GamersHeroes Wednesday, September 3, 2025 12:47 PM Celebrating the studio's rich history of iconic games and brands, SEGA has announced a creative collaboration with renowned artist Eric Haze. The post SEGA Partnering with Renowned Artist Eric Haze appeared first on GamersHeroes. |
GamersHeroes Wednesday, September 3, 2025 11:28 AM Kwalee, together with Hyperstrange, have released the new Reaper Update for their thrilling 3D roguelite arena-slasher Hordes of Hunger. The post New Reaper Update Now Available in Hordes of Hunger appeared first on GamersHeroes. |
GamersHeroes Wednesday, September 3, 2025 11:11 AM Set to launch on October 14 for PC and consoles, N-Zone's action-adventure Chickenhare and the Treasure of Spiking-Beard with a $200,000 real-world treasure hunt! The post $200K Treasure Hunt Announced for Chickenhare and the Treasure of Spiking-Beard appeared first on GamersHeroes. |
GamersHeroes Wednesday, September 3, 2025 10:00 AM Everybody's Golf: Hot Shots is the definitive arcade golf game, with countless golfers, caddies, courses, and modes just waiting to be explored. The post Everybody's Golf: Hot Shots Review appeared first on GamersHeroes. |
GamersHeroes Wednesday, September 3, 2025 9:43 AM Splatterbot's short bursts of multiplayer fun kick off this busy fall season in style. For those allergic to hornets and cherries, be sure to add these Roombas into your rotation. The post Splatterbot Review – Making a Mess appeared first on GamersHeroes. |
Kotaku Wednesday, September 3, 2025 1:55 PM
Man of Tomorrow brings the Kryptonian back to theaters in record time The post Next <i>Superman</i> Movie Coming 2027 As DC Movie Machine Keeps Ramping Up appeared first on Kotaku. |
Kotaku Wednesday, September 3, 2025 1:33 PM
The popular online hero shooter will soon be playable on the nearly 12-year-old console The post <i>Marvel Rivals</i> Is Coming To Your Old, Dying PS4 Later This Month appeared first on Kotaku. |
Kotaku Wednesday, September 3, 2025 12:45 PM
The Ivalice Chronicles changes some things from the classic strategy RPG and leaves others alone The post 6 Things We Just Learned About The <i>Final Fantasy Tactics</i> Remaster appeared first on Kotaku. |
Kotaku Wednesday, September 3, 2025 11:54 AM
Cronos: The New Dawn is rough around the edges, but still one of the best survival horror games of 2025 The post In The New Horror Game From <i>Silent Hill 2</i> Remake Devs, Cats Are Your Best Allies appeared first on Kotaku. |
Kotaku Wednesday, September 3, 2025 11:40 AM
The Inspiron 15 touchscreen with Windows 11 Pro and a pile of essential accessories seems like a freebie marked down from $3,000 to just $800. The post Dell's 15.6″ Laptop (32GB RAM, 1TB SSD) Is $2,200 Off With Accessories, Making It an Almost Free Bundle appeared first on Kotaku. |
Kotaku Wednesday, September 3, 2025 11:12 AM
Prey 2 had an E3 trailer and everything before Bethesda ultimately canned the sci-fi shooter The post New Footage Surfaces Of One Of The Most Infamous Canceled Games Ever appeared first on Kotaku. |
Kotaku Wednesday, September 3, 2025 10:40 AM
Expand your one small screen to two 4K big displays with this compact adapter that works across Mac, PC, and compatible tablets and smartphones. The post Anker's USB-C to Dual HDMI Adapter Hits All-Time Low, Escape the One-Screen Laptop Setup for Almost Free appeared first on Kotaku. |
Kotaku Wednesday, September 3, 2025 9:40 AM
Save $65 for a limited time on the Samsung Galaxy Tab A9+ tablet over at Amazon. The post Samsung Galaxy Tab A9+ Hits Clearance-Level Pricing Ahead of New S11 Tablet Launch appeared first on Kotaku. |
Kotaku Wednesday, September 3, 2025 9:24 AM
Square Enix's latest turn-based RPG earns the Octopath Traveler name The post <i>Octopath Traveler 0</i> Hands-On: Way More Than Just A Mobile Game Remake appeared first on Kotaku. |
Kotaku Wednesday, September 3, 2025 9:05 AM
Rather than increase prices again, Sony might be reducing storage sizes on consoles The post Sony Might Be Making One Of Its PlayStation 5s Worse appeared first on Kotaku. |
Kotaku Wednesday, September 3, 2025 8:40 AM
Save 28% on the UGREEN Mac Mini M4 dock and stand combo for a limited time at Amazon. The post UGREEN M4 Mac Mini Dock Drops to Peanuts, Loaded With 8TB Storage and 11 Expansion Ports appeared first on Kotaku. |
Kotaku Wednesday, September 3, 2025 8:35 AM
NordVPN is the top VPN in the world, but it's not the priciest by far. The post NordVPN Is Almost Free: Here's the Trick to Slash the Price by Nearly 80% appeared first on Kotaku. |
Kotaku Wednesday, September 3, 2025 8:10 AM
Save 81% on the HP 14 ultra-light laptop for students over at Amazon for a limited time. The post HP Clears Out Its 14″ Laptop Bundle at Over 80% Off, Even Cheaper Than an Entry-Level Apple iPad appeared first on Kotaku. |
Kotaku Wednesday, September 3, 2025 7:35 AM
If you're looking for a tablet, nothing beats an iPad. The post Apple Changes Strategy to Boost Sales, Slashing 2025 iPads to a New Record Low Price appeared first on Kotaku. |
Kotaku Wednesday, September 3, 2025 7:30 AM
Quite why the six-degrees shooter is Mature is something of an intriguing mystery The post Nintendo Switch Online's Mature Games Catalog Adds The Excellent <i>Forsaken 64</i> appeared first on Kotaku. |
PCGamesN Wednesday, September 3, 2025 1:36 PM Picture the scene: it's 6pm on the final day of Gamescom. My head is sore from dehydration and fluorescent lights. My voice is hoarse from three days of interviews. My feet are destroyed. The energy levels are low for my last appointment of the entire event. Thankfully, Romeo is a Dead Man immediately blasted my lethargy into deep space. It's an assault on the senses, with flashy, bloody combat and constant thematic whiplash. MORE FROM PCGAMESN: Best space games, Best zombie games, Best action games |
PCGamesN Wednesday, September 3, 2025 1:52 PM September 3, 2025: With full launch getting closer, another NBA 2K26 code has been released. What are the new active NBA 2K26 codes? A new NBA 2K game is finally out. As always, there are plenty of freebies to collect if you're quick. From the moment the game launches, 2K begins sharing a load of locker codes that can be used to get yourself free packs, top-rated stars, and more as the season progresses. Codes have returned for NBA 2K26, helping you get ahead of the competition in the sports game. Of course, NBA 2K26 locker codes don't last forever, so act fast when a new code does pop up so that you don't miss out. We'll keep on top of all the new codes, adding them to the list below. Continue reading NBA 2K26 codes September 2025 - all locker codes MORE FROM PCGAMESN: NBA 2K26 system requirements, NBA 2K26 codes, Best sports games on PC |
PCGamesN Wednesday, September 3, 2025 1:15 PM When you hear the word 'MMORPG' you probably think one of three things: World of Warcraft, Final Fantasy 14, or Old School RuneScape. Perhaps, if you're like me, your mind wanders to the likes of Guild Wars 2, or even something like Lost Ark or Black Desert Online. But for the vast majority, WoW, FF14, and OSRS are 'the big three.' It's weird, then, that Bethesda, the creator of some of gaming's most iconic franchises, has struggled in the MMO space - Fallout 76's much-maligned launch and slow rebirth have been studied and dissected a thousand times over, and despite its ties to The Elder Scrolls, ESO has at times seemed like something of an underdog. All of this has left a "chip" on Zenimax studio game director Rich Lambert's shoulder. MORE FROM PCGAMESN: Best MMORPGs, Best fantasy games, Best single-player MMOs |
PCGamesN Wednesday, September 3, 2025 12:43 PM What is the list of all Borderlands 4 missions? While you'll probably be jumping into the loot-collecting, first-person shooter action with friends, there is still a story to progress through in Borderlands 4. There are missions to complete, bosses to defeat, and legendaries to collect. If you're excited to find all the best legendary weapons in Borderlands 4 when the Borderlands 4 release date hits, here's a list of all the missions we've seen so far and mission types that could reward extra gear and loot. We'll be sure to add the complete mission list and how long you can expect Borderlands 4 to take once we've completed the game. Continue reading Borderlands 4 missions list MORE FROM PCGAMESN: Borderlands 4 release date, Borderlands 4 characters, Borderlands 4 system requirements |
PCGamesN Wednesday, September 3, 2025 12:42 PM Daemon X Machina is a bit of a cult hit. While the story was about as shallow as an oil spill from a rusted mech, the gameplay was chaotic and energetic, giving you the chance to dart across arenas despite being in a multi-tonne robot chassis. It's a lot of fun, but Daemon X Machina Titanic Scion is looking to take it up a gear with the sequel, and you can pre-order the new entry at a discount already, thanks to Fanatical. MORE FROM PCGAMESN: Check out the latest Fanatical bundles, Check out the latest Fanatical sales, How to redeem Steam codes |
PCGamesN Wednesday, September 3, 2025 12:38 PM Think you know World of Tanks? Think again. The iconic wargame has shaken things up with its massive new 2.0 update, fifteen years after it first launched. That's not all, either. Whether you're a battle-hardened tank commander or a fresh-faced new recruit, there's plenty of free goodies to be claimed, from in-game currency to premium account access and more. MORE FROM PCGAMESN: Best free PC games, Best free Steam games, Best simulation games |
PCGamesN Wednesday, September 3, 2025 12:37 PM There's something so satisfying about a truck simulator. The rumble of the engine beneath your fingers, the open landscapes sliding on by as you ease on the throttle to take a corner. I've often dabbled in the genre, but Star Trucker is the only one to fully grab my attention. What can I say? I prefer the vast expanse of the entire galaxy than the same old American highways, sue me. However, the space trucking sim's only downfall was that I had to use a controller rather than my wheel and pedals setup. Thankfully, that's all changed in the game's first anniversary update, and I couldn't be happier. MORE FROM PCGAMESN: Best racing games, Best PC games, Best simulation games |
PCGamesN Wednesday, September 3, 2025 12:36 PM Of all the upcoming Warhammer 40k games, Mechanicus 2 may be the one I'm most hyped about. While Dark Heresy is shaping up to be the perfect successor to Rogue Trader (keep your eyes peeled for more on that), I'm a secret Necron fanatic, so seeing those creepy skeletal monsters brought to life is far too exciting. I was lucky enough to get a sneak peek at Bulwark Studios' grimdark adventure at Gamescom, and it feels like a deeper, better-realized version of the first game, offering unique faction gameplay, epic battle scenes, and, as confirmed during my preview, Space Marines. MORE FROM PCGAMESN: New PC games, Best PC games, Free PC games |
PCGamesN Wednesday, September 3, 2025 12:30 PM New market research suggests that AMD is in big trouble when it comes to its Radeon gaming GPUs, with its market share halving in the past year. This comes off the back of AMD releasing its RDNA 4 GPUs that delivered stellar performance for their MSRPs but proved difficult to find at uninflated prices post-launch. This market share information comes from PC data analyst Jon Peddie Research (JPR) and suggests that AMD has dropped from a 12% share of the market last year and 8% last quarter, to just 6% market share right now. Effectively the entire rest of the market is held by Nvidia, with it holding 94% and Intel nowhere to be seen. While we've been mightily impressed with AMD's new GPU offerings, specifically the Radeon RX 9070 XT - it remains the top choice overall for most gamers on our best graphics card guide - it has not been enough to stop the Nvidia domination. MORE FROM PCGAMESN: Ryzen 7 9800X3D review, Best gaming CPU, Radeon RX 9070 XT review |
PCGamesN Wednesday, September 3, 2025 12:25 PM What is the next Dead by Daylight update? New chapters arrive in Dead by Daylight every three months, and it can be difficult to keep up with the new characters, maps, perk changes, and more. Luckily, these updates arrive on a fairly rigid schedule, so we can usually look forward to the next DBD chapter before we even know what it is. With so much additional content added to the horror game over the last decade, it's incredible that Behaviour still comes up with new perks and powers for the latest DBD killers and survivors. From original content like The Unknown to legendary licenses like The Walking Dead, the Dead by Daylight roster is constantly growing - now up to 39 killers and 47 survivors. Next to descend upon The Entity's Realm is an original killer and survivor, and here's what we know about them and the Chapter 37 release date so far. Continue reading Next DBD update release date estimate, time, and latest news MORE FROM PCGAMESN: DBD killer tier list, Best horror games, DBD codes |
PCGamesN Wednesday, September 3, 2025 12:19 PM NZXT might be best known for its ATX cases and large liquid coolers but it has also dabbled in smaller form factor options with some success, and its NZXT H3 Flow is its latest mATX effort. Not only is this new PC case compact compared to an ATX case and possessing of a super clean look, it also costs just $60 and, while it's small, it can house two AIO liquid coolers and has ample clearance for tall air coolers along with very large graphics cards too. Arguably, the best PC case options for mATX systems are ones that aren't too much larger than the motherboard, as otherwise you may as well just get a full-size case. In that sense, the NZXT H3 Flow isn't the most standout option, as it's only an inch or two smaller than typical ATX cases. However, it is still technically more compact and yet doesn't compromise on the cooling and components you can fit inside. Such a compelling combination means we were very keen to put this case to the test to see what, if anything, its $60 price has meant in terms of cost savings and compromises. Is it worth considering compared to popular competition such as the Lian Li A3 mATX or Phanteks XT M3? Read on to find out.[site_jumplinks] Continue reading NZXT H3 Flow review - a sleek, compact PC case for a great price MORE FROM PCGAMESN: Best graphics card, Best gaming PC, Best SSD for gaming |
PCGamesN Wednesday, September 3, 2025 12:08 PM 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, September 3, 2025 12:16 PM September 3, 2025: Added a new free Bingo Blitz credits link. What are the new free Bingo Blitz credits? You won't be playing much bingo without them, that's for sure. Even if you've exhausted your usual free credits in Bingo Blitz through login rewards and premium subscriptions, the secret to playing another round is through our Bingo Blitz credits links. New Bingo Blitz free credits links work in much the same way as Monopoly Go dice links. One click and your account is automatically topped up with credits ready to be used on multiple rounds or one big blow-out session with multiple cards. The choice is yours. Continue reading Free Bingo Blitz credits September 2025 MORE FROM PCGAMESN: Bingo Blitz credits, Best card games, Best PC board games |
PCGamesN Wednesday, September 3, 2025 11:36 AM Any Fallout news is good news, in the eyes of players. The iconic series feels rejuvenated after the hit Amazon Prime TV show brought Bethesda's brand of the post-apocalypse to a more mainstream audience. Next, the series is set to venture back to the good old days of Obsidian's New Vegas, and players can't get enough. The monkey paw curls, however, as fans are upset by what appears to be new merch that has leaked online, which seems to show tell-tale signs of generative AI. MORE FROM PCGAMESN: Best RPG games, Best old games, Fallout 5 release date |
PCGamesN Wednesday, September 3, 2025 11:36 AM The Steam Deck anti-cheat discussion has been dug up once again, but not because of its addition to a major triple-A game like GTA or Battlefield 6, but because of its inclusion in Everybody's Golf Hot Shots. This family-friendly golf game now notes on its Steam store page that a kernel-level anti-cheat is used, and it's got some Steam Deck owners a bit frustrated. Typically, the Steam Deck doesn't get on well with anti-cheat software, and I've written about how Steam Deck anti-cheat has become one of the Valve handheld's biggest concerns. However, as we discuss in our buying guide, we still consider it the best handheld gaming PC on the market, despite this compatibility issue. MORE FROM PCGAMESN: Best graphics card, Best gaming PC, Best SSD for gaming |
PCGamesN Wednesday, September 3, 2025 11:39 AM It's always an exciting time of year when Dead by Daylight adds a new killer. While it's great to see familiar faces from pop culture have a turn at chasing players through grimy corridors and abandoned sheds, I prefer the original chapters where we see creatures of folklore take centre stage. It's no different in Sinister Grace, where the devs at Behaviour Interactive have cooked up a sinister baddie based on Thai mythology. This mysterious floating head could be the game's creepiest killer yet. Continue reading Dead by Daylight's new killer "pops like a blister," and I hate it MORE FROM PCGAMESN: DBD killer tier list, Best horror games, DBD codes |
PCGamesN Wednesday, September 3, 2025 10:56 AM September 3, 2025: Removed a few limited mutations. What are the best Grow a Garden mutations? Whether you want to build a garden that's perfect to show off to friends, or one that's designed to just make money, there are Grow a Garden mutations you'll want, others you'll want to avoid, and you'll need to know the effects one mutation might have when paired with another. Since Grow a Garden works while you're not even playing, check out the best Roblox games around for something else to play while things grow. If you're open to quick recommendations of the biggest games around, check out the latest Blox Fruits codes or Blue Lock Rivals codes. Of course, be sure to check for new Grow a Garden codes, too. MORE FROM PCGAMESN: Best Roblox games, Roblox promo codes, Roblox music codes |
PCGamesN Wednesday, September 3, 2025 10:48 AM September 3, 2025: Checked for new Acecraft codes. What are the latest Acecraft codes? If you're 12 stages deep into this mesmerizing fusion of Cuphead's aerial challenges and the roguelike upgrade cycle of Vampire Survivors, you won't want to miss these easy freebies. New Acecraft codes can get you anything from tens of thousands of free Gold, to hundreds of Diamonds, and some handy Power Cubes. Remember, that's on top of the freebies you can claim from loads of other in-game menus. Want to get the most out of your other on-the-go service titles? Check out the latest Destiny Rising codes or Umamusume codes, too. Continue reading Acecraft codes September 2025 |
PCGamesN Wednesday, September 3, 2025 11:10 AM September 3, 2025: Added the Fairy update seeds to the GaG value list. Need a Grow a Garden value list? If you're wondering if it makes sense to bankrupt yourself by buying that super rare seed you've got your eye on, our list of Grow a Garden crop prices should help you out. Though weight, mutation, yield, and growth time all play a part in the value of a fruit, vegetable, or flower, there's some simple logic to keep in mind. New to the world of Roblox horticulture? Check out the latest Grow a Garden codes for some free seeds to get you started. Once you've established your allotment, take a peek at the Grow a Garden seeds tier list to see what's worth ditching once your planting space starts to fill up with valuable perennials. Continue reading Grow a Garden value list for every crop MORE FROM PCGAMESN: Best Roblox games, Roblox promo codes, Roblox music codes |
PCGamesN Wednesday, September 3, 2025 10:39 AM September 3, 2025: At long last, there's a new Blox Fruits code for the next week. What are the new Blox Fruits codes? We've compiled a regularly updated list of all Roblox Blox Fruits game codes to redeem in-game freebies like XP boosts, free Beli, and stat resets for your pirate adventures. Need a boost to take on the increasingly tricky competition? We've got you covered. Blox Fruits is one of the biggest Roblox games. But it can be challenging to find new free codes, so we've listed all the active Blox Fruits codes in 2025, including any Update 27 and Blox Bulletin codes, below. Once you're up to date on the new Blox Fruits codes, consider checking out our ultimate Blox Fruits guide or our in-depth Blox Fruits tier list for the current meta. Continue reading Blox Fruits codes September 2025 - 2x exp, reset stats and more MORE FROM PCGAMESN: Best Roblox games, Roblox promo codes, Roblox music codes |
PCGamesN Wednesday, September 3, 2025 9:25 AM The latest Steam Hardware Survey has provided a boost for Meta and its VR gaming division, as Meta Quest headsets, including the original Oculus Quest, now account for more than 63% of the headsets being used with Steam. This is all while the Valve Index sits at 13.3%, a drop of 3.61% versus last month. Does this mean it's the perfect time for Valve to unveil what it may be working on in virtual reality? As worrying as the figures may look, they should come as no great surprise. The Meta Quest 3 still reigns as the best VR headset on our buying guide, and previous Meta or Oculus headsets are still proving popular thanks to Steam Link offering a free route to playing PCVR games without needing a supercharged and expensive specialty headset. Continue reading Meta's VR domination on Steam show it's time for a new Valve Index MORE FROM PCGAMESN: Best graphics card, Best gaming PC, Best SSD for gaming |
PCGamesN Wednesday, September 3, 2025 10:47 AM September 3, 2025: Checked for new Destiny Rising codes for each server. What are the latest Destiny Rising codes? Bungie's iconic looter shooter may have had its ups and downs, but there's no denying that Destiny has been one of the biggest names in gaming in the last decade. Now there's a new mobile spin-off. Our only question is, "What took you so long?" Actually, that's one of two Destiny Rising questions we have. The other is, "Are there Destiny Rising promo codes?" As a NetEase RPG game, there are a few consumables that can really help you get ahead as you start another journey with a new Ghost companion, and we would assume some redemption codes will give you the boost you need. Continue reading Destiny Rising codes September 2025 MORE FROM PCGAMESN: Destiny Rising codes, Best multiplayer games, Best RPGs |
PCGamesN Wednesday, September 3, 2025 9:25 AM When is the Physint release date? Hideo Kojima announced during a State of Play broadcast in early 2024 that Kojima Productions is working on an action-espionage game with PlayStation which promises to take players on "an exciting new adventure." The original IP hasn't yet entered development, so details are scarce, but here's when we think we'll see Physint as well as information on the development process and gameplay. We've also got the latest news on Hideo Kojima's contender for one of the best PC games ever, following the release of Death Stranding 2. Continue reading Physint release date estimate, gameplay, and latest news MORE FROM PCGAMESN: Action-adventure games, Upcoming PC games, Physint release date |
PCGamesN Wednesday, September 3, 2025 8:10 AM Fans have expressed concern that Stardew Valley developer Eric 'ConcernedApe' Barone is splitting his time between the classic life simulator and his highly anticipated, forthcoming release Haunted Chocolatier. The outcry comes after he announced update 1.7 for Stardew Valley, a major expansion that will take up a lot of time and energy. However, Barone has published a blog post to explain that 1.7 may only delay Haunted Chocolatier "a little, but not as much as you might think." MORE FROM PCGAMESN: Stardew Valley multiplayer, Stardew Valley realism, The best Stardew Valley mods |
PCGamesN Wednesday, September 3, 2025 7:42 AM Raise your paintbrushes like a baton and waft it to a gentle lilt, because Clair Obscur Expedition 33 is going on tour. No, not like a lads tour to Vegas with gambling and debauchery, a far more civilized affair. Much like the artists who inspired the game's art direction, the j'RPG will more likely be seen at an opera house than a casino. Yes, in honor of the game's spectacular soundtrack, developer Sandfall Interactive has announced that it will be taking it on the road. There's just one problem: the tour is only in France... for now. MORE FROM PCGAMESN: Best Clair Obscur Expedition 33 weapons, Best Clair Obscur Expedition 33 builds, Best Clair Obscur Expedition 33 Pictos |
Rock Paper Shotgun Latest Articles Feed Wednesday, September 3, 2025 1:02 PM  How are you feeling today? Relatively untroubled by visions of squirming, organic gunk clogging your vessel's exhaust ports as you fall steadily toward an enormous ball of fire? We'll see about that. I'm here to tell you about Ultrasound, in which you are stranded aboard a spacecraft that has been colonised by growths of the Gigery persuasion. If you don't purge critical systems pronto, you're going to end up the wrong side of a photosphere. Here's a trailer. |
Rock Paper Shotgun Latest Articles Feed Wednesday, September 3, 2025 12:42 PM  Yee-haw. Excuse me, I meant to say that wild west soulslike metroidvania Tombwater has walked into the saloon and ordered a release date. 'I'll have November 12th, 2025', it growled, while flashing its big iron at everyone in the watering hole to show it meant business. Originally roaming the plains of Itch.io, this funky-looking game comes from Max Mraz, developer of Ocean's Heart and Bloodborne tribute Yarntown, and Jake Wagner. The duo have trained their six-shooters on Steam, where you can already find a demo to check out. |
Rock Paper Shotgun Latest Articles Feed Wednesday, September 3, 2025 12:27 PM  It's never too late to get mad about the untimely fate of Human Head Studios' Prey 2. It helps that people keep leaking videos of the thing. The latest batch includes an opening sequence, a full mission playthrough from an open world, a flythrough of an undercity area, a prototype chase sequence, and scenes of combat. Watch the bulk of them below, and grieve. Alas for Killian Samuels, the beanie-wearing US marshal turned alien bounty-hunter. He looked so humdrum back in 2012, especially when compared to the original 2006 game's Cherokee protagonist Domasi "Tommy" Tawodi. Still, he has a certain tragic charisma, in hindsight. |
Rock Paper Shotgun Latest Articles Feed Wednesday, September 3, 2025 12:02 PM  Right, where in the name of disposable infantry were you? Yes, I'm talking to you, Helldivers 2 hive lords, added into the shooter as part of yesterday's Into the Unjust update with what looks like nary a patch note peep from Arrowhead. Why didn't you unleash your big worminess on me when I dropped onto some Terminid hive worlds last night? You missed out. I'm an easy target. Dressed head to toe in bright yellow Helldiver armour, because it's always best to be highly visible on the battlefield. Armed with the trigger finger prowess of a sleeping librarian. Sometimes alone because no one's answered my SOS beacon yet. I was right fugging there. |
Rock Paper Shotgun Latest Articles Feed Wednesday, September 3, 2025 11:26 AM  I'll say this for Valor Mortis, One More Level's first-person, sabre-swishing soulslike wherein Napoleon Bonaparte's men mysteriously become abominations of melted undead meat: the Ghostrunner devs are probably the team for the job. While that series is all about cyberpunk katanas and zippy wallrunning, its punishing, trial-and-error combat should resonate with anyone who spends most of their time respawning at campfires. I'll also say this for Valor Mortis: I've played it, and would like to play more. |
Rock Paper Shotgun Latest Articles Feed Wednesday, September 3, 2025 10:38 AM  A company backed by the Saudi Arabian government's Public Investment Fund have become the co-owner of the Evolution Championship Series (Evo) fighting game tournament. Following Sony's sale of their stake in Evo, with India-based esports company Nodwin gaming buying it up, the event's co-owners have been Nodwin and talent management company RTS. Well, RTS have now been bought by Qiddiya Investment Company, a PIF-backed firm that's also overseeing the building of Qiddiya City as part of Saudi ruler Mohammed bin Salman's Vision 2030 initiative. |
Rock Paper Shotgun Latest Articles Feed Wednesday, September 3, 2025 8:00 AM  Shams Jorjani, boss of Helldivers 2 developers Arrowhead, has taken to Discord to address the rise in reports of performance issues following the arrival of the shooter's Into the Unjust update. In addition to admitting that the new addition has missed the mark from a stability pespective, the exec added that the game's Xbox release now being in the rear view mirror should free up more resources to tackle performance problems. Since the Terminid spelunking expedition-themed update arrived yesterday, players have cited an uptick in crashes that Arrowhead are already looking into, with the installation size the game's ballooned to on PC and your usual sorts of pesky bugs also being sources of ire, at least among vocal online Helldivers. |
Rock Paper Shotgun Latest Articles Feed Wednesday, September 3, 2025 7:35 AM  The Blood of Dawnwalker is the debut fantasy RPG from new Polish developer Rebel Wolves, a studio founded by former members of Witcher outfit CD Projekt. In June, obvious vampire thrall Mark expressed happy emotions about main character Coen's balance of mortal and undead abilities - by day, he'll trot around having regular human chinwags with people and participating in regular human swordfights, by night he transmogrifies into a nimble Nosferatu, able to teleport and slash people with his talons. Now, it's time to dig further into the game's two critical resources, which are handily encapsulated by the title: time and blood. |
Twinfinite Wednesday, September 3, 2025 8:01 AM  |
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Siliconera Wednesday, September 3, 2025 1:00 PM
The latest PSO2 New Genesis crossover involves Atelier Yumia: The Alchemist of Memories and the Envisioned Land, and it is live now. As promised back in July 2025, there are multiple elements to it. The free portion of it involves a Login Bonus that offers a reward for showing up for seven days while it is live. The part that could cost someone actual money is the AC Scratch Ticket: Atelier Yumia Style with avatar cosmetics.
In the case of the free login rewards tied to Atelier Yumia, we know some of them are tied to acrylic stands. The first day you log into the MMORPG, you get one of Yumia Liessfeldt. The reward on the third day is one of Rutger Arendt. The Isla von Duerer acrylic stand cosmetic is the fifth day bonus. Finally, if you show up on the seventh day, you get one of Nina Friede.
Here's how those look:
The PSO2 New Genesis AC Scratch Ticket: Atelier Yumia Style gacha banner primarily involves clothing and weapon skins based on Yumia, Isla, Nina, and Rutger. These cosmetics include eyes, eyelashes, and Rutger's teeth. A number of screenshots show what things look like if you collect all the parts or other accessories.
You can also see all of the items in-action at about the 1:35 mark of the September 2025 Update Information 1 video Sega shared.
PSO2 New Genesis is available for the PS4, Xbox One, Xbox Series X, and PC, and the Atelier Yumia crossover is live now.
The post Atelier Yumia Crossover Comes to PSO2 New Genesis appeared first on Siliconera. |
Siliconera Wednesday, September 3, 2025 12:15 PM
When we started sharing surveys on Siliconera asking your thoughts on what you'd like to see, the majority of people who responded asked if we could rollback to our classic Siliconera site design. People cited its ease of use, clarity, and general comfort. We heard you loud and clear. Our goal is to make sure our site is as user-friendly for you as possible, and so we've returned to our classic design.
That said, your feedback still matters to us! We're hoping to make more adjustments and improvements to better serve and share with you over the next few weeks and months. By taking our latest survey, you can once again make your voices heard and help us with shaping things going forward.
We'd also love it if you'd help ensure we can keep sharing news, interviews, reviews, previews, and other kinds of coverage with you. If you could set us as a Google Search Preferred Source, which ensures you see us in search results if you're in the US, that would be wonderful! We'd also love if you could please subscribe to our newsletter!
Thanks for being part of Siliconera! And please be sure to let us know if you have any other feedback in our survey and in the comments!
The post You Asked, We Listened: Siliconera's Classic Design Returns appeared first on Siliconera. |
Siliconera Wednesday, September 3, 2025 12:00 PM
Nintendo announced two new Nintendo Switch Online classic game library additions last night, with Japan getting the Brownie Brown JRPG Magical Vacation and other regions getting the FPS Forsaken 64. Both games will debut on September 4, 2025, and in each case Switch and Switch 2 owners will need the more expensive Expansion Pack tier of the subscription service to access and play both of them.
Magical Vacation is the first in a series of two JRPG games from a developer known for its work on Mana games and, as such, the GBA game features some familiar character designs and involves similar sorts of themes involving elemental spirits. Our avatar is at Will-o'-Wisp academy due to being able to see Spirits. While on a school trip, your classmates disappear, and it is up to you to find everyone again and discover what's going on. While it only appeared in Japan, the sequel Magical Starsign did appear on the DS worldwide.
Here's the trailer for it that primarily focused on the battle system.
Meanwhile, Forsaken 64 is the N64 version of the Acclaim FPS. It isn't exactly a straightforward port of the original game, as while it plays the same way and still has both single and multiplayer options, there are other limitations. If you go through it on your own, you try to get what's loot is left on a destroyed Earth while defeating others. If you play with others or against the computer, up to four people can be present.
Here's the trailer for that, which shows off both the single player campaign and four-player multiplayer.
Magical Vacation will come to the Nintendo Switch Online Expansion Pack GBA game library for the Switch and Switch 2 in Japan on September 4, 2025, and other regions will get Forsaken 64 on that same day.
The post Switch in Japan Gets JRPG GBA Magical Vacation appeared first on Siliconera. |
Siliconera Wednesday, September 3, 2025 11:00 AM
Prime 1 Studio has revealed that it is working on a new 1/4 scale figure of Reisalin "Ryza" Stout from Atelier Ryza 3: Alchemist of the End & the Secret Key. It will open pre-orders for the figure soon, with full shipments planned around the Spring of 2026 and price tags of over $1,000.
This figure will be available in two different versions. The Regular Version will cost $999, but buyers will also have to factor in the additional shipping costs. This package will simply contain the original full figure and diorama set without any additional parts.
There will also be an Ultimate Bonus Version that costs more at $1,299. Unlike the standard one, this will come with multiple swappable body parts. The alternate left hand will have Ryza hold the titular key, and she can also opt to carry a flask instead of her staff with the alternate right hand. The package will also add a window diorama while including a bust figure that lets the owner place the alternate head. However, Prime 1 Studio will only produce 800 copies of this edition.
Ryza is proving to be one of the most popular characters in the Atelier franchise, to the point that she also became the first protagonist to receive a full trilogy based on herself. Koei Tecmo and Gust will release Atelier Ryza Secret Trilogy Deluxe Pack, which compiles all three titles with more features like additional party members, for PS4, PS5, Switch, Switch 2, and PC worldwide on November 13, 2025.
Pre-orders for the Atelier Ryza 3 Reisalin "Ryza" Stout 1/4 scale figure will open on Thursday, September 4, 2025, at 6 AM GMT (12 AM ET). Prime 1 Studio will ship the finished figures worldwide between March 2026 and May 2026.
The post Atelier Ryza 3 1/4 Scale Figure Will Cost Over $1,000 appeared first on Siliconera. |
Siliconera Wednesday, September 3, 2025 10:00 AM
Shantae Advance: Risky Revolution is a fascinating look at game development and history. After all, it's a 2002 game that made it to a demo phase, got canceled, had parts of it repurposed for other entries, and only in 2023 work resumed on the project. It's a perfect example of a troubled development cycle. That said, while you can tell some issues putting it together came up along the way, I appreciate its existence as a piece of history, example of perseverance, and peek into Shantae's missing adventure.
Like many entries in the series, Shantae Advance: Risky Revolution involves the half-genie being called into action to not only save Scuttle Town, but Sequin Land as a whole. Risky Boots discovered a means of shifting the positions of places so she can loot and conquer it all. However, the Tremor Engine she is using to do so could destroy everything. It's up to Shantae to get maps to visit different regions, gather together famous Relic Hunter archeologists, and hopefully find a way to restore places to their proper spots and stop Risky Boots.
This means that Shantae Advance: Risky Revolution plays out much like other platforms in this Metroidvania-like series. Shantae can learn transformation dances that allow her to become creatures like a crab or monkey. These grant abilities to access new spaces. So as a crab she could sink to the bottom of water to walk along and reach new spots or treasures and a monkey form lets her wall-climb. There are six of these in total. She also gets different attack options, like a Fireball, Pike Ball, and Storm Puff electric bolt. You go through the different dungeon areas, platforming and taking out enemies, and eventually deal with bosses. Some light puzzle solving may come up and there might be incidental extra quests, such as helping Bolo find his brother, but it's rather straightforward.
Which is, honestly, one of the things that highlights nature of Shantae Advance: Risky Revolution's development. It's shorter than a typical entry and more disjointed. We ride with Sky to reach new places. Areas are sort of sectioned off. The general pacing, while it does come together, feels a bit stilted too. It also means there's a little enemy repetition. It's a quick, one-and-done jaunt, and people who enjoy replaying with things like new game plus might not appreciate that. There's definitely effort here. You can see the care that went into making it playable and exist. The script also remains quite clever! But the nature of some fights and expanses don't always feel as elaborate and connected as otehr entries.
I also feel like some design decisions also highlight Shantae Advance: Risky Revolution's unusual nature. When you're only seeing sprite-based characters and environments, it looks great. It also can end up looking familiar due to how much ended up being pulled for other games in the series. However, I found the more modern textboxes, UI elements, and character portraits really jarring. I will say that it at least looks better than Shantae: Risky's Revenge - Director's Cut's UI and portraits and is in line with the other full HD games. I would have loved actual sprite-based character portraits and textboxes to lean into the GBA aesthetic further.
I'm glad Shantae Advance: Risky Revolution is accessible after everything it went through, but you can see its struggles. It's a fine adventure. It helps build up the timeline and backstory. I feel like it's just a tad short and features some pacing issues that really highlight that this was a game that ended up being picked up, canceled, returned to, and had these halts in development.
Shantae Advance: Risky Revolution is available on the Switch, PS4, PS5, Xbox One, Xbox Series X, PC, and GBA.
The post Review: I'm Glad Shantae Advance: Risky Revolution Exists appeared first on Siliconera. |
Siliconera Wednesday, September 3, 2025 9:01 AM
Square Enix shared new details about the Octopath Traveler 0 characters we'll meet that will act as our enemies and rule Orsterra and who join us in our quest to defeat them as our allies. Three Masters lord over the country, and it will be up to us and people like the five initially revealed companions to fight back when it launches at the end of 2025.
While Commander Tytos the Hero is the Emberglow ruler and Master of Power who sets our avatar's hometown on fire, resulting in the adventure, two others also contributed to the events and terrorize everyone. However, Tytos apparently wouldn't be there if it wasn't for the Master of Wealth. That's Lady Herminia of Valore, who is known as a witch. She wanted a ring associated with the place. Finally, the Master of Fame and Greatest Theatropolis Playwright Auguste was there and watched as it happened as "inspiration." Each one played a part.
Meanwhile, our prospective allies in Octopath Traveler 0 all seem to be associated with jobs associated with characters in other entries and cities where these Masters "rule. Alexia is a scholar, Celsus is a thief in Valore, Ludo works as a merchant in Sunshade, Macy works as an apothecary and saw what's happening in Emberglow, and Viator is our warrior. Other jobs confirmed are cleric, dancer, and hunter. When we build up our town, the Training Ground established there can help them learn new skills and Ultimate Techniques.
Square Enix also shared a number of the English voice actors for Octopath Traveler 0 characters so far. Here's who we know:
Octopath Traveler 0 will come to the Switch, Switch 2, PS4, PS5, Xbox Series X, and PC on December 4, 2025.
The post New Octopath Traveler 0 Characters Include Allies, Enemies appeared first on Siliconera. |
Destructoid Wednesday, September 3, 2025 12:56 PM
The Pokémon Company has changed its way of making video games in the last five or six years. All it used to do in new games was add new Pokémon and cities, combat gimmicks like Megas or Z-Moves, and release the game. Since Pokémon Legends: Arceus, it all changed. The series suddenly got modern game mechanics like crafting, stealth, and open worlds.
This commitment to change is still there in Pokémon Legends: Z-A, as we can see in the first-ever real-time combat system on consoles. Now, it's time for The Pokémon Company to take it one step further and make my wish come true: add difficulty levels to Pokémon.
This shouldn't be a hard ask, but I know why some people reading this will think I'm delusional. There's no way Legends: Z-A will have difficulty levels, even if they're as simple as easy, normal, and hard. As a feature, difficulty has never existed in the mainline Pokémon games, mostly because it's tied to the opposing Pokémon's level. But this is artificial difficulty: If your opponent's level is too high, farming experience to level up your Pokémon should be enough to win. Even in Gym Leader and Elite 4 rematches, like in HeartGold and SoulSilver, leveling up is enough.
Pokémon Emerald's Battle Tower and Battle Factory are probably the best examples of the kind of difficulty I wanted to see in Pokémon Legends: Z-A: Your opponent's team, their moveset, and the strategies they use are all stronger the higher your win streak, since Pokémon levels are all the same. I want a "hard mode" Legends: Z-A to simply have trainers and wild 'mon that are smarter than average, that will try to counter me, and that will have a synergistic team and strategy.
Pokémon Legends: Z-A is the perfect opportunity to introduce difficulty settings because this is a common feature in other action RPGs. Today, games in this genre actually have New Game+ instead, where you keep some of your progress and replay the game against stronger opponents. This would also be fair in Pokémon Legends: Z-A, and something that Nintendo already did in other titles like Metroid Prime: Remastered, where you can play the game in Hard Mode after you beat it in Normal.
Higher difficulty in Legends: Z-A could come in many forms. Wild Pokémon could have extra moves, trainers could have more Pokémon, Rogue Mega Evolutions like the Mega Absol from the Gamescom demo could have different movesets and attack patterns, and certain Pokémon could simply have improved AI to counter your team with super effective moves more often.
These difficulty changes would make Legends: Z-A more fun for veteran players. They have already been adding artificial ways to make Pokémon games harder with challenges like Nuzlocke, where you force a level cap on your team and release Pokémon that faint. Having this kind of built-in difficulty would cater to a player base that thinks Pokémon is too easy. Since The Pokémon Company is always thinking about ways to cater to wider audiences (just look at how many Pokémon game genres exist today), it's time to also cater to hardcore gamers.
That's why my wish for Pokémon Legends: Z-A is that we get difficulty settings. Deep down, I know this won't happen, but I still hope The Pokémon Company remembers how bold it was to add stealth, crafting, and open-world areas in Legends: Arceus, things nobody ever thought a Pokémon game would have. It's time to break the pattern once again and give something to Pokémon that everyone thought it would never have.
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Destructoid Wednesday, September 3, 2025 12:17 PM
The Crew, the game that started the massive pro-consumer Stop Killing Games campaign, is soon to become playable again thanks to the effort of modders and community contributors. Ubisoft's racing MMO was taken offline last year and, being online-only, rendered unplayable, sparking sharp discussions about consumer rights in gaming.
The Crew Unlimited, aka TCU, is a group of community contributors and modders who have been painstakingly trying to revive Ubisoft's racing MMO. Justifying their love for the game by claiming there's nothing quite like it out there, TCU has been actively participating in bringing back this 2014 title to life following Ubisoft's abrupt kill-switch. Now, The Crew is "mere weeks away" from coming back, according to its About page, and it won't be as an offline experience either.
Instead, TCU promises both offline and online functionality, as the group has written a server emulator for the game, allowing players to host online instances locally on their own machines. "Your local server, your local savegames, your game. No one will ever be able to take this away from you now," the group claims.
While this is amazing news for fans in just about every way, one looming danger stands: Ubisoft itself. Particularly, its legal department. What we've seen publishers in video games do, especially huge ones, is taking a jab at any kind of community-run server or environment, either via formal lawsuits, or cease-and-desist letters. Whether Ubisoft is willing to tank its reputation even more is uncertain, though it wouldn't be the first time a major AAA corporate publisher did something like that.
Either way, TCU's programming for the server emulator is sure to help out other communities set up their own private online hosting for whatever kill-switched game, helping preserve the products they own beyond planned obsolescence.
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Destructoid Wednesday, September 3, 2025 12:17 PM
Marvel Rivals' season four is all about angels and devils, NetEase announced today, confirming the most recent set of leaks about the game's newest playable characters.
On the side of the "angels," we've got Asgardian angel warrior Angela. And for hell, well, it's the devil himself: Daredevil, albeit a different version than what many are used to seeing. Leaks revealed the former will be coming at launch, while the latter arrives at midseason.
"The Timestream Entanglement has drawn the Seven Capitals together, forming the Heart of Heaven," this season's lore reads. "After Knull's fall, Hela is imprisoned in the An'Hay-Zhidi, where Dizang—Devil of the Eighth City—dares her to atone for her sins. But Angela will not forgive her betrayal. She arrives in the Heart of Heaven demanding Hela be handed over, yet its guardian refuses to surrender someone under his protection. Justice will be served and a debt will be paid. But while they fight, an even greater danger stirs. Doctor Doom seeks to steal the Chronal Chi of the slumbering dragon Shou-Lao, threatening to unravel the fate of the Heavens themselves."
Dizang appears to be a multiversal variant of Matt Murdock, AKA Daredevil, and his abilities in the trailer appear to be a bit different than normal as well. He sports a different set of armor and actual devil horns and somehow blasts himself out of chains, while Angela wields a spear and uses her angel wings to fly.
Leaks point to Angela being a Vanguard/tank while Daredevil is a Duelist, so Strategist players will be left wanting again in season four. The new season, Heart of the Dragon, kicks off next week on Sept. 12, so this week and next will likely be full of more info about what to expect over the coming months.
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Destructoid Wednesday, September 3, 2025 12:04 PM
No Man's Sky's Voyager update has introduced Corvette spaceships inside the game, and Expedition 19 will help you get your first ship inside the game.
It's fairly easy to get a Corvette if you're a veteran, but there's no reason to be disheartened if you're a beginner. Hello Games has planned the upcoming Expedition 19 to be the source of a new Corvette for all. Interestingly, it's named "Corvette," and it can be completed as of writing on Sept. 2.
Disclaimer: Work in progress.
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No Man's Sky Expedition 19 (Corvette) guide
Expedition 19 is finally available inside the game, and it will provide you with everything required to make your first Corvette. If you're an absolute beginner, the first task will be to gain access to the Anomaly. Once you have gained access to it, fly inside and check out the Expedition portal. You'll find the new expedition on it. Once you begin Expedition 19, you'll find the information required to complete the quests.
The total expedition is divided into six phases, and each phase has individual tasks to complete.
Phase 1
Phase 2
Phase 3
The section is being updated.
No Man's Sky Expedition 19 (Corvette) rewards
The main reward of the expedition will be the Corvette itself, which you can then add to your fleet. I am almost sure that constructing the ship will cost less via the expedition than it would for you to craft it separately on your own. However, you'll get a few extra items for completing the expedition.
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Destructoid Wednesday, September 3, 2025 12:01 PM
The Dragonroach is an unholy addition to Helldivers 2 as part of the Into the Unjust update, and it can be one of the most challenging enemies to take down.
This behemoth isn't only massive in size, but the developers decided to give it wings. As a result, it's big and powerful, and it rains acid on you like presents during Christmas. Surviving it can be a challenge in the Terminid hive worlds, but certain tricks and tips will help you defeat the beast.
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Helldivers 2 Dragonroach attacks
To defeat an enemy, you'll first need to learn its movements. Typically, the creature stays on top and tries to stalk your movement. When it's ready to attack, the Dragonroach will fly down and throw acid on you and your allies. The acid drops do AoE damage, and quite a lot for my liking.
Unlike the Hive Lord, the Dragonroach feels less dangerous, but its attack has no patterns. I have tried to get a feel of this creature and anticipate its movements. Aside from keeping an eye out for it, there's no possible way to know when the creature will attack.
How to find Dragonroach in Helldivers 2?
Just like the Hive Lord, you'll encounter Dragonroach on any of the Terminid hive worlds. To find them, participate in missions at Hard difficulty or above. I believe they spawn randomly, so that's something you would want to keep in mind.
How to kill a Dragonroach in Helldivers 2?
There are two difficulties involved in taking down a Dragonroach.
Here are some essential tips to keep in mind.
The post How to kill a Dragonroach in Helldivers 2 appeared first on Destructoid. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Destructoid Wednesday, September 3, 2025 11:58 AM
One of the most essential parts of the Memory Mania event is scouring the village to recover hidden items in Disney Dreamlight Valley. One of the many items you need to find and remove is Birthday Cakes.
While you might come across some event items naturally while exploring, you're not likely to find this one unless you're specifically seeking it out, since it spawns around locations you likely don't visit often. If you're hoping to finish the full event, here's where to find Birthday Cakes in Disney Dreamlight Valley.
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Birthday Cake location in Disney Dreamlight Valley
Birthday Cake only spawns in a few Realms for the duration of the Memory Mania event, including the Moana Realm, Ratatouille Realm, and Wall-E Realm. There are many different Realms you can explore throughout the Dream Castle, but only these three have a chance of containing some Birthday Cakes for you to discover.
In all three Realms, Birthday Cake spawns on the ground. This item always appears as a small light pink cake with the number 13 candles on top. Like all other event items, it's also always marked by some golden sparkles to make finding it a bit easier.
How to get Birthday Cake in Disney Dreamlight Valley
You can get Birthday Cake by finding it around the Moana Realm, Ratatouille Realm, and Wall-E Realm, then selecting the Interact button that pops up next to it once you're by it. Birthday Cake can't actually be picked up or eaten, but interacting with it does drop a special event item you need.
What do Birthday Cakes do in Disney Dreamlight Valley?
Birthday Cake drops pink Memory Shards, which you can open to receive pieces of an Inside Out memory featuring Joy surrounded by confetti. This memory has six pieces to it, and every time you interact with a Birthday Cake, you have a shot at finding one of them.
Not all Memory Shards dropped by Birthday Cake are guaranteed to have a piece of this memory inside. Instead, some may grant you Star Coins, so there's a chance you'll need to open more than six to finish the full puzzle. Fully completing this memory finishes the Feeling Joyful task and unlocks the Ennui Raven Companion.
How often do Birthday Cakes respawn in Disney Dreamlight Valley?
Birthday Cakes respawn about every hour as long as the Memory Mania event is live. Up to two Birthday Cakes can be scattered throughout the three Realms at any given time, so for more to appear, you need to remove the already present cakes. Each time you remove one, a secret timer begins for another one to respawn approximately one hour after that point.
There's a lot more to get done before this event ends. If you're not sure what to tackle next, you might consider working on Memorabilia, Feeling Expansive, Get Nostalgic!, Spark Joy, and Embrace the Blues.
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Destructoid Wednesday, September 3, 2025 11:14 AM
The Inside Out-themed Memory Mania event is packed with tasks you can complete to embrace all of the emotions in Disney Dreamlight Valley. One of the many duties you need to work through is Feeling Expansive.
The only information you're given to tackle this task is its name, which doesn't give you much to go off. The names of some duties are quite helpful for pointing you in the right direction, but for this one, it's essentially useless, making this a tricky task to solve. If you're stumped by this one, here's how to complete Feeling Expansive in Disney Dreamlight Valley.
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Feeling Expansive duty in Disney Dreamlight Valley
To complete the Feeling Expansive duty for the Memory Mania event, you need to find Hockey Equipment around the valley to recover yellow Memory Shards and piece together an Inside Out memory. The memory has six parts to it, so you must recover a minimum of six pieces of Hockey Equipment to finish it.
The memory you need to complete for this task features all five original emotions, including Joy, Sadness, Fear, Anger, and Disgust, looking out the window at Headquarters where they live in Riley's mind. Although you might get it done after finding only six pieces of Hockey Equipment, it might take many more.
All pieces of Hockey Equipment you pick up are guaranteed to drop one yellow Memory Shard. This shard may restore a piece of the memory or drop some Star Coins instead, so how easy or difficult this task is ultimately comes down to luck.
Where to find Hockey Equipment in Disney Dreamlight Valley
Hockey Gear spawns randomly around Merlin's house, Goofy's house, and Mickey's house. All instances of this item look the same, so you're looking for a grey rack with a yellow helmet, brown gloves, black and yellow boots, and a hockey stick leaning up against it.
This gear is always marked by some golden sparkles to make finding around these houses a bit easier. Luckily, all three homes are fairly small, which makes hunting around them for this item more doable. Be sure to carefully check all corners of each home, though, as the sparkles may not appear if you're standing in the doorway far away from them.
More Hockey Equipment spawns one hour after the existing gear has been removed. Only two of these items can be present at once, though, so you must proactively clear them away so more can appear. To ensure you're able to get this task done before the event ends, it's best to sweep through all three houses fairly often so you can make room for more to appear.
Feeling Expansive reward in Disney Dreamlight Valley
Your prize for completing the Feeling Expansive duty is an Anxiety Squirrel Companion. This critter is inspired by the character Anxiety from Inside Out 2. All of the special emotion Companions you can earn throughout this event are quite unique and special, but this critter is one of my favorites.
After this task is complete, there's still plenty more to get done in this event before it ends. If you're not sure what to work on next, you might consider Get Nostalgic!, finding Riley's Phone, Spark Joy, and Embrace the Blues.
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Destructoid Wednesday, September 3, 2025 11:09 AM
Disney Dreamlight Valley has plenty of secret, tricky duties for you to tackle. For these types of missions, you often only have the name to go off, as is the case with the Get Nostalgic! task.
Since your only clue doesn't provide any solid insight, it can be quite tough to figure out what needs to be done for this quest. It's an essential one to get done if you're interested in unlocking an exclusive prize, so here's how to complete Get Nostalgic! in Disney Dreamlight Valley.
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Get Nostalgic! duty in Disney Dreamlight Valley
To complete the Get Nostalgic! duty, you need to find all pieces of the Nostalgia memory. This can be accomplished by finding Riley's Phone around the valley. There are 10 pieces of the memory, so you need to find at least 10 of Riley's Phones.
Depending on how lucky or unlucky you are, though, you might need to find even more, as not all instances of this item are guaranteed to grant a piece of the memory. Some of them might drop some Star Coins instead.
This task is part of the Memory Mania event. The 2025 installment began on Sept. 3 and is slated to run until Sept. 16. The event has been a bit glitchy, though, with some items appearing back when the update launched on Aug. 20 even though the event hadn't started yet. Because of this, it's possible it could end up being extended, so we'll provide an update here if this happens.
Where to find Riley's Phone in Disney Dreamlight Valley
Riley's Phone spawns randomly anywhere on the ground around the outside of Chez Remy. It's a very small green item marked by some golden sparkles. It's one of the tougher items to find across all events, as it's incredibly small and flat, making it easy to miss even when you're fairly close to it.
The biome you need to visit to find this item varies depending on where you have the restaurant placed. Mine is in the Plaza, so Riley's Phone pops up around it in this area. If your Chez Remy is in a different region, like Dazzle Beach or the Forest of Valor, you'll need to explore there instead.
This item and all other ones featured in the event can also only appear in Dreamlight Valley, not DLC worlds. Avoid searching for it around Eternity Isle or The Storybook Vale, as you won't find what you're seeking there.
Only two of Riley's Phones can be present in your village at any given time. If there are two in your valley waiting to be picked up, more won't spawn in until at least one is removed. The one-hour countdown for a new phone to appear also doesn't start until there's room for it, so be sure to hunt for this item frequently.
Get Nostalgic! reward in Disney Dreamlight Valley
Completing the Get Nostalgic! duty unlocks the special Nostalgia Capybara. This Companion is based on the Nostalgia character from Inside Out 2. All of the Companions featured in this event are from the same film, so there are plenty of other critters to unlock next after this one.
If you're not sure what to do after completing this duty, there are plenty of tasks worth working on around the valley. Next, you might try completing all Retro Roadtrip Star Path duties, placing stalls in DLC worlds, and finishing the Capture the Sun quest.
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Destructoid Wednesday, September 3, 2025 11:02 AM
The Memory Mania event has caused many unique items to pop up around the village in Disney Dreamlight Valley. One of the tougher ones to find is Riley's Phone, but it's an essential one to acquire if you want to claim all event rewards.
Riley's Phone is a very small item that's super easy to overlook, even when you're searching around the right area. The reward you get for finding lots of them is worth the effort, though, so here's where to find Riley's Phone in Disney Dreamlight Valley.
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Riley's Phone location in Disney Dreamlight Valley
For the duration of the Memory Mania event, Riley's Phone spawns on the ground outside around Chez Remy. This restaurant can be placed and moved anywhere around the valley, so the area you need to visit to hunt for her phone varies depending on the design of your own one.
In my valley, Chez Remy is near the west end of the Plaza biome, so Riley's Phone appears around the same area. If your restaurant is in the Forest of Valor, you'll need to look there, while if it's in the Glade of Trust, that'll be the area to search, and so on for all other main valley biomes.
Riley's Phone cannot spawn around the variants of Chez Remy you have placed in DLC worlds. Stick to only the classic Dreamlight Valley area to hunt for this and all other Memory Mania event items.
This item appears as a small turquoise box with a yellow screen. It's also marked by sparkles you can spot from a bit away to make finding it easier. Still, it can be tough to locate, so be sure to check behind all buildings and furniture you might have placed near Chez Remy.
How to get Riley's Phone in Disney Dreamlight Valley
You can get Riley's Phone by finding it around Chez Remy, waking up to it, and selecting the Interact button that appears by it. This item won't actually go into your inventory, but it will grant you a special event item you need.
What does Riley's Phone do in Disney Dreamlight Valley?
Riley's Phone drops a red Memory Shard, which is one of the 10 pieces you need to complete the Get Nostalgic! duty. All of Riley's Phones are guaranteed to drop a shard, but not all shards will contain a piece of the memory, so you may need to find more than 10 to fully piece it together. Finishing this memory unlocks the Nostalgia Capybara Companion.
How often does Riley's Phone respawn in Disney Dreamlight Valley?
All Memory Mania event items, including Riley's Phone, respawn after one hour. Be sure to pick this item up frequently to make room for more to appear. Only two of these objects can be present at once, though, so if you don't pick it up as soon as it spawns, the timer won't start, so it generally takes a bit longer than this to get more to appear.
There's plenty more to get done in this event after hunting for this object. Next, you might consider working on Embrace the Blues, Feeling Joyful, and Spark Joy to unlock some additional special prizes.
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Destructoid Wednesday, September 3, 2025 10:35 AM
Marvel Rivals' fourth season is already upon us, if you can believe it. The new two-month lengths for seasons in the hero shooter mean the heroes are coming hard and fast.
And if a new leak is to be believed, Vanguard players could be getting some help by way of an Asgardian warrior who could shake up the frontline meta with her superhuman strength, stamina, speed, and prowess with all kinds of weaponry.
This latest leak comes from a Russian Discord server (recapped by YouTuber Dylbobz), so nothing is set in stone, but Thor and Loki's sister Angela could be the first new hero added when season four begins next week on Sept. 12.
Angela has been found within the files numerous times before, including hints to her kit, weaponry, and even voice lines mentioning her. She would be the first new tank added to the game since The Thing earlier this year.
The video mentions that the supposed leaker has seen Angela in action, and she's a towering force of an angelic warrior, wielding a bow or a spear, and also having the ability to take flight similar to Jean Grey.
Angela is a newer Marvel character, first appearing in Image Comics in the early 1990s before officially joining Marvel as part of the Age of Ultron comic book arc back in 2013. In the lore, she is the first daughter of Odin and Freyja/Frigga, meaning that she is the sister to Thor and Loki, but as a child was kidnapped by angels and raised to be one of their warriors.
Angela recently appeared in another NetEase game, Marvel Mystic Mayhem, and her appearance in that title can be seen above. The leaks describe her design in Rivals as one where she is simultaneously armored but showing a lot of skin.
Other reports about season four say that Daredevil will be the next hero to come to the game in season 4.5, likely in early October. Likely a Duelist, this means that Strategist players will have to wait another few months for a new healer character to appear.
We'll know more about season four of Marvel Rivals, Angela included or not, likely as soon as this week ahead of the season's launch in nine days.
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Destructoid Wednesday, September 3, 2025 10:35 AM
After increasing the prices of the PlayStation 5 for the American market, Sony is now reportedly downgrading the hardware of European PS5 variants. The price will remain the same, though these new consoles will come with around 20 percent less storage than their older selves.
Hardware has been slowly increasing in price over the past few years, with things picking up the pace post-COVID. This doesn't only affect consoles, as PC parts and other gaming paraphernalia have gone up, slowly but surely, with the "mid-range" of today corresponding in cost to what the high-end used to be. On top of that, the recent tariffs introduced by the U.S. government have contributed to an increase in hardware produced outside of America, which is just about everything gaming-related.
These market trends led Sony to hike up the price of the PS5 in the United States, while the core product itself remained the same. This cannot be said for the European market, where, according to Kotaku (via Dealabs) Sony is planning to downgrade its console hardware while keeping prices the same. If true, new digital PlayStation 5 consoles will be sold with 825GB of storage instead of the previous 1TB, which is about 20 percent less than before.
With prices remaining the same, Sony could potentially improve its profit margins by cutting down on hardware production costs.
The disc-drive PlayStation 5 will remain unaffected by this change, at least for now.
While one'd think 825GB is still a lot of storage (and, to some degree, it is), that extra 200GB could account for at least two massive AAA titles, which nowadays are quite hungry for storage. That is, if you're not a CoD player, which would mean those 200GB of extra drive space would be reserved only for Activision's finest.
Either way, it's a good chunk of change in storage terms, and a significant downgrade for those with poorer internet connections where uninstall-reinstall cycles are simply too inconvenient.
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Destructoid Wednesday, September 3, 2025 10:11 AM
A new Hello Kitty game is on the way, and I think I just heard the shrieks of fangirls across the globe.
Hello Kitty Skyland is described by developer Thirdverse as "an innovative social VR game set in a virtual world," and it will be be launching into early access at the end of 2025. And best yet, it's totally free-to-play.
"In addition to immersive encounters with Sanrio characters in VR, the game offers multiplayer experiences that make full use of your hand controls, as well as features such as item crafting and customization of both your personal space and avatar, delivering the unique appeal of VR," the press release said. "Through extensive customization, cooperation, and competition, players can enjoy a truly diverse range of experiences."
Hello Kitty Skyland offers two distinct avatar styles that players can customize with cosmetics, "allowing players to express their individuality within the world" while taking part in "a variety of activities and interactions unlike anything seen before in Hello Kitty games."
The imagery released by the studio shows Kitty with other Sanrio characters like Kuromi, Pompompurin, and Badtz-Maru, evoking memories of Hello Kitty Island Adventure, the Animal Crossing-like adventure game that first released on Apple Arcade but came to other platforms last year.
For Sanrio fans, this will definitely be one to keep an eye out for. Or if you're like me and your partner is a hardcore Hello Kitty girl, you'll be paying attention to it out of necessity for your own well being.
Hello Kitty Skyland is scheduled to release on Meta Quest "and other major VR platforms," although specifics were not given at this time, but HTC Vive and Sony's PlayStation VR 2 would be safe bets for some other headsets that you'll be able to try the game out on.
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Destructoid Wednesday, September 3, 2025 10:00 AM
A mystery slowly unravelling with each Essence you extract, every note you read, and question answered; understanding what exactly happened in Cronos: The New Dawn is a winding path that might leave you confused by the end of it.
Here is our full explainer of the trippy and confusing Cronos. We didn't analyze cutscenes because most speak for themselves.
Spoiler warning throughout.
Table of contents
Cronos: The New Dawn story breakdown
Crash-landed on a desolate Poland, Traveler ND-3576 woke to the Collective's automated system. Born to pave the path forward and to bring "them" back, the Traveler's existence follows on from the Predecessor who's ceased functioning. With new targets to find and extract, the Traveler must figure out what came before her to understand where she's going.
What started as the simple goal to locate Predecessor ND-3500's location quickly transformed into a complex mystery. There's a lot to learn about who we are, what the Collective is, and how the Change came to happen. The present is plagued with Orphans, merged humans, a result of the Change that wiped out humanity as we know it. Wearing a futuristic submarine diving suit, the Traveler wields the Anchor and jumps back in time to 1980s Poland to extract targets when they were last alive. This is the New Dawn.
Steelworks
The Change stemmed from the New Dawn underground station. Here is where our journey began as we can see sculptor Antoni Surma's work standing tall above the station's entrance, being one of the few structures intact today.
The Change emerged from the Steelworks, a mining company that played a crucial role in erecting the station. Zybert viewed the Change as something that was always there but unleashed because of a mining operation led by Mr. Azakov. An explosion killed most of the crew when the drill reached 14 kilometers—a "well to hell."
What is the Change?
The Change was a global pandemic where a highly infectious disease spread at a rapid rate in December, 1981. Humans who exhibited symptoms became erratic, delirious, and highly aggressive. If a human was to survive the first stage of the disease, they'd then require symbiosis with another to survive, creating an amalgamation of humans called Orphans. Even surgery couldn't separate humans once combined.
The Change started inside the furnace of the Steelworks. Those who survived the blast developed high fever, cold shivers, fainting, loss of appetite, limb numbness, hallucinations, and severe eyesight deterioration.
The Change began to spread with the transfer of Steelwork employees such as Gabriel Baryka by the order of Dr. Dawid Zybert. These patients were initially questioned, tortured, and experimented on by the military, resulting in the fall of Steelworks. His brother, Artur, a man struggling from alcoholism and dismissed from Steelworks because of it, tried to save his brother but accidentally shot him instead.
Humans became Orphans because they were separated from the source: the Steelwork furnace. Unable to get back to the starting merge, Orphans would roam parentless, in pain, searching for others to be with. And so the merging began.
The Outbreak
In mid-December, quarantine began in an apartment building where Edward Wiśniewski and Angela Wozniak lived. Her mother showed symptoms of the Change. A shelter opened, but it didn't take long until that became overrun. This is where Edward and Angela hid, the same night Angela's mother disappeared. Soldiers began filling the streets, demanding people stayed indoors or would otherwise be moved to temporary medical facilities. Roads closed off to the public, fear and paranoia against the news and army spread amongst the people.
Angela ended up at the hospital and never reunited with her mother. She merged with Dawid and (presumably) Gabriel inside the hospital basement, trying to wait out the Change, only to discover they were infected too.
What's an Essence?
The Essence is what makes a person human. A body dies upon extraction. Most didn't give consent to be extracted. Terrified, alone, and confused, their mind's forced to wander inside a body that's not theirs. The Traveler's appear human, but they manipulate their own mass.
If any Traveler dies with an Essence that hasn't ascended, the Essence spends eternity in the body of the deceased Traveler unless replaced by another Essence. The longer they spend inside the Traveler's phylactery, the less stable they become. Their minds blur into one, making the Traveler (if alive) more human as time goes on, putting the Traveler at risk of losing themselves completely. Outside of your targets, Mother and son, Lidia and Marcel Marzec are Essences trapped inside deceased Travelers, spending eternity slowly unravelling inside a shell.
The first recorded sighting of a Traveler was of the New Dawn apartment block murder of Jozef K in 1954 (27 years before the Change). Jozef's body had strange markings around his head, indicative of the Essence extraction method Travelers use. In a letter to Comrade Konarski, the homicide case of victims with markings around their heads had grown exponentially that morgues overflowed with bodies. The figure is uncertain, but it shows the devastating contribution of the Collective.
Who are the Collective?
The mystery of the Collective is never plainly explained, but (based on what Pathfinder told us) they seem to be the direct result of of the Change. I believe they're humans that merged inside the Steelworks furnace, a hive mind if you will.
Travelers could extract the human mind temporarily into their phylactery, but a collected Essence required immediate transfer to the Collective via the Terminal. What happens next is unclear, but I believe some kind of time loop would occur where the Essence would relive their life on another timeline. As they have more knowledge on the Change, these select few would use what they've learnt to try and stop it. A grandfather paradox would then exist, for if the Collective is the result of the Change, then stopping it would mean the Collective never existed.
A cure
The Pathfinder grew close to his extraction target Dr. Weronika Kamiński, but his infatuation turned into obsession. He wanted to understand his purpose and reason for the Vocation. Collective provided no answers so the Pathfinder created his own meaning. Fascinated by humans and later cats, he spent his years learning everything he could about both.
Weronika was able to create a poison, but the disease spread too fast and neither Weronika nor Dawid could create a cure in time. The Pathfinder's target was Weronika, who he searched for inside the Steelworks. This is who Gabriel saw, the very "Visitor" Weronika was brought to question, and why Edward theorized the Travelers caused the Change. The theory was later disproven by Dawid's research on the "Visitor," believing it was the fault of humans that brought the end of us. Moving the Orphans further from the Steelworks only spread the disease and made it so they couldn't merge properly.
The Pathfinder was moved into the church for Dawid's daughter, Mother Eliza to protect him from experimentation. But she, alongside others of the convent would soon become merged, viewing the Change as something God bestowed upon them, and that the Travelers were the problem.
The Pathfinder learnt hope through studying and questioning the humans. He wanted to preserve Weronika so she could find a cure in the future to change the past, but also ensure that no other Traveler would fulfil their Vocation and extract Weronika's Essence. The Pathfinder pretended his journey ended at the church and used the bodies of dormant Travelers to keep himself alive. This stopped the Travelers' awakenings and hindered the Vocation.
The Lazurus Protocol
The Pathfinder's travelogs tell us that this isn't ND-3576's first time on her Vocation, but she doesn't remember and simply continues where she left off. It's uncertain which Traveler she was before but I'd guess she was the Predecessor holding the Anchor, who gave us our first target.
The Pathfinder and Warden are one and the same, and ND-3576 is Weronika. Or more accurately, ND-3576 has Weronika's Essence inside her without her knowing. The Pathfinder saved what he could of Weronika and was keeping her alive inside the Lazarus Protocol. Weronika then connect into the awakened Traveler's mind. The Lazarus Protocol indicates the Pathfinder may have tried to revive Weronika 319 times before ND-3576, but what's special about this Traveler is that she woke without the Pathfinder initiating the next Lazarus trial. Pathfinder likely purposely tampered with the Ascendance Terminal so it couldn't be used, allowing him to assume the role of Warden and control the Vocation.
The first black and white visions we see when ND-3576 awakens are of Weronika's past. This was our biggest clue that she had an Essence already inside her. I'm certain the black mass creatures we defeat are the Essences we extracted, bleeding into 3576's mind. As the Essences became more connected, the Pathfinder's hope was that she would live on inside 3576 and continue to search for a cure. He used 3576 to bring Weronika back to life by fixing her memory matrix through extracting the Essences closest to her.
Where did the cats come from?
Now we have no confirmation or evidence to say what the cats are. I've interpreted the cats to be part of Weronika's memory matrix, a manifestation of every cat she's had in previous timelines. One of the first black and white images we see is a cat. I believe each cat demonstrates one of the timelines the Pathfinder opened and altered, creating anomalies through his tests and desperation to save Weronika. This would explain why we see different cats and why they stay in the apartment once you find them.
Cronos: The New Dawn endings, explained
If you shoot the Pathfinder, you've basically accepted the fate of humanity and that this acceptance is the ultimate freedom. As the Travelers weren't the cause for the Change, but rather humans were the consequence of it, no amount of messing with the past would alter the future. Humans simply ran out of time. ND-3576 opens a rift one last time, sending Weronika to the past, bringing the Change to Edward's doorstep. With the last flicker of hope snuffed out, Weronika decides she doesn't want to be alone in her final moments for she knows what's coming.
Sparing the Pathfinder means he tries again, but he awakens to find Weronika suffering from the early symtoms of the Change. Pathfinder extracts her because he'll never let her go (but we know she never wanted this). Her fate is worse in this ending as her hope for a better future is destroyed, but at least she gets to live forever, right? We see the clear difference between Pathfinder and humanity in that a want for nothingness over infinity is inherently human, while the Pathfinder sees any fate is better than none.
Weronika succumbs to the Change in both endings. Neither ending is good for the fate of humanity is sealed, regardless of how much tampering to the past was done or how many lives suffered through the Change and Collective's intervention.
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Destructoid Wednesday, September 3, 2025 10:00 AM
I've seen it all when it comes to survival horror, but how does Bloober Team's Cronos: The New Dawn fare against the powerhouses of the genre?
Working for the enigmatic Collective, you awake with the title of Traveler. Many have come before you, paving the path for you to take. The desolate landscape is plagued with Orphans; the grotesque abominations that humanity has become. Traversing across the wasteland, the Traveler must extract Essences to find their next target, and in turn learn how the Change came to happen.
The end of the world is shrouded in mystery
Captured in its impressive worldbuilding and environments, 1980s Poland is captivating across all timelines as the landscape twists and bends to the will of the Change and Collective. A dense fog greets you, almost as if the snow-covered ground is the ashes of civilization, which now houses monstrosities.
The note-collecting, paired with the environment of messages sprawled in old blood, leftover explosive containers, and spare resources, makes the setting even more entrancing. You can see what is left of humanity by the decrepit architecture, caused by the devastation of war and strange anomalies you can manipulate with your gravity-bending technology.
Questions arise very early on as to what we're doing here, who we are, what the Collective is, and where the Change came from. These remain throughout the story, some slowly ticked off as we (alongside the Traveler) learn bits and pieces the further back we go. I often wondered if we were playing as the good guys, as Essence extraction appeared to be doing more harm than good.
A world demanding to be explored
While Cronos isn't particularly scary, the environments look great, the gameplay is well-paced, and the polished level design is streamlined from start to finish. Even though you can refer to the compass and objective markers if you ever get stuck, I rarely had to use this, which I see as a strength of Cronos' overall design.
Its greatest strength, however, is the sound design. The soundtrack is haunting at times (but very underused), and I long for more moments where the OST commands the space, sparking fear when I'd grown accustomed to its horror. The enemy variety is decent, and each type has a distinct audio cue to help you identify and prepare for what's around the corner. The sound design is particularly effective at creating tension and slowing down the pace of play so you're not rushing through it.
From comic books and audio recordings, to weapons you can upgrade and cats you can pet, I welcomed collectible hunting in Cronos. But these ideas aren't particularly new, and everything feels like a reference to something we've seen before (i.e., déjà vu cats from The Matrix and The Thing's assimilated creations).
While the puzzles were straightforward, Cronos gets confused within its combat.
A callback to the very best of survival horror
Cronos often borders on being a copy, rather than an original. The safe room and inventory management are quintessential Resident Evil (even the theme sounds like Mass Effect 2's galaxy map), meanwhile, the combat and stomping animations are exactly like Dead Space.
Outside of this, I loved how every bullet counts. There's a strategy in which fights to take; running is a viable option, but it's not always available. Holding onto your resources and upgrading inventory space, weapon damage, crafting healing items and ammunition are all classic survival horror components that work really well here.
There's fairness in each fight as Orphans merge with another to grow stronger, becoming vulnerable in the merging phase. You then have to think about where to shoot, when to burn bodies, and what resources to use because you don't know when the enemies will stop spawning in. While movement can feel clunky at times, there's a slow but much-needed unlimited sprint.
Somehow, Cronos isn't much of a challenge
I found myself flying through bosses like they were nothing. You can learn very quickly how to deal with each enemy, what weapons to use and how many bullets it takes to kill each variant. Most of the challenge is gone within a few hours of playing, and is worsened by the sin of reusing mini-bosses. Surprisingly, Cronos' conflict areas with waves of enemies felt more challenging than any boss fight.
A good survival horror that sadly lacks originality
Cronos already wasn't doing anything new in the genre. There's so much time spent building this mystery up that it easily became the main reason I wanted to keep playing. I wanted to understand what was happening, but any answers given just left me with more questions. I anticipated the reveal, which left me very underwhelmed, as I didn't want the narrative to be heading down such a predictable path. The final boss was uninspiring and only took me two attempts to beat. I was left feeling unfulfilled and disappointed, even though the narrative had me totally engrossed from the minute our Traveler awakened.
While Cronos may fall short with its boss fights and lack of overall challenge, its worldbuilding, mystery, level design, and balanced upgrade system make it an easy survival horror to invest in. Unfortunately, it ultimately takes too many ideas from other survival horror games and fails to create something of its own.
The post Cronos: The New Dawn review – The merging of ideas leaves me torn appeared first on Destructoid. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Destructoid Wednesday, September 3, 2025 9:40 AM
Sadness and Joy have arrived in Disney Dreamlight Valley, and a special Inside Out-themed event is now here to accompany them. The Memoria Mania event is one of the trickiest annual events you'll face, with plenty of duties to work through for special prizes.
Memory Mania has some of the trickiest tasks you'll come across in any event, so it's a decently tough one to work through. If you're having trouble figuring out what needs to be done, here are all the Memoria Mania event duties and rewards in Disney Dreamlight Valley.
Table of contents
Memory Mania event duties in Disney Dreamlight Valley
The Memory Mania event has eight duties for you to complete. All of these tasks only give you their names as a subtle hint for what needs to be done, so navigating through them on your own can be quite tricky. Here are all the event duties and what's required to finish them.
Memory Mania event rewards in Disney Dreamlight Valley
There are eight exclusive prizes you can earn throughout the Memory Mania event, including a hockey outfit, a statue, and several adorable emotion-themed Companions. Here are all the rewards and what you need to do to claim each one.
All Memory Mania event items
For the duration of the event, there are four special items that spawn around the valley. Finding and removing these items is essential for tackling all event duties.
How to complete Memory Mania event in Disney Dreamlight Valley
To complete the Memory Mania event, you need to tackle all eight duties and redeem all eight prizes. Some tasks, including Memorabilia, Spark Joy, and Embrace the Blues, can be finished outside of it, but the rest can only be finished while the event is live, so working through them during the limited timeframe is crucial.
When do Memory Mania event items respawn in Disney Dreamlight Valley?
All items you can find around the valley in the Memory Mania event respawn every hour. Only two of each item can be present at any given time, though, so if you're not removing them frequently, it might take a bit longer to get more to appear.
How long is the Memory Mania event in Disney Dreamlight Valley?
According to the official Memory Mania announcement blog, this event will run from Sept. 3 to 16, giving you about 13 days to work through it. The rollout for the Memory Mania event was a bit buggy and glitched, though, so there's a chance you might've gotten a head start on it if you've been playing since the Emotional Rescue update was first released.
When this update was released on Aug. 20, some parts of the Memory Mania event were already available to be found around the valley. These items were quickly removed, but on Aug. 27, the Memory Mania event page appeared, and items started spawning again. It was then taken down too, before being put back up on Sept. 3. Unless any further changes are made, it seems like Sept. 3 to 16 is the official timeframe for it, although we'll provide further updates here if anything changes.
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Destructoid Wednesday, September 3, 2025 9:00 AM
While the Retro Roadtrip Star Path event is active in Disney Dreamlight Valley, you'll be met with fresh routine duties that unlock each week. There are many important missions to get done, including all week three tasks.
Some of these quests are a bit tricky, as Star Path event duties are often designed to challenge you. If any of these missions have you stumped, here's how to complete all week three Retro Roadtrip Star Path routine duties in Disney Dreamlight Valley.
Table of contents
How to complete all week three Retro Roadtrip routine duties in Disney Dreamlight Valley
In week three of the Retro Roadtrip Star Path event, there are three quests you need to complete. The theme of this week's tasks is making memories, so it's all about snapping and sharing pictures this time. If you haven't already, be sure to tackle all week one routine duties and all week two routine duties first.
Enter a DreamSnaps contest in Disney Dreamlight Valley
To enter a DreamSnaps contest, you need to take and submit one photo that meets the criteria for the featured weekly challenge. On Wednesday each week, a fresh decoration or outfit challenge cycles into the DreamSnaps page under the event tab.
Before you can submit a picture, you must create a space or outfit that matches the base requirements, depending on what type of challenge it is. All DreamSnaps challenges have two mandatory requirements and a few bonus suggestions you don't have to meet, but may help you score higher.
The tags you need vary each week depending on the challenge type and theme. For example, during the Nature Takeover furniture challenge, the required tags were four outdoor items and five simple items, while the recommended ones were green and landscaping. The Grand Anniversary Gala outfit challenge required two lavish items and two wondrous items, but also recommended elegant and hat items.
Once you have the requirements met, equip your Phone and take a picture. Select the "Submit" option in the top left corner to enter the weekly DreamSnaps challenge. Make sure you don't have any Touch of Magic items in the frame before doing so, as you cannot enter if you do. There's a toggle in photo mode for hiding all Touch of Magic items before you take the picture, so consider using this if you're having trouble getting rid of them.
Save a photo to your Gallery in Disney Dreamlight Valley
Your second quest is to save one photo to your Gallery. The Gallery feature is fairly new and was only added in the Emotional Rescue update, so there's a decent chance you're not familiar with how to use it. To save a picture to your gallery, you need to:
Take a picture with Mickey in Disney Dreamlight Valley
The last task you need to get done is the easiest, as you simply need to take three pictures with Mickey Mouse. Find this friendly villager around the valley, equip your phone, and take three different pictures with him in the frame to get this quest done.
Duties and quests sometimes get a bit buggy recognizing subjects in photos, so if you're having trouble progressing this task, try using different camera modes to see which one works best. Swap between selfie mode and regular mode to get Mickey in the frame from different perspectives.
There are plenty of other tricky tasks to get done in the Retro Roadtrip Star Path event. Next, you might work on crafting any refinement item, harvesting something white and fluffy, digging for pottery material, and collecting some shoreline shellfish.
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Destructoid Wednesday, September 3, 2025 8:16 AM
During Disney Dreamlight Valley's Memory Mania event, you need to find and remove several items that belong to Riley from the Inside Out movies. One of the many assets you need to track down is her Hockey Gear.
Like most other event items, this one continuously respawns around specific areas in the valley. Finding and removing it frequently is crucial for completing some essential event duties, so here's where to find Hockey Gear in Disney Dreamlight Valley.
Table of contents
Hockey Gear location in Disney Dreamlight Valley
For the duration of the Memory Mania event, Hockey Gear can be found around Goofy's house, Merlin's house, and Mickey's house. There are many villagers who call the valley home, but you'll only find Hockey Gear around these three specific homes.
In all three houses, Hockey Gear spawns as a dark grey rack with various pieces of equipment, including a yellow helmet, brown gloves, black and yellow boots, and a black hockey stick leaning up against the side. Of all the items you can find in this event, this one blends in the most since it looks like furniture, especially when it spawns in discreet corners. This event item is also always marked by golden sparkles once you're standing decently close to it.
How to get Hockey Gear in Disney Dreamlight Valley
You can get Hockey Equipment by finding it around Goofy's house, Merlin's house, and Mickey's house, and selecting the Interact button that appears next to it when you approach. The specific button you need to press varies by platform, but is always displayed once you're by this item. You can't actually pick up the Hockey Gear, but it drops a key event item you need.
What does Hockey Gear do in Disney Dreamlight Valley?
Each piece of Hockey Equipment you remove is guaranteed to drop a special yellow Memory Shard. You need six of them to complete an Inside Out memory featuring Joy, Sadness, Anger, Disgust, and Fear, which is tied to the Feeling Expansive duty.
Each piece of Hockey Gear you remove will drop a yellow Memory Shard, but this shard may either contain a memory piece or some Star Coins. Because of this, luck plays a large role in how easy or difficult it is to finish the Feeling Expansive duty. You may only need to remove six pieces of gear, or it might take many more tries to get this one done.
How often does Hockey Gear respawn in Disney Dreamlight Valley?
One Hockey Gear spawns every hour as long as the event is active. There can only be two present in the valley at any given time, though, so if you don't clear it away frequently, it might feel like it takes much longer for more to appear. It's best to sweep all three houses where it can appear often to ensure you make room for more to spawn.
There are many other event items and duties to get done before the festivities end. Next, you might try working on Feeling Joyful, Get Nostalgic!, finding Riley's Phone, Spark Joy, and Embrace the Blues.
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Destructoid Wednesday, September 3, 2025 7:27 AM
There are many unique and tricky missions to get done throughout Disney Dreamlight Valley's Memory Mania event. Many of these tasks are quite tricky to navigate and get done, as is the case with the Feeling Joyful duty.
All of the tasks you'll face throughout this event only provide their names as vague hints meant to guide you in the right direction. It's not really enough to go off of, though, so you'll likely need some help figuring out how to complete Feeling Joyful in Disney Dreamlight Valley.
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Feeling Joyful in Disney Dreamlight Valley
To complete the Feeling Nostalgic task for the Memory Mania event, you need to find and remove Birthday Cakes to fully piece together an Inside Out memory. For this task, the memory you need to complete features Joy celebrating while surrounded by confetti.
Birthday Cakes drop pink Memory Shards, each of which has a chance of dropping a memory piece for you to recover. Not all Memory Shards are guaranteed to have one, though, as you might find Star Coins instead. You need six pieces to finish this memory, but you'll likely need to find more than six cakes since there's a decent chance a few of them will be Star Coins instead.
Where to find Riley's Birthday Cake in Disney Dreamlight Valley
While most event items are found around the regular valley, Birthday Cake is a bit trickier to find since you must venture into certain Realms to acquire it. You can only find this item in three of the many Realms you can visit throughout the Dream Castle, including:
In each of these Realms, the Birthday Cake can be found randomly on the ground. It's a small, circular pink cake with the number 13 on top, making it fairly easy to spot from afar. It's also marked with golden sparkles to help distinguish it from other items.
Only one Birthday Cake spawns in each hour, and up to two can be present at any given time. This means it's crucial you check for them frequently so you can make room for more to spawn in. I recommend starting with the Ratatouille Realm, then the Wall-E Realm, and ending with the Moana Realm, since each one progressively gets a bit bigger.
Feeling Joyful reward in Disney Dreamlight Valley
Fully piecing together the Inside Out memory for the Feeling Joyful duty unlocks the Ennui Raven Companion as a reward. This critter is inspired by the character Ennui from Inside Out 2 and can be equipped as a Companion at any point once unlocked. There's no other way to add this animal to your collection, so finishing this quest while the event is active is crucial if you want to recruit them.
If you want to unlock even more Inside Out-themed Companions and other special items, there are plenty of other duties to get done in this event. Next, consider working on Feeling Accomplished, Memorabilia, Get Nostalgic!, Spark Joy, and Embrace the Blues.
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Destructoid Wednesday, September 3, 2025 6:49 AM
Throw hands with this throwback Cup.
Pokémon Go's latest season, Tales of Transformation, is now underway. While this means plenty of new Pokémon, it also heralds a new competitive season and the return of the Retro Cup, which is currently live until September 9.
Best Pokémon for the Retro Cup Great League in Pokémon Go
Get ready for the Retro Cup with these recommendations, and remember, your Pokémon must be below 1,500 CP to enter. Meanwhile, the ban on Steel, Dark, and Fairy-type Pokémon bans popular Great League titans like Corviknight, Carbink, Dedenne, Empoleon, and Bastiodon.
The most important Pokémon in the Retro Cup Great League meta right now is Regidrago, which utilises phenomenal Attack and a quick Fast Move to apply pressure on opponents and break down shields fast. If you run Regidrago, you'll want to arm it with the moves Dragon Breath, Dragon Energy, and Hyper Beam.
Some of the best teammates for Regidrago in the Retro Cup are Kingdra (Dragon Breath, Swift, and Outrage), Galarian Corsola (Astonish, Night Shade, and Power Gem), and Oranguru (Confusion, Brutal Swing, and Trailblaze), which can take care of common threats like Aurorus and Lapras.
Galarian Corsola, in particular, can use its Ghost typing to take out huge threats in the Retro Cup like Shadow Giratina (Altered). However, Giratina is also a strong pick on a team that can replace Corsola. Meanwhile, Kingdra in both its regular and Shadow form has risen to the top of the rankings because of a great stat spread and the resistance to Water-type Pokémon, which are always a familiar opponent.
It would be smart to start with a strong Dragon-type attacker like Regidrago, though Kommo-o (which can also hit Ice-type Pokémon hard) can be a good replacement if you don't have access to the Legendary Regidrago. Then, back it up with a bulky Water-type Pokémon like Kingdra or Lapras (Psywave, Sparkling Aria, and Ice Beam). Meanwhile, if you're having trouble against Kingdra or Lapras, one of the best matches is Crustle (Fury Cutter, X-Scissor, Rock Wrecker).
Finally, round it out with a Pokémon that can hit a couple of standard types, such as Galarian Corsola, Shadow Primeape, or the Oranguru. If you do run Primeape in either form, you'll need to be sure it has the exclusive move Rage Fist at the very least, which it learned during the Mankey Community Day.
Here are the best Pokémon for the Retro Cup Great League meta.
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Destructoid Wednesday, September 3, 2025 6:31 AM
The best towers in Retro Tower Defense depend on whether you're looking for a top-tier DPS, support or farm unit. I'll show you the best options for all three roles below. Here's my Retro Tower Defense tier list and tower guide.
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Retro Tower Defense Tower Tier List
This Retro Tower Defense tower tier list will show you the strongest units for damage, support and farm. Note that while Mage and Noli are top-tier DPS units the Hyperlaser Sniper is also incredibly good and is in A for just slightly lower sustained damage numbers. As for support and farm units like Helper Bot, Tycoon and Bling Boxxer are your best bet. That said, let's take a look at each unit individually below. And just briefly, here are all the roll chances:
S-Tier Towers
A-Tier Towers
B-Tier Towers
C-Tier Towers
That's it for my Retro Tower Defense tier list and guide. Check out more of our Roblox guides for other TD tier lists.
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