you can stack all of the unique abilities together if you manage to find them all. Here are all the available Boons and the effects each one grants.
How to get Boons in Fortnite Chapter 6, season 4
Boons can be earned in quite a few different ways throughout Chapter Six, season four. The process for getting them looks different from how it did in past seasons, so you have to get used to some new gameplay elements to add them to your inventory. Here are all of the ways you can unlock them this season.
With some powerful Boons now in your arsenal, you can get to work tackling some of the tougher trials around the island. You might consider working on slaying the Queen, claiming Capture Points, tackling some SHADOW Briefings, and discovering the swarm's access point to the island.
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Destructoid Wednesday, August 13, 2025 8:00 AM
Several of the most recent Nintendo consoles have all featured a new "gimmick" of sorts, with varying success and reviews, along with specific games that helped them shine. The Wii had Wii Sports as a pack-in to demo the Wiimote's motion controls, the Switch had ARMS to show off the JoyCons, and now the Switch 2 has Drag x Drive for the JoyCon mouse functionality.
This interesting three-vs-three wheelchair basketball sports title could have really shone as a "pick-up-and-play" game with family and friends, but the learning curve behind playing it with odd motion controls makes it so that isn't likely to happen.
You must have the drive
Drag x Drive utilizes both of the Switch 2's JoyCons in "mouse" mode, with each controller mimicking the hand motion one uses when moving and rolling their tires in a wheelchair, and a raised arm motion for shooting a basketball. It's a really cool idea, especially as one that helps shine some light on an under-represented sport that's estimated to be played by over 100,000 people worldwide.
But in practice, Drag x Drive is more annoying and uncomfortable than fun. As always, the potential is there for some joy to be found when queuing up for silly matches with friends. At a base level, though, this game lacks the charm and excitement you might expect from a Nintendo first-party title.
To move at all in Drag x Drive, you need to slide the JoyCon mice forwards or backwards on a flat surface, using the trigger buttons as brakes. I'm sure there's fun to be found when mastering these controls and showing off your skills, and it's very fun to pull off techniques like slam dunks or alley oops. But I get the feeling that most gamers will play for a bit and then move on.
You can get used to the controls after a few games, but they still feel wonky and sometimes painful for your wrists and arms. None of this is helped by the fact that the JoyCons are not ergonomic for this sort of gameplay, so I'd suggest some sort of controller grips if you plan on picking this up.
As a positive, the motion tech behind the game works well. The motions are basically one-to-one on screen, but we've had that sort of excitement from Nintendo for nearly two decades now. This game just forces you to use your legs as a playing surface, which is an issue in and of itself, as I do not recommend using a table or other flat surface to play on, because that's somehow even more uncomfortable, but others may feel differently.
But it's kind of a drag
Outside of the main basketball game that you can play with and against friends or bots, there's not much to do in Drag x Drive. There are several shallow and pointless-feeling minigames like races to consume some time, but this is a multiplayer title, and the wheelchair basketball is the whole point.
Even the basketball experience is relatively barebones. You can pass to teammates, run into opponents head-on to make them drop the ball, and shoot to score. Your chances of getting a bucket rely on distance from the hoop and facing the net properly, and that's about it.
The most depth and strategy that the game offers comes by way of driver types, like positions in basketball. There's a Guard, Center, and Forward, all with their different attributes like speed and strength, so you may have to think about who's playing what on each squad.
You connect to an online lobby, which is basically like a big skate park with activities and basketball courts, and wait for a match to queue up. You can also play offline against bots, but there's no split-screen options.
One of my main issues with Drag x Drive, though, is it truly feels like a tech demo meant to show off the JoyCon mouse controls that was then twisted into a $20 game. That fair price tag is one of its perks, unfortunately, and it doesn't take away from the fact that the visuals of the game are quite generic.
You play as a faceless character in a motorcycle helmet, and the customization options are limited, save for some colors and textures and a number you can choose to wear on your back, so there's little shine here.
I hope this doesn't end up being the Switch 2's best use of the JoyCon mice. I'm hopeful that FPS games may feel better in that regard, but for now, Drag x Drive feels largely like a pass, unless you're super into these sorts of motion control games, or appreciate the representation of wheelchair basketball in video game form.
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Destructoid Wednesday, August 13, 2025 7:56 AM
All around the island in Fortnite, there are some special missions you can tackle to claim rewards. These quests are called SHADOW Briefings, and they can be decently tricky to track down.
Finishing these tasks is not only a great way to quickly earn some loot but also essential for certain quests. To get them done, you need to know all SHADOW Briefing locations in Fortnite Chapter Six, season four.
Table of contents
SHADOW Briefing locations in Fortnite
There are 25 SHADOW Briefings you can find around the island in Fortnite, with three different types of tasks you might come across. In each round, SHADOW Briefings randomly spawn at only some of these locations. There's no way to know where they are unless you check yourself, so here's where to find all SHADOW Briefings featured in this season.
All SHADOW Briefing types in Fortnite
There are three unique types of SHADOW Briefings you may come across while exploring the island. The exact task you need to complete for them varies depending on which one you find, and all SHADOW Briefing locations only have one of the three job types available for you to get done.
How to complete SHADOW Briefings in Fortnite
To complete a SHADOW Briefing, you need to find and activate one, then complete the associated task within five minutes. The exact mission you need to work on varies with each type, but you always have to get the goal done within five minutes of starting it.
If you come across a quest asking you to tackle some SHADOW Briefings, I recommend sticking to Plunder or Armory tasks. These two versions are generally the easiest to get done since you don't have to hunt down an enemy player and risk dying to get it done.
After you're done tackling SHADOW Briefings, you can move on to other key tasks around the island. Next, you might work on all Welcome to the Infestation quests, finding and opening OXR Bunkers, collecting items from Hive Stashes, and discovering the swarm's access point to the island.
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Destructoid Wednesday, August 13, 2025 7:16 AM
Indie sensation PEAK is all about surviving the island and reaching the highest ascent possible with your gang, but the different biomes are not the only challenges to your objective.
The game might not have your typical survival game monsters, but some creatures do roam the islands. A few of them might not be major threats as long as you deal with them properly, but there's one pretty vicious entity: the Scoutmaster.
Table of contents
All available monsters in PEAK
There are five 'monsters' currently in the game, and most of them are relatively minor and easier to handle. Let's look at how these creatures work inside the game, and how you can prevent taking damage from them.
Scoutmaster
The Scoutmaster is like the Yeti of the Himalayas. If you're playing solo, you'll have to blow on the Scoutmaster's Bugle (if you manage to obtain it in the first place). This will maximize your stamina, but the Scoutmaster will start chasing you for a minute.
There's no known way to defeat this entity (I have tried many things, but nothing has worked). There are other ways to increase your stamina, like drinking water or using another legendary item called the Bugle of Friendship.
If you're playing in a group, and one of the players gets too far ahead on the ascent, the Scoutmaster will spot that player and chase him. Rule 0 is not to leave your teammates alone on your ascent, or else the Scoutmaster will put an end to your climb.
Summoning the Scoutmaster also completes the Mentorship Badge achievement (also works if the entity summons itself) and grants you the Inverted Eyes cosmetic.
Bees
Bees typically will attack you when you try to mess with their hives. When you're in a group, one of you will have to lure the bees while the rest of the members can steal valuable resources from the hives. The bees typically chase you for a random duration, and their speed also varies. The only technique is to run away from them and keep running until they stop chasing.
Tick
Ticks can burrow deep into your legs, and they will keep sucking your blood and finally add stacks of poison. If you're solo, you won't notice them until the poison stacks are applied. When you do, crouch and remove the Tick from your legs. If you're playing in a group, chances are that your friends will notice the insect. Stand still, and let them remove the tick from you. Alternatively, do the same if you notice the pest on your friend.
Once removed, Ticks can be consumed as food (for some reason, they're considered a berry in the game). Doing so will also help complete the Foraging Bond achievement that requires you to eat five unique berries on your expedition (where the Tick will count as a variant).
Jellyfish
Jellyfish are exclusively found on the SHORE, and they mostly lie on the ground. You can also find some of them on the sand near the ocean. Stepping on them will cause damage; unlike the Tick or Bees, you can't use them in any productive way. If you accidentally step on one, it will cause you to stumble backwards as well, so just avoid them as much as possible.
Sea Urchins
Sea Urchins might appear as something curious lying on the ground, but it's better to leave them alone. These are poisonous items that offer no benefits, but will temporarily eat away a large part of your health. If you're low on health, it can also kill you. However, the poisonous effect you get heals on its own. Alternatively, you can use a healing item to prevent your health bar from decreasing.
If we get more creatures in future updates, we will include this guide accordingly.
Antlion
The Antlion is the latest monster to be added, and it can be found in the first part of the Mesa biome. The creature tries to lure you into its pit, which remains hidden at first. It's relatively easy to escape its clutches if you know what to do. If you're at a party, your buddy can just pull you from its clutches (or vice versa).
If you're looking to complete the Megaentomology badge and playing alone, use ropes and pitons for a proper setup. This will allow you to escape its clutches to complete the badge.
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Destructoid Wednesday, August 13, 2025 7:05 AM
PEAK has a lot of items. Most of the time, when escaping the fog, it's hard to know whether to take one or leave it without knowing what effect it gives out, especially when a lot of things can poison or hurt you, instead of aiding you.
To help everyone out, we have created a list of every item and what it does. That way, when you find an item you've never seen before, you can quickly scan the list with CTRL+F and find out how useful, or unhelpful, it is. Since the game's launch, new items have been added via minor updates. The recent Mesa update has several new items you can discover on the island.
Every item in Peak and how they work
Below is a comprehensive guide to each item you can find in PEAK and its exact effects:
We're continuing to update this page as Aggro Crab and Landfall release more items into PEAK. We also haven't listed every food type, as most of them are fairly easy to find. However, we have noted specific foods where they might have an effect, such as poisonous Mushrooms.
On the topic of mushrooms and determining if one is poisonous, it's difficult, as there are several different varieties available. We tend to avoid them ourselves, for safety. However, we have a complete guide to determining which of PEAK's mushrooms are poisonous if you're interested in exploring each option and risking your character's health for some emergency food.
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Destructoid Wednesday, August 13, 2025 6:46 AM
PEAK is breaking records right now following the release of its highly anticipated Mesa update, which added a brand new biome, a bunch of items, tonnes of new badges to collect, and a handful of secrets to discover.
The release of the update a couple of days ago was marred by numerous bugs, particularly around an invisible wall at the top of the new desert biome, as well as many badges failing to unlock, despite players completing the associated tasks. Even so, that hasn't stopped the game from literally peaking with over 135,000 players playing the game at the same time in the past 24 hours, especially as multiple updates were made to the game in quick succession to deal with these day-one bugs and issues.
This number represents the highest number of players that the game has had since its launch in June. The update has seen a handful of players return to the game, and upon the release of the Mesa update player base has nearly tripled its concurrents. The developers also decided to put the game on sale during this time. This likely led to a lot of new players taking part in the game for the first time.
The Mesa update has been incredibly welcome, adding a lot of content to a game that already had a lot, all for a small price. Not only did we get a new Biome that will switch out with another after the initial week in a rotation, we also got a new monster, a bunch of new secret areas to discover, new mechanics, new items, and new ways to have fun in this already gripping adventure.
Considering it only took two months for the first significant content drop, I'm hopeful that we will see another content offering over the year to keep players coming back to experience new things, and I would especially love to see new biomes and new challenges included in the future.
I also hope the game releases on console soon, as I believe it would be a massive hit on the Nintendo Switch 2, PlayStation, and Xbox systems. This would allow more people to enjoy the game and play with their friends online, especially if we get crossplay.
For now, though, I can't wait to see what is in store for the future of PEAK.
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Destructoid Wednesday, August 13, 2025 6:23 AM
The Pokémon World Championship is quickly approaching us in Anaheim from Aug 15 to 17, and codes and items are already being revealed to get trainers a bunch of free goodies to celebrate everything going on.
One of the current items available is a free avatar T-shirt for using the code Z3USC2JQS9LWN in Pokémon Go. The shirt is pretty pain to be honest, but has the Pokémon Worlds 2025 key art for those who want to dress up in-game to celebrate.
Unfortunately, this code doesn't give you the much nicer gold shirt, which is only obtainable for event goers who complete a Pokémon Go in-person scavenger hunt at the venue in Anaheim. However, it's still a fabulous free gift for anyone who wants it.
To redeem the shirt, you need to head to the official Pokémon GO Code redemption website. You can access it here, but make sure you sign into your active Pokémon Go account to get the item before it expires. The same site is used for redeeming any codes, so if you are an active player, maybe save the link for future giveaways.
It's not the only big Pokémon Go giveaway happening this week, either. For those who watch the official Twitch stream from Friday onwards for 30 minutes each day, you can unlock exclusive special research and tasks based around the World Championships to get items, exclusive Pokémon drops, and more.
For example, those tuning into the Day 1 stream will get exclusive time research that honours the 2024. Pokémon Go Masters Division World Champion and will give you 1 of their key Pokémon as well as an Elite Charged TM.
Day 2 will then give you exclusive timed research focused on making Battle Ready teams with the rewards, including Pokémon encounters that will make an excellent team for the Battle League, with multiple options available. All of these Pokémon can also be shiny if you are lucky.
Also, don't forget to be on the lookout for the exclusive Pikachu wearing a varsity jacket that will only be available during the Pokémon Championships this weekend. This Pokémon can also be shiny, and there are increased chances of finding shiny Pokémon at the World Championships, including exclusive spawns if you're lucky enough to be in the area.
The post Use this code to get a free 2025 Pokémon Worlds T-Shirt in Pokémon Go appeared first on Destructoid. |
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