GamersHeroes Friday, August 15, 2025 12:59 PM Making waves with its Steam launch this past month, Gamers Heroes got to ask Executive Producer Yongha Kim and Studio Producer Gyeong Seop An about Blue Archive's Steam launch, fandom, and more - learn more with our interview. The post Blue Archive Interview – Executive Producer Yongha Kim & Studio Producer Gyeong Seop An Talk Steam Launch, Fandom, and More appeared first on GamersHeroes. |
Kotaku Friday, August 15, 2025 2:50 PM
Firebreak may have missed its mark, but what can you expect if you want to give it a shot anyway? The post So, Uh, Is It Worth Playing <i>FBC: Firebreak</i> Right Now? appeared first on Kotaku. |
Kotaku Friday, August 15, 2025 2:37 PM
Free Ride will add new missions and activities to Old Country's gorgeous but mostly empty world The post <i>Mafia: The Old Country</i> Is Getting A Real Open-World Mode appeared first on Kotaku. |
Kotaku Friday, August 15, 2025 2:22 PM
A shop is (or was) selling a toy based on a character some fans think should not get one The post <em>Mouthwashing</em> Fans Are Tearing Each Other Apart Over A Cat Plush appeared first on Kotaku. |
Kotaku Friday, August 15, 2025 1:21 PM
Let's go over how many new weapons and bosses the DLC contains, and how long Pinocchio's prequel chapter is The post Everything You'd Want To Know About <i>Lies Of P</i>'s DLC, <i>Overture</i> appeared first on Kotaku. |
Kotaku Friday, August 15, 2025 1:09 PM
We tasted the new passionfruit-infused soda that will be available only at Taco Bell starting this week The post Taco Bell's First New Baja Blast Flavor In 21 Years Is A Subtle Symphony Of Artificial Flavoring appeared first on Kotaku. |
Kotaku Friday, August 15, 2025 12:39 PM
Maybe you're tired of racing with that plumber and want something a little speedier? The post Everything You'd Want To Know About Switch 2 Racer <i>Fast Fusion</i> appeared first on Kotaku. |
Kotaku Friday, August 15, 2025 12:00 PM
Calling it a 'breeding ground for sex predators,' attorney general Liz Murrill has launched a lawsuit The post <i>Roblox</i> Is Being Sued By The State Of Louisiana appeared first on Kotaku. |
Kotaku Friday, August 15, 2025 11:27 AM
The first hands-on demos reveal a more MMO-like Pokémon experience The post <i>Pokémon Legends: Z-A</i>'s Real-Time Combat Is Really Changing Things Up appeared first on Kotaku. |
Kotaku Friday, August 15, 2025 11:15 AM
Plus: WNBA players will compete against NBA stars, Steam pages are changing, a big new documentary you might want to watch, and more The post EA Knows Rush Sucks In The <i>Battlefield 6</i> Beta And Is Already Fixing It appeared first on Kotaku. |
Kotaku Friday, August 15, 2025 10:59 AM
Wuyang's ultimate is giving teams more opportunities to dive into the fray unscathed The post <em>Overwatch 2</em>'s New Water-Bending Hero May Have One Of The Best Abilities In The Game appeared first on Kotaku. |
Kotaku Friday, August 15, 2025 10:17 AM
You can finally get Final Fantasy MTG commander decks on sale The post <i>Final Fantasy</i> Commander Decks Are Cheaper Than Ever After Months Of Scalping appeared first on Kotaku. |
Kotaku Friday, August 15, 2025 10:03 AM
Better Than Dead's hyper-realistic style and brutal gunplay shocked even this battle-hardened hack The post This Bodycam Footage Revenge Thriller Could Be Gaming's Next Big Controversy appeared first on Kotaku. |
Kotaku Friday, August 15, 2025 9:35 AM
Call of Duty is seemingly skipping Nintendo's platform again this year The post <i>Call Of Duty: Black Ops 7</i> Price And Date Info Reportedly Leak With No Switch 2 In Sight appeared first on Kotaku. |
PCGamesN Friday, August 15, 2025 1:02 PM If you were to infuse a fantasy RPG with the excellent combat of Persona, Metaphor: ReFantazio is what you'd get - and this combination works really well. Offering excellent characters, a gorgeous world, and a gripping narrative, it's no surprise that it was my favourite RPG of 2024. I highly recommend giving it a go, and since it's currently at its lowest price ever for the Fanatical summer sale, it's the perfect time to buy. - but be quick, as the deal will run away as quickly as the Phantom Thieves. MORE FROM PCGAMESN: Metaphor Refantazio review, Best RPG games, Best JRPGs |
PCGamesN Friday, August 15, 2025 12:59 PM Dead by Daylight developer Behaviour Interactive has responded to player concerns with a new video talking about its plans to tighten up the multiplayer horror game in the coming months. The studio has faced recent criticism for several incidents, including slow responses to balance concerns, hackers disrupting livestreams, and a sense that new additions are being prioritized to the detriment of the core game. Now, the developers have responded with a definitive roadmap, which moves back some of its content plans to work on fundamental fixes. MORE FROM PCGAMESN: DBD killer tier list, Best horror games, DBD codes |
PCGamesN Friday, August 15, 2025 1:02 PM Some of the best zombie-filled experiences out there aren't necessarily about the necrotic legions directly. Rather, they focus on the camaraderie between survivors, and the conflict that inevitably ensues as soon as the supply of Twinkies begins to run dry. It's a subgenre of horror that lends itself beautifully to big open-world survival sandboxes, naturally inspiring a sense of community and some kick-ass skirmishes. While the likes of DayZ and 7 Days to Die have, for the most part, gotten this niche locked down, Hong Kong-based developer-publisher Hero Games reckons it's got something important to add to the conversation, revealing CrisisX ahead of Gamescom. MORE FROM PCGAMESN: Best zombie games, Best open-world games, Best survival games |
PCGamesN Friday, August 15, 2025 12:43 PM Razer is set to release a new Pokémon gaming headset to a wide audience, and this one requires a big, toothy grin. The Razer Kraken Kitty V2 Gengar Edition headset is everything you'd want if you're a fan of the little purple menace but, until now, it's only been available in China. That changes on August 19, when this new Kraken headset goes on wider sale. As one of the biggest manufacturers of gaming peripherals in the world, Razer has earned itself several spots on our best gaming headset guide - you can check out our Razer Kraken V3 HyperSense review for one such example. This Kitty V2 headset has a simpler design, but what it lacks in features it makes up for in aesthetic charm. MORE FROM PCGAMESN: Razer Blade 16 2025 review, Razer DeathAdder V3 review , Best gaming mouse |
PCGamesN Friday, August 15, 2025 12:28 PM The percentage of gamers with AMD Ryzen gaming CPUs has just reached a new high, and while Intel is still the market leader, there's clear evidence that its star is continuing to fade. This latest report shows AMD's share of the consumer market rising to 32.2%, which is significantly higher than the 9.1% share it held nearly a decade ago. For those with a vested interest in gaming hardware, this isn't a big surprise. Our best gaming CPU guide has been dominated by AMD chips in recent years, thanks to the overwhelming success of its 3D V-cache, which offers superior gaming performance that Intel hasn't been able to match to date. MORE FROM PCGAMESN: Ryzen 7 9800X3D review, Best gaming CPU, Radeon RX 9070 XT review |
PCGamesN Friday, August 15, 2025 12:09 PM There's a sense at the moment that Call of Duty Black Ops 7 could be in for a tough time when put up against Battlefield 6, which is certainly stealing the show so far in the pre-launch hype race. I don't know if Activision is feeling that pressure too, but a new, reliable leak of BO7's release date suggests that it'll be keeping its distance from Battlefield 6. If this report is on the money, then we could see Black Ops 7 land on November 14 - a whole five weeks later than BF6. MORE FROM PCGAMESN: Battlefield 6 preview, Battlefield 6 release date, Best Battlefield 6 weapons |
PCGamesN Friday, August 15, 2025 11:57 AM A new Intel GPU driver update can potentially unlock better performance on your gaming laptop. A new feature, labeled "Shared GPU memory override," has been introduced that allows you to manually set how much of your system memory is set aside for VRAM, with the ability to dedicate up to 87% of your VRAM for gaming. If you're rocking a machine from our best gaming laptop guide with its own dedicated GPU, then you won't need to worry about shared VRAM. This new setting makes gaming on an Intel iGPU a more appealing prospect, although it isn't a miracle worker – it can't turn an iGPU into an RTX 5090, after all. MORE FROM PCGAMESN: Asus ROG Zephyrus G16 review, Asus ROG Ally X review, Best gaming motherboard |
PCGamesN Friday, August 15, 2025 11:52 AM What are the best Roblox games? Games aren't just better than ever for kids; the means of creating them are, too. The best example of that is Roblox: a massively multiplayer online game creation platform. Its user-generated creations allow you to weather the threat of a natural disaster, try your hand as a pizza maker, or take a break with a fishing adventure full of exploration and discovery. From sims and RPGs to tower defense and grand adventure titles, we've highlighted the best Roblox games to enjoy with over 100 million other pals in online games. Think of it like Minecraft and LittleBigPlanet smooshed together to create one of the best free PC games available. Below, you can find the best Roblox games and more about this exciting platform. Continue reading The best Roblox games in 2025 MORE FROM PCGAMESN: Best Roblox games, Roblox promo codes, Roblox music codes |
PCGamesN Friday, August 15, 2025 11:11 AM With the astonishing breakout success of Balatro, it's no surprise that there's plenty of games taking cues from its dopamine-inducing format of watching numbers ratchet into the billions and beyond. Newcomer Raccoin does it so well, and with such a smart core concept, however, that it's earned the attention of Balatro publisher Playstack, which has teamed up with developer Doraccoon to bring it to Steam. It invokes one of the most iconic arcade machines of all time, the dastardly coin pusher, and I can already feel my brain starting to tingle. MORE FROM PCGAMESN: Best indie games, Best roguelikes, Best single-player games |
PCGamesN Friday, August 15, 2025 11:16 AM If you're playing this open-water survival game, you need to make sure you get a Raft Juicer. Why? Because it greatly quenches your thirst, it gives you an anti-thirst bonus, and it's a fun way to display your fruit collection. If you manage to get your hands on the Spicy Pineberry or Redbeet Shot recipes, you can even get a swimming speed bonus or health bonus respectively. The basics are simple: place up to four types of fruit on the Raft Juicer table, and press 'start cooking' to create a drink. When the drink is done (this takes a few seconds), equip a Drinking Glass and fill it up. Of course, make sure the Juicer has a battery, but beware: don't use random fruit. You can find most of the Juicer recipes in loot boxes, but the Spicy Pineberry and Redbeet Shot are bought from the Trading Post using Raft Trash Cubes. Want to try crafting in another game? Turn your attention to the Grow a Garden recipes list to get started in a similarly delicious Roblox adventure. Continue reading Raft Juicer recipes and how to craft it MORE FROM PCGAMESN: How to unlock new Raft characters, How to craft and use a Raft recycler, How to get Raft trash cubes |
PCGamesN Friday, August 15, 2025 11:16 AM The Persona 5 The Phantom X operations team for Sega's global and Japanese servers has penned a letter to fans promising major changes to the besieged gacha-fueled spinoff. This follows months of discontent and a flurry of negative reviews on Steam over its seemingly stingy pull rates, and a dizzying update cadence that was making it hard for players, myself included, to keep up. While not everything on my wishlist has been tackled, it's a marked improvement that could save it from the Velvet Room's guillotine. MORE FROM PCGAMESN: Persona 5 The Phantom X codes, Persona 5 The Phantom X tier list, Best turn-based RPGs |
PCGamesN Friday, August 15, 2025 11:13 AM What are the new Aura Craft recipes? At the beginning of this Roblox game, you only have access to the four basic elements: earth, wind, fire, and water. By combining these elements, along with hidden ones in the game world, you can start building up toward more complex concepts, which in turn give you cooler auras. If you are familiar with the Infinite Craft recipes, the concept in Aura Craft isn't far off this popular Roblox game. Aura Craft is a new experience, and if you want more cool auras without the guesswork, we have the latest Aura RNG codes and Anime Switch codes for you to use instead. Or turn your attention to the Grow a Garden recipes list if you're playing that as well. Continue reading Aura Craft recipes MORE FROM PCGAMESN: Best Roblox games, Roblox promo codes, Roblox music codes |
PCGamesN Friday, August 15, 2025 11:12 AM What are all the Dreamlight Valley recipes? Cooking is crucial to success in the Disney life sim as you'll need to cook up some tasty grub to earn Dreamlight, make friends, and keep your stamina up. There are over 200 recipes in the base game so far, and even more in the DLC - that's a lot of recipes to keep track of. Luckily, having made a recipe once, it automatically saves to your in-game cookbook, so we're here to fill your recipe list up to the brim. Some Dreamlight Valley recipes - like the Dreamlight Valley bouillabaisse recipe - offer more stamina than others. And while some can be obtained from completing quests, others are unlocked by trying different ingredients together. To make it easier to get the most nutritious meals, we've compiled all the current Dreamlight Valley meals below. You might also get a kick out of our Roblox Grow a Garden recipes list if you happen to be double-dipping in cozy games. Continue reading Disney Dreamlight Valley recipe list and how to cook all meals MORE FROM PCGAMESN: Dreamlight Valley recpie list, What's the next Dreamlight Valley update?, Disney Dreamlight Valley guide |
PCGamesN Friday, August 15, 2025 11:37 AM August 15, 2025: Added new Prospecting enchants from the Traveling Merchant. What are the Prospecting enchants? Following in the footsteps of other Roblox games all about the grind of gathering materials, pan enchants in Prospecting can help bridge the gap between your current gear and a worthwhile, but expensive, upgrade. They can also make a top-tier pan better than the base state of a new one. Prospecting is all about filling a pan with sand and sifting it out to uncover rare gems and metals. The better the pan, the more goods you'll find to sell. Prospecting codes can get you a quick upgrade. And if you're simply waiting on the next update, check out Fisch codes and Dig codes to try out the competition. Continue reading All Prospecting enchants and how to enchant your pan MORE FROM PCGAMESN: Best Roblox games, Roblox promo codes, Roblox music codes |
PCGamesN Friday, August 15, 2025 11:21 AM When is the Black Ops 7 release date? This June, Activision dropped a casual reveal trailer for the next game in the Call of Duty line-up as part of a jam-packed Summer Game Fest weekend. The annualised series tends to bounce between Black Ops, Modern Warfare, and other Call of Duty sub-series, giving the respective teams time to bring their game to fruition. For the first time in Black Ops history, however, we're going straight from one BO game to another following 2024's Black Ops 6. That said, we're not continuing the story where it left off. Instead, Black Ops 7 takes us to a futuristic 2035, 40 years on from the '90s setting of BO6. Familiar faces do return in the FPS game, though, while mind-bending chaos takes the series to a place it's never been before. Here's everything we know about the BO7 release date so far. MORE FROM PCGAMESN: Best FPS games, Best multiplayer games, Best single-player games |
PCGamesN Friday, August 15, 2025 11:14 AM Where are the Atomfall crafting recipe locations? Consumables are essential to survive in Atomfall's quarantine zone. These small but mighty items are useful in a pinch, letting you swig an antidote for a status effect or lob an explosive projectile at a powerful foe in a matter of seconds. Recipes in Atomfall let you craft the best consumables straight from your inventory. This method is far cheaper and more reliable than trading with the survival game's merchants, but they can only be found in certain areas of the Atomfall map. And if you happen to be a Roblox fan, check out the latest Grow a Garden recipes list to make a greedy piggy very happy. Continue reading All Atomfall crafting recipes and where to find them MORE FROM PCGAMESN: Best survival games, Best RPGs, Best open-world games |
PCGamesN Friday, August 15, 2025 10:53 AM What is the best BF6 M433 loadout? As it turns out, the grass isn't always greener when it comes to assault rifles. Although you get access to plenty of new and perhaps more shiny weapons as you progress, the starter weapon might just be your best bet at domination. The M433 can be an unruly beast at first, but with our best loadout, you'll be a terrifying force on the battlefield. With the Battlefield beta drawing to a close, we have a pretty good picture of what the meta looks like, and with the extremely quick TTK, assault rifle BF6 weapons are where it's at - and none do it better than the M433 in the FPS game. Capable of pushing from close to mid-range in an instant, your effective range becomes anything you see in front of you. Here is our best Battlefield 6 M433 loadout. Continue reading Best Battlefield 6 M433 loadout MORE FROM PCGAMESN: Battlefield 6 preview, Battlefield 6 release date, Best Battlefield 6 weapons |
PCGamesN Friday, August 15, 2025 11:09 AM What is the best graphics card? Finding a new gaming GPU can mean wading through a swamp of often baffling numbers in specs lists, as well as weighing up the pros and cons of the different feature sets from Nvidia, AMD, and Intel. Fear not, though, as we've done all the testing and comparisons for you so that our best graphics card guide will steer you towards the right card for your needs without the jargon. The best graphics card overall is the Nvidia GeForce RTX 5090. It costs over $2,000 but it is by far the fastest GPU out there. If, like most of us, cost is a consideration for you, though, the AMD Radeon RX 9070 XT is the card to go for, as it offers fantastic performance for its $599 MSRP. Meanwhile, for a budget card, the AMD Radeon RX 9060 XT 16GB is the one to go for, if you can find it at MSRP. Read on to find plenty of other options to suit other budgets, and be sure to check the Also tested section for reviews of cards that didn't quite make the top of our list. For more buying advice check out the How to choose a graphics card and FAQ sections of this guide. Continue reading Best graphics card 2025 - top gaming GPUs MORE FROM PCGAMESN: Ryzen 7 9800X3D review, Best gaming CPU, Radeon RX 9070 XT review |
PCGamesN Friday, August 15, 2025 10:04 AM What are all of Amon's skills and abilities in Borderlands 4? Swords, fists, hammers, shields. You name anything in the melee weapon department, and Amon probably has it in his arsenal. Whether he's hoisting his shield to protect his allies or slinging axes at anyone unfortunate enough to get in his way, Amon only knows one direction: forward. Of all the Borderlands 4 characters, Amon is arguably the hardest to master in the multiplayer game. Alongside his standard action skills, Amon's Vault Hunter trait grants him a secondary layer of abilities, Forgeskills, that provide bonus utility that'll take some extra time to get to grips with. Below you'll find all you need to know about Amon in Borderlands 4, including a rundown of his action skills, skill tree, capstones, and more. Continue reading Borderlands 4 Amon build, skill tree, and abilities MORE FROM PCGAMESN: Borderlands 4 legendary weapons, Borderlands 4 characters, Borderlands 4 system requirements |
PCGamesN Friday, August 15, 2025 10:03 AM August 15, 2025: We're searching the track for new Umamusume codes for the release of Love 4EVER Smart Falcon. What are the new Umamusume Pretty Derby codes? Welcome to the racecourse! Now finally available on PC around the globe, the famed anime horse girl racing game is flying out of the gate. And while launch day rewards are aplenty, new Umamusume Pretty Derby game codes are set to be another fantastic way to keep your bipedal mares and fillies in tip-top shape. Looking for more ways to try your luck after playing Umamusume: Pretty Derby? Saddle up with the best gacha games on PC. With more and more making the jump from mobile, there's no shortage of free pulls and daily grind rabbitholes to dive down. Take Persona 5 The Phantom X codes, for example. That launched day and date with this one. Continue reading Umamusume Pretty Derby codes August 2025 MORE FROM PCGAMESN: Best gacha games, Best PC games you can play on mobile, Best new games |
PCGamesN Friday, August 15, 2025 10:06 AM August 15, 2025: See how Smart Falcon ranks among the Umas below in the updated Umamusume tier list. What is the Umamusume Pretty Derby tier list? With a stack of support cards and dutiful training easily able to change the outcome of any race, crowning the single best Umamusume Trainee is a battle in and of itself. However, starting rarities across the board can have one good pull catapult your success story. Here's how that could look. Just starting life as a trainer? Check out the latest Umamusume codes for some freebies. Most free rewards are delivered straight to your account, but throwing the saddle on some exclusive prizes can get you a fair advantage. Doubling up with other gacha games? Start something new with our Persona 5 The Phantom X tier list and Persona 5 X codes. Silver and Blood codes might be worth a browse, too. Continue reading Umamusume Pretty Derby tier list - best cards and characters MORE FROM PCGAMESN: Best gacha games, Best PC games you can play on mobile, Best new games |
PCGamesN Friday, August 15, 2025 10:17 AM What are the best Minecraft mods in 2025? Every game of vanilla Minecraft can vary quite dramatically, and the best Minecraft mods go one step further to provide an entirely new experience. Whether you love creative building, terrifying survival, or speed-running the story, we've got the mods for you. We've even thrown in interface mods and tools to make things easier, too. We've trawled through them and all the best Minecraft mods are listed below, including the best horror Minecraft mods, performance mods, and more, depending on what you want to do with the sandbox game. There are new mobs, new biomes, performance-boosting mods, and more, and you can jump to the bottom if you don't know how to install Minecraft mods and want to learn. Continue reading The 73 best Minecraft mods August 2025 MORE FROM PCGAMESN: Minecraft seeds, Minecraft skins, Minecraft mods |
PCGamesN Friday, August 15, 2025 9:58 AM August 15, 2025: A new Attack on Titan Revolution code is here. What are the new Attack on Titan Revolution codes? There are many anime games on Roblox based on One Piece and Dragon Ball, but we rarely get anything for the mega-popular Attack on Titan universe. This game aims to be a faithful action-packed adventure that takes inspiration from the aerial combat shown on the show, and with AoT Revolution codes to redeem for even more fun. We've checked our guide and it's all ready to go with [update 2] Attack on Titan Revolution codes and the Halloween giveaways. And you can rest assured we'll do the same once UPD 3 finally arrives. Continue reading Attack on Titan Revolution codes August 2025 MORE FROM PCGAMESN: Best Roblox games, Roblox promo codes, Roblox music codes |
PCGamesN Friday, August 15, 2025 9:52 AM The frosty wastelands of The Long Dark and Frostpunk are vicious, harsh tests of endurance, and new survival game Permafrost is no different. As a cataclysm transforms the Earth into endless winter, you'll need all your wits about you to keep warm and safe. That means gathering resources, building a base, exploring the shattered remnants of society on foot or by vehicle, and making decisions that will shape the very fate of humanity. Fortunately, as a new Permafrost gameplay trailer shared exclusively via PCGamesN shows, you'll have a very good boy by your side along the way. MORE FROM PCGAMESN: Best survival games, Upcoming PC games, Best sandbox games |
PCGamesN Friday, August 15, 2025 12:43 PM Nvidia GeForce RTX 50 Super graphics cards will reportedly have no nasty surprises when it comes to pricing. According to the latest rumors, Nvidia has pegged the prices for these as-yet unannounced graphics cards to their non-Super equivalents, with the expectation that they'll replace the old GPUs entirely, meaning you get more power for the same price. This follows a recent RTX Super launch rumor, which suggested that these new cards, including the Nvidia GeForce RTX 5080 Super, are being prepped for a launch at the end of this year. Some of these new, refreshed Nvidia GPUs could join our best graphics card guide as powerful options for gamers, although much will depend on their performance and price. MORE FROM PCGAMESN: Nvidia GeForce RTX 5090 review, Nvidia GeForce RTX 5080 review, Best graphics cards |
Rock Paper Shotgun Latest Articles Feed Friday, August 15, 2025 11:45 AM |
Rock Paper Shotgun Latest Articles Feed Friday, August 15, 2025 8:25 AM  Update: EA have made some more balancing changes, this time affecting both the Battlefield 6 beta's rush and breakthrough modes. "In breakthrough, it now takes fewer players on an objective to speed up capture. Also, defender respawn timers in both breakthrough and rush are now fixed at 12 seconds instead of the previous 6-12 second range," the publishers wrote. Original article follows: EA have made a tweak to the Battlefield 6 open beta's rush, and are keeping tabs on the situation in case it needs more balancing changes. This comes as some FPS folks and Battlefield vets have voiced their displeasure with the version of the mode that's debuted in this second weekend of beta action. The biggest moans are related to size. Namely the amount of players on each side in these revamped rush battles and the relatively small maps they're being contested on. As you might imagine, those two elements being a bit titchier in scale than previous Battlefields has also had knock on effects for other aspects of the mode. |
Twinfinite Friday, August 15, 2025 3:15 PM  |
Siliconera Friday, August 15, 2025 4:00 PM
Square Enix took to social media to share official art and character profiles for all of the people in the JRPG collection Dragon Quest I and II HD-2D. It included insights into the Princess of Cannock, who is a new addition in the upcoming remake. Each image also shared official art alongside the sprite used for the person in-game.
In the case of Dragon Quest I HD-2D, only two characters from the remake appeared. This is due to the fact that the original was so limited and focused only on our avatar, whose ancestor is the legendeary hero Erdrick. So one of the profiles Square Enix shared with us focuses on him, and the other looks at Princess Gwaelin, who he saves from the Dragonlord.
Here are those two character profiles:
The profiles for Dragon Quest II HD-2D cover all four playable characters in the remake. In the original game, the Prince of Midenhall, Princess of Moonbrooke, and Prince of Cannock headed out to defeat Hargon. While the Princess of Cannock appeared in the original game, she wasn't an actual ally. Here, she'll also be playable and fight alongside the other descendants.
You can see those four profiles below:
Dragon Quest I and II HD-2D Remake will come to the Switch, Switch 2, PS5, Xbox Series X, and PC on October 30, 2025.
The post Dragon Quest I and II HD-2D Characters Introduced appeared first on Siliconera. |
Siliconera Friday, August 15, 2025 3:00 PM
Taito announced its latest prize in Japanese arcades is a Monster Hunter Wilds Quest Cleared light. It features a sensor on the front and plays a sound effect. It said on social media that people in Japan can find it starting on August 16, 2025. No storefronts seem to be selling it worldwide yet.
The Monster Hunter Wilds Quest Cleared light is about five and a half inches tall (14cm). There is a sensor on the front, with movement triggering it. The announcement also noted that it plays a sound effect in addition to lighting up. The imagery is identical to the splash art that appears in-game when you successfully complete an assignment.
Here's a picture of the item. However, Taito hasn't uploaded a video showing how it looks in-action.
We've seen quite a few Monster Hunter Wilds updates recently. 9-star difficulty monsters and Talismans showed up in the game ahead of the next major patch. We'll also see the free Title Update 3 launch at the end of September 2025.
The Monster Hunter Wilds Quest Cleared room light will be available in Japanese arcades starting on August 16, 2025. The game is available on the PS5, Xbox Series X, and PC worldwide.
The post Monster Hunter Wilds Quest Cleared Room Light Debuts appeared first on Siliconera. |
Siliconera Friday, August 15, 2025 2:00 PM
Neko Works and Good Smile Company announced that Nekopara Love Project Vol 1, a mobile adaptation of the visual novel series, is now available for Android and iOS devices via Google Play and the App Store. Both include an English translation, however the iOS page is only in Japanese. It costs $1.99/¥220.
Nekopara Love Project Vol 1 is the first volume in a seven-entry series. (The latest one is Nekopara After: La Vraie Famille.) Kashou Minaduki is about to open his La Soleil pastry shop. However, it turns out he's not alone. The twin catgirls Chocola and Vanilla also snuck away to go with him. So the three work together on the shop and when enjoying daily life together.
This is the first in a new remake series designed for mobile devices. All new voice actors appear, there are new CGs, and the product page mentioned "new episodes." The reveal noted that volumes 2-3 will also appear, and that it will be possible to get them in a bundle.
Here's the new opening movie for this mobile adaptation of the game:
Nekopara Love Project Vol 1 is available on Android and Apple iOS mobile devices, and that first installment is also available on the Switch, PS4, and PC.
The post Nekopara Vol 1 Visual Novel Now on Android and iOS appeared first on Siliconera. |
Siliconera Friday, August 15, 2025 1:00 PM
Two kinds of Hatsune Miku and Cinnamoroll items are available as prizes in Japanese arcades, and they all are part of a Marine Style collection that involves both characters wearing sailor uniforms. Eight kinds of plush toys and six kinds of acrylic keychains are now available. So far, no stores that ship worldwide are selling them yet.
The plush toys are split into two groups of four in arcades. Each one features two Hatsune Miku stuffed dolls and two of Cinnamoroll, and the pairs are wearing white and navy sailor uniforms. In the one set of four, they are in more neutral poses. However, the other site has their hair and ears in different positions and more expressive poses. Each of them are about seven inches tall (18cm).
Here's how those look:
In the case of the acrylic keychains, there's only one set consisting of six different designs. Three feature pink rings, while the other three involve blue ones. The pink ones feature Hatsune Miku and Cinnamoroll in white sailor uniforms, with the first having her alone, the second him alone, and the third together. The blue ones showcase the blue Marine Style outfits. Again, one has the Vocaloid alone, one has the Sanrio mascot alone, and the third has them paired up together. For each keychain, the character charm in the center of the ring can swing. These are all just under three inches (7cm) tall.
Sega shared a photo highlighting all six of them:
There will be a whole other selection of new items featuring the Vocaloid and Sanrio mascot paired up together. The Sanrio Anime Store at Ikebukuro P'PARCO will host a pop-up corner shop for them. While there will be no plush there, that store will sell acrylic keychains, stands, and boards.
The Hatsune Miku Cinnamoroll Marine Style plush toys and keychains are now in Japanese arcades, and it's unknown if or when we might see them worldwide.
The post Hatsune Miku Cinnamoroll Plush Wear Sailor Uniforms appeared first on Siliconera. |
Siliconera Friday, August 15, 2025 12:00 PM
HoYoVerse shared the release date for the 8.4 Honkai Impact 3rd update, which will include a new story chapter, the Coralie S-rank Battlesuit Behold! Fate-Defying Dragon, and the Chenxue S-rank AstralOp. Everything arrives on August 21, 2025. There's also a trailer showing off the character, story, and upcoming events.
The new story in 8.4 is called Part 2 Main Story Chapter IX Interlude: Yet the Stars Still Sparkle. That will continue the events starring our Dreamseeker avatar, Helia, and Coralie, including the ones that lead to Coralie getting the Behold! Fate-Defying Dragon abilities.
As for the new characters, they're the Coralie S-rank Battlesuit Behold! Fate-Defying Dragon and Chenxue S-rank AstralOp. The former will be available between August 21, 2025 and October 3, 2025. The latter's banner will be around between August 21, 2025 and September 19, 2025. The second AstralOp banner for this update will involve the S-rank Theresa, which will be available September 19, 2025 through October 3, 2025. The Durandal Reign Solaris Battlesuit will also be around between September 19, 2025 and October 3, 2025.
Here's the trailer for the For the Stars Shall Defy Fate Honkai Impact 3rd update that starts by showing a Part 2 Chapter IX story clip before getting into a Coralie Battlesuit showcase.
Here's the 8.4 Honkai Impact 3rd Hyperion Lounge stream going over the new additions and patch release date.
Honkai Impact 3rd is available for the PC and mobile devices, and the release date for 8.4 is August 21, 2025. We'll all get 600 Crystals after maintenance and the update arrives as compensation.
The post 8.4 Honkai Impact 3rd Update and Coralie Battlesuit Release Date Set appeared first on Siliconera. |
Siliconera Friday, August 15, 2025 11:00 AM
The Pokemon Center in Japan will sell a Pokemon Nyoro Nyoro Friends merchandise collection that celebrates characters who look like snakes like Dratini, Dundunsparce, Ekans, Gyarados, Milotic, Rayquaza, and Seviper. These will appear online on August 21, 2025, then in stores in August 23, 2025. There's no word yet on when we might see the products worldwide. However, Amazon Japan also sometimes sells these items and ships to North America.
There are over 30 items in this collection. The least expensive items are the clear file of multiple characters and stickers of Dragonair, Gyarados, Milotic, and Serperior. The A4-size folder is 385円 (~$2.60), and those stickers are 440円 ($3) each. The most expensive are the three stuffed animals of Dragonair, Milotic, and Rayquaza. Those are each 9,900円 (~$67). They're also quite long. The Dragonair one is 50 inches (127cm), Rayquaza stretches to almost 53 inches (134cm), and Milotic is the longest at over 53 inches (135cm).
Here's the full list of every sort of snake like item the Pokemon Center will be selling from this set:
And here's how all that Pokemon Center merchandise will look:
Back at the beginning of 2025, the store sold life-size plush of Ekans and Serperior for the year of the snake.
The Pokemon Nyoro Nyoro Friends merchandise based on characters who look like snakes will be on the Pokemon Center online on August 21, 2025, then in stores on August 23, 2025.
The post Pokemon Nyoro Nyoro Friends Merchandise Celebrates Snake Like Characters appeared first on Siliconera. |
Siliconera Friday, August 15, 2025 10:00 AM
A young man heads to live with his cousin and uncle following an incident with his family. Once at this new school, he befriends a short-haired young woman who wears a green jacket over her school uniform and a young man with fashionable hair and an orange color scheme. He gets involved with a group that reaches out and helps others, even developing the ability to go into another realm to rescue people. While this may sounds like Persona 4, I'm actually describing the opening hours of the new FuRyu JRPG Varlet. It's the latest take on a school-based adventure from a developer known for similar sorts of experiences like The Caligula Effect and Monark.
After his mother is hospitalized, a young man heads to Meifu City to live with his cousin Yuri and perpetually absent uncle who is a doctor. He's immediately enrolled in Kousei Academy, one of many places on the city's cross-reality Johari augmented reality network. He's also befriended by Noa (the Chie) and Sota (the Yosuke), two students in his class. While the two take him on a school tour, he learns the Student Support Services Kousei Johari guild (Investigation Team) Yuri is acting president of needs new members to continue aiding students. He joins and, shortly after, finds himself experiencing strange dreams in which a classmate named Aruka (the Yukiko) is under attack and an unknown figure helps him stage a "Revolution" to gain the power to fight back against the Desires (Shadows) born from people that reside in the Glitch realm (Midnight Channel).
As you can tell from my adding the references above, Varlet started reminding me of Persona 4 almost immediately. So much so that when Aruka is trapped in a Glitch in the dungeon that kicks off the team's new goal and awakening of Noa and Sota's abilities, we're alerted to her being stuck there due to a stream showing her trapped in a labyrinth resembling an online game popular with Kousei students. The three go in, there are hints there's a larger "big bad" that is behind that immediate situation, and it's flat out stating someone tossed her in there. Add in the decision that Furyu breaks up the day by time periods, mixes in story segments from during school, has SSS activities involving interacting in the courtyards in the area of the school, and there are character episodes unlocked by spending time heading home with your fellow SSS members, and it certainly mimics a bit of the same flow.
While I was a little concerned after things in Varlet kept coming up that reminded me of Persona 4, some gameplay decisions helped set it apart in ways I appreciated. One is that the game begins with a quiz that assigns initial Triad Stats to a player based on how they respond to 13 questions. By the end of that, I had a 15 in Sympathy, 9 in Machiavellian, 6s in Altruism, Morality, and Psychopathy, and 3 in Narcissism. As I started to get into the adventure, I noticed that the high ranks in Sympathy and Machiavellian meant I had two additional possible responses to Yuri when she asked me to join the SSS guild and become its new president. By taking on brief Triad Judgments when engaging in SSS activities after school, I was able to boost those stats. For example, I got a point in Morality for choosing to take a lost cell phone to the SSS room. When I got into a Glitch, I saw that high score in Sympathy meant my healing power increased.
As for an actual battle, it's a turn-based system. You choose between normal attacks, guarding, and special abilities. When you select an action, you'll see when it triggers on the timeline, with some able to break or stun enemies and others capable of exploiting that. So Sota's Air Spinner will break a guarding enemy. Admittedly, the Varlet Blitz Mode does remind me a little of the Persona 4 All-Out Attack. However, it's more interactive than that. It comes after breaking down an enemy's Stun Gauge, then using specific inputs to deal major damage.
I'm curious to see where Varlet will go next, as it feels like where I left off in the preview is where the game will start to really branch out and do more to define itself so it feels less like it's taking cues from similar school-life JRPGs like Persona 4. The Triad and battle systems seem like they could be the title's strongest aspects, especially since they set it apart from similar sorts of games. Given this will also be one in which our choices can define things, I'm hoping to really see my choices matter as well.
Varlet will come to the Switch, PS5, and PC on August 28, 2025.
The post Preview: Varlet Reminds Me of Persona 4 appeared first on Siliconera. |
Siliconera Friday, August 15, 2025 9:00 AM
Anycolor announced that Nijisanji will debut Yoiyume, a group of four VTubers who also perform as a band, with a relay stream on 6:00 PM JST of August 15, 2025. That would convert to 2:00 AM PST/5:00 AM EST on the same date.
Conceptually, the group is four Japanese demons will get together to form a girl's band. Their full unit name translates to "Tonight, I Dream of XX." The short version of it, "Yoiyume," also translates to "sweet dreams." All four VTubers will start using their official X (formerly Twitter) accounts from August 15, 2025 as well.
Here are the four new Nijisanji members:
The order of the debut stream relay will be: Mikaru, Shino, Nonoha, and Miku. Each talent will have thirty minutes to introduce themselves and what they'll offer as their content. From 8:10 PM JST, they will also show off their singing chops in another relay, and then end with a concert featuring all four.
The debut stream of Yoiyume, the new Nijisanji VTubers, will start from 6:00 PM JST of August 15, 2025. Other Nijisanji VTubers who debuted this year include Itsuki Sakyo and Hitotsubashi Ayato.
The post New Nijisanji Yoiyume Vtubers Debut in Japan appeared first on Siliconera. |
Destructoid Friday, August 15, 2025 2:48 PM
EA FC 25 players have something amazing in Ultimate Team for them in the form of Antoine Griezmann's 99-rated FUTTIES item, which you can obtain for free.
No, the item isn't part of a season track, and it's also not a giveaway from EA Sports. Instead, it's part of the new Pre-Season Crafting Upgrade objective. While you'll need to complete one particular SBC 100 times, it's a very easy job thanks to the infinite grind.
How to complete the Pre-Season Crafting Upgrade SBC for free in EA FC 25?
The Pre-Season Crafting Upgrade SBC has simple requirements: submit 9 Gold players. They can be either Common or Rare. You have to do the SBC 100 times, so you'll require 900 Gold players. Normally, this would have been daunting, but we are in the endgame now, and there's an infinite grind.
The best SBC to complete right now is the 89-exchange. Every card rated 89-93 (excluding TOTS) should go into these exchanges. You'll get back 50 items in returns. Out of those 50, 10 are guaranteed to be 84 or higher (with one being 85 or higher). Your concerns aren't those cards. Your concerns should be about every item rated 82 or below.
Use all these items to complete the Pre-Season Crafting Upgrade SBC. Additionally, you'll be getting back five 77+ rated players from every SBC you complete. Open those packs, and reinvest them in the SBC. However, that will be too much micro-management in my books. With the Pre-Season Re-Release Batch 1 in packs, you should never run out of 89-rated cards or higher. Just keep exchanging them, opening the packs, and putting all those lower-rated gold cards into the Crafting Upgrade SBCs.
While Crafting Upgrade SBCs have always included good rewards, EA Sports has certainly taken things up a notch. The 99-rated Griezmann FUTTIES item looks absolutely stunning. It has five great playstyle+, endgame stats, and shine in all its available positions. You'll also unlock additional packs along the way that can be used to get higher-rated items, including 99-rated FUTTIES that are currently in the packs.
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Destructoid Friday, August 15, 2025 2:06 PM
If you're looking to improve one of your midfielders in EA FC 25 Ultimate Team for free, you should consider including them in the Full Kit Warrior Evolution.
Your selected item gets benefits from stat boosts and will also become a complete midfielder in terms of roles and playstyles. With the evolution being free, there are plenty of eligible candidates. Let's take a look at the best possible choices based on the offered upgrades.
Table of contents
EA FC 25 Full Kit Warrior Evolution requirements
Here are the requirements of the Full Kit Warrior Evolution in EA FC 25.
EA FC 25 Full Kit Warrior Evolution upgrades
There are four levels of upgrades, and here are the requirements.
Level 1 upgrades
Level 2 upgrades
Level 3 upgrades
Level 4 upgrades
Level 1 upgrade conditions
Level 2 upgrade conditions
Level 3 upgrade conditions
Level 4 upgrade conditions
Best players to use in Full Kit Warrior Evolution evolution
Here are some of the best players to use in this evolution.
Your club's evo chain candidates can provide unique solutions exclusive to your Ultimate Team squad.
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Destructoid Friday, August 15, 2025 2:00 PM
The Wizard of Joy Evolution allows you to get one of your existing EA FC 25 Ultimate Team players to a rating of 98, along with five playstyle+, and more.
Your chosen card will be substantially upgraded once you complete all the levels. There are several great options to select, so let's take a look at the best players to consider for this evolution.
Table of contents
EA FC 25 The Wizard of Joy Evolution requirements
Here are the requirements of The Wizard of Joy Evolution in EA FC 25.
EA FC 25 The Wizard of Joy Evolution upgrades
There are five levels of upgrades, and here are the requirements.
Level 1 upgrades
Level 2 upgrades
Level 3 upgrades
Level 4 upgrades
Level 5 upgrades
Level 1 upgrade conditions
Level 2 upgrade conditions
Level 3 upgrade conditions
Level 4 upgrade conditions
Level 5 upgrade conditions
Best players to use in The Wizard of Joy Evolution
Here are some of the best players to use in this evolution.
Your club's evo chain candidates can provide unique solutions exclusive to your Ultimate Team squad.
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Destructoid Friday, August 15, 2025 1:03 PM
New promos might be over in EA FC 25 Ultimate Team, but Pre-Season Best of Re-Release Re-Release Batch 1 items are now available in packs.
This lot of special cards includes over 250 promo items that you can potentially get from packs. While many of the promos are old, Batch 1 also includes FUTTIES and Shapeshifters items. Let's quickly take a look at all the items you can find from packs based on your luck.
Complete list of EA FC 25 Pre-Season Best of Re-Release Batch 1 players
The Pre-Season Best of Re-Release Batch 1 players will seem very similar to FUTTIES Best of Re-Release Batch 3. That's not entirely wrong, as the entire third batch has been included. However, there are plenty of extra items that will be added to the existing lot to make the packs more worthwhile for you to open.
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Destructoid Friday, August 15, 2025 12:33 PM
Titan Quest 2 is the second entry in a two-decade-old series, and the original is recognized by ARPG fans as a gem of the genre. The sequel seeks to reinvigorate this old diamond through a wide array of improvements, but its approach to leveling stands out over most.
A comprehensive but headache-free leveling system
Much like in every other ARPG out there, Titan Quest 2 has a comprehensive leveling system. Players choose one of a few classes to specialize in and build upon that foundation as the game goes on. It's simple, addictive, and approachable for veterans and noobs alike.
Where Titan Quest 2 diverges from the traditional formula is how it approaches stat leveling, usually a staple of the genre. While in most games with stat leveling you get to pick and choose every attribute, like Agility, Dexterity, Strength and the like, Titan Quest 2 gives you four major stats to improve, each further boosting its "related" stats.
For example, boosting Agility adds full points to Fitness and Cunning as well, while upping Vigor improves every stat by a small amount. Might grants Fitness and Resolve, whereas Knowledge expands your Cunning and Resolve. Thus, most primary attributes are presented to the player as a comprehensive system of relations, where you know exactly what you're getting out of each additional point.
There is no room for scratching your head thinking what any given attribute does, nor is it difficult to ascertain from any given item what it is you should be prioritizing and how. It's easy, does a ton with very little, and adds a layer of mixing and matching that any player can do without worrying about messing up their entire build.
Speaking of which, respeccing can be done on the fly by just entering the game's Respec mode and paying a gold fee, allowing players to backtrack however much they want. Many games usually Respec you down to zero, with you having to build back up again from scratch. Titan Quest 2, on the other hand, is very modular, allowing you to knock down as many points as you want from any given attribute, skill, or passive.
Multiclassing done right
Building a multi-class is a core element of many RPGs, including ARPGs. A storm sorcerer who likes to wield a bit of fire? A burly, massive marauder who likes the taste of cunning and speed? A rogue specializing in deadly poisons, but with a drop of fire and flame?
All of these combinations, and endless others, are crucial to a functional ARPG experience, as they add a lot of depth, replayability, and complexity to builds and classes and generally open up the game to as broad an audience as possible.
Titan Quest 2 just puts you straight into multiclassing from the very onset. You choose two blessings, each representing a separate class. You can then level them up as you see fit, even ignoring the other one entirely if that's your prerogative. If you want to mix them up, you're free to do so, creating the class that suits your playstyle best.
It's one of the rare occasions in an ARPG where there are a ton of paths to follow, but none of them seem wrong or all too difficult. Everything is approachable and easy to do, despite there being a lot of depth to any given skill tree or overall build.
There's a middle ground of sorts in play here, one that the genre desperately needed in the wake of the all-too-easy Diablo 4 and all-too-complex Path of Exile 2.
Have you played Titan Quest 2 yet? If you're a veteran, does it approach the heights of the first game? Or do you feel old school is still cool? Let me know below.
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Destructoid Friday, August 15, 2025 12:21 PM
Pokémon Go viewers at the 2025 Pokémon World Championship can get access to special in-game Timed Research that, when completed, gives you a Skarmory on top of some extra encounters and items.
If you want to find out what is in the research, though, and how to get it, then look no further. As we have brought together everything you need to know regarding the special research tasks and rewards.
Table of contents
How to get the x Timed Research
To get the Timed Research tasks, you need to get an exclusive code by watching the Pokémon Go Twitch stream for 30 minutes while enabling Twitch Drops. You must also connect your Pokémon Trainer Club account to your Twitch and Pokémon Go accounts to make it work.
To link your account and get the code, complete the following steps:
All Pokémon Go 2024 Pokémon World Champion: Bonus Timed Research tasks and rewards
1/2
Completion rewards: Skarmory Encounter, 2025 Stardust, 227 XP
2/2
Completion rewards: 2025 Stardust, 227 XP
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Destructoid Friday, August 15, 2025 12:20 PM
I was sitting in my bedroom in 2001 with Pokémon Crystal in my atomic purple Game Boy Color. My friend's Game Boy was connected to mine by the link cable so I could show him a neat trick. I could clone my Suicune at level 100 and send him a copy.
Thinking back now, it was not a smart move, but it worked. I had to do something like turning off the console when the game was saving while I placed Suicune in a PC box. This could corrupt any save file, but it didn't. There they were: two Suicune at level 100, and my ecstatic friend finally got one.
Now, I'm 31 years old and played Pokémon Crystal this year. It wasn't nearly as fun. This isn't one of those articles like, "This game was so much more fun when I was a kid, being an adult sucks." While it's true, there are less obvious reasons why the game wasn't that much fun this time.
Sharing the moment
When I was seven, I had friends who were also playing Pokémon. There was no online connectivity, no Discord or anything where we could at least hang out together and chat while we were playing. Playing it was mostly a solo activity, but it wasn't a lonely one. We would chat about our teams, where we were in the game, and trade Pokémon. Playing alone now was much less fun than when I was able to share even the smallest things with friends, like "I finally evolved Eevee into Espeon!"
As a kid, I had no shame in using cheats and glitches. I didn't use them all the time, but I remember cloning Pokémon, duplicating items, and doing other stuff to make the game more fun. Now, the most transgressive thing I did was a trick to evolve Kadabra into Alakazam without trading. I might have turned into a boring adult who thinks you can't cheat in games. But now I think I should've cheated the hell out of it. It's just a single-player game, it really doesn't matter.
I used walkthroughs as a kid. I read guides on how to get to Cinnabar Island when Route 19 south of Fuschia City was blocked, and how to capture Ho-Oh. I did this because I couldn't read English since I'm not a native speaker, so I didn't understand character tips. My only option was to read walkthroughs to capture Raikou, Lugia, Ho-Oh, Suicune, etc.
But this time in Pokémon Crystal, since I, as you can see, understand English, I decided to find these mysteries myself. I didn't follow side quests, though. I've completed the game and defeated Red without capturing any legendary Pokémon. I don't have Lugia, Ho-Oh, or any of the legendary dogs, and I can't remember how to catch them. I thought I didn't need a walkthrough because Pokémon was supposed to be a simple game. That was my ego talking, just as it talked about cheating. But I should have used a walkthrough because legendaries are part of the fun in Pokémon.
I also think reading walkthroughs is like sharing the game with someone you don't know, so it could've been a company for me in this new playthrough.
I crushed Pokémon Crystal as a kid
There weren't that many games I could play when I was a kid. Not just because it was much harder to buy games, but there weren't that many out there to buy. No free mobile games were released every day.
This made me not care about my save files in Pokémon Crystal, and I probably finished that game five times or more as a kid. I would just erase my save, start from scratch with a different starter, and finish the game again. I didn't have any pity for my Pokémon. I wasn't attached to my save. I would just restart the game and play it again because it was all I had to play.
That's all part of why the game didn't hit me this time as it did before. The fun back then was, ironically, in the limitations I had, which made me explore the game to its fullest. This has nothing to do with nostalgia.
So my adult, ego-driven brain sabotaged what my free and childish self had fun with in Pokémon Crystal. Even though the playthrough now as an adult wasn't as exciting, it made me think that the new Pokémon games aren't as bad as many people think. Pokémon Crystal and Pokémon Emerald aren't the only good games in the series. They are amazing, but I don't see how Pokémon Scarlet and Violet or Pokémon Sword and Shield can be seen as bad games compared to them.
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Destructoid Friday, August 15, 2025 12:06 PM
I'm a dog person. I always have been and always will be, and that's because they are the best of what this world has to offer.
I'll be honest, I'm writing this because I just dropped my dog off at the vet. He has pancreatitis, so he's staying overnight for some treatment and will hopefully come back home tomorrow. His name is Yogi, he's a cardigan welsh corgi, and he's been my best friend for all 10 years of his life.
His brother Mickey (also a cardigan welsh corgi) and I miss him, so I started thinking about dogs in video games. None compare to my boys, but there have been many awesome ones portrayed in games over the years that I'm now currently thinking about.
Table of contents
The best video game dogs
All dogs are amazing, let's be clear. But some dogs are immortal (one wish I would grant if I had the possibility), and that's because they are in video games. Here are our picks for some of the best that games have brought to life.
Angelo - Final Fantasy VIII
One of my first memories of gaming doggies was this pet way back in 1999. Rinoa Heartilly's companion and best buddy is part of her master's Limit Break ability, but also has the potential to randomly show up during battle, flying in like a missile and attacking the enemy party.
And yeah, Rinoa likes to launch her like a rocket from her projectile-launching weapon attached to her arm.
Diamond Dog - Metal Gear Solid V: The Phantom Pain
DD, or D-Dog, or Diamond Dog, was first rescued as a puppy by Venom Snake during one of the game's missions. After using a Fulton recovery balloon to send him back to base, DD grew up in Mother Base and eventually grew to become one of his possible companions to take on missions in a combat support role.
Dogmeat - Fallout
There's been several Dogmeats throughout the Fallout franchise, but my first introduction to this post-apocalyptic pal was in Fallout 3. Like any other companion, Dogmeat will follow you around and help you in combat, making them an essential part of the game, just like real life.
K.K. Slider - Animal Crossing
When it comes to cool factor, no other dog is beating K.K. Slider. He's a literal traveling musician who shuts down the town square every time he pulls out his guitar and starts jamming.
Yamper - Pokémon
Pokémon: Sword and Shield is one of my least favorite games in the franchise, but its introduction of Yamper makes it worth playing. This canine Pokémon is a freakin' electric corgi with a bolt-shaped tail and a heart shape on it butt. Enough said.
And yes, this is pure bias. As a corgi owner, they are the kings of the dog world.
Riley - Call of Duty: Ghosts
Riley is an excellent example of an innocent creature that is used as a tool of war, like so many dogs in history. There's police dogs, bomb-sniffing dogs, and dogs who are companions of soldiers like this German Shepherd in 2013's CoD: Ghosts. That is the canine curse: loyalty, service, and training.
Riley stood by the side of the game's main heroes, assisting them when needed, and was arguably one of the more memorable characters from that campaign in general.
Sif, the Great Grey Wolf - Dark Souls
I know Sif is not really a "dog" but when it comes to canine companions, she's at the top of the list. First appearing as a boss fight in 2011's Dark Souls, Sif's backstory along with her master Knight Artorias is one of the most tragic and heartbreaking there is.
The imagery of Sif, a massive, grey wolf, wielding a bigger greatsword to protect her master's grave is absolutely unforgettable. So, too, is the boss fight, especially when she starts limping and you question every decision you've ever made in your life up until then.
Sif is always one of my first examples of when I think of the companionship that a canine can bring, and the loyalty that they possess. I highly suggest watching VaatiVidya's explainer video about the story of Artorias and Sif.
Let us know in the comments below who your favorite video game doggo is, and don't forget to pet your dog and tell them I said hello.
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Destructoid Friday, August 15, 2025 11:51 AM
It's that time of the year again when the best trainers across the globe enter the Pokémon World Championships, with this year's event taking place in Anaheim from Aug. 15 to 17. For those unable to attend, there is still a way to get involved by watching the streams on Twitch.
By watching the various streams and the opening ceremony at 10am CT on Aug. 15, you'll get a bunch of codes that can be revealed to be used in Pokémon Scarlet and Violet, TCG Live, and Go, as well as Pokémon TCG Pocket, which is having a giveaway for the first time this year.
If you don't want to watch the streams, though, don't worry, as we have all of the different codes listed below, as well as what is being unlocked with each game.
Table of contents
Pokémon Scarlet and Violet: Luca Ceribelli's Farigiraf
On the Pokémon Scarlet and Violet side, you'll be able to get a special Farigiraf that Luca Cerebelli used, who was last year's World Champion. It knows the move set that includes Psychic Noise, Foul Play, Helping Hand, and Trick Room.
The code to get the Farigiraf is: W0RLDSARM0RTA1L
You need to follow these steps to redeem the code in-game:
Pokémon TCG live double card giveaways
There are double the card giveaways for TCG Live this year, with a selection of five cards available for using the code: WCS25TCGL
If you're on Android or PC, this is how you redeem the code:
If you play the game on iOS, you can't redeem the code in-app and instead need to go to the TCG Live website:
There are a further five cards that will be given away to anyone watching the Pokémon TCG Twitch channel live during Worlds. This will also include an in-game desk box, card sleeves, and coins themed after this year's World Championships. If you tune into a partnered co-streamer on Twitch, you can also obtain rare illustration cards based on the five cards given away via the code. Most of these items require you to link your account to Twitch and watch the stream for a set time—around 30 minutes.
Pokémon TCG Pocket Hourglass Giveaway
If you enable Twitch Drops on your account and tune in to Twitch.tv/PokemonTCG for at least 45 minutes, you'll receive a Twitch Drop for 12 wonder hourglasses and 12 pack hourglasses. No further rewards are being given away this year.
Pokémon Go double day Timed Research
If you watch the Pokémon Go portion of the 2025 Worlds Twitch livestream, you'll be able to unlock special timed research featuring Skarmory as long as you watch for at least 30 minutes to receive a code. You first need to enable Twitch Drops on your account, then tune in to Twitch.tv/PokemonGO on Aug. 15.
If you missed the first day, though, there is an additional timed research that can be unlocked on Aug. 16 that will allow you to choose from three different paths featuring unique encounters, including:
Once you have got your code, you can redeem it at the official Pokemon Go website.
Additionally, there are awards for Pokémon Unite, but we will not be going through them during this guide, mainly as the rewards are so small and are unlocked via watching the broadcast.
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Destructoid Friday, August 15, 2025 11:15 AM
EGO in Archived is a temporary transformation you can unlock to gain powerful new moves. All EGOs have 2 moves, empowered Dice Roll Max and M1s, a cosmetic feature that you can unlock later and usually a special weapon. First I'll show you how to get EGO with all the details you need to know. Then, let's take a look at all EGO in Archived and their moves so you know which ones to pick.
Table of contents
How to Get EGO in Archived
Here's everything you need to do to get and unlock EGO in Archived:
Night in the Backstreet EGO (Method #1)
The first and most common Archived EGO unlock method is via the perma-death event Night in the Backstreet:
Golden Bough EGO (Method #2)
As long as you have the prerequsities above, you can also get EGO in Archived from the Uncharged Golden Bough and regular Golden Bough items. This is an alternative way to the Night in the Backstreets where you get these items and use them so here are the details:
Note that both items will take some of your EGO exp as a drawback however the Golden Bough method can give you access to some exclusive EGOs.
How to Activate EGO & What It Does
To go into EGO mode, hit J when you're at Emotion Level 1 or 2 and you'll transform. This will give you:
All Ego in Archived Listed
Here are all EGOs in Archived listed in no particular order. In the first column you'll find the EGO and some highlights about it like what status effects it applies or does it have GuardBreak moves. Then I'll list descriptions and details about all the moves in the second column for each EGO.
How to Reroll EGO in Archived
If you don't like your current one, you can reroll EGO in Archived by using the Uncharged Golden Bough or Golden Bough items (Details above). Usually these items give you an EGO but using them with an EGO already unlocked just rerolls the current one into a new one randomly with the Uncharged version. The regular Golden Bough just lets you pick a new one by typing it out the same way as I talked about above.
That's it for my Archived All EGO guide and how to get EGO. Check out our Archived codes to claim free goodies.
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Destructoid Friday, August 15, 2025 10:40 AM
The Cartel update in Schedule 1 introduces Thomas Benzies and his company to players, and he can be an extremely dangerous foe to take down.
The Cartel is essentially your biggest competitor in Hyland Park as they're in the same business. Naturally, your business is a direct threat to theirs, which is the backstory of the new update. There are a couple of ways you can manage the Cartel, and this guide will help you complete the whole Benzies storyline, aka Finishing the Job quest.
Table of contents
Should you accept the truce offer in Schedule 1?
After you wake up, you'll get a text from Thomas Benzies. Once you meet him at the parking lot of Taco Ticklers, he will introduce himself. Once done, he will make you two offers: accept his truce or go to war with him. Accepting the truce offer might seem like the better offer, but the truth couldn't have been any different.
Accept the truce, and you become a supplier to the Benzies. You can only sell your products in a couple of regions, and the Cartel will acquire products from you at an inferior price. It's a peace offering that will harm your business in the long run. Therefore it's better to reject the truce offer and complete the Finishing the Job questline.
How to complete Finishing the Job in Schedule 1?
If you choose to go to war against the Cartel, your first task is to reduce its influence across Hyland Point. There are many ways to go about that. Once you've hit their influence by a noticeable amount, you'll get a call from Uncle Benji. He will give you the basic idea for how to deal with the Cartel once and for all.
There are three important tasks in Finishing the Job questline.
Once you have got the explosives, head over to the Manor using the tunnel and plant the bomb. Wait for 45 seconds for the bomb to explode, which will complete the Finishing the Job storyline. This takes care of the Cartel, and you will be able to purchase the Hyland Manor from Ray's Realty.
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WGB Friday, August 15, 2025 1:32 PM Gears of War: Reloaded, the 2nd time Gears of War has been remastered, is out on August 26th, marking a massive moment in history as one of Xbox's most iconic franchises will become playable on a PlayStation. The official Achievement list has been made available via the folks over at TrueAchievements. The PlayStation trophy list […] |
Gaming Instincts – Next-Generation of Video Game Journalism Friday, August 15, 2025 3:35 PM Announced on social media. The post Black Myth: Wukong DLC Seemingly Revealed appeared first on Gaming Instincts - Next-Generation of Video Game Journalism. |
MonsterVine Friday, August 15, 2025 9:00 AM Warhammer 40,000: Dawn of War is often considered one of the best games in the Warhammer community. Until recently, I had missed it mainly because it was released when I was seven. Thankfully, Relic Entertainment has helped me right that wrong by releasing Warhammer 40,000: Dawn of War Definitive Edition. As the name suggests, it […] |